A.D. 754. This year Cuthred, king of the West-Saxons, died; and Cynehard obtained the bishopric of Winchester, after Hunferth: and the same year Canterbury was burned: and Sigebert, his kinsman,' succeeded to the kingdom of the West Saxons, and held it one year.

A.D. 755. This year Cynewulf, and the West-Saxon "witan," deprived his kinsman, Sigebryht, of his kingdom, except Hampshire, for his unjust doings; and that he held until he slew the ealdorman who longest abode by him. And then Cynewulf drove him into Andred, and he abode there until a swineherd stabbed him, at Privet's-flood, and avenged the ealdorman, Cumbra.

And Cynewulf fought very many battles against the Welsh; and after he had held the kingdom about one-and-thirty years, he purposed to expel a certain etheling, who was named Cyneheard: and Cyneheard was Sigebryht's brother. And he then learned that the king with a small band was gone to Merton to visit a woman; and he there beset him, and surrounded the chamber on every side, before the men who were with the king discovered him. And when the king perceived this, he went to the door, and there manfully defended himself, until he beheld the etheling, and then he rushed out upon him and sorely wounded him; and they all continued fighting against the king until they had slain him.

And upon this, the king's thanes having discovered the affray by the woman's cries, each as he was ready, and with his utmost speed, ran to the spot. And the etheling offered money and life to each of them, and not one of them would accept it; but they continued fighting till they all fell, except one, a British hostage, and he was sorely wounded.

Then upon the morrow, the king's thanes, whom he had left behind him, heard that the king was slain. Then rode they thither, and Osric, his ealdorman, and Wiferth, his thane, and the men whom he had previously left behind. And at the town wherein the king lay slain they found the etheling, and those within had closed the gates against them; but they then advanced. And he then offered them their own choice of land and money if they would grant him the kingdom, and showed them that their kinsmen were with him, men who would not desert him. And they then said, that no kinsman was dearer to them than their lord, and that they never would follow his murderer. And they then offered their kinsmen that they might go away from him in safety; but they said that the same had been offered to their companions who before that had been with the king; then they said, that they no more minded it "than your companions who were slain with the king." And then they continued fighting around the gates until they made their way in,

2 "His kinsman," D. E.
• 21, D; 16, E.

3 See Camd. Brit. col. 195. This tragical story is evidently, from its position, a later insertion. See Florence of Worcester, A.D. 784. Most of the ancient authorities say that Cynewulf reigned thirty-one years, though they all assign 755 and 784 for the first and last years of his reign. Perhaps we should read twenty-nine; but it seldom happens that the number of years given in the Chronicle for the duration of a reign can be reconciled with those marked for its beginning and ending.-P.

except

and slew the etheling, and all the men who were with him, one, who was the ealdorman's godson; and he saved his life, though he was wounded in several places.

And Cynewulf reigned thirty-one years, and his body lies at Winchester, and the etheling's at Axminster; and their right paternal kin extends to Cerdic.

And the same year Aethelbald, king of the Mercians, was slain at Secandun' [Seckington], and his body lies at Repton, and he reigned forty-one years; and Beornraed obtained the kingdom, and held it a little while, and unhappily. And the same year Offa drove out Beornraed and obtained the kingdom, and held it thirty-nine years; and his son, Egfert, held it one hundred and forty-one days. Offa was the son of Thingferth, Thingferth' of Eanwulf, Eanwulf of Osmod, Osmod of Eawa, Eawa of Pybba, Pybba of Creoda, Creoda of Cynewald, Cynewald of Cnebba, Čnebba of Icel, Icel of Eomaer, Eomaer of Angeltheow, Angeltheow of Offa, Offa of Waermund, Waermund of Wihtlaeg, Wihtlaeg of Woden.

A.D. 755 This year Cynewulf deprived king Sigebert of his kingdom; and Sigebert's brother, Cynehard by name, slew Cynewulf at Merton; and he reigned thirty-one years. And in the same year Ethelbald, king of the Mercians, was slain at Repton. And Offa succeeded to the kingdom of the Mercians, Bernred being driven out.

A.D. 756.

A.D. 757. This year Eadberht, king of the North-humbrians, was shorn, and his son Oswulf succeeded to the kingdom, and reigned one year; and he was slain by his household, on the 8th of the kalends of August."

A.D. 758. This year archbishop Cuthbryht died; and he held the archbishopric eighteen years.

'And

A.D. 759. This year Bregowine was ordained archbishop, at St. Michael's tide [29th Sept.], and held the see four years. Moll Aethelwald succeeded to the kingdom of the North-humbrians, and reigned six years, and then resigned it.

A.D. 760. This year Aethelbert, king of the Kentish-men, died; he was the son of king Withred: and Ceolwulf" also died.

A.D. 761." This year was the severe winter; and Moll, king of the North-humbrians, slew Oswin, at Eadwin's Cliff, on the 8th of the ides of August [6th Aug.]"

13

A.D. 762. This year archbishop Bregwine died.

A.D. 763." This year Ianbryht was ordained archbishop, on the

1 In Warwickshire. See Camd. Brit. col. 614, where, however, Gibson's suggestion as to the origin of the name is obviously incorrect.

2 The duration of his reign is from D. E.

3 40, G.

The remainder of the pedigree does not occur in D.

5 From F.

This year is from D. E., and partially from F.

725th July, according to this statement, but a Latin entry in E. mentions that his death occurred on the eighth of the ides of August [6th Aug.].

F.

9 D. E. F.

10 Formerly king of Northumbria, but at the time of his death a monk at Lindisfarne. This notice of his death is from D. E.

11 A.D. 762, C.

12 With the exception of this date, which does not occur in F, this entry respecting Moll is from D. E. F. 13 From F.

1 A.D. 762, D. E. F.

fortieth day after mid-winter,' and held the see twenty-six years. And Frithuwald,' bishop of Whitherne, died on the nones of May [7th May]. He was consecrated at York,' on the 18th of the kalends of September [15th Aug.], in the sixth year of Ceolwulf's reign, and he was bishop twenty-nine years. Then Pehtwine was consecrated bishop of Whitherne, at Aelfet-ee, on the 16th of the kalends of August [17th July].*

A.D. 764. This year archbishop Ieanbryht received his pall. A.D. 765. This year Alchred succeeded to the kingdom of the North-humbrians, and reigned nine years.'

A.D. 766. This year died archbishop Ecgberht, at York, on the 13th of the kalends of December [19th Nov.]; he was bishop thirty-seven years; and Frithbert, at Hexham; he was bishop thirty-three years; and Aethelberht was consecrated to York, and Alchmund to Hexham.

A.D. 767."

A.D. 768." This year king Eadberht, the son of Eata, died, on the 13th of the kalends of September [20th Aug.]

13

A.D. 769-771.

A.D. 772. This year bishop Milred died.'

A.D. 773." This year a red crucifix appeared in the heavens after sunset: and the same year the Mercians and the Kentish-men fought at Otford; and wondrous adders were seen in the land of the South-Saxons.

A.D. 774." This year, at Easter-tide, the North-humbrians drove their king, Alchred, from York, and took Aethelred, the son of Moll, to be their lord; he reigned four years.

A.D. 775.

A.D. 776." This year bishop Pehtwin died, on the 13th of the kalends of October [19th Sept.]; he was bishop fourteen years.

A.D. 777." This year Cynewulf and Offa fought, about Bensington, and Offa took the town; "and the same year, on the 17th of the kalends of July," Aethelbert was consecrated, at York, bishop of Whitherne.

In" the days of king Offa there was an abbat of Medeshamstede

1 The 2d Feb., Candlemas Day. The duration of his episcopate is from F.

2 To the end of the year from D. E. F.

3 E. states that he was consecrated at Elfet-ee.

As Trinity Sunday fell this year on 17th July, it is probable that this date is correct.

5 A.D. 763, F. This entry does not occur in D. E.

From D. E. F., with the exception of the notice of the duration of his reign,

which does not occur in F.

The whole year is from D. E. F.

10 The duration of his episcopate not in F. 11 "Here Charles the Great died."

E. Latin.

"Eight," E 36, E.

called Beonne. The same Beonne, by the consent of all the monks of the minster, let to Cuthbriht, the ealdorman, ten "bond-lands" at Swineshead, with pasture, and with meadow, and with all that lay thereto, and on this condition: that Cuthbriht should give the abbat therefore fifty pounds, and each year one day's entertainment, or thirty shillings in money; and furthermore, that after his decease the land should return to the minster. The witnesses of this were king Offa, and king Egferth, and archbishop Hygeberht,' and bishop Ceolwulf, and bishop Inwona, and abbat Beonna, and many other bishops and abbats, and many other great men. In the days of this same Offa' there was an ealdorman who was called Brorda. He desired of the king, that for love of him he would free a minster of his, called Wokingas, because he wished to give it to Medeshamstede, and St. Peter, and the abbat that then was, who was called Pusa. Pusa succeeded Beonna, and the king loved him greatly. And the king then freed the minster Wokingas, against king, and against bishop, and against earl, and against all men, so that no one should have any claim there except St. Peter and the abbat. This was done in the king's town called Freo-ric-burna.

3

A.D. 778. This year Aethelbald and Heardberht slew three highreeves: Ealwulf, the son of Bosa, at King's-cliff, and Cynewulf and Ecga, at Helathirn, on the 11th of the kalends of April [22d March]: and then Alfwold obtained the kingdom,' and drove Aethelred out of the country; and he reigned ten years.

A.D. 779.

A.D. 780. This year the Old-Saxons and the Franks fought; 'and the high-reeves of the North-humbrians burned Beorn, the ealdorman, at Seletun, on the 8th of the kalends of January [25th December]; and archbishop Aethelbert died at York, in whose place Eanbald was consecrated; and bishop Cynewulf gave up the bishopric of Lindisfarne. This year Alchmund, bishop of Hexham, died, on the 7th of the ides of September [7th Sept.], and Tilberht was consecrated in his place, on the 6th of the nones of October [2d October]; and Higbald was consecrated, at Socca-byrig, bishop of Lindisfarne; and king Alfwold sent to Rome for a pall, and invested Eanbald as archbishop.

A.D. 781.

A.D. 782. This year died Werburh, Ceolred's queen, and Cynewulf, bishop of Lindisfarne; and there was a synod at Aclea. A.D. 783.

A.D. '784. This year Cyneheard slew king Cynewulf, and was himself there slain, and eighty-four men with him; and then Beorhtric obtained the kingdom of the West-Saxons, and he reigned sixteen years, and his body lies at Wareham; and his right paternal kin reaches to Cerdic. At this time king Alhmund reigned in 1 Apparently bishop of Lichfield.

See the charter of donation in Kemble's Cod. Dept. No. 168.
Woking, in Surrey. See Camd. Brit.

4 D. E. F.

6 A.D. 779, D. E. F.

8 D. E. F.

10 This sentence is inserted in A.

col. 182.

5 Of Northumbria.

7 From D. E. and (partly) F.
9 A.D. 783, C.

Kent. This king Alhmund was the father of Egberht, and Egberht was father of Athulf.

A.D. 785. This year abbat Botwine died at Ripon; and this year there was a contentious synod at Cealchythe, and archbishop Iaenbyrht gave up some portion of his bishopric,' and Higbert was elected by king Offa; and Ecgferth was consecrated king. And at this time messengers were sent from Rome by pope Adrian, to England, to renew the faith and the peace which St. Gregory had sent us by Augustine, the bishop; and they were worshipfully received, and sent away in peace. A.D. 786.

A.D. 787. This year king Beorhtric took to wife Eadburg, king Offa's daughter; and in his days first came three ships of Northmen, out of Hæretha-land. And then the reve rode to the place, and would have driven them to the king's town, because he knew not who they were: and they there slew him. These were the first ships of Danish-men which sought the land of the English nation.

A.D. 788. This year a synod was assembled in the land of the North-humbrians at Pincanheale, on the 4th of the nones of September [2d Sept.]; and abbat Aldberht died at Ripon.

A.D. 789. This year Alfwald, king of the North-humbrians, was slain by Siga, on the 8th of the kalends of October [24th Sept.]; and a heavenly light was frequently seen at the place where he was slain; and he was buried at Hexham, within the church; and Osred, the son of Alcred, succeeded to the kingdom after him : he was his nephew. And a great synod was assembled at Aclea.

A.D. 790. This year archbishop leanbryht died, and the same year abbat Aethelheard was chosen bishop.' 'And Osræd, king of the North-humbrians, was betrayed, and driven from the kingdom; and Aethelred, the son of Athelwald, again obtained the government."

A.D. 791. "This year Baldwulf was consecrated bishop of Whitherne, on the 16th of the kalends of August" [17th July], by archbishop Eanbald, and by bishop Aethelberht."

A.D. 792. This year Offa, king of the Mercians, commanded the head of king Ethelbryht" to be struck off. "And Osred, who had been king of the Northumbrians, having come home after his exile, was seized and slain, on the 18th of the kalends of October [14th Sept.]; and his body lies at Tinmouth. And king Aethelred took a new wife, who was called Aelfled, on the 3d of the kalends of October [29th Sept.]

A.D. 793. "This year dire forwarnings came over the land of the

1 From the margin of F.

The death of Botwin is from D. E.

This relates to Offa's temporary division of the province of Canterbury into two archbishoprics; one of which he placed at Lichfield, in his own kingdom of Mercia, under bishop Higebryht.-P.

• D. E. F.

Namely, of Canterbury.

See A.D. 778.

11 This was the eighth Sunday after Trinity.

12 Namely, Fanbald, archbishop of York, and Æthelberht, bishop of Hexham.

13 Of the East Anglians.

14 From D. E.

15 D. E. F