in the isle of Wight, and abbot Saxulf and Immine aldorman and Eadbert aldorman and Herefrith aldorman and Wilbert aldorman and Abon aldorman, Æthelbald, Brordan, Wilbert, Ealhmund, Frethegis. These, and many others who were there, thegns of the king, all assented to it. This writing was written six hundred and sixty-four years after the birth of our Lord, the seventh year of king Wulfhere, the ninth year of archbishop Deusdedit. Then they laid the curse of God and the curse of all saints and of all Christian people upon him who should undo anything which was done there. So be it, say all, Amen.

When these things were done, the king sent to Rome to Vitalian who then was pope, and desired that he should grant by his writ and with his blessing all the before-mentioned things. And the pope sent this writ thus saying "I pope Vitalian concede to thee, king Wulfhere, and to archbishop Deusdedit and to abbot Saxulf all the things that ye desire, and I forbid that any king or any man have any authority there save the abbot alone; nor let him obey any man save the pope of Rome and the archbishop of Canterbury. If any one break this in any thing, may St. Peter exterminate him with his sword: if any one observe it, may St. Peter with the keys of heaven undo for him the kingdom of heaven." Thus the monastery at Medeshamstead was begun which since has been called Peterborough.

After that another archbishop came to Canterbury, who was called Theodore, a very good and wise man, and he held his synod with his bishops and with the clergy. There was Winfrid bishop of the Mercians deposed from his bishopric and abbot Saxulf was there chosen to be bishop and Cuthbald monk of the same monastery was chosen abbot. This synod was held six hundred and seventy-three winters after the birth of our Lord.

657 [A]. Here Peada died and Wulfhere, son of Penda, succeeded to the kingdom of the Mercians.

658 [A]. Here Cenwalh fought against the Welsh at

Pen(-Selwood) and he put them to flight as far as the Parrett: this was fought after he came from the EastAngles, where he was three years in exile. Thither had Penda driven him and deprived him of his kingdom because he had forsaken his sister.

660 [A]. Here bishop Ægelbert departed from Cenwalh and Wine held the bishopric three years; and Ægelbert obtained the bishopric of the Parisians by the Seine in Gaul.

661 [A]. Here during Easter Cenwalh fought at Pontesbury and Wulfhere, son of Penda, laid [the country] waste as far as Ashdown. And Cuthred, son of Cwichelm, and king Coenbert died in the one year. And Wulfhere, son of Penda, laid waste in the isle of Wight and gave the people of Wight to Ethelwald, king of the South-Saxons, because Wulfhere had been his sponsor at baptism. And Eoppa masspriest' at the instance of Wilfrid and king Wulfhere was the first man to bring baptism to the people of Wight.

2

664 [A]. Here the sun was eclipsed [on v non. May (May 3rd)]; and Ercenbert king of the Kentishmen died [and Egbert his son succeeded to the kingdom]; and Colman with his companions fared to his country. The same year was a great pestilence [in the island of Britain, and bishop Tuda died of the pestilence and was buried at Wagele]." And Ceadda and Wilfrid were consecrated, and the same year archbishop Deusdedit died.

3

667 [E]. Here Oswy and Egbert sent Wigheard priest to Rome that he might be consecrated archbishop [to Canterbury], but he died as soon as he came thither. 668 [A]. Here Theodore was consecrated archbishop. Here Vitalian the pope consecrated Theodore archbishop and sent him to Britain. 669 [A]. Here king Egbert gave to Bass mass-priest * Reculver whereon to build a church.

668 E

4

670 [A]. Here died Oswy king of the Northumbrians

1 Eoppa priest.-E.

2 E.

3 F.

Bass priest.-E.

[on xv kal. Mar. (Feb. 15th)]' and Egferth [his son]1 reigned after him. And Hlothere, nephew of bishop Ægelbert, succeeded to the bishopric over the WestSaxons, and held it seven years; bishop Theodore consecrated him. This Oswy was son of Æthelfrith, Æthelfrith of Ethelric, Ethelric of Ida, Ida of Eoppa. 671 [A]. Here was the great destruction of birds. 672 [A]. Here king Cenwalh died and Sexburg his queen reigned one year after him.

673 [A]. Here Egbert king of the Kentish-men died; and this year was a synod at Hertford,' and Saint Æthelthryth began the minster at Ely.

674 [A]. Here Escwin succeeded to the kingdom in Wessex; he was son of Cenfus, Cenfus of Cenferth, Cenferth of Cuthgils, Cuthgils of Ceolwulf, Ceolwulf of Cynric, Cynric of Cerdic.

675 [A]. Here Wulfhere, son of Penda, and Æscwin, son of Cenfus, fought at Bieda's head; and the same year Wulfhere died and Ethelred succeeded to the kingdom.

3

[In his time he sent bishop Wilfrid to Rome to the pope that then was, whose name was Agatho, and showed him by letter and by message how his brothers Peada and Wulfhere and the abbot Saxulf had built a monastery, which was called Medeshamstead, and that they had freed it against king and against bishop of all services; and he besought him that he would assent to it with his writ and with his blessing. And then the pope sent his writ to England, thus saying:

"I Agatho, pope of Rome, greet well the worshipful Æthelred, king of the Mercians,-the archbishop Theodore of Canterbury and the bishops of the Mercians Saxulf, who was formerly abbot, and all the abbots, who are in England, with the greeting of God and my blessing. I have heard the desire of king Æthelred and of archbishop Theodore and of bishop Saxult and of abbot Cuthbald; and it is my will that it be in 1 E.

2 And archbishop Theodore summoned a synod at Hertford.-E. 3 A Peterborough insertion, belonging to MS. E.

all wise even as you have spoken. And I ordain on behalf of God and of St. Peter, of all saints and of every person in orders that neither king nor bishop nor earl nor any man have any authority or rent or tax or military service; neither let any man exact any kind of service from the abbacy of Medeshamstead. I also ordain that the shire-bishop be not so bold that he perform any ordination or consecration in this abbacy, unless the abbot beseech it of him, nor have authority there, no bishop's fee or synod or anything of the kind. And it is my will that the abbot be holden as legate of Rome over all the island and that whatsoever abbot shall be chosen there by the monks, he be consecrated by the archbishop of Canterbury. I will and concede that whatever man shall have made a vow to go to Rome and be unable to perform it either from sickness or his lord's need of him or from poverty or be unable to come there from any other kind of need—be he of England or of whatever other island he be let him come to the monastery at Medeshamstead and have the same forgiveness of Christ and St. Peter and of the abbot and of the monks that he should have if he went to Rome. Now I beseech thee, brother Theodore, that thou cause to be commanded throughout all England that a synod be gathered and this decree be read and observed. In like manner I command thee bishop Saxulf that even as thou didst desire that the monastery be free, so I forbid thee and all the bishops that shall come after thee, from Christ and all his Saints, that ye have any authority upon the monastery except so far as the abbot shall be willing. Now will I say by word that whoso observeth this writ and this decree, may he be ever dwelling with God almighty in the kingdom of heaven; and whoso breaketh it, may he be excommunicated and thrust down with Judas and with all the devils in hell unless he turn to repentance. Amen!"

This writ pope Agatho and one hundred and twentyfive bishops sent to England by Wilfrid archbishop of York. This was done six hundred and eighty years

after the birth of our Lord in the sixth year of king Æthelred.

The king then commanded the archbishop Theodore to appoint a meeting of all the witan at the place which is called Heathfield. When they were assembled there, he caused the writ to be read which the pope had sent thither, and they all assented to and fully confirmed it.

Then said the king: "All those things, which my brother Peada and my brother Wulfhere and my sisters Cyneburg and Cyneswith gave and granted to St. Peter and the abbot, it is my will shall stand; and I will in my day increase it for the good of their souls and of my own. Now to-day I give St. Peter at his monastery, Medeshamstead, these lands and all that lieth there adjoining; that is to say, Bredon, Repington, Cedenac, Swineshead, Heanbury, Lodeshac, Scuffanhalch, Costesford, Stratford, Wætelleburne, Lufgeard, Æthelhun-island, Bardney. These lands Ì give St. Peter all as freely as I myself possessed them and so that none of my successors take anything therefrom. If anyone shall do so, let him have the curse of the pope of Rome and the curse of all bishops and of all those who are here witnesses, and this I confirm with Christ's token." "I Theodore, archbishop of Canterbury, am witness to this charter of Medeshamstead and I confirm it with my signature and I excommunicate all those who shall break any part thereof and I bless all those who shall observe it X." "I Wilfrid, archbishop of York, I am a witness to this charter and I assent to the same curse." ་ I Saxulf,

who was first abbot and am now bishop, I give those my curse and that of all my successors who shall break this." "I Ostryth, queen of Æthelred, grant it." "I Adrian legate assent to it." "I Putta, bishop of Rochester, I subscribe it." "I Waldhere, bishop of London, confirm it." "I Cuthbald abbot assent to it so that, whoso shall break it, let him have the cursing of all bishops and of all Christian folk. Amen!"

676 [A]. Here Escwin died and Hedda succeeded to