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.

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.

2 See the charter of donation in Kemble's Cod. Dept. No. 168.

3 Woking, in Surrey. See Camd. Brit. col. 182.

4 D. E. F.

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

8 D. E. F.

10 This sentence is inserted in A.

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 Ieanbryht 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. 10 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.1

A.D. 792. This year Offa, king of the Mercians, commanded the head of king Ethelbryht13 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.

2 The death of Botwin is from D. E.

3 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.

4 D. E. F.

Namely, of Canterbury.

9 See A.D. 778.

11 This was the eighth Sunday after Trinity.

5 D. E. F.

6 D. E. F.

8 D. E. F.

10 D. E. F.

12 Namely, Eanbald, archbishop of York, and Ethelberht, bishop of Hexham.

13 Of the East Anglians.

14 From D. E.

15 D. E. F

North-humbrians, and miserably terrified the people; these were excessive whirlwinds and lightnings, and fiery dragons were seen flying in the air. A great famine soon followed these tokens; and a little after that, in the same year, on the 6th of the ides of January [8th Jan.], the ravaging of heathen men lamentably destroyed God's church at Lindisfarne, through rapine and slaughter. 'And Siga died, on the 8th of the kalends of March [22d Feb.].

A.D. 794. This year pope Adrian2 and king Offa3 died; and Aethelred, king of the North-humbrians, was slain by his own people, on the 13th of the kalends of May [19th April]; and bishop Ceolwulf and bishop Eadbalds went away from the land. And Egferth succeeded to the kingdom of the Mercians, and died the same year. And Eadbyrht, who by a second name was named Praen, obtained the kingdom of Kent. And Aethelheard, the ealdorman, died on the kalends of August [1st Aug.]; and the heathens ravaged among the North-humbrians, and plundered Ecgferth's monastery, at Donemouth; and there one of their leaders was slain, and also some of their ships were wrecked by a tempest; and many of them were there drowned, and some came on shore alive, and they were soon slain at the river's mouth.

A.D. 795. This year the moon was eclipsed, between cock-crowing and dawn, on the 5th of the kalends of April [28th March]; and Eardwulf succeeded to the kingdom of the North-humbrians, on the 2d of the ides of May [14th May]; and he was afterwards consecrated king, and raised to his throne on the 8th of the kalends of June [26th May], at York, by archbishop Eanbald, and bishop Aethelberht, and Higbald, and Badwulf, bishops.

10

A.D. 796. This year Cynulf,' king of the Mercians, laid waste Kent, as far as the marshes, and took Praen, their king, and led him bound into Mercia, "and let his eyes be picked out, and his hands be cut off. And Athelhard, archbishop of Canterbury, appointed a synod," and confirmed and ratified, by the command of pope Leo, all the things respecting God's ministers which were appointed in Wihtgar's days, and in other kings' days, and thus sayeth :

"I, Athelard, the humble archbishop of Canterbury, by the unanimous counsel of the whole synod, and with . . . of all . . . to the congregation of all the ministers to which in old days immunity was given by faithful men, in the name of God, and by his awful doom, I command, as I have the command of pope Leo, that henceforth none dare to choose for themselves lords over God's heritage

1 Not in F. See A.D. 789.

2 Pope Adrian I. died 25th Dec. 795. Jaffé, p. 215. 3 See again under A.D. 796.

4 This date is from D. E.

5 Eadbald's see is unknown; Ceolwulf was bishop of Lindsey.

6 D. E.

7 D. E. F.

8 This is the festival of St. Augustine of Canterbury. He was consecrated by the archbishop of York, and the bishops of Hexham, Lindisfarne, and Whithern. 9 So B. C, but A. D. E. F. G. read "Ceolwulf.”

10 B. C. D. E. read, "and the inhabitants of the marsh." The clause is not in F. 11 F. supplies the passage as far as 66 'rood-token." 12 The council of Cloveshoe, held A.D. 803.

from amongst laymen. But even as it stands in the writ which the pope has given, or those holy men have appointed, who are our fathers and instructors concerning holy minsters, thus let them continue inviolate, without any kind of gainsaying. If there be any man who will not observe this ordinance of God, and of our pope, and ours, and who despiseth and holdeth it for nought, let him know that he shall give account before the judgment-seat of God. And I, Athelhard, archbishop, with twelve bishops, and three-andtwenty abbats, do confirm and ratify this same with Christ's roodtoken."

'And archbishop Eanbald died, on the 4th of the ides of August [10th Aug.] of the same year, and his body lies at York; and the same year died bishop Ceolwulf; and a second Eanbald was consecrated in the place of the other, on the 19th of the kalends of September [14th Augt.]

A.D. 796. This year Offa, king of the Mercians, died, on the 4th of the kalends of August [29th July]: he reigned forty years.5

A.D. '797. This year the Romans cut out the tongue of pope Leo," and put out his eyes, and drove him from his see; and soon afterwards, God helping, he was able to see and speak, and again was pope as he before was. And Eanbald received his pall on the 6th of the ides of September [8th Sept.]; and bishop Aethelberht' died, on the 17th of the kalends of November [16th Oct.]; and Heardred was consecrated bishop in his place on the 3d1o of the kalends of November [30th Oct.]; "and bishop Alfhun died at Sudbury, and he was buried in Dunwich, and Tidfrith was chosen after him; and Siric, king of the East-Saxons, went to Rome. In this same year the body of Wihtburg13 was found at Deorham, all whole and uncorrupted, five-and-fifty years after she had departed from this life.

12

A.D. 798. "This year there was a great fight at Hwealleage [Whalley], in the land of the North-humbrians, during Lent, on the 4th of the nones of April [2d April], and there Alric, the son of Heardbearht, was slain, and many others with him.

A.D. 1799. This year archbishop Aethelheard, and Cynebryht, bishop of the West-Saxons, went to Rome.

A.D. 1800. This year, on the 17th of the kalends of February [16th Jan.], the moon was eclipsed, at the second hour of the night. And king Beorhtric, and Worr the ealdorman, died, and Ecgbryht succeeded to the kingdom of the West-Saxons. And the same day Aethelmund, ealdorman, rode over from the Wiccians, at Cynemaeresford." Then Weoxtan, the ealdorman, with the men of

10 We should probably read "the fourth," i.e. the nineteenth Sunday after Trinity.

11 F.

13 She was daughter of Anna, king of East Anglia. 15 A D. 800, F.

12 Sigeric. F. Lat.

14 D. E.

16 A.D. 801, F.

17 Kempsford, in Gloucestershire, or Commerford, in Wiltshire, concerning the claims of which latter place see Camd. Brit. col. 106.

Wiltshire, met him. There was a great fight, and both the ealdormen were slain, and the men of Wiltshire got the victory.

A.D. 801.

A.D. 801. 1This year Beornmod was ordained bishop of Rochester.

A.D. 2802. This year, on the 13th of the kalends of January3 [20th Dec.] the moon was eclipsed at dawn; and Beornmod was ordained bishop of Rochester.

A.D. 803. This year died Higbald bishop of Lindisfarne on the 8th of the kalends of July [24th June], and Egbert was consecrated in his stead on the 3d of the ides of June [11th June]; and this year archbishop Aethelheard died in Kent, and Wulfred was ordained archbishop; and abbat Forthred died.

A.D. 804. This year archbishop Wulfred received his pall. A.D. 805. This year king Cuthred died among the Kentishmen, and Ceolburg, abbess, and Heabryht the ealdorman.

8

A.D. 806. This year the moon was eclipsed on the kalends of September [7th Sept.]: and Eardwulf king of the Northhumbrians was driven from his kingdom; and Eanberht bishop of Hexham died. Also in the same year, on the 2d of the nones of June [4th June], a cross appeared in the moon on a Wednesday 10 at dawn; and afterwards in this year, on the 3d of the kalends of September," a wonderful circle was seen about the sun.

A.D. 807, 808.

12

A.D. 809. This year the sun was eclipsed at the beginning of the fifth hour of the day on the 17th of the kalends of August [16th July], the 2d day of the week, the 29th of the moon.

A.D. 810, 811.

13

A.D. 812. This year king Carl 13 died, and he reigned five-andforty years; and archbishop Wulfred and Wigbryht1bishop of the West-Saxons both went to Rome.

A.D. 15813. This year archbishop Wulfred, with the blessing of pope Leo, returned to his own bishopric; and the same year king Ecgbryht laid waste West-Wales from eastward to westward.

1 Here again in MS. D. the same event is twice described, under the years 801 and 802.-P.

2

A.D. 801, C. The numerals in this manuscript originally agreed with the text; but the rubricator having omitted 801, a later hand has altered the whole series down to 824, under the erroneous impression, as it would seem, that the defect should be thus supplied.-P.

3 The date does not occur in F; it is erroneous, the eclipse really occurred on the twelfth of the kalends of June [21st May].—P.

A.D. 802, C. The entry respecting Higbald is from D. E. His death should apparently be referred to the previous year, unless we read "June" instead of "July." The 11th June, 803, being Sunday, would suit for his consecration. 5 Not in D. E.

9 D. E. F. as far as "died;" the rest of the year from F.

10 This entry apparently belongs to the preceding year, in which the 4th June fell on a Wednesday.

11 F. Lat. here adds that this was on a Sunday, which is correct.

12 F.

14 Bishop of Sherburn.

13 Charles the Great died 28th January, 814.

15 A.D. 812, C.; 815, F.