A.D. 1912. This year died 'Aethered ealdorman of the Mercians; and king Edward took possession of London and of Oxford, and of all the lands which owed obedience thereto. This year Aethelfled lady of the Mercians came to Scaergate on the holy eve, "Invention of the Holy Cross," and there built the fortress; and the same year, that at Bridgenorth.

A.D. 913. In this year, about Martinmas, king Edward commanded the northern fortress to be built at Hertford, between the Memera, the Benefica, and the Lea. And then after that, during the summer, between Rogation-days [3d May], and midsummer, king Edward went with some of his auxiliaries to Maldon in Essex, and there encamped, whilst the fortress at Witham was wrought and built; and a good part of the people who were before under the dominion of the Danish-men submitted to him: and in the meanwhile some part of his assistants constructed the fortress at Hertford, on the south side of the Lea. This year, by the help of God, Aethelfled, lady of the Mercians, went with all the Mercians to Tamworth, and there built the fortress early in the summer; and after this, before Lammas [1st Aug.], that at Stafford.

A.D. 914. "Then after this, in the next year, that at Eadesbyrig, early in the summer; and afterwards, in the same year, late in harvest, that at Warwick.

A.D. 915. Then after this, in the next year, after midwinter, that at Cyric-byrig, and that at Weard-byrig: and that same year, before Midwinter, that at Rumcofa.

A.D. 951. This year was Warwick built.'

A.D. 916. This year abbat Ecgbriht was guiltlessly slain, before Midsummer, on the sixteenth of the kalends of July: the same day was the feast of the martyr St. Ciricius and his fellows [16th June]. And about three days after this, Aethelfled sent her forces among the Welsh, and stormed Brecenan-mere, and there "took the king's wife, and some four-and-thirty persons.

A.D. 1917. In this year, after Easter [13th April], the army rode forth from Northampton and Leicester, and broke the peace, and slew many men at Hocneratun, and there about. And then very speedily after that, when the one came home, then they got ready another troop which rode out against Lygton: and then the inhabitants were aware of them, and fought against them, and put them to full flight, and retook all which they had seized, and also a great portion of their horses and of their weapons. 13 This year, before Lammas, Aethelflaed, lady of the Mercians, God helping her, got possession of the fortress which is called Derby, with all that

1 C. D. G. 911, A. by repetition.

3 B. C. to the end of the year.

2 Æthelred, D.

Florence of Worcester seems to understand this as relating to the festival of St. Martin of Tours, 11th Nov., and places Maldon, &c. as well as the events of 917 of the text, under the year 914.-P.

6 B. C. for the whole of the year.

5 B. C. D.

7 B. C. as above.

8 D.

9 Continued at the passage A.D. 918, "In this year a great fleet came over hither." 10 B. C. for the whole year. The text is here incorrect, and has been amended in accordance with the readings of Florence of Worcester and Henry of Huntingdon.

12 A.D. 914, C. D.

13 B. C. D. 917.

owed obedience thereto; and there also were slain, within the gates, four of her thanes, which to her was a cause of sorrow.

A.D. 918. 'This year, in the early part of the year, by God's help, she peacefully got into her power the fortress at Leicester, and the greater part of the army which owed obedience thereto became subject to her; and the people of York had also covenanted with her, some having given a pledge, and some having bound themselves by oath, that they would be at her command. In this year a great fleet came over hither from the south, from the Lidwiccas [Brittany], and with it two earls, Ohtor and Hroald: and they went west about till they arrived within the mouth of the Severn, and they spoiled the North-Welsh everywhere by the seacoast where they then pleased. And in Ircingfield they took bishop Cameleac, and led him with them to their ships; and then king Edward ransomed him afterwards with forty pounds. Then after that, the whole army landed, and would have gone once more to plunder about Ircingfield. Then met them the men of Hereford and of Gloucester, and of the nearest towns, and fought against them and put them to flight, and slew the earl Hroald, and a brother of Ohter the other earl, and many of the army, and drove them into an inclosure, and there beset them about, until they delivered hostages to them that they would depart from king Edward's dominion. And the king had so ordered it that his forces sat down against them on the south side of Severn-mouth, from the Welsh coast westward, to the mouth of the Avon eastward; so that on that side they durst not anywhere attempt the land. Then, nevertheless, they stole away by night on some two occasions; once, to the east of Watchet, and another time to Portlock. But they were beaten on every turn, so that few of them got away, except those alone who there swam out to the ships. And then they sat down, out on the island of Bradanrelice, [Flat-holme], until such time as they were quite destitute of food; and many men died of hunger, because they could not obtain any food. Then they went thence to Deomod [S. Wales], and then out to Ireland: and this was during harvest. And then after that, in the same year, before Martinmas, king Edward went with his forces to Buckingham, and there sat down four weeks; and, ere he went thence, he erected both the forts on either side of the river. And Thurkytel the earl sought to him to be his lord, and all the "holds," and almost all the chief men who owed obedience to Bedford, and also many of those who owed obedience to Northampton.

A.D. 4918. But very shortly after they had become so, she died at Tamworth, twelve days before Midsummer [12th June], the eighth year of her

1 As far as " command" is from B C. D.

2 A.D. 915, C. D. The arrival of the fleet from Brittany is placed under the year 915 by Florence of Worcester, in common with the MSS. C. and D. The dates which occasionally occur in B. seem to agree with C., but as they are ambiguously placed, it has not been deemed necessary further to notice them.-P 3 He was bishop of Llandaff; see Godwyn, p. 598.

B. C. D. in continuation after the word "command," A.D. 918, in the text, p. 59, 1. 8. The death of Ethelflæd, but connected with different circumstances, is

having rule and right lordship over the Mercians; and her body lies at Gloucester, within the east porch of St.Peter's church. [See end of A.D. 922.] A.D. 918. This year died Ethelfled the lady of the Mercians.

A.D. 919. In this year, before Martinmas, king Edward went with his forces to Bedford, and gained the town; and almost all the townsmen who formerly dwelt there submitted to him and he sat down there four weeks, and commanded the town to be built on the south side of the river before he went thence.

A.D. 919. This year also the daughter of Aethered, lord of the Mercians, was deprived of all dominion over the Mercians, and carried into Wessex, three weeks before mid-winter: she was called Aelfwyn.

A.D. 920. In this year, before Midsummer, king Edward went to Maldon, and built the town, and fortified it before he departed thence. And that same year Thurkytel the earl went over sea into France, together with such men as would follow him, with the peace and aid of king Edward.

5

A.D. 921. In this year, before Easter [1st April], king Edward gave orders to take possession of the town at Towcester, and to fortify it. And again, after that, in the same year, during Rogation days [7th May], he commanded the town at Wigmore to be built. That same summer, between Lammas [1st Aug.] and Midsummer, the army from Northampton and from Leicester, and thence north, broke the peace, and went to Towcester, and fought against the town the whole day; and they thought that they should be able to take it by storm. But, nevertheless, the people who were within defended it until a larger force came to them: and then they departed from the town and went away, Then, again very soon after that, they went out once more by night with a predatory band, and came upon men who were unprepared, and took no small number as well of men as of cattle, between Burnewood and Aylesbury. At that same time went out the army from Huntingdon and from the East-Angles, and constructed the fortress at Temesford, and abode and built there; and forsook the other at Huntingdon, and thought that from thence they could, by warfare and hostility, get more of the land again. And they went forth until they arrived at Bedford: and then the men who were there within went out against them, and fought with them and put them to flight, and slew a good part of them. Then again, after that, a large army once more drew together from East-Anglia and from Mercia, and went to the town at Wigingamere, and beset it round about, and

described under the year 922 of the text; it is, therefore, here necessarily separated from the other Mercian notices of the MSS. B. C. and D., although it is by no means certain that the date of 922 is right. For it is to be observed that these MSS. place the death of Ethelred her husband under the year 911 or 912; that Florence of Worcester and the text also place it under 912, that these MSS. as well as Florence say she died in the eighth year of her government, and that Henry of Huntingdon has the like interval between these events. To this may be added, that Ethelweard, the Cambrian Annals, and the Annals of Ulster, assign her death to the year 917 or 918.-P.

1 From E.

2 Not in B. C. D. E.

3 B. C. D. The occupation of Mercia by Edward is placed under the year 922 in the text.-P. 4 Not in B. C. D. E.

5 Excepting the two concluding sentences the subject-matter of this year is not found in B. C. D. E. F.

fought against it the greater part of the day, and took the cattle thereabout. And nevertheless, the men who were within the town defended it; and then the army left the town and went away. Then, after that, in the same summer, much people, within king Edward's dominion, drew together out of the nearest towns, who could go thither, and went to Temesford, and beset the town, and fonght against it till they took it by storm, and slew the king, and Toglos the earl, and Manna the earl, his son, and his brother, and all those who were there within and would defend themselves; and took the others, and all that was therein. Then, very soon after this, much people drew together during harvest, as well from Kent as from Surrey and from Essex, and from each of the nearest towns, and went to Colchester, and beset the town, and fought against it until they mastered it, and slew all the people there within, and took all that was there, except the men who fled away over the wall. Then after that, once again during the same harvest, a large army drew together out of East-Anglia, as well of the landforce as of the pirates whom they had enticed to their aid; and they thought that they should be able to avenge their wrongs. And they went to Maldon, and beset the town, and fought against it till more aid came to the help of the townsmen from without; and then the army left the town and went away. And then the men from the town went out after them, and those also who came from without to their aid; and they put the army to flight, and slew many hundreds of them, as well of the pirates as of the others. Then, very shortly after, during the same harvest, king Edward went with the forces of the West-Saxons to Passaham, and sat down there while they encompassed the town at Towcester with a stone wall. And Thurferth the earl, and the captains, and all the army which owed obedience to Northampton, as far north as the Welland, submitted to him, and sought to him to be their lord and protector. And when one division of the forces went home, then another went out, and took possession of the town of Huntingdon, and repaired and rebuilt it, by command of king Edward, where it had been previously demolished; and all who were left of the inhabitants of that country submitted to king Edward, and sought his peace and his protection. And after this, still in the same year, before Martinmas, king Edward went with the forces of the West-Saxons to Colchester, and repaired the town, and rebuilt it where it had been before broken down; and much people submitted to him, as well among the East-Anglians as among the East-Saxons, who before were under the dominion of the Danes. And all the army among the East-Anglians swore union with him, that they would all that he would, and would observe peace towards all to which the king should grant his peace, both by sea and by land. And the army which owed obedience to Cambridge chose him specially to be their lord and protector; and confirmed it with oaths, even as he then decreed it. This year king Edward built the town at Cledemouth. This year king Sihtric slew Niel his brother.

1 This sentence from C. D.

2 This sentence from E. F.

:

A.D. 1922. In this year, between Rogation days [27th May] and Midsummer, king Edward went with his forces to Stamford, and commanded the town to be built upon the south side of the river and all the people which owed obedience to the northern town submitted to him, and sought to him to be their lord. And then, during the sojourn which he there made, Aethelflaed his sister died there, at Tamworth, twelve days before Midsummer [12th June]. And then he took possession of the town at Tamworth; and all the people of the land of Mercia, who before were subject to Aethelflaed, submitted to him; and the kings of the North-Welsh, Howel, and Cledauc, and Jeothwel, and all the North-Welsh race, sought to him to be their lord. Then went he thence to Nottingham and took possession of the town, and commanded it to be repaired and occupied as well by English as by Danes. And all the people who were settled in Mercia, as well Danish as English, submitted to him.

A.D. 923. In this year, after harvest, king Edward went with his forces to Thelwall, and commanded the town to be built, and occupied, and manned; and commanded another force also of Mercians, the while that he sat there, to take possession of Manchester in North-humbria, and repair and man it. This year died archbishop Plegmund. This year king Regnold won York.

5

A.D. 924. In this year, before Midsummer, king Edward went with his forces to Nottingham, and commanded the town to be built on the south side of the river, over against the other, and the bridge over the Trent, between the two towns: and then he went thence into Peakland, to Bakecanwell, and commanded a town to be built nigh thereunto, and manned. And then chose him for father and for lord, the king of the Scots and the whole nation of the Scots, and Regnald, and the son of Eadulf, and all those who dwell in North-humbria, as well English as Danes, and North-men and others, and also the king of the Strath-clyde Britons, and all the Strath-clyde Britons.

A.D. 924. This year Edward was chosen for father and for lord by the king of the Scots, and by the Scots, and king Regnold, and by all the Northhumbrians, and also the king of the Strath-clyde Britons, and by all the Strath-clyde Britons.

A.D. 924. This year king Edward died among the Mercians at Fearndun ; and very shortly, about sixteen days after this, Aelfweard his son died at Oxford; and their bodies lie at Winchester. And Aethelstan was chosen king by the Mercians, and consecrated at Kingston. And he gave his sister to Ofsae [Otho], son of the king of the Old-Saxons.

:

A.D. $925. This year king Edward died, and Aethelstan his son succeeded to the kingdom. 'And St. Dunstan was born and Wulfhelm succeeded to the archbishopric of Canterbury. This year king Aethelstan and Sihtric king of the North-humbrians came

1 B. C. D. E. F. do not give the contents of this year.

2 The whole sentence absent from B. C. D. E. F.

3 To the end of the year inserted in A.

5 Not in B. C. D. E. to the end of the year.
7 B. C. D.

This sentence is from F. and inserted in A.

4 D. E. F.
€ From F.

8

A.D. 924, E. 10 From D.