Old English Chronicles Part 4

A. 597. At the end of one year, Ceolwulf began to reign over the Western English.[26] His family was derived from Woden; and so great was his ferocity that he is said to have been always at war, either with his own nation or with the Britons, or the Picts or Scots.

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote 26: West-Saxons is the more correct term; but Ethelwerd often uses the more general name Angles or English, for all the tribes settled in England.]

CHAP. IV.--_Concerning Augustine's pall of apostleship sent him by pope Gregory._

A. 601. When he had reigned four years, pope Gregory sent to Augustine the pall of apostleship.

CHAP. V.--_Of the faith of the East-Saxons, and of the decease of the blessed pope Gregory._

A. 604. After three years, the eastern English[27] also received baptism in the reign of Sigebert [Sabert] their king.

A. 606. Two years afterwards, the blessed pope Gregory departed this world, in the eleventh year after he had bestowed baptism on the English by sending among them Christ's servant Augustine. And the number of years that was completed from the beginning of the world was more than five thousand and eight hundred.[28]

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote 27: _Orientales Angli_ is the expression of Ethelwerd, but it should be _Orientales Saxones_, whose king's name is generally written Sabert. See preceding note.]

[Footnote 28: Ethelwerd adopts that system of chronology which makes 5300 to have elapsed before Christ.]

CHAP. VI.--_Of the reign of king Cynegils, his wars; and of the coming of bishop Birinus, of the baptism of the king, and the faith of the East-Saxons,[29] and of the baptism of Cuthred._ [A.D. 615-639.]

Afterwards Cynegils received the kingdom of the West-Angles, and, in conjunction with Cuichelm, he fought against the Britons at a place called Beandune,[30] and having defeated their army, slew more than two thousand and forty of them.

A. 629. Fourteen years after, Cynegils and Cuichelm fought against Penda at Cirencester.

A. 635. After six years bishop Birinus came among the Western Angles, preaching to them the gospel of Christ. And the number of years that elapsed since their arrival in Britain out of Germany, was about one hundred and twenty. At that time Cynegils received baptism from the holy bishop Birinus, in a town called Dorchester.

A. 639. He baptized Cuthred also four years after in the same city, and adopted him as his son in baptism.

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote 29: Should be West-Saxons.]

[Footnote 30: Most probably Bampton in Oxfordshire. This battle took place in 614. See the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle for that year.]

CHAP. VII.--_Of the reign of Kenwalk, and of his actions._

A. 648. When nine years were fulfilled, Kenwalk gave to his relation, Cuthred, out of his farms, three thousand measures, adjacent to a hill named Esc's dune, [Aston?]

A. 652. Four years after, he fought a battle against his own people, at a place called Bradford, on the river Afene.[31]

A. 655. Three years afterwards king Penda died, and the Mercians were baptized.

A. 658. After three years more, the kings Kenwalk and Pionna[32] renewed the war against the Britons, and pursued them to a place called Pederydan.[33]

A. 661. After three years, Kenwalk again fought a battle near the town of Pontesbury, and took prisoner Wulfhere, son of Penda, at Esc's-dune [Ashdown], when he had defeated his army.

A. 664. Three years afterwards there was an eclipse of the sun.

A. 670. When six years were fulfilled, Oswy, king of Northumberland, died, and Egfrid succeeded him.

A. 671. After one year more, there was a great pestilence among the birds, so that there was an intolerable stench by sea and land, arising from the carca.s.ses of birds, both small and great.

A. 672. Twelve months after Kenwalk, king of the West-Angles, died; and his wife, s.e.xburga, succeeded him in the kingdom, and reigned twelve months.

A. 673. After her Escwin succeeded to the throne, and two years were fulfilled. His family traces to Cerdic.

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote 31: Avon.]

[Footnote 32: This should be "at Pionna," [Pen]. See Saxon Chronicle.]

[Footnote 33: Petherton.]

CHAP. VIII.--_Of Wulfhere and Cenwulf,[A] and of the council held by the holy father Theodore._

A. 674. After one year, Wulfhere son of Penda, and Cenwalh[34] fought a battle among themselves in a place called Beadanhead [Bedwin].

A. 677. After three years a comet was seen.

A. 680. At the end of two years a council was held at Hethlege,[35] by the holy archbishop Theodore, to instruct the people in the true faith.

In the course of the same year died Christ's servant, Hilda, abbess of the monastery called Streaneshalch [Whitby].

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote 34: These names are both wrong; we must read Escwin.]