Old English Chronicles Part 5

[Footnote 35: Heathfield or Hatfield.]

CHAP. IX.--_Of king Kentwin and his wars._

A. 682. After two years king Kentwin drove the Britons out of their country to the sea.

A. 684. After he had reigned two years[36] Ina became king of the western English. A hundred and eighty-eight years were then fulfilled from the time that Cerdic, his sixth ancestor, received the western part of the island from the Britons.

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote 36: There is an error here: Caedwalla is omitted, and three years are lost in the chronology.]

CHAP. X.--_Of Caedwalla's conversion to the faith of Christ._

A. 684. In the course of the same year Caedwalla went to Rome, and received baptism and the faith of Christ; after his baptism the pope of that year gave him the surname of Peter.

A. 694. About six years afterwards, the Kentish men remembered the cause which they had against king Ina when they burnt his relation[37] with fire; and they gave him thirty thousand shillings at a fixed rate of sixteen pence each.

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote 37: His name was Mull: the pa.s.sage is obscure. See the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle.]

CHAP. XI.--_Of the acts of Ethelred king of the Mercians._

A. 704. After ten years, Ethelred son of Penda and king of the Mercians a.s.sumed the monastic habit, when he had completed twenty-nine years of his reign.

A. 705. After twelve months died Alfrid king of Northumberland. And the number of years that was then fulfilled from the beginning of the world was five thousand nine hundred.

A. 709. Four years afterwards died the holy bishop Aldhelm, by whose wonderful art were composed the words which are now read, and his bishopric was the province which is now called Selwoodshire [Sherborne].

CHAP. XII.--_Of the reign of Ina, and of his acts._

A. 710. After a year, the kings and Ina made war against king Wuthgirete;[38] also duke Bertfrid against the Picts.

A. 714. After four years died Christ's servant Guthlac.

A. 715. After a year Ina and Ceolred fought against those who opposed them in arms at Wothnesbeorghge [Wanborough.]

A. 721. After seven years Ina slew Cynewulf, and after six months made war against the Southern English.

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote 38: Called Gerent in the Saxon Chronicle, and Gerentius in Aldhelm's works.]

CHAP. XIII.--_Of king Ethelard._

A. 728. When six years were fulfilled he went to Rome, and Ethelard received the kingdom of the West Saxons. In the first year of his reign he made war against Oswy.[39]

A. 729. At the end of one year a comet appeared, and the holy bishop Egbert died.

A. 731. After two years, Osric king of Northumberland died and Ceolwulf succeeded to the kingdom.

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote 39: Should be Oswald king of Northumberland.]

CHAP. XIV.--_Of the acts of king Ethelbald._

A. 733. Two years after these things, king Ethelbald received under his dominion the royal vill which is called Somerton. The same year the sun was eclipsed.

A. 734. After the lapse of one year, the moon appeared as if stained with spots of blood, and by the same omen Tatwine and Bede[40] departed this life.

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote 40: It is doubtful whether Bede died in 734 or 735.]

CHAP. XV.--_Of the reign of Eadbert and of his deeds._

A. 738. After four years, Eadbert succeeded to the kingdom of the Northumbrians, and his brother Egbert discharged the archiepiscopal office; and now they both lie buried in the city of York, under the shade of the same porch.