the situation of which we have mentioned above: but they did not kill many of the Britons. A. 534. Four years after, Cerdic with his son Cenric gives up the Isle of Wight into the hands of their two cousins Stuf and Wihtgar. In the course of the same year Cerdic died, and Cenric his son began to reign after him, and he reigned twenty-seven years. A. 538. When he had reigned four years, the sun was eclipsed from the first hour of the day to the third.* A. 540. Again, two years after, the sun was eclipsed for half-an-hour after the third hour, so that the stars were everywhere visible in the sky. A. 547. In the seventh year after this, Ida began to reign over the province of Northumberland, whose family derive their kingly title and nobility from Woden. A. 552. Five years after, Cenric fought against the Britons near the town of Scarburh [Old Sarum], and, having routed them, slew a large number. A. 556. The same, four years afterwards, fought with Ceawlin against the Britons, near a place called Berin-byrig [Banbury?] A. 560. At the end of about four years, Ceawlin began to reign over the western part of Britain, which is now commonly called Wessex. Moreover, Ella the Iffing is sent to the race of Northumbria, whose ancestry extends up to the highest, namely to Woden. A. 565. Five years afterwards, Christ's servant Columba came from Scotia [Ireland] to Britain, to preach the word of God to the Picts. A. 568. Three years after his coming, Ceawlin and Cutha stirred up a civil war against Ethelbert, and having defeated him, pursued him into Kent, and slew his two chiefs, Oslaf and Cnebba, in Wubbandune.† A. 571. After three years, Cuthulf fought against the Britons at Bedanford [Bedford], and took four royal cities, namely Liganburh [Lenbury], Eglesburh [Aylesbury], Bensingtun [Benson], and Ignesham [Eynsham]. A. 577. After the lapse of six years, Cuthwin and Ceawlin fight against the Britons, and slay three of their kings, That is, from seven till nine o'clock in the morning. + Wimbledon, or Worplesdon, Surrey. Comail, Condidan, and Farinmeail, at a place called Deorhamme [Derham?]; and they took three of their most distinguished cities, Gloucester, Cirencester, and Bath. A. 584. After seven years, Ceawlin and Cutha fought against the Britons, at a place called Fethanleage [Frethern?]: there Cutha fell; but Ceawlin reduced a multitude of cities, and took immense spoils. A. 592. In the eighth year there was a great slaughter on both sides, at a place called Wodnesbyrg [Wemborow?], so that Ceawlin was put to flight, and died at the end of one more year. A. 593. After him, Cwichelm, Crida, and Ethelfrid, succeeded to the kingdom. HERE ENDS BOOK THE FIRST. HERE BEGINS THE PROLOGUE TO BOOK THE SECOND. In the beginning of this book it will not be necessary to make a long preface, my dearest sister; for I have guided my pen down through many perplexed subjects from the highest point, and, omitting those things extracted from sacred and profane history, on which most persons have fixed their attention, have left higher matters to the skilful reader. And now I must turn my pen to the description of those things which properly concern our ancestors; and though a pupil is not properly called a member, yet it yields no little service to the other members. We therefore entreat in God's name that our words may not be despised by the malevolent, but rather that they may give abundant thanks to the King of heaven, if they seem to speak things of high import. HERE ENDS THE PROLOGUE; AND THE SECOND BOOK BEGINS. CHAP. I.-Of the coming of Augustine, who was sent by the blessed Pope Gregory. [A.D. 596.] As Divine Providence, mercifully looking down upon all things from all eternity, is accustomed to rule them, not by necessity, but by its powerful superintendence, and remain Devotam Glose restars mis ing always immoveable in itself, and disposing the different elements by its word, and the human race to come to the knowledge of the truth by the death of his only begotten Son, by whose blood the four quarters of the world are redeemed, so now by his servant doth it dispel the darkness in the regions of the west. Whilst therefore the blessed pope Gregory sat on the episcopal seat, and sowed the seeds of the gospel of Christ, there stood by him some men of unknown tongue and very comely to look on. The holy man admiring the beauty of their countenances, asked of them with earnestness from what country they came. The young men with downcast looks replied, that they were Angles. "Are you Christians," said the holy man, 66 or heathens ?" "Certainly not Christians," said they, "for no one has yet opened our ears." Then the holy man, lifting up his eyes, replied, "What man, when there are stones at hand, lays a foundation with reeds ?" They answer, "No man of prudence." "You have well said," answered he; and he straightway took them into a room, where he instructed them in the divine oracles, and afterwards washed them with the baptism of Christ: and further he arranged with them, that he would go with them into their country. When the Romans heard of this they opposed his words, and were unwilling to allow their pastor to go so far from home. The blessed pope Gregory, therefore, seeing that the people were opposed to him, sent with the men aforesaid one of his disciples, who was well instructed in the divine oracles, by name Augustine, and with him a multitude of brethren. When these men arrived, the English received the faith and erected temples, and our Saviour Jesus Christ exhibited innumerable miracles to his faithful followers through the prayers of the bishop, St. Augustine; at whose tomb, even to the present day, no small number of miracles are wrought, with the assistance of our Lord. CHAP. II. Of king Ethelbert, and of his baptism. [A.D. 597.] WHEN the man aforesaid arrived, Ethelbert bore rule over Kent, and receiving the faith, submitted to be baptized with all his house. He was the first king among the English who received the word of Christ. Lastly Ethelbert was the son of Ermenric, whose grandfather was Ochta, who bore the prænomen of Eisc,* from which the kings of Kent were afterwards named Esings, as the Romans from Romulus, the Cecropidæ from Cecrops, and the Tuscans from Tuscus. For Eisc was the father of Hengist, who was the first consul and leader of the Angles out of Germany; whose father was Wihtgils, his grandfather Witta, his great-grandfather Wecta, his great-grandfather's father Woden, who also was king of many nations, whom some of the pagans now still worship as a god. And the number of years that was completed from the incarnation of our Lord was four years less, than six hundred.† CHAP. III.—Of Ceolwulf, king of the West-Saxons, and of his continued wars. A. 597. At the end of one year, Ceolwulf began to reign over the Western English. 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. 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 § 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 See William of Malmsbury, b. i. c. 1, p. 12, note. † A.D. 596. 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. § Orientales Angli is the expression of Ethelwerd, but it should be Orientales Saxones, whose king's name is generally written Sabert. See preceding note. was completed from the beginning of the world was more than five thousand and eight hundred. * 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 EastSaxons, and of the baptism of Cuthrid. [A.D. 615-639.] Afterwards Cynegils received the kingdom of the WestAngles, and, in conjunction with Cuichelm, he fought against the Britons at a place called Beandune, 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. 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. § A. 655. Three years afterwards king Penda died, and the Mercians were baptized. A. 658. After three years more, the kings Kenwalk and Pionna renewed the war against the Britons, and pursued them to a place called Pederydan. ¶ * Ethelwerd adopts that system of chronology which makes 5300 to have elapsed before Christ. Should be West-Saxons.. Most probably Bampton in Oxfordshire. This battle took place in 614. See the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle for that year. § Avon. This should be "at Pionna," [Pen]. See Saxon Chronicle. |