You may click on the footnote symbol to jump to the note, then click again on that footnote symbol and you will jump back to the same place in the text.
From The Annals of Roger de Hoveden, Comprising the History of England and of Other Countries of Europe from A.D. 732 to A.D. 1201, Translated from the Latin with Notes and Illustrations by Henry T. Riley, Esq., Volume I, London: H.G. Bohn, 1853; pp. 17-26.
[A. D.
799.
DISASTERS
IN THE
BRITISH
SEAS.]In the year 799, in the British seas a very great number of ships were tossed and wrecked or dashed against each other, and sunk, together with a vast multitude of men. In the same
18
year, Brorda, a prince of the Mercians, who was also called Hyldegils, departed this life. An abbat also, whose name was Altilthegno,2 was murdered by his deputy, and died a shocking death. At this period, Osbald, who was formerly an exile and a patrician, and king for a time, but afterwards an abbat, departed this life, and was buried in the church at York. Earl Aldred, the murderer of king Ethelred, was slain by earl Thormund, in revenge for his master the said king.
In the year 800, Heardred, bishop of Hagulstad,3 died in the third year of his episcopate, and was succeeded by Eanbrith. At the same period also, on the ninth day before the calends of January, the day before the Nativity of our Lord, a mighty wind blowing either from the south or the west, by its indescribable force destroyed very many cities, houses, and towns in various places, and levelled them with the ground; innumerable trees were also torn up from the roots, and thrown to the ground. In the same year an inundation took place, the sea flowing beyond its ordinary limits. An extensive murrain also prevailed among the cattle in various places.
A. D.
801.In the year 801, Edwin, also called Eda, who had formerly been a duke of Northumbria, but was at that time, by the grace of the Saviour of the world, an abbat, being firmly rooted in the service of God, breathed his last, in the presence of his brethren, on the eighteenth day before the calends of February. At this time, Eardulph, king of Northumbria, led an army against Kenwulph, king of Mercia, because he had entertained his enemies; the latter also collected an army, and obtained very considerable aid from other kingdoms. A long war having been waged between them, at length, by the advice of the bishops and chief men among the English on both sides, and through the intervention of the king of the Angles,4 they agreed to a truce; and a most solemn treaty of peace was concluded between them, which, by oath upon the gospel of Christ, both kings ratified, taking God for their witness, and giving sureties, that all their days, so long as they should live and be invested with the insignia of royalty, there should remain between them lasting peace and true friendship, unshaken and inviolate.
In the same year Hathubert, bishop of London, departed this life, and shortly after a great part of the city itself was
A. D.
802.
WICKED-
NESS
OF
EADBURGA.19
destroyed by a sudden conflagration. In this year Charles, the most mighty king of the Franks, was declared supreme emperor at Rome, by all the senate, the imperial crown being placed upon his head by our lord the pope.
In the year from the incarnation of our Lord 802, Brithric, the king of the West-Saxons, who had most gloriously reigned over that nation for seventeen years, departed this life, and was succeeded by Egbert. The said king Brithric had taken in marriage Eadburga, daughter of Offa, king of the Mercians, who ordered the great dyke to be made between Britain5 and Mercia, that is to say, from sea to sea. Now this Eadburga, being the daughter of a king and surrounded with much pomp, was inspired with wonderful ambition, and, after the manner of her father, began to live in a tyrannical manner and to despise all men, insomuch that she was hated not only by nobles and magistrates, but even by all the people. She did not cease uttering accusations continually against all the religious before the king, and by her evil speaking so wrought upon her husband by means of her blandishments, that those whom she accused, she caused to be put to death or banished the realm; and if she was unable to effect this, she did not hesitate secretly to take them off by poison.
There was at that time a certain illustrious youth, very dear to the above-named king, and greatly beloved by him, whom, when she wished to accuse him to the king, and could not accomplish it, with wicked intent she cut off by poison, the king in ignorance having tasted which, he expired. But she had not purposed to give the poison to the king, but to the youth, whereas the head of all the nobles partaking of it first, they both drank of the deadly draught, and both perished through the extremely bitter taste thereof. He being slain by reason of this wicked deed, this most wicked poisoner was smitten with fear, and crossing the seas in her flight with innumerable treasures, repaired to Charles, the most famous king of the Franks.
As she stood before him in his chamber, and offered the king precious gifts, he thus addressed her; “Choose, Eadburga, which of the two you would prefer, myself or my son, who is standing with me in the room;” on which she, without any deliberation, foolishly made answer and said; “If the option were
A. D.
749.20
given me, I would sooner choose your son than yourself, because he seems to be the younger;” on which king Charles is said to have replied: — “If you had chosen me, you should have had my son, but inasmuch as you have chosen him, you shall have neither me nor him for your own.” However, on account of her wickedness, the king conferred on her a most excellent monastery, in which, laying aside her secular dress, and hypocritically assuming the garb of the nuns, she spent a very few years. For as this execrable woman lived wickedly in her own country, so much more the miserably and wickedly was she discovered to have been living in a foreign land. For, a short space of time having elapsed, while by some she was supposed to be performing her appropriate duties, she was debauched by a certain low fellow of her own nation. “Let cloudy error give way before justice; let it cease, in fact, to seem a wondrous thing, that a woman should be taken in adultery.” There is nothing for one to wonder at; “Nothing is there concealed which shall not be known.”
After this, by order of the emperor Charles the Great, she was, with great weariness and anguish of mind, expelled from her holy monastery, and, exposed to the reproaches of all, passed the rest of her life in poverty and misery; attended to the last by one poor servant, and begging daily at houses and castles and in cities, she died miserably at Pavia.6
Brithric, the glorious king of the West-Saxons, being dead, king Egbert succeeded him in the rule and sway, and, springing from the royal stock, placed the diadem of the whole kingdom on his head, being encircled with a most ample crown. For he was a most active man, and, distinguished for his power, he subjected many realms to his dominion. He reigned thirty-six years and seven months.
To Egbert succeeded his most mighty son Ethelwulph, who by his noble wife had four sons, whose names were Ethelbald, Ethelbert, Ethelred, and Alfred, all of whom in turn succeeded to the kingdom.
Cuthred, therefore,7 the above mentioned king of Wessex, after having conquered the most valiant earl Edelhun,8 as I have already9 mentioned elsewhere, when, in the thirteenth
A. D.
749.
BATTLE
OF
BERE-
FORD.21
year of his reign, he was no longer able to endure the exactions and insolence of Ethelbald, king of Mercia, met him, with his troops ranged under their banners, at Bereford,10 having postponed all hopes of surviving to liberty. He also brought with him Edelhun, the above-named warlike earl, who was then reconciled to him, and relying on whose valour and counsel he was enabled to incur the hazards of war. On the other hand, Ethelbald, the king of kings, together with the Mercians, had brought the men of Kent, and the West Saxons, and numerous forces of the Angles. The armies, therefore, being drawn up in battle array, marching straight onward, were drawing close to each other, when Edelhun going before, and bearing the standard11 of the king of Wessex, which was a golden dragon, pierced the enemy’s standard-bearer. On this, an outcry arising, the party of Cuthred was greatly encouraged, and immediately thereupon the hostile ranks closed, and rushed on to mutual slaughter, with dreadful blows and a terrific crash.
In this battle, with all their pride, the Mercians were so humbled, that for a long series of succeeding years fortune rendered them subject to Wessex. Anyone, who had just before seen the ranks shining with coats of mail, bristling with helmets, rough with lances, variegated with standards, and resplendent with gold, might shortly afterwards have seen them steeped in blood, with lances broken, scattered in ruin, bespattered with human brains, and frightful to look upon. With determined obstinacy, and displaying the greatest bravery, they rallied beneath their standards, and waged the combat with swords and battle-axes, and with direful intent line rushed on against line, each side having an assured hope of victory. There was no thinking of flight; the Mercians were urged on by the swelling pride of their proud dominion, the men of Wessex were inflamed by the dread of slavery. But in every direction Edelhun, the above-named earl, penetrated the ranks, and a road lay open, strewed with ruin, while in the dreadful carnage his battle-axe was hewing through both bodies and armour.
Ethelbald, the most valiant king of the Mercians, rushed on in every direction, and slaughtered the enemy, while to his
A. D.
776.22most unconquerable sword arms were only like garments, bones like flesh. When, therefore (just like two fires set in different places, which consume every thing that intervenes) it came to pass that the king and the earl met face to face, each terribly and franticly gnashed his teeth at the other and shook his right hand and put himself on his guard, and with mighty blows they both provoked the attack. But the God who opposes the haughty, depressed the wonted confidence of mind of the haughty king. When, therefore, he could neither recover his spirit nor his strength, while his own men were still engaged, in a fit of terror he took to flight, and from that day to the time of his death, God granted him no prosperity whatever. For, four years after this, again engaging12 at Secandune,13 after a dreadful slaughter of his army, disdaining flight, he was slain, and was buried at Repandun;14 and thus this most mighty king, after he had reigned forty-one years, paid the penalty for his immoderate pride.
From this period, the kingdom of Wessex, being greatly strengthened, did not cease to increase till it had reached perfection. In the fourteenth year of his reign, Cuthred fought against the Britons,15 who, vainly opposing him who had conquered king Ethelbald, speedily took to flight, and deservedly suffered a very great slaughter, without any loss to the enemy. In the following year, Cuthred, the high and mighty king, illustrious for so many successes and victories, departed this life.
Sigebert, a relation of the above-named king, succeeded him, but held the sovereignty for a short time only; for growing haughty and insolent, by reason of the exploits of his predecessor, he became intolerable even to his own domestics, as he ill-treated them in all manner of ways, and either perverted the common laws of the kingdom to his own advantage, or disregarded them for his own profit; on which, Cumbra, his earl, a most noble man, at the entreaty of the whole people, acquainted the cruel king with their complaints; but when he exhorted him to act with more moderation, and to treat the people with kindness, and laying aside his wonted inhumanity, to show himself amiable to God and man, the king immediately ordered him to be killed by an unrighteous death, and becoming more cruel and more intolerable to his people, proved himself a still
A. D.
757.
GEN-
EALOGY
OF
OFFA.23greater tyrant. In the second year of his reign, having persisted in his intolerable pride and wickedness, the nobles and the people of the whole kingdom met together, and upon mature deliberation, by the universal consent of all, king Sigebert was expelled from the kingdom.
On this, Kinewulph, a virtuous young man of royal descent, was elected king. The impious Sigebert on being banished by his people, fearing the death that was the due of his wickedness, took to flight, and concealed himself in a great wood which is called Andredeswald,16 where a certain swineherd of earl Cumbra, who, as I have mentioned, had been iniquitously slain, found the king in his concealment, and recognized him when thus found, and becoming the avenger of his master, slew him when thus recognized. Behold the manifest judgments of God! behold how, not only in a future world, but even in his, he worthily recompenses our deserts. For choosing bad kings for the merited chastisement of their subjects, one He permits to rage for long, in order that both a wicked people may long be harassed, and he, a still more wicked king, may suffer the greater torments in eternity; as, for instance, Ethelbald, the above-named king of Mercia. But another one He cuts short with a speedy end, lest his people, weighed down with excessive tyranny, may not be able to take breath, and by reason of the immoderate wickedness of the ruler, may deservedly incur the speedy retribution of the eternal vengeance; as, for instance, this Sigebert of whom we are speaking, who in as great a degree as he proved himself wicked, was as disgracefully slain by a swineherd, and passed from one calamity to another. For which reason, to the eternal justice be praise and glory, now and for ever!
In the first year of king Kinewulph, Beornred succeeded Ethelbald, king of Mercia, in the kingdom, but only for a short time. For in the same year Offa expelled him, and reigned over Mercia thirty-nine years. Offa, a most noble youth, was the son of Winfred, the son of Kanwulph, the son of Osmod, the son of Epa, the son of Wippa, the son of Creada, the son of Kinewald, the son of Cinbba, the son of Hycis, the son of Comer,
A. D.
763.24
the son of Ageltheu, the son of Offa, the son of Wermund, the son of Widaet, the son of Woden.17
Offa was a most warlike king; for he conquered the people of Kent in battle, and vanquished in war the people of Wessex and the Northumbrians. He also shewed himself a pious man, for he transferred the bones of Saint Alban to a monastery which he had built and greatly enriched, and gave to the pope of Rome, the vicar of St, Peter, a fixed tribute for ever, from each town in his kingdom.18
In the third year of king Kinewulph, Eadbert, king of the Northumbrians, seeing the unfortunate lives and unhappy ends of the above-named kings, (namely, Ethelbald and Sigebert,) and at the same time the praiseworthy life and glorious end of his predecessor Ceolwulph, chose that better part which could not be taken away from him. For having resigned his kingdom, he assumed the tonsure of his head, destined to produce for him an everlasting crown, and put on the dark-coloured clothes that were to confer on him an ethereal splendour. He was the eighth of those kings who of their own accord gave up their kingdoms for Christ, or rather, to speak more truthfully, exchanged them for an eternal kingdom; which eight are in the everlasting enjoyment of the multiplied delights of unspeakable blessings, and their blessed example is worthy of imitation.
He was succeeded in the kingdom by his son Osulf; who after he had reigned one year, was infamously betrayed by his own household, and slain.
After him, Mollethelwald19 reigned nine years. About this time archbishop Cuthbert20 died.
In the sixth year of the reign of king Kinewulph, Ethelbert, king of Kent, departed this life. In the same year, Ceolwulph, who, having resigned his earthly kingdom, had become a monk, departed unto a heavenly one. In the following year, 25Lambert was made archbishop of Canterbury. After having reigned six years, Mollethelwald resigned
A. D.
779.
CON-
VERSION
OF
THE
ANCIENT
SAXONS.21 the kingdom of Northumbria; after him Aelred reigned eight years, in the second year of whose reign, Egbert, archbishop of York, departed this life, after having enjoyed the archbishopric for a period of thirty-six years: Frithebert, bishop of Hagustald,22 also died, after having been bishop thirty-four years.
Archbishop Egbert was succeeded by Adelbert,23 and Alcmund succeeded bishop Fridebert.
In the fourth year of king Aelred, died Pepin, king of the Franks, Stephen, pope of Rome, and Eadbert,24 the son of Hecta, a most famous duke of [East] Anglia.
In the year of grace 769, in the fifteenth year of king Kinewulph, a wondrous mutation first began to take place.25 For the Roman empire, which had for so many years continued to enjoy pre-eminence, became subject to Charles the Great, king of the Franks. This took place after thirty years of his reign, which first commenced in this year,26 and from that time forward, down to the present day, it has belonged to his successors.
In the twentieth year of king Kinewulph, king Offa and the Mercians fought against the people of Kent at Ottanforde,27 and after a dreadful slaughter on both sides, the illustrious Offa was crowned with success. In the same year, the Northumbrians expelled their king Aelred from Eworwic,28 in Easter week, and chose for their king, Ethelred, the son of Mollethelwald, who reigned four years. In this year were seen dreadful signs in the heavens after sunset, of a red color;29 and, to the great astonishment of people, serpents were seen in Sussex.
In the second year after this, the Ancient Saxons, from whom
A. D.
782.26the English nation is descended, were converted to the faith, and in the same year, Withwin,30 bishop of Whitherne, departed this life, in the twenty-fourth year 31 of his episcopate.
2 This passage is probably corrupt.
3 Hexham.
4 Probably this alludes to the king of East Anglia.
5 Meaning Wales.
6 Asser says that he had conversed with persons who had seen her begging there.
7 He now reverts for a period of about fifty years.
8 Or Adhelm.
9 This is an error, as he has not mentioned the victory over Edelhun.
10 Burford.
11 Roger of Wendover makes a mistake in representing Edelhun (whom he calls Athelun) as the standard bearer of Ethelbald, the king of the Mercians.
12 With Cuthred.
13 Seckington; Lambarde, however conjectures Saxwold, in Lincolnshire.
14 Repton, in Derbyshire.
15 The Welsh.
16 This wood is considered by Lambarde to have been in Kent, and the part which is now called the Weald of Kent. The place, however, at which Sigebert was slain is mentioned as Privet’s-flood, and is supposed to be the same as Privett, in Hampshire.
17 Roger of Wendover differs considerably in the names, and gives two more ancestors to Offa before Woden. His words are, “the son of Waremund, who was the son of Withleg, who was the son of Wagon, who was the son of Frethegeath, who was the son of Woden.”
18 This is the Rome-scot, or St. Peter’s pence, which consisted of a penny from each house, payable on the festival of Saint Peter. According to some accounts, it was Ina who made the first grant of it to the Papal see.
19 This is the same king whom he has already mentioned under the year 759, by the name of Ethelwald, surnamed Moll.
20 Of Canterbury.
21 He says previously, under the year 765, that this king lost his kingdom at Wincanhele.
22 Hexham.
23 Before called by him, Albert.
24 The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle calls him a king, but it does not appear of what place.
25 This is a paraphrase for the words in the text, “Incepit fieri mutatatio dexteræ excelsi;” which literally translated, would make perfect nonsense. The text is evidently corrupt.
26 This is wrong; he has previously said that his reign began in the year 771.
27 Otford, in Kent.
28 York.
29 Ethelwerd, in his Chronicle, says, that it was the sign of the Lord’s cross.
30 Under the year 777, he previously calls him Pechtwin.
31 This is probably incorrect; he held the bishopric but fourteen years, according to the Saxon Chronicle.