The Melrose ChronicleIt was an irreplaceable loss when the venerable

Bede1 stopped writing. Itis our opinion that he was the most authoritative observer of history and aneminent teacher, indeed, the shining star and glory2 of our race3. So farthere has been no one as well qualified to take his place in recording eventsas they happen with any degree of reliability or continuity. This is preciselywhat is required in this day and age as a bulwark against the crassignorance that threatens the labours of future generations and as a tool toremove pressing doubt altogether. To compensate for this deficiency, as itwere, we have turned our attention to the task. We have directed ourtrifling endeavours to tracking down the basic facts as carefully as we canand as far as our natural indolence allows. As a result, of the period inquestion, the three years with which Bede brings his account to a close, webriefly run over the events as they happened. The venerable Bede was apriest and a monk of the monastery of Jarrow, which is also known asWearmouth. It is appropriate that we begin, therefore, with the actualwords of Bede himself. These words, we are sure, are already very familiar.

In the year of our Lord’s incarnation seven hundred and thirty onearchbishop Bertwald4, long since worn out, died on (Tuesday) 9th January.He had held the office for 37 years, six months and fourteen days5. In hisplace that same year, Tatwin of the province of Mercia was nominated asarchbishop. Before that, he had been a priest in the monastery known asBredon6. He was consecrated by the honourable gentlemen bishops Danielof Winchester, Ingwald of London, Alwid of Lichfield and Aldulf ofRochester. This took place on Sunday the tenth of June. He was also a man1 C 673-735 AD v (quick ref) Chambers Biographical Dictionary (Chamb) _ (more comprehensive information) PHBlair, The World of Bede (ed 1990)2 decus et gloria both words could be translated ‘glory’, but something more emphatic is required to encapsulatethe high regard in which he was held by those who followed him. It is one of the great question marks of religious politicsthat his canonisation was delayed until 1899.3 The implications of nostrae gentis are inescapable. Far from being the ‘general expression’ Joseph Stevenson(The Church Histories of England 1850) and others would have us believe, it bears witness to the exclusiveness of allprimitive racist societies. It identifies Bede with Northumbrian Angles and only secondarily with Catholic Christians. Theintention of gens is to indicate ‘pure stock’ in precisely the way German writes of the Nazi Era used die Rasse. _ TheNazi Years 1969 ed J Remak.It is what Irish Nationalists had in mind when they adopted the slogan Sinn Fein! Thevarious contributors to theMelrose Chronicle mostly identify themselves as of the same stock as Bede: we the Angles!4 Berhctwaldus (aka Berhtuald, Brihtwald, Berchtwald, etc) formerly abbot of Reculver. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle(A-S) simply has Beorhtwald ærcebiscep gefor but one version of A-S seems to place the archbishop’s death in 729.5 Quite an achievement considering the life expectancy among Anglo-Saxon tribes of the period.6 Briodun

noted for his knowledge of scripture, for his strict religious life and for hisforesight. Accordingly, the bishops Tatwin and Aldulf were given jointoversight over the churches of Kent7. At that same time, Hingwald8 was

bishop of the East Saxons while Eadbert and Eadhelac are bishops in theprovince of East Anglia and Daniel and Forther are bishops among the WestSaxons. Alwin is bishop of Mercia and Walstod is the bishop of those peoplewho live to the west, beyond the wide river Severn. Wilfrid is the bishop inthe province of the Wictians9. Cimberhct is bishop of the Lindsey10. The seeof the Isle of Wight is held by Daniel who is also bishop of Winchester. Theprovince of Sussex, several years without a bishop, now has Episcopalministry from the bishop among the West Saxons. All these provinces andthe others to the south of the Humber, together with their rulers, aresubject to King Ethelbald of Mercia.Finally, four bishops now oversee the province of the Northumbrians ruledby King Ceowulf11: Wilfrid in the church at York, Ethelwald in the church atLindisfarne, Acca in the church at Hexham, and Pictelm in that one knownas Candida Casa12. This last place has recently multiplied the number ofbelievers to such an extent that it has become an additional bishopric withPictelm as the holder of the office.At present also, the Picts have a peace treaty with the Angles and share thecatholic peace and truth and rejoice with the universal church13. ThoseScots who have inhabited Britain seem quite satisfied with what territorythey have, and are not stirred up to any intrigue or plat against the Angles.

The Britons, on the other hand, from native hatred, assail the race of theAngles and try to undermine the customs of the entire catholic church bytheir inferior practices. Since they are opposed by heavenly and superiorhuman power, however, they are incapable of achieving their purpose.Indeed, although they may be partly a law unto themselves, yet also, inpart, they are virtually in servitude to the Angles.Encouraged by the peace and serenity of the times, many Northumbrians,nobles as well as common people, have laid down their weapons; they aremore inclined to accept the tonsure and take monastic vows than engage in7 Or the churches under the jurisdiction of Canterbury.8 Or Ingwald9 Or Wiccians. The village of Wick in Hereford and Worcester still exists.10 Or of the Lindisfari (lindisfarorum), not to be confused with Lindisfarne (lindisfarnensi).11 Ceowulf, son of Coenred, ruled the combined kingdom of Bernicia and Deira 729 – 737 AD. A-S has Ceolwulf.12 “The place of Ninian’s settlement came to be known as Ad Candidam Casa, ‘At the White House’, now Whithorn.JHS Burleigh, A Church History of Scotland (Burleigh) p6 (OUP 1960)13 Bede, Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Anglorum (EH) 444 The entire temper of this section indicates the essentialAnglo-centric nature of the Chronicle.

military exercises. Time will tell whether this is a desirable state of affairs.But such is the prevailing contemporary situation throughout Britain, about285 years after the coming of the Angles into Britain, 731 years since theincarnation of our Lord, for whose reign the earth is eternally grateful andthe numerous islands of Britain are glad to express their joy.The year 733. There was a solar eclipse on (Friday) August 14th. Ithappened around the third hour of the day14 during which the sun was seen

to be completely covered by an extremely dark and terrible shield.734 AD On (Sunday) 31st January for a full hour around cock-crow themoon was bathed as if in blood. This was followed by its total eclipse, afterwhich it reverted to its own natural light.15

Up to this point we have relied on the actual words of the venerable Bede,the most reliable teacher, we may venture to suggest, not only of theAngles but of the universal church. We have, so to speak, drawn from theclearest spring that is his Ecclesiastical History of our race. What followsfrom this point is taken from various sources, this place and that! In thatsame year archbishop Tatwin died16.735 AD Nothelm was appointed to the office17 of archbishop ofCanterbury. Egberth primate of York was confirmed as the archbishop ofthe Northumbrians. He was the first after Paulinus to receive the pall fromthe apostolic see.736 AD Nothelm received the pall from the Roman pontiff, after which heordained three bishops: Cuthbert, Heordwald and Ethelfrid. The venerableteacher Bede died18 at Jarrow.737 AD Aldwin the bishop of Lichfield died. In his place, Witta and Tottawere consecrated as primates for Mercia and the Middle Angles. This wasalso the year in which Ceolwulf became a monk; he had been a most nobleking of the Northumbrians for seven years. He relinquished his sceptre to

Eadbert, the son of his uncle, who then went on to reign for twenty oneyears.738 AD Suebricht, king of Essex, died.14 Probably terce is meant. The solar eclipse occurred from around 0800 until about noon. In many places in themodern world a total eclipse is viewed with superstitious awe. In medieval times such a phenomenon was invariablyaccepted as some kind of portent of divine intervention in human affairs. "Nothing can be sworn impossible since Zeusmade night during mid-day, hiding the light of the shining Sun." Archilochus 648 BC15 The last two entries are not generally included in the main body of EH. They are found in an addendum, but it isgenerally agreed that they are by the hand of Bede. Stevenson (ibid) omits them.16 ferdon forþ Tatwine 7 Bieda (A-S 734)17 Latin ordinare = to appoint someone to a specific office.18 On Saturday 26 May according to Simeon of Durham (Simeon) (8). A-S places the death two years earlier.

739 AD Nothelm, archbishop of Canterbury, died19. Adulf the bishop ofRochester died20.740 AD Cuthbert (of Hereford) became the eleventh archbishop ofCanterbury in the time Zacharias21. Dun succeeded Adulf at Rochester.Adelwald, the bishop of Lindisfarne was translated to the Lord and Kinewulfwas named as successor to the bishopric. In this same year also Adelard,the West Saxon king, died. He had reigned for fourteen years. Cudredsucceeded him. The saintly Acca of Hexham died; the holy bishop Frithebertsucceeded him.741 AD The monastery of York burned to the ground on Sunday 23rd

April. Ewain, king of the Scots, died. Murezaut his son succeeded him.22

742 AD743 AD744 AD A battle was fought between the Picts and the Britons. In thissame year King Cudred of Wessex and King Adelbald of Mercia agreed to a

peace. They joined forces against the Britons. Murezaut23 the king of theScots died. His son Ewen succeeded him.745 AD Pulses of fire, like stars moving haphazardly throughout the nightof the first24 of January. This was a wonderful display to all who witnessedit. Wilfrid II bishop of York died. Also in this year Inguald, bishop ofLondon, died. The bishop of the Wictians died.746 AD Bishop Daniel of Winchester died.747 AD King Selred of East Anglia died25. He was succeeded by Elfwald26.Ewen, king of the Scots, died. His son Hedalbus27

succeeded him.748 AD749 AD King Edbricht28 of Kent died. He was the son of Wihred. He wassucceeded by Adelbricht. This year also marks the death of King Elfwald ofEast Anglia after which Humbeain and Albert divided the kingdom between19 Almost certainly the death occurred in 740 as in A-S (and lists of archbishops on the internet, eg PJ Large)20 decedo in classical Latin had the primary meaning of ‘to quit, to retire from an office, to hand over, etc’ butalmost invariably in medieval ecclesiastical Latin it indicated the death of the holder of an office.21 Zacharias the Greek was pope from 741 to 752 (the last election to seek the blessing of the Eastern Church orthe first to proceed without it). V HH Milman History of Latin Christianity (1883) pp 1-5. See also the website NewAdvent (Catholic Encyclopedia) for list of popes (the name is given as St Zachary).22 This is added, not quite as a marginal note, but as an afterthought. Ewain is the first of the kings of the Scots tobe mentioned in the Melrose Chronicle.23 This is a marginal note.24 tota nocte kalendisjanuarii Stevenson translated this as ‘the whole of the eighth of the kalends of January [7th

January]’25 746 Her mon slog Selred cyning (A-S)26 Aelfwold in most lists of East Anglian kings was probably a great-grandson of the short-lived King Ecgrig (d. c637)27 Or Hed Abbus.28 Eadbryht Cantwara cyning forþferde 7 æthelbyrht Wihtredes sunu cinges feng to þam rice. (A-S 748)

them. It was also in this year that Kenric, the son of King Cudred of

Wessex, was killed29 in battle; he was of tender years, but of considerablevigour.750 AD Adelbert, king of Northumbria, took Kiniwulf the bishop ofLindisfarne into custody at Bamburgh and effectively closed30 the principalchurch of Peter in Lindisfarne. Cudred contended with the despotic king ofMercia to the point of war. Bishop Alwich31 died. Aldulf succeeded him inoffice.751 AD King Cudred fought against his counsellor32, the most audaciousAdeldun, who had stirred up civil unrest against him. This official was onthe verge of realising victory when he received a wound which allowed thejust cause of the king to prevail.752 AD There was an eclipse of the moon on (Monday) 31st July.753 AD At Bereford33 King Cudred, having reconciled to himself Adeldun,following the aforementioned dispute, opposed the arrogant king Adelbaldof Mercia who had brought with him the men of Kent, Essex and the Anglesas well as his own Mercians. Once they had locked in battle, God whoopposes the proud34 dispersed the forces of Adelbald and Who in doingso…35

754 AD Boniface, also known as Winfrid, archbishop of the Franks, wasgiven the crown of martyrdom36 along with another fifty three people. Inthis same year King Cudred went to war against the Britons37 and caused agreat massacre among them.

755 AD Cudred died bequeathing his kingdom to his kinsman Sigebert.756 AD His insolence having become virtually intolerable, Sigebert theking of the West Saxons was deprived of his kingdom. He fled andconcealed himself in the woodland known as Andredeswald. There he wasdiscovered and killed by a swineherd whose master, the nobleman29 Her wæs ofslægen Cynric Wesseaxna æþeling, (A-S 748) The etheling (aetheling) in Anglo-Saxon England was‘generally any person of noble birth. Use of the term was usually restricted to members of a royal family, and in theAnglo-Saxon Chronicle it is used almost exclusively for members of the royal house of Wessex. It was occasionally usedafter the Norman Conquest to designate members of the royal family—e.g., William the Aetheling, son and heir of KingHenry.’ (Encyclopædia Britannica Online)30 fecit obsideri lit. ‘placed under seige’,31 Of Lindsey.32 consulem . Stevenson is probably correct in translating the word as ‘earl’. Perhaps in modern terms, primeminister’ or ‘chancellor’ would be more appropriate.33 Possibly Burford, Oxon. The actual fighting almost certainly took place across the old county boundary nearWindrush or Sherbourne.34 James iv. 6: Deus superbis resistit humilibus autem dat gratiam.35 The words qui et in fui are underscored for erasure.36 v Milman vol II p 30337 A-S ‘Welsh’. 753 Her Cuþred feaht wiþ Walas.

Humbra38, one is led to believe, this king had wrongfully slain. Kinewaldsucceeded him; he was a distinguished young man39

from royal stock. Inthis same year, the anchorite Baldred40 passed on to the Lord after havinglived the life of the saints. On (Wednesday) 24th

November, the moon in itsfifteenth day was overwhelmed by blood redness.757 AD King Adelbald of Mercia, having been killed at Seckington, wassucceeded by Beornred, but Offa drove him out that same year and insteadkept a firm grasp of Mercia for a further thirty nine years.

758 AD King Eadbert of Northumbria, having accepted the shaving of hishead in the name of God, was created a canon at York by archbishopEgbert. He left his kingdom to his son Osulf. After Osulf had reigned forbarely a year, he was killed in appalling circumstances by his followers onMonday 24th July at a place called Methelwongtune41. Mol Adelwald was leftas heir to the kingdom.759 AD Edelwald, also known as Mol, began his reign in Northumbria inthe month of August.760 AD A really fierce battle took place near the Eildon Hills42. In it Oswinwas killed and Edelwald, who is also called Mol, had a decisive victory.Unnust, the king of the Picts, died this year.761 AD Archbishop Cuthbert was released from the bondage of the flesh.The king of Kent, Edelbert, died. Egfrid succeeded him43.762 AD Edelwald, to whom reference has already been made, tookEthelrida as his queen.763 AD764 AD The extreme coldness, having compressed the snow from thestart of winter almost continuously until mid-spring, made the soilunworkable44. In this year also Ceolwulf, formerly king and later servant ofChrist and monk, passed over to heaven. The abbot Frehelm died. Also this38 Humbram consulem. A-S calls him aldormon Cumbran39 Also called Cynewulf. Contemporary genealogies, always eager to show royal descent, offer scant recognition ofhim.40 St Baldred (feast day 6th March). Called Balthere in the Melrose Chronicle. There is a tradition (v Catholic Online

Saints) that he was a successor to St Kentigern or Mungo as the bishop of Glasgow. The connection is tenuous. Therecan be little doubt that he was a monk in the old Celtic tradition and revered by the monks of Old Melrose. He isremembered in Saint Baldred’s Boat, to the south of the Bass Rock in the Firth of Forth and in St Baldred’s Cradle at theestuary of the River Tyne in the Lothian Region.41 The precise location is unknown, but could be somewhere around Mickleton, near Leeds. V Simeon 448.42 It is simply assumed that the location of Eladunum is familiar, which would suggest that the annal is from a localsource, perhaps from a chronicle from Old Melrose. In every other text the location is qualified: iuxta Mailros (Simeon105)43 In fact Kent fell under direct Mercian rule on the death of Edelbert until 796. The next truly Kentish king wasEadbert II.44 A-S 764 Her wæs se micla winter.

year saw the deaths of bishop Totto of the Mercians, whom Eadbertsucceeded, and Frethewald of Candida Casa who was succeeded byPictwin.765 AD Blasts of fire were visible in the sky. Adelwald45 Mol killed Oswin amost valiant duke of his own people who had risen against him. It was inthis year that Adelwald lost the kingdom of Northumbria which he had heldfor six years. Aldred succeeded him and reigned for eight years. Bregwinarchbishop of Canterbury died. Lambert succeeded him. Two other bishopsalso died: Hemel of Mercia, whom Cuthfrid succeeded, and Adulf of Lindseywho was succeeded by Ceolwulf.766 AD Egbert, archbishop of York, went to his rest in the peace ofChrist. Albert succeeded him. Frithebert, bishop of Hexham, finished hiswork and went to the Lord on (Tuesday) 23rd

December. Alchmundsucceeded him. Frithewald bishop of Chester46 died.767 AD The faithful anchorite Etha passed away peacefully at Creic47 onthe environs of York.

768 AD Eadbert, one time king, died contentedly in the priesthood and inthe service of God. It was also in this same year that pope Stephen andPepin, the king of the Franks, died. King Alcred of Northumbria tookOsgeiva as his queen.769 AD The tyrant Earnred set Catterick ablaze and perished in theconflagration. It was in this year also that the Roman Empire48 and thekingdom of the Franks49 came under the rule of Charlemagne50, son of KingPepin.770 AD771 AD The abbot Sibald died. The lector Ecgric to the fellowship of theelect.King Offa of Mercia brought the men of Hastings51

under his rule by force ofarms.45 v annal for 760 AD.46 Actually Candida Casa. The error was caused by a misreading of another text, possibly a version of A-S orSimeon.47 The exact location is unknown. Simeon (106) places it ‘ten miles from York’.48 imperium etiam romanorum. This may be compressed history, but a reasonable case could be made to supportthe attitude that, in the early Middle Ages especially, the Roman Empire in the West did not cease to exist with the Sackof Rome in 410 AD. That imperium romanorum should be read as ‘Christendom’ is fraught with difficulties and presentsmore problems than it solves. It could be that Charlemagne’s coronation as Holy Roman Emperor in 800 was little morethan recognition by the establishment of something that had been implied for centuries.49 On the death of Pepin the Frankish kingdom was shared between Charlemagne and his brother Carloman whodied three years later, leaving Charlemagne as sole ruler.50 v Chamb p 311.51 hestingi v Simeon an 771

772 AD The chieftain52 Pittell and abbot Sunuthulf passed awaypeacefully.773 AD Hadwin died. He was the principal priest in the church at Mayo.

In his place Leuthfrid was proposed. Wulfeht, the abbot of Beverley, passedover to the Lord. Albert of York received the pall from pope Adrian.774 AD King Aldred (of Northumbria), having lost the confidence of hispeople, exchanged his kingdom for exile. Aedelred the son of Molsucceeded him. King Offa of Mercia fought against the people of Kent in abloody battle at Sevenoaks53 with horrendous slaughter on both sides. Hetriumphed. It was during this year that red omens54

were seen in the skyafter sunset, and awful serpents were witnessed. This was the cause ofconsiderable amazement in Sussex.775 AD The Old Saxons, from whom Angles are descended, were(forcibly) converted55 to Christ. In this year also Cynoth56 died. He was kingof the Picts. And Duke Eadulf was captured by trickery and treacherouslymurdered. Charles57 the most illustrious king of the Franks completelyoverwhelmed the Saxons and simultaneously subjected Bavaria, alreadyconquered by the Franks, to his rule.776 AD Bishop Pecthwin of Whithorn passed over to the Lord andEthelbert succeeded him.777 AD King Kinewulf of Wessex fought against the Mercian king Offa atBenson58 and was put to flight by him59. Ethelbert who had succeededPicthwin was consecrated at York. Adulf, Kinulf and Ecga, militarycommanders of King Ethelred, previously arrested on his initiative, were

treacherously slain by the chiefs Adelbald and Heardbert on (Monday) 29th

September. Hed, king of the Scots, died whom his son Fergus succeeded.778 AD Adelbald and Heardbert, chiefs of King Ethelred of Northumbria,rebelled against their overlord and murdered Aldulf, son of Bosa the armycommander, at King’s Cliffe60. Following on this they killed Kinulf and Ecga,52 dux is a word that can be overstretched or underestimated in medieval Latin. To read it as the later medieval‘duke’ may be to read too much into the word. Nennius has Arthur as dux britorum.53 Ottanford54 A red crucifix according to A-S an 773 (775) Her oþiewde read Cristesmæl on hefenum æfter sunnan setlgonge.55 _ J Hines The Conversion of The Old Saxons in The Continental Saxons ed DH Green, F Siegmund.56 Perhaps Kenneth.57 Charlemagne (Charles the Great) 747-814. v Donald A Bullough, The Age of Charlemagne (2nd ed. 1973)58 Benetune.59 A-S 777 Her Cynewulf 7 Offa gefuhton ymb Benesingtun 7 Offa nam þone tuun.60 Probably Consett, almost certainly not the modern town near Peterborough.

fellow chiefs of the same king, at Hylatern61. At this point the king fled fromthem and they set up in his place Alfwold the son of King Osulf.779 AD When Ethelred was expelled, Alfwold took over the kingdom ofNorthumberland.780 AD The chiefs Osbald and Ethelard raised an army and burned Bearna nobleman62 of King Alfwold. This happened on (Sunday) 24th December ata place called Seletune63. Archbishop Albert passed over to Christ; beforethe death, however, Eanbald was consecrated and accepted the pall thathad been sent to him. Kiniwulf bishop (of Lindisfarne) relinquished thecares of a lifetime and handed over his bishopric to Higbald. Fergus, king ofthe Scots, died and was succeeded by his son Seluad.

781 AD Bishop Alchmund of Hexham went to Christ on (Friday) 7th

September and was succeeded by Tylbert.782 AD A council was convened at Ockley64.783 AD Werburga, formerly queen65 (of Ceolred) of Mercia, subsequently(nun and) abbess, died. In the same year Kiniwulf died peacefully;reference has already been made to him.784 AD King Kinewulf of Wessex was killed by Kinehard, the brother ofSigebert, for no greater reason than that the king had made up his mind toexile him.785 AD Brichtric succeeded Kinewulf.786 AD The venerable Bothwin, abbot of Ripon, rested (from his labours)happily at the end. He was succeeded by Albert. In this same year Adulfwas consecrated bishop at Corbridge by Eanbald assisted by the prominentfigures66, Tylbert and Higbald. He was allowed to return to his church onlyafter he was showered with gifts. Ex-queen, then abbess, Rachtrida died.Kinehard was killed by King Osred in revenge for (the murder of) hisoverlord King Kinewulf. Pope Adrian sent legates into Britain to revitalise61 The location is unknown. A-S gives the name Helathyrn. It could be Ellerby in North Yorkshire. Stevensonsuggests Ellerton and the Andersons (The Chronicle of Melrose from the Cottonian Ms Faustina B IX Facsimile Version)(Andersons) propose Ellerburn.62 patricium63 Location unknown.64 Acle. In Surrey midway between Dorking and Horsham.65 v A Dunbar A Dictionary of Saintly Women (ed 1904). Ceolred died in a fit of madness after blaspheming Christand the Pagan gods in 716. Werburga spent at least 65 years in the convent. Either she was exceptionally old (for theperiod) or married at an exceptionally young age.66 praesulibus. præsul, -is m. i.q. episcopus 1 c.gen. 2 abs. (Vademecum in opus Saxonis et alia opera Danica

compendium ex indice verborum) (vademecum) In classical Latin praesul (Cicero) or praesulator (Livy) was a publicdancer, and in modern American parlance could be translated ‘cheerleader’. The origin of the word may go as far back asthe time of arranged fights between gladiators that accompanied the funeral of a prominent citizen. The commonexpression ‘to dance in attendance to someone’ may have its origin here.

the catholic faith. These were received with honour and allowed to returnhome.787 AD A synod was assembled at Pincanhale67. Albert, abbot of Ripon,passed over to Christ, in whose place Sigred was ordained.788 AD The blameless King Elfwald was murdered by his noble calledSigan. His body was laid to rest in the church at Hexham. At the scene ofhis murder a light could be seen emanating from heaven. A church wasbuilt (there) to the honour of the saints Oswald and Cuthbert. His nephewOsred succeeded him.789 AD Osred fled from his kingdom because of the treachery of hispeople.790 AD King Ethelred was freed from exile and restored to his kingdom.He seized the chief called Eardulf and took him to Ripon where he struckhim down outside the gate of the monastery. His body, however, havingbeen carried into the church by the brethren with solemnly sung dirgesaround him for (the welfare) of his soul, after midnight he was found to bestill alive. Badulf was ordained bishop of Candida Casa.791 AD King Ethelred68 ruthlessly murdered Aelf and Elwin, the sons ofKing Elfwald, in Wonwaldremere69 after having dragged them off from York.

Lambert the archbishop of Canterbury passed over to Christ. Ethelred70 theabbot of Ludense71 succeeded him72.792 AD Osred returned from exile with an army, which deserted himresulting in his capture and death, on the orders of King Ethelred, and hisburial at Tynemouth. King Ethelred took as his queen Elfleda (daughter of)Offa the king of the Mercians.793 AD Fiery dragons were seen in the sky. This sign was followed bytwo plagues: the first was an unbearable famine, the second coming fromthe Danes, that race of pagans, bad enough in themselves, but togetherwith the Norsemen (or Vikings) who, in that same year, destroyed themonastery of Lindisfarne, murdered the monks, and went throughNorthumbria laying waste to it. It was in that same year also that dukeSigga, who had slain King Elfwald, profanely committed suicide.67 Finghall in North Yorkshire.68 Written as Ethredus but underscored for correction.69 Perhaps Windermere.70 Given as Aethelhard in the lists of the Archbishops of Canterbury. v GM Bevan Portraits of the Archbishops ofCanterbury (ed 1908). Not to be confused with Aethelhard who was the earlier bishop of Winchester.71 Louth in Lincolnshire.72 He was almost certainly elected to the archbishopric through the efforts of King Offa, but the consecration didnot take place for three years.

794 AD The people of Northumbria killed Ethelred their king the son ofMol. The noble, Osbald, promoted to the kingship, was expelled from thekingdom twenty-seven days later, following which he donned religious habitand was later made abbot. Eardulf, son of Earnulf, whom we have already

mentioned as having been restored to life73, having been recalled from exilewas made king. Egfrid, king of Kent, died. Eadbrich Pren succeeded him.(Pope) Adrian (Hadrian I) was elevated to the heavenly mansions. He wassucceeded74 by Leo III. The race of pagans, already mentioned, plunderedthe monastery of King Egfrid at Tynemouth. This was not done withimpunity for, through the merits of the blessed Cuthbert, some were killed(in the raid), others were shipwrecked, some of them were taken alive(from the shipwreck) and immediately put to death on the shore.795 AD Charles, king of the Franks, subjugated the nation of the Huns tohimself. After forcing their chief to flee and defeating their army, he thendivided the spoils of war among the poor and the churches. There werefifteen wagons full of gold and silver, each single wagon drawn by two pairsof oxen.796 AD Offa, king of the Mercians, who built the great rampart ofpalisades75 from sea to sea, died after a reign of thirty-nine years. His sonEgfrid succeeded him, but died five months later. It was then that Cenwulftook the kingdom and held it peacefully for twenty-six years. He was thefather of the martyr Kenelm76. Eanbald, archbishop of York died. AnotherEanbald succeeded him. The ordination was conducted by the bishopsEthelbert, Higbald and Badulf.

797 AD Bishop Ethelbert (of Whithorn) died and was buried in his ownchurch77 at Hexham. Headred succeeded him. The people of Rome78 cut outthe tongue of Pope Leo and plucked out his eyes, and chased him79 from73 790 AD74 Perhaps the fastest papal election is suggested in this entry. Hadrian I died on Christmas day 795, his successorwas elected on the fest of Stephen, that is the following day. (v Milman vol III p 51)75 The famous Offa’s Dyke from Liverpool Bay to the Severn, built c 784-5, was intended to mark the boundary ofSaxon territory beyond which were ‘Welsh’ lands, ‘beyond the pale’.76 This son of Cenwulf of Mercia, who died fighting the Welsh in 812, and the Saint Kenelm of the Legend of themonk Wilfin who was murdered in his childhood by an evil sister are two different people; that is provided that thelegend has its base on something more than pure imagination.77 The seat of the bishop of Candida Casa was transferred at some uncertain date from Whithorn to Hexham. Tieswith the British saint Ninian were all byt severed.78 In fact the evil deed was perpetrated by clerical opponents of Leo III and priestly relatives of the previous pope.(Milman vol III. p. 52)78 He was imprisoned in the convent of St Erasmus. (Catholic Encyclopedia:www.newadvent.org/cathen/09157b.htm

the apostolic see. By the power of God, he regained the power of speechand was restored to the apostolic see.798 AD The assassins of King Ethelred along with their leader, the dukeWada, went to war against Earldulf, the successor of Ethelred at Billingtonon the outskirts of Whalley80. In this conflict many were slaughtered andduke Wada was repulsed and put to flight giving Eardulf the victory. Londonwas destroyed by a sudden conflagration81 in which a great number ofpeople perished. Cenwulf, king of the Mercians, devastated Kent and itspeople in a most disgraceful plundering. Having seized and dishonouredtheir king, he added the kingdom to his own. Subsequently Cuthred tookover the kingdom and ruled it for him. A synod was convened at

Pinkenhalhe82 over which the archbishop Eanbald (II of York) presided83.799 AD Brorda, also called Hildegils, a chief of the Mercians died. Anabbot called Mora was murdered in a disgraceful way by his prefectTilthegn. The duke Mol was killed on the orders of King Eardulf. The dukeAldred, the assassin of King Ethelred was killed by Thormund in revenge for(the murder of) his lord. Osbald, one time duke and nobleman,subsequently king and abbot, died and was buried in the church at York.800 AD Headred, the leader of the church of Hexham, died. Eanbertsucceeded him. Alchmund, the son of King Aldred, who was king beforeEthelred, having been seized by the bodyguards of King Eardulf, was killedon his orders. An extremely strong wind disrupted many towns and villages,and ripped up trees by their roots on (Thursday) 24th

December. The sealevel rose above its normal limits and terrible murrain killed off much of thelivestock. King Charles, relying on his imperial84

authority, pronounced thesentence of death on those Romans who had dishonoured Pope Leo (III),but relented on this on the appeal of the pope and instead sent thoseseized into exile.80 Near Blackburn in Lancashire. Written as Billingahoh and Walelei. One version of AS has the location in ‘theterritory of the Northumbrians’.81 This may be the third recorded destruction of London by fire after that caused by Boudica’s assault on the cityc.60 AD and the fire of 675 AD in which the Saxon timber cathedral was destroyed. There is sparse reference to the fireof 798 AD.82 Possibly a location near Durham.83 There is a suggestion of parity with Canterbury, and that the north/south Angle/Saxon divide in England was

recognised and accepted at this time.84 imperatoria fretus maiestate assumes that Charlemagne is already emperor of the

Holy Roman Empire.