The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle
Annals from A.D. 418 to A.D. 495
A.D. 418.
This year the Romans collected all the hoards of
gold14 that were in Britain; and some they hid in
the earth, so that no man afterwards might find them, and
some they carried away with them into Gaul.
A.D. 423.
This year Theodosius the younger succeeded to the
empire.
A.D. 429.
This year Bishop Palladius was sent from Pope Celesrinus to
the Scots, that he might establish their faith.
A.D. 430.
This year Patricius was sent from Pope Celestinus to preach
baptism to the Scots.
A.D. 430.
This year Patrick was sent by Pope Celestine to preach
baptism to the Scots.
A.D. 435.
This year the Goths sacked the city of Rome; and never since
have the Romans reigned in Britain. This was about eleven
hundred and ten winters after it was built. They reigned
altogether in Britain four hundred and seventy winters since
Gaius Julius first sought that land.
A.D. 443.
This year sent the Britons over sea to Rome, and begged
assistance against the Picts; but they had none, for the
Romans were at war with Atila, king of the Huns. Then sent
they to the Angles, and requested the same from the nobles
of that nation.
A.D. 444.
This year died St. Martin.
A.D. 448.
This year John the Baptist showed his head to two monks, who
came from the eastern country to Jerusalem for the sake of
prayer, in the place that whilom was the palace of
Herod.15
A.D. 449.
This year Marcian and Valentinian assumed the empire, and
reigned seven winters. In their days Hengest and Horsa,
invited by Wurtgern, king of the Britons to his assistance,
landed in Britain in a place that is called Ipwinesfleet;
first of all to support the Britons, but they afterwards
fought against them. The king directed them to fight against
the Picts; and they did so; and obtained the victory
wheresoever they came. They then sent to the Angles, and
desired them to send more assistance. They described the
worthlessness of the Britons, and the richness of the land.
They then sent them greater support. Then came the men from
three powers of Germany; the Old Saxons, the Angles, and the
Jutes. From the Jutes are descended the men of Kent, the
Wightwarians (that is, the tribe that now dwelleth in the
Isle of Wight), and that kindred in Wessex that men yet call
the kindred of the Jutes. From the Old Saxons came the
people of Essex and Sussex and Wessex. From Anglia, which
has ever since remained waste between the Jutes and the
Saxons, came the East Angles, the Middle Angles, the
Mercians, and all of those north of the Humber. Their
leaders were two brothers, Hengest and Horsa; who were the
sons of Wihtgils; Wihtgils was the son of Witta, Witta of
Wecta, Wecta of Woden. From this Woden arose all our royal
kindred, and that of the Southumbrians also.
A.D. 449.
And in their days Vortigern invited the Angles thither,
and they came to Britain in three ceols, at the place
called Wippidsfleet.
A.D. 455.
This year Hengest and Horsa fought with Wurtgern the king on
the spot that is called Aylesford. His brother Horsa being
there slain, Hengest afterwards took to the kingdom with his
son Esc.
A.D. 457.
This year Hengest and Esc fought with the Britons on the
spot that is called Crayford, and there slew four thousand
men. The Britons then forsook the land of Kent, and in great
consternation fled to London.
A.D. 465.
This year Hengest and Esc fought with the Welsh, nigh
Wippedfleet; and there slew twelve leaders, all Welsh. On
their side a thane was there slain, whose name was
Wipped.
A.D. 473.
This year Hengest and Esc fought with the Welsh, and took
immense Booty. And the Welsh fled from the English like
fire.
A.D. 477.
This year came Ella to Britain, with his three sons, Cymen,
and Wlenking, and Cissa, in three ships; landing at a place
that is called Cymenshore. There they slew many of the
Welsh; and some in flight they drove into the wood that is
called Andred'sley.
A.D. 482.
This year the blessed Abbot Benedict shone in this world, by
the splendour of those virtues which the blessed Gregory
records in the book of Dialogues.
A.D. 485.
This year Ella fought with the Welsh nigh Mecred's-
Burnsted.
A.D. 488.
This year Esc succeeded to the kingdom; and was king of the
men of Kent twenty-four winters.
A.D. 490.
This year Ella and Cissa besieged the city of Andred, and
slew all that were therein; nor was one Briten left there
afterwards.
A.D. 495.
This year came two leaders into Britain, Cerdic and Cynric
his son, with five ships, at a place that is called
Cerdic's-ore. And they fought with the Welsh the same day.
Then he died, and his son Cynric succeeded to the
government, and held it six and twenty winters. Then he
died; and Ceawlin, his son, succeeded, who reigned seventeen
years. Then he died; and Ceol succeeded to the government,
and reigned five years. When he died, Ceolwulf, his brother,
succeeded, and reigned seventeen years. Their kin goeth to
Cerdic. Then succeeded Cynebils, Ceolwulf's brother's son,
to the kingdom; and reigned one and thirty winters. And he
first of West-Saxon kings received baptism. Then succeeded
Cenwall, who was the son of Cynegils, and reigned one and
thirty winters. Then held Sexburga, his queen, the
government one year after him. Then succeeded Escwine to the
kingdom, whose kin goeth to Cerdic, and held it two years.
Then succeeded Centwine, the son of Cynegils, to the kingdom
of the West-Saxons, and reigned nine years. Then succeeded
Ceadwall to the government, whose kin goeth to Cerdic, and
held it three years. Then succeeded Ina to the kingdom of
the West-Saxons, whose kin goeth to Cerdic, and reigned
thirty-seven winters. Then succeeded Ethelheard, whose kin
goeth to Cerdic, and reigned sixteen years. Then succeeded
Cuthred, whose kin goeth to Cerdic, and reigned sixteen
winters. Then succeeded Sigebriht, whose kin goeth to
Cerdic, and reigned one year. Then succeeded Cynwulf, whose
kin goeth to Cerdic, and reigned one and thirty winters.
Then succeeded Brihtric, whose kin goeth to Cerdic, and
reigned sixteen years. Then succeeded Egbert to the kingdom,
and held it seven and thirty winters, and seven months. Then
succeeded Ethelwulf, his son, and reigned eighteen years and
a half. Ethelwulf was the son of Egbert, Egbert of Ealmund,
Ealmund of Eafa, Eafa of Eoppa, Eoppa of Ingild, Ingild of
Cenred (Ina of Cenred, Cuthburga of Cenred, and Cwenburga of
Cenred), Cenred of Ceolwald, Ceolwald of Cuthwulf, Cuthwulf
of Cuthwine, Cuthwine of Celm, Celm of Cynric, Cynric of
Creoda, Creoda of Cerdic. Then succeeded Ethelbald, the son
of Ethelwulf, to the kingdom, and held it five years. Then
succeeded Ethelbert, his brother, and reigned five years.
Then succeeded Ethelred, his brother, to the kingdom, and
held it five years. Then succeeded Alfred, their brother, to
the government. And then had elapsed of his age three and
twenty winters, and three hundred and ninety-six winters
from the time when his kindred first gained the land of
Wessex from the Welsh. And he held the kingdom a year and a
half less than thirty winters. Then succeeded Edward, the
son of Alfred, and reigned twenty-four winters. When he
died, then succeeded Athelstan, his son, and reigned
fourteen years and seven weeks and three days. Then
succeeded Edmund, his brother, and reigned six years and a
half, wanting two nights. Then succeeded Edred, his brother,
and reigned nine years and six weeks. Then succeeded Edwy,
the son of Edmund, and reigned three years and thirty-six
weeks, wanting two days. When he died, then succeeded Edgar,
his brother, and reigned sixteen years and eight weeks and
two nights. When he died, then succeeded Edward, the son of
Edgar, and reigned --
Notes
|
14
|
This is not to be understood
strictly; gold being used as a general term for
money or coin of every description; great
quantities of which, it is well known, have been
found at different times, and in many different
places, in this island: not only of gold, but of
silver, brass, copper, etc.
|
|
15
|
An interpolated legend, from the
"Gesta Pontificum", repeated by Bede, Florence,
Matth. West., Fordun, and others. The head was said
to be carried to Edessa.
|
The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle
To 381
<<< Contents
>>> 501 to
597
|