Part 1

A

LITERAL TRANSLATION

OF THE

SAXON CHRONICLE.

[Illustration]

NORWICH:

PRINTED BY STEVENSON, MATCHETT, AND STEVENSON;

FOR JOHN AND ARTHUR ARCH, CORNHILL, LONDON.

1819.

The following version of the Saxon Chronicle was undertaken by a Lady in the Country, who had only access to the printed Texts. It was far advanced towards its completion before she was informed, that the Public was speedily to be indebted to the Rev. Mr. Ingram, for a Collated Edition of these singularly valuable Annals, accompanied by a Translation and Notes.

Under the expectation of the appearance of a work so much more complete in all its circumstances, the present very limited impression is intended for private circulation, and executed in a form, which, it is conceived, may render it convenient for reference.

THE

SAXON CHRONICLE.

The island Britain is 800 miles long, and 200 broad, and there are in this island five nations, English, Britons or Welch, Scots, Picts, and Romans. The Britons were the first inhabitants of the land; they came from Armenia, and first settled in the south of Britain; afterwards it fell out that the Picts came from the south of Scythia, with long ships, but not many, and they first landed in the north of Ireland, and they entreated the Scots that they might abide there, and they would not permit them; but the Scots said to them, We may nevertheless give you counsel; we know another island eastward of this, there you may live if you will, and if any withstand you, we will aid you that you may conquer it. Then the Picts departed, and came to the northern part of this land, for southward the Britons possessed it, as we said before. And the Picts took wives of the Scots, on condition that they should always choose their Royal lineage on the woman’s side, and they observed this custom long after. And it happened, in the course of years, that a division of the Scots passed from Ireland into Britain, and conquered some part of this land, and their leader was called Reoda; from him they are named the Dælreodi. Sixty years before Christ was born, Caius Julius, the Roman Emperor, came to Britain with 80 ships. He was at first overcome in a terrible battle, and lost great part of his army, and he left the remainder of his forces to abide with the Scots, and went into Gaul, and there he collected 600 ships, with which he returned to Britain, and at the first onset Cæsar’s lieutenant, named Labienus, was slain. Then the Britons took large and sharp stakes, and drove them into the fording place of a certain river, under the water; this river was called the Thames. When the Romans discovered this, they would not go over the ford: then the Britons fled to the wood fastnesses, and the Emperor conquered very many of their chief towns by great battles, and he passed again into Gaul.

1.

Octavianus reigned 56 years, and in the 42d year of his reign Christ was born: then astrologers came from the Eastern parts that they might worship Christ, and the children of Bethlehem were slain in Herod’s search after him.

3.

This year Herod died, having stabbed himself, and his son Archelaus succeeded to the kingdom. And the child Christ was brought again out of Egypt.

6.

From the beginning of the world until this year, five thousand two hundred years were gone by.

11.

This year Herod, the son of Antipater, received the government of Judea.

12.

Philip and Herod divided Judea into Tetrarchies.

16.

This year Tiberius succeeded to the empire.

26.

This year Pilate received the procuratorship over the Jews.

30.

This year Christ was baptized, and Peter and Andrew were converted, and James, and John, and Philip, and the twelve Apostles.

33.

This year Christ was crucified, being about 5226 years from the beginning of the world.

34.

This year St. Paul was converted, and St. Stephen was stoned.

35.

This year the blessed Apostle Peter established a bishop’s see in the city of Antioch.

37.

This year Pilate slew himself with his own hands.

39.

This year Caius[A] succeeded to the empire.

44.

This year the blessed Apostle Peter established a bishop’s see at Rome. This year James, the brother of John, was slain by Herod.

45.

This year died Herod, he who slew James one year before his own death.

46.

This year Claudius, second of the Roman Emperors, came to the land of Britain, and brought under his power the greater part of this island, he also subjected the Orkney islands to the Roman Empire. This was in the 4th year of his reign, and the same year was the great famine in Syria, which is spoken of by Luke, in the book of the Acts of the Apostles. Then Nero succeeded to the Empire after Claudius: he was near losing Britain by his inactivity.

47.

The Evangelist Mark began to write his gospel in Egypt.

50.

This year Paul was sent bound to Rome.

62.

This year James, the brother of Christ, suffered martyrdom.

63.

This year the Evangelist Mark died.

69.

This year Peter and Paul suffered martyrdom.

70.

This year Vespasian received the Empire.

71.

This year Titus, the son of Vespasian, slew eleven hundred thousand Jews in Jerusalem.

81.

This year Titus succeeded to the Empire after Vespasian: he it was who said that he lost the day in which he did no good.

83.

This year Domitian, the brother of Titus, succeeded to the Empire.

84.

This year John the Evangelist wrote the book called the Apocalypse in the island of Patmos.

90.

This year Simon Peter the kinsman of Christ was crucified, and John the Evangelist rested in death at Ephesus.

92.

This year Pope Clemens died.

110.

This year the Bishop Ignatius suffered martyrdom.

114

“Alexander commanded that water should be consecrated.”

116.

This year the Emperor Adrian began to reign.

124.

“Pope Sixtus ordered that the hymn, _Sanctus, sanctus, sanctus_, should be sung in the Mass service.”

134.

“Pope Telesphorus ordered that the angelic hymn, _Gloria in excelsis Deo_, should be sung on holy days.”

145.

This year Marcus Antoninus, and Aurelius his brother, took to themselves the Empire.

189.

This year Severus possessed himself of the Empire, and came into Britain with an army, and conquered great part of the island by battle; and then he built a rampart of turf, and a thick wall thereon, from sea to sea, for a defence to the Britons. He reigned 17 years, and then finished his days at York, and Bassianus[B] his son succeeded to the Empire. His other son died. He was called Geza. This year Eleutherus received the bishoprick of Rome, and held it with glory 15 years: to him Lucius, King of the Britons, sent letters, and entreated that he might be made a Christian, and he obtained that which he desired, and the Britons afterwards remained in the true faith till the reign of Diocletian.

199.

This year the holy cross was found.

202.

“This year Pope Victor decreed that the feast of Easter should be held on the Sunday, even as his predecessor Eleutherus had determined.”

254.

“Pope Cornelius removed the bodies of the Apostles by night from the catacombs, and buried that of Paul in the Via Ostensis where he had been beheaded, and that of Peter near the place where he had been crucified.”

283.

This year St. Alban suffered martyrdom.

311.

“St. Silvester, the 23d Pope: in his time, the Council of Nice was held; also the first Council of Arles, at which Avitianus, Archbishop of Rouen, was present.”

343.

This year St. Nicholas died.

379.

This year Gratian succeeded to the Empire.

“At this time a Council of 150 Fathers was held at Constantinople under Damasus, against Macedonius and Eunomius.”

381.

This year the Emperor Maximus assumed the government: he was born in Britain, and thence he went into Gaul, and there he slew the Emperor Gratian, and he drove his brother named Valentinian out of the country, and this Valentinian afterwards gathered together an army, and slew Maximus, and possessed himself of the Empire. At this time the heresy of Pelagius spread itself throughout the world.

403.

“This year Pope Innocent sent an epistle to Victricius, Archbishop of Rouen, and decreed that men should fast on the seventh day, because on that day the Lord lay in the sepulchre.”

418.

This year the Romans collected all the gold that was in Britain, and hid some of it in the earth, so that none could afterwards find it, and some they carried with them into Gaul.

423.

This year Theodosius the younger succeeded to the Empire.

425.

“At this time the series of French Kings began to reign: Pharamond was the first.”

429.

This year the Bishop Palladius was sent by Pope Celestine to the Scotch, that he might confirm their faith.

430.

This year Patrick was sent by Pope Celestine to preach baptism to the Scotch.

431.

“At this time the devil appearing in the form of Moses to the Jews in Crete, engaged to lead them dry-shod through the sea to the promised land, and thus, when many had perished, the rest were converted to Christianity.”

433.

“Pope Celestine--In his time was held the Ephesian Synod of 200 Bishops, against Nestorius Bishop of Constantinople, at which Synod Cyril Bishop of Alexandria, presided.”

435.

This year the Goths took Rome, and never after did the Romans reign in Britain. This was about 1110 years from the building of the city. The Romans reigned in Britain 470 years in all from the first invasion of Caius Julius.

439.

“Pope Leo sanctioned the proceedings of the synod of Calchedon.”

443.

This year the Britons sent over sea to Rome, and begged for aid against the Picts, but they obtained none, because the Romans were going against Ætla, King of the Huns; and then they sent to the Angles, and asked the same of the Princes of the Angle race.

444.

This year St. Martin died.

448.

This year, at the place where Herod formerly resided, John the Baptist discovered his head to two monks, who came from the east to pray at Jerusalem.

449.

This year Martian and Valentinian[C] succeeded to the Empire, and reigned seven years. In their days Hengest and Horsa, called by Vortigern King of the Britons to his aid, landed in Britain at the place which is called Ypwinesfleot (Ebsfleet): they at first assisted, but afterwards made war upon the Britons. The King commanded them to fight against the Picts, and they did so, and gained the victory wherever they came; then they sent to the Angles, and desired them to send more aid, and told them of the imbecility of the inhabitants, and of the excellence of this land. Thereupon they sent more forces; these came from three tribes in Germany; from the Old Saxons, from the Angles, and from the Jutes. From the Jutes came the men of Kent and of Wight; this is the people that now dwelleth in Wight, and the tribe among the West Saxons which is yet called the race of Jutes. From the Old Saxons came the East, the South, and the West Saxons. From the Angles (whose country lying between the Jutes and the Saxons, remained deserted from that time) came the East Angles, the Mid Angles, the Mercians, and all the Northumbrians: their leaders were the two brothers Hengest and Horsa, and they were the sons of Wihtgils; Wihtgils was the son of Witta, Witta of Wecta, Wecta of Woden: from this Woden the line of our Kings is descended, and that of the Southumbrian Kings also.

“At this time a synod of 630 Bishops was held at Calchedon against the Abbot Eutyches and Dioscorus.”

455.

This year Hengest and Horsa fought with King Vortigern, at the place which is called Ægeles-ford (Aylesford) and Horsa, the brother of Hengest was slain, and, after this, Hengest and his son Æsc assumed the government.

457.

This year Hengest and Æsc fought with the Britons at the place called Creccanford (Crayford) and there they slew four chieftains, and then the Britons forsook Kent, and fled in great fear to London.

465.

This year Hengest and Æsc fought with the Welsh near Wyppedes-fleote (Wippedfleet) and they slew twelve Aldermen, all Welsh; and one of their own Thanes, whose name was Wipped, was killed there.

473.

This year Hengest & Æsc fought with the Welsh, and gained spoils innumerable, and then the Welsh fled from the English, as they would from fire.

477.

This year Ælla, with his three sons, Cymen, and Wlencing, and Cissa, arrived in Britain with three ships, at the place which is called Cymenesora (Cimen Shore, Sussex) and there they slew many of the Welsh, and chased some into the wood which is named Andredes-leage.[D]

482.

This year the blessed Abbot Benedict shone in this world through the glory of his miracles, even as the blessed Gregory relateth in the book of dialogues.

485.

This year Ælla fought with the Welch near Mearcredes-burnan-stede.

488.

This year Æsc succeeded to the kingdom, and reigned over the Kentish men 24 years.

490.

This year Ælla and Cissa besieged Andredes-cester,[E] and they slew all the inhabitants, so that not one Briton was left there.

“At this time the blessed Mamercus, Bishop of Vienne, appointed the solemn Rogation Litany.”

495.

This year two Aldermen, Cerdic and his son Cynric, arrived in Britain with five ships at the place which is called Cerdices-ora (near Yarmouth), and the same day they fought with the Welch. And Cerdic was the son of Elesa, Elesa of Esla, Esla of Giwis, Giwis of Wig, Wig of Freawine, Freawine of Freothogar, Freothogar of Brand, Brand of Baldæg, Baldæg of Woden; and in about six years from the time Cerdic and Cynric landed, they conquered the country of the West Saxons, and they were the first Kings who took the West Saxon land from the Welsh. And Cerdic possessed that kingdom 16 years, then he died and his son Cynric succeeded him, and held it 26 years. When he died his son Ceawlin succeeded to the kingdom, and reigned 17 years; when he died Ceol succeeded and reigned five years; when he died his brother Ceolwulf succeeded and reigned 17 years, and their line goeth back to Cerdic; then Cynegils, the brother’s son of Ceolwulf, succeeded and reigned 20 years, and he was the first of the West Saxon Kings who received baptism; and then Cenwalh succeeded to the kingdom, and held it 31 years; this Cenwalh was the son of Cynegils; and then his Queen Sexburh reigned one year after him; then Æscwine, whose genealogy goeth back to Cerdic, reigned two years; then Centwine, the son of Cynegils, succeeded to the kingdom of Wessex, and reigned nine years; then Ceadwalla, whose genealogy goeth back to Cerdic, succeeded to the kingdom, and reigned three years; then Ina, whose line goeth back to Cerdic, succeeded to the kingdom of Wessex, and reigned 37 years; then Æthelheard, whose genealogy goeth back to Cerdic, succeeded and reigned 16 years; then Cuthred, whose genealogy goeth back to Cerdic, succeeded and reigned 17 years; then Sigebright, whose line goeth back to Cerdic, succeeded and reigned one year; then Cynewulf, whose line goeth back to Cerdic, succeeded and reigned 31 years; then Brihtric, whose line goeth back to Cerdic, succeeded to the kingdom, and reigned 16 years; then Ecgbriht succeeded and reigned 37 years and 7 months; then his son Athelwulf succeeded and reigned 18 years and a half. Athelwulf was the son of Ecgbriht, Ecgbriht of Ealhmund, Ealhmund of Eafa, Eafa of Eoppa, Eoppa of Ingild, Ingild of Cenred; Ina and Cuthburh and Cwenburh were also the children of Cenred; and Cenred was the son of Ceolwald, Ceolwald of Cuthwulf, Cuthwulf of Cuthwine, Cuthwine of Celm, Celm of Cynric, Cynric of Creoda, Creoda of Cerdic. Then Æthelbald, the son of Athelwulf succeeded to the kingdom, and held it five years; his brother Æthelbriht succeeded him and reigned five years; then their brother Ælfred succeeded to the kingdom and reigned 28 years and a half; then Edward, the son of Ælfred, succeeded him, and reigned 24 years; when he died his son Athelstan succeeded him, and reigned 14 years, 7 weeks, and 3 days; then his brother Edmund succeeded, and reigned six years and a half all but two days; then his brother Edred succeeded him, and reigned nine years and six weeks; then Edwy, the son of King Edmund, succeeded to the kingdom, and reigned 3 years and 36 weeks all but two days; when he died his brother Edgar succeeded him, and reigned 16 years, 8 weeks, and 2 days; when he died his son Edward succeeded to the kingdom, and reigned----

501.

This year Port and his two sons, Bieda and Mægla, arrived in Britain with two ships, at the place called Portes-muthe (Portsmouth) and they landed forthwith, and there they slew a young Briton, a very noble man.

508.

This year Cerdic and Cynric slew a British King, whose name was Natanleod, and 5000 men with him; from him the country, as for as Cerdices-ford (Charford) was called Natanleag.

509.

This year the Abbot St. Benedict, the father of all monks, went to heaven.

514.

This year the West Saxons, Stuf and Whitgar, arrived in Britain with three ships at the place called Cerdices-ora, and they fought with the Britons and put them to flight.

519.

This year Cerdic and Cynric possessed themselves of the kingdom of Wessex, and the same year they fought with the Britons at the place which is now called Cerdices-ford (Charford), and from that day forth reigned the royal West Saxon line.

527.

This year Cerdic and Cynric fought with the Britons at the place called Cerdices-leah.[F]

528.

“At this time Dionysius computed the cycle of Easter at Rome. Then Priscian explored the depths of grammar.”

530.

This year Cerdic and Cynric conquered the Isle of Wight, and slew many men at Wihtgarabyrig (Carisbrook).

534.

This year Cerdic, the first King of Wessex, died, and his son Cynric succeeded to the kingdom, and reigned 26 years, and they had given all the Isle of Wight to Cerdic’s two nephews, Stuf and Wihtgar.

538.

This year, 14 days before the March calends, the sun was eclipsed from early in the morning till nine in the forenoon.

540.

This year the sun was eclipsed on the 12th of the calends of July, and the stars were seen at nearly half-past nine in the forenoon.

544.

This year Wihtgar died, and was buried at Wihtgarabyrig (Carisbrook).

547.

This year Ida assumed the government; from him descended the Northumbrian royal line.--Ida was the son of Eoppa, Eoppa of Esa, Esa of Ingin, Ingin of Angenwit, Angenwit of Aloc, Aloe of Beonoc, Beonoc of Brand, Brand of Bældæg, Bældæg of Woden, Woden of Freotholaf, Freotholaf of Frithowulf, Frithowulf of Finn, Finn of Godwulf, Godwulf of Geat: and Ida reigned 12 years, and built Bebbanburh (Bamborough), which was at first surrounded by a hedge and afterwards by a wall.

552.

This year Cynric fought with the Britons at the place called Searobyrig (Salisbury), and put them to flight. Cerdic was the father of Cynric, and the son of Elesa, Elesa of Esla, Esla of Gewis, Gewis of Wig, Wig of Freawine, Freawine of Frithogar, Frithogar of Brand, Brand of Bældæg, Bældæg of Woden. Egelberht (Ethelberht), the son of Eormenric was born, and in the -- year of his reign, he, first of the (Saxon) Kings of Britain, received baptism.

556.

This year Cynric and Ceawlin fought with the Britons at Beranbyrig (Banbury).

560.

This year Ceawlin succeeded to the kingdom of Wessex; and (Ida being dead), Ælla to that of Northumberland,[G] and he held it 30 years. Ælla was the son of Yffe, Yffe of Uscfrea, Uscfrea of Wilgis, Wilgis of Westerfalcna, Westerfalcna of Sæfugl, Sæfugl of Sæbald, Sæbald of Sigegeat, Sigegeat of Swæfdæg, Swæfdæg of Sigegear, Sigegear of Wægdæg, Wægdæg of Woden, Woden of Frithowulf. This year Æthelbriht succeeded to the kingdom of Kent, and reigned 53 years. In his days the holy Pope Gregory sent us baptism, this was in the 32d year of his reign. And the Priest Columba came to the Picts, and converted those who live by the northern moors to the faith of Christ: and their King gave him the island that is called Ii (Iona); it contains five hides of land, and there, as men say, Columba built a monastery, and he lived there as Abbot 32 years, and he died there when he was 77 years old. The place is still in the possession of his heirs. The southern Picts were baptized long before by Bishop Ninna, who was educated at Rome.--His church and monastery consecrated in the name of St. Martin, are at Hwiterne (Whitehorn), and there he resteth with many holy men. Now there shall ever be an Abbot and not a Bishop in Iona, and all the Scotch Bishops shall be subject to him, because Columba was an Abbot and no Bishop.

568.

This year Ceawlin and his brother Cutha fought with Æthelbyrht and drove him into Kent, and they slew two Aldermen, Oslac and Cnebba, at Wibbandun (Wimbledon).

571.

This year Cuthwulf fought with the Britons at Bedican-ford (Bedford), and took four towns, Lygean-burh (Leighton, Bedfordshire?) and Ægeles-burh (Ailesbury), and Bennington (Benshington, Oxfordshire), and Egones-ham (Ensham, Oxfordshire); and he died the same year.

577.

This year Cuthwin and Ceawlin fought with the Britons, and slew three Kings, Conmail and Condidan and Farinmail, at the place called Deorham (Durham or Dyrham, Gloucestershire) and they took three towns, Gloucester and Cirencester and Bath.

583.

This year Mauricius succeeded to the Roman Empire.

584.

This year Ceawlin and Cutha fought with the Britons at the place called Fethanleag (Frethorn, Gloucestershire?) and Cutha was slain there, and Ceawlin took many towns, and spoils, and treasures innumerable, and he returned thence to his own abode.

588.

This year King Ælla died, and Æthelric reigned after him five years.

591.

This year there was a great slaughter in Britain at Wodnes-beorg (in Wiltshire?) and Ceawlin was driven out, and Ceolric reigned six years.

592.

This year Gregory succeeded to the Popedom of Rome.

“This Pope Gregory added to the mass service the words, _Diesque nostros in tuâ pace disponas, &c._”

593.

This year Ceawlin and Cwichelm and Cryda, (King of Mercia) died, and Æthelfrith succeeded to the kingdom of Northumberland; he was the son of Æthelric, and Æthelric of Ida.

596.

This year Pope Gregory sent Augustine, with many monks, into Britain, to preach the word of God to the English people.

“At this time St. Benedict’s Monastery was destroyed by the Lombards.”

597.

This year Ceolwulf began to reign over the West Saxons, and he was always at war, and fighting either with the English, the Welsh, the Picts, or the Scots: he was the son of Cutha, Cutha of Cynric, Cynric of Cerdic, Cerdic of Elesa, Elesa of Esla, Esla of Gewis, Gewis of Wig, Wig of Freawine, Freawine of Frithugar, Frithugar of Brand, Brand of Bældæg, Bældæg of Woden. This year Augustine and his companions came to England.

601.

This year Pope Gregory sent a pall into Britain for Archbishop Augustine; he also sent many divines to his assistance, and the Bishop Paulinus brought Edwin King of Northumberland to be baptized.

603.

This year Ægthan, King of the Scots, fought with the Dælreodi, and with Æthelferth, King of Northumberland, at Dægstane,[H] and almost the whole of his army was destroyed. Theodbald, the brother of Æthelferth, was slain there with all his troop. Never after durst any Scotch King lead an army against this people.

604.