 Book four part two of the history of Britain by John Milton. This Librivox recording is in the public domain, recording by Thomas Copeland. About this time the West Saxons, anciently called Givisi, by the preaching of Barina, Subbishop whom Pope Honorius had sent, were converted to the faith with Kinnigals their king. Him Oswald received out of the font and his daughter in marriage. The next year, note post Christ 635 returned to text, Quichhelm was baptized in Dorchester but lived not to the year's end. The East Angles also this year were reclaimed to the faith of Christ which for some years past they had thrown off. But Sigiburt, the brother of Erfwald, now succeeded in that kingdom, praised for a most Christian and learned man, who while his brother yet reigned, living in France in exile, for some displeasure conceived against him by Redwold's father, learned there the Christian faith and reigning soon after in the same instructed his people by the preaching of Felix, a Burgundian bishop. In the year 640, Edbal, deceasing, left to Erkumbert his son by Emma the French king's daughter, the kingdom of Kent, recorded the first of English kings who commanded through his limits the destroying of idols, laudably if all idols without exception, and the first to have established Lent among us under strict penalty, not worth remembering but only to inform us that no Lent was observed here till his time by compulsion, especially being noted by some to have fraudulently usurped upon his elder brother, Herman Redd, whose right was precedent to the crowd. Oswald having reigned eight years, note, post Christ 642 returned to text, worthy also as might seem of longer life, fell into the same fate with Edwin and from the same hand in a great battle overcome and slain by Penda at a place called Maserfield, now Oswald Street and Shropshire, miraculous as Seth Bita after his death. His brother Oswald succeeded him, reigning though in much trouble, 28 years, opposed either by Penda or his own son, Alfred, or his brother's son, Ethelwald. Next year, note, post Christ 649 returned to text, Kenagils, the West Saxon king, dying, left his son Kenwald with his stead, though as yet unconverted. About this time, Sigiburt, king of the East Angles, having learned in France there is coming to reign the manner of their schools, with the assistance of some teachers out of Kent, instituted a school here, after the same discipline, thought to be the University of Cambridge, then first founded. And at length, weary of his kingly office, he took him to a monastical life, commending the care of government to his kinsman, Egric, who had sustained him with part of that burden before. It happened some years after that Penda made war on the East Angles, they expecting a sharp encounter with Sotz Sigiburt, whom they esteemed an expert leader, with his presence to confirm the soldiery, and upon his refusal carried him by force out of the monastery into the camp, where, acting the monk rather than the captain, with a single wand in his hand, he was slain with Egric and his whole army put to flight. Anna of the royal stock as next in right succeeded, and has the praise of a virtuous and most Christian prince. But Kenwalk, the West Saxon, having married the sister of Penda and divorced her, was by him, with more appearance of a just cause, vanquished in fight, and deprived of his crown. Whence retiring to Anna, King of the East Angles, after three years abode in his court, note, post Christ 648 returned to text, he there became Christian, and afterwards regained his kingdom. Oswe, in the former years of his reign, had admitted to a share of the government with him, Oswin, nephew of Edwin, who ruled in Deira seven years, who was commended much for his zeal in religion, and for the comeliness of his person without the princely qualities, was beloved of all. Notwithstanding which, dissensions growing between them, it came to arms. Oswin, seeing himself much exceeded in numbers, thought it more prudent, dismissing his army to reserve himself for some better occasion. But committing his person with one faithful attendant to the loyalty of Unwald of Earl, his imagined friend, he was by him treacherously discovered, and by command of Oswin, slain, note, post Christ 651 returned to text. After whom, within twelve days, and for grief of him whose death he foretold, died Bishop Aden, famous for his charity, meekness, and labour in the gospel. The fact of Oswe was detestable to all, which therefore to expiate a monastery was built in the place where it was done, and prayers there daily offered up for the souls of both kings, the slain and the slayer. Kenwalk, by this time reinstalled in his kingdom, kept it long, but with various fortune, Forbida relates him often times afflicted by his enemies. With great losses, and in 652 by the annals, fought a battle, civil war, Ethelward calls it, at Brandenfort by the river Avony, against tomb, and for what cause, or who had the victory, they write not. Camden names the place Bradford in Wiltshire by the river Avon, and Cuthrid, his near kinsman, against Tumifah, but cites no authority. Certain it is that Kenwalk four years before had given large possessions to his nephew Cuthrid, the more unlikely therefore now to have rebelled. The next year, note, post Christ 653 return to text, Peter, whom his father Penda, though he even had for his princely virtues made prince of middle ankles belonging to the merchants, was with that people converted to the faith. For coming to Oswe with request to have in marriage Alflada, his daughter, he was denied her, but on condition that he, with all his people, should receive Christianity. Hearing therefore not unwillingly what was preached to him of resurrection and eternal life, much persuaded also by Alfred, the king's son, who had his sister Kinneburg to wife, he easily assented, for the truth's sake only, as he professed, whether he obtained the virgin or no, and was baptized with all his followers. Returning, he took with him four presbyters to teach the people of his promise, who by their daily preaching, won many. Neither did Penda, though himself no believer, prohibit any in his kingdom to hear or believe the gospel, but rather hated and despised those who professing to believe attested not their faith by good works, condemning them for miserable and justly to be despised, who obey not that God in whom they choose to believe. How well might Penda, as he then rise up in judgment against many pretended Christians both of his own and these days. Yet, being a man bred up to war, as no less were others, then reigning, and oftentimes one against another, though both Christians, he warred on Anna, king of the East Angles. Note, post Christ, 654 returned to text. Perhaps without cause, for Anna was esteemed a just man, and at length, slew him. About this time, the East Saxons, who, as above have been said, had expelled their bishop Meletus, and renounced the faith, were of the means of Oswe thus reconverted. Sigiburt, so named the small, being the son of Seward, without other memory of his reign, left his son king of that province, after him called Sigiburt the second, who, coming often to visit Oswe's great friend, was by him at several times fervently dissuaded from idolatry, and, being prevailed on at length to forsake it, was there baptized. On his return home, taking with him Kedda a laborious preacher afterwards made a bishop, by whose teaching, with some help of others, the people were again recovered from misbelief. But Sigiburt, some years after, though standing fast in religion, was by the conspiracy of two brethren, in place near about him, wickedly murdered, who, being asked, quote, what moved them to a deed so heinous, unquote, gave no other than this barber's answer, quote, that they were angry with him for being so gentle to his enemies as to forgive them their injuries whenever they be sought him, unquote. That his death seems to have happened not without some cause by him given a divine displeasure. For one of those earls who slew him, living in unlawful wedlock, and therefore excommunicated so severely by the bishop that no man might presume to enter into his house, much less to sit at need with him, the king, not regarding this church censure, went to feast with him at his invitation, whom the bishop meeting in his return, though penitent for what he had done and fallen at his feet, touched with the rod in his hand and angrily thus foretold, because thou hast neglected to abstain from the house of that excommunicate, in that house thou shall die. And so it fell out, perhaps from that prediction, God bearing witness to his minister in the power of church discipline, spiritually executed, not juridically, on the contempt thereof. This year, 655, proved fortunate to Oswe and fatal to Penda. For Oswe, by the continual inroads of Penda having long endured much devastation to the endangering once by assault and fire, Bebenberg, his strongest city, now Bemberg Castle, unable to resist him, with many rich presence offered to buy his peace, which not accepted by the pagan, who intended nothing but destruction to that king, though more than once in affinity with him, turning gifts into vows, he implores divine assistance, devoting, if he were delivered from his enemy, a child of one year old, his daughter, to be a nun, and twelve portions of land were on to build monasteries. His vows, as may be thought, found better a success than his proffered gifts, for hereupon with his son Alfred, gathering a small power, he encountered and discomforted the merchants, thirty times exceeding his in number, and led on by expert captains at a place called Laves, now leads in Yorkshire. Besides this, Ethelwald, the son of Oswald, who ruled in Deira, took part with the merchants, but in the fight withdrew his forces and in a safe place expected the event, with which unseasonable retreat the merchants, perhaps terrified and misdouting more danger, fled, many of their commanders, with Penda himself, being slain, among whom was Edelkeer, the brother of Anna, who ruled after him the East Angles and was the author of this war, and many more flying were drowned in the river, which be to calls Winwood, then swole above its banks. The death of Penda, who had been the death of so many good kings, made General rejoicing as the song witnessed, at the river Winwood Anna was avenged. To Edelkeer succeeded Ethelwald, his brother, in the East Angles. To Sigiburt, in the East Saxons, Swidhelm, the son of Sexboltseth Bede, the brother of Sigiburt, Seth Momsbury, he was baptized by Kedah, then residing in the kingdom of the East Angles, and by Ethelwald the king received out of the font. But Oswald, in the strength of his late victory, within three years after, note, post Christ 658, returned to text, subdued all Mercia, and of the Pictish nation, greatest part, at which time he gave to Peda, his son-in-law, the kingdom of South Mercia, divided from the northern by the river Trent. But Peda, the spring following, as was said, by the treason of his wife, the daughter of Oswald, married by him for a special Christian, on the Feast of Easter, not protected by the holy time, was slain. Note, post Christ 659, returned to text. The Mercian nobles, Yimin, Eba, and Edber, throwing off the government of Oswald, set up Wolfer, the other son of Penda, to be their king, whom till then they had kept hid, and with him adhered to the Christian faith. Kenwalk, the West Saxon, now settled at home and desirous to enlarge his dominion, prepares against the Britons, joins battle with them at Penn in Summercetcher, and overcoming pursues them to Pedrida. Another fight he had with them before, had a place called Wittgernsburg, barely mentioned by the monk of Lomsbury. Nor was it long ere he fell at variance with Wolfer, the son of Penda, his old enemy, scarce yet warm in his throne, fought with him at Possensburg on the Easter holidays, note, post Christ 661, returned to text, and, as Eltha would set, took him prisoner. But the Saxon annals, quite otherwise, say that Wolfer, winning the field, wasted the West Saxon country as far as Eskeston, and not staying there, took and wasted the Isle of White, but causing the inhabitants to be baptized, who had till then been unbelievers, gave the island to Eltha Wolf, king of the South Saxons, whom he had received out of the font. The year 664, a synod of Scottish and English bishops in the presence of Oswe and Alfred, his son, was held at a monastery in those parts to debate on what day Easter should be kept. A controversy which long before had disturbed the Greek and Latin churches, wherein the Scots not agreeing with the way of Rome, nor yielding to the disputants on that side to whom the king most inclined, such as were bishops here, resigned, and returned home with their disciples. Another clerical question was there, also much controverted, not so superstitious, in my opinion, as ridiculous, about the right shaving of crowns. The same year was seen an eclipse of the sun in May, followed by a sore pestilence beginning in the south, but spreading to the north, and over all Ireland, with great mortality, in which time the East Saxons, after Switham's decease, being governed by Sigurd, the son of Sigurd the small, and Sebi of Seward, though both subject to the Mercians. Sigurd and his people, unsteady of faith, supposing that this plague was come upon them for renouncing their old religion, fell off the second time to infidelity, which the Mercian king, Wolfer, understanding, sent Geromonos, a faithful bishop, who, with other his fellow laborers, by sound doctrine and gentle dealing, soon recured them of their second relapse. In Kent, a convert expiring was succeeded by his son, Ackbert, in whose fourth year, note, post Christ 668, the eight is illegible, returned to text. By means of Theodore, a learned Greekish monk of Tarsus, whom both Italian had ordained Archbishop of Canterbury, the Greek and Latin tongue with other liberal arts, arithmetic, music, astronomy, and the like, began first to flourish among the Saxons, as did also the whole land, under potent and religious kings, more than ever before, as Peter affirms, till his own days. Two years after, note, post Christ 670, returned to text. In Northumberland, died Oswe. Much addicted to Romish rites, and resolved, had his disease released him, to have ended his days in Rome. Eckfred, the eldest of his son's begotten wedlock, succeeded him. After other three years, note, post Christ 673, returned to text. Eckbert, in Kent, deceasing, left nothing memorable behind him, but the general suspicion, to have slain or connived at the slaughter of his uncle's two sons, Albert and Egilbright. In recompense were of, he gave to the mother of them, part of Tannet, wherein to build an abbey. The kingdom fell to his brother Lothair. And much about this time, by the best account should be, however placed in Eda, that Eckfred of Northumberland, having war with the Mercian Wolfer, won from him Lindsay, and the country thereabout. Sebi, having reigned over the east Saxons thirty years, not long before his death, though he had long before desired to do so, took on him the habit of a monk, and drew his wife at length, though unwilling, to the same devotion. Kenwalk, also dying, left the government to Sexburg, his wife, who outlived him in it, but one year, having been driven out, set Matthew of Westminster, spelled M-A-T period, W-E-S-T-M period, by the noble's disdaining female government. After whom, several petty kings, as Beda calls them, for ten years' space, divided the west Saxons. Note, post Christ 673, return to text. Others named too Esquin, the nephew of Kinnigils, and Kentwin, the son, not petty by their deeds, for Esquin fought a battle with Wolfer, note, post Christ 676, return to text, at Bedenhouda, and about a year after, both deceased. But Wolfer, not without a stain left behind him, of selling the bishopric of London to Winnie, the first Simonist we read of in this story. Kenwalk had before expelled him from his chair at Winchester. Ethelrid, the brother of Wolfer, obtaining next the kingdom of Mercia, not only recovered Lindsay, and what besides, in those parts Wolfer had lost to Eckford some years before, but found himself strong enough to extend his arms another way, as far as Kent, wasting that country without respect to church or monastery, much also in damaging the city of Rochester, notwithstanding what resistance Lothair could make against it. In August 678 was seen a morning comet for three months following in manner of a fiery pillar, and the south Saxons about this time were converted to the Christian faith upon this occasion. Wilfred, bishop of the Northumbrians, entering into contention with Eckford the king, was by him deprived of his bishopric, and long wandering up and down as far as Rome, no, post Christ 679 returned to text, returned at length into England, but not daring to approach the north when he was banished, he thought him where he might to best purpose elsewhere exercise his ministry. The south of all other Saxons remained yet heathen, but Edelwalk, their king, not long before he'd been baptized in Mercia, persuaded by Wolfer, and by him, as had been said, received out of the font, for which relations say he had the Isle of Wight and a province of the Minari adjoining given him on the continent about Minasborough in Hensher, which Wolfer had a little before gotten from Kenwall. Wither Wilfred takes his journey, and with the help of other spiritual laborers about him, in short time planted there the gospel. It had not reigned, as he said, of three years before in that country, whence many of the people daily perished by famine, till on the first day of their public baptism soft and plentiful showers descending restored all abundance to the summer following. Two years after this, note, post Christ 681 returned to text, Kentwin, the other west Saxon king above named, chased the Welsh Britons, as is chronicled without circumstance, to the very seashore. But in the year by Beaters reckoning 683, Cedwallon, a west Saxon of the royal line, whom the Welsh will have to be Cedwallon, the last king of the Britons, thrown out by faction, returned from banishment, and invaded both Kentwin, if then living, or whoever else had divided the succession of Kenwall, slaying in fight Edelwock, the south Saxon who opposed him in their aid, but soon after was repulsed by two of his captains, Bertun and Andun, who for a while held the province in their power. But Cedwallon, gathering new force, note, post Christ 685 returned to text, with the slaughter of Bertun and also of Edric the successor of Edelwock, won the kingdom, but reduced the people to heavy thralldom, then addressing himself to conquer the Isle of Wight, the inhabitants of which till that time continued to be pagans, as be to Seth, though others say otherwise, as above have been related, made of vow, though himself yet unbaptized, to devote the fourth part of that island and the spoils thereof to holy uses. Conquest obtained, paying his vow, as then was the belief, he gave his fourth to Bishop Wilfred, who was by chance there present, and the bishop gave it to Bertwin, a priest, his sister's son, with commission to baptize all the vanquished who meant to save their lives. But the two young sons of Arwald, king of that island, met with much more hostility, for they, at the enemy's approach, flying out of the Isle, and being betrayed as to the place where they were hid, which was not far from Benz, were led to Cedwallon, who lay then under Cura some wounds received, and by his appointment, after instruction and baptism first given them, were harshly put to death, which the youths are said with the courage, above their age, to have Christianly suffered. In Kent, Lothair died this year of his wounds received in the fight against the South Saxons, led on by Edric, who, descending from Hermenred, it seems, challenged the crown and wore it, though not commendably, one year and a half. But, coming to a violent death, note, post Christ's 685 return to text, left the land exposed to prey, either to homebred usurpers, or to neighboring invaders, among whom Cedwallon, taking advantage from their civil distempers, and marching easily through the country of the South Saxons, who he had subdued, sorely harassed the country, which had, of a long time, been untouched by any hostile incursion. But the Kentish men, all parties uniting against a common enemy, with joint power so opposed him that he was constrained to retire back. His brother, Molo, in the flight, with twelve men in his company seeking shelter in the house, was beset, and therein burnt by the pursuers. Cedwallon, much troubled at so great a loss, recalling and soon rallying his disordered forces, returned fiercely upon the chasing enemy. Note, post Christ's 686 return to text. Nor could he be got out of the province till, both by fire and sword, he had avenged the death of his brother. At length, note, post Christ's 686 return to text. Victor, the son of Edward, attaining the kingdom, both settled at home all things in peace, and secured his borders from all outward hostility. While thus Cedwallon disquieted both west and east, after his winning the crown, Eckfred the Northumbrian and Ethelrid the Mercian fought a sole battle by the river Trent, where in Elfwin, brother to Eckfred, a youth of eighteen years, much beloved, was slain. And that accident, being likely to occasion much more shedding of blood, peace was happily made up by the grave exhortation of Archbishop Theodore, a pecuniary fine only being paid to Eckfred, as some satisfaction for the loss of his brother's life. Another adversity befell Eckfred in his family, by means of Etheldrith his wife, King Anna's daughter, who, having taken him for her husband, and professing to love him above all other men, persisted during twelve years in the obstinate refusal of his bed, thereby thinking to live the pure of life. So, perversely, then, was Chastity instructed against the Apostle's rule. At length, obtaining of him with much importunity her departure, she veiled herself a nun, and, being then made Abbas of Elie, died seven years after of the pestilence, and might with better warrant have kept faithfully her undertaken wedlock, though now canonized by the name of St. Audrey of Elie. In the meanwhile, Eckfred had sent Vertus with the power to subdue Ireland, a harmless nation, Seth Bita, and ever friendly to the English, in both which qualities they seemed to have left a posterity much unlike them at this day. The inhabitants of Ireland seeing their country to be miserably wasted by these invaders, without regard had to places how little profane, they betook themselves partly to their weapons, and partly to implore divine aid, and, as was thought, obtained it in their full avengement upon Eckfred. For he, the next year, against the minded persuasion of his sages' friends, and especially of Codbert, a famous bishop of that age, marching unadvisably against the Picts, who long before had been subject to Northumberland, was by them, feigning flight, drawn unawares into narrow straits overtopped with hills, and cut off with most of his army, from which times, at Bede, military valor began among the Saxons to decay. And not only the Picts, who had till then been peaceable, but some part of the Britons also recovered by arms their liberty for many years after. Yet Alfred, elder but base, brother to Eckfred, a man said to be learned in the scriptures, being recalled from Ireland, to which place in his brother's reign he had retired, and now succeeding him, upheld with much honour, though in narrower bounds, the residue of his kingdom. Kedwalla, having now with great disturbance of his neighbours reigned over the West Saxons two years, besides what time he spent in gaining it, weary, perhaps with his own turbulence, went to Rome, desirous there to receive baptism, which till then his worldly affairs had caused him to defer. And accordingly, on Easterday 689 he was baptised by Circus the Pope, and his name changed to Peter. All which notwithstanding, surprised with the disease, he outlived not the ceremony which he had so far sought much above the space of five weeks, but died there in the 30th year of his age, and in the Church of St. Peter was there buried, with a large epitaph upon his tomb. Him succeeded Aina of the royal family, and from the time of his coming in for many years oppressed the land with like grievances, as Kedwalla had done before him, in so much that in those times there was no bishop among them. His first expedition was into Kent, to demand satisfaction for the burning of Molo. Victory, loath to hazard all for the rash act of a few, delivered up 30 of those that could be found accessory, or as others say, pacified Aina with a great sum of money. Meanwhile, at the incitement of Eckbert, a devout monk, Wilbrod, a priest eminent for learning, passed over at sea having twelve others in company, with intent to preach the Gospel in Germany. Note, post Christ 694 returned to text, and coming to Pepin, chief regent of the Franks, who a little before had conquered the Hither Frisian, by his countenance of protection, and with the promise also of many benefits to them who should believe, they found the work of conversion much the easier, and Wilbrod obtained the first bishopry in that nation. But two priests, each of them hewled by name, and for distinctions, surname from the color of their hair, the black and the white, by his example piously affected to the souls of their countrymen, the old Saxons, at their coming hither to convert them, met with much worse entertainment. For in the house of a farmer, who had promised to convey them as the desire to the governor of that country, being discovered by their daily ceremonies to be Christian priests, and the cause of their coming being suspected, they were by him and his heathen neighbors cruelly butchered, yet were not unevented. For the governor, enraged at such violence, offered to his strangers, sending armed men, slew all those inhabitants. And burnt their village. After three years, note post Christ 697, returned to text, in Mercia, Austrode the queen, wife to Ethelred, was killed by her own nobles, as Beda's epitome records. Florence calls them Southumbrians, negligently omitting the cause of so strange a fact. And the year following, note post Christ 698, returned to text, Bethred, a Northumbrian general, was slain by the Picts. Ethelred, seven years after the violent death of his queen, note post Christ 704, returned to text, put on the monk and resigned his kingdom to Kenred, the son of Wolfer his brother. The next year, note post Christ 705, returned to text, Alfred in Northumberland died, leaving Osrid, a child only eight years old, to succeed him. Four years after which, note post Christ 709, returned to text, Kenred, having a while with praise, governed the Mercian kingdom, went to Rome in the time of Pope Constantine, and was shorn a monk, and in that condition spent there the residue of his days. Keldred succeeded him, the son of Ethelred, who had reigned the next before. With Kenred went Offa, the son of Sigur, king of the East Saxons, and betook him to the same habit, leaving his wife and native country. A comely person in the prime of his youth, much desired of the people, and such was his virtue by report that he might have otherwise been worthy to abrade. Ina, the West Saxon, one year after, note post Christ 710, returned to text, fought a battle which was at first doubtful, but at last successful against Garant, king of Wales. The next year, note post Christ 711, returned to text, Bertfrid, another Northumbrian captain, fought with the Picts and slaughtered them Seth Hunterton to the full avengement of Ekfrid's death. The fourth year after, note, post Christ 715, returned to text. Ina had another doubtful and cruel battle at Wundersburg in Wiltshire, with Keldred the Mercian who died the year following a lamentable death. Note, post Christ 716, returned to text. For as he sat one day feasting with his nobles, suddenly possessed with an evil spirit, he expired in despair as Boniface, Archbishop of Mence, an Englishman, who taxes him for a defiler of nuns, writes by way of caution to Ethelbald, his next of kin who succeeded him. Osrid also, a young Northumbrian king slain by his Kindred in the eleventh of his reign for his vicious life and incest committed with nuns, was by Kindred succeeded and avenged. He, reigning two years, left Osrid in his room. Note, post Christ 718, returned to text. In whose seventh year it beat a calculate right, Pictrid, king of Kent, deceased, having reigned 34 years and some part of them with Swabard, as Beda testifies. Note, post Christ 725, returned to text. He left behind him three sons, Ethelbert, Edbert and Albrecht, his heirs. Three years after which, note, post Christ 728, returned to text. Appeared two comets about the son, terrible to behold, the one before him in the morning, the other after him in the evening, for the space of two weeks in January, bending their blaze toward the norm, at which time the Saracens furiously invaded France, that were expelled soon after with great overthrow. The same year in Northumberland, Osric, dying or slain, adopted Kellwulf, the brother of Kindred, his successor, to whom Beda dedicates his story, but writes this only of him, that the beginning and the process of his reign met with many adverse commotions, whereof the event was then doubtfully expected. Meanwhile, Aina, seven years before having slain Kellwulf, doomed Florent, gives the addition of Clyto, which is given usually to number of persons of the royal blood, and the fourth year after having overthrown and slain Albrecht, another Clyto, driven from Taunton to the South Saxons for aid, and having vanquished also the East Angles in more than one battle, as Momsbury writes, but does not mention the year, whether to expiate so much blood or infected with the contagious humor of those times, Momsbury said that the persuasion of Ethelburg's wife went to Rome, and there ended his days. Yet this praise left behind him to have made good laws the first of the Saxon laws that remain accident to this day, and to his kinsman Edelard bequeath the crown, no less than the whole monarchy of England and Wales. For Aina, if we believe a digression in the laws of Edward the Confessor, was the first king crowned of both English and British subject since the entrance of the Saxons, of the British by means of his second wife, who was some way related to Cat Wald of the last king of Wales, which I should not have noted as it appears to me to be unlikely, but for the place in which I found it, note, bead, post Christ 731, return to text. After Aina, by a sureer author, Ethelbald king of Mercia commanded all the provinces on this side the Humber with their kings. The Picts were in league with the English, the Scots were peaceable within their bounds, and of the Britons, part were under their own government, and part subject to the English, in which peaceful state of the land, many in Northumberland, both nobles and commons, laying aside the exercise of arms, who took them to the cloister. And not content so to do at home, many in the days of Aina, clerks and lay ex-men and women, hastening to Rome in herds, thought themselves nowhere sure of eternal life till they were cloistered there. Thus representing the state of things in this island, Vida surceses to write, out of whose writings chiefly has been gathered since the Saxons' arrival such an imperfect account of their actions as hath been here delivered, which is but a scattered story picked out here and there with some trouble and tedious work, from among his many legends of visions and miracles, which toward the latter end of it is so bare of civil matters that what can be then collected may seem to be a calendar rather than a history, being taken up for the most part with the succession of kings and computation of years, and even these uninteresting particulars are hard to be reconciled with the Saxon events. Their actions that we read out were most commonly wars, but for what cause waged or by what councils carried on, no care was had to let us know, whereby their strength and violence, we understand, but of their wisdom, reason, or justice, little or nothing. The rest treating of superstition and monastical affectation, kings, one after another, leaving their kingly charge to run their heads fondly into a monk's cowl, which leaves us uncertain whether Bida was wanting to his matter or his matter to him, yet from hence to the Danish invasion it will be worse with us when we are destitute of Bida, left only to obscure and blockish chronicles, who Mumsbury and Huntington, for neither they nor we had better authors of those times, ambitious to adorn the history, make no scruple-off times I doubt to interline with conjectures and surmises of their own. But rather than imitate these writers, I shall choose to represent the truth quite naked, though as lean as a plain journal. Yet William of Mumsbury must be acknowledged, both for style and judgment, to be by far the best writer of them all. But what labor is to be endured in turning over volumes of rubbish and the rest, Florence of Worcester, Huntington, Simeon of Durham, Hovedon, Matthew of Westminster, and many others of obscuring note with all their monarchisms, is a penance to think. Yet these are our only registers, transcribers, one after another for the most part, and sometimes worthy enough for the things they register. This travail, rather than not know at once what may be known of our ancient stories sifted from fables and impertmences, I voluntarily undergo, and to save others if they please the like unpleasing labor, except those who take pleasure to be all their lifetime raking the foundations of old abbeys and cathedrals. But to my task now, as it befalls, end of book four, part two of the history of Britain by John Milton, recording by Thomas Copeland. Book four, part three of the history of Britain by John Milton, this LibriVox recording is in the public domain, recording by Thomas Copeland. In the year 733 on the eighteenth day of the Callens of September was an eclipse of the sun about the third hour of day, obscuring almost his whole orb as with a black shield. Ethelbald, king of Mercia, besieged and took the castle, or town, of Summerton. And two years after, note, post Christ 735 returned to text, Beda, our historian, died, some say the year before. Kellwulf, in Northumberland, three years after, note, post Christ 738 returned to text, became a monk in Lindisfar, yet none of the severest, for he brought those monks from milk and water to wine and ale, in which, doctor, no doubt, they were soon docile and well-might, for Kellwulf brought with him good provision, great treasure and revenues of land recited by Simeon, yet all under pretence of following, I use the author's words, who were Christ by voluntary poverty. No marvel, then, if such applause were given by monkish writers to kings turning monks and much cunning, perhaps used to allure them. To Edbert, his uncle's son, he left the kingdom, whose brother, Eckbert, Archbishop of York, built a library there. But two years after, note, post Christ 740 returned to text, while Edbert was busied in war against the pigs. Ethelbald, the Mercian by foul fraud, assaulted part of Northumberland in his absence, as the supplement to beat his epitome records. In the kingdom of the West Saxons, Edelard, who succeeded Ina, having been much molested in the beginning of his reign with herbellion of Oswald as kinsmen, who contended with him for the right of succession, overcoming at last those troubles died in peace in the year 741, leaving Cuthrid one of the same lineage to succeed him. Who at first had much war with Ethelbald the Mercian and various success, but joining with him in a league two years after, note, post Christ 743 returned to text, made war on the Welsh, over whom Huntington doubts not to give them a great victory. And Simeon reports another battle fought between Britons and pigs in the year ensuing. Now was the kingdom of the East Saxons drawing to a period. For Sigard and Senfrid, the son of Sebi, having reigned a while and after them young Offa, who soon quitted his kingdom to go to Rome with Canrid, as it had been said, the government was conferred on Selratt, son of Sigbert the Good, who having ruled 38 years came to a violent death. Note, post Christ 746 returned to text, how or wherefore is not set down. After whom Swithrid was the last king, driven out by Eckbert the West Saxon. But London with the country's adjacent obeyed the Mercians, till they also were dissolved. Cuthrid had now reigned about nine years, note, post Christ 748 returned to text, when Kenric his son, a valiant young prince, was in a military tumult slain by his own soldiers. The same year, Edbert dying in Kent, his brother Edelbert reigned in his stead. But after two years, note, post Christ 750 returned to text, the other Edbert in Northumberland, whose war with the Picts had been above mentioned, made now such progress there as to subdue Kyle, so set the Octary of Bede and other counties thereabout, to his dominion, while Cuthrid the West Saxon had a fight with Ethelon, one of his nobles. Note, post Christ 752 returned to text, a stunt warrior envied by him in some matter of the Commonwealth, as far as by the Latin of Ethelward can be understood, others interpreted sedition, and with much ado overcoming, took Ethelon for his valor into favor, by whom faithfully served in the twelfth or thirteenth of his reign, he encountered in a set battle with Ethelbal, the Mercian, at Belford, now Berford, in Oxfordshire. One year after, note, post Christ 753 returned to text, against the Welch, which was the last but one of his life. Huntingdon, as his manner is to comment upon the anal text, makes a terrible description of that fight between Cuthrid and Ethelbal, and the prowess of Ethelon at Belford, but so effectively and therefore suspiciously that I hold it not worth rehearsal, and both in that and the latter conflict, he gives victory to Cuthrid, after whom Sigbert, it is uncertain by what right, as his kinsmen, Seth Florent, stepped into the throne, whom, hated for his cruelty and other evil doings, Kenwolf, joining with most of the nobility, dispossessed of all his dominions but Hampshire, that province he lost also within a year, note, post Christ 755 returned to text. Together with the love of all those who till then remained his adherents, by slaying Cumbran, one of his chief captains, who for a long time had faithfully served, and now dissuaded him from insensing the people by such tyrannical practices. Then, flying for safety into Andrew's wood, forsaken of all, he was at length slain by the wine herd of Cumberland, in revenge of his master, and Kenwolf, who had an undoubted right to the crown, was joyfully saluted king. The next year, note, post Christ 756 returned to text. Eidberth of Norumbrian, joining forces with Unnast, King of the Pig, Caesimion writes, besieged and took by Surrender the city of Alcoith, now done Britain in Lennox, from the Britons of Cumberland, and ten days after the whole army perished about Nwongburgrig, but to tell us how he forgets. In Mercia, Ethelbald was slain at a place called Secandun, now Secondun, in Warwickshire, the year following, note, post Christ 757 returned to text. In a bloody fight against Cuthrid, as Huntington surmises, but Cuthrid was dead two or three years before, others write him to have been murdered in the night by his own guard, and the treason, as some say, of the older who succeeded him, but many months was defeated and slain by Arthur. Yet Ethelbald seems not without cause after a long and prosperous reign to have fallen by a violent death, which seems to have been the consequence of his having ventured on the vain confidence of his many alms to commit uncleanness with consecrated nuns, besides leg adulteries, as the Archbishop of Mentz in letter taxes him, and his predecessor, and that by his example most of his peers did the like, which adulterous doings, he foretold him, were likely to produce a slothful offspring good for nothing but to be the ruin of that kingdom, as it fell out not long after. The next year, note, post Christ 758, husband, according to Florence, ruling the South Saxons and Cuthrid the East, Edbert in Northumberland, following the steps of his predecessor, got him into a monkshood, which seems the more to be wondered at, as he had reigned worthily 21 years with the love and high estimation of all, both at home and abroad, and was still able to govern, and was much entreated by the kings, his neighbors, not to lay down his charge with an offer on that condition to yield up to him part of their own dominions. But he could not be moved from his resolution, and accordingly relinquished his regal office to Oswald, his son, who at the year's end, though without just cause, was slain by his own servants. Note, post Christ 759, return to text, and the year after died Ethelbert, son of Dictred, the second of that name in Kent. After Oswald, Ethelwald, otherwise called Molo, was set up king, who in his third year, note, post Christ 762, return to text, at a great battle at Eldun, by Melrose, slew Oswald, a great lord, rebelling, and gained the victory. But the third year after, note, post Christ 765, return to text, fell by the treachery of Alcurd, who assumed his place. The fourth year after which, note, post Christ 769, return to text, Cataracta, an ancient and fair city in Yorkshire, was burnt by Armed, a certain tyrant, who the same year came to a like end. And after five years more, note, post Christ 774, return to text, Alcurd the king, deposed and forsaken by all his people, flew with a few, first to Beba, a strong city of those parts, and thence to Kinnot, king of the pigs. Ethelred, the son of Molo, was crowned in his stead. Meanwhile, Offa, the Mercian, growing powerful, had subdued a neighbouring people who are by Simeon called Hastings, and fought successfully this year with Ulrich, king of Kent, at a place called Oconford. The annals also speak of wondrous serpents then seen in Sussex. Nor had Kinwulf the west Saxon given small proof of his valor in several battles against the well sheared before, but this year 775, meeting with Offa, at a place called Bezington, was put to the worse, and Offa won the town for which they contended. In Northumberland, note, post Christ 78, seek, doubtless for 778, return to text. Ethelred, having caused three of his nobles, Aldof, Kinwulf, and Acha, treacherously to be slain by two other peers, was himself the next year driven into banishment. Elfold, the son of Oswald, succeeding in his place. Yet this succession also was followed by civil droils. For in his second year, note, post Christ 780, return to text, Oswald and Athelherd, two noblemen, raising forces against him, routed Byrne, his general, and pursuing Byrne to him, at a place called Seletune. I am sensible how wearisome it may likely be to read of so many bear and reasonless actions, so many names of kings, one after another, acting little more than mute persons in a scene. What would it be to have inserted the long bead-roll of archbishops, bishops, abbots, abbesses, and their doings, neither to religion profitable nor to morality, swelling my authors each to a voluminous body, by me studiously omitted, and left as their property will have a mind to write the ecclesiastical matters of those ages. Neither do I care to wrinkle the smoothness of history with rugged names of places unknown, better harped at in Camden and other choreographers. Six years, therefore, passed over in silence, as holy of such argument, bring us note, post Christ 786, return to text, to relate next the unfortunate end of Kinwulf, the West Saxon, who, having laudably reigned about 31 years, yet suspecting that Kinyard, brother of Zidibrithic former king, intended to usurp the crown after his decease, or revenge his brother's expulsion, had commanded him into banishment. But he, lurking here and there on the borders with a small company, having had intelligence that Kinwulf was in the country there about, at Marantan, or Merton in Surrey, at the house of a woman whom he loved, went by night and beset the place. Kinwulf, overconfident, either of his royal presence or personal valor, issuing forth with a few about him, runs fiercely at Kinyard and wounds him sore, but by his followers hemmed in is killed among them. The report of so great an accident, soon running to a place not far off, where many more attendants awaited the king's return, Ozark and Wyvert, two earls hasted with a great number to the house, where Kinyard and his fellows yet remained. He, seeing himself surrounded, with fair words and promises of great gifts, attempted to appease them. But those being rejected with disdain fights it out to the last, and is slain with all but one or two of his retinue, which were nigh a hundred. Kinwulf was exceeded by birthing, being both descended from Kurdic, the founder of that kingdom. Not better was the end of Elfwald in Northumberland two years after, slain, miserably, by the conspiracy of Sighen, one of his nobles, or as others say, of the whole people, at Silchester, by the Roman wall. Yet undeservedly, as his supplicured Hagerstald, now hex of a pontine, and some miracles there said to be done, are alleged to witness, and Sighen, five years after, laid violent hands on himself. Osrid, son of Alcrit, advanced into the room of Elfwald, and within one year driven out, left his seat vacant to Ethelrid, son of Molo, who, after ten years banishment, imprisonment, said Alcuin, had the scepter put again into his hand. Note, post Christ 789, returned to text. The third year of Berthric, king of the West Saxons, gave beginning from abroad to a new and fatal revolution of calamity on this land. For three Danish ships, the first that had been seen here of that nation, arriving in the West, to visit these, as was supposed, foreign merchants, the king's gatherer of customs, taking horse from Dorchester, found them to be spies and enemies. For, being commanded to come and give account of their lading at the king's custom house, they slew him, and all that came with him, as an earnest of the many slaughters, wrappings and hostilities, which they returned not long after to commit over all the island. Of this Danish first arrival, and on a sudden worse than hostile aggression, the Danish history far otherwise relates, as if their landing had been at the mouth of the Humber, and their spoilful march far into the country, though soon repelled by the inhabitants, they hasted back as fast to their ships. But from what cause, what reason of state, what authority, or public council, the invasion proceeded, it makes not mention. And it excites our wonder yet the more by telling us that Sigfrid, then king of Denmark, and long after, was a man studious more of peace and quiet than of warlike matters. These therefore seem rather to have been some wanderers at sea, who with public commission or without, through love of spoil or hatred of Christianity, seeking booties on any land of Christians came by chance or weather on this shore. The next year, note, post Christ 790 returned a text, Osred in Northumberland, who driven out by his nobles had given place to Ethelred, was taken and forcibly shaved a month at York. And the year after, note, post Christ 791 returned a text, Euf and Eufwin, sons of Elphal, formerly king, were drawn by fair promises from the principal church of York, and after by command of Ethelred, cruelly put to death at one wall from here, a village by the great pool in Lancashire. Nor was the third year less bloody, note, post Christ 792 returned a text, for Osred, who not liking a shaven crown, had desired banishment and obtained it, returning from the Isle of Man with small forces at the secret but deceitful call of certain nobles, who by oath had promised to assist him, were also taken, and by Ethelred dealt with in the same manner, who the better to avouch his cruelties, thereupon married Elphled, the daughter of Alpha, for in Alpha was found as little faith as mercy. He, the same year, having drawn to his palace Ethelred, king of the East Angles, with fair invitations to marry his daughter, caused him to be there inhospitably beheaded, and his kingdom wrongfully seized by the wicked counsel of his wife, Seth Matthew of Westminster, annexing thereto a long and unlikely tale, for which violence and bloodshed to make atonement, with friars at least, he bestows the relics of Saint Alban in a shrine of pearl and gold. Far worse it fared the next year with the relics in Lindisfarne, where the Danes landing pillaged that monastery, and the friars killed some and carried away others captive, sparing neither priests nor laymen, which many strange thunders and fiery dragons, with other impressions in the air, seen frequently before, were judged to foresignify. This year Ulrich, third son of Victorud, ended in Kent his long reign of thirty-four years, with him ended the race of Hankest. Thenceforth, whomsoever wealthful faction advanced, took on him the name and state of a king. The Saxon annals of seven hundred and eighty-four named Eilmund, then reigning in Kent, but that consists snot with the time of Ulrich, and I find him nowhere else mentioned. The year following, note, post Christ's seven ninety-four return to text, was remarkable for the death of Afa the Mercyan, a strenuous and subtle king. He had much intercourse with Charles the Great at first in enmity to the interdicting of commerce on either side, at length in much amity and firm leak, as appears by the letter of Charles himself, yet extant, procured by Alkewin, a learned and prudent man, though monk, whom the kings of England in those days had sent orator into France to maintain good correspondence between them and Charles the Great. He granted, Seth Huntingdon, a perpetual tribute to the pope out of every house in his kingdom, for yielding perhaps to translate the primacy of Canterbury to Litchfield in his own dominion. He drew a trench of wondrous length between Mercyre and the British confines from sea to sea. Eckforth, the son of Afa, a prince of great hope, who also had been crowned nine years before his father's decease, restoring to the church what his father had seized on, yet within four months by a sickness ended his reign, and to Kennolf, next in the right of the same progeny, bequeathed his kingdom. Meanwhile, the Danish pirates, who still wasted Northumberland, venturing on shore to spoil another monastery at the mouth of the River Don, were assailed by the English, and their chief captains slain on the place. Then returning to sea, where most of them shipwrecked, others driven again on shore, were put all to the sword. Simeon attributes this their punishment to the power of St. Cudbert, offended with them for the rifling his convent. Two years after this died Ethelred. Note, post Christ 796, return to text. Twice king, but not exempted at last from the fate of many of his predecessors, being miserably slain by his people. Some say deservedly, as not unconscious with them who trained Osred to his ruin. Osbold, a nobleman exalted to the throne, and in less than a month deserted and expelled, was forced to fly from Lindisfarne by sea to the Pictish king, and died an abbot. Eerdolf, whom Ethelred six years before had commanded to be put to death at Ripon before the abigate, dead as was supposed, and with solemn dirge carried into the church, and yet after midnight found there alive, I mean not how, then banished, now called, was in York created king. In Kent, Ethelbert, or Pren, whom the annals call Edbright, so different they often are from one another, both in timing and in naming, by some means having usurped regal power, after two years' reign contending with Kenoff the mercy, and most by him taken prisoner, and soon after, out of pious commiseration, let go. But not being received of his own, what became of him, mom's brailleves in doubt. Asymian writes that Kenoff commanded to put out his eyes and lob off his hands, but whether the sentence were executed or not is left much in doubt by his want of expression. The second year after this, they in Northumberland who had conspired against Ethelred, note post-price 798, returned to text. Now also raising more against Eerdolf, under Wada, their chief captain, after much havoc on either side at Longhoe, near Whaley in Lancashire, the conspirators at last flying, Eerdolf returned with victory. The same year London, with a great multitude of her inhabitants, by a sudden fire was consumed. The year 800 made way for great alteration in England, uniting her seven kingdoms into one by Eckbert, the famous West Saxon. Him, Berthrich, dying childless, left next to reign, the only survivor of that lineage, descended from Inagild, the brother of King Ina. And according to his birth liberally bred, he began early from his youth to give signal hopes of more than ordinary worth growing up in him, which Berthrich fearing, and with all his juster title to the crown, secretly sought his life, and Eckbert, perceiving, fled to Alpha, the Mercian. But he, having married Edburg, his daughter, to Berthrich, easily gave ear to his ambassadors, coming to require Eckbert. He again put to his shifts, escaped thence into France, but after three years' banishment there, which perhaps contributed much to his education, Charles the Great then reigning, he was called over by the public voice, for Berthrich was newly dead, and with general applause, created King of the West Saxons. The same day, Ethelman, at Kinner's Fort, passing over with the Worcestershire men, was met by Wellestown, another nobleman, with those of Wiltshire, between whom happened a great fray, wherein the Wiltshire men overcame, but both dukes were slain, and no reason of their quarrel was assigned. Such bickering to recount, met often in these our writers, what more worth is it than to chronicle the wars of kites or crows flocking and fighting in the air? The year following, note, post-Christ, 801 returned to text. Eerdorf, the Northumbrian, leading forth an army against Kenwolf, the Mercian, for harboring certain of his enemies, by the diligent mediation of other princes and prelates, arms were laid aside, and amity soon swore between them. But Edeberger, the wife of Berthrich, a woman every way wicked in malice, especially cruel, could not, or cared not to, appease the general hatred justly conceived against her, having been accustomed in her husband's day to accuse any whom she spited, and not prevailing to his ruin, her practice was, by poison, secretly to contrive his death. It fortuned that the king, her husband, lighting on a cup which she had tempered, not for him, but for one of his great favourites, whom she could not harm by accusing, sipped thereof only, and, in a while after, still pining away, ended his days. The favourite, drinking deeper, found speedier its fatal effect. She, fearing to be questioned for these acts, fled over sea with what treasure she had to Charles the Great, whom, with rich gifts coming to his presence, the emperor courtly received with this pleasant proposal, choose, Edeberger, which of us to thou wilt, me or my son, for his son stood near him, to be thy husband. She, no dissembler of what she like best, made easy answer, worried in my choice, I should choose of the two your son, rather, as the younger man, to whom the emperor, between Jest and Ernest, had such chosen me, I had bestowed on thee my son. But since thou hast chosen him, thou shalt have neither him nor me. Nevertheless, he assigned her a rich monastery to dwell in as Abbas. For that life it may seem she chose next to profess, but, being a while after detected of unchastity with one of her followers, she was commanded to depart thence, and from that time, wandering poorly up and down with one servant, in Pavia, a city in Italy, she finished at last in beggary her shameful life. In the year 805, Cuthrid, whom Kenneth the Mercyan had, instead of Pren made King and Kent, having obscurely reigned eight years, deceased. In Northumberland, Eardulf, the year following, was driven out of his realm by awful note, post Christ 806, returned to text, who reigned two years in his room, after whom Indrid, son of Eardulf, reigned 33 years. But I see not how this can stand with the sequel of story out of better authors, much less that which Buchanan relates the year following. Note, post Christ 808, returned to text. Of Achaos, King of Scots, who having reigned 32 years and dying in 809, had formerly aided, but in what year of his reign he tells not, Hungus, King of the Picts, with 10,000 Scots against Athelstan, a Saxon, or Englishman, who was then wasting the Pictish borders. That Hungus, by the aid of those Scots, and help of St. Andrew their patron, in a vision by night, and the appearance of his cross by day, routed the astonished English and slew Athelstan in fight. Who this Athelstan was, I believe no man knows. Buchanan supposes him to have been some Danish commander, on whom King Allured or Alfred had bestowed Northumberland. But of this I find no footstep in our ancient writers, and if any such thing were done in the time of Alfred, it must be little less than a hundred years after. This Athelstan, therefore, and this great overthrow, seems rather to have been the fancy of some legend than any warrantable record. Meanwhile, note post Christ 813, return to text. Eckberg, having with much prudence, justice, and clemency, a work of more than one year, established his kingdom and himself in the affections of his people, turns his first enterprise against the Britons, both them of Cornwall and those beyond Severn, subduing both. In Mercia, Kenneth, the sixth year after, note post Christ 819, return to text. Having reigned with great praise of his religious mind and virtues, both in peace and war, deceased. His son, Ken Elm, a child of seven years, was committed to the care of his elder sister, Quendrit, who, with a female ambition aspiring to the crown, hired one who had the charge of his nurture to murder him. Led into a woody place upon pretence of hunting. The murder, as is reported, was miraculously revealed, but to tell how, by a dove dropping a written note on the altar at Rome, is a long story, told, though out of order, by Momsbury, and under the year 821 by Matthew of Westminster, where I leave it to be sought by such as are more credulous than I wish my readers to be, only the note was to this purpose. Low in a mead of kind under a thorn of head bereft lies poor Ken Elm, kingborn. Cale Wolf, the brother of Kenneth, after one year's reign, was driven out by one Bernolf and usurper, note post Christ 820, return to text, who, in his third year, is uncertain whether invading or invaded, was by Eckbert, though with great loss on both sides, overthrown, and put to flight at Ellen Doom, or Wilton. Yet Momsbury accounts this battle to have been fought in 806, so wide difference, but frequently found in their computations. Bernolf, then retiring to the east angles as part of his dominion by the late seizure of Arthur, was by them met in the field in slain, but they, doubting what the merchants might do in revenge hereof, forthwith yielded themselves, both king and people, to the sovereignty of Eckbert. As for the kings of the east angles, our annals mentioned them not since Ethelwald. Him succeeded his brother's sons, as we find in Momsbury. Adolphe, a good king, well acquainted with Bede, and Elwald, who left the kingdom to Bjorn, and he, to Ethelrid, the father of Ethelbright, whom Otha perviteously put to death. Simeon and Hovedon, in the year 749, write that Elwald, king of the east angles, dying, Humbiana and Albert shared the kingdom between them. But where to insert this among the former successions is not easy. No much material to determine. After Ethelbright, none is named as king of that kingdom, till they are submitting now to Eckbert. He, from this victory against Bernolf, sent part of his army under Ethelwald's son, with Alston, Bishop of Sherburn, and Wulford, the chief commander into Kent, who, finding Baldrid there reigning in his eighteenth year, overcame and drove him over the Thames. Whereupon all Kent, Surrey, Sussex, and lastly Essex, with their king, Swithrid, became subject to the dominion of Eckbert. Neither were these all his exploits of this year. The first in order sat down in the Saxon annals, being his fight against the Devonshire Welsh, at a place called Gaffelford, now Camelford in Cornwall. Lucoden, the Mercian, after two years preparing to avenge Bernolf, his kinsmen on the East Angles, was by them with his five consuls, as the annals call them, surprised and put to the sword. And with lavish successor, first vanquished, then, upon submission with all Mercia, made tributary to Eckbert. Meanwhile, the Northumbrian kingdom of itself was fallen to shivers. Their kings, one after another, so often slain by the people, no men daring, though never so ambitious to take out the scepter, which many had found so hot, the only effectual cure of ambition that I have read. For the space of thirty-three years after the death of Ethelward's son of Molo, as Momsbury writes, there was no king. And many noblemen and prelates had fled the country, which misrule among them the Danes, having understood, oft times from their ships entering far into the land, infested those parts with wide depopulation, wasting towns, churches, and monasteries, for the Danes were as yet heathens. The Lent, before whose coming, on the north side of St. Peter's Church in York, it was seen from the roof to rain blood. The causes of these calamities and the ruin of that kingdom, Alcuin, a learned monk living in those days, attributes in several epistles, and well may, to the general ignorance and decay of learning, which crept in among them after the death of Peter, and of expert the Archbishop. Their neglect of breeding up youth in the scriptures, the spruce and gay apparel of their priests and nuns, discovering their vain and wanton minds. Examples are also read even in Peter's days of their wanton deeds. Thence, altars defiled with perjuries, cloisters violated with adulteries, the land polluted with the blood of their princes, civil dissensions among the people, and finally, all the same vices which Gildus alleged of old to have ruined the Britons. In this estate, Eckbert, who had now conquered all the south, finding them in the year 827, for he was marched there there with an army, to complete his conquest of the whole island, no wonder if they submitted themselves to the yoke without resistance, injured their king becoming tributary. Thence, turning his forces the year following, note post Christ 828, returned to text, he subdued more thoroughly what remained of north Wales, and of the fourth book of the history of Britain by John Milton, recording by Thomas Copeland.