Great Britain -- History -- Anglo-Saxon period, 449-1066 -- Sources
of Sceaf, the son of Noah, who was born in the ark; Lamech, Methusalem,
Enoch, Jared, Malalahed, Cainion, Enos, Seth, Adam _primus homo et
Pater noster, id est, Christus_, Amen.--Then the two sons of Æthelwulf
succeeded him, Æthelbald in the kingdom of Wessex, and Æthelbryht in
the kingdoms of Kent, of Essex, and of Surrey and Sussex. Æthelbald
reigned 5 years. Æthelwulf had sent his third son Alfred to Rome, and
when the Pope heard that he was dead, he consecrated Alfred as King,
and was godfather at his confirmation, even as his father Æthelwulf had
desired when he sent him thither.
860.
This year King Æthelbald died, and his body lieth at Sherborn, and his
brother Æthelbryht succeeded to all his kingdom, and he held it in
goodly concord and great peacefulness. And in his days a large army
landed and stormed Winchester, and the Alderman Osric with the men of
Hampshire, and the Alderman Æthelwulf with the Berkshire men, fought
with them and put them to flight, and kept possession of the field of
battle. And this Æthelbryht reigned 5 years, and his body lieth at
Sherborn.
861.
This year the Bishop St. Swithin died.
865.
This year the heathen army remained in Thanet, and made a treaty with
the Kentishmen, who promised them money for peace. And under this
treaty and promise of money, they stole out by night and plundered all
the eastern parts of Kent.
866.
This year Æthered the brother of Æthelbyrht succeeded to the kingdom
of Wessex. And the same year a great army of heathens came to England,
and took up their winter quarters among the East Angles, and there they
were supplied with horses, and the people made peace with them.
867.
This year the invading army went from East Anglia across the mouth
of the Humber to York in Northumberland; and there was much discord
amongst the people themselves there, for they had cast off their King
Osbryht, and had taken Ælla, an alien, for their King. But late in the
year the two parties joined, and both fought against the army; and they
gathered together a great force, and came upon the invaders at York,
and some of them broke into the town, and then there was a very great
slaughter of the Northumbrians, some being slain within the town and
some without, and both the Kings were killed, and those who survived
made peace with the army. The same year died Bishop Ealchstan, he held
the bishoprick of Sherborn 50 years, and his body lieth in that town.
868.
This year the same army came into Mercia as far as Nottingham, and took
up their winter quarters there, and Burhred King of Mercia and his
Witan begged Æthered King of Wessex and his brother Alfred to assist
them, that they might fight against this army. And then they came with
the West Saxon troops into Mercia and to Nottingham, and they found
them within the fortress, and besieged them, and there was no battle of
moment, and the Mercians made peace with the army.
869.
This year the army went again to York, and remained there one year.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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