It is obvious that the very existence of this power would render its exercise an event of very rare occurrence. Anglosaxon history does however furnish one clear example. In 755, the witan of Wessex, exasperated by the illegal conduct of king Sigeberht, deposed him from the royal dignity, and elected his relative Cynewulf in his stead. The fact is thus related by different authorities. The Chronicle[545] says very shortly:—“This year, Cynewulf and the witan of the Westsaxons deprived his kinsman Sigeberht of his kingdom, except Hampshire[546], for his unjust deeds.” ----- Footnote 545: Chron. Sax. an. 755. Footnote 546: Perhaps his own, ancestral kingdom. Does not all this look very much as if Wessex was still only a confederation of petty principalities, with one elective and paramount head? ----- Florence tells the same story, but in other words[547]:—“Cynewulf, a scion of the royal race of Cerdic, with the counsel of the Westsaxon _primates_, removed their king Sigeberht from his realm, on account of the multitude of his iniquities, and reigned in his place: however he granted to him one province, which is called Hampshire.” ----- Footnote 547: Flor. Wig. an. 755. ----- Æðelweard[548], whose royal descent and usual pedantry conspire to make his account of the matter somewhat hazy, says:—“So, after the lapse of a year from the time when Sigeberht began to reign, Cynewulf invaded his realm and took it from him; and he drew the _sapientes_ of all the western country after him, apparently, on account of the irregular acts of the said king,” etc. ----- Footnote 548: Æðelw. an. 755, lib. ii. c. 17. -----