The fullest account however of the whole transaction is given by Henry of Huntingdon[549], who very frequently shows a remarkable acquaintance with Saxon authorities which are now lost, but from which he translates and quotes at considerable length. These are his words:—“Sigeberht, the kinsman of the aforesaid king, succeeded him, but he held the kingdom for a short time only: for being swelled up and insolent through the successes of his predecessor, he became intolerable even unto his own people. But when he continued to ill-use them in every way, and either twisted the laws to his own advantage, or turned them aside for his advantage, Cumbra, the noblest of his ealdormen, at the petition of the whole people, brought their complaints before the savage king. Whom, for attempting to persuade him to rule his people more mercifully, and setting his inhumanity aside to show himself an object of love to God and man, he shortly after commanded to be put to an impious death: and becoming still more fierce and intolerable to his people, he aggravated his tyranny. In the beginning of the second year of his reign, Sigeberht the king continuing incorrigible in his pride and iniquity, the princes and people of the whole realm collected together; and by provident deliberation and unanimous consent of all he was expelled from the throne. But Cynewulf, an excellent young prince, of the royal race, was elected to be king[550].” ----- Footnote 549: Hen. Hunt. Hist. Ang. lib. iv. Footnote 550: “Sigebertus rex, in principio secundi anni regni sui, cum incorrigibilis superbiae et nequitiae esset, congregati sunt proceres et populus totius regni, et provida deliberatione, et unanimi consensu omnium expulsus est a regno. Kinewulf vero, iuvenis egregius de regia stirpe oriundus, electus est in regem.” ----- I have little doubt that an equally formal, though hardly equally justifiable, proceeding severed Mercia from Eádwig’s kingdom, and reconstituted it as a separate state under Eádgar[551]; and lastly from Simeon of Durham we learn that the Northumbrian Alchred was deposed and exiled, with the counsel and consent of all his people[552]. ----- Footnote 551: Flor. Wig. an. 957. Footnote 552: “Eodem tempore, Alcredus rex, consilio et consensu omnium suorum, regiae familiae principum destitutus societate, exilio imperii mutavit maiestatem.” Sim. Dun. an. 774. Other Germanic tribes did the same thing. “Sed cum Aldoaldus eversa mente insaniret, de regno eiectus est.” Paul. Diae. Langob. iv. 43. Among the Burgundians, “generali nomine rex appellatur Hendinos, et _ritu veteri_, potestate deposita removetur, si sub eo fortuna titubaverit belli, vel segetum copiam negaverit terra.” Amm. Marc. xxxiii. 5. ----- 6. _The king and the witan had power to appoint prelates to vacant sees._