Chapter17
A. 449. When, therefore, nineteen years had elapsed, Maurice and Valentine18 became emperors of Rome; in whose reign Hengist and Horsa at the invitation of Vortigern king of the Britons arrive at the place called Wipped’s-fleet, at first on the plea of assisting the Britons: but afterwards they rebelled and became their enemies, as we have already said. Now the number of years, completed since the marvellous incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ, was four hundred and forty-nine.
A. 455. In the sixth year after, Hengist and Horsa fought a battle against Vortigern in the plain of Ægelsthrep. There Horsa was killed, and Hengist obtained the kingdom.
A. 457. But after two years, Hengist and Æsc his son renewed the war against the Britons; and there fell in that day on the side of the Britons four thousand men. Then the Britons, leaving Cantia, which is commonly called Kent, fled to the city of London.
A. 465. About eight years after, the same men took up arms against the Britons, and there was a great slaughter made on that day: twelve chiefs of the Britons fell near a place called Wipped’s-fleet; there fell a soldier of the Saxons called Wipped, from which circumstance that place took its name; in the same way as the Thesean sea was so called from Theseus, and the Ægæan sea from Ægeus who was drowned in it.
A. 473. After eight years were completed, Hengist with his son Æsc, a second time make war against the Britons, and having slaughtered their army, remain victors on the field of battle, and carry off immense spoils.
A. 477. In the fourth year Ælla landed in Britain from Germany with his three sons, at a place called Cymenes-Ora, and defeated the Britons at Aldredes-leage.19
A. 485. After eight years, the same people fight against the Britons, near a place called Mearcrædsburn.
A. 488. After this, at an interval of three years, Æsc, son of Hengist, began to reign in Kent.
A. 492. After three years, Ælla and Assa besieged a town called Andreds-cester, and slew all its inhabitants, both small and great, leaving not a single soul alive.
A. 495. After the lapse of three more years, Cerdic and his son Cynric sailed to Britain with five ships, to a port called Cerdic’s-ore, and on the same day fought a battle against the Britons, in which they were finally victorious.
A. 500. Six years after their arrival, they sailed round the western part of Britain, which is now called Wessex.
A. 501. Also after a year Port landed in Britain with his son Bieda.
A. 508. Seven years after his arrival, Cerdic with his son Cynric slay Natan-Leod, king of the Britons, and five thousand men with him.
A. 514. Six years after, Stuf and Wihtgar landed in Britain at Cerdic’s-ore, and suddenly make war on the Britons, whom they put to flight, and themselves remain masters of the field. Thus was completed the fifty-sixth20 year since Hengist and Horsa first landed in Britain.
A. 519. Five years after, Cerdic and Cynric fought a battle against the Britons at Cerdic’s-ford,21 on the river Avene, and that same year nominally began to reign.
A. 527. Eight years after, they renew the war against the Britons.
A. 530. After three years, they took the Isle of Wight, the situation of which we have mentioned above: but they did not kill many of the Britons.
A. 534. Four years after, Cerdic with his son Cenric gives up the Isle of Wight into the hands of their two cousins Stuf and Wihtgar. In the course of the same year Cerdic died, and Cenric his son began to reign after him, and he reigned twenty-seven years.
A. 538. When he had reigned four years, the sun was eclipsed from the first hour of the day to the third.22
A. 540. Again, two years after, the sun was eclipsed for half-an-hour after the third hour, so that the stars were everywhere visible in the sky.
A. 547. In the seventh year after this, Ida began to reign over the province of Northumberland, whose family derive their kingly title and nobility from Woden.
A. 552. Five years after, Cenric fought against the Britons near the town of Scarburh [Old Sarum], and, having routed them, slew a large number.
A. 556. The same, four years afterwards, fought with Ceawlin against the Britons, near a place called Berin-byrig [Banbury?]
A. 560. At the end of about four years, Ceawlin began to reign over the western part of Britain, which is now commonly called Wessex. Moreover, Ella the Iffing is sent to the race of Northumbria, whose ancestry extends up to the highest, namely to Woden.
A. 565. Five years afterwards, Christ’s servant Columba came from Scotia [Ireland] to Britain, to preach the word of God to the Picts.
A. 568. Three years after his coming, Ceawlin and Cutha stirred up a civil war against Ethelbert, and having defeated him, pursued him into Kent, and slew his two chiefs, Oslaf and Cnebba, in Wubbandune.23
A. 571. After three years, Cuthulf fought against the Britons at Bedanford [Bedford], and took four royal cities, namely Liganburh [Lenbury], Eglesburh [Aylesbury], Bensingtun [Benson], and Ignesham [Eynsham].
A. 577. After the lapse of six years, Cuthwin and Ceawlin fight against the Britons, and slay three of their kings, Comail, Condidan, and Farinmeail, at a place called Deorhamme [Derham?]; and they took three of their most distinguished cities, Gloucester, Cirencester, and Bath.
A. 584. After seven years, Ceawlin and Cutha fought against the Britons, at a place called Fethanleage [Frethern?]: there Cutha fell; but Ceawlin reduced a multitude of cities, and took immense spoils.
A. 592. In the eighth year there was a great slaughter on both sides, at a place called Wodnesbyrg [Wemborow?], so that Ceawlin was put to flight, and died at the end of one more year.
A. 593. After him, Cwichelm, Crida, and Ethelfrid, succeeded to the kingdom.
Notes
17 Capitulum in the original: but no number is annexed.
18 This should be Marcian and Valentinian.
19 Perhaps an error for Andredes-leage, formerly Anderida, in Sussex.
20 This number should be sixty-six.
21 Charford, near Fordingbridge, Hants.
22 That is, from seven till nine o’clock in the morning.
23 Wimbledon, or Worplesdon, Surrey.