compiled under the direction of Alfred the Great

“ Se Carl was Hloþwiges sunu, se Hloþwig was Carles broþur, se wæs Iuþyttan fæder þe æþelwulf cyning hæfde, ⁊ hie wæron Hloþwiges suna, se Hloþwig was þæs aldan Carles sunu, se Carl was Pippenes sunu. ⁊ þy ilcan geare forþferde se goda papa Marinus, se gefreode Ongelcynnes scole be ælfredes bene Westseaxna cyninges, ⁊ he sende him micla gifa, ⁊ þære rode dæl þe Crist on þrowude. ⁊ þy ilcan geare se here on Eastenglum bræc friþ wiþ ælfred cyning.
886Her for se here eft west þe ær east gelende, ⁊ þa up on Sigene, ⁊ þær wintersetl namon. ”

“ Ægþan Scotta cyng feaht wið Dælreoda, ⁊ wið æðelferþe Norþhymra cynge æt Dægstane, ⁊ man ofsloh mæst ealne his here.
604Her East Seaxe onfengon geleafan ⁊ fulwihtes bæð. under Sæbryhte cyninge Augustinus gehalgode .ii. biscopas. Mellitum ⁊ Iustum. Mellitum he sende to bodiende East Seaxum fulluht. ðar was se cing gehaten Sæbyrht. ”

“ Gaius Julius Romana Kasere mid hund ehtatigum scipum [4] gesohte Brytene. Ƿer he wes ærost ge swenced mid grimmum ge feohte. and micelne dæl his heres forlædde [5] . And þa he forlet his here abidan mid Scottum [6] . and gewat into Galwalum. and þer ge gadorode six hund scipa. mid þam he ge wat eft in to Brytene. And þa hi ærost to gedore ge ræsdon. þa man of sloh ðes Caseres ge refan. se wes Labienus [7] ge haten. Ða ge namon þa Walas. and adrifon sumre éa ford ealne mid scearpum pilum [8] greatum innan þam wetere. sy éa hatte Temese. ”

“ Se wæs Cuþaing. Cuþa Cynricing, Cynric Cerdicing, Cerdic Elesing, Elesa Esling, Esla Gewising, Giwis Wiging, Wig Freawining, Freawine Friðugaring, Friðugar Bronding, Brond Bældæging, Bældæg Wodening.
601Her sende Gregorius papa Agustino ærcebiscepe pallium in Bretene, ⁊ wel monige godcunde lareowas him to fultome; ⁊ Paulinus biscep gehwerfde Edwine Norþhymbra cyning to fulwihte. ”

“ Her Patricius wæs asend fram Celestine þam papan to bodianne Scottum fulluht.
431. Hoc tempore diabolus in Creta Judeis in specie Moysi apparens ad terram repromissionis per mare pede sicco perducere promittit ; sicque plurimis necatis reliqui ad Xp̄ī gratiam convertuntur.
433. Celestinus papa. Hujus tempore aggregate est Ephesina synodus ducentorum episcoporum cui profuit CirillusAlexandrinus presul adversus Nestorium Constantinopolitanum episcopum. ”

“ Þa feng Ceadwalla to þam rice, þæs cyn gæþ to Cerdice, ⁊ heold .iii. gear. Ða feng Ine to Seaxna rice, þæs cyn gæþ to Ceardice, ⁊ heold .xxxvii. wintra. Þa feng Æelheard to, þæs cyn gæþ to Ceardice, ⁊ heold .xiiii. winter. Þa feng Cuþred to, þæs cyn gæþ to Cerdice, ⁊ heold .xvii. gear. Þa feng Sigebryht to, þæs cyn gæþ to Cerdice, ⁊ heold an gear. Þa feng Cynewulf to rice, þæs cyn gæþ to Ceardice, ⁊ heold .xxxi. wintra. Þa feng Beorhtric to rice, þæs cyn gæþ to Cerdice, ⁊ heold .xvi. gear. Þa feng Ecgbryht to þam rice ⁊ heold .xxxvii. ”

“ Her sendon Brytwalas ofer sæ to Rome, and heom fultumes bædon wið Peohtas. ac hi þær nefdon nænne. forþan ðe hi feordodan wið Ætlan Huna cininge. and þa sendon hi to Anglum. and Angel cynnes æðelingas þes ilcan bædon.
449. Hujus tempore celebratur Calcedonense concilium dcxxx episcoporum adversus Euticem abbatem et Dioscorum. Her Martianus and Valentinus onfengon rice, and rixadon vii wiñt. and on þeora dagum gelaðode Wyrtgeorn Angel cin hider. and hi þa coman on þrim ceolum hider to Brytene. on þam stede Heopwines fleot. Se cyning Wyrt georn gef heom land on suðan eastan ðissum lande. ”

“ Þa on þære seofoðan wiecan ofer Eastron he gerad to Ecgbryhtes stane be eastan Sealwyda, ⁊ him to comon þær ongen Sumorsæte alle, ⁊ Wilsætan, ⁊ Hamtunscir se dæl, se hiere behinon sæ was, ⁊ his gefægene wærun; ⁊ he for ymb ane niht of þam wicum to Iglea, ⁊ þæs ymb ane to Eþandune, ⁊ þær gefeaht wiþ alne þone here, ⁊ hiene gefliemde, ⁊ him æfter rad oþ þæt geweorc, ⁊ þær sæt .xiiii. niht; ⁊ þa salde se here him foregislas ⁊ micle aþas þæt hie of his rice uuoldon ⁊ him eac geheton þæt kyning fulwihte onfon wolde ⁊ hie þæt gelæston swa, ⁊ þæs ymb .iii. ”

“ Her wæs to brocen Romana burh fram Gotum ymb xi hund wintra and x wintra. þæs þe heo ge timbred wæs. Siððan ofer ꝥ ne rixodan leng Romana cinigas on Brytene. Ealles hi ðær rixodan iiii hund wintra. and hund seofenti wintra. siððtan Gaius Iulius ꝥ land erost ge sohte.
418. Her Romane gesamnodan ealle þa gold hord ðe on Brytene wæron. and sume on eoriðan be hyddan. ꝥ heo nan man syððan findon ne mihton. and sume mid heom on Gallia læddon.
423. Her Ðeodosius se gingra feng to rice.
425. Hujus temporis ætate extitit exordium regum Francorum : primus Faramundus. ”

“ Þa þæs on sumera foron micel dæl þara burgwara, ⁊ eac swa oþres folces, þæt hie gedydon æt þara Deniscana geweorce, ⁊ þær wurdon gefliemde, ⁊ sume feower cyninges þegnas ofslægene. Þa þæs on hærfeste þa wicode se cyng on neaweste þære byrig, þa hwile þe hie hira corn gerypon, þæt þa Deniscan him ne mehton þæs ripes forwiernan. Þa sume dæge rad se cyng up bi þære eæ, ⁊ gehawade hwær mon mehte þa ea forwyrcan, þæt hie ne mehton þa scipu ut brengan. ⁊ hie ða swa dydon. worhton ða tu geweorc. on twa healfe þære eas. Þa hie ða þæt geweorc furþum ongunnen hæfdon, ⁊ þærto gewicod hæfdon. ”

“ Þa for Eadweard cyning æfter, swa he raðost mehte his fird gegadrian, ⁊ oferhergade eall hira land betwuh dicum ⁊ Wusan. eall oð ða fennas norð; Þa he ða eft þonan ut faran wolde, þa het he beodan ofer ealle þa fird þæt hie foron ealle ut ætsomne. Þa ætsæton ða Centiscan þær beæftan ofer his bebod, ⁊ seofon ærendracan he him hæfde to asend. Þa befor se here hie ðær, ⁊ hie ðær gefuhton, ⁊ þær wearð Sigulf ealdormon ofslægen, ⁊ Sigelm ealdormon, ⁊ Eadwold cynges ðegen, ⁊ Cenulf abbod, ⁊ Sigebreht Sigulfes sunu, ⁊ Eadwald Accan sunu, ⁊ monige eac him, þeh ic ða geðungnestan nemde. ”

“ Þa foron hie to ⁊ gefliemdon þone here, ⁊ þæt geweorc abræcon, ⁊ genamon eal þæt þær binnan wæs, ge on feo. ge on wifum, ge eac on bearnum, ⁊ brohton eall into Lundenbyrig, ⁊ þa scipu eall oðþe tobræcon, oþþe forbærndon, oþþe to Lundenbyrig brohton oþþe to Hrofesceastre. ⁊ Hæstenes wif ⁊ his suna twegen mon brohte to þæm cyninge, ⁊ he hi him eft ageaf, forþæm þe hiora wæs oþer his godsunu, oþer æðeredes ealdormonnes; Hæfdon hi hiora onfangen ær Hæsten to Beamfleote come, ⁊ he him hæfde geseald gislas ⁊ aðas, ⁊ se cyng him eac wel feoh sealde, ⁊ eac swa þa he þone cniht agef ⁊ þæt wif. ”

“ Þa rad se cyning mid firde þæt he gewicode æt Baddanbyrig wið Winburnan, ⁊ æðelwald sæt binnan þæm ham mid þæm monnum þe him to gebugon, ⁊ hæfde ealle þa geatu forworht in to him, ⁊ sæde þæt he wolde oðer oððe þær libban oððe þær licgan. Þa under þæm þa bestæl he hine on niht on weg, ⁊ gesohte þone here on Norðhymbrum, ⁊ se cyng het ridan æfter, ⁊ þa ne mehte hine mon ofridan; Þa berad mon þæt wif þæt he hæfde ær genumen butan cynges leafe ⁊ ofer þara biscopa gebod, forðon ðe heo wæs ær to nunnan gehalgod. ”

“ Þa hie ða eft ut of Norðwealum wendon mid þære herehyðe þe hie ðær genumen hæfdon, þa foron hie ofer Norðhymbra lond ⁊ Eastengla, swa swa seo fird hie geræcan ne mehte, oþþæt hie comon on Eastseaxna lond easteweard, on an igland þæt is ute on þære sæ, þæt is Meresig haten. ⁊ þa se here eft hamweard wende. þe Exanceaster beseten hæfde, þa hergodon hie up on Suð Seaxum neah Cisseceastre, ⁊ þa burgware hie gefliemdon, ⁊ hira monig hund ofslogon, ⁊ hira scipu sumu genamon. Ða þy ylcan gere onforan winter þa Deniscan þe on Meresige sæton. tugon hira scipu up on Temese, ⁊ þa up on Lygan ”

“ Her Severus feng to rice, and ferde mid here on Brytene. and mid ge feohte ge eode þes iglandes mycelne dæl and þa ge wrohte he weall mid turfum. and bred 3 weall ðær on ufon. fram sæ to sæ. Britwalum to gebeorge. ”

“ Foron þa up be Temese oþþæt hie gedydon æt Sæferne, þa up be Sæferne. Þa gegaderode æþered ealdormon, ⁊ æþelm ealdorman. ⁊ æþelnoþ ealdorman, ⁊ þa cinges þegnas þe þa æt ham æt þæm geweorcum wæron, of ælcre byrig be eastan Pedredan, ge be westan Sealwuda ge be eastan, ge eac be norþan Temese, ⁊ be westan Sæfern, ge eac sum dæl þæs Norðwealcynnes. Þa hie þa ealle gegaderode wæron, þa offoron hie þone here hindan æt Buttingtune. on Sæferne staþe, ⁊ hine þær utan besæton on ælce healfe, on anum fæstenne. ”

“ Þa eodon hie ut to ðæm monnum þe on easthealfe þære e wicodon, ⁊ him wiþ gefuhton, ⁊ þa Cristnan hæfdon sige; ⁊ þær wearð Ordheh cyninges þegn ofslægen, ⁊ eac monige oþre cyninges þegnas, ofslægen, ⁊ se dæl þe þær aweg com wurdon on fleame generede. Þa hie on Eastseaxe comon to hiora geweorce. ⁊ to hiora scipum. þa gegaderade sio laf eft of Eastenglum, ⁊ of Norðhymbrum. micelne here onforan winter. ⁊ befæston hira wif, ⁊ hira scipu, ⁊ hira feoh on Eastenglum, ⁊ foron anstreces dæges ⁊ nihtes, þæt hie gedydon on anre westre ceastre on Wirhealum, seo is Legaceaster gehaten ”

“ Þa he þæt hierde ⁊ mid fierde ferde ⁊ him wiþ feaht æt Hengestdune ⁊ þær gefliemde ge þa Walas ge þa Deniscan.
836 actually 839Her Ecgbryht cyning forþferde, ⁊ hine hæfde ær Offa Miercna cyning ⁊ Beorhtric Wesseaxna cyning afliemed .iii. gear of Angelcynnes lande on Fronclond, ær he cyning wære, ⁊ þy fultomode Beorhtric Offan þy he hæfde his dohtor him to cuene; ⁊ se Ecgbyht ricsode .xxxvii. wintra, .vii. monaþ, ⁊ feng Æþelwulf Ecgbrehting to Wesseaxna rice, ⁊ he salde his suna Æþelstane Cantwara rice ⁊ Eastseaxna ⁊ Suþrigea ⁊ Suþseaxna. ”

“ Þa eft æfter þam þa giet gegadorode micel here hine of Eastenglum (⁊ of Eastenglum) ⁊ of Mercnalande, ⁊ foran to þære byrig æt Wigingamere, ⁊ ymbsæton hie utan, ⁊ fuhton lange on dæg on, ⁊ namon þone ceap onbutan; ⁊ þa men aweredon þeah þa burg þe þærbinnan wæron, ⁊ þa forleton hie þa burg ⁊ foron aweg. Þa æfter þam þæs ilcan sumeres gegadorode micel folc hit on Eadweardes cynges anwalde. of þam niehstum burgum, þe hit ða gefaran mehte, ⁊ foron to Tæmeseforda. ⁊ besæton ða burg. ”

“ Þa feng ælfred æþelwulfing his broþur to Wesseaxna rice; ⁊ þæs ymb anne monaþ gefeaht ælfred cyning wiþ alne þone here lytle werede æt Wiltune, ⁊ hine longe on dæg gefliemde, ⁊ þa Deniscan ahton wælstowe gewald; ⁊ þæs geares wurdon .viiii. folc gefeoht gefohten wiþ þone here on þy cynerice be suþan Temese, ⁊ butan þam þe him ælfred þæs cyninges broþur, ⁊ anlipig aldormon, ⁊ cyninges þegnas oft rade onridon þe mon na ne rimde, ⁊ þæs geares wærun ofslægene .viiii. eorlas ⁊ an cyning; ⁊ þy geare namon Westseaxe friþ wiþ þone here. ”

“ Þara wæs sum Swiðulf biscop on Hrofesceastre, ⁊ Ceolmund ealdormon on Cent, ⁊ Beorhtulf ealdormon on Eastseaxum, ⁊ Wulfred ealdormon on Hamtunscire, ⁊ Ealhheard biscop æt Dorceceastre, ⁊ Eadulf cynges þegn on Suðseaxum, ⁊ Beornulf wicgefera on Winteceastre, ⁊ Ecgulf cynges horsþegn, ⁊ manige eac him þeh ic ða geðungnestan nemde. Þy ilcan geare drehton þa hergas on Eastenglum ⁊ on Norðhymbrum Westseaxna lond swiðe be þæm suðstæðe mid stælhergum, ealra swiþust mid ðæm æscum þe hie fela geara ær timbredon. ”

“ Þa giet æfter þam þæs ilcan geres foran to Martines mæssan for Eadweard cyning mid Westsexna fierde to Colneceastre, ⁊ gebette þa burg ⁊ geedneowade þær heo ær tobrocen wæs, ⁊ him cirde micel folc to, ægþer ge on Eastenglum, ge on Eastseaxum, þe ær under Dena anwalde wæs; ⁊ eal se here on Eastenglum him swor annesse, þæt hie eal þæt woldon þæt he wolde, ⁊ eall þæt friþian woldon þæt se cyng friþian wolde, ægþer ge on sæ, ge on lande ”

“ Þa eode se here to hiera scipum, ⁊ forlet þæt geweorc. ⁊ hie wurdon þær behorsude, ⁊ sona þy ilcan sumere ofer sæ gewiton; ⁊ þy ilcan geare sende ælfred cyning sciphere on Eastengle; sona swa hie comon on Stufe muþan, þa metton hie .xvi. scipu wicenga, ⁊ wiþ ða gefuhton, ⁊ þa scipo alle geræhton, ⁊ þa men ofslogon; Þa hie þa hamweard wendon mid þære herehyþe, þa metton hie micelne sciphere wicenga, ⁊ þa wiþ þa gefuhton þy ilcan dæge, ⁊ þa Deniscan ahton sige; Þy ilcan geare ær middum wintra. ”

“ Þy ilcan geare gesette ælfred cyning Lundenburg, ⁊ him all Angelcyn to cirde, þæt buton Deniscra monna hæftniede was, ⁊ hie þa befæste þa burg æþerede aldormen to haldonne.
887Her for se here up þurh þa brycge æt Paris, ⁊ þa up andlang Sigene oþ Mæterne, oþ Cariei; ⁊ þa sæton þara ⁊ innan Ionan tu winter on þam twam stedum; ⁊ þy ilcan geare forþferde Karl Francna cyning, ⁊ Earnulf his broþur sunu hine .vi. wicum ær he forþferde berædde æt þam rice, ⁊ þa wearþ þæt rice todæled on .v. ⁊ .v. kyningas to gehalgode. ”

“ Þa wæron hie to þæm gesargode. þæt hie ne mehton Suðseaxna lond utan berowan, ac hira þær tu sæ on lond wearp. ⁊ þa men mon lædde to Winteceastre to þæm cynge, ⁊ he hie ðær ahon het. ⁊ þa men comon on Eastengle. þe on þæm anum scipe wæron. swiðe forwundode. Þy ilcan sumera forwearð nolæs þonne .xx. scipa mid monnum mid ealle. be þam suðriman. Þy ilcan gere forðferde Wulfric cynges horsðegn, se wæs eac Wealhgefera.
897Her on þysum gere gefor æðelm Wiltunscire ealdormon, nigon nihtum ær middum sumere. ⁊ her forðferde Heahstan, se wæs on Lundenne biscop. ”

“ On þys ilcan geare feng Aþelwold abbod to þæm bisceoprice to Wintanceastre. ⁊ hine mon gehalgode IN UIGILIA Sancti Andree. wæs sunnandæg on dæg:
964Her dræfde Eadgar cyng þa preostas on Ceastre of Ealdanmynstre, ⁊ of Niwanmynstre. ⁊ of Ceortesige. ⁊ of Middeltune. ⁊ sette hy mid munecan. ⁊ he sette æþelgar abbod to Niwanmynstre to abbode. ⁊ Ordbirht to Ceortesige. ⁊ Cyneweard to Middeltune.
971Her forðferde Eadmund æðeling. ⁊ his lic lið æt Rumesige. ”

“ On se Æþelwulf wæs Ecgbrehting, Ecgbryht Ealhmunding, Ealhmund Eafing, Eafa Eopping, Eoppa Ingilding; Ingild wæs Ines broþur Westseaxna cyninges, þæs þe eft ferde to Sancte Petre ⁊ þær eft his feorh gesealde ”