compiled under the direction of Alfred the Great

“ Ac sona swa hie to B (l) eamfleote comon, ⁊ þæt geweorc (ge) geworht wæs. swa hergode he on his rice þone ilcan ende þe æþered his cumpæder healdan sceolde, ⁊ eft oþre siþe he wæs on hergað gelend on þæt ilce rice þa þa mon his geweorc abræc. Þa se cyning hine þa west wende mid þære fierde wið Exancestres. swa ic ær sæde, ⁊ se here þa burg beseten hæfde; Þa he þærto gefaren wæs, þa eodon hie to hiora scipum. Þa he þa wið þone here þær wæst abisgod wæs, ⁊ þa hergas wæron þa gegaderode begen to Sceobyrig on Eastseaxum, ⁊ þær geweorc worhtun. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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 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 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 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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 ”

“ 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. ”

“ Þa æfter þam þæs forhraþe gegadorode micel folc hit on hærfest, ægþer ge of Cent, ge of Suþrigum, ge of Eastseaxum, ge æghwonan of þam nihstum burgum, ⁊ foron to Colneceastre, ⁊ ymbsæton þa burg, ⁊ þæron fuhton oþ hie þa geeodon, ⁊ þæt folc eall ofslogon, ⁊ genamon eal þæt þærbinnan wæs, buton þam mannum þe þær oþflugon ofer þone weall. Þa æfter þam þa giet þæs ilcan hærfestes gegadorode micel here hine of Eastenglum. ”

“ 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 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 gemette hie æþelwulf aldorman on Englafelda, ⁊ him þær wiþ gefeaht ⁊ sige nam; Þæs ymb .iiii. niht æþered cyning ⁊ ælfred his broþur þær micle fierd to Readingum gelæddon, ⁊ wiþ þone here gefuhton, ⁊ þær wæs micel wæl geslægen on gehwæþre hond, ⁊ æþelwulf aldormon wearþ ofslægen, ⁊ þa Deniscan ahton wælstowe gewald; ⁊ þæs ymb .iiii. niht gefeaht æþered cyning ⁊ ælfred his broþur wiþ alne þone here on æscesdune, ⁊ hie wærun on twæm gefylcum, on oþrum wæs Bachsecg ⁊ Halfdene þa hæþnan cyningas, ⁊ on oþrum wæron þa eorlas ”

“ 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 ”

“ 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. ”

“ Ond þæs ymb .vi. gear þæs þe hie up cuomon geeodon Westseaxna rice, ⁊ þæt uuærun þa ærestan cyningas þe Westseaxna lond on Wealum geeodon; ⁊ he hæfde þæt rice .xvi. gear, ⁊ þa he gefor, þa feng his sunu Cynric to þam rice ⁊ heold .xvii. winter. Þa he gefor, þa feng Ceol to þam rice ⁊ heold .vi. gear. Þa he gefor, þa feng Ceolwulf to his broþur, ⁊ he ricsode .xvii. gear, ⁊ hiera cyn gæþ to Cerdice. Þa feng Cynegils Ceolwulfes broþur sunu to rice ⁊ ricsode .xxxi. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ Westerfalcna Sæfugling. Sæfugl Sæbalding. Sæbald Sigegeating. Sigegeat Swæfdæging. Swæfdæg Sigegearing. Sigegear Wægdæging. Wægdæg Wodening. Woden Friþowulfing. rice, Idan forðgefarenum. ⁊ heora ægðer rixade .xxx. wintra.
565Her Columba mæssepreost of Scottum com in Brettas to lærenne Peohtas ⁊ in Hi þam ealonde mynster worhte. Her feng Æðelbriht to Cantwara rice. ⁊ heold .liii. wintra. On his dagum sende Gregorius us fulluht ⁊ Columba mæssepreost com to Pihtum. ⁊ hi gecyrde to Cristes geleauan. ”

“ 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 ”

“ 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. ”