Chapter 23

In the year of our Lord 725, which was the seventh year of King Osric of Northumbria the successor of Coenred, Wictred son of King Egbert of Kent died on the twenty-third of April, leaving the kingdom that he had ruled for thirty-four and a half years to be inherited by his sons Ethelbert, Eadbert, and Alric. In the following year Bishop Tobias of Rochester died. He was a very learned man, as I said earlier, and had been a disciple of Archbishop Theodore and Abbot Hadrian of blessed memory. Consequently, in addition to his knowledge of ecclesiastical and general literature, he understood the Greek and Latin languages so thoroughly that they were as familiar to him as his own native tongue. He was buried in the chapel of Saint Peter the Apostle, which he had built within the church of Saint Andrew for his own burial place. He was succeeded as bishop by Aldwulf, who was consecrated by Archbishop Bertwald.

In the year of our Lord 729, two comets appeared around the sun, striking terror into all who saw them. One comet rose early and preceded the sun, while the other followed the setting sun at evening, seeming to portend awful calamity to east and west alike. Or else, since one comet was the precursor of day and the other of night, they indicated that mankind was menaced by evils at both times. They appeared in the month of January, and remained visible for about a fortnight, pointing their fiery torches northward as though to set the welkin aflame. At this time, a swarm of Saracens¹ ravaged Gaul with horrible slaughter; but after a brief interval in that country they paid the penalty of their wickedness. During this year the man of God Egbert departed to our Lord on Easter Day as I have mentioned, and immediately after Easter, on the ninth of May, King Osric of Northumbria departed this life after a reign of eleven years, having appointed Ceolwulf, brother of his predecessor Coenred, to follow him. Both the outset and course of Ceolwulf’s reign were filled by so many grave disturbances that it is quite impossible to know what to write about them or what the outcome will be.

On the ninth of January in the year of our Lord 731, Archbishop Bertwald died of old age, having held the see for thirty-seven years, six months, and fourteen days. In the same year Tatwin, from the province of Mercia, who had been a priest in the monastery of Bredon, was made archbishop in his place. He was consecrated in the city of Canterbury on Sunday the tenth of June by the venerable Bishops Daniel of Winchester, Ingwald of London, Aldwin of Lichfield, and Aldwulf of Rochester. Tatwin was a man distinguished for his religion and wisdom, and extremely learned in holy Scripture.

At the present day Tatwin and Aldwulf preside over the Churches of Kent; Ingwald is Bishop of the East Saxons; Aldbert and Hadulac are Bishops of the East Angles; Daniel and Forthere are Bishops of the West Saxons; and Aldwin is Bishop of the Mercians. Walchstod is Bishop of the folk who live in the west, beyond the river Severn; Wilfrid is Bishop of the Hwiccas; Cynibert is Bishop of the province of Lindsey. The bishopric of the Isle of Wight belongs to Daniel, Bishop of Winchester. The province of the South Saxons has now been without a bishop for some years, and seeks the offices of a bishop from the prelate of the West Saxons. All these provinces, together with the others south of the river Humber and their kings, are subject to Ethelbald, King of the Mercians.

In the province of the Northumbrians, ruled by Ceolwulf, four bishops hold office: Wilfrid in the church of York, Ethelwald at Lindisfarne, Acca at Hexham, and Pecthelm in the see known as The White House,² where the number of believers has so increased that it has recently become an episcopal see with Pecthelm as its first bishop.

At the present time, the Picts have a treaty of peace with the English, and are glad to be united in Catholic peace and truth to the universal Church. The Irish who are living in Britain are content with their own territories, and do not contemplate any raids or stratagems against the English. The Britons for the most part have a national hatred for the English, and uphold their own bad customs against the true Easter of the Catholic Church; however, they are opposed by the power of God and man alike, and are powerless to obtain what they want. For, although in part they are independent, they have been brought in part under subjection to the English.

As such peace and prosperity prevail in these days, many of the Northumbrians, both noble and simple, together with their children, have laid aside their weapons, preferring to receive the tonsure and take monastic vows rather than study the arts of war. What the result of this will be the future will show.³

This, then, is the present state of all Britain, about two hundred and eighty-five years after the coming of the English to Britain, but seven hundred and thirty-one years since our Lord’s Incarnation. May the world rejoice under his eternal rule, and Britain glory in his Faith! Let the multitude of isles be glad thereof, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness!