2 AIDAIS OF EOGEE DE HOVEDEN. A.D. 732. removed to the realms of bliss, Egfrid received the sovereignty, and after a reign of fifteen years was slain by the Picts, because he had unrighteously ravaged Ireland.3 In his room, his brother Alfred became king, and was succeeded by his son, Osred, who being slain, Choenred ascended the throne, and was succeeded by Osric, whose successor was Ceolwulph, the brother of Choenred. It was to him that Bede, the historian, dedicated his history of the English. Having enumerated these, it is my intention to adopt the history of the most holy and learned Bede as the foundation of this work, commencing at the last sentence thereof ; and, recording the years of our Lord, carefully reviewing in their order the reigns of the kings, and briefly, to the best of my ability, remarking upon the life and miracles of the rest of the faithful, it is my earnest desire, together with them, to receive from Christ the reward of everlasting salvation. Come, thou benign Spirit, who without thine own aid art never imparted ; bestow thy bounty on my tongue, thou who in thy bounty dost bestow tongues.3* THE FIRST PART. Is the year from the incarnation of our Lord 732, as Bedc informs us, Bretwald, archbishop of Canterbury, departed this life, and was buried in the church of St. Peter. In this year, Tatwin was consecrated archbishop of Canterbury, it being the fifteenth year of the reign of Ethelbald, king of Mercia. In the same year, also, king Ceolwulph was taken prisoner, shorn, and sent back into his kingdom. He was imbued with a wonderful love for the Scriptures, as the truthful chronicler, Bede, states in the beginning of his Preface. In the same year, bishop Acca was expelled from his see,4 and Cynebert, bishop of Lindesey,4 died. In the year 733, having received his pall from the Apostolic See, Tatwin ordained Al win and Sigfrid bishops. An eclipse 3 In A.D. 684, he had sent his general, Beort, with an army to lay waste Ireland ; and in the following year, having himself led his troops against the Picts or Britons at Strath Clyde, he was slain at Drumnechtan, in the county of Forfar, 3* This is said in reference to Acts ii. 3, 4. * Of Hexham. 5 In Lincolnshire.