A.a 774. DESCRIPTION OF BEBBAN3URGH. 9 In the year 769, Cataract31 was burnt by the tyrant Carnred, and by the judgment of God, he himself perished by fire in the same year. In the year 771, Offa, king of Mercia, subdued in war the nation of the East Angles. In the same year, Carloman, the king of the Franks, being attacked by a sudden disease, departed this life, on which his brother Charles,32 who had before possessed half his father's kingdom, acquired the sovereignty of the whole, and afterwards, by his invincible bravery, obtained the chieftainship of all the peoples of the Franks. In the year 772, Charles, the king of the Franks, having collected a powerful army and assembled the warlike forces of his kingdom, invaded the nation of the Saxons, and after having lost many of his principal and most noble men, betook himself home. In the year from the incarnation of our Lord 773, bishop Hadwin32* departed this life, and Leuthfrid was appointed bishop in his room. Wulfeth also, abbat of Beverley, died, and Albert, the archbishop of York, received the pall that had been sent to him by pope Adrian. In the year 774, duke Eadwulph died, and Alcred being deprived of the counsel and assistance of his own family and his chief men, exchanged the dignity of a crown for exile, and with a few companions of his flight, first betook himself to the city of Bebba,33 and afterwards to the king of the Picts whose name was Cynoth. The city of Bebba is an extremely well fortified place, of no great size, but extending over the space of about two or three fields, having a single approach, hollowed out [of the rock], and in a wonderful manner raised on high and ascended by steps ; it has, on the summit of a hill, a ehurch most • beautifully built, in which is a precious shrine, wherein, wrapped in a pall, lies the right hand of the holy king Oswald, uncorrupted, as Bede, the historian of this nation, relates. There is on tho " western side, and in the highest part of the eity, a fountain 31 Catterick, in Yorkshire. 32 Known in history as Charlemagne. 3i* The words in the original are " Episcopus Migensis." It is not improbable that the bishopric of Orleans is here alluded to ; probably the same that is mentioned under the year 768. 33 Bamburough.