A robe a hint all secret things to hide ; And so with sword and belt and robe he tried To crush the fierce, the humble friends t'unite, And veil all foul and secret things from light." A.D . 776. Fiery and terrible signs were seen in the heavens after the setting of the sun. And serpents, too, were seen in Sussex, to the great wonder of the people, as if they rose in abundance out of the earth. A.D. 777. The emperor Constantine died, and Leo Zaccarus succeeded to the Roman empire, and reigned five years. A.D. 778. Pethwin, bishop of Witern, and also of White Chase, came to the last day of his bishopric and of his life, and was succeeded by Ethelbert. The same year, Ethelwald and Herebert, dukes of the kingdom of Northumberland, rebelled against their king, and slew Ealdulf, the general of the army of king Ethelred, at ftmgetifltbe, and afterwards the same dukes slew the dukes of the king, by name Kinelf and Eggen, in a terrible battle. And king Ethelred fled from their face, and they appointed Alfwold king in his stead, and he reigned ten years. A.D. 779. Offa, that most gallant king of Mercia, fought against Kinewolf, king of the West Saxons, while he was besieging the castle of Bensinton. But, by the fortune of war, Kinewolf got worsted, and so fled from the place, and the in* vincible king of Mercia, Offa, reduced the castle under his own power. '* Offa, born of royal blood, Stands unmov'd by battle's flood : Bold he crushes all that's base, No foeman dares to meet his face : He's Cato, Mars, and likewise Paris, And Mercia safer now by far is, While he upholds her laws, than when She own'd the sway of weaker men. He with his sword the proud subdues, No prince obedience dare refuse. B'en the great Charles, fair France's lord, Owns his great power and trusts his word. And all fair Mercia's peopled realm Rests while his wisdom guides the helm ; All at his coronation sing The well-earn'd praises of their king." A.D. 780. Ethelred, king of Northumberland, was deposed, Β Β VOL. I.