Chapter VIII: Front Matter (8)

This year King Stephen went over sea to Normandy, and he was received there because it was expected that he would be altogether like his uncle, and because he had gotten possession of his treasure, but this he distributed and scattered foolishly. King Henry had gathered together much gold and silver, yet did he no good for his soul’s sake with the same. When King Stephen came to England he held an assembly at Oxford; and there he seized Roger Bishop of Salisbury, and Alexander Bishop of Lincoln, and Roger the Chancellor, his nephew, and he kept them all in prison till they gave up their castles. When the traitors perceived that he was a mild man, and a soft, and a good, and that he did not enforce justice, they did all wonder. They had done homage to him, and sworn oaths, but no faith kept they; all became forsworn, and broke their allegiance, for every rich man built his castles, and defended them against him, and they filled the land full of castles. They greatly oppressed the wretched people by making them work at these castles, and when the castles were finished they filled them with devils and evil men. Then they took those whom they suspected to have any goods, by night and by day, seizing both men and women, and they put them in prison for their gold and silver, and tortured them with pains unspeakable, for never were any martyrs tormented as these were. They hung some up by their feet, and smoked them with foul smoke; some by their thumbs, or by the head, and they hung burning things on their feet. They put a knotted string about their heads, and writhed it till it went into the brain. They put them into dungeons wherein were adders and snakes and toads, and thus wore them out. Some they put into a crucet-house, that is, into a chest that was short and narrow, and not deep, and they put sharp stones in it, and crushed the man therein so that they broke all his limbs. There were hateful and grim things called Sachenteges in many of the castles, and which two or three men had enough to do to carry. The Sachentege was made thus: it was fastened to a beam, having a sharp iron to go round a man’s throat and neck, so that he might no ways sit, nor lie, nor sleep, but that he must bear all the iron. Many thousands they exhausted with hunger. I cannot and I may not tell of all the wounds, and all the tortures that they inflicted upon the wretched men of this land; and this state of things lasted the 19 years that Stephen was King, and ever grew worse and worse. They were continually levying an exaction from the towns, which they called Tensery,[BK] and when the miserable inhabitants had no more to give, then plundered they, and burnt all the towns, so that well mightest thou walk a whole day’s journey nor ever shouldest thou find a man seated in a town, or its lands tilled.

Then was corn dear, and flesh, and cheese, and butter, for there was none in the land--wretched men starved with hunger--some lived on alms who had been erewhile rich: some fled the country--never was there more misery, and never acted heathens worse than these. At length they spared neither church nor churchyard, but they took all that was valuable therein, and then burned the church and all together. Neither did they spare the lands of Bishops, nor of Abbots, nor of Priests; but they robbed the monks and the clergy, and every man plundered his neighbour inasmuch as he might. If two or three men came riding to a town, all the township fled before them, and thought that they were robbers. The Bishops and clergy were ever cursing them, but this to them was nothing, for they were all accursed, and forsworn, and reprobate. The earth bare no corn, you might as well have tilled the sea, for the land was all ruined by such deeds, and it was said openly that Christ and his Saints slept. These things, and more than we can say, did we suffer during 19 years because of our sins. Through all this evil time the Abbot Martin held his Abbacy for 20 years, and a half, and eight days, with many difficulties: and he provided the monks and guests with all necessaries, and kept up much alms in the house; and withal he wrought upon the church, and annexed thereto lands and rents, and enriched it greatly, and furnished it with robes: and he brought the monks into the new monastery on St. Peter’s day with much pomp. This was in the year 1140 of our Lord’s incarnation, the 23d year after the fire. And he went to Rome and was well received there by Pope Eugenius, and he obtained sundry privileges, to wit, one for all the abbey lands, and another for the lands that adjoin the monastery, and had he lived longer he meant to have done as much for the treasurer’s house. And he regained certain lands that powerful men possessed by force; he won Cottingham and Easton from William Malduit, who held Rockingham castle, and from Hugh of Waltville he won Hyrtlingberi (Artleborough), and Stanwick, and sixty shillings yearly out of Aldewingle (Oldwincle). And he increased the number of monks, and planted a vineyard, and made many works, and improved the town; and he was a good monk and a good man, and therefore God and good men loved him.--Now will we relate some part of what befel in King Stephen’s time. In his reign the Jews of Norwich bought a Christian child before Easter, and tortured him with all the torments wherewith our Lord was tortured, and they crucified him on Good Friday for the love of our Lord, and afterwards buried him. They believed that this would be kept secret, but our Lord made manifest that he was a holy martyr, and the monks took him and buried him honourably in the monastery, and he performed manifold and wonderful miracles through the power of our Lord, and is called St. William.

1138.

This year David King of Scotland entered this land with an immense army resolving to conquer it, and William Earl of Albemarle, to whose charge the King had committed York, and other trusty men, came against him with few troops, and fought with him, and they put the King to flight at the Standard, and slew a great part of his followers.

1140.

This year Stephen attempted to take Robert Earl of Gloucester the son of King Henry, but failed, for Robert was aware of his purpose.--After this, in Lent, the sun and the day were darkened about noon, when men eat, so that they lighted candles to eat by. This was on the 13th of the calends of April, and the people were greatly astonished. After this William Archbishop of Canterbury died, and the King made Theobald Abbot of Bec Archbishop. Then there arose a very great war between the King and Randolf Earl of Chester, not because the King did not give him all that he could ask, even as he did to all others, but that the more he gave them, the worse they always carried themselves to him. The Earl held Lincoln against the King, and seized all that belonged to the King there, and the King went thither, and besieged him and his brother William de Romare in the castle: and the Earl stole out and went for Robert Earl of Gloucester, and brought him thither with a large army; and they fought furiously against their Lord on Candlemas day, and they took him captive, for his men betrayed him and fled, and they led him to Bristol, and there they put him into prison and close confinement. Now was all England more disturbed than before, and all evil was in the land. After this, King Henry’s daughter, who had been Empress of Germany, and was now Countess of of Anjou, arrived, and she came to London, and the citizens would have seized her, but she fled with much loss. Then Henry Bishop of Winchester, King Stephen’s brother, spake with Earl Robert and with the Empress, and swore them oaths that he never more would hold with the King his brother, and he cursed all those that did hold with him, and he said that he would give up Winchester to them, and he made them come thither. But when they were in that place Stephen’s Queen brought up her strength and besieged them, till there was so great a famine in the town, they could endure it no longer. Then stole they out and fled, and the besiegers were aware of them, and followed them, and they took Robert Earl of Gloucester and led him to Rochester, and imprisoned him there: and the Empress fled into a monastery. Then wise men, friends of the King and of the Earl, interfered between them, and they settled that the King should be let out of prison for the Earl, and the Earl for the King; and this was done. After this the King and Earl Randolf were reconciled at Stamford, and they took oaths and pledged their troth, that neither would betray the other: but this promise was set at nought, for the King afterwards seized the Earl in Northampton through wicked counsel, and put him in prison, but he set him free soon after, through worse, on condition that he should swear on the cross and find hostages that he would give up all his castles. Some he did deliver up, and others not; and he did worse than he should have done in this country. Now was England much divided, some held with the King and some with the Empress, for when the King was in prison the Earls and the great men thought that he would never more come out, and they treated with the Empress, and brought her to Oxford, and gave her the town. When the King was out of prison he heard this, and he took his army and besieged her in the tower, and they let her down from the tower by night with ropes, and she stole away, and she fled: and she went on foot to Wallingford. After this she went over sea, and all the Normans turned from the King to the Earl of Anjou, some willingly, and some against their will; for he besieged them till they gave up their castles, and they had no help from the King. Then the King’s son Eustace went to France, and took to wife the sister of the King of France: he thought to obtain Normandy through this marriage, but little he sped, and that of right, for he was an evil man, and did more harm than good wherever he went: he spoiled the lands, and laid thereon heavy taxes: he brought his wife to England, and put her into the castle of ----; she was a good woman but she had little bliss with him, and it was not the will of Christ that he should bear rule long, and he died, and his mother also. And the Earl of Anjou died, and his son Henry succeeded him; and the Queen of France was divorced from the the King, and she went to the young Earl Henry and he took her to wife, and received all Poitou with her. Then he came into England with a great army and won castles; and the King marched against him with a much larger army, howbeit they did not fight, but the Archbishop and wise men went between them and made a treaty on these terms; that the King should be Lord and King while he lived, and that Henry should be King after his death, and that he should consider him as his father, and the King him as his son, and that peace and concord should be between them, and in all England. The King, and the Earl, and the Bishop, and the Earls, and all the great men swore to observe these and the other conditions that were then made. The Earl was received with much honour at Winchester and at London, and all did homage to him, and swore to keep the peace, and it soon became a very good peace, such as never was in this land. Then the King was more powerful here than ever he was; and the Earl went over sea, and all the people loved him, because he did good justice, and made peace.

1154.

This year King Stephen died, and he was buried with his wife and his son at Favres-field (Feversham); they had built that monastery.--When the King died the Earl was beyond sea, and no man durst do other than good for very dread of him. When he came to England he was received with much honour, and was consecrated King at London on the Sunday before Christmas, and he held a great Court there: and on the same day that Martin Abbot of Peterborough should have gone thither he sickened, and he died on the 4th of the nones of January. And that day the monks chose another Abbot from among themselves. He is named William de Waltville, a good clerk, and a good man, and well beloved of the King and of all good people: and they buried the Abbot honourably in the Church, and soon afterwards the Abbot Elect and the monks went to the King at Oxford, and the King gave him the Abbacy, and thus he departed, having received * * * * * * *

Finis.

_Index to the Saxon Chronicle._

A

A. D. PAGE
656 Abon Alderman (A. D. 664) 40
710 Acca Bishop of Hexham 56
733 expelled 60
737 dies 60
785 Adrian 1st, Pope, sends to England 71
794 dies 73
675 Adrian, Legate, in England (A. D. 680) 48
897 Æbba killed 114
1007 Ædric Alderman of Mercia 163
1009 favours the Danes 165
1015 murders Sigeferth and Morcær 175
1015 deserts to Cnut 176
1016 his treachery towards Edmund 179
1017 receives the government of Mercia from
Cnut 181
1017 killed 181
1017 Ædwig, Ætheling, banished by Cnut 182
933 Ædwine, Prince, drowned 131
1002 Æfic, High Sheriff, murdered 158
650 Ægelbyrht, or Æthelbryht, Bp. of Wessex 33
660 leaves England 42
1058 Ægelric Bishop of Chichester 205
1070 excommunicates Hereward 216
1069 Ægelric (abdicated) Bp. of Durham, arrested 211
1072 dies 226
1077 Ægelwig, Abbot of Evesham, dies 230
1069 Ægelwin, Bishop of Durham, outlawed 211
1071 joins Morker at Ely 225
1071 dies 226
603 Ægthan, King of Scots, defeated 24
1006 Ælfelm, Alderman, killed 161
961 Ælfgar, Edgar’s kinsman, dies 138
993 Ælfgar, son of Ælfric, blinded 152
1048 Ælfgar, son of Leofric, receives Harold’s
Earldom 199, 204
1055 outlawed and joins Griffin 204
1057 succeeds to Leofric’s Earldom 205
1002 Ælfgiva Emma, Ethelred’s Queen, the daughter
of Richard Earl of Normandy, comes to
England 158
1013 takes refuge in Normandy 172
1017 marries Cnut 182
1036 Regent of Wessex 186
1037 expelled 187
1042 her treasures seized by Edward 190
1052 dies 200
985 Ælfheah Bishop of Winchester 131
951 dies 136
984 Ælfeah St. Bishop of Winchester 149
993 his counsel to Æthelred 152
994 Ælfeah St. conducts Anlaf to Æthelred 153
1006 Archbishop of Canterbury 160
1012 martyred 170
1023 relics of, removed to Canterbury 184
963 Ælfhere, Alderman of Mercia (A. D. 972) 142
975 expels the monks 147
983 dies 149
1012 Ælfhun, Bishop of Durham, buries the body
of St. Ælfheah 170
1013 sent abroad with Æthelred’s sons 172
792 Ælfled wife of Æthelred 73
1088 Ælfred, Monk, confined 222
634 Ælfric, the father of Osric 30
983 Ælfric, Alderman of Mercia 149
985 banished 149
992 } { 151
1003 } his treachery { 159
994 Ælfric Archbishop of Canterbury 152
997 goes to Rome 154
1005 dies 160
1016 Ælfric, Alderman, killed 180
1023 Ælfric, Archbishop of York 184
1038 Ælfric, Bishop of East Anglia, dies 187
963 Ælfsige, or Ælfsi, Abbot of Peterborough
(A. D. 1006) 143
1013 in Normandy with Queen Emma 173
1041 dies 189
1032 Ælfsige, Bishop of Winchester, dies 186
963 Ælfstan, Bishop, of London, witness to
Edgar’s grant (A. D. 972) 142
992 commands Æthelred’s fleet 151
1044 Ælfstan, Abbot of St. Augustine’s, dies 191
925 Ælfweard, son of King Edward, dies 130
679 Ælfwine, the brother of Eeferth, killed 49
1032 Ælfwin Bishop of Winchester 186
1045 dies 191
1046 Ælwine, Abbot, sent to St. Remy 193
1011 Ælfword, Sheriff, taken 168
656 Ælhmund, Alderman (A. D. 664) 40
477 Ælla arrives in Britain 13
490 takes Andredes-ceaster 14
560 succeeds Ida in Northumberland 20
588 dies 22
827 his power noted 81
867 Ælla, usurper of Northumberland, killed 90
1011 Ælmær, Abbot, betrays Canterbury 168
1016 Ælmær the Darling 178
455 Æsc reigns with his father Hengest 12
457 }
466 } his battles 13
473 }
488 sole King of Kent 14
992 Æscwig Bishop of Dorchester 151
674 Æscwine King of Wessex 44
675 fights with Wulfere 45
676 dies 49
778 Æthebald 69
716 Æthelbald (or Æthelwold) King of Mercia 57
733 takes Somerton 60
737 lays waste Northumberland 60
743 fights with the Welsh 61
752 defeated by Cuthred 62
755 killed 65
851 Æthelbald, Prince, son of Æthelwulf, fights
with the Danes 85
854 succeeds to the kingdom of Wessex 16, 88
860 dies 88
656 Æthelbold (A. D. 664) 40
552 Æthelberht (Æthelbriht or Ægelberht) born 20
560 King of Kent 20
568 defeated by Ceawlin 21
616 dies 26
his dominion 81
766 Æthelberht Archbishop of York 67
780 dies 70
776 Æthelberht Bishop of Whitehorn 69
797 dies 76
854 Æthelbryht, King of Kent, Essex, & Sussex 88
860 King of Wessex 16, 88
1055 Æthelbryht’s St. monastery burnt 205
748 Æthelbyrht King of Kent 62
760 dies 66
792 Æthelbyrht King of East Anglia, beheaded 73
633 Æthelburg, Edwin’s widow, takes refuge in Kent 30
722 Æthelburh Queen demolishes Taunton 58
673 Ætheldryth St. founds Ely Monastery 44
679 dies 49
963 relics of at Ely 139
897 Æthelere, Frisian, killed 114
593 Æthelferth, or Æthelfrith, King of Northumberland 23
603 defeats Ægthan 24
607 defeats the Britons 25
617 killed 27
897 Æthelferth Alfred’s herdsman killed 114
913 Æthelfled, Lady of Mercia, builds fenced towns 120
916 takes Brecknock 121
918 Derby 123
920 Leicester 124
922 dies 129
964 Æthelgar, Abbot of the new monastery, Winchester 144
988 Archbishop of Canterbury 150
728 Æthelheard King of Wessex 16, 58
741 dies 61
790 Æthelheard (or Athelard) Archbishop of Canterbury 72
796 holds a synod 75
799 goes to Rome 76
803 dies 78
794 Æthelheard, Alderman, dies 74
852 Æthelheard, Alderman 86
837 Æthelhelm, Duke, killed 84
887 Æthelhelm, Alderman, carries alms to Rome 102
655 Æthelhere, brother of Anna, killed 34
750 Æthelhun, Alderman 62
894 Æthelm, Alderman of Wiltshire 109
898 dies 115
1013 Æthelmer, Alderman, submits to Swegn 172
800 Æthelmund, Alderman, killed 77
894 Æthelnoth, Alderman 109
1022 Æthelnoth (or Ægelnoth) Archbishop of Canterbury 183
1023 removes the relics of St. Ælfeah 184
1023 dies 187
664 Æthelred brother of Wulfhere at the consecration
of Medeshamstede 36
675 King of Mercia 45
676 lays waste Kent 49
680 confirms Wulfhere’s grant 47
695 loses his Queen 55
704 becomes a monk 55
716 buried at Bardney 57
774 Æthelred King of Northumberland 68
778 deposed 69
790 regains the throne 72
792 marries Ælflæd 73
794 killed 73
978 Æthelred King of England 148
986 lays waste the diocese of Rochester 149
992 Æthelred raises a fleet 151
993 makes peace with Anlaf 152
1000 lays waste Cumberland 156
1002 makes peace with the Danes 158
1002 massacres the Danes 158
1011 sues for peace 168
1013 besieged in London 171
1013 goes abroad 172
1014 recalled 174
1014 defeats the Danes in Lindsey 174
1016 dies 178
588 Æthelric King of Northumberland 22
1038 Æthelric, Bishop of Sussex, dies 187
1016 Æthelsige Alderman 180
1016 Æthelsige, Abbot of Abingdon 181
1018 dies 182
1061 Æthelsige, Abbot of St. Augustine’s 206
836 Æthelstan, King of Kent, Essex, and Sussex 83
851 defeats the Danes 85
883 Æthelstan, Alderman, sent to Rome 99
925 Æthelstan King 130
927 expels Guthfrith 130
934 invades Scotland 131
938 defeats Anlaf and Constantine 131
941 dies 134
1010 Æthelstan, Etheldred’s son in law, killed 166
1043 Æthelstan Abbot of Abingdon 190
1046 dies 191
888 Æthelswith, Queen, dies 103
661 Æthelwald, King of Sussex, receives Wight 42
828 Æthelwald, Bishop of Litchfield, dies 81
901 Æthelwald, Prince, revolts and defeated 115
904 invades England 116
905 killed 117
994 Æthelward, Alderman 153
1016 Æthelward, son of Æthelsig, killed 180
1001 Æthelweard, High Sheriff, killed 156
963 Æthelwin, Alderman (A. D. 972) 142
992 dies 151
1018 Æthelwin Abbot of Abingdon 182
737 Æthelwold, Bishop of Hexham, dies 60
888 Æthelwold, Alderman, dies 103
1017 Æthelword, son of Æthelmer, killed 181
1020 Æthelword, Alderman, outlawed 182
836 Æthelwulf King of Wessex 83
840 } battles of, with the Danes { 84
851 } { 85
853 conquers North Wales 86
854 grants the tithe of his lands to the
church 87
854 goes to Rome 87
854 marries Judith (A. D. 855) 87
854 dies (A. D. 857) 87
860 } Æthelwulf, Alderman, defeats the Danes { 88
871 } { 91
871 killed 92
866 Æthered King of Wessex 89
868 Æthered, King of Wessex, aids Burhred 90
871 battles of, with the Danes 91, 92
871 dies 93
870 Æthered Archbishop of Canterbury 91
888 dies 103
886 Æthered, Alderman of Mercia, Governor of London 101
894 godfather to a son of Hastings 108
894 besieges the Danes at Bultington 109
912 dies 120
901 Æthered, Alderman of Devon, dies 116
1034 Ætheric, Bishop of Dorchester, dies 186
680 Agatho, Pope, rescript of 45
911 Agmund, Hold, killed 120
651 Aidan, Bishop of Lindisfarne, dies 33
1070 Ailnod, Abbot of Glastonbury, deposed
(A. D. 1077) 219
283 Alban St. martyred 8
relics of, removed to Denmark (A. D. 1080) 242
1116 Alban’s St. monastery consecrated 284
780 Alchmund, Bishop of Hexham, dies 70
788 Aldberht, Abbot, dies 72
709 Aldhelm, Bishop of Westwood, dies 56
727 Aldulf Bishop of Rochester 58
731 consecrates Archbishop Tatwine 59
731 Aldwine Bishop of Litchfield 59
1127 Alein Fergan, Earl of Britanny and Richmond
(A. D. 1084-1119) 301
114 Alexander 1st, Pope, decree of 6
1070 Alexander 2d, Pope, decides for the supremacy
of Canterbury (A. D. 1071) 213, 217
1107 Alexander King of Scotland 278
1124 dies 297
1123 Alexander Bishop of Lincoln 295
1125 goes to Rome 300
1130 at the consecration of Christ Church 309
1137 imprisoned by Stephen 314
853 Alfred, or Ælfred, sent to Rome 86
854 consecrated as King, by Leo (A. D. 857) 88
871 defeated with Æthered 91
871 King of Wessex 93
875 defeats the Danes at sea 95
876 makes peace with the Danes 95
878 driven by the Danes to Athelney 97
878 defeats the Danes, and is godfather to
Godrun 98
883 sends alms to Rome and India 99
888 to Rome 103
885 delivers Rochester 100
886 repairs London 101
894 defeats the Danes at Farnham 106
894 in the west 109, 110
896 blocks up the Lea 112
897 long ships of, defeat the Danes 114
901 dies 115
907 Alfred, Sheriff of Bath, dies 118
799 Alfun, Bishop of Dunwich, dies 76
778 Alfwold, or Alwold, King of Northumberland 69
780 sends to Rome 70
789 killed 72
852 Alhhim Bishop (of Worcester?) 86
765 Alhred King of Northumberland 67
774 deposed 68
798 Alric killed 76
1123 Amalri, or Hamalri (Amaury 4th) Earl of
Evreux, at war with Henry 1st 295
1124 defeated 296
1130 Andrew St. monastery of, at Rochester,
consecrated 309
477 Andred, forest of 13
490 Andredes-cester besieged 14
449 Angles arrive in Britain 12
653 Angles, Mid, converted 33
636 Anglia, East, converted 31
823 submits to Egbryht 80
836 receives a Danish army 89
890 colonized by Godrun 103
905 laid waste by Edward 117
1000 Anglesey plundered 156
Anjou, Earls of--see Fulk 5th, Geoffrey, Henry
911 Anlaf, the Black, killed 119
938 Anlaf, King, defeated by Æthelstan 132
942 dies 135
944 Anlaf, King of Northumberland, expelled 135
949 returns 136
952 expelled 136
654 Anna, King of East Anglia, killed 33
1093 Anselm, Archbishop of Canterbury 225, 252
1095 receives a pall 260
1097 leaves England 263
1100 recalled 268
1103 goes to Rome 272
1109 dies 278
1125 laws of, sanctioned 299
1115 Anselm, an Abbot of Rome, in England 284
1123 Anselm, Abbot of St. Edmund’s Bury, goes to Rome 294
1089 Anthony Prior of St. Augustine’s 225
875 Anwind, a Danish King 95
1070 Arnulf, Count of Flanders, and killed 217
1041 Arnwi Abbot of Peterborough 189
1052 resigns 203
1102 Arundel castle besieged by Henry 1st 270
1016 Assandun battle of 180
1020 church built at 183
910 Asser, Bishop of Sherborn, dies 119
1121 Athelis married to Henry 1st 289
961 Athelmod, Priest, dies 138
884 Athelwold, Bishop, dies 99
963 Athelwold Bishop of Winchester 139
repairs Ely and Medeshamstede 139
984 dies 149
903 Athulf, Alderman, dies 116
972 Athulf Bishop 142
1130 Audoenus Bishop of Evreux 309
597 Augustin St. arrives in Britain 24
601 receives a pall from Gregory 24
604 consecrates Bishops 24
607 prediction of, verified 25
1070 Augustine’s St. monks, rebellion of (A. D. 1087) 221

B

871 Bagsæc, a Danish King, killed 92
924 Bakewell built 130
1037 Baldwin 5th, Earl of Flanders, receives Ælfgiva 187
1046 receives Earl Swegn 194
1064 Earl Tostig 208
1070 Baldwin 6th, Earl of Flanders, dies 217
1111 Baldwin 7th, Earl of Flanders 280
1117 invades Normandy 285
1118 mortally wounded 286
1119 dies 288
1098 Baldwin, Abbot of St. Edmund’s, dies 265
1135 Baldwin de Redvers rebels 313
791 Baldwulf Bishop of Whitehorn 72
823 Balred, King of Kent, deposed 80
547 Bamborough built by Ida 19
993 pillaged 152
1095 besieged and taken 258, 260
1124 Barley, high price of 297
669 Basse, a Priest, founds Reculver monastery 44
577 Bath taken by Cuthwin 22
973 also called Acemannes-ceaster 145
1088 plundered 245
1087 Battel Abbey founded (A. D. 1086) 239
1094 consecrated 255
734 Bede dies 60
571 Bedford, battle near 22
919 fortified by Edward 124
921 garrison of defeats the Danes 126
1016 Bedfordshire laid waste by Canute 177
482 Benedict St. miracles of 13
509 dies 17
596 monastery of, destroyed 23
1087 order of, prevalent in England 239
1022 Benedict 9th, Pope, consecrates Æthelnoth
Archbishop of Canterbury 183
1058 Benedict 10th, Pope 205
1059 expelled 205
911 Benesing, Hold, killed 119
894 Benfleet fortress 107, 108
888 Beocca, Alderman, sent to Rome 103
775 Beonne, Abbot of Medeshamstede, lease of 68
710 Beorhtfryth, Alderman, fights with the Picts 56
851 Beorhtulf, King of Mercia, defeated 85
897 Beorhtulf, Alderman of Essex, dies 113
690 Beorhtwald, or Brihtwald, Archbishop of
Canterbury 52
693 Beorthwald, or Brihtwald, consecrated 53
731 dies 59
780 Beorn, Alderman, burnt 70
1046 Beorn, Earl, murdered 194
887 Beorngar, or Berenger, King of Lombardy 102
890 Beornhelm, Alderman, sent to Rome 103
802 Beornmod Bishop of Rochester 77
905 Beornoth Prince 118
755 Beornred, King of Mercia, and deposed 65
823 Beornwulf, King of Mercia, slain 80
897 Beornwulf, Sheriff of Winchester, dies 113
684 Berht, or Briht, Alderman, invades the Scots 50
699 killed 55
1088 Berkeley, Lordship of, laid waste 245
1123 Bernard, Bishop of St. David’s, goes to Rome 294
1130 assists at the consecration of Christ
Church 309
634 Bernicia, kingdom of 30, 49
501 Bieda arrives in Britain 17
671 Birds, battle of the 44
628 Blecca, first Christian convert in Lindsey 29
685 Blood, rain of 51
1098 } { 265
1100 } springs of, in Berkshire { 266
1103 } { 272
678 Bosa, Bishop of York 49
654 Botulf, founds a monastery at Boston 33
785 Botwine, Abbot of Rippon, dies 71
Boulogne, Earls of--see Eustace 2d, and
Eustace 3d
876 Bracelet, oath on the 95
1066 Brand, Abbot of Peterborough 210
1069 dies 212
916 Brecknock taken 121
759 Bregowine Archbishop of Canterbury 66
762 dies 66
1127 Brian, son of Alein Fergan 301
912 Bridgenorth built 120
1102 besieged 271
1038 Brihteh, Bishop of Worcester, dies 187
693 Brihtelm dies 53
970 Brihtnoth Abbot of Ely 139
972 Brihtnoth Alderman 142
993 killed 150, 152
1009 Brihtric accuses Wulfnoth 163
1009 fails in his expedition against
Wulfnoth 164
1017 Brihtric killed 181
1006 Brithwold, Bishop of Sherborn 160
1043 dies 190
1087 Bristol plundered 244
Britain, description of 1
conquered by Julius Cæsar 2
46 by Claudius 5
189 Britain conquered by Severus 7
189 Britons converted to Christianity 7
443 apply to the Angles for aid against the
Picts 11
607 Brockmail, a British Alderman, defeated 25
656 Brordan (A. D. 664) 40
775 Brordan, Alderman, grant of 68
938 Brunanburh, battle of 131
918 Buckingham fortified 123
1016 Buckinghamshire ravaged 177
822 Burhelm, Alderman, killed 80
853 Burhred, King of Mercia, reduces North
Wales, and marries Æthelwulf’s daughter 86
874 expelled by the Danes 94
1066 Burton Abbey held by Leofric 210
685 Butter turned into blood 51
1131 scarcity of 310
784 Byrhtric King of Wessex 71
787 marries Eadburga 71
800 dies 77
905 Byrhtsig, son of Prince Beornoth, killed 117
634 Byrinus, Bishop, converts the West Saxons 30
635 baptizes Cynegils 31
639 and Cuthred 31
932 Byrnstan Bishop of Winchester 131
934 dies 131