his reigne ann. 779, as saith Simon Dun. and reigned but ten yeeres.] same Alfwald had reigned 10, or (as some say) 11 yeeres, he was traitorouslie and without all guilt made away; the cheefe conspirator was named Siga.  The same Alfwald was a iust prince, and woorthilie gouerned the Northumbers to his high praise and commendation.  He was murthered by his owne people (as before ye haue heard) the 23 of September, in the yeere of our Lord 788, and was buried at Hexham.

[Sidenote:  788. Matth.  West. Simon Dun. 792.] In the yeere 792, Charles king of France sent a booke into Britaine, which was sent vnto him from Constantinople, conteining certeine articles agreed vpon in a synod (wherein were present aboue the number of three hundred bishops) quite contrarie and disagreeing from the true faith, namelie in this, that images ought to be worshipped, which the church of God vtterlie abhorreth.  Against this booke Albinus that famous clearke wrote a treatise confirmed with places taken out of holie scripture, which treatise, with the booke in [Sidenote:  Sim.  Dunel. 800.] name of all the bishops and princes of Britaine, he presented vnto the king of France. ¶ In the yeere 800, on Christmasse eeuen chanced a maruellous tempest of wind, which ouerthrew whole cities and townes in diuerse places, and trees in great number, beside other harmes which it did, as by death of cattell, &c.  In the yeere following a great part of London was consumed by fire.

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Britricus K. of the Westsaxons, his inclination, Egbert being of the bloud roiall is banished the land, & why; crosses of bloudie colour and drops of bloud fell from heauen, what they did prognosticate; the first Danes that arriued on the English coasts, and the cause of their comming; firie dragons flieng in the aire foretokens of famine and warre; Britricus is poisoned of his wife Ethelburga, hir ill qualities; why the kings of the Westsaxons decreed that their wiues should not be called queenes, the miserable end of Ethelburga; Kenulfe king of Mercia, his vertues, he restoreth the archbishops see to Canturburie which was translated to Lichfield, he inuadeth Kent, taketh the king prisoner in the field, and bountifullie setteth him at libertie, the great ioy of the people therevpon; his rare liberalitie to churchmen, his death and buriall.

THE SEUENTH CHAPTER.

[Sidenote:  BRITRICUS. Hen.  Hunt. Matt.  West. saith 787. Simon Dun. saith 786.] After Kenwulfe, one Britricus or Brightrike was ordeined king of Westsaxons, and began his reigne in the yeere of our Lord 787, which was about the 8 yeere of the gouernment of the empresse Eirene with hir son Constantinus, and about the second yeere of the reigne of Achaius K. of Scots.  This Brightrike was descended of the line of Cerdicus the first king of Westsaxons, the 16 in number from him.  He was a man of nature quiet & temperate, more desirous