HISTORY OF ENGLAND UXDER THE ANGLO-SAXON KINGS o ^t CransIatcK from tfjc ©crman^trf. J. M. LAPPEXBERG,* F.S.A., FORMERLY KEEPER OP THE ARCHIVES OF THE CITY OF HAMBURG BY THE LATE BENJAMIN THORPE^ F.S. A., EDITOR OF THE ' ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE,' 'ANCIENT LAWS AND INSTITUTES OF ENGLAND,' ETC. NEW EDITION REVISED BY E. C. OTTE O IN TWO VOLUMES. Vol. I. \T LONDON': GEORGE BELL AND SONS, YORK STREET, COY EXT GARDEN. 1881. LONDON : PRINTED BY WILLIAM CLOWE8 AND SONS, LIMITED, BIAVFOKD STRKET AND CHABQI NOTE Mr. Thorpe's Translation of Dr. Lappenberg's History of the Anglo-Saxons having been for some years out of print, it has been thought expedient to republish it in the cheaper and more convenient form of the Standard Library. A thorough revision of the Trans- lation has been made for the present edition, while a few of the passages, originally omitted with the full concurrence of the Author, have been restored. These and" other alterations, including the division of the matter into chapters, together with the addition of an Index, and occasional notes, giving the more recent dates of the publication of works referred to in the text, will, it is hoped, be found to have increased the value of Mr. Thorpe's Translation. E. C. 0. 1 London, 1880. — CONTENTS OF VOL. I. Author's Preface ...... Page xi Translator's Preface xvii Literary Introduction xxi PAET I. BRITAIN UNDER THE ROMANS, B.C. 54. CHAPTER I. Earliest Knowledge of Britain—Descent and Tradilions Language — Religion — Government — Customs— Tribes First Appearance of Romans—Julius Caesar ; his Account of Britain—Departure of Roman Legions . Page 1 CHAPTER II. 'a.d. 43-120. Invasion by Claudius—Caractacus—Conquest of Moua— Bou- dicea—Agricola—Mode of Government—Guilds—Celtic Tongue—Princes—Laws—State of Country . 28 — — — \l CONTEXTS OF VOL. I. CHAPTER III. a.d. 120-350. Picts and Scots; their Resistance against the Romans—Con- flicts between Roniun Commanders — Emperor Severu9 brings Reinforcements to Britain—Roman Losses—Truce with Northern Tribes—Romans build Wall of Defence in the North—Tranquillity restored; but disturbed ajjain by arrival of Saxon Pirates—History of Saxon Tribes—Carau- sius ; his Influence on the Settlement of Saxons along the Frankish and British Shores—Constantius and his wif>' Helena in Britain—Their Son, Constantine the Great, pro- claimed Emperor in Britain—Spread of Christianity in Britain—Agreement of the British with the Eastern or Byzantine Church—Persecutions—Civilizing Influence of Romans—Boada — Churches — Picts and Scots—Princely Familiee—Tyranny of Roman Officials . Page 50 CHAPTER IV. a.d. 350-44G. Roman Generals— British Settlements in Armorica—Roman Legions retire—St. Germain—Christianity in Britain Pelagius—Miserable Condition of the Country . 73 PAKT II. FROM THE LANDING OF EEN0E8T AND EORSA TO THE ACCESSION OF ECGBERDT, A.D. 448 CHAPTER V. Vortigera—Northern Auxiliaries— Hangeatand Bona British Traditions—Chronology of Anglo-8azona Their Baoes— Modi t of K' sinning ...... ——— CONTENTS OF VOL. I. Vll CHAPTER VI. MIDDLE OF THE FIFTH CENTURY. English Language—Saxons—Angles—Jutes—Frisians—The various Tribes in Britain—Resistance of the Lloegrians or Britons—Success of Saxons ..... Page 107 CHAPTER VII. Arrival of fresh Hordes of Northmen—Resistance of Britons Mllie—Various Sections of Saxons—Cerdic—Angles Their History—Northumbria— Britons—Their Territorial Divisions—Germanizing Influence ..... 132 CHAPTER VIII. MIDDLE OF THE FIFTH TO CLOSE OF THE SIXTH CENTUKY. Condition of Britain—The Dignity of Bretwalda—Kingship among Germans and Northmen—Ceawlin of Wessex Marriage of iEthelberht with Berhta—Conversion of Men of Kent—British Churches—Gregory—Augustine—Inter- view between King and Augustine—Baptism of King Conference between Augustine and British Bishops—Arro- gance and want of Conciliation on both sides . .157 CHAPTER IX. THE SEVENTH CENTTJBY. Conversion of Essex—Esedwald of East Anglia a Convert iEthelfrith of Northumbria's Opposition to Christianity Eadwiue's Marriage—His Influence on the Destinies of the People — Conversion of Eadwine and his Ealdormen— Paulinas becomes Archbishop of York—Peace and Pro- sperity of Northumbria—Eadwine resigns his Crown Calamities of Northumbria—Penda of Mercia—Death of Kadwine—Murder of his Son Eadfrith—Oswald acknow- ledged as Bretwalda—His Valour and Piety—His Warfare with the British—His Conflicts with Penda— Conversion of Wessex—Ceolwulf of Wessex—He falls in Battle . 181 — — Vlll CONTENTS OF VOL. I. CHAPTER X. MIDDLE OF THE SETENTH CENTURY. Successors of Oswald—Oswiu—Overthrow of Penda—Progress of Christianity—Oswiu's Efforts to reconcile the British Church with the Papal See— Synod of Whitby—Archbishop Theodore—His Influence in as.-erting the Supremacy of the Romish Church — Bishop Wilfrith — His Character and Conduct—Introduces the Roman Ritual and Rule of St. Benedict ........ Page 207 CHAPTER XI. LATTER HALF OF THE SETENTH CENTURY. The Arts in England—Mercia—The Mercian King—Wulf- 1. era's Efforts to spread Christianity—Northumbria—In- creasing Power of Clergy—Anglo-Saxon Missions Abroad Scottish Foundations—Ceadwalla—His successive Concpuests —Abdication—Wilfrith's Influence in Converting the Anglo- Saxon States to Roman Catholic Christianity—Ecclesias- tical Institutions—Bishoprics—Disputes with the Scottish and "Welsh Clergy of the British Church —Anglo-Saxon Churches and Monasteries ...... 224 CHAPTEB XII. THE EIGHTH CENTURY. Anglo-Saxon Clergy—Canon Law—Church Discipline I'm of Mother-tongue—Pilgrimages—Tithes—Saxon School in Bome—Superstitions—Venerable Beda—Decline of North- umbria—Its Kings and Chieftains— Disturbed Condition of the Kingdom— Pestilence and Wars—First Landing of Northmen on Lindisfarne—Their Ravages—Burning of Wearmouth Monastery — Defeat of Northmen —Continued Convulsions in Northumbria— King Eadwulf seeks help from Charles the Great— Is succeeded by his Son Kanred, who reigne 88 years amid great Dissensions . 258 —— CONTENTS OF VOL. I. IX CHAPTER XIII. THE EIGHTH CENTURY. State of Mercia—People Warlike, Illiterate—Laws of Suc- cession—Penda and his Sons—^Ethelbald's Reign—His Successes—Offa—His Expeditions against the Saxons Charles the Great —Offa's Dyke—London—Archbishopric of Lichfield—Offa's Learning—His Power—His Treachery to young ^thelberht of East-Anglia—Cenwulf—His Suc- cesses in Kent and Wales — Disputes with Wulfred his Primate Page 2S<) CHAPTER XIY. FBOM THE SEVENTH TO THE NINTH CENTURY. The so-called Heptarchy—East-Anglia—East Saxons—Kent — Its Rulers — Sussex—The Smaller States — Gradual Preponderance of Wessex—Its Rulers—The Britons and Armoricans—Ceadwealla ; his Baptism, Abdication, and Death 304 CHAPTER XV. FROM THE SEVENTH TO THE NINTH CENTURY. Ine—His Wars against East-Anglia—His Long Reign—His Laws—Boniface—Abdication and Pilgrimage of Ine Oswald—iEthelheard—Cuthred—War with the Mercian King ^Ethelbald—Mercians Defeated—Wessex Freed Cnthred's Successors—First Landing of Northmen—Queen Eadburh—Her evil Influence—Her Flight and ultimate Fate 329 Notes . 345 Genealogical Tables : Sons of Woden . 352 Kings of Kent 353 X CONTENTS OF VOL. I. Genealogical Tables (continue*!) : Kings of Wessex, from Woden to Ecgberht . Page 354 Kings of East-Anglia ....... 355 Kings of Essex ........ 356 Kings of Bernicia ....... 357 Kings of Deira ........ 358 Kings of Mercia 359 Princes of the Lindisfaras 360 Index 361 AUTHOR'S PREFACE. By many it will, without doubt, be thought singular that the history of a State which has always been of prominent, and often of paramount, importance in the affairs of the world, should have been undertaken by one who cannot, in the position of a professor, have found an excuse for venturing on a task of such difficult execution, by the possession of any superior means of accomplishing it. Doubly unfit, too, must appear the individual, who, in addition to the above-mentioned objections, lacks the necessary leisure to bestow on so great a theme, in consequence of having for many years been attached to a practical calling, which, though favourable to particular historical and legal investi- gations, and the elaboration of his native history, is not so conducive to the grasping of general views, or to a conception of the more strictly poetic and moral elements of history ; and at the same time may be re- garded as adverse to any attempt at vivid description of independent events, or of individual feeling. These considerations seem to render a few words necessary regarding the personal circumstances of the Author in reference to his work. —; Xll AUTHORS PREFACE. 1 The editors of ' The History of the European States' had for some years been seeking for a person -willing and qualified to undertake the History of England, but had generally found that the external as well as internal difficulties attending that study had held German scholars aloof. The first historical inquirer of our time, to whom the affairs of England were familiar from his youth, and whose premature loss we have never ceased to deplore, had, it is said, at an early period cherished the hope of being one day enabled to undertake such a work. The most acute also of living historians had, at a later period, actually undertaken it, when another direction given to his investigations withdrew him from all thoughts of England. 2 When the question was put to me, What is to be done ? I could at the time answer only by naming certain German scholars, whose limited leisure proved however unfavourable to the undertaking while the Englishmen to whom application was made, preferred to devote themselves to the later centuries only of English history. Under these circumstances. and considering that some resolution had to be taken several volumes of ' The History of the European States' having already appeared—I accepted the honourable invitation to compose the history of a country rendered estimable to me by long residence there in early days. Having completed the arrangement of the archives of 1 Gcschichtc dar europiiaohen Stouten, haranagegeben von A.