Worcester The Chronicle of Chronicles by John of Worcester Illustrated

1. Auflage 2025
ISBN: 978-1-80170-289-8
Verlag: Delphi Publishing Ltd
Format: EPUB
Kopierschutz: 0 - No protection

E-Book, Englisch, Band 22, 1406 Seiten

Reihe: Medieval Library

John of Worcester was a twelfth century English monk and chronicler, who served at Worcester Priory until his death in c. 1140. He is believed to be the author of the 'Chronicon ex Chronicis', previously known as Florence of Worcester's Chronicle. A work of world history, it begins with the Creation and ends in the year 1140. John was a careful annalist, who made use of important sources, while drawing upon local records and traditions. Delphi's Medieval Library provides eReaders with rare and precious works of the Middle Ages. This eBook presents the complete text of 'The Chronicle of Chronicles', with illustrations, informative introductions and the usual Delphi bonus material. (Version 1)

* Beautifully illustrated with images relating to John's life and text
* Features the complete extant text of John's 'Chronicle of Chronicles'
* Concise introduction to the author and his work
* Thomas Forester's noted translation for Bohn's Antiquarian Library, 1854
* Excellent formatting of the text
* Easily locate the sections you want to read with individual contents tables
* Features a bonus biography

CONTENTS:

The Translation
The Chronicle of Florence of Worcester with the Two Continuations

The Biography
Introduction to 'Chronicle of Florence of Worcester' by Thomas Forester

Autoren/Hrsg.

Worcester, John of

Leseproben

THE CHRONICLE OF FLORENCE OF WORCESTER.

A.D. 446. THE Britons, being unable to endure the incursions of the Picts and Scots, sent messengers to Rome, imploring aid against their enemies, and promising submission for themselves. A legion, dispatched to their aid without loss of time, slaughtered vast numbers of the enemy and drove the rest beyond the borders of Britain. The Romans then, on the point of being withdrawn, recommended the Britons to build a wall across the island between the two seas, for their own defence; but as they had no one of sufficient skill to direct such works, more turf than stone was used in the construction, and the labour spent on it was thrown away. No sooner were the Romans departed, than the enemy, landing in boats, levelled, trampled down, and swept off, whatever came in their way, as if they were reaping corn ripe for the harvest.

Again the Romans, listening to the prayers of the Britons, flew to their succour, and having defeated the enemy, forced them to recross the straits; and then, in conjunction with the Britons, instead of the former earthen rampart, constructed a solid wall of stone, from frith to frith, between the towns which had been built there as a security against hostile inroads. They also erected watchtowers, at intervals, along the south coast, commanding views of the sea, as the enemy threatened them also in that quarter.

The Romans then bid the Britons farewell, telling them they should not again return.

No sooner, however, were the Roman troops withdrawn, than the Scots and Picts again issued from the north, and, expelling the natives, occupied the whole island as far as the wall. Nor did they stop there; for slaying, driving off, or taking prisoners, those who were stationed to guard the wall, the fierce ravagers broke through it in places, and even swept off an immense booty from within its line of defence. In consequence, a lachrymose epistle, full of complaints, was addressed to a man in high authority at Rome, Ætius, then consul for the third time, in the twenty-third year of the emperor Theodosius, imploring succour, which was not granted.

Meanwhile, a severe famine, which was very general, distressed the fugitive Britons, compelling some of them to deliver themselves up to their enemies, while others, sheltering themselves in the mountains, caves, and woods, made an obstinate resistance. The Scots retreated to their own country, intending to return shortly; the Picts occupied the remotest part of the island; where they then first, and for ever afterwards, settled. The famine already mentioned was succeeded by a very abundant harvest; with plenty came excess and recklessness; then followed a deadly pestilence; and, to crown all, a still severer infliction at the hands of the Angles, new enemies, who, by the unanimous counsels of the Britons, under their king Vortigern, were invited to come over to defend the country; instead of which, they invaded and subdued it.

In consequence, during the reign of the emperor Mercian, people of the race of the Saxons or Angles crossed over to Britain in three long ships, and were followed by a stronger force, when the news of their prosperous voyage reached home. These, uniting with the first body, in the first instance expelled the enemy they were summoned to encounter, and then, turning their arms against their allies, overran with fire and sword nearly the whole island from east to west, that is, the central districts, on the false pretence that the Britons had not given them adequate subsidies for fighting their battles.

A.D. 447-449.

A.D. 450. According to Bede, [“Ecclesiastical History” h. i. c. 15, where Bede assigns the year 449 (it should be 450) for the commencement of the Emperor Marcian’s reign of seven years, during which he fixes the era of the arrival of the Anglo-Saxon tribes in Britain. The Saxon Chronicle agrees with this statement of Bede, who, however, incidentally referring to this event in other parts of his history, places it about the year 446 or 447.] the Anglo-Saxons landed in Britain from three long ships in the reign of the Emperor Marcian; the people who came over belonging to three of the most powerful tribes in Germany, that is to say, the Saxons, Angles, and Jutes. The Kentish-men and the inhabitants of the Isle of Wight derive their origin from the Jutes; those of Sussex, Middlesex, and Wessex from the Saxons; and the East-Angles, the Mid-Angles, the Mercians, and the whole Northumbrian race, with the rest of the English population, are descended from the Angles, that is, they sprung from the country called Angeln. It is reported that two brothers, Hengist and Horsa, were their first chiefs. They were the sons of Wihtgils, whose father was Witta, the son of Vecta, the son of Woden; from which stock the royal line of many provinces derived its origin.

A.D. 451-454.

A.D. 455. Hengist and Horsa fought against Vortigern, king of the Britons, at a place called Ægclesthrep [Aylesford], and, although Horsa was slain in the battle, Hengist gained the victory, and after these events reigned jointly with his son Æsc.

A.D. 456.

A.D. 457. Hengist and Æsc engaged in battle with the Britons at a place called Creacanford [Crayford] and put four thousand of them to the sword; the rest of the Britons then abandoned Kent, and fled to London in great terror.

A.D. 458-164.

A.D. 465. Hengist and Æsc fought against the Britons near Wippedesfleote, [Ebbsfleet, ] which means the place where Wipped crossed the water. They slew twelve chiefs of the enemy’s army, with many others, while on their side only one thane, whose name was Wipped, fell in the battle.

A.D. 466-473.

A.D. 473. Hengist and Æsc fought with the Britons for the fourth time, and gaining victory, took spoils without number; in which battle the Britons fled before the Angles as they would from fire.

A.D. 474-476.

A.D. 477. Ælla and his three sons, Gymen, Wencing, and Cissa, came to Britain in three ships, from which they landed at a place called Cymenesora, and there slew many of the Britons, and drove the rest into the forest called Andredesleage. [Keynor in Selsea, near West Watering. The forest of Andred, now the Weald of Sussex and Kent. See Henry of Huntingdon’s Hist. p, 132, Bohn’ Antiq. Lib.]

A.D. 478-484.

A.D. 485. Ælla, fighting the Britons near Mearcredes-burnan, that is Mearcrede’s Brook, slew numbers of them and put the rest to flight.

A.D. 486, 487.

A.D. 488. Hengist, having governed the kingdom of Kent with the greatest vigour during thirty-four years, ended his life. His son Æsc succeeded to the throne, and reigned twenty-four years.

A.D. 489, 490.

A.D. 491. St. Patrick, Archbishop of Ireland, made a blessed end, aged one hundred and twenty-two years. Ælla, with his son Cissa, stormed Andredes-ceaster, [Pevensey? Cf. Henry of Huntingdon, ] after a long siege, and put all the inhabitants to the sword, from the eldest to the youngest.

A.D. 492-494.

A.D. 495. This year, two chiefs, namely, Cerdic and his son Cynric, crossed over to Britain with five ships, and, landing at a place called Cerdices-ora [Yarmouth?], fought the Britons the same day, and having defeated them put them to flight.

A.D. 496-500.

A.D. 501. Port, and his two sons Byda and MÆgla, arrived in Britain, with two ships, at a place called Portsmouth, and slew a British youth of very high rank, besides many others.

A.D. 501-507.

A.D. 508. Cerdic and his son Cynric slew Natanleod, king of the Britons, and five thousand men, with the edge of the sword; from that king all the country as far as Cerdicesora [Charford, in Hampshire.] derived its name of Natanleod.

A.D. 509-513.

A.D. 514. The West-Saxons, sailing to Britain with three ships, landed at Cerdices-ora. Their chiefs, Stuf and Wihtgar, were Cerdic’s nephews. Shortly afterwards they engaged in battle with the Britons, some of whom they slew, and put the rest to flight.

A.D. 515-518.

A.D. 519. Cerdie and Cynric began to reign [in Wessex], and the same year they fought and conquered the Britons at Cerdices-ford.

A.D. 520.

A.D. 521. St. Bridget, the Scottish nun, died in Ireland.

A.D. 522-526.

A.D. 527. Cerdie and Cynric, for the fourth time, fought with the Britons at Cerdices-leage.

A.D. 528, 529.

A.D. 530. Cerdie and Cynric conquered the Isle of Wight, which they gave to their nephews, Stuf and Wihtgar; a few men were slain in Wihtgara-birig, [Carisbrook Castle].

A.D. 531-533.

A.D. 534. Cerdic, the first king of the West-Saxons, departed this life; and his son Cynric was, after his death, sole king for twenty-six years.

A.D. 535-537.

A.D. 538. There was an eclipse of the sun on the fourteenth of the calends of March [16th February], from the first to the third hour.

A.D. 539.

A.D. 540. There was an eclipse of the sun on the twelfth of the calends of July, [20th June, ] and the stars were visible about half-an-hour before the third hour of the day.

A.D. 541-543.

A.D. 544. Wihtgar, the nephew of Cerdie, king of the West-Saxons died, and was buried at Wihtgara-birig, that is, Wihtgar’s town.

A.D. 545, 546.

A.D. 547. Ida began to rule in the province of the Bernicians, and reigned twelve years. He had six sons born of his queens, Adda, Balric, Theodric, Œthelric, Theodhere, and Osmar; and six by concubines, Occ, Alric, Ecca, Oswald, Sogor, and Sogether; from whom descended the royal line of the Northumbrians. Ida was son of Eoppa. who was son of Esa, who was son of Ingui, who was son of Angenwit, who was son of Aloe, who was son of Benoc, who was son of...