The firste [laste] volume of the chronicles of England, Scotlande, and Irelande conteyning the description and chronicles of England, from the first inhabiting vnto the conquest : the description and chronicles of Scotland, from the first original of the Scottes nation till the yeare of our Lorde 1571 : the description and chronicles of Yrelande, likewise from the first originall of that nation untill the yeare 1571 / faithfully gathered and set forth by Raphaell Holinshed.

Cuthred.

* 1.1

[illustration]

AFter the deceasse of Ethelard king of west Sax∣ons, [ 40] his cosin Cuthred was made King & gouernour of those people, raigning the terme of .xvj. yeares. He beganne his raigne in the yeare of our Lord .740.* 1.2 in the .xxiiij. yeare of the Emperour Leo Isaurus, in the .xiiij. yeare of the raigne of [ 50] the seconde Theodorus Cala king of Fraunce, and aboute the .vj. yeare of Ethfine King of Scottes.

* 1.3This Cutred had muche to doe agaynste E∣dilbald king of Mercia, the which one while with styrring his owne subiects the West Saxons to rebellion, an other while with open warre, and sometyme by secrete craft and subtile practises, sought to disquiet him.

In the fourth yeare yet of his raigne, a peace was concluded betwixt them, and then ioyning theyr powers togyther, they went agaynste the Welchmen, and gaue them a great ouerthrow, as before is partly touched.

In the .ix. yeare of this Cuthreds raigne,* 1.4 hys sonne Kenric was slaine in a seditious tumult amongst his men of warre, a Gentleman yong in yeares, but of a stoute courage,* 1.5 and verie forwarde, whereby (as was thought) he came the sooner to his ende.

In the .xj. yeare of his raigne,* 1.6 Cuthred had warres agaynst one of his Earles called Adelme, who raysing a commotion against him, aduentu∣red to giue battaile, though he had the smaller nū∣ber of men, and yet was at poynt to haue gone away with victorie, if by a wounde at that in∣stant receyued, his periurie had not beene puni∣shed, and the kings iust cause aduaunced to try∣umphe ouer his aduersarie, whome yet by waye of reconciliation he pardoned. In the .xiij. yeare of his raigne,* 1.7 King Cuthred beeing not well able longer to sustayne the prowde exactions and harde doings of Edelbalde King of Mercia, ray∣sed hys power, and encountered with the same Edelbalde at Hereforde, hauing with hym the foresayde Earle Adelme, in whose valiaunte prowes he put great hope to attaine victorie: nei∣ther was he deceyued: for by the stoute conduct and noble courage of the sayde Adelme,* 1.8 the loftie pryde of King Edelbalde was abated, so that he was there put to flight, and all his armye dis∣comfited, after sore and terrible sight continued and mainteyned euen to the vttermost poynt.

In the .xxiiij. yeare of his raigne, this Cuthred fought eftsoones with the Welchmen, and obtey∣ned the vpper hande, without any great losse of his people: for the enimies were easily put to flight and chased, to their own destruction.

In the yeare after, king Cutred fell sicke, and in the .xvj. yeare of his raigne hee departed thys lyfe, after so many great victories got against his enimies.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Cuthred
• * 1.2

  740
• * 1.3

  Hen. Hunt. Mat. VVest.
• * 1.4

  Kenric the kings sonne slaine.
• * 1.5

  749 Mat. VVest.
• * 1.6

  751
• * 1.7

  752 Mat. VVest.
• * 1.8

  King Edilbald put to flight.