Historical antiquities, in two books the first treating in general of Great-Brettain and Ireland : the second containing particular remarks concerning Cheshire / faithfully collected out of authentick histories, old deeds, records, and evidences, by Sir Peter Leycester, Baronet ; whereunto is annexed a transcript of Doomsday-book, so far as it concerneth Cheshire, taken out of the original record.

CHAP. V.

Containing a Brief Catalogue of all the Saxon Kings in England from the first beginning of the Heptarchy, and when they Reigned.

The Kings of Kent.

• A.C. 455. 1. Hengist, with Horsa his Brother 32 Years.
• A.C. 488. 2. Esk, Son of Hengist 24 Years.
• A.C. 512. 3. Otta 20 Years.
• A.C. 532. 4. Imirik 29 Years.
• A.C. 561. 5. Ethelbert, the first Chri∣stian King of Kent 56 Years.
• A.C. 617. 6. Eadbald 24 Years.
• A.C. 640. 7. Ercombert: He first caus∣ed Lent to be kept in England, Anno 640. Bede 24 Years.
• A.C. 665. 8. Egbert 9 Years.
• A.C. 674. 9. Lotharius 12 Years.
• A.C. 686. 10. Edrik 7 Years.
• A.C. 693. 11. Withtred 33 Years.
• A.C. 726. 12. Egbert, or Edbert 23 Years.
• A.C. 749. 13. Ethelbert II. 11 Years.
• A.C. 760. 14. Alric, slain by Offa 34 Years.
• A.C. 794. 15. Ethelbert III. 3 Years.
• A.C. 797. 16. Cuthred 8 Years.
• A.C. 805. 17. Baldred, the last King of Kent: He lost his King∣dom to Egbert King of the West-Saxons, Anno Domini 824. 19 Years.

The Kings of the East-Angles.

• A.C. 575. 1. Uffa, the first King.
• A.C. 582. 2. Titullus.
• A.C. 593. 3. Redwald, a Potent King.
• A.C. 624. 4. Erpenwald.
• A.C. 636. 5. St. Sigebert.
• A.C. 638. 6. Egric.
• A.C. 642. 7. Anna.
• A.C. 654. 8. Ethelbert I.
• A.C. 656. 9. Ethelwold.
• A.C. 664. 10. Aldulf.
• A.C. 683. 11. Elfwold.
• A.C. 690. 12. Beorn.
• A.C. 714. 13. St. Ethelred.
• A.C. 749. 14. Ethelbert II. who being slain by Offa King of Mercia, 793. this Kingdom was united to Mercia.

The Kings of the East-Saxons.

• A.C. 527. 1. Erchwin, the first King.
• A.C. 587. 2. Sledda.
• A.C. 596. 3. St. Sebert.
• A.C. 617. 4. Sexred, Seward, and Sigibert, Fratres.
• A.C. 623. 5. Sigebert the Little.
• A.C. 636. 6. Sigebert III.
• A.C. 638. 7. Egricus.
• A.C. 642. 8. Anna.
• A.C. 654. 9. Ethelbert.
• A.C. 656. 10. Ethelwald.
• A.C. 661. 11. Swithelme.
• A.C. 664. 12. Sighbert, and Sebba.
• A.C. 694. 13. Sigehard, and Senfrid.
• A.C. 701. 14. Offa.
• A.C. 709. 15. Selred.
• A.C. 747. 16. Suthred.

The Kings of the South-Saxons.

• A.C. 488. 1. Ella, the first King. 27 Yea.
• A.C. 515. 2. Cissa, Son of Ella, who lost his Kingdom to Cerdic King of the West-Saxons. Yea.
• A.C. 687. 3. Edelwach, or Ethehwolfe, is the next King I meet with of the South-Saxons, who was slain in Battel by Cedwal King of the West-Saxons, 688. Yea.

Before this time it remained in the Power of the West-Saxons a good while; and upon the death of Edelwach, Berthan and Authun, two Brothers, took upon them the Government of the South-Sax∣ons with the Title of Dux, and held it for a little while; but Ina, Successor of Cedwall, King of the West-Saxons, subdu∣ed it, and united it to that Crown.

The Kings of Mercia.

• A.C. 582. 1. Criedda, the first King.
• A.C. 593. 2. Webba, Son of Criedda.
• A.C. 614. 3. Cheol, or Ceorl, Son of Wibba.
• A.C. 626. 4. Penda the Strong, Son of Wib∣ba, who, some say, was the first King.
• A.C. 656. 5. Peda, Son of Penda, a Christian King.
• A.C. 659. 6. Wulfere, Father of St. Wer∣burge, and Son of Penda.
• A.C. 675. 7. Ethelred, Son of Penda.
• A.C. 704. 8. Kenred, Son of Wulfere's Bro∣ther.
• A.C. 708. 9. Ceolred, Son of Ethelred.
• A.C. 716. 10. Ethelbald the Proud, overcome by Cutbert, or Cuthred, King of the West-Saxons, near Bur∣ford in Oxfordshire: the place is still called Battellage-Hill.
• A.C. 757. 11. Beornred, a Tyrant, slain by Offa.
• A.C. 758. 12. Offa the Great, King of Mercia: Abnepos Pendae, saith Malmes∣bury. He made a great Ditch in Wales, near 100 Miles long, dividing Wales and Mercia, called Offa's Dike. He subdued Kinulf King of the West-Saxons, and also the Northumbrians, and the Ken∣tish-men
• A.C. 796. 13. Egferd, Son of Offa.
• A.C. 797. 14. Kenulf. He took Egbert Pri∣soner.
• A.C. 819. 15. Kenelm, Son of Kenulf, mur∣thered by his Sister Quen∣drid.
• A.C. 820. 16. Ceolwulfe, Brother to Kinulf.
• A.C. 821. 17. Bernulf, overcome by Egbert.
• A.C. 824. 18. Ludecan.
• A.C. 826. 19. Witlaf, Tributary to Egbert.
• A.C. 839. 20. Bertulfe.
• A.C. 852. 21. Beorred, a Substituted King by the West-Saxons; the last King of Mercia.
• A.C. 874. Celwulfe, sometimes Servant to Beorred, Rebelled and U∣surped. This Kingdom be∣ing tyrannized over by the Danes, was united to the West-Saxons by Alfred, Anno 886.

The Kings of the Northumbrians.

• A.C. 547. 1. Ida, the first King.
• A.C. 560. 2. Ella, King of Deira.
• A.C. 589. 3. Edelric, Son of Ida, King of Bernicia.
• A.C. 593. 4. Ethelfrid.
• A.C. 617. 5. Edwin, Son of Ella.
• A.C. 633. 6. Osric I.
• A.C. 634. 7. St. Oswald, slain at Maserfelt by Penda King of Mercia, 5 die Augusti, Anno 642. Bede de Hist. Angl. lib. 3. cap. 9.
• A.C. 643. 8. Oswy; who having slain Os∣win King of Deira, was the first Absolute King of Nor∣thumberland: He slew also Penda King of Mercia, Anno 656.
• A.C. 671. 9. Egfrid.
• A.C. 686. 10. St. Alfrid.
• A.C. 705. 11. Osred I.
• A.C. 716. 12. Kenred.
• A.C. 718. 13. Osric II.
• A.C. 729. 14. Ceolwolfe.

• A.C. 738. 15. Egbert.
• A.C. 758. 16. Eswulfe.
• A.C. 759. 17. Ethelwald.
• A.C. 765. 18. Alred.
• A.C. 774. 19. Ethelred I.
• A.C. 778. 20. Afwold.
• A.C. 789. 21. Osred II.
• A.C. 794. 22. Ethelred II. slain 3 Calend. Maii.

And after the Interregnum of 33 years, Egbert King of the West-Saxons enjoyed this Kingdom, Anno 827. In that Inter∣regnum it was invaded on the one hand by the Danes, and on the other by the Picts and Scots.

The Kings of the West-Saxons.

• A.C. 522. 1. Cerdic, the first King of the West-Saxons Yea. 17
• He killed 5000 Brettans, Anno 509. Hen. Huntington pag. 312. and routed Naza∣leod the Great King of the Brettans, at Certicsford.
• A.C. 539. 2. Kenric, Son of Cerdic Yea. 26
• A.C. 565. 3. Ceaulin, Son of Cenric, with Cuthwin his Son Yea. 30
• A.C. 595. 4. Celric, Son of Ceaulin Yea. 5
• A.C. 600. 5. Ceolwolfe, Son of Cutha, Son of Kenric, Son of Cerdic Yea. 14
• A.C. 614. 6. Kingils, Son of Ceolric, Brother of Ceolwolfe Yea. 31
• A.C. 645. 7. Cenwald, or Kenwalchin, Son of Kingils Yea. 31
• A.C. 676. 8. Sexburga, Wife of Cenwald Yea. 1
• A.C. 677. 9. Escwine, Son of Cenwald Yea. 2
• A.C. 679. 10. Centwin, or Kentwin, Co∣sin of Escwin Yea. 9
• A.C. 688. 11. Ceadwall, with Mull his Brother, took the Isle of Wight. Huntington. Yea. 2
• A.C. 690. 12. Ine, Son of Cenred, Son of Ceoldwold, Son of Cuth∣win, Son of Kenric. An∣no Regni sui 21. he fought with Gerent king of Wales, and routed him. Huntington, pag. 337. He first gave the Peter-Pence to the Pope. Yea. 37
• A.C. 727. 13. Ethelard Yea. 14
• A.C. 741. 14. Cuthred Yea. 16
• A.C. 757. 15. Sigebert. He was deposed by the Pope Yea. 2
• A.C. 759. 16. Kinulf, elected King of the West-Sazons Yea. 26
• A.C. 785. 17. Bithric, or Brichtric Yea. 16
• A.C. 800. 18. Egbert, or Egbricht. He subdued the other Kings, and reduced the Heptarchy into a Mo∣narchy. Yea. 37

The Monarchs of England of the Saxon Blood.

• [Anno Chr. 823] 1. Egbert, the First Saxon Monarch of England, was Crowned King of all England at Winchester, about Anno Christi 823, and commanded that all that part of Brettaine (whereof he had now the Sovereignty) should be called England; since which time it hath been called England. Polychronicon. He began his Reign over the West-Saxons, Anno Christi 800. But over England, in Anno 823. or thereabouts. He Reigned 14 Years.
• [ 837] 2. Ethelwolfe, eldest Son of Egbert. He Reigned 20 Years.
• [ 857] 3. Ethelbald, eldest Son of Ethelwolfe. Huntington saith he Reigned five Years, p. 349. He Reigned one Year.
• [ 858] 4. Ethelbert, second Son of Ethelwolfe. He Reigned five Years.
• [ 863] 5. Ethelred, third Son of Ethelwolfe. Huntington saith, he Reigned but five Years, pag. 349. He Reigned nine Years.
• [ 872] 6. Alfred, fourth Son of Ethelwolfe, a Learned Prince. He totally united the Heptar∣chy into one Kingdom; vanquished the Danes, and subdued them, though he could not quite expel them. He divided the Shires of England into Hundreds and Ty∣things, as Egbert his Grandfather had before divided England into Shires, as now they stand at this day, some few having been new modelled since. He erected a Univer∣sity at Oxford, and Reigned 29 Years.

• [Anno Chr. 901] 7. Edward, sirnamed The Elder, Son of Alfred; he recovered the Countrey of the East-Angles from the Danes, whom he shut up in Northumberland. He Reigned 24. years.
• [ 925] 8. Athelstan, Bastard-Son of Edward, subdued the Brettans of Cumberland and Cornwall, and made the Danes to submit to his Government. He Reigned 16 years.
• [ 941] 9. Edmund, legitimate Son of Edward, subdued the Danes in Northumberland, and utter∣ly subverted the Kingdom of the Brettans in Cumberland. He Reigned 6 years.
• [ 947] 10. Ethelred, Brother of Edmund. He Reigned 9 years.
• [ 956] 11. Edwy, Son of Edmund. He Reigned 3 Years and 9 Months.
• [ 959] 12. Edgar, sirnamed The Peaceable, Brother to Edwyn, was the most absolute Monarch of England since the time of the Saxons, by whom the Tribute-money, imposed on the Welsh by Athelstan, was exchang'd into a Tribute of Wolfs. This Edgar in the thirteenth Year of his Reign, is said to have been Rowed on the River Dee at Chester by eight Kings, who swore Fealty to him, Anno 972. their Names were Kunud or Rynad, King of the Scots; Malcolme, King of Cumberland; Maccusius, the Arch-Pyrat; and all the Kings of Wales, whose Names were Duswall, Griffith, Huvall, Jacob, and Judethil, or Inchil. Malmesbury, pag. 56. Huntington, pag. 356. and Hoveden, pag. 426. He Reigned 16 Years.
• [ 975] 13. Edward II. sirnamed The Martyr, Son of Edgar, was treacherously murthered by his Step-mother, to make way for her Son Ethelred to succeed. He Reigned 3 Years.
• ...

  [ 978] 14. Ethelred II. younger Son of Edgar, was oppressed and broken by the Danes, and to buy his own Peace, was forc'd to pay them a yearly Sum of 10000 l. which at last was enhanced to 48000 l. This Tax was imposed on his Subjects, and called Dane-geld; but weary of this great Taxation, he Plotted warily with his Subjects, to kill all the Danes in their Beds; which was put in Execution on the Eve of Saint Britius, being the twelfth of November 1012, in the night-time: But soon after Swane, King of Denmark, Landed Forces in England, and forced Ethelred to flie out of England into Normandy. He Reigned 38 years.

  Ethelredus iste baptismum stercore foedavit.

• ...

  [ 1016] 15. Edmund II. sirnamed Ironside, Son of Ethelred, having in vain attempted to reco∣ver the Kingdom, at last divided it with Cnut [or Canutus] the Dane, Son of Swane; and not long after was this Edmund basely murthered 1017. This was the common Fame, saith Malmesbury; but Florentius and Hoveden tell us, that he died at London about the Feast of Saint Andrew the Apostle. He Reigned nine Months.

  By the Counsel of Edrick de Streon, Cnut banished Edwin, Brother to Edmund Ironside, and also Edward and Edmund, Sons of King Edmund Ironside.

  Edward, sirnamed The Outlaw, Son of Edmund Ironside, had issue Edgar Atheling, the right Heir of the Crown, and Margaret, Married to the third Malcolme, King of Scot∣land, and Christian, a Nun of Ramsey in Huntingtonshire, 1086. Simeon Dunelmensis.

Kings of England of the Danish Blood.

• [ 1017] 1. Canutus or Cnut, King of Denmark and Norway, after the death of Edmund Ironside, was sole King of England: He Married Emme the Widow of King Ethelred, and Daughter of Richard, Duke of Normandy. He Reigned 20 years.
• [ 1037] 2. Harold, Bastard Son of Cnut, sirnamed Harfuger. He Reigned four years.
• [ 1040] 3. Canutus II. commonly called Hardy-Cnut, the lawful Son of Cnut. He Reigned two years.

The Saxon Blood restored.

• ...

  [ 1042] 16. Edward III. sirnamed The Confessor, (Son of Ethelred II. by Emme, Daughter of Richard; Duke of Normandy, and half Brother to Edmund Ironside, and to Hardy-Cnut the Dane) was now advanced to the Throne of England, and the Danes utterly ex∣pelled

• ...

  the Countrey, having tytannized here above 200 years, whereof they Reigned onely 26 years. He Reigned 24 years.

  He was the first of the Kings of England who cured the Disease call'd The Kings Evil, a Prerogative continuing hereditary to the Kings of England; and after his Death he was Canonized for a Saint; Dr. Heylins Cosmography pag. 318.

• ...

  [Anno Chr. 1066] 17.Harold, Son of Godwin Earl of Kent, was chosen King of England, (in the Nonage of Edgar Atheling, Grandchild to Edmund Ironside, and true Heir of the Kingdom) he was Crowned the sixth of January 1065. He Reigned nine Months and eight days.

  But before I pass farther, I would remember you of one thing mentioned by Dr. Heylin, how in memory of the joyful clearing of the Countrey from the cruel Danes in the time of Edward the Confessor, the English did institute the Merriment of the annual Sports of Hock-Tide, and from their barbarous stabbing of the English at the time of their Drinking; to avoid such villany, the Party who was to Drink requested some of the next to him to be his Pledge or Surety whilst he was Drink∣ing; and hence came our Custom of Pledging one another, a Phrase used in time of Drinking even to this day.

  Harold was slain in Battel the fourteenth of October 1066, by William Duke of Normandy; upon which Victory William was Crowned King of England, and so ceased the Rule of the Saxons.

Thus have I briefly run over the Saxon Kings of England out of the most authentick Historians; so that putting all together, if we reckon the coming in of the Saxons with Cambden, to be in Anno Domini 428, to the time of the Norman Conquest, and in∣cluding the small time of the Rule of the Danish Kings in the Account, the whole time of the Saxons Rule in England was 638 years.