A.D. 779. CONVERSION OP THE ANCIENT SAXONS. 25 Lambert was made archbishop of Canterbury. After having reigned six years, Mollethelwald resigned80 the kingdom of Nor-thumbria ; after him Aelred reigned eight years, in the second year of whose reign, Egbert, archbishop of York, departed this life, after having enjoyed the archbishopric for a period of thirty .-six years : Frithebert, bishop of Hagustald,81 also died, after having been bishop thirty-four years. Archbishop Egbert was succeeded by Adelbert,92 and Ale-mund succeeded bishop Fridebert. In the fourth year of king Aelred, died Pepin, king of the Franks, Stephen, pope of Rome, and Eadbert,83 the son of Hecta, a most famous duke of [East] Anglia. In the year of grace 769, in the fifteenth year of king Kinewulph, a wondrous mutation first began to take place.84 For the Roman empire, which had for so many years continued to enjoy pre-eminence, became subject tp Charles the Great, king of the Franks. This took place after thirty years of his reign, which first commenced in this year,85 and from that time forward, down to the present day, it has belonged to his successors. In the twentieth year of king Kinewulph, king Offa and the Mercians fought against the people of Kent at Ottanforde,86 and after a dreadful slaughter on both sides, the illustrious Offa was crowned with success. In the same year, the Northumbrians expelled their king Aelred from Eworwic,87 in Easter week, and chose for their king, Ethelred, the son of Mollethelwald, who reigned four years. In this year were seen faeadful signs in the heavens after sunset, of a red color;83 and, to the great astonishment of people, serpents were seen in Sussex. In the second year after this, the Ancient Saxons, from whom • 80 He says previously, under the year 765, that this king lost his kingdom at Wincanhele. 81 Hexham. 82 Before called by him, Albert. 63 The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle calls him a king, but it does not appear of what place. 84 This is a paraphrase for the words in the text, " Incepit fieri muta, tatio dextera excelsi ;" which literally translated, would make perfect nonsense. The text is evidently corrupt. 83 This is wrong ; he has previously said that his reign began in the year 771. 88 Otford, in Kent. * York. 88 Ethelwerd, in his Chronicle, says, that it was the sign of the Lord's cross.