28 ANNALS OP ROGER BE HOVEDEN. A.D. 791. succeeded Kinewulph, and reigned over "Wessex sixteen years. In his second year, pope Adrian sent legates into Britain, to renew the faith which Augustine had preached. Being honorably received by the kings and the people, they raised a fair edifice upon a firm foundation, the mercy of Christ co-operating with them. They held a couneil at Cealtide,10 where lambert" resigned a portion of his episcopate ; there also Higbert was elected12 by king Offa. In the same year, Egfrid was consecrated king of the province of Kent.13 In the following year, being the year of grace 786, there appeared a sign14 upon people's clothes, which may be justly deemed marvellous to be mentioned and to be heard of. "Whether this took place as a forewarning of the movement relative to the recovery of Jerusalem, and the assumption of the cross,15 which happened three hundred and eleven years after this period, in the time of William16 the younger, or whether it was rather intended for the correction of the people, lest they should not view the plague of the Danes with which they were shortly afterwards afflicted, in the light of a chastisement, I will not rashly undertake to settle, but, the mysteries of God I leave to God.17 la the fourth year of his reign, Brithrie took to wife Ead-burga, the daughter of Offa, king of Mercia. Strengthened on the throne by this alliance, he gave way to pride. In these days, the Danes came to Britain, with three ships, for the sake of plunder ; the king's reeve in that province, seeing this, went to meet them without taking due precautions, in order that, having captured them, he might carry them to the king's town ;la for he was ignorant who they were, or for what purpose they had come ; but, being immediately surrounded by them, he was slain. He was the first person of the English nation slain by 10 Lambarde makes this place to be Chalkhythe, but does not say in what county. 11 Archbishop of Canterbury. 1J To be Archbishop of Lichfield, the portion of his province which the Archbishop of Canterbury had resigned. a Which he held jointly with his father Offa. 11 The sign of the cross. 15 By the Crusaders as their emblem. 16 William Rufus. 17 The note of interrogation in the text after " relinquimus " seems misplaced. 19 " Propositus regis ;" the king's bailiff or reve, or steward of the shire ; holding the office of the present sheriff. » " Castrum;" literally, " fortified town."