HKB
had built within the church of St. Andrew(1000) for his own place of burial. After him Aldwulf(1001) took upon him the office of bishop, having been consecrated by Archbishop Bertwald.
In the year of our Lord 729, two comets appeared about the sun, to the great terror of the beholders. One of them went before the sun in the morning at his rising, the other followed him when he set in the evening, as it were presaging dire disaster to both east and west; or without doubt one was the forerunner of the day, and the other of the night, to signify that mortals were threatened with calamities at both times. They carried their flaming brands towards the north, as it were ready to kindle a conflagration. They appeared in January, and continued nearly a fortnight. At which time a grievous blight fell upon Gaul, in that it was laid waste by the Saracens with cruel bloodshed; but not long after in that country they received the due reward of their unbelief.(1002) In that year the holy man of God, Egbert, departed to the Lord, as has been said above, on Easter day;(1003) and immediately after Easter, that is, on the 9th of May, Osric,(1004) king of the Northumbrians, departed this life, after he had reigned eleven years, and appointed Ceolwulf,(1005) brother to Coenred,(1006) who had reigned before him, his successor; the beginning and progress of whose reign have been so filled with many and great commotions and conflicts, that it cannot yet be known what is to be said concerning them, or what end they will have.
In the year of our Lord 731, Archbishop Bertwald died of old age, on the 13th of January, having held his see thirty-seven years, six months and fourteen days.(1007) In his stead, the same year, Tatwine,(1008) of the province of the Mercians, was made archbishop, having been a priest in the monastery called Briudun.(1009) He was consecrated in the city of Canterbury by the venerable men, Daniel,(1010) bishop of Winchester, Ingwald of London,(1011) Aldwin of Lichfield,(1012) and Aldwulf of Rochester,(1013) on Sunday, the 10th of June, being a man renowned for piety and wisdom, and of notable learning in Holy Scripture.
Thus at the present time,(1014) the bishops Tatwine and Aldwulf preside in the churches of Kent; Ingwald is bishop in the province of the East Saxons. In the province of the East Angles, the bishops are Aldbert and Hadulac;(1015) in the province of the West Saxons, Daniel and Forthere;(1016) in the province of the Mercians, Aldwin.(1017) Among those peoples who dwell beyond the river Severn to the westward,(1018) Walhstod is bishop; in the province of the Hwiccas, Wilfrid;(1019) in the province of Lindsey, Bishop Cynibert(1020) presides; the bishopric of the Isle of Wight(1021) belongs to Daniel, bishop of the city of Winchester. The province of the South Saxons,(1022) having now continued some years without a bishop, receives episcopal ministrations from the prelate of the West Saxons. All these provinces, and the other southern provinces, as far as the boundary formed by the river Humber, with their several kings, are subject to King Ethelbald.(1023)