The Peterborough Chronicle, formally known as Oxford, Bodleian Library MS Laud misc. 636, is a major witness to the Anglo Saxon Chronicle and is identified in critical literature by the siglum E; it is one of the most important historical documents for the early history of England. It was compiled at Peterborough in three stages during the period 1121-55 – this attribution is made because of its inclusion throughout of charters, entitlements and other matter of purely local significance relating specifically to that monastery.
- THE PETERBOROUGH CHRONICLE: Volume 1 - Introduction and Text Edited and translated by Bernard J Muir and Nicholas A Sparks
Use the Peterborough Chronicle Glossary to translate these excerpts.
The Pre-Roman Preface
The first excerpt from the Peterborough Chronicle is known as the Pre-Roman Preface, which appears in versions D and E of the Chronicles. This passage contains numerous inaccuracies when compared with other historical accounts of a similar nature. It is derived from a version of Bede’s Historia Ecclesiastica, one that is independent of the ninth-century Old English translation.
Bríttene ígland is ehta hund mila lang 7 twa hund brad, 7 her sínd on þis iglande fif geþeode: Englisc 7 Brittisc 7 Wilsc 7 Scyttisc 7 Pyhtisc 7 Bocleden. Erest weron bugend þises landes Bríttes þa coman of Amoricano 7 gesætan suðewearde Bryttene ærost. Þa gelamp hit þet Pyhtas coman suþan of Scithian mid langum scipum, na manegum 7 þa coman ærost on norþ Ybernian up 7 þær bædon Scottas þet hi ðer moston wunían. Ac hi noldan heom lyfan, forðan hi cwædon <þet hi ne mihton ealle ætgædere gewunian þær. 7 þa cwædon> þa Scottas: ‘We eow magon þeah hwaðere ræd gelæron. We witan oþer egland her be easton þer gemagon eardian gif ge willað, 7 gif hwa eow wiðstent, we eow fultumiað þet ge h it magon gegangan. Ða ferdon þa Pihtas 7 geferdon þis land norþanweard, 7 suþanweard hit hefdon Brittas swa we ær cwedon. And þa Pyhtas heom abædon wif æt Scottum on þa gerad þet hi gecuron heora kyne cinn áá on þa wifhealfa; þet hi heoldon swa lange syððan. 7 þa gelamp hit imbe geara rina þet Scotta sum dæl gewat of Ybernian on Brittene 7 þes landes sum dæl geeodon, 7 wes heora heratoga Reoda gehaten – from þam heo sind genemnode Dælreodi.
The Migration
The second excerpt depicts a scene similar to the Pre-Roman Preface; however, it incorporates additions from later historians and annalists. It also draws on Bede’s Historia Ecclesiastica and his account of the Anglo-Saxon invasion.
Anno .ccccxlix Her Martianus 7 Valentinus onfengon rice 7 rixadon .vii. winter. 7 on þeora dagum gelaðode Wyrtgeorn Angelcin hider, 7 hi þa coman on þrim ceolum hider to Brytene on þam stede Heopwinesfleot. Se cyning Wyrtgeorn gef heom land on suðaneastan ðissum lande wið ðan þe hi sceoldon feohton wið Pyhtas. Heo þa fuhton wið Pyhtas 7 heofdon sige swa hwer swa heo comon. Hy ða sendon to Angle, heton sendon mara fultum 7 heton heom secgan Brytwalana nahtscipe 7 þes landes cysta. Hy ða sona sendon hider mare weored þam oðrum to fultume. Ða comon þa men of þrim megðum Germanie: of Aldseaxum, of Anglum, of Iotum. Of Iotum comon Cantwara 7 Wihtwara – þet is seo megð þe nu eardaþ on Wiht – 7 þet cyn on Westsexum þe man nu git hæt Iutnacynn. Of Ealdseaxum coman Eastseaxa 7 Suðsexa 7 Westsexa. Of Angle comon, se á syððan stod westig betwix Iutum 7 Seaxum, Eastangla, Middelangla, Mearca 7 ealla Norþhymbra. Heora heretogan wæron twegen gebroðra Hengest 7 Horsa þet wæron Wihtgilses suna. Wihtgils wæs Witting, Witta Wecting, Wecta Wodning; fram þan Wodne awoc eall ure cynecynn 7 Suðanhymbra eac.
The Conversion and Assasination Attempt for King Edwin
The third excerpt is focused on the assassination attempt and the conversion of King Edwin, which comes from a detail in Bede’s Historia Ecclesiastica (West Saxon translation). Edwin of Northumbria (c. 586–633), heir to the throne of Deira, was supplanted by Aethelric. He spent many years in exile among the English and the British, until he married the daughter of the King of Mercia, Coenburh. He then married the Princess of Kent, Aethelburh, with the understanding that he would convert to his wife’s religion. Meanwhile, King Raedwald of East Anglia, who was hosting Edwin, was bribed by an emissary of King Aethelfrith of Bernicia to assassinate Edwin. Edwin was warned and escaped.
Anno .dcxxvi. Her com Eomer fram Cwichelme Westseaxna cininge; þohte þet he wolde ofstingan Eadwine cininge, ac he ofstang Lillan his ðegn 7 forðhere 7 ðone cining gewundode. 7 þære ilcan nihte wes Eadwine dohter acenned, seo wæs gehaten Eanfled. Þa gehet se cining Pauline þet he wolde his dohter gesyllan Gode gif he wolde abiddan æt Gode þet he moste his feond afyllan, þe þone scaðan þider ær sende. 7 he þa for on Westseaxum mid fyrde 7 afylde þær .v. ciningas 7 þæs folces mycel ofsloh. 7 Paulinus gefullade his dohter on Pentecosten twelfa sum, 7 se cining binnan .xii. monað wæs gefullod on Eastrum mid eallum his dugoðe – þa wæron Estran on .ii. idus Aprilis. Ðis wæs gedon on Eoferwic þær he ær het getimbrian cyrican of treowe, seo wæs gehalgod on Sancte Petres naman. Þær se cining sealde Pauline biscopsetl, 7 þær he het eft timbrian maran cyrican of stane.