The Historical Works of Simeon of Durham

Here begins the history of Simeon, of holy and pleasant memory, Monk and Precentor of the Church of St. Cuthbert, of Durham, concerning the Kings of the Angles and Danes, and their numerous wars, pillages and burnings; from after the death of the Venerable Beda, priest, to within a little of the death of King Henry the First, son of William the Bastard, who conquered England; that is, during a period of four hundred and twenty-nine years and four months.

Here begins the Martyrdom of SS. Ethelbert and Ethelred, youths of: the royal lineage.

In the year six hundred and sixteen from our Lord’s incarnation, which is twenty-one years after the blessed Augustin with his companions was sent here to preach the Gospel, Ethelbert, king of the men of Kent, after having with great renown occupied an earthly kingdom for fifty-six years, entered upon the eternal joys of the kingdom of heaven. This king was the son of Irmiric, the son of Octa, the son of Oiric, whose father Hengest, with his son Oisc, first entered Britain at the invitation of King Wirtigern, as Beda has related in his luminous history. Eadbald, the son of Ethelbyrht, then assumed the reins of government. He begot two sons, Eormenred and Erconbyrht. King Eadbald, departing this life, transmitted the sceptre of the state to Erconbert. He was first of the kings of the Angles who commanded the idols in the whole of his kingdom to be forsaken and destroyed, and likewise ordered the fast of the forty days [of Lent] to be observed by royal authority. To him was born a son, named Ecgbert. Eormenred had two sons, Ethelbert and Ethelred, to whose life and triumph of martyrdom it, is right to give a place in the commencement of our history, and to show forth the glory of their holiness.