Page:Englishhistorica36londuoft.djvu/171

1921 EARLY WEST SAXON KINGS 163 the son of Ceolwulf, while the annal of 688 gives Cuthwine as the name of the father of Cynegils and Ceolwald. Finally, according to the annal of 855, Ceolwald, the brother of Cynegils, was not the son, but the grandson, of Cuthwine. It is obvious, therefore, that the ninth -century chronicler was unable to ascertain the paternity of Cynegils. On the other hand, we have no reason to suppose that Cynegils 's paternity was con- sidered doubtful by his contemporaries. Consequently, we shall be inclined to think that the ninth-century chronicler's work on these genealogies is equally worthless with that of Florence of Worcester. Mr. Plummer observes that Florence's pedigree was formed merely by piecing together the different pedigrees in the Chronicle, an attempt being made to reconcile their incon- sistencies by duplicating and triplicating names. 1 The chronicler's own work betrays evidences of a similar method. He has dupli- cated Cuthwine and its hypocoristic form Cutha. Instead of ' Ceolwald Cuthwining, Cuthwine Ceawlining ', which the annals of 685 and 688 require, the annal of 855 has ' Ceolwald Cuthaing, Cutha Cuthwining, Cuthwine Ceawlining ', and the preface goes a step further by identifying Cutha with the hero of the annal of 571, Cuthwulf. It should have been obvious to the annalist of 855 that, as both the Cutha of the annal of 685 and the Cuth- wine of the annal of 688 are described as sons of Ceawlin, Cutha must either be the same person as Cuthwine or else Cuthwine's brother. Instead of adopting either of these conclusions, he has absurdly made Cutha a son of Cuthwine. The fact that Cead walla was in 685 regarded as heres regni instead of Ine proves that Cutha is to be identified with Cuthwine ; otherwise Ine would have been more nearly related to Kings Cenwalh and Cynegils than Ceadwalla was. Our next step will be to set aside the ninth-century chronicler's work, and to rely exclusively on the annals of 648 to 728. The genealogical portions of these annals are brief enough : 64:8. Here Cenwalh gave Cuthred, his kinsman, three thousands of land by Ashdown: which Cuthred was Cwichelming, Cwichelm Cynegilsing. 661. Cuthred Cuichelming and Ccenbryht cyning died in one year. 674. Here began to reign over the West Saxons iEscwine, who was Oenfusing, Cenfus Cenferthing, Cenferth Cuthgilsing, Cuthgils Ceolwulfing, •Ceolwulf Cynricing, Cynric Cerdicing. 676. Here ^Escwine died . . . and Centwine began to reign ; and Centwine was Cynegilsing, Cynegils Ceolwulfing. 685. Here Ceadwalla began to fight for the throne : which Ceadwalla was Coenbryhting, Ccenbryht Cading, Cadda Cuthaing, Cutha Ceawlining, €eawlin Cynricing, Cynric Cerdicing. 688. Here Ine became king of the West Saxons and reigned thirty- 1 Op. tit. ii. 2. M2