and not onelie feathered foules, but also beasts on the land, & fishes
in the sea died in great numbers. The same yeare died Ceolwulf then
king of Northumberland, vnto whome Beda did dedicate his booke of
[Sidenote: Moonks licenced to drinke wine.]
histories of the English nation. After that he was become a moonke
in the monasterie of Lindesferne, the moonks of that house had licence
to drinke wine, or ale, whereas before they might not drinke anie
other thing than milke, or water, by the ancient rule prescribed them
of the bishop Aidan first founder of the place. The same yeare sundrie
cities, townes, and monasteries were defaced and sore wasted with fier
chancing on the sudden, as Stretehu, Giwento, Anwicke, London, Yorke,
Doncaster, &c.

After that Moll had reigned 6 yeares, he resigned his kingdome. But
[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._ Altred began his reigne in the yeare 765 as
_Sim. Dun._ saith.]
other write that he reigned 11 yeares, and was in the end slaine by
treason of his successor Altred. This Altred reigned ten years ouer
the Northumbers, and was then expelled out of his kingdome by his
[Sidenote: _Henr. Hunt._ _Matth. West._ Ethelbert.]
owne subiects. Then was Ethelbert, named also Edelred, the sonne of
the foresaid Moll, made king of Northumberland, and in the fift yeare
of his reigne, he was driuen out of his kingdome by two dukes of his
countrie named Edelbald and Herebert, who mouing warre against him,
had slaine first Aldulfe the sonne of Bosa the generall of his armie
at Kingescliffe; and after Kinewulfe and Egga, other two of his dukes,
at Helatherne in a sore foughten field: so that Ethelbert despairing
of all recouerie, was constrained to get him out of the countrie.
And thus was the kingdome of Northumberland brought into a miserable
state, by the ambitious working of the princes and nobles of the same.