day vnder a colour to haue the yoong king foorth on hunting, led him
into a thicke wood, and there cut off the head from his bodie, an impe
by reason of his tender yéeres and innocent age, vnto the world
[Sidenote: King Kenelm murthered.]
void of gilt, and yet thus traitorouslie murthered without cause or
crime: he was afterwards reputed for a martyr.

[Sidenote: _Sée legenda aurea. fol. 165_. in the life of S. Kenelme.]
There hath gone a tale that his death should be signified at Rome,
and the place where the murther was committed, by a strange manner:
for (as they say) a white doue came and lighted vpon the altar of
saint Peter, bearing a scroll in hir bill, which she let fall on the
same altar, in which scroll among other things this was conteined, "In
clenc kou bath, Kenelme kinbarne lieth vnder thorne, heaued bereaued:"
that is, at Clenc in a cow pasture, Kenelme the kings child lieth
beheaded vnder a thorne. This tale I rehearse, not for anie credit
I thinke it woorthie of, but onelie for that it séemeth to note the
place where the yoong prince innocentlie lost his life.

[Sidenote: Ceolwulfe K. of Mercia 823.]
After that Kenelme was thus made awaie, his vncle Ceolwulfe the
brother of king Kenulfe was created king of Mercia, and in the second
yéere of his reigne was expelled by Bernwulfe. Bernwulfe in the third
yéere of his reigne, was vanquished and put to flight in battell
by Egbert king of Westsaxons, and shortlie after slaine of the
Eastangles, as before ye haue heard. Then one Ludicenus or Ludicanus
was created king of Mercia, and within two yeeres after came to the
like end that happened to his predecessor before him, as he went about
to reuenge his death, so that the kingdome of Britaine began now to
réele from their owne estate, and leane to an alteration, which