THE HEPTARCHY. 67

and put out his eyes; leavings Cuthred , his own chap.brother , in possession of the crown of that king- I.dom. Kenulph was killed in an insurrection ofthe East-Anglians , whose crown his predecessor,

Ossa, had usurped. He left his son, Kenelm , aminor; who was murdered the fame year by hissister, Quendrade, who had entertained the am-bitious views of assuming the government ,<I .

But she was supplanted by her uncle. Ceolulf;who, two years after, was dethroned by Beorn-11 1 f. The reign of this usurper, who was notof the royal family, was short and unfortunate:

Pie was defeated by the West-Saxons, and killedby his own subjects, the East-Angles Ludican,

his successor, underwent the same sate Iri ; andWiglaff, who mounted this unstable throne, andfound every thing in the utmost confusion, couldnot withstand the fortune of Egbert, who unitedall the Saxon kingdoms into one great monarchy.

The Kingdom of ESSEX.

TPHis kingdom made no great figure in theHeptarchy; and the history of it is very imperfect.

Sleda succeeded to his father, Erkiowin , thefounder of the monarchy; and made way for hisson, Sebert, who, being nephew to Ethelbert,king of Kent, was persuaded by that prince to

Ingulph. p. 7. Brompton, p. 776.

111 Ingulph. p. 7.

Ann. Beverl. p. 87.

F 2