•THE HEPTARCHY. s, 9

Sigered, unable to defend his kingdom , submitted ciiap.to the victorious arms of Egbert. i.

The Kingdom of S U S S E X.

Thh history of this kingdom, the smallest inthe Heptarchy, is still more imperfect than thatof Essex. Ælla, the sounder of the monarchy,left the crown to his son, Cissa , who is chieflvremarkable for his long reign of seven ty-six years.

During his time , the South-Saxons fell almost intoa total dependence on the kingdom of Wessex;and we scarcely know the names of the princes,who were possessed of this titular sovereignty.Adelwalch, the last of them, was subdued inbattle by Ceadwalla, king of Wessex, and wasstain in the action , leaving two infant sons, who,falling into the hand of the conqueror , weremurdered by him. The abbot of Redford opposedthe order for this execution ; but could onlyprevail on Ceadwalla to suspend it, ^11 theysliould be baptized. Bercthun and Audhun , two1 noblemen of character , resisted some time theViolence os the West-Saxons; but their oppositionserved only to prolong the miseries of their coun-try; and the subduing of this kingdom, was thefirst step, which the West-Saxons made towardsacquiring the sole monarchy of England 11S .

Brompton, p. goo.

F 3,