In the year of our Lord 725, being the seventh year of Osric,1 king of the Northumbrians, who had succeeded Coenred, Wictred,2 the son of Egbert, king of Kent, died on the 23rd of April, and left his three sons, Ethelbert, Eadbert, and Alric,3 heirs of that kingdom, which he had governed thirty-four years and a half. The next year Tobias,4 bishop of the church of Rochester, died, a most learned man, as has been said before; for he was disciple to those masters of blessed memory, Theodore, the archbishop, and Abbot Hadrian, wherefore, as has been said, besides having a great knowledge of letters both ecclesiastical and general, he learned both the Greek and Latin tongues to such perfection, that they were as well known and familiar to him as his native language. He was buried in the chapel of St. Paul the Apostle, which he had built within the church of St. Andrew5 for his own place of burial. After him Aldwulf6 took upon him the office of bishop, having been consecrated by Archbishop Bertwald.
In the year of our Lord 729, two comets appeared about the sun, to the great terror of the beholders. One of them went before the sun in the morning at his rising, the other followed him when he set in the evening, as it were presaging dire disaster to both east and west; or without doubt one was the forerunner of the day, and the other of the night, to signify that mortals were threatened with calamities at both times. They carried their flaming brands towards the north, as it were ready to kindle a conflagration. They appeared in January, and continued nearly a fortnight. At which time a grievous blight fell upon Gaul, in that it was laid waste by the Saracens with cruel bloodshed; but not long after in that country they received the due reward of their unbelief.7 In that year the holy man of God, Egbert, departed to the Lord, as has been said above, on Easter day;8 and immediately after Easter, that is, on the 9th of May, Osric,9 king of the Northumbrians, departed this life, after he had reigned eleven years, and appointed Ceolwulf,10 brother to Coenred,11 who had reigned before him, his successor; the beginning and progress of whose reign have been so filled with many and great commotions and conflicts, that it cannot yet be known what is to be said concerning them, or what end they will have.
In the year of our Lord 731, Archbishop Bertwald died of old age, on the 13th of January, having held his see thirty-seven years, six months and fourteen days.12 In his stead, the same year, Tatwine,13 of the province of the Mercians, was made archbishop, having been a priest in the monastery called Briudun.14 He was consecrated in the city of Canterbury by the venerable men, Daniel,15 bishop of Winchester, Ingwald of London,16 Aldwin of Lichfield,17 and Aldwulf of Rochester,18 on Sunday, the 10th of June, being a man renowned for piety and wisdom, and of notable learning in Holy Scripture.