1. West Saxons, or Wessex.
  2. South Saxons, or Sussex.
  3. Kent.
  4. East Saxons, or Essex.
  5. East-Anglia.
  6. Mercia.
  7. Deira. And
  8. Bernicia.

[4] It is not rendered clear from the confused statements of the early historians, whether the latter, who attempted to seize the crown, succeeded in holding it for any length of time; but it is certain, from the language of the venerable Bede (Eccl. Hist. l. 5. c. ult.) as well as from other authorities, that Offa had to contend for the diadem before he wore it, and not without effusion of blood possessed the regal dignity.

The author of the “Vita Offæ Secundi,” appended to Watts’s edition of Matthew Paris, states, that Tuinfredus and his wife (the parents of the subject of the Essay) were persecuted by Beormredus (Bernred), but that he despised their youthful offspring who is described as “usque ad annos adolescentiæ inutilis poplitibus contractis, et qui nec oculorum vel aurium plenè officio naturali fungeretur.” When, however, the designs of Bernred had so far succeeded as to induce Tuinfredus and his wife to take refuge in some distant place of security, a miraculous change took place in Pinefredus, their son, similar to that which had, in former ages, occurred to Offa the son of Warmund; and from a dull and feeble youth he suddenly sprang into full possession of all his faculties, and appeared a highly-gifted man. “Quid plura? de contracto, muto, et cæco, fit elegans corporis, eloquens sermone, acie perspicax oculorum.” From this change the enraptured Mercians looked upon him as some divine person sent to deliver them from the tyranny of Bernred, and called him no longer Pinefredus, but “a second Offa!” Of this anonymous historian, however, the authority is not perhaps of peculiar weight, neither is the miraculous change stated to have taken place in the youthful Pinefredus especially calculated to court our unhesitating reliance; and most of his readers will be inclined, with his editor, to quote from Horace, “Credat Judæus Apella, non ego!”

Some of the annalists of the events of that period are more brief in their accounts of Offa’s accession. Thus,

“Cumque prædictus rex Ethelbaldus XL et uno annis regnasset, juxta prophetiam sancti patris Guthlaci, bello minus provide inito super Seggeswold, a Bernredo tyranno extitit interemtus. Bernredus vero tyrannus non diu tanta tyrannide gloriatus, eodem anno periit. Æthelbaldusque rex apud Ripadium, id est, Ripedune, tunc temporis celeberrimum monasterium tumulatus, regnum Merciorum nepoti patruelis sui, videlicet Offæ filio Dignferti, filii Ænulphi, filii Osmodi, filii Æoppæ, filii Wibbæ patris regis Pendæ, consentientibus totius Merciæ proceribus, reliquit.”—Ingulphus 5.

Also,

“Anno 757. Adebaldo rege Merciorum occiso apud Secandune successit Beornred, quem Offa eodem anno expulit, et regnum pro eo super Merciam XXXIX annis obtinuit.”—Chronica de Mailros, 137.

Also,

“Beornred in regnum Mercæ tanquam hæres legitimus dicto regi Ethelbaldo successit, brevi tamen tempore illud regens. Nam Offa infra suum primum annum eum aufugavit, qui 39 annis regnum Mercæ et populum postea gubernavit.”—Bromton, 776.

Also,