Note 173 — Chapter III · BRITAIN AFTER THE ROMANS.

It is usually stated by modern writers that Ida landed in 547 with a body of Angles, and founded the kingdom of Northumberland, but the older authorities give no countenance to the idea of a colony under Ida. Nennius has no hint of his having come into the island from the Continent. Bede, in the short chronicle annexed to his History, has ‘Anno 547, Ida regnare cœpit, a quo regalis Nordanhymbrorum prosapia originem tenet et duodecim annis in regno permansit.’ This statement is repeated by the Saxon Chronicle, which adds, ‘And built Bambrough, which was at first enclosed by a hedge, and afterwards by a wall,’ and by Florence of Worcester. Simeon of Durham has simply, ‘Ida rex annis regnavit xi.’ William of Malmesbury, however, connects Ida very clearly with the earlier settlements; for, after narrating how Octa and Ebissa seized the northern parts of Britain, he says, ‘Annis enim uno minus centum, Northanhimbri duces communi habitu contenti, sub imperio Cantuaritarum privatos agebant: sed non postea stetit hæc ambitionis continentia, seu quia semper in deteriora decliva est humanus animus, seu quia gens illa naturaliter inflatiores anhelat spiritus. Anno itaque Dominicæ incarnationis quingentesimo quadragesimo septimo, post mortem Hengesti sexagesimo, ducatus in regnum mutatus, regnavitque ibi primus Ida, haud dubie nobilissimus, ætate et viribus integer; verum utrum ipse per se principatum invaserit, an aliorum consensu delatum susceperit, parum definio.’ The first writer who mentions the colony is the anonymous author of the tract ‘De primo Saxonum Adventu,’ and he is copied by John Wallingford. After repeating the usual statement, ‘Ida primus rex ex Anglis cœpit regnare in Northanhymbrorum provincia,’ he adds, ‘Venerat autem Ida comite patre Eoppa cum lx. navibus ad Flamaburch, indeque boreales plagas occupans, ibidem regnavit duodecim annis.’ The statement seems to be adopted from the account of Octa and Ebissa’s colony.