In the kingdom of the Angles, Saxons, Britons, Picts and Scots, the Mayoress of the Palace, Theresa the Stubborn, announced with much weeping that she would retire to a nunnery at the end of June. In those regions the next Mayor of the Palace is chosen by a vote of the elders with blue hair. Various buffoons and liars put themselves forward for election.

Many thought that Boris, the son of John, would be the winner. This Boris was an unprincipled sort of man, a slave to his lusts, promising much to all but keeping his word to none. He sported a wild barbarian hairstyle in the hope that this would make the common people like him.

Another who came forward was a certain Dominicus, called ‘the Cosmographer’ on account of his wide learning. It was he who had, while negotiating a treaty with the Western Empire, discovered that Britannia was an island, closest to Gaul in the civitas of the Cantii[1]. Later on, Dominicus had advised the council of the kingdom to reject the treaty that he had negotiated. Thus was his wisdom and eye for detail.

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[1] Kent – Ed.