Hello everyone and welcome to the history of England, episode 1.5, The Life and Times

of Pender, part 1. Before I begin, I've had lots of comments this time

around which is seriously good news. Unfortunately, it does mean that I have more

corrections to make and then flies on a pile of poo. So sit back and listen to me

grovel. My own flesh and blood, my own brother was first quick as I flashed like a

rat up a drain. Now I said the Thames went east to west. I give you two choices.

Number one, believe me. When I say that the Anglo-Saxons built a huge drain and

pumping system and pushed the water up the Thames to Gloucester because they liked the idea

of the water flowing uphill or believe my brother when he says that the Thames actually

runs west to east and that I'm a dipstick. I'll leave that one with you. Then I messed

up again. I spoke of the old kingdoms of Northumbria, Dera and Bernice. I got messages from

both Bob and Liz. Apparently, I got them the wrong way around. Bernice is the one in the

far northeast of England. Dera is nestled below between Bernice and the Humber. Curses.

Bob retired at this point, but Liz was just hitting her stride. Apparently, it's only the

Berniceians who claimed a cent from Eider. The Deren's looked to Eilor. Double-drat.

Moving up again, Liz tells me that the idea of the Heptarchy is rejected by modern historians,

and I accept that point. Anglo-Saxon England is a patchwork. The Heptarchy oversimplifies.

But, sorry, I'm sticking with that one because it's broadly true and a helpful simplification.

But then I was stunned when Liz informed me that the term Brett Walder is seriously questioned

as a back invention by a chronic record Henry of Huntington in the 12th century.

Beed doesn't use the term. He just uses the term Imperium, which is absolutely right to accept.

Well, you could have blown me over. Though I have to say, the term Brett Walder, I think,

...