This Kinearde dissembling the matter, as hee that coulde giue place to tyme, gotte him out of the Countrey, and after by a secrete con∣spiracie assembled togyther a knotte of vngra∣cious companie, and returning priuily into the Countrey againe, watched his tyme, till he espied that the King wyth a small number of his ser∣uauntes was come vnto the house of a Noble woman whome hee kept as Paramour at Mer∣ton, whervpon the sayd Kineard vpon the sodain [ 10] beset the house-round about.
The King perceyuing himselfe thus besie∣ged of his enimies, at the first caused the doores to be shutte, supposing eyther by curteous wordes to appease his enimies, or wyth his Princely au∣thoritie to put them in feare. But when he sawe that by neyther meane hee coulde doe good, in a great chaufe he brake forth of the house vpon Ki∣neard, and went verie neare to haue killed him: but beeing compassed aboute with multitude of [ 20] enimies, whylest hee stoode at defence, thin∣kyng it a dishonour for hym to flie, hee was bea∣ten downe and slaine, togyther with those fewe of his seruauntes which hee had there with hym, who chose rather to die in seeking reuenge of their maisters death, than by cowardice to yeeld them∣selues into the murtherers handes. There esca∣ped none excepte one Welchman or Bry∣tayne, an Hostage who was neuerthelesse sore wounded. [ 30]
The bruyte of suche an heynous acte was streyght wayes blowen ouer all, and brought with speede to the eares of the Noble men and Peeres of the Realme, whiche were not farre off the place where this slaughter had beene commit∣ted. Amongest other, one Osrike, for his age and wisedome accounted of most authoritie, exhor∣ted the residue that in no wyse they shoulde suf∣fer the death of their soueraigne Lorde to passe vnpunished vnto theyr perpetuall shame and re∣proufe. [ 40] Wherevpon in all haste they ranne to the place where they knew to finde Kineard, who at the fyrst beganne to pleade hys cause, to make large promises, to pretende cousynage, and so forth: but when he perceyued all that hee coulde say or doe might not preuaile, hee encouraged his companie to shewe themselues valyaunt, and to resyst theyr enimyes to the vttermoste of theyr powers.
Herevpon followed a doubtfull fight, the one [ 50] part stryuing to saue theyr lyues, and the other to attaine honour, and punish the slaughter of theyr soueraigne Lorde. At length the victorie rested on the side where the right was, so that the wic∣ked murtherer after hee had fought a while, at length was slaine, togyther w•…•…th fourescore and eight of his Mates. The Kings bodie was bu∣ried at Winchester, and the murtherers at Re∣pingdon. Suche was the ende of King Kine∣wulfe, after hee had raigned the tearme of .xxxi. yeares.
In the yeare of our Lorde .786. or as Harison hath .787. Pope Adrian sent two Lega•••••• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Englande, Gregorie (or as some C•…•…pi•••• haue George) Bishop of Ostia, and Theophilactus bi∣shop of Tuderto, with letters commendatory vn∣to Offa king of Mercia, and vnto Alfwolde king of Northumberlande, and likewise to Ieanbright or Lambert Archbishop of Canterburie, and to Eaubald Archbishop of Yorke.
These Legates were gladly receyued, not only by the foresayde Kings & Archbishops, but also of all other the high estares, aswel spiritual and tem∣poral of the lande, and namely of Kinewulfe king of the West Saxons, which repayred vnto king Offa to take counsaile with him for reformation of suche articles as were conteyned in the Popes letters.
There were .xx. seuerall articles whiche they had to propone on the Popes behalfe, as touching the receyuing of the faith or articles established by the Nicene Coūcel, & obeying of the other general Councels with instructions concerning baptisme and keeping of Synodes yearely, for the exami∣nation of Priestes and Ministers, and reforming of naughtie liuers.
Moreouer touching discretion to be vsed in the admitting of gouernors in Monasteries, and Cu∣rates or priests to the ministerie in Churches: and further for the behauior of priests in wearing their apparell, namely that they should not presume to come to the aulter bare legged, least their disho∣nestie might be discouered. And that in no wis•…•… the Chalice or Paten were made of the borne of an Oxe, bycause the same is bloudie of nature, nor the host of a crust, but of pure bread.
Also whereas Bishops vsed to sitte in Coun∣cels to iudge in secular causes, they were nowe forbidden so to doe.
Many other things were for meane of refor∣mation artycled both for spirituall causes, and al∣so concerning ciuill ordinaunces, as dissenabling children to be heyres to the parentes, whiche by them were not begotte in lawfull matrimonie, but on cōcubines, whether they were Nunnes or secular women.
Also of paymēt of tithes, performing of vowes, auoyding of vndecent apparell, and abolishing of all maner of Ethnish vsages and customes that sounded contrarie to the order of Christianitie, as curtayling Horses, and eating of Horses flesh.
These things with many other expressed in .xx. principal articles (as we haue sayd) were first con∣cluded to be receyued by the Church of the Nor∣thumbers, in a Councell holden there, & subscribed by Alfwold king of the Northūbers by Delberke