The history of the Church of Englande. Compiled by Venerable Bede, Englishman. Translated out of Latin in to English by Thomas Stapleton student in diuinite

Of the death of king Ecgfride and king Lother.

The 26. Chap.

THe yere of thin carnation of our Lord DClxxxiiij. Ecg∣fride king of Northumberland sent Bertus his captaine generall with an hoste of men into Scotland, and mise∣rably spoyled and destroyed the harmelesse seely people, which had euer bene great frindes to the english nation, in so muche that the hand and force of the enemie spared not the very churches and monasteries. Yet the men of the Ile as far as they were able dyd both resiste and withstand force with force, and also calling on the ayd of Gods mercy, dyd long with conti∣nuall cursinges make supplication to be reuēged from heauen. And although such as curse cannot possesse the kingdome of

heauen, yet it is beleued, that they which for their vnmer∣cyfulnes were worthely accursed, dyd shortly suffer the pu∣nyshmentes of their wickednes by the vengeance of God. For the next yere after this, the same king against the aduise and counsell of his frindes, and specially: of Cutbert a man of blessed memorie, who of late had bene consecrated bysshopp, dyd rashly and vndiscretly go forth with an armie to waste the prouince of the Redshankes. Who making as thowghe they sled, browght him vnto the straightes of the hilles where was no passage, and there with the most parte of his hoste that he had browght with him, he was slayne the xl. yere of his age, and xv. yere of his raigne, and xx. day of maye. And in dede (as I sayd) his frindes and counsell would not suffer him to begyn this war, but euen as the yere before he wolde not giue eare to the most Reuerend father Ecgbert, for settinge vpon Scotland that dyd him no harme, so was this nowe giuen him for a pu∣nyshment of that syn, that he wold not harken vnto them that labowred to call and staye him from his owne destruction. Af∣ter which time the hope and prowesse of the dominion of the English began much to decaye and go backeward. For the Redshankes recouered againe their landes and possessions whi∣che the English men did hold, and the Scottes that were in Britaine, and also a certaine part of the Britons got againe their freedome and libertie, which they hitherto haue yet these xlvj. yeres or thereabowt. Where among many of the englishmen that were eyther slaine with the swearde or made bondmen, or scaped frō the land of the Redshankes by fleeing, the most reuerend man Trumwini, which had bene byshop ouer them there, departed with his company that were in the monasterie of Ebbercune, the which standeth in the Englysh region, but nighe vnto the straight that diuideth the landes of the english and the Redshankes. And commending his felowes to his frendes abrode in diuerse monasteries where he best might,

himselfe went to the ofte mentioned monasterie of Gods ser∣uantes and handmaydes, named Streaneshalch, and there chose him his abyding place: where with a fewe other of his compa∣ny he lead his lyfe a long time of yeres in monasticall straight∣nesse, very profitably not to himselfe only, but to many other also. At which time there gouerned the same monasterie a cer∣taine virgin of the kinges blood named Elflet, and their mo∣ther Eanflede togither, of whome we haue before made men∣tion. But when this byshop came thither, the good and vertu∣ouse Abbesse found thereby not only great helpe in her chard∣ge and gouernaunce, but also comforte to her owne lyfe and conuersation. After king Ecgfride succeded in the kingdome Altfrit a man very well learned in the scriptures, who was said to be Ecgfrides brother, and sonne to king Oswine. This man dyd nobly and worthely recouer the decayed and destroyed estate of the kingdome, thowghe the boundes and greatenes thereof were nowe more narowe. This same yere, which was from thincarnarion of owr Lorde DClxxxv. dyed Lothere king of kent the vj. daye of February, when he had raigned xij. yeres after his brother Ecgbert, who raigned jx, yeres. For this Lother was wounded in the battaile of the South Sa∣xōs, the which Edrich the sonne of Egbert fowght against him, and while he was at surgerie in curing he dyed. After whome the sayd, Edrich raigned one yere and an halfe. Who depar∣ting without issue, that kingdome was for a space throwghe vncertaine and foraine kinges sore decayed and destroyed, vn∣tyll the lawfull and legitimat king Victred, who was Egberts sonne came and was quietly settled therin, who both by good religion and princely prowesse deliuered his people from fo∣raine forse and inuasion.

Notes

• An. 684.
• The wel∣••hmen.
• An. 635.