The historie of Great Britannie declaring the successe of times and affaires in that iland, from the Romans first entrance, vntill the raigne of Egbert, the West-Saxon prince; who reduced the severall principalities of the Saxons and English, into a monarchie, and changed the name of Britannie into England.

CHAP. I.* 1.1

The principalitie of the Mercians, erected by Creda the Saxon. Penda persecuteth the Christians in his Pro∣vince. Peda succeedeth Penda his father in the go∣vernment. He marrieth the daughter of Oswin Prince of the Northumbers, and receiveth the Christian faith.

THe middle part of the Ile of Bri∣tannie (containing at this day the Counties of Glocester, Hereford, Worcester, Salop, Chester, Stafford, Bathe, Warwicke, Leycester, Rutland, Nottingham, Northampton, Lincoln, Huntington, Bedford, Buckingham, Oxenford, and part of the Countie of Hertford) was in ancient time possessed by the Angles, whom the inhabi∣tants of the bordering Provinces round about did then call Mercians. It was in circuit of ground much larger then either of the other principalities, being at the first diuided into three parts, according to the seve∣rall situations, namely the East, West, and Middle Mercia.

The first Prince of the Mercians was Creda, who a∣bout the yeare of Grace 586. (either by his owne force, or by the assistance of such Princes of his owne nation, as were alreadie established in government) expelling the Britans, obtained the principalitie.

After him Wibba his sonne: then Ceorla, and Penda, the sonnes of Wibba, ruled successively.

Penda was a Prince of a hautie spirit, and a great

persecuter of the Christians: he made continuall incur∣sions vpon the borders of his neighbour Princes, exer∣cising all kind of crueltie where he vanquished. Sebert, Egricke, and Ana, three Religious Princes of the East-Angles, were by him overthrowne. The Princes of Nor∣thumberland, Edwin, and Oswold, he slue in several battels. Oswin the successor of Oswald, after many assaults, of∣fering his richest Iewels, and a great summe of monie, to redeeme his peace, could not procure it. For Penda▪ had made a solemne vow, that he would never give o¦ver the warre, till he had rooted out the whole Nation of the Northumbers. Heruepon Oswin perceiving himself vnable to make resistance against so power-full an ene∣mie, prayed to God for helpe, protesting, that, if he ob∣tained the victorie against the Mercians, his daughter Alfrid, should be consecrated to serve him in perpe∣tuall virginitie: and a great quantitie of land should be assigned for the erection and maintenance of Mona∣steries: both which (the successe answering his desire) he afterwards performed.

Peda the eldest sonne of Penda (in the life of his fa∣ther) possessed that part of the Province, which was called Middle-Mercia. He married the daughter of Oswin, Prince of the Northumbers, vpon condition that he should receive the christian faith:) whereupon he was baptised by Finan the Bishop ofa 1.2 Lindisfarn in the Pro∣vince of the Northumbers: and at his returne into Mer∣cia, brought with him certaine Priests to instruct; and baptise his people, which Penda himself was contented to tollerate, either for the affection which he bare vnto Peda his sonne, or else for that he could not but approve the conversation of such as taught Subjects to be hum∣ble, charitable, and obedient to their superiors: by rea∣son whereof, he exercised lesse crueltie against the pro∣fessors

of Christianitie, then in former times he had ac∣customed: pursuing onely such persons, as bearing the name of Christians, lived dishonestly, and irreligiously, alledging that they, who neglected the service of that God, in whom alone they professed themselves to be∣leeve, were very wretches, and worthie of all kinds of punishment.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The Mer∣cians.
• a 1.2

  Holy-Iland