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 East-Angles erected by Vffa. Fae∣lix a Burgundian, preacheth the faith to the East-An∣gles. His Episcopall sea at Dunwich in Suffolke. Se∣bert the first Christian Prince, resigneth his government to Egrick, and entreth-into a Monasterie, from whence he is drawne forth by his subiects, when the Mercians invade his Province. He is slaine in battaile with Egrick, whom Ana succeedeth in the government.

THe Counties of Norfolke, Suffolke, and Cambridge, with the Ile of Ely, were the ancient habitations of the East-Angles; among whom, Vffa (about the yeare of Grace 492.) established a principalitie, which he left vnto Ti••il, of whom little or nothing is recorded, save onely the name and title.

Then Redwald succeeding him, entred into league with Edwin, advauncing him to the government of the Northumbers, after the death of Edelfrid their Prince, whom Redwald had slain in battaile. He was afterwards (by the exhortation of Edwin the Prince,) converted to Christianitie, from which he was within a short time withdrawne by his wi••es perswasion, though Dorwald one of his sonnes persevering therein, was cru∣elly murdered by Rochbert a Pagan: and Carpenwald his other sonne (succeeding his father in the govern∣ment) participated with his brother in his fortune; for he was slaine by the same man, and in the same maner.

Then Sebert his brother obtained the govern∣ment. During the raigne of Carpenwald, he lived as a ba∣nished man in France, where he was first instructed in the Christian Religion. In his time, Foelix the Burgun∣dian came into Britannie, and made suite to Honorius the Archbishop of Canterburie, that he might be licen∣sed to preach the Gospel to the East-Angles: whereto the Archbishop (approving his zealous intention) wil∣lingly assented; and so the Christian faith within few yeares was dispersed throughout the Province, by the diligence and labor of Foelix, whom the inhabitants re∣verenced as a man, that (being himselfe happie both in name and condition) had power also to make others happie. He was made Bishop of Dunwich in Suffolke, which being then but a small town, became afterwards very rich and populous, and was governed according to the maner of the ancient and best Cities. Many reli∣gious houses (the fruits of devotion in that age) were at sundry times erected in the place. There was also a Mint wherein a certaine coine (with the inscription of the name of the Citie) was stamped. But time hath worne out in a maner the remembrance of these things at this day, and the sea hath devoured the greatest part of the building. It continued an entire Bishops Sea, but a while; for Bisi (the fourth Bishop in succession from Foe∣lix) divided it into two Bishopricks: the one of Dun∣wich, the other of Holinham.

In the meane time Sebert, (imitating the example of the Kentish Saxons) provided meanes, that the chil∣dren born within his Dominions, might be trained vp in learning, and religion, erecting Schooles, and allow∣ing stipends for the maintenance of Teachers. He was also a great benefactor to Hospitals, and Religious houses, and in the end (resigning the government

to Egrick his kinsman) hee entred into a Monasterie, (whereof himselfe had beene the founder) and there remained peaceably, till (by the treacherous practise of Athelhere, one of his nobilitie) Penda the Mercian Prince, with an armie of Pagans, invaded his Province; for then was hee forcibly drawne thence by his owne subjects, who (finding themselves too weake to resist their enemies) brought Sebert himselfe into the field: supposing, perhaps, that his personall presence would encourage his people to fight with more resolution: but in that battaile, the East-Angles were overthrowne, and both Sebert and Egrick his cosin slaine.

The like successe in the selfe same manner befell Ana, who succeeded Egrick in the Principalitie.

Notes

• * 1.1

  East-Angles.