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 West-Saxons, established by Cer∣dic. Berinus preacheth the Christian faith to the West-Saxons. The towne of Dorchester assigned to him for a Bishops Sea. Kinegles the first Christian Prince. Winchester is made a Bishops Sea by Kennewalch the West-Saxon Prince. Ceadwall (resigning the go∣vernement to Ina) goeth to Rome, where he dieth.

THe West-Saxons tooke the additi∣on of their name from the situati∣on of place, as inhabiting the We∣sterne part of the Ile; wherein at this day, are contained the Coun∣ties of Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Wilton, Southampton, and Berk.

About the yeare of grace 509. Cerdic (with Kenric his sonne, and a warlike companie of Saxons) arrived in Britannie, where they were en∣countred by Natanleod a Brittish Prince, neere a shal∣low brooke, (afterwards called Cerdics-foord) and now by contraction of speech, Chardfoord. The fortune of that bataile, determined the hope of the Britans, and e∣stablished the Saxons in possession of the greatest part o•• those Countries: over which, Cerdic and Kenric ruled with equall authoritie, enlarging their dominions by the conquest of the Ile of Wight: the governement whereof, was assigned by Cerdic, to Stuffa and Withgar his nephewes.

After the father and sonne had ruled joyntly about seventeene yeares, Cerdic (ending his life by course of

nature) left the entire Principalitie to Kenric his sonne.

Kenric was oft times assailed by the Britans, who at∣tempted the recoverie of their antient possessions, but could not prevaile: and the Province being otherwise free from annoyance, was peaceably governed during his time.

Then Ceaulin his sonne succeeding him, made warre vpon Ethelbert the Kentish Prince: in the prosecution whereof, Oslave and Cnebban (two valiant Captaines of the Kentish Saxons) were slaine, and Cutholp his brother, made head against the Britans; from whom, he recove∣red divers Forts and Cities, which they had gotten in the Territorie of the Mercians. But while Ceaulin was making warre abroad, Cearlic (his brother G••tholps sonne) kindled a rebellion within the Province, and by force, vsurped the governement about five yeares.

After the death of Cealric, Ceolnulph the sonne of Cu∣tha, (the sonne of Ceaulin) recovered the Principalitie. In the beginning of his raigne, the Province of the West-Saxons was invaded, both by the Britans, & also by the Scottishmen and Picts. The East-Angles likewise at the same time assailed it: but Ceolnulph, having appeased these troubles, and (beginning a new warre against the South-Saxons) died before he could fully finish it, lea∣ving the prosecution thereof to Kinegles his sonne: who with good successe vndertooke the warre, and (having overthrowne the Britans) converted his forces against Penda the Mercian Prince; with whom (after each had tried the others strength in battaile) he con∣cluded a peace.

In the yeare of grace 635. he imbraced the Christi∣an faith, and was baptised by Berinus, who first prea∣ched the Gospel to the West-Saxons: (Oswald Prince of the Northumbers, being his godfather at his baptisme.)

The Citie of Dorchester was by Kinegles and Oswald, as∣signed to Berinus, for the Bishops Sea of that Province.

Then Guichelin, the sonne of Kinegles, and Cuthred, the sonne of Guichelin, ruled successively, and were both baptised by Berinus the Bishop.

After them, Kennewalch (the yonger sonne of Kine∣gles) obtained the governement. He married the sister of Penda the Mercian Prince, and afterwards put her a∣way: whereupon Penda, (to revenge the indignitie of∣fered to his sister) made warre vpon him, and drave him out of the Province, which he afterwards recovered by the assistance of Ana, Prince of the East-Angles: for Ken∣newalch, during the troubles in his owne dominions, had fled thither, and was there baptised by Faelix the Bishop.

He founded the Cathedrall Church at Winchester, to be the Bishops Sea for the Province of the West-Saxons, and appointed Wi••a to be the first Bishop of that place. Hee gave also to the Abbot Aldelmus, the towne of Mal••esbury, where (by the helpe of Elutherius, that suc∣ceeded Wi•••• in the Bishopricke of the West-Saxons) he erected a faire Monasterie, of which, William of Mal∣mesbury, (who wrote in Latine part of the English Hi∣story) was sometimes a Monke.

After his death, Sexburga his wife held the Principa∣litie: but (finding that by reason of the weakenesse of her sexe, she was vnable to support so weightie a bur∣then) she soone gave it over, and went into a Nunnery in the Ile of Shepey, which her selfe had founded.

Then Eascwin (the nephew of Kinegles) succeeded. He began a warre against Wolpher the Mercian Prince, with whom he fought a set battaile. What other things were done by him worthy remembrance, I finde little reported.

Then Kenewin (the youngest sonne of Kinegles) ruled the West-Saxons. He was oft times annoyed by the Bri∣tans, whom in the end he chased into the vtmost parts of the Province Westward.

Ceadwall the nephew of Ceaulin, possessing the govern∣ment, subdued the Province of the South-Saxons, and wasted the Kentish Territories: in the pursuit of which warre, he gave vnto the Church (even before he was baptised) the tenths of all those spoiles which hee tooke. Wherein, howsoever his intention may be cen∣sured, yet the example is no way, justifiable, conside∣ring it is written; That hee which offereth vnto God the goods of the innocent, doth as it were sacrifice the Son in the ••ight of the Father. After hee had subdued the Ile of Wight, he sent thither Wilfrid the Bishop, to instruct the inhabitants in the knowledge of Christian religion: and being wearied with worldly affaires, resigned the governement to Ina, and went to Rome; where he was baptised by the name of Peter, and soone after ended his life. His body was buried in the Church of Saint Peter, and (over the place where he was 〈◊〉〈◊〉) the inscription of his name and condition was engraven.

Notes

• * 1.1

  West-Sax∣ons.