certain requests to be presented by word of mouth.
3. The same year Kenulf King of the West-Saxons added to his former liberality towards the Ancient Monastery of Glastonbury, the Mannor of Compton. This he gave to the Abbot thereof called Waldun who newly succeeded to Guban.
4. Afterward the See of London being va∣cant by the death of Eadgar, in his place suc∣ceeded Kenwalck: Nothing remains of the Gefts of either: Neither can any account be given more of the names of Cuthrid Bishop of Lichfeild who dyed at the same time, to whom was substituted Bert••••n. Hoveden calls them by other names, as likewise the Episco∣pall See too. It is a difficulty not worth the penetrating.
5. It will not be impertinent in this place to relate how miraculously God gave testimony to the Gests, Doctrine & Sanctity of S. Boniface of late happy memory by defending his Church of Fritzlar frō the fury of the Saxons.
They making an invasion into the confines of the French dominions, besieged a certain Strong Castle called Barimburg. During which siege they wasted with sword and ••••e the countrey circumjacent. Their principall rage was directed against the Church of Fritzlare built by S. Boniface, and concerning which he had prophecied that it should never be con∣sumed by fire. Whilst the furious Pagans were exe••cising their utmost diligence to make this a false Prophecy, and were heaping wood and casting firebrands to sett it on fire▪ there appeard to severall Christians in the foresaid Castle, and to some Pagans likewise, two men in white shining raiments, who protected the Church from fire: so that by no diligence or pains taken within or without the Church could the Pagans effect their desire: On the contrary, a terrour from heaven seising on them, they fled away, none pursuing them. When they were gone, there was found one Saxon Soldier stark dead, upon his knees, with fire and wood in his hands, bowing down in the posture of one blowing the fire with an intention to burn the said Church.
Thus did
God shew his power and favour to his faith∣full servant. And though shortly after he permitted the
Church of
S. Swibert at
Werda to be consumed by fire yet so terrible a punish∣ment he inflicted on the
Authours, that it became evident that the said
Blessed Bishop preached the true
Orthodoxe Faith.
6. In the year of Grace seaven hundred seaventy four Offa King of the Mercians a Prince of high Spirits, began troubles which in successe of time endangerd the ruine of severall petty kingdoms of Brittany. For having three years before this subdued the Nation of the Hestings in the Southern parts of the Island, or Sussex; he extended his ambition to add also the kingdom of Kent to his conquests. And because Lambert (or as some Copies write, Lambert) then Archbishop of Canterbury endeavoured to defeat his am∣bition, he turned his indignatiō against that Church also, the dignity and revenews of which ••e sought to diminish: For he took from it severall Mannors, as Cherring, Sele∣berts, Chert and severall others: which were afterward restored.
7. This wart between Offa and Alric is thus breifly described by Huntingdon: In the twen∣tieth year of Kenulf King of the West-Saxons, saith he, Offa King of the Mercians fought against the Kentish men at place called Ottanford where the slaughter was most horrible, especially on the Kentish part••▪ So that King Offa by this victory became fa∣mous and terrible. William of Malmsbury adds, that Alric King of Kent by this unhappy battell against the Mercians, did cast a great clowd upon the glory of his times.
8. It is probable that by such great successe & enlargement of power which this victory gave to Offa, the other Saxon Kings might be so terrified as to seek assistance from abroad, es∣pecially from Charles the illustrious King of the French. But sure••y there is small truth in the relation made by Mathew Paris, how not only Alric King of Kent was slain in this battell, but that thereupon five Kings of Brittany should in a pompous manner writte a com∣mon letter to the said Charles in which cal∣ling themselves the most powerfull Kings of Brit∣tany, they demanded his aid and strict socie∣ty, giving him the Title of Imperiall Maiesty and that he in his Letter to King Offa should stile himself the most potent of all Kings: These seem to be groundles fictions borrowd by that Authour from some such fabulous Wri¦ters as began to abound in this age. However certain it is that King Charles had not the Ti∣tle of Emperour given him till many years after this time.
9. And as groundlesse is another Story of the same Authour, how after the conquest of Kent the same King Offa subdued all the other Saxon Kings, and particularly Alred King of the Northumbers, whom he compelled to fly into Wales: And that thereupon some hostility began between Offa & the French King Char∣les, who is sayd to have written to Offa a threatning Letter, containing imperious demands and that King Offa should answer What have I doe with Charles the beyond-Sea King I•• he offer any iniury to mee, I will in hostile manner invade him, and endeavour to make him tributary to my Crown. These are triviall inventions which the said H••storian borrowd from some ob∣scure Writer, who straind his witt to sound forth in an immodest, indiscreet manner the praises of King Offa.
10. As for that clause which regards Alred King of the Northumbers, it is true that this year in Easter-week his subiects compelled him to fly out of York, and afterward out of his Kingdom, as Huntingdon relates▪ And Hove∣den more expressly declares that King Alred by the unanimous consent of the Northum∣bers was deprived of all power and priviledge of a