* 1.1XX CHAP.
1. Anna King of the East-Angles slain by K. Penda.
2.3 &c The Mercian Tyrant Penda mi∣raculously slain by K. Oswi: who conse¦crates his daughter to God.
* 1.21. IN the year of Grace six hundred fifty four, saith Mathew of westminster, Penda King of the Mercians, a man who breathed nothing but fury and war, and loved to tread in ways staind with blood, invaded the Religious King of the East-Angli, Anna, and in a moment de∣stroyd him and his army. To him his Brother Ae∣thelherus succeeded in the Kingdom. With King Anna was slain his eldest son Firmin••••: and both their bodies were buryed at a Town called Blithborow in Suffolk, seated on the River Blith: Which town, saith Camden, deserves to be mentioned for no other thing,* 1.3 but that there was the Sepulcher of Anna a Christian King of the East-Angli, slain in battle by Penda the Mercian King. But afterward their bodies were translated to S. Edmunds-bury, in the same Province.
* 1.42. But the year following this bloody King Penda, who seems to have been raised up for the destruction of good Kings, received at last the reward of his cruelty by the hands of Oswi King of the Northumbers. The parti∣cular Narration we receive from S. Beda:* 1.5 In those times, saith he, King Oswi having received intolerable vexations from Penda King of the Mercians, who formerly slew his Brother King Oswald, at last was forced to promise him incredi∣bly rich gifts to obtain a peace, & for a cessation of the ruines of his Provinces. But the perfidious King Penda would accept of no conditions, being deter∣mined to exterminate his whole Nation. Where∣upon King Oswi had his recourse to the Divine Protection only, to deliver him from the barba∣rous impiety of his enemy.
Wherefore he obliged himself by vow, saying, since this Pagan King re∣fuses our gifts, let us offer them to our Lord God who will graciously accept t••em. He vowed there∣fore that in case he gott the victory, he would con∣secrate his daughter to serve our Lord in perpe∣tuall Virginity, and withall bestow twelve posses∣sions of farms for building and endowing Mona∣steries.After which vow he marched with a very small army to combat him.
3. Such a wonderfull inequal••ty there was between the two Armies,* 1.6 that the Pagans had a thirty fold greater army then the Christian King Oswi: for they had thirty Legions condu∣cted by as many Generalls, against whom not∣withstanding Oswi with his Son Alcfrid,* 1.7 tru∣sting only in Christ their conductour, with very small forces adventured to combat. King Oswi his Son Egfrid was not present there for he was then kept as an hostage by King Penda's wife. And Edilwald son of King Oswald, who ought to have assisted him, was on the Enemies side, being one of Penda's Captains to fight aga••nst his Vncle and countrey. Though true it is that in the time of battell he withdrew himself into a safe place, there expecting the event.* 1.8 Yea we read in the History of the Brittains that Alc∣frid also the Son of King Oswi, rebelling against his Father, was ioynd with King Penda.
4. Yet notwithstanding all these disadvan∣tages,* 1.9 as soon as the combat began the thirty Pagan Generalls of King Penda were putt to flight and slain, and almost all their auxiliaries. Among which was also Edilhere Brother and Successour of Anna late King of the East-angles, who was the authour of the war: he together with the forces attending him was likewise slain. And because the battell was fought near the River Iuwet, which by reason of great raines, had over∣flowed its banks, the waters consumed more in the flight, then swords had in the combat.
5. This wonderfull victory was gaind in the thirteenth year of King Oswi his raign, and on the seaventeenth day before the Calends of December, in the region of Loidis (now called Leeds io Yorkshire, were above thirty years before, King Edwin had overcome the Brit∣tains.* 1.10) The River which in S. Beda is called Iuwet, Mathew of Westminster more properly calls Winwed, adding that thence the Proverb came, That in the River Winwed were revenged the slaughters of five Kings, Anna, Sigebirt, Egric, Oswald and Edwin. And near the place is yet extant a village, either from this or King Edwins victory called Winfeild.
6. This victory brought incredible proffit to both the Nations:* 1.11 for the Northumbers were secured from the hostile incursions of their Enemies, and the Nations both of the Mercians and other confi∣ning Provinces became converted to the Chri∣stian Faith, assoon as their perfidious Head was cutt off. For immediatly after, the most Christian King Oswi took possession of Penda's kingdom, by whose order the Holy Preist Diuma was ordaind by Finan, Bishop both of the Mercians and Midland-Angli: for by reason of the scarcity of Preists one Prelate was obliged to govern two Nations. And now also the Conversion of the East-Saxons, under their King Sigebert, of which we trea∣ted before, was perfected.
7. King Oswi having thus by divine assistance gaind so miraculous a victory,* 1.12 forgot not his Vow. But saith the same S. Beda, according to his promise made to our Lord, and in thanks-giving for his victory he gave his daughter Elsleda,