* 1.1X. CHAP.
1.2. Three Bishopricks among the Nor∣thumbers.
3.4 &c. Trumwin ordained Bishop of the Picts: and afterward expelled.
1. WEE will leave S. Wilfrid among the South-Saxons awhile, busy in his Apostolick employment among his new Con¦verts: and return to take a view what passed in the mean time in the Northern parts of Brittany. We have already declared how S. Theodore Arch-bishop of Canterbury partly in compliance with King Egfrids passion against S. Wilfrid, and partly in conformity to a Canon of the Council of Hertford, divided the single Diocese of the Northumbers into two▪ that of York▪ and another of the more Northern Provinces, the Episcopall See where∣of was placed indifferently at Lindesfarn and Hagulstad This was done in the year of Grace six hundred seaventy eight. And two years after, he again added a third Bishoprick in the same Province. For wheras Eata had been consecrated Bishop both of Lindesfarn and Hagulstad, he then divided that Diocese, leaving that of Lindesfarn to Eata, and ordai∣ning Tumbert, or Cumbert, over that of Ha∣gulstad, now called Hexham.
2. He instituted likewise at the same time a New Bishoprick among the Viccians, or in∣habitants of Worcester-shire consecrating Boselus their first Bishop: For he who had been formerly designed thereto, named Tatfrith,* 1.2 a man of great courage and learning, and of an excellent iudgment (saith S▪ Beda quote by B. Godwin) had immaturely been snatch•••• away by death before he could be consecrated.
3. At this time the Nation of the Pict••▪ though they had embraced the Christia Faith many years before, yet by reason o•• the great vicissitudes hapning among them, wanted a Bishop. In the year six hundred forty two they were subdued by King Oswald and made tributary. After the death of the next King, Oswi, and in the first year of the raign of Egfrid, the same Picts (saith William of Malmsbury) contemning the infancy of this young King,* 1.3 withdrew themselves from his obedience, and boldly invaded his Kingdom under the conduct of a Noble man named Berney: The young King courageously mett them, and with an army much inferiour in number, destroyed an innumerable multitude of Picts, insomuch as the feilds were covered, and rivers choaked up with their carkeyses. This hapned in the year of our Lords Incarnation six hundred seaventy one.
4. Now King Egfrid who notwithstanding his uniust rage against S. Wilfrid, was yet zealous enough to protect and enlarge the Church, admonished S. Theodore Arch-bishop o•• Canter∣bury, to whom the generall care of the Eccle∣siasticall state of Brittany was committed, that the said Nation, though professed Christiās, was distitute of a common Pastour to admini∣ster to them spirituall nourishment. Here up∣on S. Theodore ordained Trumwin Bishop,* 1.4 whom in the year of Grace six hundred eighty one he sent into the Province of the Picts, at that time subiect to the Empire of the English, saith S. Beda.
5. It does not appear in any ancient Records, whether any peculiar place was assigned him for his Episcopall See: Most likely it is that he had no fixed habitation, for in a Synod a little while after his consecration at which he was present, he subscribed in this form, I Trum∣wine Bishop of the Picts have subscribed hereto.
6. This good Bishop, though he continued alive till the year of Grace seaven hundred, yet administred that Bishoprick but a short while. For four years after this the Nation of the Picts rebelled against King Egfrid, and coming to a battell obtained a great victory against him and slew him. After which Vi∣ctory, they entirely freed themselves from the dominion of the English, whom they drove out of their countrey, killing all those which fell into their hands. Now among those which by flight escaped their fury, saith S. Beda,* 1.5 one was the most reverend man of God Trumwine, who lately had received the Office and dignity of Bishop among them: He together with all the Reli∣gious persons and others living in the Monastery of Abercurwig, newly founded by him, departed out of that countrey. His escape was the lesse difficult, because the said Monastery was seated near the li∣mits of both the Nations of the English and Picts Assoon as he was come into a place of security, he sent away the Monks attending him, commending thē to severall Abbots his freinds. As for himselfe he chose for his mansion the famous Monastery of