The general history of England, as well ecclesiastical as civil. Vol. I from the earliest accounts of time to the reign of his present Majesty King William : taken from the most antient records, manuscripts, and historians : containing the lives of the kings and memorials of the most eminent persons both in church and state : with the foundations of the noted monasteries and both the universities / by James Tyrrell.

THE General History OF BRITAIN, NOW CALLED ENGLAND: As well Ecclesiastical as Civil. BOOK IV. From the Preaching of the Christian Religion by AUGUSTINE the Monk, to ECBERT, the first Chief or Supreme King of ENGLAND; containing Two Hundred and Three Years. (Book 4)

THIS Fourth Period will give us a new and more pleasant Prospect of the Affairs of Britain: For as the Gospel of Christ did now dispel that Egyptian Darkness of Paganism, under which it had so long laboured; so, together with Christianity, Human Learning (and consequently the Art of composing Histories or Annals) entred also with it; the Mona∣steries, which were not long after founded, being then the only Uni∣versities in which the Liberal Arts and Sciences were in those times chiefly taught and professed; which though it was not without a great mixture of that Gothic Barbarism that had then overspread all Europe, and even Italy it self, yet was it sufficient (in some measure) to instruct men not only in Divine, but Civil Knowledge; the Monks of that Age possessing the greatest share of Learning, and being almost the on∣ly Historians as well as Divines: Therefore we must be beholding to them for what Accounts we have, not only of the Ecclesiastical but Civil Affairs of those Times; for Bede, our first English Historian, was himself a Monk: And the Saxon Annals (which we here give you) were first collected and written in divers Monasteries of England; and to which

is to be ascribed that difference which is found between the Copies of that Chronicle, as to the Dates of Years, and other Matters; for before there was scarce any thing remembred by Tradition, but the great Wars and Battels fought by the Saxon Kings against the Britains; so, after the Monks came to commit things to writing, they began to make us un∣derstand somewhat of their Civil Constitutions, and the Acts of Peace as well as War; tho it must be confessed they are not so exact in the former as they might and ought to have been; minding more the relating of Visions and Miracles, which they supposed to have happen'd and been done in those times, for the Confirmation of some new Doctrines then not fully received: Yet however, I doubt not but from those Re∣mains they have left us, both the Constitution of their Governm••nt, and the manner of the Succession of their Kings, may be clearly made out; of both which, in the former Period, we were wholly ignorant: But for this we are chiefly beholding to those English-Saxon Laws that are left us, which were made by the S••preme A••thority of each Kingdom ••n their Witten•• Ge••ot, Myce•• Gemot, or great Coun••il (which we now ca•••• a Par∣liament); from which times most of the Laws made in those Councils were carefully preserv'd, and would have been convey'd to us more entire, had it not been for the loss of so many curious Monuments of Antiquity, at the suppression of Monasteries in the Reign of King Henry VIII.

But since it must be confessed, that it was to the Learning which Chri∣stianity brought in, that we owe the knowledge we have of the History of our Ancient Times, we shall begin where we left off in the former Book, and shew you by what means this part of Britain was brought to the knowledge of Christ, and all the Kingdoms of the Saxon Heptarchy became, by degrees, united in the same Faith: For the doing of which it is necessary that we look some years backward, and give you Venera∣ble Bede's Relation, how Pope Gregory (sirnamed The Great, to whom the English Nation owes its Conversion) came to send Augustine the Monk to preach the Gospel here in Britain; which he thus relates, as he received it down by Tradition.

* 1.1The Report is, That many Merchants coming to Rome, great store of Commodities being exposed in the Market-place to be sold, Chapmen flocking in apace, Gregory also himself going thither (tho rather out of Curiosity than to buy), saw among other things, certain handsome Boys exposed to sale; whom, when he beheld, he demanded from what Coun∣trey they were brought; and answer being made, That they came out of the Isle of Britain; then he asked again, Whether those Islanders were Christians? To which it was answered, They were Heathens; when, fetching a deep sigh, he said, It was pity the Father of Darkness should be Master of such bright Faces: They also told him, that they were called Angles, of the Kingdom of Deira, and that their Kings were named Aella: On each of which Names Bede either invents, or else had heard, that Pope Gregory made divers Latin Allusions; which since, if translated, they would seem dry or trivial to most Readers, I therefore pass by. But Will. of Malmesbury further adds to this story, That it was then, and long after, the Custom of the Nation of the Northumbers, to sell their own Children, or other near Relations, to Foreign Mer∣chants; which shews them then to have been either extraordinary ne∣cessitous, or else to have been as barbarous and void of Natural Affection, as the Negroes of some parts of Africa are at this day.

Gregory going immediately to the then Bishop of Rome, (for himself was not so as yet,) intreated him to order some Preachers of God's Word to be sent to the English Nation, by whose means it might be converted to Christ; and that he himself was ready to undertake the Performance of this Work, in case it would please the Pope to send him; who, although he was willing to grant his Request, yet the Citizens of Rome (who had a great value for him,) would by no means permit that he should go so far from that City.

But Gregory being not long after himself advanced to the Papacy,* 1.2 he per∣formed by others his so long desired design; for in his Fourth Year, be∣ing admonished (saith Bede) by Divine instinct, he sent Augustine, whom he had designed for Bishop of the English Nation, and other Zealous Monks along with him, to preach the Gospel in Britain; who being now upon their way, and discouraged by some false Reports, dispatch'd Au∣gustine in all their Names, beseeching the Pope that they might return home, and not be sent a Journey so full of hazard to a fierce and Infidel Nation, whose Language they understood not: But the Pope immediately sent back their Messenger with Exhortatory Letters to them, not to be discouraged by vain Reports; but vigorously to pursue the work they had undertaken, since their labours would be attended with lasting Glory; both in this life and that to come, and that they should obey Augustine, whom he had appointed for their Abbot; besides which Letters the Pope Wrote also to Eutherius, Arch-Bishop of Arles, wherein he recommended them to his Care and Protection, and that he would furnish them with what they wanted; also recommending to him Candidus a Presbyter, whom he had sent to receive and dispose of the Churches Revenues in France; besides which there is nothing remarkable in these Letters, except the date which is in the Tenth of the Kalends of August, in the Fourteenth Year of the Reign of our Lord, Mauritius Tiberius Augustus, and the Fourteenth Indiction, which falls out in the Year of our Lord 596; though the Author of the old Gregorian Register hath for some Reasons omitted to put down the dates of these Epistles; perhaps lest Posterity might understand that the Pope at that time called the Emperour his LORD, and dated his Letters by the Year of his Reign.

Agustine and his Companions, being thus confirmed by the Pope's Ex∣hortation, proceeded in their Voyage, and passing thorough France took Sea, and landed in the Isle of Thanet, (lying on the East part of Kent) with about Forty Persons in his Company, together with some Interpreters of the French Nation: Ethelbert was at that time King of that Country; being the most powerful Prince that had Reigned there, as having extended the bounds of his Dominion, as far as the banks of the River Humber: As soon as Augustine arrived, he sent to King Ethelbert, giving him to under∣stand, that he came from Rome, and had brought good tidings of Eternal Happiness to all them that would receive it; the King hearing this, com∣manded that they should remain in the place where they landed, and that all necessaries should be plentifully supplied them, till he had deter∣mined what to do; for he had heard of the Christian Religion long be∣fore, as having married a Christian Lady, called Bertha, Sister to the King of France, (as hath been already said) upon this condition, that she should have the free Exercise of her Religion, and liberty to have a Bishop of her own, named Lethard, whom she brought with her to assist and strengthen her in the Faith.

The King after some Days came to the Island, and fearing Inchant∣ments, sate down in the open Air, commanding that Augustine and his Companions should be brought into his presence; for he was perswaded by his Country Superstition, that if they brought with them any Inchant∣ments, they could not there so easily work upon him; but Augustine and his Companions Armed with the Power of God, and bearing a Silver Cross before them, with the Image of our Lord and Saviour painted on a Banner, came on singing (as in a solemn Procession) the Litany as they went, and praying unto God for the Eternal Salvation of those to whom they were sent: But when sitting down with the King, they had preach∣ed the Word of Life to him and his Nobles, the King thus spoke;

The Doctrines and the promises ye have made, are indeed fair and in∣viting; But I am not as yet resolved to embrace them, since I cannot suddenly consent to quit that Religion I have so long professed, to∣gether with the whole English Nation; yet because ye are Strangers, and come a long Journey, and as it seems would impart to us the know∣ledge of that Religion you believe to be the best, we will not give you the least Molestation, but rather will protect you, and take care that all things necessary shall be provided for your Maintenance; neither shall we prohibit you from gaining as many as you can, to the belief of your Religion.

And accordingly he allotted them their residence in the City of Can∣terbury, (which was the Metropolis of his Kingdom) neither did he hin∣der them from the freedom of Preaching publickly to whom they would.

When they came to the place provided for them, they began to imi∣tate the Innocent Life of the Primitive Christians, by applying them∣selves to continual Prayers and Fasting, and especially to the Preaching the Word of God, to all that would hear them; despising the things of this World as superfluous; being content with the bare necessaries of Life; living exactly according to the Rules they taught others: the suc∣cess of which, was, That many believed, and were baptized, admiring the simplicity of their Lives, as well as the Purity of their Doctrine.

There was near this City, towards the East, an old ruinous Church anciently Built in honour of St. Martyn; whilest the Romans inhabited Britain, in which the Queen was wont to perform her Devotions: Here they first began to assemble and exercise their Spiritual Functions, until the King being converted, they obtained a full liberty of Preaching, and building Churches. But when the King, by the pure Lives of these Holy Men, as also by the Miracles they wrought, (as our Author relates) be∣came convinced of the Truth of their Doctrine, and was thereupon Bap∣tised, many flocking in, from all Parts to hear the Gospel, and leaving their Heathanism, joyned themselves to the Church of Christ, (so pow∣erful a Motive is the Example of a Prince to his Subjects.) At whose Faith and Conversion, the King extreamly rejoyced; yet nevertheless would not compel any to receive Christianity; only those that believed, he cherished with a more tender regard; for he had learnt from the Authors of his Salvation, That the Service of Christ ought to be voluntary, and not constrained; neither did he defer long the giving his Teachers places fitting for their imployment, in his City of Canterbury; and confer'd upon them large Possessions: But this was not done till some time after, being

confirmed in a great Council of his Kingdom, as shall be shewn in its proper place.

But as soon as Augustine had by his Preaching converted the greatest part of the Kentish Nation, he returned into France,* 1.3 where he was or∣dained Arch-Bishop of the English Nation, by Eutherius, Arch-Bishop of Arles, according to the commands they had received from Pope Gregory;* 1.4 but upon his coming back into Britain, he sent immediately to Rome, Laurence a Priest, and Peter a Monk, to certifie the Pope, that the Christian Faith was now received by the English, and that he was now made Bishop; desiring also his Opinion in certain Questions, he thought necessary to be resolved. To all which, he speedily received such Answers from the Pope, as were proper to the Question proposed; some of which we have thought fit to insert into our History, because they shew us, what was the State of Religion in the Western Church, when Augustine came over hither.

His first Question was, how the Bishops should converse with their Clergy, as also concerning those things that are Offered at the Altar, by the Oblations of the Faithful? And how many Portions there ought to be made of them? And how a Bishop ought to behave himself in the Church? To these things the Pope answered to this effect.

That as for Bishops, how they ought to carry themselves in the Church, the Holy Scriptures teach, and especially the Epistles of St. Paul to Timothy; in which he endeavours to teach him, how he ought to be∣have himself in the House of God: also that out of every thing that shall be Offered at the Altar, there ought to be made four divisions, viz. One for the Bishop and his Family, for Hospitality, and Entertainment of Strangers; the Second for the Clergy; the Third for the Poor; and the Fourth for Repairing of Churches: But as you are well skilled in the Monastic Rules, nothing ought to be possessed by any Clergy-men in par∣ticular in the English Ch••rch, which lately by God's Grace is brought to the Faith; but you ought to imitate the Primitive Converts, among whom none enjoyed any thing as his own, of those things he possessed, but all things were in common among them.

In the second Question, Agustine desires to be inform'd, whether Priests, not able to contain, may Marry? And if they shall Marry, Whe∣ther they must return to the Secular Life?

This Question Bede hath not, but preposterously joins the following Answer to the first Question: Yet Sir Henry Spelman hath added it, out of the Paris Edition of Councils, Anno 1518.

Where the Answer of Pope Gregory is thus, That if there be any of the Clergy out of Holy Orders that cannot contain, they ought to Marry, and still to receive their Stipends, concluding great care ought to be had of the Stipends of the Clergy, that they may be diligent in Ser∣vice; and that there was no occasion of making a long discourse con∣cerning their keeping Hospitality, when all the over-plus ought to be be∣stowed upon Pious and Religious uses?

* 1.5The third Question of Augustine was this, that since there is but one Faith; Why are there divers customs of Churches? One manner of saying Mass in the Holy Roman Church, and another in those of Gaul?

To which Pope Gregory answered to this effect: You know very well the custom of the Roman Church in which you were bred, but it is my pleasure, That if you can find either in the Roman Church, or those of Gaul, or in any other Churches, any thing more pleasing to God, care∣fully choose it, and what things soever you can gather from any other Churches, of Good and Pious Example, bring them into the English Church; for things are not to be belov'd for the places, but places for the good things that are in them.

Augustine's fourth Question was, What Punishment ought to be inflicted on him that commits Sacriledge?

The Pope's Answer to this Question being somewhat long, I shall only give you the substance of it. In the first place, He distinguishes be∣tween those who commit Theft out of a wicked intent, and those that offend out of necessity; from whence it follows, that some are to be punished with Fines, others with Stripes, and some more severely; and when (says he) you proceed against any with more rigour than ordinary, you must do it out of Charity, not out of Anger; because the punish∣ment is inflicted to this intent, that the party punished may be saved: Then shews the end of such punishments from the Example of Fathers correcting their Children, purely for their good, though they love them very well; he admonishes him to use a mean in chastising them, and not without the Rules of Reason: But if you ask how things taken from the Church are to be restored? God forbid that the Church should receive any encrease for the loss of meer Earthly things, or go about to make advantage of such trifles.

The three following Questions, concerning in what degrees of Con∣sang••i••ity Men and Women may Marry, I shall omit, as being im∣pertinent to our purpose; and shall proceed to the Eighth Question which is this.

If, for the great distance of places, Bishops cannot easily meet, Whe∣ther a Bishop may be ordain'd, without the presence of other Bishops?

The Answer of Pope Gregory is to this effect; Certain it is, That in the English Church, wherein as yet there is no other Bishop but your self, you can ordain a Bishop no other way than without Bishops: for how can Bishops come from Gaul, that may assist at the Ordination of a Bishop in Britain? But we would have you so to appoint Bishops, that they be not too far asunder from one another, that there may be no hinderance; but that at the Ordination of a Bishop others may be present, and such other Presbyters also, whose presence is requisite, ought to have easie means of access; when therefore Bishops shall be so ordained in places near one another, the Ordination of a Bishop ought never to be without Three or Four Bishops assisting, &c.

Augustine's Ninth Question was this, How ought we to behave our selves towards the Bishops of Gaul, and Britain?* 1.6

The Pope's Answer was to this purpose, for being somewhat long, we shall also contract it.

In the first place, The Pope allows him no Authority over the Bishops of Gaul, any further than by Advice, or Spiritual Admonition, if they should happen to be guilty of any faults, because they were no ways subject to his Authority: and concludes thus; But all the Bishops of Britain we commit to your Brotherhood: That the Ignorant may be Taught, the Weak by perswasions strengthned, and the perverse corrected by our Authority; The remaining Questions, concerning Women with Child, and other unnecessary, if not immodest things, I omit.

This Year also, according to Florence of Worcester, Ceolric, King of the West-Saxons dying, Ceolfus, or Ceulphus succeeded him, and Reigned Twenty Four Years.

This Year Red••ald, King of the East Angles, dying, his Son Eorpenwald Reigned in his stead, as Mat. Westminster re••ates.

But Bede proceeds to tell us, That Augustine having settled his Archie∣piscopal See at Canterbury,* 1.7 rebuilt that old Church which had been first, erected by the Christian Romans, and having dedicated it in the Name of Christ our Saviour, he appointed it as a See for himself and his Suc∣cessours; he likewise founded a Monastery towards the East,* 1.8 not far from the City, where also Ethelbert, by his perswasion, built the Church of St. Peter and St. Paul; in which the Bodies of St. Augustine himself, and of all the other Bishops of Canterbury,* 1.9 as also of the Kings of Kent should be interred: Peter a Presbyter was made the first Abbot of this Monastery, who was drown'd going on a Message into France; but Augustine never lived to to finish this Church, which was afterwards Consecrated by Arch-Bishop La••rence his Successour.

But the Reader is desired to take notice, That according to a fair, but indifferent ancient Manuscript, concerning the Foundation of the Church and Monastery of St. Peter and S. Paul (afterwards called St. Augustine's) in Canterbury, which is now preserved in the Library of Trinity Hall in Cambridge (part of which is printed in * 1.10 Sir H. Spelman's Vol. of Coun∣cils) it appears that though the Cathedral of Christ Church be first men∣tioned by Bede; yet that according to the same Author, it was not the first built, but rather the Church of St. Pancrace, which from a Heathen Temple was turned into a Christian Church, where King Ethelbert him∣self was Baptized; and upon the ground belonging to which, the Church and Monastery of St. Peter and St. Paul were first founded, as hath been already related from Bede.

Augustine having about this time sent the Pope word, that the Harvest indeed was great, but the Labourers few,* 1.11 he therefore sent him more Preachers of the Word; among whom the chiefest were Mellitus, Justus, Paulinus, and Rufinian; and with them all those things which were ne∣cessary for the Service or Ornament of the Church, (such as) Holy Vessels and Altar-Cloaths, as also Sacerdotal Vestments, together with divers Relicts, and a great many Books; he also signified to him in his Letters, That he had sent him an Archiepiscopal Pall; and thereby he gives him power to ordain Twelve other Bishops in several places, all which should be subject to his jurisdiction; only the Bishop of London was to be

chosen by his own Synod,* 1.12 and should receive his Pall from the Apostolic See (for it seems the Pope then intended London for an Arch-bishoprick, but as for York (when converted) he gives him power to ordain whom he pleased Bishop there; who should likewise ordain Twelve Bi∣shops more, and should enjoy the honour of a Metropolitan; yet so, that as long as Augustine lived, he should be subject to him, but after his Decease, he should not be at all subject to the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury, or any other Bishop; only, that he should have the precedence who was first ordained; then exhorts him to transact all things by a common consent, yet gives him a jurisdiction over all the Bishops of Britain, that they might learn how to perform their duties, as well by his Instruction as Example; this Letter bears date in the Eighteenth Year of the Emperour Mauritius, which falls out in the Year of our Lord Sixty, with which also the Saxon Annals agree; for under this very Year.

They place Pope Gregory's sending to the Pall to Arch Bishop Augustine, with many holy Teachers to assist him: Sometime after the sending these Messengers with these Letters, the Pope also writ other Letters to Mellitus,

Wherein he gives him Instructions concerning the Temples of Idols, which the Pope would not have pull'd down, but only new Conse∣crated by the sprinkling of Holy Water, and erecting of new Altars; and as for the Oxen that used to be sacrificed to their false Gods, he would have such kind of Solemnities so to be observed, That on the days of the Dedication of their Churches, or of the Holy Martyrs, whose Relicts were there preserved, Booths should be made up of boughs near the said Churches, where having kill'd those Oxen (that were formerly wont to be sacrificed) they might make merry, in giving God thanks; since it was certain, that it should be impossible to take away all vain and Superstitious customs at once, out of Men's minds so prejudiced by long Education.

At the same time also the Pope returned an Answer to other Letters which Augustine had before wrote to him; wherein, having congratu∣lated his great success in the Conversion of the English Nation, and also taking notice of the great Miracles that Almighty God had done by him; he tells him, That though he may rejoyce in some measure for that Heavenly gift, yet with such a joy, as ought to be allay'd with fear; for as he might rejoyce, that the Souls of the English were through Miracles drawn to an inward Grace, so he ought to be afraid, least by the Miracles that were now wrought, his Mind might be puffed up by vain Glory; Therefore that he ought still to remember, that when the Disciples, returning from their preaching with joy, said to their Hea∣venly Master, Lord, in thy name the Devils be subject unto us, they pre∣sently received a rebuke; rejoyce not for this, but rather rejoyce, that your Names are written in Heaven.

Bede also tells us, That Pope Gregory about this time sent King Ethelbert many noble Presents, together with a Letter full of good Advice and Instructions;* 1.13

Exhorting him to cultivate that Grace which he had received by the especial providence of God; to make haste to propagate the Christian Faith among his Subjects; to increase the fervency of his own Faith, by furthering their Conver∣sion, to destroy the Worship of Idols; to establish the Manners of his Subjects, in the purity of Life, by Exhorting, Encouraging, and Correcting them, and by shewing himself as Example of good Works, that so he may find his Reward in Heaven: Then proposing to him the

Example of Constantine the Emperour,* 1.14 who had freed the Common-Wealth from Idols, to the Worship of our LORD Jesus Christ, ad∣vising him to hearken to, and perform the good Advice, which should be given him by Augustine the Bishop, and that he should not be troubled in Mind, if he should see any Terrours, or Prodigies from Heaven, contrary to the ordinary course of the Seasons, as Tempests, Famine, and the like; since the Lord had already foretold that such things should happen before the end of the World; then concludes with wishing a more perfect Conversion of the whole Nation, and that God would preserve and perfect him in the Grace he had begun, and after a course of many Years would receive him into the fellowship of the Saints above.

These Letters bear the same date with the former, and so must be wrote in the same Year.

I have dwelt the longer on these things, to let you see that the primi∣tive Christian Temper, had not yet left the Bishops of the Roman Church, thô infected with some Superstitions.

Let us now return to our Civil History,* 1.15 from which we have so long digressed: About this time, when Ethelbert and his People were wholly taken up in Acts of Piety, Ethelfrid still govern'd the Kingdom of Nor∣thumberland; who being a Warlike Prince, and most ambitious of Glory,* 1.16 had wasted the Britains more than any other Saxon King of his time; winning from them divers large Territories, which he either made Tribu∣tary, or planted with his own Subjects: whence Adian (as Bede or Aedan, or Aegthan, as the Saxon Chronicle calls him) growing Jealous of Ethelfred's great Success, came against him with a great and powerful Army, to a place called Degsa-stan (or Degstan) and was there routed, losing most of his Men; but in this Battel Theobald the Brother of Ethel∣frid was slain, that part or wing of the Army which he commanded, be∣ing unfortunately cut off; yet nevertheless the loss was so great on the Scotish side; that no King of the Scots durst any more in hostile manner march into Britain, to the time that Bede wrote his History, which was above a Hundred Years after: He also tells us, That this happned in the first Year of the Reign of the Emperour Phocas. Buchanan in his Scotch History writes, that this Ethelfrid assisted by Keawlin (whom he mistiles King of the East, instead of the West-Saxons) had before this time fought a Battel with this Adian, wherein Cutha, Keawlin's Son was slain; but neither the Saxon Chronicle, nor any of our English Historians mention any such thing; for this Cutha (as appears by the said Chronicle) was slain in the Year 584. fighting against the Welsh.

The number of Christians beginning now to multiply, not only in Kent,* 1.17 but other Countries; Augustine found it necessary to ordain two other Bishops; Mellitus and Justus, sending Mellitus to Preach the Gospel to the Kingdom of the East Saxons,* 1.18 which was divided from that of Kent by the River Thamesis, (over which Nation, Sebert, the Son of Richala, the Sister of K. Ethelbert then Reigned) thô under his Authority,* 1.19 for he had then the supreme command over all the Nations of the English Saxons, as far as the Banks of Humber; but when this Province had by the preach∣ing of Mellitus received the Gospel of Christ, K. Sebert (also baptized Ethelbert) caused the Church of St. Paul to be built at London, where Mellitus and his Successours, should fix their Episcopal See.

But as for the other Bishop Justus, Augustine ordained him Bishop in the Kingdom of Kent, of a certain little City, then called Rofcaester (now

Rochester) being about Twenty Miles from Canterbury,* 1.20 in which King Ethelbert built the Church of St. Andrew, and bestowed good endowments on it.

Hitherto Augustine had laboured only to convert Infidels; but now he took upon him,* 1.21 by vertue of his Archiepiscopal, or rather Legatine Authority, which the Pope had conferr'd upon him, over all the Bishops of Britain, (properly so called) to make a general Visitation of his Province, and coming as far as the borders of Wales, (being assisted by the power of King Ethelbert,) he summoned all the British Bishops of the adjoyning Provinces, to a Synod, at a place called in Bede's time, Augustines Ake, (or Oak) then Scituate on the confines of the Wecti, now the Diocess of Worcester, and the West; Saxons (supposed to be somewhere on the edge of Worcester-shire,) and began to perswade them by brotherly Admonitions, that they would maintain the Catholick Unity, and also joyn in the work of Preaching the Gospel to the Infidel Nations.

For there was then a great difference between them about the Rule of keeping Easter, which Bede tells us, The Britains did not keep at a right time; but observed it from the Fourteenth to the Twentieth Day of the Moon, which Computation is continued in a Cycle of Eighty Four Years; which account being somewhat obscure, I shall, for the clearing of it, set down what the learned Bishop of St. Asaph hath given us upon this subject, in his Historical Account of Church Government (already cited in the last Book) where he takes notice,* 1.22 that this Cycle of Eighty Four Years, which was also called the Roman Account, * 1.23 so lately as in Pope Leo's Time, the Scots and South Picts used the same Cycle, from the time of their Conversion, and so did the Britains, without any manner of al∣teration; but about Eighty Years after the rending in pieces of the Ro∣man Empire, the Romans having left off the use of that Cycle, took up another of Nineteen Years: which, though it was better in many respects, yet was new in these Parts, and made a great difference from the former; and when the Romans had used this new Cycle another Eighty Years, coming then to have to do with these Northern Nations, (who were yet ignorant of it) they would needs impose the use of it upon them, as a necessary condition of their Communion, and so bore them down with two things which were really false;* 1.24 one, that the Romans had received their Cycle by Tradition from St. Peter; the other, that it was made use of every where, except in these Islands; to the first of these Assertions, the Scots, for want of knowing better, opposed only the Authority of St. John for their Cycle; as to the other, they could not tell what to say; whereas in truth (though they did not know it) the Roman account came but an Age or two before from Alexandria, and was not yet re∣ceived in all the Western Church,* 1.25 no not in some Parts of France it self; but that in use among the Scots was the same Cycle that they and the Britains had ever used since their Conversion; and was the same that was an∣ciently used in the Roman Church.

But to return to Bede's Relation of this Synod, where, when after a long Dispute, the British Clergy could neither by Intreaties, nor Reproofs of Augustine, be brought to a Compliance, but that they would prefer their own old Traditions before the Consent of the Christian (i. e. the Roman) Church; the Arch-Bishop (as Bede relates) offered to decide this Controversie by a Miracle, desiring that some sick or impotent Per∣son being brought before them, his Doctrine by whom the Man should

be cured was to be followed, and believed to be from GOD;* 1.26 which when the other Party had at last, (thô unwillingly) consented to, there was then found out a certain English-man who was quite blind, and being offered to the British Bishops, could receive no Cure from them; when Augustine, moved by a just Necessity, prayed to GOD, That he would restore this blind Man to his Sight; whereupon he was immediately cured, and Augustine was cried up by all, as the only Dispenser of God's Word. Then the Britains confessed indeed, That they believed that the Doctrine which Augustine preached was the Truth; but that they could not, without the general Consent of their own Nation, quit the ancient Rites and Customs of their Country; wherefore they desired, that more of their Clergy being assembled, there should be a General Synod held about it; which when it was agreed to, there came (as they relate) se∣veral British Bishops, (their Annals relate them to have been Seven in all,) together with several Learned Men, especially from the Monastery of Bangor, over which one Dinoth is said to have been then Abbot, and in which there was so many Monks, all living by their own Labour, that being divided into seven Divisions under as many Rectors, each of these Divisions had not less than 300 Men.

But their Abbot Dinoth, and his Clergy, a little before their going to the aforesaid Synod, went first to a certain Man both Holy and Wise, who led an Anchorite's Life among them, whom they asked,

Whether they should lay aside their ancient Traditions at the Preaching of Au∣gustine, or no?

Who made this Answer, If he is a Man of God, follow him. They said, 'How shall we know this? He replied, The Lord says,

Take my Yoak upon you, for I am meek and humble in Heart:

Perhaps that he him∣self beareth the Yoak of Christ, and offereth the same to be born of you; but if he be cruel and proud, it is apparent that he is not of God, neither need you to regard what he saith. They said again,

But how shall we make a Disco∣very of that?

He replied, Contrive it so, that he and his Company may come first into the place of the Synod, and if he shall rise up to you when you ap∣proach, know then that he is the Servant of Christ, and obediently hear him; but if he shall despise you, nor will rise up to you, when you are more in number, let him be slighted by you also. They did as he directed them; and it fell out that Augustine bearing himself as the Pope's Legate, and their Metropoli∣tan, as they drew near sate still in his Chair; which when they saw, they grew presently angry, accusing him of Pride, and endeavouring in all Things he said to contradict him. But

He began thus to discourse to them: Whereas ye do many Things con∣trary to our received Customs, and the Consent of the Catholick Church; never∣theless, if ye will obey me in these few Things, to wit, That ye celebrate Easter in its proper Time; That ye perform the Ministery of Baptism according to the Custom of the Holy Roman Apostolick Church; That ye preach the Word of GOD together with us to the English Nation: Then, as for all other Things which ye practise, although contrary to our Customs, we will quickly tolerate them. But they made answer,

That they would do none of those Things, neither would they acknowledge him for their Arch-Bishop.

And discoursing further among themselves, they said,

If he would not just now rise up unto us, how much more, when we shall be subject to him, will he then look upon us as nothing?

To whom Augustine is reported thus threatningly to have denounced against them: If ye will not now accept of Peace with your Brethren, ye are like to find War from your

Enemies;* 1.27 and since ye would not pr••ach the Way of Life to the English Nation, ye shall suffer by their hands the Punishment of Death. Which in every Thing (the Divine Judgment concurring) was fulfilled as he had foretold; thô Bede here further tells us, that Augustine lived not to see the Issue of this Prediction, for he died a good while before; but of this, we shall speak in its due time: And though Bede places the fulfilling of this Predi∣ction immediately after its Relation, yet since I intend to refer every thing to its proper Time wherein it happened, I shall defer the speaking of this for some Years.

But Sir Henry Spelman, out of an ancient British Manuscript of Mr. Pe∣ter Moston's,* 1.28 a Welsh Gentleman, gives us a much more particular Ac∣count of the Answer which the Abbot of Bangor then made to Arch-Bishop Augustine, which being Translated out of the Welsh Original, is to this effect. Be it known, and without doubt, unto you, that we all are, and every one of us, obedient and subject to the Church of GOD, and the Pope of Rome, and to every godly Christian, to love every one in his Degree in perfect Charity, and to help them by Word and Deed to be the Children of GOD: And other Obedience than this I do not know due to him, whom you name to be Pope, nor as the Father of Fathers, to be claim'd, and to be demanded. And this Obedience we are ready to give, and to pay to him, and to every Christian conti∣nually: Besides, we are under the Government of the Bishop of Caerleon upon Uske, who is to oversee under GOD over us, to cause us to keep the way Spiritual.

From whence we may observe, that the Christian Religion came not first into Britain by the Preaching of any Persons sent from Rome, for then they would still have owned Canonical Obedience to the Pope, as well as the English did afterwards; therefore it is most likely, according to the Traditions given you in the Second Book, that it was first preached and propagated here by some Apostle or Disciple of the Eastern or Asia∣tick Church: And thô a late Romish Writer very much arraigns the Credit of this Manuscript, as made since the Days of King Henry the Eighth, and cavils at the Welsh thereof, as Modern, and full of false Spelling, yet is not this any material Exception against it; since the Welsh used in it is not so Modern as he would make it, as I am credibly informed by those who are Criticks in that Language; and as for the Spelling, that may be the fault of the Transcribers: And thô the Archiepiscopal See was then removed from Caer-Leon to St. David's, yet it might still retain the former Title, as of the first and most famous Place.

* 1.29About which time Arch-Bishop Augustine is supposed by the best * 1.30 Chronologers to have departed this Life; thô the certain Year of his Death is not to be found, either in Bede, or the Saxon Chronicle. His Body was buried abroad near the Church of St. Peter and St. Paul, till that could be finished and dedicated; which, as soon as that was done, was decently buried in the Porch on the North-side of the Church, in which were also buried all the succeeding Arch-Bishops, except two, viz. Theodore and Birthwald, who were buried in the Church, because the Porch would contain no more; but his Epitaph, thô it mentions his being sent by the Pope to convert the English Nation, and his being the first Arch-Bishop of Canterbury; and that he died in the 7th of the Ka∣lends of June, in the Reign of King Ethelbert; yet omits the Year of that King's Reign, as well as that of our Lord, in which he died; (I suppose, because the Year of Christ was not then commonly made use

of, either in the Ecclesiastical or Civil Accounts of that Time;* 1.31) but of this, we shall treat further hereafter.

Under this Year Bede also places the Death of Pope Gregory the Great, of whose Life and Actions he gives us a long Account, to which I refer you; but the Saxon Chronicle puts off the Death of this Pope to the next Year; but I rather follow Bede as the ancienter and more authen∣tick Author.

The same Year is also very remarkable for Civil, as well as Ecclesiasti∣cal Affairs in this Island; for now King Ethelbert summoned a Mycel Synod,* 1.32 or Great Council, as well of the Clergy as Laity, wherein by their common Consent and Approbation all the Grants and Charters of this King, whereby he had settled great Endowments on Christ-Church, and that of St. Pancrace in Canterbury, were confirmed, which had been be∣fore the old ruinous Church of St. Martin without the City already men∣tioned; but the Charters now made and confirmed by King Ethelbert in this Council are almost word for word the same with those he had made by himself before, with heavy Imprecations against any, who should dare to infringe them, as you may see in Sir H. Spelman's First-Volume of British Councils; where this Learned Author in his Notes farther shews us, that these Charters above-mentioned are very suspicious of being forged in many respects; as First, That this King there stiles himself King of the English in general, whereas indeed he was no more than King of Kent: Secondly, Because the Year of our Lord is expressed at their Conclusion, which was not in use till long after: Besides, an old Manuscript of the Church of Canterbury says expresly, That the Monks of the Monastery had their Lands and Priviledges by a long and peaceable Possession accor∣ding to Custom, until King Wightred, Anno Dom. 693; made them a confirmation of all their Priviledges by a Charter under his Soul. There are also other Exceptions against the Bull that is there recited to be Arch-Bishop Augustine's, which you may see at large in those Learned Notes above-mentioned.

In this great Council or Synod, among many other Secular Laws and Decrees, these deserve particularly to be taken notice of; the first Law assigns the Penalty of Sacriledge, appointing what Amends is to be made for Things taken from a Bishop, by a Restitution of nine times the value; from a Priest by a Ninth, and from a Deacon by a Threefold Restitu∣tion.

The Second Law is, That if the King summon'd his People, and any Man should presume then to do them Injury, he shall make double Amends to the Party, and besides shall pay Fifty Shillings to the King.

The Third Law is, That if the King shall drink in a Man's House, and there be any Injury done in his Presence, the Party so doing it shall make double Satisfaction; the rest that follow, since they belong only to the Correction of Manners, are omitted.

To these Laws Bede relates, when he says, That King Ethelbert, amongst other good Things which he conferr'd upon his Nation, ap∣pointed certain Laws concerning Judgments, by the Councel of his wise Men, according to the Example of the Romans, which being writ∣ten in the English Tongue, were yet kept and observed by them to this time; and then mentions some of those Laws to the same effect as they are already expressed.

* 1.33This Year was fulfilled Arch-Bishop Augustine's Prediction upon the Britains; for (as Bede and the Saxon Annals relate) Ethelfrid King of Northumberland now led his Army to Leger-Ceaster, and there killed a great multitude of Britains,* 1.34 and so was fulfilled the Prophecy of Augustine above-mentioned; and there were then killed 200 Priests or Monks, who came thither to prey for the British Army; (but in Florence of Worcester's Copy it was 2200;) but Brockmaile, who was to be their Protector, esca∣ped with about 50 Men.

* 1.35H. Huntington gives a more particular account of this Action, and says; That King Ethelfrid, having gathered together a powerful Army, made a great Slaughter of the Britains near the City of Legions, which is called by the English Lege Cestre, but more rightly by the Britains Caer∣legion; so that it is evident it cannot be Leicester, as our common Histo∣rians write, but West-Chester, which lay near the Borders of King Ethel∣frid's Kingdom, where this Battle was fought: This Author further adds, That when the King saw those Priests or Monks of the Abby of Bangor, who came out to pray for the Army, ranged by themselves in a place of Safety, having one Brockmaile for their Defender, and that the King knew for what end they came thither; he presently said, If these Men pray to their GOD against us, though they do not make use of Arms, yet do they as ••eally fight against us, as if they did: And so he commanded his Forces to be first turned upon them, who being all cut off, he presently defeated the rest of the Army without any great difficulty; and he also agrees with Florence of Worcester's Relation of the number of the Monks there slain, and accuses their Defender Brockmaile of Cowardice, who left the poor Monks, whom he was to defend, to be cut to pieces. But William of Malmesbury relates this Matter somewhat otherwise, thô he says ex∣presly,* 1.36 that this Fight was at Chester, (then in the hands of the Bri∣tains;) which when King Ethelfrid went about to besiege, the Townsmen resolving to suffer any thing rather than a Siege, trusting in their Num∣bers, sallied out to fight, whom when by an Ambush laid near the City, he had easily overcome; he then falling upon the Monks, who were come in great Numbers to pray for the Success of the British Army, of which (says this Author) there must certainly have been an incredible Number, since even in his time there were left such vast Remains of Churches and Cloysters, and so great a heap of Ruines, as you can scarce (says he) find any where else: The Place is called Bangor, which was then an Abby of Monks, but is now turned into a Bishoprick; yet here our Author was mistaken, for this Bangor, where the Monastery was, is in Flintshire, not far from the River Dee; whereas that which is the Seat of the Bishoprick is in Caernarvanshire, not far from the River or Streight of Menai, which parts that Country from the Isle of Anglesey. But of all these great Ruines mentioned by Malmesbury, there is now no∣thing left, save those of the two principal Gates of this old City, the one of which is on that side towards England, and the other towards Wales, being about a Mile asunder, the River Dee running betwixt them.

But before we proceed further, it is fit we enquire into the Truth of that Story of Ge••ffe••y of Monmouth, who will needs have Arch-Bishop Augustine to have perswaded King Ethelbert to incite Ethelfrid King of Northumberland thus to make War upon the Britains, and to destroy these Monks, as you have heard, in which he is also followed by other

later Writers, and particularly by Nicholas Trivet, an ancient Author,* 1.37 in his History, (lately printed at Paris among the Collections of Mon∣sieur Dachery;) as also by Arch-Bishop Parker, Author of the Latin History De Antiquitate Ecclesiae Anglicanae; and likewise in Bishop Jewel's Apolo∣gy; the former of which, thô Bede hath expresly told us, that Aug••stine was dead long before this happened, yet will have these Words of Bede to have been foisted in, contrary to the old Saxon Manuscripts which is not so; for it is found in them all, thô not in the Saxon Version; but besides the Respect which we ought to have for so good a Man as Augu∣stine is supposed to have been, and which inclines us to believe, that it was not likely he should have a Hand in so cruel an Action; I doubt not but to prove from other Arguments, (supposing this Passage of Bede not to be his,) that Augustine died about the Year 605, where I have already placed it. In the first place therefore, I shall not deny, that William of Malmesbury, in his First Book De Gest. Pontif. Anglor. as well as divers other Historians of later Times, suppose Augustine to have sate Arch-Bishop 15 (and in some Copies 16) Years, and then he must certainly have survived this Massacre of the Monks of Bangor; but if I can prove they were mistaken in this Account, all that had been said to prove Au∣gustine guilty of it, will signifie nothing: For First, Bede relates,* 1.38 that Augustine, being yet alive, ordained Laurence for his Successor, lest him∣self being dead, the yet weak State of that Church, if vacant, (thô for never so small a time) might happen to suffer, which it must be suppo∣sed he did, when he found himself in a declining condition, and not like long to survive. Now that this happened in the Year 605, may be also proved by these Circumstances: Bede hath already told us, that Augu∣stine, in the Year 604, had ordained Mellitus and Justus Bishops; imme∣diately after which Relation, follows that, concerning Augustine's Death, which he would scarce have mentioned there, had not one followed the other within a short time; and that it was so, appears in the Manuscript Text of Adrian, the Abbot of Canterbury, who lived within less than 60 Years after, and who obtained a Priviledge from Pope Deusdedit, con∣cerning the Free Election of the Abbot of that Monastery, at the end of which there is this Passage: Anno Dom. 605. died the holy Bishop Gregory IV^o Idus Martii, and in the same Year also Bishop Augustine VII^o Kal. Junii; with whom also agree Marianus, Scotus, and Florence of Worcester, in their Chronicles; the former of whom, under Anno Dom. 605, hath these Words: Augustine having ordained Laurence the Presbyter Arch-Bishop in his stead, after a short time departed to the Heavenly Kingdom; thô in Florence's Copy it is placed under the Year 604, which Difference might easily happen by the carelesness of Transcribers. This is also ob∣served by Will. Thorne, the Historian and Monk of Canterbury,* 1.39 (from an old Book of the Life and Miracles of this St. Augustine, that now is lost,) who in his Chronicle says expresly, That many have erred concerning the Death of St. Augustine, thinking him to have died Anno Dom. 613, The cause of which Errour is owing to the false Dates of some Chronicles, who make him to have sate Arch-Bishop Sixteen Years; whereas Bede in his second Book says, That he ordained Mellitus and Justus to be Bishops a little before his Death, and there gives us the same reason as I have already done; with whom also agrees an ancient Anonymous Chronicle in the Library at Lambeth; as also the short Annals of the Church of Ro∣chester, which contain the Successions of the Arch-Bishops of Canterbury,

both which place the Death of Arch-Bishop Augustine, and the Succession of Laurentius, in Anno Dom. 604; but of this you may see more in the First Volume of Anglia Sacra, published by the learned Mr. Wharton de∣ceased; wherein you may also find a short dissertation on this Subject, and to whom I own my self obliged for the light, I have had towards settling this obscure Question. Now having cleared Arch-Bishop Augustine's Me∣mory of that Crime, which is laid to his Charge; I shall proceed to the Ecclesiastical History of this time.

Laurentius, who succeeded Augustine in the See of Canterbury, having seen the English Church not only found••d,* 1.40 but much encreased, began about this time to bestow his Pastoral care, not only upon the English and British Inhabitants of this Island, but also upon the Scots who inhabited Ireland;* 1.41 because he knew that at that time they, as well as the Britains, did not observe Easter according to the Nicene Canon (the occasion of which Controversie I have already given you), Therefore the new Arch-Bishop thought it fit to write an Epistle on purpose to the Irish Bishops, wherein he exhorted them to maintain the Catholick Unity, in the observa∣tion of Easter; in which Letters this is remarkable, That they are di∣rected to all the Bishops, per Universam Scotiam, That is, through out all Ireland (for so it was then commonly called for near Four Hundred Years after this) and he therein complains of Draganus an Irish Bishop, who coming over hither would not so much as Eat in the same House with him; at which time also Laurentius wrote Letters, not only to his fellow Bishops in Ireland, but also to the British Clergy in Wales, to the same purpose as the former; but how well he succeeded therein, the present time (says Bede) declares; about which Year also Mellitus Bishop of Lon∣don was sent to Rome to confer with Pope Boniface, concerning the necessa∣ry Affairs of the English Church, when the Pope held a Synod at Rome with the Bishops of Italy, concerning the Life and Conversation of the Monks, where he sate with them: This Synod was held in the Eighth Year of Emperour Phocas, and the Bishop at his return, brought back the Decrees of that Council, together with the Pope's Letters to Arch-Bishop Laurence, and all the Clergy, as also to King Ethelbert, and the whole English Nation.

* 1.42This Year also, Sebert King of the East-Saxons, Founded the Church and Abbey of Westminster, and Mellitus the Bishop Dedicated it to St. Peter, thô for what Order of Monks is uncertain, since they were driven out after the Death of Sebert,* 1.43 by his Successours, who continued Pagans for many Years after.

This Year (according to Florence) Ceolwulf dying, Cynegils began to Reign over the West Saxons, (for Thirty One Years) being the Son of Ceolric, who was the Son of Cutha, who (as we have heard) was slain fighting against the Britains some Years before.

Cynegils and Cwichelme, fought against the Britains at Beamdune (now Bindon in Dorsetshire;* 1.44) and there slew Two Thousand and Forty Six Men; which Battel H. Huntington thus describes; The Saxon and British Troops being drawn up in Battel Array, the Fight immediately began, when the Britains fearing the weight of the Saxon Battel Axes, and long Launces, turn'd their backs, and fled; so that the Saxons obtain'd the Victory, without any great loss on their side; and he also agrees pretty near in the number of the slain, with our Saxon Annals; This Cwichelme here mentioned is by Will. of Malmesbury said to be Brother of Cynegils,

and to be by him taken as his Partner in the Royal Power.* 1.45 But Florence of Worcester, and Mat. Westminster do make Cwichelme to have been the Son of Cinegils, thô the former Opinion be the more likely; but let it be either of them, it is certain that they were both of them Stout and good natured Persons, who governed with that mutual Love and Con∣cord, as it was a wonder to the Age in which they liv'd, so ought it to be an example to all future times.

Thô the Cathedral of Christ Church in Canterbury, had been already built about Twenty Years;* 1.46 yet it seems the Monastery adjoyning to it was not founded till this Year, as appears not only from the Manuscript above mentioned (once belonging to the Monastery of St. Augustine) but also from Will. of Malmesbury; that in the time of Arch-Bishop Laurence,* 1.47 and about this very Year that it was first replenished with Monks, as ap∣pears by a Letter of Pope Boniface to King Ethelbert; whereby he approves of, and confirms the Foundation of the said Abby, by the said Arch-Bishop; which Letter, though Will. of Malmesbury had promised to recite, yet be∣ing by him forgot, or else ommitted in our Printed Copies, is to be found at large in the said Manuscript; concerning which Monastery the afore∣cited Author farther adds,

That though some had said that Arch-Bishop Aelfric had thrust out the Clerks (i. e. secular Chanons) out of that Church, and had placed Monks in their rooms, yet was it not at all probable, since it appeared by the said Epistle of Pope Boniface, that there had been Monks in the Church of St. Saviour, from the first foundation of that Monastery, in the time of Arch-Bishop Laurence, who succeeded St. Augustine.

But it hath been denyed, by Cardinal Baronius, in his Annals, as also by some later Antiquaries, of what Order these Monks were, whom Augustine and Laurentius placed in these two Monasteries above mention'd; and that a late ingenious Authour in his Preface to a Treatise, called Notitia Monastica, hath questioned whether they were of the Benedictine Order, since he rather supposes, That the Benedictine Rule was scarce heard of in England, till some Hundreds of Years after, and never per∣fectly observed, till after the Conquest; but he should have done well to have told us, what other Order they were of, since the general Tradition in most of the Ancient English Monasteries of the Bened••ctine Order, was, That they had observed that Rule from their first foundation: And the Saxon Annals under the Year 509, do expresly affirm, That St. Be∣nedict, the Father of all the Monks dyed that Year: And he had long before his Death founded his Order in Italy, and of which Augustine himself is supposed to have been: and though I also acknowledge, that all the an∣cient Monasteries of England were not at first of that Order, since those that were founded in the Kingdom of Northumberland, by the Bishops Aidan and Coleman followed the same Rule with the Monks of Ireland, and Scotland, viz. That of St. Basil, which all the Eastern Monks did then, and do to this day observe; yet even these did about an Hundred Years after quit that Rule, and follow the more Modern one of St. Benedict; and therefore Stephen Heddie, in his * 1.48 Life of St. Wilfred Bishop of York, (lately published by the learned Dr. Gale,) hath expresly told us, That the said Bishop returning home into his own Country (i. e. the Kingdom of Northumberland) and carrying along with him the Rule of St. Benedict, very much improved the Constitutions of God's Churches; by which he meant the Monasteries of those Parts: And therefore the

Chronology once belonging to the Abby of St. Augustine's in Canterbury,* 1.49 (printed in the Decem scriptores after Will. Thornes Chronicle) under Anno 666, upon very good grounds thus observes, That this Year Bishop Wilfred caused the Rule of St. Benedict to be observed in England, That is in the North Parts,* 1.50 into which he then went; for if that Rule had not been ob∣served in the Southern Parts before, How could it be said that he carried it out from thence along with him? but to conclude; there having been a dispute among the Roman Catholicks beyond the Seas, about Seventy Years ago concerning this matter; some of them affirming, that all the ancient English Monks, before the Conquest were of the Order of St. Equitus, or else of some other Order; whereupon those of the Benedictine Order wrote over to our Antiquaries in England, (viz.) Sir Robert Cotton, Sir H. Spelman, Mr. Camden, and Mr. Selden; appealing to their Judgment herein: From whom they received a Letter under all their Hands, where∣in they expresly certified, that there was never any such Order as that of St. Equitus; and further affirm, That there were only Two Orders of Monks in use amongst our Ancestours of the English Saxon Church; One of those who followed the Rites of the Aegyptian Monks, and the other of Benedictine's who came over with Augustine, and so continued from that time to their dissolution under King Henry the Eighth; to which Letter, or Certificate, all the said learned Persons above mentioned did put their Hands, as appears by the Certificate it self; which you will find Printed in Clem. Reyner de Appostolatu Benedictini in Anglia.* 1.51 This, though perhaps it may seem an impertinent digression to some; yet, I hope, will not prove so to those, who are lovers of Ecllesiastical Antiquities.

This Year Ethelbert King of Kent dyed, who was the first English King that rec••ived Baptism; Bede tells us, That this King dyed above Twenty Years after his Conversion, and was buried in St. Martin's Porch, in the Church of St. Peter and St. Paul; after whose decease Eadbald his Son succeeded to him in the Kingdom. The beginning of whose Reign I shall give you out of Bede, being much more particular than that in the Chronicle.

This King did not only refuse the Faith of Christ, but also polluted himself with such Fornication, which the Apostle says, ought not to be heard of among the Gentiles, in that he Married his Father's Wife; by which wickedness he gave occasion to those to return to their former Hea∣thenism, who had embraced Christianity in his Father's Reign, either out of Fear, or hopes of Favour; thô God's Judgments were not want∣ing to Correct this Infidel King, for he was tormented with frequent fits of Frensie, and the possession of an unclean Spirit; but the Death of Sebert King of the East Saxons, happening also about this time, extremely en∣creased the present Storm of Afflictions; for he left Three Sons Heirs to his Kingdom, who all relapsed to Paganism, having in their Father's life∣time seemed Christians, but now permitted all their Subjects the free licence of worshiping Idols; and when they saw the Bishop Administring the Eucharist to the People in the Church, they thus spoke to him in their Barbarous folly;

Why dost thou not give us this White Bread, which thou wert wont to Minister to our Father? To whom the Bishop re∣plyed, That they must first be washed in that saving Font, in which their Father had been Baptised, and then they might partake of the same Bread; which though they deny'd to do, yet would they not desist from requiring this Bread at his hands; which he still refusing them,

they then plainly told him,* 1.52 That if he would not yield to them in so small a matter, he must not stay any longer in their Dominions; and so commanded them to be gone; who being thus expelled, went thence into Kent to consult with the Bishops Laurentius and Justus, what was best to be done on this occasion; where it was decreed by common Con∣sent, That it was better that all of them should return into their own Countrey, there to serve God with freedom of Conscience, than to live without any Fruit of their Labours amongst such Barbarous Rebels to the Christian Faith; thereupon Mellitus and Justus departed first, and went into France, there resolving to expect the issue of these things; but not long after, these Three Princes, who had driven out a Preacher of the Truth, and relapsed to the Worship of Idols, marching out to Battel against the West-Saxons, were all cut off, together with their Army:

However, though the Authors of this Apostacy were destroyed, yet the common people being once inured to wickedness, could not easily be brought back to the Faith of Christ.

But when Laurentius was about to leave Britain,* 1.53 to follow Mellitus and Justus, he ordered a Pallet to be laid for him in the Church of St. Peter and Paul, on which (after many Prayers and Tears poured forth to God, he laid down to take his rest; where, (if credit may be given to Bede's re∣lation) St. Peter, in whose Church he had spent great part of the Night in watching and Prayer, appeared to him, and to make the Vision more sensible, gave him many stripes for thus offering to desert his Flock; at sight whereof the King (to whom next morning he shewed the marks of what he had suffered, and by whom, and for what cause) relenting, in great fear renounced his Incestuous Marriage, and applied himself to the Christian Faith more sincerely than before, together with all his Peo∣ple; but the Londoners refusing again to receive their Bishop Mellitus, this King had not so much power as his Father to force them to it, whe∣ther they would or not; yet nevertheless, he with all his Nation, from the time that he was thus re-converted to Christ, endeavoured wholly to submit himself to the Divine Precepts, and then near the Monastery of the Apostles built a Church, in honour of the blessed Virgin, which was consecrated by Archbishop Mellitus: But to return again to Civil Affairs.

This Year also Edwin, of the Blood-Royal of Northumberland,* 1.54 having been forced to fly from Ethelfrid, then King of that Countrey, had wan∣der'd for some Years as a banished Man, through divers Kingdoms, till at last he took refuge with Redwald, King of the East-Angles, beseeching him to save his Life from so cruel and unjust a Persecution; who there∣upon receiving him into his protection, granted his Request; but whilst he thus sojourned with King Redwald, he had a Vision or Apparition, which was the cause of his future Conversion, and which though it looks very much like a Monkish Legend, yet since it is related by so grave an Author as Bede, I shall here from him set down.

So soon as Ethelfrid heard where Edwin was, he sent Ambassadors to Redwald, offering him a great Sum of Money to put him to death; which being refused, he still repeated, and increased his offers, twice or thrice threatning War, if he were refused; till at last the King being ei∣ther prevailed upon by his great proffers, or terrified by his threatnings, yielded, promising either to kill Edwin, or to deliver him to his Am∣bassadors; which when a certain Friend of Edwin's, then near the King,

came to know,* 1.55 the first hour of the Night he went in haste to his Cham∣ber, and calling him forth for better secresy, revealed to him his Dan∣ger, and offer'd him his Aid to make his Escape, where neither Redwald nor Ethelfrid should ever find him: But he not approving of that course, as seeming dishonourable, without more manifest cause to begin first to distrust one who so long had been his only Refuge, chose rather to dye by his Hand, than by any other more Ignoble: Whereupon his Friend de∣parting, Edwin being thus left alone without the Palace-Gate, full of sad and perplexed Thoughts, discerns about the dead of Night a man ap∣proaching towards him, neither by Countenance nor Habit to him known, who after a short Salutation asked him,

Why at this Hour, when all others were at Rest, he alone sate so sadly waking on a cold stone?

Edwin wondering not a little who he might be, asked him again, What his sitting within doors or without, concerned him? To whom he again replied,

Think not that who thou art, or why sitting here, or what danger hangs over thee, is to me unknown. But what would you promise to that man who would free you out of all these Troubles, and persuade Redwald not to molest you, nor give you up to your Ene∣mies?

All that I am able, answered Edwin to the Unknown: Then he proceeds thus;

What if the same Person should promise to make you greater than any English King hath been before you?

I should not doubt, replied Edwin, to be answerably Grateful.

But what if to all this he would inform you (saith the other) of a way to Happiness beyond what any of your Ancestors had known?

Would you hearken to his Counsel? Edwin, without any Hesitancy, promised he would. Then the other, laying his right Hand on his Head, said,

When this Sign shall next be∣fall you, remember this Night, and this Discourse; nor defer to per∣form what thou hast now promised.

And with these words disap∣pearing, he was not only convinced that it was not a Man, but a Spirit that had thus talked with him: But the Royal Youth was also much re∣vived, when on the sudden his Friend, who had been gone all this while to listen farther what was like to be resolved concerning him, comes back, and joyfully bids him go to his Repose, for that the King's Mind, tho for a while drawn aside, was now fully resolved, not only never to betray him, but to defend him against all his Enemies, as he had promised: In short, the King was as good as his word, and not only refused to deli∣ver him up, but also raising Forces, thereby helped him to regain his Kingdom: For the next Year, as the Saxon Annals relate,

* 1.56

Ethelfrid King of Northumberland, was slain by Redwald King of the East Angles; and Eadwin the Son of Aella succeeded him (in that Kingdom), who subjected all Britain to him, (except only Kent): He also banished the Royal Youths, the Sons of Ethelfrid, (viz.) Ealfrid the eldest Son, as also Oswald and Oswin; with many other Princes, whose Names would be tedious here to be repeated.

But Will. of Malmesbury gives us a more particular Account of this Fight; and that since War had been denounced by Ethelfrid, upon his refusing to deliver Edwin, that thereupon Redwald determin'd to be before∣hand with the Danger, and with an Army raised on the sudden, surprize Ethelfrid (being not aware of an Invasion), and in a Fight near to the East side of the River Idel, on the Mercian Border (now in Nottingham∣shire) slew him, dispatching easily those few Forces which he had got to march out over-hastily with him; who yet (as a Testimony that his

Fortune, and not his Valour,* 1.57 was to be blamed) slew with his own Hands Reiner the King's Son. And H. Huntington adds, That this Battle was so great and bloody, that the River Idel was stained with the Blood: And that the Forces of King Redwald being very well drawn up, the King of the Northumbers, as if he had been sure of the Victory, rushing in among the thickest Ranks, slew Reiner (above-mentioned,) and wholly routed that Wing of the Army: But Redwald not terrified with so great a Blow, but rather more incensed, renewed the Fight with the two re∣maining Bodies, which being not to be broken by the Northumbers, Ethel∣frid having got among the thickest of his Enemies, further than he ought in Prudence to have done, was after a great Slaughter there slain, upon which his whole Army fled; but his two Sons, (by Acca, King Edwin's Sister,) Oswald, and Oswi, escaped into Scotland. This End had King Eth••l∣frid, a Prince most skilful in War, thô utterly ignorant of the Christian Religion. By this Victory Redwald became so far Superiour to the other Saxon Kings, that Bede reckons him as the next after Aella, and Ethelbert, who had all England on this side Humber under his Obedience.

But to look back a little to Ecclesiastical Affairs; about this time Lau∣rentius the Archbishop died, and was buried near Augustine his Predecessor; to whom succeeded Mellitus, who was Bishop of London; this Mellitus is related by Bede, to have by his Prayers stopp'd a great Fire in Canterbury, by causing the Wind to blow the quite contrary way to what it did before; which at last quite falling, the Fire ceased with it. He sat Archbishop on∣ly five Years.

This Year Cadwallo is supposed by Radulphus de Diceto to have succeeded his Father Cadwan in the Kingdom of Britain;* 1.58 though some of the Welsh Chronicles make him to have began to reign four Years before. But as for Geoffery of Monmouth, who gives a large and very improbable Account of this King's Martial Actions, (and therefore needless to be here re∣peated,) it is not his Custom to cite any Authors, nor give any Year or Account when his Kings began to reign, or when they died.

This Year Mellitus deceased, and was buried with his Predecessors;* 1.59 to whom immediately succeeded Justus, who had been hitherto Bishop of Rochester, but the Year following Paulinus, a Roman, was consecrated by Justus to be Bishop of the Northumbers; for Bede tells us,* 1.60 he had before received Authority from Pope Boniface to ordain what Bishops he pleased, and as the present occasion should require; the Pope sending also a Pall to bestow upon him at the same time. To this Year Bede also refers the Conversion of the Northumbers, (that is, all those English-Saxons who li∣ved North of the River Humber,) together with Edwin their King, to the Christian Faith; who, as an earnest of his future Faith,* 1.61 had the Power of his Empire already so encreased, that he took the utmost Bor∣ders of Britain under his Protection; but the occasion of his Conversion was through his Alliance with the King of Kent, by his marrying Ethel∣burga the Daughter of King Ethelbert; whom, when he sent to desire of her Brother Eadbald, for his Wife, it was answered, That it was not Lawful to bestow a Christian Virgin in Marriage with a Heathen: Which, when the Messengers related it to King Edwin, he promised he would act no∣thing contrary to that Faith which the Virgin professed, but would ra∣ther permit a free exercise of her Religion to all those Priests and others, who should attend her: Neither did he deny to receive the same Religion himself, provided, (upon a just Examination,) it should appear more Holy,

and worthy of GOD.* 1.62 Upon these Terms the Lady was sent to Edwin, and Paulinus being ordained Bishop, (as was before resolved on,) was sent as a Spiritual Guardian to the Virgin; who, when he came to King Edwin's Court, used his utmost Endeavour to convert the Pagans to the Christian Faith, but to little purpose for a long time, tho' at last he pre∣vailed by this occasion. For the year following,

When Cuichelme, (at that time one of the two West-Saxon Kings,) en∣vious of the growing Greatness of King Edwin,* 1.63 sent privily one Eomer, an hired Cut-Throat, to assassinate him; He, under pretence of deliver∣ing a Message from his Master, with a poyson'd Weapon stabs at Edwin whil'st he was discoursing with him in his House, (by the River Derwent in Yorkshire,) on an Easter-day; which Lilla, one of the King's Attendants, at the lucky instant perceiving, having no other Means to defend him, in∣terposed his own Body to receive the Blow, thrô which, notwithstanding, it reached the King's Person, with a dangerous Wound; the Murtherer being now encompassed with many Swords, and made more desperate by his own Danger, slew another of the King's Servants in the same manner.

That Night the Queen brought forth a Daughter, who was called Eanfled; and when the King, in the presence of Paulinus, gave Thanks to his Gods for the Birth of his Daughter, the Bishop, on the contrary, gave Thanks to our Lord Christ, that the Queen was safely delivered by his Prayers: At which, the King, being well pleased, promised the Bishop to renounce his Idols, and become the Servant of Christ, if he would grant him Life, and Victory against that King who had thus sent a Murtherer to kill him; and as an earnest thereof, he gave his new-born Daughter to be bred up in that Religion; who, with 12 other of his Family, on the day of Pentecost, was baptised; and by that time, being well recovered of his Wound, to punish the Authors of so foul a Fact, he march'd with an Army against the West Saxons; whom having subdued, and put some of those to Death who had conspired against him, and re∣ceived others to Mercy, he return'd home victorious.

But I cannot omit here taking notice of a great Mistake in Mat. West∣minster's Flores Historiarum, who, under this Year, makes K. Cuichelme, abovementioned, to have been kill'd in this Battle, though from what Au∣thority I know not; whereas it will appear by our Annals, that he was alive, and Christned near ten Years after.

But thô after this Victory K. Edwin forbore to worship Idols, yet ven∣tured he not presently to receive Baptism, but first took care to be instru∣cted aright by the Bishop Paulinus in the Principles of the Christian Faith; still conferring with himself, and others of his chief Men whom he thought most wise, what was best to be done in so weighty an Affair; and he himself, being a Man of a piercing Understanding, when he was alone often considered with himself which Religion was best to be fol∣lowed.

* 1.64

About this time also he received Letters from the Pope, wherein having briefly set forth the Doctrine of the Trinity, as the Foundation of the Christian Faith, and having extolled the Conversion of King Ead∣bald, and Piety of the Queen his own Wife, he exhorts him to imitate their Examples, and casting away his Idols to receive Christ.

The Pope writ also Letters at the same time to Queen Ethel••urga his Wife,

wherein he congratulated her Conversion, and praised her Piety, exhorting her

to persist in the Course she had begun,* 1.65 and to do her Endeavour to re∣claim her Husband from his Infidelity.

But thô the King joyfully recei∣ved these Letters, yet did they not so much prevail with him, as the wonderful fulfilling of the Prediction of the Vision above-mentioned; for when the King still deferred the declaring himself a Christian, Bi∣shop Aidan (as it is supposed) had that Transaction revealed to him; for one day coming in to the King, on a sudden he laid his Hand upon his Head, and desired him to remember that Sign; whereupon the King being much surprised, fell down at his Feet, but the Bishop raising him up, said thus: GOD hath delivered you from your Enemies, and given you the King∣dom as you desired; perform now what so long since you promised him, and receive his Doctrine, which I now bring you, and that Faith which will not only save your Soul from perpetual Torments, but also make you a Partaker of Eternal Hap∣piness.

Which, when the King heard, he confessed, That he would, nay,* 1.66 ought to receive this Faith; but (said he) I must first consult further with my chief Friends, and Councellors, concerning this Matter, that if they should likewise receive it, we might all be Converted, and Bapti∣zed together.

Which Paulinus agreeing to, and the King there holding a Council with his wise Men, asked them severally,

What they thought of this new Doctrine and Worship, which had been as yet unknown among them?

To whom Coifi, chief of the Idol-Priests, presently an∣swered; You may, Sir, consider what is now preached to you, but to tell you freely my Opinion, the Religion we profess is good for nothing; for although no Man hath more studiously observed the Worship of our Gods than my self, yet never∣theless there are many who have received greater Benefits and Dignities from you than I have done, and have been more Happy and Prosperous in all their Under∣takings; whereas, if these Gods had any Power, they would rather have assisted me, who took such care to serve them: Wherefore if, upon a good Examination, you find, that the New Doctrine now preached is far better than the Old, let us then receive it without delay. To which Opinion, another of the great Men also yielding his Assent, further said; It seems, Sir, to me, that the present Life of Man upon Earth, in comparison of that Time which to us is unknown, is like unto a little Sparrow, which, whilst you feasted in your Presence-Chamber, flew in at one Window, and out at another; we saw it that short time it remained in the House, and it was then well shelter'd from Wind and Weather; but as soon as it got out into the cold Air, whither it went, we were altogether as igno∣rant, as from whence it came: Thus we can give some Account of our Souls, during its abode in the Body, whilst ho••sed and harboured therein; but where it was before, or how it fareth afterward••, is to us altogether unknown. If there∣fore Paulinus his Preaching can certainly inform us herein, it deserveth, in my Opinion, to be well received. To which Discourses, Coifi also further added, That he desired to hear Paulinus himself preach concerning his God: Which, when he had performed, (as the King had commanded him,) Coifi cried out, I have long since understood, that what we worshipped was nothing, for the more I sought to understand the Truth in that Religion, the less still I found of it. So that it is in this Doctrine alone, that Truth clearly shines, and which is able to confer upon us Eternal Happiness. In short, the King not only gave Paulinus his Consent to preach publickly, but also, renouncing his Idolatry, received the Christian Faith. But Coifi the Chief Priest did not only declare. That the Temples and Altars of their false Gods should be pulled down, and destroyed; but when the King asked him who should undertake it, he freely offered himself to do it; and so desiring of him a

Horse and Arms,* 1.67 taking a Lance in his Hand, he went to destroy the Idol Temples; the People at first thought him mad, because it was not lawful for their Priests, either to bear Arms, or ride on Horse-back: But as soon as Coifi came to the Idol Temple, he commanded those that came with him to burn and utterly destroy it; and the place where it stood was shewn in Bede's time, lying not far from York, Eastward near the River Darwent, being then called Godmundingham, where this Priest, by thus demolishing the Altars of his former Gods, made some Amends for his teaching Men to adore them. But the Year following,

* 1.68King Edwin, with all his Noblemen, and a great many common People of his Kingdom, received Baptism; the King himself being bapti∣zed at York on Easter Day in the Church of St. Peter, which he had commanded with all speed to be built of Wood for that purpose,* 1.69 in which City he also settled the Episcopal See, Paulinus being the first Bishop; there; but not long after the King had received Baptism, he himself took care to build a large and noble Church of Stone round about the former, which was still left standing till the other was finished; but before the Walls of it could be raised, the King being killed, left the Work to be perfected by Oswald his Successor: So Paulinus continued, during all the rest of this King's Reign, (which was about the space of 6 Years,) to preach the Word of GOD in that Kingdom; in which Church there were also baptized divers others of Note, as Osfrid and Eadfrid, the Sons of King Edwin, both which his former Wife Quenburga, the Daughter of Ceorle King of Mercia, had brought forth in their Banishment. There were likewise afterwards baptized divers others of the King's Children by his last Queen, who not long after dying, were buried in York Min∣ster. Besides these, there were baptized Iffi the Son of Prince Osrid, and several other Noblemen; and it is reported, that the People's Desires to receive Baptism were then so fervent, that when on a time Paulinus came with the King and Queen to a certain Town of the King's, called Adefrin, he there spent a Month in doing nothing else but Catechising, and Baptizing those that came to him from far and near to that end; for after his Instructing them, they were strait baptized in the River Gleni, which he made use of as being convenient for that purpose.

These Things were transacted in the Province of Bernicia; but in that of Deira, where he used to remain most commonly with the King, he baptized in the River of Swale, for in that present Infancy of the Church, Oratories and Fonts were not yet erected: But in the Country of Done he built a Church, which was burnt not long after by the Pagans when they killed King Edwin. These Things, thô happening in several Years, Bede here relates all at once. But to return to Civil Affairs.

This Year Cynegils and Cwichelm, Kings of the West-Saxons, fought with Penda King of Mercia at Cirencest••r, where also a League was made between them.

H. Huntington is larger in the Relation of this Fight, and tells us, that when both Armies had fought from Morning till Sun-set, neither of them giving Ground; the next Morning perceiving they should be both ruined if they stood another Fight, they treated of a Peace, and so parted Friends.

It were to be wished, that the Monkish Writers, who have left us the only Relations of these Wars, would also have told us the particular Causes and Grounds on which they were mad••; for want of which, we

are left to guess in general,* 1.70 that Revenge or Ambition (the common Incentives to War among Princes) did also produce these we now treat of; but within two Years after (as the Saxon Annals relate) Eorpwald [King of the East-Saxons] was baptized.

This Bede relates to have been done by the Persuasion of King Edwin, who after the Death of Redwald,* 1.71 had the Kingdom of the East-Angles voluntarily delivered up to him by the People of that Province; but he out of Gratitude to his old Benefactor, permitted his Son Eorpwald quiet∣ly to hold that Kingdom, tho as his Tributary; who now casting away his Idols, was baptized, together with many of his Subjects: His Father King Redwald had been also baptized in Kent by the means of King Ead∣bald, tho in returning home he was again perverted by his Wife and some others of her Superstition, from the true Faith; so that he had at once in the same Temple one Altar for Christ, and another for Devils: But King Eorpwald, not long after his receiving the Faith, was slain by one Richbert a Heathen, but who he was, or why he did it, is not told us; so that the Kingdom for three years returned to Paganism, until Sebert, Brother to the last King, a most Learned and Christian Prince, obtained the Crown; who whilst his Brother lived being banished into France, did there receive Baptism, of which as soon as he began his Reign he made his Subjects also Partakers: But to this Prince we shall speak more largely anon.

About this time Paulinus also preached the Word to the Province of Lindissi, (now Lincolnshire) and converted the Governor of Lincoln,* 1.72 whose Name was Blecca, with all his Family, to the Christian Faith: In which City he built a Church of Stone of curious Workmanship, whose Roof being fallen down, either by length of Time, or Hostile Incur∣sions, the Walls were only standing in Bede's time: And concerning the Propagation of the Christian Faith in this Province, a certain Priest and Abbot of the Monastery of Barteneu told Bede, That he himself was baptized by the Bishop Paulinus, together with a great Multitude of people in the River Trent, near a City then called Tiowulfingceaster (where it was, we know not) King Edwin being present; of whom Bede also tells us, That in his time a Woman with a Child in her hand might have gone from Sea to Sea; and that the King at certain Foun∣tains near the Highways, caused Drinking-Pots of Brass to be set upon Posts, for the refreshment of Travellers, which none either out of Love or Fear would presume to meddle with; he also caused to be carried be∣fore him when he went through the streets, a sort of Banner which the Romans called Tufa, and which the English then called a Tuff.

About this time too Pope Honorius succeeded Boniface in the Roman See;* 1.73 and as soon as he heard that the Nation of Northumbers had re∣ceived the Christian Faith by the Preaching of Paulinus, he sent him an Archiepiscopal Pall, together with Exhortatory Letters to King Edwin, persuading him to persevere in the Faith which he had received; which Letter you may find at large in Bede; wherein it also appears, that Ho∣norius Archbishop of Canterbury, and Paulinus of York, had this Trust lodged jointly in them, That whensoever one of them died, the Survi∣vor should immediately consecrate another Archbishop in his stead; for not long before, Archbishop Justus deceasing, Honorius had been elect∣ed in his room; who coming to Paulinus as far as Lincolne,* 1.74 was there by him ordained Archbishop of Canterbury.

* 1.75Cadwallo, King of the Britains, having been (as Geoffrey of Monmouth relates) conquered by King Edwin, lost so great a part of his Kingdom, that he was forced to fly into Ireland, from whence soon after returning with a great Army of Irish, he overcame Penda King of the Mercians in fight, and then made him join his Forces against King Edwin: All which is probable enough; for * 1.76 Bede also tells us, That Cadwallo this year rebelling against King Edwin, together with Penda, invaded the Kingdom of Northumberland, when King Edwin raising an Army met them at a place called Hethfield (now Hatfield in Yorkshire) and there fought a bloody Battel, wherein King Edwin himself was slain, and his whole Army quite routed; in which Fight Osfrid his Son, a Warlike Young Prince also fell; but Edfrid the Younger being compelled by necessity to surrender himself to Penda, was afterwards by him mur∣thered, contrary to his Oath. This happen'd in the 17th. year of King Edwin's Reign, having till now been successful in all his Undertakings.

But there now ensued a very sad Destruction of the English Nation of the Northumbers, since of these two Generals, the one was a professed Pagan, and the other, though a Christian in Name, yet shewed himself worse than a Pagan; for Cadwallo, altho he professed Christianity, yet was so barbarous, that he spared neither Age not Sex, but put all to death with great Cruelty; tyranizing for a long while over all those Provinces, and seeming resolved quite to extirpate the English Nation; nor did he shew any respect to Churches or other Sacred Places; it being then the custom of the Britains (in Bede's time) to set at nought the Faith and Religion of the English-Saxons; neither would they have any thing to do with them, more than with Pagans: But the Head of the slain King was brought to York, and there deposited in the Church of St. Peter, which he himself had begun, and Oswald his Successor finish∣ed. All things being thus in confusion in those parts, and no Refuge or Safety any where to be expected, Queen Aethelburga returned by Sea in∣to Kent, together with Paulinus the Archbishop, and was there received with great Honour by King Eadbald and Archbishop Honorius; she was conducted thither by Basse, a Valiant Captain of King Edwin's, who also brought with him Eanfrede the King's Daughter, as also Vscfrea his Son, and Iffi his Grandson by Osfrid; whom their Mother afterward, for fear of the Kings Eadbald and Oswald, sent into France to King Dago∣bert to be brought up, where they both died in their Infancy.

At which time also the Church of Rochester wanting a Pastor, (Ro∣manus the Bishop having been drowned in going on a Message to Rome) Paulinus at the request of King Eadbald and Archbishop Honorius, took upon him the care of that Church, which he held as long as he lived.

* 1.77After the Death of King Edwin, Osric the Son of Elfric, his Uncle by the Father's side, obtained the Kingdom of Deira, who had been before received by Paulinus;* 1.78 whilst Eanfrid, of the same Blood-Royal, as being the Son of Ethelfrid the last King before Edwin, ruled the Kingdom of Bernicia; so that during the Reign of Edwin, all the Sons of Ethelfrid, with many more of the Young Nobility of that Country, lived in Exile either with the Scots or Picts, by whom they were instructed in their Religious Rites, whilst both these Kings last mentioned abjured the Christian Religion, which they had before learnt and professed; and re∣lapsing to their old Idolatry, were shortly after cut off by Cadwalla, King

of the Britains;* 1.79 for the next Summer Osric having besieged him in a certain Town, Cadwallo sallying out with his Men, cut him off on a sudden with all his Army; and then when he had ravaged the Northumbrian Provinces, nor as a King, but a cruel Tyrant; and that at length Eanfrid came to him imprudently, with only Twelve Select Knights in his Com∣pany to treat of Peace, he put him to Death as he had done his Cousin before.

That Year, saith Bede, Is still at this day accounted unlucky,* 1.80 and hateful to all good Men, both in respect of the Apostacy of these Princes who renounced their Baptism; as also for the Tyranny of this British King: Whereupon it was agreed by those who computed the Reigns of the Northumbrian Kings, to abolish the Memory of these Infidels, and to cast this Year into the Reign of the Pious King Oswald, who succeeding after the Death of his Brother Eanfrid, and marching with a small Force, (but fortified by Faith in Christ) routed Ceadwalla,* 1.81 that Prince of the Britains, with his vast Army, which nothing could resist, as he boasted; and, who was slain in a place, which in the English Tongue is called Denisesbourn, or Brook, the place (saith our Authour) is shewn at this day, and had in great Veneration; where Oswald being to give Battle erected a large Wooden-Cross, and he himself laboured in setting of it up; which when he had finished, he thus spoke to his Army; Let us now kneel down, and joyntly pray unto the Omnipotent, and only true God, that he would mercifully defend us from this proud Enemy; for he knows that we un∣dertake a just War for defence of our Nation and Religion: The place is in the English Tongue called Heofenfield (or Heavenfield), lying near to the Wall which the Romans built from Sea to Sea, (which we now call the Pict's Wall:) The rest of Bede's Miracles concerning this place, and Cross, I omit, as very incredible and Superstitious.

But before we leave this great Action of the Death of Cadwallo, I can∣not omit taking notice of the Confidence of Geoffrey of Monmouth, who (notwithstanding this express Testimony of Bede to the contrary,) will make this Cadwallo not only to have overcome Edwin, and other Saxon Kings in divers Battles, and to have forced them to submit themselves to him, and do him Homage at London, and that living and dying Victorious, he was there buried, and his Body being put into a Brasen Statue of a Man on Horse-back, was set over Ludgate for a terror to the Saxons, having Reigned Forty Eight Years; all which is notoriously false, for London had been part of the East-Saxon Kingdom, for above One Hundred Years, when this King was kill'd, who did not Reign Twenty Years in all.

But the same King Oswald, as soon as ever he came to the Kingdom, desiring that all his Subjects might profess the Christian Faith,* 1.82 sent to the Scotch Bishops (for so I suppose the Words Majores natu, in Bede are to be rendered) among whom, whil'st he was in Banishment, he had to∣gether with his followers received Baptism, desiring them that a Bishop might be sent him; by whose Preaching the People whom he Govern'd might be grounded in the Christian Religion, and receive Baptism; nor was he long without an answer to his request, for they soon sent him Aidan, a Man of great Meekness, Piety and Moderation; only Bede finds ••ault with him, That he had Zeal, but not according to Knowledge, in that he observed Easter day according to the custom of his own Nation, and that of the Picts, of which I have sufficiently spoken already: But so

soon as this Bishop came to him,* 1.83 he gave him a place for his Episcopal See, in the Isle of Lindisfarn, where he himself desired it, which place is Pena-Insula, except when the Sea quite overflows that neck of Land which joyns it to England: But this King took care, by hearkening to the In∣structions of this good Bishop, to propagate Christ's Church in his King∣dom, which during his Reign, extended over both Deira, and Bernicia, being then both united into one; and it was often observed as an unusual spectacle, that whil'st the Bishop Preacht (who being a Scot did not speak English, so as to be well understood,) the King being present, and with his Courtiers and Officers, having learn't the Scotish Tongue, during the time of his banishment, would himself interpret the Bishops Sermon to them, and many Scotish Priests coming into those Provinces of Britain where King Oswald Reigned, began to Preach, and Baptize those that be∣lieved; so that now Churches were built in divers places, to which the People assembling rejoyced to hear the Word of God; there were also given by the King several Lands and Possessions to build Monasteries, for they were chiefly Monks, who now came hither to Preach; for Bishop Aidan was himself a Monk sent from the Monastery of the Isle of Hye, of which we have said enough in the last Book.

* 1.84But of the Humility and Piety of this Bishop Aidan, Bede gives us a very large account, in several instances of it; for he seems to have been an excellent pattern for succeeding Bishops and Clergy Men to follow: For he tells us, That all who travelled with him (I suppose in his Visi∣tation or Conversions) were they professed Monks or only Lay Bretheren, were obliged to bestow their time either in reading the Scriptures, or else in learning the Psalms by heart: but to let you see how much more Humility and Condescention are able to prevail than Pride and Austerity, Bede tells us, That the King of the Scots first sent another Bishop to King Oswald, who being of a very rough Austere Temper, could there∣fore do but little good among the English▪ so that being forced to return home again, he laid the fault upon their Rude, Irreclameable Dispositions; whereupon the Scotch Clergy being grieved at hi•• return, called a Synod to consider what was best to be done in this case; when Aidan, who was then present, told this Bishop, That he thought he had been too harsh and severe to his Ignorant Auditors, and had not, according to the Apo∣stle's Rule, first given them the Milk of milder Doctrine, till by degrees they should be able to receive, and digest the more perfect and harder precepts of God's Word; which as soon as they heard, they all turn'd their Eyes upon him, and resolved he should be sent to Convert the Ignorant, unbelieving English, because he was endued with Prudence, the Mother of all other Vertues, thô he was not wanting in those also.

* 1.85The same Authour, also gives us as high a Character, with many Ex∣amples of the great Humility, Affability and Charity of King Oswald; as that being once at Dinner, it was told him, There were a great multi∣tude of Poor People at his Gate, desiring Alms; whereupon he imme∣diately sent them a large Silver Dish full of Meat from his own Table, and order'ed the Dish afterwards to be broken into small pieces and di∣stributed among them; upon this Bishop Aidan taking him by the Right Hand, said thus; Let this Hand never corrupt, which saying gave occasi∣on to the Miracle, (whether false or real I shall not now dispute) con∣cerning the incorruptibility of King Oswald's Right Arm, which Bede

hath given us so many strange Relations of,* 1.86 and that it was preserved uncorrupt in the Church of Peterburgh in his time: Of this King he also tells us, That by his Industry the Provinces of Deira and Bernicia, which had been almost in perpetual Discord, were now (as I may say) united into one People, so that he received all the Nations and Kingdoms of Britain under his Protection: He was Nephew to King Edwin by his Sister Acca, and it was fit that so great a Predecessour should have one of his own Blood to succeed him.

But we shall proceed now to the Conversion of the West-Saxons,* 1.87 which the same Author thus relates: At this time the Nation of the West-Saxons (which were anciently called Gewisses) received the Christian Faith in the Reign of Cynegils, by the preaching of Byrinus an Italian,* 1.88 who being ordained Bishop by Asterius Bishop of Genoua, by the Order of Pope Honorius, came into Britain; and thô he had promised the Pope to preach the Gospel in the most inland parts of the Island, where it never had been heard of before, yet landing in the Country of the West-Saxons, and finding them to be altogether Heathens, he thought it bet∣ter to preach the Gospel there, than to seek further; which, when he had done for some time, and that the King (being sufficiently instructed) was to be Baptized, with his People, it happened that Oswald, the Vi∣ctorious King of the Northumbers, was there present, and received him coming out of the Font as his Godfather, intending also to make him his Son-in-Law, and then both Kings joyned in conferring on the said Bishop a City, which was called in Latin Dorinea (now Dorchester) in Oxfordshire, there to fix his Episcopal See; but divers Years after, when many Churches had been built, and much People converted to Christ by his means, he at last deceased, and was buried in that City, (for so Bede stiles it,) thô it be now but a poor Country Town.

Will. of Malmesbury adds to this Relation of Bede, That King Cynegils was quickly perswaded to submit to the preaching of the Bishop, but that Cwichelme his Brother, (and Partner in the Kingdom,) did for some time refuse it; till being admonished by Sickness, that he should not neglect the Salvation of his Soul, he was at last baptized, and the same Year died, which is confirmed by the Saxon Chronicle under the Year following; thô omitting the Baptism of Cynegils, it only mentions that of Cwich••lme, adding, That the same Year he departed this Life, and that Bi∣shop Felix preached the Faith of Christ to the East-Angles: This Felix was a Burgundian, the first Bishop in Dunwich in Suffolk, where he founded his Episcopal See.

His Conversion was thus:* 1.89 Sigebert having succeeded his Brother Eorpwald in the Kingdom of the East-Angles, and having, whilst he was banished into France by his Brother's Jealousie, there received Baptism, did now, by the Assistance of Bishop Felix, erect a School,* 1.90 (like those he had seen in France,) where Youths might be taught Letters, having re∣ceived Schoolmasters out of Kent; but two Years after, this King being weary of Worldly Affairs, resigned the Kingdom to his Cousin Egric, and became a Monk in a Monastery of his own founding: Nor can I here omit taking notice, that from Bed••'s thus mentioning King Sige∣bert's founding this School, Pol••dore Virgil and Leland conclude, that this School was in Cambridge, and that it gave Being to that University; and all the reason they have for it is, only because Cambridge was in the King∣dom of the East-Angles; whereas neither Bede, nor any other ancient

Author,* 1.91 specifies the Place where it was erected: And so it might be any where else, as well as in Cambridge; or if there, it was no better than a School to teach Boys the Latin Tongue: And it is certain, that in the time of King Alfred there was no School, much less an University there.

But before I leave this King's Reign, I cannot forbear mentioning what Bede there tells us,* 1.92 That in his Reign one Furseus (or Fursee) came out of Ireland, and preached the Gospel to the East-Angles, converting many, and confirming divers others in the Faith; and having had a terrible Vi∣sion of the Pains of Hell, did, by the Assistance of King Sigebert, erect a Monastery in a Town called Cnobsbury; which afterward Anna, King of the East-Angles, enriched with noble Buildings and Revenues.

* 1.93This Year is remarkable, for Byrinus baptized King Cuthred at Dorcea∣ster, and at the Font received him for his Godson. This Cuthred, thô here called King, yet was only a Prince of the Blood Royal, the Title of Cyning being often given to those Princes in our Saxon Annals.

* 1.94This Year Eadbald, King of Kent, departing this Life, having reigned 25 Years, left the Kingdom to Earcombert his Son, who held it 24 Years and some Months. The Saxon Annals say, This King Eadbald had two Sons,* 1.95 Erme••red, and Earcombert; but Mat. Westminster (I know not from what Author) adds, That the Younger craftily supplanted the Elder, and got the Kingdom from him. This Earcombert was the first English King, who commanded Idols to be destroyed throughout his whole Kingdom; and who also by his Authority ordained, That the Forty Days before Easter (now called Lent) should be observed; and that it should not be contemned, appointed competent Punishments for those that should dare to transgress it.

* 1.96This seems to have been the First Lent that was observed in England by a Law; this King's Daughter, called Earcongath, or Earcongota, being a Virgin of great Piety, constantly served God in a Monastery in the Kingdom of the Franks, founded by a noble Abbess in the Town called Brige (now Bruges) in Flanders, for there being at that time not many Monasteries in Britain, many who desired to undertake those Vows, used to go over to the French Monasteries, or else sent their Daughters to be taught and professed there, chiefly in the Monasteries of Brige, Cale, and Andelegium.

The Saxon Annals here also mention, one Ermenred to have been Bro∣ther to King Earcombert, and to have begot two Sons, (Ethelbert, and Ethelred,) who afterwards suffered Death by the Hands of Thun••re, one of his Thanes, whom the King employed in this cruel Execution.

When Oswald, the Most Christian King of Northumberland, had now reigned 9 Years,* 1.97 (taking in that Year in which the two Apostate Kings were killed,) who were left out of the Catalogue, (as has been al∣ready said,* 1.98) he fought a great Battle with Penda, the Pagan King of the Mercians, in a place called Maser-Field (now Oswestre) in Shropshire,) and was there unfortunately slain in the 38th Year of his Age; the Greatness of whose Faith and Devotion towards GOD, appeared (saith Bede) by the many Miracles there wrought after his Death; which being both tedious and improbable, I omit, and refer those that are Curious in such Matters to the Author himself; but that they were long after generally believed, appears by these Passages in the Saxon Chronicle, (viz.)

That his Holiness and Miracles were afterwards highly celebrated through

the whole Island,* 1.99 and that his Hand was still preserved at Bebban-burg uncorrupt.

For Penda had most inhumanly caused his Body to be dis∣membred, and his Head and Arms being cut off, to be set upon a Pole for a Trophie of his Victory.

The same Year also Penda, King of Mercia,* 1.100 making War against the East-Angles, and still getting the better of them; they urged Sigebert, who had been formerly their King, (but was now retired into a Mona∣stery,) to come out to Battle, to encourage the Souldiers; and so fetch∣ing him out whether he would or no, as hoping that the Souldiers would be less apt to fly, having with them one who had been so stout a Com∣mander: But he being mindful of his Vow, carrying nothing but a Staff in his Hand, was there slain, together with Egric the present King, and all the whole Army was routed, and dispersed: But Anna, the Son of Eni, of the Royal Stock, succeeded them, being an excellent Man, but who also underwent the same Fate from this Pagan King, as shall be shewn in due time.

This Year Cenwall, or Cenwalc,* 1.101 succeeded Cynegils his Father in the Kingdom of the West-Saxons, and reigned 31 Years.

This King commanded the old Church of * 1.102 Winchester to be built, which had been designed by his Father Cynegils, thô he never lived to finish it; but Hedda sate there as the first Bishop. This King also gave to this Church, and Bishoprick, all the Lands lying about Winchester for the space of 7 Leucas, or Leagues; which Grant was also confirmed by King Kenwalk.

Note, That at the first Foundation, this Monastery was for Secular Chanons, till the Year 963; that Bishop Ethelwold, by the Command of King Edgar, turned out these Chanons, and placed Benedictine Monks in their rooms.

This Year Paulinus deceased at Rochester,* 1.103 who had been first Arch-Bishop of York, and afterwards Bishop in this City, and was Bishop 21 Years, 2 Months, and 12 Days Oswin, the Son of Osric, the Cousin of Edwin, was made King of Deira, and reigned 7 Years.

The next Year,

In the room of Paulinus,* 1.104 Arch-Bishop Honorius consecrated Ithamar a Kentish Man, who was equal to his Predecessors in Learning and Piety. Cenwalc was driven out of his Kingdom by Penda King of the Mercians.

Of which, Bede gives us a more particular Account,* 1.105 That refusing to receive the Christian Faith, he not long after lost his Kingdom; for ha∣ving divorced his Wife, the Sister of Penda King of the Mercians, he had therefore not only War made upon him, but was driven out of his King∣dom upon that account; so that he was forced to retire to Anna King of the East-Angles, with whom remaining 3 Years in Banishment, he came first to the knowledge of, and there received the true Faith, for that King was a good Man, and happy in a pious Issue.

'This Year King Cenwalc was baptized: And,* 1.106 as William of Malmesbury relates, after 3 Years banishment, gathering fresh Forces, recovered his Kingdom, and proved the greatest of the West-Saxon Kings that had reigned hitherto, as shall be in due time related: But Bede tells us,* 1.107 That after this King had been some time restored, there came out of Ireland a certain Bishop called Agelbert, a French Man, who offered himself to the King to preach the Gospel, whose Learning and Industry when the King understood, he offered him the Bishoprick of that Province, and con∣senting

to the King's Desires,* 1.108 he remained there Bishop several Years; till the King finding he could not learn English, and growing weary of his bad Pronunciation, introduced another Bishop, one Wini of his own Nation, over his Head, who had been ordained in France, and so divi∣ding the Province into two Diocesses, settled the latter in his Episcopal See at Winchester; at which Agelbert being offended, because the King had done it without his Knowledge and Consent, he returned into France, and there accepting of the Bishoprick of Paris, died an old Man; but not many Years after his daparture, Wini being driven from his Bishoprick, retired to Wulfer King of Mercia, and buying of him the Episcopal See of the City of London for a Sum of Money, sate there Bishop as long as he lived; thus Simony crept very early into the Eng∣lish Saxon Church: So the Kingdom of the West-Saxons, was no small time without a Bishop, whereupon King Cenwalc being afflicted with great losses in his Wars, sent Messengers into France, to Bishop Agelbert, desiring him to return, and reassume the Bishoprick he had left; but he excused himself, that he could not return, being already engaged in ano∣ther Charge; yet to comply as far as he could to the King's desires, he sent him his Nephew Elutherius a Priest, to be ordained Bishop if he pleased; who being Honourably received by the King and People, and having been ordained Bishop by Theodorus, Arch-Bishop of Canterbury, did for many Years Govern alone the Diocess of the West-Saxons. This, thô happen∣ing in a course of some Years, is by Bede related as one continued Story.

This Year Cenwalc (King of the West-Saxons,) gave Cuthred his Cousin Three Thousand Hides of Land,* 1.109 near Aescasdune, (now called Aston near Wallingford): This Cuthred was the Son of Cwichelme, and he the Son of Cynegils: But two years after,

* 1.110

Aegelbyerth, a Bishop, (who came from France,) after Byrinus un∣dertook the Bishoprick of the West-Saxons, as has been already related at large by Bede.

* 1.111

This Year K. Oswin was slain, xii. Kal. of September: And within twelve days afterwards died also Aidan the Bishop.

But the manner of this King's Death is by Bede thus related, That King Oswin (who succeeded K. Oswald his Brother,* 1.112) had, from the beginning of his Reign, a Consort, or Sharer of the Royal Dignity of the Northum∣brian Kingdom, called Oswi, the Son of Usric, of the Posterity of King Edwin; whilst Oswin govern'd the Province of D••ira for Seven Years with great Happiness and Love of his Subjects; But Oswy, who reigned in the Kingdom of Bernicia, would not long maintain Peace with him; 'till at last fresh Dissentions still arising between them, he destroyed Oswin by Treachery; for both their Armies now lying near each other, as ready to fight, when Oswin saw, that being weaker in Force, he was not able to wage Battle with him who came against him with a much greater Army, he judged it better to lay aside all Thoughts of fighting, and to preserve himself and his Men for some better Opportunity: So he sent home his Army from a place called Wilfers Dun, and himself retired with only one faithful Follower, to lie concealed in the House of Earl Hunwald, whom he supposed to have been faithful to him; but it proved far otherwise, for by him he was betray'd, and there slain by the Command of K. Oswi, to∣gether with his faithful Servant Tondhere, in the ninth year of his Reign, at a place called I••gerlingum.

This Fact of King Oswy, as it was detestable to all Men,* 1.113 so it after∣wards proved most hateful to himself; who, repenting of it, built there a Monastery to expiate the Crime, and to pray, as well for his own Soul as for that of the King he had kill'd. This King Oswin was a Man of a beautiful Aspect, tall of Stature, affable, and very bountiful; all which excellent Endowments, both of Mind and Body, procured him such Re∣putation, that he was generally beloved; and many Noble Persons, out of all the English Provinces, thought themselves happy if they could get in∣to his Service; but above all, his Humility and singular Modesty were most remarkable, whereof Bede gives us this Instance: K. Oswin had be∣stowed an excellent Horse upon Aidan, (that charitable B of Lindisfarne,) but the Bishop, when a poor Man ask'd an Alms, gave him the Horse with all the rich Furniture upon him: The King hearing of this, as they were going to Dinner, said to him, My Lord Bishop, Why would you give that Noble Horse, that I bestowed upon you for your own Saddle, to a poor Man? Have we not many worse Horses, and other Things, which would better serve the Poor, instead of this Horse I made choice of for your own riding? The Bishop instantly replied, Sir, What do you say? Is that Son of a Mare more dear to you than the Son of GOD? With that they went to Dinner, the Bishop took his Seat, but the King, being newly come in from Hunting, fate down by the Fire with his Attendants; but remembring what the Bishop had said, he rose suddenly up, and giving his Sword to his Servant, ran hastily to the Bishop, and falling down at his Feet, besought him not to be angry, affirming, he would never after speak, or concern himself, what∣ever he gave to the Children of GOD. The Bishop being wonderfully amazed, and rising hastily from his Seat, raised him up, telling him, he was very well pleased if he would but sit down to Dinner, and be chear∣ful: The King then, at his Request, began to be merry; but the Bishop to be sad, in so much that he shed Tears; of which his Priest taking Notice, and in their own Language (being the Scottish, which neither Oswin nor his Servants understood,) demanded the Reason: I know (saith he,) that the King will not live long, for till now I never beheld an humble King; whence I apprehend, that he will speedily be taken away from us; for this Nation is not worthy of such a Governor. Not long after, this Prelage of the Bishop was fulfilled in the Murther of Oswin (as you have heard); But Aidan lived 'till the twelfth day after his Death, and then died himself on the last of August: Of the Miracles of which Bishop, Bede gives u•• too long and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 incredible Account either to be believed, or inserted here.

This Year Cenwal, (King of the West-Saxons,) fought at Bradenford,* 1.114 near the River Aft••ne (in Wiltshire); but it is pity that our Annals had not told us against whom he fought, which I cannot find in any Author, thô it is most likely to have been against the Mercians; for Ethelward, in his Chronicle, says, That Conwal, about this time, was engaged in a Ci∣vil War, which must be understood with those of his own Country, and the Mercians were his next Neighbours.

The next Year

The Mid-land English (or Mercians) under Peadda their Eolderman or Governour, received the Faith of Christ:

* 1.115 Which Conversion * 1.116Bede relates more at large; when, speaking of this Peadda, the Son of Penda, as being a young Man, most worthy of the Name of a King; was, by his Father, set over a Province of that Nation; Will. of Malmesbury calls it part of that Kingdom; and that this Prince went to Oswy, desiring Al∣freda his Daughter to Wife, but could by no means obtain her, unless he,

together with his whole Nation,* 1.117 would receive Baptism; but he having heard the Preaching of the Gospel, through the Hope of a future Immor∣tality, voluntarily professed that he would be a Christian, whether he had married the Virgin or not; being chiefly persuaded to receive the Faith by Alcfrid, the Son of King Oswy, who was his Friend and Relation, ha∣ving married Cymburge his Sister: So that King was baptised by Bishop Finan, together with all his Train, in that famous Town of the King's, which Bede calls Admurum (that is, Walltown, near the Picts Wall); and taking with him four Priests to teach and baptise his Nation, he return'd home with much Joy; these Priests coming with the King into this Pro∣vince preach'd GOD's Word, and were as willingly heard and receiv'd; and both, the Noble as well as the inferior sort, renouncing their Idolatry, were baptised; nor did King Penda himself prohibit them from preaching in his own Kingdom, if they would, if they would, but rather hated and despised those, whom, professing the Faith of Christ, he found not to perform Works suitable to it; calling them miserable and contemptible Wretches, who failed to obey that GOD in whom they believed. These Things fell out two Years before the Death of King Penda.

About the same time the East-Saxons, at the Instance of King Oswy, again received the Christian Faith, which they had formerly rejected, having (as you have heard,* 1.118) driven away Mellitus their Bishop; for Sige∣bert, who was now King of that Nation, having succeeded Sigebert, Sir∣named The Little; This Prince being a Friend to King Oswye, and using to come sometimes to visit him into the Kingdom of Northumberland, he was wont often to tell him, That those could not be GODS that were the Works of Mens Hands; but that GOD was an Incomprehensible Being, Invisible, Omni∣potent, and Eternal, who governed all Things both in Heaven and Earth, and would judge the World in Equity; and that all those who would learn, and do His Will, should receive Eternal Rewards: These and many other such Things, when King Oswy had often inculcated with a Brotherly Affection, at last by the Persuasion of that King, and of divers of his Friends, he also Be∣lieved, and was baptised, with all his Followers, at the same place where Peadda had been Christned before, (viz. at Wall-Town above-mentioned). King Sigebert, being thus made a Christian, returned to his own King∣dom, only asking of King Oswy to appoint him some Teachers, who might convert and baptise his Nation into the Faith of Christ; so the King sent to the Kingdom of the Mercians, and called back Cedda, who had been before sent thither; and giving him a certain Priest for his Companion, sent him to preach the Word to the East-Saxons: When these had passed through all places, and had gathered a very large Church, it hap∣ned some time after, that Cedda, returning home, went to Lindisfarne, to confer with Bishop Finan; who, when he found the Work of the Gospel to have so well prospered under his Ministery, calling to him Two other Bishops, ordained Cedda Bishop over the Nation of the East-Saxons; who thereupon returned into his own Province, and finishing the Work he had begun with greater Authority, Built Churches in many places, and ordained Priests and Deacons, who might help him in the Preach∣ing of the Word and Baptism; especially in a City, which is called in the English Tongue, I••hancestir, as also in that which is called Tylabury; the former of which places was upon the Bank of the River Pent, and the other is near the Thames (now called Tillbury) in which having ga∣thered together a small company of Christ's Servants, he taught them

the Discipline of a Monastick Life, as far as they were capable to re∣ceive it.

This Year, (according to the Saxon Annals) Anna,* 1.119 King of the East-Angles was Slain; being overcome in Fight by King Penda, of whom H. Huntington gives us but a slender Account, only that Anna and his whole Army perished in a moment, by the edge of the Sword; so that scarce any of them remained

This Year also, one Bottulf began to Build a Monastery at Icanho (sup∣posed to be Boston in Lincoln-shire). As also Honorius, Arch-Bishop of Canter∣bury, Deceased on 20. Kal. Octob. The same Year likewise (according to Mat. Westminster) Ercombert King of Kent Deceasing, Egbert his Son Suc∣ceeded him; in the beginning of whose Reign, Aethelbert, and Aethelred, the Sons of his Unkle Ermenred, being but Youths, were cruelly Mur∣dered by one Thanor, the King's Servant, without his privity; whose Bodies were strangely discovered, where they were buried, by a Light from Heaven: whereupon their Bodies were removed to the Monastery of Warinens: The Miracles that followed in the doing of which, I omit as incredible.

This Year King Penda was Slain at Winwidfeld, with Thirty others of the Royal Blood.* 1.120

Of which Battle Bede gives us a particular account; That Oswi having long endured the Ravages, and Devastations of his Country by the In∣roads of King Penda,* 1.121 and having had his strong City of Bebbanburg (now Bamburrough Castle) assaulted, and set on Fire, and thereby very near taking, found himself too weak to resist, and offering him many Rich Presents, desired to buy a Peace; which Penda proudly refusing, and resolving nothing less should satisfie him than this King's destructi∣on; Oswi upon that turning his Gifts into Vows to God, implored the Di∣vine Assistance; devoting his Daughter (then but one Year Old) to be a Nun, and with Twelve Portions of Land, (whereof each maintained Ten Families,) to build and endow Monasteries: So it seems, his Vows proved more successful than his Treaties; for hereupon, he with Alfred his Son, gathering a small Army, therewith encountred, and discomfit∣ed the Mercians, having then Invaded and wasted the Northumbrian King∣dom, thô they were Thirty times more in number, and led by experi∣enced Captains: This Battle was fought near a place called Loyden (now Leeds in York-shire;) besides this Ethelwald, the Son of Oswald, who ruled in Deira, took part with the Mercians, but in the Fight withdrew his Forces, and in a safe place waited for the Event; with which unseasonable Retreat, the Mercians perhaps, being terrified, and misdoubting greater dan∣ger fled; their Commanders together with Penda himself, being almost all Slain; amongst whom was Ethelher, King of the East-Angles, who for∣geting the Death of his Brother K. Anna, formerly Slain by Penda, now took part with him, and was the chief Authour of this War; many as they were flying were drown'd in the River Winved, then swoln above her Banks: The death of Penda, that Cruel, and Heathen King, caused a General rejoycing among the Christians, according to the Old English saying, (mentioned by Mathew Westminster) at Winved▪ So that after Penda had been the death of no less than Four or Five Christian Kings, whom he slew in Battle, he himself underwent the same Fate; so little Difference is there between the deaths of Good, and Bad Princes; only the former are called God's Corrections, but the latter his Judgments.

* 1.122But to Ethelher, succeeded Ethelwald his Brother, and to Penda his Son Peadda, who being a Christian and Son in Law to Oswi himself, he allowed him to hold the Province of South Mercia, divided from the Northern, by the River of Trent, then containing (according to Bede) Five Thousand Families,) to be held as Tributary to the Northumbrian Kingdom.

After this the Mercians became all Christians, by the means of King Oswi, and Peadda: and here that Copy of the Saxon Chronicle, Written in the Abby of Peterburgh, gives us a large account of the Foundation of that Abby, which is thus;

That in the Time of this Peadda, he and Oswi, the Brother of King Oswald met, and conferred about build∣ing a Monastery, in honour of Christ and St. Peter, which they af∣terwards did, and gave it the Name of Medeshamsted, from a certain Well, which is there, called Medeswell; so they laid the Foundations, and when they had near finished the Work, they committed it to the Care of a certain Monk, called Saxulf, who was dear to God, and be∣loved of all the Nation; for he was a Rich, and Noble Person in his time, but is now much richer in Christ.

This Year also, (Honorius the Archbishop deceasing, on the 7th of the Ca∣lends of April) Ithamer Bishop of Rochester, Consecrated Deus Dedit to be Arch-Bishop of Canterbury. This was the first English Monk, that had ever been chosen Arch-Bishop of Canterbury, and was also the first that was Con∣secrated but by one Bishop; for the better sound sake, he changed his Name to Deus Dedit, having been before called Fridonà, or Fridon.

* 1.123This Year was Peadda Slain about Easter, by the Treachery of his Wife, the Daughter of K. Oswy, and Wulfher (his Brother) the Son of Penda succeeded him.

Thô not until some Years after; for upon the Death of Peadda, King Oswi seized also that part of the Kingdom, and held and laid it to his own Dominions.

Here the Saxon Chronicle proceeds to give us a further account, concerning the finishing of the aforesaid Monastery of Peterburgh; but thô it was done some Years after, and the Relation be somewhat long, yet because it shews more plainly than any other History, the Form and Manner of erecting such a Foundation, I shall give you the substance of it, omitting what is not pertinent to our purpose. The said Chronicle proceeds thus,

That in his (viz. Wulfher's) Reign, the Abby of Medeshamsted was greatly encreased in Riches, for that King favoured it very much, for the sake of his own Brother, Peadda, and of Oswie, his Brother in the Christian Faith; as also of Saxulf the Abbot; wherefore he said that he would render it yet more famous, and would highly adorn it, being thereunto perswaded By his Brothers, Ethelred, and Merwalla, and his Sisters, Kyneburg, and Kyneswith, as also by Arch-Bishop Deus Dedit, and all his Wise Men, both Clerks and Laicks that were in his Kingdom; then the King sending for the said Abbot, told him, that since his B••other Peadda, and his Friend Oswie had begun this Monastery and that he was Departed this Life, therefore the Abbot should, take diligent care to see it finished, and he would provide all things, as both Gold and Silver, Lands and possessions, and whatever else was needful for it; whereupon the Abbot went home, and setting to the Work, so far advanced it, that in few Years it was finished; which

when it was told the King, he was very joyful,* 1.124 and sent to give notice of it to all his Thanes throughout the whole Nation, as also the Arch-Bishop, Bishops Earls and all who loved God, that they should come to him; so he appointed them a day when the Monastery should be Consecrated; at which Consecration King Wulfer, and his Brother Ethelred, and his Sisters were all present, as was also Arch-Bishop Deus Dedit, and Ithamer Bishop of Rochester, together with Wina Bi∣shop of London, and several other Bishops: There were also present all the Thanes that were in his Kingdom, when this Monastery was Consecrated, in the Names of St. Peter, St. Paul, and St. Andrew: Then the King rising up from his Chair, spoke thus, with a loud Voice before all his Thanes; Thanks be to the most High and Omnipotent GOD, for this honour which he hath done me, and I will, That you all confirm my Words; I Wulfer do give this Day to St. Peter, and to Saxulf, and to the Monks of this Monastery, all these Lands, Waters, &c. and all the Territories lying round about them, which are of my Royal Patrimony; so freely that no Man shall have thence any Tri∣bute or Revenue, besides the Abbot and Monks, which Gift is this;

Then the King proceeded to declare the Meets and Bounds of the Lands, which he had given; which because they are not to our purpose, I omit, only that they reach'd as far as Stamford, and were above Threescore Miles about: then said the King. The Gift indeed is small, but I will, that they hold it so freely, that none may exact any Gueld or Tribute out of it, but what is paid to the Monks; and I do hereby free this Monastery, from being subject to any, but the See of Rome; but I will also, That all those who cannot go thither, should here implore to St. Peter:

When the King had spoke these things, the Abbot made a request to him, in the behalf of certain Religious Monks, who desired to lead the Lives of Anchorites and therefore prayed, that on a certain Island, a small Monastery should be Built, wherein they might live in Peace and Solitude; which was presently granted by the King; then he also desired his Brothers and Sisters, that for the good of their Souls, they would be witnesses to his Charter; conjuring all thos•• who should succeed him, to preserve his Gift Inviolate, as they hoped to be partakers of Eternal Life, and would escape Eternal Tor∣ments; then follow the Names of the Witnesses, who were present, and who subscribed, and with the sign of the Cross confirmed it, by their consents; that is, King Wulfer, who first of all confirmed it with his Word, and then sign'd it with the Cross, and then spake thus, I King Wulfer with the Earls, Heoretoghs, and Thanes, being Witnesses of my Gift, do confirm it with Christ's Cross, before the Arch-Bishop Deus Dedit:

Then follow the Subscriptions of the Kings, and others of the Blood Royal, (viz.) Oswi, King of Northumberland, King Sygar, King Sibbi; Ethelred the King's Brother, together with his Sisters above named, as also of Deus Dedit, Arch-Bishop of Canterbury; after whom follow the Subscriptions of the rest of the Bishops, together with some Presbyters and Saxulf the Abbot; as also of divers Eoldermen or Governours of Countries, who with divers others of the King's great Men, did like∣wise confirm it: This Charter was made in the Year after our Lord's Nativity, 664, being the Seventh Year of King Wulfer's Reign: they did then also denounce the Curse of God, and all his Saints against all that should violate any thing that was there done; to which they all answered, Amen. As soon as this was over, the King sent to Rome to

Pope Vitalian, desiring him to confirm all that he had granted by his Letters; or Bull, which the Pope immediately performed, being to the same effect, with the King's Charter already mentioned; in this man∣ner was the Monastery of Medeshamsted Founded, which was after∣wards called Burgh (now Peterburgh.

But to return again to Civil Affairs, having dwelt I doubt too long upon Ecclesiastical.

This Year, Kenwalk (King of the West-Saxons) fought against the Welsh,* 1.125 at a place called Peonnum, and pursued them as far as Pedridan.

Of which Fight H. Huntington gives us this further Account; That at the first Onset, the Britains were too hard for the English; but they ab∣horing flight as bad as Death it self, persisted in fighting with them, till the Britains growing tired, and disheartened, fled, and were pursued as hath been already said, so that they received a very great blow.

This Year; according to Florence of Worcester; Hilda the Abbess Founded a Monastery at a place called Streanshale;* 1.126 wherein she lived and dyed Abbess.

The same Year also, according to the same Author, Inumin, Eaba, and Eadbert, Eoldermen of Mercia, rebelled against King Oswi; and pro∣claimed for their King, Wulfer, the Son of Penda, whom they had hitherto kept concealed; Also Aedelbert, or Ag••••bert the Bishop left King Cenwalch, and took the Bishoprick of Paris; and Wina held the Bishoprick of Winchester, of both which Bede hath already given us a particular account.

The same Year also (according to Florence of Worcester,) Cuthred the Son of Cuichelm a Cousin to King Cenwalch, as also Kenbryht the Eolderman, great Grandson to King Ceawlin, and Father of King Cadwalla dyed.

This Year (according to the Saxon Annals) King Cenwalch fought about the time of Easter with King Wulfher at Posentesbyrig [supposed to be Pontesbury in Shropshire;* 1.127] and Wulfher the Son of Penda wasted the Country as far as Aescesdune, now Aston near Wallingford; and Cuthred the Son of Culthelm, as also King Kenbryht dyed.

The same Year, according to * 1.128 Bede, Wulfher took the Isle of Wight, with the Country of the Meanvari, and gave them to Athelwald, King of the South Saxons, because he had been that King's Godfather at his Bap∣tism; and Eoppa the Priest, at the Command of Bishop Wilfrid, and King Wulfher, first of all offered Baptism to the Inhabitants of that Island; whether they accepted it or not, is very uncertain: But I cannot but here observe the uncertainty of the History of these Times; for Ethelwerd in his Chronicle under this Year, and at this very place above menti∣oned relates, that Cenwalk had the Victory, and carried away Wulfher Prisoner.

These Meanvari here mentioned by Bede, are supposed by Mr. Camden in his Britannia, to have been the People of that part of Hampshire, lying over against the Isle of Wight.

This Year also Sigebert, King of the East-Saxons, (thô standing firm in the Christian Faith) was (as Bede tells us) wickedly Murder'd by the Conspiracy of two Brethren in places near about him, who being asked what moved them to do so wicked a Deeed?* 1.129 gave no other than this Barbarous Answer; That they were angry with him for being so gentle to his Enemies, as to forgive them their Injuries when ever they besought him: But the occasion of his death is much more remarkable; for one of those Earls

who slew him, living in unlawful Wedlock,* 1.130 stood thereof excommuni∣cated by the Bishop; so that no man might presume to enter into his House, much less to Eat with him; the King not regarding this Church-Censure, went to a Feast at his House, upon an Invitation, whom the Bishop meeting in his return, thô penitent for what he had done, and fallen at his Feet, yet gently touched with the Rod in his Hand, and being provoked thus foretold:* 1.131 Because thou hast neglected to abstain from the House of this Excommunicate, in that House thou shalt dye, and so it fell out, not long after, perhaps from that Prediction; God then bearing witness to his Minister, in the due power of Church Discipline, when Spiritually executed on the Contemner thereof: Yet Bede is so Charitable as to believe, that the unfortunate Death of this Religious Prince did not only attone for his fault, but might also increase his merit: To Sigebert, Swidhelm the Son of Sexbald, succeeded in that Kingdom, who was Baptized by Bishop Cedda in the Province of the East-Angles, in the Royal Village, called Rendlesham, Edelwald King of that Country (who was the Brother of King Anna) being his Godfather.

The Sun was now eclipsed V^o: Non Maij; and Ercenbryht King of Kent departed this Life,* 1.132 and Ecgbryht his Son succeeded him in that Kingdom.

As for King Ercombert, Will. Malmesbury gives him a very good Character, being famous for his Religion to God, and his Love to his Country; but he had no Right to the Crown save only by Election, having an Elder Brother, called Ermenred, who was alive at the beginning of his Reign, and left two Sons behind him.

Coleman also with his Companions then departed to his own Nation; the same Year there was a great Plague over all the Isle of Britain, in which perished Tuda the Bishop, and was buried at Wagele (which Bede calls Pegnaleth:) also Ceadda and Wilverth were now Consecrated Bi∣shops; and the same Year too the Archbishop Deus Dedit dyed, after whom the See remained void for Four Years.

But of the occasion of this departure of Coleman, Bede hath given us a long and particular account, (viz.) That a Synod being called at Strean-shall (now Whitby in York-shire) by the procurement of Hilda the Abbess of that place; thô by the Authority of King Oswi,* 1.133 (who was there pre∣sent,) concerning the old Difference about the observation of Easter; Wilfred the Abbot, and Romanus a Priest, were very earnest for the observation of it, according to the Order of the Church of Rome; and Coleman Bishop of Lindisfarne was as zealous on the other side; but after many Arguments pro and con, (which you may find at large in Bede,) the Synod at last determining in favour of the Romish Easter, it so far displeased Coleman, that he was resolved to quit his Bishoprick, and depart into Scotland, to the Isle of Hye, (from whence he cam••,) rather than to com∣ply with it; from whence he also departed into Ireland, (here called Scot∣land) where he built a Monastery in that Country, and lived all the rest of his days, and in which only English Men were admitted, at the time when Bede wrote his History.

But after the departure of Coleman, one Tuda, who had been ordained Bishop among the Southern Scots, was made Bishop of Lindisfarne, but he enjoyed that Bishoprick but a very little while.* 1.134

But after the Death of Bishop Tuda, (according to the Life of Bishop Wilfrid King Oswi held a great Council with the Wise Men of his Na∣tion,

whom they should chuse in the vacant See,* 1.135 as most fit for that holy Function, when they all with one Consent nominated and chose Abbot Wilfrid as the fittest and worthiest Person to succeed him but being to be Consecrated, he refused it from any Bishop at home, because he look'd upon them all as Un∣canonical, being all ordained by Scotish Bishops, who differed from the Roman Church about this Point of keeping Easter; so that he would needs go over into France for Ordination; where staying too long, the King put Ceadda (who had lately come out of Ireland) into his Place; which Wilfred upon his return much resenting, retired to his Monastery at Ripon, and there resided; as also sometimes with Wulfher, King of Mercia, or else with Ecghert King of Kent, till he was restored to his See.

Bede tells us, that the above-mentioned Eclipse was followed by a sudden Pestilence the same Year, which first depopulating the Southern Parts of Britain, then proceeded to the Northern, wherein Bishop Tuda deceased; it also invaded Ireland, and there took off many Religious, as well as Secular Persons.

The same Year also (according to Florence) Ercombert King of Kent dying, left that Kingdom to Egbert his Son: Also Ethelwald King of the East Angles dying this Year, Aldulf succeeded him.

* 1.136About this time (according to Bede) Siger and Sebba, succeeding Swid∣helm in the Kingdom of the East Saxons, being unsteady in the Faith, and supposing the late great Pestilence to have fell upon them for renoun∣cing their old Superstition, relapsed again to Idolatry, and rebuilt the Idol-Temples, hoping by that means to be defended from the pre∣sent Mortality; but as soon as Wulfher, King of the Mercians, (to whom this Kingdom was then subject) heard of it, he sent Bishop Jaruman to them, who, together with their Fellow-Labourers, by their sound Doctrine, and gentle Dealing, soon reclaimed them from their Apostacy.

* 1.137This Mortality is also partly confirmed by Mat. Westminster, who the next Year relates so great a Mortality to have raged in England, that many Men going in Troops to the Sea-side, cast themselves in headlong, preferring a speedy Death before the Torments of a long and painful Sickness; thô this seems to be no other than the great Pestilence which raged the Year before, unless we suppose it to have lasted for 2 Years successively.

The same Year also, according to the Account of an ancient British Chronicle, (lately in the Possession of Mr. Robert Vaughan,) Cadwallader, last King of the Britains, having been forced by a great Famine and Mor∣tality to quit his Native Country, and to sojourn with Alan King of Ar∣morica; finding no hopes of ever recovering his Kingdom, from thence went to Rome, where, professing himself a Monk, he died about 8 Years after. Now, thô the British History of Caradoc (Translated by Humphrey Lloyd, and Published by Dr. Powel,) places Cadwallader's going to Rome Anno 680, which, Mr. Vaughan in the Manuscript I have by me, (and which is already cited in the former Book) proves, can neither agree with the Account of the said old Chronicle, nor yet with the Time of the great Mortality above-mentioned; for Caradoc and Geoffery of Mon∣mouth do both place Cadwallader's going to Rome in the Year of the great Pestilence, which (as Bede) and Mat. Westminster testifie) fell out in the Year 664, or 665, and therefore that learned Antiquary very well ob∣serves, That as for their Calculation, who prolong Cadwallader's Life to the Year 688, or 689, and place his going to Rome in Pope Sergius's time,

he thinks they had no better Warrant for it,* 1.138 than their mistaking Cead∣walla, King of the West Saxons, (who then indeed went to Rome, and there died) for this Cadwallader, who lived near 20 Years before, whereby they have confounded this History, and brought it into a great deal of un∣certainty; whereas that ancient Appendix annex'd to the Manuscript, Nennius, in the Cottonian Library, (whose Author lived above 300 Years before either Geoffery, or Caradoc,) doth clearly shew, that this Monastery above-mentioned, and consequently Cadwallader's going to Rome, hap∣pened in the Reign of Oswi King of Northumberland; who, according to the Saxon Annals, began to Reign Anno 642, and died Anno 670; and therefore no other Mortality ought to be assigned for Cadwallader's going to Rome, than this in King Oswi's Reign, Anno 665, for the Words of the said old Author are these:

Oswi, the Son of Ethelfred, reigned 28 Years, and 6 Months; and whilst he reigned, there happened a great Mortality of Men, Catwalater (so he spells it) then reigning over the Britains, after his Father, and therein perished.

Now the Case is clear, if these Words in the Latin, Et in ea periit, have relation to Cadwallader, (as most likely they have,) considering Oswi lived 5 Years after the Year 665, wherein this Mortality raged; then Cadwallader never went to Rome at all, but died of this Plague; but of this, I dare not positively determine, since the greater part of the Welsh Chronicles are so positive in Cadwallader's dying at Rome. But to return to our Annals.

This Year Oswi King of Northumberland, and Ecgbrith King of Kent;* 1.139 with the Consent of the whole English Church, (as Bede relates,) sent Wigheard the Presbyter to Rome, to be there made Arch-Bishop of Canterbury, but he died almost as soon as he arrived:* 1.140 So that Theodorus be∣ing the next Year consecrated Arch-Bishop, was sent into Britain.* 1.141 Of which Transaction, Bede gives us this particular Account.

About this time also, (as Bede relates,* 1.142) Wina Bishop of Winchester being driven from his See by King Kenwalch, went and bought the See of London of King Wulfher. This is the first Example of Simony in the English Church.

The See of Canterbury had been now vacant for above 3 Years, for the Pope was resolved himself to Ordain an Arch-Bishop; and at last, at the Recommendation of one Adrian a Greek Monk, (who might have been Arch-Bishop himself, but refused it,) the Pope chose this Theodorus, then a Monk, and a Native of Tharsus in Cilicia; who, being an excellent Scholar, brought the knowledge of the Greek Tongue, as also Arithme∣tick, Musick, and Astronomy, in use among the English Saxons.

This Arch-Bishop, immediately upon his coming into England, made a thorough Visitation of his Province,* 1.143 and (as Bede tells us) surveyed all Things, and ordained Bishops in fit Places; and those Things which he found less perfect than they should be, he by their Assistance corre∣cted; among which, when he found fault with Bishop Ceadda, as not having been rightly Consecrated; he humbly and modestly replied, If you believe that I have not rightly undertook the Episcopal Charge, I willingly quit it, since as I never thought my self worthy, so I never consented to accept it, but in obedience to the Commands of my Superiours. But the Arch-Bishop seeing his Humility, answered,

That he would not have him lay aside his Episcopacy; and so he again renewed his Ordination according to the Catholick Rites.

* 1.144From whence it appears, that this Arch-Bishop then thought the Ordi∣nation of the English and Scotish Bishops, who differed from the Church of Rome, as to the time of keeping Easter, to be Uncanonical; and for this reason Bede here also tells us, That Bishop Wilfrid was sent into France to be Ordained: But as for this Bishop Ceadda, Florence of Worcester in∣forms us, That he was now also deprived of his Bishoprick, (and Wilfrid restored to it,) as having been unduly Elected thereunto; which, thô Bede doth not tell us in express Words, yet he confirms it in the very next Chapter, where he tells us, That Jaruman, Bishop of the Mercians, be∣ing now dead, King Wulfher did not ask Arch-Bishop Theodorus to Or∣dain a new One, but only desired of King Oswi, that Bishop Ceadda, the Brother of Cedda, should be sent to him to take that Charge, (who lived privately at his Monastery of Lestinghen, where he was then Abbot,) Wilfrid then not only Governing the Diocess of York, and all the Nor∣thumbers, but also Picts as far as King Oswi's Dominions extended. But to return again to the Saxon Annals.

* 1.145

This Year King Ecgbert gave to Basse the Priest Reculf, where he built a Monastery;

This was afterwards called Reculver [in Kent].

Oswi, King of Northumberland, died xv Kal. Martij, [and was buried at Streanshale Monastery,* 1.146] and Ecverth (or Egfrid) his Son reigned after him; also Lothaire, Nephew of Bishop Agelbert, took upon him the Episco∣pal Charge over the West Saxons, and held it 7 Years; Arch-Bishop Theo∣dorus Consecrated him.

He whom these Annals call Lothair, was the same with Leutherius Bishop of Winchester.

* 1.147Bede tells us further of King Oswi, That being worn out with a long Infirmity, he was so much in love with the Roman Rites, that if he had recovered of the Sickness of which he died, he had resolved to go to Rome, and end his Days at the Holy Places; having engaged Bishop Wil∣frid to be the Guide and Companion of his Journey, promising him no small Rewards for his Pains.

* 1.148'This Year was a great slaughter of Birds. H. Huntington renders it a great Fight of Birds, which seems to have been some remarkable Com∣bat of Crows or Jackdaws in the Air, of which we have several wonder∣ful Relations in our Histories. Mat. Westminster relates, that the strange Birds seemed to flie before those of this Country, but that many Thou∣sands were killed.

* 1.149

This next Year Cenwalch King of the West Saxons died, and Sexburga his Wife held the Kingdom after him for one Year.

Of whom Wil∣liam of Malmesbury gives this Account; That this King; dying, left the Kingdom to Sexburga his Wife; nor did she want Spirit or Courage to discharge all the Functions of a King, for she straitways began to raise new Forces, as also to keep the Old to their Duty; to govern her Sub∣jects with moderation, and to keep her Enemies in awe; and, in short, to do such great Things, that there was no Difference, but the Sex, between Her and a King: But as she aimed at more than Feminine Undertakings, so she left this Life when she had scarce Reigned a Year about.

But Mat. Westminster says, she was expelled the Kingdom by the No∣bles, who despised Female Government: But what Authority he had for this, I know not, for I do not find it in any other Author; whereas if what William of Malmesbury says of her be true, it was not likely they should Rebel against so good a Governess, who seems to have been the perfect Pattern of an Excellent Queen.

After the Death of King Cenwalch,* 1.150 and (as I suppose) Queen Sex∣burga likewise, Bede relates, That the Great Men or Petty Princes of that Kingdom, divided it among them, and so held it for 10 Years; in which time Eleutherius,* 1.151 Bishop of the West Saxons (i. e. of Winchester) dying, Heddi was Consecrated by Arch-Bishop Theodorus in his stead; in whose time those Petty Princes being all subdued, Ceadwalla took the Kingdom; but this does not agree with the Saxon Annals.

About this time (thô Bede does not set down the Year) King Egfrid of Northumberland waging War with Wulfher, King of Mercia, won from him all the Country of Lindsey.

About this time also died Ceadda, Bishop of Litchfield, (according to Ran. Higden's Polychron;) but Bede does not tell us the time of his Death,* 1.152 thô he mentions it, and there gives a large Account of the great Humi∣lity and Piety of that good Bishop, and of the Pious End he made: He is called by us at this day St. Chad.

This Year Egber••, King of Kent, deceased,* 1.153 (according to Bede's Epi∣tome,) who (as says Math. Westminster) gave part of the Isle of Thanet to build a Monastery, to explate the Murder of his Cousins, whom he had caused to be slain, as you have already heard.

The same Year was a Synod of all the Bishops and great Men of Eng∣land held at Heartford, (now Hartford,* 1.154) which Synod (as Bede tells us) was called by Arch-Bishop Theodorus; where Wilfred Bishop of York, with all the rest of the Bishops of England, were either in Person, or by their Deputies, (as Florence relates,) and in which divers Decrees were made for the Reformation of the Church; the first and chiefest of which was, That Easter should be kept on the first Lord's Day after the Fourteenth Moon of the First Month (i. e. 〈◊〉〈◊〉); which thô it had been before appointed by the Synod at Streanshale above-mentioned, yet that being not looked upon as a General Council of the whole Kingdom, it was now again renewed; the rest of them concerning the Jurisdictions of the Bishops, and the Pri∣viledges and Exemptions of Monasteries, I pass over, and refer you to Sir H. Spelman's First Volume of Councils for farther satisfaction: But I can∣not omit, that it was here first Ordained, That thô Synods ought to be held twice a Year, yet since divers Causes might hinder it, therefore it seem'd good to the whole Council, that a Synod should be assembled once a Year at a place called Cloveshoe.

This Year also the Saxon Annals relate,

That Etheldrethe,* 1.155 late Wife to Egfrid King of Northumberland, founded the Monastery of Ely, (in which she her self became the first Abbess.* 1.156)

She (as Bede tells us) had been twice married, but would never let either of her Husbands enjoy her; and at last (with much ado) obtained Leave of this King to quit his Palace, and retire into a Nunnery; which perverting of the Ends of Marriage, was counted a great piece of Sanctity in those Times. But the Monastery above-mentioned being burnt and destroyed by the Danes, Anno 870, was afterwards re-edified by King Edgar, as shall be in due time more particularly related.

Also Egbright, King of Kent, deceased; and Lothair, his Brother, suc∣ceeded him.

This Year also, according to Bede, Bosa Bishop of Dunmoc being de∣prived by reason of his Infirmities; two Bishops, (viz.) Acca and Bed∣win, were placed in that Diocess, one of whom had his See at Dunmoc (now Dunwich) in Suffolk, and the other at Helmham in Norfolk.

* 1.157'This Year Aescwin began to Reign over the West Saxons.] Here also follows his Pedigree needless to be repeated; for William of Malmesbury remarks no more of him, than that he was supposed to be the next of the Royal Line, as being the great Nephew of Cynegils, by his Brother Cuthgils.

The same Year (as Bede tells us in * 1.158 his Lives of the Abbots of Wire∣muth and Girwy) Abbot Benedict, (I suppose from his Episcopal Actions Sirnamed Biscop,) having before come over with Arch-Bishop Theodorus, was by him made Abbot of the Monastery of St. Peter in Canterbury; which he 2 Years after resigning, and Adrian, that great Scholar, succeeding him, he went again to Rome, and then returning into Britain, brought along with him many Books of Divine Knowledge; and then applying himself to Egfrid, King of Northumberland, he obtained of him as much Land as served 70 Families, lying near the Mouth of the River Wir, (in the Bishoprick of Durham,) where he began a Monastery in Honour of St. Peter; but before it was finished, he went into France, and from thence brought Masons, who built the Church of Stone after the Roman fashion: and the Work being near finished, he sent into the same Coun∣try for Artificers, who understood the making of Glass, which till then had been unknown in Britain; wherewith he glazed the Windows of the Church and Monastery he had there built, and thereby taught the English Nation the Art of Glass-making; which (says my Author) hath proved so useful in making of Lamps for Churches, and also other Vessels so neces∣sary for divers Uses: And because this Island, nor yet France it self, could then afford all the Ornaments requisite for the Altar, he took care to fetch them from Rome, whither he went for that purpose; from whence again returning, he brought a great many choice Books of all sorts, to∣gether with divers Relicks of Saints, and curious Pictures, with which he adorned the Church he had built; and he likewise received a Bull from Pope Agatho, whereby the Monastery also, by the Consent and License of King Egfrid, was freed from all Secular Servitude.

But some time after, (Simeon of Durham says 8 Years,) King Egfrid (being very well satisfied with what Benedict had done) bestowed as much more Land upon him as then maintained 40 Families, for the buil∣ding of another Monastery at a Place called Girwy, (now Tarro••,) near the Mouth of the River Tine, which was built in Honour of St. Paul; when also, by reason of his frequent Absence and Employment in other Affairs, he appointed one Easterwine his Kinsman, Abbot of that of St. Peter; and Ceolfrid, a Monk of the same Monastery, over that of S. Paul; in which Charges they continued several Years under his Inspection; till at last, after the decease of Easterwine, and another Abbot called Sigfrid, Ceolfrid above-mentioned was made Abbot of both Monasteries, which he Go∣verned many Years; untill He resigning that Charge, went to end his Days at Rome, but died by the way in France. These Transactions, thô happening in the space of about 40 Years, I have here put toge∣ther, that you may have at once the History of these two ancient and famous Monasteries, in the latter of which Bede himself (the Author of this Account) lived, and died a Monk, as shall be related here∣after.

About this time also, (thô Bede does not set down the Year,) Arch-Bishop Theodore deposed Winfrid, Bishop of the Mercians, for some Cano∣nical Disobedience, and ordained Sexwulf, Abbot of Medeshamsted, in his Room. But to return to the Annals.

This Year Wulfher the Son of Penda, and Aescwin Son of Genwulf,* 1.159 fought at Bedanheafde; and also King Wulfher deceased the same Year.]

Where that Place was, is uncertain, (thô some suppose it to be Bedwin in Wiltshire, lying near Berkshire.) H. Huntington describes this Battle to have been very sharp; but that the Mercian King, inheriting his Fa∣ther's, and his Grandfather's Courage, was somewhat superior; yet that both Armies were terribly shattered, and many Thousands slain on both Sides; on which our Author makes this just Reflection,

That from hence it is worth while to observe, how Vile the Actions of Men, and how Vain those Wars are, which Princes call Glorious Undertakings; for when these Kings had brought so great a Destruction upon their own Nations, both of them survived not long after:

For (according to Flo∣rence's Chronicle) King Wulfher deceased this Year, having destroyed the Worship of Idols throughout his Kingdom, and caused the Gospel to be preached in all Places of his Dominions, and Ethelred his Brother suc∣ceeded him in the Kingdom; whom William of Malmesbury describes to have been more famous for Devotion, than Fighting, unless when he shewed his Courage in a notable Expedition against Kent; or else when he met and repell'd Egfrid, King of Northumberland, and forced him to re∣turn home, recovering from him all Lindsey, which Wulfher had taken away before, thô with the loss of his Brother Edwin, in that Expedition; after which, he spent all the rest of his Life in Peace.

About this time also, according to Math. Westminster, (for Bede hath not set down the Years,) Erkenwald, younger Son of Anna King of the East Angles, was by Arch-Bishop Theodore ordained Bishop of London, being a Man of great Worth and Piety.

This Year also (according to Florence) King Wulfher was first bapti∣zed, but the Saxon Annals mention no such thing; and therefore I won∣der from whence he had it, for it is quite contrary to what Bede relates, concerning his being Baptized long before; or else, How could he be Godfather to Edelwalch, King of the West Saxons, who was Baptized near 20 Years before? But I suppose Florence had it from some old Monkish Legend, if not from the Roman Martyrology it self, in which is related, that incredible Story of King Wulfher's murdering of his two Sons, Ulf∣wald and Rufin, with his own Hands, because they had been instructed in the Christian Faith by Ceadda, Bishop of Litchfield. And Mr. Stow, in his Chronicle, having found the same Story in an old Ledger-Book of that Church, hath thought fit to insert it into his History; placing the Year of their Suffering in Anno 668, when all our Historians do at that time relate him to have been a Christian. But this Book adds further, That the Queen, Mother to these Princes, caused them to be buried under a great heap of Stones, and thereby gave Name to the Town of Stone in Staffordshire. I thought good to take notice of this Romance, because a greater Author, viz. Mr. Camden himself, hath also thought fit to put it into his * 1.160 Britannia, from the Authority of a Manuscript Book once belong∣ing to the Abby of Peterburgh.

But it is time to look back upon Ecclesiastical Affairs; for now (ac∣cording to William of Malmesbury) one Adhelm a Monk began to build the Abby of Malmesbury, having before obtained a License for so doing, together with a Grant of certain Lands, called Madulfsburgh, from Lu∣therius Bishop of Winchester; the Place being so called from one Maildulf a Scotch Monk, and Philosopher, (under whom Aldhelm had formerly studied)

who died at this Place,* 1.161 where Maildulf had also begun a small Monastery; but the few Monks that were there had no Means to subsist but by Alms, until such time as this Aldhelm built it anew, and got it Endowed by the Charity of Ethelred,* 1.162 King of the Mercians; Ceadwalla, and Ina, Kings of the West Saxons, with other Noble Benefactors: So that it soon became one of the greatest and richest Monasteries in England, being at first called Madunesburg, and afterwards Malmesbury.

About the same time also, according to the old Book of the Abby of Abingdon in the Cottonian Librarie, the Abby of Abingdon was founded by one Hean, Nephew to Cissa, a Petty Prince under Kentwin, King of the West Saxons, in Wiltshire and Berkshire; the Place at first was called Sheove∣sham, and the Foundation was for no more than an Abbot, and 12 Monks, but was afterwards much increased by the Charity of succeeding Kings; being rebuilt by Abbot Ordgar in the Reign of King Edgar, having been burnt and destroyed by the Danes in the time of King Alfred.

* 1.163This Year also (according to Bede) Arch-Bishop Theodore consecrated Erkenwald Bishop of London, who was in great Reputation for his San∣ctity, having, before he came to be Bishop, founded two Monasteries, the one for Ethelburg his Sister, at Berking; the other for himself, at Cherte∣sey in Surrey.

* 1.164

This Year Escwin, Bishop of the East Saxons, departed this Life, and Hedda took the Bishoprick of that Province, and Centwin succeeded in the Kingdom of the West Saxons; which Centwin was Son to Cynegils, and he the Son of Ceolwulf: Also Ethelred, King of the Mercians, wasted Kent.

Of which Expedition, H. Huntington further relates, That this King made War against Lothair, King of Kent; but he fearing that Valour, so Hereditary to the Mercian Family, kept out of sight, and durst not meet him; whereupon the King of Mercia destroyed the City of Rochester, and passing through the Kingdom of Kent, carried away a great deal of Spoil.

* 1.165Bede adds further, That he destroyed both Churches and Monasteries, without any regard to Religion, and so spoiled the Church and Palace of Rochester, that Putta, the Bishop of that See, was forced to retire to Sex∣wulf Bishop of the Mercians; and from him receiving the Possession of a certain Church,* 1.166 there ended his Days in Peace. This Putta is by Flo∣rence of Worcester, and William of Malmesbury, made the first Bishop of Hereford; which Church, it seems, Sexwulf parted with to him, thô Bede does not expresly mention it. Also Eadhed was now ordained Bi∣shop in the Province of Lindisse, which King Egfrid had lately conquered from Wulfher King of the Mercians. But when Ethelred (Successour to Wulfher) recovered that Province, this Bishop retiring from Lindisse, go∣verned the Church of Ripon.

The same Year also Osric, a petty Prince of this Country, built a Nun∣nery at Bath, which was afterwards turned to a House of Secular Ca∣nons; but King Edgar turned them out, and placed Benedictines in their Places.

* 1.167This Year being the Eighth of the Reign of Egfrid, King of Northum∣berland, (according to Bede, and the Saxon Annals,) there appeared a Co∣met which continued 3 Months, and arising toward Morning, carried with it a large Tail like a Pillar; in which Year also (as * 1.168 Bede relates) there arose a great Contention between King Egfrid, and Bishop Wilfrid, who was expell'd his Bishoprick, and two others substituted in his Room over the

Northumbrian Nation, (to wit,) Bosa,* 1.169 who Governed the Province of Deira; and Fatta, that of Bernicia; the former having his Episcopal See at the City of York, and the other at Hagulstad, being both of them pre∣ferred from being Monks. Stephen Heddi, the Author of * 1.170 St. Wilfrid's Life above-mentioned, as also † 1.171 Will. of Malmesbury, relate the Quarrel between King Egfrid and the Bishop to have proceeded from the Envy and Ill-will of Erminburge his Queen, she making the King jealous of his Secular Glory, and Riches, and the great Retinue that followed him; whereupon the King resolved to be rid of him; so that present∣ing Theodore Arch-Bishop of Canterbury with great Gifts, they perswaded him to come into that Province; and, together with three Bishops he brought with him, who were not of the Northern Diocess, they not only condemned, but deprived Bishop Wilfrid, being absent; whereupon the Bishop went to the King, and the Arch-Bishop, and asked them, What was the Reason, that without any Crime alledged, they had robbed him of his Estate that was given him by former Kings, for God's sake? But (if this Author may be credited) they gave him a very trifling Answer, saying, That they found no Fault in him; yet would not alter what had been Decreed against him: Whereupon the Bishop, by the Consent of the rest of his Fellow-Bishops of his Province, appealed to Rome. But cer∣tainly these Bishops could not at that time be many, for there were then no more in this Province than Lindisfarne, and Whitern in the Picts Coun∣try:

Towards Rome he went the next Year; but in his way thither, landing in Frizeland, he stayed there all that Winter,* 1.172 converting the People of that Province: And then proceeding in his Journey to Rome the Spring following, where arriving, he applied himself to the Pope, and presented him with a Petition; which being read before Pope John, and the Synod at Rome, he was by the said Pope, and all the Bishops there present, (being 150 in Number) Decreed to be restored to his Bishoprick; but he could never prevail so far as to get this Council's Decree to be received as long as King Egfrid lived.

The same Year Bishop Wilfrid returning into England, was received by Beorthwald, Nephew of Ethelred King of the Mercians,* 1.173 who then go∣verned part of that Kingdom under his Uncle; who hearing of it, his Wife being the Sister of King Egfrid, commanded Beorthwald immediate∣ly to dismiss him; from whence, he went to Centwin King of the West Saxons, where staying but a little while, he was also driven from thence, because the Queen was Sister of Queen Erminburge. Thus Stephanus Heddy, in his Life of Bishop Wilfrid, relates; but it is to be doubted with too much Partiality on his side.

Bede he gives us a more particular Account of the rest of his Actions,* 1.174 that thô he were thus expelled his Bishoprick, yet that he could not be restrained from Preaching the Gospel; for retiring to the Kingdom of the South Saxons, which lies between that of Kent, and that of the West Saxons, where Edilwalch, then King, (and who had not been long before Baptized at the perswasion of King Wulfher, as has been already said,) gave him Commission to Convert and Baptize, not only the Principal Officers and Knights of that Province, but divers Presbyters, (there named, who came along with him,) did then, or not long after, Christen the rest of the common People; and Ebba the Queen was also baptized in the Province of the Wectii, but what Queen this was, Bede does not tell us.

So that before this,* 1.175 it seems, thô the King was a Christian, yet the whole Province of the South Saxons were as yet unconverted to the Christian Faith, of which the Author of the Life of Bishop Wilfrid gives this Reason;* 1.176 that this Province, by reason of the multitude of the Rocks, and thickness of the Woods, was hitherto almost inaccessible to strangers: But * 1.177 Bede further tells us, That then there lived a certain Irish or Scotch Monk, named Dicul, who had a little Monastery in a place called Bosanham encompassed with Woods and the Sea, where he with five or six Brethren served God in great Poverty and Humility; yet would not any of the People imitate their Lives, or hear their Preaching; but when Bishop Wilfrid preach'd the Gospel to them, he did not only free them from Eternal Torments, but also from present de∣struction, for it had not rained (as my Author says) for Three Years before in that Country; whence multitudes of the poorer sort of People daily perished by Famine; so that many becoming desperate, Forty or Fifty Men in a Company, being almost starved, would all take hands together, and at once leap down a Rock into the Sea: But on the first day of their publick Baptism, soft and plentiful showres descending, re∣stored plenty to the Summer following; so this People casting away their Idolatry, became not only enrich'd with Spiritual, but Temporal Blessings; for when the Bishop came into this Province, and saw so dismal a Famine, he taught them how to get their livings by fishing; for though the Sea and Rivers abounded plentifully with Fish, yet had not they the Wit to make Nets to take any but Eels; whereupon the Bishop taught them, by joyning many of those small Nets together, to make them serve to catch Sea-Fish, of which they took so great a multitude, that they maintained themselves with them, till other Provisions could be had.

* 1.178At this time also King Edelwalch gave Bishop Wilfrid a certain Island, called Seolesen, that is (in the old English Saxon) the Island of Seales, (or Sea Calves) where Wilfrid founded a small Monastery, consisting chiefly of those Brethren he brought with him, and which his Successours hold to this day, (viz. in Bede's time;) for this place (after called Selsey:) was made the seat of the Bishop of that Province, until it was long after removed to Chichester; here Bishop Wilfrid lived, and exercised his Episcopal Functions, till the death of King Egfrid.

The same Year, (according to the Saxon Annals) Escwin was slain near Trent, in which place also King Egfrid and Ethelfred fought the same Year, and now also St. Etheldrith deceased, and Coludesburgh, was burnt.

* 1.179H. Huntington more at large relates this Fight between the Kings of Northumberland and Mercia; and Bede also tells us, This Young Prince (mentioned in the Annals) being the King of Northumberland's Brother, and then about Eighteen Years of Age was slain, and extreamly lament∣ed in both Kingdoms; For King Ethelred had Married Ostrithe his Sister, but when Arch-Bishop Theodore saw the causes of their Intestine Quarrels daily to encrease, he by his intercession and perswasions made Peace be∣tween the two Kings, on this condition; that King Ethelred should pay King Egfrid a pecuniary Mulct for his Brother, who was slain.

This Queen Etheldrith here mentioned in the Annals, was Daughter to Anna,* 1.180 King of the East-Saxons, and Wife of King Egfrid, who yet re∣mained a Virgin; for thô she had been twice Married, yet would she ne∣ver let either of her Husbands lye with her; but she dyed at last Abbess of the Monastery of Eli, which she her self built, and of whom Bede makes

a large Elegy both in Prose and Verse;* 1.181 and that after she had been there buried Sixteen Years, her body being taken up as whole as at first, she was canonized, and called St. Audrey of Ely; but this Coludesburgh here mentioned in the Annals, was a great Monastery of Monks and Nuns together, afterwards called Coldingham, in the Marches of Scotland; (which as Bede tells us) was a very magnificent building for that Age,* 1.182 but by the just judgment of God for the loose living of the Monks and Nuns, was burnt; thô it happen'd not by any Miracle, but by meer carelesness of the Servants.

About this time also, according to an ancient Manuscript Copy of Florence of Worcester's Chronicle in the Bodleian Library, the Province of the Mercians was by the Common Council or consent of Ethelred (King of that Kingdom) and of Theodore Arch-Bishop of Canterbu••y divided into Five Diocesses; Bosel being ordained Bishop of the Wicii who had his seat Worcester, whilest Cuthwian was ordained to the Diocess of Litchfield, Saxulf was pleased to continue Bishop over midle England, having his See at Leicester, and Ethelwine was set over the Province of Lindisse. having his See at Cidnacester; but as for the See of Hereford, that had been founded about Three Years before by Bishop Putta, by the means and consent of Bishop Saxulf, as hath been now observed. But to return to our Annals.

This Year, Theodore the Arch-Bishop summon'd a Synod at Heathfield, (now Hatfield in Hartfordshire) that he might correct divers errours con∣cerning the Christian Faith; but * 1.183 Bede gives us a fuller account of it,* 1.184 and tells us, it was summoned to condemn the Heresie of Eutyches, who then maintained but one will and Person in Christ, and which then troubled the Latin as well as Greek Church; and therefore the Arch-Bi∣shop being resolved to prevent it, held this Synod,* 1.185 in which the Five first General Councils, were not only received, and confirm'd, but also the latter held at Rome under Pope Martyn I. in the Reign of the Em∣perour Constantine.

Bede also tells us, That there was present at this Council, John the Praecentor, or chief Chanter of the Church of St. Peters in Rome,* 1.186 whom Pope Agatho had sent hither, not only to instruct the English Mona∣steries, how to Sing after the Roman Fashion, but also to give him an account of the Faith of the English Church, which he did at his Re∣turn to Rome, much to its advantage.

And the same Year, according to Bede and the Saxon Annals, Hilda the Holy Abbess deceased at Streanshale, (now Whitby in York-shire,) which she her self had Founded; she was Grand Niece to King Edwin, and having been converted by Paulinus, had been almost ever since her Conversion a professed Nun, first in the Monastery of Cale in France, and was after∣wards Abbess of divers Nunneries in England, being esteemed a Lady of great Sanctity and Knowledge. At this Monastery of Strean-shale, (which was then for Men as well as Women) lived Caedmon the English Saxon Poet, who is supposed by Bede to have been once Divinely inspired in his sleep to make Verses in his own Tongue upon the Creation of the World, and ever after kept that faculty upon other Divine Subjects; there are divers of his Paraphrases in Saxon Verse still extant, upon se∣veral Stories in Genesis and Exodus, but very hard to be understood by reason of the Obsoleteness of the Saxon Dialect. They have been Printed at Oxford, by the Learned Junius.

* 1.187About this time also (according to Florence) the Kingdom of the Mer∣cians became divided into five Diocesses; and Tulfride a learned Monk, of the Abbess Hilda's Monastery, was elected first Bishop of Worcester, but dyed before his Ordination.

* 1.188But the ancient Chronicle of the Church of Worcester, now in the Cot∣tonian Library relates, the Church of Worcester to have been first found∣ed by Athe••red; King of the Mercians, and Theodore Bishop of Canterbury; one Bosel being made the first Bishop of that See, and sate therein E∣leven Years.

There was then also founded a Colledge of secular Canons, which so continued as the Chapter of this Church till Anno Dom. 991, when Bishop Oswald turned them out, and put in Benedictine Monks in their Rooms.

About the same time also, one Oswald Nephew to King Ethelred, found∣ed a College for Secular Canons at Pershore, in Worcestershire, which con∣tinued till King Edgar and Bishop Oswald, Anno 984. brought in Benedictine Monks in their Places.

I may also add, under this Year, that pretended Bull of Pope Agatho's Privileges, together with the Charter of this K. Ethelred, which is reci••••d in the Peterb••rgh Copy of the Saxon Annals, under Anno. 675, and is there related to have been about the same time confirmed in the Council at Heath∣field above-mentioned; whereby were gr••nted to the Monastery of M••de∣sha••is••e ad divers gre••t Imm••nities; which Bull does not only confirm a••d those Privileges formerly granted by Pope Vitalian, but there is also fur∣ther added this, that the Abbot should be the Pope's Legat over the whole Isle (of Britain); and that whatsoever Abbot was elected by the Monks, should be immediately consecrated by the Archbishop of C••nterbury; with divers other Things too tedious here to relate: Which 〈◊〉〈◊〉, being recited in the Council above-mentioned, was by th••m est••blished and confirmed; which being done, the King is said to have made a Speech, reciting all the Lands he had given to the said Monastery, and then, having subscribed the Charter, the Queen, Adrian the Pope's Legat, and all the Bishops and Abbots, (whose Names are there mentioned) did so likewise, under dr••••dful Curses upon those that should violate the Privileges above-mentioned.

But notwithstanding the so exact Recital, and supposed Confirmation of this Charter in the Council above-mentioned, we have very great Rea∣son to suspect this Bull, as also the Charter it self, to have been forged long after by the Monks of Peterburgh; for, in the first place, the Privileges granted to this Abbey do not only exceed any that had been granted by the Pope to any Monastery in England, but also were such, as we do not find it ever enjoy'd; as particularly, that of their Abbot's being the Pope's ordinary Legate all over this Island, which had been such a Diminution of the Rights of the Archbishop of Canterbury, as he would nover have so ea∣sily pa••s'd over: And besides all which, the Names of the Bishops, who are put to this Charter, do not at all agree with the Circumstances of Time; for, first, it is certain, that Wilfred is here styled Archbishop of York, which Title he never took upon him, being then no more but a Bi∣shop under the Jurisdiction of Archbishop Theodore; and by whom he, at this Time, stood deprived, and was not present at this Council, nor did return this Year from Rome, (as this Copy of the Annals makes him to have done,) but was indeed returned from thence near three Years before; being at this Time converting the South-Saxons, (••s hath been already

related:) Neither was Putta, Bishop of Rochester, or Waldhere,* 1.189 Bishop of London, at the time when this Council was held, though their Names are also put to this Charter; for the former had been dead eleven Years be∣fore, and one Quiehelme was then Bishop of that See, as appears by the Ca∣talogue of the Bishops in Sir H. Spelman's Fas••••, at the end of the Volume of English Writers after Bede; nor was the latter then Bishop of London, but Erkenwald, who was elected to that See above fifteen Years before, and continued in it 'till after the Reign of King Ina, who began not to reign 'till Anno 688; so that upon the whole matter, I take this Charter to be a notorious piece of Forgery.

This Year Trumbrith was consecrated Bishop of Hagulstad, and Trum∣win Bishop of the Picts: This was the Bishoprick of Wyterne,* 1.190 called in Latin Candida Casa: which at that time (as Bede testifies) belonged to the Kingdom of Northumberland; and also Centwin, (King of the West-Saxons,) put the Britains to flight as far as the Sea; H. Huntington says, That he also wasted all their Country with Fire and Sword; but the Welsh Chronicle of Caradoc (translated by H. Lloyd) relates, That this Year Kentwin, King of the West-Saxons gathered a great Company of his Nation together, and came against the Britains, who seem'd ready to receive the Battle; but yet, when both Armies appeared in sight of each other, they were not all desirous to fight, for they fell to a friendly composition and agreement; (viz.) That Ivor should take Ethelburga to Wife, who was Cousin to K••ntwin, and quietly enjoy all that he had got during the Reign of Ivor; but of this our English Histories are silent.

This Year the Nunnery of St. Peter, in Glocester, was founded by Osri••,* 1.191 then a petty Prince or Governour under Ethelred, King of the Mercians, but was afterwards King of the Northumbers. This Monastery, thô it had the honour of having Three Queens successively, Abbesses of it, was de∣stroyed by the Danes, but afterwards was re-edified for Benedictine Monks by Aldred Bishop of Worcester, Anno 1058.

This Year also, (according to Bede) Egfrid, King of Northumberland,* 1.192 sent a great Army into Ireland, under one Bert (or Bryt) his Ge∣neral, who miserably wasted that innocent Nation, which had been al∣ways friendly to the English;* 1.193 (which Character perhaps might have been due to them in Bede's time;) and did not so much as spare the Churches or Mo∣nasteries; but the Islanders as far as they were able, repel'd Force with Force, and invoked the Divine assistance to revenge their quarrel which happen'd the next Year, as the same Authour relates. For,

This Year, not long before the Death of King Egfrid,* 1.194 that Holy Man Cuthbert, was by the same King ordered to be ordained Bishop of Lindisfarne, thô he was at first chosen to be Bishop of Hagulstaed instead of Trumbert, who had been before deposed from that Bishoprick; yet because Cuthbert liked the Church of Lindisfarne better, in which he had so long convers'd,* 1.195 Eatta was made to return to the See of Hagulstad, to which he was at first ordained, whilest Cuthbert took the Bishoprick of Lindisfarne.

But I shall now give you from Bede a farther account of the Life of this good Bishop; he had been first bred in the Monastery of Mailross, and was afterwards made Abbot of the Monastery of Lindisfarne; reti∣ring from whence, he had for a long time lived the Life of an Anchorite in the Isle of Farne, not far distant, but when there was a great Synod assembled, King Egfrid being present at a place called Twiford, near the River Alne, where Arch-Bishop Theodore presiding, Cuthbert was, by the

general consent of them all,* 1.196 chosen Bishop; who when he could not by any Messages or Letters be drawn from his Cell; at length the King him∣self, with Bishop Trumwin, and other Noble and Religious Persons, sailed thither, where they at last, after many intreaties, prevailed upon him, to go with them to the Synod; and when he came there, thô he very much opposed it, yet he was forced to accept the Episcopal Charge, and so was consecrated Bishop the Easter following; and after his Con∣secration, in imitation of the blessed Appostles, he adorned his calling by his good Works; for he constantly taught the People commited to his Charge, and incited them to the love of Heaven, by his constant Prayers and Exho••tations; and, which is the chief part of a Teacher, whatsoever he Taught, he himself first practised; so having lived in this manner about Two Years, being then sensible that the time of his Death (or rather of his future Life) drew near, he again retired to the same Island, and Hermitage from whence he came.

The same Year also King Egfrid rashly lead out his Army to destroy the Province of the Picts,* 1.197 (thô his Friends, and principally Bishop Cuthbert, did all they could to hinder it), and having now entred the Country, he was brought (before he was aware) by the feigned flight of his Enemies, between the streights of certain inaccessible Mountains, where he, with the greatest part of his Forces he had brought with him, were all cut off, in the Fortieth Year of his Age, and the Fifteenth of his Reign. And as the Year aforegoing, he refused to hear Bishop Cuthbert, who diswaded him from invading Ireland, which did him no harm; so Bede observes it was a just Judgment upon him for that Sin, that he would not hear those who would then have prevented his Ruine.

From this time, the Grandeur and Valour of this Kingdom of the Northumbers began to decline; for the Picts now recovered their Country, which the English had taken away; and the Scots that were in Britain, with some part of the Britains themselves, regain'd their Liberty, which they did enjoy for the space of Forty Six Years after, when Bede wrote his History: But Alfred Brother to this King succeeding him, quickly re∣covered his Kingdom, thô reduced into narrower bounds: He was also a Prince very well read in the Holy Scriptures.

The same Year, (as the Saxon Annals relate) Kentwin, King of the West-Saxons dying, Ceadwalla began to Reign over that Kingdom, (whose Pedegree is there inserted,* 1.198 which I shall refer to another place:) and the same Year also died Lothair King of Kent; (as Bede relates) of the Wounds he had received in a Fight against the South Saxons; in which Edric, his Brother Egbert's Son, Commanded against him, and reigned in his stead.

This Year (also according to the Annals) John was consecrated Bishop of Hugulstad, and remained so till Bishop Wilfrith's return; but afterwards Bishop Bos•• dying, John became Bishop of York, but from thence, many Years after, retired to his Monastry in Derawnde, (now called Beverlie in York-shire:) This Year it rained Blood in Britain; and also Milk and Butter were now turned into somewhat like Blood. You are here to take notice, that this Bishop John above mentioned, is the famous St. John of Be∣verlie; of whom Bede in the next Book tells so many Miracles.

But our Annals do here require some farther Illustration; for this Cead∣walla here mentioned, was the Grandson of Ceawlin, by his Brother Cutha; who being a Youth of great hopes, was driven into Banishment

by his Predecessour,* 1.199 and (as Stephen * 1.200 Heddi in Bishop Wilfrid's Life re∣lates) lay concealed among the Woods and Desarts of Chyltern, and Ondred, and there remained for a long time; till raising an Army, (thô Bede does not say from whence,) he slew Aldelwald, King of the South-Saxons, and seized upon his Province;* 1.201 but was soon driven out by two of that King's Captains, viz. Bertune and Autune who for some time kept that Kingdom to themselves: the former of whom was afterwards slain by the same Cead∣walla, when he became King of the West-Saxons; but the other who reigned after him, again set it free from that servitude for many Years; from whence it happen'd, that all that time they had no Bishop of their own; for when Wilfrid return'd home, they became subject to the Bishop of the West-Saxons, (that is, of Dorchester) which return (as the Author of Wilfrid's Life relates) happen'd this Year, being the Second of King Alfred's Reign, who then invited him home, and restored him to his Bishoprick, as also to his Monastery at Rypun, together with all his o∣ther Revenues, according to the Decree of Pope Agatho, and the Coun∣cil at Rome above mentioned; all which he enjoyed till his second Ex∣pulsion, as you will hear in due time.

After Ceadwalla had obtain'd the Kingdom, he subdued the Isle of Wight, which was as yet infected with Idolatry;* 1.202 and therefore this King resol∣ved to destroy all the Inhabitants, and to Plant the Island with his own Subjects; obliging himself by a Vow,* 1.203 (althô he himself (as it is reported) was not yet baptized,) that he would give the Fourth part of his Con∣quests to God; which he made good, by offering it to Bishop Wilfrid, who was then come thither by chance out of his own Country. The Island consisted of about Two Thousand Families, and the King bestowed upon this Bishop, as much Land there as then maintained Three Hundred Families, the Care of all which the Bishop committed to one of his Clerks, named Bernwin, his Sisters Son, who was to Baptize all those that would be saved. Bede also adds, That amongst the first Fruits of Believers in that Island, there were two Royal Youths, Brothers, who were the Sons of Arwald, late King thereof; who having hid themselves for fear of King Ceadwalla, were at last discovered, and by him ordered to be slain, which when the Abbot of Reodford heard, (as having his Mona∣stery not far from thence) he went to the King, who then lay private in those Parts to be cured of the Wounds he had received in taking of the Island, and desired of him, if the Youths must needs dye, that they might first received Baptism, which the King granted; whereupon the Abbot immediately instructed, and then Baptized them; so when the Executi∣tioner came to put them to Death, they chearfully underwent it, because they hoped thereby to obtain an Eternal Kingdom. Thus the Isle of Wight did, (thô last of all) receive the Christian Faith, and that upon very harsh terms; as if God would make them suffer for their so long refusal of the Gospel.

The same Year also, Ceadwalla and Mollo (or Mull) his Brother wasted Kent. And, W. Malmesbury adds, That the occasion of this War, was to be revenged of King Edric, who had killed Lothair his Predecessour, and that falling upon that Province, now grown Esseminate with long Peace, he committed a great deal of Spoil throughout the Country; but at last meeting with the Kentish Men, was repulsed with loss.

* 1.204This Year also, according to Stephen H••ddis's Life of Bishop Wilfrid, he was re-called home by King Alfred, and restored to his Sees of York, and Hagulstad, the Bishop that then enjoyed them being turned out.

The same Year also Cuthbert, that Pious Bishop of Lindisfarne, having resigned his Bishoprick,* 1.205 and retired again to Farne-Island, there deceased, but his Body was translated to Lindisfarne; which being taken up Eleven Years after, was found as entire, as when it was first buried.

This Year Mollo (or Mull) the Brother of King Ceadwalla, but now mentioned,* 1.206 was burnt in Kent, and Twelve others with him; but Ceadwalla afterwards wasted Kent the same Year, which action Will. of Malmesbury and H. Huntington relate more at large; That Ceadwalla in the second Year of his Reign, sent his Brother Mollo (at his own request) to Ravage and P••under the Province of Kent, out of a Desire of Spoil, and Ambition of Glory; so marching into Kent, (then divided into divers Factions) and finding none there to resist him, he laid all the Country waste; but when he despised his Enemies, and thought he might do what he pleased with them; going about to plunder a certain House, and having no more th••n Twelve Men in his Company, being there encompassed on the sudden with far greater Forces, and not daring to sally out upon them, they set the House on Fire about his Ears; where He with Twelve Knights were burnt: And thus this brave Army consisting of the Flower of the West-Saxon Youth came to nothing.

But Will. Thorne, in his Chronicle of the Abbots of St. Augustine, Cant. relates the Death of this Prince, with more Circumstances (v••z.) That he invading and spoiling Kent, and coming before the City of Canterbury, and being there stoutly resisted by the Citizens, till almost all his Men were killed, was at last constrained to flee to a certain House, where the Men of Canterbury burnt him to Death, as hath been already related; but it seems his Body not being reduced to Ashes, was taken up and buried in the Church of the Abby of St. Augustine, with the Kings of Kent; this I thought fit to add as not being found elsewhere.

But when Ceadwalla heard this news, being extremely enraged at it, he again entred Kent, and there satiating himself with Spoil and Slaughter, when he had left nothing worth carrying away, returned home Victorious.

This Year, King Ceadwalla after he had Reign'd 2 Years (perhaps having some remorse for his former Cruelties,* 1.207) went to Rome, and there receiv∣ed Baptism from Pope Sergius, who gave him the Name of Peter; where he not long after dyed, and was buried in the Church of St. Peter; to whom Ina succeeded in the Kingdom of the West-Saxons, and Reigned Thirty Seven Years: He also built the Monastery at Glastin∣gabyrig, (now Glastenbury) and also went to Rome, and there remained until his Death.

Bede (who has given us a long Epitaph on Ceadwalla, both in Verse and Prose,* 1.208) places this Prince's Baptism by the Pope, in Anno 689, which might very well be, for he resigned his Kingdom the Year above men∣tioned, and it was ended by that time he could be baptized, and so the Saxon Annalist might well place both that and his Baptism under one and the same Year: The British Historians confounded this Ceadwalla with their King Ceadwallo, who slew King Edwin; but he lived above Twenty Years before this time, as hath been already observed.

But Dr. Powel,* 1.209 and Mr. Vaughan in their Learned Notes upon Caradoc's Welsh Chronicle, do suppose (with great probability) that this Cadwallo, was Edwal, sirnamed Ywrch, Prince of Wales, who about this time began to Reign, being the Son of Cadwallader;* 1.210 and may also very well agree with what Guidonius writeth of one Ethwal Prince of Wales; who about this time went to Rome and there dyed; for in proper Names it is an easie matter for a Capital C to creep in, since it was commonly used in old hands, at the beginning of a Paragraph: and might by an Ignorant Copier be added to the Name it self, and so of Edwal make Cadwal, and from thence Cadwallader.

But the Year after Ceadwalla dyed at Rome, (according to Bede,* 1.211 as well as our Annals) Theodorus Arch-Bishop of Canterbury also deceased, being Eighty Eight Years of Age, having sate Arch-Bishop Twenty Two Years, and was buried in the Church of St. Peter in Canterbury; * 1.212 Bede tells us, That the English Church never attained to that height of per∣fection under any Arch-Bishops Government, as it did under his; he be∣ing the first Arch-Bishop, who Exercised his Metropolitan Jurisdiction over all the Bishops, as well beyond, as on this side of Humber.

Berthwald, who now succeeded Theodore in the Arch-Bishoprick, had been Abbot of a certain Monastery, called Raculf (now Reculver in Kent) near the Isle of Thanet; and was a Man well read in the Scriptures, and skil'd in Ecclesiastical Discipline; but yet he ought not to be compared to his Predecessours: he was Elected this Year, but it seems his Consecrati∣on was deferr'd till near Three Years after, when the Saxon Chronicle likewise recites it.

This Year also (according to Florence) Ina a Prince of the Royal Blood took the Kingdom of the West-Saxons, being the Son of Kenred, the Son of Ceolwald: Yet it seems he had no right by Succession; for Will. of Malmesbury tells us expresly, That it was more in respect to his own Na∣tural Vertue, than to the Right of a successive descent, that he was now made King; and indeed, How could it be otherwise, his Father Kenred being then alive?

This Year also, Abbot Benedict (above-mentioned) dyed, after a long Sickness, of whom Bede in his Life (already cited) gives us a large Ac∣count, that having been at first a Servant to King Oswin, and re∣ceiving from him a competent Estate for his Quality, he quited a Milita∣ry Life for a Heavenly one, and leaving his Country, went to Rome, in the Company of Alfred, Son to that King; and upon his return thence the second time, professed himself a Monk in the Isle of Lyren; where staying Two Years, he accompanied Wyghard to Rome, who went thither to be ordained Arch-Bishop, but soon after dying there, he again return∣ed home with Arch-Bishop Theodore, and after some time built the Mon∣asteries of Wyremouth and Girwy, as you have already heard; and now after a long Sickness, made a Holy End in the Monastery of St. Peter at Wyremouth, where he was also buried.

About this time Wythred, the Son of Egbert, King of Kent, being E∣stablished in his Kingdom,* 1.213 did by his Piety and Industry free it from Foreign Invasions; thô one Swebheard, (or Webheard) held part of it to∣gether with him for some time.

This Year also according to Florence, for the Years are not exactly set down by Bede, or Stephen Heddi; Bishop Wilfrid was the second time Expel'd from his Bishoprick by Alfred, King of Northumberland;* 1.214 which,

(as this Authour in his Life relates) happen'd because that King had not restored to the Church of St. Peter at Rypun divers of its Possessions;* 1.215 The next was because the Monastery of Hagulstad had been erected in∣to a Bishoprick without his consent, and contrary to the priviledge which Pope Agatho had bestowed upon it; And lastly, because that King would have compelled him to obey certain Decrees of Arch-Bishop Theo∣dore, which had been made in Bishop Wilfrid's absence, and during the first quarrel that had risen between them; which he refusing to observe, thereupon retired to his old Friend Ethelred, King of the Mercians, who received him with great honour.

But King Alfred, as likewise Arch-Bishop Bertwald, and all the Bishops of Britain, being assembled in a Synod, at a place called Onestrefield or Hoster∣field, They sent Messengers to Bishop Wilfrid, desiring him to appear be∣fore them; but when he came to the Synod, he could by no means agree with them, because they did not perform what they had promised by their Messengers; so that great disputes arising chiefly from those Bishops of the new Sees, who together with certain Abbots had been also set on by King Alfred, and for the sake of their own private Interests, did not desire the Peace of the Church; they also objected many false things against him which could no ways be proved; and at last decreed that the Bishop should be censured according to the Decrees of the late Arch-Bishop Theodore; whereupon Bishop Wilfrid asked them, with what Face they could prefer the Decrees of Theodore before the Apostolical Canons, which had been enjoined them from Pope Agatho, and Pope Sergius? but when no due or decent manner of speaking was observed, and that they urged him to subscribe a Resignation of his Bishoprick, and Monasteries in Northumberland, and Mercia, into the hands of the Arch-Bishop, he utterly refused it, and only offered to submit to the Judg∣ment of the Arch-Bishop, as far as it was agreeable with the Canons of the Holy Fathers; but at last they offered him, that if he would re∣sign his Bishoprick, he might still retain his Abbey of Ripon, and live there in quiet, provided he did not go out of the bounds of the Mona∣stery, nor exercise any Episcopal Jurisdiction; upon which, he in a long Speech set forth his former Merits, in converting the Northumbrian Na∣tion to the due observation of Easter; Then asked them for what offence they went now about to degrade him? To which the King and the Arch-Bishop replied, That he was culpable in this, and was therefore to be condemned, because he had prefer'd the Judgment of the Men at Rome before theirs; and the King then offer'd the Arch-Bishop to make him submit by force to their Judgment, but this was opposed by most of the Bishops, because he had come thither under their safe conduct; Then the Bishop retired again to King Ethelred, setting forth the hard usage which he had received at the Synod, whereupon the King promised him never to alter any thing in the Monasteries, which he had bestowed upon him, until he had sent to Rome for the Pope's Judgment of these Matters, and how he might act safely therein; but in the mean time the Arch-Bishop and the Synod did not only deprive, but also Excomunicate Bishop Wilfrid, and also all those who were in communion with him; so that none might so much as eat with them, and whatsoever they touched, was looked upon as defiled.

Wherefore Bishop Wilfrid was again forced to go to Rome, there to make his appeal before the Pope, to whom he presented a long Petition.

setting forth that the Troubles which he had met with in Britain,* 1.216 had pro∣ceeded from those, who having seized upon his Bishoprick, and Mona∣steries, had refused to observe the Decrees of his Holiness's Predecessours; whereupon the Pope at that time holding a Council at Rome, did there hear the whole difference between him and Arch-Bishop Bertwald, who had now sent his Deputies thither, together with the accusations against him; so in short, upon a solemn hearing of the whole matter on both sides, and after above Seventy Congregations, in about Four Months time, (in all which the Bishops Innocence did more and more appear,) he was at last absolved by the Pope, and the whole Council; the par∣ticulars of which are too long to relate, only that thereupon the Pope wrote Letters to Ethelred, King of the Mercians, and Alfred, King of Northumberland, reciting Bishop Wilfrid's former appeal to Pope Agatho, and the Decree that had been made in his Favour; as also what had been now done at Rome, and how well the Bishop had acquitted himself of whatsoever had been laid to his Charge; and therefore did not only order them to receive him, but also admonished Arch-Bishop Bertwald to call another Synod, together with Bishop Wilfrid, and there to Summon the Bishops, Bosa and John, to hear what they would say in their own behalf; and if they could make any agreement, with the liking of Bi∣shop Wilfrid, it would be very grateful to him; but if otherwise, they were to exhibit the Reasons of their dissent before the Pope, there to be determined in a more ample Council; and whoever should refuse this, should be subject to be Excomunicated, and deposed from his Bisho∣prick.

The Bishop in his Return home with these Letters, fell so sick by the way, that he was like to dye at Melune in France, where ('tis said) he had a Vision of an Angel appearing to him, which promised him restitution to his See within Four Years; so he at last arrived again in Britain, where applying himself to Arch-Bishop Bertwald, He being frighted with the Pope's Letters, which had been before sent him by Messengers, receiv∣ed Bishop Wilfrid very kindly, and being then reconciled to him, pro∣mised to mitigate that harsh Judgment, given against him in the former Synod.

Then the Bishop delivered his Letters to Ethelred, (who, having at that time resigned his Kingdom, was become a Monk), and so used his Interest with King Cenered, whom he had appointed King in his stead, that he promised to obey the Pope's Decrees; not long after which the Bishop likewise sent an Abbot with a Priest to King Alfred, desiring his leave to return home, and to deliver him the Pope's Letters, and the Decrees which had been made on his behalf; which Messengers thô the King civily received, yet he plainly told them, That he would do them any other Favour, but that it was in vain to trouble him any further in this matter, because whatever the Kings his Predecessours, together with his Councellours, as also the late Arch-Bishop Theodore had already judged, and what he himself, together with the present Arch-Bishop, and all the Bishops of the British Nation had lately Decreed, That he was resolved never to alter for any Letters sent (as they said) from the Apostolick See; so the Messengers returning without any success, the Bishop continued where he was for some Years: but the King it seems repented at last of this harsh Resolution, and would have altered it, as you will hereafter find.

I have been the more exact in this transaction of Bishop Wilfrid's, because it has never been as yet published in English before, and it also gives us a great light into the Affairs of the Church at this time; and lets us know that the Kings of Northumberland did not then think them∣selves bound to observe the Pope's Decrees, thô made upon Appeals to Rome, if they were contrary to a General Synod, or Council of the whole Nation.* 1.217

About this time (thô it be not mentioned in Bede, nor in the Saxon Chronicle) Ina, King of the West-Saxons, summoned a great Council or Synod of all the Bishops, with the Great and Wise Men of his King∣dom; which, because it is the first Authentick great Council, whose Laws are come to us entire, I shall set down the Title of it as it is re∣cited in the First Volume of Sir H. Spelman's British Councils; it be∣gins thus; Ina by the Grace of God, King of the West-Saxons, by the Council and Advice of Cenred, my Father, and Hedde and Erkenwald my Bishops; with all my Ealdermen, and sage Ancients of my People, as also in an Assembly of the Servants of God, have Religiously endeavoured, both for the health of our Soul, and the common preservation of our Kingdom, that right Laws and true Judgments be Founded, and ••stablished, throughout our whole Dominions, and that it shall not be Lawful for the time to come, for any Ealderman, or other Subject whatever, to transgress these our Constitutions.

I have also given you an Extract of the chief of those Laws, as far as they relate to any thing remarkable, either in Church or State; re∣ferring you for the rest to the Laws themselves.

1. If a Servant do any Work on a Sunday, by Command of his Master, he shall be free, and the Master shall be amerced Thirty Shillings; but if he went about the Work without his Master's privity, he shall be beaten, or redeem the penalty; but a Freeman, if he work on that Day, without the Command of his Master, shall loose his Freedom, or pay 60 Sihillings; if he be a Priest, his penalty shall be double.

2. The portion or dues of the Church shall be brought in by the Feast of St. Martyn, he that payeth them not by that time, shall be amerced Forty Shillings, and besides pay twelve times their value.

3. If any guilty of a capital Crime shall take refuge in a Church, he shall save his Life, and yet make recompence according to Justice and Equity; if one deserving Stripes run to a Church, the Stripes shall be forgiven him.

4. If any one Fight within the King's House, or Palace, he shall forfeit all his Goods, and it shall be at the pleasure of the King, whether he shall have his Life or not; he that Fights in a Church, shall pay 120 s. in the House of an Alderman, or other sage Nobleman, 60 s. whosoever shall Fight in a Villager's House paying Scot, shall be punished 30 s. and shall give the Villager 6 s. and if any one Fight in the open Field, he shall pay 120 s.

5. He that on his own private account shall revenge an injury done to him, before he hath demanded publick Justice, shall restore what he took away, and be∣sides forfeit 30 Shillings.

6. If a Robber be taken, he shall lose his Life,* 1.218 or redeem it according to the estimation of his Head; we call Robbers to the Number of Seven or Eight Men; from that number to Thirty Five, a band; all above, an Army.

7. If a Country Boor, having been often accused of Theft, if he be at last taken, he shall have his Hand or Foot cut off.

8. If any one Kill another's Godfather, or God-Son, the satisfaction shall be according to his Quality and Circumstances; let the compensation due to the Re∣lations, and that due to the Lord, for the loss of his Man, be both alike: and let the one encrease, according to the Circumstances of the Person, just as the other doth; but if he were the King's Godson, let him make satisfaction to the King, as well as the Relations; but if his Life was taken away by a Relation, then let the Money due to the Godfather be diminished, as it useth to be, when Money is paid to the Master for the Death of his Servant: If a Bishop's Son be killed, let the penalty be half so much.

From which Laws we may observe that our Saxon Ancestors were strict observers of the Lord's day, and would not permit any servile Work to be done thereon: Secondly, that the superstition of Sanctuaries was very ancient in England, as well as elsewhere: Thirdly, That Theft, Murder, and all sorts of Crimes, were then redeemable by pecuniary Mulcts; either to the King, or to the Friends of the party slain, or wrong'd, or else by loss of Limbs; but there is one Law behind that is very re∣markable.

That if any English Man, who hath lost his Freedom, do afterwards Steal, he shall be hang'd on the Gallows; and no Recompence made to his Lord; if any one Kill such a Man, he shall make no recompence on that account to his Friends, unless they redeem him within a Twelve Month. Where it appears that no English Freeman could then be hang'd for any fault but Treason, (thô that is not express'd in these Laws): but as for the last clause in these Laws, That if the Son of a Bishop be killed, the penalty should be half, where∣by some would prove, that Bishops were then Married, it is a mistake; for by those words are only meant a Bishop's Spiritual Son, or Godson, and not his Natural, or Conjugal Son.

This Year the Kentishmen made a League with King Ina and gave him Thirty Thousand Pounds to obtain his Friendship,* 1.219 because they had before burnt Moll his Brother. Also Withred began to Reign over the Kingdom of Kent, and held it Thirty Three Years. William of Malmesbury makes him to have been Elected King by the General Consent of his Subjects, and that he did not deceive their expectation in governing them well.

The Saxon Chronicle here also proceeds, and gives us his Pedegree, which being not to our purpose, I omit; only, you may take notice, that he was the Son of one Ecbert, and not of the last King that Reigned.

As soon as ever he was made King, he commanded a Great Council to be sum∣moned, at a place called Becanceld (which though it be somewhere in Kent, yet no body certainly knows where it lay, unless it were Beckanham, which lies near Surry;) at which Council Withred Himself was present, as also the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury and the Bishop of Rochester, and with them all the Abbots and Abbesses, together with many Wise and Prudent Men, who were

there assembled,* 1.220 that they might all take Council about the repairing of the Churches in Kent; then the King began to speak thus, I will, That all Churches and Monasteries, which have been given and endow'd for God's Glory, in the Days of the Faithful Kings my Predecessours, shall remain so to God's Honour for ever; Therefore, I Withred being an Earthly King, yet moved by the Heavenly one, have learnt from our Ancestours, that no Lay-man ought to have right to meddle with any Church, or any of those things, that belong to it; Wherefore we do firmly Decree, and appoint, and in the Name of the Omnipotent God, and all his Saints, do straitly forbid all the Kings our Successours, with all Ealdermen, (i. e. Governours or Judges) and other Laymen, to exercise any Lordship or Dominion over those Churches, and their poss••ssions, which either I, or my Pre∣d••cessours, have given for the Honour of Christ, and our Lady St. Mary, and all the Saints: but when it shall happen that a Bishop or any Abbot, or Abbess shall depart this Life, let it be told the Arch-Bishop, that by his command one may be chosen, who is most worthy; Moreover let the Arch-Bishop make good tryal of his Life, who shall be elected to so Holy a Function, neither let any one be Elected, or Consecrated, without the consent of the Arch-Bishop; for as it is the King's duty to appo••nt Ealdermen, Sheriffs, and Judges, so it is the Arch-Bishop's to Govern the Church of God, and to take care of it; as also to appoint and elect Bish••ps, Abbots, and Abbesses, Presbyters, and Deacons, as also to Consecrate, Co••firm and Instruct them by his good Precepts, and Example; least any of God's Flock should wonder out of the way, and perish.

This passage being found in the Cottonian Copy of the Saxon Annals, I thought good to insert, as a Monument of the ancient power of the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury, as Governour of the Church of England, though then under the power of the Pope in Ecclesiastical Matters. These are the chief heads of this famous Council; not do the other Copies in Sir H. Spelman's Collection, differ much from this in the Saxon Annals; only there follows the Subscriptions of King Wythred, and Werburge his Queen, (who Subscribed for her self, and the Prince her Son,) then fol∣low those of the Bishops and Abbots, and after them of Five Abbesses of that Kingdom; which shews them to have been present at this Council; but whether as consenters, or voters, or else as bare witnesses, I shall not determine; but it is observable that their Names are written not only before all the Presbyters? but also before Botred, a Bishop, though of what Diocess is not specified: But to return to Civil affairs.

About this time also, as Bede relates, (though no Historian hath given us the Year) Sebbi, King of the East-Saxons, being fitter for a Bishop than a King, and being at last taken with a great bodily Infirmity, preferred a private Life before a Crown, and took upon him the Habit of a Monk, with the Benediction of Waldhere,* 1.221 then Bishop, and Successour to Erken∣wald in the See of London; so this pious King, after he had bestowed a great Sum of Money in Charity, soon departed this Life, leaving his Sons Sighard and Senfrid to succeed him.

This Year the Southumbers (that is the Mercians) killed Ostrythe the Wife of Ethelred their late King,* 1.222 and the Sister of King Egfrid. H. Huntington calls it a vile Wickedness, but would not, or could not give us the reason why they did so; nor what punishment was inflicted upon them for it.

This Year likewise was held the Council of Berghamsted in Kent, Bert∣wald Arch-Bishop of Canterbury, Gibmund Bishop of Rochester, and all the Ecclesiastical Order of that Kingdom, together with all the Lay or Mili∣tary Men being there assembled, by the Common, and Unanimous Assent

of All,* 1.223 they decreed these Laws should be added to the Laws and Customs of the Kentish Men: the Constitutions of this Council are called in the Saxon Title, the Judgments or Doomes of King Wightred; But thô they relate chiefly to Ecclesiastical Matters, yet I shall here insert some of the chief of them.

The First Law is, That the Church shall be free, and enjoy her own Judg∣ments, Rents, and Pensions; and that Prayer be made for the King, and his Commands obeyed, not of necessity or Compulsion, but out of good will.

Secondly, If any Military Man (called there a Gesithcund-man, in the Saxon Original,) shall, after this Council is ended, despising the King's Law, and the Judicial Sentence of the Bishop's Excomunication, be taken in Adultery, let him pay to his Lord an 100 Shillings.

By which Law it appears, there was at this time Knights Service in England, and also, that slighting of Excomunication had no further Tem∣poral Penalty, than a pecuniary Mulct.

And that it was to the Lord of whom he held his Land, That he was to pay it, appears by the next Law, by which it is appointed, that if the Adulterer were a Country Man, or Villager, (called there Ceorles∣man) he shall pay Fifty Shillings (to his Lord,) yea thô he do Pennance for that Sin.

Thirdly, If on Saturday in the Evening, after the Sun is set; or on Sunday Evening after the same time; a Servant shall, at the Command of his Master, do any work, let his Master redeem the offence with paying Eighty Shillings.

Fourthly, If a Layman kill a Theif, let him lye without any Wiregild, that is, without making any satisfaction to the Friends of the party slain.

This Year also the Picts slew Bert the Ealderman, H. Huntington ascribes this to the Curse of the Irish Nation, whose Churches he had in the late Invasion destroyed; for as King Egfrid Invading the Country of the Picts was there cut off; so entering their Country to revenge the Death of his Master, he was likewise slain.

Mat. Westminster calls this Ealderman, Brithric, Earl of the Northumbers, but from what Authority I know not.

I shall conclude this Century with a very remarkable Transaction out of Bede, that happen'd about the latter end of it. Egbert, an English Priest, living in Ireland, being hindred by a Storm that forced him back from Preaching the Gospel (as he intended) in Germany, he per∣swaded one Wilbrode his Country man to do it; who having obtain'd the Pope's License to Preach to the Heathen Nations, he performed it first by preaching the Gospel in old Frizeland, (which then included not only those Provinces, called East and West Frizeland to this day, but also Holland and Zealand, and divers others of the Belgic Provinces;) where he converted all those Nations to the Christian Faith, and was afterwards, at the desire of Pipin, (father to King Charles,) ordained by the Pope, Arch-Bishop of the Frisons, Anno Dom. 596: and upon his return to Rome; Pipin, being then Major of the Palace, (or General of France,) gave him for his Episcopal See that famous Castle, which is called in the Old

Language of that Nation,* 1.224 Wiltaburg, but in the Gallic Tongue, Trajectum, at this day Utrecht.

But not long after, two Priests, each of them named Henwald, and for distinction Sirnamed from the colour of their Hair,* 1.225 the Black and the White, being by his Example piously affected to the Souls of their Coun∣try-men, the Old Saxons, at their coming into Old Saxony to convert them, met with much worse Entertainment; for being in the House of a Farmer, who had promised to convey them (as they desired) to the Governour of that Country, and being discovered by their daily Cere∣monies to be Christian Priests, and the cause of their coming also known, they were by him and his Heathen Neighbours cruelly butcher'd, and their Bodies flung into the Rhine; but the Governour coming to the know∣ledge of it, being enraged at such Violence offered to two Strangers, sent Armed Men, and slew all those wicked Inhabitants, and burnt their Vil∣lage.

* 1.226About this time Sir H. Spelman, in his first Volume of Councils, records a Charter of Priviledge granted by King Wythred in a General Council or Synod of Kent; whereby, with the Consent of the Chief Men of his Kingdom, he freed all the Churches thereof from all Publick Payments or Tributes whatsoever; provided they yielded the King and his Succes∣sours the same Honour and Obedience, as they had done his Predeces∣sours, under whom hitherto they had enjoyed all Justice and Liberty. This was done in the Eighth Year of his Reign, at a Place called Cylling; which seems to be no more than a Confirmation of what had been done 6 Years before in the Council of Becanceld. But to return to our An∣nals.

* 1.227'This Year Cenred began to Reign over the Southumbers, (i. e. the Mer∣cians,) as has been already said.

Hedda, the Bishop, departed this Life; he held the Bishoprick of Win∣chester 27 Years.* 1.228

This Hedda is he, of whom Bede gives the Character of an Excellent Bishop, and one who Adorn'd the Episcopal See, converting more by his Example, than Preaching.

* 1.229

Ethelred, the Son of Penda, King of the Mercians, became a Monk, (at Bardeney Abbey,) having reigned 29 (or rather 30) Years, and Cenred succeeded him, (who was his Cousin-German.)

William of Malmesbury further adds, That from a Monk he came to be Abbot of that Monastery, wherein he died; and that of Osgilde, the Sister of Egfrid King of Northumberland, he begat a Son, called Ceolred; yet for all this, Ethelred passing him by, he appointed Cenred, the Son of his Brother Wulfher, for his Successour; who reigned with great Love to his Country, and a singular Probity of Manners, till, in the Fifth Year of his Reign,* 1.230 he went to Rome, and, (as Bede tells us) taking upon him the Habit of a Monk, during the Papacy of Pope Constantine, there ended his Days in Prayers, Fasting, and Alms.

* 1.231

Ealfert, or Alfred, King of the Northumbers, deceased on the 19^o Kal. Jan. at Driffeild, (in the 12th Year of his Reign,) Osred, his Son, suc∣ceeding in that Kingdom.

But Stephen Heddi, in his Life of Bishop Wilfrid, (and who lived at that time,) hath given us a more accurate Account of the Death of this King, and of his Successours, viz. That King Alfred lying now sick upon his Death-bed, repented of what he had done toward Bishop Wilfrid,

and promised, That if ever he recovered of that Sickness,* 1.232 he would re∣store the Bishop, and in all Things observe the Decree of the Apostolick See; but if he died, he enjoyn'd, who ever should succeed him, to be reconciled with that Bishop for the good of both their Souls; but this King dying, one Eardwulf succeeded him, thô but for a small time; and the Bishop going to him, and carrying that King's Son along with him, he sent Messengers before, supposing him to be his Friend; but the King being perswaded by his Councellors, and also prompted by his own na∣tural Wickedness, sent the Bishop word, (binding it with an Oath.) That unless he departed his Kingdom within the space of six Days, whosoever he found of his Company should be put to Death; Not long after which harsh Message, a Plot being laid against him, he was driven out of the King∣dom, which he had scarce enjoyed two Months, and so the Royal Youth Osred, Son of the late King Alfred, succeeded in the Kingdom, and became Bishop Wilfrid's adopted Son.

In the first Year of which King, the Author above-mentioned hath given us the following Account, concerning the Restitution of the said Bishop, viz. That Berthwald, Arch-Bishop of Canterbury, came about this time from the South, together with all the Bishops, Abbots, and Chief Men of the whole Kingdom, by the Precept of the Apostolical See, to hold a Synod at a Place lying on the East-side of the River Nid, in Northumberland; where the King, with his Bishops and Chief Men being met, the Arch-Bishop made a Speech to them, setting forth the Letters from the Pope, which Bishop Wilfrid had brought directed to himself, and which he desired might be read; the Purport whereof was to the same effect, as you have already heard: Then Aelfleda the Abbess, Daughter to the late King, as also Berechtfrid, the second Man in the Kingdom, set forth the Will of the late King, and therefore that it was fit to obey it, as well as the Com∣mands of the Apostolical See; whereupon the King, with his Great Men and all the Bishops, upon mature Deliberation, resolved to be reconciled to Bishop Wilfrid, and that his two Monasteries of Rypon and Hagulstad, together with all their Revenues, should be restored to him; and so a firm Reconciliation being made, all the Bishops departed in Peace.

But yet for all this, by what Richard Prior of Hagulstad hath left us of this matter, it appears,* 1.233 that Wilfrid did not carry the Cause so clearly as this Author would make it; for he only was restored to the Bishoprick of Hagulstad, and Bishop John above-named was from thence translated to York, which Bishop Wilfrid had held before;* 1.234 only Bishop John parted with Hagulstad for Peace-sake. I have been the more exact in this Trans∣action, because it has never been done by any body in our Language be∣fore.

Also it is to this Year we are to refer the great Council,* 1.235 which Bede tells us was held in the Kingdom of the West Saxons; in which, after the Death of Bishop Hedda, the Bishoprick of that Province became divided into two; one whereof was conferred on Daniel, who held it at the time when Bede wrote his History; and the other was bestowed upon Aldhelm above-mentioned, then Abbot of Malmesbury, who was now made Bishop of Shireburn, and when he was only an Abbot, did, at the Command of a Synod of the whole Nation, write an excellent Book against that Errour of the Britains, in not keeping Easter at the due time; whereby he converted many of those Britains which were then subject to the West Saxons, to the Catholick Observation thereof: Of

whose other Works likewise,* 1.236 Bede gives us there a Catalogue; being a Person (says he) admirable in all Civil, as well as Ecclesiastical and Divine Learning; and, as William of Malmesbury further informs us, was the first of the English Saxons who wrote Latin Verses with a Roman Genius.

There is here in the Saxon Annals a Gap for the space of 3 Years, in which I think we may (according to H. Huntington's Account) place what Bede relates in the Chapter and Book last cited, viz. That Daniel and Aldhelm yet holding their Sees, it was ordained by a Synodal Decree, That the Province of the South Saxons, which had hitherto belonged to the Diocess of Winchester, should now be an Episcopal See, and have a Bishop of its own; and so Ceadbert, who was then Abbot of the Mona∣stery of Selsey, was consecrated first Bishop of that Place; who dying, Ceolla succeeded in that Bishoprick; but he likewise dying some Years before Bede wrote his History, that Bishoprick then ceased.

* 1.237

This Year the Saxon Annals began with the Death of Bishop Aldhelm, (whom it calls Bishop of Westwude, for so Shireburne was then called,) after whom one Forther took the Bishoprick, and this year Ceolred suc∣ceeded in the Kingdom of the Mercians; for now Kenred (King of the West Saxons) went to Rome, and Offa, with him and Kenred, remained there to his Live's end; and the same year Bishop Wilferth (or Wilfred) deceased at Undale; his Body was brought to Rypon in Yorkshire.

This is the Bishop whom King Egferth long since forced to go to Rome.

There being divers Things put very close together under this Year, they will need some Explanation. This Offa, here mentioned, was (as * 1.238 Bede and William of Malmesbury relate) the Son of Sigher, King of the East Saxons; who, being a young Man of a sweet Behaviour, as well as handsom Face, in the Flower of his Youth, and highly beloved by his People, and having not long before succeeded to the Kingdom, (after Sighard and Senfrid above-mentioned,) he courted Keneswith, the Daugh∣ter of King Penda, whom he desired to marry; but it seems, not long after their Marriage, she over-perswaded him to embrace a Monastick Life, so that he now went to Rome for that End. And Bede tells us ex∣presly, that both these Kings left their Wives, Relations, and Countries, for Christ's sake. But to this Offa succeeded Selred, the Son of Sigebert the Good, in the Kingdom of the East Saxons. H. Huntington proposes King Offa as a Pattern to all other Princes to follow, and makes a long Exhortation to them to that purpose; as if a King could not do GOD better Service, nor more Good to Mankind by well-governing his People, than by renouncing the World, and hiding his Head in a Cell: But such was the Fashion, or rather Humour, of that Age; and the Affairs, as well as Consciences of Princes, being then altogether Govern'd by Monks, it is no wonder if they extoll'd their own Profession, as the only One where∣in Salvation could certainly be obtained.

But since I have already given you from Bede and Stephen Heddi a large Account of Bishop Wilfred's Life and Actions above-mentioned, I shall not need to add any more to it. He was certainly a Man who had tried all the Vicissitudes of an adverse, as well as a prosperous Fortune, having been no less than three times deprived of his Bishoprick; the first time unjustly, but whether we may say the same of both the other, seems doubtful; for let his Friends say what they will, it is evident, he was at first deprived for opposing a very good Design, viz. That of dividing

the Northumbrian Kingdom into more Diocesses,* 1.239 and he having the rich Monastery of Hagulstad under his Charge, would not permit it to be made a Bishoprick, thô the Diocess was more than he could well manage; and this seems to have been the true Original of that great Quarrel be∣tween him and the two Kings Egfr••d and Alfred, as you have already heard; so it should seem, the Wrong pretended to have been done him was none at all, or else such holy Men as St.Cuthbert, St. John of Beverlie, and Eatta, are described to be, would never have accepted of the Bi∣shopricks of York and Hagulstad during the time of his Deprivation; and it is very strange, that two Arch-Bishops successively, with the greater part of the Bishops of England, should have agreed to his De∣privation, if there had not been great Cause for it; nor would so holy and knowing a Woman as the Abbess Hilda, have been so much against him, had not there been some substantial Reason to justifie it; but he had the Pope on his side, who always encouraged Appeals to Rome, and then it was no wonder if he prevailed; but he was certainly a Prelate of a high Spirit, and great Parts, and who building a great many Mo∣nasteries by the Benevolence of the Kings and Princes of that Time; and himself, (thô a Bishop,) being Abbot of two of them at once; it was no wonder if he grew very rich, which, together with his high way of Li∣ving, (being the first Bishop of that Age who used Silver Vessels,) it procured him the Envy of those Princes; but he was a grand Patron of the Monks, and therefore it is not to be wondred at if they cried him up for a Saint, of whom the Writer of his Life, (which he Dedicates to Acca his Successour,) relates too many Miracles to be believed, (raising the Dead, cuting the Lame, being very ordinary Feats,) but the Monks being the only Writers of that Age, we must be contented with what Accounts they will give us, thô thus much must be acknowledged in his Commendation, That he converted great Multitudes to the Christian Faith, and caused the Four Gospels to be written in Letters of Gold.

But having given you this Account of Bishop Wilfred's Life, it is fit I say somewhat further of his Death, concerning which,* 1.240 the Author above-mentioned tells us, That having lived 4 Years in Peace after his last Restitution, he at last went to visit the Monasteries which he had founded in the South Parts of England, where he was received by his Abbots (whom he had put in) with great Joy; till coming to a Mona∣stery which he had founded at Oundale in Northamptonshire, being there seized with the same Sickness which had often attacked him before, (thô what it was, this Author does not tell us,) he there died, having before made his Will, and given a great deal, both in ready Money and Jewels, to the Monasteries he had founded: His Body was carried with great Pomp and Attendance of many Abbots and Monks to his Abbey of Ry∣pon, and there buried.

This Year Acca (the principal Chaplain of Bishop Wilfred) succeeded him in his Bishoprick of Hagulstad; (To this Bishop,* 1.241 Florence of Worce∣ster gives the Character of a skilful Singer, and Learned in the Scriptures:) Also this Year Beorthfrith the Ealderman fought against the Picts be∣tween Haefe and Caere, (supposed to be Carehouse and Hatfeild in Nor∣thumberland,) and also King Ina, and Nun his Kinsman, fought with Gerent King of the Britains; and the same Year Hygbald was slain.

Mat. Westminster places this Action in Anno 708, and makes this Hyg∣bald to have been killed in the beginning of the Fight by the Welsh King

above mentioned;* 1.242 and He being there put to flight, left great spoils behind him to the English; who (as Florence adds,) obtained the Victory.

This British Prince here mentioned, is supposed to have been King of Cornwall; for we can find no such name in the Catalogue of the Princes of North, or South-Wales.

About this time, according to Bede, Naitan King of the Picts being convinced by the frequent reading of divers Ecclesiastical Writers,* 1.243 re∣nounced his Error, concerning the Celebration of Easter; and that he might likewise reclaim his Subjects with greater Authority, he desired the assistance of the English Nation, and therefore sent Messengers to Ceolfrid, Abbot of the Monastery of Wyremouth, desiring some Exhortatory Letters from him, whereby he might confute those who presumed not to keep Easter at the due time; as also concerning the true manner of shaving of Priest's Crowns; he likewise desired some Architects, that might build a Church for him after the Roman fashion, which he pro∣mised to Dedicate in honour of St. Peter.

To which Pious requests Ceolfrid assenting, did not only send him the Architect he desired, but also writ him a long Epistle upon those two Questions in which he desired to be satisfied, which you may see at large in Bede; where, besides many notable Arguments for keeping Easter on the first Sunday after the first Full Moon that follows the Vernal Equinox, and besides some others, there is this doughty Reason a∣gainst the Scotch way of shaving Crowns, that it was the Tonsure of Simon Magus; and then what good Christian could not but abhor it as much as Magick it self!

"This Year Guthlac dyed, as also Pipin King of France; this Guthlac here mentioned, was at first a Monk at Repandun Abbey, but afterwards professing himself an Anchorite, he retired into the Fens, and built himself a Cell, at Croyland: of him the Monkish Writers of those times relate in∣credible Miracles, of his Temptations, Sufferings by, and Victories over, Evil Spirits, which then haunted that place, at which some Years after the Abbey of Croyland was founded.

The same Year also Egwin, Bishop of Worcester, founded the Abbey of Evesham upon this occasion; the Virgin Mary (as the Monks relate) had appeared about this place to one Eoves a Shepheard, and not long after to the Bishop himself, having a Book in her hand, bringing two Female Attendants with her, (though who they were it seems she did not declare;) whereupon the Bishop there founded this Monastery, testifying this Vi∣sion in the Charter of the Foundation, which you may see at large in Monast. Anglic. as also in Sir H. Spelman's first Volume of Councils; but as for the Story related by the Magdeburg Centuriators, that the Virgin Mary did then Command her Image to be set up, and worshiped in that Church, there being no colour for it in the pretended Charter of the Bishop himself, that must be certainly forged; for as Sir H. Spelman has very well observed, Arch-Bishop Brightwald is said to have writ this Charter by the command of the Pope; whereas this Arch-Bishop was never at Rome, nor was the Council in which it is said to have been con∣firmed, held, till after Bishop Egwin's Return home into England; and as for the Kings, Kenred, and Offa, who are made to witness and confirm it, they had both of them resigned their Crowns, and gone to Rome Five Years before the date of this Charter, which is Anno Dom. 714; there∣fore I shall pass it by as a mere Fable, since it is certain that the wor∣ship

of Images was not then,* 1.244 not long after introduced into the English-Saxon Church.

But before I dismiss this Subject concerning the foundation of the Abby of Evesham, I cannot forbear taking notice of another Charter pretended to be made Anno Dom. 709; by King Kenred, and King Offa above men∣tioned, wherein they grant those Lands, in which the Virgin Mary was supposed to appear to Bishop Egwin, for the building of a Monastery ac∣cording to the Rule of St. Benedict; in which Charter, thô the Lands are particularly named and set out, yet it is as justly suspicious as the other, to have been forged by the Monks of that Abby in after times; as Sir H. Spelman very well observes,* 1.245 who hath Printed both these Char∣ters in his first Volume of Councils; the former of which is dated at Rome, Five Years before the other of Bishop Egwin's, and is supposed to be subscribed by the Pope, this Bishop himself, and the two Kings; who there stile themselves, the former by the Title of King of Mercia, and the latter by that of King of the East-Angles; whereas it is apparent both from our Annals and Historians, that they had both then resigned their Kingdoms to their Successours, before they went to Rome; and, which is worse, Offa was not King of the East-Angles, but of the East-Saxons, as Bede expresly relates; nor can the fault be laid upon the Transcribers, since the Error is in the Original Charter it self; neither do we read of any King of the East-Angles all that time, till King Offa, upon the Murther of King Ethelbert, seized that Kingdom; but enough, if not too much, of these Monkish Forgeries: we shall now return to our Annals.

King Ina and Ceolred fought at Wodensburh in Wiltshire a great and bloody Battle; and now also Dagobert King of the French deceased.* 1.246

This Year was founded at Theoewkesbury in Glocester-shire,* 1.247 a noble Monastery, for Bendictine Monks, by Odo and Dodo, Ealdermen of Mercia.

The same Year Osred King of Northumberland was killed near the Southern borders;* 1.248 Mat. Westminster relates it was in a Fight near the Sea, but names not the Enemy with whom he fought. This Osred held the Kingdom Eleven Years, then Cenred took it, and held it Two Years, and after him Osric, who held it Eleven Years. The same Year also Ceolred, King of the Mercians Dyed, and lyeth Buried in Licetfield (now Lichfield): Then Ethelbald succeeded him in the Kingdom of Mercia, and held it Forty One Years.

Of this King Osred above mentioned, Will. of Malmesbury gives a very bad Character, that he stained his Reign by Debauching the Chastity of the Profess'd Nuns, and that he was at last Slain by the Treachery of his Relations, who also brought the same fate upon themselves.

But this King Ethelbald above mentioned, was the Son of Alwer, and he of Eoppa, (whose pedegree is already set down.) Also this Year Eg∣bert, that venerable person, converted the Monks of Hii to the right Faith, so that they afterwards observed Easter Orthodoxly, as also the Ecclesiastical Tonsure, the relation of which, Bede hath given us at large; being in short, that Egbert the Priest (above mentioned) coming out of Ireland on purpose to convert those Monks, they were so moved by his Pious Exhortations, that leaving the Traditions of their Fore-fathers, they afterwards observed the Catholic (i. e. Roman) Rites; Egbert, after he had lived with these Monks in this Island for Thirteen Years, dyed there.

* 1.249

This Year Ingild the Brother of King Ina deceased, whose Sisters were Werburgh, and Cuthburgh; the latter of whom Built the Mona∣stery of Winburne: She was once Married to Eadbert, King of Nor∣thumberland, but whil'st he lived, they were made to renounce each other's Bed.

In this Year also (as Ingulphus in his History of the Monastery of Croy∣land relates) that Abby was founded by Ethelbald, King of the Mercians, in honour of St. Guthlac, the Anchorite, then lately deceased, it was for Benedictines: You may see this King's Charter in the aforesaid Authour, whereby he granted to this Monastery, the whole Isle of Croyland, then containing Four Leagues in length, and Three in breadth, with all the Marshes adjoyning, there particularly mentioned.

About this time, according to the Welsh Chronicle, Roderic (or Rodri) the Son of Edwal Ywrich,* 1.250 began to Reign over the Britains in Wales.

This Year Daniel Bishop (of Winchester) went to Rome; and the same Year Ina slew Cinewoulf Athcling,* 1.251 (that is, Prince of the Blood Royal;) and the same Year St. John, Bishop of Hagulstad, deceased, who was Bishop Thirty Three Years and Eight Months, whose Body was buried at Beverlie.

This was he, who being first Bishop of Hagulstad, and then of York, was after his Death Canonised by the Name of St. John of Beverlie; to whose shrine many Pilgrimages were made, and of whom the Monkish Legends relate many incredible Miracles, nor is Bede himself wanting in his Stories of this Bishop, which notwithstanding, I think, are better omitted: But Bede under this Year gives us this account of him, that when he was not able, by reason of his Age, to perform his Episcopal Functions, having ordained Wilfred his Presbyter, Bishop of York in his room, he retired to his Monastery in the Forrest of Deira, where he finished his Life in a Heavenly Conversation.

* 1.252

This Year Queen Ethelburg destroyed the Castle of Taunton (now Taunton-Dean in Somersetshire) which Ina had before built, and Eadbert was forced to flye into Surry, to the South-Saxons, where Ina also fought with them.

H. Huntington tells us, That the reason why Queen Ethel∣burgh destroyed this Castle, was, because Eadbert, a Rebellious Prince of the Blood Royal, had taken it; and made it the seat of this Rebellious War.

It being now (according to Bede) the Seventh Year of the Reign of Osric King of Northumberland,* 1.253 King Wythred dyed, who was Son of Egbert King of Kent, after having reigned Thirty Four Years and an half; He left Three Sons, Ethelbert, Eadbert, and Aldric his Heirs: Will. Mal∣mesbury gives him this Character, that he was gentle at home, invin∣cible in War, and who strictly observed the Christian Religion; but ac∣cording to our Annals, Eadbert his Son succeeded alone to him in the Kingdom: This Year also (according to our Annals)

Ina fought a∣gain with the South-Saxons, and there slew Eadbert Aetheling, whom he had before banished.

H. Huntington farther informs us, That King Ina pursued Eadbert into Southsex; and a nameless Authour adds, That he then slew Aldwin, King of the South-Saxons, (who took his part) and Conquered that Coun∣trey.

Also the same Year, King Ina new built the Ancient Monastery of Glastenbury, endowing it with divers Lands, and also granted it an Ex∣emption

from all Episcopal Jurisdiction, with divers other priviledges, as you may find in his Charter, confirmed by a great Council of the whole West-Saxon Kingdom; the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury, and Baldred, King of Kent, with divers other Bishops and Great Men being present, and subscribing to it in the presence of all the Lay-people.

This Charter is in the Manuscript, in the Library of Trinity Coll. in Cambridge; and is also Printed by Sir H. Spelman in his First Volume of British Councils: It was also sent to Rome, and there confirmed by the Pope, as the Book of Glastenbury relates.

About this time (as Ranulph of Chichester in Polychronichon relates) that Ina, King of the West-Saxons, first confered upon St. Peter (that is the Bishop of Rome) a Penny from every House in his Kingdom, which was called by the English-Saxons-Romescot; and in Latin Donarius Sancti Petri, i. e. Peterpence,) which is also allowed by Polydore Virgil in his History (who was once the Pope's Collector of this Tax in England;) but since I do not find this confirmed by any Ancient Authour or Council, I suspend ••y my belief of it; since I do not look upon the bare Testimony of the Collector of Polychronicon, as of sufficient Authority for a m••tter of this Moment; but if it were ever granted by this King, it is likewise as certain, that it could not be done without the consent of the Mycel-Synod, or great Council of the Kingdom, though that be not now to be found.

This Year, according to Bede, and the Saxon Annals, deceased Tobias, Bishop of Rochester; a most learned Man,* 1.254 for he was bred under the dis∣cipline of Arch-Bishop Theodorus and Abbot Adrian, and was so well skill'd in the Greek and Latin, that they were as perfect and familiar to him as his Mother Tongue;* 1.255 he was buried at Rochester in St. Paul's Porch adjoining to the Church of St. Andrew, after whom Aldwulf was made Bishop of that See, Arch-Bishop Bertwald consecrating him.

King Ina went to Rome, and there dyed;* 1.256 and Ethelheard his Kins∣man succeeded him in the Kingdom of the West-Saxons, and held it Fourteen Years.

William of Malmesbury, and H. Huntington do both give King Ina great Commendations, proposing him as an Example not only of Magnanimity and Justice, by the good Laws he made, but also of Piety and Devotion; in that he was perswaded to quit all Worldly Vanities for a Monastick Life, and that by the frequent Exhortations of the Queen his Wife; who, when she saw nothing would prevail upon him, took this course; which, (thô none of the cleanliest,) I will here give you: Once when the King had made a great Entertainment at one of his Country-houses, as soon as the Company was gone, the Queen ordered the Steward to defile all the Rooms with Cow-dung and other filth, and also put a Sow and Pigs into the Bed, where they had lain the Night before; but when the King and Queen had gone some part of their Journey, she perswaded him to return back again to the same place, otherwise he would run a great hazard; which being done, when the King saw the place, which was yesterday fit to entertain a Prince, now thus spoiled, being much troubled at it, he went to the Queen, and complain'd to her of it; at which she laughing replied;

My Lord and Husband, See what is become of all that Feasting and Magnificence we saw Yesterday, Are they not all gone and past, like Water that runs into the Sea? so of all those Vanities there remains nothing, but this Dung and Filth, that only serves to repre∣sent the Corruption of the Soul by such Excesses; think then Sir,

how soon that Flesh will rot that is now pamper'd,* 1.257 by Luxury; and the greater and more powerful we are, the greater will our Torments be hereafter.

She needed to say no more, for she had now brought over her Husband to her Sentiments, which she had for some Years be∣fore constantly instill'd, thô hitherto in vain; thus after so many warlike Triumphs, being at the highest pitch of Humane Felicity, he went to Rome, where he shewed not the least Pride in his Conversation, but with∣out exposing himself to publick view; being there shorn a Monk, grew old in that mean Habit; nor was his Wife, who had been the Au∣thour of this Resolution, wanting in following the same Example, ac∣companying him thither her self, comforting him, and confirming him in that Course he had undertaken by her own Example; so not living far from each other in Mutual Love, they at last departed this Life, not without doing divers Miracles, if our Author may be credited.

But before we dismiss the History of this ••ing, it is fit we should take notice of a notorious falshood inserted by some Ignorant trifling Monk, among the Laws of King * 1.258 Edward the Confessour, concerning this King Ina's Marrying Guala, the Daughter of Cadwallader, King of the Britains; from which Daughter we are there told, that Coun∣try was called Wallia, which in Ancienter times had the name of Cam∣bria, and that all the English who lived at that time, took their Wives from the British Stock, as they did also from the English; and that this was done by the Advice of a Common Council of the Kingdom, and that in this manner they were made one Nation, and one People, by God's mercy; throughout the whole Kingdom of Britain; which hath given occasion to some fabulous Historians to make this Ina King of Wales, as well as England, though without any ground.

Since none of the Ancient British, or English Chronicles, do ever mention any such thing: For during the Reign of this Ina, Ivour the Son of Alan, Duke of Britain, is Recorded by the Welsh Chronicles to have Reigned in Wales; but the likeness of these two Names, I suppose gave the first occasion to this Fable.

The same Year that Ina went to Rome, the Saxon Annals relate,

That King Ethelhard (his Successour) fought with Oswald, Aetheling, which Oswald was the Son of Aethelbald; and he the Son of Cynebald, Grand∣son to King Ceawlin; who as H. Huntington, and Will. of Malmesbury tell us, Being a Young Prince of the Blood Royal and raising a Rebellion against him in the beginning of his Reign, endeavoured to obtain the Kingdom for himself; but being worsted was forced to Flee.

* 1.259This Year appeared a Comet, and that Holy Man Ecgbert dyed at Hye.

This Ecgbert, was the person above mentioned, who brought over the Monks of that Monastery, to keep Easter after the Roman man∣ner.

* 1.260"This Year Oswald Aetheling, dyed, (as it is supposed in Banish∣ment.)

This Year Osric King of Northumberland was slain, and Ceolwulf suc∣ceeded him, and held it Eight Years; who was the Son of Cutha, and he the Son of Cuthwin:* 1.261 where follows his Pedigree as far as Eoppa.

This Year (Bede also tells us,) Bertwald the Arch-Bishop Deceased; being worn out with Age, and Infirmities, having held that See Thirty Seven Years and Six Months; in whose room Tatwin was made Arch-Bishop,

who had been a Priest in the Monastery of Berodune,* 1.262 in the Kingdom of the Mercians: he was consecrated at Canterbury by Daniel, Bishop of Winchester. Inguald Bishop of London, Aldwin, Bishop of Leich∣field, and Aldulf Bishop of Rochester; he was a Man famous for Religion and Prudence, and very well skill'd in the Scriptures: he sate Arch-Bishop till Bede's Death, and lived but Three Years after; here also follow in Bede, the Names of the rest of the Bishops, that were his Contemporaries, which is unnecessary here to be inserted.

But as for the state of Civil Affairs, when Bede finished his History, he gives us this brief Account, viz.

That Ceolwulf (who was then King of Northumberland,) had been in the beginning of his Reign per∣plexed with great Troubles, the end of which Bede could not then foresee; the Nation of the Picts at this time kept their league, with the English Nation, and rejoyced to be partakers of the Catholick Peace and Truth with the Universal Church:

This he speaks because Natan King of the Picts, had been but a little before brought over to imbrace the Romish observation of Easter, and to their manner of shaving Priest's Crowns.

Also the Scots, who Inhabit Britain, being kept in within their own limits, did practise no Treachery against the English Nation; as, to the Britains, thô the greatest part, from a natural hatred to the English Nation, did oppose the Catholick observation of Easter, yet the Di∣vine Power, as well as Human Force, being against them, they could not obtain their desires; for though they were partly at their own disposal, yet were they in great measure subject to the English; in this Peaceable and quiet time, the most part of the Northumbrian Nation, as well Nobles as Private Persons, chose rather to make themselves and their Children Monks, than to Educate them in a Mili∣tary Life; which (says he) What end it will have, the next Age will shew.

And so indeed it did, not long after Bede's Death, for when the best Men thus retired into Monasteries, none but the worser, or meaner sort being left, they soon fell into horrid Rebellions and Civil Wars; one King driving out, and Murdering another, leaving the People an easie Prey to the Danes, who in the next Generation Invaded them: This (as Bede relates) was the Present State of Britain, in his Time, about 285 Years after the Arrival of the English Saxons.

We being now bereft of the assistance of so good an Authour, must for the future wholly rely upon the Saxon Annals, together with the o∣ther Monkish Writers; thô indeed for near the space of above Thirty Years last past, Bede growing more intent upon Ecclesiastical than Civil Affairs, (being all most wholly taken up with the reciteing of Visions and Miracles,) and mentioning other things only by the bye, hath given us so slender an account of those times, that if we had not found some assistance from the Saxon Annals, (as well as from other Writers,) the History of that Age, though very short and obscure, would yet have been much more imperfect without them.

But to proceed now with our Saxon Annals.

This Year K. Ethelbald took Sumerton; and Acca was driven from his Bishoprick of Hagulstad, (I suppose by the then King of Northum∣berland, though no Author expresly mentions it.)

Will. of Malmesbury tells us, that this Ethelbald was that great and powerful King of the Mercians

to whom Boniface,* 1.263 Bishop of Mentz, (being then the Pope's Legat,) writ a sharp Letter, setting forth, and reproving, the then reigning Vices of this Nation, and particularly of that King himself; who, relying on the vain Confidence of his Justice and Alms, was not ashamed (no more than the Noblemen of his Kingdom, by his Example,) to commit Un∣cleanness even with Consecrated Nuns, which wicked Actions the Bishop foretells would be the ruin of himself and Kingdom, as it proved in the end.

But King Ethelbald, after he had thus taken Somerton, with an Army too powerful to be resisted by the K. of the West Saxons, became to great, that (as H. Huntington observes,) he made all the rest of the Provinces of England, together with their Kings, subject to him, as far as the River Humber: This Somerton was anciently a great Town and Castle of the West-Saxon Kings, and gave Name to that County, which we now call Somersetshire, though at present it be but an ordinary Country Village. Also this Year the Sun was so much eclipsed, that (as the Epitome of Bede and Ethel∣ward relate,) on 13^o Kal. Sept. its whole Orb seem'd as it were covered with a black Sheild.

* 1.264This Year also the Moon appear'd as it were stain'd with Blood, and Simeon of Durham saith it lasted one whole hour, and then a Blackness following, it return'd to its natural Colour.

Also Tatwin the Archbishop deceased; and Egbryht was made Bishop of York: Now Bede also died.

But the Author of his Life (in Manuscript in the Cottonian Library) refers it to the Year following; and the Chronicle of Mailros, with greater Truth, to the Year 736; for he was (as his Life above-cited relates,) born Anno 677, and deceased in the 59th Year of his Age.

But since Bede our Historian deceased about this time; and that it is to him we are beholding for the greatest part of the History of this present Pe∣riod, it is fit we give you a short account of his Life; He was born in the Province of Northumberland, not far from the Monastery of Gyrwie (the place is now called Yarrow,) near the Mouth of the River Were, where he was bred up from seven Years of Age, and in which, being profess'd, he lived a Monk all the rest of his Life, spending his time in the Study of the Scriptures, saying his Prayers, or Writing Comments upon the Old and New Testaments, as also his Ecclesiastical History, (so often cited by us,) besides divers other Books, containing the Lives of Saints, and other Matters, of Humane, as well as Divine Learning; whose Titles you may find at the end of his said History: 'Till at last, being wasted by a long Asthma, he there made an Heavenly End, as may be seen in his Life above-mentioned: So that Simeon of Durham very well observes, that though he lay, as it were, hid in the utmost Corner of the World, yet, after his Death, he became known in all Parts by his Learned Writings; therefore he hath, for his great Piety, as well as Learning, justly obtained the Title of Venerable Bede: After whose decease, (as Will. of Malmesbury rightly observes,) all knowledge of Actions passed was almost lost even to his own Times, since none proved an Emulator of his Studies, nor a Follower of his Learning; so that to a slothful Generation, one more slothful still succeeding, the Love of Learning for a long time grew cold in this whole Island.

* 1.265'This Year Bishop Egbriht received the Pall from Rome; but you must here observe, that by the Pope's thus sending a Pall to the Bishop of York, he now became an Archbishop, and consequently Metropolitan of all the

Northumbrian Provinces, that See having been,* 1.266 ever since the Time of Paulinus's Flight out of Northumberland into Kent, and carrying the Archi∣episcopal Pall along with him, no more than an ordinary Bishoprick, sub∣ject to the Archbishop of Canterbury, from whose Power it was from this time exempted, and came now to have Supreme Jurisdiction over all the Bishops in Deira and Bernicia, as far as the Pictish Kingdom.

'The Arch-bishop Nothelm received his Pall from Rome:] This was the new Archbishop of Canterbury, who succeeded Tatwine.* 1.267

You may take notice, that it was in those Times usual for the Pope to send a Pall to every new Archbishop upon his Consecration, to shew his Dependance upon the See of Rome, and for which every Archbishop paid a great Sum of Money to the Pope's Treasury.

This Nothelm, when he was a Presbyter of the Church of London, was he, to whom Bede, in the Epistle before his History, owns himself be∣holding for divers ancient Monuments relating to the English Church, as also Epistles out of the Pope's Repository.

This Year Forthere Bishop of Scireburn,* 1.268 with Frithogithe Queen of the West-Saxons, went to Rome.

Where (as H. Huntington tells us,) they both took upon them the Monastick Habit; which, in those days, very many of the English Nation, of all Degrees and Qualities; as well high as low, were wont to do. For now also (as our Annals relate,)

Ceolwulf, King of Northumberland, surrendred his Kingdom to Eadbert his Cousin, who reigned Thirty one Years:

(This Ceolwulf was he to whom Bede dedicated his History; who, after his professing himself a Monk in the Monastery of Lindisfarne, (as R. Hoveden relates) brought the Monks of that place from the strict discipline of drinking only Milk or Water, to drink Wine, and Ale, and they might very well afford it, for he brought along with him good provisions to live easily, as great Treasures and Revenues in Land (recited at large by Simeon of Durham) all which he bestowed on that Monastery; no wonder then if such great Commendations be given by Monkish Writers to Kings becoming Monks.

The same Year also, (as Simeon of Durham, and Mat. of Westminster relates) Alwin Bishop of Lichfield dying, there were two Bishops ordain∣ed in that Diocess, viz. Wicca at Lichfield, and Tocca, the first Bishop of Leycester, which Town from this time continued a Bishop's See, for divers Ages: Also this Year (according to the Saxon Annals)

the Bi∣shops Ethelwald, and Acca deceased, and Cynwulf was consecrated Bi∣shop; and the same Year Ethelbald King of the Mercians wasted the Contry of Northumberland.

(And as H. Huntington adds,) carried a∣way as much Spoil as he had a mind to from thence: Also (as Simeon of Durham relates) Swebriht King of the East-Saxons died this Year.

Eadbriht (or Egbert) the Son of Eatta,* 1.269 who was the Son of Leodwald began to Reign in the Kingdom of the Northumbers, and held it One and Twenty Years; Egbert Arch-Bishop of York was his Brother, who were both buried in the City of York, in the same Church-Porch.

But it there is an over-sight in these Annals, for this Eadbriht above mentioned, must be the same with Eadbriht, under the former Year.

This Year also, (according to Simeon of Durham) Swebright King of the East-Saxons died.

* 1.270Ceolwulf, late King of Northumberland, died this Year (according to Mat. Westminster) in the Monastery of Lindisfarne: Also (as Simeon of Durham relates) Nothelm, Arch-Bishop of Canterbury, deceased; but the Saxon Annals defer his Death two Years longer.

* 1.271This Year Acca, Bishop of Hagulstad, deceased, who, as the same Author relates, was had in great Reverence, not only during his Life, but also after his Decease, for his great Sanctity and supposed Mi∣racles.

* 1.272

King Ethelred deceased, and Cuthred his Cousin succeeded in the King∣dom of the West Saxons, and held it 16 Years.]

This King made sharp War against Ethelbald King of the Mercians, and that with various Suc∣cess, (as H. Huntington tells us,) sometimes making Peace, and then again renewing the War.

This Year also Nothelm the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury deceased, and Cuthbriht was Consecrated in his stead, as was also Dun Bishop of Rochester, (after the Death of Eadulph.) 'This Year also the City of York was burnt, together with the Monastery, (as Simeon has it.)

* 1.273Now was held the great Synod at Cloveshoe, where were present Ethel∣bald King of the Mercians, and Cuthbert the Arch-Bishop, with many other wise Men.

Where this Cloveshoe was, is now very uncertain, since the Name is wholly lost; some suppose it to have been Cliffe in Kent, near Gravesend; but it is not likely that Ethelbald, being now the chief King of England, would permit this Council to have been held out of his own Domi∣nions; so that * 1.274 others suppose it to have been Abingdon in Berk∣shire, which was anciently called Secvesham, where (as the old Book of that Abbey tells us) was anciently a Royal Seat of the Kings, and where there used to be great Assemblies of the People concerning the arduous Affairs of the Mercian Kingdom.

But thô we are more certain of the Decrees of this Council, than of the Place, where it was held; yet since it was a meer Ecclesiastical Sy∣nod, and no great Council of that Kingdom, and that its Decrees were chiefly made in Confirmation of the Charter of King Withred concerning free Elections to Monasteries in Kent, according to the Directions of the Archbishop of Canterbury, I shall refer you to the Canons themselves, as they are to be found in the Decem Scriptores, and * 1.275 Sir H. Spelman's British Councils; and shall only take notice of this one, that now Bishops were first ordered to visit their Diocesses once a Year.

* 1.276

This Year Ethelbald King of the Mercians, and Cuthred King of the West Saxons, fought against the Britains.]

H. Huntington tell us, That these two Kings now joyning their Forces brought two great Armies into the Field against the Welsh-men, who not being able to defend themselves, were forced to flie, leaving great Spoils behind them; so both the Kings returned home Victorious.

* 1.277According to Florence of Worcester. Wilfred, the second Bishop of York of that Name, died, after he had fate 30 Years. Also this Year, accor∣ding to the Annals,

Daniel resigned the Bishoprick of Winchester, being worn out by Age, and Hunferth succeeded him; and they say, the Stars seemed to fall from Heaven.

But Simeon of Durham calls them, (with more probability,) such Lightnings as those of that Age had never before seen.

About this time also, (according to Simeon,) there happened a great Fight between the Picts and the Britains, I suppose he means those of Cam∣berland, for no other Britains lay near the Picts.

This year Bishop Daniel (above-mentioned) deceased,* 1.278 after he had been 43 years Bishop.

'This year Selred (King of the East-Saxons) was slain;] But by whom, or which way, is not here said.* 1.279 This Selred was Sirnamed The Good, and reigned 38 years.

Switheard, King of the East-Angles, dying, Elfwold succeeded him,* 1.280 as the Chronicle of Mailros relates.

This Year also was held the second Council at Cloveshoe, under Cuth∣bert Arch-Bishop of Canterbury, there being present, (beside the Bishops, Abbots, and many Ecclesiasticks,) Ethelbald, King of the Mercians, with his chief Men and Ealdermen: In which, besides many Decrees concer∣ning the Unity of the Church, and for promoting Peace, (which you may see at large in Sir H. Spelman's First Volume of Councils;* 1.281) and after, the reading of Pope Zachary's Letters to the People of England to live more continently, These (among other) Decrees were likewise passed, viz. 1. That the Reading of the Holy Scriptures be more con∣stantly used in Monasteries. 2. That Priests receive no Reward for baptizing Children, or for other Sacraments. 3. That they learn the Creed, and the Lord's Prayer in English; and are likewise to understand and interpret into their own Tongue the Words of Consecration in the Celebration of Mass, and also of Baptism, &c.

This year Cynric Aetheling (that is,* 1.282 Prince of the Blood-Royal of the West Saxons) was slain; and Eadbriht, King of Kent, died, after six Years Reign; and Ethelbryht, the Son of King Withred, succeeded him.]

This Cynric was he, whom H. Huntington relates to be Son of Cuthred, King of the West Saxons; who, thô young in Years, was a great War∣riour for his time, yet perished in a sudden Sedition of his own Soul∣diers, but where he does not say.

Simeon, affirms, That Elfwald, King of the East Angles, now dying,* 1.283 Hunbeanna and Albert divided that Kingdom between them; but what relation they had to the late King, he does not tell us.

This year Cuthred, King of the West Saxons,* 1.284 in the 12th Year of his Reign, fought against Ethelune, that couragious Ealderman.]

H. Huntington calls him a bold Earl, who moved Sedition against his Lord; and thô he were inferiour in the number of his Souldiers, yet maintained the Fight a great while by his sole Courage and Conduct; but while he was ready to get the Victory, a Wound he then unfortunately received, so disabled him, and disheartened his Men, that the King's (being the stronger, as well as the juster) Side, did thereby prevail.

Also the same Year (according to Simeon of Durham, and the Chro∣nicle of Mailros,) Eadbert King of Northumberland led Kynwulf Bishop of Lindisfarne, Prisoner to the City of Beban, who it seems had some ways rebelled against him, for he then also caused the Cathedral Church of Lindisfarne to be besieged.

The same Year (as Bede's Continuator relates) Eadbert, King of Nor∣thumberland, made War upon the Picts, and subdued all the Country of Kyle, with other Territories, joyning them to his own Dominions.

* 1.285

This Year (according to the Saxon Annals) King Cuthred fought against the Britains:]

(But of this, the Welsh Chronicles are silent, as well as other Authors.)

The same Year also, (being the 12th Year of his Reign,) King Cuthred fought against Aethelbald, King of the Mercians, at Beorgford (now Burford) in Oxfordshire, and there put him to flight.

But H. Huntington gives us this Battle more at large, That King Cuthred being not any longer able to bear the Insolencies and Impositions of that proud King Ethelbald, took Arms, and met him with an Army in the Field, preferring his Liberty before his Life, being encouraged by Earl Ethelune above-mentioned, who it seems was now cured, and recon∣ciled to the King, relying upon whose Courage and Council, he resolved to undertake this War; but Ethelbald, as a King of Kings, had brought along with him, besides his own Mercians, the Kentish Men, with the East Angles and Saxons, which made all together a very great Army, and being both drawn up on the Spot, they approached each other, whilst Earl Athelune marching before the West Saxons, carried the Royal Stan∣dard, (being a Golden Dragon,) and in the beginning of the Battle challenging him to a single Combat, there slew the Standard-bearer of the Enemy; upon which a great Shout being given, Cuthred's Souldiers were very much encouraged; then both Armies engaging, there fol∣lowed a great and bloody Fight, of which our Author gives us a long and pompous Relation. Pride and Ambition (says he) inciting the Mercians, and fear of Servitude provoking the West Saxons, to fight it to the last; but wherever Earl Ethelune charged the Enemies, he with the force of his invincible Battle-Axe destroyed all before him; but at last K. Ethelbald and the Earl meeting, they fought together with great Obsti∣nacy and Resolution; till GOD, who resisteth the Proud, so discou∣raged this King, that he turned his Back, and fled, whilst his Men still fought on; yet at last they were all routed; nor from that time, to the day of his Death, did GOD give him any more Success.

* 1.286

Cuthred, King of the West Saxons, departed this Life; and (accor∣ding to Simeon) Sigebert, his Cousin, succeeded him: Also Cyneheard succeeded in the Bishoprick of Winchester after Hunferth, and the same year the City of Canterbury was burnt.

* 1.287

This Year was very remarkable, for now (as our Annals inform us) Cynwulf, with the Wife and Noble Men of the West Saxons, deprived King Sigebert of the whole Kingdom for his Cruelty and Injustice, (except Hampshire,) which he kept for some time, until he slew one Cumbran an Ealderman, (who had continued longest with him;) so that at last Sigebert was driven into Andred's Wood, where he remained till such time as a certain Hogheard ran him through with a Lance at Pruutes-Flood, and thereby revenged the Death of Cumbran the Ealder∣man. This King Cynwulf often overcame the Britains in Fight, but after he had governed the Kingdom about 30 Years, he was slain by Cyne∣heard Aetheling, brother to Sigebert; as shall be shewn hereafter.

H. Huntington is very particular in the Reasons, and manner of King Sigebert's Deposition. and tells us, That being puff'd up with the good Succ••ss of his Predecessours, he grew intollerable to his Subjects; for he had oppressed them by all manner of ways, and wrested the Laws for his own Advantage, insomuch that this Cumbran; one of his noblest Earls, at the Desire of the People, represented their Grievances to this cruel King, who, because he perswaded him, that he should govern them

more gently, and thereby become more beloved both by God and Man,* 1.288 he presently commanded him to be slain, and so daily increased in his Tyranny, till in the beginning of his Second Year, the Great Men and People of the whole Kingdom being gathered together, by the Provident Deliberation, and Unanimous Consent of them All he was expell'd the Kingdom; and Cinewulf, a notable young Man of the Blood Royal, was Elected King in his room.

This is the first Example we have in our English History, of the Solemn Deposition of a King, by the Authority of the Great Council of the Kingdom, concerning whom our Author bids us remark the manifold Justice and Providence of God, how sometimes it doth not only recom∣pence Kings according to their Merits in the World to come, but also in this; for oftentimes setting up Wicked Kings for the Deserved Punish∣ment of their Subjects, he lets some of them Tyrannize a great while, that so a wicked People might be punished, and the King becoming more wicked, may be tormented for ever; as may be seen in Aethelbald, King of Mercia above-mentioned, whilst God cuts others short by a speedy De∣struction, lest his People, being oppress'd by too great Tyranny, should not be able to subsist under it, so that the immoderate Wickedness of a Prince does often accelerate his Punishment.

The same Year, (according to Caradoc's Chronicle published by Dr. Powel,) Conan Tindaethwy, Son of Rodri Molwynoc, began his Reign over the Britains in Wales.

This Year also, (according to the Saxon Annals,) Aethelbald, King of the Mercians, was slain at Seccandune (now Secington) in Warwick∣shire, after he had reigned 41 Years; and then Beornred usurped the Kingdom, and held it but a little while, and that with great Trouble; for the same year King Offa expelled Beornred, and taking Possession of the Throne, held it 39 Years; but his Son Egberth no more than 140 Days. This Offa was the Son of Thincerth, and he the Son of Eanwulf: The rest of his Pedigree, as far as Woden, I omit.

Abbot Bromton's Chronicle farther adds, concerning the Death of King Ethelbald, That he was slain in a Fight at the Place above-mention'd, yet was it not by the Enemy, but by the Treachery of this Beornred.

Ingulph, in his History of Croyland, tells us, That King Ethelbald ha∣ving founded the Abby of Ripendune (now Repton) in Derbyshire, (being the most famous of that Age,) was there buried; and also of this Beorn∣red, (whom he calls a Tyrant,) that he did not long enjoy his Usurpa∣tion, for it seems he was not of the Blood Royal of the Mercian Kings; but when he was Expelled, Offa succeeded him by the General Consent of the Nobles of Mercia; but Mat. Westminster (who puts the Succession of King Offa two Years later) is more particular in this Transaction, and relates, That this Beornred governing very Tyrannically, the whole Na∣tion of the Mercians rose up against him; so that both the Nobility and Commons joyning together, under the Conduct of Offa, a valiant young Man, Nephew to the late King Aethelbald, they expelled Beornred the Kingdom; and then Offa, by the General Consent of the Clergy and Laity of that Kingdom, was crowned King. This was that King Offa, who afterwards became a Terrour to all the Kings of England.

Eadbert, King of Northumberland, and Unust, King of the Picts,* 1.289 brought an Army against the City Alkuith, which the Britains delivered upon Con∣ditions. This is from the Authority of Simeon of Durham, and lets us see,

that this City (now in Scotland) was then in the Hands of the Northern Britains.

* 1.290

This year Eadbert, King of the Northumbers, was shorn a Monk, and Ofwulf, his Son, succeeded him, yet Reigned but one Year, being slain by the Treachery of his own Servants on the 9th of the Kal. August fol∣lowing, thô without any just Cause, as I can find.

Concerning this Eadbert, Simeon of Durham, in his History of that Church, tells us, That after he had reigned 21 Years, and ruled his Kingdom with great Wisdom and Courage, so that all his Adversaries being either overcome by force, or else submitting themselves to him; the English, Pictish, and Scotish Kings, not only maintained Peace and Friendship with him, but rejoyced to do him Honour; so that the Fame of his Grandeur spreading as far as France, King Pipin not only made a League with him, but sent him great Presents; and the Kings, his Neighbours, when he was about to resign the Crown, had him in that Esteem, that they offered him part of their own Dominions, on Condi∣tion, that he would not lay down his Charge; but he refused it, and re∣signed his Kingdom to Usulf, his Son.

Also about this time, (according to the British Chronicles,) there was a great Battle fought at Hereford, between the Britains and the Saxons, where Dyfnwal ap Theodore was slain: But they do not tell us who ob∣tained the Victory.

* 1.291This Year Cathbert, Arch Bishop of Canterbury, deceased, having fate Arch-Bishop 18 Years. Also (according to Florence) about this time Swithred reigned over the East, and Osmund over the South Saxons; as also Beorne was King over the East Angles.

* 1.292

This Year-Bregowin was consecrated Arch-Bishop of Canterbury at the Feast of St.Michael; and Ethelwold, Sirnamed Moll, began to reign over the Northumbers, and at last resigned the Crown.

* 1.293'Ethelbryght, King of Kent, deceased; he was the Son of King Wythred. Of this King, William of Malmesbury records nothing remarkable, but that the City of Canterbury was burnt in his Reign.

Ceolwulf also, late King of Northumberland, departed this Life the same Year, dying a Monk in the Isle of Lindisfarne.]

But Simeon of Durham prolongs his Life 4 Years longer.

* 1.294

This Year was a very sharp Winter; and Ethelwald Moll, King of Nor∣thumberland, slew Duke Oswin at Edwinsclife on the Eighth of the Ides of August.

But thô who this Duke was, our Annals do not tell us; yet Simeon of Durham, and Roger of Hoveden relate, he was one of those Great Northumbrian Lords, that rebelled against the King; who gained the Vi∣ctory over him, and those Rebels that took his part.

* 1.295'This Year deceased Bergowine, the Arch-Bishop above-mentioned. But if he sate 4 Years, (as these Annals affirm,) he could not have died till the Year following; in which also,

* 1.296

Janbryht (who is also called Lambert) was now consecrated Arch-Bishop of Canterbury about 40 Days after Christmas. Also Frithwald, Bishop of Witherne, died on the Nones of May; he had been Consecra∣ted in York on the 18th Kalends of September, in the Reign of Ceolwulf, and sate Bishop 29 Years; and then Piyhtwin (or Pechtwin) was Con∣secrated Bishop of Witerne at Aelfet, on the 16th Kal. of August.

'Janbryht, the Arch-Bishop,* 1.297 received his Pall] This was (as Florence of Worcester informs us) from Pope Paul I.

'This Year also, (as Simeon of Durham relates,) there was much Mis∣chief done by Fire, at London, Winchester, and other Places.

'Alhred, King of Northumberland, began to reign,* 1.298 and reigned Eight Years; (Ethelwold Moll having now by Death quitted that King∣dom)

The manner of which is given us more perfectly by William of Malmesbury, and Roger Hoveden, (viz.) That Ethelwold lost the King∣dom of Northumberland at Winchan-hea 1^o Kal. November, being murder'd by the Treachery of this Albred, who succeeded him, and was also of the Race of Ida, being his Great Nephew.

The same Year also, (according to * 1.299 William of Malmesbury,) Offa, King of the Mercians, envying the Greatness of the Arch-Bishops of Canterbury, did, by most noble Presents made to the Pope, obtain a Pall for the See of Lichfield, that is, That it should be for the future an Arch-Bishoprick, and that all the Bishops of the Provinces of the Kingdom of Mercia, and the East Angles, should be subject to it; and this he not only gain∣ed, notwithstanding the Opposition and Remonstrances of Arch-Bishop Jambert to the contrary, but also bereaved the Arch-Bishoprick of Canter∣bury of all its Lands, which lay within the Mercian Territories; which Injustice continued during the whole Reign of King Offa, till Kenulph his Successour, by the Intercession of Eanbald then Arch-Bishop of York, re∣stored the See of Canterbury to its ancient Rights.

This Year deceased Egbert Arch-Bishop of York,* 1.300 (13^o Kal. Sept.) who sate Bishop 36 Years.]

This is he who was Base Brother to the King of the same Name, and regained the Pall to his See, after it had been without it ever since the time of Paulinus: He also built a Noble Library at York, which was then counted one of the best in Europe; for William of Malmesbury relates, that Alcuin (the greatest Scholar of his time) once told the Emperour Charles,

That if he would give him such Books of exquisite Learning, as he had in his own Country by the Pious Industry of his Master Arch-Bishop Eghert, then he would instruct and send him back some young Men, who should carry over the choicest Flowers of the English Learning into France.

(According to Simeon of Durham) Albert was now ordained Arch-Bishop of York.* 1.301

'Eadbert, the Son of Eatta, deceased on 14^o Kal. September.] This Eadbert had been formerly King of Northumberland,* 1.302 and (according to Simeon of Durham) died 10 Years after his taking the Habit of a Monk, and was buried at York.

Also this Year, (as the Welsh Chronicles acquaint us,) by the means of Flbodius, that Learned and Pious Bishop of North Wales, it was decreed in a General Synod of the British Nation, That Easter should be kept after the Custom of Rome; so that all Differences between that Church and the British now ceased.

'Charles, King of the Franks, began his Reign;] for Pepin,* 1.303 his Father, died this Year, (as R. Hoveden informs us:) Also the fair City of Cataract in Yorkshire was burnt by B••ornred the Mercian Tyrant; and He also pe∣rished by Fire the same Year.

* 1.304

This Year (according to Simeon of Durham, and R. Hoveden,) Offa, King of the Mercians, subdued the Nation of the Hestings by force of Arms; but who these People were, or where they inhabited, no Author informs us.

Mr. Lambert, in his Glossary at the end of the Decem Scriptores, will have them to be Danes; but I see no reason for it here, since the Danes were not then settled in England.

* 1.305'This Year died Milred the Bishop.] Florence says, he was Bishop of the Wiccii, (that is, of the Diocess of Worcester,) and was in great Re∣putation for his Sanctity.

* 1.306This Year Albert, Arch-Bishop of York, received his Pall from Pope Adrian, as Simeon informs us.

* 1.307

This Year the Northumbrians expelled their King Albred from York about Easter, and chose Ethelred, the Son of Moll, (once King,) for their Lord: He reigned 4 Years.

Of which Transaction, Roger Hoveden gives us this particular Relation; That King Alhred being deposed by the Common-Council, and Consent of his own Subjects, and forsaken of all his Great Men, was forced to retire first to the City of Bebban, (afterwards called Banbarough-Castle,) from whence he betook himself to Cynoth, King of the Picts, with but very few Followers.

The same Year also appeared a Red Cross in the Heavens after Sun∣set, and the Mercians and Kentish-men fought at Ottanford (now Otford) in Kent.]

But neither the Saxon Annals, nor any other, vouchsafe to tell us what was the Quarrel, nor who were the Commanders on either side, nor yet what was the Success.

Also strange Serpents were seen in the Province of the South Saxons.]

Mat. Westminster places this Pro∣digy two Years after, and says, They seemed to creep out of the Earth.

* 1.308

This Year Cynwulf, King of the West Saxons, and Offa, King of the Mercians, fought at Binsington) (now Bensington) in Oxfordshire, but Offa took the Town:]

So it seems Cynwulf had the worst of it. Here follows in the Peterburgh Copy another Relation concerning that Abbey, which is thus▪ That

In the Reign of King Offa there was a certain Abbot of Medesham∣stead, called Beonna, who, with the Consent of the Monks of his Mo∣nastery, leased out to Cuthbriht the Ealderman, X Bonde-land (that is, the Ground of ten Bond-men, or Villains,) at Swinesheafde, with the Meadows and Pastures, and all other Things thereunto belonging; upon this Condition, That Cuthbriht should pay the Abbot Fifty Pounds, and one Night's Entertainment every Year, or else Thirty Shillings in Money; and that after his Death the Lands should again revert to the Monastery: To which Grant, King Offa, King Egferth, Arch Bishop Higebert, the Bishop Ceolwulf, the Bishop Inwona, with Beon the Abbot, and many other Bishops, Abbots, and Great Men, were Witnesses.

I have inserted this Passage, thô it does not relate to the Civil History of these Times, because it is the First Example of a Lease of this kind, and seems to have been done in a great Council of the Kingdom, where these Kings were present, which was then necessary for such a Grant.

Also in the time of this King Offa, (as the Peterburgh Copies relate,) there was a certain Ealderman, called Brordan, who desired of the King, That for his sake he would free a certain Monastery of his, called Wo∣cingas, because he intended to give it to St. Peter, and to the Church

of Medeshamsted, one Pusa being then Abbot of it:* 1.309 This Pusa succeeded Beonna, and the King loved him very well; wherefore he freed the Church of Wocingas by the King's consent with that of the Bishop, Earls, and all other Men's consents; so that no body should from thenceforth have any duty or Tribute besides, St. Peter and the Abbot; this was done in the King's Town, called Freoricburne.

Pehtwin,* 1.310 Bishop of Witerne (called in Latin Candida Casa) deceased XIII. Kal. Octob. he was Bishop Fourteen Years, and had been bred under Aldhelm, that Pious Bishop of Winchester; and the same Year Ethelbert was consecrated Bishop of that See at York, XVII. Kal. Junii.

This Year (according to the Welsh Chronicle) the South-Welshmen de∣stroyed great part of Mercia with Fire and Sword: As also

The Summer following, all the Welshmen,* 1.311 both of North and South-Wales, gathered themselves together, and, Invading the Kingdom of Mercia, made great spoil, by burning, and plundering the Country; whereupon King Offa was forced to make Peace with the other Saxon Kings, and to bend his whole Forces against the Welsh Men, who not being able to encounter so great a strength as he then brought against them; were forced to quit all the plain Country, between the Rivers of Severne and Wye, and retired into the Mountains; whereupon Offa per∣ceiving this, seised upon all the Country, and planted Saxons in their places; and annexing it to his own Kingdom, caused that famous Ditch, or Trench, to be made from Sea to Sea, betwixt his Kingdom and Wales, whereby he might the better defend his Country from the Incursions of the Welsh hereafter: This Ditch is seen at this day in divers places, and is called Welsh, Clawdh Offa, (i.e.) Offa's Ditch.

This Year Aethebald and Hearbert, kill'd Three chief Gerifs or Gover∣nours, Ealdwulf the Son of Bosa at Cyningeselife, (i. e.) Kings Cliffe;* 1.312 and Cynwulf and Ecga at Helathyrn, XI. Kal. Aprilis; then Alfwold took the Kingdom, (Aethelred being Expel'd the Land,) and Reigned Ten Years.

But H. Huntington, and Simeon of Durham, gives us a more exact ac∣count of this Matter; that Aethelred, King of Northumberland, having caused Three of his Nobles, Aldwulf, Kinwulf, and Ecga, to be trea∣cherously slain by two of the same rank; The Year following his Sub∣jects Rebelling against him, they first slew Aldwulf, General of the King's Army, in Flight at the place above mentioned, as they also did the two other Commanders in the same manner; so that King Aethelred's Captains being all slain, and his hopes as well as his Forces defeated, he was forced to flee into another Country, and so Elfwald the Son of Oswulf succeeded him, thô not without Civil Broils: He was a Just and Pious Prince; yet could not escape the hard Fate of his Predecessors, as you will see in due time

The same Year, (as the Laudean Copy relates,) King Charles entred Spain, and destroyed the Citties of Pampelona, and Cesar Augusta, (now called Saragosa,) and having joined his Army, subdued the Saracens, and received Hostages from them; and then returned by Narbon and Gascony into France.

This Year the chief Gerifs or Governours of Northumberland, burnt Beorne the Ealderman in Seletune; 19 Kal. Januarij.* 1.313

Roger Hoveden, calls these Gerifs, Osbald, and Aethelheard, and H. Huntington says, They burnt this Ealderman, or Chief Justice of the

Kingdom,* 1.314 because he was more Rigid and Severe, than in Reason he ought to have been.

The same Year the Ancient Saxons and Franks fought against each other,] in which Battle, Charles King of the Franks gained the Victory, having wasted the Saxon Territories with Fire and Sword, and laid them to his own Dominions; as not only our own, but the French Historians relate.

Also, Bishop Aethelheard dyed at York, and Eanbald was conse∣crated to the same See; and Cynebald the Bishop resigned his See at Lindisfarne, and Alchmuna Bishop of Hagulstead deceased, 7th Id. Sept. and Higbert was consecrated in his stead, the 6th of the Nones of Octob. as likewise Higbald was consecrated at Soccabrig to be Bishop of Lindis∣farne. Also King Allwold sent to Rome, to demand the Pall for Eanbald, Arch-Bishop of York.

This Year Werburh, the Wife of King Ceolred (late King of the Mercians,* 1.315) deceased, (at her Nunnery of Chester, where she was Abbess, and where the Church is dedicated to her Memory:) also Cenwulf Bishop of Lindisfarne died; there was likewise now a Synod at Aclea.

But under what King this Council was held, or whereabouts the place is, or what Decrees were there made, our Histories are altogether silent in, but Sir H. Spelman, in his * 1.316 first Volume of Councils, supposes it to have been at a place of that Name, in the Bishoprick of Durham, where there are two places so called, the one Alca, and the other Scole Aclea.

This Year, Cyneheard slew Cynewulf, King of the West-Saxons, but Cyneheard himself was there slain,* 1.317 and Eighty Four Men with him: but these Annals in the beginning of this King's Reign, under Anno Dom. DCCLV. have given us a full account of this King's unfortunate end, which I rather chuse to insert in its proper place, and was thus;

That he endeavouring to Expel Cyneheard (Brother to the late King Sigebert out of the Kingdom;) in the mean time when he knew that the King with a small Company was gone to Merinton, (now called Merton in Surrey,) to visit a certain Woman, he there besieged him, and beset the Chamber where he was, before the King's Attendants could know any thing of it; which, as soon as the King perceived, he got out of Doors, and Manfully defended himself; but all of them assaulting the King at once, they in the end slew him, (thô as Florence relates, he first sorely wounded Cynheard;) but when the King's Thanes, who were then in the same House, heard the noise, they all ran thither as fast as they could get themselves ready; but Cyneheard Aetheling promised them great Rewards, and Pardon, if they would take his part, which none of them would agree to, but presently all fought against him, till they were all kill••d, except one British Hostage, who was grievously wound∣ed; but the next morning the King's Thanes that remained at home, coming to know that he was kill'd, (viz.) Osric, the Ealderman, and Wiverth his Thane, and all those whom he had left behind him, they all came thither on Horseback, and when they found Cyneheard Aetheling in the Town, where the King lay dead, and having the doors fast locked upon them, as they approached and endeavoured to break in; Cynheard promised to grant them all their Liberties, and all their Lands and Goods, with great Riches and Honours, if they would de∣liver up the Kingdom to him peaceably; telling them moreover, That he had some of their Kinsmen with him, who would never desert him;

but they answered,* 1.318 That none of their Relations were dearer to them than their own Lord, and they would never obey his Murderers; and they then farther told their Kinsmen, That if they would leave their Leader, they should all be safe, from whom they also received this An∣swer, That the like had been already promised to those who were of the King's Party; and said, That as they then refused their promise, so themselves should now refuse the like from them, then they fought at the Gates until they were broken open, and the Conspirators forced to retire within them, but there Cyneard Aetheling was Slain, and all those that were with him, except one, who was the Ealderman's God∣son, to whom, being grievously wounded, he granted his Life. This King Cynwulf Reigned One and Thirty Years, and his Body lyes buried at Wintencester, but that of the Aetheling at Axanmister, (now Axminster in Devon-shire,) being both of them descended from Cerdic, the first King of that Kingdom.

This same Year also, Brihtic began his Reign over the West-Saxons, whose Body lyes buried at Werham, and he was also descended from Cerdic in a right Line.

In those times King Aealmond Reigned in Kent, he was the Father of King Egbert, and Egbert was the Father of Athulf, (or Athelwulf.)

But the Authour of these Annals is here mistaken, for thô one Aeal∣mond was Father of King Egbert, yet was there never any of that Name King of Kent.

Bothwin, Abbot of Ripun, deceased this Year,* 1.319 and the same Year was held that troublesome Synod at Cealchythe, where Arch-Bishop Jan∣bryht lost part of his Province to the See of Litchfield; also Higebryht was this Year chosen Arch Bishop of Litchfield, by King Offa, and Egbert his Son, was anointed King with him; and in those times there were Legates sent from Pope Adrian to renew the Faith, which had been sent us by Augustine.

Note, the Pope had before granted the Pall to Litchfield, and thereby made it an Arch-Bishoprick, but it was not till the following Year con∣firmed in a general Synod of the Kingdom.

This Year that great Synod, or Council of Calcuith (above mentioned) was held by Gregory, Bishop of Ostia, and Theophilact, Bishop of Tudertum,* 1.320 (then the Pope's Legates in England;) at which were also present Offa, King of the Mercians, and Cinwulf, King of the West-Saxons;* 1.321 where not only the Nicene Creed was again received, and confirm'd, as also the Seven first General Councils; but many Canons were made concerning Matters of Religion, and Ecclesiastical Discipline; of all which I shall here recite some that I think proper.

The second of these Decrees is, That Baptism be performed at the times appointed by the former Canons of the Church, and no other; and that all Men in general learn the Creed and the Lord's Prayer; that God∣fathers shall be answerable for those Children for whom they stand, till they come to Years capable of learning the Creed and the Lords Prayer.

The Twelfth Canon is, That in the Election or Ordination of Kings, no Man should permit the Assent or Vote of Evil Men to prevail; but Kings shall be Lawfully Elected by the Clergy and Elders of the People, not begot of Adultery or Incest; because, as in our times, an Adulterer according to the Canons cannot arrive to the Priest-hood, so neither can he be the Lord's Anointed, and the Heir of his Country,

and King of the whole Kingdom,* 1.322 who is not begot of Lawful Matri∣mony. The rest of it is for rendering Honour and Obedience to Kings, without speaking Evil of them, and the chief Texts out of St. Peter and St. Paul, are cited to that purpose. It is also there forbid, That any Man should conspire the Death of the King, because he is the Lord's Anointed; and if any shall be guilty of that wickedness; if he be a Bishop or one in Priest's Orders, he shall be deprived, as Judas was cast out from his Apostleship: There is also here likewise cited out of Scripture several examples of those that have been punished either for conspiring the Death of Kinsg, or having actually kill'd them.

The Sixteenth Canon is, That Bastards, and those begotten of Nuns, shall not inherit, which is the first Decree we find of this kind.

The Seventeenth Canon is, That Tythes shall be paid according to the Scriptures, viz. Thou shalt bring the Tenth part of all thy encrease, when thou bringest thy first fruits into the House of the Lord thy God; there is like∣wise cited the Text in Malachi Chap. 3. concerning the paying of Tythes, and therefore, says the Canon, we exhort all Men, that they pay Tythes of whatsoever they possess; because it is God's special Commandment, that every Man live, and give Alms of the other 9 parts.

Whence you may observe, that as this is the first Decree of any Coun∣cil in England, concerning payment of Tythes, so also is it hereby de∣clared that they are due by Divine Right.

The Nineteenth Decree is, against Mens observing any Pagan Rites, and particularly of making marks and scars in any part of their Bodies for any false God. There are also other Decrees which seem very trivial, as against cutting off Horses Ears, or Tails, and slitting their Noses; as also against eating Horse-flesh, which it seems was then much in fashion amongst the Common sort of People; as also against casting of Lots for the deciding of Civil Controversies.

It also here appears by the Address of the Pope's Legates, made to him at the end of this Council, that there were two distinct Sessions of it; the first was held before King Aelfwald, and Arch Bishop Eanbald, and all the Bishops belonging to the Northumbrian Kingdom; as also all the Senators, Ealdermen, and People of that Country, who when these Decrees were proposed to them, did all of them with great de∣votion promise to observe them, and subscribed them with the Sign of the Cross. Then follow the subscriptions of the King, the Arch-Bi∣shop of York, and the rest of the Bishops of that Province; after them follow also the Subscriptions of the Presbyters and Deacons of Churches, Judges, Chief and Noble Men, some of whom do there subscribe for all the rest.

Where this Council was held for the Kingdom of Northumberland is uncertain; but the second Session of it was held at Calcuith, now sup∣posed to be in the Kingdom of Mercia, which, as also in the conclusion of this Council, it is thus recited;

King Offa with all the Senators of his Kingdom, with Janbryht, Arch-Bishop of Canterbury, and the other Bishops of that Province, the same Decrees being read before the Coun∣cil, as well in Latin as in Saxon, so that all might understand them, they all agreed with one accord to observe them; then follow the Sub∣scriptions of King Offa, and the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury, with divers of the Nobles there present, who subscribed in the name of all the rest.

But Will. of Malmesbury in his First Book, de Pontif,* 1.323 hath given us a further account of the Acts of this Council, than what are expressed in the Canons themselves; viz. That in this Council, Arch-bishop Janbryht was forced to resign part of his Province to the Bishop of Litchfield, who thereby became an Arch-Bishop; so that there remained no more Bishops under the Jurisdiction of the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury, but those of London, Winchester, Rochester, and Shireburne: But thô it had been ob∣tained by King Offa from the Pope by great importunity, and false sug∣gestions, that Arch-Bishop Janbryht should be thus deprived of his Pri∣macy; yet was it not counted of any force till it was confirmed in a great Council, and that the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury himself had con∣sented to it.

The same Author further adds, That also in this Council, Offa the most potent King of the Mercians, did then cause his Eldest Son Egfred, a Comely and Valiant Young Man, and endued with all good Qualities, to be solemnly Crowned King; who obeying his Father in all things, Reigned together with him so long as he lived.

But it is very observable, that neither Alrich, then King of Kent, nor any of his Deputies, did appear at this Council; for which I can give no other Reason, than that this King did not approve of the Removal of the chief Archiepiscopal See from Canterbury in his own Dominions, to Litchfield in another Prince's Territories.

But as Will. of Malmesbury observes, This Violence done to the See of Canterbury▪ thô it lasted all the Reign of King Offa, and also during the Life-time of Arch-Bishop Janbryht,* 1.324 who spared neither cost nor pains to get his See restored to its Ancient Dignity; yet was it all to no purpose, till such time as Kenwulf, King of the Mercians, restored the Arch-Bisho∣prick of Canterbury to its former Rights, Litchfield becoming again an ordinary Bishoprick, subject to the See of Canterbury to this day, having continued an Arch-Bishoprick only during the times of two Arch-Bishops, viz. for the space of about Eleven Years. But it is time to return to Civil Affairs.

The same Year (as H. Huntington relates) the Sign of the Cross ap∣peared of it self upon Mens Cloaths, which (if true) is wonderful to future Ages.

King Brithric now married Eadburghe, the Daughter of King Offa, which was done (as Will. of Malmesbury relates) to strengthen his Interest with his Neighbouring Princes; also about those times (as Ethelwerd,* 1.325 and the Saxon Annals inform us,) arrived in the West Country three Ships of Danes, or Norwegians, from Herethaland, (that is, the Country of Pyrates;) these landing, the King's Geref or Officer coming thither on Horseback endeavoured to carry them to the King's Town (of Dorchester,) because he knew not from whence they came; but he was there slain with those that attended on him; after which great Multitudes of People flocking in, the Danes were at last forced to Flee to their Ships, and leave their prey behind them; these were the first Danish Ships that ever infested the English Nation.

Where Note, That the same People who are first called Normans in the Saxon Annals, are there also named Danes in other places; which shews, that the Danes and Normans were then looked upon to be one and the same People.

* 1.326

This Year there was a general Synod assembled at Pyncanhale, or Finken∣hale, (now Finkley in the Bishoprick of Durham, then part of the Kingdom of Northumberland) where Eanbald Arch-Bishop of York, presided: whose Decrees you may see in Sir H. Spelman's 1 Vol. of Councils; but its con∣stitutions being wholly about Ecclesiastical Discipline, and the right observation of Easter, it is beside my purpose to take any further notice of them.

This Year also, (according to the Annals) Albert the Abbot deceased; and King Charles passed through Almany, to the very Borders of Bavaria, (as the Latin Text of the Laudean Copy relates.)

* 1.327

Alfwold, King of Northumberland, was slain by one Sicga on the IX. Kal. Octob.

This King is said by Simeon of Durham, and Roger Hoveden, to have been a very Just and Worthy Prince, and that he was Slain by the Trea∣chery of this Sicga, who was one of his chief Noblemen, and being Murthered at Cilceaster, (near the Pict's Wall,) there was frequently seen a Light from Heaven over the Place, where he was Slain: He was buried in the Cathedral Church of Hagulstad, with great Solemnity, and there was afterwards a Church built in the Place where he was killed: and Osred, the Son of Alchr••d, Reigned after him, who was the Nephew of King Alfwold: There was also at this time another Synod held at Aclea.

The same Year likewise (according to Mat. Westminster,) Offa, King of the Mercians, fought against Kenwulf, King of the West-Saxons, at the Siege of Bensington Castle: But Kenwulf being worsted was forced to flee, and so Offa took the Castle.

Now Janbryht the Archbishop deceased, and Ethelheard the Abbot was elected Archbishop.* 1.328 Also Osred, King of the Northumbers, was betray'd, and driven out of his Kingdom; and Ethelred, the Son of Ethelwald (Sir∣named Mull,) reigned after him, or rather was again restored to the King∣dom, having reigned there before, as hath been already shewn.

But Simeon of Durham adds farther, that this Osred, the late King of this Kingdom, having been also shaven a Monk against his Will, escaped again out of the Monastery, into the Isle of Man. But the next Year,

As Simeon relates, Oelf and Oelfwin, Sons of Alfwold, formerly King of Northumberland,* 1.329 were drawn by fair Promises from the Principal Church of York, and afterwards, at the Command of King Ethelred, cru∣elly put to Death at Wonwalderem••re, a Village by the great Pool in Lancashire, (now called Winanderemere.)

Also about this time, (according to the same Author,) one Eardulf, an Earl, being taken and brought to Ripun, was there Sentenced by the said King to be put to Death, without the Gate of the Monastery; whose Body, when the Monks had carried to the Church, with solemn Dirges, and placed under a Pavilion, was about Midnight found alive. But this Relation is very imperfect, for it neither tells us how he escaped Death; nor how he was conveyed away, though we find him five Years after this made King of Northumberland.

This Year (as Simeon of Durham and Mat. Westminster relate,) Charles King of France sent certain Synodal Decrees into England; in which alas▪ (for with great Grief, our Author speaks it) were found many inconveni∣ent things, and altogether contrary to the true Faith: For it had been decreed in a Council at Constantinople, by more than Three Hundred Bi∣shops,

that Images ought to be adored,* 1.330 which the Church of God does (say they) wholly abominate.

Then Albinus, (that is our Alcuin,) wrote an Epistle, wherein he proved it by the Authority of the Holy Scriptures to be utterly Unlaw∣ful; and this he offered, together with the Book it self, to the King of France, on the behalf of all our Bishops and Great Men;* 1.331 and this Letter of Alcuinus is thought to have wrought such an effect on the Synod of Francfort, assembled about two Years after, that the Worship of Images was therein solemnly condemned.

From which it is evident, that Image-Worship, as now practised in the Greek and Roman Churches, was not then received in England.

And this Year also, according to the same Author, Osred, late King of Nortbumberland, being deceived by the Oaths of some great Men, re∣turned privately from the Isle of Man; when, his Souldiers deserting him, and being taken Prisoner by King Ethelred, he was by his Command put to Death, at a Place called Aynsburg; but his Body was buried at the famous Monastery at the mouth of Tine; and the same Year King Ethelred betrothed Elfrede the Daughter of King Offa.

In whom also there was found as little Faith as Mercy; for this Year,* 1.332 according to our Annals, Will. of Malmesbury, and Mat. Westminster; Ethelbert, the Son of Ethelred, King of the East-Angles, notwithstanding the disswasions of his Mother, going to the Court of King Offa, in order to Wooe his Daughter, was there slain, by the wicked instigations of Queen Quendrith; so that out of an Ambition to seize his Kingdom, Offa was perswaded to make him away; but by what means it is not agreed: The Annals relate him to have been beheaded.

But the same Annals, and Florence of Worcester agree,

That his Body was buried (in the Monastery) at Tinmouth.

But the Chronicle ascribed to Abbot Bromton, as also Mat. Westminster, have given us long and Le∣gendary Accounts of the Death of this Prince; and the latter of these, as well as other Monks, who were favourers of this King Offa, would have this Murther to be committed without this King's knowledge; and Mat. Westminster has a long Story about it, but not all probable, e∣specially since the King was so well pleased with the Fact when it was done, that he presently seized the Kingdom of this poor Murthered Prince, and added it to his own Dominions.

This Year, (as Mat. Paris, and his Namesake of Westminster relate,* 1.333) King Offa was warned by an Angel to remove the Reliques of St. Alban into a more noble Shrine; and so either for this cause, or else (which is more likely) to expiate the several Murthers he had committed, began to build a new Church and Monastery in honour of St. Alban, and thi∣ther removing his Bones, into a Silver shrine all gilt and adorned with precious Stones, he placed them in the new Church that he had built without the Town: where (as the Monks pretended) they wrought great Miracles.

This King having made a journey on purpose to Rome, obtained of Pope Adrian to have him Canonized: King Offa also conferred upon this Mona∣stery very great Privileges, and vast Possessions, all which he confirmed by his Charter, which you may find in the first Volume of * 1.334 Monast. Anglic. as that also, Anno. Dom. 1154. One Nicholas having been first a Ser∣vant in this Abbey, and afterwards was Bishop of Alba, Elected Pope by the name of Adrian IV: he by his Bull ordained, that, as St. Alban

was the first Martyr of England,* 1.335 so this Abbot should be the first in Dignity of all the Abbots in England; and Pope Honorius did by a Bull in the Year 1118, not only ratifie all the Privileges made and confirmed by former Popes, but also granted to the Abbot and his Successours Episcopal Rights, together with the Habit; and that he and his Monks should be exempt from all Jurisdiction to the Bishop of Lincoln, with other Exemptions too long here to be set down.

Also this Year there appeared strange Prodigies in the Country of Northumberland, which mightily terrified the People of that Province; (viz.) immoderate Lightnings; there were also seen Meteors like fiery Dragons, flying in the Air; after which signs followed a cruel Famine; and a little after, the same Year (6^o Idus Jan.) certain Heathens (i.e. Danes) miserably destroyed the Church of God in Lindisfarne, committing great Spoils and Murthers.

Simeon of Durham says, These Danes not only pillaged that Monastery, but killing divers of the Friers, carried away the rest Captive, sparing neither Priests nor Laymen.

This Year also Sicga died; he who killed the good King Alfwold, who now (as Roger Hoveden relates) slew himself.

And the same Year, (according to Florence of Worcester,) Ethelard was ordained Arch-Bishop of York; and (as Simeon of Durham relates) the same Year died Alric, Third Son to Withred, King of Kent, after a long Reign of Thirty Four Years; in whom ended the Race of Hengist: Thenceforth, (as Will. of Malmesbury observes,) whomsoever Wealth or Faction advanced, took on him the Title of King of that Province.

* 1.336

This Year both Pope Adrian, and Offa, King of the Mercians, departed this Life; the Latter after he had Reigned Forty Years.

Yet notwithstanding the Printed Copies of the Saxon Annals, have placed the King's Death under this Year: Yet the rest of the Copies do not agree with this Account; for the Laudean Manuscript Copy, in the Bodlean Library places this King's Death in Anno. Dom. 896; and that with greater Truth; for first Pope Adrian above-mentioned died not till Two Years after the time here specified. And, it appears farther in a Letter written by the Emperour Charles the Great, to this King Offa; and which is recited at large by William of Malmesbury, in his Life of this King, that Pope Adrian was dead some time before the date of that Letter: viz. Anno. Dom. 796; Thô it is certain, King Offa did not survive long after.

I thought to give the Reader notice of this, because it puts the Death of this King, and the Succession of all his Successours, just Two Years later than the common Printed Accounts: But whenever this King here died, he is said by William of Malmesbury to have been buried in a Chapel at Bedford, near the River Ouse; whose frequent Inundations had in his time, carried away both the Chapel, and the Tomb into the Ri∣ver: So that it could not be seen, unless sometimes by those who washed themselves in that River.

This Prince is also described by the same Author, to have had so great a Mixture of Vertues and Vices, that he does not know well what Cha∣racter to give him: The Reason that so confounded him, was, That thô he was a Cruel and Perfidious Prince, yet he Built the Monastery of St. Albans (as you have heard,) but for all that he cannot give him many good words, because he took away abundance of good Farms from his Abbey. This seems to have been the first of our English Saxon Kings, who maintained any great correspondence with Foreign Princes; for thô he

had first great Enmity with Charles the Great, which proceeded so far,* 1.337 as to the interdicting of all Commerce, yet at last it was changed into as much Amity; so that a firm League was made between them, as appears by a Letter of the said Charles to Offa, extant in William of Malmesbury, in which also is mentioned, that he sent him many Noble Presents. Also he granted (saith Henry Huntington) a perpetual Tribute to the Pope out of every House in his Kingdom, and this, perhaps, for his con∣senting to translate the Primacy from Canterbury to Litchfield in his own Dominions. He also drew a Trench of a wondrous length between Mercia and the British or Welsh Territories, thereby to hinder the Incur∣sions of the Welsh-men, called to this day in the Welsh Tongue Claudh Offa, (i.e.) Offa's Dike.

But from the Grant of the above-mention'd Pension, some Men of different Perswasions have drawn as different Consequences. Pol. Virgil, and divers of the Romish Writers, have from thence concluded, That King Offa, by this Act, made his Kingdom Tributary to the Pope; whereas indeed it was no such Thing, for it had been also granted by King Ina long be∣fore, (as hath been already observed,) for the Kingdom of the West Saxons; whose Example King Offa seemed now to follow, and indeed was no more than a Voluntary Annual Alms, or Benevolence, as it is expresly called in our Saxon Annals, as shall be shewn further here∣after.

This is also urged by some high Promoters of the Royal Prerogative, to prove this King's unlimited Power in Ecclesiastical, as well as Civil Matters; since He (as they suppose) could, without the Consent of the Great Council of the Kingdom, charge all the Houses in his Dominions to pay, each of them, one Penny to the Pope: But this, if it be closely looked into, will prove a Mistake; for thô it be true, that upon King Offa's going to Rome, he is said to have granted this Alms, called Rome's Scot, or Peter-pence, to the Pope, yet Anno 794, imme∣diately upon his Return, you will find in Sir H. Spelman's Councils, he called a Great Council at Verulam, (now St. Alban's,) where this Tribute might be confirmed by the Consent of the Estates of his Kingdom: Nor is the Silence of our Histories, or of the Acts of this Council it self, any material Argument to the contrary, since that Law might be lost, or omitted, by which it was confirmed, as well as several other Councils of that Age; there being no more mention made of this King's Confir∣mation of the Lands given to this Monastery in the great Council at Verulam,* 1.338 than what is cited in Sir H. Spelman's Councils out of a Manu∣script History of St. Alban's, all the Acts of that Council being now lost. But to return to our Annals.

The same Year Ethelred, (who had been twice King of Northumber∣land,) was slain by his own People 13^o Kal. Maii, and that deservedly, (as R. Hoveden relates,) as having been the Death of King Osred, his Prede∣cessour.

After Ethelred, one Osbald, a Nobleman, was made King; but held the Throne but a small time, being deserted by his Subjects, and at last forced to flee the Kingdom, going by Sea from Lindisfarne, and then taking Refuge with the King of the Picts, there died an Abbot. Who was most in fault, in all these frequent Rebellions, and Changes of Kings among the Northumbers, is hard to decide; since all the Annals, as well as Historians, are very short in their Relations of these Transactions; but it is certain, that the People, as well as Princes, must have suffered

much by such frequent Revolutions.* 1.339 And it is also very well observed by H. Huntington, that these frequent Rebellions, and Expulsion of their Kings, proceeded in great part from the proud and turbulent Temper of the Northumbrian Angles.

The same Year, (according to our Annals,) Bishop Ceolwulf, and Bishop Eadbald, departed from the Northumbers, and Egferth (Son to Offa) began his Reign over the Mercians, and within a few Months after deceased, having scarce reigned half a Year. It is also further to be noted, That this Prince, being of great Hopes and Worth, had been crowned King 9 Years before, in his Father's Life-time, and after his Death restored to the Church whatever he had violently seized on; but before he died, he left the Crown to Kenwulf, the next of the Royal Line.

But the Monks do ascribe the short Reign of this good Prince, to his Father's Sins; but of these Things, it belongs not to us to deter∣mine.

Also this Year Eadbert, or Ethelbert (Sirnamed Praen,) began to Reign in Kent, and also Ethelred the Ealderman deceased.

This Man had been a famous Commander in his time, but was then a Monk in the City of York; and now also, (according to the Annals,) the Heathen Danes destroyed Northumberland, and robbed the Monastery built by Egbert, which is at the Mouth of the River Weri; but there one of the Danish Captains was slain, and divers of their Ships de∣stroyed by a Tempest, and many of their Men drowned; but some of them reaching the Shore, were presently slain at the Mouth of the same River.

But Simeon of Durham imputes this to a Judgment inflicted on them by St. Cuthbert, for thus spoiling his Monastery.

* 1.340

The Moon was Eclipsed, 5^o Kal. Aprilis, from the Cock crowing, till the Morning. Eardwulf also began to reign over Northumberland 1^o Idus Maii, and was afterwards Consecrated, and placed on the Throne 7^o Kal. Junii, at York, by Eanbald the Arch-Bishop, and by the Bishops Ethelbert, Higbald, and Badewulf.

This Eardwulf, as Florence of Worcester informs us, was he, who 5 Years before had so strangely escaped Death at Ripun, after he had been carried out to be buried; but the Chronicle of Mailross does here give great Light of the Saxon Annals; for it tells us, that now the Northumbers mur∣thered their King Ethelred, the Son of Moll; Simeon places it a Year after, but says, The Murther was committed on the 14th of the Kalends of May, at a Place called Cobene; but they both agree, that immediately after his Death, one Osbald, a Nobleman of that Country, was made King, but reigned only 27 Days; and that then being forsaken by the Chief Men of his Kingdom, he was driven into the Isle of Lindisfarne with a few Followers, from whence he fled by Sea to the King of the Picts, where he became a Monk: And this Eardwulf reigned of his stead.

William of Malmesbury further adds, that Alcuin, writing to King Offa, tells him, That King Charles, so soon as he heard of this Murther of King Ethelred above-mentioned, and of the Perfidiousness of the Nor∣thumbrian Nation, not only stopt the Gifts he was then sending, but falling into a Passion against them, called them a perverse and perfidious Nation, and worse than Pagans; so that if Alcuin had not interceded for them, he would have done them all the Mischief he could.

About this time also the Welsh Chronicles relate,* 1.341 there was a great Battle fought at Ruthlan, between the Saxons and the Britains; where Caradoc ap Gwin, King of North Wales was slain.

But as Dr. Powel observed, in his Notes upon Caradoc's Chronicle, in those Times there was no settled Government in Wales; therefore such as were Chief Lords of any Country there, are, in this History called Kings.

This Year died Eanbald, Arch-bishop of York,* 1.342 the 4th of the Ides of August, whose Body was there buried; also the same Year Bishop Ceol∣wulf died, and another Eanbald was Consecrated in his stead. This Year likewise Cenwulf, King of the Mercians, destroyed Kent to the Bor∣ders of Mercia, and took Eadbert, (or Ethelbert, Sirnamed Praen,) and carryed him Prisoner into Mercia, and there caused his Eyes to be put out, and his Hands to be cut off. Also Ethelheard, Arch-bishop of Can∣terbury, called a Synod; which, by the Command of Pope Leo, esta∣blished and confirmed all those things relating to God's Church, which had been before constituted in the Reign of King Withgar; and then the Arch-bishop said thus.

I Ethelheard, Arch-bishop of Canterbury, with the Unanimous Consent of the whole Synod, and of the whole Body of all the Monasteries, to whom Exemption hath been granted of Old Times by Believers; in the Name of GOD, and by his fearful Judgments, (and, as I have received Command from Pope Leo,) do Decree, That for the future none shall presume to Elect themselves Cov••rnours amongst Lay-men over GOD's Heritage, but as it is contained in the Charter, (or Bulls,) which the Pope hath granted, or Holy Men, (to wit,) our Kings and Ancestors have ordained, concerning the Holy Monasteries, so let them remain inviolate, without any gain-saying; and if there be any one who shall refuse to obey this Command from GOD, the Pope, and Us, but shall despise it, and count it as nothing; let him know, that he shall give an Account of it before the Tribunal of GOD. And I Aethelheard the Arch∣bishop, with Twelve Bishops, and Three and Twenty Abbots, do hereby establish and confirm this Decree with the Sign of the Cross.

This Council, thô the Annals do not expresly mention it under that Title, is that great Council of Becanceld, placed in Sir H. Spelman's Col∣lection, under Anno 798, being held under Cenwulf, King of the Merci∣ans; Aethelheard, Arch-bishop of Canterbury, with 17 Bishops more, who all subscribed to this Decree, thô the Annals mention no more than 12 Bishops, to have been there.

This Year the Romans took Pope Leo, and cut out his Tongue,* 1.343 and put cut his Eyes, and deposed him; but presently after (if it may be believed,) he could both see, and speak, by the help of GOD, as well as he could before; and was also restored to the Papacy (by the Em∣perour Charles.) Also Eanbald, the Arch-bishop of York, received the Pall, and Ethelbert Bishop of Hagulstad deceased 3^o Kal. Nov.

This Year was a bloody Battle in the Province of Northumberland,* 1.344 in Lent-time, at Wealaege, now called Whalie) in Lancashire, where was slain Alric, the Son of Heardbert, and many others with him.

The occasion of which Civil War, Simeon of Durham hath thus given us ••iz, That besides Alric, there were divers others in Northumberland, who had formerly conspired against King Ethelred, and now raising a Rebellion against Eardwulf, under Wad•• their Captain, after much slaughter on both sides at Billangahoth, near Whalie in Lancashire; the Conspirators being at last put to flight, King Eardwulf returned home

Victorious.* 1.345 The same Year London (according to the same Author,) with a great multitude of its Inhabitants, by a sudden Fire was Con∣sumed.

And now (according both to Simeon of Durham, and Roger Hoveden,) was held the Second Council of Pinchinhale in the Kingdom of Northum∣berland, under Eanbald Arch-bishop of York, and divers other Principal and Ecclesiastical Men, where many things were ordained for the Profit of GOD's Church, and of the Northumbrian Nation; as concerning the keeping Easter, and other Matters not particularly mentioned.

* 1.346The same Year also (according to Monasticon Anglicanum,) Kenwulf, King of the Mercians, founded a stately Abbey at Winchelcomb in Glo∣cestershire for 300 Benedictine Monks, and when it was Dedicated in the Presence of Wilfrid Arch-bishop of Canterbury, and 13 other Bishops, he then set free before the High Altar, Eadbert, King of Kent, who was then his Prisoner of War.

But having before most cruelly put out his Eyes, and cut off his Hands, and disposed of his Kingdom to another, I doubt that Liberty proved but a small Satisfaction to his poor injured Prince. But such was the Superstitious Zeal of that Age, the Foundation of a Monastery was counted a sufficient Atonement to GOD, for whatsoever Cruelties or Injustice Princes hath then committed.

* 1.347

This Year Eth••lheard the Arclt-bishop, and Cynebriht, Bishop of the West Saxons, went to Rome, the latter to take the Habit of a Monk,) and Bishop Alfwin deceased at Southburg, (now Sutbury,) in Suffolk, and was buried at Domuc (now Dunwich,) in the same County, (being then the Seat of that Bishoprick;) and Tidfrith was chosen in his Room. Also this Year, the Body of St. Wihtburh was found at Durham, entire and uncorrupt, after she had been dead 55 Years.

And the same Year (according to Roger Hoveden,) Os••ald, who had been before King of Northumberland died an Abbot, and was buried in York Minster; and Alred, the Ealderman, who slew King Aethelred, was also killed by one Thormond, in Revenge of the Death of his Lord.

Also the Moon was Eclipsed in the second Hour of the Night, 17^o Kal. Feb.* 1.348 Also this Year Beorthric, (or Brihtrick,) King of the West Saxons, deceased: As also Worre an Ealderman: Then also Ecgbriht began to Reign over the West Saxons; and the same Day, (or Year, as Florence of Worcester hath it,) Aethelmond, Ealderman of Wiccon, (that is Worcester∣shire,) pass'd the River Severne at Cynesmeresford, (suppose to be Kems∣ford in Glocestershire,) and there met him Weoxton the Ealdormen, with the Wiltshire Men who gained the Victory.

I cannot find in any Author the occasion of this Quarrel; only, that it was fought between these Earls, one of the West Saxons, and the other of the Mercians; but such Bickerings we often meet with in these Writers, and so related,* 1.349 are of no more use to Human Life, than to Chronicle the Skirmishes of Crows or Jack daws flocking together, and Fighting in Air.

The same Year is very remarkable, because (as our Annals relate,) Charles the Great was first made Emperour, and saluted Augustus by the Romans; he then condemned those to Death who had before outraged Pope Leo; but by the Pope's Intercession they were pardoned as to Life, and only banished; but Pope Leo himself anointed him Emperour.

Also this Year, according to the * 1.350 Welsh Chronicles, Publisht by Arthen

ap Sitsilt, King of Cardigan; and Run, King of Divet; and Cadel,* 1.351 King of Pow••s, all three died.

Now also (according to Florence, and Simeon,) Alchmaid, Son to Ethel∣red, late King of Northumberland, being taken by the Guards of K. Ear∣dulf, was by his Command slain; but without telling us any Reason why.

Also about this time, according to Sir H. Spelman's First Volume of Councils, was held the Third Council of Cloveshoe, under Kenwulf, King of the Mercians, and Athelherd, or Ethelhard, Arch-Bishop of Canterbury, with all the Bishops, Ealderman, Abbots, and other Dignified Persons of that Province; in which few Things were transacted concerning the Faith, only the Lands of a certain Monastery, called Cotham, which had been given by Ethelbald, King of the Mercians, to the Monastery of St. Saviours's in Canterbury, and had been upon the Embezeling the Deeds, unjustly taken away by King Kenwulph, but he now repenting of it, desired they should be restored; whereupon Cynedrith, his Daughter, then Abbess of that Monastery, gave the said Arch-Bishop other Lands in Kent there mentioned, in exchange for the same.

But since I am come to the Conclusion of this Period, I cannot omit giving you a fuller Account of the Character, and Death of Brithric King of the West Saxons, and of the Succession of Egbert, who after∣wards became the Chief or Supreme King of this Kingdom, and to whom all those Kings that remained were forced to become Tributary.

As for King Britric, he is noted by Will. of Malmesbury to have been more desirous of Peace, than War; and to that end, courted the Friend∣ship of Foreign Princes, to have been easie to his Subjects in such Things as did not weaken his Government; yet being jealous of Prince Eg∣bert, who afterwards succeeded him, he forced him to flee to King Offa for Refuge; but upon the coming of certain Ambassadours to Treat of a Marriage between King Brithric, and the Daughter of King Offa, he retired into France, till that King was made away by the means of his Wife Aeadburga, the Daughter of King Offa; who having prepared a Cup of poisoned Wine for one of his Favourites whom she hated, the King, coming in by chance, tasted of it, and so pined away. After whose Death, Asser, in his Annals, relates, That when this Queen could live no longer among the English, (being so hated by them for her violent and wicked Actions,) she went into France, where she was kindly Enter∣tained by Charles the Great, and there making that Emperour many great Presents, for which he bidding her chuse whom she would have for a Husband, himself, or his Son, she foolishly chose his Son; whereupon the Emperour laughing, said If thou hadst chosen me, thou shouldest have had my Son, but now thou shalt have neither: (A just Return for her desiring to marry one so much younger than her self.) So the Emperour put her into a Monastery, where she lived for some Years as an Abbess; but being Expelled thence for her Incontinency, she wandred about with only one Servant, and begged her Bread in Pavia in Italy, till she died.

But as for Egbert above mentioned, when he had been for about three Years banished into France, where (as William of Malmesbury tells us) he polished the Roughness of his own Country Manners, the French Nation being at that time the most Civilized of any of those Gothic and German Nations, who had some Ages before (as hath been already re∣lated) settled themselves in this side of Europe: But upon the Death

of King Brihtric,* 1.352 without any Issue, (as the same Author relates,) he was recalled by the Nobility of the West Saxon Kingdom; and being there ordained King, reigned with great Glory and Honour, exceeding all the English Saxon Kings that went before him, as shall be declared in the ensuing Book.

But before I conclude this, I cannot forbear mentioning a Learned English-man, who flourished about this time, called Alcuinus, or Albinus; who, going into France, was in great Favour with Charles the Great, whom he taught the Liberal Arts, and by his means erected the Univer∣sity of Paris, where he read Logic, Rhetoric, and Astronomy; being the most Learned Man of all the English-men (if not of all others) in his Time. He died Abbot of St. Martins at Tours, which that King be∣stowed upon him. He wrote elegantly in Verse, as well as Prose, con∣sidering the Age he lived in; as appears by his Poem De Pontificibus & Sanctis Ecclesiae Eboracencis, lately Published by the Reverend and Learned Dr. Gale, in his last Volume of English Historians.

So having arrived to the end of this Period, I shall in the next Book shew, how King Egbert obtained not only the Crown of the West Saxon Kingdom, but also the Supreme Dominion of the English Nation.

The End of the Fourth Book.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Bede, l. 2. c. 1.
• * 1.2

  Li••. 1. c••ap. 23.
• * 1.3

  Anno Dom. CCCCXCVIII.
• * 1.4

  Ibid.
• * 1.5

  Anno Dom. CCCCXCVIII.
• * 1.6

  Anno Dom. CCCCXCVIII.
• * 1.7

  Anno Dom. DXCIX.
• * 1.8

  Anno Dom. DC.
• * 1.9

  Ibid.
• * 1.10

  P. 111. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Dein.
• * 1.11

  Anno Dom. DCI.
• * 1.12

  Anno Dom. DCI.
• * 1.13

  Ib••d
• * 1.14

  Anno Dom. DCI.
• * 1.15

  Anno Dom. DCII.
• * 1.16

  Bede Lib. 1. Cap. 34.
• * 1.17

  Anno Dom. DCIV.
• * 1.18

  Id. Lib. 11 c. 3.
• * 1.19

  Sax. Ann.
• * 1.20

  Anno Dom. DCIV.
• * 1.21

  Bede Ib. c. 2.
• * 1.22

  Page 67.
• * 1.23

  Bucher de Canone Pasch. 138, and 139. Usher's Religi∣on of Ireland, c. 9. p. 93. Vi. Dr. Still∣ingfleets answer to S. C. p. 319, &c.
• * 1.24

  Bede Lib. 3.25. ••. 235, 2••6.
• * 1.25

  Bucher Ibid.
• * 1.26

  Anno Dom. DCIV.
• * 1.27

  Anno Dom. DCIV.
• * 1.28

  Vi. Spelman's Concil. p. 108.
• * 1.29

  Anno Dom. DVC.
• * 1.30

  Vi. Annales Baron. Flo∣rence of Wor∣cester.
• * 1.31

  Anno Dom. DCV.
• * 1.32

  Vi Spelman's Council, 1 Vol. p. 118, 119, 120.
• * 1.33

  Anno Dom. DCVII.
• * 1.34

  Ibid. cap.
• * 1.35

  Lib. 11.
• * 1.36

  Lib. 1. cap.
• * 1.37

  Anno Dom. DCVII.
• * 1.38

  Lib. 2. c. 4.
• * 1.39

  Vi. X. Scr••pt col.
• * 1.40

  Anno Dom. DCVIII.
• * 1.41

  Bede Lib. 2.
• * 1.42

  Anno Dom. DCXI.
• * 1.43

  Vi. Monast. Ang. T. 1. p 5.
• * 1.44

  Anno Dom. DCXIV.
• * 1.45

  Anno Dom. DCXIV.
• * 1.46

  Anno Dom. DCXV.
• * 1.47

  De Just. P••nt f. Lib. 1.
• * 1.48

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. 14.
• * 1.49

  Anno Dom. DCXV.
• * 1.50

  Coll. 2229.
• * 1.51

  P. 220.
• * 1.52

  Anno Dom. DCXVI.
• * 1.53

  Bede, Ibid.
• * 1.54

  Id. Ibid.
• * 1.55

  Anno Dom. DCXVI.
• * 1.56

  Anno Dom. DCXVII.
• * 1.57

  Anno Dom. DCXVII.
• * 1.58

  Anno Dom. DCXX.
• * 1.59

  Anno Dom. DCXXIV.
• * 1.60

  ••e••e, l. 11. c 8. An. DCXXV.
• * 1.61

  Ib. chap. 9
• * 1.62

  Anno Dom. DCXXV.
• * 1.63

  Anno Dom. DCXXVI.
• * 1.64

  Id••m. c. 10.
• * 1.65

  Anno Dom. DCXXVI.
• * 1.66

  Id. c. 13••
• * 1.67

  Anno Dom. DCXXVI.
• * 1.68

  Anno Dom. DCXXVII.
• * 1.69

  Ibid. c. 14.
• * 1.70

  Anno Dom. DCXXVIII.
• * 1.71

  Ibid. c. 15.
• * 1.72

  Idem Ibid.
• * 1.73

  Id c. 17.
• * 1.74

  Id. c. 18.
• * 1.75

  Anno Dom. DCXXXIII.
• * 1.76

  Ibid. cap. 20.
• * 1.77

  Anno Dom. DCXXXIV.
• * 1.78

  Ibid. Lib. 3. Cap. 1.
• * 1.79

  Anno Dom. DCXXXIV.
• * 1.80

  Ibid cap. 3.
• * 1.81

  Id. cap. 1.
• * 1.82

  Id. cap. 2.
• * 1.83

  Anno Dom. DCXVI.
• * 1.84

  Id. Cap. 5.
• * 1.85

  Id. Cap. 6.
• * 1.86

  Anno Dom. DCXXXIV.
• * 1.87

  Anno Dom. DCXXXV.
• * 1.88

  Id. c. 7.
• * 1.89

  Anno Dom. DCXXXVI.
• * 1.90

  Bede, Id. c. 18.
• * 1.91

  Anno Dom. DCXXXVI.
• * 1.92

  Ibid.
• * 1.93

  Anno Dom. DCXXXIX.
• * 1.94

  Anno Dom. DCXL.
• * 1.95

  Id. c. 8.
• * 1.96

  Ibid.
• * 1.97

  Anno Dom. DCXLII.
• * 1.98

  Bede, Id. c. 9.
• * 1.99

  Anno Dom. DCXLII.
• * 1.100

  Bede. l. 3. c. 18.
• * 1.101

  Anno Dom. DCXLIII.
• * 1.102

  Vid. Monast. Ang. T. 1. p. 31. Angl. Sacra, T. 1. Annal. Winton in Bib. Cotton.
• * 1.103

  Anno Dom. DCXLIV.
• * 1.104

  Anno Dom. DCXLV.
• * 1.105

  L. 3. c. 7.
• * 1.106

  Anno Dom. DCXLVI.
• * 1.107

  Ibid.
• * 1.108

  Anno Dom. DCXLVI.
• * 1.109

  Anno Dom. DCXLVIII.
• * 1.110

  Anno Dom. DCL.
• * 1.111

  Anno Dom. DCLI.
• * 1.112

  Lib. 3. c. 14.
• * 1.113

  Anno Dom. DCLI.
• * 1.114

  Anno Dom. DCLII.
• * 1.115

  Anno Dom. DCLIII.
• * 1.116

  Lib. 3. c. 21.
• * 1.117

  Anno Dom. DCLIII.
• * 1.118

  Bede Ib. c. 22.
• * 1.119

  Anno Dom. DCLIV
• * 1.120

  Anno Dom. DCLV
• * 1.121

  Lib. 3. c 1••
• * 1.122

  Anno Dom. DCLV.
• * 1.123

  Anno Dom. DCLVI.
• * 1.124

  Anno Dom. DCLVI.
• * 1.125

  Anno Dom. DCLVIII.
• * 1.126

  Anno Dom. DCLIX.
• * 1.127

  Anno Dom. DCLXI.
• * 1.128

  Lib. 11. Cap. 13.
• * 1.129

  Id. cap. 22.
• * 1.130

  Anno Dom. DCLXI.
• * 1.131

  M.
• * 1.132

  Anno Dom. DCLXIV.
• * 1.133

  Id. Cap. 25.
• * 1.134

  Lately pub∣lish••d at Ox∣ford, by the Learned Dr. Ga••e.
• * 1.135

  Anno Dom. DCLXIV.
• * 1.136

  Lib. 4. c. 30.
• * 1.137

  Anno Dom. DCLXV.
• * 1.138

  Anno Dom. DCLXV.
• * 1.139

  Anno Dom. DCLXVI.
• * 1.140

  Lib. 4. c. 1.
• * 1.141

  Anno Dom. DCLXVII.
• * 1.142

  Lib. 3. c. 29.
• * 1.143

  Lib. 4. c. 2.
• * 1.144

  Anno Dom. DCLXVII.
• * 1.145

  Anno Dom. DCLXIX.
• * 1.146

  Anno Dom. DCLXX.
• * 1.147

  Lib. 4. c. 5.
• * 1.148

  Anno Dom. DCLXXI.
• * 1.149

  Anno Dom. DCLXXII.
• * 1.150

  Anno Dom. DCLXXII.
• * 1.151

  Lib. 4. c. 12.
• * 1.152

  Lib. 4. c. 3.
• * 1.153

  Anno Dom. DCLXXIII.
• * 1.154

  Lib. 4. c. 5.
• * 1.155

  〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.156

  Id. c. 19.
• * 1.157

  Anno Dom. DCLXXIV.
• * 1.158

  Published by Sir Ja. Ware 1664, with other Pieces of Bede, and Arch-Bishop Egbert; it is also in Ma∣nuscript in the Cottonian Li∣brary.
• * 1.159

  Anno Dom. DCLXXV.
• * 1.160

  In Stafford∣shire.
• * 1.161

  Anno Dom. DCLXXV.
• * 1.162

  Vid. Monast. Angl. p 97, 98.
• * 1.163

  Lib. 4. c. 6.
• * 1.164

  Anno Dom. DCLXXVI.
• * 1.165

  Lib. 4. c. 12.
• * 1.166

  Anno Dom. DCLXXVII.
• * 1.167

  Anno Dom. DCLXXVIII.
• * 1.168

  Ibid.
• * 1.169

  Anno Dom. DCLXXVIII.
• * 1.170

  Vid. Vitam Sancti Wilfre∣di, c. 24.
• † 1.171

  De Pontif. l. 3.
• * 1.172

  Anno Dom. DCLXXIX.
• * 1.173

  Vit. Wil••redi, c. 39.
• * 1.174

  Lib. 4. c. 13.
• * 1.175

  Anno Dom. DCLXXIX.
• * 1.176

  Cap. 40.
• * 1.177

  Ibid cap. 13.
• * 1.178

  Bede ibid.
• * 1.179

  Bede, lib. 4. cap. 21.
• * 1.180

  Bede, lib. 4. cap. 19.
• * 1.181

  Anno Dom. DCLXXIX.
• * 1.182

  Ibid. Lib. 4. cap. 25.
• * 1.183

  Id cap. 5.
• * 1.184

  Anno Dom. DCLXXX.
• * 1.185

  Vi. Sir H. Spelman 1. Vol. p. 168.
• * 1.186

  Id. Cap. 18.
• * 1.187

  Anno Dom. DCLXXX.
• * 1.188

  Cited in Mona∣sticon Anglica∣num, p. 120.
• * 1.189

  Anno Dom. DCLXXX.
• * 1.190

  Anno Dom. DCLXXXI.
• * 1.191

  Anno Dom. DCLXXXII.
• * 1.192

  Anno Dom. DCLXXXIV.
• * 1.193

  Lib. 4. c. 26.
• * 1.194

  Anno Dom. DCLXXXV.
• * 1.195

  Bede, lib. 4. cap. 27, 28.
• * 1.196

  Anno Dom. DCLXXXV.
• * 1.197

  Id. cap. 26.
• * 1.198

  Ibid.
• * 1.199

  Anno Dom. DCLXXXV.
• * 1.200

  Cap. 41.
• * 1.201

  Bede lib. 4. cap. 5.
• * 1.202

  Anno Dom. DCLXXXVI.
• * 1.203

  Id. cap. 16.
• * 1.204

  Anno Dom. DCLXXXVI.
• * 1.205

  Id. ibid cap. 30.
• * 1.206

  Anno Dom. DCLXXXVII.
• * 1.207

  Anno Dom. DCLXXXVIII.
• * 1.208

  B••••e, lib. c. 7.
• * 1.209

  Anno Dom. DCLXXXVIII.
• * 1.210

  Vid. Guidow in Catalogo Pontific sub sergio.
• * 1.211

  Anno Dom. DCXC.
• * 1.212

  Lib. 5. cap. 8.
• * 1.213

  Anno Dom. DCXCI.
• * 1.214

  Cap. 44.
• * 1.215

  Anno Dom. DCXCI.
• * 1.216

  Anno Dom. DCXCI.
• * 1.217

  Anno Dom. DCXCIII.
• * 1.218

  Anno Dom. DCLXXX.
• * 1.219

  Anno Dom. DCXCIV.
• * 1.220

  Anno Dom. DCLXXXV.
• * 1.221

  Lib. 4. cap. 11.
• * 1.222

  Anno Dom. DCXCVII.
• * 1.223

  Anno Dom. DCLXXIV.
• * 1.224

  Anno Dom. DCXCIX.
• * 1.225

  Id. c. 12.
• * 1.226

  Anno Dom. DCC.
• * 1.227

  Anno Dom. DCCII.
• * 1.228

  Anno Dom. DCCIII.
• * 1.229

  Anno Dom. DCCIV.
• * 1.230

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. c. 20.
• * 1.231

  Anno Dom. DCCV.
• * 1.232

  Anno Dom. DCCV.
• * 1.233

  Vid. Decem Script. col. 296.
• * 1.234

  Cap. 11, 12.
• * 1.235

  Lib. 5. c. 19
• * 1.236

  Anno Dom. DCCV.
• * 1.237

  Anno Dom. DCCIX.
• * 1.238

  Lib. 5. c. 20
• * 1.239

  Anno Dom. DCCIX.
• * 1.240

  Cap. 62, 63.
• * 1.241

  Anno Dom. DCCX.
• * 1.242

  Anno Dom. DCCXII.
• * 1.243

  Lib. 5. c. 22.
• * 1.244

  Anno Dom. DCCXII.
• * 1.245

  Page 210.
• * 1.246

  Anno Dom. DCCXV.
• * 1.247

  Anno Dom. DCCXVI.
• * 1.248

  Vi. Monast. A••gl. P. 15••.
• * 1.249

  Anno Dom. DCCXVII.
• * 1.250

  Anno Dom. DCCXX.
• * 1.251

  Anno Dom. DCCXXI.
• * 1.252

  Anno Dom. DCCXXII.
• * 1.253

  Anno Dom. DCCXXV.
• * 1.254

  Anno Dom. DCCXXVII.
• * 1.255

  Lib. 5. c. 24.
• * 1.256

  Anno Dom. DCCXXVIII.
• * 1.257

  Anno Dom. DCCXXVIII.
• * 1.258

  Vid. Lam∣bert's Arch. cap. 17.
• * 1.259

  Anno Dom· DCCXXIX.
• * 1.260

  Anno Dom. DCCXXX.
• * 1.261

  Anno Dom. DCCXXXI.
• * 1.262

  Anno Dom. DCCXXXI.
• * 1.263

  Anno Dom. DCCXXXIII.
• * 1.264

  Anno Dom. DCCXXXIV.
• * 1.265

  Anno Dom. DCCXXXV.
• * 1.266

  Anno Dom. DCCXXXV.
• * 1.267

  Anno Dom. DCCXXXVI.
• * 1.268

  Anno Dom. DCCXXXVII.
• * 1.269

  Anno Dom. DC••XXX••X.
• * 1.270

  Anno Dom. DCCXXXIX.
• * 1.271

  Anno Dom. DCCXL.
• * 1.272

  Anno Dom. DCCXLI.
• * 1.273

  Anno Dom. DCCXLII.
• * 1.274

  Vid. Nomi∣num, & Locorum explan. ad fin. Chron. Saxon. nuper Edit. per Edm. Gibson.
• * 1.275

  Col. 2209. Vol. 1. p. 230.
• * 1.276

  Anno Dom. DCCXLIII.
• * 1.277

  Anno Dom. DCCXLIV.
• * 1.278

  Anno Dom. DCCXLV.
• * 1.279

  Anno Dom. DCCXLVI.
• * 1.280

  Anno Dom. DCCXLVII.
• * 1.281

  P. 245,
• * 1.282

  Anno Dom. DCCXLVIII.
• * 1.283

  Anno Dom. DCCXLIX.
• * 1.284

  Anno Dom. DCCL.
• * 1.285

  Anno Dom. DCCLIII.
• * 1.286

  Anno Dom. DCCLIV.
• * 1.287

  Anno Dom. DCCLV.
• * 1.288

  Anno Dom. DCCLV.
• * 1.289

  Anno Dom, DCCLVI.
• * 1.290

  Anno Dom. DCCLVII.
• * 1.291

  Anno Dom. DCCLVIII.
• * 1.292

  Anno Dom. DCCLIX.
• * 1.293

  Anno Dom. DCCLX.
• * 1.294

  Anno Dom. DCCLXI.
• * 1.295

  Anno Dom. DCCLXII.
• * 1.296

  Anno Dom. DCCLXIII.
• * 1.297

  Anno Dom. DCCLXIV.
• * 1.298

  Anno Dom. DCCLXV.
• * 1.299

  De Gestis Pontif. l. i.
• * 1.300

  Anno Dom. DCCLXVI.
• * 1.301

  Anno Dom. DCCLXVII.
• * 1.302

  Anno Dom. DCCLXVIII.
• * 1.303

  Anno Dom. DCCLXIX.
• * 1.304

  Anno Dom. DCCLXXI.
• * 1.305

  Anno Dom. DCCLXXII.
• * 1.306

  Anno Dom. DCCLXXIII.
• * 1.307

  Anno Dom. DCCLXXIV.
• * 1.308

  Anno Dom. DCCLXXV.
• * 1.309

  Anno Dom. DCCLXXV.
• * 1.310

  Anno Dom. DCCLXXVI.
• * 1.311

  Anno Dom. DCCLXXVII.
• * 1.312

  Anno Dom. DCCLXXVIII.
• * 1.313

  Anno Dom. DCCLXXX.
• * 1.314

  Anno Dom. DCCLXXX.
• * 1.315

  Anno Dom. DCCLXXXII.
• * 1.316

  Page 305.
• * 1.317

  Anno Dom. DCCLXXXIV.
• * 1.318

  Anno Dom. DCCLXXXIV.
• * 1.319

  Anno Dom. DCCLXXXV
• * 1.320

  Anno Dom. DCCXXXVI.
• * 1.321

  Vid. Spelman's Counc••l. vol. 1.
• * 1.322

  Anno Dom. DCCXXXVI.
• * 1.323

  Anno Dom. DCCXXXVI
• * 1.324

  De Pontif. l. 1.
• * 1.325

  Anno Dom. DCCLXXXVII.
• * 1.326

  Anno Dom. DCCLXXXVII.
• * 1.327

  Anno Dom. DCCLXXXIX.
• * 1.328

  Anno Dom. DCCXC.
• * 1.329

  Anno Dom. DCCXCI.
• * 1.330

  Anno Dom. CCXCI.
• * 1.331

  Vid. Sir. H. Spe••man's Councel, 1. vol. p. 307.
• * 1.332

  Anno Dom. DCCXCII.
• * 1.333

  Anno Dom. DCCXCIII.
• * 1.334

  P. 17••.
• * 1.335

  Anno Dom. DCCXCIII.
• * 1.336

  Anno Dom. DCCXCIV.
• * 1.337

  Anno Dom. DCCXCIV.
• * 1.338

  P. 314.
• * 1.339

  Anno Dom. DCCXCIV.
• * 1.340

  Anno Dom. DCCXCV.
• * 1.341

  Anno Dom DCCXCV.
• * 1.342

  Anno Dom. DCCXCVI.
• * 1.343

  Anno Dom. DCCXCVII.
• * 1.344

  Anno Dom. DCCXCVIII.
• * 1.345

  Anno Dom. DCCXCVIII.
• * 1.346

  Tom. 1. p. 187.
• * 1.347

  Anno Dom. DCCXCIX.
• * 1.348

  Anno Dom. DCCC.
• * 1.349

  M.
• * 1.350

  Dr. Powe••'s History.
• * 1.351

  Anno Dom. DCCC.
• * 1.352

  Anno Dom. DCCC.