The history of England giving a true and impartial account of the most considerable transactions in church and state, in peace and war, during the reigns of all the kings and queens, from the coming of Julius Cæsar into Britain : with an account of all plots, conspiracies, insurrections, and rebellions ... : likewise, a relation of the wonderful prodigies ... to the year 1696 ... : together with a particular description of the rarities in the several counties of England and Wales, with exact maps of each county / by John Seller ...

6. The East Angle Kingdom Described, with the Succession of its Fifteen Kings.

THE Kingdom of the East Angles contained Suffolk, Norfolk, Cambridgeshire, and the Isle of Ely; Bounded on the East, with the Ger∣man Ocean; on the South, with Essex and Hartford∣shire; on the West, with Notinghamshire, Huntington∣shire, and part of Bedfordshire; on the North, partly by the German Ocean, and partly by the River Trent, and Northumbrian Kingdom; Commodiously Situate for Navigation, as being accommodated with divers good Havens, famous for Butter, Cattel, Corn, Wooll, Cloath, Stuffs, &c. The First Saxon Founder of this Kingdom was

Offa, a High German Nobleman, who brought over considerable Forces, upon notice his Countrymen were parcelling out the Southern parts of this Island; and Landing at Yarmouth, he prevailed, with some difficul∣ty, to settle himself and his People, in the Counties above-mentioned; beginning his Reign Anno Dom. 575, and Reigned Seven Years, being for the most

part at peace. In his time, a great Eclipse of the Sun happened about Noon, almost total, so that it continued in a great degree Dark, for the space of an Hour.

Titulus Succeeding Ʋffa, Anno Dom. 583, laboured to settle his Borders, and keep a good understanding with his Neighbours; and perceiving the British Forces were rather Retired than Subdued, he made many wholsom Laws to keep his People in order, repaired the Ruined Towns, built Forts on the Sea-Coast, and Reigned about 32 Years, keeping his Country for the greater part of that time in Quiet, he was the Second King of the East Angle Kingdom.

Redwald, the Third King of the East Angles, began his Reign Anno Dom. 616. Soon after his coming to the Throne, he was Baptized into the Christian Faith; but upon some distaste, renounced his Baptismal Vows, and became a great Persecutor of the Christians; amongst others, he intended the Death of Edwin afterward King of Northumherland, who fled to his Court for Refuge, because he interceeded for them. But he being a Fa∣vorite of the Queens, and the King imparting his de∣sign to her, she pittying the young Prince, so laboured to disswade him from it, that he not only laid aside his wicked purpose, but entered into a strict League with him, and an Army was raised to place him in the King∣dom of Northumberland; when in a great Battel they Slew Ethelfrid, who had got possession of the Throne, and had Banished Edwin. This Redwald Reigned Eight Years.

Erpenwald, the Fourth King of the East Angles, be∣gan his Reign Anno Dom. 624. He, by the perswasion of Edwin King of Northumberland, became a Favourer of the Christians, and was Baptized; he built divers Churches, and Monasteries; but when he had Reigned about Twelve Years, Richebert a Pagan Saxon, (out of a

Zeal to their False Gods, whose Idol Temples this King had caused to be converted into places of Christian Wor∣ship) Assnssinated him, and fled; but being taken, en∣deavoring to pass the Seas, he was put to death by ex∣quisit Torments.

Sigebert, the Fifth King of the East Angles, began his Reign Anno Dom. 636. He was Son to Redwald, and having received a good opinion of the Christian Religion, (when he was very Young) he upon his Fathers Aposta∣tizing fled into that Country now call'd France, antient∣ly Gallia; where he improved in the Study of Divine things, so that being a great lover of Learned Men, at his coming to the Crown he Founded a Colledge, En∣dowing it with a plentiful Maintenance, viz. Anno Dom. 637; and so passionately he was in love with a Religious manner of Living, that laying aside his Crown, when he had Reigoed Two Years, he took on him the Habit of a Monk; yet out of compassion to his suffering People, Invaded and driven to great distress, by Penda King of the Mercians, he laid aside his Cowl, and re-assumed his Crown; when in Battel against him, he was Slain, in the Third Year after his coming to the Crown.

Egrick, or Edrick (for by both Namers Authos make mention of this King) began his Reign Anno Dom. 638. He continued the War against the Mercians, and gave them divers Foiles; but coming to a pitched Battel, endeavouring to break in upon Penda's Standard, he was Slain; upon which his Army was so disheartned, that many of them throwing down their Weapons, a general Rout and Flight ensued; whereupon the Mer∣cians following with great fury, about Seven Thousand were Slain, and not less than Three Thousand of the Mercians. He began his Reign Anno Dom. 638, and Reigned Four Years.

Anna, the Seventh King of the East Angles, began

his Reign Anno Dom. 642, and although he Reign∣ed Twelve Years, yet few of his Actions are Recorded, more than that he endeauoured to settle his Kingdom, and laboured for Peace with his Neighbours, which at last was accorded, though on very hard conditions.

Ethelbert, the Eighth King of the East Angles, finding he was too weak to oppose the Northumbrians, who had got strong footing in the Northern Frontier Towns, he made a League with Penda King of Mercia, at which Oswye King of Northumberland, being much disgusted, raised a great Army; and War being denounced, the East Angles and Mercians thinking it not convenient to stay his coming, resolved to place the seat of War in his Country; but in their March, a fatal Omen seemed to forbid it, viz. Two Flights of Birds, (one from the North, and the other from the South) met, and Encoun∣tered over their Host with such Fury, that many drops of Blood, as it had been small sprinklings of Raine, fell from the Wounds made on each other with their Bills and Talons, till at last the Southern Flight turned Taile, with a strange Noise, or Cryes, and were Pursued till out of sight. Soon after this, Penda, Ethelbert, and their Confederates, joyn∣ed Battel with Oswye near Leeds in Yorkshire; and in a great Overthrow of their Armys, the two Kings were Slain with 18000 of their Men, and among them 30 Dukes and chief Leaders. This Ethelbert Reigned two Years.

Edelwald, the Ninth King of the East Angles, began his Reign Anno Dom. 656. He purchas'd his Peace with a great Sum, when he found he was too feeble to oppose his Enemies; and gave up Cantionary Towns to the Northumbers, for the security of payment: This caused a Murmuring among his Subjects, which broke into Tumults; so that much grieved at his misfortunes Abroad and at Home, he Dyed, when he had Reigned Eight Years.

Aldulfe, the Tenth King of the East Angles, was ad∣vanced to the Crown Anno Dom. 664, in a very troublesome time; however with some difficulties, he brought the Kingdom to a settlement, and continued his Reign Ninteen Years. In his time a terrible Earth-Quake happened, giving three violent shocks, which shattered and overturned divers massy Buildings; but the greatest dammage fell upon the City of London, many People being destroyed by the fall of Chimneys, Houses, &c. And soon after so great a Frost happened, That loaded Carts went over the principal Rivers, as securely as if it had been on dry Land.

Elfwold, the Eleventh King of the East Angles, be∣gan to Reign Anno Dom. 683. The Danes in his time began to be troublesome, and Invaded the Scots and Callidonians, commiting terrible Outrages in Argyle∣shire, and other parts, subduing all the Islands belonging to Scotland, advancing after many Battels, upon the Picts, and as far as the Tweed; whereupon those Na∣tions craved Aid of this, and other Saxon Kings, to Expel them; urging, as a main reason, the Mutual Danger they were in, by the Invasion of so powerful an Enemy; which (though it proved fatally true) was at that time little minded. This King Reigned Seven Years.

Beorne, the Twelfth King of the East Angles, be∣gan his Reign Anno Dom. 690: And though he con∣tinued it Twenty Four Years, yet there is nothing Memorable Recorded of him, as to certainty of History, but his Building some Monasteries, and making divers good Laws for the well Governing of his Subjects.

Ethelred, the Thirteenth King of the East Angles, began his Reign Anno Dom. 714. In his Second Year, on Midsummer-Day at Sunseting, dark Clouds overspread the Skies, and then withdrawing, the Element seemed on

Fire; after that, many fearful sights appeared in the Air, of Armies and Monsterous Creatures; upon which followed so great a Storm, that many Ships were broken to pieces in the Havens, mighty Oaks rent up, and Houses overturned. He Reigned, sometimes in War and at others in Peace, Thirty Five Years.

Ethelbert, the Second of that Name, and the Fourteenth King of the East Angles, began his Reign Anno Dom. 749. He, in the last Year of his Reign, sent Ambas∣sadors to Offa King of Mercia, to treat of Peace, and the restoring some Towns taken from him and his Pre∣decessors, which Offa seemed enclinable to hearken to, sending them back with Presents and Rewards, as also a dissembling Letter to Invite Ethelbert to his Court, under pretence of giving him his Beauteous Daughter Alfrida in Marriage, that the League between them might be the stronger; but indeed aiming to add the East Angle Kingdom to his own Dominions; and hav∣ing gotten the too credulous Prince in his power, he consulted with Quindride how he should dispose of him, to accomplish his designes; who being a Woman In∣ured to Blood and Mischief, Counseled his Death, which was performed in the heighth of Jollitry, by disguised Ruffians; so that instead of a Bridal Bed, he had an untimely Grave, when he had Reigned Forty Five Years.

Edmund, the Fifteenth and last King of the East Angles, began his Reign Anno Dom. 794. He was a great encourager of Religious Persons, allowing large Sums to Churches and Church-men; but one of his No∣bles whom he had constituted as Vice Roy, Ravishing the Beautious Wife of Beorn, a Nobleman, who in his Progress had sumptuously Feasted him; This Beorn preferring his private Revenge to the good of his Country, called in the Danes, (who before were much

discouraged) and charge the Guilt on Innocent King Edmund, because he had not put the Offender to Death, as the Law then directed; which indeed, he durst not do, the other being grown too powerful for him. And now the King being Overthrown in divers Bat∣tels, his Country scattered over with his Slain Subjects, and most of the principal Towns laid in Ruines, he was constrained to fly for shelter to Framingham Castle, where the Danes Besieged him, and through Famine and loss of Men constraining the Garrison to Surren∣der, they stripped the King of his Royal Robes, beat his Naked Body with Cudgels, scourging him till the Bones of his Ribs appeared bare, he bearing it patient∣ly all the while, calling on the Name of Jesus; which so enraged the Pagans, That Tying him to a Post, they Shot him to Death with Arrows, then cut off his Head, and threw it into a Wood, which being found by a Shep∣herd, was Buried, together with his Body, at a place in Suffolk, bearing from thence the Name of St. Edmunds-Bury; he being soon after Cannonized a Saint and Martyr; And with him ceased the East Angle Government; there being no mention made of any more Kings that Governed it, as a distinct Kingdom. About the number of Years he Reigned, Authors disa∣gree; and therefore I pass them over as uncertain, and proceed to the last of the Seven Kingdoms, viz. That of the West Saxons.