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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/16555-0.txt b/16555-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..2c99718 --- /dev/null +++ b/16555-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,7104 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook of Chronicles 1 (of 6): The Historie of +England 5 (of 8), by Raphael Holinshed + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and +most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions +whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms +of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at +www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you +will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before +using this eBook. + +Title: Chronicles 1 (of 6): The Historie of England 5 (of 8) + The Fift Booke of the Historie of England. + +Author: Raphael Holinshed + +Release Date: August 20, 2005 [eBook #16555] +[Most recently updated: November 23, 2022] + +Language: English + +Produced by: Jonathan Ingram, Lesley Halamek and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HISTORIE OF ENGLAND *** + + + + +THE FIFT BOOKE + +OF THE + +HISTORIE OF ENGLAND. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Constantinus at the generall sute of the Britains vndertaketh to +gouerne this Iland, he is crowned king, his three sonnes, he is +traitorouslie slaine of a Pict, Constantius the eldest sonne of +Constantine hauing bene a monke is created king, the ambitious & slie +practises of duke Vortigerne to aspire to the gouernment, he procureth +certeine Picts and Scots to kill the king who had reteined them for +the gard of his person, his craftie deuises and deepe dissimulation +vnder the pretense of innocencie, he winneth the peoples harts, and is +chosen their king._ + +THE FIRST CHAPTER. + + +Having ended our former booke with the end of the Romane power ouer +this Iland, wherein the state of the Iland vnder them is at full +described; it remaineth now that we procéed to declare, in what state +they were after the Romans had refused to gouerne them anie longer. +Wherefore we will addresse our selues to saie somewhat touching the +succession of the British kings, as their histories make mention. + +[Sidenote: CONSTANTINUS. _Gal. Mon._ _Matt. Westm._] +Constantinus the brother of Aldroenus king of little Britaine, at +the sute and earnest request of the archbishop of London, made in name +of all the Britains in the Ile of great Britaine, was sent into the +same Ile by his said brother Aldroenus vpon couenants ratified in +manner as before is recited, and brought with him a conuenient power, +landing with the same at Totnesse in Deuonshire. Immediatlie after his +[Sidenote: _Caxton_ saith 12000. but _Gal._ and others say +but 2000.] +c[=o]ming on land, he gathered to him a great power of Britains, +which before his landing were hid in diuerse places of the Ile. Then +went he foorth with them, and gaue battell to the enimies, whom he +vanquished: & slue that tyrannicall king Guanius there in the field +[Sidenote: The British historie disagreeth from the Scotish.] +(as some bookes haue.) Howbeit, this agréeth not with the Scotish +writers, which affirme that they got the field, but yet lost their +king named Dongard (as in their historie ye maie read.) + +But to procéed as our writers report the matter. When the Britains had +thus ouercome their enimies, they conueied their capteine the said +Constantine vnto Cicester, and there in fulfilling their promise and +couenant made to his brother, crowned him king of great Britaine, +in the yéere of our Lord 433, which was about the fift yéere of the +emperour Valentinianus the second, and third yéere of Clodius king +[Sidenote: _Matth. West._ saith 435.] +of the Frankners after called Frenchmen, which then began to settle +themselues in Gallia, whereby the name of that countrie was afterwards +changed and called France. Constantine being thus established king, +ruled the land well and noblie, and defended it from all inuasion of +enimies during his life. He begat of his wife thrée sonnes (as the +British historie affirmeth) Constantius, Aurelius Ambrosius, and Vter +surnamed named Pendragon. The eldest, bicause he perceiued him to be +but dull of wit, and not verie toward, he made a moonke, placing him +within the abbie of Amphibalus in Winchester. + +[Sidenote: In a groue of bushes as _Gal._ saith. _Matth. West._ +_Beda_. _Orosius_. _Blondus_.] +Finallie this Constantine, after he had reigned ten yéeres, was +traitorouslie slaine one day in his owne chamber (as some write) by a +Pict, who was in such fauor with him, that he might at all times haue +frée accesse to him at his pleasure. Neither the Romane writers, +nor Beda, make anie mention of this Constantine: but of the other +Constantine they write, which immediatlie after the vsurper Gratian +was dispatched out of the way (as before ye haue heard) was aduanced +to the rule of this land, and title of emperour, onelie in hope of his +name, and for no other respect of towardnesse in him, afore time +being but a meane souldier, without anie degrée of honour. The same +Constantine (as writers record) going ouer into Gallia, adorned his +sonne Constantius with the title and dignitie of Cesar, the which +before was a moonke, and finallie as well the one as the other were +slaine, the father at Arles by earle Constantius, that was sent +against him by the emperour Honorius; and the sonne at Vienna (as +before ye haue heard) by one of his owne court called Gerontius (as in +the Italian historie ye may sée more at large.) This chanced about the +yeere of our Lord 415. +[Sidenote: 415.] + +¶ This haue we thought good to repeat in this place, for that some may +suppose that this Constantine is the same that our writers take to be +the brother of Aldroenus king of little Britaine, as the circumstance +of the time and other things to be considered may giue them occasion +to thinke, for that there is not so much credit to be yéelded to them +that haue written the British histories, but that in some part men may +with iust cause doubt of sundrie matters conteined in the same: and +therfore haue we in this booke béene the more diligent to shew what +the Romans and other forreine writers haue registred in their bookes +of histories touching the affaires of Britaine, that the reader may be +the better satisfied in the truth. But now to returne to the +sequele of the historie as we find the same written by the British +chroniclers. + +[Sidenote: This Vortigerne was duke of the Geuisses and Cornewall, as +_Rad. Cestr._ reporteth. _Gal. Mon._] +After that Constantine was murthered (as before ye haue heard) one +Vortigerus, or Vortigernus, a man of great authoritie amongst the +Britains, wrought so with the residue of the British nobilitie, +that Constantius the eldest sonne of their king the fore-remembred +Constantine, was taken out of the abbie of Winchester where he +remained, and was streightwaies created king, as lawfull inheritour to +his father. + +Ye haue heard how Constantius was made a moonke in his fathers life +time, bicause he was thought to be too soft and childish in wit, to +haue anie publike rule committed to his hands: but for that cause +speciallie did Vortigerne séeke t'aduance him, to the end that the +king being not able to gouerne of himselfe, he might haue the chiefest +swaie, and so rule all things as it were vnder him, preparing thereby +a way for himselfe to atteine at length to the kingdome as by that +which followed was more apparentlie perceiued. + +[Sidenote: CONSTANTIUS. _Matt. West._ saith 445.] +This Constantius then the sonne of Constantine, by the helpe (as +before ye haue heard) of Vortigerne, was made king of Britaine, in the +yere of our Lord 443. But Constantius bare but the name of king: for +Vortigerne abusing his innocencie and simple discretion to order +things as was requisite, had all the rule of the land, and did what +pleased him. Wherevpon first, where there had béene a league concluded +betwixt the Britains, Scots and Picts, in the daies of the late king +Constantine, Vortigerne caused the same league to be renewed, & +[Sidenote: _Hector Boet._] +waged an hundred Picts, and as manie Scots to be attendant as a gard +vpon the kings person, diuers of the which (corrupting them with faire +[Sidenote: Constantius murthered.] +promises) he procured by subtile meanes in the end to murther the +king, and immediatlie vpon the deed doone, he caused the murtherers to +be strangled, that they should not afterwards disclose by whose +[Sidenote: The subtile dealing of Vortigerne.] +procurement they did that déed. Then caused he all the residue of the +Scots and Picts to be apprehended, and as it had béene vpon a zeale +to sée the death of Constantius seuerelie punished, he framed such +inditements and accusations against them, that chieflie by his meanes +(as appeared) the giltlesse persons were condemned and hanged, +the multitude of the British people béeing woonderfullie pleased +therewith, and giuing great commendations to Vortigerne for that déed. +Thus Constantius was made awaie in maner as before ye haue heard, +after he had reigned (as most writers affirme) the space of fiue +yéeres. + +After his death was knowne, those that had the bringing vp and +[Sidenote: Aurelius Ambrosius. Vter Pendragon.] +custodie of his two yoonger brethren, Aurelius Ambrose, and +Vter Pendragon, mistrusting the wicked intent of Vortigerne, whose +dissimulation and mischieuous meaning by some great likelihoods they +suspected, with all spéed got them to the sea, and fled into litle +Britaine, there kéeping them till it pleased God otherwise to prouide +for them. But Vortigerne could so well dissemble his craftie workings, +and with such conueiance and cloked maner could shadow and colour the +matter, that most men thought and iudged him verie innocent and void +of euill meaning: insomuch that he obteined the fauour of the people +so greatlie, that he was reputed for the onelie staie and defender of +the common wealth. Herevpon it came to passe, that when the councell +was assembled to elect a new king, for so much as the other sonnes of +[Sidenote: Vortigerne chosen king of Britaine.] +king Constantine were not of age sufficient to rule, Vortigerne +himselfe was chosen, diuers of the nobles (whom he had procured +thereto) giuing their voices to this his preferment, as to one best +deseruing the same in their opinion and judgement. This Vortigerne, +as by indirect meanes and sinister procéedings he aspired to the +regiment, hauing no title therevnto, otherwise than as blind fortune +vouchsafed him the preferment: so when he was possessed, but not +interessed in the same, he vncased the crooked conditions which he had +couertlie concealed, and in the end (as by the sequele you shall sée) +did pull shame and infamie vpon himselfe. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Vortigerne furnisheth the tower with a garrison, he bewraieth his +crueltie, Aurelius and Pendragon brethren to the late king Constantius +flie into Britaine Armorike, what common abuses and sinnes did +vniuersally concurre with a plentifull yeere, the Scots and Picts +reuenge the death of their countrimen, Vortigerne is in doubt of his +estate, the Britains send for succour to the Saxons, they come vnder +the conduct of Hengist and Horsus two brethren, where they are +assigned to be seated, they vanquish the Scots, disagreement in +writers touching the Saxons first comming into this Iland._ + +THE SECOND CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: VORTIGERNE. 446.] +Vortigerne, by such diuelish meanes and vnconscionable practises +(as you heare) stealing away the hearts of the people, was chosen +and made king of Britaine, in the yéere of our Lord 446, in the 3 +consulship of Aetius, 1197 of Rome, 4 of the 305 Olympiad, 4112 of the +world, the dominicall letter going by F, the prime by 10, which fell +about the 21 yéere of the emperour Valentinianus, the same yéere that +Meroneus began to reigne ouer the Frenchmen. Before he was made king, +he was earle or duke of the Geuisses, a people which held that part of +Britaine where afterwards the west Saxons inhabited. Now when he +[Sidenote; _Hector Boet._] +had with treason, fraud, and great deceit at length obteined that for +the which he had long looked, he first of all furnished the tower of +London with a strong garrison of men of warre. + +Then studieng to aduance such onelie as he knew to be his speciall +[Sidenote: 415.] +friends and fauourers, he sought by all meanes how to oppresse +other, of whose good will he had neuer so litle mistrust, and namelie +those that were affectionate towards the linage of Constantine he +hated deadlie, and deuised by secret meanes which way he might best +destroy them. But these his practises being at the first perceiued, +caused such as had the gouernance of the two yoong gentlemen with +[Sidenote: _Fabian_.] +all spéed to get them ouer (as ye haue heard) into Britaine Armorike, +there to remaine out of danger with their vncle the king of that land. +Diuers of the Britains also, that knew themselues to be in Vortigerne +his displeasure, sailed ouer dailie vnto them, which thing brought +Vortigerne into great doubt and feare of his estate. + +[Sidenote: _Gyldas_. Plentie of wealth accompanied with store of +sinnes.] +It chanced also the same time, that there was great plentie of +corne, & store of fruit, the like wherof had not béene seene in manie +yéeres before, and therevpon insued riot, strife, lecherie, and other +vices verie heinous, & yet accounted as then for small or rather none +offenses at all. These abuses & great enormities reigned not onelie in +the temporaltie, but also in the spiritualtie and chéefe rulers in the +same: so that euerie man turned the point of his speare (euen as he +had consented of purpose) against the true and innocent person. The +commons also gaue themselues to voluptuous lust, drunkennesse, and +idle loitering, whereof followed fighting, contention, enuie, and much +debate. Of this plentie therefore insued great pride, and of this +abundance no lesse hautinesse of mind, wherevpon followed great +wickednesse, lacke of good gouernement and sober temperancie, and in +the necke of these as a iust punishment, death and mortalitie, so that +in some countries scarse the quicke sufficed to burie the dead. + +[Sidenote: Scots and Picts inuade the Britains.] +And for an augmentation of more mischéefe, the Scots and Picts +hearing how their countrimen through the false suggestion of +Vortigerne, had bene wrongfullie and most cruellie put to death at +London, began with fire & sword to make sharpe & cruell warre against +the Britains, wasting their countrie, spoiling and burning their +townes, and giuing them the ouerthrow in a pitcht field, as in the +Scotish historie more plainlie appeareth. To be bréefe, the Britains +were brought into such danger and miserie, that they knew not what way +to take for remedie in such present perill, likelie to be ouerrun and +vtterlie vanquished of their enimies. In the meane time Vortigerne +not onelie troubled with these imminent euils, but fearing also the +returne of the two brethren, Aurelius Ambrose, and Vter Pendragon, +began to consider of the state of things, and estéeming it most sure +to worke by aduise, called togither the principall lords and chéefe +men of the realme to haue their counsell and opinion, how to procéed +in such a weightie businesse: and so debating the matter with them, +measured both his owne force, and also the force of his enimies, +and according to the condition and state of the time, diligentlie +considered and searched out what remedie was to be had and prouided. + +[Sidenote: _Gyldas_. _Wil. Malm._ _Beda_. The Saxons sent for. 10000 +hath _Hector Boet._ _Gyldas_ and _Beda_ mention onelie but of +3 plates or gallies, but _Hector Boet_. hath 30.] +At length after they had throughlie pondered all things, the more +part of the nobles with the king also were of this mind, that there +could be no better way deuised, than to send into Germanie for the +Saxons to come to their aid: the which Saxons in that season were +highlie renowmed for their valiancie in armes, and manifold aduentures +heretofore atchiued. And so forthwith messengers were dispatched into +Germanie, the which with monie, gifts, and promises, might procure the +Saxons to come to the aid of the Britains against the Scots and Picts. +The Saxons glad of this message, as people desirous of intertainment +to serue in warres, choosing forth a picked companie of lustie yoong +men vnder the leading of two brethren Hingist and Horsus, got them +aboord into certeine vessels appointed for the purpose, and so with +all spéed directed their course towards great Britaine. + +[Sidenote: 449.] +This was in the yeare of our Lord 449, and in the second yeare +of Vortigerns reigne, as the most autentike writers both British +and English séeme to gather, although the Scotish writers, and +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._] +namelie, Hector Boetius doo varie herein, touching the iust account of +yeares, as to the perusers of the writings aswell of the one as the +other may appeare. But others take it to be in the 4 yéere of his +reigne: whereto Beda séemeth to agrée, who noteth it in the same yeare +that Martianus the emperour began to rule the empire, which was (as +appeareth by the consularie table) in the consulship of Protogenes and +Austerius, and third yeere of Meroneus king of France. + +These Saxons thus arriuing in Britaine, were courteouslie receiued, & +hartilie welcomed of king Vortigerne, who assigned to them places in +Kent to inhabit, and foorthwith led them against the Scots and Picts, +which were entred into Britaine, wasting & destroieng the countrie +before them. Héerevpon comming to ioine in battell, there was a sore +fight betwixt the parties for a while. But at length when the Saxons +called to their remembrance that the same was the day which should +either purchase to them an euerlasting name of manhood by +[Sidenote: Scots vanquished by the Saxons.] +victorie, or else of reproch by repulse, began to renew the fight with +such violence, that the enimies not able to abide their fierce charge, +were scattered and beaten downe on ech side with great slaughter. + +The king hauing gotten this victorie, highlie rewarded the strangers +[Sidenote: _Henrie Hunt._] +according to their well deseruings, as by whose prowesse he had +thus vanquished his enimies, which (as some write) were come as farre +as Stamford, and vsed at that time to fight with long darts and +speares, whereas the Saxons fought onelie with long swords and axes. + +[Sidenote: _Gal. Mon._] +¶ Some haue written that the Saxons were not sent for, but came by +chance into the Ile, and the occasion to be this. There was an ancient +custome among the English Saxons a people in Germanie, as was also at +the first among other nations, that when the multitude of them was so +increased, that the countrie was not able to susteine and find them, +by commandement of their princes, they should choose out by lots a +number of yoong and able personages fit for the warrs, which should go +foorth to séeke them new habitations: and so it chanced to these, that +they came into great Britaine, and promised to serue the king for +wages in his warres. + + * * * * * + + + + + +_Hengistus the Saxon shooteth at the crowne and scepter of the +kingdome by craftie and subtile practises, a great number of forren +people arriue in Britaine for the augmentation of his power, of the +faire ladie Rowen his daughter, whereof Wednesdaie and Fridaie tooke +their name, of the Iutes, Saxons, and Angles, Vortigerne being +inflamed with the loue of Hengists daughter forsaketh his owne wife +and marrieth hir, Vortigerne giueth Hengist all Kent, the Saxons come +ouer by heaps to inhabit the land, the British nobilitie moue the +king to auoid them, he is depriued of his kingdome, the miserable +destruction made by the Saxons in this land, skirmishes betwixt them +and the Britains._ + +THE THIRD CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: Hengist purposeth at the first to conquere the +Britains.] +Now Hengistus, being a man of great wit, rare policie, and high +wisedome, vnderstanding the kings mind, who wholie trusted to the +valiancie of the Saxons, & herewithall perceiuing the fruitfulnesse +of the countrie, presentlie began to consider with himselfe, by what +wiles and craft he might by little little settle heere, and obteine +a kingdome in the Ile, and so establish the same to him and his for +euer. + +[Sidenote: _Polydor_.] +Therefore first he endeuored with all speed possible to fense that +part of the countrie, which was giuen him and his people, and to +inlarge and furnish it with garisons appointed in places most +conuenient. After this he did what he could to persuade the king, that +a great power of men might be brought ouer out of Germanie, that the +[Side note: _Wil. Malm._ 18 Foists or plates saie the +Scotish writers, and 5000 men in the same. The Saxons call +these vessels Ceoles, or Kéeles, and our old histories +Cogiones.] +land being fortified with such strength, the enimies might be put +in feare, and his subiects holden in rest. The king not foreséeing the +hap that was to come, did not despise this counsell tending to the +destruction of his kingdome, and so was more aid sent for into +Germanie: wherevpon now at this second time there arriued héere 16 +vessels fraught with people, and at the same time came the ladie +Rowen or Ronix (daughter to Hengist) a maid of excellent beautie and +comelinesse, able to delight the eies of them that should behold +hir, and speciallie to win the heart of Vortigerne with the dart of +concupiscence, wherevnto he was of nature much inclined, and that did +Hengist well perceiue. + +[Sidenote: The _Vitæ_ or _Iutæ_ are called Ibitri. +_Alex. Now._] +There came ouer into this land at that time, and soone after, thrée +maner of people of the Germane nation, as Saxons, Vitæ or Iutes, and +Angles, ouer the which the said Hengist and Horse being brethren, were +capteines & rulers, men of right noble parentage in their countrie, +as descended of that ancient, prince Woden, of whom the English +Saxon kings doo for the more part fetch their pedegrée, as lineallie +descended from him, vnto whome also the English people (falselie +[Sidenote: Wednesdaie, and Fridaie, whereof they came.] +reputing him for a god) consecrated the fourth daie of the wéeke, as +they did the sixt to his wife Frea: so that the same daies tooke name +of them, the one being called Wodensdaie, and the other Freadaie, +which woords after in continuance of time by corruption of spéech were +somewhat altered, though not much, as from Wodensdaie, to Wednesdaie, +[Sidenote: _Beda_.] +and from Freadaie to Fridaie. The foresaid Woden was father to +Vecta, the father of Wergistus that was father to the foresaid +Hengistus and Horsus. + +But now to rehearse further touching those thrée people which at this +time came ouer into Britaine out of Germanie. Of the Vites or Iutes +(as Beda recordeth) are the Kentishmen descended, and the people of +the Ile of Wight, with those also that inhabit ouer against the same +Ile. Of the Saxons came the east, the south, & the west Saxons. +Moreouer, of the Angles proceéded the east Angles, the middle Angles +or Mercies, and the Northerne men. That these Angles were a people +[Sidenote: _Cor. Tacitus_.] +of Germanie, it appeareth also by Cornelius Tacitus, who called them +Anglij, which word is of thrée syllables (as Polydor saith:) but some +write it Angli, with two syllables. And that these Angli, or Anglij +were of no small force and authoritie in Germanie before their comming +into this land, maie appeare, in that they are numbred amongst the +twelue nations there, which had lawes and ancient ordinances apart by +themselues, according to the which the state of their common wealth +was gouerned, they being the same and one people with the Thuringers, +as in the title of the old Thuringers lawes we find recorded, which is +thus: "Lex Angliorum & Werinorum, hoc est Thuringorum," The law of the +Angles and Werinians that is to saie the Thuringers, which Thuringers +are a people in Saxonie, as in the description of that countrie it +maie appeare. + +[Sidenote: _Polydor_. Rowen, or Ronowen Hengists daughter.] +But now to the matter. Hengist perceiuing that his people were +highlie in Vortigernes fauour, began to handle him craftilie, deuising +by what means he might bring him in loue with his daughter Ronix, or +Rowen, or Ronowen (as some write) which he beléeued well would easilie +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._] +be brought to passe, bicause he vnderstood that the king was much +giuen to sensuall lust, which is the thing that often blindeth wise +mens vnderstanding, and maketh them to dote, and to lose their perfect +wits: yea, and oftentimes bringeth them to destruction, though by such +pleasant poison they féele no bitter taste, till they be brought to +the extreame point of confusion in déed. + +[Sidenote: _Gal. Mon._] +A great supper therefore was prepared by Hengist, at the which +it pleased the king to be present, and appointed his daughter, when +euerie man began to be somewhat merrie with drinke, to bring in a cup +of gold full of good and pleasant wine, and to present it to the king, +saieng; Wassail. Which she did in such comelie and decent maner, as +she that knew how to doo it well inough, so as the king maruelled +greatlie thereat, and not vnderstanding what she ment by that +salutation, demanded what it signified. To whom it was answered by +[Sidenote: Wassail, what it signifieth.] +Hengist, that she wished him well, and the meaning of it was, that he +should drinke after hir, ioining thereto this answer, Drinke haile. +Wherevpon the king (as he was informed) tooke the cup at the damsels +hand, and dranke. + +Finallie, this yoong ladie behaued hir selfe with such pleasant +woords, comelie countenance, and amiable grace, that the king beheld +hir so long, till he felt himselfe so farre in loue with hir person, +that he burned in continuall desire to inioy the same: insomuch that +[Sidenote: _Polydor_. _Fabian_.] +shortlie after he forsooke his owne wife, by the which he had +thrée sonnes, named Vortimerus, Catagrinus, and Pascentius, and +required of Hengist to haue his daughter, the said Rowen, or Ronowen +in mariage. Hengist at the first séemed strange to grant to his +request, and excused the matter, for that his daughter was not of +estate and dignitie méet to be matched with his maiestie. But at +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._] +length as it had béene halfe against his will he consented, and so +the mariage was concluded & solemnized, all Kent being assigned vnto +Hengist in reward, the which countrie was before that time gouerned by +one Guorongus (though not with most equall Justice) which Guorongus +was subiect vnto Vortigerne, as all other the potentats of the Ile +were. + +This mariage and liberalite of the king towards the strangers +much offended the minds of his subiects, and hastened the finall +destruction of the land. For the Saxons now vnderstanding the +affinitie had betwixt the king and Hengist, came so fast ouer to +inhabit héere, that it was woonder to consider in how short a time +such a multitude could come togither: so that bicause of their great +number and approoued puissance in warres, they began to be a terrour +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._] +to the former inhabitants the Britains. But Hengist being no lesse +politike in counsell than valiant in armes, abusing the kings lacke of +discretion, to serue his owne turne, persuaded him to call out +[Sidenote: _Gal._ saith he was Hengists sonne, and Ebusa +his vncles sonne. Occa and Ebusa leaders of Saxons.] +of Germanie his brother Occa and his sonne named Ebusa, being men of +great valure, to the end that as Hengist defended the land in the +south part: so might they kéepe backe the Scots in the north. + +Héerevpon by the kings consent, they came with a power out of +Germanie, and coasting about the land, they sailed to the Iles of +Orknie, and sore vexed the people there, and likewise the Scots and +Picts also, and finallie arriued in the north parts of the realme, now +called Northumberland, where they setled themselues at that present, +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._ _de Regib._] +and so continued there euer after: but none of them taking vpon +him the title of king, till about 99 yéeres after their first comming +into that countrie, but in the meane time remaining as subiects vnto +the Saxon kings of Kent. After their arriuall in that prouince, they +oftentimes fought with the old inhabitants there, and ouercame them, +chasing away such as made resistance, and appeased the residue by +receiuing them vnder allegiance. + +[Sidenote: _Fabian_. The great numbers of strangers +suspected to the Britains.] +When the nobles of Britaine saw and perceiued in what danger the +land stood, by the dailie repaire of the huge number of Saxons into +the same, they first consulted togither, and after resorting to the +king, mooued him that some order might be taken for the auoiding of +them, or the more part of them, least they should with their power and +great multitude vtterlie oppresse the British nation. But all was in +vaine, for Vortigerne so estéemed and highlie fauoured the Saxons, and +namelie by reason of the great loue which he bare to his wife, that he +little regarded his owne nation, no nor yet anie thing estéemed his +[Sidenote: Vortigerne depriued.] +owne naturall kinsmen and chiefe friends, by reason whereof the +Britains in fine depriued him of all kinglie honour, after that he had +reigned 16 yéeres, and in his steed crowned his sonne Vortimer. + +[Sidenote: _Gyldas_. _Beda_. _H. Hunt._] +Gyldas and Beda make no mention of Vortimer, but declare that +after the Saxons were receiued into this land, there was a couenant +made betwixt them and the Britains, that the Saxons should defend the +countrie from the inuasion of enimies by their knightlie force: and +that in consideration therof, the Britains should find them prouision +of vittels: wherewith they held them contented for a time. But +afterwards they began to pike quarrels, as though they were not +sufficientlie furnished of their due proportion of vittels, +threatening that if they were not prouided more largelie thereof, they +would surelie spoile the countrie. So that without deferring of +[Sidenote: The miserable destruction made by the Saxons in +this land.] +time, they performed their woords with effect of deeds, beginning +in the east part of the Ile, & with fire and swoord passed foorth, +wasting and destroieng the countrie, till they came to the vttermost +part of the west: so that from sea to sea, the land was wasted and +destroied in such cruell and outragious manner, that neither citie, +towne, nor church was regarded, but all committed to the fire: the +priests slaine and murthered euen afore the altars, and the prelats +with the people without anie reuerence of their estate or degrée +dispatched with fire and swoord, most lamentablie to behold. + +Manie of the Britains séeing the demeanour of the Saxons, fled to +the mounteins, of the which diuers being apprehended, were cruellie +slaine, and other were glad to come foorth and yeeld themselues to +eternall bondage, for to haue reléefe of meate and drinke to asswage +their extremitie of hunger. Some other got them out of the realme into +strange lands, so to saue themselues; and others abiding still in +their countrie, kept them within the thicke woods and craggie rocks, +whither they were fled, liuing there a poore wretched life, in great +feare and vnquietnesse of mind. + +But after that the Saxons were departed and withdrawne to their +houses, the Britains began to take courage to them againe, issuing +foorth of those places where they had lien hid, and with one consent +calling for aid at Gods hand, that they might be preserued from vtter +destruction, they began vnder the conduct of their leader Aurelius +Ambrose, to prouoke the Saxons to battell, and by the helpe of God +they obteined victorie, according to their owne desires. And from +thence foorth, one while the Britains, and an other while the Saxons +were victors. So that in this British people, God (according to his +accustomed maner) as it were present Israell, tried them from time to +time, whether they loued him or no, vntill the yeare of the +[Sidenote: So _Gyldas_ was borne in the yeare of our Lord +493.] +siege of Badon hill, where afterwards no small slaughter was made of +the enimies: which chanced the same yeare in the which Gyldas was +borne (as he himselfe witnesseth) being about the 44 yeare after the +comming of the Saxons into Britaine. + +Thus haue Gyldas & Beda (following by likelihood the authoritie of the +same Gyldas) written of these first warres begun betwéene the Saxons +and Britains. But now to go foorth with the historie, according to the +order of our chronicles, as we doo find recorded touching the doings +of Vortimer that was elected king (as ye haue heard) to gouerne in +place of his father Vortigerne. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Vortimer is created king in the roome of his father Vortigerne, he +giueth the Saxons sore and sharpe battels, a combat fought betweene +Catigerne the brother of Vortimer and, Horsus the brother of Hengist, +wherein they were both slaine, the Britains driue the Saxons into the +Ile of Tenet, Rowen the daughter of Hengist procureth Vortimer to be +poisoned, the Saxons returne into Germanie as some writers report, +they ioine with the Scots and Picts against the Britains and discomfit +them._ + +THE FOURTH CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: VORTIMER. 464. _Fabian_. _Galf. Mon._ _Matt. West._ +saith 454.] +This Vortimer being eldest sonne to Vortigerne, by the common +assent of the Britains was made king of Britaine, in the yeare of our +Lord 464, which was in the fourth yeare of the emperour Leo the fift, +and about the sixt yeare of Childericus king of France, as our common +account runneth, which is far disagréeing from that whereof W. Harison +dooth speake in his chronologie, who noteth Vortigerne to be deposed +in the 8 after his exaltation to the crowne, 454 of Christ, and 5 +currant after the comming of the Saxons, which concurreth with the +4420 of the world, and 8 of Meroneus, as by his chronologie dooth more +at large appear. + +But to procéed, Vortimer being thus aduanced to the gouernment of the +realme, in all hast made sore warre against the Saxons, and gaue vnto +them a great battell vpon the riuer of Derwent, where he had of +[Sidenote: The riuer of Derwent.] +them the vpper hand. And the second time he fought with them at a +[Sidenote: Epiford.] +place called Epiford, or Aglisthrop, in the which incounter Catagrine +or Catigernus the brother of Vortimer, and Horsus the brother of +Hengist, after a long combat betwixt them two, either of them slue +other: but the Britains obteined the field (as saith the British +[Sidenote: The Ile of Tenet.] +historie.) The third battell Vortimer fought with them néere to the +sea side, where also the Britains chased the Saxons, & droue them into +[Sidenote: _Hen. Hunt._ Colemoore.] +the Ile of Tenet. The fourth battell was stricken néere to a moore +called Colemoore, the which was sore fought by the Saxons, and long +continued with great danger to the Britains, because the foresaid +moore inclosed a part of their host so stronglie, that the Britains +could not approch to them, being beaten off with the enimies shot, +albeit in the end the Saxons were put to flight, & manie of them +drowned and swallowed vp in the same moore. Beside these foure +[Sidenote: _Fabian_. Tetford in Norfolke. Colchester.] +principall battels, Vortimer had diuers other conflicts with the +Saxons, as in Kent and at Tetford in Norfolke, also néere to +Colchester in Essex: for he left not till he had bereft them of the +more part of all such possessions as before time they had got, so that +they were constrained to kéepe them within the Ile of Tenet, where he +oftentimes assailed them with such ships as he then had. When Ronowen +the daughter of Hengist perceiued the great losse that the Saxons +sustained by the martiall prowesse of Vortimer, she found means that +within a while the said Vortimer was poisoned, after he had ruled the +Britains by the space of 6 or 7 yeares and od moneths. + +¶ By the British historie it should séeme, that Vortimer before his +death handled the Saxons so hardlie, kéeping them besieged within the +Ile of Tenet, till at length they were constrained to sue for licence +to depart home into Germanie in safetie: and the better to bring this +to pas, they sent Vortigerne, (whome they had kept still with them +in all these battels) vnto his sonne Vortimer, to be a meane for the +obteining of their sute. But whilest this treatie was in hand, they +got them into their ships, and leauing their wiues and children behind +them, returned into Germanie. Thus far Gal. Mon. But how vnlikelie +this is to be true, I will not make anie further discourse, but onelie +refer euerie man to that which in old autentike historiographers +[Sidenote: _Will. Malmes._] +of the English nation is found recorded, as in Will. Malmes. Henr. +Hunt, Marianus, and others: vnto whome in these matters concerning +the dooings betwixt the Saxons and Britains, we maie vndoubtedlie and +safelie giue most credit. + +William Malmes. writing of this Vortimer, or Guortigerne, and of the +warres which he had against the Saxons, varieth in a maner altogether +from Geffrey of Monmouth, as by his words here following ye maie +perceiue. Guortimer, the sonne of Vortimer (saith he) thinking not +good long to dissemble the matter, for that he saw himselfe and his +countriemen the Britains preuented by the craft of the English Saxons, +set his full purpose to driue them out of the realme, and kindled +his father to the like attempt. He therefore being the author and +procurer, seuen yeares after their first comming into this land, the +[Sidenote: Hengist had the victorie in this battell saith +_Ra. Mig._, Horse and Catigene slaine.] +league was broken, and by the space of 20 yeares they fought +oftentimes togither in manie light incounters, but foure times they +fought puissance against puissance in open field: in the first battell +they departed with like fortune, whilest the one part, that is to +meane, the Saxons lost their capteine Horse that was brother to +Hengist, and the Britains lost Catigerne an other of Vortigerns +sonnes. + +[Sidenote: 458.] +In the ether battels, when the Englishmen went euer awaie with the +vpper hand, at length a peace was concluded, Guortimer being taken out +of this world by course of fatall death, the which much differing +from the soft and milde nature of his father, right noblie would haue +gouerned the realme, if God had suffered him to haue liued. But these +battels which Vortimer gaue to the Saxons (as before is mentioned) +should appeare by that which some writers haue recorded, to haue +chanced before the supposed time of Vortimers or Guortimers atteining +to the crowne, about the 6 or 7 yeare after the first comming of the +Saxons into this realme with Hengist. And hereto W. Harison giueth his +[Sidenote: _Polydor_.] +consent, referring the mutuall slaughter of Horsus and Catigerne +to the 6 years of Martianus, & 455 of Christ. Howbeit Polydor Virgil +saith, that Vortimer succéeded his father, and that after his fathers +deceasse the English Saxons, of whome there was a great number then +in the Ile, comming ouer dailie like swarmes of bées, and hauing in +possession not onelie Kent, but also the north parts of the realme +towards Scotland, togither with a great part of the west countrie, +thought it now a fit time to attempt the fortune of warre: and first +therefore concluding a league with the Scots and Picts, vpon the +sudden they turned their weapons points against the Britains, and most +cruellie pursued them, as though they had receiued some great iniurie +at their hands, and no benefit at all. The Britains were maruelouslie +abashed herewith, perceiuing that they should haue to doo with +Hengist, a capteine of so high renowme, and also with their ancient +enimies the Scots and Picts, thus all at one time, and that there was +no remedie but either they must fight or else become slaues. Wherefore +at length, dread of bondage stirred vp manhood in them, so that they +assembled togither, and boldlie began to resist their enimies on ech +[Sidenote: The Britains discomfited by the Scots.] +side: but being too weake, they were easilie discomfited and +put to flight, so that all hope of defense by force of armes being +vtterlie taken awaie, as men in despaire to preuaile against their +enimies, they fled as shéepe scattered abroad, some following one +capteine and some another, getting them into desart places, woods and +maresh grounds, and moreouer left such townes and fortresses as were +of no notable strength, as a preie vnto their enimies. + +Thus saith Polydor Virgil of the first breaking of the warres betwixt +the Saxons and the Britains, which chanced not (as should appeare by +that which he writeth thereof) till after the death of Vortigerne. +Howbeit he denieth not that Hengist at his first comming got seates +for him and his people within the countie of Kent, and there began to +[Sidenote: _Sigebertus_.] +inhabit. This ought not to be forgotten, that king Vortimer (as +Sigebertus hath written) restored the Christian religion after he had +vanquished the Saxons, in such places where the same was decaied by +the enimies inuasion, whose drift was not onelie to ouerrun the land +with violence, but also to erect their owne laws and liberties without +regard of clemencie. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Vortigerne is restored to his regiment, in what place he abode during +the time of his sonnes reigne, Hengist with his Saxons re-enter the +land, the Saxons and Britains are appointed to meet on Salisburie +plaine, the priuie treason of Hengist and his power whereby the +Britains were slaine like sheepe, the manhood of Edol earle of +Glocester, Vortigerne is taken prisoner, Hengist is in possession of +three prouinces of this land, a description of Kent._ + +THE FIFT CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: 471. _Matth. West._ saith 461.] +After all these bloudie broiles and tempestuous tumults ended, +Vortigerne was restored and set againe into the kingdome of Britaine, +in the yeare of our Lord 471. All the time of his sonnes reigne, he +had remained in the parties now called Wales, where (as some write) +in that meane time he builded a strong castle called Generon, or +Guaneren, in the west side of Wales nere to the riuer of Guana, vpon +a mounteine called Cloaricus, which some referre to be builded in his +second returne into Wales, as shall be shewed hereafter. And it is so +much the more likelie, for that an old chronicle, which Fabian had +sight of, affirmeth, that Vortigerne was kept vnder the rule of +certeine gouernors to him appointed in the towne of Caerlegion, and +[Sidenote: Caerleon Arwiske.] +behaued himselfe in such commendable sort towards his sonne, in aiding +him with his counsell, and otherwise in the meane season whilest his +sonne reigned, that the Britains by reason thereof began so to fauour +him, that after the death of Vortimer they made him king againe. + +Shortlie after that Vortigerne was restored to the rule of the +[Sidenote: _Matth. West._ saith 4000. He might easilie returne, +for except I be deceiued he was neuer driuen out after he had once set +foot within this Ile.] +kingdom, Hengist aduertised therof returned into the land with +a mightie armie of Saxons, whereof Vortigerne being admonished, +assembled his Britains, and with all speed made towards him. When +Hengist had knowledge of the huge host of the Britains that was +comming against him, he required to come to a communication with +Vortigerne, which request was granted, so that it was concluded, that +on Maie day a certeine number of Britains, and as manie of the Saxons +should meet togither vpon the plaine of Salisburie. Hengist hauing +deuised a new kind of treason, when the day of their appointed méeting +was come, caused euerie one of his allowed number secretlie to put +into his hose a long knife (where it was ordeined that no man should +bring anie weapon with him at all) and that at the verie instant when +[Sidenote: Nempt your sexes, what if it were messes.] +this watchword should be vttered by him, "Nempt your sexes," then +should euerie of them plucke out his knife, and slea the Britaine that +chanced to be next to him, except the same should be Vortigerne, whom +he willed to be apprehended, but not slaine. + +At the day assigned, the king with his appointed number or traine +of the Britains, mistrusting nothing lesse than anie such maner of +vnfaithfull dealing, came vnto the place in order before prescribed, +without armor or weapon, where he found Hengist readie with his +Saxons, the which receiued the king with amiable countenance and +in most louing sort: but after they were a little entred into +communication, Hengist meaning to accomplish his deuised purpose, gaue +the watchword, immediatlie wherevpon the Saxons drew out their kniues, +[Sidenote: There died of the nobles of Britaine 460 as _Gal._ saith.] +and suddenlie fell on the Britains, and slue them as shéepe being +fallen within the danger of woolues. For the Britains had no weapons +to defend themselues, except anie of them by his strength and manhood +got the knife of his enimie. + +[Sidenote: _Ran. Cestren._ _Fabian_.] +Amongst other of the Britains, there was one Edol earle of +Glocester, or (as other say) Chester, which got a stake out of an +hedge, or else where, and with the same so defended himselfe and laid +about him, that he slue 17 of the Saxons, and escaped to the towne of +[Sidenote: _Gal._ saith 70, _Matth. West._ _Ran. Cestren._] +Ambrie, now called Salisburie, and so saued his owne life. Vortiger +was taken and kept as prisoner by Hengist, till he was constreined to +deliuer vnto Hengist thrée prouinces or countries of this realme, that +is to say, Kent & Essex, or as some write, that part where the south +Saxons after did inhabit, as Sussex and other: the third was the +countrie where the Estangles planted themselues, which was in Norfolke +and Suffolke. Then Hengist being in possession of those thrée +prouinces, suffered Vortigerne to depart, & to be at his libertie. + +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._] +¶ William Malmesburie writeth somewhat otherwise of this taking +of Vortigerne, during whose reigne, after the deceasse of his sonne +Vortimer, nothing was attempted against the Saxons, but in the meane +time Hengist by colorable craft procured his sonne in law Vortigerne +to come to a banket at his house, with three hundred other Britains, +and when he had made them well and warme with often quaffing and +emptieng of cups, and of purpose touched euerie of them with one +bitter tawnt or other, they first fell to multiplieng of malicious +words, and after to blowes that the Britains were slaine, euerie +mothers sonne so yéelding vp their ghosts euen amongst their pots. The +king himselfe was taken, and to redéeme himselfe out of prison, gaue +to the Saxons thrée prouinces, and so escaped out of bondage. + +Thus by what meane soeuer it came to passe, truth it is (as all +writers agrée) that Hengist got possession of Kent, and of other +countries in this realme, and began to reigne there as absolute +[Sidenote: 476.] +lord & gouernor, in the yéere of our Lord (as some write) 476, about +the fift yéere of Vortigerns last reigne: but after other, which take +the beginning of this kingdome of Kent to be when Hengist had first +gift therof, the same kingdome began in the yéere 455, and conteined +the countrie that stretcheth from the east Ocean vnto the riuer of +[Sidenote: Kingdome of Kent.] +Thames, hauing on the southeast Southerie, and vpon the west +London, vpon the northeast the riuer of Thames aforesaid, and the +countrie of Essex. + + * * * * * + + + + +_The heptarchie or seuen kingdoms of this land, Hengist causeth +Britaine to be peopled with Saxons, the decaie of Christian religion, +the Pelagians with their hereticall and false doctrine infect the +Britains, a synod summoned in Gallia for the redresse thereof, the +Scots assist the Britains against the Saxons, who renew their league +with the Picts, Germane and Lupus two bishops of Germanie procure the +British armie to be newlie christened, the terror that the Britains +vnder bishop Germans fortunate conduct draue into the Saxons by the +outcrie of Alleluia, and got the victorie, bishop Germane departeth +out of the land, and to redresse the Pelagian heresie commeth againe +at the clergies request, he confirmeth his doctrine by a miracle, +banisheth the Pelagians out of the land, the death of Germane, murther +requited with murther._ + +THE VJ. CHAPTER. + + +Hengist and all other the Saxon kings which ruled (as after shall +appeare) in seuen parts of this realme, are called by writers +_Reguli,_ that is, little kings or rulers of some small dominion: so +that Hengist is counted a little king, who when he had got into his +hands the foresaid thrée prouinces, he caused more Saxons to come +into Britaine, and bestowed them in places abroad in the countrie, by +reason whereof the christian religion greatlie decaied within the +[Sidenote: The decay of christian religion.] +land, for the Saxons being pagans, did what they could to extinguish +the faith of Christ, and to plant againe in all places their +heathenish religion, and woorshipping of false gods: and not onelie +hereby was the true faith of the Christians brought in danger dailie +to decaie, but also the erronious opinions of the Pelagians greatlie +preuailed here amongst the Britains, by meanes of such vnsound +preachers as in that troublesome season did set forth false doctrine +amongst the people, without all maner of reprehension. + +[Sidenote: _Beda_.] +Certeine yéeres before the comming of the Saxons, that heresie +began to spread within this land verie much, by the lewd industrie of +one Leporius Agricola, the sonne of Seuerus Sulpitius (as Bale saith) +a bishop of that lore. But Pelagius the author of this heresie was +borne in Wales, and held opinion that a man might obteine saluation by +his owne frée will and merit, and without assistance of grace, as he +that was borne without originall sinne, &c. + +This erronious doctrine being taught therefore, and mainteined in this +troublesome time of warres with the Saxons, sore disquieted the godlie +minded men amongst the Britains, who not meaning to receiue it, +[Sidenote: _Beda_.] +nor yet able well to confute the craftie and wicked persuasions vsed +by the professors thereof, thought good to send ouer into Gallia, +requiring of the bishops there, that some godlie and profound learned +men might be sent ouer from thence into this land, to defend the cause +of the true doctrine against the naughtie teachers of so blasphemous +an error. Whervpon the bishops of Gallia sore lamenting the miserable +state of the Britains, and desirous to relieue their present néed, +speciallie in that case of religion, called a synod, and therein +[Sidenote: A synod called in Gallia.] +taking counsell to consider who were most méet to be sent, it was +[Sidenote: Germanus and Lupus.] +decéed by all their consents in the end, that one Germane the +bishop of Auxerre, and Lupus bishop of Trois should passe ouer +into Britaine to confirme the Christians there in the faith of the +celestiall grace. And so those two vertuous learned men taking their +iournie, finallie arriued in Britaine, though not without some danger +by sea, through stormes & rage of winds, stirred (as hath beene +thought of the superstitious) by the malice of wicked spirits, who +purposed to haue hindered their procéedings in this their good and +well purposed iournie. After they were come ouer, they did so much +good with conuincing the wicked arguments of the aduersaries of the +truth, by the inuincible power of the woord of God, and holinesse of +life, that those which were in the wrong waie, were soone brought into +the right path againe. + +[Sidenote: _Beda_. Palladius. Constantine king of Scots.] +About the same time also, one Palladius was sent from Celestinus +bishop of Rome, vnto the Scots, to instruct them in the faith of +Christ, and to purge them from the heresie of the said Pelagius. This +Palladius exhorted Constantinus the king of Scots, that in no wise +he should aid the Saxons being infidels against the Britains: whose +exhortation tooke so good effect, that the said Constantinus did +not onelie forbeare to assist the Saxons, but contrarilie holpe the +Britains in their warres against them, which thing did mainteine the +state of the Britains for a time from falling into vtter ruine and +decaie. In the meane time, the Saxons renewed their league with +[Sidenote: _H. Hunt._ _Beda_.] +the Picts, so that their powers being ioined togither, they began +afresh to make sore warres vpon the Britains, who of necessitie were +constreined to assemble an armie, & mistrusting their owne strength, +required aid of the two bishops, Germane and Lupus, who hasting +forward with all speed came into the armie, bringing with them no +small hope of good lucke to all the Britains there being assembled. +This was doone in Kent. + +Now such was the diligence of the bishops, that the people (being +instructed with continuall preaching) in renouncing the error of the +Pelagians, earnestlie came by troops to receiue the grace of God +offred in baptisme, so that on Easter day which then insued, the +more part of the armie was baptised, and so went foorth against the +[Sidenote: The armie of the Britains newlie christened.] +enimies, who hearing thereof, made hast towards the Britains; in +hope to ouercome them at pleasure. But their approch being knowne, +bishop Germane tooke vpon him the leading of the British host, and +ouer against the passage thorough the which the enimies were appointed +to come, he chose foorth a faire vallie inclosed with high mounteins, +and within the same he placed his new washed armie. And when he +saw the enimies now at hand, he commanded that euerie man with one +generall voice should answer him, crieng alowd the same crie that he +should begin. So that euen as the enimies were readie to giue the +charge vpon the Britains, supposing that they should haue taken them +at vnwares, and before anie warning had béen giuen, suddenlie bishop +[Sidenote: Alleluia.] +Germane and the priests with a lowd and shrill voice called +_Alleluia,_ thrice: and therewith all the multitudes of the Britains +with one voice cried the same crie, with such a lowd shout, that the +Saxons were therewith so amazed and astonied (the echo from the rocks +and hils adjoining, redoubling in such wise the crie) that they +thought not onelie the rocks and clifs had fallen vpon them, but that +euen the skie it selfe had broken in péeces and come tumbling downe +vpon their heads: héerewith therefore throwing awaie their weapons, +they tooke them to their féet, and glad was he that might get to be +formost in running awaie. Manie of them for hast were drowned in a +riuer which they had to passe. Polydor taketh that riuer to be Trent. +The Britains hauing thus vanquished their enimies, gathered the spoile +at good leasure, & gaue God thanks for the victorie thus got without +bloud, for the which the holie bishops also triumphed as best became +them. Now after they had setled all things in good quiet within the +Ile, as was thought expedient, they returned into Gallia or France, +from whence they came (as is before rehearsed.) + +[Sidenote: _Matth. West._ 448.] +By one author it should appéere that this battell was woone +against the Scots and Picts, about the yéere of our Lord 448, a little +before the comming of the Saxons into this land vnder Hengist, in +which yéere Germane first came hither to wéed out the heresie of +Pelagius, as by the same author more at large is affirmed. Howbeit, +some chronographers alledge out of Prosper & other, and note the first +comming of Germane to haue béene in the 429 yéere of Christ, and vnder +the consulship of Florentius and Dionysius. And this should séeme to +agrée with the truth, for that after some, the foresaid Germane should +die at Rauenna, about the yéere of our Lord 450, as Vincentius +noteth, which was the verie yeere of the comming of the Saxons: +notwithstanding, when or wheresoeuer he died, it was not long after +his returne into Gallia, vpon his first iournie made hither into this +land, who no sooner obteined the victorie before mentioned, but +woord was brought againe vnto him, that eftsoones the heresie of the +Pelagians was spread abroad in Britaine, and therefore all the priests +or cleargie made request to him that it might stand with his pleasure +to come ouer againe, and defend the cause of true religion which he +had before confirmed. + +[Sidenote: Germane returneth againe into Britaine.] +Héerevpon bishop Germane granted so to doo, and therefore taking +with him one Seuerus (that was disciple vnto Lupus, and ordeined +at that time bishop of Triers) tooke the sea, and came againe into +Britaine, where he found the multitude of the people stedfast in the +same beliefe wherein he had left them, & perceiued the fault to rest +in a few: wherevpon inquiring out the authors, he condemned them to +exile (as it is written) and with a manifest miracle by restoring a +yoong man that was lame (as they saie) vnto the right vse of his +lims, he confirmed his doctrine. Then followed preaching to persuade +amendment of errors, and by the generall consent of all men, the +authors of the wicked doctrine being banished the land, were deliuered +vnto bishop Germane and to his fellow Seuerus, to conueie them away in +their companie vnto the parties beyond the seas, that the region might +so be deliuered of further danger, and they receiue the benefit of due +amendment. + +By this meanes it came to passe, that the true faith continued in +Britaine sound and perfect a long time after. Things being thus set +in good order, those holie men returned into their countries, the +forenamed bishop Germane went to Rauenna to sue for peace to be +granted vnto the people of Britaine Armorike, where being receiued of +the emperor Valentinian and his mother Placida in most reuerend maner, +he departed in that citie out of this transitorie life, to the +[Sidenote: Anno 450, as _Vincentius_ noteth, _lib. 20. ca. 15_.] +eternall ioies of heauen. His bodie was afterwards conueied to the +citie of Auxerre, where he had béene bishop with great opinion of +holines for his sincere doctrine and pure and innocent life. Shortlie +[Sidenote: The emperour Valentinian slaine.] +after was the emperour Valentinian slaine by the friends of that +noble man named Aetius, whome he had before caused to be put to death. + +¶ By this it maie appéere, that bishop Germane came into this realme +[Sidenote: 454.] +both the first and second time, whilest as well Hengist, as also +Vortigerne were liuing: for the said Valentinian was murthered about +the yeere of our Lord 454, where the said kings liued and reigned long +after that time, as maie appéere both before and after in this present +booke. + + * * * * * + + + + +_What part of the realme the Saxons possessed, Vortigerne buildeth +a castell in Wales for his safetie, Aurelius and Vter both brethren +returne into Britaine, they assalt the vsurper Vortigerne, and with +wildfire burne both him, his people, his fort, and all the furniture +in the same, Vortigerne committeth incest with his owne daughter, +feined and ridiculous woonders of S. Germane, a sheepherd made a +king._ + +THE SEUENTH CHAPTER. + + +Now will we returne to Vortigerne, of whome we read in the British +historie, that after the Saxons had constreined him to deliuer into +their hands a great part of the south and east parts of the realme, so +that they had in possession London, Yorke, Lincolne, & Winchester, +[Sidenote: _Galfrid._] +with other cities & townes, he not onelie fearing their puissance, +but also the returne of Aurelius Ambrosius, and his brother Vter +Pendragon, withdrew him into Wales, where he began to build a +[Sidenote: _Caxton_. _Fabian_. _Polychron._] +strong castell vpon a mounteine called Breigh, or after other Cloaric, +néere to the riuer of Guana, which is in the west side of Wales in +a place within the compasse of the same hill called Generon or +[Sidenote: Mount Erix he calleth it in one place of his booke.] +Gueineren. Of the building of this castell, and of the hinderance +in erecting the same, with the monstrous birth of Merlin and his +knowledge in prophesieng, the British histories tell a long processe, +the which in Caxton, and in Galfrides bookes is also set foorth, as +there ye maie sée: but for that the same séemeth not of such credit as +deserueth to be registred in anie sound historie, we haue with silence +passed it ouer. + +[Sidenote: Aurelius and Vter brethren returne into Britaine.] +Whilest Vortigerne was busied in building of this castell, the two +foresaid brethren Aurelius and Vter prepared a nauie of ships, and an +armie of men, by helpe of such their kinsmen and fréends as they found +in Britaine Armorike, and so passed the sea, and landed at Totnesse: +whereof when the Britains were aduertised, the which were scattered +abroad and seuered in diuers parties and countries, they drew vnto the +said two brethren with all spéed that might be. When Aurelius and +his brother Vter perceiued that they were sufficientlie furnished of +people, they marched foorth towards Wales against Vortigerne, who +[Sidenote: Vortigerne burnt to death. Wild fire not yet inuented as +some think.] +hauing knowledge of their approch, had fortified his castell verie +strongly with men, munition and vittels, but yet all auailed him +nothing, for in the end after his enimies had giuen diuers assaults to +the said castell, they found meanes with wild fire to burne it downe +to the earth, and so consumed it by fire togither with the king, and +all other that were within it. + +Thus did Vortigerne end his life (as in the British historie is +recorded.) Much euill is reported of him by the same historie, and +also by other writers, and among other things it is written, that he +should lie by his owne daughter, and of hir beget a sonne, in hope +[Sidenote: _Polychron._ A feined tale of S. Germane. +A caluish narration.] +that kings should come of him, and therefore he was excommunicated +by S. Germane. It is also said, that when the same S. Germane came +into Britaine (as before ye haue heard) this Vortigerne on a time +should denie the same S. Germane harbour: but one that kept the kings +heards of cattell receiued him into his house, and lodged him, and +slue a calfe for his supper, which calfe after supper was ended, S. +Germane restored againe to life: and on the morrow by the ordinance of +God, he caused Vortigerne to be deposed from his kinglie estate, +and tooke the heardman and made him king. But Ranulfe Hig. in his +"Polychronicon," alledging Gyldas for his author, saith that this +chanced to a king that ruled in Powsey, whose name was Bulie, and not +to Vortigerne: so that the successors of that Bulie reigning in that +side of Wales, came of the linage of the same heardman. + +[Sidenote: _H. Hunt._] +Moreouer it hath beene said (as one writer recordeth) that when +Vortigerne refused to heare the preaching of saint Germane, and fled +from him as he would haue instructed him, one night there fell fire +from heauen vpon the castell wherein the king was lodged, and so the +king being destroied with the fall of the house and the fire togither, +was neuer after séene. + +¶ But these are fables, and therfore I passe them ouer, hoping that it +shall suffice to shew here with what stuffe our old historiographers +haue farced vp their huge volumes, not so much regarding the credit of +an historie, as satisfieng the vanitie of their owne fond fantasies, +studieng with a pretended skilfulnesse to cast glorious colours vpon +lies, that the readers (whom they presupposed either ignorant or +credulous) would be led away with a flowing streme of woords void of +reason and common sense. Which kind of men knew not (belike) that the +nature of an historie, (defined to be _Rei verè gestæ memoria_) will +not beare the burthen or lode of a lie, sith the same is too heauie: +otherwise they would haue deposed matters conspiring with the truth. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Aurelius Ambrosius the brother to Constantius created king of +Britaine, he incountereth with the Saxons, Hengist their generall is +beheaded, Occa his sonne submitteth himselfe to Aurelius, he putteth +all the Saxons out of the land, repaireth places decaied, and +restoreth religion, the memorable monument of the stones that are +so much spoken of on Salisburie plaine, the exploits of Pascentius +Vortigerns yongest sonne, Aurelius lieth sicke, Vter goeth against +Pascentius and giueth him the ouerthrow, Aurelius is poisoned of a +counterfet moonke, the place of his buriall, Polydor Virgils report of +the acts and deeds of Aurelius against the Saxons, Hengist is slaine, +Osca and Occa his two sonnes make a fowle spoile if the west part of +the land, Vortimer dieth, the disagreement of writers touching matters +interchangeablie passed betwene the Britains and Saxons._ + +THE EIGHT CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: AURELIUS AMBROSIUS.] +Aurelius Ambrose, the second sonne of king Constantine, brother to +Constantius, and murthered by the treason of Vortigerne (as before ye +haue heard) was made king of Britaine in the yéere of our Lord 481, +[Sidenote: _Matt. West._ saith 466.] +which was about the third yéere of the reigne of the emperour Zeno, +and the 23 of Childericus king of France, Odocer king of the Herulians +then vsurping the gouernment of Italie. When this Aurelius Ambrosius +had dispatched Vortigerne, and was now established king of the +Britains, he made towards Yorke, and passing the riuer of Humber, +[Sidenote: _Gal. Mon._] +incountred with the Saxons at a place called Maesbell, and ouerthrew +them in a strong battell, from the which as Hengist was fléeing to +[Sidenote: Hengist taken and beheaded.] +haue saued himselfe, he was taken by Edoll earle of Glocester, or +(as some say) Chester, and by him led to Conningsborrow, where he was +beheaded by the counsell of Eldad then bishop of Colchester. + +[Sidenote: _Matth. West._] +Howbeit there be some that write, how that Hengist was taken at +another battell fought vpon the riuer of Dune, in the yéere of our +Lord 489, and not in the chase of the battell which was fought at +Maesbell in the yéere 487, as the same authors doo alledge. Occa +[Sidenote: Occa.] +the son of Hengist by flight escaped to Yorke, and being there +besieged, at length was constreined to yéeld himselfe to Aurelius: +who dealing fauourablie with him, assigned vnto him and other of +the Saxons a countrie bordering neere to the Scots, which (as some +affirme) was Galloway, where the said Occa and the Saxons began to +inhabit. Then did Aurelius Ambrosius put the Saxons out of all other +parts of the land, & repaired such cities, townes and also churches, +as by them had beene destroied or defaced, and placed againe priests, +and such other as should attend on the ministerie and seruice of God +in the same churches. + +Also for a perpetuall memorie of those Britains that were slaine on +the plaine of Salisburie by the treason of Hengist, he caused stones +to be fetched out of Ireland, and to be set vp in the same place +[Sidenote: Stoneheng.] +where that slaughter was committed, and called the place Stoneheng, +which name continueth vnto this day. Fiftéene thousand men (as Galfrid +[Sidenote: _Gal. Mon._] +saith) were sent for those stones, vnder the leading of Vter +Pendragon the kings brother, who giuing battell vnto Gillomanus king +of Ireland that went about to resist the Britains, and would not +permit them to fetch away the same stones out of his countrie, +discomfited him and his people, and so (maugre his hart) brought the +stones away with him. + +Shortlie after, Pascentius that was Vortigerns yoongest sonne, and +had escaped into Ireland (when Aurelius Ambrosius came into Britaine) +returned with a great power of strange nations, and tooke the citie of +Meneuia in Wales, afterwards called saint Dauids, and did much hurt +in the countrie with fire and swoord. At which time the same Aurelius +Ambrosius lay sicke at Winchester, and being not able to go foorth +himselfe, desired his brother Vter Pendragon to assemble an armie +of Britains, and to go against Pascentius and his adherents. Vter, +according to his brothers request, gathering his people, went foorth, +and incountering with the enimies gaue them the ouerthrow, slue +Pascentius and Gillomare or Gilloman king of Ireland, that was come +ouer with him in aid against the Britains. + +[Sidenote: _Hector Boet._] +In the meane while, a Saxon or some other stranger, whose name was +Eopa or Copa, not long before procured thereto by Pascentius, fained +himselfe to be a Britaine, and for a colour counterfeiting himselfe a +moonke, and to haue great knowledge in physicke, was admitted to +[Sidenote: _Fabian. _] +minister as it were medicins to Aurelius: but in stead of that which +should haue brought him health, he gaue him poison, whreof he died +shortlie after at Winchester aforesaid, when he had reigned after most +accord of writers nintéene yéeres: his bodie was conueied to Stoneheng +and there buried. ¶ Thus find we in the British and common English +histories of the dooings of Aurelius Ambrosius, who (as ye haue hard) +makes him a Britaine borne, and descended of the bloud of the ancient +Britains, But Gyldas and Beda report him to be a Romane by descent, as +before is mentioned. + +[Sidenote: _Polydor_.] +Polydor Virgil writeth in this sort of the victorious acts +atchiued by the foresaid Aurelius Ambrosius. Then (saith he) the +Saxons hauing alreadie gotten the whole rule of the Ile, practised +their outragious cruelties speciallie against the princes of the +Britains, to the end that the said princes being ouercome and +destroied, they might with more ease obteine possession of the whole +Ile, which thing they onlie sought. But the fauour of almightie God +was not wanting to the miserable Britains in that great necessitie. +For behold, Aurelius Ambrosius was at hand, who had no sooner caused +the trumpet to sound to armor, but euerie man for himselfe prepared +and repaired vnto him, praieng & beseeching him to helpe to defend +them, and that it might stand with his pleasure to go foorth with them +against the enimies in all speed. + +Thus an armie being assembled, Aurelius Ambrosius went against them, +and valiantlie assailed them, so that within the space of a few daies +they fought thrée battels with great fiercenesse on both sides, in +triall of their high displeasures and vttermost forces, in which at +length the Britains put the Saxons to flight, Horsus the brother +of Hengist being slaine with a great number of his people. But yet +notwithstanding the enimies rage was little abated hereby, for within +a few daies after receiuing out of Germanie a new supplie of men, they +brake foorth vpon the Britains with great confidence of victorie. +Aurelius Ambrosius was no sooner aduertised thereof, but that without +delaie he set forward towards Yorke, from whence the enimies should +come, and hearing by the way that Hengist was incamped about seuen & +twentie miles distant from that citie, néere to the banke of a riuer +at this day called Dune, in the place where Doncaster now standeth, he +returned out of his waie, and marched towards that place, and the next +day set on the enimie and vanquished him, Hengist at the first +[Sidenote: Hengist is slaine.] +méeting of the battell being slaine, with a great number of the +Germans. The fame of this victorie (saith Polydor) is had in memorie +with the inhabitants of those parties euen vnto this day, which +victorie did sore diminish the power of the Saxons, insomuch that they +began now to thinke it should be more for their profit to sit in rest +with that dishonour, than to make anie new warres to their great +disaduantage and likelihood of present losse. + +Hengist left behind him two sonnes, Osca and Occa, which as men most +sorowfull for the ouerthrow of late receiued, assembled such power as +they could togither, and remooued therewith towards the west part of +the Ile, supposing it to be better for them to draw that way foorth, +than to returne into Kent, where they thought was alreadie a +sufficient number of their people to resist the Britains on that side. +Now therefore when they came into the west parts of the land, they +wasted the countrie, burnt villages, and absteined from no maner +of crueltie that might be shewed. These things being reported vnto +Aurelius Ambrosius, he straightwaies hasted thither to resist those +enimies, and so giuing them battell, eftsoones discomfited them: +[Sidenote: Aurelius dieth of a wound.] +but he himselfe receiuing a wound, died thereof within a few daies +after. The English Saxons hauing thus susteined so manie losses within +a few moneths togither, were contented to be quiet now that the +Britains stirred nothing against them, by reason they were brought +into some trouble by the death of such a noble capteine as they had +[Sidenote: Vortimer departeth this life.] +now lost. In the meane time Vortimer died, whome Vter surnamed +Pendragon succéeded. + +Thus hath Polydor written of the forsaid Aurelius Ambrosius, not +naming him to be king of Britaine, and differing in déed in sundrie +points in this behalfe from diuerse ancient writers of the English +histories: for where he attributeth the victorie to the Britains in +the battell fought, wherein Horsus the brother of Hengist was slaine, +by the report of Polychronicon, and others, the Saxons had the +[Sidenote:_Wil. Malm._] +victorie in that reincounter: and William of Malmesburie saith, that +they departed from that batell with equall fortune, the Saxons losing +[Sidenote: Katigerne.] +their capteine Horsus, and the Britains their capteine Katigerne +(as before ye haue heard.) But there is such contrarietie in writers +touching the dooings betwixt the Britains and Saxons in those daies, +as well in account of yéeres, as in report of things doone, that +setting affection aside, hard it is to iudge to which part a man +should giue credit. + +For Fabian and other authors write, that Aurelius Ambrosius began his +[Sidenote: 458.] +reigne ouer the Britains about the yéere of our Lord 481, and +Horsus was slaine about the yéere 458, during the reigne of Vortimer, +as aboue is mentioned, so that it cannot stand with the truth of the +British histories (the which Fabian followeth) that Horsus was slaine +by Aurelius Ambrosius, if according to the same histories he returned +not into Britaine, till the time there supposed. But diuerse such +maner of contrarieties shall ye find, in perusing of those writers +that haue written the chronicles of the Britains and Saxons, the which +in euerie point to recite, would be too tedious and combersome a +matter, and therefore we are forced to passe the same ouer, not +knowing how to bring them to anie iust accord for the satisfieng of +all mens minds, speciallie the curious, which may with diligent search +satisfie themselues happilie much better, than anie other shall be +able to doo in vttering his opinion neuer so much at large, and +agréeable to a truth. This therefore haue we thought good as it were +by the waie to touch what diuerse authors doo write, leauing it so +[Sidenote:_Sigebertus_.] +to euerie mans iudgement to construe thereof, as his affection +leadeth him. We find in the writings of those that haue registred the +dooings of these times, that Aurelius hauing vanquished the Saxons, +restored churches to the furtherance of the christian religion, which +[Sidenote:_Matth. West._saith 488.] +by the inuasion of the Saxons was greatlie decaied in diuerse +parts of Britaine, and this chanced in the daies of the emperour +Theodosius the yoonger. + + * * * * * + + + + +_The beginning of the kingdome of the Southsaxons commonlie called +Sussex, the Britains with their rulers giue battell to Ella the Saxon +& his three sonnes, disagreement betweene the English and British +chronographers about the battels fought by Hengist and his death, +the beginning of the Kentish kingdome, a battell fought betweene +the Britains and Saxons, the first are conquered, the last are +conquerors._ + +THE NINTH CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: Ella entred this land as _Matt. West._ saith ann. 477.] +In the time of the foresaid Aurelius Ambrosius, one Ella a Saxon +with his 3 sonnes Cymen, Plettinger and Cissa, came out of Germanie +with thrée ships, and landed in the south parts of Britaine and being +incountred with a power of Britains at a place called Cuneueshore, +discomfited them, and chased them vnto a wood then called +Andredescester, and so tooke that countrie, and inhabited there with +his people the Saxons which he brought with him, and made himselfe +king and lord thereof, in somuch that afterwards the same countrie was +[Sidenote: The kingdom of the Southsaxons dooth begin.] +named the kingdome of the Southsaxons, which had for limits on the +east side Kent, on the south the sea and Ile of Wight, on the west +Hamshire, and on the north part Southerie. This kingdome (after some) +began vnder the foresaid Ella, about the 32 yeere after the first +comming of the Saxons into this land, which by following that account, +[Sidenote: 482.] +should be about the second yéere of the reigne of Aurelius +Ambrosius, and about the yéere of our Lord 482. But other write, that +it did begin about the 30 yéere after the first comming of Hengist, +which should be two yéeres sooner. + +William Harison differing from all other, noteth it to begin in the +fourth yéere after the death of Hengist, 4458 of the world, 2 of the +317 Olympiad, 1248 of Rome, 492 of Christ, and 43 after the comming +of the Saxons: his woords are these. Ella erected the kingdome of the +Southsaxons, in the 15 after his arriuall, and reigned 32 yéeres, the +chiefe citie of his kingdome also was Chichester, and after he had +inioied the same his kingdome a while, he ouerthrew the citie called +Andredescester, which as then was taken for one of the most famous +in all the south side of England. ¶ For my part I thinke my dutie +discharged, if I shew the opinions of the writers: for if I should +therto ad mine owne, I should but increase coniectures, whereof +alreadie we haue superfluous store. To procéed thereforr as I find. + +About the ninth yéere after the comming of Ella, the Britains +perceiuing that he with his Saxons still inlarged the bounds of his +lordship by entring further into the land, assembled themselues +togither vnder their kings and rulers, and gaue battell to Ella and +his sonnes at Mecredesbourne, where they departed with doubtfull +victorie, the armies on both sides being sore diminished, and so +returned to their homes. Ella after this battell sent into his +countrie for more aid. + +But now touching Hengist, who as ye haue heard, reigned as king in the +prouince of Kent, the writers of the English kings varie somewhat from +the British histories, both in report of the battels by him fought +against the Britains, and also for the maner of his death: as thus. +After that Vortimer was dead, who departed this life (as some write) +[Sidenote: _Polychron._] +in the first yéere of the emperor Leo, surnamed the great, and +first of that name that gouerned the empire, who began to rule in +[Sidenote: 457.] +the yéere of our Lord 457, we find that Hengist and his sonne Occa or +[Sidenote: _Henrie Hunt._ _Wil. Malm._ Creiford. Britains ouerthrowne.] +Osca gathered their people togither that were before sparkled, and +hauing also receiued new aid out of Germanie, fought with the Britains +at a place called Crekenford, where were slaine of the Britains foure +dukes or capteins, and foure thousand of other men, the residue were +chased by Hengist out of Kent vnto London, so that they neuer returned +afterwards againe into Kent: thus the kingdome of Kent began vnder +Hengist the twelfe yéere after the comming of the Saxons into +Britaine, and Hengist reigned in Kent after this (as the same writers +agree) foure and twentie yéeres. + +[Sidenote: _Polychron._] +It is remembred that those Germans which latelie were come ouer to +the aid of Hengist, being chosen men, mightie and strong of bodie, +with their axes and swoords made great slaughter of the Britains in +that battell at Crekenford or Creiford, which Britains were ranged +[Sidenote: _Hen. Hunt._] +in foure battels vnder their aforesaid foure dukes or capteins, and +were (as before is mentioned) slaine in the same battell. About the +sixt yéere of the said emperor Leo, which was in the 17 yéere after +[Sidenote: Wipets field _Matt. West._ This battell was fought anno 473. +as the same _Mat. West._ noteth.] +the comming of the Saxons, Hengist and his sonne Occa or Osca fought +at Wipets field in Kent, néere to a place called Tong with the +Britains, and slue of them twelue dukes or capteins, & on the part +of the Saxons was slaine beside common souldiers but onlie one +[Sidenote: Wipet. _H. Hunt._ ] +capteine called Wipet, of whom the place after that daie tooke name. + +This victorie was nothing plesant to the Saxons, by reason of the +great losse which they susteined, as well by the death of the said +Wipet, as of a great number of others: and so of a long time neither +did the Saxons enter into the confines of the Britains, nor the +Britains presumed to come into Kent. But whilest outward wars ceassed +among the Britains, they exercised ciuill battell, falling togither by +the eares among themselues, one striuing against another. Finallié, +Hengist departed this life by course of nature, in the 39 yéere after +[Sidenote: Fortie Yéeres saith _H. Hunt_] +his first comming into Britaine, hauing procéeded in his businesse +[Sidenote: By this it is euident that he was not driuen out of the +land after he had once set foot within it. _Matt. West._] +no lesse with craft and guile than with force and strength, +following therewith his natiue crueltie, so that he rather did all +things with rigour than with gentlenesse. After him succéeded a sonne +whom he left behind him, who being attentiue rather to defend than to +inlarge his kingdome, neuer set foot out of his fathers bounds, during +the space of 24 yéeres, in the which he reigned. + +[Sidenote: _H. Hunt._ The citie of Andredescester] +About thrée yéeres after the deceasse of Hengist, a new supplie +of men of warre came out of Germanie vnto the aid of Ella king +of Sussex, who hauing his power increased, besieged the citie of +Andredescester, which was verie strong and well furnished with men +and all things necessarie. The Britains also assembling togither in +companies, greatlie annoied the Saxons as they lay there at siege, +laieng ambushes to destroie such as went abroad, and ceassing not to +giue alarums to the campe in the night season: and the Saxons could no +sooner prepare them selues to giue the assalt, but the Britains +were readie to assaile them on the backs, till at length the Saxons +diuiding themselues into two companies, appointed the one to giue the +assalt, and the other to incounter with the armie of the Britains +without, and so finallie by that meanes preuailed, tooke the citie, +and destroied man, woman and child. Neither so contented, they did +also vtterlie race the said citie, so as it was neuer after that daie +builded or reedified againe. + + * * * * * + + + + +_The east Angles kingdome beginneth, the arriuall of Cerdic and Kenric +with fiue ships of warre in this land, he putteth the Britains to +flight, the west Saxons kingdom begineth, Vter Pendragon made king +of Britaine, the etymon of his name, he taketh Occa and Osca the two +sonnes of Hengist prisoners, how Hector Boetius varieth from other +chronographers in the relation of things concerning Pendragon, he +falleth in loue with the duke of Cornewalls wife, killeth him, and +marieth hir. Occa and Osca escape out of prison, they freshlie assault +the Britains, they are both slaine in a foughten field, the Saxons +send and looke for aid out of Germanie, Pendragon is poisoned._ + +THE TENTH CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: The kingdome of the east Angles began not till Aurelius +Conanus reigned. 561.] +Moreouer, in the daies of the afore-named Auralius Ambrosius, +about the yeare of our Lord 561, the kingdome of the east Angles began +vnder a Saxon named Uffa. This same kingdome conteined Northfolke and +Suffolke, hauing on the east and north parts the sea, on the northwest +Cambridgeshire, and on the west saint Edmunds ditch with a part of +Hertfordshire, and on the southside lieth Essex. At the first it was +called Vffines dominion, and the kings that reigned, or the people +that inhabited there, were at the first named Vffines, but at length +they were called east Angles. + +[Sidenote: CERDIC.] +Fvrthermore, about the yeare of our Lord 495, and in the eight +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._] +[Sidenote: 495.] +yeare after that Hengist was dead, one Cerdicus and his sonne +Kenricus came out of Gerrmanie with fiue ships, and landed at a +place called Cerdicshore, which as some thinke is called Yermouth in +[Sidenote: _Fabian_. _Polychron._] +Northfolke. He was at the first receiued with battell by the +Britains, but being an old skilfull warriour, he easilie beate +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._] +backe and repelled the inconstant multitude of his enimies, and caused +them to flée: by which good successe he procured both vndoubted +assurance to himselfe for the time to come, and to the inhabitants +good and perfect quietnes. For they thinking good neuer after to +prouoke him more by resistance, submitted themselues to his pleasure: +but yet did not he then giue himselfe to slouthfull rest, but rather +extending his often atchiued victories on ech side, in the 24 yeare +after his comming into this land, he obteined the rule of the west +parts thereof, and gouerned there as king, so that the kingdome of the +west Saxons began vnder the said Cerdicus in the 519 of Christ, as +after shall be shewed. + +[Sidenote: 529.] +¶ Thus ye maie sée, that Aurelius Ambrosius did succéed +Vortigerne, and reigned in the time supposed by the British histories, +as before is alledged, the land euen in his daies was full of trouble, +and the old inhabitants the Britains sore vexed by the Saxons that +entred the same, so that the Britains were dailie hampered, and +brought vnder subiection to the valiant Saxons, or else driuen to +remooue further off, and to giue place to the victors. But now +to procéed with the succession of the British kings, as in their +histories we find them registred, which I deliuer such as I find, but +not such as I doo wish, being written with no such colour of credit as +we maie safelie put foorth the same for an vndoubted truth. + +[Sidenote: _Matth. West._ noteth. 500.] +After that Aurelius Ambrosius was dead, his brother Vter Pendragon +(whome some call Aurelius Vterius Ambrosianus) was made king in +the yeare of our Lord 500, in the seuenth yeare of the emperour +Anastasius, and in the sixtéenth yeare of Clodoueus king of the +Frenchmen. The cause why he was surnamed Pendragon, was, for that +Merline the great prophet likened him to a dragons head, that at the +time of his natiuitie maruelouslie appeared in the firmament at the +corner of a blasing star, as is reported. But others supposed he was +so called of his wisedome and serpentine subtiltie, or for that he +gaue the dragons head in his banner. This Vter, hearing that the +Saxons with their capteins Occa or Otta the sonne of Hengist, and his +brother Osca had besieged the citie of Yorke, hasted thither, and +giuing them battell, discomfited their power, and tooke the said Occa +and Osca prisoners. + +[Sidenote: _Hector Boet._] +From this varieth Hector Boetius in his chronicle of Scotland, +writing of these dooings in Britaine: for he affirmeth, that the +counterfeit moonke, which poisoned Aurelius Ambrosius, was suborned +and sent to woorke that feat by Occa, and not by his brother +Pascentius: and further, that about the selfesame time of Aurelius +his death, his brother Vter Pendragon lay in Wales, not as yet fullie +recouered of a sore sicknesse, wherewith of late he had béene much +vexed. Yet the lords of Britaine after the buriall of Aurelius +Ambrosius, came vnto him and crowned him king: and though he was not +able to go against the Saxons (which as then by reason of Aurelius +Ambrosius his death were verie busie, and more earnest in pursuing the +warre than before) yet an armie was prepared and sent foorth with all +conuenient spéed vnder the leading of one Nathaliod, a man neither of +anie great ancient house, nor yet of skill in warlike affaires. + +The noble men were nothing pleased herewith, as misliking altogither +the lacke of discretion in their new king, & doubted sore, least in +time to come he would haue more delight to aduance the men of base +degrée, than such as were descended of noble parentage. Yet because +they would not put the state of the common wealth in danger through +anie mutinie, they agréed to go foorth with him in that iournie. Occa +had aduertisement giuen him by certeine letters sent to him from some +close friends amongest the Britains of the whole matter: and therefore +in hope of the better spéed, he hasted foorth to incounter the +Britains, and so the whole armie comming within sight of the other, +they prepared to the battell, and shortlie after buckling togither, +the Britains were soone discomfited, by reason that one of their +chiefest capteins called Gothlois disdaining to be at the appointment +of Nathaliod, got him vp to the next hill with the next battell which +he led, leauing the other Britains in all the danger: which they +séeing began by & by to flée. There died no great number of the +Britains, except those that were killed in the fight: for Occa +mistrusting what Gothlois meant by his withdrawing aside, would not +suffer the Saxons to follow the chase, but in the night following +Gothlois got him awaie, and rested not till he was out of danger. Occa +then perceiuing himselfe to haue the vpper hand, sent an herald vnto +king Vter with a certeine message, threatning destruction to him and +to his people, if he refused to doo that which he should appoint. + +Vter perceiuing what disloialtie rested in the harts of his owne +subiects, agréed that the matter might be committed to eight graue and +wise councellors, foure Britains and foure Saxons, which might haue +full power to make an end of all controuersies and variances depending +betwixt the two nations. Occa was likewise contented therewith, +wherevpon were named on either part foure persons, of such wisedome, +knowledge and experience, as were thought meetest for the ordering of +such a weightie matter. So that by the arbitrement, award and doome of +those eight persons authorised thereto, a league was concluded vpon +certeine articles of agreement, amongst the which the chiefest was, +that the Saxons from thencefoorth should quietlie inioy all that part +of Britaine which lieth fore against the Almaine seas, the same to be +called euer after Engistlaund, and all the residue should remaine to +the Britains as their owne rightfull and ancient inheritance. Thus far +Hector Boetius. + +But now to returne vnto Vter according to that we find in the British +histories, and to procéed after our owne historians; we find, that +when he had vanquished the Saxons and taken their two chiefeteins +prisoners, in processe of time he fell in loue with a verie beautifull +[Sidenote: Gorolus duke of Cornewall.] +ladie called Igwarne or Igerna, wife to one Gorolus or Gorlois +duke of Cornewall, the which duke he slue at length néere to his owne +castell called Diuulioc in Cornewall, to the end that he might inioy +the said ladie, whome he afterwards maried, and begot on hir that +noble knight Arthur, and a daughter named Amie or Anna. Occa and Osca +escaping also out of prison assembled eftsoones a power of Saxons, and +made warre against the Britains, whereof Vter hauing aduertisement +prepared to resist them, and finallie went himselfe in person +[Sidenote: _Harding_.] +against them, and at saint Albans (as some write) gaue them battell, +and slue them both in the field. + +By that which Polydor Virgil writeth, it should séeme that Germane the +bishop of Auxerre came into Britaine in the daies of this Vter, by +whose presence the Britains had victorie against the Saxons (as before +ye haue heard) after which victorie both rested from troubling either +other for a time. The Saxons as it were astonied with that present +miracle, & the Britains not following their good successe, shortlie +after fell at discord amongst themselues, which finallie brought them +to vtter decaie, as after shall appeare. But the Saxons desirous to +spoile the Britains of the whole possession of that part of the Ile +[Sidenote: Badon hill.] +which they held, whereas they accounted the cities and townes of +small strength to be defended, they got them to an high mounteine +called Badon hill, which Polydor supposeth to be Blackamore that lieth +néere to the water of Theise, which diuideth the bishoprike of Durham +from Yorkeshire, hauing at the mouth thereof an hauen méet to receiue +such ships as come out of Germanie, from whence the Saxons looked for +aid, hauing alreadie sent thither for the same. + +The Britains being thereof aduertised, made hast towards the place, +and besieged it on euerie side. They also laie the sea coasts full of +souldiers, to kéepe such of the enimies from landing as should come +out of Germanie. The Saxons kept themselues for a certeine space aloft +vpon the high ground, but in the end constreined through want of +vittels, they came downe with their armie in order of battell to the +next plaines, and offering to fight, the battell was anon begun, which +continued from the morning till far in the day, with such slaughter, +that the earth on euerie side flowed with bloud: but the Saxons +susteined the greater losse, their capteins Occa and Osca being both +slaine, so that the Britains might séeme quite deliuered of all danger +of those enimies: but the fatall destinie could not be auoided, as +hereafter may appeare. And thus was the slaughter made of the Saxons +[Sidenote: _Gyldas_.] +at Badon hill, whereof Gyldas maketh mention, and chanced the same +yeare that he was borne, which was in the 44 yeare after the first +[Sidenote: 492.] +comming of the Saxons into this land, the yeare of Grace 492, & 15 +indiction. + +[Sidenote: The decease of Vter Pendragon.] +About the same time Vter departed out of this life (saith Polydor) +so that this account agréeth nothing with the common account of those +authors, whome Fabian and other haue followed. For either we must +presuppose, that Vter reigned before the time appointed to him by the +said authors, either else that the siege of Badon hill was before +he began to reigne, as it should séeme in déed by that which Wil. +Malmesburie writeth thereof, as hereafter shall be also shewed. +Finallie (according to the agréement of the English writers) Vter +Pendragon died by poison, when he had gouerned this land by the full +[Sidenote: Stoneheng. Chorea Gigantum.] +terme of 16 years, & was after buried by his brother Aurelius +at Stoneheng, otherwise called _Chorea Gigantnm_, leauing his sonne +Arthur to succéed him. ¶ Here ye must note that the Scotish chronicles +declare, that in all the warres for the more part wherein the Britains +obteined victorie against the Saxons, the Scots aided them in the same +warres, and so likewise did the Picts, but the same chronicles doo not +onelie varie from the British writers in account of yeares, but also +in the order of things doone, as in the same chronicles more plainelie +may appeare, & namelie in the discourse of the accidents which chanced +during the reigne of this Vter. For whereas the British histories, +as ye haue heard, attribute great praise vnto the same Vter for his +victories atchiued against the Saxons and their king Occa, whome he +slue in battell, and obteined a great victorie, the Scotish writers +make other report, affirming in deed that by the presence of bishop +Germane he obteined victorie in one battell against them: but +shortlie after the Britains fought againe with the Saxons, and were +discomfited, although Occa in following the chase ouer rashlie chanced +to be slaine: after whose deceasse the Saxons ordeined his sonne named +also Occa to succéed in his place, who to make himselfe strong against +all his enimies, sent into Germanie for one Colgerne, the which with +a great power of Dutchmen came ouer into this our Britaine, and +conquered by Occas appointment the countrie of Northumberland, situate +betwéene Tine and Tweed, as in the Scotish chronicles may further +appeare. + +Also this is to be remembred, that the victorie which was got against +the Saxons by the Britains, at what time Germane bishop of Auxerre +was present: Hector Boetius affirmeth (by authoritie of Veremond that +wrote the Scotish chronicles) to haue chanced the second time of his +comming ouer into this land, where Beda auoucheth it to be at his +first being heere. Againe the same Boetius writeth, that the same +victorie chanced in the daies of Vter Pendragon. Which can not be, if +it be true that Beda writeth, touching the time of the death of the +said Germane: for where he departed this life before the yeare of our +Lord 459, as aboue is said, Vter Pendragon began not his reigne till +the yeare of our Lord 500 or as the same Hector Boetius saith 503, so +that bishop Germane was dead long before that Vter began to reigne. + +In déed some writers haue noted, that the third battell which Vortimer +fought against the Saxons, was the same wherein S. Germane was +present, and procured the victorie with the crie of _Alleluia_, as +before ye haue heard. Which seemeth to be more agréeable to truth, and +to stand also with that which holie Beda hath written, touching the +time of the being héere of the said Germane, than the opinion of +other, which afirme that it was in the time of the reigne of Vter. +The like is to be found in the residue of Hector Boetius his booke, +touching the time speciallie of the reignes of the British kings that +gouerned Britaine about that season. For as he affirmeth, Aurelius +Ambrosius began his reigne in the yeare of our Lord 498, and ruled but +seuen yeares, and then succéeded Vter, which reigned 18 yeares, and +departed this life in the yeare of our Lord 521. + +¶ Notwithstanding the premisses, here is to be remembred, that +whatsoeuer the British writers haue recorded touching the victories +of this Vter had against the Saxons, and how that Osca the sonne of +Hengist should be slaine in battell by him and his power: in those +[Sidenote: Osca. 34 saith _Henrie Hunt._ in corrupted copies.] +old writers which haue registred the acts of the English Saxon kings +we find no such matter, but rather that after the deceasse of Hengist, +his sonne Osca or Occa reigned in Kent 24 yeares, defending his +kingdome onelie, and not séeking to inlarge it (as before is touched.) +After whose death his sonne Oth, and Irmenrike sonne to the same Oth +succéeded, more resembling their father than their grandfather or +great grandfather. To their reignes are assigned fiftie and three +yeares by the chronicles: but whether they reigned iointlie togither, +or seuerallie & apart either after other, it is not certeinlie +perceiued. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Porth the Saxon arriueth at Portesmouth, warre betweene Nazaleod +king of the Britains and the Saxons, the Britains are ouerthrowen and +slaine, the kingdome of the west Saxons beginneth, the compasse or +continent thereof, the meanes whereby it was inlarged._ + +THE ELEUENTH CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: Porth entred this land about the yeare of our Lord 501 as +_Matth. West._ noteth.] +Now will we breefelie discourse vpon the incidents which first +happened during the reigne of Vter Pendragon. We find that one Porth a +Saxon with his two sons Megla and Beda came on land at Portesmouth in +Sussex, about the beginning of the said Vters reigne, and slue a noble +yoong man of the Britains, and manie other of the meaner sort with +[Sidenote: _Harison_ supposeth the riuer to be called Ports, as for +the word mouth, is the fall of anie fresh riuer into the sea.] +him. Of this Porth the towne & hauen of Portesmouth tooke the name, +as some haue thought. Moreouer, about 40 yeares after the comming of +the Saxons into this land with their leader Hengist, one Nazaleod, a +mightie king amongst the Britains, assembled all the power he could +make to fight with Certicus king of the Westsaxons, who vnderstanding +of the great power of his enimies, required aid of Osca king of Kent, +also of Elle king of Sussex, and of Porth and his sonnes which were +latelie before arriued as ye haue heard. Certicus being then furnished +with a conuenient armie, diuided the same into two battels, reseruing +the one to himselfe, and the other he appointed to his sonne Kenrike. +King Nazaleod perceiuing that the wing which Certicus led, was of more +strength than the other which Kenrike gouerned, he set first vpon +Certicus, thinking that if he might distresse that part of the enimies +armie, he should easilie ouercome the other. Herevpon he gaue such a +fierce charge vpon that wing, that by verie force he opened the same, +and so ouerthrew the Saxons on that side, making great slaughter of +them as they were scattered. Which maner of dealing when Kenrike +[Sidenote: The Britaines ouerthrowne. _Matth. West._ _Henr. Hunt._] +saw, he made forward with all spéed to succour his father, and rushing +in amongst the Britains on their backs, he brake their armie in +péeces, and slue their king Nazaleod, and withall put his people to +flight. There died of the Britains that daie 5000 men, and the residue +[Sidenote: Stuff and Wightgar. _Matth. West._ noteth the yeare of +their arrivall to be 514.] +escaped by fléeing as well as they might. In the sixt yeare after +this battell, Stuff and Wightgar that were nephues to Certicus, came +with thrée ships, and landed at Certicesford, and ouerthrew a number +of Britains that came against them in order of battell, and so by the +comming of those his nephues being valiant and hardie capteins, the +part of Certicus became much stronger. Abut the same time Elle king of +the Southsaxons departed this life, after whome succéeded his sonne +Cissa, of whome we find little left in writing to be made account of. + +[Sidenote: Henr. Hunt. Britains ouerthrowne by the Saxons.] +About the yeare of our Lord 519, and in the yeare after the +comming of the Saxons 71, which was in the 26 yeare of the emperour +Anastasius, the Britains fought with Certicus and his sonne Kenrike +at Certicesford, where the capteins of the Britains stood to it +manfullie: but in the end they were discomfited, and great slaughter +was made there of them by the Saxons, and greater had béene, if the +night comming on had not parted them, and so manie were saued. + +[Sidenote: The kingdom of Westsaxons.] +From that day forward Certicus was reputed & taken for king of +Westsaxons, & so began the same kingdome at that time, which was (as +W. Harison noteth) in the yéere of Christ 519, after the building of +Rome 1270, of the world 4485, of the comming of the Saxons 70, of +Iustinus Anicius emperour of the east, the first and third of the +renowmed prince Patricius Arthurus then reigning ouer the Britains. +The said kingdome also conteined the countries of Wiltshire, +Summersetshire, Barkeshire, Dorsetshire, and Cornewall, hauing on the +east Hamshire, on the north the riuer of Thames, and on the south and +west the Ocean sea. Howbeit, at the first the kings of the Westsaxons +had not so large dominions, but they dailie wan ground vpon the +Britains, and so in the end by inlarging their confines, they came to +inioy all the foresaid countries, and the whole at the last. + +[Sidenote: Certicesford.] +In the ninth yéere of the reigne of Certicus, he eftsoones fought +with the Saxons at Certicesford aforesaid, where great slaughter +was made on both parts. This Certicesford was in times past called +Nazaleoy of the late remembred Nazaleod king of the Britains. About +this season at sundrie times diuers great companies of the Saxons +came ouer into Britaine out of Germanie, and got possession of the +countries of Mercia and Eastangle: but as yet those of Mercia had no +one king that gouerned them, but were vnder certeine noble men that +got possession of diuers parts in that countrie, by means wherof great +warres and manie incounters insued, with a common waste of land both +arable and habitable, whiles each one being ambitiouslie minded, & +heaping to themselues such powers as they were able to make, by swoord +and bloudshed chose rather to haue their fortune decided, than by +reason to suppresse the rage of their vnrulie affections. For such is +the nature of men in gouernement, whether they be interessed to it +by succession, or possessed of it by vsurpation, or placed in it by +lawfull constitution, (vnlesse they be guided by some supernaturall +influence of diuine conceit) if they be more than one, they cannot +away with equalitie, for regiment admitteth no companion: but euerie +one séeketh to aduance himselfe to a singularitie of honour, wherein +he will not (to die for it) participate with another, which maie +easilie be obserued in this our historicall discourse. + + * * * * * + + + + +_The beginning of the kingdome of the Eastsaxons, what it conteined, +of Arthur king of Britaine, his twelue victories ouer the Saxons +against whome he mainteined continuall warre, why the Scots and Picts +enuied him his roialtie and empire, a league betwixt Arthur and Loth +king of the Picts, Howell king of little Britaine aideth Arthur +against Cheldrike king of Germanie, who taking the ouerthrow, is +slaine by the duke of Cornewall, the Picts are discomfited, the +Irishmen with their king put to flight, and the Scots subdued, Arthurs +sundrie conquests against diuers people, the vanitie of the British +writers noted._ + +THE TWELFE CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: ERCHENWIN. The kingdom of the Eastsaxons.] +In those daies also the kingdome of the Eastsaxons began, the +chéefe citie whereof was London. It contained in effect so much as +at this present belongeth to the diocesse of London. One Erchenwin a +Saxon was the first king thereof, the which was sonne to one Offa, the +sixt in lineall descent from one Saxnot, from whom the kings of that +countrie fetched their originall. Harison noteth the exact yéere of +the erection of the kingdome of the Eastsaxons to begin with the end +of the eight of Cerdicus king of the Westsaxons, that is, the 527 of +Christ, and 78 after the comming of the Saxons. In the 13 yéere of the +reigne of Cerdicus, he with his sonne Kenrike, and other of the +Saxon capteins fought with the Britains in the Ile of Wight at +Witgarsbridge, where they slue a great number of Britains, and so +conquered the Ile, the which about four yéeres after was giuen by +Cerdicus vnto his nephues Stuffe and Witgar. + +[Sidenote: ARTHUR.] +After the deceasse of Vter Pendragon (as we doo find in the British +histories) his sonne Arthur, a yoong towardlie gentleman, of the age +of 15 yéeres or thereabouts, began his reigne ouer the Britains in +[Sidenote: 516.] +[Sidenote: _Matth. West._ hath noted 518.] +the yéere of our Lord 516, or as Matt. Westmin. saith 517, in the +28 yéere of the emperour Anastasius, and in the third yéere of the +reignes of Childebert, Clothare, Clodamire, and Theodorike, brethren +that were kings of the Frenchmen. Of this Arthur manie things are +written beyond credit, for that there is no ancient author of +authoritie that confirmeth the same: but surelie as may be thought he +was some woorthie man, and by all likelihood a great enimie to the +Saxons, by reason whereof the Welshmen which are the verie Britains in +déed, haue him in famous remembrance. He fought (as the common report +goeth of him) 12 notable battels against the Saxons, & in euerie of +them went away with the victorie, but yet he could not driue them +quite out of the land, but that they kept still the countries which +they had in possession, as Kent, Sutherie, Norfolke, and others: +howbeit some writers testifie, that they held these countries as +tributaries to Arthur. + +But truth it is (as diuers authors agrée) that he held continuall +warre against them, and also against the Picts, the which were allied +with the Saxons: for as in the Scotish histories is conteined, euen +at the first beginning of his reigne, the two kings of the Scots and +Picts séemed to enuie his aduancement to the crowne of Britaine, +bicause they had maried the two sisters of the two brethren, Aurelius +Ambrosius, and Vter Pendragon, that is to say, Loth king of Picts had +married Anne their eldest sister, and Conran king of Scots had in +mariage Alda their yoonger sister, so that bicause Arthur was begotten +out of wedlocke, they thought it stood with more reason, that the +kingdome of the Britains should haue descended vnto the sisters +sonnes, rather than to a bastard, namelie Loth the Pictish king, which +had issue by his wife Anna, sore repined at the matter. + +Wherefore at the first, when he saw that by suit he could not +preuaile, he ioined in league with the Saxons, and aiding them against +Arthur, lost many of his men of warre being ouerthrowne in battell, +which he had sent vnto the succours of Colgerne the Saxon prince that +ruled as then in the north parts. But finallie a league was concluded +betwixt Arthur and the foresaid Loth king of Picts, vpon certeine +conditions, as in the Scotish historie is expressed, where ye may read +the same, with many other things touching the acts of Arthur, somewhat +in other order than our writers haue recorded. + +¶ The British authors declare, that Arthur (immediatlie after he had +receiued the crowne of Dubright bishop of Caerleon) went with his +power of Britains against the Saxons of Northumberland, which had to +their capteine (as before is said) one Colgrime or Colgerne, whome +Arthur discomfited and chased into the citie of Yorke, within which +[Sidenote: Yorke besieged.] +place Arthur besieged him, till at length the same Colgrime +escaped out of the citie, & leauing it in charge with his brother +[Sidenote: Cheldrike commeth in aid of Colgrime. _Matt. Westm._ saith +but 700.] +called Bladulfe, passed ouer into Germanie vnto Cheldrike king of that +countrie, of whom he obteined succor, so that the said Cheldrike made +prouision of men and ships, and came himselfe ouer into Scotland, +hauing in his companie fiftéene hundred sailes one with an other. + +When Arthur was aduertised thereof, he raised his siege, and withdrew +to London, sending letters with all speed vnto Howell king of little +Britaine in France, that was his sisters sonne, requiring of him +[Sidenote: Howell king of Britaine commeth ouer in aid of Arthur.] +in most earnest wise his aid. Howell incontinentlie assembled his +people, to the number of fifteene thousand men, and taking the sea, +landed with them at Southhampton, where Arthur was readie to receiue +him with great ioy and gladnesse. From thence they drew northwards, +where both the hosts of Arthur and Howell being assembled togither, +marched forward to Lincolne, which citie Cheldrike did as then +[Sidenote: Cheldrike ouerthrowne in battell.] +besiege. Here Arthur and Howell assailed the Saxons with great +force & no lesse manhood, and at length after great slaughter made of +the enimies, they obteined the victorie, and chased Cheldrike (with +the residue of the Saxons that were left aliue) vnto a wood, where +they compassed them about within the same, in such wise, that in the +ende they were constreined to yéeld themselues, with condition that +they might be suffered to depart on foot to their ships, and so auoid +the land, leauing their horsse, armour, and other furniture vnto the +Britains. + +Héerevpon the Britains taking good hostages for assurance, permitted +the Saxons to go their waies, and so Cheldrike and his people got them +to their ships, in purpose to returne into their countrie: but being +on the sea, they were forced by wind to change their course, and +comming on the coasts of the west parts of Britaine, they arriued +at Totnesse, and contrarie to the couenanted articles of their last +composition with Arthur, inuaded the countrie anew, and taking such +armour as they could find, marched foorth in robbing and spoiling the +people, till they came to Bath, which towne the Britains kept and +defended against them, not suffering them by anie meanes to enter +there, wherevpon the Saxons inuironed it with a strong siege. +[Sidenote: Bath besieged.] +Arthur informed heereof, with all spéed hasted thither, and giuing the +enimies battell, slue the most part of Cheldrikes men. + +[Sidenote: The Saxons (sic) ouerthrow Colgrime and Bladulfe.] +There were slaine both Colgrime and Bladulfe, howbeit Cheldrike +himselfe fled out of the field towards his ships, but being pursued +by Cador earle of Cornwall (that had with him ten thousand men) by +Arthurs appointment, he was ouertaken and in flight slaine with all +[Sidenote: Cheldrike slaine by Cador duke of Cornwall.] +his people. Arthur himselfe returned from this battell foughten at +[Sidenote: K. Howell besieged by the Scots.] +Bath with all speed towards the marshes of Scotland, for that he +had receiued aduertisement, how the Scots had besieged Howell K. of +Britaine there, as he lay sicke. Also when Cador had accomplished his +enterprise and slaine Cheldrike, he returned with as much spéed as was +possible towards Arthur, & found him in Scotland, where he rescued +Howell, and afterwards pursued the Scots which fled before him by +heaps. + +[Sidenote: Guillomer.] +About the same time, one Guillomer king of Ireland arriued in +Scotland with a mightie power of Irishmen (neere the place where +Arthur lodged) to helpe the Scots against the Britains: wherevpon +Arthur turning his forces towards the same Guillomer, vanquished him, +and chased him into Ireland. This doone, he continued in pursute of +the Scots, till he caused them to sue for pardon, and to submit them +selues wholie to him, and so receiuing them to mercie, & taking homage +of them, he returned to Yorke, and shortlie after tooke to wife +[Sidenote: Guenhera.] +one Guenhera a right beautifull ladie, that was néere kinswoman to +Cador earle of Cornwall. + +[Sidenote: _W. Harison_. 525.] +In the yéere following, which some note to be 525, he went into +Ireland, and discomfiting king Guillomer in battell, he constreined +him to yéeld, and to acknowledge by dooing his fealtie to hold the +realme of Ireland of him. It is further remembred in those British +[Sidenote: Gothland.] +histories, that he subdued Gothland and Iseland, with all the +Iles in and about those seas. Also that he ouercame the Romans in the +countrie about Paris, with their capteine Lucius, and wasted the most +part of all France, and slue in singular combats certeine giants that +were of passing force and hugenesse of stature. And if he had not +béene reuoked and called home to resist his coosen Mordred, that was +sonne to Loth king of Pightland that rebelled in his countrie, he had +passed to Rome, intending to make himselfe emperor, and afterward to +vanquish the other emperor, who then ruled the empire. ¶ But for so +much as there is not anie approoued author who dooth speake of anie +such dooings, the Britains are thought to haue registered méere fables +in sted of true matters, vpon a vaine desire to aduance more than +reason would, this Arthur their noble champion, as the Frenchmen haue +doone their Rouland, and diuerse others. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Arthur is resisted by Mordred the usurper from arriuing in his owne +land, they ioine battell, Gawaine is slaine and his death lamented +by Arthur, Mordred taketh flight, he in slaine, and Arthur mortallie +wounded, his death, the place of his buriall, his bodie digged vp, his +bignesse coniecturable by his bones, a crosse found in his toome with +an inscription therevpon, his wife Guenhera buried with him, a rare +report of hir haire, Iohn Lelands epitaph in memorie of prince +Arthur._ + +THE XIIJ. CHAPTER. + + +King Arthur at his returne into Britaine, found that Mordred had +[Sidenote: Rather Cerdicke as _Leland_ thinketh.] +caused himselfe to be made king, & hauing alied himselfe with +Cheldrike a Saxon (not him whome Galfride, as ye haue heard, supposeth +to haue béene wounded & slaine before) was readie to resist his +landing, so that before he could come on land, he lost manie of his +men: but yet at length he repelled the enimies, and so tooke land at +Sandwich, where he first arriued, and ioining in battell with his +enimies, he discomfited them, but not without great losse of his +people: speciallie he sore lamented the death of Gawaine the brother +of Mordred, which like a faithfull gentleman, regarding more his +honour and loiall truth than néerenesse of bloud and coosenage, chose +rather to fight in the quarrell of his liege king and louing maister, +than to take part with his naturall brother in an vniust cause, and so +there in the battell was slaine, togither also with Angusseli, to whom +Arthur afore time had committed the gouernment of Scotland. Mordred +fled from this battell, and getting ships sailed westward, and +[Sidenote: Gawaine buried at Douer.] +finallie landed in Cornwall. King Arthur caused the corps of Gawaine +to be buried at Douer (as some hold opinion:) but William Malmesburie +supposeth, he was buried in Wales, as after shall be shewed. The dead +bodie of Angussell was conueied into Scotland, and was there buried. +When that Arthur had put his enimies to flight, and had knowledge into +what parts Mordred was withdrawne, with all spéed he reinforced his +armie with new supplies of souldiers called out of diuerse parties, +and with his whole puissance hasted forward, not resting till he came +néere to the place where Mordred was incamped, with such an armie +as he could assemble togither out of all parties where he had anie +friends. ¶ Héere (as it appéereth by Iohn Leland, in his booke +intituled, "The assertion of Arthur") it may be douted in what place +Mordred was incamped: but Geffrey of Monmouth sheweth, that after +Arthur had discomfited Mordred in Kent at the first landing, it +chanced so that Mordred escaped and fled to Winchester, whither Arthur +followed him, and there giuing him battell the second time, did also +put him to flight. And following him from thence, fought eftsoones +with him at a place called Camblane, or Kemelene in Cornwall, or (as +some authors haue) néere vnto Glastenburie. + +[Sidenote: _Richard Turner_.] +This battell was fought to such proofe, that finallie Mordred was +slaine, with the more part of his whole armie, and Arthur receiuing +diuers mortall wounds died of the same shortlie after, when he had +reigned ouer the Britains by the tearme of 26 yéeres. His corps was +buried at Glastenburie aforesaid, in the churchyard, betwixt two +pillers: where it was found in the daies of king Henrie the second, +about the yeere of our Lord 1191, which was in the last yéere of the +reigne of the same Henrie, more than six hundred yéeres after the +buriall thereof. He was laid 16 foot déepe vnder ground, for doubt +that his enimies the Saxons should haue found him. But those that +digged the ground there to find his bodie, after they had entered +about seuen foot déepe into the earth, they found a mightie broad +stone with a leaden crosse fastened to that part which laie downewards +toward the corps, conteining this inscription: + + "Hîc iacet sepultus inclytus rex Arthurius in insula Aualoniæ." + +This inscription was grauen on that side of the crosse which was next +to the stone: so that till the crosse was taken from the stone, it was +vnséene. His bodie was found, not inclosed within a toome of marble or +other stone curiouslie wrought, but within a great trée made hollowe +for the nonce like a trunke, the which being found and digged vp, was +opened, and therein were found the kings bones, of such maruellous +bignesse, that the shinbone of his leg being set on the ground, +reached vp to the middle thigh of a verie tall man: as a moonke of +that abbeie hath written, which did liue in those daies, and saw it. +¶ But Gyraldus Cambrensis (who also liued in those daies, and spake +with the abbat of the place, by whom the bones of this Arthur were +then found) affirmeth, that by report of the same abbat, he learned, +that the shinbone of the said Arthur being set vp by the leg of a +verie tall man (the which the abbat shewed to the same Gyraldus) came +aboue the knée of the same man the length of three fingers breadth, +which is a great deale more likelie than the other. Furthermore the +skull of his head was of a woonderfull largenesse, so that the space +of his forehead betwixt his two eies was a span broad. There appéered +in his head the signes and prints of ten wounds or more: all the which +were growne into one wem, except onelie that whereof it should séeme +he died, which being greater than the residue, appéered verie plaine. +Also in opening the toome of his wife quéene Gueneuer, that was buried +with him, they found the tresses of hir haire whole and perfect, and +finelie platted, of colour like to the buruished gold, which being +touched, immediatlie fell to dust. The abbat, which then was +[Sidenote: _Henricus Blecensis_ seu _Soliacensis_. _Io. Leland_.] +gouernour of the house, was named Stephan, or Henrie de Blois, +otherwise de Sullie, nephue to king Henrie the second (by whose +commandement he had serched for the graue of Arthur) translated the +bones as well of him as of quéene Gueneuer, being so found, into the +great church, and there buried them in a faire double toome of marble, +laieng the bodie of the king at the head of the toome, and the bodie +[Sidenote: _Dauid Pow._ _pag._ 238, 239.] +of the quéene at his féet towards the west part. ¶ The writer of +the historie of Cambria now called Wales saith, that the bones of the +said Arthur, and Gueneuer his wife were found in the Ile of Aualon +(that is, the Ile of Alpes) without the abbeie of Glastenbury, +fiftéene féet within the ground, & that his graue was found by the +meanes of a Bardh, whome the king heard at Penbroke singing the acts +of prince Arthur, and the place of his buriall. + +_Iohn Leland in his booke intituled Assertio Arthuri, hath for the +woorthie memorie of so noble a prince, honored him with a learned +epitaph, as heere followeth._ + + Saxonicas toties qui fudit Marte cruento + _Who vanquisht Saxon troops so oft, with battels bloudie broiles,_ + Turmas, & peperit spolijs sibi nomen opimis, + _And purchast to himselfe a name with warlike wealthie spoiles,_ + Fulmineo toties Pictos qui contudit ense, + _Who hath with shiuering shining swoord, the Picts so oft dismaid,_ + ImposuÃtque iugum Scoti ceruicibus ingens: + _And eke vnweldie seruile yoke on necke of Scots hath laid:_ + Qui tumidos Gallos, Germanos quÃque feroces + _Who Frenchmen puft with pride, and who the Germans fierce in fight_ + Perculit, & Dacos bello confregit aperto: + _Discomfited, and danted Danes with maine and martiall might:_ + Denique Mordredum è medio qui sustulit illud + _Who of that murdring Mordred did the vitall breath expell,_ + Monstrum, horrendum, ingens, dirum, sæuúmque tyrannum, + _That monster grislie, lothsome, huge, that diresome tyrant fell,_ + Hoc iacet extinctus monumento Arthurius alto, + _Heere liuelesse Arthur lies intoomd, within this statelie hearse,_ + Militiæ clarum decus, & virtutis alumnus: + _Of chiualrie the bright renowme, and vertues nursling fearse:_ + Gloria nunc cuius terram circumuolat omnem, + _Whose glorie great now ouer all the world dooth compasse flie,_ + Aetherijque petit sublimia tecta Tonantis. + _And of the airie thunder skales the loftie building hie_. + Vos igitur gentis proles generosa Britannæ, + _Therefore you noble progenie of Britaine line and race,_ + Induperatori ter magno assurgite vestro, + _Arise vnto your emperour great, of thrice renowmed grace,_ + Et tumulo sacro roseas inferte corollas, + _And cast vpon his sacred toome the roseall garlands gaie,_ + Officij testes redolentia munera vestri. + _That fragrant smell may witnesse well, your duties you displaie_. + +¶ These verses I haue the more willinglie inserted, for that I had +the same deliuered to me turned into English by maister Nicholas +Roscarocke, both right aptlie yeelding the sense, and also properlie +answering the Latine, verse for verse. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Vpon what occasion the graue of king Arthur was sought for, the +follie of such discouered as beleeued that he should returne and +reigne againe as king in Britaine, whether it be a fiction or a +veritie that there was such an Arthur or no; discordance among writers +about the place of Gawains buriall and Arthurs death; of queene +Gueneuer the wife of king Arthur, hir beautie and dishonest life, +great disagreement among writers touching Arthur and his wiues to the +impeachment of the historie, of his life and death._ + +THE XIIIJ. CHAPTER. + + +The occasion that mooued king Henrie the second to cause his nephue +the foresaid abbat to search for the graue of king Arthur, was, for +that he vnderstood by a Welsh minstrell or Bardh (as they call him) +that could sing manie histories in the Welsh language of the acts of +the ancient Britains, that in the forsaid churchyard at Glastenburie, +betwixt the said two pillers the bodie of Arthur was to be found +sixtéene foot déepe vnder the ground. Gyraldus Cambrensis affirmeth, +that the trée in the which Arthurs bodie was found so inclosed, was an +oke, but other suppose that it was an alder trée, bicause that in the +same place a great number of that kind of trées doo grow, and also +for that it is not vnknowne, that an alder lieng vnder ground where +moisture is, will long continue without rotting. + +¶ By the finding thus of the bodie of Arthur buried (as before ye haue +[Sidenote: As for example in a caue néere a water called pond +perilous at Salisburie, where he and his knights should sléepe armed, +till an other knight should be borne that should come and awake them. +_Will. Malmes. lib. 1. de regibus Ang._] +heard) such as hitherto beleeued that he was not dead, but conueied +awaie by the fairies into some pleasant place, where he should remaine +for a time, and then to returne againe, and reigne in as great +authoritie as euer he did before, might well perceiue themselues +deceiued in crediting so vaine a fable. But yet (where it might +otherwise be doubted, whether anie such Arthur was at all, as the +British histories mention, bicause neither Gyldas nor Beda in their +woorks speake anie thing of him) it may appéere, the circumstances +considered, that suerly such one there was of that name, hardie and +valiant in armes, though not in diuerse points so famous as some +writers paint him out. William Malmesburie a writer of good credit and +authoritie amongst the learned, hath these woords in his first booke +intituled "De regibus Anglorum," saieng: "But he being dead [meaning +Vortimer] the force of the Britains waxed féeble, their decaied +hope went backward apace: and euen then suerlie had they gon to +destruction, if Ambrosius (who alone of the Romans remained yet aliue, +and was king after Vortigerne) had not kept vnder and staied the +loftie barbarous people, that is to say the Saxons, by the notable aid +and assistance of the valiant Arthur." + +This is the same Arthur, of whom the trifling tales of the Britains +euen to this day fantasticallie doo descant and report woonders: but +woorthie was he doubtlesse, of whom feined fables should not haue so +dreamed, but rather that true histories might haue set foorth his +woorthie praises, as he that did for a long season susteine and hold +vp his countrie that was readie to go to vtter ruine and decaie, +incouraging the bold harts of the Britains vnto the warre, and +finallie in the siege of Badon hill, he set vpon nine hundred of the +enimies, and with incredible slaughter did put them all to flight. On +the contrarie part, the English Saxons, although they were tossed with +sundrie haps of fortune, yet still they renewed their bands with new +supplies of their countriemen that came out of Germanie, and so with +bolder courage assailed their enimies, and by little and little +causing them to giue place, spread themselues ouer the whole Ile. For +although there were manie battels, in the which sometime the Saxons +and sometime the Britains got the better, yet the greater number of +Saxons that were slaine, the greater number of them still came ouer to +the succour of their countriemen, being called in and sent for out of +euerie quarter about them. + +[Sidenote: Gawaine where he is buried.] +Héere is also to be noted, that where the British historie +declareth, that Gawaine or Gallowine being slaine in the battell +fought betwixt Arthur and Mordred in Kent, was buried at Douer, so +that his bones remained there to be shewed a long time after: yet by +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm. lib. 3. de regib._] +that which the foresaid William Malmesburie writeth in the third +booke of his volume intituled "De regibus Anglorum," the contrarie +maie séeme true: his woords are these. "Then (saith he) in the +prouince of Wales, which is called Rosse, the sepulture of Gallowine +was found, who was nephue to Arthur by his sister, not going out of +kind from so woorthie an vncle. He reigned in that part of Britaine +which vnto this day is called Walwichia, a knight for his high +prowesse most highlie renowmed, but expelled out of his kingdome by +the brother and nephue of Hengist, of whome in the first booke we haue +made mention, first requiting his banishment with great detriment and +losse to those his enimies, wherein he was partaker by iust desert +of his vncles woorthie praise, for that he staied (for a great manie +yéeres) the destruction of his countrie, which was now running +headlong into vtter ruine and decaie. But Arthurs graue no where +appéereth: yet the others toome (as I haue said) was found in the +daies of William the conqueror, king of England, vpon the sea side, +and conteined in length fouretéene foot, where he was (as some say) +wounded by his enimies, and cast vp by shipwracke. But other +write, that he was slaine at a publike feast or banket by his owne +countriemen." Thus saith William Malmesburie. + +¶ But heere you must consider, that the said Malmesburie departed this +life about the beginning of the reigne of king Henrie the second, +certeine yéers before the bones of Arthur were found (as ye haue +heard.) But omitting this point as néedles to be controuerssed, & +letting all dissonant opinions of writers passe, as a matter of no +such moment that we should néed to sticke therein as in a glewpot; +we will procéed in the residue of such collections as we find +necessarilie pertinent to the continuation of this historie; and now +we will say somewhat of quéene Guenhera or Guenouer, the wife of the +foresaid king Arthur. + +Some iudge that she tooke hir name of hir excellent beautie, bicause +Guinne or Guenne in the Welsh toong signifieth faire, so that she was +named Guennere or rather Guenlhean, euen (as you would say) the faire +or beautifull Elenor or Helen. She was brought vp in the house of one +Cador earle of Cornewall before Arthur maried hir: and as it appeareth +by writers, she was euill reported of, as noted of incontinencie & +breach of faith to hir husband, in maner as for the more part women of +excellent beautie hardlie escape the venemous blast of euill toongs, +and the sharpe assaults of the followers of Venus. The British +historie affirmeth, that she did not onelie abuse hir selfe by +vnlawfull companie with Mordred, but that also in Arthurs absence she +consented to take him to husband. It is likewise found recorded by +an old writer, that Arthur besieged on a time the marishes néere to +Glastenburie, for displeasure that he bare to a certeine lord called +Melua, who had rauished Gueneuer, and led hir into those marishes, and +there did kéepe hir. Hir corps notwithstanding (as before is recited) +was interred togither with Arthurs, so that it is thought she liued +not long after his deceasse. + +Arthur had two wiues (as Gyraldus Cambrensis affirmeth) of which the +latter (saith he) was buried with him, and hir bones found with his in +one sepulchre, but yet so diuided, that two parts of the toome towards +the head were appointed to receiue the bones of the man, and the third +part towards the féet conteined the womans bones, apart by themselues. +Here is to be remembred, that Hector Boetius writeth otherwise of the +death of Arthur than before in this booke is mentioned, & also that +Gueneuer being taking prisoner by the Picts, was conueied into +Scotland, where finallie she died, and was there buried in Angus, as +in the Scotish chronicles further appeareth. And this may be true, if +he had thrée sundrie wiues, each of them bearing the name of +Gueneuer, as sir Iohn Price dooth auouch that he had. Now bicause +of contrarietie in writers touching the great acts atchiued by this +Arthur, and also for that some difference there is amongst them, about +the time in which he should reigne, manie haue doubted of the whole +historie which of him is written (as before ye haue heard.) ¶ But +others there be of a constant beléefe, who hold it for a grounded +truth, that such a prince there was; and among all other a late +[Sidenote: _Dauid Pow. pag. 238, 239_.] +writer, who falling into necessarie mention of prince Arthur, +frameth a spéech apologeticall in his and their behalfe that were +princes of the British bloud, discharging a short but yet a sharpe +inuectiue against William Paruus, Polydor Virgil, and their complices, +whom he accuseth of lieng toongs, enuious detraction, malicious +slander, reprochfull and venemous language, wilfull ignorance, dogged +enuie, and cankerd minds; for that they speake vnreuerentlie and +contrarie to the knowne truth concerning those thrisenoble princes. +Which defensitiue he would not haue deposed, but that he takes the +monuments of their memories for vndoubted verities. + +The British histories and also the Scotish chronicles doo agrée, that +he liued in the daies of the emperour Iustinian, about the fiftéenth +yéere of whose reigne he died, which was in the yéere of our Lord +[Sidenote: 542.] +542, as diuerse doo affirme. Howbeit some write farther from all +likelihood, that he was about the time of the emperor Zeno, who began +[Sidenote: _Aurea historia. I. Leland_.] +his reigne about the yéere of our Lord 474. The writer of the +booke intituled "Aurea historia" affirmeth, that in the tenth yéere +of Cerdicus king of Westsaxons, Arthur the warriour rose against the +Britains. Also Diouionensis writeth, that Cerdicus fighting oftentimes +with Arthur, if he were ouercome in one moneth, he arose in an other +moneth more fierce and strong to giue battell than before. At length +Arthur wearied with irkesomnes, after the twelfth yéere of the comming +of Cerdicus, gaue vnto him vpon his homage doone and fealtie receiued, +[Sidenote: Westsaxon.] +the shires of Southampton and Somerset, the which countries +Cerdicius named Westsaxon. This Cerdicius or Cerdicius came into +Britaine about the yéere of our Lord 495. In the 24 yere after his +comming hither, that is to say, about the yéere of your Lord 519, he +began his reigne ouer the Westsaxons, and gouerned them as king by the +space of 15 yéeres, as before ye haue heard. But to follow the course +of our chronicles accordinglie as we haue begun, we must allow of +their accounts herein as in other places, and so procéed. + + * * * * * + + + + +_The decaie of christian religion and receiuing of the Pelagian +heresie in Britaine by what meanes they were procured and by whom +redressed: Constantine succeedeth Arthur in the kingdome, ciuill warre +about succession to the crowne, the chalengers are pursued and +slaine, Constantine is vnkindlie killed of his kinsman, a bitter and +reprochfull inuectiue of Gyldas against the British rulers of his +time, and namelie against Constantine, Conan that slue Constantine +reigneth in Britaine, his vertues and vices, his two yeeres regiment, +the seuere reprehensions of Gyldas uttered against Conan, discouering +the course of his life, and a secret prophesie of his death._ + +THE XV CHAPTER. + + +In this meane while that the realme was disquieted with sore & +continuall warres betwixt the Britains and Saxons (as before ye haue +heard) the christian religion was not onelie abolished in places where +the Saxons got habitations, but also among the Britains the right +[Sidenote: The heresie of the Pelagians reuiued, _Hist. Mag._] +faith was brought into danger, by the remnant of the Pelagian heresie, +[Sidenote: Dubritius & Dauid lerned bishops.] +which began againe to be broched by diuers naughtie persons. But +Dubritius that was first bishop of Landaffe, and after archbishop of +Caerleon Arwiske, and his successour Dauid, with other learned men +earnestlie both by preaching and writing defended the contrarie cause, +to the confuting of those errors, and restablishing of the truth. + +[Sidenote: CONSTANTINE.] +After the death of Arthur, his coosine Constantine the sonne +[Sidenote: 542.] +of Cador, duke or earle of Cornewall began his reigne ouer the +Britains, in the yere of our Lord 542, which was about the 15 yéere of +the emperour Iustinianus almost ended, the 29 of Childebert king +of France, and the first yéere well néere complet of the reigne of +[Sidenote: _Galfrid_. _Matth. West._] +Totilas king of the Goths in Italie. Arthur when he perceiued that +he shuld die, ordeined this Constantine to succéed him, and so by the +consent of the more part of the Britains he was crowned king: but the +sonnes of Mordred sore repined thereat, as they that claimed the rule +of the land by iust title and claime of inheritance to them from their +[Sidenote: Ciuill warre.] +father descended. Herevpon followed ciuill warre, so that diuers +battels were striken betwéene them and in the end the two brethren +were constreined to withdraw for refuge, the one to London, and the +other to Winchester: but Constantine pursuing them, first came to +Winchester, and by force entered the citie, and slue the one brother +that was fled thither within the church of saint Amphibalus: and after +comming to London, entered that citie also, and finding the other +brother within a church there, slue him in like maner as he had doone +the other. And so hauing dispatched his aduersaries, he thought to +haue purchased to himselfe safetie: but shortlie after, his owne +[Sidenote: Aurelius Conanus. Constantine slaine.] +kinsman, one Aurelius Conanus arrered warre against him, who ioining +with him in battell slue him in the field, after he had reigned foure +yéeres. His bodie was conueied to Stonheng, and there buried beside +[Sidenote: _Gyldas_.] +his ancestour Vter Pendragon. Of this Constantine that seemeth +to be ment, which Gyldas writeth in his booke intituled "De excidio +Britanniæ," where inueieng against the rulers of the Britains in his +time, he writeth thus: "Britaine hath kings, but the same be tyrants; +iudges it hath, but they be wicked, oftentimes péeling and harming the +innocent people, reuenging and defending, but whom? such as be guiltie +persons and robbers; hauing manie wiues, but yet breaking wedlocke; +oftentimes swearing, and yet forswearing themselues; vowing, and for +the more part lieng; warring, but mainteining ciuill & vniust warres; +pursuing indéed théeues that are abroad in the countrie, and yet not +onelie cherishing those that sit euen at table with them, but also +highlie rewarding them: giuing almesse largelie, but on the other part +heaping vp a mightie mount of sinnes; sitting in the seat of sentence, +but seldome séeking the rule of righteous iudgement; despising the +innocent and humble persons, and exalting so farre as in them lieth, +euen vp to the heauens, most bloudie and proud murtherers, théeues and +adulterers, yea the verie professed enimies of God; if he would so +permit: kéeping manie in prison, whome they oppresse, in loding them +with irons, through craft rather to serue their owne purpose, than for +anie gilt of the persons so imprisoned: taking solemne oths before +the altars, and shortlie after, despising the same altars as vile and +filthie stones. + +"Of this hainous and wicked offense Constantine the tyrannicall whelpe +of the lionesse of Deuonshire is not ignorant, who this yeare, after +the receiuing of his dreadfull oth, whereby he bound himselfe that in +no wise he should hurt his subjects (God first, and then his oth, +with the companie of saints, and his mother being there present) +did notwithstanding in the reuerent laps of the two mothers, as the +church, and their carnall mother, vnder the coule of the holie abbat, +deuoure with sword and speare in stead of téeth, the tender sides, +yea and the entrailes of two children of noble and kinglie race, and +likewise of their two gouernours, yea and that (as I said) amongest +the sacred altars: the armies of which persons so slaine, not +stretched foorth to defend themselues with weapons (the which few in +those daies handled more valiantlie than they) but stretched foorth (I +saie) to God and to his altar in the day of iudgement, shall set vp +the reuerent ensignes of their patience and faith at the gates of the +citie of Christ, which so haue couered the seat of the celestiall +sacrifice, as it were with the red mantle of their cluttered bloud. + +"These things he did not after anie good déeds doone by him deseruing +praise: for manie yeares before, ouercome with the often and +changeable filths of adulterie, & forsaking his lawfull wife contrarie +to the lawes of God, &c: he now brought foorth this crime of quelling +his owne kinsmen, and violating the church, but neither being loosed +from the snares of his former euills, he increaseth the new with the +old." ¶ Thus in effect hath Gyldas written of this Constantine, with +more: for turning his tale to him, he reproueth him of his faults, and +counselleth him to repent. + +[Sidenote: CONANUS.] +After that Aurelius Conanus had slaine the foresad Constantine, as +in the British histories is mentioned, the same Conan was made king +[Sidenote: 546.] +of Britaine in the yeare of our Lord 546, in the 20 yeare of +Iustinianus, and in the 33 of the reigne of Childebert king of the +Frenchmen. This Aurelius Conanus (as is recorded by some writers) was +of a noble heart, frée and liberall, but giuen much to the maintenance +of strife and discord amongst his people, light of credit, and namelie +had an open eare to receiue and heare the reports of such as accused +other. Moreouer he was noted of crueltie, as he that tooke his vncle, +who of right should haue béene king, and kept him in prison, and not +so satisfied slue in tyrannous maner the two sons of his said vncle: +But God would not suffer him long to inioy the rule of the land in +[Sidenote: _Matth. West._ writeth that he reigned 30. yeares.] +such vniust dealing, for he died after he had reigned the space of two +yeares, and left a sonne behind him called Vortiporus, which succéeded +him in the kingdome, as authors doo record. Of this Aurelius Conanus +Gyldas writeth, calling vnto him after he had made an end with his +predecessor Constantine, saieng in this wise: "And thou lions whelpe, +as saith the prophet, Aurelius Conanus what doost thou? Art thou +not swallowed vp in the filthie mire of murthering thy kinsmen, of +committing fornications and adulteries like to the other before +mentioned, if not more deadlie, as it were with the waues and surges +of the drenching seas ouerwhelming thée with hir vnmercifull rage? +Dooest thou not in hating the peace of thy countrie as a deadlie +serpent, and thirsting after ciuill wars and spoiles (oftentimes +vniustlie gotten) shut vp against thy soule the gates of celestiall +peace and refreshment? Thou being left alone as a withering trée in +the middle of a field, call to remembrance (I praie thée) the vaine +youthfull fantasie and ouertimelie death of thy fathers and thy +brethren. Shalt thou being set apart, and chosen foorth of all thy +linage for thy godlie deserts, be reserued to liue an hundred yeares, +or remaine on earth till thou be as old as Methusalem? No no." And +after these reprehensions, with further threatnings of Gods vengeance, +he exhorted him to amendment of life, and so proceedeth to talke +with Vortiporus, whome he nameth the king, or rather the tyrant of +Southwales, as after shall be rehearsed. + + * * * * * + + + + +_The beginning of the kingdome of Brenitia, of whome the king of +Kent, Mertia, and west Saxons descended, Ida the Saxon commended, the +originall of the kingdome of Deira, the circuit and bounds therof, of +Ella the gouernour of the same, when the partition of the kingdome +of Northumberland chanced; Vortiporus reigneth ouer the Britains, he +vanquisheth the Saxons; Gyldas sharplie reprooueth Vortiporus for +manie greeuous offenses, and exhorteth him to amendement._ + +THE XVJ. CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: IDA. 547.] +In the yeare of the Lord 547, which was about the first yeare of +the reigne of Aurelius Conanus, the kingdome of Brenitia began vnder a +Saxon ruler there callèd Ida, & descended of Woden. For where the said +Woden had thrée sonnes, Weldecius, Withlegris, and Beldecius; of +[Sidenote: _H. Hunt._ The kingdom of Brenitia began.] +the first, the kings of Kent were lineallie extracted: of the second, +the kings of Mertia: and of the third sonne came the kings of +Westsaxon, and also of him was this Ida descended, being the ninth in +lineall succession from the said Beldecius and the tenth from Woden. +The same Ida was vndoubtedlie a right noble personage, and changed +first that dukedome into a kingdome; where before that time the Saxons +that ruled there, were subiects vnto the kings of Kent. Whether he +tooke vpon him of his owne accord to vsurpe the kinglie title and +roiall authoritie, or whether that the same was giuen to him by +consent of other, the certeintie appeareth not. But sure it is, +that he being a woorthie prince, did not degenerate from his noble +ancestors inuincible in warre abroad and at home, qualifieng his +kinglie seueritie with a naturall kind of courteous humanitie. The +bounds of his kingdome called (as is said) Brenitia, began in the +south at the riuer of Tine, and ended in the north at the Forth in +Scotland, in the British toong called Werd. + +[Sidenote: ELLA 561. The beginning of the kingdom of Deria.] +About the same time, or rather about 14 yeares after, one Ella a +Saxon also reigned as king in Deira, which kingdome began at the said +riuer of Tine in the north, & ended at the riuer of Humber toward the +south. These two kingdomes were sometime gouerned by two seuerall +kings, and afterwards at other times they were ioined in one, and +gouerned by one onelie king, and named the kingdome of Northumberland, +which in processe of time was much inlarged, so that it included the +shires of Yorke, Notingham, Darbie, Lancaster, the bishoprike of +Durham, Copland, and other countries betwixt the east and the west +[Sidenote: The riuer of Mersie.] +seas, euen vnto the riuer of Mersie. The foresaid Ella was sonne +to Iffus, being descended from Woden, as the 12 in succession from +him, though not by right line as William Malmesburie hath noted. Ida +(as the same Malmesburie dooth testifie) reigned 14 yeares. + +Now Ella who was successor to Ida (as he saith) reigned thirtie +[Sidenote: _Matth. West._] +yeares, and verie valiantlie inlarged his kingdome. But one author +writeth how Ida reigned but 12 yeares, and that he builded the castell +of Bamburge, first fensing it with pales, and after with a wall of +[Sidenote: _Hen. Hunt._] +stone. The same Ida had by his wife six sonnes, begotten in lawfull +[Sidenote: _Matt. West._] +bed, Ada, Ebric, Theodoric, Athelric, Osmer, and Theofred. +Moreouer he begat of certeine concubines (which he kept) six bastard +sonnes, Oga, Aleric, Ettha, Osbale, Segor, and Segother. These came +altogither into this land, and arriued at Flemesburke with fortie +ships, as Matthæus Westmonasteriensis hath recorded. The partition of +the kingdome of Northumberland chanced after the deceasse of Ida, as +the same author signifieth: for Ada the sonne of the foresaid Ida +succéeded his father in the kingdome of Brenitia, reigning therein +seuen yeares: and Ella the sonne of Histria, a most valiant duke, +began to gouerne Deira, as both the said Matth. Westm. and others doo +affirme. + +[Sidenote: VORTIPORUS. _Matt. West._ noteth 578.] +Vortiporus the sonne of Aurelius Conanus succéeded his father, and +began to reigne ouer the Britains, in the yéere of our Lord 576, in +the 11, yeare of the emperour Flauius Anicius Iustinus, in the fourth +yeare of the reigne of Childeric king of France, and in the fourth +yeare of Clephis the Gothish king in Italie. This Vortiporus +vanquished the Saxons in batttell, as the British histories make +mention, and valiantlie defended his land and subiects the Britains, +from the danger of them and other their allies. In the time of this +kings reigne, the foresaid Ella began to rule in the south part of +the kingdome of Northumberland called Deira, as before is mentioned, +according to the account of some authors, who also take this +Vortiporus to begin his reigne in the yeare 548. After that Vortiporus +[Sidenote: _Matt. West._ noteth 3 yeares.] +had ruled the Britans the space of 4 yeares, he departed this +life, and left no issue behind him to succéed him in the kingdom. + +Against this Vortiporus Gyldas also whetting his toong, beginneth with +him thus: "And why standest thou as one starke amazed? Thou (I say) +Vortiporus the tyrant of Southwales, like to the panther in maner and +wickednesse diuerslie spotted as it were with manie colors, with thy +hoarie head in thy throne, full of deceits, crafts and wiles, and +defiled euen from the lowest part of thy bodie to the crowne of thy +head, with diuers & sundrie murthers committed on thine owne kin, and +filthie adulteries, thus proouing a naughtie sonne of a good king, as +Manasses was to Ezechias. How chanceth it that the violent streames +of sinnes which thou swallowest vp like pleasant wine, or rather +art deuoured of them, (the end of thy life by little and little now +drawing néere) can not yet satisfie the? What meanest thou that with +fornication of all euills, as it were the full heape, thine owne wife +being put away, thou by hir honest death dooest oppresse thy soule +with a certeine burthen that can not be auoided, of thine vnshamefast +daughter? Consume not (I pray thée) the residue of thy daies to the +offense of God, &c." These and the like woords vttered he, exhorting +him to repentance, with admonitions taken out of the scriptures both +for his comfort and warning. + +¶ If the circumstance of this that Gyldas writeth of Vortiporus be +marked, it may be perceiued, that Geffrey of Monmouth, and also +Matthew of Westminster, the author of the floures of histories, are +deceiued, in that they take him to be the sonne of Aurelius Conanus: +and rather it may be gathered, that not onlie the same Aurelius +Conanus and Vortiporus, but also Constantinus, yea & Cuneglasus, and +Maglocunus, of the which he also intreateth (as partlie shall be +hereafter touched) liued and reigned all at one time in seuerall parts +of this Ile, and not as monarchs of the whole British nation, but as +rulers each of them in his quarter, after the maner as the state of +Ireland hath béene in times past before the countrie came vnder the +English subiection, if my coniecture herein doo not deceiue me. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Malgo reigneth ouer the Britains, the noble qualities wherewith he +was beautified by his filthie sinnes are blemished, Gyldas reproueth +Cuneglasus for making warre against God and man, and this Malgo for +his manifold offenses, the vile iniquities wherevnto the British +rulers were inclined, the valiantnesse of Kenrike king of the +Westsaxons, his victories against diuers people his enimies, +succession in the gouemment of the Westsaxons, Northumberland, and +Kentish Saxons; the first battell that was fought betwixt the Saxons +in this Iland, Cheuling with his Westsaxons encounter with the +Britains and get the vpper hand, three kings of the Britains slaine, +and their people spoiled of their lands, goods and liues._ + +THE XVIJ. CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: MALGO. 580. _Matth. West._ hath noted 581.] +After the deceasse of Vortiporus, Malgo the nephue of Aurelius +Conanus (as some write) was made king of Britaine, & began his reigne +ouer the Britaines, in the yéere of our Lord 580, in the fiftéenth +yéere of the emperour Iustinian, and in the 37 yéere of the reigne of +Childerike king of the Frenchmen. This Malgo is reported to haue béene +[Sidenote: _Gal. Mon._] +the comeliest gentleman in beautie and shape of personage that was +to be found in those daies amongst all the Britains, and therewith of +a bold and hardie courage. He manfullie defended the country which he +had in gouernance from the malice of the Saxons, and subdued the out +Iles, as Orkenie and others. But notwithstanding the noble qualities +with the which his person was adorned, yet he spotted them all with +the filthie sinne of Sodomie, so that he fell into the hatred of +almightie God, and being pursued of the Saxons, receiued manie +ouerthrowes at their hands, as by the report of the English writers is +gathered more at large. Finallie, when he had reigned fiue yéeres and +od moneths, he departed this life. + +[Sidenote: _Matt. Westm._ counteth not past fiue yeres to his reigne +through other affirme that he reigned 35 yéeres.] +It séemeth that this Malgo is named by Gyldas, Maglocunus, the +which Gyldas (before he speaketh of him) inueieth against one +Cuneglasus, whome he reprooueth, for that he warred both against God +and man: against God with grieuous sinnes, as namelie adulterie, in +forsaking the companie of his lawfull wife, and kéeping to concubine +a sister of hirs, that had professed chastitie: & against man with +materiall armor and weapons, which he vsed to the destruction of his +owne countrimen, with whom he kept warres, and not against the enimies +of the common wealth. + +From Cuneglasus he commeth to the foresaid Maglocunus, whome he nameth +the dragon of the Iles, and the expeller of manie tyrants, not onelie +out of their kingdoms, but also out of life, the last of whom he +treateth (as he himselfe saith) but the first in all mischéefe & +euill, greater than manie in power, and likewise in malice: verie +liberall in giuing, but more plentifull in sinne, strong and valiant +in arms, but stronger in destruction of his owne soule. And so +procéeding, chargeth him with the sinne of the Sodomits, & sore +blameth him, for that where it had pleased God to make him higher than +all other dukes of Britaine in kingdome and degrée, he did not shew +himselfe better, but contrarilie far woorse than they both in maners +and conditions. He declareth also a little after, that this Maglocune +in his yoong yéeres slue in battell his vncle being king, with the +most valiant souldiers in maner that he had. Also that where the +said Maglocune tooke vpon him the profession of a moonke, he after +renounced the same, and became a woorsse liuer than euer he was +before, abandoning his wife, and kéeping his brothers sonnes wife, +while hir husband yet liued. + +Thus by that which Gyldas writeth of the kings and rulers of the +Britains, which liued in his daies, ye may perceiue that they were +giuen to all manner of wickednesse, and namelie to ciuill dissention, +rapine, adulterie, and fornication: so that it may be thought, that +GOD stirred vp the Saxons to be a scourge to them, and to worke his +iust vengeance vpon them for their wickednesses and abhominable +offenses dailie c[=o]mitted against his diuine maiestie, so that we +find recorded by writers, how that the Saxons in diuers conflicts +against the Britains had the better, and also tooke from them diuers +townes, as alreadie partly hath beene and also hereafter shall be +shewed. + +It is furthermore to be remembred, that about the 14 yeere of the +[Sidenote: 559. _Hen Hunt._] +Britaine king Conanus his reigne, which was about the end of the +yere of Christ 559, Kenrike king of the Westsaxons, departed this +life, after he had reigned xxv. yéeres complet. This Kenrike was a +victorious prince, and fought diuers battels against the Britains. In +the 18 yeere of his reigne which was the 551 of Christ, we find that +he fought against them, being come at that time vnto Salisburie, and +after great slaughter made on both parts, at length the victorie +remained with the Saxons, and the Britains were chased. Againe in the +two and twentith yéere of his reigne, and 555 yéere of Christ, the +same Kenrike and his sonne Cheuling fought with a great power of +Britains at Branburie. + +The Britains were diuided into nine companies, three in the fore ward, +thrée in the battell, and thrée in the rere ward, with their horssemen +and archers, after the maner of the Romans. The Saxons being ranged in +one entire battell, valiantlie assailed them, and notwithstanding the +shot of the Britains, yet they brought the matter to the triall +of handblowes, till at length by the comming on of the night, the +victorie remained doubtfull: and no maruell is to be made therof +(saith Henrie archdeacon of Huntington) sith the Saxons were men of +huge stature, great force & valiant courage. The same yéere that +Kenrike deceassed, Ida the king of Northumberland also died: he was +(as ye haue heard) a right valiant prince, & inlarged the dominion of +the Saxons greatlie, he ouercame Loth king of the Picts in battell, +and Corran king of Scots. + +[Sidenote: 560. _Hen Hunt._] +Also about the yéere of Christ 560, Conanus (as yet gouerning the +Britains) Irmenrike king of Kent departed this life, of whome ye haue +heard before, & Ethelbert his sonne succéeded him 52 yéeres. Then +after that the foresaid thrée princes were dead (as before ye +haue heard) they had that succéeded them in their estates as here +followeth. After Kenrike, his sonne Ceaulinus or Cheuling succéeded in +gouernement of the Westsaxons: and after Ida, one Ella or Alla reigned +in Northumberland: after Irmenrike followed his sonne Ethelbert in +rule ouer the Kentish Saxons. + +This Ethelbert, in processe of time grew to be a mightie prince, but +yet in the begining of his reigne he had but sorie successe against +some of his enimies: for hauing to doo with the foresaid Cheuling +[Sidenote: _Hen. Hunt._ Alià s Wiphanduae.] +king of Westsaxons, he was of him ouercome in battell at Wilbasdowne, +where he lost two of his dukes or cheefe capteins, beside other +people. This was the first battell that was fought betwixt the Saxons, +one against another within this land, after their first comming into +the same. And this chanced in the yere of our Lord 567, being the +second yéere of the emperour Iustinus. + +[Sidenote: 570. CUTHA. Aileburie.] +About the yéere 570, Cutha the brother of king Cheuling fought with +the Britains at Bedford, vanquished them, & tooke from them 4 townes, +[Sidenote: 581.] +Liganbrough, Eglesbrough or Ailesburie, Besington, and Euesham. +Also about the yéere of our Lord 581, the foresaid king Cheuling +incountered with the Britains at a place called Diorth, and obteining +the vpper hand, tooke from them the cities of Bath, Glocester, and +Cirencester. At this battell fought at Diorth, were present thrée +kings of the Britains, whose names were these: Coinmagill, Candidan, +and Farimnagill, which were slaine there through the permission of +almightie God as then refusing his people, the which through their +heinous sinnes and great wickednesses, had most gréeuouslie offended +his high and diuine maiestie, as by Gyldas it may euidentlie appeare. +For they had declined from the lawes of the Lord, and were become +abhominable in his sight, euen from the prince to the poore man, from +the priest to the Leuit, so that not one estate among them walked +vprightlie, but contrarie to dutie was gone astray, by reason whereof +the righteous God had giuen them ouer as a prey to their enimies. + +[Sidenote: His brother as _Matt. West._ saith.] +Also in the latter end of Malgos daies or about the first beginning of +the reigne of his successor Careticus, Cheuling and his sonne Cutwine +fought with the Britains at a place called Fechanley or Fedanley, +[Sidenote: _H. Hunt._] +or (as some bookes haue) Frithenlie, where Cutwine was slaine, & the +Englishmen chased: but yet Cheuling repairing his armie, wan the +victorie, and chasing the Britains, tooke from them manie countries, +[Sidenote: _Matt. West._] +and wan great riches by the spoile. But Matth. West. saith, that +the victorie aboad with the Britains, and that the Saxons were chased +quite out of the field. The Scotish writers record, that their king +Aidan (who is noted to haue béene the 49 successiuelie possessing the +regiment of that land, partlie with griefe of hart for the death of +Columba a graue and wise gentleman, whome he tenderlie loued, and +partlie with age [for he was growne horieheaded, and had reigned 34 +yéeres] ended his life) was there in aid of the Britains, and Brudeus +king of the Picts (betwixt whom and the said Aidan a sore battell was +fought) in aid of the Saxons: but the same writers name the place +Deglaston, where this battell was made, and the forces of both sides +by a sharpe incounter tried. + + * * * * * + + + + +_The begining of the kingdome of Mercia, the bounds of the same, the +heptarchie or seuen regiments of the Saxons, how they grew to that +perfection, and by whom they were reduced and drawne into a monarchie; +Careticus is created king of Britaine, the Saxons take occasion by +the ciuill dissentions of the Britains to make a full conquest of the +land, they procure forren power to further them in their enterprise, +Gurmundus king of the Africans arriueth in Britaine, the British king +is driuen to his hard shifts, the politike practise of Gurmundus in +taking Chichester & setting the towne on fire, he deliuereth the whole +land in possession to the Saxons, the English and Saxon kings put +Careticus to flight, the Britains haue onelie three prouinces left +of all their countrie which before they inhabited, their religion, +church, and commonwealth is in decaie, they are gouerned by three +kings, Cheulings death is conspired of his owne subiects._ + +THE XVIIJ. CHAPTER. + + +About the same time also, and 585 of Christ, the kingdome of Mercia +[Sidenote: CRIDA. _H. Hunt._ This kingdome began in the yéere 585, +as _Matt. Westm._ saith. _Ran. Cest._] +began vnder one Crida, who was descended from Woden, and the tenth +from him by lineall extraction. The bounds of this kingdome were of +great distance, hauing on the east the sea vnto Humber, and so on the +north the said riuer of Humber, and after the riuer of Mercia, which +falleth into the west sea at the corner of Wirhall, and so comming +about to the riuer of Dee that passeth by Chester, the same riuer +bounded it on the west from Wales, and likewise Seuerne vp to Bristow: +on the south it had the riuer of Thames, till it came almost to +London. And in this sort it contained Lincolneshire, Notingamshire, +Derbishire, Chesshire, Shropshire, Worcestershire, Glocestershire, +Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertefordshire, Bedfordshire, +Huntingtonshire, Northamptonshire, Leicestershire, and Warwikeshire. + +¶ Thus haue ye heard how the Saxons in processe of time remoouing the +Britains out of their seats, dailie wan ground of them, till at length +they got possession of the best part of this Ile, and erected within +the same seuen kingdoms, which were gouerned by seuen seuerall kings, +who continued vntill the kings of Westsaxon brought them all at length +into one monarchie, as after shall appéere. Matth. Westmin. reckoneth +eight kingdoms as thus; The kingdom of Kent, the kingdom of Sussex, +the kingdom of Essex, the kingdom of Eastangle, the kingdom of Mercia, +the kingdom of Westsex, and the kingdom of Northumberland, which +was diuided into two kingdoms, that is to say, into Deira and into +Bernicia: wherevnto W. Harison addeth the ninth in the first part of +his chronologie, and calleth it Wales. + +[Sidenote: CARETICUS.] +After that Malgo or Maglocune was departed this life, one +Careticus, or (as some write him) Caretius, was made king of the +Britains, and began his reigne in the yéere of our Lord 586, which +[Sidenote: 586.] +was in the third yéere of the emperour Mauricius, and thirtéenth of +Chilperike king of France. This Careticus was a nourisher of ciuill +warre and dissention amongst his owne people the Britains, so that +he was hated both of God and man, as writers testifie. The Saxons +vnderstanding that the Britains were not of one mind, but diuided in +partakings, so as one was readie to deuoure an other, thought it good +time for them to aduance their conquests, and ceassed not to pursue +the Britains by force and continuall warre, till they had +[Sidenote: _Gal. Mon._ See more of this Gurmundus in Ireland. +_Ranulf. Cest._] +constreined them for refuge to withdraw into Wales. And as some haue +written, the Saxons meaning to make a full conquest of the land, sent +ouer into Ireland, requiring one Gurmundus a king of the Affricans to +come ouer into Britaine to helpe them against the Britains. + +This Gurmundus appointing his brother Turgesius to pursue the conquest +of Ireland, came and arriued heere in Britaine, making such cruell +warre in aid of the Saxons against the Britains, that Careticus was +constreined to kéepe him within the citie of Chicester or Cirencester, +and was there besieged, and at length by continuall assalts and +skirmishes, when he had lost manie of his men, he was glad to forsake +that citie, and fled into Wales. This Gurmundus tooke Cirencester or +Chichester, and destroied it in most cruell maner. Some write, that +he tooke this citie by a policie of warre, in binding to the féet of +sparrowes which his people had caught, certeine clewes of thred or +matches, finelie wrought & tempered with matter readie to take fire, +so that the sparrowes being suffered to go out of hand, flue into the +towne to lodge themselues within their neasts which they had made in +stacks of corne, and eues of houses, so that the towne was thereby +set on fire, and then the Britains issuing foorth, fought with their +enimies, and were ouercome and discomfited. + +But whilest the battell continued, Careticus stale away, and got him +into Wales. After this, the foresaid Gurmundus destroied this land +throughout in pitifull wise, and then deliuered it in possession to +the Saxons, the which thankfullie receiued it: and because they were +descended of those that first came ouer with Hengist, they changed the +name of the land, and called it Hengistland, accordinglie as the +same Hengist had in times past ordeined: the which name after for +shortnesse of spéech was somewhat altered, and so lastlie called +England, and the people Englishmen. But rather it may be thought, that +sith a great part of those people which came ouer into this land out +of Germanie with the said Hengist, and other capteins, were of +those Englishmen which inhabited Germanie, about the parts of +[Sidenote: _Matt. West._] +Thoringhen, they called this land England, after their name, when they +had first got habitation within it: and so both the land and people +tooke name of them, being called _Angli_, a long time before they +entered into this Ile, (as before is shewed out of Cornelius Tacitus +and others.) But now to returne where we left. + +[Sidenote: It should séeme that this historie of Gurmundus is but some +fained tale except it may be that he was some Dane, Norwegian or +Germane.] +Of this Gurmundus the old English writers make no mention, nor +also anie ancient authors of forren parties: and yet saith the British +booke, that after he had conquered this land, and giuen it to the +Saxons, he passed ouer into France, and there destroied much of that +land, as an enimie to the faith of Christ. For which consideration he +was the more readie to come to the aid of the Saxons, who as yet had +not receiued the christian faith, but warred against the Britains, as +well to destroie the faith of Christ within this land, as to establish +to themselues continuall habitations in the same. There be, that +omitting to make mention of Gurmundus, write thus of the expelling +of the Britains out of this land at that time, when with their king +Careticus they got them into Wales. + +[Sidenote: 586.] +[Sidenote: _Matt. West._] +In the yéere of Grace 586, Careticus a louer of ciuill +warre succéeded Malgo an enimie to God and to the Britains, whose +inconstancie when the English and Saxon kings perceiued, with one +consent they rose against him, and after manie battels chased him from +citie to citie, till at length incountering with him in a pight field, +they droue him beyond Seuerne into Wales. Héerevpon clerks and priests +were driuen out of their places with bright swoords brandishing in +all parts, and fire crackling in churches, wherewith the same were +consumed. The remnant of the Britains therefore withdrew into the west +parts of the land, that is to say, into Cornwall, and into Wales, out +of which countries they oftentimes brake out, and made insurrections +vpon the Saxons, the which in maner aforsaid got possession of the +chiefest parts of the land, leauing to the Britains onlie three +prouinces, that is to say, Cornwall, Southwales, and Northwales, which +countries were not easie to be woone, by reason of the thicke woods +inuironed with déepe mareshes and waters, and full of high craggie +rocks and mounteins. + +The English and Saxon kings hauing thus remooued the Britains, +inlarged the bounds of their dominions. There reigned in that season +within this land, beside the Britaine kings, eight kings of the +English and Saxon nations, as Ethelbert in Kent, Cissa in Sussex, +Ceauline in Westsex, Creda or Crida in Mercia, Erkenwine in Essex, +Titila in Estangle, Elle in Deira, and Alfrid in Bernicia. In this +sort the Britains lost the possession of the more part of their +ancient seats, and the faith of Christ thereby was greatlie decaied: +for the churches were destroied; and the archbishops of Caerleon +Arwiske, London and Yorke withdrew togither with their cleargie into +the mounteins and woods within Wales, taking with them the reliks of +saints, doubting the same should be destroied by the enimies, and +themselues put to death if they should abide in their old habitations. +Manie also fled into Britaine Armorike with a great fléete of ships, +so that the whole church or congregation (as ye may call it) of the +two prouinces, Loegria and Northumberland, was left desolate in that +season, to the great hinderance and decaie of the christian religion. +Careticus was driuen into Wales (as before is rehearsed) about the +second or third yéere of his reigne, and there continued with his +Britains, the which ceassed not to indamage the Saxons from time to +time as occasion still serued. + +But here is to be noted, that the Britains being thus remoued into +Wales and Cornwall, were gouerned afterwards by thrée kings, or rather +tyrants, the which ceased not with ciuill warre to seeke others +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._] +destruction, till finallie (as saith the British booke) they became +all subiect vnto Cadwallo, whome Beda nameth Cedwallo. In the meane +time, Ceaulinus or Cheuling king of the Westsaxons, through his +owne misgouernance and tyrannie, which towards his latter daies he +practised, did procure not onelie the Britains, but also his owne +subiects to conspire his death, so that ioining in battell with his +aduersaries at Wodensdic, in the 33 yeare of his reigne, his armie was +discomfited, and he himselfe constreined to depart into exile, and +shortlie after ended his life before he could find meanes to be +restored. + +¶ So that we haue here a mirror or liuelie view of a tyrant and +a king, wherein there is no lesse ods in the manner of their +gouernement, than there is repugnance in their names, or difference in +their states. For he seeth but little into the knowledge of toongs, +that vnderstandeth not what the office of a king should be, by +the composition of his name, the same sounding in Gréeke [Gréek: +_básileus_], which being resolued is in effect [Gréek: _básis +láo_], that is, the foundation or stay of the people; from which +qualitie when he resulteth, he maketh shipwracke of that goodlie +title, and degenerateth into a tyrant, than the which violent and +inforced gouernement as there is none more perillous, so is it of +all other the least in continuance: this is prooued by historicall +obseruation through the course of this historie. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Ceolric reigneth ouer the Westsaxons, the Saxons and Britains +incounter, Ethelbert king of Kent subdueth the Englishsaxons, he is +maried to the French kings daughter vpon cautions of religion, the +king imbraceth the gospell, Augustine the moonke and others were sent +into this Ile to preach the christian faith, the occasion that moued +Gregorie the great to send him, buieng and selling of boies, the +Englishmen called Angli commended, Ethelbert causeth Augustine and his +fellowes to come before him, they preach to the king and his +traine, he granteth them a conuenient seat and competent reliefe in +Canturburie, the maner of their going thither and their behauiour +there, the king and his people receiue the christian faith, and are +baptised._ + +THE XIX. CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: CELRIC.] +Now after Cheuling, his nephue Celricus or Ceolric that was sonne +vnto Cutwine, the sonne of the foresaid Cheuling, reigned as king ouer +the Westsaxons fiue yeares & fiue moneths. In like manner the same +yeare died Ella or Alla king of Northumberland, after whome succéeded +Ethelricus the sonne of Ida, and reigned but fiue yeares, being a man +well growne in yeares before he came to be king. About thrée yeeres +after this, the Saxons & Britains fought a battell at Wodenesbourne, +where the Britains being ranged in good order, the Saxons set vpon +them boldlie indéed, but disorderedlie, so that the victorie remained +with the Britains. The Saxons the more valiant they had shewed +themselues in battell, before that time, so much the more slow and +vntowardlie did they shew themselues now in running awaie to saue +themselues, so that an huge number of them were slaine. Also about +[Sidenote: 594.] +the same time died Crida king of Mercia 594, after whome his sonne +Wibbas or Wipha succeeded. And after the deceasse of Ethelric, one +Edelbert or Edelfride surnamed the wild, succéeded in gouernement of +the Northumbers. But to returne to our purpose. + +Ethelbert king of Kent, not discouraged with the euill chance which +[Sidenote: _Beda_. _Will. Malmes._] +happened in the beginning, but rather occasioned thereby to learne +more experience in feats of warre, prooued so perfect a maister +therein, that in processe of time he subdued by force of armes all +those English Saxons which lay betwixt the bounds of his countrie, and +the riuer of Humber. Also to haue friendship in forraine parts, he +procured a wife for himselfe of the French nation, named the ladie +Bertha, being king Cheriberts daughter of France; but with condition, +that he should permit hir to continue and vse the rites and lawes of +christian faith and religion, and to haue a bishop whose name was +Luidhard, appointed to come and remaine with hir here in this land for +hir better instruction in the lawes of the Lord. So that they two with +other of the French nation that came ouer with them remaining in the +court, and vsing to serue God in praiers and otherwise, according to +the custome of the christian religion, began vndoubtedlie to giue +light to the kings mind as yet darkned with the clouds of paganisme, +so as the bright beames of the celestiall cléerenes of vnderstanding +remooued the thicke mists of his vnbeléefe in tract of time, and +prepared his heart to the receiuing of the gospell, which after by +heauenlie prouidence was preached to him, by occasion, and in maner as +followeth. + +[Sidenote: _Beda_. _Matth. West._ saith 596. 47 saith the same author.] +In the yeare of our Lord 596, which was about the 14 yeare of the +reigne of the emperour Mauricius, and after the comming of the English +Saxons into this land, about an 147 yeares almost complet, the bishop +of Rome, Gregorie the first of that name, and surnamed Magnus, sent +Augustinus a moonke, with certeine other learned men into this Ile to +preach the christian faith vnto the English Saxons, which nation as +yet had not receiued the gospell. And here we hold it necessarie to +shew how it is recorded by diuer writers, that the first occasion +whereby Gregorie was mooued thus to send Augustine into this land, +rose by this meanes. + +[Sidenote: _Beda_. _Will. Malmes._] +It chanced (whilest the same Gregorie was as yet but archdeacon of +the see of Rome) certeine yoong boies were brought thither to bee +sold out of Northumberland, according to the accustomable vse of that +countrie, in somuch that as we haue in our time séene (saith W. Mal.) +the people of that prouince haue not yet doubted to sell awaie their +néere kinsfolke for a small price. When those children which at +that time were brought from thence to Rome, had by reason of their +excellent beauties and comelie shape of lims and bodie, turned +[Sidenote: _Vita Gregorii. magni._] +the eies in maner of all the citizens to the beholding of them, it +fortuned that Gregorie also came amongst other to behold them, and +when he considered and well viewed their faire skins, their swéet +visages, and beautifull bushes of their bright and yeallow heares, he +demanded out of what region or land they came? Vnto whome answere was +made, that they were brought out of Britaine, the inhabitants of which +countrie were of the like beautifull aspect. Then he asked whether the +men of that countrie were christians, or as yet intangled with blind +heathenish errors? Wherevnto it was answered, that they were not +christened, but followed the religion of the Gentiles. Whereat +Gregorie fetching a déepe sigh, said: Ah, alas that the author of +darkenesse dooth as yet possesse men of so brightsome countenances, +and that with the grace of such faire shining visages, they beare +about minds void of inward grace. + +"Moreouer he demanded by what name the people were called, whereto +answere was made, that they were called Angli, that is to say +Englishmen. Right woorthilie (saith he) for they haue angels faces, +and such as ought to be made fellow-heires with angels in heauen. Then +asked he the name of the prouince from whence they were brought, and +it was told him they were of Deira. It is well (said he) they are to +be deliuered "De ira dei," that is to say, from the ire and wrath of +God, and called to the mercie of Christ our Lord. What name (said he) +hath the king of that prouince? Wherevnto answere was made that he was +called Alla, wherevpon alluding to that name, he said, Alleluia +ought to be soong in those parts to the praise and honor of God the +creator." + +[Sidenote: Pelagius the second. _Will. Malmes._] +Herevpon comming to Benedict the first of that name (as then bishop +of Rome) he required him that some learned men might be sent into +England to preach the gospell vnto the Englishmen, offering himselfe +to be one of the number. But though Benedict was contented to grant +[Sidenote: Pelagius.] +his request, yet the Romans had him in such estimation, that they +would not consent that he should depart so farre from the citie, so +that by them he was at that time staied of that his godlie purpose. +Howbeit when he came to be bishop, he thought to performe it though +not by himselfe, yet by other: and so Augustine and his fellowes were +sent by him about it (as before is said.) By the way, as they were +[Sidenote: M. Fox.] +passing in their iournie, such a sudden feare entred into their +hearts, that (as some write) they returned all. Others write, that +Augustine was sent backe to Gregorie, to sue that they might be +released of that voiage so dangerous and vncerteine amongst such +a barbarous people, whose language they neither knew, nor whose +rudenesse they were able to resist. Then Gregorie with pithie +perswasions confirming and comforting him, sent him againe with +letters vnto the bishop of Arles, willing him to helpe and aid the +said Austine and his companie in all what so euer his néede required. +Also other letters he directed by the foresaid Austine vnto his +fellowes, exhorting them to go forward boldlie in the Lords woorke, as +by the tenor of the said epistle here following may appeare. + + "_Gregorie the seruant of Gods servants, to the seruants of our Lord._ + +"For as much as it is better not to take good things in hand, than +after they be begun, to thinke to reuolt backe from the same againe, +therefore now you may not nor cannot (dere children) but with +all feruent studie and labour must needs go forward in that good +businesse, which thorough the helpe of God you haue well begun. +Neither let the wearisomnesse of your iournie, nor the slanderous +toongs of men appall you, but that with all instance and feruencie ye +proceed and accomplish the thing which the Lord hath ordeined you to +take in hand, knowing that your great trauell shall be recompensed +with reward of greater glorie hereafter to come. Therefore as we send +here Austine to you againe, whome also we haue ordeined to be your +gouernour, so doo you humblie obey him in all things, knowing that it +shall be profitable for your soules what soeuer at his admonition ye +shall doo. Almightie God with his grace defend you, and grant me to +see in the eternall countrie the fruit of your labours, though heere I +cannot labour in the same fellowship with you togither. The Lord God +keepe you safe most deere and welbeloued children. Dated the tenth +before the kalends of August, in the reigne of our souereigne lord +Mauricius most vertuous emperor, the fourtenth of his empire." + +Thus emboldned and comforted through the good woords and wholesome +exhortation of Gregorie, they set forward againe, and spéeding foorth +their iournie, first arriued at the Ile of Thanet in Kent in the +moneth of Iulie, being in number about fortie persons, of the which +diuerse were interpretors, whome they brought with them out of France. +These they sent vnto king Ethelbert, signifieng the occasion of their +comming, who hearing the messengers within a few daies after, went +into that Ile, and there abroad out of anie house sat downe, and +caused Augustine and his fellowes to come before him, for he would +not come vnder anie roofe with them, sore doubting to be bewitched by +them, being persuaded that they were practised in nigromancie. But +they comming to him, not by the power of the diuell (as they said) but +by the might and power of almightie God, bearing in stéed of a +[Sidenote: The seuenfold letanies of S. Gregorie were not yet deuised.] +banner a crosse of siluer, and an image of our Lord and Sauiour +painted in a table, and thereto singing the letanies, made +intercession vnto the Lord for the euerlasting preseruation of +themselues, and of all them for whome and to whome they came. + +Now when they being set downe by commandement of the king, had +preached the woord of life to him, and to all those that came thither +with him, he made them this answer, that their woords and promises +were good: but for as much as the same were new & vncerteine to him +that had béen brought vp in the contrarie doctrine, he could not +rashlie assent to their admonitions, & leaue that beléefe which he and +the English nation had so long a time obserued and kept: but (said he) +because ye haue trauelled farre, to the intent to make vs partakers +of those things which ye beléeue to be most true and perfect, we +will thus much graunt vnto you, that ye shall be receiued into this +countrie, and haue harbrough, with all things sufficient found vnto +you for your maintenance and sustentation: neither will we hinder +you, but that ye may by preaching associat and ioine as manie of our +subiects as you can vnto your law and beléefe. They had therefore +assigned vnto them a place to lodge in within the citie of +Canturburie, which was the head citie of all his dominion. It is said +that as they approched the citie according to their maner, they had a +crosse borne before them, with an image of our Lord Iesus Christ, and +they followed, singing this letanie, "Deprecamur te Domine in omni +misericordia tua, vt auferatur furor tuus & ira tua à ciuitate ista & +de domo sancta tua, quoniam peccauimus: Alleluia." _That is to say_, +We beseech thee Ô Lord in all thy mercie that thy furie and wrath +may be taken from this citie, and from thy holie house, for we haue +sinned. Praise be to thee Ô Lord.--After they were receiued into +[Sidenote: _Beda_. _Matth. West._] +Canturburie, they began to follow the trade of life which the apostles +vsed in the primitiue church, that is to say, exercising themselues in +continuall praier, watching, and preaching to as manie as they could, +despising all worldlie things, as not belonging to them, receiuing +onelie of them (whome they taught) things necessarie for the +sustenance of their life, & liuing in all points according to the +doctrine which they set forth, hauing their minds readie to suffer in +patience all aduersities what so euer, yea and death it selfe, for the +[Sidenote: The christian faith receiued of the Englishmen.] +confirming of that which they now preached. Herevpon, manie of the +English people beléeued and were baptised, hauing in great reuerence +the simplicitie of those men, and the swéetenesse of their heauenlie +doctrine. There was a church néere to the citie on the east part +thereof dedicated to the honor of saint Martine, and builded of old +time whilest the Romans as yet inhabited Britaine, in the which the +quéene, being (as we haue said) a christian, vsed to make hir praiers. +To this church Austine and his fellowes at their first comming +accustomed to resort, and there to sing, to praie, to saie masse, +to preach and to baptise, till at length the king being conuerted, +granted them licence to preach in euerie place, and to build and +restore churches where they thought good. After that the king being +persuaded by their doctrine, good examples giuing, and diuers miracles +shewed, was once baptised, the people in great numbers began to +giue eare vnto the preaching of the gospell, and renouncing their +[Sidenote: _Lib. 7, cap. 26_.] +heathenish beléefe, became christians, in so much that as Gregorie +remembreth, there were baptised ten thousand persons in one day, +being the feast of the natiuitie of our Sauiour 597, and the first +indiction. + +[Sidenote: _Polychron._] +¶ Some write how this should chance toward the latter end of +Augustines daies, after he was admitted to preach the gospell amongst +them that inhabited about Yorke (as some write) which affirme, that +the said number of ten thousand was baptised in the riuer of Suale, +which (as W. Harison saith) cannot be verified, because of the +indiction and death of Gregorie. But to procéed. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Religion is not to be inforced but perswaded and preached, Augustine +is made archbishop of England, Gregorie informeth Augustine of +certeine ordinances to be made and obserued in the new English church, +as the reuenewes of the church to be diuided into foure parts, of +liturgie, of mariage, of ecclesiasticall discipline and ordeining of +bishops: trifling questions objected by Augustine to Gregorie, fellow +helpers are sent ouer to assist. Augustine in his ministerie, he +receiueth his pall, reformation must be doone by little and little, +not to glorie in miracles, the effect of Gregories letters to K. +Ethelbert after his conuersion to christianitie._ + +THE XX. CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: _Beda. lib._ 1. _cap._ 26. and 27.] +King Ethelbert reioised at the conuersion of his people, howbeit +he would not force anie man to be baptised, but onelie shewed by his +behauiour, that he fauored those that beléeued more than other, as +fellow citizens with him of the heauenlie kingdome: for he learned of +them that had instructed him in the faith, that the obedience due to +Christ ought not to be inforced, but to come of good will. Moreouer he +prouided for Augustine and his fellowes a conuenient place for their +habitation within the citie of Canturburie, and further gaue them +[Sidenote: Augustine ordeined archbishop of the English nation.] +necessarie reuenewes in possession for their maintenance. After that +the faith of Christ was thus receiued of the English men, Augustine +went into France, and there of the archbishop of Arles named Etherius +was ordeined archbishop of the English nation, according to the order +prescribed by Gregorie before the departure of the said Augustine from +Rome. + +[Sidenote: Laurence a priest.] +After his returne into Britaine, he sent Laurence a priest, and +Péeter a moonke vnto Rome, to giue knowledge vnto Gregorie the bishop, +how the Englishmen had receiued the faith, and that he was ordeined +archbishop of the land, according to that he had commanded, if the +woorke prospered vnder his hand as it had doone. He also required to +haue Gregories aduice touching certéine ordinances to be made and +obserued in the new church of England. Wherevpon Gregorie, sending +backe the messengers, wrote an answere vnto all his demands. And first +touching the conuersation of archbishops with the clergie, and in +what sort the church goods ought to be imploied, he declared that the +[Sidenote: The reuenewes of the church to be diuided into 4. parts.] +ancient custome of the apostolike see was to giue commandement +vnto bishops ordeined, that the profits and reuenewes of their +benefices ought to be diuided into foure parts, whereof the first +should be appointed to the bishop and his familie for the maintenance +of hospitalitie: the second should be assigned to the clergie: the +third giuen to the poore: and the fourth imploied vpon repairing of +temples. + +[Sidenote: Liturgie.] +And whereas in the church of Rome one custome in saieng masse +[Sidenote: Church seruice.] +or the liturgie was obserued, and another custome in France; +concerning such church seruice, Gregorie aduised Austine that if he +found anie thing either in the church of Rome, either in the church of +France, or in anie other church which might most please the almightie +God, he should diligentlie choose it out, and instruct the church of +England (now being new) according to that forme which he should gather +foorth of the said churches: for the things are not loued for the +[Sidenote: Such as did steale.] +places sake, but the places for the things sake. Also for punishing of +such as had stolen things out of churches, so néere as might be, the +offender should be chastised in charitie, so as he might know his +fault, and (if it were possible) restore the thing taken away. + +[Sidenote: Mariages.] +And touching degrées in mariage, Englishmen might take to their +wiues, women that touched them in the third and fourth degrée without +reprehension, and if any vnlawfull mariages were found amongst the +Englishmen, as if the sonne had maried the fathers wife, or the +brother the brothers wife, they ought to be warned in anie wise to +absteine, and vnderstand it to be a gréeuous sinne: yet should they +not for that thing be depriued of the communion of the bodie and bloud +of our Lord, least those things might séeme to be punished in them +wherein they had offended (before their conuersion to the christian +[Sidenote: Discipline of the church.] +faith) by ignorance; for at this season the church (saith he) +correcteth some things of a feruent earnestnesse, suffreth some +things of a gentle mildnes, and dissembleth some things of a prudent +consideration, and so beareth and winketh at the same, that oftentimes +the euill which she abhorreth by such bearing and dissembling, is +restrained and reformed. + +[Sidenote: Ordeining of bishops.] +Moreouer touching the ordeining of bishops, he would they should +be so placed, that the distance of place might not be a let, but that +when a bishop should be consecrated, there might be thrée or foure +present. Also touching the bishops of France, he willed Augustine in +no wise to intermeddle with them, otherwise than by exhortation +and good admonition to be giuen, but not to presume anie thing by +authoritie, sith the archbishop of Arles had receiued the pall in +times past, whose authoritie he might not diminish, least he should +séeme to put his sickle into another mans haruest. But as for the +bishops of Britaine, he committed them vnto him, that the vnlearned +might be taught, the weake with wholesome persuasions +[Sidenote: Women with child.] +strengthened, and the froward by authoritie reformed. Moreouer, that a +woman with child might be baptised, and she that was deliuered after +33 daies of a manchild, and after 46 daies of a womanchild, should be +purified, but yet might she enter the church before, if she would. +[Sidenote: Matters in question about trifles.] + + The residue of Augustines demands consisted in these points, to wit: + + 1 Within what space a child should be christened after it was borne, + for doubt to be preuented by death? + + 2 Within what time a man might companie with his wife after she was + brought to bed? + + 3 Whether a woman, hauing hir floures, might enter the church, or + receiue the communion? + + 4 Whether a man hauing had companie with his wife, might enter the + church, or receiue the communion before he was washed with water? + + 5 Whether after pollusion by night in dreames, a man might receiue + the communion: or if he were a priest, whether he might say masse? + +To these questions Gregorie maketh answere at full in the booke and +place before cited, which for bréefenesse we passe ouer. He sent also +at that time with the messengers aforesaid, at their returne into +England, diuers learned men to helpe Augustine in the haruest of +[Sidenote: Assistance to Augustine. The pall.] +the Lord. The names of the chiefest were these, Melitus, Iustus, +Paulinus, and Ruffinianus. He sent allso the pall, which is the +ornament of an archbishop, with vessels and apparell which should be +vsed in churches by the archbishop and other ministers. He sent also +with the pall other letters to Augustine, to let him vnderstand what +number of bishops he would haue him to ordeine within this land. +Also after that Melitus, and the other before mentioned persons were +departed from Rome, he sent a letter vnto the same Melitus, being yet +on his way toward Britaine, touching further matter concerning the +[Sidenote: Bearing with them that had newlie receiued the faith, +whereof superstition grew and increased.] +churches of England, wherein he confesseth that manie things are +permitted to be vsed of the people latelie brought from the errors +of gentilitie, in keeping feasts on the dedication daies, which haue +resemblance with the old superstitious rites of the Pagan religion. +For to hard and obstinate minds (saith he) it is not possible to cut +away all things at once, for he that coueteth to the highest place, +goeth vp by steps and not by leaps. + +[Sidenote: Miracles.] +At the same time Gregorie did send letters vnto Augustine touching +the miracles, which by report he vnderstood were shewed by the same +Augustine, counselling him in no wise to glorie in the same, but +rather in reioising to feare, and consider that God gaue him the gift +to worke such signes for the wealth of them to whom he was sent to +preach the gospell: he aduised him therefore to beware of vaine-glorie +and presumption, for the disciples of the truth (saith he) haue no +ioy, but onlie that which is common with all men, of which there is no +end, for not euerie one that is elect worketh miracles, but euerie of +the elect haue their names written in heauen. These letters, with the +other which Gregorie sent at this time vnto Augustine, were dated the +tenth day of the kalends of Iulie, in the yéere of our Lord 602, which +was the 19 yeere of the emperour Mauricius. Moreouer he sent most +[Sidenote: 602.] +courteous letters by these messengers to king Ethelbert, in the +which he greatlie commended him, in that he had receiued the christian +faith, and exhorted him to continue in that most holie state of life, +whereby he might worthilie looke for reward at the hands of almightie +God. + + * * * * * + + + + +_What reparations and foundations Augustine finished for clergimen to +the supportation of the church, the building of Paules in London and +saint Peters in Westminster vncerteine, a prouinciall councell called +by Augustine, he restoreth a blind man to his sight, the Britains are +hardlie weaned from their old custome of beliefe, an heremits opinion +of Augustine, he requireth three things to be obserued of the +Britains, he ordeineth bishops at London and Rochester; Sabert +reigneth ouer the Eastsaxons, Augustine dieth and is buried._ + +THE XXJ. CHAPTER. + + +Thus farre we haue waded in the forme and maner of conuerting the +English nation to christianitie, by the labours of Augustine and his +coadiutors: now therefore (that we may orderlie procéed) it remaineth +that we say somewhat of the acts and déeds of the said Augustine; of +whom we read, that after he was established archbishop, and had his +[Sidenote: _Beda_.] +sée appointed him at Canturburie, he restored another church in +that citie which had béene erected there in times past by certeine of +the Romans that were christians, and did dedicate the same now to +the honour of Christ our Sauiour. He also began the foundation of a +monasterie without that citie, standing toward the east, in the which +by his exhortation, king Ethelbert built a church euen from the +ground, which was dedicated vnto the holie apostles Peter and Paule, +in the which the bodie of the said Augustine was buried, and likewise +the bodies of all the archbishops of Canturburie and kings of Kent +[Sidenote: One Peter was the first Abbat.] +a long time after. This abbie was called saint Austins after his +name, one Peter being the first abbat thereof. The church there was +not consecrated by Augustine, but by his successor Laurence, after he +was dead. + +Moreouer, king Ethelbert at the motion of Augustine built a church in +the citie of London (which he latelie had conquered) and dedicated it +vnto saint Paule; but whether he builded or restored this church of +saint Paule it may be doubted, for there be diuers opinions of the +building thereof. Some haue written that it was first builded by king +[Sidenote: _Ran. Higd._] +Lud (as before is mentioned.) Other againe write, that it was +builded afterward by Sigebert king of the Eastsaxons. Also king +Ethelbert builded the church of saint Andrews in Rochester. It is +likewise remembred by writers, that the same king Ethelbert procured a +[Sidenote: _Beda_.] +citizen of London to build a church to S. Peter without the citie +of London toward the west, in a place then called Thorney, that is to +say, the Ile of thorns, and now called Westminster: though others +[Sidenote: _Ran. Higd._ Westminster church builded.] +haue written that it was built by Lucias king of Britaine, or rather +by Sibert king of the Eastsaxons. This church was either newlie built, +or greatlie inlarged by king Edward surnamed the Confessor, and after +that, the third Henrie king of England did make there a beautifull +monasterie, and verie richlie indowed the same with great possessions +and sumptuous iewels. The place was ouergrowne with vnderwoods, as +thornes and brambles, before that the church was begun to be builded +there in this king Ethelberts daies. ¶ Thus the faith of Christ being +once begun to be receiued of the English men, tooke woonderfull +increase within a short time. + +[Sidenote: _Ran. Cest._ _Beda_. _Sigebertus_. _ann.19 Mauricij +imperatoris_. A synod. Ausines oke. _Galfrid. lib.8. cap.4_.] +In the meane season by the helpe of king Ethelbert, Augustine caused +a councell to be called at a place in the confines of the Westsaxons, +which place long after was called Austines oke, where he procured the +bishops or doctors of the prouinces of the Britains to come before him. +Among the Britains or the Welshmen, christianitie as yet remained in +force, which from the apostles time had neuer failed in that nation. +When Augustine came into this land, he found in their prouinces seuen +bishops sées, and an archbishops sée, wherein sat verie godlie & right +religious prelats, and manie abbats, in the which the Lords flocke kept +their right order: but because they differed in obseruing the feast of +[Sidenote: _Beda lib.2. ca.2._] +Easter, and other rites from the vse of the Romane church, Augustine +thought it necessarie to mooue them to agrée with him in vnitie of the +same, but after long disputation and reasoning of those matters, they +could not be induced to giue their assent in that behalfe. Augustine to +prooue his opinion good, wrought a miracle in restoring sight to one of +the Saxon nation that was blind. + +The Britains that were present, mooued with this miracle, confessed +that it was the right waie of iustice and righteousnesse which +Augustine taught; but yet they said that they might not forsake their +ancient customs without consent and licence of their nation. Wherevpon +[Sidenote: Another synod.] +they required another synod to be holden, whereat a greater number +of them might be present. This being granted, there came (as it is +reported) seuen bishops of the Britains, and a great number of +[Sidenote: The monasterie of Bangor. Abbat Dionoth.] +learned men, speciallie of the famous monasterie of Bangor, whereof +in those daies one Dionoth was abbat, who as they went towards that +councell, came first to a certeine wise man, which liued amongst them +an heremits life, and asked his aduise, whether they ought to forsake +their traditions at the preaching of Augustine or not: who made this +answer; "If he be the man of God, follow him." Then said they; "How +[Sidenote: The answer of a godlie man touching Austine the +Englishmens apostle.] +shall we prooue whether he be so or not?" Then said he: "The Lord +saith, Take vp my yoke and learne of me, for I am méeke & humble in +hart: if Augustine be humble and meeke in hart, it is to be beléeued +that he also beareth the yoke of Christ, and offereth it to you to +beare; but if he be not méeke but proud, it is certeine that he is +not of GOD, nor his woord to be regarded." "And how shall we sée and +perceiue that (said they?)" "Find meanes (said he) that he maie first +come to the place of the synod with those of his side, and if he arise +to receiue you at your comming, then know that he is the seruant of +God, and obey him; but if he despise you, and arise not towards you, +whereas you be more in number, let him be despised of you." + +They did as he commanded, and it chanced, that when they came, they +found Augustine sitting in his chaire: whome when they beheld, +straightwaies they conceiued indignation, and noting him of pride, +laboured to reprooue all his saiengs. He told them that they vsed +[Sidenote: Thrée things required by Augustine of the Britains +to be observed.] +manie things contrarie to the custom of the vniuersall church, +and yet if in thrée things they would obeie him, that is to say, +in kéeping the feast of Easter in due time, in ministring baptisme +according to the custome of the Romane church, & in preaching to the +Englishmen the woord of life with him & his fellowes, then would he be +contented to suffer all other things patientlie which they did, though +the same were contrarie to the maners and customs of the Romane +iurisdiction. But they flatlie denied to doo anie of those things, +and gaue a plaine answer that they would not receiue him for their +archbishop: for laieng their heads togither, thus they thought, If he +refuse now to arise vnto vs, how much the more will he contemne vs +if we should become subiect to him? Vnto whom (as it is said) +[Sidenote: Augustine threatneth.] +Augustine in threatening wise told them afore hand, that if they would +not receiue peace with their brethren, they should receiue warre of +the enimies; & if they would not preach to the Englishmen the waie of +life, they should suffer punishment by death at the hands of them: +which thing in deed after came to passe, as in place conuenient +[Sidenote: 604. Bishops ordeined at London and Rochester.] +shall be expressed. After this in the yéere of our Lord 604, the +archbishop Augustine ordeined two bishops, that is to say, Melitus at +London, that he might preach the woord of God to the Eastsaxons, which +were diuided from them of Kent by the riuer of Thames, and Iustus in +the citie of Rochester within the limits of Kent. + +[Sidenote: SABERT.] +At that time Sabert reigned ouer the Eastsaxons, but he was +subiect vnto Ethelbert king of Kent, whose nephue he was also by his +sister Ricula that was married vnto king Sledda that succéeded after +Erchenwine the first king of the Eastsaxons, and begat on hir this +Sabert that receiued the faith. After that Augustine had ordeined +Melitus to be bishop of London, as before is said, king Ethelbert +builded (as some write) the church of saint Paule within the same +citie, where the same Melitus and his successors might keepe their +sée. And also for the like purpose he builded the church of saint +Andrew the apostle at Rochester, that Iustus and his successors might +haue their sée in that place, according to Augustines institution: +he bestowed great gifts vpon both those churches, endowing them with +lands and possessions verie bountifullie, to the vse of them that +should be attendant in the same with the bishops. + +[Sidenote: _Ran. Cestren._] +Finallie, Augustine after he had gouerned as archbishop the church +of Canturburie by the space of 12 yéeres currant, departed this life +the fiue and twentieth of Maie, and was buried first without the citie +néere to the church of the apostles Peter and Paule (whereof mention +is made before) bicause the same church as yet was not finished nor +dedicated; but after it was dedicated, his bodie was brought into the +church, and reuerentlie buried in the north Ile there. He ordeined in +his life time Laarence to be his successor in the sée of Canturburie, +of whome ye shall heare hereafter. ¶ Thus haue ye heard in what maner +the Englishmen were first brought from the worshipping of false gods, +and baptised in the name of the liuing God by the foresaid Augustine +(as we find in Beda and other writers.) Now we will returne to other +dooings chancing in the meane time amongst the people of this Ile. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Ceowlfe or Ceoloulph gouerneth the Westsaxons, Ceorlus king of +Mercia, Edelfride king of the Northumbers, and Edan king of the Scots +ioine in battell, Edan is discomfited, Edelfride subdueth the citizens +of Chester, the deuout moonks of Bangor praie for safetie from the +swoord of the enimie, twelue hundred of them are slaine, Edelfride +entreth the citie of Chester, the Britains assembling their power +vnder three capteins incounter with Edelfride, slaie manie of his +souldiers, and put him to flight, warres betweene Edelfride and +Redwald king of the Eastangles about Edwine the sonne of king Elle, +Edelfride is slaine, Ceowlfe king of the Westsaxons dieth._ + +THE XXIJ. CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: _Matth. West._ saith 34.] +After the deceasse of Chelricus king of the Westsaxons, we find +that Ceowlfe or Ceoloulph succéeded in gouernment of that kingdome, +and reigned twelue yéeres. He began his reigne (as should appéere +[Sidenote: _Matth. West._ saith 607.] +by some writers) about the yeere of our Lord 597, and spent his time +for the more part in warres, not giuing place to idlenesse, but +séeking either to defend or inlarge the confines of his dominion. He +was the sonne of Cutha, which was the sonne of Kenrike, which was the +sonne of Certike. After Wibba or Wipha king of Mercia (who, nothing +inferiour to his father, did not onelie defend his kingdome, but +also inlarge it, by subduing the Britains on ech side) one Ceorlus +[Sidenote: Ceorlus king of Mercia.] +succéeded in that kingdome, being not his sonne but his kinsman. +This Ceorlus began his reigne about the yéere of our Lord 594, as +[Sidenote: 594.] +Matth. West. recordeth. + +[Sidenote: _Beda._ Edelferd.] +Ye haue heard that Edelferd, which otherwise is called also by +writers Edelfride, surnamed the wild, gouerned still the Northumbers, +which Edelferd did more damage to the Britains than anie one other +king of the English nation. None of them destroied their countries +more than he did: neither did anie prince make more of the Britains +tributaries, or inhabited more of their countries with English people +than he. Héerevpon Edan king of those Scots which inhabited Britaine, +being therewith mooued to see Edelfride prosper thus in his conquests, +came against him with a mightie armie: but ioining in battell with +Edelfride and his power, at a place called Degsastane, or Degsastone, +or Deglaston, he lost the most part of his people, and with the +residue that were left aliue, he escaped by flight. This was a +sore foughten battell, with much bloudshed on both parties. For +notwithstanding that the victorie remained with the Northumbers, +Theobaldus the brother of Edelferd was slaine, with all that part of +the English host which he gouerned: and it was fought in the +[Sidenote: 603.] +yéere of our Lord 603, in the 19 yeere of the reigne of the foresaid +Edelferd, and in the sixt yéere of Ceowlfe king of the Westsaxons, and +[Sidenote: _Henr. Hunt._] +in the first yéere of the emperor Phocas, or rather in the last yéere +[Sidenote: _Beda lib. 1. cap._ 34.] +of his predecessor Mauricius. From that day, till the daies of Beda, +not one of the Scotish kings durst presume to enter into Britaine +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._ Sée in Scotland.] +againe to giue battell against the English nation, as Beda himselfe +writeth. But the Scotish writers make other report of this matter, +as in the historie of Scotland ye maie find recorded. + +The Britains that dwelt about Chester, through their stoutnesse +prouoked the aforesaid Edelferd king of the Northumbers vnto warre: +wherevpon to tame their loftie stomachs, he assembled an armie & came +forward to besiege the citie of Chester, then called of the Britains +[Sidenote: Chester as yet in possession of the Britains. +_I. Leland_. _Wil. Malm._] +Carleon ardour deué. The citizens coueting rather to suffer all +things than a siege, and hauing a trust in their great multitude of +people, came foorth to giue batell abroad in the fields, whome he +compassing about with ambushes, got within his danger, and easilie +discomfited. + +[Sidenote: _Beda_.] +It chanced that he had espied before the battell ioined (as Beda +saith) where a great number of the British priests were got aside +into a place somewhat out of danger, that they might there make their +intercession to God for the good spéed of their people, being then +readie to giue battell to the Northumbers. Manie of them were of that +[Sidenote: The number of moonks in the monasterie of Bangor.] +famous monasterie of Bangor, in the which it is said, that there +was such a number of moonks, that where they were diuided into seuen +seuerall parts, with their seuerall gouernors appointed to haue rule +ouer them, euerie of those parts conteined at the least thrée hundred +persons, the which liued altogither by the labour of their hands. +Manie therefore of those moonks hauing kept a solemne fast for thrée +daies togither, were come to the armie with other to make praier, +[Sidenote: Brocmale.] +hauing for their defender one Brocmale or Broemael, earle (or consull +as some call him) of Chester, which should preserue them (being giuen +to praier) from the edge of the enimies swoord. + +King Edelferd hauing (as is said) espied these men, asked what they +were, and what their intent was; and being informed of the whole +circumstance and cause of their being there, he said; "Then if they +call to their God for his assistance against vs, suerlie though they +beare no armour, yet doo they fight against vs, being busied in praier +[Sidenote: The Britains discomfited & slaine.] +for our destruction." Wherevpon he commanded the first onset to be +giuen them, and after slue downe the residue of the British armie, not +without great losse of his owne people. Of those moonks and priests +which came to praie (as before is mentioned) there died at that +battell about the number of 12 hundred, so that fiftie of them onelie +escaped by flight. Brocmale, or Broemael at the first approch of the +enimies, turning his backe with his companie, left them (whom he +should haue defended) to be murthered through the enimies swoord. Thus +was the prophesie of Augustine fulfilled, though he was long before +departed this life (as Beda saith.) + +[Sidenote: _Henr. Hunt._] +¶ Héere is to be noted, if this battell was fought in the seuenth +yéere of Ceowlfe king of Westsaxon (as some haue written) and that +Augustine liued 12 yéeres after his entrance into the gouernment of +the sée of Canturburie (as some write) it is euident that he liued +foure yéeres after this slaughter made of the British priests and +moonks by Edelferd (as before is recited.) For Ceowlfe began his +reigne (as before is mentioned) about the yéere of our Lord 596, +and in the seuenth yeere of his reigne the battell was fought at +[Sidenote: _W. Harison_.] +Degsastane betwixt the English & the Scots, which chanced in +the yéere of our Lord 604, as Beda himselfe recordeth. A late +chronographer running vpon this matter, and preciselie setting downe +his collection, saith that Athelbright, or Edelfride, K. of the +Northumbers, & Ethelbert K. of Kent, hauing Augustine in their +companie, in the eight yéere after his arriuall, made warre vpon +such Britains as refused to obserue the canons of the late councell +mentioned 603, and killed 1200 moonks of the monasterie of Bangor, +which laboured earnestlie, and in the sweat of their browes, thereby +to get their liuings, &c. Verelie Galf. Mon. writeth, that Ethelbert +king of Kent (after he saw the Britains to disdaine and denie their +subiection vnto Augustine, by whome he was conuerted to the christian +[Sidenote: _Acts and monuments, pag. 160_] +faith) stirred vp Edelferd king of the Northumbers to warre +against the Britains. But heereof Maister Fox doubteth, and therefore +saith, that of vncerteine things he hath nothing certeinlie to saie, +much lesse to iudge. But now to the matter where we left. + +After that king Edelferd had made slaughter of the Britains (as before +is rehearsed) he entred the citie of Chester, and from thence marched +towards Bangor. The Britains in the meane time had assembled +[Sidenote: Blederike duke of Cornwall, Margadud king of +Southwales, Cadwane k. of Northwales.] +their power vnder thrée capteins, that is to say, Blederike duke +of Cornewall, Margadud king of Southwales, and Cadwane king of +Northwales. These ioining in battell with Edelferd, slue 10066 of his +souldiers, and constreined him to flée out of the field for safegard +of his life, after he had receiued manie wounds. On the part of +[Sidenote: _Galf. Mon._] +the Britains the forsaid Blederike, which was chiefe capteine of the +field in that battell, chanced to be slaine. Thus saith Gal. Mon. + +But the ancient writers of the English kings (as Beda, William +Malmesburie, and Henrie Huntington), make no mention of this last +battell and victorie obteined by the Britains in maner as aboue is +expressed in Galfrids booke. But contrarilie we find, that Edelferd +hauing such good successe in his businesse abroad as he could wish, +[Sidenote: Edwine the sonne of king Alla banished.] +vpon purpose to auoid danger at home, banished Edwine the sonne of +Alla or Elle, a yoong gentleman of great towardnesse, latelie come to +the kingdome of the Northumbers by the death of his father. But this +Edwine in time of his exile, being long tossed from place to place, +and finding no stedfast friendship now in time of his aduersitie, at +length came to Redwald, that was king at that time of the Eastangles, +the third from Vffa, and successor to Titullus, which Titullus did +[Sidenote: 592.] +succéed next after the said Vffa, the first king of Eastangles +[Sidenote: Edelferd.] +(as before is mentioned.) This Redwald did verie honourablie +interteine Edwine, insomuch that Edelferd being informed thereof, was +highlie displeased, and sent ambassadors vnto Redwald, to require him +either to deliuer Edwine into his hands, or else if he refused so to +doo, to declare and denounce vnto him open warres. + +Redwald incouraged by his wife (that counselled him in no wise to +betraie his friend, to whome he had giuen his faith, for the menaces +of his enimie) assembled foorthwith an armie, and at the sudden +comming vpon Edelferd, assaulted him yer he could haue time to +[Sidenote: 542.] +assemble his people togither. But yet the said Edelferd, though he was +[Sidenote: _H. Hunt._] +beset and brought in danger at vnwares, died not vnreuenged: for +putting himselfe in defense with such power as he could then get +togither, he boldlie incountred the enimies, and giuing battell, slue +[Sidenote: Ethelferd slaine.] +Remerius the sonne of Redwald, and after was slaine himselfe, +hauing reigned ouer the Northumbers about 22 yéeres. This battell was +fought néere to the water of Idle. + +The said Edelferd had issue by his wife Acca, the daughter of Alla, +and sister to Edwine, two sonnes, Oswald being about two yéeres of +age, and Oswin about foure yéeres, the which (their father being +[Sidenote: _Hen. Hunt._ _Matt. West._ saith 34.] +thus slaine) were by helpe of their gouernours conueied awaie into +Scotland with all spéed that might be made. Ceowlfe king of the +Westsaxons, after he had reigned the space of 12 yeeres, departed this +life, who in his time had mainteined great warre against manie +[Sidenote: The Southsaxons susteine the greater losse.] +of his neighbours, the which for briefenesse I passe ouer. One great +battell he fought against them of Sussex, in which the armies on +both sides sustained great damage, but the greater losse fell to the +Southsaxons. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Cinegiscus and his sonne Richelinus reigne iointlie ouer the +Westsaxons, they fight with the Britains; the indeuour of Laurence +archbishop of Cantrburie in setting religion at large, and seeking a +vniformitie in catholike orders, he and his fellow-bishops write to +the cleargie of Britaine and Scotland for a reformation, Melitus +bishop of London goeth to Rome, the cause why, and what he brought at +his returns from pope Boniface._ + +THE XXIIJ. CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: CINEGISCUS.] +After the foresaid Ceowlfe reigned Cinegiscus, or Kingils, which +was the sonne of Ceola, which was the sonne of Cutha or Cutwin, which +was the sonne of Kenricke, which was the sonne of king Certicke. In +the fourth yéere of his reigne, he receiued into fellowship with him +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._ saith that Onichelinus was the brother of +Cinegiscus] +in gouernance of the kingdome his sonne Richelinus, or Onichelinus, +and so they reigned iointlie togither in great loue and concord (a +thing seldome séene or heard of.) They fought with the Britains +[Sidenote: Beandune or Beanton.] +at Beandune, where at the first approch of the battels togither, +the Britains fled, but too late, for there died of them that were +ouertaken 2062. + +[Sidenote: _Beda lib. 2 cap. 4_.] +In this meane time, Laurence archbishop of Canturburie, who +succéeded next after Augustine, admitted thereto by him in his life +time (as before is said) did his indeuour to augment and bring to +perfection the church of England, the foundation whereof was latelie +laid by his predecessor the foresaid Augustine: who studied not onelie +for the increase of this new church, which was gathered of the English +people, but also he was busie to imploie his pastorlike cure vpon the +people that were of the old inhabitants of Britaine, and likewise of +the Scots that remained in Ireland. For when he had learned that the +Scots there, in semblable wise as the Britains in their countrie, +led not their liues in manie points according to the ecclesiasticall +rules, as well in obseruing the feast of Easter contrarie to the vse +of the Romane church, as in other things, he wrote vnto those Scots +letters exhortatorie, requiring them most instantlie to an vnitie of +catholike orders as might be agréeable with the church of Christ, +spred and dispersed through the world. These letters were not written +onelie in his owne name, but iointlie togither in the name of the +bishops Melitius and Iustus, (as followeth.) + +"_To our deare brethren the bishops and abbats through all Scotland, +Laurence, Melitus and Iustus bishops, the seruants of the seruants of +God wish health._ + +"Whereas the apostolike see (according to hir maner) had sent vs to +preach vnto the heathen people in these west parts, as otherwise +throgh the world, and that it chanced to vs to enter into this Ile +which is called Britaine, before we knew & vnderstood the state of +things, we had in great reuerence both the Scots & Britains, which +beléeued, bicause (as we tooke the matter) they walked according to +the custome of the vniuersall church: but after we had knowledge of +the Britains, we iudged the Scots to be better. But we haue learned +by bishop Daganus comming into this Ile, and by Columbanus the +abbat comming into France, that the Scots nothing differ in their +conuersation from the Britains: for bishop Daganus comming vnto vs, +would neither eat with vs, no nor yet come within the house where we +did eat." + +The said Laurence also with his fellow-bishops, did write to the +Britains other letters woorthie of his degrée, dooing what he could +to confirme them in the vnitie of the Romane church: but it profited +litle, as appeareth by that which Beda writeth. About the same time +Melitus the bishop of London went to Rome, to common with pope +Boniface, for necessarie causes touching the church of England, and +was present at a synod holden by the same pope at that season, for +ordinances to be made touching the state of religious men, and sate in +the same synod, that with subscribing he might also by his authoritie +confirme that which was there orderlie decréed. This synod was holden +the third kalends of March, in the last yéere of the emperour Phocas, +which was about the yeere after the birth of our Sauiour 610. Melitus +at his returne brought with him from the pope, decrees commanded by +the said pope to be obserued in the English church, with letters also +directed to archbishop Laurence, and to king Ethelbert. + + + + + * * * * * + +_Cadwan is made king of the Britains in the citie of Chester, he +leuieth a power against Ethelfred king of the Northumbers, couenants +of peace passe betwixt them vpon condition, the death of Ethelbert +king of Kent, where he and his wife were buried, of his lawes; Eadbald +succeedeth Ethelbert in the Kentish kingdome, his lewd and vnholie +life, he is an enimie to religion; he is plagued with madnesse; Hebert +king of the Eastsaxons dieth, his three sonnes refuse to be baptised, +they fall to idolatrie and hate the professours of the truth, their +irreligious talke and vndutifull behauiour to bishop Melitus, he and +his fellow Iustus passe ouer into France, the three sonnes of Hebert +are slaine of the Westsaxons in battell, the Estsaxons by their +idolatrie prouoke archbishop Laurence to forsake the land, he is +warned in a vision to tarie, whereof he certifieth king Eadbald, who +furthering christianitie, sendeth for Melitus and Iustus, the one is +restored to his see, the other reiected, Melitus dieth, Iustus is made +archbishop of Canturburie, the christian faith increaseth._ + +THE XXIIIJ. CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: CADWAN king of Britaine] +After that the Britains had c[=o]tinued about the space almost of +24 yéeres without anie one speciall gouernour, being led by sundrie +rulers, euer sithens that Careticus was constreined to flée ouer +Seuerne, and fought oftentimes not onelie against the Saxons, but also +[Sidenote: 613] +one of them against another, at length in the yéere of our Lord +613, they assembled in the citie of Chester, and there elected Cadwan +that before was ruler of Northwales, to haue the souereigne rule & +gouernement ouer all their nation, and so the said Cadwan began to +reigne as king of Britaine in the said yéere 613. But some authors +say, that this was in the yéere 609, in which yéere Careticus the +British king departed this life. And then after his deceasse the +Britains or Welshmen (whether we shall call them) chose Cadwan to +gouerne them in the foresaid yéere 609, which was in the 7 yéere +of the emperour Phocas, and the 21 of the second Lotharius king of +France, and in the 13 yéere of Kilwoolfe king of the Westsaxons. + +This Cadwan being established king, shortlie after assembled a +power of Britains, and went against the foresaid Ethelfred king of +Northumberland, who being thereof aduertised, did associate to him the +most part of the Saxon princes, and came foorth with his armie to méet +Cadwan in the field. Herevpon as they were readie to haue tried the +matter by battell, certeine of their friends trauelled so betwixt them +for peace, that in the end they brought them to agréement, so that +[Sidenote: _Gal. Mon._] +Ethelfred should kéepe in quiet possession those his countries beyond +the riuer of Humber, and Cadwan should hold all that which of right +belonged to the Britains on the southside of the same riuer. This +couenant with other touching their agréement was confirmed with oths +solemnelie taken, and pledges therewith deliuered, so that afterwards +they continued in good and quiet peace, without vexing one an other. + +What chanced afterward to Ethelfred, ye haue before heard rehersed, +which for that it soundeth more like to a truth than that which +followeth in the British booke, we omit to make further rehersall, +passing forward to other dooings which fell in the meane season, +whilest this Cadwan had gouernement of the Britains, reigning as king +[Sidenote: _Iohn Hard._] +ouer them the tearme of 22 or (as some say) but 13 yéeres, and +finallie was slaine by the Northumbers, as before hath béene, and also +after shall be shewed. + +In the 8 yéere after that Cadwan began to reigne, Ethelbert king +of Kent departed this life, in the 21 yéere after the comming of +Augustine with his fellowes to preach the faith of Christ here in this +realme: and after that Ethelbert had reigned ouer the prouince of Kent +the tearme of 56 yéeres (as Beda saith, but there are that haue noted +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._ _Beda li. 2. cap. 5_.] +thrée yéers lesse) he departed this world, as aboue is signified, +in the yeere of our Lord 617, on the 24 day of Februarie, and was +buried in the Ile of saint Martine, within the church of the apostles +Peter and Paule, without the citie of Canturburie, where his wife +quéene Bartha was also buried, and the foresaid archbishop Augustine +that first conuerted him to the faith. + +Amongst other things, this king Ethelbert with the aduise of his +councell ordeined diuers lawes and statutes, according to the which +decrées of iudgements should passe: those decrées he caused to be +written in the English toong, which remained and were in force vnto +the daies of Beda, as he declareth. And first it was expressed in +those lawes, what amends he should make that stole anie thing that +belonged to the church, to the bishop, or to anie ecclesiasticall +person, willing by all means to defend them whose doctrine he had +receiued. + +[Sidenote: EADBALD.] +After the deceasse of Etthelbert, his sonne Eadbald succéeded in +the gouernment of his kingdome of Kent, the which was a great hinderer +of the increase of the new church amongst the Englishmen in those +parties: for he did not onelie refuse to be baptised himselfe, but +also vsed such kind of fornication, as hath not béene heard (as the +apostle saith) amongst the Gentiles, for he tooke to wife his mother +in law, that had béene wife to his father. By which two euill +[Sidenote: The princes example occasion of euill.] +examples, manie tooke occasion to returne to their heathenish +religion, the which whilest his father reigned, either for the prince +his pleasure, or for feare to offend him, did professe the christian +faith. But Eadbald escaped not woorthie punishment to him sent from +the liuing God for his euill deserts, insomuch that he was vexed with +a certeine kind of madnesse, and taken with an vncleane spirit. + +The foresaid storme or vnquiet troubling of the christian +congregation, was afterwards greatlie increased also by the death of +Sabert or Sebert king of the Eastsaxons, who was conuerted to the +faith of Christ, and baptized by Melitus bishop of London (as +before is mentioned) & departing this life to go to a better in the +blissefull kingdome of heauen, he left behind him thrée sonnes as true +successours in the estate of his earthlie kingdome, which sonnes +[Sidenote: _Ran. Cest._ _Beda li. 2. cap. 5_. Serred, Seward, and +Sigebert, the sonnes of Sabert.] +likewise refused to be baptised. Their names were Serred, Seward, & +Sigebert, men of an ill mind, & such as in whome no vertue remained, +no feare of God, nor anie respect of religion, but speciallie hating +the professours of the christian faith. For after their father was +dead, they began to fall to their old idolatrie, which in his life +time they séemed to haue giuen ouer, insomuch that now they openlie +worshipped idols, and gaue libertie to their subiects to do the like. + +And when the bishop Melitus, at the solemnizing of masse in the +church, distributed the eucharisticall bread vnto the people, they +asked him (as it is said) wherfore he did not deliuer of that bright +white bread vnto them also, as well as he had béene accustomed to doo +to their father Saba (for so they vsed to call him.) Vnto whome the +bishop made this answer: "If you will be washed in that wholesome +fountaine, wherein your father was washed, ye may be partakers of that +holie bread whereof he was partaker, but if you despise the washpoole +of life, ye may by no meanes tast the bread of saluation." But they +offended herewith, replied in this wise: "We will not enter into that +fountaine, for we know we haue no néed thereof: but yet neuerthelesse +we will be refreshed with that bread." + +After this, when they had beene earnestlie and manie times told, that +vnlesse they would be baptised, they might not be partakers of the +sacred oblation: at length in great displeasure they told him, that if +he would not consent vnto them in so small a matter, there should be +no place for him within the bounds of their dominion, and so he was +constrained to depart. Wherevpon he being expelled, resorted into +Kent, there to take aduise with his fellow-bishops, Laurence and +Iustus, what was to be doone in this so weightie a matter. Who +finallie resolued vpon this point, that it should be better for them +to returne into their countrie, where with frée minds they might serue +almightie God, rather than to remaine amongest people that rebelled +against the faith, without hope to doo good amongest them. Wherefore +Melitus and Iustus did depart first, and went ouer into France, +minding there to abide till they might sée what the end would be. But +shortlie after, those brethren the kings of Essex, which had expelled +their bishop in maner aboue said, suffered woorthilie for their wicked +dooings. For going forth to battell against the Westsaxons, they were +[Sidenote: The sonne of king Sebert slaine.] +ouerthrowen and slaine altogither with all their armie, by the two +kings Kinigils and Quichelme. But neuerthelesse, albeit the authors of +the mischiefe were thus taken awaie, yet the people of that countrie +would not be reduced againe from their diuelish woorshipping of +false gods, being eftsoones fallen thereto in that season by the +incouragement and perilous example of their rulers. Wherefore the +archbishop Laurence was in mind also to follow his fellowes Melitus +and Iustus: but when he minded to set forward, he was warned in a +dreame, and cruellie scourged (as hath béene reported by the apostle +saint Peter, who reprooued him) for that he would so vncharitablie +forsake his flocke, & leaue it in danger without a shepherd to kéepe +the woolfe from the fold. + +The archbishop imboldned by this vision, and also repenting him of his +determination, came to king Eadbald, and shewed to him his stripes, +and the maner of his dreame. The king being herewith put in great +feare, renounced his heathenish worshipping of idols, and was +baptised, and as much as in him laie, from thenceforth succoured the +congregation of the christians, and aduanced the church to his power. +He sent also into France, and called home the bishops Melitus and +Iustus, so that Iustus was restored to his sée of Rochester. + +But the Eastsaxons would not receiue Melitus to his sée at London, +but continued in their wicked mawmetrie, in obeieng a bishop of their +pagan law, whom they had erected for that purpose. Neither was king +Eadbald of that authoritie and power in those parties, as his father +was before, whereby he might constreine them to receiue their lawfull +bishop. But suerlie the said king Eadbald with his people, after he +was once conuerted againe, gaue himselfe wholie to obeie the lawes of +GOD, and amongt other déeds of godlie zeale, he builded a church +[Sidenote: _Beda lib. 2_.] +to our ladie at Canturburie, within the monasterie of saint Peter, +afterwards called saint Agnes. This church was consecrated by Melitus, +who after the death of Laurence succéeded in gouernance of the +archbishops sée of Canturburie. After Melitus, who departed this +[Sidenote: _Beda. lib. 2. ca. 8_.] +life in the yeare of our Lord 624, Iustus that before was bishop +of Rochester, was made archbishop of Canturburie, and ordeined one +Romanus to the sée of Rochester. About that time, the people of the +north parts beyond Humber receiued the faith, by occasion (as after +shall appéere.) + + * * * * * + + + + +_Edwin reigneth ouer the Northumbers, his great power and reputation, +a marriage betweene him and Ethelburga the sister of king Eadbald vpon +religious couenants, the traitorous attempts of murtherous Eumerus +against him, his wife Ethelburga is deliuered of a daughter, he +assalteth the Westsaxons, and discomfiteth them, Boniface the fift +writeth to him to desist from his idolatrie, and to his ladie to +persist in true christianitie; the vision of Edwin when he was a +banished man in the court of Redwald king of the Eastangles, whereby +he was informed of his great exaltation and conuersion to christian +religion._ + +THE XXV. CHAPTER. + + +Ye haue heard how Edelfred the king of Northumberland was slaine in +battell neere to the water of Idel by Redwald king of the Eastangles, +in fauour of Edwin whom the said Edelfred had confined out of his +dominion, 24 yéeres before. The foresaid Redwald therefore hauing +obteined that victorie, found meanes to place Edwin in gouernement of +that kingdome of the Northumbers, hauing a title thereto as sonne +[Sidenote: EDWIN. _Beda. lib. 2. ca. 5_.] +to Alla or Elle, sometime king of Northumberland. This Edwin prooued +a right valiant prince, & grew to be of more power than anie other +king in the daies of the English nation: not onelie ruling ouer a +great part of the countries inhabited with English men, but also with +Britains, who inhabited not onelie in Wales, but in part of Chesshire, +Lancashire, Cumberland, and alongst by the west sea-coast in Galloway, +and so foorth euen vnto Dunbritaine in Scotland: which I haue thought +good to note, that it may appeare in what countries Cadwallo bare +rule, of whome so often mention is made in this part of the historie. +But as concerning Edwin, his reputation was such, as not onelie the +English men, Britains and Scots, but also the Iles of Orknie, and +[Sidenote: _W. Malm._ taketh Meuania to be Anglesey.] +those of Man, and others the west Iles of ancient time called Meuaniæ, +had him in reuerence, and feared his mightie power, so as they durst +not attempt anie exploit to offend him. + +It chanced that shortlie after, king Redwald had aduanced him to the +kingdom of Northumberland, to wit, about 6 yeares, the same Redwald +deceassed, which made greatlie for the more augmentation of Edwins +power. For the people of the Eastangles, which (whilest Edwin remained +amongst them as a banished man) had conceiued a good opinion of him +for his approoued valiancie and noble courage, offered themselues to +[Sidenote: Carpwaldus.] +be wholie at his commandement. But Edwin suffering Carpwald or +Erpwald the sonne of Redwald to inioie the bare title and name of the +king of that countrie, ruled all things at his owne will and pleasure. +Neither was there anie prouince within Britaine that did not obeie +him, or was not readie to doo him seruice (the kingdome of Kent onelie +excepted) for he suffered the Kentishmen to liue in quiet, because +he began to haue a liking to the sister of king Eadbald, namelie the +ladie Ethelburga, otherwise called Tate or Tace. + +[Sidenote: _Beda. lib. 2. cap. 9_.] +He made request therefore by sending ambassadours to hir brother, +to haue the said ladie in marriage, and at length obteined hir, with +condition that she being a christian woman, might not onelie vse the +christian religion, but also that all those, whether men or women, +priests or ministers, which came with hir, might haue licence to doo +the same, without trouble or impeachment of anie maner of person. +Herevpon she being sent vnto him, there was appointed to go with hir +[Sidenote: _Matth. West._ _Beda. lib. 2. cap. 9_.] +(besides manie other) one Pauline, which was consecrated bishop by +[Sidenote: 625.] +the archbishop Iustus the 21 of Iulie, in the yeare of our Lord 625, +who at his comming into Northumberland thus in companie with +Ethelburga, trauelled earnestlie in his office, both to preserue hir +and such christians in the faith of Christ, as were appointed to giue +their attendance on hir, least they should chance to fall: and also +sought to win some of the Pagans (if it were possible) vnto the same +faith, though at the first he little profited in that matter. + +In the yeare following, there came a murtherer vnto the court of king +Edwin, as then soiourning in a palace which stood vpon the side of the +riuer of Dorwent, being sent from Quichelme king of the Westsaxons, to +the intent to murther Edwin, because he had of late sore damnified the +countries of the Westsaxons. This murtherer was called Eumerus, & +[Sidenote: Other say an axe, as _Matth. West._] +caried vnder his coate a shost double edged woodknife inuenomed of +purpose, that if the king being but a little hurt therewith, should +not die of the wound, yet he should not escape the danger of the +[Sidenote: Emmerus.] +poison. This Eumerus on Easter mondaie came to the king, and making +foorth to him as it had béene to haue declared some message from his +maister, when he had espied his time, drew his weapon, and offered to +strike the king. But one of the kings seruants named Lilla, perceiuing +this, stept betwixt the king and the blow. Howbeit the murtherer set +the stripe forward with such force, that the knife running through +the bodie of Lilla wounded also the king a little: and before this +murtherer could be beaten downe, he slue another of the kings +seruants, a knight that attended vpon him, called Fordher. + +[Sidenote: Eaufled borne.] +The same night Ethelburga was deliuered of a daughter named +Eaufled, for the which when king Edwin gaue thanks vnto his gods, in +the presence of bishop Pauline, the bishop did admonish him, rather to +giue thanks vnto the true and onelie God, by whose goodnesse it came +to passe that the queene was safelie and without danger deliuered. The +king giuing good eare vnto the bishops wholesome admonition, promised +at that present to become a Christian, if he might reuenge his +injuries receiued at the hands of the Westsaxons. And to assure +Pauline that his promise should take place, he gaue vnto him his new +borne daughter to be made holie to the Lord, that is to say, baptised. +The bishop receiuing hir, on Whitsundaie next following baptised hir, +with twelue other of the kings houshold, she being the first of +the English Northumbers that was so washed in the founteine of +regeneration. + +In the meane time K. Edwin being recouered of his hurt, assembled an +armie, and went against the Westsaxons, with whome incountring in +battell, he either slue or brought to his subiection all them that +had conspired his death, and so returned as a conquerour into his +countrie. But yet he delaied time in performance of his promise to +become a Christian: howbeit he had left his dooing of sacrifice to +idols, euer since he made promise to be baptised. He was a sage +prince, and before he would alter his religion, he politikelie +thought good to heare matters touching both his old religion, and the +Christian religion throughlie examined. + +Now whilest he thus hoong in doubt vnto whether part he should +[Sidenote: _Beda. lib. 2, cap. 10_.] +incline, there came letters to him from pope Boniface the fift of +that name, exhorting him by sundrie kinds of gentle perswasions, to +turne to the worshipping of the true and liuing God, and to renounce +worshipping of mawmets and idols. The pope wrote also to quéene +[Sidenote: _Beda. lib. 2, cap. 11_.] +Ethelburga, praieng hir to continue in hir good purpose, and by +all meanes possible to doo what might be doone for the conuerting of +hir husband vnto the faith of Christ. But the thing that most mooued +[Sidenote: A vision.] +the king, was a vision which sometime he had while he remained +as a banished man in the court of Redwald king of the Eastangles, as +thus. + +[Sidenote: _Beda. cap._ 12.] +After that king Ethelfred was informed that the foresaid Redwald +had receiued Edwin, he ceased not by his ambassadours to moue Redwald +either to deliuer Edwin into his hands, or to make him awaie. At +length by often sending, & promises made of large summes of monie, +mixed with threatnings, he obteined a grant of his sute, so that +it was determined that Edwin should either be murthered, or else +deliuered into his enimies hands. One of Edwins friends hauing +intelligence hereof, in the night season came to Edwins chamber, and +leading him abroad, told him the whole practise, and what was purposed +against him, offering to helpe him out of the countrie, if he would so +[Sidenote: The honorable consideration of Edwin.] +aduenture to escape. Edwin being woonderouslie amazed, thanked his +friend, but refused to depart the countrie, sith he had no iust cause +outwardlie giuen to play such a slipper part, choosing rather to +ieopard his life with honour, than to giue men cause to thinke that he +had first broken promise with such a prince as Redwald was, to whome +he had giuen his faith. + +Herevpon his friend departing from him, left him sitting without the +doores: where after he had reuolued manie things in his mind, and +thought long vpon this matter, at length he perceiued one to come +towards him vnknowne, and in strange apparell, séeming to him in +euerie point a stranger, at which sight (for that he could not imagine +who it should be) Edwin was much afraid: but the man comming to him +saluted him, and asked of him what he made there at that time of the +night when other were at rest. Edwin on the other part asked what he +had to doo therewith, and whether he vsed to lie abroad in the night, +or within house? Who answering said; Thinke not Edwin that I am +ignorant of thy heauinesse, of thy watchings, and this thy solitarie +sitting here without doores. For I know who thou art, wherefore thou +art thus pensiue, and what euils thou fearest to be towards thée at +hand. But tell me, what wouldest thou giue him, that could deliuer +thée out of this heauinesse, and perswade Redwald that he should +neither doo thée hurt, nor deliuer thée to thine enimies? Here with +when Edwin said that he would gladlie giue all that in him might lie +to such a one in reward: The other said; What wouldst thou giue then, +if he should promise in good sooth that (all thine enimies being +destroied) thou shouldest be king, and that thou shouldest passe in +power all the kings which haue reigned in the English nation before +thy time? Edwin being better come to himselfe by such demandes, did +not sticke to promise that he would requite his friendship with +woorthie thanks. + +Then replied he to his words and said; If he that shall prophesie to +thée this good hap to come, shall also be able to informe thee in such +counsell for thy health and life, as neuer anie of thy forefathers or +kinsfolke yet haue heard, wouldest thou obey him, and also consent +to receiue his wholesome aduertisement? Wherevnto without further +deliberation Edwin promised, that he would in all points follow the +instruction of him that should deliuer him out of so manie and great +calamities, and bring him to the rule of a kingdome. Which answere +being got, this person that thus talked with him, laid his hand vpon +his head, saieng: When this therefore shall chance to thée, be not +forgetfull of this time, nor of this communication, and those things +that thou now dooest promise, sée thou performe. And therewith he +vanished awaie. So that Edwin might well perceiue it was no man but a +vision that thus had appeared vnto him. + +[¶ This vnaccustomed course it pleased God to vse for the conuersion +of the king (to whose example it was no doubt but the people and +inferiour sort would generallie be conformed) who otherwise had +continued in paganisme and blind ignorance both of Gods truth and true +christianitie. And it maie be that there was in him, as in other kings +his predecessors, a settled perswasion in gentilish error, so that +neither by admonition nor preaching (though the same had procéeded +from the mouth of one allotted to that ministerie) he was to be +reuoked from the infidelitie and misbeléefe wherein he was nuzzeled +and trained vp. For it is the nature of all men, to be addicted to the +obseruation of such rites and customes as haue béene established and +left in force by their progenitors, and sooner to stand vnto a desire +and earnest purpose of adding somewhat to their elders corrupt +constitutions, and irreligious course of conuersation, than to +be inclinable to anie article or point tending to innouation: so +inflexible is the posteritie to swarue from the traditions of +antiquitie, stand the same vpon neuer so grosse and palpable +absurdities.] + +Edwin still reioising in the foresaid comfortable talke, but +thoughtfull in mind what he should be, or from whence he came that had +talked in this sort with him; behold his friend returned that first +had brought him foorth of his chamber, and declared vnto him good +newes, how the king by perswasion of the quéene had altered his +determination, and minded to mainteine his quarell to the vttermost of +his power: and so he did in déed. For with all diligence he raised +an armie, and went against Ethelfrid, vanquished him in battell, and +placed Edwin in the kingdome (as before ye haue heard.) + + * * * * * + + + + +_King Edwin is put in mind of his vision by Pauline who sawe the +same in spirit, he is licenced to preach the gospell, bishop Coifi +destroieth the idols, Edwin and his people receiue the Christian +faith, his two sonnes Osfride and Eadfride become conuerts, Redwald +king of the Eastangles is baptised, he serueth God and the diuell, +Sibert receiueth the faith, Felix bishop of Burgongne commeth ouer to +Honorius archbishop of Canturburie, he preacheth to the Eastangles, +the Northumbers and Lincolnshiremen are conuerted manie are baptised +in the riuer of Trent; king Edwins iustice how effectuall and +commendable, his care for the common-wealth, his prouidence for the +refection of trauellers, pope Honorius confirmeth Pauline archbishop +of Yorke, the tenor of his letters touching the mutuall election of +the archbishop of Canturburie and Yorke, if either of them happened to +suruiue other, his letters to the Scots touching the keeping of Easter +and avoiding the Pelagian heresie, Cadwallo king of Britaine rebelleth +against Edwin, Penda king of Mercia enuieth his good estate, Cadwallo +and Penda inuade Northumberland, Edwin and his sonne Osfride are +slaine, Penda putteth his other sonne Eadfride cruellie to death._ + +THE XXVJ. CHAPTER. + + +Notwithstanding the former vision, king Edwin deferred time yer he +would receiue the Christian faith, in somuch that Pauline vpon a daie +came vnto him as he sat musing what he were best to doo, and laid his +hand vpon his head, asking him if he knew that signe. Whereat when the +king would haue fallen downe at his féet, he lifted him vp, and as it +were in familiar wise thus said vnto him: "Behold, by the assistance +of Gods fauour thou hast escaped the hands of thine enimies, whome +thou stoodst in feare of: behold through his bountious liberalitie, +thou hast obteined the kingdome which thou diddest desire, remember +then that thou delaie no time to performe the third thing that +thou diddest promise, in receiuing his faith, and kéeping his +commandements, which deliuering thée from worldlie aduersities, hath +thus aduanced thée to the honor of a king: and if from henceforth thou +wilt obey his will, which by my mouth hée setteth and preacheth to +thée and others, he will deliuer thée from euerlasting torments, and +make thée partaker with him in his celestiall kingdome." It is to be +thought that the vision which the king had in times past receiued, was +in spirit reuealed vnto Pauline, wherevpon without delaie of time, he +put him in remembrance of it in maner as aboue is mentioned. + +The king hauing heard his words, answered, that he would and ought to +receiue the faith which he taught, but first he would conferre with +his nobles, and if they would agrée to doo the like, then would they +be baptised altogither at one time. Pauline satisfied herewith, +[Sidenote: Edwin consulteth with his nobles.] +Edwin did as he had promised, calling togither the wisest men of his +realme, and of them asked the question what they thought of this +diuinitie, which was preached vnto them by Pauline, vnto whome +[Sidenote: The answere of an heathen bishop.] +his chiefe bishop named Coifi, incontinentlie made this answer; that +Suerlie the religion which they had hitherto followed was nothing +worth. "For saith he, there is none of thy people that hath more +reuerentlie woorshipped our gods than I haue doone, and yet be there +manie that haue receiued far greater benefits at thy hands than I haue +doone: and therefore if our gods were of anie power, then would they +rather helpe me to high honor and dignitie than others. Therefore if +it maie be found that this new religion is better & more auailable +than our old, let vs with spéed imbrace the same." + +Finallie, when other of the kings councell & men of high authoritie +gaue their consents, that this doctrine which Pauline taught ought to +be receiued, if therein appeered more certeintie of saluation than +could be found in the other: at length the king gaue licence to +[Sidenote: Pauline licenced to preach the gospell.] +Pauline openlie to preach the gospell, and renouncing his worshipping +of false gods, professed the Christian faith. And when he demanded of +his bishop Coifi who should first deface the altars of their idols, +and the tabernacles wherewith they were compassed about? He answered, +that himselfe would doo it. "For what is more méet (saith he) than +that I, which thorough foolishnesse haue worshipped them, should now +for example sake destroie the same, thorough wisedome giuen me from +the true and liuing God?" And streightwaies throwing awaie the +superstition of vanitie, required armour and weapon of the king, with +a stoned horsse, vpon the which he being mounted, rode foorth to +destroie the idols. + +This was a strange sight to the people: for it was not lawfull for the +bishop of their law to put on armour, or to ride on anie beast, except +it were a mare. He hauing therefore a swoord gird to him, tooke a +speare in his hand, and riding on the kings horsse, went to the place +where the idols stood. The common people that beheld him had thought +he had béene starke mad, and out of his wits: but he without longer +deliberation, incontinentlie vpon his comming to the temple, began +to deface the same, and in contempt threw his speare against it, & +reioising greatlie in the knowledge of the worshipping of the true +God, commanded his companie to destroie & burne downe the same +temple with all the altars. This place where the idols were sometime +worshipped was not farre from Yorke, towards the east part of the +riuer of Derwent, and is called Gotmundin Gaham, where the foresaid +bishop by the inspiration of God defaced and destroied those altars, +which he himselfe had hallowed. + +[Sidenote: King Edwin with his people receive the christian faith. +_Beda. lib. 2. cap. 14_. 627.] +King Edwin therefore with all the nobilitie, and a great number of +his people, receiued the faith and were baptised, in the yéere of our +Lord 627, in the tenth yéere of his reigne, and about the 178 yéere +after the first comming of the Englishmen into this land. He was +baptised at Yorke on Easter daie (which fell that yéere the day before +the Ides of Aprill) in the church of S. Peter the apostle, which he +had caused to be erected and built vp of timber vpon the sudden for +that purpose, and afterwards began the foundation of the same church +in stone-woorke of a larger compasse, comprehending within it that +oratorie which he had first caused to be built: but before he could +finish the woorke, he was slaine (as after shall be shewed) leauing +it to be performed of his successor Oswald. + +Pauline continued from thencefoorth during the kings life, which +was six yéeres after, in preaching the gospell in that prouince, +conuerting an innumerable number of people to the faith of Christ, +among whom were Osfride and Eadfride the two sonnes of Edwin, whom he +begot in time of his banishment of his wife Quinburga, the daughter +of Cearlus king of Mercia. Also afterwards he begot children on his +second wife Ethelburga, that is to say, a sonne called Edilhimus, +[Sidenote: Ediltrudis.] +and a daughter named Ediltrudis, and another sonne called Bustfrea, of +the which the two first died in their cradels, and were buried in the +church at Yorke. To be briefe: by the kings assistance & fauour shewed +vnto Pauline in the woorke of the Lord, great multitudes of people +dailie receiued the faith, and were baptised of Pauline in manie +places, but speciallie in the riuer of Gleuie within the prouince of +Bernicia, and also in Swale in the prouince of Deira: for as yet in +the beginning thus of the church in those countries, no temples or +fonts could be builded or erected in so short a time. + +Of such great zeale was Edwin (as it is reported) towards the setting +[Sidenote: This chanced in the yéere 632, as _Matt. West._ saith.] +foorth of Gods truth, that he persuaded Carpwald the sonne of Redwald +king of the Eastangles to abandon the superstitious worshipping of +idols, and to receiue the faith of Christ with all his whole prouince. +[Sidenote: Redwald king of Eastangles baptised.] +His father Redwald was baptised in Kent long before this time, but in +vaine: for returning home, through counsell of his wife and other +wicked persons, he was seduced, and being turned from the sincere +puritie of faith, his last dooings were woorse than his first, so +[Sidenote: Redwald would serve God and the diuell.] +that according to the maner of the old Samaritans, he would séeme +both to serue the true God and his false gods, (whom before time he +had serued) and in one selfe church had at one time both the +sacraments of Christ ministred at one altar, and sacrifice made vnto +diuels at another. + +But Carpwald within a while after he had receiued the faith, was +slaine by one of his owne countrimen that was an ethnike, called +Richbert, and then after his death, that prouince for the tearme +[Sidenote: Sibert or Sigibert.] +of thrée yeeres was wrapped eftsoones in errour, till Sibert or +Sigibert, the brother of Carpwald, a most christian prince, and verie +well learned, obteined the rule of that kingdome, who whilest he liued +a banished man in France during his brothers life time, was baptised +there, and became a christian: and when he came to be king, he caused +all his prouince to be partaker of the same fountaine of life, wherein +he had beene dipped himselfe. + +Vnto this godlie purpose also, a bishop of the parties of Burgoigne +named Felix was a great furtherer, who comming ouer vnto the +archbishop of Canturburie Honorius that was successor vnto Iustus, and +declaring vnto him his earnest desire, was sent by the same archbishop +to preach the woord of life vnto the Eastangles, which he did with +such good successe, that he conuerted the whole countrie to the faith +of Iesus Christ, and placed the sée of his bishoprike at Dunwich, +[Sidenote: A bishop ordained at Dunwhich. _Beda lib 1. cap. 16._] +ending the course of his life there in peace after he had continued in +that his bishoplike office the space of 17 yéeres. Moreouer Pauline, +after that he had conuerted the Northumbers, preached the woord of God +vnto them of Lindsey, which is a part of Lincolnshire: and first he +persuaded one Blecca the gouernour of the citie of Lincolne to +[Sidenote: This chanced in the yéere 628, as _Matth. West_ saith.] +turne vnto Christ, togither with all his familie. In that citie he +also builded a church of stone woorke. Thus Pauline trauelled in the +woorke of the Lord, the same being greatlie furthered by the helpe of +Edwin, in whose presence he baptised a great number of people in the +riuer of Trent, néere to a towne, which in the old English toong was +called _Tio vulfingacester_. This Pauline had with him a deacon named +Iames, the which shewed himselfe verie diligent in the ministerie, and +profited greatlie therein. + +But now to returne to king Edwin, who was a prince verelie of woorthie +fame, and for the politike ordering of his countries and obseruing of +iustice, deserued highlie to be commended: for in his time all robbers +by the high waie were so banished out of his dominions, that a woman +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._] +with hir new borne child alone, without other companie, might haue +trauelled from sea to sea, and not haue incountred with anie creature +that durst once haue offered hir iniurie. He was also verie carefull +for the aduancement of the commoditie & common wealth of his people, +[Sidenote:_ Math. West. Beda lib 2. cap. 16_] +insomuch that where there were any swéet and cleare water-springs, he +caused postes to be set vp, and iron dishes to be fastened thereto +with chaines, that waifaring men might haue the same readie at hand +to drinke with: and there was none so hardie as to touch the same but +for that vse. He vsed wheresoeuer he went within the cities or +elsewhere abroad, to haue a banner borne before him, in token of +iustice to be ministred by his roiall authoritie. + +In the meane season, pope Honorius the fift, hearing that the +Northumbers had receiued the faith (as before is mentioned) at the +preaching of Pauline, sent vnto the said Pauline the pall, confirming +him archbishop in the sée of Yorke. He sent also letters of +[Sidenote: _Beda lib 2. cap. 17_.] +exhortation vnto king Edwin, to kindle him the more with fatherlie +aduise to continue and procéed in the waie of vnderstanding, into +the which he was entered. At the same time also, bicause Iustus the +archbishop of Canturburie was dead, and one Honorius elected to that +sée, pope Honorius sent to the said elect archbishop of Canturburie +[Sidenote: A decrée concerning the archbishops of Canturburie and Yorke] +his pall, with letters, wherein was conteined a decrée by him +made, that when either the archbishop of Canturburie or Yorke chanced +to depart this life, he that suruiued should haue authoritie to +ordeine another in place of him that was deceassed, that they should +not néed to wearie themselues with going to Rome, being so farre +distant from them. The copie of which letter is registred in the +ecclesiasticall historie of Beda, bearing date the third Ides of Iune, +[Sidenote: 633.] +in the yéere of our Lord 633. The same pope sent letters also +to the Scotish people, exhorting them to celebrate the feast of +[Sidenote: The feast of Easter] +Easter in such due time as other churches of the christian world +[Sidenote: The heresie of the Pelagians] +obserued. And also bicause the heresie of the Pelagians began to +renew againe amongst them (as he was informed) he admonished them to +beware thereof, and by all meanes to auoid it. For he knew that to the +office of a pastor it is necessarilie incident, not onelie to exhort, +teach, and shew his sheepe the waies to a christian life, but also +stronglie to withstand all such vniust meanes, as might hinder their +procéeding in the truth of religion. For as poison is vnto the bodie, +that is heresie vnto veritie. And as the bodie by poison is disabled +from all naturall faculties, and vtterlie extinguished, vnlesse by +present meanes the force thereof be vanquished: so truth and veritie +by errors and heresies is manie times choked and recouereth, but neuer +strangled. + +But now that the kingdome of Northumberland flourished (as before is +partlie touched) in happie state vnder the prosperous reigne of Edwin, +at length, after he had gouerned it the space of 17 yeeres, +[Sidenote: Cadwallin, or Cadwallo king of Britaine.] +Cadwalline, or Cadwallo, king of Britaine, who succeeded Cadwane, as +Gal. Mon. saith, rebelled against him. For so it commeth to passe, +that nothing can be so sure confirmed by mans power, but the same +by the like power may be againe destroied. Penda king of Mercia +[Sidenote: Penda king of Mercia.] +enuieng the prosperous procéedings of Edwin, procured Cadwallo to +mooue this rebellion against Edwin: and ioining his power with +Cadwallo, they inuaded the countrie of Northumberland iointlie +togither. Edwin heereof aduertised, gathered his people, & came to +incounter them, so that both armies met at a place called Hatfield, +[Sidenote: King Edwin slaine. _Matth. West._] +where was fought a verie sore and bloudie battell. But in the end +Edwin was slaine with one of his sonnes named Osfride, and his armie +beaten downe and dispersed. Also there was slaine on Edwins part, +Eodbald king of Orkenie. Moreouer there was an other of Edwins sonnes +named Eadfride constreined of necessitie to giue himselfe into the +hands of Penda, and was after by him cruellie put to death, contrarie +to his promised faith in king Oswalds daies that succéeded Edwin. +Thus did king Edwin end his life in that battell, fought at Hatfield +aforesaid, on the fourth ides of October, in the yere of our Lord 633, +he being then about the age of 47 yéeres and vpwards. + + * * * * * + + + + +_The crueltie of Penda and Cadwallo after their victorie, the Britains +make no account of religion, Archbishop Pauline with queen Ethelburga +flie out of Northumberland into Kent, honorable personages accompanie +him thither, Romanus bishop of Rochester drowned, Pauline vndertaketh +the charge of that see; Osrilie is king of Deira, and Eaufride king of +Bernicia, both kings become apostatas, and fall fr[=o] christianitie +to paganisme, then are both slaine within lesse than a yeeres space; +Oswald is created king of Northumberland, his chiefs practise in feats +of armes, Cadwallo king of Britaine hath him in contempt, Oswalds +superstitious deuotion and intercession to God against his enimies; +both kings ioine battell; Cadwallo is slaine, Penda king of Mercia his +notable vertues linked with foule vices, he maketh warre on whome he +will without exception._ + +THE XXVIJ. CHAPTER. + + +Cadwallo and Penda haumg obteined the victorie aforsaid, vsed it most +cruellie. For one of the capteins was a pagan, and the other wanting +all ciuilitie, shewed himselfe more cruell than anie pagan could haue +doone. So that Penda being a worshipper of false gods with his people +of Mercia, and Cadwallo hauing no respect to the Christian religion +[Sidenote: The crueltie of Penda and Cadwallo.] +which latelie was begun amongst the Northumbers, made hauocke in +all places where they came, not sparing man, woman nor child: and so +continued in their furious outrage a long time in passing through +the countrie, to the great decay and calamitie of the Christian +congregations in those parties. And still the christian Britains were +lesse mercifull than Penda his heathenish souldiers. For euen vnto the +daies of Beda (as he affirmeth) the Britains made no account of the +faith or religion of the Englishmen, nor would communicate with them +more than with the pagans, bicause they differed in rites from their +accustomed traditions. + +[Sidenote: The archbishop Pauline flieth into Kent.] +When the countrie of the Northumbers was brought into this +miserable case by the enimies inuasion, the archbishop Pauline taking +with him the quéene Ethelburga, whom he had brought thither, returned +now againe with hir by water into Kent, where he was receiued of the +archbishop Honorius, and king Eadbald. He came thither in the conduct +of one Bassus a valiant man of warre, hauing with him Eaufred the +daughter, and Vulfrea the sonne of Edwin, & also Iffi the sonne of +Osfride Edwins sonne, whom their mother after for feare of the kings +Edbold and Oswold did send into France where they died. The church +of Rochester at that time was destitute of a bishop, by the death of +Romanus, who being sent to Rome vnto pope Honorius, was drowned by +the way in the Italian seas. Wherevpon at the request of archbishop +Honorius, and king Eadbald, Pauline tooke vpon him the charge of that +sée, and held it till he died. + +[Sidenote: _Beda_. _lib. 3. ca. 1_. OSRIKE KING OF DEIRA.] +After it was knowne that Edwin was slaine in battell (as before ye +haue heard) Osrike the sonne of his vncle Elfrike tooke vpon him the +rule of the kingdome of Deira, which had receiued the sacrament of +baptisme by the preaching and vertuous instruction of Pauline. But +[Sidenote: Eaufrid king of Bernicia.] +the other kingdome of Northumberland called Bernicia, Eaufride the son +of Edelferd or Edelfride, tooke vpon him to gouerne. This Eaufride +during the time of Edwins reigne, had continued in Scotland, and there +being conuerted to the Christian faith was baptised. But both these +princes, after they had obteined possession of their earthlie +kingdoms, did forget the care of the heauenlie kingdome, so that they +returned to their old kind of idolatrie. But almightie God did not +long suffer this their vnthankefulnesse without iust punishment: for +first in the next summer, when Osrike had rashlie besieged Cadwallo +king of the Britains, within a certeine towne, Cadwallo brake foorth +vpon him, and finding him vnprouided to make resistance, slue him +[Sidenote: The two kings of Northumberland slaine.] +with all his armie. Now after this, whilest Cadwallo not like a +conqueror gouerned the prouinces of the Northumbers, but like a tyrant +wasted and destroied them, in sleaing the people in tragicall maner, +he also slue Eaufride, the which with twelue men of warre came +vndiscréetlie vnto him to sue for peace: and thus within lesse than +twelue moneths space both these runagate kings were dispatched. + +[Sidenote: OSWALD began his reigne in the yeare 635. _Beda_. _lib.3. +cap.3_.] +Then Oswald the sonne of Edelfred, and brother to the foresaid +Eaufride was created king of the Northumbers, the sixt in number from +Ida. This Oswald after that his father was slaine, liued as a banished +person a long time within Scotland, where he was baptised, and +professed the Christian religion, and passed the flower of his youth +in good exercises, both of mind & bodie. Amongst other things he +practised the vnderstanding of warlike knowledge, minding so to vse it +as it might stand him in stead to defend himselfe from iniurie of +the enimies that should prouoke him, and not otherwise. Herevp[=o] +Cadwallo king of the Britains made in maner no account of him: for +by reason that he had atchiued such great victories against the +Englishmen, and hauing slaine their two kings (as before is expressed) +he ceassed not to proceed in his tyrannicall dooings, reputing the +English people for slouthfull, and not apt to the warre, boasting +that he was borne to their destruction. Thus being set vp in pride of +courage, he feared no perils, but boldlie (without considering at +all the skilfull knowledge which Oswald had sufficientlie learned in +feates of war) tooke vpon him to assaile the foresaid Oswald, that had +brought an armie against him, and was encamped in a plaine field néere +vnto the wall which the Romans had builded in times past against the +inuasion of Scots and Picts. + +Cadwallo streight prouoked Oswald to trie the matter by battell, but +Oswald forbare the first day, and caused a crosse to be erected in the +same place where he was incamped, in full hope that it should be an +ensigne or trophie of his victorie, causing all souldiers to make +their praiers to God, that in time of such necessitie it might please +him to succour them that worship him. It is said, that the crosse +being made, and the hole digged wherein it should be set, he tooke the +crosse in his owne hands, and putting the foot thereof into that hole, +so held it till his souldiers had filled the hole, and rammed it vp: +and then caused all the souldiers to knéele downe vpon their knées, +and to make intercession to the true and liuing God for his assistance +against the proud enimie, with whom they should fight in a iust +quarell for the preseruation of their people and countrie. + +After this, on the next morning he boldlie gaue battell to his +enimies, so that a sore and cruell fight insued betwixt them. At +length Oswald perceiued that the Britains began somwhat to faint, and +therfore caused his people to renew their force, and more lustilie +to preasse forward, so that first he put that most cruell enimie to +flight, and after pursuing the chase ouertooke him, and slue him +[Sidenote: _Beda_. _Wil. Malm._] +with the most part of all his huge and mightie armie, at a place +called Denisborne, but the place where he caused the crosse to be +erected he named Heuenfield. Thus Cadwallo the most cruell enimie of +the English name ended his life: he was terrible both in nature and +countenance, for the which cause they say the Britains did afterwards +set vp his image, that the same might be a terror to the enimies when +they should behold it. + +¶ But here is to be remembred by the British historie of Gal. Mon. +it should appeare that Cadwallo was not slaine at all, but reigned +victoriouslie for the space of 48 yéeres, and then departed this life, +as in place afterwards it shall appéere. But for that the contrarietie +in writers in such points may sooner be perceiued than reformed, to +the satisfieng of mens fansies which are variable, we will leaue +euerie man to his libertie to thinke as séemeth him good, noting now +and then the diuersitie of such writers, as occasion serueth. + +[Sidenote: PENDA. 636.] +Penda the sonne of Wilba succéeded in the gouernement of the +kingdome of Mercia after Ciarlus, and began his reigne in the yéere of +our Lord 636. He was fiftie yéeres of age before he came to be king, +and reigned 30 yeres, he was a prince right hardie and aduenturous, +not fearing to ieopard his person in place of danger, assured and +readie of remembrance in time of greatest perill. His bodie could not +be ouercome with anie trauell, nor his mind vanquished with greatnesse +of businesse. But these his vertues were matched with notable vices, +as first with such bitternesse of maners as had not béene heard of, +crueltie of nature, lacke of courtesie, great vnstedfastnesse in +performing of woord and promise, and of vnmeasurable hatred toward the +christian religion. + +Now vpon confidence in these his great vertues and vices from that +time he was made king (as though the whole Ile had bene due to him) he +thought not good to let anie occasion passe that was offered to make +war, as wel against his friends & confederats, as also against his +owne sworne enimies. Part of his dooings ye haue heard, and more shall +appeare hereafter. ¶ Of the kings of the Eastsaxons & Eastangles ye +haue heard before: of whom in places conuenient ye shall find further +mention also, and so likewise of the kings of the Southsaxons: but +bicause their kingdom continued not past fiue successions, litle +remembrance of them is made by writers. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Cadwallo king of Britain, diuers deeds of his as the British writers +haue recorded them, wherevpon discord arose betweene Cadwallo & Edwin, +who for two yeres space were linked in friendship, Cadwallo vanquisht, +his flight, of Pelitus the Spanish wizard, Cadwallo ouerthroweth Penda +and his power besieging Excester, he arreareth battell against the +Northumbers, and killeth Edwin their king, he seeketh to expell the +Saxons out of the land, Penda slaieth Oswald, whose brother and +successor Osunus by gifts and submission obteineth peace, whom Penda +spitefullie attempting to kill is killed himselfe, Cadwallo dieth, a +brasen image on horssebacke set vp in his memoriall, saint Martins at +Ludgate builded._ + +THE XXVIIJ. CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: CADWALLO, OR CADWALLINE.] +Cadwallo or Cadwalline, (for we find him so named) began his +[Sidenote: 635.] +reigne ouer the Britains, in the yéere of our Lord 635, in the +yéere of the reigne of the emperour Heracleus 35, and in the 13 yere +of Dagobert K. of France. Of this man ye haue heard partlie before +touching his dealings and warres against the Northumbers, and other of +the English nation: but forsomuch as diuers other things are reported +of him by the British writers, we haue thought good in this place to +rehearse the same in part, as in Gal. Mon. we find writen, leauing the +credit still with the author, sith the truth thereof may be the more +suspected, bicause other authors of good authoritie, as Beda, Henrie +Huntington, William Malmesburie, and others séeme greatlie to disagrée +from him herein. But thus it is written. + +[Sidenote: Edwin was not sonne to Ethelfred, but to Alla, or Elle, as +in other places plainlie appeareth.] +This Cadwallo and Edwin the sonne of Ethelfred, as Galfride saith, +were brought vp in France, being sent thither vnto Salomon king of +Britaine, by king Cadwane, when they were verie yoong. Now after their +returne into this land, when they were made kings, Cadwallo of the +Britains, & Edwin of the Northumbers, there continued for the space +of two yéeres great friendship betwixt them, till at length Edwin +required of Cadwallo that he might weare a crowne, and celebrate +appointed solemnities within his dominion of Northumberland, as well +as Cadwallo did in his countrie. Cadwallo taking aduice in this +matter, at length by persuasion of his nephue Brian, denied to grant +vnto Edwin his request, wherewith Edwin tooke such displeasure, that +he sent woord vnto Cadwallo, that he would be crowned without his +leaue or licence, sith he would not willinglie grant it. Wherto +Cadwallo answered, that if he so did, he would cut off his head vnder +his diademe, if he presumed to weare anie within the confines of +Britaine. Hereof discord arising betwixt these two princes, they began +to make fierce and cruell warre either of them against the other, +[Sidenote: Cadwallo vanquished by Edwin. Cadwallo flieth the land.] +and at length ioining in batell with their maine forces, Cadwallo +lost the field, with many thousands of his men, and being chased fled +into Scotland, and from thence got ouer into Ireland, and finally +passed the seas into Britaine Armorike, where, of his coosin king +Salomon he was courteouslie receiued, and at length obteined of him +10000 men to go with him backe into his countrie, to assist him in +recouerie of his lands & dominions, the which in the meane time were +cruellie spoiled, wasted and haried by king Edwin. + +At the same time Brian the nephue of Cadwallo, whom he had sent into +Britaine as little before to slea a certeine wizard or southsaier, +whom king Edwin had gotten out of Spaine named Pelitus, that by +disclosing the purpose of Cadwallo vnto Edwin, greatlie hindered +Cadwallos enterprises, had fortified the citie of Excester, mening to +defend it till the comming of Cadwallo, wherevpon Penda king of Mercia +besieged that citie with a mightie army, purposing to take it, and +Brian within it. Cadwallo then aduertised hereof, immediatlie after +his arriuall hasted to Excester, and diuiding his people in 4 parts, +set vpon his enimies, tooke Penda, and ouerthrew his whole armie. +Penda hauing no other shift to escape, submitted himselfe wholie vnto +Cadwallo, promising to become his liegeman, to fight against the +Saxons in his quarrell. Penda being thus subdued, Cadwallo called his +nobles togither which had bene dispersed abroad a long season, & with +all spéed went against Edwin king of Northumberland, and slue him in +battell at Hatfield (as before is mentioned) with his son Osfride, and +Eodbold king of the Iles of Orknie, which was come thither to his aid. + +¶ By this it should appeare, that Fabian hath gathered amisse in the +account of the reignes of the British kings: for it appeareth by Beda +and others, that Edwin was slaine in the yéere of our Lord 634. +[Sidenote: 634.] +And where Fabian (as before is said) attributeth that act & diuers +other vnto Cadwan the father of this Cadwallo: yet both Gal. Mon. and +Beda with the most part of all other writers signifie that it was done +by Cadwallo. Harding assigneth but 13 yéeres to the reigne of Cadwan, +and declareth that he died in the yéere of our Lord 616, in the which +(as he saith) Cadwallo began his reigne, which opinion of his séemeth +best to agrée with that which is written by other authors. But to +returne to the other dooings of Cadwallo, as we find them recorded +in the British storie. After he had got this victorie against the +Northumbers, he cruellie pursued the Saxons, as though he ment so +farre as in him lay, to destroie the whole race of them out of the +coasts of all Britaine: and sending Penda against king Oswald that +succéeded Edwin, though at the first Penda receiued the ouerthrow at +Heauenfield, yet afterwards Cadwallo himselfe highly displeased with +that chance, pursued Oswald, and fought with him at a place called +[Sidenote: Oswald slaine.] +Bourne, where Penda slue the said Oswald. Wherevpon his brother +Osunus succéeding in gouernment of the Northumbers, sought the fauour +of Cadwallo now ruling as king ouer all Britaine, and at length by +great gifts of gold and siluer, and vpon his humble submission, +[Sidenote: Oswie. _Matth. West._ 654.] +obteined peace, till at length vpon spite, Penda king of Mercia +obteined licence of Cadwallo to make warres against the said Osunus, +in the which (as it hapned) Penda himselfe was slaine. Then Cadwallo +after two yéeres granted that Vlfridus the sonne of Penda should +succeed in Mercia. + +Thus Cadwallo ruled things at his appointment within this land. And +[Sidenote: 678.] +[Sidenote: _Matt. West._ saith 676.] +finallie when he had reigned 48 yéeres, he departed this life +the 22 of Nouember. His bodie being embalmed and dressed with swéet +confections, was put into a brasen image by maruelous art melted and +cast, which image being set on a brazen horsse of excellent beautie, +the Britains set vp aloft vpon the west gate of London called Ludgate, +in signe of his conquests, and for a terror to the Saxons. Moreouer +the church of S. Martin vnderneath the same gate, was by the Britains +then builded. Thus haue the Britains made mention of their valiant +prince Cadwallo, but diuerse thinke that much of this historie is +but fables, bicause of the manifest varieng both from Beda and other +autentike writers (as before I haue said.) + + * * * * * + + + + +_The true storie of the forenamed king Oswald, his desire to restore +christian religion, Cormans preaching taking small effect among the +Northumbers, persuadeth him to depart into his owne countrie, he +slandereth them before the Scotish clergie, Aidan a godlie man telleth +the cause of the peoples not profiting by Cormans preaching, Aidan +commeth into England to instruct the people in the faith, he varieth +in the obseruation of Easter from the English churches custome, the +Northumbers haue him & his doctrine in reuerence, Oswalds earnest +zeale to further religion by Aidans preaching and ministerie, 15000 +baptised within 7 daies; Oswald hath the Britains, Scots, Picts, +& English at his commandement, his commendable deed of christian +charitie, the Westsaxons conuerted to the faith by the preaching +of Birinus, king Kinigils is baptised, he maketh Birinus bishop of +Dorcester, Penda king of Mercia maketh war against the christian +kings of the Westsaxons, both sides after a bloudie battell fall +to agrement, Ercombert the first English king that destroied idols +throughout the whole land, he ordeineth Lent; why English men became +moonks, and English women nunnes in monasteries beyond the seas; why +Penda king of Mercia enuieth vertuous king Oswald, he is assaulted, +slaine in battell, and canonized a saint after his death._ + +THE XXIX. CHAPTER. + + +Now will we (after all these differing discourses of the British +chronologers) approch and draw as néere as we can to the truth of the +historie touching Oswald king of the Northumbers, of whom we find, +[Sidenote: Oswald meaneth to be thankefull to God for his benefits. +_Beda li. 3. cap. 3. 5. 6._ _Hector Boet._] +that after he had tasted of Gods high fauour extended to himwards, in +vanquishing his enimies, as one minding to be thankefull therefore, +he was desirous to restore the christian faith through his whole +kingdome, sore lamenting the decay thereof within the same, and +therefore euen in the beginning of his reigne, he sent vnto Donwald +the Scotish king (with whome he had béene brought vp in the time of +his banishment the space of 18 yéeres) requiring him to haue some +learned Scotishman sent vnto him, skilfull in preaching the word of +life, that with godly sermons and wholesome instructions, he might +conuert the people of Northumberland vnto the true and liuing God, +promising to interteine him with such prouision as apperteined. + +[Sidenote: Corman.] +At his instance, there was sent vnto him one Corman, a clerke +singularlie well learned, and of great grauitie in behauiour: but for +that he wanted such facilitie, and plaine vtterance by waie of gentle +persuading, as is requisite in him that shall instruct the simple, +onelie setting foorth in his sermons high mysteries, and matters of +such profound knowledge, as the verie learned might scarselie perceiue +the perfect sense and meaning of his talke, his trauell came to small +effect, so that after a yéeres remaining there, he returned into his +countrie, declaring amongst his brethren of the cleargie, that the +people of Northumberland was a froward, stubborne and stiffe-harted +generation, whose minds he could not frame by anie good meanes of +persuasion to receiue the christian faith: so that he iudged it lost +labour to spend more time amongst them, being so vnthankfull and +intractable a people, as no good might be doone vnto them. + +Amongst other learned and vertuous prelats of the Scots, there chanced +[Sidenote: Aidan.] +one to be there present at the same time called Aidan, a man of so +perfect life, that (as Beda writeth) he taught no otherwise than he +liued, hauing no regard to the cares of this world, but whatsoeuer +was giuen him by kings or men of wealth and riches, that he fréelie +bestowed vpon the poore, exhorting other to doo the like. This Aidan +hearing Cormans woords, perceiued anon that the fault was not so much +in the people as in the teacher, and therefore declared, that (as he +thought) although it were so that the people of Northumberland gaue +no such attentiue eare vnto the preaching of that reuerend prelate +Corman, as his godlie expectation was they should haue doone, yet +might it be that his vttering of ouer manie mysticall articles amongst +them, farre aboue the capacitie of the vnderstanding of simple men, +was the cause why they so lightlie regarded his diuine instructions, +[Sidenote: S. Paules counsell.] +whereas if he had (according to the counsell of Saint Paule) at +the first ministred vnto their tender vnderstandings, onelie milke, +without harder nourishments, he might happilie haue woone a farre +greater number of them vnto the receiuing of the faith, and so haue +framed them by little and little to haue digested stronger food. +And therefore he thought it necessarie in discharge of their duties +towards God, and to satisfie the earnest zeale of king Oswald, +that some one amongst them might be appointed to go againe into +Northumberland, to trie by procéeding in this maner afore alledged, +what profit would thereof insue. + +The bishops hearing the opinion of Aidan, and therewith knowing +Cormans maner of preaching, iudged the matter to be as Aidan had +declared, and therevpon not onelie allowed his woords, but also willed +him to take the iournie vpon him, sith they knew none so able with +[Sidenote: Aidan commeth into England to preach the gospell.] +effect to accomplish their wished desires in that behalfe. Aidan, +for that he would not seeme to refuse to take that in hand which he +himselfe had motioned, was contented to satisfie their request, and so +set forward towards Northumberland, and comming thither, was ioifullie +receiued of king Oswald, who appointed him the Ile of Lindesfarne, +wherein to place the see of his new bishoprike. + +[Sidenote: _Beda li. 3 ca. 3_. _Hector Boet._] +This Aidan in one point varied from the vse of the new begun church +of England, that is to say, touching the time of obseruing the feast +of Easter, in like maner as all the bishops of the Scots and Picts +inhabiting within Britaine in those daies did, following therein (as +they tooke it) the doctrine of the holie and praise-woorthie father +Anatholius. But the Scots that inhabited the south parts of Ireland, +alreadie were agréed to obserue that feast, according to the rules of +the church of Rome. Howbeit Aidan being thus come into Northumberland, +applied himselfe so earnestlie in praier and preaching, that the +people had him within short while in woonderfull estimation, chiefelie +for that he tempered his preachings with such swéet and pleasant +matter, that all men had a great desire to heare him, insomuch that +sometime he was glad to preach abroad in churchyards, bicause the +audience was more than could haue roome in the church. + +One thing was a great hinderance to him, that he had not the perfect +knowledge of the Saxon toong. But Oswald himselfe was a great helpe to +[Sidenote: _Beda_. Oswald an interpretor to the preacher.] +him in that matter, who being desirous of nothing so much, as to +haue the faith of Christ rooted in the harts of his subiects, vsed as +an interpreter to report vnto the people in their Saxon toong, such +whole sermons as Aidan vttered in his mother toong. For Oswald hauing +béene brought vp (as ye haue hard) in Scotland during the time of +his banishment, was as readie in the Scotish, as he was in the Saxon +toong. The people then seeing the kings earnest desire in furthering +the doctrine set foorth by Aidan, were the more inclined to heare it: +so that it was a maruellous matter to note, what numbers of people +dailie offred themselues to be baptised, insomuch that within the +[Sidenote: _Hector Boet._] +space of seuen daies (as is left in writing) he christened 15 thousand +persons, of the which no small part forsaking the world, betooke +themselues to a solitarie kind of life. + +Thus by his earnest trauell in continuall preaching and setting foorth +the gospell in that countrie, it came to passe in the end, that the +faith was generallie receiued of all the people, and such zeale to +aduance the glorie of the christian religion dailie increased amongst +[Sidenote: Oswalds zeale to aduance religion.] +them, that no where could be found greater. Heerevpon were no small +number of churches built in all places abroad in those parties by +procurement of the king, all men liberallie consenting (according to +the rate of their substance) to be contributorie towards the charges. +By this meanes the kingdome of the Northumbers flourished, as well +[Sidenote: _Beda lib. 5. ca. 6_.] +in fame of increase in religion, as also in ciuill policie and +prudent ordinances: insomuch that (as Beda writeth) Oswald +[Sidenote: Oswald had in estimation with his neighbours.] +atteined to such power, that all the nations and prouinces within +Britaine, which were diuided into foure toongs (that is to say) +Britains, Picts, Scots, and Englishmen, were at his commandement. But +yet he was not lifted vp in anie pride or presumption, but shewed +himselfe maruellous courteous and gentle, and verie liberall to poore +people and strangers. + +It is said, that he being set at the table vpon an Ester day, & hauing +bishop Aidan at diner then with him, his almoner came in as the bishop +was about to say grace, and declared to the king that there was a +great multitude of poore folks set before the gates to looke for the +kings almes. The king héerewith tooke a siluer dish, which was set +on the table before him with meate, & commanded the same meate +streightwaies to be distributed amongst the poore, & the dish broken +into small péeces, and diuided amongst them: for which act he was +highlie commended of the bishop, as he well deserued. By the good +policie and diligent trauell of this king, the prouinces of Deira and +Bernicia, which hitherto had béene at variance, were brought to peace +and made one. + +[Sidenote: _Beda lib. 3. ca. 7_. Birinus conuerteth the Westsaxons +to the christian faith.] +About the same time, the Westsaxons were conuerted to the christian +faith, by the preaching of one Birinus a bishop, who came into this +land at the exhortation of pope Honorius, to set foorth the gospell +vnto those people which as yet were not baptised. By whose diligent +[Sidenote: Kinigils king of Westsaxon becommeth a christian. _Polydor_.] +trauell in the Lords haruest, Kingils or Kinigils, one of the kings +of that countrie receiued the faith, and was baptised about the fiue +& twentith yéere of his reigne. K. Oswald that should haue had his +daughter in mariage, was present the same time, who first yer he +became a sonne in law, was made a godfather vnto Kinigils (that +should be his father in law) by receiuing him at the fontstone, in +that his second birth of regeneration. To this Birinus, who was an +Italian, king Kinigils (now that he was become a conuert or christian) +[Sidenote: Dorcester ordeined a bishops sée.] +appointed and assigned the citie of Dorcester, situat by the +Thames, distant from Oxford about seuen miles, to be the sée of his +bishoprike, where he procured churches to be built, and by his earnest +trauell & setting foorth the woord of life, conuerted much people to +the right beliefe. In the yéere following, Quichelmus the other king +of the Westsaxons, and sonne to Kinigils was also christened, and died +the same yéere, and so Cinigilsus or Kinigils reigned alone. + +[Sidenote: _Henr. Hunt._] +In this meane while Penda king of Mercia that succéeded next after +[Sidenote: This chancéd in the yéere 620, as _Matth. West._ saith.] +Ciarlus, being a man giuen to séeke trouble in one place or other, +leauied warre against the kings of Westsaxon, Kinigils and Quichelmus, +the which gathering their power, gaue him battell at Cirenchester, +where both the parties fought it out to the vttermost, as though +they had forsworne to giue place one to another, insomuch that they +continued in fight and making of cruell slaughter till the night +parted them in sunder. And in the morning, when they saw that if they +shuld buckle togither againe, the one part should vtterlie destroie +the other, they fell to agréement in moderating ech others demands. + +[Sidenote: 640. _Beda lib. 3. cap. 7_. _Matth. West._] +After this, in the yéere of our Lord 640, Eadbald king of Kent +departed this life, after he had reigned 24 yéeres, leauing his +kingdome to his sonne Ercombert. This Ercombert was the first of the +English kings, which tooke order for the vtter destroieng of all idols +[Sidenote: Lent first ordeined to be kept in England.] +throughout his whole kingdome. He also by his roiall authoritie +commanded the fast of fortie daies in the Lent season to be kept and +obserued, appointing woorthie and competent punishment against the +[Sidenote: Segburga. Aimoinus.] +transgressors of that commandement. He had by his wife Segburga, that +was daughter vnto Anna king of the Eastangles, a daughter named +Eartongatha, a professed nunne within the monasterie of Briege or +Cala in France: for in those daies, bicause there were not manie +monasteries builded within this land, a great number of Englishmen, +that tooke vpon them the profession of a religious life, got them ouer +vnto abbeies in France, and there professed themselues moonks: and +manie there were which sent their daughters ouer to be professed +nuns within the nunneries there, and speciallie at Briege, Cala, and +Andelie: amongst other, there were Sedrike the lawfull daughter, and +Edelburgh the bastard daughter of the said king Anna, both which in +processe of time were made abbesses of the said monasterie of Briege. + +Ye haue heard alreadie, how Oswald king of Northumberland bare +himselfe in all points like a most woorthie prince, not ceasing to +releeue the necessitie of the poore, aduancing the good, and +reforming the euill, whereby he wan to himselfe excéeding praise and +commendation of all good men, and still his fame increased for +his vertuous dooings; namelie, for the ardent zeale he had to the +aduancing of the christian faith. Herevpon Penda king of Mercia, +enuieng the prosperous procéedings of Oswald, as he that could neuer +abide the good report of other mens well-dooings, began to imagine how +[Sidenote: Penda inuadeth the Northumbers. _Beda. lib. 3. cap. 9_.] +to destroie him, and to conquere his kingdome, that he might ioine it +to his owne. At length he inuaded his countrie by open warre, met +with him in the field at a place called Maserfield, and there in +[Sidenote: King Oswald slaine. _Matt. Westm._ saith 644.] +sharpe and cruell fight Oswald was slaine on the fift day of +August, in the yeare of our Lord 642, and in the 38 yeare of his age, +after he had reigned the tearme of eight or nine yeares after +some, which account that yeare vnto his reigne, in the which his +predecessors Osrike and Eaufride reigned, whome they number not +amongest kings, because of their wicked apostasie and renouncing of +the faith which before they had professed. Such was the end of that +vertuous prince king Oswald, being cruellie slaine by that wicked +tyrant Penda. Afterwards, for the opinion conceiued of his holinesse, +the foresaid Oswald was canonized a saint, and had in great worship +[Sidenote: _Will. Malmes._] +of the people, being the first of the English nation that approoued +his vertue by miracles shewed after his departure out of this life. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Oswie succeedeth Oswald in the kingdome of Northumberland, he is sore +vexed by Penda, Oswie and Oswin are partners in gouernement, they fall +at strife, Oswin is betræied into the hands of Oswie and slaine, a +commendation of his personage and goodlie qualities, bishop Aidan +dieth; Cenwalch king of the Westsaxons, Penda maketh warre against him +for putting away his wife, his flight, he becommeth a christian and +recouereth his kingdome, Bishop Agilbert commeth into Westsaxon, and +afterwards departing (upon occasion) is made bishop of Paris, Wini +buieth the bishoprike of London; Sigibert king of the Eastangles, the +vniuersitie of Cambridge founded by him, he resigneth his kingdome and +becometh a moonke, he and his kinsman Egric are slaine in a skirmish +against Penda king of Mercia._ + +THE XXX. CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: OSWIE King of Northumberland. _Beda li. 3. ca. 14_.] +After that king Oswald was slaine, his brother Oswie (being +about 30 yeares of age) tooke vpon him the rule of the kingdome of +Northumberland, gouerning the same with great trouble for the space of +28 yeares, being sore vexed by the foresaid Penda king of Mercia +and his people, which as yet were pagans. In the first yeare of his +[Sidenote: 644.] +reigne, which was in the yeare of our Lord 644. Pauline the bishop +of Rochester which had beene also archbishop of Yorke departed this +life, and then one Thamar an Englishman of the parties of Kent +was ordeined bishop of Rochester by Honorius the archbishop of +Canturburie. King Oswie had one Oswin partener with him in gouernment +of the Northumbers in the first beginning of his reigne, which +[Sidenote: Bernicia.] +was sonne to Osrike, so that Oswie gouerned in Bernicia, and Oswin in +Deira, continuing in perfect friendship for a season, till at length, +through the counsell of wicked persons, that coueted nothing so much +as to sowe discord and variance betwixt princes, they fell at debate, +and so began to make warres one against an other, so that finallie +when they were at point to haue tried their quarrell in open battell, +Oswin perceiuing that he had not an armie of sufficient force to +incounter with Oswie, brake vp his campe at Wilfaresdowne, ten mile by +west the towne of Cataracton, and after withdrew himselfe onelie with +one seruant named Condhere vnto the house of earle Hunwald, whome +he tooke to haue béene his trustie friend: but contrarie to his +expectation, the said Hunwald did betraie him vnto Oswie, who by his +captaine Edelwine slue the said Oswin and his seruant the forsaid +Condhere, in a place called Ingethling, the 13 kalends of September, +[Sidenote: 651.] +in the ninth yeare of his reigne, which was after the birth of our +Sauiour 651. + +This Oswin was a goodlie gentleman of person, tall, and beautifull, +and verie gentle of spéech, ciuill in manners, and verie liberall both +to high & low, so that he was beloued of all. Such a one he was, to +be breefe, as bishop Aidan gessed that he should not long continue +in life, for that the Northumbers were not woorthie of so good and +vertuous a gouernour. Such humblenesse and obedience he perceiued to +rest in him towards the law of the Lord, in taking that which was told +him for his better instruction in good part, that he said, he neuer +saw before that time an humble king. The same Aidan liued not past +12 daies after the death of the said Oswin, whome he so much loued, +departing this world the last daie of August, in the seuenteenth yeare +after he was ordeined bishop. His bodie was buried in the Ile of +Lindesferne. After Aidan, one Finan was made bishop in his place, a +Scotishman also, and of the Ile of Hui, from whence his predecessor +the foresaid Aidan came, being first a man of religion professed in +the monasterie there (as some writers doo report.) + +[Sidenote: CENWALCH. _Henr. Hunt._ 643.] +In the meane time, after that Kinigils or Cinigilsus king of the +Westsaxons had reigned 31 yeares, he departed this life Anno 643, +leauing his kingdome to his sonne Cenwalch or Chenwald, who held the +same kingdome the tearme of 30 yeares, or 31 (as some write) in +[Sidenote: _Ran. Higd._] +manner as his father had doone before him. In the third, or (as others +saie) in the fift yeare of his reigne, Penda king of Mercia made +sharpe warre against him, because he had put awaie his wife the sister +of the said Penda, and in this warre Chenwald was ouercome in battell, +& driuen out of his countrie, so that he fled vnto Anna king of the +Eastangles, with whome he remained the space of a yeare, or (as other +say) thrée yeares, to his great good hap: for before he was growen +to be an enimie to the christian religion, but now by the wholesome +admonitions and sharpe rebukes of king Anna, he became a christian, +and receiued his wife againe into his companie, according to the +prescript of Gods law, and (to be bréefe) in all things shewed +himselfe a new man, imbracing vertue, & auoiding vice, so that +shortlie after (through the helpe of God) he recouered againe his +kingdome. + +[Sidenote: Agilbertus a bishop.] +Now when he was established in the same, there came a bishop named +Agilbertus out of Ireland, a Frenchman borne (but hauing remained in +Ireland a long time) to reade the scriptures. This Agilbert comming +into the prouince of the Westsaxons, was gladlie receiued of king +Chenwald, at whose desire he tooke vpon him to exercise the roome of +a bishop there: but afterwards, when the said king admitted another +bishop named Wini, which had béene ordeined in France, and knew the +toong better than Agilbert, as he that was borne in England: Agilbert +offended, for that the king had admitted him without making him of +anie counsell therein, returned into France, and there was made bishop +of Paris: within a few yeares after, the foresaid Wini was expelled +also by king Chenwald, who got him into Mercia vnto king Vulfhere, of +whome he bought the bishoprike of London, which he held during his +life, and so the countrie of Westsaxon remained long without a bishop, +till at length the said Agilbert at the request of king Chenwald sent +to him Elutherius that was his nephue. + +[Sidenote: SIGIBERT.] +Ye haue heard that after Carpwald, his brother Sigibert succéeded +in rule of the Eastangles, a man of great vertue and woorthinesse, who +whilest he remained in France as a banished man, being constrained to +flée his countrie vpon displeasure that king Redwald bare him, was +baptised there, and after returning into his countrie, and obteining +[Sidenote: _Beda lib. 3. cap. 4_] +at length the kingdome, those things which he had séene well ordered +in France, he studied to follow the example of the same at home, and +herevpon considering with himselfe that nothing could more aduance the +state of the common-wealth of his countrie than learning & knowledge +in the toongs, began the foundation of certeine schooles, and namelie +[Sidenote: The vniuersitié of Cambridge founded by king Sigibert.] +at Cambridge, where children might haue places where to be instructed +and brought vp in learning vnder appointed teachers, that there might +be greater numbers of learned men trained vp than before time had +béene within this land, to the furtherance of true religion and vertue. + +So that England hath good cause to haue in thankfull remembrance this +noble prince king Sigibert, for all those hir learned men which haue +bin brought vp & come foorth of that famous vniuersitie of Cambridge, +the first foundation or rather renouation whereof was thus begun +[Sidenote: _Bate_ saith 636.] +by him about the yeare of our Lord 630. At length when this worthie +king began to grow in age, he considered with himselfe how hard a +matter, and how painefull an office it was to gouerne a realme as +apperteined to the dutie of a good king, wherevpon he determined to +leaue the charge thereof to other of more conuenient yéeres, and to +[Sidenote: Sigibert resigneth his kingdome to Egricus.] +liue from thencefoorth a priuat kind of life, and so resigning the +administration vnto his kinsman Egricus, he became a moonke, and led +the rest of his life in a certeine abbeie. + +Shortlie after it so came to passe that Penda king of Mercia (that +cruell ethnike tyrant) made sore warres vpon Egricus, whervpon +the people of Eastangles compelled Sigibert to come foorth of his +monasterie, & to go with them into the field against Penda. Sigibert +being thus constreined against his will, would not put on armour or +beare anie other kind of weapon, than onelie a wand in his hand in +steed of a scepter, and so the armie of the Eastangles in hope of +good spéed by the presence of Sigibert, ioined in battell with their +enimies, but the Eastangles were finallie vanquished, and the more +[Sidenote: Sigibert and Egricus slaine. 652.] +part of them slaine, togither with Sigibert and his coosen Egricus +their king. This happened in the yere after the birth of our Sauiour +(as some haue noted) 652. + +[Sidenote: _Baleus_. _Beda lib. 3 cap_. 19. Fuersus.] +In the daies whilest Sigibert as yet ruled the Eastangles, there +came out of Ireland a deuout person named Furseus, who comming into +the countrie of the Eastangles, was gladlie receiued of king Sigibert, +by whose helpe afterwards he builded the abbeie of Cumbreburge, in the +which Sigibert (as some haue written) when he renounced his kingdome, +was professed a moonke. Of this Furseus manie things are written, the +which for briefenesse we ouerpasse. After that Felix the bishop of the +Eastangles was dead, one Thomas was ordeined in his place, who after +he had béene bishop fiue yéeres, died, and then one Beretgils was +ordeined in his roome by Honorius the archbishop of Canturburie. The +said Honorius himselfe when he had run the race of his naturall life, +deceassed also the last of September in the yéere of our Lord 653. +[Sidenote: 653.] + + * * * * * + + + + +_Anna king of Eastangles is slaine by Penda king of Mercia, his +brother succeeding him is slaine also by Oswie king of Northumberland, +the Mercians or Middleangles receiue the faith vnder vertuous Peda +their prince, he requesteth Alchfled the king of Northumberlands +daughter in mariage, he is baptised by bishop Finnan, by whose meanes +the Eastsaxons imbraced christian religion vnder Sigibert their king, +he is murthered of two brethren that were his kinsmen vpon a conceiued +hatred against him for his good and christian life, how dangerous it +is to keepe companie with an excommunicate person, the authoritie of a +bishop._ + +THE XXXJ. CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: Anna. _Will Malmes._] +After Egricus succeeded Anna the sonne of Enus in the kingdome of +Eastangle, and is likewise slaine by Penda king of Mercia, with the +most part of his armie, as he gaue battell vnto the said Penda that +inuaded his countrie. He left behind him manie children, but his +[Sidenote: Edelhere K. of Eastangle.] +brother Edelhere succéeded him in gouernment of the kingdome, who was +slaine by Oswie the king of Northumberland, togither with the foresaid +Penda, and woorthilie, sith he would aid that tyrant which had slaine +his kinsman and his brother that were predecessors with him in his +kingdome. After this, when the sée of Canturburie had béene vacant by +[Sidenote: Deus dedit.] +the space of one whole yéere and six moneths, one Deus dedit of +the countrie of the Westsaxons, was elected and consecrated by Ithamar +the bishop of Rochester, on the 7 kalends of Aprill. He gouerned the +church of Canturburie by the tearme of nine yéeres, foure moneths, +and two daies. When he was departed this life, the foresaid Ithamar +consecrated for him one Damianus of the countrie of Sussex. + +[Sidenote: _Beda hist. eccle. lib. 3. cap._ 21. 653.] +About this time, the people of Mercia commonlie called Middleangles, +[Sidenote: Peda or Peada king of Middleangles.] +receiued the christian faith vnder their king named Peda or Peada, +the sonne of Penda king of Mercia, who being a towardlie yoong +gentleman, and woorthie to haue the guiding of a kingdome, his father +Penda aduanced him to the rule of that kingdome of the Middleangles +during his owne life. [¶ Héere maie you note, that the kingdome of the +Middleangles was one, and the kingdome of Mercia another, though most +commonlie the same were gouerned by one king.] This yoong Peda came to +Oswie king of Northumberland, requiring of him to haue his daughter +Alchfled in mariage: but when he was informed that he might not haue +hir except he would become a christian, then vpon hearing the gospell +preached, with the promise of the celestiall ioies and immortalitie, +by the resurrection of the flesh in the life to come, he said that +whether he had king Oswies daughter to wife or not, he would suerlie +be baptised, and chieflie he was persuaded therevnto by his kinsman +Alchfrid, who had in mariage his sister the daughter of Penda name +Cimburgh. + +[Sidenote: Ad murum.] +Wherefore he was baptised by bishop Finnan, with all those which +came thither with him at a place called At the wall, and taking with +him foure priests which were thought méete to teach and baptise his +people, he returned with great ioy into his owne countrie. The names +of those priests were as followeth, Cedda, Adda, Betti, and Diuna, +of the which, the last was a Scot by nation, and the other were +Englishmen. These priests comming into the prouince of the +Middleangles, preached the woord, and were well heard, so that dailie +a great number of the nobilitie & communaltie renouncing the filthie +dregs of idolatrie, were christned. Neither did king Penda forbid the +preaching of the gospell within his prouince of Mercia, but rather +hated and despised those whome he knew to haue professed themselues +[Sidenote: The saieng of king Penda.] +christians, and yet shewed not the woorks of faith, saieng, that +"Those were wretches and not to be regarded, which would not obeie +their God in whome they beléeued." This alteration of things began, +about two yéeres before the death of king Penda. + +[Sidenote: _Beda lib. 3. cap._ 22.] +About the same time, the Eastsaxons at the instance of Oswie +king of Northumberland, receiued eftsoones the faith which they had +renounced, when they banished their bishop Melitus. + +Melitus. Ye haue heard that Serred, Siward, and Sigibert brethren, and +the sonnes of king Sabert (which brethren occasioned the reuolting of +that prouince from the faith of Christ) were slaine in battell by the +kings of Westsaxon, after whome succéeded Sigibert surnamed the little +sonne to the middlemost brother Siward, as some write. This Sigibert +the litle left the kingdome to an other Sigibert that was sonne to one +Sigebald the brother of king Sabert, which second Sigibert reigned as +king in that prouince of the Eastsaxons, being a most especiall friend +of king Oswie, so that oftentimes he repaired into Northumberland to +visit him, whervpon king Oswie ceassed not most earnestlie at times +conuenient to exhort him to receiue the faith of Iesus Christ, and in +the end by such effectuall persuasions as he vsed, Sigibert gaue +[Sidenote: King Sigibert receiued the faith.] +credit to his woords, and so being conuerted, receiued the sacrament +of baptisme by the hands of bishop Finnan, at the kings house called, +At the wall, so named, bicause it was built néere to the wall which +the Romans had made ouerthwart the Ile, as is often before remembred, +being twelue miles distant from the east sea. + +[Sidenote: This was about the yéere 649, as _Matth. West._ hath noted.] +King Sigibert hauing now receiued the Christian faith, when he +should returne into his countrie, required king Oswie to appoint him +certeine instructors and teachers which might conuert his people to +the faith of Christ. King Oswie desirous to satisfie his request, sent +[Sidenote: Cedda.] +vnto the prouince of the Middleangles, calling from thence that +vertuous man Cedda, and assigning vnto him another priest to be his +associat, sent them vnto the prouince of the Eastsaxons, there to +preach the christian faith vnto the people. And when they had preached +& taught through the whole countrie, to the great increase and +inlarging of the church of Christ, it chanced on a time that Cedda +returned home into Northumberland to conferre of certeine things with +bishop Finnan which kept his sée at Lindesferne, where vnderstanding +[Sidenote: Ced or Cedda bishop of the Eastsaxons.] +by Cedda the great fruits which it had pleased God to prosper +vnder his hands, in aduancing the faith among the Eastsaxons, he +called to him two other bishops, and there ordeined the foresaid Cedda +bishop of the Eastsaxons. + +Héerevpon, the same Cedda returned vnto his cure, went forward with +more authoritie to performe the woorke of the Lord, & building +churches in diuerse places, ordeined priests and deacons which might +helpe him in preaching, and in the ministerie of baptising, speciallie +[Sidenote: Tilberie.] +in the citie of Ithancester vpon the riuer of Pent, and likewise +in Tileburge on the riuer of Thames. Whilest Ced was thus busie to the +great comfort and ioy of the king and all his people, in the setting +forward of the christian religion with great increase dailie +procéeding, it chanced thorough the instigation of the deuill, the +common enimie of mankind, that king Sigibert was murthered by two of +his owne kinsmen who were brethren, the which when they were examined +of the cause that should mooue them to that wicked fact, they had +nothing to alledge, but that they did it bicause they had conceiued an +hatred against the king, for that he was too fauourable towards his +enimies, and would with great mildnesse of mind forgiue iniuries +committed against him: such was the kings fault for the which he was +murthered, bicause he obserued the commandements of the gospell with a +deuout hart. + +Notwithstanding, in this his innocent death, his offense was punished, +wherein he had suerlie transgressed the lawes of the church. For +whereas one of them which slue him kept a wife, whome he had +vnlawfullie maried, and refused to put hir away at the bishops +admonition, he was by the bishop excommunicated, and all other of the +christian congregation commanded to absteine from his companie. This +notwithstanding, the king being desired of him came to his house to a +banket, and in his comming from thence met with the bishop, whome when +the king beheld, he waxed afraid, and alighted from his horsse, and +fell downe at his féet, beséeching him of pardon for his offense. The +bishop, which also was on horssebacke likewise alighted, and touching +the king with his rod which he had in his hand, as one something +[Sidenote: The authoritie of a bishop.] +displeased, and protesting as in the authoritie of a bishop, spake +these words; "Bicause (saith he) thou wouldst not absteine from +entring the house of that wicked person being accurssed, thou shalt +die in the same house:" and so it came to passe. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Suidhelme king of the Eastsaxons, he is baptised, the bishoplike +exercises of Ced in his natiue countrie of Northumberland; Ediswald K. +of Deira reuerenceth him, the kings deuout mind to further and inlarge +religion; the maner of consecrating a place appointed for a holie vse; +the old order of fasting in Lent, bishop Ced dieth; warre betweene +Oswie and Penda, Oswie maketh a vow to dedicate his daughter a +perpetuall virgine to God if he got the victorie, he obteineth his +request and performeth his vow, she liueth, dieth, and is buried in a +monasterie, the benefit insuing Oswies conquest ouer his enimies, the +first second and third bishops of Mercia, the victorious proceeding of +king Oswie; prince Peado his kinsman murthered of his wife._ + +THE XXXIJ. CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: SUIDHELME. _Beda lib. 3. cap. 22_. _Matt. West_] +After Sigbert succeeded Suidhelme in the kingdome of the +Eastsaxons, he was the son of Sexbald, and baptised of Ced in the +prouince of the Eastangles, at a place of the kings there called +Rendlessham. Ediswald king of the Eastangles (the brother of king +Anna) was his godfather at the fontstone. Ced the bishop of the +[Sidenote: _Beda_ lib.3. cap.23.] +Eastsaxons vsed oftentimes to visit his countrie of Northumberland +where he was borne, and by preaching exhorted the people to godlie +life. Whervpon it chanced that king Ediswald the son of king Oswald +which reigned in the parties of Deira, mooued with the fame of his +vertuous trade of liuing, had him in great reuerence: and therefore +vpon a good zeale and great deuotion, willed him to choose foorth some +plot of ground where he might build a monasterie, in the which the +king himselfe and others might praie, heare sermons the oftener, and +haue place where to burie the dead. The bishop consenting to the kings +mind, at length espied a place amongst high and desert mounteins, +where he began the foundation of a monasterie, afterwards called +Lestinghem. + +Wherefore meaning first of all to purge the place with praier & +fasting, he asked leaue of the king that he might remaine there all +the Lent, which was at hand, and so continuing in that place for +[Sidenote: The maner of the old fast.] +that time, fasted euerie daie (sundaie excepted) from the morning +vntill euening, according to the maner, nor receiued anie thing then +but onlie a little bread, and a hens eg, with a little milke mixt with +water: for he said that this was the custome of them of whome he had +learned the forme of his regular order, that they should consecrate +those places vnto the Lord with praier and fasting, which they latelie +had receiued to make in the same either church or monasterie. + +And when there remained ten daies of Lent yet to come, he was sent for +to the king: wherefore he appointed a brother which he had, being also +a priest named Cimbill, to supplie his roome, that his begun religious +woorke should not be hindered for the kings businesse. Now when the +time was accomplished, he ordeined a monasterie there, appointing the +[Sidenote: Lindisferne holie Iland.] +moonks of the same to liue after the rules of them of Lindesferne +where he was brought vp. Finallie this bishop Ced comming vnto this +monasterie afterwards by chance in time of a sicknesse, died there, +and left that monasterie to the gouernance of another brother which +he had named Ceadda, that was after a bishop, as afterwards shall +be shewed. There were foure brethren of them, and all priests, Ced, +Cimbill, Ceulin, and Ceadda, of the which Ced and Ceadda were bishops, +as before is said. + +[Sidenote: _Beda. lib. 3. cap. 24_.] +About the same time, Oswie king of Northumberland was sore +oppressed by the warres of Penda king of Mercia, so that he made great +offers of high gifts, and great rewards vnto the said Penda for +peace, but Penda refused the same, as he that meant vtterlie to haue +[Sidenote: War betwéene king Oswie & king Penda.] +destroied the whole nation of Oswies people, so that Oswie turning +himselfe to seeke helpe at the hands of the almightie, said: If the +pagan refuse to receiue the gifts which we offer, let us make offer +vnto him that knoweth how to accept them: and so binding himselfe by +vow, promised that if he might obtein victorie, he would offer his +daughter to be dedicate to the Lord in perpetuall virginitie: and +further would giue twelue manors, lordships or farmes to the building +of monasteries: and so with a small armie he put himselfe in hazard of +battell. + +It is said that Penda had thirtie companies of men of warre, furnished +with thirtie noble capteins or coronels, against whome came Oswie with +his sonne Alchfrid, hauing but a small armie, but confirmed yet with +hope in Christ Iesus. His other son Ecgfrid remained in hostage at +that time with quéene Cinnise. Edilwald the sonne of Oswald that +gouerned Deira, & ought to haue aided Oswie, was on the part of Penda +against his countrie, and against his vncle, but in time of the fight +he withdrew himselfe aside, to behold what chance would follow. The +[Sidenote: The victorie of the Northumbers.] +battell being begun, the thirtie pagan capteins were ouerthrowne +and put to flight, and those that came to aid Penda were almost all +slaine, among whome was Edilhere king of the Eastangles, that reigned +after his brother Anna, and was the procurer of this warre. This +battell was fought néere to the water of Inwet, the which being risen +as then by reason of great raine, drowned more of the enimies than +died of the Northumbers swoords. + +After that Oswie had obteined this victorie, he performed promise in +bestowing his daughter to the profession of virginitie, and also gaue +the twelue manors, whereof six were in Deira, and six in Bernicia, +[Sidenote: Elfled.] +containing euerie of them ten housholds a péece. Elfled also king +[Sidenote: Herteshey saith _Matt. West._ Hilda.] +Oswies daughter was professed in the monasterie of Herthew, where one +Hilda was abbesse, which Hilda purchasing a lordship of ten housholds +in Streanshall, now called Whitbie, builded a monasterie there, in the +which first the said Elfled was a nouice, and after a ruler, till at +length being of the age of fortie yéeres she departed this life, and +was buried there, and so likewise was hir mother Eufled, and hir +grandfather Edwin, with manie other high estates within the church of +saint Peter the apostle. The victorie aboue mentioned got by king +[Sidenote: Loides.] +Oswie in the countrie of Loides on the 17 kalends of December, & in +the thirtenth yéere of his reigne, happened to the great commoditie +and gaine of both the people, for by the same he deliuered his +countrie of Northumberland from the cruell destruction made in the +same by the pagan people of Mercia, and conuerted those pagans +themselues, and the countries néere adioining to them wholie vnto the +faith of Iesus Christ. + +[Sidenote: The first bishop of Mercia.] +The first bishop in the prouince of Mercia, and also of Lindesferne +and the Middleangles was one Diuma, who died amongst the Middleangles. +The second was Cellach, the which leauing his bishoprike returned into +Scotland, for they were both of the nation of the Scots. The third was +an Englishman named Trumhere, but instructed and ordeined of the Scots. +He was abbat of the monasterie of Ingethlingum, being builded in that +place where king Oswin was slaine (as before is mentioned.) For quéene +Eufled that was his kinswoman got of hir husband king Oswie a place +there for the foresaid Trumhere to build that abbeie vpon. + +[Sidenote: The victorious procéeding of king Oswie.] +King Oswie hauing slaine king Penda, gouerned the people of +Mercia, and also other of the south prouinces, & subdued a great part +of the Pictish nation to the English dominion. About the same time +king Oswie gaue vnto Peada the son of king Penda (bicause he was his +[Sidenote: Southmercia.] +kinsman) the countrie of the Southmercies, conteining 5000 housholds, +[Sidenote: Northmercia. 659.] +and separated from the Northmercies by the riuer Trent. The countrie +of the Northmercies conteined in those daies 7000 housholds. But +Peada in the next spring was wickedlie murthered through the treason +of his wicked wife (as was said) in the feast of Easter. +[Sidenote: _Matt. West._] + + * * * * * + + + + +_The dukes of Mercia rebell against Oswie, recouer their owne bounds, +and create Wulfhere their king; Cenwald king of the Westsaxons +fighteth with the Britaines and preuaileth, he is vanquished by +Wulfhere; Adelwold king of Sussex hath the Ile of Wight giuen him, and +why; succession of Edelher, Edelwald, and Aldulfe in the kingdome +of Eastangles; Colman a Scot first made bishop of Northumberland, +controuersie about the obseruation of Easter, about bald crownes or +shauing the haire, superstition punished by God, Ceadda bishop of +Yorke, his course of life and diligence in his office commended; +Egbert king of Kent, the see of Canturburie void, the preferment +thereto refused, Theodore a moonke supplieth the roome at the popes +appointment, all the English clergie obey him as their head, his +visitation and reformation, singing vsed in churches, Theodore and +Adrian woorthilie praised, English men happie, glasiers first brought +into this Iland._ + +THE XXXIIJ. CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: _Beda. lib. 3. cap. 24_.] +After three yeeres were complet, next ensuing the death of king +Penda, the dukes of the countrie of Mercia, Immin, Eaba, and Eadbert +rebelled against king Oswie, aduancing one Wulfhere a yoong gentleman +the sonne of Peda, and brother to Peada, whom they had kept in secret +to be their king, and expelling the lieutenants of king Oswie, they +recouered both their owne confines and libertie withall, and so liuing +in fréedome with their owne naturall king the foresaid Vulfhere, they +also continued with glad hearts in seruice of the celestiall king our +God and Sauior. + +[Sidenote: VULFHERE. _Beda. lib. 3. cap. 24_.] +This Vulfhere gouerned the Mercies seuentéene yeares, the which +Mercies (during the reigne of the said Vulfhere) had foure bishops +successiuelie gouerning the church of that prouince one after another, +as the aboue mentioned Trumhere, Iaroman, Ceadda, and Winfrid, as +hereafter shall more at large appeare. + +[Sidenote: _Henr. Hunt._ _Matt. West._] +About the beginning of king Vulfheres reigne, that is to say, in the +seuentéenth yeare of the reigne of Chenwald king of the Westsaxons, +the same Chenwald fought with the Britains at Pennum, where the +Britains being assembled in great number, proudlie incountred with the +Englishmen, and at the first put them to the woorst, but when the +Englishmen would in no wise giue ouer, but did sticke to their tackle, +at length the Britains were put to flight, so that the posteritie of +[Sidenote: The Britains put to flight by Chenwald.] +Brute receiued that day an incurable wound. But within thrée yeares +after, that is, in the ninetéenth yeare of the reigne of the said +Chenwald, he had not the like lucke in battell against the foresaid +[Sidenote: Chenwald vanquished by Vulfhere.] +Vulfhere king of Mercia, as he had before against the Britains, for +the said Vulfhere vanquishing him in the field, passed through this +[Sidenote: Adelwold of Sussex.] +countrie with a great armie vnto the Ile of Wight, which he conquered, +and deliuered it vnto Adelwold king of Sussex, as a gift at that time, +when he receiued him at the fontstone after he had conuerted him to +the faith. He gaue vnto Adelwold that Ile, to the end he should cause +the people there to receiue the faith and religion of Christ. Now +after that Edelhere king of Eastangles was slaine, as before is +mentioned, his brother Edelwald succéeded him in that kingdome, +reigning as king thereof by the space of nine yeares. Then after +Edelwald succéeded Aldulfe the son of Edelhere in gouernment of that +kingdome, and reigned 25 yeares. + +[Sidenote: _Beda. lib. 3. cap. 24_.] +After Finan bishop of the Northumbers that held his see at +[Sidenote: Colman ordeined bishop.] +Lindesferne, as Aidan did before him, one Colman was ordeined +bishop, a Scot borne, and an earnest obseruer of the customes vsed +amongest them of his nation, so that when the controuersie began to +[Sidenote: _Beda. lib. 3. cap. 25_.] +be reuiued for the holding of the feast of Easter, he would by no +meanes yéeld to them that would haue perswaded him to haue followed +the rite of the Romane church. There was a great disputation kept +about this matter, and other things, as shauing or cutting of heares, +and such like in the monasterie of Whitbie, at the which king Oswie +and his sonne Alcfrid were present, where Colman for his part alledged +the custome of Iohn the euangelist, and of Anatholius; and the +contrarie side brought in proofe of their opinion, the custome of +Peter and Paule. At length, when bishop Colman perceiued that his +[Sidenote: Controuersie about shauing of crownes. _Cap. 6_.] +doctrine was not so much regarded, as he thought of reason it +ought to haue béene, he returned into Scotland with those, which +taking part with him, refused to obserue the feast of Easter according +to the custome of the church of Rome, nor would haue their crownes +[Sidenote: 664.] +shauen, about which point no small reasoning had béene kept. This +disputation was holden in the yeare of our Lord 664, and in the yeare +of the reigne of king Oswie 22, and 30 yeare after the Scotishmen +began first to beare the office of bishops within Northumberland, +which was (as W. Harison saith) 624. For Aidan gouerned 17 yeares, +Finan 10 yeares, & Colman 3 yeares. After that Colman was returned +[Sidenote: Tuda ordeined bishop.] +into his countrie, one Tuda that had béene brought vp amongest the +Southerne Scots, and ordeined bishop by them, succéeded in his roome, +hauing his crowne shauen, and obseruing the feast of Easter according +to the custome of the prouince and rite of the Romane church. +[Sidenote: _Cap. 27_.] +¶ The same yeare, there chanced a great eclipse of the sunne, the third +[Sidenote: An eclipse. Punishment of God for yelding to superstition.] +of Maie about 10 of the clocke in the day. A great dearth and +mortalitie insued, both in all the parties of this our Britaine, and +likewise in Ireland. Amongest other, the foresaid bishop Tuda died, +and was buried in the abbeie of Pegnalech. After this Tuda, succéeded +[Sidenote: Wilfrid bishop.] +in gouernement of the church of Lindesferne, otherwise called Holie +Iland, one Wilfrid, which was sent by king Alcfrid into France, to be +ordeined there. + +About the same time king Oswie, the father of king Alcfrid, mooued +[Sidenote: _Cap. 28_.] +with the good example of his sonne, sent Ceadda, the brother of +Ced sometime bishop of the Eastsaxons into Kent, to be ordeined bishop +of Yorke, but at his comming into Kent he found that Deus dedit the +archbishop of Canturburie was dead, and none other as yet ordeined +[Sidenote: Ceadda ordeined archbishop of Yorke.] +in his place, so that Ceadda repaired into the prouince of the +Westsaxons, where he was ordeined by bishop Wini, who tooke two other +bishops of the British nation vnto him to be his associats, which vsed +to obserue the feast of Easter contrarie to the custome of the Romane +church. But there was no other shift, sith none other bishop was then +canonicallie ordeined in the prouince of the Westsaxons in those +daies, this Wini onlie excepted, and therefore was he constreined to +take such as he might get and prouide. + +After that Ceadda was thus ordeined, he began forthwith to follow the +true rules of the church, liued right chastlie, shewed himselfe humble +and continent, applied his studie to reading, and trauelled abroad +on foot and not on horssebacke through the countries, townes, and +villages, to preach the word of God. He was the disciple of Aidan, and +coueted by his example, and also by the example of Ced, to instruct +his hearers with the like dooings & maners as he had knowen them to +doo. Wilfrid also being consecrated bishop, and returned into England, +indeuored to plant the orders of the Romane church in the churches +of England, whereby it came to passe, that the Scots which inhabited +amongst the Englishmen, were constreined either to follow the same, or +else to returne into their owne countrie. + +[Sidenote: EGBERT king of Kent.] +In this meane time, king Ercombert being departed this life, after +he had gouerned the Kentishmen by the space of twentie yeares, his +sonne Egbert succéeded him in the kingdome, and reigned nine yeares. +There is little remembrance of his dooings, which in that short time +were not much notable, except ye will ascribe the comming into this +land of the archbishop Theodorus, and the abbat Adrian vnto his +glorie, which chanced in his time. For in the yeare of the great +eclipse and sore mortalitie that insued, it chanced that both king +Ercombert, & the archbishop Deus dedit departed this life, so that the +[Sidenote: _Beda. lib. 3. cap. 9_.] +see of Canturburie was void a certeine time, in so much that king +Egbert, who succéeded his father Ercombert, togither with king +[Sidenote: Wighart.] +Oswie, did send one Wighart a priest of good reputation for his +excellent knowledge in the scriptures, vnto Rome, with great gifts +and rich vessels of gold and siluer, to be presented vnto the pope, +requiring him that he would ordeine the foresaid Wighart archbishop +of Canturburie, to haue rule of the English church. But this Wighart +comming vnto Rome, and declaring his message vnto Vitalianus then +gouerning the church of Rome, immediatlie after he died of the +pestilence (that then reigned in that citie) with all those that came +with him. + +[Sidenote: _Beda. lib. 4 cap. 1_. Adrian.] +The pope then taking aduice whome he might ordeine vnto the sée of +Canturburie, being thus destitute of an archbishop, appointed a moonke +named Adrian to take that office vpon him, but Adrian excused himselfe +as not sufficient for such a roome, and required the pope to appoint +one Andrew a moonke also, wherevnto the pope consented. But when +Andrew was preuented by death, eftsoones Adrian should haue béene made +archbishop, but that he named one Theodore an other moonke that abode +as then in Rome, but was borne in the citie of Tharsus in Cilicia, +verie well learned both in the Gréeke and Latine, and being of +reuerend yeares, as of 76. This Theodore by the presentment of +Adrian, was appointed to be ordeined archbishop of Canturburie, with +condition, that Adrian should neuerthelesse attend vpon him into +England, both for that he had béene twise before this time in France, +and so knew the coasts; and againe, for that he might assist him in +all things, and looke well to the matter, that Theodore should not +bring into the church of England anie rite or custome of the Gréekes, +contrarie to the vse of the Romane church. Theodore being first +ordeined subdeacon, tarried foure moneths till his heare was growen, +that he might haue his crowne shauen after the maner of Peter. For he +was rounded or shauen after the maner of the East church, which was as +they persuaded themselues, according to the vse of saint Paule the +[Sidenote: Theodore ordeined archbishop of Canturburie. 668.] +apostle. And so at length was this Theodore ordeined archbishop of +Canturburie by pope Vitalianus in the yeare of our Lord 668, the sixt +kalends of June, and with Adrian sent into Britaine. + +These with their retinue came to France, and being come thither, +shortlie after king Egbert had knowledge thereof: wherevpon with all +conuenient spéed he sent ouer one of his nobles named Redfrid to bring +the archbishop into England, and so he did: but Adrian was staied for +a time, because he was suspected to haue had some commission from the +emperour to haue practised with the Englishmen, for the disquieting +of the realme of France. Howbeit, after it was perceiued that this +suspicion was grounded on no truth, he was also suffered to follow the +archbishop, and so comming vnto Canturburie, he was made abbat of the +monasterie of saint Augustines. The archbishop Theodore came thus +vnto his church of Canturburie in the second yeare after his +consecration, about the second kalends of June, being sundaie. He +gouerned the same church also 21 yeares and 16 daies, and was the +first archbishop to whome all the churches of England did acknowledge +their obeisance. + +Being accompanied with the foresaid Adrian, he visited all the parts +of this land, ordeined bishops and ministers in churches where he +thought conuenient, and reformed the same churches as séemed to him +néedfull, as well in other things which he misliked, as also in +[Sidenote: _Ran. Cest. Matth. West._] +causing them to obserue the feast of Easter, according to the right +[Sidenote: _Beda_.] +and vsage of the church of Rome. Ceadda that was bishop of Yorke, +because he was not lawfullie ordeined, as he himselfe confessed, was +remoued from the sée of Yorke, and Wilfrid was therevnto restored, so +that Ceadda (though he were not disgraded of his degrée of bishop) +liued yet a priuat kind of life, till he was admitted bishop of +Mercia, as after shall be shewed. Also whereas before time there was +in maner no singing in the English churches, except it were in Kent, +[Sidenote: Singing in churches brought in vse.] +now they began in euerie church to vse singing of diuine seruice +after the rite of the church of Rome. The archbishop Theodore finding +the church of Rochester void by the death of the last bishop named +[Sidenote: Putta bishop of Rochester.] +Damian, ordeined one Putta a simple man in worldlie matters, but well +instructed in ecclesiasticall discipline, and namelie well séene in +song and musicke to be vsed in the church after the maner as he had +learned of pope Grogories disciples. + +[Sidenote: The worthie praise of Theodore and Adrian.] +To be bréefe, the archbishop Theodore, and the abbat Adrian +deserued great commendation in this, that whereas they were notablie +well learned themselues in the Greeke and the Latine toongs, and also +had good knowledge as well in the liberall arts, as in the scripture, +they tooke great paines to traine vp scholers in knowledge of the +[Sidenote: Englishmen happy and why.] +same, so that the Englishmen had not seene more happie times +than in those daies, hauing as then kings of great puissance, so as +strangers stood in feare of them; and againe, those that coueted +learning, had instructors at hand to teach them, by reason whereof +[Sidenote: _Beda_.] +diuers being giuen to studie, prooued excellent both in knowledge +of the Gréeke and Latine. There came in companie of the said +[Sidenote: Benedict or Benet surnamed Biscop.] +archbishop from Rome, an English man named Benedict Biscop, which had +taken vpon him the habit of a moonke in Italie, and now returning into +his countrie, builded two abbeis, the one named Wiremouth, because it +was placed at the mouth of the riuer of Wire, and the other Girwie, +distant from Wiremouth about fiue miles, and from the towne of +[Sidenote: 670.] +Newcastle foure miles, situated neere to the mouth of Tine. +Wiremouth was built in the yeare 670, and Girwie in the yeare 673. +There were a 600 moonks found in those two houses, and gouerned +[Sidenote: Glasiers first brought into England. _Ran. Cest._] +vnder one abbat. The said Benedict was the first that brought +glasiers, painters, and other such curious craftsmen into England. He +went fiue times to Rome, and came againe. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Sighere and Sebbie associats reigne ouer the Eastsaxons, the one +falleth from, the other cleaueth to the faith, Vulfhere king of Mercia +sendeth bishop Iaroman to redresss that apostasie of the prince and +the people, Cead bishop of Mercia, the king of that countrie hath him +in hie reputation, Egfrid king of Northumberland, a synod of bishops +holden at Herford, articles propounded out of the canons by Theodore +archbishop of Canturburie, Bisi unable to discharge his episcopall +office, a remedie therefore; Kenwalke of a very euill prince becometh +a verie good ruler, his wife gouerneth the kingdome after his death, +Escuius succeedeth hir in the roome, of Thunnir a murtherer +king Egberts principall vicegerent, bishop Winfrid deposed for +disobedience, Sebbie king of the Eastsaxons a professed moonke, his +death._ + +THE XXXIIIJ. CHAPTER. + + +About the same time, after that Suidhelme king of the Eastsaxons was +dead, Sighere the son of Sigbert the little, and Sebbie the son of +Suward succéeded him in gouernement of that kingdome, albeit they +[Sidenote: _Beda. lib. 3. cap. 30_.] +were subiect vnto Vulfhere the king of Mercia. Sighere in that time, +when the great mortalitie reigned, renounced the faith of Christ, with +that part of the people which he had in gouernement, for both the same +Sighere and others of his chiefest lords, and also part of his commons +louing this life, and not regarding the life to come, began to repaire +their idolish churches, and fell to the worshipping of idols, as +though thereby they should haue beene defended from that mortalitie. +But his associat Sebbie with great deuotion continued stedfast in the +faith which he had receiued. + +King Vulfhere being informed of Seghers apostasie, and how the people +[Sidenote: Bishop Iaruman or Iaroman.] +in his part of the prouince of Eastsaxons were departed from the +faith, sent thither bishop Iaruman or Iaroman, that was successour +vnto Trumhere, which vsed such diligence and godlie meanes, that he +reduced the said king and all his people vnto the right beliefe, so +as the idolish synagogs were destroied, and the idols also with their +altars quite beaten downe, the Christian churches againe set open, and +the name of Christ eftsoones called vpon amongest the people, coueting +now rather to die in him with hope of resurrection in the world to +come, than to liue in the seruice of idols, spotted with the filth +of errors and false beleefe. And thus when bishop Iaroman had +accomplished the thing for the which he was sent, he returned into +Mercia. + +After this, when the said Iaroman was departed this life, king +Vulfhere sent vnto the archbishop Theodorus, requiring him to prouide +the prouince of the Mercies of a new bishop. Theodorus not minding +to ordeine anie new bishop at that time, required Oswie king of +Northumberland, that Bishop Cead might come into Mercia to exercise +the office of bishop there. This Cead liued as it were a priuat life +at that time in his monasterie of Lestingham, for Wilfrid held the +bishoprike of Yorke, extending his authoritie ouer all Northumberland +& amongest the Picts also, so farre as king Oswies dominion stretched. +Therefore Cead hauing licence to go into Mercia, was gladlie receiued +of king Vulfhere, and well enterteined, in so much that the said +king gaue vnto him lands and possessions conteining 50 families +or housholds to build a monasterie in a certeine place within the +countrie of Lindsey called Etbearne. But the sée of his bishoprike was +assigned to him at Lichfield in Staffordshire, where he made him a +house néere to the church, in the which he with 7 or 8 other of his +brethren in religion vsed in an oratorie there to praie and reade, +so often as they had leasure from labour and businesse of the world. +Finallie, after he had gouerned the church of Mercia by the space of +two yeares and an halfe, he departed this life, hauing 7 daies warning +giuen him (as it is reported) from aboue, before he should die, after +a miraculous maner, which because in the iudgement of the most it may +séeme méere fabulous, we will omit and passe ouer. His bodie was first +buried in the church of our ladie, but after that the church of saint +Peter the apostle were builded, his bones were translated into the +same. + +[Sidenote: 671. _Matth. West._] +In the yeare of our Lord 671, which was the second yeare after +that Theodorus the archbishop came into this land, Oswie king of +Northumberland was attacked with a grieuous sicknesse, and died +thereof the 15 kalends of March, in the 58 yeare of his age, after +[Sidenote: EGFRID. _Beda. lib. 4. cap 5_. _Matth. West._ 673.] +he had reigned 28 yeares complet. After Oswie, his sonne Egfrid +succéeded in rule of the kingdome of Northumberland, in the third +yeare of whose reigne, that is to say, in the yeare of our Lord 673, +Theodorus the archbishop of Canturburie kept a synod at Herford, the +first session whereof began the 24 of September, all the bishops of +this land being present either in person or by their deputies, as +[Sidenote: A synod holden at Herford.] +Bisi bishop of Estangle, Wilfrid of Northumberland by his deputie +Putta bishop of Rochester, Eleutherius bishop of Westsaxon, and +Wilfrid bishop of Mercia. In the presence of these prelats, the +[Sidenote: Articles proponed by Theodore.] +archbishop shewed a booke, wherein he had noted ten chapters or +articles taken out of the booke of the canons, requiring that the same +might be receiued. + + 1 The first chapter was, that the feast of Easter should be kept on + the sundaie following the fourtéenth day of the first moneth. + + 2 The second, that no bishop should intermedle in an others diocesse, + but be contented with the cure of his flocke committed to him. + + 3 The third, that no bishop should disquiet in anie thing anie + monasterie consecrated to God, nor take by violence anie goods that + belonged vnto the same. + + 4 The fourth, that bishops being moonks should not go from + monasterie to monasterie, except by sufferance and permission of + their abbats, & should continue in the same obedience wherein they + stood before. + + 5 The fift, that none of the cleargie should depart from his bishop + to run into anie other diocesse, nor comming from anie other place + should be admitted, except he brought letters of testimonie with + him. But if anie such chanced to be receiued, if he refused to + returne, being sent for home, both he and his receiuer should be + excommunicated. + + 6 The sixt, that bishops and other of the cleargie being strangers + shold hold them content with the benefit of hospitalitie, & should + not take in hand anie priestlie office, without licence of the + bishop, in whose diocesse he chanced so to be remaining. + + 7 The seuenth, that twice in the yeare a synod should be kept, but + because of diuers impediments herein, it was thought good to them + all, that in the kalends of August a synod should be kept once in + the yeare, at a certeine place called Cloofeshough. + + 8 The eighth chapter was, that no one bishop should by ambition + séeke to be preferred aboue another, but that euerie one should + know the time and order of his consecration. + + 9 The ninth, that as the number of the christians increased, so + should there be more bishops ordeined. + + 10 The tenth was touching mariages, that none should contract + matrimonie with anie person, but with such as it should be + lawfull for him by the orders of the church: none should match + with their kinsfolke, no man should forsake his wife, except + (as the gospell teacheth) for cause of fornication. But if anie + man did put awaie his wife which he had lawfullie married, if + he would be accounted a true Christian, he might not be coopled + with an other, but so remaine, or else be reconciled to his owne + wife. + +These articles, being intreated of and concluded, were confirmed +with the subscribing of all their hands, so as all those that did +go against the same, should be disgraded of their priesthood, and +separated from the companie of them all. + +[Sidenote: Bisi bishop of the Eastangles.] +The forsaid Bisi that was bishop of the Eastangles, and present at +this synod, was sucessor unto Bonifacius, which Bonifacius held that +sée 17 yéeres, and then departing this life, Bisi was made bishop of +that prouince, and ordeined by the archbishop Theodore. This Bisi at +length was so visited with sicknesse, that he was not able to exercise +the ministration, so that two bishops were then & there elected and +consecrated for him, the one named Aecci, and the other Baldwin. + +[Sidenote: 872. (sic, should read 672.)] +In this meane while, that is, about the yéere of our Lord 872(sic), +or in the beginning of 873(sic), as Harison noteth, Kenwalch king of +the Westsaxons departed this life, after he had reigned 30 yéeres. +[Sidenote: _Matth. West._ de reg. lib. 1.] +This Kenwalch was such a prince, as in the beginning he was to be +compared with the woorst kind of rulers, but in the middest and later +end of his reigne, to be matched with the best. His godlie zeale borne +towards the aduancing of the christian religion well appéered in the +building of the church at Winchester, where the bishops sée of all +that prouince was then placed. His wife Segburga ruled the kingdome of +Westsaxons after him, a woman of stoutnesse inough to haue atchiued +acts of woorthie remembrance, but being preuented by death yer she had +reigned one whole yéere, she could not shew anie full proofe of hir +noble courage. I remember that Matth. West. maketh other report +heereof, declaring that the nobilitie remooued hir from the +gouernment. But I rather follow William Malmesburie in this matter. + +[Sidenote: Escuinus. _Will Malmes._] +To procéed, after Segburga was departed this life, or deposed (if +you will néeds haue it so) Escuinus or Elcuinus, whose grandfather +called Cuthgislo, the brother of K. Kinigils, succéeding in gouernment +of the Westsaxons, reigned about the space of two yéeres: and after +his deceasse, one Centiuinus or Centwine tooke vpon him the rule, and +continued therein the space of nine yeeres. But Beda saith that these +two ruled at one time, and diuided the kingdom betwixt them. +[Sidenote: _Hen. Hunt._] +Elcuinus fought against Vulfhere king of Mercia, a great number of men +being slaine on both parties, though Vulfhere yet had after a maner +the vpper hand, as some haue written. + +[Sidenote: _Beda lib. & ca. supr. dict._] +In the same yéere that the synod was holden at Herford, that is to +say, in the yéere of our Lord 673, Egbert the king of Kent departed +this life in Iulie, and left the kingdome to his brother Lothaire, +[Sidenote: Io. Lothaire.] +which held the same eleuen yéeres, & seuen moneths. Some haue written +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm. Beda. de reg. lib. 1_.] +that king Egbert by the suggestion of one Thunnir, who had the +chiefe rule of the kingdome vnder him, suffered the same Thunnir in +lamentable maner to kill the two innocent sonnes of Ermenredus the +brother of king Ercombert, that was father vnto King Egbert, for +[Sidenote: Thunnir. A vile murther.] +doubt least they being towardlie yoong gentlemen, might in time grow +so into fauour with the people, that it should be easie for them to +depriue both Egbert, and his issue of the kingdome. Also, that they +were priuilie put to death, and secretlie buried at the first, but the +place of their buriall immediatlie being shewed after a miraculous +maner, their bodies long after in the daies of king Egilred the sonne +of king Edgar, were taken vp, & conueied vnto Ramsey, and there +buried. And although Egbert being giltie of the death of those his +coosens, did sore repent him, for that he vnderstood they died +giltlesse, yet his brother Lothaire was thought to be punished for +that offense, as after shall be shewed. + +[Sidenote: Bishop Winfrid deposed.] +Winfrid bishop of the Mercies, for his disobedience in some point +[Sidenote: Sexvulfe ordeined bishop of the Mercies. 685, as +Matth. Westm. saith, Bishop Erkenwald.] +was depriued by archbishop Theodore, and one Sexvulfe that was the +builder and also the abbat of the monasterie Meidhamsted, otherwise +called Peterborough, was ordeined and consecrated in his place. About +the same time, Erkenwald was ordeined bishop of the Eastsaxons, and +appointed to hold his sée in the citie of London. This Erkenwald was +reputed to be a man of great holinesse and vertue. Before he was made +bishop, he builded two abbeies, the one of moonks at Chertsey in +Southerie, where he himselfe was abbat, and the other of nuns at +[Sidenote: Ethelburga.] +Berking, within the prouince of the Eastsaxons, where he placed +his sister Ethelburga, a woman also highlie estéemed for hir +[Sidenote: _Iohn Capgraue_.] +deuout kind of life. She was first brought vp and instructed in the +rules of hir profession by one Hildelitha a nun of the parties beyond +the seas, whome Erkenwald procured to come ouer for that purpose. + +[Sidenote: Waldhere. Sebbie king of Eastsaxons. +_Beda. lib. 4. cap._ 16.] +After Erkenwald, one Waldhere was made bishop of London, in whose +daies Sebbie king of the Eastsaxons, after he had reigned thirtie +yéeres, being now vexed with a gréeuous sicknesse, professed himselfe +a moonke: which thing he would haue doone long before, if his wife had +not kept him backe. He died shortlie after within the citie of London, +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm_.] +and was buried in the church of saint Paule. King Sighere, which in +the beginning reigned with him, and gouerned a part of the Eastsaxons, +was departed this life before, so that in his latter time, the +foresaid Sebbie had the gouernment of the whole prouince of the +[Sidenote: 675.] +Eastsaxons, and left the same to his sonnes Sighard and Sewfred. +About the yéere of our Lord 675, Vulfhere king of Mercia departed this +life, after he had reigned (as some say) 19 yéeres, but (as other +affirme) he reigned but 17 yéeres. Howbeit they which reckon 19, +include the time that passed after the slaughter of Penda, wherein +Oswie and Peada held the aforesaid kingdome. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Edilred king of Mercia inuadeth the kingdome of Kent, and maketh +great waste without resistance of Lothaire the king thereof, Putta +of a bishop becommeth a poore curat and teacheth musicke, Wilfred +deposed from his bishoprike by king Egfrid vpon displeasure, he +preacheth the gospell in Sussex by the licence of king Edilwalke, +no raine in Sussex for the space of three yeeres, the woord and +sacraments bring blessings with them; bishop Wilfrid the first teacher +to catch fish with nets, the people haue him in great reuerence, a +great and bloudie battell betweene Egfrid & king Edilred, they are +reconciled by the meanes of archbishop Theodore; a synod holden at +Hatfield, the clergie subscribe to certeine articles, of Hilda the +famous abbesse of Whitbie_. + +THE XXXV. CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: EDILRED.] +After Vulfhere, his brother Edilred or Ethelred succéeded in +gouernment of the kingdome of Mercia. This Edilred inuaded the +kingdome of Kent with a mightie armie, in the yéere of our Lord +[Sidenote: 677. _Hen. Hunt_.] +677, destroieng the countrie afore him, not sparing churches nor +abbeies, but spoiling the same without respect, as well as other +common places. King Lothaire durst not appéere in the field to giue +him battell, so that Edilred went thorough the countrie, destroied +the citie of Rochester, and with great riches gotten by the spoile he +returned home. Putta the bishop of Rochester, after that his church +was spoiled and defaced by the enimies, went to Sexvulfe bishop of +Mercia, and there obteining of him a small cure, and a portion of +ground, remained in that countrie, not once labouring to restore his +church of Rochester to the former state, but went about in Mercia to +teach song, and instruct such as would learne musicke, wheresoeuer he +was required, or could get intertainment. + +Heerevpon the archbishop Theodore consecrated one William bishop +of Rochester in place of Putta, and after, when the said William +constreined by pouertie, left that church, Theodore placed one +[Sidenote: 678.] +Gebmound in his stéed. In the yéere of our Lord 678, in the moneth of +[Sidenote: A blasing star. _Matth. West_. _Beda. lib. 4 ca. 12._ +Bishop Wifrid banished.] +August, a blasing starre appéered, with a long bright beame like +to a piller. It was séene euerie morning for the space of thrée +moneths togither. The same Egfrid king of Northumberland, banished +bishop Wilfrid vpon displeasure taken with him, out of his sée, and +then were two bishops ordeined in his place, to gouerne the church of +[Sidenote: Hagustald. Hexham. Eadhidus. Lindesferne. Holie Iland.] +the Northumbers, the one named Bosa at Yorke, and the other called +Eata at Hagustald or Lindesferne. Also one Eadhidus was ordeined about +the same time bishop of Lindsey, the which prouince king Egfrid had of +late conquered and taken from Vulfhere the late king of Mercia, whome +he ouercame in battell, and droue him out of that countrie. The +said thrée bishops were consecrated at Yorke by the archbishop of +Canturburie Theodorus, the which within thrée yéeres after ordained +two bishops more in that prouince of the Northumbers, that is to +say, Tumbert at Hagustald, Eata that was appointed to remaine at +Lindesferne, & Trumuine was ordeined to haue the cure of the prouince +of those Picts which as then were vnder the English dominion. Also +bicause Edilred king of Mercia recouered the countrie of Lindsey, and +[Sidenote: The church of Rippon.] +ioined it to his dominion, bishop Eadhedus comming from thence, +was appointed to gouerne the church of Rippon. + +After that bishop Wilfrid was expelled out of his diocesse and +prouince of the Northumbers, he went to Rome, and returning from +thence, came into the kingdome of the Southsaxons, the which +conteining seuen thousand housholds or families, as yet was not +[Sidenote: Wilfrid by licence of king Edilwalke preacheth the gospel +to them of Sussex.] +conuerted to the christian faith. Wherefore the said Wilfrid began +there to preach the gospell with licence of king Edilwalke, who (as +before is mentioned) was conuerted and baptised in Mercia by the +procurement of king Wolfher, that then became his godfather, and gaue +him at the same time the Ile of Wight, and the prouince of the people +ancientlie called Meanuari, which he had woon from the Westsaxons. +Bishop Wilfrid then by king Edilwalke his furtherance and helpe +baptised the chiefest lords and gentlemen of that prouince. But +certein priests baptised the residue of the people, either then or in +the time following. + +[Sidenote: Lacke of raine.] +¶ It chanced that for the space of thrée yéeres (as it is said) +before the comming thither of bishop Wilfrid, there had fallen no +raine from the aire within that prouince of the Southsaxons, so that +the people were brought into great miserie by reson of famine, which +through want of necessarie fruits of the earth sore afflicted the +whole countrie, insomuch that no small numbers threw themselues +hedlong into the sea, despairing of life in such lacke of necessarie +vittels. But as God would, the same day that Wilfrid began to minister +the sacrament of baptisme, there came downe swéet and plentifull +showers of raine, so watering the earth, that thereby great store +of all fruits plentifullie tooke root, and yéelded full increase in +growth, to the great comfort and reliefe of all the people, which +before were in maner starued and lost through want of food. + +[Sidenote: Catching of fish with nets.] +Bishop Wilfrid also taught them in that countrie the maner how to +catch fish with nets, where before that time, they had no great skill +in anie kind of fishing, except it were in catching éeles. Hereby the +said bishop grew there in great estimation with the people, so that +his words were the better credited amongst them, for that through him +they receiued so great benefits, God by such meanes working in the +peoples hearts a desire to come to the vnderstanding of his lawes. The +king also gaue vnto Wilfrid a place called Sealesew, compassed about +on each side (except on the west halfe) with the sea, conteining 87 +housholds or families, where he built an abbeie, and baptised all +his tenants there, amounting to the number of 250 bondmen and +[Sidenote: Bondmen made trulie free.] +bondwomen, whome he made frée both in bodie and soule: for he did +not onelie baptise them, but also infranchised them of all bodilie +seruitude and bondage. + +In this meane while manie things happened in other parts of this land, +and first in the yeere after the appéering of the blasing starre +before mentioned, a mightie battell was fought betwixt the said Egfrid +and Edilred king of Mercia, néere to the riuer of Trent, where Alswine +the brother of king Egfrid was slaine, with manie other of the +Northumbers, so that king Egfrid was constreined to returne home with +losse. The archbishop of Canturburie Theodorus perceiuing that great +warre and effusion of bloud was like to follow therevpon, trauelled so +in the matter betwixt them, that they were made friends, and Egfrid +had a péece of monie in recompense of his losses. The foresaid +[Sidenote: 679.] +battell was fought in the yéere of our Lord 679, and in the yeere +following, that is to say, in the yéere of our Lord 680, which +[Sidenote: 680.] +was also in the tenth yéere of the reigne of Egfrid king of +Northumberland, the sixt yéere of Edelred king of Mercia, the 17 of +Aldvulfe king of Eastangles, and in the 7 of Lother king of Kent. + +[Sidenote: A synod at Hatfield.] +The archbishop of Canturburie Theodorus held another synod at +[Sidenote: Articles subscribed.] +Hatfield, about the 15 kalends of October, in the which all the +clergie there present subscribed to certeine articles touching the +beléefe of the trinitie of persons, in vnitie of the Godhead of the +like substance, and also of the same vnitie in trinitie, according to +the true faith of the church of God. Moreouer, they acknowledged +by the like subscription, the fiue generall councels, of Nice, +of Constantinople the first, of Ephesus, of Calcedon, and of +Constantinople the second, with the synod also holden at Rome in +the daies of Martin bishop of Rome about the yéere of the emperour +Constantine. At this synod holden at Hatfield, was present one Iohn +the archchanter of S. Peters church at Rome, sent into this land of +purpose to bring from hence a certificat vnto pope Agatho of the +agréement of the English church in matters of faith, with other +churches of the christian world: but the foresaid archchanter died by +the way in France, as he returned homewards, and was buried at Towers +in Towraine. + +[Sidenote: _Bale_. The abbesse Hilda. _Beda_.] +The same yéere that famous woman Hilda abbesse of Whitbie departed +this life, or (as other say) fiue yéeres after, hauing first beene +deteined long with gréeuous sickenesse. She was the daughter of one +Herrericus the nephue of king Edwin, and conuerted to the faith of +Christ at the preaching of bishop Pauline, and afterwards instructed +by bishop Aidan, she professed hirselfe a nun, applieng hir whole +studie to the reading of the scriptures, to praier, & other godlie +exercises. She builded the abbeie of Whitbie, wherein were placed both +men and women, with such an equalitie in all things, that there was +[Sidenote: _Bale_. _Ran. Cest._ _Matth. West._ _Beda_.] +no rich person amongst them, nor anie that wanted things necessarie. +She departed this life on the 15 kalends of December, being 66 yéeres +of age. As some haue written she argued stoutlie on bishop Colmans +part, at the disputation holden in the monasterie of Whitbie, in the +[Sidenote: _Henrie Hunt._] +yéere of Grace 664, whereof ye haue heard before. About the yéere of +our Lord 682, that is to say, in the seuenth yere of Centwine or +Centiuinus king of Westsaxons, the same Centwine fought with the +[Sidenote: The Britains discomfited.] +Britains, and ouercame them in battell, pursuing them with fire and +sword vnto the sea side. + +¶ Thus (at this time as also at diuerse other times) they were +discomfited and put to flight, being a people allotted and shared out +as it were to suffer many an ouerthrow, and abide manie a sharpe and +shamefull repulse at the hands of their enimies, who conuerted the +distresse of that people to their profit, and tooke pleasure in the +extreamitie of the miseries wherein they were plunged, as may be +obserued by the pitifull alteration of their state vnder diuers +gouernours, and speciallie vnder the Danish dominion, who kept them in +[Sidenote: _Gorop. in Gota danica lib. 7. pag. 759_.] +no lesse vile seruitude than Pharao did the Hebrues at the making of +bricke & chopping of straw. So that some thinke this land to be +corruptlie named Britania, but ought rather to be called Bridania, +that is, _Libera Dania, siue regio in qua Dani liberè viuant_, for +they liued as lords in the land, & did (for the time being) what they +listed. But of this matter more shall be spoken hereafter in place +conuenient. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Cadwallader king of Britaine, the people are brought into great +miserie, and he forced to flee the land, he dieth at Rome, the British +writers noted of error, Ceadwalla king of the Westsaxons, the kingdome +is diuided; the valorous mind of Ceadwalla, he is forced to forsake +his countrie, he vanquisheth and killeth Edilwalke king of the +Westsaxons, his returne into his kingdome with reuenge vpon Berthun +duke of Sussex and other his heauie friends, his vow if he might +conquer the Ile of Wight, his bountifull offer to bishop Wilfrid, +the Ile of Wight receiueth the faith; Ceadwalla inuadeth Kent, of a +barbarous warriour he becommeth a religious christian, his vertues, +his death and buriall at Rome; Egfrid king of Northumberland inuadeth +Ireland, he is slaine by Brudeus king of the Picts; the neglect of +good counsell is dangerous; Etheldreda a wife and a widow (hauing +vowed chastitie) liued a virgine 12 yeeres with hir husband Egfride, +she was called saint Auderie of Elie._ + +THE XXXVJ. CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: CADWALLADER.] +But now to returne vnto that which is found in the British +histories, by the tenor wherof it should appeare, that when their king +Cadwallo was dead, his son Cadwallader succéeded him in gouernement +[Sidenote: 676 saith _Matth. West._] +of the Britains, in the yéere of our Lord 678, which was about the 10 +yéere of the emperour Constantius Paganotus, and in the 13 yéere of +[Sidenote: _Galfrid._] +the reigne of Childericus king of France. This Cadwallader, being +the sonne of Cadwallo, was begot by him of the halfe sister of Penda +king of Mercia, for one father begot them both, but of two sundrie +mothers, for she had to mother a ladie descended of the noble blood of +the Westsaxons, and was maried vnto Cadwallo when the peace was made +betwixt him and hir brother the said Penda. After that Cadwallader had +reigned the space of 12 yéers (as Geffrey of Monmouth saith) or (as +others write) but 3 yéeres, the Britains were brought into such +miserie through ciuill discord, and also by such great and extreme +[Sidenote: Cadwallader constreined to forsake the land.] +famine as then reigned through all the land, that Cadwallader was +constreined with the chéefest part of his people to forsake their +natiue countrie, and by sea to get them ouer into Britaine Armorike, +there to séeke reliefe by vittels for the sustentation of their +languishing bodies. + +¶ Long processe is made by the British writers of this departure of +Cadwallader, & of the Britains out of this land, and how Cadwallader +was about to haue returned againe, but that he was admonished by a +dreame to the contrarie, the which bicause it séemeth but fabulous, we +passe ouer. At length he went to Rome, and there was confirmed in +the christian religion by pope Sergius, where shortlie after he fell +sicke, and died the 12 kalends of May, in the yeere of our Lord +[Sidenote: 689.] +689. But herein appeareth the error of the British writers in taking +one for another, by reason of resemblance of names, for where +Ceadwalla king of the Westsaxons about that time mooued of a religious +deuotion, after he was conuerted to the faith, went vnto Rome, and was +there baptised, or else confirmed of the foresaid pope Sergius, and +shortlie after departed this life in that citie in the foresaid yéere +of 689 or therabouts. The Welshmen count him to be their Cadwallader: +which to be true is verie vnlike by that which may be gathered out of +the learned writings of diuers good and approoued authors. + +[Sidenote: CEADWALLA. _Wil. Malm._ _Beda_.] +This Ceadwalla king of the Westsaxons succeeded after Centwine +or Centiuinus, which Centwine reigned nine yéeres, though it should +appeare by that which is written by authors of good credit, that +during two of those yéeres at the least, the kingdome of Westsaxons +was diuided betwixt him and Elcuinus or Escuinus, so that he should +not reigne past seuen yeeres alone. + +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._ _Ranulf. Cest._] +But now to Ceadwalla, whome some take to be all one with +Cadwallader, we find that he was lineallie descended from Cutha or +Cutwine, the brother of Ceauline or Keuling king of Westsaxons, as +sonne to Kenbert or Kenbright that was sonne to Ceadda the sonne of +the foresaid Cutha or Cutwin. Thus being extract of the noble house of +the kings of Westsaxons, he prooued in his youth a personage of great +towardnesse, and such a one as no small hope was of him conceiued: he +would let no occasion passe wherein he might exercise his force, +to shew proofe of his high valiancie, so that in the end with his +woorthie attempts shewed therein, he purchased to himselfe the enuie +of those that ruled in his countrie, by reason whereof he was +[Sidenote: Ceadwalla driuen to depart out of his countrie.] +banished in a conspiracie made against him. Wherevpon he tooke +occasion as it were in reuenge of such vnthankfulnesse to withdraw +out of his countrie, leading with him all the principall youth of the +same, the which either pitieng his present estate, or mooued with +pleasure taken in his valiant dooings, followed him at his going into +exile. + +The first brunt of his furious attempts after he was out of his +countrie, Edilwalke the king of the Southsaxons tasted, who in defense +of himselfe comming to trie battell with Ceadwalla, was slaine with +the most part of all his armie. Ceadwalla then perceiuing the valiant +courages of his souldiers, filled with good hope of this happie +atchiued victorie, returned with good and prosperous spéed into his +owne countrie, and that yer he was looked for, and earnestlie pursuing +his aduersaries, droue them out of the kingdome, and taking vpon him +to rule the same as king, reigned two yéeres, during the which he +atchiued diuers notable enterprises. + +[Sidenote: _Beda lib. 4. cap. 15_.] +And first, whereas Berthun and Authun dukes of Sussex & subiects +vnto the late king Edilwalke, had both expelled him out of that +countrie, after he had slaine the said Edilwalke, and also taken vpon +them the rule of that kingdome, hauing now atteined to the gouernement +[Sidenote: Berthun a duke of Sussex slaine.] +of the Westsaxons, he inuaded the countrie of Sussex againe, and +slue Berthun in battell, bringing that countrie into more bondage than +before. He also set vpon the Ile of Wight, and well-néere destroied +all the inhabitants, meaning to inhabit it with his owne people. +[Sidenote: Caedwalla his vow. The Ile of Wight conquered.] +Hee bound himselfe also by vow, although as yet he was not baptised, +that if he might conquer it, he would giue a fourth part thereof vnto +the Lord. And in performance of that vow, he offered vnto bishop +Wilfride (who then chanced to be present) when he had taken that Ile, +so much therof as conteined 300 housholds or families, where the +whole consisted in 1200 housholds. Wilfrid receiuing thankefullie +the gift, deliuered the same vnto one of his clearks named Bernewine +that was his sisters sonne, appointing to him also a priest named +Hildila, the which should minister the word and the sacrament of +baptisme vnto all those that would receiue the same. Thus was the +[Sidenote: The Ile of Wight receiueth the faith.] +Ile of Wight brought to the faith of Christ last of all other the +parties of this our Britaine, after that the same faith had failed +here by the comming of the Saxons. + +Moreouer, king Ceadwalla inuaded the kingdome of Kent, where he lost +his brother Mollo, as after shall appéere, but yet he reuenged his +death with great slaughter made of the inhabitants in that countrie. +Finallie, this worthie prince Ceadwalla, turning himselfe from the +desire of warre and bloudshed, became right courteous, gentle and +liberall towards all men, so that ye could not haue wished more +vertuous manners to rest in one as yet not christened. And shortlie +after, willing to be admitted into the fellowship of the christians +(of whose religion he had taken good tast) he went to Rome, where of +pope Sergius he was baptised, and named Peter, and shortlie after +surprised with sickenesse, he died, and was buried there within +[Sidenote: 689.] +the church of saint Peter in the yeere of our Lord 689. + +[Sidenote: _Beda lib. 4. cap. 26_. Ireland inuaded by the Northumbers.] +In the meane while, that is to say, in the yeere of our Lord 684, +Egfride king of Northumberland sent an armie vnder the guiding of a +capteine named Bertus into Ireland, the which wasted that countrie, +sparing neither church nor monasterie, sore indamaging the people of +that countrie, which had euer beene friends vnto the English nation, +and deserued nothing lesse than so to be inuaded and spoiled at their +hands. The Irish men defended themselues to their power, beséeching +God with manie a salt teare, that he would reuenge their cause in +punishing of such extreme iniuries. And though cursers may not inherit +the kingdome of heauen, yet they ceased not to curse, hoping the +sooner that those which with good cause were thus accursed, +should woorthilie be punished for their offenses by God, & so +[Sidenote: King Egfride slain by Brudeus king of the Picts.] +(peraduenture) it fell out. For in the yeere following, the said +Egfride had lead an armie into Pictland against Brudeus king of +the Picts, and being trained into straits within hils and craggie +mounteins, he was slaine with the most part of all his armie, in the +yeere of his age 40, and of his reigne 15, vpon the 13 kalends of +June. + +There were diuers of Egfrides friends, and namelie Cutberd (whome he +had aduanced the same yéere vnto the bishops sée of Lindesferne) +that aduised him in no wise, either to haue taken this warre in hand +against the Picts, or the other against them of Ireland, but he would +not be counselled, the punishment appointed for his sinnes being such, +that he might not giue eare to his faithfull friends that aduised him +for the best. From that time foorth, the hope and power of the +[Sidenote: These Britains were those vndouttedlie y't dwelt in the +northwest parts of this Ile, and is not ment onlie by them of Wales.] +English people began to decaie. For not onelie the Picts recouered +that part of their countrie which the Englishmen had held before in +their possession, but also the Scots that inhabited within this Ile, +and likewise some part of the Britains tooke vpon them libertie, which +they kept and mainteined a long time after, as Beda confesseth. + +Egfride died without issue, & left no children behind him. He had +to wife one Ethelreda or Etheldrida, daughter vnto Anna king of the +Eastangles, which liued with hir husband the forsaid Egfride twelue +yéeres in perfect virginitie (as is supposed) contrarie to the purpose +of hir husband, if he might haue persuaded hir to the contrarie, but +[Sidenote: Ethelreda.] +finallie he was contented that she should kéepe hir first vow of +chastitie which she had made. She was both widow and virgine when he +maried hir, being first coupled in wedlocke with one Eunbert a noble +[Sidenote: Giruij.] +man, and a ruler in the south parts of the countrie, where the +people called Giruij inhabited, which is the same where the fennes +lie in the confines of Lincolnshire, Norffolke, Huntingtonshire, & +Cambridgeshire, howbeit he liued with hir but a small while. After she +had obteined licence to depart from the court, she got hir first into +Coldingham abbeie, and there was professed a nun. Then she went to +Elie, and there restored the monasterie, and was made abbesse of the +place, in the which after she had gouerned seuen yeeres, she departed +this life, and was there buried. This same was she which commonlie is +called saint Audrie of Elie, had in great reuerence for the opinion +conceiued of hir great vertue and puritie of life. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Alfride (the bastard) king of Northumberland, his life and death, +Iohn archbishop of Canturburie resigneth his see, Lother king of Kent +dieth of a wound, Edrike getteth the regiment thereof but not without +bloudshed, Ceadwalla wasteth Kent being at strife in it selfe, +his brother Mollo burned to death; Withred made king of Kent, he +vanquisheth his enimies, Inas king of Westsaxons is made his friend, +Suebhard and Nidred vsurpers of the Kentish kingdome, the age and +death of Theodore archbishop of Canturburie, Brightwald the first +archbishop of the English nation; the end of the British regiment, and +how long the greatest part of this Iland was vnder their gouernement._ + +THE XXXVIJ. CHAPTER. + + +After that king Egfride was slaine (as before is mentioned) his +[Sidenote: ALFRIDE. 685.] +brother Alfride was made king of Northumberland. This Alfride was +the bastard sonne of king Oswie, and in his brothers daies (either +willinglie, or by violent means constreined) he liued as a banished +man in Ireland, where applieng himselfe to studie, he became an +excellent philosopher. And therfore being iudged to be better able to +haue the rule of a kingdome, he was receiued by the Northumbers, and +made king, gouerning his subiects the space of 20 yeares and more, +with great wisedome and policie, but not with such large bounds as his +ancestors had doone: for the Picts (as before is mentioned) had +cut off one péece of the north part of the ancient limits of that +kingdome. About the 13 yeare of his reigne, that is to say, in the +[Sidenote: 698.] +yeare of our Lord 698, one of his capteins named earle Berthred, +or Bertus, was slaine in battell by the Picts, whose confins he had as +then inuaded. The curse of the Irish men, whose countrie in the +[Sidenote: _Matt. West._] +daies of king Egfrid he had cruellie wasted (as before is mentioned) +was thought at this time to take place. Finallie king Alfride, after +he had reigned 20 yeares & od months, departed this life, in the yeare +[Sidenote: 705. _Beda_.] +of our Lord 705. + +In the beginning of king Alfrids daies, Eata the bishop of Hexham +being dead, one Iohn a man of great holinesse was admitted bishop, and +after that, bishop Wilfrid was restored, when he had remained a +[Sidenote: Iohn archbishop of Yorke.] +long time in exile. The said Iohn was remoued to the church of Yorke, +the same being then void by the death of the archbishop Bosa. At +[Sidenote: He resigneth his sée.] +length the foresaid Iohn wearied with the cares of publike +affaires resigned his sée, and got him to Beuerley, where he liued a +solitarie life for the space of foure yeares, and then died, about +[Sidenote: 721.] +the yeare of our Lord 721, king Osrike as then reigning in +Northumberland. He continued bishop for the space of 24 yeares, and +builded a church, and founded a colledge of priests at Beuerley +aforsaid, in which church he lieth buried. + +[Sidenote: 686 saith _Matt. West._] +[Sidenote: Lother king of Kent dieth of a wound.] +The same yeare, or in the yeare after that king Egfrid was slaine, +Lother king of Kent departed this life, the 8 Ides of Februarie, of +a wound by him receiued in a battell which he fought against the +Southsaxons, the which came in aid of Edrike, that was sonne vnto his +brother Egbert, and had mainteined warre against his vncle the said +Lother, euen from the beginning of his reigne, till finallie he was +now in the said battell striken thorough the bodie with a dart, and +so died thereof, after he had reigned 11 yeares, and seuen moneths. +It was thought that he was disquieted with continuall warres and +troubles, and finallie brought to his end before the naturall course +of his time, for a punishment of his wicked consent giuen to the +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._] +putting to death of his cousins Ethelbert & Ethelbrit, as appeared, +[Sidenote: _Capgraue_ saith, their sister.] +in that when they were reported to be martyrs, because it was knowen +they died innocentlie, he mocked them and made but a iest at it, +although his brother in acknowledging his fault, repented him thereof, +and gaue in recompense to their mother a part of the Ile of Thanet to +the building of a monasterie. + +[Sidenote: EDRICKE.] +The foresaid Edricke (after Lother was dead) got the dominion of Kent, +and ruled as king thereof, but not without ciuill warre, insomuch that +before he had reigned the full terme of two yeares, he was slaine in +the same warre. Then Ceadwalla king of the Westsaxons being thereof +aduertised, supposing the time now to be come that would serue his +purpose, as one still coueting to worke the Kentishmen all the +displeasure he could, entred with an armie into their countrie, and +began to waste and spoile the same on ech side, till finallie the +Kentishmen assembled themselues togither, gaue battell to their +enimies, and put them to flight. Mollo brother to Ceadwalla was driuen +from his companie, and constrained to take an house for his refuge: +[Sidenote: Mollo brother to king Ceadwalla burnt to death.] +but his enimies that pursued him set fire thereon, and burned both +the house and Mollo within it to ashes. Yet did not Ceadwalla +herewith depart out of the countrie, but to wreake his wrath, and to +reuenge the griefe which he tooke for the death of his brother, he +wasted and destroied a great part of Kent yer he returned home, and +left (as it were) an occasion to his successor also to pursue the +quarell with reuenging. Wherein we sée the cankerd nature of man, +speciallie in a case of wrong or displeasure; which we are so far +from tollerating & forgiuing, that if with tooth and naile we be +not permitted to take vengeance, our hearts will breake with a full +conceit of wrath. But the law of nature teacheth vs otherwise to be +affected, namelie, + + + ------per te nulli vnquam iniuria fiat, + Sed verbis alijsque modis fuge lædere quenquam, + Quod tibi nolles, alijs fecisse caueto, + Quódque tibi velles, alijs præstare studeto; + Hæc est naturæ lex optima, quam nisi ad vnguem + Seruabis, non ipse Deo (mihi crede) placebis, + Póstque obitum infoelix non aurea sydera adibis. + +Which lesson taught by nature, and commanded of God, if these men had +followed (as they minded nothing lesse in the fier of their furie) +they would haue béene content with a competent reuenge, and not in +such outragious maner with fier and sword haue afflicted one another, +nor (which is more than tigerlike crueltie) haue ministred occasion to +posterities to reuenge wrongs giuen and taken of their ancestors. But +we will let this passe without further discourse, meaning hereafter in +due place to declare the processe. + +The Kentishmen being destitute of a king, after that diuers had +coueted the place, and sought to atteine thereto, as well by force as +otherwise, to the great disquieting of that prouince for the space +of 6 yeares togither, at length in the 7 yeare after Edricks death, +Withred an other of the sonnes of king Egbert, hauing with diligent +[Sidenote: Withred is made king of Kent.] +trauell ouercome enuie at home, & with monie redéemed peace abaoad +(sic), was with great hope conceiued of his worthinesse made king of +Kent, the 11 of Nouember, & 205 after the death of Hengist, he reigned +33 yeares, not deceiuing his subiects of their good conceiued opinion +of him: for ouercomming all his aduersaries which were readie to leuie +ciuill warre against him, he also purchased peace of Inas king of the +Westsaxons, which ment to haue made him warre, till with monie he was +made his friend. + +[Sidenote: _Hen. Hunt._ _Beda. lib. 5_. Suebhard and Nidred kings by +vsurpation and not by succession, as _Henr. Hunt._ writeth.] +A little before that Withred was confirmed in the kingdome of +Kent, there reigned two kings in that countrie, Suebhard and Nidred, +or rather the same Withred, if the printed copie of Bedas booke +intituled "Ecclesiastica historia gentis Anglorum" haue not that name +corrupted: for where he sheweth that the archbishop Theodorus being of +the age of 88 yeares, departed this life in the yeare of our Lord 690, +in the next chapter he declareth, that in the yeare 692, the first +daie of Iulie one Brightwald was chosen to succéed in the archbishops +sée of Canturburie, Withredus and Suebhardus as then reigning in Kent: +but whether Withredus gouerned as then with Suebhardus, or that +some other named Nidred, it forceth not: for certeine it is by the +agréement of other writers, that till Withred obteined the whole rule, +there was great strife and contention moued about the gouernement, and +[Sidenote: Brightwald the first archbishop of the English nation.] +diuers there were that sought and fought for it. But this ought to +be noted, that the forenamed Brightwald was the eight archbishop +in number, and first of the English nation that sat in the sée of +Canturburie: for the other seuen that were predecessors to him, were +strangers borne, and sent hither from Rome. + +¶ Here endeth the line and gouernement of the Britains, now called +Welshmen, which tooke that name of their duke or leader Wallo or +Gallo; or else of a queene of Wales named Gales or Wales. But +howsoeuer that name fell first vnto them, now they are called +Welshmen, which sometime were called Britains or Brutons, and +descended first of the Troians, and after of Brute, and lastlie of +Mulmucius Dunwallo: albeit they were mingled with sundrie other +nations, as Romans, Picts, &c. And now they be called English that in +their beginning were named Saxons or Angles. To conclude therefore +with this gouernement, so manie times intercepted by forren power, it +appeareth by course of histories treating of these matters, that the +last yeare of Cadwallader was the yeare of our Lord 686, which makes +the yere of the world 4647. So that (as Fabian saith) the Britains had +the greater part of this land in rule (reckoning from Brute till this +time) 1822 yeares. Which terme being expired, the whole dominion of +this realme was Saxonish. + +_Thus farre the interrupted regiment of the Britains, ending at the +fift booke._ + + + + +[Transcriber's note: The following words appear to be typos, but were +left as they appeared in this book. + + whreof => whereof (chapter 8, para. 5) + buruished => burnished (chapter 13, para. 3) + shost => short (chapter 25, para. 4) + Grogories => Gregories (chapter 33, para. 10) + abaoad => abroad (chapter 37, para. 6)] + + by little little => little by little (chapter 3, para. 1) + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HISTORIE OF ENGLAND *** + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will +be renamed. + +Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright +law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, +so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the +United States without permission and without paying copyright +royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms +of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online +at <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. If you +are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the +country where you are located before using this eBook. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Title: Chronicles 1 (of 6): The Historie of England 5 (of 8)<br /> +The Fift Booke of the Historie of England.</div> +<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Author: Raphael Holinshed</div> +<p style='display:block; text-indent:0; margin:1em 0'>Release Date: August 20, 2005 [eBook #16555]<br /> +[Most recently updated: November 23, 2022]</p> +<p style='display:block; text-indent:0; margin:1em 0'>Language: English</p> + <p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em; text-align:left'>Produced by: Jonathan Ingram, Lesley Halamek and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net</p> +<div style='margin-top:2em; margin-bottom:4em'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HISTORIE OF ENGLAND ***</div> + + <br /><br /> + <h3>THE FIFT BOOKE</h3><span class="page"><a name="page551" id="page551"></a>[Page 551]</span> + +<h5>OF THE</h5> + +<h2>HISTORIE OF ENGLAND.</h2> +<br /><br /><br /> + + <hr class="full" /> +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> +<table width="80%" align="center" border="0" summary="contents"> +<tr> + <td class="left" width="70%"> <br /></td> + <td class="right" valign="top">Page</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#first5">THE FIRST CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page551">551</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#second5">THE SECOND CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page553">553</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#third5">THE THIRD CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page555">555</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#fourth5">THE FOURTH CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page558">558</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#fift5">THE FIFT CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page560">560</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#vj5">THE VJ CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page561">561</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#seuenth5">THE SEUENTH CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page564">564</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#eight5">THE EIGHT CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page565">565</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#ninth5">THE NINTH CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page567">567</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#tenth5">THE TENTH CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page569">569</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#eleuenth5">THE ELEUENTH CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page573">573</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#twelfe5">THE TWELFE CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page574">574</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#xiij5">THE XIIJ CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page576">576</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#xiiij5">THE XIIIJ CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page579">579</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#xv5">THE XV CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page581">581</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#xvj5">THE XVJ CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page583">583</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#xxij5">THE XVIJ CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page585">585</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#xviij5">THE XVIIJ CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page587">587</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#xix5">THE XIX CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page590">590</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#xx5">THE XX CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page593">593</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#xxj5">THE XXJ CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page595">595</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#xxij5">THE XXIJ CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page597">597</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#xxiij5">THE XXIIJ CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page600">600</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#xxiiij5">THE XXIIIJ CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page601">601</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#xxv5">THE XXV CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page604">604</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#xxvj5">THE XXVJ CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page607">607</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#xxvij5">THE XXVIJ CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page610">610</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#xxviij5">THE XXVIIJ CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page612">612</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#xxix5">THE XXIX CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page614">614</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#xxx5">THE XXX CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page617">617</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#xxxj5">THE XXXJ CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page620">620</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#xxxij5">THE XXXIJ CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page622">622</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#xxxiij5">THE XXXIIJ CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page624">624</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#xxxiiij5">THE XXXIIIJ CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page627">627</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#xxxv5">THE XXXV CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page630">630</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#xxxvj5">THE XXXVJ CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page633">633</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#xxxvij5">THE XXXVIJ CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page635">635</a></td> +</tr> +</table> + + <br /><br /><hr class="full" /><br /><br /><br /> + + + + + + <hr /><br /><br /> + <a name="first5" id="first5"></a> +<p> +<i>Constantinus at the generall sute of the Britains vndertaketh to gouerne this Iland, he is +crowned king, his three sonnes, he is traitorouslie slaine of a Pict, Constantius the eldest +sonne of Constantine hauing bene a monke is created king, the ambitious & slie practises +of duke Vortigerne to aspire to the gouernment, he procureth certeine Picts and Scots to +kill the king who had reteined them for the gard of his person, his craftie deuises and +deepe dissimulation vnder the pretense of innocencie, he winneth the peoples harts, and +is chosen their king.</i></p> + +<h3>THE FIRST CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +Having ended our former booke with the end of the Romane power ouer this Iland, +wherein the state of the Iland vnder them is at full described; it remaineth now that +we procéed to declare, in what state they were after the Romans had refused to gouerne +them anie longer. Wherefore we will addresse our selues to saie somewhat touching the +succession of the British kings, as their histories make mention.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">CONSTANTINUS. <i>Gal. Mon. <br />Matt. Westm.</i></span> +Constantinus the brother of Aldroenus king of little Britaine, at the sute and earnest +request of the archbishop of London, made in name of all the Britains in the Ile of great +Britaine, was sent into the same Ile by his said brother Aldroenus vpon couenants ratified in +manner as before is recited, and brought with him a conuenient power, landing with the +same at Totnesse in Deuonshire. Immediatlie after his cōming on land, he gathered to him +<span class="leftnote"><i>Caxton</i> saith 12000. but <i>Gal.</i> and others say but 2000.</span> +a great power of Britains, which before his landing were hid in diuerse places of the Ile. +Then went he foorth with them, and gaue battell to the enimies, whom he vanquished: & +slue that tyrannicall king Guanius there in the field (as some bookes haue.) Howbeit, this +<span class="rightnote">The British historie disagreeth from the Scotish.</span> +agréeth not with the Scotish writers, which affirme that they got the field, but yet lost their +king named Dongard (as in their historie ye maie read.)</p> +<p> +But to procéed as our writers report the matter. When the Britains had thus ouercome their +enimies, they conueied their capteine the said Constantine vnto Cicester, and there in fulfilling +their promise and couenant made to his brother, crowned him king of great Britaine, in the yéere +of our Lord 433, which was about the fift yéere of the emperour Valentinianus the second, +<span class="rightnote"><i>Matth. West.</i> saith 435.</span> +and third yéere of Clodius king of the Frankners after called Frenchmen, which then began +to settle themselues in Gallia, whereby the name of that countrie was afterwards changed +and called France. Constantine being thus established king, ruled the land well and noblie, +and defended it from all inuasion of enimies during his life. He begat of his wife thrée +sonnes (as the British historie affirmeth) Constantius, Aurelius Ambrosius, and Vter surnamed +named Pendragon. The eldest, bicause he perceiued him to be but dull of wit, and not<span class="page"><a name="page552" id="page552"></a>[Page 552]</span> +verie toward, he made a moonke, placing him within the abbie of Amphibalus in Winchester.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">In a groue of bushes as <i>Gal.</i> saith. <i>Matth. West. Beda. Orosius. Blondus</i>.</span> +Finallie this Constantine, after he had reigned ten yéeres, was traitorouslie slaine one day +in his owne chamber (as some write) by a Pict, who was in such fauor with him, that he +might at all times haue frée accesse to him at his pleasure. Neither the Romane writers, nor +Beda, make anie mention of this Constantine: but of the other Constantine they write, +which immediatlie after the vsurper Gratian was dispatched out of the way (as before ye haue +heard) was aduanced to the rule of this land, and title of emperour, onelie in hope of his +name, and for no other respect of towardnesse in him, afore time being but a meane souldier, +without anie degrée of honour. The same Constantine (as writers record) going ouer +into Gallia, adorned his sonne Constantius with the title and dignitie of Cesar, the which +before was a moonke, and finallie as well the one as the other were slaine, the father at +Arles by earle Constantius, that was sent against him by the emperour Honorius; and the +sonne at Vienna (as before ye haue heard) by one of his owne court called Gerontius (as +in the Italian historie ye may sée more at large.) This chanced about the yeere of our +Lord 415. +<span class="rightnote">415.</span></p> +<p> +¶ This haue we thought good to repeat in this place, for that some may suppose that +this Constantine is the same that our writers take to be the brother of Aldroenus king of little +Britaine, as the circumstance of the time and other things to be considered may giue them +occasion to thinke, for that there is not so much credit to be yéelded to them that haue +written the British histories, but that in some part men may with iust cause doubt of sundrie +matters conteined in the same: and therfore haue we in this booke béene the more diligent +to shew what the Romans and other forreine writers haue registred in their bookes of histories +touching the affaires of Britaine, that the reader may be the better satisfied in the +truth. But now to returne to the sequele of the historie as we find the same written by the +British chroniclers.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">This Vortigerne was duke of the Geuisses and Cornewall, as <i>Rad. Cestr.</i> reporteth. <br /><i>Gal. Mon.</i></span> +After that Constantine was murthered (as before ye haue heard) one Vortigerus, or Vortigernus, +a man of great authoritie amongst the Britains, wrought so with the residue of the +British nobilitie, that Constantius the eldest sonne of their king the fore-remembred Constantine, +was taken out of the abbie of Winchester where he remained, and was streightwaies +created king, as lawfull inheritour to his father.</p> +<p> +Ye haue heard how Constantius was made a moonke in his fathers life time, bicause he +was thought to be too soft and childish in wit, to haue anie publike rule committed to his +hands: but for that cause speciallie did Vortigerne séeke t'aduance him, to the end that the +king being not able to gouerne of himselfe, he might haue the chiefest swaie, and so rule +all things as it were vnder him, preparing thereby a way for himselfe to atteine at length to +the kingdome as by that which followed was more apparentlie perceiued.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">CONSTANTIUS. <i>Matt. West</i> saith 445.</span> +This Constantius then the sonne of Constantine, by the helpe (as before ye haue heard) +of Vortigerne, was made king of Britaine, in the yere of our Lord 443. But Constantius +bare but the name of king: for Vortigerne abusing his innocencie and simple discretion to +order things as was requisite, had all the rule of the land, and did what pleased him. +Wherevpon first, where there had béene a league concluded betwixt the Britains, Scots and +Picts, in the daies of the late king Constantine, Vortigerne caused the same league to be +<span class="rightnote"><i>Hector Boet.</i></span> +renewed, & waged an hundred Picts, and as manie Scots to be attendant as a gard vpon the +kings person, diuers of the which (corrupting them with faire promises) he procured by +<span class="leftnote">Constantius murthered.</span> +subtile meanes in the end to murther the king, and immediatlie vpon the deed doone, he +caused the murtherers to be strangled, that they should not afterwards disclose by whose +<span class="rightnote">The subtile dealing of Vortigerne.</span> +procurement they did that déed. Then caused he all the residue of the Scots and Picts to +be apprehended, and as it had béene vpon a zeale to sée the death of Constantius seuerelie +punished, he framed such inditements and accusations against them, that chieflie by his +meanes (as appeared) the giltlesse persons were condemned and hanged, the multitude of +the British people béeing woonderfullie pleased therewith, and giuing great commendations<span class="page"><a name="page553" id="page553"></a>[Page 553]</span> +to Vortigerne for that déed. Thus Constantius was made awaie in maner as before ye haue +heard, after he had reigned (as most writers affirme) the space of fiue yéeres.</p> +<p> +After his death was knowne, those that had the bringing vp and custodie of his two +<span class="rightnote">Aurelius Ambrosius. <br />Vter Pendragon.</span> +yoonger brethren, Aurelius Ambrose, and Vter Pendragon, mistrusting the wicked intent +of Vortigerne, whose dissimulation and mischieuous meaning by some great likelihoods they +suspected, with all spéed got them to the sea, and fled into litle Britaine, there kéeping them +till it pleased God otherwise to prouide for them. But Vortigerne could so well dissemble +his craftie workings, and with such conueiance and cloked maner could shadow and colour +the matter, that most men thought and iudged him verie innocent and void of euill meaning: +insomuch that he obteined the fauour of the people so greatlie, that he was reputed for the +onelie staie and defender of the common wealth. Herevpon it came to passe, that when the +councell was assembled to elect a new king, for so much as the other sonnes of king Constantine +<span class="rightnote">Vortigerne chosen king of Britaine.</span> +were not of age sufficient to rule, Vortigerne himselfe was chosen, diuers of the +nobles (whom he had procured thereto) giuing their voices to this his preferment, as to one +best deseruing the same in their opinion and judgement. This Vortigerne, as by indirect +meanes and sinister procéedings he aspired to the regiment, hauing no title therevnto, otherwise +than as blind fortune vouchsafed him the preferment: so when he was possessed, but +not interessed in the same, he vncased the crooked conditions which he had couertlie concealed, +and in the end (as by the sequele you shall sée) did pull shame and infamie vpon +himselfe.</p> + + <hr /><br /><br /> + <a name="second5" id="second5"></a> +<p> +<i>Vortigerne furnisheth the tower with a garrison, he bewraieth his crueltie, Aurelius and +Pendragon brethren to the late king Constantius flie into Britaine Armorike, what common +abuses and sinnes did vniuersally concurre with a plentifull yeere, the Scots and +Picts reuenge the death of their countrimen, Vortigerne is in doubt of his estate, the +Britains send for succour to the Saxons, they come vnder the conduct of Hengist and +Horsus two brethren, where they are assigned to be seated, they vanquish the Scots, disagreement +in writers touching the Saxons first comming into this Iland.</i></p> + +<h3>THE SECOND CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">VORTIGERNE. 446.</span> +Vortigerne, by such diuelish meanes and vnconscionable practises (as you heare) +stealing away the hearts of the people, was chosen and made king of Britaine, in the yéere +of our Lord 446, in the 3 consulship of Aetius, 1197 of Rome, 4 of the 305 Olympiad, +4112 of the world, the dominicall letter going by F, the prime by 10, which fell about the +21 yéere of the emperour Valentinianus, the same yéere that Meroneus began to reigne ouer +the Frenchmen. Before he was made king, he was earle or duke of the Geuisses, a people +which held that part of Britaine where afterwards the west Saxons inhabited. Now when +<span class="rightnote"><i>Hector Boet</i>.</span> +he had with treason, fraud, and great deceit at length obteined that for the which he had +long looked, he first of all furnished the tower of London with a strong garrison of men +of warre.</p> +<p> +Then studieng to aduance such onelie as he knew to be his speciall friends and fauourers, +<span class="rightnote">415.</span> +he sought by all meanes how to oppresse other, of whose good will he had neuer so litle +mistrust, and namelie those that were affectionate towards the linage of Constantine he hated +deadlie, and deuised by secret meanes which way he might best destroy them. But these +his practises being at the first perceiued, caused such as had the gouernance of the two +<span class="rightnote"><i>Fabian</i>.</span> +yoong gentlemen with all spéed to get them ouer (as ye haue heard) into Britaine Armorike, +there to remaine out of danger with their vncle the king of that land. Diuers of the +Britains also, that knew themselues to be in Vortigerne his displeasure, sailed ouer dailie<span class="page"><a name="page554" id="page554"></a>[Page 554]</span> +vnto them, which thing brought Vortigerne into great doubt and feare of his estate.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Gyldas.</i> Plentie of wealth accompanied with store of sinnes.</span> +It chanced also the same time, that there was great plentie of corne, & store of fruit, the +like wherof had not béene seene in manie yéeres before, and therevpon insued riot, strife, +lecherie, and other vices verie heinous, & yet accounted as then for small or rather none +offenses at all. These abuses & great enormities reigned not onelie in the temporaltie, but +also in the spiritualtie and chéefe rulers in the same: so that euerie man turned the point of +his speare (euen as he had consented of purpose) against the true and innocent person. The +commons also gaue themselues to voluptuous lust, drunkennesse, and idle loitering, whereof +followed fighting, contention, enuie, and much debate. Of this plentie therefore insued +great pride, and of this abundance no lesse hautinesse of mind, wherevpon followed great +wickednesse, lacke of good gouernement and sober temperancie, and in the necke of these +as a iust punishment, death and mortalitie, so that in some countries scarse the quicke sufficed +to burie the dead.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">Scots and Picts inuade the Britains.</span> +And for an augmentation of more mischéefe, the Scots and Picts hearing how their countrimen +through the false suggestion of Vortigerne, had bene wrongfullie and most cruellie put +to death at London, began with fire & sword to make sharpe & cruell warre against the +Britains, wasting their countrie, spoiling and burning their townes, and giuing them the +ouerthrow in a pitcht field, as in the Scotish historie more plainlie appeareth. To be bréefe, +the Britains were brought into such danger and miserie, that they knew not what way to +take for remedie in such present perill, likelie to be ouerrun and vtterlie vanquished of their +enimies. In the meane time Vortigerne not onelie troubled with these imminent euils, but +fearing also the returne of the two brethren, Aurelius Ambrose, and Vter Pendragon, began +to consider of the state of things, and estéeming it most sure to worke by aduise, called togither +the principall lords and chéefe men of the realme to haue their counsell and opinion, +how to procéed in such a weightie businesse: and so debating the matter with them, measured +both his owne force, and also the force of his enimies, and according to the condition +and state of the time, diligentlie considered and searched out what remedie was to be had +and prouided.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Gyldas. <br />Wil. Malm. Beda.</i> The Saxons sent for. 10000 hath <i>Hector Boet. +Gyldas</i> and <i>Beda</i> mention onelie but of 3 plates or gallies, but <i>Hector Boet</i>. hath 30.</span> +At length after they had throughlie pondered all things, the more part of the nobles with +the king also were of this mind, that there could be no better way deuised, than to send +into Germanie for the Saxons to come to their aid: the which Saxons in that season were +highlie renowmed for their valiancie in armes, and manifold aduentures heretofore atchiued. +And so forthwith messengers were dispatched into Germanie, the which with monie, gifts, +and promises, might procure the Saxons to come to the aid of the Britains against the Scots +and Picts. The Saxons glad of this message, as people desirous of intertainment to serue +in warres, choosing forth a picked companie of lustie yoong men vnder the leading of +two brethren Hingist and Horsus, got them aboord into certeine vessels appointed for the +purpose, and so with all spéed directed their course towards great Britaine.</p> +<p> +<span class="leftnote">449.</span> +This was in the yeare of our Lord 449, and in the second yeare of Vortigerns reigne, as +the most autentike writers both British and English séeme to gather, although the Scotish +<span class="rightnote"><i>Wil. Malm.</i></span> +writers, and namelie, Hector Boetius doo varie herein, touching the iust account of yeares, +as to the perusers of the writings aswell of the one as the other may appeare. But others +take it to be in the 4 yéere of his reigne: whereto Beda séemeth to agrée, who noteth it in +the same yeare that Martianus the emperour began to rule the empire, which was (as appeareth +by the consularie table) in the consulship of Protogenes and Austerius, and third +yeere of Meroneus king of France.</p> +<p> +These Saxons thus arriuing in Britaine, were courteouslie receiued, & hartilie welcomed +of king Vortigerne, who assigned to them places in Kent to inhabit, and foorthwith led +them against the Scots and Picts, which were entred into Britaine, wasting & destroieng the +countrie before them. Héerevpon comming to ioine in battell, there was a sore fight +betwixt the parties for a while. But at length when the Saxons called to their remembrance +that the same was the day which should either purchase to them an euerlasting name of manhood<span class="page"><a name="page555" id="page555"></a>[Page 555]</span> +<span class="rightnote">Scots vanquished by the Saxons.</span> +by victorie, or else of reproch by repulse, began to renew the fight with such violence, +that the enimies not able to abide their fierce charge, were scattered and beaten downe on +ech side with great slaughter.</p> +<p> +The king hauing gotten this victorie, highlie rewarded the strangers according to their well +<span class="leftnote"><i>Henrie Hunt.</i></span> +deseruings, as by whose prowesse he had thus vanquished his enimies, which (as some write) +were come as farre as Stamford, and vsed at that time to fight with long darts and speares, +whereas the Saxons fought onelie with long swords and axes.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Gal. Mon.</i></span> +¶Some haue written that the Saxons were not sent for, but came by chance into the Ile, +and the occasion to be this. There was an ancient custome among the English Saxons a +people in Germanie, as was also at the first among other nations, that when the multitude +of them was so increased, that the countrie was not able to susteine and find them, by commandement +of their princes, they should choose out by lots a number of yoong and able +personages fit for the warrs, which should go foorth to séeke them new habitations: and so it +chanced to these, that they came into great Britaine, and promised to serue the king for wages +in his warres.</p> + + <hr/> +<a name="third5" id="third5"></a> +<p> +<i>Hengistus the Saxon shooteth at the crowne and scepter of the kingdome by craftie and +subtile practises, a great number of forren people arriue in Britaine for the augmentation +of his power, of the faire ladie Rowen his daughter,whereof Wednesdaie and Fridaie tooke +their name, of the Iutes, Saxons, and Angles, Vortigerne being inflamed with the loue of +Hengists daughter forsaketh his owne wife and marrieth hir, Vortigerne giueth Hengist +all Kent, the Saxons come ouer by heaps to inhabit the land, the British nobilitie moue the +king to auoid them, he is depriued of his kingdome, the miserable destruction made by the +Saxons in this land, skirmishes betwixt them and the Britains.</i></p> + +<h3>THE THIRD CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">Hengist purposeth at the first to conquere the Britains.</span> +Now Hengistus, being a man of great wit, rare policie, and high wisedome, vnderstanding +the kings mind, who wholie trusted to the valiancie of the Saxons, & herewithall perceiuing +the fruitfulnesse of the countrie, presentlie began to consider with himselfe, by what wiles and +craft he might by little little settle heere, and obteine a kingdome in the Ile, and so establish +the same to him and his for euer.</p> +<p> +<span class="leftnote"><i>Polydor.</i></span> +Therefore first he endeuored with all speed possible to fense that part of the countrie, +which was giuen him and his people, and to inlarge and furnish it with garisons appointed in +places most conuenient. After this he did what he could to persuade the king, that a great +power of men might be brought ouer out of Germanie, that the land being fortified with such +<span class="rightnote"><i>Wil. Malm.</i> 18 Foists or plates saie the Scotish writers, and 5000 men in the same. +The Saxons call these vessels Ceoles, or Kéeles, and our old histories Cogiones.</span> +strength, the enimies might be put in feare, and his subiects holden in rest. The king not +foreséeing the hap that was to come, did not despise this counsell tending to the destruction +of his kingdome, and so was more aid sent for into Germanie: wherevpon now at this second +time there arriued héere 16 vessels fraught with people, and at the same time came the ladie +Rowen or Ronix (daughter to Hengist) a maid of excellent beautie and comelinesse, able to +delight the eies of them that should behold hir, and speciallie to win the heart of Vortigerne +with the dart of concupiscence, wherevnto he was of nature much inclined, and that did Hengist +well perceiue.</p> +<p> +<span class="leftnote">The <i>Vitæ</i> or <i>Iutæ</i> are called Ibitri. <i>Alex. Now.</i></span> +There came ouer into this land at that time, and soone after, thrée maner of people of the +Germane nation, as Saxons, Vitæ or Iutes, and Angles, ouer the which the said Hengist and +Horse being brethren, were capteines & rulers, men of right noble parentage in their countrie, +as descended of that ancient, prince Woden, of wham the English Saxon kings doo for the more +part fetch their pedegrée, as lineallie descended from him, vnto whome also the English people<span class="page"><a name="page556" id="page556"></a>[Page 556]</span> +<span class="rightnote">Wednesdaie, and Fridaie, whereof they came.</span> +(falselie reputing him for a god) consecrated the fourth daie of the wéeke, as they did the +sixt to his wife Frea: so that the same daies tooke name of them, the one being called Wodensdaie, +and the other Freadaie, which woords after in continuance of time by corruption of +spéech were somewhat altered, though not much, as from Wodensdaie, to Wednesdaie, and +<span class="leftnote"><i>Beda.</i></span> +from Freadaie to Fridaie. The foresaid Woden was father to Vecta, the father of Wergistus +that was father to the foresaid Hengistus and Horsus.</p> +<p> +But now to rehearse further touching those thrée people which at this time came ouer into +Britaine out of Germanie. Of the Vites or Iutes (as Beda recordeth) are the Kentishmen descended, +and the people of the Ile of Wight, with those also that inhabit ouer against the same +Ile. Of the Saxons came the east, the south, & the west Saxons. Moreouer, of the Angles +proceéded the east Angles, the middle Angles or Mercies, and the Northerne men. That +<span class="rightnote"><i>Cor. Tacitus.</i></span> +these Angles were a people of Germanie, it appeareth also by Cornelius Tacitus, who called +them Anglij, which word is of thrée syllables (as Polydor saith:) but some write it Angli, with +two syllables. And that these Angli, or Anglij were of no small force and authoritie in Germanie +before their comming into this land, maie appeare, in that they are numbred amongst +the twelue nations there, which had lawes and ancient ordinances apart by themselues, according +to the which the state of their common wealth was gouerned, they being the same +and one people with the Thuringers, as in the title of the old Thuringers lawes we find recorded, +which is thus: "Lex Angliorum & Werinorum, hoc est Thuringorum," The law +of the Angles and Werinians that is to saie the Thuringers, which Thuringers are a people +in Saxonie, as in the description of that countrie it maie appeare.</p> +<p> +<span class="leftnote"><i>Polydor.</i> Rowen, or Ronowen Hengists daughter.</span> +But now to the matter. Hengist perceiuing that his people were highlie in Vortigernes fauour, +began to handle him craftilie, deuising by what means he might bring him in loue with +his daughter Ronix, or Rowen, or Ronowen (as some write) which he beléeued well would easilie +<span class="rightnote"><i>Wil. Malm.</i></span> +be brought to passe, bicause he vnderstood that the king was much giuen to sensuall lust, +which is the thing that often blindeth wise mens vnderstanding, and maketh them to dote, +and to lose their perfect wits: yea, and oftentimes bringeth them to destruction, though by +such pleasant poison they féele no bitter taste, till they be brought to the extreame point of +confusion in déed.</p> +<p> +<span class="leftnote"><i>Gal. Mon.</i></span> +A great supper therefore was prepared by Hengist, at the which it pleased the king to be +present, and appointed his daughter, when euerie man began to be somewhat merrie with +drinke, to bring in a cup of gold full of good and pleasant wine, and to present it to the +king, saieng; Wassail. Which she did in such comelie and decent maner, as she that knew +how to doo it well inough, so as the king maruelled greatlie thereat, and not vnderstanding +what she ment by that salutation, demanded what it signified. To whom it was answered by +<span class="rightnote">Wassail, what it signifieth.</span> +Hengist, that she wished him well, and the meaning of it was, that he should drinke after hir, +ioining thereto this answer, Drinke haile. Wherevpon the king (as he was informed) tooke +the cup at the damsels hand, and dranke.</p> +<p> +Finallie, this yoong ladie behaued hir selfe with such pleasant woords, comelie countenance, +and amiable grace, that the king beheld hir so long, till he felt himselfe so farre in loue with +hir person, that he burned in continuall desire to inioy the same: insomuch that shortlie after +<span class="leftnote"><i>Polydor. Fabian.</i></span> +he forsooke his owne wife, by the which he had thrée sonnes, named Vortimerus, Catagrinus, +and Pascentius, and required of Hengist to haue his daughter, the said Rowen, or Ronowen +in mariage. Hengist at the first séemed strange to grant to his request, and excused the +matter, for that his daughter was not of estate and dignitie méet to be matched with his maiestie. +<span class="rightnote"><i>Wil. Malm.</i></span> +But at length as it had béene halfe against his will he consented, and so the mariage +was concluded & solemnized, all Kent being assigned vnto Hengist in reward, the which countrie +was before that time gouerned by one Guorongus (though not with most equall Justice) +which Guorongus was subiect vnto Vortigerne, as all other the potentats of the Ile were.</p> +<p> +This mariage and liberalite of the king towards the strangers much offended the minds of +his subiects, and hastened the finall destruction of the land. For the Saxons now vnderstanding +the affinitie had betwixt the king and Hengist, came so fast ouer to inhabit héere, that it was<span class="page"><a name="page557" id="page557"></a>[Page 557]</span> +woonder to consider in how short a time such a multitude could come togither: so that bicause +of their great number and approoued puissance in warres, they began to be a terrour to +<span class="leftnote"><i>Wil. Malm.</i></span> +the former inhabitants the Britains. But Hengist being no lesse politike in counsell than valiant +in armes, abusing the kings lacke of discretion, to serue his owne turne, persuaded him to +<span class="rightnote"><i>Gal.</i> saith he was Hengists sonne, and Ebusa his vncles sonne. +Occa and Ebusa leaders of Saxons.</span> +call out of Germanie his brother Occa and his sonne named Ebusa, being men of great valure, +to the end that as Hengist defended the land in the south part: so might they kéepe +backe the Scots in the north.</p> +<p> +Héerevpon by the kings consent, they came with a power out of Germanie, and coasting +about the land, they sailed to the Iles of Orknie, and sore vexed the people there, and likewise +the Scots and Picts also, and finallie arriued in the north parts of the realme, now called +Northumberland, where they setled themselues at that present, and so continued there euer +<span class="rightnote"><i>Wil. Malm. de Regib.</i></span> +after: but none of them taking vpon him the title of king, till about 99 yéeres after their first +comming into that countrie, but in the meane time remaining as subiects vnto the Saxon kings +of Kent. After their arriuall in that prouince, they oftentimes fought with the old inhabitants +there, and ouercame them, chasing away such as made resistance, and appeased the residue by +receiuing them vnder allegiance.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Fabian.</i> The great numbers of strangers suspected to the Britains.</span> +When the nobles of Britaine saw and perceiued in what danger the land stood, by the dailie +repaire of the huge number of Saxons into the same, they first consulted togither, and after +resorting to the king, mooued him that some order might be taken for the auoiding of them, +or the more part of them, least they should with their power and great multitude vtterlie oppresse +the British nation. But all was in vaine, for Vortigerne so estéemed and highlie fauoured +the Saxons, and namelie by reason of the great loue which he bare to his wife, that he +little regarded his owne nation, no nor yet anie thing estéemed his owne naturall kinsmen and +<span class="rightnote">Vortigerne depriued.</span> +chiefe friends, by reason whereof the Britains in fine depriued him of all kinglie honour, +after that he had reigned 16 yéeres, and in his steed crowned his sonne Vortimer.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Gyldas. Beda. H. Hunt.</i></span> +Gyldas and Beda make no mention of Vortimer, but declare that after the Saxons were +receiued into this land, there was a couenant made betwixt them and the Britains, that the +Saxons should defend the countrie from the inuasion of enimies by their knightlie force: and +that in consideration therof, the Britains should find them prouision of vittels: wherewith +they held them contented for a time. But afterwards they began to pike quarrels, as though +they were not sufficientlie furnished of their due proportion of vittels, threatening that if they +were not prouided more largelie thereof, they would surelie spoile the countrie. So that +<span class="rightnote">The miserable destruction made by the Saxons in this land.</span> +without deferring of time, they performed their woords with effect of deeds, beginning in +the east part of the Ile, & with fire and swoord passed foorth, wasting and destroieng the +countrie, till they came to the vttermost part of the west: so that from sea to sea, the land +was wasted and destroied in such cruell and outragious manner, that neither citie, towne, nor +church was regarded, but all committed to the fire: the priests slaine and murthered euen +afore the altars, and the prelats with the people without anie reuerence of their estate or degrée +dispatched with fire and swoord, most lamentablie to behold.</p> +<p> +Manie of the Britains séeing the demeanour of the Saxons, fled to the mounteins, of the +which diuers being apprehended, were cruellie slaine, and other were glad to come foorth and +yeeld themselues to eternall bondage, for to haue reléefe of meate and drinke to asswage their +extremitie of hunger. Some other got them out of the realme into strange lands, so to saue +themselues; and others abiding still in their countrie, kept them within the thicke woods and +craggie rocks, whither they were fled, liuing there a poore wretched life, in great feare and +vnquietnesse of mind.</p> +<p> +But after that the Saxons were departed and withdrawne to their houses, the Britains began +to take courage to them againe, issuing foorth of those places where they had lien hid, and +with one consent calling for aid at Gods hand, that they might be preserued from vtter destruction, +they began vnder the conduct of their leader Aurelius Ambrose, to prouoke the +Saxons to battell, and by the helpe of God they obteined victorie, according to their owne +desires. And from thence foorth, one while the Britains, and an other while the Saxons<span class="page"><a name="page558" id="page558"></a>[Page 558]</span> +were victors. So that in this British people, God (according to his accustomed maner) as it +were present Israell, tried them from time to time, whether they loued him or no, vntill the +<span class="rightnote">So <i>Gyldas</i> was borne in the yeare of our Lord 493.</span> +yeare of the siege of Badon hill, where afterwards no small slaughter was made of the enimies: +which chanced the same yeare in the which Gyldas was borne (as he himselfe witnesseth) +being about the 44 yeare after the comming of the Saxons into Britaine.</p> +<p> +Thus haue Gyldas & Beda (following by likelihood the authoritie of the same Gyldas) +written of these first warres begun betwéene the Saxons and Britains. But now to go foorth +with the historie, according to the order of our chronicles, as we doo find recorded touching +the doings of Vortimer that was elected king (as ye haue heard) to gouerne in place of his +father Vortigerne.</p> + + <hr /><br /><br /> +<a name="fourth5" id="fourth5"></a> +<p> +<i>Vortimer is created king in the roome of his father Vortigerne, he giueth the Saxons sore +and sharpe battels, a combat fought betweene Catigerne the brother of Vortimer and, +Horsus the brother of Hengist, wherein they were both slaine, the Britains driue the +Saxons into the Ile of Tenet, Rowen the daughter of Hengist procureth Vortimer to be +poisoned, the Saxons returne into Germanie as some writers report, they ioine with the +Scots and Picts against the Britains and discomfit them.</i></p> + +<h3>THE FOURTH CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">VORTIMER. 464.<i>Fabian. Galf. Mon. Matt. West.</i> saith 454.</span> +This Vortimer being eldest sonne to Vortigerne, by the common assent of the Britains was +made king of Britaine, in the yeare of our Lord 464, which was in the fourth yeare of the +emperour Leo the fift, and about the sixt yeare of Childericus king of France, as our common +account runneth, which is far disagréeing from that whereof W. Harison dooth speake +in his chronologie, who noteth Vortigerne to be deposed in the 8 after his exaltation to the +crowne, 454 of Christ, and 5 currant after the comming of the Saxons, which concurreth +with the 4420 of the world, and 8 of Meroneus, as by his chronologie dooth more at large appear.</p> +<p> +But to procéed, Vortimer being thus aduanced to the gouernment of the realme, in all +hast made sore warre against the Saxons, and gaue vnto them a great battell vpon the riuer +<span class="leftnote">The riuer of Derwent.</span> +of Derwent, where he had of them the vpper hand. And the second time he fought with +<span class="rightnote">Epiford.</span> +them at a place called Epiford, or Aglisthrop, in the which incounter Catagrine or Catigernus +the brother of Vortimer, and Horsus the brother of Hengist, after a long combat +betwixt them two, either of them slue other: but the Britains obteined the field (as saith +<span class="leftnote">The Ile of Tenet.</span> +the British historie.) The third battell Vortimer fought with them néere to the sea side, +where also the Britains chased the Saxons, & droue them into the Ile of Tenet. The +<span class="rightnote"><i>Hen. Hunt.</i> Colemoore.</span> +fourth battell was stricken néere to a moore called Colemoore, the which was sore fought +by the Saxons, and long continued with great danger to the Britains, because the foresaid +moore inclosed a part of their host so stronglie, that the Britains could not approch to +them, being beaten off with the enimies shot, albeit in the end the Saxons were put to +flight, & manie of them drowned and swallowed vp in the same moore. Beside these +<span class="rightnote"><i>Fabian.</i> Tetford in Norfolke. Colchester.</span> +foure principall battels, Vortimer had diuers other conflicts with the Saxons, as in Kent and +at Tetford in Norfolke, also néere to Colchester in Essex: for he left not till he had bereft +them of the more part of all such possessions as before time they had got, so that they were +constrained to kéepe them within the Ile of Tenet, where he oftentimes assailed them with +such ships as he then had. When Ronowen the daughter of Hengist perceiued the great +losse that the Saxons sustained by the martiall prowesse of Vortimer, she found means that +within a while the said Vortimer was poisoned, after he had ruled the Britains by the space<span class="page"><a name="page559" id="page559"></a>[Page 559]</span> +of 6 or 7 yeares and od moneths.</p> +<p> +¶ By the British historie it should séeme, that Vortimer before his death handled the Saxons +so hardlie, kéeping them besieged within the Ile of Tenet, till at length they were constrained +to sue for licence to depart home into Germanie in safetie: and the better to bring this to +pas, they sent Vortigerne, (whome they had kept still with them in all these battels) vnto +his sonne Vortimer, to be a meane for the obteining of their sute. But whilest this treatie +was in hand, they got them into their ships, and leauing their wiues and children behind them, +returned into Germanie. Thus far Gal. Mon. But how vnlikelie this is to be true, I will not +make anie further discourse, but onelie refer euerie man to that which in old autentike historiographers +<span class="rightnote"><i>Will. Malmes.</i></span> +of the English nation is found recorded, as in Will. Malmes. Henr. Hunt, Marianus, +and others: vnto whome in these matters concerning the dooings betwixt the Saxons +and Britains, we maie vndoubtedlie and safelie giue most credit.</p> +<p> +William Malmes. writing of this Vortimer, or Guortigerne, and of the warres which he had +against the Saxons, varieth in a maner altogether from Geffrey of Monmouth, as by his words +here following ye maie perceiue. Guortimer, the sonne of Vortimer (saith he) thinking not +good long to dissemble the matter, for that he saw himselfe and his countriemen the Britains +preuented by the craft of the English Saxons, set his full purpose to driue them out of the +realme, and kindled his father to the like attempt. He therefore being the author and procurer, +seuen yeares after their first comming into this land, the league was broken, and by the +<span class="rightnote">Hengist had the victorie in this battell <br />saith <i>Ra. Mig.</i>, Horse and Catigene slaine.</span> +space of 2O yeares they fought oftentimes togither in manie light incounters, but foure times +they fought puissance against puissance in open field: in the first battell they departed with +like fortune, whilest the one part, that is to meane, the Saxons lost their capteine Horse that +was brother to Hengist, and the Britains lost Catigerne an other of Vortigerns sonnes.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">458.</span> +In the ether battels, when the Englishmen went euer awaie with the vpper hand, at length +a peace was concluded, Guortimer being taken out of this world by course of fatall death, +the which much differing from the soft and milde nature of his father, right noblie would haue +gouerned the realme, if God had suffered him to haue liued. But these battels which Vortimer +gaue to the Saxons (as before is mentioned) should appeare by that which some writers +haue recorded, to haue chanced before the supposed time of Vortimers or Guortimers atteining +to the crowne, about the 6 or 7 yeare after the first comming of the Saxons into this +realme with Hengist. And hereto W. Harison giueth his consent, referring the mutuall +<span class="rightnote"> <i>Polydor</i>.</span> +slaughter of Horsus and Catigerne to the 6 years of Martianus, & 455 of Christ. Howbeit +Polydor Virgil saith, that Vortimer succéeded his father, and that after his fathers deceasse the +English Saxons, of whome there was a great number then in the Ile, comming ouer dailie like +swarmes of bées, and hauing in possession not onelie Kent, but also the north parts of the +realme towards Scotland, togither with a great part of the west countrie, thought it now a fit +time to attempt the fortune of warre: and first therefore concluding a league with the Scots +and Picts, vpon the sudden they turned their weapons points against the Britains, and most +cruellie pursued them, as though they had receiued some great iniurie at their hands, and no +benefit at all. The Britains were maruelouslie abashed herewith, perceiuing that they should +haue to doo with Hengist, a capteine of so high renowme, and also with their ancient enimies +the Scots and Picts, thus all at one time, and that there was no remedie but either they +must fight or else become slaues. Wherefore at length, dread of bondage stirred vp manhood +in them, so that they assembled togither, and boldlie began to resist their enimies on ech +<span class="rightnote">The Britains discomfited by the Scots.</span> +side: but being too weake, they were easilie discomfited and put to flight, so that all +hope of defense by force of armes being vtterlie taken awaie, as men in despaire to preuaile +against their enimies, they fled as shéepe scattered abroad, some following one capteine and +some another, getting them into desart places, woods and maresh grounds, and moreouer left +such townes and fortresses as were of no notable strength, as a preie vnto their enimies.</p> +<p> +Thus saith Polydor Virgil of the first breaking of the warres betwixt the Saxons and the +Britains, which chanced not (as should appeare by that which he writeth thereof) till after the +death of Vortigerne. Howbeit he denieth not that Hengist at his first comming got seates<span class="page"><a name="page560" id="page560"></a>[Page 560]</span> +for him and his people within the countie of Kent, and there began to inhabit. This ought +<span class="rightnote"><i>Sigebertus.</i></span> +not to be forgotten, that king Vortimer (as Sigebertus hath written) restored the Christian religion +after he had vanquished the Saxons, in such places where the same was decaied by the +enimies inuasion, whose drift was not onelie to ouerrun the land with violence, but also to +erect their owne laws and liberties without regard of clemencie.</p> + + <hr /><br /><br /> +<a name="fift5" id="fift5"></a> +<p> +<i>Vortigerne is restored to his regiment, in what place he abode during the time of his sonnes +reigne, Hengist with his Saxons re-enter the land, the Saxons and Britains are appointed +to meet on Salisburie plaine, the priuie treason of Hengist and his power whereby the Britains +were slaine like sheepe, the manhood of Edol earle of Glocester, Vortigerne is taken +prisoner, Hengist is in possession of three prouinces of this land, a description of Kent.</i></p> + +<h3>THE FIFT CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">471. <i>Matth. West.</i> saith 461.</span> +After all these bloudie broiles and tempestuous tumults ended, Vortigerne was restored +and set againe into the kingdome of Britaine, in the yeare of our Lord 471. All the time of +his sonnes reigne, he had remained in the parties now called Wales, where (as some write) +in that meane time he builded a strong castle called Generon, or Guaneren, in the west side of +Wales nere to the riuer of Guana, vpon a mounteine called Cloaricus, which some referre to +be builded in his second returne into Wales, as shall be shewed hereafter. And it is so much +the more likelie, for that an old chronicle, which Fabian had sight of, affirmeth, that Vortigerne +was kept vnder the rule of certeine gouernors to him appointed in the towne of Caerlegion, +<span class="rightnote">Caerleon Arwiske.</span> +and behaued himselfe in such commendable sort towards his sonne, in aiding him with +his counsell, and otherwise in the meane season whilest his sonne reigned, that the Britains +by reason thereof began so to fauour him, that after the death of Vortimer they made him king +againe.</p> +<p> +Shortlie after that Vortigerne was restored to the rule of the kingdom, Hengist aduertised +<span class="rightnote"><i>Matth. West.</i> saith 4000. He might easilie returne, for except I be deceiued +he was neuer driuen out after he had once set foot within this Ile.</span> +therof returned into the land with a mightie armie of Saxons, whereof Vortigerne being admonished, +assembled his Britains, and with all speed made towards him. When Hengist +had knowledge of the huge host of the Britains that was comming against him, he required to +come to a communication with Vortigerne, which request was granted, so that it was concluded, +that on Maie day a certeine number of Britains, and as manie of the Saxons should +meet togither vpon the plaine of Salisburie. Hengist hauing deuised a new kind of treason, +when the day of their appointed méeting was come, caused euerie one of his allowed number +secretlie to put into his hose a long knife (where it was ordeined that no man should bring +anie weapon with him at all) and that at the verie instant when this watchword should be vttered +<span class="leftnote">Nempt your sexes, what if it were messes.</span> +by him, "Nempt your sexes," then should euerie of them plucke out his knife, and slea +the Britaine that chanced to be next to him, except the same should be Vortigerne, whom +he willed to be apprehended, but not slaine.</p> +<p> +At the day assigned, the king with his appointed number or traine of the Britains, mistrusting +nothing lesse than anie such maner of vnfaithfull dealing, came vnto the place in order before +prescribed, without armor or weapon, where he found Hengist readie with his Saxons, +the which receiued the king with amiable countenance and in most louing sort: but after they +were a little entred into communication, Hengist meaning to accomplish his deuised purpose, +gaue the watchword, immediatlie wherevpon the Saxons drew out their kniues, and suddenlie +<span class="rightnote">There died of the nobles of Britaine 460 as <i>Gal.</i> saith.</span> +fell on the Britains, and slue them as shéepe being fallen within the danger of woolues. For +the Britains had no weapons to defend themselues, except anie of them by his strength and +manhood got the knife of his enimie.</p> +<p> +<span class="leftnote"><br /><i>Ran. Cestren. Fabian.</i></span> +Amongst other of the Britains, there was one Edol earle of Glocester, or (as other say)<span class="page"><a name="page561" id="page561"></a>[Page 561]</span> +Chester, which got a stake out of an hedge, or else where, and with the same so defended +himselfe and laid about him, that he slue 17 of the Saxons, and escaped to the towne of +<span class="rightnote"><i>Gal.</i> saith 70, <i>Matth. West, <br />Ran. Cestren.</i></span> +Ambrie, now called Salisburie, and so saued his owne life. Vortiger was taken and kept as prisoner +by Hengist, till he was constreined to deliuer vnto Hengist thrée prouinces or countries +of this realme, that is to say, Kent &Essex, or as some write, that part where the south +Saxons after did inhabit, as Sussex and other: the third was the countrie where the Estangles +planted themselues, which was in Norfolke and Suffolke. Then Hengist being in possession +of those thrée prouinces, suffered Vortigerne to depart, &to be at his libertie.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Wil. Malm.</i></span> +¶ William Malmesburie writeth somewhat otherwise of this taking of Vortigerne, during +whose reigne, after the deceasse of his sonne Vortimer, nothing was attempted against the +Saxons, but in the meane time Hengist by colorable craft procured his sonne in law Vortigerne +to come to a banket at his house, with three hundred other Britains, and when he +had made them well and warme with often quaffing and emptieng of cups, and of purpose +touched euerie of them with one bitter tawnt or other, they first fell to multiplieng of malicious +words, and after to blowes that the Britains were slaine, euerie mothers sonne so yéelding +vp their ghosts euen amongst their pots. The king himselfe was taken, and to redéeme +himselfe out of prison, gaue to the Saxons thrée prouinces, and so escaped out of bondage.</p> +<p> +Thus by what meane soeuer it came to passe, truth it is (as all writers agrée) that Hengist +got possession of Kent, and of other countries in this realme, and began to reigne there as +<span class="rightnote">476.</span> +absolute lord &gouernor, in the yéere of our Lord (as some write) 476, about the fift +yéere of Vortigerns last reigne: but after other, which take the beginning of this kingdome +of Kent to be when Hengist had first gift therof, the same kingdome began in the yéere 455, +and conteined the countrie that stretcheth from the east Ocean vnto the riuer of Thames, hauing +<span class="leftnote"> Kingdome of Kent.</span> +on the southeast Southerie, and vpon the west London, vpon the northeast the riuer of +Thames aforesaid, and the countrie of Essex.</p> + + <hr /><br /><br /> + <a name="vj5" id="vj5"></a> +<p> +<i>The heptarchie or seuen kingdoms of this land, Hengist causeth Britaine to be peopled with +Saxons, the decaie of Christian religion, the Pelagians with their hereticall and false doctrine +infect the Britains, a synod summoned in Gallia for the redresse thereof, the Scots assist +the Britains against the Saxons, who renew their league with the Picts, Germane and +Lupus two bishops of Germanie procure the British armie to be newlie christened, the terror +that the Britains vnder bishop Germans fortunate conduct draue into the Saxons by the +outcrie of Alleluia, and got the victorie, bishop Germane departeth out of the land, and to +redresse the Pelagian heresie commeth againe at the clergies request, he confirmeth his +doctrine by a miracle, banisheth the Pelagians out of the land, the death of Germane, murther +requited with murther.</i></p> + + +<h3>THE VJ CHAPTER.</h3> + +<p> +Hengist and all other the Saxon kings which ruled (as after shall appeare) in seuen +parts of this realme, are called by writers <i>Reguli,</i> that is, little kings or rulers of some small +dominion: so that Hengist is counted a little king, who when he had got into his hands the +foresaid thrée prouinces, he caused more Saxons to come into Britaine, and bestowed them in +places abroad in the countrie, by reason whereof the christian religion greatlie decaied within +<span class="rightnote">The decay of christian religion.</span> +the land, for the Saxons being pagans, did what they could to extinguish the faith of Christ, +and to plant againe in all places their heathenish religion, and woorshipping of false gods: +and not onelie hereby was the true faith of the Christians brought in danger dailie to decaie, +but also the erronious opinions of the Pelagians greatlie preuailed here amongst the Britains, +by meanes of such vnsound preachers as in that troublesome season did set forth false<span class="page"><a name="page562" id="page562"></a>[Page 562]</span> +doctrine amongst the people, without all maner of reprehension.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Beda.</i></span> +Certeine yéeres before the comming of the Saxons, that heresie began to spread within this +land verie much, by the lewd industrie of one Leporius Agricola, the sonne of Seuerus Sulpitius +(as Bale saith) a bishop of that lore. But Pelagius the author of this heresie was borne +in Wales, and held opinion that a man might obteine saluation by his owne frée will and merit, +and without assistance of grace, as he that was borne without originall sinne, &c.</p> +<p> +This erronious doctrine being taught therefore, and mainteined in this troublesome time of +warres with the Saxons, sore disquieted the godlie minded men amongst the Britains, who not +<span class="rightnote"><i>Beda.</i></span> +meaning to receiue it, nor yet able well to confute the craftie and wicked persuasions vsed by +the professors thereof, thought good to send ouer into Gallia, requiring of the bishops there, +that some godlie and profound learned men might be sent ouer from thence into this land, +to defend the cause of the true doctrine against the naughtie teachers of so blasphemous an +error. Whervpon the bishops of Gallia sore lamenting the miserable state of the Britains, +and desirous to relieue their present néed, speciallie in that case of religion, called a synod, and +<span class="leftnote">A synod called in Gallia.</span> +therein taking counsell to consider who were most méet to be sent, it was decéed by all their +<span class="rightnote">Germanus and Lupus.</span> +consents in the end, that one Germane the bishop of Auxerre, and Lupus bishop of Trois +should passe ouer into Britaine to confirme the Christians there in the faith of the celestiall +grace. And so those two vertuous learned men taking their iournie, finallie arriued in Britaine, +though not without some danger by sea, through stormes &rage of winds, stirred (as +hath beene thought of the superstitious) by the malice of wicked spirits, who purposed to +haue hindered their procéedings in this their good and well purposed iournie. After they +were come ouer, they did so much good with conuincing the wicked arguments of the aduersaries +of the truth, by the inuincible power of the woord of God, and holinesse of life, that +those which were in the wrong waie, were soone brought into the right path againe.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Beda.</i> Palladius. Constantine king of Scots.</span> +About the same time also, one Palladius was sent from Celestinus bishop of Rome, vnto the +Scots, to instruct them in the faith of Christ, and to purge them from the heresie of the said +Pelagius. This Palladius exhorted Constantinus the king of Scots, that in no wise he should +aid the Saxons being infidels against the Britains: whose exhortation tooke so good effect, +that the said Constantinus did not onelie forbeare to assist the Saxons, but contrarilie holpe +the Britains in their warres against them, which thing did mainteine the state of the Britains +for a time from falling into vtter ruine and decaie. In the meane time, the Saxons renewed +<span class="rightnote"><i>H. Hunt. <br />Beda.</i></span> +their league with the Picts, so that their powers being ioined togither, they began afresh to +make sore warres vpon the Britains, who of necessitie were constreined to assemble an armie, +&mistrusting their owne strength, required aid of the two bishops, Germane and Lupus, who +hasting forward with all speed came into the armie, bringing with them no small hope of good +lucke to all the Britains there being assembled. This was doone in Kent.</p> +<p> +Now such was the diligence of the bishops, that the people (being instructed with continuall +preaching) in renouncing the error of the Pelagians, earnestlie came by troops to receiue the +grace of God offred in baptisme, so that on Easter day which then insued, the more part of +the armie was baptised, and so went foorth against the enimies, who hearing thereof, made +<span class="leftnote">The armie of the Britains newlie christened.</span> +hast towards the Britains; in hope to ouercome them at pleasure. But their approch being +knowne, bishop Germane tooke vpon him the leading of the British host, and ouer against +the passage thorough the which the enimies were appointed to come, he chose foorth a faire +vallie inclosed with high mounteins, and within the same he placed his new washed armie. +And when he saw the enimies now at hand, he commanded that euerie man with one generall +voice should answer him, crieng alowd the same crie that he should begin. So that euen +as the enimies were readie to giue the charge vpon the Britains, supposing that they should +haue taken them at vnwares, and before anie warning had béen giuen, suddenlie bishop Germane +<span class="rightnote">Alleluia.</span> +and the priests with a lowd and shrill voice called <i>Alleluia,</i> thrice: and therewith all +the multitudes of the Britains with one voice cried the same crie, with such a lowd shout, that +the Saxons were therewith so amazed and astonied (the echo from the rocks and hils adjoining, +redoubling in such wise the crie) that they thought not onelie the rocks and clifs had <span class="page"><a name="page563" id="page563"></a>[Page 563]</span> +fallen vpon them, but that euen the skie it selfe had broken in péeces and come tumbling +downe vpon their heads: héerewith therefore throwing awaie their weapons, they tooke them +to their féet, and glad was he that might get to be formost in running awaie. Manie of +them for hast were drowned in a riuer which they had to passe. Polydor taketh that riuer to +be Trent. The Britains hauing thus vanquished their enimies, gathered the spoile at good +leasure, &gaue God thanks for the victorie thus got without bloud, for the which the holie +bishops also triumphed as best became them. Now after they had setled all things in good +quiet within the Ile, as was thought expedient, they returned into Gallia or France, from +whence they came (as is before rehearsed.)</p> +<p> +<span class="leftnote"><i>Matth. West.</i><br />448.</span> +By one author it should appéere that this battell was woone against the Scots and Picts, +about the yéere of our Lord 448, a little before the comming of the Saxons into this land vnder +Hengist, in which yéere Germane first came hither to wéed out the heresie of Pelagius, as +by the same author more at large is affirmed. Howbeit, some chronographers alledge out of +Prosper &other, and note the first comming of Germane to haue béene in the 429 yéere of +Christ, and vnder the consulship of Florentius and Dionysius. And this should séeme to +agrée with the truth, for that after some, the foresaid Germane should die at Rauenna, about +the yéere of our Lord 450, as Vincentius noteth, which was the verie yeere of the comming +of the Saxons: notwithstanding, when or wheresoeuer he died, it was not long after his +returne into Gallia, vpon his first iournie made hither into this land, who no sooner obteined +the victorie before mentioned, but woord was brought againe vnto him, that eftsoones the +heresie of the Pelagians was spread abroad in Britaine, and therefore all the priests or cleargie +made request to him that it might stand with his pleasure to come ouer againe, and defend +the cause of true religion which he had before confirmed.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">Germane returneth againe into Britaine.</span> +Héerevpon bishop Germane granted so to doo, and therefore taking with him one Seuerus +(that was disciple vnto Lupus, and ordeined at that time bishop of Triers) tooke the sea, and +came againe into Britaine, where he found the multitude of the people stedfast in the same +beliefe wherein he had left them, &perceiued the fault to rest in a few: wherevpon inquiring +out the authors, he condemned them to exile (as it is written) and with a manifest +miracle by restoring a yoong man that was lame (as they saie) vnto the right vse of his lims, he +confirmed his doctrine. Then followed preaching to persuade amendment of errors, and by +the generall consent of all men, the authors of the wicked doctrine being banished the land, +were deliuered vnto bishop Germane and to his fellow Seuerus, to conueie them away in their +companie vnto the parties beyond the seas, that the region might so be deliuered of further +danger, and they receiue the benefit of due amendment.</p> +<p> +By this meanes it came to passe, that the true faith continued in Britaine sound and perfect +a long time after. Things being thus set in good order, those holie men returned into +their countries, the forenamed bishop Germane went to Rauenna to sue for peace to be +granted vnto the people of Britaine Armorike, where being receiued of the emperor Valentinian +and his mother Placida in most reuerend maner, he departed in that citie out of this +<span class="leftnote">Anno 450, as <i>Vincentius</i> noteth, <i>lib. 20. ca. 15.</i></span> +transitorie life, to the eternall ioies of heauen. His bodie was afterwards conueied to the +citie of Auxerre, where he had béene bishop with great opinion of holines for his sincere +doctrine and pure and innocent life. Shortlie after was the emperour Valentinian slaine +<span class="rightnote">The emperour Valentinian slaine.</span> +by the friends of that noble man named Aetius, whome he had before caused to be put to +death.</p> +<p> +¶ By this it maie appéere, that bishop Germane came into this realme both the first and +<span class="leftnote">454.</span> +second time, whilest as well Hengist, as also Vortigerne were liuing: for the said Valentinian +was murthered about the yeere of our Lord 454, where the said kings liued and reigned +long after that time, as maie appéere both before and after in this present booke.</p> + +<hr /><br /><br /> +<a name="seuenth5" id="seuenth5"></a> +<span class="page"><a name="page564" id="page564"></a>[Page 564]</span> +<p> +<i>What part of the realme the Saxons possessed, Vortigerne buildeth a castell in Wales for +his safetie, Aurelius and Vter both brethren returne into Britaine, they assalt the vsurper +Vortigerne, and with wildfire burne both him, his people, his fort, and all the furniture in +the same, Vortigerne committeth incest with his owne daughter, feined and ridiculous +woonders of S. Germane, a sheepherd made a king.</i></p> + + +<h3>THE SEUENTH CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +Now will we returne to Vortigerne, of whome we read in the British historie, that after +the Saxons had constreined him to deliuer into their hands a great part of the south and +east parts of the realme, so that they had in possession London, Yorke, Lincolne, & Winchester, +<span class="rightnote"><i>Galfrid.</i></span> +with other cities & townes, he not onelie fearing their puissance, but also the returne +of Aurelius Ambrosius, and his brother Vter Pendragon, withdrew him into Wales, +<span class="leftnote"><i>Caxton. Fabian. Polychron.</i></span> +where he began to build a strong castell vpon a mounteine called Breigh, or after other +Cloaric, néere to the riuer of Guana, which is in the west side of Wales in a place within the +<span class="rightnote">Mount Erix he calleth it in one place of his booke.</span> +compasse of the same hill called Generon or Gueineren. Of the building of this castell, and +of the hinderance in erecting the same, with the monstrous birth of Merlin and his knowledge +in prophesieng, the British histories tell a long processe, the which in Caxton, and in +Galfrides bookes is also set foorth, as there ye maie sée: but for that the same séemeth not +of such credit as deserueth to be registred in anie sound historie, we haue with silence passed +it ouer.</p> +<p> +<span class="leftnote">Aurelius and Vter brethren returne into Britaine.</span> +Whilest Vortigerne was busied in building of this castell, the two foresaid brethren Aurelius +and Vter prepared a nauie of ships, and an armie of men, by helpe of such their kinsmen and +fréends as they found in Britaine Armorike, and so passed the sea, and landed at Totnesse: +whereof when the Britains were aduertised, the which were scattered abroad and seuered in +diuers parties and countries, they drew vnto the said two brethren with all spéed that might be. +When Aurelius and his brother Vter perceiued that they were sufficientlie furnished of people, +they marched foorth towards Wales against Vortigerne, who hauing knowledge of their +<span class="rightnote">Vortigerne burnt to death. Wild fire not yet inuented as some think.</span> +approch, had fortified his castell verie strongly with men, munition and vittels, but yet all auailed +him nothing, for in the end after his enimies had giuen diuers assaults to the said castell, +they found meanes with wild fire to burne it downe to the earth, and so consumed it by fire +togither with the king, and all other that were within it.</p> +<p> +Thus did Vortigerne end his life (as in the British historie is recorded.) Much euill is reported +of him by the same historie, and also by other writers, and among other things it is written, +that he should lie by his owne daughter, and of hir beget a sonne, in hope that kings +<span class="leftnote"><i>Polychron.</i> <br />A feined tale of S. Germane. A caluish narration.</span> +should come of him, and therefore he was excommunicated by S. Germane. It is also said, +that when the same S. Germane came into Britaine (as before ye haue heard) this Vortigerne +on a time should denie the same S. Germane harbour: but one that kept the kings heards of +cattell receiued him into his house, and lodged him, and slue a calfe for his supper, which +calfe after supper was ended, S. Germane restored againe to life: and on the morrow by the +ordinance of God, he caused Vortigerne to be deposed from his kinglie estate, and tooke +the heardman and made him king. But Ranulfe Hig. in his "Polychronicon," alledging Gyldas +for his author, saith that this chanced to a king that ruled in Powsey, whose name was Bulie, +and not to Vortigerne: so that the successors of that Bulie reigning in that side of Wales, +came of the linage of the same heardman.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>H. Hunt.</i></span> +Moreouer it hath beene said (as one writer recordeth) that when Vortigerne refused to heare +the preaching of saint Germane, and fled from him as he would haue instructed him, +one night there fell fire from heauen vpon the castell wherein the king was lodged, and so the +king being destroied with the fall of the house and the fire togither, was neuer after séene.</p> +<p> +¶ But these are fables, and therfore I passe them ouer, hoping that it shall suffice to shew +here with what stuffe our old historiographers haue farced vp their huge volumes, not so much +regarding the credit of an historie, as satisfieng the vanitie of their owne fond fantasies, studieng<span class="page"><a name="page565" id="page565"></a>[Page 565]</span> +with a pretended skilfulnesse to cast glorious colours vpon lies, that the readers (whom +they presupposed either ignorant or credulous) would be led away with a flowing streme of +woords void of reason and common sense. Which kind of men knew not (belike) that the +nature of an historie, (defined to be <i>Rei verè gestæ memoria)</i> will not beare the burthen or +lode of a lie, sith the same is too heauie: otherwise they would haue deposed matters conspiring +with the truth.</p> + + <hr /><br /><br /> +<a name="eight5" id="eight5"></a> +<p> +<i>Aurelius Ambrosius the brother to Constantius created king of Britaine, he incountereth with +the Saxons, Hengist their generall is beheaded, Occa his sonne submitteth himselfe to Aurelius, +he putteth all the Saxons out of the land, repaireth places decaied, and restoreth religion, +the memorable monument of the stones that are so much spoken of on Salisburie +plaine, the exploits of Pascentius Vortigerns yongest sonne, Aurelius lieth sicke, Vter +goeth against Pascentius and giueth him the ouerthrow, Aurelius is poisoned of a counterfet +moonke, the place of his buriall, Polydor Virgils report of the acts and deeds of Aurelius +against the Saxons, Hengist is slaine, Osca and Occa his two sonnes make a fowle +spoile if the west part of the land, Vortimer dieth, the disagreement of writers touching +matters interchangeablie passed betwene the Britains and Saxons.</i></p> + +<h3>THE EIGHT CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">AURELIUS AMBROSIUS.</span> +Aurelius Ambrose, the second sonne of king Constantine, brother to Constantius, +and murthered by the treason of Vortigerne (as before ye haue heard) was made king of Britaine +<span class="leftnote"><i> Matt. West.</i> saith 466.</span> +in the yéere of our Lord 481, which was about the third yéere of the reigne of the +emperour Zeno, and the 23 of Childericus king of France, Odocer king of the Herulians then +vsurping the gouernment of Italie. When this Aurelius Ambrosius had dispatched Vortigerne, +and was now established king of the Britains, he made towards Yorke, and passing the +<span class="rightnote"><i>Gal. Mon. </i></span> +riuer of Humber, incountred with the Saxons at a place called Maesbell, and ouerthrew them +in a strong battell, from the which as Hengist was fléeing to haue saued himselfe, he was +<span class="leftnote">Hengist taken and beheaded.</span> +taken by Edoll earle of Glocester, or (as some say) Chester, and by him led to Conningsborrow, +where he was beheaded by the counsell of Eldad then bishop of Colchester.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Matth. West.</i></span> +Howbeit there be some that write, how that Hengist was taken at another battell fought +vpon the riuer of Dune, in the yéere of our Lord 489, and not in the chase of the battell +which was fought at Maesbell in the yéere 487, as the same authors doo alledge. Occa the +<span class="leftnote">Occa.</span> +son of Hengist by flight escaped to Yorke, and being there besieged, at length was constreined +to yéeld himselfe to Aurelius: who dealing fauourablie with him, assigned vnto him and +other of the Saxons a countrie bordering neere to the Scots, which (as some affirme) was +Galloway, where the said Occa and the Saxons began to inhabit. Then did Aurelius Ambrosius +put the Saxons out of all other parts of the land, & repaired such cities, townes and +also churches, as by them had beene destroied or defaced, and placed againe priests, and such +other as should attend on the ministerie and seruice of God in the same churches.</p> +<p> +Also for a perpetuall memorie of those Britains that were slaine on the plaine of Salisburie +by the treason of Hengist, he caused stones to be fetched out of Ireland, and to be set vp in +<span class="rightnote">Stoneheng.</span> +the same place where that slaughter was committed, and called the place Stoneheng, which +name continueth vnto this day. Fiftéene thousand men (as Galfrid saith) were sent for those +<span class="leftnote"><i>Gal.Mon.</i></span> +stones, vnder the leading of Vter Pendragon the kings brother, who giuing battell vnto Gillomanus +king of Ireland that went about to resist the Britains, and would not permit them to +fetch away the same stones out of his countrie, discomfited him and his people, and so (maugre +his hart) brought the stones away with him.</p> +<p> +Shortlie after, Pascentius that was Vortigerns yoongest sonne, and had escaped into Ireland<span class="page"><a name="page566" id="page566"></a>[Page 566]</span> +(when Aurelius Ambrosius came into Britaine) returned with a great power of strange nations, +and tooke the citie of Meneuia in Wales, afterwards called saint Dauids, and did much +hurt in the countrie with fire and swoord. At which time the same Aurelius Ambrosius +lay sicke at Winchester, and being not able to go foorth himselfe, desired his brother Vter +Pendragon to assemble an armie of Britains, and to go against Pascentius and his adherents. +Vter, according to his brothers request, gathering his people, went foorth, and incountering +with the enimies gaue them the ouerthrow, slue Pascentius and Gillomare or Gilloman king +of Ireland, that was come ouer with him in aid against the Britains.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Hector Boet. </i></span> +In the meane while, a Saxon or some other stranger, whose name was Eopa or Copa, not +long before procured thereto by Pascentius, fained himselfe to be a Britaine, and for a colour +counterfeiting himselfe a moonke, and to haue great knowledge in physicke, was admitted to +<span class="leftnote"><i>Fabian. </i></span> +minister as it were medicins to Aurelius: but in stead of that which should haue brought +him health, he gaue him poison, whreof he died shortlie after at Winchester aforesaid, +when he had reigned after most accord of writers nintéene yéeres: his bodie was conueied to +Stoneheng and there buried. ¶ Thus find we in the British and common English histories of +the dooings of Aurelius Ambrosius, who (as ye haue hard) makes him a Britaine borne, and +descended of the bloud of the ancient Britains, But Gyldas and Beda report him to be a Romane +by descent, as before is mentioned.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Polydor. </i></span> +Polydor Virgil writeth in this sort of the victorious acts atchiued by the foresaid Aurelius +Ambrosius. Then (saith he) the Saxons hauing alreadie gotten the whole rule of the Ile, +practised their outragious cruelties speciallie against the princes of the Britains, to the end +that the said princes being ouercome and destroied, they might with more ease obteine possession +of the whole Ile, which thing they onlie sought. But the fauour of almightie God was +not wanting to the miserable Britains in that great necessitie. For behold, Aurelius Ambrosius +was at hand, who had no sooner caused the trumpet to sound to armor, but euerie man +for himselfe prepared and repaired vnto him, praieng & beseeching him to helpe to defend +them, and that it might stand with his pleasure to go foorth with them against the enimies in +all speed.</p> +<p> +Thus an armie being assembled, Aurelius Ambrosius went against them, and valiantlie assailed +them, so that within the space of a few daies they fought thrée battels with great fiercenesse +on both sides, in triall of their high displeasures and vttermost forces, in which at length +the Britains put the Saxons to flight, Horsus the brother of Hengist being slaine with a great +number of his people. But yet notwithstanding the enimies rage was little abated hereby, +for within a few daies after receiuing out of Germanie a new supplie of men, they brake +foorth vpon the Britains with great confidence of victorie. Aurelius Ambrosius was no +sooner aduertised thereof, but that without delaie he set forward towards Yorke, from whence +the enimies should come, and hearing by the way that Hengist was incamped about seuen & +twentie miles distant from that citie, néere to the banke of a riuer at this day called Dune, +in the place where Doncaster now standeth, he returned out of his waie, and marched towards +that place, and the next day set on the enimie and vanquished him, Hengist at the first +<span class="rightnote">Hengist is slaine.</span> +méeting of the battell being slaine, with a great number of the Germans. The fame of this +victorie (saith Polydor) is had in memorie with the inhabitants of those parties euen vnto this +day, which victorie did sore diminish the power of the Saxons, insomuch that they began now +to thinke it should be more for their profit to sit in rest with that dishonour, than to make anie +new warres to their great disaduantage and likelihood of present losse.</p> +<p> +Hengist left behind him two sonnes, Osca and Occa, which as men most sorowfull for the +ouerthrow of late receiued, assembled such power as they could togither, and remooued therewith +towards the west part of the Ile, supposing it to be better for them to draw that way +foorth, than to returne into Kent, where they thought was alreadie a sufficient number of their +people to resist the Britains on that side. Now therefore when they came into the west parts +of the land, they wasted the countrie, burnt villages, and absteined from no maner of +crueltie that might be shewed. These things being reported vnto Aurelius Ambrosius, he<span class="page"><a name="page567" id="page567"></a>[Page 567]</span> +straightwaies hasted thither to resist those enimies, and so giuing them battell, eftsoones discomfited +<span class="rightnote">Aurelius dieth of a wound.</span> +them: but he himselfe receiuing a wound, died thereof within a few daies after. +The English Saxons hauing thus susteined so manie losses within a few moneths togither, were +contented to be quiet now that the Britains stirred nothing against them, by reason they were +brought into some trouble by the death of such a noble capteine as they had now lost. +<span class="leftnote">Vortimer departeth this life.</span> +In the meane time Vortimer died, whome Vter surnamed Pendragon succéeded.</p> +<p> +Thus hath Polydor written of the forsaid Aurelius Ambrosius, not naming him to be +king of Britaine, and differing in déed in sundrie points in this behalfe from diuerse ancient +writers of the English histories: for where he attributeth the victorie to the Britains in the +battell fought, wherein Horsus the brother of Hengist was slaine, by the report of Polychronicon, +<span class="rightnote"><i>Wil. Malm.</i></span> +and others, the Saxons had the victorie in that reincounter: and William of +Malmesburie saith, that they departed from that batell with equall fortune, the Saxons losing +<span class="leftnote">Katigerne.</span> +their capteine Horsus, and the Britains their capteine Katigerne (as before ye haue heard.) +But there is such contrarietie in writers touching the dooings betwixt the Britains and +Saxons in those daies, as well in account of yéeres, as in report of things doone, that +setting affection aside, hard it is to iudge to which part a man should giue credit.</p> +<p> +For Fabian and other authors write, that Aurelius Ambrosius began his reigne ouer the +<span class="rightnote">458.</span> +Britains about the yéere of our Lord 481, and Horsus was slaine about the yéere 458, +during the reigne of Vortimer, as aboue is mentioned, so that it cannot stand with the truth +of the British histories (the which Fabian followeth) that Horsus was slaine by Aurelius Ambrosius, +if according to the same histories he returned not into Britaine, till the time there +supposed. But diuerse such maner of contrarieties shall ye find, in perusing of those writers +that haue written the chronicles of the Britains and Saxons, the which in euerie point to recite, +would be too tedious and combersome a matter, and therefore we are forced to passe +the same ouer, not knowing how to bring them to anie iust accord for the satisfieng of all +mens minds, speciallie the curious, which may with diligent search satisfie themselues happilie +much better, than anie other shall be able to doo in vttering his opinion neuer so +much at large, and agréeable to a truth. This therefore haue we thought good as it were +by the waie to touch what diuerse authors doo write, leauing it so to euerie mans iudgement +<span class="rightnote"><i>Sigebertus.</i></span> +to construe thereof, as his affection leadeth him. We find in the writings of those that +haue registred the dooings of these times, that Aurelius hauing vanquished the Saxons, restored +churches to the furtherance of the christian religion, which by the inuasion of the Saxons +<span class="rightnote"><i>Matth. West.</i> saith 488.</span> +was greatlie decaied in diuerse parts of Britaine, and this chanced in the daies of the emperour +Theodosius the yoonger.</p> + + <hr /><br /><br /> +<a name="ninth5" id="ninth5"></a> +<p> +<i>The beginning of the kingdome of the Southsaxons commonlie called Sussex, the Britains with +their rulers giue battell to Ella the Saxon & his three sonnes, disagreement betweene the English +and British chronographers about the battels fought by Hengist and his death, the beginning +of the Kentish kingdome, a battell fought betweene the Britains and Saxons, the first are +conquered, the last are conquerors.</i></p> + +<h3>THE NINTH CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">Ella entred this land as <i>Matt. West.</i> saith ann. 477.</span> +In the time of the foresaid Aurelius Ambrosius, one Ella a Saxon with his 3 sonnes Cymen, +Plettinger and Cissa, came out of Germanie with thrée ships, and landed in the south +parts of Britaine and being incountred with a power of Britains at a place called Cuneueshore, +discomfited them, and chased them vnto a wood then called Andredescester, and so tooke +that countrie, and inhabited there with his people the Saxons which he brought with him, +and made himselfe king and lord thereof, in somuch that afterwards the same countrie was<span class="page"><a name="page568" id="page568"></a>[Page 568]</span> +<span class="rightnote"><br />The kingdom of the Southsaxons dooth begin.</span> +named the kingdome of the Southsaxons, which had for limits on the east side Kent, on the +south the sea and Ile of Wight, on the west Hamshire, and on the north part Southerie. +This kingdome (after some) began vnder the foresaid Ella, about the 32 yeere after the first +comming of the Saxons into this land, which by following that account, should be about +<span class="rightnote">482.</span> +the second yéere of the reigne of Aurelius Ambrosius, and about the yéere of our Lord 482. +But other write, that it did begin about the 30 yéere after the first comming of Hengist, +which should be two yéeres sooner.</p> +<p> +William Harison differing from all other, noteth it to begin in the fourth yéere after the +death of Hengist, 4458 of the world, 2 of the 317 Olympiad, 1248 of Rome, 492 of Christ, +and 43 after the comming of the Saxons: his woords are these. Ella erected the kingdome +of the Southsaxons, in the 15 after his arriuall, and reigned 32 yéeres, the chiefe citie of his +kingdome also was Chichester, and after he had inioied the same his kingdome a while, +he ouerthrew the citie called Andredescester, which as then was taken for one of the most +famous in all the south side of England. ¶ For my part I thinke my dutie discharged, if I +shew the opinions of the writers: for if I should therto ad mine owne, I should but increase +coniectures, whereof alreadie we haue superfluous store. To procéed thereforr as I find.</p> +<p> +About the ninth yéere after the comming of Ella, the Britains perceiuing that he with +his Saxons still inlarged the bounds of his lordship by entring further into the land, assembled +themselues togither vnder their kings and rulers, and gaue battell to Ella and his sonnes +at Mecredesbourne, where they departed with doubtfull victorie, the armies on both sides being +sore diminished, and so returned to their homes. Ella after this battell sent into his +countrie for more aid.</p> +<p> +But now touching Hengist, who as ye haue heard, reigned as king in the prouince of Kent, +the writers of the English kings varie somewhat from the British histories, both in report of +the battels by him fought against the Britains, and also for the maner of his death: as thus. +After that Vortimer was dead, who departed this life (as some write) in the first yéere of the +<span class="rightnote"><i>Polychron.</i><br /> 457.</span> +emperor Leo, surnamed the great, and first of that name that gouerned the empire, who began + +to rule in the yéere of our Lord 457, we find that Hengist and his sonne Occa or Osca +<span class="leftnote"><i>Henrie Hunt. <br />Wil. Malm.</i> Creiford. Britains ouerthrowne.</span> +gathered their people togither that were before sparkled, and hauing also receiued new aid +out of Germanie, fought with the Britains at a place called Crekenford, where were slaine +of the Britains foure dukes or capteins, and foure thousand of other men, the residue were +chased by Hengist out of Kent vnto London, so that they neuer returned afterwards againe +into Kent: thus the kingdome of Kent began vnder Hengist the twelfe yéere after the comming +of the Saxons into Britaine, and Hengist reigned in Kent after this (as the same writers +agrée) foure and twentie yéeres.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i> Polychron. </i></span> +It is remembred that those Germans which latelie were come ouer to the aid of Hengist, +being chosen men, mightie and strong of bodie, with their axes and swoords made great +slaughter of the Britains in that battell at Crekenford or Creiford, which Britains were ranged +<span class="leftnote"><i>Hen. Hunt.</i></span> +in foure battels vnder their aforesaid foure dukes or capteins, and were (as before is mentioned) +slaine in the same battell. About the sixt yéere of the said emperor Leo, which was +<span class="rightnote">Wipets field <br /><i>Matt. West.</i> <br />This battell was fought anno 473. as the same <br /><i> Mat. West.</i> noteth.</span> +in the 17 yéere after the comming of the Saxons, Hengist and his sonne Occa or Osca fought +at Wipets field in Kent, néere to a place called Tong with the Britains, and slue of them +twelue dukes or capteins, & on the part of the Saxons was slaine beside common souldiers +<span class="leftnote">Wipet. <br /><i>H. Hunt.</i> </span> +but onlie one capteine called Wipet, of whom the place after that daie tooke name.</p> +<p> +This victorie was nothing plesant to the Saxons, by reason of the great losse which they +susteined, as well by the death of the said Wipet, as of a great number of others: and so +of a long time neither did the Saxons enter into the confines of the Britains, nor the Britains +presumed to come into Kent. But whilest outward wars ceassed among the Britains, they +exercised ciuill battell, falling togither by the eares among themselues, one striuing against +<span class="leftnote">Fortie Yéeres saith <i>H. Hunt</i></span> +another. Finallié, Hengist departed this life by course of nature, in the 39 yéere after +his first comming into Britaine, hauing procéeded in his businesse no lesse with craft and +<span class="rightnote">By this it is euident that he was not driuen out of the land +after he had once set foot within it. <br /><i>Matt. West.</i> <br /><i>H. Hunt.</i> <br />The citie of Andredescester</span> +guile than with force and strength, following therewith his natiue crueltie, so that he rather<span class="page"><a name="page569" id="page569"></a>[Page 569]</span> +did all things with rigour than with gentlenesse. After him succéeded a sonne whom +he left behind him, who being attentiue rather to defend than to inlarge his kingdome, +neuer set foot out of his fathers bounds, during the space of 24 yéeres, in the which he +reigned.</p> +<p> +About thrée yéeres after the deceasse of Hengist, a new supplie of men of warre came +out of Germanie vnto the aid of Ella king of Sussex, who hauing his power increased, +besieged the citie of Andredescester, which was verie strong and well furnished with men and +all things necessarie. The Britains also assembling togither in companies, greatlie annoied +the Saxons as they lay there at siege, laieng ambushes to destroie such as went abroad, and +ceassing not to giue alarums to the campe in the night season: and the Saxons could no sooner +prepare them selues to giue the assalt, but the Britains were readie to assaile them on the +backs, till at length the Saxons diuiding themselues into two companies, appointed the one +to giue the assalt, and the other to incounter with the armie of the Britains without, and +so finallie by that meanes preuailed, tooke the citie, and destroied man, woman and child. +Neither so contented, they did also vtterlie race the said citie, so as it was neuer after that +daie builded or reedified againe.</p> + + <hr /><br /><br /> + <a name="tenth5" id="tenth5"></a> +<p> +<i>The east Angles kingdome beginneth, the arriuall of Cerdic and Kenric with fiue ships of +warre in this land, he putteth the Britains to flight, the west Saxons kingdom begineth, +Vter Pendragon made king of Britaine, the etymon of his name, he taketh Occa and +Osca the two sonnes of Hengist prisoners, how Hector Boetius varieth from other chronographers +in the relation of things concerning Pendragon, he falleth in loue with the +duke of Cornewalls wife, killeth him, and marieth hir. Occa and Osca escape out of prison, +they freshlie assault the Britains, they are both slaine in a foughten field, the Saxons +send and looke for aid out of Germanie, Pendragon is poisoned.</i></p> + +<h3>THE TENTH CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">The kingdome of the east Angles began not till Aurelius Conanus reigned. <br />561.</span> +Moreouer, in the daies of the afore-named Auralius Ambrosius, about the yeare of our +Lord 561, the kingdome of the east Angles began vnder a Saxon named Uffa. This same +kingdome conteined Northfolke and Suffolke, hauing on the east and north parts the sea, +on the northwest Cambridgeshire, and on the west saint Edmunds ditch with a part of +Hertfordshire, and on the southside lieth Essex. At the first it was called Vffines dominion, +and the kings that reigned, or the people that inhabited there, were at the first named +Vffines, but at length they were called east Angles.</p> +<p> +<span class="leftnote">CERDIC. <br /><i>Wil. Malm.</i><br /> 495.</span> +Fvrthermore, about the yeare of our Lord 495, and in the eight yeare after that Hengist + + +was dead, one Cerdicus and his sonne Kenricus came out of Gerrmanie with fiue ships, +and landed at a place called Cerdicshore, which as some thinke is called Yermouth in Northfolke. +<span class="rightnote"><i>Fabian</i>. <br /><i>Polychron.</i> <br /><i>Wil. Malm.</i></span> +He was at the first receiued with battell by the Britains, but being an old skilfull warriour, +he easilie beate backe and repelled the inconstant multitude of his enimies, and caused +them to flée: by which good successe he procured both vndoubted assurance to himselfe for +the time to come, and to the inhabitants good and perfect quietnes. For they thinking good +neuer after to prouoke him more by resistance, submitted themselues to his pleasure: but yet did +not he then giue himselfe to slouthfull rest, but rather extending his often atchiued victories on +ech side, in the 24 yeare after his comming into this land, he obteined the rule of the west parts +thereof, and gouerned there as king, so that the kingdome of the west Saxons began vnder +the said Cerdicus in the 519 of Christ, as after shall be shewed.</p> + +<p> +<span class="rightnote">529.</span> +¶ Thus ye maie sée, that Aurelius Ambrosius did succéed Vortigerne, and reigned in the<span class="page"><a name="page570" id="page570"></a>[Page 570]</span> +time supposed by the British histories, as before is alledged, the land euen in his daies was +full of trouble, and the old inhabitants the Britains sore vexed by the Saxons that entred the +same, so that the Britains were dailie hampered, and brought vnder subiection to the valiant +Saxons, or else driuen to remooue further off, and to giue place to the victors. But now to +procéed with the succession of the British kings, as in their histories we find them registred, +which I deliuer such as I find, but not such as I doo wish, being written with no such colour +of credit as we maie safelie put foorth the same for an vndoubted truth.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Matth. West.</i> noteth. 500.</span> +After that Aurelius Ambrosius was dead, his brother Vter Pendragon (whome some call +Aurelius Vterius Ambrosianus) was made king in the yeare of our Lord 500, in the seuenth +yeare of the emperour Anastasius, and in the sixtéenth yeare of Clodoueus king of the +Frenchmen. The cause why he was surnamed Pendragon, was, for that Merline the great +prophet likened him to a dragons head, that at the time of his natiuitie maruelouslie appeared +in the firmament at the corner of a blasing star, as is reported. But others supposed he was +so called of his wisedome and serpentine subtiltie, or for that he gaue the dragons head in his +banner. This Vter, hearing that the Saxons with their capteins Occa or Otta the sonne of +Hengist, and his brother Osca had besieged the citie of Yorke, hasted thither, and giuing +them battell, discomfited their power, and tooke the said Occa and Osca prisoners.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Hector Boet.</i></span> +From this varieth Hector Boetius in his chronicle of Scotland, writing of these dooings in +Britaine: for he affirmeth, that the counterfeit moonke, which poisoned Aurelius Ambrosius, +was suborned and sent to woorke that feat by Occa, and not by his brother Pascentius: and +further, that about the selfesame time of Aurelius his death, his brother Vter Pendragon lay in +Wales, not as yet fullie recouered of a sore sicknesse, wherewith of late he had béene much vexed. +Yet the lords of Britaine after the buriall of Aurelius Ambrosius, came vnto him and crowned +him king: and though he was not able to go against the Saxons (which as then by reason of +Aurelius Ambrosius his death were verie busie, and more earnest in pursuing the warre than +before) yet an armie was prepared and sent foorth with all conuenient spéed vnder the leading +of one Nathaliod, a man neither of anie great ancient house, nor yet of skill in warlike affaires.</p> +<p> +The noble men were nothing pleased herewith, as misliking altogither the lacke of discretion +in their new king, & doubted sore, least in time to come he would haue more delight to +aduance the men of base degrée, than such as were descended of noble parentage. Yet because +they would not put the state of the common wealth in danger through anie mutinie, +they agréed to go foorth with him in that iournie. Occa had aduertisement giuen him by +certeine letters sent to him from some close friends amongest the Britains of the whole +matter: and therefore in hope of the better spéed, he hasted foorth to incounter the +Britains, and so the whole armie comming within sight of the other, they prepared to +the battell, and shortlie after buckling togither, the Britains were soone discomfited, by +reason that one of their chiefest capteins called Gothlois disdaining to be at the appointment +of Nathaliod, got him vp to the next hill with the next battell which he led, leauing +the other Britains in all the danger: which they séeing began by & by to flée. There +died no great number of the Britains, except those that were killed in the fight: for Occa mistrusting +what Gothlois meant by his withdrawing aside, would not suffer the Saxons to follow +the chase, but in the night following Gothlois got him awaie, and rested not till he was out +of danger. Occa then perceiuing himselfe to haue the vpper hand, sent an herald vnto king +Vter with a certeine message, threatning destruction to him and to his people, if he refused to +doo that which he should appoint.</p> +<p> +Vter perceiuing what disloialtie rested in the harts of his owne subiects, agréed that the +matter might be committed to eight graue and wise councellors, foure Britains and foure Saxons, +which might haue full power to make an end of all controuersies and variances depending +betwixt the two nations. Occa was likewise contented therewith, wherevpon were named +on either part foure persons, of such wisedome, knowledge and experience, as were thought +meetest for the ordering of such a weightie matter. So that by the arbitrement, award and +doome of those eight persons authorised thereto, a league was concluded vpon certeine articles<span class="page"><a name="page571" id="page571"></a>[Page 571]</span> +of agreement, amongst the which the chiefest was, that the Saxons from thencefoorth +should quietlie inioy all that part of Britaine which lieth fore against the Almaine seas, the same +to be called euer after Engistlaund, and all the residue should remaine to the Britains as their +owne rightfull and ancient inheritance. Thus far Hector Boetius.</p> +<p> +But now to returne vnto Vter according to that we find in the British histories, and to procéed +after our owne historians; we find, that when he had vanquished the Saxons and taken +their two chiefeteins prisoners, in processe of time he fell in loue with a verie beautifull ladie +<span class="rightnote">Gorolus duke of Cornewall.</span> +called Igwarne or Igerna, wife to one Gorolus or Gorlois duke of Cornewall, the which duke +he slue at length néere to his owne castell called Diuulioc in Cornewall, to the end that he +might inioy the said ladie, whome he afterwards maried, and begot on hir that noble knight +Arthur, and a daughter named Amie or Anna. Occa and Osca escaping also out of prison +assembled eftsoones a power of Saxons, and made warre against the Britains, whereof +Vter hauing aduertisement prepared to resist them, and finallie went himselfe in person +<span class="rightnote"><i>Harding.</i></span> +against them, and at saint Albans (as some write) gaue them battell, and slue them both in +the field.</p> +<p> +By that which Polydor Virgil writeth, it should séeme that Germane the bishop of Auxerre +came into Britaine in the daies of this Vter, by whose presence the Britains had victorie against +the Saxons (as before ye haue heard) after which victorie both rested from troubling either +other for a time. The Saxons as it were astonied with that present miracle, & the Britains +not following their good successe, shortlie after fell at discord amongst themselues, which +finallie brought them to vtter decaie, as after shall appeare. But the Saxons desirous to spoile +the Britains of the whole possession of that part of the Ile which they held, whereas they accounted +<span class="rightnote">Badon hill.</span> +the cities and townes of small strength to be defended, they got them to an high mounteine +called Badon hill, which Polydor supposeth to be Blackamore that lieth néere to the +water of Theise, which diuideth the bishoprike of Durham from Yorkeshire, hauing at the +mouth thereof an hauen méet to receiue such ships as come out of Germanie, from whence +the Saxons looked for aid, hauing alreadie sent thither for the same.</p> +<p> +The Britains being thereof aduertised, made hast towards the place, and besieged it on +euerie side. They also laie the sea coasts full of souldiers, to kéepe such of the enimies from +landing as should come out of Germanie. The Saxons kept themselues for a certeine space +aloft vpon the high ground, but in the end constreined through want of vittels, they came +downe with their armie in order of battell to the next plaines, and offering to fight, the battell +was anon begun, which continued from the morning till far in the day, with such slaughter, +that the earth on euerie side flowed with bloud: but the Saxons susteined the greater losse, +their capteins Occa and Osca being both slaine, so that the Britains might séeme quite deliuered +of all danger of those enimies: but the fatall destinie could not be auoided, as hereafter +may appeare. And thus was the slaughter made of the Saxons at Badon hill, whereof +<span class="rightnote"><i>Gyldas.</i></span> +Gyldas maketh mention, and chanced the same yeare that he was borne, which was in the +<span class="leftnote">492.</span> +44 yeare after the first comming of the Saxons into this land, the yeare of Grace 492, & 15 +indiction.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">The decease of Vter Pendragon.</span> +About the same time Vter departed out of this life (saith Polydor) so that this account +agréeth nothing with the common account of those authors, whome Fabian and other haue +followed. For either we must presuppose, that Vter reigned before the time appointed to +him by the said authors, either else that the siege of Badon hill was before he began to reigne, +as it should séeme in déed by that which Wil. Malmesburie writeth thereof, as hereafter shall +be also shewed. Finallie (according to the agréement of the English writers) Vter Pendragon +died by poison, when he had gouerned this land by the full terme of 16 years, & +<span class="rightnote">Stoneheng. Chorea Gigantum.</span> +was after buried by his brother Aurelius at Stoneheng, otherwise called <i>Chorea Gigantnm,</i> +leauing his sonne Arthur to succéed him. ¶ Here ye must note that the Scotish chronicles declare, +that in all the warres for the more part wherein the Britains obteined victorie against +the Saxons, the Scots aided them in the same warres, and so likewise did the Picts, but the<span class="page"><a name="page572" id="page572"></a>[Page 572]</span> +same chronicles doo not onelie varie from the British writers in account of yeares, but also in +the order of things doone, as in the same chronicles more plainelie may appeare, & namelie in +the discourse of the accidents which chanced during the reigne of this Vter. For whereas +the British histories, as ye haue heard, attribute great praise vnto the same Vter for his victories +atchiued against the Saxons and their king Occa, whome he slue in battell, and obteined +a great victorie, the Scotish writers make other report, affirming in deed that by the presence +of bishop Germane he obteined victorie in one battell against them: but shortlie after the +Britains fought againe with the Saxons, and were discomfited, although Occa in following the +chase ouer rashlie chanced to be slaine: after whose deceasse the Saxons ordeined his sonne +named also Occa to succéed in his place, who to make himselfe strong against all his +enimies, sent into Germanie for one Colgerne, the which with a great power of Dutchmen +came ouer into this our Britaine, and conquered by Occas appointment the countrie +of Northumberland, situate betwéene Tine and Tweed, as in the Scotish chronicles may +further appeare.</p> +<p> +Also this is to be remembred, that the victorie which was got against the Saxons by the +Britains, at what time Germane bishop of Auxerre was present: Hector Boetius affirmeth (by +authoritie of Veremond that wrote the Scotish chronicles) to haue chanced the second time of +his comming ouer into this land, where Beda auoucheth it to be at his first being heere. +Againe the same Boetius writeth, that the same victorie chanced in the daies of Vter Pendragon. +Which can not be, if it be true that Beda writeth, touching the time of the death of the +said Germane: for where he departed this life before the yeare of our Lord 459, as aboue is +said, Vter Pendragon began not his reigne till the yeare of our Lord 500 or as the same +Hector Boetius saith 503, so that bishop Germane was dead long before that Vter began to reigne.</p> +<p> +In déed some writers haue noted, that the third battell which Vortimer fought against the +Saxons, was the same wherein S. Germane was present, and procured the victorie with the +crie of <i>Alleluia</i>, as before ye haue heard. Which seemeth to be more agréeable to truth, and +to stand also with that which holie Beda hath written, touching the time of the being héere +of the said Germane, than the opinion of other, which afirme that it was in the time of the +reigne of Vter. The like is to be found in the residue of Hector Boetius his booke, touching +the time speciallie of the reignes of the British kings that gouerned Britaine about that season. +For as he affirmeth, Aurelius Ambrosius began his reigne in the yeare of our Lord 498, and +ruled but seuen yeares, and then succéeded Vter, which reigned 18 yeares, and departed this +life in the yeare of our Lord 521.</p> +<p> +¶ Notwithstanding the premisses, here is to be remembred, that whatsoeuer the British +writers haue recorded touching the victories of this Vter had against the Saxons, and +how that Osca the sonne of Hengist should be slaine in battell by him and his power: in +<span class="rightnote">Osca. <br />34 saith <br /><i>Henrie Hunt.</i> <br />in corrupted copies.</span> +those old writers which haue registred the acts of the English Saxon kings we find +no such matter, but rather that after the deceasse of Hengist, his sonne Osca or +Occa reigned in Kent 24 yeares, defending his kingdome onelie, and not séeking to inlarge +it (as before is touched.) After whose death his sonne Oth, and Irmenrike sonne to the +same Oth succéeded, more resembling their father than their grandfather or great grandfather. +To their reignes are assigned fiftie and three yeares by the chronicles: but whether +they reigned iointlie togither, or seuerallie & apart either after other, it is not certeinlie +perceiued.</p> + +<hr /><br /><br /> +<a name="eleuenth5" id="eleuenth5"></a> +<p> +<span class="page"><a name="page573" id="page573"></a>[Page 573]</span> +<i>Porth the Saxon arriueth at Portesmouth, warre betweene Nazaleod king of the Britains and +the Saxons, the Britains are ouerthrowen and slaine, the kingdome of the west Saxons +beginneth, the compasse or continent thereof, the meanes whereby it was inlarged.</i></p> + +<h3>THE ELEUENTH CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">Porth entred this land about the yeare of our Lord 501 as <i>Matth. West.</i> noteth.</span> +Now will we breefelie discourse vpon the incidents which first happened during the +reigne of Vter Pendragon. We find that one Porth a Saxon with his two sons Megla and +Beda came on land at Portesmouth in Sussex, about the beginning of the said Vters reigne, +and slue a noble yoong man of the Britains, and manie other of the meaner sort with him. +<span class="leftnote"><i>Harison</i> supposeth the riuer to be called Ports, as for the word mouth, is the fall of anie fresh riuer into the sea.</span> +Of this Porth the towne & hauen of Portesmouth tooke the name, as some haue thought. +Moreouer, about 40 yeares after the comming of the Saxons into this land with their leader +Hengist, one Nazaleod, a mightie king amongst the Britains, assembled all the power he +could make to fight with Certicus king of the Westsaxons, who vnderstanding of the great +power of his enimies, required aid of Osca king of Kent, also of Elle king of Sussex, and of +Porth and his sonnes which were latelie before arriued as ye haue heard. Certicus being +then furnished with a conuenient armie, diuided the same into two battels, reseruing the one +to himselfe, and the other he appointed to his sonne Kenrike. King Nazaleod perceiuing +that the wing which Certicus led, was of more strength than the other which Kenrike gouerned, +he set first vpon Certicus, thinking that if he might distresse that part of the enimies +armie, he should easilie ouercome the other. Herevpon he gaue such a fierce charge vpon +that wing, that by verie force he opened the same, and so ouerthrew the Saxons on that side, +making great slaughter of them as they were scattered. Which maner of dealing when +<span class="rightnote">The Britaines ouerthrowne. <i>Matth. West. Henr. Hunt.</i></span> +Kenrike saw, he made forward with all spéed to succour his father, and rushing in amongst +the Britains on their backs, he brake their armie in péeces, and slue their king Nazaleod, and +withall put his people to flight. There died of the Britains that daie 5000 men, and the residue +<span class="leftnote">Stuff and Wightgar. <i>Matth. West.</i> noteth the yeare of their arrivall to be 514.</span> +escaped by fléeing as well as they might. In the sixt yeare after this battell, Stuff and +Wightgar that were nephues to Certicus, came with thrée ships, and landed at Certicesford, +and ouerthrew a number of Britains that came against them in order of battell, and so by the +comming of those his nephues being valiant and hardie capteins, the part of Certicus became +much stronger. Abut the same time Elle king of the Southsaxons departed this life, after +whome succéeded his sonne Cissa, of whome we find little left in writing to be made account of.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">Henr. Hunt. Britains ouerthrowne by the Saxons.</span> +About the yeare of our Lord 519, and in the yeare after the comming of the Saxons 71, +which was in the 26 yeare of the emperour Anastasius, the Britains fought with Certicus and +his sonne Kenrike at Certicesford, where the capteins of the Britains stood to it manfullie: +but in the end they were discomfited, and great slaughter was made there of them by the +Saxons, and greater had béene, if the night comming on had not parted them, and so manie +were saued.</p> +<p> +<span class="leftnote">The kingdom of Westsaxons.</span> +From that day forward Certicus was reputed & taken for king of Westsaxons, & so began +the same kingdome at that time, which was (as W. Harison noteth) in the yéere of Christ +519, after the building of Rome 1270, of the world 4485, of the comming of the Saxons 70, of +Iustinus Anicius emperour of the east, the first and third of the renowmed prince Patricius +Arthurus then reigning ouer the Britains. The said kingdome also conteined the countries +of Wiltshire, Summersetshire, Barkeshire, Dorsetshire, and Cornewall, hauing on the east +Hamshire, on the north the riuer of Thames, and on the south and west the Ocean sea. +Howbeit, at the first the kings of the Westsaxons had not so large dominions, but they dailie +wan ground vpon the Britains, and so in the end by inlarging their confines, they came to inioy +all the foresaid countries, and the whole at the last.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">Certicesford.</span> +In the ninth yéere of the reigne of Certicus, he eftsoones fought with the Saxons at Certicesford +aforesaid, where great slaughter was made on both parts. This Certicesford was in +times past called Nazaleoy of the late remembred Nazaleod king of the Britains. About this +season at sundrie times diuers great companies of the Saxons came ouer into Britaine out of<span class="page"><a name="page574" id="page574"></a>[Page 574]</span> +Germanie, and got possession of the countries of Mercia and Eastangle: but as yet those of +Mercia had no one king that gouerned them, but were vnder certeine noble men that got +possession of diuers parts in that countrie, by means wherof great warres and manie incounters +insued, with a common waste of land both arable and habitable, whiles each one being +ambitiouslie minded, & heaping to themselues such powers as they were able to make, by +swoord and bloudshed chose rather to haue their fortune decided, than by reason to suppresse +the rage of their vnrulie affections. For such is the nature of men in gouernement, whether +they be interessed to it by succession, or possessed of it by vsurpation, or placed in it by lawfull +constitution, (vnlesse they be guided by some supernaturall influence of diuine conceit) +if they be more than one, they cannot away with equalitie, for regiment admitteth no companion: +but euerie one séeketh to aduance himselfe to a singularitie of honour, wherein he +will not (to die for it) participate with another, which maie easilie be obserued in this our historicall +discourse.</p> + + <hr /><br /><br /> + <a name="twelfe5" id="twelfe5"></a> +<p> +<i>The beginning of the kingdome of the Eastsaxons, what it conteined, of Arthur king of Britaine, +his twelue victories ouer the Saxons against whome he mainteined continuall warre, +why the Scots and Picts enuied him his roialtie and empire, a league betwixt Arthur and +Loth king of the Picts, Howell king of little Britaine aideth Arthur against Cheldrike +king of Germanie, who taking the ouerthrow, is slaine by the duke of Cornewall, the Picts +are discomfited, the Irishmen with their king put to flight, and the Scots subdued, Arthurs +sundrie conquests against diuers people, the vanitie of the British writers noted.</i></p> + +<h3>THE TWELFE CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">ERCHENWIN. The kingdom of the Eastsaxons.</span> +In those daies also the kingdome of the Eastsaxons began, the chéefe citie whereof was +London. It contained in effect so much as at this present belongeth to the diocesse of London. +One Erchenwin a Saxon was the first king thereof, the which was sonne to one Offa, the +sixt in lineall descent from one Saxnot, from whom the kings of that countrie fetched their +originall. Harison noteth the exact yéere of the erection of the kingdome of the Eastsaxons +to begin with the end of the eight of Cerdicus king of the Westsaxons, that is, the 527 of +Christ, and 78 after the comming of the Saxons. In the 13 yéere of the reigne of Cerdicus, +he with his sonne Kenrike, and other of the Saxon capteins fought with the Britains in +the Ile of Wight at Witgarsbridge, where they slue a great number of Britains, and so conquered +the Ile, the which about four yéeres after was giuen by Cerdicus vnto his nephues +Stuffe and Witgar.</p> +<p> +<span class="lefhtnote">ARTHUR.</span> +After the deceasse of Vter Pendragon (as we doo find in the British histories) his sonne Arthur, +a yoong towardlie gentleman, of the age of 15 yéeres or thereabouts, began his reigne ouer +<span class="rightnote">516.<br/> <i>Matth. West.</i> hath noted 518.</span> +the Britains in the yéere of our Lord 516, or as Matt. Westmin. saith 517, in the 28 yéere of +the emperour Anastasius, and in the third yéere of the reignes of Childebert, Clothare, Clodamire, +and Theodorike, brethren that were kings of the Frenchmen. Of this Arthur manie +things are written beyond credit, for that there is no ancient author of authoritie that confirmeth the +same: but surelie as may be thought he was some woorthie man, and by all likelihood a great +enimie to the Saxons, by reason whereof the Welshmen which are the verie Britains in déed, +haue him in famous remembrance. He fought (as the common report goeth of him) 12 notable +battels against the Saxons, & in euerie of them went away with the victorie, but yet he +could not driue them quite out of the land, but that they kept still the countries which they +had in possession, as Kent, Sutherie, Norfolke, and others: howbeit some writers testifie, that +they held these countries as tributaries to Arthur.</p> +<p> +But truth it is (as diuers authors agrée) that he held continuall warre against them, and<span class="page"><a name="page575" id="page575"></a>[Page 575]</span> +also against the Picts, the which were allied with the Saxons: for as in the Scotish histories +is conteined, euen at the first beginning of his reigne, the two kings of the Scots and +Picts séemed to enuie his aduancement to the crowne of Britaine, bicause they had +maried the two sisters of the two brethren, Aurelius Ambrosius, and Vter Pendragon, +that is to say, Loth king of Picts had married Anne their eldest sister, and Conran king of +Scots had in mariage Alda their yoonger sister, so that bicause Arthur was begotten out of +wedlocke, they thought it stood with more reason, that the kingdome of the Britains should +haue descended vnto the sisters sonnes, rather than to a bastard, namelie Loth the Pictish +king, which had issue by his wife Anna, sore repined at the matter.</p> +<p> +Wherefore at the first, when he saw that by suit he could not preuaile, he ioined in league +with the Saxons, and aiding them against Arthur, lost many of his men of warre being ouerthrowne +in battell, which he had sent vnto the succours of Colgerne the Saxon prince that +ruled as then in the north parts. But finallie a league was concluded betwixt Arthur and the +foresaid Loth king of Picts, vpon certeine conditions, as in the Scotish historie is expressed, +where ye may read the same, with many other things touching the acts of Arthur, somewhat +in other order than our writers haue recorded.</p> +<p> +¶ The British authors declare, that Arthur (immediatlie after he had receiued the crowne +of Dubright bishop of Caerleon) went with his power of Britains against the Saxons of +Northumberland, which had to their capteine (as before is said) one Colgrime or Colgerne, +whome Arthur discomfited and chased into the citie of Yorke, within which place Arthur besieged +<span class="leftnote">Yorke besieged.</span> +him, till at length the same Colgrime escaped out of the citie, & leauing it in charge +<span class="rightnote">Cheldrike commeth in aid of Colgrime. <i>Matt. Westm.</i> saith but 700.</span> +with his brother called Bladulfe, passed ouer into Germanie vnto Cheldrike king of that +countrie, of whom he obteined succor, so that the said Cheldrike made prouision of men and +ships, and came himselfe ouer into Scotland, hauing in his companie fiftéene hundred sailes +one with an other.</p> +<p> +When Arthur was aduertised thereof, he raised his siege, and withdrew to London, sending +letters with all speed vnto Howell king of little Britaine in France, that was his sisters sonne, +<span class="rightnote">Howell king of Britaine commeth ouer in aid of Arthur.</span> +requiring of him in most earnest wise his aid. Howell incontinentlie assembled his people, to +the number of fifteene thousand men, and taking the sea, landed with them at Southhampton, +where Arthur was readie to receiue him with great ioy and gladnesse. From thence they +drew northwards, where both the hosts of Arthur and Howell being assembled togither, +marched forward to Lincolne, which citie Cheldrike did as then besiege. Here Arthur and +<span class="rightnote">Cheldrike ouerthrowne in battell.</span> +Howell assailed the Saxons with great force & no lesse manhood, and at length after great +slaughter made of the enimies, they obteined the victorie, and chased Cheldrike (with the +residue of the Saxons that were left aliue) vnto a wood, where they compassed them about +within the same, in such wise, that in the ende they were constreined to yéeld themselues, +with condition that they might be suffered to depart on foot to their ships, and so auoid the +land, leauing their horsse, armour, and other furniture vnto the Britains.</p> +<p> +Héerevpon the Britains taking good hostages for assurance, permitted the Saxons to go +their waies, and so Cheldrike and his people got them to their ships, in purpose to returne +into their countrie: but being on the sea, they were forced by wind to change their course, +and comming on the coasts of the west parts of Britaine, they arriued at Totnesse, and contrarie +to the couenanted articles of their last composition with Arthur, inuaded the countrie anew, +and taking such armour as they could find, marched foorth in robbing and spoiling the people, +till they came to Bath, which towne the Britains kept and defended against them, not +suffering them by anie meanes to enter there, wherevpon the Saxons inuironed it with a +<span class="rightnote">Bath besieged.</span> +strong siege. Arthur informed heereof, with all spéed hasted thither, and giuing the enimies +<span class="leftnote">The Saxons (sic) ouerthrow Colgrime and Bladulfe.</span> +battell, slue the most part of Cheldrikes men. +</p> +<p> +There were slaine both Colgrime and Bladulfe, howbeit Cheldrike himselfe fled out of the +field towards his ships, but being pursued by Cador earle of Cornwall (that had with him +<span class="rightnote">Cheldrike slaine by Cador duke of Cornwall.<br /> K. Howell besieged by the Scots.</span> +tèn thousand men) by Arthurs appointment, he was ouertaken and in flight slaine with all his +people. Arthur himselfe returned from this battell foughten at Bath with all speed towards<span class="page"><a name="page576" id="page576"></a>[Page 576]</span> +the marshes of Scotland, for that he had receiued aduertisement, how the Scots had besieged +Howell K. of Britaine there, as he lay sicke. Also when Cador had accomplished his enterprise +and slaine Cheldrike, he returned with as much spéed as was possible towards Arthur, +& found him in Scotland, where he rescued Howell, and afterwards pursued the Scots which +fled before him by heaps.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">Guillomer.</span> +About the same time, one Guillomer king of Ireland arriued in Scotland with a mightie +power of Irishmen (neere the place where Arthur lodged) to helpe the Scots against the +Britains: wherevpon Arthur turning his forces towards the same Guillomer, vanquished him, +and chased him into Ireland. This doone, he continued in pursute of the Scots, till he +caused them to sue for pardon, and to submit them selues wholie to him, and so receiuing +them to mercie, & taking homage of them, he returned to Yorke, and shortlie after tooke +<span class="rightnote">Guenhera.</span> +to wife one Guenhera a right beautifull ladie, that was néere kinswoman to Cador earle of +Cornwall.</p> +<p> +<span class="leftnote"><i>W. Harison.</i> 525.</span> +In the yéere following, which some note to be 525, he went into Ireland, and discomfiting +king Guillomer in battell, he constreined him to yéeld, and to acknowledge by dooing his +fealtie to hold the realme of Ireland of him. It is further remembred in those British histories, +<span class="rightnote">Gothland.</span> +that he subdued Gothland and Iseland, with all the Iles in and about those seas. +Also that he ouercame the Romans in the countrie about Paris, with their capteine Lucius, +and wasted the most part of all France, and slue in singular combats certeine giants that were +of passing force and hugenesse of stature. And if he had not béene reuoked and called +home to resist his coosen Mordred, that was sonne to Loth king of Pightland that rebelled +in his countrie, he had passed to Rome, intending to make himselfe emperor, and afterward +to vanquish the other emperor, who then ruled the empire. ¶ But for so much as there is +not anie approoued author who dooth speake of anie such dooings, the Britains are thought +to haue registered méere fables in sted of true matters, vpon a vaine desire to aduance more +than reason would, this Arthur their noble champion, as the Frenchmen haue doone their +Rouland, and diuerse others.</p> + +<hr /><br /><br /> +<a name="xiij5" id="xiij5"></a> +<p> +<i>Arthur is resisted by Mordred the usurper from arriuing in his owne land, they ioine battell, +Gawaine is slaine and his death lamented by Arthur, Mordred taketh flight, he in slaine, +and Arthur mortallie wounded, his death, the place of his buriall, his bodie digged vp, +his bignesse coniecturable by his bones, a crosse found in his toome with an inscription +therevpon, his wife Guenhera buried with him, a rare report of hir haire, Iohn Lelands +epitaph in memorie of prince Arthur.</i></p> + +<h3>THE XIIJ. CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +King Arthur at his returne into Britaine, found that Mordred had caused himselfe +<span class="rightnote">Rather Cerdicke as <i>Leland</i> thinketh.</span> +to be made king, & hauing alied himselfe with Cheldrike a Saxon (not him whome Galfride, +as ye haue heard, supposeth to haue béene wounded & slaine before) was readie to resist his +landing, so that before he could come on land, he lost manie of his men: but yet at length +he repelled the enimies, and so tooke land at Sandwich, where he first arriued, and ioining +in battell with his enimies, he discomfited them, but not without great losse of his people: +speciallie he sore lamented the death of Gawaine the brother of Mordred, which like a faithfull +gentleman, regarding more his honour and loiall truth than néerenesse of bloud and +coosenage, chose rather to fight in the quarrell of his liege king and louing maister, than +to take part with his naturall brother in an vniust cause, and so there in the battell was +slaine, togither also with Angusseli, to whom Arthur afore time had committed the gouernment +of Scotland. Mordred fled from this battell, and getting ships sailed westward, and<span class="page"><a name="page577" id="page577"></a>[Page 577]</span> +<span class="rightnote"><br />Gawaine buried at Douer.</span> +finallie landed in Cornwall. King Arthur caused the corps of Gawaine to be buried at +Douer (as some hold opinion:) but William Malmesburie supposeth, he was buried in +Wales, as after shall be shewed. The dead bodie of Angussell was conueied into Scotland, +and was there buried. When that Arthur had put his enimies to flight, and had knowledge +into what parts Mordred was withdrawne, with all spéed he reinforced his armie with new +supplies of souldiers called out of diuerse parties, and with his whole puissance hasted forward, +not resting till he came néere to the place where Mordred was incamped, with such +an armie as he could assemble togither out of all parties where he had anie friends. ¶ Héere +(as it appéereth by Iohn Leland, in his booke intituled, "The assertion of Arthur") it may +be douted in what place Mordred was incamped: but Geffrey of Monmouth sheweth, that +after Arthur had discomfited Mordred in Kent at the first landing, it chanced so that Mordred +escaped and fled to Winchester, whither Arthur followed him, and there giuing him +battell the second time, did also put him to flight. And following him from thence, fought +eftsoones with him at a place called Camblane, or Kemelene in Cornwall, or (as some +authors haue) néere vnto Glastenburie.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Richard Turner.</i></span> +This battell was fought to such proofe, that finallie Mordred was slaine, with the more +part of his whole armie, and Arthur receiuing diuers mortall wounds died of the same +shortlie after, when he had reigned ouer the Britains by the tearme of 26 yéeres. His corps +was buried at Glastenburie aforesaid, in the churchyard, betwixt two pillers: where it was +found in the daies of king Henrie the second, about the yeere of our Lord 1191, which +was in the last yéere of the reigne of the same Henrie, more than six hundred yéeres after the +buriall thereof. He was laid 16 foot déepe vnder ground, for doubt that his enimies the +Saxons should haue found him. But those that digged the ground there to find his bodie, after +they had entered about seuen foot déepe into the earth, they found a mightie broad stone +with a leaden crosse fastened to that part which laie downewards toward the corps, conteining +this inscription:</p> + +<p class="indent"> +"Hîc iacet sepultus inclytus rex Arthurius in insula Aualoniæ."</p> + +<p> +This inscription was grauen on that side of the crosse which was next to the stone: so +that till the crosse was taken from the stone, it was vnséene. His bodie was found, not inclosed +within a toome of marble or other stone curiouslie wrought, but within a great trée +made hollowe for the nonce like a trunke, the which being found and digged vp, was +opened, and therein were found the kings bones, of such maruellous bignesse, that the shinbone +of his leg being set on the ground, reached vp to the middle thigh of a verie tall man: +as a moonke of that abbeie hath written, which did liue in those daies, and saw it. ¶ But +Gyraldus Cambrensis (who also liued in those daies, and spake with the abbat of the place, +by whom the bones of this Arthur were then found) affirmeth, that by report of the same +abbat, he learned, that the shinbone of the said Arthur being set vp by the leg of a verie +tall man (the which the abbat shewed to the same Gyraldus) came aboue the knée of the +same man the length of three fingers breadth, which is a great deale more likelie than the +other. Furthermore the skull of his head was of a woonderfull largenesse, so that the space +of his forehead betwixt his two eies was a span broad. There appéered in his head the +signes and prints of ten wounds or more: all the which were growne into one wem, except +onelie that whereof it should séeme he died, which being greater than the residue, appéered +verie plaine. Also in opening the toome of his wife quéene Gueneuer, that was buried +with him, they found the tresses of hir haire whole and perfect, and finelie platted, of colour +like to the buruished gold, which being touched, immediatlie fell to dust. The abbat, which +<span class="rightnote"><i>Henricus Blecensis</i> seu <i>Soliacensis. Io. Leland.</i></span> +then was gouernour of the house, was named Stephan, or Henrie de Blois, otherwise de +Sullie, nephue to king Henrie the second (by whose commandement he had serched for the +graue of Arthur) translated the bones as well of him as of quéene Gueneuer, being so +found, into the great church, and there buried them in a faire double toome of marble, +laieng the bodie of the king at the head of the toome, and the bodie of the quéene at his<span class="page"><a name="page578" id="page578"></a>[Page 578]</span> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Dauid Pow. pag.</i> 238, 239.</span> +féet towards the west part. ¶ The writer of the historie of Cambria now called Wales +saith, that the bones of the said Arthur, and Gueneuer his wife were found in the Ile of Aualon +(that is, the Ile of Alpes) without the abbeie of Glastenbury, fiftéene féet within the ground, +& that his graue was found by the meanes of a Bardh, whome the king heard at Penbroke +singing the acts of prince Arthur, and the place of his buriall.</p> +<p> +<i>Iohn Leland in his booke intituled Assertio Arthuri, hath for the woorthie memorie of so +noble a prince, honored him with a learned epitaph, as heere followeth.</i></p> + +<p class="indent1"> +Saxonicas toties qui fudit Marte cruento<br /> +<span class="indent1"><i>Who vanquisht Saxon troops so oft, with battels bloudie broiles,</i></span><br /> +Turmas, & peperit spolijs sibi nomen opimis,<br /> +<span class="indent1"><i>And purchast to himselfe a name with warlike wealthie spoiles,</i></span><br /> +Fulmineo toties Pictos qui contudit ense,<br /> +<span class="indent1"><i>Who hath with shiuering shining swoord, the Picts so oft dismaid,</i></span><br /> +ImposuÃtque iugum Scoti ceruicibus ingens:<br /> +<span class="indent1"><i>And eke vnweldie seruile yoke on necke of Scots hath laid:</i></span><br /> +Qui tumidos Gallos, Germanos quÃque feroces<br /> +<span class="indent1"><i>Who Frenchmen puft with pride, and who the Germans fierce in fight</i></span><br /> +Perculit, & Dacos bello confregit aperto:<br /> +<span class="indent1"><i>Discomfited, and danted Danes with maine and martiall might:</i></span><br /> +Denique Mordredum è medio qui sustulit illud<br /> +<span class="indent1"><i>Who of that murdring Mordred did the vitall breath expell,</i></span><br /> +Monstrum, horrendum, ingens, dirum, sæuúmque tyrannum,<br /> +<span class="indent1"><i>That monster grislie, lothsome, huge, that diresome tyrant fell,</i></span><br /> +Hoc iacet extinctus monumento Arthurius alto,<br /> +<span class="indent1"><i>Heere liuelesse Arthur lies intoomd, within this statelie hearse,</i></span><br /> +Militiæ clarum decus, & virtutis alumnus:<br /> +<span class="indent1"><i>Of chiualrie the bright renowme, and vertues nursling fearse:</i></span><br /> +Gloria nunc cuius terram circumuolat omnem,<br /> +<span class="indent1"><i>Whose glorie great now ouer all the world dooth compasse flie,</i></span><br /> +Aetherijque petit sublimia tecta Tonantis.<br /> +<span class="indent1"><i>And of the airie thunder skales the loftie building hie.</i></span><br /> +Vos igitur gentis proles generosa Britannæ,<br /> +<span class="indent1"><i>Therefore you noble progenie of Britaine line and race,</i></span><br /> +Induperatori ter magno assurgite vestro,<br /> +<span class="indent1"><i>Arise vnto your emperour great, of thrice renowmed grace,</i></span><br /> +Et tumulo sacro roseas inferte corollas,<br /> +<span class="indent1"><i>And cast vpon his sacred toome the roseall garlands gaie,</i></span><br /> +Officij testes redolentia munera vestri.<br /> +<span class="indent1"><i>That fragrant smell may witnesse well, your duties you displaie.</i></span></p> + +<p> +¶ These verses I haue the more willinglie inserted, for that I had the same deliuered to +me turned into English by maister Nicholas Roscarocke, both right aptlie yeelding the sense, +and also properlie answering the Latine, verse for verse.</p> + +<hr /><br /><br /> +<a name="xiiij5" id="xiiij5"></a> +<p><span class="page"><a name="page579" id="page579"></a>[Page 579]</span> +<i>Vpon what occasion the graue of king Arthur was sought for, the follie of such discouered +as beleeued that he should returne and reigne againe as king in Britaine, +whether it be a fiction or a veritie that there was such an Arthur or no; discordance +among writers about the place of Gawains buriall and Arthurs death; of queene +Gueneuer the wife of king Arthur, hir beautie and dishonest life, great disagreement +among writers touching Arthur and his wiues to the impeachment of the historie, of his +life and death.</i></p> + +<h3>THE XIIIJ. CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +The occasion that mooued king Henrie the second to cause his nephue the foresaid +abbat to search for the graue of king Arthur, was, for that he vnderstood by a Welsh +minstrell or Bardh (as they call him) that could sing manie histories in the Welsh language +of the acts of the ancient Britains, that in the forsaid churchyard at Glastenburie, betwixt +the said two pillers the bodie of Arthur was to be found sixtéene foot déepe vnder the +ground. Gyraldus Cambrensis affirmeth, that the trée in the which Arthurs bodie was +found so inclosed, was an oke, but other suppose that it was an alder trée, bicause that in +the same place a great number of that kind of trées doo grow, and also for that it is not +vnknowne, that an alder lieng vnder ground where moisture is, will long continue without +rotting.</p> +<p> +¶ By the finding thus of the bodie of Arthur buried (as before ye haue heard) such as +<span class="rightnote">As for example in a caue néere a water called pond perilous at Salisburie, +where he and his knights should sléepe armed, till an other knight should be borne that +should come and awake them. <i>Will. Malmes. lib. 1. de regibus Ang.</i></span> +hitherto beleeued that he was not dead, but conueied awaie by the fairies into some pleasant +place, where he should remaine for a time, and then to returne againe, and reigne in as +great authoritie as euer he did before, might well perceiue themselues deceiued in crediting +so vaine a fable. But yet (where it might otherwise be doubted, whether anie such Arthur +was at all, as the British histories mention, bicause neither Gyldas nor Beda in their woorks +speake anie thing of him) it may appéere, the circumstances considered, that suerly such +one there was of that name, hardie and valiant in armes, though not in diuerse points so +famous as some writers paint him out. William Malmesburie a writer of good credit and +authoritie amongst the learned, hath these woords in his first booke intituled "De regibus +Anglorum," saieng: "But he being dead [meaning Vortimer the force of the Britains +waxed féeble, their decaied hope went backward apace: and euen then suerlie had they gon +to destruction, if Ambrosius (who alone of the Romans remained yet aliue, and was king +after Vortigerne) had not kept vnder and staied the loftie barbarous people, that is to say +the Saxons, by the notable aid and assistance of the valiant Arthur."</p> +<p> +This is the same Arthur, of whom the trifling tales of the Britains euen to this day fantasticallie +doo descant and report woonders: but woorthie was he doubtlesse, of whom +feined fables should not haue so dreamed, but rather that true histories might haue set foorth +his woorthie praises, as he that did for a long season susteine and hold vp his countrie that +was readie to go to vtter ruine and decaie, incouraging the bold harts of the Britains vnto +the warre, and finallie in the siege of Badon hill, he set vpon nine hundred of the enimies, +and with incredible slaughter did put them all to flight. On the contrarie part, the English +Saxons, although they were tossed with sundrie haps of fortune, yet still they renewed their +bands with new supplies of their countriemen that came out of Germanie, and so with bolder +courage assailed their enimies, and by little and little causing them to giue place, spread +themselues ouer the whole Ile. For although there were manie battels, in the which sometime +the Saxons and sometime the Britains got the better, yet the greater number of Saxons +that were slaine, the greater number of them still came ouer to the succour of their countriemen, +being called in and sent for out of euerie quarter about them.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">Gawaine where he is buried.</span> +Héere is also to be noted, that where the British historie declareth, that Gawaine or Gallowine +being slaine in the battell fought betwixt Arthur and Mordred in Kent, was buried at +Douer, so that his bones remained there to be shewed a long time after: yet by that which<span class="page"><a name="page580" id="page580"></a>[Page 580]</span> +<span class="leftnote"><br /><i>Wil. Malm. lib. 3. de regib.</i></span> +the foresaid William Malmesburie writeth in the third booke of his volume intituled "De +regibus Anglorum," the contrarie maie séeme true: his woords are these. "Then (saith +he) in the prouince of Wales, which is called Rosse, the sepulture of Gallowine was found, +who was nephue to Arthur by his sister, not going out of kind from so woorthie an vncle. +He reigned in that part of Britaine which vnto this day is called Walwichia, a knight for his +high prowesse most highlie renowmed, but expelled out of his kingdome by the brother +and nephue of Hengist, of whome in the first booke we haue made mention, first requiting +his banishment with great detriment and losse to those his enimies, wherein he was partaker +by iust desert of his vncles woorthie praise, for that he staied (for a great manie yéeres) +the destruction of his countrie, which was now running headlong into vtter ruine and decaie. +But Arthurs graue no where appéereth: yet the others toome (as I haue said) was found +in the daies of William the conqueror, king of England, vpon the sea side, and conteined in +length fouretéene foot, where he was (as some say) wounded by his enimies, and cast vp +by shipwracke. But other write, that he was slaine at a publike feast or banket by his owne +countriemen." Thus saith William Malmesburie.</p> +<p> +¶ But heere you must consider, that the said Malmesburie departed this life about the +beginning of the reigne of king Henrie the second, certeine yéers before the bones of Arthur +were found (as ye haue heard.) But omitting this point as néedles to be controuerssed, +& letting all dissonant opinions of writers passe, as a matter of no such moment that we +should néed to sticke therein as in a glewpot; we will procéed in the residue of such +collections as we find necessarilie pertinent to the continuation of this historie; and now +we will say somewhat of quéene Guenhera or Guenouer, the wife of the foresaid king +Arthur.</p> +<p> +Some iudge that she tooke hir name of hir excellent beautie, bicause Guinne or Guenne +in the Welsh toong signifieth faire, so that she was named Guennere or rather Guenlhean, +euen (as you would say) the faire or beautifull Elenor or Helen. She was brought vp in +the house of one Cador earle of Cornewall before Arthur maried hir: and as it appeareth +by writers, she was euill reported of, as noted of incontinencie & breach of faith to hir husband, +in maner as for the more part women of excellent beautie hardlie escape the venemous +blast of euill toongs, and the sharpe assaults of the followers of Venus. The British +historie affirmeth, that she did not onelie abuse hir selfe by vnlawfull companie with Mordred, +but that also in Arthurs absence she consented to take him to husband. It is likewise found +recorded by an old writer, that Arthur besieged on a time the marishes néere to Glastenburie, +for displeasure that he bare to a certeine lord called Melua, who had rauished Gueneuer, +and led hir into those marishes, and there did kéepe hir. Hir corps notwithstanding +(as before is recited) was interred togither with Arthurs, so that it is thought she liued not +long after his deceasse.</p> +<p> +Arthur had two wiues (as Gyraldus Cambrensis affirmeth) of which the latter (saith he) +was buried with him, and hir bones found with his in one sepulchre, but yet so diuided, that +two parts of the toome towards the head were appointed to receiue the bones of the man, +and the third part towards the féet conteined the womans bones, apart by themselues. Here +is to be remembred, that Hector Boetius writeth otherwise of the death of Arthur than +before in this booke is mentioned, & also that Gueneuer being taking prisoner by the Picts, +was conueied into Scotland, where finallie she died, and was there buried in Angus, as in +the Scotish chronicles further appeareth. And this may be true, if he had thrée sundrie +wiues, each of them bearing the name of Gueneuer, as sir Iohn Price dooth auouch that +he had. Now bicause of contrarietie in writers touching the great acts atchiued by this +Arthur, and also for that some difference there is amongst them, about the time in which +he should reigne, manie haue doubted of the whole historie which of him is written (as +before ye haue heard.) ¶ But others there be of a constant beléefe, who hold it for a +grounded truth, that such a prince there was; and among all other a late writer, who falling +<span class="rightnote"><i>Dauid Pow. pag. 238, 239.</i></span> +into necessarie mention of prince Arthur, frameth a spéech apologeticall in his and their behalfe<span class="page"><a name="page581" id="page581"></a>[Page 581]</span> +that were princes of the British bloud, discharging a short but yet a sharpe inuectiue +against William Paruus, Polydor Virgil, and their complices, whom he accuseth of lieng +toongs, enuious detraction, malicious slander, reprochfull and venemous language, wilfull +ignorance, dogged enuie, and cankerd minds; for that they speake vnreuerentlie and contrarie +to the knowne truth concerning those thrisenoble princes. Which defensitiue he +would not haue deposed, but that he takes the monuments of their memories for vndoubted +verities.</p> +<p> +The British histories and also the Scotish chronicles doo agrée, that he liued in the daies +of the emperour Iustinian, about the fiftéenth yéere of whose reigne he died, which was in +<span class="leftnote">542.</span> +the yéere of our Lord 542, as diuerse doo affirme. Howbeit some write farther from all +likelihood, that he was about the time of the emperor Zeno, who began his reigne about the +<span class="rightnote"><i>Aurea historia. I. Leland.</i></span> +yéere of our Lord 474. The writer of the booke intituled "Aurea historia" affirmeth, that +in the tenth yéere of Cerdicus king of Westsaxons, Arthur the warriour rose against the +Britains. Also Diouionensis writeth, that Cerdicus fighting oftentimes with Arthur, if he +were ouercome in one moneth, he arose in an other moneth more fierce and strong to giue +battell than before. At length Arthur wearied with irkesomnes, after the twelfth yéere of +the comming of Cerdicus, gaue vnto him vpon his homage doone and fealtie receiued, the +<span class="rightnote">Westsaxon.</span> +shires of Southampton and Somerset, the which countries Cerdicius named Westsaxon. +This Cerdicius or Cerdicius came into Britaine about the yéere of our Lord 495. In the +24 yere after his comming hither, that is to say, about the yéere of your Lord 519, he began +his reigne ouer the Westsaxons, and gouerned them as king by the space of 15 yéeres, +as before ye haue heard. But to follow the course of our chronicles accordinglie as we +haue begun, we must allow of their accounts herein as in other places, and so procéed.</p> + + <hr /><br /><br /> + <a name="xv5" id="xv5"></a> +<p> +<i>The decaie of christian religion and receiuing of the Pelagian heresie in Britaine by what +meanes they were procured and by whom redressed: Constantine succeedeth Arthur in the +kingdome, ciuill warre about succession to the crowne, the chalengers are pursued and +slaine, Constantine is vnkindlie killed of his kinsman, a bitter and reprochfull inuectiue of +Gyldas against the British rulers of his time, and namelie against Constantine, Conan +that slue Constantine reigneth in Britaine, his vertues and vices, his two yeeres regiment, +the seuere reprehensions of Gyldas uttered against Conan, discouering the course of his +life, and a secret prophesie of his death.</i></p> + +<h3>THE XV. CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +In this meane while that the realme was disquieted with sore & continuall warres betwixt +the Britains and Saxons (as before ye haue heard) the christian religion was not onelie +abolished in places where the Saxons got habitations, but also among the Britains the right +<span class="rightnote">The heresie of the Pelagians reuiued, <br /><i>Hist. Mag.</i></span> +faith was brought into danger, by the remnant of the Pelagian heresie, which began againe +<span class="leftnote">Dubritius & Dauid lerned bishops.</span> +to be broched by diuers naughtie persons. But Dubritius that was first bishop of Landaffe, +and after archbishop of Caerleon Arwiske, and his successour Dauid, with other learned +men earnestlie both by preaching and writing defended the contrarie cause, to the confuting +of those errors, and restablishing of the truth.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">CONSTANTINE.</span> +After the death of Arthur, his coosine Constantine the sonne of Cador, duke or earle +<span class="leftnote">542.</span> +of Cornewall began his reigne ouer the Britains, in the yere of our Lord 542, which was +about the 15 yéere of the emperour Iustinianus almost ended, the 29 of Childebert king +of France, and the first yéere well néere complet of the reigne of Totilas king of the Goths<span class="page"><a name="page582" id="page582"></a>[Page 582]</span> [582 +<span class="rightnote"><i>Galfrid</i>. <br /><i>Matth. West.</i></span> +in Italie. Arthur when he perceiued that he shuld die, ordeined this Constantine to succéed +him, and so by the consent of the more part of the Britains he was crowned king: but +the sonnes of Mordred sore repined thereat, as they that claimed the rule of the land by +iust title and claime of inheritance to them from their father descended. Herevpon followed +<span class="rightnote">Ciuill warre.</span> +ciuill warre, so that diuers battels were striken betwéene them and in the end the two +brethren were constreined to withdraw for refuge, the one to London, and the other to +Winchester: but Constantine pursuing them, first came to Winchester, and by force entered +the citie, and slue the one brother that was fled thither within the church of saint Amphibalus: +and after comming to London, entered that citie also, and finding the other brother +within a church there, slue him in like maner as he had doone the other. And so hauing +dispatched his aduersaries, he thought to haue purchased to himselfe safetie: but shortlie +<span class="rightnote">Aurelius Conanus. Constantine slaine.</span> +after, his owne kinsman, one Aurelius Conanus arrered warre against him, who ioining with +him in battell slue him in the field, after he had reigned foure yéeres. His bodie was conueied +to Stonheng, and there buried beside his ancestour Vter Pendragon.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Gyldas.</i></span> +Of this Constantine that seemeth to be ment, which Gyldas writeth in his booke intituled +"De excidio Britanniæ," where inueieng against the rulers of the Britains in his time, he +writeth thus: "Britaine hath kings, but the same be tyrants; iudges it hath, but they be +wicked, oftentimes péeling and harming the innocent people, reuenging and defending, but +whom? such as be guiltie persons and robbers; hauing manie wiues, but yet breaking wedlocke; +oftentimes swearing, and yet forswearing themselues; vowing, and for the more +part lieng; warring, but mainteining ciuill & vniust warres; pursuing indéed théeues that +are abroad in the countrie, and yet not onelie cherishing those that sit euen at table with +them, but also highlie rewarding them: giuing almesse largelie, but on the other part heaping +vp a mightie mount of sinnes; sitting in the seat of sentence, but seldome séeking the +rule of righteous iudgement; despising the innocent and humble persons, and exalting so +farre as in them lieth, euen vp to the heauens, most bloudie and proud murtherers, théeues +and adulterers, yea the verie professed enimies of God; if he would so permit: kéeping +manie in prison, whome they oppresse, in loding them with irons, through craft rather +to serue their owne purpose, than for anie gilt of the persons so imprisoned: taking +solemne oths before the altars, and shortlie after, despising the same altars as vile and filthie +stones.</p> +<p> +"Of this hainous and wicked offense Constantine the tyrannicall whelpe of the lionesse +of Deuonshire is not ignorant, who this yeare, after the receiuing of his dreadfull oth, +whereby he bound himselfe that in no wise he should hurt his subjects (God first, and then +his oth, with the companie of saints, and his mother being there present) did notwithstanding +in the reuerent laps of the two mothers, as the church, and their carnall mother, vnder the +coule of the holie abbat, deuoure with sword and speare in stead of téeth, the tender sides, +yea and the entrailes of two children of noble and kinglie race, and likewise of their two +gouernours, yea and that (as I said) amongest the sacred altars: the armies of which persons +so slaine, not stretched foorth to defend themselues with weapons (the which few in those +daies handled more valiantlie than they) but stretched foorth (I saie) to God and to his altar +in the day of iudgement, shall set vp the reuerent ensignes of their patience and faith at the +gates of the citie of Christ, which so haue couered the seat of the celestiall sacrifice, as it +were with the red mantle of their cluttered bloud.</p> +<p> +"These things he did not after anie good déeds doone by him deseruing praise: for +manie yeares before, ouercome with the often and changeable filths of adulterie, & forsaking +his lawfull wife contrarie to the lawes of God, &c: he now brought foorth this crime of +quelling his owne kinsmen, and violating the church, but neither being loosed from the +snares of his former euills, he increaseth the new with the old." ¶ Thus in effect hath +Gyldas written of this Constantine, with more: for turning his tale to him, he reproueth +him of his faults, and counselleth him to repent.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">CONANUS.</span> +After that Aurelius Conanus had slaine the foresad Constantine, as in the British histories<span class="page"><a name="page583" id="page583"></a>[Page 583]</span> +is mentioned, the same Conan was made king of Britaine in the yeare of our Lord +<span class="leftnote">546.</span> +546, in the 20 yeare of Iustinianus, and in the 33 of the reigne of Childebert king of the +Frenchmen. This Aurelius Conanus (as is recorded by some writers) was of a noble heart, +frée and liberall, but giuen much to the maintenance of strife and discord amongst his people, +light of credit, and namelie had an open eare to receiue and heare the reports of such +as accused other. Moreouer he was noted of crueltie, as he that tooke his vncle, who of +right should haue béene king, and kept him in prison, and not so satisfied slue in tyrannous +maner the two sons of his said vncle: But God would not suffer him long to inioy the +<span class="rightnote"><i>Matth. West.</i> writeth that he reigned 30. yeares.</span> +rule of the land in such vniust dealing, for he died after he had reigned the space of two +yeares, and left a sonne behind him called Vortiporus, which succéeded him in the kingdome, +as authors doo record. Of this Aurelius Conanus Gyldas writeth, calling vnto him +after he had made an end with his predecessor Constantine, saieng in this wise: "And +thou lions whelpe, as saith the prophet, Aurelius Conanus what doost thou? Art thou not +swallowed vp in the filthie mire of murthering thy kinsmen, of committing fornications and +adulteries like to the other before mentioned, if not more deadlie, as it were with the waues +and surges of the drenching seas ouerwhelming thée with hir vnmercifull rage? Dooest +thou not in hating the peace of thy countrie as a deadlie serpent, and thirsting after ciuill +wars and spoiles (oftentimes vniustlie gotten) shut vp against thy soule the gates of celestiall +peace and refreshment? Thou being left alone as a withering trée in the middle of a field, +call to remembrance (I praie thée) the vaine youthfull fantasie and ouertimelie death of thy +fathers and thy brethren. Shalt thou being set apart, and chosen foorth of all thy linage +for thy godlie deserts, be reserued to liue an hundred yeares, or remaine on earth till thou be +as old as Methusalem? No no." And after these reprehensions, with further threatnings of +Gods vengeance, he exhorted him to amendment of life, and so proceedeth to talke with +Vortiporus, whome he nameth the king, or rather the tyrant of Southwales, as after shall +be rehearsed.</p> + + <hr /><br /><br /> +<a name="xvj5" id="xvj5"></a> +<p> +<i>The beginning of the kingdome of Brenitia, of whome the king of Kent, Mertia, and west +Saxons descended, Ida the Saxon commended, the originall of the kingdome of Deira, +the circuit and bounds therof, of Ella the gouernour of the same, when the partition of +the kingdome of Northumberland chanced; Vortiporus reigneth ouer the Britains, he +vanquisheth the Saxons; Gyldas sharplie reprooueth Vortiporus for manie greeuous +offenses, and exhorteth him to amendement.</i></p> + +<h3>THE XVJ. CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">IDA. 547.</span> +In the yeare of the Lord 547, which was about the first yeare of the reigne of Aurelius +Conanus, the kingdome of Brenitia began vnder a Saxon ruler there callèd Ida, & descended +of Woden. For where the said Woden had thrée sonnes, Weldecius, Withlegris, and Beldecius; +<span class="rightnote"><i>H. Hunt.</i> <br />The kingdom of Brenitia began.</span> +of the first, the kings of Kent were lineallie extracted: of the second, the kings of +Mertia: and of the third sonne came the kings of Westsaxon, and also of him was this +Ida descended, being the ninth in lineall succession from the said Beldecius and the tenth +from Woden. The same Ida was vndoubtedlie a right noble personage, and changed first +that dukedome into a kingdome; where before that time the Saxons that ruled there, were +subiects vnto the kings of Kent. Whether he tooke vpon him of his owne accord to vsurpe +the kinglie title and roiall authoritie, or whether that the same was giuen to him by consent +of other, the certeintie appeareth not. But sure it is, that he being a woorthie prince, did +not degenerate from his noble ancestors inuincible in warre abroad and at home, qualifieng +his kinglie seueritie with a naturall kind of courteous humanitie. The bounds of his kingdome<span class="page"><a name="page584" id="page584"></a>[Page 584]</span> +called (as is said) Brenitia, began in the south at the riuer of Tine, and ended in the +north at the Forth in Scotland, in the British toong called Werd.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">ELLA 561. The beginning of the kingdom of Deria.</span> +About the same time, or rather about 14 yeares after, one Ella a Saxon also reigned as king +in Deira, which kingdome began at the said riuer of Tine in the north, & ended at the riuer +of Humber toward the south. These two kingdomes were sometime gouerned by two +seuerall kings, and afterwards at other times they were ioined in one, and gouerned by one +onelie king, and named the kingdome of Northumberland, which in processe of time was +much inlarged, so that it included the shires of Yorke, Notingham, Darbie, Lancaster, the +bishoprike of Durham, Copland, and other countries betwixt the east and the west seas, +<span class="leftnote">The riuer of Mersie.</span> +euen vnto the riuer of Mersie. The foresaid Ella was sonne to Iffus, being descended from +Woden, as the 12 in succession from him, though not by right line as William Malmesburie +hath noted. Ida (as the same Malmesburie dooth testifie) reigned 14 yeares.</p> +<p> +Now Ella who was successor to Ida (as he saith) reigned thirtie yeares, and verie valiantlie +<span class="rightnote"><i>Matth. West.</i></span> +inlarged his kingdome. But one author writeth how Ida reigned but 12 yeares, and that +he builded the castell of Bamburge, first fensing it with pales, and after with a wall of +<span class="leftnote"><i>Hen. Hunt.</i></span> +stone. The same Ida had by his wife six sonnes, begotten in lawfull bed, Ada, Ebric, +<span class="rightnote"><i>Matt. West.</i></span> +Theodoric, Athelric, Osmer, and Theofred. Moreouer he begat of certeine concubines +(which he kept) six bastard sonnes, Oga, Aleric, Ettha, Osbale, Segor, and Segother. These +came altogither into this land, and arriued at Flemesburke with fortie ships, as Matthæus +Westmonasteriensis hath recorded. The partition of the kingdome of Northumberland +chanced after the deceasse of Ida, as the same author signifieth: for Ada the sonne of the +foresaid Ida succéeded his father in the kingdome of Brenitia, reigning therein seuen yeares: +and Ella the sonne of Histria, a most valiant duke, began to gouerne Deira, as both the +said Matth. Westm. and others doo affirme.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">VORTIPORUS. <i>Matt. West.</i> noteth 578.</span> +Vortiporus the sonne of Aurelius Conanus succéeded his father, and began to reigne +ouer the Britains, in the yéere of our Lord 576, in the 11, yeare of the emperour Flauius +Anicius Iustinus, in the fourth yeare of the reigne of Childeric king of France, and in the +fourth yeare of Clephis the Gothish king in Italie. This Vortiporus vanquished the Saxons +in batttell, as the British histories make mention, and valiantlie defended his land and subiects +the Britains, from the danger of them and other their allies. In the time of this kings +reigne, the foresaid Ella began to rule in the south part of the kingdome of Northumberland +called Deira, as before is mentioned, according to the account of some authors, who also +take this Vortiporus to begin his reigne in the yeare 548. After that Vortiporus had ruled +<span class="rightnote"><i>Matt. West.</i> noteth 3 yeares.</span> +the Britans the space of 4 yeares, he departed this life, and left no issue behind him to succéed +him in the kingdom.</p> +<p> +Against this Vortiporus Gyldas also whetting his toong, beginneth with him thus: "And +why standest thou as one starke amazed? Thou (I say) Vortiporus the tyrant of Southwales, +like to the panther in maner and wickednesse diuerslie spotted as it were with manie colors, +with thy hoarie head in thy throne, full of deceits, crafts and wiles, and defiled euen from +the lowest part of thy bodie to the crowne of thy head, with diuers & sundrie murthers +committed on thine owne kin, and filthie adulteries, thus proouing a naughtie sonne of a +good king, as Manasses was to Ezechias. How chanceth it that the violent streames of +sinnes which thou swallowest vp like pleasant wine, or rather art deuoured of them, (the +end of thy life by little and little now drawing néere) can not yet satisfie the? What meanest +thou that with fornication of all euills, as it were the full heape, thine owne wife being +put away, thou by hir honest death dooest oppresse thy soule with a certeine burthen that +can not be auoided, of thine vnshamefast daughter? Consume not (I pray thée) the residue +of thy daies to the offense of God, &c." These and the like woords vttered he, exhorting him +to repentance, with admonitions taken out of the scriptures both for his comfort and warning.</p> +<p> +¶ If the circumstance of this that Gyldas writeth of Vortiporus be marked, it may be<span class="page"><a name="page585" id="page585"></a>[Page 585]</span> +perceiued, that Geffrey of Monmouth, and also Matthew of Westminster, the author of +the floures of histories, are deceiued, in that they take him to be the sonne of Aurelius +Conanus: and rather it may be gathered, that not onlie the same Aurelius Conanus and +Vortiporus, but also Constantinus, yea & Cuneglasus, and Maglocunus, of the which he +also intreateth (as partlie shall be hereafter touched) liued and reigned all at one time in +seuerall parts of this Ile, and not as monarchs of the whole British nation, but as rulers +each of them in his quarter, after the maner as the state of Ireland hath béene in times +past before the countrie came vnder the English subiection, if my coniecture herein doo not +deceiue me.</p> + + <hr /><br /><br /> + <a name="xvij5" id="xvij5"></a> + <p> +<i>Malgo reigneth ouer the Britains, the noble qualities wherewith he was beautified by his +filthie sinnes are blemished, Gyldas reproueth Cuneglasus for making warre against God +and man, and this Malgo for his manifold offenses, the vile iniquities wherevnto the +British rulers were inclined, the valiantnesse of Kenrike king of the Westsaxons, his +victories against diuers people his enimies, succession in the gouemment of the Westsaxons, +Northumberland, and Kentish Saxons; the first battell that was fought betwixt +the Saxons in this Iland, Cheuling with his Westsaxons encounter with the Britains and +get the vpper hand, three kings of the Britains slaine, and their people spoiled of their +lands, goods and liues.</i></p> + +<h3>THE XVIJ. CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">MALGO. 580. <i>Matth. West.</i> hath noted 581.</span> +After the deceasse of Vortiporus, Malgo the nephue of Aurelius Conanus (as some +write) was made king of Britaine, & began his reigne ouer the Britaines, in the yéere of our +Lord 580, in the fiftéenth yéere of the emperour Iustinian, and in the 37 yéere of the reigne +of Childerike king of the Frenchmen. This Malgo is reported to haue béene the comeliest +<span class="rightnote"><i>Gal. Mon.</i></span> +gentleman in beautie and shape of personage that was to be found in those daies amongst all +the Britains, and therewith of a bold and hardie courage. He manfullie defended the country +which he had in gouernance from the malice of the Saxons, and subdued the out Iles, as +Orkenie and others. But notwithstanding the noble qualities with the which his person was +adorned, yet he spotted them all with the filthie sinne of Sodomie, so that he fell into the +hatred of almightie God, and being pursued of the Saxons, receiued manie ouerthrowes at +their hands, as by the report of the English writers is gathered more at large. Finallie, +when he had reigned fiue yéeres and od moneths, he departed this life.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Matt. Westm.</i> counteth not past fiue yeres to his reigne through other affirme that he reigned 35 yéeres.</span> +It séemeth that this Malgo is named by Gyldas, Maglocunus, the which Gyldas (before +he speaketh of him) inueieth against one Cuneglasus, whome he reprooueth, for that he +warred both against God and man: against God with grieuous sinnes, as namelie adulterie, +in forsaking the companie of his lawfull wife, and kéeping to concubine a sister of hirs, that +had professed chastitie: & against man with materiall armor and weapons, which he vsed to +the destruction of his owne countrimen, with whom he kept warres, and not against the +enimies of the common wealth.</p> +<p> +From Cuneglasus he commeth to the foresaid Maglocunus, whome he nameth the dragon +of the Iles, and the expeller of manie tyrants, not onelie out of their kingdoms, but also +out of life, the last of whom he treateth (as he himselfe saith) but the first in all mischéefe +& euill, greater than manie in power, and likewise in malice: verie liberall in giuing, but +more plentifull in sinne, strong and valiant in arms, but stronger in destruction of his owne +soule. And so procéeding, chargeth him with the sinne of the Sodomits, & sore blameth +him, for that where it had pleased God to make him higher than all other dukes of Britaine +in kingdome and degrée, he did not shew himselfe better, but contrarilie far woorse than<span class="page"><a name="page586" id="page586"></a>[Page 586]</span> +they both in maners and conditions. He declareth also a little after, that this Maglocune in +his yoong yéeres slue in battell his vncle being king, with the most valiant souldiers in maner +that he had. Also that where the said Maglocune tooke vpon him the profession of a +moonke, he after renounced the same, and became a woorsse liuer than euer he was before, +abandoning his wife, and kéeping his brothers sonnes wife, while hir husband yet liued.</p> +<p> +Thus by that which Gyldas writeth of the kings and rulers of the Britains, which liued +in his daies, ye may perceiue that they were giuen to all manner of wickednesse, and namelie +to ciuill dissention, rapine, adulterie, and fornication: so that it may be thought, that GOD +stirred vp the Saxons to be a scourge to them, and to worke his iust vengeance vpon them +for their wickednesses and abhominable offenses dailie cōmitted against his diuine maiestie, +so that we find recorded by writers, how that the Saxons in diuers conflicts against the +Britains had the better, and also tooke from them diuers townes, as alreadie partly hath beene +and also hereafter shall be shewed.</p> +<p> +It is furthermore to be remembred, that about the 14 yeere of the Britaine king Conanus +<span class="rightnote">559. <br /><i>Hen Hunt.</i></span> +his reigne, which was about the end of the yere of Christ 559, Kenrike king of the Westsaxons, +departed this life, after he had reigned xxv. yéeres complet. This Kenrike was a +victorious prince, and fought diuers battels against the Britains. In the 18 yeere of his +reigne which was the 551 of Christ, we find that he fought against them, being come at +that time vnto Salisburie, and after great slaughter made on both parts, at length the victorie +remained with the Saxons, and the Britains were chased. Againe in the two and twentith +yéere of his reigne, and 555 yéere of Christ, the same Kenrike and his sonne Cheuling +fought with a great power of Britains at Branburie.</p> +<p> +The Britains were diuided into nine companies, three in the fore ward, thrée in the battell, +and thrée in the rere ward, with their horssemen and archers, after the maner of the Romans. +The Saxons being ranged in one entire battell, valiantlie assailed them, and notwithstanding +the shot of the Britains, yet they brought the matter to the triall of handblowes, +till at length by the comming on of the night, the victorie remained doubtfull: and no +maruell is to be made therof (saith Henrie archdeacon of Huntington) sith the Saxons were +men of huge stature, great force & valiant courage. The same yéere that Kenrike deceassed, +Ida the king of Northumberland also died: he was (as ye haue heard) a right valiant prince, +& inlarged the dominion of the Saxons greatlie, he ouercame Loth king of the Picts in +battell, and Corran king of Scots.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">560.<br /> <i>Hen Hunt</i></span> +Also about the yéere of Christ 560, Conanus (as yet gouerning the Britains) Irmenrike +king of Kent departed this life, of whome ye haue heard before, & Ethelbert his sonne succéeded +him 52 yéeres. Then after that the foresaid thrée princes were dead (as before ye +haue heard) they had that succéeded them in their estates as here followeth. After Kenrike, +his sonne Ceaulinus or Cheuling succéeded in gouernement of the Westsaxons: and after +Ida, one Ella or Alla reigned in Northumberland: after Irmenrike followed his sonne Ethelbert +in rule ouer the Kentish Saxons.</p> +<p> +This Ethelbert, in processe of time grew to be a mightie prince, but yet in the begining +of his reigne he had but sorie successe against some of his enimies: for hauing to doo with +<span class="rightnote"><i>Hen. Hunt.</i> Alià s Wiphanduae.</span> +the foresaid Cheuling king of Westsaxons, he was of him ouercome in battell at Wilbasdowne, +where he lost two of his dukes or cheefe capteins, beside other people. This was +the first battell that was fought betwixt the Saxons, one against another within this land, +after their first comming into the same. And this chanced in the yere of our Lord 567, +being the second yéere of the emperour Iustinus.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">570. CUTHA. Aileburie.</span> +About the yéere 570, Cutha the brother of king Cheuling fought with the Britains at +Bedford, vanquished them, & tooke from them 4 townes, Liganbrough, Eglesbrough or +<span class="leftnote">581.</span> +Ailesburie, Besington, and Euesham. Also about the yéere of our Lord 581, the foresaid +king Cheuling incountered with the Britains at a place called Diorth, and obteining the vpper +hand, tooke from them the cities of Bath, Glocester, and Cirencester. At this battell<span class="page"><a name="page587" id="page587"></a>[Page 587]</span> +fought at Diorth, were present thrée kings of the Britains, whose names were these: Coinmagill, +Candidan, and Farimnagill, which were slaine there through the permission of +almightie God as then refusing his people, the which through their heinous sinnes and great +wickednesses, had most gréeuouslie offended his high and diuine maiestie, as by Gyldas it +may euidentlie appeare. For they had declined from the lawes of the Lord, and were become +abhominable in his sight, euen from the prince to the poore man, from the priest to +the Leuit, so that not one estate among them walked vprightlie, but contrarie to dutie was +gone astray, by reason whereof the righteous God had giuen them ouer as a prey to their +enimies.</p> +<p> +<span class="leftnote">His brother as <br /><i>Matt. West</i>. saith.</span> +Also in the latter end of Malgos daies or about the first beginning of the reigne of his +successor Careticus, Cheuling and his sonne Cutwine fought with the Britains at a place +<span class="rightnote"><i>H. Hunt.</i></span> +called Fechanley or Fedanley, or (as some bookes haue) Frithenlie, where Cutwine was +slaine, & the Englishmen chased: but yet Cheuling repairing his armie, wan the victorie, +and chasing the Britains, tooke from them manie countries, and wan great riches by the +<span class="rightnote"><i>Matt. West.</i></span> +spoile. But Matth. West. saith, that the victorie aboad with the Britains, and that the +Saxons were chased quite out of the field. The Scotish writers record, that their king Aidan +(who is noted to haue béene the 49 successiuelie possessing the regiment of that land, partlie +with griefe of hart for the death of Columba a graue and wise gentleman, whome he tenderlie +loued, and partlie with age [for he was growne horieheaded, and had reigned 34 +yéeres ended his life) was there in aid of the Britains, and Brudeus king of the Picts (betwixt +whom and the said Aidan a sore battell was fought) in aid of the Saxons: but the +same writers name the place Deglaston, where this battell was made, and the forces of both +sides by a sharpe incounter tried.</p> + + <hr /><br /><br /> +<a name="xviij5" id="xviij5"></a> +<p> +<i>The begining of the kingdome of Mercia, the bounds of the same, the heptarchie or seuen +regiments of the Saxons, how they grew to that perfection, and by whom they were reduced +and drawne into a monarchie; Careticus is created king of Britaine, the Saxons +take occasion by the ciuill dissentions of the Britains to make a full conquest of the land, +they procure forren power to further them in their enterprise, Gurmundus king of the +Africans arriueth in Britaine, the British king is driuen to his hard shifts, the politike +practise of Gurmundus in taking Chichester & setting the towne on fire, he deliuereth the +whole land in possession to the Saxons, the English and Saxon kings put Careticus to +flight, the Britains haue onelie three prouinces left of all their countrie which before they +inhabited, their religion, church, and commonwealth is in decaie, they are gouerned by +three kings, Cheulings death is conspired of his owne subiects.</i></p> + +<h3>THE XVIIJ. CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +About the same time also, and 585 of Christ, the kingdome of Mercia began vnder +<span class="rightnote">CRIDA. <br /><i>H. Hunt.</i> <br />This kingdome began in the yéere 585, as <br /><i>Matt. Westm.</i> saith. <br /><i>Ran. Cest.</i></span> +one Crida, who was descended from Woden, and the tenth from him by lineall extraction. +The bounds of this kingdome were of great distance, hauing on the east the sea vnto +Humber, and so on the north the said riuer of Humber, and after the riuer of Mercia, +which falleth into the west sea at the corner of Wirhall, and so comming about to the riuer +of Dee that passeth by Chester, the same riuer bounded it on the west from Wales, and +likewise Seuerne vp to Bristow: on the south it had the riuer of Thames, till it came almost +to London. And in this sort it contained Lincolneshire, Notingamshire, Derbishire, Chesshire, +Shropshire, Worcestershire, Glocestershire, Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertefordshire, +Bedfordshire, Huntingtonshire, Northamptonshire, Leicestershire, and Warwikeshire.</p> +<p> +¶ Thus haue ye heard how the Saxons in processe of time remoouing the Britains out of<span class="page"><a name="page588" id="page588"></a>[Page 588]</span> +their seats, dailie wan ground of them, till at length they got possession of the best part of +this Ile, and erected within the same seuen kingdoms, which were gouerned by seuen seuerall +kings, who continued vntill the kings of Westsaxon brought them all at length into one +monarchie, as after shall appéere. Matth. Westmin. reckoneth eight kingdoms as thus; +The kingdom of Kent, the kingdom of Sussex, the kingdom of Essex, the kingdom of +Eastangle, the kingdom of Mercia, the kingdom of Westsex, and the kingdom of Northumberland, +which was diuided into two kingdoms, that is to say, into Deira and into Bernicia: +wherevnto W. Harison addeth the ninth in the first part of his chronologie, and calleth it +Wales.</p> +<p> +<span class="leftnote">CARETICUS.</span> +After that Malgo or Maglocune was departed this life, one Careticus, or (as some write +him) Caretius, was made king of the Britains, and began his reigne in the yéere of our +<span class="rightnote">586.</span> +Lord 586, which was in the third yéere of the emperour Mauricius, and thirtéenth of Chilperike +king of France. This Careticus was a nourisher of ciuill warre and dissention amongst +his owne people the Britains, so that he was hated both of God and man, as writers testifie. +The Saxons vnderstanding that the Britains were not of one mind, but diuided in partakings, +so as one was readie to deuoure an other, thought it good time for them to aduance +their conquests, and ceassed not to pursue the Britains by force and continuall warre, till +<span class="leftnote"><i>Gal. Mon.</i> <br />See more of this Gurmundus in Ireland. <br /><i>Ranulf. Cest.</i></span> +they had constreined them for refuge to withdraw into Wales. And as some haue written, +the Saxons meaning to make a full conquest of the land, sent ouer into Ireland, requiring +one Gurmundus a king of the Affricans to come ouer into Britaine to helpe them against the +Britains.</p> +<p> +This Gurmundus appointing his brother Turgesius to pursue the conquest of Ireland, +came and arriued heere in Britaine, making such cruell warre in aid of the Saxons against +the Britains, that Careticus was constreined to kéepe him within the citie of Chicester or +Cirencester, and was there besieged, and at length by continuall assalts and skirmishes, +when he had lost manie of his men, he was glad to forsake that citie, and fled into Wales. +This Gurmundus tooke Cirencester or Chichester, and destroied it in most cruell maner. +Some write, that he tooke this citie by a policie of warre, in binding to the féet of sparrowes +which his people had caught, certeine clewes of thred or matches, finelie wrought & tempered +with matter readie to take fire, so that the sparrowes being suffered to go out of +hand, flue into the towne to lodge themselues within their neasts which they had made in +stacks of corne, and eues of houses, so that the towne was thereby set on fire, and then the +Britains issuing foorth, fought with their enimies, and were ouercome and discomfited.</p> +<p> +But whilest the battell continued, Careticus stale away, and got him into Wales. After +this, the foresaid Gurmundus destroied this land throughout in pitifull wise, and then deliuered +it in possession to the Saxons, the which thankfullie receiued it: and because they were +descended of those that first came ouer with Hengist, they changed the name of the land, +and called it Hengistland, accordinglie as the same Hengist had in times past ordeined: the +which name after for shortnesse of spéech was somewhat altered, and so lastlie called England, +and the people Englishmen. But rather it may be thought, that sith a great part of +those people which came ouer into this land out of Germanie with the said Hengist, and +other capteins, were of those Englishmen which inhabited Germanie, about the parts of +<span class="rightnote"><i>Matt. West.</i></span> +Thoringhen, they called this land England, after their name, when they had first got habitation +within it: and so both the land and people tooke name of them, being called <i>Angli</i>, +a long time before they entered into this Ile, (as before is shewed out of Cornelius Tacitus and +others.) But now to returne where we left.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">It should séeme that this historie of Gurmundus is but some fained tale except +it may be that he was some Dane, Norwegian or Germane.</span> +Of this Gurmundus the old English writers make no mention, nor also anie ancient +authors of forren parties: and yet saith the British booke, that after he had conquered this +land, and giuen it to the Saxons, he passed ouer into France, and there destroied much of +that land, as an enimie to the faith of Christ. For which consideration he was the more +readie to come to the aid of the Saxons, who as yet had not receiued the christian faith, but<span class="page"><a name="page589" id="page589"></a>[Page 589]</span> +warred against the Britains, as well to destroie the faith of Christ within this land, as to +establish to themselues continuall habitations in the same. There be, that omitting to make +mention of Gurmundus, write thus of the expelling of the Britains out of this land at that +time, when with their king Careticus they got them into Wales.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">586. <br /><i>Matt. West.</i></span> +In the yéere of Grace 586, Careticus a louer of ciuill warre succéeded Malgo an enimie +to God and to the Britains, whose inconstancie when the English and Saxon kings perceiued, +with one consent they rose against him, and after manie battels chased him from citie to +citie, till at length incountering with him in a pight field, they droue him beyond Seuerne +into Wales. Héerevpon clerks and priests were driuen out of their places with bright swoords +brandishing in all parts, and fire crackling in churches, wherewith the same were consumed. +The remnant of the Britains therefore withdrew into the west parts of the land, that is to +say, into Cornwall, and into Wales, out of which countries they oftentimes brake out, and +made insurrections vpon the Saxons, the which in maner aforsaid got possession of the +chiefest parts of the land, leauing to the Britains onlie three prouinces, that is to say, Cornwall, +Southwales, and Northwales, which countries were not easie to be woone, by reason +of the thicke woods inuironed with déepe mareshes and waters, and full of high craggie +rocks and mounteins.</p> +<p> +The English and Saxon kings hauing thus remooued the Britains, inlarged the bounds of +their dominions. There reigned in that season within this land, beside the Britaine kings, +eight kings of the English and Saxon nations, as Ethelbert in Kent, Cissa in Sussex, +Ceauline in Westsex, Creda or Crida in Mercia, Erkenwine in Essex, Titila in Estangle, +Elle in Deira, and Alfrid in Bernicia. In this sort the Britains lost the possession of the +more part of their ancient seats, and the faith of Christ thereby was greatlie decaied: for +the churches were destroied; and the archbishops of Caerleon Arwiske, London and Yorke +withdrew togither with their cleargie into the mounteins and woods within Wales, taking +with them the reliks of saints, doubting the same should be destroied by the enimies, and +themselues put to death if they should abide in their old habitations. Manie also fled into +Britaine Armorike with a great fléete of ships, so that the whole church or congregation (as +ye may call it) of the two prouinces, Loegria and Northumberland, was left desolate in that +season, to the great hinderance and decaie of the christian religion. Careticus was driuen +into Wales (as before is rehearsed) about the second or third yéere of his reigne, and there +continued with his Britains, the which ceassed not to indamage the Saxons from time to time +as occasion still serued.</p> +<p> +But here is to be noted, that the Britains being thus remoued into Wales and Cornwall, +were gouerned afterwards by thrée kings, or rather tyrants, the which ceased not with ciuill +<span class="rightnote"><i>Wil. Malm.</i></span> +warre to seeke others destruction, till finallie (as saith the British booke) they became all +subiect vnto Cadwallo, whome Beda nameth Cedwallo. In the meane time, Ceaulinus or +Cheuling king of the Westsaxons, through his owne misgouernance and tyrannie, which +towards his latter daies he practised, did procure not onelie the Britains, but also his owne +subiects to conspire his death, so that ioining in battell with his aduersaries at Wodensdic, in +the 33 yeare of his reigne, his armie was discomfited, and he himselfe constreined to depart +into exile, and shortlie after ended his life before he could find meanes to be restored.</p> +<p> +¶ So that we haue here a mirror or liuelie view of a tyrant and a king, wherein there is +no lesse ods in the manner of their gouernement, than there is repugnance in their names, +or difference in their states. For he seeth but little into the knowledge of toongs, that +vnderstandeth not what the office of a king should be, by the composition of his name, the +same sounding in Gréeke <i>βάσιλευς</i>, +which being resolued is in effect βάσις λάο, that is, the +foundation or stay of the people; from which qualitie when he resulteth, he maketh shipwracke +of that goodlie title, and degenerateth into a tyrant, than the which violent and inforced +gouernement as there is none more perillous, so is it of all other the least in continuance: +this is prooued by historicall obseruation through the course of this historie.</p> + <hr /><br /><br /> + <a name="xix5" id="xix5"></a> +<span class="page"><a name="page590" id="page590"></a>[Page 590]</span> +<p> +<i>Ceolric reigneth ouer the Westsaxons, the Saxons and Britains incounter, Ethelbert king +of Kent subdueth the Englishsaxons, he is maried to the French kings daughter vpon +cautions of religion, the king imbraceth the gospell, Augustine the moonke and others +were sent into this Ile to preach the christian faith, the occasion that moued Gregorie +the great to send him, buieng and selling of boies, the Englishmen called Angli commended, +Ethelbert causeth Augustine and his fellowes to come before him, they preach +to the king and his traine, he granteth them a conuenient seat and competent reliefe in +Canturburie, the maner of their going thither and their behauiour there, the king and +his people receiue the christian faith, and are baptised.</i></p> + +<h3>THE XIX. CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">CELRIC.</span> +Now after Cheuling, his nephue Celricus or Ceolric that was sonne vnto Cutwine, the +sonne of the foresaid Cheuling, reigned as king ouer the Westsaxons fiue yeares & fiue +moneths. In like manner the same yeare died Ella or Alla king of Northumberland, after +whome succéeded Ethelricus the sonne of Ida, and reigned but fiue yeares, being a man +well growne in yeares before he came to be king. About thrée yeeres after this, the Saxons +& Britains fought a battell at Wodenesbourne, where the Britains being ranged in good order, +the Saxons set vpon them boldlie indéed, but disorderedlie, so that the victorie remained +with the Britains. The Saxons the more valiant they had shewed themselues in battell, +before that time, so much the more slow and vntowardlie did they shew themselues now in +running awaie to saue themselues, so that an huge number of them were slaine. Also about +<span class="rightnote">594.</span> +the same time died Crida king of Mercia 594, after whome his sonne Wibbas or Wipha +succeeded. And after the deceasse of Ethelric, one Edelbert or Edelfride surnamed the +wild, succéeded in gouernement of the Northumbers. But to returne to our purpose.</p> +<p> +Ethelbert king of Kent, not discouraged with the euill chance which happened in the +<span class="rightnote"><i>Beda</i>. <br /><i>Will. Malmes.</i></span> +beginning, but rather occasioned thereby to learne more experience in feats of warre, prooued +so perfect a maister therein, that in processe of time he subdued by force of armes all those +English Saxons which lay betwixt the bounds of his countrie, and the riuer of Humber. +Also to haue friendship in forraine parts, he procured a wife for himselfe of the French +nation, named the ladie Bertha, being king Cheriberts daughter of France; but with condition, +that he should permit hir to continue and vse the rites and lawes of christian faith and +religion, and to haue a bishop whose name was Luidhard, appointed to come and remaine +with hir here in this land for hir better instruction in the lawes of the Lord. So that they +two with other of the French nation that came ouer with them remaining in the court, and +vsing to serue God in praiers and otherwise, according to the custome of the christian religion, +began vndoubtedlie to giue light to the kings mind as yet darkned with the clouds of +paganisme, so as the bright beames of the celestiall cléerenes of vnderstanding remooued the +thicke mists of his vnbeléefe in tract of time, and prepared his heart to the receiuing of the +gospell, which after by heauenlie prouidence was preached to him, by occasion, and in maner +as followeth.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Beda</i>. <br /><i>Matth. West.</i> saith 596. <br />47 saith the same author.</span> +In the yeare of our Lord 596, which was about the 14 yeare of the reigne of the emperour +Mauricius, and after the comming of the English Saxons into this land, about an +147 yeares almost complet, the bishop of Rome, Gregorie the first of that name, and surnamed +Magnus, sent Augustinus a moonke, with certeine other learned men into this Ile to +preach the christian faith vnto the English Saxons, which nation as yet had not receiued the +gospell. And here we hold it necessarie to shew how it is recorded by diuer writers, that +the first occasion whereby Gregorie was mooued thus to send Augustine into this land, rose +by this meanes.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Beda</i>. <br /><i>Will. Malmes.</i></span> +It chanced (whilest the same Gregorie was as yet but archdeacon of the see of Rome) +certeine yoong boies were brought thither to bee sold out of Northumberland, according to +the accustomable vse of that countrie, in somuch that as we haue in our time séene (saith<span class="page"><a name="page591" id="page591"></a>[Page 591]</span> +W. Mal.) the people of that prouince haue not yet doubted to sell awaie their néere kinsfolke +for a small price. When those children which at that time were brought from thence +to Rome, had by reason of their excellent beauties and comelie shape of lims and bodie, +<span class="leftnote"><i>Vita Gregorii. magni.</i></span> +turned the eies in maner of all the citizens to the beholding of them, it fortuned that Gregorie +also came amongst other to behold them, and when he considered and well viewed their faire +skins, their swéet visages, and beautifull bushes of their bright and yeallow heares, he demanded +out of what region or land they came? Vnto whome answere was made, that they +were brought out of Britaine, the inhabitants of which countrie were of the like beautifull +aspect. Then he asked whether the men of that countrie were christians, or as yet intangled +with blind heathenish errors? Wherevnto it was answered, that they were not christened, +but followed the religion of the Gentiles. Whereat Gregorie fetching a déepe sigh, said: +Ah, alas that the author of darkenesse dooth as yet possesse men of so brightsome countenances, +and that with the grace of such faire shining visages, they beare about minds void +of inward grace.</p> +<p> +"Moreouer he demanded by what name the people were called, whereto answere was +made, that they were called Angli, that is to say Englishmen. Right woorthilie (saith he) +for they haue angels faces, and such as ought to be made fellow-heires with angels in heauen. +Then asked he the name of the prouince from whence they were brought, and it was told +him they were of Deira. It is well (said he) they are to be deliuered "De ira dei," that is +to say, from the ire and wrath of God, and called to the mercie of Christ our Lord. What +name (said he) hath the king of that prouince? Wherevnto answere was made that he was +called Alla, wherevpon alluding to that name, he said, Alleluia ought to be soong in those +parts to the praise and honor of God the creator."</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">Pelagius the second. <br /><i>Will. Malmes.</i></span> +Herevpon comming to Benedict the first of that name (as then bishop of Rome) he +required him that some learned men might be sent into England to preach the gospell vnto +the Englishmen, offering himselfe to be one of the number. But though Benedict was contented +<span class="leftnote">Pelagius.</span> +to grant his request, yet the Romans had him in such estimation, that they would not +consent that he should depart so farre from the citie, so that by them he was at that time +staied of that his godlie purpose. Howbeit when he came to be bishop, he thought to performe +it though not by himselfe, yet by other: and so Augustine and his fellowes were sent +by him about it (as before is said.) By the way, as they were passing in their iournie, such +<span class="rightnote">M. Fox.</span> +a sudden feare entred into their hearts, that (as some write) they returned all. Others write, +that Augustine was sent backe to Gregorie, to sue that they might be released of that voiage +so dangerous and vncerteine amongst such a barbarous people, whose language they neither +knew, nor whose rudenesse they were able to resist. Then Gregorie with pithie perswasions +confirming and comforting him, sent him againe with letters vnto the bishop of Arles, willing +him to helpe and aid the said Austine and his companie in all what so euer his néede required. +Also other letters he directed by the foresaid Austine vnto his fellowes, exhorting +them to go forward boldlie in the Lords woorke, as by the tenor of the said epistle here following +may appeare.</p> + +<p class="indent1"> +"<i>Gregorie the seruant of Gods servants, to the seruants of our Lord.</i></p> + +<p> +"For as much as it is better not to take good things in hand, than after they be begun, to +thinke to reuolt backe from the same againe, therefore now you may not nor cannot (dere +children) but with all feruent studie and labour must needs go forward in that good businesse, +which thorough the helpe of God you haue well begun. Neither let the wearisomnesse +of your iournie, nor the slanderous toongs of men appall you, but that with all +instance and feruencie ye proceed and accomplish the thing which the Lord hath ordeined +you to take in hand, knowing that your great trauell shall be recompensed with reward of +greater glorie hereafter to come. Therefore as we send here Austine to you againe, whome +also we haue ordeined to be your gouernour, so doo you humblie obey him in all things,<span class="page"><a name="page592" id="page592"></a>[Page 592]</span> +knowing that it shall be profitable for your soules what soeuer at his admonition ye shall +doo. Almightie God with his grace defend you, and grant me to see in the eternall countrie +the fruit of your labours, though heere I cannot labour in the same fellowship with you +togither. The Lord God keepe you safe most deere and welbeloued children. Dated the +tenth before the kalends of August, in the reigne of our souereigne lord Mauricius most +vertuous emperor, the fourtenth of his empire."</p> +<p> +Thus emboldned and comforted through the good woords and wholesome exhortation of +Gregorie, they set forward againe, and spéeding foorth their iournie, first arriued at the Ile +of Thanet in Kent in the moneth of Iulie, being in number about fortie persons, of the +which diuerse were interpretors, whome they brought with them out of France. These they +sent vnto king Ethelbert, signifieng the occasion of their comming, who hearing the messengers +within a few daies after, went into that Ile, and there abroad out of anie house sat +downe, and caused Augustine and his fellowes to come before him, for he would not come +vnder anie roofe with them, sore doubting to be bewitched by them, being persuaded that +they were practised in nigromancie. But they comming to him, not by the power of the +diuell (as they said) but by the might and power of almightie God, bearing in stéed of a +<span class="rightnote">The seuenfold letanies of S. Gregorie were not yet deuised.</span> +banner a crosse of siluer, and an image of our Lord and Sauiour painted in a table, and +thereto singing the letanies, made intercession vnto the Lord for the euerlasting preseruation +of themselues, and of all them for whome and to whome they came.</p> +<p> +Now when they being set downe by commandement of the king, had preached the woord +of life to him, and to all those that came thither with him, he made them this answer, that +their woords and promises were good: but for as much as the same were new & vncerteine +to him that had béen brought vp in the contrarie doctrine, he could not rashlie assent to their +admonitions, & leaue that beléefe which he and the English nation had so long a time obserued +and kept: but (said he) because ye haue trauelled farre, to the intent to make vs partakers +of those things which ye beléeue to be most true and perfect, we will thus much +graunt vnto you, that ye shall be receiued into this countrie, and haue harbrough, with all +things sufficient found vnto you for your maintenance and sustentation: neither will we +hinder you, but that ye may by preaching associat and ioine as manie of our subiects as you +can vnto your law and beléefe. They had therefore assigned vnto them a place to lodge in +within the citie of Canturburie, which was the head citie of all his dominion. It is said that +as they approched the citie according to their maner, they had a crosse borne before them, +with an image of our Lord Iesus Christ, and they followed, singing this letanie, "Deprecamur +te Domine in omni misericordia tua, vt auferatur furor tuus & ira tua à ciuitate ista & +de domo sancta tua, quoniam peccauimus: Alleluia." <i>That is to say</i>, We beseech thee Ô +Lord in all thy mercie that thy furie and wrath may be taken from this citie, and from thy +holie house, for we haue sinned. Praise be to thee Ô Lord.—After they were receiued into +<span class="rightnote"><i>Beda</i>. <br /><i>Matth. West.</i></span> +Canturburie, they began to follow the trade of life which the apostles vsed in the primitiue +church, that is to say, exercising themselues in continuall praier, watching, and preaching +to as manie as they could, despising all worldlie things, as not belonging to them, receiuing +onelie of them (whome they taught) things necessarie for the sustenance of their life, & +liuing in all points according to the doctrine which they set forth, hauing their minds readie +to suffer in patience all aduersities what so euer, yea and death it selfe, for the confirming of +<span class="rightnote">The christian faith receiued of the Englishmen.</span> +that which they now preached. Herevpon, manie of the English people beléeued and were +baptised, hauing in great reuerence the simplicitie of those men, and the swéetenesse of their +heauenlie doctrine. There was a church néere to the citie on the east part thereof dedicated +to the honor of saint Martine, and builded of old time whilest the Romans as yet inhabited +Britaine, in the which the quéene, being (as we haue said) a christian, vsed to make hir +praiers. To this church Austine and his fellowes at their first comming accustomed to resort, +and there to sing, to praie, to saie masse, to preach and to baptise, till at length the king +being conuerted, granted them licence to preach in euerie place, and to build and restore<span class="page"><a name="page593" id="page593"></a>[Page 593]</span> +churches where they thought good. After that the king being persuaded by their doctrine, +good examples giuing, and diuers miracles shewed, was once baptised, the people in great +numbers began to giue eare vnto the preaching of the gospell, and renouncing their heathenish +<span class="rightnote"><i>Lib. 7, cap. 26</i>.</span> +beléefe, became christians, in so much that as Gregorie remembreth, there were +baptised ten thousand persons in one day, being the feast of the natiuitie of our Sauiour 597, +and the first indiction.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Polychron.</i></span> +¶ Some write how this should chance toward the latter end of Augustines daies, after he +was admitted to preach the gospell amongst them that inhabited about Yorke (as some write) +which affirme, that the said number of ten thousand was baptised in the riuer of Suale, +which (as W. Harison saith) cannot be verified, because of the indiction and death of Gregorie. +But to procéed.</p> + + <hr /><br /><br /> + <a name="xx5" id="xx5"></a> +<p> +<i>Religion is not to be inforced but perswaded and preached, Augustine is made archbishop +of England, Gregorie informeth Augustine of certeine ordinances to be made and obserued +in the new English church, as the reuenewes of the church to be diuided into foure +parts, of liturgie, of mariage, of ecclesiasticall discipline and ordeining of bishops: +trifling questions objected by Augustine to Gregorie, fellow helpers are sent ouer to assist. +Augustine in his ministerie, he receiueth his pall, reformation must be doone by little +and little, not to glorie in miracles, the effect of Gregories letters to K. Ethelbert after +his conuersion to christianitie.</i></p> + +<h3>THE XX. CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Beda. lib.</i> 1. <i>cap.</i> 26. and 27.</span> +King Ethelbert reioised at the conuersion of his people, howbeit he would not force anie +man to be baptised, but onelie shewed by his behauiour, that he fauored those that beléeued +more than other, as fellow citizens with him of the heauenlie kingdome: for he learned of +them that had instructed him in the faith, that the obedience due to Christ ought not to be +inforced, but to come of good will. Moreouer he prouided for Augustine and his fellowes +a conuenient place for their habitation within the citie of Canturburie, and further gaue them +<span class="rightnote">Augustine ordeined archbishop of the English nation.</span> +necessarie reuenewes in possession for their maintenance. After that the faith of Christ was +thus receiued of the English men, Augustine went into France, and there of the archbishop of +Arles named Etherius was ordeined archbishop of the English nation, according to the order +prescribed by Gregorie before the departure of the said Augustine from Rome.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">Laurence a priest.</span> +After his returne into Britaine, he sent Laurence a priest, and Péeter a moonke vnto +Rome, to giue knowledge vnto Gregorie the bishop, how the Englishmen had receiued the +faith, and that he was ordeined archbishop of the land, according to that he had commanded, +if the woorke prospered vnder his hand as it had doone. He also required to haue Gregories +aduice touching certéine ordinances to be made and obserued in the new church of England. +Wherevpon Gregorie, sending backe the messengers, wrote an answere vnto all his demands. +And first touching the conuersation of archbishops with the clergie, and in what sort the +church goods ought to be imploied, he declared that the ancient custome of the apostolike +<span class="leftnote">The reuenewes of the church to be diuided into 4. parts.</span> +see was to giue commandement vnto bishops ordeined, that the profits and reuenewes of +their benefices ought to be diuided into foure parts, whereof the first should be appointed +to the bishop and his familie for the maintenance of hospitalitie: the second should be assigned +to the clergie: the third giuen to the poore: and the fourth imploied vpon repairing +of temples.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">Liturgie.</span> +And whereas in the church of Rome one custome in saieng masse or the liturgie was +<span class="leftnote">Church seruice.</span> +obserued, and another custome in France; concerning such church seruice, Gregorie aduised +Austine that if he found anie thing either in the church of Rome, either in the church<span class="page"><a name="page594" id="page594"></a>[Page 594]</span> +of France, or in anie other church which might most please the almightie God, he should diligentlie +choose it out, and instruct the church of England (now being new) according to that +forme which he should gather foorth of the said churches: for the things are not loued for +<span class="rightnote">Such as did steale.</span> +the places sake, but the places for the things sake. Also for punishing of such as had +stolen things out of churches, so néere as might be, the offender should be chastised in charitie, +so as he might know his fault, and (if it were possible) restore the thing taken away.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">Mariages.</span> +And touching degrées in mariage, Englishmen might take to their wiues, women that +touched them in the third and fourth degrée without reprehension, and if any vnlawfull +mariages were found amongst the Englishmen, as if the sonne had maried the fathers wife, +or the brother the brothers wife, they ought to be warned in anie wise to absteine, and vnderstand +it to be a gréeuous sinne: yet should they not for that thing be depriued of the +communion of the bodie and bloud of our Lord, least those things might séeme to be punished +in them wherein they had offended (before their conuersion to the christian faith) by +<span class="rightnote">Discipline of the church.</span> +ignorance; for at this season the church (saith he) correcteth some things of a feruent +earnestnesse, suffreth some things of a gentle mildnes, and dissembleth some things of a +prudent consideration, and so beareth and winketh at the same, that oftentimes the euill +which she abhorreth by such bearing and dissembling, is restrained and reformed.</p> +<p> +<span class="leftnote">Ordeining of bishops.</span> +Moreouer touching the ordeining of bishops, he would they should be so placed, that the +distance of place might not be a let, but that when a bishop should be consecrated, there +might be thrée or foure present. Also touching the bishops of France, he willed Augustine +in no wise to intermeddle with them, otherwise than by exhortation and good admonition to be +giuen, but not to presume anie thing by authoritie, sith the archbishop of Arles had receiued +the pall in times past, whose authoritie he might not diminish, least he should séeme to put +his sickle into another mans haruest. But as for the bishops of Britaine, he committed them +vnto him, that the vnlearned might be taught, the weake with wholesome persuasions +<span class="rightnote">Women with child.</span> +strengthened, and the froward by authoritie reformed. Moreouer, that a woman with child +might be baptised, and she that was deliuered after 33 daies of a manchild, and after 46 +daies of a womanchild, should be purified, but yet might she enter the church before, if +she would.</p> + +<span class="rightnote">Matters in question about trifles.</span> +<p class="indent2"> +The residue of Augustines demands consisted in these points, to wit:<br /><br /> + +1 Within what space a child should be christened after it was borne, for doubt to be preuented +by death?<br /><br /> + +2 Within what time a man might companie with his wife after she was brought to bed?<br /><br /> + +3 Whether a woman, hauing hir floures, might enter the church, or receiue the communion?<br /><br /> + +4 Whether a man hauing had companie with his wife, might enter the church, or receiue +the communion before he was washed with water?<br /><br /> + +5 Whether after pollusion by night in dreames, a man might receiue the communion: or +if he were a priest, whether he might say masse?</p> +<p> +To these questions Gregorie maketh answere at full in the booke and place before cited, +which for bréefenesse we passe ouer. He sent also at that time with the messengers aforesaid, +at their returne into England, diuers learned men to helpe Augustine in the haruest of +<span class="rightnote">Assistance to Augustine. <br />The pall.</span> +the Lord. The names of the chiefest were these, Melitus, Iustus, Paulinus, and Ruffinianus. +He sent allso the pall, which is the ornament of an archbishop, with vessels and apparell +which should be vsed in churches by the archbishop and other ministers. He sent also with +the pall other letters to Augustine, to let him vnderstand what number of bishops he would +haue him to ordeine within this land. Also after that Melitus, and the other before mentioned +persons were departed from Rome, he sent a letter vnto the same Melitus, being yet +on his way toward Britaine, touching further matter concerning the churches of England, +<span class="rightnote">Bearing with them that had newlie receiued the faith, whereof superstition grew and increased.</span> +wherein he confesseth that manie things are permitted to be vsed of the people latelie +brought from the errors of gentilitie, in keeping feasts on the dedication daies, which haue +resemblance with the old superstitious rites of the Pagan religion. For to hard and obstinate<span class="page"><a name="page595" id="page595"></a>[Page 595]</span> +minds (saith he) it is not possible to cut away all things at once, for he that coueteth to the +highest place, goeth vp by steps and not by leaps.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"> Miracles.</span> +At the same time Gregorie did send letters vnto Augustine touching the miracles, which +by report he vnderstood were shewed by the same Augustine, counselling him in no wise +to glorie in the same, but rather in reioising to feare, and consider that God gaue him the +gift to worke such signes for the wealth of them to whom he was sent to preach the gospell: +he aduised him therefore to beware of vaine-glorie and presumption, for the disciples of the +truth (saith he) haue no ioy, but onlie that which is common with all men, of which there +is no end, for not euerie one that is elect worketh miracles, but euerie of the elect haue their +names written in heauen. These letters, with the other which Gregorie sent at this time +vnto Augustine, were dated the tenth day of the kalends of Iulie, in the yéere of our Lord +602, which was the 19 yeere of the emperour Mauricius. Moreouer he sent most courteous +<span class="rightnote">602.</span> +letters by these messengers to king Ethelbert, in the which he greatlie commended him, in +that he had receiued the christian faith, and exhorted him to continue in that most holie +state of life, whereby he might worthilie looke for reward at the hands of almightie God.</p> + + <hr /><br /><br /> + <a name="xxj5" id="xxj5"></a> +<p> +<i>What reparations and foundations Augustine finished for clergimen to the supportation of +the church, the building of Paules in London and saint Peters in Westminster vncerteine, +a prouinciall councell called by Augustine, he restoreth a blind man to his sight, the +Britains are hardlie weaned from their old custome of beliefe, an heremits opinion of +Augustine, he requireth three things to be obserued of the Britains, he ordeineth bishops +at London and Rochester; Sabert reigneth ouer the Eastsaxons, Augustine dieth and is +buried.</i></p> + +<h3>THE XXJ CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +Thus farre we haue waded in the forme and maner of conuerting the English nation to +christianitie, by the labours of Augustine and his coadiutors: now therefore (that we may +orderlie procéed) it remaineth that we say somewhat of the acts and déeds of the said Augustine; +of whom we read, that after he was established archbishop, and had his sée appointed +<span class="rightnote"><i>Beda</i>.</span> +him at Canturburie, he restored another church in that citie which had béene erected +there in times past by certeine of the Romans that were christians, and did dedicate the same +now to the honour of Christ our Sauiour. He also began the foundation of a monasterie +without that citie, standing toward the east, in the which by his exhortation, king Ethelbert +built a church euen from the ground, which was dedicated vnto the holie apostles Peter and +Paule, in the which the bodie of the said Augustine was buried, and likewise the bodies of +all the archbishops of Canturburie and kings of Kent a long time after. This abbie was +<span class="rightnote">One Peter was the first Abbat.</span> +called saint Austins after his name, one Peter being the first abbat thereof. The church +there was not consecrated by Augustine, but by his successor Laurence, after he was dead.</p> +<p> +Moreouer, king Ethelbert at the motion of Augustine built a church in the citie of London +(which he latelie had conquered) and dedicated it vnto saint Paule; but whether he builded +or restored this church of saint Paule it may be doubted, for there be diuers opinions of the +building thereof. Some haue written that it was first builded by king Lud (as before is +<span class="rightnote"><i>Ran. Higd.</i></span> +mentioned.) Other againe write, that it was builded afterward by Sigebert king of the +Eastsaxons. Also king Ethelbert builded the church of saint Andrews in Rochester. It +is likewise remembred by writers, that the same king Ethelbert procured a citizen of London +<span class="leftnote"><i>Beda</i>.</span> +to build a church to S. Peter without the citie of London toward the west, in a place then +called Thorney, that is to say, the Ile of thorns, and now called Westminster: though others +<span class="rightnote"><i>Ran. Higd.</i> Westminster church builded.</span> +haue written that it was built by Lucias king of Britaine, or rather by Sibert king of the +Eastsaxons. This church was either newlie built, or greatlie inlarged by king Edward surnamed<span class="page"><a name="page596" id="page596"></a>[Page 596]</span> +the Confessor, and after that, the third Henrie king of England did make there a +beautifull monasterie, and verie richlie indowed the same with great possessions and sumptuous +iewels. The place was ouergrowne with vnderwoods, as thornes and brambles, before +that the church was begun to be builded there in this king Ethelberts daies. ¶ Thus +the faith of Christ being once begun to be receiued of the English men, tooke woonderfull +increase within a short time.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Ran. Cest. Beda</i>. Sigebertus. ann.19 Mauricij imperatoris. A synod. Ausines oke. <br /><i>Galfrid. lib.8. cap.</i>4.</span> +In the meane season by the helpe of king Ethelbert, Augustine caused a councell to be +called at a place in the confines of the Westsaxons, which place long after was called Austines +oke, where he procured the bishops or doctors of the prouinces of the Britains to come +before him. Among the Britains or the Welshmen, christianitie as yet remained in force, +which from the apostles time had neuer failed in that nation. When Augustine came into +this land, he found in their prouinces seuen bishops sées, and an archbishops sée, wherein +sat verie godlie & right religious prelats, and manie abbats, in the which the Lords flocke +kept their right order: but because they differed in obseruing the feast of Easter, and other +<span class="leftnote"><i>Beda lib.2. ca.2.</i></span> +rites from the vse of the Romane church, Augustine thought it necessarie to mooue them +to agrée with him in vnitie of the same, but after long disputation and reasoning of those +matters, they could not be induced to giue their assent in that behalfe. Augustine to +prooue his opinion good, wrought a miracle in restoring sight to one of the Saxon nation +that was blind.</p> +<p> +The Britains that were present, mooued with this miracle, confessed that it was the right +waie of iustice and righteousnesse which Augustine taught; but yet they said that they +might not forsake their ancient customs without consent and licence of their nation. Wherevpon +<span class="rightnote">Another synod.</span> +they required another synod to be holden, whereat a greater number of them might +be present. This being granted, there came (as it is reported) seuen bishops of the Britains, +<span class="leftnote">The monasterie of Bangor. Abbat Dionoth.</span> +and a great number of learned men, speciallie of the famous monasterie of Bangor, whereof +in those daies one Dionoth was abbat, who as they went towards that councell, came first +to a certeine wise man, which liued amongst them an heremits life, and asked his aduise, +whether they ought to forsake their traditions at the preaching of Augustine or not: who +made this answer; "If he be the man of God, follow him." Then said they; "How shall +<span class="rightnote">The answer of a godlie man touching Austine the Englishmens apostle.</span> +we prooue whether he be so or not?" Then said he: "The Lord saith, Take vp my yoke +and learne of me, for I am méeke & humble in hart: if Augustine be humble and meeke +in hart, it is to be beléeued that he also beareth the yoke of Christ, and offereth it to you +to beare; but if he be not méeke but proud, it is certeine that he is not of GOD, nor his +woord to be regarded." "And how shall we sée and perceiue that (said they?)" "Find +meanes (said he) that he maie first come to the place of the synod with those of his side, +and if he arise to receiue you at your comming, then know that he is the seruant of God, +and obey him; but if he despise you, and arise not towards you, whereas you be more +in number, let him be despised of you."</p> +<p> +They did as he commanded, and it chanced, that when they came, they found Augustine sitting +in his chaire: whome when they beheld, straightwaies they conceiued indignation, and noting +him of pride, laboured to reprooue all his saiengs. He told them that they vsed manie +<span class="rightnote">Thrée things required by Augustine of the Britains to be observed.</span> +things contrarie to the custom of the vniuersall church, and yet if in thrée things they +would obeie him, that is to say, in kéeping the feast of Easter in due time, in ministring +baptisme according to the custome of the Romane church, & in preaching to the Englishmen +the woord of life with him & his fellowes, then would he be contented to suffer all +other things patientlie which they did, though the same were contrarie to the maners and +customs of the Romane iurisdiction. But they flatlie denied to doo anie of those things, +and gaue a plaine answer that they would not receiue him for their archbishop: for laieng +their heads togither, thus they thought, If he refuse now to arise vnto vs, how much the +more will he contemne vs if we should become subiect to him? Vnto whom (as it is said) +<span class="rightnote">Augustine threatneth.</span> +Augustine in threatening wise told them afore hand, that if they would not receiue peace +with their brethren, they should receiue warre of the enimies; & if they would not preach<span class="page"><a name="page597" id="page597"></a>[Page 597]</span> +to the Englishmen the waie of life, they should suffer punishment by death at the hands of +them: which thing in deed after came to passe, as in place conuenient shall be expressed. +<span class="rightnote">604. Bishops ordeined at London and Rochester.</span> +After this in the yéere of our Lord 604, the archbishop Augustine ordeined two bishops, +that is to say, Melitus at London, that he might preach the woord of God to the Eastsaxons, +which were diuided from them of Kent by the riuer of Thames, and Iustus in the citie of +Rochester within the limits of Kent.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">SABERT.</span> +At that time Sabert reigned ouer the Eastsaxons, but he was subiect vnto Ethelbert king +of Kent, whose nephue he was also by his sister Ricula that was married vnto king Sledda +that succéeded after Erchenwine the first king of the Eastsaxons, and begat on hir this +Sabert that receiued the faith. After that Augustine had ordeined Melitus to be bishop of +London, as before is said, king Ethelbert builded (as some write) the church of saint Paule +within the same citie, where the same Melitus and his successors might keepe their sée. +And also for the like purpose he builded the church of saint Andrew the apostle at Rochester, +that Iustus and his successors might haue their sée in that place, according to Augustines institution: +he bestowed great gifts vpon both those churches, endowing them with lands and +possessions verie bountifullie, to the vse of them that should be attendant in the same with +the bishops.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Ran. Cestren.</i></span> +Finallie, Augustine after he had gouerned as archbishop the church of Canturburie by +the space of 12 yéeres currant, departed this life the fiue and twentieth of Maie, and was +buried first without the citie néere to the church of the apostles Peter and Paule (whereof +mention is made before) bicause the same church as yet was not finished nor dedicated; +but after it was dedicated, his bodie was brought into the church, and reuerentlie buried in +the north Ile there. He ordeined in his life time Laarence to be his successor in the sée of +Canturburie, of whome ye shall heare hereafter. ¶ Thus haue ye heard in what maner +the Englishmen were first brought from the worshipping of false gods, and baptised in the +name of the liuing God by the foresaid Augustine (as we find in Beda and other writers.) +Now we will returne to other dooings chancing in the meane time amongst the people of +this Ile.</p> + + <hr /><br /><br /> + <a name="xxij5" id="xxij5"></a> +<p> +<i>Ceowlfe or Ceoloulph gouerneth the Westsaxons, Ceorlus king of Mercia, Edelfride king +of the Northumbers, and Edan king of the Scots ioine in battell, Edan is discomfited, +Edelfride subdueth the citizens of Chester, the deuout moonks of Bangor praie for safetie +from the swoord of the enimie, twelue hundred of them are slaine, Edelfride entreth the +citie of Chester, the Britains assembling their power vnder three capteins incounter with +Edelfride, slaie manie of his souldiers, and put him to flight, warres betweene Edelfride +and Redwald king of the Eastangles about Edwine the sonne of king Elle, Edelfride +is slaine, Ceowlfe king of the Westsaxons dieth.</i></p> + +<h3>THE XXIJ CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +<span class="leftnote"><i>Matth. West.</i> saith 34.</span> +After the deceasse of Chelricus king of the Westsaxons, we find that Ceowlfe or +Ceoloulph succéeded in gouernment of that kingdome, and reigned twelue yéeres. He began +<span class="rightnote"><i>Matth. West.</i> saith 607.</span> +his reigne (as should appéere by some writers) about the yeere of our Lord 597, and +spent his time for the more part in warres, not giuing place to idlenesse, but séeking either +to defend or inlarge the confines of his dominion. He was the sonne of Cutha, which was +the sonne of Kenrike, which was the sonne of Certike. After Wibba or Wipha king of +Mercia (who, nothing inferiour to his father, did not onelie defend his kingdome, but also +inlarge it, by subduing the Britains on ech side) one Ceorlus succéeded in that kingdome,<span class="page"><a name="page598" id="page598"></a>[Page 598]</span> +<span class="rightnote">Ceorlus king of Mercia.</span> +being not his sonne but his kinsman. This Ceorlus began his reigne about the yéere of +<span class="leftnote"><br />594.</span> +our Lord 594, as Matth. West. recordeth.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Beda.</i> <br />Edelferd.</span> +Ye haue heard that Edelferd, which otherwise is called also by writers Edelfride, surnamed +the wild, gouerned still the Northumbers, which Edelferd did more damage to the +Britains than anie one other king of the English nation. None of them destroied their +countries more than he did: neither did anie prince make more of the Britains tributaries, +or inhabited more of their countries with English people than he. Héerevpon Edan king +of those Scots which inhabited Britaine, being therewith mooued to see Edelfride prosper +thus in his conquests, came against him with a mightie armie: but ioining in battell with +Edelfride and his power, at a place called Degsastane, or Degsastone, or Deglaston, he lost +the most part of his people, and with the residue that were left aliue, he escaped by flight. +This was a sore foughten battell, with much bloudshed on both parties. For notwithstanding +that the victorie remained with the Northumbers, Theobaldus the brother of Edelferd +was slaine, with all that part of the English host which he gouerned: and it was fought in +<span class="leftnote">603.</span> +the yéere of our Lord 603, in the 19 yeere of the reigne of the foresaid Edelferd, and in +the sixt yéere of Ceowlfe king of the Westsaxons, and in the first yéere of the emperor +<span class="rightnote"><i>Henr. Hunt.</i></span> +<span class="leftnote"><i>Beda lib. 1. cap.</i> 34.</span> +Phocas, or rather in the last yéere of his predecessor Mauricius. From that day, till the +daies of Beda, not one of the Scotish kings durst presume to enter into Britaine againe to +<span class="rightnote"><i>Wil. Malm.</i> <br />Sée in Scotland.</span> +giue battell against the English nation, as Beda himselfe writeth. But the Scotish writers +make other report of this matter, as in the historie of Scotland ye maie find recorded.</p> +<p> +The Britains that dwelt about Chester, through their stoutnesse prouoked the aforesaid +Edelferd king of the Northumbers vnto warre: wherevpon to tame their loftie stomachs, he +assembled an armie & came forward to besiege the citie of Chester, then called of the Britains +<span class="leftnote">Chester as yet in possession of the Britains. <br /><i>I. Leland. <br />Wil. Malm.</i></span> +Carleon ardour deué. The citizens coueting rather to suffer all things than a siege, +and hauing a trust in their great multitude of people, came foorth to giue batell abroad in +the fields, whome he compassing about with ambushes, got within his danger, and easilie +discomfited.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Beda.</i></span> +It chanced that he had espied before the battell ioined (as Beda saith) where a great number +of the British priests were got aside into a place somewhat out of danger, that they +might there make their intercession to God for the good spéed of their people, being then +readie to giue battell to the Northumbers. Manie of them were of that famous monasterie +<span class="rightnote">The number of moonks in the monasterie of Bangor.</span> +of Bangor, in the which it is said, that there was such a number of moonks, that where +they were diuided into seuen seuerall parts, with their seuerall gouernors appointed to haue +rule ouer them, euerie of those parts conteined at the least thrée hundred persons, the which +liued altogither by the labour of their hands. Manie therefore of those moonks hauing +kept a solemne fast for thrée daies togither, were come to the armie with other to make +<span class="rightnote">Brocmale.</span> +praier, hauing for their defender one Brocmale or Broemael, earle (or consull as some call +him) of Chester, which should preserue them (being giuen to praier) from the edge of the +enimies swoord.</p> +<p> +King Edelferd hauing (as is said) espied these men, asked what they were, and what their +intent was; and being informed of the whole circumstance and cause of their being there, +he said; "Then if they call to their God for his assistance against vs, suerlie though they +beare no armour, yet doo they fight against vs, being busied in praier for our destruction." +<span class="rightnote">The Britains discomfited & slaine.</span> +Wherevpon he commanded the first onset to be giuen them, and after slue downe the residue +of the British armie, not without great losse of his owne people. Of those moonks +and priests which came to praie (as before is mentioned) there died at that battell about +the number of 12 hundred, so that fiftie of them onelie escaped by flight. Brocmale, or +Broemael at the first approch of the enimies, turning his backe with his companie, left them +(whom he should haue defended) to be murthered through the enimies swoord. Thus +was the prophesie of Augustine fulfilled, though he was long before departed this life (as +Beda saith.)</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Henr. Hunt.</i></span> +¶ Héere is to be noted, if this battell was fought in the seuenth yéere of Ceowlfe king<span class="page"><a name="page599" id="page599"></a>[Page 599]</span> +of Westsaxon (as some haue written) and that Augustine liued 12 yéeres after his entrance +into the gouernment of the sée of Canturburie (as some write) it is euident that he liued +foure yéeres after this slaughter made of the British priests and moonks by Edelferd (as before +is recited.) For Ceowlfe began his reigne (as before is mentioned) about the yéere of +our Lord 596, and in the seuenth yeere of his reigne the battell was fought at Degsastane +<span class="rightnote"><i>W. Harison.</i></span> +betwixt the English & the Scots, which chanced in the yéere of our Lord 604, as Beda +himselfe recordeth. A late chronographer running vpon this matter, and preciselie setting +downe his collection, saith that Athelbright, or Edelfride, K. of the Northumbers, & Ethelbert +K. of Kent, hauing Augustine in their companie, in the eight yéere after his arriuall, +made warre vpon such Britains as refused to obserue the canons of the late councell mentioned +603, and killed 1200 moonks of the monasterie of Bangor, which laboured earnestlie, +and in the sweat of their browes, thereby to get their liuings, &c. Verelie Galf. Mon. +writeth, that Ethelbert king of Kent (after he saw the Britains to disdaine and denie their +subiection vnto Augustine, by whome he was conuerted to the christian faith) stirred vp +<span class="rightnote"><i>Acts and monuments, pag. 160</i></span> +Edelferd king of the Northumbers to warre against the Britains. But heereof Maister Fox +doubteth, and therefore saith, that of vncerteine things he hath nothing certeinlie to saie, +much lesse to iudge. But now to the matter where we left.</p> +<p> +After that king Edelferd had made slaughter of the Britains (as before is rehearsed) he +entred the citie of Chester, and from thence marched towards Bangor. The Britains in the +<span class="rightnote">Blederike duke of Cornwall, Margadud king of Southwales, Cadwane k. of Northwales.</span> +meane time had assembled their power vnder thrée capteins, that is to say, Blederike duke +of Cornewall, Margadud king of Southwales, and Cadwane king of Northwales. These +ioining in battell with Edelferd, slue 10066 of his souldiers, and constreined him to flée out +of the field for safegard of his life, after he had receiued manie wounds. On the part of +<span class="leftnote"><i>Galf. Mon.</i></span> +the Britains the forsaid Blederike, which was chiefe capteine of the field in that battell, +chanced to be slaine. Thus saith Gal. Mon.</p> +<p> +But the ancient writers of the English kings (as Beda, William Malmesburie, and Henrie +Huntington), make no mention of this last battell and victorie obteined by the Britains in +maner as aboue is expressed in Galfrids booke. But contrarilie we find, that Edelferd hauing +such good successe in his businesse abroad as he could wish, vpon purpose to auoid +<span class="rightnote">Edwine the sonne of king Alla banished.</span> +danger at home, banished Edwine the sonne of Alla or Elle, a yoong gentleman of great +towardnesse, latelie come to the kingdome of the Northumbers by the death of his father. +But this Edwine in time of his exile, being long tossed from place to place, and finding no +stedfast friendship now in time of his aduersitie, at length came to Redwald, that was king +at that time of the Eastangles, the third from Vffa, and successor to Titullus, which Titullus +<span class="rightnote">592.</span> +did succéed next after the said Vffa, the first king of Eastangles (as before is mentioned.) +<span class="leftnote">Edelferd.</span> +This Redwald did verie honourablie interteine Edwine, insomuch that Edelferd being informed +thereof, was highlie displeased, and sent ambassadors vnto Redwald, to require him +either to deliuer Edwine into his hands, or else if he refused so to doo, to declare and denounce +vnto him open warres.</p> +<p> +Redwald incouraged by his wife (that counselled him in no wise to betraie his friend, +to whome he had giuen his faith, for the menaces of his enimie) assembled foorthwith an +armie, and at the sudden comming vpon Edelferd, assaulted him yer he could haue time +<span class="rightnote">542.</span> +to assemble his people togither. But yet the said Edelferd, though he was beset and brought +<span class="leftnote"><i>H. Hunt.</i></span> +in danger at vnwares, died not vnreuenged: for putting himselfe in defense with such power +as he could then get togither, he boldlie incountred the enimies, and giuing battell, slue +<span class="rightnote">Ethelferd slaine.</span> +Remerius the sonne of Redwald, and after was slaine himselfe, hauing reigned ouer the +Northumbers about 22 yéeres. This battell was fought néere to the water of Idle.</p> +<p> +The said Edelferd had issue by his wife Acca, the daughter of Alla, and sister to Edwine, +two sonnes, Oswald being about two yéeres of age, and Oswin about foure yéeres, the +<span class="rightnote"><i>Hen. Hunt. Matt. West.</i> saith 34.</span> +which (their father being thus slaine) were by helpe of their gouernours conueied awaie +into Scotland with all spéed that might be made. Ceowlfe king of the Westsaxons, after +he had reigned the space of 12 yeeres, departed this life, who in his time had mainteined<span class="page"><a name="page600" id="page600"></a>[Page 600]</span> +<span class="leftnote"><br />The Southsaxons susteine the greater losse.</span> +great warre against manie of his neighbours, the which for briefenesse I passe ouer. One +great battell he fought against them of Sussex, in which the armies on both sides sustained +great damage, but the greater losse fell to the Southsaxons.</p> + + <hr /><br /><br /> + <a name="xxiij5" id="xxiij5"></a> +<p> +<i>Cinegiscus and his sonne Richelinus reigne iointlie ouer the Westsaxons, they fight with the +Britains; the indeuour of Laurence archbishop of Cantrburie in setting religion at large, +and seeking a vniformitie in catholike orders, he and his fellow-bishops write to the +cleargie of Britaine and Scotland for a reformation, Melitus bishop of London goeth to +Rome, the cause why, and what he brought at his returns from pope Boniface.</i></p> + +<h3>THE XXIIJ CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">CINEGISCUS.</span> +After the foresaid Ceowlfe reigned Cinegiscus, or Kingils, which was the sonne of Ceola, +which was the sonne of Cutha or Cutwin, which was the sonne of Kenricke, which was the sonne +of king Certicke. In the fourth yéere of his reigne, he receiued into fellowship with him in gouernance +<span class="leftnote"><i> Wil. Malm.</i> saith that Onichelinus was the brother of Cinegiscus</span> +of the kingdome his sonne Richelinus, or Onichelinus, and so they reigned iointlie +togither in great loue and concord (a thing seldome séene or heard of.) They fought with +<span class="rightnote">Beandune or Beanton.</span> +the Britains at Beandune, where at the first approch of the battels togither, the Britains fled, +but too late, for there died of them that were ouertaken 2062.</p> +<p> +<span class="leftnote"><i>Beda lib. 2 cap. 4</i>.</span> +In this meane time, Laurence archbishop of Canturburie, who succéeded next after Augustine, +admitted thereto by him in his life time (as before is said) did his indeuour to augment +and bring to perfection the church of England, the foundation whereof was latelie laid by his +predecessor the foresaid Augustine: who studied not onelie for the increase of this new church, +which was gathered of the English people, but also he was busie to imploie his pastorlike +cure vpon the people that were of the old inhabitants of Britaine, and likewise of the Scots that +remained in Ireland. For when he had learned that the Scots there, in semblable wise as +the Britains in their countrie, led not their liues in manie points according to the ecclesiasticall +rules, as well in obseruing the feast of Easter contrarie to the vse of the Romane +church, as in other things, he wrote vnto those Scots letters exhortatorie, requiring them +most instantlie to an vnitie of catholike orders as might be agréeable with the church of +Christ, spred and dispersed through the world. These letters were not written onelie in +his owne name, but iointlie togither in the name of the bishops Melitius and Iustus, (as +followeth.)</p> +<p> +"<i>To our deare brethren the bishops and abbats through all Scotland, Laurence, Melitus and +Iustus bishops, the seruants of the seruants of God wish health.</i></p> +<p> +"Whereas the apostolike see (according to hir maner) had sent vs to preach vnto the +heathen people in these west parts, as otherwise throgh the world, and that it chanced to vs +to enter into this Ile which is called Britaine, before we knew & vnderstood the state of +things, we had in great reuerence both the Scots & Britains, which beléeued, bicause (as +we tooke the matter) they walked according to the custome of the vniuersall church: but +after we had knowledge of the Britains, we iudged the Scots to be better. But we haue +learned by bishop Daganus comming into this Ile, and by Columbanus the abbat comming +into France, that the Scots nothing differ in their conuersation from the Britains: for bishop +Daganus comming vnto vs, would neither eat with vs, no nor yet come within the house +where we did eat."</p> +<p> +The said Laurence also with his fellow-bishops, did write to the Britains other letters<span class="page"><a name="page601" id="page601"></a>[Page 601]</span> +woorthie of his degrée, dooing what he could to confirme them in the vnitie of the Romane +church: but it profited litle, as appeareth by that which Beda writeth. About the same time +Melitus the bishop of London went to Rome, to common with pope Boniface, for necessarie +causes touching the church of England, and was present at a synod holden by the same +pope at that season, for ordinances to be made touching the state of religious men, and sate +in the same synod, that with subscribing he might also by his authoritie confirme that which +was there orderlie decréed. This synod was holden the third kalends of March, in the last +yéere of the emperour Phocas, which was about the yeere after the birth of our Sauiour 610. +Melitus at his returne brought with him from the pope, decrees commanded by the said pope +to be obserued in the English church, with letters also directed to archbishop Laurence, and +to king Ethelbert.</p> + + <hr /><br /><br /> + <a name="xxiiij5" id="xxiiij5"></a> +<p> +<i>Cadwan is made king of the Britains in the citie of Chester, he leuieth a power against +Ethelfred king of the Northumbers, couenants of peace passe betwixt them vpon condition, +the death of Ethelbert king of Kent, where he and his wife were buried, of his lawes; +Eadbald succeedeth Ethelbert in the Kentish kingdome, his lewd and vnholie life, he is an +enimie to religion; he is plagued with madnesse; Hebert king of the Eastsaxons dieth, his +thre sonnes refuse to be baptised, they fall to idolatrie and hate the professours of the +truth, their irreligious talke and vndutifull behauiour to bishop Melitus, he and his fellow +Iustus passe ouer into France, the three sonnes of Hebert are slaine of the Westsaxons in +battell, the Estsaxons by their idolatrie prouoke archbishop Laurence to forsake the land, +he is warned in a vision to tarie, whereof he certifieth king Eadbald, who furthering +christianitie, sendeth for Melitus and Iustus, the one is restored to his see, the other reiected, +Melitus dieth, Iustus is made archbishop of Canturburie, the christian faith +increaseth.</i></p> + +<h3>THE XXIIIJ CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">CADWAN king of Britaine</span> +After that the Britains had cōtinued about the space almost of 24 yéeres without anie one +speciall gouernour, being led by sundrie rulers, euer sithens that Careticus was constreined to +flée ouer Seuerne, and fought oftentimes not onelie against the Saxons, but also one of them +<span class="leftnote">613</span> +against another, at length in the yéere of our Lord 613, they assembled in the citie of Chester, +and there elected Cadwan that before was ruler of Northwales, to haue the souereigne rule +& gouernement ouer all their nation, and so the said Cadwan began to reigne as king of +Britaine in the said yéere 613. But some authors say, that this was in the yéere 609, in +which yéere Careticus the British king departed this life. And then after his deceasse the +Britains or Welshmen (whether we shall call them) chose Cadwan to gouerne them in the +foresaid yéere 609, which was in the 7 yéere of the emperour Phocas, and the 21 of the +second Lotharius king of France, and in the 13 yéere of Kilwoolfe king of the Westsaxons.</p> +<p> +This Cadwan being established king, shortlie after assembled a power of Britains, and went +against the foresaid Ethelfred king of Northumberland, who being thereof aduertised, did +associate to him the most part of the Saxon princes, and came foorth with his armie to méet +Cadwan in the field. Herevpon as they were readie to haue tried the matter by battell, certeine +of their friends trauelled so betwixt them for peace, that in the end they brought them +<span class="rightnote"><i>Gal. Mon.</i></span> +to agréement, so that Ethelfred should kéepe in quiet possession those his countries beyond +the riuer of Humber, and Cadwan should hold all that which of right belonged to the Britains +on the southside of the same riuer. This couenant with other touching their agréement was<span class="page"><a name="page602" id="page602"></a>[Page 602]</span> +confirmed with oths solemnelie taken, and pledges therewith deliuered, so that afterwards +they continued in good and quiet peace, without vexing one an other.</p> +<p> +What chanced afterward to Ethelfred, ye haue before heard rehersed, which for that it +soundeth more like to a truth than that which followeth in the British booke, we omit to +make further rehersall, passing forward to other dooings which fell in the meane season, +whilest this Cadwan had gouernement of the Britains, reigning as king ouer them the tearme +<span class="rightnote"><i>Iohn Hard.</i></span> +of 22 or (as some say) but 13 yéeres, and finallie was slaine by the Northumbers, as before +hath béene, and also after shall be shewed.</p> +<p> +In the 8 yéere after that Cadwan began to reigne, Ethelbert king of Kent departed this +life, in the 21 yéere after the comming of Augustine with his fellowes to preach the faith of +Christ here in this realme: and after that Ethelbert had reigned ouer the prouince of Kent the +tearme of 56 yéeres (as Beda saith, but there are that haue noted thrée yéers lesse) he departed +<span class="rightnote"><i>Wil. Malm. Beda li. 2. cap. 5.</i></span> +this world, as aboue is signified, in the yeere of our Lord 617, on the 24 day of Februarie, +and was buried in the Ile of saint Martine, within the church of the apostles Peter and Paule, +without the citie of Canturburie, where his wife quéene Bartha was also buried, and the foresaid +archbishop Augustine that first conuerted him to the faith.</p> +<p> +Amongst other things, this king Ethelbert with the aduise of his councell ordeined diuers +lawes and statutes, according to the which decrées of iudgements should passe: those +decrées he caused to be written in the English toong, which remained and were in force +vnto the daies of Beda, as he declareth. And first it was expressed in those lawes, what +amends he should make that stole anie thing that belonged to the church, to the bishop, or +to anie ecclesiasticall person, willing by all means to defend them whose doctrine he had receiued.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">EADBALD.</span> +After the deceasse of Etthelbert, his sonne Eadbald succéeded in the gouernment of his +kingdome of Kent, the which was a great hinderer of the increase of the new church amongst +the Englishmen in those parties: for he did not onelie refuse to be baptised himselfe, but +also vsed such kind of fornication, as hath not béene heard (as the apostle saith) amongst +the Gentiles, for he tooke to wife his mother in law, that had béene wife to his father. By +<span class="rightnote">The princes example occasion of euill.</span> +which two euill examples, manie tooke occasion to returne to their heathenish religion, the +which whilest his father reigned, either for the prince his pleasure, or for feare to offend him, +did professe the christian faith. But Eadbald escaped not woorthie punishment to him sent +from the liuing God for his euill deserts, insomuch that he was vexed with a certeine kind of +madnesse, and taken with an vncleane spirit.</p> +<p> +The foresaid storme or vnquiet troubling of the christian congregation, was afterwards +greatlie increased also by the death of Sabert or Sebert king of the Eastsaxons, who was conuerted +to the faith of Christ, and baptized by Melitus bishop of London (as before is mentioned) +& departing this life to go to a better in the blissefull kingdome of heauen, he left +behind him thrée sonnes as true successours in the estate of his earthlie kingdome, which +<span class="rightnote"><i>Ran. Cest. <br />Beda li. 2. cap. 5.</i> <br />Serred, Seward, and Sigebert, the sonnes of Sabert.</span> +sonnes likewise refused to be baptised. Their names were Serred, Seward, & Sigebert, men +of an ill mind, & such as in whome no vertue remained, no feare of God, nor anie respect of +religion, but speciallie hating the professours of the christian faith. For after their father was +dead, they began to fall to their old idolatrie, which in his life time they séemed to haue giuen +ouer, insomuch that now they openlie worshipped idols, and gaue libertie to their subiects to +do the like.</p> +<p> +And when the bishop Melitus, at the solemnizing of masse in the church, distributed the +eucharisticall bread vnto the people, they asked him (as it is said) wherfore he did not deliuer +of that bright white bread vnto them also, as well as he had béene accustomed to doo to +their father Saba (for so they vsed to call him.) Vnto whome the bishop made this answer: "If +you will be washed in that wholesome fountaine, wherein your father was washed, ye may +be partakers of that holie bread whereof he was partaker, but if you despise the washpoole of<span class="page"><a name="page603" id="page603"></a>[Page 603]</span> +life, ye may by no meanes tast the bread of saluation." But they offended herewith, replied in +this wise: "We will not enter into that fountaine, for we know we haue no néed thereof: +but yet neuerthelesse we will be refreshed with that bread."</p> +<p> +After this, when they had beene earnestlie and manie times told, that vnlesse they would +be baptised, they might not be partakers of the sacred oblation: at length in great displeasure +they told him, that if he would not consent vnto them in so small a matter, there should be no +place for him within the bounds of their dominion, and so he was constrained to depart. +Wherevpon he being expelled, resorted into Kent, there to take aduise with his fellow-bishops, +Laurence and Iustus, what was to be doone in this so weightie a matter. Who +finallie resolued vpon this point, that it should be better for them to returne into their countrie, +where with frée minds they might serue almightie God, rather than to remaine amongest +people that rebelled against the faith, without hope to doo good amongest them. Wherefore +Melitus and Iustus did depart first, and went ouer into France, minding there to abide +till they might sée what the end would be. But shortlie after, those brethren the kings of +Essex, which had expelled their bishop in maner aboue said, suffered woorthilie for their +wicked dooings. For going forth to battell against the Westsaxons, they were ouerthrowen +<span class="rightnote">The sonne of king Sebert slaine.</span> +and slaine altogither with all their armie, by the two kings Kinigils and Quichelme. But +neuerthelesse, albeit the authors of the mischiefe were thus taken awaie, yet the people of +that countrie would not be reduced againe from their diuelish woorshipping of false gods, +being eftsoones fallen thereto in that season by the incouragement and perilous example of +their rulers. Wherefore the archbishop Laurence was in mind also to follow his fellowes +Melitus and Iustus: but when he minded to set forward, he was warned in a dreame, and +cruellie scourged (as hath béene reported by the apostle saint Peter, who reprooued him) for +that he would so vncharitablie forsake his flocke, & leaue it in danger without a shepherd +to kéepe the woolfe from the fold.</p> +<p> +The archbishop imboldned by this vision, and also repenting him of his determination, came +to king Eadbald, and shewed to him his stripes, and the maner of his dreame. The king +being herewith put in great feare, renounced his heathenish worshipping of idols, and was +baptised, and as much as in him laie, from thenceforth succoured the congregation of the +christians, and aduanced the church to his power. He sent also into France, and called home +the bishops Melitus and Iustus, so that Iustus was restored to his sée of Rochester.</p> +<p> +But the Eastsaxons would not receiue Melitus to his sée at London, but continued in their +wicked mawmetrie, in obeieng a bishop of their pagan law, whom they had erected for that +purpose. Neither was king Eadbald of that authoritie and power in those parties, as his father +was before, whereby he might constreine them to receiue their lawfull bishop. But +suerlie the said king Eadbald with his people, after he was once conuerted againe, gaue himselfe +wholie to obeie the lawes of GOD, and amongt other déeds of godlie zeale, he builded a +<span class="rightnote"><i>Beda lib. 2.</i></span> +church to our ladie at Canturburie, within the monasterie of saint Peter, afterwards called +saint Agnes. This church was consecrated by Melitus, who after the death of Laurence succéeded +in gouernance of the archbishops sée of Canturburie. After Melitus, who departed +<span class="rightnote"><i>Beda. lib. 2. ca. 8.</i></span> +this life in the yeare of our Lord 624, Iustus that before was bishop of Rochester, was made +archbishop of Canturburie, and ordeined one Romanus to the sée of Rochester. About that +time, the people of the north parts beyond Humber receiued the faith, by occasion (as after +shall appéere.)</p> + +<hr /><br /><br /> +<a name="xxv5" id="xxv5"></a> +<span class="page"><a name="page604" id="page604"></a>[Page 604]</span> +<p> +<i>Edwin reigneth ouer the Northumbers, his great power and reputation, a marriage betweene +him and Ethelburga the sister of king Eadbald vpon religious couenants, the +traitorous attempts of murtherous Eumerus against him, his wife Ethelburga is deliuered +of a daughter, he assalteth the Westsaxons, and discomfiteth them, Boniface the fift +writeth to him to desist from his idolatrie, and to his ladie to persist in true christianitie; +the vision of Edwin when he was a banished man in the court of Redwald king of the +Eastangles, whereby he was informed of his great exaltation and conuersion to christian +religion.</i></p> + +<h3>THE XXV CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +Ye haue heard how Edelfred the king of Northumberland was slaine in battell neere to +the water of Idel by Redwald king of the Eastangles, in fauour of Edwin whom the said +Edelfred had confined out of his dominion, 24 yéeres before. The foresaid Redwald therefore +hauing obteined that victorie, found meanes to place Edwin in gouernement of that +kingdome of the Northumbers, hauing a title thereto as sonne to Alla or Elle, sometime +<span class="rightnote">EDWIN.</span> +<span class="leftnote"><i>Beda. lib. 2. ca. 5.</i></span> +king of Northumberland. This Edwin prooued a right valiant prince, & grew to be of +more power than anie other king in the daies of the English nation: not onelie ruling ouer +a great part of the countries inhabited with English men, but also with Britains, who inhabited +not onelie in Wales, but in part of Chesshire, Lancashire, Cumberland, and alongst +by the west sea-coast in Galloway, and so foorth euen vnto Dunbritaine in Scotland: which +I haue thought good to note, that it may appeare in what countries Cadwallo bare rule, of +whome so often mention is made in this part of the historie. But as concerning Edwin, his +reputation was such, as not onelie the English men, Britains and Scots, but also the Iles of +<span class="rightnote"><i>W. Malm.</i> taketh Meuania to be Anglesey.</span> +Orknie, and those of Man, and others the west Iles of ancient time called Meuaniæ, had +him in reuerence, and feared his mightie power, so as they durst not attempt anie exploit to +offend him.</p> +<p> +It chanced that shortlie after, king Redwald had aduanced him to the kingdom of Northumberland, +to wit, about 6 yeares, the same Redwald deceassed, which made greatlie for +the more augmentation of Edwins power. For the people of the Eastangles, which (whilest +Edwin remained amongst them as a banished man) had conceiued a good opinion of him for +his approoued valiancie and noble courage, offered themselues to be wholie at his commandement. +<span class="rightnote">Carpwaldus.</span> +But Edwin suffering Carpwald or Erpwald the sonne of Redwald to inioie the bare +title and name of the king of that countrie, ruled all things at his owne will and pleasure. +Neither was there anie prouince within Britaine that did not obeie him, or was not readie to +doo him seruice (the kingdome of Kent onelie excepted) for he suffered the Kentishmen to +liue in quiet, because he began to haue a liking to the sister of king Eadbald, namelie the +ladie Ethelburga, otherwise called Tate or Tace.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Beda. lib. 2. cap. 9.</i></span> +He made request therefore by sending ambassadours to hir brother, to haue the said ladie +in marriage, and at length obteined hir, with condition that she being a christian woman, +might not onelie vse the christian religion, but also that all those, whether men or women, +priests or ministers, which came with hir, might haue licence to doo the same, without trouble +or impeachment of anie maner of person. Herevpon she being sent vnto him, there was appointed +<span class="rightnote"><i>Matth. West.</i><br /><i>Beda. lib. 2. cap. 9.</i><br />625.</span> +to go with hir (besides manie other) one Pauline, which was consecrated bishop by the +archbishop Iustus the 21 of Iulie, in the yeare of our Lord 625, who at his comming into +Northumberland thus in companie with Ethelburga, trauelled earnestlie in his office, both to +preserue hir and such christians in the faith of Christ, as were appointed to giue their attendance +on hir, least they should chance to fall: and also sought to win some of the Pagans (if it +were possible) vnto the same faith, though at the first he little profited in that matter.</p> +<p> +In the yeare following, there came a murtherer vnto the court of king Edwin, as then +soiourning in a palace which stood vpon the side of the riuer of Dorwent, being sent from +Quichelme king of the Westsaxons, to the intent to murther Edwin, because he had of late<span class="page"><a name="page605" id="page605"></a>[Page 605]</span> +sore damnified the countries of the Westsaxons. This murtherer was called Eumerus, & +<span class="rightnote">Other say an axe, as <br /><i>Matth. West.</i> <br />Emmerus.</span> +caried vnder his coate a shost double edged woodknife inuenomed of purpose, that if the +king being but a little hurt therewith, should not die of the wound, yet he should not +escape the danger of the poison. This Eumerus on Easter mondaie came to the king, and +making foorth to him as it had béene to haue declared some message from his maister, when +he had espied his time, drew his weapon, and offered to strike the king. But one of the kings +seruants named Lilla, perceiuing this, stept betwixt the king and the blow. Howbeit the +murtherer set the stripe forward with such force, that the knife running through the bodie of +Lilla wounded also the king a little: and before this murtherer could be beaten downe, he +slue another of the kings seruants, a knight that attended vpon him, called Fordher.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">Eaufled borne.</span> +The same night Ethelburga was deliuered of a daughter named Eaufled, for the which +when king Edwin gaue thanks vnto his gods, in the presence of bishop Pauline, the bishop +did admonish him, rather to giue thanks vnto the true and onelie God, by whose goodnesse +it came to passe that the queene was safelie and without danger deliuered. The king giuing +good eare vnto the bishops wholesome admonition, promised at that present to become a +Christian, if he might reuenge his injuries receiued at the hands of the Westsaxons. And +to assure Pauline that his promise should take place, he gaue vnto him his new borne +daughter to be made holie to the Lord, that is to say, baptised. The bishop receiuing +hir, on Whitsundaie next following baptised hir, with twelue other of the kings houshold, +she being the first of the English Northumbers that was so washed in the founteine of regeneration.</p> +<p> +In the meane time K. Edwin being recouered of his hurt, assembled an armie, and went +against the Westsaxons, with whome incountring in battell, he either slue or brought to his +subiection all them that had conspired his death, and so returned as a conquerour into his +countrie. But yet he delaied time in performance of his promise to become a Christian: +howbeit he had left his dooing of sacrifice to idols, euer since he made promise to be baptised. +He was a sage prince, and before he would alter his religion, he politikelie thought +good to heare matters touching both his old religion, and the Christian religion throughlie +examined.</p> +<p> +Now whilest he thus hoong in doubt vnto whether part he should incline, there came +<span class="rightnote"><i> Beda. lib. 2, cap. 10.</i></span> +letters to him from pope Boniface the fift of that name, exhorting him by sundrie kinds of +gentle perswasions, to turne to the worshipping of the true and liuing God, and to renounce +worshipping of mawmets and idols. The pope wrote also to quéene Ethelburga, praieng +<span class="leftnote"><i>Beda. lib. 2, cap. 11.</i></span> +hir to continue in hir good purpose, and by all meanes possible to doo what might be doone +for the conuerting of hir husband vnto the faith of Christ. But the thing that most mooued +<span class="rightnote">A vision.</span> +the king, was a vision which sometime he had while he remained as a banished man in the +court of Redwald king of the Eastangles, as thus.</p> +<p> +<span class="leftnote"><i>Beda. cap.</i> 12.</span> +After that king Ethelfred was informed that the foresaid Redwald had receiued Edwin, he +ceased not by his ambassadours to moue Redwald either to deliuer Edwin into his hands, or +to make him awaie. At length by often sending, & promises made of large summes of +monie, mixed with threatnings, he obteined a grant of his sute, so that it was determined +that Edwin should either be murthered, or else deliuered into his enimies hands. One of +Edwins friends hauing intelligence hereof, in the night season came to Edwins chamber, and +leading him abroad, told him the whole practise, and what was purposed against him, offering +to helpe him out of the countrie, if he would so aduenture to escape. Edwin being +<span class="rightnote">The honorable consideration of Edwin.</span> +woonderouslie amazed, thanked his friend, but refused to depart the countrie, sith he had +no iust cause outwardlie giuen to play such a slipper part, choosing rather to ieopard his life +with honour, than to giue men cause to thinke that he had first broken promise with such a +prince as Redwald was, to whome he had giuen his faith.</p> +<p> +Herevpon his friend departing from him, left him sitting without the doores: where after +he had reuolued manie things in his mind, and thought long vpon this matter, at length he +perceiued one to come towards him vnknowne, and in strange apparell, séeming to him in<span class="page"><a name="page606" id="page606"></a>[Page 606]</span> +euerie point a stranger, at which sight (for that he could not imagine who it should be) Edwin +was much afraid: but the man comming to him saluted him, and asked of him what he +made there at that time of the night when other were at rest. Edwin on the other part +asked what he had to doo therewith, and whether he vsed to lie abroad in the night, or +within house? Who answering said; Thinke not Edwin that I am ignorant of thy heauinesse, +of thy watchings, and this thy solitarie sitting here without doores. For I know who +thou art, wherefore thou art thus pensiue, and what euils thou fearest to be towards thée at +hand. But tell me, what wouldest thou giue him, that could deliuer thée out of this heauinesse, +and perswade Redwald that he should neither doo thée hurt, nor deliuer thée to thine +enimies? Here with when Edwin said that he would gladlie giue all that in him might lie to +such a one in reward: The other said; What wouldst thou giue then, if he should promise +in good sooth that (all thine enimies being destroied) thou shouldest be king, and that +thou shouldest passe in power all the kings which haue reigned in the English nation before +thy time? Edwin being better come to himselfe by such demandes, did not sticke to promise +that he would requite his friendship with woorthie thanks.</p> +<p> +Then replied he to his words and said; If he that shall prophesie to thée this good hap to +come, shall also be able to informe thee in such counsell for thy health and life, as neuer anie +of thy forefathers or kinsfolke yet haue heard, wouldest thou obey him, and also consent to +receiue his wholesome aduertisement? Wherevnto without further deliberation Edwin promised, +that he would in all points follow the instruction of him that should deliuer him out +of so manie and great calamities, and bring him to the rule of a kingdome. Which answere +being got, this person that thus talked with him, laid his hand vpon his head, saieng: +When this therefore shall chance to thée, be not forgetfull of this time, nor of this communication, +and those things that thou now dooest promise, sée thou performe. And therewith +he vanished awaie. So that Edwin might well perceiue it was no man but a vision that +thus had appeared vnto him.</p> +<p> +[¶ This vnaccustomed course it pleased God to vse for the conuersion of the king (to +whose example it was no doubt but the people and inferiour sort would generallie be conformed) +who otherwise had continued in paganisme and blind ignorance both of Gods truth +and true christianitie. And it maie be that there was in him, as in other kings his predecessors, +a settled perswasion in gentilish error, so that neither by admonition nor preaching +(though the same had procéeded from the mouth of one allotted to that ministerie) he was to +be reuoked from the infidelitie and misbeléefe wherein he was nuzzeled and trained vp. +For it is the nature of all men, to be addicted to the obseruation of such rites and customes +as haue béene established and left in force by their progenitors, and sooner to stand vnto a +desire and earnest purpose of adding somewhat to their elders corrupt constitutions, and irreligious +course of conuersation, than to be inclinable to anie article or point tending to innouation: +so inflexible is the posteritie to swarue from the traditions of antiquitie, stand the same +vpon neuer so grosse and palpable absurdities.]</p> +<p> +Edwin still reioising in the foresaid comfortable talke, but thoughtfull in mind what he +should be, or from whence he came that had talked in this sort with him; behold his friend +returned that first had brought him foorth of his chamber, and declared vnto him good +newes, how the king by perswasion of the quéene had altered his determination, and minded +to mainteine his quarell to the vttermost of his power: and so he did in déed. For with all +diligence he raised an armie, and went against Ethelfrid, vanquished him in battell, and +placed Edwin in the kingdome (as before ye haue heard.)</p> + + <hr /><br /><br /> +<a name="xxvj5" id="xxvj5"></a> +<p> +<span class="page"><a name="page607" id="page607"></a>[Page 607]</span> +<i>King Edwin is put in mind of his vision by Pauline who sawe the same in spirit, he is +licenced to preach the gospell, bishop Coifi destroieth the idols, Edwin and his people +receiue the Christian faith, his two sonnes Osfride and Eadfride become conuerts, Redwald +king of the Eastangles is baptised, he serueth God and the diuell, Sibert receiueth the +faith, Felix bishop of Burgongne commeth ouer to Honorius archbishop of Canturburie, +he preacheth to the Eastangles, the Northumbers and Lincolnshiremen are conuerted +manie are baptised in the riuer of Trent; king Edwins iustice how effectuall and commendable, +his care for the common-wealth, his prouidence for the refection of trauellers, +pope Honorius confirmeth Pauline archbishop of Yorke, the tenor of his letters touching +the mutuall election of the archbishop of Canturburie and Yorke, if either of them happened +to suruiue other, his letters to the Scots touching the keeping of Easter and avoiding +the Pelagian heresie, Cadwallo king of Britaine rebelleth against Edwin, Penda +king of Mercia enuieth his good estate, Cadwallo and Penda inuade Northumberland, +Edwin and his sonne Osfride are slaine, Penda putteth his other sonne Eadfride cruellie to death.</i></p> + +<h3>THE XXVJ CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +Notwithstanding the former vision, king Edwin deferred time yer he would receiue +the Christian faith, in somuch that Pauline vpon a daie came vnto him as he sat +musing what he were best to doo, and laid his hand vpon his head, asking him if he knew +that signe. Whereat when the king would haue fallen downe at his féet, he lifted him vp, +and as it were in familiar wise thus said vnto him: "Behold, by the assistance of Gods fauour +thou hast escaped the hands of thine enimies, whome thou stoodst in feare of: behold +through his bountious liberalitie, thou hast obteined the kingdome which thou diddest desire, +remember then that thou delaie no time to performe the third thing that thou diddest promise, +in receiuing his faith, and kéeping his commandements, which deliuering thée from worldlie +aduersities, hath thus aduanced thée to the honor of a king: and if from henceforth thou +wilt obey his will, which by my mouth hée setteth and preacheth to thée and others, he will +deliuer thée from euerlasting torments, and make thée partaker with him in his celestiall +kingdome." It is to be thought that the vision which the king had in times past receiued, +was in spirit reuealed vnto Pauline, wherevpon without delaie of time, he put him in remembrance +of it in maner as aboue is mentioned.</p> +<p> +The king hauing heard his words, answered, that he would and ought to receiue the +faith which he taught, but first he would conferre with his nobles, and if they would agrée +to doo the like, then would they be baptised altogither at one time. Pauline satisfied herewith, +<span class="rightnote">Edwin consulteth with his nobles.</span> +Edwin did as he had promised, calling togither the wisest men of his realme, and of +them asked the question what they thought of this diuinitie, which was preached vnto them +<span class="leftnote">The answere of an heathen bishop.</span> +by Pauline, vnto whome his chiefe bishop named Coifi, incontinentlie made this answer; that +Suerlie the religion which they had hitherto followed was nothing worth. "For saith he, +there is none of thy people that hath more reuerentlie woorshipped our gods than I haue +doone, and yet be there manie that haue receiued far greater benefits at thy hands than I haue +doone: and therefore if our gods were of anie power, then would they rather helpe me to +high honor and dignitie than others. Therefore if it maie be found that this new religion is +better & more auailable than our old, let vs with spéed imbrace the same."</p> +<p> +Finallie, when other of the kings councell & men of high authoritie gaue their consents, +that this doctrine which Pauline taught ought to be receiued, if therein appeered more certeintie +of saluation than could be found in the other: at length the king gaue licence to +<span class="rightnote">Pauline licenced to preach the gospell.</span> +Pauline openlie to preach the gospell, and renouncing his worshipping of false gods, professed +the Christian faith. And when he demanded of his bishop Coifi who should first +deface the altars of their idols, and the tabernacles wherewith they were compassed about? +He answered, that himselfe would doo it. "For what is more méet (saith he) than that I,<span class="page"><a name="page608" id="page608"></a>[Page 608]</span> +which thorough foolishnesse haue worshipped them, should now for example sake destroie +the same, thorough wisedome giuen me from the true and liuing God?" And streightwaies +throwing awaie the superstition of vanitie, required armour and weapon of the king, with a +stoned horsse, vpon the which he being mounted, rode foorth to destroie the idols.</p> +<p> +This was a strange sight to the people: for it was not lawfull for the bishop of their law to +put on armour, or to ride on anie beast, except it were a mare. He hauing therefore a +swoord gird to him, tooke a speare in his hand, and riding on the kings horsse, went to the +place where the idols stood. The common people that beheld him had thought he had béene +starke mad, and out of his wits: but he without longer deliberation, incontinentlie vpon his +comming to the temple, began to deface the same, and in contempt threw his speare against +it, & reioising greatlie in the knowledge of the worshipping of the true God, commanded +his companie to destroie & burne downe the same temple with all the altars. This place +where the idols were sometime worshipped was not farre from Yorke, towards the east part of +the riuer of Derwent, and is called Gotmundin Gaham, where the foresaid bishop by the +inspiration of God defaced and destroied those altars, which he himselfe had hallowed.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">King Edwin with his people receive the christian faith. <br /><i>Beda. lib. 2. cap. 14.</i> <br />627.</span> +King Edwin therefore with all the nobilitie, and a great number of his people, receiued +the faith and were baptised, in the yéere of our Lord 627, in the tenth yéere of his reigne, +and about the 178 yéere after the first comming of the Englishmen into this land. He was +baptised at Yorke on Easter daie (which fell that yéere the day before the Ides of Aprill) +in the church of S. Peter the apostle, which he had caused to be erected and built vp of +timber vpon the sudden for that purpose, and afterwards began the foundation of the same +church in stone-woorke of a larger compasse, comprehending within it that oratorie which +he had first caused to be built: but before he could finish the woorke, he was slaine (as after +shall be shewed) leauing it to be performed of his successor Oswald.</p> +<p> +Pauline continued from thencefoorth during the kings life, which was six yéeres after, in +preaching the gospell in that prouince, conuerting an innumerable number of people to the +faith of Christ, among whom were Osfride and Eadfride the two sonnes of Edwin, whom +he begot in time of his banishment of his wife Quinburga, the daughter of Cearlus king of +Mercia. Also afterwards he begot children on his second wife Ethelburga, that is to say, a +<span class="rightnote">Ediltrudis.</span> +sonne called Edilhimus, and a daughter named Ediltrudis, and another sonne called Bustfrea, +of the which the two first died in their cradels, and were buried in the church at Yorke. +To be briefe: by the kings assistance & fauour shewed vnto Pauline in the woorke of the +Lord, great multitudes of people dailie receiued the faith, and were baptised of Pauline in +manie places, but speciallie in the riuer of Gleuie within the prouince of Bernicia, and also +in Swale in the prouince of Deira: for as yet in the beginning thus of the church in those +countries, no temples or fonts could be builded or erected in so short a time.</p> +<p> +Of such great zeale was Edwin (as it is reported) towards the setting foorth of Gods truth, +<span class="leftnote">This chanced in the yéere 632, as <i>Matt. West.</i> saith.</span> +that he persuaded Carpwald the sonne of Redwald king of the Eastangles to abandon the +superstitious worshipping of idols, and to receiue the faith of Christ with all his whole prouince. +<span class="rightnote">Redwald king of Eastangles baptised.</span> +His father Redwald was baptised in Kent long before this time, but in vaine: for +returning home, through counsell of his wife and other wicked persons, he was seduced, +and being turned from the sincere puritie of faith, his last dooings were woorse than his first, +<span class="leftnote">Redwald would serve God and the diuell.</span> +so that according to the maner of the old Samaritans, he would séeme both to serue the true +God and his false gods, (whom before time he had serued) and in one selfe church had at +one time both the sacraments of Christ ministred at one altar, and sacrifice made vnto diuels +at another.</p> +<p> +But Carpwald within a while after he had receiued the faith, was slaine by one of his +owne countrimen that was an ethnike, called Richbert, and then after his death, that prouince +<span class="rightnote">Sibert or Sigibert.</span> +for the tearme of thrée yeeres was wrapped eftsoones in errour, till Sibert or Sigibert, +the brother of Carpwald, a most christian prince, and verie well learned, obteined the rule +of that kingdome, who whilest he liued a banished man in France during his brothers +life time, was baptised there, and became a christian: and when he came to be king, he<span class="page"><a name="page609" id="page609"></a>[Page 609]</span> +caused all his prouince to be partaker of the same fountaine of life, wherein he had beene +dipped himselfe.</p> +<p> +Vnto this godlie purpose also, a bishop of the parties of Burgoigne named Felix was a +great furtherer, who comming ouer vnto the archbishop of Canturburie Honorius that was +successor vnto Iustus, and declaring vnto him his earnest desire, was sent by the same archbishop +to preach the woord of life vnto the Eastangles, which he did with such good successe, +that he conuerted the whole countrie to the faith of Iesus Christ, and placed the sée of his +<span class="rightnote">A bishop ordained at Dunwhich.<br /><i>Beda lib 1.cap.16.</i></span> +bishoprike at Dunwich, ending the course of his life there in peace after he had continued +in that his bishoplike office the space of 17 yéeres. Moreouer Pauline, after that he had +conuerted the Northumbers, preached the woord of God vnto them of Lindsey, which is a +part of Lincolnshire: and first he persuaded one Blecca the gouernour of the citie of Lincolne +<span class="rightnote">This chanced in the yéere 628, as <i>Matth. West</i> saith.</span> +to turne vnto Christ, togither with all his familie. In that citie he also builded a church +of stone woorke. Thus Pauline trauelled in the woorke of the Lord, the same being greatlie +furthered by the helpe of Edwin, in whose presence he baptised a great number of people +in the riuer of Trent, néere to a towne, which in the old English toong was called <i>Tio +vulfingacester.</i> This Pauline had with him a deacon named Iames, the which shewed himselfe +verie diligent in the ministerie, and profited greatlie therein.</p> +<p> +But now to returne to king Edwin, who was a prince verelie of woorthie fame, and for +the politike ordering of his countries and obseruing of iustice, deserued highlie to be commended: +for in his time all robbers by the high waie were so banished out of his dominions, +<span class="rightnote"><i> Wil. Malm.</i></span> +that a woman with hir new borne child alone, without other companie, might haue trauelled +from sea to sea, and not haue incountred with anie creature that durst once haue offered hir +iniurie. He was also verie carefull for the aduancement of the commoditie & common wealth +<span class="rightnote"><i>Math. West. Beda lib 2.cap.16</i></span> +of his people, insomuch that where there were any swéet and cleare water-springs, he caused +postes to be set vp, and iron dishes to be fastened thereto with chaines, that waifaring men +might haue the same readie at hand to drinke with: and there was none so hardie as to +touch the same but for that vse. He vsed wheresoeuer he went within the cities or elsewhere +abroad, to haue a banner borne before him, in token of iustice to be ministred by +his roiall authoritie.</p> +<p> +In the meane season, pope Honorius the fift, hearing that the Northumbers had receiued +the faith (as before is mentioned) at the preaching of Pauline, sent vnto the said Pauline the +pall, confirming him archbishop in the sée of Yorke. He sent also letters of exhortation +<span class="rightnote"><i>Beda lib 2.cap. 17.</i></span> +vnto king Edwin, to kindle him the more with fatherlie aduise to continue and procéed in +the waie of vnderstanding, into the which he was entered. At the same time also, bicause +Iustus the archbishop of Canturburie was dead, and one Honorius elected to that sée, pope +Honorius sent to the said elect archbishop of Canturburie his pall, with letters, wherein +<span class="rightnote">A decrée concerning the archbishops of Canturburie and Yorke</span> +was conteined a decrée by him made, that when either the archbishop of Canturburie or +Yorke chanced to depart this life, he that suruiued should haue authoritie to ordeine another +in place of him that was deceassed, that they should not néed to wearie themselues with +going to Rome, being so farre distant from them. The copie of which letter is registred in +the ecclesiasticall historie of Beda, bearing date the third Ides of Iune, in the yéere of our +<span class="leftnote">633.</span> +Lord 633. The same pope sent letters also to the Scotish people, exhorting them to celebrate +<span class="rightnote">The feast of Easter</span> +the feast of Easter in such due time as other churches of the christian world obserued. +<span class="leftnote">The heresie of the Pelagians</span> +And also bicause the heresie of the Pelagians began to renew againe amongst them (as he was +informed) he admonished them to beware thereof, and by all meanes to auoid it. For he +knew that to the office of a pastor it is necessarilie incident, not onelie to exhort, teach, and +shew his sheepe the waies to a christian life, but also stronglie to withstand all such vniust +meanes, as might hinder their procéeding in the truth of religion. For as poison is vnto +the bodie, that is heresie vnto veritie. And as the bodie by poison is disabled from all naturall +faculties, and vtterlie extinguished, vnlesse by present meanes the force thereof be vanquished: +so truth and veritie by errors and heresies is manie times choked and recouereth,<span class="page"><a name="page610" id="page610"></a>[Page 610]</span> +but neuer strangled.</p> +<p> +But now that the kingdome of Northumberland flourished (as before is partlie touched) in +happie state vnder the prosperous reigne of Edwin, at length, after he had gouerned it the +<span class="rightnote">Cadwallin, or Cadwallo king of Britaine.</span> +space of 17 yeeres, Cadwalline, or Cadwallo, king of Britaine, who succeeded Cadwane, +as Gal. Mon. saith, rebelled against him. For so it commeth to passe, that nothing can be +so sure confirmed by mans power, but the same by the like power may be againe destroied. +<span class="rightnote">Penda king of Mercia.</span> +Penda king of Mercia enuieng the prosperous procéedings of Edwin, procured Cadwallo to +mooue this rebellion against Edwin: and ioining his power with Cadwallo, they inuaded the +countrie of Northumberland iointlie togither. Edwin heereof aduertised, gathered his people, +& came to incounter them, so that both armies met at a place called Hatfield, where +<span class="rightnote">King Edwin slaine. <i>Matth. West.</i></span> +was fought a verie sore and bloudie battell. But in the end Edwin was slaine with one of his +sonnes named Osfride, and his armie beaten downe and dispersed. Also there was slaine on +Edwins part, Eodbald king of Orkenie. Moreouer there was an other of Edwins sonnes +named Eadfride constreined of necessitie to giue himselfe into the hands of Penda, and was +after by him cruellie put to death, contrarie to his promised faith in king Oswalds daies that +succéeded Edwin. Thus did king Edwin end his life in that battell, fought at Hatfield +aforesaid, on the fourth ides of October, in the yere of our Lord 633, he being then about +the age of 47 yéeres and vpwards.</p> + + <hr /><br /><br /> +<a name="xxvij5" id="xxvij5"></a> +<p> +<i>The crueltie of Penda and Cadwallo after their victorie, the Britains make no account of +religion, Archbishop Pauline with queen Ethelburga flie out of Northumberland into +Kent, honorable personages accompanie him thither, Romanus bishop of Rochester +drowned, Pauline vndertaketh the charge of that see; Osrilie is king of Deira, and +Eaufride king of Bernicia, both kings become apostatas, and fall frō christianitie to +paganisme, then are both slaine within lesse than a yeeres space; Oswald is created king +of Northumberland, his chiefs practise in feats of armes, Cadwallo king of Britaine +hath him in contempt, Oswalds superstitious deuotion and intercession to God against his +enimies; both kings ioine battell; Cadwallo is slaine, Penda king of Mercia his notable +vertues linked with foule vices, he maketh warre on whome he will without exception.</i></p> + +<h3>THE XXVIJ CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +Cadwallo and Penda haumg obteined the victorie aforsaid, vsed it most cruellie. +For one of the capteins was a pagan, and the other wanting all ciuilitie, shewed himselfe +more cruell than anie pagan could haue doone. So that Penda being a worshipper of false +gods with his people of Mercia, and Cadwallo hauing no respect to the Christian religion +<span class="rightnote">The crueltie of Penda and Cadwallo.</span> +which latelie was begun amongst the Northumbers, made hauocke in all places where they +came, not sparing man, woman nor child: and so continued in their furious outrage a long +time in passing through the countrie, to the great decay and calamitie of the Christian congregations +in those parties. And still the christian Britains were lesse mercifull than Penda +his heathenish souldiers. For euen vnto the daies of Beda (as he affirmeth) the Britains +made no account of the faith or religion of the Englishmen, nor would communicate +with them more than with the pagans, bicause they differed in rites from their accustomed +traditions.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">The archbishop Pauline flieth into Kent.</span> +When the countrie of the Northumbers was brought into this miserable case by the enimies +inuasion, the archbishop Pauline taking with him the quéene Ethelburga, whom he had +brought thither, returned now againe with hir by water into Kent, where he was +receiued of the archbishop Honorius, and king Eadbald. He came thither in the conduct<span class="page"><a name="page611" id="page611"></a>[Page 611]</span> +of one Bassus a valiant man of warre, hauing with him Eaufred the daughter, and Vulfrea +the sonne of Edwin, & also Iffi the sonne of Osfride Edwins sonne, whom their mother +after for feare of the kings Edbold and Oswold did send into France where they died. The +church of Rochester at that time was destitute of a bishop, by the death of Romanus, who +being sent to Rome vnto pope Honorius, was drowned by the way in the Italian seas. Wherevpon +at the request of archbishop Honorius, and king Eadbald, Pauline tooke vpon him the +charge of that sée, and held it till he died.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Beda. lib.3. ca.1.</i> <br />OSRIKE KING OF DEIRA.</span> +After it was knowne that Edwin was slaine in battell (as before ye haue heard) Osrike +the sonne of his vncle Elfrike tooke vpon him the rule of the kingdome of Deira, which +had receiued the sacrament of baptisme by the preaching and vertuous instruction of Pauline. +<span class="leftnote">Eaufrid king of Bernicia.</span> +But the other kingdome of Northumberland called Bernicia, Eaufride the son of Edelferd +or Edelfride, tooke vpon him to gouerne. This Eaufride during the time of Edwins reigne, +had continued in Scotland, and there being conuerted to the Christian faith was baptised. +But both these princes, after they had obteined possession of their earthlie kingdoms, did +forget the care of the heauenlie kingdome, so that they returned to their old kind of idolatrie. +But almightie God did not long suffer this their vnthankefulnesse without iust punishment: +for first in the next summer, when Osrike had rashlie besieged Cadwallo king of the Britains, +within a certeine towne, Cadwallo brake foorth vpon him, and finding him vnprouided to +<span class="rightnote">The two kings of Northumberland slaine.</span> +make resistance, slue him with all his armie. Now after this, whilest Cadwallo not like a +conqueror gouerned the prouinces of the Northumbers, but like a tyrant wasted and destroied +them, in sleaing the people in tragicall maner, he also slue Eaufride, the which with +twelue men of warre came vndiscréetlie vnto him to sue for peace: and thus within lesse than +twelue moneths space both these runagate kings were dispatched.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">OSWALD began his reigne in the yeare 635. <br /><i>Beda. lib.3. cap.3.</i></span> +Then Oswald the sonne of Edelfred, and brother to the foresaid Eaufride was created king +of the Northumbers, the sixt in number from Ida. This Oswald after that his father was +slaine, liued as a banished person a long time within Scotland, where he was baptised, and +professed the Christian religion, and passed the flower of his youth in good exercises, both +of mind & bodie. Amongst other things he practised the vnderstanding of warlike knowledge, +minding so to vse it as it might stand him in stead to defend himselfe from iniurie of +the enimies that should prouoke him, and not otherwise. Herevpō Cadwallo king of the +Britains made in maner no account of him: for by reason that he had atchiued such great +victories against the Englishmen, and hauing slaine their two kings (as before is expressed) +he ceassed not to proceed in his tyrannicall dooings, reputing the English people for slouthfull, +and not apt to the warre, boasting that he was borne to their destruction. Thus being +set vp in pride of courage, he feared no perils, but boldlie (without considering at all the +skilfull knowledge which Oswald had sufficientlie learned in feates of war) tooke vpon him +to assaile the foresaid Oswald, that had brought an armie against him, and was encamped in +a plaine field néere vnto the wall which the Romans had builded in times past against the +inuasion of Scots and Picts.</p> +<p> +Cadwallo streight prouoked Oswald to trie the matter by battell, but Oswald forbare the +first day, and caused a crosse to be erected in the same place where he was incamped, in full +hope that it should be an ensigne or trophie of his victorie, causing all souldiers to make +their praiers to God, that in time of such necessitie it might please him to succour them that +worship him. It is said, that the crosse being made, and the hole digged wherein it should +be set, he tooke the crosse in his owne hands, and putting the foot thereof into that hole, +so held it till his souldiers had filled the hole, and rammed it vp: and then caused all the +souldiers to knéele downe vpon their knées, and to make intercession to the true and liuing +God for his assistance against the proud enimie, with whom they should fight in a iust +quarell for the preseruation of their people and countrie.</p> +<p> +After this, on the next morning he boldlie gaue battell to his enimies, so that a sore and<span class="page"><a name="page612" id="page612"></a>[Page 612]</span> +cruell fight insued betwixt them. At length Oswald perceiued that the Britains began somwhat +to faint, and therfore caused his people to renew their force, and more lustilie to preasse +forward, so that first he put that most cruell enimie to flight, and after pursuing the chase +<span class="rightnote"><i>Beda. <br />Wil. Malm.</i></span> +ouertooke him, and slue him with the most part of all his huge and mightie armie, at a place +called Denisborne, but the place where he caused the crosse to be erected he named Heuenfield. +Thus Cadwallo the most cruell enimie of the English name ended his life: he was +terrible both in nature and countenance, for the which cause they say the Britains did afterwards +set vp his image, that the same might be a terror to the enimies when they should +behold it.</p> +<p> +¶ But here is to be remembred by the British historie of Gal. Mon. it should appeare +that Cadwallo was not slaine at all, but reigned victoriouslie for the space of 48 yéeres, and +then departed this life, as in place afterwards it shall appéere. But for that the contrarietie +in writers in such points may sooner be perceiued than reformed, to the satisfieng of mens +fansies which are variable, we will leaue euerie man to his libertie to thinke as séemeth him +good, noting now and then the diuersitie of such writers, as occasion serueth.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">PENDA. <br />636.</span> +Penda the sonne of Wilba succéeded in the gouernement of the kingdome of Mercia +after Ciarlus, and began his reigne in the yéere of our Lord 636. He was fiftie yéeres of +age before he came to be king, and reigned 30 yeres, he was a prince right hardie and aduenturous, +not fearing to ieopard his person in place of danger, assured and readie of remembrance +in time of greatest perill. His bodie could not be ouercome with anie trauell, +nor his mind vanquished with greatnesse of businesse. But these his vertues were matched +with notable vices, as first with such bitternesse of maners as had not béene heard of, crueltie +of nature, lacke of courtesie, great vnstedfastnesse in performing of woord and promise, +and of vnmeasurable hatred toward the christian religion.</p> +<p> +Now vpon confidence in these his great vertues and vices from that time he was made king +(as though the whole Ile had bene due to him) he thought not good to let anie occasion passe +that was offered to make war, as wel against his friends & confederats, as also against his +owne sworne enimies. Part of his dooings ye haue heard, and more shall appeare hereafter. +¶ Of the kings of the Eastsaxons & Eastangles ye haue heard before: of whom in places +conuenient ye shall find further mention also, and so likewise of the kings of the Southsaxons: +but bicause their kingdom continued not past fiue successions, litle remembrance of them is +made by writers.</p> + + <hr /><br /><br /> +<a name="xxviij5" id="xxviij5"></a> +<p> +<i>Cadwallo king of Britain, diuers deeds of his as the British writers haue recorded them, +wherevpon discord arose betweene Cadwallo & Edwin, who for two yeres space were +linked in friendship, Cadwallo vanquisht, his flight, of Pelitus the Spanish wizard, Cadwallo +ouerthroweth Penda and his power besieging Excester, he arreareth battell against +the Northumbers, and killeth Edwin their king, he seeketh to expell the Saxons out of the +land, Penda slaieth Oswald, whose brother and successor Osunus by gifts and submission +obteineth peace, whom Penda spitefullie attempting to kill is killed himselfe, Cadwallo +dieth, a brasen image on horssebacke set vp in his memoriall, saint Martins at Ludgate +builded.</i></p> + +<h3>THE XXVIIJ CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">CADWALLO, OR CADWALLINE.</span> +Cadwallo or Cadwalline, (for we find him so named) began his reigne ouer the +<span class="leftnote">635.</span> +Britains, in the yéere of our Lord 635, in the yéere of the reigne of the emperour Heracleus +35, and in the 13 yere of Dagobert K. of France. Of this man ye haue heard partlie before +touching his dealings and warres against the Northumbers, and other of the English nation:<span class="page"><a name="page613" id="page613"></a>[Page 613]</span> +but forsomuch as diuers other things are reported of him by the British writers, we haue +thought good in this place to rehearse the same in part, as in Gal. Mon. we find writen, leauing +the credit still with the author, sith the truth thereof may be the more suspected, bicause +other authors of good authoritie, as Beda, Henrie Huntington, William Malmesburie, and +others séeme greatlie to disagrée from him herein. But thus it is written.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">Edwin was not sonne to Ethelfred, but to Alla, or Elle, as in other places plainlie appeareth.</span> +This Cadwallo and Edwin the sonne of Ethelfred, as Galfride saith, were brought vp in +France, being sent thither vnto Salomon king of Britaine, by king Cadwane, when they were +verie yoong. Now after their returne into this land, when they were made kings, Cadwallo +of the Britains, & Edwin of the Northumbers, there continued for the space of two yéeres +great friendship betwixt them, till at length Edwin required of Cadwallo that he might +weare a crowne, and celebrate appointed solemnities within his dominion of Northumberland, +as well as Cadwallo did in his countrie. Cadwallo taking aduice in this matter, at +length by persuasion of his nephue Brian, denied to grant vnto Edwin his request, wherewith +Edwin tooke such displeasure, that he sent woord vnto Cadwallo, that he would be +crowned without his leaue or licence, sith he would not willinglie grant it. Wherto Cadwallo +answered, that if he so did, he would cut off his head vnder his diademe, if he presumed +to weare anie within the confines of Britaine. Hereof discord arising betwixt these +two princes, they began to make fierce and cruell warre either of them against the other, +<span class="leftnote">Cadwallo vanquished by Edwin.</span> +<span class="rightnote">Cadwallo flieth the land.</span> +and at length ioining in batell with their maine forces, Cadwallo lost the field, with many +thousands of his men, and being chased fled into Scotland, and from thence got ouer into +Ireland, and finally passed the seas into Britaine Armorike, where, of his coosin king Salomon +he was courteouslie receiued, and at length obteined of him 10000 men to go with +him backe into his countrie, to assist him in recouerie of his lands & dominions, the which in +the meane time were cruellie spoiled, wasted and haried by king Edwin.</p> +<p> +At the same time Brian the nephue of Cadwallo, whom he had sent into Britaine as little +before to slea a certeine wizard or southsaier, whom king Edwin had gotten out of Spaine +named Pelitus, that by disclosing the purpose of Cadwallo vnto Edwin, greatlie hindered +Cadwallos enterprises, had fortified the citie of Excester, mening to defend it till the comming +of Cadwallo, wherevpon Penda king of Mercia besieged that citie with a mightie army, +purposing to take it, and Brian within it. Cadwallo then aduertised hereof, immediatlie +after his arriuall hasted to Excester, and diuiding his people in 4 parts, set vpon his enimies, +tooke Penda, and ouerthrew his whole armie. Penda hauing no other shift to escape, submitted +himselfe wholie vnto Cadwallo, promising to become his liegeman, to fight against +the Saxons in his quarrell. Penda being thus subdued, Cadwallo called his nobles togither +which had bene dispersed abroad a long season, & with all spéed went against Edwin king +of Northumberland, and slue him in battell at Hatfield (as before is mentioned) with his +son Osfride, and Eodbold king of the Iles of Orknie, which was come thither to his aid.</p> +<p> +¶ By this it should appeare, that Fabian hath gathered amisse in the account of the +reignes of the British kings: for it appeareth by Beda and others, that Edwin was slaine in +634. +the yéere of our Lord 634. And where Fabian (as before is said) attributeth that act & +diuers other vnto Cadwan the father of this Cadwallo: yet both Gal. Mon. and Beda with +the most part of all other writers signifie that it was done by Cadwallo. Harding assigneth +but 13 yéeres to the reigne of Cadwan, and declareth that he died in the yéere of our Lord +616, in the which (as he saith) Cadwallo began his reigne, which opinion of his séemeth +best to agrée with that which is written by other authors. But to returne to the other dooings +of Cadwallo, as we find them recorded in the British storie. After he had got this +victorie against the Northumbers, he cruellie pursued the Saxons, as though he ment so farre +as in him lay, to destroie the whole race of them out of the coasts of all Britaine: and sending +Penda against king Oswald that succéeded Edwin, though at the first Penda receiued +the ouerthrow at Heauenfield, yet afterwards Cadwallo himselfe highly displeased with +that chance, pursued Oswald, and fought with him at a place called Bourne, where Penda +<span class="rightnote">Oswald slaine.</span> +slue the said Oswald. Wherevpon his brother Osunus succéeding in gouernment of the Northumbers,<span class="page"><a name="page614" id="page614"></a>[Page 614]</span> +sought the fauour of Cadwallo now ruling as king ouer all Britaine, and at length +by great gifts of gold and siluer, and vpon his humble submission, obteined peace, till at +<span class="rightnote">Oswie. <br /><i>Matth. West.</i> <br />654.</span> +length vpon spite, Penda king of Mercia obteined licence of Cadwallo to make warres against +the said Osunus, in the which (as it hapned) Penda himselfe was slaine. Then Cadwallo +after two yéeres granted that Vlfridus the sonne of Penda should succeed in Mercia.</p> +<p> +Thus Cadwallo ruled things at his appointment within this land. And finallie when he +<span class="rightnote">678. <br /><i>Matt. West.</i> saith 676.</span> +had reigned 48 yéeres, he departed this life the 22 of Nouember. His bodie being embalmed +and dressed with swéet confections, was put into a brasen image by maruelous art +melted and cast, which image being set on a brazen horsse of excellent beautie, the Britains +set vp aloft vpon the west gate of London called Ludgate, in signe of his conquests, and for +a terror to the Saxons. Moreouer the church of S. Martin vnderneath the same gate, was +by the Britains then builded. Thus haue the Britains made mention of their valiant prince +Cadwallo, but diuerse thinke that much of this historie is but fables, bicause of the manifest +varieng both from Beda and other autentike writers (as before I haue said.)</p> + + <hr /><br /><br /> +<a name="xxix5" id="xxix5"></a> +<p> +<i>The true storie of the forenamed king Oswald, his desire to restore christian religion, Cormans +preaching taking small effect among the Northumbers, persuadeth him to depart +into his owne countrie, he slandereth them before the Scotish clergie, Aidan a godlie man +telleth the cause of the peoples not profiting by Cormans preaching, Aidan commeth into +England to instruct the people in the faith, he varieth in the obseruation of Easter from +the English churches custome, the Northumbers haue him & his doctrine in reuerence, +Oswalds earnest zeale to further religion by Aidans preaching and ministerie, 15000 +baptised within 7 daies; Oswald hath the Britains, Scots, Picts, & English at his commandement, +his commendable deed of christian charitie, the Westsaxons conuerted to +the faith by the preaching of Birinus, king Kinigils is baptised, he maketh Birinus bishop +of Dorcester, Penda king of Mercia maketh war against the christian kings of the Westsaxons, +both sides after a bloudie battell fall to agrement, Ercombert the first English +king that destroied idols throughout the whole land, he ordeineth Lent; why English men +became moonks, and English women nunnes in monasteries beyond the seas; why Penda +king of Mercia enuieth vertuous king Oswald, he is assaulted, slaine in battell, and +canonized a saint after his death.</i></p> + +<h3>THE XXIX CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +Now will we (after all these differing discourses of the British chronologers) approch +and draw as néere as we can to the truth of the historie touching Oswald king of the Northumbers, +<span class="rightnote">Oswald meaneth to be thankefull to God for his benefits. <br /><i>Beda li. 3. cap. 3. 5. 6. <br />Hector Boet.</i></span> +of whom we find, that after he had tasted of Gods high fauour extended to himwards, +in vanquishing his enimies, as one minding to be thankefull therefore, he was desirous +to restore the christian faith through his whole kingdome, sore lamenting the decay thereof +within the same, and therefore euen in the beginning of his reigne, he sent vnto Donwald +the Scotish king (with whome he had béene brought vp in the time of his banishment the +space of 18 yéeres) requiring him to haue some learned Scotishman sent vnto him, skilfull +in preaching the word of life, that with godly sermons and wholesome instructions, he might +conuert the people of Northumberland vnto the true and liuing God, promising to interteine +him with such prouision as apperteined.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">Corman.</span> +At his instance, there was sent vnto him one Corman, a clerke singularlie well learned, +and of great grauitie in behauiour: but for that he wanted such facilitie, and plaine vtterance +by waie of gentle persuading, as is requisite in him that shall instruct the simple, onelie +setting foorth in his sermons high mysteries, and matters of such profound knowledge, as<span class="page"><a name="page615" id="page615"></a>[Page 615]</span> +the verie learned might scarselie perceiue the perfect sense and meaning of his talke, his +trauell came to small effect, so that after a yéeres remaining there, he returned into his countrie, +declaring amongst his brethren of the cleargie, that the people of Northumberland was a +froward, stubborne and stiffe-harted generation, whose minds he could not frame by anie +good meanes of persuasion to receiue the christian faith: so that he iudged it lost labour to +spend more time amongst them, being so vnthankfull and intractable a people, as no good +might be doone vnto them.</p> +<p> +Amongst other learned and vertuous prelats of the Scots, there chanced one to be there +<span class="rightnote">Aidan.</span> +present at the same time called Aidan, a man of so perfect life, that (as Beda writeth) he +taught no otherwise than he liued, hauing no regard to the cares of this world, but whatsoeuer +was giuen him by kings or men of wealth and riches, that he fréelie bestowed vpon the +poore, exhorting other to doo the like. This Aidan hearing Cormans woords, perceiued +anon that the fault was not so much in the people as in the teacher, and therefore declared, +that (as he thought) although it were so that the people of Northumberland gaue no such +attentiue eare vnto the preaching of that reuerend prelate Corman, as his godlie expectation +was they should haue doone, yet might it be that his vttering of ouer manie mysticall articles +amongst them, farre aboue the capacitie of the vnderstanding of simple men, was the cause +why they so lightlie regarded his diuine instructions, whereas if he had (according to the +<span class="rightnote">S. Paules counsell.</span> +counsell of Saint Paule) at the first ministred vnto their tender vnderstandings, onelie milke, +without harder nourishments, he might happilie haue woone a farre greater number of them +vnto the receiuing of the faith, and so haue framed them by little and little to haue digested +stronger food. And therefore he thought it necessarie in discharge of their duties towards +God, and to satisfie the earnest zeale of king Oswald, that some one amongst them might +be appointed to go againe into Northumberland, to trie by procéeding in this maner afore +alledged, what profit would thereof insue.</p> +<p> +The bishops hearing the opinion of Aidan, and therewith knowing Cormans maner of +preaching, iudged the matter to be as Aidan had declared, and therevpon not onelie allowed +his woords, but also willed him to take the iournie vpon him, sith they knew none so able with +<span class="rightnote">Aidan commeth into England to preach the gospell.</span> +effect to accomplish their wished desires in that behalfe. Aidan, for that he would not +seeme to refuse to take that in hand which he himselfe had motioned, was contented to satisfie +their request, and so set forward towards Northumberland, and comming thither, was ioifullie +receiued of king Oswald, who appointed him the Ile of Lindesfarne, wherein to place the see +of his new bishoprike.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Beda li. 3 ca. 3. Hector Boet.</i></span> +This Aidan in one point varied from the vse of the new begun church of England, that +is to say, touching the time of obseruing the feast of Easter, in like maner as all the bishops +of the Scots and Picts inhabiting within Britaine in those daies did, following therein (as they +tooke it) the doctrine of the holie and praise-woorthie father Anatholius. But the Scots +that inhabited the south parts of Ireland, alreadie were agréed to obserue that feast, according +to the rules of the church of Rome. Howbeit Aidan being thus come into Northumberland, +applied himselfe so earnestlie in praier and preaching, that the people had him within +short while in woonderfull estimation, chiefelie for that he tempered his preachings with such +swéet and pleasant matter, that all men had a great desire to heare him, insomuch that +sometime he was glad to preach abroad in churchyards, bicause the audience was more +than could haue roome in the church.</p> +<p> +One thing was a great hinderance to him, that he had not the perfect knowledge of the +Saxon toong. But Oswald himselfe was a great helpe to him in that matter, who being +<span class="rightnote"><i>Beda.</i> Oswald an interpretor to the preacher.</span> +desirous of nothing so much, as to haue the faith of Christ rooted in the harts of his subiects, +vsed as an interpreter to report vnto the people in their Saxon toong, such whole sermons +as Aidan vttered in his mother toong. For Oswald hauing béene brought vp (as ye +haue hard) in Scotland during the time of his banishment, was as readie in the Scotish, as +he was in the Saxon toong. The people then seeing the kings earnest desire in furthering +the doctrine set foorth by Aidan, were the more inclined to heare it: so that it was a maruellous<span class="page"><a name="page616" id="page616"></a>[Page 616]</span> +matter to note, what numbers of people dailie offred themselues to be baptised, +<span class="rightnote"><i>Hector Boet.</i></span> +insomuch that within the space of seuen daies (as is left in writing) he christened 15 thousand +persons, of the which no small part forsaking the world, betooke themselues to a solitarie +kind of life.</p> +<p> +Thus by his earnest trauell in continuall preaching and setting foorth the gospell in that +countrie, it came to passe in the end, that the faith was generallie receiued of all the people, +and such zeale to aduance the glorie of the christian religion dailie increased amongst them, +<span class="rightnote">Oswalds zeale to aduance religion.</span> +that no where could be found greater. Heerevpon were no small number of churches +built in all places abroad in those parties by procurement of the king, all men liberallie +consenting (according to the rate of their substance) to be contributorie towards the charges. +By this meanes the kingdome of the Northumbers flourished, as well in fame of increase in +<span class="rightnote"><i>Beda lib. 5. ca. 6.</i></span> +religion, as also in ciuill policie and prudent ordinances: insomuch that (as Beda writeth) +<span class="leftnote">Oswald had in estimation with his neighbours.</span> +Oswald atteined to such power, that all the nations and prouinces within Britaine, which were +diuided into foure toongs (that is to say) Britains, Picts, Scots, and Englishmen, were at +his commandement. But yet he was not lifted vp in anie pride or presumption, but shewed +himselfe maruellous courteous and gentle, and verie liberall to poore people and strangers.</p> +<p> +It is said, that he being set at the table vpon an Ester day, & hauing bishop Aidan at diner +then with him, his almoner came in as the bishop was about to say grace, and declared to the +king that there was a great multitude of poore folks set before the gates to looke for the +kings almes. The king héerewith tooke a siluer dish, which was set on the table before +him with meate, & commanded the same meate streightwaies to be distributed amongst the +poore, & the dish broken into small péeces, and diuided amongst them: for which act he +was highlie commended of the bishop, as he well deserued. By the good policie and diligent +trauell of this king, the prouinces of Deira and Bernicia, which hitherto had béene at +variance, were brought to peace and made one.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Beda lib. 3. ca. 7.</i> Birinus conuerteth the Westsaxons to the christian faith.</span> +About the same time, the Westsaxons were conuerted to the christian faith, by the preaching +of one Birinus a bishop, who came into this land at the exhortation of pope Honorius, +to set foorth the gospell vnto those people which as yet were not baptised. By whose diligent +<span class="leftnote">Kinigils king of Westsaxon becommeth a christian. <i>Polydor</i>.</span> +trauell in the Lords haruest, Kingils or Kinigils, one of the kings of that countrie receiued +the faith, and was baptised about the fiue & twentith yéere of his reigne. K. Oswald that +should haue had his daughter in mariage, was present the same time, who first yer he became +a sonne in law, was made a godfather vnto Kinigils (that should be his father in law) +by receiuing him at the fontstone, in that his second birth of regeneration. To this Birinus, +who was an Italian, king Kinigils (now that he was become a conuert or christian) appointed +<span class="rightnote">Dorcester ordeined a bishops sée.</span> +and assigned the citie of Dorcester, situat by the Thames, distant from Oxford about seuen +miles, to be the sée of his bishoprike, where he procured churches to be built, and by his +earnest trauell & setting foorth the woord of life, conuerted much people to the right beliefe. +In the yéere following, Quichelmus the other king of the Westsaxons, and sonne to +Kinigils was also christened, and died the same yéere, and so Cinigilsus or Kinigils reigned alone.</p> +<p> +<span class="leftnote"><i>Henr. Hunt.</i></span> +In this meane while Penda king of Mercia that succéeded next after Ciarlus, being a man +<span class="rightnote">This chancéd in the yéere 620, as <i>Matth. West.</i> saith.</span> +giuen to séeke trouble in one place or other, leauied warre against the kings of Westsaxon, +Kinigils and Quichelmus, the which gathering their power, gaue him battell at Cirenchester, +where both the parties fought it out to the vttermost, as though they had forsworne to giue +place one to another, insomuch that they continued in fight and making of cruell slaughter +till the night parted them in sunder. And in the morning, when they saw that if they +shuld buckle togither againe, the one part should vtterlie destroie the other, they fell to +agréement in moderating ech others demands.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">640.</span> +<span class="leftnote"><i>Beda lib. 3. cap. 7.</i> <br /><i>Matth. West.</i></span> +After this, in the yéere of our Lord 640, Eadbald king of Kent departed this life, after +he had reigned 24 yéeres, leauing his kingdome to his sonne Ercombert. This Ercombert +was the first of the English kings, which tooke order for the vtter destroieng of all idols +<span class="rightnote">Lent first ordeined to be kept in England.</span> +throughout his whole kingdome. He also by his roiall authoritie commanded the fast of<span class="page"><a name="page617" id="page617"></a>[Page 617]</span> +fortie daies in the Lent season to be kept and obserued, appointing woorthie and competent +<span class="leftnote"><br />Segburga. <br />Aimoinus.</span> +punishment against the transgressors of that commandement. He had by his wife Segburga, +that was daughter vnto Anna king of the Eastangles, a daughter named Eartongatha, a professed +nunne within the monasterie of Briege or Cala in France: for in those daies, bicause +there were not manie monasteries builded within this land, a great number of Englishmen, +that tooke vpon them the profession of a religious life, got them ouer vnto abbeies in France, +and there professed themselues moonks: and manie there were which sent their daughters +ouer to be professed nuns within the nunneries there, and speciallie at Briege, Cala, and +Andelie: amongst other, there were Sedrike the lawfull daughter, and Edelburgh the bastard +daughter of the said king Anna, both which in processe of time were made abbesses of the +said monasterie of Briege.</p> +<p> +Ye haue heard alreadie, how Oswald king of Northumberland bare himselfe in all points +like a most woorthie prince, not ceasing to releeue the necessitie of the poore, aduancing the +good, and reforming the euill, whereby he wan to himselfe excéeding praise and commendation +of all good men, and still his fame increased for his vertuous dooings; namelie, for the +ardent zeale he had to the aduancing of the christian faith. Herevpon Penda king of Mercia, +enuieng the prosperous procéedings of Oswald, as he that could neuer abide the good report +of other mens well-dooings, began to imagine how to destroie him, and to conquere his +<span class="rightnote">Penda inuadeth the Northumbers. <br /><i>Beda. lib. 3. cap. 9.</i></span> +kingdome, that he might ioine it to his owne. At length he inuaded his countrie by open +warre, met with him in the field at a place called Maserfield, and there in sharpe and cruell +<span class="leftnote">King Oswald slaine. <i>Matt. Westm.</i> saith 644.</span> +fight Oswald was slaine on the fift day of August, in the yeare of our Lord 642, and in +the 38 yeare of his age, after he had reigned the tearme of eight or nine yeares after some, +which account that yeare vnto his reigne, in the which his predecessors Osrike and Eaufride +reigned, whome they number not amongest kings, because of their wicked apostasie and +renouncing of the faith which before they had professed. Such was the end of that vertuous +prince king Oswald, being cruellie slaine by that wicked tyrant Penda. Afterwards, +for the opinion conceiued of his holinesse, the foresaid Oswald was canonized a saint, and +<span class="rightnote"><i>Will. Malmes.</i></span> +had in great worship of the people, being the first of the English nation that approoued his +vertue by miracles shewed after his departure out of this life.</p> + + <hr /><br /><br /> +<a name="xxx5" id="xxx5"></a> +<p> +<i>Oswie succeedeth Oswald in the kingdome of Northumberland, he is sore vexed by Penda, +Oswie and Oswin are partners in gouernement, they fall at strife, Oswin is betræied into +the hands of Oswie and slaine, a commendation of his personage and goodlie qualities, +bishop Aidan dieth; Cenwalch king of the Westsaxons, Penda maketh warre against +him for putting away his wife, his flight, he becommeth a christian and recouereth his +kingdome, Bishop Agilbert commeth into Westsaxon, and afterwards departing (upon +occasion) is made bishop of Paris, Wini buieth the bishoprike of London; Sigibert king +of the Eastangles, the vniuersitie of Cambridge founded by him, he resigneth his kingdome +and becometh a moonke, he and his kinsman Egric are slaine in a skirmish against +Penda king of Mercia.</i></p> + +<h3>THE XXX CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">OSWIE King of Northumberland. <i>Beda li. 3. ca. 14.</i></span> +After that king Oswald was slaine, his brother Oswie (being about 30 yeares of age) +tooke vpon him the rule of the kingdome of Northumberland, gouerning the same with +great trouble for the space of 28 yeares, being sore vexed by the foresaid Penda king of Mercia +and his people, which as yet were pagans. In the first yeare of his reigne, which was in the +<span class="rightnote">644.</span> +yeare of our Lord 644. Pauline the bishop of Rochester which had beene also archbishop +of Yorke departed this life, and then one Thamar an Englishman of the parties of Kent was<span class="page"><a name="page618" id="page618"></a>[Page 618]</span> +ordeined bishop of Rochester by Honorius the archbishop of Canturburie. King Oswie had +one Oswin partener with him in gouernment of the Northumbers in the first beginning of +<span class="rightnote">Bernicia.</span> +his reigne, which was sonne to Osrike, so that Oswie gouerned in Bernicia, and Oswin in +Deira, continuing in perfect friendship for a season, till at length, through the counsell of +wicked persons, that coueted nothing so much as to sowe discord and variance betwixt +princes, they fell at debate, and so began to make warres one against an other, so that +finallie when they were at point to haue tried their quarrell in open battell, Oswin perceiuing +that he had not an armie of sufficient force to incounter with Oswie, brake vp his campe at +Wilfaresdowne, ten mile by west the towne of Cataracton, and after withdrew himselfe onelie +with one seruant named Condhere vnto the house of earle Hunwald, whome he tooke to +haue béene his trustie friend: but contrarie to his expectation, the said Hunwald did betraie +him vnto Oswie, who by his captaine Edelwine slue the said Oswin and his seruant the forsaid +Condhere, in a place called Ingethling, the 13 kalends of September, in the ninth yeare +<span class="rightnote">651.</span> +of his reigne, which was after the birth of our Sauiour 651.</p> +<p> +This Oswin was a goodlie gentleman of person, tall, and beautifull, and verie gentle of +spéech, ciuill in manners, and verie liberall both to high & low, so that he was beloued of +all. Such a one he was, to be breefe, as bishop Aidan gessed that he should not long continue +in life, for that the Northumbers were not woorthie of so good and vertuous a gouernour. +Such humblenesse and obedience he perceiued to rest in him towards the law +of the Lord, in taking that which was told him for his better instruction in good part, that +he said, he neuer saw before that time an humble king. The same Aidan liued not past +12 daies after the death of the said Oswin, whome he so much loued, departing this world +the last daie of August, in the seuenteenth yeare after he was ordeined bishop. His bodie +was buried in the Ile of Lindesferne. After Aidan, one Finan was made bishop in his place, +a Scotishman also, and of the Ile of Hui, from whence his predecessor the foresaid Aidan +came, being first a man of religion professed in the monasterie there (as some writers doo +report.)</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">CENWALCH. <br /><i>Henr. Hunt.</i> 643.</span> +In the meane time, after that Kinigils or Cinigilsus king of the Westsaxons had reigned +31 yeares, he departed this life Anno 643, leauing his kingdome to his sonne Cenwalch or +Chenwald, who held the same kingdome the tearme of 30 yeares, or 31 (as some write) in +<span class="rightnote"><i>Ran. Higd.</i></span> +manner as his father had doone before him. In the third, or (as others saie) in the fift +yeare of his reigne, Penda king of Mercia made sharpe warre against him, because he had +put awaie his wife the sister of the said Penda, and in this warre Chenwald was ouercome in +battell, & driuen out of his countrie, so that he fled vnto Anna king of the Eastangles, with +whome he remained the space of a yeare, or (as other say) thrée yeares, to his great good +hap: for before he was growen to be an enimie to the christian religion, but now by the +wholesome admonitions and sharpe rebukes of king Anna, he became a christian, and receiued +his wife againe into his companie, according to the prescript of Gods law, and (to +be bréefe) in all things shewed himselfe a new man, imbracing vertue, & auoiding vice, so +that shortlie after (through the helpe of God) he recouered againe his kingdome.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">Agilbertus a bishop.</span> +Now when he was established in the same, there came a bishop named Agilbertus out of +Ireland, a Frenchman borne (but hauing remained in Ireland a long time) to reade the +scriptures. This Agilbert comming into the prouince of the Westsaxons, was gladlie receiued +of king Chenwald, at whose desire he tooke vpon him to exercise the roome of a +bishop there: but afterwards, when the said king admitted another bishop named Wini, +which had béene ordeined in France, and knew the toong better than Agilbert, as he that +was borne in England: Agilbert offended, for that the king had admitted him without making +him of anie counsell therein, returned into France, and there was made bishop of Paris: +within a few yeares after, the foresaid Wini was expelled also by king Chenwald, who got +him into Mercia vnto king Vulfhere, of whome he bought the bishoprike of London, which +he held during his life, and so the countrie of Westsaxon remained long without a bishop,<span class="page"><a name="page619" id="page619"></a>[Page 619]</span> +till at length the said Agilbert at the request of king Chenwald sent to him Elutherius that +was his nephue.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">SIGIBERT.</span> +Ye haue heard that after Carpwald, his brother Sigibert succéeded in rule of the Eastangles, +a man of great vertue and woorthinesse, who whilest he remained in France as a +banished man, being constrained to flée his countrie vpon displeasure that king Redwald +bare him, was baptised there, and after returning into his countrie, and obteining at length +<span class="rightnote"><i>Beda lib. 3. cap. 4</i></span> +the kingdome, those things which he had séene well ordered in France, he studied to follow +the example of the same at home, and herevpon considering with himselfe that nothing +could more aduance the state of the common-wealth of his countrie than learning & knowledge +in the toongs, began the foundation of certeine schooles, and namelie at Cambridge, +<span class="rightnote">The vniuersitié of Cambridge founded by king Sigibert.</span> +where children might haue places where to be instructed and brought vp in learning vnder +appointed teachers, that there might be greater numbers of learned men trained vp than +before time had béene within this land, to the furtherance of true religion and vertue.</p> +<p> +So that England hath good cause to haue in thankfull remembrance this noble prince king +Sigibert, for all those hir learned men which haue bin brought vp & come foorth of that +famous vniuersitie of Cambridge, the first foundation or rather renouation whereof was thus +<span class="rightnote"><i>Bate</i> saith 636.</span> +begun by him about the yeare of our Lord 630. At length when this worthie king began +to grow in age, he considered with himselfe how hard a matter, and how painefull an office +it was to gouerne a realme as apperteined to the dutie of a good king, wherevpon he determined +to leaue the charge thereof to other of more conuenient yéeres, and to liue from +<span class="rightnote">Sigibert resigneth his kingdome to Egricus.</span> +thencefoorth a priuat kind of life, and so resigning the administration vnto his kinsman +Egricus, he became a moonke, and led the rest of his life in a certeine abbeie.</p> +<p> +Shortlie after it so came to passe that Penda king of Mercia (that cruell ethnike tyrant) +made sore warres vpon Egricus, whervpon the people of Eastangles compelled Sigibert to +come foorth of his monasterie, & to go with them into the field against Penda. Sigibert +being thus constreined against his will, would not put on armour or beare anie other kind of +weapon, than onelie a wand in his hand in steed of a scepter, and so the armie of the Eastangles +in hope of good spéed by the presence of Sigibert, ioined in battell with their enimies, +but the Eastangles were finallie vanquished, and the more part of them slaine, togither with +<span class="rightnote">Sigibert and Egricus slaine. 652.</span> +Sigibert and his coosen Egricus their king. This happened in the yere after the birth of +our Sauiour (as some haue noted) 652.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Baleus. <br />Beda lib. 3 cap</i>. 19. <br />Fuersus.</span> +In the daies whilest Sigibert as yet ruled the Eastangles, there came out of Ireland a deuout +person named Furseus, who comming into the countrie of the Eastangles, was gladlie +receiued of king Sigibert, by whose helpe afterwards he builded the abbeie of Cumbreburge, +in the which Sigibert (as some haue written) when he renounced his kingdome, was professed +a moonke. Of this Furseus manie things are written, the which for briefenesse we +ouerpasse. After that Felix the bishop of the Eastangles was dead, one Thomas was ordeined +in his place, who after he had béene bishop fiue yéeres, died, and then one Beretgils +was ordeined in his roome by Honorius the archbishop of Canturburie. The said Honorius +himselfe when he had run the race of his naturall life, deceassed also the last of September +<span class="rightnote">653.</span> +in the yéere of our Lord 653.</p> + + <hr /><br /><br /> + <a name="xxxj5" id="xxxj5"></a> +<span class="page"><a name="page620" id="page620"></a>[Page 620]</span> +<p> +<i>Anna king of Eastangles is slaine by Penda king of Mercia, his brother succeeding him +is slaine also by Oswie king of Northumberland, the Mercians or Middleangles receiue +the faith vnder vertuous Peda their prince, he requesteth Alchfled the king of Northumberlands +daughter in mariage, he is baptised by bishop Finnan, by whose meanes the +Eastsaxons imbraced christian religion vnder Sigibert their king, he is murthered of two +brethren that were his kinsmen vpon a conceiued hatred against him for his good and +christian life, how dangerous it is to keepe companie with an excommunicate person, the +authoritie of a bishop.</i></p> + +<h3>THE XXXJ CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">Anna. <br /><i>Will Malmes.</i></span> +After Egricus succeeded Anna the sonne of Enus in the kingdome of Eastangle, and +is likewise slaine by Penda king of Mercia, with the most part of his armie, as he gaue +battell vnto the said Penda that inuaded his countrie. He left behind him manie children, +<span class="rightnote">Edelhere K. of Eastangle.</span> +but his brother Edelhere succéeded him in gouernment of the kingdome, who was slaine +by Oswie the king of Northumberland, togither with the foresaid Penda, and woorthilie, sith +he would aid that tyrant which had slaine his kinsman and his brother that were predecessors +with him in his kingdome. After this, when the sée of Canturburie had béene vacant by +<span class="rightnote">Deus dedit.</span> +the space of one whole yéere and six moneths, one Deus dedit of the countrie of the Westsaxons, +was elected and consecrated by Ithamar the bishop of Rochester, on the 7 kalends +of Aprill. He gouerned the church of Canturburie by the tearme of nine yéeres, foure +moneths, and two daies. When he was departed this life, the foresaid Ithamar consecrated +for him one Damianus of the countrie of Sussex.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Beda hist. eccle. lib. 3. cap.</i> 21. 653.</span> +About this time, the people of Mercia commonlie called Middleangles, receiued the +<span class="leftnote">Peda or Peada king of Middleangles.</span> +christian faith vnder their king named Peda or Peada, the sonne of Penda king of Mercia, +who being a towardlie yoong gentleman, and woorthie to haue the guiding of a kingdome, +his father Penda aduanced him to the rule of that kingdome of the Middleangles during his +owne life. [¶ Héere maie you note, that the kingdome of the Middleangles was one, +and the kingdome of Mercia another, though most commonlie the same were gouerned by +one king.] This yoong Peda came to Oswie king of Northumberland, requiring of him to +haue his daughter Alchfled in mariage: but when he was informed that he might not haue +hir except he would become a christian, then vpon hearing the gospell preached, with the +promise of the celestiall ioies and immortalitie, by the resurrection of the flesh in the life +to come, he said that whether he had king Oswies daughter to wife or not, he would suerlie +be baptised, and chieflie he was persuaded therevnto by his kinsman Alchfrid, who had in +mariage his sister the daughter of Penda name Cimburgh.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">Ad murum.</span> +Wherefore he was baptised by bishop Finnan, with all those which came thither with him +at a place called At the wall, and taking with him foure priests which were thought méete to +teach and baptise his people, he returned with great ioy into his owne countrie. The names +of those priests were as followeth, Cedda, Adda, Betti, and Diuna, of the which, the last was +a Scot by nation, and the other were Englishmen. These priests comming into the prouince +of the Middleangles, preached the woord, and were well heard, so that dailie a great +number of the nobilitie & communaltie renouncing the filthie dregs of idolatrie, were +christned. Neither did king Penda forbid the preaching of the gospell within his prouince +of Mercia, but rather hated and despised those whome he knew to haue professed themselues +<span class="rightnote">The saieng of king Penda.</span> +christians, and yet shewed not the woorks of faith, saieng, that "Those were wretches and +not to be regarded, which would not obeie their God in whome they beléeued." This alteration +of things began, about two yéeres before the death of king Penda.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Beda lib. 3. cap.</i> 22.</span> +About the same time, the Eastsaxons at the instance of Oswie king of Northumberland, +receiued eftsoones the faith which they had renounced, when they banished their bishop +Melitus.</p> +<p> +Melitus. Ye haue heard that Serred, Siward, and Sigibert brethren, and the sonnes of<span class="page"><a name="page621" id="page621"></a>[Page 621]</span> +king Sabert (which brethren occasioned the reuolting of that prouince from the faith of +Christ) were slaine in battell by the kings of Westsaxon, after whome succéeded Sigibert +surnamed the little sonne to the middlemost brother Siward, as some write. This Sigibert +the litle left the kingdome to an other Sigibert that was sonne to one Sigebald the brother +of king Sabert, which second Sigibert reigned as king in that prouince of the Eastsaxons, +being a most especiall friend of king Oswie, so that oftentimes he repaired into Northumberland +to visit him, whervpon king Oswie ceassed not most earnestlie at times conuenient to +exhort him to receiue the faith of Iesus Christ, and in the end by such effectuall persuasions +<span class="rightnote">King Sigibert receiued the faith.</span> +as he vsed, Sigibert gaue credit to his woords, and so being conuerted, receiued the sacrament +of baptisme by the hands of bishop Finnan, at the kings house called, At the wall, +so named, bicause it was built néere to the wall which the Romans had made ouerthwart +the Ile, as is often before remembred, being twelue miles distant from the east sea.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">This was about the yéere 649, as <i>Matth. West.</i> hath noted.</span> +King Sigibert hauing now receiued the Christian faith, when he should returne into his +countrie, required king Oswie to appoint him certeine instructors and teachers which might +conuert his people to the faith of Christ. King Oswie desirous to satisfie his request, sent +<span class="leftnote">Cedda.</span> +vnto the prouince of the Middleangles, calling from thence that vertuous man Cedda, and +assigning vnto him another priest to be his associat, sent them vnto the prouince of the +Eastsaxons, there to preach the christian faith vnto the people. And when they had preached +& taught through the whole countrie, to the great increase and inlarging of the church of +Christ, it chanced on a time that Cedda returned home into Northumberland to conferre of +certeine things with bishop Finnan which kept his sée at Lindesferne, where vnderstanding +<span class="rightnote">Ced or Cedda bishop of the Eastsaxons.</span> +by Cedda the great fruits which it had pleased God to prosper vnder his hands, in aduancing +the faith among the Eastsaxons, he called to him two other bishops, and there ordeined +the foresaid Cedda bishop of the Eastsaxons.</p> +<p> +Héerevpon, the same Cedda returned vnto his cure, went forward with more authoritie to +performe the woorke of the Lord, & building churches in diuerse places, ordeined priests +and deacons which might helpe him in preaching, and in the ministerie of baptising, speciallie +<span class="rightnote">Tilberie.</span> +in the citie of Ithancester vpon the riuer of Pent, and likewise in Tileburge on the riuer of +Thames. Whilest Ced was thus busie to the great comfort and ioy of the king and all his +people, in the setting forward of the christian religion with great increase dailie procéeding, +it chanced thorough the instigation of the deuill, the common enimie of mankind, that king +Sigibert was murthered by two of his owne kinsmen who were brethren, the which when +they were examined of the cause that should mooue them to that wicked fact, they had +nothing to alledge, but that they did it bicause they had conceiued an hatred against the +king, for that he was too fauourable towards his enimies, and would with great mildnesse +of mind forgiue iniuries committed against him: such was the kings fault for the which +he was murthered, bicause he obserued the commandements of the gospell with a deuout +hart.</p> +<p> +Notwithstanding, in this his innocent death, his offense was punished, wherein he had suerlie +transgressed the lawes of the church. For whereas one of them which slue him kept a wife, +whome he had vnlawfullie maried, and refused to put hir away at the bishops admonition, +he was by the bishop excommunicated, and all other of the christian congregation commanded +to absteine from his companie. This notwithstanding, the king being desired of him came +to his house to a banket, and in his comming from thence met with the bishop, whome when +the king beheld, he waxed afraid, and alighted from his horsse, and fell downe at his féet, +beséeching him of pardon for his offense. The bishop, which also was on horssebacke +likewise alighted, and touching the king with his rod which he had in his hand, as one something +<span class="rightnote">The authoritie of a bishop.</span> +displeased, and protesting as in the authoritie of a bishop, spake these words; "Bicause +(saith he) thou wouldst not absteine from entring the house of that wicked person being +accurssed, thou shălt die in the same house:" and so it came to passe.</p> + + <hr /><br /><br /> + <a name="xxxij5" id="xxxij5"></a> +<span class="page"><a name="page622" id="page622"></a>[Page 622]</span> +<p> +<i>Suidhelme king of the Eastsaxons, he is baptised, the bishoplike exercises of Ced in his natiue +countrie of Northumberland; Ediswald K. of Deira reuerenceth him, the kings deuout +mind to further and inlarge religion; the maner of consecrating a place appointed +for a holie vse; the old order of fasting in Lent, bishop Ced dieth; warre betweene Oswie +and Penda, Oswie maketh a vow to dedicate his daughter a perpetuall virgine to God +if he got the victorie, he obteineth his request and performeth his vow, she liueth, dieth, and +is buried in a monasterie, the benefit insuing Oswies conquest ouer his enimies, the first +second and third bishops of Mercia, the victorious proceeding of king Oswie; prince Peado +his kinsman murthered of his wife.</i></p> + +<h3>THE XXXIJ CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">SUIDHELME. <br /><i>Beda lib.3. cap.22. <br />Matt. West</i></span> +After Sigbert succeeded Suidhelme in the kingdome of the Eastsaxons, he was the +son of Sexbald, and baptised of Ced in the prouince of the Eastangles, at a place of the kings +there called Rendlessham. Ediswald king of the Eastangles (the brother of king Anna) +was his godfather at the fontstone. Ced the bishop of the Eastsaxons vsed oftentimes to +<span class="rightnote"><i>Beda</i> lib.3. cap.23.</span> +visit his countrie of Northumberland where he was borne, and by preaching exhorted the people +to godlie life. Whervpon it chanced that king Ediswald the son of king Oswald which +reigned in the parties of Deira, mooued with the fame of his vertuous trade of liuing, had +him in great reuerence: and therefore vpon a good zeale and great deuotion, willed him to +choose foorth some plot of ground where he might build a monasterie, in the which the king +himselfe and others might praie, heare sermons the oftener, and haue place where to burie the +dead. The bishop consenting to the kings mind, at length espied a place amongst high and +desert mounteins, where he began the foundation of a monasterie, afterwards called +Lestinghem.</p> +<p> +Wherefore meaning first of all to purge the place with praier & fasting, he asked leaue +of the king that he might remaine there all the Lent, which was at hand, and so continuing +<span class="rightnote">The maner of the old fast.</span> +in that place for that time, fasted euerie daie (sundaie excepted) from the morning vntill +euening, according to the maner, nor receiued anie thing then but onlie a little bread, and a +hens eg, with a little milke mixt with water: for he said that this was the custome of them +of whome he had learned the forme of his regular order, that they should consecrate those +places vnto the Lord with praier and fasting, which they latelie had receiued to make in the +same either church or monasterie.</p> +<p> +And when there remained ten daies of Lent yet to come, he was sent for to the king: +wherefore he appointed a brother which he had, being also a priest named Cimbill, to supplie +his roome, that his begun religious woorke should not be hindered for the kings businesse. +Now when the time was accomplished, he ordeined a monasterie there, appointing the +<span class="rightnote">Lindisferne holie Iland.</span> +moonks of the same to liue after the rules of them of Lindesferne where he was brought vp. +Finallie this bishop Ced comming vnto this monasterie afterwards by chance in time of a sicknesse, +died there, and left that monasterie to the gouernance of another brother which he had +named Ceadda, that was after a bishop, as afterwards shall be shewed. There were foure +brethren of them, and all priests, Ced, Cimbill, Ceulin, and Ceadda, of the which Ced and +Ceadda were bishops, as before is said.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Beda. lib.3. cap.24.</i></span> +About the same time, Oswie king of Northumberland was sore oppressed by the warres +of Penda king of Mercia, so that he made great offers of high gifts, and great rewards vnto +the said Penda for peace, but Penda refused the same, as he that meant vtterlie to haue destroied +<span class="rightnote">War betwéene king Oswie & king Penda.</span> +the whole nation of Oswies people, so that Oswie turning himselfe to seeke helpe +at the hands of the almightie, said: If the pagan refuse to receiue the gifts which we offer, +let us make offer vnto him that knoweth how to accept them: and so binding himselfe by vow, +promised that if he might obtein victorie, he would offer his daughter to be dedicate to the Lord +in perpetuall virginitie: and further would giue twelue manors, lordships or farmes to the<span class="page"><a name="page623" id="page623"></a>[Page 623]</span> +building of monasteries: and so with a small armie he put himselfe in hazard of battell.</p> +<p> +It is said that Penda had thirtie companies of men of warre, furnished with thirtie noble +capteins or coronels, against whome came Oswie with his sonne Alchfrid, hauing but a small +armie, but confirmed yet with hope in Christ Iesus. His other son Ecgfrid remained in +hostage at that time with quéene Cinnise. Edilwald the sonne of Oswald that gouerned +Deira, & ought to haue aided Oswie, was on the part of Penda against his countrie, and +against his vncle, but in time of the fight he withdrew himselfe aside, to behold what chance +<span class="rightnote">The victorie of the Northumbers.</span> +would follow. The battell being begun, the thirtie pagan capteins were ouerthrowne and +put to flight, and those that came to aid Penda were almost all slaine, among whome was +Edilhere king of the Eastangles, that reigned after his brother Anna, and was the procurer +of this warre. This battell was fought néere to the water of Inwet, the which being risen as +then by reason of great raine, drowned more of the enimies than died of the Northumbers +swoords.</p> +<p> +After that Oswie had obteined this victorie, he performed promise in bestowing his daughter +to the profession of virginitie, and also gaue the twelue manors, whereof six were in +<span class="leftnote">Elfled.</span> +Deira, and six in Bernicia, containing euerie of them ten housholds a péece. Elfled also king +<span class="rightnote">Herteshey saith <i>Matt. West.</i> Hilda.</span> +Oswies daughter was professed in the monasterie of Herthew, where one Hilda was abbesse, +which Hilda purchasing a lordship of ten housholds in Streanshall, now called Whitbie, +builded a monasterie there, in the which first the said Elfled was a nouice, and after a ruler, +till at length being of the age of fortie yéeres she departed this life, and was buried there, and +so likewise was hir mother Eufled, and hir grandfather Edwin, with manie other high estates +within the church of saint Peter the apostle. The victorie aboue mentioned got by king +<span class="rightnote">Loides.</span> +Oswie in the countrie of Loides on the 17 kalends of December, & in the thirtenth yéere of +his reigne, happened to the great commoditie and gaine of both the people, for by the same +he deliuered his countrie of Northumberland from the cruell destruction made in the same by +the pagan people of Mercia, and conuerted those pagans themselues, and the countries néere +adioining to them wholie vnto the faith of Iesus Christ.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">The first bishop of Mercia.</span> +The first bishop in the prouince of Mercia, and also of Lindesferne and the Middleangles +was one Diuma, who died amongst the Middleangles. The second was Cellach, the which +leauing his bishoprike returned into Scotland, for they were both of the nation of the Scots. +The third was an Englishman named Trumhere, but instructed and ordeined of the Scots. +He was abbat of the monasterie of Ingethlingum, being builded in that place where king +Oswin was slaine (as before is mentioned.) For quéene Eufled that was his kinswoman +got of hir husband king Oswie a place there for the foresaid Trumhere to build that abbeie +vpon.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">The victorious procéeding of king Oswie.</span> +King Oswie hauing slaine king Penda, gouerned the people of Mercia, and also other of +the south prouinces, & subdued a great part of the Pictish nation to the English dominion. +About the same time king Oswie gaue vnto Peada the son of king Penda (bicause he was his +<span class="leftnote">Southmercia.</span> +kinsman) the countrie of the Southmercies, conteining 5000 housholds, and separated from +<span class="rightnote"><br />Northmercia. <br />659.</span> +the Northmercies by the riuer Trent. The countrie of the Northmercies conteined in those +daies 7000 housholds. But Peada in the next spring was wickedlie murthered through the +treason of his wicked wife (as was said) in the feast of Easter. +<span class="rightnote"><i>Matt. West.</i></span></p> + +<hr /><br /><br /> +<a name="xxxiij5" id="xxxiij5"></a> +<span class="page"><a name="page624" id="page624"></a>[Page 624]</span> +<p> +<i>The dukes of Mercia rebell against Oswie, recouer their owne bounds, and create Wulfhere +their king; Cenwald king of the Westsaxons fighteth with the Britaines and preuaileth, +he is vanquished by Wulfhere; Adelwold king of Sussex hath the Ile of Wight giuen +him, and why; succession of Edelher, Edelwald, and Aldulfe in the kingdome of Eastangles; +Colman a Scot first made bishop of Northumberland, controuersie about the obseruation +of Easter, about bald crownes or shauing the haire, superstition punished by +God, Ceadda bishop of Yorke, his course of life and diligence in his office commended; +Egbert king of Kent, the see of Canturburie void, the preferment thereto refused, Theodore +a moonke supplieth the roome at the popes appointment, all the English clergie obey +him as their head, his visitation and reformation, singing vsed in churches, Theodore and +Adrian woorthilie praised, English men happie, glasiers first brought into this Iland.</i></p> + +<h3>THE XXXIIJ CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Beda. lib. 3. cap. 24.</i></span> +After three yeeres were complet, next ensuing the death of king Penda, the dukes of +the countrie of Mercia, Immin, Eaba, and Eadbert rebelled against king Oswie, aduancing one +Wulfhere a yoong gentleman the sonne of Peda, and brother to Peada, whom they had +kept in secret to be their king, and expelling the lieutenants of king Oswie, they recouered both +their owne confines and libertie withall, and so liuing in fréedome with their owne naturall +king the foresaid Vulfhere, they also continued with glad hearts in seruice of the celestiall +king our God and Sauior.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">VULFHERE. <br /><i>Beda. lib. 3. cap. 24.</i></span> +This Vulfhere gouerned the Mercies seuentéene yeares, the which Mercies (during the +reigne of the said Vulfhere) had foure bishops successiuelie gouerning the church of that +prouince one after another, as the aboue mentioned Trumhere, Iaroman, Ceadda, and Winfrid, +as hereafter shall more at large appeare.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Henr. Hunt.</i> <br /><i>Matt. West.</i></span> +About the beginning of king Vulfheres reigne, that is to say, in the seuentéenth yeare of the +reigne of Chenwald king of the Westsaxons, the same Chenwald fought with the Britains at +Pennum, where the Britains being assembled in great number, proudlie incountred with the +Englishmen, and at the first put them to the woorst, but when the Englishmen would in no wise +giue ouer, but did sticke to their tackle, at length the Britains were put to flight, so that the +<span class="leftnote">The Britains put to flight by Chenwald.</span> +posteritie of Brute receiued that day an incurable wound. But within thrée yeares after, that +is, in the ninetéenth yeare of the reigne of the said Chenwald, he had not the like lucke in +<span class="rightnote">Chenwald vanquished by Vulfhere.</span> +battell against the foresaid Vulfhere king of Mercia, as he had before against the Britains, for +the said Vulfhere vanquishing him in the field, passed through this countrie with a great armie +<span class="leftnote"><br />Adelwold of Sussex.</span> +vnto the Ile of Wight, which he conquered, and deliuered it vnto Adelwold king of +Sussex, as a gift at that time, when he receiued him at the fontstone after he had conuerted +him to the faith. He gaue vnto Adelwold that Ile, to the end he should cause the people +there to receiue the faith and religion of Christ. Now after that Edelhere king of Eastangles +was slaine, as before is mentioned, his brother Edelwald succéeded him in that kingdome, +reigning as king thereof by the space of nine yeares. Then after Edelwald succéeded Aldulfe +the son of Edelhere in gouernment of that kingdome, and reigned 25 yeares.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Beda. lib. 3. cap. 24.</i></span> +After Finan bishop of the Northumbers that held his see at Lindesferne, as Aidan did before +<span class="leftnote">Colman ordeined bishop.</span> +him, one Colman was ordeined bishop, a Scot borne, and an earnest obseruer of the +customes vsed amongest them of his nation, so that when the controuersie began to be reuiued +<span class="rightnote"><br /><i>Beda. lib. 3. cap. 25.</i></span> +for the holding of the feast of Easter, he would by no meanes yéeld to them that would +haue perswaded him to haue followed the rite of the Romane church. There was a great +disputation kept about this matter, and other things, as shauing or cutting of heares, and such +like in the monasterie of Whitbie, at the which king Oswie and his sonne Alcfrid were present, +where Colman for his part alledged the custome of Iohn the euangelist, and of Anatholius; +and the contrarie side brought in proofe of their opinion, the custome of Peter and +Paule. At length, when bishop Colman perceiued that his doctrine was not so much regarded,<span class="page"><a name="page625" id="page625"></a>[Page 625]</span> +<span class="rightnote">Controuersie about shauing of crownes. <i>Cap. 6.</i> <br />664.</span> +as he thought of reason it ought to haue béene, he returned into Scotland with those, +which taking part with him, refused to obserue the feast of Easter according to the custome +of the church of Rome, nor would haue their crownes shauen, about which point no small +reasoning had béene kept. This disputation was holden in the yeare of our Lord 664, and +in the yeare of the reigne of king Oswie 22, and 30 yeare after the Scotishmen began first +to beare the office of bishops within Northumberland, which was (as W. Harison saith) 624. +For Aidan gouerned 17 yeares, Finan 10 yeares, & Colman 3 yeares. After that Colman +<span class="rightnote">Tuda ordeined bishop.</span> +was returned into his countrie, one Tuda that had béene brought vp amongest the Southerne +Scots, and ordeined bishop by them, succéeded in his roome, hauing his crowne shauen, and +obseruing the feast of Easter according to the custome of the prouince and rite of the Romane +<span class="rightnote"><i>Cap. 27.</i></span> +church. ¶ The same yeare, there chanced a great eclipse of the sunne, the third of +<span class="leftnote">An eclipse. Punishment of God for yelding to superstition.</span> +Maie about 10 of the clocke in the day. A great dearth and mortalitie insued, both in all +the parties of this our Britaine, and likewise in Ireland. Amongest other, the foresaid bishop +Tuda died, and was buried in the abbeie of Pegnalech. After this Tuda, succéeded in gouernement +<span class="rightnote">Wilfrid bishop.</span> +of the church of Lindesferne, otherwise called Holie Iland, one Wilfrid, which +was sent by king Alcfrid into France, to be ordeined there.</p> +<p> +About the same time king Oswie, the father of king Alcfrid, mooued with the good example +<span class="rightnote"><i>Cap. 28.</i></span> +of his sonne, sent Ceadda, the brother of Ced sometime bishop of the Eastsaxons into +Kent, to be ordeined bishop of Yorke, but at his comming into Kent he found that Deus +dedit the archbishop of Canturburie was dead, and none other as yet ordeined in his place, so +<span class="rightnote">Ceadda ordeined archbishop of Yorke.</span> +that Ceadda repaired into the prouince of the Westsaxons, where he was ordeined by bishop +Wini, who tooke two other bishops of the British nation vnto him to be his associats, which +vsed to obserue the feast of Easter contrarie to the custome of the Romane church. But there +was no other shift, sith none other bishop was then canonicallie ordeined in the prouince of +the Westsaxons in those daies, this Wini onlie excepted, and therefore was he constreined to +take such as he might get and prouide.</p> +<p> +After that Ceadda was thus ordeined, he began forthwith to follow the true rules of the +church, liued right chastlie, shewed himselfe humble and continent, applied his studie to reading, +and trauelled abroad on foot and not on horssebacke through the countries, townes, and +villages, to preach the word of God. He was the disciple of Aidan, and coueted by his example, +and also by the example of Ced, to instruct his hearers with the like dooings & maners +as he had knowen them to doo. Wilfrid also being consecrated bishop, and returned into +England, indeuored to plant the orders of the Romane church in the churches of England, +whereby it came to passe, that the Scots which inhabited amongst the Englishmen, were constreined +either to follow the same, or else to returne into their owne countrie.</p> +<p> +<span class="leftnote">EGBERT king of Kent.</span> +In this meane time, king Ercombert being departed this life, after he had gouerned the +Kentishmen by the space of twentie yeares, his sonne Egbert succéeded him in the kingdome, +and reigned nine yeares. There is little remembrance of his dooings, which in that short +time were not much notable, except ye will ascribe the comming into this land of the archbishop +Theodorus, and the abbat Adrian vnto his glorie, which chanced in his time. For in the +yeare of the great eclipse and sore mortalitie that insued, it chanced that both king Ercombert, +& the archbishop Deus dedit departed this life, so that the see of Canturburie was void +<span class="rightnote"><i>Beda. lib. 3. cap. 9.</i></span> +a certeine time, in so much that king Egbert, who succéeded his father Ercombert, togither +<span class="leftnote">Wighart.</span> +with king Oswie, did send one Wighart a priest of good reputation for his excellent knowledge +in the scriptures, vnto Rome, with great gifts and rich vessels of gold and siluer, to be +presented vnto the pope, requiring him that he would ordeine the foresaid Wighart archbishop +of Canturburie, to haue rule of the English church. But this Wighart comming vnto +Rome, and declaring his message vnto Vitalianus then gouerning the church of Rome, immediatlie +after he died of the pestilence (that then reigned in that citie) with all those that +came with him.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Beda. lib. 4 cap. 1.</i> Adrian.</span> +The pope then taking aduice whome he might ordeine vnto the sée of Canturburie, being<span class="page"><a name="page626" id="page626"></a>[Page 626]</span> +thus destitute of an archbishop, appointed a moonke named Adrian to take that office vpon +him, but Adrian excused himselfe as not sufficient for such a roome, and required the pope +to appoint one Andrew a moonke also, wherevnto the pope consented. But when Andrew +was preuented by death, eftsoones Adrian should haue béene made archbishop, but that he +named one Theodore an other moonke that abode as then in Rome, but was borne in the +citie of Tharsus in Cilicia, verie well learned both in the Greeke and Latine, and being of +reuerend yeares, as of 76. This Theodore by the presentment of Adrian, was appointed to +be ordeined archbishop of Canturburie, with condition, that Adrian should neuerthelesse attend +vpon him into England, both for that he had béene twise before this time in France, and +so knew the coasts; and againe, for that he might assist him in all things, and looke well to +the matter, that Theodore should not bring into the church of England anie rite or custome +of the Gréekes, contrarie to the vse of the Romane church. Theodore being first ordeined +subdeacon, tarried foure moneths till his heare was growen, that he might haue his crowne +shauen after the maner of Peter. For he was rounded or shauen after the maner of the East +church, which was as they persuaded themselues, according to the vse of saint Paule the +<span class="rightnote">Theodore ordeined archbishop of Canturburie. 668.</span> +apostle. And so at length was this Theodore ordeined archbishop of Canturburie by pope +Vitalianus in the yeare of our Lord 668, the sixt kalends of June, and with Adrian sent into +Britaine.</p> +<p> +These with their retinue came to France, and being come thither, shortlie after king Egbert +had knowledge thereof: wherevpon with all conuenient spéed he sent ouer one of his +nobles named Redfrid to bring the archbishop into England, and so he did: but Adrian was +staied for a time, because he was suspected to haue had some commission from the emperour to +haue practised with the Englishmen, for the disquieting of the realme of France. Howbeit, after +it was perceiued that this suspicion was grounded on no truth, he was also suffered to follow +the archbishop, and so comming vnto Canturburie, he was made abbat of the monasterie of +saint Augustines. The archbishop Theodore came thus vnto his church of Canturburie in +the second yeare after his consecration, about the second kalends of June, being sundaie. He +gouerned the same church also 21 yeares and 16 daies, and was the first archbishop to whome +all the churches of England did acknowledge their obeisance.</p> +<p> +Being accompanied with the foresaid Adrian, he visited all the parts of this land, ordeined +bishops and ministers in churches where he thought conuenient, and reformed the same +churches as séemed to him néedfull, as well in other things which he misliked, as also in +<span class="rightnote"><i>Ran. Cest. Matth. West.</i></span> +causing them to obserue the feast of Easter, according to the right and vsage of the church of +<span class="leftnote"><i>Beda.</i></span> +Rome. Ceadda that was bishop of Yorke, because he was not lawfullie ordeined, as he himselfe +confessed, was remoued from the sée of Yorke, and Wilfrid was therevnto restored, +so that Ceadda (though he were not disgraded of his degrée of bishop) liued yet a priuat kind +of life, till he was admitted bishop of Mercia, as after shall be shewed. Also whereas before +time there was in maner no singing in the English churches, except it were in Kent, now +<span class="rightnote">Singing in churches brought in vse.</span> +they began in euerie church to vse singing of diuine seruice after the rite of the church of +Rome. The archbishop Theodore finding the church of Rochester void by the death of the +<span class="leftnote">Putta bishop of Rochester.</span> +last bishop named Damian, ordeined one Putta a simple man in worldlie matters, but well instructed +in ecclesiasticall discipline, and namelie well séene in song and musicke to be vsed +in the church after the maner as he had learned of pope Grogories disciples.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">The worthie praise of Theodore and Adrian.</span> +To be bréefe, the archbishop Theodore, and the abbat Adrian deserued great commendation +in this, that whereas they were notablie well learned themselues in the Greeke and the +Latine toongs, and also had good knowledge as well in the liberall arts, as in the scripture, +they tooke great paines to traine vp scholers in knowledge of the same, so that the Englishmen +<span class="leftnote">Englishmen happy and why.</span> +had not seene more happie times than in those daies, hauing as then kings of great puissance, +so as strangers stood in feare of them; and againe, those that coueted learning, had +instructors at hand to teach them, by reason whereof diuers being giuen to studie, prooued +<span class="rightnote"><i>Beda.</i> <br />Benedict or Benet surnamed Biscop.</span> +excellent both in knowledge of the Gréeke and Latine. There came in companie of the said +archbishop from Rome, an English man named Benedict Biscop, which had taken vpon him<span class="page"><a name="page627" id="page627"></a>[Page 627]</span> +the habit of a moonke in Italie, and now returning into his countrie, builded two abbeis, the +one named Wiremouth, because it was placed at the mouth of the riuer of Wire, and the +other Girwie, distant from Wiremouth about fiue miles, and from the towne of Newcastle +<span class="leftnote">670.</span> +foure miles, situated neere to the mouth of Tine. Wiremouth was built in the yeare 670, +and Girwie in the yeare 673. There were a 600 moonks found in those two houses, and +<span class="rightnote">Glasiers first brought into England. <i>Ran. Cest.</i></span> +gouerned vnder one abbat. The said Benedict was the first that brought glasiers, painters, +and other such curious craftsmen into England. He went fiue times to Rome, and came +againe.</p> + + <hr /><br /><br /> +<a name="xxxiiij5" id="xxxiiij5"></a> +<p> +<i>Sighere and Sebbie associats reigne ouer the Eastsaxons, the one falleth from, the other +cleaueth to the faith, Vulfhere king of Mercia sendeth bishop Iaroman to redresss that +apostasie of the prince and the people, Cead bishop of Mercia, the king of that countrie +hath him in hie reputation, Egfrid king of Northumberland, a synod of bishops holden +at Herford, articles propounded out of the canons by Theodore archbishop of Canturburie, +Bisi unable to discharge his episcopall office, a remedie therefore; Kenwalke of +a very euill prince becometh a verie good ruler, his wife gouerneth the kingdome after +his death, Escuius succeedeth hir in the roome, of Thunnir a murtherer king Egberts +principall vicegerent, bishop Winfrid deposed for disobedience, Sebbie king of the Eastsaxons +a professed moonke, his death.</i></p> + +<h3>THE XXXIIIJ CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +About the same time, after that Suidhelme king of the Eastsaxons was dead, Sighere +the son of Sigbert the little, and Sebbie the son of Suward succéeded him in gouernement of +<span class="rightnote"><i>Beda. lib. 3. cap. 30.</i></span> +that kingdome, albeit they were subiect vnto Vulfhere the king of Mercia. Sighere in +that time, when the great mortalitie reigned, renounced the faith of Christ, with that part of +the people which he had in gouernement, for both the same Sighere and others of his +chiefest lords, and also part of his commons louing this life, and not regarding the life to +come, began to repaire their idolish churches, and fell to the worshipping of idols, as though +thereby they should haue beene defended from that mortalitie. But his associat Sebbie with +great deuotion continued stedfast in the faith which he had receiued.</p> +<p> +King Vulfhere being informed of Seghers apostasie, and how the people in his part of the +<span class="rightnote">Bishop Iaruman or Iaroman.</span> +prouince of Eastsaxons were departed from the faith, sent thither bishop Iaruman or Iaroman, +that was successour vnto Trumhere, which vsed such diligence and godlie meanes, +that he reduced the said king and all his people vnto the right beliefe, so as the idolish synagogs +were destroied, and the idols also with their altars quite beaten downe, the Christian +churches againe set open, and the name of Christ eftsoones called vpon amongest the people, +coueting now rather to die in him with hope of resurrection in the world to come, than to +liue in the seruice of idols, spotted with the filth of errors and false beleefe. And thus +when bishop Iaroman had accomplished the thing for the which he was sent, he returned +into Mercia.</p> +<p> +After this, when the said Iaroman was departed this life, king Vulfhere sent vnto the archbishop +Theodorus, requiring him to prouide the prouince of the Mercies of a new bishop. +Theodorus not minding to ordeine anie new bishop at that time, required Oswie king of +Northumberland, that Bishop Cead might come into Mercia to exercise the office of bishop +there. This Cead liued as it were a priuat life at that time in his monasterie of Lestingham, +for Wilfrid held the bishoprike of Yorke, extending his authoritie ouer all Northumberland +& amongest the Picts also, so farre as king Oswies dominion stretched. Therefore Cead +hauing licence to go into Mercia, was gladlie receiued of king Vulfhere, and well enterteined,<span class="page"><a name="page628" id="page628"></a>[Page 628]</span> +in so much that the said king gaue vnto him lands and possessions conteining 50 families or +housholds to build a monasterie in a certeine place within the countrie of Lindsey called Etbearne. +But the sée of his bishoprike was assigned to him at Lichfield in Staffordshire, +where he made him a house néere to the church, in the which he with 7 or 8 other of his +brethren in religion vsed in an oratorie there to praie and reade, so often as they had leasure +from labour and businesse of the world. Finallie, after he had gouerned the church of Mercia +by the space of two yeares and an halfe, he departed this life, hauing 7 daies warning giuen +him (as it is reported) from aboue, before he should die, after a miraculous maner, which +because in the iudgement of the most it may séeme méere fabulous, we will omit and passe +ouer. His bodie was first buried in the church of our ladie, but after that the church of +saint Peter the apostle were builded, his bones were translated into the same.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">671. <br /><i>Matth. West.</i></span> +In the yeare of our Lord 671, which was the second yeare after that Theodorus the archbishop +came into this land, Oswie king of Northumberland was attacked with a grieuous +sicknesse, and died thereof the 15 kalends of March, in the 58 yeare of his age, after he had +reigned 28 yeares complet.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">EGFRID. <br /><i>Beda. lib. 4. cap 5. <br />Matth. West.</i> <br />673.</span> +After Oswie, his sonne Egfrid succéeded in rule of the kingdome of Northumberland, +in the third yeare of whose reigne, that is to say, in the yeare of our Lord 673, Theodorus +the archbishop of Canturburie kept a synod at Herford, the first session whereof began +the 24 of September, all the bishops of this land being present either in person or by their deputies, +<span class="leftnote">A synod holden at Herford.</span> +as Bisi bishop of Estangle, Wilfrid of Northumberland by his deputie Putta bishop of +Rochester, Eleutherius bishop of Westsaxon, and Wilfrid bishop of Mercia. In the presence +<span class="rightnote"><br />Articles proponed by Theodore.</span> +of these prelats, the archbishop shewed a booke, wherein he had noted ten chapters or articles +taken out of the booke of the canons, requiring that the same might be receiued.</p> + +<p class="indent2"> +1 The first chapter was, that the feast of Easter should be kept on the sundaie following +the fourtéenth day of the first moneth.</p> +<p class="indent2"> +2 The second, that no bishop should intermedle in an others diocesse, but be contented with +the cure of his flocke committed to him.</p> +<p class="indent2"> +3 The third, that no bishop should disquiet in anie thing anie monasterie consecrated to +God, nor take by violence anie goods that belonged vnto the same.</p> +<p class="indent2"> +4 The fourth, that bishops being moonks should not go from monasterie to monasterie, except +by sufferance and permission of their abbats, & should continue in the same obedience +wherein they stood before.</p> +<p class="indent2"> +5 The fift, that none of the cleargie should depart from his bishop to run into anie other +diocesse, nor comming from anie other place should be admitted, except he brought letters +of testimonie with him. But if anie such chanced to be receiued, if he refused to returne, +being sent for home, both he and his receiuer should be excommunicated.</p> +<p class="indent2"> +6 The sixt, that bishops and other of the cleargie being strangers shold hold them content +with the benefit of hospitalitie, & should not take in hand anie priestlie office, without licence +of the bishop, in whose diocesse he chanced so to be remaining.</p> +<p class="indent2"> +7 The seuenth, that twice in the yeare a synod should be kept, but because of diuers impediments +herein, it was thought good to them all, that in the kalends of August a synod +should be kept once in the yeare, at a certeine place called Cloofeshough.</p> +<p class="indent2"> +8 The eighth chapter was, that no one bishop should by ambition séeke to be preferred +aboue another, but that euerie one should know the time and order of his consecration.</p> +<p class="indent2"> +9 The ninth, that as the number of the christians increased, so should there be more bishops +ordeined.</p> +<p class="indent2"> +10 The tenth was touching mariages, that none should contract matrimonie with anie person, +but with such as it should be lawfull for him by the orders of the church: none should +match with their kinsfolke, no man should forsake his wife, except (as the gospell teacheth) +for cause of fornication. But if anie man did put awaie his wife which he had lawfullie married, +if he would be accounted a true Christian, he might not be coopled with an other, but so<span class="page"><a name="page629" id="page629"></a>[Page 629]</span> +remaine, or else be reconciled to his owne wife.</p> +<p> +These articles, being intreated of and concluded, were confirmed with the subscribing of +all their hands, so as all those that did go against the same, should be disgraded of their priesthood, +and separated from the companie of them all.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">Bisi bishop of the Eastangles.</span> +The forsaid Bisi that was bishop of the Eastangles, and present at this synod, was sucessor +unto Bonifacius, which Bonifacius held that sée 17 yéeres, and then departing this +life, Bisi was made bishop of that prouince, and ordeined by the archbishop Theodore. This +Bisi at length was so visited with sicknesse, that he was not able to exercise the ministration, +so that two bishops were then & there elected and consecrated for him, the one +named Aecci, and the other Baldwin.</p> +<p> +<span class="leftnote">872. <br />(sic, should read 672)</span> +In this meane while, that is, about the yéere of our Lord 872 (sic), or in the beginning of 873 (sic), +as Harison noteth, Kenwalch king of the Westsaxons departed this life, after he had reigned +<span class="rightnote"><i>Matth. West. <br />de reg. lib. 1.</i></span> +30 yéeres. This Kenwalch was such a prince, as in the beginning he was to be compared +with the woorst kind of rulers, but in the middest and later end of his reigne, to be matched +with the best. His godlie zeale borne towards the aduancing of the christian religion +well appéered in the building of the church at Winchester, where the bishops sée of all that +prouince was then placed. His wife Segburga ruled the kingdome of Westsaxons after him, +a woman of stoutnesse inough to haue atchiued acts of woorthie remembrance, but being +preuented by death yer she had reigned one whole yéere, she could not shew anie full proofe +of hir noble courage. I remember that Matth. West. maketh other report heereof, declaring +that the nobilitie remooued hir from the gouernment. But I rather follow William Malmesburie +in this matter.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">Escuinus. <br /><i>Will Malmes.</i></span> +To procéed, after Segburga was departed this life, or deposed (if you will néeds haue it so) +Escuinus or Elcuinus, whose grandfather called Cuthgislo, the brother of K. Kinigils, succéeding +in gouernment of the Westsaxons, reigned about the space of two yéeres: and after his +deceasse, one Centiuinus or Centwine tooke vpon him the rule, and continued therein the +space of nine yeeres. But Beda saith that these two ruled at one time, and diuided the kingdom +<span class="rightnote"><i>Hen. Hunt.</i></span> +betwixt them. Elcuinus fought against Vulfhere king of Mercia, a great number of men +being slaine on both parties, though Vulfhere yet had after a maner the vpper hand, as some +haue written.</p> +<p> +<span class="leftnote"><i>Beda lib. & ca. supr. dict.</i></span> +In the same yéere that the synod was holden at Herford, that is to say, in the yéere of our +Lord 673, Egbert the king of Kent departed this life in Iulie, and left the kingdome to his +<span class="rightnote">Io. Lothaire.</span> +brother Lothaire, which held the same eleuen yéeres, & seuen moneths. Some haue written that +<span class="leftnote"><br /><i>Wil. Malm. Beda. de reg. lib. 1.</i></span> +king Egbert by the suggestion of one Thunnir, who had the chiefe rule of the kingdome vnder +him, suffered the same Thunnir in lamentable maner to kill the two innocent sonnes of +Ermenredus the brother of king Ercombert, that was father vnto King +<span class="rightnote">Thunnir. A vile murther.</span> +Egbert, for doubt +least they being towardlie yoong gentlemen, might in time grow so into fauour with the people, +that it should be easie for them to depriue both Egbert, and his issue of the kingdome. +Also, that they were priuilie put to death, and secretlie buried at the first, but the place of +their buriall immediatlie being shewed after a miraculous maner, their bodies long after in the +daies of king Egilred the sonne of king Edgar, were taken vp, & conueied vnto Ramsey, +and there buried. And although Egbert being giltie of the death of those his coosens, did +sore repent him, for that he vnderstood they died giltlesse, yet his brother Lothaire was thought +to be punished for that offense, as after shall be shewed.</p> +<p> +<span class="leftnote">Bishop Winfrid deposed.</span> +Winfrid bishop of the Mercies, for his disobedience in some point was depriued by archbishop +<span class="rightnote">Sexvulfe ordeined bishop of the Mercies. 685, as <br /><i>Matth. Westm.</i> saith, Bishop Erkenwald.</span> +Theodore, and one Sexvulfe that was the builder and also the abbat of the monasterie +Meidhamsted, otherwise called Peterborough, was ordeined and consecrated in his place. +About the same time, Erkenwald was ordeined bishop of the Eastsaxons, and appointed to hold +his sée in the citie of London. This Erkenwald was reputed to be a man of great holinesse +and vertue. Before he was made bishop, he builded two abbeies, the one of moonks at<span class="page"><a name="page630" id="page630"></a>[Page 630]</span> +Chertsey in Southerie, where he himselfe was abbat, and the other of nuns at Berking, within +<span class="leftnote">Ethelburga.</span> +the prouince of the Eastsaxons, where he placed his sister Ethelburga, a woman also highlie +<span class="leftnote"><br /><i>Iohn Capgraue.</i></span> +estéemed for hir deuout kind of life. She was first brought vp and instructed in the rules of +hir profession by one Hildelitha a nun of the parties beyond the seas, whome Erkenwald procured +to come ouer for that purpose.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">Waldhere. Sebbie king of Eastsaxons. <br /><i>Beda. lib. 4. cap.</i> 16.</span> +After Erkenwald, one Waldhere was made bishop of London, in whose daies Sebbie king +of the Eastsaxons, after he had reigned thirtie yéeres, being now vexed with a gréeuous sicknesse, +professed himselfe a moonke: which thing he would haue doone long before, if his +wife had not kept him backe. He died shortlie after within the citie of London, and was buried +<span class="leftnote"><i>Wil. Malm.</i></span> +in the church of saint Paule. King Sighere, which in the beginning reigned with him, +and gouerned a part of the Eastsaxons, was departed this life before, so that in his latter time, +the foresaid Sebbie had the gouernment of the whole prouince of the Eastsaxons, and +<span class="rightnote">675.</span> +left the same to his sonnes Sighard and Sewfred. About the yéere of our Lord 675, +<span class="leftnote"><i>Wil. Malmes.</i> But other afiirme that he reigned 17 yéeres.</span> +Vulfhere king of Mercia departed this life, after he had reigned (as some say) 19 yéeres, but +<span class="rightnote"><br /><i>Beda. <br /></i> Peada or rather Weada.</span> +(as other affirme) he reigned but 17 yéeres. Howbeit they which reckon 19, include the time +that passed after the slaughter of Penda, wherein Oswie and Peada held the aforesaid +kingdome.</p> + + <hr /><br /><br /> +<a name="xxxv5" id="xxxv5"></a> +<p> +<i>Edilred king of Mercia inuadeth the kingdome of Kent, and maketh great waste without +resistance of Lothaire the king thereof, Putta of a bishop becommeth a poore curat and +teacheth musicke, Wilfred deposed from his bishoprike by king Egfrid vpon displeasure, +he preacheth the gospell in Sussex by the licence of king Edilwalke, no raine in Sussex +for the space of three yeeres, the woord and sacraments bring blessings with them; bishop +Wilfrid the first teacher to catch fish with nets, the people haue him in great reuerence, +a great and bloudie battell betweene Egfrid & king Edilred, they are reconciled by the +meanes of archbishop Theodore; a synod holden at Hatfield, the clergie subscribe to +certeine articles, of Hilda the famous abbesse of Whitbie.</i></p> + +<h3>THE XXXV CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">EDILRED.</span> +After Vulfhere, his brother Edilred or Ethelred succéeded in gouernment of the kingdome +of Mercia. This Edilred inuaded the kingdome of Kent with a mightie armie, in the +<span class="leftnote">677. <br /><i>Hen. Hunt.</i></span> +yéere of our Lord 677, destroieng the countrie afore him, not sparing churches nor abbeies, +but spoiling the same without respect, as well as other common places. King Lothaire durst +not appéere in the field to giue him battell, so that Edilred went thorough the countrie, destroied +the citie of Rochester, and with great riches gotten by the spoile he returned home. +Putta the bishop of Rochester, after that his church was spoiled and defaced by the enimies, +went to Sexvulfe bishop of Mercia, and there obteining of him a small cure, and a portion +of ground, remained in that countrie, not once labouring to restore his church of Rochester +to the former state, but went about in Mercia to teach song, and instruct such as would +learne musicke, wheresoeuer he was required, or could get intertainment.</p> +<p> +Heerevpon the archbishop Theodore consecrated one William bishop of Rochester in place +of Putta, and after, when the said William constreined by pouertie, left that church, Theodore +<span class="rightnote">678. <br />A blasing star. <br /><i>Matth. West. <br />Beda. lib. 4 ca. 12.</i> <br />Bishop Wifrid banished.</span> +placed one Gebmound in his stéed. In the yéere of our Lord 678, in the moneth of August, + +a blasing starre appéered, with a long bright beame like to a piller. It was séene euerie +morning for the space of thrée moneths togither. The same Egfrid king of Northumberland, +banished bishop Wilfrid vpon displeasure taken with him, out of his sée, and then were two +bishops ordeined in his place, to gouerne the church of the Northumbers, the one named +Bosa at Yorke, and the other called Eata at Hagustald or Lindesferne. Also one Eadhidus<span class="page"><a name="page631" id="page631"></a>[Page 631]</span> +<span class="rightnote"><br />Hagustald. Hexham. Eadhidus. Lindesferne. Holie Iland.</span> +was ordeined about the same time bishop of Lindsey, the which prouince king Egfrid had of +late conquered and taken from Vulfhere the late king of Mercia, whome he ouercame in +battell, and droue him out of that countrie. The said thrée bishops were consecrated at +Yorke by the archbishop of Canturburie Theodorus, the which within thrée yéeres after +ordained two bishops more in that prouince of the Northumbers, that is to say, Tumbert +at Hagustald, Eata that was appointed to remaine at Lindesferne, & Trumuine was ordeined +to haue the cure of the prouince of those Picts which as then were vnder the English dominion. +Also bicause Edilred king of Mercia recouered the countrie of Lindsey, and ioined +<span class="rightnote">The church of Rippon.</span> +it to his dominion, bishop Eadhedus comming from thence, was appointed to gouerne the +church of Rippon.</p> +<p> +After that bishop Wilfrid was expelled out of his diocesse and prouince of the Northumbers, +he went to Rome, and returning from thence, came into the kingdome of the Southsaxons, +the which conteining seuen thousand housholds or families, as yet was not conuerted +<span class="rightnote">Wilfrid by licence of king Edilwalke preacheth the gospel to them of Sussex.</span> +to the christian faith. Wherefore the said Wilfrid began there to preach the gospell with +licence of king Edilwalke, who (as before is mentioned) was conuerted and baptised in Mercia +by the procurement of king Wolfher, that then became his godfather, and gaue him at the +same time the Ile of Wight, and the prouince of the people ancientlie called Meanuari, which +he had woon from the Westsaxons. Bishop Wilfrid then by king Edilwalke his furtherance +and helpe baptised the chiefest lords and gentlemen of that prouince. But certein priests +baptised the residue of the people, either then or in the time following.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">Lacke of raine.</span> +¶ It chanced that for the space of thrée yéeres (as it is said) before the comming thither +of bishop Wilfrid, there had fallen no raine from the aire within that prouince of the Southsaxons, +so that the people were brought into great miserie by reson of famine, which through +want of necessarie fruits of the earth sore afflicted the whole countrie, insomuch that no +small numbers threw themselues hedlong into the sea, despairing of life in such lacke of +necessarie vittels. But as God would, the same day that Wilfrid began to minister the sacrament +of baptisme, there came downe swéet and plentifull showers of raine, so watering +the earth, that thereby great store of all fruits plentifullie tooke root, and yéelded full increase +in growth, to the great comfort and reliefe of all the people, which before were in +maner starued and lost through want of food.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">Catching of fish with nets.</span> +Bishop Wilfrid also taught them in that countrie the maner how to catch fish with nets, +where before that time, they had no great skill in anie kind of fishing, except it were in +catching éeles. Hereby the said bishop grew there in great estimation with the people, so +that his words were the better credited amongst them, for that through him they receiued +so great benefits, God by such meanes working in the peoples hearts a desire to come to the +vnderstanding of his lawes. The king also gaue vnto Wilfrid a place called Sealesew, compassed +about on each side (except on the west halfe) with the sea, conteining 87 housholds +or families, where he built an abbeie, and baptised all his tenants there, amounting to the +<span class="rightnote">Bondmen made trulie free.</span> +number of 250 bondmen and bondwomen, whome he made frée both in bodie and soule: +for he did not onelie baptise them, but also infranchised them of all bodilie seruitude and +bondage.</p> +<p> +In this meane while manie things happened in other parts of this land, and first in the +yeere after the appéering of the blasing starre before mentioned, a mightie battell was fought +betwixt the said Egfrid and Edilred king of Mercia, néere to the riuer of Trent, where +Alswine the brother of king Egfrid was slaine, with manie other of the Northumbers, so +that king Egfrid was constreined to returne home with losse. The archbishop of Canturburie +Theodorus perceiuing that great warre and effusion of bloud was like to follow therevpon, +trauelled so in the matter betwixt them, that they were made friends, and Egfrid had +a péece of monie in recompense of his losses. The foresaid battell was fought in the +<span class="rightnote">679.</span> +yéere of our Lord 679, and in the yeere following, that is to say, in the yéere of our +<span class="leftnote">680.</span> +Lord 680, which was also in the tenth yéere of the reigne of Egfrid king of Northumberland, +the sixt yéere of Edelred king of Mercia, the 17 of Aldvulfe king of Eastangles,<span class="page"><a name="page632" id="page632"></a>[Page 632]</span> +and in the 7 of Lother king of Kent.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">A synod at Hatfield.</span> +The archbishop of Canturburie Theodorus held another synod at Hatfield, about the 15 +<span class="leftnote">Articles subscribed.</span> +kalends of October, in the which all the clergie there present subscribed to certeine articles +touching the beléefe of the trinitie of persons, in vnitie of the Godhead of the like substance, +and also of the same vnitie in trinitie, according to the true faith of the church +of God. Moreouer, they acknowledged by the like subscription, the fiue generall councels, +of Nice, of Constantinople the first, of Ephesus, of Calcedon, and of Constantinople the +second, with the synod also holden at Rome in the daies of Martin bishop of Rome about +the yéere of the emperour Constantine. At this synod holden at Hatfield, was present one +Iohn the archchanter of S. Peters church at Rome, sent into this land of purpose to bring +from hence a certificat vnto pope Agatho of the agréement of the English church in matters +of faith, with other churches of the christian world: but the foresaid archchanter died by +the way in France, as he returned homewards, and was buried at Towers in Towraine.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Bale.</i> <br />The abbesse Hilda. <br /><i>Beda.</i></span> +The same yéere that famous woman Hilda abbesse of Whitbie departed this life, or (as +other say) fiue yéeres after, hauing first beene deteined long with gréeuous sickenesse. She +was the daughter of one Herrericus the nephue of king Edwin, and conuerted to the faith +of Christ at the preaching of bishop Pauline, and afterwards instructed by bishop Aidan, she +professed hirselfe a nun, applieng hir whole studie to the reading of the scriptures, to praier, +& other godlie exercises. She builded the abbeie of Whitbie, wherein were placed both men +and women, with such an equalitie in all things, that there was no rich person amongst +<span class="leftnote"><i>Bale.</i></span> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Ran. Cest.</i> <br /><i>Matth. West.</i> <br /><i>Beda.</i></span> +them, nor anie that wanted things necessarie. She departed this life on the 15 kalends of +December, being 66 yéeres of age. As some haue written she argued stoutlie on bishop +Colmans part, at the disputation holden in the monasterie of Whitbie, in the yéere of Grace +<span class="leftnote"><i>Henrie Hunt.</i></span> +664, whereof ye haue heard before. About the yéere of our Lord 682, that is to say, in +the seuenth yere of Centwine or Centiuinus king of Westsaxons, the same Centwine fought +<span class="rightnote">The Britains discomfited.</span> +with the Britains, and ouercame them in battell, pursuing them with fire and sword vnto the +sea side.</p> +<p> +¶ Thus (at this time as also at diuerse other times) they were discomfited and put to +flight, being a people allotted and shared out as it were to suffer many an ouerthrow, and +abide manie a sharpe and shamefull repulse at the hands of their enimies, who conuerted +the distresse of that people to their profit, and tooke pleasure in the extreamitie of the miseries +wherein they were plunged, as may be obserued by the pitifull alteration of their state +vnder diuers gouernours, and speciallie vnder the Danish dominion, who kept them in no +<span class="rightnote"><i>Gorop. in Gota danica lib. 7. pag. 759.</i></span> +lesse vile seruitude than Pharao did the Hebrues at the making of bricke & chopping of straw. +So that some thinke this land to be corruptlie named Britania, but ought rather to be called +Bridania, that is, <i>Libera Dania, siue regio in qua Dani liberè viuant</i>, for they liued as +lords in the land, & did (for the time being) what they listed. But of this matter more +shall be spoken hereafter in place conuenient.</p> + +<hr /><br /><br /> +<a name="xxxvj5" id="xxxvj5"></a> +<span class="page"><a name="page633" id="page633"></a>[Page 633]</span> +<p> +<i>Cadwallader king of Britaine, the people are brought into great miserie, and he forced to +flee the land, he dieth at Rome, the British writers noted of error, Ceadwalla king of the +Westsaxons, the kingdome is diuided; the valorous mind of Ceadwalla, he is forced to forsake +his countrie, he vanquisheth and killeth Edilwalke king of the Westsaxons, his returne +into his kingdome with reuenge vpon Berthun duke of Sussex and other his heauie +friends, his vow if he might conquer the Ile of Wight, his bountifull offer to bishop Wilfrid, +the Ile of Wight receiueth the faith; Ceadwalla inuadeth Kent, of a barbarous warriour +he becommeth a religious christian, his vertues, his death and buriall at Rome; Egfrid +king of Northumberland inuadeth Ireland, he is slaine by Brudeus king of the Picts; the +neglect of good counsell is dangerous; Etheldreda a wife and a widow (hauing vowed +chastitie) liued a virgine 12 yeeres with hir husband Egfride, she was called saint Auderie +of Elie.</i></p> + +<h3>THE XXXVJ CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">CADWALLADER.</span> +But now to returne vnto that which is found in the British histories, by the tenor +wherof it should appeare, that when their king Cadwallo was dead, his son Cadwallader +<span class="leftnote">676 saith <br /><i>Matth. West.</i></span> +succéeded him in gouernement of the Britains, in the yéere of our Lord 678, which was +about the 10 yéere of the emperour Constantius Paganotus, and in the 13 yéere of the reigne +<span class="rightnote"><i>Galfrid.</i></span> +of Childericus king of France. This Cadwallader, being the sonne of Cadwallo, was begot +by him of the halfe sister of Penda king of Mercia, for one father begot them both, but of +two sundrie mothers, for she had to mother a ladie descended of the noble blood of the Westsaxons, +and was maried vnto Cadwallo when the peace was made betwixt him and hir brother +the said Penda. After that Cadwallader had reigned the space of 12 yéers (as Geffrey +of Monmouth saith) or (as others write) but 3 yéeres, the Britains were brought into such +miserie through ciuill discord, and also by such great and extreme famine as then reigned +<span class="rightnote">Cadwallader constreined to forsake the land.</span> +through all the land, that Cadwallader was constreined with the chéefest part of his people to +forsake their natiue countrie, and by sea to get them ouer into Britaine Armorike, there to +séeke reliefe by vittels for the sustentation of their languishing bodies. </p> +<p> +¶ Long processe is made by the British writers of this departure of Cadwallader, & of +the Britains out of this land, and how Cadwallader was about to haue returned againe, but +that he was admonished by a dreame to the contrarie, the which bicause it séemeth but fabulous, +we passe ouer. At length he went to Rome, and there was confirmed in the christian +religion by pope Sergius, where shortlie after he fell sicke, and died the 12 kalends of May, in +<span class="rightnote">689.</span> +the yeere of our Lord 689. But herein appeareth the error of the British writers in taking +one for another, by reason of resemblance of names, for where Ceadwalla king of the +Westsaxons about that time mooued of a religious deuotion, after he was conuerted to the +faith, went vnto Rome, and was there baptised, or else confirmed of the foresaid pope Sergius, +and shortlie after departed this life in that citie in the foresaid yéere of 689 or therabouts. +The Welshmen count him to be their Cadwallader: which to be true is verie vnlike +by that which may be gathered out of the learned writings of diuers good and approoued +authors.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">CEADWALLA. <br /><i>Wil. Malm.</i> <br /><i>Beda.</i></span> +This Ceadwalla king of the Westsaxons succeeded after Centwine or Centiuinus, which +Centwine reigned nine yéeres, though it should appeare by that which is written by authors +of good credit, that during two of those yéeres at the least, the kingdome of Westsaxons was +diuided betwixt him and Elcuinus or Escuinus, so that he should not reigne past seuen yeeres +alone.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Wil. Malm.</i></span> +<span class="leftnote"><i>Ranulf. Cest.</i></span> +But now to Ceadwalla, whome some take to be all one with Cadwallader, we find that +he was lineallie descended from Cutha or Cutwine, the brother of Ceauline or Keuling +king of Westsaxons, as sonne to Kenbert or Kenbright that was sonne to Ceadda the sonne +of the foresaid Cutha or Cutwin. Thus being extract of the noble house of the kings of<span class="page"><a name="page634" id="page634"></a>[Page 634]</span> +Westsaxons, he prooued in his youth a personage of great towardnesse, and such a one as no +small hope was of him conceiued: he would let no occasion passe wherein he might exercise +his force, to shew proofe of his high valiancie, so that in the end with his woorthie attempts +shewed therein, he purchased to himselfe the enuie of those that ruled in his countrie, by +<span class="rightnote">Ceadwalla driuen to depart out of his countrie.</span> +reason whereof he was banished in a conspiracie made against him. Wherevpon he tooke +occasion as it were in reuenge of such vnthankfulnesse to withdraw out of his countrie, leading +with him all the principall youth of the same, the which either pitieng his present estate, or +mooued with pleasure taken in his valiant dooings, followed him at his going into exile.</p> +<p> +The first brunt of his furious attempts after he was out of his countrie, Edilwalke the king +of the Southsaxons tasted, who in defense of himselfe comming to trie battell with Ceadwalla, +was slaine with the most part of all his armie. Ceadwalla then perceiuing the valiant +courages of his souldiers, filled with good hope of this happie atchiued victorie, returned +with good and prosperous spéed into his owne countrie, and that yer he was looked for, and +earnestlie pursuing his aduersaries, droue them out of the kingdome, and taking vpon him to +rule the same as king, reigned two yéeres, during the which he atchiued diuers notable enterprises.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Beda lib. 4. cap. 15.</i></span> +And first, whereas Berthun and Authun dukes of Sussex & subiects vnto the late king +Edilwalke, had both expelled him out of that countrie, after he had slaine the said Edilwalke, +and also taken vpon them the rule of that kingdome, hauing now atteined to the gouernement +<span class="rightnote">Berthun a duke of Sussex slaine.</span> +of the Westsaxons, he inuaded the countrie of Sussex againe, and slue Berthun in battell, +bringing that countrie into more bondage than before. He also set vpon the Ile of Wight, +and well-néere destroied all the inhabitants, meaning to inhabit it with his owne people. Hee +<span class="rightnote">Caedwalla his vow. <br />The Ile of Wight conquered.</span> +bound himselfe also by vow, although as yet he was not baptised, that if he might conquer +it, he would giue a fourth part thereof vnto the Lord. And in performance of that vow, he +offered vnto bishop Wilfride (who then chanced to be present) when he had taken that Ile, so +much therof as conteined 300 housholds or families, where the whole consisted in 1200 housholds. +Wilfrid receiuing thankefullie the gift, deliuered the same vnto one of his clearks named +Bernewine that was his sisters sonne, appointing to him also a priest named Hildila, the which +should minister the word and the sacrament of baptisme vnto all those that would receiue the +<span class="rightnote">The Ile of Wight receiueth the faith.</span> +same. Thus was the Ile of Wight brought to the faith of Christ last of all other the parties +of this our Britaine, after that the same faith had failed here by the comming of the Saxons.</p> +<p> +Moreouer, king Ceadwalla inuaded the kingdome of Kent, where he lost his brother Mollo, +as after shall appéere, but yet he reuenged his death with great slaughter made of the inhabitants +in that countrie. Finallie, this worthie prince Ceadwalla, turning himselfe from the +desire of warre and bloudshed, became right courteous, gentle and liberall towards all men, +so that ye could not haue wished more vertuous manners to rest in one as yet not christened. +And shortlie after, willing to be admitted into the fellowship of the christians (of whose religion +he had taken good tast) he went to Rome, where of pope Sergius he was baptised, and +named Peter, and shortlie after surprised with sickenesse, he died, and was buried there within +<span class="rightnote">689.</span> +the church of saint Peter in the yeere of our Lord 689.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Beda lib. 4. cap. 26.</i> Ireland inuaded by the Northumbers.</span> +In the meane while, that is to say, in the yeere of our Lord 684, Egfride king of Northumberland +sent an armie vnder the guiding of a capteine named Bertus into Ireland, the +which wasted that countrie, sparing neither church nor monasterie, sore indamaging the people +of that countrie, which had euer beene friends vnto the English nation, and deserued +nothing lesse than so to be inuaded and spoiled at their hands. The Irish men defended +themselues to their power, beséeching God with manie a salt teare, that he would reuenge +their cause in punishing of such extreme iniuries. And though cursers may not inherit the +kingdome of heauen, yet they ceased not to curse, hoping the sooner that those which with +good cause were thus accursed, should woorthilie be punished for their offenses by God, & so +<span class="rightnote">King Egfride slain by Brudeus king of the Picts.</span> +(peraduenture) it fell out. For in the yeere following, the said Egfride had lead an armie +into Pictland against Brudeus king of the Picts, and being trained into straits within hils and +craggie mounteins, he was slaine with the most part of all his armie, in the yeere of his age<span class="page"><a name="page635" id="page635"></a>[Page 635]</span> [635 +40, and of his reigne 15, vpon the 13 kalends of June.</p> +<p> +There were diuers of Egfrides friends, and namelie Cutberd (whome he had aduanced the +same yéere vnto the bishops sée of Lindesferne) that aduised him in no wise, either to haue +taken this warre in hand against the Picts, or the other against them of Ireland, but he would +not be counselled, the punishment appointed for his sinnes being such, that he might not +giue eare to his faithfull friends that aduised him for the best. From that time foorth, the +<span class="rightnote">These Britains were those vndouttedlie y't dwelt in the northwest parts of this Ile, +and is not ment onlie by them of Wales.</span> +hope and power of the English people began to decaie. For not onelie the Picts recouered +that part of their countrie which the Englishmen had held before in their possession, but +also the Scots that inhabited within this Ile, and likewise some part of the Britains tooke vpon +them libertie, which they kept and mainteined a long time after, as Beda confesseth. </p> +<p> +Egfride died without issue, & left no children behind him. He had to wife one Ethelreda +or Etheldrida, daughter vnto Anna king of the Eastangles, which liued with hir husband the +forsaid Egfride twelue yéeres in perfect virginitie (as is supposed) contrarie to the purpose of +hir husband, if he might haue persuaded hir to the contrarie, but finallie he was contented +<span class="rightnote">Ethelreda.</span> +that she should kéepe hir first vow of chastitie which she had made. She was both widow +and virgine when he maried hir, being first coupled in wedlocke with one Eunbert a noble +<span class="leftnote">Giruij.</span> +man, and a ruler in the south parts of the countrie, where the people called Giruij inhabited, +which is the same where the fennes lie in the confines of Lincolnshire, Norffolke, Huntingtonshire, +& Cambridgeshire, howbeit he liued with hir but a small while. After she had obteined +licence to depart from the court, she got hir first into Coldingham abbeie, and there +was professed a nun. Then she went to Elie, and there restored the monasterie, and was +made abbesse of the place, in the which after she had gouerned seuen yeeres, she departed this +life, and was there buried. This same was she which commonlie is called saint Audrie of +Elie, had in great reuerence for the opinion conceiued of hir great vertue and puritie +of life.</p> + + <hr /><br /><br /> + <a name="xxxvij5" id="xxxvij5"></a> +<p> +<i>Alfride (the bastard) king of Northumberland, his life and death, Iohn archbishop of Canturburie +resigneth his see, Lother king of Kent dieth of a wound, Edrike getteth the regiment +thereof but not without bloudshed, Ceadwalla wasteth Kent being at strife in it +selfe, his brother Mollo burned to death; Withred made king of Kent, he vanquisheth +his enimies, Inas king of Westsaxons is made his friend, Suebhard and Nidred vsurpers +of the Kentish kingdome, the age and death of Theodore archbishop of Canturburie, +Brightwald the first archbishop of the English nation; the end of the British regiment, +and how long the greatest part of this Iland was vnder their gouernement.</i></p> + +<h3>THE XXXVIJ CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +After that king Egfride was slaine (as before is mentioned) his brother Alfride was made +<span class="rightnote">ALFRIDE. 685.</span> +king of Northumberland. This Alfride was the bastard sonne of king Oswie, and in his +brothers daies (either willinglie, or by violent means constreined) he liued as a banished man +in Ireland, where applieng himselfe to studie, he became an excellent philosopher. And +therfore being iudged to be better able to haue the rule of a kingdome, he was receiued by +the Northumbers, and made king, gouerning his subiects the space of 20 yeares and more, +with great wisedome and policie, but not with such large bounds as his ancestors had doone: +for the Picts (as before is mentioned) had cut off one péece of the north part of the ancient +limits of that kingdome. About the 13 yeare of his reigne, that is to say, in the yeare of our +<span class="leftnote">698.</span> +Lord 698, one of his capteins named earle Berthred, or Bertus, was slaine in battell by the +Picts, whose confins he had as then inuaded. The curse of the Irish men, whose countrie +<span class="rightnote"><i>Matt. West.</i></span> +in the daies of king Egfrid he had cruellie wasted (as before is mentioned) was thought at +this time to take place. Finallie king Alfride, after he had reigned 20 yeares & od months,<span class="page"><a name="page636" id="page636"></a>[Page 636]</span> +<span class="rightnote">705. <br /><i>Beda.</i></span> +departed this life, in the yeare of our Lord 705.</p> +<p> +In the beginning of king Alfrids daies, Eata the bishop of Hexham being dead, one Iohn a +man of great holinesse was admitted bishop, and after that, bishop Wilfrid was restored, +<span class="rightnote">Iohn archbishop of Yorke.</span> +when he had remained a long time in exile. The said Iohn was remoued to the church of +Yorke, the same being then void by the death of the archbishop Bosa. At length the foresaid +<span class="leftnote"> He resigneth his sée.</span> +Iohn wearied with the cares of publike affaires resigned his sée, and got him to Beuerley, +where he liued a solitarie life for the space of foure yeares, and then died, about the yeare of +<span class="rightnote">721.</span> +our Lord 721, king Osrike as then reigning in Northumberland. He continued bishop for +the space of 24 yeares, and builded a church, and founded a colledge of priests at Beuerley +aforsaid, in which church he lieth buried.</p> +<p> +<span class="leftnote">686 saith <br /><i>Matt. West.</i></span> +<span class="rightnote">Lother king of Kent dieth of a wound.</span> +The same yeare, or in the yeare after that king Egfrid was slaine, Lother king of Kent departed +this life, the 8 Ides of Februarie, of a wound by him receiued in a battell which he +fought against the Southsaxons, the which came in aid of Edrike, that was sonne vnto his +brother Egbert, and had mainteined warre against his vncle the said Lother, euen from the +beginning of his reigne, till finallie he was now in the said battell striken thorough the bodie +with a dart, and so died thereof, after he had reigned 11 yeares, and seuen moneths. It was +thought that he was disquieted with continuall warres and troubles, and finallie brought to his +end before the naturall course of his time, for a punishment of his wicked consent giuen to +<span class="leftnote"><i>Wil. Malm.</i></span> +the putting to death of his cousins Ethelbert & Ethelbrit, as appeared, in that when they were +<span class="rightnote"><i>Capgraue</i> saith, their sister.</span> +reported to be martyrs, because it was knowen they died innocentlie, he mocked them and +made but a iest at it, although his brother in acknowledging his fault, repented him thereof, +and gaue in recompense to their mother a part of the Ile of Thanet to the building of a +monasterie.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">EDRICKE. </span> +The foresaid Edricke (after Lother was dead) got the dominion of Kent, and ruled as king +thereof, but not without ciuill warre, insomuch that before he had reigned the full terme of +two yeares, he was slaine in the same warre. Then Ceadwalla king of the Westsaxons being +thereof aduertised, supposing the time now to be come that would serue his purpose, as one +still coueting to worke the Kentishmen all the displeasure he could, entred with an armie +into their countrie, and began to waste and spoile the same on ech side, till finallie the Kentishmen +assembled themselues togither, gaue battell to their enimies, and put them to flight. +Mollo brother to Ceadwalla was driuen from his companie, and constrained to take an house +<span class="rightnote">Mollo brother to king Ceadwalla burnt to death.</span> +for his refuge: but his enimies that pursued him set fire thereon, and burned both the house +and Mollo within it to ashes. Yet did not Ceadwalla herewith depart out of the countrie, +but to wreake his wrath, and to reuenge the griefe which he tooke for the death of his brother, +he wasted and destroied a great part of Kent yer he returned home, and left (as it were) +an occasion to his successor also to pursue the quarell with reuenging. Wherein we sée the +cankerd nature of man, speciallie in a case of wrong or displeasure; which we are so far from +tollerating & forgiuing, that if with tooth and naile we be not permitted to take vengeance, our +hearts will breake with a full conceit of wrath. But the law of nature teacheth vs otherwise +to be affected, namelie,</p> + +<blockquote> +——— per te nulli vnquam iniuria fiat,<br /> +Sed verbis alijsque modis fuge lædere quenquam,<br /> +Quod tibi nolles, alijs fecisse caueto,<br /> +Quódque tibi velles, alijs præstare studeto;<br /> +Hæc est naturæ lex optima, quam nisi ad vnguem<br /> +Seruabis, non ipse Deo (mihi crede) placebis,<br /> +Póstque obitum infoelix non aurea sydera adibis.<br /> +</blockquote> +<p> +Which lesson taught by nature, and commanded of God, if these men had followed (as +they minded nothing lesse in the fier of their furie) they would haue béene content with a +competent reuenge, and not in such outragious maner with fier and sword haue afflicted one<span class="page"><a name="page637" id="page637"></a>[Page 637]</span> +another, nor (which is more than tigerlike crueltie) haue ministred occasion to posterities to +reuenge wrongs giuen and taken of their ancestors. But we will let this passe without further +discourse, meaning hereafter in due place to declare the processe.</p> +<p> +The Kentishmen being destitute of a king, after that diuers had coueted the place, and +sought to atteine thereto, as well by force as otherwise, to the great disquieting of that prouince +for the space of 6 yeares togither, at length in the 7 yeare after Edricks death, Withred +an other of the sonnes of king Egbert, hauing with diligent trauell ouercome enuie at home, +<span class="rightnote">Withred is made king of Kent.</span> +& with monie redéemed peace abaoad (sic), was with great hope conceiued of his worthinesse made +king of Kent, the 11 of Nouember, & 205 after the death of Hengist, he reigned 33 yeares, +not deceiuing his subiects of their good conceiued opinion of him: for ouercomming all his +aduersaries which were readie to leuie ciuill warre against him, he also purchased peace of +Inas king of the Westsaxons, which ment to haue made him warre, till with monie he was +made his friend.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Hen. Hunt.</i> <br /><i>Beda. lib. 5.</i> <br />Suebhard and Nidred kings by vsurpation and +not by succession, as <br /><i>Henr. Hunt.</i> writeth.</span> +A little before that Withred was confirmed in the kingdome of Kent, there reigned two +kings in that countrie, Suebhard and Nidred, or rather the same Withred, if the printed copie +of Bedas booke intituled "Ecclesiastica historia gentis Anglorum" haue not that name corrupted: +for where he sheweth that the archbishop Theodorus being of the age of 88 yeares, +departed this life in the yeare of our Lord 690, in the next chapter he declareth, that in the +yeare 692, the first daie of Iulie one Brightwald was chosen to succéed in the archbishops +sée of Canturburie, Withredus and Suebhardus as then reigning in Kent: but whether +Withredus gouerned as then with Suebhardus, or that some other named Nidred, it forceth +not: for certeine it is by the agréement of other writers, that till Withred obteined the whole +rule, there was great strife and contention moued about the gouernement, and diuers there +<span class="leftnote">Brightwald the first archbishop of the English nation.</span> +were that sought and fought for it. But this ought to be noted, that the forenamed Brightwald +was the eight archbishop in number, and first of the English nation that sat in the sée +of Canturburie: for the other seuen that were predecessors to him, were strangers borne, and +sent hither from Rome.</p> +<p> +¶ Here endeth the line and gouernement of the Britains, now called Welshmen, which +tooke that name of their duke or leader Wallo or Gallo; or else of a queene of Wales +named Gales or Wales. But howsoeuer that name fell first vnto them, now they are called +Welshmen, which sometime were called Britains or Brutons, and descended first of the Troians, +and after of Brute, and lastlie of Mulmucius Dunwallo: albeit they were mingled with sundrie +other nations, as Romans, Picts, &c. And now they be called English that in their beginning +were named Saxons or Angles. To conclude therefore with this gouernement, so +manie times intercepted by forren power, it appeareth by course of histories treating of these +matters, that the last yeare of Cadwallader was the yeare of our Lord 686, which makes the +yere of the world 4647. So that (as Fabian saith) the Britains had the greater part of this +land in rule (reckoning from Brute till this time) 1822 yeares. Which terme being expired, +the whole dominion of this realme was Saxonish.</p> +<p class="center"><br /><br /> +<i>Thus farre the interrupted regiment of the Britains, ending at the fift booke.</i></p> +<br /><br /><br /><br /> + +<p>[Transcriber's note: The following words appear to be typos, but were +left as they appeared in this book.</p> + +<p class="indent2"> by little little => little by little (chapter 3, para. 1)<br /> + whreof => whereof (chapter 8, para. 5)<br /> + buruished => burnished (chapter 13, para. 3)<br /> + shost => short (chapter 25, para. 4)<br /> + Grogories => Gregories (chapter 33, para. 10)<br /> + abaoad => abroad (chapter 37, para. 6)]</p> + + +<div style='display:block; margin-top:4em'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HISTORIE OF ENGLAND ***</div> +<div style='text-align:left'> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +Updated editions will replace the previous one—the old editions will +be renamed. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright +law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, +so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United +States without permission and without paying copyright +royalties. 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Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..c9905a5 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #16555 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/16555) diff --git a/old/2020-12-12-16555-8.txt b/old/2020-12-12-16555-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..4496818 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/2020-12-12-16555-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,7130 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Chronicles 1 (of 6): The Historie of +England 5 (of 8), by Raphael Holinshed + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Chronicles 1 (of 6): The Historie of England 5 (of 8) + The Fift Booke of the Historie of England. + +Author: Raphael Holinshed + +Release Date: August 20, 2005 [EBook #16555] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HISTORIE OF ENGLAND *** + + + + +Produced by Jonathan Ingram, Lesley Halamek and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + +THE FIFT BOOKE + +OF THE + +HISTORIE OF ENGLAND. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Constantinus at the generall sute of the Britains vndertaketh to +gouerne this Iland, he is crowned king, his three sonnes, he is +traitorouslie slaine of a Pict, Constantius the eldest sonne of +Constantine hauing bene a monke is created king, the ambitious & slie +practises of duke Vortigerne to aspire to the gouernment, he procureth +certeine Picts and Scots to kill the king who had reteined them for +the gard of his person, his craftie deuises and deepe dissimulation +vnder the pretense of innocencie, he winneth the peoples harts, and is +chosen their king._ + +THE FIRST CHAPTER. + + +Having ended our former booke with the end of the Romane power ouer +this Iland, wherein the state of the Iland vnder them is at full +described; it remaineth now that we procéed to declare, in what state +they were after the Romans had refused to gouerne them anie longer. +Wherefore we will addresse our selues to saie somewhat touching the +succession of the British kings, as their histories make mention. + +[Sidenote: CONSTANTINUS. _Gal. Mon._ _Matt. Westm._] +Constantinus the brother of Aldroenus king of little Britaine, at +the sute and earnest request of the archbishop of London, made in name +of all the Britains in the Ile of great Britaine, was sent into the +same Ile by his said brother Aldroenus vpon couenants ratified in +manner as before is recited, and brought with him a conuenient power, +landing with the same at Totnesse in Deuonshire. Immediatlie after his +[Sidenote: _Caxton_ saith 12000. but _Gal._ and others say +but 2000.] +c[=o]ming on land, he gathered to him a great power of Britains, +which before his landing were hid in diuerse places of the Ile. Then +went he foorth with them, and gaue battell to the enimies, whom he +vanquished: & slue that tyrannicall king Guanius there in the field +[Sidenote: The British historie disagreeth from the Scotish.] +(as some bookes haue.) Howbeit, this agréeth not with the Scotish +writers, which affirme that they got the field, but yet lost their +king named Dongard (as in their historie ye maie read.) + +But to procéed as our writers report the matter. When the Britains had +thus ouercome their enimies, they conueied their capteine the said +Constantine vnto Cicester, and there in fulfilling their promise and +couenant made to his brother, crowned him king of great Britaine, +in the yéere of our Lord 433, which was about the fift yéere of the +emperour Valentinianus the second, and third yéere of Clodius king +[Sidenote: _Matth. West._ saith 435.] +of the Frankners after called Frenchmen, which then began to settle +themselues in Gallia, whereby the name of that countrie was afterwards +changed and called France. Constantine being thus established king, +ruled the land well and noblie, and defended it from all inuasion of +enimies during his life. He begat of his wife thrée sonnes (as the +British historie affirmeth) Constantius, Aurelius Ambrosius, and Vter +surnamed named Pendragon. The eldest, bicause he perceiued him to be +but dull of wit, and not verie toward, he made a moonke, placing him +within the abbie of Amphibalus in Winchester. + +[Sidenote: In a groue of bushes as _Gal._ saith. _Matth. West._ +_Beda_. _Orosius_. _Blondus_.] +Finallie this Constantine, after he had reigned ten yéeres, was +traitorouslie slaine one day in his owne chamber (as some write) by a +Pict, who was in such fauor with him, that he might at all times haue +frée accesse to him at his pleasure. Neither the Romane writers, +nor Beda, make anie mention of this Constantine: but of the other +Constantine they write, which immediatlie after the vsurper Gratian +was dispatched out of the way (as before ye haue heard) was aduanced +to the rule of this land, and title of emperour, onelie in hope of his +name, and for no other respect of towardnesse in him, afore time +being but a meane souldier, without anie degrée of honour. The same +Constantine (as writers record) going ouer into Gallia, adorned his +sonne Constantius with the title and dignitie of Cesar, the which +before was a moonke, and finallie as well the one as the other were +slaine, the father at Arles by earle Constantius, that was sent +against him by the emperour Honorius; and the sonne at Vienna (as +before ye haue heard) by one of his owne court called Gerontius (as in +the Italian historie ye may sée more at large.) This chanced about the +yeere of our Lord 415. +[Sidenote: 415.] + +¶ This haue we thought good to repeat in this place, for that some may +suppose that this Constantine is the same that our writers take to be +the brother of Aldroenus king of little Britaine, as the circumstance +of the time and other things to be considered may giue them occasion +to thinke, for that there is not so much credit to be yéelded to them +that haue written the British histories, but that in some part men may +with iust cause doubt of sundrie matters conteined in the same: and +therfore haue we in this booke béene the more diligent to shew what +the Romans and other forreine writers haue registred in their bookes +of histories touching the affaires of Britaine, that the reader may be +the better satisfied in the truth. But now to returne to the +sequele of the historie as we find the same written by the British +chroniclers. + +[Sidenote: This Vortigerne was duke of the Geuisses and Cornewall, as +_Rad. Cestr._ reporteth. _Gal. Mon._] +After that Constantine was murthered (as before ye haue heard) one +Vortigerus, or Vortigernus, a man of great authoritie amongst the +Britains, wrought so with the residue of the British nobilitie, +that Constantius the eldest sonne of their king the fore-remembred +Constantine, was taken out of the abbie of Winchester where he +remained, and was streightwaies created king, as lawfull inheritour to +his father. + +Ye haue heard how Constantius was made a moonke in his fathers life +time, bicause he was thought to be too soft and childish in wit, to +haue anie publike rule committed to his hands: but for that cause +speciallie did Vortigerne séeke t'aduance him, to the end that the +king being not able to gouerne of himselfe, he might haue the chiefest +swaie, and so rule all things as it were vnder him, preparing thereby +a way for himselfe to atteine at length to the kingdome as by that +which followed was more apparentlie perceiued. + +[Sidenote: CONSTANTIUS. _Matt. West._ saith 445.] +This Constantius then the sonne of Constantine, by the helpe (as +before ye haue heard) of Vortigerne, was made king of Britaine, in the +yere of our Lord 443. But Constantius bare but the name of king: for +Vortigerne abusing his innocencie and simple discretion to order +things as was requisite, had all the rule of the land, and did what +pleased him. Wherevpon first, where there had béene a league concluded +betwixt the Britains, Scots and Picts, in the daies of the late king +Constantine, Vortigerne caused the same league to be renewed, & +[Sidenote: _Hector Boet._] +waged an hundred Picts, and as manie Scots to be attendant as a gard +vpon the kings person, diuers of the which (corrupting them with faire +[Sidenote: Constantius murthered.] +promises) he procured by subtile meanes in the end to murther the +king, and immediatlie vpon the deed doone, he caused the murtherers to +be strangled, that they should not afterwards disclose by whose +[Sidenote: The subtile dealing of Vortigerne.] +procurement they did that déed. Then caused he all the residue of the +Scots and Picts to be apprehended, and as it had béene vpon a zeale +to sée the death of Constantius seuerelie punished, he framed such +inditements and accusations against them, that chieflie by his meanes +(as appeared) the giltlesse persons were condemned and hanged, +the multitude of the British people béeing woonderfullie pleased +therewith, and giuing great commendations to Vortigerne for that déed. +Thus Constantius was made awaie in maner as before ye haue heard, +after he had reigned (as most writers affirme) the space of fiue +yéeres. + +After his death was knowne, those that had the bringing vp and +[Sidenote: Aurelius Ambrosius. Vter Pendragon.] +custodie of his two yoonger brethren, Aurelius Ambrose, and +Vter Pendragon, mistrusting the wicked intent of Vortigerne, whose +dissimulation and mischieuous meaning by some great likelihoods they +suspected, with all spéed got them to the sea, and fled into litle +Britaine, there kéeping them till it pleased God otherwise to prouide +for them. But Vortigerne could so well dissemble his craftie workings, +and with such conueiance and cloked maner could shadow and colour the +matter, that most men thought and iudged him verie innocent and void +of euill meaning: insomuch that he obteined the fauour of the people +so greatlie, that he was reputed for the onelie staie and defender of +the common wealth. Herevpon it came to passe, that when the councell +was assembled to elect a new king, for so much as the other sonnes of +[Sidenote: Vortigerne chosen king of Britaine.] +king Constantine were not of age sufficient to rule, Vortigerne +himselfe was chosen, diuers of the nobles (whom he had procured +thereto) giuing their voices to this his preferment, as to one best +deseruing the same in their opinion and judgement. This Vortigerne, +as by indirect meanes and sinister procéedings he aspired to the +regiment, hauing no title therevnto, otherwise than as blind fortune +vouchsafed him the preferment: so when he was possessed, but not +interessed in the same, he vncased the crooked conditions which he had +couertlie concealed, and in the end (as by the sequele you shall sée) +did pull shame and infamie vpon himselfe. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Vortigerne furnisheth the tower with a garrison, he bewraieth his +crueltie, Aurelius and Pendragon brethren to the late king Constantius +flie into Britaine Armorike, what common abuses and sinnes did +vniuersally concurre with a plentifull yeere, the Scots and Picts +reuenge the death of their countrimen, Vortigerne is in doubt of his +estate, the Britains send for succour to the Saxons, they come vnder +the conduct of Hengist and Horsus two brethren, where they are +assigned to be seated, they vanquish the Scots, disagreement in +writers touching the Saxons first comming into this Iland._ + +THE SECOND CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: VORTIGERNE. 446.] +Vortigerne, by such diuelish meanes and vnconscionable practises +(as you heare) stealing away the hearts of the people, was chosen +and made king of Britaine, in the yéere of our Lord 446, in the 3 +consulship of Aetius, 1197 of Rome, 4 of the 305 Olympiad, 4112 of the +world, the dominicall letter going by F, the prime by 10, which fell +about the 21 yéere of the emperour Valentinianus, the same yéere that +Meroneus began to reigne ouer the Frenchmen. Before he was made king, +he was earle or duke of the Geuisses, a people which held that part of +Britaine where afterwards the west Saxons inhabited. Now when he +[Sidenote; _Hector Boet._] +had with treason, fraud, and great deceit at length obteined that for +the which he had long looked, he first of all furnished the tower of +London with a strong garrison of men of warre. + +Then studieng to aduance such onelie as he knew to be his speciall +[Sidenote: 415.] +friends and fauourers, he sought by all meanes how to oppresse +other, of whose good will he had neuer so litle mistrust, and namelie +those that were affectionate towards the linage of Constantine he +hated deadlie, and deuised by secret meanes which way he might best +destroy them. But these his practises being at the first perceiued, +caused such as had the gouernance of the two yoong gentlemen with +[Sidenote: _Fabian_.] +all spéed to get them ouer (as ye haue heard) into Britaine Armorike, +there to remaine out of danger with their vncle the king of that land. +Diuers of the Britains also, that knew themselues to be in Vortigerne +his displeasure, sailed ouer dailie vnto them, which thing brought +Vortigerne into great doubt and feare of his estate. + +[Sidenote: _Gyldas_. Plentie of wealth accompanied with store of +sinnes.] +It chanced also the same time, that there was great plentie of +corne, & store of fruit, the like wherof had not béene seene in manie +yéeres before, and therevpon insued riot, strife, lecherie, and other +vices verie heinous, & yet accounted as then for small or rather none +offenses at all. These abuses & great enormities reigned not onelie in +the temporaltie, but also in the spiritualtie and chéefe rulers in the +same: so that euerie man turned the point of his speare (euen as he +had consented of purpose) against the true and innocent person. The +commons also gaue themselues to voluptuous lust, drunkennesse, and +idle loitering, whereof followed fighting, contention, enuie, and much +debate. Of this plentie therefore insued great pride, and of this +abundance no lesse hautinesse of mind, wherevpon followed great +wickednesse, lacke of good gouernement and sober temperancie, and in +the necke of these as a iust punishment, death and mortalitie, so that +in some countries scarse the quicke sufficed to burie the dead. + +[Sidenote: Scots and Picts inuade the Britains.] +And for an augmentation of more mischéefe, the Scots and Picts +hearing how their countrimen through the false suggestion of +Vortigerne, had bene wrongfullie and most cruellie put to death at +London, began with fire & sword to make sharpe & cruell warre against +the Britains, wasting their countrie, spoiling and burning their +townes, and giuing them the ouerthrow in a pitcht field, as in the +Scotish historie more plainlie appeareth. To be bréefe, the Britains +were brought into such danger and miserie, that they knew not what way +to take for remedie in such present perill, likelie to be ouerrun and +vtterlie vanquished of their enimies. In the meane time Vortigerne +not onelie troubled with these imminent euils, but fearing also the +returne of the two brethren, Aurelius Ambrose, and Vter Pendragon, +began to consider of the state of things, and estéeming it most sure +to worke by aduise, called togither the principall lords and chéefe +men of the realme to haue their counsell and opinion, how to procéed +in such a weightie businesse: and so debating the matter with them, +measured both his owne force, and also the force of his enimies, +and according to the condition and state of the time, diligentlie +considered and searched out what remedie was to be had and prouided. + +[Sidenote: _Gyldas_. _Wil. Malm._ _Beda_. The Saxons sent for. 10000 +hath _Hector Boet._ _Gyldas_ and _Beda_ mention onelie but of +3 plates or gallies, but _Hector Boet_. hath 30.] +At length after they had throughlie pondered all things, the more +part of the nobles with the king also were of this mind, that there +could be no better way deuised, than to send into Germanie for the +Saxons to come to their aid: the which Saxons in that season were +highlie renowmed for their valiancie in armes, and manifold aduentures +heretofore atchiued. And so forthwith messengers were dispatched into +Germanie, the which with monie, gifts, and promises, might procure the +Saxons to come to the aid of the Britains against the Scots and Picts. +The Saxons glad of this message, as people desirous of intertainment +to serue in warres, choosing forth a picked companie of lustie yoong +men vnder the leading of two brethren Hingist and Horsus, got them +aboord into certeine vessels appointed for the purpose, and so with +all spéed directed their course towards great Britaine. + +[Sidenote: 449.] +This was in the yeare of our Lord 449, and in the second yeare +of Vortigerns reigne, as the most autentike writers both British +and English séeme to gather, although the Scotish writers, and +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._] +namelie, Hector Boetius doo varie herein, touching the iust account of +yeares, as to the perusers of the writings aswell of the one as the +other may appeare. But others take it to be in the 4 yéere of his +reigne: whereto Beda séemeth to agrée, who noteth it in the same yeare +that Martianus the emperour began to rule the empire, which was (as +appeareth by the consularie table) in the consulship of Protogenes and +Austerius, and third yeere of Meroneus king of France. + +These Saxons thus arriuing in Britaine, were courteouslie receiued, & +hartilie welcomed of king Vortigerne, who assigned to them places in +Kent to inhabit, and foorthwith led them against the Scots and Picts, +which were entred into Britaine, wasting & destroieng the countrie +before them. Héerevpon comming to ioine in battell, there was a sore +fight betwixt the parties for a while. But at length when the Saxons +called to their remembrance that the same was the day which should +either purchase to them an euerlasting name of manhood by +[Sidenote: Scots vanquished by the Saxons.] +victorie, or else of reproch by repulse, began to renew the fight with +such violence, that the enimies not able to abide their fierce charge, +were scattered and beaten downe on ech side with great slaughter. + +The king hauing gotten this victorie, highlie rewarded the strangers +[Sidenote: _Henrie Hunt._] +according to their well deseruings, as by whose prowesse he had +thus vanquished his enimies, which (as some write) were come as farre +as Stamford, and vsed at that time to fight with long darts and +speares, whereas the Saxons fought onelie with long swords and axes. + +[Sidenote: _Gal. Mon._] +¶ Some haue written that the Saxons were not sent for, but came by +chance into the Ile, and the occasion to be this. There was an ancient +custome among the English Saxons a people in Germanie, as was also at +the first among other nations, that when the multitude of them was so +increased, that the countrie was not able to susteine and find them, +by commandement of their princes, they should choose out by lots a +number of yoong and able personages fit for the warrs, which should go +foorth to séeke them new habitations: and so it chanced to these, that +they came into great Britaine, and promised to serue the king for +wages in his warres. + + * * * * * + + + + + +_Hengistus the Saxon shooteth at the crowne and scepter of the +kingdome by craftie and subtile practises, a great number of forren +people arriue in Britaine for the augmentation of his power, of the +faire ladie Rowen his daughter, whereof Wednesdaie and Fridaie tooke +their name, of the Iutes, Saxons, and Angles, Vortigerne being +inflamed with the loue of Hengists daughter forsaketh his owne wife +and marrieth hir, Vortigerne giueth Hengist all Kent, the Saxons come +ouer by heaps to inhabit the land, the British nobilitie moue the +king to auoid them, he is depriued of his kingdome, the miserable +destruction made by the Saxons in this land, skirmishes betwixt them +and the Britains._ + +THE THIRD CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: Hengist purposeth at the first to conquere the +Britains.] +Now Hengistus, being a man of great wit, rare policie, and high +wisedome, vnderstanding the kings mind, who wholie trusted to the +valiancie of the Saxons, & herewithall perceiuing the fruitfulnesse +of the countrie, presentlie began to consider with himselfe, by what +wiles and craft he might by little little settle heere, and obteine +a kingdome in the Ile, and so establish the same to him and his for +euer. + +[Sidenote: _Polydor_.] +Therefore first he endeuored with all speed possible to fense that +part of the countrie, which was giuen him and his people, and to +inlarge and furnish it with garisons appointed in places most +conuenient. After this he did what he could to persuade the king, that +a great power of men might be brought ouer out of Germanie, that the +[Side note: _Wil. Malm._ 18 Foists or plates saie the +Scotish writers, and 5000 men in the same. The Saxons call +these vessels Ceoles, or Kéeles, and our old histories +Cogiones.] +land being fortified with such strength, the enimies might be put +in feare, and his subiects holden in rest. The king not foreséeing the +hap that was to come, did not despise this counsell tending to the +destruction of his kingdome, and so was more aid sent for into +Germanie: wherevpon now at this second time there arriued héere 16 +vessels fraught with people, and at the same time came the ladie +Rowen or Ronix (daughter to Hengist) a maid of excellent beautie and +comelinesse, able to delight the eies of them that should behold +hir, and speciallie to win the heart of Vortigerne with the dart of +concupiscence, wherevnto he was of nature much inclined, and that did +Hengist well perceiue. + +[Sidenote: The _Vitæ_ or _Iutæ_ are called Ibitri. +_Alex. Now._] +There came ouer into this land at that time, and soone after, thrée +maner of people of the Germane nation, as Saxons, Vitæ or Iutes, and +Angles, ouer the which the said Hengist and Horse being brethren, were +capteines & rulers, men of right noble parentage in their countrie, +as descended of that ancient, prince Woden, of whom the English +Saxon kings doo for the more part fetch their pedegrée, as lineallie +descended from him, vnto whome also the English people (falselie +[Sidenote: Wednesdaie, and Fridaie, whereof they came.] +reputing him for a god) consecrated the fourth daie of the wéeke, as +they did the sixt to his wife Frea: so that the same daies tooke name +of them, the one being called Wodensdaie, and the other Freadaie, +which woords after in continuance of time by corruption of spéech were +somewhat altered, though not much, as from Wodensdaie, to Wednesdaie, +[Sidenote: _Beda_.] +and from Freadaie to Fridaie. The foresaid Woden was father to +Vecta, the father of Wergistus that was father to the foresaid +Hengistus and Horsus. + +But now to rehearse further touching those thrée people which at this +time came ouer into Britaine out of Germanie. Of the Vites or Iutes +(as Beda recordeth) are the Kentishmen descended, and the people of +the Ile of Wight, with those also that inhabit ouer against the same +Ile. Of the Saxons came the east, the south, & the west Saxons. +Moreouer, of the Angles proceéded the east Angles, the middle Angles +or Mercies, and the Northerne men. That these Angles were a people +[Sidenote: _Cor. Tacitus_.] +of Germanie, it appeareth also by Cornelius Tacitus, who called them +Anglij, which word is of thrée syllables (as Polydor saith:) but some +write it Angli, with two syllables. And that these Angli, or Anglij +were of no small force and authoritie in Germanie before their comming +into this land, maie appeare, in that they are numbred amongst the +twelue nations there, which had lawes and ancient ordinances apart by +themselues, according to the which the state of their common wealth +was gouerned, they being the same and one people with the Thuringers, +as in the title of the old Thuringers lawes we find recorded, which is +thus: "Lex Angliorum & Werinorum, hoc est Thuringorum," The law of the +Angles and Werinians that is to saie the Thuringers, which Thuringers +are a people in Saxonie, as in the description of that countrie it +maie appeare. + +[Sidenote: _Polydor_. Rowen, or Ronowen Hengists daughter.] +But now to the matter. Hengist perceiuing that his people were +highlie in Vortigernes fauour, began to handle him craftilie, deuising +by what means he might bring him in loue with his daughter Ronix, or +Rowen, or Ronowen (as some write) which he beléeued well would easilie +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._] +be brought to passe, bicause he vnderstood that the king was much +giuen to sensuall lust, which is the thing that often blindeth wise +mens vnderstanding, and maketh them to dote, and to lose their perfect +wits: yea, and oftentimes bringeth them to destruction, though by such +pleasant poison they féele no bitter taste, till they be brought to +the extreame point of confusion in déed. + +[Sidenote: _Gal. Mon._] +A great supper therefore was prepared by Hengist, at the which +it pleased the king to be present, and appointed his daughter, when +euerie man began to be somewhat merrie with drinke, to bring in a cup +of gold full of good and pleasant wine, and to present it to the king, +saieng; Wassail. Which she did in such comelie and decent maner, as +she that knew how to doo it well inough, so as the king maruelled +greatlie thereat, and not vnderstanding what she ment by that +salutation, demanded what it signified. To whom it was answered by +[Sidenote: Wassail, what it signifieth.] +Hengist, that she wished him well, and the meaning of it was, that he +should drinke after hir, ioining thereto this answer, Drinke haile. +Wherevpon the king (as he was informed) tooke the cup at the damsels +hand, and dranke. + +Finallie, this yoong ladie behaued hir selfe with such pleasant +woords, comelie countenance, and amiable grace, that the king beheld +hir so long, till he felt himselfe so farre in loue with hir person, +that he burned in continuall desire to inioy the same: insomuch that +[Sidenote: _Polydor_. _Fabian_.] +shortlie after he forsooke his owne wife, by the which he had +thrée sonnes, named Vortimerus, Catagrinus, and Pascentius, and +required of Hengist to haue his daughter, the said Rowen, or Ronowen +in mariage. Hengist at the first séemed strange to grant to his +request, and excused the matter, for that his daughter was not of +estate and dignitie méet to be matched with his maiestie. But at +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._] +length as it had béene halfe against his will he consented, and so +the mariage was concluded & solemnized, all Kent being assigned vnto +Hengist in reward, the which countrie was before that time gouerned by +one Guorongus (though not with most equall Justice) which Guorongus +was subiect vnto Vortigerne, as all other the potentats of the Ile +were. + +This mariage and liberalite of the king towards the strangers +much offended the minds of his subiects, and hastened the finall +destruction of the land. For the Saxons now vnderstanding the +affinitie had betwixt the king and Hengist, came so fast ouer to +inhabit héere, that it was woonder to consider in how short a time +such a multitude could come togither: so that bicause of their great +number and approoued puissance in warres, they began to be a terrour +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._] +to the former inhabitants the Britains. But Hengist being no lesse +politike in counsell than valiant in armes, abusing the kings lacke of +discretion, to serue his owne turne, persuaded him to call out +[Sidenote: _Gal._ saith he was Hengists sonne, and Ebusa +his vncles sonne. Occa and Ebusa leaders of Saxons.] +of Germanie his brother Occa and his sonne named Ebusa, being men of +great valure, to the end that as Hengist defended the land in the +south part: so might they kéepe backe the Scots in the north. + +Héerevpon by the kings consent, they came with a power out of +Germanie, and coasting about the land, they sailed to the Iles of +Orknie, and sore vexed the people there, and likewise the Scots and +Picts also, and finallie arriued in the north parts of the realme, now +called Northumberland, where they setled themselues at that present, +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._ _de Regib._] +and so continued there euer after: but none of them taking vpon +him the title of king, till about 99 yéeres after their first comming +into that countrie, but in the meane time remaining as subiects vnto +the Saxon kings of Kent. After their arriuall in that prouince, they +oftentimes fought with the old inhabitants there, and ouercame them, +chasing away such as made resistance, and appeased the residue by +receiuing them vnder allegiance. + +[Sidenote: _Fabian_. The great numbers of strangers +suspected to the Britains.] +When the nobles of Britaine saw and perceiued in what danger the +land stood, by the dailie repaire of the huge number of Saxons into +the same, they first consulted togither, and after resorting to the +king, mooued him that some order might be taken for the auoiding of +them, or the more part of them, least they should with their power and +great multitude vtterlie oppresse the British nation. But all was in +vaine, for Vortigerne so estéemed and highlie fauoured the Saxons, and +namelie by reason of the great loue which he bare to his wife, that he +little regarded his owne nation, no nor yet anie thing estéemed his +[Sidenote: Vortigerne depriued.] +owne naturall kinsmen and chiefe friends, by reason whereof the +Britains in fine depriued him of all kinglie honour, after that he had +reigned 16 yéeres, and in his steed crowned his sonne Vortimer. + +[Sidenote: _Gyldas_. _Beda_. _H. Hunt._] +Gyldas and Beda make no mention of Vortimer, but declare that +after the Saxons were receiued into this land, there was a couenant +made betwixt them and the Britains, that the Saxons should defend the +countrie from the inuasion of enimies by their knightlie force: and +that in consideration therof, the Britains should find them prouision +of vittels: wherewith they held them contented for a time. But +afterwards they began to pike quarrels, as though they were not +sufficientlie furnished of their due proportion of vittels, +threatening that if they were not prouided more largelie thereof, they +would surelie spoile the countrie. So that without deferring of +[Sidenote: The miserable destruction made by the Saxons in +this land.] +time, they performed their woords with effect of deeds, beginning +in the east part of the Ile, & with fire and swoord passed foorth, +wasting and destroieng the countrie, till they came to the vttermost +part of the west: so that from sea to sea, the land was wasted and +destroied in such cruell and outragious manner, that neither citie, +towne, nor church was regarded, but all committed to the fire: the +priests slaine and murthered euen afore the altars, and the prelats +with the people without anie reuerence of their estate or degrée +dispatched with fire and swoord, most lamentablie to behold. + +Manie of the Britains séeing the demeanour of the Saxons, fled to +the mounteins, of the which diuers being apprehended, were cruellie +slaine, and other were glad to come foorth and yeeld themselues to +eternall bondage, for to haue reléefe of meate and drinke to asswage +their extremitie of hunger. Some other got them out of the realme into +strange lands, so to saue themselues; and others abiding still in +their countrie, kept them within the thicke woods and craggie rocks, +whither they were fled, liuing there a poore wretched life, in great +feare and vnquietnesse of mind. + +But after that the Saxons were departed and withdrawne to their +houses, the Britains began to take courage to them againe, issuing +foorth of those places where they had lien hid, and with one consent +calling for aid at Gods hand, that they might be preserued from vtter +destruction, they began vnder the conduct of their leader Aurelius +Ambrose, to prouoke the Saxons to battell, and by the helpe of God +they obteined victorie, according to their owne desires. And from +thence foorth, one while the Britains, and an other while the Saxons +were victors. So that in this British people, God (according to his +accustomed maner) as it were present Israell, tried them from time to +time, whether they loued him or no, vntill the yeare of the +[Sidenote: So _Gyldas_ was borne in the yeare of our Lord +493.] +siege of Badon hill, where afterwards no small slaughter was made of +the enimies: which chanced the same yeare in the which Gyldas was +borne (as he himselfe witnesseth) being about the 44 yeare after the +comming of the Saxons into Britaine. + +Thus haue Gyldas & Beda (following by likelihood the authoritie of the +same Gyldas) written of these first warres begun betwéene the Saxons +and Britains. But now to go foorth with the historie, according to the +order of our chronicles, as we doo find recorded touching the doings +of Vortimer that was elected king (as ye haue heard) to gouerne in +place of his father Vortigerne. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Vortimer is created king in the roome of his father Vortigerne, he +giueth the Saxons sore and sharpe battels, a combat fought betweene +Catigerne the brother of Vortimer and, Horsus the brother of Hengist, +wherein they were both slaine, the Britains driue the Saxons into the +Ile of Tenet, Rowen the daughter of Hengist procureth Vortimer to be +poisoned, the Saxons returne into Germanie as some writers report, +they ioine with the Scots and Picts against the Britains and discomfit +them._ + +THE FOURTH CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: VORTIMER. 464. _Fabian_. _Galf. Mon._ _Matt. West._ +saith 454.] +This Vortimer being eldest sonne to Vortigerne, by the common +assent of the Britains was made king of Britaine, in the yeare of our +Lord 464, which was in the fourth yeare of the emperour Leo the fift, +and about the sixt yeare of Childericus king of France, as our common +account runneth, which is far disagréeing from that whereof W. Harison +dooth speake in his chronologie, who noteth Vortigerne to be deposed +in the 8 after his exaltation to the crowne, 454 of Christ, and 5 +currant after the comming of the Saxons, which concurreth with the +4420 of the world, and 8 of Meroneus, as by his chronologie dooth more +at large appear. + +But to procéed, Vortimer being thus aduanced to the gouernment of the +realme, in all hast made sore warre against the Saxons, and gaue vnto +them a great battell vpon the riuer of Derwent, where he had of +[Sidenote: The riuer of Derwent.] +them the vpper hand. And the second time he fought with them at a +[Sidenote: Epiford.] +place called Epiford, or Aglisthrop, in the which incounter Catagrine +or Catigernus the brother of Vortimer, and Horsus the brother of +Hengist, after a long combat betwixt them two, either of them slue +other: but the Britains obteined the field (as saith the British +[Sidenote: The Ile of Tenet.] +historie.) The third battell Vortimer fought with them néere to the +sea side, where also the Britains chased the Saxons, & droue them into +[Sidenote: _Hen. Hunt._ Colemoore.] +the Ile of Tenet. The fourth battell was stricken néere to a moore +called Colemoore, the which was sore fought by the Saxons, and long +continued with great danger to the Britains, because the foresaid +moore inclosed a part of their host so stronglie, that the Britains +could not approch to them, being beaten off with the enimies shot, +albeit in the end the Saxons were put to flight, & manie of them +drowned and swallowed vp in the same moore. Beside these foure +[Sidenote: _Fabian_. Tetford in Norfolke. Colchester.] +principall battels, Vortimer had diuers other conflicts with the +Saxons, as in Kent and at Tetford in Norfolke, also néere to +Colchester in Essex: for he left not till he had bereft them of the +more part of all such possessions as before time they had got, so that +they were constrained to kéepe them within the Ile of Tenet, where he +oftentimes assailed them with such ships as he then had. When Ronowen +the daughter of Hengist perceiued the great losse that the Saxons +sustained by the martiall prowesse of Vortimer, she found means that +within a while the said Vortimer was poisoned, after he had ruled the +Britains by the space of 6 or 7 yeares and od moneths. + +¶ By the British historie it should séeme, that Vortimer before his +death handled the Saxons so hardlie, kéeping them besieged within the +Ile of Tenet, till at length they were constrained to sue for licence +to depart home into Germanie in safetie: and the better to bring this +to pas, they sent Vortigerne, (whome they had kept still with them +in all these battels) vnto his sonne Vortimer, to be a meane for the +obteining of their sute. But whilest this treatie was in hand, they +got them into their ships, and leauing their wiues and children behind +them, returned into Germanie. Thus far Gal. Mon. But how vnlikelie +this is to be true, I will not make anie further discourse, but onelie +refer euerie man to that which in old autentike historiographers +[Sidenote: _Will. Malmes._] +of the English nation is found recorded, as in Will. Malmes. Henr. +Hunt, Marianus, and others: vnto whome in these matters concerning +the dooings betwixt the Saxons and Britains, we maie vndoubtedlie and +safelie giue most credit. + +William Malmes. writing of this Vortimer, or Guortigerne, and of the +warres which he had against the Saxons, varieth in a maner altogether +from Geffrey of Monmouth, as by his words here following ye maie +perceiue. Guortimer, the sonne of Vortimer (saith he) thinking not +good long to dissemble the matter, for that he saw himselfe and his +countriemen the Britains preuented by the craft of the English Saxons, +set his full purpose to driue them out of the realme, and kindled +his father to the like attempt. He therefore being the author and +procurer, seuen yeares after their first comming into this land, the +[Sidenote: Hengist had the victorie in this battell saith +_Ra. Mig._, Horse and Catigene slaine.] +league was broken, and by the space of 20 yeares they fought +oftentimes togither in manie light incounters, but foure times they +fought puissance against puissance in open field: in the first battell +they departed with like fortune, whilest the one part, that is to +meane, the Saxons lost their capteine Horse that was brother to +Hengist, and the Britains lost Catigerne an other of Vortigerns +sonnes. + +[Sidenote: 458.] +In the ether battels, when the Englishmen went euer awaie with the +vpper hand, at length a peace was concluded, Guortimer being taken out +of this world by course of fatall death, the which much differing +from the soft and milde nature of his father, right noblie would haue +gouerned the realme, if God had suffered him to haue liued. But these +battels which Vortimer gaue to the Saxons (as before is mentioned) +should appeare by that which some writers haue recorded, to haue +chanced before the supposed time of Vortimers or Guortimers atteining +to the crowne, about the 6 or 7 yeare after the first comming of the +Saxons into this realme with Hengist. And hereto W. Harison giueth his +[Sidenote: _Polydor_.] +consent, referring the mutuall slaughter of Horsus and Catigerne +to the 6 years of Martianus, & 455 of Christ. Howbeit Polydor Virgil +saith, that Vortimer succéeded his father, and that after his fathers +deceasse the English Saxons, of whome there was a great number then +in the Ile, comming ouer dailie like swarmes of bées, and hauing in +possession not onelie Kent, but also the north parts of the realme +towards Scotland, togither with a great part of the west countrie, +thought it now a fit time to attempt the fortune of warre: and first +therefore concluding a league with the Scots and Picts, vpon the +sudden they turned their weapons points against the Britains, and most +cruellie pursued them, as though they had receiued some great iniurie +at their hands, and no benefit at all. The Britains were maruelouslie +abashed herewith, perceiuing that they should haue to doo with +Hengist, a capteine of so high renowme, and also with their ancient +enimies the Scots and Picts, thus all at one time, and that there was +no remedie but either they must fight or else become slaues. Wherefore +at length, dread of bondage stirred vp manhood in them, so that they +assembled togither, and boldlie began to resist their enimies on ech +[Sidenote: The Britains discomfited by the Scots.] +side: but being too weake, they were easilie discomfited and +put to flight, so that all hope of defense by force of armes being +vtterlie taken awaie, as men in despaire to preuaile against their +enimies, they fled as shéepe scattered abroad, some following one +capteine and some another, getting them into desart places, woods and +maresh grounds, and moreouer left such townes and fortresses as were +of no notable strength, as a preie vnto their enimies. + +Thus saith Polydor Virgil of the first breaking of the warres betwixt +the Saxons and the Britains, which chanced not (as should appeare by +that which he writeth thereof) till after the death of Vortigerne. +Howbeit he denieth not that Hengist at his first comming got seates +for him and his people within the countie of Kent, and there began to +[Sidenote: _Sigebertus_.] +inhabit. This ought not to be forgotten, that king Vortimer (as +Sigebertus hath written) restored the Christian religion after he had +vanquished the Saxons, in such places where the same was decaied by +the enimies inuasion, whose drift was not onelie to ouerrun the land +with violence, but also to erect their owne laws and liberties without +regard of clemencie. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Vortigerne is restored to his regiment, in what place he abode during +the time of his sonnes reigne, Hengist with his Saxons re-enter the +land, the Saxons and Britains are appointed to meet on Salisburie +plaine, the priuie treason of Hengist and his power whereby the +Britains were slaine like sheepe, the manhood of Edol earle of +Glocester, Vortigerne is taken prisoner, Hengist is in possession of +three prouinces of this land, a description of Kent._ + +THE FIFT CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: 471. _Matth. West._ saith 461.] +After all these bloudie broiles and tempestuous tumults ended, +Vortigerne was restored and set againe into the kingdome of Britaine, +in the yeare of our Lord 471. All the time of his sonnes reigne, he +had remained in the parties now called Wales, where (as some write) +in that meane time he builded a strong castle called Generon, or +Guaneren, in the west side of Wales nere to the riuer of Guana, vpon +a mounteine called Cloaricus, which some referre to be builded in his +second returne into Wales, as shall be shewed hereafter. And it is so +much the more likelie, for that an old chronicle, which Fabian had +sight of, affirmeth, that Vortigerne was kept vnder the rule of +certeine gouernors to him appointed in the towne of Caerlegion, and +[Sidenote: Caerleon Arwiske.] +behaued himselfe in such commendable sort towards his sonne, in aiding +him with his counsell, and otherwise in the meane season whilest his +sonne reigned, that the Britains by reason thereof began so to fauour +him, that after the death of Vortimer they made him king againe. + +Shortlie after that Vortigerne was restored to the rule of the +[Sidenote: _Matth. West._ saith 4000. He might easilie returne, +for except I be deceiued he was neuer driuen out after he had once set +foot within this Ile.] +kingdom, Hengist aduertised therof returned into the land with +a mightie armie of Saxons, whereof Vortigerne being admonished, +assembled his Britains, and with all speed made towards him. When +Hengist had knowledge of the huge host of the Britains that was +comming against him, he required to come to a communication with +Vortigerne, which request was granted, so that it was concluded, that +on Maie day a certeine number of Britains, and as manie of the Saxons +should meet togither vpon the plaine of Salisburie. Hengist hauing +deuised a new kind of treason, when the day of their appointed méeting +was come, caused euerie one of his allowed number secretlie to put +into his hose a long knife (where it was ordeined that no man should +bring anie weapon with him at all) and that at the verie instant when +[Sidenote: Nempt your sexes, what if it were messes.] +this watchword should be vttered by him, "Nempt your sexes," then +should euerie of them plucke out his knife, and slea the Britaine that +chanced to be next to him, except the same should be Vortigerne, whom +he willed to be apprehended, but not slaine. + +At the day assigned, the king with his appointed number or traine +of the Britains, mistrusting nothing lesse than anie such maner of +vnfaithfull dealing, came vnto the place in order before prescribed, +without armor or weapon, where he found Hengist readie with his +Saxons, the which receiued the king with amiable countenance and +in most louing sort: but after they were a little entred into +communication, Hengist meaning to accomplish his deuised purpose, gaue +the watchword, immediatlie wherevpon the Saxons drew out their kniues, +[Sidenote: There died of the nobles of Britaine 460 as _Gal._ saith.] +and suddenlie fell on the Britains, and slue them as shéepe being +fallen within the danger of woolues. For the Britains had no weapons +to defend themselues, except anie of them by his strength and manhood +got the knife of his enimie. + +[Sidenote: _Ran. Cestren._ _Fabian_.] +Amongst other of the Britains, there was one Edol earle of +Glocester, or (as other say) Chester, which got a stake out of an +hedge, or else where, and with the same so defended himselfe and laid +about him, that he slue 17 of the Saxons, and escaped to the towne of +[Sidenote: _Gal._ saith 70, _Matth. West._ _Ran. Cestren._] +Ambrie, now called Salisburie, and so saued his owne life. Vortiger +was taken and kept as prisoner by Hengist, till he was constreined to +deliuer vnto Hengist thrée prouinces or countries of this realme, that +is to say, Kent & Essex, or as some write, that part where the south +Saxons after did inhabit, as Sussex and other: the third was the +countrie where the Estangles planted themselues, which was in Norfolke +and Suffolke. Then Hengist being in possession of those thrée +prouinces, suffered Vortigerne to depart, & to be at his libertie. + +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._] +¶ William Malmesburie writeth somewhat otherwise of this taking +of Vortigerne, during whose reigne, after the deceasse of his sonne +Vortimer, nothing was attempted against the Saxons, but in the meane +time Hengist by colorable craft procured his sonne in law Vortigerne +to come to a banket at his house, with three hundred other Britains, +and when he had made them well and warme with often quaffing and +emptieng of cups, and of purpose touched euerie of them with one +bitter tawnt or other, they first fell to multiplieng of malicious +words, and after to blowes that the Britains were slaine, euerie +mothers sonne so yéelding vp their ghosts euen amongst their pots. The +king himselfe was taken, and to redéeme himselfe out of prison, gaue +to the Saxons thrée prouinces, and so escaped out of bondage. + +Thus by what meane soeuer it came to passe, truth it is (as all +writers agrée) that Hengist got possession of Kent, and of other +countries in this realme, and began to reigne there as absolute +[Sidenote: 476.] +lord & gouernor, in the yéere of our Lord (as some write) 476, about +the fift yéere of Vortigerns last reigne: but after other, which take +the beginning of this kingdome of Kent to be when Hengist had first +gift therof, the same kingdome began in the yéere 455, and conteined +the countrie that stretcheth from the east Ocean vnto the riuer of +[Sidenote: Kingdome of Kent.] +Thames, hauing on the southeast Southerie, and vpon the west +London, vpon the northeast the riuer of Thames aforesaid, and the +countrie of Essex. + + * * * * * + + + + +_The heptarchie or seuen kingdoms of this land, Hengist causeth +Britaine to be peopled with Saxons, the decaie of Christian religion, +the Pelagians with their hereticall and false doctrine infect the +Britains, a synod summoned in Gallia for the redresse thereof, the +Scots assist the Britains against the Saxons, who renew their league +with the Picts, Germane and Lupus two bishops of Germanie procure the +British armie to be newlie christened, the terror that the Britains +vnder bishop Germans fortunate conduct draue into the Saxons by the +outcrie of Alleluia, and got the victorie, bishop Germane departeth +out of the land, and to redresse the Pelagian heresie commeth againe +at the clergies request, he confirmeth his doctrine by a miracle, +banisheth the Pelagians out of the land, the death of Germane, murther +requited with murther._ + +THE VJ. CHAPTER. + + +Hengist and all other the Saxon kings which ruled (as after shall +appeare) in seuen parts of this realme, are called by writers +_Reguli,_ that is, little kings or rulers of some small dominion: so +that Hengist is counted a little king, who when he had got into his +hands the foresaid thrée prouinces, he caused more Saxons to come +into Britaine, and bestowed them in places abroad in the countrie, by +reason whereof the christian religion greatlie decaied within the +[Sidenote: The decay of christian religion.] +land, for the Saxons being pagans, did what they could to extinguish +the faith of Christ, and to plant againe in all places their +heathenish religion, and woorshipping of false gods: and not onelie +hereby was the true faith of the Christians brought in danger dailie +to decaie, but also the erronious opinions of the Pelagians greatlie +preuailed here amongst the Britains, by meanes of such vnsound +preachers as in that troublesome season did set forth false doctrine +amongst the people, without all maner of reprehension. + +[Sidenote: _Beda_.] +Certeine yéeres before the comming of the Saxons, that heresie +began to spread within this land verie much, by the lewd industrie of +one Leporius Agricola, the sonne of Seuerus Sulpitius (as Bale saith) +a bishop of that lore. But Pelagius the author of this heresie was +borne in Wales, and held opinion that a man might obteine saluation by +his owne frée will and merit, and without assistance of grace, as he +that was borne without originall sinne, &c. + +This erronious doctrine being taught therefore, and mainteined in this +troublesome time of warres with the Saxons, sore disquieted the godlie +minded men amongst the Britains, who not meaning to receiue it, +[Sidenote: _Beda_.] +nor yet able well to confute the craftie and wicked persuasions vsed +by the professors thereof, thought good to send ouer into Gallia, +requiring of the bishops there, that some godlie and profound learned +men might be sent ouer from thence into this land, to defend the cause +of the true doctrine against the naughtie teachers of so blasphemous +an error. Whervpon the bishops of Gallia sore lamenting the miserable +state of the Britains, and desirous to relieue their present néed, +speciallie in that case of religion, called a synod, and therein +[Sidenote: A synod called in Gallia.] +taking counsell to consider who were most méet to be sent, it was +[Sidenote: Germanus and Lupus.] +decéed by all their consents in the end, that one Germane the +bishop of Auxerre, and Lupus bishop of Trois should passe ouer +into Britaine to confirme the Christians there in the faith of the +celestiall grace. And so those two vertuous learned men taking their +iournie, finallie arriued in Britaine, though not without some danger +by sea, through stormes & rage of winds, stirred (as hath beene +thought of the superstitious) by the malice of wicked spirits, who +purposed to haue hindered their procéedings in this their good and +well purposed iournie. After they were come ouer, they did so much +good with conuincing the wicked arguments of the aduersaries of the +truth, by the inuincible power of the woord of God, and holinesse of +life, that those which were in the wrong waie, were soone brought into +the right path againe. + +[Sidenote: _Beda_. Palladius. Constantine king of Scots.] +About the same time also, one Palladius was sent from Celestinus +bishop of Rome, vnto the Scots, to instruct them in the faith of +Christ, and to purge them from the heresie of the said Pelagius. This +Palladius exhorted Constantinus the king of Scots, that in no wise +he should aid the Saxons being infidels against the Britains: whose +exhortation tooke so good effect, that the said Constantinus did +not onelie forbeare to assist the Saxons, but contrarilie holpe the +Britains in their warres against them, which thing did mainteine the +state of the Britains for a time from falling into vtter ruine and +decaie. In the meane time, the Saxons renewed their league with +[Sidenote: _H. Hunt._ _Beda_.] +the Picts, so that their powers being ioined togither, they began +afresh to make sore warres vpon the Britains, who of necessitie were +constreined to assemble an armie, & mistrusting their owne strength, +required aid of the two bishops, Germane and Lupus, who hasting +forward with all speed came into the armie, bringing with them no +small hope of good lucke to all the Britains there being assembled. +This was doone in Kent. + +Now such was the diligence of the bishops, that the people (being +instructed with continuall preaching) in renouncing the error of the +Pelagians, earnestlie came by troops to receiue the grace of God +offred in baptisme, so that on Easter day which then insued, the +more part of the armie was baptised, and so went foorth against the +[Sidenote: The armie of the Britains newlie christened.] +enimies, who hearing thereof, made hast towards the Britains; in +hope to ouercome them at pleasure. But their approch being knowne, +bishop Germane tooke vpon him the leading of the British host, and +ouer against the passage thorough the which the enimies were appointed +to come, he chose foorth a faire vallie inclosed with high mounteins, +and within the same he placed his new washed armie. And when he +saw the enimies now at hand, he commanded that euerie man with one +generall voice should answer him, crieng alowd the same crie that he +should begin. So that euen as the enimies were readie to giue the +charge vpon the Britains, supposing that they should haue taken them +at vnwares, and before anie warning had béen giuen, suddenlie bishop +[Sidenote: Alleluia.] +Germane and the priests with a lowd and shrill voice called +_Alleluia,_ thrice: and therewith all the multitudes of the Britains +with one voice cried the same crie, with such a lowd shout, that the +Saxons were therewith so amazed and astonied (the echo from the rocks +and hils adjoining, redoubling in such wise the crie) that they +thought not onelie the rocks and clifs had fallen vpon them, but that +euen the skie it selfe had broken in péeces and come tumbling downe +vpon their heads: héerewith therefore throwing awaie their weapons, +they tooke them to their féet, and glad was he that might get to be +formost in running awaie. Manie of them for hast were drowned in a +riuer which they had to passe. Polydor taketh that riuer to be Trent. +The Britains hauing thus vanquished their enimies, gathered the spoile +at good leasure, & gaue God thanks for the victorie thus got without +bloud, for the which the holie bishops also triumphed as best became +them. Now after they had setled all things in good quiet within the +Ile, as was thought expedient, they returned into Gallia or France, +from whence they came (as is before rehearsed.) + +[Sidenote: _Matth. West._ 448.] +By one author it should appéere that this battell was woone +against the Scots and Picts, about the yéere of our Lord 448, a little +before the comming of the Saxons into this land vnder Hengist, in +which yéere Germane first came hither to wéed out the heresie of +Pelagius, as by the same author more at large is affirmed. Howbeit, +some chronographers alledge out of Prosper & other, and note the first +comming of Germane to haue béene in the 429 yéere of Christ, and vnder +the consulship of Florentius and Dionysius. And this should séeme to +agrée with the truth, for that after some, the foresaid Germane should +die at Rauenna, about the yéere of our Lord 450, as Vincentius +noteth, which was the verie yeere of the comming of the Saxons: +notwithstanding, when or wheresoeuer he died, it was not long after +his returne into Gallia, vpon his first iournie made hither into this +land, who no sooner obteined the victorie before mentioned, but +woord was brought againe vnto him, that eftsoones the heresie of the +Pelagians was spread abroad in Britaine, and therefore all the priests +or cleargie made request to him that it might stand with his pleasure +to come ouer againe, and defend the cause of true religion which he +had before confirmed. + +[Sidenote: Germane returneth againe into Britaine.] +Héerevpon bishop Germane granted so to doo, and therefore taking +with him one Seuerus (that was disciple vnto Lupus, and ordeined +at that time bishop of Triers) tooke the sea, and came againe into +Britaine, where he found the multitude of the people stedfast in the +same beliefe wherein he had left them, & perceiued the fault to rest +in a few: wherevpon inquiring out the authors, he condemned them to +exile (as it is written) and with a manifest miracle by restoring a +yoong man that was lame (as they saie) vnto the right vse of his +lims, he confirmed his doctrine. Then followed preaching to persuade +amendment of errors, and by the generall consent of all men, the +authors of the wicked doctrine being banished the land, were deliuered +vnto bishop Germane and to his fellow Seuerus, to conueie them away in +their companie vnto the parties beyond the seas, that the region might +so be deliuered of further danger, and they receiue the benefit of due +amendment. + +By this meanes it came to passe, that the true faith continued in +Britaine sound and perfect a long time after. Things being thus set +in good order, those holie men returned into their countries, the +forenamed bishop Germane went to Rauenna to sue for peace to be +granted vnto the people of Britaine Armorike, where being receiued of +the emperor Valentinian and his mother Placida in most reuerend maner, +he departed in that citie out of this transitorie life, to the +[Sidenote: Anno 450, as _Vincentius_ noteth, _lib. 20. ca. 15_.] +eternall ioies of heauen. His bodie was afterwards conueied to the +citie of Auxerre, where he had béene bishop with great opinion of +holines for his sincere doctrine and pure and innocent life. Shortlie +[Sidenote: The emperour Valentinian slaine.] +after was the emperour Valentinian slaine by the friends of that +noble man named Aetius, whome he had before caused to be put to death. + +¶ By this it maie appéere, that bishop Germane came into this realme +[Sidenote: 454.] +both the first and second time, whilest as well Hengist, as also +Vortigerne were liuing: for the said Valentinian was murthered about +the yeere of our Lord 454, where the said kings liued and reigned long +after that time, as maie appéere both before and after in this present +booke. + + * * * * * + + + + +_What part of the realme the Saxons possessed, Vortigerne buildeth +a castell in Wales for his safetie, Aurelius and Vter both brethren +returne into Britaine, they assalt the vsurper Vortigerne, and with +wildfire burne both him, his people, his fort, and all the furniture +in the same, Vortigerne committeth incest with his owne daughter, +feined and ridiculous woonders of S. Germane, a sheepherd made a +king._ + +THE SEUENTH CHAPTER. + + +Now will we returne to Vortigerne, of whome we read in the British +historie, that after the Saxons had constreined him to deliuer into +their hands a great part of the south and east parts of the realme, so +that they had in possession London, Yorke, Lincolne, & Winchester, +[Sidenote: _Galfrid._] +with other cities & townes, he not onelie fearing their puissance, +but also the returne of Aurelius Ambrosius, and his brother Vter +Pendragon, withdrew him into Wales, where he began to build a +[Sidenote: _Caxton_. _Fabian_. _Polychron._] +strong castell vpon a mounteine called Breigh, or after other Cloaric, +néere to the riuer of Guana, which is in the west side of Wales in +a place within the compasse of the same hill called Generon or +[Sidenote: Mount Erix he calleth it in one place of his booke.] +Gueineren. Of the building of this castell, and of the hinderance +in erecting the same, with the monstrous birth of Merlin and his +knowledge in prophesieng, the British histories tell a long processe, +the which in Caxton, and in Galfrides bookes is also set foorth, as +there ye maie sée: but for that the same séemeth not of such credit as +deserueth to be registred in anie sound historie, we haue with silence +passed it ouer. + +[Sidenote: Aurelius and Vter brethren returne into Britaine.] +Whilest Vortigerne was busied in building of this castell, the two +foresaid brethren Aurelius and Vter prepared a nauie of ships, and an +armie of men, by helpe of such their kinsmen and fréends as they found +in Britaine Armorike, and so passed the sea, and landed at Totnesse: +whereof when the Britains were aduertised, the which were scattered +abroad and seuered in diuers parties and countries, they drew vnto the +said two brethren with all spéed that might be. When Aurelius and +his brother Vter perceiued that they were sufficientlie furnished of +people, they marched foorth towards Wales against Vortigerne, who +[Sidenote: Vortigerne burnt to death. Wild fire not yet inuented as +some think.] +hauing knowledge of their approch, had fortified his castell verie +strongly with men, munition and vittels, but yet all auailed him +nothing, for in the end after his enimies had giuen diuers assaults to +the said castell, they found meanes with wild fire to burne it downe +to the earth, and so consumed it by fire togither with the king, and +all other that were within it. + +Thus did Vortigerne end his life (as in the British historie is +recorded.) Much euill is reported of him by the same historie, and +also by other writers, and among other things it is written, that he +should lie by his owne daughter, and of hir beget a sonne, in hope +[Sidenote: _Polychron._ A feined tale of S. Germane. +A caluish narration.] +that kings should come of him, and therefore he was excommunicated +by S. Germane. It is also said, that when the same S. Germane came +into Britaine (as before ye haue heard) this Vortigerne on a time +should denie the same S. Germane harbour: but one that kept the kings +heards of cattell receiued him into his house, and lodged him, and +slue a calfe for his supper, which calfe after supper was ended, S. +Germane restored againe to life: and on the morrow by the ordinance of +God, he caused Vortigerne to be deposed from his kinglie estate, +and tooke the heardman and made him king. But Ranulfe Hig. in his +"Polychronicon," alledging Gyldas for his author, saith that this +chanced to a king that ruled in Powsey, whose name was Bulie, and not +to Vortigerne: so that the successors of that Bulie reigning in that +side of Wales, came of the linage of the same heardman. + +[Sidenote: _H. Hunt._] +Moreouer it hath beene said (as one writer recordeth) that when +Vortigerne refused to heare the preaching of saint Germane, and fled +from him as he would haue instructed him, one night there fell fire +from heauen vpon the castell wherein the king was lodged, and so the +king being destroied with the fall of the house and the fire togither, +was neuer after séene. + +¶ But these are fables, and therfore I passe them ouer, hoping that it +shall suffice to shew here with what stuffe our old historiographers +haue farced vp their huge volumes, not so much regarding the credit of +an historie, as satisfieng the vanitie of their owne fond fantasies, +studieng with a pretended skilfulnesse to cast glorious colours vpon +lies, that the readers (whom they presupposed either ignorant or +credulous) would be led away with a flowing streme of woords void of +reason and common sense. Which kind of men knew not (belike) that the +nature of an historie, (defined to be _Rei verè gestæ memoria_) will +not beare the burthen or lode of a lie, sith the same is too heauie: +otherwise they would haue deposed matters conspiring with the truth. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Aurelius Ambrosius the brother to Constantius created king of +Britaine, he incountereth with the Saxons, Hengist their generall is +beheaded, Occa his sonne submitteth himselfe to Aurelius, he putteth +all the Saxons out of the land, repaireth places decaied, and +restoreth religion, the memorable monument of the stones that are +so much spoken of on Salisburie plaine, the exploits of Pascentius +Vortigerns yongest sonne, Aurelius lieth sicke, Vter goeth against +Pascentius and giueth him the ouerthrow, Aurelius is poisoned of a +counterfet moonke, the place of his buriall, Polydor Virgils report of +the acts and deeds of Aurelius against the Saxons, Hengist is slaine, +Osca and Occa his two sonnes make a fowle spoile if the west part of +the land, Vortimer dieth, the disagreement of writers touching matters +interchangeablie passed betwene the Britains and Saxons._ + +THE EIGHT CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: AURELIUS AMBROSIUS.] +Aurelius Ambrose, the second sonne of king Constantine, brother to +Constantius, and murthered by the treason of Vortigerne (as before ye +haue heard) was made king of Britaine in the yéere of our Lord 481, +[Sidenote: _Matt. West._ saith 466.] +which was about the third yéere of the reigne of the emperour Zeno, +and the 23 of Childericus king of France, Odocer king of the Herulians +then vsurping the gouernment of Italie. When this Aurelius Ambrosius +had dispatched Vortigerne, and was now established king of the +Britains, he made towards Yorke, and passing the riuer of Humber, +[Sidenote: _Gal. Mon._] +incountred with the Saxons at a place called Maesbell, and ouerthrew +them in a strong battell, from the which as Hengist was fléeing to +[Sidenote: Hengist taken and beheaded.] +haue saued himselfe, he was taken by Edoll earle of Glocester, or +(as some say) Chester, and by him led to Conningsborrow, where he was +beheaded by the counsell of Eldad then bishop of Colchester. + +[Sidenote: _Matth. West._] +Howbeit there be some that write, how that Hengist was taken at +another battell fought vpon the riuer of Dune, in the yéere of our +Lord 489, and not in the chase of the battell which was fought at +Maesbell in the yéere 487, as the same authors doo alledge. Occa +[Sidenote: Occa.] +the son of Hengist by flight escaped to Yorke, and being there +besieged, at length was constreined to yéeld himselfe to Aurelius: +who dealing fauourablie with him, assigned vnto him and other of +the Saxons a countrie bordering neere to the Scots, which (as some +affirme) was Galloway, where the said Occa and the Saxons began to +inhabit. Then did Aurelius Ambrosius put the Saxons out of all other +parts of the land, & repaired such cities, townes and also churches, +as by them had beene destroied or defaced, and placed againe priests, +and such other as should attend on the ministerie and seruice of God +in the same churches. + +Also for a perpetuall memorie of those Britains that were slaine on +the plaine of Salisburie by the treason of Hengist, he caused stones +to be fetched out of Ireland, and to be set vp in the same place +[Sidenote: Stoneheng.] +where that slaughter was committed, and called the place Stoneheng, +which name continueth vnto this day. Fiftéene thousand men (as Galfrid +[Sidenote: _Gal. Mon._] +saith) were sent for those stones, vnder the leading of Vter +Pendragon the kings brother, who giuing battell vnto Gillomanus king +of Ireland that went about to resist the Britains, and would not +permit them to fetch away the same stones out of his countrie, +discomfited him and his people, and so (maugre his hart) brought the +stones away with him. + +Shortlie after, Pascentius that was Vortigerns yoongest sonne, and +had escaped into Ireland (when Aurelius Ambrosius came into Britaine) +returned with a great power of strange nations, and tooke the citie of +Meneuia in Wales, afterwards called saint Dauids, and did much hurt +in the countrie with fire and swoord. At which time the same Aurelius +Ambrosius lay sicke at Winchester, and being not able to go foorth +himselfe, desired his brother Vter Pendragon to assemble an armie +of Britains, and to go against Pascentius and his adherents. Vter, +according to his brothers request, gathering his people, went foorth, +and incountering with the enimies gaue them the ouerthrow, slue +Pascentius and Gillomare or Gilloman king of Ireland, that was come +ouer with him in aid against the Britains. + +[Sidenote: _Hector Boet._] +In the meane while, a Saxon or some other stranger, whose name was +Eopa or Copa, not long before procured thereto by Pascentius, fained +himselfe to be a Britaine, and for a colour counterfeiting himselfe a +moonke, and to haue great knowledge in physicke, was admitted to +[Sidenote: _Fabian. _] +minister as it were medicins to Aurelius: but in stead of that which +should haue brought him health, he gaue him poison, whreof he died +shortlie after at Winchester aforesaid, when he had reigned after most +accord of writers nintéene yéeres: his bodie was conueied to Stoneheng +and there buried. ¶ Thus find we in the British and common English +histories of the dooings of Aurelius Ambrosius, who (as ye haue hard) +makes him a Britaine borne, and descended of the bloud of the ancient +Britains, But Gyldas and Beda report him to be a Romane by descent, as +before is mentioned. + +[Sidenote: _Polydor_.] +Polydor Virgil writeth in this sort of the victorious acts +atchiued by the foresaid Aurelius Ambrosius. Then (saith he) the +Saxons hauing alreadie gotten the whole rule of the Ile, practised +their outragious cruelties speciallie against the princes of the +Britains, to the end that the said princes being ouercome and +destroied, they might with more ease obteine possession of the whole +Ile, which thing they onlie sought. But the fauour of almightie God +was not wanting to the miserable Britains in that great necessitie. +For behold, Aurelius Ambrosius was at hand, who had no sooner caused +the trumpet to sound to armor, but euerie man for himselfe prepared +and repaired vnto him, praieng & beseeching him to helpe to defend +them, and that it might stand with his pleasure to go foorth with them +against the enimies in all speed. + +Thus an armie being assembled, Aurelius Ambrosius went against them, +and valiantlie assailed them, so that within the space of a few daies +they fought thrée battels with great fiercenesse on both sides, in +triall of their high displeasures and vttermost forces, in which at +length the Britains put the Saxons to flight, Horsus the brother +of Hengist being slaine with a great number of his people. But yet +notwithstanding the enimies rage was little abated hereby, for within +a few daies after receiuing out of Germanie a new supplie of men, they +brake foorth vpon the Britains with great confidence of victorie. +Aurelius Ambrosius was no sooner aduertised thereof, but that without +delaie he set forward towards Yorke, from whence the enimies should +come, and hearing by the way that Hengist was incamped about seuen & +twentie miles distant from that citie, néere to the banke of a riuer +at this day called Dune, in the place where Doncaster now standeth, he +returned out of his waie, and marched towards that place, and the next +day set on the enimie and vanquished him, Hengist at the first +[Sidenote: Hengist is slaine.] +méeting of the battell being slaine, with a great number of the +Germans. The fame of this victorie (saith Polydor) is had in memorie +with the inhabitants of those parties euen vnto this day, which +victorie did sore diminish the power of the Saxons, insomuch that they +began now to thinke it should be more for their profit to sit in rest +with that dishonour, than to make anie new warres to their great +disaduantage and likelihood of present losse. + +Hengist left behind him two sonnes, Osca and Occa, which as men most +sorowfull for the ouerthrow of late receiued, assembled such power as +they could togither, and remooued therewith towards the west part of +the Ile, supposing it to be better for them to draw that way foorth, +than to returne into Kent, where they thought was alreadie a +sufficient number of their people to resist the Britains on that side. +Now therefore when they came into the west parts of the land, they +wasted the countrie, burnt villages, and absteined from no maner +of crueltie that might be shewed. These things being reported vnto +Aurelius Ambrosius, he straightwaies hasted thither to resist those +enimies, and so giuing them battell, eftsoones discomfited them: +[Sidenote: Aurelius dieth of a wound.] +but he himselfe receiuing a wound, died thereof within a few daies +after. The English Saxons hauing thus susteined so manie losses within +a few moneths togither, were contented to be quiet now that the +Britains stirred nothing against them, by reason they were brought +into some trouble by the death of such a noble capteine as they had +[Sidenote: Vortimer departeth this life.] +now lost. In the meane time Vortimer died, whome Vter surnamed +Pendragon succéeded. + +Thus hath Polydor written of the forsaid Aurelius Ambrosius, not +naming him to be king of Britaine, and differing in déed in sundrie +points in this behalfe from diuerse ancient writers of the English +histories: for where he attributeth the victorie to the Britains in +the battell fought, wherein Horsus the brother of Hengist was slaine, +by the report of Polychronicon, and others, the Saxons had the +[Sidenote:_Wil. Malm._] +victorie in that reincounter: and William of Malmesburie saith, that +they departed from that batell with equall fortune, the Saxons losing +[Sidenote: Katigerne.] +their capteine Horsus, and the Britains their capteine Katigerne +(as before ye haue heard.) But there is such contrarietie in writers +touching the dooings betwixt the Britains and Saxons in those daies, +as well in account of yéeres, as in report of things doone, that +setting affection aside, hard it is to iudge to which part a man +should giue credit. + +For Fabian and other authors write, that Aurelius Ambrosius began his +[Sidenote: 458.] +reigne ouer the Britains about the yéere of our Lord 481, and +Horsus was slaine about the yéere 458, during the reigne of Vortimer, +as aboue is mentioned, so that it cannot stand with the truth of the +British histories (the which Fabian followeth) that Horsus was slaine +by Aurelius Ambrosius, if according to the same histories he returned +not into Britaine, till the time there supposed. But diuerse such +maner of contrarieties shall ye find, in perusing of those writers +that haue written the chronicles of the Britains and Saxons, the which +in euerie point to recite, would be too tedious and combersome a +matter, and therefore we are forced to passe the same ouer, not +knowing how to bring them to anie iust accord for the satisfieng of +all mens minds, speciallie the curious, which may with diligent search +satisfie themselues happilie much better, than anie other shall be +able to doo in vttering his opinion neuer so much at large, and +agréeable to a truth. This therefore haue we thought good as it were +by the waie to touch what diuerse authors doo write, leauing it so +[Sidenote:_Sigebertus_.] +to euerie mans iudgement to construe thereof, as his affection +leadeth him. We find in the writings of those that haue registred the +dooings of these times, that Aurelius hauing vanquished the Saxons, +restored churches to the furtherance of the christian religion, which +[Sidenote:_Matth. West._saith 488.] +by the inuasion of the Saxons was greatlie decaied in diuerse +parts of Britaine, and this chanced in the daies of the emperour +Theodosius the yoonger. + + * * * * * + + + + +_The beginning of the kingdome of the Southsaxons commonlie called +Sussex, the Britains with their rulers giue battell to Ella the Saxon +& his three sonnes, disagreement betweene the English and British +chronographers about the battels fought by Hengist and his death, +the beginning of the Kentish kingdome, a battell fought betweene +the Britains and Saxons, the first are conquered, the last are +conquerors._ + +THE NINTH CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: Ella entred this land as _Matt. West._ saith ann. 477.] +In the time of the foresaid Aurelius Ambrosius, one Ella a Saxon +with his 3 sonnes Cymen, Plettinger and Cissa, came out of Germanie +with thrée ships, and landed in the south parts of Britaine and being +incountred with a power of Britains at a place called Cuneueshore, +discomfited them, and chased them vnto a wood then called +Andredescester, and so tooke that countrie, and inhabited there with +his people the Saxons which he brought with him, and made himselfe +king and lord thereof, in somuch that afterwards the same countrie was +[Sidenote: The kingdom of the Southsaxons dooth begin.] +named the kingdome of the Southsaxons, which had for limits on the +east side Kent, on the south the sea and Ile of Wight, on the west +Hamshire, and on the north part Southerie. This kingdome (after some) +began vnder the foresaid Ella, about the 32 yeere after the first +comming of the Saxons into this land, which by following that account, +[Sidenote: 482.] +should be about the second yéere of the reigne of Aurelius +Ambrosius, and about the yéere of our Lord 482. But other write, that +it did begin about the 30 yéere after the first comming of Hengist, +which should be two yéeres sooner. + +William Harison differing from all other, noteth it to begin in the +fourth yéere after the death of Hengist, 4458 of the world, 2 of the +317 Olympiad, 1248 of Rome, 492 of Christ, and 43 after the comming +of the Saxons: his woords are these. Ella erected the kingdome of the +Southsaxons, in the 15 after his arriuall, and reigned 32 yéeres, the +chiefe citie of his kingdome also was Chichester, and after he had +inioied the same his kingdome a while, he ouerthrew the citie called +Andredescester, which as then was taken for one of the most famous +in all the south side of England. ¶ For my part I thinke my dutie +discharged, if I shew the opinions of the writers: for if I should +therto ad mine owne, I should but increase coniectures, whereof +alreadie we haue superfluous store. To procéed thereforr as I find. + +About the ninth yéere after the comming of Ella, the Britains +perceiuing that he with his Saxons still inlarged the bounds of his +lordship by entring further into the land, assembled themselues +togither vnder their kings and rulers, and gaue battell to Ella and +his sonnes at Mecredesbourne, where they departed with doubtfull +victorie, the armies on both sides being sore diminished, and so +returned to their homes. Ella after this battell sent into his +countrie for more aid. + +But now touching Hengist, who as ye haue heard, reigned as king in the +prouince of Kent, the writers of the English kings varie somewhat from +the British histories, both in report of the battels by him fought +against the Britains, and also for the maner of his death: as thus. +After that Vortimer was dead, who departed this life (as some write) +[Sidenote: _Polychron._] +in the first yéere of the emperor Leo, surnamed the great, and +first of that name that gouerned the empire, who began to rule in +[Sidenote: 457.] +the yéere of our Lord 457, we find that Hengist and his sonne Occa or +[Sidenote: _Henrie Hunt._ _Wil. Malm._ Creiford. Britains ouerthrowne.] +Osca gathered their people togither that were before sparkled, and +hauing also receiued new aid out of Germanie, fought with the Britains +at a place called Crekenford, where were slaine of the Britains foure +dukes or capteins, and foure thousand of other men, the residue were +chased by Hengist out of Kent vnto London, so that they neuer returned +afterwards againe into Kent: thus the kingdome of Kent began vnder +Hengist the twelfe yéere after the comming of the Saxons into +Britaine, and Hengist reigned in Kent after this (as the same writers +agree) foure and twentie yéeres. + +[Sidenote: _Polychron._] +It is remembred that those Germans which latelie were come ouer to +the aid of Hengist, being chosen men, mightie and strong of bodie, +with their axes and swoords made great slaughter of the Britains in +that battell at Crekenford or Creiford, which Britains were ranged +[Sidenote: _Hen. Hunt._] +in foure battels vnder their aforesaid foure dukes or capteins, and +were (as before is mentioned) slaine in the same battell. About the +sixt yéere of the said emperor Leo, which was in the 17 yéere after +[Sidenote: Wipets field _Matt. West._ This battell was fought anno 473. +as the same _Mat. West._ noteth.] +the comming of the Saxons, Hengist and his sonne Occa or Osca fought +at Wipets field in Kent, néere to a place called Tong with the +Britains, and slue of them twelue dukes or capteins, & on the part +of the Saxons was slaine beside common souldiers but onlie one +[Sidenote: Wipet. _H. Hunt._ ] +capteine called Wipet, of whom the place after that daie tooke name. + +This victorie was nothing plesant to the Saxons, by reason of the +great losse which they susteined, as well by the death of the said +Wipet, as of a great number of others: and so of a long time neither +did the Saxons enter into the confines of the Britains, nor the +Britains presumed to come into Kent. But whilest outward wars ceassed +among the Britains, they exercised ciuill battell, falling togither by +the eares among themselues, one striuing against another. Finallié, +Hengist departed this life by course of nature, in the 39 yéere after +[Sidenote: Fortie Yéeres saith _H. Hunt_] +his first comming into Britaine, hauing procéeded in his businesse +[Sidenote: By this it is euident that he was not driuen out of the +land after he had once set foot within it. _Matt. West._] +no lesse with craft and guile than with force and strength, +following therewith his natiue crueltie, so that he rather did all +things with rigour than with gentlenesse. After him succéeded a sonne +whom he left behind him, who being attentiue rather to defend than to +inlarge his kingdome, neuer set foot out of his fathers bounds, during +the space of 24 yéeres, in the which he reigned. + +[Sidenote: _H. Hunt._ The citie of Andredescester] +About thrée yéeres after the deceasse of Hengist, a new supplie +of men of warre came out of Germanie vnto the aid of Ella king +of Sussex, who hauing his power increased, besieged the citie of +Andredescester, which was verie strong and well furnished with men +and all things necessarie. The Britains also assembling togither in +companies, greatlie annoied the Saxons as they lay there at siege, +laieng ambushes to destroie such as went abroad, and ceassing not to +giue alarums to the campe in the night season: and the Saxons could no +sooner prepare them selues to giue the assalt, but the Britains +were readie to assaile them on the backs, till at length the Saxons +diuiding themselues into two companies, appointed the one to giue the +assalt, and the other to incounter with the armie of the Britains +without, and so finallie by that meanes preuailed, tooke the citie, +and destroied man, woman and child. Neither so contented, they did +also vtterlie race the said citie, so as it was neuer after that daie +builded or reedified againe. + + * * * * * + + + + +_The east Angles kingdome beginneth, the arriuall of Cerdic and Kenric +with fiue ships of warre in this land, he putteth the Britains to +flight, the west Saxons kingdom begineth, Vter Pendragon made king +of Britaine, the etymon of his name, he taketh Occa and Osca the two +sonnes of Hengist prisoners, how Hector Boetius varieth from other +chronographers in the relation of things concerning Pendragon, he +falleth in loue with the duke of Cornewalls wife, killeth him, and +marieth hir. Occa and Osca escape out of prison, they freshlie assault +the Britains, they are both slaine in a foughten field, the Saxons +send and looke for aid out of Germanie, Pendragon is poisoned._ + +THE TENTH CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: The kingdome of the east Angles began not till Aurelius +Conanus reigned. 561.] +Moreouer, in the daies of the afore-named Auralius Ambrosius, +about the yeare of our Lord 561, the kingdome of the east Angles began +vnder a Saxon named Uffa. This same kingdome conteined Northfolke and +Suffolke, hauing on the east and north parts the sea, on the northwest +Cambridgeshire, and on the west saint Edmunds ditch with a part of +Hertfordshire, and on the southside lieth Essex. At the first it was +called Vffines dominion, and the kings that reigned, or the people +that inhabited there, were at the first named Vffines, but at length +they were called east Angles. + +[Sidenote: CERDIC.] +Fvrthermore, about the yeare of our Lord 495, and in the eight +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._] +[Sidenote: 495.] +yeare after that Hengist was dead, one Cerdicus and his sonne +Kenricus came out of Gerrmanie with fiue ships, and landed at a +place called Cerdicshore, which as some thinke is called Yermouth in +[Sidenote: _Fabian_. _Polychron._] +Northfolke. He was at the first receiued with battell by the +Britains, but being an old skilfull warriour, he easilie beate +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._] +backe and repelled the inconstant multitude of his enimies, and caused +them to flée: by which good successe he procured both vndoubted +assurance to himselfe for the time to come, and to the inhabitants +good and perfect quietnes. For they thinking good neuer after to +prouoke him more by resistance, submitted themselues to his pleasure: +but yet did not he then giue himselfe to slouthfull rest, but rather +extending his often atchiued victories on ech side, in the 24 yeare +after his comming into this land, he obteined the rule of the west +parts thereof, and gouerned there as king, so that the kingdome of the +west Saxons began vnder the said Cerdicus in the 519 of Christ, as +after shall be shewed. + +[Sidenote: 529.] +¶ Thus ye maie sée, that Aurelius Ambrosius did succéed +Vortigerne, and reigned in the time supposed by the British histories, +as before is alledged, the land euen in his daies was full of trouble, +and the old inhabitants the Britains sore vexed by the Saxons that +entred the same, so that the Britains were dailie hampered, and +brought vnder subiection to the valiant Saxons, or else driuen to +remooue further off, and to giue place to the victors. But now +to procéed with the succession of the British kings, as in their +histories we find them registred, which I deliuer such as I find, but +not such as I doo wish, being written with no such colour of credit as +we maie safelie put foorth the same for an vndoubted truth. + +[Sidenote: _Matth. West._ noteth. 500.] +After that Aurelius Ambrosius was dead, his brother Vter Pendragon +(whome some call Aurelius Vterius Ambrosianus) was made king in +the yeare of our Lord 500, in the seuenth yeare of the emperour +Anastasius, and in the sixtéenth yeare of Clodoueus king of the +Frenchmen. The cause why he was surnamed Pendragon, was, for that +Merline the great prophet likened him to a dragons head, that at the +time of his natiuitie maruelouslie appeared in the firmament at the +corner of a blasing star, as is reported. But others supposed he was +so called of his wisedome and serpentine subtiltie, or for that he +gaue the dragons head in his banner. This Vter, hearing that the +Saxons with their capteins Occa or Otta the sonne of Hengist, and his +brother Osca had besieged the citie of Yorke, hasted thither, and +giuing them battell, discomfited their power, and tooke the said Occa +and Osca prisoners. + +[Sidenote: _Hector Boet._] +From this varieth Hector Boetius in his chronicle of Scotland, +writing of these dooings in Britaine: for he affirmeth, that the +counterfeit moonke, which poisoned Aurelius Ambrosius, was suborned +and sent to woorke that feat by Occa, and not by his brother +Pascentius: and further, that about the selfesame time of Aurelius +his death, his brother Vter Pendragon lay in Wales, not as yet fullie +recouered of a sore sicknesse, wherewith of late he had béene much +vexed. Yet the lords of Britaine after the buriall of Aurelius +Ambrosius, came vnto him and crowned him king: and though he was not +able to go against the Saxons (which as then by reason of Aurelius +Ambrosius his death were verie busie, and more earnest in pursuing the +warre than before) yet an armie was prepared and sent foorth with all +conuenient spéed vnder the leading of one Nathaliod, a man neither of +anie great ancient house, nor yet of skill in warlike affaires. + +The noble men were nothing pleased herewith, as misliking altogither +the lacke of discretion in their new king, & doubted sore, least in +time to come he would haue more delight to aduance the men of base +degrée, than such as were descended of noble parentage. Yet because +they would not put the state of the common wealth in danger through +anie mutinie, they agréed to go foorth with him in that iournie. Occa +had aduertisement giuen him by certeine letters sent to him from some +close friends amongest the Britains of the whole matter: and therefore +in hope of the better spéed, he hasted foorth to incounter the +Britains, and so the whole armie comming within sight of the other, +they prepared to the battell, and shortlie after buckling togither, +the Britains were soone discomfited, by reason that one of their +chiefest capteins called Gothlois disdaining to be at the appointment +of Nathaliod, got him vp to the next hill with the next battell which +he led, leauing the other Britains in all the danger: which they +séeing began by & by to flée. There died no great number of the +Britains, except those that were killed in the fight: for Occa +mistrusting what Gothlois meant by his withdrawing aside, would not +suffer the Saxons to follow the chase, but in the night following +Gothlois got him awaie, and rested not till he was out of danger. Occa +then perceiuing himselfe to haue the vpper hand, sent an herald vnto +king Vter with a certeine message, threatning destruction to him and +to his people, if he refused to doo that which he should appoint. + +Vter perceiuing what disloialtie rested in the harts of his owne +subiects, agréed that the matter might be committed to eight graue and +wise councellors, foure Britains and foure Saxons, which might haue +full power to make an end of all controuersies and variances depending +betwixt the two nations. Occa was likewise contented therewith, +wherevpon were named on either part foure persons, of such wisedome, +knowledge and experience, as were thought meetest for the ordering of +such a weightie matter. So that by the arbitrement, award and doome of +those eight persons authorised thereto, a league was concluded vpon +certeine articles of agreement, amongst the which the chiefest was, +that the Saxons from thencefoorth should quietlie inioy all that part +of Britaine which lieth fore against the Almaine seas, the same to be +called euer after Engistlaund, and all the residue should remaine to +the Britains as their owne rightfull and ancient inheritance. Thus far +Hector Boetius. + +But now to returne vnto Vter according to that we find in the British +histories, and to procéed after our owne historians; we find, that +when he had vanquished the Saxons and taken their two chiefeteins +prisoners, in processe of time he fell in loue with a verie beautifull +[Sidenote: Gorolus duke of Cornewall.] +ladie called Igwarne or Igerna, wife to one Gorolus or Gorlois +duke of Cornewall, the which duke he slue at length néere to his owne +castell called Diuulioc in Cornewall, to the end that he might inioy +the said ladie, whome he afterwards maried, and begot on hir that +noble knight Arthur, and a daughter named Amie or Anna. Occa and Osca +escaping also out of prison assembled eftsoones a power of Saxons, and +made warre against the Britains, whereof Vter hauing aduertisement +prepared to resist them, and finallie went himselfe in person +[Sidenote: _Harding_.] +against them, and at saint Albans (as some write) gaue them battell, +and slue them both in the field. + +By that which Polydor Virgil writeth, it should séeme that Germane the +bishop of Auxerre came into Britaine in the daies of this Vter, by +whose presence the Britains had victorie against the Saxons (as before +ye haue heard) after which victorie both rested from troubling either +other for a time. The Saxons as it were astonied with that present +miracle, & the Britains not following their good successe, shortlie +after fell at discord amongst themselues, which finallie brought them +to vtter decaie, as after shall appeare. But the Saxons desirous to +spoile the Britains of the whole possession of that part of the Ile +[Sidenote: Badon hill.] +which they held, whereas they accounted the cities and townes of +small strength to be defended, they got them to an high mounteine +called Badon hill, which Polydor supposeth to be Blackamore that lieth +néere to the water of Theise, which diuideth the bishoprike of Durham +from Yorkeshire, hauing at the mouth thereof an hauen méet to receiue +such ships as come out of Germanie, from whence the Saxons looked for +aid, hauing alreadie sent thither for the same. + +The Britains being thereof aduertised, made hast towards the place, +and besieged it on euerie side. They also laie the sea coasts full of +souldiers, to kéepe such of the enimies from landing as should come +out of Germanie. The Saxons kept themselues for a certeine space aloft +vpon the high ground, but in the end constreined through want of +vittels, they came downe with their armie in order of battell to the +next plaines, and offering to fight, the battell was anon begun, which +continued from the morning till far in the day, with such slaughter, +that the earth on euerie side flowed with bloud: but the Saxons +susteined the greater losse, their capteins Occa and Osca being both +slaine, so that the Britains might séeme quite deliuered of all danger +of those enimies: but the fatall destinie could not be auoided, as +hereafter may appeare. And thus was the slaughter made of the Saxons +[Sidenote: _Gyldas_.] +at Badon hill, whereof Gyldas maketh mention, and chanced the same +yeare that he was borne, which was in the 44 yeare after the first +[Sidenote: 492.] +comming of the Saxons into this land, the yeare of Grace 492, & 15 +indiction. + +[Sidenote: The decease of Vter Pendragon.] +About the same time Vter departed out of this life (saith Polydor) +so that this account agréeth nothing with the common account of those +authors, whome Fabian and other haue followed. For either we must +presuppose, that Vter reigned before the time appointed to him by the +said authors, either else that the siege of Badon hill was before +he began to reigne, as it should séeme in déed by that which Wil. +Malmesburie writeth thereof, as hereafter shall be also shewed. +Finallie (according to the agréement of the English writers) Vter +Pendragon died by poison, when he had gouerned this land by the full +[Sidenote: Stoneheng. Chorea Gigantum.] +terme of 16 years, & was after buried by his brother Aurelius +at Stoneheng, otherwise called _Chorea Gigantnm_, leauing his sonne +Arthur to succéed him. ¶ Here ye must note that the Scotish chronicles +declare, that in all the warres for the more part wherein the Britains +obteined victorie against the Saxons, the Scots aided them in the same +warres, and so likewise did the Picts, but the same chronicles doo not +onelie varie from the British writers in account of yeares, but also +in the order of things doone, as in the same chronicles more plainelie +may appeare, & namelie in the discourse of the accidents which chanced +during the reigne of this Vter. For whereas the British histories, +as ye haue heard, attribute great praise vnto the same Vter for his +victories atchiued against the Saxons and their king Occa, whome he +slue in battell, and obteined a great victorie, the Scotish writers +make other report, affirming in deed that by the presence of bishop +Germane he obteined victorie in one battell against them: but +shortlie after the Britains fought againe with the Saxons, and were +discomfited, although Occa in following the chase ouer rashlie chanced +to be slaine: after whose deceasse the Saxons ordeined his sonne named +also Occa to succéed in his place, who to make himselfe strong against +all his enimies, sent into Germanie for one Colgerne, the which with +a great power of Dutchmen came ouer into this our Britaine, and +conquered by Occas appointment the countrie of Northumberland, situate +betwéene Tine and Tweed, as in the Scotish chronicles may further +appeare. + +Also this is to be remembred, that the victorie which was got against +the Saxons by the Britains, at what time Germane bishop of Auxerre +was present: Hector Boetius affirmeth (by authoritie of Veremond that +wrote the Scotish chronicles) to haue chanced the second time of his +comming ouer into this land, where Beda auoucheth it to be at his +first being heere. Againe the same Boetius writeth, that the same +victorie chanced in the daies of Vter Pendragon. Which can not be, if +it be true that Beda writeth, touching the time of the death of the +said Germane: for where he departed this life before the yeare of our +Lord 459, as aboue is said, Vter Pendragon began not his reigne till +the yeare of our Lord 500 or as the same Hector Boetius saith 503, so +that bishop Germane was dead long before that Vter began to reigne. + +In déed some writers haue noted, that the third battell which Vortimer +fought against the Saxons, was the same wherein S. Germane was +present, and procured the victorie with the crie of _Alleluia_, as +before ye haue heard. Which seemeth to be more agréeable to truth, and +to stand also with that which holie Beda hath written, touching the +time of the being héere of the said Germane, than the opinion of +other, which afirme that it was in the time of the reigne of Vter. +The like is to be found in the residue of Hector Boetius his booke, +touching the time speciallie of the reignes of the British kings that +gouerned Britaine about that season. For as he affirmeth, Aurelius +Ambrosius began his reigne in the yeare of our Lord 498, and ruled but +seuen yeares, and then succéeded Vter, which reigned 18 yeares, and +departed this life in the yeare of our Lord 521. + +¶ Notwithstanding the premisses, here is to be remembred, that +whatsoeuer the British writers haue recorded touching the victories +of this Vter had against the Saxons, and how that Osca the sonne of +Hengist should be slaine in battell by him and his power: in those +[Sidenote: Osca. 34 saith _Henrie Hunt._ in corrupted copies.] +old writers which haue registred the acts of the English Saxon kings +we find no such matter, but rather that after the deceasse of Hengist, +his sonne Osca or Occa reigned in Kent 24 yeares, defending his +kingdome onelie, and not séeking to inlarge it (as before is touched.) +After whose death his sonne Oth, and Irmenrike sonne to the same Oth +succéeded, more resembling their father than their grandfather or +great grandfather. To their reignes are assigned fiftie and three +yeares by the chronicles: but whether they reigned iointlie togither, +or seuerallie & apart either after other, it is not certeinlie +perceiued. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Porth the Saxon arriueth at Portesmouth, warre betweene Nazaleod +king of the Britains and the Saxons, the Britains are ouerthrowen and +slaine, the kingdome of the west Saxons beginneth, the compasse or +continent thereof, the meanes whereby it was inlarged._ + +THE ELEUENTH CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: Porth entred this land about the yeare of our Lord 501 as +_Matth. West._ noteth.] +Now will we breefelie discourse vpon the incidents which first +happened during the reigne of Vter Pendragon. We find that one Porth a +Saxon with his two sons Megla and Beda came on land at Portesmouth in +Sussex, about the beginning of the said Vters reigne, and slue a noble +yoong man of the Britains, and manie other of the meaner sort with +[Sidenote: _Harison_ supposeth the riuer to be called Ports, as for +the word mouth, is the fall of anie fresh riuer into the sea.] +him. Of this Porth the towne & hauen of Portesmouth tooke the name, +as some haue thought. Moreouer, about 40 yeares after the comming of +the Saxons into this land with their leader Hengist, one Nazaleod, a +mightie king amongst the Britains, assembled all the power he could +make to fight with Certicus king of the Westsaxons, who vnderstanding +of the great power of his enimies, required aid of Osca king of Kent, +also of Elle king of Sussex, and of Porth and his sonnes which were +latelie before arriued as ye haue heard. Certicus being then furnished +with a conuenient armie, diuided the same into two battels, reseruing +the one to himselfe, and the other he appointed to his sonne Kenrike. +King Nazaleod perceiuing that the wing which Certicus led, was of more +strength than the other which Kenrike gouerned, he set first vpon +Certicus, thinking that if he might distresse that part of the enimies +armie, he should easilie ouercome the other. Herevpon he gaue such a +fierce charge vpon that wing, that by verie force he opened the same, +and so ouerthrew the Saxons on that side, making great slaughter of +them as they were scattered. Which maner of dealing when Kenrike +[Sidenote: The Britaines ouerthrowne. _Matth. West._ _Henr. Hunt._] +saw, he made forward with all spéed to succour his father, and rushing +in amongst the Britains on their backs, he brake their armie in +péeces, and slue their king Nazaleod, and withall put his people to +flight. There died of the Britains that daie 5000 men, and the residue +[Sidenote: Stuff and Wightgar. _Matth. West._ noteth the yeare of +their arrivall to be 514.] +escaped by fléeing as well as they might. In the sixt yeare after +this battell, Stuff and Wightgar that were nephues to Certicus, came +with thrée ships, and landed at Certicesford, and ouerthrew a number +of Britains that came against them in order of battell, and so by the +comming of those his nephues being valiant and hardie capteins, the +part of Certicus became much stronger. Abut the same time Elle king of +the Southsaxons departed this life, after whome succéeded his sonne +Cissa, of whome we find little left in writing to be made account of. + +[Sidenote: Henr. Hunt. Britains ouerthrowne by the Saxons.] +About the yeare of our Lord 519, and in the yeare after the +comming of the Saxons 71, which was in the 26 yeare of the emperour +Anastasius, the Britains fought with Certicus and his sonne Kenrike +at Certicesford, where the capteins of the Britains stood to it +manfullie: but in the end they were discomfited, and great slaughter +was made there of them by the Saxons, and greater had béene, if the +night comming on had not parted them, and so manie were saued. + +[Sidenote: The kingdom of Westsaxons.] +From that day forward Certicus was reputed & taken for king of +Westsaxons, & so began the same kingdome at that time, which was (as +W. Harison noteth) in the yéere of Christ 519, after the building of +Rome 1270, of the world 4485, of the comming of the Saxons 70, of +Iustinus Anicius emperour of the east, the first and third of the +renowmed prince Patricius Arthurus then reigning ouer the Britains. +The said kingdome also conteined the countries of Wiltshire, +Summersetshire, Barkeshire, Dorsetshire, and Cornewall, hauing on the +east Hamshire, on the north the riuer of Thames, and on the south and +west the Ocean sea. Howbeit, at the first the kings of the Westsaxons +had not so large dominions, but they dailie wan ground vpon the +Britains, and so in the end by inlarging their confines, they came to +inioy all the foresaid countries, and the whole at the last. + +[Sidenote: Certicesford.] +In the ninth yéere of the reigne of Certicus, he eftsoones fought +with the Saxons at Certicesford aforesaid, where great slaughter +was made on both parts. This Certicesford was in times past called +Nazaleoy of the late remembred Nazaleod king of the Britains. About +this season at sundrie times diuers great companies of the Saxons +came ouer into Britaine out of Germanie, and got possession of the +countries of Mercia and Eastangle: but as yet those of Mercia had no +one king that gouerned them, but were vnder certeine noble men that +got possession of diuers parts in that countrie, by means wherof great +warres and manie incounters insued, with a common waste of land both +arable and habitable, whiles each one being ambitiouslie minded, & +heaping to themselues such powers as they were able to make, by swoord +and bloudshed chose rather to haue their fortune decided, than by +reason to suppresse the rage of their vnrulie affections. For such is +the nature of men in gouernement, whether they be interessed to it +by succession, or possessed of it by vsurpation, or placed in it by +lawfull constitution, (vnlesse they be guided by some supernaturall +influence of diuine conceit) if they be more than one, they cannot +away with equalitie, for regiment admitteth no companion: but euerie +one séeketh to aduance himselfe to a singularitie of honour, wherein +he will not (to die for it) participate with another, which maie +easilie be obserued in this our historicall discourse. + + * * * * * + + + + +_The beginning of the kingdome of the Eastsaxons, what it conteined, +of Arthur king of Britaine, his twelue victories ouer the Saxons +against whome he mainteined continuall warre, why the Scots and Picts +enuied him his roialtie and empire, a league betwixt Arthur and Loth +king of the Picts, Howell king of little Britaine aideth Arthur +against Cheldrike king of Germanie, who taking the ouerthrow, is +slaine by the duke of Cornewall, the Picts are discomfited, the +Irishmen with their king put to flight, and the Scots subdued, Arthurs +sundrie conquests against diuers people, the vanitie of the British +writers noted._ + +THE TWELFE CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: ERCHENWIN. The kingdom of the Eastsaxons.] +In those daies also the kingdome of the Eastsaxons began, the +chéefe citie whereof was London. It contained in effect so much as +at this present belongeth to the diocesse of London. One Erchenwin a +Saxon was the first king thereof, the which was sonne to one Offa, the +sixt in lineall descent from one Saxnot, from whom the kings of that +countrie fetched their originall. Harison noteth the exact yéere of +the erection of the kingdome of the Eastsaxons to begin with the end +of the eight of Cerdicus king of the Westsaxons, that is, the 527 of +Christ, and 78 after the comming of the Saxons. In the 13 yéere of the +reigne of Cerdicus, he with his sonne Kenrike, and other of the +Saxon capteins fought with the Britains in the Ile of Wight at +Witgarsbridge, where they slue a great number of Britains, and so +conquered the Ile, the which about four yéeres after was giuen by +Cerdicus vnto his nephues Stuffe and Witgar. + +[Sidenote: ARTHUR.] +After the deceasse of Vter Pendragon (as we doo find in the British +histories) his sonne Arthur, a yoong towardlie gentleman, of the age +of 15 yéeres or thereabouts, began his reigne ouer the Britains in +[Sidenote: 516.] +[Sidenote: _Matth. West._ hath noted 518.] +the yéere of our Lord 516, or as Matt. Westmin. saith 517, in the +28 yéere of the emperour Anastasius, and in the third yéere of the +reignes of Childebert, Clothare, Clodamire, and Theodorike, brethren +that were kings of the Frenchmen. Of this Arthur manie things are +written beyond credit, for that there is no ancient author of +authoritie that confirmeth the same: but surelie as may be thought he +was some woorthie man, and by all likelihood a great enimie to the +Saxons, by reason whereof the Welshmen which are the verie Britains in +déed, haue him in famous remembrance. He fought (as the common report +goeth of him) 12 notable battels against the Saxons, & in euerie of +them went away with the victorie, but yet he could not driue them +quite out of the land, but that they kept still the countries which +they had in possession, as Kent, Sutherie, Norfolke, and others: +howbeit some writers testifie, that they held these countries as +tributaries to Arthur. + +But truth it is (as diuers authors agrée) that he held continuall +warre against them, and also against the Picts, the which were allied +with the Saxons: for as in the Scotish histories is conteined, euen +at the first beginning of his reigne, the two kings of the Scots and +Picts séemed to enuie his aduancement to the crowne of Britaine, +bicause they had maried the two sisters of the two brethren, Aurelius +Ambrosius, and Vter Pendragon, that is to say, Loth king of Picts had +married Anne their eldest sister, and Conran king of Scots had in +mariage Alda their yoonger sister, so that bicause Arthur was begotten +out of wedlocke, they thought it stood with more reason, that the +kingdome of the Britains should haue descended vnto the sisters +sonnes, rather than to a bastard, namelie Loth the Pictish king, which +had issue by his wife Anna, sore repined at the matter. + +Wherefore at the first, when he saw that by suit he could not +preuaile, he ioined in league with the Saxons, and aiding them against +Arthur, lost many of his men of warre being ouerthrowne in battell, +which he had sent vnto the succours of Colgerne the Saxon prince that +ruled as then in the north parts. But finallie a league was concluded +betwixt Arthur and the foresaid Loth king of Picts, vpon certeine +conditions, as in the Scotish historie is expressed, where ye may read +the same, with many other things touching the acts of Arthur, somewhat +in other order than our writers haue recorded. + +¶ The British authors declare, that Arthur (immediatlie after he had +receiued the crowne of Dubright bishop of Caerleon) went with his +power of Britains against the Saxons of Northumberland, which had to +their capteine (as before is said) one Colgrime or Colgerne, whome +Arthur discomfited and chased into the citie of Yorke, within which +[Sidenote: Yorke besieged.] +place Arthur besieged him, till at length the same Colgrime +escaped out of the citie, & leauing it in charge with his brother +[Sidenote: Cheldrike commeth in aid of Colgrime. _Matt. Westm._ saith +but 700.] +called Bladulfe, passed ouer into Germanie vnto Cheldrike king of that +countrie, of whom he obteined succor, so that the said Cheldrike made +prouision of men and ships, and came himselfe ouer into Scotland, +hauing in his companie fiftéene hundred sailes one with an other. + +When Arthur was aduertised thereof, he raised his siege, and withdrew +to London, sending letters with all speed vnto Howell king of little +Britaine in France, that was his sisters sonne, requiring of him +[Sidenote: Howell king of Britaine commeth ouer in aid of Arthur.] +in most earnest wise his aid. Howell incontinentlie assembled his +people, to the number of fifteene thousand men, and taking the sea, +landed with them at Southhampton, where Arthur was readie to receiue +him with great ioy and gladnesse. From thence they drew northwards, +where both the hosts of Arthur and Howell being assembled togither, +marched forward to Lincolne, which citie Cheldrike did as then +[Sidenote: Cheldrike ouerthrowne in battell.] +besiege. Here Arthur and Howell assailed the Saxons with great +force & no lesse manhood, and at length after great slaughter made of +the enimies, they obteined the victorie, and chased Cheldrike (with +the residue of the Saxons that were left aliue) vnto a wood, where +they compassed them about within the same, in such wise, that in the +ende they were constreined to yéeld themselues, with condition that +they might be suffered to depart on foot to their ships, and so auoid +the land, leauing their horsse, armour, and other furniture vnto the +Britains. + +Héerevpon the Britains taking good hostages for assurance, permitted +the Saxons to go their waies, and so Cheldrike and his people got them +to their ships, in purpose to returne into their countrie: but being +on the sea, they were forced by wind to change their course, and +comming on the coasts of the west parts of Britaine, they arriued +at Totnesse, and contrarie to the couenanted articles of their last +composition with Arthur, inuaded the countrie anew, and taking such +armour as they could find, marched foorth in robbing and spoiling the +people, till they came to Bath, which towne the Britains kept and +defended against them, not suffering them by anie meanes to enter +there, wherevpon the Saxons inuironed it with a strong siege. +[Sidenote: Bath besieged.] +Arthur informed heereof, with all spéed hasted thither, and giuing the +enimies battell, slue the most part of Cheldrikes men. + +[Sidenote: The Saxons (sic) ouerthrow Colgrime and Bladulfe.] +There were slaine both Colgrime and Bladulfe, howbeit Cheldrike +himselfe fled out of the field towards his ships, but being pursued +by Cador earle of Cornwall (that had with him ten thousand men) by +Arthurs appointment, he was ouertaken and in flight slaine with all +[Sidenote: Cheldrike slaine by Cador duke of Cornwall.] +his people. Arthur himselfe returned from this battell foughten at +[Sidenote: K. Howell besieged by the Scots.] +Bath with all speed towards the marshes of Scotland, for that he +had receiued aduertisement, how the Scots had besieged Howell K. of +Britaine there, as he lay sicke. Also when Cador had accomplished his +enterprise and slaine Cheldrike, he returned with as much spéed as was +possible towards Arthur, & found him in Scotland, where he rescued +Howell, and afterwards pursued the Scots which fled before him by +heaps. + +[Sidenote: Guillomer.] +About the same time, one Guillomer king of Ireland arriued in +Scotland with a mightie power of Irishmen (neere the place where +Arthur lodged) to helpe the Scots against the Britains: wherevpon +Arthur turning his forces towards the same Guillomer, vanquished him, +and chased him into Ireland. This doone, he continued in pursute of +the Scots, till he caused them to sue for pardon, and to submit them +selues wholie to him, and so receiuing them to mercie, & taking homage +of them, he returned to Yorke, and shortlie after tooke to wife +[Sidenote: Guenhera.] +one Guenhera a right beautifull ladie, that was néere kinswoman to +Cador earle of Cornwall. + +[Sidenote: _W. Harison_. 525.] +In the yéere following, which some note to be 525, he went into +Ireland, and discomfiting king Guillomer in battell, he constreined +him to yéeld, and to acknowledge by dooing his fealtie to hold the +realme of Ireland of him. It is further remembred in those British +[Sidenote: Gothland.] +histories, that he subdued Gothland and Iseland, with all the +Iles in and about those seas. Also that he ouercame the Romans in the +countrie about Paris, with their capteine Lucius, and wasted the most +part of all France, and slue in singular combats certeine giants that +were of passing force and hugenesse of stature. And if he had not +béene reuoked and called home to resist his coosen Mordred, that was +sonne to Loth king of Pightland that rebelled in his countrie, he had +passed to Rome, intending to make himselfe emperor, and afterward to +vanquish the other emperor, who then ruled the empire. ¶ But for so +much as there is not anie approoued author who dooth speake of anie +such dooings, the Britains are thought to haue registered méere fables +in sted of true matters, vpon a vaine desire to aduance more than +reason would, this Arthur their noble champion, as the Frenchmen haue +doone their Rouland, and diuerse others. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Arthur is resisted by Mordred the usurper from arriuing in his owne +land, they ioine battell, Gawaine is slaine and his death lamented +by Arthur, Mordred taketh flight, he in slaine, and Arthur mortallie +wounded, his death, the place of his buriall, his bodie digged vp, his +bignesse coniecturable by his bones, a crosse found in his toome with +an inscription therevpon, his wife Guenhera buried with him, a rare +report of hir haire, Iohn Lelands epitaph in memorie of prince +Arthur._ + +THE XIIJ. CHAPTER. + + +King Arthur at his returne into Britaine, found that Mordred had +[Sidenote: Rather Cerdicke as _Leland_ thinketh.] +caused himselfe to be made king, & hauing alied himselfe with +Cheldrike a Saxon (not him whome Galfride, as ye haue heard, supposeth +to haue béene wounded & slaine before) was readie to resist his +landing, so that before he could come on land, he lost manie of his +men: but yet at length he repelled the enimies, and so tooke land at +Sandwich, where he first arriued, and ioining in battell with his +enimies, he discomfited them, but not without great losse of his +people: speciallie he sore lamented the death of Gawaine the brother +of Mordred, which like a faithfull gentleman, regarding more his +honour and loiall truth than néerenesse of bloud and coosenage, chose +rather to fight in the quarrell of his liege king and louing maister, +than to take part with his naturall brother in an vniust cause, and so +there in the battell was slaine, togither also with Angusseli, to whom +Arthur afore time had committed the gouernment of Scotland. Mordred +fled from this battell, and getting ships sailed westward, and +[Sidenote: Gawaine buried at Douer.] +finallie landed in Cornwall. King Arthur caused the corps of Gawaine +to be buried at Douer (as some hold opinion:) but William Malmesburie +supposeth, he was buried in Wales, as after shall be shewed. The dead +bodie of Angussell was conueied into Scotland, and was there buried. +When that Arthur had put his enimies to flight, and had knowledge into +what parts Mordred was withdrawne, with all spéed he reinforced his +armie with new supplies of souldiers called out of diuerse parties, +and with his whole puissance hasted forward, not resting till he came +néere to the place where Mordred was incamped, with such an armie +as he could assemble togither out of all parties where he had anie +friends. ¶ Héere (as it appéereth by Iohn Leland, in his booke +intituled, "The assertion of Arthur") it may be douted in what place +Mordred was incamped: but Geffrey of Monmouth sheweth, that after +Arthur had discomfited Mordred in Kent at the first landing, it +chanced so that Mordred escaped and fled to Winchester, whither Arthur +followed him, and there giuing him battell the second time, did also +put him to flight. And following him from thence, fought eftsoones +with him at a place called Camblane, or Kemelene in Cornwall, or (as +some authors haue) néere vnto Glastenburie. + +[Sidenote: _Richard Turner_.] +This battell was fought to such proofe, that finallie Mordred was +slaine, with the more part of his whole armie, and Arthur receiuing +diuers mortall wounds died of the same shortlie after, when he had +reigned ouer the Britains by the tearme of 26 yéeres. His corps was +buried at Glastenburie aforesaid, in the churchyard, betwixt two +pillers: where it was found in the daies of king Henrie the second, +about the yeere of our Lord 1191, which was in the last yéere of the +reigne of the same Henrie, more than six hundred yéeres after the +buriall thereof. He was laid 16 foot déepe vnder ground, for doubt +that his enimies the Saxons should haue found him. But those that +digged the ground there to find his bodie, after they had entered +about seuen foot déepe into the earth, they found a mightie broad +stone with a leaden crosse fastened to that part which laie downewards +toward the corps, conteining this inscription: + + "Hîc iacet sepultus inclytus rex Arthurius in insula Aualoniæ." + +This inscription was grauen on that side of the crosse which was next +to the stone: so that till the crosse was taken from the stone, it was +vnséene. His bodie was found, not inclosed within a toome of marble or +other stone curiouslie wrought, but within a great trée made hollowe +for the nonce like a trunke, the which being found and digged vp, was +opened, and therein were found the kings bones, of such maruellous +bignesse, that the shinbone of his leg being set on the ground, +reached vp to the middle thigh of a verie tall man: as a moonke of +that abbeie hath written, which did liue in those daies, and saw it. +¶ But Gyraldus Cambrensis (who also liued in those daies, and spake +with the abbat of the place, by whom the bones of this Arthur were +then found) affirmeth, that by report of the same abbat, he learned, +that the shinbone of the said Arthur being set vp by the leg of a +verie tall man (the which the abbat shewed to the same Gyraldus) came +aboue the knée of the same man the length of three fingers breadth, +which is a great deale more likelie than the other. Furthermore the +skull of his head was of a woonderfull largenesse, so that the space +of his forehead betwixt his two eies was a span broad. There appéered +in his head the signes and prints of ten wounds or more: all the which +were growne into one wem, except onelie that whereof it should séeme +he died, which being greater than the residue, appéered verie plaine. +Also in opening the toome of his wife quéene Gueneuer, that was buried +with him, they found the tresses of hir haire whole and perfect, and +finelie platted, of colour like to the buruished gold, which being +touched, immediatlie fell to dust. The abbat, which then was +[Sidenote: _Henricus Blecensis_ seu _Soliacensis_. _Io. Leland_.] +gouernour of the house, was named Stephan, or Henrie de Blois, +otherwise de Sullie, nephue to king Henrie the second (by whose +commandement he had serched for the graue of Arthur) translated the +bones as well of him as of quéene Gueneuer, being so found, into the +great church, and there buried them in a faire double toome of marble, +laieng the bodie of the king at the head of the toome, and the bodie +[Sidenote: _Dauid Pow._ _pag._ 238, 239.] +of the quéene at his féet towards the west part. ¶ The writer of +the historie of Cambria now called Wales saith, that the bones of the +said Arthur, and Gueneuer his wife were found in the Ile of Aualon +(that is, the Ile of Alpes) without the abbeie of Glastenbury, +fiftéene féet within the ground, & that his graue was found by the +meanes of a Bardh, whome the king heard at Penbroke singing the acts +of prince Arthur, and the place of his buriall. + +_Iohn Leland in his booke intituled Assertio Arthuri, hath for the +woorthie memorie of so noble a prince, honored him with a learned +epitaph, as heere followeth._ + + Saxonicas toties qui fudit Marte cruento + _Who vanquisht Saxon troops so oft, with battels bloudie broiles,_ + Turmas, & peperit spolijs sibi nomen opimis, + _And purchast to himselfe a name with warlike wealthie spoiles,_ + Fulmineo toties Pictos qui contudit ense, + _Who hath with shiuering shining swoord, the Picts so oft dismaid,_ + Imposuítque iugum Scoti ceruicibus ingens: + _And eke vnweldie seruile yoke on necke of Scots hath laid:_ + Qui tumidos Gallos, Germanos quíque feroces + _Who Frenchmen puft with pride, and who the Germans fierce in fight_ + Perculit, & Dacos bello confregit aperto: + _Discomfited, and danted Danes with maine and martiall might:_ + Denique Mordredum è medio qui sustulit illud + _Who of that murdring Mordred did the vitall breath expell,_ + Monstrum, horrendum, ingens, dirum, sæuúmque tyrannum, + _That monster grislie, lothsome, huge, that diresome tyrant fell,_ + Hoc iacet extinctus monumento Arthurius alto, + _Heere liuelesse Arthur lies intoomd, within this statelie hearse,_ + Militiæ clarum decus, & virtutis alumnus: + _Of chiualrie the bright renowme, and vertues nursling fearse:_ + Gloria nunc cuius terram circumuolat omnem, + _Whose glorie great now ouer all the world dooth compasse flie,_ + Aetherijque petit sublimia tecta Tonantis. + _And of the airie thunder skales the loftie building hie_. + Vos igitur gentis proles generosa Britannæ, + _Therefore you noble progenie of Britaine line and race,_ + Induperatori ter magno assurgite vestro, + _Arise vnto your emperour great, of thrice renowmed grace,_ + Et tumulo sacro roseas inferte corollas, + _And cast vpon his sacred toome the roseall garlands gaie,_ + Officij testes redolentia munera vestri. + _That fragrant smell may witnesse well, your duties you displaie_. + +¶ These verses I haue the more willinglie inserted, for that I had +the same deliuered to me turned into English by maister Nicholas +Roscarocke, both right aptlie yeelding the sense, and also properlie +answering the Latine, verse for verse. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Vpon what occasion the graue of king Arthur was sought for, the +follie of such discouered as beleeued that he should returne and +reigne againe as king in Britaine, whether it be a fiction or a +veritie that there was such an Arthur or no; discordance among writers +about the place of Gawains buriall and Arthurs death; of queene +Gueneuer the wife of king Arthur, hir beautie and dishonest life, +great disagreement among writers touching Arthur and his wiues to the +impeachment of the historie, of his life and death._ + +THE XIIIJ. CHAPTER. + + +The occasion that mooued king Henrie the second to cause his nephue +the foresaid abbat to search for the graue of king Arthur, was, for +that he vnderstood by a Welsh minstrell or Bardh (as they call him) +that could sing manie histories in the Welsh language of the acts of +the ancient Britains, that in the forsaid churchyard at Glastenburie, +betwixt the said two pillers the bodie of Arthur was to be found +sixtéene foot déepe vnder the ground. Gyraldus Cambrensis affirmeth, +that the trée in the which Arthurs bodie was found so inclosed, was an +oke, but other suppose that it was an alder trée, bicause that in the +same place a great number of that kind of trées doo grow, and also +for that it is not vnknowne, that an alder lieng vnder ground where +moisture is, will long continue without rotting. + +¶ By the finding thus of the bodie of Arthur buried (as before ye haue +[Sidenote: As for example in a caue néere a water called pond +perilous at Salisburie, where he and his knights should sléepe armed, +till an other knight should be borne that should come and awake them. +_Will. Malmes. lib. 1. de regibus Ang._] +heard) such as hitherto beleeued that he was not dead, but conueied +awaie by the fairies into some pleasant place, where he should remaine +for a time, and then to returne againe, and reigne in as great +authoritie as euer he did before, might well perceiue themselues +deceiued in crediting so vaine a fable. But yet (where it might +otherwise be doubted, whether anie such Arthur was at all, as the +British histories mention, bicause neither Gyldas nor Beda in their +woorks speake anie thing of him) it may appéere, the circumstances +considered, that suerly such one there was of that name, hardie and +valiant in armes, though not in diuerse points so famous as some +writers paint him out. William Malmesburie a writer of good credit and +authoritie amongst the learned, hath these woords in his first booke +intituled "De regibus Anglorum," saieng: "But he being dead [meaning +Vortimer] the force of the Britains waxed féeble, their decaied +hope went backward apace: and euen then suerlie had they gon to +destruction, if Ambrosius (who alone of the Romans remained yet aliue, +and was king after Vortigerne) had not kept vnder and staied the +loftie barbarous people, that is to say the Saxons, by the notable aid +and assistance of the valiant Arthur." + +This is the same Arthur, of whom the trifling tales of the Britains +euen to this day fantasticallie doo descant and report woonders: but +woorthie was he doubtlesse, of whom feined fables should not haue so +dreamed, but rather that true histories might haue set foorth his +woorthie praises, as he that did for a long season susteine and hold +vp his countrie that was readie to go to vtter ruine and decaie, +incouraging the bold harts of the Britains vnto the warre, and +finallie in the siege of Badon hill, he set vpon nine hundred of the +enimies, and with incredible slaughter did put them all to flight. On +the contrarie part, the English Saxons, although they were tossed with +sundrie haps of fortune, yet still they renewed their bands with new +supplies of their countriemen that came out of Germanie, and so with +bolder courage assailed their enimies, and by little and little +causing them to giue place, spread themselues ouer the whole Ile. For +although there were manie battels, in the which sometime the Saxons +and sometime the Britains got the better, yet the greater number of +Saxons that were slaine, the greater number of them still came ouer to +the succour of their countriemen, being called in and sent for out of +euerie quarter about them. + +[Sidenote: Gawaine where he is buried.] +Héere is also to be noted, that where the British historie +declareth, that Gawaine or Gallowine being slaine in the battell +fought betwixt Arthur and Mordred in Kent, was buried at Douer, so +that his bones remained there to be shewed a long time after: yet by +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm. lib. 3. de regib._] +that which the foresaid William Malmesburie writeth in the third +booke of his volume intituled "De regibus Anglorum," the contrarie +maie séeme true: his woords are these. "Then (saith he) in the +prouince of Wales, which is called Rosse, the sepulture of Gallowine +was found, who was nephue to Arthur by his sister, not going out of +kind from so woorthie an vncle. He reigned in that part of Britaine +which vnto this day is called Walwichia, a knight for his high +prowesse most highlie renowmed, but expelled out of his kingdome by +the brother and nephue of Hengist, of whome in the first booke we haue +made mention, first requiting his banishment with great detriment and +losse to those his enimies, wherein he was partaker by iust desert +of his vncles woorthie praise, for that he staied (for a great manie +yéeres) the destruction of his countrie, which was now running +headlong into vtter ruine and decaie. But Arthurs graue no where +appéereth: yet the others toome (as I haue said) was found in the +daies of William the conqueror, king of England, vpon the sea side, +and conteined in length fouretéene foot, where he was (as some say) +wounded by his enimies, and cast vp by shipwracke. But other +write, that he was slaine at a publike feast or banket by his owne +countriemen." Thus saith William Malmesburie. + +¶ But heere you must consider, that the said Malmesburie departed this +life about the beginning of the reigne of king Henrie the second, +certeine yéers before the bones of Arthur were found (as ye haue +heard.) But omitting this point as néedles to be controuerssed, & +letting all dissonant opinions of writers passe, as a matter of no +such moment that we should néed to sticke therein as in a glewpot; +we will procéed in the residue of such collections as we find +necessarilie pertinent to the continuation of this historie; and now +we will say somewhat of quéene Guenhera or Guenouer, the wife of the +foresaid king Arthur. + +Some iudge that she tooke hir name of hir excellent beautie, bicause +Guinne or Guenne in the Welsh toong signifieth faire, so that she was +named Guennere or rather Guenlhean, euen (as you would say) the faire +or beautifull Elenor or Helen. She was brought vp in the house of one +Cador earle of Cornewall before Arthur maried hir: and as it appeareth +by writers, she was euill reported of, as noted of incontinencie & +breach of faith to hir husband, in maner as for the more part women of +excellent beautie hardlie escape the venemous blast of euill toongs, +and the sharpe assaults of the followers of Venus. The British +historie affirmeth, that she did not onelie abuse hir selfe by +vnlawfull companie with Mordred, but that also in Arthurs absence she +consented to take him to husband. It is likewise found recorded by +an old writer, that Arthur besieged on a time the marishes néere to +Glastenburie, for displeasure that he bare to a certeine lord called +Melua, who had rauished Gueneuer, and led hir into those marishes, and +there did kéepe hir. Hir corps notwithstanding (as before is recited) +was interred togither with Arthurs, so that it is thought she liued +not long after his deceasse. + +Arthur had two wiues (as Gyraldus Cambrensis affirmeth) of which the +latter (saith he) was buried with him, and hir bones found with his in +one sepulchre, but yet so diuided, that two parts of the toome towards +the head were appointed to receiue the bones of the man, and the third +part towards the féet conteined the womans bones, apart by themselues. +Here is to be remembred, that Hector Boetius writeth otherwise of the +death of Arthur than before in this booke is mentioned, & also that +Gueneuer being taking prisoner by the Picts, was conueied into +Scotland, where finallie she died, and was there buried in Angus, as +in the Scotish chronicles further appeareth. And this may be true, if +he had thrée sundrie wiues, each of them bearing the name of +Gueneuer, as sir Iohn Price dooth auouch that he had. Now bicause +of contrarietie in writers touching the great acts atchiued by this +Arthur, and also for that some difference there is amongst them, about +the time in which he should reigne, manie haue doubted of the whole +historie which of him is written (as before ye haue heard.) ¶ But +others there be of a constant beléefe, who hold it for a grounded +truth, that such a prince there was; and among all other a late +[Sidenote: _Dauid Pow. pag. 238, 239_.] +writer, who falling into necessarie mention of prince Arthur, +frameth a spéech apologeticall in his and their behalfe that were +princes of the British bloud, discharging a short but yet a sharpe +inuectiue against William Paruus, Polydor Virgil, and their complices, +whom he accuseth of lieng toongs, enuious detraction, malicious +slander, reprochfull and venemous language, wilfull ignorance, dogged +enuie, and cankerd minds; for that they speake vnreuerentlie and +contrarie to the knowne truth concerning those thrisenoble princes. +Which defensitiue he would not haue deposed, but that he takes the +monuments of their memories for vndoubted verities. + +The British histories and also the Scotish chronicles doo agrée, that +he liued in the daies of the emperour Iustinian, about the fiftéenth +yéere of whose reigne he died, which was in the yéere of our Lord +[Sidenote: 542.] +542, as diuerse doo affirme. Howbeit some write farther from all +likelihood, that he was about the time of the emperor Zeno, who began +[Sidenote: _Aurea historia. I. Leland_.] +his reigne about the yéere of our Lord 474. The writer of the +booke intituled "Aurea historia" affirmeth, that in the tenth yéere +of Cerdicus king of Westsaxons, Arthur the warriour rose against the +Britains. Also Diouionensis writeth, that Cerdicus fighting oftentimes +with Arthur, if he were ouercome in one moneth, he arose in an other +moneth more fierce and strong to giue battell than before. At length +Arthur wearied with irkesomnes, after the twelfth yéere of the comming +of Cerdicus, gaue vnto him vpon his homage doone and fealtie receiued, +[Sidenote: Westsaxon.] +the shires of Southampton and Somerset, the which countries +Cerdicius named Westsaxon. This Cerdicius or Cerdicius came into +Britaine about the yéere of our Lord 495. In the 24 yere after his +comming hither, that is to say, about the yéere of your Lord 519, he +began his reigne ouer the Westsaxons, and gouerned them as king by the +space of 15 yéeres, as before ye haue heard. But to follow the course +of our chronicles accordinglie as we haue begun, we must allow of +their accounts herein as in other places, and so procéed. + + * * * * * + + + + +_The decaie of christian religion and receiuing of the Pelagian +heresie in Britaine by what meanes they were procured and by whom +redressed: Constantine succeedeth Arthur in the kingdome, ciuill warre +about succession to the crowne, the chalengers are pursued and +slaine, Constantine is vnkindlie killed of his kinsman, a bitter and +reprochfull inuectiue of Gyldas against the British rulers of his +time, and namelie against Constantine, Conan that slue Constantine +reigneth in Britaine, his vertues and vices, his two yeeres regiment, +the seuere reprehensions of Gyldas uttered against Conan, discouering +the course of his life, and a secret prophesie of his death._ + +THE XV CHAPTER. + + +In this meane while that the realme was disquieted with sore & +continuall warres betwixt the Britains and Saxons (as before ye haue +heard) the christian religion was not onelie abolished in places where +the Saxons got habitations, but also among the Britains the right +[Sidenote: The heresie of the Pelagians reuiued, _Hist. Mag._] +faith was brought into danger, by the remnant of the Pelagian heresie, +[Sidenote: Dubritius & Dauid lerned bishops.] +which began againe to be broched by diuers naughtie persons. But +Dubritius that was first bishop of Landaffe, and after archbishop of +Caerleon Arwiske, and his successour Dauid, with other learned men +earnestlie both by preaching and writing defended the contrarie cause, +to the confuting of those errors, and restablishing of the truth. + +[Sidenote: CONSTANTINE.] +After the death of Arthur, his coosine Constantine the sonne +[Sidenote: 542.] +of Cador, duke or earle of Cornewall began his reigne ouer the +Britains, in the yere of our Lord 542, which was about the 15 yéere of +the emperour Iustinianus almost ended, the 29 of Childebert king +of France, and the first yéere well néere complet of the reigne of +[Sidenote: _Galfrid_. _Matth. West._] +Totilas king of the Goths in Italie. Arthur when he perceiued that +he shuld die, ordeined this Constantine to succéed him, and so by the +consent of the more part of the Britains he was crowned king: but the +sonnes of Mordred sore repined thereat, as they that claimed the rule +of the land by iust title and claime of inheritance to them from their +[Sidenote: Ciuill warre.] +father descended. Herevpon followed ciuill warre, so that diuers +battels were striken betwéene them and in the end the two brethren +were constreined to withdraw for refuge, the one to London, and the +other to Winchester: but Constantine pursuing them, first came to +Winchester, and by force entered the citie, and slue the one brother +that was fled thither within the church of saint Amphibalus: and after +comming to London, entered that citie also, and finding the other +brother within a church there, slue him in like maner as he had doone +the other. And so hauing dispatched his aduersaries, he thought to +haue purchased to himselfe safetie: but shortlie after, his owne +[Sidenote: Aurelius Conanus. Constantine slaine.] +kinsman, one Aurelius Conanus arrered warre against him, who ioining +with him in battell slue him in the field, after he had reigned foure +yéeres. His bodie was conueied to Stonheng, and there buried beside +[Sidenote: _Gyldas_.] +his ancestour Vter Pendragon. Of this Constantine that seemeth +to be ment, which Gyldas writeth in his booke intituled "De excidio +Britanniæ," where inueieng against the rulers of the Britains in his +time, he writeth thus: "Britaine hath kings, but the same be tyrants; +iudges it hath, but they be wicked, oftentimes péeling and harming the +innocent people, reuenging and defending, but whom? such as be guiltie +persons and robbers; hauing manie wiues, but yet breaking wedlocke; +oftentimes swearing, and yet forswearing themselues; vowing, and for +the more part lieng; warring, but mainteining ciuill & vniust warres; +pursuing indéed théeues that are abroad in the countrie, and yet not +onelie cherishing those that sit euen at table with them, but also +highlie rewarding them: giuing almesse largelie, but on the other part +heaping vp a mightie mount of sinnes; sitting in the seat of sentence, +but seldome séeking the rule of righteous iudgement; despising the +innocent and humble persons, and exalting so farre as in them lieth, +euen vp to the heauens, most bloudie and proud murtherers, théeues and +adulterers, yea the verie professed enimies of God; if he would so +permit: kéeping manie in prison, whome they oppresse, in loding them +with irons, through craft rather to serue their owne purpose, than for +anie gilt of the persons so imprisoned: taking solemne oths before +the altars, and shortlie after, despising the same altars as vile and +filthie stones. + +"Of this hainous and wicked offense Constantine the tyrannicall whelpe +of the lionesse of Deuonshire is not ignorant, who this yeare, after +the receiuing of his dreadfull oth, whereby he bound himselfe that in +no wise he should hurt his subjects (God first, and then his oth, +with the companie of saints, and his mother being there present) +did notwithstanding in the reuerent laps of the two mothers, as the +church, and their carnall mother, vnder the coule of the holie abbat, +deuoure with sword and speare in stead of téeth, the tender sides, +yea and the entrailes of two children of noble and kinglie race, and +likewise of their two gouernours, yea and that (as I said) amongest +the sacred altars: the armies of which persons so slaine, not +stretched foorth to defend themselues with weapons (the which few in +those daies handled more valiantlie than they) but stretched foorth (I +saie) to God and to his altar in the day of iudgement, shall set vp +the reuerent ensignes of their patience and faith at the gates of the +citie of Christ, which so haue couered the seat of the celestiall +sacrifice, as it were with the red mantle of their cluttered bloud. + +"These things he did not after anie good déeds doone by him deseruing +praise: for manie yeares before, ouercome with the often and +changeable filths of adulterie, & forsaking his lawfull wife contrarie +to the lawes of God, &c: he now brought foorth this crime of quelling +his owne kinsmen, and violating the church, but neither being loosed +from the snares of his former euills, he increaseth the new with the +old." ¶ Thus in effect hath Gyldas written of this Constantine, with +more: for turning his tale to him, he reproueth him of his faults, and +counselleth him to repent. + +[Sidenote: CONANUS.] +After that Aurelius Conanus had slaine the foresad Constantine, as +in the British histories is mentioned, the same Conan was made king +[Sidenote: 546.] +of Britaine in the yeare of our Lord 546, in the 20 yeare of +Iustinianus, and in the 33 of the reigne of Childebert king of the +Frenchmen. This Aurelius Conanus (as is recorded by some writers) was +of a noble heart, frée and liberall, but giuen much to the maintenance +of strife and discord amongst his people, light of credit, and namelie +had an open eare to receiue and heare the reports of such as accused +other. Moreouer he was noted of crueltie, as he that tooke his vncle, +who of right should haue béene king, and kept him in prison, and not +so satisfied slue in tyrannous maner the two sons of his said vncle: +But God would not suffer him long to inioy the rule of the land in +[Sidenote: _Matth. West._ writeth that he reigned 30. yeares.] +such vniust dealing, for he died after he had reigned the space of two +yeares, and left a sonne behind him called Vortiporus, which succéeded +him in the kingdome, as authors doo record. Of this Aurelius Conanus +Gyldas writeth, calling vnto him after he had made an end with his +predecessor Constantine, saieng in this wise: "And thou lions whelpe, +as saith the prophet, Aurelius Conanus what doost thou? Art thou +not swallowed vp in the filthie mire of murthering thy kinsmen, of +committing fornications and adulteries like to the other before +mentioned, if not more deadlie, as it were with the waues and surges +of the drenching seas ouerwhelming thée with hir vnmercifull rage? +Dooest thou not in hating the peace of thy countrie as a deadlie +serpent, and thirsting after ciuill wars and spoiles (oftentimes +vniustlie gotten) shut vp against thy soule the gates of celestiall +peace and refreshment? Thou being left alone as a withering trée in +the middle of a field, call to remembrance (I praie thée) the vaine +youthfull fantasie and ouertimelie death of thy fathers and thy +brethren. Shalt thou being set apart, and chosen foorth of all thy +linage for thy godlie deserts, be reserued to liue an hundred yeares, +or remaine on earth till thou be as old as Methusalem? No no." And +after these reprehensions, with further threatnings of Gods vengeance, +he exhorted him to amendment of life, and so proceedeth to talke +with Vortiporus, whome he nameth the king, or rather the tyrant of +Southwales, as after shall be rehearsed. + + * * * * * + + + + +_The beginning of the kingdome of Brenitia, of whome the king of +Kent, Mertia, and west Saxons descended, Ida the Saxon commended, the +originall of the kingdome of Deira, the circuit and bounds therof, of +Ella the gouernour of the same, when the partition of the kingdome +of Northumberland chanced; Vortiporus reigneth ouer the Britains, he +vanquisheth the Saxons; Gyldas sharplie reprooueth Vortiporus for +manie greeuous offenses, and exhorteth him to amendement._ + +THE XVJ. CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: IDA. 547.] +In the yeare of the Lord 547, which was about the first yeare of +the reigne of Aurelius Conanus, the kingdome of Brenitia began vnder a +Saxon ruler there callèd Ida, & descended of Woden. For where the said +Woden had thrée sonnes, Weldecius, Withlegris, and Beldecius; of +[Sidenote: _H. Hunt._ The kingdom of Brenitia began.] +the first, the kings of Kent were lineallie extracted: of the second, +the kings of Mertia: and of the third sonne came the kings of +Westsaxon, and also of him was this Ida descended, being the ninth in +lineall succession from the said Beldecius and the tenth from Woden. +The same Ida was vndoubtedlie a right noble personage, and changed +first that dukedome into a kingdome; where before that time the Saxons +that ruled there, were subiects vnto the kings of Kent. Whether he +tooke vpon him of his owne accord to vsurpe the kinglie title and +roiall authoritie, or whether that the same was giuen to him by +consent of other, the certeintie appeareth not. But sure it is, +that he being a woorthie prince, did not degenerate from his noble +ancestors inuincible in warre abroad and at home, qualifieng his +kinglie seueritie with a naturall kind of courteous humanitie. The +bounds of his kingdome called (as is said) Brenitia, began in the +south at the riuer of Tine, and ended in the north at the Forth in +Scotland, in the British toong called Werd. + +[Sidenote: ELLA 561. The beginning of the kingdom of Deria.] +About the same time, or rather about 14 yeares after, one Ella a +Saxon also reigned as king in Deira, which kingdome began at the said +riuer of Tine in the north, & ended at the riuer of Humber toward the +south. These two kingdomes were sometime gouerned by two seuerall +kings, and afterwards at other times they were ioined in one, and +gouerned by one onelie king, and named the kingdome of Northumberland, +which in processe of time was much inlarged, so that it included the +shires of Yorke, Notingham, Darbie, Lancaster, the bishoprike of +Durham, Copland, and other countries betwixt the east and the west +[Sidenote: The riuer of Mersie.] +seas, euen vnto the riuer of Mersie. The foresaid Ella was sonne +to Iffus, being descended from Woden, as the 12 in succession from +him, though not by right line as William Malmesburie hath noted. Ida +(as the same Malmesburie dooth testifie) reigned 14 yeares. + +Now Ella who was successor to Ida (as he saith) reigned thirtie +[Sidenote: _Matth. West._] +yeares, and verie valiantlie inlarged his kingdome. But one author +writeth how Ida reigned but 12 yeares, and that he builded the castell +of Bamburge, first fensing it with pales, and after with a wall of +[Sidenote: _Hen. Hunt._] +stone. The same Ida had by his wife six sonnes, begotten in lawfull +[Sidenote: _Matt. West._] +bed, Ada, Ebric, Theodoric, Athelric, Osmer, and Theofred. +Moreouer he begat of certeine concubines (which he kept) six bastard +sonnes, Oga, Aleric, Ettha, Osbale, Segor, and Segother. These came +altogither into this land, and arriued at Flemesburke with fortie +ships, as Matthæus Westmonasteriensis hath recorded. The partition of +the kingdome of Northumberland chanced after the deceasse of Ida, as +the same author signifieth: for Ada the sonne of the foresaid Ida +succéeded his father in the kingdome of Brenitia, reigning therein +seuen yeares: and Ella the sonne of Histria, a most valiant duke, +began to gouerne Deira, as both the said Matth. Westm. and others doo +affirme. + +[Sidenote: VORTIPORUS. _Matt. West._ noteth 578.] +Vortiporus the sonne of Aurelius Conanus succéeded his father, and +began to reigne ouer the Britains, in the yéere of our Lord 576, in +the 11, yeare of the emperour Flauius Anicius Iustinus, in the fourth +yeare of the reigne of Childeric king of France, and in the fourth +yeare of Clephis the Gothish king in Italie. This Vortiporus +vanquished the Saxons in batttell, as the British histories make +mention, and valiantlie defended his land and subiects the Britains, +from the danger of them and other their allies. In the time of this +kings reigne, the foresaid Ella began to rule in the south part of +the kingdome of Northumberland called Deira, as before is mentioned, +according to the account of some authors, who also take this +Vortiporus to begin his reigne in the yeare 548. After that Vortiporus +[Sidenote: _Matt. West._ noteth 3 yeares.] +had ruled the Britans the space of 4 yeares, he departed this +life, and left no issue behind him to succéed him in the kingdom. + +Against this Vortiporus Gyldas also whetting his toong, beginneth with +him thus: "And why standest thou as one starke amazed? Thou (I say) +Vortiporus the tyrant of Southwales, like to the panther in maner and +wickednesse diuerslie spotted as it were with manie colors, with thy +hoarie head in thy throne, full of deceits, crafts and wiles, and +defiled euen from the lowest part of thy bodie to the crowne of thy +head, with diuers & sundrie murthers committed on thine owne kin, and +filthie adulteries, thus proouing a naughtie sonne of a good king, as +Manasses was to Ezechias. How chanceth it that the violent streames +of sinnes which thou swallowest vp like pleasant wine, or rather +art deuoured of them, (the end of thy life by little and little now +drawing néere) can not yet satisfie the? What meanest thou that with +fornication of all euills, as it were the full heape, thine owne wife +being put away, thou by hir honest death dooest oppresse thy soule +with a certeine burthen that can not be auoided, of thine vnshamefast +daughter? Consume not (I pray thée) the residue of thy daies to the +offense of God, &c." These and the like woords vttered he, exhorting +him to repentance, with admonitions taken out of the scriptures both +for his comfort and warning. + +¶ If the circumstance of this that Gyldas writeth of Vortiporus be +marked, it may be perceiued, that Geffrey of Monmouth, and also +Matthew of Westminster, the author of the floures of histories, are +deceiued, in that they take him to be the sonne of Aurelius Conanus: +and rather it may be gathered, that not onlie the same Aurelius +Conanus and Vortiporus, but also Constantinus, yea & Cuneglasus, and +Maglocunus, of the which he also intreateth (as partlie shall be +hereafter touched) liued and reigned all at one time in seuerall parts +of this Ile, and not as monarchs of the whole British nation, but as +rulers each of them in his quarter, after the maner as the state of +Ireland hath béene in times past before the countrie came vnder the +English subiection, if my coniecture herein doo not deceiue me. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Malgo reigneth ouer the Britains, the noble qualities wherewith he +was beautified by his filthie sinnes are blemished, Gyldas reproueth +Cuneglasus for making warre against God and man, and this Malgo for +his manifold offenses, the vile iniquities wherevnto the British +rulers were inclined, the valiantnesse of Kenrike king of the +Westsaxons, his victories against diuers people his enimies, +succession in the gouemment of the Westsaxons, Northumberland, and +Kentish Saxons; the first battell that was fought betwixt the Saxons +in this Iland, Cheuling with his Westsaxons encounter with the +Britains and get the vpper hand, three kings of the Britains slaine, +and their people spoiled of their lands, goods and liues._ + +THE XVIJ. CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: MALGO. 580. _Matth. West._ hath noted 581.] +After the deceasse of Vortiporus, Malgo the nephue of Aurelius +Conanus (as some write) was made king of Britaine, & began his reigne +ouer the Britaines, in the yéere of our Lord 580, in the fiftéenth +yéere of the emperour Iustinian, and in the 37 yéere of the reigne of +Childerike king of the Frenchmen. This Malgo is reported to haue béene +[Sidenote: _Gal. Mon._] +the comeliest gentleman in beautie and shape of personage that was +to be found in those daies amongst all the Britains, and therewith of +a bold and hardie courage. He manfullie defended the country which he +had in gouernance from the malice of the Saxons, and subdued the out +Iles, as Orkenie and others. But notwithstanding the noble qualities +with the which his person was adorned, yet he spotted them all with +the filthie sinne of Sodomie, so that he fell into the hatred of +almightie God, and being pursued of the Saxons, receiued manie +ouerthrowes at their hands, as by the report of the English writers is +gathered more at large. Finallie, when he had reigned fiue yéeres and +od moneths, he departed this life. + +[Sidenote: _Matt. Westm._ counteth not past fiue yeres to his reigne +through other affirme that he reigned 35 yéeres.] +It séemeth that this Malgo is named by Gyldas, Maglocunus, the +which Gyldas (before he speaketh of him) inueieth against one +Cuneglasus, whome he reprooueth, for that he warred both against God +and man: against God with grieuous sinnes, as namelie adulterie, in +forsaking the companie of his lawfull wife, and kéeping to concubine +a sister of hirs, that had professed chastitie: & against man with +materiall armor and weapons, which he vsed to the destruction of his +owne countrimen, with whom he kept warres, and not against the enimies +of the common wealth. + +From Cuneglasus he commeth to the foresaid Maglocunus, whome he nameth +the dragon of the Iles, and the expeller of manie tyrants, not onelie +out of their kingdoms, but also out of life, the last of whom he +treateth (as he himselfe saith) but the first in all mischéefe & +euill, greater than manie in power, and likewise in malice: verie +liberall in giuing, but more plentifull in sinne, strong and valiant +in arms, but stronger in destruction of his owne soule. And so +procéeding, chargeth him with the sinne of the Sodomits, & sore +blameth him, for that where it had pleased God to make him higher than +all other dukes of Britaine in kingdome and degrée, he did not shew +himselfe better, but contrarilie far woorse than they both in maners +and conditions. He declareth also a little after, that this Maglocune +in his yoong yéeres slue in battell his vncle being king, with the +most valiant souldiers in maner that he had. Also that where the +said Maglocune tooke vpon him the profession of a moonke, he after +renounced the same, and became a woorsse liuer than euer he was +before, abandoning his wife, and kéeping his brothers sonnes wife, +while hir husband yet liued. + +Thus by that which Gyldas writeth of the kings and rulers of the +Britains, which liued in his daies, ye may perceiue that they were +giuen to all manner of wickednesse, and namelie to ciuill dissention, +rapine, adulterie, and fornication: so that it may be thought, that +GOD stirred vp the Saxons to be a scourge to them, and to worke his +iust vengeance vpon them for their wickednesses and abhominable +offenses dailie c[=o]mitted against his diuine maiestie, so that we +find recorded by writers, how that the Saxons in diuers conflicts +against the Britains had the better, and also tooke from them diuers +townes, as alreadie partly hath beene and also hereafter shall be +shewed. + +It is furthermore to be remembred, that about the 14 yeere of the +[Sidenote: 559. _Hen Hunt._] +Britaine king Conanus his reigne, which was about the end of the +yere of Christ 559, Kenrike king of the Westsaxons, departed this +life, after he had reigned xxv. yéeres complet. This Kenrike was a +victorious prince, and fought diuers battels against the Britains. In +the 18 yeere of his reigne which was the 551 of Christ, we find that +he fought against them, being come at that time vnto Salisburie, and +after great slaughter made on both parts, at length the victorie +remained with the Saxons, and the Britains were chased. Againe in the +two and twentith yéere of his reigne, and 555 yéere of Christ, the +same Kenrike and his sonne Cheuling fought with a great power of +Britains at Branburie. + +The Britains were diuided into nine companies, three in the fore ward, +thrée in the battell, and thrée in the rere ward, with their horssemen +and archers, after the maner of the Romans. The Saxons being ranged in +one entire battell, valiantlie assailed them, and notwithstanding the +shot of the Britains, yet they brought the matter to the triall +of handblowes, till at length by the comming on of the night, the +victorie remained doubtfull: and no maruell is to be made therof +(saith Henrie archdeacon of Huntington) sith the Saxons were men of +huge stature, great force & valiant courage. The same yéere that +Kenrike deceassed, Ida the king of Northumberland also died: he was +(as ye haue heard) a right valiant prince, & inlarged the dominion of +the Saxons greatlie, he ouercame Loth king of the Picts in battell, +and Corran king of Scots. + +[Sidenote: 560. _Hen Hunt._] +Also about the yéere of Christ 560, Conanus (as yet gouerning the +Britains) Irmenrike king of Kent departed this life, of whome ye haue +heard before, & Ethelbert his sonne succéeded him 52 yéeres. Then +after that the foresaid thrée princes were dead (as before ye +haue heard) they had that succéeded them in their estates as here +followeth. After Kenrike, his sonne Ceaulinus or Cheuling succéeded in +gouernement of the Westsaxons: and after Ida, one Ella or Alla reigned +in Northumberland: after Irmenrike followed his sonne Ethelbert in +rule ouer the Kentish Saxons. + +This Ethelbert, in processe of time grew to be a mightie prince, but +yet in the begining of his reigne he had but sorie successe against +some of his enimies: for hauing to doo with the foresaid Cheuling +[Sidenote: _Hen. Hunt._ Aliàs Wiphanduae.] +king of Westsaxons, he was of him ouercome in battell at Wilbasdowne, +where he lost two of his dukes or cheefe capteins, beside other +people. This was the first battell that was fought betwixt the Saxons, +one against another within this land, after their first comming into +the same. And this chanced in the yere of our Lord 567, being the +second yéere of the emperour Iustinus. + +[Sidenote: 570. CUTHA. Aileburie.] +About the yéere 570, Cutha the brother of king Cheuling fought with +the Britains at Bedford, vanquished them, & tooke from them 4 townes, +[Sidenote: 581.] +Liganbrough, Eglesbrough or Ailesburie, Besington, and Euesham. +Also about the yéere of our Lord 581, the foresaid king Cheuling +incountered with the Britains at a place called Diorth, and obteining +the vpper hand, tooke from them the cities of Bath, Glocester, and +Cirencester. At this battell fought at Diorth, were present thrée +kings of the Britains, whose names were these: Coinmagill, Candidan, +and Farimnagill, which were slaine there through the permission of +almightie God as then refusing his people, the which through their +heinous sinnes and great wickednesses, had most gréeuouslie offended +his high and diuine maiestie, as by Gyldas it may euidentlie appeare. +For they had declined from the lawes of the Lord, and were become +abhominable in his sight, euen from the prince to the poore man, from +the priest to the Leuit, so that not one estate among them walked +vprightlie, but contrarie to dutie was gone astray, by reason whereof +the righteous God had giuen them ouer as a prey to their enimies. + +[Sidenote: His brother as _Matt. West._ saith.] +Also in the latter end of Malgos daies or about the first beginning of +the reigne of his successor Careticus, Cheuling and his sonne Cutwine +fought with the Britains at a place called Fechanley or Fedanley, +[Sidenote: _H. Hunt._] +or (as some bookes haue) Frithenlie, where Cutwine was slaine, & the +Englishmen chased: but yet Cheuling repairing his armie, wan the +victorie, and chasing the Britains, tooke from them manie countries, +[Sidenote: _Matt. West._] +and wan great riches by the spoile. But Matth. West. saith, that +the victorie aboad with the Britains, and that the Saxons were chased +quite out of the field. The Scotish writers record, that their king +Aidan (who is noted to haue béene the 49 successiuelie possessing the +regiment of that land, partlie with griefe of hart for the death of +Columba a graue and wise gentleman, whome he tenderlie loued, and +partlie with age [for he was growne horieheaded, and had reigned 34 +yéeres] ended his life) was there in aid of the Britains, and Brudeus +king of the Picts (betwixt whom and the said Aidan a sore battell was +fought) in aid of the Saxons: but the same writers name the place +Deglaston, where this battell was made, and the forces of both sides +by a sharpe incounter tried. + + * * * * * + + + + +_The begining of the kingdome of Mercia, the bounds of the same, the +heptarchie or seuen regiments of the Saxons, how they grew to that +perfection, and by whom they were reduced and drawne into a monarchie; +Careticus is created king of Britaine, the Saxons take occasion by +the ciuill dissentions of the Britains to make a full conquest of the +land, they procure forren power to further them in their enterprise, +Gurmundus king of the Africans arriueth in Britaine, the British king +is driuen to his hard shifts, the politike practise of Gurmundus in +taking Chichester & setting the towne on fire, he deliuereth the whole +land in possession to the Saxons, the English and Saxon kings put +Careticus to flight, the Britains haue onelie three prouinces left +of all their countrie which before they inhabited, their religion, +church, and commonwealth is in decaie, they are gouerned by three +kings, Cheulings death is conspired of his owne subiects._ + +THE XVIIJ. CHAPTER. + + +About the same time also, and 585 of Christ, the kingdome of Mercia +[Sidenote: CRIDA. _H. Hunt._ This kingdome began in the yéere 585, +as _Matt. Westm._ saith. _Ran. Cest._] +began vnder one Crida, who was descended from Woden, and the tenth +from him by lineall extraction. The bounds of this kingdome were of +great distance, hauing on the east the sea vnto Humber, and so on the +north the said riuer of Humber, and after the riuer of Mercia, which +falleth into the west sea at the corner of Wirhall, and so comming +about to the riuer of Dee that passeth by Chester, the same riuer +bounded it on the west from Wales, and likewise Seuerne vp to Bristow: +on the south it had the riuer of Thames, till it came almost to +London. And in this sort it contained Lincolneshire, Notingamshire, +Derbishire, Chesshire, Shropshire, Worcestershire, Glocestershire, +Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertefordshire, Bedfordshire, +Huntingtonshire, Northamptonshire, Leicestershire, and Warwikeshire. + +¶ Thus haue ye heard how the Saxons in processe of time remoouing the +Britains out of their seats, dailie wan ground of them, till at length +they got possession of the best part of this Ile, and erected within +the same seuen kingdoms, which were gouerned by seuen seuerall kings, +who continued vntill the kings of Westsaxon brought them all at length +into one monarchie, as after shall appéere. Matth. Westmin. reckoneth +eight kingdoms as thus; The kingdom of Kent, the kingdom of Sussex, +the kingdom of Essex, the kingdom of Eastangle, the kingdom of Mercia, +the kingdom of Westsex, and the kingdom of Northumberland, which +was diuided into two kingdoms, that is to say, into Deira and into +Bernicia: wherevnto W. Harison addeth the ninth in the first part of +his chronologie, and calleth it Wales. + +[Sidenote: CARETICUS.] +After that Malgo or Maglocune was departed this life, one +Careticus, or (as some write him) Caretius, was made king of the +Britains, and began his reigne in the yéere of our Lord 586, which +[Sidenote: 586.] +was in the third yéere of the emperour Mauricius, and thirtéenth of +Chilperike king of France. This Careticus was a nourisher of ciuill +warre and dissention amongst his owne people the Britains, so that +he was hated both of God and man, as writers testifie. The Saxons +vnderstanding that the Britains were not of one mind, but diuided in +partakings, so as one was readie to deuoure an other, thought it good +time for them to aduance their conquests, and ceassed not to pursue +the Britains by force and continuall warre, till they had +[Sidenote: _Gal. Mon._ See more of this Gurmundus in Ireland. +_Ranulf. Cest._] +constreined them for refuge to withdraw into Wales. And as some haue +written, the Saxons meaning to make a full conquest of the land, sent +ouer into Ireland, requiring one Gurmundus a king of the Affricans to +come ouer into Britaine to helpe them against the Britains. + +This Gurmundus appointing his brother Turgesius to pursue the conquest +of Ireland, came and arriued heere in Britaine, making such cruell +warre in aid of the Saxons against the Britains, that Careticus was +constreined to kéepe him within the citie of Chicester or Cirencester, +and was there besieged, and at length by continuall assalts and +skirmishes, when he had lost manie of his men, he was glad to forsake +that citie, and fled into Wales. This Gurmundus tooke Cirencester or +Chichester, and destroied it in most cruell maner. Some write, that +he tooke this citie by a policie of warre, in binding to the féet of +sparrowes which his people had caught, certeine clewes of thred or +matches, finelie wrought & tempered with matter readie to take fire, +so that the sparrowes being suffered to go out of hand, flue into the +towne to lodge themselues within their neasts which they had made in +stacks of corne, and eues of houses, so that the towne was thereby +set on fire, and then the Britains issuing foorth, fought with their +enimies, and were ouercome and discomfited. + +But whilest the battell continued, Careticus stale away, and got him +into Wales. After this, the foresaid Gurmundus destroied this land +throughout in pitifull wise, and then deliuered it in possession to +the Saxons, the which thankfullie receiued it: and because they were +descended of those that first came ouer with Hengist, they changed the +name of the land, and called it Hengistland, accordinglie as the +same Hengist had in times past ordeined: the which name after for +shortnesse of spéech was somewhat altered, and so lastlie called +England, and the people Englishmen. But rather it may be thought, that +sith a great part of those people which came ouer into this land out +of Germanie with the said Hengist, and other capteins, were of +those Englishmen which inhabited Germanie, about the parts of +[Sidenote: _Matt. West._] +Thoringhen, they called this land England, after their name, when they +had first got habitation within it: and so both the land and people +tooke name of them, being called _Angli_, a long time before they +entered into this Ile, (as before is shewed out of Cornelius Tacitus +and others.) But now to returne where we left. + +[Sidenote: It should séeme that this historie of Gurmundus is but some +fained tale except it may be that he was some Dane, Norwegian or +Germane.] +Of this Gurmundus the old English writers make no mention, nor +also anie ancient authors of forren parties: and yet saith the British +booke, that after he had conquered this land, and giuen it to the +Saxons, he passed ouer into France, and there destroied much of that +land, as an enimie to the faith of Christ. For which consideration he +was the more readie to come to the aid of the Saxons, who as yet had +not receiued the christian faith, but warred against the Britains, as +well to destroie the faith of Christ within this land, as to establish +to themselues continuall habitations in the same. There be, that +omitting to make mention of Gurmundus, write thus of the expelling +of the Britains out of this land at that time, when with their king +Careticus they got them into Wales. + +[Sidenote: 586.] +[Sidenote: _Matt. West._] +In the yéere of Grace 586, Careticus a louer of ciuill +warre succéeded Malgo an enimie to God and to the Britains, whose +inconstancie when the English and Saxon kings perceiued, with one +consent they rose against him, and after manie battels chased him from +citie to citie, till at length incountering with him in a pight field, +they droue him beyond Seuerne into Wales. Héerevpon clerks and priests +were driuen out of their places with bright swoords brandishing in +all parts, and fire crackling in churches, wherewith the same were +consumed. The remnant of the Britains therefore withdrew into the west +parts of the land, that is to say, into Cornwall, and into Wales, out +of which countries they oftentimes brake out, and made insurrections +vpon the Saxons, the which in maner aforsaid got possession of the +chiefest parts of the land, leauing to the Britains onlie three +prouinces, that is to say, Cornwall, Southwales, and Northwales, which +countries were not easie to be woone, by reason of the thicke woods +inuironed with déepe mareshes and waters, and full of high craggie +rocks and mounteins. + +The English and Saxon kings hauing thus remooued the Britains, +inlarged the bounds of their dominions. There reigned in that season +within this land, beside the Britaine kings, eight kings of the +English and Saxon nations, as Ethelbert in Kent, Cissa in Sussex, +Ceauline in Westsex, Creda or Crida in Mercia, Erkenwine in Essex, +Titila in Estangle, Elle in Deira, and Alfrid in Bernicia. In this +sort the Britains lost the possession of the more part of their +ancient seats, and the faith of Christ thereby was greatlie decaied: +for the churches were destroied; and the archbishops of Caerleon +Arwiske, London and Yorke withdrew togither with their cleargie into +the mounteins and woods within Wales, taking with them the reliks of +saints, doubting the same should be destroied by the enimies, and +themselues put to death if they should abide in their old habitations. +Manie also fled into Britaine Armorike with a great fléete of ships, +so that the whole church or congregation (as ye may call it) of the +two prouinces, Loegria and Northumberland, was left desolate in that +season, to the great hinderance and decaie of the christian religion. +Careticus was driuen into Wales (as before is rehearsed) about the +second or third yéere of his reigne, and there continued with his +Britains, the which ceassed not to indamage the Saxons from time to +time as occasion still serued. + +But here is to be noted, that the Britains being thus remoued into +Wales and Cornwall, were gouerned afterwards by thrée kings, or rather +tyrants, the which ceased not with ciuill warre to seeke others +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._] +destruction, till finallie (as saith the British booke) they became +all subiect vnto Cadwallo, whome Beda nameth Cedwallo. In the meane +time, Ceaulinus or Cheuling king of the Westsaxons, through his +owne misgouernance and tyrannie, which towards his latter daies he +practised, did procure not onelie the Britains, but also his owne +subiects to conspire his death, so that ioining in battell with his +aduersaries at Wodensdic, in the 33 yeare of his reigne, his armie was +discomfited, and he himselfe constreined to depart into exile, and +shortlie after ended his life before he could find meanes to be +restored. + +¶ So that we haue here a mirror or liuelie view of a tyrant and +a king, wherein there is no lesse ods in the manner of their +gouernement, than there is repugnance in their names, or difference in +their states. For he seeth but little into the knowledge of toongs, +that vnderstandeth not what the office of a king should be, by +the composition of his name, the same sounding in Gréeke [Gréek: +_básileus_], which being resolued is in effect [Gréek: _básis +láo_], that is, the foundation or stay of the people; from which +qualitie when he resulteth, he maketh shipwracke of that goodlie +title, and degenerateth into a tyrant, than the which violent and +inforced gouernement as there is none more perillous, so is it of +all other the least in continuance: this is prooued by historicall +obseruation through the course of this historie. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Ceolric reigneth ouer the Westsaxons, the Saxons and Britains +incounter, Ethelbert king of Kent subdueth the Englishsaxons, he is +maried to the French kings daughter vpon cautions of religion, the +king imbraceth the gospell, Augustine the moonke and others were sent +into this Ile to preach the christian faith, the occasion that moued +Gregorie the great to send him, buieng and selling of boies, the +Englishmen called Angli commended, Ethelbert causeth Augustine and his +fellowes to come before him, they preach to the king and his +traine, he granteth them a conuenient seat and competent reliefe in +Canturburie, the maner of their going thither and their behauiour +there, the king and his people receiue the christian faith, and are +baptised._ + +THE XIX. CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: CELRIC.] +Now after Cheuling, his nephue Celricus or Ceolric that was sonne +vnto Cutwine, the sonne of the foresaid Cheuling, reigned as king ouer +the Westsaxons fiue yeares & fiue moneths. In like manner the same +yeare died Ella or Alla king of Northumberland, after whome succéeded +Ethelricus the sonne of Ida, and reigned but fiue yeares, being a man +well growne in yeares before he came to be king. About thrée yeeres +after this, the Saxons & Britains fought a battell at Wodenesbourne, +where the Britains being ranged in good order, the Saxons set vpon +them boldlie indéed, but disorderedlie, so that the victorie remained +with the Britains. The Saxons the more valiant they had shewed +themselues in battell, before that time, so much the more slow and +vntowardlie did they shew themselues now in running awaie to saue +themselues, so that an huge number of them were slaine. Also about +[Sidenote: 594.] +the same time died Crida king of Mercia 594, after whome his sonne +Wibbas or Wipha succeeded. And after the deceasse of Ethelric, one +Edelbert or Edelfride surnamed the wild, succéeded in gouernement of +the Northumbers. But to returne to our purpose. + +Ethelbert king of Kent, not discouraged with the euill chance which +[Sidenote: _Beda_. _Will. Malmes._] +happened in the beginning, but rather occasioned thereby to learne +more experience in feats of warre, prooued so perfect a maister +therein, that in processe of time he subdued by force of armes all +those English Saxons which lay betwixt the bounds of his countrie, and +the riuer of Humber. Also to haue friendship in forraine parts, he +procured a wife for himselfe of the French nation, named the ladie +Bertha, being king Cheriberts daughter of France; but with condition, +that he should permit hir to continue and vse the rites and lawes of +christian faith and religion, and to haue a bishop whose name was +Luidhard, appointed to come and remaine with hir here in this land for +hir better instruction in the lawes of the Lord. So that they two with +other of the French nation that came ouer with them remaining in the +court, and vsing to serue God in praiers and otherwise, according to +the custome of the christian religion, began vndoubtedlie to giue +light to the kings mind as yet darkned with the clouds of paganisme, +so as the bright beames of the celestiall cléerenes of vnderstanding +remooued the thicke mists of his vnbeléefe in tract of time, and +prepared his heart to the receiuing of the gospell, which after by +heauenlie prouidence was preached to him, by occasion, and in maner as +followeth. + +[Sidenote: _Beda_. _Matth. West._ saith 596. 47 saith the same author.] +In the yeare of our Lord 596, which was about the 14 yeare of the +reigne of the emperour Mauricius, and after the comming of the English +Saxons into this land, about an 147 yeares almost complet, the bishop +of Rome, Gregorie the first of that name, and surnamed Magnus, sent +Augustinus a moonke, with certeine other learned men into this Ile to +preach the christian faith vnto the English Saxons, which nation as +yet had not receiued the gospell. And here we hold it necessarie to +shew how it is recorded by diuer writers, that the first occasion +whereby Gregorie was mooued thus to send Augustine into this land, +rose by this meanes. + +[Sidenote: _Beda_. _Will. Malmes._] +It chanced (whilest the same Gregorie was as yet but archdeacon of +the see of Rome) certeine yoong boies were brought thither to bee +sold out of Northumberland, according to the accustomable vse of that +countrie, in somuch that as we haue in our time séene (saith W. Mal.) +the people of that prouince haue not yet doubted to sell awaie their +néere kinsfolke for a small price. When those children which at +that time were brought from thence to Rome, had by reason of their +excellent beauties and comelie shape of lims and bodie, turned +[Sidenote: _Vita Gregorii. magni._] +the eies in maner of all the citizens to the beholding of them, it +fortuned that Gregorie also came amongst other to behold them, and +when he considered and well viewed their faire skins, their swéet +visages, and beautifull bushes of their bright and yeallow heares, he +demanded out of what region or land they came? Vnto whome answere was +made, that they were brought out of Britaine, the inhabitants of which +countrie were of the like beautifull aspect. Then he asked whether the +men of that countrie were christians, or as yet intangled with blind +heathenish errors? Wherevnto it was answered, that they were not +christened, but followed the religion of the Gentiles. Whereat +Gregorie fetching a déepe sigh, said: Ah, alas that the author of +darkenesse dooth as yet possesse men of so brightsome countenances, +and that with the grace of such faire shining visages, they beare +about minds void of inward grace. + +"Moreouer he demanded by what name the people were called, whereto +answere was made, that they were called Angli, that is to say +Englishmen. Right woorthilie (saith he) for they haue angels faces, +and such as ought to be made fellow-heires with angels in heauen. Then +asked he the name of the prouince from whence they were brought, and +it was told him they were of Deira. It is well (said he) they are to +be deliuered "De ira dei," that is to say, from the ire and wrath of +God, and called to the mercie of Christ our Lord. What name (said he) +hath the king of that prouince? Wherevnto answere was made that he was +called Alla, wherevpon alluding to that name, he said, Alleluia +ought to be soong in those parts to the praise and honor of God the +creator." + +[Sidenote: Pelagius the second. _Will. Malmes._] +Herevpon comming to Benedict the first of that name (as then bishop +of Rome) he required him that some learned men might be sent into +England to preach the gospell vnto the Englishmen, offering himselfe +to be one of the number. But though Benedict was contented to grant +[Sidenote: Pelagius.] +his request, yet the Romans had him in such estimation, that they +would not consent that he should depart so farre from the citie, so +that by them he was at that time staied of that his godlie purpose. +Howbeit when he came to be bishop, he thought to performe it though +not by himselfe, yet by other: and so Augustine and his fellowes were +sent by him about it (as before is said.) By the way, as they were +[Sidenote: M. Fox.] +passing in their iournie, such a sudden feare entred into their +hearts, that (as some write) they returned all. Others write, that +Augustine was sent backe to Gregorie, to sue that they might be +released of that voiage so dangerous and vncerteine amongst such +a barbarous people, whose language they neither knew, nor whose +rudenesse they were able to resist. Then Gregorie with pithie +perswasions confirming and comforting him, sent him againe with +letters vnto the bishop of Arles, willing him to helpe and aid the +said Austine and his companie in all what so euer his néede required. +Also other letters he directed by the foresaid Austine vnto his +fellowes, exhorting them to go forward boldlie in the Lords woorke, as +by the tenor of the said epistle here following may appeare. + + "_Gregorie the seruant of Gods servants, to the seruants of our Lord._ + +"For as much as it is better not to take good things in hand, than +after they be begun, to thinke to reuolt backe from the same againe, +therefore now you may not nor cannot (dere children) but with +all feruent studie and labour must needs go forward in that good +businesse, which thorough the helpe of God you haue well begun. +Neither let the wearisomnesse of your iournie, nor the slanderous +toongs of men appall you, but that with all instance and feruencie ye +proceed and accomplish the thing which the Lord hath ordeined you to +take in hand, knowing that your great trauell shall be recompensed +with reward of greater glorie hereafter to come. Therefore as we send +here Austine to you againe, whome also we haue ordeined to be your +gouernour, so doo you humblie obey him in all things, knowing that it +shall be profitable for your soules what soeuer at his admonition ye +shall doo. Almightie God with his grace defend you, and grant me to +see in the eternall countrie the fruit of your labours, though heere I +cannot labour in the same fellowship with you togither. The Lord God +keepe you safe most deere and welbeloued children. Dated the tenth +before the kalends of August, in the reigne of our souereigne lord +Mauricius most vertuous emperor, the fourtenth of his empire." + +Thus emboldned and comforted through the good woords and wholesome +exhortation of Gregorie, they set forward againe, and spéeding foorth +their iournie, first arriued at the Ile of Thanet in Kent in the +moneth of Iulie, being in number about fortie persons, of the which +diuerse were interpretors, whome they brought with them out of France. +These they sent vnto king Ethelbert, signifieng the occasion of their +comming, who hearing the messengers within a few daies after, went +into that Ile, and there abroad out of anie house sat downe, and +caused Augustine and his fellowes to come before him, for he would +not come vnder anie roofe with them, sore doubting to be bewitched by +them, being persuaded that they were practised in nigromancie. But +they comming to him, not by the power of the diuell (as they said) but +by the might and power of almightie God, bearing in stéed of a +[Sidenote: The seuenfold letanies of S. Gregorie were not yet deuised.] +banner a crosse of siluer, and an image of our Lord and Sauiour +painted in a table, and thereto singing the letanies, made +intercession vnto the Lord for the euerlasting preseruation of +themselues, and of all them for whome and to whome they came. + +Now when they being set downe by commandement of the king, had +preached the woord of life to him, and to all those that came thither +with him, he made them this answer, that their woords and promises +were good: but for as much as the same were new & vncerteine to him +that had béen brought vp in the contrarie doctrine, he could not +rashlie assent to their admonitions, & leaue that beléefe which he and +the English nation had so long a time obserued and kept: but (said he) +because ye haue trauelled farre, to the intent to make vs partakers +of those things which ye beléeue to be most true and perfect, we +will thus much graunt vnto you, that ye shall be receiued into this +countrie, and haue harbrough, with all things sufficient found vnto +you for your maintenance and sustentation: neither will we hinder +you, but that ye may by preaching associat and ioine as manie of our +subiects as you can vnto your law and beléefe. They had therefore +assigned vnto them a place to lodge in within the citie of +Canturburie, which was the head citie of all his dominion. It is said +that as they approched the citie according to their maner, they had a +crosse borne before them, with an image of our Lord Iesus Christ, and +they followed, singing this letanie, "Deprecamur te Domine in omni +misericordia tua, vt auferatur furor tuus & ira tua à ciuitate ista & +de domo sancta tua, quoniam peccauimus: Alleluia." _That is to say_, +We beseech thee Ô Lord in all thy mercie that thy furie and wrath +may be taken from this citie, and from thy holie house, for we haue +sinned. Praise be to thee Ô Lord.--After they were receiued into +[Sidenote: _Beda_. _Matth. West._] +Canturburie, they began to follow the trade of life which the apostles +vsed in the primitiue church, that is to say, exercising themselues in +continuall praier, watching, and preaching to as manie as they could, +despising all worldlie things, as not belonging to them, receiuing +onelie of them (whome they taught) things necessarie for the +sustenance of their life, & liuing in all points according to the +doctrine which they set forth, hauing their minds readie to suffer in +patience all aduersities what so euer, yea and death it selfe, for the +[Sidenote: The christian faith receiued of the Englishmen.] +confirming of that which they now preached. Herevpon, manie of the +English people beléeued and were baptised, hauing in great reuerence +the simplicitie of those men, and the swéetenesse of their heauenlie +doctrine. There was a church néere to the citie on the east part +thereof dedicated to the honor of saint Martine, and builded of old +time whilest the Romans as yet inhabited Britaine, in the which the +quéene, being (as we haue said) a christian, vsed to make hir praiers. +To this church Austine and his fellowes at their first comming +accustomed to resort, and there to sing, to praie, to saie masse, +to preach and to baptise, till at length the king being conuerted, +granted them licence to preach in euerie place, and to build and +restore churches where they thought good. After that the king being +persuaded by their doctrine, good examples giuing, and diuers miracles +shewed, was once baptised, the people in great numbers began to +giue eare vnto the preaching of the gospell, and renouncing their +[Sidenote: _Lib. 7, cap. 26_.] +heathenish beléefe, became christians, in so much that as Gregorie +remembreth, there were baptised ten thousand persons in one day, +being the feast of the natiuitie of our Sauiour 597, and the first +indiction. + +[Sidenote: _Polychron._] +¶ Some write how this should chance toward the latter end of +Augustines daies, after he was admitted to preach the gospell amongst +them that inhabited about Yorke (as some write) which affirme, that +the said number of ten thousand was baptised in the riuer of Suale, +which (as W. Harison saith) cannot be verified, because of the +indiction and death of Gregorie. But to procéed. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Religion is not to be inforced but perswaded and preached, Augustine +is made archbishop of England, Gregorie informeth Augustine of +certeine ordinances to be made and obserued in the new English church, +as the reuenewes of the church to be diuided into foure parts, of +liturgie, of mariage, of ecclesiasticall discipline and ordeining of +bishops: trifling questions objected by Augustine to Gregorie, fellow +helpers are sent ouer to assist. Augustine in his ministerie, he +receiueth his pall, reformation must be doone by little and little, +not to glorie in miracles, the effect of Gregories letters to K. +Ethelbert after his conuersion to christianitie._ + +THE XX. CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: _Beda. lib._ 1. _cap._ 26. and 27.] +King Ethelbert reioised at the conuersion of his people, howbeit +he would not force anie man to be baptised, but onelie shewed by his +behauiour, that he fauored those that beléeued more than other, as +fellow citizens with him of the heauenlie kingdome: for he learned of +them that had instructed him in the faith, that the obedience due to +Christ ought not to be inforced, but to come of good will. Moreouer he +prouided for Augustine and his fellowes a conuenient place for their +habitation within the citie of Canturburie, and further gaue them +[Sidenote: Augustine ordeined archbishop of the English nation.] +necessarie reuenewes in possession for their maintenance. After that +the faith of Christ was thus receiued of the English men, Augustine +went into France, and there of the archbishop of Arles named Etherius +was ordeined archbishop of the English nation, according to the order +prescribed by Gregorie before the departure of the said Augustine from +Rome. + +[Sidenote: Laurence a priest.] +After his returne into Britaine, he sent Laurence a priest, and +Péeter a moonke vnto Rome, to giue knowledge vnto Gregorie the bishop, +how the Englishmen had receiued the faith, and that he was ordeined +archbishop of the land, according to that he had commanded, if the +woorke prospered vnder his hand as it had doone. He also required to +haue Gregories aduice touching certéine ordinances to be made and +obserued in the new church of England. Wherevpon Gregorie, sending +backe the messengers, wrote an answere vnto all his demands. And first +touching the conuersation of archbishops with the clergie, and in +what sort the church goods ought to be imploied, he declared that the +[Sidenote: The reuenewes of the church to be diuided into 4. parts.] +ancient custome of the apostolike see was to giue commandement +vnto bishops ordeined, that the profits and reuenewes of their +benefices ought to be diuided into foure parts, whereof the first +should be appointed to the bishop and his familie for the maintenance +of hospitalitie: the second should be assigned to the clergie: the +third giuen to the poore: and the fourth imploied vpon repairing of +temples. + +[Sidenote: Liturgie.] +And whereas in the church of Rome one custome in saieng masse +[Sidenote: Church seruice.] +or the liturgie was obserued, and another custome in France; +concerning such church seruice, Gregorie aduised Austine that if he +found anie thing either in the church of Rome, either in the church of +France, or in anie other church which might most please the almightie +God, he should diligentlie choose it out, and instruct the church of +England (now being new) according to that forme which he should gather +foorth of the said churches: for the things are not loued for the +[Sidenote: Such as did steale.] +places sake, but the places for the things sake. Also for punishing of +such as had stolen things out of churches, so néere as might be, the +offender should be chastised in charitie, so as he might know his +fault, and (if it were possible) restore the thing taken away. + +[Sidenote: Mariages.] +And touching degrées in mariage, Englishmen might take to their +wiues, women that touched them in the third and fourth degrée without +reprehension, and if any vnlawfull mariages were found amongst the +Englishmen, as if the sonne had maried the fathers wife, or the +brother the brothers wife, they ought to be warned in anie wise to +absteine, and vnderstand it to be a gréeuous sinne: yet should they +not for that thing be depriued of the communion of the bodie and bloud +of our Lord, least those things might séeme to be punished in them +wherein they had offended (before their conuersion to the christian +[Sidenote: Discipline of the church.] +faith) by ignorance; for at this season the church (saith he) +correcteth some things of a feruent earnestnesse, suffreth some +things of a gentle mildnes, and dissembleth some things of a prudent +consideration, and so beareth and winketh at the same, that oftentimes +the euill which she abhorreth by such bearing and dissembling, is +restrained and reformed. + +[Sidenote: Ordeining of bishops.] +Moreouer touching the ordeining of bishops, he would they should +be so placed, that the distance of place might not be a let, but that +when a bishop should be consecrated, there might be thrée or foure +present. Also touching the bishops of France, he willed Augustine in +no wise to intermeddle with them, otherwise than by exhortation +and good admonition to be giuen, but not to presume anie thing by +authoritie, sith the archbishop of Arles had receiued the pall in +times past, whose authoritie he might not diminish, least he should +séeme to put his sickle into another mans haruest. But as for the +bishops of Britaine, he committed them vnto him, that the vnlearned +might be taught, the weake with wholesome persuasions +[Sidenote: Women with child.] +strengthened, and the froward by authoritie reformed. Moreouer, that a +woman with child might be baptised, and she that was deliuered after +33 daies of a manchild, and after 46 daies of a womanchild, should be +purified, but yet might she enter the church before, if she would. +[Sidenote: Matters in question about trifles.] + + The residue of Augustines demands consisted in these points, to wit: + + 1 Within what space a child should be christened after it was borne, + for doubt to be preuented by death? + + 2 Within what time a man might companie with his wife after she was + brought to bed? + + 3 Whether a woman, hauing hir floures, might enter the church, or + receiue the communion? + + 4 Whether a man hauing had companie with his wife, might enter the + church, or receiue the communion before he was washed with water? + + 5 Whether after pollusion by night in dreames, a man might receiue + the communion: or if he were a priest, whether he might say masse? + +To these questions Gregorie maketh answere at full in the booke and +place before cited, which for bréefenesse we passe ouer. He sent also +at that time with the messengers aforesaid, at their returne into +England, diuers learned men to helpe Augustine in the haruest of +[Sidenote: Assistance to Augustine. The pall.] +the Lord. The names of the chiefest were these, Melitus, Iustus, +Paulinus, and Ruffinianus. He sent allso the pall, which is the +ornament of an archbishop, with vessels and apparell which should be +vsed in churches by the archbishop and other ministers. He sent also +with the pall other letters to Augustine, to let him vnderstand what +number of bishops he would haue him to ordeine within this land. +Also after that Melitus, and the other before mentioned persons were +departed from Rome, he sent a letter vnto the same Melitus, being yet +on his way toward Britaine, touching further matter concerning the +[Sidenote: Bearing with them that had newlie receiued the faith, +whereof superstition grew and increased.] +churches of England, wherein he confesseth that manie things are +permitted to be vsed of the people latelie brought from the errors +of gentilitie, in keeping feasts on the dedication daies, which haue +resemblance with the old superstitious rites of the Pagan religion. +For to hard and obstinate minds (saith he) it is not possible to cut +away all things at once, for he that coueteth to the highest place, +goeth vp by steps and not by leaps. + +[Sidenote: Miracles.] +At the same time Gregorie did send letters vnto Augustine touching +the miracles, which by report he vnderstood were shewed by the same +Augustine, counselling him in no wise to glorie in the same, but +rather in reioising to feare, and consider that God gaue him the gift +to worke such signes for the wealth of them to whom he was sent to +preach the gospell: he aduised him therefore to beware of vaine-glorie +and presumption, for the disciples of the truth (saith he) haue no +ioy, but onlie that which is common with all men, of which there is no +end, for not euerie one that is elect worketh miracles, but euerie of +the elect haue their names written in heauen. These letters, with the +other which Gregorie sent at this time vnto Augustine, were dated the +tenth day of the kalends of Iulie, in the yéere of our Lord 602, which +was the 19 yeere of the emperour Mauricius. Moreouer he sent most +[Sidenote: 602.] +courteous letters by these messengers to king Ethelbert, in the +which he greatlie commended him, in that he had receiued the christian +faith, and exhorted him to continue in that most holie state of life, +whereby he might worthilie looke for reward at the hands of almightie +God. + + * * * * * + + + + +_What reparations and foundations Augustine finished for clergimen to +the supportation of the church, the building of Paules in London and +saint Peters in Westminster vncerteine, a prouinciall councell called +by Augustine, he restoreth a blind man to his sight, the Britains are +hardlie weaned from their old custome of beliefe, an heremits opinion +of Augustine, he requireth three things to be obserued of the +Britains, he ordeineth bishops at London and Rochester; Sabert +reigneth ouer the Eastsaxons, Augustine dieth and is buried._ + +THE XXJ. CHAPTER. + + +Thus farre we haue waded in the forme and maner of conuerting the +English nation to christianitie, by the labours of Augustine and his +coadiutors: now therefore (that we may orderlie procéed) it remaineth +that we say somewhat of the acts and déeds of the said Augustine; of +whom we read, that after he was established archbishop, and had his +[Sidenote: _Beda_.] +sée appointed him at Canturburie, he restored another church in +that citie which had béene erected there in times past by certeine of +the Romans that were christians, and did dedicate the same now to +the honour of Christ our Sauiour. He also began the foundation of a +monasterie without that citie, standing toward the east, in the which +by his exhortation, king Ethelbert built a church euen from the +ground, which was dedicated vnto the holie apostles Peter and Paule, +in the which the bodie of the said Augustine was buried, and likewise +the bodies of all the archbishops of Canturburie and kings of Kent +[Sidenote: One Peter was the first Abbat.] +a long time after. This abbie was called saint Austins after his +name, one Peter being the first abbat thereof. The church there was +not consecrated by Augustine, but by his successor Laurence, after he +was dead. + +Moreouer, king Ethelbert at the motion of Augustine built a church in +the citie of London (which he latelie had conquered) and dedicated it +vnto saint Paule; but whether he builded or restored this church of +saint Paule it may be doubted, for there be diuers opinions of the +building thereof. Some haue written that it was first builded by king +[Sidenote: _Ran. Higd._] +Lud (as before is mentioned.) Other againe write, that it was +builded afterward by Sigebert king of the Eastsaxons. Also king +Ethelbert builded the church of saint Andrews in Rochester. It is +likewise remembred by writers, that the same king Ethelbert procured a +[Sidenote: _Beda_.] +citizen of London to build a church to S. Peter without the citie +of London toward the west, in a place then called Thorney, that is to +say, the Ile of thorns, and now called Westminster: though others +[Sidenote: _Ran. Higd._ Westminster church builded.] +haue written that it was built by Lucias king of Britaine, or rather +by Sibert king of the Eastsaxons. This church was either newlie built, +or greatlie inlarged by king Edward surnamed the Confessor, and after +that, the third Henrie king of England did make there a beautifull +monasterie, and verie richlie indowed the same with great possessions +and sumptuous iewels. The place was ouergrowne with vnderwoods, as +thornes and brambles, before that the church was begun to be builded +there in this king Ethelberts daies. ¶ Thus the faith of Christ being +once begun to be receiued of the English men, tooke woonderfull +increase within a short time. + +[Sidenote: _Ran. Cest._ _Beda_. _Sigebertus_. _ann.19 Mauricij +imperatoris_. A synod. Ausines oke. _Galfrid. lib.8. cap.4_.] +In the meane season by the helpe of king Ethelbert, Augustine caused +a councell to be called at a place in the confines of the Westsaxons, +which place long after was called Austines oke, where he procured the +bishops or doctors of the prouinces of the Britains to come before him. +Among the Britains or the Welshmen, christianitie as yet remained in +force, which from the apostles time had neuer failed in that nation. +When Augustine came into this land, he found in their prouinces seuen +bishops sées, and an archbishops sée, wherein sat verie godlie & right +religious prelats, and manie abbats, in the which the Lords flocke kept +their right order: but because they differed in obseruing the feast of +[Sidenote: _Beda lib.2. ca.2._] +Easter, and other rites from the vse of the Romane church, Augustine +thought it necessarie to mooue them to agrée with him in vnitie of the +same, but after long disputation and reasoning of those matters, they +could not be induced to giue their assent in that behalfe. Augustine to +prooue his opinion good, wrought a miracle in restoring sight to one of +the Saxon nation that was blind. + +The Britains that were present, mooued with this miracle, confessed +that it was the right waie of iustice and righteousnesse which +Augustine taught; but yet they said that they might not forsake their +ancient customs without consent and licence of their nation. Wherevpon +[Sidenote: Another synod.] +they required another synod to be holden, whereat a greater number +of them might be present. This being granted, there came (as it is +reported) seuen bishops of the Britains, and a great number of +[Sidenote: The monasterie of Bangor. Abbat Dionoth.] +learned men, speciallie of the famous monasterie of Bangor, whereof +in those daies one Dionoth was abbat, who as they went towards that +councell, came first to a certeine wise man, which liued amongst them +an heremits life, and asked his aduise, whether they ought to forsake +their traditions at the preaching of Augustine or not: who made this +answer; "If he be the man of God, follow him." Then said they; "How +[Sidenote: The answer of a godlie man touching Austine the +Englishmens apostle.] +shall we prooue whether he be so or not?" Then said he: "The Lord +saith, Take vp my yoke and learne of me, for I am méeke & humble in +hart: if Augustine be humble and meeke in hart, it is to be beléeued +that he also beareth the yoke of Christ, and offereth it to you to +beare; but if he be not méeke but proud, it is certeine that he is +not of GOD, nor his woord to be regarded." "And how shall we sée and +perceiue that (said they?)" "Find meanes (said he) that he maie first +come to the place of the synod with those of his side, and if he arise +to receiue you at your comming, then know that he is the seruant of +God, and obey him; but if he despise you, and arise not towards you, +whereas you be more in number, let him be despised of you." + +They did as he commanded, and it chanced, that when they came, they +found Augustine sitting in his chaire: whome when they beheld, +straightwaies they conceiued indignation, and noting him of pride, +laboured to reprooue all his saiengs. He told them that they vsed +[Sidenote: Thrée things required by Augustine of the Britains +to be observed.] +manie things contrarie to the custom of the vniuersall church, +and yet if in thrée things they would obeie him, that is to say, +in kéeping the feast of Easter in due time, in ministring baptisme +according to the custome of the Romane church, & in preaching to the +Englishmen the woord of life with him & his fellowes, then would he be +contented to suffer all other things patientlie which they did, though +the same were contrarie to the maners and customs of the Romane +iurisdiction. But they flatlie denied to doo anie of those things, +and gaue a plaine answer that they would not receiue him for their +archbishop: for laieng their heads togither, thus they thought, If he +refuse now to arise vnto vs, how much the more will he contemne vs +if we should become subiect to him? Vnto whom (as it is said) +[Sidenote: Augustine threatneth.] +Augustine in threatening wise told them afore hand, that if they would +not receiue peace with their brethren, they should receiue warre of +the enimies; & if they would not preach to the Englishmen the waie of +life, they should suffer punishment by death at the hands of them: +which thing in deed after came to passe, as in place conuenient +[Sidenote: 604. Bishops ordeined at London and Rochester.] +shall be expressed. After this in the yéere of our Lord 604, the +archbishop Augustine ordeined two bishops, that is to say, Melitus at +London, that he might preach the woord of God to the Eastsaxons, which +were diuided from them of Kent by the riuer of Thames, and Iustus in +the citie of Rochester within the limits of Kent. + +[Sidenote: SABERT.] +At that time Sabert reigned ouer the Eastsaxons, but he was +subiect vnto Ethelbert king of Kent, whose nephue he was also by his +sister Ricula that was married vnto king Sledda that succéeded after +Erchenwine the first king of the Eastsaxons, and begat on hir this +Sabert that receiued the faith. After that Augustine had ordeined +Melitus to be bishop of London, as before is said, king Ethelbert +builded (as some write) the church of saint Paule within the same +citie, where the same Melitus and his successors might keepe their +sée. And also for the like purpose he builded the church of saint +Andrew the apostle at Rochester, that Iustus and his successors might +haue their sée in that place, according to Augustines institution: +he bestowed great gifts vpon both those churches, endowing them with +lands and possessions verie bountifullie, to the vse of them that +should be attendant in the same with the bishops. + +[Sidenote: _Ran. Cestren._] +Finallie, Augustine after he had gouerned as archbishop the church +of Canturburie by the space of 12 yéeres currant, departed this life +the fiue and twentieth of Maie, and was buried first without the citie +néere to the church of the apostles Peter and Paule (whereof mention +is made before) bicause the same church as yet was not finished nor +dedicated; but after it was dedicated, his bodie was brought into the +church, and reuerentlie buried in the north Ile there. He ordeined in +his life time Laarence to be his successor in the sée of Canturburie, +of whome ye shall heare hereafter. ¶ Thus haue ye heard in what maner +the Englishmen were first brought from the worshipping of false gods, +and baptised in the name of the liuing God by the foresaid Augustine +(as we find in Beda and other writers.) Now we will returne to other +dooings chancing in the meane time amongst the people of this Ile. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Ceowlfe or Ceoloulph gouerneth the Westsaxons, Ceorlus king of +Mercia, Edelfride king of the Northumbers, and Edan king of the Scots +ioine in battell, Edan is discomfited, Edelfride subdueth the citizens +of Chester, the deuout moonks of Bangor praie for safetie from the +swoord of the enimie, twelue hundred of them are slaine, Edelfride +entreth the citie of Chester, the Britains assembling their power +vnder three capteins incounter with Edelfride, slaie manie of his +souldiers, and put him to flight, warres betweene Edelfride and +Redwald king of the Eastangles about Edwine the sonne of king Elle, +Edelfride is slaine, Ceowlfe king of the Westsaxons dieth._ + +THE XXIJ. CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: _Matth. West._ saith 34.] +After the deceasse of Chelricus king of the Westsaxons, we find +that Ceowlfe or Ceoloulph succéeded in gouernment of that kingdome, +and reigned twelue yéeres. He began his reigne (as should appéere +[Sidenote: _Matth. West._ saith 607.] +by some writers) about the yeere of our Lord 597, and spent his time +for the more part in warres, not giuing place to idlenesse, but +séeking either to defend or inlarge the confines of his dominion. He +was the sonne of Cutha, which was the sonne of Kenrike, which was the +sonne of Certike. After Wibba or Wipha king of Mercia (who, nothing +inferiour to his father, did not onelie defend his kingdome, but +also inlarge it, by subduing the Britains on ech side) one Ceorlus +[Sidenote: Ceorlus king of Mercia.] +succéeded in that kingdome, being not his sonne but his kinsman. +This Ceorlus began his reigne about the yéere of our Lord 594, as +[Sidenote: 594.] +Matth. West. recordeth. + +[Sidenote: _Beda._ Edelferd.] +Ye haue heard that Edelferd, which otherwise is called also by +writers Edelfride, surnamed the wild, gouerned still the Northumbers, +which Edelferd did more damage to the Britains than anie one other +king of the English nation. None of them destroied their countries +more than he did: neither did anie prince make more of the Britains +tributaries, or inhabited more of their countries with English people +than he. Héerevpon Edan king of those Scots which inhabited Britaine, +being therewith mooued to see Edelfride prosper thus in his conquests, +came against him with a mightie armie: but ioining in battell with +Edelfride and his power, at a place called Degsastane, or Degsastone, +or Deglaston, he lost the most part of his people, and with the +residue that were left aliue, he escaped by flight. This was a +sore foughten battell, with much bloudshed on both parties. For +notwithstanding that the victorie remained with the Northumbers, +Theobaldus the brother of Edelferd was slaine, with all that part of +the English host which he gouerned: and it was fought in the +[Sidenote: 603.] +yéere of our Lord 603, in the 19 yeere of the reigne of the foresaid +Edelferd, and in the sixt yéere of Ceowlfe king of the Westsaxons, and +[Sidenote: _Henr. Hunt._] +in the first yéere of the emperor Phocas, or rather in the last yéere +[Sidenote: _Beda lib. 1. cap._ 34.] +of his predecessor Mauricius. From that day, till the daies of Beda, +not one of the Scotish kings durst presume to enter into Britaine +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._ Sée in Scotland.] +againe to giue battell against the English nation, as Beda himselfe +writeth. But the Scotish writers make other report of this matter, +as in the historie of Scotland ye maie find recorded. + +The Britains that dwelt about Chester, through their stoutnesse +prouoked the aforesaid Edelferd king of the Northumbers vnto warre: +wherevpon to tame their loftie stomachs, he assembled an armie & came +forward to besiege the citie of Chester, then called of the Britains +[Sidenote: Chester as yet in possession of the Britains. +_I. Leland_. _Wil. Malm._] +Carleon ardour deué. The citizens coueting rather to suffer all +things than a siege, and hauing a trust in their great multitude of +people, came foorth to giue batell abroad in the fields, whome he +compassing about with ambushes, got within his danger, and easilie +discomfited. + +[Sidenote: _Beda_.] +It chanced that he had espied before the battell ioined (as Beda +saith) where a great number of the British priests were got aside +into a place somewhat out of danger, that they might there make their +intercession to God for the good spéed of their people, being then +readie to giue battell to the Northumbers. Manie of them were of that +[Sidenote: The number of moonks in the monasterie of Bangor.] +famous monasterie of Bangor, in the which it is said, that there +was such a number of moonks, that where they were diuided into seuen +seuerall parts, with their seuerall gouernors appointed to haue rule +ouer them, euerie of those parts conteined at the least thrée hundred +persons, the which liued altogither by the labour of their hands. +Manie therefore of those moonks hauing kept a solemne fast for thrée +daies togither, were come to the armie with other to make praier, +[Sidenote: Brocmale.] +hauing for their defender one Brocmale or Broemael, earle (or consull +as some call him) of Chester, which should preserue them (being giuen +to praier) from the edge of the enimies swoord. + +King Edelferd hauing (as is said) espied these men, asked what they +were, and what their intent was; and being informed of the whole +circumstance and cause of their being there, he said; "Then if they +call to their God for his assistance against vs, suerlie though they +beare no armour, yet doo they fight against vs, being busied in praier +[Sidenote: The Britains discomfited & slaine.] +for our destruction." Wherevpon he commanded the first onset to be +giuen them, and after slue downe the residue of the British armie, not +without great losse of his owne people. Of those moonks and priests +which came to praie (as before is mentioned) there died at that +battell about the number of 12 hundred, so that fiftie of them onelie +escaped by flight. Brocmale, or Broemael at the first approch of the +enimies, turning his backe with his companie, left them (whom he +should haue defended) to be murthered through the enimies swoord. Thus +was the prophesie of Augustine fulfilled, though he was long before +departed this life (as Beda saith.) + +[Sidenote: _Henr. Hunt._] +¶ Héere is to be noted, if this battell was fought in the seuenth +yéere of Ceowlfe king of Westsaxon (as some haue written) and that +Augustine liued 12 yéeres after his entrance into the gouernment of +the sée of Canturburie (as some write) it is euident that he liued +foure yéeres after this slaughter made of the British priests and +moonks by Edelferd (as before is recited.) For Ceowlfe began his +reigne (as before is mentioned) about the yéere of our Lord 596, +and in the seuenth yeere of his reigne the battell was fought at +[Sidenote: _W. Harison_.] +Degsastane betwixt the English & the Scots, which chanced in +the yéere of our Lord 604, as Beda himselfe recordeth. A late +chronographer running vpon this matter, and preciselie setting downe +his collection, saith that Athelbright, or Edelfride, K. of the +Northumbers, & Ethelbert K. of Kent, hauing Augustine in their +companie, in the eight yéere after his arriuall, made warre vpon +such Britains as refused to obserue the canons of the late councell +mentioned 603, and killed 1200 moonks of the monasterie of Bangor, +which laboured earnestlie, and in the sweat of their browes, thereby +to get their liuings, &c. Verelie Galf. Mon. writeth, that Ethelbert +king of Kent (after he saw the Britains to disdaine and denie their +subiection vnto Augustine, by whome he was conuerted to the christian +[Sidenote: _Acts and monuments, pag. 160_] +faith) stirred vp Edelferd king of the Northumbers to warre +against the Britains. But heereof Maister Fox doubteth, and therefore +saith, that of vncerteine things he hath nothing certeinlie to saie, +much lesse to iudge. But now to the matter where we left. + +After that king Edelferd had made slaughter of the Britains (as before +is rehearsed) he entred the citie of Chester, and from thence marched +towards Bangor. The Britains in the meane time had assembled +[Sidenote: Blederike duke of Cornwall, Margadud king of +Southwales, Cadwane k. of Northwales.] +their power vnder thrée capteins, that is to say, Blederike duke +of Cornewall, Margadud king of Southwales, and Cadwane king of +Northwales. These ioining in battell with Edelferd, slue 10066 of his +souldiers, and constreined him to flée out of the field for safegard +of his life, after he had receiued manie wounds. On the part of +[Sidenote: _Galf. Mon._] +the Britains the forsaid Blederike, which was chiefe capteine of the +field in that battell, chanced to be slaine. Thus saith Gal. Mon. + +But the ancient writers of the English kings (as Beda, William +Malmesburie, and Henrie Huntington), make no mention of this last +battell and victorie obteined by the Britains in maner as aboue is +expressed in Galfrids booke. But contrarilie we find, that Edelferd +hauing such good successe in his businesse abroad as he could wish, +[Sidenote: Edwine the sonne of king Alla banished.] +vpon purpose to auoid danger at home, banished Edwine the sonne of +Alla or Elle, a yoong gentleman of great towardnesse, latelie come to +the kingdome of the Northumbers by the death of his father. But this +Edwine in time of his exile, being long tossed from place to place, +and finding no stedfast friendship now in time of his aduersitie, at +length came to Redwald, that was king at that time of the Eastangles, +the third from Vffa, and successor to Titullus, which Titullus did +[Sidenote: 592.] +succéed next after the said Vffa, the first king of Eastangles +[Sidenote: Edelferd.] +(as before is mentioned.) This Redwald did verie honourablie +interteine Edwine, insomuch that Edelferd being informed thereof, was +highlie displeased, and sent ambassadors vnto Redwald, to require him +either to deliuer Edwine into his hands, or else if he refused so to +doo, to declare and denounce vnto him open warres. + +Redwald incouraged by his wife (that counselled him in no wise to +betraie his friend, to whome he had giuen his faith, for the menaces +of his enimie) assembled foorthwith an armie, and at the sudden +comming vpon Edelferd, assaulted him yer he could haue time to +[Sidenote: 542.] +assemble his people togither. But yet the said Edelferd, though he was +[Sidenote: _H. Hunt._] +beset and brought in danger at vnwares, died not vnreuenged: for +putting himselfe in defense with such power as he could then get +togither, he boldlie incountred the enimies, and giuing battell, slue +[Sidenote: Ethelferd slaine.] +Remerius the sonne of Redwald, and after was slaine himselfe, +hauing reigned ouer the Northumbers about 22 yéeres. This battell was +fought néere to the water of Idle. + +The said Edelferd had issue by his wife Acca, the daughter of Alla, +and sister to Edwine, two sonnes, Oswald being about two yéeres of +age, and Oswin about foure yéeres, the which (their father being +[Sidenote: _Hen. Hunt._ _Matt. West._ saith 34.] +thus slaine) were by helpe of their gouernours conueied awaie into +Scotland with all spéed that might be made. Ceowlfe king of the +Westsaxons, after he had reigned the space of 12 yeeres, departed this +life, who in his time had mainteined great warre against manie +[Sidenote: The Southsaxons susteine the greater losse.] +of his neighbours, the which for briefenesse I passe ouer. One great +battell he fought against them of Sussex, in which the armies on +both sides sustained great damage, but the greater losse fell to the +Southsaxons. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Cinegiscus and his sonne Richelinus reigne iointlie ouer the +Westsaxons, they fight with the Britains; the indeuour of Laurence +archbishop of Cantrburie in setting religion at large, and seeking a +vniformitie in catholike orders, he and his fellow-bishops write to +the cleargie of Britaine and Scotland for a reformation, Melitus +bishop of London goeth to Rome, the cause why, and what he brought at +his returns from pope Boniface._ + +THE XXIIJ. CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: CINEGISCUS.] +After the foresaid Ceowlfe reigned Cinegiscus, or Kingils, which +was the sonne of Ceola, which was the sonne of Cutha or Cutwin, which +was the sonne of Kenricke, which was the sonne of king Certicke. In +the fourth yéere of his reigne, he receiued into fellowship with him +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._ saith that Onichelinus was the brother of +Cinegiscus] +in gouernance of the kingdome his sonne Richelinus, or Onichelinus, +and so they reigned iointlie togither in great loue and concord (a +thing seldome séene or heard of.) They fought with the Britains +[Sidenote: Beandune or Beanton.] +at Beandune, where at the first approch of the battels togither, +the Britains fled, but too late, for there died of them that were +ouertaken 2062. + +[Sidenote: _Beda lib. 2 cap. 4_.] +In this meane time, Laurence archbishop of Canturburie, who +succéeded next after Augustine, admitted thereto by him in his life +time (as before is said) did his indeuour to augment and bring to +perfection the church of England, the foundation whereof was latelie +laid by his predecessor the foresaid Augustine: who studied not onelie +for the increase of this new church, which was gathered of the English +people, but also he was busie to imploie his pastorlike cure vpon the +people that were of the old inhabitants of Britaine, and likewise of +the Scots that remained in Ireland. For when he had learned that the +Scots there, in semblable wise as the Britains in their countrie, +led not their liues in manie points according to the ecclesiasticall +rules, as well in obseruing the feast of Easter contrarie to the vse +of the Romane church, as in other things, he wrote vnto those Scots +letters exhortatorie, requiring them most instantlie to an vnitie of +catholike orders as might be agréeable with the church of Christ, +spred and dispersed through the world. These letters were not written +onelie in his owne name, but iointlie togither in the name of the +bishops Melitius and Iustus, (as followeth.) + +"_To our deare brethren the bishops and abbats through all Scotland, +Laurence, Melitus and Iustus bishops, the seruants of the seruants of +God wish health._ + +"Whereas the apostolike see (according to hir maner) had sent vs to +preach vnto the heathen people in these west parts, as otherwise +throgh the world, and that it chanced to vs to enter into this Ile +which is called Britaine, before we knew & vnderstood the state of +things, we had in great reuerence both the Scots & Britains, which +beléeued, bicause (as we tooke the matter) they walked according to +the custome of the vniuersall church: but after we had knowledge of +the Britains, we iudged the Scots to be better. But we haue learned +by bishop Daganus comming into this Ile, and by Columbanus the +abbat comming into France, that the Scots nothing differ in their +conuersation from the Britains: for bishop Daganus comming vnto vs, +would neither eat with vs, no nor yet come within the house where we +did eat." + +The said Laurence also with his fellow-bishops, did write to the +Britains other letters woorthie of his degrée, dooing what he could +to confirme them in the vnitie of the Romane church: but it profited +litle, as appeareth by that which Beda writeth. About the same time +Melitus the bishop of London went to Rome, to common with pope +Boniface, for necessarie causes touching the church of England, and +was present at a synod holden by the same pope at that season, for +ordinances to be made touching the state of religious men, and sate in +the same synod, that with subscribing he might also by his authoritie +confirme that which was there orderlie decréed. This synod was holden +the third kalends of March, in the last yéere of the emperour Phocas, +which was about the yeere after the birth of our Sauiour 610. Melitus +at his returne brought with him from the pope, decrees commanded by +the said pope to be obserued in the English church, with letters also +directed to archbishop Laurence, and to king Ethelbert. + + + + + * * * * * + +_Cadwan is made king of the Britains in the citie of Chester, he +leuieth a power against Ethelfred king of the Northumbers, couenants +of peace passe betwixt them vpon condition, the death of Ethelbert +king of Kent, where he and his wife were buried, of his lawes; Eadbald +succeedeth Ethelbert in the Kentish kingdome, his lewd and vnholie +life, he is an enimie to religion; he is plagued with madnesse; Hebert +king of the Eastsaxons dieth, his three sonnes refuse to be baptised, +they fall to idolatrie and hate the professours of the truth, their +irreligious talke and vndutifull behauiour to bishop Melitus, he and +his fellow Iustus passe ouer into France, the three sonnes of Hebert +are slaine of the Westsaxons in battell, the Estsaxons by their +idolatrie prouoke archbishop Laurence to forsake the land, he is +warned in a vision to tarie, whereof he certifieth king Eadbald, who +furthering christianitie, sendeth for Melitus and Iustus, the one is +restored to his see, the other reiected, Melitus dieth, Iustus is made +archbishop of Canturburie, the christian faith increaseth._ + +THE XXIIIJ. CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: CADWAN king of Britaine] +After that the Britains had c[=o]tinued about the space almost of +24 yéeres without anie one speciall gouernour, being led by sundrie +rulers, euer sithens that Careticus was constreined to flée ouer +Seuerne, and fought oftentimes not onelie against the Saxons, but also +[Sidenote: 613] +one of them against another, at length in the yéere of our Lord +613, they assembled in the citie of Chester, and there elected Cadwan +that before was ruler of Northwales, to haue the souereigne rule & +gouernement ouer all their nation, and so the said Cadwan began to +reigne as king of Britaine in the said yéere 613. But some authors +say, that this was in the yéere 609, in which yéere Careticus the +British king departed this life. And then after his deceasse the +Britains or Welshmen (whether we shall call them) chose Cadwan to +gouerne them in the foresaid yéere 609, which was in the 7 yéere +of the emperour Phocas, and the 21 of the second Lotharius king of +France, and in the 13 yéere of Kilwoolfe king of the Westsaxons. + +This Cadwan being established king, shortlie after assembled a +power of Britains, and went against the foresaid Ethelfred king of +Northumberland, who being thereof aduertised, did associate to him the +most part of the Saxon princes, and came foorth with his armie to méet +Cadwan in the field. Herevpon as they were readie to haue tried the +matter by battell, certeine of their friends trauelled so betwixt them +for peace, that in the end they brought them to agréement, so that +[Sidenote: _Gal. Mon._] +Ethelfred should kéepe in quiet possession those his countries beyond +the riuer of Humber, and Cadwan should hold all that which of right +belonged to the Britains on the southside of the same riuer. This +couenant with other touching their agréement was confirmed with oths +solemnelie taken, and pledges therewith deliuered, so that afterwards +they continued in good and quiet peace, without vexing one an other. + +What chanced afterward to Ethelfred, ye haue before heard rehersed, +which for that it soundeth more like to a truth than that which +followeth in the British booke, we omit to make further rehersall, +passing forward to other dooings which fell in the meane season, +whilest this Cadwan had gouernement of the Britains, reigning as king +[Sidenote: _Iohn Hard._] +ouer them the tearme of 22 or (as some say) but 13 yéeres, and +finallie was slaine by the Northumbers, as before hath béene, and also +after shall be shewed. + +In the 8 yéere after that Cadwan began to reigne, Ethelbert king +of Kent departed this life, in the 21 yéere after the comming of +Augustine with his fellowes to preach the faith of Christ here in this +realme: and after that Ethelbert had reigned ouer the prouince of Kent +the tearme of 56 yéeres (as Beda saith, but there are that haue noted +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._ _Beda li. 2. cap. 5_.] +thrée yéers lesse) he departed this world, as aboue is signified, +in the yeere of our Lord 617, on the 24 day of Februarie, and was +buried in the Ile of saint Martine, within the church of the apostles +Peter and Paule, without the citie of Canturburie, where his wife +quéene Bartha was also buried, and the foresaid archbishop Augustine +that first conuerted him to the faith. + +Amongst other things, this king Ethelbert with the aduise of his +councell ordeined diuers lawes and statutes, according to the which +decrées of iudgements should passe: those decrées he caused to be +written in the English toong, which remained and were in force vnto +the daies of Beda, as he declareth. And first it was expressed in +those lawes, what amends he should make that stole anie thing that +belonged to the church, to the bishop, or to anie ecclesiasticall +person, willing by all means to defend them whose doctrine he had +receiued. + +[Sidenote: EADBALD.] +After the deceasse of Etthelbert, his sonne Eadbald succéeded in +the gouernment of his kingdome of Kent, the which was a great hinderer +of the increase of the new church amongst the Englishmen in those +parties: for he did not onelie refuse to be baptised himselfe, but +also vsed such kind of fornication, as hath not béene heard (as the +apostle saith) amongst the Gentiles, for he tooke to wife his mother +in law, that had béene wife to his father. By which two euill +[Sidenote: The princes example occasion of euill.] +examples, manie tooke occasion to returne to their heathenish +religion, the which whilest his father reigned, either for the prince +his pleasure, or for feare to offend him, did professe the christian +faith. But Eadbald escaped not woorthie punishment to him sent from +the liuing God for his euill deserts, insomuch that he was vexed with +a certeine kind of madnesse, and taken with an vncleane spirit. + +The foresaid storme or vnquiet troubling of the christian +congregation, was afterwards greatlie increased also by the death of +Sabert or Sebert king of the Eastsaxons, who was conuerted to the +faith of Christ, and baptized by Melitus bishop of London (as +before is mentioned) & departing this life to go to a better in the +blissefull kingdome of heauen, he left behind him thrée sonnes as true +successours in the estate of his earthlie kingdome, which sonnes +[Sidenote: _Ran. Cest._ _Beda li. 2. cap. 5_. Serred, Seward, and +Sigebert, the sonnes of Sabert.] +likewise refused to be baptised. Their names were Serred, Seward, & +Sigebert, men of an ill mind, & such as in whome no vertue remained, +no feare of God, nor anie respect of religion, but speciallie hating +the professours of the christian faith. For after their father was +dead, they began to fall to their old idolatrie, which in his life +time they séemed to haue giuen ouer, insomuch that now they openlie +worshipped idols, and gaue libertie to their subiects to do the like. + +And when the bishop Melitus, at the solemnizing of masse in the +church, distributed the eucharisticall bread vnto the people, they +asked him (as it is said) wherfore he did not deliuer of that bright +white bread vnto them also, as well as he had béene accustomed to doo +to their father Saba (for so they vsed to call him.) Vnto whome the +bishop made this answer: "If you will be washed in that wholesome +fountaine, wherein your father was washed, ye may be partakers of that +holie bread whereof he was partaker, but if you despise the washpoole +of life, ye may by no meanes tast the bread of saluation." But they +offended herewith, replied in this wise: "We will not enter into that +fountaine, for we know we haue no néed thereof: but yet neuerthelesse +we will be refreshed with that bread." + +After this, when they had beene earnestlie and manie times told, that +vnlesse they would be baptised, they might not be partakers of the +sacred oblation: at length in great displeasure they told him, that if +he would not consent vnto them in so small a matter, there should be +no place for him within the bounds of their dominion, and so he was +constrained to depart. Wherevpon he being expelled, resorted into +Kent, there to take aduise with his fellow-bishops, Laurence and +Iustus, what was to be doone in this so weightie a matter. Who +finallie resolued vpon this point, that it should be better for them +to returne into their countrie, where with frée minds they might serue +almightie God, rather than to remaine amongest people that rebelled +against the faith, without hope to doo good amongest them. Wherefore +Melitus and Iustus did depart first, and went ouer into France, +minding there to abide till they might sée what the end would be. But +shortlie after, those brethren the kings of Essex, which had expelled +their bishop in maner aboue said, suffered woorthilie for their wicked +dooings. For going forth to battell against the Westsaxons, they were +[Sidenote: The sonne of king Sebert slaine.] +ouerthrowen and slaine altogither with all their armie, by the two +kings Kinigils and Quichelme. But neuerthelesse, albeit the authors of +the mischiefe were thus taken awaie, yet the people of that countrie +would not be reduced againe from their diuelish woorshipping of +false gods, being eftsoones fallen thereto in that season by the +incouragement and perilous example of their rulers. Wherefore the +archbishop Laurence was in mind also to follow his fellowes Melitus +and Iustus: but when he minded to set forward, he was warned in a +dreame, and cruellie scourged (as hath béene reported by the apostle +saint Peter, who reprooued him) for that he would so vncharitablie +forsake his flocke, & leaue it in danger without a shepherd to kéepe +the woolfe from the fold. + +The archbishop imboldned by this vision, and also repenting him of his +determination, came to king Eadbald, and shewed to him his stripes, +and the maner of his dreame. The king being herewith put in great +feare, renounced his heathenish worshipping of idols, and was +baptised, and as much as in him laie, from thenceforth succoured the +congregation of the christians, and aduanced the church to his power. +He sent also into France, and called home the bishops Melitus and +Iustus, so that Iustus was restored to his sée of Rochester. + +But the Eastsaxons would not receiue Melitus to his sée at London, +but continued in their wicked mawmetrie, in obeieng a bishop of their +pagan law, whom they had erected for that purpose. Neither was king +Eadbald of that authoritie and power in those parties, as his father +was before, whereby he might constreine them to receiue their lawfull +bishop. But suerlie the said king Eadbald with his people, after he +was once conuerted againe, gaue himselfe wholie to obeie the lawes of +GOD, and amongt other déeds of godlie zeale, he builded a church +[Sidenote: _Beda lib. 2_.] +to our ladie at Canturburie, within the monasterie of saint Peter, +afterwards called saint Agnes. This church was consecrated by Melitus, +who after the death of Laurence succéeded in gouernance of the +archbishops sée of Canturburie. After Melitus, who departed this +[Sidenote: _Beda. lib. 2. ca. 8_.] +life in the yeare of our Lord 624, Iustus that before was bishop +of Rochester, was made archbishop of Canturburie, and ordeined one +Romanus to the sée of Rochester. About that time, the people of the +north parts beyond Humber receiued the faith, by occasion (as after +shall appéere.) + + * * * * * + + + + +_Edwin reigneth ouer the Northumbers, his great power and reputation, +a marriage betweene him and Ethelburga the sister of king Eadbald vpon +religious couenants, the traitorous attempts of murtherous Eumerus +against him, his wife Ethelburga is deliuered of a daughter, he +assalteth the Westsaxons, and discomfiteth them, Boniface the fift +writeth to him to desist from his idolatrie, and to his ladie to +persist in true christianitie; the vision of Edwin when he was a +banished man in the court of Redwald king of the Eastangles, whereby +he was informed of his great exaltation and conuersion to christian +religion._ + +THE XXV. CHAPTER. + + +Ye haue heard how Edelfred the king of Northumberland was slaine in +battell neere to the water of Idel by Redwald king of the Eastangles, +in fauour of Edwin whom the said Edelfred had confined out of his +dominion, 24 yéeres before. The foresaid Redwald therefore hauing +obteined that victorie, found meanes to place Edwin in gouernement of +that kingdome of the Northumbers, hauing a title thereto as sonne +[Sidenote: EDWIN. _Beda. lib. 2. ca. 5_.] +to Alla or Elle, sometime king of Northumberland. This Edwin prooued +a right valiant prince, & grew to be of more power than anie other +king in the daies of the English nation: not onelie ruling ouer a +great part of the countries inhabited with English men, but also with +Britains, who inhabited not onelie in Wales, but in part of Chesshire, +Lancashire, Cumberland, and alongst by the west sea-coast in Galloway, +and so foorth euen vnto Dunbritaine in Scotland: which I haue thought +good to note, that it may appeare in what countries Cadwallo bare +rule, of whome so often mention is made in this part of the historie. +But as concerning Edwin, his reputation was such, as not onelie the +English men, Britains and Scots, but also the Iles of Orknie, and +[Sidenote: _W. Malm._ taketh Meuania to be Anglesey.] +those of Man, and others the west Iles of ancient time called Meuaniæ, +had him in reuerence, and feared his mightie power, so as they durst +not attempt anie exploit to offend him. + +It chanced that shortlie after, king Redwald had aduanced him to the +kingdom of Northumberland, to wit, about 6 yeares, the same Redwald +deceassed, which made greatlie for the more augmentation of Edwins +power. For the people of the Eastangles, which (whilest Edwin remained +amongst them as a banished man) had conceiued a good opinion of him +for his approoued valiancie and noble courage, offered themselues to +[Sidenote: Carpwaldus.] +be wholie at his commandement. But Edwin suffering Carpwald or +Erpwald the sonne of Redwald to inioie the bare title and name of the +king of that countrie, ruled all things at his owne will and pleasure. +Neither was there anie prouince within Britaine that did not obeie +him, or was not readie to doo him seruice (the kingdome of Kent onelie +excepted) for he suffered the Kentishmen to liue in quiet, because +he began to haue a liking to the sister of king Eadbald, namelie the +ladie Ethelburga, otherwise called Tate or Tace. + +[Sidenote: _Beda. lib. 2. cap. 9_.] +He made request therefore by sending ambassadours to hir brother, +to haue the said ladie in marriage, and at length obteined hir, with +condition that she being a christian woman, might not onelie vse the +christian religion, but also that all those, whether men or women, +priests or ministers, which came with hir, might haue licence to doo +the same, without trouble or impeachment of anie maner of person. +Herevpon she being sent vnto him, there was appointed to go with hir +[Sidenote: _Matth. West._ _Beda. lib. 2. cap. 9_.] +(besides manie other) one Pauline, which was consecrated bishop by +[Sidenote: 625.] +the archbishop Iustus the 21 of Iulie, in the yeare of our Lord 625, +who at his comming into Northumberland thus in companie with +Ethelburga, trauelled earnestlie in his office, both to preserue hir +and such christians in the faith of Christ, as were appointed to giue +their attendance on hir, least they should chance to fall: and also +sought to win some of the Pagans (if it were possible) vnto the same +faith, though at the first he little profited in that matter. + +In the yeare following, there came a murtherer vnto the court of king +Edwin, as then soiourning in a palace which stood vpon the side of the +riuer of Dorwent, being sent from Quichelme king of the Westsaxons, to +the intent to murther Edwin, because he had of late sore damnified the +countries of the Westsaxons. This murtherer was called Eumerus, & +[Sidenote: Other say an axe, as _Matth. West._] +caried vnder his coate a shost double edged woodknife inuenomed of +purpose, that if the king being but a little hurt therewith, should +not die of the wound, yet he should not escape the danger of the +[Sidenote: Emmerus.] +poison. This Eumerus on Easter mondaie came to the king, and making +foorth to him as it had béene to haue declared some message from his +maister, when he had espied his time, drew his weapon, and offered to +strike the king. But one of the kings seruants named Lilla, perceiuing +this, stept betwixt the king and the blow. Howbeit the murtherer set +the stripe forward with such force, that the knife running through +the bodie of Lilla wounded also the king a little: and before this +murtherer could be beaten downe, he slue another of the kings +seruants, a knight that attended vpon him, called Fordher. + +[Sidenote: Eaufled borne.] +The same night Ethelburga was deliuered of a daughter named +Eaufled, for the which when king Edwin gaue thanks vnto his gods, in +the presence of bishop Pauline, the bishop did admonish him, rather to +giue thanks vnto the true and onelie God, by whose goodnesse it came +to passe that the queene was safelie and without danger deliuered. The +king giuing good eare vnto the bishops wholesome admonition, promised +at that present to become a Christian, if he might reuenge his +injuries receiued at the hands of the Westsaxons. And to assure +Pauline that his promise should take place, he gaue vnto him his new +borne daughter to be made holie to the Lord, that is to say, baptised. +The bishop receiuing hir, on Whitsundaie next following baptised hir, +with twelue other of the kings houshold, she being the first of +the English Northumbers that was so washed in the founteine of +regeneration. + +In the meane time K. Edwin being recouered of his hurt, assembled an +armie, and went against the Westsaxons, with whome incountring in +battell, he either slue or brought to his subiection all them that +had conspired his death, and so returned as a conquerour into his +countrie. But yet he delaied time in performance of his promise to +become a Christian: howbeit he had left his dooing of sacrifice to +idols, euer since he made promise to be baptised. He was a sage +prince, and before he would alter his religion, he politikelie +thought good to heare matters touching both his old religion, and the +Christian religion throughlie examined. + +Now whilest he thus hoong in doubt vnto whether part he should +[Sidenote: _Beda. lib. 2, cap. 10_.] +incline, there came letters to him from pope Boniface the fift of +that name, exhorting him by sundrie kinds of gentle perswasions, to +turne to the worshipping of the true and liuing God, and to renounce +worshipping of mawmets and idols. The pope wrote also to quéene +[Sidenote: _Beda. lib. 2, cap. 11_.] +Ethelburga, praieng hir to continue in hir good purpose, and by +all meanes possible to doo what might be doone for the conuerting of +hir husband vnto the faith of Christ. But the thing that most mooued +[Sidenote: A vision.] +the king, was a vision which sometime he had while he remained +as a banished man in the court of Redwald king of the Eastangles, as +thus. + +[Sidenote: _Beda. cap._ 12.] +After that king Ethelfred was informed that the foresaid Redwald +had receiued Edwin, he ceased not by his ambassadours to moue Redwald +either to deliuer Edwin into his hands, or to make him awaie. At +length by often sending, & promises made of large summes of monie, +mixed with threatnings, he obteined a grant of his sute, so that +it was determined that Edwin should either be murthered, or else +deliuered into his enimies hands. One of Edwins friends hauing +intelligence hereof, in the night season came to Edwins chamber, and +leading him abroad, told him the whole practise, and what was purposed +against him, offering to helpe him out of the countrie, if he would so +[Sidenote: The honorable consideration of Edwin.] +aduenture to escape. Edwin being woonderouslie amazed, thanked his +friend, but refused to depart the countrie, sith he had no iust cause +outwardlie giuen to play such a slipper part, choosing rather to +ieopard his life with honour, than to giue men cause to thinke that he +had first broken promise with such a prince as Redwald was, to whome +he had giuen his faith. + +Herevpon his friend departing from him, left him sitting without the +doores: where after he had reuolued manie things in his mind, and +thought long vpon this matter, at length he perceiued one to come +towards him vnknowne, and in strange apparell, séeming to him in +euerie point a stranger, at which sight (for that he could not imagine +who it should be) Edwin was much afraid: but the man comming to him +saluted him, and asked of him what he made there at that time of the +night when other were at rest. Edwin on the other part asked what he +had to doo therewith, and whether he vsed to lie abroad in the night, +or within house? Who answering said; Thinke not Edwin that I am +ignorant of thy heauinesse, of thy watchings, and this thy solitarie +sitting here without doores. For I know who thou art, wherefore thou +art thus pensiue, and what euils thou fearest to be towards thée at +hand. But tell me, what wouldest thou giue him, that could deliuer +thée out of this heauinesse, and perswade Redwald that he should +neither doo thée hurt, nor deliuer thée to thine enimies? Here with +when Edwin said that he would gladlie giue all that in him might lie +to such a one in reward: The other said; What wouldst thou giue then, +if he should promise in good sooth that (all thine enimies being +destroied) thou shouldest be king, and that thou shouldest passe in +power all the kings which haue reigned in the English nation before +thy time? Edwin being better come to himselfe by such demandes, did +not sticke to promise that he would requite his friendship with +woorthie thanks. + +Then replied he to his words and said; If he that shall prophesie to +thée this good hap to come, shall also be able to informe thee in such +counsell for thy health and life, as neuer anie of thy forefathers or +kinsfolke yet haue heard, wouldest thou obey him, and also consent +to receiue his wholesome aduertisement? Wherevnto without further +deliberation Edwin promised, that he would in all points follow the +instruction of him that should deliuer him out of so manie and great +calamities, and bring him to the rule of a kingdome. Which answere +being got, this person that thus talked with him, laid his hand vpon +his head, saieng: When this therefore shall chance to thée, be not +forgetfull of this time, nor of this communication, and those things +that thou now dooest promise, sée thou performe. And therewith he +vanished awaie. So that Edwin might well perceiue it was no man but a +vision that thus had appeared vnto him. + +[¶ This vnaccustomed course it pleased God to vse for the conuersion +of the king (to whose example it was no doubt but the people and +inferiour sort would generallie be conformed) who otherwise had +continued in paganisme and blind ignorance both of Gods truth and true +christianitie. And it maie be that there was in him, as in other kings +his predecessors, a settled perswasion in gentilish error, so that +neither by admonition nor preaching (though the same had procéeded +from the mouth of one allotted to that ministerie) he was to be +reuoked from the infidelitie and misbeléefe wherein he was nuzzeled +and trained vp. For it is the nature of all men, to be addicted to the +obseruation of such rites and customes as haue béene established and +left in force by their progenitors, and sooner to stand vnto a desire +and earnest purpose of adding somewhat to their elders corrupt +constitutions, and irreligious course of conuersation, than to +be inclinable to anie article or point tending to innouation: so +inflexible is the posteritie to swarue from the traditions of +antiquitie, stand the same vpon neuer so grosse and palpable +absurdities.] + +Edwin still reioising in the foresaid comfortable talke, but +thoughtfull in mind what he should be, or from whence he came that had +talked in this sort with him; behold his friend returned that first +had brought him foorth of his chamber, and declared vnto him good +newes, how the king by perswasion of the quéene had altered his +determination, and minded to mainteine his quarell to the vttermost of +his power: and so he did in déed. For with all diligence he raised +an armie, and went against Ethelfrid, vanquished him in battell, and +placed Edwin in the kingdome (as before ye haue heard.) + + * * * * * + + + + +_King Edwin is put in mind of his vision by Pauline who sawe the +same in spirit, he is licenced to preach the gospell, bishop Coifi +destroieth the idols, Edwin and his people receiue the Christian +faith, his two sonnes Osfride and Eadfride become conuerts, Redwald +king of the Eastangles is baptised, he serueth God and the diuell, +Sibert receiueth the faith, Felix bishop of Burgongne commeth ouer to +Honorius archbishop of Canturburie, he preacheth to the Eastangles, +the Northumbers and Lincolnshiremen are conuerted manie are baptised +in the riuer of Trent; king Edwins iustice how effectuall and +commendable, his care for the common-wealth, his prouidence for the +refection of trauellers, pope Honorius confirmeth Pauline archbishop +of Yorke, the tenor of his letters touching the mutuall election of +the archbishop of Canturburie and Yorke, if either of them happened to +suruiue other, his letters to the Scots touching the keeping of Easter +and avoiding the Pelagian heresie, Cadwallo king of Britaine rebelleth +against Edwin, Penda king of Mercia enuieth his good estate, Cadwallo +and Penda inuade Northumberland, Edwin and his sonne Osfride are +slaine, Penda putteth his other sonne Eadfride cruellie to death._ + +THE XXVJ. CHAPTER. + + +Notwithstanding the former vision, king Edwin deferred time yer he +would receiue the Christian faith, in somuch that Pauline vpon a daie +came vnto him as he sat musing what he were best to doo, and laid his +hand vpon his head, asking him if he knew that signe. Whereat when the +king would haue fallen downe at his féet, he lifted him vp, and as it +were in familiar wise thus said vnto him: "Behold, by the assistance +of Gods fauour thou hast escaped the hands of thine enimies, whome +thou stoodst in feare of: behold through his bountious liberalitie, +thou hast obteined the kingdome which thou diddest desire, remember +then that thou delaie no time to performe the third thing that +thou diddest promise, in receiuing his faith, and kéeping his +commandements, which deliuering thée from worldlie aduersities, hath +thus aduanced thée to the honor of a king: and if from henceforth thou +wilt obey his will, which by my mouth hée setteth and preacheth to +thée and others, he will deliuer thée from euerlasting torments, and +make thée partaker with him in his celestiall kingdome." It is to be +thought that the vision which the king had in times past receiued, was +in spirit reuealed vnto Pauline, wherevpon without delaie of time, he +put him in remembrance of it in maner as aboue is mentioned. + +The king hauing heard his words, answered, that he would and ought to +receiue the faith which he taught, but first he would conferre with +his nobles, and if they would agrée to doo the like, then would they +be baptised altogither at one time. Pauline satisfied herewith, +[Sidenote: Edwin consulteth with his nobles.] +Edwin did as he had promised, calling togither the wisest men of his +realme, and of them asked the question what they thought of this +diuinitie, which was preached vnto them by Pauline, vnto whome +[Sidenote: The answere of an heathen bishop.] +his chiefe bishop named Coifi, incontinentlie made this answer; that +Suerlie the religion which they had hitherto followed was nothing +worth. "For saith he, there is none of thy people that hath more +reuerentlie woorshipped our gods than I haue doone, and yet be there +manie that haue receiued far greater benefits at thy hands than I haue +doone: and therefore if our gods were of anie power, then would they +rather helpe me to high honor and dignitie than others. Therefore if +it maie be found that this new religion is better & more auailable +than our old, let vs with spéed imbrace the same." + +Finallie, when other of the kings councell & men of high authoritie +gaue their consents, that this doctrine which Pauline taught ought to +be receiued, if therein appeered more certeintie of saluation than +could be found in the other: at length the king gaue licence to +[Sidenote: Pauline licenced to preach the gospell.] +Pauline openlie to preach the gospell, and renouncing his worshipping +of false gods, professed the Christian faith. And when he demanded of +his bishop Coifi who should first deface the altars of their idols, +and the tabernacles wherewith they were compassed about? He answered, +that himselfe would doo it. "For what is more méet (saith he) than +that I, which thorough foolishnesse haue worshipped them, should now +for example sake destroie the same, thorough wisedome giuen me from +the true and liuing God?" And streightwaies throwing awaie the +superstition of vanitie, required armour and weapon of the king, with +a stoned horsse, vpon the which he being mounted, rode foorth to +destroie the idols. + +This was a strange sight to the people: for it was not lawfull for the +bishop of their law to put on armour, or to ride on anie beast, except +it were a mare. He hauing therefore a swoord gird to him, tooke a +speare in his hand, and riding on the kings horsse, went to the place +where the idols stood. The common people that beheld him had thought +he had béene starke mad, and out of his wits: but he without longer +deliberation, incontinentlie vpon his comming to the temple, began +to deface the same, and in contempt threw his speare against it, & +reioising greatlie in the knowledge of the worshipping of the true +God, commanded his companie to destroie & burne downe the same +temple with all the altars. This place where the idols were sometime +worshipped was not farre from Yorke, towards the east part of the +riuer of Derwent, and is called Gotmundin Gaham, where the foresaid +bishop by the inspiration of God defaced and destroied those altars, +which he himselfe had hallowed. + +[Sidenote: King Edwin with his people receive the christian faith. +_Beda. lib. 2. cap. 14_. 627.] +King Edwin therefore with all the nobilitie, and a great number of +his people, receiued the faith and were baptised, in the yéere of our +Lord 627, in the tenth yéere of his reigne, and about the 178 yéere +after the first comming of the Englishmen into this land. He was +baptised at Yorke on Easter daie (which fell that yéere the day before +the Ides of Aprill) in the church of S. Peter the apostle, which he +had caused to be erected and built vp of timber vpon the sudden for +that purpose, and afterwards began the foundation of the same church +in stone-woorke of a larger compasse, comprehending within it that +oratorie which he had first caused to be built: but before he could +finish the woorke, he was slaine (as after shall be shewed) leauing +it to be performed of his successor Oswald. + +Pauline continued from thencefoorth during the kings life, which +was six yéeres after, in preaching the gospell in that prouince, +conuerting an innumerable number of people to the faith of Christ, +among whom were Osfride and Eadfride the two sonnes of Edwin, whom he +begot in time of his banishment of his wife Quinburga, the daughter +of Cearlus king of Mercia. Also afterwards he begot children on his +second wife Ethelburga, that is to say, a sonne called Edilhimus, +[Sidenote: Ediltrudis.] +and a daughter named Ediltrudis, and another sonne called Bustfrea, of +the which the two first died in their cradels, and were buried in the +church at Yorke. To be briefe: by the kings assistance & fauour shewed +vnto Pauline in the woorke of the Lord, great multitudes of people +dailie receiued the faith, and were baptised of Pauline in manie +places, but speciallie in the riuer of Gleuie within the prouince of +Bernicia, and also in Swale in the prouince of Deira: for as yet in +the beginning thus of the church in those countries, no temples or +fonts could be builded or erected in so short a time. + +Of such great zeale was Edwin (as it is reported) towards the setting +[Sidenote: This chanced in the yéere 632, as _Matt. West._ saith.] +foorth of Gods truth, that he persuaded Carpwald the sonne of Redwald +king of the Eastangles to abandon the superstitious worshipping of +idols, and to receiue the faith of Christ with all his whole prouince. +[Sidenote: Redwald king of Eastangles baptised.] +His father Redwald was baptised in Kent long before this time, but in +vaine: for returning home, through counsell of his wife and other +wicked persons, he was seduced, and being turned from the sincere +puritie of faith, his last dooings were woorse than his first, so +[Sidenote: Redwald would serve God and the diuell.] +that according to the maner of the old Samaritans, he would séeme +both to serue the true God and his false gods, (whom before time he +had serued) and in one selfe church had at one time both the +sacraments of Christ ministred at one altar, and sacrifice made vnto +diuels at another. + +But Carpwald within a while after he had receiued the faith, was +slaine by one of his owne countrimen that was an ethnike, called +Richbert, and then after his death, that prouince for the tearme +[Sidenote: Sibert or Sigibert.] +of thrée yeeres was wrapped eftsoones in errour, till Sibert or +Sigibert, the brother of Carpwald, a most christian prince, and verie +well learned, obteined the rule of that kingdome, who whilest he liued +a banished man in France during his brothers life time, was baptised +there, and became a christian: and when he came to be king, he caused +all his prouince to be partaker of the same fountaine of life, wherein +he had beene dipped himselfe. + +Vnto this godlie purpose also, a bishop of the parties of Burgoigne +named Felix was a great furtherer, who comming ouer vnto the +archbishop of Canturburie Honorius that was successor vnto Iustus, and +declaring vnto him his earnest desire, was sent by the same archbishop +to preach the woord of life vnto the Eastangles, which he did with +such good successe, that he conuerted the whole countrie to the faith +of Iesus Christ, and placed the sée of his bishoprike at Dunwich, +[Sidenote: A bishop ordained at Dunwhich. _Beda lib 1. cap. 16._] +ending the course of his life there in peace after he had continued in +that his bishoplike office the space of 17 yéeres. Moreouer Pauline, +after that he had conuerted the Northumbers, preached the woord of God +vnto them of Lindsey, which is a part of Lincolnshire: and first he +persuaded one Blecca the gouernour of the citie of Lincolne to +[Sidenote: This chanced in the yéere 628, as _Matth. West_ saith.] +turne vnto Christ, togither with all his familie. In that citie he +also builded a church of stone woorke. Thus Pauline trauelled in the +woorke of the Lord, the same being greatlie furthered by the helpe of +Edwin, in whose presence he baptised a great number of people in the +riuer of Trent, néere to a towne, which in the old English toong was +called _Tio vulfingacester_. This Pauline had with him a deacon named +Iames, the which shewed himselfe verie diligent in the ministerie, and +profited greatlie therein. + +But now to returne to king Edwin, who was a prince verelie of woorthie +fame, and for the politike ordering of his countries and obseruing of +iustice, deserued highlie to be commended: for in his time all robbers +by the high waie were so banished out of his dominions, that a woman +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._] +with hir new borne child alone, without other companie, might haue +trauelled from sea to sea, and not haue incountred with anie creature +that durst once haue offered hir iniurie. He was also verie carefull +for the aduancement of the commoditie & common wealth of his people, +[Sidenote:_ Math. West. Beda lib 2. cap. 16_] +insomuch that where there were any swéet and cleare water-springs, he +caused postes to be set vp, and iron dishes to be fastened thereto +with chaines, that waifaring men might haue the same readie at hand +to drinke with: and there was none so hardie as to touch the same but +for that vse. He vsed wheresoeuer he went within the cities or +elsewhere abroad, to haue a banner borne before him, in token of +iustice to be ministred by his roiall authoritie. + +In the meane season, pope Honorius the fift, hearing that the +Northumbers had receiued the faith (as before is mentioned) at the +preaching of Pauline, sent vnto the said Pauline the pall, confirming +him archbishop in the sée of Yorke. He sent also letters of +[Sidenote: _Beda lib 2. cap. 17_.] +exhortation vnto king Edwin, to kindle him the more with fatherlie +aduise to continue and procéed in the waie of vnderstanding, into +the which he was entered. At the same time also, bicause Iustus the +archbishop of Canturburie was dead, and one Honorius elected to that +sée, pope Honorius sent to the said elect archbishop of Canturburie +[Sidenote: A decrée concerning the archbishops of Canturburie and Yorke] +his pall, with letters, wherein was conteined a decrée by him +made, that when either the archbishop of Canturburie or Yorke chanced +to depart this life, he that suruiued should haue authoritie to +ordeine another in place of him that was deceassed, that they should +not néed to wearie themselues with going to Rome, being so farre +distant from them. The copie of which letter is registred in the +ecclesiasticall historie of Beda, bearing date the third Ides of Iune, +[Sidenote: 633.] +in the yéere of our Lord 633. The same pope sent letters also +to the Scotish people, exhorting them to celebrate the feast of +[Sidenote: The feast of Easter] +Easter in such due time as other churches of the christian world +[Sidenote: The heresie of the Pelagians] +obserued. And also bicause the heresie of the Pelagians began to +renew againe amongst them (as he was informed) he admonished them to +beware thereof, and by all meanes to auoid it. For he knew that to the +office of a pastor it is necessarilie incident, not onelie to exhort, +teach, and shew his sheepe the waies to a christian life, but also +stronglie to withstand all such vniust meanes, as might hinder their +procéeding in the truth of religion. For as poison is vnto the bodie, +that is heresie vnto veritie. And as the bodie by poison is disabled +from all naturall faculties, and vtterlie extinguished, vnlesse by +present meanes the force thereof be vanquished: so truth and veritie +by errors and heresies is manie times choked and recouereth, but neuer +strangled. + +But now that the kingdome of Northumberland flourished (as before is +partlie touched) in happie state vnder the prosperous reigne of Edwin, +at length, after he had gouerned it the space of 17 yeeres, +[Sidenote: Cadwallin, or Cadwallo king of Britaine.] +Cadwalline, or Cadwallo, king of Britaine, who succeeded Cadwane, as +Gal. Mon. saith, rebelled against him. For so it commeth to passe, +that nothing can be so sure confirmed by mans power, but the same +by the like power may be againe destroied. Penda king of Mercia +[Sidenote: Penda king of Mercia.] +enuieng the prosperous procéedings of Edwin, procured Cadwallo to +mooue this rebellion against Edwin: and ioining his power with +Cadwallo, they inuaded the countrie of Northumberland iointlie +togither. Edwin heereof aduertised, gathered his people, & came to +incounter them, so that both armies met at a place called Hatfield, +[Sidenote: King Edwin slaine. _Matth. West._] +where was fought a verie sore and bloudie battell. But in the end +Edwin was slaine with one of his sonnes named Osfride, and his armie +beaten downe and dispersed. Also there was slaine on Edwins part, +Eodbald king of Orkenie. Moreouer there was an other of Edwins sonnes +named Eadfride constreined of necessitie to giue himselfe into the +hands of Penda, and was after by him cruellie put to death, contrarie +to his promised faith in king Oswalds daies that succéeded Edwin. +Thus did king Edwin end his life in that battell, fought at Hatfield +aforesaid, on the fourth ides of October, in the yere of our Lord 633, +he being then about the age of 47 yéeres and vpwards. + + * * * * * + + + + +_The crueltie of Penda and Cadwallo after their victorie, the Britains +make no account of religion, Archbishop Pauline with queen Ethelburga +flie out of Northumberland into Kent, honorable personages accompanie +him thither, Romanus bishop of Rochester drowned, Pauline vndertaketh +the charge of that see; Osrilie is king of Deira, and Eaufride king of +Bernicia, both kings become apostatas, and fall fr[=o] christianitie +to paganisme, then are both slaine within lesse than a yeeres space; +Oswald is created king of Northumberland, his chiefs practise in feats +of armes, Cadwallo king of Britaine hath him in contempt, Oswalds +superstitious deuotion and intercession to God against his enimies; +both kings ioine battell; Cadwallo is slaine, Penda king of Mercia his +notable vertues linked with foule vices, he maketh warre on whome he +will without exception._ + +THE XXVIJ. CHAPTER. + + +Cadwallo and Penda haumg obteined the victorie aforsaid, vsed it most +cruellie. For one of the capteins was a pagan, and the other wanting +all ciuilitie, shewed himselfe more cruell than anie pagan could haue +doone. So that Penda being a worshipper of false gods with his people +of Mercia, and Cadwallo hauing no respect to the Christian religion +[Sidenote: The crueltie of Penda and Cadwallo.] +which latelie was begun amongst the Northumbers, made hauocke in +all places where they came, not sparing man, woman nor child: and so +continued in their furious outrage a long time in passing through +the countrie, to the great decay and calamitie of the Christian +congregations in those parties. And still the christian Britains were +lesse mercifull than Penda his heathenish souldiers. For euen vnto the +daies of Beda (as he affirmeth) the Britains made no account of the +faith or religion of the Englishmen, nor would communicate with them +more than with the pagans, bicause they differed in rites from their +accustomed traditions. + +[Sidenote: The archbishop Pauline flieth into Kent.] +When the countrie of the Northumbers was brought into this +miserable case by the enimies inuasion, the archbishop Pauline taking +with him the quéene Ethelburga, whom he had brought thither, returned +now againe with hir by water into Kent, where he was receiued of the +archbishop Honorius, and king Eadbald. He came thither in the conduct +of one Bassus a valiant man of warre, hauing with him Eaufred the +daughter, and Vulfrea the sonne of Edwin, & also Iffi the sonne of +Osfride Edwins sonne, whom their mother after for feare of the kings +Edbold and Oswold did send into France where they died. The church +of Rochester at that time was destitute of a bishop, by the death of +Romanus, who being sent to Rome vnto pope Honorius, was drowned by +the way in the Italian seas. Wherevpon at the request of archbishop +Honorius, and king Eadbald, Pauline tooke vpon him the charge of that +sée, and held it till he died. + +[Sidenote: _Beda_. _lib. 3. ca. 1_. OSRIKE KING OF DEIRA.] +After it was knowne that Edwin was slaine in battell (as before ye +haue heard) Osrike the sonne of his vncle Elfrike tooke vpon him the +rule of the kingdome of Deira, which had receiued the sacrament of +baptisme by the preaching and vertuous instruction of Pauline. But +[Sidenote: Eaufrid king of Bernicia.] +the other kingdome of Northumberland called Bernicia, Eaufride the son +of Edelferd or Edelfride, tooke vpon him to gouerne. This Eaufride +during the time of Edwins reigne, had continued in Scotland, and there +being conuerted to the Christian faith was baptised. But both these +princes, after they had obteined possession of their earthlie +kingdoms, did forget the care of the heauenlie kingdome, so that they +returned to their old kind of idolatrie. But almightie God did not +long suffer this their vnthankefulnesse without iust punishment: for +first in the next summer, when Osrike had rashlie besieged Cadwallo +king of the Britains, within a certeine towne, Cadwallo brake foorth +vpon him, and finding him vnprouided to make resistance, slue him +[Sidenote: The two kings of Northumberland slaine.] +with all his armie. Now after this, whilest Cadwallo not like a +conqueror gouerned the prouinces of the Northumbers, but like a tyrant +wasted and destroied them, in sleaing the people in tragicall maner, +he also slue Eaufride, the which with twelue men of warre came +vndiscréetlie vnto him to sue for peace: and thus within lesse than +twelue moneths space both these runagate kings were dispatched. + +[Sidenote: OSWALD began his reigne in the yeare 635. _Beda_. _lib.3. +cap.3_.] +Then Oswald the sonne of Edelfred, and brother to the foresaid +Eaufride was created king of the Northumbers, the sixt in number from +Ida. This Oswald after that his father was slaine, liued as a banished +person a long time within Scotland, where he was baptised, and +professed the Christian religion, and passed the flower of his youth +in good exercises, both of mind & bodie. Amongst other things he +practised the vnderstanding of warlike knowledge, minding so to vse it +as it might stand him in stead to defend himselfe from iniurie of +the enimies that should prouoke him, and not otherwise. Herevp[=o] +Cadwallo king of the Britains made in maner no account of him: for +by reason that he had atchiued such great victories against the +Englishmen, and hauing slaine their two kings (as before is expressed) +he ceassed not to proceed in his tyrannicall dooings, reputing the +English people for slouthfull, and not apt to the warre, boasting +that he was borne to their destruction. Thus being set vp in pride of +courage, he feared no perils, but boldlie (without considering at +all the skilfull knowledge which Oswald had sufficientlie learned in +feates of war) tooke vpon him to assaile the foresaid Oswald, that had +brought an armie against him, and was encamped in a plaine field néere +vnto the wall which the Romans had builded in times past against the +inuasion of Scots and Picts. + +Cadwallo streight prouoked Oswald to trie the matter by battell, but +Oswald forbare the first day, and caused a crosse to be erected in the +same place where he was incamped, in full hope that it should be an +ensigne or trophie of his victorie, causing all souldiers to make +their praiers to God, that in time of such necessitie it might please +him to succour them that worship him. It is said, that the crosse +being made, and the hole digged wherein it should be set, he tooke the +crosse in his owne hands, and putting the foot thereof into that hole, +so held it till his souldiers had filled the hole, and rammed it vp: +and then caused all the souldiers to knéele downe vpon their knées, +and to make intercession to the true and liuing God for his assistance +against the proud enimie, with whom they should fight in a iust +quarell for the preseruation of their people and countrie. + +After this, on the next morning he boldlie gaue battell to his +enimies, so that a sore and cruell fight insued betwixt them. At +length Oswald perceiued that the Britains began somwhat to faint, and +therfore caused his people to renew their force, and more lustilie +to preasse forward, so that first he put that most cruell enimie to +flight, and after pursuing the chase ouertooke him, and slue him +[Sidenote: _Beda_. _Wil. Malm._] +with the most part of all his huge and mightie armie, at a place +called Denisborne, but the place where he caused the crosse to be +erected he named Heuenfield. Thus Cadwallo the most cruell enimie of +the English name ended his life: he was terrible both in nature and +countenance, for the which cause they say the Britains did afterwards +set vp his image, that the same might be a terror to the enimies when +they should behold it. + +¶ But here is to be remembred by the British historie of Gal. Mon. +it should appeare that Cadwallo was not slaine at all, but reigned +victoriouslie for the space of 48 yéeres, and then departed this life, +as in place afterwards it shall appéere. But for that the contrarietie +in writers in such points may sooner be perceiued than reformed, to +the satisfieng of mens fansies which are variable, we will leaue +euerie man to his libertie to thinke as séemeth him good, noting now +and then the diuersitie of such writers, as occasion serueth. + +[Sidenote: PENDA. 636.] +Penda the sonne of Wilba succéeded in the gouernement of the +kingdome of Mercia after Ciarlus, and began his reigne in the yéere of +our Lord 636. He was fiftie yéeres of age before he came to be king, +and reigned 30 yeres, he was a prince right hardie and aduenturous, +not fearing to ieopard his person in place of danger, assured and +readie of remembrance in time of greatest perill. His bodie could not +be ouercome with anie trauell, nor his mind vanquished with greatnesse +of businesse. But these his vertues were matched with notable vices, +as first with such bitternesse of maners as had not béene heard of, +crueltie of nature, lacke of courtesie, great vnstedfastnesse in +performing of woord and promise, and of vnmeasurable hatred toward the +christian religion. + +Now vpon confidence in these his great vertues and vices from that +time he was made king (as though the whole Ile had bene due to him) he +thought not good to let anie occasion passe that was offered to make +war, as wel against his friends & confederats, as also against his +owne sworne enimies. Part of his dooings ye haue heard, and more shall +appeare hereafter. ¶ Of the kings of the Eastsaxons & Eastangles ye +haue heard before: of whom in places conuenient ye shall find further +mention also, and so likewise of the kings of the Southsaxons: but +bicause their kingdom continued not past fiue successions, litle +remembrance of them is made by writers. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Cadwallo king of Britain, diuers deeds of his as the British writers +haue recorded them, wherevpon discord arose betweene Cadwallo & Edwin, +who for two yeres space were linked in friendship, Cadwallo vanquisht, +his flight, of Pelitus the Spanish wizard, Cadwallo ouerthroweth Penda +and his power besieging Excester, he arreareth battell against the +Northumbers, and killeth Edwin their king, he seeketh to expell the +Saxons out of the land, Penda slaieth Oswald, whose brother and +successor Osunus by gifts and submission obteineth peace, whom Penda +spitefullie attempting to kill is killed himselfe, Cadwallo dieth, a +brasen image on horssebacke set vp in his memoriall, saint Martins at +Ludgate builded._ + +THE XXVIIJ. CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: CADWALLO, OR CADWALLINE.] +Cadwallo or Cadwalline, (for we find him so named) began his +[Sidenote: 635.] +reigne ouer the Britains, in the yéere of our Lord 635, in the +yéere of the reigne of the emperour Heracleus 35, and in the 13 yere +of Dagobert K. of France. Of this man ye haue heard partlie before +touching his dealings and warres against the Northumbers, and other of +the English nation: but forsomuch as diuers other things are reported +of him by the British writers, we haue thought good in this place to +rehearse the same in part, as in Gal. Mon. we find writen, leauing the +credit still with the author, sith the truth thereof may be the more +suspected, bicause other authors of good authoritie, as Beda, Henrie +Huntington, William Malmesburie, and others séeme greatlie to disagrée +from him herein. But thus it is written. + +[Sidenote: Edwin was not sonne to Ethelfred, but to Alla, or Elle, as +in other places plainlie appeareth.] +This Cadwallo and Edwin the sonne of Ethelfred, as Galfride saith, +were brought vp in France, being sent thither vnto Salomon king of +Britaine, by king Cadwane, when they were verie yoong. Now after their +returne into this land, when they were made kings, Cadwallo of the +Britains, & Edwin of the Northumbers, there continued for the space +of two yéeres great friendship betwixt them, till at length Edwin +required of Cadwallo that he might weare a crowne, and celebrate +appointed solemnities within his dominion of Northumberland, as well +as Cadwallo did in his countrie. Cadwallo taking aduice in this +matter, at length by persuasion of his nephue Brian, denied to grant +vnto Edwin his request, wherewith Edwin tooke such displeasure, that +he sent woord vnto Cadwallo, that he would be crowned without his +leaue or licence, sith he would not willinglie grant it. Wherto +Cadwallo answered, that if he so did, he would cut off his head vnder +his diademe, if he presumed to weare anie within the confines of +Britaine. Hereof discord arising betwixt these two princes, they began +to make fierce and cruell warre either of them against the other, +[Sidenote: Cadwallo vanquished by Edwin. Cadwallo flieth the land.] +and at length ioining in batell with their maine forces, Cadwallo +lost the field, with many thousands of his men, and being chased fled +into Scotland, and from thence got ouer into Ireland, and finally +passed the seas into Britaine Armorike, where, of his coosin king +Salomon he was courteouslie receiued, and at length obteined of him +10000 men to go with him backe into his countrie, to assist him in +recouerie of his lands & dominions, the which in the meane time were +cruellie spoiled, wasted and haried by king Edwin. + +At the same time Brian the nephue of Cadwallo, whom he had sent into +Britaine as little before to slea a certeine wizard or southsaier, +whom king Edwin had gotten out of Spaine named Pelitus, that by +disclosing the purpose of Cadwallo vnto Edwin, greatlie hindered +Cadwallos enterprises, had fortified the citie of Excester, mening to +defend it till the comming of Cadwallo, wherevpon Penda king of Mercia +besieged that citie with a mightie army, purposing to take it, and +Brian within it. Cadwallo then aduertised hereof, immediatlie after +his arriuall hasted to Excester, and diuiding his people in 4 parts, +set vpon his enimies, tooke Penda, and ouerthrew his whole armie. +Penda hauing no other shift to escape, submitted himselfe wholie vnto +Cadwallo, promising to become his liegeman, to fight against the +Saxons in his quarrell. Penda being thus subdued, Cadwallo called his +nobles togither which had bene dispersed abroad a long season, & with +all spéed went against Edwin king of Northumberland, and slue him in +battell at Hatfield (as before is mentioned) with his son Osfride, and +Eodbold king of the Iles of Orknie, which was come thither to his aid. + +¶ By this it should appeare, that Fabian hath gathered amisse in the +account of the reignes of the British kings: for it appeareth by Beda +and others, that Edwin was slaine in the yéere of our Lord 634. +[Sidenote: 634.] +And where Fabian (as before is said) attributeth that act & diuers +other vnto Cadwan the father of this Cadwallo: yet both Gal. Mon. and +Beda with the most part of all other writers signifie that it was done +by Cadwallo. Harding assigneth but 13 yéeres to the reigne of Cadwan, +and declareth that he died in the yéere of our Lord 616, in the which +(as he saith) Cadwallo began his reigne, which opinion of his séemeth +best to agrée with that which is written by other authors. But to +returne to the other dooings of Cadwallo, as we find them recorded +in the British storie. After he had got this victorie against the +Northumbers, he cruellie pursued the Saxons, as though he ment so +farre as in him lay, to destroie the whole race of them out of the +coasts of all Britaine: and sending Penda against king Oswald that +succéeded Edwin, though at the first Penda receiued the ouerthrow at +Heauenfield, yet afterwards Cadwallo himselfe highly displeased with +that chance, pursued Oswald, and fought with him at a place called +[Sidenote: Oswald slaine.] +Bourne, where Penda slue the said Oswald. Wherevpon his brother +Osunus succéeding in gouernment of the Northumbers, sought the fauour +of Cadwallo now ruling as king ouer all Britaine, and at length by +great gifts of gold and siluer, and vpon his humble submission, +[Sidenote: Oswie. _Matth. West._ 654.] +obteined peace, till at length vpon spite, Penda king of Mercia +obteined licence of Cadwallo to make warres against the said Osunus, +in the which (as it hapned) Penda himselfe was slaine. Then Cadwallo +after two yéeres granted that Vlfridus the sonne of Penda should +succeed in Mercia. + +Thus Cadwallo ruled things at his appointment within this land. And +[Sidenote: 678.] +[Sidenote: _Matt. West._ saith 676.] +finallie when he had reigned 48 yéeres, he departed this life +the 22 of Nouember. His bodie being embalmed and dressed with swéet +confections, was put into a brasen image by maruelous art melted and +cast, which image being set on a brazen horsse of excellent beautie, +the Britains set vp aloft vpon the west gate of London called Ludgate, +in signe of his conquests, and for a terror to the Saxons. Moreouer +the church of S. Martin vnderneath the same gate, was by the Britains +then builded. Thus haue the Britains made mention of their valiant +prince Cadwallo, but diuerse thinke that much of this historie is +but fables, bicause of the manifest varieng both from Beda and other +autentike writers (as before I haue said.) + + * * * * * + + + + +_The true storie of the forenamed king Oswald, his desire to restore +christian religion, Cormans preaching taking small effect among the +Northumbers, persuadeth him to depart into his owne countrie, he +slandereth them before the Scotish clergie, Aidan a godlie man telleth +the cause of the peoples not profiting by Cormans preaching, Aidan +commeth into England to instruct the people in the faith, he varieth +in the obseruation of Easter from the English churches custome, the +Northumbers haue him & his doctrine in reuerence, Oswalds earnest +zeale to further religion by Aidans preaching and ministerie, 15000 +baptised within 7 daies; Oswald hath the Britains, Scots, Picts, +& English at his commandement, his commendable deed of christian +charitie, the Westsaxons conuerted to the faith by the preaching +of Birinus, king Kinigils is baptised, he maketh Birinus bishop of +Dorcester, Penda king of Mercia maketh war against the christian +kings of the Westsaxons, both sides after a bloudie battell fall +to agrement, Ercombert the first English king that destroied idols +throughout the whole land, he ordeineth Lent; why English men became +moonks, and English women nunnes in monasteries beyond the seas; why +Penda king of Mercia enuieth vertuous king Oswald, he is assaulted, +slaine in battell, and canonized a saint after his death._ + +THE XXIX. CHAPTER. + + +Now will we (after all these differing discourses of the British +chronologers) approch and draw as néere as we can to the truth of the +historie touching Oswald king of the Northumbers, of whom we find, +[Sidenote: Oswald meaneth to be thankefull to God for his benefits. +_Beda li. 3. cap. 3. 5. 6._ _Hector Boet._] +that after he had tasted of Gods high fauour extended to himwards, in +vanquishing his enimies, as one minding to be thankefull therefore, +he was desirous to restore the christian faith through his whole +kingdome, sore lamenting the decay thereof within the same, and +therefore euen in the beginning of his reigne, he sent vnto Donwald +the Scotish king (with whome he had béene brought vp in the time of +his banishment the space of 18 yéeres) requiring him to haue some +learned Scotishman sent vnto him, skilfull in preaching the word of +life, that with godly sermons and wholesome instructions, he might +conuert the people of Northumberland vnto the true and liuing God, +promising to interteine him with such prouision as apperteined. + +[Sidenote: Corman.] +At his instance, there was sent vnto him one Corman, a clerke +singularlie well learned, and of great grauitie in behauiour: but for +that he wanted such facilitie, and plaine vtterance by waie of gentle +persuading, as is requisite in him that shall instruct the simple, +onelie setting foorth in his sermons high mysteries, and matters of +such profound knowledge, as the verie learned might scarselie perceiue +the perfect sense and meaning of his talke, his trauell came to small +effect, so that after a yéeres remaining there, he returned into his +countrie, declaring amongst his brethren of the cleargie, that the +people of Northumberland was a froward, stubborne and stiffe-harted +generation, whose minds he could not frame by anie good meanes of +persuasion to receiue the christian faith: so that he iudged it lost +labour to spend more time amongst them, being so vnthankfull and +intractable a people, as no good might be doone vnto them. + +Amongst other learned and vertuous prelats of the Scots, there chanced +[Sidenote: Aidan.] +one to be there present at the same time called Aidan, a man of so +perfect life, that (as Beda writeth) he taught no otherwise than he +liued, hauing no regard to the cares of this world, but whatsoeuer +was giuen him by kings or men of wealth and riches, that he fréelie +bestowed vpon the poore, exhorting other to doo the like. This Aidan +hearing Cormans woords, perceiued anon that the fault was not so much +in the people as in the teacher, and therefore declared, that (as he +thought) although it were so that the people of Northumberland gaue +no such attentiue eare vnto the preaching of that reuerend prelate +Corman, as his godlie expectation was they should haue doone, yet +might it be that his vttering of ouer manie mysticall articles amongst +them, farre aboue the capacitie of the vnderstanding of simple men, +was the cause why they so lightlie regarded his diuine instructions, +[Sidenote: S. Paules counsell.] +whereas if he had (according to the counsell of Saint Paule) at +the first ministred vnto their tender vnderstandings, onelie milke, +without harder nourishments, he might happilie haue woone a farre +greater number of them vnto the receiuing of the faith, and so haue +framed them by little and little to haue digested stronger food. +And therefore he thought it necessarie in discharge of their duties +towards God, and to satisfie the earnest zeale of king Oswald, +that some one amongst them might be appointed to go againe into +Northumberland, to trie by procéeding in this maner afore alledged, +what profit would thereof insue. + +The bishops hearing the opinion of Aidan, and therewith knowing +Cormans maner of preaching, iudged the matter to be as Aidan had +declared, and therevpon not onelie allowed his woords, but also willed +him to take the iournie vpon him, sith they knew none so able with +[Sidenote: Aidan commeth into England to preach the gospell.] +effect to accomplish their wished desires in that behalfe. Aidan, +for that he would not seeme to refuse to take that in hand which he +himselfe had motioned, was contented to satisfie their request, and so +set forward towards Northumberland, and comming thither, was ioifullie +receiued of king Oswald, who appointed him the Ile of Lindesfarne, +wherein to place the see of his new bishoprike. + +[Sidenote: _Beda li. 3 ca. 3_. _Hector Boet._] +This Aidan in one point varied from the vse of the new begun church +of England, that is to say, touching the time of obseruing the feast +of Easter, in like maner as all the bishops of the Scots and Picts +inhabiting within Britaine in those daies did, following therein (as +they tooke it) the doctrine of the holie and praise-woorthie father +Anatholius. But the Scots that inhabited the south parts of Ireland, +alreadie were agréed to obserue that feast, according to the rules of +the church of Rome. Howbeit Aidan being thus come into Northumberland, +applied himselfe so earnestlie in praier and preaching, that the +people had him within short while in woonderfull estimation, chiefelie +for that he tempered his preachings with such swéet and pleasant +matter, that all men had a great desire to heare him, insomuch that +sometime he was glad to preach abroad in churchyards, bicause the +audience was more than could haue roome in the church. + +One thing was a great hinderance to him, that he had not the perfect +knowledge of the Saxon toong. But Oswald himselfe was a great helpe to +[Sidenote: _Beda_. Oswald an interpretor to the preacher.] +him in that matter, who being desirous of nothing so much, as to +haue the faith of Christ rooted in the harts of his subiects, vsed as +an interpreter to report vnto the people in their Saxon toong, such +whole sermons as Aidan vttered in his mother toong. For Oswald hauing +béene brought vp (as ye haue hard) in Scotland during the time of +his banishment, was as readie in the Scotish, as he was in the Saxon +toong. The people then seeing the kings earnest desire in furthering +the doctrine set foorth by Aidan, were the more inclined to heare it: +so that it was a maruellous matter to note, what numbers of people +dailie offred themselues to be baptised, insomuch that within the +[Sidenote: _Hector Boet._] +space of seuen daies (as is left in writing) he christened 15 thousand +persons, of the which no small part forsaking the world, betooke +themselues to a solitarie kind of life. + +Thus by his earnest trauell in continuall preaching and setting foorth +the gospell in that countrie, it came to passe in the end, that the +faith was generallie receiued of all the people, and such zeale to +aduance the glorie of the christian religion dailie increased amongst +[Sidenote: Oswalds zeale to aduance religion.] +them, that no where could be found greater. Heerevpon were no small +number of churches built in all places abroad in those parties by +procurement of the king, all men liberallie consenting (according to +the rate of their substance) to be contributorie towards the charges. +By this meanes the kingdome of the Northumbers flourished, as well +[Sidenote: _Beda lib. 5. ca. 6_.] +in fame of increase in religion, as also in ciuill policie and +prudent ordinances: insomuch that (as Beda writeth) Oswald +[Sidenote: Oswald had in estimation with his neighbours.] +atteined to such power, that all the nations and prouinces within +Britaine, which were diuided into foure toongs (that is to say) +Britains, Picts, Scots, and Englishmen, were at his commandement. But +yet he was not lifted vp in anie pride or presumption, but shewed +himselfe maruellous courteous and gentle, and verie liberall to poore +people and strangers. + +It is said, that he being set at the table vpon an Ester day, & hauing +bishop Aidan at diner then with him, his almoner came in as the bishop +was about to say grace, and declared to the king that there was a +great multitude of poore folks set before the gates to looke for the +kings almes. The king héerewith tooke a siluer dish, which was set +on the table before him with meate, & commanded the same meate +streightwaies to be distributed amongst the poore, & the dish broken +into small péeces, and diuided amongst them: for which act he was +highlie commended of the bishop, as he well deserued. By the good +policie and diligent trauell of this king, the prouinces of Deira and +Bernicia, which hitherto had béene at variance, were brought to peace +and made one. + +[Sidenote: _Beda lib. 3. ca. 7_. Birinus conuerteth the Westsaxons +to the christian faith.] +About the same time, the Westsaxons were conuerted to the christian +faith, by the preaching of one Birinus a bishop, who came into this +land at the exhortation of pope Honorius, to set foorth the gospell +vnto those people which as yet were not baptised. By whose diligent +[Sidenote: Kinigils king of Westsaxon becommeth a christian. _Polydor_.] +trauell in the Lords haruest, Kingils or Kinigils, one of the kings +of that countrie receiued the faith, and was baptised about the fiue +& twentith yéere of his reigne. K. Oswald that should haue had his +daughter in mariage, was present the same time, who first yer he +became a sonne in law, was made a godfather vnto Kinigils (that +should be his father in law) by receiuing him at the fontstone, in +that his second birth of regeneration. To this Birinus, who was an +Italian, king Kinigils (now that he was become a conuert or christian) +[Sidenote: Dorcester ordeined a bishops sée.] +appointed and assigned the citie of Dorcester, situat by the +Thames, distant from Oxford about seuen miles, to be the sée of his +bishoprike, where he procured churches to be built, and by his earnest +trauell & setting foorth the woord of life, conuerted much people to +the right beliefe. In the yéere following, Quichelmus the other king +of the Westsaxons, and sonne to Kinigils was also christened, and died +the same yéere, and so Cinigilsus or Kinigils reigned alone. + +[Sidenote: _Henr. Hunt._] +In this meane while Penda king of Mercia that succéeded next after +[Sidenote: This chancéd in the yéere 620, as _Matth. West._ saith.] +Ciarlus, being a man giuen to séeke trouble in one place or other, +leauied warre against the kings of Westsaxon, Kinigils and Quichelmus, +the which gathering their power, gaue him battell at Cirenchester, +where both the parties fought it out to the vttermost, as though +they had forsworne to giue place one to another, insomuch that they +continued in fight and making of cruell slaughter till the night +parted them in sunder. And in the morning, when they saw that if they +shuld buckle togither againe, the one part should vtterlie destroie +the other, they fell to agréement in moderating ech others demands. + +[Sidenote: 640. _Beda lib. 3. cap. 7_. _Matth. West._] +After this, in the yéere of our Lord 640, Eadbald king of Kent +departed this life, after he had reigned 24 yéeres, leauing his +kingdome to his sonne Ercombert. This Ercombert was the first of the +English kings, which tooke order for the vtter destroieng of all idols +[Sidenote: Lent first ordeined to be kept in England.] +throughout his whole kingdome. He also by his roiall authoritie +commanded the fast of fortie daies in the Lent season to be kept and +obserued, appointing woorthie and competent punishment against the +[Sidenote: Segburga. Aimoinus.] +transgressors of that commandement. He had by his wife Segburga, that +was daughter vnto Anna king of the Eastangles, a daughter named +Eartongatha, a professed nunne within the monasterie of Briege or +Cala in France: for in those daies, bicause there were not manie +monasteries builded within this land, a great number of Englishmen, +that tooke vpon them the profession of a religious life, got them ouer +vnto abbeies in France, and there professed themselues moonks: and +manie there were which sent their daughters ouer to be professed +nuns within the nunneries there, and speciallie at Briege, Cala, and +Andelie: amongst other, there were Sedrike the lawfull daughter, and +Edelburgh the bastard daughter of the said king Anna, both which in +processe of time were made abbesses of the said monasterie of Briege. + +Ye haue heard alreadie, how Oswald king of Northumberland bare +himselfe in all points like a most woorthie prince, not ceasing to +releeue the necessitie of the poore, aduancing the good, and +reforming the euill, whereby he wan to himselfe excéeding praise and +commendation of all good men, and still his fame increased for +his vertuous dooings; namelie, for the ardent zeale he had to the +aduancing of the christian faith. Herevpon Penda king of Mercia, +enuieng the prosperous procéedings of Oswald, as he that could neuer +abide the good report of other mens well-dooings, began to imagine how +[Sidenote: Penda inuadeth the Northumbers. _Beda. lib. 3. cap. 9_.] +to destroie him, and to conquere his kingdome, that he might ioine it +to his owne. At length he inuaded his countrie by open warre, met +with him in the field at a place called Maserfield, and there in +[Sidenote: King Oswald slaine. _Matt. Westm._ saith 644.] +sharpe and cruell fight Oswald was slaine on the fift day of +August, in the yeare of our Lord 642, and in the 38 yeare of his age, +after he had reigned the tearme of eight or nine yeares after +some, which account that yeare vnto his reigne, in the which his +predecessors Osrike and Eaufride reigned, whome they number not +amongest kings, because of their wicked apostasie and renouncing of +the faith which before they had professed. Such was the end of that +vertuous prince king Oswald, being cruellie slaine by that wicked +tyrant Penda. Afterwards, for the opinion conceiued of his holinesse, +the foresaid Oswald was canonized a saint, and had in great worship +[Sidenote: _Will. Malmes._] +of the people, being the first of the English nation that approoued +his vertue by miracles shewed after his departure out of this life. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Oswie succeedeth Oswald in the kingdome of Northumberland, he is sore +vexed by Penda, Oswie and Oswin are partners in gouernement, they fall +at strife, Oswin is betræied into the hands of Oswie and slaine, a +commendation of his personage and goodlie qualities, bishop Aidan +dieth; Cenwalch king of the Westsaxons, Penda maketh warre against him +for putting away his wife, his flight, he becommeth a christian and +recouereth his kingdome, Bishop Agilbert commeth into Westsaxon, and +afterwards departing (upon occasion) is made bishop of Paris, Wini +buieth the bishoprike of London; Sigibert king of the Eastangles, the +vniuersitie of Cambridge founded by him, he resigneth his kingdome and +becometh a moonke, he and his kinsman Egric are slaine in a skirmish +against Penda king of Mercia._ + +THE XXX. CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: OSWIE King of Northumberland. _Beda li. 3. ca. 14_.] +After that king Oswald was slaine, his brother Oswie (being +about 30 yeares of age) tooke vpon him the rule of the kingdome of +Northumberland, gouerning the same with great trouble for the space of +28 yeares, being sore vexed by the foresaid Penda king of Mercia +and his people, which as yet were pagans. In the first yeare of his +[Sidenote: 644.] +reigne, which was in the yeare of our Lord 644. Pauline the bishop +of Rochester which had beene also archbishop of Yorke departed this +life, and then one Thamar an Englishman of the parties of Kent +was ordeined bishop of Rochester by Honorius the archbishop of +Canturburie. King Oswie had one Oswin partener with him in gouernment +of the Northumbers in the first beginning of his reigne, which +[Sidenote: Bernicia.] +was sonne to Osrike, so that Oswie gouerned in Bernicia, and Oswin in +Deira, continuing in perfect friendship for a season, till at length, +through the counsell of wicked persons, that coueted nothing so much +as to sowe discord and variance betwixt princes, they fell at debate, +and so began to make warres one against an other, so that finallie +when they were at point to haue tried their quarrell in open battell, +Oswin perceiuing that he had not an armie of sufficient force to +incounter with Oswie, brake vp his campe at Wilfaresdowne, ten mile by +west the towne of Cataracton, and after withdrew himselfe onelie with +one seruant named Condhere vnto the house of earle Hunwald, whome +he tooke to haue béene his trustie friend: but contrarie to his +expectation, the said Hunwald did betraie him vnto Oswie, who by his +captaine Edelwine slue the said Oswin and his seruant the forsaid +Condhere, in a place called Ingethling, the 13 kalends of September, +[Sidenote: 651.] +in the ninth yeare of his reigne, which was after the birth of our +Sauiour 651. + +This Oswin was a goodlie gentleman of person, tall, and beautifull, +and verie gentle of spéech, ciuill in manners, and verie liberall both +to high & low, so that he was beloued of all. Such a one he was, to +be breefe, as bishop Aidan gessed that he should not long continue +in life, for that the Northumbers were not woorthie of so good and +vertuous a gouernour. Such humblenesse and obedience he perceiued to +rest in him towards the law of the Lord, in taking that which was told +him for his better instruction in good part, that he said, he neuer +saw before that time an humble king. The same Aidan liued not past +12 daies after the death of the said Oswin, whome he so much loued, +departing this world the last daie of August, in the seuenteenth yeare +after he was ordeined bishop. His bodie was buried in the Ile of +Lindesferne. After Aidan, one Finan was made bishop in his place, a +Scotishman also, and of the Ile of Hui, from whence his predecessor +the foresaid Aidan came, being first a man of religion professed in +the monasterie there (as some writers doo report.) + +[Sidenote: CENWALCH. _Henr. Hunt._ 643.] +In the meane time, after that Kinigils or Cinigilsus king of the +Westsaxons had reigned 31 yeares, he departed this life Anno 643, +leauing his kingdome to his sonne Cenwalch or Chenwald, who held the +same kingdome the tearme of 30 yeares, or 31 (as some write) in +[Sidenote: _Ran. Higd._] +manner as his father had doone before him. In the third, or (as others +saie) in the fift yeare of his reigne, Penda king of Mercia made +sharpe warre against him, because he had put awaie his wife the sister +of the said Penda, and in this warre Chenwald was ouercome in battell, +& driuen out of his countrie, so that he fled vnto Anna king of the +Eastangles, with whome he remained the space of a yeare, or (as other +say) thrée yeares, to his great good hap: for before he was growen +to be an enimie to the christian religion, but now by the wholesome +admonitions and sharpe rebukes of king Anna, he became a christian, +and receiued his wife againe into his companie, according to the +prescript of Gods law, and (to be bréefe) in all things shewed +himselfe a new man, imbracing vertue, & auoiding vice, so that +shortlie after (through the helpe of God) he recouered againe his +kingdome. + +[Sidenote: Agilbertus a bishop.] +Now when he was established in the same, there came a bishop named +Agilbertus out of Ireland, a Frenchman borne (but hauing remained in +Ireland a long time) to reade the scriptures. This Agilbert comming +into the prouince of the Westsaxons, was gladlie receiued of king +Chenwald, at whose desire he tooke vpon him to exercise the roome of +a bishop there: but afterwards, when the said king admitted another +bishop named Wini, which had béene ordeined in France, and knew the +toong better than Agilbert, as he that was borne in England: Agilbert +offended, for that the king had admitted him without making him of +anie counsell therein, returned into France, and there was made bishop +of Paris: within a few yeares after, the foresaid Wini was expelled +also by king Chenwald, who got him into Mercia vnto king Vulfhere, of +whome he bought the bishoprike of London, which he held during his +life, and so the countrie of Westsaxon remained long without a bishop, +till at length the said Agilbert at the request of king Chenwald sent +to him Elutherius that was his nephue. + +[Sidenote: SIGIBERT.] +Ye haue heard that after Carpwald, his brother Sigibert succéeded +in rule of the Eastangles, a man of great vertue and woorthinesse, who +whilest he remained in France as a banished man, being constrained to +flée his countrie vpon displeasure that king Redwald bare him, was +baptised there, and after returning into his countrie, and obteining +[Sidenote: _Beda lib. 3. cap. 4_] +at length the kingdome, those things which he had séene well ordered +in France, he studied to follow the example of the same at home, and +herevpon considering with himselfe that nothing could more aduance the +state of the common-wealth of his countrie than learning & knowledge +in the toongs, began the foundation of certeine schooles, and namelie +[Sidenote: The vniuersitié of Cambridge founded by king Sigibert.] +at Cambridge, where children might haue places where to be instructed +and brought vp in learning vnder appointed teachers, that there might +be greater numbers of learned men trained vp than before time had +béene within this land, to the furtherance of true religion and vertue. + +So that England hath good cause to haue in thankfull remembrance this +noble prince king Sigibert, for all those hir learned men which haue +bin brought vp & come foorth of that famous vniuersitie of Cambridge, +the first foundation or rather renouation whereof was thus begun +[Sidenote: _Bate_ saith 636.] +by him about the yeare of our Lord 630. At length when this worthie +king began to grow in age, he considered with himselfe how hard a +matter, and how painefull an office it was to gouerne a realme as +apperteined to the dutie of a good king, wherevpon he determined to +leaue the charge thereof to other of more conuenient yéeres, and to +[Sidenote: Sigibert resigneth his kingdome to Egricus.] +liue from thencefoorth a priuat kind of life, and so resigning the +administration vnto his kinsman Egricus, he became a moonke, and led +the rest of his life in a certeine abbeie. + +Shortlie after it so came to passe that Penda king of Mercia (that +cruell ethnike tyrant) made sore warres vpon Egricus, whervpon +the people of Eastangles compelled Sigibert to come foorth of his +monasterie, & to go with them into the field against Penda. Sigibert +being thus constreined against his will, would not put on armour or +beare anie other kind of weapon, than onelie a wand in his hand in +steed of a scepter, and so the armie of the Eastangles in hope of +good spéed by the presence of Sigibert, ioined in battell with their +enimies, but the Eastangles were finallie vanquished, and the more +[Sidenote: Sigibert and Egricus slaine. 652.] +part of them slaine, togither with Sigibert and his coosen Egricus +their king. This happened in the yere after the birth of our Sauiour +(as some haue noted) 652. + +[Sidenote: _Baleus_. _Beda lib. 3 cap_. 19. Fuersus.] +In the daies whilest Sigibert as yet ruled the Eastangles, there +came out of Ireland a deuout person named Furseus, who comming into +the countrie of the Eastangles, was gladlie receiued of king Sigibert, +by whose helpe afterwards he builded the abbeie of Cumbreburge, in the +which Sigibert (as some haue written) when he renounced his kingdome, +was professed a moonke. Of this Furseus manie things are written, the +which for briefenesse we ouerpasse. After that Felix the bishop of the +Eastangles was dead, one Thomas was ordeined in his place, who after +he had béene bishop fiue yéeres, died, and then one Beretgils was +ordeined in his roome by Honorius the archbishop of Canturburie. The +said Honorius himselfe when he had run the race of his naturall life, +deceassed also the last of September in the yéere of our Lord 653. +[Sidenote: 653.] + + * * * * * + + + + +_Anna king of Eastangles is slaine by Penda king of Mercia, his +brother succeeding him is slaine also by Oswie king of Northumberland, +the Mercians or Middleangles receiue the faith vnder vertuous Peda +their prince, he requesteth Alchfled the king of Northumberlands +daughter in mariage, he is baptised by bishop Finnan, by whose meanes +the Eastsaxons imbraced christian religion vnder Sigibert their king, +he is murthered of two brethren that were his kinsmen vpon a conceiued +hatred against him for his good and christian life, how dangerous it +is to keepe companie with an excommunicate person, the authoritie of a +bishop._ + +THE XXXJ. CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: Anna. _Will Malmes._] +After Egricus succeeded Anna the sonne of Enus in the kingdome of +Eastangle, and is likewise slaine by Penda king of Mercia, with the +most part of his armie, as he gaue battell vnto the said Penda that +inuaded his countrie. He left behind him manie children, but his +[Sidenote: Edelhere K. of Eastangle.] +brother Edelhere succéeded him in gouernment of the kingdome, who was +slaine by Oswie the king of Northumberland, togither with the foresaid +Penda, and woorthilie, sith he would aid that tyrant which had slaine +his kinsman and his brother that were predecessors with him in his +kingdome. After this, when the sée of Canturburie had béene vacant by +[Sidenote: Deus dedit.] +the space of one whole yéere and six moneths, one Deus dedit of +the countrie of the Westsaxons, was elected and consecrated by Ithamar +the bishop of Rochester, on the 7 kalends of Aprill. He gouerned the +church of Canturburie by the tearme of nine yéeres, foure moneths, +and two daies. When he was departed this life, the foresaid Ithamar +consecrated for him one Damianus of the countrie of Sussex. + +[Sidenote: _Beda hist. eccle. lib. 3. cap._ 21. 653.] +About this time, the people of Mercia commonlie called Middleangles, +[Sidenote: Peda or Peada king of Middleangles.] +receiued the christian faith vnder their king named Peda or Peada, +the sonne of Penda king of Mercia, who being a towardlie yoong +gentleman, and woorthie to haue the guiding of a kingdome, his father +Penda aduanced him to the rule of that kingdome of the Middleangles +during his owne life. [¶ Héere maie you note, that the kingdome of the +Middleangles was one, and the kingdome of Mercia another, though most +commonlie the same were gouerned by one king.] This yoong Peda came to +Oswie king of Northumberland, requiring of him to haue his daughter +Alchfled in mariage: but when he was informed that he might not haue +hir except he would become a christian, then vpon hearing the gospell +preached, with the promise of the celestiall ioies and immortalitie, +by the resurrection of the flesh in the life to come, he said that +whether he had king Oswies daughter to wife or not, he would suerlie +be baptised, and chieflie he was persuaded therevnto by his kinsman +Alchfrid, who had in mariage his sister the daughter of Penda name +Cimburgh. + +[Sidenote: Ad murum.] +Wherefore he was baptised by bishop Finnan, with all those which +came thither with him at a place called At the wall, and taking with +him foure priests which were thought méete to teach and baptise his +people, he returned with great ioy into his owne countrie. The names +of those priests were as followeth, Cedda, Adda, Betti, and Diuna, +of the which, the last was a Scot by nation, and the other were +Englishmen. These priests comming into the prouince of the +Middleangles, preached the woord, and were well heard, so that dailie +a great number of the nobilitie & communaltie renouncing the filthie +dregs of idolatrie, were christned. Neither did king Penda forbid the +preaching of the gospell within his prouince of Mercia, but rather +hated and despised those whome he knew to haue professed themselues +[Sidenote: The saieng of king Penda.] +christians, and yet shewed not the woorks of faith, saieng, that +"Those were wretches and not to be regarded, which would not obeie +their God in whome they beléeued." This alteration of things began, +about two yéeres before the death of king Penda. + +[Sidenote: _Beda lib. 3. cap._ 22.] +About the same time, the Eastsaxons at the instance of Oswie +king of Northumberland, receiued eftsoones the faith which they had +renounced, when they banished their bishop Melitus. + +Melitus. Ye haue heard that Serred, Siward, and Sigibert brethren, and +the sonnes of king Sabert (which brethren occasioned the reuolting of +that prouince from the faith of Christ) were slaine in battell by the +kings of Westsaxon, after whome succéeded Sigibert surnamed the little +sonne to the middlemost brother Siward, as some write. This Sigibert +the litle left the kingdome to an other Sigibert that was sonne to one +Sigebald the brother of king Sabert, which second Sigibert reigned as +king in that prouince of the Eastsaxons, being a most especiall friend +of king Oswie, so that oftentimes he repaired into Northumberland to +visit him, whervpon king Oswie ceassed not most earnestlie at times +conuenient to exhort him to receiue the faith of Iesus Christ, and in +the end by such effectuall persuasions as he vsed, Sigibert gaue +[Sidenote: King Sigibert receiued the faith.] +credit to his woords, and so being conuerted, receiued the sacrament +of baptisme by the hands of bishop Finnan, at the kings house called, +At the wall, so named, bicause it was built néere to the wall which +the Romans had made ouerthwart the Ile, as is often before remembred, +being twelue miles distant from the east sea. + +[Sidenote: This was about the yéere 649, as _Matth. West._ hath noted.] +King Sigibert hauing now receiued the Christian faith, when he +should returne into his countrie, required king Oswie to appoint him +certeine instructors and teachers which might conuert his people to +the faith of Christ. King Oswie desirous to satisfie his request, sent +[Sidenote: Cedda.] +vnto the prouince of the Middleangles, calling from thence that +vertuous man Cedda, and assigning vnto him another priest to be his +associat, sent them vnto the prouince of the Eastsaxons, there to +preach the christian faith vnto the people. And when they had preached +& taught through the whole countrie, to the great increase and +inlarging of the church of Christ, it chanced on a time that Cedda +returned home into Northumberland to conferre of certeine things with +bishop Finnan which kept his sée at Lindesferne, where vnderstanding +[Sidenote: Ced or Cedda bishop of the Eastsaxons.] +by Cedda the great fruits which it had pleased God to prosper +vnder his hands, in aduancing the faith among the Eastsaxons, he +called to him two other bishops, and there ordeined the foresaid Cedda +bishop of the Eastsaxons. + +Héerevpon, the same Cedda returned vnto his cure, went forward with +more authoritie to performe the woorke of the Lord, & building +churches in diuerse places, ordeined priests and deacons which might +helpe him in preaching, and in the ministerie of baptising, speciallie +[Sidenote: Tilberie.] +in the citie of Ithancester vpon the riuer of Pent, and likewise +in Tileburge on the riuer of Thames. Whilest Ced was thus busie to the +great comfort and ioy of the king and all his people, in the setting +forward of the christian religion with great increase dailie +procéeding, it chanced thorough the instigation of the deuill, the +common enimie of mankind, that king Sigibert was murthered by two of +his owne kinsmen who were brethren, the which when they were examined +of the cause that should mooue them to that wicked fact, they had +nothing to alledge, but that they did it bicause they had conceiued an +hatred against the king, for that he was too fauourable towards his +enimies, and would with great mildnesse of mind forgiue iniuries +committed against him: such was the kings fault for the which he was +murthered, bicause he obserued the commandements of the gospell with a +deuout hart. + +Notwithstanding, in this his innocent death, his offense was punished, +wherein he had suerlie transgressed the lawes of the church. For +whereas one of them which slue him kept a wife, whome he had +vnlawfullie maried, and refused to put hir away at the bishops +admonition, he was by the bishop excommunicated, and all other of the +christian congregation commanded to absteine from his companie. This +notwithstanding, the king being desired of him came to his house to a +banket, and in his comming from thence met with the bishop, whome when +the king beheld, he waxed afraid, and alighted from his horsse, and +fell downe at his féet, beséeching him of pardon for his offense. The +bishop, which also was on horssebacke likewise alighted, and touching +the king with his rod which he had in his hand, as one something +[Sidenote: The authoritie of a bishop.] +displeased, and protesting as in the authoritie of a bishop, spake +these words; "Bicause (saith he) thou wouldst not absteine from +entring the house of that wicked person being accurssed, thou shalt +die in the same house:" and so it came to passe. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Suidhelme king of the Eastsaxons, he is baptised, the bishoplike +exercises of Ced in his natiue countrie of Northumberland; Ediswald K. +of Deira reuerenceth him, the kings deuout mind to further and inlarge +religion; the maner of consecrating a place appointed for a holie vse; +the old order of fasting in Lent, bishop Ced dieth; warre betweene +Oswie and Penda, Oswie maketh a vow to dedicate his daughter a +perpetuall virgine to God if he got the victorie, he obteineth his +request and performeth his vow, she liueth, dieth, and is buried in a +monasterie, the benefit insuing Oswies conquest ouer his enimies, the +first second and third bishops of Mercia, the victorious proceeding of +king Oswie; prince Peado his kinsman murthered of his wife._ + +THE XXXIJ. CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: SUIDHELME. _Beda lib. 3. cap. 22_. _Matt. West_] +After Sigbert succeeded Suidhelme in the kingdome of the +Eastsaxons, he was the son of Sexbald, and baptised of Ced in the +prouince of the Eastangles, at a place of the kings there called +Rendlessham. Ediswald king of the Eastangles (the brother of king +Anna) was his godfather at the fontstone. Ced the bishop of the +[Sidenote: _Beda_ lib.3. cap.23.] +Eastsaxons vsed oftentimes to visit his countrie of Northumberland +where he was borne, and by preaching exhorted the people to godlie +life. Whervpon it chanced that king Ediswald the son of king Oswald +which reigned in the parties of Deira, mooued with the fame of his +vertuous trade of liuing, had him in great reuerence: and therefore +vpon a good zeale and great deuotion, willed him to choose foorth some +plot of ground where he might build a monasterie, in the which the +king himselfe and others might praie, heare sermons the oftener, and +haue place where to burie the dead. The bishop consenting to the kings +mind, at length espied a place amongst high and desert mounteins, +where he began the foundation of a monasterie, afterwards called +Lestinghem. + +Wherefore meaning first of all to purge the place with praier & +fasting, he asked leaue of the king that he might remaine there all +the Lent, which was at hand, and so continuing in that place for +[Sidenote: The maner of the old fast.] +that time, fasted euerie daie (sundaie excepted) from the morning +vntill euening, according to the maner, nor receiued anie thing then +but onlie a little bread, and a hens eg, with a little milke mixt with +water: for he said that this was the custome of them of whome he had +learned the forme of his regular order, that they should consecrate +those places vnto the Lord with praier and fasting, which they latelie +had receiued to make in the same either church or monasterie. + +And when there remained ten daies of Lent yet to come, he was sent for +to the king: wherefore he appointed a brother which he had, being also +a priest named Cimbill, to supplie his roome, that his begun religious +woorke should not be hindered for the kings businesse. Now when the +time was accomplished, he ordeined a monasterie there, appointing the +[Sidenote: Lindisferne holie Iland.] +moonks of the same to liue after the rules of them of Lindesferne +where he was brought vp. Finallie this bishop Ced comming vnto this +monasterie afterwards by chance in time of a sicknesse, died there, +and left that monasterie to the gouernance of another brother which +he had named Ceadda, that was after a bishop, as afterwards shall +be shewed. There were foure brethren of them, and all priests, Ced, +Cimbill, Ceulin, and Ceadda, of the which Ced and Ceadda were bishops, +as before is said. + +[Sidenote: _Beda. lib. 3. cap. 24_.] +About the same time, Oswie king of Northumberland was sore +oppressed by the warres of Penda king of Mercia, so that he made great +offers of high gifts, and great rewards vnto the said Penda for +peace, but Penda refused the same, as he that meant vtterlie to haue +[Sidenote: War betwéene king Oswie & king Penda.] +destroied the whole nation of Oswies people, so that Oswie turning +himselfe to seeke helpe at the hands of the almightie, said: If the +pagan refuse to receiue the gifts which we offer, let us make offer +vnto him that knoweth how to accept them: and so binding himselfe by +vow, promised that if he might obtein victorie, he would offer his +daughter to be dedicate to the Lord in perpetuall virginitie: and +further would giue twelue manors, lordships or farmes to the building +of monasteries: and so with a small armie he put himselfe in hazard of +battell. + +It is said that Penda had thirtie companies of men of warre, furnished +with thirtie noble capteins or coronels, against whome came Oswie with +his sonne Alchfrid, hauing but a small armie, but confirmed yet with +hope in Christ Iesus. His other son Ecgfrid remained in hostage at +that time with quéene Cinnise. Edilwald the sonne of Oswald that +gouerned Deira, & ought to haue aided Oswie, was on the part of Penda +against his countrie, and against his vncle, but in time of the fight +he withdrew himselfe aside, to behold what chance would follow. The +[Sidenote: The victorie of the Northumbers.] +battell being begun, the thirtie pagan capteins were ouerthrowne +and put to flight, and those that came to aid Penda were almost all +slaine, among whome was Edilhere king of the Eastangles, that reigned +after his brother Anna, and was the procurer of this warre. This +battell was fought néere to the water of Inwet, the which being risen +as then by reason of great raine, drowned more of the enimies than +died of the Northumbers swoords. + +After that Oswie had obteined this victorie, he performed promise in +bestowing his daughter to the profession of virginitie, and also gaue +the twelue manors, whereof six were in Deira, and six in Bernicia, +[Sidenote: Elfled.] +containing euerie of them ten housholds a péece. Elfled also king +[Sidenote: Herteshey saith _Matt. West._ Hilda.] +Oswies daughter was professed in the monasterie of Herthew, where one +Hilda was abbesse, which Hilda purchasing a lordship of ten housholds +in Streanshall, now called Whitbie, builded a monasterie there, in the +which first the said Elfled was a nouice, and after a ruler, till at +length being of the age of fortie yéeres she departed this life, and +was buried there, and so likewise was hir mother Eufled, and hir +grandfather Edwin, with manie other high estates within the church of +saint Peter the apostle. The victorie aboue mentioned got by king +[Sidenote: Loides.] +Oswie in the countrie of Loides on the 17 kalends of December, & in +the thirtenth yéere of his reigne, happened to the great commoditie +and gaine of both the people, for by the same he deliuered his +countrie of Northumberland from the cruell destruction made in the +same by the pagan people of Mercia, and conuerted those pagans +themselues, and the countries néere adioining to them wholie vnto the +faith of Iesus Christ. + +[Sidenote: The first bishop of Mercia.] +The first bishop in the prouince of Mercia, and also of Lindesferne +and the Middleangles was one Diuma, who died amongst the Middleangles. +The second was Cellach, the which leauing his bishoprike returned into +Scotland, for they were both of the nation of the Scots. The third was +an Englishman named Trumhere, but instructed and ordeined of the Scots. +He was abbat of the monasterie of Ingethlingum, being builded in that +place where king Oswin was slaine (as before is mentioned.) For quéene +Eufled that was his kinswoman got of hir husband king Oswie a place +there for the foresaid Trumhere to build that abbeie vpon. + +[Sidenote: The victorious procéeding of king Oswie.] +King Oswie hauing slaine king Penda, gouerned the people of +Mercia, and also other of the south prouinces, & subdued a great part +of the Pictish nation to the English dominion. About the same time +king Oswie gaue vnto Peada the son of king Penda (bicause he was his +[Sidenote: Southmercia.] +kinsman) the countrie of the Southmercies, conteining 5000 housholds, +[Sidenote: Northmercia. 659.] +and separated from the Northmercies by the riuer Trent. The countrie +of the Northmercies conteined in those daies 7000 housholds. But +Peada in the next spring was wickedlie murthered through the treason +of his wicked wife (as was said) in the feast of Easter. +[Sidenote: _Matt. West._] + + * * * * * + + + + +_The dukes of Mercia rebell against Oswie, recouer their owne bounds, +and create Wulfhere their king; Cenwald king of the Westsaxons +fighteth with the Britaines and preuaileth, he is vanquished by +Wulfhere; Adelwold king of Sussex hath the Ile of Wight giuen him, and +why; succession of Edelher, Edelwald, and Aldulfe in the kingdome +of Eastangles; Colman a Scot first made bishop of Northumberland, +controuersie about the obseruation of Easter, about bald crownes or +shauing the haire, superstition punished by God, Ceadda bishop of +Yorke, his course of life and diligence in his office commended; +Egbert king of Kent, the see of Canturburie void, the preferment +thereto refused, Theodore a moonke supplieth the roome at the popes +appointment, all the English clergie obey him as their head, his +visitation and reformation, singing vsed in churches, Theodore and +Adrian woorthilie praised, English men happie, glasiers first brought +into this Iland._ + +THE XXXIIJ. CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: _Beda. lib. 3. cap. 24_.] +After three yeeres were complet, next ensuing the death of king +Penda, the dukes of the countrie of Mercia, Immin, Eaba, and Eadbert +rebelled against king Oswie, aduancing one Wulfhere a yoong gentleman +the sonne of Peda, and brother to Peada, whom they had kept in secret +to be their king, and expelling the lieutenants of king Oswie, they +recouered both their owne confines and libertie withall, and so liuing +in fréedome with their owne naturall king the foresaid Vulfhere, they +also continued with glad hearts in seruice of the celestiall king our +God and Sauior. + +[Sidenote: VULFHERE. _Beda. lib. 3. cap. 24_.] +This Vulfhere gouerned the Mercies seuentéene yeares, the which +Mercies (during the reigne of the said Vulfhere) had foure bishops +successiuelie gouerning the church of that prouince one after another, +as the aboue mentioned Trumhere, Iaroman, Ceadda, and Winfrid, as +hereafter shall more at large appeare. + +[Sidenote: _Henr. Hunt._ _Matt. West._] +About the beginning of king Vulfheres reigne, that is to say, in the +seuentéenth yeare of the reigne of Chenwald king of the Westsaxons, +the same Chenwald fought with the Britains at Pennum, where the +Britains being assembled in great number, proudlie incountred with the +Englishmen, and at the first put them to the woorst, but when the +Englishmen would in no wise giue ouer, but did sticke to their tackle, +at length the Britains were put to flight, so that the posteritie of +[Sidenote: The Britains put to flight by Chenwald.] +Brute receiued that day an incurable wound. But within thrée yeares +after, that is, in the ninetéenth yeare of the reigne of the said +Chenwald, he had not the like lucke in battell against the foresaid +[Sidenote: Chenwald vanquished by Vulfhere.] +Vulfhere king of Mercia, as he had before against the Britains, for +the said Vulfhere vanquishing him in the field, passed through this +[Sidenote: Adelwold of Sussex.] +countrie with a great armie vnto the Ile of Wight, which he conquered, +and deliuered it vnto Adelwold king of Sussex, as a gift at that time, +when he receiued him at the fontstone after he had conuerted him to +the faith. He gaue vnto Adelwold that Ile, to the end he should cause +the people there to receiue the faith and religion of Christ. Now +after that Edelhere king of Eastangles was slaine, as before is +mentioned, his brother Edelwald succéeded him in that kingdome, +reigning as king thereof by the space of nine yeares. Then after +Edelwald succéeded Aldulfe the son of Edelhere in gouernment of that +kingdome, and reigned 25 yeares. + +[Sidenote: _Beda. lib. 3. cap. 24_.] +After Finan bishop of the Northumbers that held his see at +[Sidenote: Colman ordeined bishop.] +Lindesferne, as Aidan did before him, one Colman was ordeined +bishop, a Scot borne, and an earnest obseruer of the customes vsed +amongest them of his nation, so that when the controuersie began to +[Sidenote: _Beda. lib. 3. cap. 25_.] +be reuiued for the holding of the feast of Easter, he would by no +meanes yéeld to them that would haue perswaded him to haue followed +the rite of the Romane church. There was a great disputation kept +about this matter, and other things, as shauing or cutting of heares, +and such like in the monasterie of Whitbie, at the which king Oswie +and his sonne Alcfrid were present, where Colman for his part alledged +the custome of Iohn the euangelist, and of Anatholius; and the +contrarie side brought in proofe of their opinion, the custome of +Peter and Paule. At length, when bishop Colman perceiued that his +[Sidenote: Controuersie about shauing of crownes. _Cap. 6_.] +doctrine was not so much regarded, as he thought of reason it +ought to haue béene, he returned into Scotland with those, which +taking part with him, refused to obserue the feast of Easter according +to the custome of the church of Rome, nor would haue their crownes +[Sidenote: 664.] +shauen, about which point no small reasoning had béene kept. This +disputation was holden in the yeare of our Lord 664, and in the yeare +of the reigne of king Oswie 22, and 30 yeare after the Scotishmen +began first to beare the office of bishops within Northumberland, +which was (as W. Harison saith) 624. For Aidan gouerned 17 yeares, +Finan 10 yeares, & Colman 3 yeares. After that Colman was returned +[Sidenote: Tuda ordeined bishop.] +into his countrie, one Tuda that had béene brought vp amongest the +Southerne Scots, and ordeined bishop by them, succéeded in his roome, +hauing his crowne shauen, and obseruing the feast of Easter according +to the custome of the prouince and rite of the Romane church. +[Sidenote: _Cap. 27_.] +¶ The same yeare, there chanced a great eclipse of the sunne, the third +[Sidenote: An eclipse. Punishment of God for yelding to superstition.] +of Maie about 10 of the clocke in the day. A great dearth and +mortalitie insued, both in all the parties of this our Britaine, and +likewise in Ireland. Amongest other, the foresaid bishop Tuda died, +and was buried in the abbeie of Pegnalech. After this Tuda, succéeded +[Sidenote: Wilfrid bishop.] +in gouernement of the church of Lindesferne, otherwise called Holie +Iland, one Wilfrid, which was sent by king Alcfrid into France, to be +ordeined there. + +About the same time king Oswie, the father of king Alcfrid, mooued +[Sidenote: _Cap. 28_.] +with the good example of his sonne, sent Ceadda, the brother of +Ced sometime bishop of the Eastsaxons into Kent, to be ordeined bishop +of Yorke, but at his comming into Kent he found that Deus dedit the +archbishop of Canturburie was dead, and none other as yet ordeined +[Sidenote: Ceadda ordeined archbishop of Yorke.] +in his place, so that Ceadda repaired into the prouince of the +Westsaxons, where he was ordeined by bishop Wini, who tooke two other +bishops of the British nation vnto him to be his associats, which vsed +to obserue the feast of Easter contrarie to the custome of the Romane +church. But there was no other shift, sith none other bishop was then +canonicallie ordeined in the prouince of the Westsaxons in those +daies, this Wini onlie excepted, and therefore was he constreined to +take such as he might get and prouide. + +After that Ceadda was thus ordeined, he began forthwith to follow the +true rules of the church, liued right chastlie, shewed himselfe humble +and continent, applied his studie to reading, and trauelled abroad +on foot and not on horssebacke through the countries, townes, and +villages, to preach the word of God. He was the disciple of Aidan, and +coueted by his example, and also by the example of Ced, to instruct +his hearers with the like dooings & maners as he had knowen them to +doo. Wilfrid also being consecrated bishop, and returned into England, +indeuored to plant the orders of the Romane church in the churches +of England, whereby it came to passe, that the Scots which inhabited +amongst the Englishmen, were constreined either to follow the same, or +else to returne into their owne countrie. + +[Sidenote: EGBERT king of Kent.] +In this meane time, king Ercombert being departed this life, after +he had gouerned the Kentishmen by the space of twentie yeares, his +sonne Egbert succéeded him in the kingdome, and reigned nine yeares. +There is little remembrance of his dooings, which in that short time +were not much notable, except ye will ascribe the comming into this +land of the archbishop Theodorus, and the abbat Adrian vnto his +glorie, which chanced in his time. For in the yeare of the great +eclipse and sore mortalitie that insued, it chanced that both king +Ercombert, & the archbishop Deus dedit departed this life, so that the +[Sidenote: _Beda. lib. 3. cap. 9_.] +see of Canturburie was void a certeine time, in so much that king +Egbert, who succéeded his father Ercombert, togither with king +[Sidenote: Wighart.] +Oswie, did send one Wighart a priest of good reputation for his +excellent knowledge in the scriptures, vnto Rome, with great gifts +and rich vessels of gold and siluer, to be presented vnto the pope, +requiring him that he would ordeine the foresaid Wighart archbishop +of Canturburie, to haue rule of the English church. But this Wighart +comming vnto Rome, and declaring his message vnto Vitalianus then +gouerning the church of Rome, immediatlie after he died of the +pestilence (that then reigned in that citie) with all those that came +with him. + +[Sidenote: _Beda. lib. 4 cap. 1_. Adrian.] +The pope then taking aduice whome he might ordeine vnto the sée of +Canturburie, being thus destitute of an archbishop, appointed a moonke +named Adrian to take that office vpon him, but Adrian excused himselfe +as not sufficient for such a roome, and required the pope to appoint +one Andrew a moonke also, wherevnto the pope consented. But when +Andrew was preuented by death, eftsoones Adrian should haue béene made +archbishop, but that he named one Theodore an other moonke that abode +as then in Rome, but was borne in the citie of Tharsus in Cilicia, +verie well learned both in the Gréeke and Latine, and being of +reuerend yeares, as of 76. This Theodore by the presentment of +Adrian, was appointed to be ordeined archbishop of Canturburie, with +condition, that Adrian should neuerthelesse attend vpon him into +England, both for that he had béene twise before this time in France, +and so knew the coasts; and againe, for that he might assist him in +all things, and looke well to the matter, that Theodore should not +bring into the church of England anie rite or custome of the Gréekes, +contrarie to the vse of the Romane church. Theodore being first +ordeined subdeacon, tarried foure moneths till his heare was growen, +that he might haue his crowne shauen after the maner of Peter. For he +was rounded or shauen after the maner of the East church, which was as +they persuaded themselues, according to the vse of saint Paule the +[Sidenote: Theodore ordeined archbishop of Canturburie. 668.] +apostle. And so at length was this Theodore ordeined archbishop of +Canturburie by pope Vitalianus in the yeare of our Lord 668, the sixt +kalends of June, and with Adrian sent into Britaine. + +These with their retinue came to France, and being come thither, +shortlie after king Egbert had knowledge thereof: wherevpon with all +conuenient spéed he sent ouer one of his nobles named Redfrid to bring +the archbishop into England, and so he did: but Adrian was staied for +a time, because he was suspected to haue had some commission from the +emperour to haue practised with the Englishmen, for the disquieting +of the realme of France. Howbeit, after it was perceiued that this +suspicion was grounded on no truth, he was also suffered to follow the +archbishop, and so comming vnto Canturburie, he was made abbat of the +monasterie of saint Augustines. The archbishop Theodore came thus +vnto his church of Canturburie in the second yeare after his +consecration, about the second kalends of June, being sundaie. He +gouerned the same church also 21 yeares and 16 daies, and was the +first archbishop to whome all the churches of England did acknowledge +their obeisance. + +Being accompanied with the foresaid Adrian, he visited all the parts +of this land, ordeined bishops and ministers in churches where he +thought conuenient, and reformed the same churches as séemed to him +néedfull, as well in other things which he misliked, as also in +[Sidenote: _Ran. Cest. Matth. West._] +causing them to obserue the feast of Easter, according to the right +[Sidenote: _Beda_.] +and vsage of the church of Rome. Ceadda that was bishop of Yorke, +because he was not lawfullie ordeined, as he himselfe confessed, was +remoued from the sée of Yorke, and Wilfrid was therevnto restored, so +that Ceadda (though he were not disgraded of his degrée of bishop) +liued yet a priuat kind of life, till he was admitted bishop of +Mercia, as after shall be shewed. Also whereas before time there was +in maner no singing in the English churches, except it were in Kent, +[Sidenote: Singing in churches brought in vse.] +now they began in euerie church to vse singing of diuine seruice +after the rite of the church of Rome. The archbishop Theodore finding +the church of Rochester void by the death of the last bishop named +[Sidenote: Putta bishop of Rochester.] +Damian, ordeined one Putta a simple man in worldlie matters, but well +instructed in ecclesiasticall discipline, and namelie well séene in +song and musicke to be vsed in the church after the maner as he had +learned of pope Grogories disciples. + +[Sidenote: The worthie praise of Theodore and Adrian.] +To be bréefe, the archbishop Theodore, and the abbat Adrian +deserued great commendation in this, that whereas they were notablie +well learned themselues in the Greeke and the Latine toongs, and also +had good knowledge as well in the liberall arts, as in the scripture, +they tooke great paines to traine vp scholers in knowledge of the +[Sidenote: Englishmen happy and why.] +same, so that the Englishmen had not seene more happie times +than in those daies, hauing as then kings of great puissance, so as +strangers stood in feare of them; and againe, those that coueted +learning, had instructors at hand to teach them, by reason whereof +[Sidenote: _Beda_.] +diuers being giuen to studie, prooued excellent both in knowledge +of the Gréeke and Latine. There came in companie of the said +[Sidenote: Benedict or Benet surnamed Biscop.] +archbishop from Rome, an English man named Benedict Biscop, which had +taken vpon him the habit of a moonke in Italie, and now returning into +his countrie, builded two abbeis, the one named Wiremouth, because it +was placed at the mouth of the riuer of Wire, and the other Girwie, +distant from Wiremouth about fiue miles, and from the towne of +[Sidenote: 670.] +Newcastle foure miles, situated neere to the mouth of Tine. +Wiremouth was built in the yeare 670, and Girwie in the yeare 673. +There were a 600 moonks found in those two houses, and gouerned +[Sidenote: Glasiers first brought into England. _Ran. Cest._] +vnder one abbat. The said Benedict was the first that brought +glasiers, painters, and other such curious craftsmen into England. He +went fiue times to Rome, and came againe. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Sighere and Sebbie associats reigne ouer the Eastsaxons, the one +falleth from, the other cleaueth to the faith, Vulfhere king of Mercia +sendeth bishop Iaroman to redresss that apostasie of the prince and +the people, Cead bishop of Mercia, the king of that countrie hath him +in hie reputation, Egfrid king of Northumberland, a synod of bishops +holden at Herford, articles propounded out of the canons by Theodore +archbishop of Canturburie, Bisi unable to discharge his episcopall +office, a remedie therefore; Kenwalke of a very euill prince becometh +a verie good ruler, his wife gouerneth the kingdome after his death, +Escuius succeedeth hir in the roome, of Thunnir a murtherer +king Egberts principall vicegerent, bishop Winfrid deposed for +disobedience, Sebbie king of the Eastsaxons a professed moonke, his +death._ + +THE XXXIIIJ. CHAPTER. + + +About the same time, after that Suidhelme king of the Eastsaxons was +dead, Sighere the son of Sigbert the little, and Sebbie the son of +Suward succéeded him in gouernement of that kingdome, albeit they +[Sidenote: _Beda. lib. 3. cap. 30_.] +were subiect vnto Vulfhere the king of Mercia. Sighere in that time, +when the great mortalitie reigned, renounced the faith of Christ, with +that part of the people which he had in gouernement, for both the same +Sighere and others of his chiefest lords, and also part of his commons +louing this life, and not regarding the life to come, began to repaire +their idolish churches, and fell to the worshipping of idols, as +though thereby they should haue beene defended from that mortalitie. +But his associat Sebbie with great deuotion continued stedfast in the +faith which he had receiued. + +King Vulfhere being informed of Seghers apostasie, and how the people +[Sidenote: Bishop Iaruman or Iaroman.] +in his part of the prouince of Eastsaxons were departed from the +faith, sent thither bishop Iaruman or Iaroman, that was successour +vnto Trumhere, which vsed such diligence and godlie meanes, that he +reduced the said king and all his people vnto the right beliefe, so +as the idolish synagogs were destroied, and the idols also with their +altars quite beaten downe, the Christian churches againe set open, and +the name of Christ eftsoones called vpon amongest the people, coueting +now rather to die in him with hope of resurrection in the world to +come, than to liue in the seruice of idols, spotted with the filth +of errors and false beleefe. And thus when bishop Iaroman had +accomplished the thing for the which he was sent, he returned into +Mercia. + +After this, when the said Iaroman was departed this life, king +Vulfhere sent vnto the archbishop Theodorus, requiring him to prouide +the prouince of the Mercies of a new bishop. Theodorus not minding +to ordeine anie new bishop at that time, required Oswie king of +Northumberland, that Bishop Cead might come into Mercia to exercise +the office of bishop there. This Cead liued as it were a priuat life +at that time in his monasterie of Lestingham, for Wilfrid held the +bishoprike of Yorke, extending his authoritie ouer all Northumberland +& amongest the Picts also, so farre as king Oswies dominion stretched. +Therefore Cead hauing licence to go into Mercia, was gladlie receiued +of king Vulfhere, and well enterteined, in so much that the said +king gaue vnto him lands and possessions conteining 50 families +or housholds to build a monasterie in a certeine place within the +countrie of Lindsey called Etbearne. But the sée of his bishoprike was +assigned to him at Lichfield in Staffordshire, where he made him a +house néere to the church, in the which he with 7 or 8 other of his +brethren in religion vsed in an oratorie there to praie and reade, +so often as they had leasure from labour and businesse of the world. +Finallie, after he had gouerned the church of Mercia by the space of +two yeares and an halfe, he departed this life, hauing 7 daies warning +giuen him (as it is reported) from aboue, before he should die, after +a miraculous maner, which because in the iudgement of the most it may +séeme méere fabulous, we will omit and passe ouer. His bodie was first +buried in the church of our ladie, but after that the church of saint +Peter the apostle were builded, his bones were translated into the +same. + +[Sidenote: 671. _Matth. West._] +In the yeare of our Lord 671, which was the second yeare after +that Theodorus the archbishop came into this land, Oswie king of +Northumberland was attacked with a grieuous sicknesse, and died +thereof the 15 kalends of March, in the 58 yeare of his age, after +[Sidenote: EGFRID. _Beda. lib. 4. cap 5_. _Matth. West._ 673.] +he had reigned 28 yeares complet. After Oswie, his sonne Egfrid +succéeded in rule of the kingdome of Northumberland, in the third +yeare of whose reigne, that is to say, in the yeare of our Lord 673, +Theodorus the archbishop of Canturburie kept a synod at Herford, the +first session whereof began the 24 of September, all the bishops of +this land being present either in person or by their deputies, as +[Sidenote: A synod holden at Herford.] +Bisi bishop of Estangle, Wilfrid of Northumberland by his deputie +Putta bishop of Rochester, Eleutherius bishop of Westsaxon, and +Wilfrid bishop of Mercia. In the presence of these prelats, the +[Sidenote: Articles proponed by Theodore.] +archbishop shewed a booke, wherein he had noted ten chapters or +articles taken out of the booke of the canons, requiring that the same +might be receiued. + + 1 The first chapter was, that the feast of Easter should be kept on + the sundaie following the fourtéenth day of the first moneth. + + 2 The second, that no bishop should intermedle in an others diocesse, + but be contented with the cure of his flocke committed to him. + + 3 The third, that no bishop should disquiet in anie thing anie + monasterie consecrated to God, nor take by violence anie goods that + belonged vnto the same. + + 4 The fourth, that bishops being moonks should not go from + monasterie to monasterie, except by sufferance and permission of + their abbats, & should continue in the same obedience wherein they + stood before. + + 5 The fift, that none of the cleargie should depart from his bishop + to run into anie other diocesse, nor comming from anie other place + should be admitted, except he brought letters of testimonie with + him. But if anie such chanced to be receiued, if he refused to + returne, being sent for home, both he and his receiuer should be + excommunicated. + + 6 The sixt, that bishops and other of the cleargie being strangers + shold hold them content with the benefit of hospitalitie, & should + not take in hand anie priestlie office, without licence of the + bishop, in whose diocesse he chanced so to be remaining. + + 7 The seuenth, that twice in the yeare a synod should be kept, but + because of diuers impediments herein, it was thought good to them + all, that in the kalends of August a synod should be kept once in + the yeare, at a certeine place called Cloofeshough. + + 8 The eighth chapter was, that no one bishop should by ambition + séeke to be preferred aboue another, but that euerie one should + know the time and order of his consecration. + + 9 The ninth, that as the number of the christians increased, so + should there be more bishops ordeined. + + 10 The tenth was touching mariages, that none should contract + matrimonie with anie person, but with such as it should be + lawfull for him by the orders of the church: none should match + with their kinsfolke, no man should forsake his wife, except + (as the gospell teacheth) for cause of fornication. But if anie + man did put awaie his wife which he had lawfullie married, if + he would be accounted a true Christian, he might not be coopled + with an other, but so remaine, or else be reconciled to his owne + wife. + +These articles, being intreated of and concluded, were confirmed +with the subscribing of all their hands, so as all those that did +go against the same, should be disgraded of their priesthood, and +separated from the companie of them all. + +[Sidenote: Bisi bishop of the Eastangles.] +The forsaid Bisi that was bishop of the Eastangles, and present at +this synod, was sucessor unto Bonifacius, which Bonifacius held that +sée 17 yéeres, and then departing this life, Bisi was made bishop of +that prouince, and ordeined by the archbishop Theodore. This Bisi at +length was so visited with sicknesse, that he was not able to exercise +the ministration, so that two bishops were then & there elected and +consecrated for him, the one named Aecci, and the other Baldwin. + +[Sidenote: 872. (sic, should read 672.)] +In this meane while, that is, about the yéere of our Lord 872(sic), +or in the beginning of 873(sic), as Harison noteth, Kenwalch king of +the Westsaxons departed this life, after he had reigned 30 yéeres. +[Sidenote: _Matth. West._ de reg. lib. 1.] +This Kenwalch was such a prince, as in the beginning he was to be +compared with the woorst kind of rulers, but in the middest and later +end of his reigne, to be matched with the best. His godlie zeale borne +towards the aduancing of the christian religion well appéered in the +building of the church at Winchester, where the bishops sée of all +that prouince was then placed. His wife Segburga ruled the kingdome of +Westsaxons after him, a woman of stoutnesse inough to haue atchiued +acts of woorthie remembrance, but being preuented by death yer she had +reigned one whole yéere, she could not shew anie full proofe of hir +noble courage. I remember that Matth. West. maketh other report +heereof, declaring that the nobilitie remooued hir from the +gouernment. But I rather follow William Malmesburie in this matter. + +[Sidenote: Escuinus. _Will Malmes._] +To procéed, after Segburga was departed this life, or deposed (if +you will néeds haue it so) Escuinus or Elcuinus, whose grandfather +called Cuthgislo, the brother of K. Kinigils, succéeding in gouernment +of the Westsaxons, reigned about the space of two yéeres: and after +his deceasse, one Centiuinus or Centwine tooke vpon him the rule, and +continued therein the space of nine yeeres. But Beda saith that these +two ruled at one time, and diuided the kingdom betwixt them. +[Sidenote: _Hen. Hunt._] +Elcuinus fought against Vulfhere king of Mercia, a great number of men +being slaine on both parties, though Vulfhere yet had after a maner +the vpper hand, as some haue written. + +[Sidenote: _Beda lib. & ca. supr. dict._] +In the same yéere that the synod was holden at Herford, that is to +say, in the yéere of our Lord 673, Egbert the king of Kent departed +this life in Iulie, and left the kingdome to his brother Lothaire, +[Sidenote: Io. Lothaire.] +which held the same eleuen yéeres, & seuen moneths. Some haue written +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm. Beda. de reg. lib. 1_.] +that king Egbert by the suggestion of one Thunnir, who had the +chiefe rule of the kingdome vnder him, suffered the same Thunnir in +lamentable maner to kill the two innocent sonnes of Ermenredus the +brother of king Ercombert, that was father vnto King Egbert, for +[Sidenote: Thunnir. A vile murther.] +doubt least they being towardlie yoong gentlemen, might in time grow +so into fauour with the people, that it should be easie for them to +depriue both Egbert, and his issue of the kingdome. Also, that they +were priuilie put to death, and secretlie buried at the first, but the +place of their buriall immediatlie being shewed after a miraculous +maner, their bodies long after in the daies of king Egilred the sonne +of king Edgar, were taken vp, & conueied vnto Ramsey, and there +buried. And although Egbert being giltie of the death of those his +coosens, did sore repent him, for that he vnderstood they died +giltlesse, yet his brother Lothaire was thought to be punished for +that offense, as after shall be shewed. + +[Sidenote: Bishop Winfrid deposed.] +Winfrid bishop of the Mercies, for his disobedience in some point +[Sidenote: Sexvulfe ordeined bishop of the Mercies. 685, as +Matth. Westm. saith, Bishop Erkenwald.] +was depriued by archbishop Theodore, and one Sexvulfe that was the +builder and also the abbat of the monasterie Meidhamsted, otherwise +called Peterborough, was ordeined and consecrated in his place. About +the same time, Erkenwald was ordeined bishop of the Eastsaxons, and +appointed to hold his sée in the citie of London. This Erkenwald was +reputed to be a man of great holinesse and vertue. Before he was made +bishop, he builded two abbeies, the one of moonks at Chertsey in +Southerie, where he himselfe was abbat, and the other of nuns at +[Sidenote: Ethelburga.] +Berking, within the prouince of the Eastsaxons, where he placed +his sister Ethelburga, a woman also highlie estéemed for hir +[Sidenote: _Iohn Capgraue_.] +deuout kind of life. She was first brought vp and instructed in the +rules of hir profession by one Hildelitha a nun of the parties beyond +the seas, whome Erkenwald procured to come ouer for that purpose. + +[Sidenote: Waldhere. Sebbie king of Eastsaxons. +_Beda. lib. 4. cap._ 16.] +After Erkenwald, one Waldhere was made bishop of London, in whose +daies Sebbie king of the Eastsaxons, after he had reigned thirtie +yéeres, being now vexed with a gréeuous sicknesse, professed himselfe +a moonke: which thing he would haue doone long before, if his wife had +not kept him backe. He died shortlie after within the citie of London, +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm_.] +and was buried in the church of saint Paule. King Sighere, which in +the beginning reigned with him, and gouerned a part of the Eastsaxons, +was departed this life before, so that in his latter time, the +foresaid Sebbie had the gouernment of the whole prouince of the +[Sidenote: 675.] +Eastsaxons, and left the same to his sonnes Sighard and Sewfred. +About the yéere of our Lord 675, Vulfhere king of Mercia departed this +life, after he had reigned (as some say) 19 yéeres, but (as other +affirme) he reigned but 17 yéeres. Howbeit they which reckon 19, +include the time that passed after the slaughter of Penda, wherein +Oswie and Peada held the aforesaid kingdome. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Edilred king of Mercia inuadeth the kingdome of Kent, and maketh +great waste without resistance of Lothaire the king thereof, Putta +of a bishop becommeth a poore curat and teacheth musicke, Wilfred +deposed from his bishoprike by king Egfrid vpon displeasure, he +preacheth the gospell in Sussex by the licence of king Edilwalke, +no raine in Sussex for the space of three yeeres, the woord and +sacraments bring blessings with them; bishop Wilfrid the first teacher +to catch fish with nets, the people haue him in great reuerence, a +great and bloudie battell betweene Egfrid & king Edilred, they are +reconciled by the meanes of archbishop Theodore; a synod holden at +Hatfield, the clergie subscribe to certeine articles, of Hilda the +famous abbesse of Whitbie_. + +THE XXXV. CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: EDILRED.] +After Vulfhere, his brother Edilred or Ethelred succéeded in +gouernment of the kingdome of Mercia. This Edilred inuaded the +kingdome of Kent with a mightie armie, in the yéere of our Lord +[Sidenote: 677. _Hen. Hunt_.] +677, destroieng the countrie afore him, not sparing churches nor +abbeies, but spoiling the same without respect, as well as other +common places. King Lothaire durst not appéere in the field to giue +him battell, so that Edilred went thorough the countrie, destroied +the citie of Rochester, and with great riches gotten by the spoile he +returned home. Putta the bishop of Rochester, after that his church +was spoiled and defaced by the enimies, went to Sexvulfe bishop of +Mercia, and there obteining of him a small cure, and a portion of +ground, remained in that countrie, not once labouring to restore his +church of Rochester to the former state, but went about in Mercia to +teach song, and instruct such as would learne musicke, wheresoeuer he +was required, or could get intertainment. + +Heerevpon the archbishop Theodore consecrated one William bishop +of Rochester in place of Putta, and after, when the said William +constreined by pouertie, left that church, Theodore placed one +[Sidenote: 678.] +Gebmound in his stéed. In the yéere of our Lord 678, in the moneth of +[Sidenote: A blasing star. _Matth. West_. _Beda. lib. 4 ca. 12._ +Bishop Wifrid banished.] +August, a blasing starre appéered, with a long bright beame like +to a piller. It was séene euerie morning for the space of thrée +moneths togither. The same Egfrid king of Northumberland, banished +bishop Wilfrid vpon displeasure taken with him, out of his sée, and +then were two bishops ordeined in his place, to gouerne the church of +[Sidenote: Hagustald. Hexham. Eadhidus. Lindesferne. Holie Iland.] +the Northumbers, the one named Bosa at Yorke, and the other called +Eata at Hagustald or Lindesferne. Also one Eadhidus was ordeined about +the same time bishop of Lindsey, the which prouince king Egfrid had of +late conquered and taken from Vulfhere the late king of Mercia, whome +he ouercame in battell, and droue him out of that countrie. The +said thrée bishops were consecrated at Yorke by the archbishop of +Canturburie Theodorus, the which within thrée yéeres after ordained +two bishops more in that prouince of the Northumbers, that is to +say, Tumbert at Hagustald, Eata that was appointed to remaine at +Lindesferne, & Trumuine was ordeined to haue the cure of the prouince +of those Picts which as then were vnder the English dominion. Also +bicause Edilred king of Mercia recouered the countrie of Lindsey, and +[Sidenote: The church of Rippon.] +ioined it to his dominion, bishop Eadhedus comming from thence, +was appointed to gouerne the church of Rippon. + +After that bishop Wilfrid was expelled out of his diocesse and +prouince of the Northumbers, he went to Rome, and returning from +thence, came into the kingdome of the Southsaxons, the which +conteining seuen thousand housholds or families, as yet was not +[Sidenote: Wilfrid by licence of king Edilwalke preacheth the gospel +to them of Sussex.] +conuerted to the christian faith. Wherefore the said Wilfrid began +there to preach the gospell with licence of king Edilwalke, who (as +before is mentioned) was conuerted and baptised in Mercia by the +procurement of king Wolfher, that then became his godfather, and gaue +him at the same time the Ile of Wight, and the prouince of the people +ancientlie called Meanuari, which he had woon from the Westsaxons. +Bishop Wilfrid then by king Edilwalke his furtherance and helpe +baptised the chiefest lords and gentlemen of that prouince. But +certein priests baptised the residue of the people, either then or in +the time following. + +[Sidenote: Lacke of raine.] +¶ It chanced that for the space of thrée yéeres (as it is said) +before the comming thither of bishop Wilfrid, there had fallen no +raine from the aire within that prouince of the Southsaxons, so that +the people were brought into great miserie by reson of famine, which +through want of necessarie fruits of the earth sore afflicted the +whole countrie, insomuch that no small numbers threw themselues +hedlong into the sea, despairing of life in such lacke of necessarie +vittels. But as God would, the same day that Wilfrid began to minister +the sacrament of baptisme, there came downe swéet and plentifull +showers of raine, so watering the earth, that thereby great store +of all fruits plentifullie tooke root, and yéelded full increase in +growth, to the great comfort and reliefe of all the people, which +before were in maner starued and lost through want of food. + +[Sidenote: Catching of fish with nets.] +Bishop Wilfrid also taught them in that countrie the maner how to +catch fish with nets, where before that time, they had no great skill +in anie kind of fishing, except it were in catching éeles. Hereby the +said bishop grew there in great estimation with the people, so that +his words were the better credited amongst them, for that through him +they receiued so great benefits, God by such meanes working in the +peoples hearts a desire to come to the vnderstanding of his lawes. The +king also gaue vnto Wilfrid a place called Sealesew, compassed about +on each side (except on the west halfe) with the sea, conteining 87 +housholds or families, where he built an abbeie, and baptised all +his tenants there, amounting to the number of 250 bondmen and +[Sidenote: Bondmen made trulie free.] +bondwomen, whome he made frée both in bodie and soule: for he did +not onelie baptise them, but also infranchised them of all bodilie +seruitude and bondage. + +In this meane while manie things happened in other parts of this land, +and first in the yeere after the appéering of the blasing starre +before mentioned, a mightie battell was fought betwixt the said Egfrid +and Edilred king of Mercia, néere to the riuer of Trent, where Alswine +the brother of king Egfrid was slaine, with manie other of the +Northumbers, so that king Egfrid was constreined to returne home with +losse. The archbishop of Canturburie Theodorus perceiuing that great +warre and effusion of bloud was like to follow therevpon, trauelled so +in the matter betwixt them, that they were made friends, and Egfrid +had a péece of monie in recompense of his losses. The foresaid +[Sidenote: 679.] +battell was fought in the yéere of our Lord 679, and in the yeere +following, that is to say, in the yéere of our Lord 680, which +[Sidenote: 680.] +was also in the tenth yéere of the reigne of Egfrid king of +Northumberland, the sixt yéere of Edelred king of Mercia, the 17 of +Aldvulfe king of Eastangles, and in the 7 of Lother king of Kent. + +[Sidenote: A synod at Hatfield.] +The archbishop of Canturburie Theodorus held another synod at +[Sidenote: Articles subscribed.] +Hatfield, about the 15 kalends of October, in the which all the +clergie there present subscribed to certeine articles touching the +beléefe of the trinitie of persons, in vnitie of the Godhead of the +like substance, and also of the same vnitie in trinitie, according to +the true faith of the church of God. Moreouer, they acknowledged +by the like subscription, the fiue generall councels, of Nice, +of Constantinople the first, of Ephesus, of Calcedon, and of +Constantinople the second, with the synod also holden at Rome in +the daies of Martin bishop of Rome about the yéere of the emperour +Constantine. At this synod holden at Hatfield, was present one Iohn +the archchanter of S. Peters church at Rome, sent into this land of +purpose to bring from hence a certificat vnto pope Agatho of the +agréement of the English church in matters of faith, with other +churches of the christian world: but the foresaid archchanter died by +the way in France, as he returned homewards, and was buried at Towers +in Towraine. + +[Sidenote: _Bale_. The abbesse Hilda. _Beda_.] +The same yéere that famous woman Hilda abbesse of Whitbie departed +this life, or (as other say) fiue yéeres after, hauing first beene +deteined long with gréeuous sickenesse. She was the daughter of one +Herrericus the nephue of king Edwin, and conuerted to the faith of +Christ at the preaching of bishop Pauline, and afterwards instructed +by bishop Aidan, she professed hirselfe a nun, applieng hir whole +studie to the reading of the scriptures, to praier, & other godlie +exercises. She builded the abbeie of Whitbie, wherein were placed both +men and women, with such an equalitie in all things, that there was +[Sidenote: _Bale_. _Ran. Cest._ _Matth. West._ _Beda_.] +no rich person amongst them, nor anie that wanted things necessarie. +She departed this life on the 15 kalends of December, being 66 yéeres +of age. As some haue written she argued stoutlie on bishop Colmans +part, at the disputation holden in the monasterie of Whitbie, in the +[Sidenote: _Henrie Hunt._] +yéere of Grace 664, whereof ye haue heard before. About the yéere of +our Lord 682, that is to say, in the seuenth yere of Centwine or +Centiuinus king of Westsaxons, the same Centwine fought with the +[Sidenote: The Britains discomfited.] +Britains, and ouercame them in battell, pursuing them with fire and +sword vnto the sea side. + +¶ Thus (at this time as also at diuerse other times) they were +discomfited and put to flight, being a people allotted and shared out +as it were to suffer many an ouerthrow, and abide manie a sharpe and +shamefull repulse at the hands of their enimies, who conuerted the +distresse of that people to their profit, and tooke pleasure in the +extreamitie of the miseries wherein they were plunged, as may be +obserued by the pitifull alteration of their state vnder diuers +gouernours, and speciallie vnder the Danish dominion, who kept them in +[Sidenote: _Gorop. in Gota danica lib. 7. pag. 759_.] +no lesse vile seruitude than Pharao did the Hebrues at the making of +bricke & chopping of straw. So that some thinke this land to be +corruptlie named Britania, but ought rather to be called Bridania, +that is, _Libera Dania, siue regio in qua Dani liberè viuant_, for +they liued as lords in the land, & did (for the time being) what they +listed. But of this matter more shall be spoken hereafter in place +conuenient. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Cadwallader king of Britaine, the people are brought into great +miserie, and he forced to flee the land, he dieth at Rome, the British +writers noted of error, Ceadwalla king of the Westsaxons, the kingdome +is diuided; the valorous mind of Ceadwalla, he is forced to forsake +his countrie, he vanquisheth and killeth Edilwalke king of the +Westsaxons, his returne into his kingdome with reuenge vpon Berthun +duke of Sussex and other his heauie friends, his vow if he might +conquer the Ile of Wight, his bountifull offer to bishop Wilfrid, +the Ile of Wight receiueth the faith; Ceadwalla inuadeth Kent, of a +barbarous warriour he becommeth a religious christian, his vertues, +his death and buriall at Rome; Egfrid king of Northumberland inuadeth +Ireland, he is slaine by Brudeus king of the Picts; the neglect of +good counsell is dangerous; Etheldreda a wife and a widow (hauing +vowed chastitie) liued a virgine 12 yeeres with hir husband Egfride, +she was called saint Auderie of Elie._ + +THE XXXVJ. CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: CADWALLADER.] +But now to returne vnto that which is found in the British +histories, by the tenor wherof it should appeare, that when their king +Cadwallo was dead, his son Cadwallader succéeded him in gouernement +[Sidenote: 676 saith _Matth. West._] +of the Britains, in the yéere of our Lord 678, which was about the 10 +yéere of the emperour Constantius Paganotus, and in the 13 yéere of +[Sidenote: _Galfrid._] +the reigne of Childericus king of France. This Cadwallader, being +the sonne of Cadwallo, was begot by him of the halfe sister of Penda +king of Mercia, for one father begot them both, but of two sundrie +mothers, for she had to mother a ladie descended of the noble blood of +the Westsaxons, and was maried vnto Cadwallo when the peace was made +betwixt him and hir brother the said Penda. After that Cadwallader had +reigned the space of 12 yéers (as Geffrey of Monmouth saith) or (as +others write) but 3 yéeres, the Britains were brought into such +miserie through ciuill discord, and also by such great and extreme +[Sidenote: Cadwallader constreined to forsake the land.] +famine as then reigned through all the land, that Cadwallader was +constreined with the chéefest part of his people to forsake their +natiue countrie, and by sea to get them ouer into Britaine Armorike, +there to séeke reliefe by vittels for the sustentation of their +languishing bodies. + +¶ Long processe is made by the British writers of this departure of +Cadwallader, & of the Britains out of this land, and how Cadwallader +was about to haue returned againe, but that he was admonished by a +dreame to the contrarie, the which bicause it séemeth but fabulous, we +passe ouer. At length he went to Rome, and there was confirmed in +the christian religion by pope Sergius, where shortlie after he fell +sicke, and died the 12 kalends of May, in the yeere of our Lord +[Sidenote: 689.] +689. But herein appeareth the error of the British writers in taking +one for another, by reason of resemblance of names, for where +Ceadwalla king of the Westsaxons about that time mooued of a religious +deuotion, after he was conuerted to the faith, went vnto Rome, and was +there baptised, or else confirmed of the foresaid pope Sergius, and +shortlie after departed this life in that citie in the foresaid yéere +of 689 or therabouts. The Welshmen count him to be their Cadwallader: +which to be true is verie vnlike by that which may be gathered out of +the learned writings of diuers good and approoued authors. + +[Sidenote: CEADWALLA. _Wil. Malm._ _Beda_.] +This Ceadwalla king of the Westsaxons succeeded after Centwine +or Centiuinus, which Centwine reigned nine yéeres, though it should +appeare by that which is written by authors of good credit, that +during two of those yéeres at the least, the kingdome of Westsaxons +was diuided betwixt him and Elcuinus or Escuinus, so that he should +not reigne past seuen yeeres alone. + +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._ _Ranulf. Cest._] +But now to Ceadwalla, whome some take to be all one with +Cadwallader, we find that he was lineallie descended from Cutha or +Cutwine, the brother of Ceauline or Keuling king of Westsaxons, as +sonne to Kenbert or Kenbright that was sonne to Ceadda the sonne of +the foresaid Cutha or Cutwin. Thus being extract of the noble house of +the kings of Westsaxons, he prooued in his youth a personage of great +towardnesse, and such a one as no small hope was of him conceiued: he +would let no occasion passe wherein he might exercise his force, +to shew proofe of his high valiancie, so that in the end with his +woorthie attempts shewed therein, he purchased to himselfe the enuie +of those that ruled in his countrie, by reason whereof he was +[Sidenote: Ceadwalla driuen to depart out of his countrie.] +banished in a conspiracie made against him. Wherevpon he tooke +occasion as it were in reuenge of such vnthankfulnesse to withdraw +out of his countrie, leading with him all the principall youth of the +same, the which either pitieng his present estate, or mooued with +pleasure taken in his valiant dooings, followed him at his going into +exile. + +The first brunt of his furious attempts after he was out of his +countrie, Edilwalke the king of the Southsaxons tasted, who in defense +of himselfe comming to trie battell with Ceadwalla, was slaine with +the most part of all his armie. Ceadwalla then perceiuing the valiant +courages of his souldiers, filled with good hope of this happie +atchiued victorie, returned with good and prosperous spéed into his +owne countrie, and that yer he was looked for, and earnestlie pursuing +his aduersaries, droue them out of the kingdome, and taking vpon him +to rule the same as king, reigned two yéeres, during the which he +atchiued diuers notable enterprises. + +[Sidenote: _Beda lib. 4. cap. 15_.] +And first, whereas Berthun and Authun dukes of Sussex & subiects +vnto the late king Edilwalke, had both expelled him out of that +countrie, after he had slaine the said Edilwalke, and also taken vpon +them the rule of that kingdome, hauing now atteined to the gouernement +[Sidenote: Berthun a duke of Sussex slaine.] +of the Westsaxons, he inuaded the countrie of Sussex againe, and +slue Berthun in battell, bringing that countrie into more bondage than +before. He also set vpon the Ile of Wight, and well-néere destroied +all the inhabitants, meaning to inhabit it with his owne people. +[Sidenote: Caedwalla his vow. The Ile of Wight conquered.] +Hee bound himselfe also by vow, although as yet he was not baptised, +that if he might conquer it, he would giue a fourth part thereof vnto +the Lord. And in performance of that vow, he offered vnto bishop +Wilfride (who then chanced to be present) when he had taken that Ile, +so much therof as conteined 300 housholds or families, where the +whole consisted in 1200 housholds. Wilfrid receiuing thankefullie +the gift, deliuered the same vnto one of his clearks named Bernewine +that was his sisters sonne, appointing to him also a priest named +Hildila, the which should minister the word and the sacrament of +baptisme vnto all those that would receiue the same. Thus was the +[Sidenote: The Ile of Wight receiueth the faith.] +Ile of Wight brought to the faith of Christ last of all other the +parties of this our Britaine, after that the same faith had failed +here by the comming of the Saxons. + +Moreouer, king Ceadwalla inuaded the kingdome of Kent, where he lost +his brother Mollo, as after shall appéere, but yet he reuenged his +death with great slaughter made of the inhabitants in that countrie. +Finallie, this worthie prince Ceadwalla, turning himselfe from the +desire of warre and bloudshed, became right courteous, gentle and +liberall towards all men, so that ye could not haue wished more +vertuous manners to rest in one as yet not christened. And shortlie +after, willing to be admitted into the fellowship of the christians +(of whose religion he had taken good tast) he went to Rome, where of +pope Sergius he was baptised, and named Peter, and shortlie after +surprised with sickenesse, he died, and was buried there within +[Sidenote: 689.] +the church of saint Peter in the yeere of our Lord 689. + +[Sidenote: _Beda lib. 4. cap. 26_. Ireland inuaded by the Northumbers.] +In the meane while, that is to say, in the yeere of our Lord 684, +Egfride king of Northumberland sent an armie vnder the guiding of a +capteine named Bertus into Ireland, the which wasted that countrie, +sparing neither church nor monasterie, sore indamaging the people of +that countrie, which had euer beene friends vnto the English nation, +and deserued nothing lesse than so to be inuaded and spoiled at their +hands. The Irish men defended themselues to their power, beséeching +God with manie a salt teare, that he would reuenge their cause in +punishing of such extreme iniuries. And though cursers may not inherit +the kingdome of heauen, yet they ceased not to curse, hoping the +sooner that those which with good cause were thus accursed, +should woorthilie be punished for their offenses by God, & so +[Sidenote: King Egfride slain by Brudeus king of the Picts.] +(peraduenture) it fell out. For in the yeere following, the said +Egfride had lead an armie into Pictland against Brudeus king of +the Picts, and being trained into straits within hils and craggie +mounteins, he was slaine with the most part of all his armie, in the +yeere of his age 40, and of his reigne 15, vpon the 13 kalends of +June. + +There were diuers of Egfrides friends, and namelie Cutberd (whome he +had aduanced the same yéere vnto the bishops sée of Lindesferne) +that aduised him in no wise, either to haue taken this warre in hand +against the Picts, or the other against them of Ireland, but he would +not be counselled, the punishment appointed for his sinnes being such, +that he might not giue eare to his faithfull friends that aduised him +for the best. From that time foorth, the hope and power of the +[Sidenote: These Britains were those vndouttedlie y't dwelt in the +northwest parts of this Ile, and is not ment onlie by them of Wales.] +English people began to decaie. For not onelie the Picts recouered +that part of their countrie which the Englishmen had held before in +their possession, but also the Scots that inhabited within this Ile, +and likewise some part of the Britains tooke vpon them libertie, which +they kept and mainteined a long time after, as Beda confesseth. + +Egfride died without issue, & left no children behind him. He had +to wife one Ethelreda or Etheldrida, daughter vnto Anna king of the +Eastangles, which liued with hir husband the forsaid Egfride twelue +yéeres in perfect virginitie (as is supposed) contrarie to the purpose +of hir husband, if he might haue persuaded hir to the contrarie, but +[Sidenote: Ethelreda.] +finallie he was contented that she should kéepe hir first vow of +chastitie which she had made. She was both widow and virgine when he +maried hir, being first coupled in wedlocke with one Eunbert a noble +[Sidenote: Giruij.] +man, and a ruler in the south parts of the countrie, where the +people called Giruij inhabited, which is the same where the fennes +lie in the confines of Lincolnshire, Norffolke, Huntingtonshire, & +Cambridgeshire, howbeit he liued with hir but a small while. After she +had obteined licence to depart from the court, she got hir first into +Coldingham abbeie, and there was professed a nun. Then she went to +Elie, and there restored the monasterie, and was made abbesse of the +place, in the which after she had gouerned seuen yeeres, she departed +this life, and was there buried. This same was she which commonlie is +called saint Audrie of Elie, had in great reuerence for the opinion +conceiued of hir great vertue and puritie of life. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Alfride (the bastard) king of Northumberland, his life and death, +Iohn archbishop of Canturburie resigneth his see, Lother king of Kent +dieth of a wound, Edrike getteth the regiment thereof but not without +bloudshed, Ceadwalla wasteth Kent being at strife in it selfe, +his brother Mollo burned to death; Withred made king of Kent, he +vanquisheth his enimies, Inas king of Westsaxons is made his friend, +Suebhard and Nidred vsurpers of the Kentish kingdome, the age and +death of Theodore archbishop of Canturburie, Brightwald the first +archbishop of the English nation; the end of the British regiment, and +how long the greatest part of this Iland was vnder their gouernement._ + +THE XXXVIJ. CHAPTER. + + +After that king Egfride was slaine (as before is mentioned) his +[Sidenote: ALFRIDE. 685.] +brother Alfride was made king of Northumberland. This Alfride was +the bastard sonne of king Oswie, and in his brothers daies (either +willinglie, or by violent means constreined) he liued as a banished +man in Ireland, where applieng himselfe to studie, he became an +excellent philosopher. And therfore being iudged to be better able to +haue the rule of a kingdome, he was receiued by the Northumbers, and +made king, gouerning his subiects the space of 20 yeares and more, +with great wisedome and policie, but not with such large bounds as his +ancestors had doone: for the Picts (as before is mentioned) had +cut off one péece of the north part of the ancient limits of that +kingdome. About the 13 yeare of his reigne, that is to say, in the +[Sidenote: 698.] +yeare of our Lord 698, one of his capteins named earle Berthred, +or Bertus, was slaine in battell by the Picts, whose confins he had as +then inuaded. The curse of the Irish men, whose countrie in the +[Sidenote: _Matt. West._] +daies of king Egfrid he had cruellie wasted (as before is mentioned) +was thought at this time to take place. Finallie king Alfride, after +he had reigned 20 yeares & od months, departed this life, in the yeare +[Sidenote: 705. _Beda_.] +of our Lord 705. + +In the beginning of king Alfrids daies, Eata the bishop of Hexham +being dead, one Iohn a man of great holinesse was admitted bishop, and +after that, bishop Wilfrid was restored, when he had remained a +[Sidenote: Iohn archbishop of Yorke.] +long time in exile. The said Iohn was remoued to the church of Yorke, +the same being then void by the death of the archbishop Bosa. At +[Sidenote: He resigneth his sée.] +length the foresaid Iohn wearied with the cares of publike +affaires resigned his sée, and got him to Beuerley, where he liued a +solitarie life for the space of foure yeares, and then died, about +[Sidenote: 721.] +the yeare of our Lord 721, king Osrike as then reigning in +Northumberland. He continued bishop for the space of 24 yeares, and +builded a church, and founded a colledge of priests at Beuerley +aforsaid, in which church he lieth buried. + +[Sidenote: 686 saith _Matt. West._] +[Sidenote: Lother king of Kent dieth of a wound.] +The same yeare, or in the yeare after that king Egfrid was slaine, +Lother king of Kent departed this life, the 8 Ides of Februarie, of +a wound by him receiued in a battell which he fought against the +Southsaxons, the which came in aid of Edrike, that was sonne vnto his +brother Egbert, and had mainteined warre against his vncle the said +Lother, euen from the beginning of his reigne, till finallie he was +now in the said battell striken thorough the bodie with a dart, and +so died thereof, after he had reigned 11 yeares, and seuen moneths. +It was thought that he was disquieted with continuall warres and +troubles, and finallie brought to his end before the naturall course +of his time, for a punishment of his wicked consent giuen to the +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._] +putting to death of his cousins Ethelbert & Ethelbrit, as appeared, +[Sidenote: _Capgraue_ saith, their sister.] +in that when they were reported to be martyrs, because it was knowen +they died innocentlie, he mocked them and made but a iest at it, +although his brother in acknowledging his fault, repented him thereof, +and gaue in recompense to their mother a part of the Ile of Thanet to +the building of a monasterie. + +[Sidenote: EDRICKE.] +The foresaid Edricke (after Lother was dead) got the dominion of Kent, +and ruled as king thereof, but not without ciuill warre, insomuch that +before he had reigned the full terme of two yeares, he was slaine in +the same warre. Then Ceadwalla king of the Westsaxons being thereof +aduertised, supposing the time now to be come that would serue his +purpose, as one still coueting to worke the Kentishmen all the +displeasure he could, entred with an armie into their countrie, and +began to waste and spoile the same on ech side, till finallie the +Kentishmen assembled themselues togither, gaue battell to their +enimies, and put them to flight. Mollo brother to Ceadwalla was driuen +from his companie, and constrained to take an house for his refuge: +[Sidenote: Mollo brother to king Ceadwalla burnt to death.] +but his enimies that pursued him set fire thereon, and burned both +the house and Mollo within it to ashes. Yet did not Ceadwalla +herewith depart out of the countrie, but to wreake his wrath, and to +reuenge the griefe which he tooke for the death of his brother, he +wasted and destroied a great part of Kent yer he returned home, and +left (as it were) an occasion to his successor also to pursue the +quarell with reuenging. Wherein we sée the cankerd nature of man, +speciallie in a case of wrong or displeasure; which we are so far +from tollerating & forgiuing, that if with tooth and naile we be +not permitted to take vengeance, our hearts will breake with a full +conceit of wrath. But the law of nature teacheth vs otherwise to be +affected, namelie, + + + ------per te nulli vnquam iniuria fiat, + Sed verbis alijsque modis fuge lædere quenquam, + Quod tibi nolles, alijs fecisse caueto, + Quódque tibi velles, alijs præstare studeto; + Hæc est naturæ lex optima, quam nisi ad vnguem + Seruabis, non ipse Deo (mihi crede) placebis, + Póstque obitum infoelix non aurea sydera adibis. + +Which lesson taught by nature, and commanded of God, if these men had +followed (as they minded nothing lesse in the fier of their furie) +they would haue béene content with a competent reuenge, and not in +such outragious maner with fier and sword haue afflicted one another, +nor (which is more than tigerlike crueltie) haue ministred occasion to +posterities to reuenge wrongs giuen and taken of their ancestors. But +we will let this passe without further discourse, meaning hereafter in +due place to declare the processe. + +The Kentishmen being destitute of a king, after that diuers had +coueted the place, and sought to atteine thereto, as well by force as +otherwise, to the great disquieting of that prouince for the space +of 6 yeares togither, at length in the 7 yeare after Edricks death, +Withred an other of the sonnes of king Egbert, hauing with diligent +[Sidenote: Withred is made king of Kent.] +trauell ouercome enuie at home, & with monie redéemed peace abaoad +(sic), was with great hope conceiued of his worthinesse made king of +Kent, the 11 of Nouember, & 205 after the death of Hengist, he reigned +33 yeares, not deceiuing his subiects of their good conceiued opinion +of him: for ouercomming all his aduersaries which were readie to leuie +ciuill warre against him, he also purchased peace of Inas king of the +Westsaxons, which ment to haue made him warre, till with monie he was +made his friend. + +[Sidenote: _Hen. Hunt._ _Beda. lib. 5_. Suebhard and Nidred kings by +vsurpation and not by succession, as _Henr. Hunt._ writeth.] +A little before that Withred was confirmed in the kingdome of +Kent, there reigned two kings in that countrie, Suebhard and Nidred, +or rather the same Withred, if the printed copie of Bedas booke +intituled "Ecclesiastica historia gentis Anglorum" haue not that name +corrupted: for where he sheweth that the archbishop Theodorus being of +the age of 88 yeares, departed this life in the yeare of our Lord 690, +in the next chapter he declareth, that in the yeare 692, the first +daie of Iulie one Brightwald was chosen to succéed in the archbishops +sée of Canturburie, Withredus and Suebhardus as then reigning in Kent: +but whether Withredus gouerned as then with Suebhardus, or that +some other named Nidred, it forceth not: for certeine it is by the +agréement of other writers, that till Withred obteined the whole rule, +there was great strife and contention moued about the gouernement, and +[Sidenote: Brightwald the first archbishop of the English nation.] +diuers there were that sought and fought for it. But this ought to +be noted, that the forenamed Brightwald was the eight archbishop +in number, and first of the English nation that sat in the sée of +Canturburie: for the other seuen that were predecessors to him, were +strangers borne, and sent hither from Rome. + +¶ Here endeth the line and gouernement of the Britains, now called +Welshmen, which tooke that name of their duke or leader Wallo or +Gallo; or else of a queene of Wales named Gales or Wales. But +howsoeuer that name fell first vnto them, now they are called +Welshmen, which sometime were called Britains or Brutons, and +descended first of the Troians, and after of Brute, and lastlie of +Mulmucius Dunwallo: albeit they were mingled with sundrie other +nations, as Romans, Picts, &c. And now they be called English that in +their beginning were named Saxons or Angles. To conclude therefore +with this gouernement, so manie times intercepted by forren power, it +appeareth by course of histories treating of these matters, that the +last yeare of Cadwallader was the yeare of our Lord 686, which makes +the yere of the world 4647. So that (as Fabian saith) the Britains had +the greater part of this land in rule (reckoning from Brute till this +time) 1822 yeares. Which terme being expired, the whole dominion of +this realme was Saxonish. + +_Thus farre the interrupted regiment of the Britains, ending at the +fift booke._ + + + + +[Transcriber's note: The following words appear to be typos, but were +left as they appeared in this book. + + whreof => whereof (chapter 8, para. 5) + buruished => burnished (chapter 13, para. 3) + shost => short (chapter 25, para. 4) + Grogories => Gregories (chapter 33, para. 10) + abaoad => abroad (chapter 37, para. 6)] + + by little little => little by little (chapter 3, para. 1) + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Chronicles 1 (of 6): The Historie of +England 5 (of 8), by Raphael Holinshed + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HISTORIE OF ENGLAND *** + +***** This file should be named 16555-8.txt or 16555-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/5/5/16555/ + +Produced by Jonathan Ingram, Lesley Halamek and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Chronicles 1 (of 6): The Historie of England 5 (of 8) + The Fift Booke of the Historie of England. + +Author: Raphael Holinshed + +Release Date: August 20, 2005 [EBook #16555] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HISTORIE OF ENGLAND *** + + + + +Produced by Jonathan Ingram, Lesley Halamek and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + <br /><br /> + <h3>THE FIFT BOOKE</h3><span class="page"><a name="page551" id="page551"></a>[Page 551]</span> + +<h5>OF THE</h5> + +<h2>HISTORIE OF ENGLAND.</h2> +<br /><br /><br /> + + <hr class="full" /> +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> +<table width="80%" align="center" border="0" summary="contents"> +<tr> + <td class="left" width="70%"> <br /></td> + <td class="right" valign="top">Page</td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#first5">THE FIRST CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page551">551</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#second5">THE SECOND CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page553">553</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#third5">THE THIRD CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page555">555</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#fourth5">THE FOURTH CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page558">558</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#fift5">THE FIFT CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page560">560</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#vj5">THE VJ CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page561">561</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#seuenth5">THE SEUENTH CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page564">564</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#eight5">THE EIGHT CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page565">565</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#ninth5">THE NINTH CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page567">567</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#tenth5">THE TENTH CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page569">569</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#eleuenth5">THE ELEUENTH CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page573">573</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#twelfe5">THE TWELFE CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page574">574</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#xiij5">THE XIIJ CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page576">576</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#xiiij5">THE XIIIJ CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page579">579</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#xv5">THE XV CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page581">581</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#xvj5">THE XVJ CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page583">583</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#xxij5">THE XVIJ CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page585">585</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#xviij5">THE XVIIJ CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page587">587</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#xix5">THE XIX CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page590">590</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#xx5">THE XX CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page593">593</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#xxj5">THE XXJ CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page595">595</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#xxij5">THE XXIJ CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page597">597</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#xxiij5">THE XXIIJ CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page600">600</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#xxiiij5">THE XXIIIJ CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page601">601</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#xxv5">THE XXV CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page604">604</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#xxvj5">THE XXVJ CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page607">607</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#xxvij5">THE XXVIJ CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page610">610</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#xxviij5">THE XXVIIJ CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page612">612</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#xxix5">THE XXIX CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page614">614</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#xxx5">THE XXX CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page617">617</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#xxxj5">THE XXXJ CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page620">620</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#xxxij5">THE XXXIJ CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page622">622</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#xxxiij5">THE XXXIIJ CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page624">624</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#xxxiiij5">THE XXXIIIJ CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page627">627</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#xxxv5">THE XXXV CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page630">630</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#xxxvj5">THE XXXVJ CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page633">633</a></td> +</tr> +<tr> + + <td class="left" width="70%" valign="top"> + <a class="contents" href="#xxxvij5">THE XXXVIJ CHAPTER</a></td> + <td class="right" valign="top"><a href="#page635">635</a></td> +</tr> +</table> + + <br /><br /><hr class="full" /><br /><br /><br /> + + + + + + <hr /><br /><br /> + <a name="first5" id="first5"></a> +<p> +<i>Constantinus at the generall sute of the Britains vndertaketh to gouerne this Iland, he is +crowned king, his three sonnes, he is traitorouslie slaine of a Pict, Constantius the eldest +sonne of Constantine hauing bene a monke is created king, the ambitious & slie practises +of duke Vortigerne to aspire to the gouernment, he procureth certeine Picts and Scots to +kill the king who had reteined them for the gard of his person, his craftie deuises and +deepe dissimulation vnder the pretense of innocencie, he winneth the peoples harts, and +is chosen their king.</i></p> + +<h3>THE FIRST CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +Having ended our former booke with the end of the Romane power ouer this Iland, +wherein the state of the Iland vnder them is at full described; it remaineth now that +we procéed to declare, in what state they were after the Romans had refused to gouerne +them anie longer. Wherefore we will addresse our selues to saie somewhat touching the +succession of the British kings, as their histories make mention.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">CONSTANTINUS. <i>Gal. Mon. <br />Matt. Westm.</i></span> +Constantinus the brother of Aldroenus king of little Britaine, at the sute and earnest +request of the archbishop of London, made in name of all the Britains in the Ile of great +Britaine, was sent into the same Ile by his said brother Aldroenus vpon couenants ratified in +manner as before is recited, and brought with him a conuenient power, landing with the +same at Totnesse in Deuonshire. Immediatlie after his cōming on land, he gathered to him +<span class="leftnote"><i>Caxton</i> saith 12000. but <i>Gal.</i> and others say but 2000.</span> +a great power of Britains, which before his landing were hid in diuerse places of the Ile. +Then went he foorth with them, and gaue battell to the enimies, whom he vanquished: & +slue that tyrannicall king Guanius there in the field (as some bookes haue.) Howbeit, this +<span class="rightnote">The British historie disagreeth from the Scotish.</span> +agréeth not with the Scotish writers, which affirme that they got the field, but yet lost their +king named Dongard (as in their historie ye maie read.)</p> +<p> +But to procéed as our writers report the matter. When the Britains had thus ouercome their +enimies, they conueied their capteine the said Constantine vnto Cicester, and there in fulfilling +their promise and couenant made to his brother, crowned him king of great Britaine, in the yéere +of our Lord 433, which was about the fift yéere of the emperour Valentinianus the second, +<span class="rightnote"><i>Matth. West.</i> saith 435.</span> +and third yéere of Clodius king of the Frankners after called Frenchmen, which then began +to settle themselues in Gallia, whereby the name of that countrie was afterwards changed +and called France. Constantine being thus established king, ruled the land well and noblie, +and defended it from all inuasion of enimies during his life. He begat of his wife thrée +sonnes (as the British historie affirmeth) Constantius, Aurelius Ambrosius, and Vter surnamed +named Pendragon. The eldest, bicause he perceiued him to be but dull of wit, and not<span class="page"><a name="page552" id="page552"></a>[Page 552]</span> +verie toward, he made a moonke, placing him within the abbie of Amphibalus in Winchester.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">In a groue of bushes as <i>Gal.</i> saith. <i>Matth. West. Beda. Orosius. Blondus</i>.</span> +Finallie this Constantine, after he had reigned ten yéeres, was traitorouslie slaine one day +in his owne chamber (as some write) by a Pict, who was in such fauor with him, that he +might at all times haue frée accesse to him at his pleasure. Neither the Romane writers, nor +Beda, make anie mention of this Constantine: but of the other Constantine they write, +which immediatlie after the vsurper Gratian was dispatched out of the way (as before ye haue +heard) was aduanced to the rule of this land, and title of emperour, onelie in hope of his +name, and for no other respect of towardnesse in him, afore time being but a meane souldier, +without anie degrée of honour. The same Constantine (as writers record) going ouer +into Gallia, adorned his sonne Constantius with the title and dignitie of Cesar, the which +before was a moonke, and finallie as well the one as the other were slaine, the father at +Arles by earle Constantius, that was sent against him by the emperour Honorius; and the +sonne at Vienna (as before ye haue heard) by one of his owne court called Gerontius (as +in the Italian historie ye may sée more at large.) This chanced about the yeere of our +Lord 415. +<span class="rightnote">415.</span></p> +<p> +¶ This haue we thought good to repeat in this place, for that some may suppose that +this Constantine is the same that our writers take to be the brother of Aldroenus king of little +Britaine, as the circumstance of the time and other things to be considered may giue them +occasion to thinke, for that there is not so much credit to be yéelded to them that haue +written the British histories, but that in some part men may with iust cause doubt of sundrie +matters conteined in the same: and therfore haue we in this booke béene the more diligent +to shew what the Romans and other forreine writers haue registred in their bookes of histories +touching the affaires of Britaine, that the reader may be the better satisfied in the +truth. But now to returne to the sequele of the historie as we find the same written by the +British chroniclers.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">This Vortigerne was duke of the Geuisses and Cornewall, as <i>Rad. Cestr.</i> reporteth. <br /><i>Gal. Mon.</i></span> +After that Constantine was murthered (as before ye haue heard) one Vortigerus, or Vortigernus, +a man of great authoritie amongst the Britains, wrought so with the residue of the +British nobilitie, that Constantius the eldest sonne of their king the fore-remembred Constantine, +was taken out of the abbie of Winchester where he remained, and was streightwaies +created king, as lawfull inheritour to his father.</p> +<p> +Ye haue heard how Constantius was made a moonke in his fathers life time, bicause he +was thought to be too soft and childish in wit, to haue anie publike rule committed to his +hands: but for that cause speciallie did Vortigerne séeke t'aduance him, to the end that the +king being not able to gouerne of himselfe, he might haue the chiefest swaie, and so rule +all things as it were vnder him, preparing thereby a way for himselfe to atteine at length to +the kingdome as by that which followed was more apparentlie perceiued.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">CONSTANTIUS. <i>Matt. West</i> saith 445.</span> +This Constantius then the sonne of Constantine, by the helpe (as before ye haue heard) +of Vortigerne, was made king of Britaine, in the yere of our Lord 443. But Constantius +bare but the name of king: for Vortigerne abusing his innocencie and simple discretion to +order things as was requisite, had all the rule of the land, and did what pleased him. +Wherevpon first, where there had béene a league concluded betwixt the Britains, Scots and +Picts, in the daies of the late king Constantine, Vortigerne caused the same league to be +<span class="rightnote"><i>Hector Boet.</i></span> +renewed, & waged an hundred Picts, and as manie Scots to be attendant as a gard vpon the +kings person, diuers of the which (corrupting them with faire promises) he procured by +<span class="leftnote">Constantius murthered.</span> +subtile meanes in the end to murther the king, and immediatlie vpon the deed doone, he +caused the murtherers to be strangled, that they should not afterwards disclose by whose +<span class="rightnote">The subtile dealing of Vortigerne.</span> +procurement they did that déed. Then caused he all the residue of the Scots and Picts to +be apprehended, and as it had béene vpon a zeale to sée the death of Constantius seuerelie +punished, he framed such inditements and accusations against them, that chieflie by his +meanes (as appeared) the giltlesse persons were condemned and hanged, the multitude of +the British people béeing woonderfullie pleased therewith, and giuing great commendations<span class="page"><a name="page553" id="page553"></a>[Page 553]</span> +to Vortigerne for that déed. Thus Constantius was made awaie in maner as before ye haue +heard, after he had reigned (as most writers affirme) the space of fiue yéeres.</p> +<p> +After his death was knowne, those that had the bringing vp and custodie of his two +<span class="rightnote">Aurelius Ambrosius. <br />Vter Pendragon.</span> +yoonger brethren, Aurelius Ambrose, and Vter Pendragon, mistrusting the wicked intent +of Vortigerne, whose dissimulation and mischieuous meaning by some great likelihoods they +suspected, with all spéed got them to the sea, and fled into litle Britaine, there kéeping them +till it pleased God otherwise to prouide for them. But Vortigerne could so well dissemble +his craftie workings, and with such conueiance and cloked maner could shadow and colour +the matter, that most men thought and iudged him verie innocent and void of euill meaning: +insomuch that he obteined the fauour of the people so greatlie, that he was reputed for the +onelie staie and defender of the common wealth. Herevpon it came to passe, that when the +councell was assembled to elect a new king, for so much as the other sonnes of king Constantine +<span class="rightnote">Vortigerne chosen king of Britaine.</span> +were not of age sufficient to rule, Vortigerne himselfe was chosen, diuers of the +nobles (whom he had procured thereto) giuing their voices to this his preferment, as to one +best deseruing the same in their opinion and judgement. This Vortigerne, as by indirect +meanes and sinister procéedings he aspired to the regiment, hauing no title therevnto, otherwise +than as blind fortune vouchsafed him the preferment: so when he was possessed, but +not interessed in the same, he vncased the crooked conditions which he had couertlie concealed, +and in the end (as by the sequele you shall sée) did pull shame and infamie vpon +himselfe.</p> + + <hr /><br /><br /> + <a name="second5" id="second5"></a> +<p> +<i>Vortigerne furnisheth the tower with a garrison, he bewraieth his crueltie, Aurelius and +Pendragon brethren to the late king Constantius flie into Britaine Armorike, what common +abuses and sinnes did vniuersally concurre with a plentifull yeere, the Scots and +Picts reuenge the death of their countrimen, Vortigerne is in doubt of his estate, the +Britains send for succour to the Saxons, they come vnder the conduct of Hengist and +Horsus two brethren, where they are assigned to be seated, they vanquish the Scots, disagreement +in writers touching the Saxons first comming into this Iland.</i></p> + +<h3>THE SECOND CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">VORTIGERNE. 446.</span> +Vortigerne, by such diuelish meanes and vnconscionable practises (as you heare) +stealing away the hearts of the people, was chosen and made king of Britaine, in the yéere +of our Lord 446, in the 3 consulship of Aetius, 1197 of Rome, 4 of the 305 Olympiad, +4112 of the world, the dominicall letter going by F, the prime by 10, which fell about the +21 yéere of the emperour Valentinianus, the same yéere that Meroneus began to reigne ouer +the Frenchmen. Before he was made king, he was earle or duke of the Geuisses, a people +which held that part of Britaine where afterwards the west Saxons inhabited. Now when +<span class="rightnote"><i>Hector Boet</i>.</span> +he had with treason, fraud, and great deceit at length obteined that for the which he had +long looked, he first of all furnished the tower of London with a strong garrison of men +of warre.</p> +<p> +Then studieng to aduance such onelie as he knew to be his speciall friends and fauourers, +<span class="rightnote">415.</span> +he sought by all meanes how to oppresse other, of whose good will he had neuer so litle +mistrust, and namelie those that were affectionate towards the linage of Constantine he hated +deadlie, and deuised by secret meanes which way he might best destroy them. But these +his practises being at the first perceiued, caused such as had the gouernance of the two +<span class="rightnote"><i>Fabian</i>.</span> +yoong gentlemen with all spéed to get them ouer (as ye haue heard) into Britaine Armorike, +there to remaine out of danger with their vncle the king of that land. Diuers of the +Britains also, that knew themselues to be in Vortigerne his displeasure, sailed ouer dailie<span class="page"><a name="page554" id="page554"></a>[Page 554]</span> +vnto them, which thing brought Vortigerne into great doubt and feare of his estate.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Gyldas.</i> Plentie of wealth accompanied with store of sinnes.</span> +It chanced also the same time, that there was great plentie of corne, & store of fruit, the +like wherof had not béene seene in manie yéeres before, and therevpon insued riot, strife, +lecherie, and other vices verie heinous, & yet accounted as then for small or rather none +offenses at all. These abuses & great enormities reigned not onelie in the temporaltie, but +also in the spiritualtie and chéefe rulers in the same: so that euerie man turned the point of +his speare (euen as he had consented of purpose) against the true and innocent person. The +commons also gaue themselues to voluptuous lust, drunkennesse, and idle loitering, whereof +followed fighting, contention, enuie, and much debate. Of this plentie therefore insued +great pride, and of this abundance no lesse hautinesse of mind, wherevpon followed great +wickednesse, lacke of good gouernement and sober temperancie, and in the necke of these +as a iust punishment, death and mortalitie, so that in some countries scarse the quicke sufficed +to burie the dead.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">Scots and Picts inuade the Britains.</span> +And for an augmentation of more mischéefe, the Scots and Picts hearing how their countrimen +through the false suggestion of Vortigerne, had bene wrongfullie and most cruellie put +to death at London, began with fire & sword to make sharpe & cruell warre against the +Britains, wasting their countrie, spoiling and burning their townes, and giuing them the +ouerthrow in a pitcht field, as in the Scotish historie more plainlie appeareth. To be bréefe, +the Britains were brought into such danger and miserie, that they knew not what way to +take for remedie in such present perill, likelie to be ouerrun and vtterlie vanquished of their +enimies. In the meane time Vortigerne not onelie troubled with these imminent euils, but +fearing also the returne of the two brethren, Aurelius Ambrose, and Vter Pendragon, began +to consider of the state of things, and estéeming it most sure to worke by aduise, called togither +the principall lords and chéefe men of the realme to haue their counsell and opinion, +how to procéed in such a weightie businesse: and so debating the matter with them, measured +both his owne force, and also the force of his enimies, and according to the condition +and state of the time, diligentlie considered and searched out what remedie was to be had +and prouided.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Gyldas. <br />Wil. Malm. Beda.</i> The Saxons sent for. 10000 hath <i>Hector Boet. +Gyldas</i> and <i>Beda</i> mention onelie but of 3 plates or gallies, but <i>Hector Boet</i>. hath 30.</span> +At length after they had throughlie pondered all things, the more part of the nobles with +the king also were of this mind, that there could be no better way deuised, than to send +into Germanie for the Saxons to come to their aid: the which Saxons in that season were +highlie renowmed for their valiancie in armes, and manifold aduentures heretofore atchiued. +And so forthwith messengers were dispatched into Germanie, the which with monie, gifts, +and promises, might procure the Saxons to come to the aid of the Britains against the Scots +and Picts. The Saxons glad of this message, as people desirous of intertainment to serue +in warres, choosing forth a picked companie of lustie yoong men vnder the leading of +two brethren Hingist and Horsus, got them aboord into certeine vessels appointed for the +purpose, and so with all spéed directed their course towards great Britaine.</p> +<p> +<span class="leftnote">449.</span> +This was in the yeare of our Lord 449, and in the second yeare of Vortigerns reigne, as +the most autentike writers both British and English séeme to gather, although the Scotish +<span class="rightnote"><i>Wil. Malm.</i></span> +writers, and namelie, Hector Boetius doo varie herein, touching the iust account of yeares, +as to the perusers of the writings aswell of the one as the other may appeare. But others +take it to be in the 4 yéere of his reigne: whereto Beda séemeth to agrée, who noteth it in +the same yeare that Martianus the emperour began to rule the empire, which was (as appeareth +by the consularie table) in the consulship of Protogenes and Austerius, and third +yeere of Meroneus king of France.</p> +<p> +These Saxons thus arriuing in Britaine, were courteouslie receiued, & hartilie welcomed +of king Vortigerne, who assigned to them places in Kent to inhabit, and foorthwith led +them against the Scots and Picts, which were entred into Britaine, wasting & destroieng the +countrie before them. Héerevpon comming to ioine in battell, there was a sore fight +betwixt the parties for a while. But at length when the Saxons called to their remembrance +that the same was the day which should either purchase to them an euerlasting name of manhood<span class="page"><a name="page555" id="page555"></a>[Page 555]</span> +<span class="rightnote">Scots vanquished by the Saxons.</span> +by victorie, or else of reproch by repulse, began to renew the fight with such violence, +that the enimies not able to abide their fierce charge, were scattered and beaten downe on +ech side with great slaughter.</p> +<p> +The king hauing gotten this victorie, highlie rewarded the strangers according to their well +<span class="leftnote"><i>Henrie Hunt.</i></span> +deseruings, as by whose prowesse he had thus vanquished his enimies, which (as some write) +were come as farre as Stamford, and vsed at that time to fight with long darts and speares, +whereas the Saxons fought onelie with long swords and axes.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Gal. Mon.</i></span> +¶Some haue written that the Saxons were not sent for, but came by chance into the Ile, +and the occasion to be this. There was an ancient custome among the English Saxons a +people in Germanie, as was also at the first among other nations, that when the multitude +of them was so increased, that the countrie was not able to susteine and find them, by commandement +of their princes, they should choose out by lots a number of yoong and able +personages fit for the warrs, which should go foorth to séeke them new habitations: and so it +chanced to these, that they came into great Britaine, and promised to serue the king for wages +in his warres.</p> + + <hr/> +<a name="third5" id="third5"></a> +<p> +<i>Hengistus the Saxon shooteth at the crowne and scepter of the kingdome by craftie and +subtile practises, a great number of forren people arriue in Britaine for the augmentation +of his power, of the faire ladie Rowen his daughter,whereof Wednesdaie and Fridaie tooke +their name, of the Iutes, Saxons, and Angles, Vortigerne being inflamed with the loue of +Hengists daughter forsaketh his owne wife and marrieth hir, Vortigerne giueth Hengist +all Kent, the Saxons come ouer by heaps to inhabit the land, the British nobilitie moue the +king to auoid them, he is depriued of his kingdome, the miserable destruction made by the +Saxons in this land, skirmishes betwixt them and the Britains.</i></p> + +<h3>THE THIRD CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">Hengist purposeth at the first to conquere the Britains.</span> +Now Hengistus, being a man of great wit, rare policie, and high wisedome, vnderstanding +the kings mind, who wholie trusted to the valiancie of the Saxons, & herewithall perceiuing +the fruitfulnesse of the countrie, presentlie began to consider with himselfe, by what wiles and +craft he might by little little settle heere, and obteine a kingdome in the Ile, and so establish +the same to him and his for euer.</p> +<p> +<span class="leftnote"><i>Polydor.</i></span> +Therefore first he endeuored with all speed possible to fense that part of the countrie, +which was giuen him and his people, and to inlarge and furnish it with garisons appointed in +places most conuenient. After this he did what he could to persuade the king, that a great +power of men might be brought ouer out of Germanie, that the land being fortified with such +<span class="rightnote"><i>Wil. Malm.</i> 18 Foists or plates saie the Scotish writers, and 5000 men in the same. +The Saxons call these vessels Ceoles, or Kéeles, and our old histories Cogiones.</span> +strength, the enimies might be put in feare, and his subiects holden in rest. The king not +foreséeing the hap that was to come, did not despise this counsell tending to the destruction +of his kingdome, and so was more aid sent for into Germanie: wherevpon now at this second +time there arriued héere 16 vessels fraught with people, and at the same time came the ladie +Rowen or Ronix (daughter to Hengist) a maid of excellent beautie and comelinesse, able to +delight the eies of them that should behold hir, and speciallie to win the heart of Vortigerne +with the dart of concupiscence, wherevnto he was of nature much inclined, and that did Hengist +well perceiue.</p> +<p> +<span class="leftnote">The <i>Vitæ</i> or <i>Iutæ</i> are called Ibitri. <i>Alex. Now.</i></span> +There came ouer into this land at that time, and soone after, thrée maner of people of the +Germane nation, as Saxons, Vitæ or Iutes, and Angles, ouer the which the said Hengist and +Horse being brethren, were capteines & rulers, men of right noble parentage in their countrie, +as descended of that ancient, prince Woden, of wham the English Saxon kings doo for the more +part fetch their pedegrée, as lineallie descended from him, vnto whome also the English people<span class="page"><a name="page556" id="page556"></a>[Page 556]</span> +<span class="rightnote">Wednesdaie, and Fridaie, whereof they came.</span> +(falselie reputing him for a god) consecrated the fourth daie of the wéeke, as they did the +sixt to his wife Frea: so that the same daies tooke name of them, the one being called Wodensdaie, +and the other Freadaie, which woords after in continuance of time by corruption of +spéech were somewhat altered, though not much, as from Wodensdaie, to Wednesdaie, and +<span class="leftnote"><i>Beda.</i></span> +from Freadaie to Fridaie. The foresaid Woden was father to Vecta, the father of Wergistus +that was father to the foresaid Hengistus and Horsus.</p> +<p> +But now to rehearse further touching those thrée people which at this time came ouer into +Britaine out of Germanie. Of the Vites or Iutes (as Beda recordeth) are the Kentishmen descended, +and the people of the Ile of Wight, with those also that inhabit ouer against the same +Ile. Of the Saxons came the east, the south, & the west Saxons. Moreouer, of the Angles +proceéded the east Angles, the middle Angles or Mercies, and the Northerne men. That +<span class="rightnote"><i>Cor. Tacitus.</i></span> +these Angles were a people of Germanie, it appeareth also by Cornelius Tacitus, who called +them Anglij, which word is of thrée syllables (as Polydor saith:) but some write it Angli, with +two syllables. And that these Angli, or Anglij were of no small force and authoritie in Germanie +before their comming into this land, maie appeare, in that they are numbred amongst +the twelue nations there, which had lawes and ancient ordinances apart by themselues, according +to the which the state of their common wealth was gouerned, they being the same +and one people with the Thuringers, as in the title of the old Thuringers lawes we find recorded, +which is thus: "Lex Angliorum & Werinorum, hoc est Thuringorum," The law +of the Angles and Werinians that is to saie the Thuringers, which Thuringers are a people +in Saxonie, as in the description of that countrie it maie appeare.</p> +<p> +<span class="leftnote"><i>Polydor.</i> Rowen, or Ronowen Hengists daughter.</span> +But now to the matter. Hengist perceiuing that his people were highlie in Vortigernes fauour, +began to handle him craftilie, deuising by what means he might bring him in loue with +his daughter Ronix, or Rowen, or Ronowen (as some write) which he beléeued well would easilie +<span class="rightnote"><i>Wil. Malm.</i></span> +be brought to passe, bicause he vnderstood that the king was much giuen to sensuall lust, +which is the thing that often blindeth wise mens vnderstanding, and maketh them to dote, +and to lose their perfect wits: yea, and oftentimes bringeth them to destruction, though by +such pleasant poison they féele no bitter taste, till they be brought to the extreame point of +confusion in déed.</p> +<p> +<span class="leftnote"><i>Gal. Mon.</i></span> +A great supper therefore was prepared by Hengist, at the which it pleased the king to be +present, and appointed his daughter, when euerie man began to be somewhat merrie with +drinke, to bring in a cup of gold full of good and pleasant wine, and to present it to the +king, saieng; Wassail. Which she did in such comelie and decent maner, as she that knew +how to doo it well inough, so as the king maruelled greatlie thereat, and not vnderstanding +what she ment by that salutation, demanded what it signified. To whom it was answered by +<span class="rightnote">Wassail, what it signifieth.</span> +Hengist, that she wished him well, and the meaning of it was, that he should drinke after hir, +ioining thereto this answer, Drinke haile. Wherevpon the king (as he was informed) tooke +the cup at the damsels hand, and dranke.</p> +<p> +Finallie, this yoong ladie behaued hir selfe with such pleasant woords, comelie countenance, +and amiable grace, that the king beheld hir so long, till he felt himselfe so farre in loue with +hir person, that he burned in continuall desire to inioy the same: insomuch that shortlie after +<span class="leftnote"><i>Polydor. Fabian.</i></span> +he forsooke his owne wife, by the which he had thrée sonnes, named Vortimerus, Catagrinus, +and Pascentius, and required of Hengist to haue his daughter, the said Rowen, or Ronowen +in mariage. Hengist at the first séemed strange to grant to his request, and excused the +matter, for that his daughter was not of estate and dignitie méet to be matched with his maiestie. +<span class="rightnote"><i>Wil. Malm.</i></span> +But at length as it had béene halfe against his will he consented, and so the mariage +was concluded & solemnized, all Kent being assigned vnto Hengist in reward, the which countrie +was before that time gouerned by one Guorongus (though not with most equall Justice) +which Guorongus was subiect vnto Vortigerne, as all other the potentats of the Ile were.</p> +<p> +This mariage and liberalite of the king towards the strangers much offended the minds of +his subiects, and hastened the finall destruction of the land. For the Saxons now vnderstanding +the affinitie had betwixt the king and Hengist, came so fast ouer to inhabit héere, that it was<span class="page"><a name="page557" id="page557"></a>[Page 557]</span> +woonder to consider in how short a time such a multitude could come togither: so that bicause +of their great number and approoued puissance in warres, they began to be a terrour to +<span class="leftnote"><i>Wil. Malm.</i></span> +the former inhabitants the Britains. But Hengist being no lesse politike in counsell than valiant +in armes, abusing the kings lacke of discretion, to serue his owne turne, persuaded him to +<span class="rightnote"><i>Gal.</i> saith he was Hengists sonne, and Ebusa his vncles sonne. +Occa and Ebusa leaders of Saxons.</span> +call out of Germanie his brother Occa and his sonne named Ebusa, being men of great valure, +to the end that as Hengist defended the land in the south part: so might they kéepe +backe the Scots in the north.</p> +<p> +Héerevpon by the kings consent, they came with a power out of Germanie, and coasting +about the land, they sailed to the Iles of Orknie, and sore vexed the people there, and likewise +the Scots and Picts also, and finallie arriued in the north parts of the realme, now called +Northumberland, where they setled themselues at that present, and so continued there euer +<span class="rightnote"><i>Wil. Malm. de Regib.</i></span> +after: but none of them taking vpon him the title of king, till about 99 yéeres after their first +comming into that countrie, but in the meane time remaining as subiects vnto the Saxon kings +of Kent. After their arriuall in that prouince, they oftentimes fought with the old inhabitants +there, and ouercame them, chasing away such as made resistance, and appeased the residue by +receiuing them vnder allegiance.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Fabian.</i> The great numbers of strangers suspected to the Britains.</span> +When the nobles of Britaine saw and perceiued in what danger the land stood, by the dailie +repaire of the huge number of Saxons into the same, they first consulted togither, and after +resorting to the king, mooued him that some order might be taken for the auoiding of them, +or the more part of them, least they should with their power and great multitude vtterlie oppresse +the British nation. But all was in vaine, for Vortigerne so estéemed and highlie fauoured +the Saxons, and namelie by reason of the great loue which he bare to his wife, that he +little regarded his owne nation, no nor yet anie thing estéemed his owne naturall kinsmen and +<span class="rightnote">Vortigerne depriued.</span> +chiefe friends, by reason whereof the Britains in fine depriued him of all kinglie honour, +after that he had reigned 16 yéeres, and in his steed crowned his sonne Vortimer.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Gyldas. Beda. H. Hunt.</i></span> +Gyldas and Beda make no mention of Vortimer, but declare that after the Saxons were +receiued into this land, there was a couenant made betwixt them and the Britains, that the +Saxons should defend the countrie from the inuasion of enimies by their knightlie force: and +that in consideration therof, the Britains should find them prouision of vittels: wherewith +they held them contented for a time. But afterwards they began to pike quarrels, as though +they were not sufficientlie furnished of their due proportion of vittels, threatening that if they +were not prouided more largelie thereof, they would surelie spoile the countrie. So that +<span class="rightnote">The miserable destruction made by the Saxons in this land.</span> +without deferring of time, they performed their woords with effect of deeds, beginning in +the east part of the Ile, & with fire and swoord passed foorth, wasting and destroieng the +countrie, till they came to the vttermost part of the west: so that from sea to sea, the land +was wasted and destroied in such cruell and outragious manner, that neither citie, towne, nor +church was regarded, but all committed to the fire: the priests slaine and murthered euen +afore the altars, and the prelats with the people without anie reuerence of their estate or degrée +dispatched with fire and swoord, most lamentablie to behold.</p> +<p> +Manie of the Britains séeing the demeanour of the Saxons, fled to the mounteins, of the +which diuers being apprehended, were cruellie slaine, and other were glad to come foorth and +yeeld themselues to eternall bondage, for to haue reléefe of meate and drinke to asswage their +extremitie of hunger. Some other got them out of the realme into strange lands, so to saue +themselues; and others abiding still in their countrie, kept them within the thicke woods and +craggie rocks, whither they were fled, liuing there a poore wretched life, in great feare and +vnquietnesse of mind.</p> +<p> +But after that the Saxons were departed and withdrawne to their houses, the Britains began +to take courage to them againe, issuing foorth of those places where they had lien hid, and +with one consent calling for aid at Gods hand, that they might be preserued from vtter destruction, +they began vnder the conduct of their leader Aurelius Ambrose, to prouoke the +Saxons to battell, and by the helpe of God they obteined victorie, according to their owne +desires. And from thence foorth, one while the Britains, and an other while the Saxons<span class="page"><a name="page558" id="page558"></a>[Page 558]</span> +were victors. So that in this British people, God (according to his accustomed maner) as it +were present Israell, tried them from time to time, whether they loued him or no, vntill the +<span class="rightnote">So <i>Gyldas</i> was borne in the yeare of our Lord 493.</span> +yeare of the siege of Badon hill, where afterwards no small slaughter was made of the enimies: +which chanced the same yeare in the which Gyldas was borne (as he himselfe witnesseth) +being about the 44 yeare after the comming of the Saxons into Britaine.</p> +<p> +Thus haue Gyldas & Beda (following by likelihood the authoritie of the same Gyldas) +written of these first warres begun betwéene the Saxons and Britains. But now to go foorth +with the historie, according to the order of our chronicles, as we doo find recorded touching +the doings of Vortimer that was elected king (as ye haue heard) to gouerne in place of his +father Vortigerne.</p> + + <hr /><br /><br /> +<a name="fourth5" id="fourth5"></a> +<p> +<i>Vortimer is created king in the roome of his father Vortigerne, he giueth the Saxons sore +and sharpe battels, a combat fought betweene Catigerne the brother of Vortimer and, +Horsus the brother of Hengist, wherein they were both slaine, the Britains driue the +Saxons into the Ile of Tenet, Rowen the daughter of Hengist procureth Vortimer to be +poisoned, the Saxons returne into Germanie as some writers report, they ioine with the +Scots and Picts against the Britains and discomfit them.</i></p> + +<h3>THE FOURTH CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">VORTIMER. 464.<i>Fabian. Galf. Mon. Matt. West.</i> saith 454.</span> +This Vortimer being eldest sonne to Vortigerne, by the common assent of the Britains was +made king of Britaine, in the yeare of our Lord 464, which was in the fourth yeare of the +emperour Leo the fift, and about the sixt yeare of Childericus king of France, as our common +account runneth, which is far disagréeing from that whereof W. Harison dooth speake +in his chronologie, who noteth Vortigerne to be deposed in the 8 after his exaltation to the +crowne, 454 of Christ, and 5 currant after the comming of the Saxons, which concurreth +with the 4420 of the world, and 8 of Meroneus, as by his chronologie dooth more at large appear.</p> +<p> +But to procéed, Vortimer being thus aduanced to the gouernment of the realme, in all +hast made sore warre against the Saxons, and gaue vnto them a great battell vpon the riuer +<span class="leftnote">The riuer of Derwent.</span> +of Derwent, where he had of them the vpper hand. And the second time he fought with +<span class="rightnote">Epiford.</span> +them at a place called Epiford, or Aglisthrop, in the which incounter Catagrine or Catigernus +the brother of Vortimer, and Horsus the brother of Hengist, after a long combat +betwixt them two, either of them slue other: but the Britains obteined the field (as saith +<span class="leftnote">The Ile of Tenet.</span> +the British historie.) The third battell Vortimer fought with them néere to the sea side, +where also the Britains chased the Saxons, & droue them into the Ile of Tenet. The +<span class="rightnote"><i>Hen. Hunt.</i> Colemoore.</span> +fourth battell was stricken néere to a moore called Colemoore, the which was sore fought +by the Saxons, and long continued with great danger to the Britains, because the foresaid +moore inclosed a part of their host so stronglie, that the Britains could not approch to +them, being beaten off with the enimies shot, albeit in the end the Saxons were put to +flight, & manie of them drowned and swallowed vp in the same moore. Beside these +<span class="rightnote"><i>Fabian.</i> Tetford in Norfolke. Colchester.</span> +foure principall battels, Vortimer had diuers other conflicts with the Saxons, as in Kent and +at Tetford in Norfolke, also néere to Colchester in Essex: for he left not till he had bereft +them of the more part of all such possessions as before time they had got, so that they were +constrained to kéepe them within the Ile of Tenet, where he oftentimes assailed them with +such ships as he then had. When Ronowen the daughter of Hengist perceiued the great +losse that the Saxons sustained by the martiall prowesse of Vortimer, she found means that +within a while the said Vortimer was poisoned, after he had ruled the Britains by the space<span class="page"><a name="page559" id="page559"></a>[Page 559]</span> +of 6 or 7 yeares and od moneths.</p> +<p> +¶ By the British historie it should séeme, that Vortimer before his death handled the Saxons +so hardlie, kéeping them besieged within the Ile of Tenet, till at length they were constrained +to sue for licence to depart home into Germanie in safetie: and the better to bring this to +pas, they sent Vortigerne, (whome they had kept still with them in all these battels) vnto +his sonne Vortimer, to be a meane for the obteining of their sute. But whilest this treatie +was in hand, they got them into their ships, and leauing their wiues and children behind them, +returned into Germanie. Thus far Gal. Mon. But how vnlikelie this is to be true, I will not +make anie further discourse, but onelie refer euerie man to that which in old autentike historiographers +<span class="rightnote"><i>Will. Malmes.</i></span> +of the English nation is found recorded, as in Will. Malmes. Henr. Hunt, Marianus, +and others: vnto whome in these matters concerning the dooings betwixt the Saxons +and Britains, we maie vndoubtedlie and safelie giue most credit.</p> +<p> +William Malmes. writing of this Vortimer, or Guortigerne, and of the warres which he had +against the Saxons, varieth in a maner altogether from Geffrey of Monmouth, as by his words +here following ye maie perceiue. Guortimer, the sonne of Vortimer (saith he) thinking not +good long to dissemble the matter, for that he saw himselfe and his countriemen the Britains +preuented by the craft of the English Saxons, set his full purpose to driue them out of the +realme, and kindled his father to the like attempt. He therefore being the author and procurer, +seuen yeares after their first comming into this land, the league was broken, and by the +<span class="rightnote">Hengist had the victorie in this battell <br />saith <i>Ra. Mig.</i>, Horse and Catigene slaine.</span> +space of 2O yeares they fought oftentimes togither in manie light incounters, but foure times +they fought puissance against puissance in open field: in the first battell they departed with +like fortune, whilest the one part, that is to meane, the Saxons lost their capteine Horse that +was brother to Hengist, and the Britains lost Catigerne an other of Vortigerns sonnes.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">458.</span> +In the ether battels, when the Englishmen went euer awaie with the vpper hand, at length +a peace was concluded, Guortimer being taken out of this world by course of fatall death, +the which much differing from the soft and milde nature of his father, right noblie would haue +gouerned the realme, if God had suffered him to haue liued. But these battels which Vortimer +gaue to the Saxons (as before is mentioned) should appeare by that which some writers +haue recorded, to haue chanced before the supposed time of Vortimers or Guortimers atteining +to the crowne, about the 6 or 7 yeare after the first comming of the Saxons into this +realme with Hengist. And hereto W. Harison giueth his consent, referring the mutuall +<span class="rightnote"> <i>Polydor</i>.</span> +slaughter of Horsus and Catigerne to the 6 years of Martianus, & 455 of Christ. Howbeit +Polydor Virgil saith, that Vortimer succéeded his father, and that after his fathers deceasse the +English Saxons, of whome there was a great number then in the Ile, comming ouer dailie like +swarmes of bées, and hauing in possession not onelie Kent, but also the north parts of the +realme towards Scotland, togither with a great part of the west countrie, thought it now a fit +time to attempt the fortune of warre: and first therefore concluding a league with the Scots +and Picts, vpon the sudden they turned their weapons points against the Britains, and most +cruellie pursued them, as though they had receiued some great iniurie at their hands, and no +benefit at all. The Britains were maruelouslie abashed herewith, perceiuing that they should +haue to doo with Hengist, a capteine of so high renowme, and also with their ancient enimies +the Scots and Picts, thus all at one time, and that there was no remedie but either they +must fight or else become slaues. Wherefore at length, dread of bondage stirred vp manhood +in them, so that they assembled togither, and boldlie began to resist their enimies on ech +<span class="rightnote">The Britains discomfited by the Scots.</span> +side: but being too weake, they were easilie discomfited and put to flight, so that all +hope of defense by force of armes being vtterlie taken awaie, as men in despaire to preuaile +against their enimies, they fled as shéepe scattered abroad, some following one capteine and +some another, getting them into desart places, woods and maresh grounds, and moreouer left +such townes and fortresses as were of no notable strength, as a preie vnto their enimies.</p> +<p> +Thus saith Polydor Virgil of the first breaking of the warres betwixt the Saxons and the +Britains, which chanced not (as should appeare by that which he writeth thereof) till after the +death of Vortigerne. Howbeit he denieth not that Hengist at his first comming got seates<span class="page"><a name="page560" id="page560"></a>[Page 560]</span> +for him and his people within the countie of Kent, and there began to inhabit. This ought +<span class="rightnote"><i>Sigebertus.</i></span> +not to be forgotten, that king Vortimer (as Sigebertus hath written) restored the Christian religion +after he had vanquished the Saxons, in such places where the same was decaied by the +enimies inuasion, whose drift was not onelie to ouerrun the land with violence, but also to +erect their owne laws and liberties without regard of clemencie.</p> + + <hr /><br /><br /> +<a name="fift5" id="fift5"></a> +<p> +<i>Vortigerne is restored to his regiment, in what place he abode during the time of his sonnes +reigne, Hengist with his Saxons re-enter the land, the Saxons and Britains are appointed +to meet on Salisburie plaine, the priuie treason of Hengist and his power whereby the Britains +were slaine like sheepe, the manhood of Edol earle of Glocester, Vortigerne is taken +prisoner, Hengist is in possession of three prouinces of this land, a description of Kent.</i></p> + +<h3>THE FIFT CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">471. <i>Matth. West.</i> saith 461.</span> +After all these bloudie broiles and tempestuous tumults ended, Vortigerne was restored +and set againe into the kingdome of Britaine, in the yeare of our Lord 471. All the time of +his sonnes reigne, he had remained in the parties now called Wales, where (as some write) +in that meane time he builded a strong castle called Generon, or Guaneren, in the west side of +Wales nere to the riuer of Guana, vpon a mounteine called Cloaricus, which some referre to +be builded in his second returne into Wales, as shall be shewed hereafter. And it is so much +the more likelie, for that an old chronicle, which Fabian had sight of, affirmeth, that Vortigerne +was kept vnder the rule of certeine gouernors to him appointed in the towne of Caerlegion, +<span class="rightnote">Caerleon Arwiske.</span> +and behaued himselfe in such commendable sort towards his sonne, in aiding him with +his counsell, and otherwise in the meane season whilest his sonne reigned, that the Britains +by reason thereof began so to fauour him, that after the death of Vortimer they made him king +againe.</p> +<p> +Shortlie after that Vortigerne was restored to the rule of the kingdom, Hengist aduertised +<span class="rightnote"><i>Matth. West.</i> saith 4000. He might easilie returne, for except I be deceiued +he was neuer driuen out after he had once set foot within this Ile.</span> +therof returned into the land with a mightie armie of Saxons, whereof Vortigerne being admonished, +assembled his Britains, and with all speed made towards him. When Hengist +had knowledge of the huge host of the Britains that was comming against him, he required to +come to a communication with Vortigerne, which request was granted, so that it was concluded, +that on Maie day a certeine number of Britains, and as manie of the Saxons should +meet togither vpon the plaine of Salisburie. Hengist hauing deuised a new kind of treason, +when the day of their appointed méeting was come, caused euerie one of his allowed number +secretlie to put into his hose a long knife (where it was ordeined that no man should bring +anie weapon with him at all) and that at the verie instant when this watchword should be vttered +<span class="leftnote">Nempt your sexes, what if it were messes.</span> +by him, "Nempt your sexes," then should euerie of them plucke out his knife, and slea +the Britaine that chanced to be next to him, except the same should be Vortigerne, whom +he willed to be apprehended, but not slaine.</p> +<p> +At the day assigned, the king with his appointed number or traine of the Britains, mistrusting +nothing lesse than anie such maner of vnfaithfull dealing, came vnto the place in order before +prescribed, without armor or weapon, where he found Hengist readie with his Saxons, +the which receiued the king with amiable countenance and in most louing sort: but after they +were a little entred into communication, Hengist meaning to accomplish his deuised purpose, +gaue the watchword, immediatlie wherevpon the Saxons drew out their kniues, and suddenlie +<span class="rightnote">There died of the nobles of Britaine 460 as <i>Gal.</i> saith.</span> +fell on the Britains, and slue them as shéepe being fallen within the danger of woolues. For +the Britains had no weapons to defend themselues, except anie of them by his strength and +manhood got the knife of his enimie.</p> +<p> +<span class="leftnote"><br /><i>Ran. Cestren. Fabian.</i></span> +Amongst other of the Britains, there was one Edol earle of Glocester, or (as other say)<span class="page"><a name="page561" id="page561"></a>[Page 561]</span> +Chester, which got a stake out of an hedge, or else where, and with the same so defended +himselfe and laid about him, that he slue 17 of the Saxons, and escaped to the towne of +<span class="rightnote"><i>Gal.</i> saith 70, <i>Matth. West, <br />Ran. Cestren.</i></span> +Ambrie, now called Salisburie, and so saued his owne life. Vortiger was taken and kept as prisoner +by Hengist, till he was constreined to deliuer vnto Hengist thrée prouinces or countries +of this realme, that is to say, Kent &Essex, or as some write, that part where the south +Saxons after did inhabit, as Sussex and other: the third was the countrie where the Estangles +planted themselues, which was in Norfolke and Suffolke. Then Hengist being in possession +of those thrée prouinces, suffered Vortigerne to depart, &to be at his libertie.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Wil. Malm.</i></span> +¶ William Malmesburie writeth somewhat otherwise of this taking of Vortigerne, during +whose reigne, after the deceasse of his sonne Vortimer, nothing was attempted against the +Saxons, but in the meane time Hengist by colorable craft procured his sonne in law Vortigerne +to come to a banket at his house, with three hundred other Britains, and when he +had made them well and warme with often quaffing and emptieng of cups, and of purpose +touched euerie of them with one bitter tawnt or other, they first fell to multiplieng of malicious +words, and after to blowes that the Britains were slaine, euerie mothers sonne so yéelding +vp their ghosts euen amongst their pots. The king himselfe was taken, and to redéeme +himselfe out of prison, gaue to the Saxons thrée prouinces, and so escaped out of bondage.</p> +<p> +Thus by what meane soeuer it came to passe, truth it is (as all writers agrée) that Hengist +got possession of Kent, and of other countries in this realme, and began to reigne there as +<span class="rightnote">476.</span> +absolute lord &gouernor, in the yéere of our Lord (as some write) 476, about the fift +yéere of Vortigerns last reigne: but after other, which take the beginning of this kingdome +of Kent to be when Hengist had first gift therof, the same kingdome began in the yéere 455, +and conteined the countrie that stretcheth from the east Ocean vnto the riuer of Thames, hauing +<span class="leftnote"> Kingdome of Kent.</span> +on the southeast Southerie, and vpon the west London, vpon the northeast the riuer of +Thames aforesaid, and the countrie of Essex.</p> + + <hr /><br /><br /> + <a name="vj5" id="vj5"></a> +<p> +<i>The heptarchie or seuen kingdoms of this land, Hengist causeth Britaine to be peopled with +Saxons, the decaie of Christian religion, the Pelagians with their hereticall and false doctrine +infect the Britains, a synod summoned in Gallia for the redresse thereof, the Scots assist +the Britains against the Saxons, who renew their league with the Picts, Germane and +Lupus two bishops of Germanie procure the British armie to be newlie christened, the terror +that the Britains vnder bishop Germans fortunate conduct draue into the Saxons by the +outcrie of Alleluia, and got the victorie, bishop Germane departeth out of the land, and to +redresse the Pelagian heresie commeth againe at the clergies request, he confirmeth his +doctrine by a miracle, banisheth the Pelagians out of the land, the death of Germane, murther +requited with murther.</i></p> + + +<h3>THE VJ CHAPTER.</h3> + +<p> +Hengist and all other the Saxon kings which ruled (as after shall appeare) in seuen +parts of this realme, are called by writers <i>Reguli,</i> that is, little kings or rulers of some small +dominion: so that Hengist is counted a little king, who when he had got into his hands the +foresaid thrée prouinces, he caused more Saxons to come into Britaine, and bestowed them in +places abroad in the countrie, by reason whereof the christian religion greatlie decaied within +<span class="rightnote">The decay of christian religion.</span> +the land, for the Saxons being pagans, did what they could to extinguish the faith of Christ, +and to plant againe in all places their heathenish religion, and woorshipping of false gods: +and not onelie hereby was the true faith of the Christians brought in danger dailie to decaie, +but also the erronious opinions of the Pelagians greatlie preuailed here amongst the Britains, +by meanes of such vnsound preachers as in that troublesome season did set forth false<span class="page"><a name="page562" id="page562"></a>[Page 562]</span> +doctrine amongst the people, without all maner of reprehension.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Beda.</i></span> +Certeine yéeres before the comming of the Saxons, that heresie began to spread within this +land verie much, by the lewd industrie of one Leporius Agricola, the sonne of Seuerus Sulpitius +(as Bale saith) a bishop of that lore. But Pelagius the author of this heresie was borne +in Wales, and held opinion that a man might obteine saluation by his owne frée will and merit, +and without assistance of grace, as he that was borne without originall sinne, &c.</p> +<p> +This erronious doctrine being taught therefore, and mainteined in this troublesome time of +warres with the Saxons, sore disquieted the godlie minded men amongst the Britains, who not +<span class="rightnote"><i>Beda.</i></span> +meaning to receiue it, nor yet able well to confute the craftie and wicked persuasions vsed by +the professors thereof, thought good to send ouer into Gallia, requiring of the bishops there, +that some godlie and profound learned men might be sent ouer from thence into this land, +to defend the cause of the true doctrine against the naughtie teachers of so blasphemous an +error. Whervpon the bishops of Gallia sore lamenting the miserable state of the Britains, +and desirous to relieue their present néed, speciallie in that case of religion, called a synod, and +<span class="leftnote">A synod called in Gallia.</span> +therein taking counsell to consider who were most méet to be sent, it was decéed by all their +<span class="rightnote">Germanus and Lupus.</span> +consents in the end, that one Germane the bishop of Auxerre, and Lupus bishop of Trois +should passe ouer into Britaine to confirme the Christians there in the faith of the celestiall +grace. And so those two vertuous learned men taking their iournie, finallie arriued in Britaine, +though not without some danger by sea, through stormes &rage of winds, stirred (as +hath beene thought of the superstitious) by the malice of wicked spirits, who purposed to +haue hindered their procéedings in this their good and well purposed iournie. After they +were come ouer, they did so much good with conuincing the wicked arguments of the aduersaries +of the truth, by the inuincible power of the woord of God, and holinesse of life, that +those which were in the wrong waie, were soone brought into the right path againe.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Beda.</i> Palladius. Constantine king of Scots.</span> +About the same time also, one Palladius was sent from Celestinus bishop of Rome, vnto the +Scots, to instruct them in the faith of Christ, and to purge them from the heresie of the said +Pelagius. This Palladius exhorted Constantinus the king of Scots, that in no wise he should +aid the Saxons being infidels against the Britains: whose exhortation tooke so good effect, +that the said Constantinus did not onelie forbeare to assist the Saxons, but contrarilie holpe +the Britains in their warres against them, which thing did mainteine the state of the Britains +for a time from falling into vtter ruine and decaie. In the meane time, the Saxons renewed +<span class="rightnote"><i>H. Hunt. <br />Beda.</i></span> +their league with the Picts, so that their powers being ioined togither, they began afresh to +make sore warres vpon the Britains, who of necessitie were constreined to assemble an armie, +&mistrusting their owne strength, required aid of the two bishops, Germane and Lupus, who +hasting forward with all speed came into the armie, bringing with them no small hope of good +lucke to all the Britains there being assembled. This was doone in Kent.</p> +<p> +Now such was the diligence of the bishops, that the people (being instructed with continuall +preaching) in renouncing the error of the Pelagians, earnestlie came by troops to receiue the +grace of God offred in baptisme, so that on Easter day which then insued, the more part of +the armie was baptised, and so went foorth against the enimies, who hearing thereof, made +<span class="leftnote">The armie of the Britains newlie christened.</span> +hast towards the Britains; in hope to ouercome them at pleasure. But their approch being +knowne, bishop Germane tooke vpon him the leading of the British host, and ouer against +the passage thorough the which the enimies were appointed to come, he chose foorth a faire +vallie inclosed with high mounteins, and within the same he placed his new washed armie. +And when he saw the enimies now at hand, he commanded that euerie man with one generall +voice should answer him, crieng alowd the same crie that he should begin. So that euen +as the enimies were readie to giue the charge vpon the Britains, supposing that they should +haue taken them at vnwares, and before anie warning had béen giuen, suddenlie bishop Germane +<span class="rightnote">Alleluia.</span> +and the priests with a lowd and shrill voice called <i>Alleluia,</i> thrice: and therewith all +the multitudes of the Britains with one voice cried the same crie, with such a lowd shout, that +the Saxons were therewith so amazed and astonied (the echo from the rocks and hils adjoining, +redoubling in such wise the crie) that they thought not onelie the rocks and clifs had <span class="page"><a name="page563" id="page563"></a>[Page 563]</span> +fallen vpon them, but that euen the skie it selfe had broken in péeces and come tumbling +downe vpon their heads: héerewith therefore throwing awaie their weapons, they tooke them +to their féet, and glad was he that might get to be formost in running awaie. Manie of +them for hast were drowned in a riuer which they had to passe. Polydor taketh that riuer to +be Trent. The Britains hauing thus vanquished their enimies, gathered the spoile at good +leasure, &gaue God thanks for the victorie thus got without bloud, for the which the holie +bishops also triumphed as best became them. Now after they had setled all things in good +quiet within the Ile, as was thought expedient, they returned into Gallia or France, from +whence they came (as is before rehearsed.)</p> +<p> +<span class="leftnote"><i>Matth. West.</i><br />448.</span> +By one author it should appéere that this battell was woone against the Scots and Picts, +about the yéere of our Lord 448, a little before the comming of the Saxons into this land vnder +Hengist, in which yéere Germane first came hither to wéed out the heresie of Pelagius, as +by the same author more at large is affirmed. Howbeit, some chronographers alledge out of +Prosper &other, and note the first comming of Germane to haue béene in the 429 yéere of +Christ, and vnder the consulship of Florentius and Dionysius. And this should séeme to +agrée with the truth, for that after some, the foresaid Germane should die at Rauenna, about +the yéere of our Lord 450, as Vincentius noteth, which was the verie yeere of the comming +of the Saxons: notwithstanding, when or wheresoeuer he died, it was not long after his +returne into Gallia, vpon his first iournie made hither into this land, who no sooner obteined +the victorie before mentioned, but woord was brought againe vnto him, that eftsoones the +heresie of the Pelagians was spread abroad in Britaine, and therefore all the priests or cleargie +made request to him that it might stand with his pleasure to come ouer againe, and defend +the cause of true religion which he had before confirmed.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">Germane returneth againe into Britaine.</span> +Héerevpon bishop Germane granted so to doo, and therefore taking with him one Seuerus +(that was disciple vnto Lupus, and ordeined at that time bishop of Triers) tooke the sea, and +came againe into Britaine, where he found the multitude of the people stedfast in the same +beliefe wherein he had left them, &perceiued the fault to rest in a few: wherevpon inquiring +out the authors, he condemned them to exile (as it is written) and with a manifest +miracle by restoring a yoong man that was lame (as they saie) vnto the right vse of his lims, he +confirmed his doctrine. Then followed preaching to persuade amendment of errors, and by +the generall consent of all men, the authors of the wicked doctrine being banished the land, +were deliuered vnto bishop Germane and to his fellow Seuerus, to conueie them away in their +companie vnto the parties beyond the seas, that the region might so be deliuered of further +danger, and they receiue the benefit of due amendment.</p> +<p> +By this meanes it came to passe, that the true faith continued in Britaine sound and perfect +a long time after. Things being thus set in good order, those holie men returned into +their countries, the forenamed bishop Germane went to Rauenna to sue for peace to be +granted vnto the people of Britaine Armorike, where being receiued of the emperor Valentinian +and his mother Placida in most reuerend maner, he departed in that citie out of this +<span class="leftnote">Anno 450, as <i>Vincentius</i> noteth, <i>lib. 20. ca. 15.</i></span> +transitorie life, to the eternall ioies of heauen. His bodie was afterwards conueied to the +citie of Auxerre, where he had béene bishop with great opinion of holines for his sincere +doctrine and pure and innocent life. Shortlie after was the emperour Valentinian slaine +<span class="rightnote">The emperour Valentinian slaine.</span> +by the friends of that noble man named Aetius, whome he had before caused to be put to +death.</p> +<p> +¶ By this it maie appéere, that bishop Germane came into this realme both the first and +<span class="leftnote">454.</span> +second time, whilest as well Hengist, as also Vortigerne were liuing: for the said Valentinian +was murthered about the yeere of our Lord 454, where the said kings liued and reigned +long after that time, as maie appéere both before and after in this present booke.</p> + +<hr /><br /><br /> +<a name="seuenth5" id="seuenth5"></a> +<span class="page"><a name="page564" id="page564"></a>[Page 564]</span> +<p> +<i>What part of the realme the Saxons possessed, Vortigerne buildeth a castell in Wales for +his safetie, Aurelius and Vter both brethren returne into Britaine, they assalt the vsurper +Vortigerne, and with wildfire burne both him, his people, his fort, and all the furniture in +the same, Vortigerne committeth incest with his owne daughter, feined and ridiculous +woonders of S. Germane, a sheepherd made a king.</i></p> + + +<h3>THE SEUENTH CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +Now will we returne to Vortigerne, of whome we read in the British historie, that after +the Saxons had constreined him to deliuer into their hands a great part of the south and +east parts of the realme, so that they had in possession London, Yorke, Lincolne, & Winchester, +<span class="rightnote"><i>Galfrid.</i></span> +with other cities & townes, he not onelie fearing their puissance, but also the returne +of Aurelius Ambrosius, and his brother Vter Pendragon, withdrew him into Wales, +<span class="leftnote"><i>Caxton. Fabian. Polychron.</i></span> +where he began to build a strong castell vpon a mounteine called Breigh, or after other +Cloaric, néere to the riuer of Guana, which is in the west side of Wales in a place within the +<span class="rightnote">Mount Erix he calleth it in one place of his booke.</span> +compasse of the same hill called Generon or Gueineren. Of the building of this castell, and +of the hinderance in erecting the same, with the monstrous birth of Merlin and his knowledge +in prophesieng, the British histories tell a long processe, the which in Caxton, and in +Galfrides bookes is also set foorth, as there ye maie sée: but for that the same séemeth not +of such credit as deserueth to be registred in anie sound historie, we haue with silence passed +it ouer.</p> +<p> +<span class="leftnote">Aurelius and Vter brethren returne into Britaine.</span> +Whilest Vortigerne was busied in building of this castell, the two foresaid brethren Aurelius +and Vter prepared a nauie of ships, and an armie of men, by helpe of such their kinsmen and +fréends as they found in Britaine Armorike, and so passed the sea, and landed at Totnesse: +whereof when the Britains were aduertised, the which were scattered abroad and seuered in +diuers parties and countries, they drew vnto the said two brethren with all spéed that might be. +When Aurelius and his brother Vter perceiued that they were sufficientlie furnished of people, +they marched foorth towards Wales against Vortigerne, who hauing knowledge of their +<span class="rightnote">Vortigerne burnt to death. Wild fire not yet inuented as some think.</span> +approch, had fortified his castell verie strongly with men, munition and vittels, but yet all auailed +him nothing, for in the end after his enimies had giuen diuers assaults to the said castell, +they found meanes with wild fire to burne it downe to the earth, and so consumed it by fire +togither with the king, and all other that were within it.</p> +<p> +Thus did Vortigerne end his life (as in the British historie is recorded.) Much euill is reported +of him by the same historie, and also by other writers, and among other things it is written, +that he should lie by his owne daughter, and of hir beget a sonne, in hope that kings +<span class="leftnote"><i>Polychron.</i> <br />A feined tale of S. Germane. A caluish narration.</span> +should come of him, and therefore he was excommunicated by S. Germane. It is also said, +that when the same S. Germane came into Britaine (as before ye haue heard) this Vortigerne +on a time should denie the same S. Germane harbour: but one that kept the kings heards of +cattell receiued him into his house, and lodged him, and slue a calfe for his supper, which +calfe after supper was ended, S. Germane restored againe to life: and on the morrow by the +ordinance of God, he caused Vortigerne to be deposed from his kinglie estate, and tooke +the heardman and made him king. But Ranulfe Hig. in his "Polychronicon," alledging Gyldas +for his author, saith that this chanced to a king that ruled in Powsey, whose name was Bulie, +and not to Vortigerne: so that the successors of that Bulie reigning in that side of Wales, +came of the linage of the same heardman.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>H. Hunt.</i></span> +Moreouer it hath beene said (as one writer recordeth) that when Vortigerne refused to heare +the preaching of saint Germane, and fled from him as he would haue instructed him, +one night there fell fire from heauen vpon the castell wherein the king was lodged, and so the +king being destroied with the fall of the house and the fire togither, was neuer after séene.</p> +<p> +¶ But these are fables, and therfore I passe them ouer, hoping that it shall suffice to shew +here with what stuffe our old historiographers haue farced vp their huge volumes, not so much +regarding the credit of an historie, as satisfieng the vanitie of their owne fond fantasies, studieng<span class="page"><a name="page565" id="page565"></a>[Page 565]</span> +with a pretended skilfulnesse to cast glorious colours vpon lies, that the readers (whom +they presupposed either ignorant or credulous) would be led away with a flowing streme of +woords void of reason and common sense. Which kind of men knew not (belike) that the +nature of an historie, (defined to be <i>Rei verè gestæ memoria)</i> will not beare the burthen or +lode of a lie, sith the same is too heauie: otherwise they would haue deposed matters conspiring +with the truth.</p> + + <hr /><br /><br /> +<a name="eight5" id="eight5"></a> +<p> +<i>Aurelius Ambrosius the brother to Constantius created king of Britaine, he incountereth with +the Saxons, Hengist their generall is beheaded, Occa his sonne submitteth himselfe to Aurelius, +he putteth all the Saxons out of the land, repaireth places decaied, and restoreth religion, +the memorable monument of the stones that are so much spoken of on Salisburie +plaine, the exploits of Pascentius Vortigerns yongest sonne, Aurelius lieth sicke, Vter +goeth against Pascentius and giueth him the ouerthrow, Aurelius is poisoned of a counterfet +moonke, the place of his buriall, Polydor Virgils report of the acts and deeds of Aurelius +against the Saxons, Hengist is slaine, Osca and Occa his two sonnes make a fowle +spoile if the west part of the land, Vortimer dieth, the disagreement of writers touching +matters interchangeablie passed betwene the Britains and Saxons.</i></p> + +<h3>THE EIGHT CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">AURELIUS AMBROSIUS.</span> +Aurelius Ambrose, the second sonne of king Constantine, brother to Constantius, +and murthered by the treason of Vortigerne (as before ye haue heard) was made king of Britaine +<span class="leftnote"><i> Matt. West.</i> saith 466.</span> +in the yéere of our Lord 481, which was about the third yéere of the reigne of the +emperour Zeno, and the 23 of Childericus king of France, Odocer king of the Herulians then +vsurping the gouernment of Italie. When this Aurelius Ambrosius had dispatched Vortigerne, +and was now established king of the Britains, he made towards Yorke, and passing the +<span class="rightnote"><i>Gal. Mon. </i></span> +riuer of Humber, incountred with the Saxons at a place called Maesbell, and ouerthrew them +in a strong battell, from the which as Hengist was fléeing to haue saued himselfe, he was +<span class="leftnote">Hengist taken and beheaded.</span> +taken by Edoll earle of Glocester, or (as some say) Chester, and by him led to Conningsborrow, +where he was beheaded by the counsell of Eldad then bishop of Colchester.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Matth. West.</i></span> +Howbeit there be some that write, how that Hengist was taken at another battell fought +vpon the riuer of Dune, in the yéere of our Lord 489, and not in the chase of the battell +which was fought at Maesbell in the yéere 487, as the same authors doo alledge. Occa the +<span class="leftnote">Occa.</span> +son of Hengist by flight escaped to Yorke, and being there besieged, at length was constreined +to yéeld himselfe to Aurelius: who dealing fauourablie with him, assigned vnto him and +other of the Saxons a countrie bordering neere to the Scots, which (as some affirme) was +Galloway, where the said Occa and the Saxons began to inhabit. Then did Aurelius Ambrosius +put the Saxons out of all other parts of the land, & repaired such cities, townes and +also churches, as by them had beene destroied or defaced, and placed againe priests, and such +other as should attend on the ministerie and seruice of God in the same churches.</p> +<p> +Also for a perpetuall memorie of those Britains that were slaine on the plaine of Salisburie +by the treason of Hengist, he caused stones to be fetched out of Ireland, and to be set vp in +<span class="rightnote">Stoneheng.</span> +the same place where that slaughter was committed, and called the place Stoneheng, which +name continueth vnto this day. Fiftéene thousand men (as Galfrid saith) were sent for those +<span class="leftnote"><i>Gal.Mon.</i></span> +stones, vnder the leading of Vter Pendragon the kings brother, who giuing battell vnto Gillomanus +king of Ireland that went about to resist the Britains, and would not permit them to +fetch away the same stones out of his countrie, discomfited him and his people, and so (maugre +his hart) brought the stones away with him.</p> +<p> +Shortlie after, Pascentius that was Vortigerns yoongest sonne, and had escaped into Ireland<span class="page"><a name="page566" id="page566"></a>[Page 566]</span> +(when Aurelius Ambrosius came into Britaine) returned with a great power of strange nations, +and tooke the citie of Meneuia in Wales, afterwards called saint Dauids, and did much +hurt in the countrie with fire and swoord. At which time the same Aurelius Ambrosius +lay sicke at Winchester, and being not able to go foorth himselfe, desired his brother Vter +Pendragon to assemble an armie of Britains, and to go against Pascentius and his adherents. +Vter, according to his brothers request, gathering his people, went foorth, and incountering +with the enimies gaue them the ouerthrow, slue Pascentius and Gillomare or Gilloman king +of Ireland, that was come ouer with him in aid against the Britains.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Hector Boet. </i></span> +In the meane while, a Saxon or some other stranger, whose name was Eopa or Copa, not +long before procured thereto by Pascentius, fained himselfe to be a Britaine, and for a colour +counterfeiting himselfe a moonke, and to haue great knowledge in physicke, was admitted to +<span class="leftnote"><i>Fabian. </i></span> +minister as it were medicins to Aurelius: but in stead of that which should haue brought +him health, he gaue him poison, whreof he died shortlie after at Winchester aforesaid, +when he had reigned after most accord of writers nintéene yéeres: his bodie was conueied to +Stoneheng and there buried. ¶ Thus find we in the British and common English histories of +the dooings of Aurelius Ambrosius, who (as ye haue hard) makes him a Britaine borne, and +descended of the bloud of the ancient Britains, But Gyldas and Beda report him to be a Romane +by descent, as before is mentioned.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Polydor. </i></span> +Polydor Virgil writeth in this sort of the victorious acts atchiued by the foresaid Aurelius +Ambrosius. Then (saith he) the Saxons hauing alreadie gotten the whole rule of the Ile, +practised their outragious cruelties speciallie against the princes of the Britains, to the end +that the said princes being ouercome and destroied, they might with more ease obteine possession +of the whole Ile, which thing they onlie sought. But the fauour of almightie God was +not wanting to the miserable Britains in that great necessitie. For behold, Aurelius Ambrosius +was at hand, who had no sooner caused the trumpet to sound to armor, but euerie man +for himselfe prepared and repaired vnto him, praieng & beseeching him to helpe to defend +them, and that it might stand with his pleasure to go foorth with them against the enimies in +all speed.</p> +<p> +Thus an armie being assembled, Aurelius Ambrosius went against them, and valiantlie assailed +them, so that within the space of a few daies they fought thrée battels with great fiercenesse +on both sides, in triall of their high displeasures and vttermost forces, in which at length +the Britains put the Saxons to flight, Horsus the brother of Hengist being slaine with a great +number of his people. But yet notwithstanding the enimies rage was little abated hereby, +for within a few daies after receiuing out of Germanie a new supplie of men, they brake +foorth vpon the Britains with great confidence of victorie. Aurelius Ambrosius was no +sooner aduertised thereof, but that without delaie he set forward towards Yorke, from whence +the enimies should come, and hearing by the way that Hengist was incamped about seuen & +twentie miles distant from that citie, néere to the banke of a riuer at this day called Dune, +in the place where Doncaster now standeth, he returned out of his waie, and marched towards +that place, and the next day set on the enimie and vanquished him, Hengist at the first +<span class="rightnote">Hengist is slaine.</span> +méeting of the battell being slaine, with a great number of the Germans. The fame of this +victorie (saith Polydor) is had in memorie with the inhabitants of those parties euen vnto this +day, which victorie did sore diminish the power of the Saxons, insomuch that they began now +to thinke it should be more for their profit to sit in rest with that dishonour, than to make anie +new warres to their great disaduantage and likelihood of present losse.</p> +<p> +Hengist left behind him two sonnes, Osca and Occa, which as men most sorowfull for the +ouerthrow of late receiued, assembled such power as they could togither, and remooued therewith +towards the west part of the Ile, supposing it to be better for them to draw that way +foorth, than to returne into Kent, where they thought was alreadie a sufficient number of their +people to resist the Britains on that side. Now therefore when they came into the west parts +of the land, they wasted the countrie, burnt villages, and absteined from no maner of +crueltie that might be shewed. These things being reported vnto Aurelius Ambrosius, he<span class="page"><a name="page567" id="page567"></a>[Page 567]</span> +straightwaies hasted thither to resist those enimies, and so giuing them battell, eftsoones discomfited +<span class="rightnote">Aurelius dieth of a wound.</span> +them: but he himselfe receiuing a wound, died thereof within a few daies after. +The English Saxons hauing thus susteined so manie losses within a few moneths togither, were +contented to be quiet now that the Britains stirred nothing against them, by reason they were +brought into some trouble by the death of such a noble capteine as they had now lost. +<span class="leftnote">Vortimer departeth this life.</span> +In the meane time Vortimer died, whome Vter surnamed Pendragon succéeded.</p> +<p> +Thus hath Polydor written of the forsaid Aurelius Ambrosius, not naming him to be +king of Britaine, and differing in déed in sundrie points in this behalfe from diuerse ancient +writers of the English histories: for where he attributeth the victorie to the Britains in the +battell fought, wherein Horsus the brother of Hengist was slaine, by the report of Polychronicon, +<span class="rightnote"><i>Wil. Malm.</i></span> +and others, the Saxons had the victorie in that reincounter: and William of +Malmesburie saith, that they departed from that batell with equall fortune, the Saxons losing +<span class="leftnote">Katigerne.</span> +their capteine Horsus, and the Britains their capteine Katigerne (as before ye haue heard.) +But there is such contrarietie in writers touching the dooings betwixt the Britains and +Saxons in those daies, as well in account of yéeres, as in report of things doone, that +setting affection aside, hard it is to iudge to which part a man should giue credit.</p> +<p> +For Fabian and other authors write, that Aurelius Ambrosius began his reigne ouer the +<span class="rightnote">458.</span> +Britains about the yéere of our Lord 481, and Horsus was slaine about the yéere 458, +during the reigne of Vortimer, as aboue is mentioned, so that it cannot stand with the truth +of the British histories (the which Fabian followeth) that Horsus was slaine by Aurelius Ambrosius, +if according to the same histories he returned not into Britaine, till the time there +supposed. But diuerse such maner of contrarieties shall ye find, in perusing of those writers +that haue written the chronicles of the Britains and Saxons, the which in euerie point to recite, +would be too tedious and combersome a matter, and therefore we are forced to passe +the same ouer, not knowing how to bring them to anie iust accord for the satisfieng of all +mens minds, speciallie the curious, which may with diligent search satisfie themselues happilie +much better, than anie other shall be able to doo in vttering his opinion neuer so +much at large, and agréeable to a truth. This therefore haue we thought good as it were +by the waie to touch what diuerse authors doo write, leauing it so to euerie mans iudgement +<span class="rightnote"><i>Sigebertus.</i></span> +to construe thereof, as his affection leadeth him. We find in the writings of those that +haue registred the dooings of these times, that Aurelius hauing vanquished the Saxons, restored +churches to the furtherance of the christian religion, which by the inuasion of the Saxons +<span class="rightnote"><i>Matth. West.</i> saith 488.</span> +was greatlie decaied in diuerse parts of Britaine, and this chanced in the daies of the emperour +Theodosius the yoonger.</p> + + <hr /><br /><br /> +<a name="ninth5" id="ninth5"></a> +<p> +<i>The beginning of the kingdome of the Southsaxons commonlie called Sussex, the Britains with +their rulers giue battell to Ella the Saxon & his three sonnes, disagreement betweene the English +and British chronographers about the battels fought by Hengist and his death, the beginning +of the Kentish kingdome, a battell fought betweene the Britains and Saxons, the first are +conquered, the last are conquerors.</i></p> + +<h3>THE NINTH CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">Ella entred this land as <i>Matt. West.</i> saith ann. 477.</span> +In the time of the foresaid Aurelius Ambrosius, one Ella a Saxon with his 3 sonnes Cymen, +Plettinger and Cissa, came out of Germanie with thrée ships, and landed in the south +parts of Britaine and being incountred with a power of Britains at a place called Cuneueshore, +discomfited them, and chased them vnto a wood then called Andredescester, and so tooke +that countrie, and inhabited there with his people the Saxons which he brought with him, +and made himselfe king and lord thereof, in somuch that afterwards the same countrie was<span class="page"><a name="page568" id="page568"></a>[Page 568]</span> +<span class="rightnote"><br />The kingdom of the Southsaxons dooth begin.</span> +named the kingdome of the Southsaxons, which had for limits on the east side Kent, on the +south the sea and Ile of Wight, on the west Hamshire, and on the north part Southerie. +This kingdome (after some) began vnder the foresaid Ella, about the 32 yeere after the first +comming of the Saxons into this land, which by following that account, should be about +<span class="rightnote">482.</span> +the second yéere of the reigne of Aurelius Ambrosius, and about the yéere of our Lord 482. +But other write, that it did begin about the 30 yéere after the first comming of Hengist, +which should be two yéeres sooner.</p> +<p> +William Harison differing from all other, noteth it to begin in the fourth yéere after the +death of Hengist, 4458 of the world, 2 of the 317 Olympiad, 1248 of Rome, 492 of Christ, +and 43 after the comming of the Saxons: his woords are these. Ella erected the kingdome +of the Southsaxons, in the 15 after his arriuall, and reigned 32 yéeres, the chiefe citie of his +kingdome also was Chichester, and after he had inioied the same his kingdome a while, +he ouerthrew the citie called Andredescester, which as then was taken for one of the most +famous in all the south side of England. ¶ For my part I thinke my dutie discharged, if I +shew the opinions of the writers: for if I should therto ad mine owne, I should but increase +coniectures, whereof alreadie we haue superfluous store. To procéed thereforr as I find.</p> +<p> +About the ninth yéere after the comming of Ella, the Britains perceiuing that he with +his Saxons still inlarged the bounds of his lordship by entring further into the land, assembled +themselues togither vnder their kings and rulers, and gaue battell to Ella and his sonnes +at Mecredesbourne, where they departed with doubtfull victorie, the armies on both sides being +sore diminished, and so returned to their homes. Ella after this battell sent into his +countrie for more aid.</p> +<p> +But now touching Hengist, who as ye haue heard, reigned as king in the prouince of Kent, +the writers of the English kings varie somewhat from the British histories, both in report of +the battels by him fought against the Britains, and also for the maner of his death: as thus. +After that Vortimer was dead, who departed this life (as some write) in the first yéere of the +<span class="rightnote"><i>Polychron.</i><br /> 457.</span> +emperor Leo, surnamed the great, and first of that name that gouerned the empire, who began + +to rule in the yéere of our Lord 457, we find that Hengist and his sonne Occa or Osca +<span class="leftnote"><i>Henrie Hunt. <br />Wil. Malm.</i> Creiford. Britains ouerthrowne.</span> +gathered their people togither that were before sparkled, and hauing also receiued new aid +out of Germanie, fought with the Britains at a place called Crekenford, where were slaine +of the Britains foure dukes or capteins, and foure thousand of other men, the residue were +chased by Hengist out of Kent vnto London, so that they neuer returned afterwards againe +into Kent: thus the kingdome of Kent began vnder Hengist the twelfe yéere after the comming +of the Saxons into Britaine, and Hengist reigned in Kent after this (as the same writers +agrée) foure and twentie yéeres.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i> Polychron. </i></span> +It is remembred that those Germans which latelie were come ouer to the aid of Hengist, +being chosen men, mightie and strong of bodie, with their axes and swoords made great +slaughter of the Britains in that battell at Crekenford or Creiford, which Britains were ranged +<span class="leftnote"><i>Hen. Hunt.</i></span> +in foure battels vnder their aforesaid foure dukes or capteins, and were (as before is mentioned) +slaine in the same battell. About the sixt yéere of the said emperor Leo, which was +<span class="rightnote">Wipets field <br /><i>Matt. West.</i> <br />This battell was fought anno 473. as the same <br /><i> Mat. West.</i> noteth.</span> +in the 17 yéere after the comming of the Saxons, Hengist and his sonne Occa or Osca fought +at Wipets field in Kent, néere to a place called Tong with the Britains, and slue of them +twelue dukes or capteins, & on the part of the Saxons was slaine beside common souldiers +<span class="leftnote">Wipet. <br /><i>H. Hunt.</i> </span> +but onlie one capteine called Wipet, of whom the place after that daie tooke name.</p> +<p> +This victorie was nothing plesant to the Saxons, by reason of the great losse which they +susteined, as well by the death of the said Wipet, as of a great number of others: and so +of a long time neither did the Saxons enter into the confines of the Britains, nor the Britains +presumed to come into Kent. But whilest outward wars ceassed among the Britains, they +exercised ciuill battell, falling togither by the eares among themselues, one striuing against +<span class="leftnote">Fortie Yéeres saith <i>H. Hunt</i></span> +another. Finallié, Hengist departed this life by course of nature, in the 39 yéere after +his first comming into Britaine, hauing procéeded in his businesse no lesse with craft and +<span class="rightnote">By this it is euident that he was not driuen out of the land +after he had once set foot within it. <br /><i>Matt. West.</i> <br /><i>H. Hunt.</i> <br />The citie of Andredescester</span> +guile than with force and strength, following therewith his natiue crueltie, so that he rather<span class="page"><a name="page569" id="page569"></a>[Page 569]</span> +did all things with rigour than with gentlenesse. After him succéeded a sonne whom +he left behind him, who being attentiue rather to defend than to inlarge his kingdome, +neuer set foot out of his fathers bounds, during the space of 24 yéeres, in the which he +reigned.</p> +<p> +About thrée yéeres after the deceasse of Hengist, a new supplie of men of warre came +out of Germanie vnto the aid of Ella king of Sussex, who hauing his power increased, +besieged the citie of Andredescester, which was verie strong and well furnished with men and +all things necessarie. The Britains also assembling togither in companies, greatlie annoied +the Saxons as they lay there at siege, laieng ambushes to destroie such as went abroad, and +ceassing not to giue alarums to the campe in the night season: and the Saxons could no sooner +prepare them selues to giue the assalt, but the Britains were readie to assaile them on the +backs, till at length the Saxons diuiding themselues into two companies, appointed the one +to giue the assalt, and the other to incounter with the armie of the Britains without, and +so finallie by that meanes preuailed, tooke the citie, and destroied man, woman and child. +Neither so contented, they did also vtterlie race the said citie, so as it was neuer after that +daie builded or reedified againe.</p> + + <hr /><br /><br /> + <a name="tenth5" id="tenth5"></a> +<p> +<i>The east Angles kingdome beginneth, the arriuall of Cerdic and Kenric with fiue ships of +warre in this land, he putteth the Britains to flight, the west Saxons kingdom begineth, +Vter Pendragon made king of Britaine, the etymon of his name, he taketh Occa and +Osca the two sonnes of Hengist prisoners, how Hector Boetius varieth from other chronographers +in the relation of things concerning Pendragon, he falleth in loue with the +duke of Cornewalls wife, killeth him, and marieth hir. Occa and Osca escape out of prison, +they freshlie assault the Britains, they are both slaine in a foughten field, the Saxons +send and looke for aid out of Germanie, Pendragon is poisoned.</i></p> + +<h3>THE TENTH CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">The kingdome of the east Angles began not till Aurelius Conanus reigned. <br />561.</span> +Moreouer, in the daies of the afore-named Auralius Ambrosius, about the yeare of our +Lord 561, the kingdome of the east Angles began vnder a Saxon named Uffa. This same +kingdome conteined Northfolke and Suffolke, hauing on the east and north parts the sea, +on the northwest Cambridgeshire, and on the west saint Edmunds ditch with a part of +Hertfordshire, and on the southside lieth Essex. At the first it was called Vffines dominion, +and the kings that reigned, or the people that inhabited there, were at the first named +Vffines, but at length they were called east Angles.</p> +<p> +<span class="leftnote">CERDIC. <br /><i>Wil. Malm.</i><br /> 495.</span> +Fvrthermore, about the yeare of our Lord 495, and in the eight yeare after that Hengist + + +was dead, one Cerdicus and his sonne Kenricus came out of Gerrmanie with fiue ships, +and landed at a place called Cerdicshore, which as some thinke is called Yermouth in Northfolke. +<span class="rightnote"><i>Fabian</i>. <br /><i>Polychron.</i> <br /><i>Wil. Malm.</i></span> +He was at the first receiued with battell by the Britains, but being an old skilfull warriour, +he easilie beate backe and repelled the inconstant multitude of his enimies, and caused +them to flée: by which good successe he procured both vndoubted assurance to himselfe for +the time to come, and to the inhabitants good and perfect quietnes. For they thinking good +neuer after to prouoke him more by resistance, submitted themselues to his pleasure: but yet did +not he then giue himselfe to slouthfull rest, but rather extending his often atchiued victories on +ech side, in the 24 yeare after his comming into this land, he obteined the rule of the west parts +thereof, and gouerned there as king, so that the kingdome of the west Saxons began vnder +the said Cerdicus in the 519 of Christ, as after shall be shewed.</p> + +<p> +<span class="rightnote">529.</span> +¶ Thus ye maie sée, that Aurelius Ambrosius did succéed Vortigerne, and reigned in the<span class="page"><a name="page570" id="page570"></a>[Page 570]</span> +time supposed by the British histories, as before is alledged, the land euen in his daies was +full of trouble, and the old inhabitants the Britains sore vexed by the Saxons that entred the +same, so that the Britains were dailie hampered, and brought vnder subiection to the valiant +Saxons, or else driuen to remooue further off, and to giue place to the victors. But now to +procéed with the succession of the British kings, as in their histories we find them registred, +which I deliuer such as I find, but not such as I doo wish, being written with no such colour +of credit as we maie safelie put foorth the same for an vndoubted truth.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Matth. West.</i> noteth. 500.</span> +After that Aurelius Ambrosius was dead, his brother Vter Pendragon (whome some call +Aurelius Vterius Ambrosianus) was made king in the yeare of our Lord 500, in the seuenth +yeare of the emperour Anastasius, and in the sixtéenth yeare of Clodoueus king of the +Frenchmen. The cause why he was surnamed Pendragon, was, for that Merline the great +prophet likened him to a dragons head, that at the time of his natiuitie maruelouslie appeared +in the firmament at the corner of a blasing star, as is reported. But others supposed he was +so called of his wisedome and serpentine subtiltie, or for that he gaue the dragons head in his +banner. This Vter, hearing that the Saxons with their capteins Occa or Otta the sonne of +Hengist, and his brother Osca had besieged the citie of Yorke, hasted thither, and giuing +them battell, discomfited their power, and tooke the said Occa and Osca prisoners.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Hector Boet.</i></span> +From this varieth Hector Boetius in his chronicle of Scotland, writing of these dooings in +Britaine: for he affirmeth, that the counterfeit moonke, which poisoned Aurelius Ambrosius, +was suborned and sent to woorke that feat by Occa, and not by his brother Pascentius: and +further, that about the selfesame time of Aurelius his death, his brother Vter Pendragon lay in +Wales, not as yet fullie recouered of a sore sicknesse, wherewith of late he had béene much vexed. +Yet the lords of Britaine after the buriall of Aurelius Ambrosius, came vnto him and crowned +him king: and though he was not able to go against the Saxons (which as then by reason of +Aurelius Ambrosius his death were verie busie, and more earnest in pursuing the warre than +before) yet an armie was prepared and sent foorth with all conuenient spéed vnder the leading +of one Nathaliod, a man neither of anie great ancient house, nor yet of skill in warlike affaires.</p> +<p> +The noble men were nothing pleased herewith, as misliking altogither the lacke of discretion +in their new king, & doubted sore, least in time to come he would haue more delight to +aduance the men of base degrée, than such as were descended of noble parentage. Yet because +they would not put the state of the common wealth in danger through anie mutinie, +they agréed to go foorth with him in that iournie. Occa had aduertisement giuen him by +certeine letters sent to him from some close friends amongest the Britains of the whole +matter: and therefore in hope of the better spéed, he hasted foorth to incounter the +Britains, and so the whole armie comming within sight of the other, they prepared to +the battell, and shortlie after buckling togither, the Britains were soone discomfited, by +reason that one of their chiefest capteins called Gothlois disdaining to be at the appointment +of Nathaliod, got him vp to the next hill with the next battell which he led, leauing +the other Britains in all the danger: which they séeing began by & by to flée. There +died no great number of the Britains, except those that were killed in the fight: for Occa mistrusting +what Gothlois meant by his withdrawing aside, would not suffer the Saxons to follow +the chase, but in the night following Gothlois got him awaie, and rested not till he was out +of danger. Occa then perceiuing himselfe to haue the vpper hand, sent an herald vnto king +Vter with a certeine message, threatning destruction to him and to his people, if he refused to +doo that which he should appoint.</p> +<p> +Vter perceiuing what disloialtie rested in the harts of his owne subiects, agréed that the +matter might be committed to eight graue and wise councellors, foure Britains and foure Saxons, +which might haue full power to make an end of all controuersies and variances depending +betwixt the two nations. Occa was likewise contented therewith, wherevpon were named +on either part foure persons, of such wisedome, knowledge and experience, as were thought +meetest for the ordering of such a weightie matter. So that by the arbitrement, award and +doome of those eight persons authorised thereto, a league was concluded vpon certeine articles<span class="page"><a name="page571" id="page571"></a>[Page 571]</span> +of agreement, amongst the which the chiefest was, that the Saxons from thencefoorth +should quietlie inioy all that part of Britaine which lieth fore against the Almaine seas, the same +to be called euer after Engistlaund, and all the residue should remaine to the Britains as their +owne rightfull and ancient inheritance. Thus far Hector Boetius.</p> +<p> +But now to returne vnto Vter according to that we find in the British histories, and to procéed +after our owne historians; we find, that when he had vanquished the Saxons and taken +their two chiefeteins prisoners, in processe of time he fell in loue with a verie beautifull ladie +<span class="rightnote">Gorolus duke of Cornewall.</span> +called Igwarne or Igerna, wife to one Gorolus or Gorlois duke of Cornewall, the which duke +he slue at length néere to his owne castell called Diuulioc in Cornewall, to the end that he +might inioy the said ladie, whome he afterwards maried, and begot on hir that noble knight +Arthur, and a daughter named Amie or Anna. Occa and Osca escaping also out of prison +assembled eftsoones a power of Saxons, and made warre against the Britains, whereof +Vter hauing aduertisement prepared to resist them, and finallie went himselfe in person +<span class="rightnote"><i>Harding.</i></span> +against them, and at saint Albans (as some write) gaue them battell, and slue them both in +the field.</p> +<p> +By that which Polydor Virgil writeth, it should séeme that Germane the bishop of Auxerre +came into Britaine in the daies of this Vter, by whose presence the Britains had victorie against +the Saxons (as before ye haue heard) after which victorie both rested from troubling either +other for a time. The Saxons as it were astonied with that present miracle, & the Britains +not following their good successe, shortlie after fell at discord amongst themselues, which +finallie brought them to vtter decaie, as after shall appeare. But the Saxons desirous to spoile +the Britains of the whole possession of that part of the Ile which they held, whereas they accounted +<span class="rightnote">Badon hill.</span> +the cities and townes of small strength to be defended, they got them to an high mounteine +called Badon hill, which Polydor supposeth to be Blackamore that lieth néere to the +water of Theise, which diuideth the bishoprike of Durham from Yorkeshire, hauing at the +mouth thereof an hauen méet to receiue such ships as come out of Germanie, from whence +the Saxons looked for aid, hauing alreadie sent thither for the same.</p> +<p> +The Britains being thereof aduertised, made hast towards the place, and besieged it on +euerie side. They also laie the sea coasts full of souldiers, to kéepe such of the enimies from +landing as should come out of Germanie. The Saxons kept themselues for a certeine space +aloft vpon the high ground, but in the end constreined through want of vittels, they came +downe with their armie in order of battell to the next plaines, and offering to fight, the battell +was anon begun, which continued from the morning till far in the day, with such slaughter, +that the earth on euerie side flowed with bloud: but the Saxons susteined the greater losse, +their capteins Occa and Osca being both slaine, so that the Britains might séeme quite deliuered +of all danger of those enimies: but the fatall destinie could not be auoided, as hereafter +may appeare. And thus was the slaughter made of the Saxons at Badon hill, whereof +<span class="rightnote"><i>Gyldas.</i></span> +Gyldas maketh mention, and chanced the same yeare that he was borne, which was in the +<span class="leftnote">492.</span> +44 yeare after the first comming of the Saxons into this land, the yeare of Grace 492, & 15 +indiction.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">The decease of Vter Pendragon.</span> +About the same time Vter departed out of this life (saith Polydor) so that this account +agréeth nothing with the common account of those authors, whome Fabian and other haue +followed. For either we must presuppose, that Vter reigned before the time appointed to +him by the said authors, either else that the siege of Badon hill was before he began to reigne, +as it should séeme in déed by that which Wil. Malmesburie writeth thereof, as hereafter shall +be also shewed. Finallie (according to the agréement of the English writers) Vter Pendragon +died by poison, when he had gouerned this land by the full terme of 16 years, & +<span class="rightnote">Stoneheng. Chorea Gigantum.</span> +was after buried by his brother Aurelius at Stoneheng, otherwise called <i>Chorea Gigantnm,</i> +leauing his sonne Arthur to succéed him. ¶ Here ye must note that the Scotish chronicles declare, +that in all the warres for the more part wherein the Britains obteined victorie against +the Saxons, the Scots aided them in the same warres, and so likewise did the Picts, but the<span class="page"><a name="page572" id="page572"></a>[Page 572]</span> +same chronicles doo not onelie varie from the British writers in account of yeares, but also in +the order of things doone, as in the same chronicles more plainelie may appeare, & namelie in +the discourse of the accidents which chanced during the reigne of this Vter. For whereas +the British histories, as ye haue heard, attribute great praise vnto the same Vter for his victories +atchiued against the Saxons and their king Occa, whome he slue in battell, and obteined +a great victorie, the Scotish writers make other report, affirming in deed that by the presence +of bishop Germane he obteined victorie in one battell against them: but shortlie after the +Britains fought againe with the Saxons, and were discomfited, although Occa in following the +chase ouer rashlie chanced to be slaine: after whose deceasse the Saxons ordeined his sonne +named also Occa to succéed in his place, who to make himselfe strong against all his +enimies, sent into Germanie for one Colgerne, the which with a great power of Dutchmen +came ouer into this our Britaine, and conquered by Occas appointment the countrie +of Northumberland, situate betwéene Tine and Tweed, as in the Scotish chronicles may +further appeare.</p> +<p> +Also this is to be remembred, that the victorie which was got against the Saxons by the +Britains, at what time Germane bishop of Auxerre was present: Hector Boetius affirmeth (by +authoritie of Veremond that wrote the Scotish chronicles) to haue chanced the second time of +his comming ouer into this land, where Beda auoucheth it to be at his first being heere. +Againe the same Boetius writeth, that the same victorie chanced in the daies of Vter Pendragon. +Which can not be, if it be true that Beda writeth, touching the time of the death of the +said Germane: for where he departed this life before the yeare of our Lord 459, as aboue is +said, Vter Pendragon began not his reigne till the yeare of our Lord 500 or as the same +Hector Boetius saith 503, so that bishop Germane was dead long before that Vter began to reigne.</p> +<p> +In déed some writers haue noted, that the third battell which Vortimer fought against the +Saxons, was the same wherein S. Germane was present, and procured the victorie with the +crie of <i>Alleluia</i>, as before ye haue heard. Which seemeth to be more agréeable to truth, and +to stand also with that which holie Beda hath written, touching the time of the being héere +of the said Germane, than the opinion of other, which afirme that it was in the time of the +reigne of Vter. The like is to be found in the residue of Hector Boetius his booke, touching +the time speciallie of the reignes of the British kings that gouerned Britaine about that season. +For as he affirmeth, Aurelius Ambrosius began his reigne in the yeare of our Lord 498, and +ruled but seuen yeares, and then succéeded Vter, which reigned 18 yeares, and departed this +life in the yeare of our Lord 521.</p> +<p> +¶ Notwithstanding the premisses, here is to be remembred, that whatsoeuer the British +writers haue recorded touching the victories of this Vter had against the Saxons, and +how that Osca the sonne of Hengist should be slaine in battell by him and his power: in +<span class="rightnote">Osca. <br />34 saith <br /><i>Henrie Hunt.</i> <br />in corrupted copies.</span> +those old writers which haue registred the acts of the English Saxon kings we find +no such matter, but rather that after the deceasse of Hengist, his sonne Osca or +Occa reigned in Kent 24 yeares, defending his kingdome onelie, and not séeking to inlarge +it (as before is touched.) After whose death his sonne Oth, and Irmenrike sonne to the +same Oth succéeded, more resembling their father than their grandfather or great grandfather. +To their reignes are assigned fiftie and three yeares by the chronicles: but whether +they reigned iointlie togither, or seuerallie & apart either after other, it is not certeinlie +perceiued.</p> + +<hr /><br /><br /> +<a name="eleuenth5" id="eleuenth5"></a> +<p> +<span class="page"><a name="page573" id="page573"></a>[Page 573]</span> +<i>Porth the Saxon arriueth at Portesmouth, warre betweene Nazaleod king of the Britains and +the Saxons, the Britains are ouerthrowen and slaine, the kingdome of the west Saxons +beginneth, the compasse or continent thereof, the meanes whereby it was inlarged.</i></p> + +<h3>THE ELEUENTH CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">Porth entred this land about the yeare of our Lord 501 as <i>Matth. West.</i> noteth.</span> +Now will we breefelie discourse vpon the incidents which first happened during the +reigne of Vter Pendragon. We find that one Porth a Saxon with his two sons Megla and +Beda came on land at Portesmouth in Sussex, about the beginning of the said Vters reigne, +and slue a noble yoong man of the Britains, and manie other of the meaner sort with him. +<span class="leftnote"><i>Harison</i> supposeth the riuer to be called Ports, as for the word mouth, is the fall of anie fresh riuer into the sea.</span> +Of this Porth the towne & hauen of Portesmouth tooke the name, as some haue thought. +Moreouer, about 40 yeares after the comming of the Saxons into this land with their leader +Hengist, one Nazaleod, a mightie king amongst the Britains, assembled all the power he +could make to fight with Certicus king of the Westsaxons, who vnderstanding of the great +power of his enimies, required aid of Osca king of Kent, also of Elle king of Sussex, and of +Porth and his sonnes which were latelie before arriued as ye haue heard. Certicus being +then furnished with a conuenient armie, diuided the same into two battels, reseruing the one +to himselfe, and the other he appointed to his sonne Kenrike. King Nazaleod perceiuing +that the wing which Certicus led, was of more strength than the other which Kenrike gouerned, +he set first vpon Certicus, thinking that if he might distresse that part of the enimies +armie, he should easilie ouercome the other. Herevpon he gaue such a fierce charge vpon +that wing, that by verie force he opened the same, and so ouerthrew the Saxons on that side, +making great slaughter of them as they were scattered. Which maner of dealing when +<span class="rightnote">The Britaines ouerthrowne. <i>Matth. West. Henr. Hunt.</i></span> +Kenrike saw, he made forward with all spéed to succour his father, and rushing in amongst +the Britains on their backs, he brake their armie in péeces, and slue their king Nazaleod, and +withall put his people to flight. There died of the Britains that daie 5000 men, and the residue +<span class="leftnote">Stuff and Wightgar. <i>Matth. West.</i> noteth the yeare of their arrivall to be 514.</span> +escaped by fléeing as well as they might. In the sixt yeare after this battell, Stuff and +Wightgar that were nephues to Certicus, came with thrée ships, and landed at Certicesford, +and ouerthrew a number of Britains that came against them in order of battell, and so by the +comming of those his nephues being valiant and hardie capteins, the part of Certicus became +much stronger. Abut the same time Elle king of the Southsaxons departed this life, after +whome succéeded his sonne Cissa, of whome we find little left in writing to be made account of.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">Henr. Hunt. Britains ouerthrowne by the Saxons.</span> +About the yeare of our Lord 519, and in the yeare after the comming of the Saxons 71, +which was in the 26 yeare of the emperour Anastasius, the Britains fought with Certicus and +his sonne Kenrike at Certicesford, where the capteins of the Britains stood to it manfullie: +but in the end they were discomfited, and great slaughter was made there of them by the +Saxons, and greater had béene, if the night comming on had not parted them, and so manie +were saued.</p> +<p> +<span class="leftnote">The kingdom of Westsaxons.</span> +From that day forward Certicus was reputed & taken for king of Westsaxons, & so began +the same kingdome at that time, which was (as W. Harison noteth) in the yéere of Christ +519, after the building of Rome 1270, of the world 4485, of the comming of the Saxons 70, of +Iustinus Anicius emperour of the east, the first and third of the renowmed prince Patricius +Arthurus then reigning ouer the Britains. The said kingdome also conteined the countries +of Wiltshire, Summersetshire, Barkeshire, Dorsetshire, and Cornewall, hauing on the east +Hamshire, on the north the riuer of Thames, and on the south and west the Ocean sea. +Howbeit, at the first the kings of the Westsaxons had not so large dominions, but they dailie +wan ground vpon the Britains, and so in the end by inlarging their confines, they came to inioy +all the foresaid countries, and the whole at the last.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">Certicesford.</span> +In the ninth yéere of the reigne of Certicus, he eftsoones fought with the Saxons at Certicesford +aforesaid, where great slaughter was made on both parts. This Certicesford was in +times past called Nazaleoy of the late remembred Nazaleod king of the Britains. About this +season at sundrie times diuers great companies of the Saxons came ouer into Britaine out of<span class="page"><a name="page574" id="page574"></a>[Page 574]</span> +Germanie, and got possession of the countries of Mercia and Eastangle: but as yet those of +Mercia had no one king that gouerned them, but were vnder certeine noble men that got +possession of diuers parts in that countrie, by means wherof great warres and manie incounters +insued, with a common waste of land both arable and habitable, whiles each one being +ambitiouslie minded, & heaping to themselues such powers as they were able to make, by +swoord and bloudshed chose rather to haue their fortune decided, than by reason to suppresse +the rage of their vnrulie affections. For such is the nature of men in gouernement, whether +they be interessed to it by succession, or possessed of it by vsurpation, or placed in it by lawfull +constitution, (vnlesse they be guided by some supernaturall influence of diuine conceit) +if they be more than one, they cannot away with equalitie, for regiment admitteth no companion: +but euerie one séeketh to aduance himselfe to a singularitie of honour, wherein he +will not (to die for it) participate with another, which maie easilie be obserued in this our historicall +discourse.</p> + + <hr /><br /><br /> + <a name="twelfe5" id="twelfe5"></a> +<p> +<i>The beginning of the kingdome of the Eastsaxons, what it conteined, of Arthur king of Britaine, +his twelue victories ouer the Saxons against whome he mainteined continuall warre, +why the Scots and Picts enuied him his roialtie and empire, a league betwixt Arthur and +Loth king of the Picts, Howell king of little Britaine aideth Arthur against Cheldrike +king of Germanie, who taking the ouerthrow, is slaine by the duke of Cornewall, the Picts +are discomfited, the Irishmen with their king put to flight, and the Scots subdued, Arthurs +sundrie conquests against diuers people, the vanitie of the British writers noted.</i></p> + +<h3>THE TWELFE CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">ERCHENWIN. The kingdom of the Eastsaxons.</span> +In those daies also the kingdome of the Eastsaxons began, the chéefe citie whereof was +London. It contained in effect so much as at this present belongeth to the diocesse of London. +One Erchenwin a Saxon was the first king thereof, the which was sonne to one Offa, the +sixt in lineall descent from one Saxnot, from whom the kings of that countrie fetched their +originall. Harison noteth the exact yéere of the erection of the kingdome of the Eastsaxons +to begin with the end of the eight of Cerdicus king of the Westsaxons, that is, the 527 of +Christ, and 78 after the comming of the Saxons. In the 13 yéere of the reigne of Cerdicus, +he with his sonne Kenrike, and other of the Saxon capteins fought with the Britains in +the Ile of Wight at Witgarsbridge, where they slue a great number of Britains, and so conquered +the Ile, the which about four yéeres after was giuen by Cerdicus vnto his nephues +Stuffe and Witgar.</p> +<p> +<span class="lefhtnote">ARTHUR.</span> +After the deceasse of Vter Pendragon (as we doo find in the British histories) his sonne Arthur, +a yoong towardlie gentleman, of the age of 15 yéeres or thereabouts, began his reigne ouer +<span class="rightnote">516.<br/> <i>Matth. West.</i> hath noted 518.</span> +the Britains in the yéere of our Lord 516, or as Matt. Westmin. saith 517, in the 28 yéere of +the emperour Anastasius, and in the third yéere of the reignes of Childebert, Clothare, Clodamire, +and Theodorike, brethren that were kings of the Frenchmen. Of this Arthur manie +things are written beyond credit, for that there is no ancient author of authoritie that confirmeth the +same: but surelie as may be thought he was some woorthie man, and by all likelihood a great +enimie to the Saxons, by reason whereof the Welshmen which are the verie Britains in déed, +haue him in famous remembrance. He fought (as the common report goeth of him) 12 notable +battels against the Saxons, & in euerie of them went away with the victorie, but yet he +could not driue them quite out of the land, but that they kept still the countries which they +had in possession, as Kent, Sutherie, Norfolke, and others: howbeit some writers testifie, that +they held these countries as tributaries to Arthur.</p> +<p> +But truth it is (as diuers authors agrée) that he held continuall warre against them, and<span class="page"><a name="page575" id="page575"></a>[Page 575]</span> +also against the Picts, the which were allied with the Saxons: for as in the Scotish histories +is conteined, euen at the first beginning of his reigne, the two kings of the Scots and +Picts séemed to enuie his aduancement to the crowne of Britaine, bicause they had +maried the two sisters of the two brethren, Aurelius Ambrosius, and Vter Pendragon, +that is to say, Loth king of Picts had married Anne their eldest sister, and Conran king of +Scots had in mariage Alda their yoonger sister, so that bicause Arthur was begotten out of +wedlocke, they thought it stood with more reason, that the kingdome of the Britains should +haue descended vnto the sisters sonnes, rather than to a bastard, namelie Loth the Pictish +king, which had issue by his wife Anna, sore repined at the matter.</p> +<p> +Wherefore at the first, when he saw that by suit he could not preuaile, he ioined in league +with the Saxons, and aiding them against Arthur, lost many of his men of warre being ouerthrowne +in battell, which he had sent vnto the succours of Colgerne the Saxon prince that +ruled as then in the north parts. But finallie a league was concluded betwixt Arthur and the +foresaid Loth king of Picts, vpon certeine conditions, as in the Scotish historie is expressed, +where ye may read the same, with many other things touching the acts of Arthur, somewhat +in other order than our writers haue recorded.</p> +<p> +¶ The British authors declare, that Arthur (immediatlie after he had receiued the crowne +of Dubright bishop of Caerleon) went with his power of Britains against the Saxons of +Northumberland, which had to their capteine (as before is said) one Colgrime or Colgerne, +whome Arthur discomfited and chased into the citie of Yorke, within which place Arthur besieged +<span class="leftnote">Yorke besieged.</span> +him, till at length the same Colgrime escaped out of the citie, & leauing it in charge +<span class="rightnote">Cheldrike commeth in aid of Colgrime. <i>Matt. Westm.</i> saith but 700.</span> +with his brother called Bladulfe, passed ouer into Germanie vnto Cheldrike king of that +countrie, of whom he obteined succor, so that the said Cheldrike made prouision of men and +ships, and came himselfe ouer into Scotland, hauing in his companie fiftéene hundred sailes +one with an other.</p> +<p> +When Arthur was aduertised thereof, he raised his siege, and withdrew to London, sending +letters with all speed vnto Howell king of little Britaine in France, that was his sisters sonne, +<span class="rightnote">Howell king of Britaine commeth ouer in aid of Arthur.</span> +requiring of him in most earnest wise his aid. Howell incontinentlie assembled his people, to +the number of fifteene thousand men, and taking the sea, landed with them at Southhampton, +where Arthur was readie to receiue him with great ioy and gladnesse. From thence they +drew northwards, where both the hosts of Arthur and Howell being assembled togither, +marched forward to Lincolne, which citie Cheldrike did as then besiege. Here Arthur and +<span class="rightnote">Cheldrike ouerthrowne in battell.</span> +Howell assailed the Saxons with great force & no lesse manhood, and at length after great +slaughter made of the enimies, they obteined the victorie, and chased Cheldrike (with the +residue of the Saxons that were left aliue) vnto a wood, where they compassed them about +within the same, in such wise, that in the ende they were constreined to yéeld themselues, +with condition that they might be suffered to depart on foot to their ships, and so auoid the +land, leauing their horsse, armour, and other furniture vnto the Britains.</p> +<p> +Héerevpon the Britains taking good hostages for assurance, permitted the Saxons to go +their waies, and so Cheldrike and his people got them to their ships, in purpose to returne +into their countrie: but being on the sea, they were forced by wind to change their course, +and comming on the coasts of the west parts of Britaine, they arriued at Totnesse, and contrarie +to the couenanted articles of their last composition with Arthur, inuaded the countrie anew, +and taking such armour as they could find, marched foorth in robbing and spoiling the people, +till they came to Bath, which towne the Britains kept and defended against them, not +suffering them by anie meanes to enter there, wherevpon the Saxons inuironed it with a +<span class="rightnote">Bath besieged.</span> +strong siege. Arthur informed heereof, with all spéed hasted thither, and giuing the enimies +<span class="leftnote">The Saxons (sic) ouerthrow Colgrime and Bladulfe.</span> +battell, slue the most part of Cheldrikes men. +</p> +<p> +There were slaine both Colgrime and Bladulfe, howbeit Cheldrike himselfe fled out of the +field towards his ships, but being pursued by Cador earle of Cornwall (that had with him +<span class="rightnote">Cheldrike slaine by Cador duke of Cornwall.<br /> K. Howell besieged by the Scots.</span> +tèn thousand men) by Arthurs appointment, he was ouertaken and in flight slaine with all his +people. Arthur himselfe returned from this battell foughten at Bath with all speed towards<span class="page"><a name="page576" id="page576"></a>[Page 576]</span> +the marshes of Scotland, for that he had receiued aduertisement, how the Scots had besieged +Howell K. of Britaine there, as he lay sicke. Also when Cador had accomplished his enterprise +and slaine Cheldrike, he returned with as much spéed as was possible towards Arthur, +& found him in Scotland, where he rescued Howell, and afterwards pursued the Scots which +fled before him by heaps.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">Guillomer.</span> +About the same time, one Guillomer king of Ireland arriued in Scotland with a mightie +power of Irishmen (neere the place where Arthur lodged) to helpe the Scots against the +Britains: wherevpon Arthur turning his forces towards the same Guillomer, vanquished him, +and chased him into Ireland. This doone, he continued in pursute of the Scots, till he +caused them to sue for pardon, and to submit them selues wholie to him, and so receiuing +them to mercie, & taking homage of them, he returned to Yorke, and shortlie after tooke +<span class="rightnote">Guenhera.</span> +to wife one Guenhera a right beautifull ladie, that was néere kinswoman to Cador earle of +Cornwall.</p> +<p> +<span class="leftnote"><i>W. Harison.</i> 525.</span> +In the yéere following, which some note to be 525, he went into Ireland, and discomfiting +king Guillomer in battell, he constreined him to yéeld, and to acknowledge by dooing his +fealtie to hold the realme of Ireland of him. It is further remembred in those British histories, +<span class="rightnote">Gothland.</span> +that he subdued Gothland and Iseland, with all the Iles in and about those seas. +Also that he ouercame the Romans in the countrie about Paris, with their capteine Lucius, +and wasted the most part of all France, and slue in singular combats certeine giants that were +of passing force and hugenesse of stature. And if he had not béene reuoked and called +home to resist his coosen Mordred, that was sonne to Loth king of Pightland that rebelled +in his countrie, he had passed to Rome, intending to make himselfe emperor, and afterward +to vanquish the other emperor, who then ruled the empire. ¶ But for so much as there is +not anie approoued author who dooth speake of anie such dooings, the Britains are thought +to haue registered méere fables in sted of true matters, vpon a vaine desire to aduance more +than reason would, this Arthur their noble champion, as the Frenchmen haue doone their +Rouland, and diuerse others.</p> + +<hr /><br /><br /> +<a name="xiij5" id="xiij5"></a> +<p> +<i>Arthur is resisted by Mordred the usurper from arriuing in his owne land, they ioine battell, +Gawaine is slaine and his death lamented by Arthur, Mordred taketh flight, he in slaine, +and Arthur mortallie wounded, his death, the place of his buriall, his bodie digged vp, +his bignesse coniecturable by his bones, a crosse found in his toome with an inscription +therevpon, his wife Guenhera buried with him, a rare report of hir haire, Iohn Lelands +epitaph in memorie of prince Arthur.</i></p> + +<h3>THE XIIJ. CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +King Arthur at his returne into Britaine, found that Mordred had caused himselfe +<span class="rightnote">Rather Cerdicke as <i>Leland</i> thinketh.</span> +to be made king, & hauing alied himselfe with Cheldrike a Saxon (not him whome Galfride, +as ye haue heard, supposeth to haue béene wounded & slaine before) was readie to resist his +landing, so that before he could come on land, he lost manie of his men: but yet at length +he repelled the enimies, and so tooke land at Sandwich, where he first arriued, and ioining +in battell with his enimies, he discomfited them, but not without great losse of his people: +speciallie he sore lamented the death of Gawaine the brother of Mordred, which like a faithfull +gentleman, regarding more his honour and loiall truth than néerenesse of bloud and +coosenage, chose rather to fight in the quarrell of his liege king and louing maister, than +to take part with his naturall brother in an vniust cause, and so there in the battell was +slaine, togither also with Angusseli, to whom Arthur afore time had committed the gouernment +of Scotland. Mordred fled from this battell, and getting ships sailed westward, and<span class="page"><a name="page577" id="page577"></a>[Page 577]</span> +<span class="rightnote"><br />Gawaine buried at Douer.</span> +finallie landed in Cornwall. King Arthur caused the corps of Gawaine to be buried at +Douer (as some hold opinion:) but William Malmesburie supposeth, he was buried in +Wales, as after shall be shewed. The dead bodie of Angussell was conueied into Scotland, +and was there buried. When that Arthur had put his enimies to flight, and had knowledge +into what parts Mordred was withdrawne, with all spéed he reinforced his armie with new +supplies of souldiers called out of diuerse parties, and with his whole puissance hasted forward, +not resting till he came néere to the place where Mordred was incamped, with such +an armie as he could assemble togither out of all parties where he had anie friends. ¶ Héere +(as it appéereth by Iohn Leland, in his booke intituled, "The assertion of Arthur") it may +be douted in what place Mordred was incamped: but Geffrey of Monmouth sheweth, that +after Arthur had discomfited Mordred in Kent at the first landing, it chanced so that Mordred +escaped and fled to Winchester, whither Arthur followed him, and there giuing him +battell the second time, did also put him to flight. And following him from thence, fought +eftsoones with him at a place called Camblane, or Kemelene in Cornwall, or (as some +authors haue) néere vnto Glastenburie.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Richard Turner.</i></span> +This battell was fought to such proofe, that finallie Mordred was slaine, with the more +part of his whole armie, and Arthur receiuing diuers mortall wounds died of the same +shortlie after, when he had reigned ouer the Britains by the tearme of 26 yéeres. His corps +was buried at Glastenburie aforesaid, in the churchyard, betwixt two pillers: where it was +found in the daies of king Henrie the second, about the yeere of our Lord 1191, which +was in the last yéere of the reigne of the same Henrie, more than six hundred yéeres after the +buriall thereof. He was laid 16 foot déepe vnder ground, for doubt that his enimies the +Saxons should haue found him. But those that digged the ground there to find his bodie, after +they had entered about seuen foot déepe into the earth, they found a mightie broad stone +with a leaden crosse fastened to that part which laie downewards toward the corps, conteining +this inscription:</p> + +<p class="indent"> +"Hîc iacet sepultus inclytus rex Arthurius in insula Aualoniæ."</p> + +<p> +This inscription was grauen on that side of the crosse which was next to the stone: so +that till the crosse was taken from the stone, it was vnséene. His bodie was found, not inclosed +within a toome of marble or other stone curiouslie wrought, but within a great trée +made hollowe for the nonce like a trunke, the which being found and digged vp, was +opened, and therein were found the kings bones, of such maruellous bignesse, that the shinbone +of his leg being set on the ground, reached vp to the middle thigh of a verie tall man: +as a moonke of that abbeie hath written, which did liue in those daies, and saw it. ¶ But +Gyraldus Cambrensis (who also liued in those daies, and spake with the abbat of the place, +by whom the bones of this Arthur were then found) affirmeth, that by report of the same +abbat, he learned, that the shinbone of the said Arthur being set vp by the leg of a verie +tall man (the which the abbat shewed to the same Gyraldus) came aboue the knée of the +same man the length of three fingers breadth, which is a great deale more likelie than the +other. Furthermore the skull of his head was of a woonderfull largenesse, so that the space +of his forehead betwixt his two eies was a span broad. There appéered in his head the +signes and prints of ten wounds or more: all the which were growne into one wem, except +onelie that whereof it should séeme he died, which being greater than the residue, appéered +verie plaine. Also in opening the toome of his wife quéene Gueneuer, that was buried +with him, they found the tresses of hir haire whole and perfect, and finelie platted, of colour +like to the buruished gold, which being touched, immediatlie fell to dust. The abbat, which +<span class="rightnote"><i>Henricus Blecensis</i> seu <i>Soliacensis. Io. Leland.</i></span> +then was gouernour of the house, was named Stephan, or Henrie de Blois, otherwise de +Sullie, nephue to king Henrie the second (by whose commandement he had serched for the +graue of Arthur) translated the bones as well of him as of quéene Gueneuer, being so +found, into the great church, and there buried them in a faire double toome of marble, +laieng the bodie of the king at the head of the toome, and the bodie of the quéene at his<span class="page"><a name="page578" id="page578"></a>[Page 578]</span> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Dauid Pow. pag.</i> 238, 239.</span> +féet towards the west part. ¶ The writer of the historie of Cambria now called Wales +saith, that the bones of the said Arthur, and Gueneuer his wife were found in the Ile of Aualon +(that is, the Ile of Alpes) without the abbeie of Glastenbury, fiftéene féet within the ground, +& that his graue was found by the meanes of a Bardh, whome the king heard at Penbroke +singing the acts of prince Arthur, and the place of his buriall.</p> +<p> +<i>Iohn Leland in his booke intituled Assertio Arthuri, hath for the woorthie memorie of so +noble a prince, honored him with a learned epitaph, as heere followeth.</i></p> + +<p class="indent1"> +Saxonicas toties qui fudit Marte cruento<br /> +<span class="indent1"><i>Who vanquisht Saxon troops so oft, with battels bloudie broiles,</i></span><br /> +Turmas, & peperit spolijs sibi nomen opimis,<br /> +<span class="indent1"><i>And purchast to himselfe a name with warlike wealthie spoiles,</i></span><br /> +Fulmineo toties Pictos qui contudit ense,<br /> +<span class="indent1"><i>Who hath with shiuering shining swoord, the Picts so oft dismaid,</i></span><br /> +Imposuítque iugum Scoti ceruicibus ingens:<br /> +<span class="indent1"><i>And eke vnweldie seruile yoke on necke of Scots hath laid:</i></span><br /> +Qui tumidos Gallos, Germanos quíque feroces<br /> +<span class="indent1"><i>Who Frenchmen puft with pride, and who the Germans fierce in fight</i></span><br /> +Perculit, & Dacos bello confregit aperto:<br /> +<span class="indent1"><i>Discomfited, and danted Danes with maine and martiall might:</i></span><br /> +Denique Mordredum è medio qui sustulit illud<br /> +<span class="indent1"><i>Who of that murdring Mordred did the vitall breath expell,</i></span><br /> +Monstrum, horrendum, ingens, dirum, sæuúmque tyrannum,<br /> +<span class="indent1"><i>That monster grislie, lothsome, huge, that diresome tyrant fell,</i></span><br /> +Hoc iacet extinctus monumento Arthurius alto,<br /> +<span class="indent1"><i>Heere liuelesse Arthur lies intoomd, within this statelie hearse,</i></span><br /> +Militiæ clarum decus, & virtutis alumnus:<br /> +<span class="indent1"><i>Of chiualrie the bright renowme, and vertues nursling fearse:</i></span><br /> +Gloria nunc cuius terram circumuolat omnem,<br /> +<span class="indent1"><i>Whose glorie great now ouer all the world dooth compasse flie,</i></span><br /> +Aetherijque petit sublimia tecta Tonantis.<br /> +<span class="indent1"><i>And of the airie thunder skales the loftie building hie.</i></span><br /> +Vos igitur gentis proles generosa Britannæ,<br /> +<span class="indent1"><i>Therefore you noble progenie of Britaine line and race,</i></span><br /> +Induperatori ter magno assurgite vestro,<br /> +<span class="indent1"><i>Arise vnto your emperour great, of thrice renowmed grace,</i></span><br /> +Et tumulo sacro roseas inferte corollas,<br /> +<span class="indent1"><i>And cast vpon his sacred toome the roseall garlands gaie,</i></span><br /> +Officij testes redolentia munera vestri.<br /> +<span class="indent1"><i>That fragrant smell may witnesse well, your duties you displaie.</i></span></p> + +<p> +¶ These verses I haue the more willinglie inserted, for that I had the same deliuered to +me turned into English by maister Nicholas Roscarocke, both right aptlie yeelding the sense, +and also properlie answering the Latine, verse for verse.</p> + +<hr /><br /><br /> +<a name="xiiij5" id="xiiij5"></a> +<p><span class="page"><a name="page579" id="page579"></a>[Page 579]</span> +<i>Vpon what occasion the graue of king Arthur was sought for, the follie of such discouered +as beleeued that he should returne and reigne againe as king in Britaine, +whether it be a fiction or a veritie that there was such an Arthur or no; discordance +among writers about the place of Gawains buriall and Arthurs death; of queene +Gueneuer the wife of king Arthur, hir beautie and dishonest life, great disagreement +among writers touching Arthur and his wiues to the impeachment of the historie, of his +life and death.</i></p> + +<h3>THE XIIIJ. CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +The occasion that mooued king Henrie the second to cause his nephue the foresaid +abbat to search for the graue of king Arthur, was, for that he vnderstood by a Welsh +minstrell or Bardh (as they call him) that could sing manie histories in the Welsh language +of the acts of the ancient Britains, that in the forsaid churchyard at Glastenburie, betwixt +the said two pillers the bodie of Arthur was to be found sixtéene foot déepe vnder the +ground. Gyraldus Cambrensis affirmeth, that the trée in the which Arthurs bodie was +found so inclosed, was an oke, but other suppose that it was an alder trée, bicause that in +the same place a great number of that kind of trées doo grow, and also for that it is not +vnknowne, that an alder lieng vnder ground where moisture is, will long continue without +rotting.</p> +<p> +¶ By the finding thus of the bodie of Arthur buried (as before ye haue heard) such as +<span class="rightnote">As for example in a caue néere a water called pond perilous at Salisburie, +where he and his knights should sléepe armed, till an other knight should be borne that +should come and awake them. <i>Will. Malmes. lib. 1. de regibus Ang.</i></span> +hitherto beleeued that he was not dead, but conueied awaie by the fairies into some pleasant +place, where he should remaine for a time, and then to returne againe, and reigne in as +great authoritie as euer he did before, might well perceiue themselues deceiued in crediting +so vaine a fable. But yet (where it might otherwise be doubted, whether anie such Arthur +was at all, as the British histories mention, bicause neither Gyldas nor Beda in their woorks +speake anie thing of him) it may appéere, the circumstances considered, that suerly such +one there was of that name, hardie and valiant in armes, though not in diuerse points so +famous as some writers paint him out. William Malmesburie a writer of good credit and +authoritie amongst the learned, hath these woords in his first booke intituled "De regibus +Anglorum," saieng: "But he being dead [meaning Vortimer the force of the Britains +waxed féeble, their decaied hope went backward apace: and euen then suerlie had they gon +to destruction, if Ambrosius (who alone of the Romans remained yet aliue, and was king +after Vortigerne) had not kept vnder and staied the loftie barbarous people, that is to say +the Saxons, by the notable aid and assistance of the valiant Arthur."</p> +<p> +This is the same Arthur, of whom the trifling tales of the Britains euen to this day fantasticallie +doo descant and report woonders: but woorthie was he doubtlesse, of whom +feined fables should not haue so dreamed, but rather that true histories might haue set foorth +his woorthie praises, as he that did for a long season susteine and hold vp his countrie that +was readie to go to vtter ruine and decaie, incouraging the bold harts of the Britains vnto +the warre, and finallie in the siege of Badon hill, he set vpon nine hundred of the enimies, +and with incredible slaughter did put them all to flight. On the contrarie part, the English +Saxons, although they were tossed with sundrie haps of fortune, yet still they renewed their +bands with new supplies of their countriemen that came out of Germanie, and so with bolder +courage assailed their enimies, and by little and little causing them to giue place, spread +themselues ouer the whole Ile. For although there were manie battels, in the which sometime +the Saxons and sometime the Britains got the better, yet the greater number of Saxons +that were slaine, the greater number of them still came ouer to the succour of their countriemen, +being called in and sent for out of euerie quarter about them.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">Gawaine where he is buried.</span> +Héere is also to be noted, that where the British historie declareth, that Gawaine or Gallowine +being slaine in the battell fought betwixt Arthur and Mordred in Kent, was buried at +Douer, so that his bones remained there to be shewed a long time after: yet by that which<span class="page"><a name="page580" id="page580"></a>[Page 580]</span> +<span class="leftnote"><br /><i>Wil. Malm. lib. 3. de regib.</i></span> +the foresaid William Malmesburie writeth in the third booke of his volume intituled "De +regibus Anglorum," the contrarie maie séeme true: his woords are these. "Then (saith +he) in the prouince of Wales, which is called Rosse, the sepulture of Gallowine was found, +who was nephue to Arthur by his sister, not going out of kind from so woorthie an vncle. +He reigned in that part of Britaine which vnto this day is called Walwichia, a knight for his +high prowesse most highlie renowmed, but expelled out of his kingdome by the brother +and nephue of Hengist, of whome in the first booke we haue made mention, first requiting +his banishment with great detriment and losse to those his enimies, wherein he was partaker +by iust desert of his vncles woorthie praise, for that he staied (for a great manie yéeres) +the destruction of his countrie, which was now running headlong into vtter ruine and decaie. +But Arthurs graue no where appéereth: yet the others toome (as I haue said) was found +in the daies of William the conqueror, king of England, vpon the sea side, and conteined in +length fouretéene foot, where he was (as some say) wounded by his enimies, and cast vp +by shipwracke. But other write, that he was slaine at a publike feast or banket by his owne +countriemen." Thus saith William Malmesburie.</p> +<p> +¶ But heere you must consider, that the said Malmesburie departed this life about the +beginning of the reigne of king Henrie the second, certeine yéers before the bones of Arthur +were found (as ye haue heard.) But omitting this point as néedles to be controuerssed, +& letting all dissonant opinions of writers passe, as a matter of no such moment that we +should néed to sticke therein as in a glewpot; we will procéed in the residue of such +collections as we find necessarilie pertinent to the continuation of this historie; and now +we will say somewhat of quéene Guenhera or Guenouer, the wife of the foresaid king +Arthur.</p> +<p> +Some iudge that she tooke hir name of hir excellent beautie, bicause Guinne or Guenne +in the Welsh toong signifieth faire, so that she was named Guennere or rather Guenlhean, +euen (as you would say) the faire or beautifull Elenor or Helen. She was brought vp in +the house of one Cador earle of Cornewall before Arthur maried hir: and as it appeareth +by writers, she was euill reported of, as noted of incontinencie & breach of faith to hir husband, +in maner as for the more part women of excellent beautie hardlie escape the venemous +blast of euill toongs, and the sharpe assaults of the followers of Venus. The British +historie affirmeth, that she did not onelie abuse hir selfe by vnlawfull companie with Mordred, +but that also in Arthurs absence she consented to take him to husband. It is likewise found +recorded by an old writer, that Arthur besieged on a time the marishes néere to Glastenburie, +for displeasure that he bare to a certeine lord called Melua, who had rauished Gueneuer, +and led hir into those marishes, and there did kéepe hir. Hir corps notwithstanding +(as before is recited) was interred togither with Arthurs, so that it is thought she liued not +long after his deceasse.</p> +<p> +Arthur had two wiues (as Gyraldus Cambrensis affirmeth) of which the latter (saith he) +was buried with him, and hir bones found with his in one sepulchre, but yet so diuided, that +two parts of the toome towards the head were appointed to receiue the bones of the man, +and the third part towards the féet conteined the womans bones, apart by themselues. Here +is to be remembred, that Hector Boetius writeth otherwise of the death of Arthur than +before in this booke is mentioned, & also that Gueneuer being taking prisoner by the Picts, +was conueied into Scotland, where finallie she died, and was there buried in Angus, as in +the Scotish chronicles further appeareth. And this may be true, if he had thrée sundrie +wiues, each of them bearing the name of Gueneuer, as sir Iohn Price dooth auouch that +he had. Now bicause of contrarietie in writers touching the great acts atchiued by this +Arthur, and also for that some difference there is amongst them, about the time in which +he should reigne, manie haue doubted of the whole historie which of him is written (as +before ye haue heard.) ¶ But others there be of a constant beléefe, who hold it for a +grounded truth, that such a prince there was; and among all other a late writer, who falling +<span class="rightnote"><i>Dauid Pow. pag. 238, 239.</i></span> +into necessarie mention of prince Arthur, frameth a spéech apologeticall in his and their behalfe<span class="page"><a name="page581" id="page581"></a>[Page 581]</span> +that were princes of the British bloud, discharging a short but yet a sharpe inuectiue +against William Paruus, Polydor Virgil, and their complices, whom he accuseth of lieng +toongs, enuious detraction, malicious slander, reprochfull and venemous language, wilfull +ignorance, dogged enuie, and cankerd minds; for that they speake vnreuerentlie and contrarie +to the knowne truth concerning those thrisenoble princes. Which defensitiue he +would not haue deposed, but that he takes the monuments of their memories for vndoubted +verities.</p> +<p> +The British histories and also the Scotish chronicles doo agrée, that he liued in the daies +of the emperour Iustinian, about the fiftéenth yéere of whose reigne he died, which was in +<span class="leftnote">542.</span> +the yéere of our Lord 542, as diuerse doo affirme. Howbeit some write farther from all +likelihood, that he was about the time of the emperor Zeno, who began his reigne about the +<span class="rightnote"><i>Aurea historia. I. Leland.</i></span> +yéere of our Lord 474. The writer of the booke intituled "Aurea historia" affirmeth, that +in the tenth yéere of Cerdicus king of Westsaxons, Arthur the warriour rose against the +Britains. Also Diouionensis writeth, that Cerdicus fighting oftentimes with Arthur, if he +were ouercome in one moneth, he arose in an other moneth more fierce and strong to giue +battell than before. At length Arthur wearied with irkesomnes, after the twelfth yéere of +the comming of Cerdicus, gaue vnto him vpon his homage doone and fealtie receiued, the +<span class="rightnote">Westsaxon.</span> +shires of Southampton and Somerset, the which countries Cerdicius named Westsaxon. +This Cerdicius or Cerdicius came into Britaine about the yéere of our Lord 495. In the +24 yere after his comming hither, that is to say, about the yéere of your Lord 519, he began +his reigne ouer the Westsaxons, and gouerned them as king by the space of 15 yéeres, +as before ye haue heard. But to follow the course of our chronicles accordinglie as we +haue begun, we must allow of their accounts herein as in other places, and so procéed.</p> + + <hr /><br /><br /> + <a name="xv5" id="xv5"></a> +<p> +<i>The decaie of christian religion and receiuing of the Pelagian heresie in Britaine by what +meanes they were procured and by whom redressed: Constantine succeedeth Arthur in the +kingdome, ciuill warre about succession to the crowne, the chalengers are pursued and +slaine, Constantine is vnkindlie killed of his kinsman, a bitter and reprochfull inuectiue of +Gyldas against the British rulers of his time, and namelie against Constantine, Conan +that slue Constantine reigneth in Britaine, his vertues and vices, his two yeeres regiment, +the seuere reprehensions of Gyldas uttered against Conan, discouering the course of his +life, and a secret prophesie of his death.</i></p> + +<h3>THE XV. CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +In this meane while that the realme was disquieted with sore & continuall warres betwixt +the Britains and Saxons (as before ye haue heard) the christian religion was not onelie +abolished in places where the Saxons got habitations, but also among the Britains the right +<span class="rightnote">The heresie of the Pelagians reuiued, <br /><i>Hist. Mag.</i></span> +faith was brought into danger, by the remnant of the Pelagian heresie, which began againe +<span class="leftnote">Dubritius & Dauid lerned bishops.</span> +to be broched by diuers naughtie persons. But Dubritius that was first bishop of Landaffe, +and after archbishop of Caerleon Arwiske, and his successour Dauid, with other learned +men earnestlie both by preaching and writing defended the contrarie cause, to the confuting +of those errors, and restablishing of the truth.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">CONSTANTINE.</span> +After the death of Arthur, his coosine Constantine the sonne of Cador, duke or earle +<span class="leftnote">542.</span> +of Cornewall began his reigne ouer the Britains, in the yere of our Lord 542, which was +about the 15 yéere of the emperour Iustinianus almost ended, the 29 of Childebert king +of France, and the first yéere well néere complet of the reigne of Totilas king of the Goths<span class="page"><a name="page582" id="page582"></a>[Page 582]</span> [582 +<span class="rightnote"><i>Galfrid</i>. <br /><i>Matth. West.</i></span> +in Italie. Arthur when he perceiued that he shuld die, ordeined this Constantine to succéed +him, and so by the consent of the more part of the Britains he was crowned king: but +the sonnes of Mordred sore repined thereat, as they that claimed the rule of the land by +iust title and claime of inheritance to them from their father descended. Herevpon followed +<span class="rightnote">Ciuill warre.</span> +ciuill warre, so that diuers battels were striken betwéene them and in the end the two +brethren were constreined to withdraw for refuge, the one to London, and the other to +Winchester: but Constantine pursuing them, first came to Winchester, and by force entered +the citie, and slue the one brother that was fled thither within the church of saint Amphibalus: +and after comming to London, entered that citie also, and finding the other brother +within a church there, slue him in like maner as he had doone the other. And so hauing +dispatched his aduersaries, he thought to haue purchased to himselfe safetie: but shortlie +<span class="rightnote">Aurelius Conanus. Constantine slaine.</span> +after, his owne kinsman, one Aurelius Conanus arrered warre against him, who ioining with +him in battell slue him in the field, after he had reigned foure yéeres. His bodie was conueied +to Stonheng, and there buried beside his ancestour Vter Pendragon.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Gyldas.</i></span> +Of this Constantine that seemeth to be ment, which Gyldas writeth in his booke intituled +"De excidio Britanniæ," where inueieng against the rulers of the Britains in his time, he +writeth thus: "Britaine hath kings, but the same be tyrants; iudges it hath, but they be +wicked, oftentimes péeling and harming the innocent people, reuenging and defending, but +whom? such as be guiltie persons and robbers; hauing manie wiues, but yet breaking wedlocke; +oftentimes swearing, and yet forswearing themselues; vowing, and for the more +part lieng; warring, but mainteining ciuill & vniust warres; pursuing indéed théeues that +are abroad in the countrie, and yet not onelie cherishing those that sit euen at table with +them, but also highlie rewarding them: giuing almesse largelie, but on the other part heaping +vp a mightie mount of sinnes; sitting in the seat of sentence, but seldome séeking the +rule of righteous iudgement; despising the innocent and humble persons, and exalting so +farre as in them lieth, euen vp to the heauens, most bloudie and proud murtherers, théeues +and adulterers, yea the verie professed enimies of God; if he would so permit: kéeping +manie in prison, whome they oppresse, in loding them with irons, through craft rather +to serue their owne purpose, than for anie gilt of the persons so imprisoned: taking +solemne oths before the altars, and shortlie after, despising the same altars as vile and filthie +stones.</p> +<p> +"Of this hainous and wicked offense Constantine the tyrannicall whelpe of the lionesse +of Deuonshire is not ignorant, who this yeare, after the receiuing of his dreadfull oth, +whereby he bound himselfe that in no wise he should hurt his subjects (God first, and then +his oth, with the companie of saints, and his mother being there present) did notwithstanding +in the reuerent laps of the two mothers, as the church, and their carnall mother, vnder the +coule of the holie abbat, deuoure with sword and speare in stead of téeth, the tender sides, +yea and the entrailes of two children of noble and kinglie race, and likewise of their two +gouernours, yea and that (as I said) amongest the sacred altars: the armies of which persons +so slaine, not stretched foorth to defend themselues with weapons (the which few in those +daies handled more valiantlie than they) but stretched foorth (I saie) to God and to his altar +in the day of iudgement, shall set vp the reuerent ensignes of their patience and faith at the +gates of the citie of Christ, which so haue couered the seat of the celestiall sacrifice, as it +were with the red mantle of their cluttered bloud.</p> +<p> +"These things he did not after anie good déeds doone by him deseruing praise: for +manie yeares before, ouercome with the often and changeable filths of adulterie, & forsaking +his lawfull wife contrarie to the lawes of God, &c: he now brought foorth this crime of +quelling his owne kinsmen, and violating the church, but neither being loosed from the +snares of his former euills, he increaseth the new with the old." ¶ Thus in effect hath +Gyldas written of this Constantine, with more: for turning his tale to him, he reproueth +him of his faults, and counselleth him to repent.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">CONANUS.</span> +After that Aurelius Conanus had slaine the foresad Constantine, as in the British histories<span class="page"><a name="page583" id="page583"></a>[Page 583]</span> +is mentioned, the same Conan was made king of Britaine in the yeare of our Lord +<span class="leftnote">546.</span> +546, in the 20 yeare of Iustinianus, and in the 33 of the reigne of Childebert king of the +Frenchmen. This Aurelius Conanus (as is recorded by some writers) was of a noble heart, +frée and liberall, but giuen much to the maintenance of strife and discord amongst his people, +light of credit, and namelie had an open eare to receiue and heare the reports of such +as accused other. Moreouer he was noted of crueltie, as he that tooke his vncle, who of +right should haue béene king, and kept him in prison, and not so satisfied slue in tyrannous +maner the two sons of his said vncle: But God would not suffer him long to inioy the +<span class="rightnote"><i>Matth. West.</i> writeth that he reigned 30. yeares.</span> +rule of the land in such vniust dealing, for he died after he had reigned the space of two +yeares, and left a sonne behind him called Vortiporus, which succéeded him in the kingdome, +as authors doo record. Of this Aurelius Conanus Gyldas writeth, calling vnto him +after he had made an end with his predecessor Constantine, saieng in this wise: "And +thou lions whelpe, as saith the prophet, Aurelius Conanus what doost thou? Art thou not +swallowed vp in the filthie mire of murthering thy kinsmen, of committing fornications and +adulteries like to the other before mentioned, if not more deadlie, as it were with the waues +and surges of the drenching seas ouerwhelming thée with hir vnmercifull rage? Dooest +thou not in hating the peace of thy countrie as a deadlie serpent, and thirsting after ciuill +wars and spoiles (oftentimes vniustlie gotten) shut vp against thy soule the gates of celestiall +peace and refreshment? Thou being left alone as a withering trée in the middle of a field, +call to remembrance (I praie thée) the vaine youthfull fantasie and ouertimelie death of thy +fathers and thy brethren. Shalt thou being set apart, and chosen foorth of all thy linage +for thy godlie deserts, be reserued to liue an hundred yeares, or remaine on earth till thou be +as old as Methusalem? No no." And after these reprehensions, with further threatnings of +Gods vengeance, he exhorted him to amendment of life, and so proceedeth to talke with +Vortiporus, whome he nameth the king, or rather the tyrant of Southwales, as after shall +be rehearsed.</p> + + <hr /><br /><br /> +<a name="xvj5" id="xvj5"></a> +<p> +<i>The beginning of the kingdome of Brenitia, of whome the king of Kent, Mertia, and west +Saxons descended, Ida the Saxon commended, the originall of the kingdome of Deira, +the circuit and bounds therof, of Ella the gouernour of the same, when the partition of +the kingdome of Northumberland chanced; Vortiporus reigneth ouer the Britains, he +vanquisheth the Saxons; Gyldas sharplie reprooueth Vortiporus for manie greeuous +offenses, and exhorteth him to amendement.</i></p> + +<h3>THE XVJ. CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">IDA. 547.</span> +In the yeare of the Lord 547, which was about the first yeare of the reigne of Aurelius +Conanus, the kingdome of Brenitia began vnder a Saxon ruler there callèd Ida, & descended +of Woden. For where the said Woden had thrée sonnes, Weldecius, Withlegris, and Beldecius; +<span class="rightnote"><i>H. Hunt.</i> <br />The kingdom of Brenitia began.</span> +of the first, the kings of Kent were lineallie extracted: of the second, the kings of +Mertia: and of the third sonne came the kings of Westsaxon, and also of him was this +Ida descended, being the ninth in lineall succession from the said Beldecius and the tenth +from Woden. The same Ida was vndoubtedlie a right noble personage, and changed first +that dukedome into a kingdome; where before that time the Saxons that ruled there, were +subiects vnto the kings of Kent. Whether he tooke vpon him of his owne accord to vsurpe +the kinglie title and roiall authoritie, or whether that the same was giuen to him by consent +of other, the certeintie appeareth not. But sure it is, that he being a woorthie prince, did +not degenerate from his noble ancestors inuincible in warre abroad and at home, qualifieng +his kinglie seueritie with a naturall kind of courteous humanitie. The bounds of his kingdome<span class="page"><a name="page584" id="page584"></a>[Page 584]</span> +called (as is said) Brenitia, began in the south at the riuer of Tine, and ended in the +north at the Forth in Scotland, in the British toong called Werd.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">ELLA 561. The beginning of the kingdom of Deria.</span> +About the same time, or rather about 14 yeares after, one Ella a Saxon also reigned as king +in Deira, which kingdome began at the said riuer of Tine in the north, & ended at the riuer +of Humber toward the south. These two kingdomes were sometime gouerned by two +seuerall kings, and afterwards at other times they were ioined in one, and gouerned by one +onelie king, and named the kingdome of Northumberland, which in processe of time was +much inlarged, so that it included the shires of Yorke, Notingham, Darbie, Lancaster, the +bishoprike of Durham, Copland, and other countries betwixt the east and the west seas, +<span class="leftnote">The riuer of Mersie.</span> +euen vnto the riuer of Mersie. The foresaid Ella was sonne to Iffus, being descended from +Woden, as the 12 in succession from him, though not by right line as William Malmesburie +hath noted. Ida (as the same Malmesburie dooth testifie) reigned 14 yeares.</p> +<p> +Now Ella who was successor to Ida (as he saith) reigned thirtie yeares, and verie valiantlie +<span class="rightnote"><i>Matth. West.</i></span> +inlarged his kingdome. But one author writeth how Ida reigned but 12 yeares, and that +he builded the castell of Bamburge, first fensing it with pales, and after with a wall of +<span class="leftnote"><i>Hen. Hunt.</i></span> +stone. The same Ida had by his wife six sonnes, begotten in lawfull bed, Ada, Ebric, +<span class="rightnote"><i>Matt. West.</i></span> +Theodoric, Athelric, Osmer, and Theofred. Moreouer he begat of certeine concubines +(which he kept) six bastard sonnes, Oga, Aleric, Ettha, Osbale, Segor, and Segother. These +came altogither into this land, and arriued at Flemesburke with fortie ships, as Matthæus +Westmonasteriensis hath recorded. The partition of the kingdome of Northumberland +chanced after the deceasse of Ida, as the same author signifieth: for Ada the sonne of the +foresaid Ida succéeded his father in the kingdome of Brenitia, reigning therein seuen yeares: +and Ella the sonne of Histria, a most valiant duke, began to gouerne Deira, as both the +said Matth. Westm. and others doo affirme.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">VORTIPORUS. <i>Matt. West.</i> noteth 578.</span> +Vortiporus the sonne of Aurelius Conanus succéeded his father, and began to reigne +ouer the Britains, in the yéere of our Lord 576, in the 11, yeare of the emperour Flauius +Anicius Iustinus, in the fourth yeare of the reigne of Childeric king of France, and in the +fourth yeare of Clephis the Gothish king in Italie. This Vortiporus vanquished the Saxons +in batttell, as the British histories make mention, and valiantlie defended his land and subiects +the Britains, from the danger of them and other their allies. In the time of this kings +reigne, the foresaid Ella began to rule in the south part of the kingdome of Northumberland +called Deira, as before is mentioned, according to the account of some authors, who also +take this Vortiporus to begin his reigne in the yeare 548. After that Vortiporus had ruled +<span class="rightnote"><i>Matt. West.</i> noteth 3 yeares.</span> +the Britans the space of 4 yeares, he departed this life, and left no issue behind him to succéed +him in the kingdom.</p> +<p> +Against this Vortiporus Gyldas also whetting his toong, beginneth with him thus: "And +why standest thou as one starke amazed? Thou (I say) Vortiporus the tyrant of Southwales, +like to the panther in maner and wickednesse diuerslie spotted as it were with manie colors, +with thy hoarie head in thy throne, full of deceits, crafts and wiles, and defiled euen from +the lowest part of thy bodie to the crowne of thy head, with diuers & sundrie murthers +committed on thine owne kin, and filthie adulteries, thus proouing a naughtie sonne of a +good king, as Manasses was to Ezechias. How chanceth it that the violent streames of +sinnes which thou swallowest vp like pleasant wine, or rather art deuoured of them, (the +end of thy life by little and little now drawing néere) can not yet satisfie the? What meanest +thou that with fornication of all euills, as it were the full heape, thine owne wife being +put away, thou by hir honest death dooest oppresse thy soule with a certeine burthen that +can not be auoided, of thine vnshamefast daughter? Consume not (I pray thée) the residue +of thy daies to the offense of God, &c." These and the like woords vttered he, exhorting him +to repentance, with admonitions taken out of the scriptures both for his comfort and warning.</p> +<p> +¶ If the circumstance of this that Gyldas writeth of Vortiporus be marked, it may be<span class="page"><a name="page585" id="page585"></a>[Page 585]</span> +perceiued, that Geffrey of Monmouth, and also Matthew of Westminster, the author of +the floures of histories, are deceiued, in that they take him to be the sonne of Aurelius +Conanus: and rather it may be gathered, that not onlie the same Aurelius Conanus and +Vortiporus, but also Constantinus, yea & Cuneglasus, and Maglocunus, of the which he +also intreateth (as partlie shall be hereafter touched) liued and reigned all at one time in +seuerall parts of this Ile, and not as monarchs of the whole British nation, but as rulers +each of them in his quarter, after the maner as the state of Ireland hath béene in times +past before the countrie came vnder the English subiection, if my coniecture herein doo not +deceiue me.</p> + + <hr /><br /><br /> + <a name="xvij5" id="xvij5"></a> + <p> +<i>Malgo reigneth ouer the Britains, the noble qualities wherewith he was beautified by his +filthie sinnes are blemished, Gyldas reproueth Cuneglasus for making warre against God +and man, and this Malgo for his manifold offenses, the vile iniquities wherevnto the +British rulers were inclined, the valiantnesse of Kenrike king of the Westsaxons, his +victories against diuers people his enimies, succession in the gouemment of the Westsaxons, +Northumberland, and Kentish Saxons; the first battell that was fought betwixt +the Saxons in this Iland, Cheuling with his Westsaxons encounter with the Britains and +get the vpper hand, three kings of the Britains slaine, and their people spoiled of their +lands, goods and liues.</i></p> + +<h3>THE XVIJ. CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">MALGO. 580. <i>Matth. West.</i> hath noted 581.</span> +After the deceasse of Vortiporus, Malgo the nephue of Aurelius Conanus (as some +write) was made king of Britaine, & began his reigne ouer the Britaines, in the yéere of our +Lord 580, in the fiftéenth yéere of the emperour Iustinian, and in the 37 yéere of the reigne +of Childerike king of the Frenchmen. This Malgo is reported to haue béene the comeliest +<span class="rightnote"><i>Gal. Mon.</i></span> +gentleman in beautie and shape of personage that was to be found in those daies amongst all +the Britains, and therewith of a bold and hardie courage. He manfullie defended the country +which he had in gouernance from the malice of the Saxons, and subdued the out Iles, as +Orkenie and others. But notwithstanding the noble qualities with the which his person was +adorned, yet he spotted them all with the filthie sinne of Sodomie, so that he fell into the +hatred of almightie God, and being pursued of the Saxons, receiued manie ouerthrowes at +their hands, as by the report of the English writers is gathered more at large. Finallie, +when he had reigned fiue yéeres and od moneths, he departed this life.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Matt. Westm.</i> counteth not past fiue yeres to his reigne through other affirme that he reigned 35 yéeres.</span> +It séemeth that this Malgo is named by Gyldas, Maglocunus, the which Gyldas (before +he speaketh of him) inueieth against one Cuneglasus, whome he reprooueth, for that he +warred both against God and man: against God with grieuous sinnes, as namelie adulterie, +in forsaking the companie of his lawfull wife, and kéeping to concubine a sister of hirs, that +had professed chastitie: & against man with materiall armor and weapons, which he vsed to +the destruction of his owne countrimen, with whom he kept warres, and not against the +enimies of the common wealth.</p> +<p> +From Cuneglasus he commeth to the foresaid Maglocunus, whome he nameth the dragon +of the Iles, and the expeller of manie tyrants, not onelie out of their kingdoms, but also +out of life, the last of whom he treateth (as he himselfe saith) but the first in all mischéefe +& euill, greater than manie in power, and likewise in malice: verie liberall in giuing, but +more plentifull in sinne, strong and valiant in arms, but stronger in destruction of his owne +soule. And so procéeding, chargeth him with the sinne of the Sodomits, & sore blameth +him, for that where it had pleased God to make him higher than all other dukes of Britaine +in kingdome and degrée, he did not shew himselfe better, but contrarilie far woorse than<span class="page"><a name="page586" id="page586"></a>[Page 586]</span> +they both in maners and conditions. He declareth also a little after, that this Maglocune in +his yoong yéeres slue in battell his vncle being king, with the most valiant souldiers in maner +that he had. Also that where the said Maglocune tooke vpon him the profession of a +moonke, he after renounced the same, and became a woorsse liuer than euer he was before, +abandoning his wife, and kéeping his brothers sonnes wife, while hir husband yet liued.</p> +<p> +Thus by that which Gyldas writeth of the kings and rulers of the Britains, which liued +in his daies, ye may perceiue that they were giuen to all manner of wickednesse, and namelie +to ciuill dissention, rapine, adulterie, and fornication: so that it may be thought, that GOD +stirred vp the Saxons to be a scourge to them, and to worke his iust vengeance vpon them +for their wickednesses and abhominable offenses dailie cōmitted against his diuine maiestie, +so that we find recorded by writers, how that the Saxons in diuers conflicts against the +Britains had the better, and also tooke from them diuers townes, as alreadie partly hath beene +and also hereafter shall be shewed.</p> +<p> +It is furthermore to be remembred, that about the 14 yeere of the Britaine king Conanus +<span class="rightnote">559. <br /><i>Hen Hunt.</i></span> +his reigne, which was about the end of the yere of Christ 559, Kenrike king of the Westsaxons, +departed this life, after he had reigned xxv. yéeres complet. This Kenrike was a +victorious prince, and fought diuers battels against the Britains. In the 18 yeere of his +reigne which was the 551 of Christ, we find that he fought against them, being come at +that time vnto Salisburie, and after great slaughter made on both parts, at length the victorie +remained with the Saxons, and the Britains were chased. Againe in the two and twentith +yéere of his reigne, and 555 yéere of Christ, the same Kenrike and his sonne Cheuling +fought with a great power of Britains at Branburie.</p> +<p> +The Britains were diuided into nine companies, three in the fore ward, thrée in the battell, +and thrée in the rere ward, with their horssemen and archers, after the maner of the Romans. +The Saxons being ranged in one entire battell, valiantlie assailed them, and notwithstanding +the shot of the Britains, yet they brought the matter to the triall of handblowes, +till at length by the comming on of the night, the victorie remained doubtfull: and no +maruell is to be made therof (saith Henrie archdeacon of Huntington) sith the Saxons were +men of huge stature, great force & valiant courage. The same yéere that Kenrike deceassed, +Ida the king of Northumberland also died: he was (as ye haue heard) a right valiant prince, +& inlarged the dominion of the Saxons greatlie, he ouercame Loth king of the Picts in +battell, and Corran king of Scots.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">560.<br /> <i>Hen Hunt</i></span> +Also about the yéere of Christ 560, Conanus (as yet gouerning the Britains) Irmenrike +king of Kent departed this life, of whome ye haue heard before, & Ethelbert his sonne succéeded +him 52 yéeres. Then after that the foresaid thrée princes were dead (as before ye +haue heard) they had that succéeded them in their estates as here followeth. After Kenrike, +his sonne Ceaulinus or Cheuling succéeded in gouernement of the Westsaxons: and after +Ida, one Ella or Alla reigned in Northumberland: after Irmenrike followed his sonne Ethelbert +in rule ouer the Kentish Saxons.</p> +<p> +This Ethelbert, in processe of time grew to be a mightie prince, but yet in the begining +of his reigne he had but sorie successe against some of his enimies: for hauing to doo with +<span class="rightnote"><i>Hen. Hunt.</i> Aliàs Wiphanduae.</span> +the foresaid Cheuling king of Westsaxons, he was of him ouercome in battell at Wilbasdowne, +where he lost two of his dukes or cheefe capteins, beside other people. This was +the first battell that was fought betwixt the Saxons, one against another within this land, +after their first comming into the same. And this chanced in the yere of our Lord 567, +being the second yéere of the emperour Iustinus.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">570. CUTHA. Aileburie.</span> +About the yéere 570, Cutha the brother of king Cheuling fought with the Britains at +Bedford, vanquished them, & tooke from them 4 townes, Liganbrough, Eglesbrough or +<span class="leftnote">581.</span> +Ailesburie, Besington, and Euesham. Also about the yéere of our Lord 581, the foresaid +king Cheuling incountered with the Britains at a place called Diorth, and obteining the vpper +hand, tooke from them the cities of Bath, Glocester, and Cirencester. At this battell<span class="page"><a name="page587" id="page587"></a>[Page 587]</span> +fought at Diorth, were present thrée kings of the Britains, whose names were these: Coinmagill, +Candidan, and Farimnagill, which were slaine there through the permission of +almightie God as then refusing his people, the which through their heinous sinnes and great +wickednesses, had most gréeuouslie offended his high and diuine maiestie, as by Gyldas it +may euidentlie appeare. For they had declined from the lawes of the Lord, and were become +abhominable in his sight, euen from the prince to the poore man, from the priest to +the Leuit, so that not one estate among them walked vprightlie, but contrarie to dutie was +gone astray, by reason whereof the righteous God had giuen them ouer as a prey to their +enimies.</p> +<p> +<span class="leftnote">His brother as <br /><i>Matt. West</i>. saith.</span> +Also in the latter end of Malgos daies or about the first beginning of the reigne of his +successor Careticus, Cheuling and his sonne Cutwine fought with the Britains at a place +<span class="rightnote"><i>H. Hunt.</i></span> +called Fechanley or Fedanley, or (as some bookes haue) Frithenlie, where Cutwine was +slaine, & the Englishmen chased: but yet Cheuling repairing his armie, wan the victorie, +and chasing the Britains, tooke from them manie countries, and wan great riches by the +<span class="rightnote"><i>Matt. West.</i></span> +spoile. But Matth. West. saith, that the victorie aboad with the Britains, and that the +Saxons were chased quite out of the field. The Scotish writers record, that their king Aidan +(who is noted to haue béene the 49 successiuelie possessing the regiment of that land, partlie +with griefe of hart for the death of Columba a graue and wise gentleman, whome he tenderlie +loued, and partlie with age [for he was growne horieheaded, and had reigned 34 +yéeres ended his life) was there in aid of the Britains, and Brudeus king of the Picts (betwixt +whom and the said Aidan a sore battell was fought) in aid of the Saxons: but the +same writers name the place Deglaston, where this battell was made, and the forces of both +sides by a sharpe incounter tried.</p> + + <hr /><br /><br /> +<a name="xviij5" id="xviij5"></a> +<p> +<i>The begining of the kingdome of Mercia, the bounds of the same, the heptarchie or seuen +regiments of the Saxons, how they grew to that perfection, and by whom they were reduced +and drawne into a monarchie; Careticus is created king of Britaine, the Saxons +take occasion by the ciuill dissentions of the Britains to make a full conquest of the land, +they procure forren power to further them in their enterprise, Gurmundus king of the +Africans arriueth in Britaine, the British king is driuen to his hard shifts, the politike +practise of Gurmundus in taking Chichester & setting the towne on fire, he deliuereth the +whole land in possession to the Saxons, the English and Saxon kings put Careticus to +flight, the Britains haue onelie three prouinces left of all their countrie which before they +inhabited, their religion, church, and commonwealth is in decaie, they are gouerned by +three kings, Cheulings death is conspired of his owne subiects.</i></p> + +<h3>THE XVIIJ. CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +About the same time also, and 585 of Christ, the kingdome of Mercia began vnder +<span class="rightnote">CRIDA. <br /><i>H. Hunt.</i> <br />This kingdome began in the yéere 585, as <br /><i>Matt. Westm.</i> saith. <br /><i>Ran. Cest.</i></span> +one Crida, who was descended from Woden, and the tenth from him by lineall extraction. +The bounds of this kingdome were of great distance, hauing on the east the sea vnto +Humber, and so on the north the said riuer of Humber, and after the riuer of Mercia, +which falleth into the west sea at the corner of Wirhall, and so comming about to the riuer +of Dee that passeth by Chester, the same riuer bounded it on the west from Wales, and +likewise Seuerne vp to Bristow: on the south it had the riuer of Thames, till it came almost +to London. And in this sort it contained Lincolneshire, Notingamshire, Derbishire, Chesshire, +Shropshire, Worcestershire, Glocestershire, Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertefordshire, +Bedfordshire, Huntingtonshire, Northamptonshire, Leicestershire, and Warwikeshire.</p> +<p> +¶ Thus haue ye heard how the Saxons in processe of time remoouing the Britains out of<span class="page"><a name="page588" id="page588"></a>[Page 588]</span> +their seats, dailie wan ground of them, till at length they got possession of the best part of +this Ile, and erected within the same seuen kingdoms, which were gouerned by seuen seuerall +kings, who continued vntill the kings of Westsaxon brought them all at length into one +monarchie, as after shall appéere. Matth. Westmin. reckoneth eight kingdoms as thus; +The kingdom of Kent, the kingdom of Sussex, the kingdom of Essex, the kingdom of +Eastangle, the kingdom of Mercia, the kingdom of Westsex, and the kingdom of Northumberland, +which was diuided into two kingdoms, that is to say, into Deira and into Bernicia: +wherevnto W. Harison addeth the ninth in the first part of his chronologie, and calleth it +Wales.</p> +<p> +<span class="leftnote">CARETICUS.</span> +After that Malgo or Maglocune was departed this life, one Careticus, or (as some write +him) Caretius, was made king of the Britains, and began his reigne in the yéere of our +<span class="rightnote">586.</span> +Lord 586, which was in the third yéere of the emperour Mauricius, and thirtéenth of Chilperike +king of France. This Careticus was a nourisher of ciuill warre and dissention amongst +his owne people the Britains, so that he was hated both of God and man, as writers testifie. +The Saxons vnderstanding that the Britains were not of one mind, but diuided in partakings, +so as one was readie to deuoure an other, thought it good time for them to aduance +their conquests, and ceassed not to pursue the Britains by force and continuall warre, till +<span class="leftnote"><i>Gal. Mon.</i> <br />See more of this Gurmundus in Ireland. <br /><i>Ranulf. Cest.</i></span> +they had constreined them for refuge to withdraw into Wales. And as some haue written, +the Saxons meaning to make a full conquest of the land, sent ouer into Ireland, requiring +one Gurmundus a king of the Affricans to come ouer into Britaine to helpe them against the +Britains.</p> +<p> +This Gurmundus appointing his brother Turgesius to pursue the conquest of Ireland, +came and arriued heere in Britaine, making such cruell warre in aid of the Saxons against +the Britains, that Careticus was constreined to kéepe him within the citie of Chicester or +Cirencester, and was there besieged, and at length by continuall assalts and skirmishes, +when he had lost manie of his men, he was glad to forsake that citie, and fled into Wales. +This Gurmundus tooke Cirencester or Chichester, and destroied it in most cruell maner. +Some write, that he tooke this citie by a policie of warre, in binding to the féet of sparrowes +which his people had caught, certeine clewes of thred or matches, finelie wrought & tempered +with matter readie to take fire, so that the sparrowes being suffered to go out of +hand, flue into the towne to lodge themselues within their neasts which they had made in +stacks of corne, and eues of houses, so that the towne was thereby set on fire, and then the +Britains issuing foorth, fought with their enimies, and were ouercome and discomfited.</p> +<p> +But whilest the battell continued, Careticus stale away, and got him into Wales. After +this, the foresaid Gurmundus destroied this land throughout in pitifull wise, and then deliuered +it in possession to the Saxons, the which thankfullie receiued it: and because they were +descended of those that first came ouer with Hengist, they changed the name of the land, +and called it Hengistland, accordinglie as the same Hengist had in times past ordeined: the +which name after for shortnesse of spéech was somewhat altered, and so lastlie called England, +and the people Englishmen. But rather it may be thought, that sith a great part of +those people which came ouer into this land out of Germanie with the said Hengist, and +other capteins, were of those Englishmen which inhabited Germanie, about the parts of +<span class="rightnote"><i>Matt. West.</i></span> +Thoringhen, they called this land England, after their name, when they had first got habitation +within it: and so both the land and people tooke name of them, being called <i>Angli</i>, +a long time before they entered into this Ile, (as before is shewed out of Cornelius Tacitus and +others.) But now to returne where we left.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">It should séeme that this historie of Gurmundus is but some fained tale except +it may be that he was some Dane, Norwegian or Germane.</span> +Of this Gurmundus the old English writers make no mention, nor also anie ancient +authors of forren parties: and yet saith the British booke, that after he had conquered this +land, and giuen it to the Saxons, he passed ouer into France, and there destroied much of +that land, as an enimie to the faith of Christ. For which consideration he was the more +readie to come to the aid of the Saxons, who as yet had not receiued the christian faith, but<span class="page"><a name="page589" id="page589"></a>[Page 589]</span> +warred against the Britains, as well to destroie the faith of Christ within this land, as to +establish to themselues continuall habitations in the same. There be, that omitting to make +mention of Gurmundus, write thus of the expelling of the Britains out of this land at that +time, when with their king Careticus they got them into Wales.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">586. <br /><i>Matt. West.</i></span> +In the yéere of Grace 586, Careticus a louer of ciuill warre succéeded Malgo an enimie +to God and to the Britains, whose inconstancie when the English and Saxon kings perceiued, +with one consent they rose against him, and after manie battels chased him from citie to +citie, till at length incountering with him in a pight field, they droue him beyond Seuerne +into Wales. Héerevpon clerks and priests were driuen out of their places with bright swoords +brandishing in all parts, and fire crackling in churches, wherewith the same were consumed. +The remnant of the Britains therefore withdrew into the west parts of the land, that is to +say, into Cornwall, and into Wales, out of which countries they oftentimes brake out, and +made insurrections vpon the Saxons, the which in maner aforsaid got possession of the +chiefest parts of the land, leauing to the Britains onlie three prouinces, that is to say, Cornwall, +Southwales, and Northwales, which countries were not easie to be woone, by reason +of the thicke woods inuironed with déepe mareshes and waters, and full of high craggie +rocks and mounteins.</p> +<p> +The English and Saxon kings hauing thus remooued the Britains, inlarged the bounds of +their dominions. There reigned in that season within this land, beside the Britaine kings, +eight kings of the English and Saxon nations, as Ethelbert in Kent, Cissa in Sussex, +Ceauline in Westsex, Creda or Crida in Mercia, Erkenwine in Essex, Titila in Estangle, +Elle in Deira, and Alfrid in Bernicia. In this sort the Britains lost the possession of the +more part of their ancient seats, and the faith of Christ thereby was greatlie decaied: for +the churches were destroied; and the archbishops of Caerleon Arwiske, London and Yorke +withdrew togither with their cleargie into the mounteins and woods within Wales, taking +with them the reliks of saints, doubting the same should be destroied by the enimies, and +themselues put to death if they should abide in their old habitations. Manie also fled into +Britaine Armorike with a great fléete of ships, so that the whole church or congregation (as +ye may call it) of the two prouinces, Loegria and Northumberland, was left desolate in that +season, to the great hinderance and decaie of the christian religion. Careticus was driuen +into Wales (as before is rehearsed) about the second or third yéere of his reigne, and there +continued with his Britains, the which ceassed not to indamage the Saxons from time to time +as occasion still serued.</p> +<p> +But here is to be noted, that the Britains being thus remoued into Wales and Cornwall, +were gouerned afterwards by thrée kings, or rather tyrants, the which ceased not with ciuill +<span class="rightnote"><i>Wil. Malm.</i></span> +warre to seeke others destruction, till finallie (as saith the British booke) they became all +subiect vnto Cadwallo, whome Beda nameth Cedwallo. In the meane time, Ceaulinus or +Cheuling king of the Westsaxons, through his owne misgouernance and tyrannie, which +towards his latter daies he practised, did procure not onelie the Britains, but also his owne +subiects to conspire his death, so that ioining in battell with his aduersaries at Wodensdic, in +the 33 yeare of his reigne, his armie was discomfited, and he himselfe constreined to depart +into exile, and shortlie after ended his life before he could find meanes to be restored.</p> +<p> +¶ So that we haue here a mirror or liuelie view of a tyrant and a king, wherein there is +no lesse ods in the manner of their gouernement, than there is repugnance in their names, +or difference in their states. For he seeth but little into the knowledge of toongs, that +vnderstandeth not what the office of a king should be, by the composition of his name, the +same sounding in Gréeke <i>βάσιλευς</i>, +which being resolued is in effect βάσις λάο, that is, the +foundation or stay of the people; from which qualitie when he resulteth, he maketh shipwracke +of that goodlie title, and degenerateth into a tyrant, than the which violent and inforced +gouernement as there is none more perillous, so is it of all other the least in continuance: +this is prooued by historicall obseruation through the course of this historie.</p> + <hr /><br /><br /> + <a name="xix5" id="xix5"></a> +<span class="page"><a name="page590" id="page590"></a>[Page 590]</span> +<p> +<i>Ceolric reigneth ouer the Westsaxons, the Saxons and Britains incounter, Ethelbert king +of Kent subdueth the Englishsaxons, he is maried to the French kings daughter vpon +cautions of religion, the king imbraceth the gospell, Augustine the moonke and others +were sent into this Ile to preach the christian faith, the occasion that moued Gregorie +the great to send him, buieng and selling of boies, the Englishmen called Angli commended, +Ethelbert causeth Augustine and his fellowes to come before him, they preach +to the king and his traine, he granteth them a conuenient seat and competent reliefe in +Canturburie, the maner of their going thither and their behauiour there, the king and +his people receiue the christian faith, and are baptised.</i></p> + +<h3>THE XIX. CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">CELRIC.</span> +Now after Cheuling, his nephue Celricus or Ceolric that was sonne vnto Cutwine, the +sonne of the foresaid Cheuling, reigned as king ouer the Westsaxons fiue yeares & fiue +moneths. In like manner the same yeare died Ella or Alla king of Northumberland, after +whome succéeded Ethelricus the sonne of Ida, and reigned but fiue yeares, being a man +well growne in yeares before he came to be king. About thrée yeeres after this, the Saxons +& Britains fought a battell at Wodenesbourne, where the Britains being ranged in good order, +the Saxons set vpon them boldlie indéed, but disorderedlie, so that the victorie remained +with the Britains. The Saxons the more valiant they had shewed themselues in battell, +before that time, so much the more slow and vntowardlie did they shew themselues now in +running awaie to saue themselues, so that an huge number of them were slaine. Also about +<span class="rightnote">594.</span> +the same time died Crida king of Mercia 594, after whome his sonne Wibbas or Wipha +succeeded. And after the deceasse of Ethelric, one Edelbert or Edelfride surnamed the +wild, succéeded in gouernement of the Northumbers. But to returne to our purpose.</p> +<p> +Ethelbert king of Kent, not discouraged with the euill chance which happened in the +<span class="rightnote"><i>Beda</i>. <br /><i>Will. Malmes.</i></span> +beginning, but rather occasioned thereby to learne more experience in feats of warre, prooued +so perfect a maister therein, that in processe of time he subdued by force of armes all those +English Saxons which lay betwixt the bounds of his countrie, and the riuer of Humber. +Also to haue friendship in forraine parts, he procured a wife for himselfe of the French +nation, named the ladie Bertha, being king Cheriberts daughter of France; but with condition, +that he should permit hir to continue and vse the rites and lawes of christian faith and +religion, and to haue a bishop whose name was Luidhard, appointed to come and remaine +with hir here in this land for hir better instruction in the lawes of the Lord. So that they +two with other of the French nation that came ouer with them remaining in the court, and +vsing to serue God in praiers and otherwise, according to the custome of the christian religion, +began vndoubtedlie to giue light to the kings mind as yet darkned with the clouds of +paganisme, so as the bright beames of the celestiall cléerenes of vnderstanding remooued the +thicke mists of his vnbeléefe in tract of time, and prepared his heart to the receiuing of the +gospell, which after by heauenlie prouidence was preached to him, by occasion, and in maner +as followeth.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Beda</i>. <br /><i>Matth. West.</i> saith 596. <br />47 saith the same author.</span> +In the yeare of our Lord 596, which was about the 14 yeare of the reigne of the emperour +Mauricius, and after the comming of the English Saxons into this land, about an +147 yeares almost complet, the bishop of Rome, Gregorie the first of that name, and surnamed +Magnus, sent Augustinus a moonke, with certeine other learned men into this Ile to +preach the christian faith vnto the English Saxons, which nation as yet had not receiued the +gospell. And here we hold it necessarie to shew how it is recorded by diuer writers, that +the first occasion whereby Gregorie was mooued thus to send Augustine into this land, rose +by this meanes.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Beda</i>. <br /><i>Will. Malmes.</i></span> +It chanced (whilest the same Gregorie was as yet but archdeacon of the see of Rome) +certeine yoong boies were brought thither to bee sold out of Northumberland, according to +the accustomable vse of that countrie, in somuch that as we haue in our time séene (saith<span class="page"><a name="page591" id="page591"></a>[Page 591]</span> +W. Mal.) the people of that prouince haue not yet doubted to sell awaie their néere kinsfolke +for a small price. When those children which at that time were brought from thence +to Rome, had by reason of their excellent beauties and comelie shape of lims and bodie, +<span class="leftnote"><i>Vita Gregorii. magni.</i></span> +turned the eies in maner of all the citizens to the beholding of them, it fortuned that Gregorie +also came amongst other to behold them, and when he considered and well viewed their faire +skins, their swéet visages, and beautifull bushes of their bright and yeallow heares, he demanded +out of what region or land they came? Vnto whome answere was made, that they +were brought out of Britaine, the inhabitants of which countrie were of the like beautifull +aspect. Then he asked whether the men of that countrie were christians, or as yet intangled +with blind heathenish errors? Wherevnto it was answered, that they were not christened, +but followed the religion of the Gentiles. Whereat Gregorie fetching a déepe sigh, said: +Ah, alas that the author of darkenesse dooth as yet possesse men of so brightsome countenances, +and that with the grace of such faire shining visages, they beare about minds void +of inward grace.</p> +<p> +"Moreouer he demanded by what name the people were called, whereto answere was +made, that they were called Angli, that is to say Englishmen. Right woorthilie (saith he) +for they haue angels faces, and such as ought to be made fellow-heires with angels in heauen. +Then asked he the name of the prouince from whence they were brought, and it was told +him they were of Deira. It is well (said he) they are to be deliuered "De ira dei," that is +to say, from the ire and wrath of God, and called to the mercie of Christ our Lord. What +name (said he) hath the king of that prouince? Wherevnto answere was made that he was +called Alla, wherevpon alluding to that name, he said, Alleluia ought to be soong in those +parts to the praise and honor of God the creator."</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">Pelagius the second. <br /><i>Will. Malmes.</i></span> +Herevpon comming to Benedict the first of that name (as then bishop of Rome) he +required him that some learned men might be sent into England to preach the gospell vnto +the Englishmen, offering himselfe to be one of the number. But though Benedict was contented +<span class="leftnote">Pelagius.</span> +to grant his request, yet the Romans had him in such estimation, that they would not +consent that he should depart so farre from the citie, so that by them he was at that time +staied of that his godlie purpose. Howbeit when he came to be bishop, he thought to performe +it though not by himselfe, yet by other: and so Augustine and his fellowes were sent +by him about it (as before is said.) By the way, as they were passing in their iournie, such +<span class="rightnote">M. Fox.</span> +a sudden feare entred into their hearts, that (as some write) they returned all. Others write, +that Augustine was sent backe to Gregorie, to sue that they might be released of that voiage +so dangerous and vncerteine amongst such a barbarous people, whose language they neither +knew, nor whose rudenesse they were able to resist. Then Gregorie with pithie perswasions +confirming and comforting him, sent him againe with letters vnto the bishop of Arles, willing +him to helpe and aid the said Austine and his companie in all what so euer his néede required. +Also other letters he directed by the foresaid Austine vnto his fellowes, exhorting +them to go forward boldlie in the Lords woorke, as by the tenor of the said epistle here following +may appeare.</p> + +<p class="indent1"> +"<i>Gregorie the seruant of Gods servants, to the seruants of our Lord.</i></p> + +<p> +"For as much as it is better not to take good things in hand, than after they be begun, to +thinke to reuolt backe from the same againe, therefore now you may not nor cannot (dere +children) but with all feruent studie and labour must needs go forward in that good businesse, +which thorough the helpe of God you haue well begun. Neither let the wearisomnesse +of your iournie, nor the slanderous toongs of men appall you, but that with all +instance and feruencie ye proceed and accomplish the thing which the Lord hath ordeined +you to take in hand, knowing that your great trauell shall be recompensed with reward of +greater glorie hereafter to come. Therefore as we send here Austine to you againe, whome +also we haue ordeined to be your gouernour, so doo you humblie obey him in all things,<span class="page"><a name="page592" id="page592"></a>[Page 592]</span> +knowing that it shall be profitable for your soules what soeuer at his admonition ye shall +doo. Almightie God with his grace defend you, and grant me to see in the eternall countrie +the fruit of your labours, though heere I cannot labour in the same fellowship with you +togither. The Lord God keepe you safe most deere and welbeloued children. Dated the +tenth before the kalends of August, in the reigne of our souereigne lord Mauricius most +vertuous emperor, the fourtenth of his empire."</p> +<p> +Thus emboldned and comforted through the good woords and wholesome exhortation of +Gregorie, they set forward againe, and spéeding foorth their iournie, first arriued at the Ile +of Thanet in Kent in the moneth of Iulie, being in number about fortie persons, of the +which diuerse were interpretors, whome they brought with them out of France. These they +sent vnto king Ethelbert, signifieng the occasion of their comming, who hearing the messengers +within a few daies after, went into that Ile, and there abroad out of anie house sat +downe, and caused Augustine and his fellowes to come before him, for he would not come +vnder anie roofe with them, sore doubting to be bewitched by them, being persuaded that +they were practised in nigromancie. But they comming to him, not by the power of the +diuell (as they said) but by the might and power of almightie God, bearing in stéed of a +<span class="rightnote">The seuenfold letanies of S. Gregorie were not yet deuised.</span> +banner a crosse of siluer, and an image of our Lord and Sauiour painted in a table, and +thereto singing the letanies, made intercession vnto the Lord for the euerlasting preseruation +of themselues, and of all them for whome and to whome they came.</p> +<p> +Now when they being set downe by commandement of the king, had preached the woord +of life to him, and to all those that came thither with him, he made them this answer, that +their woords and promises were good: but for as much as the same were new & vncerteine +to him that had béen brought vp in the contrarie doctrine, he could not rashlie assent to their +admonitions, & leaue that beléefe which he and the English nation had so long a time obserued +and kept: but (said he) because ye haue trauelled farre, to the intent to make vs partakers +of those things which ye beléeue to be most true and perfect, we will thus much +graunt vnto you, that ye shall be receiued into this countrie, and haue harbrough, with all +things sufficient found vnto you for your maintenance and sustentation: neither will we +hinder you, but that ye may by preaching associat and ioine as manie of our subiects as you +can vnto your law and beléefe. They had therefore assigned vnto them a place to lodge in +within the citie of Canturburie, which was the head citie of all his dominion. It is said that +as they approched the citie according to their maner, they had a crosse borne before them, +with an image of our Lord Iesus Christ, and they followed, singing this letanie, "Deprecamur +te Domine in omni misericordia tua, vt auferatur furor tuus & ira tua à ciuitate ista & +de domo sancta tua, quoniam peccauimus: Alleluia." <i>That is to say</i>, We beseech thee Ô +Lord in all thy mercie that thy furie and wrath may be taken from this citie, and from thy +holie house, for we haue sinned. Praise be to thee Ô Lord.—After they were receiued into +<span class="rightnote"><i>Beda</i>. <br /><i>Matth. West.</i></span> +Canturburie, they began to follow the trade of life which the apostles vsed in the primitiue +church, that is to say, exercising themselues in continuall praier, watching, and preaching +to as manie as they could, despising all worldlie things, as not belonging to them, receiuing +onelie of them (whome they taught) things necessarie for the sustenance of their life, & +liuing in all points according to the doctrine which they set forth, hauing their minds readie +to suffer in patience all aduersities what so euer, yea and death it selfe, for the confirming of +<span class="rightnote">The christian faith receiued of the Englishmen.</span> +that which they now preached. Herevpon, manie of the English people beléeued and were +baptised, hauing in great reuerence the simplicitie of those men, and the swéetenesse of their +heauenlie doctrine. There was a church néere to the citie on the east part thereof dedicated +to the honor of saint Martine, and builded of old time whilest the Romans as yet inhabited +Britaine, in the which the quéene, being (as we haue said) a christian, vsed to make hir +praiers. To this church Austine and his fellowes at their first comming accustomed to resort, +and there to sing, to praie, to saie masse, to preach and to baptise, till at length the king +being conuerted, granted them licence to preach in euerie place, and to build and restore<span class="page"><a name="page593" id="page593"></a>[Page 593]</span> +churches where they thought good. After that the king being persuaded by their doctrine, +good examples giuing, and diuers miracles shewed, was once baptised, the people in great +numbers began to giue eare vnto the preaching of the gospell, and renouncing their heathenish +<span class="rightnote"><i>Lib. 7, cap. 26</i>.</span> +beléefe, became christians, in so much that as Gregorie remembreth, there were +baptised ten thousand persons in one day, being the feast of the natiuitie of our Sauiour 597, +and the first indiction.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Polychron.</i></span> +¶ Some write how this should chance toward the latter end of Augustines daies, after he +was admitted to preach the gospell amongst them that inhabited about Yorke (as some write) +which affirme, that the said number of ten thousand was baptised in the riuer of Suale, +which (as W. Harison saith) cannot be verified, because of the indiction and death of Gregorie. +But to procéed.</p> + + <hr /><br /><br /> + <a name="xx5" id="xx5"></a> +<p> +<i>Religion is not to be inforced but perswaded and preached, Augustine is made archbishop +of England, Gregorie informeth Augustine of certeine ordinances to be made and obserued +in the new English church, as the reuenewes of the church to be diuided into foure +parts, of liturgie, of mariage, of ecclesiasticall discipline and ordeining of bishops: +trifling questions objected by Augustine to Gregorie, fellow helpers are sent ouer to assist. +Augustine in his ministerie, he receiueth his pall, reformation must be doone by little +and little, not to glorie in miracles, the effect of Gregories letters to K. Ethelbert after +his conuersion to christianitie.</i></p> + +<h3>THE XX. CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Beda. lib.</i> 1. <i>cap.</i> 26. and 27.</span> +King Ethelbert reioised at the conuersion of his people, howbeit he would not force anie +man to be baptised, but onelie shewed by his behauiour, that he fauored those that beléeued +more than other, as fellow citizens with him of the heauenlie kingdome: for he learned of +them that had instructed him in the faith, that the obedience due to Christ ought not to be +inforced, but to come of good will. Moreouer he prouided for Augustine and his fellowes +a conuenient place for their habitation within the citie of Canturburie, and further gaue them +<span class="rightnote">Augustine ordeined archbishop of the English nation.</span> +necessarie reuenewes in possession for their maintenance. After that the faith of Christ was +thus receiued of the English men, Augustine went into France, and there of the archbishop of +Arles named Etherius was ordeined archbishop of the English nation, according to the order +prescribed by Gregorie before the departure of the said Augustine from Rome.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">Laurence a priest.</span> +After his returne into Britaine, he sent Laurence a priest, and Péeter a moonke vnto +Rome, to giue knowledge vnto Gregorie the bishop, how the Englishmen had receiued the +faith, and that he was ordeined archbishop of the land, according to that he had commanded, +if the woorke prospered vnder his hand as it had doone. He also required to haue Gregories +aduice touching certéine ordinances to be made and obserued in the new church of England. +Wherevpon Gregorie, sending backe the messengers, wrote an answere vnto all his demands. +And first touching the conuersation of archbishops with the clergie, and in what sort the +church goods ought to be imploied, he declared that the ancient custome of the apostolike +<span class="leftnote">The reuenewes of the church to be diuided into 4. parts.</span> +see was to giue commandement vnto bishops ordeined, that the profits and reuenewes of +their benefices ought to be diuided into foure parts, whereof the first should be appointed +to the bishop and his familie for the maintenance of hospitalitie: the second should be assigned +to the clergie: the third giuen to the poore: and the fourth imploied vpon repairing +of temples.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">Liturgie.</span> +And whereas in the church of Rome one custome in saieng masse or the liturgie was +<span class="leftnote">Church seruice.</span> +obserued, and another custome in France; concerning such church seruice, Gregorie aduised +Austine that if he found anie thing either in the church of Rome, either in the church<span class="page"><a name="page594" id="page594"></a>[Page 594]</span> +of France, or in anie other church which might most please the almightie God, he should diligentlie +choose it out, and instruct the church of England (now being new) according to that +forme which he should gather foorth of the said churches: for the things are not loued for +<span class="rightnote">Such as did steale.</span> +the places sake, but the places for the things sake. Also for punishing of such as had +stolen things out of churches, so néere as might be, the offender should be chastised in charitie, +so as he might know his fault, and (if it were possible) restore the thing taken away.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">Mariages.</span> +And touching degrées in mariage, Englishmen might take to their wiues, women that +touched them in the third and fourth degrée without reprehension, and if any vnlawfull +mariages were found amongst the Englishmen, as if the sonne had maried the fathers wife, +or the brother the brothers wife, they ought to be warned in anie wise to absteine, and vnderstand +it to be a gréeuous sinne: yet should they not for that thing be depriued of the +communion of the bodie and bloud of our Lord, least those things might séeme to be punished +in them wherein they had offended (before their conuersion to the christian faith) by +<span class="rightnote">Discipline of the church.</span> +ignorance; for at this season the church (saith he) correcteth some things of a feruent +earnestnesse, suffreth some things of a gentle mildnes, and dissembleth some things of a +prudent consideration, and so beareth and winketh at the same, that oftentimes the euill +which she abhorreth by such bearing and dissembling, is restrained and reformed.</p> +<p> +<span class="leftnote">Ordeining of bishops.</span> +Moreouer touching the ordeining of bishops, he would they should be so placed, that the +distance of place might not be a let, but that when a bishop should be consecrated, there +might be thrée or foure present. Also touching the bishops of France, he willed Augustine +in no wise to intermeddle with them, otherwise than by exhortation and good admonition to be +giuen, but not to presume anie thing by authoritie, sith the archbishop of Arles had receiued +the pall in times past, whose authoritie he might not diminish, least he should séeme to put +his sickle into another mans haruest. But as for the bishops of Britaine, he committed them +vnto him, that the vnlearned might be taught, the weake with wholesome persuasions +<span class="rightnote">Women with child.</span> +strengthened, and the froward by authoritie reformed. Moreouer, that a woman with child +might be baptised, and she that was deliuered after 33 daies of a manchild, and after 46 +daies of a womanchild, should be purified, but yet might she enter the church before, if +she would.</p> + +<span class="rightnote">Matters in question about trifles.</span> +<p class="indent2"> +The residue of Augustines demands consisted in these points, to wit:<br /><br /> + +1 Within what space a child should be christened after it was borne, for doubt to be preuented +by death?<br /><br /> + +2 Within what time a man might companie with his wife after she was brought to bed?<br /><br /> + +3 Whether a woman, hauing hir floures, might enter the church, or receiue the communion?<br /><br /> + +4 Whether a man hauing had companie with his wife, might enter the church, or receiue +the communion before he was washed with water?<br /><br /> + +5 Whether after pollusion by night in dreames, a man might receiue the communion: or +if he were a priest, whether he might say masse?</p> +<p> +To these questions Gregorie maketh answere at full in the booke and place before cited, +which for bréefenesse we passe ouer. He sent also at that time with the messengers aforesaid, +at their returne into England, diuers learned men to helpe Augustine in the haruest of +<span class="rightnote">Assistance to Augustine. <br />The pall.</span> +the Lord. The names of the chiefest were these, Melitus, Iustus, Paulinus, and Ruffinianus. +He sent allso the pall, which is the ornament of an archbishop, with vessels and apparell +which should be vsed in churches by the archbishop and other ministers. He sent also with +the pall other letters to Augustine, to let him vnderstand what number of bishops he would +haue him to ordeine within this land. Also after that Melitus, and the other before mentioned +persons were departed from Rome, he sent a letter vnto the same Melitus, being yet +on his way toward Britaine, touching further matter concerning the churches of England, +<span class="rightnote">Bearing with them that had newlie receiued the faith, whereof superstition grew and increased.</span> +wherein he confesseth that manie things are permitted to be vsed of the people latelie +brought from the errors of gentilitie, in keeping feasts on the dedication daies, which haue +resemblance with the old superstitious rites of the Pagan religion. For to hard and obstinate<span class="page"><a name="page595" id="page595"></a>[Page 595]</span> +minds (saith he) it is not possible to cut away all things at once, for he that coueteth to the +highest place, goeth vp by steps and not by leaps.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"> Miracles.</span> +At the same time Gregorie did send letters vnto Augustine touching the miracles, which +by report he vnderstood were shewed by the same Augustine, counselling him in no wise +to glorie in the same, but rather in reioising to feare, and consider that God gaue him the +gift to worke such signes for the wealth of them to whom he was sent to preach the gospell: +he aduised him therefore to beware of vaine-glorie and presumption, for the disciples of the +truth (saith he) haue no ioy, but onlie that which is common with all men, of which there +is no end, for not euerie one that is elect worketh miracles, but euerie of the elect haue their +names written in heauen. These letters, with the other which Gregorie sent at this time +vnto Augustine, were dated the tenth day of the kalends of Iulie, in the yéere of our Lord +602, which was the 19 yeere of the emperour Mauricius. Moreouer he sent most courteous +<span class="rightnote">602.</span> +letters by these messengers to king Ethelbert, in the which he greatlie commended him, in +that he had receiued the christian faith, and exhorted him to continue in that most holie +state of life, whereby he might worthilie looke for reward at the hands of almightie God.</p> + + <hr /><br /><br /> + <a name="xxj5" id="xxj5"></a> +<p> +<i>What reparations and foundations Augustine finished for clergimen to the supportation of +the church, the building of Paules in London and saint Peters in Westminster vncerteine, +a prouinciall councell called by Augustine, he restoreth a blind man to his sight, the +Britains are hardlie weaned from their old custome of beliefe, an heremits opinion of +Augustine, he requireth three things to be obserued of the Britains, he ordeineth bishops +at London and Rochester; Sabert reigneth ouer the Eastsaxons, Augustine dieth and is +buried.</i></p> + +<h3>THE XXJ CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +Thus farre we haue waded in the forme and maner of conuerting the English nation to +christianitie, by the labours of Augustine and his coadiutors: now therefore (that we may +orderlie procéed) it remaineth that we say somewhat of the acts and déeds of the said Augustine; +of whom we read, that after he was established archbishop, and had his sée appointed +<span class="rightnote"><i>Beda</i>.</span> +him at Canturburie, he restored another church in that citie which had béene erected +there in times past by certeine of the Romans that were christians, and did dedicate the same +now to the honour of Christ our Sauiour. He also began the foundation of a monasterie +without that citie, standing toward the east, in the which by his exhortation, king Ethelbert +built a church euen from the ground, which was dedicated vnto the holie apostles Peter and +Paule, in the which the bodie of the said Augustine was buried, and likewise the bodies of +all the archbishops of Canturburie and kings of Kent a long time after. This abbie was +<span class="rightnote">One Peter was the first Abbat.</span> +called saint Austins after his name, one Peter being the first abbat thereof. The church +there was not consecrated by Augustine, but by his successor Laurence, after he was dead.</p> +<p> +Moreouer, king Ethelbert at the motion of Augustine built a church in the citie of London +(which he latelie had conquered) and dedicated it vnto saint Paule; but whether he builded +or restored this church of saint Paule it may be doubted, for there be diuers opinions of the +building thereof. Some haue written that it was first builded by king Lud (as before is +<span class="rightnote"><i>Ran. Higd.</i></span> +mentioned.) Other againe write, that it was builded afterward by Sigebert king of the +Eastsaxons. Also king Ethelbert builded the church of saint Andrews in Rochester. It +is likewise remembred by writers, that the same king Ethelbert procured a citizen of London +<span class="leftnote"><i>Beda</i>.</span> +to build a church to S. Peter without the citie of London toward the west, in a place then +called Thorney, that is to say, the Ile of thorns, and now called Westminster: though others +<span class="rightnote"><i>Ran. Higd.</i> Westminster church builded.</span> +haue written that it was built by Lucias king of Britaine, or rather by Sibert king of the +Eastsaxons. This church was either newlie built, or greatlie inlarged by king Edward surnamed<span class="page"><a name="page596" id="page596"></a>[Page 596]</span> +the Confessor, and after that, the third Henrie king of England did make there a +beautifull monasterie, and verie richlie indowed the same with great possessions and sumptuous +iewels. The place was ouergrowne with vnderwoods, as thornes and brambles, before +that the church was begun to be builded there in this king Ethelberts daies. ¶ Thus +the faith of Christ being once begun to be receiued of the English men, tooke woonderfull +increase within a short time.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Ran. Cest. Beda</i>. Sigebertus. ann.19 Mauricij imperatoris. A synod. Ausines oke. <br /><i>Galfrid. lib.8. cap.</i>4.</span> +In the meane season by the helpe of king Ethelbert, Augustine caused a councell to be +called at a place in the confines of the Westsaxons, which place long after was called Austines +oke, where he procured the bishops or doctors of the prouinces of the Britains to come +before him. Among the Britains or the Welshmen, christianitie as yet remained in force, +which from the apostles time had neuer failed in that nation. When Augustine came into +this land, he found in their prouinces seuen bishops sées, and an archbishops sée, wherein +sat verie godlie & right religious prelats, and manie abbats, in the which the Lords flocke +kept their right order: but because they differed in obseruing the feast of Easter, and other +<span class="leftnote"><i>Beda lib.2. ca.2.</i></span> +rites from the vse of the Romane church, Augustine thought it necessarie to mooue them +to agrée with him in vnitie of the same, but after long disputation and reasoning of those +matters, they could not be induced to giue their assent in that behalfe. Augustine to +prooue his opinion good, wrought a miracle in restoring sight to one of the Saxon nation +that was blind.</p> +<p> +The Britains that were present, mooued with this miracle, confessed that it was the right +waie of iustice and righteousnesse which Augustine taught; but yet they said that they +might not forsake their ancient customs without consent and licence of their nation. Wherevpon +<span class="rightnote">Another synod.</span> +they required another synod to be holden, whereat a greater number of them might +be present. This being granted, there came (as it is reported) seuen bishops of the Britains, +<span class="leftnote">The monasterie of Bangor. Abbat Dionoth.</span> +and a great number of learned men, speciallie of the famous monasterie of Bangor, whereof +in those daies one Dionoth was abbat, who as they went towards that councell, came first +to a certeine wise man, which liued amongst them an heremits life, and asked his aduise, +whether they ought to forsake their traditions at the preaching of Augustine or not: who +made this answer; "If he be the man of God, follow him." Then said they; "How shall +<span class="rightnote">The answer of a godlie man touching Austine the Englishmens apostle.</span> +we prooue whether he be so or not?" Then said he: "The Lord saith, Take vp my yoke +and learne of me, for I am méeke & humble in hart: if Augustine be humble and meeke +in hart, it is to be beléeued that he also beareth the yoke of Christ, and offereth it to you +to beare; but if he be not méeke but proud, it is certeine that he is not of GOD, nor his +woord to be regarded." "And how shall we sée and perceiue that (said they?)" "Find +meanes (said he) that he maie first come to the place of the synod with those of his side, +and if he arise to receiue you at your comming, then know that he is the seruant of God, +and obey him; but if he despise you, and arise not towards you, whereas you be more +in number, let him be despised of you."</p> +<p> +They did as he commanded, and it chanced, that when they came, they found Augustine sitting +in his chaire: whome when they beheld, straightwaies they conceiued indignation, and noting +him of pride, laboured to reprooue all his saiengs. He told them that they vsed manie +<span class="rightnote">Thrée things required by Augustine of the Britains to be observed.</span> +things contrarie to the custom of the vniuersall church, and yet if in thrée things they +would obeie him, that is to say, in kéeping the feast of Easter in due time, in ministring +baptisme according to the custome of the Romane church, & in preaching to the Englishmen +the woord of life with him & his fellowes, then would he be contented to suffer all +other things patientlie which they did, though the same were contrarie to the maners and +customs of the Romane iurisdiction. But they flatlie denied to doo anie of those things, +and gaue a plaine answer that they would not receiue him for their archbishop: for laieng +their heads togither, thus they thought, If he refuse now to arise vnto vs, how much the +more will he contemne vs if we should become subiect to him? Vnto whom (as it is said) +<span class="rightnote">Augustine threatneth.</span> +Augustine in threatening wise told them afore hand, that if they would not receiue peace +with their brethren, they should receiue warre of the enimies; & if they would not preach<span class="page"><a name="page597" id="page597"></a>[Page 597]</span> +to the Englishmen the waie of life, they should suffer punishment by death at the hands of +them: which thing in deed after came to passe, as in place conuenient shall be expressed. +<span class="rightnote">604. Bishops ordeined at London and Rochester.</span> +After this in the yéere of our Lord 604, the archbishop Augustine ordeined two bishops, +that is to say, Melitus at London, that he might preach the woord of God to the Eastsaxons, +which were diuided from them of Kent by the riuer of Thames, and Iustus in the citie of +Rochester within the limits of Kent.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">SABERT.</span> +At that time Sabert reigned ouer the Eastsaxons, but he was subiect vnto Ethelbert king +of Kent, whose nephue he was also by his sister Ricula that was married vnto king Sledda +that succéeded after Erchenwine the first king of the Eastsaxons, and begat on hir this +Sabert that receiued the faith. After that Augustine had ordeined Melitus to be bishop of +London, as before is said, king Ethelbert builded (as some write) the church of saint Paule +within the same citie, where the same Melitus and his successors might keepe their sée. +And also for the like purpose he builded the church of saint Andrew the apostle at Rochester, +that Iustus and his successors might haue their sée in that place, according to Augustines institution: +he bestowed great gifts vpon both those churches, endowing them with lands and +possessions verie bountifullie, to the vse of them that should be attendant in the same with +the bishops.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Ran. Cestren.</i></span> +Finallie, Augustine after he had gouerned as archbishop the church of Canturburie by +the space of 12 yéeres currant, departed this life the fiue and twentieth of Maie, and was +buried first without the citie néere to the church of the apostles Peter and Paule (whereof +mention is made before) bicause the same church as yet was not finished nor dedicated; +but after it was dedicated, his bodie was brought into the church, and reuerentlie buried in +the north Ile there. He ordeined in his life time Laarence to be his successor in the sée of +Canturburie, of whome ye shall heare hereafter. ¶ Thus haue ye heard in what maner +the Englishmen were first brought from the worshipping of false gods, and baptised in the +name of the liuing God by the foresaid Augustine (as we find in Beda and other writers.) +Now we will returne to other dooings chancing in the meane time amongst the people of +this Ile.</p> + + <hr /><br /><br /> + <a name="xxij5" id="xxij5"></a> +<p> +<i>Ceowlfe or Ceoloulph gouerneth the Westsaxons, Ceorlus king of Mercia, Edelfride king +of the Northumbers, and Edan king of the Scots ioine in battell, Edan is discomfited, +Edelfride subdueth the citizens of Chester, the deuout moonks of Bangor praie for safetie +from the swoord of the enimie, twelue hundred of them are slaine, Edelfride entreth the +citie of Chester, the Britains assembling their power vnder three capteins incounter with +Edelfride, slaie manie of his souldiers, and put him to flight, warres betweene Edelfride +and Redwald king of the Eastangles about Edwine the sonne of king Elle, Edelfride +is slaine, Ceowlfe king of the Westsaxons dieth.</i></p> + +<h3>THE XXIJ CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +<span class="leftnote"><i>Matth. West.</i> saith 34.</span> +After the deceasse of Chelricus king of the Westsaxons, we find that Ceowlfe or +Ceoloulph succéeded in gouernment of that kingdome, and reigned twelue yéeres. He began +<span class="rightnote"><i>Matth. West.</i> saith 607.</span> +his reigne (as should appéere by some writers) about the yeere of our Lord 597, and +spent his time for the more part in warres, not giuing place to idlenesse, but séeking either +to defend or inlarge the confines of his dominion. He was the sonne of Cutha, which was +the sonne of Kenrike, which was the sonne of Certike. After Wibba or Wipha king of +Mercia (who, nothing inferiour to his father, did not onelie defend his kingdome, but also +inlarge it, by subduing the Britains on ech side) one Ceorlus succéeded in that kingdome,<span class="page"><a name="page598" id="page598"></a>[Page 598]</span> +<span class="rightnote">Ceorlus king of Mercia.</span> +being not his sonne but his kinsman. This Ceorlus began his reigne about the yéere of +<span class="leftnote"><br />594.</span> +our Lord 594, as Matth. West. recordeth.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Beda.</i> <br />Edelferd.</span> +Ye haue heard that Edelferd, which otherwise is called also by writers Edelfride, surnamed +the wild, gouerned still the Northumbers, which Edelferd did more damage to the +Britains than anie one other king of the English nation. None of them destroied their +countries more than he did: neither did anie prince make more of the Britains tributaries, +or inhabited more of their countries with English people than he. Héerevpon Edan king +of those Scots which inhabited Britaine, being therewith mooued to see Edelfride prosper +thus in his conquests, came against him with a mightie armie: but ioining in battell with +Edelfride and his power, at a place called Degsastane, or Degsastone, or Deglaston, he lost +the most part of his people, and with the residue that were left aliue, he escaped by flight. +This was a sore foughten battell, with much bloudshed on both parties. For notwithstanding +that the victorie remained with the Northumbers, Theobaldus the brother of Edelferd +was slaine, with all that part of the English host which he gouerned: and it was fought in +<span class="leftnote">603.</span> +the yéere of our Lord 603, in the 19 yeere of the reigne of the foresaid Edelferd, and in +the sixt yéere of Ceowlfe king of the Westsaxons, and in the first yéere of the emperor +<span class="rightnote"><i>Henr. Hunt.</i></span> +<span class="leftnote"><i>Beda lib. 1. cap.</i> 34.</span> +Phocas, or rather in the last yéere of his predecessor Mauricius. From that day, till the +daies of Beda, not one of the Scotish kings durst presume to enter into Britaine againe to +<span class="rightnote"><i>Wil. Malm.</i> <br />Sée in Scotland.</span> +giue battell against the English nation, as Beda himselfe writeth. But the Scotish writers +make other report of this matter, as in the historie of Scotland ye maie find recorded.</p> +<p> +The Britains that dwelt about Chester, through their stoutnesse prouoked the aforesaid +Edelferd king of the Northumbers vnto warre: wherevpon to tame their loftie stomachs, he +assembled an armie & came forward to besiege the citie of Chester, then called of the Britains +<span class="leftnote">Chester as yet in possession of the Britains. <br /><i>I. Leland. <br />Wil. Malm.</i></span> +Carleon ardour deué. The citizens coueting rather to suffer all things than a siege, +and hauing a trust in their great multitude of people, came foorth to giue batell abroad in +the fields, whome he compassing about with ambushes, got within his danger, and easilie +discomfited.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Beda.</i></span> +It chanced that he had espied before the battell ioined (as Beda saith) where a great number +of the British priests were got aside into a place somewhat out of danger, that they +might there make their intercession to God for the good spéed of their people, being then +readie to giue battell to the Northumbers. Manie of them were of that famous monasterie +<span class="rightnote">The number of moonks in the monasterie of Bangor.</span> +of Bangor, in the which it is said, that there was such a number of moonks, that where +they were diuided into seuen seuerall parts, with their seuerall gouernors appointed to haue +rule ouer them, euerie of those parts conteined at the least thrée hundred persons, the which +liued altogither by the labour of their hands. Manie therefore of those moonks hauing +kept a solemne fast for thrée daies togither, were come to the armie with other to make +<span class="rightnote">Brocmale.</span> +praier, hauing for their defender one Brocmale or Broemael, earle (or consull as some call +him) of Chester, which should preserue them (being giuen to praier) from the edge of the +enimies swoord.</p> +<p> +King Edelferd hauing (as is said) espied these men, asked what they were, and what their +intent was; and being informed of the whole circumstance and cause of their being there, +he said; "Then if they call to their God for his assistance against vs, suerlie though they +beare no armour, yet doo they fight against vs, being busied in praier for our destruction." +<span class="rightnote">The Britains discomfited & slaine.</span> +Wherevpon he commanded the first onset to be giuen them, and after slue downe the residue +of the British armie, not without great losse of his owne people. Of those moonks +and priests which came to praie (as before is mentioned) there died at that battell about +the number of 12 hundred, so that fiftie of them onelie escaped by flight. Brocmale, or +Broemael at the first approch of the enimies, turning his backe with his companie, left them +(whom he should haue defended) to be murthered through the enimies swoord. Thus +was the prophesie of Augustine fulfilled, though he was long before departed this life (as +Beda saith.)</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Henr. Hunt.</i></span> +¶ Héere is to be noted, if this battell was fought in the seuenth yéere of Ceowlfe king<span class="page"><a name="page599" id="page599"></a>[Page 599]</span> +of Westsaxon (as some haue written) and that Augustine liued 12 yéeres after his entrance +into the gouernment of the sée of Canturburie (as some write) it is euident that he liued +foure yéeres after this slaughter made of the British priests and moonks by Edelferd (as before +is recited.) For Ceowlfe began his reigne (as before is mentioned) about the yéere of +our Lord 596, and in the seuenth yeere of his reigne the battell was fought at Degsastane +<span class="rightnote"><i>W. Harison.</i></span> +betwixt the English & the Scots, which chanced in the yéere of our Lord 604, as Beda +himselfe recordeth. A late chronographer running vpon this matter, and preciselie setting +downe his collection, saith that Athelbright, or Edelfride, K. of the Northumbers, & Ethelbert +K. of Kent, hauing Augustine in their companie, in the eight yéere after his arriuall, +made warre vpon such Britains as refused to obserue the canons of the late councell mentioned +603, and killed 1200 moonks of the monasterie of Bangor, which laboured earnestlie, +and in the sweat of their browes, thereby to get their liuings, &c. Verelie Galf. Mon. +writeth, that Ethelbert king of Kent (after he saw the Britains to disdaine and denie their +subiection vnto Augustine, by whome he was conuerted to the christian faith) stirred vp +<span class="rightnote"><i>Acts and monuments, pag. 160</i></span> +Edelferd king of the Northumbers to warre against the Britains. But heereof Maister Fox +doubteth, and therefore saith, that of vncerteine things he hath nothing certeinlie to saie, +much lesse to iudge. But now to the matter where we left.</p> +<p> +After that king Edelferd had made slaughter of the Britains (as before is rehearsed) he +entred the citie of Chester, and from thence marched towards Bangor. The Britains in the +<span class="rightnote">Blederike duke of Cornwall, Margadud king of Southwales, Cadwane k. of Northwales.</span> +meane time had assembled their power vnder thrée capteins, that is to say, Blederike duke +of Cornewall, Margadud king of Southwales, and Cadwane king of Northwales. These +ioining in battell with Edelferd, slue 10066 of his souldiers, and constreined him to flée out +of the field for safegard of his life, after he had receiued manie wounds. On the part of +<span class="leftnote"><i>Galf. Mon.</i></span> +the Britains the forsaid Blederike, which was chiefe capteine of the field in that battell, +chanced to be slaine. Thus saith Gal. Mon.</p> +<p> +But the ancient writers of the English kings (as Beda, William Malmesburie, and Henrie +Huntington), make no mention of this last battell and victorie obteined by the Britains in +maner as aboue is expressed in Galfrids booke. But contrarilie we find, that Edelferd hauing +such good successe in his businesse abroad as he could wish, vpon purpose to auoid +<span class="rightnote">Edwine the sonne of king Alla banished.</span> +danger at home, banished Edwine the sonne of Alla or Elle, a yoong gentleman of great +towardnesse, latelie come to the kingdome of the Northumbers by the death of his father. +But this Edwine in time of his exile, being long tossed from place to place, and finding no +stedfast friendship now in time of his aduersitie, at length came to Redwald, that was king +at that time of the Eastangles, the third from Vffa, and successor to Titullus, which Titullus +<span class="rightnote">592.</span> +did succéed next after the said Vffa, the first king of Eastangles (as before is mentioned.) +<span class="leftnote">Edelferd.</span> +This Redwald did verie honourablie interteine Edwine, insomuch that Edelferd being informed +thereof, was highlie displeased, and sent ambassadors vnto Redwald, to require him +either to deliuer Edwine into his hands, or else if he refused so to doo, to declare and denounce +vnto him open warres.</p> +<p> +Redwald incouraged by his wife (that counselled him in no wise to betraie his friend, +to whome he had giuen his faith, for the menaces of his enimie) assembled foorthwith an +armie, and at the sudden comming vpon Edelferd, assaulted him yer he could haue time +<span class="rightnote">542.</span> +to assemble his people togither. But yet the said Edelferd, though he was beset and brought +<span class="leftnote"><i>H. Hunt.</i></span> +in danger at vnwares, died not vnreuenged: for putting himselfe in defense with such power +as he could then get togither, he boldlie incountred the enimies, and giuing battell, slue +<span class="rightnote">Ethelferd slaine.</span> +Remerius the sonne of Redwald, and after was slaine himselfe, hauing reigned ouer the +Northumbers about 22 yéeres. This battell was fought néere to the water of Idle.</p> +<p> +The said Edelferd had issue by his wife Acca, the daughter of Alla, and sister to Edwine, +two sonnes, Oswald being about two yéeres of age, and Oswin about foure yéeres, the +<span class="rightnote"><i>Hen. Hunt. Matt. West.</i> saith 34.</span> +which (their father being thus slaine) were by helpe of their gouernours conueied awaie +into Scotland with all spéed that might be made. Ceowlfe king of the Westsaxons, after +he had reigned the space of 12 yeeres, departed this life, who in his time had mainteined<span class="page"><a name="page600" id="page600"></a>[Page 600]</span> +<span class="leftnote"><br />The Southsaxons susteine the greater losse.</span> +great warre against manie of his neighbours, the which for briefenesse I passe ouer. One +great battell he fought against them of Sussex, in which the armies on both sides sustained +great damage, but the greater losse fell to the Southsaxons.</p> + + <hr /><br /><br /> + <a name="xxiij5" id="xxiij5"></a> +<p> +<i>Cinegiscus and his sonne Richelinus reigne iointlie ouer the Westsaxons, they fight with the +Britains; the indeuour of Laurence archbishop of Cantrburie in setting religion at large, +and seeking a vniformitie in catholike orders, he and his fellow-bishops write to the +cleargie of Britaine and Scotland for a reformation, Melitus bishop of London goeth to +Rome, the cause why, and what he brought at his returns from pope Boniface.</i></p> + +<h3>THE XXIIJ CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">CINEGISCUS.</span> +After the foresaid Ceowlfe reigned Cinegiscus, or Kingils, which was the sonne of Ceola, +which was the sonne of Cutha or Cutwin, which was the sonne of Kenricke, which was the sonne +of king Certicke. In the fourth yéere of his reigne, he receiued into fellowship with him in gouernance +<span class="leftnote"><i> Wil. Malm.</i> saith that Onichelinus was the brother of Cinegiscus</span> +of the kingdome his sonne Richelinus, or Onichelinus, and so they reigned iointlie +togither in great loue and concord (a thing seldome séene or heard of.) They fought with +<span class="rightnote">Beandune or Beanton.</span> +the Britains at Beandune, where at the first approch of the battels togither, the Britains fled, +but too late, for there died of them that were ouertaken 2062.</p> +<p> +<span class="leftnote"><i>Beda lib. 2 cap. 4</i>.</span> +In this meane time, Laurence archbishop of Canturburie, who succéeded next after Augustine, +admitted thereto by him in his life time (as before is said) did his indeuour to augment +and bring to perfection the church of England, the foundation whereof was latelie laid by his +predecessor the foresaid Augustine: who studied not onelie for the increase of this new church, +which was gathered of the English people, but also he was busie to imploie his pastorlike +cure vpon the people that were of the old inhabitants of Britaine, and likewise of the Scots that +remained in Ireland. For when he had learned that the Scots there, in semblable wise as +the Britains in their countrie, led not their liues in manie points according to the ecclesiasticall +rules, as well in obseruing the feast of Easter contrarie to the vse of the Romane +church, as in other things, he wrote vnto those Scots letters exhortatorie, requiring them +most instantlie to an vnitie of catholike orders as might be agréeable with the church of +Christ, spred and dispersed through the world. These letters were not written onelie in +his owne name, but iointlie togither in the name of the bishops Melitius and Iustus, (as +followeth.)</p> +<p> +"<i>To our deare brethren the bishops and abbats through all Scotland, Laurence, Melitus and +Iustus bishops, the seruants of the seruants of God wish health.</i></p> +<p> +"Whereas the apostolike see (according to hir maner) had sent vs to preach vnto the +heathen people in these west parts, as otherwise throgh the world, and that it chanced to vs +to enter into this Ile which is called Britaine, before we knew & vnderstood the state of +things, we had in great reuerence both the Scots & Britains, which beléeued, bicause (as +we tooke the matter) they walked according to the custome of the vniuersall church: but +after we had knowledge of the Britains, we iudged the Scots to be better. But we haue +learned by bishop Daganus comming into this Ile, and by Columbanus the abbat comming +into France, that the Scots nothing differ in their conuersation from the Britains: for bishop +Daganus comming vnto vs, would neither eat with vs, no nor yet come within the house +where we did eat."</p> +<p> +The said Laurence also with his fellow-bishops, did write to the Britains other letters<span class="page"><a name="page601" id="page601"></a>[Page 601]</span> +woorthie of his degrée, dooing what he could to confirme them in the vnitie of the Romane +church: but it profited litle, as appeareth by that which Beda writeth. About the same time +Melitus the bishop of London went to Rome, to common with pope Boniface, for necessarie +causes touching the church of England, and was present at a synod holden by the same +pope at that season, for ordinances to be made touching the state of religious men, and sate +in the same synod, that with subscribing he might also by his authoritie confirme that which +was there orderlie decréed. This synod was holden the third kalends of March, in the last +yéere of the emperour Phocas, which was about the yeere after the birth of our Sauiour 610. +Melitus at his returne brought with him from the pope, decrees commanded by the said pope +to be obserued in the English church, with letters also directed to archbishop Laurence, and +to king Ethelbert.</p> + + <hr /><br /><br /> + <a name="xxiiij5" id="xxiiij5"></a> +<p> +<i>Cadwan is made king of the Britains in the citie of Chester, he leuieth a power against +Ethelfred king of the Northumbers, couenants of peace passe betwixt them vpon condition, +the death of Ethelbert king of Kent, where he and his wife were buried, of his lawes; +Eadbald succeedeth Ethelbert in the Kentish kingdome, his lewd and vnholie life, he is an +enimie to religion; he is plagued with madnesse; Hebert king of the Eastsaxons dieth, his +thre sonnes refuse to be baptised, they fall to idolatrie and hate the professours of the +truth, their irreligious talke and vndutifull behauiour to bishop Melitus, he and his fellow +Iustus passe ouer into France, the three sonnes of Hebert are slaine of the Westsaxons in +battell, the Estsaxons by their idolatrie prouoke archbishop Laurence to forsake the land, +he is warned in a vision to tarie, whereof he certifieth king Eadbald, who furthering +christianitie, sendeth for Melitus and Iustus, the one is restored to his see, the other reiected, +Melitus dieth, Iustus is made archbishop of Canturburie, the christian faith +increaseth.</i></p> + +<h3>THE XXIIIJ CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">CADWAN king of Britaine</span> +After that the Britains had cōtinued about the space almost of 24 yéeres without anie one +speciall gouernour, being led by sundrie rulers, euer sithens that Careticus was constreined to +flée ouer Seuerne, and fought oftentimes not onelie against the Saxons, but also one of them +<span class="leftnote">613</span> +against another, at length in the yéere of our Lord 613, they assembled in the citie of Chester, +and there elected Cadwan that before was ruler of Northwales, to haue the souereigne rule +& gouernement ouer all their nation, and so the said Cadwan began to reigne as king of +Britaine in the said yéere 613. But some authors say, that this was in the yéere 609, in +which yéere Careticus the British king departed this life. And then after his deceasse the +Britains or Welshmen (whether we shall call them) chose Cadwan to gouerne them in the +foresaid yéere 609, which was in the 7 yéere of the emperour Phocas, and the 21 of the +second Lotharius king of France, and in the 13 yéere of Kilwoolfe king of the Westsaxons.</p> +<p> +This Cadwan being established king, shortlie after assembled a power of Britains, and went +against the foresaid Ethelfred king of Northumberland, who being thereof aduertised, did +associate to him the most part of the Saxon princes, and came foorth with his armie to méet +Cadwan in the field. Herevpon as they were readie to haue tried the matter by battell, certeine +of their friends trauelled so betwixt them for peace, that in the end they brought them +<span class="rightnote"><i>Gal. Mon.</i></span> +to agréement, so that Ethelfred should kéepe in quiet possession those his countries beyond +the riuer of Humber, and Cadwan should hold all that which of right belonged to the Britains +on the southside of the same riuer. This couenant with other touching their agréement was<span class="page"><a name="page602" id="page602"></a>[Page 602]</span> +confirmed with oths solemnelie taken, and pledges therewith deliuered, so that afterwards +they continued in good and quiet peace, without vexing one an other.</p> +<p> +What chanced afterward to Ethelfred, ye haue before heard rehersed, which for that it +soundeth more like to a truth than that which followeth in the British booke, we omit to +make further rehersall, passing forward to other dooings which fell in the meane season, +whilest this Cadwan had gouernement of the Britains, reigning as king ouer them the tearme +<span class="rightnote"><i>Iohn Hard.</i></span> +of 22 or (as some say) but 13 yéeres, and finallie was slaine by the Northumbers, as before +hath béene, and also after shall be shewed.</p> +<p> +In the 8 yéere after that Cadwan began to reigne, Ethelbert king of Kent departed this +life, in the 21 yéere after the comming of Augustine with his fellowes to preach the faith of +Christ here in this realme: and after that Ethelbert had reigned ouer the prouince of Kent the +tearme of 56 yéeres (as Beda saith, but there are that haue noted thrée yéers lesse) he departed +<span class="rightnote"><i>Wil. Malm. Beda li. 2. cap. 5.</i></span> +this world, as aboue is signified, in the yeere of our Lord 617, on the 24 day of Februarie, +and was buried in the Ile of saint Martine, within the church of the apostles Peter and Paule, +without the citie of Canturburie, where his wife quéene Bartha was also buried, and the foresaid +archbishop Augustine that first conuerted him to the faith.</p> +<p> +Amongst other things, this king Ethelbert with the aduise of his councell ordeined diuers +lawes and statutes, according to the which decrées of iudgements should passe: those +decrées he caused to be written in the English toong, which remained and were in force +vnto the daies of Beda, as he declareth. And first it was expressed in those lawes, what +amends he should make that stole anie thing that belonged to the church, to the bishop, or +to anie ecclesiasticall person, willing by all means to defend them whose doctrine he had receiued.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">EADBALD.</span> +After the deceasse of Etthelbert, his sonne Eadbald succéeded in the gouernment of his +kingdome of Kent, the which was a great hinderer of the increase of the new church amongst +the Englishmen in those parties: for he did not onelie refuse to be baptised himselfe, but +also vsed such kind of fornication, as hath not béene heard (as the apostle saith) amongst +the Gentiles, for he tooke to wife his mother in law, that had béene wife to his father. By +<span class="rightnote">The princes example occasion of euill.</span> +which two euill examples, manie tooke occasion to returne to their heathenish religion, the +which whilest his father reigned, either for the prince his pleasure, or for feare to offend him, +did professe the christian faith. But Eadbald escaped not woorthie punishment to him sent +from the liuing God for his euill deserts, insomuch that he was vexed with a certeine kind of +madnesse, and taken with an vncleane spirit.</p> +<p> +The foresaid storme or vnquiet troubling of the christian congregation, was afterwards +greatlie increased also by the death of Sabert or Sebert king of the Eastsaxons, who was conuerted +to the faith of Christ, and baptized by Melitus bishop of London (as before is mentioned) +& departing this life to go to a better in the blissefull kingdome of heauen, he left +behind him thrée sonnes as true successours in the estate of his earthlie kingdome, which +<span class="rightnote"><i>Ran. Cest. <br />Beda li. 2. cap. 5.</i> <br />Serred, Seward, and Sigebert, the sonnes of Sabert.</span> +sonnes likewise refused to be baptised. Their names were Serred, Seward, & Sigebert, men +of an ill mind, & such as in whome no vertue remained, no feare of God, nor anie respect of +religion, but speciallie hating the professours of the christian faith. For after their father was +dead, they began to fall to their old idolatrie, which in his life time they séemed to haue giuen +ouer, insomuch that now they openlie worshipped idols, and gaue libertie to their subiects to +do the like.</p> +<p> +And when the bishop Melitus, at the solemnizing of masse in the church, distributed the +eucharisticall bread vnto the people, they asked him (as it is said) wherfore he did not deliuer +of that bright white bread vnto them also, as well as he had béene accustomed to doo to +their father Saba (for so they vsed to call him.) Vnto whome the bishop made this answer: "If +you will be washed in that wholesome fountaine, wherein your father was washed, ye may +be partakers of that holie bread whereof he was partaker, but if you despise the washpoole of<span class="page"><a name="page603" id="page603"></a>[Page 603]</span> +life, ye may by no meanes tast the bread of saluation." But they offended herewith, replied in +this wise: "We will not enter into that fountaine, for we know we haue no néed thereof: +but yet neuerthelesse we will be refreshed with that bread."</p> +<p> +After this, when they had beene earnestlie and manie times told, that vnlesse they would +be baptised, they might not be partakers of the sacred oblation: at length in great displeasure +they told him, that if he would not consent vnto them in so small a matter, there should be no +place for him within the bounds of their dominion, and so he was constrained to depart. +Wherevpon he being expelled, resorted into Kent, there to take aduise with his fellow-bishops, +Laurence and Iustus, what was to be doone in this so weightie a matter. Who +finallie resolued vpon this point, that it should be better for them to returne into their countrie, +where with frée minds they might serue almightie God, rather than to remaine amongest +people that rebelled against the faith, without hope to doo good amongest them. Wherefore +Melitus and Iustus did depart first, and went ouer into France, minding there to abide +till they might sée what the end would be. But shortlie after, those brethren the kings of +Essex, which had expelled their bishop in maner aboue said, suffered woorthilie for their +wicked dooings. For going forth to battell against the Westsaxons, they were ouerthrowen +<span class="rightnote">The sonne of king Sebert slaine.</span> +and slaine altogither with all their armie, by the two kings Kinigils and Quichelme. But +neuerthelesse, albeit the authors of the mischiefe were thus taken awaie, yet the people of +that countrie would not be reduced againe from their diuelish woorshipping of false gods, +being eftsoones fallen thereto in that season by the incouragement and perilous example of +their rulers. Wherefore the archbishop Laurence was in mind also to follow his fellowes +Melitus and Iustus: but when he minded to set forward, he was warned in a dreame, and +cruellie scourged (as hath béene reported by the apostle saint Peter, who reprooued him) for +that he would so vncharitablie forsake his flocke, & leaue it in danger without a shepherd +to kéepe the woolfe from the fold.</p> +<p> +The archbishop imboldned by this vision, and also repenting him of his determination, came +to king Eadbald, and shewed to him his stripes, and the maner of his dreame. The king +being herewith put in great feare, renounced his heathenish worshipping of idols, and was +baptised, and as much as in him laie, from thenceforth succoured the congregation of the +christians, and aduanced the church to his power. He sent also into France, and called home +the bishops Melitus and Iustus, so that Iustus was restored to his sée of Rochester.</p> +<p> +But the Eastsaxons would not receiue Melitus to his sée at London, but continued in their +wicked mawmetrie, in obeieng a bishop of their pagan law, whom they had erected for that +purpose. Neither was king Eadbald of that authoritie and power in those parties, as his father +was before, whereby he might constreine them to receiue their lawfull bishop. But +suerlie the said king Eadbald with his people, after he was once conuerted againe, gaue himselfe +wholie to obeie the lawes of GOD, and amongt other déeds of godlie zeale, he builded a +<span class="rightnote"><i>Beda lib. 2.</i></span> +church to our ladie at Canturburie, within the monasterie of saint Peter, afterwards called +saint Agnes. This church was consecrated by Melitus, who after the death of Laurence succéeded +in gouernance of the archbishops sée of Canturburie. After Melitus, who departed +<span class="rightnote"><i>Beda. lib. 2. ca. 8.</i></span> +this life in the yeare of our Lord 624, Iustus that before was bishop of Rochester, was made +archbishop of Canturburie, and ordeined one Romanus to the sée of Rochester. About that +time, the people of the north parts beyond Humber receiued the faith, by occasion (as after +shall appéere.)</p> + +<hr /><br /><br /> +<a name="xxv5" id="xxv5"></a> +<span class="page"><a name="page604" id="page604"></a>[Page 604]</span> +<p> +<i>Edwin reigneth ouer the Northumbers, his great power and reputation, a marriage betweene +him and Ethelburga the sister of king Eadbald vpon religious couenants, the +traitorous attempts of murtherous Eumerus against him, his wife Ethelburga is deliuered +of a daughter, he assalteth the Westsaxons, and discomfiteth them, Boniface the fift +writeth to him to desist from his idolatrie, and to his ladie to persist in true christianitie; +the vision of Edwin when he was a banished man in the court of Redwald king of the +Eastangles, whereby he was informed of his great exaltation and conuersion to christian +religion.</i></p> + +<h3>THE XXV CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +Ye haue heard how Edelfred the king of Northumberland was slaine in battell neere to +the water of Idel by Redwald king of the Eastangles, in fauour of Edwin whom the said +Edelfred had confined out of his dominion, 24 yéeres before. The foresaid Redwald therefore +hauing obteined that victorie, found meanes to place Edwin in gouernement of that +kingdome of the Northumbers, hauing a title thereto as sonne to Alla or Elle, sometime +<span class="rightnote">EDWIN.</span> +<span class="leftnote"><i>Beda. lib. 2. ca. 5.</i></span> +king of Northumberland. This Edwin prooued a right valiant prince, & grew to be of +more power than anie other king in the daies of the English nation: not onelie ruling ouer +a great part of the countries inhabited with English men, but also with Britains, who inhabited +not onelie in Wales, but in part of Chesshire, Lancashire, Cumberland, and alongst +by the west sea-coast in Galloway, and so foorth euen vnto Dunbritaine in Scotland: which +I haue thought good to note, that it may appeare in what countries Cadwallo bare rule, of +whome so often mention is made in this part of the historie. But as concerning Edwin, his +reputation was such, as not onelie the English men, Britains and Scots, but also the Iles of +<span class="rightnote"><i>W. Malm.</i> taketh Meuania to be Anglesey.</span> +Orknie, and those of Man, and others the west Iles of ancient time called Meuaniæ, had +him in reuerence, and feared his mightie power, so as they durst not attempt anie exploit to +offend him.</p> +<p> +It chanced that shortlie after, king Redwald had aduanced him to the kingdom of Northumberland, +to wit, about 6 yeares, the same Redwald deceassed, which made greatlie for +the more augmentation of Edwins power. For the people of the Eastangles, which (whilest +Edwin remained amongst them as a banished man) had conceiued a good opinion of him for +his approoued valiancie and noble courage, offered themselues to be wholie at his commandement. +<span class="rightnote">Carpwaldus.</span> +But Edwin suffering Carpwald or Erpwald the sonne of Redwald to inioie the bare +title and name of the king of that countrie, ruled all things at his owne will and pleasure. +Neither was there anie prouince within Britaine that did not obeie him, or was not readie to +doo him seruice (the kingdome of Kent onelie excepted) for he suffered the Kentishmen to +liue in quiet, because he began to haue a liking to the sister of king Eadbald, namelie the +ladie Ethelburga, otherwise called Tate or Tace.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Beda. lib. 2. cap. 9.</i></span> +He made request therefore by sending ambassadours to hir brother, to haue the said ladie +in marriage, and at length obteined hir, with condition that she being a christian woman, +might not onelie vse the christian religion, but also that all those, whether men or women, +priests or ministers, which came with hir, might haue licence to doo the same, without trouble +or impeachment of anie maner of person. Herevpon she being sent vnto him, there was appointed +<span class="rightnote"><i>Matth. West.</i><br /><i>Beda. lib. 2. cap. 9.</i><br />625.</span> +to go with hir (besides manie other) one Pauline, which was consecrated bishop by the +archbishop Iustus the 21 of Iulie, in the yeare of our Lord 625, who at his comming into +Northumberland thus in companie with Ethelburga, trauelled earnestlie in his office, both to +preserue hir and such christians in the faith of Christ, as were appointed to giue their attendance +on hir, least they should chance to fall: and also sought to win some of the Pagans (if it +were possible) vnto the same faith, though at the first he little profited in that matter.</p> +<p> +In the yeare following, there came a murtherer vnto the court of king Edwin, as then +soiourning in a palace which stood vpon the side of the riuer of Dorwent, being sent from +Quichelme king of the Westsaxons, to the intent to murther Edwin, because he had of late<span class="page"><a name="page605" id="page605"></a>[Page 605]</span> +sore damnified the countries of the Westsaxons. This murtherer was called Eumerus, & +<span class="rightnote">Other say an axe, as <br /><i>Matth. West.</i> <br />Emmerus.</span> +caried vnder his coate a shost double edged woodknife inuenomed of purpose, that if the +king being but a little hurt therewith, should not die of the wound, yet he should not +escape the danger of the poison. This Eumerus on Easter mondaie came to the king, and +making foorth to him as it had béene to haue declared some message from his maister, when +he had espied his time, drew his weapon, and offered to strike the king. But one of the kings +seruants named Lilla, perceiuing this, stept betwixt the king and the blow. Howbeit the +murtherer set the stripe forward with such force, that the knife running through the bodie of +Lilla wounded also the king a little: and before this murtherer could be beaten downe, he +slue another of the kings seruants, a knight that attended vpon him, called Fordher.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">Eaufled borne.</span> +The same night Ethelburga was deliuered of a daughter named Eaufled, for the which +when king Edwin gaue thanks vnto his gods, in the presence of bishop Pauline, the bishop +did admonish him, rather to giue thanks vnto the true and onelie God, by whose goodnesse +it came to passe that the queene was safelie and without danger deliuered. The king giuing +good eare vnto the bishops wholesome admonition, promised at that present to become a +Christian, if he might reuenge his injuries receiued at the hands of the Westsaxons. And +to assure Pauline that his promise should take place, he gaue vnto him his new borne +daughter to be made holie to the Lord, that is to say, baptised. The bishop receiuing +hir, on Whitsundaie next following baptised hir, with twelue other of the kings houshold, +she being the first of the English Northumbers that was so washed in the founteine of regeneration.</p> +<p> +In the meane time K. Edwin being recouered of his hurt, assembled an armie, and went +against the Westsaxons, with whome incountring in battell, he either slue or brought to his +subiection all them that had conspired his death, and so returned as a conquerour into his +countrie. But yet he delaied time in performance of his promise to become a Christian: +howbeit he had left his dooing of sacrifice to idols, euer since he made promise to be baptised. +He was a sage prince, and before he would alter his religion, he politikelie thought +good to heare matters touching both his old religion, and the Christian religion throughlie +examined.</p> +<p> +Now whilest he thus hoong in doubt vnto whether part he should incline, there came +<span class="rightnote"><i> Beda. lib. 2, cap. 10.</i></span> +letters to him from pope Boniface the fift of that name, exhorting him by sundrie kinds of +gentle perswasions, to turne to the worshipping of the true and liuing God, and to renounce +worshipping of mawmets and idols. The pope wrote also to quéene Ethelburga, praieng +<span class="leftnote"><i>Beda. lib. 2, cap. 11.</i></span> +hir to continue in hir good purpose, and by all meanes possible to doo what might be doone +for the conuerting of hir husband vnto the faith of Christ. But the thing that most mooued +<span class="rightnote">A vision.</span> +the king, was a vision which sometime he had while he remained as a banished man in the +court of Redwald king of the Eastangles, as thus.</p> +<p> +<span class="leftnote"><i>Beda. cap.</i> 12.</span> +After that king Ethelfred was informed that the foresaid Redwald had receiued Edwin, he +ceased not by his ambassadours to moue Redwald either to deliuer Edwin into his hands, or +to make him awaie. At length by often sending, & promises made of large summes of +monie, mixed with threatnings, he obteined a grant of his sute, so that it was determined +that Edwin should either be murthered, or else deliuered into his enimies hands. One of +Edwins friends hauing intelligence hereof, in the night season came to Edwins chamber, and +leading him abroad, told him the whole practise, and what was purposed against him, offering +to helpe him out of the countrie, if he would so aduenture to escape. Edwin being +<span class="rightnote">The honorable consideration of Edwin.</span> +woonderouslie amazed, thanked his friend, but refused to depart the countrie, sith he had +no iust cause outwardlie giuen to play such a slipper part, choosing rather to ieopard his life +with honour, than to giue men cause to thinke that he had first broken promise with such a +prince as Redwald was, to whome he had giuen his faith.</p> +<p> +Herevpon his friend departing from him, left him sitting without the doores: where after +he had reuolued manie things in his mind, and thought long vpon this matter, at length he +perceiued one to come towards him vnknowne, and in strange apparell, séeming to him in<span class="page"><a name="page606" id="page606"></a>[Page 606]</span> +euerie point a stranger, at which sight (for that he could not imagine who it should be) Edwin +was much afraid: but the man comming to him saluted him, and asked of him what he +made there at that time of the night when other were at rest. Edwin on the other part +asked what he had to doo therewith, and whether he vsed to lie abroad in the night, or +within house? Who answering said; Thinke not Edwin that I am ignorant of thy heauinesse, +of thy watchings, and this thy solitarie sitting here without doores. For I know who +thou art, wherefore thou art thus pensiue, and what euils thou fearest to be towards thée at +hand. But tell me, what wouldest thou giue him, that could deliuer thée out of this heauinesse, +and perswade Redwald that he should neither doo thée hurt, nor deliuer thée to thine +enimies? Here with when Edwin said that he would gladlie giue all that in him might lie to +such a one in reward: The other said; What wouldst thou giue then, if he should promise +in good sooth that (all thine enimies being destroied) thou shouldest be king, and that +thou shouldest passe in power all the kings which haue reigned in the English nation before +thy time? Edwin being better come to himselfe by such demandes, did not sticke to promise +that he would requite his friendship with woorthie thanks.</p> +<p> +Then replied he to his words and said; If he that shall prophesie to thée this good hap to +come, shall also be able to informe thee in such counsell for thy health and life, as neuer anie +of thy forefathers or kinsfolke yet haue heard, wouldest thou obey him, and also consent to +receiue his wholesome aduertisement? Wherevnto without further deliberation Edwin promised, +that he would in all points follow the instruction of him that should deliuer him out +of so manie and great calamities, and bring him to the rule of a kingdome. Which answere +being got, this person that thus talked with him, laid his hand vpon his head, saieng: +When this therefore shall chance to thée, be not forgetfull of this time, nor of this communication, +and those things that thou now dooest promise, sée thou performe. And therewith +he vanished awaie. So that Edwin might well perceiue it was no man but a vision that +thus had appeared vnto him.</p> +<p> +[¶ This vnaccustomed course it pleased God to vse for the conuersion of the king (to +whose example it was no doubt but the people and inferiour sort would generallie be conformed) +who otherwise had continued in paganisme and blind ignorance both of Gods truth +and true christianitie. And it maie be that there was in him, as in other kings his predecessors, +a settled perswasion in gentilish error, so that neither by admonition nor preaching +(though the same had procéeded from the mouth of one allotted to that ministerie) he was to +be reuoked from the infidelitie and misbeléefe wherein he was nuzzeled and trained vp. +For it is the nature of all men, to be addicted to the obseruation of such rites and customes +as haue béene established and left in force by their progenitors, and sooner to stand vnto a +desire and earnest purpose of adding somewhat to their elders corrupt constitutions, and irreligious +course of conuersation, than to be inclinable to anie article or point tending to innouation: +so inflexible is the posteritie to swarue from the traditions of antiquitie, stand the same +vpon neuer so grosse and palpable absurdities.]</p> +<p> +Edwin still reioising in the foresaid comfortable talke, but thoughtfull in mind what he +should be, or from whence he came that had talked in this sort with him; behold his friend +returned that first had brought him foorth of his chamber, and declared vnto him good +newes, how the king by perswasion of the quéene had altered his determination, and minded +to mainteine his quarell to the vttermost of his power: and so he did in déed. For with all +diligence he raised an armie, and went against Ethelfrid, vanquished him in battell, and +placed Edwin in the kingdome (as before ye haue heard.)</p> + + <hr /><br /><br /> +<a name="xxvj5" id="xxvj5"></a> +<p> +<span class="page"><a name="page607" id="page607"></a>[Page 607]</span> +<i>King Edwin is put in mind of his vision by Pauline who sawe the same in spirit, he is +licenced to preach the gospell, bishop Coifi destroieth the idols, Edwin and his people +receiue the Christian faith, his two sonnes Osfride and Eadfride become conuerts, Redwald +king of the Eastangles is baptised, he serueth God and the diuell, Sibert receiueth the +faith, Felix bishop of Burgongne commeth ouer to Honorius archbishop of Canturburie, +he preacheth to the Eastangles, the Northumbers and Lincolnshiremen are conuerted +manie are baptised in the riuer of Trent; king Edwins iustice how effectuall and commendable, +his care for the common-wealth, his prouidence for the refection of trauellers, +pope Honorius confirmeth Pauline archbishop of Yorke, the tenor of his letters touching +the mutuall election of the archbishop of Canturburie and Yorke, if either of them happened +to suruiue other, his letters to the Scots touching the keeping of Easter and avoiding +the Pelagian heresie, Cadwallo king of Britaine rebelleth against Edwin, Penda +king of Mercia enuieth his good estate, Cadwallo and Penda inuade Northumberland, +Edwin and his sonne Osfride are slaine, Penda putteth his other sonne Eadfride cruellie to death.</i></p> + +<h3>THE XXVJ CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +Notwithstanding the former vision, king Edwin deferred time yer he would receiue +the Christian faith, in somuch that Pauline vpon a daie came vnto him as he sat +musing what he were best to doo, and laid his hand vpon his head, asking him if he knew +that signe. Whereat when the king would haue fallen downe at his féet, he lifted him vp, +and as it were in familiar wise thus said vnto him: "Behold, by the assistance of Gods fauour +thou hast escaped the hands of thine enimies, whome thou stoodst in feare of: behold +through his bountious liberalitie, thou hast obteined the kingdome which thou diddest desire, +remember then that thou delaie no time to performe the third thing that thou diddest promise, +in receiuing his faith, and kéeping his commandements, which deliuering thée from worldlie +aduersities, hath thus aduanced thée to the honor of a king: and if from henceforth thou +wilt obey his will, which by my mouth hée setteth and preacheth to thée and others, he will +deliuer thée from euerlasting torments, and make thée partaker with him in his celestiall +kingdome." It is to be thought that the vision which the king had in times past receiued, +was in spirit reuealed vnto Pauline, wherevpon without delaie of time, he put him in remembrance +of it in maner as aboue is mentioned.</p> +<p> +The king hauing heard his words, answered, that he would and ought to receiue the +faith which he taught, but first he would conferre with his nobles, and if they would agrée +to doo the like, then would they be baptised altogither at one time. Pauline satisfied herewith, +<span class="rightnote">Edwin consulteth with his nobles.</span> +Edwin did as he had promised, calling togither the wisest men of his realme, and of +them asked the question what they thought of this diuinitie, which was preached vnto them +<span class="leftnote">The answere of an heathen bishop.</span> +by Pauline, vnto whome his chiefe bishop named Coifi, incontinentlie made this answer; that +Suerlie the religion which they had hitherto followed was nothing worth. "For saith he, +there is none of thy people that hath more reuerentlie woorshipped our gods than I haue +doone, and yet be there manie that haue receiued far greater benefits at thy hands than I haue +doone: and therefore if our gods were of anie power, then would they rather helpe me to +high honor and dignitie than others. Therefore if it maie be found that this new religion is +better & more auailable than our old, let vs with spéed imbrace the same."</p> +<p> +Finallie, when other of the kings councell & men of high authoritie gaue their consents, +that this doctrine which Pauline taught ought to be receiued, if therein appeered more certeintie +of saluation than could be found in the other: at length the king gaue licence to +<span class="rightnote">Pauline licenced to preach the gospell.</span> +Pauline openlie to preach the gospell, and renouncing his worshipping of false gods, professed +the Christian faith. And when he demanded of his bishop Coifi who should first +deface the altars of their idols, and the tabernacles wherewith they were compassed about? +He answered, that himselfe would doo it. "For what is more méet (saith he) than that I,<span class="page"><a name="page608" id="page608"></a>[Page 608]</span> +which thorough foolishnesse haue worshipped them, should now for example sake destroie +the same, thorough wisedome giuen me from the true and liuing God?" And streightwaies +throwing awaie the superstition of vanitie, required armour and weapon of the king, with a +stoned horsse, vpon the which he being mounted, rode foorth to destroie the idols.</p> +<p> +This was a strange sight to the people: for it was not lawfull for the bishop of their law to +put on armour, or to ride on anie beast, except it were a mare. He hauing therefore a +swoord gird to him, tooke a speare in his hand, and riding on the kings horsse, went to the +place where the idols stood. The common people that beheld him had thought he had béene +starke mad, and out of his wits: but he without longer deliberation, incontinentlie vpon his +comming to the temple, began to deface the same, and in contempt threw his speare against +it, & reioising greatlie in the knowledge of the worshipping of the true God, commanded +his companie to destroie & burne downe the same temple with all the altars. This place +where the idols were sometime worshipped was not farre from Yorke, towards the east part of +the riuer of Derwent, and is called Gotmundin Gaham, where the foresaid bishop by the +inspiration of God defaced and destroied those altars, which he himselfe had hallowed.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">King Edwin with his people receive the christian faith. <br /><i>Beda. lib. 2. cap. 14.</i> <br />627.</span> +King Edwin therefore with all the nobilitie, and a great number of his people, receiued +the faith and were baptised, in the yéere of our Lord 627, in the tenth yéere of his reigne, +and about the 178 yéere after the first comming of the Englishmen into this land. He was +baptised at Yorke on Easter daie (which fell that yéere the day before the Ides of Aprill) +in the church of S. Peter the apostle, which he had caused to be erected and built vp of +timber vpon the sudden for that purpose, and afterwards began the foundation of the same +church in stone-woorke of a larger compasse, comprehending within it that oratorie which +he had first caused to be built: but before he could finish the woorke, he was slaine (as after +shall be shewed) leauing it to be performed of his successor Oswald.</p> +<p> +Pauline continued from thencefoorth during the kings life, which was six yéeres after, in +preaching the gospell in that prouince, conuerting an innumerable number of people to the +faith of Christ, among whom were Osfride and Eadfride the two sonnes of Edwin, whom +he begot in time of his banishment of his wife Quinburga, the daughter of Cearlus king of +Mercia. Also afterwards he begot children on his second wife Ethelburga, that is to say, a +<span class="rightnote">Ediltrudis.</span> +sonne called Edilhimus, and a daughter named Ediltrudis, and another sonne called Bustfrea, +of the which the two first died in their cradels, and were buried in the church at Yorke. +To be briefe: by the kings assistance & fauour shewed vnto Pauline in the woorke of the +Lord, great multitudes of people dailie receiued the faith, and were baptised of Pauline in +manie places, but speciallie in the riuer of Gleuie within the prouince of Bernicia, and also +in Swale in the prouince of Deira: for as yet in the beginning thus of the church in those +countries, no temples or fonts could be builded or erected in so short a time.</p> +<p> +Of such great zeale was Edwin (as it is reported) towards the setting foorth of Gods truth, +<span class="leftnote">This chanced in the yéere 632, as <i>Matt. West.</i> saith.</span> +that he persuaded Carpwald the sonne of Redwald king of the Eastangles to abandon the +superstitious worshipping of idols, and to receiue the faith of Christ with all his whole prouince. +<span class="rightnote">Redwald king of Eastangles baptised.</span> +His father Redwald was baptised in Kent long before this time, but in vaine: for +returning home, through counsell of his wife and other wicked persons, he was seduced, +and being turned from the sincere puritie of faith, his last dooings were woorse than his first, +<span class="leftnote">Redwald would serve God and the diuell.</span> +so that according to the maner of the old Samaritans, he would séeme both to serue the true +God and his false gods, (whom before time he had serued) and in one selfe church had at +one time both the sacraments of Christ ministred at one altar, and sacrifice made vnto diuels +at another.</p> +<p> +But Carpwald within a while after he had receiued the faith, was slaine by one of his +owne countrimen that was an ethnike, called Richbert, and then after his death, that prouince +<span class="rightnote">Sibert or Sigibert.</span> +for the tearme of thrée yeeres was wrapped eftsoones in errour, till Sibert or Sigibert, +the brother of Carpwald, a most christian prince, and verie well learned, obteined the rule +of that kingdome, who whilest he liued a banished man in France during his brothers +life time, was baptised there, and became a christian: and when he came to be king, he<span class="page"><a name="page609" id="page609"></a>[Page 609]</span> +caused all his prouince to be partaker of the same fountaine of life, wherein he had beene +dipped himselfe.</p> +<p> +Vnto this godlie purpose also, a bishop of the parties of Burgoigne named Felix was a +great furtherer, who comming ouer vnto the archbishop of Canturburie Honorius that was +successor vnto Iustus, and declaring vnto him his earnest desire, was sent by the same archbishop +to preach the woord of life vnto the Eastangles, which he did with such good successe, +that he conuerted the whole countrie to the faith of Iesus Christ, and placed the sée of his +<span class="rightnote">A bishop ordained at Dunwhich.<br /><i>Beda lib 1.cap.16.</i></span> +bishoprike at Dunwich, ending the course of his life there in peace after he had continued +in that his bishoplike office the space of 17 yéeres. Moreouer Pauline, after that he had +conuerted the Northumbers, preached the woord of God vnto them of Lindsey, which is a +part of Lincolnshire: and first he persuaded one Blecca the gouernour of the citie of Lincolne +<span class="rightnote">This chanced in the yéere 628, as <i>Matth. West</i> saith.</span> +to turne vnto Christ, togither with all his familie. In that citie he also builded a church +of stone woorke. Thus Pauline trauelled in the woorke of the Lord, the same being greatlie +furthered by the helpe of Edwin, in whose presence he baptised a great number of people +in the riuer of Trent, néere to a towne, which in the old English toong was called <i>Tio +vulfingacester.</i> This Pauline had with him a deacon named Iames, the which shewed himselfe +verie diligent in the ministerie, and profited greatlie therein.</p> +<p> +But now to returne to king Edwin, who was a prince verelie of woorthie fame, and for +the politike ordering of his countries and obseruing of iustice, deserued highlie to be commended: +for in his time all robbers by the high waie were so banished out of his dominions, +<span class="rightnote"><i> Wil. Malm.</i></span> +that a woman with hir new borne child alone, without other companie, might haue trauelled +from sea to sea, and not haue incountred with anie creature that durst once haue offered hir +iniurie. He was also verie carefull for the aduancement of the commoditie & common wealth +<span class="rightnote"><i>Math. West. Beda lib 2.cap.16</i></span> +of his people, insomuch that where there were any swéet and cleare water-springs, he caused +postes to be set vp, and iron dishes to be fastened thereto with chaines, that waifaring men +might haue the same readie at hand to drinke with: and there was none so hardie as to +touch the same but for that vse. He vsed wheresoeuer he went within the cities or elsewhere +abroad, to haue a banner borne before him, in token of iustice to be ministred by +his roiall authoritie.</p> +<p> +In the meane season, pope Honorius the fift, hearing that the Northumbers had receiued +the faith (as before is mentioned) at the preaching of Pauline, sent vnto the said Pauline the +pall, confirming him archbishop in the sée of Yorke. He sent also letters of exhortation +<span class="rightnote"><i>Beda lib 2.cap. 17.</i></span> +vnto king Edwin, to kindle him the more with fatherlie aduise to continue and procéed in +the waie of vnderstanding, into the which he was entered. At the same time also, bicause +Iustus the archbishop of Canturburie was dead, and one Honorius elected to that sée, pope +Honorius sent to the said elect archbishop of Canturburie his pall, with letters, wherein +<span class="rightnote">A decrée concerning the archbishops of Canturburie and Yorke</span> +was conteined a decrée by him made, that when either the archbishop of Canturburie or +Yorke chanced to depart this life, he that suruiued should haue authoritie to ordeine another +in place of him that was deceassed, that they should not néed to wearie themselues with +going to Rome, being so farre distant from them. The copie of which letter is registred in +the ecclesiasticall historie of Beda, bearing date the third Ides of Iune, in the yéere of our +<span class="leftnote">633.</span> +Lord 633. The same pope sent letters also to the Scotish people, exhorting them to celebrate +<span class="rightnote">The feast of Easter</span> +the feast of Easter in such due time as other churches of the christian world obserued. +<span class="leftnote">The heresie of the Pelagians</span> +And also bicause the heresie of the Pelagians began to renew againe amongst them (as he was +informed) he admonished them to beware thereof, and by all meanes to auoid it. For he +knew that to the office of a pastor it is necessarilie incident, not onelie to exhort, teach, and +shew his sheepe the waies to a christian life, but also stronglie to withstand all such vniust +meanes, as might hinder their procéeding in the truth of religion. For as poison is vnto +the bodie, that is heresie vnto veritie. And as the bodie by poison is disabled from all naturall +faculties, and vtterlie extinguished, vnlesse by present meanes the force thereof be vanquished: +so truth and veritie by errors and heresies is manie times choked and recouereth,<span class="page"><a name="page610" id="page610"></a>[Page 610]</span> +but neuer strangled.</p> +<p> +But now that the kingdome of Northumberland flourished (as before is partlie touched) in +happie state vnder the prosperous reigne of Edwin, at length, after he had gouerned it the +<span class="rightnote">Cadwallin, or Cadwallo king of Britaine.</span> +space of 17 yeeres, Cadwalline, or Cadwallo, king of Britaine, who succeeded Cadwane, +as Gal. Mon. saith, rebelled against him. For so it commeth to passe, that nothing can be +so sure confirmed by mans power, but the same by the like power may be againe destroied. +<span class="rightnote">Penda king of Mercia.</span> +Penda king of Mercia enuieng the prosperous procéedings of Edwin, procured Cadwallo to +mooue this rebellion against Edwin: and ioining his power with Cadwallo, they inuaded the +countrie of Northumberland iointlie togither. Edwin heereof aduertised, gathered his people, +& came to incounter them, so that both armies met at a place called Hatfield, where +<span class="rightnote">King Edwin slaine. <i>Matth. West.</i></span> +was fought a verie sore and bloudie battell. But in the end Edwin was slaine with one of his +sonnes named Osfride, and his armie beaten downe and dispersed. Also there was slaine on +Edwins part, Eodbald king of Orkenie. Moreouer there was an other of Edwins sonnes +named Eadfride constreined of necessitie to giue himselfe into the hands of Penda, and was +after by him cruellie put to death, contrarie to his promised faith in king Oswalds daies that +succéeded Edwin. Thus did king Edwin end his life in that battell, fought at Hatfield +aforesaid, on the fourth ides of October, in the yere of our Lord 633, he being then about +the age of 47 yéeres and vpwards.</p> + + <hr /><br /><br /> +<a name="xxvij5" id="xxvij5"></a> +<p> +<i>The crueltie of Penda and Cadwallo after their victorie, the Britains make no account of +religion, Archbishop Pauline with queen Ethelburga flie out of Northumberland into +Kent, honorable personages accompanie him thither, Romanus bishop of Rochester +drowned, Pauline vndertaketh the charge of that see; Osrilie is king of Deira, and +Eaufride king of Bernicia, both kings become apostatas, and fall frō christianitie to +paganisme, then are both slaine within lesse than a yeeres space; Oswald is created king +of Northumberland, his chiefs practise in feats of armes, Cadwallo king of Britaine +hath him in contempt, Oswalds superstitious deuotion and intercession to God against his +enimies; both kings ioine battell; Cadwallo is slaine, Penda king of Mercia his notable +vertues linked with foule vices, he maketh warre on whome he will without exception.</i></p> + +<h3>THE XXVIJ CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +Cadwallo and Penda haumg obteined the victorie aforsaid, vsed it most cruellie. +For one of the capteins was a pagan, and the other wanting all ciuilitie, shewed himselfe +more cruell than anie pagan could haue doone. So that Penda being a worshipper of false +gods with his people of Mercia, and Cadwallo hauing no respect to the Christian religion +<span class="rightnote">The crueltie of Penda and Cadwallo.</span> +which latelie was begun amongst the Northumbers, made hauocke in all places where they +came, not sparing man, woman nor child: and so continued in their furious outrage a long +time in passing through the countrie, to the great decay and calamitie of the Christian congregations +in those parties. And still the christian Britains were lesse mercifull than Penda +his heathenish souldiers. For euen vnto the daies of Beda (as he affirmeth) the Britains +made no account of the faith or religion of the Englishmen, nor would communicate +with them more than with the pagans, bicause they differed in rites from their accustomed +traditions.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">The archbishop Pauline flieth into Kent.</span> +When the countrie of the Northumbers was brought into this miserable case by the enimies +inuasion, the archbishop Pauline taking with him the quéene Ethelburga, whom he had +brought thither, returned now againe with hir by water into Kent, where he was +receiued of the archbishop Honorius, and king Eadbald. He came thither in the conduct<span class="page"><a name="page611" id="page611"></a>[Page 611]</span> +of one Bassus a valiant man of warre, hauing with him Eaufred the daughter, and Vulfrea +the sonne of Edwin, & also Iffi the sonne of Osfride Edwins sonne, whom their mother +after for feare of the kings Edbold and Oswold did send into France where they died. The +church of Rochester at that time was destitute of a bishop, by the death of Romanus, who +being sent to Rome vnto pope Honorius, was drowned by the way in the Italian seas. Wherevpon +at the request of archbishop Honorius, and king Eadbald, Pauline tooke vpon him the +charge of that sée, and held it till he died.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Beda. lib.3. ca.1.</i> <br />OSRIKE KING OF DEIRA.</span> +After it was knowne that Edwin was slaine in battell (as before ye haue heard) Osrike +the sonne of his vncle Elfrike tooke vpon him the rule of the kingdome of Deira, which +had receiued the sacrament of baptisme by the preaching and vertuous instruction of Pauline. +<span class="leftnote">Eaufrid king of Bernicia.</span> +But the other kingdome of Northumberland called Bernicia, Eaufride the son of Edelferd +or Edelfride, tooke vpon him to gouerne. This Eaufride during the time of Edwins reigne, +had continued in Scotland, and there being conuerted to the Christian faith was baptised. +But both these princes, after they had obteined possession of their earthlie kingdoms, did +forget the care of the heauenlie kingdome, so that they returned to their old kind of idolatrie. +But almightie God did not long suffer this their vnthankefulnesse without iust punishment: +for first in the next summer, when Osrike had rashlie besieged Cadwallo king of the Britains, +within a certeine towne, Cadwallo brake foorth vpon him, and finding him vnprouided to +<span class="rightnote">The two kings of Northumberland slaine.</span> +make resistance, slue him with all his armie. Now after this, whilest Cadwallo not like a +conqueror gouerned the prouinces of the Northumbers, but like a tyrant wasted and destroied +them, in sleaing the people in tragicall maner, he also slue Eaufride, the which with +twelue men of warre came vndiscréetlie vnto him to sue for peace: and thus within lesse than +twelue moneths space both these runagate kings were dispatched.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">OSWALD began his reigne in the yeare 635. <br /><i>Beda. lib.3. cap.3.</i></span> +Then Oswald the sonne of Edelfred, and brother to the foresaid Eaufride was created king +of the Northumbers, the sixt in number from Ida. This Oswald after that his father was +slaine, liued as a banished person a long time within Scotland, where he was baptised, and +professed the Christian religion, and passed the flower of his youth in good exercises, both +of mind & bodie. Amongst other things he practised the vnderstanding of warlike knowledge, +minding so to vse it as it might stand him in stead to defend himselfe from iniurie of +the enimies that should prouoke him, and not otherwise. Herevpō Cadwallo king of the +Britains made in maner no account of him: for by reason that he had atchiued such great +victories against the Englishmen, and hauing slaine their two kings (as before is expressed) +he ceassed not to proceed in his tyrannicall dooings, reputing the English people for slouthfull, +and not apt to the warre, boasting that he was borne to their destruction. Thus being +set vp in pride of courage, he feared no perils, but boldlie (without considering at all the +skilfull knowledge which Oswald had sufficientlie learned in feates of war) tooke vpon him +to assaile the foresaid Oswald, that had brought an armie against him, and was encamped in +a plaine field néere vnto the wall which the Romans had builded in times past against the +inuasion of Scots and Picts.</p> +<p> +Cadwallo streight prouoked Oswald to trie the matter by battell, but Oswald forbare the +first day, and caused a crosse to be erected in the same place where he was incamped, in full +hope that it should be an ensigne or trophie of his victorie, causing all souldiers to make +their praiers to God, that in time of such necessitie it might please him to succour them that +worship him. It is said, that the crosse being made, and the hole digged wherein it should +be set, he tooke the crosse in his owne hands, and putting the foot thereof into that hole, +so held it till his souldiers had filled the hole, and rammed it vp: and then caused all the +souldiers to knéele downe vpon their knées, and to make intercession to the true and liuing +God for his assistance against the proud enimie, with whom they should fight in a iust +quarell for the preseruation of their people and countrie.</p> +<p> +After this, on the next morning he boldlie gaue battell to his enimies, so that a sore and<span class="page"><a name="page612" id="page612"></a>[Page 612]</span> +cruell fight insued betwixt them. At length Oswald perceiued that the Britains began somwhat +to faint, and therfore caused his people to renew their force, and more lustilie to preasse +forward, so that first he put that most cruell enimie to flight, and after pursuing the chase +<span class="rightnote"><i>Beda. <br />Wil. Malm.</i></span> +ouertooke him, and slue him with the most part of all his huge and mightie armie, at a place +called Denisborne, but the place where he caused the crosse to be erected he named Heuenfield. +Thus Cadwallo the most cruell enimie of the English name ended his life: he was +terrible both in nature and countenance, for the which cause they say the Britains did afterwards +set vp his image, that the same might be a terror to the enimies when they should +behold it.</p> +<p> +¶ But here is to be remembred by the British historie of Gal. Mon. it should appeare +that Cadwallo was not slaine at all, but reigned victoriouslie for the space of 48 yéeres, and +then departed this life, as in place afterwards it shall appéere. But for that the contrarietie +in writers in such points may sooner be perceiued than reformed, to the satisfieng of mens +fansies which are variable, we will leaue euerie man to his libertie to thinke as séemeth him +good, noting now and then the diuersitie of such writers, as occasion serueth.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">PENDA. <br />636.</span> +Penda the sonne of Wilba succéeded in the gouernement of the kingdome of Mercia +after Ciarlus, and began his reigne in the yéere of our Lord 636. He was fiftie yéeres of +age before he came to be king, and reigned 30 yeres, he was a prince right hardie and aduenturous, +not fearing to ieopard his person in place of danger, assured and readie of remembrance +in time of greatest perill. His bodie could not be ouercome with anie trauell, +nor his mind vanquished with greatnesse of businesse. But these his vertues were matched +with notable vices, as first with such bitternesse of maners as had not béene heard of, crueltie +of nature, lacke of courtesie, great vnstedfastnesse in performing of woord and promise, +and of vnmeasurable hatred toward the christian religion.</p> +<p> +Now vpon confidence in these his great vertues and vices from that time he was made king +(as though the whole Ile had bene due to him) he thought not good to let anie occasion passe +that was offered to make war, as wel against his friends & confederats, as also against his +owne sworne enimies. Part of his dooings ye haue heard, and more shall appeare hereafter. +¶ Of the kings of the Eastsaxons & Eastangles ye haue heard before: of whom in places +conuenient ye shall find further mention also, and so likewise of the kings of the Southsaxons: +but bicause their kingdom continued not past fiue successions, litle remembrance of them is +made by writers.</p> + + <hr /><br /><br /> +<a name="xxviij5" id="xxviij5"></a> +<p> +<i>Cadwallo king of Britain, diuers deeds of his as the British writers haue recorded them, +wherevpon discord arose betweene Cadwallo & Edwin, who for two yeres space were +linked in friendship, Cadwallo vanquisht, his flight, of Pelitus the Spanish wizard, Cadwallo +ouerthroweth Penda and his power besieging Excester, he arreareth battell against +the Northumbers, and killeth Edwin their king, he seeketh to expell the Saxons out of the +land, Penda slaieth Oswald, whose brother and successor Osunus by gifts and submission +obteineth peace, whom Penda spitefullie attempting to kill is killed himselfe, Cadwallo +dieth, a brasen image on horssebacke set vp in his memoriall, saint Martins at Ludgate +builded.</i></p> + +<h3>THE XXVIIJ CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">CADWALLO, OR CADWALLINE.</span> +Cadwallo or Cadwalline, (for we find him so named) began his reigne ouer the +<span class="leftnote">635.</span> +Britains, in the yéere of our Lord 635, in the yéere of the reigne of the emperour Heracleus +35, and in the 13 yere of Dagobert K. of France. Of this man ye haue heard partlie before +touching his dealings and warres against the Northumbers, and other of the English nation:<span class="page"><a name="page613" id="page613"></a>[Page 613]</span> +but forsomuch as diuers other things are reported of him by the British writers, we haue +thought good in this place to rehearse the same in part, as in Gal. Mon. we find writen, leauing +the credit still with the author, sith the truth thereof may be the more suspected, bicause +other authors of good authoritie, as Beda, Henrie Huntington, William Malmesburie, and +others séeme greatlie to disagrée from him herein. But thus it is written.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">Edwin was not sonne to Ethelfred, but to Alla, or Elle, as in other places plainlie appeareth.</span> +This Cadwallo and Edwin the sonne of Ethelfred, as Galfride saith, were brought vp in +France, being sent thither vnto Salomon king of Britaine, by king Cadwane, when they were +verie yoong. Now after their returne into this land, when they were made kings, Cadwallo +of the Britains, & Edwin of the Northumbers, there continued for the space of two yéeres +great friendship betwixt them, till at length Edwin required of Cadwallo that he might +weare a crowne, and celebrate appointed solemnities within his dominion of Northumberland, +as well as Cadwallo did in his countrie. Cadwallo taking aduice in this matter, at +length by persuasion of his nephue Brian, denied to grant vnto Edwin his request, wherewith +Edwin tooke such displeasure, that he sent woord vnto Cadwallo, that he would be +crowned without his leaue or licence, sith he would not willinglie grant it. Wherto Cadwallo +answered, that if he so did, he would cut off his head vnder his diademe, if he presumed +to weare anie within the confines of Britaine. Hereof discord arising betwixt these +two princes, they began to make fierce and cruell warre either of them against the other, +<span class="leftnote">Cadwallo vanquished by Edwin.</span> +<span class="rightnote">Cadwallo flieth the land.</span> +and at length ioining in batell with their maine forces, Cadwallo lost the field, with many +thousands of his men, and being chased fled into Scotland, and from thence got ouer into +Ireland, and finally passed the seas into Britaine Armorike, where, of his coosin king Salomon +he was courteouslie receiued, and at length obteined of him 10000 men to go with +him backe into his countrie, to assist him in recouerie of his lands & dominions, the which in +the meane time were cruellie spoiled, wasted and haried by king Edwin.</p> +<p> +At the same time Brian the nephue of Cadwallo, whom he had sent into Britaine as little +before to slea a certeine wizard or southsaier, whom king Edwin had gotten out of Spaine +named Pelitus, that by disclosing the purpose of Cadwallo vnto Edwin, greatlie hindered +Cadwallos enterprises, had fortified the citie of Excester, mening to defend it till the comming +of Cadwallo, wherevpon Penda king of Mercia besieged that citie with a mightie army, +purposing to take it, and Brian within it. Cadwallo then aduertised hereof, immediatlie +after his arriuall hasted to Excester, and diuiding his people in 4 parts, set vpon his enimies, +tooke Penda, and ouerthrew his whole armie. Penda hauing no other shift to escape, submitted +himselfe wholie vnto Cadwallo, promising to become his liegeman, to fight against +the Saxons in his quarrell. Penda being thus subdued, Cadwallo called his nobles togither +which had bene dispersed abroad a long season, & with all spéed went against Edwin king +of Northumberland, and slue him in battell at Hatfield (as before is mentioned) with his +son Osfride, and Eodbold king of the Iles of Orknie, which was come thither to his aid.</p> +<p> +¶ By this it should appeare, that Fabian hath gathered amisse in the account of the +reignes of the British kings: for it appeareth by Beda and others, that Edwin was slaine in +634. +the yéere of our Lord 634. And where Fabian (as before is said) attributeth that act & +diuers other vnto Cadwan the father of this Cadwallo: yet both Gal. Mon. and Beda with +the most part of all other writers signifie that it was done by Cadwallo. Harding assigneth +but 13 yéeres to the reigne of Cadwan, and declareth that he died in the yéere of our Lord +616, in the which (as he saith) Cadwallo began his reigne, which opinion of his séemeth +best to agrée with that which is written by other authors. But to returne to the other dooings +of Cadwallo, as we find them recorded in the British storie. After he had got this +victorie against the Northumbers, he cruellie pursued the Saxons, as though he ment so farre +as in him lay, to destroie the whole race of them out of the coasts of all Britaine: and sending +Penda against king Oswald that succéeded Edwin, though at the first Penda receiued +the ouerthrow at Heauenfield, yet afterwards Cadwallo himselfe highly displeased with +that chance, pursued Oswald, and fought with him at a place called Bourne, where Penda +<span class="rightnote">Oswald slaine.</span> +slue the said Oswald. Wherevpon his brother Osunus succéeding in gouernment of the Northumbers,<span class="page"><a name="page614" id="page614"></a>[Page 614]</span> +sought the fauour of Cadwallo now ruling as king ouer all Britaine, and at length +by great gifts of gold and siluer, and vpon his humble submission, obteined peace, till at +<span class="rightnote">Oswie. <br /><i>Matth. West.</i> <br />654.</span> +length vpon spite, Penda king of Mercia obteined licence of Cadwallo to make warres against +the said Osunus, in the which (as it hapned) Penda himselfe was slaine. Then Cadwallo +after two yéeres granted that Vlfridus the sonne of Penda should succeed in Mercia.</p> +<p> +Thus Cadwallo ruled things at his appointment within this land. And finallie when he +<span class="rightnote">678. <br /><i>Matt. West.</i> saith 676.</span> +had reigned 48 yéeres, he departed this life the 22 of Nouember. His bodie being embalmed +and dressed with swéet confections, was put into a brasen image by maruelous art +melted and cast, which image being set on a brazen horsse of excellent beautie, the Britains +set vp aloft vpon the west gate of London called Ludgate, in signe of his conquests, and for +a terror to the Saxons. Moreouer the church of S. Martin vnderneath the same gate, was +by the Britains then builded. Thus haue the Britains made mention of their valiant prince +Cadwallo, but diuerse thinke that much of this historie is but fables, bicause of the manifest +varieng both from Beda and other autentike writers (as before I haue said.)</p> + + <hr /><br /><br /> +<a name="xxix5" id="xxix5"></a> +<p> +<i>The true storie of the forenamed king Oswald, his desire to restore christian religion, Cormans +preaching taking small effect among the Northumbers, persuadeth him to depart +into his owne countrie, he slandereth them before the Scotish clergie, Aidan a godlie man +telleth the cause of the peoples not profiting by Cormans preaching, Aidan commeth into +England to instruct the people in the faith, he varieth in the obseruation of Easter from +the English churches custome, the Northumbers haue him & his doctrine in reuerence, +Oswalds earnest zeale to further religion by Aidans preaching and ministerie, 15000 +baptised within 7 daies; Oswald hath the Britains, Scots, Picts, & English at his commandement, +his commendable deed of christian charitie, the Westsaxons conuerted to +the faith by the preaching of Birinus, king Kinigils is baptised, he maketh Birinus bishop +of Dorcester, Penda king of Mercia maketh war against the christian kings of the Westsaxons, +both sides after a bloudie battell fall to agrement, Ercombert the first English +king that destroied idols throughout the whole land, he ordeineth Lent; why English men +became moonks, and English women nunnes in monasteries beyond the seas; why Penda +king of Mercia enuieth vertuous king Oswald, he is assaulted, slaine in battell, and +canonized a saint after his death.</i></p> + +<h3>THE XXIX CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +Now will we (after all these differing discourses of the British chronologers) approch +and draw as néere as we can to the truth of the historie touching Oswald king of the Northumbers, +<span class="rightnote">Oswald meaneth to be thankefull to God for his benefits. <br /><i>Beda li. 3. cap. 3. 5. 6. <br />Hector Boet.</i></span> +of whom we find, that after he had tasted of Gods high fauour extended to himwards, +in vanquishing his enimies, as one minding to be thankefull therefore, he was desirous +to restore the christian faith through his whole kingdome, sore lamenting the decay thereof +within the same, and therefore euen in the beginning of his reigne, he sent vnto Donwald +the Scotish king (with whome he had béene brought vp in the time of his banishment the +space of 18 yéeres) requiring him to haue some learned Scotishman sent vnto him, skilfull +in preaching the word of life, that with godly sermons and wholesome instructions, he might +conuert the people of Northumberland vnto the true and liuing God, promising to interteine +him with such prouision as apperteined.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">Corman.</span> +At his instance, there was sent vnto him one Corman, a clerke singularlie well learned, +and of great grauitie in behauiour: but for that he wanted such facilitie, and plaine vtterance +by waie of gentle persuading, as is requisite in him that shall instruct the simple, onelie +setting foorth in his sermons high mysteries, and matters of such profound knowledge, as<span class="page"><a name="page615" id="page615"></a>[Page 615]</span> +the verie learned might scarselie perceiue the perfect sense and meaning of his talke, his +trauell came to small effect, so that after a yéeres remaining there, he returned into his countrie, +declaring amongst his brethren of the cleargie, that the people of Northumberland was a +froward, stubborne and stiffe-harted generation, whose minds he could not frame by anie +good meanes of persuasion to receiue the christian faith: so that he iudged it lost labour to +spend more time amongst them, being so vnthankfull and intractable a people, as no good +might be doone vnto them.</p> +<p> +Amongst other learned and vertuous prelats of the Scots, there chanced one to be there +<span class="rightnote">Aidan.</span> +present at the same time called Aidan, a man of so perfect life, that (as Beda writeth) he +taught no otherwise than he liued, hauing no regard to the cares of this world, but whatsoeuer +was giuen him by kings or men of wealth and riches, that he fréelie bestowed vpon the +poore, exhorting other to doo the like. This Aidan hearing Cormans woords, perceiued +anon that the fault was not so much in the people as in the teacher, and therefore declared, +that (as he thought) although it were so that the people of Northumberland gaue no such +attentiue eare vnto the preaching of that reuerend prelate Corman, as his godlie expectation +was they should haue doone, yet might it be that his vttering of ouer manie mysticall articles +amongst them, farre aboue the capacitie of the vnderstanding of simple men, was the cause +why they so lightlie regarded his diuine instructions, whereas if he had (according to the +<span class="rightnote">S. Paules counsell.</span> +counsell of Saint Paule) at the first ministred vnto their tender vnderstandings, onelie milke, +without harder nourishments, he might happilie haue woone a farre greater number of them +vnto the receiuing of the faith, and so haue framed them by little and little to haue digested +stronger food. And therefore he thought it necessarie in discharge of their duties towards +God, and to satisfie the earnest zeale of king Oswald, that some one amongst them might +be appointed to go againe into Northumberland, to trie by procéeding in this maner afore +alledged, what profit would thereof insue.</p> +<p> +The bishops hearing the opinion of Aidan, and therewith knowing Cormans maner of +preaching, iudged the matter to be as Aidan had declared, and therevpon not onelie allowed +his woords, but also willed him to take the iournie vpon him, sith they knew none so able with +<span class="rightnote">Aidan commeth into England to preach the gospell.</span> +effect to accomplish their wished desires in that behalfe. Aidan, for that he would not +seeme to refuse to take that in hand which he himselfe had motioned, was contented to satisfie +their request, and so set forward towards Northumberland, and comming thither, was ioifullie +receiued of king Oswald, who appointed him the Ile of Lindesfarne, wherein to place the see +of his new bishoprike.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Beda li. 3 ca. 3. Hector Boet.</i></span> +This Aidan in one point varied from the vse of the new begun church of England, that +is to say, touching the time of obseruing the feast of Easter, in like maner as all the bishops +of the Scots and Picts inhabiting within Britaine in those daies did, following therein (as they +tooke it) the doctrine of the holie and praise-woorthie father Anatholius. But the Scots +that inhabited the south parts of Ireland, alreadie were agréed to obserue that feast, according +to the rules of the church of Rome. Howbeit Aidan being thus come into Northumberland, +applied himselfe so earnestlie in praier and preaching, that the people had him within +short while in woonderfull estimation, chiefelie for that he tempered his preachings with such +swéet and pleasant matter, that all men had a great desire to heare him, insomuch that +sometime he was glad to preach abroad in churchyards, bicause the audience was more +than could haue roome in the church.</p> +<p> +One thing was a great hinderance to him, that he had not the perfect knowledge of the +Saxon toong. But Oswald himselfe was a great helpe to him in that matter, who being +<span class="rightnote"><i>Beda.</i> Oswald an interpretor to the preacher.</span> +desirous of nothing so much, as to haue the faith of Christ rooted in the harts of his subiects, +vsed as an interpreter to report vnto the people in their Saxon toong, such whole sermons +as Aidan vttered in his mother toong. For Oswald hauing béene brought vp (as ye +haue hard) in Scotland during the time of his banishment, was as readie in the Scotish, as +he was in the Saxon toong. The people then seeing the kings earnest desire in furthering +the doctrine set foorth by Aidan, were the more inclined to heare it: so that it was a maruellous<span class="page"><a name="page616" id="page616"></a>[Page 616]</span> +matter to note, what numbers of people dailie offred themselues to be baptised, +<span class="rightnote"><i>Hector Boet.</i></span> +insomuch that within the space of seuen daies (as is left in writing) he christened 15 thousand +persons, of the which no small part forsaking the world, betooke themselues to a solitarie +kind of life.</p> +<p> +Thus by his earnest trauell in continuall preaching and setting foorth the gospell in that +countrie, it came to passe in the end, that the faith was generallie receiued of all the people, +and such zeale to aduance the glorie of the christian religion dailie increased amongst them, +<span class="rightnote">Oswalds zeale to aduance religion.</span> +that no where could be found greater. Heerevpon were no small number of churches +built in all places abroad in those parties by procurement of the king, all men liberallie +consenting (according to the rate of their substance) to be contributorie towards the charges. +By this meanes the kingdome of the Northumbers flourished, as well in fame of increase in +<span class="rightnote"><i>Beda lib. 5. ca. 6.</i></span> +religion, as also in ciuill policie and prudent ordinances: insomuch that (as Beda writeth) +<span class="leftnote">Oswald had in estimation with his neighbours.</span> +Oswald atteined to such power, that all the nations and prouinces within Britaine, which were +diuided into foure toongs (that is to say) Britains, Picts, Scots, and Englishmen, were at +his commandement. But yet he was not lifted vp in anie pride or presumption, but shewed +himselfe maruellous courteous and gentle, and verie liberall to poore people and strangers.</p> +<p> +It is said, that he being set at the table vpon an Ester day, & hauing bishop Aidan at diner +then with him, his almoner came in as the bishop was about to say grace, and declared to the +king that there was a great multitude of poore folks set before the gates to looke for the +kings almes. The king héerewith tooke a siluer dish, which was set on the table before +him with meate, & commanded the same meate streightwaies to be distributed amongst the +poore, & the dish broken into small péeces, and diuided amongst them: for which act he +was highlie commended of the bishop, as he well deserued. By the good policie and diligent +trauell of this king, the prouinces of Deira and Bernicia, which hitherto had béene at +variance, were brought to peace and made one.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Beda lib. 3. ca. 7.</i> Birinus conuerteth the Westsaxons to the christian faith.</span> +About the same time, the Westsaxons were conuerted to the christian faith, by the preaching +of one Birinus a bishop, who came into this land at the exhortation of pope Honorius, +to set foorth the gospell vnto those people which as yet were not baptised. By whose diligent +<span class="leftnote">Kinigils king of Westsaxon becommeth a christian. <i>Polydor</i>.</span> +trauell in the Lords haruest, Kingils or Kinigils, one of the kings of that countrie receiued +the faith, and was baptised about the fiue & twentith yéere of his reigne. K. Oswald that +should haue had his daughter in mariage, was present the same time, who first yer he became +a sonne in law, was made a godfather vnto Kinigils (that should be his father in law) +by receiuing him at the fontstone, in that his second birth of regeneration. To this Birinus, +who was an Italian, king Kinigils (now that he was become a conuert or christian) appointed +<span class="rightnote">Dorcester ordeined a bishops sée.</span> +and assigned the citie of Dorcester, situat by the Thames, distant from Oxford about seuen +miles, to be the sée of his bishoprike, where he procured churches to be built, and by his +earnest trauell & setting foorth the woord of life, conuerted much people to the right beliefe. +In the yéere following, Quichelmus the other king of the Westsaxons, and sonne to +Kinigils was also christened, and died the same yéere, and so Cinigilsus or Kinigils reigned alone.</p> +<p> +<span class="leftnote"><i>Henr. Hunt.</i></span> +In this meane while Penda king of Mercia that succéeded next after Ciarlus, being a man +<span class="rightnote">This chancéd in the yéere 620, as <i>Matth. West.</i> saith.</span> +giuen to séeke trouble in one place or other, leauied warre against the kings of Westsaxon, +Kinigils and Quichelmus, the which gathering their power, gaue him battell at Cirenchester, +where both the parties fought it out to the vttermost, as though they had forsworne to giue +place one to another, insomuch that they continued in fight and making of cruell slaughter +till the night parted them in sunder. And in the morning, when they saw that if they +shuld buckle togither againe, the one part should vtterlie destroie the other, they fell to +agréement in moderating ech others demands.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">640.</span> +<span class="leftnote"><i>Beda lib. 3. cap. 7.</i> <br /><i>Matth. West.</i></span> +After this, in the yéere of our Lord 640, Eadbald king of Kent departed this life, after +he had reigned 24 yéeres, leauing his kingdome to his sonne Ercombert. This Ercombert +was the first of the English kings, which tooke order for the vtter destroieng of all idols +<span class="rightnote">Lent first ordeined to be kept in England.</span> +throughout his whole kingdome. He also by his roiall authoritie commanded the fast of<span class="page"><a name="page617" id="page617"></a>[Page 617]</span> +fortie daies in the Lent season to be kept and obserued, appointing woorthie and competent +<span class="leftnote"><br />Segburga. <br />Aimoinus.</span> +punishment against the transgressors of that commandement. He had by his wife Segburga, +that was daughter vnto Anna king of the Eastangles, a daughter named Eartongatha, a professed +nunne within the monasterie of Briege or Cala in France: for in those daies, bicause +there were not manie monasteries builded within this land, a great number of Englishmen, +that tooke vpon them the profession of a religious life, got them ouer vnto abbeies in France, +and there professed themselues moonks: and manie there were which sent their daughters +ouer to be professed nuns within the nunneries there, and speciallie at Briege, Cala, and +Andelie: amongst other, there were Sedrike the lawfull daughter, and Edelburgh the bastard +daughter of the said king Anna, both which in processe of time were made abbesses of the +said monasterie of Briege.</p> +<p> +Ye haue heard alreadie, how Oswald king of Northumberland bare himselfe in all points +like a most woorthie prince, not ceasing to releeue the necessitie of the poore, aduancing the +good, and reforming the euill, whereby he wan to himselfe excéeding praise and commendation +of all good men, and still his fame increased for his vertuous dooings; namelie, for the +ardent zeale he had to the aduancing of the christian faith. Herevpon Penda king of Mercia, +enuieng the prosperous procéedings of Oswald, as he that could neuer abide the good report +of other mens well-dooings, began to imagine how to destroie him, and to conquere his +<span class="rightnote">Penda inuadeth the Northumbers. <br /><i>Beda. lib. 3. cap. 9.</i></span> +kingdome, that he might ioine it to his owne. At length he inuaded his countrie by open +warre, met with him in the field at a place called Maserfield, and there in sharpe and cruell +<span class="leftnote">King Oswald slaine. <i>Matt. Westm.</i> saith 644.</span> +fight Oswald was slaine on the fift day of August, in the yeare of our Lord 642, and in +the 38 yeare of his age, after he had reigned the tearme of eight or nine yeares after some, +which account that yeare vnto his reigne, in the which his predecessors Osrike and Eaufride +reigned, whome they number not amongest kings, because of their wicked apostasie and +renouncing of the faith which before they had professed. Such was the end of that vertuous +prince king Oswald, being cruellie slaine by that wicked tyrant Penda. Afterwards, +for the opinion conceiued of his holinesse, the foresaid Oswald was canonized a saint, and +<span class="rightnote"><i>Will. Malmes.</i></span> +had in great worship of the people, being the first of the English nation that approoued his +vertue by miracles shewed after his departure out of this life.</p> + + <hr /><br /><br /> +<a name="xxx5" id="xxx5"></a> +<p> +<i>Oswie succeedeth Oswald in the kingdome of Northumberland, he is sore vexed by Penda, +Oswie and Oswin are partners in gouernement, they fall at strife, Oswin is betræied into +the hands of Oswie and slaine, a commendation of his personage and goodlie qualities, +bishop Aidan dieth; Cenwalch king of the Westsaxons, Penda maketh warre against +him for putting away his wife, his flight, he becommeth a christian and recouereth his +kingdome, Bishop Agilbert commeth into Westsaxon, and afterwards departing (upon +occasion) is made bishop of Paris, Wini buieth the bishoprike of London; Sigibert king +of the Eastangles, the vniuersitie of Cambridge founded by him, he resigneth his kingdome +and becometh a moonke, he and his kinsman Egric are slaine in a skirmish against +Penda king of Mercia.</i></p> + +<h3>THE XXX CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">OSWIE King of Northumberland. <i>Beda li. 3. ca. 14.</i></span> +After that king Oswald was slaine, his brother Oswie (being about 30 yeares of age) +tooke vpon him the rule of the kingdome of Northumberland, gouerning the same with +great trouble for the space of 28 yeares, being sore vexed by the foresaid Penda king of Mercia +and his people, which as yet were pagans. In the first yeare of his reigne, which was in the +<span class="rightnote">644.</span> +yeare of our Lord 644. Pauline the bishop of Rochester which had beene also archbishop +of Yorke departed this life, and then one Thamar an Englishman of the parties of Kent was<span class="page"><a name="page618" id="page618"></a>[Page 618]</span> +ordeined bishop of Rochester by Honorius the archbishop of Canturburie. King Oswie had +one Oswin partener with him in gouernment of the Northumbers in the first beginning of +<span class="rightnote">Bernicia.</span> +his reigne, which was sonne to Osrike, so that Oswie gouerned in Bernicia, and Oswin in +Deira, continuing in perfect friendship for a season, till at length, through the counsell of +wicked persons, that coueted nothing so much as to sowe discord and variance betwixt +princes, they fell at debate, and so began to make warres one against an other, so that +finallie when they were at point to haue tried their quarrell in open battell, Oswin perceiuing +that he had not an armie of sufficient force to incounter with Oswie, brake vp his campe at +Wilfaresdowne, ten mile by west the towne of Cataracton, and after withdrew himselfe onelie +with one seruant named Condhere vnto the house of earle Hunwald, whome he tooke to +haue béene his trustie friend: but contrarie to his expectation, the said Hunwald did betraie +him vnto Oswie, who by his captaine Edelwine slue the said Oswin and his seruant the forsaid +Condhere, in a place called Ingethling, the 13 kalends of September, in the ninth yeare +<span class="rightnote">651.</span> +of his reigne, which was after the birth of our Sauiour 651.</p> +<p> +This Oswin was a goodlie gentleman of person, tall, and beautifull, and verie gentle of +spéech, ciuill in manners, and verie liberall both to high & low, so that he was beloued of +all. Such a one he was, to be breefe, as bishop Aidan gessed that he should not long continue +in life, for that the Northumbers were not woorthie of so good and vertuous a gouernour. +Such humblenesse and obedience he perceiued to rest in him towards the law +of the Lord, in taking that which was told him for his better instruction in good part, that +he said, he neuer saw before that time an humble king. The same Aidan liued not past +12 daies after the death of the said Oswin, whome he so much loued, departing this world +the last daie of August, in the seuenteenth yeare after he was ordeined bishop. His bodie +was buried in the Ile of Lindesferne. After Aidan, one Finan was made bishop in his place, +a Scotishman also, and of the Ile of Hui, from whence his predecessor the foresaid Aidan +came, being first a man of religion professed in the monasterie there (as some writers doo +report.)</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">CENWALCH. <br /><i>Henr. Hunt.</i> 643.</span> +In the meane time, after that Kinigils or Cinigilsus king of the Westsaxons had reigned +31 yeares, he departed this life Anno 643, leauing his kingdome to his sonne Cenwalch or +Chenwald, who held the same kingdome the tearme of 30 yeares, or 31 (as some write) in +<span class="rightnote"><i>Ran. Higd.</i></span> +manner as his father had doone before him. In the third, or (as others saie) in the fift +yeare of his reigne, Penda king of Mercia made sharpe warre against him, because he had +put awaie his wife the sister of the said Penda, and in this warre Chenwald was ouercome in +battell, & driuen out of his countrie, so that he fled vnto Anna king of the Eastangles, with +whome he remained the space of a yeare, or (as other say) thrée yeares, to his great good +hap: for before he was growen to be an enimie to the christian religion, but now by the +wholesome admonitions and sharpe rebukes of king Anna, he became a christian, and receiued +his wife againe into his companie, according to the prescript of Gods law, and (to +be bréefe) in all things shewed himselfe a new man, imbracing vertue, & auoiding vice, so +that shortlie after (through the helpe of God) he recouered againe his kingdome.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">Agilbertus a bishop.</span> +Now when he was established in the same, there came a bishop named Agilbertus out of +Ireland, a Frenchman borne (but hauing remained in Ireland a long time) to reade the +scriptures. This Agilbert comming into the prouince of the Westsaxons, was gladlie receiued +of king Chenwald, at whose desire he tooke vpon him to exercise the roome of a +bishop there: but afterwards, when the said king admitted another bishop named Wini, +which had béene ordeined in France, and knew the toong better than Agilbert, as he that +was borne in England: Agilbert offended, for that the king had admitted him without making +him of anie counsell therein, returned into France, and there was made bishop of Paris: +within a few yeares after, the foresaid Wini was expelled also by king Chenwald, who got +him into Mercia vnto king Vulfhere, of whome he bought the bishoprike of London, which +he held during his life, and so the countrie of Westsaxon remained long without a bishop,<span class="page"><a name="page619" id="page619"></a>[Page 619]</span> +till at length the said Agilbert at the request of king Chenwald sent to him Elutherius that +was his nephue.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">SIGIBERT.</span> +Ye haue heard that after Carpwald, his brother Sigibert succéeded in rule of the Eastangles, +a man of great vertue and woorthinesse, who whilest he remained in France as a +banished man, being constrained to flée his countrie vpon displeasure that king Redwald +bare him, was baptised there, and after returning into his countrie, and obteining at length +<span class="rightnote"><i>Beda lib. 3. cap. 4</i></span> +the kingdome, those things which he had séene well ordered in France, he studied to follow +the example of the same at home, and herevpon considering with himselfe that nothing +could more aduance the state of the common-wealth of his countrie than learning & knowledge +in the toongs, began the foundation of certeine schooles, and namelie at Cambridge, +<span class="rightnote">The vniuersitié of Cambridge founded by king Sigibert.</span> +where children might haue places where to be instructed and brought vp in learning vnder +appointed teachers, that there might be greater numbers of learned men trained vp than +before time had béene within this land, to the furtherance of true religion and vertue.</p> +<p> +So that England hath good cause to haue in thankfull remembrance this noble prince king +Sigibert, for all those hir learned men which haue bin brought vp & come foorth of that +famous vniuersitie of Cambridge, the first foundation or rather renouation whereof was thus +<span class="rightnote"><i>Bate</i> saith 636.</span> +begun by him about the yeare of our Lord 630. At length when this worthie king began +to grow in age, he considered with himselfe how hard a matter, and how painefull an office +it was to gouerne a realme as apperteined to the dutie of a good king, wherevpon he determined +to leaue the charge thereof to other of more conuenient yéeres, and to liue from +<span class="rightnote">Sigibert resigneth his kingdome to Egricus.</span> +thencefoorth a priuat kind of life, and so resigning the administration vnto his kinsman +Egricus, he became a moonke, and led the rest of his life in a certeine abbeie.</p> +<p> +Shortlie after it so came to passe that Penda king of Mercia (that cruell ethnike tyrant) +made sore warres vpon Egricus, whervpon the people of Eastangles compelled Sigibert to +come foorth of his monasterie, & to go with them into the field against Penda. Sigibert +being thus constreined against his will, would not put on armour or beare anie other kind of +weapon, than onelie a wand in his hand in steed of a scepter, and so the armie of the Eastangles +in hope of good spéed by the presence of Sigibert, ioined in battell with their enimies, +but the Eastangles were finallie vanquished, and the more part of them slaine, togither with +<span class="rightnote">Sigibert and Egricus slaine. 652.</span> +Sigibert and his coosen Egricus their king. This happened in the yere after the birth of +our Sauiour (as some haue noted) 652.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Baleus. <br />Beda lib. 3 cap</i>. 19. <br />Fuersus.</span> +In the daies whilest Sigibert as yet ruled the Eastangles, there came out of Ireland a deuout +person named Furseus, who comming into the countrie of the Eastangles, was gladlie +receiued of king Sigibert, by whose helpe afterwards he builded the abbeie of Cumbreburge, +in the which Sigibert (as some haue written) when he renounced his kingdome, was professed +a moonke. Of this Furseus manie things are written, the which for briefenesse we +ouerpasse. After that Felix the bishop of the Eastangles was dead, one Thomas was ordeined +in his place, who after he had béene bishop fiue yéeres, died, and then one Beretgils +was ordeined in his roome by Honorius the archbishop of Canturburie. The said Honorius +himselfe when he had run the race of his naturall life, deceassed also the last of September +<span class="rightnote">653.</span> +in the yéere of our Lord 653.</p> + + <hr /><br /><br /> + <a name="xxxj5" id="xxxj5"></a> +<span class="page"><a name="page620" id="page620"></a>[Page 620]</span> +<p> +<i>Anna king of Eastangles is slaine by Penda king of Mercia, his brother succeeding him +is slaine also by Oswie king of Northumberland, the Mercians or Middleangles receiue +the faith vnder vertuous Peda their prince, he requesteth Alchfled the king of Northumberlands +daughter in mariage, he is baptised by bishop Finnan, by whose meanes the +Eastsaxons imbraced christian religion vnder Sigibert their king, he is murthered of two +brethren that were his kinsmen vpon a conceiued hatred against him for his good and +christian life, how dangerous it is to keepe companie with an excommunicate person, the +authoritie of a bishop.</i></p> + +<h3>THE XXXJ CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">Anna. <br /><i>Will Malmes.</i></span> +After Egricus succeeded Anna the sonne of Enus in the kingdome of Eastangle, and +is likewise slaine by Penda king of Mercia, with the most part of his armie, as he gaue +battell vnto the said Penda that inuaded his countrie. He left behind him manie children, +<span class="rightnote">Edelhere K. of Eastangle.</span> +but his brother Edelhere succéeded him in gouernment of the kingdome, who was slaine +by Oswie the king of Northumberland, togither with the foresaid Penda, and woorthilie, sith +he would aid that tyrant which had slaine his kinsman and his brother that were predecessors +with him in his kingdome. After this, when the sée of Canturburie had béene vacant by +<span class="rightnote">Deus dedit.</span> +the space of one whole yéere and six moneths, one Deus dedit of the countrie of the Westsaxons, +was elected and consecrated by Ithamar the bishop of Rochester, on the 7 kalends +of Aprill. He gouerned the church of Canturburie by the tearme of nine yéeres, foure +moneths, and two daies. When he was departed this life, the foresaid Ithamar consecrated +for him one Damianus of the countrie of Sussex.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Beda hist. eccle. lib. 3. cap.</i> 21. 653.</span> +About this time, the people of Mercia commonlie called Middleangles, receiued the +<span class="leftnote">Peda or Peada king of Middleangles.</span> +christian faith vnder their king named Peda or Peada, the sonne of Penda king of Mercia, +who being a towardlie yoong gentleman, and woorthie to haue the guiding of a kingdome, +his father Penda aduanced him to the rule of that kingdome of the Middleangles during his +owne life. [¶ Héere maie you note, that the kingdome of the Middleangles was one, +and the kingdome of Mercia another, though most commonlie the same were gouerned by +one king.] This yoong Peda came to Oswie king of Northumberland, requiring of him to +haue his daughter Alchfled in mariage: but when he was informed that he might not haue +hir except he would become a christian, then vpon hearing the gospell preached, with the +promise of the celestiall ioies and immortalitie, by the resurrection of the flesh in the life +to come, he said that whether he had king Oswies daughter to wife or not, he would suerlie +be baptised, and chieflie he was persuaded therevnto by his kinsman Alchfrid, who had in +mariage his sister the daughter of Penda name Cimburgh.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">Ad murum.</span> +Wherefore he was baptised by bishop Finnan, with all those which came thither with him +at a place called At the wall, and taking with him foure priests which were thought méete to +teach and baptise his people, he returned with great ioy into his owne countrie. The names +of those priests were as followeth, Cedda, Adda, Betti, and Diuna, of the which, the last was +a Scot by nation, and the other were Englishmen. These priests comming into the prouince +of the Middleangles, preached the woord, and were well heard, so that dailie a great +number of the nobilitie & communaltie renouncing the filthie dregs of idolatrie, were +christned. Neither did king Penda forbid the preaching of the gospell within his prouince +of Mercia, but rather hated and despised those whome he knew to haue professed themselues +<span class="rightnote">The saieng of king Penda.</span> +christians, and yet shewed not the woorks of faith, saieng, that "Those were wretches and +not to be regarded, which would not obeie their God in whome they beléeued." This alteration +of things began, about two yéeres before the death of king Penda.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Beda lib. 3. cap.</i> 22.</span> +About the same time, the Eastsaxons at the instance of Oswie king of Northumberland, +receiued eftsoones the faith which they had renounced, when they banished their bishop +Melitus.</p> +<p> +Melitus. Ye haue heard that Serred, Siward, and Sigibert brethren, and the sonnes of<span class="page"><a name="page621" id="page621"></a>[Page 621]</span> +king Sabert (which brethren occasioned the reuolting of that prouince from the faith of +Christ) were slaine in battell by the kings of Westsaxon, after whome succéeded Sigibert +surnamed the little sonne to the middlemost brother Siward, as some write. This Sigibert +the litle left the kingdome to an other Sigibert that was sonne to one Sigebald the brother +of king Sabert, which second Sigibert reigned as king in that prouince of the Eastsaxons, +being a most especiall friend of king Oswie, so that oftentimes he repaired into Northumberland +to visit him, whervpon king Oswie ceassed not most earnestlie at times conuenient to +exhort him to receiue the faith of Iesus Christ, and in the end by such effectuall persuasions +<span class="rightnote">King Sigibert receiued the faith.</span> +as he vsed, Sigibert gaue credit to his woords, and so being conuerted, receiued the sacrament +of baptisme by the hands of bishop Finnan, at the kings house called, At the wall, +so named, bicause it was built néere to the wall which the Romans had made ouerthwart +the Ile, as is often before remembred, being twelue miles distant from the east sea.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">This was about the yéere 649, as <i>Matth. West.</i> hath noted.</span> +King Sigibert hauing now receiued the Christian faith, when he should returne into his +countrie, required king Oswie to appoint him certeine instructors and teachers which might +conuert his people to the faith of Christ. King Oswie desirous to satisfie his request, sent +<span class="leftnote">Cedda.</span> +vnto the prouince of the Middleangles, calling from thence that vertuous man Cedda, and +assigning vnto him another priest to be his associat, sent them vnto the prouince of the +Eastsaxons, there to preach the christian faith vnto the people. And when they had preached +& taught through the whole countrie, to the great increase and inlarging of the church of +Christ, it chanced on a time that Cedda returned home into Northumberland to conferre of +certeine things with bishop Finnan which kept his sée at Lindesferne, where vnderstanding +<span class="rightnote">Ced or Cedda bishop of the Eastsaxons.</span> +by Cedda the great fruits which it had pleased God to prosper vnder his hands, in aduancing +the faith among the Eastsaxons, he called to him two other bishops, and there ordeined +the foresaid Cedda bishop of the Eastsaxons.</p> +<p> +Héerevpon, the same Cedda returned vnto his cure, went forward with more authoritie to +performe the woorke of the Lord, & building churches in diuerse places, ordeined priests +and deacons which might helpe him in preaching, and in the ministerie of baptising, speciallie +<span class="rightnote">Tilberie.</span> +in the citie of Ithancester vpon the riuer of Pent, and likewise in Tileburge on the riuer of +Thames. Whilest Ced was thus busie to the great comfort and ioy of the king and all his +people, in the setting forward of the christian religion with great increase dailie procéeding, +it chanced thorough the instigation of the deuill, the common enimie of mankind, that king +Sigibert was murthered by two of his owne kinsmen who were brethren, the which when +they were examined of the cause that should mooue them to that wicked fact, they had +nothing to alledge, but that they did it bicause they had conceiued an hatred against the +king, for that he was too fauourable towards his enimies, and would with great mildnesse +of mind forgiue iniuries committed against him: such was the kings fault for the which +he was murthered, bicause he obserued the commandements of the gospell with a deuout +hart.</p> +<p> +Notwithstanding, in this his innocent death, his offense was punished, wherein he had suerlie +transgressed the lawes of the church. For whereas one of them which slue him kept a wife, +whome he had vnlawfullie maried, and refused to put hir away at the bishops admonition, +he was by the bishop excommunicated, and all other of the christian congregation commanded +to absteine from his companie. This notwithstanding, the king being desired of him came +to his house to a banket, and in his comming from thence met with the bishop, whome when +the king beheld, he waxed afraid, and alighted from his horsse, and fell downe at his féet, +beséeching him of pardon for his offense. The bishop, which also was on horssebacke +likewise alighted, and touching the king with his rod which he had in his hand, as one something +<span class="rightnote">The authoritie of a bishop.</span> +displeased, and protesting as in the authoritie of a bishop, spake these words; "Bicause +(saith he) thou wouldst not absteine from entring the house of that wicked person being +accurssed, thou shălt die in the same house:" and so it came to passe.</p> + + <hr /><br /><br /> + <a name="xxxij5" id="xxxij5"></a> +<span class="page"><a name="page622" id="page622"></a>[Page 622]</span> +<p> +<i>Suidhelme king of the Eastsaxons, he is baptised, the bishoplike exercises of Ced in his natiue +countrie of Northumberland; Ediswald K. of Deira reuerenceth him, the kings deuout +mind to further and inlarge religion; the maner of consecrating a place appointed +for a holie vse; the old order of fasting in Lent, bishop Ced dieth; warre betweene Oswie +and Penda, Oswie maketh a vow to dedicate his daughter a perpetuall virgine to God +if he got the victorie, he obteineth his request and performeth his vow, she liueth, dieth, and +is buried in a monasterie, the benefit insuing Oswies conquest ouer his enimies, the first +second and third bishops of Mercia, the victorious proceeding of king Oswie; prince Peado +his kinsman murthered of his wife.</i></p> + +<h3>THE XXXIJ CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">SUIDHELME. <br /><i>Beda lib.3. cap.22. <br />Matt. West</i></span> +After Sigbert succeeded Suidhelme in the kingdome of the Eastsaxons, he was the +son of Sexbald, and baptised of Ced in the prouince of the Eastangles, at a place of the kings +there called Rendlessham. Ediswald king of the Eastangles (the brother of king Anna) +was his godfather at the fontstone. Ced the bishop of the Eastsaxons vsed oftentimes to +<span class="rightnote"><i>Beda</i> lib.3. cap.23.</span> +visit his countrie of Northumberland where he was borne, and by preaching exhorted the people +to godlie life. Whervpon it chanced that king Ediswald the son of king Oswald which +reigned in the parties of Deira, mooued with the fame of his vertuous trade of liuing, had +him in great reuerence: and therefore vpon a good zeale and great deuotion, willed him to +choose foorth some plot of ground where he might build a monasterie, in the which the king +himselfe and others might praie, heare sermons the oftener, and haue place where to burie the +dead. The bishop consenting to the kings mind, at length espied a place amongst high and +desert mounteins, where he began the foundation of a monasterie, afterwards called +Lestinghem.</p> +<p> +Wherefore meaning first of all to purge the place with praier & fasting, he asked leaue +of the king that he might remaine there all the Lent, which was at hand, and so continuing +<span class="rightnote">The maner of the old fast.</span> +in that place for that time, fasted euerie daie (sundaie excepted) from the morning vntill +euening, according to the maner, nor receiued anie thing then but onlie a little bread, and a +hens eg, with a little milke mixt with water: for he said that this was the custome of them +of whome he had learned the forme of his regular order, that they should consecrate those +places vnto the Lord with praier and fasting, which they latelie had receiued to make in the +same either church or monasterie.</p> +<p> +And when there remained ten daies of Lent yet to come, he was sent for to the king: +wherefore he appointed a brother which he had, being also a priest named Cimbill, to supplie +his roome, that his begun religious woorke should not be hindered for the kings businesse. +Now when the time was accomplished, he ordeined a monasterie there, appointing the +<span class="rightnote">Lindisferne holie Iland.</span> +moonks of the same to liue after the rules of them of Lindesferne where he was brought vp. +Finallie this bishop Ced comming vnto this monasterie afterwards by chance in time of a sicknesse, +died there, and left that monasterie to the gouernance of another brother which he had +named Ceadda, that was after a bishop, as afterwards shall be shewed. There were foure +brethren of them, and all priests, Ced, Cimbill, Ceulin, and Ceadda, of the which Ced and +Ceadda were bishops, as before is said.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Beda. lib.3. cap.24.</i></span> +About the same time, Oswie king of Northumberland was sore oppressed by the warres +of Penda king of Mercia, so that he made great offers of high gifts, and great rewards vnto +the said Penda for peace, but Penda refused the same, as he that meant vtterlie to haue destroied +<span class="rightnote">War betwéene king Oswie & king Penda.</span> +the whole nation of Oswies people, so that Oswie turning himselfe to seeke helpe +at the hands of the almightie, said: If the pagan refuse to receiue the gifts which we offer, +let us make offer vnto him that knoweth how to accept them: and so binding himselfe by vow, +promised that if he might obtein victorie, he would offer his daughter to be dedicate to the Lord +in perpetuall virginitie: and further would giue twelue manors, lordships or farmes to the<span class="page"><a name="page623" id="page623"></a>[Page 623]</span> +building of monasteries: and so with a small armie he put himselfe in hazard of battell.</p> +<p> +It is said that Penda had thirtie companies of men of warre, furnished with thirtie noble +capteins or coronels, against whome came Oswie with his sonne Alchfrid, hauing but a small +armie, but confirmed yet with hope in Christ Iesus. His other son Ecgfrid remained in +hostage at that time with quéene Cinnise. Edilwald the sonne of Oswald that gouerned +Deira, & ought to haue aided Oswie, was on the part of Penda against his countrie, and +against his vncle, but in time of the fight he withdrew himselfe aside, to behold what chance +<span class="rightnote">The victorie of the Northumbers.</span> +would follow. The battell being begun, the thirtie pagan capteins were ouerthrowne and +put to flight, and those that came to aid Penda were almost all slaine, among whome was +Edilhere king of the Eastangles, that reigned after his brother Anna, and was the procurer +of this warre. This battell was fought néere to the water of Inwet, the which being risen as +then by reason of great raine, drowned more of the enimies than died of the Northumbers +swoords.</p> +<p> +After that Oswie had obteined this victorie, he performed promise in bestowing his daughter +to the profession of virginitie, and also gaue the twelue manors, whereof six were in +<span class="leftnote">Elfled.</span> +Deira, and six in Bernicia, containing euerie of them ten housholds a péece. Elfled also king +<span class="rightnote">Herteshey saith <i>Matt. West.</i> Hilda.</span> +Oswies daughter was professed in the monasterie of Herthew, where one Hilda was abbesse, +which Hilda purchasing a lordship of ten housholds in Streanshall, now called Whitbie, +builded a monasterie there, in the which first the said Elfled was a nouice, and after a ruler, +till at length being of the age of fortie yéeres she departed this life, and was buried there, and +so likewise was hir mother Eufled, and hir grandfather Edwin, with manie other high estates +within the church of saint Peter the apostle. The victorie aboue mentioned got by king +<span class="rightnote">Loides.</span> +Oswie in the countrie of Loides on the 17 kalends of December, & in the thirtenth yéere of +his reigne, happened to the great commoditie and gaine of both the people, for by the same +he deliuered his countrie of Northumberland from the cruell destruction made in the same by +the pagan people of Mercia, and conuerted those pagans themselues, and the countries néere +adioining to them wholie vnto the faith of Iesus Christ.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">The first bishop of Mercia.</span> +The first bishop in the prouince of Mercia, and also of Lindesferne and the Middleangles +was one Diuma, who died amongst the Middleangles. The second was Cellach, the which +leauing his bishoprike returned into Scotland, for they were both of the nation of the Scots. +The third was an Englishman named Trumhere, but instructed and ordeined of the Scots. +He was abbat of the monasterie of Ingethlingum, being builded in that place where king +Oswin was slaine (as before is mentioned.) For quéene Eufled that was his kinswoman +got of hir husband king Oswie a place there for the foresaid Trumhere to build that abbeie +vpon.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">The victorious procéeding of king Oswie.</span> +King Oswie hauing slaine king Penda, gouerned the people of Mercia, and also other of +the south prouinces, & subdued a great part of the Pictish nation to the English dominion. +About the same time king Oswie gaue vnto Peada the son of king Penda (bicause he was his +<span class="leftnote">Southmercia.</span> +kinsman) the countrie of the Southmercies, conteining 5000 housholds, and separated from +<span class="rightnote"><br />Northmercia. <br />659.</span> +the Northmercies by the riuer Trent. The countrie of the Northmercies conteined in those +daies 7000 housholds. But Peada in the next spring was wickedlie murthered through the +treason of his wicked wife (as was said) in the feast of Easter. +<span class="rightnote"><i>Matt. West.</i></span></p> + +<hr /><br /><br /> +<a name="xxxiij5" id="xxxiij5"></a> +<span class="page"><a name="page624" id="page624"></a>[Page 624]</span> +<p> +<i>The dukes of Mercia rebell against Oswie, recouer their owne bounds, and create Wulfhere +their king; Cenwald king of the Westsaxons fighteth with the Britaines and preuaileth, +he is vanquished by Wulfhere; Adelwold king of Sussex hath the Ile of Wight giuen +him, and why; succession of Edelher, Edelwald, and Aldulfe in the kingdome of Eastangles; +Colman a Scot first made bishop of Northumberland, controuersie about the obseruation +of Easter, about bald crownes or shauing the haire, superstition punished by +God, Ceadda bishop of Yorke, his course of life and diligence in his office commended; +Egbert king of Kent, the see of Canturburie void, the preferment thereto refused, Theodore +a moonke supplieth the roome at the popes appointment, all the English clergie obey +him as their head, his visitation and reformation, singing vsed in churches, Theodore and +Adrian woorthilie praised, English men happie, glasiers first brought into this Iland.</i></p> + +<h3>THE XXXIIJ CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Beda. lib. 3. cap. 24.</i></span> +After three yeeres were complet, next ensuing the death of king Penda, the dukes of +the countrie of Mercia, Immin, Eaba, and Eadbert rebelled against king Oswie, aduancing one +Wulfhere a yoong gentleman the sonne of Peda, and brother to Peada, whom they had +kept in secret to be their king, and expelling the lieutenants of king Oswie, they recouered both +their owne confines and libertie withall, and so liuing in fréedome with their owne naturall +king the foresaid Vulfhere, they also continued with glad hearts in seruice of the celestiall +king our God and Sauior.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">VULFHERE. <br /><i>Beda. lib. 3. cap. 24.</i></span> +This Vulfhere gouerned the Mercies seuentéene yeares, the which Mercies (during the +reigne of the said Vulfhere) had foure bishops successiuelie gouerning the church of that +prouince one after another, as the aboue mentioned Trumhere, Iaroman, Ceadda, and Winfrid, +as hereafter shall more at large appeare.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Henr. Hunt.</i> <br /><i>Matt. West.</i></span> +About the beginning of king Vulfheres reigne, that is to say, in the seuentéenth yeare of the +reigne of Chenwald king of the Westsaxons, the same Chenwald fought with the Britains at +Pennum, where the Britains being assembled in great number, proudlie incountred with the +Englishmen, and at the first put them to the woorst, but when the Englishmen would in no wise +giue ouer, but did sticke to their tackle, at length the Britains were put to flight, so that the +<span class="leftnote">The Britains put to flight by Chenwald.</span> +posteritie of Brute receiued that day an incurable wound. But within thrée yeares after, that +is, in the ninetéenth yeare of the reigne of the said Chenwald, he had not the like lucke in +<span class="rightnote">Chenwald vanquished by Vulfhere.</span> +battell against the foresaid Vulfhere king of Mercia, as he had before against the Britains, for +the said Vulfhere vanquishing him in the field, passed through this countrie with a great armie +<span class="leftnote"><br />Adelwold of Sussex.</span> +vnto the Ile of Wight, which he conquered, and deliuered it vnto Adelwold king of +Sussex, as a gift at that time, when he receiued him at the fontstone after he had conuerted +him to the faith. He gaue vnto Adelwold that Ile, to the end he should cause the people +there to receiue the faith and religion of Christ. Now after that Edelhere king of Eastangles +was slaine, as before is mentioned, his brother Edelwald succéeded him in that kingdome, +reigning as king thereof by the space of nine yeares. Then after Edelwald succéeded Aldulfe +the son of Edelhere in gouernment of that kingdome, and reigned 25 yeares.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Beda. lib. 3. cap. 24.</i></span> +After Finan bishop of the Northumbers that held his see at Lindesferne, as Aidan did before +<span class="leftnote">Colman ordeined bishop.</span> +him, one Colman was ordeined bishop, a Scot borne, and an earnest obseruer of the +customes vsed amongest them of his nation, so that when the controuersie began to be reuiued +<span class="rightnote"><br /><i>Beda. lib. 3. cap. 25.</i></span> +for the holding of the feast of Easter, he would by no meanes yéeld to them that would +haue perswaded him to haue followed the rite of the Romane church. There was a great +disputation kept about this matter, and other things, as shauing or cutting of heares, and such +like in the monasterie of Whitbie, at the which king Oswie and his sonne Alcfrid were present, +where Colman for his part alledged the custome of Iohn the euangelist, and of Anatholius; +and the contrarie side brought in proofe of their opinion, the custome of Peter and +Paule. At length, when bishop Colman perceiued that his doctrine was not so much regarded,<span class="page"><a name="page625" id="page625"></a>[Page 625]</span> +<span class="rightnote">Controuersie about shauing of crownes. <i>Cap. 6.</i> <br />664.</span> +as he thought of reason it ought to haue béene, he returned into Scotland with those, +which taking part with him, refused to obserue the feast of Easter according to the custome +of the church of Rome, nor would haue their crownes shauen, about which point no small +reasoning had béene kept. This disputation was holden in the yeare of our Lord 664, and +in the yeare of the reigne of king Oswie 22, and 30 yeare after the Scotishmen began first +to beare the office of bishops within Northumberland, which was (as W. Harison saith) 624. +For Aidan gouerned 17 yeares, Finan 10 yeares, & Colman 3 yeares. After that Colman +<span class="rightnote">Tuda ordeined bishop.</span> +was returned into his countrie, one Tuda that had béene brought vp amongest the Southerne +Scots, and ordeined bishop by them, succéeded in his roome, hauing his crowne shauen, and +obseruing the feast of Easter according to the custome of the prouince and rite of the Romane +<span class="rightnote"><i>Cap. 27.</i></span> +church. ¶ The same yeare, there chanced a great eclipse of the sunne, the third of +<span class="leftnote">An eclipse. Punishment of God for yelding to superstition.</span> +Maie about 10 of the clocke in the day. A great dearth and mortalitie insued, both in all +the parties of this our Britaine, and likewise in Ireland. Amongest other, the foresaid bishop +Tuda died, and was buried in the abbeie of Pegnalech. After this Tuda, succéeded in gouernement +<span class="rightnote">Wilfrid bishop.</span> +of the church of Lindesferne, otherwise called Holie Iland, one Wilfrid, which +was sent by king Alcfrid into France, to be ordeined there.</p> +<p> +About the same time king Oswie, the father of king Alcfrid, mooued with the good example +<span class="rightnote"><i>Cap. 28.</i></span> +of his sonne, sent Ceadda, the brother of Ced sometime bishop of the Eastsaxons into +Kent, to be ordeined bishop of Yorke, but at his comming into Kent he found that Deus +dedit the archbishop of Canturburie was dead, and none other as yet ordeined in his place, so +<span class="rightnote">Ceadda ordeined archbishop of Yorke.</span> +that Ceadda repaired into the prouince of the Westsaxons, where he was ordeined by bishop +Wini, who tooke two other bishops of the British nation vnto him to be his associats, which +vsed to obserue the feast of Easter contrarie to the custome of the Romane church. But there +was no other shift, sith none other bishop was then canonicallie ordeined in the prouince of +the Westsaxons in those daies, this Wini onlie excepted, and therefore was he constreined to +take such as he might get and prouide.</p> +<p> +After that Ceadda was thus ordeined, he began forthwith to follow the true rules of the +church, liued right chastlie, shewed himselfe humble and continent, applied his studie to reading, +and trauelled abroad on foot and not on horssebacke through the countries, townes, and +villages, to preach the word of God. He was the disciple of Aidan, and coueted by his example, +and also by the example of Ced, to instruct his hearers with the like dooings & maners +as he had knowen them to doo. Wilfrid also being consecrated bishop, and returned into +England, indeuored to plant the orders of the Romane church in the churches of England, +whereby it came to passe, that the Scots which inhabited amongst the Englishmen, were constreined +either to follow the same, or else to returne into their owne countrie.</p> +<p> +<span class="leftnote">EGBERT king of Kent.</span> +In this meane time, king Ercombert being departed this life, after he had gouerned the +Kentishmen by the space of twentie yeares, his sonne Egbert succéeded him in the kingdome, +and reigned nine yeares. There is little remembrance of his dooings, which in that short +time were not much notable, except ye will ascribe the comming into this land of the archbishop +Theodorus, and the abbat Adrian vnto his glorie, which chanced in his time. For in the +yeare of the great eclipse and sore mortalitie that insued, it chanced that both king Ercombert, +& the archbishop Deus dedit departed this life, so that the see of Canturburie was void +<span class="rightnote"><i>Beda. lib. 3. cap. 9.</i></span> +a certeine time, in so much that king Egbert, who succéeded his father Ercombert, togither +<span class="leftnote">Wighart.</span> +with king Oswie, did send one Wighart a priest of good reputation for his excellent knowledge +in the scriptures, vnto Rome, with great gifts and rich vessels of gold and siluer, to be +presented vnto the pope, requiring him that he would ordeine the foresaid Wighart archbishop +of Canturburie, to haue rule of the English church. But this Wighart comming vnto +Rome, and declaring his message vnto Vitalianus then gouerning the church of Rome, immediatlie +after he died of the pestilence (that then reigned in that citie) with all those that +came with him.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Beda. lib. 4 cap. 1.</i> Adrian.</span> +The pope then taking aduice whome he might ordeine vnto the sée of Canturburie, being<span class="page"><a name="page626" id="page626"></a>[Page 626]</span> +thus destitute of an archbishop, appointed a moonke named Adrian to take that office vpon +him, but Adrian excused himselfe as not sufficient for such a roome, and required the pope +to appoint one Andrew a moonke also, wherevnto the pope consented. But when Andrew +was preuented by death, eftsoones Adrian should haue béene made archbishop, but that he +named one Theodore an other moonke that abode as then in Rome, but was borne in the +citie of Tharsus in Cilicia, verie well learned both in the Greeke and Latine, and being of +reuerend yeares, as of 76. This Theodore by the presentment of Adrian, was appointed to +be ordeined archbishop of Canturburie, with condition, that Adrian should neuerthelesse attend +vpon him into England, both for that he had béene twise before this time in France, and +so knew the coasts; and againe, for that he might assist him in all things, and looke well to +the matter, that Theodore should not bring into the church of England anie rite or custome +of the Gréekes, contrarie to the vse of the Romane church. Theodore being first ordeined +subdeacon, tarried foure moneths till his heare was growen, that he might haue his crowne +shauen after the maner of Peter. For he was rounded or shauen after the maner of the East +church, which was as they persuaded themselues, according to the vse of saint Paule the +<span class="rightnote">Theodore ordeined archbishop of Canturburie. 668.</span> +apostle. And so at length was this Theodore ordeined archbishop of Canturburie by pope +Vitalianus in the yeare of our Lord 668, the sixt kalends of June, and with Adrian sent into +Britaine.</p> +<p> +These with their retinue came to France, and being come thither, shortlie after king Egbert +had knowledge thereof: wherevpon with all conuenient spéed he sent ouer one of his +nobles named Redfrid to bring the archbishop into England, and so he did: but Adrian was +staied for a time, because he was suspected to haue had some commission from the emperour to +haue practised with the Englishmen, for the disquieting of the realme of France. Howbeit, after +it was perceiued that this suspicion was grounded on no truth, he was also suffered to follow +the archbishop, and so comming vnto Canturburie, he was made abbat of the monasterie of +saint Augustines. The archbishop Theodore came thus vnto his church of Canturburie in +the second yeare after his consecration, about the second kalends of June, being sundaie. He +gouerned the same church also 21 yeares and 16 daies, and was the first archbishop to whome +all the churches of England did acknowledge their obeisance.</p> +<p> +Being accompanied with the foresaid Adrian, he visited all the parts of this land, ordeined +bishops and ministers in churches where he thought conuenient, and reformed the same +churches as séemed to him néedfull, as well in other things which he misliked, as also in +<span class="rightnote"><i>Ran. Cest. Matth. West.</i></span> +causing them to obserue the feast of Easter, according to the right and vsage of the church of +<span class="leftnote"><i>Beda.</i></span> +Rome. Ceadda that was bishop of Yorke, because he was not lawfullie ordeined, as he himselfe +confessed, was remoued from the sée of Yorke, and Wilfrid was therevnto restored, +so that Ceadda (though he were not disgraded of his degrée of bishop) liued yet a priuat kind +of life, till he was admitted bishop of Mercia, as after shall be shewed. Also whereas before +time there was in maner no singing in the English churches, except it were in Kent, now +<span class="rightnote">Singing in churches brought in vse.</span> +they began in euerie church to vse singing of diuine seruice after the rite of the church of +Rome. The archbishop Theodore finding the church of Rochester void by the death of the +<span class="leftnote">Putta bishop of Rochester.</span> +last bishop named Damian, ordeined one Putta a simple man in worldlie matters, but well instructed +in ecclesiasticall discipline, and namelie well séene in song and musicke to be vsed +in the church after the maner as he had learned of pope Grogories disciples.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">The worthie praise of Theodore and Adrian.</span> +To be bréefe, the archbishop Theodore, and the abbat Adrian deserued great commendation +in this, that whereas they were notablie well learned themselues in the Greeke and the +Latine toongs, and also had good knowledge as well in the liberall arts, as in the scripture, +they tooke great paines to traine vp scholers in knowledge of the same, so that the Englishmen +<span class="leftnote">Englishmen happy and why.</span> +had not seene more happie times than in those daies, hauing as then kings of great puissance, +so as strangers stood in feare of them; and againe, those that coueted learning, had +instructors at hand to teach them, by reason whereof diuers being giuen to studie, prooued +<span class="rightnote"><i>Beda.</i> <br />Benedict or Benet surnamed Biscop.</span> +excellent both in knowledge of the Gréeke and Latine. There came in companie of the said +archbishop from Rome, an English man named Benedict Biscop, which had taken vpon him<span class="page"><a name="page627" id="page627"></a>[Page 627]</span> +the habit of a moonke in Italie, and now returning into his countrie, builded two abbeis, the +one named Wiremouth, because it was placed at the mouth of the riuer of Wire, and the +other Girwie, distant from Wiremouth about fiue miles, and from the towne of Newcastle +<span class="leftnote">670.</span> +foure miles, situated neere to the mouth of Tine. Wiremouth was built in the yeare 670, +and Girwie in the yeare 673. There were a 600 moonks found in those two houses, and +<span class="rightnote">Glasiers first brought into England. <i>Ran. Cest.</i></span> +gouerned vnder one abbat. The said Benedict was the first that brought glasiers, painters, +and other such curious craftsmen into England. He went fiue times to Rome, and came +againe.</p> + + <hr /><br /><br /> +<a name="xxxiiij5" id="xxxiiij5"></a> +<p> +<i>Sighere and Sebbie associats reigne ouer the Eastsaxons, the one falleth from, the other +cleaueth to the faith, Vulfhere king of Mercia sendeth bishop Iaroman to redresss that +apostasie of the prince and the people, Cead bishop of Mercia, the king of that countrie +hath him in hie reputation, Egfrid king of Northumberland, a synod of bishops holden +at Herford, articles propounded out of the canons by Theodore archbishop of Canturburie, +Bisi unable to discharge his episcopall office, a remedie therefore; Kenwalke of +a very euill prince becometh a verie good ruler, his wife gouerneth the kingdome after +his death, Escuius succeedeth hir in the roome, of Thunnir a murtherer king Egberts +principall vicegerent, bishop Winfrid deposed for disobedience, Sebbie king of the Eastsaxons +a professed moonke, his death.</i></p> + +<h3>THE XXXIIIJ CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +About the same time, after that Suidhelme king of the Eastsaxons was dead, Sighere +the son of Sigbert the little, and Sebbie the son of Suward succéeded him in gouernement of +<span class="rightnote"><i>Beda. lib. 3. cap. 30.</i></span> +that kingdome, albeit they were subiect vnto Vulfhere the king of Mercia. Sighere in +that time, when the great mortalitie reigned, renounced the faith of Christ, with that part of +the people which he had in gouernement, for both the same Sighere and others of his +chiefest lords, and also part of his commons louing this life, and not regarding the life to +come, began to repaire their idolish churches, and fell to the worshipping of idols, as though +thereby they should haue beene defended from that mortalitie. But his associat Sebbie with +great deuotion continued stedfast in the faith which he had receiued.</p> +<p> +King Vulfhere being informed of Seghers apostasie, and how the people in his part of the +<span class="rightnote">Bishop Iaruman or Iaroman.</span> +prouince of Eastsaxons were departed from the faith, sent thither bishop Iaruman or Iaroman, +that was successour vnto Trumhere, which vsed such diligence and godlie meanes, +that he reduced the said king and all his people vnto the right beliefe, so as the idolish synagogs +were destroied, and the idols also with their altars quite beaten downe, the Christian +churches againe set open, and the name of Christ eftsoones called vpon amongest the people, +coueting now rather to die in him with hope of resurrection in the world to come, than to +liue in the seruice of idols, spotted with the filth of errors and false beleefe. And thus +when bishop Iaroman had accomplished the thing for the which he was sent, he returned +into Mercia.</p> +<p> +After this, when the said Iaroman was departed this life, king Vulfhere sent vnto the archbishop +Theodorus, requiring him to prouide the prouince of the Mercies of a new bishop. +Theodorus not minding to ordeine anie new bishop at that time, required Oswie king of +Northumberland, that Bishop Cead might come into Mercia to exercise the office of bishop +there. This Cead liued as it were a priuat life at that time in his monasterie of Lestingham, +for Wilfrid held the bishoprike of Yorke, extending his authoritie ouer all Northumberland +& amongest the Picts also, so farre as king Oswies dominion stretched. Therefore Cead +hauing licence to go into Mercia, was gladlie receiued of king Vulfhere, and well enterteined,<span class="page"><a name="page628" id="page628"></a>[Page 628]</span> +in so much that the said king gaue vnto him lands and possessions conteining 50 families or +housholds to build a monasterie in a certeine place within the countrie of Lindsey called Etbearne. +But the sée of his bishoprike was assigned to him at Lichfield in Staffordshire, +where he made him a house néere to the church, in the which he with 7 or 8 other of his +brethren in religion vsed in an oratorie there to praie and reade, so often as they had leasure +from labour and businesse of the world. Finallie, after he had gouerned the church of Mercia +by the space of two yeares and an halfe, he departed this life, hauing 7 daies warning giuen +him (as it is reported) from aboue, before he should die, after a miraculous maner, which +because in the iudgement of the most it may séeme méere fabulous, we will omit and passe +ouer. His bodie was first buried in the church of our ladie, but after that the church of +saint Peter the apostle were builded, his bones were translated into the same.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">671. <br /><i>Matth. West.</i></span> +In the yeare of our Lord 671, which was the second yeare after that Theodorus the archbishop +came into this land, Oswie king of Northumberland was attacked with a grieuous +sicknesse, and died thereof the 15 kalends of March, in the 58 yeare of his age, after he had +reigned 28 yeares complet.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">EGFRID. <br /><i>Beda. lib. 4. cap 5. <br />Matth. West.</i> <br />673.</span> +After Oswie, his sonne Egfrid succéeded in rule of the kingdome of Northumberland, +in the third yeare of whose reigne, that is to say, in the yeare of our Lord 673, Theodorus +the archbishop of Canturburie kept a synod at Herford, the first session whereof began +the 24 of September, all the bishops of this land being present either in person or by their deputies, +<span class="leftnote">A synod holden at Herford.</span> +as Bisi bishop of Estangle, Wilfrid of Northumberland by his deputie Putta bishop of +Rochester, Eleutherius bishop of Westsaxon, and Wilfrid bishop of Mercia. In the presence +<span class="rightnote"><br />Articles proponed by Theodore.</span> +of these prelats, the archbishop shewed a booke, wherein he had noted ten chapters or articles +taken out of the booke of the canons, requiring that the same might be receiued.</p> + +<p class="indent2"> +1 The first chapter was, that the feast of Easter should be kept on the sundaie following +the fourtéenth day of the first moneth.</p> +<p class="indent2"> +2 The second, that no bishop should intermedle in an others diocesse, but be contented with +the cure of his flocke committed to him.</p> +<p class="indent2"> +3 The third, that no bishop should disquiet in anie thing anie monasterie consecrated to +God, nor take by violence anie goods that belonged vnto the same.</p> +<p class="indent2"> +4 The fourth, that bishops being moonks should not go from monasterie to monasterie, except +by sufferance and permission of their abbats, & should continue in the same obedience +wherein they stood before.</p> +<p class="indent2"> +5 The fift, that none of the cleargie should depart from his bishop to run into anie other +diocesse, nor comming from anie other place should be admitted, except he brought letters +of testimonie with him. But if anie such chanced to be receiued, if he refused to returne, +being sent for home, both he and his receiuer should be excommunicated.</p> +<p class="indent2"> +6 The sixt, that bishops and other of the cleargie being strangers shold hold them content +with the benefit of hospitalitie, & should not take in hand anie priestlie office, without licence +of the bishop, in whose diocesse he chanced so to be remaining.</p> +<p class="indent2"> +7 The seuenth, that twice in the yeare a synod should be kept, but because of diuers impediments +herein, it was thought good to them all, that in the kalends of August a synod +should be kept once in the yeare, at a certeine place called Cloofeshough.</p> +<p class="indent2"> +8 The eighth chapter was, that no one bishop should by ambition séeke to be preferred +aboue another, but that euerie one should know the time and order of his consecration.</p> +<p class="indent2"> +9 The ninth, that as the number of the christians increased, so should there be more bishops +ordeined.</p> +<p class="indent2"> +10 The tenth was touching mariages, that none should contract matrimonie with anie person, +but with such as it should be lawfull for him by the orders of the church: none should +match with their kinsfolke, no man should forsake his wife, except (as the gospell teacheth) +for cause of fornication. But if anie man did put awaie his wife which he had lawfullie married, +if he would be accounted a true Christian, he might not be coopled with an other, but so<span class="page"><a name="page629" id="page629"></a>[Page 629]</span> +remaine, or else be reconciled to his owne wife.</p> +<p> +These articles, being intreated of and concluded, were confirmed with the subscribing of +all their hands, so as all those that did go against the same, should be disgraded of their priesthood, +and separated from the companie of them all.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">Bisi bishop of the Eastangles.</span> +The forsaid Bisi that was bishop of the Eastangles, and present at this synod, was sucessor +unto Bonifacius, which Bonifacius held that sée 17 yéeres, and then departing this +life, Bisi was made bishop of that prouince, and ordeined by the archbishop Theodore. This +Bisi at length was so visited with sicknesse, that he was not able to exercise the ministration, +so that two bishops were then & there elected and consecrated for him, the one +named Aecci, and the other Baldwin.</p> +<p> +<span class="leftnote">872. <br />(sic, should read 672)</span> +In this meane while, that is, about the yéere of our Lord 872 (sic), or in the beginning of 873 (sic), +as Harison noteth, Kenwalch king of the Westsaxons departed this life, after he had reigned +<span class="rightnote"><i>Matth. West. <br />de reg. lib. 1.</i></span> +30 yéeres. This Kenwalch was such a prince, as in the beginning he was to be compared +with the woorst kind of rulers, but in the middest and later end of his reigne, to be matched +with the best. His godlie zeale borne towards the aduancing of the christian religion +well appéered in the building of the church at Winchester, where the bishops sée of all that +prouince was then placed. His wife Segburga ruled the kingdome of Westsaxons after him, +a woman of stoutnesse inough to haue atchiued acts of woorthie remembrance, but being +preuented by death yer she had reigned one whole yéere, she could not shew anie full proofe +of hir noble courage. I remember that Matth. West. maketh other report heereof, declaring +that the nobilitie remooued hir from the gouernment. But I rather follow William Malmesburie +in this matter.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">Escuinus. <br /><i>Will Malmes.</i></span> +To procéed, after Segburga was departed this life, or deposed (if you will néeds haue it so) +Escuinus or Elcuinus, whose grandfather called Cuthgislo, the brother of K. Kinigils, succéeding +in gouernment of the Westsaxons, reigned about the space of two yéeres: and after his +deceasse, one Centiuinus or Centwine tooke vpon him the rule, and continued therein the +space of nine yeeres. But Beda saith that these two ruled at one time, and diuided the kingdom +<span class="rightnote"><i>Hen. Hunt.</i></span> +betwixt them. Elcuinus fought against Vulfhere king of Mercia, a great number of men +being slaine on both parties, though Vulfhere yet had after a maner the vpper hand, as some +haue written.</p> +<p> +<span class="leftnote"><i>Beda lib. & ca. supr. dict.</i></span> +In the same yéere that the synod was holden at Herford, that is to say, in the yéere of our +Lord 673, Egbert the king of Kent departed this life in Iulie, and left the kingdome to his +<span class="rightnote">Io. Lothaire.</span> +brother Lothaire, which held the same eleuen yéeres, & seuen moneths. Some haue written that +<span class="leftnote"><br /><i>Wil. Malm. Beda. de reg. lib. 1.</i></span> +king Egbert by the suggestion of one Thunnir, who had the chiefe rule of the kingdome vnder +him, suffered the same Thunnir in lamentable maner to kill the two innocent sonnes of +Ermenredus the brother of king Ercombert, that was father vnto King +<span class="rightnote">Thunnir. A vile murther.</span> +Egbert, for doubt +least they being towardlie yoong gentlemen, might in time grow so into fauour with the people, +that it should be easie for them to depriue both Egbert, and his issue of the kingdome. +Also, that they were priuilie put to death, and secretlie buried at the first, but the place of +their buriall immediatlie being shewed after a miraculous maner, their bodies long after in the +daies of king Egilred the sonne of king Edgar, were taken vp, & conueied vnto Ramsey, +and there buried. And although Egbert being giltie of the death of those his coosens, did +sore repent him, for that he vnderstood they died giltlesse, yet his brother Lothaire was thought +to be punished for that offense, as after shall be shewed.</p> +<p> +<span class="leftnote">Bishop Winfrid deposed.</span> +Winfrid bishop of the Mercies, for his disobedience in some point was depriued by archbishop +<span class="rightnote">Sexvulfe ordeined bishop of the Mercies. 685, as <br /><i>Matth. Westm.</i> saith, Bishop Erkenwald.</span> +Theodore, and one Sexvulfe that was the builder and also the abbat of the monasterie +Meidhamsted, otherwise called Peterborough, was ordeined and consecrated in his place. +About the same time, Erkenwald was ordeined bishop of the Eastsaxons, and appointed to hold +his sée in the citie of London. This Erkenwald was reputed to be a man of great holinesse +and vertue. Before he was made bishop, he builded two abbeies, the one of moonks at<span class="page"><a name="page630" id="page630"></a>[Page 630]</span> +Chertsey in Southerie, where he himselfe was abbat, and the other of nuns at Berking, within +<span class="leftnote">Ethelburga.</span> +the prouince of the Eastsaxons, where he placed his sister Ethelburga, a woman also highlie +<span class="leftnote"><br /><i>Iohn Capgraue.</i></span> +estéemed for hir deuout kind of life. She was first brought vp and instructed in the rules of +hir profession by one Hildelitha a nun of the parties beyond the seas, whome Erkenwald procured +to come ouer for that purpose.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">Waldhere. Sebbie king of Eastsaxons. <br /><i>Beda. lib. 4. cap.</i> 16.</span> +After Erkenwald, one Waldhere was made bishop of London, in whose daies Sebbie king +of the Eastsaxons, after he had reigned thirtie yéeres, being now vexed with a gréeuous sicknesse, +professed himselfe a moonke: which thing he would haue doone long before, if his +wife had not kept him backe. He died shortlie after within the citie of London, and was buried +<span class="leftnote"><i>Wil. Malm.</i></span> +in the church of saint Paule. King Sighere, which in the beginning reigned with him, +and gouerned a part of the Eastsaxons, was departed this life before, so that in his latter time, +the foresaid Sebbie had the gouernment of the whole prouince of the Eastsaxons, and +<span class="rightnote">675.</span> +left the same to his sonnes Sighard and Sewfred. About the yéere of our Lord 675, +<span class="leftnote"><i>Wil. Malmes.</i> But other afiirme that he reigned 17 yéeres.</span> +Vulfhere king of Mercia departed this life, after he had reigned (as some say) 19 yéeres, but +<span class="rightnote"><br /><i>Beda. <br /></i> Peada or rather Weada.</span> +(as other affirme) he reigned but 17 yéeres. Howbeit they which reckon 19, include the time +that passed after the slaughter of Penda, wherein Oswie and Peada held the aforesaid +kingdome.</p> + + <hr /><br /><br /> +<a name="xxxv5" id="xxxv5"></a> +<p> +<i>Edilred king of Mercia inuadeth the kingdome of Kent, and maketh great waste without +resistance of Lothaire the king thereof, Putta of a bishop becommeth a poore curat and +teacheth musicke, Wilfred deposed from his bishoprike by king Egfrid vpon displeasure, +he preacheth the gospell in Sussex by the licence of king Edilwalke, no raine in Sussex +for the space of three yeeres, the woord and sacraments bring blessings with them; bishop +Wilfrid the first teacher to catch fish with nets, the people haue him in great reuerence, +a great and bloudie battell betweene Egfrid & king Edilred, they are reconciled by the +meanes of archbishop Theodore; a synod holden at Hatfield, the clergie subscribe to +certeine articles, of Hilda the famous abbesse of Whitbie.</i></p> + +<h3>THE XXXV CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">EDILRED.</span> +After Vulfhere, his brother Edilred or Ethelred succéeded in gouernment of the kingdome +of Mercia. This Edilred inuaded the kingdome of Kent with a mightie armie, in the +<span class="leftnote">677. <br /><i>Hen. Hunt.</i></span> +yéere of our Lord 677, destroieng the countrie afore him, not sparing churches nor abbeies, +but spoiling the same without respect, as well as other common places. King Lothaire durst +not appéere in the field to giue him battell, so that Edilred went thorough the countrie, destroied +the citie of Rochester, and with great riches gotten by the spoile he returned home. +Putta the bishop of Rochester, after that his church was spoiled and defaced by the enimies, +went to Sexvulfe bishop of Mercia, and there obteining of him a small cure, and a portion +of ground, remained in that countrie, not once labouring to restore his church of Rochester +to the former state, but went about in Mercia to teach song, and instruct such as would +learne musicke, wheresoeuer he was required, or could get intertainment.</p> +<p> +Heerevpon the archbishop Theodore consecrated one William bishop of Rochester in place +of Putta, and after, when the said William constreined by pouertie, left that church, Theodore +<span class="rightnote">678. <br />A blasing star. <br /><i>Matth. West. <br />Beda. lib. 4 ca. 12.</i> <br />Bishop Wifrid banished.</span> +placed one Gebmound in his stéed. In the yéere of our Lord 678, in the moneth of August, + +a blasing starre appéered, with a long bright beame like to a piller. It was séene euerie +morning for the space of thrée moneths togither. The same Egfrid king of Northumberland, +banished bishop Wilfrid vpon displeasure taken with him, out of his sée, and then were two +bishops ordeined in his place, to gouerne the church of the Northumbers, the one named +Bosa at Yorke, and the other called Eata at Hagustald or Lindesferne. Also one Eadhidus<span class="page"><a name="page631" id="page631"></a>[Page 631]</span> +<span class="rightnote"><br />Hagustald. Hexham. Eadhidus. Lindesferne. Holie Iland.</span> +was ordeined about the same time bishop of Lindsey, the which prouince king Egfrid had of +late conquered and taken from Vulfhere the late king of Mercia, whome he ouercame in +battell, and droue him out of that countrie. The said thrée bishops were consecrated at +Yorke by the archbishop of Canturburie Theodorus, the which within thrée yéeres after +ordained two bishops more in that prouince of the Northumbers, that is to say, Tumbert +at Hagustald, Eata that was appointed to remaine at Lindesferne, & Trumuine was ordeined +to haue the cure of the prouince of those Picts which as then were vnder the English dominion. +Also bicause Edilred king of Mercia recouered the countrie of Lindsey, and ioined +<span class="rightnote">The church of Rippon.</span> +it to his dominion, bishop Eadhedus comming from thence, was appointed to gouerne the +church of Rippon.</p> +<p> +After that bishop Wilfrid was expelled out of his diocesse and prouince of the Northumbers, +he went to Rome, and returning from thence, came into the kingdome of the Southsaxons, +the which conteining seuen thousand housholds or families, as yet was not conuerted +<span class="rightnote">Wilfrid by licence of king Edilwalke preacheth the gospel to them of Sussex.</span> +to the christian faith. Wherefore the said Wilfrid began there to preach the gospell with +licence of king Edilwalke, who (as before is mentioned) was conuerted and baptised in Mercia +by the procurement of king Wolfher, that then became his godfather, and gaue him at the +same time the Ile of Wight, and the prouince of the people ancientlie called Meanuari, which +he had woon from the Westsaxons. Bishop Wilfrid then by king Edilwalke his furtherance +and helpe baptised the chiefest lords and gentlemen of that prouince. But certein priests +baptised the residue of the people, either then or in the time following.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">Lacke of raine.</span> +¶ It chanced that for the space of thrée yéeres (as it is said) before the comming thither +of bishop Wilfrid, there had fallen no raine from the aire within that prouince of the Southsaxons, +so that the people were brought into great miserie by reson of famine, which through +want of necessarie fruits of the earth sore afflicted the whole countrie, insomuch that no +small numbers threw themselues hedlong into the sea, despairing of life in such lacke of +necessarie vittels. But as God would, the same day that Wilfrid began to minister the sacrament +of baptisme, there came downe swéet and plentifull showers of raine, so watering +the earth, that thereby great store of all fruits plentifullie tooke root, and yéelded full increase +in growth, to the great comfort and reliefe of all the people, which before were in +maner starued and lost through want of food.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">Catching of fish with nets.</span> +Bishop Wilfrid also taught them in that countrie the maner how to catch fish with nets, +where before that time, they had no great skill in anie kind of fishing, except it were in +catching éeles. Hereby the said bishop grew there in great estimation with the people, so +that his words were the better credited amongst them, for that through him they receiued +so great benefits, God by such meanes working in the peoples hearts a desire to come to the +vnderstanding of his lawes. The king also gaue vnto Wilfrid a place called Sealesew, compassed +about on each side (except on the west halfe) with the sea, conteining 87 housholds +or families, where he built an abbeie, and baptised all his tenants there, amounting to the +<span class="rightnote">Bondmen made trulie free.</span> +number of 250 bondmen and bondwomen, whome he made frée both in bodie and soule: +for he did not onelie baptise them, but also infranchised them of all bodilie seruitude and +bondage.</p> +<p> +In this meane while manie things happened in other parts of this land, and first in the +yeere after the appéering of the blasing starre before mentioned, a mightie battell was fought +betwixt the said Egfrid and Edilred king of Mercia, néere to the riuer of Trent, where +Alswine the brother of king Egfrid was slaine, with manie other of the Northumbers, so +that king Egfrid was constreined to returne home with losse. The archbishop of Canturburie +Theodorus perceiuing that great warre and effusion of bloud was like to follow therevpon, +trauelled so in the matter betwixt them, that they were made friends, and Egfrid had +a péece of monie in recompense of his losses. The foresaid battell was fought in the +<span class="rightnote">679.</span> +yéere of our Lord 679, and in the yeere following, that is to say, in the yéere of our +<span class="leftnote">680.</span> +Lord 680, which was also in the tenth yéere of the reigne of Egfrid king of Northumberland, +the sixt yéere of Edelred king of Mercia, the 17 of Aldvulfe king of Eastangles,<span class="page"><a name="page632" id="page632"></a>[Page 632]</span> +and in the 7 of Lother king of Kent.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">A synod at Hatfield.</span> +The archbishop of Canturburie Theodorus held another synod at Hatfield, about the 15 +<span class="leftnote">Articles subscribed.</span> +kalends of October, in the which all the clergie there present subscribed to certeine articles +touching the beléefe of the trinitie of persons, in vnitie of the Godhead of the like substance, +and also of the same vnitie in trinitie, according to the true faith of the church +of God. Moreouer, they acknowledged by the like subscription, the fiue generall councels, +of Nice, of Constantinople the first, of Ephesus, of Calcedon, and of Constantinople the +second, with the synod also holden at Rome in the daies of Martin bishop of Rome about +the yéere of the emperour Constantine. At this synod holden at Hatfield, was present one +Iohn the archchanter of S. Peters church at Rome, sent into this land of purpose to bring +from hence a certificat vnto pope Agatho of the agréement of the English church in matters +of faith, with other churches of the christian world: but the foresaid archchanter died by +the way in France, as he returned homewards, and was buried at Towers in Towraine.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Bale.</i> <br />The abbesse Hilda. <br /><i>Beda.</i></span> +The same yéere that famous woman Hilda abbesse of Whitbie departed this life, or (as +other say) fiue yéeres after, hauing first beene deteined long with gréeuous sickenesse. She +was the daughter of one Herrericus the nephue of king Edwin, and conuerted to the faith +of Christ at the preaching of bishop Pauline, and afterwards instructed by bishop Aidan, she +professed hirselfe a nun, applieng hir whole studie to the reading of the scriptures, to praier, +& other godlie exercises. She builded the abbeie of Whitbie, wherein were placed both men +and women, with such an equalitie in all things, that there was no rich person amongst +<span class="leftnote"><i>Bale.</i></span> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Ran. Cest.</i> <br /><i>Matth. West.</i> <br /><i>Beda.</i></span> +them, nor anie that wanted things necessarie. She departed this life on the 15 kalends of +December, being 66 yéeres of age. As some haue written she argued stoutlie on bishop +Colmans part, at the disputation holden in the monasterie of Whitbie, in the yéere of Grace +<span class="leftnote"><i>Henrie Hunt.</i></span> +664, whereof ye haue heard before. About the yéere of our Lord 682, that is to say, in +the seuenth yere of Centwine or Centiuinus king of Westsaxons, the same Centwine fought +<span class="rightnote">The Britains discomfited.</span> +with the Britains, and ouercame them in battell, pursuing them with fire and sword vnto the +sea side.</p> +<p> +¶ Thus (at this time as also at diuerse other times) they were discomfited and put to +flight, being a people allotted and shared out as it were to suffer many an ouerthrow, and +abide manie a sharpe and shamefull repulse at the hands of their enimies, who conuerted +the distresse of that people to their profit, and tooke pleasure in the extreamitie of the miseries +wherein they were plunged, as may be obserued by the pitifull alteration of their state +vnder diuers gouernours, and speciallie vnder the Danish dominion, who kept them in no +<span class="rightnote"><i>Gorop. in Gota danica lib. 7. pag. 759.</i></span> +lesse vile seruitude than Pharao did the Hebrues at the making of bricke & chopping of straw. +So that some thinke this land to be corruptlie named Britania, but ought rather to be called +Bridania, that is, <i>Libera Dania, siue regio in qua Dani liberè viuant</i>, for they liued as +lords in the land, & did (for the time being) what they listed. But of this matter more +shall be spoken hereafter in place conuenient.</p> + +<hr /><br /><br /> +<a name="xxxvj5" id="xxxvj5"></a> +<span class="page"><a name="page633" id="page633"></a>[Page 633]</span> +<p> +<i>Cadwallader king of Britaine, the people are brought into great miserie, and he forced to +flee the land, he dieth at Rome, the British writers noted of error, Ceadwalla king of the +Westsaxons, the kingdome is diuided; the valorous mind of Ceadwalla, he is forced to forsake +his countrie, he vanquisheth and killeth Edilwalke king of the Westsaxons, his returne +into his kingdome with reuenge vpon Berthun duke of Sussex and other his heauie +friends, his vow if he might conquer the Ile of Wight, his bountifull offer to bishop Wilfrid, +the Ile of Wight receiueth the faith; Ceadwalla inuadeth Kent, of a barbarous warriour +he becommeth a religious christian, his vertues, his death and buriall at Rome; Egfrid +king of Northumberland inuadeth Ireland, he is slaine by Brudeus king of the Picts; the +neglect of good counsell is dangerous; Etheldreda a wife and a widow (hauing vowed +chastitie) liued a virgine 12 yeeres with hir husband Egfride, she was called saint Auderie +of Elie.</i></p> + +<h3>THE XXXVJ CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">CADWALLADER.</span> +But now to returne vnto that which is found in the British histories, by the tenor +wherof it should appeare, that when their king Cadwallo was dead, his son Cadwallader +<span class="leftnote">676 saith <br /><i>Matth. West.</i></span> +succéeded him in gouernement of the Britains, in the yéere of our Lord 678, which was +about the 10 yéere of the emperour Constantius Paganotus, and in the 13 yéere of the reigne +<span class="rightnote"><i>Galfrid.</i></span> +of Childericus king of France. This Cadwallader, being the sonne of Cadwallo, was begot +by him of the halfe sister of Penda king of Mercia, for one father begot them both, but of +two sundrie mothers, for she had to mother a ladie descended of the noble blood of the Westsaxons, +and was maried vnto Cadwallo when the peace was made betwixt him and hir brother +the said Penda. After that Cadwallader had reigned the space of 12 yéers (as Geffrey +of Monmouth saith) or (as others write) but 3 yéeres, the Britains were brought into such +miserie through ciuill discord, and also by such great and extreme famine as then reigned +<span class="rightnote">Cadwallader constreined to forsake the land.</span> +through all the land, that Cadwallader was constreined with the chéefest part of his people to +forsake their natiue countrie, and by sea to get them ouer into Britaine Armorike, there to +séeke reliefe by vittels for the sustentation of their languishing bodies. </p> +<p> +¶ Long processe is made by the British writers of this departure of Cadwallader, & of +the Britains out of this land, and how Cadwallader was about to haue returned againe, but +that he was admonished by a dreame to the contrarie, the which bicause it séemeth but fabulous, +we passe ouer. At length he went to Rome, and there was confirmed in the christian +religion by pope Sergius, where shortlie after he fell sicke, and died the 12 kalends of May, in +<span class="rightnote">689.</span> +the yeere of our Lord 689. But herein appeareth the error of the British writers in taking +one for another, by reason of resemblance of names, for where Ceadwalla king of the +Westsaxons about that time mooued of a religious deuotion, after he was conuerted to the +faith, went vnto Rome, and was there baptised, or else confirmed of the foresaid pope Sergius, +and shortlie after departed this life in that citie in the foresaid yéere of 689 or therabouts. +The Welshmen count him to be their Cadwallader: which to be true is verie vnlike +by that which may be gathered out of the learned writings of diuers good and approoued +authors.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">CEADWALLA. <br /><i>Wil. Malm.</i> <br /><i>Beda.</i></span> +This Ceadwalla king of the Westsaxons succeeded after Centwine or Centiuinus, which +Centwine reigned nine yéeres, though it should appeare by that which is written by authors +of good credit, that during two of those yéeres at the least, the kingdome of Westsaxons was +diuided betwixt him and Elcuinus or Escuinus, so that he should not reigne past seuen yeeres +alone.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Wil. Malm.</i></span> +<span class="leftnote"><i>Ranulf. Cest.</i></span> +But now to Ceadwalla, whome some take to be all one with Cadwallader, we find that +he was lineallie descended from Cutha or Cutwine, the brother of Ceauline or Keuling +king of Westsaxons, as sonne to Kenbert or Kenbright that was sonne to Ceadda the sonne +of the foresaid Cutha or Cutwin. Thus being extract of the noble house of the kings of<span class="page"><a name="page634" id="page634"></a>[Page 634]</span> +Westsaxons, he prooued in his youth a personage of great towardnesse, and such a one as no +small hope was of him conceiued: he would let no occasion passe wherein he might exercise +his force, to shew proofe of his high valiancie, so that in the end with his woorthie attempts +shewed therein, he purchased to himselfe the enuie of those that ruled in his countrie, by +<span class="rightnote">Ceadwalla driuen to depart out of his countrie.</span> +reason whereof he was banished in a conspiracie made against him. Wherevpon he tooke +occasion as it were in reuenge of such vnthankfulnesse to withdraw out of his countrie, leading +with him all the principall youth of the same, the which either pitieng his present estate, or +mooued with pleasure taken in his valiant dooings, followed him at his going into exile.</p> +<p> +The first brunt of his furious attempts after he was out of his countrie, Edilwalke the king +of the Southsaxons tasted, who in defense of himselfe comming to trie battell with Ceadwalla, +was slaine with the most part of all his armie. Ceadwalla then perceiuing the valiant +courages of his souldiers, filled with good hope of this happie atchiued victorie, returned +with good and prosperous spéed into his owne countrie, and that yer he was looked for, and +earnestlie pursuing his aduersaries, droue them out of the kingdome, and taking vpon him to +rule the same as king, reigned two yéeres, during the which he atchiued diuers notable enterprises.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Beda lib. 4. cap. 15.</i></span> +And first, whereas Berthun and Authun dukes of Sussex & subiects vnto the late king +Edilwalke, had both expelled him out of that countrie, after he had slaine the said Edilwalke, +and also taken vpon them the rule of that kingdome, hauing now atteined to the gouernement +<span class="rightnote">Berthun a duke of Sussex slaine.</span> +of the Westsaxons, he inuaded the countrie of Sussex againe, and slue Berthun in battell, +bringing that countrie into more bondage than before. He also set vpon the Ile of Wight, +and well-néere destroied all the inhabitants, meaning to inhabit it with his owne people. Hee +<span class="rightnote">Caedwalla his vow. <br />The Ile of Wight conquered.</span> +bound himselfe also by vow, although as yet he was not baptised, that if he might conquer +it, he would giue a fourth part thereof vnto the Lord. And in performance of that vow, he +offered vnto bishop Wilfride (who then chanced to be present) when he had taken that Ile, so +much therof as conteined 300 housholds or families, where the whole consisted in 1200 housholds. +Wilfrid receiuing thankefullie the gift, deliuered the same vnto one of his clearks named +Bernewine that was his sisters sonne, appointing to him also a priest named Hildila, the which +should minister the word and the sacrament of baptisme vnto all those that would receiue the +<span class="rightnote">The Ile of Wight receiueth the faith.</span> +same. Thus was the Ile of Wight brought to the faith of Christ last of all other the parties +of this our Britaine, after that the same faith had failed here by the comming of the Saxons.</p> +<p> +Moreouer, king Ceadwalla inuaded the kingdome of Kent, where he lost his brother Mollo, +as after shall appéere, but yet he reuenged his death with great slaughter made of the inhabitants +in that countrie. Finallie, this worthie prince Ceadwalla, turning himselfe from the +desire of warre and bloudshed, became right courteous, gentle and liberall towards all men, +so that ye could not haue wished more vertuous manners to rest in one as yet not christened. +And shortlie after, willing to be admitted into the fellowship of the christians (of whose religion +he had taken good tast) he went to Rome, where of pope Sergius he was baptised, and +named Peter, and shortlie after surprised with sickenesse, he died, and was buried there within +<span class="rightnote">689.</span> +the church of saint Peter in the yeere of our Lord 689.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Beda lib. 4. cap. 26.</i> Ireland inuaded by the Northumbers.</span> +In the meane while, that is to say, in the yeere of our Lord 684, Egfride king of Northumberland +sent an armie vnder the guiding of a capteine named Bertus into Ireland, the +which wasted that countrie, sparing neither church nor monasterie, sore indamaging the people +of that countrie, which had euer beene friends vnto the English nation, and deserued +nothing lesse than so to be inuaded and spoiled at their hands. The Irish men defended +themselues to their power, beséeching God with manie a salt teare, that he would reuenge +their cause in punishing of such extreme iniuries. And though cursers may not inherit the +kingdome of heauen, yet they ceased not to curse, hoping the sooner that those which with +good cause were thus accursed, should woorthilie be punished for their offenses by God, & so +<span class="rightnote">King Egfride slain by Brudeus king of the Picts.</span> +(peraduenture) it fell out. For in the yeere following, the said Egfride had lead an armie +into Pictland against Brudeus king of the Picts, and being trained into straits within hils and +craggie mounteins, he was slaine with the most part of all his armie, in the yeere of his age<span class="page"><a name="page635" id="page635"></a>[Page 635]</span> [635 +40, and of his reigne 15, vpon the 13 kalends of June.</p> +<p> +There were diuers of Egfrides friends, and namelie Cutberd (whome he had aduanced the +same yéere vnto the bishops sée of Lindesferne) that aduised him in no wise, either to haue +taken this warre in hand against the Picts, or the other against them of Ireland, but he would +not be counselled, the punishment appointed for his sinnes being such, that he might not +giue eare to his faithfull friends that aduised him for the best. From that time foorth, the +<span class="rightnote">These Britains were those vndouttedlie y't dwelt in the northwest parts of this Ile, +and is not ment onlie by them of Wales.</span> +hope and power of the English people began to decaie. For not onelie the Picts recouered +that part of their countrie which the Englishmen had held before in their possession, but +also the Scots that inhabited within this Ile, and likewise some part of the Britains tooke vpon +them libertie, which they kept and mainteined a long time after, as Beda confesseth. </p> +<p> +Egfride died without issue, & left no children behind him. He had to wife one Ethelreda +or Etheldrida, daughter vnto Anna king of the Eastangles, which liued with hir husband the +forsaid Egfride twelue yéeres in perfect virginitie (as is supposed) contrarie to the purpose of +hir husband, if he might haue persuaded hir to the contrarie, but finallie he was contented +<span class="rightnote">Ethelreda.</span> +that she should kéepe hir first vow of chastitie which she had made. She was both widow +and virgine when he maried hir, being first coupled in wedlocke with one Eunbert a noble +<span class="leftnote">Giruij.</span> +man, and a ruler in the south parts of the countrie, where the people called Giruij inhabited, +which is the same where the fennes lie in the confines of Lincolnshire, Norffolke, Huntingtonshire, +& Cambridgeshire, howbeit he liued with hir but a small while. After she had obteined +licence to depart from the court, she got hir first into Coldingham abbeie, and there +was professed a nun. Then she went to Elie, and there restored the monasterie, and was +made abbesse of the place, in the which after she had gouerned seuen yeeres, she departed this +life, and was there buried. This same was she which commonlie is called saint Audrie of +Elie, had in great reuerence for the opinion conceiued of hir great vertue and puritie +of life.</p> + + <hr /><br /><br /> + <a name="xxxvij5" id="xxxvij5"></a> +<p> +<i>Alfride (the bastard) king of Northumberland, his life and death, Iohn archbishop of Canturburie +resigneth his see, Lother king of Kent dieth of a wound, Edrike getteth the regiment +thereof but not without bloudshed, Ceadwalla wasteth Kent being at strife in it +selfe, his brother Mollo burned to death; Withred made king of Kent, he vanquisheth +his enimies, Inas king of Westsaxons is made his friend, Suebhard and Nidred vsurpers +of the Kentish kingdome, the age and death of Theodore archbishop of Canturburie, +Brightwald the first archbishop of the English nation; the end of the British regiment, +and how long the greatest part of this Iland was vnder their gouernement.</i></p> + +<h3>THE XXXVIJ CHAPTER.</h3> +<p> +After that king Egfride was slaine (as before is mentioned) his brother Alfride was made +<span class="rightnote">ALFRIDE. 685.</span> +king of Northumberland. This Alfride was the bastard sonne of king Oswie, and in his +brothers daies (either willinglie, or by violent means constreined) he liued as a banished man +in Ireland, where applieng himselfe to studie, he became an excellent philosopher. And +therfore being iudged to be better able to haue the rule of a kingdome, he was receiued by +the Northumbers, and made king, gouerning his subiects the space of 20 yeares and more, +with great wisedome and policie, but not with such large bounds as his ancestors had doone: +for the Picts (as before is mentioned) had cut off one péece of the north part of the ancient +limits of that kingdome. About the 13 yeare of his reigne, that is to say, in the yeare of our +<span class="leftnote">698.</span> +Lord 698, one of his capteins named earle Berthred, or Bertus, was slaine in battell by the +Picts, whose confins he had as then inuaded. The curse of the Irish men, whose countrie +<span class="rightnote"><i>Matt. West.</i></span> +in the daies of king Egfrid he had cruellie wasted (as before is mentioned) was thought at +this time to take place. Finallie king Alfride, after he had reigned 20 yeares & od months,<span class="page"><a name="page636" id="page636"></a>[Page 636]</span> +<span class="rightnote">705. <br /><i>Beda.</i></span> +departed this life, in the yeare of our Lord 705.</p> +<p> +In the beginning of king Alfrids daies, Eata the bishop of Hexham being dead, one Iohn a +man of great holinesse was admitted bishop, and after that, bishop Wilfrid was restored, +<span class="rightnote">Iohn archbishop of Yorke.</span> +when he had remained a long time in exile. The said Iohn was remoued to the church of +Yorke, the same being then void by the death of the archbishop Bosa. At length the foresaid +<span class="leftnote"> He resigneth his sée.</span> +Iohn wearied with the cares of publike affaires resigned his sée, and got him to Beuerley, +where he liued a solitarie life for the space of foure yeares, and then died, about the yeare of +<span class="rightnote">721.</span> +our Lord 721, king Osrike as then reigning in Northumberland. He continued bishop for +the space of 24 yeares, and builded a church, and founded a colledge of priests at Beuerley +aforsaid, in which church he lieth buried.</p> +<p> +<span class="leftnote">686 saith <br /><i>Matt. West.</i></span> +<span class="rightnote">Lother king of Kent dieth of a wound.</span> +The same yeare, or in the yeare after that king Egfrid was slaine, Lother king of Kent departed +this life, the 8 Ides of Februarie, of a wound by him receiued in a battell which he +fought against the Southsaxons, the which came in aid of Edrike, that was sonne vnto his +brother Egbert, and had mainteined warre against his vncle the said Lother, euen from the +beginning of his reigne, till finallie he was now in the said battell striken thorough the bodie +with a dart, and so died thereof, after he had reigned 11 yeares, and seuen moneths. It was +thought that he was disquieted with continuall warres and troubles, and finallie brought to his +end before the naturall course of his time, for a punishment of his wicked consent giuen to +<span class="leftnote"><i>Wil. Malm.</i></span> +the putting to death of his cousins Ethelbert & Ethelbrit, as appeared, in that when they were +<span class="rightnote"><i>Capgraue</i> saith, their sister.</span> +reported to be martyrs, because it was knowen they died innocentlie, he mocked them and +made but a iest at it, although his brother in acknowledging his fault, repented him thereof, +and gaue in recompense to their mother a part of the Ile of Thanet to the building of a +monasterie.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote">EDRICKE. </span> +The foresaid Edricke (after Lother was dead) got the dominion of Kent, and ruled as king +thereof, but not without ciuill warre, insomuch that before he had reigned the full terme of +two yeares, he was slaine in the same warre. Then Ceadwalla king of the Westsaxons being +thereof aduertised, supposing the time now to be come that would serue his purpose, as one +still coueting to worke the Kentishmen all the displeasure he could, entred with an armie +into their countrie, and began to waste and spoile the same on ech side, till finallie the Kentishmen +assembled themselues togither, gaue battell to their enimies, and put them to flight. +Mollo brother to Ceadwalla was driuen from his companie, and constrained to take an house +<span class="rightnote">Mollo brother to king Ceadwalla burnt to death.</span> +for his refuge: but his enimies that pursued him set fire thereon, and burned both the house +and Mollo within it to ashes. Yet did not Ceadwalla herewith depart out of the countrie, +but to wreake his wrath, and to reuenge the griefe which he tooke for the death of his brother, +he wasted and destroied a great part of Kent yer he returned home, and left (as it were) +an occasion to his successor also to pursue the quarell with reuenging. Wherein we sée the +cankerd nature of man, speciallie in a case of wrong or displeasure; which we are so far from +tollerating & forgiuing, that if with tooth and naile we be not permitted to take vengeance, our +hearts will breake with a full conceit of wrath. But the law of nature teacheth vs otherwise +to be affected, namelie,</p> + +<blockquote> +——— per te nulli vnquam iniuria fiat,<br /> +Sed verbis alijsque modis fuge lædere quenquam,<br /> +Quod tibi nolles, alijs fecisse caueto,<br /> +Quódque tibi velles, alijs præstare studeto;<br /> +Hæc est naturæ lex optima, quam nisi ad vnguem<br /> +Seruabis, non ipse Deo (mihi crede) placebis,<br /> +Póstque obitum infoelix non aurea sydera adibis.<br /> +</blockquote> +<p> +Which lesson taught by nature, and commanded of God, if these men had followed (as +they minded nothing lesse in the fier of their furie) they would haue béene content with a +competent reuenge, and not in such outragious maner with fier and sword haue afflicted one<span class="page"><a name="page637" id="page637"></a>[Page 637]</span> +another, nor (which is more than tigerlike crueltie) haue ministred occasion to posterities to +reuenge wrongs giuen and taken of their ancestors. But we will let this passe without further +discourse, meaning hereafter in due place to declare the processe.</p> +<p> +The Kentishmen being destitute of a king, after that diuers had coueted the place, and +sought to atteine thereto, as well by force as otherwise, to the great disquieting of that prouince +for the space of 6 yeares togither, at length in the 7 yeare after Edricks death, Withred +an other of the sonnes of king Egbert, hauing with diligent trauell ouercome enuie at home, +<span class="rightnote">Withred is made king of Kent.</span> +& with monie redéemed peace abaoad (sic), was with great hope conceiued of his worthinesse made +king of Kent, the 11 of Nouember, & 205 after the death of Hengist, he reigned 33 yeares, +not deceiuing his subiects of their good conceiued opinion of him: for ouercomming all his +aduersaries which were readie to leuie ciuill warre against him, he also purchased peace of +Inas king of the Westsaxons, which ment to haue made him warre, till with monie he was +made his friend.</p> +<p> +<span class="rightnote"><i>Hen. Hunt.</i> <br /><i>Beda. lib. 5.</i> <br />Suebhard and Nidred kings by vsurpation and +not by succession, as <br /><i>Henr. Hunt.</i> writeth.</span> +A little before that Withred was confirmed in the kingdome of Kent, there reigned two +kings in that countrie, Suebhard and Nidred, or rather the same Withred, if the printed copie +of Bedas booke intituled "Ecclesiastica historia gentis Anglorum" haue not that name corrupted: +for where he sheweth that the archbishop Theodorus being of the age of 88 yeares, +departed this life in the yeare of our Lord 690, in the next chapter he declareth, that in the +yeare 692, the first daie of Iulie one Brightwald was chosen to succéed in the archbishops +sée of Canturburie, Withredus and Suebhardus as then reigning in Kent: but whether +Withredus gouerned as then with Suebhardus, or that some other named Nidred, it forceth +not: for certeine it is by the agréement of other writers, that till Withred obteined the whole +rule, there was great strife and contention moued about the gouernement, and diuers there +<span class="leftnote">Brightwald the first archbishop of the English nation.</span> +were that sought and fought for it. But this ought to be noted, that the forenamed Brightwald +was the eight archbishop in number, and first of the English nation that sat in the sée +of Canturburie: for the other seuen that were predecessors to him, were strangers borne, and +sent hither from Rome.</p> +<p> +¶ Here endeth the line and gouernement of the Britains, now called Welshmen, which +tooke that name of their duke or leader Wallo or Gallo; or else of a queene of Wales +named Gales or Wales. But howsoeuer that name fell first vnto them, now they are called +Welshmen, which sometime were called Britains or Brutons, and descended first of the Troians, +and after of Brute, and lastlie of Mulmucius Dunwallo: albeit they were mingled with sundrie +other nations, as Romans, Picts, &c. And now they be called English that in their beginning +were named Saxons or Angles. To conclude therefore with this gouernement, so +manie times intercepted by forren power, it appeareth by course of histories treating of these +matters, that the last yeare of Cadwallader was the yeare of our Lord 686, which makes the +yere of the world 4647. So that (as Fabian saith) the Britains had the greater part of this +land in rule (reckoning from Brute till this time) 1822 yeares. Which terme being expired, +the whole dominion of this realme was Saxonish.</p> +<p class="center"><br /><br /> +<i>Thus farre the interrupted regiment of the Britains, ending at the fift booke.</i></p> +<br /><br /><br /><br /> + +<p>[Transcriber's note: The following words appear to be typos, but were +left as they appeared in this book.</p> + +<p class="indent2"> by little little => little by little (chapter 3, para. 1)<br /> + whreof => whereof (chapter 8, para. 5)<br /> + buruished => burnished (chapter 13, para. 3)<br /> + shost => short (chapter 25, para. 4)<br /> + Grogories => Gregories (chapter 33, para. 10)<br /> + abaoad => abroad (chapter 37, para. 6)]</p> + + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Chronicles 1 (of 6): The Historie of +England 5 (of 8), by Raphael Holinshed + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HISTORIE OF ENGLAND *** + +***** This file should be named 16555-h.htm or 16555-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/5/5/16555/ + +Produced by Jonathan Ingram, Lesley Halamek and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Chronicles 1 (of 6): The Historie of England 5 (of 8) + The Fift Booke of the Historie of England. + +Author: Raphael Holinshed + +Release Date: August 20, 2005 [EBook #16555] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HISTORIE OF ENGLAND *** + + + + +Produced by Jonathan Ingram, Lesley Halamek and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + +THE FIFT BOOKE + +OF THE + +HISTORIE OF ENGLAND. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Constantinus at the generall sute of the Britains vndertaketh to +gouerne this Iland, he is crowned king, his three sonnes, he is +traitorouslie slaine of a Pict, Constantius the eldest sonne of +Constantine hauing bene a monke is created king, the ambitious & slie +practises of duke Vortigerne to aspire to the gouernment, he procureth +certeine Picts and Scots to kill the king who had reteined them for +the gard of his person, his craftie deuises and deepe dissimulation +vnder the pretense of innocencie, he winneth the peoples harts, and is +chosen their king._ + +THE FIRST CHAPTER. + + +Having ended our former booke with the end of the Romane power ouer +this Iland, wherein the state of the Iland vnder them is at full +described; it remaineth now that we proceed to declare, in what state +they were after the Romans had refused to gouerne them anie longer. +Wherefore we will addresse our selues to saie somewhat touching the +succession of the British kings, as their histories make mention. + +[Sidenote: CONSTANTINUS. _Gal. Mon._ _Matt. Westm._] +Constantinus the brother of Aldroenus king of little Britaine, at +the sute and earnest request of the archbishop of London, made in name +of all the Britains in the Ile of great Britaine, was sent into the +same Ile by his said brother Aldroenus vpon couenants ratified in +manner as before is recited, and brought with him a conuenient power, +landing with the same at Totnesse in Deuonshire. Immediatlie after his +[Sidenote: _Caxton_ saith 12000. but _Gal._ and others say +but 2000.] +c[=o]ming on land, he gathered to him a great power of Britains, +which before his landing were hid in diuerse places of the Ile. Then +went he foorth with them, and gaue battell to the enimies, whom he +vanquished: & slue that tyrannicall king Guanius there in the field +[Sidenote: The British historie disagreeth from the Scotish.] +(as some bookes haue.) Howbeit, this agreeth not with the Scotish +writers, which affirme that they got the field, but yet lost their +king named Dongard (as in their historie ye maie read.) + +But to proceed as our writers report the matter. When the Britains had +thus ouercome their enimies, they conueied their capteine the said +Constantine vnto Cicester, and there in fulfilling their promise and +couenant made to his brother, crowned him king of great Britaine, +in the yeere of our Lord 433, which was about the fift yeere of the +emperour Valentinianus the second, and third yeere of Clodius king +[Sidenote: _Matth. West._ saith 435.] +of the Frankners after called Frenchmen, which then began to settle +themselues in Gallia, whereby the name of that countrie was afterwards +changed and called France. Constantine being thus established king, +ruled the land well and noblie, and defended it from all inuasion of +enimies during his life. He begat of his wife three sonnes (as the +British historie affirmeth) Constantius, Aurelius Ambrosius, and Vter +surnamed named Pendragon. The eldest, bicause he perceiued him to be +but dull of wit, and not verie toward, he made a moonke, placing him +within the abbie of Amphibalus in Winchester. + +[Sidenote: In a groue of bushes as _Gal._ saith. _Matth. West._ +_Beda_. _Orosius_. _Blondus_.] +Finallie this Constantine, after he had reigned ten yeeres, was +traitorouslie slaine one day in his owne chamber (as some write) by a +Pict, who was in such fauor with him, that he might at all times haue +free accesse to him at his pleasure. Neither the Romane writers, +nor Beda, make anie mention of this Constantine: but of the other +Constantine they write, which immediatlie after the vsurper Gratian +was dispatched out of the way (as before ye haue heard) was aduanced +to the rule of this land, and title of emperour, onelie in hope of his +name, and for no other respect of towardnesse in him, afore time +being but a meane souldier, without anie degree of honour. The same +Constantine (as writers record) going ouer into Gallia, adorned his +sonne Constantius with the title and dignitie of Cesar, the which +before was a moonke, and finallie as well the one as the other were +slaine, the father at Arles by earle Constantius, that was sent +against him by the emperour Honorius; and the sonne at Vienna (as +before ye haue heard) by one of his owne court called Gerontius (as in +the Italian historie ye may see more at large.) This chanced about the +yeere of our Lord 415. +[Sidenote: 415.] + +¶ This haue we thought good to repeat in this place, for that some may +suppose that this Constantine is the same that our writers take to be +the brother of Aldroenus king of little Britaine, as the circumstance +of the time and other things to be considered may giue them occasion +to thinke, for that there is not so much credit to be yeelded to them +that haue written the British histories, but that in some part men may +with iust cause doubt of sundrie matters conteined in the same: and +therfore haue we in this booke beene the more diligent to shew what +the Romans and other forreine writers haue registred in their bookes +of histories touching the affaires of Britaine, that the reader may be +the better satisfied in the truth. But now to returne to the +sequele of the historie as we find the same written by the British +chroniclers. + +[Sidenote: This Vortigerne was duke of the Geuisses and Cornewall, as +_Rad. Cestr._ reporteth. _Gal. Mon._] +After that Constantine was murthered (as before ye haue heard) one +Vortigerus, or Vortigernus, a man of great authoritie amongst the +Britains, wrought so with the residue of the British nobilitie, +that Constantius the eldest sonne of their king the fore-remembred +Constantine, was taken out of the abbie of Winchester where he +remained, and was streightwaies created king, as lawfull inheritour to +his father. + +Ye haue heard how Constantius was made a moonke in his fathers life +time, bicause he was thought to be too soft and childish in wit, to +haue anie publike rule committed to his hands: but for that cause +speciallie did Vortigerne seeke t'aduance him, to the end that the +king being not able to gouerne of himselfe, he might haue the chiefest +swaie, and so rule all things as it were vnder him, preparing thereby +a way for himselfe to atteine at length to the kingdome as by that +which followed was more apparentlie perceiued. + +[Sidenote: CONSTANTIUS. _Matt. West._ saith 445.] +This Constantius then the sonne of Constantine, by the helpe (as +before ye haue heard) of Vortigerne, was made king of Britaine, in the +yere of our Lord 443. But Constantius bare but the name of king: for +Vortigerne abusing his innocencie and simple discretion to order +things as was requisite, had all the rule of the land, and did what +pleased him. Wherevpon first, where there had beene a league concluded +betwixt the Britains, Scots and Picts, in the daies of the late king +Constantine, Vortigerne caused the same league to be renewed, & +[Sidenote: _Hector Boet._] +waged an hundred Picts, and as manie Scots to be attendant as a gard +vpon the kings person, diuers of the which (corrupting them with faire +[Sidenote: Constantius murthered.] +promises) he procured by subtile meanes in the end to murther the +king, and immediatlie vpon the deed doone, he caused the murtherers to +be strangled, that they should not afterwards disclose by whose +[Sidenote: The subtile dealing of Vortigerne.] +procurement they did that deed. Then caused he all the residue of the +Scots and Picts to be apprehended, and as it had beene vpon a zeale +to see the death of Constantius seuerelie punished, he framed such +inditements and accusations against them, that chieflie by his meanes +(as appeared) the giltlesse persons were condemned and hanged, +the multitude of the British people beeing woonderfullie pleased +therewith, and giuing great commendations to Vortigerne for that deed. +Thus Constantius was made awaie in maner as before ye haue heard, +after he had reigned (as most writers affirme) the space of fiue +yeeres. + +After his death was knowne, those that had the bringing vp and +[Sidenote: Aurelius Ambrosius. Vter Pendragon.] +custodie of his two yoonger brethren, Aurelius Ambrose, and +Vter Pendragon, mistrusting the wicked intent of Vortigerne, whose +dissimulation and mischieuous meaning by some great likelihoods they +suspected, with all speed got them to the sea, and fled into litle +Britaine, there keeping them till it pleased God otherwise to prouide +for them. But Vortigerne could so well dissemble his craftie workings, +and with such conueiance and cloked maner could shadow and colour the +matter, that most men thought and iudged him verie innocent and void +of euill meaning: insomuch that he obteined the fauour of the people +so greatlie, that he was reputed for the onelie staie and defender of +the common wealth. Herevpon it came to passe, that when the councell +was assembled to elect a new king, for so much as the other sonnes of +[Sidenote: Vortigerne chosen king of Britaine.] +king Constantine were not of age sufficient to rule, Vortigerne +himselfe was chosen, diuers of the nobles (whom he had procured +thereto) giuing their voices to this his preferment, as to one best +deseruing the same in their opinion and judgement. This Vortigerne, +as by indirect meanes and sinister proceedings he aspired to the +regiment, hauing no title therevnto, otherwise than as blind fortune +vouchsafed him the preferment: so when he was possessed, but not +interessed in the same, he vncased the crooked conditions which he had +couertlie concealed, and in the end (as by the sequele you shall see) +did pull shame and infamie vpon himselfe. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Vortigerne furnisheth the tower with a garrison, he bewraieth his +crueltie, Aurelius and Pendragon brethren to the late king Constantius +flie into Britaine Armorike, what common abuses and sinnes did +vniuersally concurre with a plentifull yeere, the Scots and Picts +reuenge the death of their countrimen, Vortigerne is in doubt of his +estate, the Britains send for succour to the Saxons, they come vnder +the conduct of Hengist and Horsus two brethren, where they are +assigned to be seated, they vanquish the Scots, disagreement in +writers touching the Saxons first comming into this Iland._ + +THE SECOND CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: VORTIGERNE. 446.] +Vortigerne, by such diuelish meanes and vnconscionable practises +(as you heare) stealing away the hearts of the people, was chosen +and made king of Britaine, in the yeere of our Lord 446, in the 3 +consulship of Aetius, 1197 of Rome, 4 of the 305 Olympiad, 4112 of the +world, the dominicall letter going by F, the prime by 10, which fell +about the 21 yeere of the emperour Valentinianus, the same yeere that +Meroneus began to reigne ouer the Frenchmen. Before he was made king, +he was earle or duke of the Geuisses, a people which held that part of +Britaine where afterwards the west Saxons inhabited. Now when he +[Sidenote; _Hector Boet._] +had with treason, fraud, and great deceit at length obteined that for +the which he had long looked, he first of all furnished the tower of +London with a strong garrison of men of warre. + +Then studieng to aduance such onelie as he knew to be his speciall +[Sidenote: 415.] +friends and fauourers, he sought by all meanes how to oppresse +other, of whose good will he had neuer so litle mistrust, and namelie +those that were affectionate towards the linage of Constantine he +hated deadlie, and deuised by secret meanes which way he might best +destroy them. But these his practises being at the first perceiued, +caused such as had the gouernance of the two yoong gentlemen with +[Sidenote: _Fabian_.] +all speed to get them ouer (as ye haue heard) into Britaine Armorike, +there to remaine out of danger with their vncle the king of that land. +Diuers of the Britains also, that knew themselues to be in Vortigerne +his displeasure, sailed ouer dailie vnto them, which thing brought +Vortigerne into great doubt and feare of his estate. + +[Sidenote: _Gyldas_. Plentie of wealth accompanied with store of +sinnes.] +It chanced also the same time, that there was great plentie of +corne, & store of fruit, the like wherof had not beene seene in manie +yeeres before, and therevpon insued riot, strife, lecherie, and other +vices verie heinous, & yet accounted as then for small or rather none +offenses at all. These abuses & great enormities reigned not onelie in +the temporaltie, but also in the spiritualtie and cheefe rulers in the +same: so that euerie man turned the point of his speare (euen as he +had consented of purpose) against the true and innocent person. The +commons also gaue themselues to voluptuous lust, drunkennesse, and +idle loitering, whereof followed fighting, contention, enuie, and much +debate. Of this plentie therefore insued great pride, and of this +abundance no lesse hautinesse of mind, wherevpon followed great +wickednesse, lacke of good gouernement and sober temperancie, and in +the necke of these as a iust punishment, death and mortalitie, so that +in some countries scarse the quicke sufficed to burie the dead. + +[Sidenote: Scots and Picts inuade the Britains.] +And for an augmentation of more mischeefe, the Scots and Picts +hearing how their countrimen through the false suggestion of +Vortigerne, had bene wrongfullie and most cruellie put to death at +London, began with fire & sword to make sharpe & cruell warre against +the Britains, wasting their countrie, spoiling and burning their +townes, and giuing them the ouerthrow in a pitcht field, as in the +Scotish historie more plainlie appeareth. To be breefe, the Britains +were brought into such danger and miserie, that they knew not what way +to take for remedie in such present perill, likelie to be ouerrun and +vtterlie vanquished of their enimies. In the meane time Vortigerne +not onelie troubled with these imminent euils, but fearing also the +returne of the two brethren, Aurelius Ambrose, and Vter Pendragon, +began to consider of the state of things, and esteeming it most sure +to worke by aduise, called togither the principall lords and cheefe +men of the realme to haue their counsell and opinion, how to proceed +in such a weightie businesse: and so debating the matter with them, +measured both his owne force, and also the force of his enimies, +and according to the condition and state of the time, diligentlie +considered and searched out what remedie was to be had and prouided. + +[Sidenote: _Gyldas_. _Wil. Malm._ _Beda_. The Saxons sent for. 10000 +hath _Hector Boet._ _Gyldas_ and _Beda_ mention onelie but of +3 plates or gallies, but _Hector Boet_. hath 30.] +At length after they had throughlie pondered all things, the more +part of the nobles with the king also were of this mind, that there +could be no better way deuised, than to send into Germanie for the +Saxons to come to their aid: the which Saxons in that season were +highlie renowmed for their valiancie in armes, and manifold aduentures +heretofore atchiued. And so forthwith messengers were dispatched into +Germanie, the which with monie, gifts, and promises, might procure the +Saxons to come to the aid of the Britains against the Scots and Picts. +The Saxons glad of this message, as people desirous of intertainment +to serue in warres, choosing forth a picked companie of lustie yoong +men vnder the leading of two brethren Hingist and Horsus, got them +aboord into certeine vessels appointed for the purpose, and so with +all speed directed their course towards great Britaine. + +[Sidenote: 449.] +This was in the yeare of our Lord 449, and in the second yeare +of Vortigerns reigne, as the most autentike writers both British +and English seeme to gather, although the Scotish writers, and +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._] +namelie, Hector Boetius doo varie herein, touching the iust account of +yeares, as to the perusers of the writings aswell of the one as the +other may appeare. But others take it to be in the 4 yeere of his +reigne: whereto Beda seemeth to agree, who noteth it in the same yeare +that Martianus the emperour began to rule the empire, which was (as +appeareth by the consularie table) in the consulship of Protogenes and +Austerius, and third yeere of Meroneus king of France. + +These Saxons thus arriuing in Britaine, were courteouslie receiued, & +hartilie welcomed of king Vortigerne, who assigned to them places in +Kent to inhabit, and foorthwith led them against the Scots and Picts, +which were entred into Britaine, wasting & destroieng the countrie +before them. Heerevpon comming to ioine in battell, there was a sore +fight betwixt the parties for a while. But at length when the Saxons +called to their remembrance that the same was the day which should +either purchase to them an euerlasting name of manhood by +[Sidenote: Scots vanquished by the Saxons.] +victorie, or else of reproch by repulse, began to renew the fight with +such violence, that the enimies not able to abide their fierce charge, +were scattered and beaten downe on ech side with great slaughter. + +The king hauing gotten this victorie, highlie rewarded the strangers +[Sidenote: _Henrie Hunt._] +according to their well deseruings, as by whose prowesse he had +thus vanquished his enimies, which (as some write) were come as farre +as Stamford, and vsed at that time to fight with long darts and +speares, whereas the Saxons fought onelie with long swords and axes. + +[Sidenote: _Gal. Mon._] +¶ Some haue written that the Saxons were not sent for, but came by +chance into the Ile, and the occasion to be this. There was an ancient +custome among the English Saxons a people in Germanie, as was also at +the first among other nations, that when the multitude of them was so +increased, that the countrie was not able to susteine and find them, +by commandement of their princes, they should choose out by lots a +number of yoong and able personages fit for the warrs, which should go +foorth to seeke them new habitations: and so it chanced to these, that +they came into great Britaine, and promised to serue the king for +wages in his warres. + + * * * * * + + + + + +_Hengistus the Saxon shooteth at the crowne and scepter of the +kingdome by craftie and subtile practises, a great number of forren +people arriue in Britaine for the augmentation of his power, of the +faire ladie Rowen his daughter, whereof Wednesdaie and Fridaie tooke +their name, of the Iutes, Saxons, and Angles, Vortigerne being +inflamed with the loue of Hengists daughter forsaketh his owne wife +and marrieth hir, Vortigerne giueth Hengist all Kent, the Saxons come +ouer by heaps to inhabit the land, the British nobilitie moue the +king to auoid them, he is depriued of his kingdome, the miserable +destruction made by the Saxons in this land, skirmishes betwixt them +and the Britains._ + +THE THIRD CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: Hengist purposeth at the first to conquere the +Britains.] +Now Hengistus, being a man of great wit, rare policie, and high +wisedome, vnderstanding the kings mind, who wholie trusted to the +valiancie of the Saxons, & herewithall perceiuing the fruitfulnesse +of the countrie, presentlie began to consider with himselfe, by what +wiles and craft he might by little little settle heere, and obteine +a kingdome in the Ile, and so establish the same to him and his for +euer. + +[Sidenote: _Polydor_.] +Therefore first he endeuored with all speed possible to fense that +part of the countrie, which was giuen him and his people, and to +inlarge and furnish it with garisons appointed in places most +conuenient. After this he did what he could to persuade the king, that +a great power of men might be brought ouer out of Germanie, that the +[Side note: _Wil. Malm._ 18 Foists or plates saie the +Scotish writers, and 5000 men in the same. The Saxons call +these vessels Ceoles, or Keeles, and our old histories +Cogiones.] +land being fortified with such strength, the enimies might be put +in feare, and his subiects holden in rest. The king not foreseeing the +hap that was to come, did not despise this counsell tending to the +destruction of his kingdome, and so was more aid sent for into +Germanie: wherevpon now at this second time there arriued heere 16 +vessels fraught with people, and at the same time came the ladie +Rowen or Ronix (daughter to Hengist) a maid of excellent beautie and +comelinesse, able to delight the eies of them that should behold +hir, and speciallie to win the heart of Vortigerne with the dart of +concupiscence, wherevnto he was of nature much inclined, and that did +Hengist well perceiue. + +[Sidenote: The _Vitae_ or _Iutae_ are called Ibitri. +_Alex. Now._] +There came ouer into this land at that time, and soone after, three +maner of people of the Germane nation, as Saxons, Vitae or Iutes, and +Angles, ouer the which the said Hengist and Horse being brethren, were +capteines & rulers, men of right noble parentage in their countrie, +as descended of that ancient, prince Woden, of whom the English +Saxon kings doo for the more part fetch their pedegree, as lineallie +descended from him, vnto whome also the English people (falselie +[Sidenote: Wednesdaie, and Fridaie, whereof they came.] +reputing him for a god) consecrated the fourth daie of the weeke, as +they did the sixt to his wife Frea: so that the same daies tooke name +of them, the one being called Wodensdaie, and the other Freadaie, +which woords after in continuance of time by corruption of speech were +somewhat altered, though not much, as from Wodensdaie, to Wednesdaie, +[Sidenote: _Beda_.] +and from Freadaie to Fridaie. The foresaid Woden was father to +Vecta, the father of Wergistus that was father to the foresaid +Hengistus and Horsus. + +But now to rehearse further touching those three people which at this +time came ouer into Britaine out of Germanie. Of the Vites or Iutes +(as Beda recordeth) are the Kentishmen descended, and the people of +the Ile of Wight, with those also that inhabit ouer against the same +Ile. Of the Saxons came the east, the south, & the west Saxons. +Moreouer, of the Angles proceeded the east Angles, the middle Angles +or Mercies, and the Northerne men. That these Angles were a people +[Sidenote: _Cor. Tacitus_.] +of Germanie, it appeareth also by Cornelius Tacitus, who called them +Anglij, which word is of three syllables (as Polydor saith:) but some +write it Angli, with two syllables. And that these Angli, or Anglij +were of no small force and authoritie in Germanie before their comming +into this land, maie appeare, in that they are numbred amongst the +twelue nations there, which had lawes and ancient ordinances apart by +themselues, according to the which the state of their common wealth +was gouerned, they being the same and one people with the Thuringers, +as in the title of the old Thuringers lawes we find recorded, which is +thus: "Lex Angliorum & Werinorum, hoc est Thuringorum," The law of the +Angles and Werinians that is to saie the Thuringers, which Thuringers +are a people in Saxonie, as in the description of that countrie it +maie appeare. + +[Sidenote: _Polydor_. Rowen, or Ronowen Hengists daughter.] +But now to the matter. Hengist perceiuing that his people were +highlie in Vortigernes fauour, began to handle him craftilie, deuising +by what means he might bring him in loue with his daughter Ronix, or +Rowen, or Ronowen (as some write) which he beleeued well would easilie +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._] +be brought to passe, bicause he vnderstood that the king was much +giuen to sensuall lust, which is the thing that often blindeth wise +mens vnderstanding, and maketh them to dote, and to lose their perfect +wits: yea, and oftentimes bringeth them to destruction, though by such +pleasant poison they feele no bitter taste, till they be brought to +the extreame point of confusion in deed. + +[Sidenote: _Gal. Mon._] +A great supper therefore was prepared by Hengist, at the which +it pleased the king to be present, and appointed his daughter, when +euerie man began to be somewhat merrie with drinke, to bring in a cup +of gold full of good and pleasant wine, and to present it to the king, +saieng; Wassail. Which she did in such comelie and decent maner, as +she that knew how to doo it well inough, so as the king maruelled +greatlie thereat, and not vnderstanding what she ment by that +salutation, demanded what it signified. To whom it was answered by +[Sidenote: Wassail, what it signifieth.] +Hengist, that she wished him well, and the meaning of it was, that he +should drinke after hir, ioining thereto this answer, Drinke haile. +Wherevpon the king (as he was informed) tooke the cup at the damsels +hand, and dranke. + +Finallie, this yoong ladie behaued hir selfe with such pleasant +woords, comelie countenance, and amiable grace, that the king beheld +hir so long, till he felt himselfe so farre in loue with hir person, +that he burned in continuall desire to inioy the same: insomuch that +[Sidenote: _Polydor_. _Fabian_.] +shortlie after he forsooke his owne wife, by the which he had +three sonnes, named Vortimerus, Catagrinus, and Pascentius, and +required of Hengist to haue his daughter, the said Rowen, or Ronowen +in mariage. Hengist at the first seemed strange to grant to his +request, and excused the matter, for that his daughter was not of +estate and dignitie meet to be matched with his maiestie. But at +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._] +length as it had beene halfe against his will he consented, and so +the mariage was concluded & solemnized, all Kent being assigned vnto +Hengist in reward, the which countrie was before that time gouerned by +one Guorongus (though not with most equall Justice) which Guorongus +was subiect vnto Vortigerne, as all other the potentats of the Ile +were. + +This mariage and liberalite of the king towards the strangers +much offended the minds of his subiects, and hastened the finall +destruction of the land. For the Saxons now vnderstanding the +affinitie had betwixt the king and Hengist, came so fast ouer to +inhabit heere, that it was woonder to consider in how short a time +such a multitude could come togither: so that bicause of their great +number and approoued puissance in warres, they began to be a terrour +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._] +to the former inhabitants the Britains. But Hengist being no lesse +politike in counsell than valiant in armes, abusing the kings lacke of +discretion, to serue his owne turne, persuaded him to call out +[Sidenote: _Gal._ saith he was Hengists sonne, and Ebusa +his vncles sonne. Occa and Ebusa leaders of Saxons.] +of Germanie his brother Occa and his sonne named Ebusa, being men of +great valure, to the end that as Hengist defended the land in the +south part: so might they keepe backe the Scots in the north. + +Heerevpon by the kings consent, they came with a power out of +Germanie, and coasting about the land, they sailed to the Iles of +Orknie, and sore vexed the people there, and likewise the Scots and +Picts also, and finallie arriued in the north parts of the realme, now +called Northumberland, where they setled themselues at that present, +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._ _de Regib._] +and so continued there euer after: but none of them taking vpon +him the title of king, till about 99 yeeres after their first comming +into that countrie, but in the meane time remaining as subiects vnto +the Saxon kings of Kent. After their arriuall in that prouince, they +oftentimes fought with the old inhabitants there, and ouercame them, +chasing away such as made resistance, and appeased the residue by +receiuing them vnder allegiance. + +[Sidenote: _Fabian_. The great numbers of strangers +suspected to the Britains.] +When the nobles of Britaine saw and perceiued in what danger the +land stood, by the dailie repaire of the huge number of Saxons into +the same, they first consulted togither, and after resorting to the +king, mooued him that some order might be taken for the auoiding of +them, or the more part of them, least they should with their power and +great multitude vtterlie oppresse the British nation. But all was in +vaine, for Vortigerne so esteemed and highlie fauoured the Saxons, and +namelie by reason of the great loue which he bare to his wife, that he +little regarded his owne nation, no nor yet anie thing esteemed his +[Sidenote: Vortigerne depriued.] +owne naturall kinsmen and chiefe friends, by reason whereof the +Britains in fine depriued him of all kinglie honour, after that he had +reigned 16 yeeres, and in his steed crowned his sonne Vortimer. + +[Sidenote: _Gyldas_. _Beda_. _H. Hunt._] +Gyldas and Beda make no mention of Vortimer, but declare that +after the Saxons were receiued into this land, there was a couenant +made betwixt them and the Britains, that the Saxons should defend the +countrie from the inuasion of enimies by their knightlie force: and +that in consideration therof, the Britains should find them prouision +of vittels: wherewith they held them contented for a time. But +afterwards they began to pike quarrels, as though they were not +sufficientlie furnished of their due proportion of vittels, +threatening that if they were not prouided more largelie thereof, they +would surelie spoile the countrie. So that without deferring of +[Sidenote: The miserable destruction made by the Saxons in +this land.] +time, they performed their woords with effect of deeds, beginning +in the east part of the Ile, & with fire and swoord passed foorth, +wasting and destroieng the countrie, till they came to the vttermost +part of the west: so that from sea to sea, the land was wasted and +destroied in such cruell and outragious manner, that neither citie, +towne, nor church was regarded, but all committed to the fire: the +priests slaine and murthered euen afore the altars, and the prelats +with the people without anie reuerence of their estate or degree +dispatched with fire and swoord, most lamentablie to behold. + +Manie of the Britains seeing the demeanour of the Saxons, fled to +the mounteins, of the which diuers being apprehended, were cruellie +slaine, and other were glad to come foorth and yeeld themselues to +eternall bondage, for to haue releefe of meate and drinke to asswage +their extremitie of hunger. Some other got them out of the realme into +strange lands, so to saue themselues; and others abiding still in +their countrie, kept them within the thicke woods and craggie rocks, +whither they were fled, liuing there a poore wretched life, in great +feare and vnquietnesse of mind. + +But after that the Saxons were departed and withdrawne to their +houses, the Britains began to take courage to them againe, issuing +foorth of those places where they had lien hid, and with one consent +calling for aid at Gods hand, that they might be preserued from vtter +destruction, they began vnder the conduct of their leader Aurelius +Ambrose, to prouoke the Saxons to battell, and by the helpe of God +they obteined victorie, according to their owne desires. And from +thence foorth, one while the Britains, and an other while the Saxons +were victors. So that in this British people, God (according to his +accustomed maner) as it were present Israell, tried them from time to +time, whether they loued him or no, vntill the yeare of the +[Sidenote: So _Gyldas_ was borne in the yeare of our Lord +493.] +siege of Badon hill, where afterwards no small slaughter was made of +the enimies: which chanced the same yeare in the which Gyldas was +borne (as he himselfe witnesseth) being about the 44 yeare after the +comming of the Saxons into Britaine. + +Thus haue Gyldas & Beda (following by likelihood the authoritie of the +same Gyldas) written of these first warres begun betweene the Saxons +and Britains. But now to go foorth with the historie, according to the +order of our chronicles, as we doo find recorded touching the doings +of Vortimer that was elected king (as ye haue heard) to gouerne in +place of his father Vortigerne. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Vortimer is created king in the roome of his father Vortigerne, he +giueth the Saxons sore and sharpe battels, a combat fought betweene +Catigerne the brother of Vortimer and, Horsus the brother of Hengist, +wherein they were both slaine, the Britains driue the Saxons into the +Ile of Tenet, Rowen the daughter of Hengist procureth Vortimer to be +poisoned, the Saxons returne into Germanie as some writers report, +they ioine with the Scots and Picts against the Britains and discomfit +them._ + +THE FOURTH CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: VORTIMER. 464. _Fabian_. _Galf. Mon._ _Matt. West._ +saith 454.] +This Vortimer being eldest sonne to Vortigerne, by the common +assent of the Britains was made king of Britaine, in the yeare of our +Lord 464, which was in the fourth yeare of the emperour Leo the fift, +and about the sixt yeare of Childericus king of France, as our common +account runneth, which is far disagreeing from that whereof W. Harison +dooth speake in his chronologie, who noteth Vortigerne to be deposed +in the 8 after his exaltation to the crowne, 454 of Christ, and 5 +currant after the comming of the Saxons, which concurreth with the +4420 of the world, and 8 of Meroneus, as by his chronologie dooth more +at large appear. + +But to proceed, Vortimer being thus aduanced to the gouernment of the +realme, in all hast made sore warre against the Saxons, and gaue vnto +them a great battell vpon the riuer of Derwent, where he had of +[Sidenote: The riuer of Derwent.] +them the vpper hand. And the second time he fought with them at a +[Sidenote: Epiford.] +place called Epiford, or Aglisthrop, in the which incounter Catagrine +or Catigernus the brother of Vortimer, and Horsus the brother of +Hengist, after a long combat betwixt them two, either of them slue +other: but the Britains obteined the field (as saith the British +[Sidenote: The Ile of Tenet.] +historie.) The third battell Vortimer fought with them neere to the +sea side, where also the Britains chased the Saxons, & droue them into +[Sidenote: _Hen. Hunt._ Colemoore.] +the Ile of Tenet. The fourth battell was stricken neere to a moore +called Colemoore, the which was sore fought by the Saxons, and long +continued with great danger to the Britains, because the foresaid +moore inclosed a part of their host so stronglie, that the Britains +could not approch to them, being beaten off with the enimies shot, +albeit in the end the Saxons were put to flight, & manie of them +drowned and swallowed vp in the same moore. Beside these foure +[Sidenote: _Fabian_. Tetford in Norfolke. Colchester.] +principall battels, Vortimer had diuers other conflicts with the +Saxons, as in Kent and at Tetford in Norfolke, also neere to +Colchester in Essex: for he left not till he had bereft them of the +more part of all such possessions as before time they had got, so that +they were constrained to keepe them within the Ile of Tenet, where he +oftentimes assailed them with such ships as he then had. When Ronowen +the daughter of Hengist perceiued the great losse that the Saxons +sustained by the martiall prowesse of Vortimer, she found means that +within a while the said Vortimer was poisoned, after he had ruled the +Britains by the space of 6 or 7 yeares and od moneths. + +¶ By the British historie it should seeme, that Vortimer before his +death handled the Saxons so hardlie, keeping them besieged within the +Ile of Tenet, till at length they were constrained to sue for licence +to depart home into Germanie in safetie: and the better to bring this +to pas, they sent Vortigerne, (whome they had kept still with them +in all these battels) vnto his sonne Vortimer, to be a meane for the +obteining of their sute. But whilest this treatie was in hand, they +got them into their ships, and leauing their wiues and children behind +them, returned into Germanie. Thus far Gal. Mon. But how vnlikelie +this is to be true, I will not make anie further discourse, but onelie +refer euerie man to that which in old autentike historiographers +[Sidenote: _Will. Malmes._] +of the English nation is found recorded, as in Will. Malmes. Henr. +Hunt, Marianus, and others: vnto whome in these matters concerning +the dooings betwixt the Saxons and Britains, we maie vndoubtedlie and +safelie giue most credit. + +William Malmes. writing of this Vortimer, or Guortigerne, and of the +warres which he had against the Saxons, varieth in a maner altogether +from Geffrey of Monmouth, as by his words here following ye maie +perceiue. Guortimer, the sonne of Vortimer (saith he) thinking not +good long to dissemble the matter, for that he saw himselfe and his +countriemen the Britains preuented by the craft of the English Saxons, +set his full purpose to driue them out of the realme, and kindled +his father to the like attempt. He therefore being the author and +procurer, seuen yeares after their first comming into this land, the +[Sidenote: Hengist had the victorie in this battell saith +_Ra. Mig._, Horse and Catigene slaine.] +league was broken, and by the space of 20 yeares they fought +oftentimes togither in manie light incounters, but foure times they +fought puissance against puissance in open field: in the first battell +they departed with like fortune, whilest the one part, that is to +meane, the Saxons lost their capteine Horse that was brother to +Hengist, and the Britains lost Catigerne an other of Vortigerns +sonnes. + +[Sidenote: 458.] +In the ether battels, when the Englishmen went euer awaie with the +vpper hand, at length a peace was concluded, Guortimer being taken out +of this world by course of fatall death, the which much differing +from the soft and milde nature of his father, right noblie would haue +gouerned the realme, if God had suffered him to haue liued. But these +battels which Vortimer gaue to the Saxons (as before is mentioned) +should appeare by that which some writers haue recorded, to haue +chanced before the supposed time of Vortimers or Guortimers atteining +to the crowne, about the 6 or 7 yeare after the first comming of the +Saxons into this realme with Hengist. And hereto W. Harison giueth his +[Sidenote: _Polydor_.] +consent, referring the mutuall slaughter of Horsus and Catigerne +to the 6 years of Martianus, & 455 of Christ. Howbeit Polydor Virgil +saith, that Vortimer succeeded his father, and that after his fathers +deceasse the English Saxons, of whome there was a great number then +in the Ile, comming ouer dailie like swarmes of bees, and hauing in +possession not onelie Kent, but also the north parts of the realme +towards Scotland, togither with a great part of the west countrie, +thought it now a fit time to attempt the fortune of warre: and first +therefore concluding a league with the Scots and Picts, vpon the +sudden they turned their weapons points against the Britains, and most +cruellie pursued them, as though they had receiued some great iniurie +at their hands, and no benefit at all. The Britains were maruelouslie +abashed herewith, perceiuing that they should haue to doo with +Hengist, a capteine of so high renowme, and also with their ancient +enimies the Scots and Picts, thus all at one time, and that there was +no remedie but either they must fight or else become slaues. Wherefore +at length, dread of bondage stirred vp manhood in them, so that they +assembled togither, and boldlie began to resist their enimies on ech +[Sidenote: The Britains discomfited by the Scots.] +side: but being too weake, they were easilie discomfited and +put to flight, so that all hope of defense by force of armes being +vtterlie taken awaie, as men in despaire to preuaile against their +enimies, they fled as sheepe scattered abroad, some following one +capteine and some another, getting them into desart places, woods and +maresh grounds, and moreouer left such townes and fortresses as were +of no notable strength, as a preie vnto their enimies. + +Thus saith Polydor Virgil of the first breaking of the warres betwixt +the Saxons and the Britains, which chanced not (as should appeare by +that which he writeth thereof) till after the death of Vortigerne. +Howbeit he denieth not that Hengist at his first comming got seates +for him and his people within the countie of Kent, and there began to +[Sidenote: _Sigebertus_.] +inhabit. This ought not to be forgotten, that king Vortimer (as +Sigebertus hath written) restored the Christian religion after he had +vanquished the Saxons, in such places where the same was decaied by +the enimies inuasion, whose drift was not onelie to ouerrun the land +with violence, but also to erect their owne laws and liberties without +regard of clemencie. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Vortigerne is restored to his regiment, in what place he abode during +the time of his sonnes reigne, Hengist with his Saxons re-enter the +land, the Saxons and Britains are appointed to meet on Salisburie +plaine, the priuie treason of Hengist and his power whereby the +Britains were slaine like sheepe, the manhood of Edol earle of +Glocester, Vortigerne is taken prisoner, Hengist is in possession of +three prouinces of this land, a description of Kent._ + +THE FIFT CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: 471. _Matth. West._ saith 461.] +After all these bloudie broiles and tempestuous tumults ended, +Vortigerne was restored and set againe into the kingdome of Britaine, +in the yeare of our Lord 471. All the time of his sonnes reigne, he +had remained in the parties now called Wales, where (as some write) +in that meane time he builded a strong castle called Generon, or +Guaneren, in the west side of Wales nere to the riuer of Guana, vpon +a mounteine called Cloaricus, which some referre to be builded in his +second returne into Wales, as shall be shewed hereafter. And it is so +much the more likelie, for that an old chronicle, which Fabian had +sight of, affirmeth, that Vortigerne was kept vnder the rule of +certeine gouernors to him appointed in the towne of Caerlegion, and +[Sidenote: Caerleon Arwiske.] +behaued himselfe in such commendable sort towards his sonne, in aiding +him with his counsell, and otherwise in the meane season whilest his +sonne reigned, that the Britains by reason thereof began so to fauour +him, that after the death of Vortimer they made him king againe. + +Shortlie after that Vortigerne was restored to the rule of the +[Sidenote: _Matth. West._ saith 4000. He might easilie returne, +for except I be deceiued he was neuer driuen out after he had once set +foot within this Ile.] +kingdom, Hengist aduertised therof returned into the land with +a mightie armie of Saxons, whereof Vortigerne being admonished, +assembled his Britains, and with all speed made towards him. When +Hengist had knowledge of the huge host of the Britains that was +comming against him, he required to come to a communication with +Vortigerne, which request was granted, so that it was concluded, that +on Maie day a certeine number of Britains, and as manie of the Saxons +should meet togither vpon the plaine of Salisburie. Hengist hauing +deuised a new kind of treason, when the day of their appointed meeting +was come, caused euerie one of his allowed number secretlie to put +into his hose a long knife (where it was ordeined that no man should +bring anie weapon with him at all) and that at the verie instant when +[Sidenote: Nempt your sexes, what if it were messes.] +this watchword should be vttered by him, "Nempt your sexes," then +should euerie of them plucke out his knife, and slea the Britaine that +chanced to be next to him, except the same should be Vortigerne, whom +he willed to be apprehended, but not slaine. + +At the day assigned, the king with his appointed number or traine +of the Britains, mistrusting nothing lesse than anie such maner of +vnfaithfull dealing, came vnto the place in order before prescribed, +without armor or weapon, where he found Hengist readie with his +Saxons, the which receiued the king with amiable countenance and +in most louing sort: but after they were a little entred into +communication, Hengist meaning to accomplish his deuised purpose, gaue +the watchword, immediatlie wherevpon the Saxons drew out their kniues, +[Sidenote: There died of the nobles of Britaine 460 as _Gal._ saith.] +and suddenlie fell on the Britains, and slue them as sheepe being +fallen within the danger of woolues. For the Britains had no weapons +to defend themselues, except anie of them by his strength and manhood +got the knife of his enimie. + +[Sidenote: _Ran. Cestren._ _Fabian_.] +Amongst other of the Britains, there was one Edol earle of +Glocester, or (as other say) Chester, which got a stake out of an +hedge, or else where, and with the same so defended himselfe and laid +about him, that he slue 17 of the Saxons, and escaped to the towne of +[Sidenote: _Gal._ saith 70, _Matth. West._ _Ran. Cestren._] +Ambrie, now called Salisburie, and so saued his owne life. Vortiger +was taken and kept as prisoner by Hengist, till he was constreined to +deliuer vnto Hengist three prouinces or countries of this realme, that +is to say, Kent & Essex, or as some write, that part where the south +Saxons after did inhabit, as Sussex and other: the third was the +countrie where the Estangles planted themselues, which was in Norfolke +and Suffolke. Then Hengist being in possession of those three +prouinces, suffered Vortigerne to depart, & to be at his libertie. + +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._] +¶ William Malmesburie writeth somewhat otherwise of this taking +of Vortigerne, during whose reigne, after the deceasse of his sonne +Vortimer, nothing was attempted against the Saxons, but in the meane +time Hengist by colorable craft procured his sonne in law Vortigerne +to come to a banket at his house, with three hundred other Britains, +and when he had made them well and warme with often quaffing and +emptieng of cups, and of purpose touched euerie of them with one +bitter tawnt or other, they first fell to multiplieng of malicious +words, and after to blowes that the Britains were slaine, euerie +mothers sonne so yeelding vp their ghosts euen amongst their pots. The +king himselfe was taken, and to redeeme himselfe out of prison, gaue +to the Saxons three prouinces, and so escaped out of bondage. + +Thus by what meane soeuer it came to passe, truth it is (as all +writers agree) that Hengist got possession of Kent, and of other +countries in this realme, and began to reigne there as absolute +[Sidenote: 476.] +lord & gouernor, in the yeere of our Lord (as some write) 476, about +the fift yeere of Vortigerns last reigne: but after other, which take +the beginning of this kingdome of Kent to be when Hengist had first +gift therof, the same kingdome began in the yeere 455, and conteined +the countrie that stretcheth from the east Ocean vnto the riuer of +[Sidenote: Kingdome of Kent.] +Thames, hauing on the southeast Southerie, and vpon the west +London, vpon the northeast the riuer of Thames aforesaid, and the +countrie of Essex. + + * * * * * + + + + +_The heptarchie or seuen kingdoms of this land, Hengist causeth +Britaine to be peopled with Saxons, the decaie of Christian religion, +the Pelagians with their hereticall and false doctrine infect the +Britains, a synod summoned in Gallia for the redresse thereof, the +Scots assist the Britains against the Saxons, who renew their league +with the Picts, Germane and Lupus two bishops of Germanie procure the +British armie to be newlie christened, the terror that the Britains +vnder bishop Germans fortunate conduct draue into the Saxons by the +outcrie of Alleluia, and got the victorie, bishop Germane departeth +out of the land, and to redresse the Pelagian heresie commeth againe +at the clergies request, he confirmeth his doctrine by a miracle, +banisheth the Pelagians out of the land, the death of Germane, murther +requited with murther._ + +THE VJ. CHAPTER. + + +Hengist and all other the Saxon kings which ruled (as after shall +appeare) in seuen parts of this realme, are called by writers +_Reguli,_ that is, little kings or rulers of some small dominion: so +that Hengist is counted a little king, who when he had got into his +hands the foresaid three prouinces, he caused more Saxons to come +into Britaine, and bestowed them in places abroad in the countrie, by +reason whereof the christian religion greatlie decaied within the +[Sidenote: The decay of christian religion.] +land, for the Saxons being pagans, did what they could to extinguish +the faith of Christ, and to plant againe in all places their +heathenish religion, and woorshipping of false gods: and not onelie +hereby was the true faith of the Christians brought in danger dailie +to decaie, but also the erronious opinions of the Pelagians greatlie +preuailed here amongst the Britains, by meanes of such vnsound +preachers as in that troublesome season did set forth false doctrine +amongst the people, without all maner of reprehension. + +[Sidenote: _Beda_.] +Certeine yeeres before the comming of the Saxons, that heresie +began to spread within this land verie much, by the lewd industrie of +one Leporius Agricola, the sonne of Seuerus Sulpitius (as Bale saith) +a bishop of that lore. But Pelagius the author of this heresie was +borne in Wales, and held opinion that a man might obteine saluation by +his owne free will and merit, and without assistance of grace, as he +that was borne without originall sinne, &c. + +This erronious doctrine being taught therefore, and mainteined in this +troublesome time of warres with the Saxons, sore disquieted the godlie +minded men amongst the Britains, who not meaning to receiue it, +[Sidenote: _Beda_.] +nor yet able well to confute the craftie and wicked persuasions vsed +by the professors thereof, thought good to send ouer into Gallia, +requiring of the bishops there, that some godlie and profound learned +men might be sent ouer from thence into this land, to defend the cause +of the true doctrine against the naughtie teachers of so blasphemous +an error. Whervpon the bishops of Gallia sore lamenting the miserable +state of the Britains, and desirous to relieue their present need, +speciallie in that case of religion, called a synod, and therein +[Sidenote: A synod called in Gallia.] +taking counsell to consider who were most meet to be sent, it was +[Sidenote: Germanus and Lupus.] +deceed by all their consents in the end, that one Germane the +bishop of Auxerre, and Lupus bishop of Trois should passe ouer +into Britaine to confirme the Christians there in the faith of the +celestiall grace. And so those two vertuous learned men taking their +iournie, finallie arriued in Britaine, though not without some danger +by sea, through stormes & rage of winds, stirred (as hath beene +thought of the superstitious) by the malice of wicked spirits, who +purposed to haue hindered their proceedings in this their good and +well purposed iournie. After they were come ouer, they did so much +good with conuincing the wicked arguments of the aduersaries of the +truth, by the inuincible power of the woord of God, and holinesse of +life, that those which were in the wrong waie, were soone brought into +the right path againe. + +[Sidenote: _Beda_. Palladius. Constantine king of Scots.] +About the same time also, one Palladius was sent from Celestinus +bishop of Rome, vnto the Scots, to instruct them in the faith of +Christ, and to purge them from the heresie of the said Pelagius. This +Palladius exhorted Constantinus the king of Scots, that in no wise +he should aid the Saxons being infidels against the Britains: whose +exhortation tooke so good effect, that the said Constantinus did +not onelie forbeare to assist the Saxons, but contrarilie holpe the +Britains in their warres against them, which thing did mainteine the +state of the Britains for a time from falling into vtter ruine and +decaie. In the meane time, the Saxons renewed their league with +[Sidenote: _H. Hunt._ _Beda_.] +the Picts, so that their powers being ioined togither, they began +afresh to make sore warres vpon the Britains, who of necessitie were +constreined to assemble an armie, & mistrusting their owne strength, +required aid of the two bishops, Germane and Lupus, who hasting +forward with all speed came into the armie, bringing with them no +small hope of good lucke to all the Britains there being assembled. +This was doone in Kent. + +Now such was the diligence of the bishops, that the people (being +instructed with continuall preaching) in renouncing the error of the +Pelagians, earnestlie came by troops to receiue the grace of God +offred in baptisme, so that on Easter day which then insued, the +more part of the armie was baptised, and so went foorth against the +[Sidenote: The armie of the Britains newlie christened.] +enimies, who hearing thereof, made hast towards the Britains; in +hope to ouercome them at pleasure. But their approch being knowne, +bishop Germane tooke vpon him the leading of the British host, and +ouer against the passage thorough the which the enimies were appointed +to come, he chose foorth a faire vallie inclosed with high mounteins, +and within the same he placed his new washed armie. And when he +saw the enimies now at hand, he commanded that euerie man with one +generall voice should answer him, crieng alowd the same crie that he +should begin. So that euen as the enimies were readie to giue the +charge vpon the Britains, supposing that they should haue taken them +at vnwares, and before anie warning had been giuen, suddenlie bishop +[Sidenote: Alleluia.] +Germane and the priests with a lowd and shrill voice called +_Alleluia,_ thrice: and therewith all the multitudes of the Britains +with one voice cried the same crie, with such a lowd shout, that the +Saxons were therewith so amazed and astonied (the echo from the rocks +and hils adjoining, redoubling in such wise the crie) that they +thought not onelie the rocks and clifs had fallen vpon them, but that +euen the skie it selfe had broken in peeces and come tumbling downe +vpon their heads: heerewith therefore throwing awaie their weapons, +they tooke them to their feet, and glad was he that might get to be +formost in running awaie. Manie of them for hast were drowned in a +riuer which they had to passe. Polydor taketh that riuer to be Trent. +The Britains hauing thus vanquished their enimies, gathered the spoile +at good leasure, & gaue God thanks for the victorie thus got without +bloud, for the which the holie bishops also triumphed as best became +them. Now after they had setled all things in good quiet within the +Ile, as was thought expedient, they returned into Gallia or France, +from whence they came (as is before rehearsed.) + +[Sidenote: _Matth. West._ 448.] +By one author it should appeere that this battell was woone +against the Scots and Picts, about the yeere of our Lord 448, a little +before the comming of the Saxons into this land vnder Hengist, in +which yeere Germane first came hither to weed out the heresie of +Pelagius, as by the same author more at large is affirmed. Howbeit, +some chronographers alledge out of Prosper & other, and note the first +comming of Germane to haue beene in the 429 yeere of Christ, and vnder +the consulship of Florentius and Dionysius. And this should seeme to +agree with the truth, for that after some, the foresaid Germane should +die at Rauenna, about the yeere of our Lord 450, as Vincentius +noteth, which was the verie yeere of the comming of the Saxons: +notwithstanding, when or wheresoeuer he died, it was not long after +his returne into Gallia, vpon his first iournie made hither into this +land, who no sooner obteined the victorie before mentioned, but +woord was brought againe vnto him, that eftsoones the heresie of the +Pelagians was spread abroad in Britaine, and therefore all the priests +or cleargie made request to him that it might stand with his pleasure +to come ouer againe, and defend the cause of true religion which he +had before confirmed. + +[Sidenote: Germane returneth againe into Britaine.] +Heerevpon bishop Germane granted so to doo, and therefore taking +with him one Seuerus (that was disciple vnto Lupus, and ordeined +at that time bishop of Triers) tooke the sea, and came againe into +Britaine, where he found the multitude of the people stedfast in the +same beliefe wherein he had left them, & perceiued the fault to rest +in a few: wherevpon inquiring out the authors, he condemned them to +exile (as it is written) and with a manifest miracle by restoring a +yoong man that was lame (as they saie) vnto the right vse of his +lims, he confirmed his doctrine. Then followed preaching to persuade +amendment of errors, and by the generall consent of all men, the +authors of the wicked doctrine being banished the land, were deliuered +vnto bishop Germane and to his fellow Seuerus, to conueie them away in +their companie vnto the parties beyond the seas, that the region might +so be deliuered of further danger, and they receiue the benefit of due +amendment. + +By this meanes it came to passe, that the true faith continued in +Britaine sound and perfect a long time after. Things being thus set +in good order, those holie men returned into their countries, the +forenamed bishop Germane went to Rauenna to sue for peace to be +granted vnto the people of Britaine Armorike, where being receiued of +the emperor Valentinian and his mother Placida in most reuerend maner, +he departed in that citie out of this transitorie life, to the +[Sidenote: Anno 450, as _Vincentius_ noteth, _lib. 20. ca. 15_.] +eternall ioies of heauen. His bodie was afterwards conueied to the +citie of Auxerre, where he had beene bishop with great opinion of +holines for his sincere doctrine and pure and innocent life. Shortlie +[Sidenote: The emperour Valentinian slaine.] +after was the emperour Valentinian slaine by the friends of that +noble man named Aetius, whome he had before caused to be put to death. + +¶ By this it maie appeere, that bishop Germane came into this realme +[Sidenote: 454.] +both the first and second time, whilest as well Hengist, as also +Vortigerne were liuing: for the said Valentinian was murthered about +the yeere of our Lord 454, where the said kings liued and reigned long +after that time, as maie appeere both before and after in this present +booke. + + * * * * * + + + + +_What part of the realme the Saxons possessed, Vortigerne buildeth +a castell in Wales for his safetie, Aurelius and Vter both brethren +returne into Britaine, they assalt the vsurper Vortigerne, and with +wildfire burne both him, his people, his fort, and all the furniture +in the same, Vortigerne committeth incest with his owne daughter, +feined and ridiculous woonders of S. Germane, a sheepherd made a +king._ + +THE SEUENTH CHAPTER. + + +Now will we returne to Vortigerne, of whome we read in the British +historie, that after the Saxons had constreined him to deliuer into +their hands a great part of the south and east parts of the realme, so +that they had in possession London, Yorke, Lincolne, & Winchester, +[Sidenote: _Galfrid._] +with other cities & townes, he not onelie fearing their puissance, +but also the returne of Aurelius Ambrosius, and his brother Vter +Pendragon, withdrew him into Wales, where he began to build a +[Sidenote: _Caxton_. _Fabian_. _Polychron._] +strong castell vpon a mounteine called Breigh, or after other Cloaric, +neere to the riuer of Guana, which is in the west side of Wales in +a place within the compasse of the same hill called Generon or +[Sidenote: Mount Erix he calleth it in one place of his booke.] +Gueineren. Of the building of this castell, and of the hinderance +in erecting the same, with the monstrous birth of Merlin and his +knowledge in prophesieng, the British histories tell a long processe, +the which in Caxton, and in Galfrides bookes is also set foorth, as +there ye maie see: but for that the same seemeth not of such credit as +deserueth to be registred in anie sound historie, we haue with silence +passed it ouer. + +[Sidenote: Aurelius and Vter brethren returne into Britaine.] +Whilest Vortigerne was busied in building of this castell, the two +foresaid brethren Aurelius and Vter prepared a nauie of ships, and an +armie of men, by helpe of such their kinsmen and freends as they found +in Britaine Armorike, and so passed the sea, and landed at Totnesse: +whereof when the Britains were aduertised, the which were scattered +abroad and seuered in diuers parties and countries, they drew vnto the +said two brethren with all speed that might be. When Aurelius and +his brother Vter perceiued that they were sufficientlie furnished of +people, they marched foorth towards Wales against Vortigerne, who +[Sidenote: Vortigerne burnt to death. Wild fire not yet inuented as +some think.] +hauing knowledge of their approch, had fortified his castell verie +strongly with men, munition and vittels, but yet all auailed him +nothing, for in the end after his enimies had giuen diuers assaults to +the said castell, they found meanes with wild fire to burne it downe +to the earth, and so consumed it by fire togither with the king, and +all other that were within it. + +Thus did Vortigerne end his life (as in the British historie is +recorded.) Much euill is reported of him by the same historie, and +also by other writers, and among other things it is written, that he +should lie by his owne daughter, and of hir beget a sonne, in hope +[Sidenote: _Polychron._ A feined tale of S. Germane. +A caluish narration.] +that kings should come of him, and therefore he was excommunicated +by S. Germane. It is also said, that when the same S. Germane came +into Britaine (as before ye haue heard) this Vortigerne on a time +should denie the same S. Germane harbour: but one that kept the kings +heards of cattell receiued him into his house, and lodged him, and +slue a calfe for his supper, which calfe after supper was ended, S. +Germane restored againe to life: and on the morrow by the ordinance of +God, he caused Vortigerne to be deposed from his kinglie estate, +and tooke the heardman and made him king. But Ranulfe Hig. in his +"Polychronicon," alledging Gyldas for his author, saith that this +chanced to a king that ruled in Powsey, whose name was Bulie, and not +to Vortigerne: so that the successors of that Bulie reigning in that +side of Wales, came of the linage of the same heardman. + +[Sidenote: _H. Hunt._] +Moreouer it hath beene said (as one writer recordeth) that when +Vortigerne refused to heare the preaching of saint Germane, and fled +from him as he would haue instructed him, one night there fell fire +from heauen vpon the castell wherein the king was lodged, and so the +king being destroied with the fall of the house and the fire togither, +was neuer after seene. + +¶ But these are fables, and therfore I passe them ouer, hoping that it +shall suffice to shew here with what stuffe our old historiographers +haue farced vp their huge volumes, not so much regarding the credit of +an historie, as satisfieng the vanitie of their owne fond fantasies, +studieng with a pretended skilfulnesse to cast glorious colours vpon +lies, that the readers (whom they presupposed either ignorant or +credulous) would be led away with a flowing streme of woords void of +reason and common sense. Which kind of men knew not (belike) that the +nature of an historie, (defined to be _Rei vere gestae memoria_) will +not beare the burthen or lode of a lie, sith the same is too heauie: +otherwise they would haue deposed matters conspiring with the truth. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Aurelius Ambrosius the brother to Constantius created king of +Britaine, he incountereth with the Saxons, Hengist their generall is +beheaded, Occa his sonne submitteth himselfe to Aurelius, he putteth +all the Saxons out of the land, repaireth places decaied, and +restoreth religion, the memorable monument of the stones that are +so much spoken of on Salisburie plaine, the exploits of Pascentius +Vortigerns yongest sonne, Aurelius lieth sicke, Vter goeth against +Pascentius and giueth him the ouerthrow, Aurelius is poisoned of a +counterfet moonke, the place of his buriall, Polydor Virgils report of +the acts and deeds of Aurelius against the Saxons, Hengist is slaine, +Osca and Occa his two sonnes make a fowle spoile if the west part of +the land, Vortimer dieth, the disagreement of writers touching matters +interchangeablie passed betwene the Britains and Saxons._ + +THE EIGHT CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: AURELIUS AMBROSIUS.] +Aurelius Ambrose, the second sonne of king Constantine, brother to +Constantius, and murthered by the treason of Vortigerne (as before ye +haue heard) was made king of Britaine in the yeere of our Lord 481, +[Sidenote: _Matt. West._ saith 466.] +which was about the third yeere of the reigne of the emperour Zeno, +and the 23 of Childericus king of France, Odocer king of the Herulians +then vsurping the gouernment of Italie. When this Aurelius Ambrosius +had dispatched Vortigerne, and was now established king of the +Britains, he made towards Yorke, and passing the riuer of Humber, +[Sidenote: _Gal. Mon._] +incountred with the Saxons at a place called Maesbell, and ouerthrew +them in a strong battell, from the which as Hengist was fleeing to +[Sidenote: Hengist taken and beheaded.] +haue saued himselfe, he was taken by Edoll earle of Glocester, or +(as some say) Chester, and by him led to Conningsborrow, where he was +beheaded by the counsell of Eldad then bishop of Colchester. + +[Sidenote: _Matth. West._] +Howbeit there be some that write, how that Hengist was taken at +another battell fought vpon the riuer of Dune, in the yeere of our +Lord 489, and not in the chase of the battell which was fought at +Maesbell in the yeere 487, as the same authors doo alledge. Occa +[Sidenote: Occa.] +the son of Hengist by flight escaped to Yorke, and being there +besieged, at length was constreined to yeeld himselfe to Aurelius: +who dealing fauourablie with him, assigned vnto him and other of +the Saxons a countrie bordering neere to the Scots, which (as some +affirme) was Galloway, where the said Occa and the Saxons began to +inhabit. Then did Aurelius Ambrosius put the Saxons out of all other +parts of the land, & repaired such cities, townes and also churches, +as by them had beene destroied or defaced, and placed againe priests, +and such other as should attend on the ministerie and seruice of God +in the same churches. + +Also for a perpetuall memorie of those Britains that were slaine on +the plaine of Salisburie by the treason of Hengist, he caused stones +to be fetched out of Ireland, and to be set vp in the same place +[Sidenote: Stoneheng.] +where that slaughter was committed, and called the place Stoneheng, +which name continueth vnto this day. Fifteene thousand men (as Galfrid +[Sidenote: _Gal. Mon._] +saith) were sent for those stones, vnder the leading of Vter +Pendragon the kings brother, who giuing battell vnto Gillomanus king +of Ireland that went about to resist the Britains, and would not +permit them to fetch away the same stones out of his countrie, +discomfited him and his people, and so (maugre his hart) brought the +stones away with him. + +Shortlie after, Pascentius that was Vortigerns yoongest sonne, and +had escaped into Ireland (when Aurelius Ambrosius came into Britaine) +returned with a great power of strange nations, and tooke the citie of +Meneuia in Wales, afterwards called saint Dauids, and did much hurt +in the countrie with fire and swoord. At which time the same Aurelius +Ambrosius lay sicke at Winchester, and being not able to go foorth +himselfe, desired his brother Vter Pendragon to assemble an armie +of Britains, and to go against Pascentius and his adherents. Vter, +according to his brothers request, gathering his people, went foorth, +and incountering with the enimies gaue them the ouerthrow, slue +Pascentius and Gillomare or Gilloman king of Ireland, that was come +ouer with him in aid against the Britains. + +[Sidenote: _Hector Boet._] +In the meane while, a Saxon or some other stranger, whose name was +Eopa or Copa, not long before procured thereto by Pascentius, fained +himselfe to be a Britaine, and for a colour counterfeiting himselfe a +moonke, and to haue great knowledge in physicke, was admitted to +[Sidenote: _Fabian. _] +minister as it were medicins to Aurelius: but in stead of that which +should haue brought him health, he gaue him poison, whreof he died +shortlie after at Winchester aforesaid, when he had reigned after most +accord of writers ninteene yeeres: his bodie was conueied to Stoneheng +and there buried. ¶ Thus find we in the British and common English +histories of the dooings of Aurelius Ambrosius, who (as ye haue hard) +makes him a Britaine borne, and descended of the bloud of the ancient +Britains, But Gyldas and Beda report him to be a Romane by descent, as +before is mentioned. + +[Sidenote: _Polydor_.] +Polydor Virgil writeth in this sort of the victorious acts +atchiued by the foresaid Aurelius Ambrosius. Then (saith he) the +Saxons hauing alreadie gotten the whole rule of the Ile, practised +their outragious cruelties speciallie against the princes of the +Britains, to the end that the said princes being ouercome and +destroied, they might with more ease obteine possession of the whole +Ile, which thing they onlie sought. But the fauour of almightie God +was not wanting to the miserable Britains in that great necessitie. +For behold, Aurelius Ambrosius was at hand, who had no sooner caused +the trumpet to sound to armor, but euerie man for himselfe prepared +and repaired vnto him, praieng & beseeching him to helpe to defend +them, and that it might stand with his pleasure to go foorth with them +against the enimies in all speed. + +Thus an armie being assembled, Aurelius Ambrosius went against them, +and valiantlie assailed them, so that within the space of a few daies +they fought three battels with great fiercenesse on both sides, in +triall of their high displeasures and vttermost forces, in which at +length the Britains put the Saxons to flight, Horsus the brother +of Hengist being slaine with a great number of his people. But yet +notwithstanding the enimies rage was little abated hereby, for within +a few daies after receiuing out of Germanie a new supplie of men, they +brake foorth vpon the Britains with great confidence of victorie. +Aurelius Ambrosius was no sooner aduertised thereof, but that without +delaie he set forward towards Yorke, from whence the enimies should +come, and hearing by the way that Hengist was incamped about seuen & +twentie miles distant from that citie, neere to the banke of a riuer +at this day called Dune, in the place where Doncaster now standeth, he +returned out of his waie, and marched towards that place, and the next +day set on the enimie and vanquished him, Hengist at the first +[Sidenote: Hengist is slaine.] +meeting of the battell being slaine, with a great number of the +Germans. The fame of this victorie (saith Polydor) is had in memorie +with the inhabitants of those parties euen vnto this day, which +victorie did sore diminish the power of the Saxons, insomuch that they +began now to thinke it should be more for their profit to sit in rest +with that dishonour, than to make anie new warres to their great +disaduantage and likelihood of present losse. + +Hengist left behind him two sonnes, Osca and Occa, which as men most +sorowfull for the ouerthrow of late receiued, assembled such power as +they could togither, and remooued therewith towards the west part of +the Ile, supposing it to be better for them to draw that way foorth, +than to returne into Kent, where they thought was alreadie a +sufficient number of their people to resist the Britains on that side. +Now therefore when they came into the west parts of the land, they +wasted the countrie, burnt villages, and absteined from no maner +of crueltie that might be shewed. These things being reported vnto +Aurelius Ambrosius, he straightwaies hasted thither to resist those +enimies, and so giuing them battell, eftsoones discomfited them: +[Sidenote: Aurelius dieth of a wound.] +but he himselfe receiuing a wound, died thereof within a few daies +after. The English Saxons hauing thus susteined so manie losses within +a few moneths togither, were contented to be quiet now that the +Britains stirred nothing against them, by reason they were brought +into some trouble by the death of such a noble capteine as they had +[Sidenote: Vortimer departeth this life.] +now lost. In the meane time Vortimer died, whome Vter surnamed +Pendragon succeeded. + +Thus hath Polydor written of the forsaid Aurelius Ambrosius, not +naming him to be king of Britaine, and differing in deed in sundrie +points in this behalfe from diuerse ancient writers of the English +histories: for where he attributeth the victorie to the Britains in +the battell fought, wherein Horsus the brother of Hengist was slaine, +by the report of Polychronicon, and others, the Saxons had the +[Sidenote:_Wil. Malm._] +victorie in that reincounter: and William of Malmesburie saith, that +they departed from that batell with equall fortune, the Saxons losing +[Sidenote: Katigerne.] +their capteine Horsus, and the Britains their capteine Katigerne +(as before ye haue heard.) But there is such contrarietie in writers +touching the dooings betwixt the Britains and Saxons in those daies, +as well in account of yeeres, as in report of things doone, that +setting affection aside, hard it is to iudge to which part a man +should giue credit. + +For Fabian and other authors write, that Aurelius Ambrosius began his +[Sidenote: 458.] +reigne ouer the Britains about the yeere of our Lord 481, and +Horsus was slaine about the yeere 458, during the reigne of Vortimer, +as aboue is mentioned, so that it cannot stand with the truth of the +British histories (the which Fabian followeth) that Horsus was slaine +by Aurelius Ambrosius, if according to the same histories he returned +not into Britaine, till the time there supposed. But diuerse such +maner of contrarieties shall ye find, in perusing of those writers +that haue written the chronicles of the Britains and Saxons, the which +in euerie point to recite, would be too tedious and combersome a +matter, and therefore we are forced to passe the same ouer, not +knowing how to bring them to anie iust accord for the satisfieng of +all mens minds, speciallie the curious, which may with diligent search +satisfie themselues happilie much better, than anie other shall be +able to doo in vttering his opinion neuer so much at large, and +agreeable to a truth. This therefore haue we thought good as it were +by the waie to touch what diuerse authors doo write, leauing it so +[Sidenote:_Sigebertus_.] +to euerie mans iudgement to construe thereof, as his affection +leadeth him. We find in the writings of those that haue registred the +dooings of these times, that Aurelius hauing vanquished the Saxons, +restored churches to the furtherance of the christian religion, which +[Sidenote:_Matth. West._saith 488.] +by the inuasion of the Saxons was greatlie decaied in diuerse +parts of Britaine, and this chanced in the daies of the emperour +Theodosius the yoonger. + + * * * * * + + + + +_The beginning of the kingdome of the Southsaxons commonlie called +Sussex, the Britains with their rulers giue battell to Ella the Saxon +& his three sonnes, disagreement betweene the English and British +chronographers about the battels fought by Hengist and his death, +the beginning of the Kentish kingdome, a battell fought betweene +the Britains and Saxons, the first are conquered, the last are +conquerors._ + +THE NINTH CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: Ella entred this land as _Matt. West._ saith ann. 477.] +In the time of the foresaid Aurelius Ambrosius, one Ella a Saxon +with his 3 sonnes Cymen, Plettinger and Cissa, came out of Germanie +with three ships, and landed in the south parts of Britaine and being +incountred with a power of Britains at a place called Cuneueshore, +discomfited them, and chased them vnto a wood then called +Andredescester, and so tooke that countrie, and inhabited there with +his people the Saxons which he brought with him, and made himselfe +king and lord thereof, in somuch that afterwards the same countrie was +[Sidenote: The kingdom of the Southsaxons dooth begin.] +named the kingdome of the Southsaxons, which had for limits on the +east side Kent, on the south the sea and Ile of Wight, on the west +Hamshire, and on the north part Southerie. This kingdome (after some) +began vnder the foresaid Ella, about the 32 yeere after the first +comming of the Saxons into this land, which by following that account, +[Sidenote: 482.] +should be about the second yeere of the reigne of Aurelius +Ambrosius, and about the yeere of our Lord 482. But other write, that +it did begin about the 30 yeere after the first comming of Hengist, +which should be two yeeres sooner. + +William Harison differing from all other, noteth it to begin in the +fourth yeere after the death of Hengist, 4458 of the world, 2 of the +317 Olympiad, 1248 of Rome, 492 of Christ, and 43 after the comming +of the Saxons: his woords are these. Ella erected the kingdome of the +Southsaxons, in the 15 after his arriuall, and reigned 32 yeeres, the +chiefe citie of his kingdome also was Chichester, and after he had +inioied the same his kingdome a while, he ouerthrew the citie called +Andredescester, which as then was taken for one of the most famous +in all the south side of England. ¶ For my part I thinke my dutie +discharged, if I shew the opinions of the writers: for if I should +therto ad mine owne, I should but increase coniectures, whereof +alreadie we haue superfluous store. To proceed thereforr as I find. + +About the ninth yeere after the comming of Ella, the Britains +perceiuing that he with his Saxons still inlarged the bounds of his +lordship by entring further into the land, assembled themselues +togither vnder their kings and rulers, and gaue battell to Ella and +his sonnes at Mecredesbourne, where they departed with doubtfull +victorie, the armies on both sides being sore diminished, and so +returned to their homes. Ella after this battell sent into his +countrie for more aid. + +But now touching Hengist, who as ye haue heard, reigned as king in the +prouince of Kent, the writers of the English kings varie somewhat from +the British histories, both in report of the battels by him fought +against the Britains, and also for the maner of his death: as thus. +After that Vortimer was dead, who departed this life (as some write) +[Sidenote: _Polychron._] +in the first yeere of the emperor Leo, surnamed the great, and +first of that name that gouerned the empire, who began to rule in +[Sidenote: 457.] +the yeere of our Lord 457, we find that Hengist and his sonne Occa or +[Sidenote: _Henrie Hunt._ _Wil. Malm._ Creiford. Britains ouerthrowne.] +Osca gathered their people togither that were before sparkled, and +hauing also receiued new aid out of Germanie, fought with the Britains +at a place called Crekenford, where were slaine of the Britains foure +dukes or capteins, and foure thousand of other men, the residue were +chased by Hengist out of Kent vnto London, so that they neuer returned +afterwards againe into Kent: thus the kingdome of Kent began vnder +Hengist the twelfe yeere after the comming of the Saxons into +Britaine, and Hengist reigned in Kent after this (as the same writers +agree) foure and twentie yeeres. + +[Sidenote: _Polychron._] +It is remembred that those Germans which latelie were come ouer to +the aid of Hengist, being chosen men, mightie and strong of bodie, +with their axes and swoords made great slaughter of the Britains in +that battell at Crekenford or Creiford, which Britains were ranged +[Sidenote: _Hen. Hunt._] +in foure battels vnder their aforesaid foure dukes or capteins, and +were (as before is mentioned) slaine in the same battell. About the +sixt yeere of the said emperor Leo, which was in the 17 yeere after +[Sidenote: Wipets field _Matt. West._ This battell was fought anno 473. +as the same _Mat. West._ noteth.] +the comming of the Saxons, Hengist and his sonne Occa or Osca fought +at Wipets field in Kent, neere to a place called Tong with the +Britains, and slue of them twelue dukes or capteins, & on the part +of the Saxons was slaine beside common souldiers but onlie one +[Sidenote: Wipet. _H. Hunt._ ] +capteine called Wipet, of whom the place after that daie tooke name. + +This victorie was nothing plesant to the Saxons, by reason of the +great losse which they susteined, as well by the death of the said +Wipet, as of a great number of others: and so of a long time neither +did the Saxons enter into the confines of the Britains, nor the +Britains presumed to come into Kent. But whilest outward wars ceassed +among the Britains, they exercised ciuill battell, falling togither by +the eares among themselues, one striuing against another. Finallie, +Hengist departed this life by course of nature, in the 39 yeere after +[Sidenote: Fortie Yeeres saith _H. Hunt_] +his first comming into Britaine, hauing proceeded in his businesse +[Sidenote: By this it is euident that he was not driuen out of the +land after he had once set foot within it. _Matt. West._] +no lesse with craft and guile than with force and strength, +following therewith his natiue crueltie, so that he rather did all +things with rigour than with gentlenesse. After him succeeded a sonne +whom he left behind him, who being attentiue rather to defend than to +inlarge his kingdome, neuer set foot out of his fathers bounds, during +the space of 24 yeeres, in the which he reigned. + +[Sidenote: _H. Hunt._ The citie of Andredescester] +About three yeeres after the deceasse of Hengist, a new supplie +of men of warre came out of Germanie vnto the aid of Ella king +of Sussex, who hauing his power increased, besieged the citie of +Andredescester, which was verie strong and well furnished with men +and all things necessarie. The Britains also assembling togither in +companies, greatlie annoied the Saxons as they lay there at siege, +laieng ambushes to destroie such as went abroad, and ceassing not to +giue alarums to the campe in the night season: and the Saxons could no +sooner prepare them selues to giue the assalt, but the Britains +were readie to assaile them on the backs, till at length the Saxons +diuiding themselues into two companies, appointed the one to giue the +assalt, and the other to incounter with the armie of the Britains +without, and so finallie by that meanes preuailed, tooke the citie, +and destroied man, woman and child. Neither so contented, they did +also vtterlie race the said citie, so as it was neuer after that daie +builded or reedified againe. + + * * * * * + + + + +_The east Angles kingdome beginneth, the arriuall of Cerdic and Kenric +with fiue ships of warre in this land, he putteth the Britains to +flight, the west Saxons kingdom begineth, Vter Pendragon made king +of Britaine, the etymon of his name, he taketh Occa and Osca the two +sonnes of Hengist prisoners, how Hector Boetius varieth from other +chronographers in the relation of things concerning Pendragon, he +falleth in loue with the duke of Cornewalls wife, killeth him, and +marieth hir. Occa and Osca escape out of prison, they freshlie assault +the Britains, they are both slaine in a foughten field, the Saxons +send and looke for aid out of Germanie, Pendragon is poisoned._ + +THE TENTH CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: The kingdome of the east Angles began not till Aurelius +Conanus reigned. 561.] +Moreouer, in the daies of the afore-named Auralius Ambrosius, +about the yeare of our Lord 561, the kingdome of the east Angles began +vnder a Saxon named Uffa. This same kingdome conteined Northfolke and +Suffolke, hauing on the east and north parts the sea, on the northwest +Cambridgeshire, and on the west saint Edmunds ditch with a part of +Hertfordshire, and on the southside lieth Essex. At the first it was +called Vffines dominion, and the kings that reigned, or the people +that inhabited there, were at the first named Vffines, but at length +they were called east Angles. + +[Sidenote: CERDIC.] +Fvrthermore, about the yeare of our Lord 495, and in the eight +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._] +[Sidenote: 495.] +yeare after that Hengist was dead, one Cerdicus and his sonne +Kenricus came out of Gerrmanie with fiue ships, and landed at a +place called Cerdicshore, which as some thinke is called Yermouth in +[Sidenote: _Fabian_. _Polychron._] +Northfolke. He was at the first receiued with battell by the +Britains, but being an old skilfull warriour, he easilie beate +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._] +backe and repelled the inconstant multitude of his enimies, and caused +them to flee: by which good successe he procured both vndoubted +assurance to himselfe for the time to come, and to the inhabitants +good and perfect quietnes. For they thinking good neuer after to +prouoke him more by resistance, submitted themselues to his pleasure: +but yet did not he then giue himselfe to slouthfull rest, but rather +extending his often atchiued victories on ech side, in the 24 yeare +after his comming into this land, he obteined the rule of the west +parts thereof, and gouerned there as king, so that the kingdome of the +west Saxons began vnder the said Cerdicus in the 519 of Christ, as +after shall be shewed. + +[Sidenote: 529.] +¶ Thus ye maie see, that Aurelius Ambrosius did succeed +Vortigerne, and reigned in the time supposed by the British histories, +as before is alledged, the land euen in his daies was full of trouble, +and the old inhabitants the Britains sore vexed by the Saxons that +entred the same, so that the Britains were dailie hampered, and +brought vnder subiection to the valiant Saxons, or else driuen to +remooue further off, and to giue place to the victors. But now +to proceed with the succession of the British kings, as in their +histories we find them registred, which I deliuer such as I find, but +not such as I doo wish, being written with no such colour of credit as +we maie safelie put foorth the same for an vndoubted truth. + +[Sidenote: _Matth. West._ noteth. 500.] +After that Aurelius Ambrosius was dead, his brother Vter Pendragon +(whome some call Aurelius Vterius Ambrosianus) was made king in +the yeare of our Lord 500, in the seuenth yeare of the emperour +Anastasius, and in the sixteenth yeare of Clodoueus king of the +Frenchmen. The cause why he was surnamed Pendragon, was, for that +Merline the great prophet likened him to a dragons head, that at the +time of his natiuitie maruelouslie appeared in the firmament at the +corner of a blasing star, as is reported. But others supposed he was +so called of his wisedome and serpentine subtiltie, or for that he +gaue the dragons head in his banner. This Vter, hearing that the +Saxons with their capteins Occa or Otta the sonne of Hengist, and his +brother Osca had besieged the citie of Yorke, hasted thither, and +giuing them battell, discomfited their power, and tooke the said Occa +and Osca prisoners. + +[Sidenote: _Hector Boet._] +From this varieth Hector Boetius in his chronicle of Scotland, +writing of these dooings in Britaine: for he affirmeth, that the +counterfeit moonke, which poisoned Aurelius Ambrosius, was suborned +and sent to woorke that feat by Occa, and not by his brother +Pascentius: and further, that about the selfesame time of Aurelius +his death, his brother Vter Pendragon lay in Wales, not as yet fullie +recouered of a sore sicknesse, wherewith of late he had beene much +vexed. Yet the lords of Britaine after the buriall of Aurelius +Ambrosius, came vnto him and crowned him king: and though he was not +able to go against the Saxons (which as then by reason of Aurelius +Ambrosius his death were verie busie, and more earnest in pursuing the +warre than before) yet an armie was prepared and sent foorth with all +conuenient speed vnder the leading of one Nathaliod, a man neither of +anie great ancient house, nor yet of skill in warlike affaires. + +The noble men were nothing pleased herewith, as misliking altogither +the lacke of discretion in their new king, & doubted sore, least in +time to come he would haue more delight to aduance the men of base +degree, than such as were descended of noble parentage. Yet because +they would not put the state of the common wealth in danger through +anie mutinie, they agreed to go foorth with him in that iournie. Occa +had aduertisement giuen him by certeine letters sent to him from some +close friends amongest the Britains of the whole matter: and therefore +in hope of the better speed, he hasted foorth to incounter the +Britains, and so the whole armie comming within sight of the other, +they prepared to the battell, and shortlie after buckling togither, +the Britains were soone discomfited, by reason that one of their +chiefest capteins called Gothlois disdaining to be at the appointment +of Nathaliod, got him vp to the next hill with the next battell which +he led, leauing the other Britains in all the danger: which they +seeing began by & by to flee. There died no great number of the +Britains, except those that were killed in the fight: for Occa +mistrusting what Gothlois meant by his withdrawing aside, would not +suffer the Saxons to follow the chase, but in the night following +Gothlois got him awaie, and rested not till he was out of danger. Occa +then perceiuing himselfe to haue the vpper hand, sent an herald vnto +king Vter with a certeine message, threatning destruction to him and +to his people, if he refused to doo that which he should appoint. + +Vter perceiuing what disloialtie rested in the harts of his owne +subiects, agreed that the matter might be committed to eight graue and +wise councellors, foure Britains and foure Saxons, which might haue +full power to make an end of all controuersies and variances depending +betwixt the two nations. Occa was likewise contented therewith, +wherevpon were named on either part foure persons, of such wisedome, +knowledge and experience, as were thought meetest for the ordering of +such a weightie matter. So that by the arbitrement, award and doome of +those eight persons authorised thereto, a league was concluded vpon +certeine articles of agreement, amongst the which the chiefest was, +that the Saxons from thencefoorth should quietlie inioy all that part +of Britaine which lieth fore against the Almaine seas, the same to be +called euer after Engistlaund, and all the residue should remaine to +the Britains as their owne rightfull and ancient inheritance. Thus far +Hector Boetius. + +But now to returne vnto Vter according to that we find in the British +histories, and to proceed after our owne historians; we find, that +when he had vanquished the Saxons and taken their two chiefeteins +prisoners, in processe of time he fell in loue with a verie beautifull +[Sidenote: Gorolus duke of Cornewall.] +ladie called Igwarne or Igerna, wife to one Gorolus or Gorlois +duke of Cornewall, the which duke he slue at length neere to his owne +castell called Diuulioc in Cornewall, to the end that he might inioy +the said ladie, whome he afterwards maried, and begot on hir that +noble knight Arthur, and a daughter named Amie or Anna. Occa and Osca +escaping also out of prison assembled eftsoones a power of Saxons, and +made warre against the Britains, whereof Vter hauing aduertisement +prepared to resist them, and finallie went himselfe in person +[Sidenote: _Harding_.] +against them, and at saint Albans (as some write) gaue them battell, +and slue them both in the field. + +By that which Polydor Virgil writeth, it should seeme that Germane the +bishop of Auxerre came into Britaine in the daies of this Vter, by +whose presence the Britains had victorie against the Saxons (as before +ye haue heard) after which victorie both rested from troubling either +other for a time. The Saxons as it were astonied with that present +miracle, & the Britains not following their good successe, shortlie +after fell at discord amongst themselues, which finallie brought them +to vtter decaie, as after shall appeare. But the Saxons desirous to +spoile the Britains of the whole possession of that part of the Ile +[Sidenote: Badon hill.] +which they held, whereas they accounted the cities and townes of +small strength to be defended, they got them to an high mounteine +called Badon hill, which Polydor supposeth to be Blackamore that lieth +neere to the water of Theise, which diuideth the bishoprike of Durham +from Yorkeshire, hauing at the mouth thereof an hauen meet to receiue +such ships as come out of Germanie, from whence the Saxons looked for +aid, hauing alreadie sent thither for the same. + +The Britains being thereof aduertised, made hast towards the place, +and besieged it on euerie side. They also laie the sea coasts full of +souldiers, to keepe such of the enimies from landing as should come +out of Germanie. The Saxons kept themselues for a certeine space aloft +vpon the high ground, but in the end constreined through want of +vittels, they came downe with their armie in order of battell to the +next plaines, and offering to fight, the battell was anon begun, which +continued from the morning till far in the day, with such slaughter, +that the earth on euerie side flowed with bloud: but the Saxons +susteined the greater losse, their capteins Occa and Osca being both +slaine, so that the Britains might seeme quite deliuered of all danger +of those enimies: but the fatall destinie could not be auoided, as +hereafter may appeare. And thus was the slaughter made of the Saxons +[Sidenote: _Gyldas_.] +at Badon hill, whereof Gyldas maketh mention, and chanced the same +yeare that he was borne, which was in the 44 yeare after the first +[Sidenote: 492.] +comming of the Saxons into this land, the yeare of Grace 492, & 15 +indiction. + +[Sidenote: The decease of Vter Pendragon.] +About the same time Vter departed out of this life (saith Polydor) +so that this account agreeth nothing with the common account of those +authors, whome Fabian and other haue followed. For either we must +presuppose, that Vter reigned before the time appointed to him by the +said authors, either else that the siege of Badon hill was before +he began to reigne, as it should seeme in deed by that which Wil. +Malmesburie writeth thereof, as hereafter shall be also shewed. +Finallie (according to the agreement of the English writers) Vter +Pendragon died by poison, when he had gouerned this land by the full +[Sidenote: Stoneheng. Chorea Gigantum.] +terme of 16 years, & was after buried by his brother Aurelius +at Stoneheng, otherwise called _Chorea Gigantnm_, leauing his sonne +Arthur to succeed him. ¶ Here ye must note that the Scotish chronicles +declare, that in all the warres for the more part wherein the Britains +obteined victorie against the Saxons, the Scots aided them in the same +warres, and so likewise did the Picts, but the same chronicles doo not +onelie varie from the British writers in account of yeares, but also +in the order of things doone, as in the same chronicles more plainelie +may appeare, & namelie in the discourse of the accidents which chanced +during the reigne of this Vter. For whereas the British histories, +as ye haue heard, attribute great praise vnto the same Vter for his +victories atchiued against the Saxons and their king Occa, whome he +slue in battell, and obteined a great victorie, the Scotish writers +make other report, affirming in deed that by the presence of bishop +Germane he obteined victorie in one battell against them: but +shortlie after the Britains fought againe with the Saxons, and were +discomfited, although Occa in following the chase ouer rashlie chanced +to be slaine: after whose deceasse the Saxons ordeined his sonne named +also Occa to succeed in his place, who to make himselfe strong against +all his enimies, sent into Germanie for one Colgerne, the which with +a great power of Dutchmen came ouer into this our Britaine, and +conquered by Occas appointment the countrie of Northumberland, situate +betweene Tine and Tweed, as in the Scotish chronicles may further +appeare. + +Also this is to be remembred, that the victorie which was got against +the Saxons by the Britains, at what time Germane bishop of Auxerre +was present: Hector Boetius affirmeth (by authoritie of Veremond that +wrote the Scotish chronicles) to haue chanced the second time of his +comming ouer into this land, where Beda auoucheth it to be at his +first being heere. Againe the same Boetius writeth, that the same +victorie chanced in the daies of Vter Pendragon. Which can not be, if +it be true that Beda writeth, touching the time of the death of the +said Germane: for where he departed this life before the yeare of our +Lord 459, as aboue is said, Vter Pendragon began not his reigne till +the yeare of our Lord 500 or as the same Hector Boetius saith 503, so +that bishop Germane was dead long before that Vter began to reigne. + +In deed some writers haue noted, that the third battell which Vortimer +fought against the Saxons, was the same wherein S. Germane was +present, and procured the victorie with the crie of _Alleluia_, as +before ye haue heard. Which seemeth to be more agreeable to truth, and +to stand also with that which holie Beda hath written, touching the +time of the being heere of the said Germane, than the opinion of +other, which afirme that it was in the time of the reigne of Vter. +The like is to be found in the residue of Hector Boetius his booke, +touching the time speciallie of the reignes of the British kings that +gouerned Britaine about that season. For as he affirmeth, Aurelius +Ambrosius began his reigne in the yeare of our Lord 498, and ruled but +seuen yeares, and then succeeded Vter, which reigned 18 yeares, and +departed this life in the yeare of our Lord 521. + +¶ Notwithstanding the premisses, here is to be remembred, that +whatsoeuer the British writers haue recorded touching the victories +of this Vter had against the Saxons, and how that Osca the sonne of +Hengist should be slaine in battell by him and his power: in those +[Sidenote: Osca. 34 saith _Henrie Hunt._ in corrupted copies.] +old writers which haue registred the acts of the English Saxon kings +we find no such matter, but rather that after the deceasse of Hengist, +his sonne Osca or Occa reigned in Kent 24 yeares, defending his +kingdome onelie, and not seeking to inlarge it (as before is touched.) +After whose death his sonne Oth, and Irmenrike sonne to the same Oth +succeeded, more resembling their father than their grandfather or +great grandfather. To their reignes are assigned fiftie and three +yeares by the chronicles: but whether they reigned iointlie togither, +or seuerallie & apart either after other, it is not certeinlie +perceiued. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Porth the Saxon arriueth at Portesmouth, warre betweene Nazaleod +king of the Britains and the Saxons, the Britains are ouerthrowen and +slaine, the kingdome of the west Saxons beginneth, the compasse or +continent thereof, the meanes whereby it was inlarged._ + +THE ELEUENTH CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: Porth entred this land about the yeare of our Lord 501 as +_Matth. West._ noteth.] +Now will we breefelie discourse vpon the incidents which first +happened during the reigne of Vter Pendragon. We find that one Porth a +Saxon with his two sons Megla and Beda came on land at Portesmouth in +Sussex, about the beginning of the said Vters reigne, and slue a noble +yoong man of the Britains, and manie other of the meaner sort with +[Sidenote: _Harison_ supposeth the riuer to be called Ports, as for +the word mouth, is the fall of anie fresh riuer into the sea.] +him. Of this Porth the towne & hauen of Portesmouth tooke the name, +as some haue thought. Moreouer, about 40 yeares after the comming of +the Saxons into this land with their leader Hengist, one Nazaleod, a +mightie king amongst the Britains, assembled all the power he could +make to fight with Certicus king of the Westsaxons, who vnderstanding +of the great power of his enimies, required aid of Osca king of Kent, +also of Elle king of Sussex, and of Porth and his sonnes which were +latelie before arriued as ye haue heard. Certicus being then furnished +with a conuenient armie, diuided the same into two battels, reseruing +the one to himselfe, and the other he appointed to his sonne Kenrike. +King Nazaleod perceiuing that the wing which Certicus led, was of more +strength than the other which Kenrike gouerned, he set first vpon +Certicus, thinking that if he might distresse that part of the enimies +armie, he should easilie ouercome the other. Herevpon he gaue such a +fierce charge vpon that wing, that by verie force he opened the same, +and so ouerthrew the Saxons on that side, making great slaughter of +them as they were scattered. Which maner of dealing when Kenrike +[Sidenote: The Britaines ouerthrowne. _Matth. West._ _Henr. Hunt._] +saw, he made forward with all speed to succour his father, and rushing +in amongst the Britains on their backs, he brake their armie in +peeces, and slue their king Nazaleod, and withall put his people to +flight. There died of the Britains that daie 5000 men, and the residue +[Sidenote: Stuff and Wightgar. _Matth. West._ noteth the yeare of +their arrivall to be 514.] +escaped by fleeing as well as they might. In the sixt yeare after +this battell, Stuff and Wightgar that were nephues to Certicus, came +with three ships, and landed at Certicesford, and ouerthrew a number +of Britains that came against them in order of battell, and so by the +comming of those his nephues being valiant and hardie capteins, the +part of Certicus became much stronger. Abut the same time Elle king of +the Southsaxons departed this life, after whome succeeded his sonne +Cissa, of whome we find little left in writing to be made account of. + +[Sidenote: Henr. Hunt. Britains ouerthrowne by the Saxons.] +About the yeare of our Lord 519, and in the yeare after the +comming of the Saxons 71, which was in the 26 yeare of the emperour +Anastasius, the Britains fought with Certicus and his sonne Kenrike +at Certicesford, where the capteins of the Britains stood to it +manfullie: but in the end they were discomfited, and great slaughter +was made there of them by the Saxons, and greater had beene, if the +night comming on had not parted them, and so manie were saued. + +[Sidenote: The kingdom of Westsaxons.] +From that day forward Certicus was reputed & taken for king of +Westsaxons, & so began the same kingdome at that time, which was (as +W. Harison noteth) in the yeere of Christ 519, after the building of +Rome 1270, of the world 4485, of the comming of the Saxons 70, of +Iustinus Anicius emperour of the east, the first and third of the +renowmed prince Patricius Arthurus then reigning ouer the Britains. +The said kingdome also conteined the countries of Wiltshire, +Summersetshire, Barkeshire, Dorsetshire, and Cornewall, hauing on the +east Hamshire, on the north the riuer of Thames, and on the south and +west the Ocean sea. Howbeit, at the first the kings of the Westsaxons +had not so large dominions, but they dailie wan ground vpon the +Britains, and so in the end by inlarging their confines, they came to +inioy all the foresaid countries, and the whole at the last. + +[Sidenote: Certicesford.] +In the ninth yeere of the reigne of Certicus, he eftsoones fought +with the Saxons at Certicesford aforesaid, where great slaughter +was made on both parts. This Certicesford was in times past called +Nazaleoy of the late remembred Nazaleod king of the Britains. About +this season at sundrie times diuers great companies of the Saxons +came ouer into Britaine out of Germanie, and got possession of the +countries of Mercia and Eastangle: but as yet those of Mercia had no +one king that gouerned them, but were vnder certeine noble men that +got possession of diuers parts in that countrie, by means wherof great +warres and manie incounters insued, with a common waste of land both +arable and habitable, whiles each one being ambitiouslie minded, & +heaping to themselues such powers as they were able to make, by swoord +and bloudshed chose rather to haue their fortune decided, than by +reason to suppresse the rage of their vnrulie affections. For such is +the nature of men in gouernement, whether they be interessed to it +by succession, or possessed of it by vsurpation, or placed in it by +lawfull constitution, (vnlesse they be guided by some supernaturall +influence of diuine conceit) if they be more than one, they cannot +away with equalitie, for regiment admitteth no companion: but euerie +one seeketh to aduance himselfe to a singularitie of honour, wherein +he will not (to die for it) participate with another, which maie +easilie be obserued in this our historicall discourse. + + * * * * * + + + + +_The beginning of the kingdome of the Eastsaxons, what it conteined, +of Arthur king of Britaine, his twelue victories ouer the Saxons +against whome he mainteined continuall warre, why the Scots and Picts +enuied him his roialtie and empire, a league betwixt Arthur and Loth +king of the Picts, Howell king of little Britaine aideth Arthur +against Cheldrike king of Germanie, who taking the ouerthrow, is +slaine by the duke of Cornewall, the Picts are discomfited, the +Irishmen with their king put to flight, and the Scots subdued, Arthurs +sundrie conquests against diuers people, the vanitie of the British +writers noted._ + +THE TWELFE CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: ERCHENWIN. The kingdom of the Eastsaxons.] +In those daies also the kingdome of the Eastsaxons began, the +cheefe citie whereof was London. It contained in effect so much as +at this present belongeth to the diocesse of London. One Erchenwin a +Saxon was the first king thereof, the which was sonne to one Offa, the +sixt in lineall descent from one Saxnot, from whom the kings of that +countrie fetched their originall. Harison noteth the exact yeere of +the erection of the kingdome of the Eastsaxons to begin with the end +of the eight of Cerdicus king of the Westsaxons, that is, the 527 of +Christ, and 78 after the comming of the Saxons. In the 13 yeere of the +reigne of Cerdicus, he with his sonne Kenrike, and other of the +Saxon capteins fought with the Britains in the Ile of Wight at +Witgarsbridge, where they slue a great number of Britains, and so +conquered the Ile, the which about four yeeres after was giuen by +Cerdicus vnto his nephues Stuffe and Witgar. + +[Sidenote: ARTHUR.] +After the deceasse of Vter Pendragon (as we doo find in the British +histories) his sonne Arthur, a yoong towardlie gentleman, of the age +of 15 yeeres or thereabouts, began his reigne ouer the Britains in +[Sidenote: 516.] +[Sidenote: _Matth. West._ hath noted 518.] +the yeere of our Lord 516, or as Matt. Westmin. saith 517, in the +28 yeere of the emperour Anastasius, and in the third yeere of the +reignes of Childebert, Clothare, Clodamire, and Theodorike, brethren +that were kings of the Frenchmen. Of this Arthur manie things are +written beyond credit, for that there is no ancient author of +authoritie that confirmeth the same: but surelie as may be thought he +was some woorthie man, and by all likelihood a great enimie to the +Saxons, by reason whereof the Welshmen which are the verie Britains in +deed, haue him in famous remembrance. He fought (as the common report +goeth of him) 12 notable battels against the Saxons, & in euerie of +them went away with the victorie, but yet he could not driue them +quite out of the land, but that they kept still the countries which +they had in possession, as Kent, Sutherie, Norfolke, and others: +howbeit some writers testifie, that they held these countries as +tributaries to Arthur. + +But truth it is (as diuers authors agree) that he held continuall +warre against them, and also against the Picts, the which were allied +with the Saxons: for as in the Scotish histories is conteined, euen +at the first beginning of his reigne, the two kings of the Scots and +Picts seemed to enuie his aduancement to the crowne of Britaine, +bicause they had maried the two sisters of the two brethren, Aurelius +Ambrosius, and Vter Pendragon, that is to say, Loth king of Picts had +married Anne their eldest sister, and Conran king of Scots had in +mariage Alda their yoonger sister, so that bicause Arthur was begotten +out of wedlocke, they thought it stood with more reason, that the +kingdome of the Britains should haue descended vnto the sisters +sonnes, rather than to a bastard, namelie Loth the Pictish king, which +had issue by his wife Anna, sore repined at the matter. + +Wherefore at the first, when he saw that by suit he could not +preuaile, he ioined in league with the Saxons, and aiding them against +Arthur, lost many of his men of warre being ouerthrowne in battell, +which he had sent vnto the succours of Colgerne the Saxon prince that +ruled as then in the north parts. But finallie a league was concluded +betwixt Arthur and the foresaid Loth king of Picts, vpon certeine +conditions, as in the Scotish historie is expressed, where ye may read +the same, with many other things touching the acts of Arthur, somewhat +in other order than our writers haue recorded. + +¶ The British authors declare, that Arthur (immediatlie after he had +receiued the crowne of Dubright bishop of Caerleon) went with his +power of Britains against the Saxons of Northumberland, which had to +their capteine (as before is said) one Colgrime or Colgerne, whome +Arthur discomfited and chased into the citie of Yorke, within which +[Sidenote: Yorke besieged.] +place Arthur besieged him, till at length the same Colgrime +escaped out of the citie, & leauing it in charge with his brother +[Sidenote: Cheldrike commeth in aid of Colgrime. _Matt. Westm._ saith +but 700.] +called Bladulfe, passed ouer into Germanie vnto Cheldrike king of that +countrie, of whom he obteined succor, so that the said Cheldrike made +prouision of men and ships, and came himselfe ouer into Scotland, +hauing in his companie fifteene hundred sailes one with an other. + +When Arthur was aduertised thereof, he raised his siege, and withdrew +to London, sending letters with all speed vnto Howell king of little +Britaine in France, that was his sisters sonne, requiring of him +[Sidenote: Howell king of Britaine commeth ouer in aid of Arthur.] +in most earnest wise his aid. Howell incontinentlie assembled his +people, to the number of fifteene thousand men, and taking the sea, +landed with them at Southhampton, where Arthur was readie to receiue +him with great ioy and gladnesse. From thence they drew northwards, +where both the hosts of Arthur and Howell being assembled togither, +marched forward to Lincolne, which citie Cheldrike did as then +[Sidenote: Cheldrike ouerthrowne in battell.] +besiege. Here Arthur and Howell assailed the Saxons with great +force & no lesse manhood, and at length after great slaughter made of +the enimies, they obteined the victorie, and chased Cheldrike (with +the residue of the Saxons that were left aliue) vnto a wood, where +they compassed them about within the same, in such wise, that in the +ende they were constreined to yeeld themselues, with condition that +they might be suffered to depart on foot to their ships, and so auoid +the land, leauing their horsse, armour, and other furniture vnto the +Britains. + +Heerevpon the Britains taking good hostages for assurance, permitted +the Saxons to go their waies, and so Cheldrike and his people got them +to their ships, in purpose to returne into their countrie: but being +on the sea, they were forced by wind to change their course, and +comming on the coasts of the west parts of Britaine, they arriued +at Totnesse, and contrarie to the couenanted articles of their last +composition with Arthur, inuaded the countrie anew, and taking such +armour as they could find, marched foorth in robbing and spoiling the +people, till they came to Bath, which towne the Britains kept and +defended against them, not suffering them by anie meanes to enter +there, wherevpon the Saxons inuironed it with a strong siege. +[Sidenote: Bath besieged.] +Arthur informed heereof, with all speed hasted thither, and giuing the +enimies battell, slue the most part of Cheldrikes men. + +[Sidenote: The Saxons (sic) ouerthrow Colgrime and Bladulfe.] +There were slaine both Colgrime and Bladulfe, howbeit Cheldrike +himselfe fled out of the field towards his ships, but being pursued +by Cador earle of Cornwall (that had with him ten thousand men) by +Arthurs appointment, he was ouertaken and in flight slaine with all +[Sidenote: Cheldrike slaine by Cador duke of Cornwall.] +his people. Arthur himselfe returned from this battell foughten at +[Sidenote: K. Howell besieged by the Scots.] +Bath with all speed towards the marshes of Scotland, for that he +had receiued aduertisement, how the Scots had besieged Howell K. of +Britaine there, as he lay sicke. Also when Cador had accomplished his +enterprise and slaine Cheldrike, he returned with as much speed as was +possible towards Arthur, & found him in Scotland, where he rescued +Howell, and afterwards pursued the Scots which fled before him by +heaps. + +[Sidenote: Guillomer.] +About the same time, one Guillomer king of Ireland arriued in +Scotland with a mightie power of Irishmen (neere the place where +Arthur lodged) to helpe the Scots against the Britains: wherevpon +Arthur turning his forces towards the same Guillomer, vanquished him, +and chased him into Ireland. This doone, he continued in pursute of +the Scots, till he caused them to sue for pardon, and to submit them +selues wholie to him, and so receiuing them to mercie, & taking homage +of them, he returned to Yorke, and shortlie after tooke to wife +[Sidenote: Guenhera.] +one Guenhera a right beautifull ladie, that was neere kinswoman to +Cador earle of Cornwall. + +[Sidenote: _W. Harison_. 525.] +In the yeere following, which some note to be 525, he went into +Ireland, and discomfiting king Guillomer in battell, he constreined +him to yeeld, and to acknowledge by dooing his fealtie to hold the +realme of Ireland of him. It is further remembred in those British +[Sidenote: Gothland.] +histories, that he subdued Gothland and Iseland, with all the +Iles in and about those seas. Also that he ouercame the Romans in the +countrie about Paris, with their capteine Lucius, and wasted the most +part of all France, and slue in singular combats certeine giants that +were of passing force and hugenesse of stature. And if he had not +beene reuoked and called home to resist his coosen Mordred, that was +sonne to Loth king of Pightland that rebelled in his countrie, he had +passed to Rome, intending to make himselfe emperor, and afterward to +vanquish the other emperor, who then ruled the empire. ¶ But for so +much as there is not anie approoued author who dooth speake of anie +such dooings, the Britains are thought to haue registered meere fables +in sted of true matters, vpon a vaine desire to aduance more than +reason would, this Arthur their noble champion, as the Frenchmen haue +doone their Rouland, and diuerse others. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Arthur is resisted by Mordred the usurper from arriuing in his owne +land, they ioine battell, Gawaine is slaine and his death lamented +by Arthur, Mordred taketh flight, he in slaine, and Arthur mortallie +wounded, his death, the place of his buriall, his bodie digged vp, his +bignesse coniecturable by his bones, a crosse found in his toome with +an inscription therevpon, his wife Guenhera buried with him, a rare +report of hir haire, Iohn Lelands epitaph in memorie of prince +Arthur._ + +THE XIIJ. CHAPTER. + + +King Arthur at his returne into Britaine, found that Mordred had +[Sidenote: Rather Cerdicke as _Leland_ thinketh.] +caused himselfe to be made king, & hauing alied himselfe with +Cheldrike a Saxon (not him whome Galfride, as ye haue heard, supposeth +to haue beene wounded & slaine before) was readie to resist his +landing, so that before he could come on land, he lost manie of his +men: but yet at length he repelled the enimies, and so tooke land at +Sandwich, where he first arriued, and ioining in battell with his +enimies, he discomfited them, but not without great losse of his +people: speciallie he sore lamented the death of Gawaine the brother +of Mordred, which like a faithfull gentleman, regarding more his +honour and loiall truth than neerenesse of bloud and coosenage, chose +rather to fight in the quarrell of his liege king and louing maister, +than to take part with his naturall brother in an vniust cause, and so +there in the battell was slaine, togither also with Angusseli, to whom +Arthur afore time had committed the gouernment of Scotland. Mordred +fled from this battell, and getting ships sailed westward, and +[Sidenote: Gawaine buried at Douer.] +finallie landed in Cornwall. King Arthur caused the corps of Gawaine +to be buried at Douer (as some hold opinion:) but William Malmesburie +supposeth, he was buried in Wales, as after shall be shewed. The dead +bodie of Angussell was conueied into Scotland, and was there buried. +When that Arthur had put his enimies to flight, and had knowledge into +what parts Mordred was withdrawne, with all speed he reinforced his +armie with new supplies of souldiers called out of diuerse parties, +and with his whole puissance hasted forward, not resting till he came +neere to the place where Mordred was incamped, with such an armie +as he could assemble togither out of all parties where he had anie +friends. ¶ Heere (as it appeereth by Iohn Leland, in his booke +intituled, "The assertion of Arthur") it may be douted in what place +Mordred was incamped: but Geffrey of Monmouth sheweth, that after +Arthur had discomfited Mordred in Kent at the first landing, it +chanced so that Mordred escaped and fled to Winchester, whither Arthur +followed him, and there giuing him battell the second time, did also +put him to flight. And following him from thence, fought eftsoones +with him at a place called Camblane, or Kemelene in Cornwall, or (as +some authors haue) neere vnto Glastenburie. + +[Sidenote: _Richard Turner_.] +This battell was fought to such proofe, that finallie Mordred was +slaine, with the more part of his whole armie, and Arthur receiuing +diuers mortall wounds died of the same shortlie after, when he had +reigned ouer the Britains by the tearme of 26 yeeres. His corps was +buried at Glastenburie aforesaid, in the churchyard, betwixt two +pillers: where it was found in the daies of king Henrie the second, +about the yeere of our Lord 1191, which was in the last yeere of the +reigne of the same Henrie, more than six hundred yeeres after the +buriall thereof. He was laid 16 foot deepe vnder ground, for doubt +that his enimies the Saxons should haue found him. But those that +digged the ground there to find his bodie, after they had entered +about seuen foot deepe into the earth, they found a mightie broad +stone with a leaden crosse fastened to that part which laie downewards +toward the corps, conteining this inscription: + + "Hic iacet sepultus inclytus rex Arthurius in insula Aualoniae." + +This inscription was grauen on that side of the crosse which was next +to the stone: so that till the crosse was taken from the stone, it was +vnseene. His bodie was found, not inclosed within a toome of marble or +other stone curiouslie wrought, but within a great tree made hollowe +for the nonce like a trunke, the which being found and digged vp, was +opened, and therein were found the kings bones, of such maruellous +bignesse, that the shinbone of his leg being set on the ground, +reached vp to the middle thigh of a verie tall man: as a moonke of +that abbeie hath written, which did liue in those daies, and saw it. +¶ But Gyraldus Cambrensis (who also liued in those daies, and spake +with the abbat of the place, by whom the bones of this Arthur were +then found) affirmeth, that by report of the same abbat, he learned, +that the shinbone of the said Arthur being set vp by the leg of a +verie tall man (the which the abbat shewed to the same Gyraldus) came +aboue the knee of the same man the length of three fingers breadth, +which is a great deale more likelie than the other. Furthermore the +skull of his head was of a woonderfull largenesse, so that the space +of his forehead betwixt his two eies was a span broad. There appeered +in his head the signes and prints of ten wounds or more: all the which +were growne into one wem, except onelie that whereof it should seeme +he died, which being greater than the residue, appeered verie plaine. +Also in opening the toome of his wife queene Gueneuer, that was buried +with him, they found the tresses of hir haire whole and perfect, and +finelie platted, of colour like to the buruished gold, which being +touched, immediatlie fell to dust. The abbat, which then was +[Sidenote: _Henricus Blecensis_ seu _Soliacensis_. _Io. Leland_.] +gouernour of the house, was named Stephan, or Henrie de Blois, +otherwise de Sullie, nephue to king Henrie the second (by whose +commandement he had serched for the graue of Arthur) translated the +bones as well of him as of queene Gueneuer, being so found, into the +great church, and there buried them in a faire double toome of marble, +laieng the bodie of the king at the head of the toome, and the bodie +[Sidenote: _Dauid Pow._ _pag._ 238, 239.] +of the queene at his feet towards the west part. ¶ The writer of +the historie of Cambria now called Wales saith, that the bones of the +said Arthur, and Gueneuer his wife were found in the Ile of Aualon +(that is, the Ile of Alpes) without the abbeie of Glastenbury, +fifteene feet within the ground, & that his graue was found by the +meanes of a Bardh, whome the king heard at Penbroke singing the acts +of prince Arthur, and the place of his buriall. + +_Iohn Leland in his booke intituled Assertio Arthuri, hath for the +woorthie memorie of so noble a prince, honored him with a learned +epitaph, as heere followeth._ + + Saxonicas toties qui fudit Marte cruento + _Who vanquisht Saxon troops so oft, with battels bloudie broiles,_ + Turmas, & peperit spolijs sibi nomen opimis, + _And purchast to himselfe a name with warlike wealthie spoiles,_ + Fulmineo toties Pictos qui contudit ense, + _Who hath with shiuering shining swoord, the Picts so oft dismaid,_ + Imposuitque iugum Scoti ceruicibus ingens: + _And eke vnweldie seruile yoke on necke of Scots hath laid:_ + Qui tumidos Gallos, Germanos quique feroces + _Who Frenchmen puft with pride, and who the Germans fierce in fight_ + Perculit, & Dacos bello confregit aperto: + _Discomfited, and danted Danes with maine and martiall might:_ + Denique Mordredum e medio qui sustulit illud + _Who of that murdring Mordred did the vitall breath expell,_ + Monstrum, horrendum, ingens, dirum, saeuumque tyrannum, + _That monster grislie, lothsome, huge, that diresome tyrant fell,_ + Hoc iacet extinctus monumento Arthurius alto, + _Heere liuelesse Arthur lies intoomd, within this statelie hearse,_ + Militiae clarum decus, & virtutis alumnus: + _Of chiualrie the bright renowme, and vertues nursling fearse:_ + Gloria nunc cuius terram circumuolat omnem, + _Whose glorie great now ouer all the world dooth compasse flie,_ + Aetherijque petit sublimia tecta Tonantis. + _And of the airie thunder skales the loftie building hie_. + Vos igitur gentis proles generosa Britannae, + _Therefore you noble progenie of Britaine line and race,_ + Induperatori ter magno assurgite vestro, + _Arise vnto your emperour great, of thrice renowmed grace,_ + Et tumulo sacro roseas inferte corollas, + _And cast vpon his sacred toome the roseall garlands gaie,_ + Officij testes redolentia munera vestri. + _That fragrant smell may witnesse well, your duties you displaie_. + +¶ These verses I haue the more willinglie inserted, for that I had +the same deliuered to me turned into English by maister Nicholas +Roscarocke, both right aptlie yeelding the sense, and also properlie +answering the Latine, verse for verse. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Vpon what occasion the graue of king Arthur was sought for, the +follie of such discouered as beleeued that he should returne and +reigne againe as king in Britaine, whether it be a fiction or a +veritie that there was such an Arthur or no; discordance among writers +about the place of Gawains buriall and Arthurs death; of queene +Gueneuer the wife of king Arthur, hir beautie and dishonest life, +great disagreement among writers touching Arthur and his wiues to the +impeachment of the historie, of his life and death._ + +THE XIIIJ. CHAPTER. + + +The occasion that mooued king Henrie the second to cause his nephue +the foresaid abbat to search for the graue of king Arthur, was, for +that he vnderstood by a Welsh minstrell or Bardh (as they call him) +that could sing manie histories in the Welsh language of the acts of +the ancient Britains, that in the forsaid churchyard at Glastenburie, +betwixt the said two pillers the bodie of Arthur was to be found +sixteene foot deepe vnder the ground. Gyraldus Cambrensis affirmeth, +that the tree in the which Arthurs bodie was found so inclosed, was an +oke, but other suppose that it was an alder tree, bicause that in the +same place a great number of that kind of trees doo grow, and also +for that it is not vnknowne, that an alder lieng vnder ground where +moisture is, will long continue without rotting. + +¶ By the finding thus of the bodie of Arthur buried (as before ye haue +[Sidenote: As for example in a caue neere a water called pond +perilous at Salisburie, where he and his knights should sleepe armed, +till an other knight should be borne that should come and awake them. +_Will. Malmes. lib. 1. de regibus Ang._] +heard) such as hitherto beleeued that he was not dead, but conueied +awaie by the fairies into some pleasant place, where he should remaine +for a time, and then to returne againe, and reigne in as great +authoritie as euer he did before, might well perceiue themselues +deceiued in crediting so vaine a fable. But yet (where it might +otherwise be doubted, whether anie such Arthur was at all, as the +British histories mention, bicause neither Gyldas nor Beda in their +woorks speake anie thing of him) it may appeere, the circumstances +considered, that suerly such one there was of that name, hardie and +valiant in armes, though not in diuerse points so famous as some +writers paint him out. William Malmesburie a writer of good credit and +authoritie amongst the learned, hath these woords in his first booke +intituled "De regibus Anglorum," saieng: "But he being dead [meaning +Vortimer] the force of the Britains waxed feeble, their decaied +hope went backward apace: and euen then suerlie had they gon to +destruction, if Ambrosius (who alone of the Romans remained yet aliue, +and was king after Vortigerne) had not kept vnder and staied the +loftie barbarous people, that is to say the Saxons, by the notable aid +and assistance of the valiant Arthur." + +This is the same Arthur, of whom the trifling tales of the Britains +euen to this day fantasticallie doo descant and report woonders: but +woorthie was he doubtlesse, of whom feined fables should not haue so +dreamed, but rather that true histories might haue set foorth his +woorthie praises, as he that did for a long season susteine and hold +vp his countrie that was readie to go to vtter ruine and decaie, +incouraging the bold harts of the Britains vnto the warre, and +finallie in the siege of Badon hill, he set vpon nine hundred of the +enimies, and with incredible slaughter did put them all to flight. On +the contrarie part, the English Saxons, although they were tossed with +sundrie haps of fortune, yet still they renewed their bands with new +supplies of their countriemen that came out of Germanie, and so with +bolder courage assailed their enimies, and by little and little +causing them to giue place, spread themselues ouer the whole Ile. For +although there were manie battels, in the which sometime the Saxons +and sometime the Britains got the better, yet the greater number of +Saxons that were slaine, the greater number of them still came ouer to +the succour of their countriemen, being called in and sent for out of +euerie quarter about them. + +[Sidenote: Gawaine where he is buried.] +Heere is also to be noted, that where the British historie +declareth, that Gawaine or Gallowine being slaine in the battell +fought betwixt Arthur and Mordred in Kent, was buried at Douer, so +that his bones remained there to be shewed a long time after: yet by +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm. lib. 3. de regib._] +that which the foresaid William Malmesburie writeth in the third +booke of his volume intituled "De regibus Anglorum," the contrarie +maie seeme true: his woords are these. "Then (saith he) in the +prouince of Wales, which is called Rosse, the sepulture of Gallowine +was found, who was nephue to Arthur by his sister, not going out of +kind from so woorthie an vncle. He reigned in that part of Britaine +which vnto this day is called Walwichia, a knight for his high +prowesse most highlie renowmed, but expelled out of his kingdome by +the brother and nephue of Hengist, of whome in the first booke we haue +made mention, first requiting his banishment with great detriment and +losse to those his enimies, wherein he was partaker by iust desert +of his vncles woorthie praise, for that he staied (for a great manie +yeeres) the destruction of his countrie, which was now running +headlong into vtter ruine and decaie. But Arthurs graue no where +appeereth: yet the others toome (as I haue said) was found in the +daies of William the conqueror, king of England, vpon the sea side, +and conteined in length foureteene foot, where he was (as some say) +wounded by his enimies, and cast vp by shipwracke. But other +write, that he was slaine at a publike feast or banket by his owne +countriemen." Thus saith William Malmesburie. + +¶ But heere you must consider, that the said Malmesburie departed this +life about the beginning of the reigne of king Henrie the second, +certeine yeers before the bones of Arthur were found (as ye haue +heard.) But omitting this point as needles to be controuerssed, & +letting all dissonant opinions of writers passe, as a matter of no +such moment that we should need to sticke therein as in a glewpot; +we will proceed in the residue of such collections as we find +necessarilie pertinent to the continuation of this historie; and now +we will say somewhat of queene Guenhera or Guenouer, the wife of the +foresaid king Arthur. + +Some iudge that she tooke hir name of hir excellent beautie, bicause +Guinne or Guenne in the Welsh toong signifieth faire, so that she was +named Guennere or rather Guenlhean, euen (as you would say) the faire +or beautifull Elenor or Helen. She was brought vp in the house of one +Cador earle of Cornewall before Arthur maried hir: and as it appeareth +by writers, she was euill reported of, as noted of incontinencie & +breach of faith to hir husband, in maner as for the more part women of +excellent beautie hardlie escape the venemous blast of euill toongs, +and the sharpe assaults of the followers of Venus. The British +historie affirmeth, that she did not onelie abuse hir selfe by +vnlawfull companie with Mordred, but that also in Arthurs absence she +consented to take him to husband. It is likewise found recorded by +an old writer, that Arthur besieged on a time the marishes neere to +Glastenburie, for displeasure that he bare to a certeine lord called +Melua, who had rauished Gueneuer, and led hir into those marishes, and +there did keepe hir. Hir corps notwithstanding (as before is recited) +was interred togither with Arthurs, so that it is thought she liued +not long after his deceasse. + +Arthur had two wiues (as Gyraldus Cambrensis affirmeth) of which the +latter (saith he) was buried with him, and hir bones found with his in +one sepulchre, but yet so diuided, that two parts of the toome towards +the head were appointed to receiue the bones of the man, and the third +part towards the feet conteined the womans bones, apart by themselues. +Here is to be remembred, that Hector Boetius writeth otherwise of the +death of Arthur than before in this booke is mentioned, & also that +Gueneuer being taking prisoner by the Picts, was conueied into +Scotland, where finallie she died, and was there buried in Angus, as +in the Scotish chronicles further appeareth. And this may be true, if +he had three sundrie wiues, each of them bearing the name of +Gueneuer, as sir Iohn Price dooth auouch that he had. Now bicause +of contrarietie in writers touching the great acts atchiued by this +Arthur, and also for that some difference there is amongst them, about +the time in which he should reigne, manie haue doubted of the whole +historie which of him is written (as before ye haue heard.) ¶ But +others there be of a constant beleefe, who hold it for a grounded +truth, that such a prince there was; and among all other a late +[Sidenote: _Dauid Pow. pag. 238, 239_.] +writer, who falling into necessarie mention of prince Arthur, +frameth a speech apologeticall in his and their behalfe that were +princes of the British bloud, discharging a short but yet a sharpe +inuectiue against William Paruus, Polydor Virgil, and their complices, +whom he accuseth of lieng toongs, enuious detraction, malicious +slander, reprochfull and venemous language, wilfull ignorance, dogged +enuie, and cankerd minds; for that they speake vnreuerentlie and +contrarie to the knowne truth concerning those thrisenoble princes. +Which defensitiue he would not haue deposed, but that he takes the +monuments of their memories for vndoubted verities. + +The British histories and also the Scotish chronicles doo agree, that +he liued in the daies of the emperour Iustinian, about the fifteenth +yeere of whose reigne he died, which was in the yeere of our Lord +[Sidenote: 542.] +542, as diuerse doo affirme. Howbeit some write farther from all +likelihood, that he was about the time of the emperor Zeno, who began +[Sidenote: _Aurea historia. I. Leland_.] +his reigne about the yeere of our Lord 474. The writer of the +booke intituled "Aurea historia" affirmeth, that in the tenth yeere +of Cerdicus king of Westsaxons, Arthur the warriour rose against the +Britains. Also Diouionensis writeth, that Cerdicus fighting oftentimes +with Arthur, if he were ouercome in one moneth, he arose in an other +moneth more fierce and strong to giue battell than before. At length +Arthur wearied with irkesomnes, after the twelfth yeere of the comming +of Cerdicus, gaue vnto him vpon his homage doone and fealtie receiued, +[Sidenote: Westsaxon.] +the shires of Southampton and Somerset, the which countries +Cerdicius named Westsaxon. This Cerdicius or Cerdicius came into +Britaine about the yeere of our Lord 495. In the 24 yere after his +comming hither, that is to say, about the yeere of your Lord 519, he +began his reigne ouer the Westsaxons, and gouerned them as king by the +space of 15 yeeres, as before ye haue heard. But to follow the course +of our chronicles accordinglie as we haue begun, we must allow of +their accounts herein as in other places, and so proceed. + + * * * * * + + + + +_The decaie of christian religion and receiuing of the Pelagian +heresie in Britaine by what meanes they were procured and by whom +redressed: Constantine succeedeth Arthur in the kingdome, ciuill warre +about succession to the crowne, the chalengers are pursued and +slaine, Constantine is vnkindlie killed of his kinsman, a bitter and +reprochfull inuectiue of Gyldas against the British rulers of his +time, and namelie against Constantine, Conan that slue Constantine +reigneth in Britaine, his vertues and vices, his two yeeres regiment, +the seuere reprehensions of Gyldas uttered against Conan, discouering +the course of his life, and a secret prophesie of his death._ + +THE XV CHAPTER. + + +In this meane while that the realme was disquieted with sore & +continuall warres betwixt the Britains and Saxons (as before ye haue +heard) the christian religion was not onelie abolished in places where +the Saxons got habitations, but also among the Britains the right +[Sidenote: The heresie of the Pelagians reuiued, _Hist. Mag._] +faith was brought into danger, by the remnant of the Pelagian heresie, +[Sidenote: Dubritius & Dauid lerned bishops.] +which began againe to be broched by diuers naughtie persons. But +Dubritius that was first bishop of Landaffe, and after archbishop of +Caerleon Arwiske, and his successour Dauid, with other learned men +earnestlie both by preaching and writing defended the contrarie cause, +to the confuting of those errors, and restablishing of the truth. + +[Sidenote: CONSTANTINE.] +After the death of Arthur, his coosine Constantine the sonne +[Sidenote: 542.] +of Cador, duke or earle of Cornewall began his reigne ouer the +Britains, in the yere of our Lord 542, which was about the 15 yeere of +the emperour Iustinianus almost ended, the 29 of Childebert king +of France, and the first yeere well neere complet of the reigne of +[Sidenote: _Galfrid_. _Matth. West._] +Totilas king of the Goths in Italie. Arthur when he perceiued that +he shuld die, ordeined this Constantine to succeed him, and so by the +consent of the more part of the Britains he was crowned king: but the +sonnes of Mordred sore repined thereat, as they that claimed the rule +of the land by iust title and claime of inheritance to them from their +[Sidenote: Ciuill warre.] +father descended. Herevpon followed ciuill warre, so that diuers +battels were striken betweene them and in the end the two brethren +were constreined to withdraw for refuge, the one to London, and the +other to Winchester: but Constantine pursuing them, first came to +Winchester, and by force entered the citie, and slue the one brother +that was fled thither within the church of saint Amphibalus: and after +comming to London, entered that citie also, and finding the other +brother within a church there, slue him in like maner as he had doone +the other. And so hauing dispatched his aduersaries, he thought to +haue purchased to himselfe safetie: but shortlie after, his owne +[Sidenote: Aurelius Conanus. Constantine slaine.] +kinsman, one Aurelius Conanus arrered warre against him, who ioining +with him in battell slue him in the field, after he had reigned foure +yeeres. His bodie was conueied to Stonheng, and there buried beside +[Sidenote: _Gyldas_.] +his ancestour Vter Pendragon. Of this Constantine that seemeth +to be ment, which Gyldas writeth in his booke intituled "De excidio +Britanniae," where inueieng against the rulers of the Britains in his +time, he writeth thus: "Britaine hath kings, but the same be tyrants; +iudges it hath, but they be wicked, oftentimes peeling and harming the +innocent people, reuenging and defending, but whom? such as be guiltie +persons and robbers; hauing manie wiues, but yet breaking wedlocke; +oftentimes swearing, and yet forswearing themselues; vowing, and for +the more part lieng; warring, but mainteining ciuill & vniust warres; +pursuing indeed theeues that are abroad in the countrie, and yet not +onelie cherishing those that sit euen at table with them, but also +highlie rewarding them: giuing almesse largelie, but on the other part +heaping vp a mightie mount of sinnes; sitting in the seat of sentence, +but seldome seeking the rule of righteous iudgement; despising the +innocent and humble persons, and exalting so farre as in them lieth, +euen vp to the heauens, most bloudie and proud murtherers, theeues and +adulterers, yea the verie professed enimies of God; if he would so +permit: keeping manie in prison, whome they oppresse, in loding them +with irons, through craft rather to serue their owne purpose, than for +anie gilt of the persons so imprisoned: taking solemne oths before +the altars, and shortlie after, despising the same altars as vile and +filthie stones. + +"Of this hainous and wicked offense Constantine the tyrannicall whelpe +of the lionesse of Deuonshire is not ignorant, who this yeare, after +the receiuing of his dreadfull oth, whereby he bound himselfe that in +no wise he should hurt his subjects (God first, and then his oth, +with the companie of saints, and his mother being there present) +did notwithstanding in the reuerent laps of the two mothers, as the +church, and their carnall mother, vnder the coule of the holie abbat, +deuoure with sword and speare in stead of teeth, the tender sides, +yea and the entrailes of two children of noble and kinglie race, and +likewise of their two gouernours, yea and that (as I said) amongest +the sacred altars: the armies of which persons so slaine, not +stretched foorth to defend themselues with weapons (the which few in +those daies handled more valiantlie than they) but stretched foorth (I +saie) to God and to his altar in the day of iudgement, shall set vp +the reuerent ensignes of their patience and faith at the gates of the +citie of Christ, which so haue couered the seat of the celestiall +sacrifice, as it were with the red mantle of their cluttered bloud. + +"These things he did not after anie good deeds doone by him deseruing +praise: for manie yeares before, ouercome with the often and +changeable filths of adulterie, & forsaking his lawfull wife contrarie +to the lawes of God, &c: he now brought foorth this crime of quelling +his owne kinsmen, and violating the church, but neither being loosed +from the snares of his former euills, he increaseth the new with the +old." ¶ Thus in effect hath Gyldas written of this Constantine, with +more: for turning his tale to him, he reproueth him of his faults, and +counselleth him to repent. + +[Sidenote: CONANUS.] +After that Aurelius Conanus had slaine the foresad Constantine, as +in the British histories is mentioned, the same Conan was made king +[Sidenote: 546.] +of Britaine in the yeare of our Lord 546, in the 20 yeare of +Iustinianus, and in the 33 of the reigne of Childebert king of the +Frenchmen. This Aurelius Conanus (as is recorded by some writers) was +of a noble heart, free and liberall, but giuen much to the maintenance +of strife and discord amongst his people, light of credit, and namelie +had an open eare to receiue and heare the reports of such as accused +other. Moreouer he was noted of crueltie, as he that tooke his vncle, +who of right should haue beene king, and kept him in prison, and not +so satisfied slue in tyrannous maner the two sons of his said vncle: +But God would not suffer him long to inioy the rule of the land in +[Sidenote: _Matth. West._ writeth that he reigned 30. yeares.] +such vniust dealing, for he died after he had reigned the space of two +yeares, and left a sonne behind him called Vortiporus, which succeeded +him in the kingdome, as authors doo record. Of this Aurelius Conanus +Gyldas writeth, calling vnto him after he had made an end with his +predecessor Constantine, saieng in this wise: "And thou lions whelpe, +as saith the prophet, Aurelius Conanus what doost thou? Art thou +not swallowed vp in the filthie mire of murthering thy kinsmen, of +committing fornications and adulteries like to the other before +mentioned, if not more deadlie, as it were with the waues and surges +of the drenching seas ouerwhelming thee with hir vnmercifull rage? +Dooest thou not in hating the peace of thy countrie as a deadlie +serpent, and thirsting after ciuill wars and spoiles (oftentimes +vniustlie gotten) shut vp against thy soule the gates of celestiall +peace and refreshment? Thou being left alone as a withering tree in +the middle of a field, call to remembrance (I praie thee) the vaine +youthfull fantasie and ouertimelie death of thy fathers and thy +brethren. Shalt thou being set apart, and chosen foorth of all thy +linage for thy godlie deserts, be reserued to liue an hundred yeares, +or remaine on earth till thou be as old as Methusalem? No no." And +after these reprehensions, with further threatnings of Gods vengeance, +he exhorted him to amendment of life, and so proceedeth to talke +with Vortiporus, whome he nameth the king, or rather the tyrant of +Southwales, as after shall be rehearsed. + + * * * * * + + + + +_The beginning of the kingdome of Brenitia, of whome the king of +Kent, Mertia, and west Saxons descended, Ida the Saxon commended, the +originall of the kingdome of Deira, the circuit and bounds therof, of +Ella the gouernour of the same, when the partition of the kingdome +of Northumberland chanced; Vortiporus reigneth ouer the Britains, he +vanquisheth the Saxons; Gyldas sharplie reprooueth Vortiporus for +manie greeuous offenses, and exhorteth him to amendement._ + +THE XVJ. CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: IDA. 547.] +In the yeare of the Lord 547, which was about the first yeare of +the reigne of Aurelius Conanus, the kingdome of Brenitia began vnder a +Saxon ruler there called Ida, & descended of Woden. For where the said +Woden had three sonnes, Weldecius, Withlegris, and Beldecius; of +[Sidenote: _H. Hunt._ The kingdom of Brenitia began.] +the first, the kings of Kent were lineallie extracted: of the second, +the kings of Mertia: and of the third sonne came the kings of +Westsaxon, and also of him was this Ida descended, being the ninth in +lineall succession from the said Beldecius and the tenth from Woden. +The same Ida was vndoubtedlie a right noble personage, and changed +first that dukedome into a kingdome; where before that time the Saxons +that ruled there, were subiects vnto the kings of Kent. Whether he +tooke vpon him of his owne accord to vsurpe the kinglie title and +roiall authoritie, or whether that the same was giuen to him by +consent of other, the certeintie appeareth not. But sure it is, +that he being a woorthie prince, did not degenerate from his noble +ancestors inuincible in warre abroad and at home, qualifieng his +kinglie seueritie with a naturall kind of courteous humanitie. The +bounds of his kingdome called (as is said) Brenitia, began in the +south at the riuer of Tine, and ended in the north at the Forth in +Scotland, in the British toong called Werd. + +[Sidenote: ELLA 561. The beginning of the kingdom of Deria.] +About the same time, or rather about 14 yeares after, one Ella a +Saxon also reigned as king in Deira, which kingdome began at the said +riuer of Tine in the north, & ended at the riuer of Humber toward the +south. These two kingdomes were sometime gouerned by two seuerall +kings, and afterwards at other times they were ioined in one, and +gouerned by one onelie king, and named the kingdome of Northumberland, +which in processe of time was much inlarged, so that it included the +shires of Yorke, Notingham, Darbie, Lancaster, the bishoprike of +Durham, Copland, and other countries betwixt the east and the west +[Sidenote: The riuer of Mersie.] +seas, euen vnto the riuer of Mersie. The foresaid Ella was sonne +to Iffus, being descended from Woden, as the 12 in succession from +him, though not by right line as William Malmesburie hath noted. Ida +(as the same Malmesburie dooth testifie) reigned 14 yeares. + +Now Ella who was successor to Ida (as he saith) reigned thirtie +[Sidenote: _Matth. West._] +yeares, and verie valiantlie inlarged his kingdome. But one author +writeth how Ida reigned but 12 yeares, and that he builded the castell +of Bamburge, first fensing it with pales, and after with a wall of +[Sidenote: _Hen. Hunt._] +stone. The same Ida had by his wife six sonnes, begotten in lawfull +[Sidenote: _Matt. West._] +bed, Ada, Ebric, Theodoric, Athelric, Osmer, and Theofred. +Moreouer he begat of certeine concubines (which he kept) six bastard +sonnes, Oga, Aleric, Ettha, Osbale, Segor, and Segother. These came +altogither into this land, and arriued at Flemesburke with fortie +ships, as Matthaeus Westmonasteriensis hath recorded. The partition of +the kingdome of Northumberland chanced after the deceasse of Ida, as +the same author signifieth: for Ada the sonne of the foresaid Ida +succeeded his father in the kingdome of Brenitia, reigning therein +seuen yeares: and Ella the sonne of Histria, a most valiant duke, +began to gouerne Deira, as both the said Matth. Westm. and others doo +affirme. + +[Sidenote: VORTIPORUS. _Matt. West._ noteth 578.] +Vortiporus the sonne of Aurelius Conanus succeeded his father, and +began to reigne ouer the Britains, in the yeere of our Lord 576, in +the 11, yeare of the emperour Flauius Anicius Iustinus, in the fourth +yeare of the reigne of Childeric king of France, and in the fourth +yeare of Clephis the Gothish king in Italie. This Vortiporus +vanquished the Saxons in batttell, as the British histories make +mention, and valiantlie defended his land and subiects the Britains, +from the danger of them and other their allies. In the time of this +kings reigne, the foresaid Ella began to rule in the south part of +the kingdome of Northumberland called Deira, as before is mentioned, +according to the account of some authors, who also take this +Vortiporus to begin his reigne in the yeare 548. After that Vortiporus +[Sidenote: _Matt. West._ noteth 3 yeares.] +had ruled the Britans the space of 4 yeares, he departed this +life, and left no issue behind him to succeed him in the kingdom. + +Against this Vortiporus Gyldas also whetting his toong, beginneth with +him thus: "And why standest thou as one starke amazed? Thou (I say) +Vortiporus the tyrant of Southwales, like to the panther in maner and +wickednesse diuerslie spotted as it were with manie colors, with thy +hoarie head in thy throne, full of deceits, crafts and wiles, and +defiled euen from the lowest part of thy bodie to the crowne of thy +head, with diuers & sundrie murthers committed on thine owne kin, and +filthie adulteries, thus proouing a naughtie sonne of a good king, as +Manasses was to Ezechias. How chanceth it that the violent streames +of sinnes which thou swallowest vp like pleasant wine, or rather +art deuoured of them, (the end of thy life by little and little now +drawing neere) can not yet satisfie the? What meanest thou that with +fornication of all euills, as it were the full heape, thine owne wife +being put away, thou by hir honest death dooest oppresse thy soule +with a certeine burthen that can not be auoided, of thine vnshamefast +daughter? Consume not (I pray thee) the residue of thy daies to the +offense of God, &c." These and the like woords vttered he, exhorting +him to repentance, with admonitions taken out of the scriptures both +for his comfort and warning. + +¶ If the circumstance of this that Gyldas writeth of Vortiporus be +marked, it may be perceiued, that Geffrey of Monmouth, and also +Matthew of Westminster, the author of the floures of histories, are +deceiued, in that they take him to be the sonne of Aurelius Conanus: +and rather it may be gathered, that not onlie the same Aurelius +Conanus and Vortiporus, but also Constantinus, yea & Cuneglasus, and +Maglocunus, of the which he also intreateth (as partlie shall be +hereafter touched) liued and reigned all at one time in seuerall parts +of this Ile, and not as monarchs of the whole British nation, but as +rulers each of them in his quarter, after the maner as the state of +Ireland hath beene in times past before the countrie came vnder the +English subiection, if my coniecture herein doo not deceiue me. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Malgo reigneth ouer the Britains, the noble qualities wherewith he +was beautified by his filthie sinnes are blemished, Gyldas reproueth +Cuneglasus for making warre against God and man, and this Malgo for +his manifold offenses, the vile iniquities wherevnto the British +rulers were inclined, the valiantnesse of Kenrike king of the +Westsaxons, his victories against diuers people his enimies, +succession in the gouemment of the Westsaxons, Northumberland, and +Kentish Saxons; the first battell that was fought betwixt the Saxons +in this Iland, Cheuling with his Westsaxons encounter with the +Britains and get the vpper hand, three kings of the Britains slaine, +and their people spoiled of their lands, goods and liues._ + +THE XVIJ. CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: MALGO. 580. _Matth. West._ hath noted 581.] +After the deceasse of Vortiporus, Malgo the nephue of Aurelius +Conanus (as some write) was made king of Britaine, & began his reigne +ouer the Britaines, in the yeere of our Lord 580, in the fifteenth +yeere of the emperour Iustinian, and in the 37 yeere of the reigne of +Childerike king of the Frenchmen. This Malgo is reported to haue beene +[Sidenote: _Gal. Mon._] +the comeliest gentleman in beautie and shape of personage that was +to be found in those daies amongst all the Britains, and therewith of +a bold and hardie courage. He manfullie defended the country which he +had in gouernance from the malice of the Saxons, and subdued the out +Iles, as Orkenie and others. But notwithstanding the noble qualities +with the which his person was adorned, yet he spotted them all with +the filthie sinne of Sodomie, so that he fell into the hatred of +almightie God, and being pursued of the Saxons, receiued manie +ouerthrowes at their hands, as by the report of the English writers is +gathered more at large. Finallie, when he had reigned fiue yeeres and +od moneths, he departed this life. + +[Sidenote: _Matt. Westm._ counteth not past fiue yeres to his reigne +through other affirme that he reigned 35 yeeres.] +It seemeth that this Malgo is named by Gyldas, Maglocunus, the +which Gyldas (before he speaketh of him) inueieth against one +Cuneglasus, whome he reprooueth, for that he warred both against God +and man: against God with grieuous sinnes, as namelie adulterie, in +forsaking the companie of his lawfull wife, and keeping to concubine +a sister of hirs, that had professed chastitie: & against man with +materiall armor and weapons, which he vsed to the destruction of his +owne countrimen, with whom he kept warres, and not against the enimies +of the common wealth. + +From Cuneglasus he commeth to the foresaid Maglocunus, whome he nameth +the dragon of the Iles, and the expeller of manie tyrants, not onelie +out of their kingdoms, but also out of life, the last of whom he +treateth (as he himselfe saith) but the first in all mischeefe & +euill, greater than manie in power, and likewise in malice: verie +liberall in giuing, but more plentifull in sinne, strong and valiant +in arms, but stronger in destruction of his owne soule. And so +proceeding, chargeth him with the sinne of the Sodomits, & sore +blameth him, for that where it had pleased God to make him higher than +all other dukes of Britaine in kingdome and degree, he did not shew +himselfe better, but contrarilie far woorse than they both in maners +and conditions. He declareth also a little after, that this Maglocune +in his yoong yeeres slue in battell his vncle being king, with the +most valiant souldiers in maner that he had. Also that where the +said Maglocune tooke vpon him the profession of a moonke, he after +renounced the same, and became a woorsse liuer than euer he was +before, abandoning his wife, and keeping his brothers sonnes wife, +while hir husband yet liued. + +Thus by that which Gyldas writeth of the kings and rulers of the +Britains, which liued in his daies, ye may perceiue that they were +giuen to all manner of wickednesse, and namelie to ciuill dissention, +rapine, adulterie, and fornication: so that it may be thought, that +GOD stirred vp the Saxons to be a scourge to them, and to worke his +iust vengeance vpon them for their wickednesses and abhominable +offenses dailie c[=o]mitted against his diuine maiestie, so that we +find recorded by writers, how that the Saxons in diuers conflicts +against the Britains had the better, and also tooke from them diuers +townes, as alreadie partly hath beene and also hereafter shall be +shewed. + +It is furthermore to be remembred, that about the 14 yeere of the +[Sidenote: 559. _Hen Hunt._] +Britaine king Conanus his reigne, which was about the end of the +yere of Christ 559, Kenrike king of the Westsaxons, departed this +life, after he had reigned xxv. yeeres complet. This Kenrike was a +victorious prince, and fought diuers battels against the Britains. In +the 18 yeere of his reigne which was the 551 of Christ, we find that +he fought against them, being come at that time vnto Salisburie, and +after great slaughter made on both parts, at length the victorie +remained with the Saxons, and the Britains were chased. Againe in the +two and twentith yeere of his reigne, and 555 yeere of Christ, the +same Kenrike and his sonne Cheuling fought with a great power of +Britains at Branburie. + +The Britains were diuided into nine companies, three in the fore ward, +three in the battell, and three in the rere ward, with their horssemen +and archers, after the maner of the Romans. The Saxons being ranged in +one entire battell, valiantlie assailed them, and notwithstanding the +shot of the Britains, yet they brought the matter to the triall +of handblowes, till at length by the comming on of the night, the +victorie remained doubtfull: and no maruell is to be made therof +(saith Henrie archdeacon of Huntington) sith the Saxons were men of +huge stature, great force & valiant courage. The same yeere that +Kenrike deceassed, Ida the king of Northumberland also died: he was +(as ye haue heard) a right valiant prince, & inlarged the dominion of +the Saxons greatlie, he ouercame Loth king of the Picts in battell, +and Corran king of Scots. + +[Sidenote: 560. _Hen Hunt._] +Also about the yeere of Christ 560, Conanus (as yet gouerning the +Britains) Irmenrike king of Kent departed this life, of whome ye haue +heard before, & Ethelbert his sonne succeeded him 52 yeeres. Then +after that the foresaid three princes were dead (as before ye +haue heard) they had that succeeded them in their estates as here +followeth. After Kenrike, his sonne Ceaulinus or Cheuling succeeded in +gouernement of the Westsaxons: and after Ida, one Ella or Alla reigned +in Northumberland: after Irmenrike followed his sonne Ethelbert in +rule ouer the Kentish Saxons. + +This Ethelbert, in processe of time grew to be a mightie prince, but +yet in the begining of his reigne he had but sorie successe against +some of his enimies: for hauing to doo with the foresaid Cheuling +[Sidenote: _Hen. Hunt._ Alias Wiphanduae.] +king of Westsaxons, he was of him ouercome in battell at Wilbasdowne, +where he lost two of his dukes or cheefe capteins, beside other +people. This was the first battell that was fought betwixt the Saxons, +one against another within this land, after their first comming into +the same. And this chanced in the yere of our Lord 567, being the +second yeere of the emperour Iustinus. + +[Sidenote: 570. CUTHA. Aileburie.] +About the yeere 570, Cutha the brother of king Cheuling fought with +the Britains at Bedford, vanquished them, & tooke from them 4 townes, +[Sidenote: 581.] +Liganbrough, Eglesbrough or Ailesburie, Besington, and Euesham. +Also about the yeere of our Lord 581, the foresaid king Cheuling +incountered with the Britains at a place called Diorth, and obteining +the vpper hand, tooke from them the cities of Bath, Glocester, and +Cirencester. At this battell fought at Diorth, were present three +kings of the Britains, whose names were these: Coinmagill, Candidan, +and Farimnagill, which were slaine there through the permission of +almightie God as then refusing his people, the which through their +heinous sinnes and great wickednesses, had most greeuouslie offended +his high and diuine maiestie, as by Gyldas it may euidentlie appeare. +For they had declined from the lawes of the Lord, and were become +abhominable in his sight, euen from the prince to the poore man, from +the priest to the Leuit, so that not one estate among them walked +vprightlie, but contrarie to dutie was gone astray, by reason whereof +the righteous God had giuen them ouer as a prey to their enimies. + +[Sidenote: His brother as _Matt. West._ saith.] +Also in the latter end of Malgos daies or about the first beginning of +the reigne of his successor Careticus, Cheuling and his sonne Cutwine +fought with the Britains at a place called Fechanley or Fedanley, +[Sidenote: _H. Hunt._] +or (as some bookes haue) Frithenlie, where Cutwine was slaine, & the +Englishmen chased: but yet Cheuling repairing his armie, wan the +victorie, and chasing the Britains, tooke from them manie countries, +[Sidenote: _Matt. West._] +and wan great riches by the spoile. But Matth. West. saith, that +the victorie aboad with the Britains, and that the Saxons were chased +quite out of the field. The Scotish writers record, that their king +Aidan (who is noted to haue beene the 49 successiuelie possessing the +regiment of that land, partlie with griefe of hart for the death of +Columba a graue and wise gentleman, whome he tenderlie loued, and +partlie with age [for he was growne horieheaded, and had reigned 34 +yeeres] ended his life) was there in aid of the Britains, and Brudeus +king of the Picts (betwixt whom and the said Aidan a sore battell was +fought) in aid of the Saxons: but the same writers name the place +Deglaston, where this battell was made, and the forces of both sides +by a sharpe incounter tried. + + * * * * * + + + + +_The begining of the kingdome of Mercia, the bounds of the same, the +heptarchie or seuen regiments of the Saxons, how they grew to that +perfection, and by whom they were reduced and drawne into a monarchie; +Careticus is created king of Britaine, the Saxons take occasion by +the ciuill dissentions of the Britains to make a full conquest of the +land, they procure forren power to further them in their enterprise, +Gurmundus king of the Africans arriueth in Britaine, the British king +is driuen to his hard shifts, the politike practise of Gurmundus in +taking Chichester & setting the towne on fire, he deliuereth the whole +land in possession to the Saxons, the English and Saxon kings put +Careticus to flight, the Britains haue onelie three prouinces left +of all their countrie which before they inhabited, their religion, +church, and commonwealth is in decaie, they are gouerned by three +kings, Cheulings death is conspired of his owne subiects._ + +THE XVIIJ. CHAPTER. + + +About the same time also, and 585 of Christ, the kingdome of Mercia +[Sidenote: CRIDA. _H. Hunt._ This kingdome began in the yeere 585, +as _Matt. Westm._ saith. _Ran. Cest._] +began vnder one Crida, who was descended from Woden, and the tenth +from him by lineall extraction. The bounds of this kingdome were of +great distance, hauing on the east the sea vnto Humber, and so on the +north the said riuer of Humber, and after the riuer of Mercia, which +falleth into the west sea at the corner of Wirhall, and so comming +about to the riuer of Dee that passeth by Chester, the same riuer +bounded it on the west from Wales, and likewise Seuerne vp to Bristow: +on the south it had the riuer of Thames, till it came almost to +London. And in this sort it contained Lincolneshire, Notingamshire, +Derbishire, Chesshire, Shropshire, Worcestershire, Glocestershire, +Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertefordshire, Bedfordshire, +Huntingtonshire, Northamptonshire, Leicestershire, and Warwikeshire. + +¶ Thus haue ye heard how the Saxons in processe of time remoouing the +Britains out of their seats, dailie wan ground of them, till at length +they got possession of the best part of this Ile, and erected within +the same seuen kingdoms, which were gouerned by seuen seuerall kings, +who continued vntill the kings of Westsaxon brought them all at length +into one monarchie, as after shall appeere. Matth. Westmin. reckoneth +eight kingdoms as thus; The kingdom of Kent, the kingdom of Sussex, +the kingdom of Essex, the kingdom of Eastangle, the kingdom of Mercia, +the kingdom of Westsex, and the kingdom of Northumberland, which +was diuided into two kingdoms, that is to say, into Deira and into +Bernicia: wherevnto W. Harison addeth the ninth in the first part of +his chronologie, and calleth it Wales. + +[Sidenote: CARETICUS.] +After that Malgo or Maglocune was departed this life, one +Careticus, or (as some write him) Caretius, was made king of the +Britains, and began his reigne in the yeere of our Lord 586, which +[Sidenote: 586.] +was in the third yeere of the emperour Mauricius, and thirteenth of +Chilperike king of France. This Careticus was a nourisher of ciuill +warre and dissention amongst his owne people the Britains, so that +he was hated both of God and man, as writers testifie. The Saxons +vnderstanding that the Britains were not of one mind, but diuided in +partakings, so as one was readie to deuoure an other, thought it good +time for them to aduance their conquests, and ceassed not to pursue +the Britains by force and continuall warre, till they had +[Sidenote: _Gal. Mon._ See more of this Gurmundus in Ireland. +_Ranulf. Cest._] +constreined them for refuge to withdraw into Wales. And as some haue +written, the Saxons meaning to make a full conquest of the land, sent +ouer into Ireland, requiring one Gurmundus a king of the Affricans to +come ouer into Britaine to helpe them against the Britains. + +This Gurmundus appointing his brother Turgesius to pursue the conquest +of Ireland, came and arriued heere in Britaine, making such cruell +warre in aid of the Saxons against the Britains, that Careticus was +constreined to keepe him within the citie of Chicester or Cirencester, +and was there besieged, and at length by continuall assalts and +skirmishes, when he had lost manie of his men, he was glad to forsake +that citie, and fled into Wales. This Gurmundus tooke Cirencester or +Chichester, and destroied it in most cruell maner. Some write, that +he tooke this citie by a policie of warre, in binding to the feet of +sparrowes which his people had caught, certeine clewes of thred or +matches, finelie wrought & tempered with matter readie to take fire, +so that the sparrowes being suffered to go out of hand, flue into the +towne to lodge themselues within their neasts which they had made in +stacks of corne, and eues of houses, so that the towne was thereby +set on fire, and then the Britains issuing foorth, fought with their +enimies, and were ouercome and discomfited. + +But whilest the battell continued, Careticus stale away, and got him +into Wales. After this, the foresaid Gurmundus destroied this land +throughout in pitifull wise, and then deliuered it in possession to +the Saxons, the which thankfullie receiued it: and because they were +descended of those that first came ouer with Hengist, they changed the +name of the land, and called it Hengistland, accordinglie as the +same Hengist had in times past ordeined: the which name after for +shortnesse of speech was somewhat altered, and so lastlie called +England, and the people Englishmen. But rather it may be thought, that +sith a great part of those people which came ouer into this land out +of Germanie with the said Hengist, and other capteins, were of +those Englishmen which inhabited Germanie, about the parts of +[Sidenote: _Matt. West._] +Thoringhen, they called this land England, after their name, when they +had first got habitation within it: and so both the land and people +tooke name of them, being called _Angli_, a long time before they +entered into this Ile, (as before is shewed out of Cornelius Tacitus +and others.) But now to returne where we left. + +[Sidenote: It should seeme that this historie of Gurmundus is but some +fained tale except it may be that he was some Dane, Norwegian or +Germane.] +Of this Gurmundus the old English writers make no mention, nor +also anie ancient authors of forren parties: and yet saith the British +booke, that after he had conquered this land, and giuen it to the +Saxons, he passed ouer into France, and there destroied much of that +land, as an enimie to the faith of Christ. For which consideration he +was the more readie to come to the aid of the Saxons, who as yet had +not receiued the christian faith, but warred against the Britains, as +well to destroie the faith of Christ within this land, as to establish +to themselues continuall habitations in the same. There be, that +omitting to make mention of Gurmundus, write thus of the expelling +of the Britains out of this land at that time, when with their king +Careticus they got them into Wales. + +[Sidenote: 586.] +[Sidenote: _Matt. West._] +In the yeere of Grace 586, Careticus a louer of ciuill +warre succeeded Malgo an enimie to God and to the Britains, whose +inconstancie when the English and Saxon kings perceiued, with one +consent they rose against him, and after manie battels chased him from +citie to citie, till at length incountering with him in a pight field, +they droue him beyond Seuerne into Wales. Heerevpon clerks and priests +were driuen out of their places with bright swoords brandishing in +all parts, and fire crackling in churches, wherewith the same were +consumed. The remnant of the Britains therefore withdrew into the west +parts of the land, that is to say, into Cornwall, and into Wales, out +of which countries they oftentimes brake out, and made insurrections +vpon the Saxons, the which in maner aforsaid got possession of the +chiefest parts of the land, leauing to the Britains onlie three +prouinces, that is to say, Cornwall, Southwales, and Northwales, which +countries were not easie to be woone, by reason of the thicke woods +inuironed with deepe mareshes and waters, and full of high craggie +rocks and mounteins. + +The English and Saxon kings hauing thus remooued the Britains, +inlarged the bounds of their dominions. There reigned in that season +within this land, beside the Britaine kings, eight kings of the +English and Saxon nations, as Ethelbert in Kent, Cissa in Sussex, +Ceauline in Westsex, Creda or Crida in Mercia, Erkenwine in Essex, +Titila in Estangle, Elle in Deira, and Alfrid in Bernicia. In this +sort the Britains lost the possession of the more part of their +ancient seats, and the faith of Christ thereby was greatlie decaied: +for the churches were destroied; and the archbishops of Caerleon +Arwiske, London and Yorke withdrew togither with their cleargie into +the mounteins and woods within Wales, taking with them the reliks of +saints, doubting the same should be destroied by the enimies, and +themselues put to death if they should abide in their old habitations. +Manie also fled into Britaine Armorike with a great fleete of ships, +so that the whole church or congregation (as ye may call it) of the +two prouinces, Loegria and Northumberland, was left desolate in that +season, to the great hinderance and decaie of the christian religion. +Careticus was driuen into Wales (as before is rehearsed) about the +second or third yeere of his reigne, and there continued with his +Britains, the which ceassed not to indamage the Saxons from time to +time as occasion still serued. + +But here is to be noted, that the Britains being thus remoued into +Wales and Cornwall, were gouerned afterwards by three kings, or rather +tyrants, the which ceased not with ciuill warre to seeke others +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._] +destruction, till finallie (as saith the British booke) they became +all subiect vnto Cadwallo, whome Beda nameth Cedwallo. In the meane +time, Ceaulinus or Cheuling king of the Westsaxons, through his +owne misgouernance and tyrannie, which towards his latter daies he +practised, did procure not onelie the Britains, but also his owne +subiects to conspire his death, so that ioining in battell with his +aduersaries at Wodensdic, in the 33 yeare of his reigne, his armie was +discomfited, and he himselfe constreined to depart into exile, and +shortlie after ended his life before he could find meanes to be +restored. + +¶ So that we haue here a mirror or liuelie view of a tyrant and +a king, wherein there is no lesse ods in the manner of their +gouernement, than there is repugnance in their names, or difference in +their states. For he seeth but little into the knowledge of toongs, +that vnderstandeth not what the office of a king should be, by +the composition of his name, the same sounding in Greeke [Greek: +_basileus_], which being resolued is in effect [Greek: _basis +lao_], that is, the foundation or stay of the people; from which +qualitie when he resulteth, he maketh shipwracke of that goodlie +title, and degenerateth into a tyrant, than the which violent and +inforced gouernement as there is none more perillous, so is it of +all other the least in continuance: this is prooued by historicall +obseruation through the course of this historie. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Ceolric reigneth ouer the Westsaxons, the Saxons and Britains +incounter, Ethelbert king of Kent subdueth the Englishsaxons, he is +maried to the French kings daughter vpon cautions of religion, the +king imbraceth the gospell, Augustine the moonke and others were sent +into this Ile to preach the christian faith, the occasion that moued +Gregorie the great to send him, buieng and selling of boies, the +Englishmen called Angli commended, Ethelbert causeth Augustine and his +fellowes to come before him, they preach to the king and his +traine, he granteth them a conuenient seat and competent reliefe in +Canturburie, the maner of their going thither and their behauiour +there, the king and his people receiue the christian faith, and are +baptised._ + +THE XIX. CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: CELRIC.] +Now after Cheuling, his nephue Celricus or Ceolric that was sonne +vnto Cutwine, the sonne of the foresaid Cheuling, reigned as king ouer +the Westsaxons fiue yeares & fiue moneths. In like manner the same +yeare died Ella or Alla king of Northumberland, after whome succeeded +Ethelricus the sonne of Ida, and reigned but fiue yeares, being a man +well growne in yeares before he came to be king. About three yeeres +after this, the Saxons & Britains fought a battell at Wodenesbourne, +where the Britains being ranged in good order, the Saxons set vpon +them boldlie indeed, but disorderedlie, so that the victorie remained +with the Britains. The Saxons the more valiant they had shewed +themselues in battell, before that time, so much the more slow and +vntowardlie did they shew themselues now in running awaie to saue +themselues, so that an huge number of them were slaine. Also about +[Sidenote: 594.] +the same time died Crida king of Mercia 594, after whome his sonne +Wibbas or Wipha succeeded. And after the deceasse of Ethelric, one +Edelbert or Edelfride surnamed the wild, succeeded in gouernement of +the Northumbers. But to returne to our purpose. + +Ethelbert king of Kent, not discouraged with the euill chance which +[Sidenote: _Beda_. _Will. Malmes._] +happened in the beginning, but rather occasioned thereby to learne +more experience in feats of warre, prooued so perfect a maister +therein, that in processe of time he subdued by force of armes all +those English Saxons which lay betwixt the bounds of his countrie, and +the riuer of Humber. Also to haue friendship in forraine parts, he +procured a wife for himselfe of the French nation, named the ladie +Bertha, being king Cheriberts daughter of France; but with condition, +that he should permit hir to continue and vse the rites and lawes of +christian faith and religion, and to haue a bishop whose name was +Luidhard, appointed to come and remaine with hir here in this land for +hir better instruction in the lawes of the Lord. So that they two with +other of the French nation that came ouer with them remaining in the +court, and vsing to serue God in praiers and otherwise, according to +the custome of the christian religion, began vndoubtedlie to giue +light to the kings mind as yet darkned with the clouds of paganisme, +so as the bright beames of the celestiall cleerenes of vnderstanding +remooued the thicke mists of his vnbeleefe in tract of time, and +prepared his heart to the receiuing of the gospell, which after by +heauenlie prouidence was preached to him, by occasion, and in maner as +followeth. + +[Sidenote: _Beda_. _Matth. West._ saith 596. 47 saith the same author.] +In the yeare of our Lord 596, which was about the 14 yeare of the +reigne of the emperour Mauricius, and after the comming of the English +Saxons into this land, about an 147 yeares almost complet, the bishop +of Rome, Gregorie the first of that name, and surnamed Magnus, sent +Augustinus a moonke, with certeine other learned men into this Ile to +preach the christian faith vnto the English Saxons, which nation as +yet had not receiued the gospell. And here we hold it necessarie to +shew how it is recorded by diuer writers, that the first occasion +whereby Gregorie was mooued thus to send Augustine into this land, +rose by this meanes. + +[Sidenote: _Beda_. _Will. Malmes._] +It chanced (whilest the same Gregorie was as yet but archdeacon of +the see of Rome) certeine yoong boies were brought thither to bee +sold out of Northumberland, according to the accustomable vse of that +countrie, in somuch that as we haue in our time seene (saith W. Mal.) +the people of that prouince haue not yet doubted to sell awaie their +neere kinsfolke for a small price. When those children which at +that time were brought from thence to Rome, had by reason of their +excellent beauties and comelie shape of lims and bodie, turned +[Sidenote: _Vita Gregorii. magni._] +the eies in maner of all the citizens to the beholding of them, it +fortuned that Gregorie also came amongst other to behold them, and +when he considered and well viewed their faire skins, their sweet +visages, and beautifull bushes of their bright and yeallow heares, he +demanded out of what region or land they came? Vnto whome answere was +made, that they were brought out of Britaine, the inhabitants of which +countrie were of the like beautifull aspect. Then he asked whether the +men of that countrie were christians, or as yet intangled with blind +heathenish errors? Wherevnto it was answered, that they were not +christened, but followed the religion of the Gentiles. Whereat +Gregorie fetching a deepe sigh, said: Ah, alas that the author of +darkenesse dooth as yet possesse men of so brightsome countenances, +and that with the grace of such faire shining visages, they beare +about minds void of inward grace. + +"Moreouer he demanded by what name the people were called, whereto +answere was made, that they were called Angli, that is to say +Englishmen. Right woorthilie (saith he) for they haue angels faces, +and such as ought to be made fellow-heires with angels in heauen. Then +asked he the name of the prouince from whence they were brought, and +it was told him they were of Deira. It is well (said he) they are to +be deliuered "De ira dei," that is to say, from the ire and wrath of +God, and called to the mercie of Christ our Lord. What name (said he) +hath the king of that prouince? Wherevnto answere was made that he was +called Alla, wherevpon alluding to that name, he said, Alleluia +ought to be soong in those parts to the praise and honor of God the +creator." + +[Sidenote: Pelagius the second. _Will. Malmes._] +Herevpon comming to Benedict the first of that name (as then bishop +of Rome) he required him that some learned men might be sent into +England to preach the gospell vnto the Englishmen, offering himselfe +to be one of the number. But though Benedict was contented to grant +[Sidenote: Pelagius.] +his request, yet the Romans had him in such estimation, that they +would not consent that he should depart so farre from the citie, so +that by them he was at that time staied of that his godlie purpose. +Howbeit when he came to be bishop, he thought to performe it though +not by himselfe, yet by other: and so Augustine and his fellowes were +sent by him about it (as before is said.) By the way, as they were +[Sidenote: M. Fox.] +passing in their iournie, such a sudden feare entred into their +hearts, that (as some write) they returned all. Others write, that +Augustine was sent backe to Gregorie, to sue that they might be +released of that voiage so dangerous and vncerteine amongst such +a barbarous people, whose language they neither knew, nor whose +rudenesse they were able to resist. Then Gregorie with pithie +perswasions confirming and comforting him, sent him againe with +letters vnto the bishop of Arles, willing him to helpe and aid the +said Austine and his companie in all what so euer his neede required. +Also other letters he directed by the foresaid Austine vnto his +fellowes, exhorting them to go forward boldlie in the Lords woorke, as +by the tenor of the said epistle here following may appeare. + + "_Gregorie the seruant of Gods servants, to the seruants of our Lord._ + +"For as much as it is better not to take good things in hand, than +after they be begun, to thinke to reuolt backe from the same againe, +therefore now you may not nor cannot (dere children) but with +all feruent studie and labour must needs go forward in that good +businesse, which thorough the helpe of God you haue well begun. +Neither let the wearisomnesse of your iournie, nor the slanderous +toongs of men appall you, but that with all instance and feruencie ye +proceed and accomplish the thing which the Lord hath ordeined you to +take in hand, knowing that your great trauell shall be recompensed +with reward of greater glorie hereafter to come. Therefore as we send +here Austine to you againe, whome also we haue ordeined to be your +gouernour, so doo you humblie obey him in all things, knowing that it +shall be profitable for your soules what soeuer at his admonition ye +shall doo. Almightie God with his grace defend you, and grant me to +see in the eternall countrie the fruit of your labours, though heere I +cannot labour in the same fellowship with you togither. The Lord God +keepe you safe most deere and welbeloued children. Dated the tenth +before the kalends of August, in the reigne of our souereigne lord +Mauricius most vertuous emperor, the fourtenth of his empire." + +Thus emboldned and comforted through the good woords and wholesome +exhortation of Gregorie, they set forward againe, and speeding foorth +their iournie, first arriued at the Ile of Thanet in Kent in the +moneth of Iulie, being in number about fortie persons, of the which +diuerse were interpretors, whome they brought with them out of France. +These they sent vnto king Ethelbert, signifieng the occasion of their +comming, who hearing the messengers within a few daies after, went +into that Ile, and there abroad out of anie house sat downe, and +caused Augustine and his fellowes to come before him, for he would +not come vnder anie roofe with them, sore doubting to be bewitched by +them, being persuaded that they were practised in nigromancie. But +they comming to him, not by the power of the diuell (as they said) but +by the might and power of almightie God, bearing in steed of a +[Sidenote: The seuenfold letanies of S. Gregorie were not yet deuised.] +banner a crosse of siluer, and an image of our Lord and Sauiour +painted in a table, and thereto singing the letanies, made +intercession vnto the Lord for the euerlasting preseruation of +themselues, and of all them for whome and to whome they came. + +Now when they being set downe by commandement of the king, had +preached the woord of life to him, and to all those that came thither +with him, he made them this answer, that their woords and promises +were good: but for as much as the same were new & vncerteine to him +that had been brought vp in the contrarie doctrine, he could not +rashlie assent to their admonitions, & leaue that beleefe which he and +the English nation had so long a time obserued and kept: but (said he) +because ye haue trauelled farre, to the intent to make vs partakers +of those things which ye beleeue to be most true and perfect, we +will thus much graunt vnto you, that ye shall be receiued into this +countrie, and haue harbrough, with all things sufficient found vnto +you for your maintenance and sustentation: neither will we hinder +you, but that ye may by preaching associat and ioine as manie of our +subiects as you can vnto your law and beleefe. They had therefore +assigned vnto them a place to lodge in within the citie of +Canturburie, which was the head citie of all his dominion. It is said +that as they approched the citie according to their maner, they had a +crosse borne before them, with an image of our Lord Iesus Christ, and +they followed, singing this letanie, "Deprecamur te Domine in omni +misericordia tua, vt auferatur furor tuus & ira tua a ciuitate ista & +de domo sancta tua, quoniam peccauimus: Alleluia." _That is to say_, +We beseech thee O Lord in all thy mercie that thy furie and wrath +may be taken from this citie, and from thy holie house, for we haue +sinned. Praise be to thee O Lord.--After they were receiued into +[Sidenote: _Beda_. _Matth. West._] +Canturburie, they began to follow the trade of life which the apostles +vsed in the primitiue church, that is to say, exercising themselues in +continuall praier, watching, and preaching to as manie as they could, +despising all worldlie things, as not belonging to them, receiuing +onelie of them (whome they taught) things necessarie for the +sustenance of their life, & liuing in all points according to the +doctrine which they set forth, hauing their minds readie to suffer in +patience all aduersities what so euer, yea and death it selfe, for the +[Sidenote: The christian faith receiued of the Englishmen.] +confirming of that which they now preached. Herevpon, manie of the +English people beleeued and were baptised, hauing in great reuerence +the simplicitie of those men, and the sweetenesse of their heauenlie +doctrine. There was a church neere to the citie on the east part +thereof dedicated to the honor of saint Martine, and builded of old +time whilest the Romans as yet inhabited Britaine, in the which the +queene, being (as we haue said) a christian, vsed to make hir praiers. +To this church Austine and his fellowes at their first comming +accustomed to resort, and there to sing, to praie, to saie masse, +to preach and to baptise, till at length the king being conuerted, +granted them licence to preach in euerie place, and to build and +restore churches where they thought good. After that the king being +persuaded by their doctrine, good examples giuing, and diuers miracles +shewed, was once baptised, the people in great numbers began to +giue eare vnto the preaching of the gospell, and renouncing their +[Sidenote: _Lib. 7, cap. 26_.] +heathenish beleefe, became christians, in so much that as Gregorie +remembreth, there were baptised ten thousand persons in one day, +being the feast of the natiuitie of our Sauiour 597, and the first +indiction. + +[Sidenote: _Polychron._] +¶ Some write how this should chance toward the latter end of +Augustines daies, after he was admitted to preach the gospell amongst +them that inhabited about Yorke (as some write) which affirme, that +the said number of ten thousand was baptised in the riuer of Suale, +which (as W. Harison saith) cannot be verified, because of the +indiction and death of Gregorie. But to proceed. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Religion is not to be inforced but perswaded and preached, Augustine +is made archbishop of England, Gregorie informeth Augustine of +certeine ordinances to be made and obserued in the new English church, +as the reuenewes of the church to be diuided into foure parts, of +liturgie, of mariage, of ecclesiasticall discipline and ordeining of +bishops: trifling questions objected by Augustine to Gregorie, fellow +helpers are sent ouer to assist. Augustine in his ministerie, he +receiueth his pall, reformation must be doone by little and little, +not to glorie in miracles, the effect of Gregories letters to K. +Ethelbert after his conuersion to christianitie._ + +THE XX. CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: _Beda. lib._ 1. _cap._ 26. and 27.] +King Ethelbert reioised at the conuersion of his people, howbeit +he would not force anie man to be baptised, but onelie shewed by his +behauiour, that he fauored those that beleeued more than other, as +fellow citizens with him of the heauenlie kingdome: for he learned of +them that had instructed him in the faith, that the obedience due to +Christ ought not to be inforced, but to come of good will. Moreouer he +prouided for Augustine and his fellowes a conuenient place for their +habitation within the citie of Canturburie, and further gaue them +[Sidenote: Augustine ordeined archbishop of the English nation.] +necessarie reuenewes in possession for their maintenance. After that +the faith of Christ was thus receiued of the English men, Augustine +went into France, and there of the archbishop of Arles named Etherius +was ordeined archbishop of the English nation, according to the order +prescribed by Gregorie before the departure of the said Augustine from +Rome. + +[Sidenote: Laurence a priest.] +After his returne into Britaine, he sent Laurence a priest, and +Peeter a moonke vnto Rome, to giue knowledge vnto Gregorie the bishop, +how the Englishmen had receiued the faith, and that he was ordeined +archbishop of the land, according to that he had commanded, if the +woorke prospered vnder his hand as it had doone. He also required to +haue Gregories aduice touching certeine ordinances to be made and +obserued in the new church of England. Wherevpon Gregorie, sending +backe the messengers, wrote an answere vnto all his demands. And first +touching the conuersation of archbishops with the clergie, and in +what sort the church goods ought to be imploied, he declared that the +[Sidenote: The reuenewes of the church to be diuided into 4. parts.] +ancient custome of the apostolike see was to giue commandement +vnto bishops ordeined, that the profits and reuenewes of their +benefices ought to be diuided into foure parts, whereof the first +should be appointed to the bishop and his familie for the maintenance +of hospitalitie: the second should be assigned to the clergie: the +third giuen to the poore: and the fourth imploied vpon repairing of +temples. + +[Sidenote: Liturgie.] +And whereas in the church of Rome one custome in saieng masse +[Sidenote: Church seruice.] +or the liturgie was obserued, and another custome in France; +concerning such church seruice, Gregorie aduised Austine that if he +found anie thing either in the church of Rome, either in the church of +France, or in anie other church which might most please the almightie +God, he should diligentlie choose it out, and instruct the church of +England (now being new) according to that forme which he should gather +foorth of the said churches: for the things are not loued for the +[Sidenote: Such as did steale.] +places sake, but the places for the things sake. Also for punishing of +such as had stolen things out of churches, so neere as might be, the +offender should be chastised in charitie, so as he might know his +fault, and (if it were possible) restore the thing taken away. + +[Sidenote: Mariages.] +And touching degrees in mariage, Englishmen might take to their +wiues, women that touched them in the third and fourth degree without +reprehension, and if any vnlawfull mariages were found amongst the +Englishmen, as if the sonne had maried the fathers wife, or the +brother the brothers wife, they ought to be warned in anie wise to +absteine, and vnderstand it to be a greeuous sinne: yet should they +not for that thing be depriued of the communion of the bodie and bloud +of our Lord, least those things might seeme to be punished in them +wherein they had offended (before their conuersion to the christian +[Sidenote: Discipline of the church.] +faith) by ignorance; for at this season the church (saith he) +correcteth some things of a feruent earnestnesse, suffreth some +things of a gentle mildnes, and dissembleth some things of a prudent +consideration, and so beareth and winketh at the same, that oftentimes +the euill which she abhorreth by such bearing and dissembling, is +restrained and reformed. + +[Sidenote: Ordeining of bishops.] +Moreouer touching the ordeining of bishops, he would they should +be so placed, that the distance of place might not be a let, but that +when a bishop should be consecrated, there might be three or foure +present. Also touching the bishops of France, he willed Augustine in +no wise to intermeddle with them, otherwise than by exhortation +and good admonition to be giuen, but not to presume anie thing by +authoritie, sith the archbishop of Arles had receiued the pall in +times past, whose authoritie he might not diminish, least he should +seeme to put his sickle into another mans haruest. But as for the +bishops of Britaine, he committed them vnto him, that the vnlearned +might be taught, the weake with wholesome persuasions +[Sidenote: Women with child.] +strengthened, and the froward by authoritie reformed. Moreouer, that a +woman with child might be baptised, and she that was deliuered after +33 daies of a manchild, and after 46 daies of a womanchild, should be +purified, but yet might she enter the church before, if she would. +[Sidenote: Matters in question about trifles.] + + The residue of Augustines demands consisted in these points, to wit: + + 1 Within what space a child should be christened after it was borne, + for doubt to be preuented by death? + + 2 Within what time a man might companie with his wife after she was + brought to bed? + + 3 Whether a woman, hauing hir floures, might enter the church, or + receiue the communion? + + 4 Whether a man hauing had companie with his wife, might enter the + church, or receiue the communion before he was washed with water? + + 5 Whether after pollusion by night in dreames, a man might receiue + the communion: or if he were a priest, whether he might say masse? + +To these questions Gregorie maketh answere at full in the booke and +place before cited, which for breefenesse we passe ouer. He sent also +at that time with the messengers aforesaid, at their returne into +England, diuers learned men to helpe Augustine in the haruest of +[Sidenote: Assistance to Augustine. The pall.] +the Lord. The names of the chiefest were these, Melitus, Iustus, +Paulinus, and Ruffinianus. He sent allso the pall, which is the +ornament of an archbishop, with vessels and apparell which should be +vsed in churches by the archbishop and other ministers. He sent also +with the pall other letters to Augustine, to let him vnderstand what +number of bishops he would haue him to ordeine within this land. +Also after that Melitus, and the other before mentioned persons were +departed from Rome, he sent a letter vnto the same Melitus, being yet +on his way toward Britaine, touching further matter concerning the +[Sidenote: Bearing with them that had newlie receiued the faith, +whereof superstition grew and increased.] +churches of England, wherein he confesseth that manie things are +permitted to be vsed of the people latelie brought from the errors +of gentilitie, in keeping feasts on the dedication daies, which haue +resemblance with the old superstitious rites of the Pagan religion. +For to hard and obstinate minds (saith he) it is not possible to cut +away all things at once, for he that coueteth to the highest place, +goeth vp by steps and not by leaps. + +[Sidenote: Miracles.] +At the same time Gregorie did send letters vnto Augustine touching +the miracles, which by report he vnderstood were shewed by the same +Augustine, counselling him in no wise to glorie in the same, but +rather in reioising to feare, and consider that God gaue him the gift +to worke such signes for the wealth of them to whom he was sent to +preach the gospell: he aduised him therefore to beware of vaine-glorie +and presumption, for the disciples of the truth (saith he) haue no +ioy, but onlie that which is common with all men, of which there is no +end, for not euerie one that is elect worketh miracles, but euerie of +the elect haue their names written in heauen. These letters, with the +other which Gregorie sent at this time vnto Augustine, were dated the +tenth day of the kalends of Iulie, in the yeere of our Lord 602, which +was the 19 yeere of the emperour Mauricius. Moreouer he sent most +[Sidenote: 602.] +courteous letters by these messengers to king Ethelbert, in the +which he greatlie commended him, in that he had receiued the christian +faith, and exhorted him to continue in that most holie state of life, +whereby he might worthilie looke for reward at the hands of almightie +God. + + * * * * * + + + + +_What reparations and foundations Augustine finished for clergimen to +the supportation of the church, the building of Paules in London and +saint Peters in Westminster vncerteine, a prouinciall councell called +by Augustine, he restoreth a blind man to his sight, the Britains are +hardlie weaned from their old custome of beliefe, an heremits opinion +of Augustine, he requireth three things to be obserued of the +Britains, he ordeineth bishops at London and Rochester; Sabert +reigneth ouer the Eastsaxons, Augustine dieth and is buried._ + +THE XXJ. CHAPTER. + + +Thus farre we haue waded in the forme and maner of conuerting the +English nation to christianitie, by the labours of Augustine and his +coadiutors: now therefore (that we may orderlie proceed) it remaineth +that we say somewhat of the acts and deeds of the said Augustine; of +whom we read, that after he was established archbishop, and had his +[Sidenote: _Beda_.] +see appointed him at Canturburie, he restored another church in +that citie which had beene erected there in times past by certeine of +the Romans that were christians, and did dedicate the same now to +the honour of Christ our Sauiour. He also began the foundation of a +monasterie without that citie, standing toward the east, in the which +by his exhortation, king Ethelbert built a church euen from the +ground, which was dedicated vnto the holie apostles Peter and Paule, +in the which the bodie of the said Augustine was buried, and likewise +the bodies of all the archbishops of Canturburie and kings of Kent +[Sidenote: One Peter was the first Abbat.] +a long time after. This abbie was called saint Austins after his +name, one Peter being the first abbat thereof. The church there was +not consecrated by Augustine, but by his successor Laurence, after he +was dead. + +Moreouer, king Ethelbert at the motion of Augustine built a church in +the citie of London (which he latelie had conquered) and dedicated it +vnto saint Paule; but whether he builded or restored this church of +saint Paule it may be doubted, for there be diuers opinions of the +building thereof. Some haue written that it was first builded by king +[Sidenote: _Ran. Higd._] +Lud (as before is mentioned.) Other againe write, that it was +builded afterward by Sigebert king of the Eastsaxons. Also king +Ethelbert builded the church of saint Andrews in Rochester. It is +likewise remembred by writers, that the same king Ethelbert procured a +[Sidenote: _Beda_.] +citizen of London to build a church to S. Peter without the citie +of London toward the west, in a place then called Thorney, that is to +say, the Ile of thorns, and now called Westminster: though others +[Sidenote: _Ran. Higd._ Westminster church builded.] +haue written that it was built by Lucias king of Britaine, or rather +by Sibert king of the Eastsaxons. This church was either newlie built, +or greatlie inlarged by king Edward surnamed the Confessor, and after +that, the third Henrie king of England did make there a beautifull +monasterie, and verie richlie indowed the same with great possessions +and sumptuous iewels. The place was ouergrowne with vnderwoods, as +thornes and brambles, before that the church was begun to be builded +there in this king Ethelberts daies. ¶ Thus the faith of Christ being +once begun to be receiued of the English men, tooke woonderfull +increase within a short time. + +[Sidenote: _Ran. Cest._ _Beda_. _Sigebertus_. _ann.19 Mauricij +imperatoris_. A synod. Ausines oke. _Galfrid. lib.8. cap.4_.] +In the meane season by the helpe of king Ethelbert, Augustine caused +a councell to be called at a place in the confines of the Westsaxons, +which place long after was called Austines oke, where he procured the +bishops or doctors of the prouinces of the Britains to come before him. +Among the Britains or the Welshmen, christianitie as yet remained in +force, which from the apostles time had neuer failed in that nation. +When Augustine came into this land, he found in their prouinces seuen +bishops sees, and an archbishops see, wherein sat verie godlie & right +religious prelats, and manie abbats, in the which the Lords flocke kept +their right order: but because they differed in obseruing the feast of +[Sidenote: _Beda lib.2. ca.2._] +Easter, and other rites from the vse of the Romane church, Augustine +thought it necessarie to mooue them to agree with him in vnitie of the +same, but after long disputation and reasoning of those matters, they +could not be induced to giue their assent in that behalfe. Augustine to +prooue his opinion good, wrought a miracle in restoring sight to one of +the Saxon nation that was blind. + +The Britains that were present, mooued with this miracle, confessed +that it was the right waie of iustice and righteousnesse which +Augustine taught; but yet they said that they might not forsake their +ancient customs without consent and licence of their nation. Wherevpon +[Sidenote: Another synod.] +they required another synod to be holden, whereat a greater number +of them might be present. This being granted, there came (as it is +reported) seuen bishops of the Britains, and a great number of +[Sidenote: The monasterie of Bangor. Abbat Dionoth.] +learned men, speciallie of the famous monasterie of Bangor, whereof +in those daies one Dionoth was abbat, who as they went towards that +councell, came first to a certeine wise man, which liued amongst them +an heremits life, and asked his aduise, whether they ought to forsake +their traditions at the preaching of Augustine or not: who made this +answer; "If he be the man of God, follow him." Then said they; "How +[Sidenote: The answer of a godlie man touching Austine the +Englishmens apostle.] +shall we prooue whether he be so or not?" Then said he: "The Lord +saith, Take vp my yoke and learne of me, for I am meeke & humble in +hart: if Augustine be humble and meeke in hart, it is to be beleeued +that he also beareth the yoke of Christ, and offereth it to you to +beare; but if he be not meeke but proud, it is certeine that he is +not of GOD, nor his woord to be regarded." "And how shall we see and +perceiue that (said they?)" "Find meanes (said he) that he maie first +come to the place of the synod with those of his side, and if he arise +to receiue you at your comming, then know that he is the seruant of +God, and obey him; but if he despise you, and arise not towards you, +whereas you be more in number, let him be despised of you." + +They did as he commanded, and it chanced, that when they came, they +found Augustine sitting in his chaire: whome when they beheld, +straightwaies they conceiued indignation, and noting him of pride, +laboured to reprooue all his saiengs. He told them that they vsed +[Sidenote: Three things required by Augustine of the Britains +to be observed.] +manie things contrarie to the custom of the vniuersall church, +and yet if in three things they would obeie him, that is to say, +in keeping the feast of Easter in due time, in ministring baptisme +according to the custome of the Romane church, & in preaching to the +Englishmen the woord of life with him & his fellowes, then would he be +contented to suffer all other things patientlie which they did, though +the same were contrarie to the maners and customs of the Romane +iurisdiction. But they flatlie denied to doo anie of those things, +and gaue a plaine answer that they would not receiue him for their +archbishop: for laieng their heads togither, thus they thought, If he +refuse now to arise vnto vs, how much the more will he contemne vs +if we should become subiect to him? Vnto whom (as it is said) +[Sidenote: Augustine threatneth.] +Augustine in threatening wise told them afore hand, that if they would +not receiue peace with their brethren, they should receiue warre of +the enimies; & if they would not preach to the Englishmen the waie of +life, they should suffer punishment by death at the hands of them: +which thing in deed after came to passe, as in place conuenient +[Sidenote: 604. Bishops ordeined at London and Rochester.] +shall be expressed. After this in the yeere of our Lord 604, the +archbishop Augustine ordeined two bishops, that is to say, Melitus at +London, that he might preach the woord of God to the Eastsaxons, which +were diuided from them of Kent by the riuer of Thames, and Iustus in +the citie of Rochester within the limits of Kent. + +[Sidenote: SABERT.] +At that time Sabert reigned ouer the Eastsaxons, but he was +subiect vnto Ethelbert king of Kent, whose nephue he was also by his +sister Ricula that was married vnto king Sledda that succeeded after +Erchenwine the first king of the Eastsaxons, and begat on hir this +Sabert that receiued the faith. After that Augustine had ordeined +Melitus to be bishop of London, as before is said, king Ethelbert +builded (as some write) the church of saint Paule within the same +citie, where the same Melitus and his successors might keepe their +see. And also for the like purpose he builded the church of saint +Andrew the apostle at Rochester, that Iustus and his successors might +haue their see in that place, according to Augustines institution: +he bestowed great gifts vpon both those churches, endowing them with +lands and possessions verie bountifullie, to the vse of them that +should be attendant in the same with the bishops. + +[Sidenote: _Ran. Cestren._] +Finallie, Augustine after he had gouerned as archbishop the church +of Canturburie by the space of 12 yeeres currant, departed this life +the fiue and twentieth of Maie, and was buried first without the citie +neere to the church of the apostles Peter and Paule (whereof mention +is made before) bicause the same church as yet was not finished nor +dedicated; but after it was dedicated, his bodie was brought into the +church, and reuerentlie buried in the north Ile there. He ordeined in +his life time Laarence to be his successor in the see of Canturburie, +of whome ye shall heare hereafter. ¶ Thus haue ye heard in what maner +the Englishmen were first brought from the worshipping of false gods, +and baptised in the name of the liuing God by the foresaid Augustine +(as we find in Beda and other writers.) Now we will returne to other +dooings chancing in the meane time amongst the people of this Ile. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Ceowlfe or Ceoloulph gouerneth the Westsaxons, Ceorlus king of +Mercia, Edelfride king of the Northumbers, and Edan king of the Scots +ioine in battell, Edan is discomfited, Edelfride subdueth the citizens +of Chester, the deuout moonks of Bangor praie for safetie from the +swoord of the enimie, twelue hundred of them are slaine, Edelfride +entreth the citie of Chester, the Britains assembling their power +vnder three capteins incounter with Edelfride, slaie manie of his +souldiers, and put him to flight, warres betweene Edelfride and +Redwald king of the Eastangles about Edwine the sonne of king Elle, +Edelfride is slaine, Ceowlfe king of the Westsaxons dieth._ + +THE XXIJ. CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: _Matth. West._ saith 34.] +After the deceasse of Chelricus king of the Westsaxons, we find +that Ceowlfe or Ceoloulph succeeded in gouernment of that kingdome, +and reigned twelue yeeres. He began his reigne (as should appeere +[Sidenote: _Matth. West._ saith 607.] +by some writers) about the yeere of our Lord 597, and spent his time +for the more part in warres, not giuing place to idlenesse, but +seeking either to defend or inlarge the confines of his dominion. He +was the sonne of Cutha, which was the sonne of Kenrike, which was the +sonne of Certike. After Wibba or Wipha king of Mercia (who, nothing +inferiour to his father, did not onelie defend his kingdome, but +also inlarge it, by subduing the Britains on ech side) one Ceorlus +[Sidenote: Ceorlus king of Mercia.] +succeeded in that kingdome, being not his sonne but his kinsman. +This Ceorlus began his reigne about the yeere of our Lord 594, as +[Sidenote: 594.] +Matth. West. recordeth. + +[Sidenote: _Beda._ Edelferd.] +Ye haue heard that Edelferd, which otherwise is called also by +writers Edelfride, surnamed the wild, gouerned still the Northumbers, +which Edelferd did more damage to the Britains than anie one other +king of the English nation. None of them destroied their countries +more than he did: neither did anie prince make more of the Britains +tributaries, or inhabited more of their countries with English people +than he. Heerevpon Edan king of those Scots which inhabited Britaine, +being therewith mooued to see Edelfride prosper thus in his conquests, +came against him with a mightie armie: but ioining in battell with +Edelfride and his power, at a place called Degsastane, or Degsastone, +or Deglaston, he lost the most part of his people, and with the +residue that were left aliue, he escaped by flight. This was a +sore foughten battell, with much bloudshed on both parties. For +notwithstanding that the victorie remained with the Northumbers, +Theobaldus the brother of Edelferd was slaine, with all that part of +the English host which he gouerned: and it was fought in the +[Sidenote: 603.] +yeere of our Lord 603, in the 19 yeere of the reigne of the foresaid +Edelferd, and in the sixt yeere of Ceowlfe king of the Westsaxons, and +[Sidenote: _Henr. Hunt._] +in the first yeere of the emperor Phocas, or rather in the last yeere +[Sidenote: _Beda lib. 1. cap._ 34.] +of his predecessor Mauricius. From that day, till the daies of Beda, +not one of the Scotish kings durst presume to enter into Britaine +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._ See in Scotland.] +againe to giue battell against the English nation, as Beda himselfe +writeth. But the Scotish writers make other report of this matter, +as in the historie of Scotland ye maie find recorded. + +The Britains that dwelt about Chester, through their stoutnesse +prouoked the aforesaid Edelferd king of the Northumbers vnto warre: +wherevpon to tame their loftie stomachs, he assembled an armie & came +forward to besiege the citie of Chester, then called of the Britains +[Sidenote: Chester as yet in possession of the Britains. +_I. Leland_. _Wil. Malm._] +Carleon ardour deue. The citizens coueting rather to suffer all +things than a siege, and hauing a trust in their great multitude of +people, came foorth to giue batell abroad in the fields, whome he +compassing about with ambushes, got within his danger, and easilie +discomfited. + +[Sidenote: _Beda_.] +It chanced that he had espied before the battell ioined (as Beda +saith) where a great number of the British priests were got aside +into a place somewhat out of danger, that they might there make their +intercession to God for the good speed of their people, being then +readie to giue battell to the Northumbers. Manie of them were of that +[Sidenote: The number of moonks in the monasterie of Bangor.] +famous monasterie of Bangor, in the which it is said, that there +was such a number of moonks, that where they were diuided into seuen +seuerall parts, with their seuerall gouernors appointed to haue rule +ouer them, euerie of those parts conteined at the least three hundred +persons, the which liued altogither by the labour of their hands. +Manie therefore of those moonks hauing kept a solemne fast for three +daies togither, were come to the armie with other to make praier, +[Sidenote: Brocmale.] +hauing for their defender one Brocmale or Broemael, earle (or consull +as some call him) of Chester, which should preserue them (being giuen +to praier) from the edge of the enimies swoord. + +King Edelferd hauing (as is said) espied these men, asked what they +were, and what their intent was; and being informed of the whole +circumstance and cause of their being there, he said; "Then if they +call to their God for his assistance against vs, suerlie though they +beare no armour, yet doo they fight against vs, being busied in praier +[Sidenote: The Britains discomfited & slaine.] +for our destruction." Wherevpon he commanded the first onset to be +giuen them, and after slue downe the residue of the British armie, not +without great losse of his owne people. Of those moonks and priests +which came to praie (as before is mentioned) there died at that +battell about the number of 12 hundred, so that fiftie of them onelie +escaped by flight. Brocmale, or Broemael at the first approch of the +enimies, turning his backe with his companie, left them (whom he +should haue defended) to be murthered through the enimies swoord. Thus +was the prophesie of Augustine fulfilled, though he was long before +departed this life (as Beda saith.) + +[Sidenote: _Henr. Hunt._] +¶ Heere is to be noted, if this battell was fought in the seuenth +yeere of Ceowlfe king of Westsaxon (as some haue written) and that +Augustine liued 12 yeeres after his entrance into the gouernment of +the see of Canturburie (as some write) it is euident that he liued +foure yeeres after this slaughter made of the British priests and +moonks by Edelferd (as before is recited.) For Ceowlfe began his +reigne (as before is mentioned) about the yeere of our Lord 596, +and in the seuenth yeere of his reigne the battell was fought at +[Sidenote: _W. Harison_.] +Degsastane betwixt the English & the Scots, which chanced in +the yeere of our Lord 604, as Beda himselfe recordeth. A late +chronographer running vpon this matter, and preciselie setting downe +his collection, saith that Athelbright, or Edelfride, K. of the +Northumbers, & Ethelbert K. of Kent, hauing Augustine in their +companie, in the eight yeere after his arriuall, made warre vpon +such Britains as refused to obserue the canons of the late councell +mentioned 603, and killed 1200 moonks of the monasterie of Bangor, +which laboured earnestlie, and in the sweat of their browes, thereby +to get their liuings, &c. Verelie Galf. Mon. writeth, that Ethelbert +king of Kent (after he saw the Britains to disdaine and denie their +subiection vnto Augustine, by whome he was conuerted to the christian +[Sidenote: _Acts and monuments, pag. 160_] +faith) stirred vp Edelferd king of the Northumbers to warre +against the Britains. But heereof Maister Fox doubteth, and therefore +saith, that of vncerteine things he hath nothing certeinlie to saie, +much lesse to iudge. But now to the matter where we left. + +After that king Edelferd had made slaughter of the Britains (as before +is rehearsed) he entred the citie of Chester, and from thence marched +towards Bangor. The Britains in the meane time had assembled +[Sidenote: Blederike duke of Cornwall, Margadud king of +Southwales, Cadwane k. of Northwales.] +their power vnder three capteins, that is to say, Blederike duke +of Cornewall, Margadud king of Southwales, and Cadwane king of +Northwales. These ioining in battell with Edelferd, slue 10066 of his +souldiers, and constreined him to flee out of the field for safegard +of his life, after he had receiued manie wounds. On the part of +[Sidenote: _Galf. Mon._] +the Britains the forsaid Blederike, which was chiefe capteine of the +field in that battell, chanced to be slaine. Thus saith Gal. Mon. + +But the ancient writers of the English kings (as Beda, William +Malmesburie, and Henrie Huntington), make no mention of this last +battell and victorie obteined by the Britains in maner as aboue is +expressed in Galfrids booke. But contrarilie we find, that Edelferd +hauing such good successe in his businesse abroad as he could wish, +[Sidenote: Edwine the sonne of king Alla banished.] +vpon purpose to auoid danger at home, banished Edwine the sonne of +Alla or Elle, a yoong gentleman of great towardnesse, latelie come to +the kingdome of the Northumbers by the death of his father. But this +Edwine in time of his exile, being long tossed from place to place, +and finding no stedfast friendship now in time of his aduersitie, at +length came to Redwald, that was king at that time of the Eastangles, +the third from Vffa, and successor to Titullus, which Titullus did +[Sidenote: 592.] +succeed next after the said Vffa, the first king of Eastangles +[Sidenote: Edelferd.] +(as before is mentioned.) This Redwald did verie honourablie +interteine Edwine, insomuch that Edelferd being informed thereof, was +highlie displeased, and sent ambassadors vnto Redwald, to require him +either to deliuer Edwine into his hands, or else if he refused so to +doo, to declare and denounce vnto him open warres. + +Redwald incouraged by his wife (that counselled him in no wise to +betraie his friend, to whome he had giuen his faith, for the menaces +of his enimie) assembled foorthwith an armie, and at the sudden +comming vpon Edelferd, assaulted him yer he could haue time to +[Sidenote: 542.] +assemble his people togither. But yet the said Edelferd, though he was +[Sidenote: _H. Hunt._] +beset and brought in danger at vnwares, died not vnreuenged: for +putting himselfe in defense with such power as he could then get +togither, he boldlie incountred the enimies, and giuing battell, slue +[Sidenote: Ethelferd slaine.] +Remerius the sonne of Redwald, and after was slaine himselfe, +hauing reigned ouer the Northumbers about 22 yeeres. This battell was +fought neere to the water of Idle. + +The said Edelferd had issue by his wife Acca, the daughter of Alla, +and sister to Edwine, two sonnes, Oswald being about two yeeres of +age, and Oswin about foure yeeres, the which (their father being +[Sidenote: _Hen. Hunt._ _Matt. West._ saith 34.] +thus slaine) were by helpe of their gouernours conueied awaie into +Scotland with all speed that might be made. Ceowlfe king of the +Westsaxons, after he had reigned the space of 12 yeeres, departed this +life, who in his time had mainteined great warre against manie +[Sidenote: The Southsaxons susteine the greater losse.] +of his neighbours, the which for briefenesse I passe ouer. One great +battell he fought against them of Sussex, in which the armies on +both sides sustained great damage, but the greater losse fell to the +Southsaxons. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Cinegiscus and his sonne Richelinus reigne iointlie ouer the +Westsaxons, they fight with the Britains; the indeuour of Laurence +archbishop of Cantrburie in setting religion at large, and seeking a +vniformitie in catholike orders, he and his fellow-bishops write to +the cleargie of Britaine and Scotland for a reformation, Melitus +bishop of London goeth to Rome, the cause why, and what he brought at +his returns from pope Boniface._ + +THE XXIIJ. CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: CINEGISCUS.] +After the foresaid Ceowlfe reigned Cinegiscus, or Kingils, which +was the sonne of Ceola, which was the sonne of Cutha or Cutwin, which +was the sonne of Kenricke, which was the sonne of king Certicke. In +the fourth yeere of his reigne, he receiued into fellowship with him +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._ saith that Onichelinus was the brother of +Cinegiscus] +in gouernance of the kingdome his sonne Richelinus, or Onichelinus, +and so they reigned iointlie togither in great loue and concord (a +thing seldome seene or heard of.) They fought with the Britains +[Sidenote: Beandune or Beanton.] +at Beandune, where at the first approch of the battels togither, +the Britains fled, but too late, for there died of them that were +ouertaken 2062. + +[Sidenote: _Beda lib. 2 cap. 4_.] +In this meane time, Laurence archbishop of Canturburie, who +succeeded next after Augustine, admitted thereto by him in his life +time (as before is said) did his indeuour to augment and bring to +perfection the church of England, the foundation whereof was latelie +laid by his predecessor the foresaid Augustine: who studied not onelie +for the increase of this new church, which was gathered of the English +people, but also he was busie to imploie his pastorlike cure vpon the +people that were of the old inhabitants of Britaine, and likewise of +the Scots that remained in Ireland. For when he had learned that the +Scots there, in semblable wise as the Britains in their countrie, +led not their liues in manie points according to the ecclesiasticall +rules, as well in obseruing the feast of Easter contrarie to the vse +of the Romane church, as in other things, he wrote vnto those Scots +letters exhortatorie, requiring them most instantlie to an vnitie of +catholike orders as might be agreeable with the church of Christ, +spred and dispersed through the world. These letters were not written +onelie in his owne name, but iointlie togither in the name of the +bishops Melitius and Iustus, (as followeth.) + +"_To our deare brethren the bishops and abbats through all Scotland, +Laurence, Melitus and Iustus bishops, the seruants of the seruants of +God wish health._ + +"Whereas the apostolike see (according to hir maner) had sent vs to +preach vnto the heathen people in these west parts, as otherwise +throgh the world, and that it chanced to vs to enter into this Ile +which is called Britaine, before we knew & vnderstood the state of +things, we had in great reuerence both the Scots & Britains, which +beleeued, bicause (as we tooke the matter) they walked according to +the custome of the vniuersall church: but after we had knowledge of +the Britains, we iudged the Scots to be better. But we haue learned +by bishop Daganus comming into this Ile, and by Columbanus the +abbat comming into France, that the Scots nothing differ in their +conuersation from the Britains: for bishop Daganus comming vnto vs, +would neither eat with vs, no nor yet come within the house where we +did eat." + +The said Laurence also with his fellow-bishops, did write to the +Britains other letters woorthie of his degree, dooing what he could +to confirme them in the vnitie of the Romane church: but it profited +litle, as appeareth by that which Beda writeth. About the same time +Melitus the bishop of London went to Rome, to common with pope +Boniface, for necessarie causes touching the church of England, and +was present at a synod holden by the same pope at that season, for +ordinances to be made touching the state of religious men, and sate in +the same synod, that with subscribing he might also by his authoritie +confirme that which was there orderlie decreed. This synod was holden +the third kalends of March, in the last yeere of the emperour Phocas, +which was about the yeere after the birth of our Sauiour 610. Melitus +at his returne brought with him from the pope, decrees commanded by +the said pope to be obserued in the English church, with letters also +directed to archbishop Laurence, and to king Ethelbert. + + + + + * * * * * + +_Cadwan is made king of the Britains in the citie of Chester, he +leuieth a power against Ethelfred king of the Northumbers, couenants +of peace passe betwixt them vpon condition, the death of Ethelbert +king of Kent, where he and his wife were buried, of his lawes; Eadbald +succeedeth Ethelbert in the Kentish kingdome, his lewd and vnholie +life, he is an enimie to religion; he is plagued with madnesse; Hebert +king of the Eastsaxons dieth, his three sonnes refuse to be baptised, +they fall to idolatrie and hate the professours of the truth, their +irreligious talke and vndutifull behauiour to bishop Melitus, he and +his fellow Iustus passe ouer into France, the three sonnes of Hebert +are slaine of the Westsaxons in battell, the Estsaxons by their +idolatrie prouoke archbishop Laurence to forsake the land, he is +warned in a vision to tarie, whereof he certifieth king Eadbald, who +furthering christianitie, sendeth for Melitus and Iustus, the one is +restored to his see, the other reiected, Melitus dieth, Iustus is made +archbishop of Canturburie, the christian faith increaseth._ + +THE XXIIIJ. CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: CADWAN king of Britaine] +After that the Britains had c[=o]tinued about the space almost of +24 yeeres without anie one speciall gouernour, being led by sundrie +rulers, euer sithens that Careticus was constreined to flee ouer +Seuerne, and fought oftentimes not onelie against the Saxons, but also +[Sidenote: 613] +one of them against another, at length in the yeere of our Lord +613, they assembled in the citie of Chester, and there elected Cadwan +that before was ruler of Northwales, to haue the souereigne rule & +gouernement ouer all their nation, and so the said Cadwan began to +reigne as king of Britaine in the said yeere 613. But some authors +say, that this was in the yeere 609, in which yeere Careticus the +British king departed this life. And then after his deceasse the +Britains or Welshmen (whether we shall call them) chose Cadwan to +gouerne them in the foresaid yeere 609, which was in the 7 yeere +of the emperour Phocas, and the 21 of the second Lotharius king of +France, and in the 13 yeere of Kilwoolfe king of the Westsaxons. + +This Cadwan being established king, shortlie after assembled a +power of Britains, and went against the foresaid Ethelfred king of +Northumberland, who being thereof aduertised, did associate to him the +most part of the Saxon princes, and came foorth with his armie to meet +Cadwan in the field. Herevpon as they were readie to haue tried the +matter by battell, certeine of their friends trauelled so betwixt them +for peace, that in the end they brought them to agreement, so that +[Sidenote: _Gal. Mon._] +Ethelfred should keepe in quiet possession those his countries beyond +the riuer of Humber, and Cadwan should hold all that which of right +belonged to the Britains on the southside of the same riuer. This +couenant with other touching their agreement was confirmed with oths +solemnelie taken, and pledges therewith deliuered, so that afterwards +they continued in good and quiet peace, without vexing one an other. + +What chanced afterward to Ethelfred, ye haue before heard rehersed, +which for that it soundeth more like to a truth than that which +followeth in the British booke, we omit to make further rehersall, +passing forward to other dooings which fell in the meane season, +whilest this Cadwan had gouernement of the Britains, reigning as king +[Sidenote: _Iohn Hard._] +ouer them the tearme of 22 or (as some say) but 13 yeeres, and +finallie was slaine by the Northumbers, as before hath beene, and also +after shall be shewed. + +In the 8 yeere after that Cadwan began to reigne, Ethelbert king +of Kent departed this life, in the 21 yeere after the comming of +Augustine with his fellowes to preach the faith of Christ here in this +realme: and after that Ethelbert had reigned ouer the prouince of Kent +the tearme of 56 yeeres (as Beda saith, but there are that haue noted +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._ _Beda li. 2. cap. 5_.] +three yeers lesse) he departed this world, as aboue is signified, +in the yeere of our Lord 617, on the 24 day of Februarie, and was +buried in the Ile of saint Martine, within the church of the apostles +Peter and Paule, without the citie of Canturburie, where his wife +queene Bartha was also buried, and the foresaid archbishop Augustine +that first conuerted him to the faith. + +Amongst other things, this king Ethelbert with the aduise of his +councell ordeined diuers lawes and statutes, according to the which +decrees of iudgements should passe: those decrees he caused to be +written in the English toong, which remained and were in force vnto +the daies of Beda, as he declareth. And first it was expressed in +those lawes, what amends he should make that stole anie thing that +belonged to the church, to the bishop, or to anie ecclesiasticall +person, willing by all means to defend them whose doctrine he had +receiued. + +[Sidenote: EADBALD.] +After the deceasse of Etthelbert, his sonne Eadbald succeeded in +the gouernment of his kingdome of Kent, the which was a great hinderer +of the increase of the new church amongst the Englishmen in those +parties: for he did not onelie refuse to be baptised himselfe, but +also vsed such kind of fornication, as hath not beene heard (as the +apostle saith) amongst the Gentiles, for he tooke to wife his mother +in law, that had beene wife to his father. By which two euill +[Sidenote: The princes example occasion of euill.] +examples, manie tooke occasion to returne to their heathenish +religion, the which whilest his father reigned, either for the prince +his pleasure, or for feare to offend him, did professe the christian +faith. But Eadbald escaped not woorthie punishment to him sent from +the liuing God for his euill deserts, insomuch that he was vexed with +a certeine kind of madnesse, and taken with an vncleane spirit. + +The foresaid storme or vnquiet troubling of the christian +congregation, was afterwards greatlie increased also by the death of +Sabert or Sebert king of the Eastsaxons, who was conuerted to the +faith of Christ, and baptized by Melitus bishop of London (as +before is mentioned) & departing this life to go to a better in the +blissefull kingdome of heauen, he left behind him three sonnes as true +successours in the estate of his earthlie kingdome, which sonnes +[Sidenote: _Ran. Cest._ _Beda li. 2. cap. 5_. Serred, Seward, and +Sigebert, the sonnes of Sabert.] +likewise refused to be baptised. Their names were Serred, Seward, & +Sigebert, men of an ill mind, & such as in whome no vertue remained, +no feare of God, nor anie respect of religion, but speciallie hating +the professours of the christian faith. For after their father was +dead, they began to fall to their old idolatrie, which in his life +time they seemed to haue giuen ouer, insomuch that now they openlie +worshipped idols, and gaue libertie to their subiects to do the like. + +And when the bishop Melitus, at the solemnizing of masse in the +church, distributed the eucharisticall bread vnto the people, they +asked him (as it is said) wherfore he did not deliuer of that bright +white bread vnto them also, as well as he had beene accustomed to doo +to their father Saba (for so they vsed to call him.) Vnto whome the +bishop made this answer: "If you will be washed in that wholesome +fountaine, wherein your father was washed, ye may be partakers of that +holie bread whereof he was partaker, but if you despise the washpoole +of life, ye may by no meanes tast the bread of saluation." But they +offended herewith, replied in this wise: "We will not enter into that +fountaine, for we know we haue no need thereof: but yet neuerthelesse +we will be refreshed with that bread." + +After this, when they had beene earnestlie and manie times told, that +vnlesse they would be baptised, they might not be partakers of the +sacred oblation: at length in great displeasure they told him, that if +he would not consent vnto them in so small a matter, there should be +no place for him within the bounds of their dominion, and so he was +constrained to depart. Wherevpon he being expelled, resorted into +Kent, there to take aduise with his fellow-bishops, Laurence and +Iustus, what was to be doone in this so weightie a matter. Who +finallie resolued vpon this point, that it should be better for them +to returne into their countrie, where with free minds they might serue +almightie God, rather than to remaine amongest people that rebelled +against the faith, without hope to doo good amongest them. Wherefore +Melitus and Iustus did depart first, and went ouer into France, +minding there to abide till they might see what the end would be. But +shortlie after, those brethren the kings of Essex, which had expelled +their bishop in maner aboue said, suffered woorthilie for their wicked +dooings. For going forth to battell against the Westsaxons, they were +[Sidenote: The sonne of king Sebert slaine.] +ouerthrowen and slaine altogither with all their armie, by the two +kings Kinigils and Quichelme. But neuerthelesse, albeit the authors of +the mischiefe were thus taken awaie, yet the people of that countrie +would not be reduced againe from their diuelish woorshipping of +false gods, being eftsoones fallen thereto in that season by the +incouragement and perilous example of their rulers. Wherefore the +archbishop Laurence was in mind also to follow his fellowes Melitus +and Iustus: but when he minded to set forward, he was warned in a +dreame, and cruellie scourged (as hath beene reported by the apostle +saint Peter, who reprooued him) for that he would so vncharitablie +forsake his flocke, & leaue it in danger without a shepherd to keepe +the woolfe from the fold. + +The archbishop imboldned by this vision, and also repenting him of his +determination, came to king Eadbald, and shewed to him his stripes, +and the maner of his dreame. The king being herewith put in great +feare, renounced his heathenish worshipping of idols, and was +baptised, and as much as in him laie, from thenceforth succoured the +congregation of the christians, and aduanced the church to his power. +He sent also into France, and called home the bishops Melitus and +Iustus, so that Iustus was restored to his see of Rochester. + +But the Eastsaxons would not receiue Melitus to his see at London, +but continued in their wicked mawmetrie, in obeieng a bishop of their +pagan law, whom they had erected for that purpose. Neither was king +Eadbald of that authoritie and power in those parties, as his father +was before, whereby he might constreine them to receiue their lawfull +bishop. But suerlie the said king Eadbald with his people, after he +was once conuerted againe, gaue himselfe wholie to obeie the lawes of +GOD, and amongt other deeds of godlie zeale, he builded a church +[Sidenote: _Beda lib. 2_.] +to our ladie at Canturburie, within the monasterie of saint Peter, +afterwards called saint Agnes. This church was consecrated by Melitus, +who after the death of Laurence succeeded in gouernance of the +archbishops see of Canturburie. After Melitus, who departed this +[Sidenote: _Beda. lib. 2. ca. 8_.] +life in the yeare of our Lord 624, Iustus that before was bishop +of Rochester, was made archbishop of Canturburie, and ordeined one +Romanus to the see of Rochester. About that time, the people of the +north parts beyond Humber receiued the faith, by occasion (as after +shall appeere.) + + * * * * * + + + + +_Edwin reigneth ouer the Northumbers, his great power and reputation, +a marriage betweene him and Ethelburga the sister of king Eadbald vpon +religious couenants, the traitorous attempts of murtherous Eumerus +against him, his wife Ethelburga is deliuered of a daughter, he +assalteth the Westsaxons, and discomfiteth them, Boniface the fift +writeth to him to desist from his idolatrie, and to his ladie to +persist in true christianitie; the vision of Edwin when he was a +banished man in the court of Redwald king of the Eastangles, whereby +he was informed of his great exaltation and conuersion to christian +religion._ + +THE XXV. CHAPTER. + + +Ye haue heard how Edelfred the king of Northumberland was slaine in +battell neere to the water of Idel by Redwald king of the Eastangles, +in fauour of Edwin whom the said Edelfred had confined out of his +dominion, 24 yeeres before. The foresaid Redwald therefore hauing +obteined that victorie, found meanes to place Edwin in gouernement of +that kingdome of the Northumbers, hauing a title thereto as sonne +[Sidenote: EDWIN. _Beda. lib. 2. ca. 5_.] +to Alla or Elle, sometime king of Northumberland. This Edwin prooued +a right valiant prince, & grew to be of more power than anie other +king in the daies of the English nation: not onelie ruling ouer a +great part of the countries inhabited with English men, but also with +Britains, who inhabited not onelie in Wales, but in part of Chesshire, +Lancashire, Cumberland, and alongst by the west sea-coast in Galloway, +and so foorth euen vnto Dunbritaine in Scotland: which I haue thought +good to note, that it may appeare in what countries Cadwallo bare +rule, of whome so often mention is made in this part of the historie. +But as concerning Edwin, his reputation was such, as not onelie the +English men, Britains and Scots, but also the Iles of Orknie, and +[Sidenote: _W. Malm._ taketh Meuania to be Anglesey.] +those of Man, and others the west Iles of ancient time called Meuaniae, +had him in reuerence, and feared his mightie power, so as they durst +not attempt anie exploit to offend him. + +It chanced that shortlie after, king Redwald had aduanced him to the +kingdom of Northumberland, to wit, about 6 yeares, the same Redwald +deceassed, which made greatlie for the more augmentation of Edwins +power. For the people of the Eastangles, which (whilest Edwin remained +amongst them as a banished man) had conceiued a good opinion of him +for his approoued valiancie and noble courage, offered themselues to +[Sidenote: Carpwaldus.] +be wholie at his commandement. But Edwin suffering Carpwald or +Erpwald the sonne of Redwald to inioie the bare title and name of the +king of that countrie, ruled all things at his owne will and pleasure. +Neither was there anie prouince within Britaine that did not obeie +him, or was not readie to doo him seruice (the kingdome of Kent onelie +excepted) for he suffered the Kentishmen to liue in quiet, because +he began to haue a liking to the sister of king Eadbald, namelie the +ladie Ethelburga, otherwise called Tate or Tace. + +[Sidenote: _Beda. lib. 2. cap. 9_.] +He made request therefore by sending ambassadours to hir brother, +to haue the said ladie in marriage, and at length obteined hir, with +condition that she being a christian woman, might not onelie vse the +christian religion, but also that all those, whether men or women, +priests or ministers, which came with hir, might haue licence to doo +the same, without trouble or impeachment of anie maner of person. +Herevpon she being sent vnto him, there was appointed to go with hir +[Sidenote: _Matth. West._ _Beda. lib. 2. cap. 9_.] +(besides manie other) one Pauline, which was consecrated bishop by +[Sidenote: 625.] +the archbishop Iustus the 21 of Iulie, in the yeare of our Lord 625, +who at his comming into Northumberland thus in companie with +Ethelburga, trauelled earnestlie in his office, both to preserue hir +and such christians in the faith of Christ, as were appointed to giue +their attendance on hir, least they should chance to fall: and also +sought to win some of the Pagans (if it were possible) vnto the same +faith, though at the first he little profited in that matter. + +In the yeare following, there came a murtherer vnto the court of king +Edwin, as then soiourning in a palace which stood vpon the side of the +riuer of Dorwent, being sent from Quichelme king of the Westsaxons, to +the intent to murther Edwin, because he had of late sore damnified the +countries of the Westsaxons. This murtherer was called Eumerus, & +[Sidenote: Other say an axe, as _Matth. West._] +caried vnder his coate a shost double edged woodknife inuenomed of +purpose, that if the king being but a little hurt therewith, should +not die of the wound, yet he should not escape the danger of the +[Sidenote: Emmerus.] +poison. This Eumerus on Easter mondaie came to the king, and making +foorth to him as it had beene to haue declared some message from his +maister, when he had espied his time, drew his weapon, and offered to +strike the king. But one of the kings seruants named Lilla, perceiuing +this, stept betwixt the king and the blow. Howbeit the murtherer set +the stripe forward with such force, that the knife running through +the bodie of Lilla wounded also the king a little: and before this +murtherer could be beaten downe, he slue another of the kings +seruants, a knight that attended vpon him, called Fordher. + +[Sidenote: Eaufled borne.] +The same night Ethelburga was deliuered of a daughter named +Eaufled, for the which when king Edwin gaue thanks vnto his gods, in +the presence of bishop Pauline, the bishop did admonish him, rather to +giue thanks vnto the true and onelie God, by whose goodnesse it came +to passe that the queene was safelie and without danger deliuered. The +king giuing good eare vnto the bishops wholesome admonition, promised +at that present to become a Christian, if he might reuenge his +injuries receiued at the hands of the Westsaxons. And to assure +Pauline that his promise should take place, he gaue vnto him his new +borne daughter to be made holie to the Lord, that is to say, baptised. +The bishop receiuing hir, on Whitsundaie next following baptised hir, +with twelue other of the kings houshold, she being the first of +the English Northumbers that was so washed in the founteine of +regeneration. + +In the meane time K. Edwin being recouered of his hurt, assembled an +armie, and went against the Westsaxons, with whome incountring in +battell, he either slue or brought to his subiection all them that +had conspired his death, and so returned as a conquerour into his +countrie. But yet he delaied time in performance of his promise to +become a Christian: howbeit he had left his dooing of sacrifice to +idols, euer since he made promise to be baptised. He was a sage +prince, and before he would alter his religion, he politikelie +thought good to heare matters touching both his old religion, and the +Christian religion throughlie examined. + +Now whilest he thus hoong in doubt vnto whether part he should +[Sidenote: _Beda. lib. 2, cap. 10_.] +incline, there came letters to him from pope Boniface the fift of +that name, exhorting him by sundrie kinds of gentle perswasions, to +turne to the worshipping of the true and liuing God, and to renounce +worshipping of mawmets and idols. The pope wrote also to queene +[Sidenote: _Beda. lib. 2, cap. 11_.] +Ethelburga, praieng hir to continue in hir good purpose, and by +all meanes possible to doo what might be doone for the conuerting of +hir husband vnto the faith of Christ. But the thing that most mooued +[Sidenote: A vision.] +the king, was a vision which sometime he had while he remained +as a banished man in the court of Redwald king of the Eastangles, as +thus. + +[Sidenote: _Beda. cap._ 12.] +After that king Ethelfred was informed that the foresaid Redwald +had receiued Edwin, he ceased not by his ambassadours to moue Redwald +either to deliuer Edwin into his hands, or to make him awaie. At +length by often sending, & promises made of large summes of monie, +mixed with threatnings, he obteined a grant of his sute, so that +it was determined that Edwin should either be murthered, or else +deliuered into his enimies hands. One of Edwins friends hauing +intelligence hereof, in the night season came to Edwins chamber, and +leading him abroad, told him the whole practise, and what was purposed +against him, offering to helpe him out of the countrie, if he would so +[Sidenote: The honorable consideration of Edwin.] +aduenture to escape. Edwin being woonderouslie amazed, thanked his +friend, but refused to depart the countrie, sith he had no iust cause +outwardlie giuen to play such a slipper part, choosing rather to +ieopard his life with honour, than to giue men cause to thinke that he +had first broken promise with such a prince as Redwald was, to whome +he had giuen his faith. + +Herevpon his friend departing from him, left him sitting without the +doores: where after he had reuolued manie things in his mind, and +thought long vpon this matter, at length he perceiued one to come +towards him vnknowne, and in strange apparell, seeming to him in +euerie point a stranger, at which sight (for that he could not imagine +who it should be) Edwin was much afraid: but the man comming to him +saluted him, and asked of him what he made there at that time of the +night when other were at rest. Edwin on the other part asked what he +had to doo therewith, and whether he vsed to lie abroad in the night, +or within house? Who answering said; Thinke not Edwin that I am +ignorant of thy heauinesse, of thy watchings, and this thy solitarie +sitting here without doores. For I know who thou art, wherefore thou +art thus pensiue, and what euils thou fearest to be towards thee at +hand. But tell me, what wouldest thou giue him, that could deliuer +thee out of this heauinesse, and perswade Redwald that he should +neither doo thee hurt, nor deliuer thee to thine enimies? Here with +when Edwin said that he would gladlie giue all that in him might lie +to such a one in reward: The other said; What wouldst thou giue then, +if he should promise in good sooth that (all thine enimies being +destroied) thou shouldest be king, and that thou shouldest passe in +power all the kings which haue reigned in the English nation before +thy time? Edwin being better come to himselfe by such demandes, did +not sticke to promise that he would requite his friendship with +woorthie thanks. + +Then replied he to his words and said; If he that shall prophesie to +thee this good hap to come, shall also be able to informe thee in such +counsell for thy health and life, as neuer anie of thy forefathers or +kinsfolke yet haue heard, wouldest thou obey him, and also consent +to receiue his wholesome aduertisement? Wherevnto without further +deliberation Edwin promised, that he would in all points follow the +instruction of him that should deliuer him out of so manie and great +calamities, and bring him to the rule of a kingdome. Which answere +being got, this person that thus talked with him, laid his hand vpon +his head, saieng: When this therefore shall chance to thee, be not +forgetfull of this time, nor of this communication, and those things +that thou now dooest promise, see thou performe. And therewith he +vanished awaie. So that Edwin might well perceiue it was no man but a +vision that thus had appeared vnto him. + +[¶ This vnaccustomed course it pleased God to vse for the conuersion +of the king (to whose example it was no doubt but the people and +inferiour sort would generallie be conformed) who otherwise had +continued in paganisme and blind ignorance both of Gods truth and true +christianitie. And it maie be that there was in him, as in other kings +his predecessors, a settled perswasion in gentilish error, so that +neither by admonition nor preaching (though the same had proceeded +from the mouth of one allotted to that ministerie) he was to be +reuoked from the infidelitie and misbeleefe wherein he was nuzzeled +and trained vp. For it is the nature of all men, to be addicted to the +obseruation of such rites and customes as haue beene established and +left in force by their progenitors, and sooner to stand vnto a desire +and earnest purpose of adding somewhat to their elders corrupt +constitutions, and irreligious course of conuersation, than to +be inclinable to anie article or point tending to innouation: so +inflexible is the posteritie to swarue from the traditions of +antiquitie, stand the same vpon neuer so grosse and palpable +absurdities.] + +Edwin still reioising in the foresaid comfortable talke, but +thoughtfull in mind what he should be, or from whence he came that had +talked in this sort with him; behold his friend returned that first +had brought him foorth of his chamber, and declared vnto him good +newes, how the king by perswasion of the queene had altered his +determination, and minded to mainteine his quarell to the vttermost of +his power: and so he did in deed. For with all diligence he raised +an armie, and went against Ethelfrid, vanquished him in battell, and +placed Edwin in the kingdome (as before ye haue heard.) + + * * * * * + + + + +_King Edwin is put in mind of his vision by Pauline who sawe the +same in spirit, he is licenced to preach the gospell, bishop Coifi +destroieth the idols, Edwin and his people receiue the Christian +faith, his two sonnes Osfride and Eadfride become conuerts, Redwald +king of the Eastangles is baptised, he serueth God and the diuell, +Sibert receiueth the faith, Felix bishop of Burgongne commeth ouer to +Honorius archbishop of Canturburie, he preacheth to the Eastangles, +the Northumbers and Lincolnshiremen are conuerted manie are baptised +in the riuer of Trent; king Edwins iustice how effectuall and +commendable, his care for the common-wealth, his prouidence for the +refection of trauellers, pope Honorius confirmeth Pauline archbishop +of Yorke, the tenor of his letters touching the mutuall election of +the archbishop of Canturburie and Yorke, if either of them happened to +suruiue other, his letters to the Scots touching the keeping of Easter +and avoiding the Pelagian heresie, Cadwallo king of Britaine rebelleth +against Edwin, Penda king of Mercia enuieth his good estate, Cadwallo +and Penda inuade Northumberland, Edwin and his sonne Osfride are +slaine, Penda putteth his other sonne Eadfride cruellie to death._ + +THE XXVJ. CHAPTER. + + +Notwithstanding the former vision, king Edwin deferred time yer he +would receiue the Christian faith, in somuch that Pauline vpon a daie +came vnto him as he sat musing what he were best to doo, and laid his +hand vpon his head, asking him if he knew that signe. Whereat when the +king would haue fallen downe at his feet, he lifted him vp, and as it +were in familiar wise thus said vnto him: "Behold, by the assistance +of Gods fauour thou hast escaped the hands of thine enimies, whome +thou stoodst in feare of: behold through his bountious liberalitie, +thou hast obteined the kingdome which thou diddest desire, remember +then that thou delaie no time to performe the third thing that +thou diddest promise, in receiuing his faith, and keeping his +commandements, which deliuering thee from worldlie aduersities, hath +thus aduanced thee to the honor of a king: and if from henceforth thou +wilt obey his will, which by my mouth hee setteth and preacheth to +thee and others, he will deliuer thee from euerlasting torments, and +make thee partaker with him in his celestiall kingdome." It is to be +thought that the vision which the king had in times past receiued, was +in spirit reuealed vnto Pauline, wherevpon without delaie of time, he +put him in remembrance of it in maner as aboue is mentioned. + +The king hauing heard his words, answered, that he would and ought to +receiue the faith which he taught, but first he would conferre with +his nobles, and if they would agree to doo the like, then would they +be baptised altogither at one time. Pauline satisfied herewith, +[Sidenote: Edwin consulteth with his nobles.] +Edwin did as he had promised, calling togither the wisest men of his +realme, and of them asked the question what they thought of this +diuinitie, which was preached vnto them by Pauline, vnto whome +[Sidenote: The answere of an heathen bishop.] +his chiefe bishop named Coifi, incontinentlie made this answer; that +Suerlie the religion which they had hitherto followed was nothing +worth. "For saith he, there is none of thy people that hath more +reuerentlie woorshipped our gods than I haue doone, and yet be there +manie that haue receiued far greater benefits at thy hands than I haue +doone: and therefore if our gods were of anie power, then would they +rather helpe me to high honor and dignitie than others. Therefore if +it maie be found that this new religion is better & more auailable +than our old, let vs with speed imbrace the same." + +Finallie, when other of the kings councell & men of high authoritie +gaue their consents, that this doctrine which Pauline taught ought to +be receiued, if therein appeered more certeintie of saluation than +could be found in the other: at length the king gaue licence to +[Sidenote: Pauline licenced to preach the gospell.] +Pauline openlie to preach the gospell, and renouncing his worshipping +of false gods, professed the Christian faith. And when he demanded of +his bishop Coifi who should first deface the altars of their idols, +and the tabernacles wherewith they were compassed about? He answered, +that himselfe would doo it. "For what is more meet (saith he) than +that I, which thorough foolishnesse haue worshipped them, should now +for example sake destroie the same, thorough wisedome giuen me from +the true and liuing God?" And streightwaies throwing awaie the +superstition of vanitie, required armour and weapon of the king, with +a stoned horsse, vpon the which he being mounted, rode foorth to +destroie the idols. + +This was a strange sight to the people: for it was not lawfull for the +bishop of their law to put on armour, or to ride on anie beast, except +it were a mare. He hauing therefore a swoord gird to him, tooke a +speare in his hand, and riding on the kings horsse, went to the place +where the idols stood. The common people that beheld him had thought +he had beene starke mad, and out of his wits: but he without longer +deliberation, incontinentlie vpon his comming to the temple, began +to deface the same, and in contempt threw his speare against it, & +reioising greatlie in the knowledge of the worshipping of the true +God, commanded his companie to destroie & burne downe the same +temple with all the altars. This place where the idols were sometime +worshipped was not farre from Yorke, towards the east part of the +riuer of Derwent, and is called Gotmundin Gaham, where the foresaid +bishop by the inspiration of God defaced and destroied those altars, +which he himselfe had hallowed. + +[Sidenote: King Edwin with his people receive the christian faith. +_Beda. lib. 2. cap. 14_. 627.] +King Edwin therefore with all the nobilitie, and a great number of +his people, receiued the faith and were baptised, in the yeere of our +Lord 627, in the tenth yeere of his reigne, and about the 178 yeere +after the first comming of the Englishmen into this land. He was +baptised at Yorke on Easter daie (which fell that yeere the day before +the Ides of Aprill) in the church of S. Peter the apostle, which he +had caused to be erected and built vp of timber vpon the sudden for +that purpose, and afterwards began the foundation of the same church +in stone-woorke of a larger compasse, comprehending within it that +oratorie which he had first caused to be built: but before he could +finish the woorke, he was slaine (as after shall be shewed) leauing +it to be performed of his successor Oswald. + +Pauline continued from thencefoorth during the kings life, which +was six yeeres after, in preaching the gospell in that prouince, +conuerting an innumerable number of people to the faith of Christ, +among whom were Osfride and Eadfride the two sonnes of Edwin, whom he +begot in time of his banishment of his wife Quinburga, the daughter +of Cearlus king of Mercia. Also afterwards he begot children on his +second wife Ethelburga, that is to say, a sonne called Edilhimus, +[Sidenote: Ediltrudis.] +and a daughter named Ediltrudis, and another sonne called Bustfrea, of +the which the two first died in their cradels, and were buried in the +church at Yorke. To be briefe: by the kings assistance & fauour shewed +vnto Pauline in the woorke of the Lord, great multitudes of people +dailie receiued the faith, and were baptised of Pauline in manie +places, but speciallie in the riuer of Gleuie within the prouince of +Bernicia, and also in Swale in the prouince of Deira: for as yet in +the beginning thus of the church in those countries, no temples or +fonts could be builded or erected in so short a time. + +Of such great zeale was Edwin (as it is reported) towards the setting +[Sidenote: This chanced in the yeere 632, as _Matt. West._ saith.] +foorth of Gods truth, that he persuaded Carpwald the sonne of Redwald +king of the Eastangles to abandon the superstitious worshipping of +idols, and to receiue the faith of Christ with all his whole prouince. +[Sidenote: Redwald king of Eastangles baptised.] +His father Redwald was baptised in Kent long before this time, but in +vaine: for returning home, through counsell of his wife and other +wicked persons, he was seduced, and being turned from the sincere +puritie of faith, his last dooings were woorse than his first, so +[Sidenote: Redwald would serve God and the diuell.] +that according to the maner of the old Samaritans, he would seeme +both to serue the true God and his false gods, (whom before time he +had serued) and in one selfe church had at one time both the +sacraments of Christ ministred at one altar, and sacrifice made vnto +diuels at another. + +But Carpwald within a while after he had receiued the faith, was +slaine by one of his owne countrimen that was an ethnike, called +Richbert, and then after his death, that prouince for the tearme +[Sidenote: Sibert or Sigibert.] +of three yeeres was wrapped eftsoones in errour, till Sibert or +Sigibert, the brother of Carpwald, a most christian prince, and verie +well learned, obteined the rule of that kingdome, who whilest he liued +a banished man in France during his brothers life time, was baptised +there, and became a christian: and when he came to be king, he caused +all his prouince to be partaker of the same fountaine of life, wherein +he had beene dipped himselfe. + +Vnto this godlie purpose also, a bishop of the parties of Burgoigne +named Felix was a great furtherer, who comming ouer vnto the +archbishop of Canturburie Honorius that was successor vnto Iustus, and +declaring vnto him his earnest desire, was sent by the same archbishop +to preach the woord of life vnto the Eastangles, which he did with +such good successe, that he conuerted the whole countrie to the faith +of Iesus Christ, and placed the see of his bishoprike at Dunwich, +[Sidenote: A bishop ordained at Dunwhich. _Beda lib 1. cap. 16._] +ending the course of his life there in peace after he had continued in +that his bishoplike office the space of 17 yeeres. Moreouer Pauline, +after that he had conuerted the Northumbers, preached the woord of God +vnto them of Lindsey, which is a part of Lincolnshire: and first he +persuaded one Blecca the gouernour of the citie of Lincolne to +[Sidenote: This chanced in the yeere 628, as _Matth. West_ saith.] +turne vnto Christ, togither with all his familie. In that citie he +also builded a church of stone woorke. Thus Pauline trauelled in the +woorke of the Lord, the same being greatlie furthered by the helpe of +Edwin, in whose presence he baptised a great number of people in the +riuer of Trent, neere to a towne, which in the old English toong was +called _Tio vulfingacester_. This Pauline had with him a deacon named +Iames, the which shewed himselfe verie diligent in the ministerie, and +profited greatlie therein. + +But now to returne to king Edwin, who was a prince verelie of woorthie +fame, and for the politike ordering of his countries and obseruing of +iustice, deserued highlie to be commended: for in his time all robbers +by the high waie were so banished out of his dominions, that a woman +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._] +with hir new borne child alone, without other companie, might haue +trauelled from sea to sea, and not haue incountred with anie creature +that durst once haue offered hir iniurie. He was also verie carefull +for the aduancement of the commoditie & common wealth of his people, +[Sidenote:_ Math. West. Beda lib 2. cap. 16_] +insomuch that where there were any sweet and cleare water-springs, he +caused postes to be set vp, and iron dishes to be fastened thereto +with chaines, that waifaring men might haue the same readie at hand +to drinke with: and there was none so hardie as to touch the same but +for that vse. He vsed wheresoeuer he went within the cities or +elsewhere abroad, to haue a banner borne before him, in token of +iustice to be ministred by his roiall authoritie. + +In the meane season, pope Honorius the fift, hearing that the +Northumbers had receiued the faith (as before is mentioned) at the +preaching of Pauline, sent vnto the said Pauline the pall, confirming +him archbishop in the see of Yorke. He sent also letters of +[Sidenote: _Beda lib 2. cap. 17_.] +exhortation vnto king Edwin, to kindle him the more with fatherlie +aduise to continue and proceed in the waie of vnderstanding, into +the which he was entered. At the same time also, bicause Iustus the +archbishop of Canturburie was dead, and one Honorius elected to that +see, pope Honorius sent to the said elect archbishop of Canturburie +[Sidenote: A decree concerning the archbishops of Canturburie and Yorke] +his pall, with letters, wherein was conteined a decree by him +made, that when either the archbishop of Canturburie or Yorke chanced +to depart this life, he that suruiued should haue authoritie to +ordeine another in place of him that was deceassed, that they should +not need to wearie themselues with going to Rome, being so farre +distant from them. The copie of which letter is registred in the +ecclesiasticall historie of Beda, bearing date the third Ides of Iune, +[Sidenote: 633.] +in the yeere of our Lord 633. The same pope sent letters also +to the Scotish people, exhorting them to celebrate the feast of +[Sidenote: The feast of Easter] +Easter in such due time as other churches of the christian world +[Sidenote: The heresie of the Pelagians] +obserued. And also bicause the heresie of the Pelagians began to +renew againe amongst them (as he was informed) he admonished them to +beware thereof, and by all meanes to auoid it. For he knew that to the +office of a pastor it is necessarilie incident, not onelie to exhort, +teach, and shew his sheepe the waies to a christian life, but also +stronglie to withstand all such vniust meanes, as might hinder their +proceeding in the truth of religion. For as poison is vnto the bodie, +that is heresie vnto veritie. And as the bodie by poison is disabled +from all naturall faculties, and vtterlie extinguished, vnlesse by +present meanes the force thereof be vanquished: so truth and veritie +by errors and heresies is manie times choked and recouereth, but neuer +strangled. + +But now that the kingdome of Northumberland flourished (as before is +partlie touched) in happie state vnder the prosperous reigne of Edwin, +at length, after he had gouerned it the space of 17 yeeres, +[Sidenote: Cadwallin, or Cadwallo king of Britaine.] +Cadwalline, or Cadwallo, king of Britaine, who succeeded Cadwane, as +Gal. Mon. saith, rebelled against him. For so it commeth to passe, +that nothing can be so sure confirmed by mans power, but the same +by the like power may be againe destroied. Penda king of Mercia +[Sidenote: Penda king of Mercia.] +enuieng the prosperous proceedings of Edwin, procured Cadwallo to +mooue this rebellion against Edwin: and ioining his power with +Cadwallo, they inuaded the countrie of Northumberland iointlie +togither. Edwin heereof aduertised, gathered his people, & came to +incounter them, so that both armies met at a place called Hatfield, +[Sidenote: King Edwin slaine. _Matth. West._] +where was fought a verie sore and bloudie battell. But in the end +Edwin was slaine with one of his sonnes named Osfride, and his armie +beaten downe and dispersed. Also there was slaine on Edwins part, +Eodbald king of Orkenie. Moreouer there was an other of Edwins sonnes +named Eadfride constreined of necessitie to giue himselfe into the +hands of Penda, and was after by him cruellie put to death, contrarie +to his promised faith in king Oswalds daies that succeeded Edwin. +Thus did king Edwin end his life in that battell, fought at Hatfield +aforesaid, on the fourth ides of October, in the yere of our Lord 633, +he being then about the age of 47 yeeres and vpwards. + + * * * * * + + + + +_The crueltie of Penda and Cadwallo after their victorie, the Britains +make no account of religion, Archbishop Pauline with queen Ethelburga +flie out of Northumberland into Kent, honorable personages accompanie +him thither, Romanus bishop of Rochester drowned, Pauline vndertaketh +the charge of that see; Osrilie is king of Deira, and Eaufride king of +Bernicia, both kings become apostatas, and fall fr[=o] christianitie +to paganisme, then are both slaine within lesse than a yeeres space; +Oswald is created king of Northumberland, his chiefs practise in feats +of armes, Cadwallo king of Britaine hath him in contempt, Oswalds +superstitious deuotion and intercession to God against his enimies; +both kings ioine battell; Cadwallo is slaine, Penda king of Mercia his +notable vertues linked with foule vices, he maketh warre on whome he +will without exception._ + +THE XXVIJ. CHAPTER. + + +Cadwallo and Penda haumg obteined the victorie aforsaid, vsed it most +cruellie. For one of the capteins was a pagan, and the other wanting +all ciuilitie, shewed himselfe more cruell than anie pagan could haue +doone. So that Penda being a worshipper of false gods with his people +of Mercia, and Cadwallo hauing no respect to the Christian religion +[Sidenote: The crueltie of Penda and Cadwallo.] +which latelie was begun amongst the Northumbers, made hauocke in +all places where they came, not sparing man, woman nor child: and so +continued in their furious outrage a long time in passing through +the countrie, to the great decay and calamitie of the Christian +congregations in those parties. And still the christian Britains were +lesse mercifull than Penda his heathenish souldiers. For euen vnto the +daies of Beda (as he affirmeth) the Britains made no account of the +faith or religion of the Englishmen, nor would communicate with them +more than with the pagans, bicause they differed in rites from their +accustomed traditions. + +[Sidenote: The archbishop Pauline flieth into Kent.] +When the countrie of the Northumbers was brought into this +miserable case by the enimies inuasion, the archbishop Pauline taking +with him the queene Ethelburga, whom he had brought thither, returned +now againe with hir by water into Kent, where he was receiued of the +archbishop Honorius, and king Eadbald. He came thither in the conduct +of one Bassus a valiant man of warre, hauing with him Eaufred the +daughter, and Vulfrea the sonne of Edwin, & also Iffi the sonne of +Osfride Edwins sonne, whom their mother after for feare of the kings +Edbold and Oswold did send into France where they died. The church +of Rochester at that time was destitute of a bishop, by the death of +Romanus, who being sent to Rome vnto pope Honorius, was drowned by +the way in the Italian seas. Wherevpon at the request of archbishop +Honorius, and king Eadbald, Pauline tooke vpon him the charge of that +see, and held it till he died. + +[Sidenote: _Beda_. _lib. 3. ca. 1_. OSRIKE KING OF DEIRA.] +After it was knowne that Edwin was slaine in battell (as before ye +haue heard) Osrike the sonne of his vncle Elfrike tooke vpon him the +rule of the kingdome of Deira, which had receiued the sacrament of +baptisme by the preaching and vertuous instruction of Pauline. But +[Sidenote: Eaufrid king of Bernicia.] +the other kingdome of Northumberland called Bernicia, Eaufride the son +of Edelferd or Edelfride, tooke vpon him to gouerne. This Eaufride +during the time of Edwins reigne, had continued in Scotland, and there +being conuerted to the Christian faith was baptised. But both these +princes, after they had obteined possession of their earthlie +kingdoms, did forget the care of the heauenlie kingdome, so that they +returned to their old kind of idolatrie. But almightie God did not +long suffer this their vnthankefulnesse without iust punishment: for +first in the next summer, when Osrike had rashlie besieged Cadwallo +king of the Britains, within a certeine towne, Cadwallo brake foorth +vpon him, and finding him vnprouided to make resistance, slue him +[Sidenote: The two kings of Northumberland slaine.] +with all his armie. Now after this, whilest Cadwallo not like a +conqueror gouerned the prouinces of the Northumbers, but like a tyrant +wasted and destroied them, in sleaing the people in tragicall maner, +he also slue Eaufride, the which with twelue men of warre came +vndiscreetlie vnto him to sue for peace: and thus within lesse than +twelue moneths space both these runagate kings were dispatched. + +[Sidenote: OSWALD began his reigne in the yeare 635. _Beda_. _lib.3. +cap.3_.] +Then Oswald the sonne of Edelfred, and brother to the foresaid +Eaufride was created king of the Northumbers, the sixt in number from +Ida. This Oswald after that his father was slaine, liued as a banished +person a long time within Scotland, where he was baptised, and +professed the Christian religion, and passed the flower of his youth +in good exercises, both of mind & bodie. Amongst other things he +practised the vnderstanding of warlike knowledge, minding so to vse it +as it might stand him in stead to defend himselfe from iniurie of +the enimies that should prouoke him, and not otherwise. Herevp[=o] +Cadwallo king of the Britains made in maner no account of him: for +by reason that he had atchiued such great victories against the +Englishmen, and hauing slaine their two kings (as before is expressed) +he ceassed not to proceed in his tyrannicall dooings, reputing the +English people for slouthfull, and not apt to the warre, boasting +that he was borne to their destruction. Thus being set vp in pride of +courage, he feared no perils, but boldlie (without considering at +all the skilfull knowledge which Oswald had sufficientlie learned in +feates of war) tooke vpon him to assaile the foresaid Oswald, that had +brought an armie against him, and was encamped in a plaine field neere +vnto the wall which the Romans had builded in times past against the +inuasion of Scots and Picts. + +Cadwallo streight prouoked Oswald to trie the matter by battell, but +Oswald forbare the first day, and caused a crosse to be erected in the +same place where he was incamped, in full hope that it should be an +ensigne or trophie of his victorie, causing all souldiers to make +their praiers to God, that in time of such necessitie it might please +him to succour them that worship him. It is said, that the crosse +being made, and the hole digged wherein it should be set, he tooke the +crosse in his owne hands, and putting the foot thereof into that hole, +so held it till his souldiers had filled the hole, and rammed it vp: +and then caused all the souldiers to kneele downe vpon their knees, +and to make intercession to the true and liuing God for his assistance +against the proud enimie, with whom they should fight in a iust +quarell for the preseruation of their people and countrie. + +After this, on the next morning he boldlie gaue battell to his +enimies, so that a sore and cruell fight insued betwixt them. At +length Oswald perceiued that the Britains began somwhat to faint, and +therfore caused his people to renew their force, and more lustilie +to preasse forward, so that first he put that most cruell enimie to +flight, and after pursuing the chase ouertooke him, and slue him +[Sidenote: _Beda_. _Wil. Malm._] +with the most part of all his huge and mightie armie, at a place +called Denisborne, but the place where he caused the crosse to be +erected he named Heuenfield. Thus Cadwallo the most cruell enimie of +the English name ended his life: he was terrible both in nature and +countenance, for the which cause they say the Britains did afterwards +set vp his image, that the same might be a terror to the enimies when +they should behold it. + +¶ But here is to be remembred by the British historie of Gal. Mon. +it should appeare that Cadwallo was not slaine at all, but reigned +victoriouslie for the space of 48 yeeres, and then departed this life, +as in place afterwards it shall appeere. But for that the contrarietie +in writers in such points may sooner be perceiued than reformed, to +the satisfieng of mens fansies which are variable, we will leaue +euerie man to his libertie to thinke as seemeth him good, noting now +and then the diuersitie of such writers, as occasion serueth. + +[Sidenote: PENDA. 636.] +Penda the sonne of Wilba succeeded in the gouernement of the +kingdome of Mercia after Ciarlus, and began his reigne in the yeere of +our Lord 636. He was fiftie yeeres of age before he came to be king, +and reigned 30 yeres, he was a prince right hardie and aduenturous, +not fearing to ieopard his person in place of danger, assured and +readie of remembrance in time of greatest perill. His bodie could not +be ouercome with anie trauell, nor his mind vanquished with greatnesse +of businesse. But these his vertues were matched with notable vices, +as first with such bitternesse of maners as had not beene heard of, +crueltie of nature, lacke of courtesie, great vnstedfastnesse in +performing of woord and promise, and of vnmeasurable hatred toward the +christian religion. + +Now vpon confidence in these his great vertues and vices from that +time he was made king (as though the whole Ile had bene due to him) he +thought not good to let anie occasion passe that was offered to make +war, as wel against his friends & confederats, as also against his +owne sworne enimies. Part of his dooings ye haue heard, and more shall +appeare hereafter. ¶ Of the kings of the Eastsaxons & Eastangles ye +haue heard before: of whom in places conuenient ye shall find further +mention also, and so likewise of the kings of the Southsaxons: but +bicause their kingdom continued not past fiue successions, litle +remembrance of them is made by writers. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Cadwallo king of Britain, diuers deeds of his as the British writers +haue recorded them, wherevpon discord arose betweene Cadwallo & Edwin, +who for two yeres space were linked in friendship, Cadwallo vanquisht, +his flight, of Pelitus the Spanish wizard, Cadwallo ouerthroweth Penda +and his power besieging Excester, he arreareth battell against the +Northumbers, and killeth Edwin their king, he seeketh to expell the +Saxons out of the land, Penda slaieth Oswald, whose brother and +successor Osunus by gifts and submission obteineth peace, whom Penda +spitefullie attempting to kill is killed himselfe, Cadwallo dieth, a +brasen image on horssebacke set vp in his memoriall, saint Martins at +Ludgate builded._ + +THE XXVIIJ. CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: CADWALLO, OR CADWALLINE.] +Cadwallo or Cadwalline, (for we find him so named) began his +[Sidenote: 635.] +reigne ouer the Britains, in the yeere of our Lord 635, in the +yeere of the reigne of the emperour Heracleus 35, and in the 13 yere +of Dagobert K. of France. Of this man ye haue heard partlie before +touching his dealings and warres against the Northumbers, and other of +the English nation: but forsomuch as diuers other things are reported +of him by the British writers, we haue thought good in this place to +rehearse the same in part, as in Gal. Mon. we find writen, leauing the +credit still with the author, sith the truth thereof may be the more +suspected, bicause other authors of good authoritie, as Beda, Henrie +Huntington, William Malmesburie, and others seeme greatlie to disagree +from him herein. But thus it is written. + +[Sidenote: Edwin was not sonne to Ethelfred, but to Alla, or Elle, as +in other places plainlie appeareth.] +This Cadwallo and Edwin the sonne of Ethelfred, as Galfride saith, +were brought vp in France, being sent thither vnto Salomon king of +Britaine, by king Cadwane, when they were verie yoong. Now after their +returne into this land, when they were made kings, Cadwallo of the +Britains, & Edwin of the Northumbers, there continued for the space +of two yeeres great friendship betwixt them, till at length Edwin +required of Cadwallo that he might weare a crowne, and celebrate +appointed solemnities within his dominion of Northumberland, as well +as Cadwallo did in his countrie. Cadwallo taking aduice in this +matter, at length by persuasion of his nephue Brian, denied to grant +vnto Edwin his request, wherewith Edwin tooke such displeasure, that +he sent woord vnto Cadwallo, that he would be crowned without his +leaue or licence, sith he would not willinglie grant it. Wherto +Cadwallo answered, that if he so did, he would cut off his head vnder +his diademe, if he presumed to weare anie within the confines of +Britaine. Hereof discord arising betwixt these two princes, they began +to make fierce and cruell warre either of them against the other, +[Sidenote: Cadwallo vanquished by Edwin. Cadwallo flieth the land.] +and at length ioining in batell with their maine forces, Cadwallo +lost the field, with many thousands of his men, and being chased fled +into Scotland, and from thence got ouer into Ireland, and finally +passed the seas into Britaine Armorike, where, of his coosin king +Salomon he was courteouslie receiued, and at length obteined of him +10000 men to go with him backe into his countrie, to assist him in +recouerie of his lands & dominions, the which in the meane time were +cruellie spoiled, wasted and haried by king Edwin. + +At the same time Brian the nephue of Cadwallo, whom he had sent into +Britaine as little before to slea a certeine wizard or southsaier, +whom king Edwin had gotten out of Spaine named Pelitus, that by +disclosing the purpose of Cadwallo vnto Edwin, greatlie hindered +Cadwallos enterprises, had fortified the citie of Excester, mening to +defend it till the comming of Cadwallo, wherevpon Penda king of Mercia +besieged that citie with a mightie army, purposing to take it, and +Brian within it. Cadwallo then aduertised hereof, immediatlie after +his arriuall hasted to Excester, and diuiding his people in 4 parts, +set vpon his enimies, tooke Penda, and ouerthrew his whole armie. +Penda hauing no other shift to escape, submitted himselfe wholie vnto +Cadwallo, promising to become his liegeman, to fight against the +Saxons in his quarrell. Penda being thus subdued, Cadwallo called his +nobles togither which had bene dispersed abroad a long season, & with +all speed went against Edwin king of Northumberland, and slue him in +battell at Hatfield (as before is mentioned) with his son Osfride, and +Eodbold king of the Iles of Orknie, which was come thither to his aid. + +¶ By this it should appeare, that Fabian hath gathered amisse in the +account of the reignes of the British kings: for it appeareth by Beda +and others, that Edwin was slaine in the yeere of our Lord 634. +[Sidenote: 634.] +And where Fabian (as before is said) attributeth that act & diuers +other vnto Cadwan the father of this Cadwallo: yet both Gal. Mon. and +Beda with the most part of all other writers signifie that it was done +by Cadwallo. Harding assigneth but 13 yeeres to the reigne of Cadwan, +and declareth that he died in the yeere of our Lord 616, in the which +(as he saith) Cadwallo began his reigne, which opinion of his seemeth +best to agree with that which is written by other authors. But to +returne to the other dooings of Cadwallo, as we find them recorded +in the British storie. After he had got this victorie against the +Northumbers, he cruellie pursued the Saxons, as though he ment so +farre as in him lay, to destroie the whole race of them out of the +coasts of all Britaine: and sending Penda against king Oswald that +succeeded Edwin, though at the first Penda receiued the ouerthrow at +Heauenfield, yet afterwards Cadwallo himselfe highly displeased with +that chance, pursued Oswald, and fought with him at a place called +[Sidenote: Oswald slaine.] +Bourne, where Penda slue the said Oswald. Wherevpon his brother +Osunus succeeding in gouernment of the Northumbers, sought the fauour +of Cadwallo now ruling as king ouer all Britaine, and at length by +great gifts of gold and siluer, and vpon his humble submission, +[Sidenote: Oswie. _Matth. West._ 654.] +obteined peace, till at length vpon spite, Penda king of Mercia +obteined licence of Cadwallo to make warres against the said Osunus, +in the which (as it hapned) Penda himselfe was slaine. Then Cadwallo +after two yeeres granted that Vlfridus the sonne of Penda should +succeed in Mercia. + +Thus Cadwallo ruled things at his appointment within this land. And +[Sidenote: 678.] +[Sidenote: _Matt. West._ saith 676.] +finallie when he had reigned 48 yeeres, he departed this life +the 22 of Nouember. His bodie being embalmed and dressed with sweet +confections, was put into a brasen image by maruelous art melted and +cast, which image being set on a brazen horsse of excellent beautie, +the Britains set vp aloft vpon the west gate of London called Ludgate, +in signe of his conquests, and for a terror to the Saxons. Moreouer +the church of S. Martin vnderneath the same gate, was by the Britains +then builded. Thus haue the Britains made mention of their valiant +prince Cadwallo, but diuerse thinke that much of this historie is +but fables, bicause of the manifest varieng both from Beda and other +autentike writers (as before I haue said.) + + * * * * * + + + + +_The true storie of the forenamed king Oswald, his desire to restore +christian religion, Cormans preaching taking small effect among the +Northumbers, persuadeth him to depart into his owne countrie, he +slandereth them before the Scotish clergie, Aidan a godlie man telleth +the cause of the peoples not profiting by Cormans preaching, Aidan +commeth into England to instruct the people in the faith, he varieth +in the obseruation of Easter from the English churches custome, the +Northumbers haue him & his doctrine in reuerence, Oswalds earnest +zeale to further religion by Aidans preaching and ministerie, 15000 +baptised within 7 daies; Oswald hath the Britains, Scots, Picts, +& English at his commandement, his commendable deed of christian +charitie, the Westsaxons conuerted to the faith by the preaching +of Birinus, king Kinigils is baptised, he maketh Birinus bishop of +Dorcester, Penda king of Mercia maketh war against the christian +kings of the Westsaxons, both sides after a bloudie battell fall +to agrement, Ercombert the first English king that destroied idols +throughout the whole land, he ordeineth Lent; why English men became +moonks, and English women nunnes in monasteries beyond the seas; why +Penda king of Mercia enuieth vertuous king Oswald, he is assaulted, +slaine in battell, and canonized a saint after his death._ + +THE XXIX. CHAPTER. + + +Now will we (after all these differing discourses of the British +chronologers) approch and draw as neere as we can to the truth of the +historie touching Oswald king of the Northumbers, of whom we find, +[Sidenote: Oswald meaneth to be thankefull to God for his benefits. +_Beda li. 3. cap. 3. 5. 6._ _Hector Boet._] +that after he had tasted of Gods high fauour extended to himwards, in +vanquishing his enimies, as one minding to be thankefull therefore, +he was desirous to restore the christian faith through his whole +kingdome, sore lamenting the decay thereof within the same, and +therefore euen in the beginning of his reigne, he sent vnto Donwald +the Scotish king (with whome he had beene brought vp in the time of +his banishment the space of 18 yeeres) requiring him to haue some +learned Scotishman sent vnto him, skilfull in preaching the word of +life, that with godly sermons and wholesome instructions, he might +conuert the people of Northumberland vnto the true and liuing God, +promising to interteine him with such prouision as apperteined. + +[Sidenote: Corman.] +At his instance, there was sent vnto him one Corman, a clerke +singularlie well learned, and of great grauitie in behauiour: but for +that he wanted such facilitie, and plaine vtterance by waie of gentle +persuading, as is requisite in him that shall instruct the simple, +onelie setting foorth in his sermons high mysteries, and matters of +such profound knowledge, as the verie learned might scarselie perceiue +the perfect sense and meaning of his talke, his trauell came to small +effect, so that after a yeeres remaining there, he returned into his +countrie, declaring amongst his brethren of the cleargie, that the +people of Northumberland was a froward, stubborne and stiffe-harted +generation, whose minds he could not frame by anie good meanes of +persuasion to receiue the christian faith: so that he iudged it lost +labour to spend more time amongst them, being so vnthankfull and +intractable a people, as no good might be doone vnto them. + +Amongst other learned and vertuous prelats of the Scots, there chanced +[Sidenote: Aidan.] +one to be there present at the same time called Aidan, a man of so +perfect life, that (as Beda writeth) he taught no otherwise than he +liued, hauing no regard to the cares of this world, but whatsoeuer +was giuen him by kings or men of wealth and riches, that he freelie +bestowed vpon the poore, exhorting other to doo the like. This Aidan +hearing Cormans woords, perceiued anon that the fault was not so much +in the people as in the teacher, and therefore declared, that (as he +thought) although it were so that the people of Northumberland gaue +no such attentiue eare vnto the preaching of that reuerend prelate +Corman, as his godlie expectation was they should haue doone, yet +might it be that his vttering of ouer manie mysticall articles amongst +them, farre aboue the capacitie of the vnderstanding of simple men, +was the cause why they so lightlie regarded his diuine instructions, +[Sidenote: S. Paules counsell.] +whereas if he had (according to the counsell of Saint Paule) at +the first ministred vnto their tender vnderstandings, onelie milke, +without harder nourishments, he might happilie haue woone a farre +greater number of them vnto the receiuing of the faith, and so haue +framed them by little and little to haue digested stronger food. +And therefore he thought it necessarie in discharge of their duties +towards God, and to satisfie the earnest zeale of king Oswald, +that some one amongst them might be appointed to go againe into +Northumberland, to trie by proceeding in this maner afore alledged, +what profit would thereof insue. + +The bishops hearing the opinion of Aidan, and therewith knowing +Cormans maner of preaching, iudged the matter to be as Aidan had +declared, and therevpon not onelie allowed his woords, but also willed +him to take the iournie vpon him, sith they knew none so able with +[Sidenote: Aidan commeth into England to preach the gospell.] +effect to accomplish their wished desires in that behalfe. Aidan, +for that he would not seeme to refuse to take that in hand which he +himselfe had motioned, was contented to satisfie their request, and so +set forward towards Northumberland, and comming thither, was ioifullie +receiued of king Oswald, who appointed him the Ile of Lindesfarne, +wherein to place the see of his new bishoprike. + +[Sidenote: _Beda li. 3 ca. 3_. _Hector Boet._] +This Aidan in one point varied from the vse of the new begun church +of England, that is to say, touching the time of obseruing the feast +of Easter, in like maner as all the bishops of the Scots and Picts +inhabiting within Britaine in those daies did, following therein (as +they tooke it) the doctrine of the holie and praise-woorthie father +Anatholius. But the Scots that inhabited the south parts of Ireland, +alreadie were agreed to obserue that feast, according to the rules of +the church of Rome. Howbeit Aidan being thus come into Northumberland, +applied himselfe so earnestlie in praier and preaching, that the +people had him within short while in woonderfull estimation, chiefelie +for that he tempered his preachings with such sweet and pleasant +matter, that all men had a great desire to heare him, insomuch that +sometime he was glad to preach abroad in churchyards, bicause the +audience was more than could haue roome in the church. + +One thing was a great hinderance to him, that he had not the perfect +knowledge of the Saxon toong. But Oswald himselfe was a great helpe to +[Sidenote: _Beda_. Oswald an interpretor to the preacher.] +him in that matter, who being desirous of nothing so much, as to +haue the faith of Christ rooted in the harts of his subiects, vsed as +an interpreter to report vnto the people in their Saxon toong, such +whole sermons as Aidan vttered in his mother toong. For Oswald hauing +beene brought vp (as ye haue hard) in Scotland during the time of +his banishment, was as readie in the Scotish, as he was in the Saxon +toong. The people then seeing the kings earnest desire in furthering +the doctrine set foorth by Aidan, were the more inclined to heare it: +so that it was a maruellous matter to note, what numbers of people +dailie offred themselues to be baptised, insomuch that within the +[Sidenote: _Hector Boet._] +space of seuen daies (as is left in writing) he christened 15 thousand +persons, of the which no small part forsaking the world, betooke +themselues to a solitarie kind of life. + +Thus by his earnest trauell in continuall preaching and setting foorth +the gospell in that countrie, it came to passe in the end, that the +faith was generallie receiued of all the people, and such zeale to +aduance the glorie of the christian religion dailie increased amongst +[Sidenote: Oswalds zeale to aduance religion.] +them, that no where could be found greater. Heerevpon were no small +number of churches built in all places abroad in those parties by +procurement of the king, all men liberallie consenting (according to +the rate of their substance) to be contributorie towards the charges. +By this meanes the kingdome of the Northumbers flourished, as well +[Sidenote: _Beda lib. 5. ca. 6_.] +in fame of increase in religion, as also in ciuill policie and +prudent ordinances: insomuch that (as Beda writeth) Oswald +[Sidenote: Oswald had in estimation with his neighbours.] +atteined to such power, that all the nations and prouinces within +Britaine, which were diuided into foure toongs (that is to say) +Britains, Picts, Scots, and Englishmen, were at his commandement. But +yet he was not lifted vp in anie pride or presumption, but shewed +himselfe maruellous courteous and gentle, and verie liberall to poore +people and strangers. + +It is said, that he being set at the table vpon an Ester day, & hauing +bishop Aidan at diner then with him, his almoner came in as the bishop +was about to say grace, and declared to the king that there was a +great multitude of poore folks set before the gates to looke for the +kings almes. The king heerewith tooke a siluer dish, which was set +on the table before him with meate, & commanded the same meate +streightwaies to be distributed amongst the poore, & the dish broken +into small peeces, and diuided amongst them: for which act he was +highlie commended of the bishop, as he well deserued. By the good +policie and diligent trauell of this king, the prouinces of Deira and +Bernicia, which hitherto had beene at variance, were brought to peace +and made one. + +[Sidenote: _Beda lib. 3. ca. 7_. Birinus conuerteth the Westsaxons +to the christian faith.] +About the same time, the Westsaxons were conuerted to the christian +faith, by the preaching of one Birinus a bishop, who came into this +land at the exhortation of pope Honorius, to set foorth the gospell +vnto those people which as yet were not baptised. By whose diligent +[Sidenote: Kinigils king of Westsaxon becommeth a christian. _Polydor_.] +trauell in the Lords haruest, Kingils or Kinigils, one of the kings +of that countrie receiued the faith, and was baptised about the fiue +& twentith yeere of his reigne. K. Oswald that should haue had his +daughter in mariage, was present the same time, who first yer he +became a sonne in law, was made a godfather vnto Kinigils (that +should be his father in law) by receiuing him at the fontstone, in +that his second birth of regeneration. To this Birinus, who was an +Italian, king Kinigils (now that he was become a conuert or christian) +[Sidenote: Dorcester ordeined a bishops see.] +appointed and assigned the citie of Dorcester, situat by the +Thames, distant from Oxford about seuen miles, to be the see of his +bishoprike, where he procured churches to be built, and by his earnest +trauell & setting foorth the woord of life, conuerted much people to +the right beliefe. In the yeere following, Quichelmus the other king +of the Westsaxons, and sonne to Kinigils was also christened, and died +the same yeere, and so Cinigilsus or Kinigils reigned alone. + +[Sidenote: _Henr. Hunt._] +In this meane while Penda king of Mercia that succeeded next after +[Sidenote: This chanced in the yeere 620, as _Matth. West._ saith.] +Ciarlus, being a man giuen to seeke trouble in one place or other, +leauied warre against the kings of Westsaxon, Kinigils and Quichelmus, +the which gathering their power, gaue him battell at Cirenchester, +where both the parties fought it out to the vttermost, as though +they had forsworne to giue place one to another, insomuch that they +continued in fight and making of cruell slaughter till the night +parted them in sunder. And in the morning, when they saw that if they +shuld buckle togither againe, the one part should vtterlie destroie +the other, they fell to agreement in moderating ech others demands. + +[Sidenote: 640. _Beda lib. 3. cap. 7_. _Matth. West._] +After this, in the yeere of our Lord 640, Eadbald king of Kent +departed this life, after he had reigned 24 yeeres, leauing his +kingdome to his sonne Ercombert. This Ercombert was the first of the +English kings, which tooke order for the vtter destroieng of all idols +[Sidenote: Lent first ordeined to be kept in England.] +throughout his whole kingdome. He also by his roiall authoritie +commanded the fast of fortie daies in the Lent season to be kept and +obserued, appointing woorthie and competent punishment against the +[Sidenote: Segburga. Aimoinus.] +transgressors of that commandement. He had by his wife Segburga, that +was daughter vnto Anna king of the Eastangles, a daughter named +Eartongatha, a professed nunne within the monasterie of Briege or +Cala in France: for in those daies, bicause there were not manie +monasteries builded within this land, a great number of Englishmen, +that tooke vpon them the profession of a religious life, got them ouer +vnto abbeies in France, and there professed themselues moonks: and +manie there were which sent their daughters ouer to be professed +nuns within the nunneries there, and speciallie at Briege, Cala, and +Andelie: amongst other, there were Sedrike the lawfull daughter, and +Edelburgh the bastard daughter of the said king Anna, both which in +processe of time were made abbesses of the said monasterie of Briege. + +Ye haue heard alreadie, how Oswald king of Northumberland bare +himselfe in all points like a most woorthie prince, not ceasing to +releeue the necessitie of the poore, aduancing the good, and +reforming the euill, whereby he wan to himselfe exceeding praise and +commendation of all good men, and still his fame increased for +his vertuous dooings; namelie, for the ardent zeale he had to the +aduancing of the christian faith. Herevpon Penda king of Mercia, +enuieng the prosperous proceedings of Oswald, as he that could neuer +abide the good report of other mens well-dooings, began to imagine how +[Sidenote: Penda inuadeth the Northumbers. _Beda. lib. 3. cap. 9_.] +to destroie him, and to conquere his kingdome, that he might ioine it +to his owne. At length he inuaded his countrie by open warre, met +with him in the field at a place called Maserfield, and there in +[Sidenote: King Oswald slaine. _Matt. Westm._ saith 644.] +sharpe and cruell fight Oswald was slaine on the fift day of +August, in the yeare of our Lord 642, and in the 38 yeare of his age, +after he had reigned the tearme of eight or nine yeares after +some, which account that yeare vnto his reigne, in the which his +predecessors Osrike and Eaufride reigned, whome they number not +amongest kings, because of their wicked apostasie and renouncing of +the faith which before they had professed. Such was the end of that +vertuous prince king Oswald, being cruellie slaine by that wicked +tyrant Penda. Afterwards, for the opinion conceiued of his holinesse, +the foresaid Oswald was canonized a saint, and had in great worship +[Sidenote: _Will. Malmes._] +of the people, being the first of the English nation that approoued +his vertue by miracles shewed after his departure out of this life. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Oswie succeedeth Oswald in the kingdome of Northumberland, he is sore +vexed by Penda, Oswie and Oswin are partners in gouernement, they fall +at strife, Oswin is betraeied into the hands of Oswie and slaine, a +commendation of his personage and goodlie qualities, bishop Aidan +dieth; Cenwalch king of the Westsaxons, Penda maketh warre against him +for putting away his wife, his flight, he becommeth a christian and +recouereth his kingdome, Bishop Agilbert commeth into Westsaxon, and +afterwards departing (upon occasion) is made bishop of Paris, Wini +buieth the bishoprike of London; Sigibert king of the Eastangles, the +vniuersitie of Cambridge founded by him, he resigneth his kingdome and +becometh a moonke, he and his kinsman Egric are slaine in a skirmish +against Penda king of Mercia._ + +THE XXX. CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: OSWIE King of Northumberland. _Beda li. 3. ca. 14_.] +After that king Oswald was slaine, his brother Oswie (being +about 30 yeares of age) tooke vpon him the rule of the kingdome of +Northumberland, gouerning the same with great trouble for the space of +28 yeares, being sore vexed by the foresaid Penda king of Mercia +and his people, which as yet were pagans. In the first yeare of his +[Sidenote: 644.] +reigne, which was in the yeare of our Lord 644. Pauline the bishop +of Rochester which had beene also archbishop of Yorke departed this +life, and then one Thamar an Englishman of the parties of Kent +was ordeined bishop of Rochester by Honorius the archbishop of +Canturburie. King Oswie had one Oswin partener with him in gouernment +of the Northumbers in the first beginning of his reigne, which +[Sidenote: Bernicia.] +was sonne to Osrike, so that Oswie gouerned in Bernicia, and Oswin in +Deira, continuing in perfect friendship for a season, till at length, +through the counsell of wicked persons, that coueted nothing so much +as to sowe discord and variance betwixt princes, they fell at debate, +and so began to make warres one against an other, so that finallie +when they were at point to haue tried their quarrell in open battell, +Oswin perceiuing that he had not an armie of sufficient force to +incounter with Oswie, brake vp his campe at Wilfaresdowne, ten mile by +west the towne of Cataracton, and after withdrew himselfe onelie with +one seruant named Condhere vnto the house of earle Hunwald, whome +he tooke to haue beene his trustie friend: but contrarie to his +expectation, the said Hunwald did betraie him vnto Oswie, who by his +captaine Edelwine slue the said Oswin and his seruant the forsaid +Condhere, in a place called Ingethling, the 13 kalends of September, +[Sidenote: 651.] +in the ninth yeare of his reigne, which was after the birth of our +Sauiour 651. + +This Oswin was a goodlie gentleman of person, tall, and beautifull, +and verie gentle of speech, ciuill in manners, and verie liberall both +to high & low, so that he was beloued of all. Such a one he was, to +be breefe, as bishop Aidan gessed that he should not long continue +in life, for that the Northumbers were not woorthie of so good and +vertuous a gouernour. Such humblenesse and obedience he perceiued to +rest in him towards the law of the Lord, in taking that which was told +him for his better instruction in good part, that he said, he neuer +saw before that time an humble king. The same Aidan liued not past +12 daies after the death of the said Oswin, whome he so much loued, +departing this world the last daie of August, in the seuenteenth yeare +after he was ordeined bishop. His bodie was buried in the Ile of +Lindesferne. After Aidan, one Finan was made bishop in his place, a +Scotishman also, and of the Ile of Hui, from whence his predecessor +the foresaid Aidan came, being first a man of religion professed in +the monasterie there (as some writers doo report.) + +[Sidenote: CENWALCH. _Henr. Hunt._ 643.] +In the meane time, after that Kinigils or Cinigilsus king of the +Westsaxons had reigned 31 yeares, he departed this life Anno 643, +leauing his kingdome to his sonne Cenwalch or Chenwald, who held the +same kingdome the tearme of 30 yeares, or 31 (as some write) in +[Sidenote: _Ran. Higd._] +manner as his father had doone before him. In the third, or (as others +saie) in the fift yeare of his reigne, Penda king of Mercia made +sharpe warre against him, because he had put awaie his wife the sister +of the said Penda, and in this warre Chenwald was ouercome in battell, +& driuen out of his countrie, so that he fled vnto Anna king of the +Eastangles, with whome he remained the space of a yeare, or (as other +say) three yeares, to his great good hap: for before he was growen +to be an enimie to the christian religion, but now by the wholesome +admonitions and sharpe rebukes of king Anna, he became a christian, +and receiued his wife againe into his companie, according to the +prescript of Gods law, and (to be breefe) in all things shewed +himselfe a new man, imbracing vertue, & auoiding vice, so that +shortlie after (through the helpe of God) he recouered againe his +kingdome. + +[Sidenote: Agilbertus a bishop.] +Now when he was established in the same, there came a bishop named +Agilbertus out of Ireland, a Frenchman borne (but hauing remained in +Ireland a long time) to reade the scriptures. This Agilbert comming +into the prouince of the Westsaxons, was gladlie receiued of king +Chenwald, at whose desire he tooke vpon him to exercise the roome of +a bishop there: but afterwards, when the said king admitted another +bishop named Wini, which had beene ordeined in France, and knew the +toong better than Agilbert, as he that was borne in England: Agilbert +offended, for that the king had admitted him without making him of +anie counsell therein, returned into France, and there was made bishop +of Paris: within a few yeares after, the foresaid Wini was expelled +also by king Chenwald, who got him into Mercia vnto king Vulfhere, of +whome he bought the bishoprike of London, which he held during his +life, and so the countrie of Westsaxon remained long without a bishop, +till at length the said Agilbert at the request of king Chenwald sent +to him Elutherius that was his nephue. + +[Sidenote: SIGIBERT.] +Ye haue heard that after Carpwald, his brother Sigibert succeeded +in rule of the Eastangles, a man of great vertue and woorthinesse, who +whilest he remained in France as a banished man, being constrained to +flee his countrie vpon displeasure that king Redwald bare him, was +baptised there, and after returning into his countrie, and obteining +[Sidenote: _Beda lib. 3. cap. 4_] +at length the kingdome, those things which he had seene well ordered +in France, he studied to follow the example of the same at home, and +herevpon considering with himselfe that nothing could more aduance the +state of the common-wealth of his countrie than learning & knowledge +in the toongs, began the foundation of certeine schooles, and namelie +[Sidenote: The vniuersitie of Cambridge founded by king Sigibert.] +at Cambridge, where children might haue places where to be instructed +and brought vp in learning vnder appointed teachers, that there might +be greater numbers of learned men trained vp than before time had +beene within this land, to the furtherance of true religion and vertue. + +So that England hath good cause to haue in thankfull remembrance this +noble prince king Sigibert, for all those hir learned men which haue +bin brought vp & come foorth of that famous vniuersitie of Cambridge, +the first foundation or rather renouation whereof was thus begun +[Sidenote: _Bate_ saith 636.] +by him about the yeare of our Lord 630. At length when this worthie +king began to grow in age, he considered with himselfe how hard a +matter, and how painefull an office it was to gouerne a realme as +apperteined to the dutie of a good king, wherevpon he determined to +leaue the charge thereof to other of more conuenient yeeres, and to +[Sidenote: Sigibert resigneth his kingdome to Egricus.] +liue from thencefoorth a priuat kind of life, and so resigning the +administration vnto his kinsman Egricus, he became a moonke, and led +the rest of his life in a certeine abbeie. + +Shortlie after it so came to passe that Penda king of Mercia (that +cruell ethnike tyrant) made sore warres vpon Egricus, whervpon +the people of Eastangles compelled Sigibert to come foorth of his +monasterie, & to go with them into the field against Penda. Sigibert +being thus constreined against his will, would not put on armour or +beare anie other kind of weapon, than onelie a wand in his hand in +steed of a scepter, and so the armie of the Eastangles in hope of +good speed by the presence of Sigibert, ioined in battell with their +enimies, but the Eastangles were finallie vanquished, and the more +[Sidenote: Sigibert and Egricus slaine. 652.] +part of them slaine, togither with Sigibert and his coosen Egricus +their king. This happened in the yere after the birth of our Sauiour +(as some haue noted) 652. + +[Sidenote: _Baleus_. _Beda lib. 3 cap_. 19. Fuersus.] +In the daies whilest Sigibert as yet ruled the Eastangles, there +came out of Ireland a deuout person named Furseus, who comming into +the countrie of the Eastangles, was gladlie receiued of king Sigibert, +by whose helpe afterwards he builded the abbeie of Cumbreburge, in the +which Sigibert (as some haue written) when he renounced his kingdome, +was professed a moonke. Of this Furseus manie things are written, the +which for briefenesse we ouerpasse. After that Felix the bishop of the +Eastangles was dead, one Thomas was ordeined in his place, who after +he had beene bishop fiue yeeres, died, and then one Beretgils was +ordeined in his roome by Honorius the archbishop of Canturburie. The +said Honorius himselfe when he had run the race of his naturall life, +deceassed also the last of September in the yeere of our Lord 653. +[Sidenote: 653.] + + * * * * * + + + + +_Anna king of Eastangles is slaine by Penda king of Mercia, his +brother succeeding him is slaine also by Oswie king of Northumberland, +the Mercians or Middleangles receiue the faith vnder vertuous Peda +their prince, he requesteth Alchfled the king of Northumberlands +daughter in mariage, he is baptised by bishop Finnan, by whose meanes +the Eastsaxons imbraced christian religion vnder Sigibert their king, +he is murthered of two brethren that were his kinsmen vpon a conceiued +hatred against him for his good and christian life, how dangerous it +is to keepe companie with an excommunicate person, the authoritie of a +bishop._ + +THE XXXJ. CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: Anna. _Will Malmes._] +After Egricus succeeded Anna the sonne of Enus in the kingdome of +Eastangle, and is likewise slaine by Penda king of Mercia, with the +most part of his armie, as he gaue battell vnto the said Penda that +inuaded his countrie. He left behind him manie children, but his +[Sidenote: Edelhere K. of Eastangle.] +brother Edelhere succeeded him in gouernment of the kingdome, who was +slaine by Oswie the king of Northumberland, togither with the foresaid +Penda, and woorthilie, sith he would aid that tyrant which had slaine +his kinsman and his brother that were predecessors with him in his +kingdome. After this, when the see of Canturburie had beene vacant by +[Sidenote: Deus dedit.] +the space of one whole yeere and six moneths, one Deus dedit of +the countrie of the Westsaxons, was elected and consecrated by Ithamar +the bishop of Rochester, on the 7 kalends of Aprill. He gouerned the +church of Canturburie by the tearme of nine yeeres, foure moneths, +and two daies. When he was departed this life, the foresaid Ithamar +consecrated for him one Damianus of the countrie of Sussex. + +[Sidenote: _Beda hist. eccle. lib. 3. cap._ 21. 653.] +About this time, the people of Mercia commonlie called Middleangles, +[Sidenote: Peda or Peada king of Middleangles.] +receiued the christian faith vnder their king named Peda or Peada, +the sonne of Penda king of Mercia, who being a towardlie yoong +gentleman, and woorthie to haue the guiding of a kingdome, his father +Penda aduanced him to the rule of that kingdome of the Middleangles +during his owne life. [¶ Heere maie you note, that the kingdome of the +Middleangles was one, and the kingdome of Mercia another, though most +commonlie the same were gouerned by one king.] This yoong Peda came to +Oswie king of Northumberland, requiring of him to haue his daughter +Alchfled in mariage: but when he was informed that he might not haue +hir except he would become a christian, then vpon hearing the gospell +preached, with the promise of the celestiall ioies and immortalitie, +by the resurrection of the flesh in the life to come, he said that +whether he had king Oswies daughter to wife or not, he would suerlie +be baptised, and chieflie he was persuaded therevnto by his kinsman +Alchfrid, who had in mariage his sister the daughter of Penda name +Cimburgh. + +[Sidenote: Ad murum.] +Wherefore he was baptised by bishop Finnan, with all those which +came thither with him at a place called At the wall, and taking with +him foure priests which were thought meete to teach and baptise his +people, he returned with great ioy into his owne countrie. The names +of those priests were as followeth, Cedda, Adda, Betti, and Diuna, +of the which, the last was a Scot by nation, and the other were +Englishmen. These priests comming into the prouince of the +Middleangles, preached the woord, and were well heard, so that dailie +a great number of the nobilitie & communaltie renouncing the filthie +dregs of idolatrie, were christned. Neither did king Penda forbid the +preaching of the gospell within his prouince of Mercia, but rather +hated and despised those whome he knew to haue professed themselues +[Sidenote: The saieng of king Penda.] +christians, and yet shewed not the woorks of faith, saieng, that +"Those were wretches and not to be regarded, which would not obeie +their God in whome they beleeued." This alteration of things began, +about two yeeres before the death of king Penda. + +[Sidenote: _Beda lib. 3. cap._ 22.] +About the same time, the Eastsaxons at the instance of Oswie +king of Northumberland, receiued eftsoones the faith which they had +renounced, when they banished their bishop Melitus. + +Melitus. Ye haue heard that Serred, Siward, and Sigibert brethren, and +the sonnes of king Sabert (which brethren occasioned the reuolting of +that prouince from the faith of Christ) were slaine in battell by the +kings of Westsaxon, after whome succeeded Sigibert surnamed the little +sonne to the middlemost brother Siward, as some write. This Sigibert +the litle left the kingdome to an other Sigibert that was sonne to one +Sigebald the brother of king Sabert, which second Sigibert reigned as +king in that prouince of the Eastsaxons, being a most especiall friend +of king Oswie, so that oftentimes he repaired into Northumberland to +visit him, whervpon king Oswie ceassed not most earnestlie at times +conuenient to exhort him to receiue the faith of Iesus Christ, and in +the end by such effectuall persuasions as he vsed, Sigibert gaue +[Sidenote: King Sigibert receiued the faith.] +credit to his woords, and so being conuerted, receiued the sacrament +of baptisme by the hands of bishop Finnan, at the kings house called, +At the wall, so named, bicause it was built neere to the wall which +the Romans had made ouerthwart the Ile, as is often before remembred, +being twelue miles distant from the east sea. + +[Sidenote: This was about the yeere 649, as _Matth. West._ hath noted.] +King Sigibert hauing now receiued the Christian faith, when he +should returne into his countrie, required king Oswie to appoint him +certeine instructors and teachers which might conuert his people to +the faith of Christ. King Oswie desirous to satisfie his request, sent +[Sidenote: Cedda.] +vnto the prouince of the Middleangles, calling from thence that +vertuous man Cedda, and assigning vnto him another priest to be his +associat, sent them vnto the prouince of the Eastsaxons, there to +preach the christian faith vnto the people. And when they had preached +& taught through the whole countrie, to the great increase and +inlarging of the church of Christ, it chanced on a time that Cedda +returned home into Northumberland to conferre of certeine things with +bishop Finnan which kept his see at Lindesferne, where vnderstanding +[Sidenote: Ced or Cedda bishop of the Eastsaxons.] +by Cedda the great fruits which it had pleased God to prosper +vnder his hands, in aduancing the faith among the Eastsaxons, he +called to him two other bishops, and there ordeined the foresaid Cedda +bishop of the Eastsaxons. + +Heerevpon, the same Cedda returned vnto his cure, went forward with +more authoritie to performe the woorke of the Lord, & building +churches in diuerse places, ordeined priests and deacons which might +helpe him in preaching, and in the ministerie of baptising, speciallie +[Sidenote: Tilberie.] +in the citie of Ithancester vpon the riuer of Pent, and likewise +in Tileburge on the riuer of Thames. Whilest Ced was thus busie to the +great comfort and ioy of the king and all his people, in the setting +forward of the christian religion with great increase dailie +proceeding, it chanced thorough the instigation of the deuill, the +common enimie of mankind, that king Sigibert was murthered by two of +his owne kinsmen who were brethren, the which when they were examined +of the cause that should mooue them to that wicked fact, they had +nothing to alledge, but that they did it bicause they had conceiued an +hatred against the king, for that he was too fauourable towards his +enimies, and would with great mildnesse of mind forgiue iniuries +committed against him: such was the kings fault for the which he was +murthered, bicause he obserued the commandements of the gospell with a +deuout hart. + +Notwithstanding, in this his innocent death, his offense was punished, +wherein he had suerlie transgressed the lawes of the church. For +whereas one of them which slue him kept a wife, whome he had +vnlawfullie maried, and refused to put hir away at the bishops +admonition, he was by the bishop excommunicated, and all other of the +christian congregation commanded to absteine from his companie. This +notwithstanding, the king being desired of him came to his house to a +banket, and in his comming from thence met with the bishop, whome when +the king beheld, he waxed afraid, and alighted from his horsse, and +fell downe at his feet, beseeching him of pardon for his offense. The +bishop, which also was on horssebacke likewise alighted, and touching +the king with his rod which he had in his hand, as one something +[Sidenote: The authoritie of a bishop.] +displeased, and protesting as in the authoritie of a bishop, spake +these words; "Bicause (saith he) thou wouldst not absteine from +entring the house of that wicked person being accurssed, thou shalt +die in the same house:" and so it came to passe. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Suidhelme king of the Eastsaxons, he is baptised, the bishoplike +exercises of Ced in his natiue countrie of Northumberland; Ediswald K. +of Deira reuerenceth him, the kings deuout mind to further and inlarge +religion; the maner of consecrating a place appointed for a holie vse; +the old order of fasting in Lent, bishop Ced dieth; warre betweene +Oswie and Penda, Oswie maketh a vow to dedicate his daughter a +perpetuall virgine to God if he got the victorie, he obteineth his +request and performeth his vow, she liueth, dieth, and is buried in a +monasterie, the benefit insuing Oswies conquest ouer his enimies, the +first second and third bishops of Mercia, the victorious proceeding of +king Oswie; prince Peado his kinsman murthered of his wife._ + +THE XXXIJ. CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: SUIDHELME. _Beda lib. 3. cap. 22_. _Matt. West_] +After Sigbert succeeded Suidhelme in the kingdome of the +Eastsaxons, he was the son of Sexbald, and baptised of Ced in the +prouince of the Eastangles, at a place of the kings there called +Rendlessham. Ediswald king of the Eastangles (the brother of king +Anna) was his godfather at the fontstone. Ced the bishop of the +[Sidenote: _Beda_ lib.3. cap.23.] +Eastsaxons vsed oftentimes to visit his countrie of Northumberland +where he was borne, and by preaching exhorted the people to godlie +life. Whervpon it chanced that king Ediswald the son of king Oswald +which reigned in the parties of Deira, mooued with the fame of his +vertuous trade of liuing, had him in great reuerence: and therefore +vpon a good zeale and great deuotion, willed him to choose foorth some +plot of ground where he might build a monasterie, in the which the +king himselfe and others might praie, heare sermons the oftener, and +haue place where to burie the dead. The bishop consenting to the kings +mind, at length espied a place amongst high and desert mounteins, +where he began the foundation of a monasterie, afterwards called +Lestinghem. + +Wherefore meaning first of all to purge the place with praier & +fasting, he asked leaue of the king that he might remaine there all +the Lent, which was at hand, and so continuing in that place for +[Sidenote: The maner of the old fast.] +that time, fasted euerie daie (sundaie excepted) from the morning +vntill euening, according to the maner, nor receiued anie thing then +but onlie a little bread, and a hens eg, with a little milke mixt with +water: for he said that this was the custome of them of whome he had +learned the forme of his regular order, that they should consecrate +those places vnto the Lord with praier and fasting, which they latelie +had receiued to make in the same either church or monasterie. + +And when there remained ten daies of Lent yet to come, he was sent for +to the king: wherefore he appointed a brother which he had, being also +a priest named Cimbill, to supplie his roome, that his begun religious +woorke should not be hindered for the kings businesse. Now when the +time was accomplished, he ordeined a monasterie there, appointing the +[Sidenote: Lindisferne holie Iland.] +moonks of the same to liue after the rules of them of Lindesferne +where he was brought vp. Finallie this bishop Ced comming vnto this +monasterie afterwards by chance in time of a sicknesse, died there, +and left that monasterie to the gouernance of another brother which +he had named Ceadda, that was after a bishop, as afterwards shall +be shewed. There were foure brethren of them, and all priests, Ced, +Cimbill, Ceulin, and Ceadda, of the which Ced and Ceadda were bishops, +as before is said. + +[Sidenote: _Beda. lib. 3. cap. 24_.] +About the same time, Oswie king of Northumberland was sore +oppressed by the warres of Penda king of Mercia, so that he made great +offers of high gifts, and great rewards vnto the said Penda for +peace, but Penda refused the same, as he that meant vtterlie to haue +[Sidenote: War betweene king Oswie & king Penda.] +destroied the whole nation of Oswies people, so that Oswie turning +himselfe to seeke helpe at the hands of the almightie, said: If the +pagan refuse to receiue the gifts which we offer, let us make offer +vnto him that knoweth how to accept them: and so binding himselfe by +vow, promised that if he might obtein victorie, he would offer his +daughter to be dedicate to the Lord in perpetuall virginitie: and +further would giue twelue manors, lordships or farmes to the building +of monasteries: and so with a small armie he put himselfe in hazard of +battell. + +It is said that Penda had thirtie companies of men of warre, furnished +with thirtie noble capteins or coronels, against whome came Oswie with +his sonne Alchfrid, hauing but a small armie, but confirmed yet with +hope in Christ Iesus. His other son Ecgfrid remained in hostage at +that time with queene Cinnise. Edilwald the sonne of Oswald that +gouerned Deira, & ought to haue aided Oswie, was on the part of Penda +against his countrie, and against his vncle, but in time of the fight +he withdrew himselfe aside, to behold what chance would follow. The +[Sidenote: The victorie of the Northumbers.] +battell being begun, the thirtie pagan capteins were ouerthrowne +and put to flight, and those that came to aid Penda were almost all +slaine, among whome was Edilhere king of the Eastangles, that reigned +after his brother Anna, and was the procurer of this warre. This +battell was fought neere to the water of Inwet, the which being risen +as then by reason of great raine, drowned more of the enimies than +died of the Northumbers swoords. + +After that Oswie had obteined this victorie, he performed promise in +bestowing his daughter to the profession of virginitie, and also gaue +the twelue manors, whereof six were in Deira, and six in Bernicia, +[Sidenote: Elfled.] +containing euerie of them ten housholds a peece. Elfled also king +[Sidenote: Herteshey saith _Matt. West._ Hilda.] +Oswies daughter was professed in the monasterie of Herthew, where one +Hilda was abbesse, which Hilda purchasing a lordship of ten housholds +in Streanshall, now called Whitbie, builded a monasterie there, in the +which first the said Elfled was a nouice, and after a ruler, till at +length being of the age of fortie yeeres she departed this life, and +was buried there, and so likewise was hir mother Eufled, and hir +grandfather Edwin, with manie other high estates within the church of +saint Peter the apostle. The victorie aboue mentioned got by king +[Sidenote: Loides.] +Oswie in the countrie of Loides on the 17 kalends of December, & in +the thirtenth yeere of his reigne, happened to the great commoditie +and gaine of both the people, for by the same he deliuered his +countrie of Northumberland from the cruell destruction made in the +same by the pagan people of Mercia, and conuerted those pagans +themselues, and the countries neere adioining to them wholie vnto the +faith of Iesus Christ. + +[Sidenote: The first bishop of Mercia.] +The first bishop in the prouince of Mercia, and also of Lindesferne +and the Middleangles was one Diuma, who died amongst the Middleangles. +The second was Cellach, the which leauing his bishoprike returned into +Scotland, for they were both of the nation of the Scots. The third was +an Englishman named Trumhere, but instructed and ordeined of the Scots. +He was abbat of the monasterie of Ingethlingum, being builded in that +place where king Oswin was slaine (as before is mentioned.) For queene +Eufled that was his kinswoman got of hir husband king Oswie a place +there for the foresaid Trumhere to build that abbeie vpon. + +[Sidenote: The victorious proceeding of king Oswie.] +King Oswie hauing slaine king Penda, gouerned the people of +Mercia, and also other of the south prouinces, & subdued a great part +of the Pictish nation to the English dominion. About the same time +king Oswie gaue vnto Peada the son of king Penda (bicause he was his +[Sidenote: Southmercia.] +kinsman) the countrie of the Southmercies, conteining 5000 housholds, +[Sidenote: Northmercia. 659.] +and separated from the Northmercies by the riuer Trent. The countrie +of the Northmercies conteined in those daies 7000 housholds. But +Peada in the next spring was wickedlie murthered through the treason +of his wicked wife (as was said) in the feast of Easter. +[Sidenote: _Matt. West._] + + * * * * * + + + + +_The dukes of Mercia rebell against Oswie, recouer their owne bounds, +and create Wulfhere their king; Cenwald king of the Westsaxons +fighteth with the Britaines and preuaileth, he is vanquished by +Wulfhere; Adelwold king of Sussex hath the Ile of Wight giuen him, and +why; succession of Edelher, Edelwald, and Aldulfe in the kingdome +of Eastangles; Colman a Scot first made bishop of Northumberland, +controuersie about the obseruation of Easter, about bald crownes or +shauing the haire, superstition punished by God, Ceadda bishop of +Yorke, his course of life and diligence in his office commended; +Egbert king of Kent, the see of Canturburie void, the preferment +thereto refused, Theodore a moonke supplieth the roome at the popes +appointment, all the English clergie obey him as their head, his +visitation and reformation, singing vsed in churches, Theodore and +Adrian woorthilie praised, English men happie, glasiers first brought +into this Iland._ + +THE XXXIIJ. CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: _Beda. lib. 3. cap. 24_.] +After three yeeres were complet, next ensuing the death of king +Penda, the dukes of the countrie of Mercia, Immin, Eaba, and Eadbert +rebelled against king Oswie, aduancing one Wulfhere a yoong gentleman +the sonne of Peda, and brother to Peada, whom they had kept in secret +to be their king, and expelling the lieutenants of king Oswie, they +recouered both their owne confines and libertie withall, and so liuing +in freedome with their owne naturall king the foresaid Vulfhere, they +also continued with glad hearts in seruice of the celestiall king our +God and Sauior. + +[Sidenote: VULFHERE. _Beda. lib. 3. cap. 24_.] +This Vulfhere gouerned the Mercies seuenteene yeares, the which +Mercies (during the reigne of the said Vulfhere) had foure bishops +successiuelie gouerning the church of that prouince one after another, +as the aboue mentioned Trumhere, Iaroman, Ceadda, and Winfrid, as +hereafter shall more at large appeare. + +[Sidenote: _Henr. Hunt._ _Matt. West._] +About the beginning of king Vulfheres reigne, that is to say, in the +seuenteenth yeare of the reigne of Chenwald king of the Westsaxons, +the same Chenwald fought with the Britains at Pennum, where the +Britains being assembled in great number, proudlie incountred with the +Englishmen, and at the first put them to the woorst, but when the +Englishmen would in no wise giue ouer, but did sticke to their tackle, +at length the Britains were put to flight, so that the posteritie of +[Sidenote: The Britains put to flight by Chenwald.] +Brute receiued that day an incurable wound. But within three yeares +after, that is, in the nineteenth yeare of the reigne of the said +Chenwald, he had not the like lucke in battell against the foresaid +[Sidenote: Chenwald vanquished by Vulfhere.] +Vulfhere king of Mercia, as he had before against the Britains, for +the said Vulfhere vanquishing him in the field, passed through this +[Sidenote: Adelwold of Sussex.] +countrie with a great armie vnto the Ile of Wight, which he conquered, +and deliuered it vnto Adelwold king of Sussex, as a gift at that time, +when he receiued him at the fontstone after he had conuerted him to +the faith. He gaue vnto Adelwold that Ile, to the end he should cause +the people there to receiue the faith and religion of Christ. Now +after that Edelhere king of Eastangles was slaine, as before is +mentioned, his brother Edelwald succeeded him in that kingdome, +reigning as king thereof by the space of nine yeares. Then after +Edelwald succeeded Aldulfe the son of Edelhere in gouernment of that +kingdome, and reigned 25 yeares. + +[Sidenote: _Beda. lib. 3. cap. 24_.] +After Finan bishop of the Northumbers that held his see at +[Sidenote: Colman ordeined bishop.] +Lindesferne, as Aidan did before him, one Colman was ordeined +bishop, a Scot borne, and an earnest obseruer of the customes vsed +amongest them of his nation, so that when the controuersie began to +[Sidenote: _Beda. lib. 3. cap. 25_.] +be reuiued for the holding of the feast of Easter, he would by no +meanes yeeld to them that would haue perswaded him to haue followed +the rite of the Romane church. There was a great disputation kept +about this matter, and other things, as shauing or cutting of heares, +and such like in the monasterie of Whitbie, at the which king Oswie +and his sonne Alcfrid were present, where Colman for his part alledged +the custome of Iohn the euangelist, and of Anatholius; and the +contrarie side brought in proofe of their opinion, the custome of +Peter and Paule. At length, when bishop Colman perceiued that his +[Sidenote: Controuersie about shauing of crownes. _Cap. 6_.] +doctrine was not so much regarded, as he thought of reason it +ought to haue beene, he returned into Scotland with those, which +taking part with him, refused to obserue the feast of Easter according +to the custome of the church of Rome, nor would haue their crownes +[Sidenote: 664.] +shauen, about which point no small reasoning had beene kept. This +disputation was holden in the yeare of our Lord 664, and in the yeare +of the reigne of king Oswie 22, and 30 yeare after the Scotishmen +began first to beare the office of bishops within Northumberland, +which was (as W. Harison saith) 624. For Aidan gouerned 17 yeares, +Finan 10 yeares, & Colman 3 yeares. After that Colman was returned +[Sidenote: Tuda ordeined bishop.] +into his countrie, one Tuda that had beene brought vp amongest the +Southerne Scots, and ordeined bishop by them, succeeded in his roome, +hauing his crowne shauen, and obseruing the feast of Easter according +to the custome of the prouince and rite of the Romane church. +[Sidenote: _Cap. 27_.] +¶ The same yeare, there chanced a great eclipse of the sunne, the third +[Sidenote: An eclipse. Punishment of God for yelding to superstition.] +of Maie about 10 of the clocke in the day. A great dearth and +mortalitie insued, both in all the parties of this our Britaine, and +likewise in Ireland. Amongest other, the foresaid bishop Tuda died, +and was buried in the abbeie of Pegnalech. After this Tuda, succeeded +[Sidenote: Wilfrid bishop.] +in gouernement of the church of Lindesferne, otherwise called Holie +Iland, one Wilfrid, which was sent by king Alcfrid into France, to be +ordeined there. + +About the same time king Oswie, the father of king Alcfrid, mooued +[Sidenote: _Cap. 28_.] +with the good example of his sonne, sent Ceadda, the brother of +Ced sometime bishop of the Eastsaxons into Kent, to be ordeined bishop +of Yorke, but at his comming into Kent he found that Deus dedit the +archbishop of Canturburie was dead, and none other as yet ordeined +[Sidenote: Ceadda ordeined archbishop of Yorke.] +in his place, so that Ceadda repaired into the prouince of the +Westsaxons, where he was ordeined by bishop Wini, who tooke two other +bishops of the British nation vnto him to be his associats, which vsed +to obserue the feast of Easter contrarie to the custome of the Romane +church. But there was no other shift, sith none other bishop was then +canonicallie ordeined in the prouince of the Westsaxons in those +daies, this Wini onlie excepted, and therefore was he constreined to +take such as he might get and prouide. + +After that Ceadda was thus ordeined, he began forthwith to follow the +true rules of the church, liued right chastlie, shewed himselfe humble +and continent, applied his studie to reading, and trauelled abroad +on foot and not on horssebacke through the countries, townes, and +villages, to preach the word of God. He was the disciple of Aidan, and +coueted by his example, and also by the example of Ced, to instruct +his hearers with the like dooings & maners as he had knowen them to +doo. Wilfrid also being consecrated bishop, and returned into England, +indeuored to plant the orders of the Romane church in the churches +of England, whereby it came to passe, that the Scots which inhabited +amongst the Englishmen, were constreined either to follow the same, or +else to returne into their owne countrie. + +[Sidenote: EGBERT king of Kent.] +In this meane time, king Ercombert being departed this life, after +he had gouerned the Kentishmen by the space of twentie yeares, his +sonne Egbert succeeded him in the kingdome, and reigned nine yeares. +There is little remembrance of his dooings, which in that short time +were not much notable, except ye will ascribe the comming into this +land of the archbishop Theodorus, and the abbat Adrian vnto his +glorie, which chanced in his time. For in the yeare of the great +eclipse and sore mortalitie that insued, it chanced that both king +Ercombert, & the archbishop Deus dedit departed this life, so that the +[Sidenote: _Beda. lib. 3. cap. 9_.] +see of Canturburie was void a certeine time, in so much that king +Egbert, who succeeded his father Ercombert, togither with king +[Sidenote: Wighart.] +Oswie, did send one Wighart a priest of good reputation for his +excellent knowledge in the scriptures, vnto Rome, with great gifts +and rich vessels of gold and siluer, to be presented vnto the pope, +requiring him that he would ordeine the foresaid Wighart archbishop +of Canturburie, to haue rule of the English church. But this Wighart +comming vnto Rome, and declaring his message vnto Vitalianus then +gouerning the church of Rome, immediatlie after he died of the +pestilence (that then reigned in that citie) with all those that came +with him. + +[Sidenote: _Beda. lib. 4 cap. 1_. Adrian.] +The pope then taking aduice whome he might ordeine vnto the see of +Canturburie, being thus destitute of an archbishop, appointed a moonke +named Adrian to take that office vpon him, but Adrian excused himselfe +as not sufficient for such a roome, and required the pope to appoint +one Andrew a moonke also, wherevnto the pope consented. But when +Andrew was preuented by death, eftsoones Adrian should haue beene made +archbishop, but that he named one Theodore an other moonke that abode +as then in Rome, but was borne in the citie of Tharsus in Cilicia, +verie well learned both in the Greeke and Latine, and being of +reuerend yeares, as of 76. This Theodore by the presentment of +Adrian, was appointed to be ordeined archbishop of Canturburie, with +condition, that Adrian should neuerthelesse attend vpon him into +England, both for that he had beene twise before this time in France, +and so knew the coasts; and againe, for that he might assist him in +all things, and looke well to the matter, that Theodore should not +bring into the church of England anie rite or custome of the Greekes, +contrarie to the vse of the Romane church. Theodore being first +ordeined subdeacon, tarried foure moneths till his heare was growen, +that he might haue his crowne shauen after the maner of Peter. For he +was rounded or shauen after the maner of the East church, which was as +they persuaded themselues, according to the vse of saint Paule the +[Sidenote: Theodore ordeined archbishop of Canturburie. 668.] +apostle. And so at length was this Theodore ordeined archbishop of +Canturburie by pope Vitalianus in the yeare of our Lord 668, the sixt +kalends of June, and with Adrian sent into Britaine. + +These with their retinue came to France, and being come thither, +shortlie after king Egbert had knowledge thereof: wherevpon with all +conuenient speed he sent ouer one of his nobles named Redfrid to bring +the archbishop into England, and so he did: but Adrian was staied for +a time, because he was suspected to haue had some commission from the +emperour to haue practised with the Englishmen, for the disquieting +of the realme of France. Howbeit, after it was perceiued that this +suspicion was grounded on no truth, he was also suffered to follow the +archbishop, and so comming vnto Canturburie, he was made abbat of the +monasterie of saint Augustines. The archbishop Theodore came thus +vnto his church of Canturburie in the second yeare after his +consecration, about the second kalends of June, being sundaie. He +gouerned the same church also 21 yeares and 16 daies, and was the +first archbishop to whome all the churches of England did acknowledge +their obeisance. + +Being accompanied with the foresaid Adrian, he visited all the parts +of this land, ordeined bishops and ministers in churches where he +thought conuenient, and reformed the same churches as seemed to him +needfull, as well in other things which he misliked, as also in +[Sidenote: _Ran. Cest. Matth. West._] +causing them to obserue the feast of Easter, according to the right +[Sidenote: _Beda_.] +and vsage of the church of Rome. Ceadda that was bishop of Yorke, +because he was not lawfullie ordeined, as he himselfe confessed, was +remoued from the see of Yorke, and Wilfrid was therevnto restored, so +that Ceadda (though he were not disgraded of his degree of bishop) +liued yet a priuat kind of life, till he was admitted bishop of +Mercia, as after shall be shewed. Also whereas before time there was +in maner no singing in the English churches, except it were in Kent, +[Sidenote: Singing in churches brought in vse.] +now they began in euerie church to vse singing of diuine seruice +after the rite of the church of Rome. The archbishop Theodore finding +the church of Rochester void by the death of the last bishop named +[Sidenote: Putta bishop of Rochester.] +Damian, ordeined one Putta a simple man in worldlie matters, but well +instructed in ecclesiasticall discipline, and namelie well seene in +song and musicke to be vsed in the church after the maner as he had +learned of pope Grogories disciples. + +[Sidenote: The worthie praise of Theodore and Adrian.] +To be breefe, the archbishop Theodore, and the abbat Adrian +deserued great commendation in this, that whereas they were notablie +well learned themselues in the Greeke and the Latine toongs, and also +had good knowledge as well in the liberall arts, as in the scripture, +they tooke great paines to traine vp scholers in knowledge of the +[Sidenote: Englishmen happy and why.] +same, so that the Englishmen had not seene more happie times +than in those daies, hauing as then kings of great puissance, so as +strangers stood in feare of them; and againe, those that coueted +learning, had instructors at hand to teach them, by reason whereof +[Sidenote: _Beda_.] +diuers being giuen to studie, prooued excellent both in knowledge +of the Greeke and Latine. There came in companie of the said +[Sidenote: Benedict or Benet surnamed Biscop.] +archbishop from Rome, an English man named Benedict Biscop, which had +taken vpon him the habit of a moonke in Italie, and now returning into +his countrie, builded two abbeis, the one named Wiremouth, because it +was placed at the mouth of the riuer of Wire, and the other Girwie, +distant from Wiremouth about fiue miles, and from the towne of +[Sidenote: 670.] +Newcastle foure miles, situated neere to the mouth of Tine. +Wiremouth was built in the yeare 670, and Girwie in the yeare 673. +There were a 600 moonks found in those two houses, and gouerned +[Sidenote: Glasiers first brought into England. _Ran. Cest._] +vnder one abbat. The said Benedict was the first that brought +glasiers, painters, and other such curious craftsmen into England. He +went fiue times to Rome, and came againe. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Sighere and Sebbie associats reigne ouer the Eastsaxons, the one +falleth from, the other cleaueth to the faith, Vulfhere king of Mercia +sendeth bishop Iaroman to redresss that apostasie of the prince and +the people, Cead bishop of Mercia, the king of that countrie hath him +in hie reputation, Egfrid king of Northumberland, a synod of bishops +holden at Herford, articles propounded out of the canons by Theodore +archbishop of Canturburie, Bisi unable to discharge his episcopall +office, a remedie therefore; Kenwalke of a very euill prince becometh +a verie good ruler, his wife gouerneth the kingdome after his death, +Escuius succeedeth hir in the roome, of Thunnir a murtherer +king Egberts principall vicegerent, bishop Winfrid deposed for +disobedience, Sebbie king of the Eastsaxons a professed moonke, his +death._ + +THE XXXIIIJ. CHAPTER. + + +About the same time, after that Suidhelme king of the Eastsaxons was +dead, Sighere the son of Sigbert the little, and Sebbie the son of +Suward succeeded him in gouernement of that kingdome, albeit they +[Sidenote: _Beda. lib. 3. cap. 30_.] +were subiect vnto Vulfhere the king of Mercia. Sighere in that time, +when the great mortalitie reigned, renounced the faith of Christ, with +that part of the people which he had in gouernement, for both the same +Sighere and others of his chiefest lords, and also part of his commons +louing this life, and not regarding the life to come, began to repaire +their idolish churches, and fell to the worshipping of idols, as +though thereby they should haue beene defended from that mortalitie. +But his associat Sebbie with great deuotion continued stedfast in the +faith which he had receiued. + +King Vulfhere being informed of Seghers apostasie, and how the people +[Sidenote: Bishop Iaruman or Iaroman.] +in his part of the prouince of Eastsaxons were departed from the +faith, sent thither bishop Iaruman or Iaroman, that was successour +vnto Trumhere, which vsed such diligence and godlie meanes, that he +reduced the said king and all his people vnto the right beliefe, so +as the idolish synagogs were destroied, and the idols also with their +altars quite beaten downe, the Christian churches againe set open, and +the name of Christ eftsoones called vpon amongest the people, coueting +now rather to die in him with hope of resurrection in the world to +come, than to liue in the seruice of idols, spotted with the filth +of errors and false beleefe. And thus when bishop Iaroman had +accomplished the thing for the which he was sent, he returned into +Mercia. + +After this, when the said Iaroman was departed this life, king +Vulfhere sent vnto the archbishop Theodorus, requiring him to prouide +the prouince of the Mercies of a new bishop. Theodorus not minding +to ordeine anie new bishop at that time, required Oswie king of +Northumberland, that Bishop Cead might come into Mercia to exercise +the office of bishop there. This Cead liued as it were a priuat life +at that time in his monasterie of Lestingham, for Wilfrid held the +bishoprike of Yorke, extending his authoritie ouer all Northumberland +& amongest the Picts also, so farre as king Oswies dominion stretched. +Therefore Cead hauing licence to go into Mercia, was gladlie receiued +of king Vulfhere, and well enterteined, in so much that the said +king gaue vnto him lands and possessions conteining 50 families +or housholds to build a monasterie in a certeine place within the +countrie of Lindsey called Etbearne. But the see of his bishoprike was +assigned to him at Lichfield in Staffordshire, where he made him a +house neere to the church, in the which he with 7 or 8 other of his +brethren in religion vsed in an oratorie there to praie and reade, +so often as they had leasure from labour and businesse of the world. +Finallie, after he had gouerned the church of Mercia by the space of +two yeares and an halfe, he departed this life, hauing 7 daies warning +giuen him (as it is reported) from aboue, before he should die, after +a miraculous maner, which because in the iudgement of the most it may +seeme meere fabulous, we will omit and passe ouer. His bodie was first +buried in the church of our ladie, but after that the church of saint +Peter the apostle were builded, his bones were translated into the +same. + +[Sidenote: 671. _Matth. West._] +In the yeare of our Lord 671, which was the second yeare after +that Theodorus the archbishop came into this land, Oswie king of +Northumberland was attacked with a grieuous sicknesse, and died +thereof the 15 kalends of March, in the 58 yeare of his age, after +[Sidenote: EGFRID. _Beda. lib. 4. cap 5_. _Matth. West._ 673.] +he had reigned 28 yeares complet. After Oswie, his sonne Egfrid +succeeded in rule of the kingdome of Northumberland, in the third +yeare of whose reigne, that is to say, in the yeare of our Lord 673, +Theodorus the archbishop of Canturburie kept a synod at Herford, the +first session whereof began the 24 of September, all the bishops of +this land being present either in person or by their deputies, as +[Sidenote: A synod holden at Herford.] +Bisi bishop of Estangle, Wilfrid of Northumberland by his deputie +Putta bishop of Rochester, Eleutherius bishop of Westsaxon, and +Wilfrid bishop of Mercia. In the presence of these prelats, the +[Sidenote: Articles proponed by Theodore.] +archbishop shewed a booke, wherein he had noted ten chapters or +articles taken out of the booke of the canons, requiring that the same +might be receiued. + + 1 The first chapter was, that the feast of Easter should be kept on + the sundaie following the fourteenth day of the first moneth. + + 2 The second, that no bishop should intermedle in an others diocesse, + but be contented with the cure of his flocke committed to him. + + 3 The third, that no bishop should disquiet in anie thing anie + monasterie consecrated to God, nor take by violence anie goods that + belonged vnto the same. + + 4 The fourth, that bishops being moonks should not go from + monasterie to monasterie, except by sufferance and permission of + their abbats, & should continue in the same obedience wherein they + stood before. + + 5 The fift, that none of the cleargie should depart from his bishop + to run into anie other diocesse, nor comming from anie other place + should be admitted, except he brought letters of testimonie with + him. But if anie such chanced to be receiued, if he refused to + returne, being sent for home, both he and his receiuer should be + excommunicated. + + 6 The sixt, that bishops and other of the cleargie being strangers + shold hold them content with the benefit of hospitalitie, & should + not take in hand anie priestlie office, without licence of the + bishop, in whose diocesse he chanced so to be remaining. + + 7 The seuenth, that twice in the yeare a synod should be kept, but + because of diuers impediments herein, it was thought good to them + all, that in the kalends of August a synod should be kept once in + the yeare, at a certeine place called Cloofeshough. + + 8 The eighth chapter was, that no one bishop should by ambition + seeke to be preferred aboue another, but that euerie one should + know the time and order of his consecration. + + 9 The ninth, that as the number of the christians increased, so + should there be more bishops ordeined. + + 10 The tenth was touching mariages, that none should contract + matrimonie with anie person, but with such as it should be + lawfull for him by the orders of the church: none should match + with their kinsfolke, no man should forsake his wife, except + (as the gospell teacheth) for cause of fornication. But if anie + man did put awaie his wife which he had lawfullie married, if + he would be accounted a true Christian, he might not be coopled + with an other, but so remaine, or else be reconciled to his owne + wife. + +These articles, being intreated of and concluded, were confirmed +with the subscribing of all their hands, so as all those that did +go against the same, should be disgraded of their priesthood, and +separated from the companie of them all. + +[Sidenote: Bisi bishop of the Eastangles.] +The forsaid Bisi that was bishop of the Eastangles, and present at +this synod, was sucessor unto Bonifacius, which Bonifacius held that +see 17 yeeres, and then departing this life, Bisi was made bishop of +that prouince, and ordeined by the archbishop Theodore. This Bisi at +length was so visited with sicknesse, that he was not able to exercise +the ministration, so that two bishops were then & there elected and +consecrated for him, the one named Aecci, and the other Baldwin. + +[Sidenote: 872. (sic, should read 672.)] +In this meane while, that is, about the yeere of our Lord 872(sic), +or in the beginning of 873(sic), as Harison noteth, Kenwalch king of +the Westsaxons departed this life, after he had reigned 30 yeeres. +[Sidenote: _Matth. West._ de reg. lib. 1.] +This Kenwalch was such a prince, as in the beginning he was to be +compared with the woorst kind of rulers, but in the middest and later +end of his reigne, to be matched with the best. His godlie zeale borne +towards the aduancing of the christian religion well appeered in the +building of the church at Winchester, where the bishops see of all +that prouince was then placed. His wife Segburga ruled the kingdome of +Westsaxons after him, a woman of stoutnesse inough to haue atchiued +acts of woorthie remembrance, but being preuented by death yer she had +reigned one whole yeere, she could not shew anie full proofe of hir +noble courage. I remember that Matth. West. maketh other report +heereof, declaring that the nobilitie remooued hir from the +gouernment. But I rather follow William Malmesburie in this matter. + +[Sidenote: Escuinus. _Will Malmes._] +To proceed, after Segburga was departed this life, or deposed (if +you will needs haue it so) Escuinus or Elcuinus, whose grandfather +called Cuthgislo, the brother of K. Kinigils, succeeding in gouernment +of the Westsaxons, reigned about the space of two yeeres: and after +his deceasse, one Centiuinus or Centwine tooke vpon him the rule, and +continued therein the space of nine yeeres. But Beda saith that these +two ruled at one time, and diuided the kingdom betwixt them. +[Sidenote: _Hen. Hunt._] +Elcuinus fought against Vulfhere king of Mercia, a great number of men +being slaine on both parties, though Vulfhere yet had after a maner +the vpper hand, as some haue written. + +[Sidenote: _Beda lib. & ca. supr. dict._] +In the same yeere that the synod was holden at Herford, that is to +say, in the yeere of our Lord 673, Egbert the king of Kent departed +this life in Iulie, and left the kingdome to his brother Lothaire, +[Sidenote: Io. Lothaire.] +which held the same eleuen yeeres, & seuen moneths. Some haue written +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm. Beda. de reg. lib. 1_.] +that king Egbert by the suggestion of one Thunnir, who had the +chiefe rule of the kingdome vnder him, suffered the same Thunnir in +lamentable maner to kill the two innocent sonnes of Ermenredus the +brother of king Ercombert, that was father vnto King Egbert, for +[Sidenote: Thunnir. A vile murther.] +doubt least they being towardlie yoong gentlemen, might in time grow +so into fauour with the people, that it should be easie for them to +depriue both Egbert, and his issue of the kingdome. Also, that they +were priuilie put to death, and secretlie buried at the first, but the +place of their buriall immediatlie being shewed after a miraculous +maner, their bodies long after in the daies of king Egilred the sonne +of king Edgar, were taken vp, & conueied vnto Ramsey, and there +buried. And although Egbert being giltie of the death of those his +coosens, did sore repent him, for that he vnderstood they died +giltlesse, yet his brother Lothaire was thought to be punished for +that offense, as after shall be shewed. + +[Sidenote: Bishop Winfrid deposed.] +Winfrid bishop of the Mercies, for his disobedience in some point +[Sidenote: Sexvulfe ordeined bishop of the Mercies. 685, as +Matth. Westm. saith, Bishop Erkenwald.] +was depriued by archbishop Theodore, and one Sexvulfe that was the +builder and also the abbat of the monasterie Meidhamsted, otherwise +called Peterborough, was ordeined and consecrated in his place. About +the same time, Erkenwald was ordeined bishop of the Eastsaxons, and +appointed to hold his see in the citie of London. This Erkenwald was +reputed to be a man of great holinesse and vertue. Before he was made +bishop, he builded two abbeies, the one of moonks at Chertsey in +Southerie, where he himselfe was abbat, and the other of nuns at +[Sidenote: Ethelburga.] +Berking, within the prouince of the Eastsaxons, where he placed +his sister Ethelburga, a woman also highlie esteemed for hir +[Sidenote: _Iohn Capgraue_.] +deuout kind of life. She was first brought vp and instructed in the +rules of hir profession by one Hildelitha a nun of the parties beyond +the seas, whome Erkenwald procured to come ouer for that purpose. + +[Sidenote: Waldhere. Sebbie king of Eastsaxons. +_Beda. lib. 4. cap._ 16.] +After Erkenwald, one Waldhere was made bishop of London, in whose +daies Sebbie king of the Eastsaxons, after he had reigned thirtie +yeeres, being now vexed with a greeuous sicknesse, professed himselfe +a moonke: which thing he would haue doone long before, if his wife had +not kept him backe. He died shortlie after within the citie of London, +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm_.] +and was buried in the church of saint Paule. King Sighere, which in +the beginning reigned with him, and gouerned a part of the Eastsaxons, +was departed this life before, so that in his latter time, the +foresaid Sebbie had the gouernment of the whole prouince of the +[Sidenote: 675.] +Eastsaxons, and left the same to his sonnes Sighard and Sewfred. +About the yeere of our Lord 675, Vulfhere king of Mercia departed this +life, after he had reigned (as some say) 19 yeeres, but (as other +affirme) he reigned but 17 yeeres. Howbeit they which reckon 19, +include the time that passed after the slaughter of Penda, wherein +Oswie and Peada held the aforesaid kingdome. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Edilred king of Mercia inuadeth the kingdome of Kent, and maketh +great waste without resistance of Lothaire the king thereof, Putta +of a bishop becommeth a poore curat and teacheth musicke, Wilfred +deposed from his bishoprike by king Egfrid vpon displeasure, he +preacheth the gospell in Sussex by the licence of king Edilwalke, +no raine in Sussex for the space of three yeeres, the woord and +sacraments bring blessings with them; bishop Wilfrid the first teacher +to catch fish with nets, the people haue him in great reuerence, a +great and bloudie battell betweene Egfrid & king Edilred, they are +reconciled by the meanes of archbishop Theodore; a synod holden at +Hatfield, the clergie subscribe to certeine articles, of Hilda the +famous abbesse of Whitbie_. + +THE XXXV. CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: EDILRED.] +After Vulfhere, his brother Edilred or Ethelred succeeded in +gouernment of the kingdome of Mercia. This Edilred inuaded the +kingdome of Kent with a mightie armie, in the yeere of our Lord +[Sidenote: 677. _Hen. Hunt_.] +677, destroieng the countrie afore him, not sparing churches nor +abbeies, but spoiling the same without respect, as well as other +common places. King Lothaire durst not appeere in the field to giue +him battell, so that Edilred went thorough the countrie, destroied +the citie of Rochester, and with great riches gotten by the spoile he +returned home. Putta the bishop of Rochester, after that his church +was spoiled and defaced by the enimies, went to Sexvulfe bishop of +Mercia, and there obteining of him a small cure, and a portion of +ground, remained in that countrie, not once labouring to restore his +church of Rochester to the former state, but went about in Mercia to +teach song, and instruct such as would learne musicke, wheresoeuer he +was required, or could get intertainment. + +Heerevpon the archbishop Theodore consecrated one William bishop +of Rochester in place of Putta, and after, when the said William +constreined by pouertie, left that church, Theodore placed one +[Sidenote: 678.] +Gebmound in his steed. In the yeere of our Lord 678, in the moneth of +[Sidenote: A blasing star. _Matth. West_. _Beda. lib. 4 ca. 12._ +Bishop Wifrid banished.] +August, a blasing starre appeered, with a long bright beame like +to a piller. It was seene euerie morning for the space of three +moneths togither. The same Egfrid king of Northumberland, banished +bishop Wilfrid vpon displeasure taken with him, out of his see, and +then were two bishops ordeined in his place, to gouerne the church of +[Sidenote: Hagustald. Hexham. Eadhidus. Lindesferne. Holie Iland.] +the Northumbers, the one named Bosa at Yorke, and the other called +Eata at Hagustald or Lindesferne. Also one Eadhidus was ordeined about +the same time bishop of Lindsey, the which prouince king Egfrid had of +late conquered and taken from Vulfhere the late king of Mercia, whome +he ouercame in battell, and droue him out of that countrie. The +said three bishops were consecrated at Yorke by the archbishop of +Canturburie Theodorus, the which within three yeeres after ordained +two bishops more in that prouince of the Northumbers, that is to +say, Tumbert at Hagustald, Eata that was appointed to remaine at +Lindesferne, & Trumuine was ordeined to haue the cure of the prouince +of those Picts which as then were vnder the English dominion. Also +bicause Edilred king of Mercia recouered the countrie of Lindsey, and +[Sidenote: The church of Rippon.] +ioined it to his dominion, bishop Eadhedus comming from thence, +was appointed to gouerne the church of Rippon. + +After that bishop Wilfrid was expelled out of his diocesse and +prouince of the Northumbers, he went to Rome, and returning from +thence, came into the kingdome of the Southsaxons, the which +conteining seuen thousand housholds or families, as yet was not +[Sidenote: Wilfrid by licence of king Edilwalke preacheth the gospel +to them of Sussex.] +conuerted to the christian faith. Wherefore the said Wilfrid began +there to preach the gospell with licence of king Edilwalke, who (as +before is mentioned) was conuerted and baptised in Mercia by the +procurement of king Wolfher, that then became his godfather, and gaue +him at the same time the Ile of Wight, and the prouince of the people +ancientlie called Meanuari, which he had woon from the Westsaxons. +Bishop Wilfrid then by king Edilwalke his furtherance and helpe +baptised the chiefest lords and gentlemen of that prouince. But +certein priests baptised the residue of the people, either then or in +the time following. + +[Sidenote: Lacke of raine.] +¶ It chanced that for the space of three yeeres (as it is said) +before the comming thither of bishop Wilfrid, there had fallen no +raine from the aire within that prouince of the Southsaxons, so that +the people were brought into great miserie by reson of famine, which +through want of necessarie fruits of the earth sore afflicted the +whole countrie, insomuch that no small numbers threw themselues +hedlong into the sea, despairing of life in such lacke of necessarie +vittels. But as God would, the same day that Wilfrid began to minister +the sacrament of baptisme, there came downe sweet and plentifull +showers of raine, so watering the earth, that thereby great store +of all fruits plentifullie tooke root, and yeelded full increase in +growth, to the great comfort and reliefe of all the people, which +before were in maner starued and lost through want of food. + +[Sidenote: Catching of fish with nets.] +Bishop Wilfrid also taught them in that countrie the maner how to +catch fish with nets, where before that time, they had no great skill +in anie kind of fishing, except it were in catching eeles. Hereby the +said bishop grew there in great estimation with the people, so that +his words were the better credited amongst them, for that through him +they receiued so great benefits, God by such meanes working in the +peoples hearts a desire to come to the vnderstanding of his lawes. The +king also gaue vnto Wilfrid a place called Sealesew, compassed about +on each side (except on the west halfe) with the sea, conteining 87 +housholds or families, where he built an abbeie, and baptised all +his tenants there, amounting to the number of 250 bondmen and +[Sidenote: Bondmen made trulie free.] +bondwomen, whome he made free both in bodie and soule: for he did +not onelie baptise them, but also infranchised them of all bodilie +seruitude and bondage. + +In this meane while manie things happened in other parts of this land, +and first in the yeere after the appeering of the blasing starre +before mentioned, a mightie battell was fought betwixt the said Egfrid +and Edilred king of Mercia, neere to the riuer of Trent, where Alswine +the brother of king Egfrid was slaine, with manie other of the +Northumbers, so that king Egfrid was constreined to returne home with +losse. The archbishop of Canturburie Theodorus perceiuing that great +warre and effusion of bloud was like to follow therevpon, trauelled so +in the matter betwixt them, that they were made friends, and Egfrid +had a peece of monie in recompense of his losses. The foresaid +[Sidenote: 679.] +battell was fought in the yeere of our Lord 679, and in the yeere +following, that is to say, in the yeere of our Lord 680, which +[Sidenote: 680.] +was also in the tenth yeere of the reigne of Egfrid king of +Northumberland, the sixt yeere of Edelred king of Mercia, the 17 of +Aldvulfe king of Eastangles, and in the 7 of Lother king of Kent. + +[Sidenote: A synod at Hatfield.] +The archbishop of Canturburie Theodorus held another synod at +[Sidenote: Articles subscribed.] +Hatfield, about the 15 kalends of October, in the which all the +clergie there present subscribed to certeine articles touching the +beleefe of the trinitie of persons, in vnitie of the Godhead of the +like substance, and also of the same vnitie in trinitie, according to +the true faith of the church of God. Moreouer, they acknowledged +by the like subscription, the fiue generall councels, of Nice, +of Constantinople the first, of Ephesus, of Calcedon, and of +Constantinople the second, with the synod also holden at Rome in +the daies of Martin bishop of Rome about the yeere of the emperour +Constantine. At this synod holden at Hatfield, was present one Iohn +the archchanter of S. Peters church at Rome, sent into this land of +purpose to bring from hence a certificat vnto pope Agatho of the +agreement of the English church in matters of faith, with other +churches of the christian world: but the foresaid archchanter died by +the way in France, as he returned homewards, and was buried at Towers +in Towraine. + +[Sidenote: _Bale_. The abbesse Hilda. _Beda_.] +The same yeere that famous woman Hilda abbesse of Whitbie departed +this life, or (as other say) fiue yeeres after, hauing first beene +deteined long with greeuous sickenesse. She was the daughter of one +Herrericus the nephue of king Edwin, and conuerted to the faith of +Christ at the preaching of bishop Pauline, and afterwards instructed +by bishop Aidan, she professed hirselfe a nun, applieng hir whole +studie to the reading of the scriptures, to praier, & other godlie +exercises. She builded the abbeie of Whitbie, wherein were placed both +men and women, with such an equalitie in all things, that there was +[Sidenote: _Bale_. _Ran. Cest._ _Matth. West._ _Beda_.] +no rich person amongst them, nor anie that wanted things necessarie. +She departed this life on the 15 kalends of December, being 66 yeeres +of age. As some haue written she argued stoutlie on bishop Colmans +part, at the disputation holden in the monasterie of Whitbie, in the +[Sidenote: _Henrie Hunt._] +yeere of Grace 664, whereof ye haue heard before. About the yeere of +our Lord 682, that is to say, in the seuenth yere of Centwine or +Centiuinus king of Westsaxons, the same Centwine fought with the +[Sidenote: The Britains discomfited.] +Britains, and ouercame them in battell, pursuing them with fire and +sword vnto the sea side. + +¶ Thus (at this time as also at diuerse other times) they were +discomfited and put to flight, being a people allotted and shared out +as it were to suffer many an ouerthrow, and abide manie a sharpe and +shamefull repulse at the hands of their enimies, who conuerted the +distresse of that people to their profit, and tooke pleasure in the +extreamitie of the miseries wherein they were plunged, as may be +obserued by the pitifull alteration of their state vnder diuers +gouernours, and speciallie vnder the Danish dominion, who kept them in +[Sidenote: _Gorop. in Gota danica lib. 7. pag. 759_.] +no lesse vile seruitude than Pharao did the Hebrues at the making of +bricke & chopping of straw. So that some thinke this land to be +corruptlie named Britania, but ought rather to be called Bridania, +that is, _Libera Dania, siue regio in qua Dani libere viuant_, for +they liued as lords in the land, & did (for the time being) what they +listed. But of this matter more shall be spoken hereafter in place +conuenient. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Cadwallader king of Britaine, the people are brought into great +miserie, and he forced to flee the land, he dieth at Rome, the British +writers noted of error, Ceadwalla king of the Westsaxons, the kingdome +is diuided; the valorous mind of Ceadwalla, he is forced to forsake +his countrie, he vanquisheth and killeth Edilwalke king of the +Westsaxons, his returne into his kingdome with reuenge vpon Berthun +duke of Sussex and other his heauie friends, his vow if he might +conquer the Ile of Wight, his bountifull offer to bishop Wilfrid, +the Ile of Wight receiueth the faith; Ceadwalla inuadeth Kent, of a +barbarous warriour he becommeth a religious christian, his vertues, +his death and buriall at Rome; Egfrid king of Northumberland inuadeth +Ireland, he is slaine by Brudeus king of the Picts; the neglect of +good counsell is dangerous; Etheldreda a wife and a widow (hauing +vowed chastitie) liued a virgine 12 yeeres with hir husband Egfride, +she was called saint Auderie of Elie._ + +THE XXXVJ. CHAPTER. + + +[Sidenote: CADWALLADER.] +But now to returne vnto that which is found in the British +histories, by the tenor wherof it should appeare, that when their king +Cadwallo was dead, his son Cadwallader succeeded him in gouernement +[Sidenote: 676 saith _Matth. West._] +of the Britains, in the yeere of our Lord 678, which was about the 10 +yeere of the emperour Constantius Paganotus, and in the 13 yeere of +[Sidenote: _Galfrid._] +the reigne of Childericus king of France. This Cadwallader, being +the sonne of Cadwallo, was begot by him of the halfe sister of Penda +king of Mercia, for one father begot them both, but of two sundrie +mothers, for she had to mother a ladie descended of the noble blood of +the Westsaxons, and was maried vnto Cadwallo when the peace was made +betwixt him and hir brother the said Penda. After that Cadwallader had +reigned the space of 12 yeers (as Geffrey of Monmouth saith) or (as +others write) but 3 yeeres, the Britains were brought into such +miserie through ciuill discord, and also by such great and extreme +[Sidenote: Cadwallader constreined to forsake the land.] +famine as then reigned through all the land, that Cadwallader was +constreined with the cheefest part of his people to forsake their +natiue countrie, and by sea to get them ouer into Britaine Armorike, +there to seeke reliefe by vittels for the sustentation of their +languishing bodies. + +¶ Long processe is made by the British writers of this departure of +Cadwallader, & of the Britains out of this land, and how Cadwallader +was about to haue returned againe, but that he was admonished by a +dreame to the contrarie, the which bicause it seemeth but fabulous, we +passe ouer. At length he went to Rome, and there was confirmed in +the christian religion by pope Sergius, where shortlie after he fell +sicke, and died the 12 kalends of May, in the yeere of our Lord +[Sidenote: 689.] +689. But herein appeareth the error of the British writers in taking +one for another, by reason of resemblance of names, for where +Ceadwalla king of the Westsaxons about that time mooued of a religious +deuotion, after he was conuerted to the faith, went vnto Rome, and was +there baptised, or else confirmed of the foresaid pope Sergius, and +shortlie after departed this life in that citie in the foresaid yeere +of 689 or therabouts. The Welshmen count him to be their Cadwallader: +which to be true is verie vnlike by that which may be gathered out of +the learned writings of diuers good and approoued authors. + +[Sidenote: CEADWALLA. _Wil. Malm._ _Beda_.] +This Ceadwalla king of the Westsaxons succeeded after Centwine +or Centiuinus, which Centwine reigned nine yeeres, though it should +appeare by that which is written by authors of good credit, that +during two of those yeeres at the least, the kingdome of Westsaxons +was diuided betwixt him and Elcuinus or Escuinus, so that he should +not reigne past seuen yeeres alone. + +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._ _Ranulf. Cest._] +But now to Ceadwalla, whome some take to be all one with +Cadwallader, we find that he was lineallie descended from Cutha or +Cutwine, the brother of Ceauline or Keuling king of Westsaxons, as +sonne to Kenbert or Kenbright that was sonne to Ceadda the sonne of +the foresaid Cutha or Cutwin. Thus being extract of the noble house of +the kings of Westsaxons, he prooued in his youth a personage of great +towardnesse, and such a one as no small hope was of him conceiued: he +would let no occasion passe wherein he might exercise his force, +to shew proofe of his high valiancie, so that in the end with his +woorthie attempts shewed therein, he purchased to himselfe the enuie +of those that ruled in his countrie, by reason whereof he was +[Sidenote: Ceadwalla driuen to depart out of his countrie.] +banished in a conspiracie made against him. Wherevpon he tooke +occasion as it were in reuenge of such vnthankfulnesse to withdraw +out of his countrie, leading with him all the principall youth of the +same, the which either pitieng his present estate, or mooued with +pleasure taken in his valiant dooings, followed him at his going into +exile. + +The first brunt of his furious attempts after he was out of his +countrie, Edilwalke the king of the Southsaxons tasted, who in defense +of himselfe comming to trie battell with Ceadwalla, was slaine with +the most part of all his armie. Ceadwalla then perceiuing the valiant +courages of his souldiers, filled with good hope of this happie +atchiued victorie, returned with good and prosperous speed into his +owne countrie, and that yer he was looked for, and earnestlie pursuing +his aduersaries, droue them out of the kingdome, and taking vpon him +to rule the same as king, reigned two yeeres, during the which he +atchiued diuers notable enterprises. + +[Sidenote: _Beda lib. 4. cap. 15_.] +And first, whereas Berthun and Authun dukes of Sussex & subiects +vnto the late king Edilwalke, had both expelled him out of that +countrie, after he had slaine the said Edilwalke, and also taken vpon +them the rule of that kingdome, hauing now atteined to the gouernement +[Sidenote: Berthun a duke of Sussex slaine.] +of the Westsaxons, he inuaded the countrie of Sussex againe, and +slue Berthun in battell, bringing that countrie into more bondage than +before. He also set vpon the Ile of Wight, and well-neere destroied +all the inhabitants, meaning to inhabit it with his owne people. +[Sidenote: Caedwalla his vow. The Ile of Wight conquered.] +Hee bound himselfe also by vow, although as yet he was not baptised, +that if he might conquer it, he would giue a fourth part thereof vnto +the Lord. And in performance of that vow, he offered vnto bishop +Wilfride (who then chanced to be present) when he had taken that Ile, +so much therof as conteined 300 housholds or families, where the +whole consisted in 1200 housholds. Wilfrid receiuing thankefullie +the gift, deliuered the same vnto one of his clearks named Bernewine +that was his sisters sonne, appointing to him also a priest named +Hildila, the which should minister the word and the sacrament of +baptisme vnto all those that would receiue the same. Thus was the +[Sidenote: The Ile of Wight receiueth the faith.] +Ile of Wight brought to the faith of Christ last of all other the +parties of this our Britaine, after that the same faith had failed +here by the comming of the Saxons. + +Moreouer, king Ceadwalla inuaded the kingdome of Kent, where he lost +his brother Mollo, as after shall appeere, but yet he reuenged his +death with great slaughter made of the inhabitants in that countrie. +Finallie, this worthie prince Ceadwalla, turning himselfe from the +desire of warre and bloudshed, became right courteous, gentle and +liberall towards all men, so that ye could not haue wished more +vertuous manners to rest in one as yet not christened. And shortlie +after, willing to be admitted into the fellowship of the christians +(of whose religion he had taken good tast) he went to Rome, where of +pope Sergius he was baptised, and named Peter, and shortlie after +surprised with sickenesse, he died, and was buried there within +[Sidenote: 689.] +the church of saint Peter in the yeere of our Lord 689. + +[Sidenote: _Beda lib. 4. cap. 26_. Ireland inuaded by the Northumbers.] +In the meane while, that is to say, in the yeere of our Lord 684, +Egfride king of Northumberland sent an armie vnder the guiding of a +capteine named Bertus into Ireland, the which wasted that countrie, +sparing neither church nor monasterie, sore indamaging the people of +that countrie, which had euer beene friends vnto the English nation, +and deserued nothing lesse than so to be inuaded and spoiled at their +hands. The Irish men defended themselues to their power, beseeching +God with manie a salt teare, that he would reuenge their cause in +punishing of such extreme iniuries. And though cursers may not inherit +the kingdome of heauen, yet they ceased not to curse, hoping the +sooner that those which with good cause were thus accursed, +should woorthilie be punished for their offenses by God, & so +[Sidenote: King Egfride slain by Brudeus king of the Picts.] +(peraduenture) it fell out. For in the yeere following, the said +Egfride had lead an armie into Pictland against Brudeus king of +the Picts, and being trained into straits within hils and craggie +mounteins, he was slaine with the most part of all his armie, in the +yeere of his age 40, and of his reigne 15, vpon the 13 kalends of +June. + +There were diuers of Egfrides friends, and namelie Cutberd (whome he +had aduanced the same yeere vnto the bishops see of Lindesferne) +that aduised him in no wise, either to haue taken this warre in hand +against the Picts, or the other against them of Ireland, but he would +not be counselled, the punishment appointed for his sinnes being such, +that he might not giue eare to his faithfull friends that aduised him +for the best. From that time foorth, the hope and power of the +[Sidenote: These Britains were those vndouttedlie y't dwelt in the +northwest parts of this Ile, and is not ment onlie by them of Wales.] +English people began to decaie. For not onelie the Picts recouered +that part of their countrie which the Englishmen had held before in +their possession, but also the Scots that inhabited within this Ile, +and likewise some part of the Britains tooke vpon them libertie, which +they kept and mainteined a long time after, as Beda confesseth. + +Egfride died without issue, & left no children behind him. He had +to wife one Ethelreda or Etheldrida, daughter vnto Anna king of the +Eastangles, which liued with hir husband the forsaid Egfride twelue +yeeres in perfect virginitie (as is supposed) contrarie to the purpose +of hir husband, if he might haue persuaded hir to the contrarie, but +[Sidenote: Ethelreda.] +finallie he was contented that she should keepe hir first vow of +chastitie which she had made. She was both widow and virgine when he +maried hir, being first coupled in wedlocke with one Eunbert a noble +[Sidenote: Giruij.] +man, and a ruler in the south parts of the countrie, where the +people called Giruij inhabited, which is the same where the fennes +lie in the confines of Lincolnshire, Norffolke, Huntingtonshire, & +Cambridgeshire, howbeit he liued with hir but a small while. After she +had obteined licence to depart from the court, she got hir first into +Coldingham abbeie, and there was professed a nun. Then she went to +Elie, and there restored the monasterie, and was made abbesse of the +place, in the which after she had gouerned seuen yeeres, she departed +this life, and was there buried. This same was she which commonlie is +called saint Audrie of Elie, had in great reuerence for the opinion +conceiued of hir great vertue and puritie of life. + + * * * * * + + + + +_Alfride (the bastard) king of Northumberland, his life and death, +Iohn archbishop of Canturburie resigneth his see, Lother king of Kent +dieth of a wound, Edrike getteth the regiment thereof but not without +bloudshed, Ceadwalla wasteth Kent being at strife in it selfe, +his brother Mollo burned to death; Withred made king of Kent, he +vanquisheth his enimies, Inas king of Westsaxons is made his friend, +Suebhard and Nidred vsurpers of the Kentish kingdome, the age and +death of Theodore archbishop of Canturburie, Brightwald the first +archbishop of the English nation; the end of the British regiment, and +how long the greatest part of this Iland was vnder their gouernement._ + +THE XXXVIJ. CHAPTER. + + +After that king Egfride was slaine (as before is mentioned) his +[Sidenote: ALFRIDE. 685.] +brother Alfride was made king of Northumberland. This Alfride was +the bastard sonne of king Oswie, and in his brothers daies (either +willinglie, or by violent means constreined) he liued as a banished +man in Ireland, where applieng himselfe to studie, he became an +excellent philosopher. And therfore being iudged to be better able to +haue the rule of a kingdome, he was receiued by the Northumbers, and +made king, gouerning his subiects the space of 20 yeares and more, +with great wisedome and policie, but not with such large bounds as his +ancestors had doone: for the Picts (as before is mentioned) had +cut off one peece of the north part of the ancient limits of that +kingdome. About the 13 yeare of his reigne, that is to say, in the +[Sidenote: 698.] +yeare of our Lord 698, one of his capteins named earle Berthred, +or Bertus, was slaine in battell by the Picts, whose confins he had as +then inuaded. The curse of the Irish men, whose countrie in the +[Sidenote: _Matt. West._] +daies of king Egfrid he had cruellie wasted (as before is mentioned) +was thought at this time to take place. Finallie king Alfride, after +he had reigned 20 yeares & od months, departed this life, in the yeare +[Sidenote: 705. _Beda_.] +of our Lord 705. + +In the beginning of king Alfrids daies, Eata the bishop of Hexham +being dead, one Iohn a man of great holinesse was admitted bishop, and +after that, bishop Wilfrid was restored, when he had remained a +[Sidenote: Iohn archbishop of Yorke.] +long time in exile. The said Iohn was remoued to the church of Yorke, +the same being then void by the death of the archbishop Bosa. At +[Sidenote: He resigneth his see.] +length the foresaid Iohn wearied with the cares of publike +affaires resigned his see, and got him to Beuerley, where he liued a +solitarie life for the space of foure yeares, and then died, about +[Sidenote: 721.] +the yeare of our Lord 721, king Osrike as then reigning in +Northumberland. He continued bishop for the space of 24 yeares, and +builded a church, and founded a colledge of priests at Beuerley +aforsaid, in which church he lieth buried. + +[Sidenote: 686 saith _Matt. West._] +[Sidenote: Lother king of Kent dieth of a wound.] +The same yeare, or in the yeare after that king Egfrid was slaine, +Lother king of Kent departed this life, the 8 Ides of Februarie, of +a wound by him receiued in a battell which he fought against the +Southsaxons, the which came in aid of Edrike, that was sonne vnto his +brother Egbert, and had mainteined warre against his vncle the said +Lother, euen from the beginning of his reigne, till finallie he was +now in the said battell striken thorough the bodie with a dart, and +so died thereof, after he had reigned 11 yeares, and seuen moneths. +It was thought that he was disquieted with continuall warres and +troubles, and finallie brought to his end before the naturall course +of his time, for a punishment of his wicked consent giuen to the +[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._] +putting to death of his cousins Ethelbert & Ethelbrit, as appeared, +[Sidenote: _Capgraue_ saith, their sister.] +in that when they were reported to be martyrs, because it was knowen +they died innocentlie, he mocked them and made but a iest at it, +although his brother in acknowledging his fault, repented him thereof, +and gaue in recompense to their mother a part of the Ile of Thanet to +the building of a monasterie. + +[Sidenote: EDRICKE.] +The foresaid Edricke (after Lother was dead) got the dominion of Kent, +and ruled as king thereof, but not without ciuill warre, insomuch that +before he had reigned the full terme of two yeares, he was slaine in +the same warre. Then Ceadwalla king of the Westsaxons being thereof +aduertised, supposing the time now to be come that would serue his +purpose, as one still coueting to worke the Kentishmen all the +displeasure he could, entred with an armie into their countrie, and +began to waste and spoile the same on ech side, till finallie the +Kentishmen assembled themselues togither, gaue battell to their +enimies, and put them to flight. Mollo brother to Ceadwalla was driuen +from his companie, and constrained to take an house for his refuge: +[Sidenote: Mollo brother to king Ceadwalla burnt to death.] +but his enimies that pursued him set fire thereon, and burned both +the house and Mollo within it to ashes. Yet did not Ceadwalla +herewith depart out of the countrie, but to wreake his wrath, and to +reuenge the griefe which he tooke for the death of his brother, he +wasted and destroied a great part of Kent yer he returned home, and +left (as it were) an occasion to his successor also to pursue the +quarell with reuenging. Wherein we see the cankerd nature of man, +speciallie in a case of wrong or displeasure; which we are so far +from tollerating & forgiuing, that if with tooth and naile we be +not permitted to take vengeance, our hearts will breake with a full +conceit of wrath. But the law of nature teacheth vs otherwise to be +affected, namelie, + + + ------per te nulli vnquam iniuria fiat, + Sed verbis alijsque modis fuge laedere quenquam, + Quod tibi nolles, alijs fecisse caueto, + Quodque tibi velles, alijs praestare studeto; + Haec est naturae lex optima, quam nisi ad vnguem + Seruabis, non ipse Deo (mihi crede) placebis, + Postque obitum infoelix non aurea sydera adibis. + +Which lesson taught by nature, and commanded of God, if these men had +followed (as they minded nothing lesse in the fier of their furie) +they would haue beene content with a competent reuenge, and not in +such outragious maner with fier and sword haue afflicted one another, +nor (which is more than tigerlike crueltie) haue ministred occasion to +posterities to reuenge wrongs giuen and taken of their ancestors. But +we will let this passe without further discourse, meaning hereafter in +due place to declare the processe. + +The Kentishmen being destitute of a king, after that diuers had +coueted the place, and sought to atteine thereto, as well by force as +otherwise, to the great disquieting of that prouince for the space +of 6 yeares togither, at length in the 7 yeare after Edricks death, +Withred an other of the sonnes of king Egbert, hauing with diligent +[Sidenote: Withred is made king of Kent.] +trauell ouercome enuie at home, & with monie redeemed peace abaoad +(sic), was with great hope conceiued of his worthinesse made king of +Kent, the 11 of Nouember, & 205 after the death of Hengist, he reigned +33 yeares, not deceiuing his subiects of their good conceiued opinion +of him: for ouercomming all his aduersaries which were readie to leuie +ciuill warre against him, he also purchased peace of Inas king of the +Westsaxons, which ment to haue made him warre, till with monie he was +made his friend. + +[Sidenote: _Hen. Hunt._ _Beda. lib. 5_. Suebhard and Nidred kings by +vsurpation and not by succession, as _Henr. Hunt._ writeth.] +A little before that Withred was confirmed in the kingdome of +Kent, there reigned two kings in that countrie, Suebhard and Nidred, +or rather the same Withred, if the printed copie of Bedas booke +intituled "Ecclesiastica historia gentis Anglorum" haue not that name +corrupted: for where he sheweth that the archbishop Theodorus being of +the age of 88 yeares, departed this life in the yeare of our Lord 690, +in the next chapter he declareth, that in the yeare 692, the first +daie of Iulie one Brightwald was chosen to succeed in the archbishops +see of Canturburie, Withredus and Suebhardus as then reigning in Kent: +but whether Withredus gouerned as then with Suebhardus, or that +some other named Nidred, it forceth not: for certeine it is by the +agreement of other writers, that till Withred obteined the whole rule, +there was great strife and contention moued about the gouernement, and +[Sidenote: Brightwald the first archbishop of the English nation.] +diuers there were that sought and fought for it. But this ought to +be noted, that the forenamed Brightwald was the eight archbishop +in number, and first of the English nation that sat in the see of +Canturburie: for the other seuen that were predecessors to him, were +strangers borne, and sent hither from Rome. + +¶ Here endeth the line and gouernement of the Britains, now called +Welshmen, which tooke that name of their duke or leader Wallo or +Gallo; or else of a queene of Wales named Gales or Wales. But +howsoeuer that name fell first vnto them, now they are called +Welshmen, which sometime were called Britains or Brutons, and +descended first of the Troians, and after of Brute, and lastlie of +Mulmucius Dunwallo: albeit they were mingled with sundrie other +nations, as Romans, Picts, &c. And now they be called English that in +their beginning were named Saxons or Angles. To conclude therefore +with this gouernement, so manie times intercepted by forren power, it +appeareth by course of histories treating of these matters, that the +last yeare of Cadwallader was the yeare of our Lord 686, which makes +the yere of the world 4647. So that (as Fabian saith) the Britains had +the greater part of this land in rule (reckoning from Brute till this +time) 1822 yeares. Which terme being expired, the whole dominion of +this realme was Saxonish. + +_Thus farre the interrupted regiment of the Britains, ending at the +fift booke._ + + + + +[Transcriber's note: The following words appear to be typos, but were +left as they appeared in this book. + + whreof => whereof (chapter 8, para. 5) + buruished => burnished (chapter 13, para. 3) + shost => short (chapter 25, para. 4) + Grogories => Gregories (chapter 33, para. 10) + abaoad => abroad (chapter 37, para. 6)] + + by little little => little by little (chapter 3, para. 1) + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Chronicles 1 (of 6): The Historie of +England 5 (of 8), by Raphael Holinshed + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK HISTORIE OF ENGLAND *** + +***** This file should be named 16555.txt or 16555.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/6/5/5/16555/ + +Produced by Jonathan Ingram, Lesley Halamek and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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