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._