[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._