[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 in
[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm._ saith that Onichelinus was the brother of
Cinegiscus.]
gouernance of the kingdome his sonne Richelinus, or Onichelinus, and
so they reigned iointlie togither in great loue and concord (a thing
[Sidenote: Beandune or Beanton.]
seldome séene or heard of.) They fought with 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.
[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 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._