[Sidenote: SUIDHELME. _Beda lib._ 3. _cap._ 22.]
[Sidenote: _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 Eastsaxons vsed oftentimes to
[Sidenote: _Beda lib._ 3. _cap._ 23.]
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 that
[Sidenote: The maner of the old fast.]
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 destroied the
whole nation of Oswies people, so that Oswie turning himselfe to seeke
[Sidenote: War betwéene king Oswie & king Penda.]
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._]
[Sidenote: 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 kinsman) the
[Sidenote: Southmercia.]
countrie of the Southmercies, conteining 5000 housholds, and separated
[Sidenote: Northmercia.]
[Sidenote: 659.]
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._