[Sidenote: Kings of the Eastsaxons. _Beda lib. 5. cap. 20_.
Offa king of Eastsaxons.]
In this meane time Sighard and Seufred, kings of the Eastsaxons,
being departed this life, one Offa that was sonne to Sigerius
succéeded in gouernment of that kingdome, a man of great towardnesse,
and of right comelie countenance: but after he had ruled a certeine
time, being mooued with a religious deuotion, he went to Rome in
companie of Kenred king of Mercia, and of one Egwine bishop of
Worcester, and being there shauen into the order of moonks, so
[Sidenote: King Selred.]
continued till he died. After him one Selred the sonne of Sigbert the
good, ruled the Eastsaxons the tearme of 38 yéeres. After Aldulfe the
[Sidenote: 688.]
king of Eastangles departed this fraile life, which chanced about
the yéere of our Lord 688, his brother Elcwold or Akwold succéeded
him, and reigned about twelue yéeres. After whose decease one Beorne
was made king of Eastangles, and reigned about 26 yéeres. In this
[Sidenote: 705. _Wil. Malm._ Osred king of Northumberland.]
meane while, that is to say, in the yeere of our Lord 705, Alfride
king of Northumberland being dead, his sonne Osred, a child of 8
yéeres of age succeeded him in the kingdome, and reigned 11 yéeres,
spending his time when he came to ripe yeeres in filthie abusing his
bodie with nuns, and other religious women.
About the seuenth yéere of his reigne, that is to say, in the yéere of
[Sidenote: _Henr. Hunt._ Picts ouerthrowne by the Northumbers.]
our Lord 711, one of his capteins named earle Berthfride fought
with the Picts, betwixt two places called Heue and Cere, and obteining
the victorie, slue an huge number of the enimies. At length king Osred
by the traitorous means of his coosens that arreared warre against
[Sidenote: King Osred slaine in batell.]
him, was slaine in battell, and so ended his reigne, leauing to
those that procured his death the like fortune in time to come. For
Kenred reigning two yéeres, and Osricke ten yeeres, were famous onelie
in this, that being worthilie punished for shedding the bloud of their
naturall prince and souereigne lord, they finished their liues with
dishonourable deaths, as they had well deserued. Osricke before
[Sidenote: 729.]
his death, which chanced in the yéere of our Lord 729, appointed
Ceolwolfe the brother of his predecessor Kenred, to succeed him in the
kingdome, which he did, reigning as king of the Northumbers by the
space of 8 yéeres currant, and then renouncing his kingdom, became a
moonke in the Ile of Lindesferne.
[Sidenote: _Beda_. Acca bishop of Hexham.]
In this meane while, bishop Wilfride being dead, one Acca that was
his chapline was made bishop of Hexham. The said Wilfride had béene
bishop by the space of 45 yéeres: but he liued a long time in exile.
For first being archbishop of Yorke, and exercising his iurisdiction
ouer all the north parts, he was after banished by king Egbert, and
againe restored to the sée of Hexham in the second yeere of king
Alfride, and within fiue yéeres after eftsoones banished by the same
Alfride, and the second time restored by his successor king Osred,
in the fourth yeere of whose reigne, being the yéere after the
incarnation of our Sauiour 709, he departed this life, and was buried
at Rippon. Moreouer, after Iohn the archbishop of Yorke had resigned,
one Wilfride surnamed the second was made archbishop of that sée:
which Wilfride was chapline to the said Iohn, and gouerned that sée by
[Sidenote: 710.]
the space of fiftéene yéeres, and then died. About the yéere of
our Lord 710, the abbat Adrian which came into this land with Theodore
the archbishop of Canturburie (as before ye haue heard) departed this
life, about 39 yéeres after his comming thither.
[Sidenote: Two bishops sées _Matth. West._ Bishop Daniell.]
Also Inas the king of Westsaxons, about the 20 yeere of his
reigne, diuided the prouince of the Westsaxons into two bishops sées,
whereas before they had but one. Daniell was ordeined to gouerne the
one of those sees, being placed at Winchester, hauing vnder him
[Sidenote: Bishop Aldhelme.]
Sussex, Southerie and Hamshire. And Aldhelme was appointed to
Shireburne, hauing vnder him, Barkeshire, Wiltshire, Sommersetshire,
Dorsetshire, Deuonshire, and Cornwall. This Aldhelme was a learned
[Sidenote: The abbeie of Malmesburie.]
man, and was first made abbat of Malmesburie, in the yéere of our Lord
675 by Eleutherius then bishop of the Westsaxons, by whose diligence
that abbeie was greatlie aduanced, being afore that time founded by
one Medulfe a Scotish man, but of so small reuenues afore Aldhelms
time, that the moonks were scarse able to liue thereon. Also the same
Aldhelme was a great furtherer vnto king Inas in the building of
Glastenburie.
[Sidenote: ETHELARD. 728. _Matth. West._ saith 727.]
Ethelard, the coosen of king Inas, to whome the same Inas resigned
his kingdome, began to gouerne the Westsaxons in the yéere of our
Lord 728, or rather 27, which was in the 11 yéere of the emperor Leo
Isaurus, in the second yeere of Theodorus king of France, and about
the 8 or 9 yéere of Mordacke king of the Scots. In the first yéere
of Ethelards reigne, he was disquieted with ciuill warre, which one
Oswald a noble man, descended of the roiall bloud of the Westsaxon
kings, procured against him: but in the end, when he perceiued that
the kings power was too strong for him, he fled out of the countrie,
leauing it thereby in rest.
[Sidenote: _Matth. West._ 729. Blasing stars.]
In the yéere 729, in the moneth of Ianuarie there appeered two
comets or blasing starres, verie terrible to behold, the one rising in
the morning before the rising of the sunne, and the other after the
setting thereof: so that the one came before the breake of the day,
and the other before the closing of the night, stretching foorth their
fierie brands toward the north; and they appeered thus euerie morning
and euening for the space of a fortnight togither, menacing as it
were some great destruction or common mishap to follow. The Saracens
shortlie after entred France, and were ouerthrowne. Finallie, when
king Ethelard had reigned the terme of fouretéene yeeres currant, he
departed this life.
[Sidenote: _Wil. Malm. _]
Now when Wichtred king of Kent had gouerned the Kentishmen by the
space of 33 yéeres, with great commendation for the good orders which
he caused to be obserued amongst them, as well concerning matters
ecclesiasticall as temporal, he departed this life, leauing behind him
thrée sonnes, who successiuelie reigned as heires to him one after
another (that is to say) Edbert 23 yéeres, Ethelbert 11 yeeres
currant, and Alrike 34 yeeres, the which three princes following
the steps of their father in the obseruance of politike orders &
commendable lawes, vsed for the more part their fathers good lucke and
[Sidenote: _Beda. lib. 5. cap. 24_.]
fortune, except that in Ethelberts time the citie of Canturburie
was burned by casuall fire, and Alrike lost a battell against them of
Mercia, whereby the glorie of their times was somewhat blemished: for
so it came to passe, that whatsoeuer chanced euill, was kept still in
memorie, and the good haps that came forward, were soone forgotten and
[Sidenote: 731.]
put out of remembrance. In the yéere of our Lord 731, Betrwald
archbishop of Canturburie departed this life in the fift ides of
Ianuarie, after he had gouerned that see by the space of 27 yéeres, 6
moneths, and 14 daies: in whose place the same yéere one Tacwine was
ordeined archbishop, that before was a priest in the monasterie of
Bruidon within the prouince of Mercia. He was consecrated in the citie
of Canturburie, by the reuerend fathers Daniell bishop of Winchester,
Ingwald bishop of London, Aldwin bishop of Lichfield, and Aldwulfe
bishop of Rochester, the tenth day of Iune being sundaie.
[Sidenote: Bishops what parishes they governed.]
¶ As touching the state of the English church for ecclesiasticall
gouernours, certeine it is, that the same was as hereafter followeth.
The prouince of Canturburie was gouerned touching the ecclesiasticall
state by archbishop Tacwine, and bishop Aldwulfe. The prouince of the
Eastsaxons by bishop Ingwald. The prouince of Eastangles by bishop
Eadbertus and Hadulacus, the one kéeping his sée at Elsham, and the
other at Dunwich. The prouince of the Westsaxons was gouerned by the
foresaid Daniell and by Forthere, who succéeded next after Aldhelme in
the sée of Shereburne. This Forthere in the yéere of our Lord 738,
[Sidenote: _Matth, West._]
left his bishoprike, and went to Rome in companie of the quéene of the
Westsaxons. Many as well kings as bishops, noble and vnnoble, priests
and laiemen, togither with women, vsed to make such iournies thither
in those daies. The prouince of Mercia was ruled by the foresaid
Aldwine bishop of Lichfield, and one bishop Walstod holding his sée
at Herford gouerned those people that inhabited beyond the riuer of
Sauerne toward the west. The prouince of Wiccies, that is, Worcester,
one Wilfride gouerned. The Southsaxons and the Ile of Wight were vnder
the bishop of Winchester. In the prouince of the Northumbers were
foure bishops, that is to say, Wilfride archbishop of Yorke, Edilwald
bishop of Lindisferne, Acca bishop of Hexham, and Pecthelmus bishop
of Whiterne, otherwise called Candida Casa, he was the first that
gouerned that church after the same was made a bishops sée. And thus
stood the state of the English church for ecclesiasticall gouernors in
that season.
[Sidenote: Ethelbald K. of Mercia, of what puissance he was.]
And as for temporall gouernement, king Ceolvulfe had the
souereigne dominion ouer all the Northumbers: but all the prouinces
on the southside of Humber, with their kings and rulers, were subiect
vnto Edilbald or Ethelbald king of Mercia. The nation of the Picts
were in league with the English men, and gladlie became partakers of
the catholike faith and veritie of the vniuersall church. Those Scots
which inhabited Britaine, contenting themselues with their owne
bounds, went not about to practise anie deceitfull traines nor
fraudulent deuises against the Englishmen. The Britains otherwise
called Welshmen, though for the more part of a peculiar hatred they
did impugne the English nation, & the obseruance of the feast of Ester
appointed by the whole catholike church, yet (both diuine and humane
force vtterlie resisting them) they were not able in neither behalfe
to atteine to their wished intentions, as they which though they were
partlie frée, yet in some point remained still as thrall and mancipate
to the subiection of the Englishmen: who (saith Beda) now in the
acceptable time of peace and quietnesse, manie amongst them of
Northumberland, laieng armour and weapon aside, applied themselues
to the reading of holie scriptures, more desirous to be professed in
religious houses, than to exercise feates of warre: but what will come
therof (saith he) the age that followeth shall sée and behold. With
these words dooth Beda end his historie, continued till the yéere of
our Lord 731, which was from the comming of the Englishmen into this
land, about 285 yéeres, according to his account.
[Sidenote: 732. _Wil. Malm._]
In the yéere following, that is to say 732, in place of Wilfrid
the second, Egbert was ordeined bishop of Yorke. This Egbert was
brother vnto an other Egbert, who as then was king of Northumberland,
by whose helpe he greatlie aduanced the see of Yorke, and recouered
the pall: so that where all the other bishops that held the same sée
before him sith Paulins daies, wanted the pall, and so were counted
simplie but particular bishops: now was he intituled by the name of
archbishop. He also got togither a great number of good books,
[Sidenote: 733.]
which he bestowed in a librarie at Yorke. ¶ In the yéere 733, on the
18 kalends of September, the sunne suffered a great eclipse about
three of the clocke in the after noone, in somuch that the earth
seemed to be couered with a blacke and horrible penthouse.
[Sidenote: 735 _Beda_ departed this life]
In the yéere 735, that reuerend and profound learned man Beda
departed this life, being 82 yéeres of age, vpon Ascension day, which
was the 7 kalends of Iune, and 26 of Maie, as Matt. Westm. hath
diligentlie obserued. W. Harison addeth hitherto, that it is to be
read in an old epistle of Cutbert moonke of the same house vnto
Cuthwine, that the said Beda lieng in his death-bed, translated the
gospell of saint Iohn into English, and commanded his brethren to
be diligent in reading and contemplation of good bookes, and not to
exercise themselues with fables and friuolous matters. Finallie he was
buried in the abbeie of Geruie, distant fiue miles from Wiremouth, an
abbeie also in the north parts, not far from Newcastell (as is before
remembred.) He was brought vp in those two abbeies, and was scholar
to John of Beuerley. How throughlie he was séene in all kinds of good
literature, the bookes which hée wrote doo manifestlie beare witnesse.
His judgement also was so much estéemed ouer all, that Sergius the
bishop of Rome wrote vnto Celfride the abbat of Wiremouth, requiring
him to send Beda vnto the court of Rome for the deciding of certein
questions mooued there, which without his opinion might séeme to rest
doubtful. But whether he went thither or not we can not affirme: but
as it is thought by men worthie of credit, he neuer went out of this
land, but continued for the most part of his life in the abbeies of
Geruie and Wiremouth, first vnder Benet the first abbat and founder of
the same abbeies, and after vnder the said Celfride, in whose time he
receiued orders of priesthood at the hands of bishop Iohn, surnamed
of Beuerley: so that it may be maruelled that a man, borne in the
vttermost corner of the world, should proue so excellent in all
knowledge and learning, that his fame should so spread ouer the whole
[Sidenote: _Crantzius_.]
earth, and went neuer out of his natiue countrie to séeke it. But
who that marketh in reading old histories the state of abbeies and
monasteries in those daies, shall well perceiue that they were ordered
after the maner of our schooles or colleges, hauing in them diuerse
learned men, that attended onelie to teach & bring vp youth in
knowledge of good learning, or else to go abroad and preach the word
of God in townes and villages adjoining.
[Sidenote: 735.]
The same yéere died archbishop Tacuine, and in the yéere following,
that is to say 735, Nothelmus was ordeined archbishop of Canturburie
in his place, and Egbert the archbishop of Yorke the same yéere got
his pall from Rome, and so was confirmed archbishop, and ordeined two
bishops, Fruidberd, and Fruidwald. But some refer it to the yéere 744.
* * * * *
_Cuthred king of the Westsaxons, he is greatlie troubled by Ethelbald
king of Mercia, they are pacified; Kenric king Cuthreds sonne slaine,
earle Adelme rebelleth against him whom the king pardoneth; Cuthred
fighteth with Ethelbald at Hereford, he hath the victorie, he falleth
sicke and dieth; Sigebert succedeth him in the kingdome, he is cruell
to his people, he is expelled from his roiall estate, murther reuenged
with murther, succession in the kingdome of Eastangles, kings change
their crownes for moonks cowles; the Britaines subiect to the king of
Northumberland and the king of Picts, the moone eclipsed._