especially touchyng the Monasteries builded: the kynges whiche haue entred the lyfe and profession Monastike: also Queenes and Queenes daughters, whiche the same tyme professed solitary lyfe in monasteries, which they or theyr auncetors had erected.

¶ And thus hast thou (gentle Reader) concernyng the vij. kyngdomes of these Saxōs, rulyng altogether in England: the course and order of their doynges briefly described and discoursed vnto thee, in such order, as the matter beyng so intricate, in such confusion and diuersitie of thynges incidēt together, would permit: followyng especially in this story hetherto, the line of the Northumberland kynges, as the other stories most follow the line of Westsaxon kynges. The which seuen kyngdomes of these sayd Saxons, after they had vntruely expulsed and chased out the Britaines from their land, like as they neuer were in quietnes among them selues, reignyng thus together, till the tyme of this Egbert: so also after the reigne of Egbert, the whole Realme beyng induced into one regiment, no lesse were they impugned and afflicted by the Danes continually from tyme to tyme, till the laste conquest of William the Normand.MarginaliaVniust dealyngs of men iustly rewarded. Thus it pleaseth (God euer) lightly to reuenge with bloud bloudy violence, and the vniust dealyngs of men, with iust and like retribution. But of this let the Christian Reader consider, as Gods grace shall worke in him. In the meane tyme we, as much as in vs did lye, satisfying the parte of an historician, haue thus hetherto set forth and declared concernyng these vij. foresayd kyngdomes: first the names and lineall descent of the kynges seuerally by themselues, as by the table precedent may apeare, then what were the doynges and actes of the same. How first being Paganes they were conuerted to the Christian fayth: what thynges in their tyme happened in the Church: how many of them, of kings were made Mōkes: how deuout they were then to holy Church & to þ^e Churchmē, and especially to the Church of Rome. But the churchmē then were much otherwise in lyfe, thē afterward they declared thēselues to be. Through which deuotion of þ^e sayd kynges first came in the Peterpence or Romeschots in this Realme: as by Iue first in his dominion, then by Offa in his Lordshyp, & afterward by Adelwulph brought in & ratified through the whole Realme: where also is to be noted, that by the foresayd Kynges and Queenes of the sayd Saxons, the most part of the greatest Abbayes and Nunneries in this Realme were first begō and builded, as partly the names of some here follow to be seene.

MarginaliaPaules Church. First the Church or Minster of S. Paule in London was founded by Ethelbert kyng of Kent, & Sigebert kyng of Essex, about the yeare of our Lord. 604.

MarginaliaThe first aultar and crosse set vp in Englād. The first crosse and altare within this realme was first set vp in the North partes in Heuenfield, vpon the occasion of Oswald Kyng of Northumberlād, fightyng against Cadwalla, where he in the same place set vp the signe of the crosse, kneelyng and praying there for victory. Polychron. lib. 5. cap. 12. An. 635.

MarginaliaThe Churche of Winchester. The Church of Winchester was first begon and founded by Kingilsus Kyng of Mercians, hauing. 9. myles about it: after finished by his sonne Kewalcus, where Wyne, of Englishmen was first byshop. an. 636. Guliel. Malmesb. Lib. De gestis pont. Ang.

MarginaliaThe Churche of Lincolne. The Churche of Lyncolne first founded by Paulinus Byshop. An. 629.

MarginaliaThe Churche of Westminster. The Churche of Westminster began first by a certaine Citizē of Londō, through the instigation of Ethelbert king of Kent, which before was an Ile of thornes. Bed. An. 614.

MarginaliaThe scholes of Cambridge.
Abbey of Knouisburgh. The common scholes first erected at Cambrige by Sigebert Kyng of Eastangles. An. 636.

The Abbey of Knouisburgh builded by Furceus the Eremite. An. 637.

MarginaliaMalmesb. The Monasterie of Malmesbery by one Meldulfus a Scot, about the yeare of our Lord. 640. Afterward inlarged by Agilbert Byshop of Wint.

MarginaliaAbbey of Glocester. The Monastery in Glocester first builded by Ofricus Kyng of Mercia, as Cestrensis sayth. But as W.illiā Malmesb. writeth, by Vlferus, and Ethelred brethren to Kineburga Abbesse of the same house. An. 679.

MarginaliaMailrose. The Monastery of Mailrose by the floud of Twide by Aidanus a Scottish Byshop.

MarginaliaHeorenton. The Nunnery of Heorenton, by Heui, who was the first Nunne in Northumberland. Bede. Lib. 4. cap. 1.

MarginaliaHetesey. The Monastery of Hetesey by Oswy Kyng of Northumberland, who also with his daughter Elfred, gaue possessions for twelue monasteries in the partes of Northumberland. An. 656.

MarginaliaThe monastery of S. Martin at Douer. The monastery of S. Martin in Douer builded by Whitred Kyng of Kent.

MarginaliaLestingey. The Abbey of Lestingey by Ceadda (who we call S. Cedd) through the graunt of Oswald sonne to S. Oswald, Kyng of Northumb. An. 651.

MarginaliaWhitbie.
This Hilda was first conuerted to the fayth by Paulinus a godly & learned woman, out of her Monastery came. 5. Byshops Dosa, Eatha, Ostford, Ioannes, Wilfride. The monastery of Whytby called otherwise Strenhalt by Hilda daughter to the nephew of Edwyne kyng of Northumberland. An. 657.

MarginaliaHacanos. Item an other Monastery called Hacanos, not farre frō the same placed builded by the sayd Hilda, the same yeare.

MarginaliaAbbington. The Abbey of Abbington buylded by Cissa Kyng of Southsex. An. 666.

MarginaliaIoanno at Lincolne. Item an Abbey in the East side of Lyncolne called Ioanno, by S. Botulphe: Polychr. Lib. 5. cap 16. An. 654.

MarginaliaEly Abbey. The monastery in Ely founded by Etheldred or Edeldrida, daughter of Anna kyng of Eastangles, and the wife of Elfrid Kyng of Northumb. An. 674.

MarginaliaChertsey. The Monastery of Chertsey in Southrey founded by Erkenwald Byshop of London. an. 674. throwne done by the Danes, after reedified by Kyng Edgar.

MarginaliaBerkyng. Item the Nunnery of Berkyng edefied by the sayd Erkenwaldus Byshop of London, about the same tyme.

MarginaliaPeterbrough. The Abbey of Peterborough called otherwise Modehamstede founded by kyng Ethelwald kyng of the Mercians. an. 675.

MarginaliaBardney. Bardney Abbey by Etheldredus kyng of the Merciās. Anno. 700.

MarginaliaGlastonbery Glastonbery by Iua kyng of the Weastsaxons, and after repayred and enriched by kyng Edgar. an. 701.

MarginaliaRamesey. Ramesey in the tyme of kyng Edgar by one Ailwinus a noble man. an. 973. Kyng Edgar builded in his tyme xl. monasteries who reigned. an. 901.

MarginaliaWinburne. The Nunnery of Winburne builded by Cuthburga sister to Ingilsus kyng Iua his brother. an. 717.

MarginaliaSealesey. The Monastery of Sealesey by the Ile of Wyght by Wilfridus Byshop of Yorke. an. 678.

MarginaliaWincombe. The monastery of Wincombe by Kenulfus kyng of the Mercians. an. 737.

MarginaliaS. Albones. S. Albons builded by Offa Kyng of the Mercians. Anno. 755.

MarginaliaEusham. The Abbey of Eusham by Egwinus Byshop. an. 691.

MarginaliaRipon. Ripon in the North by Wilfridus Byshop. an. 709.

MarginaliaEchelinghey. The Abbey of Echelinghey, by kyng Aluredus. an. 891.

MarginaliaS. Shaftesbury. The Nunnery of Shaftesbury by the same Aluredus. the same yeare.

Thus ye see what Monasteries in what tyme began to be founded by the Saxons kynges newly conuerted to the Christen fayth, within the space of. 200. yeares: who, as they seemed then to haue a certeine zeale and deuotion to Godward, accordyng to the leadyng & teachyng þ^t thē was: so it seemeth againe to me, two things to be wished in these foresayd kynges.MarginaliaTwo things to be wished in them that first builded Monkishe Monasteries. First that they which began to erecte these monasteries, and Celles of Monkes and Nunnes, to lyue soly and singlely by themselues out of the holy state of matrimony: had forseene what daunger & what absurde enormities might and also did thereof ensue, both publikely to the Church of Christ, & priuatly to their owne soules. Secondly, that vnto this their zeale & deuotion had bene ioyned like knowledge & doctrine in Christes Gospel, especially in þ^e article of our free iustification by the fayth of Iesu Christ. Because of the lacke wherof as well the builders and foūders therof, as they that were professed in the same, seeme both to haue runne the wrong way, and to haue bene deceaued. For albeit in them there was a deuotion and zeale of mynde that thought well in this their doyng, which I wil not here reprehend: yet the ende and cause of there deedes & buildynges can not be excused beyng contrary to the rule of Christes Gospell, for somuch as they did these thynges seekyng thereby merites with God, and for remedy of their soules, and remission of their sinnes: as may appeare testified in their owne recordes, wherof one here I thought to set forth for the probation of the same. Read this Charte (if it please the gentle Reader) of kyng Ethelbald his donation, and charter geuē to churches, and religious persons: which Ethelbald was the builder (as is sayd) of Peterborough, the wordes of his recorde and instrument be these.

MarginaliaEx [illegible text] P Lærumq; contingere solet pro incerta temporum vicissitudine, vt ea quæ multarum fidelium personarum