1583 Edition | Book 2 | Page 137 
Close(d. 651) [ODNB]
Irish monk of Iona; missionary to Northumbria and bishop of Lindisfarne
Requested by King Oswald of Northumbria; worked with him and Oswine
He preached in Northumbria, with King Oswald translating into English. 1570, pp. 150, 163; 1576, pp. 112, 123; 1583, pp. 111, 122.
Áedán was given a valuable horse by King Oswine of Deira so that he would not always have to travel on foot. He met a poor beggar one day and gave him the horse with its trappings. 1570, p. 164; 1576, p. 123; 1583, p. 122.
Áedán allowed only milk and water to be drunk at Lindisfarne. 1570, p. 170; 1576, p. 129; 1583, p. 127.
Ádán, Finán and his successor Colmán held to the Irish method of calculating the date of Easter. 1570, p. 164; 1576, p. 124; 1583, p. 122.
Close(fl. 794) [ODNB sub Æthelberht]
Daughter of Offa of Mercia; betrothed to Æthelberht of East Anglia
Æthelberht was murdered by Offa when he came to marry Ælfthryth. 1570, pp. 151, 154, 173; 1576, pp. 113, 115, 131; 1583, pp. 112, 114, 129.
Close(d. 616?) [ODNB]
King of Kent. Baptised by Augustine; compiled written law code.
Æthelberht subdued the other Saxon kings, except for the king of Northumbria. 1570, p. 149; 1576, p. 111; 1583, p. 110.
Æthelberht married his wife Bertha on condition, imposed by her parents, that she be allowed to practice her Christian faith. 1570, p. 156; 1576, p. 117; 1583, p. 116.
Augustine met King Æthelbert of Kent and was given permission to live and preach in his kingdom. He and the other missionaries were given a house in Canterbury. The king was converted and built a church and an abbey for Augustine in Canterbury. 1570, 156; 1576, p. 117;1583, p. 116.
Pope Gregory sent a letter to Æthelberht. 1570, 159; 1576, p. 119;1583, p. 118.
Æthelberht was overlord of all the Saxon kings south of the Humber. 1570, p. 161; 1576, p. 121; 1583, p. 120.
Æthelberht, with Sæberht of the East Saxons, built the church of St Paul's in London. They translated the archbishop's see to Canterbury. Æthelberht built other churches in Rochester and Westminster. 1570, pp. 149, 161, 177; 1576, pp. 111, 121, 134; 1583, pp. 110, 120, 133.
He is mentioned in 1563, p. 16.
Close(779/80 - 794) [ODNB]
King of the East Angles (794)
Son of Æthelred, king of the East Angles. Murdered by Offa of Mercia
Æthelberht came to Offa's court to marry his daughter. Offa had him murdered due to the counsel of his wife. 1570, pp. 151, 154; 1576, pp. 113, 115; 1583, pp. 112, 114.
Cynethryth, Offa's queen, suspected that Æthelberht was coming to Offa's court, under pretence of marrying their daughter, to murder him and the Mercians. 1570, p. 173; 1576, p. 131; 1583, p. 129.
Offa had Æthelberht brought in on his own and then had him beheaded. 1570, p. 173, 1576, p. 131, 1583, p. 129.
Close(d. 647) [ODNB sub Eadwine]
Kentish princess; 2nd wife of Eadwine, king of Northumbria. Christian; recipient of letters from Pope Boniface V
Æthelburh gave birth to her daughter Eanflæd on the day her husband was seriously wounded. Eadwine promised to convert to Christianity if he was victorious over the West Saxons. In token of this, he had his daughter baptised by Bishop Paulinus. 1570, p. 163; 1576, p. 122; 1583, p. 121.
Æthelburh and Bishop Paulinus converted Eadwine to Christianity. 1570, p. 154; 1576, p. 115; 1583, p. 114.
After the death of King Eadwine, and the conquest by Cadwallon of Gwynedd and Penda of Mercia, the subsequent disorder forced Paulinus to flee into Kent, along with Queen Æthelburh and her daughter Eanflæd. 1570, p. 163; 1576, p. 122; 1583, p. 121.
Close(d. 604) [ODNB]
Monk; first archbishop of Canterbury; sent as a missionary in 597 to Ethelbert of Kent, bretwalda of England, by Pope Gregory the Great
Gregory I sent Augustine to Britain. 1563, p. 16.
After Augustine and the other missionaries had set out on their journey, they turned back through fear. Gregory sent them back with letters of encouragement and help. 1570, p. 155; 1576, p. 116;1583, p. 115.
Augustine met King Æthelbert of Kent and was given permission to live and preach in his kingdom. He and the other missionaries were given a house in Canterbury. The king was converted and built a church and an abbey for Augustine. 1570, p. 156; 1576, p. 117;1583, p. 116.
Augustine went to France to be consecrated bishop. He sent his colleague Laurence to Rome to report on their progress and to deliver a set of questions to Pope Gregory, to which Gregory sent back answers. 1570, pp. 156-58; 1576, pp. 117-19;1583, pp. 116-18.
Gregory sent more missionaries, along with books, implements and letters and a pallium for Augustine. 1570, p. 158; 1576, p. 119;1583, p. 118.
At the direction of Gregory, Augustine consecrated two bishops, one for London and one for York. He then called the bishops and doctors together in assemblies, where the differences between the rites and customs of the Irish church and that of Rome were noted. 1570, pp. 159-60; 1576, pp. 119-20;1583, pp. 118-19.
[Back to Top]Augustine baptised thousands of converts in the River Swale on Christmas day. He appointed Laurence as his successor at Canterbury. 1570, p. 160; 1576, p. 120;1583, p. 119.
CloseSupposed falcolner to King Edmund of the East Angles; murdered Lodbrók
Bericke was envious of Ragnarr Lodbrók's hawking ability and murdered him. When this was discovered, Bericke was set adrift in Lodbrók's boat and, arriving in Denmark, said that Lodbrók had been killed by order of King Edmund. 1570, p. 154; 1576, p. 115; 1583, p. 114.
Close(c. 565 - in or before 601) [ODNB]
Daughter of the Merovingian king Charibert; consort of Æthelberht I of Kent; queen in Kent
Æthelberht married his wife Bertha on condition, imposed by her parents, that she be allowed to practice her Christian faith. 1570, p. 156; 1576, p. 117; 1583, p. 116.
She was a Christian, Æthelberht a pagan, at their marriage. She received a letter from Gregory I urging her to convert her husband.
Through Augustine of Canterbury, with the aid of Bertha, Æthelberht was converted. 1570, p. 154; 1576, p. 115; 1583, p. 114.
Close(d. 664/682) [ODNB]
King of Gwynedd; son of Cadwallon ap Cadfan; legendary last king of the Britons
He is mentioned by Foxe: 1563, p. 16; 1570, p. 153; 1576, p. 115; 1583, p. 114.
Close(d. 634) [ODNB]
King of Gwynedd (c. 625 - 34)
Killed Eadwine of Northumbria in 633; killed Osric of Deira and Eanfrith of Bernicia in 634; was killed by Oswald
Cadwallon and Penda of Mercia killed Eadwine of Northumbria and his son in battle at Hatfield. 1570, p. 163; 1576, p. 122; 1583, p. 121.
Eanfrith of Bernicia and Osric of Deira were killed in battle by Cadwallon of Gwynedd and Penda of Mercia. 1570, p. 163; 1576, p. 122; 1583, p. 121.
Cadwallon of Gwynedd and Penda of Mercia, having defeated and killed Eadwine, Eanfrith and Osric, attempted the same with Oswald. After a fierce battle, Oswald's forces prevailed. 1570, p. 163; 1576, p. 122; 1583, p. 121.
Close(d. 821) [ODNB]
King of the Mercians (796 - 821)
Distant relative of his predecessor Ecgfrith, son of Offa; it is possible that Offa had had closer relatives killed.
Cenwulf went to war against the men of Kent. 1570, p. 154; 1576, p. 115; 1583, p. 114.
Cenwulf had Eadberht III Præn bound and taken prisoner into Mercia. Cenwulf later built a church at Winchcombe, invited Eadberht into it, and restored him to his throne. 1570, p. 173; 1576, p. 131; 1583, p. 130.
Cenwulf, according to a story, was beheaded while hunting by his sister and his tutor. 1570, p. 154; 1576, p. 115; 1583, p. 114.
Close(271x273 - 337) [H. A. Pohlsander www.roman-emperors.org]
Roman emperor in the West (306 - 37); defeated Maxentius, rival emperor, in 312
Sole Roman emperor (324 - 37)
Constantine took three legions with him out of Britain, thereby weakening its defence. 1570, p. 148; 1576, p. 109; 1583, p. 108.
Maximian plotted to have Constantine killed; the plot was detected by Fausta, Constantine's wife and daughter of Maximian. 1570, p. 118; 1576, p. 85; 1583, p. 84.
The citizens and senators of Rome appealed to Constantine to rid them of Maxentius. 1570, p. 118; 1576, p. 85; 1583, p. 84.
Constantine, preparing for battle against Maxentius and fearing his magical powers, saw the sign of a cross in the sky. He then had a dream with a vision of the cross and of Christ. He took a cross into battle with him as a standard and defeated Maxentius at Milvian Bridge. 1570, p. 119; 1576, p. 86; 1583, p. 85.
[Back to Top]After the defeat of Maxentius, Constantine no longer sacrificed to the Roman gods, but he deferred baptism to his old age. He issued edicts restoring church goods and bringing Christians back from exile. 1570, pp. 139-41; 1576, pp. 103-04; 1583, pp. 101-03.
Constantine wrote to Anulinus, his proconsul in Africa, instructing him to restore goods to the Christian churches and to ensure that Christian ministers were freed from public duties. 1570, p. 141, 1576, p. 104, 1583, p. 103.
Constantine wrote to Pope Miltiades, instructing him to set up a synod to examine the cause of Cæcilian of Carthage, and sent letters to other bishops, issuing instructions and encouraging the ending of schisms. 1570, p. 141, 1576, p. 104, 1583, p. 103.
Initially Constantine and Licinius were on good terms, and Constantine gave Lucinius his sister in marriage. 1570, p. 122; 1576, p. 88; 1583, p. 87.
Licinius and Constantine issued a joint edict authorising freedom of worship for Christians. But Licinius began to turn against Constantine and the Christians, instigating a new, more surreptitious persecution. 1570, pp. 120-21, 122; 1576, pp. 86-87, 88; 1583, p. 86, 87.
Constantine defeated Licinius. 1570, p. 39; 1576, p. 31; 1583, p. 31.
He wrote to Alexander of Alexandria and Arius, urging them to end their disagreement. 1570, p. 142, 1576, p. 104, 1583, p. 103.
Constantine built churches and schools and provided books of scripture. 1570, pp. 142-43, 1576, p. 105, 1583, pp. 103-04.
Constantine wrote a letter to Shapur II, asking him to treat the Christians in Persia well. 1570, p. 137; 1576, p. 100; 1583, p. 99.
Constantine renounced the Roman gods and was baptised. 1563, p. 8.
Constantine fulfilled St Cyprian's vision of a time of peace for the church. 1570, p. 144; 1576, p. 106; 1583, p. 105.
Close(fl. c. 770 - 798) [ODNB]
Wife of King Offa and queen of Mercia; coins were issued in her name
Abbess of Cookham after her son Ecgfrith's death
Cynethryth suspected that Æthelberht, king of the East Angles, was coming to Offa's court, under pretence of marrying their daughter, to murder him and the Mercians. 1570, p. 173; 1576, p. 131; 1583, p. 129.
Cynethryth persuaded her husband to murder Æthelberht when he came to marry their daughter. 1570, pp. 151, 154; 1576, pp. 113, 115; 1583, pp. 112, 114.
She was reported to have died three months after the murder. 1570, p. 173; 1576, p. 131; 1583, p. 129.
Close(c. 586 - 633) [ODNB]
Son of Aella, king of Deira; prince of Deira
King of Northumbria (616 - 33); converted to Christianity; killed in battle against Penda of Mercia and Cadwallon
Eadwine, when he was young, was persecuted by Æthelfrith, king of Northumbria, and fled to Rædwald of the East Angles. Rædwald, through fear of Æthelfrith and bribery, intended to betray Eadwine. His mind was changed by his wife, and he met Æthelfrith in battle, where Æthelfrith was killed. Eadwine then was made king. 1570, pp. 160-61; 1576, pp. 120-21; 1583, pp. 119-20.
[Back to Top]Æthelfrith was killed in battle by his successor, Eadwine. 1570, p. 160; 1576, p. 120; 1583, p. 119.
Cynegils and Cwichelm of the West Saxons plotted the assassination of Eadwine of Northumbria, but the attempt failed. His servant was killed instead; Eadwine was seriously wounded. He promised to convert to Christianity if he was victorious over the West Saxons. In token of this, he had his daughter, born on the day he was wounded, baptised by Paulinus. Eadwine then attacked the West Saxons and defeated them. 1570, p. 162; 1576, p. 122; 1583, p. 120.
[Back to Top]In spite of his promise, Eadwine was reluctant to convert. 1563, p. 18; 1570, p. 162; 1576, p. 122; 1583, p. 121.
Eadwine was converted and baptised by Paulinus, bishop of London, at York. 1563, p. 18; 1570, pp. 150, 162; 1576, pp. 112, 122; 1583, pp. 111, 120.
Through the efforts of Eadwine, King Earpwald of the East Angles adopted Christianity fully. 1563, p. 18; 1570, pp. 151, 163; 1576, pp. 113, 122; 1583, pp. 112, 121.
Eadwine was killed in battle by Cadwallon and Penda. 1570, p. 162; 1576, p. 122; 1583, p. 121.
Close(d. 869) [ODNB]
King of the East Angles (855? - 868); killed in battle by Vikings
Edmund ruled the East Angles under the West Saxons. He was the last of the East Anglian kings. 1570, p. 151; 1576, p. 113; 1583, p. 112.
Edmund was warned by Hinguar that he was about to invade Norfolk and offered to allow Edmund to rule under him. Edmund refused to serve under a pagan duke, and would only agree if Hinguar would become a Christian. Hinguar immediately attacked, and Edmund was killed at Bury or at Hellesdon . 1570, p. 154; 1576, p. 115; 1583, pp. 114-15.
[Back to Top]
Close(fl. C5-6) [ODNB]
Wrote an account of the defeat of the Britons by the Anglo-Saxons
Gildas was denounced as a false prophet. 1570, p. 39; 1576, p. 32; 1583, p. 32.
Gildas was one of the sources used by William the Conqueror to compile a book of canons and ordinances to govern the clergy. 1570, p. 1302; 1576, p. 1114; 1583, p. 1139.
Closed.878; probably Ívarr the Boneless [ODNB sub St Edmund]
Viking leader who was said to have invaded East Anglia in 869 with Hubba
Son of Ragnarr Lodbrók
After the murder of Ragnarr Lodbrók, Hinguar and Hubba first attacked Northumbria. Edmund was warned by Hinguar that he was about to invade Norfolk and offered to allow Edmund to rule under him. Edmund refused to serve under a pagan duke, and would only agree if Hinguar would become a Christian. Hinguar immediately attacked, and Edmund was killed at Bury or at Hellesdon . 1570, p. 154; 1576, p. 115; 1583, pp. 114-15.
[Back to Top]
CloseViking leader who was said to have invaded East Anglia in 869 with Hinguar (Ívarr the Boneless) [ODNB sub St Edmund]
Following the murder of Ragnarr Lodbrók, Hubba and Hinguar invaded Northumbria and then Norfolk. 1570, p. 154; 1576, p. 115; 1583, p. 114.
Close(d. 388) [ODNB; W. E. Roberts www.roman-emperors.org]
Spaniard; general of the field army in Britain in 380; acclaimed emperor by the troops in 383
Defeated Gratian; recognised as augustus in 384; ruled Britain, Gaul, Spain and Africa; executed after he invaded Italy
He took troops out of Britain to fight in other countries. 1570, p. 153; 1576, p. 115; 1583, p. 114.
Close(d. 796) [ODNB]
King of the Mercians (757 - 96); dominant ruler in England by the end of the reign; built military earthwork, Offa's Dyke, against the Welsh; had Æthelberht, king of the East Anglians, beheaded in 794
Offa, kinsman of King Æthelbald, ousted Beornred and became king of the Mercians. 1570, p. 171, 1576, p. 129, 1583, p. 128.
Offa won victories over Eadberht of Northumbria and Æthelred of the East Angles. He established an archbishopric in Lichfield, with the agreement of Pope Adrian. He chased the Britons into Wales and built a defensive dyke. 1570, p. 173; 1576, p. 130; 1583, p. 129.
Alcuin was sent to Charlemagne by Offa of Mercia in hopes of cementing peace between them. Charlemagne held Alcuin in high esteem and made him abbot of Tours. 1570, p. 173; 1576, p. 131; 1583, p. 129
Charlemagne sent a letter to King Offa, praising Pope Adrian I. 1570, p. 175; 1576, p. 132; 1583, p. 131
Upon his return from France to England, Alcuin complained about the state of the country into which he had arrived in letters to Offa of Mercia, Æthelred of Northumbria and Æthelheard, archbishop of Canterbury. 1570, p. 176; 1576, p. 133; 1583, p. 132.
Offa of Mercia gave one of his daughters to Beorhtric of Wessex in marriage. 1570, p. 173; 1576, p. 131; 1583, p. 129.
Æthelberht, king of the East Angles, came to Offa's court to marry his daughter. Offa had him murdered due to the counsel of his wife. 1570, pp. 151, 154; 1576, pp. 113, 115; 1583, pp. 112, 114.
Cynethryth, Offa's queen, suspected that Æthelberht was coming to Offa's court, under pretence of marrying their daughter, to murder him and the Mercians. 1570, p. 173; 1576, p. 131; 1583, p. 129.
Offa had Æthelberht brought in on his own and then had him beheaded. 1570, p. 173; 1576, p. 131; 1583, p. 129.
In repentance for Æthelberht's murder, Offa brought in the Peter's Pence. He gave lands to the church, built monasteries and the abbey of St Alban's in penance. 1570, pp. 150, 173; 1576, pp. 112, 131; 1583, pp. 111, 129.
Close(603/4 - 642) [ODNB]
Second son of Æthelfrith; exiled with his brothers at their father's death
King of Northumbria (634 - 42); converted to Christianity while in exile; killed in battle against Penda of Mercia
Cadwallon of Gwynedd and Penda of Mercia, having defeated and killed Eadwine, Eanfrith and Osric, attempted the same with Oswald. After a fierce battle, Oswald's forces prevailed. 1570, p. 163; 1576, p. 122; 1583, p. 121.
Oswald overcame Penda and Cadwallon in battle through prayer. He sent for Áedán to preach and translated for him. 1570, pp. 150, 163; 1576, pp. 112, 122; 1583, pp. 111, 121.
Oswald converted to Christianity while in exile with the Irish and learned their language. He was thus able to translate for Áedán. 1570, p. 163; 1576, p. 123; 1583, p. 121.
Oswald was partly responsible for the conversion of King Cynegils of the West Saxons. 1570, p. 163; 1576, p. 123; 1583, p. 122.
Oswald stood godfather to King Cynegils of the West Saxons and married his daughter. He was killed in battle against Penda of Mercia. 1570, p. 163; 1576, p. 123; 1583, p. 122.
Close(d. 644) [ODNB]
Bishop of York 625 and of Rochester 633; one of the monks sent by Gregory I in 601; worked to convert Eadwine of Northumbria
Eadwine of Northumbria was converted and baptised by Paulinus at York. 1563, p. 18; 1570, pp. 150, 163; 1576, pp. 112, 122; 1583, pp. 111, 121.
Eadwine was reluctant to convert, but Paulinus worked patiently to persuade him. Paulinus baptised many people in the rivers of the realm, and he built a stone church at Lincoln. 1570, p. 163; 1576, p. 122; 1583, p. 121.
Paulinus was the first bishop of York, consecrated by Justus, archbishop of Canterbury. Upon the death of Justus, Paulinus consecrated Honorius as his successor. 1570, p. 163; 1576, p. 122; 1583, p. 121.
After the death of King Eadwine, and the conquest by Cadwallon of Gwynedd and Penda of Mercia, the subsequent disorder forced Paulinus to flee into Kent, along with Queen Æthelburh and her daughter Eanflæd. There Paulinus became bishop of Rochester. 1570, p. 163; 1576, p. 122; 1583, p. 121.
CloseLegendary Danish king or chieftain and father of Ívarr the Boneless [ODNB sub Ívarr the Boneless]
Lodbrók's death precipitated an attack by the Danes on King Edmund, resulting in his death. 1570, p. 154; 1576, p. 115; 1583, p. 114.
Close(fl. c. 653) [ODNB sub Kings of the East Saxons]
Probably son of King Saeward; converted to Christianity, baptised c. 653 by Finán
King of the East Saxons; murdered by kinsmen
Through the persuasions of his friend King Oswiu of Northumbria, Sigeberht was converted and baptised by Finán. 1570, p. 151; 1576, p. 113; 1583, p. 112. [Foxe mistakenly refers to him as the king of the East Angles and names the king who persuaded him to convert as Wulfhere of Mercia]: 1570, p. 164; 1576, p. 123; 1583, p. 122.
[Back to Top]He was killed because he was too inclined to spare and forgive his enemies. 1570, p. 151; 1576, p. 113; 1583, p. 112.
Close(fl. 630/31 - 654) [ODNB]
King of the East Angles C7; resigned and entered a monastery
Left to lead an army against Penda of Mercia, but refused to bear arms; killed in battle
Sigeberht was brought out of the monastery to fight Penda, but carried only a white stick into battle. 1570, p. 151; 1576, p. 113; 1583, p. 112.
CloseBishop of York (fl. 586) [Gams]
Thadiacus and Theonus, bishop of London, after the destruction of their churches and the flight of their people, went into Wales. 1563, p. 16; 1570, p. 154; 1576, p. 115; 1583, pp. 113-24.
Close[St Edmundsbury; Berry; Bery]
West Suffolk
OS grid ref: TL 855 645
Contains a ruined abbey, the shrine of St Edmund
CloseNorfolk
OS grid ref: TG 205 125
shop of London, & Thadeoseus Archbishop of Yorke, seeing theyr Churches all wasted, and Parishes dispersed, wyth their cariages and monumēts: left theyr seas in Britaine, and fled into Cambria, which we nowe call Wales.MarginaliaThe Archb. of London and the Archbishop of Yorke flee into Wales. Touching which matter, and touching also the cause of this desolation & ruine of the Britaines kingdom, the first fountaine & origin therof partly before is declared, where was shewed in the time of Cōstantinus Magnus and Maximinian, pag. 108. howe these noble Princes with other moe, achieuing their venturous affaires in other countreis, tooke wt them great multitudes & armies out of Britaine: through the occasion whereof, the land was greatly empaired and depriued of his most chiefe and principall nobles, being caried away to serue in forreine warres. Whyche was no small cause, why the realme of Britaine (being so wasted) was the lesse able to helpe it selfe against theyr enemyes. Although this was not the chief occasion, but other causes there were greater, wherfore God by his iust iudgement, suffered this plague and ouerthrow to fall vpon that people, as here out of an olde author,MarginaliaEx historia quadam Cariensi. and partly out of Gildas, as I haue found it, so I thought to annexe it in hys owne woordes, first in Latine, then afterwarde Englishing the same, for the more credite of that which shalbe alleaged, in tenour as foloweth.
[Back to Top]MarginaliaThe causes of the destruction of the Brit. declared.Nobiliores totius regni prædictos duces sequuti fuerunt & ignobiles remanebāt, qui cum vicem nobilium obtinere cœpissent, extulerunt se vltra quod dignitas expetebat. Et ob affluenciā diuitiarum superbi cœperunt, tali & tantæ fornicationi indulgere, qualis nec inter gentes audita est. Et, vt Gildas historicus testatur, non solùm hoc vitium sed omnia quæ humanæ naturæ accidere solent, & præcipue quod totius boni euertit statū, odium veritatis, amor mendacij, susceptio mali pro bono, veneratio nequitiæ pro benignitate: exceptatio Sathanæ pro angelo lucis: vngebantur reges, non propter dominium, sed qui cæteris crudeliores essent. Si quis verò eorum mitior, & veritati aliquatenus propior videretur, in hunc quasi Britanniæ subuersorem omnia odia, telaq; torquebantur. Omnia quæ Deo placebant & displicebant æquali lance inter eos pendebantur. Et non solùm hoc seculares viri, sed & ipse grex domini, eiusq; pastores sine discretione faciebant. Non igitur admirandum est degeneres tales patriam illam amittere quam prædicto modo maculabant.
[Back to Top]MarginaliaIn English thus.In English thus: The nobles of this realme folowing the Princes and Captaines aboue named: by the reason thereof the vulgare and rascall sorte remained behinde at home. Who when they had gotten the roumes and places of the nobles, they aduanced them selues aboue that their dignitie required. And through their aboundāce of riches, they surprised wyth pride, began to fal into such & so great fornication, as was neuer heard of euen among the Gentiles. And as Gildas the Hystoriographer witnesseth, not into vice only, but also into al maner of wickednes, wherto mans nature is inclined: and especially into that which is the ouerthrow of al good estates, the hatred of the truth, loue of lies, imbracing of euil in stead of goodnesse, regardyng of mischiefe in stead of vertue, receauing of the deuill in stead of an Angell of light. They annoynted kings not such as could wel rule a common wealth, but those which excceded all other in cruelty. And if any might be perceaued to be somewhat more humble or meeke, or to be more inclined to fauour the trueth then the residue, him did euery one hate and backbite as the ouerthrower and destroyer of Brittayne. All thinges whether they pleased or displeased God, they regarded alyke. And not secular men onely did this. but also the congregation of the Lorde and their Bishops and teachers without any difference at all. Therefore it is not to be marueiled, that such people so degenerating and going out of kinde should lose that countrey, which they had after this maner defiled.
[Back to Top]And thus much hetherto concerning the history of the Britaines, till, by the grace of Christ, the order of time shal bring vs heereafter to the treatise of Cedwalla and Calwalladrus. Nowe remaineth, in returning againe to the matter of the Saxons, to discourse particularly, that which before in the table aboue we haue sommarely comprehended.
[Back to Top]In this order and rase of the Saxon kings, aboue specified which had thus thrust out the Britones, & now deuided their land in seuen kingdomes: as there were many noughty and wicked kings (whose pernicious examples, being all set on warre and bloudshed, are greatly to be detested and eschued of all true godly Princes) so some there were againe (although but fewe) very sincere & good. But none almost from the first to the last, which was not either slaine in warre, or murdered in peace, or els constrained to make him selfe a monke. Such was the rage then and tyranny of that time. Whether we shuld impute it to the corruption of mans nature, or to the iust iudgement of Gods hand, so disposing the matter, that as they had violently &falsely dispossessed the Britons of their right: so they most miserably were not onely vexed of the Danes, and cōquered at last by the Normās: but also more cruelly deuoured them selues, one warring still agaynst an other, till they were neyther able to helpe them selues, nor yet to resist others. Of thē which are noted for good among these Saxon kings, the first and principal is Ethelbertus, or Ethelbrict the first king of Kent aboue specified, who by the meanes of Austen, and partly through hys wife, named Berda, firste receiued and preferred the Christian faith, in al this land of the English Saxons,MarginaliaThis Berda beyng a Christian was maryed vnto Ethelbert vpon the condition that she should be suffered to enioy her religion. Ethelbertus kyng of Kent. wherof more foloweth hereafter to be said (the Lorde so permitting) as place and oportunitie shall require. The next place I geue to Oswaldus of Northumberland,MarginaliaOswaldus king of Northumberland. who not onely did hys endeuour in furthering the faith of Christ among his people: but also being king, disdained not himselfe to stande vp and interprete to his nobles & subiectes the preaching of Aidanus, preaching Christ to them in his Scottish language. In the same cōmendation also, like as in the same line, commeth hys vncle Edwin, king of Northumberlād,MarginaliaEdwinus king of Northumberland. a good Prince, and the first receauer of Christes faith in that land, by the meanes of his wife, and Paulinus Byshop. Adde to these also Sigebert, first Christened king of the Eastangles,MarginaliaSigebertus king of Eastangles. & Sebert, first Christened king of Essex: of whome the one was a great furtherer of Relgion, & setter vp of scholes: þe other which is Sebert or Sexbricth, was neuew to Ethelbert of Kent, vnder whom he ruled in Essex.MarginaliaSebert or Sexbricth of Essex. By the which Ethelbert, in the time of the sayd Sebert the Church of Paules was builded at London, and Christian faith much enlarged. &c.MarginaliaThe first building of the Church of Paules in London. Of the same name there was also an other Ethelbert King of the Eastangles,MarginaliaEthelbert king of the Eastangles. a good Prince: who by the aduise of his counsaile perswaded to mariage (though against his will) went peaceably to King Offa for despousage of Athilride hys daughter, wher the good king meaning innocētly through the sinister and deuilishe counsaile of king Offa hys wife, was secretely beheaded and made away. Whereupon Offa through repentance thereof, made the first Peter pence to be geuen to S. Peters church in Rome.MarginaliaPeter pence howe they first came vpo to be payd to Rome.
[Back to Top]MarginaliaKenelmus king of the Mercians. S. Edmund king of Eastangles.In the Cathologue of these good kinges is also to be numbered Kenelmus king of the Mercians, and Edmundus king of the Eastangles: of the which ij. the first was falsely & abhominably circumuented & beheaded, by the meanes of his cruell sister and hys tutor, as he was in his hunting at Corfcastle. The other whych is called king Edmund the Martyr, was slaine at Bury, or as some wryte at the Castle of Halesdon by the Danes: vpon what occasion, histories do vary. The author of Flores Historiarū sayeth, it was by reason of one Lothebrocus a Dane: who being of the kings bloud, & being with his Hawke on the sea side in a litle boat, was driuen by force of weather into the coast of Northfolke, wher he being presented to king Edmūd, was retained in his Court with great fauour: til at length one Bericke the kings Fawkner, enuying and despiting hym, for his great dexteritie in that facultie, priuily did murder him in a wood. This being at last spied (as murder lightly will come out) Bericke was set in Lothbrockes boate alone without all tackling, to be cōmitted vnto the Sea: and as it chāced so, was driuen into Denmarke, who there being seene in Lothbrockes boate, was straitly examined of the partie. He then to excuse himselfe, falsly sayd he was slaine by the cōmandement of the king. Vpō the occasion wherof Inguar and Hubba sonnes to the sayde Lothebroke gathering an army of Danes, inuaded first Northūberland: after that bursting into Northfolke on euery side, sent thys message to king Edmund after this tenor:MarginaliaThe message of Inguar to Kyng Edmund. Signifying that king Inguar the victorious Prince (dreade both by sea and lande) as he had subiect diuers other landes vnder him, so arriuing now to the coasts of Northfolke, where he intēdeth to winter: chargeth and commaundeth him to deuide with him his olde treasures, and his fathers riches, and so to rule vnder him: which if he would not do, but wold cōtemne his power so strōgly furnished wyth such an army, he should be iudged as vnworthy both of kingdom & life. &c. The king hearing this message, not a little astonyshed therat, calling his coūsaile about hym, consulted wt them, especially with one of his Bishops, being then his Secretarie, what was best to be done: who fearing the kinges life, exhorteth him by wordes & diuers examples to agree to the message. At this a while the king holding his peace, at length thereto made aunswere againe in these wordes, saying: Go (saith he) tel your Lord, and let him know that Edmundus the Christened King, for the loue of this temporal life, wil not subiect him selfe to a Pagane Duke, vnles before he become a Christiā, &c. The messenger taking his answere was not so soone out of the gates, as Inguar meeting him and bidding him to be short in declaring hys answere, caused all the kings garrison to be set round about.
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