1583 Edition | Book 2 | Page 155 
Close(supp. fl. 803x11) [ODNB sub Cynehelm]
Supposed tutor to St Cynehelm; at the instigation of Cynehelm's sister, he beheaded and buried Cynehelm.
He is mentioned by Foxe: 1570, p. 176; 1576, p. 133; 1583, p. 132.
Close(d. 805) [ODNB]
Abbot of Louth in Lindsey; archbishop of Canterbury (792 - 805)
Supported by Offa of Mercia; fled after Offa's death in 796; restored in 798. Recipient of a letter from Alcuin.
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.
Æthelheard wrote to Pope Leo III, who agreed to return the archiepiscopal see to Canterbury. 1570, p. 175, 1576, p. 132, 1583, p. 131.
Close(d. 858) [ODNB]
King of Kent (825 - 39); king of Wessex (839 - 58)
Elder son of Ecgbehrt of Wessex; conquered Kent for his father in 825. Presented lavish gifts to the pope at Rome. Married Judith, daughter of Charles the Bald, in 856.
He received Kent from his father. 1570, p. 149; 1576, p. 111; 1583, p. 110.
Close(d. 795) [Kelly]
Pope (772 - 95) Offered resistance to the Lombards with the aid of Charlemagne.
Adrian was a supporter of images, writing a book in support of their use and calling a synod to oppose Felix and others who spoke against them. He clothed the body of St Peter in silver and covered the altar of St Paul with gold cloth. 1570, p. 174, 1576, p. 131, 1583, p. 130.
Empress Irene had Pope Adrian exhume the body of Constantine Copronymus and burn it. She had the ashes thrown into the sea because Constantine had opposed the adoration of images. 1570, p. 176; 1576, p. 133; 1583, p. 132.
Adrian favoured the mass of St Gregory over that of St Ambrose. He called a council that ordained that Gregory's mass should be used universally, and Charlemagne executed the decree. 1570, p. 174, 1576, p. 131, 1583, p. 130.
After the death of Carloman, the brother of Charlemagne, Carloman's wife and children went to Pope Adrian I for protection. He turned them over, with Desiderius, king of the Lombards, to Charlemagne, who kept them in captivity in France. 1570, p. 175; 1576, p. 132; 1583, p. 131.
Charlemagne confirmed the donations to the papacy of his father and added more. He received from Pope Adrian I the title of patrician of the Romans. 1570, p. 174, 1576, p. 132, 1583, p. 131.
Charlemagne sent a letter to King Offa, praising Pope Adrian I. 1570, p. 175; 1576, p. 132; 1583, p. 131
Adrian was said to have granted to Charlemagne the right to choose and ordain the bishop of Rome. 1563, p. 10; 1570, p. 5; 1576, p. 4; 1583, p. 5
King Offa of Mercia established an archbishopric in Lichfield, with the agreement of Pope Adrian. 1570, p. 173, 1576, p. 130, 1583, p. 129.
Close(d. 802) [ODNB]
King of the West Saxons (786 - 802)
Married Eadburh, daughter of Offa of Mercia; probably died in battle against Ecgberht
Ecgberht of Wessex was initially expelled by Beorhtric. 1570, p. 149, 1576, p. 111, 1583, p. 110.
Offa of Mercia gave one of his daughters to Beorhtric in marriage. 1570, p. 173, 1576, p. 131, 1583, p. 129.
It was said to have rained blood in York in the second year of Beorhtric's reign. The Danes entered England seven years later, and Beorhtric and the other Saxon kings repulsed them. 1570, p. 176, 1576, p. 133, 1583, p. 132.
Eadburh, daughter of Offa and wife of Beorhtric, poisoned her husband. 1570, p. 176, 1576, p. 133, 1583, p. 132.
Close(d. 826?) [ODNB]
King of the Mercians (823 - 26); killed by East Angles
Ecgberht of Wessex was initially expelled by Beorhtric. When he gained the throne, he was mocked for cowardice by Beornwulf of Mercia. 1570, p. 149, 1576, p. 111, 1583, p. 110.
Beornwulf deposed Ceolwulf in the first year of his reign and took over the throne. Beornwulf in turn in the third year of his reign was deposed by Ecgberht of Wessex and later killed by the East Angles. 1570, p. 176, 1576, p. 133, 1583, p. 132.
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(d. in or after 823) [ODNB sub Rulers of Anglo-Saxon Kingdoms]
King of Mercia (821 - 23); brother of King Cenwulf
Beornwulf deposed Ceolwulf in the first year of his reign and took over the throne. 1570, p. 176, 1576, p. 133, 1583, p. 132.
Close(742x747 - 814)
King of the Franks (768 - 814); king of the Lombards (774 - 814); emperor of the Romans (800 - 814)
Pope Stephen III called on Charlemagne for help against the Lombards; Charlemagne defeated King Desiderius and took over the rule of the Lombard kingdom. 1570, p. 174; 1576, p. 131; 1583, p. 130.
After the death of Charlemagne's brother Carloman, Carloman's wife and children went to Pope Adrian I for protection. He turned them over, with Desiderius, to Charlemagne, who kept them in captivity in France. 1570, p. 175; 1576, p. 132; 1583, p. 131.
Charlemagne confirmed the donations to the papacy of his father and added more. He received from Pope Adrian I the title of patrician of the Romans. 1570, p. 174, 1576, p. 132, 1583, p. 131.
Charlemagne granted to the clergy and people the right to elect bishops and to monks the right to elect their abbots. He was said to have received from Adrian I the right to choose and ordain the bishop of Rome. 1570, p. 5, 1576, p. 4, 1583, pp. 4-5
Charlemagne provided laws, rites and ordinances for the clergy and laity and called church synods. 1570, p. 9, 1576, pp. 7-8, 1583, pp. 7-8
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
Pope Adrian favoured the mass of St Gregory over that of St Ambrose. He called a council that ordained that Gregory's mass should be used universally, and Charlemagne executed the decree. 1570, p. 174, 1576, p. 131, 1583, p. 130.
Charlemagne presided over the Council of Frankfurt, which rejected decrees of the Council of Nicea advocating the adoration of images. 1563, p. 4; 1570, p. 175; 1576, p. 132; 1583, p. 131
Charlemagne was crowned emperor of the Romans by Pope Leo III. 1570, p. 175, 1576, p. 132, 1583, p. 131.
Eadburh, daughter of Offa and wife of Beorhtric, poisoned her husband, along with some nobles. She fled into France, where both Charlemagne and his son offered to marry her. When she chose the son, she was sent to a nunnery. She had an affair with a monk and was expelled. 1570, p. 176, 1576, p. 133, 1583, p. 132.
[Back to Top]Charlemagne built many monasteries, was generous to churchmen and to the poor, a triumphant warrior and skilled in languages. 1570, p. 175; 1576, p. 132; 1583, p. 131
Close(718 - 775) [S. Tougher, www.roman-emperors.org]
Son of emperor Leo III; crowned by his father in 720
Byzantine emperor (741 - 75); iconoclast; persecuted monks
Constantine was excommunicated by Pope Paul I for breaking images. 1570, p. 174; 1576, p. 131; 1583, p. 130.
Empress Irene had Pope Adrian exhume the body of Constantine Copronymus and burn it. She had the ashes thrown into the sea because Constantine had opposed the adoration of images. 1570, p. 176; 1576, p. 133; 1583, p. 132.
Close(d. 797) [L. Garland www.roman-emperors.org]
Only child of emperor Leo IV and Irene; co-emperor with Leo (776 - 80)
Byzantine emperor (780 - 97x805) (sole power from 790, although Irene ruled); blinded in 797 by Irene's supporters
Constantine was imprisoned by his mother, Irene. She then had him blinded, and he died shortly after. 1570, p. 176; 1576, p. 133; 1583, p. 132.
Close(fl. 811 - c. 827) [ODNB]
Daughter of Cenwulf, king of the Mercians
Abbess of Winchcombe Minster and the minster of Thanet; reputed much later to have had her brother Cynehelm murdered
She is mentioned by Foxe: 1570, p. 176; 1576, p. 133; 1583, p. 132.
Close(supp. fl. 803x11) [ODNB]
Martyr; legendary son of King Cenwulf of Mercia; succeeded to the throne as a young boy; murdered
He is mentioned by Foxe: 1570, pp. 150, 176; 1576, pp. 112, 133; 1583, pp. 111, 132.
Close(fl. 789 - 802) [ODNB]
Queen of the West Saxons; consort of King Beorhtric 789; daughter of King Offa of Mercia; said to have accidentally poisoned her husband; entered a convent in Italy
Offa of Mercia gave one of his daughters to Beorhtric of Wessex in marriage. 1570, p. 173, 1576, p. 131, 1583, p. 129.
Eadburh, daughter of Offa and wife of Beorhtric, poisoned her husband, along with some nobles. She fled into France, where both Charlemagne and his son offered to marry her. When she chose the son, she was sent to a nunnery. She had an affair with a monk and was expelled. 1570, p. 176, 1576, p. 133, 1583, p. 132.
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Close(d. 796) [ODNB]
Son of Offa of Mercia; consecrated during his father's lifetime in 787
King of the Mercians (796)
Ecgfrith reigned only four months. Alcuin said that he died, not for his own offences, but because his father had spilled much blood to guarantee his inheritance. 1570, p. 173; 1576, p. 131; 1583, p. 130.
Close(d. in or after 726) [ODNB]
Son of Coenred; king of the West Saxons (c. 694 - c. 726); codified law; abdicated in 726, died as a pilgrim in Rome
Ine succeeded Cædwalla, king of the West Saxons. [Foxe calls Cædwalla the last king of the Britons, but Cadwaladr ap Cadwallon, king of Gwynedd, was the legendary last king of the Britons.] 1570, p. 167; 1576, p. 126; 1583, p. 125.
Ine brought the Peter Pence into his realm. He introduced written laws. 1570, p. 169; 1576, p. 128; 1583, p. 127.
Queen Æthelburh, who wished to retire from the world into a convent, defiled and ruined the palace to illustrate to Ine the transience of worldly things. He was persuaded to abdicate. 1570, p. 169; 1576, p. 128; 1583, pp. 126-27.
Ine founded the abbey at Glastonbury. 1570, p. 177; 1576, p. 134; 1583, p. 133.
Ine went to Rome and became a monk. 1570, p. 149; 1576, p. 111; 1583, p. 110.
Close(750x755 - 803) [L. Garland www.roman-emperors.org]
Married Emperor Leo IV in 769; empress (775 - 80); regent (780 - 90)
Restored icon veneration in 787; encouraged monasticism; co-ruler with her son (792 - 97); had her son blinded
Sole empress (797 - 802); deposed and exiled to a convent
Empress Irene had Pope Adrian exhume the body of Constantine Copronymus and burn it. She had the ashes thrown into the sea because Constantine had opposed the adoration of images. 1570, p. 176; 1576, p. 133; 1583, p. 132.
Nicephorus I deposed Irene and expelled her from the empire. She ended her life in poverty. 1570, p. 176; 1576, p. 133; 1583, p. 132.
Irene and the decrees of the Council of Nicea advocating the adoration of images were condemned at the Council of Frankfurt, presided over by Charlemagne. 1570, p. 175; 1576, p. 132; 1583, p. 131.
Close(750 - 780) [L. Garland, www.roman-emperors.org]
Son of Constantine V Copronymus; crowned co-emperor in 751; married Irene in 769
Sole Byzantine emperor (775 - 80); iconoclast
He is mentioned by Foxe: 1570, p. 176; 1576, p. 133; 1583, p. 132.
CloseByzantine emperor (802 - 11) [L. Garland www.roman-emperors.org, sub Constantine VI and Irene]
Assumed power via a group of high-ranking conspirators
Nicephorus deposed Irene and expelled her from the empire. 1570, p. 176; 1576, p. 133; 1583, p. 132.
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.
CloseMercian nobleman; recipient of a letter from Alcuin about the troubles of the kingdom of Northumbria
He is mentioned by Foxe: 1570, p. 176; 1576, p. 133; 1583, p. 132.
Close(d. 1513) [ODNB]
Chronicler; freeman in Drapers' Company 1476-7; auditor of the city of London's accounts 1486-7
Sheriff (1493); master of the Drapers' Company (1495 - 56, 1501 - 02); alderman (1494 - 1503); wrote Newe Cronycles
He is mentioned by Foxe: 1570, pp. 146, 149, 160, 169, 1304; 1576, pp. 108, 111, 120, 128, 1116; 1583, pp. 107, 110, 118, 126, 1141.
Close(c. 730 - 806)
Patriarch of Constantinople (784 - 806)
Supporter of icons; appointed by Irene; presided over the Council of Nicea in 787;
He is mentioned by Foxe: 1570, p. 176; 1576, p. 133; 1583, p. 132.
Close(c. 1090 - in or after 1142) [ODNB]
Historian, man of letters and Benedictine monk; reformer of monastic life and learning
William of Malmesbury praised the learning of Aldhelm, abbot of Malmesbury and bishop of Sherborne, placing him second only to Bede in his time. He also attributed many miracles to Aldhelm. 1570, p. 168; 1576, p. 126; 1583, p. 125.
He is mentioned by Foxe: 1570, pp. 148, 169, 176, 1301; 1576, pp. 110, 128, 133, 1113; 1583, pp. 132, 1138.
the same country borne: writing out of Fraūce into England, and complayning of the same in diuers his letters, as first to Offa, where he thus writeth. MarginaliaThe troubles of the kingdome of Northumberland described by Alcuinus. Ego paratus eram cū muneribus Caroli regis ad vos venire, & in patriam reuerti Sed melius visum est propter pacem gentis meæ, in peregrinatione remanere, nesciens quid fecissem inter eos, vbi nullus securus esse, vel in salubri consilio proficere potest. Ecclesia sancta a Paganis vastata, altaria periurijs fædata, monasteria adulterijs violata, terra sanguine dominorum & principum fædata, &c. Moreouer the sayd Alcuinus writing to the foresayd Edelred a little aboue mentioned, after the same tenor reporteth: Ecce Ecclesia sancti Cuthberti sacerdotum Dei sanguine aspersa (omnibus spoliata ornamentis) locus, cunctis in Britannia venerabilior, Paganis gentibus datur ad deprædādum. Et vbi primùm post decessum S. Cuthberti ab Eboraco, Christiana religio in nostra gente sumpsit exordium: ibi miseriæ & calamitatis cæpit initiū, &c. Item, writing to Osbert a noble piere of the Mercians, complayning on the same maner, sayth: Regnum nostrum Northumbrorum penè perijt, propter intestinas dissentiones, & fallaces coniurationes, &c.
[Back to Top]Item, in another place the sayd Alcuinus writing to [illegible text]delard Archbishop of Caunterbury, complayneth moreouer: Hoc dico propter flagellum, quod nuper accidit part[illegible text] insulæ nostræ, quæ prope trecentis & quadraginta annis à parentibus inhabitata est nostris. Legitur in libro Gildæ sapientissimi Britonum, quòd ijdem Britones propter auaritiam & rapinam principum: propter iniquitatem & iniustitiam iudicum: propter desidiam prædicationis Episcoporum: propter luxuriam & malos mores populi: patriam perdidere. Caueamus hæc eadem vitia nostris temporibus inolescere, quatenus benedictio diuina nobis patriam conseruet in prosperitate bona, quam nobis misericordissima pietate perdonare dignatus est, &c.
[Back to Top]Ouer and besides the same author Alcuinus writyng to the foresayd Edelred king of Northumberland, MarginaliaEx Historia Malmesberiēsi. maketh record of a straunge sight which he himselfe did see the same time in þe citie of Yorke, to raine bloud: wherof, his words which he wrote concerning the same, to the said king Edelred be these. MarginaliaHow it rayned bloud in Yorke. Quid significat pluuia sanguinis, quam quadragesimali tempore in Eboraco ciuitate, quæ caput est totius regni in Ecclesia beati principis Apostolorum, vidimus de borealibus partibus domus, (sereno a re) de summitate minanter cadere? Nonne potest putari, à borealibus partibus venire sanguinem super terram? That is: what signifieth the rayne of bloud which in tyme of Lent in the Citie of Yorke, the chiefe Citie of that dominion, and in the church of S. Peter the chiefe of the Apostles, we our selues did see to fall from the Church top (the element being cleare) out of the North partes of the temple, &c. This wondrous sight testified by Malmesburiensis, is thought of FabianFabian to happen in the second yere of the raigne of Brigthricus (as with the tyme doth well agree) which was the yeare of our Lord, 780. MarginaliaAnno. 780. Brigthricus K. of Westsaxons. & is thought of some expositors to betoken the comming of the Danes into this land, which entred shortly after about vij. yeres, in the 9. yeare of the raigne of Brigthricus king of the Westsaxons. Which Brigthricus in defence therof, sent foorth hys Steward of his housholde with a small companie which shortly was slaine: but by the strength of the sayd Brigthricus and the other Saxon kings, they were compelled to voyd the land for that time, which was, An. 790. To this Brigthricus king Offa, as is aforesaid, gaue his daughter Ethelburga to wife, by whom he at length was impoysoned, MarginaliaEdelburga daughter to Offa, poysoned her husband. besides certaine other of his nobles: vpon whom, the said Queene before hym had practised the same wickednesse. Who then after that, fledde ouer to Charles the great into Fraunce, where she beyng offred for her beautie to marrie either to him, or to his sonne, because she chused rather his sonne, married neither the one nor yet the other: but was thrust into a Monastery, MarginaliaWickednes reuenged. where she then playing the harlot with a Monke, was expulsed from thence, and ended her lyfe in penury and misery.
[Back to Top]MarginaliaIrene. In the meane tyme while this Edelburga was thus workyng her feates in England: Irene Empresse of the Greekes, was as busie also for her part at Constantinople. MarginaliaAnno. 784. Who first through the meanes of Pope Adrian, tooke vp the body of Constantine Emperour of Constantinople, her owne husbands father. And when she had burned the same, she caused the ashes to be cast into the sea, because he disanulled Images. Afterward raigning with her sonne Constantine the 6. sonne to Leo the 4. (whome also we declared before to be excommunicate for taking away Images) beyng at dissention with him, caused him to be taken & laid in prison. Who afterward through power of frends beyng restored to his Empire againe, at last she caused the same her owne sonne to bee cast in prison, and his eyes to be put out so cruelly, that within short space he dyed. MarginaliaImages restored agayne by Irene at Constantinople. The second councell at Nicea. After this the sayd Irene Empresse, with the counsaile of Therasius Bishop of Constantinople, held a Councell at Nicea,where it was decreed that Images should agayne be restored to the church: which Councell, after was repealed by an other Councell holden at Franckford by Charles the great. MarginaliaThe wickednes of Irene condingly rewarded. At length she was deposed by Nicephorus (who raigned after) and was expulsed the Empire: who after the example of Edelburga aboue mentioned (condignely punished for her wickednesse) ended likewise her lyfe in much penurie and miserie.
[Back to Top]About the tyme when the foresayd Brigthricus was impoysoned by Edelburga his wife, died also king Offa, which was about the yeare of our Lord, 795. or as some say, 802. After which Offa (as is aforesayd) succeeded Egfert, then Kenelphus, after whom succeeded Kenelmus his sonne, who in his yonger age was wickedly murthered by his sister Quindreda, MarginaliaKenelmus king of Mercia innocently slayne. and Askebertus, about the yeare of our Lorde, 819. And in the Church of Winchecombe was counted for an holy Martyr. MarginaliaCelulphus Ceolulphus, Bernulphus, kings of Mercia. The kingdome of Mercia ceaceth. After him succeded his vncle Ceolulphus, whom Bernulphus in the first yeare of his raigne expulsed and raigned in his place. Who likewise the third yeare of his raigne was ouercome and expulsed by Egbert kyng of the Westsaxons, and afterward slayne by the Eastangles. And the kingdom of Mercia also ceased, and came into the handes of the Westsaxons.
[Back to Top]¶ Hetherto I haue brought, as thou seest (good Reader) the confused and turbulent raignes of these vij. Saxon kings, who after the expulsion of the Britaines, ruled and raigned asunder in sundry quarters of this land together, vnto this present tyme of Egbert king of the Westsaxons. By whom it so pleased God to begin to reduce and vnite all these scattred kingdomes into one monarchicall forme of dominion. Wherfore, as in the foresayd Egbert beginneth a new alteration of the common wealth here in this land among the Saxons: so my purpose is (the Lord willing) with the same Egbert to enter a new beginnyng of my third booke, after a briefe recapitulation first made of such things as in this second booke before, are to be collected and noted, especially touching the monasteries builded, the kings which haue entered the life and profession Monastike: also Queenes & Queenes daughters, which the same tyme professed solitary life in monasteries, which they or their auncetors had erected.
[Back to Top]¶ And thus hast thou (gentle Reader) concerning the vij. kingdoms of these Saxons, ruling altogether in England, the course and order of their doings briefly described and discoursed vnto thee, in such order, as the matter beyng so intricate, in such confusion & diuersitie of things incident together, would permit: followyng especially in this story hitherto, the line of the Northumberland kings as the other stories most folow the line of Westsaxō kings. The which seuen kingdoms of these sayd Saxones, after they had vntruely expulsed and chased out the Britaines from their land, like as they neuer were in quietnes amōg themselues, raigning thus together till the tyme of this Egbert: so also after the raigne of Egbert, the whole realme beyng reduced into one regimēt, no lesse were they impugned & afflicted by the Danes continually frō tyme to time, till the last conquest of William the Normand Thus it pleseth (God euer) lightly to reuenge with bloud, bloudy violence, and the vniust dealings of men, with iust and lyke retribution. MarginaliaVniust dealinges of men iustly rewarded. 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, satisfiyng the part of an Historician, haue thus hetherto set forth and declared concerning these vij. foresayd kingdoms: first the names and lineall descent of the kings seuerally by themselues, as by the table precedent may appeare, then what were the doings and actes of the same. How first being Pagans, they were conuerted to the christian faith: what things in their time happened in the church, how many of them, of kings were made monkes: how deuout they were then to holy church and to the churchmen, and especially to the church of Rome. But the churchmen then were much otherwyse in lyfe, then afterward they declared themselues to bee. Through which deuotion of the said kings, first came in, the Peterpence or Romeschots in this Realme, as by Iue first in his dominion, then by Offa in his Lordship, & afterward by Adelwulph brought in and ratified through the whoe Realme: where also is to be noted, that by the foresayd Kings and Queenes of the sayd Saxons, the most part of the greatest Abbais & Nunneries in this realme, were first begun and builded, as partly the names of some
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