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LIBRARY OF WELLES LEY COLLEGE

PURCHASED FROM LIBRARY FUNDS

BOHN'S ANTiaUARIAN LIBRARY.

BEDE'S ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY,

THE ANGLO-SAXON CKRONICLE.

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VENERABLE BEDE'S

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY

OF ENGLAND.

ALSO THE

ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE,

ILLUSTRATIVE NOTES, A MAP OP ANGLO-SAXON ENGLAND, AND A GENERAL INDEX.

EDITED

BY J. A. GILES, D.C.L.,

LATB FELLOW OF C02PUS CHEISTI COLLEGE, OXFORD.

SECOND EDITION.

LONDON: HENRY G. BOHN, YORK STREET, COVENT GARDEN.

M.DCCC.XLIX.

\^a-\

\Ll \^Y'

LOXUON :

J. ilADDO-V, PBINTKK, CASTLK aTHEET, FINSBURT

.65

PHEFACE.

CHAP. I.— INTRODUCTION.

The period of six hundred years (from about a.d. 466 to 1066), during which the Anglo-Saxons were dominant in England, has always been viewed with much interest and attention by the modern EngHsh, particularly of our own day. Nor are we at a loss to discover the true explanation of this fact. A nation mil always be most attached to that portion of its former history which developes a state of things, polity, and institutions, similar to their own, and adapted to become a model for their imitation. Now the tendency of the present times is to enlarge the rights and privileges of the people, that they may — all, and not merely a section of them — enjoy as much happiness in their social life and during their existence on the earth, as the constitution of their nature requires ; and, moreover, that they shall, as a body, have the privilege of judging for themselves in what way the largest share of enjoyment may be obtained. Hence has arisen that renewal of attention which the people of England at present devote to that part of EngHsh history which preceded the Norman conquest. Then are supposed to have been planted those seeds of national liberty which, under every form of cutting and pruning to which the plant may occasionally have been subjected, have nevertheless con- tinually germinated, until the tree, like that which sprang from the grain of mustard-seed, bids fair to overshadow all of us.

To such a spirit of inquiry must be attributed the fact that the Anglo-Saxon Ecclesiastical History by the Venerable Bede, has already, before the appearance of this volume, been pubUshed in three separate editions in about seven years ; and to the same cause must be ascribed the pubHcation of this volume, in which, at an unprecedented low price, are now for the first time presented to the public the two great

Tl PREFACE.

Chronicles of Anglo-Saxon Historj. Although of limited dimensions, they present us with a most extraordinary num- ber of facts arranged chronologically, and form a mass of history such as no other nation of Europe possesses.

CHAP. II.— LIFE OF BEDE.

Sect. 1. — Of his birth.

The year of our Lord 673, remarkable for one of the most important of our early English councils, held at Hertford, for the purpose of enforcing certain general regulations of the church, has an equal claim on our attention, as the year in which that great teacher of religion, literature, and science, the Venerable Bede, first saw the light.

The time of his birth has, however, been placed by some writers as late as a.d. 677, but this error arose from not per- ceiving that the last two or three pages of his Chi'onological Epitome, attached to the Ecclesiastical History, were added by another hand.*

Bede's own words appear decisive in fixing the date of his birth : — " This is the present state of Britain, about 285 years since the coming of the Saxons, and in the seven hun- di-ed and thirty-first year of our Lord's incarnation." To this he subjoins a short chronology which comes down to 731, and was continued to 734, either by another hand or by Bede himself, at a later period just before his death : he then gives a short account of the principal events of his own life, and says, that he has attained (attigisse) the fifty-ninth year of his life. Gehle, in his recent publication on the life of Bede, has not scrupled to fix the year 672, interpreting Bede's expression that he had attained his fifty-nir'th year as implying that he was entering on liis sixtieth. On the other hand, another learned critic,! whose opinion has been adopted by Stevenson in his Introduction [p. 7], has endeavoured to show that 674 is the true date. But in so unimportant a particular it is hardly worth while to weigh the conflicting opinions, and the intermediate date, so long ago settled by

* Mabill. in v. Bed. sect. ii. Sim. Dun. de Ecc. D. 8, and Ep. de Archie. Ebor. Stubbs's Act. Pont. Eborac. Sparke's Hist. Ang. Scrip. 1723. Surtees' Hist, of Durham, ii. p. Gd.

t Pagi Critic, in Baron. Ann. a.u. 693, sect 8.

LIFE OF BEDE. vil

Mabillon, and apparently so well borne out by Bede's own words, is perhaps the best that can be adopted.

It is always to be regretted, when little is known of the early life of eminent men, as in all cases where many facts have been handed down concerning the years of their youth, something or other has invariably broken forth significant of their future life and fortunes. So very little, however, is known of this great ornament of England and father of the universal church, that, except his own writings, the letter of Cuthbert his disciple, and one or two other almost contempo- rary records, we have no means whatever of tracing his pri- vate history.

The place of his birth is said by Bede himself to have been in the territory afterwards belonging to the twin-mon- asteries of St. Peter and St. Paul, at Wearmouth and Jar- row. The whole of this territory, lying along the coast near the mouths of the rivers Tyne and Wear, was granted to abbat Benedict by king Egfrid two years after the birth of Bede. William of Malmesbury points out more minutely the spot where our author first saw the light. His words are these : " Britain, which some writers have called another world, because, from its lying at a distance, it has been over- looked by most geographers, contains in its remotest parts a place on the borders of Scotland, where Bede was born and educated. The whole country was formerly studded with monasteries, and beautiful cities founded therein by the Ro- mans ; but now, owing to the devastations of the Danes and Normans, it has nothing to allure the senses. Through it runs the Wear, a river of no mean width, and of tolerable rapidity. It flows into tlie sea, and receives ships, which are driven. thither by the wind, into its tranquil bosom. A certain Benedict built two churches on its banks, and found- ed there two monasteries, named after St. Peter and St. Paul, and united together by the same rule and bond of brotherly love."* The birth of Bede happened in the third year of Egfrid, son of Osw)^, the first of the kings of Northumber- land, after the union of the provinces Deira and Bernicia into one monarchy. The dominions of this king extended from the Humber to the Frith of Forth, and compre- hended all the six northern counties of England, and the * Hist, of the Kings of England, book i. chap, iii., p. 54.

Vlll PREFACE.

whole of tlie southern part of Scotland. The piety of Eg- frid induced him to grant the large tract of land above men- tioned to one Biscop, surnamed Benedict, who had formerly been one of his thanes, but now became a monk, and built thereon a monastery, which he dedicated to St. Peter, on the north bank of the river Wear, and which from this circum- stance derived the name of Wearmouth. The same pious abbat, eight years after [a.d. 682], built another monastic establishment, which he dedicated to St. Paul, at Jarrow, on the banks of the Tyne, at the distance of about five miles from the former. In memory of this, the following inscrip- tion, which has been preserved, was carved on a tablet in the church at Jarrow : —

Dedicatio Basilicas

S. Pauli VIII Kal. Mau

Anno XV Egfridi regis

Ceolfridi Abb. ejusdemque

Ecclesia; Deo auctore

Conditoris anno IV.

The Dedication of tlie Church

of Saint Paul, on the 24th of April

in the fifteenth year of king Egfrid

and in the fourth year of abbat Ceolfrid,

who, under God, founded the same church.

These two establishments were for many years ruled by Benedict himself, and his associates Ceolfrid, Eastermn, and Sigfrid, and from the unity and concord which prevailed between the two, deserved rather, as Bede expresses it, to be called "one single monastery built in two different places." *

We cannot be certain as to the exact spot, but it is suffici- ently near the mark to ascertain that Bede was born in the neighbourhood of these two monasteries, and probably in the village of Jarrow.

Of his parents nothing has been recorded. He tells us, in his own short narrative of himself, that he was placed, at the age of seven years, under the care of abbat Benedict, in the abbey of Wearmouth, that of Jarrow being not yet built. When, however, this second establishment was founded, Bede appears to have gone thither under Ceolfrid

* Leland. Antiq. de Reb. Brit. Coll. ed. Heame, iii. 42.

LIFE OF BEDE. ix

its first abbat, and to have resided there all the remainder of his life.

Sect. 2. — Of his youth.

For a youth of such studious habits and indefatigable in- dustry, no situation could have been more appropriate than that in which he was now placed. Benedict Biscop, the founder of the monasteries, was a man of extraordinary learning and singular piety. Though a nobleman by birth, he was unwearied in the pursuit of knowledge, and in ameli- orating the condition of his country. In order to accomplish his benevolent intentions, he travelled into other countries, and introduced not only foreign literature, but arts hitherto unknown, into our island. He was the first who brought masons and glaziers home with him, having need of their services in the noble buildings which he erected. He tra- velled four or five times to Rome, and became intimate with Pope Agatho. Here he was much captivated with the liturgy of the Roman church, and their manner of chanting, for until then the Galilean or Mozarabic liturgy was used both in Britain and Ireland, as is alluded to in Augustine's Questions to pope Gregory. Each time, on his return to England, Benedict carried back with him the most valuable books and costly relics and works of art which could be pro- cured for money. This collection, which was, by his orders, preserved with peculiar care, received considerable augment- ations from the zeal and munificence of his successors. Bede's thirst for study was here, no doubt, satisfied : so large and valuable a library could scarcely have been within his reach elsewhere, even among the other Benedictines of the day, however well qualified that order was to encourage a taste for learning, and to provide means for gratifying that taste among its fosterlings. In so large a community, too, as that of Wearmouth, there were doubtlessly many scholars of mature age, who would all assist in promoting the studies of so talented a youth as he who was now introduced within their walls.

Bede was not, however, left to chance, or the untutored dictates of his own youthful fancy, to find his way as he could through the years spent in the rudiments of learning. In the study of theology and the Holy Scriptures, he received.

X PREFACE.

as he himself tells us,* the instructions of Trumhere, a monk, who had been educated under the holy Chad, bishop of Lich- field. The art of chanting, as it was practised at Rome, was taught him by John, the arch-chanter of St. Peter's at Rome, who had been, by the consent of pope Agatho, brought into Britain by Biscop Benedict. This celebrated singer attracted multitudes of people from the counties adjoining to the monastery of Wearmouth to witness liis performances. It has also been said by Stubbs,f thatBede received instruc- tions from John of Beverley, the disciple of archbishop Theo- dore ; and possibly tliis may have been the case, as he might also from others learned in the Greek and Latin tongue who were in the company of that famous archbishop ; but Mabil- lon thinks that the author above referred to has made a con- fusion between the two Johns, for there is no other mention whatever made of his being a pupil of John of Beverley. It is certain, however, that Bede possessed considerable know- ledge, not only in the Latin and Greek languages, but also in the Hebrew, although nothing remains which has been ascribed to him in that language, save a vocabulary, • entitled '' Interpretatio Nominum Hebraicorum," which is now admit- ted to be the production of another. In the Greek tongue he must have made considerable proficiency, as appears from his " Ars Metrica," and from his having translated the life of Anastasius and the Gospel of St. John out of that language into Latin. The last two of these productions are no longer extant. ;

Whatever advantages, however, Bede may have enjoyed, ■] the greatest was his own ardour in the pursuit of learning ; j and let us remember, that the rules of the monastic institu- I tions did not leave the student the uncontrolled disposal of ^ his own time. Many ofiices, not wholly menial, were per- ! formed by the brethren ; he himself instances Biscop the ' founder, and says, that, like the rest of the brothers, he de- - lighted to exercise himself in winnowing the corn, and threshing it, in giving milk to the lambs and calves, in the bakehouse, in the garden, in the kitchen, and in the other ' employments of the monastery ; a considerable portion of the • day was spent in discharging the duties required by the mon- j astic rules, and in the daily service and psalmody of the I * Ecclesiastical Hiat. iv. 3, page 177. t Act. Pontif. Eborac. i

\

f

I

i

LIFE OF BEDE. xi

church. All his leisure time was not even then occupied in reading ; part was devoted to writing and to the instruction of others. His own words are here in point : " All my life I spent in that same monastery, giving my whole attention to the study of the Holy Scriptures, and in the intervals be- tween the hours of regular discipline and the duties of singing in the church, I always took pleasure in learning, or teaching, or writing something."

Sect. 3. — Of his admission to Holy Orders.

The twenty-fifth year of one's age, was then, as the twenty- fourth at present, the limit of admission to Deacon's Orders. Of his own entry into this holy ordination, let us hear what he says himself, "In the nineteenth year of my life I was made deacon, and in the thirtieth was ordained priest ; both ordinances were conferred on me by bishop John, at the bid- ding of abbat Ceolfrid."

Tliis John was bishop of Hagulstad, now Hexham, in the county of Northumberland, and the monasteries of Vv^ear- moutli and Jarrow were in his diocese, for the see of Dur- ham did not exist until a later period, when the brotherhood of Lindisfarne settled there, carrying v,' ith them the bones of St. Cuthbert. This John is also better known by the name of John of Beverley, and is mentioned in high terms by Bede in his History.

So remarkable a deviation from the general rule as the ordination of a candidate for Holy Orders in the nine- teenth year of his age, is in itself a sufficient proof of the estimation in wliich the young student was held. His piety, moreover, must have been well known to the abbat who sent him for ordination, and to the bishop, who hesitated not to admit him so prematurely to that holy rite. It is moreover said of him that, in his ardour for study, he declined to be raised to the dignity of an abbat, lest the distraction to which the care of such an establishment, or family, as the historian expresses it, would subject him, might allow him less time and leisure for his favourite pursuits. " The office," as he expressed it, "demands thoughtfulness, and thoughtfulness brings with it distraction of the mind, which impedes the pursuit of learning."*

* Trithem. de Viris illust. ord. Bened. ii. 21, 34.

XU PREFACE.

This, however, no doubt happened after he took priest's orders in his thirtieth year, though the eleven years which intervened must have been sedulously spent in laying up that store of erudition wliich afte]"wards enabled him to shine forth to the world in every department of literature. For it does not appear that he published any thing in writing until after he had undergone the second of the diurch's ordinances. This we have from his own v/ords, " From the time of my taking priest's orders, to the fifty-ninth year of my age, I have occupied myself in making these short extracts from the works of the venerable fathers for the use of me and mine, or in adding thereto somewhat of my own, after the model of their meaning and interpretation."

If, however, he was admitted unusually early to the orders of deacon, he was in no mind, on the other hand, to rush hastily, or without long and patient study, into the full duty of the priest's office ; and thus he devoted eleven patient years to qualify himself for the various services which he was preparing to render to the literature of his country, and the interests of the church.

Sect. 4. — Of his clerical and literary labours.

The office of priest, or massrpriest, as he is called in king Alfred's Anglo-Saxon translation, brought with it a consider- able portion of duties which would not allow him to devote the whole of his time to his favourite occupations. His em- ployment was to say mass in the church, by which we are to understand that he officiated at the various masses which were performed at different hours in the day, besides perhaps assisting in the morning and evening prayers of the monas- tery. The follo"\^ang extracts from Anglo-Saxon writers, quoted by Sharon Turner, will w-ell describe the responsible functions which were supposed to belong to the priest's office.

" Priests ! you ought to be well provided with books and apparel as suits your condition. The mass-priest should at least have his missal, his singing-book, his reading-book, his psalter, his hand-book, his penitential, and his numeral one. He ought to have his officiating garments, and to sing from sun-rise, with the nine intervals and nine readings. His sacramental cup should be of gold or silver, glass or tin, and

LIFE OF BEDE. Xlii

not of earth, at least not of wood. The altar should be always clean, well clothed, and not defiled with dirt. There should be no mass without wine.

" Take care that you be better and wiser in your spiritual craft than worldly men are in theirs, that you may be fit teachers of true wisdom. The priest should preach rightly the true belief ; read fit discourses ; visit the sick ; and baptize infants, and give the unction when desired. No one should be a covetous trader, nor a plunderer, nor di'unk often in wine-houses, nor be proud or boastful, nor wear osten- tatious girdles, nor be adorned with gold, but to do honour to himself by his good morals.

"They should not be litigious nor quarrelsome, nor seditious, but should pacify the contending ; nor carry arms, nor go to any fight, though some say that priests should carry weapons when necessity requires ; yet the servant of God ought not to go to any war or military exercise. Neither a wife nor a battle becomes them, if they will rightly obey God and keep liis laws as becomes their state." *

Their duties are also described in the Canons of Edgar in the following terms : —

"They are forbidden to carry any controversy among themselves to a lay-tribunal. Their owti companions were to settle it, or the bishop was to determine it.

" No priest was to forsake the church to which he was consecrated, nor to intermeddle with the rights of other.-, nor to take the scholar of another. He was to learn sedulously his own handicraft, and not put another to shame for his ignorance, but to teach him better. The high-born were not to despise the less-born, nor any to be unrighteous or covetous dealers. He was to baptize whenever required, and to abolish all heathenism and witchcraft. They were to take care of their churches, and apply exclusively to their sacred duties ; and not to indulge in idle speech, or idle deeds, or excessive drinking ; nor to let dogs come within their church-inclosure, nor more swine than a man might govern.

" They were to celebrate mass only in churches, and on the altar, unless in cases of extreme sickness. They were * Elfric, in Wilkins's Leges Anglo-Saxon. 169 — 171.

XIV PREFACE.

to have at mass their corporalis garment, and the subucula under their alba ; and all their officiating garments were to be woven. Each was to have a good and right book. Ko one was to celebrate mass, unless fasting, and unless he had one to make responses ; nor more than three times a day ; nor unless he had, for the eucharist, pure bread, wine and water. The cup was to be of something molten, not of wood. No woman was to come near the altar during mass. The bell was to be rung at the proper time.

" They were to preach every Sunday to the people ; and always to give good examples. They were ordered to teach youth with care, and to draw them to some craft. They were to distribute alms, and urge the people to give them, and to sing the psalms during the cUstribution, and to exhort the poor to intercede for the donors. They were forbidden to swear, and were to avoid ordeals. They were to recom- mend confession, penitence, and compensation ; to administer the sacrament to the sick, and to anoint him if he desired it ; and the priest was always to keep oil ready for this purpose and for baptism. He was neither to hunt, or hawk, or dice ; but to play with his book as became liis condition." *

But the duties pointed out in these extracts do not seem to have satisfied the Venerable Bede ; he applied himself to every branch of literature and science then known, and besides study, and writing comments on the Scriptures, he treated on several r-ubjects, on lii story, astrology, ortho- graphy, rhetoric, and poetry ; in the latter of which he vv^as not inferior to other poets of that age, as appears by what he has left us on the life of St. Cuthbert, and some verses in his Ecclesiastical History ; he wrote hkewise two books of the Art of Poetry, which are not now extant ; a book of Hymns, and another of Epigrams. Bede's own writings inform us of the names of some of his literary friends ; among whom were Eusebius or Huetbert, to whom he inscribed his book, De Ratione Temporum, and his Interpretation on the Apoca- lypse, and w-ho was afterwards abbat of Wearmouth : Cuthbert, called likewise Antonius, to whom he inscribed his book, De Arte Metrica, and who succeeded Huetbert, and was afterwards abbat of Jarrow ; he wrote of his master's death, but of this hereafter : also Constantine, to whom he * Wilkins's Leges Anglo-Saxonicze, 85—87.

LIFE OF BEDE. -^^

inscribed his book, De Divisione Numerorum ; and Nothelm then priest at London, and afterwards archbishop of Canter- bury, to whom he wrote his Questions on the Books of Kings ; to which we may add several in other monasteries ; whilst others have improperly classed amongst them Alcuinus, afterwards preceptor to Charles the Great.

Thus was the time of that excellent man employed in doing good to mankind, seldom or never moving beyond the limits of his own monastery, and yet in the dark cloister of it surveying the whole world, and dispensing to it the gifts entrusted to him ; it seems not a little surprising, that one who had scarcely moved away from the place of his nativity, should so accurately describe those at a distance ; and this quality in his writings, when considered with reference to the age in which he lived, is the more remarkable, as there is but one other recorded in history who possessed it in equal perfection, — the immortal Homer.

Sect. 5. — Of his supposed journey to Rome.

The peaceful tenor of Bede's monastic life was apparently uninterrupted by absence or travel, and his own words might be thought to afford sufficient authority for the sup- position. A controversy, however, on this subject has arisen from a letter first published by William of Malmesbury, which to this hour has not been satisfactorily decided. This historian says that Bede's learning and attainments were so highly esteemed, that pope Sergius -vWslied to see him at Rome, and consult him on questions of importance and diffi- culty relating to the church. He accordingly quotes a letter, addressed by Sergius to abbat Ceolfrid, in which he is re- quested to send Bede without delay to Rome. Xow it is argued, and apparently with truth, that Bede would not Jiave dared to decline an invitation coming from so high a quarter; and yet it is all but certain that Bede never was out of England. He tells us distinctly that his whole life Vk^as spent in the neighbourhood of Jarrow ; and that the letters, which he has inserted in his Ecclesiastical History, had been procured for him at Rome by Nothelm, which vv^ould certainly lead us to infer that Bede was not there himself. Moreover, he tells us in his treatise, De Natura Kerum [46], that he was not with the monks of Yarrow,

XVI PREFACE.

who went to Rome in the year 701. It is therefore certain that Bede, if invited, never went to Rome ; and it is most probable, as has been stated by Gehle in his Latin Life of Bede, that the unexpected death of Pope Sergius, which happened shortly after, was the cause of his not undertaking the journey.

Sect. 6. — Of his pretended residence at Cambridge.

It has been also asserted, that Bede resided at the Univer- sity of Cambridge, and taught there in the office of Professor. This has been maintained by certain members of that Uni- versity, who have been eager to claim such an illustrious man as their own ; whilst other writers of the University of Oxford have been induced, by a corresponding jealousy, to deny the fact.

The principal authority for this ill-supported statement is found in a volume called Liber Niger, preserved in the Uni- versity of Cambridge. Out of that book, Hearne, in the year 1719, pubHshed "Nicolai Cantalupi Historiola de Anti- quitate et Origine Universitatis Cantabrigiensis, simul cum Chronicis Sprotti Ox."*

In this history Bede is said, "at the request of doctor Wilfred, and at the bidding of abbat Ceolfrid, to have left the territory belonging to the monastery of St. Peter and St. Paul, and being even then a monk in mind and regular discipline, though not in di-ess, to have gone, in the year 682, to Cambridge, where by sowing the seeds of knowledge for liimself and others, by writing books and teaching the ignorant, he was of use before God and man in eradicating prevaiHng errors.

It is hardly necessary to observe, that this is said to have happened at a time when Bede was little more than nine years old ! Seven years after he is stated to have had public honours conferred on him by the University, and at a later period to be still pursuing the duties of a teacher.

In support of these statements a letter is produced, purporting to be addi-essed to the Students of the University

* Thi3 work has been twice published in English, under the following titles, " History and Antiquities of the University of Cambridge, in two parts, by Richard Parker, B.D., and Fellow of Caius College, in 1622, London, 1721 ; and again printed for J. Marcus, in the Poultry, London."

LIFE OF BEDE. XVU

of Cambridge, by Alcuin, in which allusion is made to Bede as still alive, but Alcuin was fifty years later than Bede, and the supposed letter is consequently a forgery.

Sect. 7. — Of his occasional visits to his friends.

We may therefore infer without hesitation that Bede did not travel far from the monastery. This is both plainly asserted in his own account of his secluded life, and appears also from the want of any evidence to the contrary. Yet it is certain he made visits and excursions to other places ; nor can we suppose that he confined himself entirely within the monastery, and never indulged the pleasure of seeing and conversing with his friends. In his own letter to Egbert, archbishop of York, and nephew to king Ceolwulf, he alludes to a visit which he paid to that nobleman and prelate, and acknowledges an invitation to go there for the sake of conferring with him on their common pursuits in the year following. He was unable to comply with this request, in consequence of illness, and therefore communicated with his friend by letter. In another letter, still extant, addressed to Wictred* on the celebration of Easter, he speaks of the kindness and affability with which he had been received by him on a former occasion. It is not improbable that he might sometimes likewise pay visits to the court : for Ceolwulf, king of the Northumbrians, in one of whose provinces, i. e. Bernicia, Bede lived, was himself a man of singular learning, and a • very great encourager of it in others ; and had, doubtlessly, an extraordinary respect for Bede, as appears by his request to him to write the Ecclesiastical History, and by Bede's submitting the papers to him for his perusal. That prince was not only a lover of learned men in general, but especially of that part of them who led a monastic life, insomuch that, about three years after Bede's death, he resigned his crown, and became a monk at Lindisfarne.

Sect. 8. — Of his death.

The tranquillity of Bede's life, passed, as we have seen,

entirely in the monastery of Jarrow, has left it a difficult

task for his biographers to extend their accounts of him to

* King of Kent.

c

XVlll PREFACE.

that length which might seem suitable to his reputation and the value of his works. It has been truly remarked that scholars and persons of sedentary habits, though liable to frequent petty illnesses from want of bodily exercise and too great mental exertion, are nevertheless on the whole rather a long-lived race. This rule was not exemplified in the case of Bede. He seems to have contracted at a somewhat early period a complaint in his stomach, accompanied with short- ness of breath : " So that," says Malmesbury, " he suffered in his stomach, and drew his breath with pains and sighs."* An attack of this disorder had lately prevented him from visiting his friend archbishop Egbert, and led to his writing him the valuable letter on the duties of a bishop, which we have still extant. We are not informed whether the dis- order left him at that time, and came on afresh, when it at last killed him ; but it is most probable that he enjoyed general ill health during the last few years of his existence. He was ill some weeks before he died, and was attended by Cuthbert, who had been one of his pupils, and after Huetbert became abbat of the monastery. The Christian piety with which he suffered the dispensation which awaited him, has been the universal theme of panegyric. The whole scene of his increasing malady, his devout resignation, and fervent prayers for all his friends, together with his paternal admo- nitions for the regulation of their lives, and his uncontrollable anxiety to dictate to the boy who was his amanuensis, even to his last moments, are so beautifully recorded in the letter of his pupil Cuthbert, that we shall not attempt here to describe it in other terms, f

CUthbert's letter on the death of venerable bede.

" To his fellow reader Cuthwin, beloved in Christ, Cuth- bert, his school-fellow ; health for ever in the Lord. I have received with much pleasure the small present which you sent me, and with much satisfaction read the letters of your devout erudition ; wherein I found that masses and holy

• Hist, of the Kings of England, lib. i. c. 2.

t See Simeon. Dunelm. de Ecc. Dun. ap. Twysdeni Scrip. X. I. 15, p. 8. Leland, Collect. Hearne, IV. ill. 77, Mabilloni Act. Bened. Sec. iii.

LIFE OF BEDE. XIX

prayers are diligentlj celebrated by you for our father and master, Bede, whom God loved : this was what I principally desired, and therefore it is more pleasing, for the love of him (according to my capacity), in a few words to relate in what manner he departed this world, understanding that you also desire and ask the same. He was much troubled with short- ness of breath, yet without pain, before the day of our Lord's resurrection, that is, about a fortnight ; and thus he aftei- wards passed his life, cheerful and rejoicing, giving thanks to Almighty God every day and night, nay, every hour, till the day of our Lord's ascension, that is, the seventh before the kalends of June [twenty-sixth of May], and daily read lessons to us his disciples, and whatever remained of the day, he spent in singing psalms ; he also passed all the night awake, in joy and thanksgiving, unless a short sleep pre- vented it ; in which case he no sooner awoke than he pre- sently repeated his wonted exercises, and ceased not to give thanks to God with uplifted hands. I declare with truth, that I have never seen with my eyes, nor heard with my ears, any man so earnest in giving thanks to the living God. " O truly happy man ! He chanted the sentence of St. Paul the apostle, ' It is dreadful to fall into the hands of the living God,' and much more out of Holy Writ ; wherein also he admonished us to think of our last hour, and to shake off the sleep of the soul ; and being learned in our poetry, he said some things also in our tongue, for he said, putting the same into English,

' For thain neod-fere Nenig wyrtheth Thances snottra Thonne him thearf sy To gehiggene

^r liis heonen-gange Hwet his gaste Godes oththe yveles ^fter deathe heonen Demed wui-the.'

which means tliis : —

" ' No man is wiser than is requisite, before the necessary departure ; that is, to consider, before the soul departs hence, what good or evil it hath done, and how it is to be judged after its departure.'

" He also sang antiphons according to our custom and his own, one of which is, ' O glorious King, Lord of all power, who, triumphing this day, didst ascend above all the heavens ; do not forsake us orphans ; but send down upon us the Spirit

c 2

XX PREFACE.

of truth wliich was promised to us by the Father. Hallelu- jah!' And when he came to that word, 'do not forsake us/ he burst into tears, and wept much, and an hour after he began to repeat what he had commenced, and we, hearing it, mourned with him. By turns we read, and by turns we wept, nay, we wept always whilst we read. In such joy we passed the days of Lent, till the aforesaid day ; and he re- joiced much, and gave God thanks, because he had been thought worthy to be so weakened. He often repeated, * That God scourgeth every son whom he receiveth ;' and much more out of Holy Scripture ; as also this sentence from St. Ambrose, ' I have not lived so as to be ashamed to live among you ; nor do I fear to die, because we have a gracious God.' During these days he laboured to compose two works well worthy to be remembered, besides the lessons we had from him, and singing of Psalms ; viz. he translated the Gospel of St. John as far as the words : ' But what are these among so many,' etc. [St. John, vi. 9.] into our own tongue, for the benefit of the church ; and some collections out of the Book of Notes of bishop Isidorus, saying : ' I will not have my pupils read a falsehood, nor labour therein without profit after my death.' When the Tuesday before the ascension of our Lord came, he began to suffer still more in his breath, and a small swelling appeared in his feet ; but he passed all that day and dictated cheerfully, and now and then among other things, said, ' Go on quickly, I know not how long I shall hold out, and whether my Maker will not soon take me away.' But to us he seemed very well to know the time of his departure ; and so he spent the night, awake, in thanks- giving ; and when the morning appeared, that is, Wednesday, he ordered us to wi'ite with all speed what he had begun ; and this done, we walked till the third hour with the relics of saints, according to the custom of that day. There was one of us with him, who said to him, * Most dear master, there is still one chapter wanting : do you think it trouble- some to be asked any more questions ?' He answered, ' It is no trouble. Take your pen, and make ready, and write fast.' Which he did, but at the ninth hour he said to me, ' I have some little articles of value in my chest, such as pepper, nap- kins, and incense : run quickly, and bring the priests of our monastery to me, that I may distribute among them the gifts

LIFE OF BEDE. Xxi

whicli God has bestowed on me. The rich in this world are bent on giving gold and silver and other precious thino-s. But I, in charity, will joyfully give my brothers what God has given unto me.' He spoke to every one of them, admo- nishing and entreating them that they would carefully say masses and prayers for him, which they readily promised ; but they all mourned and wept, especially because he said, ' They should no more see his face in this world.' They re- joiced for that he said, ' It is time that I return to Him who formed me out of nothing : I have lived long ; my merciful Judge well foresaw my life for me ; the time of my dissolu- tion draws nigh ; for I desire to die and to be with Christ.' Having said much more, he passed the day joyfully till the evening ; and the boy, above mentioned, said : ' Dear master, there is yet one sentence not written.' He answered, ' Write quickly.' Soon after, the boy said, 'The sentence is now written.' He replied, ' It is well, you have said the truth. It is ended. Receive my head into your hands, for it is a great satisfaction to me to sit facing my holy place, where I was wont to pray, that I may also sitting call upon my Father.' And thus on the pavement of his little cell, singing : ' Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost,' when he had named the Holy Ghost, he breathed his last, and so departed to the heavenly kingdom. All who were present at the death of the blessed father, said they had never seen any other person expire with so much devotion, and in so tranquil a frame of mind. For as you have heard, so long as the soul animated his body, he never ceased to give thanks to the true and living God, with expanded hands exclaiming : ' Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost !' with other spiritual ejaculations. But know this, dearest brother, that I could say much concerning him, if my want of learn- ing did not cut short my discourse. Nevertheless, by the grace of God, I purpose shortly to write more concerning him, particularly of those things which I saw with my own eyes, and heard with my own ears."

As we learn from this letter of Cuthbert that Bede died on St. Ascension-day wliich he states to have been that year the seventh before the kalends of June, this fact enables us to lix it on the 26th May, in the jear of our Lord 735.

The remains of the venerable Bede were placed first under

XXll PREFACE.

the south porch of the church. After being removed to a more honourable situation within the church, they were stolen from the monastery by Elfred a priest of Durham, who used for some years previously to offer up his prayers at Bede's tomb, on the anniversary of his death.

" On one of these occasions," says Simeon of Durham, "he went to Jarrow as usual, and having spent some days in the church in solitude, praying and watching, he returned in the early morning alone to Durham, without the know- ledge of his companions — a thing which he had never done before — as though he wished to have no witness to his secret. Now, although he lived many years afterwards, yet he never again visited Jarrow, and it appeared as if he had achieved the object of his desires. When, also, he was asked by his most intimate friends, ' Where were the bones of venerable Bede?' he would reply, 'No one can answer that question so well as I. You may be assured, my brethren, beyond all doubt, that the same chest which holds the hallowed body of our father Cuthbert, also contains the bones of Bede, our reverend teacher and brother. It is useless to search be- yond that little corner for any portion of his relics.' "

By this artifice the cathedral of Durham obtained posses- sion of a valuable source of revenue in the offerings which were sure to be made at the tomb of so venerable a man. The theft was kept secret by the brethren until all who could have reclaimed the body were dead, and so Bede's bones remained until a.d. 1104, when St. Cuthbert's relics were removed, and those of Bede were placed alone in a linen bag in the same chest. Fifty years afterwards Hugh Pudsey, bishop of Durham, erected a shrine of gold and silver, adorned with jewels, in which he enclosed the relics of venerable Bede, with an inscription placed on it, which may be translated thus :

Within this chest Bede's mortal body lies.

In the reign of Henry VIII this beautiful shrine was demolished, and the saintly relics were treated with every indignity by the insane and ignorant mob. The only me-, morial now remaining in Durham cathedral of its having once been the resting-place of Bede's remains, is a long

OP BEDE S ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. XXlll

inscription to his memory concluding with the well known monkish rhj'-me : —

' l]ac sunt in fossa 3£cTjae Ucncrabilis ossa."

Here lie beneath these stones — venerable Bede's bones.

CHAP, in.— ANALYSIS OF BEDE'S ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

The Ecclesiastical History of venerable Bede was first published on the Continent : numerous editions of it have been printed, which it is here necessary to enumerate.

It was first published in England by Wheloc, fol. Cantab. 1643-4, with an Appendix containing the Ano-lo-Saxon translation by king Alfred the Great.

To this succeeded the edition of Smith, printed at Cam- bridge in 1722, which superseded all the preceding. The basis of this edition was a MS. formerly belonging to More, bishop of Ely, and noAV deposited in the public library at Cambridge. [Kk, 5, 16.] At the end of the MS., which is written in Anglo-Saxon letters, are several notes in a some- what later handwriting, by which it would appear that the volume Avas copied in the year 737, i.e. two years after Bede's death, and probably from the author's original manu- script.

The last edition of tliis celebrated and valuable work is that of Stevenson, published by the English Historical Society, Lond. 8vo. 1838. The editor professes to have used the same MS. of bishop More, and to have occasionally collated four others [Cotton. Tib. C, II, Tib. A, XIV, Harl. 4978, and King's MS. 13 C, Y.]. Prefixed to the volume is a copious and valuable notice of the author and his work, from which we take the liberty of making the following long extract, as containing the most judicious account of this our author's greatest work.

" The scope of this valuable and justly esteemed work is sufficiently indicated by its title. After some observations upon the position, inhabitants, and natural productions of Britain, the author gives a rapid sketch of its history from the earliest period until the arrival of Augustine in a.d. 597, at which era, in his opinion, the ecclesiastical history of our

XXir PEEFACE.

nation had its commencement. After that event, he treats, as was to be expected, for a time exclusively of the circumstances which occurred in Kent ; but, as Christianity extended itself over the othei' kingdoms into which England was then divided, he gradually includes their history in his narrative, until he reaches the year 73 L Here he concludes his work, which embraces a space of one hundred and thirty-four years, with a general outline of the ecclesiastical state of the island.

" The Introduction, which extends from the commence- ment of the work to the conversion of the Saxons to Chris- tianity, is gleaned, as Bede himself infonns us, from various writers. The chief sources for the description of Britain are Pliny, Solinus, Orosius, and Gildas; St. Basil is also cited ; and the traditions which were current in Bede's own day are occasionally introduced. The history of the Romans in Britain is founded chiefly upon Orosius, Eutropius, and Gil- das, corrected, however, in some places by the author, appar- ently fi'om tradition or local information, and augmented by an account of the introduction of Christianity under Lucius, of the martyrdom of St. Alban, copied apparently from some legend, and of the origin of the Pelagian heresy, — all of them circumstances intimately connected Avith the ecclesiast- ical history of the island. The mention of Hengist and Horsa, and the allusion to the tomb of the latter at Horstead, render it probable that the account which Bede gives of the arrival of the Teutonic tribes, and their settlement in Eng- land, was communicated by Albinus and Nothelm. It is purely fabulous, being, in fact, not the history, but the tradi- tion, of the Jutish kingdom of Kent, as appears from circum- stances mentioned elsewhere in this work, as well as from the authorities there quoted. The two visits of Germanus to England, so important in the history of its religion, are introduced in the very words of Constantius Lugdunensis, and must therefore have been copied from that author. The ante- Augustine portion of the history is terminated by ex- tracts from Gildas, relative to the conflicts between the Saxons and Britons. As the mission of Augustine in a.d. 596 is the period at which Bede ceases to speak of himself as a compiler, and assumes the character of an historian, it be- comes incumbent upon us to examine into the sources upon

OF BEDE.S ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. XXV

whicii he has founded this, by far the most interesting por- tion of his history. The materials which he employed seem to have consisted of (i.) written documents, and (ii.) verbal information, (i.) The written materials maybe divided into (1.) Historical information drawn up and communicated by his correspondents for the express purpose of being employed in his work ; (2.) documents pre-existing in a narrative form, and (3.) transcripts of official documents.

".(1.) That Bede's correspondents drew up and communi- cated to him information which he used when writing this history, is certain from what he states in its prologue ; and it is highly probable that to them we are indebted for many particulars connected with the history of kingdoms situated to the south of the river Humber, with which a monk of Jarrow, from his local position, was probably unacquainted. Traces' of the assistance which he derived from Canterbury are percej)tible in the minute acquaintance which he exhibits not only with the topography of Kent, but with its condition at the time when he wrote ; and the same remark is appli- cable, although in a more limited degree, to most of the southern kingdoms.

'^(2.) Documents pre-existing in an historical form are seldom quoted : amongst those of wliich use has been made may be numbered the Life of Gregory the Great, written by Paulus Diaconus; the miracles of Ethelberga, abbess of Barking ; the Life of Sebbi, king of the East Saxons ; the Legend of Fursey; and that of Cuthbert of Lindisfarne, formerly written by Bede, but now augmented by himself, with additional facts. These, together Avith some extracts from the Treatise of Arculf de Locis Sanctis, are all the written documents to which the author refers.

" That other narratives, however, were in Bede's posses- sion, of which he has made liberal use, is certain from his express words, and may also be inferred from internal evi- dence. Albinus and Nothelm appear to have furnished him with chronicles, in which he found accurate and full informa- tion upon the pedigrees, accessions, marriages, exploits, descend- V| ants, deaths, and burials of the kings of Kent. From the same source he derived his valuable account of the archbishops of Canterbury, both before and after ordination, the place and date of consecration, even though it took place abroad the

XXVI PREFACE.

days on which they severally took possession of that see, the duration of their episcopate, their deaths, burial-places, and the intervals which elapsed before the election of a successor. It is evident that the minuteness and accuracy of this in- formation could have been preserved only by means of con- temporary written memoranda. That such records existed in the time of the Saxons cannot be doubted, for Bede intro- duces a story by which it appears that the abbey of Selsey possessed a volume in which were entered the obits of eminent individuals; and the same custom probably pre- vailed throughout the other monastic establishments of Eng- land.

" The history of the diocese of Rochester was communi- cated by Albinus and Nothelm. It is exceedingly barren of particulars, and probably would have been even more so, had it not been connected with the life of Paulinus of York, con- cerning whom Bede appears to have obtained information from other quarters.

" The early annals of East A'nglia are equally scanty, as we have little more than a short pedigree of its kings, an account of its conversion to Christianity, the history of Sigebert and Anna, and a few particulars regarding its bishops, Felix, Thomas, Bertgils, and Bisi, which details were communicated in part by Albinus and Nothelm.

" The history of the West Saxons Avas derived partly from the same authorities, and partly from the information of Daniel, bishop of Winchester. It relates to their conversion by Birinus, the reigns of Cajdwalla and of Ina, and the pon- tificate of Wini, Aldhelm, and Daniel. To this last named bishop we are indebted for a portion of the little of what is known as to the early history of the South Saxons and the Isle of Wight, the last of the Saxon kingdoms which em- braced the Christian faith. It relates to the conversion of those districts by the agency of Wilfrid. A few unimport- ant additions are afterwards made in a hurried and incidental manner, evidently showing that Bede's information upon this head was neither copious nor definite.

" The monks of Lastingham furnished materials relative to the ministry of Cedd and Chad, by whose preaching the Mercians were induced to renounce paganism. The history of this kingdom is obscure, and consists of an account of its

OF BEDES ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. XXvii

conversion, the succession of its sovereigns and its bishops. The neighbouring state of Middle Anglia, which, if ever independent of Mercia, soon merged in it, is simihirly circum- stanced, and we are perhaps indebted to its connexion with the princes and bishops of Northumbria for what is known of its early history.

" Lindsey, part of Lincolnshire, although situated so near to the kingdom of Northumbria, was both politically and ecclesiastically independent of it, and Bede was as ignorant of the transactions of that province as of those which were much more remote from Jarrow. He received some mate- rials from bishop Cynebert, but they appear to have been scanty, for the circumstances which relate to Lincoln- shire are generally derived from the information of other witnesses.

" The history of East Saxony is more copious, and is derived partly from the communications of Albinus and Nothelm, and partly from the monks of Lastingham. To the first of these two sources we must probably refer the account of the pontificate of Mellitus, and the apostasy of the sons of Sabert, — circumstances too intimately connected with the see of Canterbury to be omitted in its annals. To the latter we are indebted for the history of the recon version of Saxony, — an event in which the monks of Last- ingham were interested, as it was accomplished by their founder Cedd. From them Bede also received an account of the ministry of Chad. Some further details respecting its civil and ecclesiastical aifairs, the life of Earconwald, bishop of London, and the journey of Offti to Rome, conclude the information which we have respecting this kingdom.

" In the history of Northumbria Bede, as a native, was particularly interested, and would probably exert himself to procure the most copious and authentic information regard- ing it. Although he gives no intimation of having had access to previous historical documents, when speaking of his sources of information, yet there seems reason to believe that he has made use of such materials. We may infer from what he says of the mode in w^hich Oswald's reign was gene- rally calculated, that in this king's time there existed Annals or Chronological Tables, in which events were inserted as they occurred, the regnal year of the monarch who then

XXVlll PREFACE.

Med the throne being at the time specified. These annals appear to have extended beyond the period of the conversion of Northumbria to Christianity, although it is difficult to imagine how any chronological calculation or record of events could be preserved before the use of letters had become known. But the history of Edwin, with its interesting de- tails, shows that Bede must have had access to highly valu able materials wliich reached back to the very earliest era of authentic history; and we need not be surprised at finding information of a similar character throughout the re- mainder of his history of Northumbria. Accordingly we have minute accounts of the pedigrees of its kings, their acces- sion, exploits, anecdotes of them, and sketches of their cha- racter, their deaths, and the duration of their reigns, — details too minute in themselves, and too accurately defined by Bede, to have been derived by him from tradition. Similar proofs might, if necessary, be di-awn from the history of its bishops.

"(3.) The Historia Ecclesiastica contains various tran- scripts of important official documents. These are of two classes, either such as were sent from the Papal Court to the princes and ecclesiastics of England, or were the production of native writers. The first were transcribed from the Papal. Regesta l^y "Nothelm of London, during a residence at Pome, and were sent to Bede by the advice of his friend Albinus of Canterbury. They relate to the history of the kingdoms of Kent and Northumbria. The letters of archbishops Lau- rentius and Honorius, concerning the proper time for celer brating Easter, were probably furnished by the same indi- vidual. The proceedings of the councils of Hertford and Hatfield may have been derived from the archives of Bede's own monastery, since it was customary in the early ages of the church for each ecclesiastical estabhsliment to have a 'tabularium' in which were deposited the synodal decrees by which its members were governed.

"(ii.) A considerable portion of the Historia Ecclesiastica, especially that part of it Avhich relates to the kingdom of Northumberland, is founded upon local information which its author derived from various individuals. On almost every occasion Bede gives the name and designation of his inform- ant, being anxious, apparently, to show that nothing is in-

OF bede's ecclesiastical history. xxix

sertecl for which he had not the testimony of some respect- able witness. Some of these persons are credible from having been present at the event which they related ; others, from the high rank which they held in the church, such as Acca, bishop of Hexham, Guthfrid, abbat of Lindisfarne, Berthun, abbat of Beverley, and Pechthelm, bishop of Whit- herne. The author received secondary evidence with caution, for he distinguishes between the statements which he received from eye-witnesses, and those which reached him through a succession of informants. In the last of these instances, the channel of information is always pointed out with scrupulous exactness, whatever opinion we may entertain, as in the case of some visions and miracles, of the credibility of the facts themselves."

Of the value of this work we can have no better evidence than the fact of its having been so often translated into the vernacular tongue. King Alfred thought it not beneath his dignity to render it familiar to liis Anglo-Saxon subjects, by : translating it into their tongue.

The first version in modern English was that of Stapleton, bearing the folloT\dng title, " The History of the Church of Englande, compiled by Venerable Bede, Englishman, trans- lated out of Latin into English by Thomas Stapleton, Student in Divinity. Antw. by John Laet, 1565." The object of the translator was to recall the affections of the people to the theological forms and doctrines which in his time were being exploded. In the dedication to queen Elizabeth occurs the following passage : — " In this History Your Hignes shall see in how many and weighty pointes the pretended reformers of the Church in Your Graces dominions have departed from the patern of that sounde and catholike faith planted first among Englishmen by holy S. Augustin our Apostle, and his virtuous company, described truly and sincerely by Venerable Bede, so called in all Christendom for his passing vertues and rare learning, the Author of tliis History. And to thentent Your Highnes intention bent to weightier consider- ations and affaires may spende no longe time in espying oute the particulars, I have gathered out of the whole History a number of diversities betwene the pretended religion of Protestants, and the primitive faith of the English Church."

XXX PREFACE,

The work Avas again translated into English by John Ste- vens, Lond. 8vo. 1723 ; and a third time (with some omis- sions) bv W. Hurst, Lond. 8vo. 1814, and apparently with the same object which influenced Stapleton.

In 1840, the editor of the present volume published a new edition of Stevens's translation, altering it in many respects, and correcting the orthography of proper names, according to the modern and generally received standard. A second edition of the same volume was published in 1842. In the same year also it was introduced, to accompany the Latin text, in the second volume of an edition of the complete works of Venerable Bede, and is now a fourth time printed w h the other works contained in this volume. As the trans- lation has en each occasion received certain corrections, it is hoped that the English reader will now find it to convey a tolerably accurate notion of the style and sense of the original.

CHAP. IV.— OF THE SAXON CHRONICLE.

The work, which passes under the name of the Saxon Chroni- cle, is a continued narrative written at different dates, and in the Anglo-Saxon language, of the most important events of English History from the earliest period to the year of our Lord 1154. As it is evident, both from the antiquity of the very manuscripts of it now extant, as well as from certain allusions and forms of speech which occur in it, that the latter part of it at least was written by a person contempo- rary with the events which he relates, it cannot but be an object of interest and of great historical importance to ex- amine so ancient a writing according to all the modes which literary criticism can suggest ; and this inquiry becomes the more imperative from the extreme probability that the earlier part of the Chronicle is also of a contemporary character, and therefore ascends to a very earlier period of Saxon his- tory, even to the time of the Heptarchy itself. This opinion rests upon the remarkable fact, that whilst the dialect of the latter portion of the Chronicle approaches very nearly to our modern English, the early part of it bears the impress of times much more rude and ancient, and the language in which it is written is absolutely unintelligible to the modern Englishman, who has not made the Anglo-Saxon tongue a serious object of his study.

SAXON CHRONICLE. XXXI

The first point which suggests itself to the inquirer, con- cerns the form in which so valuable a national monument has come down to us. I shall not deem it necessary to delay the reader's attention by an account of the mode in which our large public and private collections of manuscripts have been formed. It is sufficient to observe that in all our col- lections of MSS. there are now only six ancient copies of the Saxon Chronicle known to be in existence. We will proceed to enumerate and describe them in order.

I. The first copy of this Chronicle is generally known by the name of the Benet or Plegmund MS., so called because it is preserved in Benet [now Corpus Christi] College, Cam- bridge, and because Plegmund, archbishop of Canterbury, in the reign of king Alfred, is thought to have had some hand in compiling the first part of it.

" From internal evidence of an indirect nature," says Dr. Ingram, "there is great reason to presume that archbishop Plegmund transcribed or superintended tliis very copy of the Saxon Annals to the year 891, the year in which he came to the see. Wanley observes it is written in one and the same hand to this year, and in hands equally ancient to the year 924, after which it is continued in different hands to the end.

" At the end of the year 890 is added, in a neat but imita- tive hand, the following interpolation, which is betrayed by the faintness of the ink, as well as by the Norman cast of the dialect and orthography :

"Her wees Plegemund gecoron of gode and of eallen his halechen.

"There are many other interpolations in this MS.;* a par- ticular account of which, however curious, would necessarily become tedious. A few only are here selected, with a view to illustrate the critical apparatus of this work, and the pro- gressive accumulation of historical facts. They are generally very short, except where an erasure has been made to find room for them. The notice of the birth of St. Dunstan, as of every thing else relating to him, appears to be a monastic interpolation. His death is mentioned in the margin, in a very minute hand, in Latin. There seems to be nothing of any great value in this MS. beyond the time of Alfric, whose * The death of Plesjrmund for instance.

Xxxii PREFACE.

death is recorded, after a considerable chasm, in the year 1006. After this period the notices of events and transac- tions are very scanty and defective. The royal donation of the haven of Sandwich to Christ Church, Canterbury, is placed to the year 1031, but evidently written after the con- quest, and left unfinished. The Saxon part ends m the year 1070, with the words, - - bletsungan underfeng ; after de- scribing at full length the dispute between the archbishops of Canterbury and York."* , . • -.

n. The second copy of the Saxon Chronicle is in the British Museum. [MS. Cotton, Tiberius A. vi.] It is " written in the same hand with much neatness and accuracy, from the beginning to the end," and " is of very high autho- rity and antiquity. It w^as probably wi'itten c. 977, w^here it terminates. The hand -writing resembles that ascribed to St. Dunstan. It narrowly escaped destruction in the fire at Westminster, previous to its removal to its present place of custody, being one of Sir R. Cotton's MSS., formerly ^be- longing to the monastery of St. Augustine's, Canterbury." f

III.'' A third MS. is also in the British Museum. [Cott.

Tib. B. i.] ^ . ^.

" This MS., though frequently quoted by Somner m his Dictionary under the title of ' Chronica Abbendoniae,' or the Abingdon Chronicle, and said to have been transcribed by him, seems not to have been known to Gibson, though no- ticed by Nicolson within a few years after the appearance of his edition.^ It contains many important additions to the former Chronicles, some of which are confirmed by C. T. B. iv. ; but many are not to be found in any other MS., par- ticularly those in the latter part of it. These are now incor- porated with the old materials. Wanley considers the hand- writing to be the same to the end of the year 1048. The orthography, however, varies about the year 890 (889 of the printed Chronicle). The writer seems to have been startled at Ofise for Oththan, i. e. Othoni, a.d. 925 ; for there is a chasm from that place to the year 934, when a sUght notice is introduced of the expedition of Athelstan into Scotland.^

• Dr. Ingram's preface, p. xx. t I^id.

X English Historical Library, Part I. p. 116.

§ Most of the MSS. are defective here ; and the thread of history during this turbulent period, appears to have been often disturbed, liu

SAXON CHEONICLE. XXXlil

In the year 982 are some curious particulars respecting the wars of Otho 11. in Greece, and Lis victories there over the Saracens, now first printed. From the same source, and from C. T. B. iv., we have been enabled to present to the reader of English history a more copious and accurate ac- count than has hitherto appeared, of the Danish invasions, the civil wars in the reign of Edward the Confessor, and the battles of Harold previous to the Norman Conquest. The MS. terminates imperfectly in 1066, after describing most minutely the battle of Stanford-bridge ; the few lines which appear in the last page being suppHed by a much later hand."

IV. A fourth copy of the Saxon Chronicle occurs also in the British Museum. [Cott. Tiberius B. iv.]

" This MS. like the preceding, though of invaluable autho- rity, was unknown to Gibson. It is written in a plain and beautiful hand, with few abbreviations, and apparently copied in the early part, with the exception of the introduc- tory description of Britain, from a very ancient MS. The defective parts, from a.d. 261 to 693, Avere long since sup- plied from four excellent MSS. by Josselyn ; who also col- lated it tln-oughout with the same ; inserting from them, both in the text and in the margin, such passages as came within his notice ; which are so numerous, that very few seem to have eluded his vigilant search. A smaller but elegant hand commences fol. 68, a.d. 1016 ; and it is con- tinued to the end, A.D. 1079, in a similar hand, though by different writers. Wanley notices a difference in the year 1052. The value and importance of this MS., as well as of the preceding, will be best exemplified by a reference to the notes and various readings in the present edition. The last notice of it will be found in page 456."

V. The fifth MS. is in the Bodleian Library at Oxford. [Laud E, 80.]

It is so " well known, from being made the basis of Gib- son's edition where Wheloc's was deficient, that it will not be so necessary to enlarge on it here. It is a fair copy of older Chronicles, with a few inaccuracies, omissions, and interpo- lations, to the year 1122 ; therefore no part of it was written

poetry took advantage of the circumstance, and occasionally filled a chasm with some of the earliest specimens of the northern muse ; the preservation of which we owe exclusively to the Saxon Chronicle.

d

XXXIV PREFACE.

before that period. The next ten years rather exhibit differ- ent ink than a different writer. From 1132 to the end, A.D. 1154, the language and orthography became gradually more Normanized, particularly in the reign of king Stephen ; the account of which was not written till the close of it. The dates not being regularly affixed to the last ten years, Wanley has inadvertently described this MS. as ending A.D. 1143; whereas it is continued eleven years after- wards."

VI. The sixth and last copy is in the British Museum. [Cotton, Domitian A. viii.]

" This is a singularly curious MS., attributed generally to a monk of Christ Church, Canterbury, on account of the monastic interpolations. It is often quoted and commended by II. Wharton, in his Anglia Sacra, because it contains much ecclesiastical and local information. We consider it, however, of the least authority among the Cotton MSS., because the writer has taken greater liberties in abridging former Chronicles, and inserting translations of Latin docu- ments in his own Normanized dialect. Frithstan, bishop of Winchester, who died a.d. 931 according to this Chronicle, is called biscop Wentanus ; and Byrnstanus [Brinstan] is said to have been consecrated on his loh — in ejus locum, lien, Fr. Its very peculiarities, nevertheless, stamp a great value on it ; and its frauds are harmless, if possible, because they are easily detected. Towards the end the writer intended to say something about prince Edward, the father of Edgar and Margaret ; but it is nearly obliterated, and the MS. soon after concludes, a.d. 1058. It is remarkable for being written both in Latin and Saxon ; but for what purpose it is now needless to conjecture. It is said to have been given to Sir Robert Cotton by Camden. The passages printed from it by Gibson, and the variations in the margin, marked Cot., are from the collations of Junius inserted in his copy of Wheloc. There does not appear to have been any entire transcript of the MS., as we find it sometimes stated.* Gib- son takes no notice of the introductory description of Britain as being in this MS., and he dates its termination in the wrong place. We have therefore had recourse to it again in the British Museum, where it is depo:-ited." * Vid. Wanl. Cat. p. 220.

SAXON CHRONICLE. XXXV

Besides these six, no other ancient copy is known to exist ; but there is a single leaf of an ancient copy in the British Museum. [Cotton, Tiberius A iii.] There are also three modern transcripts, two of which are in the Bodleian library, [Junian MSS. and Laud G. 36,] and one in the Dublin library, [E 5, 15.] The Bodleian transcripts are taken from two of the Cotton MSS., and therefore are of little critical value ; but the Dublin transcript appears to be taken from an original, now lost, [Cott. Otho B. xi.] and therefore it possesses an independent authority.

" At the end of the Dublin transcript is this note, in the hand-writing of archbishop Usher : ' These Annates are ex- tant in S"" R. Cotton's Librarye at the ende of Bede's His- torye in the Saxon Tongue.' This accords with the descrip- tion of the MS. in Wanley's Catalogue, p. 219 ; to which the reader is referred for more minute particulars. As this MS. was therefore in existence so late as 1705, when Wanley published his Catalogue, there can be little doubt that it perished in the lamentable fire of 1731, which either destroyed or damaged so many of the Cotton MSS. while deposited in a house in Little Dean's Yard, Westminster."

" This transcript is become more valuable from the loss of the original. It appears from dates by Lambard himself, at the beginning and end, that it was begun by him in 1563, and finished in 1564, when he was about the age of twenty- five. Li the front is this inscription in Saxon characters :

Willm lambarde, 1563 ; and, wulfhelm lambheord ; with this addition, waeccath thine leoht-faet ; which may be thus translated <•

' Lambard, arise ; awake thy lamp.'

At the end is the following memorandum : ' Finis : 9 Aprilis, 1564. W. L. propria manu.' I am informed by several gentlemen of Trinity College, Dublin, to whom I am indebted for most of the particulars relating to this transcript, that it was once in the possession of archbishop Usher, and is the same mentioned in his Ecclesiastical History, p. 182, which Nicolson says 'is worth the inquiring after.'* It came into the Dublin Library with the other MSS. of the archbishop, according to his original intention, after the restoration of Charles II."

* English Historical Librarv, Part 1. p. 117. d 2

XXXvi PKEFACE.

To these six, or if we include the Dublin MS., seven copies of the Saxon Chronicle, must our mqmry therefore be coniined ; and the first point worthy of notice is the iact, that no t;vo of them agree in the date at which they termi- nate. Thus:

No. 2. comes down no later than a.d. HI I. 7. ends at a.d. 1001. 6. ends imperfectly at 1058.

3. ends at 1066. 1. ends at 1070.

4. ends abruptly at 1080.

5. ends imperfectly at 1154. This diTersity can hardly be accounted for on any other

view of the case, than that which applies to a large number of other ancient writings, and is peculiariy forcible as ap- pUed to a series of annals like the work before us.

Almost every monastery had its own historiographer or

liistorian, whose business or at !«»?' ^l?"^-^ f "'=™/ J'^vho it was to copy the history of preceding times from those who were already known to have written of them with succes and to continue the narrative, during his own times, in his own words, to the best of his ability. Now m the case of the Saxon Chronicle we may reasonably suppose that its onginal groundwork consisted of little more than a meagre string ol events, arranged chronologically with a few genealogies and notices of the deaths and births of the kings and other distinguished personages. In the limited dimensions within wliich learning was confined during the Anglo-Saxon Heptarchy, and in consequence also of the Paucity of scholars, it is more likely that such a record woulc become aenerally used than that new ones would be written, and most of the monasteries would probably possess a copy oi the early part of these annals, which afterwards Aey would bring down to their own times. Consistent with this theory is the evident fact that the existing MSS. coming from different religious houses, all difi-er in the year at ^^;tich tnej terminate, as'if the last transcriber of the shortest had no been aware that the copy which he followed was le« complete than those which existed elsewhere.'

• A case exactly in point to illustrate *is ™ggeBto ocrnrs in the let^T of Amulf bishop of Lisieux unJer Henry II. Seven MSS. only exist

SAXON CHRONICLE. XXXvii

But there is another peculiarity in the MSS. of the Saxon Chronicle which almost proves for certain the account above given. Some of these MSS. are more diffuse than the others about the affairs of the particular monastery in which they are believed to have been written. Thus one of them, especially, is most minute concerning the affairs of Peter- borou_^h, — a fact, which, almost without other evidence, would prove it to have been transcribed within the walls of that monastery.

However this theory, which lies upon the surface of the inquiry concerning the mode in which the Saxon Chronicle was compiled, may be thought worthy or not of the reader's attention, I am not disposed to waive it in favour of any other ; for numerous writers have already tried to go more deeply into the subject, and have failed in ehciting more than vague and remote probabilities. The following remarks are taken from the Preface of l3r. Ingram, and I do not scruple to insert them, although the quotation is rather long, because they show the train of thought which arose in the mind of one who as yet stands foremost among the translators and illustrators of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle.

"It is now time to examine, who were probably the writers of these annals. I say probably, because we have very little more than rational conjecture to guide us.

" The period antecedent to the times of Bede, except Avhere passages were afterwards asserted, was perhaps little else, originally, than a kind of chronological table of events, with a few genealogies, and notices of the death and succession of kings and other distinguished personages. But it is evident from the preface of Bede and from many passages in his work, that he received considerable assistance from Saxon bishops, abbats and others ; who not only communicated certain traditionary facts viva voce, but also transmitted to him many written documents. These, therefore, must have been the early chronicles of Wessex, of Kent, and of the other provinces of the Heptarchy ; which formed together the groundwork of his history. With greater honesty than most of his followers, he has given us the names of those

six of which contain about seventy letters only. On coming to examine the seventli in St. John's College Library, I was at once enabled to augment the number to 130.

XXXVIU PREFACE.

learned persons who assisted liim with this local informatioi! . The first is Alcuinus or Albinus, an abbat of Canterbury, at whose instigation he undertook the work ; who sent by Nothelm, afterwards archbishop of that province, a full account of all ecclesiastical transactions in Kent, and in the contiguous districts, from the first conversion of the Saxons. From the same source he partly derived his information respecting the provinces of Essex, Wessex, East Anglia, and Northumbria. Bishop Daniel communicated to him by letter many particulars concerning Wessex, Sussex, and the Isle of Wio;ht. He acknowled2;es assistance more than once ^ ex scriptis priorum ; ' and there is every reason to believe that some of these preceding records were the Anglo-Saxon annals ; for we have already seen that such records were in existence before the age of Nennius. In proof of this we may observe, that even the phraseology sometimes partakes more of the Saxon idiom than the Latin. K, therefore, it be admitted, as there is every reason to conclude from the foregoing remarks, that certain succinct and chronological arrangements of liistorical facts had taken place in several provinces of the Heptarchy before the time of Bede, let us inquire by whom they were likely to have been made.

" In the province of Kent, the first person on record, who is celebrated for his learning, is Tobias, the ninth bishop of Rochester, who succeeded to that see in 693. He is noticed by Bede as not only furnished with an ample store of Greek and Latin literature, but skilled also in the Saxon language and erudition. It is probable, therefore, that he left some proofs of this attention to his native language ; and, as he died within a few years of Bede, the latter would naturally avail liimself of his labours. It is worthy also of remark, that Berthwald, who succeeded to the illustrious Theodore of Tarsus in 690, was the first English or Saxon archbishop of Canterbury. From this period, consequently, we may date that cultivation of the vernacular tongue which would lead to the composition of brief chronicles, * and other vehicles of instruction, necessary for the improvement of a rude and illiterate people. The first chronicles were, perhaps, those of Kent or Wessex ; which seem to have been regularly

* " The materials, however, though not regularly arranged, must be traced to a much higher source.

SAXON CHRONICLE. XXxix

continued, at intervals, by the archbishops of Canterbury, or by their direction,* at least as far as the year 1001, or even 1070 ; for the Benet MS. which some call the Plegmund MS. ends in the latter year ; the rest being in I^atin. From internal evidence indeed, of an indirect nature, there is great reason to presume, that archbishop Plegmund transcribed or superintended this very copy of the Saxon annals to the year 891 ; f the year in which he came to the see ; inserting, both before and after this date, to the time of his death in 923, such additional materials as he was well qualified to furnish from his high station and learning, and the confidential intercourse which he enjoyed in the court of king Alfred. The total omission of his own name, except by another hand, affords indirect evidence of some importance in support of this con- jecture. Whether king Alfred himself was the author of a distinct and separate Chronicle of Wessex, cannot now be determined. That he furnished additional supplies of historical matter to the older chronicles is, I conceive, sufficiently obvious to every reader who will take the trouble of examining the subject. The argument of Dr. Beeke, the present dean of Bristol, in an obliging letter to the editor on this subject, is not without its force ; — that it is extremely improbable, when we consider the number and variety of king Alfred's works, that he should have neglected the history of his own country. Besides a genealogy of the kings of Wessex from Cerdic to his own time, wliich seems never to have been incorporated with any MS. of the Saxon Chronicle, though prefixed or annexed to several, he un- doubtedly preserved many traditionary facts ; with a full and circumstantial detail of his own operations, as well as those of his father, brother, and other members of his family ; which scarcely any other person than himself could have supplied. To doubt this, would be as incredulous a thing as to deny that Xenophon wrote his Anabasis, or Cassar his Commentaries. From the time of Alfred and Plegmund to

* " Josselyn collated two Kentish MSS. of the first authority ; one of which he calls the History or Chronicle of St. Augustine's, the other that of Christ Church, Canterbury. The former was perhaps the one marked in our series C. T. A vi. ; the latter the Benet or Plegmund MS.

t " Wanley observes, that the Benet MS. is written in one and the same hand to this year, and in hands equally ancient to the year 924 ; after which it is continued m different hands to the end. Vid. Cat. p. 130.

Xl PREFACE.

a few years after the Norman Conquest, these chronicles seem to have been continued by different hands, under the auspices of such men as archbishops Dunstan, Alfric, and others, whose characters have been much misrepresented by ignorance and scepticism on the one hand, as well as by mistaken zeal and devotion on the other. The indirect evidence respecting Dunstan and Alfric is as curious as that concerning Plegmund ; but the discussion of it would lead us into a wide and barren field of investigation ; nor is this the place to refute the errors of Hickes, Cave, and Wharton, already noticed by Wanley in his preface. The Chronicles of Abingdon, of Worcester, of Peterborough, and others, are continued in the same manner by different hands ; partly, though not exclusively, by monks of those monasteries, who very naturally inserted many particulars relating to their own local interests and concerns ; which, so far from invalidating the general history, render it more interesting and valuable. It would be a vain and frivolous attempt to ascribe these latter compilations to particular persons,* where there were evidently so many contributors ; but that they were successively furnished by contemporary writers, many of whom were eye-witnesses of the events and trans- actions which they relate, there is abundance of internal evidence to convince us. Many instances of this the editor had taken some pains to collect, in order to lay them before the reader in the preface ; but they are so numerous that the subject would necessarily become tedious ; and therefore every reader must be left to find them for himself. They will amply repay him for his trouble, if he takes any interest in the early history of England, or in the general construction of authentic history of any kind. He will see plagiarisms without end in the Latin histories, and will be in no danger of falling into the errors of Gale and others ; not to mention those of our historians, who were not professed antiquaries, who mistook that for original and authentic testimony which was only translated. It is remarkable that the Saxon Chronicle gradually expires with the Saxon language, almost melted into modern English, in the year 1154.

* " Hickes supposed the Laud or Peterborough Chronicle to have been compiled by Hugo Candidus (Albus, or White), or some other monk of that house.

SAXON CHRONICLE. xli

From this period almost to the Reformation, whatever knowledge we have of the affairs of England has been originally derived either from the semi-barbarous Latin of our own countrymen, or from the French chronicles of Froissart and others.

" The revival of good taste and of good sense, and of the good old custom adopted by most nations of the civilized world — that of writing their own history in their own language — was happily exemplified at length in the laborious works of our English chroniclers and historians.

" Many have since followed in the same track ; and the importance of the whole body of English history has attracted and employed the imagination of Milton, the philosophy of Hume, the simplicity of Goldsmith, the industry of Henry, the research of Turner, and the patience of Lingard. The pages of these writers, however, accurate and luminous as they generally are, as well as those of Brady, Tyrrel, Carte, Rapin, and others, not to mention those in black letter, still require correction from the Saxon Chronicle ; without which no person, however learned, can possess any thing beyond a superficial acquaintance with the elements of English history, and of the British Constitution.

" Some remarks m.ay here be requisite on the chronology of the Saxon Chronicle. In the early part of it * the reader will observe a reference to the grand epoch of the creation of the world. So also in Ethelwerd, who closely follows the Saxon annals. It is allowed by all, that considerable difficulty has occurred in fixing the true epoch of Christ's nativity, "j* because the Christian era was not used at all till about the year 532, J when it was introduced by Dionysius Exiguus ; whose code of canon law, joined afterwards with the decretals of the popes, became as much the standard of authority in ecclesiastical matters as the pandects of Justinian among civilians. But it does not appear that in

* "See A.I). XXXIII. the era of Christ's cmcifixion.

+ "See Playfair's System of Chronology, p. 49.

X "Playfair says 5-27 : but 1 follow Bede, Florence of Worcester, and others ; who affirm that the great paschal cycle of Dionysius commenced from the year of our Lord's incarnation 532— the year in which the code of Justinian was promulgated. Vid. Flor. an. 532, lUb'4;, and 1073. See also M. West. an. 532.

xlii

PREFACE.

the Saxon mode of computation this system of chronology was implicitly followed. We mention this circumstance, however, not with a view of settling the point of difference, which would not be easy, but merely to account for those variations observable in different MSS. ; which arose, not only from the common mistakes or inadvertencies of tran- scribers, but from the liberty, which the original writers themselves sometimes assumed in this country, of computing the current year according to their own ephemeral or local custom. Some began with the incarnation or Nativity of Christ ; some with the Circumcision, which accords with the solar year of the Romans as now restored ; whilst others commenced with the Annunciation ; a custom which became very prevalent in honour of the Virgin Mary, and was not formally abolished here till the year 1752 ; when the Gregorian calendar, commonly called the New Style, was substituted by Act of Parliament for the Dionysian. This diversity of computation would alone occasion some con- fusion ; but in addition to this, the indictton, or cycle of fifteen years, which is mentioned in the latter part of the Saxon Chronicle, was carried back three years before the vulgar era, and commenced in diiferent places at four different periods of the year I But it is very remarkable that, whatever was the commencement of the year in the early part of the Saxon Chronicle, in the latter part the year invariably opens with Midwinter-day or the Nativity. G-ervase of Canterbury, whose Latin Chronicle ends in 1199, the era of legal memory, had formed a design, as he tells us, of regulating his chronology, by the Annunciation ; but from an honest fear of falsifying dates he abandoned his first intention, and acquiesced in the practice of his prede- cessors ; who for the most part, he says, began the new year with the Nativity."*

Let us now see what has been done by previous editors and translators of this valuable national document.

Gerard Langbaine was the first who entertained thoughts of publishing this Chronicle ; but he relinquished his design, as appears from his papers in the Bodleian library, because Wheloc had anticipated him.

The first edition therefore of the original text of this * " Vid. Prol. in Chron. Gervas. ap. X. Script, p. 1338."

SAXON CHRONICLE. xHu

work is due to Wheloc, professor of Arabic at Cambridge. His work entitled Chronologia Anglo- Saxonica, [a.d. 1644], occupying about sixty folio pages, forms a supplement to his edition of Bede's Ecclesiastical History. But as Wheloc had the use of only the Bennet or Plegmund MS. [No. 1 in our summary of the MSS.], and of an original, now lost, of which our No. 7, the Dublin transcript, is supposed to be a copy, it is manifest that the editor had no opportunity of inserting those parts of the Chronicle — forming about one half of the whole — which do not occur in those two manu- scripts.

Forty-eight years after Wheloc, Gibson, a young man of Queen's College, Oxford, and afterwards bishop of London, published a more complete edition of the Chronicle, for which he used three additional MSS. which had come into notice since the time of Wheloc.

More than 120 years passed before this historical record again attracted the notice of the public, or the labours of an editor. It was then translated into English throughout from the text of Gibson by a learned lady still living. Miss Gur- ney; to whom, both my enterprising publisher and myself are largely indebted for her kindness in facilitating the pre- sent edition, and to whom we gladly take this opportunity of acknowledging the debt.

Miss Gurney's translation was printed for private circula- tion, and did not receive the final polish of the fair trans- lator, who was deterred from bestowing further labour upon a work which was shortly to be undertaken by one of our ablest antiquaries.

In 1823 appeared an edition of the Saxon Chronicle by Dr. Ingram, now President of Trinity College, accompanied with an English translation, a map of Saxon-England, coins of the Saxon kings, &c., &c.

At the same time that this learned work made its appear- ance, it was understood that the late Mr. Petrie, keeper of the records in the Tower, was devoting his laborious atten- tion to prepare the Chronicle for publication at the expense of the Record Commission. Accuracy and laborious research were shining features in the literary character of Petrie : but he was less remarkable for discriminating how far an author's text may be illustrated without being overlaid by various readings, and he carried his mode of arrangement

Xliv PREFACE.

to such extremities, mutilated and subdivided his authors to such a degree, and so encumbered his pages with references, stars, accents, and brackets, that it is doubtful whether the learned and laborious folio, which he superintended to its completion, will ever see the light of publication. It re- mains in the possession of the Master of the Rolls, a mighty storehouse of collations for all future editions of Giidas, Nennius, Bede, the Saxon Chronicle, Florence of Worcester, Henry of Huntingdon, &c., &c.

In 1830 appeared a small anonymous volume, entitled, Ancient History, English and French, exemplified in a regular dissection of the Saxon Chronicle, ^c, Sfc, London^ Hatchard, 1830; containing some lively dissertations in which much genius is displayed, unhappily not leading to clear or satisfactory results.

Such being the editions and translations already in exist- ence, it became a serious question with the publisher and editor of the present volume, what would be the best plan to be pursued, in order that the work might be placed be- fore the public in a form the best adapted to secure general approbation. As the result of this deliberation, it was judged expedient to take the edition of Petrie as a basis, because it was found to contain the most perfect collations of all the six existing manuscripts, and therefore to present a more complete text than any other printed volume. The style of the translation is as literal as the idiom of our language will allow.

But, as the edition of Mr. Petrie extends only to the year 1066, it has been necessary to form a text for the latter por- tion of the Chronicle from other sources. To effect this the translation of Miss Gurney, has, with the consent of that amiable lady, been taken as a ground-work, and numerous additions, variations, and notes, have been introduced by a collation of her text with that of Dr. Ingram.

As the result of these various modes, the public have now the advantage of reading the whole of this very interesting chronicle, not only in a perfect form, but even to an extent that might, perhaps, by some be deemed superfluous, with all the variations which can be gathered from all the manu- script copies now known to be in existence.

J. A. G.

Bamp',oii, Oxfordshire, July, 1847.

THE ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY

ENGLISH NATION,

BY VENERABLE BEDE.

BOOK I. PREFACE.

To the most glorious king Ceolwulph,* Bede, the servant of Christ and Priest,

I FORMERLY, at jouT Tcquest, most readily transmitted to you the Ecclesiastical History of the English Nation, which I had newly published, for you to read, and give it your approbation ; and I now send it again to be transcribed, and more fully considered at your leisure. And I cannot but commend the sincerity and zeal, with which you not only diligently give ear to hear the words of the Holy Scripture, but also industriously take care to become acquainted with the actions and sayings of former men of renown, especially of our own nation. For if history relates good things of good men, the attentive hearer is excited to imitate that which is good ; or if it mentions evil things of wicked per- sons, nevertheless the religious and pious hearer or reader, shunning that which is hurtful and perverse, is the more earnestly excited to perform those things which he knows to be good, and worthy of God. Of which you also being deeply sensible, are desirous that the said history should be more fully made familiar to yourself, and to those over whom

* Ceolwulph king of Northumberland, not the king of Wessex, who reigned about a.d. 527 ; nor the king of Mercia, who reigned about a.d. 819.

B

t/

2 BEDe's ecclesiastical history. Lb. I. PRBP.

the Divine Authority has appointed you governor, from your great regard to their general welfare. But to the end that i may remove all occasion of doubting what I have written, both from yourself and other readers or hearers of this his- tory, I will take care briefly to intimate from what authors I chiefly learned the same.

My principal authority and aid in this work was the learned and reverend Abbot Albinus ; who, educated in the Church of Canterbury by those venerable and learned men, Arch- bishop Theodore of blessed memory, and the Abbot Adrian, transmitted to me by Nothelm, the pious priest of the Church of London,* either in writing, or by word of mouth of the same Nothelm, all that he thought worthy of memory, that had been done in the province of Kent, or the adjacent parts, by the disciples of the blessed Pope Gregory, as he had learned the same either from written records, or the traditions of his ancestors. The same Nothelm, afterwards going to Rome, having, with leave of the present Pope Gregory, f searched into the archives of the holy Roman Church, found there some epistles of the blessed Pope Gregory, and other popes ; and returning home, by the advice of the aforesaid most reverend father Albinus, brought them to me, to be in- serted in my liistory. Thus, from the beginning of this volume to the time when the English nation received the faith of Christ, have we collected the writings of our prede- cessors, and from them gathered matter for our history ; but from that time till the present, what was transacted in the Church of Canterbury, by the disciples of St. Gregory or their successors, and under what kings the same happened, has been conveyed to us by Nothelm through the industry of the aforesaid Abbot Albinus. They also partly informed me by what bishops and under what kings the provinces of the East and West Saxons, as also of the East Angles, and of the Northumbrians, received the faith of Christ. In short I was chiefly encouraged to undertake this work by the per- suasions of the same Albinus. In like manner, Daniel, the most reverend Bishop of the West Saxons, who is still living, ...communicated to me in writing some tilings relating to the '■"'lEcclesiastical History of that province, and the next adjoin-

* Afterwards Archbishop of Canterbury, a.d. 736. t Gregory the Third, who began to reign, a.d. 731.

B. f. PREF.j CUTJTEBERT CUTHBERT. 3

ing to it of the South Saxons, as also of the Isle of Wight. But how, by the pious ministry of Cedd and Ceadda, the province of the Mercians was brought to the faith of Christ, which they knew not before, and how that of the East Saxons recovered the same, after having expelled it, and how those fathers lived and died, we learned from the brethren )f the monastery, which was built by them, and is called Lastingham. What ecclesistical transactions took place in :he province of the East Angles, was partly made known to IS from the writings and tradition of our ancestors, and Dartly by relation of the most reverend Abbot Esius. What rvas done towards promoting the faith, and what was the jacerdotal succession in the province of Lindsey, we had jither from the letters of the most reverend prelate Cunebert,* )r by word of mouth from other persons of good credit. But vhat was done in the Church throughout the province of the N'orthumbrians, from the time when they received the faith )f Christ till this present, I received not from any particular luthor, but by the faithful testimony of innumerable wit- lesses, who might know or remember the same ; besides what [ had of my own knowledge. Wherein it is to be observed, ;hat what I have written concerning our most holy father, Bishop Cuthbert, either in this volume, or in my treatise )n Ms life and actions, I partly took, and faithfully copied from vhat I found written of him by the bretliren of the Church )f Lindisfarne ;t but at the same time took care to add such ;hings as I could myself have knowledge of by the faithful estimony of such as knew him. And I humbly entreat the •eader, that if he shall in this that we have written find mything not delivered according to the truth, he will not mpute the same to me, who, as the true rule of history re- {uires, have laboured sincerely to commit to writing such hings as I could gather from common report, for the instruc- ion of posterity.

IMoreover, I beseech all men who shall hear or read this listory of our nation, that for my manifold infirmities both •f mind and body, they will ofifer up frequent supplications

* Bishop of Sidnacester, the present see of Lincoln.

+ Lindisfarne, now called Holy Island, is situated on the north of North- umberland, in its southern extremity. Here stood a monastery in Bede's ime, and it was for four centvuies the seat of the present see of Durham. B 2

4 bede's ecclesiastical history. Lb. I. c. 1.

to the throne of Grace. And I further pray, that in recom- pense for the labour wherewith I have recorded in the seve- ral countries and cities those events which were most worthy of note, and most grateful to the ears of their inhabitants, I may for my reward have the benefit of their pious prayers.

CHAP. 1.

Of the Situation of Britain and Ireland, and of their ancient inhabitants.

Britain, an island in the ocean,* formerly called Albion, is situated between the north and west, facing, though at a considerable distance, the coasts of Germany, France, and Spain, which form the greatest part of Eui'ope. It extends 800 miles in length towards the north, and is 200 miles in breadth, except where several promontories extend further in breadth, by which its compass is made to be 3675 miles.f To the south, as you pass along the nearest shore of the Belgic Gaul, the first place in Britain which opens to the eye, is the city of Rutubi Portus, by the English corrupted into Reptacestir. J The distance from hence across the sea to Ges- soriacum,§ the nearest shore of the Morini, is fifty miles, or as some writers say, 450 furlongs. On the back of the island, where it opens upon the boundless ocean, it has the islands called Orcades. Britain excels for grain and trees, and is well adapted for feeding cattle and beasts of burden. It also produces vines in some places, and has plenty of land and water-fowls of several sorts ; it is remarkable also for rivers abounding in fish, and plentiful springs. It has the greatest plenty of salmon and eels ; seals are also frequently taken, and dolpliins, as also whales ; besides many sorts of shell-fish, such as muscles, in which are often found excellent

* The expression, " an island in the ocean," seems to be used to dis- tinguish Britain from the other islands knov,Ti to the ancients, almost all of which were in the Mediterranean sea.

t This total varies in different authors : some make it 4875. The first few pages of Bede are of not much value, being copied out of Pliny, SoU- ims, and other Roman authors. See the Appendix to my History of the Ancient Britons.

X Richborough, Kent, § Boulogne,

B. r. c. r.J BRITAIN ITS PRODUCTIONS. 5

penrls of all colours, red, purple, violet, and green, but mostly white. There is also a great abundance of cockles, of which the scarlet dye is made ; a most beautiful colour, which never fades with the heat of the sun or the washing of the rain ; but the older it is, the more beautiful it becomes. It has both salt and hot springs, and from them flow rivers which furnish hot baths, proper for all ages and sexes, and arranged according. For water, as St. Basil says, receives the heating quality, when it runs along certain metals, and becomes not only hot but scalding. Britain has also many veins of metals, as copper, iron, lead, and silver ; it has much and excellent jet, which is black and sparkling, glittering at the fire, and when heated, drives away serpents ; being warmed with rul)bing, it holds fast whatever is applied to it, like amber. The island was for- merly embelUshed with twenty-eight noble cities, besides in- numerable castles, which were all strongly secured with walls, towers, gates, and locks. And, from its lying almost under the North Pole, the nights are light in summer, so that at midnight the beholders are often in doubt whether the even- ing t^vilight still continues, or that of the morning is coming on ; for the sun, in the night, returns under the earth, through the northern regions at no great distance from them. For this reason the days are of a great length in summer, as, on the contrary, the nights are in winter, for the sun then withdraws into the southern parts, so that the nights are eighteen hours long. Thus the nights are extraordinarily short in summer, and the days in winter, that is, of only six equinoctial hours. Whereas, in Armenia, Macedonia, Italy, and other countries of the same latitude, the longest day or night extends but to fifteen hours, and the shortest to nine.

This island at present, following the number of the books in which the Divine law was written, contains five nations, the English, Britons, Scots,* Picts,t and Latins, each in its

* The Scots were the relatives of the Cymri, being another branch of the great Celtic nation, who, at a period far beyond all authentic history, had established themselves in Hibemia, Erin, or Ireland. Hence that island, from its predominant population, was generally called Scotia,^ or Insula Scotorum, by the writers of the sixth and seventh centuries. _ The name of Scotia, or Scotland, as applied to the northern portion of Britain, is comparatively of modern origin.

f The original of the Fids, has caused various opinions. Hector Boe-

b BEDE S ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. [b. i.e. I.

own peculiar dialect cultivating the sublime study of Divine truth. The Latin tongue is, by the study of the Scriptures, become common to all the rest. At first this island had no other inhabitants but the Britons, from whom it derived its name, and who, coming over into Britain, as is reported, from Ai'morica, possessed themselves of the southern parts thereof When they, beginning at the south, had made themselves masters of the greatest part of the island, it hap- pened, that the nation of the Picts, from Scythia, as is re- ported, putting to sea, in a few long ships, were driven by the winds beyond the shores of Britain, and arrived on the northern coasts of Ireland, where, finding the nation of the Scots, they begged to be allowed to settle among them, but I could not succeed in obtaining their request. Ii-eland is the |i greatest island next to Britain, and lies to the west of it ; but as it is shorter than Britain to the north, so, on the other hand, it runs out far beyond it to the south, opposite to the northern parts of Spain, though a spacious sea lies between them. The Picts, as has been said, arriving in this island by sea, desired to have a place granted them in wliich they might settle. The Scots answered that the island could not contain them both ; but " We can give you good advice," said they, " what to do ; we know there is another island, not far from ours, to the eastward, wliich we often see at a distance, when the days are clear. If you will go thither, you will obtain settlements ; or, if they should oppose you, you shall have our assistance." The Picts, accordingly, sail- ing over into Britain, began to inhabit the northern parts thereof, for the Britons were possessed of the southern. Now the Picts had no wives, and asked them of the Scots ; who would not consent to grant them upon any other terms, than that when any difficulty should arise, they should choose a king from the female royal race rather than from the male : wliich custom, as is well known, has been observed among the Picts to this day. In process of time, Britain, besides the Britons and the Picts, received a third nation, the Scots,

thius derives them from the Agathyrsi, others from the Germans, Bede from Scythia, and the author of the Saxon Annals from the southern parts oi' Scythia, Mr. Camden is of opinion that they were originally Britons, who fled into the northern parts of the island from the Roman invasions, as the Welsh into the western. But this is opposed by Bishop Stillingfleet, who was of opinion that they came from Scandinavia, Orig. Brit c. 5.

D. 54.] C^SAk's invasion OF BRITAIN. 7

who, migrating from Ireland under their leader, Reuda, either by fair means, or by force of arms, secured to them- selves those settlements among the Picts which they still possess. From the name of their commander, they are to this day called Dalreudins ; for, in their language, Dal signifies a part.*

Ireland, in breadth, and for wholesomeness and serenity of climate, far surpasses Britain ; for the snow scarcely ever lies there above three days : no man makes hay in the summer for mnter's provision, or builds stables for his beasts of burden. No reptiles are found there, and no snake can live there ; for, though often carried thither out of Britain, as soon as the ship comes near the shore, and the scent of the air reaches them, they die. On the contrary, almost all things in the island are good against poison. In short, we have known that when some persons have been bitten by serpents, the scrapings of leaves of books that were brought out of Ireland, being put into water, and given them to drink, have immediately expelled the spreading poison, and assuaged the swelling. The island abounds in milk and honey, nor is there any want of vines, fish, or fowl ; and it is remarkable for deer and goats. It is properly the country of the Scots, who, migrating from thence, as has been said, added a third nation in Britain to the Britons and the Picts. There is a very large gulf of the sea, which formerly di- vided the nation of the Picts from the Britons ; which gulf runs from the west very far into the land, where, to this day, stands the strong city of the Britons, called Alcluith. The Scots, arriving on the north side of this bay, settled them- selves there.

CHAP. II.

Caius Julius Cesar, the first Roman that came into Britain.

Britain had never been visited by the Romans, and was, indeed, entirely unknown to them before the time of Caius Julius Coesar, who, in the year 693 after the building of Rome, but the sixtieth "j" year before the incarnation of our

* Hence Dalrieta, or Dalreuda may be explained Dal-Ri-Eta, the. por- tion of Reuda or Rieia, i.e. king Eta.

+ This date, like many others in Bede, is not correct. Caesar's invasion happened, b. c. 54.

8 bede's ecclesiastical history. U I. c. 3.

Lord, was consul witli Lucius Bibulus, and afterwards while lie made Avar upon the Germans and the Gauls, which were divided only bj the river Rhine, came into the province of the Morini, from whence is the nearest and shortest passage into Britain. Here, having provided about eighty ships of burden and vessels with oars, he sailed over into Britain ; where, being first roughly handled in a battle, and then meeting with a violent storm, he lost a considerable part of his fleet, no small number of soldiers, and almost all his horses. Returning into Gaul, he put his legions into winter- quarters, and gave orders for building six hundred sail of both sorts. With these he again passed over early in spring into Britain, but, whilst he was marching with a large army towards the enemy, the ships, riding at anchor, were, by a tempest either dashed one against another, or driven upon the sands and wrecked. Forty of them perished, the rest were, with much difficulty, repaired. Cassar's cavalry was, at the first charge, defeated by the Britons, and Lalbienus, the tribune, slain. In the second engagement, he, with great hazard to his men, put the Britons to flight. Thence he proceeded to the river Thames, where an immense multi- tude of the enemy had posted themselves on tlie farthest side of the river, under the command of Cassibellaun,* and fenced the bank of the river and almost all the ford under water "with sharp stakes : the remains of these are to be seen to this day, apparently about the thickness of a man's tliigh, and being cased with lead, remain fixed immovably in the bottom of the river. This, being perceived and avoided by the Romans, the barbarians, not able to stand the shock of the legions, hid themselves in the woods, whence they grievously galled the Romans with repeated sallies. In the m.eantime, the strong city of Trinovantum,! with its commander Androgens, sur-

* Cassibellaun, or as he is sometimes called, Cassibelinus, seems to have maintained an extent of power and territory superior to most of the British kings. His own possessions originally comprised that portion of the island which is now divided into the counties of Hertford, Bedford, and Bucking- ham, together, as Horsley supposes, with part of Huntingdonshire and Northamptonshire. To these he added, by conquest, part of the territory of the Trinobantes, who occupied that tract which now comprises the counties of Essex, Middlesex, and part of Surrey.

* Supposed to be London, and erroneously interpreted " New-Troy,*' by Geoftery of Monmouth and his followers.

A.D. 44] CLAUDIUS INVASION OF BRITAIN. 9

rendered to Caesar, giving him forty hostages. Many other •cities, following their example, made a treaty with the Ro- mans. By their assistance, Csesar at length, with much difficulty, took Cassibellaun's town,* situated between two marshes, fortified by the adjacent woods, and plentifully fur- nished with all necessaries. After this, Ccesar returned into Gaul, but he had no sooner put his legions into winter-quar- ters, than he was suddenly beset and distracted with wars and tumults raised against him on every side.

CHAP. ni.

Claudius, Ihe second of the Romans who came into Britain, brought the islands Orcades into subjection to the Roman empire ; and Vespasian, sent by him, reduced the Isle of Wight under their dominion.

In the year of Rome 798, f Claudius, fourth emperor from Augustus, being desirous to approve himself a beneficial prince to the republic, and eagerly bent upon war and con- quest, undertook an expedition into Britain, which seemed to be stirred up to rebellion by the refusal of the Romans to give up certain deserters. He was the only one, either be- fore or after Julius Ccesar, who had dared to land upon the island ; yet, within a very few days, without any fight or blood- shed, the greatest part of the island was surrendered into his hands. He also added to the Roman empire the Orcades,;}: which lie in the ocean beyond Britain, and then, returning to Rome the sixth month after his departure, he gave his son the title of Britannicus. This war he concluded in the fourth year of his empire, which is the forty-sixth from the incarnation of our Lord. In which year there hap- pened a most grievous famine in Syria, which, in the Acts of the Apostles is recorded to have been foretold by the pro- phet Agabus. Vespasian, who was emperor after Nero, being sent into Britain by the same Claudius, brought also under the Roman dominion the Isle of Wight, which is next to Britain on the south, and is about tliirty miles in length from east to west, and tAvelve from north to south ; being six miles distant from the southern coast of Britain at the east

* Supposed to be St. Alban's. t Claudius came to Britain, a.d. 44. X This also is a mistake ; it was probably Agricola who first subdued the Orkneys.

10 bede's ecclesiastical history. [b- I- c. 4, 5.

end, and three only at the west. Nero, succeeding Claudius in the empire, attempted nothing in martial aifairs ; and, therefore, among other innumerable detriments brought upon the Roman state, he almost lost Britain ; for under him two most noble towns were there taken and destroyed.

CHAP. IV.

Lucius, king of Britain, writing to Pope Eleutherus, desires to be made a Christian.

In the year of our Lord's incarnation 156, Marcus Antoninus Verus, the fourteenth from Augustus, was made emperor, together with his brother, Aurelius Commodus.* In their time, whilst Eleutherus, a holy man, presided over the Ro- man church, Lucius, king of the Britons, sent a letter to him, entreating that by his command he might be made a Christian. He soon obtained his pious request, and the Britons preserved the faith, which they had received, uncor- rupted and entire, in peace and tranquillity until the time of the Emperor Diocletian.

CHAP. V.

Hoiv the Emperor Severus divided that part of Britain, which he subdued from the rest by a Rampart.

Ix the year of our Lord 189, Severus, an African, born at Leptis, in the province of Tripolis, received the imperial purple. He was the seventeenth from Augustus, and reigned seventeen years. Being naturally stern, and en- gaged in many wars, he governed the state vigorously, but with much trouble. Having been victorious in all the grievous civil wars wliich happened in his time, he Avas drawn into Britain by the revolt of almost all the confederate tribes ; and, after many great and dangerous battles, he thought fit to divide that part of the island, which he had recovered from the other unconquered nations, not with a wall, as some imagine, but with a rampart. For a wall is made of

* It is not to be wondered that Bede shows himself very confused on subjects connected \\dth Roman history. In this passage are several glar- ing errors. No such emperors as the two mentioned ever reigned together, nor is the date or the name of the Roman bishop more correct than the names of the emperors. Eleutherus flourished between a.d. 176 and ISO; and Marcus Antoninus was made emperor a.d. 161.

A.D. 286.] CABAUSIUS AND AJLLECTUS. 1 1

Stones, but a rampart, with which camps are fortified to repel the assaults of enemies, is made of sods, cut out of the earth, and raised above the ground all round like a wall, having in front of it the ditch whence the sods were taken, and strong stakes of wood fixed upon its top. Thus Severus drew a great ditch and strong rampart, fortified with several towers, from sea to sea ; and was afterwards taken sick and died at York, leaving two sons, Bassianus and Geta ; of whom Geta died, adjudged a public enemy ; but Bassia- nus, having taken the surname of Antoninus, obtained the empire.

CHAP. VI.

The reign of Diocletian, and how he persecuted the Christians

In the year of our Lord's incarnation 286, Diocletian, the thirty-third from Augustus, and chosen emperor by the army, reigned twenty years, and created Maximian, sur- named Herculius, liis colleague in the empire. In their time, one Carausius, of very mean birth, but an expert and able soldier, being appointed to guard the sea-coasts, then infested by ti e Franks and Saxons, acted more to the pre- judice than to the advantage of the commonwealth ; and from his not restoring to its owners the booty taken from the robbers, but keeping all to himself, it was suspected that by intentional neglect he suffered the enemy to infest the frontiers. Hearing, therefore, that an order was sent by Maximian that he should be put to death, he took upon him the imperial robes, and possessed himself of Britain, and having most valiantly retained it for the space of seven years, he was at length put to death by the treachery of his associate, Allectus. The usurper, having thus got the island from Carausius, held it three years, and was then vanquished by Asclepiodotus, the captain of the Pr^torian bands, who thus at the end of ten years restored Britain to the Roman empire. Mean- while, Diocletian in the east, and Maximian Herculius in the west, conunanded the churches to be destroyed, and the Christians to be slain. This persecution was the tenth since the reign of Nero, and was more lasting and bloody than aU tlie others before it ; for it was carried on incessantly for the space of ten years, with burning of churches, outlawing of

12 bede's ecclesiastical history. [b. f. c. 7.

innocent persons, and tlie slaughter of martyrs. At lengtli, it reached Britain also, and manj persons, with the con- stancy of martyrs, died in the confession of their faith.

CHAP. VII.

The Passion of St, Alban and his Companions, mho at that time shed their blood for our Lord. [a.d. 305.]

At that time suffered St. Alban,* of whom the priest Fortu- natus, in the Praise of Virgins, where he makes mention of the blessed martyrs that came to the Lord from all parts of the world, says —

In Britain's isle was holy Alban born. This Alban, being yet a pagan, at the time when the cruelties of wicked princes were raging against Christians, gave entertainment in his house to a certain clergyman, flying from the persecutors. This man he observed to be engaged in continual prayer and watching day and night ; when on a sudden the Divine grace shining on him, be began to imitate the example of faith and piety which was set before him, and being gradually instructed by liis wholesome admonitions, he cast oiF the darkness of idolatry, and became a Christian in all sincerity of heart. The aforesaid clergy- man having been some days entertained by him, it came to the ears of the wicked prince, that this holy confessor of Christ, whose time of martyrdom had not yet come, was con- cealed at Alban's house. WJiereupon he sent some soldiers to make a strict search after him. When they came to the martyr's house, St. Alban immediately presented himself to the soldiers, instead of his guest and master, in the habit or long coat which he wore, and was led bound before the judge.

It happened that the judge, at the time when Alban was carried before him, was standing at the altar, and offering sacrifice to devils. When he saw Alban, being much en- raged that he should thus, of his own accord, put himself into the hands of the soldiers, and incur such danger in be- half of his guest, he commanded him to be dragged up to the

* There are great chronological difficulties in the story of the martyrdom of St. Alban. Whilst the persecution lasted, Britain was first alienated from the Roman empire by Carausius and Allectus, and was then under Con- stantius and his son Constantino the Great. It is difficult to believe that either of these would sanction a bloody persecution in their dominions.

A.D. 305.J ST. ALBAJ? MARTYRED. 13

images of the devils, before which he stood, saying, " Because you have cliosen to conceal a rebellious and sacrilegious person, rather than to deliver him up to the soldiers, that his contempt of the gods might meet with the penalty due to such blasphemy, you shall undergo all the punishment that was due to him, if you abandon the worship of our religion." But St. Alban, who had voluntarily declared liimself a Christian to the persecutors of the faith, was not at all daunted at the prince's tlireats, but putting on the armour of spiritual war- fare, publicly declared that he would not obey the command. Then said the judge, " Of what family or race are you ? " — " What does it concern you," answered Alban, " of what stock I am ? If you desire to hear the truth of my religion, be it known to you, that I am now a Christian, and bound by Christian duties." — "I ask your name," said the judge ; "tell me it immediately." — "I am called Alban by my parents," replied he ; " and I worship and adore the true and living God, who created all things." Then the judge, in- flamed with anger, said, "If you will enjoy the happiness of eternal life, do not delay to offer sacrifice to the great gods." Alban rejoined, " These sacrifices, which by you are offered to devils, neither can avail the subjects, nor answer the wishes or desires of those that offer up their supplications to them. On the contrary, whosoever shall offer sacrifice to these images, shall receive the everlasting pains of hell for his reward."

The judge, hearing these words, and being much incensed, ordered tliis holy confessor of God to be scourged by the executioners, believing he might by stripes shake that con- stancy of heart, on wliich he could not prevail by words. He, being most cruelly tortured, bore the same patiently, or rather joyfully, for our Lord's sake. When the judge per- ceived that he was not to be overcome by tortures, or with- drawn from the exercise of the Christian religion, he ordered him to be put to death. Being led to execution, he came to a river, wiiich, with a most rapid course, ran between the wall of the town and the arena where he was to be executed.*

* There is either a corruption or great obscurity in the text of this passage. All the ^ISS. however agree, and yet it is impossible to translate the passage grammatically. I believe the text above gives the intended meaning.

14 BEDe's ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. [b. i. c.7.

He there saw a multitude of persons of both sexes, and of several ages and conditions, who were doubtlessly assembled by Divine instinct, to attend the blessed confessor and martyr, and had so taken up the bridge on the river, that he could scarce pass over that evening. In short, almost all had gone out, so that the judge remained in the city without attendance. St. Alban, therefore, urged by an ardent and devout wish to arrive quickly at martyrdom, drew near to the stream, and on lifting up his eyes to heaven, the channel was immediately dried up, and he perceived that the water had departed and made way for liim to pass. Among the rest, the executioner, who was to have put him to death, observed tliis, and moved by Divine inspiration hastened to meet him at the place of execution, and casting down the sword which he had carried ready drawn, fell at his feet, praying that he might rather suffer with the martyi', whom he was ordered to execute, or, if possible, instead of him.

Whilst he thus from a persecutor was become a companion in the fiiith, and the other executioners hesitated to take up the sword which was lying on the ground, the reverend con- fessor, accompanied by the multitude, ascended a hill, about 500 paces from the place, adorned, or rather clothed with all kinds of flowers, having its sides neither perpendicular, nor even craggy, but sloping down into a most beautiful plain, worthy from its lovely appearance to be the scene of a martyr's sufferings. On the top of this hill, St. Alban prayed that God would give him water, and immediately a living spring broke out before his feet, the course being confined, so that all men perceived that the river also had been dried up in consequence of the martyr's presence. Nor was it likely that the martyr, who had left no water remaining in the river, should want some on the top of the hill, unless he thought it suitable to the occasion. The river having per- formed the holy service, returned to its natural course, leaving a testimony of its obedience. Here, therefore, the head of our most courageous martyr was struck off", and here lie re- ceived the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. But he who gave the wicked stroke, was not permitted to rejoice over the deceased ; for his eyes dropped upon the ground together with the blessed martyr's head.

At the same time was also beheaded the soldier, who

Ao. 305]. ST. ALBAN MAKTTRED. 15

before, through the Divine admonition, refused to give the stroke to the holy confessor. Of whom it is apparent, that though he was not regenerated by baptism, yet he was cleansed by the washing of his own blood, and rendered worthy to enter the kingdom of heaven. Then the judge, astonished at the novelty of so many heavenly miracles, ordered the persecution to cease immediately, beginning to honour the death of the saints, by which he before thought they might have been diverted from the Christian faith. The blessed Alban suffered death on the twenty-second day of June, near the city of Verulam,* which is now by the Eng- lish nation called Verlamacestir, or Varlingacestir, where afterwards, when peaceable Christian times were restored, a church of wonderful workmansliip, and suitable to his martyrdom, was erected. f In wldch place, there ceases not to this day the cure of sick persons, and the frequent work- ing of wonders.

At the same time suffered Aaron and Julius, citizens of Chester,! and many more of both sexes in several places ; who, when they had endured sundry torments, and their limbs had been torn after an unheard-of manner, yielded their souls up, to enjoy in the heavenly city a reward for the suffer- ings which they had passed through.

♦ Now St. Albans in Hertfordshire.

t The place where St. Alban suffered was called Holmhurst, in the Saxon, signifying a woody place, near the city of Verulamium, or Verulam, where Bede says there was a beautiful church in his time ; since when, Oifa, king of the Mercians, anno 793, founded in this place the stately monastery of St. Alban, and procured and granted it extraordinary privi- leges, upon which arose the town of 'St. Albans, in Hertfordshire. As the saint of this church was the first martyr in England, Pope Honorius granted the abbat a superiority over all others. In the time of HenryVIII.it fell with the rest, but the townsmen preserved the church from ruin, by a purchase of ^400. The ruins of the ancient Verulam are even now to be seen ; and the church is built out of them, being, as Bishop Gibson ob- serves, of British bricks.

J Gildas says, that Aaron and Julius were citizens of Carlisle ; but others make them to have been inhabitants of the Roman city of Caerleon upon Usk, where according to Walter, Geoffrey of jVIonmouth, as Avell as Giral- dus Cambrensis, tivo or three illustrious churches were dedicated to their nieniorv.

1 6 bede's ecclesiastical history. [b. I. c. 8, 9

CHAP. vm.

The persecution ceasing, the Church in Britain enjoys peace till the time of the Arian heresy, [a.d 307— 337.]

When the stonn of persecution ceased, the faithful Chris- tians, who, during the time of danger, had hidden themselves in woods and deserts, and secret caves, appearing in public, rebuilt the churches which had been levelled with the ground ; founded, erected, and finished the temples of the holy martyrs, and, as it were, displayed their conquering ensigns in all places ; they celebrated festivals, and performed their sacred rites ^\'ith clean hearts and mouths. This peace con- tinued in the churches of Britain until the time of the Arian madness, which, having corrupted the whole world, infected this island also, so far removed from the rest of the globe, with the poison of its arrows ; and when the plague was thus conveyed across the sea, all the venom of every heresy immediately rushed into the island, ever fond of something new, and never holding firm to any thing.

At this time, Constantius, who, whilst Diocletian was alive, governed Gaul and Spain, a man of extraordinaiy meekness and courtesy, died in Britain. This man left his son Con- stantine, born of Helen his concubine, emperor of the Gauls. Eutropius writes, that Constantine, being created emperor in Britain, succeeded his father in the sovereignity. Li his time the Arian heresy broke out, and although it was de- tected and condemned in the Council of Nice, yet it never- theless infected not only all the churches of the continent, but even those of the islands, with its pestilent and fatal doctrines.

CHAP. IX.

How during the reign of Gratian, Maximus, being created Emperor in Britain, returned into Gaul with a mighty army. [a.d. 383.]

LsT the year of our Lord's incarnation 377, Gratian, the fortieth from Augustus, held the empire six years after the death of Yalens ; though he had long before reigned with liis uncle Valens, and his brother Yalentinian. Finding the state of the commonwealth much impaired, and almost gone to ruin, he looked around for some one whose abilities might

A.D. 33i,l AECADIUS EMPEROR. 17

remedy the existing evils ; and liis choice fell on Theodosiiis, a Spaniard. Him lie invested at Sirmium with the royal robes, and made him emperor of Thrace and the Eastern provinces. At which time, Maximus, a man of valour and probity, and worthy to be an emperor, if he had not broken the oath of allegiance which he had taken, was made empe- ror by the army, passed over into Gaul, and there by treachery slew the Emperor Gratian, who was in a con- sternation at his sudden invasion, and attempting to escape into Italy. His brother, Valentinian, expelled from Italy, lied into the East, where he was entertained by Theodosius with fatherly affection, and soon restored to the empire. Maximus the tyrant, being shut up in Aquileia, was there taken and put to death.

CHAP. X.

How, in the reign of Arcadius, Pelaghis, a Briton, insolently impugned the Grace of God.

In the year of our Lord 394, Arcadius, the son of Theodo- sius, the forty -third from Augustus, taking the empire upon him, with his brother Honorius, held it tliirteen years. In his time, Pelagius, a Briton,* spread far and near the infec- tion of his perfidious doctrine against the assistance of the Divine grace, being seconded therein by his associate Juli- anus of Campania, whose anger was kindled by the loss of his bishopric, of which he had been just deprived. St. Augustine, and the other orthodox fathers, quoted many thousand catholic authorities against them, yet they would not correct their madness ; but, on the contrary, their folly was rather increased by contradiction, and they refused to embrace the truth ; which Prosper, the rhetorician, has beautifully expressed thus in heroic verse : —

" A scribbler \i]e, inflamed with hellish spite, Against the great Augustine dared to write ; Presumptuous serpent ! from what midnight den Durst thou to crawl on earth and look at men ? Sure thou wast fed on Britain's sea-girt plains, Or in thy breast Vesuvian sulphur reigns."

* Pelar^ius was a native of Yv^ales ; his real name is supposed to have been Morgan. He was a man of learning, and is said to have written the following works :— " A Commentary on the Epistles of St. Paul, attributed

C

18 BEDE's ECCLESIASTICAL HISTOEY. r_B. i. r. 11.

CHAP. XI.

How during the reign of Honor ius, Gratian and Constanline were created tyrants in Britain ; and soon after the former was slain i)i Britain, and the latter in Gaul.

In the year 407, Honorius, the younger son of Theodosius, and the forty-fourth from Augustus, being emperor, two years before the invasion of Rome by Alaric, king of the Groths, when the nations of the Alani, Suevi, Yandals, and many others with them, having defeated the Franks and passed the Rhine, ravaged all Gaul, Gratianus Municeps was set up as tyrant and killed. In his place, Constantine, one of the meanest soldiers, only for his name's sake, and wdthout any worth to recommend him, was chosen emperor. As soon as he had taken upon liim the command, he passed over into France, where being often imposed upon by the barbarians Avith faithless treaties, he caused much injury to the Commonwealth. Whereupon Count Constantius by the command of Honorious, marcliing into Gaul with an arm}^, besieged him in the city of Aries, and put him to death. His son Constans, whom of a monk he had created Caesar, was also put to death by liis own Count Gerontius, at Vieime.

Rome was taken by the Goths, in the year from its foun- dation, 1164. Then the Romans ceased to rule in Britain, almost 470 years after Caius Julius Caesar entered the island. They resided within the rampart, which, as we have men- tioned, Severus made across the island, on the south side of it, as the cities, temples, bridges, and paved roads there made, testify to this day ; but they had a right of dominion over the farther parts of Britain, as also over the islands that are beyond Britain.

to St. Jerome ; a Letter to Demetria, and some others in the last volume of St. Jerome ; A Confession of Faith to Pope Innocent ; Fragment of a Treatise of the Power of Nature and Free Will, in St. Augustine ; these are extant. He wrote likewise a Treatise of the Power of Natiu-e, and several books concerning Free Will, which are lost." — Collier's Eccles. Hist. vol. i. p. 42, folio. For further particulars respecting Pelagius, see Du Pin's Hist, of the Church, vol. ii. pp. 184—194, 12mo. 1724.

A.I). 4G0-4U.1 PICTS AND SCOTS. 19

CHAP. xn.

Th^ Britons, being ravaged by the Scots and Picis, sought succour from the. Romans, who, coming a second time, built a wall across the island; but the Britons being again invaded by the aforesaid enemies, were reduced to greater distress than before.

From that time, the south part of Britain, destitute of ai-med soldiers, of martial stores, and of all its active youth, whi('h had been led away by the rashness of the tyi-ants, never to return, was wholly exposed to rapine, as being totally igno- rant of the use of weapons. Whereupon they suffered many years under two very savage foreign nations, the Scots from the west, and the Picts from the north. We call these foreign nations, not on account of their being seated out of Britain, but because they were remote from that part of it wliich was possessed by the Britons ; two inlets of tlie sea lying between them, one of which runs in far and broad into the land of Britain, from the Eastern Ocean, and the other from the Western, though they do not reach so as touch one another. The eastern has in the midst of it the city Giudi. The western has on it, that is, on the right hand thereof, tlie city Alcluith,* which in their language signifies the Rock Cluith, for it is close by the river of that name.

On account of the irruption of these nations, the Britons sent messengers to Rome with letters in mournful manner, praying for succours, and promising perpetual subjection, pro- vided that the impending enemy should be driven away. An armed legion was immediately sent them, which, arriving in the island, and engaging the enemy, slew a great multitude of them, drove the rest out of the territories of their allies, and having delivered them from their cruel oppressors, ad- vised them to build a wall between the two seas across the the island, that it might secure them, and keep off the enemy ; and thus they returned home with great triumph. The islanders raising the wall, as they had been directed, not of stone, as having no artist capable of such a work, but of ;ods, made it of no use. However, they drew it for many miles between the two bays or inlets of the seas, v/hich we have spoken of ; to the end that where the defence of the

* Alcluith is the modern Dunbarton : the situation of Giudi is not known.

c2

20 BEDE's ecclesiastical history. [n. I. c. 12.

water was wanting, tliey might use the rampart to defend their borders from the irruptions of the enemies. Of which work there erected, that is, of a rampart of extraordinary 1 readth and height, there are evident remains to be seen at this day. It begins at about two miles' distance from the monastery of Abercurnig,* on the west, at a place called in the Pictish language, Peanfahel,"]" but in the English tongue, Penneltun, and running to the westward, ends near the city Alcluith.

But the former enemies, when they perceived that the Roman soldiers were gone, immediately coming by sea, broke into the borders, trampled and overran all places, and like men mowing ripe corn, bore down all before them. Hereupon messengers are again sent to Rome, imploring aid, lest their wretched country should be utterly extirpated, and the name of a Roman province, so long renowned among them, overthrown by the cruelties of barbarous foreigners, might become utterly contemptible. A legion is accordingly sent again, and, arriving unexpectedly in autumn, made great slaughter of the enemy, obhging all those that could escape, to flee beyond the sea ; whereas before, they were wont yearly to carry oif their booty without any oppo- sition. Then the Romans declared to the Britons, that they could not for the future undertake such troublesome expedi- tions for their sake, advising them rather to handle their weapons, like men, and undertake themselves the charge of engaging their enemies, who would not prove too powerful for them, unless they were deterred by cowardice ; and, thinking that it might be some help to the allies, whom they were forced to abandon, they built a strong stone wall from sea to sea, in a straight line between the towns that had been there built for fear of the enemy, and not far from the trench of Severus. This famous wall, which is still to be seen, was built at the pubMc and private expense, the Britons also lending their assistance. It is eight feet in breadth, and

* Now called Abercom, a village on the south bank of the Frith of Forth.

t Pean-fnhel, or vahel, or wahel, [for f, v, w, are kindred consonants,] evidently is to be interpreted in English, " wall-head," i. e. the " head," or leginning of the wall. Pen means head in the Celtic dialect; thus, Pen- dennisin Cornwall.

AD. 416— 446.] THEODOSIUS EMPEROR. 21

twelve in height, in a straight line from east to west, as is still visible to beholders.* This being finished, they gave that dispirited people good advice, with patterns to furnish them with arms. Besides, they built towers on the sea-coast to the southward, at proper distances, where their ships were, because there also the irruptions of the barbarians were aj)prehended, and so took leave of their friends, never to return again.

After their departure, the Scots and Picts, understanding that they had declared they would come no more, speedily returned, and growing more confident than they had been before, occupied all the northern and farthest part of the island, as far as the wall. Hereupon a timorous guard was placed upon the wall, where they pined a^vay day and night in the utmost fear. On the other side, the enemy attacked them with hooked weapons, by which the cowardly defend- ants were dragged from the wall, and dashed against the ground. At last, the Britons, forsaking their cities and wall, took to flight and were dispersed. The enemy pursued, and the slaughter was greater than on any former occasion ; for the w^retched natives were torn in pieces by their enemies, as lambs are torn by wild beasts. Thus, being expelled their dwellings and possessions, they saved themselves from starv- ation, by robbing and plundering one another, adding to the calamities occasioned by foreigners, by their own domestic broils, till the whole country was left destitute of food, except such as could be procured in the chase.

CHAP. XIII.

In the reign of Theodosius the younger^ Palladius was sent to the Scots that believed in Christ ; the Britons begging assistance of Mtiu^, the consul, could not obtain it. [a.d. 446.]

In the year of our Loid 423, Theodosius, the younger, next to Ilonorius, being the forty-fifth from Augustus, governed the Roman empire twenty-six years. In the eighth year of

* This wall extended from Cousin's House, near the mouth of the river Tyne, on the east, to Boulness on the Solway Frith on the west, and was sixty-eight English miles in length. For an account of this wall consult Horsley's Brit. Romana, b. i. c 8 pp. 121, 122, and Whitaker's Manches- ter, b. i. c. 12.

22 BEDe's ecclesiastical history. [8, I. c. 34

his reign, Palladius was sent by Celestinus, the Roman pon- tiff, to the Scots that beheved in Christ, to be their first bishop. In the twentj-tliird year of liis reign, iEtius, a re- nowned person, being also a patrician, discharged his third consulship with Symmachus for his colleague. To him the wretched remains of the Britons sent a letter, which began thus : — " To ^tius, thrice Consul, the groans of the Bri- tons." And in the sequel of the letter they thus expressed their calamities : — " The barbarians di'ive us to the sea ; the sea drives us back to the barbarians : between them we are exposed to two sorts of death ; we are either slain or drowned." Yet neither could all this procure any assistance from him, as he was then engaged in most dangerous w^ars with Bledla and Attila, kings of the Huns. And, though the year before this, Bledla had been murdered by the trea- chery of his brother Attila, yet Attila himself remained so intolerable an enemy to the Republic, that he ravaged almost all Europe, invading and destroying cities and castles. At the same time there was a famine at Constantinople, and shortly after, a plague followed, and a great part of the walls of that city, with fifty-seven towers, fell to the ground. Many cities also went to ruin, and the famine and pestilential state of the air destroyed thousands of men and cattle.

CHAP. XIV.

The Britons, compelled by famine, drove the barbarians out of their terri- tories ; soon after there ensued plenty of corn, luxury, plague, and the subversion of the nation, [a.d. 426 — 447.]

In the meantime, the aforesaid famine distressing the Bri- tons more and more, and leaving to posterity lasting memo- rials of its mischievous effects, obliged many of them to submit themselves to the depredators ; though others still held out, confiding in the Divine assistance, when none was to be had from men. These continually made excursions from the mountains, caves, and woods, and, at length, began to inflict severe losses on their enemies, who had been for so many years plundering the country. The Irish robbers thereupon returned home, in order to come again soon after. The Picts. both then and afterwards, remained quiet in the

A.E. 450—456.] ARRIVAI. OF THE SAXONS. 23

farthest part of the island, save that sometimes they would do some mischief, and carry oiF booty from the Britons.

When, however, the ravages of the enemy at lenath ceased, the island began to abound wdth such plenty of grain as had never been known in any age before ; with plenty, luxury increased, and this was immediately attended with all sorts of crimes ; in particular, cruelty, hatred of truth, and love of falsehood ; insomuch, that if any one among them happened to be milder than the rest, and inclined to truth, all the rest abhorred and persecuted him, as if he had been the enemy of his country. Nor were the laity only guilty of these things, but even our Lord's own flock, and his pastors also, addicting themselves to drunkenness, animosity, liti- giousness, contention, envy, and other such like crimes, and casting off the light yoke of Christ. In the meantime, on a sudden, a severe plague fell upon that corrupt generation, which soon destroyed such numbers of them, that the living were scarcely sufficient to bury the dead : yet, those that survived, could not be withdrawn from the spiritual death, which their sins had incurred, either by the death of their friends, or the fear of their own. Wliereupon, not long after, a more severe vengeance, for their horrid wickedness, fell upon the sinful nation. They consulted what was to be done, and where they should seek assistance to prevent or repel the cruel and frequent incursions of the northern na- tions ; and they all agreed with their Eang Yortigern to call over to their aid, from the parts beyond the sea, the Saxon nation ; which, as the event still more evidently showed, ap- pears to have been done by the appointment of our Lord him- self, that evil might fall upon them for their wicked deeds.

CHAP. XV.

The Angles, heing invited inio Britain, at first obliged the enemy to retire to a distance ; but not long after, joining in league with them, turned their weapons upon their confederates. [a.d. 450 — 456.]

In the year of our Lord 449, Martian being made emperor with Valentinian, and the forty-sixth from Augustus, ruled the empire seven years. Then the nation of the Angles, or Saxons,* being invited by the aforesaid king, arrived in

* It is now beginning to be generally understood that the Saxons

24 bede's ecclesiastical msTOP.r. [b. i. c. is:

Britain with three long ships, and had a place assigned them to reside in by the same king, in the eastern part of the island, that they might thus appear to be fighting for their country, whilst their real intentions were to enslave it. Ac- cordingly they engaged with the enemy, who were come from the north to give battle, and obtained the victory ; which, being known at home in their own country, as also the fertility of the country, and the cowardice of the Britons, a more considerable fleet was quickly sent over, bringing a still greater number of men, which, being added to the for- mer, made up an invincible army. The new comers received of the Britons a place to inhabit, upon condition that they should wage war against their enemies for the peace and security of the country, whilst the Britons agreed to furnish them mth pay. Those who came over were of the three most powerful nations of Germany — Saxons, Angles, and Jutes. From the Jutes are descended the people of Kent, and of the Isle of Wight, and those also in the pro- vince of the West- Saxons Avho are to this day called Jutes, seated opposite to the Isle of Wight. From the Saxons, that is, the country which is now called Old Saxony, came the East-Saxons, the South-Saxons, and the West-Saxons. From the Angles, that is, the country which is called Anglia, and which is said, from that time, to remain desert to this day, between the provinces of the Jutes and the Saxons, are descended the East-Angles, the Midland- Angles, Mercians, all the race of the Northumbrians, that is, of those nations that dwell on the north side of the river Humber, and the other nations of the EngHsh. The two first commanders are said to have been Hengist and Horsa. Of whom Horsa, be- ing afterwards slain in battle by the Britons,* Avas buried in the eastern parts of Kent, where a monument, bearing his name, is still in existence. They were the sons of Victgil- sus, whose father was Vecta, son of Woden ; from whose stock the royal race of many provinces deduce their original. In a short time, swarms of the aforesaid nations came over

acquired their settlement in Britain rather by a long course of predatory- inroads than in the rapid, and somewhat dramatic manner related by our native historians.

* This battle was fought between Vortimer, the eldest son of Vortigem, and Hengist, at Aylesford in Kent.

A. D. 450.] DEPRESSED STATE OP THE BRITOXS. 25

into the island, and they began to increase so much, that they became terrible to the natives themselves who had in- vited them. Then, having on a sudden entered into league with the Picts, whom they had by this time repelled by the force of their arms, they began to turn their weapons against their confederates. At first, they obliged them to furnish a greater quantity of provisions ; and, seeking an occasion to quarrel, protested, that unless more plentiful supplies were brought them, they would break the confederacy, and ravage all the island ; nor were they backward in putting their threats in execution. In short, the fire kindled by the hands of these pagans, proved God's just revenge for the crimes of the people ; not unlike that wliich, being once lighted by the Chaldeans, consumed the walls and city of Jerusalem. For the barbarous conquerors acting here in the same manner, or rather the just Judge ordaining that they should so act, they plundered all the neighbouring cities and country, spread the conflagration from the eastern to the western sea, with- out any opposition, and covered almost every part of the de- voted island. Public as well as private structures were overturned j the priests were everywhere slain before the altars : the prelates and the people, without any respect of persons, were destroyed Avith fire and sword ; nor was there any to bury those who had been thus cruelly slaughtered. Some of the miserable remainder, being taken in the moun- tains, were butchered in heaps. Others, spent mth hunger, came forth and submitted themselves to the enemy for food, being destined to undergo perpetual servitude, if they were not killed even upon the spot. Some, with sorrowful hearts, fled beyond the seas. Others, continuing in their own country, led a miserable life among the woods, rocks, and mountains, with scarcely enough food to support life, and expecting every moment to be their last.

CHAP. XVI.

The Britons obtained their first victory over the A ngles, under the com- mand of Ambrosius, a Roman.

When the \actorious army, having destroyed and dispersed the natives, had returned home to their own settlements, the Britons began by degrees to take heart, and gather strength,

26 BEDe's ecclesiastical history. [b. I.e. 17.

sallying out of the lurking places where they had conceulefl themselves, and unanimously imploring the Divine assistance, that they might not utterly be destroyed. They had at that time for their leader, iVmbrosius Aurelius,* a modest man, wL< > alone, by chance, of the Roman nation had survived the storm, in which his parents, who were of the royal race, had perished. Under him the Britons revived, and oiFering battle to the victors, by the help of God, came off victorious. From that day, sometimes the natives, and sometimes their enemies, prevailed, till the year of the siege of Baddesdown-liill, when they made no small slaughter of those invaders, about forty-four years after their arrival in England. But of this hereafter.

CHAP. XVII.

Hotc Germanus the Bhhop, sailing iiiio Britain with Lupus, first quelled the tempest of t fie sea, and afterwards that of the Pelagians^ by Divine power, [a.b. 429.]

Some few years before their arrival, the Pelagian heresy, brought over by Agricola, the son of Severianus, a Pelagian bishop, had sadly corrupted the faith of the Britons. But whereas they absolutely refused to embrace that perverse doctrine, so blasphemous against the grace of Chi-ist, and were not able of themselves to confute its subtilty by force of argument, they thought of an excellent plan, which was to crave aid of the Galilean prelates in that spiritual war. Hereupon having gathered a great synod, they consulted to- gether what persons should be sent thither, and by unanimous consent, choice was made of the apostolical priests, Germanus, bishop of Auxerre,f and Lupus of Troyes, J to go into Britain to confirm it in the faith. They readily complied with the request and commands of the holy Church, and putting to sea, sailed half way over from Gaul to Britain with a fair ■wind. There on a sudden they were obstructed by the

* Ambrosius, according to Whitaker, was the hereditary sovereign of the Damnonii, the inhabitants of Devon, Cornwall, and the west of Somerset. Their capital was Isca Damnoniorum, supposed to be the present Exeter.

t The Life of St Germanus was -^vritten by Constantius. a priest of the Gallican Church, whom Bede follows.

X Lupus was brother to Vincent of Lerins, author of an able treatise, entitled, Commonitorium, for the Antiquity and Universality of the Catholic Faith against the Profane Novelties of all Heretics.

J.D.429.J GERMANUS AJn'D LUPUS. 27

malevolence of demons, wlio were jealous that such men should be sent to bring back the Britons to the faith. They raised storms, and darkened the sky with clouds. The sails could not bear the fury of the winds, the sailors' skill was forced to give way, the ship was sustained by prayer, not by strength, and as it happened, their spiritual commander and bishop, being spent with weariness, had fallen asleep. Then the tempest, as if the person that opposed it had given way, gathered strength, and the ship, overpowered by the waves, was ready to sink. Then the blessed Lupus and all the rest awakened their elder, that he might oppose the raging ele- ments. He, showing himself the more resolute in proportion to the greatness of the danger, called upon Christ, and having, in the name of the Holy Trinity, sprinkled a little water, quelled the raging waves, admonished his companion, en- couraged all, and all unanimously fell to prayer. The Deity heard their cry, the enemies were put to flight, a calin ensued, the winds veering about applied themselves to for- ward their voyage, and having soon traversed the ocean, they enjoyed the quiet of the wished-for shore. A multitude fiocldng thither from all parts, received the priests, whose coming had been foretold by the predictions even of their ad- versaries. For the wicked spirits declared what they feared, and when the priests afterwards expelled them from the bodies they had taken possession of, they made known the nature of the tempest, and the dangers they had occasioned, and that they had been overcome by the merits and authority of the saints.

In the meantime, the apostolical priests filled the island of Britain with the fame of their preaching and virtues ; and the word of God was by them daily administered, not only in the churches, but even in the streets and fields, so that the Catholics were everywhere confirmed, and those who had gone astray, corrected. Like the Apostles, they had honour and authority through a good conscience, obedience to their doctrine through their sound learning, whilst the reward of virtue attended upon their numerous merits. Thus the generality of the people readily embraced their opinions ; the authors of the erroneous docti-ines kept themselves in the back-ground, and, like evil spirits, grieved for the loss of the people that were rescued from them. At length, after

28 BEDE's ecclesiastical history. [b. I.e. 18

mature deliberation, tliey had the boldness to enter the lists, and appeared for public disputation,* conspicuous for riches, glittering in apparel, and supported by the flatteries of many ; choosing rather to hazard the combat, than to undergo the dishonour among the people of having been silenced, lest they should seem by saying nothing to condemn themselves. An immense multitude was there assembled with their wives and children. The people stood round as spectators and judges ; but the parties present differed much in appearance ; on the one side was Divme faith, on the other human presumption ; on the one side piety, on the other pride ; on the one side Pelagius, on the other Christ. The holy priests, Germanus and Lupus, permitted their adversaries to speak first, who long took up the time, and filled the ears with empty words. Then the venerable prelates poured forth the torrent of their apostolical and evangelical eloquence. Their discourse was intersj)ersed Avith scriptural sentences, and they supported their most weighty assertions by reading the written testi- monies of famous writers. Yanity was convinced, and per- fidiousness confuted ; so, that at every objection made against them, not being able to reply, they confessed their errors. The people, who were judges, could scarcely refrain from violence, but signified their judgment by their acclama- tions.

CHAP. xvni.

The same holy man gave sight to the blind daughter of a Tribune, and then coming to St. Alban's, there received some of his relics, and left others of the blessed Apostles, and other martyis.

After this, a certain man, who had the quality of a tribune, came forward with his wife, and presented his blind daughter, ten years of age, for the priests to cure. They ordered her to be set before their adversaries, who, being convinced by guilt of conscience, joined their entreaties to those of the child's parents, and besought the priests that she might be cured. The priests, therefore, perceiving their adversaries

* ^latthew Florilegus infonns us, that this conference was held at St, Alban's, where, says Camden, near the ruins of the old city, stands a chapel dedicated to St. Germanus, built upon the spot where he held this dispute.

A.D.429.] LABOmS OF GEEMANUS. 29

to yield, made a short prayer, and then Germanus, full of the Holy Ghost, invoked the Trinity, and taking into his hands a casket with relics of saints, which hung about his neck, applied it to the girl's eyes, which were immediately delivered from darkness and filled with the light of truth. The parents rejoiced, and the people were astonished at the miracle ; after which, the wicked opinions were so fully obliterated from the minds of all, that they ardently embraced the doctrine of the priests.

This damnable heresy being thus suppressed, and the authors thereof confuted, and all the people's hearts settled in the purity of the faith, the priests repaired to the tomb of the martyr, St. Alban, to give thanks to God through him. There Germanus, having with him relics of all the Apostles, and of several martyrs, after offering up his prayers, com- manded the tomb to be opened,* that he might lay up therein some precious gifts ; judging it convenient, that the limbs of saints brought together from several countries, as their equal merits had procured them admission into heaven, should be preserved in one tomb. These being honourably deposited, and laid together, he took up a parcel of dust from the place where the martyr's blood had been shed, to carry away with him, which dust having retained the blood, it appeared that the slaughter of the martyrs had communicated a redness to it, whilst the persecutor was struck pale. In consequence of these things, an innumerable multitude of people was that day converted to the Lord.

CHAP. XIX.

Hoic the same holy man, being detained there by an indisposition, by his prayers quenched a Jive that had broken out among the houses, and was himself cured of a distemper by a vision, [a.d. 4'29.]

As they were returning from thence, Germanus fell and broke his leg, by the contrivance of the Devil, who did not know that, "like Job, his merits would be enhanced by the

* Bede here follows Constantius, lib. i. cap. 25, who asserts the same. In the vear 1257, was dug up this old inscription in St. Alban's Church.— ♦' In tliis mausoleum was found the venerable corpse of St. Alban, the protomartyr of Britain." It was in lead, and supposed to have been laid in king Offa's time.

30 BEDE's ecclesiastical history. [b. I.e. 20.

affliction of his body. Whilst he was thus detained some time in the same place by illness, a fire broke out in a cottage neighbouring to that in which he was ; and having burned down the other houses which were thatched with reed, was carried on by the wind to the dwelling in wliich he lay. The people all flocked to the prelate, entreating that they might lift him in their arms, and save him from the impending danger. He, however, rebuked them, and relying on faith, would not suffer liimself to be removed. The multitude, in despair, ran to oppose the conflagration ; however, for the greater mani- festation of the Divine power, whatsoever the crowd en- deavoured to save, was destroyed ; but what he avIio was disabled and motionless occupied, the flame avoided, sparing the house that gave entertainment to the holy man, and rao-ino; about on everv side of it ; whilst the house in which he lay appeared untouched, amid the general conflagration. The multitude rejoiced at the miracle, and praised the supe- rior power of God. An infinite number of the poorer sort watched day and night before the cottage ; some to heal their souls, and some their bodies. It is impossible to relate what Christ wrought by his servant, what wonders the sick man performed : for whilst he would suffer no medicines to be applied to his distemper, he one night saw a person in gar- ments as white as snow, standing by him, who reaching out his hand, seemed to raise him up, and ordered him to stand boldly upon his feet ; from which time his pain ceased, and he was so perfectly restored, that when the day came on, he, without any hesitation, set forth upon his journey.

CHAP. XX.

How the same Bishops procured the Britons assistance from Heaven in a battle, and then returned home. [a.d. 429.]

In the meantime, the Saxons and Picts, with their united forces, made war upon the Britons, who, being thus by fear and necessity compelled to take up arms, and thinking them- selves unequal to their enemies, implored the assistance of the holy bishops ; who, hastening to them as they had pro- mised, inspired so much courage into these fearful people, that one Avould have thought they had been joined by a mighty army. Thus, by these holy apostolic men, Christ

A.D. 429.] MIRACULOUS DEFEAT OF THE PICTS. 31

himself commanded in their camp. The holy days of Lent were also at hand, and were rendered more religious by the presence of the priests, insomuch that the people being in- structed by daily sermons, resorted in crowds to be baptized ; for most of the army desired admission to the saving water ; a church was prepared with boughs for the feast of the re- surrection of our Lord, and so fitted up in that martial camp, as if it were in a city. The army advanced, still wet T^dth the baptismal water ; the faith of the people was strength- ened ; and whereas human power had before been despaired of, the Divine assistance was now relied upon. The enemy received advice of the state of the army, and not questioning their success against an unarmed multitude, hastened for- wards, but their approach was, by the scouts, made known to the Britons ; the greater part of whose forces being just come from the font, after the celebration of Easter, and pre- paring to arm and carry on the war, Germanus declared he would be their leader. He picked out the most active, viewed the country round about, and observed, in the way by which the enemy was expected, a valley encompassed with hills.* In that place he drew up liis inexperienced troops, himself acting as their general. A multitude of fierce ene- mies appeared, whom as soon as those that lay in ambush saw approaching, Germanus, bearing in his hands the standard, instructed his men all in a loud voice to repeat his words, and the enemy advancing securely, as thinking to take them by surprise, the priests three times cried. Hallelujah. A universal shout of the same word followed, and the hills resounding the echo on all sides, the enemy was struck with dread, fearing, that not only the neighbouring rocks, but even the very skies, were falling upon them ; and such was their terror, that their feet were not swift enough to deliver them from it. They fled in disorder, casting away their arms, and well satisfied if, with their naked bodies, they could escape the danger ; many of them, in their precipitate and hasty flight, were swallowed up by the river which they were passing. The Britons, without the loss of a man, beheld

* According to Usher, in Flintshire, near the village called Mold, or Guid Cruc hi Welsh ; the name of the field where the armies met still retains the name of Alaes Garmon, or the Field of Germanus. Llanarmon Church now occupies the site of the wattled edifice.

32 BEDE's ecclesiastical EISTORT. [b.i.c.21.

their vengeance complete, and became inactive spectators of their victory.* The scattered spoils were gathered up, and the pious soldiers rejoiced in the success which Heaven had granted them. The prelates thus triumphed over the enemy without bloodshed, and gained a victory by faith, without the aid of human force ; and, having settled the affairs of the island, and restored tranquillity by the defeat, as well as of the invisible, as of the carnal enemies, prepared to return home. Their own merits, and the intercession of the holy mart}T Alban, obtained them a safe passage, and the happy vessel restored them in peace to their rejoicing people.

CHAP. XXI.

The Pelagian heresy again reviving, Germanns, returning into Britain with Severus, first healed a lame youth, then having condemned or converted the Heretics, they restored spiritual health to the people of God. [a.d. 447.]

KOT long after, advice was brought from the same island, that certain jiersons were again attempting to set forth and spread abroad the Pelagian heresy. The holy Germanus was entreated by all the priests, that he would again defend the cause of God, which he had before asserted. He speedily complied with their request ; and taking \dt\\ him Severus, a man of singular sanctity, who was disciple to the most holy father. Lupus, bishop of Troyes, and afterwards, as bishop of Treves, preached the word of God in the adjacent parts of Germany, put to sea, and was calmly wafted over into Britain, f

In the meantime, the wicked spirits flying about the whole island, foretold by constraint that Germanus was coming, inosmuch, that one Elafius, a chief of that region, hastened to meet the holy men, without having received any certain news, carrpng with him his son, who laboured under a weak- ness of his limbs in the very flower of his youth ; for the nerves being withered, his leg was so contracted that the

* The account of this miraculous victory is given by Constantius, and is copied by Bede in nearly the same words. It does not appear that the Welsh MSS. take any notice of it ; and the truth of it is doubted by Whitaker in his Ancient Cathedral of Cornwall, (Apppudix, ^'o. III.)

t This second voyage of St. Germanus is supposed to have taken place eighteen years after the first.

AD. 447] THE BISUOPS AGAIN DEPART. 33

limb was useless, and he could not walk. All the country followed this Elafius. The priests arrived, and were met by the ignorant multitude, whom they blessed, and preached the word of God to them. They found the people constant in the faith as they had left them ; and learning that but few had gone astray, they found out the authors, and condemned them. Then Elafius cast himself at the feet of the priests, presenting his son, whose distress was visible, and needed no words to express it. All were grieved, but especially the priests, who put up their prayers for him before the throne of mercy ; and Germanus, causing the youth to sit down, gently passed his healing hand over the leg which was contracted ; the limb recovered its strength and soundness by the power of his touch, the withered nerves were restored, and the youth was, in the presence of all the people, delivered whole to his father. The multitude was amazed at the miracle, and the Catholic faith was firmly planted in the minds of all ; after which, they were, in a sermon, warned and exhorted to make amends for their errors. By the judgment of all, the spreaders of the heresy, who had been expelled the island, were brought before the priests, to be conveyed up into the continent, that the country might be rid of them, and they corrected of their errors. Thus the faith in those parts continued long after pure and untainted. All things being settled, the blessed prelates returned home as prosperously as they came.

But Germanus, after tliis, went to Eavenna to intercede for the tranquillity of the Armoricans, where, being very honourably received by Valentinian and his mother, Placidia, he departed to Christ ; his body was conveyed to his own city with a splendid retinue, and numberless deeds of charity accompanied him to the grave. Not long after, Valentinian was murdered by the followers of ^tius, the Patrician, whom he had put to death, in the sixth year of the reign of Mar- cianus, and with him ended the empire of the West.

CHAP. xxn.

The Britons, being for a time delivered from foreign invasions, wasted themselves by civil wars, and then gave themselves up to more heinous crimes,

I:n the meantime, in Britain, there was some respite from foreign, but not from civil war. There still remained the

D

34 BEDE's ecclesiastical history. rB.i.c.23.

ruins of cities destroyed by the enemy, and abandoned ; and the natives, who had escaped the enemy, now fought against each other. However, the kings, priests, private men, and the nobility, still remembering the late calamities and slaughters, in some measure kept witliin bounds ; but when these died, and another generation succeeded, which knew nothing of those times, and was only acquainted with the present peaceable state of things, all the bonds of sincerity and justice were so entirely broken, that there was not only no trace of them remaining, but few persons seemed to be aware that such virtues had ever existed. Among other most wicked actions, not to be expressed, which their own historian, Gildas,* mournfully takes notice of, they added this — that they never preached the faith to the Saxons, or English, who dwelt amongst them ; however, the goodness of God did not forsake his people, whom he foreknew, but sent to the afore- said nation much more worthy preachers, to bring it to the faith.

CHAP. XXIII.

Hoiv Pope Gregory sent A ugxistine, with other monks, to preach to the English nation, and encouraged them by a letter of exhortation, not to cease from their labour, [a.d. 596.]

In the year of our Lord 582, Maurice, the fifty-fourth from Augustus, ascended the throne, and reigned twenty-one years. In the tenth year of his reign, Gregory, a man renowned for learning and behaviour, was promoted to the apostolical see of Rome, and presided over it thirteen years, six months and ten days. He, being moved by Divine inspiration, in the fourteenth year of the same emperor, and about the one hundred and fiftieth after the coming of the English into Britain, sent the servant of God, Augustine, f and with him several other monks, who feared the Lord, to preach the word of God to the English nation. They having, in obe- dience to the pope's commands, undertaken that work, were,

* Called Badonicus. He is supposed to have been bom in the year 520, of a Bardic family and connexion, and to have studied at the College of Lantwit Major, Glamorganshire. His querulous " History of the Britons," is all we have of his works.

+ Augustine was prior of St. Gregory's Monastery dedicated to St. Andrew in Rome.

^•°- 59S-J GREGORY S LETTER. 35

on their journej, seized with a sudden fear, and began to think of returning home, rather than proceed to a barbarous, fierce, and unbelieving nation, to whose very language they were strangers ; and this they unanimously agreed was the safest course. In short, they sent back Augustine, who had been appointed to be consecrated bishop in case they were received by the English, that he might, by humble entreaty, obtain of the holy Gregory, that they should not be com- pelled to undertake so dangerous, toilsome, and uncertain a journey. The pope, in reply, sent them a hortatory epistle, persuading them to proceed in the work of the Divine word, and rely on the assistance of the Almighty. The purport of which letter was as follows : —

" Gregory, the servant of the servants of God, to the ser- vants of our Lord. Forasmuch as it had been better not to begin a good work, than to think of desisting from that which has been begun, it behoves you, my beloved sons, to fulfil the good work, which, by the help of our Lord, you have undertaken. Let not, therefore, the toil of the journey, nor the tongues of evil speaking men, deter you ; but with all possible earnestness and zeal perform that which, by God's direction, you have undertaken ; being assured, that much labour is followed by an eternal reward. When Augustine, your cliief, returns, whom we also constitute your^ abbat' humbly obey him in all things ; knowing, that whatsoever you shall do by his direction, will, in all respects, be avail- able to your souls. Ahnighty God protect you with his grace, and grant that I may, in the heavenly country, see the fruits of your labour. Laasmuch as, though I cannot labour with you, I shall partake in the joy of the reward, because I am willing to labour. God keep you in safety, my most beloved sons._ Dated the 23rd of July, in the fourteenth year of the reign of our pious and most august lord, Mauritius Tiberius, the thirteenth year after the consulship of our said lord. The fourteenth indiction."

CHAP. xxiy.

How he wrote to the bishop of Aries to entertain them. [a.d. BQG.^

The same venerable pope also sent a letter to iEtherius

d2 '

36 BEDE's ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. [b. i.e. 25.

bishop of Aries,* exhortinfr liim to give favourable entertain- ment to Augustine on his way to Britain ; which letter was in these words : —

" To his most reverend and hob/ brother and fellow bishop JEtherius, Gregory, the servant of the servants of God. Although religious men stand in need of no recommendation with priests who have the charity which is pleasing to God ; yet as a proper opportunity is offered to write, we have thought fit to send you this our letter, to inform you, that we have directed thither, for the good of souls, the bearer of these presents, Augustine, the servant of God, of whose in- dustry we are assured, with other servants of God, whom it is requisite that your holiness assist with priestly affection, and afford him all the comfort in your power. And to the end that you may be the more ready in your assistance, we have enjoined him particularly to inform you of the occasion of his coming ; knowing, that when you are acquainted with it, you will, as the matter requires, for the sake of God, zealously afford him your relief We also in all things recommend to your charity, Candidus, the priest, our com- mon son, whom we have transferred to the government of a small patrimony in our church. God keep you in safety, most reverend brother. Dated the 23rd day of July, in the fourteenth year of the reign of our most pious and august lord, Mauritius Tiberius, the thirteenth year after the con- sulship of our lord aforesaid. The fourteenth indiction."

CHAP. XXV.

Avgustine, coming into Britain, first preached in the Isle of Thanet to King Ethelbert, and having obtained licence, entered the kingdom of Kent, in order to preach therein, [a.d. 597.]

Augustine, thus strengthened by the confirmation of the blessed Father Gregory, returned to the work of the word of God, with the servants of Christ, and arrived in Britain. The powerful Ejthelbert was at that time king of Kent ;'j'

* This is a palpable error in Bede, as it appears from the catalogues of the Archbishops of Aries and Lyons, that Vergilius filled that see at this time, and that ^therius was his contemporary Archbishop at Lyons. Dr. Lingard attributes the origin of the error to Nothelm, who was deputed by Bede to search the papal archives, and to copy from them docimienta for his work. The same error occurs in chaps, xxvii. xxviii. pp. 40^ 53-

f Ethelbert was the third Bretweilda, or dominant king.

A.D. 597.] AUGUSTINE AKRIVES IN BRITAIN. 37

he had extended his dominions as far as the great river Hum- ber, by which the Southern Saxons are divided from tlie Northern. On the east of Kent is the large Isle of Thanet containing according to the English way of reckoning, 600 families, divided from the other land by the river Wantsum,* which is about three furlongs over, and fordable only in two places, for both ends of it run into the sea. In this island landed the servant of our Lord, Augustine, and his companions, being, as is reported, nearly forty men. They had, by order of the blessed Pope Gregory, taken interpreters of the nation of the Franks,! and sending to Ethelbert, signified that they were come from Rome, and brought a joyful message, which most undoubtedly assured to all that took advantage of it ever- lasting joys in heaven, and a kingdom that would never end, with the living and true God. The king having heard this, ordered them to stay in that island where they had landed, and that they should be furnished with all necessaries, till he should consider what to do with them. For he had before heard of the Christian religion, having a Chi'istian wife of the royal family of the Franks, called Bertha 4 whom he had received from her parents, upon condition that she should be permitted to practise her rehgion with the Bishop Luidhard,§ who was sent with her to preserve her faith. Some days after, the king came into the island, and sitting in the open air, ordered Augustine and his companions to be brought into his presence. For he had taken precaution that they should not come to him in any house, lest, according to an ancient superstition, if they practised any magical arts, they might impose upon him, and so get the better of lum. But they

* Thanet is now divided from the rest of Kent by a narrow rill, crossed by an arch of the smallest span. In Bede's time the two arms of the Stour were a channel nearly a mile in width, which received several streams besides the Greater and Lesser Stour. This channel was called the Wantsum.

f The Franks and English Saxons were equally German nations ; the former came 130 years earlier from beyond the Rhine ; the latter from the countries about the mouths of the Rhine and the Elbe, and about Hol- stein, on the continent of Denmark, still called Jutland. Hence the French and English both had the same language, as Bishop Godwin ob- serves from the circumstance. This is confirmed by other clear proofs by the learned William Howel, in his Institution of General History.

X Daughter of Charibert, king of Paris.

§ Bishop of Senlis.

0 8 BEDE's ecclesiastic A.L HISTORY. [e. t. c. 25.

came furnished with Divine, net with masric virtue, bearins: a silver cross for their banner, and the image of our Lord and Saviour painted on a board ; and singing the litany, they offered up their prayers to the Lord for the eternal salvation both of themselves and of those to whom they were come. When he had sat down, pursuant to the king's commands, and preached to him and his attendants there present, the word of life, the king answered thus : — " Your words and promises are very fair, but as they are new to us, and of uncertain import, I cannot approve of tliem so far as to forsake that which I have so long followed with the whole English nation. But because you are come from far into my kingdom, and, as I conceive, are desirous to impart to us those things which you believe to be true, and most beneficial, we will not molest you, but give you favourable entertainment, and take care to supply you with your necessary sustenance ; nor do we for- bid you to preach and gain as many as you can to your religion."* Accordingly he permitted them to reside in the city of Canterbury, which Avas the metropolis of all his dominions, and, pursuant to his promise, besides allowing them sustenance, did not refuse them liberty to preach. It is reported that, as they drew near to the city, after their manner, with the holy cross, and the image of our sovereign Lord and King, Jesus Christ, they, in concert, sung this litany : " We beseech thee, O Lord, in all thy mercy, that thy anger and wrath be turned away from this city, and from thy holy house, because we have sinned. Hallelujah."f

* It would appear, from the humanity and kindness with which St. Augustine was received immediately on his arrival, that Bishop Luidhard was his precursor, and opened a way for his success ; and that the piety and prayers of Queen Bertha herself are not likely to have been without their effect in causing Ethelbert to lend an attentive ear to the preaching of St. Augxxstine.

t With St. Augustine, it is recorded, that St. Gregory sent the following books : — a Bible in two vols. ; a Psalter, and a book of the Gospels ; a book of Martvrology ; Apocr}'phal Lives of the Apostles ; and expositions of certain Epistles and Gospels. The Canterbiuy Book, in the hbrary of Trinity Hall, Cambridge, closes the brief catalogue in these expressive words": " These are the foundation, or beginning, of the library of the whole English church, a.d. 601." See Wanley's Catalogue of Saxon manu- scripts in vol. ii. of Dr. Hickes's Thesaurus, p. 172.

A.D. 597-] ST. AUGUSTI^Je's WAY OP LIFE. 39

CHAP. XXVI.

.S*'. Augtistine hi Kent foUoived the doctrine and r,anner cf living of the pi imitive church, and settled his episcopal see in the royal city. [a.d. 597j

As soon as tliey entered the dwelling-place assigned them, they began to imitate the course of life practised in the primi- tive church ; applying themselves to frequent prayer, watch- ing and fasting ; preaching the word of life to as many as they could ; despising all worldly things, as not belonging to them ; receiving only their necessary food from those they taught ; living themselves in all respects conformably to what they prescribed to others, and being always disposed to suffer any adversity, and even to die for that truth which they preached. In short, several beUeved and were baptized, admiring the simplicity of their innocent life, and the sweet- ness of their heavenly doctrine. There was on the east side of the city, a church dedicated to the honour of St. Martin,* built whilst the Romans were still in the island, wherein the queen, who, as has been said before, was a Christian, used to pray. In this they first began to meet, to sing, to pray, to say mass, to preach, and to baptize, till the king, being converted to the faith, allowed them to preach openly, and build or repair churches in all places.

When he, among the rest, induced by the unspotted life of these holy men, and their delightful promises, which, by many miracles, they proved to be most certain, believed and was baptized, greater numbers began daily to flock together to hear the word, and, forsaking their heathen rites, to asso- ciate themselves, by believing, to the unity of the church of Christ. Their conversion the king so far encouraged, as that he compelled none to embrace Christianity, but only showed more aiFection to the believers, as to his fellow citizens in the heavenly kingdom. For he had learned from his instructors and leaders to salvation, that the service of Christ ought to be voluntary, not by compulsion. Nor was

* The present church of St. Martin near Canterbury is not the old one spoken of by Bede, as it is generally thought to be, but is a structure of the thu-teenth century, though it is probable that the materials of the origi- nal church were worked up in the masonry on its re-construction, the walls being still composed in part of Roman bricks.

40 BEDE*S ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. [b. i. c, 27.

it long before he gave his teachers a settled residence in his metropolis of Canterbury, with such possessions of different kinds as were necessary for their subsistence.

CHAP. xxvn.

St. Augustine, being made bishop, sends to acquaint Pope Gregory with what had been done, and receives his answer to the doubts he had pro- posed tohim. [a.d. 597.]

In the meantime, Augustine, the man of God, repaired to Aries, and, pursuant to the orders received from the holy Father Gregory, was ordained archbishop of the English nation,* by iEtherius,t archbishop of that city. Then return- ing into Britain, he sent Laurentius the priest, and Peter the monk, to Rome, to acquaint Pope Gregory, that the nation of the English had received the faith of Christ, and that he was liimself made their bishop. At the same time, he desired his solution of some doubts that occurred to him. He soon received proper answers to his questions, which we have also thought fit to insert in this our history : —

The First Question of Augustine, Bishop of the Church of Canterbury. — Concerning bishops, how they are to behave themselves towards their clergy ? or into how many portions the things given by the faithful to the altar are to be divided ? and how the bishop is to act in the church ?

Gregory, Pope of the City of Rome, answers. — Holy Writ, which no doubt you are well versed in, testifies, and particu- larly St. Paul's Epistle to Timothy, wherein he endeavours to instruct him how he should behave himself in the house of Grod ; but it is the custom of the apostolic see to prescribe

* Augustine was not consecrated as archbishop either of London or Can- terbury ; but by the general title of the " Bishop of the English," (Anglo- rum Episcopus,) that he might be at liberty to hx his seat in whatever part of the country he pleased. — Parker, Antiq. Britan. p. 18. The primacy of Canterbury is owing to the fact of Kent being the first and chief of the Saxon kingdoms, extending to the Humber.

t For ^therius read Vergilius, see note at p. 36. Aries is situated in the extreme south of France, not far from the Mediterranean. Early in the fifth century, the emperor Honorius erected this city into a metropolis over seven of the sixteen provinces into which Gaul was at that time divided ; the bishop of Rome, apprehensive that the archbishop of Aries might elevate himself into a patriarch of the whole kingdom, appointed him his apostolic vicar in Gaul.

A.D. 597.] Augustine's questions. 41

rules to bishops newly ordained, that all emoluments which accrue, are to be divided into four portions ; — one for the bishop and his family, because of hospitality and entertain- ments ; another for the clergy ; a third for the poor ; and the fourth for the repair of churches. But in regard that you, my brother, being brought up under monastic rules, are not to live apart from your clergy in the English church, which, by God's assistance, has been lately brought to the faith ; you are to follow that course of life which our fbre- fathers did in the time of the primitive church, when none of them said anything that he possessed was his own, but all things were in common among them.

But if there are any clerks not received into holy orders, who cannot live continent, they are to take wives, and receive their stipends abroad ; because we know it is written, that out of the same portions above-mentioned a distribution was made to each of them according to every one's wants. Care is also to be taken of their stipends, and provision to be made, and they are to be kept under ecclesiastical rules, that they may live orderly, and attend to singing of psahns, and, by the help of God, preserve their hearts, and tongues, and bodies from all that is unlawful. But as for those that live in com- mon, why need we say anything of making portions, or keep- ing hospitality and exhibiting mercy ? inasmuch as all that can be spared is to be spent in pious and religious works, according to the commands of Him who is the Lord and Master of all, " Give alms of such things as you have, and behold all things are clean unto you."

Augustine^s Second Question. — Whereas the faith is one and the same, why are there different customs in different churches ? and why is one custom of masses observed in the holy Roman church, and another in the Galilean church ?

Pope Gregory answers. — You know, my brother, the custom of the Roman church in which you remember you were bred up. But it pleases me, that if you have found anything, either in the Roman, or the GalHcan,* or any other

* It is presumed that Luidhard, bishop of Senlis, who accompanied Bertha frim Paris on her marriage with Ethelbert, would use the Gallican rites in the church of St. iMarLin, at Canterbury, and that th's must have attracted the attention of St. Augustine on his landing in our island. It is not improbable too that St, Germanua effected a great change in the eccle-

42 BEDE'S ecclesiastical history. [b. I. c. Z7.

church, which may be more acceptable to Almighty God, you carefully make choice of the same, and sedulously teach the church of the English, wliich as yet is new in the faitli, whatsoever you can gather from the several churches. For things are not to be loved for the sake of places, but places for the sake of good things. Choose, therefore, from every church those things that are pious, religious, and upright, and when you have, as it were, made them up into one body, let the minds of the EngUsh be accustomed thereto.

Augustine s Third Question. — I beseech you to inform me, what punishment must be inflicted, if any one shall take any- thing by stealth from the church ?

Gregory misirers. — You may judge, my brother, by the person of the thief, in what manner he is to be corrected. For there are some, Avho, having substance, commit theft ; and there are others, who transgress in this point through want. Wherefore it is requisite, that some be punished in their purses, others with stripes ; some with more severity, and some more mildly. And when the severity is more, it is to proceed from charity, not from passion ; because tliis is done to him who is corrected, that he may not be delivered up to hell-fire. For it behoves us to maintain discipline among the faithful, as good parents do with their carnal chil- dren, whom they punish with stripes for their faults, and yet design to make those their heirs whom they chastise ; and they preserve what they possess for those whom they seem in anger to persecute. This charity is, therefore, to be kept in mind, and it dictates the measure of the punishment, so that the mind may do nothing beyond the rule of reason. You may add, that they are to restore those tilings wliich they have stolen from the church. But, God forbid, that the church should make profit from those earthly things wliich it seems to lose, or seek gain out of such vanities.

Augustine s Fourth Question. — Whether two brothers may marry two sisters, which are of a family far removed from them ?

Gregory answers. — This may lawfully be done ; for no- thing is found in holy writ that seems to contradict it.

siastical customs of the ancient British church, which he would naturallj wish to regulate after the model of the Gallican. For an account of the Galilean Liturgy, and its variations from that of the Roman, consult Pal- mer's Origines Liturgicae, vol. i. page 144.

A.D. 597.] GREGORYS AXSWEKS TO ST. AUG USTIKE. 43

Augustines Fifth Question. — To what degree may the faithful marry with their kindred ? and Avhether it is lawful for men to marry their stepmothers and relations ?

Gregory ansioers. — A certain worldly law in the Roman commonwealth allows, that the son and daughter of a brother and sister, or of two brothers, or two sisters, may be joined in matrimony ; but we have found, by experience, that no ofrspring can come of such wedlock ; and the Divine Lav»^ forbids a man to "uncover the nakedness of his kindred." Hence of necessity it must be the third or fourth generation of the faithful, that can be lawfully joined in matrimony ; for the second, which we have mentioned, must altogether abstain from one another. To marry with one's stepmother is a heinous crime, because it is written in the Law, " Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy father :" now the son, indeed, cannot uncover his father's nakedness ; but in regard that it is written, " They shall be two in one flesh," he that presumes to uncover the nakedness of his stepmother, who was one flesh with his father, certainly uncovers the nakedness of his father. It is also prohibited to marry with a sister-in-law, because by the former union she is become the brother's flesh. For Avhich thing also John the Baptist was beheaded, and ended his life in holy martyrdom. For, though he was not ordered to deny Christ, and indeed was killed for confessing Christ, yet in regard that the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, said, " I am the Truth," because Jolm was killed for the truth, he also shed his blood for Christ.

But forasmuch as there are many of the English, who, whilst they were still in infidelity, are said to have been joined in this execrable matrimony, when they come to the faith they are to be admonished to abstain, and be made to know that this is a grievous sin. Let them fear the dread- ful judgment of God, lest, for the gratification of their carnal appetites, they incur the torments of eternal punishment. Yet they are not on this account to be deprived of the com- munion of the body and blood of Christ, lest they seem to be punished for those things which they did through ignor- ance before they had received baptism. For at this time the Holy Church chastises some things through zeal, and tole- rates some through meekness, and connives at some things through discretion, that so she may often, by this forbearance

44 bede's ecclesiastical history. [b. I. c. 27.

and connivance, suppress the evil which she disapproves. But all that come to the faith are to be admonished not to do such things. And if any shall be guilty of them, they are to be excluded from the communion of the body and blood of Christ. For as the offence is, in some measure, to be tolerated in those who did it through ignorance, so it is to be strenuously prosecuted in those who do not fear to sin knowingly.

Augustine^ s Sixth Question. — Whether a bishop may be ordained without other bishops being present, in case there be so great a distance between them, that they cannot easily come together ?

Gregory answers. — As for the church of England, in which you are as yet the only bishop, you can no otherwise ordain a bishop than in the absence of other bishops ; unless some bishops should come over from Gaul, that they may be present as witnesses to you in ordaining a bishop. But we would have you, my brother, to ordain bishops in such a manner, that the said bishops may not be far asunder, that when a new bishop is to be ordained, there be no difficulty, but that other bishops, and pastors also, whose presence is necessary, may easily come together. Thus, when, by the help of God, bishops shall be so constituted in places every- where near to one another, no ordination of a bishop is to be performed without assembling three or four bishops. For, even in spiritual affairs, we may take example by the tem- poral, that they may be wisely and discreetly conducted. It is certain, that when marriages are celebrated in the world, some married persons are assembled, that those who went before in the way of matrimony, may also partake in the joy of the succeeding couple. Why, then, at this spiritual ordi- nation, wherein, by means of the sacred ministry, man is joined to God, should not such persons be assembled, as may either rejoice in the advancement of the new bishop, or jointly pour forth their prayers to Almighty God for his preservation ?

Augustine's Seventh Question. — How are we to deal with the bishops of France and Britain ?

Gregory answers. — We give you no authority over the bishops of France, because the bishop of Aries received the pall* in ancient times from my predecessor, and we are not to

* The pallivun, or pall, consisted of a long strip of fine woollen cloth,

A.D. 597.] GREGORY'S ANSWERS TO ST. AUGUSTINE. 45

deprive liim of the authority he has received. K it shall therefore happen, my brother, that you go over into the pro- vince of France, you are to concert with the said bishop of Aries, how, if there be any faults among the bishops, they may be amended. And if he shall be lukewarm in keeping up discipline, he is to be corrected by your zeal ; to whom we have also written, that when your holiness shall be in France, he may also use all his endeavours to assist you, and put away from the behaviour of the bishops all that shall be opposite to the command of our Creator. But you, of youi own authority, shall not have power to judge the bishops of France, but by persuading, soothing, and showing good works for them to imitate ; you shall reform the minds of wicked men to the pursuit of holiness ; for it is Avritten in the Law, " When thou comest into the standing corn of thy neigh- bours, then thou mayest pluck the ears with thine hand ; but thou shalt not move a sickle unto thy neighbours' standing corn." For thou mayest not apply the sickle of judgment in that harvest which seems to have been committed to an- other ; but by the effect of good works thou shalt clear the Lord's wheat of the chaiF of their vices, and convert them into the body of the Church, as it were, by eating. But whatsoever is to be done by authority, must be transacted with the aforesaid bishop of Aries, lest that should be omitted, which the ancient institution of the fathers has ap- pointed.* But as for all the bishops of Britain, we commit them to your care, that the unlearned may be taught, the weak strengthened by persuasion, and the perverse corrected by authority.

Augustine s Eighth Question, — Whether a woman with child ought to be baptized ? Or how long after she has brought forth, may she come into the church ? As also, after how many days the infant born may be baptized, lest he be prevented by death ? Or how long after her husband may

ornamented with crosses, the middle of which was formed into a loose col- lar resting on the shoulders, while the extremities before and behind hung down nearly to the feet. In the east it is called omophorion, the bishops wearing it above the phenolion, or vestment, during the eucharist. It origi- nally formed part of the imperial habit, of which Collier has given some interesting particulars, in his Eccles. Hist. vol. i. 69, folio.

• St. Gregory probably alludes to the third oecumenical council, held at Ephesiis, A.D. 431.

46 BEDe's ecclesiastical history. [e. I. c. 27.

have carnal knowledge of her ? Or whether it is lawful for her to come into the church when she has her courses ? Or to receive the holy sacrament of communion ? Or whether a man, under certain circumstances, may come into the church before he has washed with water ? Or approach to receive the mystery of the holy communion ? All which things are requisite to be known by the rude nation of the EngUsh.

Gregory answers. — I do not doubt but that these questions have been put to you, my brother, and I tliink I have already answered you therein. But I believe you would wish the opinion which you yourself might give to be confirmed by mine also. Why should not a woman with child be baptized, since the fruitfulness of the flesh is no offence in the eyes of Almighty God ? For when our first parents sinned in Paradise, they forfeited the immortality wliich they had re- ceived, by the just judgment of God. Because, thei'efore, Almighty God would not for their fault wholly destroy the human race, he both deprived man of immortality for his sin, and, at the same time, of his great goodness, reserved to liim the power of propagating his race after him. On what account then can that which is preserved to the human race, by the free gift of Almighty God, be excluded from the pri- vilege of baptism ? For it is very foolish to imagine that the gift of grace opposes that mystery in which all sin is blotted out. When a woman is dehvered, after how many days she may come into the church, you have been informed by reading the Old Testament, viz. that she is to abstain for a male child thirty-three days, and sixty-six for a female. Now you must know that this is to be taken in a mystery ; for if she enters the church the very hour that she is deli- vered, to return thanks, she is not guilty of any sin ; because the pleasure of the flesh is in fault, and not the pain ; but the pleasure is in the copulation of the flesh, whereas there is pain in bringing forth the child. Wherefore it is said to the first mother of all, " In sorrow shalt thou bring forth children." K, therefore, we forbid a woman that has brought forth, to enter the church, we make a crime of her very punish- ment. To baptize either a woman who has brought forth, if there be danger of death, even the very hour that she brings forth, or that which she has brought forth the very hour it

A.D.D07.] GREGORYS ANSWERS TO ST. AUGUSTINE. 47

is borri; is no way prohibited, because, as the grace of the holy mystery is to be with much discretion provided for the living and understanding, so is it to be without any delay offered to the dying ; lest, while a further time is sought to confer the mystery of redemption, a small delay intervening, the person that is to be redeemed is dead and gone.

Her husband is not to approach her, till the inftmt born be weaned. A bad custom is sprung up in the behaviour of married people, that is, that women disdain to suckle the chil- dren which they bring forth, and give them to other women to suckle ; which seems to have been invented on no other account but incontinency ; because, as they will not be continent, they will not suckle the children which they bear. Those women, therefore, who, from bad custom, give their children to others to bring up, must not approach their husbands till the time of purification is past. For even when there has been no child-birth, women are forbidden to do so, whilst they have their monthly courses, insomuch that the Law condemns to death any man that shall approach unto a woman during her uncleanness. Yet the woman, nevertheless, must not be forbidden to come into the church whilst she has her monthly courses ; because the superfluity of nature cannot be im- puted to her as a crime ; and it is not just that she should be refused admittance into the church, for that which she suffers against her will. For we know, that the woman who had the issue of blood, humbly approaching behind our Lord's back, touched the hem of his garment, and her distemper im- mediately departed from her. If, therefore, she that had an issue of blood might commendably touch the garment of our Lord, why may not she, who has the monthly courses, law- fully enter into the church of God ? But you may say. Her distemper compelled her, whereas these we speak of are bound by custom. Consider, then, most dear brother, that all we suffer in this mortal flesh, through the infirmity of our nature, is ordained by the just judgment of God after the fall ; for to hunger, to thirst, to be hot, to be cold, to be weary, is from the infirmity of our nature ; and what else is it to seek food against hunger, drink against thirst, air against heat, clothes against cold, rest against weariness, than to procure a remedy against distempers ? Thus to a woman her monthly courses are a distemper. If, therefore.

48 bede's ecclesiastical history. [b. I. c. 27.

it was a commendable boldness in her, who in her disease touched our Lord's garment, why may not that which is allowed to one infirm person, be granted to all women, who, through the fault of their nature, are distempered ?

She must not, therefore, be forbidden to receive the mystery of the holy communion during those days. But if any one out of profound respect does not presume to do it, she is to be commended ; yet if she receives it, she is not to be judged. For it is the part of noble minds in some manner to acknowledge their faults, even where there is no offence ; because very often that is done without a fault, which, never- theless, proceeded from a fault. Therefore, when we are hungry, it is no crime to eat ; yet our being hungry proceeds from the sin of the first man. The monthly courses are no crime in women, because they naturally happen ; however, because our nature itself is so depraved, that it appears to be so without the concurrence of the will, the fault proceeds from sin, and thereby human nature may herself know what she is become by judgment. And let man, who wilfully committed the offence, bear the guilt of that offence. And, therefore, let women consider with themselves, and if they do not presume, during their monthly courses, to approach the sacrament of the body and blood of our Lord, they are to be commended for their praiseworthy consideration ; but when they are carried away with love of the same mystery to receive it out of the usual custom of religious life, they are not to be restrained, as we said before. For as in the Old Testament the outward works are observed, so in the New Testament, that which is outwardly done, is not so diligently regarded as that which is inwardly thought, in order to punish it by a discerning judgment. For whereas the Law forbids the eating of many things as unclean, yet our Lord says in the Gospel, " Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man ; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man," And presently after he added, ex- pounding the same, " Out of the heart proceed evil thoughts." Where it is sufficiently shown, that that is declared by Almighty God to be polluted in fact, which proceeds from the root of a polluted thought. Whence also Paul the Apostle says, " Unto the pure all things are pure, but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving, notliing is pure." And pre-

&.Ti.sd7.] Gregory's a^^savers to st. augustine. 49

sentlj after, declaring the cause of that defilement, he adds, " For even their mind and conscience is defiled." If, there- fore, meat is not unclean to him Avho has a clean mind, why shall that which a clean woman suffers according to nature, be imputed to her as uncleanness ?

A man who has approached his own wife is not to enter the church unless washed with water, nor is he to enter im- mediately although washed. The Law prescribed to the ancient people, that a man in such cases should be washed with water, and not enter into the church before the setting of the sun. Which, nevertheless, may be understood spiritu- ally, because a man acts so when the mind is led by the imagination to unlawful concupiscence ; for unless the fire of concupiscence be first driven from his mind, he is not to think himself worthy of the congregation of the brethren, whilst he thus indulges an unlawful passion. For though several nations have different opinions concerning this affair, and seem to observe different rules, it was always the custom of the Romans, from ancient times, for such an one to be cleansed by wasliing, and for some time respectfully to for- bear entering the church. Nor do we, in so saying, assign matrimony to be a fault ; but forasmuch as lawful inter- course cannot be had wdthout the pleasure of the flesh, it is proper to forbear entering the holy place, because the plea- sure itself cannot be without a fault. For he was not born of adultery or fornication, but of lawful marriage, who said, " Behold I was conceived in iniquity, and in sin my mother brought be forth." For he who knew himself to have been conceived in iniquity, lamented that he was born from sin, because the tree in its bough bears the moisture it drew from the root. In which words, however, he does not call the union of the married couple iniquity, but the pleasure of the copulation. For there are many things which are proved to be lawful, and yet we are somewhat defiled in doing them. As very often by being angry we correct faults, and at the same time disturb our own peace of mind ; and though that which we do is right, yet it is not to be approved that our mind should be discomposed. For he who said, " My eye was disturbed with anger," had been angry at the* vices of those who had offended. Now, in regard that only a sedate mind can apply itself to contemplation, he grieved that his

E

50 BEDE's ecclesiastical history. [ar.c27.

eye was disturbed with anger ; because, whilst he was cor- recting evil actions below, he was obliged to be withdrawn and disturbed from the contemplation of things above. Anger against vice is, therefore, commendable, and yet painful to a man, because he tliinks that by his mind being agitated, he has incurred some guilt. Lawful commerce, therefore, must be for the sake of children, not of pleasure ; and must be to procure offspring, not to satisfy vices. But if any man is led not by the desire of pleasure, but only for the sake of getting children, such a man is certainly to be left to his own judgment, either as to entering the church, or as to receiving the mystery of the body and blood of our Lord, wliich he, who being placed in the fire cannot burn, is not to be for- bidden by us to receive. But when, not the love of getting children, but of pleasure prevails, the pair have cause to lament their deed. For this the holy preaching allows them, and yet fills the mind with di^ead of the very allowance. For when Paul the Apostle said, " Let him that cannot contain, have his wife ;" he presently took care to subjoin, "Buttliis I say by way of indulgence, not by way of command." For that is not granted by way of indulgence which is lawful, be- cause it is just ; and, therefore, that which he said he in- dulged, he showed to be an offence.

It is seriously to be considered, that when God was to speak to the people on Mount Sinai, he first commanded them to abstain from women. And if so much cleanness of body was there required, where God spoke to the people by the means of a subject creature, that those who were to hear the words of God should not do so ; how much more ought women, who receive the body of Almighty God, to preserve themselves in cleanness of flesh, lest they be burdened wath the very greatness of that unutterable mystery ? For this reason, it was said to David, concerning his men, by the priest, that if they were clean in this particular, they should receive the shewbread, which they would not have received at all, had not David first declared them to be clean. Then the man, who, afterwards, has been washed with water, is also capable of receiving the mystery of the holy communion, when it is lawful for him, according to what has been before declared, to enter the church.

Augustine s Ninth Question.— 'S^hQiliQi: after an illusion.

A.D. 597.1 GREGORYS AJfSWERS TO ST. AUGUSTINE. 51

such as happens in a dream, any man maj receive the body of our Lord, or if he be a priest, celebrate the Divine mysteries ?

Gregory ansivers. — The Testament of the Old Law, as has been said already in the article above, calls such a man pol- luted, and allows him not to enter into the church till the evening after being washed with water. Which, neverthe- less, spiritual people, taking in another sense, will understand in the same manner as above ; because he is imposed upon as it were in a di^eam, who, being tempted with filthiness, is defiled by real representations in thought, and he is to be washed with water, that he may cleanse away the sins of thought with tears ; and unless the fire of temptation depart before, may know himself to be guilty as it were until the evening. But discretion is very necessary in that illusion, that one may seriously consider what causes it to happen in the mind of the person sleeping ; for sometimes it proceeds from excess of eating or drinking ; sometimes from the superfluity or infirmity of nature, and sometimes from the thoughts. And when it happens, either through superfluity or infirmity of nature, such an illusion is not to be feared, because it is rather to be lamented, that the mind of the person, who knew nothing of it, suffers the same, than that he occasioned it. But when the appetite of gluttony commits excess in food, and thereupon the receptacles of the humours are oppressed, the mind from thence contracts some guilt ; yet not so much as to obstruct the receiving of the holy mysteiy, or celebrating mass, when a holy day requires it, or necessity obliges the sacrament to be administered, because there is no other priest in the place ; for if there be others who can perform the ministry, the illusion proceeding from over-eating is not to exclude a man from receiving the sacred mystery ; but I am of opinion he ought humbly to abstain from offering the sacrifice of the mystery ; but not from receiving it, unless the mind of the person sleeping has been filled with some foul imagination. For there are some, who for the most part so suffer the illusion, that their mind, even during the sleep of the body, is not defiled Avith filthy thoughts. Li which case, one thing is evident, that the mind is guilty even in its own judgment ; for though it does not remember to have seen any thing whilst the body was sleeping, yet it

e2

S2 BEDE's ecclesiastical history. [b. I.e. 27.

calls to mind that when waking it fell into bodily gluttony. But if the sleeping illusion proceeds from evil thoughts when waking, then the guilt is manifest to the mind ; for the man perceives from whence that filth sprung, because what he had knowingly thought of, that he afterwards unwittingly revealed. But it is to be considered, whether that thought was no more than a suggestion, or proceeded to enjoyment, or, which is still more criminal, consented to sin. For all sin is fulfilled in three ways, viz., by suggestion, by delight, and by consent. Suggestion is occasioned by the Devil^ delight is from the flesh, and consent from the mind. For the serpent suggested the first offence, and Eve, as flesh, was delighted with it, but Adam consented, as the spirit, or mind. And much discretion is requisite for the mind to sit as judge between suggestion and delight, and between delight and consent. For if the evil spirit suggest a sin to the mind, if there ensue no delight in the sin, the sin is in no way com- mitted ; but when the flesh begins to be delighted, then sin begins to grow. But if it deliberately consents, then the sin is known to be perfected. The beginning, therefore, of sin is in the suggestion, the nourishing of it in delight, but in the consent is its perfection. And it often happens that what the evil spirit sows in the thought, the flesh draws to delight, and yet the soul does not consent to that delight. And whereas the flesh cannot be delighted without the mind, yet the mind struggling against the pleasures of the flesh is somewhat unwillingly tied down by the carnal delight, so that through reason it contradicts, and does not consent, yet being influenced by delight, it grievously laments its being so bound. Wherefore that principal soldier of our Lord's host, sighing, said, "I see another law in my members warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin, which is in my members." Now if he was a captive, he did not fight ; but if he did fight, how was he a captive ? he therefore fought against the law of the mind, which the law that is in the members opposed ; if he fought so, he was no captive. Thus, then, man is, as I may say, a captive and yet free. Free on account of justice, which he loves, a captive by the delight which he unwillingly bears within him.

A.D. 601.1 Gregory's letter to vergilius. 53

CHAP, xxvin.

Pope Gregory writes to the bishop of Aries to assist Augustine in the work of God. [a.d. 601.]

Thus iiir tlie answers of tlie holy Pope Gregory, to tlie questions of the most reverend prelate, Augustine. But the epistle, which he says he had written to the bishop of Ai'les, was directed to Vergihus, successor to ^therius, the copy whereof follows : —

" To his most reverend and holy brother and fellow bishop, Vergilius ; Gregory, servant of the servants of God. With how much affection brethren, coming of their own accord, are to be entertained, is well known, by their being for the most part invited on account of charity. Therefore, if our common brother, Bishop Augustine, shall happen to come to you, I desire your love will, as is becoming, receive him so kindly and affectionately, that he may be supported by the honour of your consolation, and others be informed how brotherly charity is to be cultivated. And, since it often happens that those who are at a distance, sooner than others, understand the things that need correction, if any crimes of priests or others shall happen to be laid before you, you will, in conjunction with him, sharply inquire into the same. And do you both act so strictly and carefully against those things which offend God, and provoke his wrath, that for the amendment of others, the punishment may fall upon the guilty, and the innocent may not suffer an ill name. God keep you in safety, most reverend brother. Given the 22nd day of June, in the nineteenth year of the reign of our pious and august emperor, Mauritius Tiberius, and the eighteenth year after the consulship of our said lord. The fourth indiction."

CHAP. XXIX.

The same Pope sends Augustine the Pall, an Epistle, and several Ministers of the word. [a.d. 601.]

MoREO^v^R, the same Pope Gregory, hearing from Bishop Augustine, that he had a great harvest, and but few labourers, sent to him, together with his aforesaid messengers, several fellow labourers and ministers of the word of whom the first

54 BEDE's ecclesiastical history. [b. I.e. 29

andprircipal were* Mellitus, Justus, Paulinus, and Rufinianus, and by them all things in general that were necessary for the worship and service of the chur.h, viz., sacred vessels and vestments for the altars, also ornaments for the churches, and vestments for the priests and clerks, as likewise relics of the holy apostles and martyrs ; besides many books. He also sent letters, wherein he signified that he had transmitted the pall to him, and at the same time directed how he should constitute bishops in Britain. The letters were in these words : —

" To his most reverend and holy brother and fellow bishop, Augustijie ; Gregory^ the servant of the servants of God. Though it be certain, that the unspeakable rewards of the eternal kingdom are reserved for those who labour for Al- mighty God, yet it is requisite that we bestow on them the advantage of honours, to the end that they may by this re- compence be enabled the more vigorously to apply themselves to the care of their spiritual work. And, in regard that the new church of the English is, through the goodness of the Lord, and your labours, brought to the grace of God, we grant you the use of the pall in the same, only for the per- forming of the solemn service of the mass ; so that you in several places ordain twelve bishops, who shall be subject to your jurisdiction, so that the bishop of London shall, for the future, be always consecrated by liis own synod, and that he receive the honour of the pall from this holy and apostolical see, which I, by the grace of God, now serve. But we will have you send to the city of York such a bishop as you shall think fit to ordain ; yet so, that if that city, with the places adjoining, shall receive the word of God, that bishop shall also ordain twelve bishops, and enjoy the honour of a metro- politan ; for we design, if we live, by the help of God, to bestow on him also the pall ; and yet we will have him to be subservient to your authority ; but after your decease, he shall so preside over the bishops he shall ordain, as to be in no way subject to the jurisdiction of the bishop of London. But for the future let tliis distinction be between the bishops

* Mellitus was consecrated bishop of London, a.d. 604 ; and succeeded Laiirentius in the see of Canterbury, a.d. 619 ; in 624 Justus was translated from Rochester to the primacy. In the following yearPaulinus was made archbishop of York. Rufinianus was the thu-d abbatof St. Augustine's abbey.

A.D.601.] Gregory's letter to mellitus. 55

of the cities of London and York, that he may have the pre- cedence who shall be first ordained.* But let tliem unani- mously dispose, by common advice and uniform conduct, whatsoever is to be done for the zeal of Christ ; let them judge rightly, and perform what they judge convenient in a uniform manner.

" But to you, my brother, shall, by the authority of our God, and Lord Jesus Christ, be subject not only those bishops you shall ordain, and those that shall be ordained by the bishop of York, but also all the priests in Britain ; to the end that from the mouth and life of your holiness they may learn tlie rule of believing rightly, and living well, and ful- filling their office in faith and good manners, they may, when it shall i^lease the Lord, attain the heavenly kingdom. God preserve you in safety, most reverend brother.

" Dated the 22nd of June, in the nineteenth year of the reign of our most pious lord and emperor, Mauritius Tiberius, the eighteenth year after the consulship of our said lord. The fourth indiction."

CHAP. XXX.

A copy of the letter which Pope Gregory sent to the A bbot Mellitus, then going into Britain, [a.d. 601.]

The aforesaid messengers being departed, the holy father, Gregory, sent after them letters worthy to be preserved in memory, wherein he plainly shows what care he took of the salvation of our nation. The letter was as follows : —

" To his most beloved son, the Abbot Mellitus; Gregory, the servant of the servants of God. We have been much concerned, since the departure of our congregation that is with you, because we have received no account of the suc- cess of your journey. When, therefore. Almighty God shall bring you to the most reverend Bishop Augustine, our brother, tell him what I have, upon mature deliberation on the affair of the English, determined upon, viz., that the temples of the idols in that nation ought not to be destroyed ;

* York and London constituted the first metropolitan sees among the ancient Britons. On this account, probablv, Gregory invested them with metropolitical dignity on the re-establishment of Christianity m those places. It was some time kfter the death of both Gregory and Augustme, how- ever, that this project, as respects York, was carried into effect.

56 BEDE's ecclesiastical HISTOET. [b. I. c. 30.

but let the idols that are in them be destroyed ; let holy water be made and sprinkled in the said temples, let altars be erected, and relics placed. For if those temples are well built, it is requisite that they be converted from the worship of devils to the service of the true God ; that the nation, seeing that their temples are not destroyed, may re- move error from their hearts, and knowing and adoring the true God, may the more familiarly resort to the places to which they have been accustomed. And because they have been used to slaughter many oxen in the sacrifices to devils, some solemnity must be exchanged for them on this account, as that on the day of the dedication, or the nativities of the holy martyi's, whose relics are there deposited, they may build themselves huts of the boughs of trees, about those churches which have been turned to that use from temples, and celebrate the solemnity with religious feasting, and no more offer beasts to the Devil, but kill cattle to the praise of God in their eating, and return thanks to the Giver of all things for their sustenance ; to the end that, whilst some gratifications are outwardly permitted them, they may the more easily consent to the inward consolations of the grace of God. For there is no doubt that it is impossible to efface every tiling at once from their obdurate minds ; because he who endeavours to ascend to the highest place, rises by de- grees or steps, and not by leaps. Thus the Lord made himself known to the people of Israel in Egypt ; and yet he allowed them the use of the sacrifices wliich they were wont to offer to the Devil, in his own worship ; so as to command them in liis sacrifice to kill beasts, to the end that, changing their hearts, they might lay aside one part of the sacrifice, whilst they retained another ; that whilst they offered the same beasts which they were wont to offer, they should offer them to God, and not to idols ; and thus they would no longer be the same sacrifices. This it behoves your affection to communicate to our aforesaid brother, that he. being there present, may consider how he is to order all things. God preserve you in safety, most beloved son.

"Given the I7th of June, in the nineteenth year of the reign of our lord, the most pious emperor, Mauritius Tiberius, the eighteenth year after the consulship of our said lord. The fourth indiction. "

A.D.601.] GRE(X)RY'S letter to AUGUSTINE. 57

CHAP. XXXI.

Pope Gregory, by letter, exhorts Augustine not to glory in his miracles. [a.d. 601.]

At which tune he also sent Augustine a letter concerning the miracles that he had heard had been wrought by him ; wherein he admonishes him not to incur the danger of being puiFed up by the number of them. The letter was in these words : —

"I know, most loving brother, that Almighty God, by means of your aifection, shows great miracles in the nation which he has chosen. Wherefore it is necessary that you rejoice with fear, and tremble wliilst you rejoice, on account of the same heavenly gift ; viz., that you may rejoice because the souls of the English are by outward miracles drawn to in- ward grace ; but that you fear, lest, amidst the wonders that are wrought, the weak mind may be puffed up in its own presumption, and as it is externally raised to honour, it may thence inwardly fall by vain-glory. For we must call to mind, that when the disciples returned with joy after preach- ing, and said to their heavenly Master, ' Lord, in thy name, even the devils are subject to us ;' they were presently told, 'Do not rejoice on this account, but rather rejoice for that your names are written in heaven.' For they placed their thoughts on private and temporal joys, when they rejoiced in ndracles ; but they are recalled from the private to the public, and from the temporal to the eternal joy, when it is said to them, 'Rejoice for this, because your names are writ- ten in heaven.' For all the elect do not work miracles, and yet the names of all are written in heaven. For those who are disciples of the truth ought not to rejoice, save for that good thing which all men enjoy as well as they, and of which their enjoyment shall be mthout end.

"It remains, therefore, most dear brother, that amidst those things, which, through the working of our Lord, you outwardly perform, you always inwardly strictly judge your- self, and clearly understand both what you are yourself, and how much grace is in that same nation, for the conversion of which you have also received the gift of working miracles. And if you remember that you have at any time offended

58 BEDE's ecclesiastical HISTORT. [b. I. c. 32.

our Creator, either by word or deed, that you always call it to mind, to the end that the remembrance of your guilt may crush the vanity which rises in your heart. And whatsoever you shall receive, or have received, in relation to working miracles, that you consider the same, not as conferred on you, but on those for whose salvation it has been given you."

CHAP. xxxn.

Pope Gregory sends letters and presents to King Ethelbert,

The same holy Pope Gregory, at the same time, sent a letter to King Ethelbert, with many presents of several sorts ; be- ing desirous to glorify the king with temporal honours, at the same time that he rejoiced that through his labour and zeal he had attained the knowledge of the heavenly glory. The copy of the said letter is as follows : —

" To the most glorious Lord, and his most excellent son, Ethelbert, king of the English, Bishop Gregory. Almighty God advances all good men to the government of nations, that he may by their means bestow the gifts of his mercy on those over whom they are placed. This we know to have been done in the English nation, over whom your glory was therefore placed, that by means of the goods which are granted to you, heavenly benefits might also be conferred on the nation that is subject to you. Therefore, my illustrious son, do you carefully preserve the grace which you have re- ceived from the Divine goodness, and hasten to promote the Chi'istian faith, which you have embraced, among the people under your subjection ; multiply the zeal of your upright- ness in their conversion ; suppress the worsliip of idols ; overthrow the structures of the temples ; edify the manners of your subjects by much cleanness of life, exhorting, terri- fying, sootliing, correcting, and giving examples of good works, that you may find him your rewarder in heaven, whose name and knowledge you shall spread abroad upon earth. For he also will render the fame of your honour more glorious to posterity, whose honour you seek and main- tain among the nations.

"For even so Constantine, our most pious emperor, recovering the Roman commonwealth from the perverse

A.D. Goi.] gkegory's letter to king ethelbert. o9

worship of idols, subjected the same with himself to our Almighty God and Lord Jesus Christ, and was himself, with the people under his subjection, entirely converted to him. Whence it followed, that his praises transcended the fame of former princes ; and he as much excelled his predecessors in renown as he did in good works. Now, therefore, let your glory hasten to infuse into the kings and people that are sub- ject to you, the knowledge of one Gocl, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost ; that you may both surpass the ancient kings of your nation in praise and merit, and become by so much the more secure against your own sins before the dreadful judgment of Almighty God, as you shall wipe away the sins of others in your subjects.

" Willingly hear, devoutly perform, and studiously retain in your memory, whatsoever you shall be advised by our most reverend brother. Bishop Augustine, who is instructed in the monastical rule, full of the knowledge of the holy Scripture, and, by the help of God, endued with good works ; for if you give ear to him in what he speaks for AJmighty God, the same Almighty God will the sooner hear him pray- ing for you. But if (which God avert !) you slight his words, how shall Almighty God hear him in your behalf, when you neglect to hear him for God ? Unite yourself, therefore, to him with all your mind, in the fervour of faith, and further his endeavours, through the assistance of that virtue which the Divinity affords you, that He may make you partaker of his kingdom, whose faith you cause to be received and maintained in your own.

"Besides, we would have your glory know, we find in the holy Scripture, from the words of the Almighty Lord, that the end of this present world, and the kingdom of the saints, is about to come, which will never terminate. But as the same end of the world approaches, many things are at hand which were not before, viz. changes of air, and terrors from heaven, and tempests out of the order of the seasons, wars, famines, plagues, earthquakes in several places ; which things will not, nevertheless, happen in our days, but will all follow after our days. If you, therefore, find any of these things to happen in your country, let not your mind be in any way disturbed ; for these signs of the end of the world are sent before, for this reason, that we may be solicit-

60 BEDe's ECCLESIASTICAE history. [b. r. c. 3i.

ous for our souls, suspicious of the hour of death, and may be found prepared with good works to meet our Judge. Thus much, my illustrious son, I have said in few words, to the end that when the Christian faith shall increase in your kingdom, our discourse to you may also be more copious, and we may be pleased to say the more, in proportion as joy for the conversion of your nation is multiplied in our mind.

"I have sent you some small presents, which will not appear small, when received by you with the blessing of the holy apostle, Peter. May Almighty God, therefore, perfect in you his grace which He has begun, and prolong your life here through a course of many years, and after a time receive you into the congregation of the heavenly country. May heavenly grace preserve your excellency in safety.

" Given the 22nd day of June, in the nineteenth year of the reign of the most pious emperor, Mauritius Tiberius, in the eighteenth year after liis consulship. Fourth indiction."

CHAP, xxxni.

Augustine repairs the church of our Saviour, and builds the monastery oj St. Peter the apostle ; Peter the first abbat of the same. [a.d. 602.J

Augustine having his episcopal see granted him in the royal city, as has been said, and being supported by the king, re- covered therein a church, which he was informed had been built by the ancient Roman Christians, and consecrated it in the name of our holy Saviour, God and Lord, Jesus Christ, and there established a residence for himself and his successors.* He also built a monastery not far from the city to the east- ward, in which, by his advice, Ethelbert erected fronj the foundation the church of the blessed apostles, Peter and Paul,f and enriched it with several donations ; wherein the bodies of the same Augustine, and of all the bishops of Canter- bury, and of the kings of Kent, might be buried. However, Augustine himself did not consecrate that church, but Lau- rentius, his successor.

The first abbat of that monastery was the priest Peter, who, being sent ambassador into France, was drowned in a

* This church is now the cathedral of Canterbury; but the present struc- ture, although ancient, is of date long subsequent to the age of St. Augustine. t Afterwards called St. Augustine's Abbej.

A.D.603.] BATTLE OF DEGSASTAN. 61

bay of the sea, wliich is called Amfleat,* and privately buried by the inhabitants of the place ; but Almighty God, to show how deserving a man he was, caused a light to be seen over his grave every night ; till the neighbours who saw it, perceiving that he had been a holy man that was buried there, inquiring who, and from whence he was, carried away the body, and interred it in the church, in the city of Bou- logne, with the honour due to so great a person.

CHAP. XXXIV.

Eihelfrid, king of the Northumbrians, having vanquished the nations of the Scots, expels them from the territories of the English, [a.d. 603.]

At this time, Ethelfrid, a most worthy king, and ambitious of glory, governed the kingdom of the Northumbrians, and ravaged the Britons more than all the great men of the English, insomuch that he might be compared to Saul, once king of the Israelites, excepting only this, that he was igno- rant of the true religion. For he conquered more territories from the Britons, either making them tributary, or diiving the inhabitants clean out, and planting English in their places, than any other king or tribune. To him might justly be applied the saying of the patriarch blessing his son in the person of Saul, "Benjamin shall ravin as a wolf; in the morning he shall devour the prey, and at night he shall di- vide the spoil." Hereupon, JEdan, king of the Scots that inhabit Britain, being concerned at his success, came against him with an immense and mighty army, but was beaten by an inferior force, and put to flight ; for almost all his army was slain at a famous place, called Degsastan, that is, Degsa- stone. t In which battle also Theodbald, brother to Ethel- frid, was killed, with almost all the forces he commanded. This war Ethelfrid put an end to in the year 603 after the incarnation of our Lord, the eleventh of his own reign, which lasted twenty-four years, and the first year of the reign of Phocas, who then governed the Roman empire. From that time, no king of the Scots durst come into Britain to make war on the English to this day.

* Now probably Ambleteuse, a small sea-port village about two miles to the north of Boulogne.

t Perhaps Dalston,' near Carlisle : or Dauston,near Jedburgh.

62 bede's ecclesiastical HISTOKY. [b. " c. I,

BOOK 11.

CHAPTER I.

On the death of the blessed Pope Gregory, [a.d. 605.]

At this time, that is, in the year of our Lord 605, the blessed Pope Gregory, after having most gloriously governed the Roman apostolic see thirteen years, six months, and ten days, died, and was translated to the eternal see of the heavenly kingdom. Of whom, in regard that he by his zeal converted our nation, the English, from the power of Satan to the faith of Christ, it behoves us to discourse more at large in our Ecclesiastical History, for we may and ought rightly to call him our apostle ; because, whereas he bore the pontifical power over all the world, and was placed over the churches already reduced to the fiiith of truth, he made our nation, till then given up to idols, the church of Christ, so that we may be allowed thus to attribute to him the cha- racter of an apostle ; for though he is not an apostle to others, yet he is so to us ; for we are the seal of his apostle- ship in our Lord.

He was by nation a Roman, son of Gordian, deducing his race from ancestors that Avere not only noble, but religious. And Felix, once bishop of the same apostolical see, a man of great honour in Christ and his church, was his great- grandfather.* Kor did he exercise the nobility of religion with less virtue of devotion than his parents and kindred. But that worldly nobihty which he seemed to have, by the help of the Divine Grace, he entirely used to gain the honour of eternal dignity ; for soon quitting his secular habit, he repaired to a monastery, wherein he began to be- have himself with so much grace of perfection that (as he was afterwards wont with tears to testify) his mind was above all transitory things ; that he despised all that is sub- ject to change ; that he used to think of nothing but what was heavenly ; that whilst detained by the body, he by con- templation broke through the bonds of flesh ; and that he

fi * Felix IV. was bishop of Rome, a.d. 526.

A.D. 605.] LIFE OF POPE GREGORY. 63

loved death, which is a terror to ahnost all men, as the entrance into life, and the reward of his labours. This he said of himself, not to boast of his progress in virtue, but rather to bewail the decay, which, as he was wont to declare, he imagined he sustained through the pastoral care. In short, Avhen he was, one day, in private, discoursing with Peter, his deacon, after having enumerated the former virtues of his mind, he with grief added, "But now, on account ot the pastoral care, it is entangled with the affairs of laymen, and, after so beautiful an appearance of repose, is defiled with the dust of earthly action. And after having wasted itself by condescending to many tilings that are without, when it desires the inward things, it returns to them less qualified to enjoy them. I therefore consider what I endure, I consider what I have lost, and when I behold that loss, what I bear appears the more grievous."

This the holy man said out of the excess of his humility. But it becomes us to believe that he lost nothing of liis monastic perfection by his pastoral care, but rather that he improved the more through the labour of converting many, than by the former repose of his conversation, and chiefly because, whilst exercising the pontifical function, he provided to have liis house made a monastery. And Avhen first di'awn from the monastery, ordained to the ministry of the altar, and sent as respondent to Constantinople from the apostolic see, though he now mixed with the people of the palace, yet he intermitted not his former heavenly life ; for some of the brethren of his monastery, having out of brotherly charity followed him to the royal city, he kept them for the better following of regular observances, viz. that at all times, by their example, as he writes liimself, he might be held fast to the calm shore of prayer, as it were with the cable of an anchor, whilst he should be tossed up and down by the continual waves of worldly affairs ; and daily among them, by the intercourse of studious read- ing, strengthen his mind wliilst it was shaken with temporal concerns. By their company he was not only guarded against earthly assaults, but more and more inflamed in the exercises of a heavenly life.

For they persuaded him to give a mystical exposition of the book of holy Job, which is involved in great obscurity ;

64 BEDE's ecclesiastical history. [b. II. c. 1.

nor could he refuse to undertake that work, which brotherly affection imposed on him for the future benefit of many ; but in a wonderful manner, in five and thirty books of expo- sition, taught how that same book is to be understood literally ; how to be referred to the mysteries of Christ and the church ; and in what sense it is to be adapted to every one of the faithful. This work he began Avhen legate in the royal city, but finished it at Rome after being made pope. Whilst he was still in the royal city, he, by the assistance of the Divine grace of Catholic truth, crushed in its first rise a heresy newly started, concerning the state of our resurrection. For Eutychius, bishop of that city, taught, that our body, in that glory of resurrection, would be impalpable, and more subtile than the wind and air ; which he hearing, proved by force of truth, and by the instance of the resurrection of our Lord, that this doctrine was every way opposite to the Christian faith. For the Catholic faith is that our body, sublimed by the glory of immortality, is rendered subtile by the effect of the spiritual poAver, but palpable by the reality of nature ; according to the example of our Lord's body, of which, when risen from the dead, he himself says to his dis- ciples, " Touch me and see, for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have." In asserting which faith, the venerable Father Gregory so earnestly laboured against the rising heresy, and by the assistance of the most pious empe- ror, Tiberius Constantine, so fully suppressed it, that none has been since found to revive it.

He likewise composed another notable book, called " Liber Pastoralis," wherein he manifestly showed what sort of per- sons ought to be preferred to govern the church ; how such rulers ought to live ; with how much discretion to instruct every one of their hearers, and how seriously to reflect every day on their own frailty. He also wrote forty homilies on the Gospel, which he equally divided into two volumes ; and composed four books of dialogues, into which, at the request of Peter, his deacon, he collected the miracles of the saints whom he either knew, or had heard to be most renowned in Italy, for an example to posterity to lead their lives ; to the end that, as he taught in his books of Expositions, what virtues ought to be laboured for, so by describing the miracles of saints, he might make known the glory of those virtues. He

A.D. 605.] LIFE OF POPE GREGORY. 65

further, in twenty-two homilies, discovered how mucli light there is concealed in the first and last parts of the prophet Ezekiel, which seemed the most obscure. Besides which, he wrote the " Book of Answers," to the questions of Augus- tine, the first bishop of the English nation, as we have shown above, inserting the same book entire in this history ; besides the useful little " Synodical Book," which he composed with the bishops of Italy on the necessary affairs of the church ; and also familiar letters to certain persons. And it is the more wonderful that he could write so many and such large volumes,* in regard that almost all the time of his youth, to use his own words, he was often tormented with pains in his bowels, and a weakness of his stomach, whilst he was continually suffering from slow fever. But where- as at the same time he carefully reflected that, as the Scrip- ture testifies, " Every son that is received is scourged," the more he laboured and was depressed under those oresent evils, the more he assured himself of his eternal salvation.

Thus much may be said of his immortal genius, which 20uld not be restrained by such severe bodily pains ; for other Dopes applied themselves to building, or adorning of churches kvitli gold and silver, but Gregory was entirely intent upon gaining souls. Whatsoever money he had, he diligently took •are to distribute and give to the poor, that his righteousness night endure for ever, and his horn be exalted with honour ; 50 that what blessed Job said might be truly said of him, ' When the ear heard me, then it blessed me ; and v\^hen the ije saw me, it gave witness to me : because I delivered the ooor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to lelp him. The blessing of him that was ready to perish lame upon me, and I caused the widow's heart to sing for oy. I put on righteousness, and it clothed me ; my judg- nent was as a robe and diadem. I was the eye to the blind, md feet was I to the lame. I was father to the poor ; and :he cause which I knew not, I searched out. And I brake :hejaws of the wicked, and plucked the spoil out of his :eeth." And a little after : " If I have withheld," bays he,

* St. Gregory's mraierous works have been collected and published by he Benedictines of St. Maur, in 4 vols. fol. Paris, 1707, and still more jomplete in the reprints of Venice and Verona.

63 BEDE's ecclesiastical history. [b. II. c 1.

" the poor from their desire ; or have caused the eye of the widow to fail ; or have eaten my morsel myself alone, and the fatherless hath not eaten thereof For of my youth com- passion grew up with me, and from my mother's womb it came forth with me."

To these works of piety and righteousness this also may be added, that he saved our nation, by the preachers he sent hither, from the teeth of the old enemy, and made it partaker of eternal liberty ; in whose faith and salvation rejoicing, and worthily commending the same, he in his exposition on holy Job, says, "Behold, a tongue of Britain, which only knew how to utter barbarous language, has long since begun to resound the Hebrew Hallelujah ! Behold, the once swell- ing ocean now serves prostrate at the feet of the saints ; and its barbarous motions, which earthly princes could not sub- due Avith the sword, are now, through the fear of God, bound by the mouths of priests with words only ; and he that when an infidel stood not in awe of fighting troops, now a believer, fears the tongues of the humble ! For by reason that the virtue of the Divine knowledge is infused into it by precepts, heavenly words, and conspicuous miracles, it is curbed by the dread of the same Divinity, so as to fear to act wickedly, and bends all its desires to arrive at eternal glory." In which words holy Gregory declares this also, that St. Augus- tine and his companions brought the English to receive the truth, not only by the preachiiig of words, but also by show- ing of heavenly signs. The holy Pope Gregory, among other things, caused masses to be celebrated in the churches of the apostles, Peter and Paul, over their bodies. And in the celebration of masses, he added three phrases full of great goodness and perfection : " And dispose our days in thy peace, and preserve us from eternal damnation, and rank us in the number of thy elect, through Christ our Lord."

He governed the church in the days of the Emperors Mauritius and Phocas, but passing out of this life in the second year of the same Phocas, he departed to the true life which is in heaven. His body was buried in the church of St. Peter the Apostle, before the sacristy, on the 4th day of March, to rise one day in the same body in glory with the rest of the holy pastors of the church. On his tomb was wi'itten this epitaph : —

A.D. 605.] LIFE OP POPE GREGORY. 67

Earth ! take that body which at first you gave, Till God again shall raise it from the grave. His soul amidst the stars finds heavenly day ; In vain the gates of darkness make essay On him whose death but leads to life the way. To the dark tomb, this prelate, though decreed, Lives in all places by his pious deed. Before his bounteous board pale Hunger fled ; To warm the poor he fleecy garments spread ; And to secure their souls from Satan's power, He taught by sacred precepts every hour. Nor only taught ; but first th' example led, Lived o'er his rules, and acted what he said. To English Saxons Christian truth he taught. And a believing flock to heaven he brought. This was thy work and study, this thy care, Offerings to thy Redeemer to prepare. For these to heavenly honours raised on high. Where thy reward of labours ne'er shall die.

Nor is the account of St. Gregory, "which has been handed down to us by the tradition of our ancestors, to be passed by in silence, in relation to his motives for taking such interest in the salvation of our nation. It is reported, that some merchants, having just arrived at Rome on a certain day, exposed many things for sale in the market-place, and abun- dance of people resorted thither to buy : Gregory liimself went with the rest, and, among other things, some boys were set to sale, their bodies white, their countenances beautiful, and their hair very fine. Having viewed them, he asked, as is said, from what country or nation they were brought ? and was told, from the island of Britain, Avliose inhabitants were of such personal appearance. He again inquired whether those islanders were Christians, or still involved in the errors of paganism ? and was informed that they were pagans. Then fetching a deep sigh from the bottom of his heart, " Alas ! what pity," said he, " that the author of darkness is possessed of men of such fair countenances ; and that being remarkable for such graceful aspects, their minds should be void of inward grace." He therefore again asked, what was the name of that nation ? and was answered, that they were called Angles. " Right," said he " for they have an Angelic face, and it becomes such to be co-heirs with the Angels in heaven. What is the name," proceeded he, " of the province from which they are brought ?" It was replied, that the

f2

68 bede's ecclesiastical history. [b. ir. c. 2.

natives of that province were called Deiri. " Truly are they De ira^^ said he, " withdrawn from wrath, and called to the mercy of Christ. How is the king of that province called ?" They told him his name was ^lla ; and he, alluding to the name, said, " Hallelujah, the praise of God the Creator must be sung in those parts."

Then repairing to the bishop of the Roman apostolical see,* (for he was not himself then made pope,) he entreated him to send some ministers of the word into Britain to the nation of the English, by whom it might be converted to Christ ; de- claring himself ready to undertake that work, by the assist- ance of God, if the apostolic pope should think fit to have it so done. Which not being then able to perform, because, though the pope was willing to grant his request, yet the citizens of Rome could not be brought to consent that so noble, so renowned, and so learned a man should depart the city ; as soon as he was himself made pope, he perfected the long-desired v/ork, sending other preachers, but himself by his prayers and exhortations assisting the preaching, that it might be successful. This account, as we have received it from the ancients, we have thought fit to insert in our Eccle- siastical History.

CHAP. n.

Augustine admonished the bishops of the Britons to Catholic peace and unity, and to that effect tor ought a heavenly miracle in their presence ; and of the vengeance that pursued them for their contempt, [a.d. 603.]

In the meantime, Augustine, with the assistance of IQngEthel- bert, drew together to a conference the bishops, or doctors, of the next province of the Britons, at a place which is to this day called Augustine's Ac, that is, Augustine's Oak,f on the borders of theWiccii and West Saxons ; and began by brotherly admonitions to persuade them, that preserving Catholic unity wdth him, they should undertake the common labour of preach-

* Benedict I. Gregory was made bishop of Rome, a.d. 590.

t The date of this synod is not accurately kno-v\Ti : Florence of Wor- cester gives A.D. 603 : Sigebert, a.d. 602 ; Spelman, a.d. 601 ; and Ran- dolph of Chester, a.d. 599. It was held probably near Aust, formerly called Austre Clive, Gloucestershire, near the site of the ancient Vectis of tiie Romans.

i

A.D. 603.] CONFERENCE AT AUGUSTINE'S OAK. 69

ing the Gospel to the Gentiles. For thej did not keep Easter Sunday at the proper time, but from the fourteenth to the twentieth moon ; which computation is contained in a revo- lution of eighty-four years. Besides, they did several other things which were against the unity of the church. When, after a long disputation, they did not comply with the en- treaties, exhortations, or rebukes of Augustine and his com- panions, but preferred their own traditions before all the churches in the world, which in Christ agree among them- selves, the holy father, Augustine, put an end to this trouble- some and tedious contention, saying, "Let us beg of God, who causes those who are of one mind to live in liis Father's house, that he will vouchsafe, by his heavenly tokens, to de- clare to us, which tradition is to be followed ; and by what means we are to find our way to his heavenly kingdom. Let some infirm person be brought, and let the faith and practice of those, by whose prayers he shall be healed, be looked upon as acceptable to God, and be adopted by all." The adverse party unwiUingly consenting, a blind man of the English race was brouglit, who having been presented to the priests of the Britons, found no benefit or cure from their ministry ; at length, Augustine, compelled by real necessity, bowed his knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying that the lost sight might be restored to the blind man, and by the corporeal enlightening of one man, the light of spiritual grace might be kindled in the hearts of many of the faithful. Ln- mediately the blind man received sight, and Augustine was by all declared the preacher of the Di^dne truth. The Britons then confessed, that it was the true way of righte- ousness which Augustine taught ; but that they could not depart from their ancient customs without the consent and leave of their people. They therefore desired that a second synod might be appointed, at which more of their number would be present.

This being decreed, there came (as is asserted) seven* bishops of the Britons, and many most learned men, particu- larly from their most noble monastery, which, in the English

* Modem writers enumerate the seven sees, to which these bishops be- onged : they are Worcester, Hereford, Chester, Bangor, St. Asaph's, Lan- iaff, and Menevia or St. David's, but there is not the sHghtest authoritv for .his list.

70 BEDES ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. [b. u. c 2.

tongue, is called Bancornburg,* over whieh the Abbat Dinooth is said to hath presided at that time. They that were to go to the aforesaid council, repaired first to a certain holy and discreet man, who was wont to lead an eremitical life among them, advising with him, whether they ought, at the preach- ing of Augustine, to forsake their traditions. He answered, " K he is a man of God, follow him." — " How shall we know that ?" said they. He replied, " Our Lord saith. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart ; if therefore, Augustine is meek and lowly of heart, it is to be believed that he has taken upon him the yoke of Christ, and offers the same to you to take upon you. But, if he is stern and haughty, it appears that he is not of God, nor are we to regard his words." They insisted again, " And how shall we discern even this ?" — " Do you contrive," said the anchorite, " that he may first arrive with his com- pany at the place where the synod is to be held ; and if at your approach he shall rise up to you, hear him submissively, being assured that he is the servant of Christ ; but if he shall despise you, and not rise up to you, whereas you are more in number, let him also be despised by you."

They did as he directed ; and it happened, that when they came, Augustine was sitting on a chair, which they observing, were in a passion, and charging him with pj-ide, endeavoured to contradict all he said. He said to them, "You act in many particulars contrary to our custom, or rather the custom of the universal church, and yet, if you will comply with me in these three points, viz. to keep Easter at the due time ; to administer baptism, by which we are again born to God, according to the custom of the holy Roman Apostolic Church ; and jointly with us to preach the word of God to the Enghsh nation, we vn\l readily tolerate all the other things you do, though contrary to our customs." They answered they would do none of those things, nor receive

* This was the station Banchorium of Richard of Cirencester, and is now called Bangor-Iscoed, Flintshii-e, to distinguish it from the city of Bangor, in Carnarvonshire. This monastery was one of the most eminent in Britain. William of Malmesbury, who livei shortly after the conquest, says, there remained only in his time the footsteps of so great a place, so many ruinous churches, and such heaps of rubbish, as were hardly else- where to be met with. See Gibson's Annotations to Camden's Britannia, Flintshire.

■*-»-60?.] BANGORIAN SLAUGHTER. 71

him as their archbishop ; for they alleged among themselves, that " if he would not now rise up to us, hovv' much more will he contemn us, as of no worth, if we shall begin to be under his subjection ?" To whom the man of God, Augus- tine, is said, in a threatening manner, to have foretold, that in case they would not join in unity with their brethren, they should be warred upon by their enemies ; and, if they would not preach the way of life to the English nation, they should at their hands undergo the vengeance of death. All which, through the dispensation of the Divine judgment, fell out exactly as he had predicted.

For afterwards the warlike king of the English, Ethelfrid, of whom we have already spoken, having raised a miglity army, made a very great slaughter of that perfidious nation, at the City of Legions, Avhich by the English is called Lega- cestir, but by the Britons more rightly Carlegion.* Being about to give battle, he observed their priests, who were come together to offer up their prayers to God for the soldiers, standing apart in a place of more safety ; he inquired who they were ? or what they came together to do in that place ? Most of them were of the monastery of Bangor, in Avhich, it is reported, there was so great a number of monks, that the monastery being divided into seven parts, with a ruler over each, none of those parts contained less than three hundred men, who all lived by the labour of their hands. Many of these, having observed a fast of three days, resorted among others to pray at the aforesaid battle, having one Brocmail appointed for their protector, to defend them whilst they were intent upon their prayers, against the swords of the barbarians. King Ethelfridf being informed of the occasion of their coming, said, " If then they cry to their God against us, in truth, though they do not bear arms, yet they fight against us, because they oppose us by their prayers." He, therefore, commanded them to be attacked first, and then destroyed the rest of the impious army, not without consider- able loss of his own forces. About twelve hundi-ed| of those

• Chester, the Roman colony Deva, the work of the twentieth legion, called Victrix.

t King of Northumbria.

t The Saxon Chronicle (a.d. 607) mentions but two hundred. The destruction of the monastery of Bangor-Iscoed followed the massacre of its

72 bede's ecclesiastical history. [b. it. c. 3,

that came to pray are said to have been killed, and only fifty to have escaf)ed by flight. Brocmail turning his back with his men, at the first approach of the enemy, left those whom he ought to have defended, unarmed and exposed to the swords of the enemies. Thus was fulfilled the prediction of the holy Bishop Augustine, though he himself had been long before taken up into the heavenly kingdom ;* that those per- fidious men should feel the vengeance of temporal death also, because they had despised the ofier of eternal salvation.

CHAP. rn.

How St. Aiigiistine made Mellitus and Justus bishops; and of his death. [a.d. 604.]

In the year of our Lord 604, Augustine, archbishop of Bri- tain, ordained two bishops, viz. Mellitus and Justus ; Melli- tus to preach to the province of the East- Saxons, who are divided from Kent by the river Thames, and border on the Eastern sea. Their metropolis is the city of London, which is situated on the bank of the aforesaid river, and is the mart of many nations resorting to it by sea and land. At that time, Sabert, nephew to Ethelbert by his sister Ricula, reigned over the nation, though he was under subjection to Ethelbert, who, as has been said above, had command over all the nations of the English as far as the river Humber. But when this province also received the word of truth, by

members, and the calamity must have caused a great diminution in the number of the British clergj'.

* Those who would throw the odium of this murder upon Augustine's curse, make this passage to have been added to Bede some years after his death, and it is certain the royal paraphraser has made no mention of his death. Mr. Whelock and Dr. Smith assert it to be in all the ancient Latin manuscripts they had seen. The time of this battle is placed by the Saxon Annals in (JO?. Bishop Godwin asserts his seeing an instrument signed by Augustine in 605, which Sir Henry Spelman proves spurious, no instru- ments being used till 700. But the learned Mr. Wharton proves, beyond dispute, St. Augustine's death to be in 604, which was long before this, if we follow the Saxon Annals, which place it in 607 ; and very long before, if we follow Archbishop Usher's and the Ulster Annals, which place it in 613; to this we may add Bede's authority, that Pope Gregory had obiits said over him in the church at Canterbury; which plainly shows his death to liave been before that pope's. And though we find him in the next chapter consecrating two bishops, this is frequent with Bede to go back- wards for the series of every distinct part of his histoiy, or to work through a branch of it at once.

A.D 604.] DEATH OF ST. AUGUSTINE. 73

the preaching of Mellitus, King Ethelbert built the church of St. Paul, in the city of London, where he and his succes- sors should have their episcopal see. As for Justus, AuguS' tine ordained him bishop in Kent, at the city which the Eng- lish nation named Rhofescestir,* from one that was fonnerly the chief man of it, called Rhof. It was almost twenty-four miles distant from the city of Canterbury to the westward, and contains a church dedicated to St. Aiidrew, the apostle. King Ethelbert, who built it, bestowed many gifts on the bishops of both those churches, as well as on that of Canter- bury, adding lands and possessions for the use of those who were with the bishops.

After this, the beloved of God, Father Augustine, died, and his body was deposited without, close by the church of the apostles, Peter and Paul, above spoken of, by reason that the same was not yet finished, nor consecrated, but as soon as it v/as dedicated, f the body was brought in, and decently buried in the north porch thereof ; wherein also were in- terred the bodies of all the succeeding archbishops, except two only, Theodorus and Berthwald, whose bodies are with- in that church, because the aforesaid porch could contain no more. Almost in the midst of this church is an altar dedi- cated in honour of the blessed Pope Gregory, at wliich every Saturday their service is solemnly performed by the priest of that place. On the tomb of the said Augustine is written this epitaph : —

" Here rests the Lord Augustine, first archbishop of Can- terbury, who, being formerly sent hither by the blessed Gre- gory, bishop of the city of Rome, and by God's assistance supported with miracles, reduced King Ethelbert and his na-

* Now Rochester. A chapter of secular priests was first established >iere, which was endowed by Ethelbert with a portion of land called Priest- tield, to the south of the city; he afterwards gave other parcels of land within and without the walls of the city for its sw^^oxL—Dugdale's Mm- asticon, i. 153.

t Which was in a.d. 613. The body of St. Augustine was afterwards removed by Thomas F>Tidon, the abbat, a.d. 1300, and placed near the high altar in a sumptuous monument with this inscription : Inclytus Anglorum Preesul, pius, et decus altum, Hie Augustinus requiescit corpore sanctus ; Ad tumulum laudis Patris almi ductus amore Abbas hunc tvunulum Thomas dictavit honore.

Dugdale's Monast. i. 81,

74 bede's ecclesiastical history. [r. ir. c 4.

tion from the worsliip of idols to the faith of Christ, and having ended the days of his office in peace, died the 26th day of May, in the reign of the same king."

CHAP. IV.

Laurentins and his bishops admonish the Scots to observe the unit?/ of the Holy Church, particularly in keeping of Easier ; Msllitus goes to Rome. [a.d. (505.]

Laurentius succeeded Augustine in the bishopric, having been ordained thereto by the latter, in his lifetime, lest, upon his death, the state of the church, as yet unsettled, might begin to falter, if it should be destitute of a pastor, though but for one hour. Wherein he also followed the example of the first pastor of the church, that is, of the most blessed prince of the apostles, Peter, who, having founded the church of Christ at Rome, is said to have consecrated Cle- ment his assistant in preaching the Gospel, and at the same, time his successor. Laurentius, being advanced to the de- gree of an archbishop, laboured indefatigably, both by fre- quent exhortations and examples of piety, to raise to perfec tion the foundations of the church, which had been so nobly laid. In short, he not only took care of the new church formed among the English, but endeavoured also to employ his pastoral solicitude among the ancient inhabitants of Bri- tain, as also the Scots, who inhabit the island of Ireland, which is next to Britain. For when he understood that the course of life and profession of the Scots in their aforesaid country, as well as of the Britons in Britain, was not truly ecclesiastical, especially that they did not celebrate the solemnity of Easter at the due time, but thought that the day of the resurrection of our Lord was, as has been said above, to be celebrated between the 14th and 20th of the moon ; he wrote, jointly with his fellow bishops, an exhort- atory epistle, entreating and conjuring them to observe unity of peace, and conformity with the church of Christ spread throughout the world. The beginning of wliich epistle is as follows : —

" To our fnost dear brothers, the lords bishops and abbats throughout all Scotland* Laurentius, Mellitus, and Justus, * Ireland. See ante, page 5.

A.D. 605-ClO.] MELLITUS GOES TO ROME. 75

servants of the servants of God. When the apostolic see, according to the universal custom which it has followed elsewhere, sent us to these western parts to preach to pagan nations, we came into this island, which is called Britain, without possessing any previous knowledge of its inhabit- ants. We held both the Britons and Scots in great esteem for sanctity, believing that they had proceeded according to the custom of the universal church ; but coming acquainted with the errors of the Britons, we thought the Scots had been better ; but we have been informed by Bishop Dagan,* coming into this aforesaid island, and the Abbat Columbanus f in France, that the Scots in no way differ from the Britons in their behaviour ; for Bishop Dagan coming to us, not only refused to eat with us, but even to take his repast in the same house where we were entertained."

The same Laurentius and his fellow bishops wrote a letter to the priests of the Britons, suitable to his rank, by which he endeavoured to confirm them in Catholic unity ; but what he gained by so doing the present times still declare.

About this time, Mellitus, bishop of London, went to Rome, to confer with Pope Boniface about the necessary affairs of the English church. And the same most reverend pope, assembling a synod of the bishops of Italy, to prescribe orders for the life and peace of the monks, Mellitus also sat among them, in the eighth year of the reign of the Emperor Phocas, the thirteenth indiction, on the 27th of February, to the end that he also by his authority might confirm such things as should be regularly decreed, and at his return into Britain might carry the same to the churches of the English, to be prescribed and observed ; together with letters Avhich the same pope sent to the beloved of God, Archbishop Lau- rentius, and to all the clergy ; as likeAvise to King Ethelbert and the English nation. This pope was Boniface, who came fourth after Pope Gregory, and who obtained of the Empe- ror Phocas that the temple called by the ancients Pantheon, as representing all the gods, should be given to the Church of Chi-ist ; wherein he, having purified it from contamina-

* Dagan is said to have come from the monastery of Banchor, Ireland, and was bishop to the Scots. Bale says, he wrote a book on the British churches.

+ Columbanus was the founder of monasteries in France and Italy. ^

76 BEDE's ecclesiastical history. [b. it. c. 5.

lion, dedicated a church to the holy mother of God, and to all Christ's martyrs, to the end that, the devils being ex- cluded, the blessed company of the saints might have therein a perpetual memorial.

CHAP. Y.

Hoiv, after the death of the Icings Ethelbert and Sabert, their successors restored idolatry ; for which reason, both M.jJitus and Justus departed out of Britain, [a.d. 616.]

In the year of our Lord's incarnation 616, which is the twenty-first year after Augustine and liis companions were sent to preach to the English nation, Ethelbert, king of Kent, having most gloriously governed his temporal kingdom fifty- six years, entered into the eternal joys of the kingdom which is heavenly. He was the third of the English kings that had the sovereignty* of all the southern provinces that are divided from the northern by the river Humber, and the borders contiguous to the same ; but the fi_rst of the kings that ascended to the heavenly kingdom. The first who had the like sovereignty was Elli, king of the South-Saxons ; the second, Celin, king of the West-Saxons, who, in their own language, is called Ceaulin ; the third, as has been said, was Ethelbert, king of Kent ; the fourth was Redwald, king of the East- Angles, who, whilst Ethelbert lived, had been subservient to him. The fifth was Edwin, king of the na- tion of the Northumbrians, that is, of those who live on the north side of the river Humber, who, with great power, commanded all the nations, as well of the English as of the Britons who inhabit Britain, except only the people of Kent, and he reduced also under the dominion of the English, the Mevanian Islands f of the Britons, lying between Ireland and Britain ; the sixth was Oswald, the most Christian king of the Northumbrians, who also had the same extent under his command ; the seventh, Oswy, brother to the former, held the same dominions for some time, and for the most part subdued and made tributary the nations of the Picts and Scots, which possess the northern parts of Britain : but of these hereafter.

King Ethelbert died on the 24th day of the month of

• As Bretwalda, or paramount sovereign. t Anglesea and Man.

•D. 616.:i DEATH OF KING ETHELBERT. 77

^ehruarj, twenty-one years after he had received the faith, ,nd was buried in St. Martin's porch within the church of the •lessed apostles Peter and Paul, where also lies his queen, 5ertlia. Among other benefits which he conferred upon the lation, he also, by the advice of wise persons,* introduced udicial decrees, after the Roman model ; which, being writ- en in English, are still kept and observed by them. Among /hich, he in the first place set down what satisfaction should •e given by those who should steal anything belonging to he church, the bishop, or the other clergy, resolving to give irotection to those whose doctrine he had embraced.

This Ethelbert was the son of Irminric, whose father was )cta, whose father was Orric, surnamed Oisc, from whom he kings of Kent are wont to be called Oiscings. His ither was Hengist, who, being invited by Yortigern, first ame into Britain, with his son Oisc, as has been said above.

But after the death of Ethelbert, the accession of his son i^adbald proved very prejudicial to the new church ; for he lot only refused to embrace the faith of Christ, but was also lefiled with such a sort of fornication, as the apostle testifies, vas not heard of, even among the Gentiles ; for he kept his ather's wife. By both wliich crimes he gave occasion to hose to return to their former uncleanness, who, under his ather, had, either for favour, or thi'ough fear of the king, ubmitted to the laws of faith and chastity. Nor did the lerfidious king escape without Divine punishment and cor- ection ; for he was troubled with frequent fits of madness, .nd possessed by an evil spirit. This confusion was in- Teased by the death of Sabert, king of the East Saxons, who leparting to the heavenly kingdom, left three sons, still )agans, to inherit his temporal crown. They immediately )egan to profess idolatry, which, during their father's reign, hey had seemed a little to abandon, and they granted free iberty to the people under their government to serve idols. Ind when they saw the bishop, wliilst celebrating mass in he church, give the eucharist to the people , they, pufied up vith barbarous folly, were wont, as it is reported, to say to lim, " Why do you not give us also that white bread, which ,^ou used to give to our father Saba, (for so they used to call

* The Witena- Gemot, the legislative and supreme judicial assembly.

78 bede's ecclesiastical history. [c- m. c. 6

him,) and wliicli you still continue to give to the people ir the church ?" To whom he answered, " If you will bt washed in that laver of salvation, in which your father was washed, you may also partake of the holy bread of which hi partook ; but if you despise the laver of life, you may nol receive the bread of life." They replied, " We will not ent^ into that laver, because we do not know that we stand ir need of it, and yet we will eat of that bread." And being often earnestly admonished by liim, that the same could nol be done, nor any one admitted to partake of the sacred obla- tion without the holy cleansing, at last, they said in anger. " If you will not comply with us in so small a matter as thai is which we require, you shall not stay in our province.' And accordingly they obliged him and his followers to de- part from their kingdom. Being forced from thence, he came into Kent, to advise with his fellow bishops, Laurentius and Justus, what was to be done in that case ; and it was unani- mously agreed, that it was better for them all to return to theii own country, where they might serve God in freedom, than to continue without any advantage among those barbarians, who had revolted from the faith. Mellitus and Justus accordingly went away first, and withdrew into France, de- signing there to await the event of things. But the kings, who had driven from them the preacher of the truth, did not continue long unpunished in their heathenish worship. For marching out to battle against the nation of the Gewissae,* they were all slain with their army. However, the people, having been once turned to wickedness, though the authors of it were destroyed, would not be corrected, nor return to the unity of faith and charity which is in Chi-ist.

CHAP. VI.

Laurentius, being reproved by the apostle, converts King Eadbald to Christ; Mellitus and Justus are recalled, [a.d. 616.]

Laurentius, being about to follow Mellitus and Justus, and to quit Britain, ordered liis bed to be laid the night before in the church of the blessed apostles, Peter and Paul, which has been often mentioned before ; wherein having laid himself to

• West Saxons.

A. D. 616.^ MELLITUS AND JUSTUS RECALLED. 79

take some rest, after he had poured out many prayers and tears to God for the state of tlie church, he fell asleep ; in the dead of night, the blessed prince of the apostles appeared to him, and scourging him a long time with apostohcal severity, asked of him, "Why he would forsake the flock which he had committed to him ? or to what shepherds he would commit Christ's sheep that were in the midst of wolves ? Have you," said he, " forgotten my example, who, for the sake of those little ones, whom Christ recommended to me in token of his affection, underwent at the hands of infidels and enemies of Christ, bonds, stripes, imprisonment, afflictions, and lastly, the death of the cross, that I might at last be crowned with him ?" Laurentius, the servant of Christ, being excited by these words and stripes, the very next morn- ing repaired to the king, and taking off his garment, showed the scars of the stripes wliich he had received. The king, astonished, asked, " Who had presumed to give such stripes to so great a man ?" And was much frightened Avhen he heard that the bishop had suiFered so much at the hands of the apostle of Christ for his salvation. Then abjuring the worship of idols, and renouncing his unlawful marriage, he embraced the faith of Christ, and being baptized, promoted the affairs of the church to the utmost of his power.

He also sent over into France, and recalled Mellitus and Justus, and commanded them freely to return to govern their churches, which they accordingly did, one year after their departure. Justus, indeed, returned to the city of Rochester, where he had before presided ; but the Londoners would not receive Bishop Mellitus, choosing rather to be under their idolatrous high priests ; for King Eadbald had not so much authority in the kingdom as his father, nor was he able to restore the bishop to his church against the will and consent of the pagans. But he and his nation, after his conversion to our Lord, diligently followed the Divine precepts. Lastly, he built the church of the holy Mother of God,* in the monas- tery of the most blessed prince of the apostles, which was afterw-ards consecrated by Archbishop Mellitus.

* Eadbald, besides building St. Mary's chapel, endowed it with the manor of Northboume. This chapel was taken down by tlie abbat Scot- laud in the time of Lanfranc, and a new and more splendid church erected in its place. Thorn, col. 1768

80 bede's ecclesiastical HISTOKY. [b. u.c. 7-

CHAP. vn.

Bishop Mellitus by prayer quenches afire in his city. [a.d. 619.]

In this king's reign, the holy Archbishop Laurentius was taken up to the heavenly kingdom : he was buried in the church and monastery of the holy Apostle Peter, close by his predecessor Augustine, on the 2nd day of the month of February. Mellitus, who was bishop of London, was the third archbishop of Canterbury from Augustine ; Justus, who was still living, governed the church of Rochester. These ruled the church of the English with much industry and labour, and received letters of exhortation from Boniface, bishop of the Roman apostolic see, who presided over the church after Deusdedit, in the year of our Lord 619. Melli- tus laboured under an infirmity of body, that is, the gout ; but his mind was sound, cheerfully passing over all earthly things, and always aspiring to love, seek, and attain to those which are celestial. He was noble by birth, but much nobler in mind.

In short, that I may give one testimony of his virtue, by which the rest may be guessed at, it happened once that the city of Canterbury, being by carelessness set on fire, was in danger of being consumed by the spreading conflagration ; water was thrown over the fire in vain ; a considerable part of the city was already destroyed, and the fierce flame ad- vancing towards the bishop, when he, confiding in the Divine assistance, where human failed, ordered himself to be carried towards the raging fire, that was spreading on every side. The church of the four crowned Martyrs was in the place where the fire raged most. The bishop being carried thither by his servants, the sick man averted the danger by prayer, which a number of strong men had not been able to perform by much labour. Immediately, the wind, which blowing from the south had spread the conflagration through- out the city, turning to the north, prevented the destruction of those places that had lain in its way, and then ceasing entirely, the flames were immediately extinguished. And thus the man of God, whose mind was inflamed with the fire of Divine charity, and who was wont to drive away the powers of the air by his frequent prayers, from doing harm

ft.D.624.] BONIFACE S EPISTLE TO JUSTUS. 81

to himself, or his people, was deservedly allowed to prevail over the worldly Avinds and flames, and to obtain that they should not injure him or his.

This archbishop also, having ruled the church five years, departed to heaven in the reign of King Eadbald, and was buried with his predecessors in the monastery and church, svhich We have so often mentioned, of the most blessed prince Df the apostles, in the year of our Lord's incarnation 624, on :he 24th day of April.

CHAP. vin.

Pope Boniface sends the Pall and an Epistle to Justus^ successor to Mellitus. [a.d. 624.]

Justus, bishop of Rochester, immediately succeeded Mellitus n the archbishopric. He consecrated Romanus bishop of ;hat see in his own stead, having obtained leave of ordaining Dishops from Pope Boniface, whom we mentioned above to lave been successor to Deusdedit : of which licence this is ;he form :

" Boniface, to his most beloved brother Justus. Not only :he contents of your letter, but the perfection which your vork has obtained, has informed us how devoutly and iiligently you have laboured, my brother, for the Gospel of "hrist ; for Almighty God has not forsaken either the nystery of his name, or the fruit of your labours, having limself faithfully promised to the preachers of the Gospel, Lo ! I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world ;' rt^hich promise his mercy has particularly manifested in this ninistry of yours, opening the hearts of nations to receive ;he mystery of your preaching. For he has enlightened the icceptable course of your endeavours, by the approbation of lis grace ; granting a plentiful increase to your faithful nanagement of the talents committed to you, and which you nay secure for many generations. Tliis is by that reward inferred on you, who, constantly adhering to the ministry jnjoined you, with laudable patience await the redemption of ;hat nation, whose salvation is set on foot that they may Drofit by your merits, our Lord himself saying, ' He that Derseveres to the end shall be saved.' You are, therefore, iaved by the hope of patience, and the virtue of endurance,

82 BEDe's ECCLESLVSTICAL history. [b. II. C.J).

to the end that the hearts of infidels, being cleansed from their natural and superstitious disease, might obtain the mercy of their Redeemer : for having received the letters ol our son Ethelwald, we perceive -with how much knowledge of the sacred word your mind, my brother, has brought over his mind to the belief in real conversion and the true faith. Therefore, firmly confiding in the long-suffering of the Divine clemency, we believe there will, through the ministr}' of your preaching, ensue most full salvation not only of the nations subject to him, but also of those that neighbour round about ; to the end, that as it is written, the reward of a perfect work may be conferred on you by our Lord, the giver of all good things ; and that the universal confession of all nations, having received the mystery of the Christian faith, may declare, that their ' Sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.'

" We have also, my brother, encouraged by zeal for what is good, sent you by the bearer of these, the pall, which we have only given leave to use in the celebration of the sacred mysteries ; granting you likewise to ordain bishops when tliGre shall be occasion, through the mercy of our Lord ; that so the Gospel of Christ, by the preaching of many, may be spread abroad in all the nations that are not yet converted. You must, therefore, endeavour, my brother, to preserve with unblemished sincerity of mind that which you have received through the favour of the Apostolic See, as an emblem whereof you have obtained so principal an ornament to be borne on your shoulders. And make it your business, im- ploring the Divine goodness, so to behave yourself, that you may present before the tribunal of the Supreme Judge that is to come, the rewards of the favour granted you, not with guiltiness, but with the benefit of souls.

" God preserve you in safety, most dear brother !"

CHAP. IX.

The reign of King Edwin, and how Paulinus, coming to preach the ^ first converted his daughter and others to the faith of Clirisl. [a.d. G25.]

At this time the nation of the Northumbrians, that is, the nation of the Angles that live on the north side of the river Humber, with their king, Edwin, received the faith through

A- r. 625.] MARRIAGE OF EDA^aN AN"D ETHELBERGA. 83

the preaching of Paulinus, abovementioned. This Edwin, as a reAvard of his receiving the faith, and as an earnest of his share in the heavenly kingdom, received an increase of that which he enjoyed on earth, for he reduced under his dominion all the borders of Britain that were provinces either of the aforesaid nation, or of the Britons, a thing which no British king had ever done before ; and he in like manner subjected to the English the Mevanian islands, as has been said above. The first whereof, which is to the southward, is the largest in extent, and most fruitful, con- taining nine hundred and sixty families, according to the English computation ; the other above three hundred.

The occasion of this nation's embracing the faith was, !;heir aforesaid king, being allied to the kings of Kent, hav- ng taken to wife Ethelberga, otherwise called Tate, daughter :o King Ethelbert. He having by liis ambassadors asked ler in marriage of her brother Eadbald, who then reigned n Kent, was answered, " That it was not lawful to marry a IJhristian virgin to a pagan husband, lest the faith and the nysteries of the heavenly King should be profaned by her cohabiting with a king that was altogether a stranger to the vorship of the true God." This answer being brought to Sdwin by his messengers, he promised in no manner to act n opposition to the Christian faith, which the virgin pro- "essed ; but would give leave to her, and all that went with ler, men or women, priests or ministers, to follow their faith md worship after the custom of the Christians. Nor did he leny, but that he would embrace the same religion, if, being xamined by wise persons, it should be found more holy md more worthy of God.

Hereupon the virgin was promised, and sent to Edwin, md pursuant to what had been agreed on, Paulinus, a man )eloved of God, was ordained bishop, to go with her, and by laily exhortations, and celebrating the heavenly mysteries, to '.onfirm her and her company, lest they should be corrupted )y the company of the pagans. Paulinus was ordained bishop )y the Archbishop Justus, on the 21st day of July, in the ^ear of our Lord 625, and so he came to King Edwin with he aforesaid virgin as a companion of their union in the flesh. 3ut his mind was wholly bent upon reducing the nation^ to vhich he was sent to the knowledge of truth ; according g2

84 BEDE S ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. [b. n. c. 9.

to the words of the apostle, " To espouse her to one husband, that he might present her as a chaste virgin to Christ." Being come into that province, he laboured much, not only to retain those that went with him, by the help of God, that they should not revolt from the faith, but, if he could, to convert some of the pagans to a state of grace by his preach- ing. But, as the apostle says, though he laboured long in the word, " The god of this world blinded the minds of them that believed not, lest the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ should shine unto them."

The next year there came into the province a certain assassin, called Eumer, sent by the king of the West- Saxons, whose name was Cuichelm, in hopes at once to deprive King Edwin of his kingdom and his life. He had a two-edged dagger, dipped in poison, to the end, that if the wound were not sufhcient to kill the king, it might be performed by the venom. He came to the king on the first day of Easter, at the river Derwent, where then stood the regal city,* and be- ing admitted as if to deliver a message from his master, whilst he was in an artful manner delivering his pretended em- bassy, he started on a sudden, and drawing the dagger from under his garment, assaulted the king ; which Lilla, the king's beloved minister, observing, having no buckler at hand to secure the king from death, interposed his own body to receive the stroke ; but the wretch struck so home, that he wounded the king through the knight's body. Being then attacked on all sides with swords, he in that confusion also slew another soldier, whose name was Forthhere.

On that same holy night of Easter Sunday, the queen had brought forth to the king a daughter, called Eanfled. The king, in the presence of Bishop Paulinus, gave thanks to his gods for the birth of his daughter ; and the bishop, on the other hand, returned thanks to Christ, and endeavoured to persuade the king, that by his prayers to him he had obtained that the queen should bring forth the child in safety, and without much pain. The king, delighted with his words, promised, that in case God w^ould grant him life and victory

• Supposed to be near the Roman city Derventione, on the Derwent, near Stamford Bridge, between seven and eight miles from York. It is now a village called of an ancient castle.

I. D. 025.] LETTER OP POPE BONIFACE IV. 85

)ver the king by whom the assassin had been sent, he would ;ast off his idols, and serve Christ ; and as a pledge that he vould perform his promise, he delivered up that same daugh- er to Paulinus, to be consecrated to Christ. She was the irst baptized of the nation of the Northumbrians, on Whit- unday, with twelve others of her family.* At that time, the dng, being recovered of the wound which he had received, narched with his army against the nation of the West- Faxons ; and having begun the war, either slew or subdued \l those that he had been informed had conspired to murder lim. Returning thus victorious into his own country, he would lot immediately and unadvisedly embrace the mysteries of he Christian faith, though he no longer worshipped idols, ver since he made the promise that he would serve Christ ; )ut thought fit first at leisure to be instructed, by the vener- able Paulinus, in the knowledge of faith, and to confer with uch as he knew to be the wisest of his prime men, to ad- 'ise what they thought was fittest to be done in that case, ^nd being a man of extraordinary sagacity, he often sat lone by himself a long time, silent as to his tongue, but de- iberating in his heart how he should proceed, and which eligion he should adhere to.

CHAP. X.t

I'ope Boniface, hy letter, exhorts the same king to embrace the faith. [a.d. 625.]

Lt this time he received letters from Pope Boniface [PV.] ex- erting him to embrace the faith, which were as follows : —

OPT OF THE LETTER OF THE HOLY AND APOSTOLIC POPE OF THE CHURCH OF ROME, BONIFACE, TO THE GLORIOUS EDWIN, KING OF THE ENGLISH.

" To the illustrious Edwin, king of the English, Bishop 3oniface, the servant of the servants of God. Although the )ower of the Supreme Deity cannot be expressed by human peech, as consisting in its own greatness, and in invisible

* The Saxon Chronicle mentions no number. Matthew Paris says hirty ; but several manuscripts of Bede have twelve, t This and the following chapter should have been placed before the for- er, which takes in the year 626 ; for Pope Boniface died on October 22,625.

86 BEDE's ecclesiastical history. [B.n.c.lO.

and unsearcliable eternity, so that no sharpness of wit can comprehend or express it ; jet in regard that the goodness of God, to give some notion of itself, having opened the doors of the heart, has mercifully, by secret inspiration, in- fused into the minds of men such tilings as he is willing shall be declared concerning himself, we have thought fit to extend our priestly care to make known to you the fulness of the Christian faith ; to the end that, informing you of the Gospel of Christ, wliich our Saviour commanded should be preached to all nations, they might offer to you the cup of life and salvation.

*' Thus the goodness of the Supreme Majesty, which, by the word of his command, made and created all things, the heaven, the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, disposing the order by which they should subsist, hath, with the coun- sel of his co-eternal Word, and the unity of the Holy Spirit, formed man after liis own likeness, out of the slime of the earth ; and granted him such supereminent prerogative, as to place him above all others ; so that, observing the com- mand which was given him, his continuance should be to eternity. This God, — Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, which is an undivided Trinity, — mankind, from the east unto the west, by confession of faith to the saving of their souls, do worship and adore, as the Creator of all things, and their own Maker ; to whom also the heights of empire, and the powers of the world, are subject, because the bestowal of all kingdoms is granted by his disposition. It hath pleased him, therefore, of his great mercy, and for the greater bene- fit of all his creatures, by his Holy Spirit wonderfully to kindle the cold hearts also of the nations seated at the extre- mities of the earth in the knowledge of himself.

"For we suppose your excellency has, from the country lying so near, fully understood what the clemency of our Redeemer has effected in the enlightening of our glorious son. King Eadbald, and the nations under his subjection ; we therefore trust, with assured confidence of celestial hope, that his wonderful gift will be also conferred on you ; since we understand that your illustrious consort, which is known to be a part of your body, is illuminated with the reward of eternity, through the regeneration of holy baptism. We have, therefore, taken care by these presents, with all pos-

i.^.C-25.] LETTER OF POPE BONIFACE PV. 87

Bible affection, to exhort your illustrious selves, tliat, abhor- dng idols and their worship, and contemning the follies of temples, and the deceitful flatteries of auguries, you believe in God the Father Almighty, and his Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost, to the end that, being discharged from the bonds of captivity to the Devil, by believing you may, through the co-operating power of the holy and undivided Trinity, be partaker of the eternal life.

" How great guilt they lie under, who adhere to the per- nicious superstitions and worship of idolatry, appears by the sxamples of the perdition of those whom they worship. Wherefore it is said of them by the Psalmist, ' AJl the gods of the Gentiles are devils, but the Lord made the heavens.' And again, they have eyes and do not see, they have ears and do not hear, they have noses and do not smell, they have hands and do not feel, they have feet and do not walk. Therefore they are like those that confide in them.' For how can they have any power to yield assistance, that are made for you out of corruptible matter, by the hands of your inferiors and subjects, to wit, on whom you have by human art bestowed an inanimate similitude of members ? Who, unless they be moved by you, will not be able to walk ; but, like a stone fixed in one place, being so formed, and having no understanding, but absorbed in insensibility, have no power of doing harm or good. We cannot, therefore, upon mature deliberation, find out how you come to be so deceived as to follow and worship those gods, to whom you yourselves have given the likeness of a body.

" It behoves you, therefore, by taking upon you the sign of the holy cross, by which the human race is redeemed, to root out of your hearts all those arts and cunning of the Devil, who is ever jealous of the works of the divine good- ness, and to lay hold and break in pieces those which you have hitherto made your material gods. For the very de- struction and aboHtion of these, which could never receive life or sense from their makers, may plainly demonstrate to you how worthless they were which you till then had worshipped, when you yourselves, who have received life from the Lord, are certainly better than they, as Almighty God has appointed you to be descended, after many ages and through many generations, from the first man wliom he

88 BEDe's ECCLESIASTICAJ. HISTORT. [b. k. c. 11.

formed. Draw near, then, to the knowledge of Him who created you, who breathed the breath of life into you, who sent his only-begotten Son for your redemption, to cleanse you from original sin, that being delivered from the power of the Devil's wickedness, He might bestow on you a heavenly reward.

" Hear the words of the preachers, and the Gospel of God, which they declare to you, to the end that, believing, as has been said, in God the Father Almighty, and in Jesus Christ his Son, and the Holy Ghost, and the indivisible Trinity, having put to flight the sensualities of devils, and driven from you the suggestions of the venomous and deceit- ful enemy, and being born again by water and the Holy Ghost, you may, through his assistance and bounty, dwell in the brightness of eternal glory with Him in whom you shall believe. We have, moreover, sent you the blessing of your protector, the blessed Peter, prince of the apostles, that is, a shirt, with one gold ornament, and one garment of Ancyra, which we pray your highness to accept with the same good- will as it is friendly intended by us."

CHAP. XI.

Pope Boniface advises Queen Ethelberga to use her best endeavours for the salvation of her consort. King Edwin, [a.d. 625.]

Tee same pope also wrote to King Edwin's consort, Ethel- berga, to this effect : —

THE COPY OF THE LETTER OF THE MOST BLESSED AND APOS- TOLIC BONIFACE, POPE OF THE CITY OF ROME, TO ETHEL- BERGA, KING EDAVIN's queen.

" To the illustrious lady his daughter, Queen Ethelberga, Boniface, bishop, servant of the servants of God: The goodness of our Redeemer has with much providence offered the means of salvation to the human race, which he rescued, by the shedding of his precious blood, from the bonds of captivity to the Devil ; so that making his name known in divers ways to the Gentiles, they might acknow- ledge their Creator by embracing the mystery of the Chris- tian faith, which thing, the mystical purification of your regeneration plainly shows to have been bestowed upon the

A.D. 625.] LETTER OF BONIFACE TO ETHELBEEGA. 89

mind of your highness by God's bounty. Our mind, there- fore, has been much rejoiced in the benefit of our Lord's goodness, for that he has vouchsafed, in your conversion, to kindle a spark of the orthodox religion, by which he might the more easily inflame in his love the understanding, not only of your glorious consort, but also of all the nation that is subject to you.

" For we have been informed by those, who came to acquaint us with the laudable conversion of our illustrious son. King Eadbald, that your highness, also, having received the wonderful sacrament of the Christian faith, continually excels in the performance of works pious and acceptable to God. That you likewise carefully refrain from the worship of idols, and the deceits of temples and auguries, and having changed your devotion, are so wholly taken up with the love of your Redeemer, as never to cease lending your assistance for the propagation of the Christian ftiith. Aiid our fatherly charity having earnestly inquired concerning your illustrious husband, we were given to understand, that he still served abominable idols, and would not }deld obedience or give ear to the voice of the preachers. This occasioned us no small grief, for that part of your body still remained a stranger to the knowledge of the supreme and undivided Trinity. Whereupon we, in our fatherly care, did not delay to ad- monish your Christian highness, exhorting you, that, with the help of the Divine inspiration, you will not defer to do that which, both in season and out of season, is required of us ; that with the co-operating power of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, your husband also may be added to the number of Christians ; to the end that you may thereby enjoy the rights of marriage in the bond of a holy and unblemished union. For it is written, ' They two shall be in one flesh.' How can it be said, that there is unity between you, if he continues a stranger to the brightness of your faith, by the interposition of dark and detestable error ?

" Wherefore, applying yourself continually to prayer, do not cease to beg of the Divine Mercy the benefit of his illumina- tion ; to the end, that those whom the union of carnal affec- tion has made in a manner but one body, may, after death, continue in perpetual union, by the bond of faith. Persist,

90 BEDE'S ecclesiastical history. Lb- "• c. 12.

therefore, illustrious daughter, and to the utmost of your power endeavour to soften the hardness of his heart by in- sinuating the Divine precepts ; making him sensible how noble the mystery is wtiich you have received by believing, and how wonderful is the reward which, by the new birth, you have merited to obtain. Inflame the coldness of his heart by the knowledge of the Holy Ghost, that by the abolition of the cold and pernicious worship of paganism, the heat of Divine faith may enlighten his understanding through your frequent exhortations ; that the testimony of the holy Scripture may appear the more conspicuous, fulfilled by you, * The unbeheving husband shall be saved by the believing wife.' For to this effect you have obtained the mercy of our Lord's goodness, that you may return with increase the fruit ot faith, and the benefits entrusted in your hands ; for through the assistance of His mercy we do not cease with frequent prayers to beg that you may be able to perform the same.

" Having premised thus much, in pursuance of the duty of our fatherly affection, we exhort you, that when the opportunity of a bearer shall offer, you will as soon as possible acquaint us with the success which the Divine Power shall grant by your means in the conversion of your consort, and of the nation subject to you ; to the end, that our solicitude, which earnestly expects what appertains to the salvation of you and yours, may, by hearing from you, beset at rest ; and that we, discerning more fully the brightness of the Divine propitiation diffused in you, may with a joyful confession abundantly return due thanks to God, the Giver of all good things, and to St. Peter, the prince of apostles. We have, moreover, sent you the blessing of your protector, St. Peter, the prince of the apostles, that is, a silver looking-glass, and a gilt ivory comb, which we entreat your glory will receive with the same kind affection as it is known to be sent by us."

CHAP. xn.

King Edwin is persuaded to believe by a vision which, he had seen when he was in exile, [before a.d. 625.]

Thus the aforesaid Pope Boniface wrote for the salvation of King Edwin and his nation. But a heavenly vision, which

A.D. C2C.] VISION OF KING EDATIN. 91

the Divine Mercy was pleased once to reveal to this king, when he was in banishment at the court of Eedwald, king ot" the Angles,* was of no little use in urging him to embrace and understand the doctrines of salvation. Paulinus, there- fore, i^erceiving that it was a very difficult task to incline the king's lofty mind to the hum.ility of the way of salvation, and to embrace the mystery of the cross of life, and at the same time using both exhortation with men, and prayer to God, for his and his subjects' salvation ; at length, as we may suppose, it was shown him in spirit what was the vision that had been formerly revealed to the king. Nor did he lose any time, but inmiediately admonished the king to perform the vow which he made, when he received the oracle, pro- mising to put the same in execution, if he was delivered from the trouble he was at that time under, and should be advanced to the tlirone.

The vision was this. When Ethelfrid, his predecessor, was persecuting him, he for many years wandered in a pri- vate manner through several places and kingdoms, and at last came to Redwald, beseeching him to give him protection against the snares of his powerful persecutor. Redwald willingly admitted him, and promised to perform what he requested. But when Ethelfrid understood that he had appeared in that province, and that he and his companions were hospitably entertained by Redwald, he sent messengers to offer that king a great sum of money to murder him, but without effect. He sent a second and a third time, bidding more and more each time, and threatening to make war on him if he refused. Redwald, either terrified by his threats, or gained by his gifts, complied ^vith his request, and promised either to kill Edwin, or to deliver him up to the ambassadors. This being observed by a trusty friend of his, he went into his chamber, where he was going to bed, for it was the first hour of the night ; and calling him out, discovered what the king had promised to do with him, adding, " If, there- fore, you think fit, I will this very hour conduct you out of this province, and lead you to a place where neither Redwald

* Redwald, was king of East Anglia, which included Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridge, and part of Bedfordshh-e. He was the fourth Bretwaida, and reimed a.d. 617 — G33.

92 BEDE's ecclesiastical HISTORT. [B.rr.c.l2.

nor Ethelfrid shall ever find you." He answered, " I thank you for your good will, yet I cannot do what you propose, or be guilty of breaking the compact I have made with so great a king, when he has done me no harm, nor offered me any injury ; but, on the contrary, if I must die, let it rather be by his hand than by that of any meaner person. For whither shall I now fly, when I have for so many years been a vagabond through all the provinces of Britain, to escape the hands of my enemies ?" His friend being gone, Edwin remained alone without, and sitting with a heavy heart before the palace, began to be overwhelmed with many thoughts, not knowing what to do, or which way to turn himself.

When he had remained a long time in silence, brooding over his misfortunes in anguish of mind, he, on a sudden, in the dead of night, saw approaching a person, whose face and habit were equally strange, at which unexpected sight he was not a little frightened. The stranger coming close up, saluted him, and asked liim, " Why he sat there alone and melancholy on a stone at that time, when all others were mking their rest, and were fast asleep ?" Edwin, in his turn, asked, "What it was to liim, whether he spent the night within doors or abroad ?" The stranger, in reply, said, " Do not think that I am ignorant of the cause of your grief, your watching, and sitting alone without. For I know who you are, and why you grieve, and the evils which you fear will fall upon you. But tell me, what reward you will give the man that shall deliver you out of this anguish, and per- suade Redwald neither to do you any harm himself, nor to deliver you up to be murdered by your enemies." Edwin replied, " That he would give that person all that he was able for so singular a favour." The other further added, " What if I also assure you, that you shall overcome your enemies, and surpass in power, not only all your own pro- genitors, but even all that have reigned before you over the English nation ?" Edwin, encouraged by these questions, did not hesitate to promise that he would make a suitable return to him who should so highly oblige him. Then said the other, "But if he who foretells so much good as is to befall you, can also give you better advice for your life and salvation than any of your progenitors or kindred ever heard of, do

A.D. 626.] VISION OF KING EDWIN. 93

you consent to submit to him, and to follow his wholesome counsel ?" Edwin did not hesitate to promise that he would in all things follow the directions of that man who should deliver liim from so many calamities, and raise him to a throne.

Having received this answer, the person that talked to him laid his hand on his head saying, " When this sign shall be given you, remember this present discourse that has passed between us, and do not delay the performance of what you now promise." Having uttered these words, he is said to have immediately vanished, that the king might understand it was not a man, but a spirit, that had appeared to him.

Whilst the royal youth still sat there alone, glad of the comfort he had received, but seriously considering who he was, or whence he came, that had so talked to him, his above- mentioned friend came to him, and saluting him with a pleasant countenance, "Rise," said he, " go in and compose yourself to sleep without fear ; for the king's resolution is altered, and he designs to do you no harm, but rather to per- form the promise which he made you ; for when he had privately acquainted the queen with his intention of doing what I told you before, she dissuaded him from it, declaring it was unworthy of so great a king to sell his good friend in such distress for gold, and to sacrifice his honour, which is more valuable than all other ornaments, for the lucre of money." In short, the king did as he was advised, and not only refused to deliver up the banished man to his enemy's messengers, but assisted him to recover liis kingdom. For as soon as the ambassadors were returned home, he raised a mighty army to make war on Ethelfrid ; who, meeting him with much inferior forces, (for Redwald had not given him time to gather all his power,) was slain on the borders of the kingdom of Mercia, on the east side of the river that is called Idle.* In this battle, Redwald's son, called Regnhere, was killed ; and thus Edwin, pursuant to the oracle he had re- ceived, not only escaped the danger from the king his enemy, but, by his death, succeeded him in the throne.

King Edwin, therefore, delaying to receive the word of God at the preaching of Paulinus, and using for some time,

» Near Retford in the southern part of Nottinghamshire.

94 BEDE's ecclesiastical history. [b. II. c. 13.

as has been said, to sit several hours alone, and seriously to ponder with himself what he was to do, and what religion he was to follow, the man of God came to him, laid his right hand on his head, and asked, " Whether he knew that sign ?" The king in a trembling condition, was ready to fall down at his feet, but he raised liim up, and in a familiar manner said to him, " Behold, by the help of God you have escaped the hands of the enemies whom you feared. Behold you have of his gift obtained the kingdom which you desired. Take heed not to delay that which you promised to perform ; em- brace the faith, and keep the precepts of Him who, delivering you from temporal adversity, has raised you to the honour of a temporal kingdom ; and if, from this time forward, you shall be obedient to his will, which through me he signifies to you, he will not only deliver you from the everlasting torments of the wicked, but also make you partaker mth him of his eternal kingdom in heaven."

CHAP. XIII.

0/ the Council he held with his chief men about embracing the faith of Chi'ist, and how the high priest jnofaned his own altars, [a.d. 627.]

The king, hearing these words, answered, that he was both willing and bound to receive the faith which he taught ; but that he would confer about it with his principal friends and counsellors, to the end that if they also were of his opinion, they might all together be cleansed in Christ the Fountain of Life. Paulinus consenting, the king did as he said ; for, holding a council with the wise men, he asked of every one in particular what he thought of the new doctrine, and the new worship that was preached ? To which the chief of his own priests, Coifi, immediately answered, " 0 king, consider what this is wliich is now preached to us ; for I verily de- clare to you, that the religion which we have hitherto pro- fessed has, as far as I can learn, no virtue in it. For none of your people has applied himself more diligently to the worship of our gods than I ; and yet there are many who receive greater favours from you, and are more preferred than I, and are more prosperous in all their undertakings. Now if the gods were good for any thing, they would rather forward me, who have been more careful to serve them. It

A.c. 627.] COUNCIL OF ED-^YIN's NOBLES. Q5

remains, therefore, that if upon examination you find those new doctrines, which are now preached to us, better and more efficacious, we immediately receive them without any delay."

Another of the king's chief men, approving of his words and exhortations, presently added : " The present life of man, O king, seems to me, in comparison of that time which is unknown to us, like to the swift flight of a sparrow through the room wherein you sit at supper in winter, with your commanders and ministers, and a good fire in the midst, whilst the storms of rain and snow prevail abroad ; the spar- row, I say, flying in at one door, and immediately out at another, whilst he is within, is safe from the wintry storm ; but after a short space of fair weather, he immediately vanishes out of your sight, into the dark winter from which he had emerged. So this life of man appears for a short space, but of what went before, or what is to follow, we are utterly ignorant. If, therefore, tliis new doctrine contains something more certain, it seems justly to deserve to be fol- lowed." Ilie other elders and king's counsellors, by Divine inspiration, spoke to the same effect.

But Coifi added, that he wished more attentively to hear Paulinus discourse concerning the God whom he preached ; which he having by the king's command performed, Coifi, hearing his words, cried out, "I have long since been sensible that there was nothing in that which we worshipped ; because the more diligently I sought after truth in that worship, the less I found it. But now I freely confess, that such truth evidently appears in this preaching as can confer on us the gifts of life, of salvation, and of eternal happiness. For which reason I advise, O king, that we instantly abjure and set fire to those temples and altars which we have conse- crated without reaping any benefit from them." In short, the king publicly gave his licence to PauHnus to preach the Gospel, and renouncing idolatry, declared that he received the faith of Christ : and when he inquired of the high priest who should first profane the altars and temples of their idols, with the enclosures that were about them, he answered, '' I ; for who can more properly than myself destroy these things which I worshipped through ignorance, for an example to all Others, through the wisdom which has been given me by the

96 BEDELS ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. [b.ii.cU.

true God ?" Then immediately, in contempt of his former superstitions, he desired the king to furnish him with arms and a stallion ; and mounting the same, he set out to destroy the idols ; for it was not lawful before for the high priest either to carry arms, or to ride on any but a mare. Having, therefore, girt a sword about him, with a spear in his hand, he mounted the king's stallion and proceeded to the idols. The multitude, beholding it, concluded he was distracted ; but he lost no time, for as soon as he drew near the temple he profaned the same, casting into it the spear which he held ; and rejoicing in the knowledge of the Avorship of the true God, he commanded his companions to destroy the temple, with all its enclosures, by fire. This place where the idols were is still shown, not far from York, to the eastward, be- yond the river Derwent, and is now called Godmundingham,* where the high priest, by the inspiration of the true God, profaned and destroyed the altars which he had himself con- secrated.

CHAP. XIV.

King Edwin and his nation become Christians ; Paulinus baptizes them, [a.d. 627.]

King Edwin, therefore, with all the nobility of the nation, and a large number of the common sort, received the faith, and the washing of regeneration, in the eleventh year of his reign, which is the year of the incarnation of our Lord 627, and about one hundred and eighty after the coming of the English into Britain. He was baptized at York, on the holy day of Easter, being the 12th of April, in the church of St. Peter the Apostle, which he himself had built of timber, whilst he was catechising and instructing in order to receive baptism. In that city also he appointed the see of the bishopric of his instructor and bishop, Paulinus. But as soon as he was baptized, he took care, by the direction of the same Paulinus, to build in the same place a larger and nobler church of stone, in the midst whereof that same oratory which

* Or, "The home of the protection of the gods." Its modem name is Goodmanham, in Harthill wapentake, East Riding of York. Stukeley says, " The Apostle Paulinus built the parish church of Godmundham, where is the fent in which he baptized the heathen priest Coifi."

AD. 027] KING EDl^TJ^^S FAMILY BAPTIZED. 97

he had first erected should be enclosed.* Having, therefore, laid the foundation, he began to build the church square, en- compassing the former oratory. But before the whole was raised to the proper height, the wicked assassination of the king left that work to be finished by Oswald his successor. Paulinus, for the space of six years from that time, that is, till the end of the reign of that king, by his consent and favour, preached the word of God in that country, and all that were preordained to eternal life believed and were bap- tized. Among whom were Osfrid and Eadfrid, King Edwin's sons, who were both born to him, whilst he was in banisliment, of Quenberga, the daughter of Cearl, king of the Mercians.

Afterwards other children of his by Queen Ethelberga were baptized, viz. Ethelhun and his daughter Etheldrith, and another, Wuscfrea, a son ; the first two of which were snatched out of this life whilst they were still in their white garments, and buried in the church at York. Iffi, the son of Osfrid, was also baptized, and many more noble and illustri- ous persons. So great was then the fervour of the faith, as is reported, and the desire of the washing of salvation among the nation of the Northumbrians, that Paulinus at a certain time coming with the king and queen to the royal country- seat, which is called Adgefrin,f stayed therewith them thirty- six days, fully occupied in catechising and baptizing ; during which days, from morning till night, he did nothing else but instruct the people resorting from all villages and places, in Christ's saving word ; and when instructed, he washed them with the water of absolution in the river Glen,J which is close by. This town, under the following kings, was aban- doned, and another was built instead of it, at the place called Melmin.§

* Parts of this fabric were discovered beneath the choir of the present Cathedral during the repairs rendered necessary by the mad act of the in- cendiarv Jonathan Martin. In the first number of Brown's History of the Edifice'of the Metropolitan Church of St. Peter, York, in plate_ III. is given a plan of Paulinus' second edifice ; where the probable position of the wooden baptistery, enclosing a spring still remainmg, is pointed out, and, though obscured by several successive subsequent erections, this discovery is very valuable to the ecclesiastical antiquary. — Rev. A. Poole's Lectures on Churches.

t Yeverin in Glendale, near Wooler in Northumberland.

t The River Bowent. § Milfield.

n

£8 BEDE*S ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORT. , [b. n. c. 15.

These tilings happened in the province of the Bernicians ; but in that of the Deiri also, where he was wont often to be with the king, he baptized in the river Swale, which runs by the village of Cataract ;* for as yet oratories, or fonts, could not be made in the early infancy of the church in those parts. But he built a church in Campodonuna,"]* which afterwards the pagans, by whom King Edwin was slain, burnt, together with all the town. In the place of which the later kings built themselves a country-seat in the country called Loidis.:|: But the altar, being of stone, escaped the fire and is still pre- served in the monastery of the most reverend abbat and priest, Thi'idwulf, which is in Elmete wood.§

CHAP. XV.

The province of the East Angles receives the faith of Christ, [a.d. 627.]

Edwin was so zealous for the worship of truth, that he likewise persuaded Eorpwald, king of the East Saxons, and son of Redwald, to abandon his idolatrous superstitions, and with his whole province to receive the faith and sacraments of Christ. And indeed his father Redwald had long before been admitted to the sacrament of the Christian faith in Kent, but in vain ; for on his return home, he was seduced by his wife and certain perverse teachers, and turned back from the sincerity of the faith ; and thus his latter state was worse than the former ; so that, like the ancient Samaritans, he seemed at the same time to serve Christ and the gods whom he had served before ; and in the same temple he had an altar to sacrifice to Christ, and another small one to offer victims to devils ; which temple, Aldwulf, king of that same province, who lived in our time, testifies had stood until his time, and that he had seen it when he was a boy. The

* Or Catterick, in Gilling-East wapentake, North Riding of York. This is a place of gi-eat antiquity, having been the site of a Roman station called Cataractonium^ where the Ermin Street branches off in two directions.

f Eitlier Doncaster, or Castle-hill near Almondbiiry. (Archceol. i. p. 224 — 6.) In the Saxon paraphrase it is called Donafe'lda, which Dr. Gale thinks to be Tanfield, near Ripon. :J: Leeds.

§ Probably Barwick-in-Elmett, in Skyrack wapentake, "West Riding of York. Here was anciently a castle of considerable extent and importance, supposed to have been the residence of some of the Northumbrian monarchs.

«A.D. 628-1 THE, EAST ANGLES CONVERTED. 99

aforesaid King Redwald was noble bj birth, though ignoble in his actions, being the son of Tjtilus, whose father was Uuffa, from whom the kings of the East Angles are called Uuffings. *

Eorpwald was, not long after he had embraced the Christian faith, slain by one Richbert, a pagan ; and from that time the province was under error for three years, till the crown came into the possession of Sigebert, brother to the same Eorpwald, a most Christian and learned man, who was banished, and went to live in France during his brother's life, and was there admitted to the sacraments of the faith, whereof he made it liis business to cause all his province to partake as soon as he came to the throne. His exertions were much promoted by the Bishop Felix, who, coming to Honorius, the archbishop, from Burgundy, where he had been born and ordained, and having told him what he desired, he sent him to preach the word of life to the aforesaid nation of the Angles. Nor were his good wishes in vain ; for the pious husbandman reaped therein a large harvest of believers, deUvering all that province (according to the signification of his name, Fehx) from long iniquity and infelicity, and bringing it to the faith and works of righteousness, and the gifts of everlasting happiness. He had the see of his bishopric appointed him in the city Dommoc,"j" and having presided over the same province with pontifical authority seventeen years, he ended his days there in peace.

CHAP. XVI.

How Paulinus preached in the province of Lindsey ; arid of the reign of Edwin, [a.d. 628.]

Paulinus also preached the word to the province of Lindsey,J which is the first on the south side of the river

* As the kings of Kent were known as JEscingas, so were the sovereigns of East Anglia distinguished by the patronymic of L) ffingas, or sons of UfFa. But their annals have been almost wholly lost ; and the history of East Anglia is nearly a blank in the Chronicles of England. — Palgrave.

t Afterwards Dimwich, but now no longer in existence, having been overwhelmed by the sea. The name of this bishop appears to be still preserved by the village of Felixstow, " the dwelling of Felix," on tho Suffolk coast.

t Lindsey is by Camden computed to be the third part of Lincolnshire, and appears to have been a subordinate state dependent, upon Mercia.

H 2

100 BEDE'S ecclesiastical history. [b. ii. c. 16

Humber, stretching out as far as the sea ; and lie firsi eonverted the governor of the city of Lincoln, whose name was Blecca, with his whole family. He likewise built, ir that city, a stone church of beautiful workmanship ; the rooi of which having cither fallen through age, or been thrown down by enemies, the walls are still to be seen standing and every year some miraculous cures are wrought ir that place, for the benefit of those who have faith to seek the same. In that church, Justus having departed to Christ, Paulinus consecrated Honorius bishop in his stead, as will be hereafter mentioned in its proper place. A certain abbat and priest of the monastery of Peartaneu,* a man of singular veracity, whose name was Deda, in relation to the faith of this province told me that one of the oldest persons had informed him, that he himself had been baptized at noon-day, by the Bishop Paulinus, in the presence of King Ed-svin, with a great number of the people, in the river Trent, near the city, which in the English tongue is called Tiovulfingacestir ; f and he was also wont to describe the person of the same Paulinus, that he was tall of stature, a little stooping, his hair black, his visage meagre, his nose slender and aquiline, his aspect both venerable and majestic. He had also vnth him in the ministry, James, the deacon, a maa of zeal and great fame in Christ's church, who lived even to our days.

It is reported that there was then such perfect peace in Britain, wheresoever the dominion of King Edwin extended, that, as is still proverbially said, a woman with her new- born babe might walk throughout the island, from sea to sea, without receiving any harm. That king took such care for the good of his nation, that in several places where he had seen clear springs near the highways, he caused stakes to be fixed, with brass dishes hanging at them, for the conveniency of travellers ; nor durst any man touch them for any other purpose than that for which they were designed, either through the dread they had of the king, or for the affection which they boie him. His dignity was so great thi'oughout his dominions, that his banners were not only borne before

• Or Parteney, a cell to Bardney Abbey. Deda was the first abbat. •I* Southwell, Nottinghamshire.

A..D. 631.1 LETTER OP HONOKIUS TO EDWIN. 101

bim in battle, but even in time of peace, when he rode about his cities, towns, or provinces, with his officers, the standard- bearer was wont to go before him. Also, when he walked ilong the streets, that sort of banner which the Romans call Tufa,* and the English, Tuuf, was in like manner borne aefore him.

CHAP. xvn.

Edwin receives letters of exhortation from Pope Honorius, who also sends Paulinus the Pall. [a.d. 634. J

A.T that time Honorius, successor to Boniface, was prelate of ;he apostolic see, who, when he understood that the nation of ;he Northumbrians, with their king, had been, bj the Dreaching of Paulinus, converted to the faith and confession )f Christ, sent the pall to the said PauKnus, and with it etters of exhortation to King Edwin, exciting him, with atherly charitj, that his people should persist in the faith of :ruth, which they had received. The contents of which .etter were as follow : —

" To his most noble son, and excellent lord, Edwin king of 'he Angles, Bishop Honorius, servant of the servants of God, greeting : The integrity of your Christian character, in the worship of your Creator, is so much inflamed with the fire 3f faith, that it shines out far and near, and, being reported chroughout the world, brings forth plentiful fruits of your labours. For your conduct as a king is based upon the tcnowledge which by orthodox preaching you have obtained 3f your God and Creator, whereby you believe and worship bim, and as far as man is able, pay him the sincere devotion -yi your mind. For what else are we able to ofier to our Grod, but in endeavouring to worship, and to pay him our 70WS, persisting in good actions, and confessing him the Creator of mankind ? And, therefore, most excellent son, we exhort you with such fatherly charity as is requisite, that you with careful mind, and constant prayers, every way labour to preserve this gift, that the Divine Mercy has vouchsafed to call you to his grace ; to the end, that He, who has been pleased to deliver you from all errors, and bring you to the knowledge of his name, may likewise

* A globe, or a tuft of feathers fixed on a spear.

102 BEDE's ecclesiastical history. [B.n. c. 18.

prepare vou mansions in the heavenly country. Employing yourselves, therefore, in reading the works of my Lord Gregory, your preacher, of apostolical memory, represent before yourself the tenderness of his doctrine, wMch he zealously employed for the sake of your souls ; that his prayers may increase your kingdom and people, and present you blameless before Almighty God. We are preparing with a willing mind immediately to grant those things which you hoped would be by us ordained for your priests, which we do on account of the sincerity of your faith, which has been often made known to us in terms of praise hj the bearers of these presents. We have sent two palls to the two metropohtans, Honorius and Paulinus ; to the intent, that when either of them shall be called out of this world to his Creator, the other may, by this authority of ours, substitute another bishop in his place ; which privilege we are induced to grant, as well in regard to your charitable affection, as of the large and extensive provinces which lie between us and you ; that we may in all things afford our concurrence to your devotion, according to your desires. May God's grace preserve your excellency in safety ! "

CHAP. xvrn.

Honorius, who succeeded Justus in ike bishopric of Canterbury, receives the pall and letters from Pope Honorius. [a.d. 634,]

In the meantime. Archbishop Justus was taken up to the heavenly kingdom, on the 10th of November,* and Honorius, who was elected to the see in his stead, came to Paulinus to be ordained, and meeting him at Lincoln was there conse- crated the fifth prelate of the church of Canterbury from Augustine. To him also the aforesaid Pope Honorius sent the pall, and a letter, wherein he ordains the same that he had before established in his epistle to King Edwin, viz. that when either of the bishops of Canterbury or of York shall depart this life, the survivor of the same degree shall have power to ordain a priest in the room of him that is departed ; that it might not be necessary always to travel to Pome, at 80 great a distance by sea and land, to ordain an archbishop.

* Bede does not mention the year of his death. The Saxon Chronicle places it in 627, and Dr. Smith in 630.

1.D.634. THE pope's LETTER TO HONORIUS. 103

Which letter we have also thought fit to insert in this our historj : —

" Honorius tn his most beloved brother Honorius : Among the many good gifts which the mercy of our Redeemer is pleased to bestow ou his servants, the munificent bounty of love is never more conspicuous than when he permits us by brotherly intercourse, as it were face to face, to exhibit our mutual love. For which gift we continually return thanks to his majesty ; and we humbly beseech him, that he will ever confirm your piety in preaching the Gospel, and bring- ing forth fruit, and following the rule of your master and head, his holy servant, St. Gregory ; and that, for the ad- vancement of his church, he may by your means add further increase ; to the end, that the souls already won by you and your predecessors, beginning with our Lord Gregory, may grow strong and be further extended by faith and works in the fear of God and charity ; that so the promises of the word of God may hereafter be brought to pass in you ; and that this voice may call you away to the everlasting happi- ness. ' Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.' And again, ' Well done, thou good and faithful servant ; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things ; enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.' And we, most be- loved brothers, offering you these words of exhortation, out of our abundant charity, do not hesitate further to grant those things which we perceive may be suitable for the privileges of your churches.

" Wherefore, pursuant to your request, and to that of the kings our sons, we do by these presents, in the name of St. Peter, prince of the apostles, grant you authority, that when the Divine Grace shall call either of you to himself, the survivor shall ordain a bishop in the room of him that is deceased. To which effect also we have sent a pall to each of you, for celebrating the said ordination ; that by the authority of our precept, you may make an ordination accept- able to God ; because the long distance of sea and land that lies between us and you, has obliged us to grant you this, that no loss may happen to your church in any way, on account of any pretence whatever, but that the devotion of the people committed to you may be more fully extended.

104 BEDE's ECCLESIASTICi)LL HISTORY. [s. n. c 19.

God preserve you in safety, most dear brother ! Given tlie 11th day of June, in the twenty-fourth year of the reign of our most pious emperor, Heraclius, and the twenty-third after his consulsliip ; and in the twenty-third of Tiis son Constantine, and the third after his consulship ; and in the third year of the most illustrious Caesar, his son Hera- clius, the seventh indiction ; that is, in the year of the in- carnation of our Lord, 634."

CHAP. XIX.

How the aforesaid Honorius first, and afterwards John, ivrote letters to the nation of the Scots, concerning the observance of Easter, and the Pelagian heresy, [a.d. 634.]

The same Pope Honorius also wrote to the Scots [Irish], whom he had found to err in the observance of Easter, as has been shown above, earnestly exhorting them not to think their small number, placed in the utmost borders of the earth, wiser than all the ancient and modern churches of Christ, throughout the world ; and not to celebrate a diiferent Easter, contrary to the Paschal calculation, and the synodical decrees of all the bishops upon earth. Likewise John,* who succeeded Severinus,"]" successor to the same Honorius, being yet but pope elect, sent to them letters of great authority and erudition for correcting the same error ; evidently showing, that Easter Sunday is to be found between the fifteenth moon and the twenty-first, as was proved in the Council of Nice. J He also in the same epistle admonished them to be

* John IV. - " + Who was Pope for a few months only.

X It has been erroneously supposed that the dispute between the British and Saxon clergy respecting the Easter festival was the same as that which disturbed the peace of the church in the time of Poly carp; and consequently it has been assumed that the former were Quartodecimans, who observed it at the Jewish passover, the fourteenth day of Nisan. But this was never the case, except when that day happened to fall on a Sunday. It was o^v^ng to the disturbed state of Britain in the fifth century that the Irish and British clergy were unacquainted with the improved cycle of nineteen years observed at Rome in the time of Pope Hilarius, (a.d. 463) ; but continued to use the ancient but incorrect cycle of eighty- four years. Dr. Smith, in his Appendix to Bede (No. IX.), observes, " that it ought to be particularly borne in mind, that those who think that the Britons were taught the paschal rite by the Orientals, or Eastern church, and not by the Roman or Western church, give way to ft very great error."

A.D. 6S4.] THE pope's LETTER TO THE SCOTS. 105

careful to crush the Pelagian heresj, which he had been in- formed was reviving among them. The beginning of the epistle was as follows : —

" To our most beloved and most holy Tomianus, C'olumba- nus, Cromanus, Dimanus, and Baithanus, bishops; to Cro~ manus, Hermanns, Laistranus, Scellanus, and Segenus, priests; to Sar anus and the rest of the Scottish doctors, or abbats, health from Hilarius, the arch-priest, and keeper of the place of the holy Apostolic See ; John, the deacon, and elect m the name of God ; from John, the chief secretary and keeper of the place of the holy Apostolic See, and from John, the servant of God, and counsellor of the same Apos- tolic See. The writings which were brought by the bearers to Pope Severinus, of holj memorj, were left, at his death, without an answer to the things contained in them. Lest such intricate questions should remain unresolved, we opened the same, and found that some in your province, endeavour- ing to revive a new heresj out of an old one, contrary to the orthodox faith, do through ignorance reject our Easter, when Christ was sacrificed ; and contend that the same should be kept on the fourteenth moon with the Hebrews."

By this beginning of the epistle it evidently appears that this heresy sprang up among them of very late times, and that not all their nation, but only some of them, had fallen into the same.

After haying laid down the manner of keeping Easter, they add this concerning the Pelagians in the same epistle.

'' And we have also understood that the poison of the Pe- lagian heresy again springs up among you ; we, therefore, jxhort you, that you put away from your thoughts all such venomous and superstitious wickedness. For you cannot be gnorant how that execrable heresy has been condemned ; ibr it has not only been aboHshed these two hundi^ed years, )ut it is also daily anathematized for ever by us ; and we ixhort you, now that the weapons of their controversy have 3een burnt, not to rake up the ashes. For who will not de- ;est that insolent and impious proposition, ' That man can ive without sin of his own free will, and not through God's ^race V And in the first place, it is the folly of blasphemy

* This Columbanus, most likely, was bishop of Clunirard, who died L.D. 652.

106 BEDE'S ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. Lbh. c.20.

to sav that man is without sin, which none can be, but only the Mediator of God and man, the man Christ Jesus, who was conceived and born without sin ; for all other men, be- ing born in original sin, are known to bear the mark of Adam's prevarication, even whilst they are mthout actual sin, according to the saying of the prophet, ' For behold, I was shapen in iniquity j and in sin did my mother con- ceive me.'"

CHAP. XX.

E^win being slain, Paulinus returns into Kent, and has the bishopric oj of Rochester conferred upon him. [a d. 633.]

Edwtn reigned most gloriously seventeen years over the na- tions of the English and the Britons, six whereof, as has been said, he also was a servant in the kingdom of Christ. Cad- walla, king of the Britons, rebelled against him, being sup- ported by Penda, a most warlike man of the royal race of the Mercians, and who from that time governed that nation twenty-two years with various success. A great battle being fought in the plain that is called Heathfield,* Edwin was killed on the 12th of October,| in the year of our Lord 633, being then forty-seven years of age, and all his army waa either slain or dispersed. In the same war also, before him, fell Osfrid, one of his sons, a warlike youth ; Eanfrid, an- other of them, compelled by necessity, went over to King Penda, and was by him afterwards, in the reign of Oswald, slain, contrary to his oath. At this time a great slaughter was made in the church or nation of the Northumbrians ; and the more so because one of the commanders, by whom it was made, was a pagan, and the other a barbarian, more cruel than a pagan ; for Penda, with all the nation of the Mercians, was an idolater, and a stranger to the name of Christ ; but Cadwalla,J though he bore the name and pro- fessed himself a Christian, was so barbarous in his disposi-

* Hatfield, in the West Riding of Yorkshire, about seven miles to the north-east of Doncaster.

t In the Saxon Chronicle, the date is the second before the Ides of October, [Oct. 14.]

:J: King of the Western Britons. For an account of CadwaUa's victories, see Llewarch Hen, as quoted in Turner's History of the Anglo-Saxons, i. 367.

A.D. 633.] PAULrNUS MADE BISHOP OF ROCHESTER. 107

tion and behaviour, that he neither spared the female sex, nor the innocent age of children, but with savage cruelty put them to tormenting deaths, ravaging all their country for a long time, and resolving to cut off all the race of the English within the borders of Britain. Nor did he pay any respect to the Christian religion which had newly taken root among them ; it being to this day the custom of the Britons not to pay any respect to the faith and religion of the English, nor to correspond "vsdth them any more than with pagans. King Edwin's head was brought to York, and afterwards into the church of St. Peter the Apostle, which he had begun, but which his successor Oswald finished,- as has been said before. It was deposited in the porch of St. Gregory, Pope, from whose disciples he had received the word of life.

The affiiirs of the Northumbrians being in confusion, by reason of this disaster, "without any prospect of safety except in flight, Paulinus, taking with him Queen Ethelberga, whom he had before brought thither, returned into Kent by sea, and was honourably received by the Archbishop Hono- rius and King Eadbald. He came thither under the conduct of Bassus, a most vaUant soldier of King Edwin, having with liim Eanfleda, the daughter, and Wuscfrea, the son of Edwin, as also Iffi, the son of Osfrid, his son, whom after- wards the mother, for fear of Eadbald and Oswald, sent over into France to be bred up by King Dagobert, who was her friend ; and there they both died in infancy, and were buried in the church with the honour due to royal children and to innocents of Christ. He also brought with him many rich goods of King Edwin, among which were a large gold cross, and a golden chalice, dedicated to the use of the altar, which are still preserved, and shown in the church of Canterbury.

At that time the church of Rochester had no bishop, for Romanus, the prelate thereof, being sent to Pope Honorius, by Archbishop Justus, as his legate, was drowned in the Italian Sea ; and thereupon, Paulinus, at the request of Archbishop Honorius, and King Eadbald, took upon him the charge of the same, and held it until he departed to heaven, with the glorious fruits of his labours ; and, dying in that church, he left there the pall which he had received from the

108 bede's ecclesiastical history. [b. hi. c. l

pope of Rome. He had left behind him in his church at York, James, the deacon, a holy ecclesiastic, who continuing long after in that church, by teaching and baptizing, rescued much prey from the power of the old enemy of mankind ; from whom the village,* where he mostly resided, near Cataract, has its name to this day. He was extraordinarily skilful in singing, and when the province was afterwards restored to peace, and the number of the faithful increased, he began to teach many of the church to sing, according to the custom of the Romans, or of the Cantuarians. And being old and full of days, as the Scripture says, he went the way of his forefathers.

BOOK III.

CHAPTER I.

How King Edwin's next successors lost both the faith of their nation and the kingdom ; but the most Christian King Oswald retrieved both. [a.d. iioo.j

Edwin being slain in battle, the kingdom of the Deira, to which province his family belonged, and where he first be- gan to reign, devolved on Osric, the son of liis uncle Elfric, who, through the preaching of Paulinus, had also received the faith. But the kingdom of the Bernicians — for into these two provinces the nation of the Northumbrians was formerly dividedf — was possessed by Eanfrid, the son of Ethelfrid, who derived his origin from the royal family of that province. For all the time that Edwin reigned, the sons of the afore- said Ethelfrid, who had reigned before him, with many of the nobiUty, lived in banislmient among the Scots or Picts, and were there instructed according to the doctrine of the

* Now called Akeburgh, near Richmond.

+ The kingdom of the Northumbrians was diA-ided into two provinces, Deira and Bemicia. Deira reached from the Humber to the Tyne ; Ber- nicia from the TjTie to the Tweed. Though not united into one commu- nity, the two states were generally governed by one monarch, and became, at such times, the most powerful of the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms.

A.D C35.] Oswald's \^ctort at denis's-brook. 109

Scots, and received the grace of baptism. Upon the death of the king, their enemy, they returned home, and Eanfrid, as the eldest of them, mentioned above, became king of the Bernicians. Both those kings, as soon as they obtained the government of their earthly kingdoms, renounced and lost the fiiith of the heavenly kingdom, and again delivered them- selves up to be defiled by the abominations of their former idols.

But soon after, the king of the Britons, Cadwalla, slew them both, through the rightful vengeance of Heaven, though the act was base in him. He first slew Osric, the next sum- mer ; for, being besieged by him in a strong town, he sallied out on a sudden with all his forces, by surprise, and destroyed him and all liis army. After this, for the space of a year, he reigned over the provinces of the Northumbrians, not like a victorious king, but like a rapacious and bloody tyrant, and at length brought to the same end Eanfrid, who unadvisedly came to him with only twelve chosen soldiers, to sue for peace. To tliis day, that year is looked upon as unhappy, and hateful to all good men ; as well on account of the apos- tacy of the English kings, who had renounced the faith, as of the outrageous tyranny of the British king. Hence it has been agreed by all who have written about the reigns of the kings, to abolish the memory of those perfidious monarchs, and to assign that year to the reign- of the following king, Oswald, a man beloved by God. This last king, after the death of liis brother Eanfrid, advanced with an army, small, indeed, in number, but strengthened with the faith of Christ ; and the impious commander of the Britons was slain, though he had most numerous forces, which he boasted nothing could withstand, at a place in the English tongue called Denises- burn, that is, Denis's-brook.*

CHAP. 11.

How, among innumerable other miraculous cures wrought by the cross, which King Oswald, being ready to engage against the barbarians, erected, a certain youth had his lame arm healed, [a.d. 635.]

The place is shown to tliis day, and held in much veneration, where Oswald, being about to engage, erected the sign of the

• Dilston is identified with the ancient Denisesburn, but on no authority. ISfennius says the battle took place at Catscaul,

110 BEDE's ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. [b. in. c. 2.

holy cross, and on his knees prayed to God that he would assist his worshippers in their great distress. It is further reported, that the cross being made in haste, and th<^, hole dug in which it was to be fixed, the king himself, full of faith, laid hold of it and held it with both liis hands, till it was set fast by throwing in the earth ; and this done, raising his voice, he cried to his army, " Let us all kneel, and jointly beseech the true and living God Ahiiighty, in his mercy, to defend us from the haughty and fierce enemy ; for He knows that we have undertaken a just war for the safety of our nation." All did as he had commanded, and accordingly advancing towards the enemy with the first dawn of day, they obtained the victory, as their faith deserved. In that place of prayer very many miraculous cures are kno^vn to have been per- formed, as a token and memorial of the king's faith ; for even to this day, many are wont to cut off small chips from the wood of the holy cross, wliich being put into water, men or cattle drinking thereof, or sprinkled with that water, are immediately restored to health.

The place in the English tongue is called Heavenfield, or the Heavenly Field,* which name it formerly received as a presage of what was afterwards to happen, denoting, that there the heavenly trophy would be erected, the heavenly victory begun, and heavenly miracles be wrought to this day. The same place is near the wall with which the Eomans formerly enclosed the island from sea to sea, to restrain the fury of the barbarous nations, as has been said before. Hither also the brothers of the church of Hagulstad,*!* which is not far from thence, repair yearly on the day before that on which King Oswald was afterwards slain, to watch there for the health of his soul, and having sung many psalms, to offer for him in the morning the sacrifice of the holy oblation. And since that good custom has spread, they have lately

* Dr. Smith (App. to Bede, p. 730) say3, that about a mile beyond Bingfield to the north is Hallington, anciently Havenfelth, or Heavenfield ; though probably the whole country for two miles from Hallington through Buigfield to the wall was called Havenfelth. On the place where Oswald erected a cross a church was afterwards built.

+ Hexham. About 673, Wilfrid, archbishop of York, founded a monastery and erected a church at this place, which, according to Richard of Hexham, was the most beautiful and magnificent ecclesiastical edifice in ike kingdom. The ancient name is also ^vritten Hagustald,^

i.D. 635 ] Oswald's cross. Ill

)uilt and consecrated a cliurch there, which has attached idditional sanctity and honour to tliat place : and this with jood reason ; for it appears that there was no sign of the Christian faith, no church, no altar erected throughout all the lation of the Bernicians, before that new commander of the j-mj, prompted by the devotion of his faith, set up the cross s he was going to give battle to his barbarous enemy.

Nor is it foreign to our purpose to relate one of the many oiracles that have been wrought at this cross. One of the trothers of the same church of Hagulstad, whose name is ^othelm, and who is still living, a few years since, walking arelessly on the ice at night, suddenly fell and broke his rm ; a most raging pain commenced in the broken pai't, so hat he could not lift his arm to his mouth for the violence f the anguish. Hearing one morning that one of the rothers designed to go to the place of the holy cross, he esired him, at his return, to bring him a bit of that vener- ble wood, saying, he believed that with the help of God e might thereby be healed. The brother did as he was esired ; and returning in the evening, when the brothers ere sitting at table, gave him some of the old moss which rew on the surface of the wood. As he sat at table, aving no place to lay up that which was brought him, e put the same into his bosom ; and forgetting when he

ent to bed to put it by, left it in his bosom. Awaking in le middle of the night, he felt sometliing cold lying by his de, and putting his hand to feel what it was, he found his rm and hand as sound as if he had never felt any such lain.

CHAP. ni.

he same king Oswald, asking a bishop of the Scottish nation, had Aidan sent him, and granted him an episcopal see in the Isle of Lindisfarne* [a. d. 635.]

'he same Oswald, as soon as he ascended the throne, being isirous that all his nation should receive the Christian ith, whereof he had found happy experience in vanquish- ig the barbarians, sent to the elders of the Scots, among horn himself and his followers, when in banishment, had iceived the sacrament of baptism, desiring they would send

112 BEDE's ecclesiastical history. [B.ni. c.S.

him a bishop, bj wliose instruction and ministry the English nation, which he governed, might be taught the advantages, and receive the sacraments of the Christian faith. Noi were they slow in granting his request ; but sent him Bishof Aidan, a man of singular meekness, piety, and moderation zealous in the cause of God, though not altogether according to knowledge ; for he was wont to keep Easter Sunday ac- cording to the custom of liis country, which we have before so often mentioned, from the fourteenth to the twentietl moon ; the northern province of the Scots, and all th( nation of the Picts, celebrating Easter then after that man^ ner, and believing that tliey therein followed the writings o the holy and praiseworthy Father Anatolius ; the truth o which every skilful person can discern. But the Scot; which dwelt in the South of Ireland had long since, b] the admonition of the bishop of the ApostoHc See, learnec to observe Easter according to the canonical custom.

On the arrival of the bishop, the king appointed hin his episcopal see in the isle of Lindisfarne,* as he desired Wliich place, as the tide flows and ebbs twice a day, is en- closed by the waves of the sea like an island ; and again twice in the day, when the shore is left dry, becomes con- tiguous to the land. The king also humbly and willingly ii all cases giving ear to his admonitions, industriously appliec himself to build and extend the church of Christ in hh kingdom ; wherein, when the bishop, who was not skilful in the English tongue, preached the gospel, it was niosi delightful to see the king himself interpreting the word oJ God to his commanders and ministers, for he had perfectly learned the language of the Scots during his long banish- ment. From that time many of the Scots came daily intc

* From the monastery of Lindisfarne, or Holy Island, all the chm-chef of Bernicia, from the TjTie to the Tweed, had their beginning; as had alsc Bome of those of the Deira, from the Tyne to the Humber. The prospecl from the island is beautiful ; to the northward you command the town oj Berwick, over an arm of the sea, about seven miles in breadth. At near the same distance, to the south you view Bambrough Castle, on a bold pro- montory. On the one hand you have a view of the open sea, which at the time of our observation, was calm and resplendent, scattered over with vessels; and on the other hand a narrow channel, by which this land is insulated, about two miles in width. The distant shore exhibits a beautiful hanging landscape of cultivated country, graced with a multitude of hamlets, vil- lages, and woodlands.

». 565.] CONVERSION OF THE PICTS. 1 1 3

litain, and with great devotion preached the word to those 'ovinces of the EngHsh, over which King Oswald reigned, id those among them that had received priest's orders, ad- inistered to them the grace of baptism. Churches were lilt in several places ; the people joyfully flocked together

hear the word ; money and lands were given of the king's mnty to build monasteries ; the English, great and small, ere, by their Scottish masters, instructed in the rules and jservance of regular discipline ; for most of them that .me to preach were monks. Bishop Aidan was himself a onk of the island called Hii,* whose monastery was for a Qg time the chief of almost all those of the northern Scots, id all those of the Picts, and had the direction of their ;ople. That island belongs to Britain, being divided from

by a small arm of the sea, but had been long since given ■■ the Picts, who inhabit those parts of Britain, to the sottish monks, because they had received the faith of hrist through their preaching.

CHAP. IV.

When the nation of the Picts received the faith, [a, d, 565.]

r the year of our Lord 565, when Justin, the younger, the ccessor of Justinian, had the government of the Roman apire, there came into Britain a famous priest and abbat, monk by habit and life, whose name was Columba, to •each the word of God to the provinces of the northern icts, who are separated from the southern parts by steep id rugged mountains ; for the southern Picts, who dwell on is side of those mountains, had long before, as is reported, rsaken the errors of idolatry, and embraced the truth, by e preaching of Nimas,| a most reverend bishop and holy

• The ancient name of lona was I, or Hi, or Aoi, which was Latinized .0 Hyena, or lona. The common name of it now is, I-colum-kill, the and of Colum of the Cells. It is one of the most fertile and most /, || Tiantic of the Scottish islands, separated from the west point of Ross- by ' larrow channel, called the Sound of I ; and is about three miles long, d nearly a mile in breadth. A chart of the island may be seen in Pin- rton's Collection of the Lives of the Ancient Saints in Scotland. + St. Ninias was a native of North Wales, where the British church I.S then flourishing. His faith was rewarded by the conversion of the I

114 BEDe's ecclesiastical mSTOET. ln.m.c.6

man of the British nation, who had been regularly in- structed at Rome, in the faith and mysteries of the truth whose episcopal see, named after St. Martin the bishop, anc famous for a stately church, (wherein he and many othei saints rest in the body,) is still in existence among th( English nation. The place belongs to the province of th( Bernicians, and is generally called the White House,* be- cause he there built a church of stone, which was not usua among the Britons.

Columba came into Britain in the ninth year of the reigr of Bridius, who was the son of Meilochon,"]* and the powerfu king of the Pictish nation, and he converted that nation U the faith of Christ, by his preacliing and example, whereupor lie also received of them the aforesaid island for a monastery for it is not very large, but contains about five families according to the English computation. His successors hole the island to this day ; he was also buried therein, having died at the age of seventy-seven, about thirty-two years aftei he came into Britain, to preach. Before he passed over intc Britain, he had built a noble monastery in Ireland, which, from the great number of oaks, is in the Scottish tongue called Dearm-ach — The Field of Oaks.| From both which monasteries, many others had their beginning through his disciples, both in Britain and Ii*eland ; but the monastery in the island where his body lies, is the principal oi them all.

That island has for its ruler an abbat, who is a priest, to whose direction all the province, and even the bishops, contrary to the usual method, are subject, according to the example of their first teacher, who was not a bishop, but a

southern Picts. He maintained the catholic faith when the teaching of Pelagius, his contemporary and countryman, was making great advances. St. Ninias wrote a comment on the Psalms, and he visited and corre- sponded with St. Martin, bishop of Tours.

* Whitheme, or Candida Casa, Galloway. Usher supposes that St, Ninias's diocese extended from the modem Glasgow to Stanmore Cross, on the borders of Westmoreland ; Bishop Nicolson, however, is of opinion, that the bishops of Scotland had anciently no fixed sees; but that every prelate exercised his episcopal office indiscriminately, in whatever part of the kingdom he resided. (Scottish Hist. Lib. p. 74.)

t Elsewhere called Mailcuin.

t Now DeiTy. -

^'^•^^^■] EASTEE CONTROYEEST. 115

priest and monk;* of whose life and discourses some «n?itings are said to be preserved bj his disciples. But ivhatsoever he was himself, this we know for certain, that le left successors renowned for their continency, their love )f God, and observance of monastic rules. It is true they oUowed uncertain rules in their observance of the great estival, as having none to bring them the synodal decrees or the observance of Easter, by reason of their being so far .way from the rest of the world j wherefore they only )ractised such works of piety and chastity as they could earn from the prophetical, evangelical, and apostohcal mtings. This manner of keeping Easter continued among hem for the space of 150 years, till the year of our Lord's acarnation 715.

^ But then the most reverend and holy father and priest, Cgbert, of the English nation, who had long lived in 'anishment in Ireland for the sake of Christ, and was most earned in the Scriptures, and renowned for long perfection f life, came among them, corrected their error, and reduced iiem to the true and canonical day of Easter ; the which liey nevertheless did not always keep on the fourteenth loon with the Jews, as some imagined, but on Sunday, Ithough not in the proper week, f For, as Christians, they new that the resurrection of our Lord, which happened on ae first day after the Sabbath, was always to be celebrated n the first day after the Sabbath ; but being rude and arbarous, they had not learned when that same first day fter the Sabbath, which is now called the Lord's day, should ome. But because they had not laid aside the fervent grace f charity, they were worthy to be informed in the true nowledge of this particular, according to the promise of le apostle, saying, " And if in any thing ye be otherwise linded, God shall reveal even this unto you." Of which ^e shall speak more fully in its proper place.

* This statement of Bede gave rise to a keen controversy on Church )vemment at the close of the seventeenth century. The reader may con- ilt ]\Ir. Goodall's Preface to Keith's Catalogue of Scottish Bishops, and ishop Lloyd's Historical Account of Church Government.

t See note, at page 104.

I 2

1 16 BEDE's ecclesiastical history. [b. m. c 6.

CHAP. V.

Of the life of Bishop Aidan. [a.d. 635.]

Fkom the aforesaid island, and college of monks, was Aidau sent to instruct the English nation in Christ, having received the dignity of a bishop at the time when Segenius,* abbal and priest, presided over that monastery ; whence, among other instructions for life, he left the clergy a most salutary example of abstinence or continence ; it was the highest commendation of his doctrine, with all men, that he taughl no otherwise than he and his followers had lived ; for he neither sought nor loved any thing of this world, bul delighted in distributing immediately among the poor whatsoever was given him by the kings or rich men of the world. He was wont to traverse both town and country on foot, never on horseback, unless compelled by some urgent necessity ; and wherever in his way he saw any, either rich or poor, he invited them, if infidels, to embrace the mystery of the faith ; or if they were believers, to strengthen them in the faith, and to stir them up by words and actions to alms and good works.

His course of life was so different from the slothfulness of our times, that all those who bore him company, whether they were shorn monks or laymen, were employed in meditation, that is, either in reading the Scriptures, or learning psalms. This was the daily employment of himself and all that were with him, wheresoever they went ; and if it happened, which was but seldom, that he was invited to eat with the king, he went with one or two clerks, and having taken a small repast, made haste to be gone with them, either to read or write. At that time, many religious men and women, stirred up by his example, adopted the custom of fasting on Wednesdays and Fridays, till the ninth hour, throughout the year, except during the fifty days after Easter. He never gave money to the powerful men of the world, but only meat, if he happened to entertain them ; and, on the contrary, whatsoever gifts of money he received from the rich, he either distributed them, as has been said, to the use of the poor, or bestowed them in ransoming such as had * The fourth abbat from St. Columba,

635.] Oswald's piett. 117

)eeii wrongfullj sold for slaves. Moreover, lie aftei*wards Qade many of those he had ransomed his disciples, and after laving taught and instructed them, advanced them to the rder of priesthood.

It is reported, that when Eang Oswald had asked a bishop f the Scots to administer the word of faith to him and his ation, there was first sent to him another man of more ustere disposition, who, meeting with no success, and being nregarded by the English people, returned home, and in an ssembly of the elders reported, that he had not been able to 0 any good to the nation he had been sent to preach to, ecause they were unciviKzed men, and of a stubborn and arbarous disposition. They, as is testified, in a great ouncil seriously debated what was to be done, being desirous aat the nation should receive the salvation it demanded, and rieving that they had not received the preacher sent to lem. Then said Aidan, who was also present in the ouncil, to the priest then spoken of, "I am of opinion, rother, that you were more severe to your unlearned earers than you ought to have been, and did not at first, onformably to the apostolic rule, give them the milk of more asy doctrine, till being by degrees nourished with the word f God, they should be capable of greater perfection, and be ble to practise God's sublimer precepts." Having heard aese words, all present began diligently to weigh what he ad said, and presently concluded, that he deserved to be lade a bishop, and ought to be sent to instruct the Qcredulous and unlearned ; since he was found to be endued nth. singular discretion, which is the mother of other virtues, nd accordingly being ordained, they sent him to their friend, Cing Oswald, to preach ; and he, as time proved, afterwards ppeared to possess all other virtues, as well as the discretion 3r which he was before remarkable.

i

CHAP. YI.

Of King Oswald's wonderful piety, [a.d. 635.]

CiNG Oswald, with the nation of the Enghsh which he overned being instructed by the teaching of this most everend prelate, not only learned to hope for a heavenly ingdom unknown to his progenitors, but also obtained of

118 BEDE's ecclesiastical HISTOKY. [b. m. c. 7.

the same one Almighty God, who made heaven and earth, larger earthly kingdoms than any of his ancestors. In short, he brought under his dominion all the nations and provinces of Britain, which are divided into four languages, viz. the Britons, the Picts, the Scots, and the English. When raised to that height of dominion, wonderful to relate, he always con- tinued humble, affiible, and generous to the poor and strangers. In short, it is reported, that when he was once sitting at dinner, on the holy day of Easter, with the aforesaid bishop, and a silver dish full of dainties before him, and they were just ready to bless the bread, the servant, whom he had appointed to relieve the poor, came in on a sudden, and told the king, that a great multitude of needy persons from all parts were sitting in the streets begging some alms of the king ; he immediately ordered the meat set before him to be carried to the poor, and the dish to be cut in pieces and divided among them. At which sight, the bishop who sat by him, much taken with such an act of piety, laid hold of his right hand, and said, "May this hand never perish." Which fell out according to his prayer, for his arm and hand, being cut off from his body, when he was slain in battle, remain entire and uncorrupted to this day, and are kept in a silver case, as revered relics, in St. Peter's church in the royal city,* which has taken its name from Bebba, one of its former queens. Through this king's management the provinces of the Deiri and the Bernicians, which till then had been at variance, were peacefully united and moulded into one people. He was nephew to King Edwin by his sister Acha ; and it was fit that so great a predecessor should have in his own family so great a person to succeed him in Ms religion and sovereignty.

CHAP. vn.

How the West Saocons received the word of God ly the preaching of Birinus ; and of his successors, Agilbert and Eleutherius. [a.d. 635.]

At that time, the West Saxons, formerly called Gewiss£8,t

* Bambrough, where the remains of a noble castle now stand on a bokl promontory called Bambrough Head.

+ Smith observes, in his edition of Bede's Ecclesiastical History, that Gewissae is the Saxon word for " West" or " Occidentales :" he instances Yisigoths as a word of similar signification.

.D.635.3 COINWALCH SUCCEEDS CYKEGILS, 119

1 the reign of Cjnegils, embraced the faith of Christ, at the reaching of Bishop Birinus, who came into Britain by the dvice of Pope Honorius ; having promised in his presence lat he would sow the seed of the holy faith in the inner arts beyond the dominions of the English, where no other jacher had been before him. Hereupon he received epis- 3pal consecration from Asterius, bishop of Genoa ; but on is arrival in Britain, he first entered the nation of the i-ewissae, and finding all there most confirmed pagans, he lought it better to preach the word of God there, than to roceed further to seek for others to preach to«

Now, as he preached in the aforesaid province, it happened aat the king himself, having been catechised, was baptized 3gether with his people, and Oswald, the most holy and ictorious king of the Northumbrians, being present, received im as he came forth from baptism,* and by an alliance most leasing and acceptable to God, first adopted him, thus rege- erated, for his son, and then took his daughter in marriage. ?he two kings gave to the bishop the city called Dorcic,"]" liere to settle his episcopal see ; where having built and con- ecrated churches, and by his labour called many to the Lord, e departed this life, and was buried in the same city ; bu^ lany years after, when Hedda was bishop, | he was translated hence to the city of Winchester, and laid in the church of he blessed apostles, Peter and Paul.

The king also dying, his son Coinwalch succeeded him in he throne, but refused to embrace the mysteries of the faith, .nd of the heavenly kingdom; and not long after also he ost the dominion of his earthly kingdom ; for he put away he sister of Penda, king of the Mercians, whom he had narried, and took another wife ; whereupon a war ensuing, le was by him expelled his kingdom, and Avithdrew to Anna, dug of the East Saxons, where living three years in banish- nent, he found and received the true faith, and was baptized ; or the king, with whom he lived in his banishment, was a ^ood man, and happy in a good and pious offspring, as we shall show hereafter.

* The baptism of Cynegils, or Kingil, by Bishop Birinus, is still repre- lented on an old font in Winchester Cathedral.

•f Dorchester, 8^ miles from Oxford, From this see arose the bishopric ?f Lincoln, a.d. 1088. t See book iv. c. 12.

120 BEDE's ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORT. , [B,ni. c.

But when Coinwalcli was restored to his kingdom, ther came into that province out of Ireland, a certain bisho called Agilbert, by nation a Frenchman, but who had the lived a long time in Ireland, for the purpose of reading th Scriptures. This bishop came of his own accord to serv this king, and preach to him the word of life. The kin| -observing his erudition and industry, desired him to accej an episcopal see, and stay there as his bishop. Agilbei complied with the prince's request, and presided over thos people many years. At length the king, who understoo none but the language of the Saxons, grown weary of thi bishop's barbarous tongue, brought into the province anothe bishop of his own nation, whose name was Wini, who ha been ordained in France ; and dividing liis province into tw dioceses, appointed this last his episcopal see in the city ( Winchester, by the Saxons called Wintancestir. Agilber being higlily offended, that the king should do this withoi his advice, returned into France, and being made bisho of the city of Paris, died there, aged and full of days. N( many years after his departure out of Britain, Wini was als expelled from his bishopric, and took refuge with Wulf her( king of the Mercians, of whom he purchased for money th see of the city of London, and remained bishop thereof ti his death. Thus the province of the West Saxons continue no small time without a bishop.

During which time, the king of that nation, sustainin very great losses in his kingdom from his enemies, at lengt bethought himself, that as he had been before expelled froi the throne for his infidelity, and had been restored whe he received the faith of Christ, his kingdom, being destitut of a bishop, was justly deprived of the Divine protectioi He, therefore, sent messengers into France to Agilberi humbly entreating him to return to the bishopric of his natior But he excused himself, and affirmed that he could not g( because he was bound to the bishopric of his own ciiy ; how ever, that he might not seem to refuse him assistance, he sen in his stead thither the priest Eleutherius, his nephew, whc if he thought fit, might be ordained his bishop, saying, " H thought him worthy of a bishopric." The king and th people received him honourably, and entreated Theodore then archbishop of Canterbury, to consecrate him their bishop

1

A.v.eiO.] EARCORNBEKT, KING OF KENT. 121

He was accordingly consecrated in the same city, and many )^ears zealously governed the whole bishopric of the West Saxons by synodical authority.

CHAP. vin.

H^ow Earconhert, King of Kent, ordered the idols to he destroyed ; and of his daughter Earcongota, and his kinswoman Ethelberga, virgins conse- crated to God. [a.d. 640. j

JN- the year of our Lord 640, Eadbald, king of Kent, de- )arted this life, and left liis kingdom to liis son Earconbert, vhich he most nobly governed twenty-four years and some aonths. He was the first of the English kings that of his upreme authority commanded the idols, throughout liis whole dngdom, to be forsaken and destroyed, and the fast of forty lays before Easter to be observed ; and that the same might lot be neglected, he appointed proper and condign punish- aents for the offenders. His daughter Earcongota, as became he offspring of such a parent, was a most virtuous virgin, Iways serving God in a monastery in France, built by a Qost noble abbess, called Fara,* at a place called Brie ; for at hat time but few monasteries being built in the country of he Angles, many were wont, for the sake of monastic con- 'ersation, to repair to the monasteries of the Franks or Gauls ; .nd they also sent their daughters there to be instructed, and ielivered to their heavenly bridegroom, especially in the aonasteries of Brie, of Chelles,t and Andelys. Among ^-hom was also Sethrid, daughter of the wife of Anna, king f the East Angles, above mentioned ; and Ethelberga, J latural daughter of the same king j both of whom, though trangers, were for their virtue made abbesses of the monas- ery of Brie. Sexberga, that king's eldest daughter, wife to

* Or Faremoutier monastery, founde 1 a1 out a.d. 6 16, by St. Fara, some- mes called Burgundofara. When first established it followed the rule of t. Columban.

f Chelles, four leagues from Paris. This monastery was formded by St. lotilda. St. Bathildes so much enlarged it, as to be considered the prin- pal foundress.

X Called by the French St. Aubierge. Bede styles her the natural aughter of Anna, which in his time did not mean illegitimate ; but was used I opposition to an adopted child.

I 22 BEDE's ecclesiastical history. [b- 111. c. 8.

Earconbert, king of Kent, had a daughter called Earcongota, of whom we are about to speak.

Many wonderful works and miracles of this virgin, dedi- cated to God, are to this day related by the inhabitants of that place ; but it shall suffice us to say something briefly of her passage out of this world to the heavenly kingdom. The day of her departure drawing near, she visited the cells of the infirm servants of Christ, and particularly those that were of a great age, or most noted for probity of life, and humbly recommending herself to their prayers, let them know that her death was at hand, as she knew by revelation, which she said she had received in this manner. She had seen a number of men, all in white, come into the monastery, and being asked by her, " What they wanted, and what they did there ?" they answered, " They had been sent tliither to carry away -wdth them the gold medal that had been brought thither from Kent." That same night, at the dawn of morn- ing, leaving the darkness of this world, she departed to the light of heaven. Many of the brethren of that monastery that were in other houses, declared they had then plainly heard concerts of angels singing, and the noise as it were of a multitude entering the monastery. Whereupon going out immediately to see what it might be, they saw an extraordi- nary great light coming down from heaven, which conducted that holy soul, set loose from the bonds of the flesh, to the eternal j oys of the celestial country. They add other mira- cles that were wrought tlie same night in the same monastery; but as we must proceed to other matters, we leave them to be related by those to whom such things belong. The body of this venerable virgin and bride of Christ was buried in the church of the blessed protomartyr, Stephen. It was thought fit, three days after, to take up the stone that covered the grave, and to raise it higher in the same place, which whilst they were doing, so great a fragrancy of perfume rose from below, that it seemed to all the brothers and sisters there present^ as if a store of the richest balsams had been opened.

Her aunt also, Ethelberga above mentioned, preserved the glory so pleasing to God, of perpetual virginity, in great continency of body, but the extent of her virtue became more conspicuous after her death. Whilst she was abbess,

4.D. 642.] DEATH OF KING OSTV'ALD. 123

she began to build in her monastery a church, in honour of all the apostles, wherein she desired her body might be buried ; but when that Avork was advanced half way, she was prevented by death from finishing it, and buried in the s^ery place of the church where she had desired. After her ieath, the brothers occupied themselves with other things, md this structure was intermitted for seven years, at the expiration whereof they resolved, by reason of the greatness )f the work, wholly to lay aside the building of the church, 3ut to remove the abbess's bones from thence to some other ihurch that was finished and consecrated ; but, on opening ler tomb, they found the body as free from decay as it had )een from the corruption of carnal concupiscence, and hav- ng washed it again and put on it other clothes, they re- noved the same to the church of St. Stephen, Martyr, whose lativity (or commemoration-day) is celebrated with much nagnifioence on the 7th of July.

CHAP. IX.

Uow miraculous cures have been frequently done in the place where King Oswald zvas killed ; and hoiv, first, a traveller's horse tv as restored and afterwards a young girl cured of the palsy, [a.d. 642. J

3swALD, the most Christian king of the Northumbrians, reigned nine years, including that year which is to be held iccursed for the brutal impiety of the king of the Britons, md the apostacy of the English kings ; for, as was said ibove, it is agreed by the unanimous consent of all, that the aames of the apostates should be erased from the catalogue 3f the Christian kings, and no date ascribed to their reign. After which period, Oswald was killed in a great battle, by the same pagan nation and pagan king of the Mercians, who bad slain his predecessor Edwin, at a place called in the English tongue Maserfield,* in the thirty-eighth year of his age, on the fifth day of the month of August.

How great his faith was towards God, and how remark-

* Some difference of opinion exists respecting IMaserfield. Camden, Capgrave, and others, place it at Oswestry, in Shropshire, and the name certainly favours their opinion. Alban Butler, Powell, and Dr. Cowper place it' at Wimnck in Lancashire, and to support this their view there is an inscription on the outside of the south Avall of the parish church.

124 BEDE's ecclesiastical history. LB.iri.c.9.

able his devotion, has been made evident by miracles since his death ; for, in the place where he was killed by the pagans, fighting for his country, infirm men and cattle are healed to this day. Whereupon many took up the very dust 1 of the place where his body fell, and putting it into water, did much good with it to their friends who were sick. This custom came so much into use, that the earth being carried away by degrees, there remained a hole as deep as the height of a man. Nor is it to be wondered that the sick should be healed in the place where he died ; for, whilst he lived, he never ceased to provide for the poor and infirm, and to be- stow alms on them, and assist them. Many miracles are said to have been wrought in that place, or with the earth carried from thence ; but we have thought it sufficient to mention two, which we heard from our ancestors.

It happened, not long after his death, that a man was tra- velling near that place, when his horse on a sudden began to tire, to stand stock still, hang down his head, and foam at the mouth, and, at length, as his pain increased, he fell to the ground ; the rider dismounted, and throwing some straw under liim, waited to see whether the beast would recover or die. At length, after much rolling about in extreme an- guish, the horse happened to come to the very place where the aforesaid king died. Immediately the pain ceased, the beast gave over his struggles, and, as is usual with tired cattle, turned gently from side to side, and then starting up, perfectly recovered, began to graze on the green herbage : which the man observing, being an ingenious person, lie concluded there must be some wonderful sanctity in the place where the horse had been healed, and left a mark there, that he might know the spot again. After which he again mounted his horse, and repaired to the inn where he intended to stop. On his arrival he found a girl, niece to the landlord, who had long languished under the palsy ; and when the friends of the family, in his presence, lamented the girl's calamity, he gave them an account of the place where his horse had been cured. In short, she was put into a cart and carried and laid down at the place. At first she slept awhile, and when she awaked found herself healed of her infirmity. Upon which she called for water, washed her face, put up her hair, and dressed her head, and returned

K.D. €42.] MIRACLES AT THE PLACE OF OSWALD'S DEATH. 125

home on foot, in good health, with those who had brought her.

CHAT. X.

The power of the earth of that place against fire. [a.d. 642.]

About the same time, another person of the British nation, as is reported, happened to travel bj the same place, where the aforesaid battle was fought, and observing one particular spot of ground greener and more beautiful than any other part of the field, he judiciously concluded with himself that there could be no other cause for that unusual greenness, but that some person of more holiness than any other in the army had been killed there. He therefore took along with him some of that earth, tying it up in a linen cloth, suppos- ing it would some time or other be of use for curing sick people, and proceeding on his journey, came at night to a certain village, and entered a house where the neighbours were feasting at supper ; being received by the owners of the house, he sat down with them at the entertainment, hanging the cloth, in which he had brought the earth, on a post against the wall. They sat long at supper and drank hard, with a great fire in the middle of the room ; it hap- pened that the sparks flew up and caught the top of the house, which being made of wattles and thatch, was pre- sently in a flame ; the guests ran out in a fright, without being able to put a stop to the fire. The house was conse- quently burnt down, only that post on which the earth hung remained entire and untouched. On observing this, they weie all amazed, and inquiring into it diligently, understood that the earth had been taken from the place where the blood of King Oswald had been shed. These miracles being made known and reported abroad, many began daily to fre- quent that place, and received health to themselves and theirs.

CHAP. XI.

Of the heavenly light that appeared all the night over the hones of King Oswald, and how persons possessed with devils were delivered ly his f,onet. [a.d. 697.]

Among the rest, I tliink we ought not to pass over, in

126 BEDe's ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. [B.m.r.l

silence, the heavenly favours and miracles that were show when King Oswald's bones were found, and translated int the church where they are now preserved. This was don by the zealous care of Osthrida, queen of the Mercians, th daughter of his brother Oswy, who reigned after him, a shall be said hereafter.

There is a noble monastery in the province of Lindsej called Beardeneu,* which that queen and her husband Ethel red much loved, and conferred upon it many honours am ornaments. It was here that she was desirous to lay th' venerable bones of her uncle. When the wagon in whicl those bones were carried arrived towards evening at th' aforesaid monastery, they that were in it refused to admi them, because, though they knew him to be a holy man, yet as he was originally of another province, and had reignec over them as a foreign king, they retained their ancient aver sion to him even after death. Thus it came to pass that th( relics were left in the open air all that night, with only i large tent spread over them ; but the appearance of a hea- venly miracle showed with how much reverence they oughi to be received by all the faithful ; for during that whole night, a pillar of light, reaching from the wagon up tc heaven, was seen by almost all the inhabitants of the pro- vince of Lindsey. Hereupon, in the morning, the brethren who had refused it the day before, began themselves earn estly to pray that those holy relics, so beloved by God, might be deposited among them. Accordingly, the bones, bei washed, were put into a shrine which they had made for t' purpose, and placed in the church, with due honour ; am that there might be a perpetual memorial of the royal pe son of this holy man, they hung up over the monument his banner made of gold and purple ; and poured out the water in wliich they had washed the bones, in a corner of the sacred place. From that time, the very earth which re- ceived that holy water, had the virtue of expelling devils from the bodies of persons possessed.

Lastly, when the aforesaid queen afterwards made some

* Bardney in Lincolnshire. The foundation of Bardney Abbey is fixed by Bishop Tanner before the year 697, because Ofthrida, or Osthryda, queen of Mercia, who caused Oswald's bones to be brought to it, was murdered in that year.

ighti

thfl anfl

DerS

4.D.e42.] ST. Oswald's EELics. 127

3tay in that monastery, there came to visit her a certain vener- ible abbess, who is still living, called Ethelhilda, the sister of the iioly men, Ethelwin and Aldwin, the first of whom was bishop n the province of Lindsey,*the other abbat of the monastery of Peartaneu ; f not far from which was the monastery of Ethel- lilda. When this lady was come, in a conversation between ler and the queen, the discourse, among other things, turn- ng upon Oswald, she said, that she also had that night seen I hght reacliing from the relics up to heaven. The queen :hereupon added, that the very dust of the pavement on vhicli the water that washed the bones had been spilt, lad already healed many sick persons. The abbess ;hereupon desired that some of the said dust might be ^iven her, which she tied up in a cloth, and, putting it nto a casket, returned home. Some time after, when she vas in her monastery, there came to it a guest, who was vont often in the night to be on a sudden grievously tormented vith an evil spirit ; he being hospitably entertained, and gone o bed after supper, was on a sudden seized by the Devil, and )egan to cry out, to gnash his teeth, to foam at the mouth, and 0 distort his limbs in a most strange manner. None being ible to hold or bind him, the servant ran, and knocking at the loor, acquainted the abbess. She, opening the monastery loor, went out herself with one of the nuns to the men's partment, and calling a priest, desired he would go with ler to the sufferer. Being come thither, and seeing many Qore present, who had not been able, though they endea- oured it, to hold the tormented person and prevent his con- vulsive motions, the priest used exorcisms, and did all he ould to assuage the madness of the unfortunate man, but, hough he took much pains, could not prevail. When no opes appeared of easing him, the abbess bethought herself f the dust, and immediately ordered her servant to go and etch her the casket in which it was. As soon as she came nth what she had been sent for into the jDorch of the house, in tie inner part whereof the possessed person was tormented, e Avas presently silent, and laid down his head, as if he had een falling asleep, stretching out all his limbs to rest. All

* Bishop of Sidnacester, afterwards removed to Lincoln. + Pearteneu, or Parteney, was a cell to Bardney. Deda (see p. 100), as the first abbat, and Aldwin the second. — Willis's Mitred Abbeys, i. 29.

128 BEDE's ecclesiastical history. .[b. in. c. 12.

present were silent, and stood attentive to see the end of the affair. After some time, the man that had been tormented sat up, and fetching a deep sigh, said, " Now I am like a sound man, for I am restored to my senses." They earn- estly inquired how that came to pass, and he answered, " As soon as that virgin drew near the porch of this house, with the casket she brought, all the evil spirits that vexed me de- parted, and were no more to be seen." Then the abbess gave him a little of that dust, and the priest having prayed, he had a very quiet night ; nor did he, from that time for- ward, receive the least disturbance from his old enemy.

CHAP. XII.

Of a boy cured of an ague at St. Oswald's tomb. [a.d. 642.]

Some time after, there was a certain little boy in the said monastery, who had been long troubled with an ague ; he was one day anxiously expecting the hour that his fit was to come on, when one of the brothers, coming in to him, said, " Shall I tell you, child, how you may be cured of this distemper ? Rise, go into the church, and get close to St. Oswald's tomb ; stay there quiet, and do not leave it ; do not come away, or stir from the place, till the time that your fit is to go off: then I will go in and fetch you away." The boy did as he was advised, and the disease durst not affect him as he sat by the saint's tomb ; but fled so abso- lutely, that he felt it no more, either the second or third day, or ever after. The brother that came from thence, and told me this, added, that at the time when he was talking with me, the young man was then still living in the monastery, on whom, when a boy, that miraculous cure had been wrought. Nor is it to be wondered that the prayers of that king who was then reigning with our Lord, should be very efiicacious with him, since he, whilst yet governing his temporal king- dom, was also wont to pray and take more pains for that which is eternal. In short, it is reported, that he often con- tinued in prayer from the hour of morning thanksgiving till it was day ; and that by reason of his constant custom of praying or giving thanks to God, he was wont always, wherever he sat, to hold his hands t:jrned up on his knees.

».D. 642.] Oswald's relics in Ireland. 129

[t is also given out, and become a proverb, " That he enderf ais life in prayer ;" for when he was beset with weapons ind enemies, he perceived he must immediately be killed, ind prayed to God for the souls of his army. Whence it is 3roverbially said, "Lord have mercy on their souls, said 3swald, as he fell to the ground." His bones, therefore, vere translated to the monastery which we have mentioned, md buried therein : but the king that slew him commanded lis head, hands, and arms to be cut off from the body, and iet upon stakes. But his successor in the throne, Oswy, coming thither the next year with his army, took them down, md buried his head in the church of Lindisfarne, and the lands and arms in his royal city.*

CHAP. xni.

Of a certain person in Ireland that was recovered, when at the point of •death, by the bones of King Oswald, [a.d. 642.]

^OR was the fame of the renowned Oswald confined to Bri- ;ain, but, spreading the rays of his healing brightness even jeyond the sea, reached also to Germany and Ireland. In ihort, the most reverend prelate, Acca,| is wont to relate, hat when, in his journey to Rome, he and his bishop Wilfrid stayed some time with Wilbrord, now the holy bishop of the Fresons, he had often heard him talk of the wonders wliich aad been wrought in that province at the relics of that most reverend kino-. And that in Ii-eland, when, being yet only 1 priest, he kd a pilgrim's Hfe therein for love of the eternal country, the fame of that king's sanctity was already spread :ar and near. One of the miracles, among the rest, which he related, we have thought fit to insert in our history.

"At the time," said he, "of the mortality which made 3uch great havoc in Britain and Ii-eland, among others, the infection reached a certain scholar of the Scottish race, a man indeed learned in worldly literature, but m no way solicitous or studious of his eternal salvation ; who, seeing

• Of the translation of these relics from Bardney to St. Oswald's, Glou- cestershire, A.D. 910, bv Ethelred, earl of Mercia, and Elfleda, the daughter of King Alfred, see *Sim. Dunelm, col. 152, Script, x. Twysden See also Leland, Collectanea, London, 1770, vol. ii, p. 367j and ui. p. 299.

t Bishop of Hexham.

K

130 EEDE's ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORT. rB-ux. cJ

his death near at hand, began to fear, lest, as soon as he wi dead he should be hurried away to hell for his sins. H sent for me, who was in that neighbourhood, and whilst h was trembling and sighing, with a mournful voice made hi complaint to me, in this manner : * You see that my disteir per increases, and that I am now reduced to the point c death. Nor do I question but that after the death of m body, I shall be immediately snatched away to the perpetu£ death of my soul, and cast into the torments of hell, sine for a long time, amidst all my reading of divine books, have rather addicted myself to vice, than to keep the com mandments of God. But it is my resolution, if the Divin^ Mercy shall grant me a new term of life, to correct m^ vicious habits, and totally to reform my mind and cours< of life in obedience to the Divine will. But I am sensible that T have no merits of my owii to obtain a prolongatioi of life, nor can I confide in it, unless it shall please God tc forgive me, through the assistance of those who have faith- fully served liim. We have heard, and the report is uni- versal, that there was in your nation a king, of wonderful sanctity, called Oswald, the excellency of whose faith and virtue is become renowned even after his death by the working of miracles. I beseech you, if you have any relics of liis in your custody, that you wdll bring the same to me in case the Lord shall be pleased, through his merits, to have mercy on me.' I answered, 'I have indeed some of the stake on which his head was set up by the pagans, when he was killed, and if you beUeve, with a sincere heart, the Divine Goodness may, through the merit of so great a man, both grant you a longer term of hfe here, and render you worthy of admittance into eternal life.' He answered im- mediately, 'That he had entire faith therein.' Then I blessed some water, and put into it a chip of the aforesaid oak, and gave it the sick man to drink. He presently found ease, and, recovering of his sickness, hved a long time after ; and, being entirely converted to God in heart and actions, wherever he came, he spoke of the goodness of his merciful Creator, and the honour of his faithful servant."

I

!-D. 042.1 ITHAilAR, BISHOP OF ROCHESTER. 131

CHAP. XIV.

On the death of Pauliniis, Ithamar was mads bishop of Rochester in his stead. Of the wonderful humility of King Oswin, who was cruelly slaijk by Oswy. [a. d. 642.]

3swALD being translated to tlie heavenly kingdom, his )rother Oswy, a young man of about thirty years of age, .ucceeded liim on the throne of his earthly kingdom, and leld it twenty-eight years with much trouble, being harassed )y the pagan king, Penda, and by the pagan nation of the vlercians, that had slain his brother, as also by his son \Jfred, and by his cousin-german Ethelwald, the son of his )rother who reigned before him. In his second year, that s, in the year of our Lord 644, the most reverend Father ^aulinus, formerly bishop of York, but then of the city of lochester, departed to our Lord, on the 10th day of October, laving held the bishopric nineteen years, two months, and wenty-one days ; and was buried in the sacristy of the >lessed Apostle Andrew, which King Ethelbert had built rom the foundation, in the same city of Rochester. In his >lace, Ai'chbishop Honorius ordained Ithamar, of the Kent- sh nation, but not inferior to his predecessors for learning md conduct of life.

Oswy, during the first part of his reign, had a partner in he royal dignity called Oswin, of the race of King Edwin, .nd son to Osric, of whom we have spoken above, a man of vonderful piety and devotion, Avho governed the province of he Deiri seven years in very great prosperity, and was him- lelf beloved by all men. But Oswy, who governed all the )ther northern part of the nation beyond the Humber, that s, the province of the Bernicians, could not live at peace vith him ; but on the contrary, the causes of their disagree- nent being heightened, he murdered liim most cruelly. For vhen they had raised armies against one another, Oswin )erceived that he could not maintain a war against one who lad more auxiUaries than himself, and he thought it better it that time to lay aside all thoughts of engaging, and to ^reserve himself for better times. He therefore dismissed ;he army which he had assembled, and ordered all liis men :o return to their own homes, from the place that is called K 2

132 BEBF'S ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. [B-n/. c.l4.

Wilfares-dun,* that is, Wilfar's Hill, which is almost ten miles distant from the village called Cataract, towards the north-west. Pie himself, with only one trusty soldier, whose name was Tondhere, Avithdrew and lay concealed in the house of Earl Hunwald, whom he imagined to be his most assured friend. But, alas ! it was otherwise ; for the earl betrayed him, and Oswy, in a detestable manner, by the hands of his commander, Ethilwin, slew him and the soldier aforesaid. This happened on the 20th of August, in the ninth year of his reign, at a place called Ingethlingum,f where afterwards, to atone for his crime, a monastery was built, wherein prayers were to be daily offered up to God for the souls of both kings, that is, of him that was mur- dered, and of him that commanded him to be killed.

King Oswin was of a graceful aspect, and tall of stature, affable in discourse, and courteous in behaviour ; and most bountiful, as well to the ignoble as the noble ; so that he was beloved by all men for his qualities of body and mind, and persons of the first rank came from almost all provinces to serve him. Among other virtues and rare endowments, if I may so express it, humility is said to have been the greatest, which it will suffice to prove by one example.

He had given an extraordinarily line horse to Bishop Aidan, which he might either use in crossing rivers, or in performing a journey upon any urgent necessity, though he was wont to travel ordinarily on foot. Some short time after, a poor man meeting him, and asking alms, he immediately dismounted, and ordered the horse, with all his royal furniture, to be given to the beggar ; for he was very compassionate, a great friend to the poor, and, as it were, the father of the wretched. This being told to the king, when they were going in to dinner, he said to the bishop, " Why would you, my lord bishop, give the poor man that royal horse, which was necessary for your use ? Had not we many other horses of less value, and of other sorts, which would have been good enough to give to the poor, and not to give that horse, which I had particularly chosen for

* Though the distance of this place from Catterick is so accurately laiJ down by Bede, Smith was unable to find any modem name of a place at all answering to it, at the required distance from Catterick.

t Gilling, in the North Riding of Yorkshire.

oswin's death. 133

ourself ?" To whom the bishop instantly answered, "What i it you say, O king ? Is that foal of a mare more dear to ou than the Son of God ? " Upon this they went in to inner, and the bishop sat in his place ; but the king, who

as come from hunting, stood warming himself, with his :tendants, at the fire. Then, on a sudden, whilst he was

arming himself, calling to mind what the bishop had said > Mm, he ungirt his sword, and gave it to a servant, and in

hasty manner fell down at the bishop's feet, beseeching him » forgive him ; " For from this time forward," said he, " I

ill never speak any more of this, nor will I j udge of what, ' how much of our money you shall give to the sons of

od." The bishop was much moved at this sight, and , arting up, raised him, saying, " He was entirely reconciled t him, if he would sit down to his meat, and lay aside all )rrow." The king, at the bishop's command and request, eginning to be merry, the bishop, on the other hand, grew ) melancholy as to shed tears. His priest then asking him, I the language of his country, which the king and his ;rvants did not understand, why he wept, " I know," said s, " that the king will not live long ; for I never before saw ) humble a king ; whence I conclude that he will soon be latched out of this life, because this nation is not worthy of ich a ruler." Not long after, the bishop's prediction was dfilled by the king's death, as has been said above. But ishop Aidan himself was also taken out of this world, velve days after the king he loved, on the 31st of August, ) receive the eternal reward of his labours from our Lord.

CHAP. XV.

'ow Bishop Aidan foretold to certain seamen a storm that would happen, and gave them some holy oil to lay it. [a.d. 651.]

[ow great the merits of Aidan were, was made manifest by le all-seeing Judge, with the testimony of miracles, whereof will suffice to mention three as a memorial. A certain riest, whose name was Utta, a man of great gravity and ncerity, and on that account honoured by all men, even the rinces of the world, being ordered to Kent, to bring from lence, as wife for King Oswy, Eanfleda, the daughter of ling Edwin, who had been carried thither when her father

134 EEDE'S ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. [b. in. c 36.

was killed ; and intending to go thither \)j land, but to return with the virgin by sea, repaired to Bishop Aidan, entreating him to offer up his prayers to our Lord for him and his company, who were then to set out on their journey. He, blessing and recommending them to our Lord, at the same time gave them some holy oil, saying, " I know that wlien you go abroad, you will meet with a storm and contrary wind ; but do you remember to cast this oil I give you into the sea, and , the wind shall cease immediately ; you will have pleasant calm weather, and return home safe."

All which fell out as the bishop had predicted. For in the first place, the winds raging, the sai^.ors endeavoured to ride it out at anchor, but all to no purpose ; for the sea breaking in on all sides, and the ship beginning to be filled with water, they all concluded that certain death was at hand ; the priest at last, remembering the bishop's words, laid hold of the phial and cast some of the oil into the sea, which, as had been foretold, became presently calm. Thus it came to pass that the man of God, by the spirit of prophecy, foretold the storm that was to happen, and by virtue of the same spirit, though absent, appeased the same. Which miracle was not told me by a person of little credit, but by Cynemund, a most faithful priest of our church, who declared that it was related to him by Utta, the priest, on and by whom the same was wrought.

CHAP. XVL

How the same Aidan, hy his prayers, saved the royal city when fired by the enemy, [a.d. 651.]

Another notable miracle of the same father is related by many such as were likely to have knowledge thereof ; for during the time that he was bishop, the hostile army of the Mercians, under the command of Penda, cruelly ravaged the country of the Northumbrians far and near, even to the royal city ; * which has its name from Bebba, formerly its queen. Not being able to enter it by force, or by a long siege, he endeavoured to burn it ; and having destroyed all the villages in the neighbourhood of the city, he brought to it * Barabroush.

.D. 65].] AIDA2s''S DEATH. 13^

ji immense quantity of planks, beams, wattles and thatch, therewith he encompassed the place to a great height on he land side, and when the wind set upon it, he fired the mass, lesigning to burn the town.

At that time, the most reverend Bishop Aidan resided in

he isle of Fame,* which is nearly two miles from the city ;

or thither he was wont often to retire to pray in private,

hat he might be undisturbed. Indeed, this solitary residence

►f his is to this day shown in that island. When he saw the

lames of fire and the smoke carried by the boisterous wind

1 ibove the city walls, he is reported, with eyes and hands

i ifted up to heaven, to have said, " Behold, Lord, how great

I nischief Penda does ! " Which words were hardly uttered,

vhen the wind immediately turning from the city, drove

I )ack the flames upon those who had kindled them, so that

1 lome being hurt, and all frightened, they forbore any further

1 ittempts against the city, which they perceived was protected

yj the hand of God.

CHAP. xvn.

^fotc the pout of the church on which Bishop Aidan was leaning when he died, could not be burnt tvhen the rest of the Church was consumed by fire ; and of his inward life. [a.d. 651.]

A.IDAN was in the king's country-house, not far from the city jf which we have spoken above, at the time when death separated him from his body, after he had been bishop six- teen years ; for having a church and a chamber there, he was wont often to go and stay there, and to make excursions to preach in the country round about, which he likewise did at other of the king's country-seats, having nothing of his own besides his church and a few fields about it. When he was sick they set up a tent for him close to the wall at the west end of the church, by which means it happened that he gave up the ghost, leaning against a post that was on the outside to strengthen the wall. He died in the seventeenth year of his episcopacy, the last day of the month of August. His body was thence translated to the isle of Lindisfarne, and

* A sma^I island in the parish of Holy Island, Durham, about two miles eastward of Bambrough castle ; it is remarkable as the spot where St. Cuthbert passed a few of the latter years of his life.

136 BEDES ECCLESIASTICAL HISTOKY. [aiii.c.l7

buried in the churchyard belonging to the brethren. Sohk time after, when a larger church was built there and dedi cated in honour of the blessed prince of the apostles, hi bones were translated thither, and deposited on the righ hand of the altar, with the respect due to so great a prelate, Finan, who had likewise come from the same monaster of Hii in the Scottish island, succeeded him, and continue^ a considerable time in the bishopric. It happened some year after, that Penda, king of the Mercians, coming into thes parts with a hostile army, destroyed all he could with fir and sword, and burned down the village and church abov mentioned, where the bishop died ; but it fell out in a wonder ful manner that the post, which he had leaned upon whei he died, could not be consumed by the fire which consume all about it. This miracle being taken notice of, the church was soon rebuilt in the same place, and that very post wa set up on the outside, as it had been before, to strengthei the wall. It happened again, some time after, that the sam village and church were burned down the second time, an< even then the fire could not touch that post ; and when in most miraculous manner the fire broke through the very hole in it wherewith it was fixed to the building, and destroyed the church, yet it could do no hurt to the said post. Th church being therefore built there the third time, they di< not, as before, place that post on the outside as a support, bu within, as a memorial of the miracle ; and the people comin| in were wont to kneel there, and implore the Divine mercy And it is manifest that since then many have been healed ii that same place, as also that chips being cut off from tha post, and put into water, have healed many from their dis tempers. C'<. I have written thus much concerning the person and work of the aforesaid Aidan, in no way commending or approving what he imperfectly understood in relation to the observanc of Easter ; nay, very much detesting the same, as I have mos manifestly proved in the book I have written, "De Tempori bus ;" but, like an impartial historian, relating what was don* by or with him, and commending such tilings as are praise worthy in his actions, and preserving the memory thereof fo; the benefit of the readers ; viz. his love of peace and charity his continence and humility ; his mind superior to anger aii(

A.D. C35.1 SIGEBERT, KING OF EAST ANGLIA. 137

avarice, and despising pride and vainglory ; liis industi^; in keeping and teaching the heavenly commandments ; his diU- gence in reading and watching ; his authority becoming a priest in reproving the haughty and powerful, and at the same time his tenderness in comforting the afiiicted, and reheving or defending the poor. To say all in a few words, as near as I could be informed by those that knew him, he took care to omit none of those things which he found in the apostolical or prophetical writings, but to the utmost of his power endeavoured to perform them all. -^

These things I much love and admire in the aforesaid bishop ; because I do not doubt that they were pleasing to God ; but I do not praise or approve his not observing Easter at the proper time, either through ignorance of the canonical time appointed, or, if he knew it, being prevailed on by the authority of liis nation, not to follow the same. Yet this I approve in him, that in the celebration of his Easter, the object which he had in view in all he said, did, or preached, was the same as ours, that is, the redemption of mankind, through the passion, resurrection and ascension into heaven of the man Jesus Christ, who is the mediator betwixt God and man. And therefore he always celebrated the same, not as some falsely imagine, on the fourteenth moon, like the •Jews, whatsoever the day was, but on the Lord's day, from the fourteenth to the twentieth moon ; and this he did from iiis belief of the resurrection of our Lord happening on the lay ai'ter the Sabbath, and for the hope of our resurrection, vvluch also he, with the holy Church, beheved would happen )n the same day after the Sabbath, now called the Lord's^

CHAP. xvm.

Of the life and death of the religious King Sigebert. [a.d. G35.]

It this time, the kingdom of the East Angles, after the leath of Earpwald, the successor of Redwald, was subject to ds brother Sigebert, a good and religious man, who lon^ >efore had been baptized in France, whilst he Hved in banish- aent, flying from the enmity of Redwald; and returning lome, as soon as he ascended the throne, being desirous to

138 eede's ecclesiasticai, history. [B.ii.c.M,

imitate tlie ?ood institutions which he had seen in France, he s^t UP a school for youth* to be instructed in literature and wL assisted therein by Bishop Felix, who car.e to um from K?nt and who furnished him with masters and teachers after

%irnybetrso"^taloverofthehea.enly.^^^^^^^^^^ that quitting the affairs of his crown, and committing the amet his°kinsman Ecgric, who ^o- l^^^'^ X? he h^d Mn-dom, he went himself into a monastery, which he had St and havin" received the tonsure, apphed himself rather to ga« a heavenly throne. Some time after this it happened that the nation of the Mercians, under Kmg Penda, made lai- on the East Angles ; who, ^-^^f^^^^^'f^^^^f^^Z^^ martial affairs to their enemy, entreated S.gebert to go mth them to battle, to encourage the soldiers. He refused, npon which they drew him against his will out of the monastery Tnd carried him to the Srmy, hoping that the ^ol-i;;^--"^ be less disposed to flee in the presence of '»">' ™1^° f.^"" been a notable and a brave commander. But he stiU keep ingin mind his profession, whilst in the midst of a roya arly, would carry nothing in his hand but a wand, and was killed with King Ecgric; and the pagans pressing on, at their army was either slaughtered or dispersed.

Anna, the son of Eni, of the blood royal, a good man, anc father of an excellent family of children, succeeded them ir the kingdom. Of whom we shall speak hereafter ; he beinj also slafn by the same pagan commander as his predecessoi had been.

CHAP. XIX.

How Fursey huUt a monastery among the East Angles ^J^dofUsr^^^^^^^ and sanctity, of which, his flesh remaining uncorrupted after death, bor testimony, [a.d. 633.]

Whilst Sigebert still governed the kingdom, there came ou of Ireland a holy man called Fursey renowned both tor hi words and actions, and remarkable for singular virtues, bem| desirous to live a stranger for our Lord, wherever an oppor tunity should offer. On coming into the province ot tft. East Saxons, he was honourably received by the atoresai* * Either at Seaham or Dunwich, according to later writers.

A.D. 633.] ST. FUKSEY ARIIIYES FROM IRELAND. 139

king, and performing his usual employment of preaching the Gospel, by the example of his virtue and the efficacy of his discourse, converted many unbelievers to Christ, and con- firmed in his faith and love those that already beUeved.

Here he fell into some infirmity of body, and was thought worthy to see a vision from God ; in which he was admonished diligently to proceed in the ministry of the word which he had undertaken, and indefatigably to continue his usual watching and prayers ; inasmuch as his end was certain, but the hour of it would be uncertain, according to the saying of our Lord, " Watch ye therefore, because ye know not the day nor the hour." Being confirmed by this vision, he applied him- self with all speed to build a monastery on the ground which had been given him by King Sigebert, and to establish regu- lar discipUne therein. This monastery was pleasantly situated in the woods, and with the sea not far off"; it was built within the area of a castle, which in the English language is called Cnobheresburg, that is, Cnobher's Town ;* afterwards, Anna, king of that province, and the nobility, embellished it with more stately buildings and donations. This man was of noble Scottish blood, but much more noble in mind than in birth. From his boyish years, he had particularly applied i himself to reading sacred books, and following monastic dis- ci cipline, and, as is most becoming to holy men, he carefully c^ practised all that he learned was to be done. :! In short, he built himself the monastery, wherein he might i:! with more freedom indulge his heavenly studies. There, falling sick, as the book about his life informs us, he fell into a trance, and quitting his body from the evening till the cock ■ crew, he was found worthy to behold the choirs of angels, and to hear the praises which are sung in heaven. He was !. wont to declare, that among other things he distinctly heard this : " The saints shall advance from one virtue to another." And again, " The God of gods shall be seen in Sion." Being restore'd to his body at that time, and again taken from it three days after, he not only saw the greater joys of the . blessed, but also extraordinary combats of evil spirits, who by frequent accusations wickedly endeavoured to obstruct his iourney to heaven ; but the angels protecting him, all their

» Burghcastle in Siiffjlk.

140 bede's ecclesiastical history. ["• '"• c- 19-

endeavours were in vain. Concerning which particulars, if any one desires to be more fully informed, that is, with what subtle fraud the devils represented both his actions and super- fluous words, and even his thoughts, as if they had been written down in a boak ; and what pleasing or disagreeable things he was informed of by the angels and saints, or just men who appeared to him among the angels ; let him read the little book of his life which I have mentioned, and I be- lieve he will thereby reap much spiritual profit.

But there is one thing among the rest, which we have thought may be beneficial to many if inserted in this his- tory. When he had been lifted up on high, he was ordered by the angels that conducted him to look back upon the world. Upon which, casting his eyes downward, he saw, as it were, a dark and obscure valley underneath him. He also saw four fires in the air, not far distant from each other. Then asking the angels, what fires those were ? he was told, they were the fires which would kindle and con- sume the world. One of them was of falsehood, when we do not fulfil that which we promised in baptism, to renounce the Devil and all his works. The next of covetousness, when we prefer the riches of the world to the love of hea- venly things. The tliird of discord, when we make no difficulty to offend the minds of our neighbours even in needless things. The fourth of iniquity, when we lool< upon it as no crime to rob and to defraud the weak. These fires, increasing by degrees, extended so as to meet one another, and being joined, became an immense flame. Wher it drew near, fearing for himself, he said to the angel, " Lord, behold the fire draws near me." The angel answered, " Thai which you did not kindle shall not burn you ; for thougl: this appears to be a terrible and great fire, yet it tries everj man according to the merits of his works ; for every man'.' concupiscence shall burn in the fire ; for as every one bums in the body through unlawful pleasure, so when dischargee of the body, he shall burn in the punishment which he hai deserved."

Then he saw one of the three angels, who had been hii conductors throughout both visions, go before and divide the flame of fire, whilst the other two, flying about on botl sides, defended liim from the danger of that fire. He als<

A.D. C33.] ftjksey's tisions. 141

saw devils flpng through the fire, raising conflagrations of wars against the just. Then followed accusations of the wicked spirits against him, the defence of the good angels in his favour, and a more extended view of the heavenly troops ; as also of holj men of his own nation, who, as he liad long since been informed, had been deservedly ad- vanced to the degree of priesthood, from whom he heard many things that might be very salutary to himself, or to all others that would listen to them. When they had ended their discourse, and returned to heaven with the angehc spirits, the three angels remained Tsath the blessed Fursey, of whom we have spoken before, and who were to bring him back to his body. And when they approached the aforesaid immense fire, the angel divided the flame, as he had done before ; but when the man of God came to the passage so opened amidst the flames, the unclean spirits, laying hold of one of those whom they tormented in tlie fire, threw him at him, and, touching his shoulder and Jaw, burned them. He knew the man, and called to mind that he had received his garment when he died ; and the angel, immediately laying hold, threw liim back into the fire, and the malignant enemy said, "Do not reject him whom you before received ; for as you accepted the goods of him who was a sinner, so you must partake of his punishment." The angel replying, said, " He did not receive the same through avarice, but in order to save his soul." The fire ceased, and the angel, turning to him, added, " That Avhich you kindled burned in you ; for had you not received the money of this person that died in his sins, his punishment would not burn in you." And proceeding in his discourse, he gave him wholesome advice for what ought to be done towards the salvation of such as repented.

Being afterwards restored to his body, throughout the whole course of his life he bore the mark of the fire wliich he had felt in his soul, visible to all men on liis shoulder and jaw ; and the flesh publicly showed, in a wonderful manner, what the soul had suffered in private. He always took care, as he had done before, to persuade all men to the practice of virtue, as well by his example, as by preaching. But as for the matter of his visions, he would only relate them to thoso who, from holy zeal and desire of reformation, wished to

142 BEDE's ECCLESIA.STICAI. HISTORT. [b. hi. c. 19

learn the same. An ancient brother of our monastery is still living, who is wont to declare that a very sincere anc religious man told him, that he had seen Fursey himself ii the province of the East Angles, and heard those visions from his mouth ; adding, that though it was in most sharj winter weather, and a hard frost, and the man was sitting ii a thin garment when he related it, yet he sweated as if i had been in the greatest heat of summer, either througl excessive fear, or spiritual consolation.

To return to what we were saying before, when, aftei preaching the word of God many years in Scotland, [Ireland^ he could no longer bear the crowds that resorted to him leaving all that he seemed to possess, he departed from hii native island, and came with a few brothers tlu-ough th( Britons into the province of the English, and preacliing th( word of God there, as has been said, built a noble monastery These things being rightly performed, he became desirous tc rid himself of all business of this world, and even of tht monastery itself, and forthwith left the same, and the can of souls, to his brother FuUan, and the priests Gobban anc Dicull, and being himself free from all that was worldly resolved to end his life as a hermit. He had anotlier brothe] called Ultan, who, after a long monastical probation, had alsc adopted the life of an anchorite. Repairing all alone to him. he lived a whole year with him in continence and prayer, and laboured daily with his hands.

Afterwards seeing the province in confusion by the irrup- tions of the pagans, and presaging that the monasteries would be also in danger, he left all things in order, anc sailed over into France, and being there honourably enter- tained by Clovis, king of the Franks, or by the patrician Erconwald, he built a monastery in the place called Latinia- cum,* and falling sick not long after, departed this life. The same Erconwald took his body, and deposited it in the porch of a church he was building in his town of Perrone. till the church itself should be dedicated. This happened twenty-seven days after, and the body being taken from the porch, to be re-buried near the altar, was found as entire as if he had just then died. And again, four years after, a more decent tabernacle or chapel being built for the same * Lagny, about six miles to the north of Paris on the Marne.

A.D. 653.] DEATH OF HONORIUS. 143

body to the eastward of tlie altar, it was still found free from corruption, and translated thither with due honour ; where it is well known that his merits, through the divine opera- tion, have been declared by many miracles. These things and the incorruption of his body we have taken notice of, that the sublimeness of this man may be the better known to the readers. All which, whosoever will read it, will find more fully described, as also about liis fellow-labourers, in the book of his life before mentioned.

CHAP. XX.

Honoriiis dying, Deusdedit is chosen archbishop of Canterbury, of those who were at that time bishops of the East Angles, and of the church of Rochester, [a.d. 653.]

In the meantime, Felix, bishop of the East Angles, dying, when he had held that see seventeen years, Honorius or- dained Thomas his deacon, of the province of the Girvii,* in his place ; and he departing this Hfe when he had been bishop five years, Bertgils, surnamed Boniface, of the pro- vince of Kent, was appointed in his stead. Honorius him- self also, having run his course, departed this life in the year of our Lord 653, on the 30th of September ; and when the see had been vacant a year and six months, Deusdedit, of the nation of the South Saxons, was chosen the sixth arch- bishop of Canterbury. To ordain whom, Ithamar, bishop of Rochester, came thither. His ordination was on the 26th of March, and he ruled nine years, four months, and two days ; when he also died. Ithamar consecrated in his place Damian,"!" who was of the race of the South Saxons.

CHAP. XXL

Hoiu the province of the Midland Angles became Christian under King Peada. [a,d. 653.]

At this time, the Mddle Angles, J under their Prince Peada, the son of King Penda, received the faith and sacraments of

* The Girvii inhabited the counties of Rutland, Northampton, and Huntingdon, with part of Lincohashire, and had their o^vn princes, depend- ent on the kings of Mercia.

t The see of Canterbury was vacant four years between the death of Deusdedit and the consecration of Damian.

i The Southern Mercians, or Middle Angles, whom he governed aa king luiuig the life of his father.

144 BEDe'S ecclesiastical history. [e. III. c. 21

the truth. Being an excellent youth, and most worthy oi the title and person of a king, he was by his father elevate to the throne of that nation, and came to Oswy, king of tli( Northumbrians, requesting to have his daughter Elfleda givei him to wife ; but could not obtain his desires unless Ik would embrace the faith of Christ, and be baptized, with th( nation which he governed. When he heard the preaching of truth, the promise of the heavenly kingdom, and the hop. of resurrection and future immortality, he declared that h( would wiUingly become a Christian, even though he shoul( be refused the virgin ; being chiefly prevailed on to receive the faith by King Oswy's son Alfrid, who was his relatioi and friend, and had married his sister Cyneberga, the daugh ter of King Penda.

Accordingly he was baptized by Bishop Finan, with al his earls and soldiers, and their servants, that came alon; with him, at a noted village belonging to the king, ca]le( At the Wall* And having received four priests, who fc their erudition and good Hfe were deemed proper to instrur and baptize his nation, he returned home with much joy These priests were Cedd and Adda, and Betti and Diuma the last of whom was by nation a Scot, the others EngHsli Adda was brother to Utta, whom we have mentioned before a renowned priest, and abbat of the monastery of Gateshead. The aforesaid priests, arriving in the province with th prince, preached the word, and were willingly listened to and many, as well of the nobihty as the common sort, re nouncing the abominations of idolatry, were baptized daily

Nor did King Penda obstruct the preaching of thewor. among liis people, the Mercians, if any were wiUing to hea it ; but, on the contrary, he hated and despised those whor he perceived not to perform the works of faith, when the had once received the faith, saying, " They were con temptible and wretched who did not obey their God, i

* Generally supposed to be Walton, but Smith thinks it is WaubottL near Newcastle. The expression, " At the wall," is a corruption not ui usual in the case of towns whose names are imperfectly understood by ne comers. Thus Constantinople is called by the Turks, Stamboul, which only a corruption of es tan polin.

t Gateshead is supposed to have been a Roman station called Gahrosei turn, which signifies Goat's Head. It is situated on the southern bank ( Use 'J'jne, o|^posiie to NewcnsLe.

A-D.G53.] KECOVERY OF THE EAST SAXONS. 145

whom they believed." This was begun two years before the death of King Penda.

^ But when he was slain, and Oswy, the most Christian king, succeeded him in the throne, Diuma, one of the aforesaid four priests, was made bishop of the Midland Angles, as also of the Mercians,* being ordained by Bishop Finan ;' for the scarcity of priests was the occasion that one prelate was set over two nations. Having in a short time gained many people to our Lord, he died among the Midland Angles, in the country called Feppingum ; and Ceollach, of the'' Scot- tish nation, succeeded him in the bishopric. This prelate, not long after, left his bishopric, and returned to the island of Hii, which, among the Scots, was the chief and head of many monasteries. His successor in the bishopric was Trumhere, a religious man, and educated in the monastic life of the English nation, but ordained bishop by the Scots, vvliich happened in the days of King Wulf here, of whom we ihall speak hereafter.

CHAP. XXH.

How the East Saxons again received the faith, which they had before cast off under King Sigebert, through the preaching of Cedd. [a.d. 653.]

A.T that time, also, the East Saxons, at the instance of King 3swy, again received the faith, which they had formerly cast )ff when they expelled Mellitus, their bishop. For Sigebert, vho reigned next to Sigebert surnamed The Little, was hen king of that nation, and a friend to King Oswy, who, vhen^ he often came to him into the province of the North- imbrians, used to endeavour to persuade him that those ■ould not be gods that had been made by the hands of men ; hat a stock or a stone could not be proper matter to form a ;od, the remains whereof were either burned in the fire, or ramed into any vessels for the use of men, or else were cast 'Ut as refuse, trampled on and bruised to dust. That God 3 rather to be understood as of incomprehensible majesty nd invisible to human eyes, almighty, eternal, the Creator f heaven and earth, and of mankind ; who governs and

This see was fixed at Repton, formerly called Repington, in Derby- hire, the capital of the kingdom of Mercia, and was probably the see of ^-6 first four bishops of Mercia. It was afterwards, when St. Chad was ishop, removed to Lichfield where it has continued to this day. See p. 174.

L

146 BEDE's ecclesiastical HISTOKT. [b. III. c. 22.

will judge the world in righteousness ; whose everlasting seat is in heaven, and not in vile and fading matter ; and that it ought in reason to be concluded, that all those who have learned and obeyed the mil of Him by whom they were created, will receive from Him eternal rewards. King Oswy having often, in a friendly and brotherly manner, said this and much more to the like effect, at length, with the consent of his friends, he beUeved, and after consulting with those about him, and exhorting them, they all agreed and gave their approbation, and were baptized with him by Bishop Finan, in the king's village above spoken of, which is called At the Wall, because it is close by the wall with which the Romans formerly divided the island of Britain, at the distance of twelve miles from the eastern sea.

King Sigebert, being now become a citizen of the eternal kingdom, returned to the seat of his temporal kingdom, re- questing of Oswy that he would give liim some teachers, who might convert Ms nation to the faith of Chi'ist, and baptize them. Oswy, accordingly, sending into the province of tlie INIidland Angles, invited to him the man of God, Cedd,* and, giving him another priest for his companion, sent them to preach to the East Saxons. When these two, ti-avelling to all parts of that country, had gathered a nume- rous church to our Lord, it happened that Cedd returned home, and came to the church of Lindisfarne to confer with Bishop Finan ; who, finding how successful he had been in the work of the Gospel, made him bishop of the church oi the East Saxons, calling to him two other bishops to assist at the ordination. Cedd, having received the episcopal dig- nity, returned to his province, and pursuing the work he had begun with more ample authority, built churches f in several places, ordaining priests and deacons to assist him in the work of faith, and the ministry of baptizing, especially in the city which, in the language of the Saxons, is called

* Brother to St. Chad, bishop of Lichfield.

f These churches did not at all resemble the parish churches which, in after tunes, the lords of the soil appear to have built for the use of them- selves and their tenantry ; on the contrary, there is much show of proba- bility that they were chapels or oratories dependent upon the two larger churches which Cedd built at Ithancestir and at Tilbury, in both which }ilaces he collected together a number of persons, and taught them to ob- serve, if not a strictly monastic, yet a regular discipUne.

AD. 65:..] DEATH OF KING SIGEBEET. 147

Ithancestir,* as also in that wliich is named Tilaburg ;'\ the first of which places is on the bank of the Pante, the other on the bank of the Thames, where, gathering a flock of servants of Christ, he taught them to observe the discipline Df regular life, as far as those rude people were then capable.

Whilst the doctrine of everlasting life was thus, for a considerable time, making progress, to the joj of the king md of all the people, it happened that the king, at the instigation of tiie enemy of all good men, was murdered by bis own kindred. They were two brothers who did tliis f\dcked deed ; and being asked what had moved them to it, iad nothing else to answer, but that they had been incensed igainst the king, and hated him, because he was too apt to spare his enemies, and easily to forgive the wi'ongs they had lone him, upon their entreaty. Such was the crime for vhich the king was killed, because he observed the precepts )f the Gospel with a devout heart ; in which innocent death, lowever, his real offence was also punished, according to the )rediction of the man of God. For one of those earls that nurdered him was unlawfully married, which the bishop not )eing able to prevent or correct, he excommunicated liim, and commanded all that would give ear to him not to enter within lis house, nor to eat of his meat. The king made slight of his inhibition, and being invited by the earl, went to an intertainment at his house, and when he was going thence, he bishop met him. The king, beholding him, immediately lismounted from his horse, trembling, and fell down at his eet, begging pardon for liis offence ; for the bishop, who was ikewise on horseback, had also alighted. Being much ncensed, he touched the king, lying in that humble posture, vith the rod he held in his hand, and using his pontifical authority, spoke thus : " I say to you, forasmuch as you TOuld not refrain from the house of that wicked and ;ondemned person, you shall die in that very house." Yet it

to be believed, that such a death of a religious man not nly blotted out his offence, but also added to liis merit ;

* On the river Pante, now called Blackwater river, near Maldoi^ ssex. There are now no remains of the city.

t Tilbury, near the Thames, opposite to Gravesend. St. Cedd resided lere when engaged in baptizing the East Saxons. L 2

148 bEDe's ECCLESIASTICAI. mSTOKT. [n. ,n. c. 23.

because it happened on account of Ms pious observance of the commands of Christ. o .11,^1^ +1,.

Si-ebert was succeeded in the kingdom by Smdhelm, th son 0I: Sexbald, who was baptized by the same Cedd, m the province of tli East Angles, at tl,e kmg's country-seat called Rendlesham,* that is, Rendil's Mansion ; and Ethel- wald, king of the East Angles, brother to Anna, king of the same people, was his godfather.

CHAP. xxm.

Bishop Cedd, having a place given hira by KingfhelwaUi ^onsecra^J^ ^| same to our Lord zvith prayer and Jastmg. Of his death, [a.d. b^y.J

The same man of God, whilst he was bishop among th

East Saxons, was also wont several times to visit his ow]

country, Northumberland, to make exhortations. Ethelwald

the son of King Oswald, who reigned among the Dem

findino- Hm a holy, wise, and good man, desired hiin t

accept"" some land to build a monastery, to which the kmj

himself might frequently resort, to offer his prayers and hea

the word, and be buried in it when he died ; for he beheve-

that he should receive much benefit by the prayers ot thos

who were to serve God in that place. The king had befor

with him a brother of the same bishop, called Celin, a ma

no less devoted to God, who, being a priest, ^^s ^ont t

administer to him the word and the sacraments of the taith

by whose means he chiefly came to know and love the bishoi

That prelate, therefore, complying with the king's desire;

chose himself a place to build a monastery among craggy an

distant mountains, wHch looked more like lurkmg-places tc

robbers and retreats for wild beasts, than habitations tc

men ; to the end that, according to the prophecy of Isaial

" In the habitations where before dragons dwelt, might t

grass with reeds and rushes ;" that is, that the fruits of goc

works should spring up, where before beasts were wont 1

dwell, or men to live after the manner of beasts.

The man of God, desiring first to cleanse the place f(

the monastery from former crimes, by prayer and fastin,

that it might become acceptable to our Lord, and so to h

the foundations, requested of the king that he would gr

* Rendlesham, in Suffolk.

^•°- ^^-1 MONASTERY OF LESTINGUA. I49

him leave to reside there all the approaching time of Lent to praj. All which days, except Sundays, he fasted til] the evening, according to custom, and then took no other 3ustenance than a little bread, one hen's egg, and a Httle milk mixed with water. This, he said, was the custom of those 3f whom he had learned the rule of regular discipline ; first X) consecrate to our Lord, by prayer and fasting, the places vhich they had newly received for building a monastery or a Jhurch. When there were ten days of Lent still remaining, -here came a messenger to call him to the king ; and he, that he religious work might not be intermitted, on account of he king's affairs, entreated his priest, Cynebil, who was also us own brother, to complete that which had been so piously jegun. Cynebil readily complied, and when the time of asting and prayer was over, he there built the monastery, vhich is now called Lestingau,* and established therein the •eligious customs of Lindisfarne, where they had been iducated.

Cedd for many years having charge of the bishopric in he aforesaid province, and of this monastery, over which he lad placed superiors, it happened that he came thither at a ime when there was a mortality, and fell sick and died. He ras first buried in the open air ; but in the process of time a hurch was built of stone in the monastery, in honour of the tlother of God, and his body interred in the same, on the ight hand of the altar.

The bishop left the monastery to be governed after him y his brother Chad, who was afterwards made bishop, f as hall be said in its place. For the four brothers we have lentioned, Cedd and Cynebil, Celin and Ceadda, [Chad,] rhich is a rare thing to be met with, were all celebrated riests of our Lord, and two of them also came to be bishops. Vlien the brethren who were in his monastery, in the

* It has been supposed that this monastery was situated at Lastingham, leaveland, Yorkshire. Dugdale (i. .342) says, it was situated, in the janery of Rydale and archdeaconry of Cleaveland, at no great distance om Whitby. John of Tinemouth places the foundation in the year 648 ; ede in 660. It was completely ruined in the Danish wars, about 870. — The Jautiful old Saxon church at Lastingham, remarks Mr. Stevenson, if not le original building of Cedd or his brother Chad, is one of the oldest lurches in the kingdom.

t First bishop of York, and then of Lichfield.

150 BEDE's ecclesiastical history. [b. in. c. 24.

province of the East Saxons, heard that the bishop was dead in the province of the Northumbrians, about thirty men of that monastery came thither, being desirous either to live near the body of their father, if it should please God, or to die there and be buried. Being lovingly received by their brethren and fellow soldiers in Christ, all of them died there by the aforesaid pestilence, except one little boy, whc was delivered from death by his father's prayers. For when he had lived there a long time after, and applied himself tc the reading of sacred writ, he was informed that he had nol been regenerated by the Avater of baptism, and being ther washed in the laver of salvation, he was afterwards promotec to the order of priesthood, and proved very useful to man) in the church. I do not doubt that he was delivered at th( point of death, as I have said, by the intercession of hit father, whilst he was embracing his beloved corpse, that s( he might himself avoid eternal death, and by teaching exhibit the ministry of life and salvation to others of th( brethren.

CHAP. XXIV.

King Penda being slain, the Mercians received the faith of Christ, ant Oswy gave possessions and territories to God, for building monasteriei in acknowledgment for the victory obtained. [a,d. Q55.'\

At this time. King Oswy was exposed to the fierce and intoler- able irruptions of Penda, king of the Mercians, whom we hav< so often mentioned, and who had slain liis brother ; at length necessity compelling him, he promised to give him greatei gifts that can be imagined, to purchase peace ; provided tha th ^ king would return home, and cease to destroy the pro vinces of his kingdom. That perfidious king refused t( grant his request, and resolved to extirpate all his nation from the highest to the lowest ; whereupon he had recours< to the protection of the Divine goodness for deliverance fron his barbarous and impious foe, and binding himself by a vow said, " If the pagan will not accept of our gifts, let us offei them to him that will, the Lord our Grod." He then vowed that if he should come off victorious, he would dedicate hii daughter to our Lord in holy virginity, and give twelve famw to build monasteries. After this he gave battle with a ver

A.D.597.] PENDA DEFEATED AND SLAIN BY OSWY. 151

small army against superior forces : indeed, it is reported that the pagans had three times the number of men ; for they had thirty legions, led on by most noted commanders. King Oswy and his son Alfrid met them with a very small army, as has been said, but confiding in the conduct of Christ ; his other son, Egfrid, was then kept an hostage at the court of Queen Cynwise, in the province of the Mercians. King Oswald's son Ethelwald, who ought to have assisted them, was on the enemy's side, and led them on to fight against his country and uncle ; though, during the battle, he withdrew, and waited the event in a place of safety. The engagement beginning, the pagans were defeated, the thirty commanders, and those who had come to his assistance, were put to flight, and almost all of them slain ; among whom was Ethelhere, brother and successor to Anna, king of the East Angles, who had been the occasion of the war, and who was now killed, witli all his soldiers. The battle was fought near the river Vinwed,* which then, with the great rains, had not only filled its channel, but overflowed its banks, so that many more were drowned in the flight than destroyed by the sword.

Then King Oswy, pursuant to the vow he had made to our Lord, returned thanks to God for the victory, and gave his daughter Elfleda, who was scarce a year old, to be con- secrated to him in perpetual virginity ; delivering also twelve small portions of land, wherein earthly warfare should cease, and in which there should be a perpetual residence and sub- sistence for monks to follow the warfare which is spiritual, and pray diligently for the peace of his nation. Of those pos- sessions six were in the province of the Deiri, and the other six in that of the Bernicians. Each of the said possessions contained ten families, that is, a hundred and twenty in all. The aforesaid daughter of King Oswy, thus dedicated to God, was put into the monastery, called Heruteu,t or, " The Island of the Hart," where, at that time, the Abbess Hilda| presided, and, two years after, having acquired a possession often families, at the place called Streaneshalch,§ she built a monastery there, in which the aforesaid king's daughter was

* Winwidfield, near Leeds. + Now Hartlepool.

t GrandniecD of Edwin, king of Northumbria. § Whitby, in the North Riding of Yorkshire.

152 BEDE's ecclesiastical history. [b. hi. c. 24.

first a learner, and afterwards a teacher of tlie monastic life ; till, being sixty years of age, the blessed virgin departed to the nuptials and embraces of her heavenly bridegroom. In that same monastery, she and her father, Oswy, her mother, Eanfleda, her mother's father, Edwin, and many other noble persons, are buried in the church of the holy Apostle Peter. King Oswy concluded the aforesaid war in the country of Loidis,* in the thirteenth year of his reign, on the loth of November, to the great benefit of both nations ; for he both delivered his own people from the hostile depredations of the pagans, and, having cut off the wicked king's head, converted the Mercians and the adjacent provinces to the grace of the Christian faith.

Diuma was made the first bishop of the Mercians, as also of Lindisfarne and the Midland Angles, as has been said above, and he died and was buried among the Midland Angles. The second was CeoUach, who, quitting the episco- pal office whilst still alive, returned into Scotland, to which nation he belonged as well as Bishop Diuma. The third was Trumhere, an Englishman, but taught and ordained by the Scots, being abbat in the monastery that is called Ingeth- lingum,t and is the place where King Oswin was killed, as has been said above; for Queen Eanfleda, his kinswoman, in satisfaction for his unjust death, begged of King Oswy that he would give the aforesaid servant of God a place there to build a monastery, because he also was kinsman to the slaughtered king; in which monastery continual prayers should be offered up for the eternal health of the kings, both of him that had been slain, and of him that caused it to be done. The same King Oswy governed the Mercians, as also the people of the other southern provinces, three years after he had slain Iving Penda ; and he Hkewise subdued the greater part of the Picts to the dominion of the Enghsh.

At which time he gave to the above-menfUoed Peada, son to King Penda, who was his kinsman, the kingdom of the Southern Mercians, consisting, as is reported, of 5,000 fami- lies, divided by the river Trent from the Northern Mercians, whose land contained 7,000 families; but that Peada was the next spring very wickedly killed, by the treachery, as is

* Leeds. f Gilling Yorkshire.

k.D.652.] BISHOP FINAJf. ]53

said, of his wife, during the very time of celebrating Easter. Three years after the death of King Penda, Immin, and Eafa, and Eadbert, generals of the Mercians, rebelled against King Oswy, setting up for their king, Wulf here, son to the ?aid Penda, a youth, whona they had kept concealed; and jxpelling the officers of the foreign king, they at once -ecovered their liberty and their lands ; and being thus free, ;ogether with their king, they rejoiced to serve Christ the xue King, that they might obtain the everlasting kingdom i^hich is in heaven. This king governed the Mercians seven- «en years, and had for his first bishop Trumhere, above spoken of; the second Jaruman; the third Chad;* the ;he fourth Winfrid. All these, succeeding each other •egularly under King Wulfhere, discharged the episcopal luties to the Mercian nation.

CHAP. XXV

'low the controversy arose about the due time of keeping Easter, with those that came out of Scotland, [a.d. 652.]

K the meantime. Bishop Aidan being dead, Finan, who was •rdained and sent by the Scots, succeeded him in the bishop- ic, and built a church in the Isle of Lindisfarne, the episco- pal see ; nevertheless, after the manner of the Scots, he made t, not of stone, but of hewn oak, and covered it with reeds ; nd the same was afterwards dedicated in honour of St. ^eter the Apostle, by the reverend Archbishop Theodore. ^,adbert,-|- also bishop of that place, took off the thatch, and overed it, both roof and walls, with plates of lead.

At this time, a great and frequent controversy happened bout the observance of Easter ; j those that came from Kent r France affirming, that the Scots kept Easter Sunday con- rary to the custom of the universal church. Among them ras a most zealous defender of the true Easter, whose name ras Ronan, a Scot by nation, but instructed in ecclesiastical ruth, either in France or Italy, who, disputing with Finan, onvinced many, or at least induced them to make a more

* St. Chad removed the see from Repton (seep. 145) to Lichfield, as ;lated in book iv. c. 3.

t Eadbert was consecTated bishop of Lindisfarne, a.d. 688, See book •. c. 29. X See ante, page 104.

154 BEDE's ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. [b. m. c. 25

Strict inquiry after the truth ; yet he could not prevail upoi Finan, but, on the contrary, made him the more inveterat. by reproof, and a professed opposer of the truth, being of : hot and violent temper. James, formerly the deacon of th. venerable Archbishop Paulinus, as has been said above, kep the true and Catholic Easter, with all those that he couL persuade to adopt the right way. Queen Eanfleda and he followers also observed the same as she had seen practised ii Kent, having with her a Kentish priest that followed tli Catholic mode, whose name was Romanus. Thus it is sai< to have happened in those times that Easter was twice kep in one year ; and that when the king having ended the time o fasting, kept his Easter, the queen and her followers wer still fasting, and celebrating Palm Sunday. This difference about the observance of Easter, whilst Aidan lived, wa patiently tolerated by all men, as being sensible, that thoug] he could not keep Easter contrary to the custom of those wh. had sent him, yet he industriously laboured to practise al works of faith, piety, and love, according to the custom of al holy men ; for which reason he was deservedly beloved b] all, even by those who differed in opinion concerning Easter and was held in veneration, not only by indifferent persons but even by the bishops, Honorius of Canterbury, and Felii of the East Angles.

But after the death of Finan, who succeeded him, whei Colman, who was also sent out of Scotland, came to be bishop a greater controversy arose about the observance of Easter and the rules of ecclesiastical life. Whereupon this disput. began naturally to influence the thoughts and hearts of many who feared, lest having received the name of Cliristians they might happen to run, or to have run, in vain. Thi reached the ears of King Oswy and his son Alfrid ; for Oswy having been instructed and baptized by the Scots, and bein^t very perfectly skilled in their language, thought nothing better than what they taught. But Alfrid, having been in- structed in Christianity by Wilfrid, a most learned man, wh( had first gone to Rome to learn the ecclesiastical doctrine and spent much time at Lyons with Dalfin, archbishop ~o France, from whom also he had received the ecclesiastica tonsure, rightly thought this man's doctrine ought to be pre ferred before all the traditions of the Scots. For this reasoi

A.D. GC4.] CONTROVERSY RESPECTDsG EASTER. 15.5

he had also given him a monastery of forty families, at a place called Rhjpnm ;* which place, not long before, he had given to those that folloAved the system of the Scots for a monastery ; but forasmuch as they afterwards, being left to their choice, prepared to quit the place rather than alter their jpinion, he gave the place to him, whose life and doctrine were worthy of it.

Agilbert, bishop of the West Saxons,t above-mentioned, a Tieud to King Alfrid and to Abbat Wilfrid, had at that time jome into the province of the Northumbrians, and was making 5ome stay among them ; at the request of Alfrid, made SVilfrid a priest in his monastery. He had in liis company a Driest, whose name was Agatho. The controversy being here started, concerning Easter, or the tonsure, or other icclesiastical affairs, it was agreed, that a synod should be leld in the monastery of Streaneshalch,| which signifies the Bay of the Lighthouse, where the Abbess Hilda, a woman levoted to God, then presided : and that there this contro- Trsy should be decided. The kings, both father and son, ame tliither, bishop Colman§ with his Scottish clerks, .nd Agilbert with the priests Agatho and Wilfrid, James -nd Romanus were on their side; but the Abbess Hilda ■nd her followers were for the Scots, as was also the vene- able Bishop Cedd,|| long before ordained by the Scots, as las been said above, and he was in that council a most care- ul interpreter for both parties.

King Oswy first observed, that it behoved those who served ne God to observe the same rule of life ; and as they all xpected the same kingdom in heaven, so they ought not to iffer in the celebration of the Divine mysteries ; but rather D inquire which was the truest tradition, that the same might 6 followed by all ; he then commanded his bishop, Colman, rst to declare what the custom was which he observed, and whence it derived its origin. Then Colman said, " The faster which I keep, I received from my elders, who sent 16 bishop hither ; all our forefathers, men beloved of God, re known to have kept it after the same manner ; and that

* Ripon. + His see was at Dorchester, near Oxford.

t Afterwards called Whitby. § Third bishop of Lindisfame.

II Bishop of London, or East Saxons.

156 BEDE'S ecclesiastical history. lB.nr.c.25.

the same may not seem to any contemptible or worthy to be reiected, it is the same which St. John the Evangehst, the disciple beloved of our Lord, with all the churches oyer wHch he presided, is recorded to have observed. ^ Having said thus much, and more to the like effect, the king com- manded Agilbert to show whence his custom of keeping Easter was derived, or on what authority it was grounded. A<^ilbert answered, " I desire that my disciple, the priest Wilfrid, may speak in my stead ; because we both concur with the other followers of the ecclesiastical tradition that are here present, and he can better explain our opinion m the Eno-lish language, than I can by an interpreter."

Then Wilfrid, being ordered by the king to speak delivered himself thus :— " The Easter which we observe we saw celebrated by all at Rome, where the blessed apostles, Peter and Paul, Hved, taught, suffered, and were buried ; wc saw the same done in Italy and in France, when we traveUec through those countries for pilgrimage and prayer. W( found the same practised in Africa, Asia, Egypt, Greece, anc all the world, wherever the church of Christ is spread abroad, thi'ough several nations and tongues, at one and the sam( time ; except only these and their accomplices in obstinacy I mean the Picts and the Britons, who foolishly, in these twc remote islands of the world, and only in part even of them oppose all the rest of the universe." When he had so said Colman answered, "It is strange that you will call oui labours foohsh, wherein we follow the example of so greai an apostle, who was thought worthy to lay his head onoui Lord's bosom, when all the world knows him to have livec most wisely." Wilfrid rephed, " Far be it from us to charge John with folly, for he literally observed the precepts of th( Jewish law, whilst the church still Judaized in many points and the apostles were not able at once to cast off all tb observances of the law which had been instituted by God In which way it is necessary that aU who come to the faitl should forsake the idols which were invented by devils, tha they might not give scandal to the Jews that were amon^ the Gentiles. For tliis reason it was, that Paul circumcisec Timothy, that he offered sacrifice in the temple,^ that h< shaved his head with Aquila and Priscilla at Corinth ; fo: no other advantage than to avoid giving scandal to the Jews

A.D 664.] CONTROVERSY RESPECTING EASTER. 157

Hence it was, that James said, to tlie same Paul, ' You see, brother, how many thousands of the Jews have believed ; and they are all zealous for the law. And yet, at this time, the Gospel spreading throughout the world, it is needless, nay, it is not lawful, for the faithful either to be circumcised, or to Dffer up to God sacrifices of flesh.' So John, pursuant to the custom of the law, began the celebration of the feast of Easter, on the fourteenth day of the first month, in the 3vening, not regarding whether the same happened on a Saturday, or any other day. But when Peter preached at Rome, being mindful that our Lord arose from the dead, and ?ave the world the hopes of resurrection, on the first day ifter the Sabbath, he understood that Easter ought to be observed, so as always to stay till the rising of the moon on the fourteenth day of the first moon, in the evening, according to the custom and precepts of the law, even as John did. A.nd when that came, if the Lord's day, then called the first iay after the Sabbath, was the next day, he began that very evening to keep Easter, as we all do at this day.* But if the Lord's day did not fall the next morning after the fourteenth noon, but on the sixteenth, or the seventeenth, or any other noon till the twenty-first, he waited for that, and on the Saturday before, in the evening, began to observe the holy 5olemnity of Easter. Thus it came to pass, that Easter Sunday was only kept from the fifteenth moon to the twenty- irst. Nor does this evangelical and apostolic tradition ibolish the law, but rather fulfil it ; the command being to ieep the passover from the fourteenth moon of the first month n the evening to the twenty-first moon of the same month in ;he evening ; which observance all the successors of St. eJohn n Asia, since his death, and all the church throughout the vorld, have since followed ; and that this is the true Easter, md the only one to be kept by the faithful, was not newly lecreed by the council of Nice, but only confirmed afresh ; IS the Church History informs us.

"Thus it appears, that you, Colman, neither follow the example of John, as you imagine, nor that of Peter, whose raditions you knowingly contradict ; and that you neither

* A complete and rather diffuse explanation of the controversy con- ■eming Easter has been lately written by Professor De Morgan, of Jniversity College, London.

158 BEDE's ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. [e. in. c. 25.

agree with the law nor the Gospel in the keeping of your Easter. For John, keeping the Paschal time according to the decree of the Mosaic law, had no regard to the first day after the Sabbath, which you do not practise, who celebrate Easter only on the first day after the Sabbath. Peter kept Easter Sunday between the fifteenth and the twenty-first moon, which you do not, but keep Easter Sunday from the fourteenth to the twentieth moon ; so that you often begin Easter on the thirteenth moon in the evening, whereof neither the law made any mention, nor did our Lord, the Author and Giver of the Gospel, on that day, but on the fourteenth, either eat the old passover in the evening, or deliver the sacraments of the New Testament, to be celebrated by the church, in memory of his passion. Besides, in your celebration of Easter, you utterly exclude the twenty-first moon, which the law ordered to be principally observed. Thus, as I said before, you agree neither with John nor Peter, nor with the law, nor the Gospel, in the celebration of the greatest festival."

To this Colman rejoined: "Did Anatolius, a holy man, and much commended in church history, act contrary to the law and the Gospel, when he wrote, that Easter was to be celebrated from the fourteenth to the twentieth ? Is it to be believed that our most reverend Father Columba and his successors, men beloved by God, who kept Easter after the same manner, thought or acted contrary to the Divine wi'itings ? Whereas there were many among them, whose sanctity is testified by heavenly signs and the working of miracles, whose life, customs, and discipline I never cease to follow, not questioning their being saints in heaven."

" It is evident," said Wilfrid, " that Anatolius was a most holy, learned, and commendable man ; but what have you to do with him, since you do not observe his decrees ? For he, folloTvdng the rule of truth in his Easter, appointed a revolu- tion of nineteen years, which either you are ignorant of, or if you know it, though it is kept by the whole church of Christ, yet you despise it. He so computed the fourteenth moon in the Easter of our Lord, that according to the custom of the Egyptians, he acknowledged it to be the fifteenth moon in the evening ; so in like manner he assigned the twentieth to Easter- Sunday, as believing that to be the

..D. 664.] CONTROVERSY RESPECTING EASTER. lo9

wentj-first moon, when the sun had set, which rule and listinction of his it appears you are ignorant of, in that you ometimes keep Easter before the full of the moon, that is, •n the thirteenth day. Concerning your Father Columba nd his followers, whose sanctity you say you imitate, and rhose rules and precepts you observe, which have been con- irmed by signs from heaven, I may answer, that when many, n the day of judgment, shall say to our Lord, 'That in lus ame they prophesied, and cast out devils, and wrought lany wonders,' our Lord will reply, ' That he never knew hem.' But far be it from me, that I say so of your fathers, ■ecause it is much more just to believe what is good, than rhat is evil, of persons whom one does not know. Where- Dre I do not deny those to have been God's servants, and 'cloved by him, who with rustic simplicity, but pious inten- ions, have themselves loved him. Nor do I think that such eeping of Easter was very prejudicial to them, as long as one came to show them a more perfect rule ; and yet I do elieve that they, if any catholic adviser had come among tiem, would have as readily followed his admonitions, as aey are known to have kept those commandments of God, hich they had learned and knew.

"But as for you and your companions, you certainly sin, \ having heard the decrees of the ApostoHc See, and of the niversal church, and that the same is confirmed by holy Tit, you refuse to follow them ; for, though your fathers ^ere holy, do you think that their small number, in a corner f the remotest island, is to be preferred before the universal hurch of Christ throughout the world ? And if that Co- miba of yours, (and, I may say, ours also, if he was Christ's servant,) was a holy man and powerful in miracles, et could he be preferred before the most blessed prince of le apostles, to whom our Lord said, 'Thou art Peter, and pon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell lall not prevail against it, and to thee I will give the keys P the kingdom of heaven ?' "

When Wilfrid had spoken thus, the king said, " Is it true, -olman, that these words were spoken to Peter by our .ord?" He answered, "It is true, O king I" Then says e, " Can you show any such power given to your Co- imba?" Colman answered, "None." Then added the

160 BEDE's ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. [b.iii. c.26

king, " Do you both agree that these words were prin- cipally directed to Peter, and that the keys of heaven were given to him by our Lord?" They both answered, "We do." Then the king concluded, " And I also say unto you. that he is the door-keeper, whom I will not contradict, bul will, as far as I know and am able, in all things obey hi« decrees, lest, when I come to the gates of the kingdom oi heaven, there should be none to open them, he being mj adversary who is proved to have the keys." The king having said this, all present, both great and small, gav( their assent, and renouncing the more imperfect institution resolved to conform to that wliich they found to be better.

CHAP. XXYI.

Colman^ being worsted, relumed home ; Tuda succeeded him in the bishop ric; the state of the church binder those teachers, [a.d. 664, J

The disputation being ended, and the company broken up Agilbert returned home. Colman, perceiving that his doc- trine was rejected, and his sect despised, took with him sucl as would not comply with the Catholic Easter and the ton sure,* (for there was much controversy about that also,) anc went back into Scotland, to consult with his people wha was to be done in this case. Cedd, forsaking the practice.' of the Scots, returned to his bishopric, having submitted t( the Catholic observance of Easter. This disputation hap- pened in the year of our Lord's incarnation 664, which wa.' the twenty-second year of the reign of King Oswy, and the thirtieth of the episcopacy of the Scots among the English for Aidan was bishop seventeen years, Finan ten, and CoL man three. '

* The tonsure, properly so called, does not appear to have been adoptee for the first three centuries of the church ; but originated with the earlies professors of the monastic institutions as a distinctive token of their renan ciation of the pleasures of the world. Towards the close of the fifth cen tury it began to be considered, both in the Greek and Latin cnurches, a a necessary rite for admission into the clerical oflSce; but who were th< originators of the circular and semicircular modes is not known. Th Roman clergy shaved the crown of the head, which was surrounded by i circle of hair, supposed to represent the wTeath of thorns forced by th^ cruelty of his persecutors on the temples of the Messiah, and which the] pleaded had descended to them from St, Peter. The Scottish priests per mitted the hair to grow on the back, and shaved the forepart of the hea( from ear to ear in the form of a crescent, which their opponents called ii derision, the tonsure of Simon Magus.

i.r. CCi.l TUDA, BISHOP OF LINDISFARNE. 161

When Colman was gone back into his own countrj^, God's lervant, Tuda, was made bishop of the Northumbrians* in lis place, having been instructed and ordained bishop among he Southern Scots, having also the ecclesiastical tonsure of lis crown, according to the custom of that province, and ►bserving the Catholic time of Easter. He was a good and eligious man, but governed his church a very short time ; le came out of Scotland whilst Colman was yet bishop, and, •oth by word and example, diligently taught all persons hose things that appertain to the ftiith and truth. But Cat a, who was abbat of the monastery of jMelrose,f a most everend and meek man, Avas appointed abbat over the •rethren that stayed in the church of Lindisfarne, when lie Scots went away ; they say, Colman, upon his departure, equested and obtained this of King Oswy, because Eata was ne of Aidan's twelve boys of the English nation, whom he eceived when first made bishop there, to be instructed in yhrist ; for the king much loved Bishop Colman on account f his singular discretion. This is the same Eata, who, not )ng after, was made bishop of the same church of Lindis- irne. Colman carried home with him part of the bones of he most reverend Father Aidan, and left part of them in tie church where he had presided, ordering them to be in- 3rred in the sacristy.

The place which he governed shows how frugal lie and is predecessors were, for there were very few houses be- ides the church found at their departure ; indeed, no more bian were barely sufficient for their daily residence ; they ad also no money, but cattle ; for if they received any loney from rich persons, they im^mediately gave it to the cor ; there being no need to gather money, or provide ousea for the entertainment of the great men of the world ; )r such never resorted to the church, except to pray and ear the word of God. The king himself, when opportunity ffered, came only with five or six servants, and having per- )rmed his devotions in the church, departed. But if they appened to take a repast there, they were satisfied with oly the plain and daily food of the brethren, and required

Fourth bishop of Lindisfarne. He was the last of the Scottish bishops, I they are termed, who had the government of this see. •j* Near Jedburgh, Roxburghshire. M

162 BEDE's ecclesiastical history. [B.in. c.27

no more ; for the whole care of those teachers was to serve God, not the world — to feed the soul, and not the belly.

For this reason the religious habit was at that time in great veneration ; so that wheresoever any clergyman or monk happened to come, he was joyfully received by all persons, as God's servant ; and if they chanced to meet him upon the way, they ran to him, and bowing, were glad to be signed with his hand, or blessed with his mouth. Great attention was also paid to their exhortations ; and on Sun- days they flocked eagerly to the church, or the monasteries, not to feed their bodies, but to hear the word of God ; and if any priest happened to come into a village, the inhabitants flocked together to hear from him the word of life ; for the priests and clergymen went into the village on no other account than to preach, baptize, visit the sick, and, in few words, to take care of souls ; and they were so free from worldly avarice, that none of taem received lands and pos- sessions for building monasteries, unless they were compelled to do so by the temporal authorities ; whicli custom was for some time after observed in all the churclies of the Northumbrians. But enough has now been said on this subject.

CHAP. XXVIL

Egbert, a holy man of the English nation, led a monastic life in Irelandt [a.d. 664. J

In the same year of our Lord's incarnation, 66^, there hap- pened an eclipse of the sun, on the third of May, about ter o'clock in the morning. In the same year, a sudden pestilence^ also depopulated the southern coasts of Britain, and afterward' extending into the province of the Northumbrians, ravagec the country far and near, and destroyed a great multitude o men. To which plague the aforesaid priest Tuda fell a vie tim, and was honourably buried in the monastery of Pegna leth.f This pestilence did no less harm in the island o Ireland. Many of the nobihty, and of the lower ranks o

• Called the Yellow Plague.

t In the Saxon Chronicle, it is called Wagele. Probably Finchale, il the parish of St. Oswald's, on the Western bank of the Wear, neal Durham.

A.D.6-64.J Egbert's prayer and vows. 163

the English nation, Avere there at that time, who, in the days of the Bishops Finan and Colman, forsaking their native island, retired thither, either for the sake of Divine studies or of a more continent life ; and some of them presently de- voted themselves to a monastical life, others chose rather to apply themselves to study, going about from one master's cell to another. The Scots willi i^ly received them all, and took care to supply them with foo 1, as also to furnish them with books to read, and their teaching, gratis. *

Among these were Ethelhun and Egbert, two youths of great capacity, of the English nobility. The former of whom was brother to Ethehvin, a man no less beloved by G-od, who also afterwards went over into Ireland to study, a,nd having been well instructed, returned into his own 20untry, and being made bishop in the province of Lindsey, j long governed that church worthily and creditably. These ".wo being in the monastery which in the language of the Scots is called Rathmelsigi,:}: and having lost all their com- oanions, who were either cut olF by the mortality, or dis- Dersed into other places, fell both desperately sick of the 5ame distemper, and were grievously afflicted. Of these, Egbert, § (as I was informed by a priest venerable for his ige, and of great veracity, who declared he had heard those :hings from his own mouth,) concluding that he was at the )oint of deatli, went out of his chamber, where the sick lay, n the morning, and sitting alone in a convenient place, be- jan seriously to reflect upon his past actions, and, being full )f compunction at the remembrance of his sins, bedewed his ace with tears, and prayed fervently to God that he might lot die yet, before he could make amends for the offences vhicli he had committed in his infancy and younger years, »r might further exercise himself in good Avorks. He also Qade a vow that he would, for the sake of God, live in a trange place, so as never to return into the island of Britain, vhere he was born ; that besides the canonical times of sing- Dg psalms, he would, unless prevented by corporeal infirmity,

* The reader, who has heard much of the early civilization of Ireland, -ill remember that the description given in the text api^lies to a period no arlier than the seventh century.

t Sidnacester, probably between Lincoln and GainshorouRh. See ages 99 and Ti?. J Now .Melfont, Ireland.

§ Appointed abbat of lona, a.d. 716. See book v. c. 22. m2

164 IJEDE's ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. [b. iir. c. 28.

saj the wliolc Psalter daily to the praise of God ; and that he would every week fast one whole day and a night. Returning home, after his tears, prayers, and vows, he found his companion asleep, and going to bed himself, began to compose liimself to rest. When lie had lain quiet awhile, his comrade awaking, looked on him, and said, " Alas ! Brother Egbert, what have you done ? I was in hopes that we should have entered together into life everlasting ; but know that what you prayed for is granted." For he had learned in a vision Avhat the other had requested, and that his prayer was granted.

In short, Ethelhun died the next night ; but Egbert, shaking off his distemper, recovered and lived a long time after to grace the priestly office, which he had received, by his worthy behaviour ; and after much increase of virtue, according to his desire, he at length, in the year of our Lord's incarnation 729, being ninety years of age, departed to the heavenly kingdom. He led his life in great perfection of humility, meekness, continence, simplicity, and justice. Thus he was a great benefactor, both to his own nation, and to those of the Scots and Picts among whom he lived a stranger, by his example of life, his industry in teaching, his authority in reproving, and his piety in giving away much of what he received from the bounty of the rich. He also added this to his vow above-mentioned ; during Lent, he would eat but one meal a day, allowing himself nothing but bread and thin milk, and even that by measure. Thai milk, new the day before, he kept in a vessel, and the nexl day skimming off the cream, drank the rest, as has been said, with a httle bread. Which sort of abstinence he likewise always observed forty days before the nativity of our Lord, and as many after the solemnity of Pentecost, that is, of tht Quinquagesima.

CHAP, xxvnr.

Tuda being dead, Wilfrid mas ordained, in France, and Chad, in th>\ province of the West SajconSj to be bithops of the Northumbriansl [a.d. 665.]

In the meantime. King Alfrid* sent the priest, Wilfrid, the king of France,f to be consecrated bishop over him an(j * King cf Deira. f Cloitaire, king of Neustria.

A.D. ees.J CONSECRATIO.N" OF ST. CHAD, IQ$

his people. That prince sent him to be ordained by Ao-il- bert, who, a.s was said above, having left Britain, was made bishop of the city of Paris, and by him Wilfrid was honour- ably con-jecrated, several bishops meeting together for that purpose in a village belonging to the king, called Com- piegne.* He made some stay in the parts beyond the sea, after his consecration, and Oswy, following the example of the king his son, sent a holy man, of modest behaviour, well read in the Scripture, and diligently practising those things which he had learned therein, to be ordained bishop of the church of York. This was a priest called Ceadda [Chad], brother to the reverend prelate Cedd, of whom mention has been often made, and abbat of the monastery of Lestingau.| With him the king also sent his priest Eadlied, who was afterwards, in the reign of Egfrid, made bishop of the church of Ripon. On arriving in Kent, they found that Archbishop Deusdedit was departed this life, and no other prelate as yet appointed in his place ; whereupon they pro- ceeded to the province of the West Saxons, where Wini was bishop, and by him the person above-mentioned was 3onsecrated bishop ; two bishops of the British nation, who lept Easter Sunday according to the canonical manner, from :he fourteenth to the twentieth day of the moon, as has been" laid, being taken to assist at the ordination ; for at that time ;here was no other bishop in all Britain canonically ordained, )esides that Wini.J

Chad, being thus consecrated bishop, began immediately o devote himself to ecclesiastical truth and to chastity ; to .pply himself to humility, continence, and study ; to travel .bout, not on horseback, but after the manner of the apos- les, on foot, to preach the Gospel in towns, the open coiin- ry, cottages, villages, and castles ; for he was one of the isciples of Aidan, and endeavoured to instruct his people, J the same actions and behaviour, according to his and his

* A royal villa. According to the ceremonial of the Gallican church, i^'ilfrid was carried in a golden chair by his brother bishops, sini;ing hymns ' joy ; none hut bishops being allowed to touch the chair.

+ Lastiniham. See book iii. c. 23, page 149.

X Theodore, archbishop of Canterbury, expressing some doubts of the ilidity of St. Chad's consecration, sulisequently completed it, when he wa« ^pointed to the see of Lichfield. See book iv. c. 2, page 173.

166 liEDE's ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. [b. ni. c 29.

brotlier Cedd's example. Wilfrid also being made a bishop, came into Britain, and in like manner by his doctrine brought into the English Church many rules of Catholic observance. Whence it followed, that the Catholic institu- tions daily gained strength, and all the Scots that dwelt in England either conformed to these, or returned into their own country.

CHAP. XXIX.

How the priest Wighard ivas sent from Britain to Rome, to be consecrates arc/ibshop. of his (tenth there, and of the letters of the Apostolic Popm giving an account thereof, [a.d. G65.J

At this time the most noble King Oswy, of the province oi the Northumbrians, and Egbert of Kent, having consulted together about the state of the English Church, (for Oswy. though educated by the Scots, perfectly understood that th( Roman was the Catholic and Apostolic Church,) with the consent of the holy church of the English nation, acceptec of a good man, and fit priest, to be made a bishop, callec Wighard, one of Bishop Deusdedit's clergy, and sent him tc Rome to be ordained bishop, to the end that he, having received the degree of an archbishop, might ordain Catholic prelates for the churches of the English nation throughout all Britain. But Wighard, arriving at Rome, was cut ofl by death, before he could be consecrated bishop, and tht following letter was sent back into Britain to King Oswy : —

" To the most excellent Lord, our son, Oswy, king of tht Saxons, Vitallan, bishop, servant of the servants of God We have received your excellency's pleasing letters ; bj reading whereof we understand your most pious devotion anc fer^'ent love to obtain everlasting life ; and that by the pro- tecting hand of God you have been converted to the trm and apostolic faitli, hoping that as you reign in your nation 80 you will hereafter reign in Christ. Blessed be the nation therefore, that has been found worthy to have such a wise king and worshipper of God ; forasmuch as he is not himsel: alone a worshipper of God, but also studies day and night thf conversion of all his subjects to the Catholic and apostolic faith, to the redemption of his own soul. Who will no

A.D. CC5.] LETTER OF POPE ^^TALLIX. 167

rejoice at "hearing such pleasant things ? Who will not be delighted at such good works ? Because your nation has believed in Christ the Almighty God, according to the words of the Divine prophets, as it is written in Isaiah, ' In that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people ; to him shall the Gentiles seek.' And again, ' Listen, O isles, unto me, and hearken ye people from afar.' And a little after, 'It is a light thing that thou shouldst be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel. I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation to the ends of the earth.' And again, ' Kings shall see, princes also shall arise and worship.' And presently after, ' I have given thee for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, and possess the desolate heritages ; that thou mayest say to the prisoners. Go forth ; to tliem that are in darkness, Show yourselves.' And again, ' I the Lord have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a light of the Gentiles, and for a covenant of the people ; to open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoner from the prison, and them that sit in darkness from the prison-house.'

" Behold, most excellent son, how plain it is, not only of you, but also of all the nations of the prophets, that they shall believe in Christ, the Creator of all things. Where- fore it behoves your highness, as being a member of Christ, in all things, continually to follow the pious rule of the prince of the apostles, in celebrating Easter, and in all things delivered by the blessed apostles, Peter and Paul, whose doctrine daily enlightens the hearts of behevers, even as the two heavenly lights, the sun and moon, daily illumine all the earth."

And after some lines, wherein he speaks of celebrating Easter uniformly throughout all the world, he adds, —

" We have not been able now to find, considering the length of the journey, a man, docile, and qualified in all respects to be a bishop, according to the tenor of your letters. But as soon as such a proper person shall be found, we will send him well instructed to your country, that he may, by word of mouth, and through the Divine oracles, with the assist- ance of God, root out all the enemy's tares throughout your

168 BEDE's ecclesiastical HISTOSY. [b. III. c. 29.

island. We liave received tlie presents sent by your high- ness to the blessed prince of the apostles, for an eternal me- morial, and return you thanks, and always pray for your safety with the clergy of Christ. But he that brought these presents has been removed out of this world, and is buried at the church of the apostles, for whom we have been much concerned, because he died here. However, we have ordered the blessed gifts of the holy martyrs, that is, the relics of the blessed apostles, Peter and Paul, and of the holy martyrs, Laurentius, John, and Paul, and Gregory, and Pan- cratius,* to be delivered to the bearers of these our letters, to be by them delivered to you. And to your consoit also, our spiritual daughter, we have by the aforesaid bearers sent a cross, with a gold key to it, made out of the most holy chains of the apostles, Peter and Paul ; at whose pious endeavours all the Apostolic See rejoices with us, as much as her pious works shine and blossom before God.

" We therefore desire your highness will hasten, according to our wish, to dedicate all your island to Christ our God ; for you certainly have for your protector, the Redeemer of mankind, our Lord Jesus Christ, who will prosper you in all things, that you may bring together a new people of Christ ; establishing there the Catholic and apostolic faitli. For it is written, ' Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteous- ness, and all these things shall be added to you.' Truly your highness seeks, and shall no doubt obtain, that all your islands shall be made subject to you, as is our wish and desire. Saluting your excellency with fatherly affection, we always pray to the Divine Goodness, that it will vouchsafe to assist you and yours in all good works, that you may reign with Christ in the world to come. May the Heavenly Grace preserve your excellency in safety ! "

In the next book we shall have a more suitable occasion to show who was found out and consecrated in Wighard's place.

• St. Pancras, who suflfered martyrdom duiing the Diocletian j)ersecu- tion, A.D. 304.

'•''•^^'"•^ ^AST SAXONS RELAPSE. J59

CHAP. XXX.

rovince of the East Saxons* after Suidheim^f whom we ave spoken above That province labouring under the foresaid mortaht j,_ Sighere, with that part of th? people that as under his dominion, forsook the mysteries of the Chris- an iaith and turned apostate. For the king himself, and lany of the commons and great men, being fond of this life, Id not seeking after another, or rather not believing that lere was any other, began to restore the temples that had .en abandoned, and to adore idols, as if they might by those eans be protected against the mortality. But Sebbi his )mpaiiion and co-heir in the kingdom, with his people, very ^voutly preserved the faith which he had embraced, and, as e shall show hereafter, ended his faithful life with much hcity.

King Wulfhere, understanding that the faith of the pro- nce was partly profaned, sent Bishop Jaruman,t who was iccessor to Trumhere, to correct that error, and restore the •ovince to the truth. He proceeded with much discretion, si was informed by a priest who bore him company in at journe}^ and had been his fellow labourer in the word ) r he was a religious and good man, and travelHng through I the country, far and near, reduced both the aforesaid king Id people to the way of righteousness, so that, either for- king or destroying the temples and altars which they had ected, they opened the churches, and rejoiced in confessing e^ name of Christ, which they had opposed, being more isirousto die in him with the faith of the resurrection, than ^ live in the filth of apostacy among their idols. These mgs being performed, the priests and teachers returned •me with joy.

\ ^''V^^/^'^<i o^er a separate part of the East Saxons, under the supre- icy ot Mercia. f Bishop of Lichfield. See page 153.

170 BEDE'S ecclesiastical history. Lb. IV. o.

BOOK IV. CHAPTER I.

Deusdedit, archbishop of Canterbury, dying, Wighard was sent to Rot. to succeed him in that dignity; but he dying theie, Theodore w ordained archbishop, and sent into Britain with the Abbat Hadri<u [a.d. 664]

In the above-mentioned year of the aforesaid eclipse, whi( was presently followed by the pestilence, in which also Bish( Colman, being overcome by the unanimous consent of t] CathoHcs, returned home, Deusdedit, the sixth bishop of t] church of Canterbury, died on the 14th of July. Erconbei also, king of Kent, departed this life the same month ai day ; leaving his kingdom to his son Egbert, which he he nine years. The see then became vacant for some conside able time, until, the priest Wighard, a man skilled in eccl siastical discipline, of the English race, was sent to Ror by the said King Egbert, and Oswy, king of the Northui brians, as was briefly mentioned in the foregoing book, wi a request that he might be ordained bishop of the church England ; sending at the same time presents to the aposto. pope, and many vessels of gold and silver. Arriving Rome, where Vitalian presided at that time over the Ape tolic See, and having made known to the aforesaid pope t occasion of his journey, he was not long after snatched awg with almost all his companions that went with him, by a pe tilence which happened at that time.

But the apostolic pope having consulted about that affa« made diligent inquiry for some one to send to be archbish of the English churches. There was then in the Niridi monastery, which is not far from the city of Naples in Ca: pania, an abbat, called Hadrian, by nation an African, w versed in holy writ, experienced in monastical and ecclesi; tical discipline, and excellently skilled both in the Greek a and Latin tongues. The pope, sending for him, command him to accept of the bishopric, and repair into Britain answered, that he was unworthy of so great a dignity, \ said he could name another, whose learning and age w< fitter for the episcopal office. And having proposed to \

>-D. 668.1 THEODORE ORDAINED. 171

)ope a certain monk, belonging to a neighbouring monastery >f virgins, whose name was Andrew, he was by all that knew dm judged worthy of a bishopric; but bodily infirmity pre- sented his being advanced to the episcopal station. Then .gain Hadrian was pressed to accept of the bishopric ; but he lesired a respite for a time, to see whether he could find nother fit to be ordained bishop.

There was at that time in Rome, a monk, called Theodore, rell known to Hadrian, born at Tarsus in Cilijia, a man well nstructed in worldly and Divine literature, as also in Greek nd Latin ;* of known probity of life, and venerable for age, leing sixty-six years old. Hadrian oifered him to the pope 0 be ordained bishop, and prevailed ; but upon tliesa con- ations, that he should conduct him into Britain, because he lad already travelled through France twice upon several i €casions, and was, therefore, better acquainted with the way, ' nd was, moreover, sufiiciently provided with men of his ; wn ; as also that being his fellow labourer in doctrine, he I light take special care that Theodore should not, according I 0 the custom of the Greeks, introduce any thing contrary to he true faith into the church where he presided. Hadrian, •eing ordained subdeacon, waited four months for his hair to :row, that it might be shorn into the shape of a crown ; for 16 had before the tonsure of St. Paul,t the apostle, after the lanner of the eastern people. He was ordained by Pope /"Italian, in the year of our Lord 668, on Sunday, the 26th f March, and on the 27th of May was sent with Hadrian ato Britain.

They proceeded by sea to Marseilles, and thence by land 3 Aries, and having there delivered to Jolm, archbishop of hat city, Pope Yitalian's letters of recommendation, were y him detained till Ebrin, the king's mayor of the palace, ent them a pass to go where they pleased. Having received be same, Theodore repaired to Agilbert, bishop of Paris, of rhom we have spoken above, and was by him kindly re- eived, and long entertained. But Hadrian went first to '^mme, and then to Faro, bishops of Sens and Meaux, and .ved with them a considerable time ; for the hard winter

• Hadrian is termed bv William of Malmsbury, " a fountain of letters nd a river of arts." fThis tonsure consisted in shavmg the whole head.

172 BEDE S ECCLESIASTICAX HISTORY. «p. jv. c

had obliged tlieni to rest wherever they could. King E bert, being informed by messengers that the bishop they h; asked of the Roman prelate was in the kingdom of Franc sent thither his pnTfect, Redfrid, to conduct him ; who, beii arrived there, with Ebrin's leave, conveyed him to the pc of Quentavic ;* where, being indisposed, he made some sta and as soon as he began to recover, sailed over into Britai But Ebrin detained Hadrian, suspecting that he went ( some message from the emperor to the kings of Britain, the prejudice of tlie kingdom, of wliich he at that time toe especial care ; however, when he found that he really had i such commission, he discharged him, and permitted him follow Theodore. As soon as he came, he received fro him the monastery of St. Peter the apostle, f where tl archbishops of Canterbury are usually buried, as I have sai before ; for at his departure, the apostolic lord had orden that he should provide for him in his diocese, and give hi] a suitable place to live in with his followers.

CHAP. II.

Theodore visils all places; the churchex of the English begin to be insfruc ed in holy literature, and in the Catholic truth ; Futta is made bisho of the church of Rochester in the room of Damianus. [a.d. 669.]

Theodore arrived at his church the second year after hi consecration, on Sunday, the 27th of May, and held th same twenty-one years, three months, and twenty-six days Soon after, he visited all the island, wherever the tribes o the Angles inhabited, for he was willingly entertained am heard by all persons ; and everywhere attended and assistec by Hadrian, he taught the right rule of life, and the canoni cal custom of celebrating Easter. This was the first arch bishop whom all the English church obeyed. And forasmucl as both of them were, as has been said before, Avell read botl in sacred and in secular literature, they gathered a crowd o disciples, and there daily flowed from them rivers of know- ledge to water the hearts of their hearers ; and, togethei with the books of holy writ, they also taught them the art' of ecclesiastical poetry, astronomy, and arithmetic. A testi-

* St. Quentin, province of Picardy.

+ Afterwards called St. Augustine's. This was, for some time after, the most distinguished seat of learning in the south of England. See p. 60.

;.D. 669.] SACRED MUSIC INTRODUCED. 173

Q0117 of which is, that there are still living at this day some ■f their scholars, who are as well versed in the Greek and ^atin tongues as in their own, in which they were born. •Tor were there ever happier times since the English came ito Britain ; for their kings, being brave men and good Christians, they were a terror to all barbarous nations, and le minds of all men were bent upon the joys of the heavenly ingdom of which they had just heard ; and all who desired ) be instructed in sacred reading had masters at hand to iach them.

From that time also they began in all the churches of the nglish to learn sacred music, which till then had been ily known in Kent, And, excepting James above-men- oned, the first singing-master in the churches of the Nor- lumbrians was Eddi, surnamed Stephen,* invited from ent by the most reverend Wilfrid, who was the first of the shops of the English nation that taught the churches of e English the Catholic mode of life.

Theodore,' visiting all parts, ordained bishops in proper aces, and with their assistance corrected such things as he und faulty. Among the rest, when he upbraided Bishop lad that he had not been duly consecrated, he, with great imility, answered, '' If you know I have not duly received iscopal ordination, I willingly resign the office, for I never ought myself worthy of it ; but, though unworthy, in edience submitted to undertake it." Theodore, hearing i humble answer, said that he should not resign the bishop- ;, and he himself completed his ordination after the Catho-

manner. But at the time when Deusdedit died, and a shop for the church of Canterbury was by request ordained d sent, Wilfrid was also sent out of Britain into France to

ordained ; and because he returned before Theodore, he lained priests and deacons in Kent till the archbishop )uld come to his see. Being arrived in the city of Ro- aster, where the see had been long vacant f by tiie death

Damianus, he ordained a person better skilled in ecclesi- ical discipline, and more addicted to simplicity of life than ive in worldly affairs. His name was Putta, and he was traordinarily skilful in the Roman style of church music,

Author of the Life of Wilfrid, published in Gale's collection of Scrip- s, vol. i. p. 40. t It had been vacant five years.

174 BEDe's ecclesiastical history. Laiv.o.

which he had learned from the disciples of the holy Pop Gregory.

CHAP. in.

Hoiv Chad, above-mentioned, loas made Bishop of the Mercians. Of h life, death, and burial, [a.d. 669.]

At that time, the Mercians were governed by King Wul here, who^ on the death of Jaruman, desired of Theodore 1 supply him and his people with a bishop ; but Theodoi would not obtain a new one for them, but requested of Kii) Oswy that Chad might be their bishop. He then livi retired at his monastery, which is at Lestingau, Wilfri filling the bishopric of York, and of all the Northumbrian and likewise of the Picts, as far as the dominions of Kir Oswy extended. And, seeing that it was the custom of ths most reverend prelate to go about the work of the Gospel 1 several places rather on foot than on horseback, Theodoi commanded him to ride whenever he had a long journey 1 undertake ; and finding him very unwilling to omit his foi mer pious labour, he himself, with his hands, lifted him c the horse ; for he thought him a holy man, and therefoi obliged him to ride wherever he had need to go. Cha havmg received the bishopric of the Mercians and Lindit fame,* took care to administer the same with great rectituc of hfe, according to the example of the ancients. Kin Wulfhere also gave him land of fifty families, to T)uild monastery, at the place called Ad Barve,t or "At tl Wood," in the province of Lindsey, wherein marks of tl regular life instituted by him continue to this day.

He had his episcopal see in the place called Lichfield.

* A diocese not much less in extent than the Northumbrian kingdoi having all the counties which compose the midland circuit, and Staffer shire,°with part of Shropshire and Cheshire besides.

t Barton-upon-Humber, Lincolnshire, where there is still standing ave: ancient Saxon Church, dedicated to St. Peter.

X This place is called by Ingulphus ;ii d iienry of Huntingdon, Lichfel which means "the field of the dead," from the traditionary martyrdom 1000 Christians here during the Diocletian persecution. In the reign ■ Offa, this see not onlv obtained che precedence of all the iMercian bisho; rics, but, through the interest of Offa with Pope Adrian, was made for short time the archi-episcopal see, [a.d. 789,] and invested with the great piut of the juiisdictiou of Canterbuiy.

L.D. eeaj death of st. chad. 175

n which he also died, and was buried, and where the see of he succeeding bishops of that province still continues. He lad built himself a habitation not far from the church, srherein he was wont to pray and read with seven or eight f the brethren, as often as he had any spare time from the ibour and ministry of the word. When he had most glo- iously governed the church in that province two years and half, the Divine Providence so ordaining, there came round season like that of which Ecclesiastes says, " That there is time to cast stones, and a time to gather them ; " for there appened a mortality sent from heaven, which, by means of le death of the flesh, translated the stones of the church 'om their earthly places to the heavenly building. And 'hen, after many of the church of that most reverend pre- ite had been taken out of the flesh, his hour also drew near 'herein he was to pass out of this world to onr Lord, it appened one day that he was in the aforesaid dwelling with aly tjne brother, called Owini, his other companions being pon some reasonable occasion returned to the church. Now >wini was a monk of great merit, having forsaken the world ith the pure intention of obtaining the heavenly reward ; orthy in all respects to have the secrets of our Lord re- ealed to him, and worthy to have credit given by his hearers ► what he said, for he came with Queen Etheldrid from the rovince of the East Angles, and was her prime minister, id governor of her family. As the fervour of his faith creased, resolving to renounce the world, he did not go )out it slothfully, but so fully forsook the things of this orld, that, quitting all he had, clad in a plain garment, and -rrying an axe and hatchet in his hand, he came to the onastery of that most reverend prelate, called Lestingau ;* '.noting, that he did not go to the monastery to live idle, as me do, but to labour, which he also confirmed by practice ; r as he was less capable of meditating on the Holy Scrip- res, he the more earnestly applied himself to the labour of s hands. In short, he was received by the bishop into the ►use aforesaid, and there entertained with the brethren, and hiilst they were engaged within in reading, he was without, ing such things as were necessary.

One day when he was thus employed abroad, and his com- * Lastingham. See p. 149.

176 bede's ecclesiasticaj. history. [b. IV. c. ;

panions were gone to the clnircli, as I began to state, th bisliop was alone reading or praying in the oratory of tha place, when on a sudden, as he afterwards said, he heard th voice of persons singing most sweetly and rejoicing, an appearing to descend from heaven. Which voice he said h lirst heard coming from the south-east, and that afterward it drew near him, till it came to the roof of the oratory wher the bishop was, and entering therein, filled the same and a about it. He listened attentively to what he heard, an after about half an hour, perceived the same song of joy t ascend from the roof of the said oratory, and to return t heaven the samxe way it came, "wdth inexpressible sweetness When he had stood some time astonished, and seriously re volving in his mind what it might be, the bishop opened th window of the oratory, and making a noise with his hand, a he was often wont to do, ordered him to come in to him. II accordingly went hastily in, and the bishop said to hin " Make haste to the church, and cause the seven brothers t come hither, and do you come with them." Wlien they wer come, he first admonished them to preserve the virtue c peace among themselves, and towards all others ; and inde fatigably to practise the rules of regular discipline, whic they had either been taught by him, or seen him observe, o had noticed in the words or actions of the former father? Then he added, that the day of his death was at hand ; foi said he, "that amiable guest, who was wont to visit ou^ brethren, has vouchsafed also to come to me this day, and t* call me out of this world. Return, therefore, to the church and speak to the brethren, that they in their prayers recom mend my passage to our Lord, and that they be careful t provide for their own, the hour whereof is uncertain, b; watching, prayer, and good works."

When he had spoken thus much and more, and they having received his blessing, had gone away in sorrow, h who had heard the heavenly song returned alone, and pros trating himself on the ground, said, " I beseech you, father may I be permitted to ask a question?" — "Ask what yoi will," answered the bishop. Then he added, " I entreat yoi to tell me what song of joy was that which I heard cominc upon this oratory, and after some time returning to heaven ?' The bishop answered. " If you heard the singing, and knoT»

'•''•^^^^ ST. chad's piety. i^-^

)f the coming of the heavenlj company, I command you, in the ame of our Lord, that you do not tell the same to any before ay death. They were angehc spirits, who came to ^call me 0 my heavenly reward, which I have always longed after and hey promised they would return seven days hence and take ae away with them." Which was accorkgty filM d L' ad been said to him; for being presently^eized witt languishing distemper, and the same daily increasing, on le seventh day, as had been promised to hii, when he had repared for death by i^ceiving the body and blood of our 'ord, his soul being delivered from the prison of the body le angels, as may justly be beHeved, attending him, he eparted to the joys of heaven. ^ '

It is no wonder that he joyfully beheld the day of his ath or rather the day of our Lord, which he had always irefully expected till it came ; for notwithstanding his many ■^erits of continence, humility, teaching, prayer, voluntary 3verty and other virtues, he was so full of the fear of God ► mindfu of his last end in all his actions, that, as I was ■.termed by one of the brothers who instructed me in ivinity, and who had been bred in his monastery, and under s direction, whose name was Trumhere, if it happened that .ere blew a strong gust of wind when he was readin- or ung any other thing, he immediately called upon God'' for ercy, and begged it might be extended to all mankind. If e wind grew stronger, he closed his book, and prostrating mself on the ground, prayed stiU more earnestly. But, if proved a violent storm of wind or rain, or else that the rth and air were filled with thunder and lightning, he would pair to the church, and devote himself to prayers and peating of psalms till the weather became calm. Being ked by his followers why he did so, he answered, " Have t you read— 'The Lord also thundered in the heavens, d the Highest gave forth his voice. Yea, he sent out liis cows and scattered them ; and he shot out lightnings, and 5comfited them.' For the Lord moves the air, raises the nds, darts lightning, and thunders from heaven, to excite i mhabitants of the earth to fear him ; to put them in nd of the^ future judgment ; to dispel their pride, and ^ aquish their boldness, by bringing into their thoughts that 1 3adful time, when the heavens and the earth being in u

178 BEDE's ecclesiastical history. [b. IV. c. 3

flame, lie will come in the clouds, witli great power anc majesty, to judge the quick and the dead. Wherefore," saic he, " it behoves us to answer his heavenly admonition witl due fear and love ; that, as often as he lifts his hand throuj^l the trembling sky, as it were to strike, but does not yet le it fall, we may immediately implore his mercy ; and searching the recesses of our hearts, and cleansing the filth of oui vices, we may carefully behave ourselves so as never to be struck." *

With this revelation and account of the aforesaid brother, concerning the death of tliis prelate, agrees the discourse oi the most reverend Father Egbert, above spoken of, who long led a monastic life wath the same Chad, when both were youths, in Ireland, praying, observing continency, and meditating on the Holy Scriptures. But when he afterwards returned into his own country, the other continued in a strange country for our Lord's sake till the end of his life. A long time after, Hygbald, a most holy and continent man, who was an abbat in the province of Lindsey, came out of Britain to visit him, and whilst these holy men were discoursing of the life of the former fathers, and rejoicing to imitate the same, mention was made of the most reverend prelate, Chad, whereupon Egbert, said, "I know a man in this island, still in the flesh, who, when that prelate passed out of this world, saw the soul of his brother Cedd, with a company of angels, descending from heaven, who, having taken his soul along with them, returned tliither again." Whether he said this of himself, or some other, we do not certainly know ; but the same being said by so great a man, there can be no doubt of the truth thereof.

Chad died on the 2nd of March, and was first buried by St. Mary's Church, but afterwards, w^lien the church of the most holy prince of the apostles, Peter, was built, his bones were translated into it.j In both w^hich places, as a testimony of liis virtue, frequent miraculous cures are wont to be wrought. And of late, a certain distracted person, who had been w^andering about everywhere, arrived there in the evening, unknown or unregarded by the keepers of the

* Jeremy Taylor has some excellent remarks on this pious custom of St. Chad, in his Life of Christ, Discourse xviii.

t In 1148 they were removed to the present Cathedral of Lichfield.

A.O. 6G7.] COLAIAN GOES TO IRELAIs^D. 179

place, and having rested there ail the night, went out in his perfect senses tlie next morning, to the surprise and deliglit of all ; thus showing that a cure had been performed on him. through the goodness of God. The place of the sepulchre is a wooden monument, made like a little house, covered, having a hole in the wall, through which those that go thither for devotion usually put in their hand and take out some of the dust, which they put into water and give to sick cattle or men to drink, upon which they are presently eased of their infirmity, and restored to health. In his place, Theodore ordained Winfrid, a good and modest man, to preside, as liis predecessors had done, over the bishoprics of the Mercians, the Midland Angles, and the Lindisfarnes,* of all which, Wulf here, who was still living, was king. V/in- ;frid was one of the clergy of the prelate he had succeeded, and had for a considerable time filled the office of deacon under him.

CHAP. lY.

Bishop Cohnan, having left Britain, built two monasteries in Scotland ; the one for the Scots, the other for the English he had taken along with him. [a.d. 667.]

In the meantime, Colman, the Scottish bishop, departing from Britain, took along with him all the Scots he had assembled in the isle of Lindisfarne, and also about thirty of the English nation, who had been all instructed in the monastic life ; and leaving some brothers in his church, he repaired first to the isle of Hii (lona), whence he had been sent to preach the word of God to the English nation. Afterwards he retired to a small island, which is to the west of Ireland, and at some distance from its coast, called in the language of the Scots, Inisbofinde,t the Island of the White Heifer. Arriving there, he built a monastery, and placed in it the monks he had brought of both nations ; who not agreeing among themselves, by reason that the Scots, in the summer season, when the harvest was to be brought in,

• On the death of Peada, Wulfhere succeeded to the united kingdoms of the Mercians and Middle Angles (see p. 143), which weTe considered as two' distinct kingdoms. The bishopric of the Mercians was fixed at Kepton, afterwards removed to Lichfield. See note at page 14.5. _

t A small island on the Irish coast still retaining its ancient name.

180 BEDE's ecclesiastical history. [z.iv.c.5.

leaving ttie monastery, •wandered about through places with which they -were acquainted : but returned again the next winter, and would have what the English had provided to be in common ; Colman sought to put an end to this dissension, and travelling about far and near, he found a place in the island of Ireland fit to build a monastery, which, in the language of the Scots, is called Mageo,* and bought a small part of it of the earl to whom it belonged, to build his monastery thereon ; upon condition, that the monks residing there should pray to our Lord for him who let them have the place. Then building a monastery, with the assistance of the earl and all the neigh]x>urs, he placed the EngHsh there, leaving the Scots in the aforesaid island. This monastery is to this day possessed by English inhabitants ; being the same that, grown up from a small beginning to be very large, is generally called Mageo ; and as all things have long since been brought under a better method, it contains an exemplary society of monks, who are gathered there from the province of the English, and live by the labour of their hands, after the example of the venerable fathers, under a rule and a canonical abbat, in much continency and singleness of hfe.

CHAP. Y.

0/ the deaih of the kings Onny and Egbert, and of (tie synod }^ld ai Hertford, in urhich Ardthuhop Ttieodore presided, [a, d. 670.]

In the year of the incarnation of our Lord 670, being the second year after Theodore arrived in England, Os^\y, king of the Northumbrians, fell sick, and died, in the fifty-eighth year of his age. f He at that time bore so great afi'ection to the Roman apostolical institution, that had he recovered of his sickness, he had designed to go to Rome, and there to end his days at the Holy Place?, having entreated Bishop Wil- frid, by the promise of a considerable" donation in money, to conduct him on his journey. He died on the loth of Feb- ruary, leaving his son Egfrid his successor in the kingdom. In the third year of his reign, Theodore assembled a synod of t>ishops, and many other teachers of the church, who loved and were acquainted with the canonical statutes of the

* ^?7 annexed to the archbishopric of Tuam. ^t With OswT expired the title and the authority of Bretwalda.

A.D.673.] SYNOD OF HEKTFOKD. lg|

Others. When Thev -were met together, he began, as became a prelate, to enjoin the observance of such things as were agreeable to the unity and the peace of the church. Pne purport of which svnodical proceedings is as follows : —

" In the name of our Lord God and Saviour Jesus Christ, who reigns for ever and for ever, and governs his church, it wa^ thought meet that we should assemble, according to the custom of the venerable canons, to treat about the necessary aftairs of the church. TTe met on the 24th day of Septem- ber, the first indiction,* at a place called Hertford, myself Theodore, the unworthy bishop of the see of Canterbury, appointed by the Apostolic See, our fellow priest and most reverend brother, Bisi, bishop of the East Angles ; also by his proxies, our brother and fellow priest, Wilfrid, bishop of the nation of the Northumbrians, as also our brothers and fellow priests, Putta, bishop of the Kentish castle, called Rochester ; Eleutherius, bishop of the West Saxons, and Winfrid, bishop of the province of the Mercians. When we were all met together, and were sat down in order, I said, ' I beseech you, most dear brothers, for the love and fear of our Redeemer, that we may all treat in common for our faith ; to the end that whatsoever has been decreed and defined bv the holy and reverend fathers, may be inviolably observed by all.' This and much more I spoke tending to the preservation of the charity imd unity of the church ; and when I had ended my discoinrse, I asked every one of them in order, whether they consented to observe the things that had been formerlv caiionically decreed by the fathers ? To which all our fellow priests answered, ' It so pleases us, and we ^vill all most willingly observe with a cheerftd mmd what- ever is hiid down in the' canons of the holy fathers.' I then produced the said book of canons, and publicly showed them ten chapters in the same, which I had marked m several places, because I knew them to be of the most miportance to us, and entreated that they might be most particularly received bv them all.

* We leiJa ftom Bede's work, De Temporum Ratione. c. 46. that the En-Lish inciiotion be-an on the ^-tth of September >ow the rear 0.3, or rather from the •24th of Sept. a.d. 6:2 to the •:4th ot Jept. b. o^as the tir^t indiction. It appe;^ therefore that the ^.-nodot Hertlord tell on the last dav of the indiction. Perhai«, as Prv.fe^-r Hu^^y remark.^ the •24:h of September might be reckoned as belon-mg to eitner mdiction.

182 BEDE'S ECCLESIASTiaiL HISTORY. [b. iv. c.5.

" Chapter I. That we all in common keep the holy day of Easter on the Sunday after the fourteenth moon of the first month.

" II. That no bishop intrude into the diocese of another, but b3 satisfied with the government of the people committed to him.

" III. That it shall not be lawful for any bishop to trouble monasteries dedicated to God, nor to take anything forcibly from them.

"IV. That monks do not remove from one place to another, that is, from monastery to monastery, unless with the consent of their own abbat ; but that they continue in the obedience which they promised at the time of their conversion.

" V. That no clergyman, forsaking his own bishop, shall wander about, or be anpvherc entertained without letters of recommendation from his own prelate. But if he shall be once received, and will not return when invited, both the receiver, and the person received, be under excommunication.

"VI. That bishops and clergymen, when travelling, shall be content with the hospitality that is afforded them ; and that it be not lawful for them to exercise any priestly func- tion without leave of the bishop in whose diocese they are.

" VII. That a synod be assembled twice a year ; but in regard that several causes obstruct the same, it was approved by all, tliat we should meet on the 1st of August once a year, at the place called Clofeshoch.*

"■VIII. That no bishop, through ambition, shall set him- self before another ; but that they shall all observe the time and order of their consecration.

" IX. It was generally set forth, that more bishops should be made, as the number of believers increased ; but this matter for the present was passed over.

" X. Of marriages ; that nothing be allowed but lawful wedlock ; that none commit incest ; no man quit his true wife, unless, as the gospel teaches, on account of fornication. And if any man shall put away his own wife, lawfully joined to him in matrimony, that he take no other, if he wishes to be a good Christian, but continue as he is, or else be recon- ciled to his own wife.

* Cliff, in Kent, or Abingdon, Berks.

A.D. 674.] SEXWL'LF MADE BISHOP. 183

" These chapters being thus treated of and defined by all, to the end, that for the future, no scandal of contention might arise from any of us, or that things be falsely set forth, it was thought fit that every one of us should, by subscribing his hand, confirm all the particulars so laid down. Which definitive judgment of ours, I dictated to be written by Titillus our notary. Done in the month and indiction aforesaid. Whosoever, therefore, shall presume in any way to oppose or infringe this decision, confirmed by our consent, and by the subscription of our hands, according to the decree of the canons, must take notice, that he is excluded from all sacerdotal functions, and from our society. May the Divine Grace preserve us in safety, living in the unity of his holy church."

This synod was held in the year from the incarnation of our Lord 673. In which year, Egbert, king of Kent, died in the month of July ; his brother Lothere succeeded him on the throne, which he had held eleven years and seven months. Bisi, the bishop of the East Angles,* who is said to have been in the aforesaid synod, was successor to Boni- face, before spoken of, a man of much sanctity and religion ; for when Boniface died, after having been bishop seventeen years, he was by Theodore substituted in his place. Whilst he was still alive, but hindered by much sickness from ad- ministering his episcopal functions, two bishops, Ecci and Badwin were elected and consecrated in his place ; from which time to the present, that province has had two bishops.

CHAP. VI.

Win/rid being deposed, Sexwnlf was put into his See.jind Earconwald made bishop of the East Saxons, [a.d. 674.]

Not long after, Theodore, the archbishop, taking offence at some disobedience of Winfrid, bishop of the Mercians,! de- posed him from his bishopric when he had been possessed of it but a few years, and in his place made Sexwulf bishop,

* His see was at Dunwich, Suffolk, (see p. ^^ '-^"^V^^T^^f''^'!? InH diocese was divided. Bishop Badwin being placed at ^orth Elmham and Bishop Ecci at Dunwich. In 955 the two sees were reunited; in 10/5 it was removed to Thetford, and finally in 1094 to ^orwlch.

t Bishop of Lichfield.

184 bede's ecclesiastical msTonr. [b.iv. c.e.

who was founder and abbat of the monastery of Medesham- stead,* in the country of the Girvii. Winfrid, thus deposed, returned to his monastery of Ad Barve,-f and there ended his life in holy conversation.

He then also appointed Earconwald bishop of the East Saxons, in the city of London, over whom at that time pre- sided Sebbi and Sighere, of whom mention has been made above. This Earconwald's life and conversation, as well when he was bishop as before his advancement to that dignity, is reported to have been most holy, as is even at this time testified by heavenly miracles ; for to this day, liis horse- litter, in which he was wont to be carried when sick, is kept by his disciples, and continues to cure many of agues and other distempers ; and not only sick persons who are laid in that litter, or close by it, are cured ; but the very chips of it, when carried to the sick, are wont immediately to restore them to health.

This man, before he was made bishop, had built two famous monasteries, the one for himself, and the other for liis sister Ethelberga, and established them both in regular dis- cipline of the best kind. That for himself was in the county of Surrey, by the river Thames, at a place called Ceortesei,| that is, the Island of Ceorot ; that for his sister in the pro- vince of the East Saxons, at the place called Bercingum,§ wherein she might be a mother and nurse of devout women. Being put into the government of that monastery, she be- haved herself in all respects as became the sister of such a brother, living herself regularly, and piously, and orderly, providing for those under her, as was also manifested by heavenly miracles.

* The monastery of Medeshamstead, " the home in the meadow," after- wards Burgh St. Peter, now Peterborough, was one of the numerous eccle- siastical foundations scattered over the ^vide extent of the Fen land, which served as a natural barrier between the kingdoms of East Anglia and Mer- cia. Peada, king of Mercia, is agreed to have been the first founder about A.D. 650, and which was completed by Wulfhere. See Saxon Chron. a.d. 657, and Chronicon Anglia; Petriburgense, 8vo. Londini, 1845, passim.

t See book iv. ch. 3, page 174. + Chertsey. § Barking in Essex.

A-D G7C.1 MIRACLE AT BARKING. 185

CHAP. vn.

How it tvas indicated by a heavenly light where the bodies of the Nuns should be buried in the monastery of Barking, [a.d. 676.]

In this monastery manj miracles Avere wrought, which have been committed to writing by many, from those who knew them, that their memory might be preserved, and following generations edified ; some whereof we have also taken care to insert in our Ecclesiastical History. When the mortality, which we have already so often mentioned, ravaging all ai'ound, had also seized on that part of this monastery where the men resided, and they were daily hurried away to meet their God, the careful mother of the society began often to inquire in the convent, of the sisters, where they would have their bodies buried, and where a church-yard should be made when the same pestilence should fall upon that part of the monastery in which God's female servants were divided from the men, and they should be snatched away out of this world by the same destruction. Receiving no certain answer, though she often put the question to the sisters, she and all of them received a most certain answer from heaven. For one night, when the morning psalm was ended, and those servants of Christ were gone out of their oratory to the' tombs of the brothers who had departed this hfe before them, and were singing the usual praises to our Lord, on a sudden a light from heaven, like a great sheet, came down upon them all, and struck them Avith so much terror, that they, in consternation, left off singing. But that resplendent light, which seemed to exceed the sun at noon-day, soon after rising from that place, removed to the south side of the monastery, that is, to the westward of the oratory, and having continued there some time, and covered those parts in the sight of them all, \\dthdi'ew itself up again to heaven, leaving conviction in the minds of all, that the same hght, which was to lead or to receive the souls of those servants of God into heaven, was intended to show the place in which their bodies were to rest, and await the day of the resurrection. Tliis light was so great, that one of the eldest of the brothers, wlio at the same time was in their oratory with another younger than himself, related in the morning, that the rays

lyg bEDE's ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. [b.iv.c.8.

of li^-lit Avhich came in at the crannies of the doors and windows, seemed to exceed the utmost brightness of day- light itself.

CHAP. vni.

A little boy, dying in the same monastery, called upon a virgin that was to folloiv him ; another at the point of leaving her body, saw aome small part of tlie future glory, [a d. 67G.]

There was, in the same monastery, a boy, not above three years old, called Esica; who, by reason of his infant age, was bred up among the virgins dedicated to God, and there to pursue his studies. This child being seized by the afore- said pestilence, when he was at the last gasp, called three times upon one of the virgins consecrated to God, directing his words to her by her own name, as if she had been present, Eadgith ; Eadgith ! Eadgith ! and thus ending his temporal life, entered into that which is eternal. The virgin, whom he called, was immediately seized, where she was, with the same distemper, and departing this life the same day on which she had been called, followed him that called her into the heavenly country.

Likewise, one of those same servants of God, being ill of the same disease, and reduced to extremity, began on a sud- den, about midnight, to cry out to them that attended her, desiring they would put out the candle that was lighted there ; which, when she had often repeated, and yet no one did it, at last she said, " I know you think I speak this in a raving fit, but let me inform you it is not so ; for I tell you, that I see this house filled with so much light, that your candle there seems to me to be dark." And when still no one regarded what she said, or returned any answer, she added, " Let that candle burn as long as you will ; but take notice, that it is not my light, for my light will come to me at the dawn of the day." Then she began to tell, that a certain man of God, who had died that same year, had appeared to her, telling her that at the break of day she should depart to the heavenly light. The truth of which vision was made out by the virgin's dying as soon as the day ap^peared.

A.D. 676.] MIRACLES AT ETHELBERGA's DEATH. 187

CHAP. IX.

Of the signs which were shown from heaven when the mother of that con- gregation departed this life. [a. d. 67 G J

When Ethelberga, the pious mother of that holy congrega- tion, was about to be taken out of this world, a wonderful vision appeared to one of the sisters, called Tortgilh ; who, having lived many years in that monastery, always en- deavoured, in all humility and sincerity, to serve God, and took care to assist the same mother in keeping up regular discipline, by instructing and reproving the younger ones. Now, in order that her virtue might be perfected in affliction, according to the apostle, she was suddenly seized with a most grievous distemper, under which, through the good provi- dence of our Redeemer, she suffered very much for the space of nine years ; to the end, that whatever stain of vice re- mained amidst her virtues, either through ignorance or neglect, might all be eradicated by the fire of long tribula- tion. This person, going out of her chamber one night, just at the first dawn of the day, plainly saw as it were a human body, which was brighter than the sun, wrapped up in a sheet, and lifted up on high, being taken out of the house in which the sisters used to reside. Then looking earnestly to see what it was that drew up the glorious body which she beheld, she perceived it was drawn up as it were by cords brighter than gold, until, entering into the open heavens, it could no longer be seen by her. Eeflecting on this vision, she made no doubt that some one of the society would soon die, and her soul be lifted up to heaven by her good works as it were by golden cords, which accordingly happened ; for a few days^after, the beloved of God, Ethelberga, mother of that society, was delivered out of the prison of the flesh ; and her life is known to have been such that no person Avho knew her ought to question but that the heavenly kingdom was open to her, when she departed from this world.

There was also, in the same monastery, a certain nun, of noble worldly origin, and much nobler in the love of the world to come ; who had, for many years, been so disabled in all her body, that she could not move a single limb. Be- ing informed that the venerable abbess's body was carried

188 BEDE's ecclesiastical history. Lb. iv.c. 10.

into the church, till it could be buried, she desired to be carried thither, and to be bowed down towards it, after the manner of one praying ; wliich being done, she spoke to her as if she had been living, and entreated her that she would obtain of the niercj of our compassionate Creator, that she might be delivered from such great and lasting pains ; nor was it long before her prayer was heard : for being taken out of the flesh twelve days after, she exchanged her tempo- ral afflictions for an eternal reward. Three years after the death of this lady, the above-mentioned servant of Christ, Tortgith, was so far spent Avith the distemper before men- tioned, that her bones would scarcely hang together ; and, at last, when the time of her dissolution was at hand, she not only lost the use of her other limbs, but also of her tongue ; which having continued three days and as many nights, she was, on a sudden, relieved by a spiritual vision, opened her mouth and eyes, and looking up to heaven, began thus to direct her discourse to the vision which she saw : " Your coming is very acceptable to me, and you are wel- come ! " Having so said, she was silent awhile, as it were,' waiting for the answer of the person she saw and spoke to ; then, as if displeased, she said, " I am not pleased with this ;" then pausing awhile, she said again, " If it cannot be to- day, I beg the delay may not be long ;" and again holding her peace a short while, she concluded thus ; " K it is posi- tively so decreed, and the resolution cannot be altered, I beg that it may be no longer deferred than this next night." Having so said, and being asked by those about her to whom she talked, she said, " With my most dear mother, Ethel- berga ; " by which they understood, that she was come to acquaint her that the time of her departure was at hand ; for, as she had desired, after one day and night, she was de- livered from the bonds and infirmity of the flesh, and entered the joys of eternal salvation.

CHAP. X.

A blind woman, praying in the burial-place of that monastery, was re- stored to her sight, [a.d. 676.]

HiLDELiTH, a devout servant of God, succeeded Ethelberga in the office of abbess, and presided over that monastery

D. 694.] SEBBI, KTSG OF THE EAST SAXONS. 189

lany years, till she was of an extreme old age, with exem-

lary conduct, in the observance of regular discipline, and

1 the care of providing all things for the public use. The

arrowness of the place where the monastery is built, led

j er to think that the bones of the male and female servants

! : Christ, which had been there buried, should be taken up,

I ad translated into the church of the blessed mother of God,

I id interred in one place : whoever wishes to read it, may

; ad in the book from which we have gathered these things,

DW often a brightness of heavenly light was seen there, and

I fragrancy of wonderful odour smelled, and what other

iracles were wrought.

'. However, I think it by no means fit to pass over the

j iraculous cure, which the same book informs us was

I Tought in the church-yard of the said religious house.

i 'here lived in that neighbourhood a certain earl, whose wife

as seized with a dimness in her eyes, which at length be-

ime so bad, that she could not see the least glimpse of

ght : having continued some time in total darkness, on a

idden she bethought herself that she might recover her

. 'St sight, if she were carried to the monastery of the nuns,

id there pray for the same, at the relics of the saints. Nor

id she lose any time in performing what she had thought

:' : for being conducted by her maids to the monastery,

hich was very near, and professing that she had perfect

ith that she should be there healed, she was led into the

: irial-place, and having long prayed there on her knees, she

d not fail to be heard, for as she rose from prayer, before

le went out of the place, she received the gift of sight

hich she had desired ; and whereas she had been led thither

i her servants, she now returned home joyfully without

3lp : as if she had lost her sight to no other end than that

ic might make it appear how great light the saints en-

.yed in heaven, and how great was the power of their

rtue.

CHAP. XI.

bbi, king of the same province, ends his life in a monastery, [a.d. 694.]

T that time, as the same little book informs us, Sebbi, a ivout man, of whom mention has been made above,

190 BEDE's ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. [n. jv. a 11

governed the kingdom of the East Saxons. He was mucl addicted to rehgious actions, almsgivings, and frequen prayer ; preferring a private and monastic life to all th« wealth and honours of his kingdom, which sort of life ht would also long before have undertaken, had not his wif( positively refused to be divorced from him ; for which rea son many were of opinion, and often said so, that a persoi of such a disposition ought rather to have been a bisho] than a king. When he had been thirty years a king, and : soldier of the heavenly kingdom, he fell into a violent sick ness, of which he died, and admonished his wife, that the;; should then at least jointly devote themselves to the service o God, since they could no longer enjoy, or rather serve, th< world. Having with much difficulty obtained this of her, h« repaired to Waldhere, bishop of London, who had succeedec Earconv/ald, and with his blessing received the religiou; habit, which he had long desired. He also carried to him j considerable sum of money, to be given to the poor, reserv ing nothing to himself, but rather coveting to remain poor ii spirit for the sake of the kingdom of heaven.

When the aforesaid distemper increased upon him, and h( perceived the day of his death to be drawing near, being man of a royal disposition, he began to apprehend lest, wher under pain, and at the approach of death, he might be guilt) of anything unworthy of his person, either in words, or anj motion of his limbs. Wherefore, calling to him the aforesaic bishop of London, in which city he then was, he entreated him that none might be present at his death, besides the bishop himself, and two of his attendants. The bishop having promised that he would most willingly perform the same, not long after the man of God composed himself tc sleep, and saw a comforting vision, which took from him all anxiety for the aforesaid uneasiness ; and, moreover, showed him on what day he was to depart this life. For, as he afterwards related, he saw three men in bright garments come to him ; one of whom sat down before liis bed, whilst his companions stood and inquired about the state of the sick man they came to see : he who was sitting in front of the bed said, that his soul should depart his body without any pain, and with a great splendour of light ; and declared that he should die the third day after ; both which particulars

A.D.673.] HEDDA SUCCEEDS ELEUTHERIU3. 191

happened, as he had been informed by the vision ; for on the third day after, he suddenly fell, as it were, into a slumber, and breathed out his soul without any sense or pain.

A stone coffin having been provided for burying his body, when they came to lay it in the same, they found his body a span longer than the coffin. Hereupon they hewed away the stone, and made the coffin about two fingers longer ; but neither would it then contain the body. Under this difficulty of entombing him, they had thoughts either to get another coffin, or else to shorten the body, by bending it at the knees, if they could. But a wonderful event, caused by Providence, prevented the execution of either of those designs ; for on a sudden, in the presence of the bishop, and Sighard, the son of the king who had turned monk, and who reigned after him jointly with his brother Suefred, and of a considerable number of men, that same coffin was found to answer the length of the body, insomuch that a pillow might also be put in at the head ; and at the feet the coffin was four fingers longer than the body. He Avas buried in the church of tho blessed Apostle of the Gentiles,* by whose instructions he had learned to hope for heavenly things.

CHAP. xn.

Hedda succeeds Eleuiherius in the bishopric of the West Saxons; Cuichelm succeeds Putta in that of Rochester, and is himself succeeded hy Gebmnnd; and who were then bishops of the Norlkumbrians. [a.d. 67?..] Eleutherius was the fourth bishop of the West Saxons ; f for Birinus was the first, Agilbert the second, and Wini the third. When Kenwalk, in whose reign the said Eleutherms was made bishop, died, his under-rulers took upon them the kingdom of the people, and dividing it among themselves, held it ten vears ; and during their rule he died, and Hedda succeeded him in the bishopric, having been consecrated by Theodore, in the city of London ; during whose prelacy, Cadwalla,! having subdued and removed those rulers, took upon him the government. When he had reigned two years, and whilst the same bishop still governed the church, he quitted his sovereignty for the love of the heavenly knigdom,

♦ St. Paul's, London. f Winchester bishopric. % King of Wesser.

192 BEDe's ecclesiastical history. [b. IV. C.12.

and, going away to Rome, ended his days there, as shall be fcaid more fully hereafter.

In the year of our Lord's incarnation 676, when Ethelred, king of the Mercians, ravaged Kent with a powerful army, and profaned churches and monasteries, without regard to religion, or the fear of God, he among the rest destroyed the city of Rochester ; Putta, who was bishop, was absent at that time, but when he understood that his church was ravaged, and all things taken away, he went to Sexwulf, bishop of the Mercians,* and having received of him a certain church, and a small spot of land, ended his days there in peace ; in no way endeavouring to restore his bishopric, because (as has been said above) he was more industrious in spiritual than in worldly aifairs ; serving God only in that church, and going wherever he was desired, to teach church music. Theodore consecrated Cuichelm bishop of Rochester in his stead ; but he, not long after, departing from his bishopric for want of necessaries, and withdrawing to other parts, Gebmund was substituted in liis place.

In the year of our Lord's incarnation, 678, which is tha eighth of the reign of Egfrid, in the month of August, ap- peared a star, called a comet, which continued for three months, rising in the morning, and darting out, as it were, a pillar of radiant flame. The same year a dissensionf broke out between King Egfrid and the most reverend prelate, Wilfrid, who was driven from liis see, and two bishops substituted in his stead, to preside over the nation of the Northumbrians, namely, Bosa, to preside over the nation of the Deiri ; and Eata over that of the Bernicians ; the former having his see in the city of York, the latter in the church of Hagulstad, or else Lindisfarne ; both of them promoted to the episcopal dignity from a society of monks. With them also was Edhed ordained bishop in the province of Lindsey,| which King Egfrid had but newly subdued, having overcome and van- quished Wulf here ; and this was the first bishop of its own which that province had ; the second was Ethelwin ; th«

* Lichfield.

+ It appears that this dissension was caused by Ermenburga, E<^ruVt queen, who was jealous lest the splendour of Wilfrid's monasteries and hii stately buildings should diminish the regal honours of her husband. • i Sidnacester. See page 127.

A.D.681.J CONVERSION OP THE SOUTH SAXONS. 193

third Edgar ; the fourth Cynebert, who is there at present. Before Edhed, Sexwulf was bishop as well of that province IS of the Mercians and Midland Angles ; so that, when ex- pelled from Lindsej, he continued in the government of ;hose provinces. Edhed, Bosa, and Eata, were ordained at York by archbishop Theodore ; who also, three years after :he departure of Wilfrid, added two bishops to their number ; Pumbert, in the church of Hagulstad, Eata still continuing n that of Lindisfarne ; and Trumwine in the province of :he Picts, which at that time was subject to the English.* Edhed returning from Lindsey, because Etheked had re- covered that province, was placed by him over the church of Ripon.

CHAP. xni.

Bishop Wilfrid converts the province of the South Saawis to Christ, [a.d. 681.]

Being expelled from his bishopric, and having travelled in 5e\eral parts, Wilfrid went to Rome. He afterwards re- ;urned to Britain ; and though he could not, by reason of ;he emnity of the aforesaid king, be received into his own jountry or diocese, yet he could not be restrained from 3reaching the Gospel ; for, taking liis way into the province )f the South Saxons, which extends from Kent on the west ind south, as far as the West Saxons, and contains land of rOOO families, who at that time, were still pagans, he admin- stered to them the word of faith, and the baptism of salva- :ion. Ethelwalch, king of that nation, had been, not long

* There is some difficulty connected with the above statement of the -enerable historian, respecting the division of Wilfrid's diocese Some naintain (Wharton, Anglia Sacra, i. 693,) that the diocese of Lmdisfame, vith Hexham severed from it, was left to Wilfrid ; while others make Hex- lam and Lindisfarne to have been one diocese confen-ed on Lata, it leems more probable that Theodore divided the diocese into four bishopncs, nving York to Bosa, Hexham and Lindisfarne to Eata (which were igain divided in 684, when Tumbert was appointed to Hexham,) Lindsey o Edhed (whose see was at Sidnacester), and Abercorn, or Whitheme, m ,he Pictish territory, to Trumwine. -u w +1,0 +t,«

t The South Saxons were converted to Christianity much later than the )ther Saxon kingdoms in Britain, probably because they were cut off by lowns and marshes from communication with the rest 01 the islanrt.

194 BEDE*S ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. [b. iv. c. 13

before, baptized in the province of the Mercians, by the per- suasion of King Wulfhere, who was present, and was alsc his godfather, and as such gave him two provinces, viz. tht Isle of Wight, and the province of ]\Ieanwara,* in the natior of the West Saxons. The bishop, therefore, with the king't consent, or rather to his great satisftiction, baptized the prin- cipal generals and soldiers of that country ; and the priests. Eappa, and Padda, and Burghelm, and Eadda, either then, or afterwards, baptized the rest of the people. The queen, whose name was Ebba, had been christened in her own island, the province of the Wiccii.! vShe was the daughter of Eanfrid, the brother of Eanher, who were both Chris- tians, as were their people ; but all the province of the South Saxons were strangers to the name and faith of God. There was among them a certain monk of the Scottish na- tion, whose name was Dicul,| who had a very small monas- tery, at the place called Bosanham,§ encompassed with the sea and woods, and in it five or six brothers, who served our Lord in poverty and humility ; but none of the natives cared either to follow their course of life, or hear their preaching.

But Bishop Wilfrid, by preaching to them, not only de- livered them from the misery of perpetual damnation, but also from an inexpressible calamity of temporal death, for no rain had fallen in that province in three years before his arrival, whereupon a dreadful famine ensued, which cruelly destroyed the people. In short, it is reported, that very often, forty or fifty men, being spent with want, would go together to some precipice, or to the sea-shore, and there, hand in hand, perish by the fall, or be swallowed up by the waves. But on the very day on which the nation received the baptism of faith, there fell a soft but plentiful rain ; the earth revived again, and the verdure being restored to the

There are strong appearances of the sea having formerly run up into the land on both the east and west of this county ; and in many districts of the county primseval manners still are found.

* A district comprehending almost the eastern moiety of Hampshire.

t Inhabitants of Gloucester, Worcester, and part of Warwickshire.

t One of the companions of Fursey, mentioned in book iii. c. 19. Waa he also the Dicuil, author of a geographical work still extant ?

§ Bosham, or Bosanham, four miles fi-om Chichester, in Sussex, still retains its ancient name.

A.D. C81.] CONVERSION OF THE SOUTH SAXOXS. 1G5

fields, the season was pleasant and fruitful. Thus the for- mer superstition being rejected, and idolatry exploded, the hearts and flesh of all rejoiced in the living God, and be- came convinced that He who is the true God had, through his heavenly grace, enriched them with wealth, both temporal and spiritual. For the bishop, when he came into the pro- vince, and found so great misery from famine, taught them to get their food by fishing ; for their sea and rivers abounded in fish, but the people had no skill to take them, except eels alone. The bishop's men having gathered eel-nets every- where, cast them into the sea, and by the blessing of God took three hundred fishes of several sorts, which, being divided into three parts, they gave a hundred to the poor, a hundi*ed to those of whom they had the nets, and kept a hundred for their own use. By this benefit the bishop gained the afi-ections of them all, and they began more readily at his preaching to hope for heavenly goods, seemg that by his help they had received those which are temporal.

At this time, King Ethelwalch gave to the most reverend prelate, Wilfrid, land of eighty-seven families to maintain Ids company who were in banishment, which place is called Selsey,* that is, the Island of the Sea-Calf. That place is encompassed by the sea on all sides, except^ the west, where is an entrance about the cast of a shng in wid h ; which sort of place is by the Latins called a penmsula by the Greeks, I cherso/esus. Bishop Wilfrid, haying this pla^e given him, founded therein a monastery, which his succes ors possess to this day, and established a regular course of ife chiefly of the brethren he had brought with ^m ; foi he both in word and actions performed the duties of a b.h^^^ in those parts during the space of five years ^^"^l^ ^^^^^^^'^^^^^f King E-frid. And forasmuch as the aforesaid king, toge- &ith the said place, gave him all the good^^^^^^^^ therein, with the lands and men, ^^^'''''''''f^'^^^^^^^^ faith of Christ, and baptized them all. Among ^.hom^^ere two hundred and fifty men -"^ women slaves, ^^^^ he, by baptism, not only rescued from the seivitude ot

. Selsey, eight .iles south fron. g^ehef r Sup ^^^^-^^l

translation to Chichester.

o 2

196 bEDE's ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. [b.iv.o.14,

Devil, but gave them their bodily liberty also, and exempted them from the yoke of human servitude.

CHAP. XIV.

Hoiv a ■pestilential moriaVdy ceased through the intercession of King Oswald. [a.d. 681.]

In this monastery, at that time, certain manifestations of the heavenly grace are said to have been shown forth ; for the tyranny of the devil having been recently exploded, the faith of Christ began to prevail therein. Of which number I have thought it proper to perpetuate the memory of one which the most reverend Bishop Acca was wont to relate to me, affirming it had been told him by most creditable brothers of the same monastery. About the same time that this province of the South Saxons embraced the faith of Christ, a grievous mortality ran through many provinces of Britain; which, also, by the Divine dispensation, reached to the aforesaid monastery, then governed by the most reverend and religious priest of Christ, Eappa; and many, as well of those that had came thither with the bishop, as of those that had been called to the faith of the same i^rovince of the Soutli Saxons, were snatched away out of this world. The brethren, in consequence, though fit to keep a fast of three days, and to implore the Divine goodness, that it would vouchsafe to extend mercy to them, either by delivering those that were in danger by the distemper from death, or by delivering those Avho departed this life from eternal damnation.

There was at that time in the monastery, a little boy, of the Saxon nation, lately called to the faith, who had been seized with the same distemper, and had long kept his bed. On the second day of the fasting and praying, it happened that the said boy was, about the second hour of the day, left alone in the place where he lay sick, and through the Divine disposition, the most blessed princes of the apostles vouch- safed to appear to liim ; for he was a lad of an extraor- dinarily mild and innocent disposition, and with sincere devotion observed the mysteries "of the faith which he had received. The apostles therefore, saluting him in a most affec- tionate manner, said, " My child, do not fear death, about which you are so uneasy ; for we will this day conduct you to

A.D. ()81.1 PESTILENCE STATED BY ST. OSWALD. 197

the heavenly kingdom ; but you are first to stay till the masse? are said, that having received the body and blood of our Lord, to support you on your journey, and being so dis- charged through sickness and death, you may be carried up to the everlasting joys in heaven.

" Call therefore to you the priest, Eappa, and tell him, that the Lord has heard your prayers and devotion, and has favourably accepted of your fast, and not one more shall die of this plague, either in the monastery or its adjacent posses- sions ; but all your people who any where labour under this distemper, shall be eased of tlieir pain, and restored to their former health, except you alone, who are this day to be de- livered by death, and to b-^ carried into heaven, to behold our Lord Christ, whom you have faithfully served : this favour the Divine mercy has vouchsafed to grant you, through the intercession of the godly and dear servant of God, King Oswald, who formerly ruled over the nation of the Northum- brians, with the authority of a temporal king, and such devo- tion of Christian piety as leads to the heavenly kingdom ; for this very day that king was killed in war by the infidels, and taken up to the everlasting joys of souls in heaven, and asso- ciated among the number of the elect. Let them look in their books, wherein the departure of the dead is set down, and they will find that he Avas, this day, as we have said, taken out of this world. Let them, therefore, celebrate masses in all the oratories of this monastery, either in thanks- giving for their prayers being heard, or else in memory of the aforesaid King Oswald, who once governed their nation ; and therefore he humbly oflTered up his prayers to our Lord for them, as for strangers of his nation ; and let all the brethren, assembling in the church, communicate in the lieavenly sacrifices, and so let them cease to fast, and refresh themselves with food."

The boy called the priest, and repeated all these words to him ; the priest particularly inquired after the habit and form of the men that had appeared to him. He answered, "Their habit was noble, and their countenances most pleasant and b(^autiful, such as I had never seen before, nor did I think there could be any men so graceful and comely. One of them indeed was shorn like a clerk, the other had a long beard ; and thev said that one of them was called Peter, the

198 BEDE*S ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. [b. rv. cl:

other Paul; and both of them the servants of our Lord an( Saviour eJesus Christ, sent by him from heaven to protec our monastery." The priest believed what the boy said, and going thence immediately, looked in his chronicle, and found that King Oswald had been killed on that very day. He then called the brethren, ordered dinner to be provided, masses to be said, and all of them to communicate as usual ; causing also part of the Lord's oblation of the same sacrifice to be carried to the sick boy.

Soon after this, the boy died, on that same day ; and by his death proved that what he had heard from the apostles of God was true. A further testimony of the truth of his words was, that no person besides himself, belonging to the same monastery, died at that time. By which vision, many that heard of it were wonderfully excited to implore the Divine mercy in adversity, and to adopt the wholesome remedy of fasting. From tliat time, the day of the nativity of that king and soldier of Christ began to be yearly honoured with the celebration of masses, not only in that monastery, but in many other places.

CHAP. XV.

King Ccedtvalla, having slain Elhrlimlch, king of the West Saxons,'* wasted that Province with rapine and slaughter, [a.d. 685.]

In the meantime, Ciedwalla, a daring young man, of the royal race of the Gewiss£e,t who had been banished his country, came with an army, slew Ethelwalch, and wasted that country with mucli slaughter and plundering ; but he was soon ex- pelled by Berthun and Andhun, the king's commanders, who afterwards held the government of that province. The first of them was afterwards killed by the same Csedwalla, when he was king of the Gewissce, and the province was more en- tirely subdued: Ina, likewise, who reigned after Csedwalla, kept that country under the like servitude for several years ; for wiiich reason, during all that time, they had no bishop of their own ; but their first bishop, Wilfrid, having been re- called home, they were subject to the bishop of the Gewissae, t. e. the West Saxons, in the city of Winchester. J

* This should be South-Saxons. See page 1 93. f West SaxonB.

X The churches of Sussex were only subject to the Winchester see for about twenty- five years. See book v. ch. 18.

..0.6S6.1 ISLE OF WIGHT CONVERTED. 199

CHAP. XVI.

Hotv Ihe hk of Wight received Chrislian inluMlants, and two royal youths

of that island mere killed irr.mediately after baptism. [i.P. 686.] After Cffidwalla had possessed himself of the kingdom of the Gewissse, he also took the Isle of Wight, which till then was entirely given over to idolatry, and by cruel slaughter endeavoured to destroy all the inhabitants thereof, and to place in their stead people from his own province; having bound himself by a vow, though he was not yet, as is re- ported, regenerated in Christ, to give the fourth part of the land, and of the booty, to our Lord, if he took the island, which he performed by giving the same for our Lord to the use of Bishop Wilfrid, who happened at the time to have accidentally come thither out of his own nation. The measure of that island, according to the computation of he EngUsh, is of twelve hundred families, and accordingly the bishop 1 ad given him land of three hundred families. The part which he received, he committed to one of his clerks called Bernwin, who was his sister's son assigmng him a priest, whose nme was Hiddila, who might admimster the Lrd and baptism of salvation to all *f -»" ^.I'fi^^^^^i^^ Here I think it ought not to be omitted that the first f»ite of the natives of that^island who, by believing secur d theii salvation were two royal youths, brothers to Atwald, king rfSald, who werJ hoLured by «- P'^^-'-J^i God For when the enemy approached, they made tneir escape out of the island, and passed over into the neighbour- ing province of the Jutes ;* -'^ V^^^t tot conl ed pl4ce called At the Stone,t as *«y *«"§" *^„^' X'd to From the victorious king, they --« ^^^f/,, ^f/^^l^d be kiUed. This being made known *» ^f'';'"" „ot

priest, whose name was Cynebert, who had a monastery not Far fr'om thence, at a place called Eeodfodt tt^^^^ Ford of Reeds, he came to the king, -^'^ *™^^/he had in those parts, to be cured of *e womids received whilst he was fighting in the L,le ot vv „ .

; -^^-Stothani, between Winche^. ^f,^t::^S:^. water. X Now Redbridge, situated at the head oi lae o

200 BEDE's ecclesiastical history. [b. it. c. 17

begged of him, that if the lads must inevitably be killed, he might be allowed first to instruct them in the mysteries of the faith. The king consented, and the bishop having taught them the word of truth, and cleansed their souls by baptism, made the entrance into the kingdom of heaven sure to them. Then the executioner being at hand, theyjoyfully underwent the temporal death, through which they did not doubt they were to pass to the life of the soul, which is everlasting. Thus, after all the provinces of the island of Britain had embraced the faith of Christ, the Isle of Wight also received the same ; yet being under the affliction of foreign subjec- tion, no man there received the ministry, or rank of a bishop, before Daniel, who is now bishop of the West Saxons.*

The island is situated opposite the division between the South Saxons and the Gewissae, being separated from it by a sea, three miles over, which is called Solente. In this narrow sea, the two tides of the ocean, which flow round Britain from the immense northern ocean, daily meet and oppose one another beyond the mouth of the river Homelea,f which runs into that narrow sea, from the lands of the Jutes, which belong to the country of the Gewissas ; after this meeting and struggling together of the two seas, they return into the ocean from whence they come.

CHAP. XVII.

Of the Synod held in the plain of Heathfield, where Archbishop Theodore presided, [a.d. 680.]

About this time, Theodore being informed that the faith of the church at Constantinople was much perplexed by the heresy of Eutyches,! and desiring to preserve the churches of the English, over which he presided, from that infection, an assembly of many venerable priests and doctors was con- vened, at which he diligently inquired into their doctrines, and found they all unanimously agreed in the Catholic faith. This he took care to have committed to writing by the autho- rity of the synod* as a memorial and for the instruction of

* Winchester. f The Hamhle.

T Called Monothelitism, which maintained that the divine and human nature of Jesus Christ were so united, as to form only one nature, yet with- out any change, confusion, or mixture of the two natures.

A.D. 680.] STN'OD OF HEATHFIELD. 201

succeeding generations ; the beginning of wliicli instrument is as follows : —

" In the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, in the tenth year of the reign of our most pious lord, Egfrid, king of the Northumbrians, the seventeenth of October, the eighth indiction ; and in the sixth year of the reign of Ethelfrid, king of the Mercians, in the seventeenth year of the reign of ijdhulf, of the East Angles, in the seventh year of the reign of Lothair, king of Kent ; Theodore, by the grace of God, archbishop of the island of Britain, and of the city of Canterbury, being president, and the other venerable bishops of the island of Britain sitting with him, the holy Gospels being laid before them, at the place which, in the Saxon tongue, is called Heathfield,* we conferred together, and expounded the true and orthodox faith, as our Lord Jesus in tlie flesh dehvered the same to his disciples, who saAV him present, and heard his words, and as it is dehvered in the creed of the holy fathers, and by all holy and univer- sal synods in general, and by the consent of ail approved doctors of the Catholic church; we, therefore, foUowing them jointly and orthodoxly, and professing accordance to their divinely inspired doctrine, do believe, and do, according to the holy fathers, firmly confess, properly and truly, the Father, and Son, and Holy Ghost, a trinity consubstantial in unity, and unity in trinity, that is, one God subsisting in three consubstantial persons, of equal honour and glory.

And after much more of this sort, appertaimng to the con- fession of the true foith, tliis holy synod added to its instru- ment, " We have received the five holy and general councils of the blessed fathers acceptable to God: that is, ot dl« bishops, who were assembled at Nice, against the most im- pious Arius and his tenets ; and at Constantinople, ot loO against the madness of Macedonius and Eudoxms, and their tfnets ; and at Ephesus, first of 200 against the most wic^^^^^^^ Nestorius, and his tenets ; and at Chalcedon, of 3 oO, against Eutyches and Nestorius, and their tenets; and nga m a^ Constantinople, in a fifth council, in tbe reign ^lf^^^^!^^_ the youngerfagainst Theodorus and Theodoret ';^;^/^^^^f ties of Iba, and their tenets, against Cynl ; an^ aga m a little lower, " the synod held in the city of Rome, m the time * Now Bishop's Hatfield, in Hertfordshire.

202 BEDE's ecclesiastical history. [b. 17. c. 18

of the blessed Pope Martin, in the eighth indiction, and ir the ninth year of the most pious Emperor Constantine, w( receive : and we glorify our Lord Jesus Christ, as they glo- rified him, neither adding nor diminishing any thing anathematizing those with our liearts and mouths whonr. they anathematized, and receiving those whom they received, glorifying God the Father, who is without beginning, anc his only begotten Son generated from eternity, and the Hoi} Ghost proceeding from the Father and the Son in an ineffa- ble manner, as those holy apostles, prophets, and doctors, whom we have above-mentioned, did declare. And all we, who, with Ai'chbishop Theodore, have thus expounded the Catholic fiiitli, have also subscribed tliereto."

CHAP. XVIII.

Of JoJiUj the singer of the apostolic sc, toho came inlo Britain to teach. [a.d. 6ii0.]

A3I0NG those who were present at this synod, was the vener- able John, archchanter of the church of the holy Apostle Peter, and abbat of the monastery of St. Martin, who came lately from Rome, by order of Pope Agatho, together with the most reverend Abbat Biscop, surnamed Benedict, of whom mention has been made above, and this John, with the rest, signed the declaration of the Catholic faith. For the said Benedict, having built a monastery in Britain, in honour of the most blessed prince of the apostles, at the mouth of the river Were,* went to Rome with Ceolfrid, his companion and fellow-labourer in that work, who was after him abbat of the same monastery ; he had been several times before at Rome, and was now honourably received by Pope Agatho of blessed memory ; from whom he also obtained the confirmation of the immunities of this monastery, being a bull of privilege signed by apostolical authority, pursuant to what he knew to be the will and grant of King Egfrid, by whose consent and gift of land he had built that monastery. He then received the aforesaid Abbat John to be con- ducted into Britain, that he might teach in his monastery the method of singing throughout the year, as it was prac-

* Now called Monk-Wearmouth. Venerable Bede passed the earlv part of his monastic life in this eslaljlishment.

A.u. 680.] ABBAT JOHN ATTENDS THE SYNOD. 203

tised at St. Peter's at Rome. The Abbat John did as he had been commanded by the pope, teacliing the singers of the said monastery the order and manner of singing and reading aloud, and committing to writing all that was requisite throughout the Avhole course of the year for the celebration of festivals ; all which are still observed in that monastery, and have been copied by many others elsewhere. The said John not only taught the brothers of that monas- tery ; but such as had skill in singing resorted from almost all the monasteries of the same province to hear him; and many invited him to teach in other places.

Besides singing and reading, he had also been directed by the pope, carefully to inform himself concerning the faith o." the English church, and to give an account thereof at his return to Rome. For he also brought with him the decision of the synod of the blessed Pope Martin and 105 bishops, held not long before at Rome, principally against those who taught but one will and operation in Christ, and gave it to be transcribed in the aforesaid monastery of the most reli- gious Abbat Benedict. The men who followed such opinion, much perplexed the faith of the church of Constantinople at that time ; but by the help of God they were then discovered and subdued. Wherefore, Pope Agatho, being desirous to be informed concerning the state of the church in Britain, as well as in other provinces, and to what extent it was clear from the contagion of heretics, gave this affair in charge to the most reverend Abbat John, then appointed to go to Britain. The synod we have spoken of having been called for this purpose in Britain, the Catholic fiiith was found un- tainted in them all, and a copy of the same given him to carry to Rome.

But in his return to his own country, soon after crossing the sea, he fell &ick and died; and his body, for the sake of St. Martin, in whose monastery he presided, was by his friends carried to Tours, and honourably buried ; for he had been kindly entertained there when he went into Britain, and earnestly entreated by the brethren, that in his return to Rome he would take that road, and give them a visit. In short, he was there supplied with some to conduct him on his way, and assist him in the work enjoined him. ^ Though he died by the way, yet the testimony of the faith of the

204 BEDE's ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. [b. iv. c. 19

English nation was carried to Rome, and most agreeably received by the apostolic pope, and all those that heard or read it.

CHAP. XIX.

TIou- Queen EtheldrirJa always preserved her virpinity, and her body suf- fered no corruption in the grave, [a.d. 660.]

Kixa Egfrid took to wife, Etheldrida, the dangliter of Anna, king of the East Angles, of whom mention has been often made; a man very rehgioiis, and in all respects renowned for his inward disposition and actions. She had before been given in marriage to another, viz. to Tonbert, cliief of the Southern Girvii ;* but he died soon after he had received her, and she was given to the aforesaid king. Though she lived with him twelve years, yet she preserved the glory of perfect virginity, as I was informed by Bishop Wilfrid, of blessed memory, of whom I inquired, because some ques- tioned the truth thereof; and he told me that he was an undoubted witness of her virginity, forasmuch as Egfrid promised he would give many lands and much money, if he could persuade the queen to consent to pay the marriage duty, for he knew the queen loved no man so much as him- self; and it is not to be doubted that the same might in one instance take place in our age, which true histories tell us happened several times in former ages, through the assist- ance of the same Lord who has promised to continue with us unto the end of the world ; for the miraculous circumstance that her flesh, being buried, could not suffer corruption, is a token that she had not been defiled by familiarity with man.

She had long requested the king, that he would permit her to lay aside worldly cares, and to serve only the true King, Christ, in a monastery ; and having at length with difficulty prevailed, she went as a nun into the monastery of the Abbess Ebba,t who Avas aunt to King Egfrid, at the place called the city Coludi,J having taken the veil from the hands of the aforesaid Bishop Wilfrid ; but a year after she

* See note at page 143

+ Ebba was the dau2:hter of King Ethelfrid, and the sister of Oswald, and half-sister of King Oswy. + Coldini^ham, Berwickshire.

A.D. 660.] QUEEN ETHELDRLDA, ABBESS. 205

was herself made abbess in the country called Ely, where, having built a monastery,* she began, by works and exam- oles of a heavenly life, to be the virgin mother of very many rirgins dedicated to God. It is reported of her, that from :he time of her entering into the monastery, she never wore my linen but only woollen garments, and would rarely wash u a hot bath, unless just before any of the great festivals, IS Easter, Whitsuntide, and the Epiphany, and then she did t last of all, after having, with the assistance of those about ler, first washed the other servants of God there present ; )esides, she seldom did eat above once a day, excepting on he great solemnities, or some other urgent occasion, unless ;ome considerable distemper obliged her. From the time of natins she continued in the church at prayer till it was day ; ;ome also say, that by the spirit of prophecy, she, in the pre- lence of all, not only foretold the pestilence of which she was 0 die, but also the number of those that should be then .natched away out of her monastery. She was taken to our Lord, in the midst of her flock, seven years after she had )een made abbess ; and, as she had ordered, was buried imong them, in such a manner as she had died, in a wooden ofiin.

She was succeeded in the office of abbess by her sister ^exberga,t who had been wife to Erconbert, king of Kent ; vho, when her sister had been buried sixteen years, thought it to take up her bones, and, putting them into a new coffin 0 translate them into the church. Accordingly she ordered ome of the brothers to provide a stone to make a coffin of; hey accordingly went on board sliip, because the country of ^Aj is on every side encompassed with the sea or marshes, ,nd has no large stones, and came to a smaU abandoned city, lot far from thence, which, in the language of the^ Enghsh, s called Grantchester,{ and presently, near the city walls,

• Aldwulf, king of the East Aiigles, and brother to Etheldrida, supplied ne funds for building this moiiustery. Bentham ^«"Jff .^^J.^^^"^ aperintendence of the wall .vas committed to Bishop Wilfrid from whom :theldrida received the benediction as abbess. After the Is orman Con - uest, Ely was made a bishop's see, a.d. 1107. ^ „, ;„ +>,^ TsIp

t Before Sexberga retired to Ely, she founded a ^^^^^f J7 "^ the isle f Slieppev, for seventv-seven nuns, over whom she placed an abbess, ner r.iiehterErmenilda, queen dowa2;er of Mercia. ^

: Near Can.bridg3. The coffin found here was a relic of ancient Koman rt.

206 BEDE's ecclesiastical HISTOKT. [b. IV. c. IS

they found a white marble coffin, most beautifully wrought and neatly covered with a lid of the same sort of stone Concluding therefore that God had prospered their journey they returned thanks to him, and carried it to the monastery The body of the holy virgin and spouse of Christ, whei her grave was opened, being brought into sight, was foun( as free from corruption as if she had died and been buriec on that very day ; as the aforesaid Bishop Wilfrid, an( many others that know it, can testify. But the physician Cynefrid, who was present at her death, and when she wa taken up out of the grave, was wont of more certain know ledge to relate, that in her sickness she had a very grea sweUing under her jaw. "And I was ordered," said he " to lay open that swelling, to let out the noxious matter ii it, which I did, and she seemed to be somewhat more easA for two days, so that many thought she might recover fron her distemper ; but the third day the former pains returning she was soon snatched out of the world, and exchanged al pain and death for everlasting life and health. And wher so many years after her bones were to be taken out of tht grave, a pavilion being spread over it, all the congregatior of brothers were on the one side, and of sisters on the other, standing about it singing, and the abbess, with a few, being gone to take up and wash the bones, on a sudden we hearci the abbess within loudly cry out, ' Glory be to the name oi the Lord.' Not long after they called me in, opening tht door of the pavilion, where I found the body of the holy vir- gin taken out of the grave and laid on a bed, as if it had been asleep ; then taking off the veil from the face, they also showed the incision which I had made, healed up ; so that, to my great astonishment, instead of the open gaping wound with which she had been buried, there then appeared only an extraordinarily slender scar.

"Besides, all the linen cloths in which the body had been buried, appeared entire and as fresh as if they had been that very day wrapped about her chaste limbs." It is reported, that when she was much troubled with the aforesaid swel- hng and pain in her jaw, she was much pleased with that sort of distemper, and wont to say, " I know that I deserv- edly bear the weight of my sickness on my neck, for I re- member, when I was very young, I bore there the needless

A.D. 6C0. BEDE S HYMN ON VIRGINITY. 207

weight of jewels ; and tlicrefore I believe tlie Divine good- ness would have me endure the pain in my neck, that I may be absolved from the guilt of my needless levity, having now, instead of gold and precious stones, a red swelling and burn- ing on my neck." It happened also that by the touch of that linen, devils were expelled from bodies possessed, and other distempers Avere sometimes cured ; and the coffin she wa^s first buried in is reported to have cured some of distempers in the eyes, who, praying with their heads touching that coffin, presently were delivered from the pain or dimne* in their eyes. They washed the virgin's body, and having clothed it in new garments, brought it into the church, and laid it in the coffin that had been brought, where it is held in great veneration to this day. The coffin was found in a wonderful manner, as fit for the virgin's body as if it had been made purposely for her, and the place for the head par- ticularly cut, exactly fit for her head, and shaped to a nicety.

Ely is in the province of the East Angles, a country of about six hundred families, in the nature of an island, en- closed, as has been said, either with marshes or waters, and therefore it has its name from the great plenty of eels taken in those marshes ; there the aforesaid servant of Christ de- sired to have a monastery, because, as we have before ob- served, she was descended from that same province of the East Angles.

CHAP. XX.

A Hymn on the aforesaid Holy Virgin, [ad. 630.] I THINK it proper to insert in this history a hymn of vir- ginity, which I composed in elegiac verse several years ago, in praise and honour of the same queen and spouse of Christ ; and therefore truly a queen, because the spouse of Christ ; and to imitate the method of the Holy Scripture, in whose history many poetical pieces are inserted wliich are known to be composed in metre.

Hail, Triune Power, who nilest every age, Assist the numbers wiiich my pen engage. Let Maro wars in loftier numbers sin^r, 1 sound the praises of our heavenly King.

208 BEDE's ecclesiastical history. [uiv.

Chaste is my verse, nor Helen's rape I ^vrite ; Light tales like these, but prove the mind as liglit. See ! from on high tlie God descends, confined In Mary's womb, to rescue lost mankind. Behold ! a spotless maid a God brings forth, A God is bom, who gave e'en nature birth ! The virgin- choir the mother-maid resound, And chaste themselves, her praises shout around. Her bright example numerous vot'ries raise- Tread spotless paths, and imitate her ways. The blessed Agatha and Eulalia trust Sooner to flames, than far more dangerous lust. *■" Tecla and chaste Euphemia overcame The fear of beasts to save a virgin name. Agnes and sweet Cecilia, joyful maids. Smile while the pointed swords their breasts invades. Triumphing joy attends the peaceful soul. Where heat, nor rain, nor wishes mean control. Thus Etheldrida, pure from sensual crime. Bright shining star ! arose to bless our time. Bom of a regal race, her sire a king. More noble honour to her lord shall bring. A queen her name, her hand a sceptre rears, But greater glories Avait above the spheres. What man wouldst thou desire ? See Christ is made Her spouse, her blessed Redeemer weds the maid. While you attend the heavenly Mother's train. Thou shalt be mother of a heavenly reign. The holy maid who twelve years sat a queen, A cloister'd nun devote to God was seen. Noted for pious deeds, her spotless soul Left the vile world, and soar'd above the pole. Sixteen Novembers since was the blest maid Entomb 'd, whose flesh no putrid damps invade. Thy grace, O Clirist ! for in the coffin's found No tainted vest wi-apping the corpse around. The swelling dropsy, and dire atrophy, A pale disease from the blest vestments flv. Rage fires the fiend, who whilom Eve betray'd, While shouting angels hail the glorious maid. See ! wedded to her God, what joy remains. In earth, or heaven, see ! with her God she reigns ! Behold ! the spouse, the festal torches shine, He comes ! behold ! what joyful gifts are thine ! Thou a new song on the sweet harp shalt sing, A hymn of praise to thy celestial King. None from the flock of the throned Lamb shall move, Whom grateful passion bind, and heavenly love.

A.D. 679.J A CAPTIVE FREED FROM HIS CHAINS. 209

CHAP. XXI.

Bishop Theodore made peace between the kings Egfrid and Eihelreri. [a.d. 679.]

In the ninth year of the reign of Eang Egfrid, a great battle was fought between him and Etheh-ed, king of the Mercians, near the river Trent, and Elfwin, brother to King Egfrid, was slain, a youth about eighteen years of age, and much beloved by both provinces, for King Ethelred had mai-ried his sister Osthritha. There was now reason to expect a more bloody war, and more lasting enmity between those kings and their fierce nations ; but Theodore, the bishop, beloved of God, relying on the Divine assistance, by his wholesome admonitions extinguished the dangerous fire that was breaking out ; so that the kings and their people on both sides being appeased, no man was put to death, but only the usual mulct paid to the king for his brother that had been killed ; and this peace continued long after between those kings and their kingdoms.

CHAP. XXII.

How a certain captive's chains fell off ivhen masses were sung for hiin. [a.d. 679.]

In the aforesaid battle, wherein Elf^vdn, the king's brother, was killed, a memorable fact is known to have happened, which I think ought not to be passed by in silence ; for the relation of the same will conduce to the salvation of many. In that battle, one Imma, a youth belonging to the king, was left as dead, and having lain so all that day and the next night among the dead bodies, at length he came to himself, and sitting, bound up his wounds in the best way he coulcL Then having rested awhile, he stood up, and began to go off to seek some friends that might take care of him ; but in so doing he was discovered and taken by some of the enemy s army, and carried before their lord, who was an earl belonging to King Ethelred. Being asked by him who he was, and fearing to own himself a soldier, he answered, " He was a peasant, poor and married, and that he j;ame^to the army with others to bring provisions to the soldiers. Ihe earl entertained him, and ordered his wounds to be dressed ; and when he began to recover, to prevent his escaping, he

p

210 BEDE's ecclesiastical history. [b.iv. c.^2.

ordered liirn to be bound : but that could not be performed, for as soon as they that bound him were gone, his bonds were all loosened.

He had a brother called Tunna, who was a priest and abbat of a monastery in the city which from him is still called Tunnacester.* Hearing that his brother had been killed in the fight, he went to see whether he could find his body ; and finding another very like him in all respects, concluding it to be his, he carried the same to his monastery, and buried it honourably, and took care often to say masses for the absolution of his soul ; the celebration whereof occasioned what I have said, that none could bind him but he was presently loosed again. In the meantime, the earl that kept him was amazed, and began to inquire why he could not be bound ; whether he had any spells about him, as are spoken of in fabulous stories. He answered, " He knew nothing of those contrivances ; but I have," said he, " a brother who is a priest in my country, and I know that he, supposing me to be killed, causes masses to be said for me ; and if I were now in the other life, my soul there, tlirough ills intercession, would be delivered from pain."

Having continued with the earl some time, those who attentively observed him, by his countenance, mien, and discourse, took notice, that he was not of the meaner sort, as he had said, but of some quality. The earl then privately sending for him, pressed to know who he was, promising to do him no harm, if he would ingenuously confess his quality. Which when he had done, declaring that he had been the king's servant, the earl answered, " I perceived by your answers that you were no peasant. And now you deserve to die, because all my brothers and relations were killed in that fight ; yet I will not put you to death, because it will be a breach of my promise."

As soon, therefore, as he was recovered, he sold him at London, to a Freson, but he could not be bound by him the whole way as he was led along ; but though his enemies put

* Perhaps Tovecester, of the Domesday -book, "a city and fortified place on the river Tove," which is considered to have been a Roman station, and on the north side of which are the ruins of a Saxon tower. It is now called Towcester, a market town in Northamptonshire. The letters n and v are repeatedly conlbunded together in deciphering old MSS.

.D. 680.] OF THE ABBESS ST. HILDA. 211

everal sorts of* bonds on him, they were all loosed. The uyer, perceiving that he could in no way be bound, gave im leave to ransom himself if he could ; now it was at the bird hour (nine in the morning) when the masses were ront to be said, that his bonds were generally loosed. He, aving taken an oath that he would either return, or send im the money for his ransom, went into Kent to King jothaire, who was son to the sister of Queen Etheldrida, bove spoken of, for he had once been her servant. From im he obtained the price of his ransom, and as he had romised, sent it to his master.

Returning afterwards into his own country, and coming to is brother, he gave him an exact account of all his fortunes, cod and bad; and by his relation he understood, that his onds had been generally loosed at those times when masses ad been celebrated for him; and that other advantages rhich had accrued to him in his time of danger, had been onferred on him from Heaven, through the intercession of is brother, and the oblation of his saving sacrifice. Many ersons, on hearing this account from the aforesaid man, rere stirred up in the faith and devotion of piety either to rayer, or to alms-giving, or to offer up to our Lord the acrifice of the holy oblation, for the deliverance of their riends who had departed this world; for they understood nd knew that such saving sacrifice was available for the ternal redemption both of body and soul. This story was Iso told me by some of those who had heard it related by tie person himself to whom it happened; therefore, I have bought fit to insert it in my Ecclesiastical History as I had ; related to me.

CHAP. xxni.

Of the life and death of the Abbess Hilda, [a.d. 680.] N the year of the incarnation of our Lord 680, the most eligious servant of Christ, Hilda, abbess of the monastery hat is called Streaneshalch,* as above-mentioned, after hav- Qg performed many heavenly works on earth, passed from hence to receive the rewards of the heavenly life, on the 7th of November, at the age of sixty-six years ; the first * Whitby, see pages 151, 155. F 2

212 BEDE's ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. [b.iv. c.23|

thirty-three of which she spent living most nobly in the secular habit ; and more nobly dedicated the remaining halJ to our Lord in a monastic life. For she was nobly born, being the daughter of Hereric, nephew to King Edwin, with which king she also embraced the faith and mysteries oi Christ, at the preaching of Paulinus, the first bishop of the Northumbrians, of blessed memory, and preserved the same undefiled till she attained to tlie sight of him in heaven.

Resolving to quit the secular habit, and to serve him alone, she withdrew into the province of the East Angles, for she was alUed to the king ; being desirous to pass over from thence into France, to forsake her native country and all she had, and so Hve a stranger for our Lord in the monastery of Cale,* that she might with more ease attain to the eternal kingdom in heaven ; because her sister Here- suid, mother to Aldwulf, king of the East Angles, at that time living in the same monastery, under regular discipline, was waiting for her eternal reward. Being led by her ex- ample, she continued a whole year in the aforesaid province, with the design of going abroad ; afterwards. Bishop Aidan being recalled home, he gave her the land of one family on the north side of the river Wear ; where for a year she also led a monastic life, with very few companions.

After this she was made abbess in the monastery called Heruteu,t which monastery had been founded, not long be- fore, by the religious servant of Christ, Heiu,J who is said to have been the first woman that in the province of the Northumbrians took upon her the habit and life of a nun, being consecrated by Bishop Aidan ; but she, soon after she had founded that monastery, went away to the city of Cal- cacestir,§ and there fixed her dwelling. Hilda, the servant of Christ, being set over that monastery, began immediately to reduce all things to a regular system, according as she had been instructed by learned men ; for Bishop Aidan, and other religious men that knew her and loved her, frequently visited and diligently instructed her, because of her innate wisdom and inclination to the service of God.

When she had for some years governed this monastery,

^ * Chelles, ten miles from Paris. See iii. 8, p. 121. f Hartlepool.

See p. 151. + Leiand and Cressy confound Heiu with St. Bega or Bees. § Tadcaster, Newton Kyme, or Inglebv Abberforth.

A. D. 680.1 LIFE OF ST. HILDA. 213

wholly intent upon establishing a regular life, it happened that she also undertook either to build or to arrano-e a monastery in the place called Streaneshalch, [Wliitby,*] which work she industriously performed; for she put this monastery under the same regular discipline as she had done the former; and taught there the strict observance of justice, piety, chastity, and other virtues, and particularly of peace and charity; so that, after the example of the primitive church, no person was there rich, and none poor, all being in common to all, and none having any property. Her pru- dence Avas so great, that not only indifferent persons, but even kings and princes, as occasion offered, asked and re- ceived her advice; she obliged those who were under her direction to attend so much to reading of the Holy Scrip- tures, and to exercise themselves so much in works of justice, that many might be there found fit for ecclesiastical duties, and to serve at the altar.

In short, we afterwards saw five bishops taken out of that monastery, and all of them men of singular merit and sanc- tity, whose names were Bosa, Hedda, Oftfor, John, and Wilfrid.j We have above taken notice, that the first of them was consecrated bishop at York ; of the second, it is to be observed that he was appointed bishop of Dorchester. Of the two last we shall speak hereafter, as they were con- secrated : the first was bishop of Hagulstad, the second of the church of York ; of the third, we will here take notice that, having applied himself to the reading and observation of the Scriptures in both the monasteries of Hilda, at length, being desirous to attain to greater perfection, he went into Kent, to Archbishop Theodore, of blessed memory ; where having spent some more time in sacred studies, he also re-

• Camden, speaking of Whitby, says, « Here are found stones resembling snakes rolled up, the sports of nature, which she, as one observes, amuses herself with creating when wearv of producing realities and serious pro- ductions. You would think they had once been snakes, covered over with a crust of stone. Report ascribes them to the prayers of Hilda, as if changed by her, who in the early Saxon church opposed with all her might the tonsure of priests and the celebration of Easter according to the Roman ritual." Brit. edit. Gough, 1789, vol. iii. p. 17. , j\

+ Bosa was bishop of York ; Hedda of Dorchester, and translated to Winchester ; Oftfor of Worcester ; John (the famous St. John of Beverley, book V. c. 2,) of Hexham, translated to York ; Wilfrid of York.

214 BEDE's ecclesiastical history. [b.jv.c.:-

solved to go to Rome, which, in those days, was reckoned of great moment : returning thence into Britain, he took lii? way into the province of the Wiccii, where King Osric then ruled,* and continued there a long time, preaching the word of faith, and making himself an example of good life to all that saw and heard him. At that time, Bosel, the bishop of that province,! laboured under such weakness of body, that he could not perform the episcopal functions ; for which reason, this Oftfor was, by universal consent, chosen bishop in his stead, and by order of King Ethelred, consecrated by Bishop Wilfrid,! of blessed memory, who was then bishop of the Midland Angles, because Archbishop Theodore was dead, and no other bishop ordained in his place. Before the aforesaid man of God, Bosel, Tatfrid, a most learned and industrious man, and of excellent ability, had been chosen bishop there, from the same abbess's monastery, but had been snatched away by an untimely death, before he could be ordained.

Thus this servant of Christ, Abbess Hilda, whom all that knew her called Mother, for her singular piety and grace, was not only an example of good life, to those that lived in her monastery, but alForded occasion of amendment and sal- vation to many who lived at a distance, to whom the fame was brought of her industry and virtue ; for it was neces- sary that the dream which her mother, Bregusuit, had, during her infancy, should be fulfilled. At the time that her husband, Hereric, lived in banishment, under Cerdic, king of the Britons, where he was also poisoned, she fancied, in a dream, that she was seeking for him most carefully, and could find no sign of him any where ; but, after having used all her industry to seek him, she found a most precious jev/el under her garment, which, whilst, she was looking on it very attentively, cast such a light as spread itself through- out all Britain ; which dream was brought to pass in her daughter that we speak of, whose life was a bright example, not only to herself, but to all who desired to live well.

* Qsric probably had the supremacy of the whole of the province of Wiccii, or Magesetania, (Gloucestershire and Worcestershire) ; although Oswald may have held Worcestershire as an appanage.

+ Bosel was appointed the first bishop of Worcester, a.d. 679.

t Wilfrid was now restored to the see of York.

A.D.6S0.J DEATH OF ST. HILDA. 215

When she had governed this monastery many years, it pleased Him who has made such merciful provision for our salvation, to give her holy soul the trial of a long sickness, to the end that, according to the apostle's example, her vir- tue might be perfected in infirmity. FaUing into a fever, she fell into a violent heat, and was afflicted with the same for six years continually ; during all which time she never failed either to return thanks to her Maker, or publicly and privately to instruct the flock committed to her charge ; for by her own example she admonished all persons to serve God dutifully in perfect health, and ahvays to return thanks to him in adversity, or bodily infirmity. In the seventh year of her sickness, the distemper turning inwards, she approached her last day, and about cockcrowing, having re- ceived the holy communion to further her on her way, and called together the servants of Christ that were within the same monastery, she admonished them to preserve evangel- ical peace among themselves, and with all others ; and as she was making her speech, she joyfully saw death approaching, or if I may speak in the words of our Lord, passed from death to life.

That same night it pleased Ahnighty God, by a manifest vision, to make known her death in another monastery, at a distance from hers, which she had built that same year, and is called Hackness.* There was in that monastery, a certain nun called Begu,t who, having dedicated her virginity to God, had served him upwards of thirty years in monastical conversation. This nun, being then in the dormitory of the sisters, on a sudden heard the well-known sound of a bell in the air, which used to awake and call them to prayers, when any one of them was taken out of this world, and opening her eyes, as she thought, she saw the top of the house open, and a strong light pour in from above ; looking earnestly

» Hackness, thirteen miles from Whitby, was a cell belonging to Whitby Abbey, which at the dissolution contained four monks of the Benedictine order. Hilda erected several cells or smaller convents as appanages to

^+ St'Bega, better kno^vn as St. Bees, from the monastery built by her at the place named after her, near Copeland ^^l'f',^'''^''f''^\JlZ is a legendary account of her printed in the Carlisle ^Jf l^'. ^''^^^.^^^^Xh Ionian MSS/Faust. B. 4, fol. 122-139, as well as m the Lives of English Samts, No. VI.

216 BEDE's ECCLESIASTICAL HISTOET. [n.mc.23.

upon that light she saw the soul of the aforesaid ser- vant of God in that same light, attended and conduld to heaven by angels. Then awaking, and seein., the other s,s ers lying round about her, she°pereeived tb^'at what she had seen was either in a dream or a vision ; and risino-tmme! diately m a great fright, she ran to the virgin wlio t"ren re- sided m the monastery instead of the abbess, a> whose ame was Frigyth, and, with many tears and sighs told her

ife, and had in her sight ascended to eternal bliss and t„ the company of the inhabitants of heaven with, o-i^

injurs ;;.;i».-s-j;w^^

the otheS^eTd Id. ^'^Zs' ? Z'CZ '""' b^"

^'Kri^sii^x n -- r,^^r--^^^

into tiie spiritual Ife which '^r™:? "t;'" """'"^"'^'^ are aboujtMrteen miles ^J^ frlmtch ^t'h^^ ~'^-'<'^

w: ;t^x;^rironeVr hT "^ ^ ^^=°"' -^«

her most passionatetv ;„ t? ^ '"''^ "''S"'^ ^^o 'oved

servant of Sod d^ef ' Z^ '™' """"astery where the said ven in the mnmit J "i"" '^"^ '"''" '™' "^-"^"d to hea- verysamrhouTtEf.r='''%= ™^"''-' ^'^^ <'<'«'«'-«'l. '^e that^ were ^th her ^nPT't' '" !^T ■''^^™"'' "^ Cirist soul, evenbefore the'ret of tt'""^ *"" -'^ P^^ '""^ '^''^ her death. The truth of wh' I '=°"g'-fg«'°" had heard of monastery in the morn nf Tit '''' '™°^° *" '^'^ ^'''«'« with some other s^van f "of O^ • f'^'' """ ^^^ ^* t>>^' t™" tlie monastery, wherltle 12 ' "^ *" "■'''""'^^^ P''^' °f to be upon faJ, tU hev we,V''^'^,T'''''''^^^^'^'-«^''"t taken inio the so ie^^LIoT^rlS'^ '°^'™"='^'^' '^"'^

A.D. 680.J C.EDMON mSPniED TO WRITE POETRY. 217

CHAP. XXIV.

There was in the same monastery a brother, on tnhom the gift of writing verses was bestoived by heaven, [a.d. 680.]

There was in this abbess's monastery a certain brother, par- ticularly remarkable for the grace of God, who was wont to make pious and religious verses, so that whatever was inter- preted to him out of Scripture, he soon after put the same into poetical expressions of much sweetness and humihty, in English, which was his native language. By his verses the minds of many were often excited to despise the world, and to aspire to heaven. Others after him attempted, in the English nation, to compose religious poems,* but none could ever compare "vvith him, for he did not learn the art of poetry from men, but from God ; for which reason he never could compose any trivial or vain poem, but only those which relate to religion suited his rehgious tongue ; for having lived in a secular habit till he was well advanced in years, he had never learned any tiling of versifying ; for which reason being some- times at entertainments, when it was agreed for the sake of mirth that all present should sing in their turns, when he saw the instrument come towards him, he rose up from table and returned home.

Having done so at a certain time, and gone out of the house where the entertainment was, to the stable, where he had to take care of the horses that night, he there composed himself to rest at the proper time ; a person appeared to him in his sleep, and saluting him by his name, said, " Credmon, sing some song to me." He answered, " I cannot sing ; for that was the reason why I left the entertainment, and retired to tliis place, because I could not sing." The other who talked to liim, replied, " However you shall sing." — " What shall I sing ?" rejoined he. "Sing the beginning of created beings," said the other. Hereupon he presently began to

* From what Bede savs of Caedmon and his imitators, and from some other circumstances, it seems probable that the vernacular rehgious feelmg was composed chiefly during the rears Avhich intervened between the age of the poet (a.d. 680,)" and that of the historian (a.d. 731.)— « right s Essay on the Literature of the Anglo-Saxons.

218 BEDE's ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. [b.iv. c.24.

sing verses to the praise of God, which he had never heard, the purport whereof was thus : — We are now to praise the Maker of the heavenly kingdom, the power of the Creator and his counsel, the deeds of the Father of glorj. How he, being the eternal God, became the author of all miracles, who first, as almighty preserver of the human race, created heaven for the sons of men as the roof of the house, and next the earth. This is the sense, but not the words in order as he sang them in his sleep ; for verses, though never so well composed, cannot be literally translated out of one language into another, -without losing much of their beauty and loftiness. Awaking from liis sleep, he remembered all that he had sung in his dream, and soon added much more to the same effect in verse wortliy of the Deity.

In the morning he came to the steward, his superior, and having acquainted him with the gift he had received, was conducted to the abbess, by whom he was ordered, in the presence of many learned men, to tell his dream, and repeat the verses, that they might all give their judgment what it was, and whence his verse proceeded. They all concluded, that heavenly grace had been conferred on him by our Lord. They expounded to him a passage in holy writ, either historical, or doctrinal, ordering him, if he could, to put the same into verse.* Having undertaken it, he went away, and returning the next morning, gave it to them composed in most excel- lent verse; whereupon the abbess, embracing the grace of God in the man, instructed him to quit the secular habit, and take upon him the monastic life ; which being accordingly done, she associated him to the rest of the brethren in her monastery, and ordered that he should be taught the whole series of sacred history. Thus Caedmon, keeping in mind all he heard, and as it were chewing the cud, converted the same into most harmonious verse ; and sweetly repeating the same, made his masters in their turn his hearers. He sang the creation of the world, the origin of man, and all the history of Genesis : and made many verses on the departure of the children of Israel out of Egypt, and their entering

* A part of one of Csedmon's poems is preserved in King Alfred's Saxon version of Bede's History. The original may be seen in Turner's Anglo- Saxons, (book ix. c. 1, vol. iii. p. 302,) with a literal translation.

A.D.680.] DEATH OF C^EDMON. 219

into the land of promise, with many other histories from holv writ ; the incarnation, passion, resurrection of our Lord, and his ascension into heaven ; the coming of the Iloly Ghost, and the preaching of the apostles ; also the terror of future judgment, the horror of the pains of hell, and the delights of heaven ; besides many more about the Divine beneiits and judgments, by which he endeavoured to turn away all men from the love of vice, and to excite in them the love of, and appKcation to, good actions ; for he was a very religicnis man, humbly submissive to regular discipline, but full of zeal against those who behaved themselves otherwise ; for which reason he ended his life happily.

For when the time of his departure drew near, he laboured for the space of fourteen days under a bodily infirmity which seemed to prepare the way, yet so moderate tliat he could talk and walk the whole time. In his neighbourhood was the house to which those that were sick, and hke sliortly t<.) die, were carried. He desired the person that attendiHl liim, in the evening, as the night came on in which he was to de- part this life, to make ready a place there for him to take his rest. This person, wondering why he should desire it, because there was as yet no sign of his dying soon, did what he had ordered. He accordingly vrent there, and conversing pleasantly in a joyful manner with the rest that were in the house before, when it was past midnight, he asked them, whether they had the Eucharist there ? Tliey answered, " What need of the Eucharist ? for you are not likely to die, since you talk so merrily with us, as if you were in perfect health."—" However," said he, " bring me the Eucharist." Having received the same into his hand, he asked, whether they were all in charity with him, and without any enmity or rancour ? They answered, that they were all in perfect charity, and free from anger ; and in their turn asked him, whether he was in the same mind towards them? He answered, " I am in charity, my children, with all the servants of God." Then strengthening himself with the heavenly viaticum, he prepared for the entrance into another life, and asked, how near the time was when the brothers were to be awakened to sing the nocturnal praises of our Lord ? They answered, " It is not far off." Then he said, " Well, let lis wait that hour :" and signing himself with the sign ot the

220 BEDe's ecclesiastical history. [b. IV. c. 25.

cross he laid his head on the piUow, and faUing into a slumber- ended his hfe so in silence. ^' ^ Thus it came to pass, that as he had served God with a simple and pure mind, and undisturbed devotion, so he now departed to his presence, leaving the world bja quiet death- and that tongue, wliich had composed so many holy words in praise of the Creator, uttered its last words whilst he was in the act of signing himself with the cross, and recommending himself into his hands, and by what has been here said, he seems to have had foreknowledge of his death.

CHAP. XXV.

Of the vision that appeared to a certain man of God before the monastery of the city Coludi was burned down. [a.d. 679 ]

Co^Iudf nh^' *^\.^^"ftery Of Virgins, called the city of Coludi, above-mentioned, was burned down, tlirou^rh care- lessness ; and yet all that knew tlie same, might obsc™ X't

chierrftl ''""f '''' "^^^^ ^^ ^^-- -ho^dwelt in t, and chiefly of those who seemed to be the greatest. But iheie

corrected, and by fasting, prayers, and tears Hke tliP Ninevites, have averted the anW of 'the just JudW '

oJ^ L""^' '^ -^^'^^ monastery a man of the Scottish race caUed Adamnan,- leading a life entirely devoted to God Tn

or dlk'^xo' rT' '^r T^^ '''^' ^- --^ *-k any food or clunk, except only on Sundays and Thursdays • but oft^n

ZTj^'fT/''' '" P^^^^^- ^^his austerityTf lift he la fiit adopted from_ necessity to correct his evH propensUies For rTf: ^-\tl- necessity became a custom '

ungiii avoid the future wrath of f^nrl ^Ur. • ^ i. • heard U. offence, .aid, " A te^^^^orf^eS tTeS

A.D. 679. MONASTERY OF COLDINGHAM BURNT. 221

itttention in the cure ; and, therefore, give yourself up as far as you are able to fasting, reading of psalms, and prayer, to the end, that thus preventing the wrath of our Lord, in confession, you may find him merciful." Being highly affected with the grief of a guilty conscience, and desinng, as soon as possible, to be loosed from the inward fetters of sin, which lay heavy upon him, he answered, " I am young in years, and strong of body, and shall, therefore, easily bear whatever you shall enjoin me to do, so that I may be saved in the day of our Lord ; though you should command me to spend the whole night in prayer standing, and to pass the whole week in abstinence." The priest replied, " It is too much for you to hold out the whole week without bodily sustenance ; but it is sufficient to fast two or three days ; do this till I come again to you in a short time, when I will more fully show you what you are to do, and how long to continue your penance." Having so said, and prescribed the measure of his penance, the priest went away, and upon some sudden occasion passed over into L'cland, whence he derived his origin, and returned no more to him, as he had appointed. Remembering this injunction and his own promise, he totally addicted himself to tears, penance, holy watching, and continence ; so that he only fed on Thursdays and Sundays, as has been said ; and ate nothing all the other days of the week. When he heard that his priest was gone to Ireland, and had died there, he ever after observed that same abstinence, according to his direction ; and as he had begun that course through the fear of God, in penitence for his guilt, so he still continued the same unremittingly for the Divine love, and in hope of his reward.

Having practised this carefully for a long time, it happened that he had gone on a certain day to a distance from the monastery, accompanied by one of the brothers ; and as they were returning from this journey, when they drew near to the monastery, and beheld its lofty buildings, the man of God burst out into tears, and his countenance discovered the trouble of his heart. His companion, perceiving it, asked what was the reason, to which he answered : " The time is at hand, when a devouring fire shall consume all the structures which you here behold, both public and private." The other, hearing these words, as soon as they came into

222 BEDE's ecclesiastical history. [b. IV. c 2

the monastery, told them to Ebba, the mother of tli congregation. She, with good cause, being much concern* at that prediction, called the man to her, and narrowly inquired of him how he came to know it. He answered, "Being busy one night lately in watching and singing psalms, I on a sudden saw a person unknown standing by me, and being startled at his presence, he bade me not to fear, and speaking to me in a familiar manner, ' You do well,' said he, ' in that you spend this niglit-time of rest, not in giving yourself up to sleep, but in watching and prayer.' I answered, 'I know I have great need of wholesome watching, and earnest praying to our Lord to pardon my transgressions.' He replied, 'You are in the right, for you and many more do need to redeem their sins by good works, and when they cease from labouring about temporal affairs, then to labour the more eagerly for the desire of heavenly goods ; but this very few do ; for I, having now visited all this monastery regularly, have looked into every one's chambers and beds, and found none of them except yourself busy about the care of his soul ; but all of them, both men and women, either indulge themselves in slothful sleep, or are awake in order to commit sin ; for even the cells that were built for praying or reading, are now converted into places of feasting, drinking, talking, and other delights ; the very virgins dedicated to God, laying aside the respect due to their profession, whensoever they are at leisure, apply themselves to weaving fine garments, either to use in adorning themselves like brides, to the danger of their condition, or to gain the friendship of strange men ; for which reason, a heavy judgment from heaven is deservedly ready to fall on this place and its inhabitants by devouring fire.' " The abbess said, " Why did you not sooner acquaint me with what you knew ? " He answered, " I was afraid to do it, out of respect to you, lest you should be too much afflicted ; yet you may have this comfort, that the calamity ^vill not happen in your days." This vision being divulged abroad, the inhabitants of that place were for a i'ew days in some little fear, and leaving off their sins, began to punish themselves ; but after the abbess's death they returned to their former ^vickedness, nay, they became more wicked ; and when they thought them- selves in peace and security, they soon felt the effects of the aforesaid judgment.

.». C84.J

DEATH OF EGFRID. 223

That all tliis fell out thus, was told me by my most -everend feUow-priest, Edgils, who then lived in that nonastery.* Afterwards, when many of the inhabitants had ieparted thence, on account of the destruction, he lived a ono- time in our monastery, and died there. We have ;hought fit to insert this in our History, to admonish the -eader of the works of our Lord, how terrible he is in his •ounsels on the sons of men, lest we should at some time or )ther indulge in the jjleasures of flesh, and dreading the udgment of God too little, fall under his sudden wrath, and iither be severely afflicted with temporal losses, or else being nore severely tried, be snatched away to eternal perdition.

CHAP. XXVI.

Of the death of the Kings Egfrid and Lothere. [a-d. 684.] [n the year of our Lord's incarnation 684, Egfrid, king of Che Northumbrians, sending Beort, his general, with an ariny, into Ireland, miserably wasted that harmless nation, which liad always been most friendly to the English ; insomuch that In their hostile rage they spared not even the churches or monasteries. Those islanders, to the utmost of their power, repelled force with force, and imploring the assistance of the Divine mercy, prayed long and fervently for vengeance ; and thou-h such as curse cannot possess the kingdom of l:cod, it is beheved, that those who were justly cursed on account ot their impiety, did soon suffer the penalty of their guilt from the avenging hand of God ; for the very next yeai-, that same king, rashly leading his army to ravage the provmce ot the Picte,t much against the advic^ of Ins friends, and particularly of cSthbert, of blessed memory, who ad been lately ordained bishop, the enemy made show as if^^^J A^^; and the king was drawn into the ^'\^''' f ''^^^~ mountains,! and slain, with the greatest part ^^ }^\^^l'^^l^ on the 20th of May, in the fortieth year of his age and the fifteenth of his rei|n. His fi'iends, as -^^f ;;^^f;jt fort him not to engage in this war ; but ^e ^f ^^S ^he j™ refused to listen to the most reverend father, Egbert, advising * After the destruction of Coldingham monastery Edgils went to "^rTTetrltons of Strath Clyde. X At Drumuechtan, county of Forfar.

224 BEDE's ECCLESIASTICAE history. Lb. IV. c. 2i

hira not to attack the Scots, who did him no harm, it wa laid upon him as a punishment for his sin, that he should no now regard those who would have prevented his death.

From that time the hopes and strength of the Englisl crown " began to waver and retrograde ;" for the Picts re covered their own lands, which had been held bj the Englisl and the Scots that were in Britain, and some of the Briton; their liberty, Avhich they have now enjoyed for about forty six years. Among the many English that then either fel by the sword, or were made slaves, or escaped by flight ou of the country of the Picts, the most reverend man of God Trumwine, who had been made bishop over them, withdrew with his people that were in the monastery of Abercurnig,* seated in the country of the English, but close by the arm of the sea which parts the lands of the English and the Scots.f Having recommended his followers, wheresoever he could, to his friends in the monasteries, he chose his own place of residence in the monastery, which we have so often mentioned, of men and women servants of God, at Streanes- halch ; | and there he, for several years, led a life in all monastical austerity, not only to his own, but to the benefit of many, with a few of his own people ; and dying there, he was buried in the church of St, Peter the Apostle, with the honour due to his life and rank. The royal virgin, Elfled, with her mother, Eanfled, whom we have mentioned before, then presided over that monastery ; but when the bishop came thither, tliis devout woman found in him extraordinary assistance in governing, and comfort to herself. Alfrid suc- ceeded Egfrid in the throne, being a man most learned in Scripture, said to be brother to the other, and son to King Oswy : he nobly retrieved the ruined state of the king- dom, though within narrower bounds.

The same year, being the 685th from the incarnation of our Lord, Lothere, king of Kent, died on the sixth of Feb- ruary, when he had reigned twelve years after his brother Egbert, who had reigned nine years : he was wounded in

* Abercornig, i.e. Aber-Caran-ev, the "island on the Caron;" Abercom. See pp. 20, 193.

+ This passage leaves no doubt as to the boundary of the Pictish terri- tory. For the appomtment of Trumwine, see book iv. c. 12, p. 193.

Z Whitby.

i.D. 685.1 LIFE OF ST. CUTHBERT. 22.5

cattle with the South Saxons, whom Edric, the son of Eg- Dcrt, had raised against him, and died whilst his wound was )eing dressed. After him, the same Edric reigned a year and I half. On his death, kings of doubtful title, or foreigners, br some time wasted the kingdom, till the lawful king, ^ictred, the son of Egbert, being settled in the throne, )y his piety and zeal delivered his nation from foreign inva- don.

CHAP. xxvn.

Duthhert, a man of God, is made bishop ; and how he lived and taught whilst still in a monastic life. [a. d. 685.]

rHE same year that King Egfrid departed this life, he (as las been said) promoted to the bishopric of the church of Lindisfarne, the holy and venerable Cuthbert,* who had for nany years led a solitary life, in great continence of ^ body rnd mind, in a very small island, called Farne,t distant ilmost nine miles from that same church, in the ocean. From his very childhood he had always been inflamed with ihe desire of a religious life ; but he took upon him the aabit and name of a monk when he was a young man : he arst entered into the monastery of Melrose, which is on the 9ank of the river Tweed, and was then governed by the A^bbat Eata, a meek and simple man, who was afterwards nade bishop of the church of Hagulstad or Lindisfarne,^ as has been said above, over which monastery at that time was placed Boisil, a priest of great virtue and of a prophetic spirit. Cuthbert, humbly submitting himself to this man^ direction, from liim received both the knowledge of the Holy Scrip- tures, and example of good works.

After he had departed to our Lord, Cuthbert was placed Dver that monastery, where he instructed many in regular life, both by the authority of a master, and the example ot his own behaviour. Nor did he afford admonitions and an example of a regular Ufe to his monastery alone, but endea- voured to convert the people round about far and near Irom

• The Life of St. Cuthbert, written by Venerable Bode, has been -^^j^^T published by the Editor in "Bede's Minor Histoncal Works, and^U be kgain giveniLvolumeof«Anglo-Saxon Biographies, Letters &c^^u^ Stt the present. f See note at p. 135. % See pp. 19., 3.

226 bede's ecclesiastical history. [B.iv.c.27.

the life of foolish custom, to the love of heavenly joys ; for many profaned the faith which they had received by their wicked actions ; and some also, in the time of a mortality, neglecting the sacraments of faith which they had received, had recourse to the false remedies of idolatry, as if they could have put a stop to the plague sent from God, by en- chantments, spells, or other secrets of the helhsh art. In order to correct the error of both sorts, he often went out of the monastery, sometimes on horseback, but oftener on foot, and repaired to the neighbouring towns, where he preached the way of truth to such as were gone astray ; which had been also done by Boisil in his time. It was then the cus- tom of the English people, that when a clerk or priest came into the town, they all, at his command, flocked together to hear the word ; willingly heard what was said, and more willingly practised those things that they could hear or understand. But Cuthbert was so skilful an orator, so fond was he of enforcing his subject, and such a brightness appeared in his angelic face, that no man present presumed to conceal from him the most hidden secrets of his heart, but all openly confessed what they had done ; because they thought the same guilt could not be concealed from him, and wiped off the guilt of what they had so confessed with worthy fruits of penance, as he commanded. He was wont chiefly to resort to those places, and preach in such villages, as be- ing seated high up amid craggy uncouth mountains, were friglitful to others to behold, and whose poverty and bar- barity rendered them inaccessible to other teachers ; which nevertheless he, having entirely devoted himself to that pious labour, did so industriously apply himself to polish with his doctrine, that when he departed out of his monastery, he would often stay a week, sometimes two or three, and some- times a whole month, before he returned home, continuing among the mountains to allure that rustic people by his preaching and example to heavenly employments.

This venerable servant of our Lord, having thus spent many years in the monastery of Melrose, and there become conspicuous by many miracles, his most reverend abbat, Eata, removed him to the isle of Lindisfarne, that he might there also, by the authority of a superior and his own example, instruct the brethren in the observance of regular

A. D. 664.1 MIRACLE OF ST. CUTHBERT. 227

discipline ; for the same reverend father then governed that place also as abbat ; for, from ancient times, the bishop was wont to reside there with his clergy, and the abbat with his monks, who were likewise under the care of the bishop ; because Aidan, who was the first bishop of the place, being himself a monk, brought monks thither, and settled the mon- astic institution there ; as the blessed Father Augustine is known to have done before in Kent, the most reverend Pope Gregory writing to him, as has been said above, to this effect : — "But since, my brother, having been instructed in monastic rules, you must not live apart from your clergy in the church of the English, which has been lately, through the help of God, converted to the faith ; you must, there- fore, establish that course of life, which was among our ancestors in the primitive church, among whom, none called anything that he possessed his own ; but all things were in common to them."

CHAP, xxvin.

The same St. Cutlibert, being an Anchorite, by his prayers obtained a spring in a dry soil, and had a crop from seed sown by himself out of season, [a.d. 664.]

After this, Cuthbert, advancing In his meritorious and de- vout intentions, proceeded even to the adoption of a hermit's life of solitude, as we have mentioned. ^ But forasmuch as we several years ago wrote enough of his hfe and virtues, both in heroic verse and prose, it may suffice at present only to mention this, that when he was about to repair to the island, he made this protestation to the brothers, saying, " J£ it shall please the Divine goothiess to grant me, that I may Hve in that place by the labour of my hands, I will wdhngly reside there ; but if not, I will, by God's permission, very soon return to you." The place was quite destitute of water, corn, and trees ; and being infested by evil spirits, very lU suited for human habitation ; but it became in all respects habitable, at the desire of the man of God ; for upon his- arrival the wicked spirits withdrew. When he had there, after expeUing the enemies, with the assistance ol the brethren, built himself a small dwelUng, with a trencli about it, and the necessary cells and an oratory, he ordered the

q2

228 BEDE'S ecclesiastical history. [n. IV. c. 28.

brothers to dig a pit in the floor of the dwelling, although the ground was hard and stony, and no hopes appeared of any spring. Having done this upon the faith and at the request of the servant of God, tlie next day it appeared full of water, and to this day affords plenty of its heavenly bounty to all that resort tliither. He also desired that all instruments for husbandry might be brought him, and some wheat ; and having sown the same at the proper season, neither stalk, nor so much as a leaf, sprouted from it by the next summer. Hereupon the brethren visiting him accord- ing to custom, he ordered barley to be brought him, in case it were either the nature of the soil, or the Divine will, that such grain should rather grow there. He sowed it in the same field just as it was brought him, after the proper time of sowing, and consequently without any likelihood of its coming to good ; but a plentiful crop immediately came up, and afforded the man of God the means which he had so ardently desired of supporting himself by his own labour.

When he had here served God in solitude many years, the mound which encompassed his habitation being so high, that he could from thence see nothing but heaven, to which he so ardently aspired, it happened that a great synod was assembled in the presence of King Egfrid, near the river Alne, at a place called Twyford,* which signifies " the two fords," in which Archbishop Theodore, of blessed memory, presided, Cuthbert was, by the unanimous consent of all, chosen bishop of the church of Lindisfarne. They could not, however, persuade him to leave his monastery, though many messengers and letters were sent to him ; at last the afore- said king himself, with the most holy Bishop Trumwine, and other religious and great men, passed over into the island ; many also of the brothers of the same isle of Lindisfarne assembled together for the same purpose : they all knelt, conjured him by our Lord, and with tears and entreaties, till they drew him, also in tears, from his retreat, and forced him to the synod. Being arrived there, after much oppo- sition, he was overcome by the unanimous resolution of all present, and submitted to take upon himself the episcopal dignity ; being chiefly prevailed upon by the mention that Boisil, the servant of God, when he had prophetically fore ♦ In Northumberland.

*-o.66i. LIFE OF ST. CUTHBERT. 229

told all things that were to befall him, had also predicted that he should be a bishop. However, the consecration was not appointed immediately ; but after the winter, which was then at hand, it was performed at Easter, in the city of York, and in the presence of the aforesaid King Egtrid ; seven bishops meeting on the occasion, among wliom, Theo- dore, of blessed memory, was primate. He was first elected bishop of the church of Hagulstad, in the place of Tumbert, who had been deposed from the episcopal dignity ; but in regard that he chose rather to be placed over the church of Lindisfarne, in wliich he had lived, it was thought lit that Eata should return to the see of the church of Hagulstad, to which he had been first ordained, and that Cuthbert should take upon him the government of the church of Lindisfarne.*

Following the example of the apostles, he became an orna- ment to the episcopal dignity, by his virtuous actions ; for he both protected the people committed to his cliarge, by constant prayer, and excited them, by most wholesome admonitions, to heavenly practices ; and, which is the greatest help in teachers, he first showed in his behaviour what he taught was to be performed by others ; for he was much infiamed with the fire of Divine charity, modest in the virtue of patience, most diligently intent on devout prayers, and affable to all that came to him for comfort. He thought it equivalent to praying, to afford the infirm brethren the help of his exhortations, well knowing that he who said « Thou shalt love the Lord thy God," said hkewise, " Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself" He was also remark- able for penitential abstinence, and always intent upon hea- venly things, through the grace of humility : lastly, when he offered up to God the sacrifice of the saving victim, he com-

* Eata was appointed to the see of Lindisfarne, united with that of Hexham. Other authors affirm (Whartons Anglia Sacra, and Hutchin- son's Durham, i. 13) that Lindisfarne for foiuteen years wanted its proper bishop; as Chad on his consecration made York the bishop s residence, and assumed the dignity of metropolitan. In the year 684 however the two sees were again divided, and Tumbert was appointed to Hexham, trom which he was afterwards dismissed, and Cuthbert appointed his successor (See p. 193.) Godwin states, that Eata, understanding that the see of Lindisfarne would be more acceptable to Cuthbert than that of Hexham, voluntarily resigned it in his iaNOva.—Dugdale's Monast. Anglic, i. 'J^U. ^

230 BEDE's ecclesiastical history. [b. IV. c. 20.

mended his prayer to God, not with a loud voice, but with tears drawn from the bottom of his heart.

Having spent two years in his bishopric, he returned to his island and monastery, being advertised by a Divine oracle, that the day of his death, or rather of his life, was drawing near ; as he, at that time, with his usual simplicity, signified to some persons, though in terms which were somewhat obscure, but wliich were nevertheless afterwards plainly understood ; while to others he declared the same openly.

CHAP. XXIX.

St. Cnthbert foretold to the anchorite, Herehert, that his death was at hand. [a.d. 687.]

There was a certain priest, venerable for the probity of his life and manners, called Herebert, who had long been united with the man of God, Cuthbert, in the bonds of spiritual friendship. This man leading a solitary life in the island of that great lake from which the river Derwent flows, was wont to visit him every year, and to receive from him spiritual advice. Hearing that Bishop Cuthbert was come to the city of Lugubalia,* he repaired thither to him, according to cus- tom, being desirous to be still more and more inflamed in heavenly desires through his wholesome admonitions. Whilst they alternately entertained one another with the delights of the celestial life, the bishop, among other things, said, " Brother Herebert, remember at this time to ask me all the questions you wish to have resolved, and say all you design ; for we shall see one another no more in this world. For I am sure that the time of my dissolution is at hand, and I shall speedily put off this tabernacle of the flesh." Hearing these words, he fell down at his feet, and shedding tears, with a sigh, said, " I beseech you, by our Lord, not to forsake me ; but that you remember your most faithful companion, and entreat the Supreme Goodness that, as we served him together upon earth, we may depart together to see his bliss in heaven. For you know that I have always endeavoured

' Otherwise called Luel. See Sim. Dun. i. 9. Carlisle, Old Penryth in Cumberland.

A. D. 687.1 CUTHBERT FORETELLS HIS DEATH. 23 1

to live according to your directions, and whatsoever faults T have committed, either through ignorance or frailty, I have instantly submitted to correction according to your will." The bishop applied himself to prayer, and having presently had intimation in the spirit that he had obtained what he asked of the Lord, he said, " Rise, brother, and do not weep, but rejoice, because the Heavenly Goodness has granted what we desired."

The event proved the truth of this promise and prophecy, for after their parting at that time, they no more saw one another in the flesh ; but their souls quitting their bodies on the very same day, that is, on the 20th of March, they were immediately again united in spirit, and translated to the heavenly kingdom by the ministry of angels. But Herebert was first prepared by a tedious sickness, through the dispen- sation of the Divine Goodness, as may be believed, to the end that if he was any thing inferior in merit to the blessed Cuthbert, the same might be made up by the chastising pain of a long sickness, that being thus made equal in grace to his intercessor, as he departed out of the body at the very same time with him, so he might be received into tlie same seat of eternal bliss.

The most reverend father died in the isle of Farne, earnestly entreating the brothers that he might also be buried in that same place, where he had served God a considerable time. However, at length yielding to their entreaties, he consented to be carried back to the isle of Lindisfarne, and there buried in the church. This being done accordingly, the venerable Bishop Wilfrid held the episcopal see of that church one year, till such time as one was chosen to be ordained in the room of Cuthbert. Afterwards Edbert was consecrated, a man renowned for his knowledge in the Divine writings, as also for keeping the Divine precepts, and chiefly for almsgiving, so that, according to the law, he every year gave the tenth part, not only of four-footed beasts, but also of all corn and fruit, as also of garments, to the poor.

232 BEDE's ecclesiastical history. [b. it. c. 3C.

CHAP. XXX.

St. Cuthbert's body was found allogcther iincorrupted after it had been buried elf^ven years ; his successor in the bishopric departed this world 7iot long after, [a.d. G98j.

In order to show with how much glorj the man of God, Cuthbert, lived after deatli, liis holy life having been before his death signalized by frequent miracles ; when he had been buried eleven years, Divine Providence put it into the minds of the brethren to take up his bones, expecting, as is usual with dead bodies, to find all the flesh consumed and reduced to ashes, and the rest dried up, and intending to put the same into a new coffin, and to lay them in the same place, but above the pav-ement, for the honour due to him. They acquainted Bishop Edbert with their design, and he consented to it, and ordered that the same should be done on the anni- versary of his burial. They did so, and opening the grave, found all the body whole, as if it had been alive, and the joints pliable, more like one asleep than a dead person ; be- sides, all the vestments the body had on were not only found, but wonderful for their freshness and gloss. The brothers seeing this, with much amazement hastened to tell the bishop what they had found ; he being then alone in a place remote from the church, and encompassed by the sea. There he always used to spend the time of Lent, and was wont to continue there with great devotion, forty days before the birth of our Lord, in abstinence, prayer, and tears. There also his venerable predecessor, Cutlibert, had some time served God in private, before he went to the isle of Fame a They brought him also some part of the garment.-; that had covered his holy body; which presents he thankfully ac- cepted, and attentively listening to the miracles, he Avith wonderful affection kissed those garments, as if they had been still upon his father's body, and said, " Let the body be put into new garments in lieu of these you have brought, and so lay it into the coffin you have provided ; for I am certain that the place will not long remain empty, having been sanctified with so many miracles of heavenly grace ; and how happy is he to whom our Lord, the author and giver of all bliss, shall grant the privilege of lying in the same.**

A.D. 698.] MIRACI.E AT CUTHBERT S TOMB. 233

The bishop having said this and much more, with many tears and great humility, the brothers did as he had commanded them, and when they had dressed the body in new garments, and laid it in a new coffin, they placed it on the pavement of the sanctuary. Soon after, God's beloved bishop, Edbert, fell grievously sick, and his distemper daily increasing, in a short time, that is, on the 6th of May, he also departed to our Lord, and they laid his body in the grave of the holy father Cuthbert, placing over it the coflin,with the uncor- rupted remains of that father. The miracles sometimes wrought in that place testify the merits of them both ; some of which we before preserved the memory of in the book of his life, and have thought fit to add some more in this His- tory, which have lately come to our knowledge.

CHAP. XXXI.

Of one that was cured of a palsy at the tomb of St. Cuthbert. [a.d. 698.] There was in that same monastery a brother whose name was Bethwegen,* who had for a considerable time waited upon the guests of the house, and is still Hving, having the testimony of all the brothers and strangers resorting thither, of being a man of much piety and religion, and serving the office put upon him only for the sake of the heavenly re- ward. This man, having on a certain day Avashed the mantles or garments which he used in the hospital, in the sea, was returnini? home, when on a sudden, about half way, he was seized wTth a sudden distemper in his body, msomuch that he fell down, and having lain some time, he could scarcely rise ai^ain. When at last he got up, he felt one halt of his body, from the head to the foot, struck with palsy, and with much difficulty got home by the help ot a statt. The distemper increased by degrees, and as night approached became still worse, so that when day returned, he could scarcely rise or go alone. In this weak condition, a good thought came inio his mind, which was to go to the church, the best way he could, to the tomb of the reverend father Cuthbert, and there, on his knees, to beg of the Divine Good- ness either to be delivered from that disease, if it were tor • Badudegn,Badathegn, and Beadotheng, ^^,^ ^he other foms^ftl^ name : all of them are equally harsh to the ears of modem Enghshmen.,

234 BEDE's ECCLESL4ST1CAL HISTORY. [b. iv. c. 32.

his good, or if the Divine Providence had ordained him longer to lie under the same for liis punishment, that he might bear the pain with patience and a composed mind.

He did accordingly, and supporting his weak limbs Avith a staff, entered the church, and prostrating himself before the body of the man of God, he, with pious earnestness, prayed, that, through his intercession, our Lord might be propitious to him. In the midst of his prayers, he fell as it were into a stupor, and, as he was afterwards wont to relate, felt a large and broad hand touch his head, where the pain lay, and by that touch, all the part of his body which had been affected with the distemper, was delivered from the weak- ness, and restored to health down to his feet. He then awoke, and rose up in perfect health, and returning thanks to God for his recovery, told the brothers what had hap- pened to him ; and to the joy of them all, returned the more zealously, as if chastened by his affliction, to the service which he was wont before so carefully to perform. The very garments which had been on Cuthbert's body, dedi- cated to God, either whilst living, or after he was dead, were not exempt from the virtue of performing cures, as may be seen in the book of his life and miracles, by such as shall read it.

CHAP. xxxn.

Of one who was cured of a distemper in his eye at the relics of St. Cuth- bert. [a.d. 698.]

Nor is that cure to be passed over in silence, which was per- formed by his relics three years ago, and w^as told me by the brother himself, on whom it was wrought. It happened in the monastery, which, being built near the river Dacore,* has taken its name from the same, over which, at that time, the religious Suidbert presided as abbat. In that monastery was a youth whose eyelid had a great swelling on it, wliich groAving daily, threatened the loss of the eye. The surgeons applied their medicines to ripen it, but in vain. Some said it ought to be cut off; others opposed it, for fear of worse consequences. The brother having long laboured under this malady, and seeing no human means likely to save his eye, but that, on the contrary, it grew daily worse, was cured on * Dacre, Cumberland, five miles from Pem-ith.

A.I). es7.3 VIRTUE OF cuthbert's relics. 235

a sudden, through the Divine Goodness, bj the relics of the holy father, Cuthbert ; for the brethren, finding his body uncorrupted, after having been many years buried, took some part of the hair, which they might, at the request of friends, give or show, in testimony of the miracle.

One of the priests of the monastery, named Thridred, who is now abbat there, had a small part of these relics by him at that time. One day in the church he opened the box of relics, to give some part to a friend that begged it, and it happened that the youth who had the distempered eye was then in the church ; the priest, having given his friend as much as he thought fit, delivered the rest to the youth to put it into its place. Having received the hairs of the holy head, by some fortunate impulse, he clapped them to the sore eyelid, and endeavoured for some time, by the applica- tion of them, to soften and abate the sweUing. Having done this, he again laid the reHcs into the box, as he had been ordered, believing that his eye would soon be cured by the hairs of the man of God, which had touched it; nor did his faith disappoint him. It was then, as he is wont to relate it, about the second hour of the day ; but he, being busy about other things that belonged to that day, about the sixth hour of the same, touching his eye on a sudden, found it as soimd with the lid, as if there never had been any swelling or de- formity on it.

BOOK y.

CHAPTER I.

How Ethelwald, successor to Cuthbert, leading an eremetical l^fe^ calmed

a tempest when the brethren were in danger at sea. La-d. biit.j The venerable Ethelwald, who had received the priesthood in the monastery of Inhrypum,* and had, by actions worthy of the same, sanctified his holy office, succeeded the man^ of God, Cuthbert, in the exercise of a sohtary he, having practised the same before he was bishop, in the /^l^ f Farne. For the more certain demonstration ot the liie • Ripon.

236 bede's ecclesiastical history. [b. v. c. l.

which he led, and his merit, I will relate one miracle of his, which was told me by one of these brothers for and on whom the same was wi'ought; viz. Guthfrid, the vener- able servant and priest of Christ, who, afterwards, as abbat, presided over the brethren of the same church of Lindis- farne, in which he had been educated.

" I came," says he, " to the island of Fame, with two others of the brethren, to speak with the most reverend father, Ethelwald. Having been refreshed with his dis- course, and taken his blessing, as we were returning home, on a sudden, when we were in the midst of the sea, the fair weather which was wafting us over was checked, and there ensued so great and dismal a tempest, that neither the sails nor oars were of any use to us, nor had we anything to ex- pect but death. After long struggling with the wind and waves to no effect, we looked behind us to see whether it was practicable at least to recover the island from whence we came, but we found ourselves on all sides so enveloped in the storm, that there was no hope of escaping. But look- ing out as far as we could see, we observed, on the island of Fame, Father Ethelwald, beloved of God, come out of his cavern to watch our course; for, hearing the noise of the storm and raging sea, he was come out to see what would become of us. When he beheld us in distress and despair, he bowed his knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, in prayer for our life and safety ; upon which, the swelling sea was calmed, so that the storm ceased on all sides, and a fair wind attended us to the very shore. When we had landed, and had di'agged upon the shore the small vessel that brought us, the storm, which had ceased a short time for our sake, immediately returned, and raged continually during the whole day ; so that it plainly appeared that the brief cessation of the storm had been granted from Heaven at the request of the man of God, in order that we might escape."

The man of God remained in the isle of Fame twelve years, and died there ; but was buried in the church of St. Peter and Paul, in the isle of Lindisfarne, beside the bodies of the aforesaid bishops. These things happened in the days of King Alfred, who ruled the nation of the Northumbrians eighteen years after his brother Egfrid.

A.0.685.] ST. JOHN OF BEVERLEY. 231

CHAP. n.

How Bishop John cured a dumb man by blessing Mm. [a.d. 685.] In the beginning of the aforesaid reign, Bishop Eata died, and was succeeded in the prelacy of the church of Hagulstad by John,* a holy man, of whom those that familiarly knew him are wont to tell many miracles ; and more particularly, the reverend Berthun, a man of undoubted veracity, and Mice his deacon, now abbat of the monastery called Indera- <vood,f that is, in the wood of the Deiri : some of which cairacles we have thought fit to transmit to posterity. There is a certain building in a retired situation, and enclosed by a Qarrow wood and a trench, about a mile and a half from the church of Hagulstad, and separated from it by the river Tyne, having a burying-place dedicated to St. Michael the Archangel, where the man of God used frequently, as occa- sion offered, and particularly in Lent, to reside with a few companions. Being come thither once at the beginning of Lent, to stay, he commanded his followers to find out some poor person labouring under any grievous infirmity, or want, whom he might keep with him during those days, by way of alms, for so he was always used to do.

There was in a village not far off, a certain dumb youtli, known to the bishop, for he often used to come into his presence to receive alms, and had never been able to speak one word. Besides, he had so much scurf and scabs on his head, that no hair ever grew on the top of it, but only some scattered hairs in a circle round about. The bishop caused this young man to be brought, and a little cottage to be made for him within the enclosure of the dwelling, in which he might reside, and receive a daily allowance from him.

• Afterwards called St. John of Beverly.

t The modem Beverley. This town is twenty-nine miles from York, the site of the ancient Petuaria, and was inhabited by the Bntons before the invasion of Cssar. The place, from the woods with which it was lor- tnerly covered, was called Deirwalde, implying the forest of the Dein. This'monasterv was erected for the use of both sexes, and placed under the government of Berthun. In 857 it was destroyed by the Danes; butm the early part of the tenth century it was restored by Athelstan, «' ho made it collegiate, with privilege of sanctuary, and a charter of hberties to tlw lowTiamen.

2B8 BEDE's ecclesiastical history. [b.v.c.2

When one week of Lent was over, the next Sunday he caused the poor man to come in to him, and ordered him to put his tongue out of his mouth and show it him ; then lay- ing hokl of his chin, he made the sign of the cross on liis tongue, directing him to draw it back into his mouth and to speak. " Pronounce some word," said he ; " say yea," which, in the language of the Angles, is the word of affirm- ing and consenting, that is, yes. The youth's tongue was immediately loosed, and he said what he was ordered. The bishop, then pronouncing the names of the letters, directed him to say A ; he did so, and afterwards B, which he also did. When he had named all the letters after the bishop, the latter proceeded to put syllables and words to him, which being also repeated by him, he commanded him to utter whole sentences, and he did it. Nor did he cease all that day and the next night, as long as he could keep awake, as those who were present relate, to talk something, and to express his private thoughts and will to others, which he could never do before ; after the manner of the cripple, who, being healed by the Apostles Peter and John, stood up leap- ing, and walked, and went with them into the temple, walk- ing, and skipping, and praising the Lord, rejoicing to have the use of his feet, which he had so long wanted. The bishop, rejoicing at his recovery of speech, ordered the phy- sician to take in hand the cure of his scurfed head. He did so, and with the help of the bishop's blessing and prayers, a good head of hair grew as the flesh Avas healed. Thus the youth obtained a good aspect, a ready utterance, and a beau- tiful head of hair, whereas before he had been deformed, poor, and dumb. Thus rejoicing at his recovery, the bishop offered to keep him in his family, but he rather chose to return home.

CHAP. in.

The same Lishop, John, by his praijers, healed a sick maiden, [a.d. 686.]

The same Berthun told another miracle of the bishop's. When the reverend Wilfrid, after a long banishment, was admitted to the bishopric of the church of Hagulstad, and the aforesaid John, upon the death of Bosa, a man of great sanctity and humility, was, in his place, appointed bishop of

A.o. 686.] CURE OF A SICK GIRL. 239

York, he came, once upon a time, to the monastery of Vir- gins, at the place called Wetadun,* where the Abbess Here- berga then presided. " When we were come thither," said he, "and had been received with great and universal joy, the abbess told us, that one of the virgins, who was her daughter in the flesh, laboured under a grievous distemper, having been lately bled in the arm, and whilst she was engaged in study, was seized with a sudden violent pain, which increased so that the wounded arm became worse, and so much swelled, that it could not be grasped with both hands ; and thus being confined to her bed, through excess of pain, she was expected to die very soon. The abbess entreated the bishop that he would vouchsafe to go in and give her his blessing ; for that she believed she would be the better for his blessing or toucliing her. He asked when the maiden had been bled ? and being told that it was on the fourth day of the moon, said, ' You did very indiscreetly and unskilfully to bleed her on the fourth day of the moon ; for I remember that Archbishop Theodore, of blessed memory, said, that bleeding at that time was very dangerous, when the light of the moon and the tide of the ocean is increasing ; and what can I do to the girl if she is like to die ?'

" The abbess still earnestly entreated for her daughter, whom she dearly loved, and designed to make abbess in her stead, and at last prevailed with him to go in to^ her. He accordingly went in, taking me with him to the virgin, who lay, as I said, in great anguish, and her arm swelled so fast that there was no bending of the elbow ; the bishop stood and said a prayer over her, and having given his blessing, went out. Afterwards, as we were sitting at table,^ some one came in and called me out, saying, ' Coenberg ' (that was the virgin's name) 'desires you will immediately go back to her.' I did so, and entering the house, perceived her countenance more cheerful, and like one m perfect health. Having seated myself down by her, she said. Would you like me to call for something to drink ?'— ' 1 es, said I, ' and am very glad if you can.' When the cup was brouo-ht, and we had both drunk, she said, 'As soon as the bishop had said the prayer, given me his blessing, and gone out, I immediately began to mend ; and though I have not ♦ That iS; " Wettown," now Watton, in Yorkshire.

240 BEDE S ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. ["• v. c 4.

jet recovered raj former strength, jet all the pain is quite gone from mj arm, where it was most intense, and from all mj bodj, as if the bishop had carried it awaj with him ; though the swelling of the arm still seems to remain.' When we departed from thence, the cure of the pain in her limbs •was followed by the assuaging of the swelling ; and the virgin being thus delivered from torture and death, returned praise to our Lord and Saviour, with his other servants who were there."

CHAP. IV.

■ The same bishop healed an earl's wife that was sick, with holy water. [a.d. 686.]

The same abbat related another miracle, similar to the former, of the aforesaid bishop. "Not verj far from our monasterj, that is, about two miles off, was the countrj- house of one Puch, an earl, whose wife had languished near fortj days under a verj acute disease, insomuch that for three weeks she could not be carried out of the room where she laj. It happened that the man of God was, at that time, invited thither bj the earl to consecrate a church ;* and when that was done, the earl desired him to dine at his house. The bishop decUned, saying, "He must return to the monasterj, which was verj near." The earl, pressing him more earnestlj, vowed he would also give alms to the poor, if the bishop would break his fast that day in his house. I joined mj entreaties to his, promising in like man- ner to give alms for the relief of the poor, if he would go and dine at the earl's house, and give his blessing. Having at length, with much difficultj, prevailed, we went in to dine. The bishop had sent to the woman that laj sick some of the holj water, which he had blessed for the consecration of the church, bj one of the brothers that went along with me, ordering him to give her some to drink, and wash the place where her greatest pain was, with some of the same. This being done, the woman immediatelj got up in health, and perceiving that she had not onlj been delivered from her tedious distemper, but at the same time recovered the strength which she had lost, she presented the cup to the • At South Burton, Yorkshire.

A.D.686.] A LAD NEA.P PEA.TH RESTORED. 241

bishop and to us, and continued serving uswitli drink as she had begun till dinner was over ; following the example of Peter's mother-in-lav^, who, having been sick of a fever, arose at the touch of our Lord, and having at once received health and strength, ministered to them."

CHAP. V.

The same bishop recovered one of the earl's servants from death, [a.d. 686.]

At another time also, being called to consecrate Earl Addi's church,* when he had performed that duty, he was entreated by the earl to go in to one of his servants, who lay danger- ously ill, and having lost the use of all his limbs, seemed to be just at death's door ; and indeed the coffin had been provided to bury him in. The earl urged his entreaties with tears, earnestly praying that he would go in and pray for him, be- cause his life was of great consequence to him ; and he be- lieved that if the bishop would lay his hand upon him and give him his blessing, he would soon mend. The bishop went in, and saw h>m in a dying condition, and the coffin by his side, whilst all that were present were in tears. He said a prayer, blessed him, and on going out, as is the usual expression of comforters, said, "May you soon recover." Afterwards, when they were sitting at table, the lad sent to his lord, to desire he would let him have a cup of wine, because he was thirsty. The earl, rejoicing that lie^ could drink, sent him a cup of wine, blessed by the bishop ; which, as soon as he had drunk, he immediately got up, and, shaking off his late infirmity, dressed himself, and going in to the bishop, saluted him and the other guests, saying, " He would also eat and be merry with them." They ordered him to sit down with them at the entertainment, rejoicing at his recovery. He sat down, ate and drank merrily, and behaved himself like the rest of the company ; and living many years after, continued in the same state of health. The aforesaid abbat says this miracle was not wrought in his presence, but that he had it from those who were there.

At North Bnrtnn, Yorkshire. B

242 BEDE'S ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. [b. v. c. 6

CHAP. YI.

The same bishop, hy his prayers and blessing, delivered from death one oi

his clerks, ivho had bruised himself by a fall. [a.d. 686.] Nor do I think that this further miracle, which Herebald, the servant of Christ, says was wrought upon himself, is' to be passed over in silence. He was then one of that bishop's clergy, but now presides as abbat in the monastery at the mouth of the river Tyne. " Being present," said he, " and very well acquainted vnth. his course of life, I found it to be most worthy of a bishop, as far as it is lawful for men to judge ; but I have known by the experience of others, and more particulariy by my o^vn, how great his merit was before Him who is the judge of the heart ; having been by his prayer and blessing brought back from the gates of death to the way of life. For, when in the prime of my youth, I lived among liis clergy, applying myself to reading and sing- ing, but not having yet altogether withdrawn my heart from youthful pleasures, it happened one day that as we were tra- velling with liim, we came into a plain and open road, well adapted for galloping our horses. The young men that were with him, and particularly those of the laity, began to entreat the bishop to give them leave to gallop, and make trial of the goodness of their horses. He at first refused, saying, ' it was an idle request ;' but at last, being prevailed on by the unanimous desire of so many, ' Do so,' said he, ^ if you will, but let Herebald have no part in the trial.' I earnestly prayed that I might have leave to ride with the rest, for I relied on an excellent horse, which he had given me,' but I could not obtain my request.

'' When they had several times gaUoped backwards and forwards, the bishop and I looking on, my wanton humour prevailed, and I could no longer refrain, but though he for- bade me, I struck in among them, and began to rfde at full speed ; at which I heard him caU after me, ' Alas ' how much you grieve me by riding after that manner.' 1 hough I heard him, I went on against his command ; but ' immediately the fiery horse taking a great leap over a hoUow place, I fell, and lost both sense and motion, as if I had been dead ; for there was in that place a stone, level with the groundj covered with only a small turf, and no other stone to

D. G86.]

HEREBALD NEARLY KILLED. 2AI

e found in all that plain ; and it happened, as a punishment 3r my disobedience, either by chance, or by Divine Provi- ence so ordering it, that my head and hand, which m falling had clapped to my head, hit upon that stone, so that my humb was broken and my skull cracked, and I lay, as I said,

ike one dead.

"And because I could not move, they stretched a canopy or me to lie in. It was about the seventh hour of the day, nd having lain stiU, and as it were dead from that time till he evenino-, I then revived a little, and was carried home by Gty companions, but lay speechless all the night, ^omitmg ,lood, because something was broken withm me by the faU Che bishop was very much grieved at my misfortune, and ^xpected rny death, for he bore me extraordinary affection. STor would he stay that night, as he was wont, among his dero-y; but spent it all in watching and prayer alone, im- 3loring the Divine goochiess, as I imagine for my health. 3omin- to me in the morning early, and having said a oraTerVer me, he called me by my name and as it were S -e out'of a heavy sleep, asked^ Whether I knew

^ho it'was that spoke to me V I T^f^ ^^ J^^l^^.^t t^'i a do- YOU are my beloved bishop.'— ' Can you live, saia he. I Twered, 'I may, through your prayers, if it shall

^''-rie^ntid his hand on my head, .vith the words of

of ^j sins, and I na.ed ^^ P^-^.^^.^e'^^^^.trLpLed to have been baptized. He ^^J-'^'^ „ J. ^^ i know him, by that priest, youi- baptism is not ?«' ^^ , J^ ^ ,ea- and that having been ordained pries^, he ^^^^ ^^^' J^-^, son of the duhiess of his "'''^f ^^^^^h ' ason I commanded of catechising and baptizing ; for -'^^f'^'^^^^ exercising of liim altogether to desist from ^^ P-»™Som/ This faid, the ministry, which he «°"1'1 ■^''' ^^ery ime ; and it hap-

244 bede's ecclesiastical history. [a V. c. 7.

found myself better. He called the surgeon, and ordered him to close and bind up my skull where it was cracked; and having then received his blessing, I was so much better that I mounted on horseback the next day, and travelled with him to another place; and being soon after perfectly recovered, I received the baptism of life."

He continued in his see thirty-three years, and then as- cending to the heavenly kingdom, was buried in St. Peter's Porch, in his own monastery, called Inderawood, in the year of our Lord's incarnation 721. For having, by liis great age, become unable to govern his bishopric, he ordained Wilfrid, his priest, bishop of the church of York, and re- tired to the aforesaid monastery, and there ended his days in "holy conversation.

CHAP. vn.

CcBdwalla, king of the West Saxons, went to Rome to be baptized; his successor Ina also devoutly repaired to the same church of the holy apostles, [a.d. 688.]

In the third year of the reign of Alfrid, Caedwalla, king of the West Saxons, having most honourably governed his na- tion two years, quitted his crown for the sake of our Lord and liis everlasting kingdom, and went to Rome, being de- sirous to obtain the peculiar honour of being baptized in the church of the blessed apostles, for he had learned that in baptism alone, the entrance into heaven is opened to man- kind ; and he hoped at the same time, that laying down the flesh, as soon as baptized, he should immediately pass to the eternal joys of heaven ; both which things, by the blessing of our Lord, came to pass according as he had conceived in his mind. For comJng to Rome, at the time that Sergius was pope, he was baptized on the holy Saturday before Easter Day, in the year of our Lord 689, and being still in his white garments, he fell sick, and departed this life on the 20th of April, and was associated with the blessed in heaven. At his baptism, the aforesaid pope had given him the name of Peter, to the end, that he might be also united in name to the most blessed prince of the apostles, to whose most holy body his pious love had brought him from the utmost bounds of the earth. He was likewise buried in liis church, and by

A.D. 689.] EPITAPH ON C^DWAiLA. 245

the pope's command an epitaph written on his tomb, wherein the memory of his devotion might be preserved for ever, and the readers or hearers might be inflamed with relii-ious de- sire by the example of what he had done. The epitaph was this : —

High state and place, kindred, a wealthy crown.

Triumphs, and spoils ii glorious battles won,

Nobles, and cities walled, to guard his state,

High palaces, and his familiar seat,

Whatever honours his own virtue won,

Or those his great forefathers handed down,

Cfedwal armipotent, from heaven inspired.

For love of heaven hath left, and here retir'd;

Peter to see, and Peter's sacred chair.

The royal pilgrim travelled from afar.

Here to imbibe pure draughts from his cleiir stream.

And share the influence of his heavenly beam ;

Here for the glories of a future claim.

Converted, chang'd his first and barbarous name.

And following Peter's rule, he from his Lord

Assumed the name at father Sergius' word,

At the pure font, and by Christ's grace made clean.

In heaven is free from former taints of sin.

Great was his faith, but greater God's decree,

Whose secret counsels mortal cannot see :

Safe came he, e'en from Britain's isle, o'er seas.

And lands, and countries, and through dangerous ways,

Rome to behold, her glorious temple see.

And mystic presents ofter'd on his knee.

Now in the grave his fleshly members he.

His soul, amid Christ's flock, ascends the sky.

Sure wise was life to lay his sceptre down.

And gain in heaven above a lasting crown. Here was deposited Cffidwalla, called also Peter, king of the Saxons, on he twelfth davof the kalends of May, the second mdiction. He hved ibout thirty years, in the reign of the most pious emperor, Justmian, in the burth year of his consulship, in the second year of our apostohc lord, Pope Sergius.

When Csedwalla went to Rome, Ina succeeded liim on :he throne, being of the blood royal; and having reigned Mrty-seven years over that nation, he gave up the kmgdom n like manner to younger persons, and went away to Rome, ;o visit the blessed apostles, at the time when Gregory was Dope, being desirous to spend some time of his pilgrimage ipou earth in the neighbourhood of the holy place, that he

246 bede's ecclesiastical history. [3. vc. &.

might be more easily received by the saints into heaven. The same thing, about the same time, was done through the zeal of many of the English nation, noble and ignoble, laity and clergy, men and women.

CHAP. vni.

Archbishop Theodore dies, Berthwald succeeds him as archbishop, and, among many others tvhom he ordained, he made Tobias, a most learned man, bishop of the church of Rochester, [a.d. 690.]

The year after that in which Caedwalla died at Rome, that is, 690 after the incarnation of our Lord, Archbishop Theodore, of blessed memory, departed this life, old and full of days for he was eighty-eight years of age ; which number of years he had been wont long before to foretell to his friends that he should live, the same having been revealed to him in a dream. He held the bishopric twenty-two years, and was buried in St. Peter's church, where all the bodies of the bishops ot Canterbury are buried. Of whom, as well as of liis com- panions, of the same degree, it may rightly and truly be said, that their bodies are interred in peace, and their names shall live from generation to generation. For to say all in few words, the English churches received more advantage during the time of his pontificate, than ever they had done before. His person, life, age, and death, are plainly described to all that resort thither, by the epitaph on his tomb, consisting of thirty-four heroic verses. The first whereof are these :

Here rests fam'd Theodore, a Grecian name, Who had o'er England an archbishop's claim ; Happy and blessed, industriously he wrought. And wholesome precepts to his scholars taught.

The four last are as follow : —

And now it was September's nineteenth day, When, bursting from its ligaments of clay, His spirit rose to its eternal rest. And joined in heaven the chorus of the blest.

Berthwald succeeded Theodore in the archbishopric, being

abbat of the monastery of Raculph,* which lies on the north

side of the mouth of the river Genladcf He was a man

learned in the Scriptures, and well instructed in ecclesiasti-

* Reculver. f The Inlade.

\.v. C02.J BISHOP EGBERT. 247

2al and monastic discipline, yet not to be compared to his predecessor. He was chosen bishop in the year of our Lord's incarnation 692, on the first day of July, Withred and Suebhard being kings in Kent ; but he was consecrated the lext year, on Sunday the 29th of June, by Godwin, metro- politan bishop of France, and was enthroned on Sunday the 31st of August. Among the many bishops whom he ordained ,vas Tobias,* a man learned in the Latin, Greek, and Saxon ongues, otherwise also possessing much erudition, whom he consecrated in the stead of Gebmund, bishop of that see, ieceased.

cii^y?. IX.

Egbert, a holy man, would have gone into Germany to preach, but could not ; Wictbert icent, but meeting toith no success, returned into Ireland, from tchence he came. [a.d. 689.]

At that time the venerable servant of Clu'ist, and priest, Egbert, whom I cannot name but with the greatest re- spect, and who, as was said before, lived a stranger in Ire- land to obtain hereafter a residence in heaven, proposed to liimself to do good to many, by taking upon him the apostoli- cal Avork, and preaching the word of God to some of those nations that had not yet heard it ; many of which nations he knewtherewere in Germany, from whom the Angles or Saxons, who now inhabit Britain, are known to have derived their oriirin ; for which reason they are still corruptly called Gar- mans by the neighbouring nation of the Britons. Such are the Frisons,t theRugins, the Danes, the Huns, the Ancient Saxons, and the Boructuars^: (or Bructers). There are also in the same parts many other nations still following pagan rites, to whom the aforesaid soldier of Christ designed to repair, sailing round Britain, and to try whether he could deliver any of them from Satan, and bring them over to Chi-ist ; or if this

* Ninth bishop of Rochester.

t Among all the German nations none maintained their liberty against tlie Romans, ^vith greater success and courage, than the Frisons, who having formerly occupied a large tract of country on the coasts of the German ocean, crossed the Hhine into Belgic Gaul, and possessed themselves of those provinces about the mouth of the Rhine, which the Catti, who were also originally Germans, then held.

t The Boructuars seem to have inhabited the territory of Berg, and the neighbouring countrv^ toward Cologne.

248 bede's ecclesiastical IIISTORT. [b. rv. c.a.

could not be done, to go to Rome, to see and adore the hal- lowed thresholds of the holy apostles and martyrs of Christ.

But the Divine oracles and certain events proceeding from heaven obstructed his performing either of those designs ; for when lie had made choice of some most courageous com- panions, fit to preach the word of God, as being renowned for their learning and virtue ; when all things were provided for the voyage, there came to him on a certain day in tlie morning one of the brethren, formerly disciple and minister in Britain to the beloved priest of God, Boisil, when the said Boisil was superior of the monastery of Melrose, under the Abbat Eata, as has been said above. This brother told liim the vision which he had seen that night. " When after the morning hymns," said he, " I had laid me down in my bed, and was fallen into a slumber, my former master and loving tutor, BoL-sil, appeared to me, and asked, ' Whether I knew him?' I said, ' I do ; you are Boisil.' He answered, 'I am come to bring Egbert a message from our Lord and Saviour, which nevertheless must be delivered to him by you. Tell him, therefore, that he cannot perform the journey he has undertaken ; for it is the will of God that he should rather go to instruct the monasteries of Columba.' " Now Columba was the first teacher of Cliristianity to the Picts beyond the mountains northward, and the founder of the monastery in the island Hii, which was for a long time much honoured by many tribes of the Scots and Picts ; wherefore he is now by some called Columbkill, the name being compounded from Columb and Cell.* Egbert, having heard the vision, ordered the brother that had told it him, not to mention it to any other, lest it should happen to be an illusion. However, when he considered of it with himself, he apprehended that it was real; yet would not desist from preparincr for his voyage to instruct those nations.

A few days after the aforesaid brother came again to hira, saying, " That Boisil had that night again appeared to him

tev matins, and said, ' Why did you tell Egbert that which

,fv,

* I am happy to acknowledge an error which I. had inadvertently com- mitted in the former editions of this work hy translating this passage as if the name Columbkill belonged to the island, instead of the abbat. My acknowledgments are due to the reviewer, in the British Critic, who detected the mistake. Seep. 113.

A.D. C90.J WILBRORDS MISSION TO FRISLAND. 249

I enjoined you in so light and cold a manner ? However, o-q now and tell him, tiiat whether he will or no, he shall o-q to Columb's monastery, because tlieir ploughs do not go straight ; and he is to bring them into the right way.' " Heariu'T this, Egbert again commanded the brother not to reveal the same to any person. Though now assured of the vision, he never- theless attempted .to undertake his intends^d voyage with the brethren. When they had put aboard all that was requisite for so long a voyage, and had waited some days for a fair wind, there arose one night on a sudden so violent a storm, that the ship Avas run aground, and part of what had been put aboard spoiled. However, all that belonged to Egbert and liis companions was saved. Then he, saying, like the prophet, "This tempest has happened upon my account," laid aside the undertaking and stayed at home.

However, Wictbert, one of his companions, being famous for his contempt of the world and for his knowledge, for he had lived many years a stranger in L-eland, leading an ere- mitical life in great purity, went abroad, and arriving in Frisland, preached the word of salvation for the space of two years successively to that nation and to its king, Rathbed ; but reaped no fruit of all his great labour among liis barba- rous auditors. Returning them to the beloved place of his peregrination, he gave himself up to our Lord in his wonted repose, and since he could not be profitable to strangers by teaching them the faith, he took care to be the more useful to his own people by the example of liis virtue.

CHAP. X.

Wilbrord, 'preaching in Frisland, converted many to (lirist ; his two companionsy^he Hcwalds, suffered martyrdom, [a.d. 690.]

When the man of God, Egbert, perceived that neither he himself was permitted to pre^ach to the Gentiles, being with- hold, on account of some other advantage to the church, which had been foretold him bv the Divine oracle ; m r that Wictbert, when he went into those parts, had met with any success ; he nevertheless still attempted to send some holy and industrious men to tlie Avork of the word, among whom was Wilbrord, a man eminent for his merit and rank in the priesthood. They arrived there, twelve in number, and turnincr aside to Pepin, duke of the Franks, were graciously

250 BEDE's ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. [b.v. c.lO.

received by him ; and as he had lately subdued the Hither Frisland, and expelled King Kathbed, he sent them thither to preach, supporting them at the same time with his autho- rity, that none might molest them in their preaching, and bestowing many favours on those who consented to embrace the faith. Thus it came to pass, that with the assistance of the Divine grace, they in a short time converted many from idolatry to the faith of Christ.

Two other priests of the English nation, who had long lived strangers in Ireland, for the sake of the eternal king- dom, following the example of the former, went into the pro- vince of the Ancient Saxons, to try whether they could there gain any to Christ by preaching. They both bore th" same name, as they were the same in devotion, Hewald being the name of both, with this distinction, that, on account of the difference of their hair, the one was called Black Hewald and the other White HcAvald. They were both piously rehgious, but Black Hewald was the more learned of the two in Scripture. On entering that province, these men took up their lodging in a certain steward's house, and re- quested that he would conduct them to his lord,* for that they had a message, and something to his advantage, to com- municate to him ; for those Ancient Saxons have no king, but several lords that rule their nation ; and when any war happens, they cast lots indifferently, and on whomsoever the lot falls, him they follow and obey during the war ; but as soon as the war is ended, all those lords are again equal in power. The steward received and entertained them in his house some days, promising to send them to his lord, as they desired.

But the barbarians finding them to be of another rehgion, by their continual prayer and singing of psalms and hymns, and by their daily offering the sacrifice of the saving obla- tion,— for they had Avith them sacred vessels and a conse- crated table for an altar, — ^they began to grow jealous of them, lest if they should come into the presence of their chief, and converse with him, they should turn his heart from their gods, and convert him to the new religion of the Christian faith ; and thus by degrees all their province

* Originally called " Ealdorman," or Senior. Satrap is the Latin term, used by Bede.

A.D. 690.] MARTYI?DOM OF THE HEWALDS. 251

should change its old worship for a new. Hereupon they, on a sudden, laid hold of them and put them to death ; the Wliite Hewald they slew immediately with the sword ; but the Black they put to tedious torture and tore limb from limb, throwing them into the Rhine. The chief, whom they had desired to see, hearing of it, was highly incensed, that the strangers who desired to come to liim had not been al- lowed ; and therefore he sent and put to death all those peasants and burnt their village. The aforesaid priests and servants of Christ suffered on the 3rd of October.

Nor did their martyrdom want the honour of miracles ; for their dead bodies having been cast into the river by the pagans, as has been said, were carried against the stream for the space of almost forty miles, to the place where their com- panions were. Moreover, a long ray of light, reaching up to heaven, shined every night over the place where they ar- rived, in the sight of the very pagans that had slain them. Moreover, one of them appeared in a vision by night to one of his companions, whose name was Tilmon, a man of illus- trious and of noble birth, who from a soldier was become a monk, acquainting him that he might find their bodies in that place, where he should see rays of light reaching from hea- ven to the earth ; which turned out accordingly ; and their bodies being found, were interred with the honour due to martyrs ; and the day of their passion or of their bodies being found, is celebrated in those parts with proper venera- tion. At length, Pepin, the most glorious general of the Franks, understanding these things, caused the bodies to be brought to him, and buried them with much honour in the church of the city of Cologne, on the Rhine. It is reported, that a spring gushed out in the place where they were killed, which to this day affords a plentiful stream.

CHAP. XL

Hoio the venerable Sividhert in Britain, and Wilbrord at Borne, were or- dained bishops for Frisland. [a.d. 692.]

At their first coming into Frisland, as soon as Wilbrord found he had leave given him by the prince to preach, he made haste to Rome, where Pope Sergius then presided over the apostolical see, that he might undertake the desired work

2.'2 B?:DF/S RCCLK'6JAH'nCAL JirSTORY. [f- r. <:. II.

of preaching the Gospel to the Gentiles, with hi« Yicjincji and blessing ; and hoping to rw;eive of him B<jrne relies of the blesse^l apostles and martyrs of Christ ; to the end, that wli*',n he destroyed tlie idols, and en;^;ted ehurches in the nation t/> which he preached, he might have the relies of saints at hand to put int^^ them, and having deposited thf.m thf;n-, might a/;cordingly dedicate those places to the honour of each of the saints whose relics thf.y were. lie was also de- sirous there Uj learn or Uj ni^;eive from thenr;e many other things which s<^j great a work required. Having obtain^'d all that he wanted, he returned to j>rrtach.

At which time, the brothers who w<',r(; in Frisland, attend- ing the ministry (A' the. wonl, chose out of their own number a man, tikAcM of l>*'Jjaviour, and m^j^jk of heart, called Swid- bert, if J l>e ordained bishop for them. He, being H<;nt int/> Jintain, was cjmwjiv'a.U'A by the most reverend J>ishop Wil- frid, who, happening tr> be then driven out of his cjmiitry, ]\v('A in banishment among the Mercians ; for Kent had no bishop at that time, 'J'hf;^><iore U;ing df.ad, and Jierthwald, his su^y^esv^r, who wan gone beyond the sea, t^>» l><i ordained, not having rcturucA.

The said Swidbert, being ma/le bishop, retiirned from iiri- taln not long aft^^r, and went among the iioructuarians ; and by his pre;u^hing brought many of them int/> the way of truth ; but the iioructuarians being not long aft<5r subdtjed tiy the Ancient Saxons, those who had r<'/:<'.iv('A the word were disjK;ry;d abn/a/l ; and the bishop himself repair'^d t/> Pepin, who, at the rerpjest of his wife, JJIitliryrla, gave him a pla/;*; of residenr;e in a certain island on the Jthine, which, in their t/>ngue, is called Jnlit^^re ;* where he built a mona»- tr^, which his heirs still fx>sv^sH, and for a time le<l a most ry>ntinent life, and there endr^l his days.

When they who went over ha/J spent some years t/;arthing in Frisland, I'epin, with the rynisent of them all, sent the venerable VVUhrord V; JWne, where S<;rgius was still f;o[»e, desiring that he might !>*; consf^;rat^'/l archbishop over the nation of the Fris^^ns ; which was a/x;/;rdingly done, in the year of our lord's incarnation 090. He was c/mHf/trftUA in the church of the Holy Mart,yr Cecilia, on her feast-day ;

♦ Or K«»er»werdt, »ix wjIJck f/wn DumMml,

i.r.(^%6.j A-ISION OF ONF FKOM THE PF..AJ*. 233

:\\c pope gave him the name of Clement, and sent him hack x> his bishopric, fourteen days after his arrival at Kome.

Pepin cave him a place for his episcopal see, in his f:mious -4U<tle, which in the ancient languaire of those people is called VViltaburix, that is, the town of the Wilt5 ; but, in the French tons-ue, Utrecht.* The most reverend prelate hav- ng built a church thercf and prt\\ching the won! ot taith ar and ne:ir, drew manv from their ern>rs, and ere<.>ted seve- ^il churches and monasteries. For not long after he eonsti- uted other bishops in those p;irt.s, from among the brethren hat either came with him or at\er him to preach there : <ome of which are now departed in our K^rvi ; but ^\ ilbrord himself, surnamed Clement, is still living, venerable tor old cure havin«- been thirtv-six years a bishop, and sighing at^r the\v\vards of the h'eavenly hfe, atYer the many spiritual contlictv^ which he has waged. if

CHAP. XIT.

Of on. amona th, Xorthumhrians, frho r.^e from [^'^^^^ th. thinps ichich he had seen, some erctttnp terror ^nd others rfrA.*/. [a. p. 696.] , ,

At fhi. time « momoraWo min>*, aud like to th.ve o. tor- por aav*. was wivusht in Britain ■, tor, to ho ond tl.jt th^ «vin * m :«!,t bo .avod tmn tl.o doatl, of the .o«l a <vrta n ; ^- ^> >W.o had Von .omo timo doad nv<e aga.no ..o and llatod n,anv,vmarkablo ,hin=.. ho had «;« =*">,>„ ^ '^::^ 1 havo .hon,ht tit ho.. '-;>;^>; - 'i;^--- t^thlbrilt a niastor of a tanuly lu that ,ii>tiKt oi ' " ,j,

which i. oallod Cnningham. who W a ^-I'S-O"' ^'-^ >^ also all that holongod to him. Tin. "«« ';\;:^;J , h, ai.,onnx.rdail>Mnor.-aMn, bou.,^b^..g . --;;^-;,

diod in tho bo^nnnnj; ot the »'?'>'; 7', „ ^^„ ^-hioh

oarlv. ho .uddonly -;-V^\"\X'" "Ji^. «-^ -"^ '" » all those that sat aKnit the boU} ^^t^^' .-'

»o.vrvlin>; to MabUlon, in 740 vvr .41 ; but a.xoMmi.

2o4 BEDE'S ecclesiastical history. [b. v. c. 12.

great fright, only liis wife, who loved him best, though in a great consternation and trembling, remained with him. He, comforting her, said, " Fear not, for I am now truly risen from death, and permitted again to live among men ; how- ever, I am not to live hereafter as I was wont, but from henceforward after a very different manner." Then rising immediately, he repaired to the oratory of the little town, and continuing in prayer till day, immediately divided all his substance into three parts ; one whereof he gave to his wife, another to liis childi'en, and the tliird, belonging to himself, he instantly distributed among the poor. Not long after, he repaired to the monastery of INIelrose, wliich is almost en- closed by the winding of the river Tweed, and having been shaven, went into a private dwelling, which the abbat had provided, where he continued till the day of his death, in such extraordinary contrition of mind and body, that though his tongue had been silent, his life declared that he had seen many things either to be dreaded or coveted, which others knew nothing of.

Thus he related what he had seen. " He that led me had a shining countenance and a bright garment, and we went on silently, as I thought, towards the north-east. Walking on, we came to a vale of great breadth and depth, but of infinite length ; on the left it appeared full of dreadful flames, the other side was no less horrid for violent hail and cold snow flying in all directions ; both places were full of men's souls, which seemed by turns to be tossed from one side to the other, as it were by a violent storm ; for when the Avr etches could no longer endure the excess of heat, they leaped into the middle of the cutting cold ; and finding no rest there, they leaped back again into the middle of the unquenchable flames. Now whereas an innumerable multitude of deformed spirits were thus alternately tor- mented far and near, as far as could be seen, without any intermission, I began to think that this perhaps might be hell, of Avhose intolerable flames I had often heard talk. My guide, who went before me, answered to my thought, saying, ' Do not believe so, for this is not the hell you imagine.'

" When he had conducted me, much frightened with that horrid spectacle, by degrees, to the farther end, on a sudden

ID. 669.] VISION OF ONE FROM THE DEAD. 255

[ saw the place begin to grow dusk and filled with darkness. When I came into it, the darkness, by degrees, grew so ;hick, that I could see nothing besides it and the shape and i^arment of him that led me. As we went on through the shades of night, on a sudden there appeared before us fre- |uent globes of black flames, rising as it were out of a great )it, and falling back again into the same. When I had been conducted thither, my leader suddenly vanished, and left me done in the midst of darkness and this horrid vision, whilst hose same globes of fire, without intermission, at one time lew up and at another fell back into the bottom of the ibyss ; and I observed that all the flames, as they ascended, .vere full of human souls, which, like sparks flying up with ?moke, were sometimes tlirown on high, and again, when the v^apour of the fire ceased, dropped down into the depth 3elow. Moreover, an insufferable stench came forth with :he vapours, and filled all those dark places.

" Having stood there a long time in much dread, not jnowing what to do, which way to turn, or what end I night expect, on a sudden I heard behind me the noise of a nost hideous and wretched lamentation, and at the same :ime a loud laughing, as of a rude multitude insulting cap- :ured enemies. When that noise, growing plainer, came up :o me, I observed a gang of evil spirits di-agging the bowi- ng and lamenting souls of men into the midst of the dark- less, whilst they themselves laughed and rejoiced. Among :hose men, as I could discern, there was one shorn like a clergyman, a layman, and a woman. The evil spirits that iragged them went down into the midst of the burning pit ; md as they went down deeper, I could no longer distinguish 3etween the lamentation of the men and the lauglung of the levils, yet I still had a confused sound in my ears. In the neantime, some of the dark spirits ascended from that flam- ng abyss, and running forward, beset me on all sides, and nuch perplexed me with their glaring eyes and the stinking ire which proceeded from their mouths and nostrils ; and :hi'eatened to lay hold on me with burning tongs, which they lad in their hands, yet they durst not touch me, though they ^-rightened me. Being thus on aU sides enclosed with ene- nies and darkness, and looking about on every side ior issistance, there appeared behind me, on the way tiiat i

256 BEDE's ecclesiastical history. [b. v. c. 12.

came, as it were, the brightness of a star shining amidst the darkness ; which increased by degrees, and came rapidly towards me : when it drew near, all those evil spirits, that sousht to carry me away with their tongs, dispersed and fledT

"He, whose approach put them to flight, was the same that led me before ; who, then turning towards the right, began to lead me, as it were, towards the south-east, and having soon brought me out of the darkness, conducted me into an atmosphere of clear light. While he thus led me in open light, I saw a vast wall before us, the length and height of which, in every direction, seemed to be altogether boundless. T began to wonder why we went up to the wall, seeing no door, window, or path through it. When we came to the wall, we were presently, I know not by what means, on the top of it, and within it was a vast and delight- ful field, so full of fragrant flowers that the odour of its de- lightful sweetness immediately dispelled the stink of the dark furnace, which had pierced me through and through. So great was the light in tliis place, that it seemed to exceed the brightness of the day, or the sun in its meridian height. In this field were innumerable assemblies of men in white, and many companies seated together rejoicing. As he led me through the midst of those happy inhabitants, I began to think that this might, perhaps, be the kingdom of heaven, of which I had often heard so much. He answered to my thought, saying, ' This is not the kingdom of heaven, as you imagine.'

" When we had passed those mansions of blessed souls and gone farther on, I discovered before me a much more beauti- ful light, and therein heard sweet voices of persons singing, and so wonderful a fragrancy proceeded from the place, that the other which I had before thought most delicious, then seemed to me but very indifferent ; even as that extraordi- nary brightness of the flowery field, compared with this, appeared mean and inconsiderable. When I began to hope we should enter that delightful place, my guide, on a sudden stood still ; and then turning back, led me back by the way we came.

" When we returned to those joyful mansions of the souls in white, he said to me, ' Do you know what all these things

i.D. 696. J ^^SION OF ONE FROM THE DEAD. 2o7

ire which you have seen ?' I answered, I did not ; and then le rej^lied, ' That vale jou saw so dreadful for consuming lames and cutting cold, is the place in which the souls of hose are tried and punished, who, delaying to confess and imend their crimes, at length have recourse to repentance at ;he point of death, and so depart this life ; but nevertheless because they, even at their death, confessed and repented, -hey shall all be received into the kingdom of heaven at the iay of judgment; but many are relieved before the day of udgment, by the prayers, alms, and fasting, of the living, ind more especially by masses. That fiery and stinking pit, vvhich you saw, is the mouth of hell, into which whosoever ^alls shall never be delivered to all eternity. This flowery place, in which you see these most beautiful young people, so bright and merry, is that into which the souls of those are received who depart the body in good works, but who are not so perfect as to deserve to be immediately admitted into the kingdom of heaven; yet they shall all, at the day of judgment, see Christ, and partake of the joys of liis kingdom ; for whoever are perfect in thought, word and deed, as soon as they depart the body, immediately enter into the kingdom of heaven ; in the neighbourhood whereof that place is, where ^ou heard the sound of sweet singing, with the fragrant Ddour and bright light. As for you, who are now to return to your body, and live among men again, if you will en- deavour nicely to examine your actions, and direct your speech and behaviour in righteousness and simplicity, you shall, after death, have a place or residence among these joy- ful troops of blessed souls ; for when I left you for a while, it was to know how you were to be disposed of.' When he had said this to me, I much abhorred returning to my body, being delighted with the sweetness and beauty of the place 1 beheld, and with the company of those I saw in it. How- ever, I durst not ask him any questions ; but in the mean- time, on a sudden, I found myself alive among men."

Now these and other things which this man ot God saw, he would not relate to slothful persons and such as lived negligently ; but only to those who, being terrified with the dread of torments, or dehghted with the hopesof heavenly joys, would make use of his words to advance in piety, in the neighbourhood of his cell lived one Hemgils, a monk,

s

258 BEDE's ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. [av.c.l2.

eminent in the priestliood, which he honoured by his good works : he is still living, and leading a solitary life in Ire- land, supporting his declining age with coarse bread and cold water. lie often went to that man, and asking several ques- tions, heard of him all the particulars of what he had seen when separated from his body ; by whose relation we also came to the knowledge of those few particulars which we have briefly set down. He also related his visions to King Alfrid, a man most learned in all respects, and was by him so willingly and attentively heard, that at his request he was admitted into the monastery above-mentioned, and received the monastic tonsure ; and the said king, when he happened to be in those parts, very often went to hear him. At that time the religious and humble abbat and priest, Ethelwald, presided over the monastery, and now with worthy conduct possesses the episcopal see of the church of Lindisfarne.

He had a more private place of residence assigned him in that monastery, where he might apply himself to the service of his Creator in continual prayer. And as that place lay on the bank of the river, he was wont often to go into the same to do penance in his body, and many times to dip (juite under the water, and to continue saying psalms or prayers in the same as long as he could endure it, standing still some- times up to the middle, and sometimes to the neck in water ; and when he went out from thence ashore, he never took off his cold and frozen garments till they grew warm and dry on his body. And Avhen in the winter the half-broken pieces of ice were swimming about him. which he had himself broken, to make room to stand or dip himself in the river, those who beheld it would say, "It is wonderful, brother Drithelm, (for so he was called,) that you are able to endure such violent cold ;" he simply answered, for he was a man of much simplicity and indifferent wit, " I have seen greater cold." And when they said, " It is strange that you will endure such austerity ;" he replied, " I have seen more austerity." Thus he continued, through an indefatigable desire of heavenly bliss, to subdue his aged body with daily fasting, till the day of his being called away ; and thus he forwarded the salvation of many l)y his words and example.

A ^^SION m mercia. 259

CHAP. xm.

Of another, who before his death saw a book con*arnwa all his sins, tvhich was showed him by devils, [a.d. 704 — 709.]

It happened quite the contrary with one in the province of the Mercians, whose visions and words, and also his be- haviour, were neither advantageous to others nor to himself. In the reign of Coenred, who succeeded Ethelred, there was a layman ?n a military employment, no less acceptable to the king for his worldly industry, than displeasing to him for his private neglect of himself. The king often admonished him to confess and amend, and to forsake his wicked courses, before he should lose all time for repentance and amendment by a sud- den death. Though frequently warned, he despised the words of salvation, and promised he would do penance at some future time. In the meantime, falUng sick he wa^s confined to his bed, and began to feel very severe pams. The king coming to him (for he loved the man), earnestly exhorted him, even then, before death, to repent of his offences. He answered, "He would not then confess his sins, but would do it when he was recovered of his sickness lest his companions should upbraid him of having done that for fear of death, which he had refused to do in health. He thought he then spoke very bravely ^^^/\f ^If appeared that he had been miserably deluded by the wile, of

'"^TheiLemper still increasing, when the king came aga^n to visit and instruct him, he cried ou with ^J^^et^' voice, "What will you have now? ^Y^Hn.Cver d, for you can no longer do me any good The ^^J^S '^J'^;^^^^^^^^ '^Do not talk so; behave yourself hke a ;^7 jj^^^^^^^ ^ind."_"I am not mad," rephed he, "but I ^^TfJ.^^^^^^^ the guilt of my wicked conscience before ni^ ejes. VVhat is the meaning of that?" rejoined the ^"^f" f^'^^^^^^i- since," said he,'"there came into tins ^oom twojo t R^^^^^^^^ M youths, and sat ^o^ ^/ ^^^^^^^^^^^ 7^^ and

there found all the good actions I had ever done m)

s 2

260 BEDE's ecclesiastical history. [b. v. c. 13.

written down, and tliej Avere very few and inconsiderable. They took back the book and said nothing to me. Then, on a sudden, appeared an army of wicked and deformed spirits, encompassing this house without, and filling it within. Then he, who, by the blackness of his dismal face, and his sitting above the rest, seemed to be the cliief of them, taking out a book horrid to behold, of a prodigious size, and of almost in- supportable weight, commanded one of his followers to bring it to me to read. Having read it, I found therein most plainly written in black characters, all the crimes I ever committed, not only in word and deed, but even in the least thought ; and he said to those men in white, who sat by me, *Why do you sit here, since you most certainly know that this man is ours ?' They answered, 'You are in the right ; take and add liim to the number of the damned.' This said, they immediately vanished, and two most wicked spirits rising, with forks in their hands, one of them struck me on the head, and the other on the foot. These strokes are now Avith great torture penetrating through my bowels to the inward parts of my body, and as soon as they meet I shall die, and the devils being ready to snatch me away, I shall be dragged into heU."

Thus talked that wretch in despair, and dying soon after, he is now in vain suffering in eternal torments that penance which he refused to suffer during a short time, that he might obtain forgiveness. Of whom it is manifest, that (as the holy Pope Gregory writes of certain persons) he did not see these things for liis own sake, since they availed him onl/ for the instruction of others, who, knowing of his death, should be afraid to put off the time of repentance, wliilst they have leisure, lest, being prevented by sudden death, they should depart impenitent. His having books laid be- fore liim by the good or evil spirits, was done by Divine dispensation, that we may keep in mind that our actions and thoughts are not lost in the wind, but are all kept to be ex- amined by the Supreme Judge, and will in the end be shown us either by friendly or hostile angels. As to the angels first producing a white book, and then the devils a black one ; the former a very small one, the latter one very large ; it is to be observed, that in his first years he did some good actions, all which he nevertheless obscured by the evil actions of his

"D. 704.] OF ANOTHER VISION. 261

rouih. If, on the contrary, lie had taken care in his youth

0 correct the errors of liis more tender years, and to cancel ;hem^ in God's sight by doing well, he miglit have been isscxiiated to the number of those of whom the Psalm says, 'Blessed are those whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose ;ins are hid." This story, as I learned it of the venerable Bishop Pechthelm,* I have thought proper to relate in a ^lain manner, for the salvation of my hearers.

CHAP. XTV.

0/ another, ivho being at the point of death, saw the place of punishment appointed for him in hell. [a.d. 704.]

1 KNEW a brother myself, would to God I had not known him, whose name I could mention if it were necessary, and who resided in a noble monastery, but lived himself ignobly. He was frequently reproved by the brethren and elders of the place, and admonished to adopt a more regular life ; and though he would not give ear to them, he was long patiently borne with by them, on account of his usefulness in temporal works, for he was an excellent carpenter ; he was much ad- dicted to drunkenness, and other pleasures of a lawless life, and more used to stop in his workhouse day and night, than to go to church to sing and pray, and hear the word of life with the brethren. For which reason it happened to him according to the saying, that he who will not willingly and humbly enter the gate of the church, will certainly be damned, and enter the gate of hell whether he will or no. For he falling sick, and being reduced to extremity, called the breth- ren, and with much lamentation, and like one damned, began to tell them, that he saw hell open, and Satan at the bottom thereof; as also Caiaphas, with the others that slew our Lord, by him delivered up to avenging flames. " In whose neighbourhood," said he, "I see a place of eternal perdition provided for me, miserable wretch." The brothers, hearing these words, began seriously to exhort him, tliat he should repent even then whilst he was in the flesh. He answered in despair, "I have no time now to change my course of bfe, when I have myself seen my judgment passed."

Whilst uttering these words, he died without havmg re- * Bishop of Whithem, in Galloway. See book v. c. 23.

262 BEDE's ecclesiastical history. Lb. v. c. 15.

ceived the saving viaticum, and his body was buried in the remotest parts of the monastery, nor did any one dare either to say masses or sing psalms, or even to pray for him. How far has our Lord divided the light from darkness ! The blessed martyr, Stephen, being about to suffer death for the truth, saw the heavens open, the glory of God revealed, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God. And where he was to be after death, there he fixed the eyes of his mind, that he might die with the more satisfaction. On the con- trary, this carpenter, of a dark mind and actions, when death was at hand, saw hell open and witnessed the damnation of the Devil and liis followers; the unhappy wretch also saw his own prison among them, to the end that, despairing of his salvation, he might die the more miserably ; but might by his perdition afford cause of salvation to the living who should hear of it. This happened lately in the province of the Bernicians, and being reported abroad far and near, inclined many to do penance for their sins without delay^ X7hich we hope may also be the result of this our narrative.

CHAP. XV.

Several churches of the Scots, at the instance of Adamnan, conformed t» the Catholic Easter; t'lie same penon wrote a book about the holy places. [a.d. 703.]

At this time a great part of the Scots in Ireland, and some also of the Britons in Britain, through the goodness of God, conformed to the proper and ecclesiastical time of keeping Easter. Adamnan, priest and abbat of the monks that were in the isle of Hii, was sent ambassador by his nation to Alfrid, king of the English,* where he made some stay, observing the canonical rites of the church, and was ear- nestly admonished by many, who were more learned than himself, not to presume to live contrary to the universal custom of the Church, either in relation to the observance' of Easter, or any other decrees whatsoever, considering the vsmall number of his followers, seated in so distant a corner of the world ; in consequence of this he changed his mind, and readily preferred those things which he had seen and heard in the English churches, to the customs which he and * Of Northmnbria.

A-«- 704. J ADAMNAN. 263

Lis people had hitherto followed. For he was a good and wise man, and remarkably learned in Holy Scripture. Re- turning home, he endeavoured to bring his own people that were in the isle of Hii, or that were subject to that monas- tery, into the way of truth, which he had learned and era- braced with all Ills heart ; but in this he could not prevail. He then sailed over into Ireland, to preach to those people, and by modestly declaring the legal time of Easter, he re- duced many of them, and almost all that were not under the dominion of those of Hii, to the Catholic unity, and taught them to keep the legal time of Easter.

Returning to his island, after having celebrated the canoni- cal Easter in Ireland, he most earnestly inculcated the ob- servance of the Catholic time of Easter in his monastery, yet without being able to prevail ; and it so happened that he departed this life before the next year came round, the Divine goodness so ordaining it, that as he was a great lover of peace and unity, he should be taken away to everlasting life before he should be obliged, on the return of the time of Easter, to quarrel still more seriously with those that would not follow him in the truth.

This same person wrote a book about the holy places, most useful to many readers ; his authority, from whom he procured his information, was Arculf, a French bishop, who had gone to Jerusalem for the sake of the holy places ; and having seen all the Land of Promise, travelled to Damascus, Constantinople, Alexandria, and many islands, and returning home by sea, was by a violent storm forced upon the western coast of Britain. After many other accidents, he came to the aforesaid servant of Christ, Adamnan, who, finding him to be learned in the Scriptures, and acquainted with the holy places, entertained him zealously, and attentively gave ear to liim, insomuch that he presently committed to writing all that Arculf said he had seen remarkable in the holy places. Thus he composed a work beneficial to many, and particu- larly to those who, being far removed from those places where the patriarchs and apostles lived, know no more of them than what they learn by reading. Adamnan presented this book to King Alfrid, and through his bounty it came to be read by lesser persons. The writer thereof was also well rewarded by him, and sent back into his country. 1 believe

264 BEDe's ecclesiastical HISTOKT. La V. c. 16.

it will be acceptable to our readers if we collect some par- ticulars from the same, and insert them in our History.*

CHAP. XVI.

TTie account given by the aforesaid book of the place of our Lord's nativity, passion, and resurrection, [a. d. 704.]

He wrote concerning the place of the nativity of our Lord, to this effect. " Bethlehem, the city of David, is seated on a narrow ridge, encompassed on all sides with valleys, being a thousand paces in length from east to west, the wall low without towers, built along the edge of the plain on the summit. In the east angle thereof is a sort of natural half cave, the outward part whereof is said to have been the place where our Lord Avas born ; the inner is called our Lord's Manger. This cave -vvithin is all covered with rich marble, over the place where our Lord is said particularly to have been born, and over it is the great church of St. Mary." He likewise wrote about the place of liis Passion and Resurrec- tion in this manner. " Entering the city of Jerusalem on the north side, the first place to be visited, according to the disposition of the streets, is the church of Coustantine, called the Martyrdom. It was built by the Emperor Constantine, in a royal and magnificent manner, on account of the cross of our Lord having been found there by his mother Helen. From thence, to the westward, appears the church of Gol- gotha, in which is also to be seen the rock which once bore the cross with our Saviour's body fixed on it, and now it bears a large silver cross, with a great brazen wheel hanging over it surrounded with lamps. Under the place of our Lord's cross, a vault is hewn out of the rock, in which sacri- fice is offered on an altar for honourable persons deceased, their bodies remaining meanwhile in the street. To the westward of this is the Anastasis, that is, the round church of our Saviour's resurrection, encompassed with three walls, and supported by twelve columns. Between each of the walls is a broad space, containing three altars at three differ-

* Besides the work " On the Holy Places," [De Locis Sanctis,] Adamnan is the reputed author of a " Life of Saint Coluraba ; " but I have strong doubts of Adamnan's hanng written it. I propose shortly to publish the original text of both these works.

i.D.704.] EXTRACTS FROM ADAMNAN. 265

ent points of the middle wall ; to the north, the south, and the west, it has eight doors or entrances through the three opposite walls ; four whereof front to the north-east, and four to the south-east. In the midst of it is the round tomb of our Lord cut out of the rock, the top of wliich a man standing within can touch ; the entrance is on the east ; against°it is still laid that great stone. To this day it bears the marks of the iron tools within, but on the outside it is all covered with marble to the very top of the roof, which is adorned with gold, and bears a large golden cross. _ In the north part of the monument, the tomb of our Lord is hewed out of the same rock, seven feet in length, and tliree palms above the floor ; the entrance being on the south side, where twelve lamps burn day and night, four within the sepulchre, and eight above on the right hand side. The stone that was laid at°the entrance to the monument, is now cleft in two ; nevertheless, the lesser part of it stands as a square altar before the door of the monument ; the greater part makes another square altar at the east end of the same church, and is covered with linen cloths. The colour of the^said monu- ment and sepulchre appears to be white and red."

CHAP. xvn.

Of the place of our Lord's ascension, and the tombs of the patriarchs. [a.d. 704.]

Concerning the place of our Lord's ascension the aforesaid author writes thus. "Mount Olivet is equal in he.glit to Mount Sion, but exceeds it in breadth and length ; bearing few trees besides vines and olive trees, and is fruitful in wheat and barley, for the nature of that soil is not calculated forbearing things of large or heavy growth, but gras» and flowers. On the very top of it, wheire our Lord » ^■•- f/j into heaven, is a large round church, having about it three vaulted por;hes. For the inner house could not ' « ; »ul e and covered, because of the passage of our Lords t-odj > I'"* it has an altar on the east side, covered with a ";>• »^ ™"f- In the midst of it are to be seen the last pnnts »f J"; Lord s feet, the sky appearing open above where ^ ascended and though the iarih is daily carried away by bd'e™/ ' 5'''^'^^ it remains as before, and retains the same impression of the

266 BEDe's ecclesiastical history. Lb. v. c. 18.

feet. Near this lies an iron wheel, as high as a man's neck, having an entrance towards the west, with a great lamp hanging above it on a pulley, and burning night and day. In the western part of the same church are eight windows ; and eight lamps, hanging opposite to them by cords, cast their light through the glass as far as Jerusalem ; this light is said to strike the hearts of the beholders with a sort of joy and humility. Every year, on the day of the Ascension, when mass is ended, a strong blast of wind is said to come down, and to cast to the ground all that are in the church."

Of the situation of Hebron, and the tombs of the fathers, he writes thus. " Hebron, once the city and metropoHs of David's kingdom, now only showing what it was by its ruins, has, one furlong to the east of it, a double cave in the valley, where the tombs of the patriarchs are enclosed with a square wall, their heads lying to the north. Each of the tombs is covered with a single stone, worked like the stones of a church, and of a white colour, for three patriarchs. Adam's is of more mean and common workmanship, and lies not far from them at the farthest northern extremity. There are also some poorer and smaller monuments of three women. The hill Mamre is a thousand paces from the monuments, and is full of grass and flowers, having a flat plain on the top. In the northern part of it, Abraham's oak, being a stump about twice as high as a man, is enclosed in a church."

Thus much have we collected from the works of the afore- said writer, keeping to the sense of liis words, but more briefly delivered, and have thought fit to insert in our His- tory. Whosoever desires to see more of the contents of that book, may see it either in the same, or in that which we have lately epitomized from it.

CHAP. XVIII.

The South Saxons received Eadbert and Eolla, and the West Saxons, Daniel and Aldhelrn, for their bishops. Of the writings of tfie same Aldhelm. [A.D. 705.]

In the year of the incarnation of our Lord 705, Alfrid, king of the Northumbrians, died just before the end of the twen- tieth year of his reign. His son Osred, a boy about eight years of age, succeeding him in the throne, reigned eleven

A.D.70:.l DEATH OF BISHOP HEDDA. 267

years. In the beginning of his reign, Hedcla, bishop of the West Saxons,* departed to the heavenly kingdom; for he was a good and just man, and exercised his episcopal duties rather by his innate love of virtue, than by what he had gained from learning. The most reverend prelate, Pech- thelm, of whom we shall speak in the proper place,! ^^^ who was a long time either deacon or monk with his suc- cessor Aldhelm, is wont to relate that many miraculous cures have been wrought in the place where he died, through the merit of his sanctity; and that the men of that province used to carry the dust from thence for the sick, which, when they had put into water, the sprinkling or drinking thereof restored health to many sick men and beasts ; so that the holy earth being frequently carried away, there was a considerable hole left.

Upon liis death the bishopric of that province was divided into two dioceses. One of them was given to .Daniel,t which he governs to this day ; the other to Aldhelm, § wherein he most worthily presided four years ; both of them were well instructed, as well in ecclesiastical affairs as in the know- ledge of the Scriptures. Aldhehn, when he was only a priest and abbat of the monastery of Malmesbury, by order of a synod of his own nation, wrote a notable book|| against the error of the Britons, in not celebrating Easter at the proper time, and in doing several other things not consonant to the purity and the peace of the church ; and by the read- ing of this book he persuaded many of them, who were sub- ject to the West Saxons, to adopt the Catholic celebration of our Lord's resurrection. He likewise wrote a notable book on Virginity, which, in imitation of Sedulius, he composed double, that is, in hexameter verse and prose. He wrote some other books, as being a man most learned in all re-

* Winchester. Seep. 191. t In book v c. 23.

: Daniel was bishop of Winchester, which included the counties of Hampshire, Surrey, Sussex, and the Isle of Wight. ^^^ •,.:„„ ^r the

^ Aldhelm was appohited to the new see of Sherborne cor?^*;"^^^^'^^ counties of Dorset, Somerset, Wilts, Devon, and Cornwall Jj^^ /^^^ ^«^- tinued for more than three centuries, when it was '•^'"^o^;^ f,;f^;" ^' ^''^' afterwards to Old Sarum, and finally to New Sarum, ^^^If^''^' ^ ^^^

II This notable book of Bishop Aldhelm, is but Vc^AiSnii 00'"^ DaLs Dubhshed together with all his other works in « S. Aldhclmi Upera, SrL'ndon 1842;'' forming vol. I. of "Patres Ecclcsi. Anglican..

268 BEDE's ecclesiastical history. [b.v. c.lO

spects, for lie had a clean style, and was, as I have said, wonderful for ecclesiastical and liberal erudition. On Me death, Forthere was made bishop in his stead, and is livino at this time, being likewise a man very learned in Holj Writ.

Whilst they were bishops, it was decreed in a synod, thai the province of the South Saxons, wliich till then belonged to the diocese of the city of Winchester, where Daniel then presided, should also have an episcopal see, and a bishop ol its own.* Eadbert, at that time abbat of the monastery oi Bishop Wilfrid, of blessed memory, called Selsey, was con- secrated their first bishop. On his death, EoUa succeeded in the bishopric. He also died some years since, and the bishopric has been discontinued to this day.

CHAP. XIX.

Coinred, king of the Mercians, and Offa, of the East Savons, ended their days at Rome, in the monastic habit. Of the life and death of Bishop Wilfrid, [a.d. 709.]

In the fourth year of the reign of Osred, Coinred, who had for some time nobly governed the kingdom of the Mercians, did a much more noble act, by quitting the throne of his kingdom, and going to Rome, where being shorn, when Constantine was pope, and made a monk at the relics of the apostles, he continued to his last hour in prayers, fasting and alms-deeds. He was succeeded in the throne by Ceol- red, the son of Ethelred, who had been king before Coinred. With him went the son of Sighere, king of the East Saxons above-mentioned, whose name was Ofia, a youth of most lovely age and beauty, and most earnestly desired by all his nation to be their king. He, with like devotion, quitted his wife, lands, kindred and country, for Christ and for the Gospel, that he might " receive an hundred-fold in tliis life, and in the world to come life everlasting." He also, when they came to the holy places at Rome, receiving the tonsure, and adopting a monastic life, attained the long wished-for sight of the blessed apostles in heaven.

The same year that they departed from Britain, the cele-

* Seepages 195, 198.

OF Wilfrid's life. 269

•atecl prelate, Wilfrid, died in the province of Undalum.* 'ter he had been bishop forty-five years. His body, being id in a coffin, was carried to his monastery, called Ripon, id there buried in the church of the blessed Apostle Peter, ith the honour due to so great a prelate. We will now :rn back, and briefly mention some particulars of his life, eing a boy of a good disposition, and behaving himself orthily at that age, he conducted liimself so modestly and screetly in all respects, that he was deservedly beloved, ispected, and cherished by his elders as one of themselves, .t fourteen years of age he preferred the monastic to the ;cular hfe ; which, when he had signified to liis father, for .s mother was dead, he readily consented to his heavenly ishes, and advised him to persist in his holy resolution, accordingly he came to the isle of Lindisfarne, and there iving himself up to the service of the monks, he took care Ihgently to learn and to perform those things which belong ) monastic purity and piety ; and being of an acute under- :anding, he in a very short time learned the psahns and m\e books, before he was shorn, but when he was already ecome very remarkable for the greater virtues of humility nd obedience : for which he was deservedly beloved and espected by his equals and elders. Having served God ome years in that monastery, and being a clear-sighted outh, he observed that the way to virtue taught by the ;cots was not perfect, and he resolved to go to Rome, to ee what ecclesiastical or monastic rites were ni use there. Che brethren being made acquainted therewith, commended fis design, and advised him to put it into execution. He hen repaired to Queen Eanfled, to whom he was weU mown, and who had got him into that monastery by her ,dvice and assistance, and acquainted her that he was de- irous to visit the churches of the apostles. _ She^ being ►leased with the youth's resolution, sent him into i^ent to ving Earconbert, who was her uncle's son, requesting that 16 would send him to Rome in an honourable manner. At hat time, Honorius, one of the disciples of the holy Pope Gregory, and well instructed in ecclesiastical institutes, was

• Oundle, Northamptonshire. The monastery at this place wh^^^^^ ■rid died, is considered hy some to have been a ceU to the al,bey of 1 eter- )orough, and part of its possessions.

270 BEDE'S ecclesiastical history. [av.clfl

archbishop there. Whilst he made some stay there, and. being a youth of an active spirit, diligently applied himsell to learn those things which he undertook, another youth called Biscop, or otherwise Benedict, of the English nobility, arrived there, being likewise desirous to go to Rome, oi which we have before made mention.

The king gave him Wilfrid for a companion, with orders to conduct him to Rome. When they came to Lyons, Wil- frid was detained there by Dalfin, the bishop of that city ; but Benedict hastened on to Rome. That prelate was de- lighted with the youth's prudent discourse, the gracefulness of his aspect, the alacrity of his behaviour, and the sedate- ness and gravity of Lis thoughts ; for which reason he plenti- fully supplied him aad liis companions with all necessaries, as long as they stayed with him ; and further offered to com- mit to him the government of a considerable part of France, to give liim a maiden daughter of his own brother to wife, and to receive him as his adopted son. He returned thanks for the favour, which he was pleased to show to a stranger, and answered, that he had resolved upon another course of life, and for that reason had left his country and set out for Rome.

Hereupon the bishop sent him to Rome, furnishing him with a guide and plenty of all things requisite for his jour- ney, earnestly requesting that he would come that way when he returned into his own country. Wilfrid arriving at Rome, by constantly applying himself to prayer and the study of ecclesiastical affairs, as he had before proposed to himself, gained the friendship of the most holy and learned Bonifiice, the archdeacon, whowas also counsellor to the pope, by whose instruction he regularly learned the four Gospels, the true calculation of Easter, and many other things appertain- ing to ecclesiastical discipline, which he could not attain in his own country. When he had spent some months there, in successful study, he returned into France, to Dalfin ; and having stayed with him three years, received from him the tonsure, and was so much beloved that he had thoughts of making him his heir ; but this was prevented by the bishop's untimely death, and Wilfrid was reserved to be bishop of his own, that is, the English, nation ; for Queen Baldhilda sent soldiers with orders to put the bishop to death ; whom

i.D. 664.] 01 A^ILFRID'S LIFE.. 271

Wilfrid, his clerk, attended to the place where he was to he beheaded, being very desirous, though the bishop opposed it, :o die with him; but the executioners, understanding that le was a stranger, and of the English nation, spared him, ind would not put him to death with his bishop.

Returning to England, he was admitted to the friendship )f King Alfrid, who had always followed the catholic rules )f the Church ; and therefore finding him to be a Catliolic, le gave him land of ten families at the place called Stan- ford ;* and not long after, the monastery, of thirty families, It the place called Ripon ; which place he had lately given :o those that followed the doctrine of the Scots, to build a •nonastery upon. But, forasmuch as they afterwards, being left to their choice, would rather quit the place than adopt the catholic Easter, and other canonical rites, according to the custom of the Roman Apostolic Church, he gave th.^ ;ame to him, whom he found to follow better disciphne and better customs. . , _ .

At the same time, by the said king's command, he was ordained priest in the same monastery, by Agilbert,^ bishop of the West Saxonst above-mentioned, the kmg being do- sirous that a man of so much piety and learning sWd con tinue with him as priest and teacher; and not long alter haTng discovered and banished the Scottish sect as was ^id above he with the advice and consent of his father 0..wy sent Mm into France, to be consecrated bishop, at about

Hrtv vTars of age, th^ same Agilbert being then bishop of PariJ Ind eleven ^ther bishops meeting at the consecnUion Tf th;new bishop, that function -f^^^^^;:^^^ formed. Whilst he ^^^^^ ^ —- TVkI^^ man, was consecrated bishop ot ioik uy

Oswy, as has been said above ; and l^^J^^S f b^^^^^

chui4 three years he ^^tired to go^ein hi^ m^^^ Lestingau, and Wilfrid was made bi.hop ot ail i

of the Northumbrians.t ^ expelled his

272 BEDE's ecclesiastical history. [e. v. c. 19

was aboard the ship, the wind blew hard west, and he was driven into Frisland, and honourably received by that barba- rous people and their King Aldgist, to whom he preached Christ, and instructed many thousands of them in the word of truth, washing them from their abominations in the laver of salvation. Thus he there began the work of the Gospel which was afterwards finished by Wilbrord, a most reverend bishop of Jesus Christ. Having spent the winter there with his new converts, he set out again on liis way to Rome, where his cause being tried before Pope Agatho and several bishops, he was by their universal consent, acquitted of what had been laid to his charge, and declared worthy of his bishopric.

At the same time, the said Pope Agatho assembling a synod at Rome, of one hundred and twenty-five bishops, against those that taught there was only one will and opera- tion in our Lord and Saviour, ordered Wilfrid also to be summoned, and, when seated among the bishops, to declare his own faith and the faith of the province or island from whence he came ; and they being found orthodox in their faith, it was thought fit to record the same among the acts of that synod, which was done in this manner : "Wilfrid, the beloved of God, bishop of the city of York, having referred to the Apostolic See, and being by that authority acquitted of every thing, whether specified against him or not, and having taken his seat in judgment, with one hundred and twenty-five other bishops in the synod, made confession of the true and catholic faith, and subscribed the same in the name of the northern part of Britain and Ireland, inhabited by the English and Britons, as also by the Scots and Picts."

After this, returning into Britain, he converted the pro- vince of the South Saxons from their idolatrous worship. He also sent ministers to the Isle of Wight; and in the second year of Alfrid, who reigned after Egfrid, was restored to his see and bishopric by that king's invitation. However, five years after, being again accused by that same king and several bishops, he was again expelled his diocese. Coming to Rome, together with his accusers, and being allowed to make his defence before a number of bishops and the apos- tolic Pope John, it was declared by the unanimous judgment of them all, that his accusers had in part laid false accusa-

-D. 704.] DEATH OF AVILFRID. 273

ions to his charge; and the aforesaid pope undertook to mte to the kings of the English, Ethelred and Alfrid, to :ause him to be restored to his bishopric, because he had )een falsely accused.

His acquittal was much forwarded by the reading of tlie ynod of Pope Agatho, of blessed memory, which had been brmerly held when Wilfrid was in Rome, and sat in council imong the bishops, as has been said before. For that synod )eing, on account of the trial, by order of the apostolic pope, •ead before the nobility and a great number of the people or some days, they came to the place where it was written, ' Wilfrid, the beloved of God, bishop of the city of York, laving referred his cause to the Apostolic See, and being by ;hat power cleared," &c., as above stated. This being read, :he hearers were amazed, and the reader stopping, they began :o ask of one another, who that Bishop Wilfrid was ? Then Boniface, the pope's counsellor, and many others, who had ^een him there in the days of Pope Agatho, said, he was the 5ame bishop that lately came to Rome, to be tried by the Apostolic See, being accused by his people, and wlio, said :hey, having long since been here upon such like accusation, :he cause and controversy between both parties being heard ind discussed, was proved by Pope Agatho, of blessed memory, to have been wrongfully expelled from his bishopric, and so much honoured by him, that he commanded him to sit in the council of bishops which he had assembled, as a man 3f untainted faith and an upright mind. This being heard, the pope and all the rest said, that a man of such great authority, who had exercised the episcopal function near forty years, ought not to be condemned, but being cleared of all the crimes laid to his charge, to return home with honour.

Passing through France, on his way back to Britain, on a sudden he fell sick, and the distemper increasing, was so ill, that he could not ride, but was carried in his bed. Being thus come to the city of Meaux, in France, he lay four days and nights, as if he had been dead, and only by his fiunt breathing showed that he had any Ufe in him ; liaving con- tinued so four days, without meat or drink, speaking or hearing, he, at length, on the fifth day, in the morning, as it were awakening out of a dead sleep, sat up in bed, and open-

T

274 BEDE's ecclesiastical history. [b. v. c. 19

ing liis eyes, saw numbers of brethren singing and weeping about him, and fetching a sigh, asked where Acca, the priest was ? This man, being called, immediately came in, and seeing him thus recovered and able to speak, knelt down, and returned thanks to God, with all the brethren there present, When they had sat awhile, and begun to discourse, with much reverence, on the heavenly judgments, the bishop ordered the rest to go out for an hour, and spoke to the priest, Acca, in this manner : —

" A dreadful vision has now appeared to me, which I wish you to hear and keep secret, till I know how God will please to dispose of me. There stood by me a certain person, re- markable for his white garments, telling me he was Michael, the Archangel, and said, ' I am sent to save you from death : for the Lord has granted you life, through the prayers and tears of your disciples, and the intercession of his blessed mother Mary, of perpetual virginity ; wherefore I tell you, that you shall now recover from this sickness ; but be ready, for I will return to visit you at the end of four years. But when you come into your country, you shall recover most of the posses- sions that have been taken from you, and shall end your days in perfect peace.' " The bishop accordingly recovered, at which all persons rejoiced, and gave thanks to God, and set- ting forward on his journey, arrived in Britain.

Having read the letters which he brought from the apos- tolic pope, Bertwald, the archbishop, and Ethelred, who had been formerly king, but was then an abbat, readily took his part ; for the said Ethelred, calling to him Coinred, whom he had made king in his own stead, he requested of him to be friends with Wilfrid, in which request he prevailed; but Alfrid, king of the Northumbrians, refused to admit him. However he died soon after, and his son Osred obtained the crown, when a synod was assembled, near the river Nidd, and after some contesting on both sides, at length, by the consent of all, he was admitted to preside over his church ; and thus he lived in peace four years, till the day of his death. He died on the 12th of October, in his monastery, which he had in the province of Undalum,* under the government of the Abbat Cuthbald ; and by the ministry of the brethren, he was car-

* Oundle in Northamptonshire.

D. 709. ^vtlfrid's epitaph. 27,5

e4 to his first monastery of Eipon, and buried in the church ' Saint Peter the apostle, close by the south end of the tar, as has been mentioned above, with this epitaph over

Here the great prelate Wilfrid lies entomb 'd.

Who, led by piety, this temple reard

To God, and hallo w'd with blest Peter's name,

To whom our Lord the keys of heaven consign'd.

.Moreover gold and purple vestments gave.

And plac'd a cross, — a trophy shining brigh

With richest ore — four books o'ernTought with gold,

Sacred evangelists in order plac'd.

And (suited well to these) a desk he rear'd,

(Highly conspicuous) cas'd with ruddy gold.

He likewise brought the time of Easter right,

To the just standard of the canon law ;

Which our forefathers fixed and well observ'd,

But long by error chang'd, he justly plac'd.

Into these parts a numerous swarm of monks

He brought, and strictly taught their founder's rules.

In lapse of years, by many dangers tossed ;

At home by discords, and in foreign realms,

Having sat bishop five and forty years.

He died, and joyful sought the realms above ;

That, blessed by Christ, and favour'd with his aid,

The flock may follow in their pastor's path.*

CHAP. XX.

Ibinvs succeeded to the religious Abbat Hadrian, and Acca to Bishop Wilfrid, [a. d. 709.]

HE next year after the death of the aforesaid father (Wil- id), that is, in the first year of King Osred, the most iverend father, Abbat Hadrian, fellow labourer in the Avord

• God with Theodore the archbishop of blessed memory,^ fed, and was buried in the church of the blessed INIother of od, in his own monastery,! this being the forty-first year om his being sent by Pope Vitalian with Theodore, and 10 thirty-ninth after his arrival in England. Of whose arning, as well as that of Theodore, one testimony among

* Eddi Stephanus, precentor of Canterbury, wrote the Life of Wilfrid, as d also Eadmer, secretary to St. Anselm. There is an extended account

• him in Peck's History of Stamford, and in the Lives of the English lints, No. VIII. + St. Augustine's, Canterbury.

t2

276 bede's ecclesiastical history. [B.v.c.20.

others is, that Albinus,* his disciple, who succeeded him in the government of his monastery, was so well instructed in the study of the Scriptures, that he knew the Greek tongue to no small perfection, and the Latin as thoroughly as the English, wliich was his native language.

Acca, his priest, succeeded Wilfrid in the bishopric of the church of Hagulstad ; being himself a most active man, and great in the sight of God and man, he much adorned and added to the structure of liis church, which is dedicated to the Apostle St. Andrew. For he made it his business, and does so still, to procure relics of the blessed apostles and martyrs of Christ from all parts, to place them on altars, dividing the same by arches in the walls of the church. Besides which, he diligently gathered the histories of their sufferings, together with other ecclesiastical writings, and erected there a most numerous and noble library. He like- wise industriously provided holy vessels, Hghts, and such like things as appertain to the adorning of the house of God. He in like manner invited to him a celebrated singer, called Maban, who had been taught to sing by the successors of the disciples of the blessed Gregory in Kent, for him to instruct liimself and his clergy, and kept him twelve years, to teach such ecclesiastical songs as were not known, and to restore those to their former state which were corrupted either by want of use, or through neglect. For Bishop Acca himself was a most expert singer, as well as most learned in Holy Writ, most pure in the confession of the catholic faith, and most observant in the rules of ecclesiastical institution ; nor did he ever cease to be so till he received the rewards of his pious devotion, having been bred up and instructed among the clergy of the most holy and beloved of God, Bosa, bishop of York. Afterwards, coming to Bishop Wilfrid in hopes of improving himself, he spent the rest of his life under him till that bishop's death, and going with him to Rome, learned there many profitable things concerning the government of the holy church, which he could not have learned in his own country.

* See page 2, where Bede acknowledges the assistance he received from AJbinus in the compilation of this work.

"• 7^^-^ LETTER TO NAITAN. 977

CHAP. XXI.

^tffh^'ff"''^ '""' '^'/'"'^ '^'^' ^'''' ^'-^^^''^^'^ '« ^^^^d a church and [It nOJ '''' '^ <^oncermng the Catholic Easter and Tonsure.

iT that time, Naitan, king of the Picts, inhabiting tho .orthern parts of Britain, taught by frequent meditation on he ecclesiastical writings, renounced the error which he and us nation had till then been under, in relation to the obser- vance of Easter, and submitted, together with his people to elebrate the catholic time of our Lord's resurrection. For >erforming this with the more ease and greater authority he ought assistance from the English, whom he knew to have ong since formed their religion after the example of the holy ioman Apostolic Church. Accordingly he sent messen"-ers o the venerable Ceolfrid, abbat of the monastery of ''the •lessed apostles, Peter and Paul, which stands at the mouth •f the river Wear, and near the river Tyne, at the place :alled Jarrow, which he gloriously governed after Benedict, .f whom we have before spoken ; desiring, that he would vrite him a letter containing arguments, by the help of vhich he might the better confute those that presumed to :eep Easter out of the due time ; as also concerning the form :nd manner of tonsure for distinguishing the clergy ; not to aention that he himself possessed much information in tlicse >articulars. He also prayed to have architects sent him to >uild a church in his nation after the Roman manner, pro- nising to dedicate the same in honour of St. Peter, the prince 'f the apostles, and that he and all his people would always bllow the custom of the holy Roman Apostohc Cliurcli, aa iar as their remoteness from the Roman language and nation vould allow. The reverend Abbat Ceolfrid, complying with lis desires and request, sent the architects he desired, and he following letter : —

" To the most excellent lord, and most glorious King Vaitan, Abbat Ceolfrid, greeting in the Lord. We most eadily and willingly endeavour, according to your desire, to xplain to you the catholic observance of holy Easter, accord- ng to what we have learned of the Apostohc See, as you, evout king, with a religious intention, have requested ; for

278 BEDE'S ecclesiastical niSXORY. [R- v. c. 21

we know, that whenever the Church applies itself to learn, to teach, and to assert the truth, which are the affairs of oui Lord, the same is given to it from heaven. For a certain worldly writer* most truly said, that the world would be most happy if either kings were philosophers, or philosopher? were kings. For if a worldly man could judge truly of the philosophy of tliis world, and form a correct choice concern- ing the state of this world, how much more is it to be wished, and most earnestly to be prayed for by the citizens of the heavenly country, who are travelling through this world, that the more powerful any persons are in this world, the more they may labour to be acquainted with the commands of Him Avho is the Supreme Judge, and by their example and authority may induce those that are committed to their charge, as well as themselves, to keep the same.

" There are three rules in the Sacred Writings, on account of which it is not lawful for any human authority to change the time of keeping Easter, which has been prescribed to us ; two whereof are divinely established in the law of Moses ; the third is added in the Gospel by means of the passion and resurrection of our Lord. For the law enjoined, that the Passover should be kept in the first month of the year, and the third week of that month, that is, from the fifteenth day to the one-and-twentieth. It is added, by apostolic institu- tion, in the Gospel, that we are to wait for our Lord's day in that third week, and to keep the beginning of the Paschal time on the same. Which threefold rule whosoever shall rightly observe, will never err in fixing the Paschal feast. But if you desire to be more plainly and fully informed in all these particulars, it is written in Exodus, where the people of Israel, being about to be delivered out of Egypt, are com- manded to keep the first Passover, that the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, ' This month shall be unto you the begin- ning of months ; it shall be the first month of the year to you. Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month, they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house.' And a httle lower, 'And he shall keep it until the fourteenth day of the same month ; and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the * Plato, in his Republic.

.D. 710.] LETTER TO NAITAN. 279

vening.' By which words it most plainly appears, that thus Q the Paschal observance mention is made of the fourteenth lay, not that the Passover is commanded to be kept on that lay : but the lamb is commanded to be killed on the evening .f the fourteenth day ; that is, on the fifteenth day of the Qoon, which is the beginning of the third week, when the Qoon appears in the sky. And because it was on the night >f the fifteenth moon, when, by the slaughter of the Egyp- ians, Israel was redeemed from a long captivity, therefore it s said, ' Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread.' By vhich words all the third week of the same month is decreed ;o be kept solemn. But lest we should think that those iSLme seven days were to be reckoned from the fourteenth to :he twentieth, God immediately adds, ' Even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses ; for whosoever 3ateth leavened bread, from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel ;' and so on, till he says, ' For in this self-same day I will bring your army out of the land of Egypt.'

" Thus he calls that the first day of unleavened bread, in which he was to bring their army out of Egy]3t. But it is evident, that they were not brought out of Egypt on the fourteenth day, in the evening whereof the lamb was killed, and which is properly called the Passover or Phase, but on the fifteenth day, as is most plainly written in the book of Numbers. 'Departing tlierefore from Ramesse on the fif- teenth day of the first month, the next day the Israelites kept the Passover with a high hand.' Thus the seven days of unleavened bread on the first whereof the p(,'ople of God were brought out of Egypt, are to be reckoned from the beginning of the third week, as has been said, that is, from the fourteenth day of the first month, till the one-and- twentieth of the same month, that day included. But tho fourteenth day is noted down separately from this number, by the name of the Passover, as is plainly made out by what follows in Exodus: where when it is said, 'For in this same day I will bring your army out of the land ot Egypt ; it is presently added, 'You shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever. In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at even, ye shall eat unleavened bread, until the one- and-twentieth day of the month at even. Seven days shaU

280 BEDE's ECCLESIASTICAX history. [b.v. C.21.

there be no leaven found in your houses.' Now, who is there that does not perceive, that there are not only seven days, but rather eight, from the fourteenth to the one-and- twentieth, if the fourteenth be also reckoned in the number ? But if, as by diligent study of Scriptures appears to be the truth, we reckon from the evening of the fourteenth day to the evening of the one-and-twentieth, we shall certainly find, that the same fourteenth day gives its evening for the beginning of the Paschal feast ; so tliat the sacred solemnity contains no more than only seven nights and as many days. By which our definition is proved to be true, wherein we said, that the Paschal time is to be celebrated in the first month of the year, and the third week of the same. For it is really the third week, because it begins on the evening of the fourteenth day, and ends on the evening of the one-and- twentieth.

" But since Christ our Paschal Lamb is slain, and has made the Lord's day, which among the ancients was called the first after the Sabbath, a solemn day to us for the joy of his resurrection, the apostolic tradition has so inserted it into the Paschal festivals as to decree, that nothing in the least be anticipated, or detracted from the time of the legal Pass- over; but rather ordains, that the same first month should be waited for, pursuant to the precept of the law, and ac- cordingly the fourteenth day of the same, and the evening thereof. And when this day should happen to fall on the Sabbath, every one in his family should take a lamb, and kill it in the evening, that is, that all the churches through- out the world, composing one catholic church, should provide bread and wine for the mystery of the flesh and blood of the unspotted Lamb ' that took away the sins of the world ;' and after the solemnity of reading the lessons and prayers of the Paschal ceremonies, they should offer up these things to the Lord, in hopes of future redemption. For that same night in which the people of Israel were delivered out of Egypt by the blood of the Lamb, is the very same in which all the people of God were, by Christ's resurrection, delivered from eternal death. Then, on the morning of the Lord's day, they should celebrate the first day of the Paschal festival; for that is the day on which our Lord, with much joy of pious revelation, made known the glory of his resurrection.

d.D. 710.] LETTER TO NAITAN. 281

rhe same is the first day of unleavened bread, concernins^ which it is distinctly written in Leviticus, 'In the fourteenth day of the first month, at even, is the Lord's Passover. And on the fifteenth day of the same month, is the feast of un- leavened bread unto the Lord ; seven days ye must eat un- leavened bread ; the first day shall be most solemn and holy.'

" If therefore it could be that the Lord's day should al- ways happen on the fifteenth day of the first month, that is, on the fifteenth moon, we might always celebrate Easter at the very same time with the ancient people of God, though the nature of the mystery be different, as we do it with one and the same faith. But in regard that the day of the week does not keep pace exactly with the moon, the apostolical tradition, which was preached at Rome by St. Peter, and confirmed at Alexandria by INIark the Evangelist, his inter- preter, appointed that when the first month was come, and in it the evening of the fourteenth day, we should also wait for the Lord's day, which faUs between the fifteenth and the one-and-twentieth day of the same month. For on which- ever of those days it shall fall, Easter will be properly kept on the same ; as it is one of those seven days on which the unleavened bread is ordered to be kept. Thus it comes to pass that our Easter never deviates from the third week of the first month, but either observes the whole, or at least some of the seven legal days of unleavened bread. For though it takes in but one of them, that is, the seventh, which the Scripture so highly commends, saying, ' But the seventh day shall be more solemn and holy, ye shall do no servile work therein,' none can lay it to our charge, that we do not rightly keep our Lord's Paschal day, which we re- ceived from the Gospel, in the third week of the first month, as the Law prescribes.

"The cathoUc reason of this observance being tlius ex- plained; the unreasonable error, on the other hand, ot those who, without any necessity, presume either to anticipate, or to go beyond the term prescribed in the Law, is manitest. For they that think the Lord's day of Easter is to be ob- served from the fourteenth day of the first month till the twentieth moon, anticipate the time prescribed m the law, without any necessary reason; for when they begm to cele- brate the vigil of the holy night from the evening ot the

282 BEDE's ECCLESIASTICAI. history. Lb. v. c. 2].

thirteenth day, it is plain that they make that day the be- ginning of their Easter, whereof they find no mention in the Law; and when they refuse to celebrate our Lord's Easter on the one-and-twentieth day of the month, they wholly exclude that day from their solemnity, which the Law often recommends as memorable for the greater festival ; and thus, perverting the proper order, they place Easter day in the second week, and sometimes keep it entirely in the same, and never bring it to the seventh day of the third week. And again, because they rather think that Easter is to be kept on the sixteenth day of the said month, and so to the two-and-twentieth, they no less erroneously, though the con- trary way, deviate from the right way of truth, and as it were avoiding to be shipwrecked on Scylla, they run on and are drowned in the whirlpool of Charybdis. For when they teach that Easter is to be begun at the rising of the six- teenth moon of the first month, that is, from the evening of the fifteenth day, it is manifest that they altogether exclude from their solemnity the fourteenth day of the same month, which the Law firstly and chiefly recommends ; so that they scarcely touch upon the evening of the fifteenth day, on which the people of God were delivered from the Egyptian servitude, and on which our Lord, by his blood, rescued the world from the darkness of sin, and on which being also buried, he gave us hopes of a blessed repose after death.

"And the same persons, taking upon themselves the penalty of their error, when they place the Lord's day of Easter on the twenty-second day of the month, openly trans- gress and exceed the legal term of Easter, as beginning the Easter on the evening of that day in which the Law ap- pointed it to be finished and completed ; and appoint that to be the first day of Easter, whereof no mention is any where found in the Law, viz. the first of the fourth week. And they are sometimes mistaken, not only in defining and com- puting the moon's age, but also in finding the first month : but this controversy is longer than can or ought to be con- tained in this letter. I will only say thus much, that by the vernal equinox, it may always be found, without the chance of an error, which is the first month of the year, according to the lunar calculation, and which the last. But the equi- nox, according to the opinion of all the Eastern nations, and

A.©. 710.1 LETTER TO NAITAN. 283

particularly of the Egyptians, who exceed all other learncMl men in that calculation, usually happens on the twelfth day before the kalends of April, as we also prove by horolofncal inspection. Whatever moon therefore is at the full before the equinox, being on the fourteenth or fifteenth day, the same belongs to the last month of the foregoing year, and consequently is not proper for the celebration of Easter ; but that moon wliich is full after the equinox, or on the very equinox, belongs to the first month, and in it, without a doubt, the ancients were wont to celebrate the Passover ; and we also ought to keep Easter when the Sunday comes. And that tliis must be so, there is this cogent reason, because it is written in Genesis, that ' God made two liglits ; a greater light to rule the day, and a lesser light to rule the night.' Or, as another edition has it, 'A greater light to begin the day, and a lesser to begin the night.' The sun, therefore, proceeding from the midst of the east, fixed the vernal equinox by his rising, and afterwards the moon, when the sun set in the evening, followed full from the midst of the east ; thus every year the same first month of the moon must be observed in the like order, so that the full moon must be either on the very day of the equinox, as was done from the beginning, or after it is gone by. But if the full of the moon shall happen to be but one day before the time of the equinox, the aforesaid reason proves that such moon is not to be assigned to the first month of the new year, but rather to the last of the preceding, and that it is tlierefure not proper for the celebration of the Paschal festival.

" Now if it will please you likewise to hear the mystical reason in this matter, we are commanded to keep Easter in the first month of the year, wliich is also called the month of the new fruit, because we are to celebrate the mysteries of our Lord's resurrection and our deHverance, with our mmds renewed to the love of heavenly things. We are commanded to keep it in the third week of the same month, because Christ, who had been promised before the Law, and under the Law, came with grace, in the third age of the work ,_ to be slain as our Passover ; and rising from the dead the third day after the offering of his passion, he wished this to be called the Lord's day, and the festival of his resurrection to be yearly celebrated on the same. For we also, m this man-

284 bede's ecclesiastical history. [b. v. c. 21.

ner only, can truly celebrate liis solemnity, if we take care with him to keep the Passover, that is, the passage out of this world to the Father, by faith, hope, and charity. We are commanded to observe the full moon of the Paschal month after the vernal equinox, to the end, that the sun may first make the day longer than the night, and then the moon may aiFord tlie world her full orb of light ; inasmuch as first ^ the sun of righteousness, in whose wings is salvation,' that is, our Lord Jesus, by the triumph of his resurrection, dis- pelled all the darkness of death, and so ascending into hea- ven, filled his Church, which is often signified by the name of the moon, with the light of inward grace, by sending down upon her his Spirit. Which plan of salvation the prophet had in his mind, when he said ' The sun was exalted and the moon stood in her order.'

" He, therefore, who shall contend that the full Paschal moon can happen before the equinox, deviates from the doc- trine of the Holy Scriptures, in the celebration of the great- est mysteries, and agrees with those who confide that they may be saved without the grace of Christ forerunning them ; and who presume to teach that they might have attained to perfect righteousness, though the true light had never van- quished the darkness of the world, by dying and rising again. Thus, after the equinoctial rising of the sun, and after the subsequent full moon of the first month, that is, after the end of the fourteenth day of the same month, all which, according to the law, ought to be observed, we still, by the instruction of the Gospel, wait in the third week for the Lord's day ; and thus, at length, we celebrate our due Easter solemnity, to show that we do not, with the ancients, honour the shaking ofi" of the Egyptian yoke ; but that, with devout faith and affection, we worship the redemption of the whole world ; which having been prefigured in the deliver- ance of God's ancient people, was completed in Christ's resurrection, to make it appear that we rejoice in the sure and certain hope of the day of our own resurrection, which we believe will happen on the same Lord's day.

" Now this calculation of Easter, which we show you is to be followed, is contained in a circle or revolution of nineteen years, which began long since, that is, in the very times of the apostles, especially at Rome and in Egypt, as has been

i.D. 710.1 LETTER TO NAITAN. 285

jaid above. But by the industry of Eusebius, who took his surname from the blessed martyr Pamphilus, it was reduced :o a plainer system ; insomuch that what till then used to bo sent about to all the several churches by the patriarch of A-lexandria, might, from that time forward, be most easily inown by all men, the course of the fourteenth day of tlie aaoon being regularly ordered. This Paschal calculation, rheophilus, patriarch of Alexandria, composed for the Em- peror Theodosius, for a hundred years to come. Cyril also, [lis successor, comprised a series of ninety-five years in five revolutions of nineteen years. After whom, Dionysius Exiguus added as many more, in the same manner, reaching down to our own time. The expiration of these is now drawing near, but there is so great a number of calculators, that even in our churches throughout Britain, there are many who, having learned the ancient rules of the Egyptians, can with great ease carry on those revolutions of the Paschal times for any distant number of years, even to five hundred and thirty-two years, if they w411 ; after the expiration of which, all that belongs to the question of the sun and moon, of month and week, returns in the same order as before. We therefore forbear to send you those revolutions of the times to come, because you only desired to be instructed respecting the Paschal time, and declared you had enough of those catholic tables concerning Easter.

"But having said thus much briefly and succmctly, as you required concerning Easter, I also exhort you to take care to promote the tonsure, as ecclesiastical and agreeable to the Christian faith, for concerning that also you desired me to write to you ; and we know indeed that the apostles were not all shorn after the same manner, nor does tlu3 Catholic Church, though it agrees in the same Divine taith, hope, and charity, agree in the same form ot tonsure througli- out the world : in fine, to look back to remote times, t.at i,^, the times of the patriarchs. Job, the example oi patie.u-r, when, on the approach of tribulation, he shaved his ica made it appear that he had used, in time of prosperity, to ct his hair grow ; and Joseph, the great practiser :^"<i teacher of chastity, humiUty, piety, and other ^^''^'l^l^J^': have been shorn when he was to be dehvered ^f^ ^J^^ \"*^ - by which it appears, that during the time of servitude, he

286 bede's ecclesiastical history. [b. V c. 21.

was in the prison without cutting his hair. Now you may observe how each of these men of God differed in the man- ner of their appearance abroad, though their inward con- sciences were alike influenced by the grace of virtue. But though we may be free to confess, that the difference of ton- sure is not hurtful to those whose faith is pure towards God, and their charity sincere towards their neighbour, especially since we do not read that there ever was any controversy among the Catholic fathers about the difference of tonsure, as there has been about the difference in keeping Easter, or in matters of faith ; however, among all the tonsures that are to be found in the Church, or among mankind at large, I think none more worthy of being followed than tliat which that disciple had on his head, to whom, on his confession, our Lord said, ' Thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it, and to thee I will give the keys of the kingdom of heaven.' Nor do I think any more worthy to be abhorred and detested, by all the faithful, than that which that man used, to whom Peter, when he would have bought the grace of the Holy Ghost, said, ' Thy money be with thee to perdi- tion, because thou thoughtest the gift of God to be purchased for money ; there is no part or lot for thee in this speech.' Nor do we shave ourselves in the form of a crown only be- cause Peter was so shorn ; but because Peter was so shorn in memory of the passion of our Lord ; therefore we also, who desire to be saved by the same passion, do with him bear the sign of the same passion on the top of our head, which is the highest part of our body. For as all the Church, because it Avas made a church by the death of him that gave it Hfe, is wont to bear the sign of his holy cross on the forehead, to the end, that it may, by the constant protec- tion of his sign, be defended from the assaults of evil spirits, and by the frequent admonition of the same be instructed, in like manner, to crucify its flesh with its vices and concupi- scences ; so also it behoves those, who have either taken the vows of monks, or have any degree among the clergy, to curb themselves the more strictly by continence.

" Every one of them is likewise to bear on his head, by means of the tonsure, the form of the crown which Christ in his passion bore of thorns, in order that Christ may bear the

A-D-710.] LETTER TO NAITAN. 287

thorns and briars of our sins ; that is, that he may remove and take them from us ; and also that they may at once show- that they, willingly, and with a ready mind, endure scoffs and rej^roaches for his sake ; to make it appear, that they always expect ' the crown of eternal life, which God has pro- mised to those that love him,' and that for the gaining thereof they despise both the adversities and the prosperities of tliis world. But as for the tonsure which Simon Magus is said to have used, what Christian will not immediately detest and cast it off together with his magic ? Upon the top of the forehead, it does seem indeed to resemble a crown ; but when you come to the neck, you will find the crown you thought you had seen so perfect cut short ; so that you may be satis- fied such a distinction properly belongs not to Christians but to Simoniacs, such as were indeed in this life thought worthy of a perpetual crown of glory by erring men ; but in that life which is to follow this, are not only deprived of all hopes of a crown, but are moreover condemned to eternal punish- ment.

" But do not think that I have said thus much, as judging those who use this tonsure, are to be damned, in case they favour the catholic unity in faith and actions ; on the con- trary, I confidently declare, that many of them have been holy and worthy of God. Of which number is Adamnan, the abbat and renowned priest of Columba, who, when sent ambassador by his nation to King Alfrid, came to see our monastery, and discovering wonderful wisdom, humility, and religion in his words and behaviour, among other tilings, I said to him in discourse, ' I beseech you, holy brother, wlio think you are advancing to the crown of life, which knows no period, why do you, contrary to the habit of your faith wear on your head a crown that is terminated, or bounded ? And if you aim at the society of St. Peter, why do you imitate the tonsure of him whom St. Peter anatliematized .-' and why do you not rather even now show that you mutate to your utmost the habit of him with whom you desire to live happy for ever.' He answered, ' Be assured, my dear brother, that though I have Simon's tonsure, according to the custom of my country, yet I utterly detest and abhor the Simoniacal wickedness; and I desire, as far as my little- ness is capable of doing it, to follow the footsteps of the most

288 BEDE's ecclesiastical history. Lb. v. c. 21.

blessed prince of the apostles/ I replied, * I verily believe it as you say ; but let it appear by showing outwardly such things as you know to be his, that you in your hearts em- brace whatever is from Peter the Apostle. For I believe your Avisdom does easily j udge, that it is much more proper to estrange your countenance, already dedicated to God, from resemblance to him whom in your heart you abhor, and of whose hideous face you would shun the sight ; and, on the other hand, that it becomes you to imitate the outward re- semblance of him, whom you seek to have for your advocate with God, as you desire to follow his actions and instruc- tions.'

" Tliis I then said to Adamnan, who indeed showed how much he had improved upon seeing the statutes of our churches, when, returning into Scotland, he afterwards by his preacliing brought great numbers of that nation over to the catholic observance of the Paschal time ; though he was not yet able to gain the consent of the monks that lived in the island of Hii, over whom he presided. He would also have been mindful to amend the tonsure, if his authority had ex- tended so far.

" But I also admonish your wisdom, O king, that you endeavour to make the nation, over which the King of kings, and Lord of lords, has placed you, observe in all points those things which appertain to the unity of the Catholic and Apostolic Church ; for thus it will come to pass, that after your temporal kingdom has passed away, the blessed prince of the apostles will lay open to you and yours the entrance into the heavenly kingdom, where you will rest for ever with the elect. The grace of the eternal King preserve thee in safety, long reigning, for the peace of us all, my most beloved son in Christ."

This letter having been read in the presence of King Naitan, and many more of the most learned men, and care- fully interpreted into his own language by those who could understand it, he is said to have much rejoiced at the exhort- ation ; insomuch that, rising from among his great men that sat about him, he knelt on the ground, giving thanks to God that he had been found worthy to receive such a present from the land of the English ; and, said he, " I knew indeed before, that this was the true celebration of Easter, but now

A.D.716.] EGBERT PREACHES AT lONA. '285

I SO fully know the reason for observing of this time, that I seem convinced that I knew little of it before. Therefore I publicly declare and protest to you that are here present, that I will for ever continually observe this time of Easter, with all my nation ; and I do decree that this tonsure, ^vhich we have heard is most reasonable, shall be received by all the clergy in my kingdom." Accordingly he immediately performed by his regal authority what he had said. For the circles or revolutions of nineteen years were presently, by public command, sent throughout all the provinces of the Picts to be transcribed, learned and observed, the erroneou-? revolutions of eight-four years being everywhere suppressed. All the ministers of the altar and monks had the crown shorn, and the nation thus reformed, rejoiced, as being newly put under the direction of Peter, the most blessed prince of the apostles, and secure under his protection.

CHAP. xxn.

The Monks of Hit, and the monasteries subject to them, begin iojelebrate the canonical Easter at the preaching of Egbert. [a. d. 710'.]

Not long after, those monks also of the Scottish nation, who lived in isle of Hii, with the other monasteries that were sub- ject to them, were by the assistance of our Lord brought to the canonical observation of Easter, and the right mode of tonsure. For in the year after the incarnation of our Lord 716, when Osred was slain, and Coenred took upon hmi the government of the kingdom of the Northumbrians, tlie holy father and priest, Egbert, beloved of God, and worthy to be named with all honour, whom we have often mentioned beiore, coming among them, was joyfully and honourably received. Being a most agreeable teacher, and devout in practising those things which he taught, and being wilhngly heard by all, he, by his pious and frequent exhortations, converted them from that inveterate tradition of their ancestors of whom may be said those words of the apostle, ^ Tliat they had the zeal of God, but not according to knowledge He taught them to perform the principalsolemmy after he catholic and apostolic manner, as has been ^f ' "^^^^^^^ figure of a perpetual circle; wh ch appears to have been accompHshed by a wonderful dispensation of the DiTUie

u

290 bede's ecclesiastical history. [b. r. c. 22.

goodness ; to the end, that the same nation which had wil- linglj, and without envy, communicated to the English people the knowledge of the true Deity, should afterwards, by means of the English nation, be brought where they were defective to the true rule of life. Even as, on the contrary, the Britons, who would not acquaint the English with the know- ledge of the Christian faith, now, when the English people enjoy the true faith, and are thorouglily instructed in its rules, continue inveterate in their errors, expose their heads without a crown, and keep the solemnity of Christ without the society of the Church.

The monks of Hii, by the instruction of Egbert, adopted the catholic rites, under Abbat Dunchad, about eighty year? after they had sent Aidan to preach to the EngUsh nation.* Tliis man of God, Egbert, remained thirteen years in the aforesaid island, wliich he had thus consecrated again to Christ, by kindling in it a new ray of Divine grace, and restoring it to the unity of ecclesiastical discipline. In the year of our Lord's incarnation 729, in which the Easter of our Lord was celebrated on the 24th of April, he performed the solemnity of the mass, in memory of the same resurrec- tion of our Lord, and dying that same day, thus finished, or rather never ceases to celebrate, with our Lord, the apostles, and the other citizens of heaven, that greatest festival, which he had begun with the brethren, whom he had converted to the unity of grace. But it was a wonderful dispensation of the Divine Providence, that the venerable man not only passed out of this world to the Father, in Easter, but also when Easter was celebrated on that day, on which it had never been wont to be kept in those parts. The brethren rejoiced in the certain and catholic knowledge of the tinie of Easter, and rejoiced in the protection of their father, depart- ed to our Lord, by whom they had been converted. He also congratulated his being so long continued in the flesh till he saw his followers admit, and celebrate with him, that as Eas- ter day which they had ever before avoided. Thus the most reverend father being assured of their standing corrected, re- joiced to see the day of our Lord, and he saw it and was glad.

* Aidan was sent into England about a.d. 634. Vide pages 112, 116, 134, 13o. Therefore the monks of lona adopted the Catholic mode of keeping Easier about 714.

A. D. 725.1 STATE OF BRITAIN. 291

CHAP. xxm.

Of the 'present state of the English nation, or of all Britain. [a.d. 725—731.]

In the year of our Lord's incarnation 725, being the seventh year of Osric, king of the Northumbrians, who succeeded Coenred, Wictred, the son of Egbert, king of Kent, died on the 23rd of April, and left his three sons, Ethelbert, Ead- bert, and Alric, heirs of that kingdom, which he had go- verned thirty-four years and a half. The next year died Tobias, bishop of the church of Eochester, a most learned man, as has been said before; for he was disciple to those teachers of blessed memory, Theodore, the archbishop, and Abbat Hadrian, by which means, as we have before ob- served, besides his erudition in ecclesiastical and general literature, he learned both the Greek and Latin tongues to such perfection, that they were as well known and famihar to him as his native language. He was buried in the porch of St. Paul the Apostle, which he had built witliin the church of St. Andrew for his own place of burial. After liim Aldwulf took upon him the office of bishop, having been consecrated by Archbishop Bertwald.

Li the year of our Lord's incarnation 729, two comets appeared about the sun, to the great terror of the beholders. One of them went before the rising sun in the morning, the other followed him when he set at night, as it were pre- saging much destruction to the east and west ; one was tlie forerunner of the day, and the other of the night, to signify that mortals were threatened with calamities at both times. They carried their flaming tails towards the north, as it were ready to set the world on fire. They appeared in January, and continued nearly a fortnight. At which time a dreadful plague of Saracens ravaged France with miser- able slaughter; but they not long after in that country received the punishment due to their wickedness.* In which year the holy man of God, Egbert, departed to our Lord, as has been said above, on Easter day ; and imme-

* The great battle of Tours, in which Charles Maitel defeated the Arabs, was fought in a.b. 732. This passage was therefore inserted by Bede after he had finished his history, when he revised it in 734 or /35.

u 2

292

bede's ecclesiastical history.

[B. V. c. 23

diatelj after Easter, that is, on the 9th of May, Osric, king of the Northumbrians, departed this life, after he had reign- ed eleven years, and appointed Ceolwulf, brother to Coenred, who had reigned before him, his successor; the beginning and progress of whose reign were so filled with commotions, that it cannot yet be known what is to be said concerning them, or -what end they will have.

In the year of our Lord's incarnation 731, Archbishop Bertwald died of old age, on the 9th of January, having held his see thirty-seven years, six months and fourteen days. In his stead, the same year, Tatwine, of the province of the Mercians, was made archbishop, having been a priest in the monastery called Briudun.* He was consecrated in the city of Canterbury by the venerable men, Daniel, bishop of Winchester, Ingwald of London, Aldwin of Lichfield, and Aldwulf of Rochester, on Sunday, the 10th of June, being a man renowned for religion and wisdom, and notably learned in Sacred Writ.

Thus at present,! ^^^^ bishops Tatwine and Aldwulf pre- side in the churches of Kent ; Ingwald in the province of the East Saxons. In the province of the East Angles, Ald- bert and Hadulac are bishops ; in the province of the West

• Near the Bredon Hills in Worcestershire.

f The follo\\'ing list of the Saxon bishoprics at the time when Bede closed his history, [a.d. 731,] -ttill enable the reader to recognize those which belonged to each separate kingdom : —

Kingdoms. Sees. Prelates.

Kent . . . Canterbury . . . Tatwine. Rochester . . . Aldwulf. East Saxons . London .... Ingwald. j

East Angles . . Dunwich . . . Aldbert. Elmham . . . Hadulac.

West Saxons Winchester . . Daniel.

Sherborne . . . Forthere. Mercia . Lichfield . . . Aldwin.

Hereford . . . Walstod.

Worcester . . . Wilfrid. Lindsey (Sidnacester) . Cunebert. Dorchester, removed to ^ Leicester, a.d. 737 . J South Saxons . Selsey

Northumbria . York

Lindisfame . *

Hexham

Whitheme . . .

Vacant.

Vacant. Wilfrid II. Ethelwald. Acca. Pechthelm.

A.D. 731.] THE SAXON SEES. 293

Saxons, Daniel and Forthere are bishops ; in the province of the Mercians, Aldwin. Among those people who live be- yond the river Severn to the westward, Walstod is bishop ; in the province of the Wiccians, Wilfrid ; in the province of the Lindisfarnes, Cjnebert presides ; the bishopric of the Isle of Wight belongs to Daniel, bishop of Winchester. The province of the South Saxons, ha\dng now continued some years without a bishop, receives the episcopal ministry from the prelate of the West Saxons. All these provinces, and the others southward to the bank of the river Humber, with their kings, are subject to King Ethelbald.

But in the province of the Northumbrians, where King Ceolwulf reigns, four bishops now preside; Wilfrid in the church of York, Ethelwald in that of Lindisfarne, Acca in that of Hagulstad, Pechthelm in that which is called the White House, which, from the increased number of be- lievers, has lately become an episcopal see, and has him for its first prelate.* The Picts also at this time are at peace with the English nation, and rejoice in being united in peace and truth with the whole Catholic Church. The Scots that inhabit Britain, satisfied with their own territories, meditate no hostilities against the nation of the English. The Bri- tons, though they, for the most part, through innate hatred, are adverse to the English nation, and wrongfully, and from wicked custom, oppose the appointed Easter of the whole Catholic Church; yet, from both the Divine and human power withstanding them, can in no way prevail as they desire ; for though in part they are their own masters, yet elsewhere they are also brought under subjection to_ the English. Such being the peaceable and calm disposition of the times, many of the Northumbrians, as well of the nobiHty as private persons, laying aside their weapons ra- ther incline to dedicate both themselves and their children to the tonsure and monastic vows, than to study martia discipline. What will be the end hereof, the next age wiU

* Bede here speaks of Pechthelm as the ^.^M^ishop of Whitherne which must be understood as the first under the Saxon^^^J^^ ' ^7t^^ book iii. ch. 4, page 114, he mentions St. ^mlas as the ^-^^"^^^^^^ see AD 412 There was probably an interruption m the succession of tr; prelates during the three hundred ye-rs^ftrT'TJJt^^e c^ death of St. Ninias and the appointment of Pechthelm, owing to the civU wars and the invasion of the Saxons.

294 bede's ecclesiastical history. [b.v. c.2*.

show. This is for the present the state of all Britain ; in the year since the coming of the English into Britain about 285, but in the 731st year of the incarnation of our Lord, in whose reign may the earth ever rejoice; may Britain exult in the profession of his faith ; and may many islands be glad, and sing praises in honour of his holiness I

CHAP. XXIV.

'Jhronological recapitulation of the whole work: also concerning the author himself.

I HAVE thought fit briefly to sum up those things which have been related more at large, according to the distinction of times, for the better preserving them in memory.

In the sixtieth year before the incarnation of our Lord, Caius Julius Caesar, first of the Romans, invaded Britain, and was victorious, yet could not gain the kingdom.

In the year from the incarnation of our Lord, 46, Claudius, second of the Romans, invading Britain, had a great part of the island surrendered to him, and added the Orkney islands to the Roman empire.

In the year from the incarnation of our Lord 167, Eleu- therius, being made bishop at Rome, governed the Church most gloriously fifteen years. Lucius, king of Britain, writing to him, requested to be made a Christian, and suc- ceeded in obtaining his request.

In the year from the incarnation of our Lord 189, Severus, being made emperor, reigned seventeen years ; he enclosed Britain with a trench from sea to sea.

In the year 381, Maximus, being made emperor in Britain, sailed over into Gaul, and slew Gratian.

In the year 409, Rome was crushed by the Goths, from which time Roman emperors began to reign in Britain.

In the year 430, Palladius was sent to be first the bishop of the Scots that believed in Clirist, by Pope Celestine.

In the year 449, Martian being made emperor with Valen- tinian, reigned seven years ; in whose time the English, being called by the Britons, came into Britain.

In the year 538, there happened an eclipse of the sun, on the 16th of February, from the first to the third hour.

In the year 540, an eclipse of the sun happened on the

A.0. 664.] CHRONOLOGICAL SUMMARY. 295

' 20th of June, and the stars appeared during almost half an hour after the third hour of the day.

In the year 547, Ida began to reign ; from him the royal family of the Northumbrians derives its original ; he reigned twelve years.

In the year 565, the priest, Columba, came out of Scotland, into Britain, to instruct the Picts, and he built a monastery in the isle of Hii.

In the year 596, Pope Gregory sent Augustine with j monks into Britain, to preach the word of God to the English nation.

In the year 597, the aforesaid teachers arrived in Britain ; being about the 150th year from the coming of the Enghsh into Britain.

In the year 601, Pope Gregory sent the pall into Britain, to Augustine, who was already made bishop ; he sent also several ministers of the word, among whom was Paulinus.

In the year 603, a battle was fought at Degsastane.

In the year 604, the East Saxons received the faith of Christ, under King Sabert, and Bishop Mellitus.

In the year 605, Gregory died.

In the year 616, Ethelbert, king of Kent, died.

In the year 625, the venerable Paulinus was, by Arch- bishop Justus, ordained bishop of the Northumbrians.

In the year 626, Eanfleda, daughter to King Edwin, was baptized with twelve others, on Whit- Saturday.

In the year 627, King Edwin was baptized, witli his nation, at Easter.

In the year 633, King Edwin being killed, Pauhnus re- turned to Kent.

In the year 640, Eadbald, king of Kent, died.

In the year 642, King Oswald was slain.

In the year 644, Paulinus, first bishop of York, but now of the city of Rochester, departed to our Lord.

In the year 651, Kng Oswin was kiUed, and Bishop Aidan

died. -, 1 •

In the year 653, the Midland Angles, under their prince,

Penda, received the mysteries of the faith. •„ . u^

In the year 655, Penda was slain, and the Mercians be

came Christians. .. p ,, ^ ^„„ .

In the year 664, there happened an echpse of the sun,

296 BEDe's ECCLESIASTICAL mSTOKT. [b.iv. c.24.

Earconbert, king of Kent, died ; and Colman returned to the Scots ; a pestilence arose ; Ceadda and Wilfrid were ordained bishops of the Northumbrians.

In the year 668, Theodore was ordained bishop.

In the year 670, Oswy, king of the Northumbrians, died.

In the year 673, Egbert, king of Kent, died, and a synod was held at Hertford, in the presence of King Egfrid, Arch- bishop Theodore presiding : the synod did much good, and its decrees are contained in ten chapters.

In the year 67o, Wulfhere, Jdng of the Mercians, dying, when he had reigned seventeen years, left the crown to his brother Etheked.

In the year 676, Ethelred ravaged Kent.

In the year 678, a comet appeared; Bishop Wilfrid was di'iven from his see by King Egfrid ; and Bosa, Eata, and Eadhed were consecrated bishops in his stead.

In the year 679, Elfwine was killed.

In the year 680, a synod was held in the field called Heth- feld, concerning the Christian faith, Ai'chbishop Theodore presiding ; John, the Roman abbat, was also present. The same year also the Abbess Hilda died at Streaneshalch.

In the year 685, Egfrid, king of the Northumbrians, was slain.

The same year, Lothere, king of Kent died.

In the year 688, Ceedwalla, king of the West Saxons, went to Rome from Britain.

In the year 690, Archbishop Theodore died.

In the year 697, Queen Ostiitha was murdered by her own people, that is, the nobility of the Mercians.

In the year 698, Berthred, the royal commander of the Northumbrians, was slain by the Picts.

In the year 704, Ethelred became a monk, after he had reigned thirty years over the nation of the Mercians, and gave up the kingdom to Coenred.

In the year 705, Alfrid, king of the Northumbrians, died.

In the year 709, Coenred, king of the Mercians, having reigned six years, went to Rome.

In the year 711, Earl Bertfrid fought with the Picts.

In the year 716, Osred, king of the Northumbrians, was killed ; and Ceoired, king of the Mercians, died ; and Egbert,

.D. 731.] WOEKS OF BEDE. 297

he man of God, brought the monks of Hii to observe the Catholic Easter and ecclesiastical tonsure.

In the year 725, Withred, king of Kent, died.

In the year 729, comets appeared ; the holy Egbert de- parted ; and Osric died.

In the year 731, Archbishop Bertwald died.

The same year Tatwine was consecrated ninth archbishop f Canterbury, in the fifteenth year of Ethelbald, king of Cent.

Thus much of the Ecclesiastical History of Britain, and nore especially of the English nation, as far as I couldlearn ;ither from the writings of the ancients, or the tradition of )ur ancestors, or of my own knowledge, has, with the help )f God, been digested by me, Bede, the servant of God, and Driest of the monastery of the blessed apostles, Peter and Paul, which is at Wearmouth and Jarrow; who bemg born n the territory of that same monastery, was given, at seven .ears of age, to be educated by the most revei-end Abbat Benedict, and afterwards by Ceolfrid; and spending all the -emainin- time of my life in that monastery, I wholly applied nyself to the study of Scripture, and amidst the observance >f regular discipline, and the daily care of singing m the 3hureh, I always took delight in learning, teadnng and writing. Li the nineteenth year of my age, I leceived Cacon's orders; in the thirtieth, those of the F-sthood 30th of them by the ministry of ^^^ ^/^^'^^'^^ "^ ^^^^^ John, and by order of the Abbat Ceolfrid. J^ ;^^^ time, till the fifty-ninth year of my age, I have mad. t my business, for the use of me and mine, ^^^^^^^^^ wovU of the venerable Fathers, and to mterpiet and explain

according to their meaning ^^^^ f^'^J^'^.^ac and On the Beginning of Genesis, to the JNatuny u

%?r "^iwira:^ rve^t and of ..e Pries.,, ^rr filrrW Sa^ud, to the Deat. of Saul, io.r books.

298 BEDe's ecclesiastical history. Lb. v. c. 24 ]

Of the Building of the Temple, of Allegorical Exposition, like the rest, two books.

Item, on the Book of Kings, thirty Questions.

On Solomon's Proverbs, three books.

On the Canticles, seven books.

On Isaiah, Daniel, the twelve Prophets, and Part of Jere- miah, Distinctions of Chapters, collected out of St. Jerome's Treatise.

On Esdras and Nehemiah, three books.

On the Song of Habacuc, one book.

On the Book of the blessed Father Tobias, one Book of Allegorical Exposition concerning Christ and the Church,

Also, Chapters of Readings on Moses's Pentateuch, Joshua, and Judges.

On the Books of Kings and Chronicles.

On the Book of the blessed Father Job.

On the Parables, Ecclesiastes, and Canticles.

On the Prophets Isaiah, Esdras, and Nehemiah.

On the Gospel of Mark, four books.

On the Gospel of Luke, six books.

Of Homilies on the Gospel, two books.

On the Apostle, I have carefully transcribed in order all that I have found in St. Augustine's Works.

On the Acts of the Apostles, two books.

On the seven Catholic Epistles, a book on each.

On the Revelation of St. John, three books.

Also, Chapters of Readings on all the New Testament, except the Gospel.

Also a book of Epistles to different Persons, of which one is of the ^ix ages of the world ; one of the Mansions of the Children of Israel ; one on the Words of Isaiah, " And they shall be shut up in the prison, and after many days shall they be visited;" one of the Reason of the Bissextile, or Leap-Year, and of the Equinox, according to Anatolius.

Also, of the Histories of Saints. I translated the Book of the Life and Passion of St. Felix, Confessor, from Paulinus's Work in metre, into prose.

The Book of the Life and Passion of St. Anastasius, which was ill translated from the Greek, and worse amended by some unskilful person, I have corrected as to the sense.

I have written the Life of the Holy Father Cuthbert, who

.D. 664.] WORKS OF BEDE. 299

ms both monk and prelate, first in heroic verse, and then in

)rose.

The History of the Abbats of this Monastery, in which I >ejoice to serve the Divine Goodness, viz. Benedict, Ceolfrid, ind Huetbert, in two books. , xr .• •

The Ecclesiastical History of our Island and Nation m

'^TheVartyrology of the Birth-days of the Holy Martyrs, n which I have carefuUy endeavoured to set down all that i ^ould find, and not only on what day, but also by what sort 3f combat, or under what judge they overcame the world.

A Book of Hymns in several sorts of metre, or rhyme.

A Book of Epigrams in heroic or elegiac verse.

Of the Nature of Things, and of the Times, one book of

aIso, of the Times, one larger book. ^ n Ac.

A book of Orthography digested m Alphabetical Order Ilso a Book of the Art of Poetry and to it I have added

another little Book of Tr^P^^ ^^^. ^^^^5!^^ 2 HoI^^ Serin- Figures and Manners of Speaking m which the Holy Scrip

^"^Hotl beseech thee, good Jesus, that to whom^m^^ hast graciou'sly granted sweetly to partake of the word, of thy ^sdom and knowledge, thou wilt ^^^^ ^onchsa^^^^^^^ he mav some time or other come to thee, the fountain ot an Som and always appear before thy face, who hvest and reignest world without end. Amen .

HERE ENDS, BY GOD'S HELP,

THE FIFTH BOOK

OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORT

OF THE ENGLISH NATION.

[ Sidnacester ? J died. ^ ^ on the 18th day before the

A. D. 733, there happened an eclip?e oi tne » , ^^^^ ^^^^^^ ^ ^^le

kafends of September, about the *b"^^«fbl/ck and horrid shield. .

..bof thesun^se^en^d^t^o^be^coje^^^^^^^^^ 733, archbishop Tatvnne

In the year

300 bede's ecclesiastical history. [b. v. c. 2a.

having received the pall by apostolical authority, ordained Alwich* and Sig- fridf bishops.

A. D. 734, the moon, on the 2nd before the kalends of February, about the time of cock-crovdng, was, for about a whole hour, covered with a bloody red, after which a blackness followed, and she regained her light.

In the year from the incarnation of our Lord 734, bishop Tatwine died. In the year from the incarnation of our Lord 735, ISothelm was ordained archbishop ; and bishop Egbert, having received the pall from the apostolic see, was the first confirmed archbishop after Paulinus, and ordained FrithbertJ and Frithvvald|| bishops ; and the priest Bede died.

A. D. 737, too much drought rendered the land unfruitful, and Ceolwulf, voluntarily receiving the tonsure, left the kingdom to Eadbert.

A. D. 739, Ethelard, king of the West- Saxons, died, as did archbishop Nothelm.

A. D. 740, Cuthbert was consecrated in Nothelm's stead. Ethelbald, king of the Mercians, through impious fraud, wasted part of the Northumbrians, their king Eadbert, with his array, being employed against the Picts. Bishop Ethel wald died also, and Conwulf was consecrated in his stead. Amwiu and Eadbert were slain.

A. D. 741, first a great drought happened in the countrj'. Charles, king of the Franks, died ; and his sons, Caroloman and Pepin, reigned in his stead.

A. D. 745, Bishop Wilfrid and Ingwald, bishop of London, departed to our Lord. A. D. 747, the man of God, Herefrid, died.

A.D. 750, Cuthred, king of the West Saxons, rose up against king Ethelbald and Oenguse ; Theneorus and Eanred died ; Eadbert added the plain of Kyle and other places to his dominions.

A. D. 756, in the fifth year of king Eadbert, on the ides of January, there happened an eclipse of the sun ; afterwards, the same year and month, on the 9th before the kalends of February the moon suffered an eclipse, being most horridly black.

A. D. 756, Boniface, called also Winfrid, bishop of the Franks, received the <:rown of martyrdom, with fifty-three others ; and Redger was consecrated archbishop in his stead, by pope Stephen.

A. D. 757, Ethelbald, king of the ?\Iercians, was miserably murdered, in the night, by his own tutors ; Beonred began his reign; Cynewulf, king of the West-Saxons, died; and the same year, Offa, having vanquished Beonred, in a bloody manner, sought to gain the kingdom of the Mercians.

A. D. 758, Eadbert. king of the Northumbrians, receiving St. Peter's ton- sure for the love of God, and to gain the heavenly country by violence, left the kingdom to his son Oswulph.

A. D. 759, Os^vulph was wickedly murdered by his own servants; and Ethel- wald, being chosen the same year by his people, entered upon the kingdom ; in whose second year there happened a great tribulation of mortality, and con- tinued almost two years, several grievous distempers raging, but more espe- cially the dysentery.

A. D. 761, Oeng, king of tne Picts, died ; who, from the beginning to the end of his reign, continued a bloody tyrannical butcher : Oswin was also slain. A. D. 765, King Alcred was advanced to the throne.

A. D. 766, Archbishop Egbert, of the royal race, and endued with Divine knowledge, as also Frithbert, both of them truly faithful prelates, departed to our Lord.]

* Sidnacester. t Selsey. "t: Hexham. il Whitheme.

THE

ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE.

THE

ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE.*

"The island t of Britain is eight hundred miles long and wo hundred miles broad : and here in this island are five ongues ; English, British, Scottish, Pictish, and Latin. The irst inhabitants of this land were Britons ; they came from Armenia,! and first settled in the south of Britain. Then befell it that Picts came from the south from Scythia, with long ships, not many, and first landed in North Hibernia, ind there entreated the Scots that they might there abide. But they would not permit them, for they said that they :ould not all abide there together. And then the Scots said, ' We may nevertheless give you counsel. We know another island eastward of this, where ye may dwell if ye will, and if any one withstand you, we will assist you, so that you may subdue it.' Then went the Picts and subdued this land northwards ; the southern part the Britons had, as we before have said. And the Picts obtained wives for themselves of the Scots, on this condition, that they should always choose their royal lineage on the w^oman's side ; which they have held ever since. And then befell it in the course of years

* The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle is apparently the work of many successive hands, and extends in different copies from the time of Caesar's invasion to the middle of the twelfth century. As it has been repeatedly printed, it may suffice here to repeat, that, -vvith the exception of the insertions placed within brackets, the text to the year 975 is mostly taken from the MS. designated by the letter A.; from that period to 1079 from MSS. A. C. D. E. F. and <9.,and from thence to the conclusion from M'&.E.'. and that such portions of the different MSS. as are concurrent with the text, but will not conveniently admit of collation, are given separately in a smaller type. These variations will sometimes convey the same information two or three times over : but it has been deemed advisable to retain all of them that the reader may have a more ample means of judging of the authority of this invaluable national record. . .

t This description of Britain is taken from Bede's Ecclesiastical History. J Armorica.

304 THE ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE. [a.d. 1-5.

tliat some part of the Scots departed from Hibernia into Britain, and conquered some portion of the land. And their leader was called Reoda ; from whom they are named Dalreodi.*]

Sixty years before Christ was born, Gains Julius, emperor of the Romans, with eighty ships, sought Britain. There he was at first distressed by a fierce battle, and a large portion of his army was dispersed. And then he left his army to abide among the Scots,f and went south into Gaul, and there collected six hundred ships, Avith which he came again into Britain. And as tliey first rushed together, the emperor's * gerrefa '| was slain : he was called Labienus. Then the Welsh took large and sharp stakes and drove them into the fording place of a certain river under water ; this river was called Thames. When tlie Romans discovered this, then would they not go over the ford. Then fled the Britons to the wood-wastes, and the emperor conquered very many of their chief cities after a great struggle, and departed again into Gaul.

Before the incarnation of Christ sixty years, Gains Julius the emperor, first of the Romans, sought the land of Britain; and he crushed the Britons in battle, and overcame them : and nevertheless he was unable to gain any empire there.

A.D. I. Octavianus reigned fifty-six years; and in the forty-second year of liis reign Christ was born.

A. 2. The three astrologers came from the eastern parts in order that they might worship Christ. And the children were slain at Bethlehem, in persecution of Christ by Herod.

A. 3. This year died Herod, having stabbed himself, and Archelaus his son succeeded to the government. And the cliild Christ was brought back again from Egypt.

A. 4. 5. §

• See the etymology of this name in a note at page 7.

+ " This is an error, arising from the inaccurately written MSS. of Orosius and Bede ; where in Hybernia and in Hiberniam occur for in hiberna. The error is retained in Wheloc's Bede." — Ingram.

X " Tribune." — Ingram.

§ These blank dates are found in the MSS. of the Saxon Chronicle, and are retained in this volume, for the sake of references which occur between the MSS. where the date happens to be blank, and others in which facts are assismed to them.

A.D. 6—47.] THE ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE. 305

A. 6. From the beginning of tlie world to this year, five thousand and two hundred years were gone by.

A. 7.— 10.

A. 11. This year Herod the son of Antipater obtained the government of Judea.

A. 12. Philip and Herod divided Lysia (between them), and Judea they divided into tetrarchies.

A. 12. This year Judea was divided into four tetrarchies.

A. 13.— 15.

A. 16. This year Tiberius succeeded to the empire.

A. 17.— 25.

A. 26. This yeai' Pilate began to rule over the Jews.

A. 27.-29.

A. 30. This year Christ was baptized ; and he converted Peter and Andrew, and James and John and Philip, and the twelve apostles.

A. 31. 32.

A. 33. This year Christ was crucified ; being from the beginning of the w^orld about five thousand two hundred and twenty-six years.

A. 34. This year St. Paul was converted, and St. Stephen stoned.

A. 35. This year the blessed apostle Peter established a bishop's see in the city of Antioch.

• A. 36. 37.

A. 38. This year Pilate slew liimself with his own hand.

A. 39. This year Caius obtained the empire.

A. 40. Matthew, in Judea, began to write his gospel.

A. 41.— 44.

A. 45. This year the blessed apostle Peter established a bishop's see in Rome. This year James, the brother of John, was slain by Herod.

A. 46. This year Herod died ; he who slew James, one year before his own death.

A. 46. This year the emperor Claudius came to Britain, and subdued a large part of the island ; and he also added the island of Orkney to the dominion of the Romans.

A. 47. This year Claudius, second of the Roman kings, sought the land of Britain, and brought under his power the greater part of the island, and also subjected the Orkney Islands to the dominion of the Romans. This war he

X

306 THE ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE. [a.d. 47— 100.

effected in the fourth year of his reign : and in the same year was the great famine in Syria, which was foretold in the Acts of the Apostles through Agabus the prophet. Then Nero succeeded to the empire after Claudius : he nearly lost the island of Britain through his cowardice. Mark the Evangelist begins to write the gospel in Egypt.

A. 47. This was in the fourth year of his reign, and in this same year was the great famine in Syria which Luke speaks of in the book called * Actus Apostolorum.'

A. 47. This year Claudius, king of the Romans, went with an army into Britain, and subdued the island, and subjected all the Picts and Welsh to the rule of the Romans.

A. 48. In this year there was a very severe famine.

A. 49. This year Nero began to reign.

A. 50. This year Paul was sent in bonds to Rome.

A. 51.— 61

A. 62. This year James, the brother of our Lord, suffered martyrdom.

A. 63. This year Mark the Evangelist died.

A. 64.-68.

A. 69. This year Peter and Paul suffered martyrdom.

A, 69. This year Peter suffered on the cross, and Paul was slain,

A. 70. This year Vespasian obtained the empire.

A. 71. This year Titus, the son of Vespasian, slew one hundred and eleven thousand Jews in Jerusalem.

A. 72.— 80.

A. 81. This year Titus succeeded to the empire, after Vespasian ; he who said that he had lost the day on wliich he had done no good.

A. 82. 83.

A. 84. This year Domitian, the brother of Titus, suc- ceeded to the empire.

A. 84. This year John the Apostle wrote the book which is called Apocalypse.

A. 85. 86.

A. 87. This year John the Evangelist wrote the book of the Apocalypse in the island of Patmos.

A. 88.-99.

A. 100. This year Simon the apostle, the kinsman of Christ, was crucified, and John the Evangelist rested in death on that day at Ephesus.

4.D 101-286.] THE ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE. 307

A. 101. This year pope Clement died.

A. 102.— 109.

A. 1 10. This year Ignatius the bishop suffered martyrdom.

A. 111.— 115.

A. 116. This year Adrian the emperor began to reign.

A. 117.— 136.

A. 137. This year Antoninus began to reign.

A. 138.-144.

A. 145. This year Marcus Antoninus and Aurelius liis brother succeeded to the empire.

A. 146.— 166.

A. 167. This year Eleutherius obtained the bishopric of Rome, and held it in great glory for twelve years.* To him Lucius, king of Britain, sent letters praying that he might be made a Christian : and he fulfilled that he requested. And they afterwards continued in the right faith till the reign of Diocletian.

A. 167. This year Eleutherius succeeded to the popedom, and held it fifteen years ; and in the same year Lucius, king of the Britons, sent and begged baptism of him. And he soon sent it him ; and they continued in the true faith until the time of Diocletian.

A. 168.— 187.

A. 188. This year Severus succeeded to the empire, and went with an army into Britain, and subdued a great part of the island by battle ; and then, for the protection of the Britons, he built a rampart of turf, and a broad Avail tliereon, from sea to sea. He reigned seventeen years, and tlieii ended his days at York. His son Bassianus succeeded to the empire : another son of his was called Geta ; he died.

A. 190.-198.

A. 199. In this year the Holy-rood f was found.

A. 200. Two hundred years.

A. 201.— 285.

A. 286. This year St. Alban the martyr suffered.

• According to Muratori, Eleutherius presided from A. 170 to A. 185.

t « Those ^Titers ^vho mention this grand discovery of the holy cross, by Helena the mother of Constantine, disagree so much iu their chronology, that it is a vain attempt to reconcile them to truth or to each other. This and the other notices of ecclesiastical matters, whether Latm or Saxon, from the vear 190 to the year 380 of the Laud Mr., and 381 of the printed Chronicle, may be 'safely considered as inter olations, pronably posterior to the Norman Concjuest." — Ingram.

x2

308 THE ANGLO-SAXON CRRONICLE. [a. d. 287— 443.

A. 287.-299.

A. 300. Three hundred years.

A. 301.— 342.

A. 343. This year S. Nicolas died.

A. 344.-378.

A. 379. This year Gratian succeeded to the empire.

A. 380.

A. 381. This year Maximus the emperor obtained the empire ; he was born in the land of Britain, and went thence into Gaul. And he there slew the emperor Gratian, and drove his brother, wlio was called Valentinian, out of the country. And Valentinian afterwards gathered an army and slew Maximus, and obtained the empire. In these days the heresy of Pelagius arose throughout the world.

A. 382.— 408.

A. 409. This year the Goths took the city of Rome by storm, and after this the Romans never ruled in Britain ; and this Was about eleven hundred and ten years after it had been built. Altogether they ruled in Britain four hundred and seventy years since Caius Julius first sought the land.

A. 410.— 417.

A. 418. This year the Romans collected all the treasures that were in Britain, and some they hid in the earth, so that no one has since been able to find them ; and some they carried with them into Gaul.

A. 419.— 422.

A. 423. This year Theodosius the younger succeeded to the empire.

A. 424.-429.

A. 430. This year Palladius * the bishop was sent to the Scots by pope Celestinus, that he might confirm their faith. »

A. 430. This year Patrick was sent by pope Celestine to preach l)a])tisin to the Scots.

A. 431.— 442.

A. 443. This year the Britons sent over sea to Rome, and begged for help against the Picts ; but they had none, because they were themselves warring against Attila, king of tlie

* "Palladius and Patricius have been sometimes confoinu^ed together; so that it is difficult to assign to each his respective share of merit ia tha conversion of the Scots of Ireland." — Ingram.

A.D. 444— 455.] THE ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE. 309

Huns. And then they sent to the Angles, and entreated the like of the ethelings of the Angles.

A. 444. This year St. Martin died.

A. 445.-447.

A. 448. This year John the Baptist revealed his head to two monks, who came from the east to offer up their prayers at Jerusalem, on the spot which was formerly Herod's residence.

A. 449. This year Martianus and Valentinus succeeded to the empire, and reigned seven years. And in their days Hengist and Horsa, invited by Vortigern, king of the Britons, landed in Britain on the shore which is called Wippidsfleet ; at first in aid of the Britons, but afterwards they fought against them. King Vortigern gave them land in the south-east of this country, on condition that they should fight against the Picts. Then they fought against the Picts, and had the victory wheresoever they came. They then sent to the Angles ; desired a larger force to be sent, and caused them to be told the worthlessness of the Britons, and the excellencies of the land. Then they soon sent thither a larger force in aid of the others. At that time there came men from three tribes in Germany ; from the Old- Saxons, from the Angles, from the Jutes. From the Jutes came the Kentish-men and the Wight warians, that is, the tribe which now dwells in Wight, and that race among the West-Saxons wliich is still called the race of Jutes. From the Old- Saxons came the men of Essex and Sussex and W^essex. From Anglia, which has ever since remained waste betwixt the Jutes and Saxons, came the men of East Anglia, Middle Anglia, Mercia, and all North-humbria. Their leaders were two brothers, Hengist and Horsa : they were the sons of Wihtgils ; Wihtgils son of Witta, Witta of Wecta, Wecta of Wooden : from this Woden sprang all our royal fimiilies, and those of the South-humbrians also.

A. 449. And in their days Vortigern invited the Aii.irles thither, and they came to Britain in three ceols, at the phice called Wippidsfleet:

A. 450.— 454. . , .

A. 455. This year Hengist and Horsa fought against king Vortigern at the place which is called J5gels-threp, [Aylesford,] and his brother Horsa was there slain, and after that Hensist obtained the kingdom, and ^sc his son.

310 THE ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE. [a.d. 456-491.

A. 456. This year Hengist and ^sc slew four troops of Britons with the edge of the sword, in the place wliich is named Creccanford, [Crayford].*

A. 457. This year Hengist and ^sc his son fought against the Britons at the place which is called Crecganford, [Crayford,] and there slew four thousand men ; and the Britons then forsook Kent, and in great terror fled to London.

A. 458.-464.

A. 465. This year Hengist and ^sc fought against the Welsh near Wippidsfleet, [Ebbsfleet?] and there slew twelve Welsh ealdormen, and one of their own thanes was slain there, whose name was Wipped.

A. 466.-472.

A. 473. This year Hengist and ^sc fought against the Welsh, and took spoils innumerable ; and the Welsh fled from the Angles like fire.

A. 474.-476.

A. 477. This year ^Ua, and his three sons, Cymen, and Wlencing, and Cissa, came to the land of Britain with three ships, at a place which is named Cymenes-ora, and there slew many Welsh, and some they drove in flight into the wood that is named Andreds-lea.

A. 478. — 181.

A. 482. This year the blessed abbat Benedict, by the glory of his miracles, shone in this world, as the blessed Gregory relates in his book of Dialogues.

A. 483. 484.

A. 485. This year JEWsi fought against the Welsh near the bank of Mearcraedsburn.

A. 486. 487.

A. 488. This year ^sc succeeded to the kingdom, and was king of the Kentish-men twenty-four years.

A. 489. 490.

A. 491. This year ^Ua and Cissa besieged Andreds- cester, and slew all that dwelt therein, so that not a single Briton was there left.

* The positions usually assigned to various places mentioned in the earlier portion of the Chronicle, are often very uncertain, depending chiefly on a supposed or real similarity of names. Where these, however, appear sufficiently probable, they are placed between brackets if otherwisej a qusere is added.

A.D. 492-534.] THE ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE. 311

A* 495' This year two ealdormen came to Britain, Cerdic and Cynric his son, with five ships, at the place which is called Cerdics-ore, and the same day they fought agamst the

Welsh.*

j^^ 496. — 500. _,. , ,

A 501 This year Port, and his two sons Bieda and

Mse-'la, came to Britain with two ships, at a place which is

caUed Portsmouth, and they soon effected a landing, and they

there slew a young British man of high nobihty.

A 508"^hisVear Cerdic and Cynric slew a British king who;e name was Natan-leod, and five f<>-^-^^,^'\jf^ him. After that the country was named Natan-lea, as tar

'^A.%t9.\^^^^^^^^^^^ Benedict the abbat, father of aU

monks, went to heaven.

A 514 1:Hs' year the West-Saxons came to Britain

wi^i'thre^ sSps, at the place -l-\-^,<^trito^nT afrp"^ and Stuf and Whitgar fought agamst the Britons, and put

them to flight.

A slgl^Hsyear Cerdic and Cynric obtained the king- dom of tt We Jsaxons ; and the same year «.ey fought

against the Britons where it is ^°^ ^^^^ ^fZwTt- Ad from that time forth the royal off.pung ot tne wesi

Saxons reigned.

1: i?;~/Hs year Cerdic and Cynric fought against the Brtns at the place which is caUed Cerdic s-lea.

1: 530: THs year Cerdic and Cynric conquered *^ island of Wight, and slew many men at Whit garas Dyr,, [Carisbrooke, in Wight.]

A. 531.— 533. ^j f the West

% Benedict died, according to Mabillon, m 54^.

312 THE ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE. [a. d. 535— 560.

and reigned from that time twenty-six years ; and they gave the whole island of Wight to their two nephews, Stuf and Wihtgar.

A. 535.-537.

A. 538. This year, fourteen days before the Kalends of March, the sun was eclipsed from early morning till nine in the forenoon.

A. 539.

A. 540. This year the sun was eclipsed on the twelfth before the Kalends of July, and the stars showed themselves full-nigh half an hour after nine in the forenoon.

A. 541.— 543.

A. 544. This year Wihtgar died, and they buried him in Wiht-gara-byrg. [Carisbrooke.]

A. 545. 546.

A. 547. This year Ida began to reign, from whom arose the royal race of North-humbria ; and he reigned twelve years, and built Bambrough, which was at first enclosed by a hedge, and afterwards by a wall. Ida was the son of Eoppa, Eoppa of Esa, Esa of Ingwi, lugwi of Angenwit, Angenwit of Aloe, Aloe ot Benoc, Benoc of Brond, Brond of Beldeg, Beldeg of Woden, Woden of Frithowald, Fritho- wald of Frithuwulf, Frithuwulf of Finn, Finn of Godwulf, Godwulf of Geat.

A. 548.— 551.

A. 552. This year Cynric fought against the Britons at the place which is called Searo-byrig [Old Sarum], and he put the Britons to flight. Cerdic was Cynric's father , Cerdic was the son of Elesa, Elesa of Esla, Esla of Ge^vis, Gewis of Wig, Wig of Freawin, Freawin of Frithogar, Fri- thogar of Brond, Brond of Beldeg, Beldeg of Woden. And Ethelbert, the son of Ermenric was born ; and in the thir- tieth year of his reign he received baptism, the first of the kings in Britain.

A. 553.-555.

A. 556. This year Cynric and Ceawlin fought against the Britons at Berin-Byrig, [Banbury ?]

A. 557.-559.

A. 560. This year Ceawlin succeeded to the kingdom of the West- Saxons, and Ida being dead, Alia succeeded to the kingdom of North-humbria, each of whom reigned thirty

..D. 561-571.] THE ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE. 313

^ears. Alia was the son of Iff, Iff of Usfrey, Usfrey of »Vilgis, Wilgis of Westerfalcon, Westerfalcon of Seafowl peafowl of Sebbald, Sebbald of Sigeat, Sigeat of Swadd, 5wadd of Sygar, Sjgar of Waddj, Waddj of Woden, rYoden of Frithuwulf.

A. 561—564.

A. 565. This year Ethelbert* succeeded to the kingdom )f the Kentish-men, and held it fifty-three years. In his lays the holy pope Gregory sent us baptism, that was in the ;wo and thirtieth year of his reign : and Columba, a mass- driest, came to the Picts, and converted them to the faith of Dhrist : they are dwellers by the northern mountains. And :heir king gave him the island which is called li [lona] : :herein are five hides of land, as men say. There Columba Duilt a monastery, and he was abbat there thirty-seven years, ind there he died when he was seventy-two years old. His successors still have the place. The Southern Picts had oeen baptized long before : bishop Ninia, who had been in- structed at Rome, had preached baptism to them, whose ±urch and his monastery is at Whitherne, consecrated in the name of St. Martin : there he resteth, with many holy men. Now in li there must ever be an abbat, and not a bishop ; and all the Scottish bishops ought to be subject to him, be- cause Columba was an abbat and not a bishop.

A. 565. This year Columba the presbyter came from the Scots among the Britons, to instruct the Picts, and he built a monastery in the island of Hii.

A. 566. 567.

A. 568. This year Ceawlin, and Cutha, Ceawlin's brother, fought against Ethelbert, and drove him into Kent, and they killed two ealdormen at Wibban-dune [Wimbledon],! Oslaf and Cnebba.

A. 569. 570.

A. 571. This year Cuthulf fought against the Britons at Bedcanford [Bedford], and took four towns, Lygean-birg "Lenbury], and .^geles-birg [Aylesbury], and Boenesington 'Benson], and Egonesham [Eynsham] ; and the same year he died. Cutha was CeawHn's brother.

* Bede [ii. 5,] says Ethelbert died on February 23, a.d. 616, after a reign of fifty-six years. This would make it out that he succeeded to the throne in a.d. 560. t Or VVorplesdon, Surrey.

314 THE ANGL0-S.1X0X CUIiONICLE. L^^'^- 572— €00.

A. 572.-576.

A. 577. This year Cuthwine and Ceawlin fought against the Britons, and they slew tliree kings, Comail, and Condi- dan, and Farinmeail, at the place which is called Deorham [Derham ?], and took three cities from them, Gloucester, and Cirencester, and Bath. 4

A. 578.-582. "

A. 583. This year Mauricius succeeded to the empire of the Romans.

A. 584. This year Ceawlin and Cutha fought against the Britons at the place which is called Fethan-lea, [Frethern ?] and there was Cutha slain ; and CeaAvlin took many towns, and spoils innumerable ; and wrathful he thence returned to his own.

A. 585.-587.

A. 588. Tliis year King JElle died, and Ethelric reigned after him five years.

A. 589.

590. At this period Ceol reigned five years.

591. This year in Britain was a great slaughter in battle at Woddesbeorg [Wemborow ?], and Ceawlin was expelled.

A. 592. This year Gregory succeeded to the popedom in Rome.

A. 593. This year Ceawlin, and Cwichelm, and Crida, perished ; and Ethelfrith succeeded to the kingdom of the North-humbrians ; he was the son of Ethelric, Ethelric of Ida.

A. 594. 595.

A. 596. This year Pope Gregory sent Augustine to Britain, with a great many monks, who preached the word of God to the nation of the Angles.

A. 597. Tliis year Ceolwulf began to reign over the West- Saxons ; and he fought and contended incessantly against either the Angles, or the Welsh, or the Picts, or the Scots. He was the son of Cutha, Cutha of Cynric, Cynric of Cerdic, Cerdic of Elesa, Elesa of Esla, Esla of Gewis, Gewis of AVig, Wig of Freawine, Freawine of Frithogar, Frithogar of Brond, Brond of Beldeg Beldeg of Woden. This year Augustine and liis companions came to the land of the Angles.

A. 598.-600,

.D. cOl-614.1 THE ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE. 315

A. 601. This year Pope Gregory sent a pall to Arch- )ishop Augustine in Britain, and also a great many religious eachers to assist liira, and amongst them was Paulinus the )ishop, who afterwards converted Edwin, king of the North- mmbrians, to baptism.

A. 602. ^ ^ ^

A. 603. This year there was a battle at Egesanstane.

\ 603. This year iEthan, king of the Scots, fought against the Dalreods and against Ethelfiith king of the North- humbrians at D^^gsanstane [Dawston?]. and they slew almost all his army, there rheodbald, Ethelfrith's brother, was slain Avith all his band. Smce then ao king of the Scots has dared to lead an army against this nation. Hering,^the son of Hussa, led the enemy thither.

A. 604. Tliis year the East-Saxons received the faith and baptism under King Sebert and Bishop Mellitus.

\ 604 This year Augustine consecrated two bishops, Mellitus and Justus He se^t^lellituI to preach baptism to the East- Saxons whose king was called Sebe.t son'of Ricole the sister of mdber , and whom Ethelbert ^^^^^ there appointed king And Ethe^^^^^^^^ Mellitus a bishop's see in London, and to Justus he ga;e Rochester, whicli is twenty-four miles from Canterbury.

A. 60a This year Pope Gregory died, about ten years after he had sent us baptism ; his father ^'as called Gordian.

and his mother Silvia. . ^ ^t.^ c^,i+v,

A. 607. This year Ceolwulf fought agamst *« South- Saxons. And this year Etl>elfrith led lus army to Cheste. and there slew numberless Welshmen : a"* ^° -"^^f ^« ^,f. the prophecy of Augustine, wherein he saih It the WeU

thence.

1: sn-.-^lis year Cynegils s-ceeded to th. kingdom of the West-Saxons, and held it '"rtyone years Cyne„ ^vas the son of Ceol, Ceol of Cutha, Cutha of Cynnc.

1: el': Tl^ year Cynegils and Cuichehu fought at ♦ See Bede's Eccl. Hist. Ub. i. c. 34, p. 61.

316 THE ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE. [a.d. 615-616.

Beandune* [Bampton ?], and slew two thousand and sixty- five Welshmen.

A. 615

A. 616. This year Ethelbert, king of the Kentish-men, died ; he was the first English king who received baptism, and he was the son of Eormenric ; he reigned fifty-six years, and from the beginning of the world to this same year five thousand eight hundred years were gone by ; and after him Eadbald his son succeeded to the kingdom ; he for- sook his baptismal vow, and lived after the manner of the heathens, so that he had his father's widow to wife. Then Laurentius, who was archbishop of Kent, was minded that he would go southwards over the sea, and leave it entirely. But the apostle Peter came to him by niglit and scourged him sorely, because he ^vished thus to forsake the flock of God, and commanded him to go to the king and preach the true faith to him ; and he did so, and the king was con- verted and was baptized. In this king's days Laurentius, who was archbishop of Kent after Augustine, died, and was buried beside Augustine on the 4th Non. Feb. After him Mellitus, who formerly had been bishop of London, suc- ceeded to the archbishopric : then the men of London, where Mellitus had been formerly, became heathens (again). And in about five years, during the reign of Eadbald, Mellitus departed to Christ. Then after him Justus succeeded to the archbishopric ; and he consecrated Romanus to Rochester, where formerly himself had been bishop.

A. 616. In that time Laurentius was archbishop, and for the sorrow- fulness which he had on account of the king's unbelief he was minded to forsake this country entirely, and go over sea ; but St. Peter the apos- tle scourged him sorely one night, because he wished thus to forsake the flock of God, and commanded him to teach boldly the true faith to the king ; and he did so, and the king turned to the right (faith). In the daya of this same king, Eadbald, this Laurentius died. The holy Augustijie, while yet in sound health, ordained him bishop, in order that the commu- nity of Christ, which was yet new in England, should not after his decease be at any time wthout an archbishop. After him Mellitus, who had been previously bishop of London, succeeded to the archbishopric. And with- in five years of the decease of Laurentius, while Eadbald still reigned, Mellitus departed to Christ.

* This is more likely to be Bampton in Oxfordshire, than Bampton in Devonshire, which is by far too remote to admit the supposition that the battle in question was fought tliere.

.D. 617— 627.1 THE ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE. 317

A. 617. This year Ethelfrid king of the Xorih-hum- •rians was slain by Redwald king of the East- Angles, and i^dwin the son of Alia succeeded to the kingdom, and ubdued all Britain, the Kentish-men alone excepted. And he Irove out the ethelings, sons of Ethelfrid ; that is to say, irst Eanfrid, Oswald, and Oswy, Oslac, Oswudu, Oslai". md OfFa.

A. 618.

A. 619. This year archbishop Laurentius died.

A. 620.— 623.

A. 624. Tliis year archbishop Mellitus died.

A. 625. This year Paulinus was ordained bishop of the N'orth-humbrians by archbishop Justus on the xu. Kalends Df August.

A. 625. This year archbishop Justus consecrated Paulinus bishop of the North-humbrians.

A. 626. This year Eumer came from Cuichelm king of the West- Saxons, thinking to stab king Edwin. But lie stabbed Lilla his thane, and Forthhere, and wounded the king. And on the same night a daughter was born to Ed- v/in : she was called Eanfled. Then the king made a vow to Paulinus that he would give his daughter to God, if he would obtain of God that he might kill his foe who had sent the assassin. And he then went with an army against the West- Saxons, and there killed five kings, and slew a great number of the people. And at Pentecost Paulinus baptized his daughter with twelve others. And within a twelvemonth the king and all liis court were baptized at Easter ; that year Easter fell on the second before the Ides of April. This was done at York, where he first ordered a church to be built of wood, which was consecrated in the name of St. Peter. There the king gave Paulinus a bishop's see, and tliere he afterwards commanded a larger church to be built of stone. And this year Penda succeeded to the kingdom [Mercia], and reigned thirty years ; and he was fifty years (old) when he suc- ceeded to the kingdom. Penda was the son of Pybba, Pybba of Creoda, Creoda of Cynewald, Cynewald of Cnebba, Cnebba of Icel, Icel of Eoma^r, Eomser of Angeltheow, Angeltheow of Ofia, Off'a of W^ermund, Wa^rmund of Wihtlaeg, Wihtlagg of Woden.

A 627. This year king Edwin was baptized w4th his

318 THE ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE. La.d. 627-63.5.

people by Paulinus at Easter. And this Paulinus also preached baptism in Lindsey, where the first who believed was a certain great man called Blecca, with all his followers. And in this time Honorius, who sent Paulinus his pall, succeeded to the popedom after Boniface. And archbishop Justus died on the fourth before the Ides of November, and Honorius was consecrated archbishop of Canterbury by Paulinus at Lincoln. And to this Honorius the pope also sent a pall : and he sent a letter to the Scots, desiring that they should turn to the right Easter.

A. 627. This year, at Easter, Paulinus baptized Edwin king of the North-humbrians, with his people : and earlier within the same year, at Pentecost, he had baptized Eanfled daughter of the same king.

A. 628. Tliis year Cynegils and Cuichelm fought against Penda at Cirencester ; and then made a treaty.

A. 629.— 631. Jj

A. 632. Tliis year Eorpwald was baptized. %

A. 633. This year king Edwin was slain by Cadwalla and Penda at Heathfield [Hatfield Chase ?] on the second before the Ides of October, and he reigned seventeen years ; and his son Osfrid Avas also slain with him. And after that went Cadwalla and Penda and laid waste the whole country of the North-humbrians. When Paulinus saw that, he took Ethelberga, Edwin's widow, and departed in a ship to Kent. And Eadbald and Honorius received him very honourably, and gave him a bishop's see in Rochester ; and he dwelt there till his end.

A. 634. This year Osric, whom Paulinus had formerly baptized, succeeded to the kingdom of Deira ; he was the son of Elfric, Edwin's uncle. And Eanfrid the son of Ethelfrid succeeded to Bernicia. And this year also bishop Birinus first preached baptism to the West- Saxons under king Cynegils. Birinus came thither by command of Honorius the pope, and he there was bishop until his life's end. And this year also Oswald succeeded to the kingdom of the North-humbrians, and he reigned nine years ; the ninth being numbered to him because of the heathenism which they practised who reigned over them the one year between Mm and Edwin.

A. 635. This year king Cynegils was baptized by Birinus

A.D. C36— 644.] THE ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE. 319

the bishop, at Dorchester, and Oswald king of the Xorth humbrians was his godfather.

A. 636. Tliis year king Cuichelm was baptized at Dorchester, and the same year he died. And bishop Felix preached the faith of Chi'ist to the East-Angles.

A. 637. 638

A. 639. This year Birinus baptized king Ciithred at Dorchester, and received him as his (god) son.

A. 640. This year Eadbald, king of the Kentish-men, died, and he reigned twenty-five years. He had two sons, Ermenred and Earconbert, and Earconbert reigned there after his father. He overthrew all idolatry in his kingdom, and was the first of the English kings who established the Easter-fast. His daughter was called Earcongota, a holy woman and a wondrous person, whose mother was Sexberga, daughter of Anna, king of the East-Angles. And Ermenred begot two sons, who afterwards were martyred by Thunner.

A. 641.

A. 642. This year Oswald, king of the North-humbrians, was slain by Penda and the South-humbrians at Maserfeld on the Nones of August,* and his body was buried at Bardney. His sanctity and his miracles were afterwards manifested in various ways beyond this island, and his hands are at Bambrough, uncorrupted. And the same year that Oswald was slain, Oswy his brother succeeded to the kingdom of the North-humbrians, and he reigned two less (than) thirty years.

A. 643. Tliis year Kenwalk succeeded to the kingdom of the West- Saxons, and held it thirty-one years ; and Kenwalk commanded the old church at Winchester to be built in the name of St. Peter : and he was the son of Cynegils.

A. 644. This year Paulinus died, on the sixth before the Ides of October ;t he was first archbishop of York, and after- wards at Rochester. He was bishop one less (than) twenty years, and two months and twenty-one days. And tliis year Oswin's uncle's son, J the son of Osric, succeeded to the kingdom of Deira, and reigned seven years.

* The 5th of August. t The 10th of October.

t This is apparently corrupt, and should be read ' Oswm, the son ol Osric, Edwin's uncle's son.' See Bede, ill. 1, and above An. 634.

320 THE ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE. [a.p. 645-655.

A. 645. This year king Kenwalk was driven out of his kingdom by king Penda.

A. 646. This year king Kenwalk was baptized.

A. 647.

A. 648. Tliis year Kenwalk gave Cuthred, his kinsman, three thousand hides of land by Ashdown, [Aston ?] Cuthred was the son of Cuichelm, Cuichelm of Cynegils. This year the minster was built at Winchester, which king Kenwalk caused to be made, and hallowed in the name of St. Peter.

A. 649.

A. 650. This year Agilbert, a native of Gaul, obtained the bishopric of the West- Saxons after Birinus the Romish bishop.

A. 650. This year Birinxis the bishop died, and Agilbert the French- man was ordained.

A. 650. This year king Oswy ordered king Oswin to be slain, on the thirteenth before the Kal. of September ; and about twelve days after this bishop Aidan died, on the second before the Kal. of September.

A. 651.

A. 652. This year Kenwalk fought at Bradford on the Avon.

A. 653. This year the Middle- Saxons, under Peada the ealdorman, received the true faith.

A. 654. This year king Anna was slain, and Botolph began to build a minster at Ycean-ho [Boston ?]. And this year archbishop Honorius died, on the second before the Kalends of October.

A. 655. This year king Oswy slew king Penda at Winwidiield, and thirty men of royal race with him, and some of them were kings, among whom was Ethelhere, brother of Anna, king of the East Angles. And the Mercians became Christians. From the beginning of the world to this time five thousand eight hundred and fifty years were agone ; and Peada the son of Penda succeeded to the kingdom of the Mercians.

* In his time he and Oswy the brother of king Oswald came together, and agreed that they would rear a monastery to the glory of Christ and the honour of St. Peter. And they did so, and named it ' Medeshamstede' [Peterborough], because

• Tliis is the first of many late additions to the Chronicle concerning the monastery- of Peterborough. They occur in only one of the MSS.

). 656, 657.] THE ANGLO-SAXON CHKONICLE. 321

there is a wliirpool at this place, which is called Meadsweli. And they began the foundations and wrought thereon, and then committed it to a monk who was called Sexwulf. He was greatly God's friend, and all the country loved him, and he was very nobly born, and rich in a worldly sense ; but he is now much richer, being with Christ. And king Peada reigned no long time, for he was betrayed by his own wife at Easter.

This year Ithamar bishop of Rochester consecrated Deus- dedit to the see of Canterbury on the seventh before the Ka- lends of April.

A. 656.

A. 657. This year Peada died, and Wulfhere the son of Penda succeeded to the kingdom of the Mercians.

In his time the abbacy of Medeshamstede, which his brother had begun, waxed very rich. The king favoured it much for the love of his brother Peada, and for the love of Oswy his brother by baptism, and for the love of abbat Sexwulf. And he said that he would dignify and honour it, and this by the counsel of Ethelred and Mervi^al his brothers, and Kyneburg and Kyneswith his sisters, and by the counsel of the archbishop, who was called Deus-dedit, and by the counsel of all his witan, both clergy and laity, who were in his kingdom ; and he did so.

Then the king sent after the abbat that he should come to him with all speed ; and he did so. Then the king said to the abbat, ' Lo I I have sent for thee, beloved Sexwulf, for the behoof of my soul, and I will plainly tell thee for why. My brother Peada and my dear friend Oswy began a monastery to the glory of Christ and St. Peter. But my brother, as it has pleased Christ, is departed this life, and lo ! my prayer to thee is, beloved friend, that they work diligently on the work, and I will find thee gold and silver, land and possessions, and all that behoveth thereto.' Then the abbat went home and began to build ; and he so sped, by the grace of Christ, that in a few years the monastery was ready. When the king heard that said, he was very glad : he bade send throughout the nation after all his thanes, after the archbishop, and after the bishops, and after his earls, and after all who loved God, that they should come to him ; and he set a day on which the monastery should be hallowed.

y

S22 THE ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE. La-d. 657.

At the hallowing of the monastery king Wulfliere was present, and his brother Ethelred, and his sisters Kyneburg and Kyneswith. And Deus-dedit archbishop of Canterbury hallowed the monastery, and Ithamar bishop of Rochester, and the bishop of London, who was called Wini, and the bishop of the Mercians, who was called Jaruman, and bishop Tuda. And there was Wilfrid the priest, who was afterwards a bishop : and all his thanes who were within his kingdom were there.

When the monastery had been hallowed in the name of St. Peter, St. Paul, and St. Andrew, then the king stood up before all his thanes, and said with a clear voice, ' Thanked be the high Almighty God for the worthy deed which here is done, and I will this day do honour to Christ and St. Peter ; and I desire that ye all assent to my words : I, Wulf here, do this day give to St. Peter and abbat Sexwulf, and the monks of the monastery, these lands, and these waters, and meres, and fens, and wears, and all the lands which lie thereabout, which are of my kingdom, freely, so that none but the abbat and the monks shall have any claim upon them. This is the grant. From Medeshamstede to North- borough, and thence to the place Avhich is called Foleys, and thence all the fen straight to Esendic, and from Esendic to the place which is called Fethermouth, and thence along the straight way ten miles to Ugdike, and thence to Ragwell, and from Ragvvell five miles to the straight stream wliich goeth to Elm and to Wisbeach, and thence about three miles to Trokenholt, and from Trokenholt straight through all the fen to Derworth which is twenty miles long, and thence to Great Cross, and from Great Cross through a clear water called Bradney, and thence six miles to Paxlade, and thence onward through all the meres and fens which lie toward Huntingdon-port, and these meres and lakes, Shelfermere and Wittleseymere, and all the others which lie thereabout, with the land and the houses which are on the east-half of Shelfermere, and from thence all the fens to Medes- hamstede, and from Medeshamstede to Welmsford, and from Welmsford to Clive, and thence to Easton, and from Easton to Stamford, and from Stamford even as the water runneth to the aforesaid North-borough.' These are the lands and the feus which the king gave to St. Peter's monastery.

UD. 6570 THE ANGLO-SAXON CHKONICLE. 323

Then said the king, ' This gift is little ; but it is my will ;hat they shall hold it so royally and so freely that neither ^eld nor tribute be taken from it, except for the monks alone, ^nd thus free I will make this minster, that it be subject to ^ome alone ; and here it is my will that all of us who are mable to go to Rome shall visit St. Peter.'

While he was saying these words, the abbat desired of lim that he would grant him what he should desire of him : Old the king granted it. 'I have here 'godefrihte'* monks vho wish to spend their lives as anchorites, if they knew vhere. And there is an island here, which is called Ajichorets-isle, and my desire is, that we might build a ninster there to the glory of St. Mary, so that those may Iwell therein who wish to lead a life of peace and rest.'

Then the king answered, and said thus : ' Behold, Sexwulf, o ! not only that one w^liich thou hast desired, but all tilings wsrhich I know thee to desire on our Lord's behalf, I thus ipprove and grant. And I beg of thee, my brother ^thelred, and my sisters Kyneburg and Kyneswith, that ye )e witnesses for your souls' redemption, and that ye write it vith your fingers. And I beg all those who come after me, )e they my sons, be they my brothers, or kings that come ifter me, that our gift may stand, even as they would be )artakers of the life eternal, and would escape everlasting orment. Whosoever shall take from this our gift, or the jifts of other good men, may the heavenly gateward take rom him in the kingdom of heaven ; and whosoever will ncrease it, may the heavenly gateward increase (his state) in he kingdom of heaven.'

These are the witnesses who were there, who subscribed t w4th their fingers on the cross of Christ, and assented to it vith their tongues. King Wulfhere was the first who confirmed it by word, and afterwards subscribed it with his ingers on the cross of Christ ; and said thus : ' I, king A^ulfhere, with the kings, and earls, and dukes, and thanes, he witnesses of my gift, do confirm it before the archbishop Deus-dedit with the cross of Christ. ^ ' ' And I, Oswy king »f the North-humbrians, the friend of this monastery and of .bbat Sexwulf, approve of it with the cross of Christ, i^ ' * This word is rendered by Lye, « God-fearing," and by Ingram, simply good."

y2

324 THE A>;GL0-SAX0N chronicle. [a.d. 657.

* And I, king Sigliere, grant it with the cross of Christ, t^ ' 'And I, king Sibbi, subscribe it with the cross of Christ. tj*'

* And I, Ethelred, the king's brother, grant it with the cross of Christ. ►J* ' ' And we, the king's sisters, Kyneburg and Kjneswith, we approve it. ►J* ' * And I, Deus-dedit archbishop of Canterbury, grant it. >J< ' After that, all the others who were there assented to it with the cross of Christ.>^ They were by name Ithamar bishop of Rochester, and Wini bisliop of London, and Jarunian who was bishop of the Mercians, and bishop Tuda, and Wilfrid the priest, who was afterwards bishop, and Eappa the priest, whom king Wulf here sent to preach Christianity in the Isle of Wight, and abbat Sexwulf, and Immine the ealdorman, and Edbert the ealdorman, and Herefrid the ealdorman, and Wilbert the ealdorman, and Abon the ealdorman, Ethelbald, Brordan, Wilbert, Elmund, Frethegis. These, and many others who were there, servants of the king, all assented to it. This writing was written six hundred and sixty-four years- after the birth of our Lord, (in) the seventh year of king Wulf here ; the ninth year of archbishop Deus-dedit. They then laid the curse of God, and the curse of all saints, and of all Christian people (upon him) who should undo any thing which there was done. ' So be it,' say all, ' Amen.'

When these things were done, the king sent to Rome to Vitalian who then was pope, and desired that he should gi-ant by his rescript, and with his blessing, all the before- mentioned things. And the pope sent this rescript, thus saying, 'I, pope Vitalian, concede to thee king Wulf here, and archbishop Deus-dedit, and abbat Sexwulf, all the things which ye desire, and I forbid that any king or any man have any claim thereon, except the abbat alone ; nor let liim obey any man except the pope of Rome, and the archbishop of Canterbury. If any one break this in any thing, may St. Peter exterminate him with his sword : if any one observe it, may St. Peter, with the keys of heaven, undo for him the kingdom of heaven.' Thus the monastery at Medeshamstede was begun, which since has been called Burh [Peterborough].

After that, another archbishop came to Canterbury, who was called Theodore, a very good and a vnse man, and he held his synod with his bishops and with the clergy. There was Winfred bishop of the Mercians deposed from his

A. D. 658-667.] THE ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE. 325

bishopric, and abbat Saxulf was there chosen to be bishop, and C'uthbald, a monk of the same monastery, was chosen abbat. This synod was held six hundi'ed and seventy-three years after the birth of our Lord.

A. 658. This year Kenwalk fought against the Welsh at Peonna [Pen] ; and he drove them as far as Pedrida, [Petherton ?] this was fought after he came from East- Anglia ; he was there three years in exile. Thither had Penda driven him, and deprived him of his kingdom, because he had forsaken liis sister.

A. 659.

A. 660. This year Bishop Agilbert departed from Ken- walk, and Wini held the bishopric* three years, and Agil- bert obtained the bishopric of Paris in France by the Seine.

A. 661. This year, during Easter, Kenwalk fought at Pontesbury, and Wulfhere, the son of Penda, laid the coun- try waste as far as Ashdown. And Cuthred the son of Cuichelm and king Cenbertf died in one year. And Wulfhere the son of Penda laid waste Wight, and gave the people of Wight to Ethelwald king of the South- Saxons, because Wulfhere had been his sponsor at baptism. And Eappa the mass-priest, by the command of Wilfrid and King Wulfhere, was the first of men who brought baptism to the people of the Isle of Wight.

A. 662. 663.

A. 664. This year the sun was eclipsed on the 5th before the Nones of INIay ; t and Earconbert king of the Kentish-men died, and Egbert his son succeeded to the kingdom ; and Colman,§ with his companions, went to his country. The same year there was a great pestilence in the island of Bri- tain, and bishop || Tuda died of the pestilence, and was buried at Wagele.^ And Chad and Wilfrid were ordained ; and the same year archbishop Deus-dedit died.

A. 665. 666.

A. 667. This year Oswy and Egbert sent Wighard

• Of Wessex, at Winchester. See p. 191.

t " Father of Cfed walla, king of Wessex. See A. 685."—Petrie. t May 3. " This happened on the 1st of May ; but the error is Bede's." — Petrie.

II Of Lindisfarne. IF See note at p. 162,

326 THE ANGLO-SAXON CETRONICLE. [a.d. CC7-675.

tlie priest to Home, that he might there be consecrated arch- bishop of Canterbury ; but he died soon after he came thither.

A. 667. This year Wighard went to Rome, even as King Osvry and Egbert had sent him.

A. 668. This year Theodore was ordained an archbishop, and sent to Britain.

A. 669. Tliii* year king Egbert gave Reculver to Bass the mass-priest, that he might build a minster thereon.

A. 670. This year Oswy king of the North-humbrians died, on the 15th before the Kalends of March ;* and Egfrid his son reigned after him ; and Hlothere,f the nephew of bishop Agilbert, obtained the bishopric over the West- Saxons, and held it seven years. Bishop Theodore conse- crated liim. And Oswy was the son of Ethelfrid, Ethelfrid of Ethelric, Ethelnc of Ida, Ida of Eoppa.

A. 671. This year was the great destruction among the bii-ds.

A. 672. This year king Kenwalk died, and Sexburga his queen reigned one year after him.

A. 673. This year Egbert, king of the Kentish-men died ; and the same year there was a Synod at Hertford, and Saint Etheldrida began the minster at Ely.

A. 674. This year Escwin succeeded to the kingdom of the West- Saxons ; he was the son of Cenfus, Cenfus of Cenfcrth, Cenferth of Cuthgils, Cuthgils of Ceolwulf, Ceol- wulf of Cynric, Cynric of Cerdic.

A. 675. This year Wulfhere, the son of Penda, and Escwin, the son of Cenfus, fought at Beadan-head ; and the same year Wulfhere died, and Ethelred succeeded to the kingdom.

Now in his time he sent bishop Wilfrid to Eome to the pope that then was, he was called Agatho, and showed him hj letter and by message how his brothers Peada and Wulf- here, and Sexwulf the abbat, had built a minster, which was called Medeshamstede, and that they had freed it against king and against bishop of all services ; and he besought him that he would assent to it with his rescript and with his blessing. And then the pope sent his rescript to England, thus saying ;

* February 15th. t Eleutherius, bishop of Winchester. Seep. 191.

A.D. 675.] THE ANGLO-SAXON CHKONICLE. S27

"I, Agatho, pope of Rome, greet well the worshipful Ethelred, king of the Mercians, and the archbishop Tlieo- dore of Canterbury, and the bishop of the Mercians Sexwulf, who was formerly abbat, and all the abbats who are in Eng- land, with the greeting of God and my blessing. I have heard the desire of king Ethelred, and of archbishop Theo- dore, and of bishop Sexwulf, and of abbat Cuthbald ; and it is my will that it be in all wise even as you have spoken. And I ordain, on behalf of God and St. Peter, and of all saints, and of every person in orders, that neither king, nor bishop, nor earl, nor any man have any claim, nor any tribute, geld, or military service ; neither let any man exact any kind of service from the abbacy of Medeshamstede. I also ordain that the shire-bishop be not so bold that he perform any ordination or consecration within the abbacy unless the abbat beseech it of him, nor have any claim there for proxies, or synodals, or for any kind of thing. And it is my will that the abbat be holden as legate of Rome over all the island, and that whatsoever abbat shall be there chosen by the monks, he be consecrated by the archbishop of Canter- bury. I will and concede that whatever man shall have made a vow to go to Rome, which he may be unable to fulfil, either from sickness or his Lord's need (of him), or from poverty, or be unable to come there from any other kind of need, be he of England, or of whatever other island he be, let him come to the minster at Medeshamstede, and have the same forgiveness of Clu'ist and St. Peter, and of the abbat and of the monks, that he should have if he went to Rome. Now I beseech thee, brother Theodore, that thou cause to be commanded throughout all England, that a synod be gathered, and this decree, be read and observed. In like manner I command thee bishop Sexwulf, that even as thou didst desire that the minster be free, so I forbid thee and all the bishops that shall come after thee, from Christ and all his saints, that ye have any claim upon the minster, except so far as the abbat shall be wdlhng. Now will I say in a word, that whoso observeth this rescript and this decree, let him^ be ever dwelling with God Almighty in the kingdom of heaven ; and whoso breaketh through it, let liim be excom- municated, and thrust down with Judas and with all the devils in hell, unless he turn to repentance. Amen ! "

328 THE ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE. L-a.d. 675.

This rescript Pope Agatho and one hundi'ed and twenty- five bishops sent to England bj Wilfrid archbishop of York. This was done six hundred and eighty years after the birth of our Lord, and in the sixth year of king Ethelred.

The king then commanded the archbishop Theodore tliat he should appoint a meeting of all the witan at the place wliich is called Heathfield.* When they were there assembled, he caused the rescript to be read, which the pope had sent thither, and they all assented to and fully con- firmed it.

Then said the king : " All those things which my brother Peada, and my brother Wulf here, and my sisters Kyneburg and Kyneswith, gave and granted to St. Peter and the abbat, it is my will shall stand ; and I will in my day increase it for the good of their souls and of my own. Now to-day I give St. Peter at liis minster, Medeshamstede, these lands and all that lieth there adjoining ; that is to say, Bredon, Repings, Cadney, Swineshead, Hanbury, Lodeshall, ScufFan- hall, Cosford, Stratford, Wattleburn, Lushgard, Ethelhun- island, Bardney. These lands I give St. Peter all as freely as I myself possessed them, and so that none of my succes- sors take anything therefrom. If any one shall do so, let him have the curse of the pope of Rome, and the curse of all bishops, and of all those who are here witnesses, and this I confirm with Christ's token. t-^" " I, Theodore, arch- bishop of Canterbury, am witness to this charter of Medes- hamstede, and I confirm it with my signature, and I excom- municate all those who shall break any part thereof, and I bless all those who shall observe it.^j4" " I, Wilfrid, arch- bishop of York, I am witness to this charter, and I assent to the same curse.*^" " I, Sexwulf, who was first abbat and am now bishop, I give those my curse, and that of all my suc- cessors, who shall break through this." "I, Ostritha, wife of Ethelred, grant it." "I, Adrian, legate, assent to it." " I, Putta, bishop of Rochester, I subscribe it." " I, Wald- here, bishop of London, confirm it." " I, Cuthbald, abbat, assent to it. so that whoso shall break it, let him have the cursing of all bishops and of all Christian folk. Amen !"

A. 676. This year, in which Hedda succeeded to his bishop- ric ; f Escwin died, and Kentwin succeeded to the kingdom

* Bishop's Hatfield. See p. 201. + Of Wessex, or Winchester.

i.D. C77-6S5.] THE AKGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE. 329

)f the West -Saxons : and Kentwin was the son of Cynegils, [^jnegils of Ceolwulf. And Ethelred, king of the Mer- ?,ians, laid waste Kent.

A. 677.

A. 678. This year the star (called) a comet appeared in August, and shone like a sunbeam every morning for three raonths ; and bishop Wilfrid was driven from his bishopric by King Egfrid ; and two bishops were consecrated in his stead ; Bosa to Deira, and Eata to Bernicia. And Eadhed was consecrated bishop over the men of Lindsey ; he wag the first of the bishops of Lindsey.*

A. 679. This year Elfwin was slain near the Trent, where Egfrid and Ethelred fought ; and Saint Ethel- drida died. And Coldingham was burned by fire from heaven. f

A. 680. This year archbishop Theodore appointed a synod at Heathfield, because he wished to set forth aright the Christian faith. And the same year Hilda, abbess of Whitby, died.

A. 681. This year Tumbert was consecrated bishop of Hexham, and Trumwine of the Picts, X for at that time they were subject to this country.

A. 682. In this year Kentwin drove the Britons to the sea.

A. 683.

A. 684. Here in tliis year Egfrid sent an army against the Scots, and Beort liis ealdorman with it, and miserably they plundered and burned the churches of God.

A. 685. This year king Egfrid commanded that Cuth- bert should be consecrated a bishop ; and on the first day of Easter, at York, archbishop Theodore consecrated him bishop of Hexham; because Tumbert had been deposed from his bishopric. This year Ciedwalla began to contend for the kingdom. Ccedwalla was the son of Cenbert, Cenbert of Cadda, Cadda of Cutha, Cutha of Ceawlin, Ceawlin of Cyn- ric, C^Tiric of Cerdic. And Mul was the brother of Ca^dwalla, and he was afterwards burned in Kent. And the same year, on the 13th before the Kalends of June, king Egfrid was slain near the North-sea, and a great army with him.§ He was kins fifteen years, and Alfrid his brother succeeded to

• See p?i:)3. t See p. 220. t Whithen. j See p. 223.

330 THE ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE. [a.d. 085— 69a

the kingdom after liim. Egfrid "was the son of Osw\'', Oswy of Ethelfrid, Ethelfrid of Etheh-ic, Etheb-ic of Ida, Ida of Eoppa. And Lotliere, king of the Kentish- men, died the same year. And John was consecrated bishop of Hexham, and he was there until Wilfrid returned. Afterwards John succeeded to the bishopric of York, for bishop Bosa was dead. Then, after that, Wilfrid* his priest was consecrated bishop of York, and John retired to his minster at Derewood.j" This year it rained blood in Britain, and milk and butter were turned into blood.

A. C85. And in this same year Cuthbert was consecrated bishop of Hexham f)y archbishop Theod ire at York, because bishop Tumbert had been driven from the bishopric.

A. 686. This year Csedwalla and Mul his brother laid waste Kent and Wight. This Ca^dwalla gave to St. Peter's minster at Medeshamstede, Hook, which is in an island called Egborough ; the then abbat of the monastery was called Egbald. He was the third abbat after Sexwulf. At that time Theodore Avas archbishop in Kent.

A. 687. This year Mul was burned in Kent, and twelve other men with him ; and the same year Caedwalla again laid waste Kent.

A. 688. This year Ina succeeded to the kingdom of the West- Saxons, and held it thirty-seven years ; and he built the minster at Glastonbury ; and he afterwards went to Home, and there dwelt to the end of his days : and the same year Cagdwalla went to Rome, and received baptism from the pope,J and the pope named him Peter ; and in about seven days he died. Now Ina was the son of Cenred, Cen- red of Ceolwald, Ceolwald was Cynegil's brother, and the}^ were sons of Cuthwine the son of Ceawlin, Ceawlin of Cyn- ric, Cynric of Cerdic.

A. 688. This year king Caedwalla went to Rome, and received baptism of Pope Serj^ius, and he gave him the name of Peter, and in about seven days afterwards, on the twelfth before the Kalends of May, while he was yet in his baptismal garments, he died ; and he was Ijuried in St. Peter's church. And Ina succeeded to the kingdom of the West-Saxons after him, and he reigned twenty-seven years.

A. 689.

A. 690. This year archbishop Theodore died ; he was * Wilfrid II. See p. 293. f Beverley. See p. 237. J Sergius.

A.D. 691—694.] THE ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE. 331

bishop twenty-two years, and he was buried at Canterbury ; and Berthwald succeeded to the ])ishopric. Before this the bishops had been Romans, but from this time they were English.

A. 691.

A. 692. This year Berthwald was chosen archbishop on the Kalends of July ; he was before that abbat of Reculver. There were then two kings in Kent, Withred and Webherd [Suebhard].

A. 693. This year Berthwald was consecrated archbishop by Guodun, bishop of the Gauls, on the 5th before the Nones of July. * At this time Gebmund, bishop of Rochester, died, and archbishop BertliAvald consecrated Tobias in his place ; and Drithelm departed this life.

A. 694. This year the Kentish-men compounded with Ina, and gave liim thirty thousand pounds f for his friendship, because they had formerly burned Mul. And Withred suc- ceeded to the kingdom of the Kentish-men, and held it thirty-three years. Withred was the son of Egbert, Eg- bert of Earconbert, Earconbert of Eadbald, Eadbald of Ethelbert.

As soon as he was king, he commanded a great council to be assembled at the place which is called Baccancelde, J in which sat Withred, king of the Kentish-men, and Berthwald, the archbishop of Canterbury, and Tobias, bishop of Rochester, and with them were assembled abbats and abbesses, and many wise men, all to consult about the bettering of God's churches in Kent. Now began the king to speak, and said, " It is my will that all the minsters and the churches that were given and bequeathed to the glory of God in the days of faithful kings my predecessors, and in the days of my kins- men, of King Ethelbert and those who followed after him,

* The 29th of June.

t " The reading of MSS. B and F, however excessive the sum may ap- pear, has been placed in the text, because, unlike the 'thirty men' of A.G, or the ' thirty thousand ' of D.E, it is intelligible without having recourse to conjecture. The payment, whatever its amount may have been, was probably the legal compensation for the death of Mul ... Of the early Latin witers, Ethehvald says, it was 30,000 solidi, ' per singulos constanti numero sexdecim nummis ;' Florence, of AVorcester, 3750 pounds ; and ISIalmesbury, 30,000 mancuses, which, at eight to the pounJ, would agree with Florence." — Petrie. X Beckenham, Kent.

332 THE ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE. [a.d. 695—705.

do SO remain to the glory of God, and firmly continue so to all eternity for evermore. For I, Withred, an earthly king, instigated by the King of heaven, and burning v^^ith the zeal of righteousness, have learned from the institutes of our forefathers, that no layman has a right to possess himself of a church, nor of any of the things which belong to a church. And hence strictly and fiiithfully do we appoint and decree, and in the name of the Almighty God and of all his saints we forbid to all kings our successors, and to ealdormen, and all laymen any lordship whatever over the churches, and over all their possessions, which I, or my elders of olden days, have given as an everlasting inheritance to the glory of Christ and of our lady St. Mary, and of the holy apostles. And observe, when it shall happen that a bishop, or an abbat, or an abbess, shall depart this life, let it be made known to the archbishop, and by his counsel and advice, let such an one be chosen as shall be worthy. And let the archbishop inquire into the life and purity of him who is chosen to such a duty, and in nowise let any one be chosen to such a duty without the counsel of the archbishop. It is the duty of kings to appoint earls and ealdormen, shire-reeves and doomsmen, and of the archbishop to instruct and advise the community of God, and bishops, and abbats, and abbesses, priests and deacons, to choose and appoint, and consecrate and stablish them by good precepts and example, lest any of God's flock stray and be lost.

A. 695. 696.

A. 697. This year the vSouth-humbrians slew Ostritha, Ethelred's queen, Egfrid's sister.

A. 698.

A. 699. This year the Picts slew Beort the ealdorman.

A. 700. 701.

A. 702. This yeai* Kenred succeeded to the kingdom of the South-humbrians.

A. 703. This year bishop Hedda died, and he held the bishopric at Winchester twenty-seven years.

A. 704. This year Ethelred the son of Penda, king of the Mercians, became a monk, and he had held the kingdom twenty-nine years ; then Kenred succeeded to it.

A. 705. This year Alfrid king of the North-humbrians died at Driffield on the nineteenth before the Kalends of

i.D. 703—718.] THE ANGLO-SAXOX CHRONICLE. 833

Tanimiy : and bishop Sexwulf.* Then Osred his son succeeded to the kingdom.

A. 706.— 708.

A. 709. This year bishop Aldhehn died, he was bishop f Dn the west of Selwood ; and in the early days of Daniel the land of the West-Saxons was divided into two bishop-shires, ind before that it had been one ; the one J Daniel held, the Dther § Aldhelm. After Aldhelm, Forthhere succeeded to it. And king Ceolred succeeded to the kingdom of the Mercians ; and Kenred went to Rome, and Offa with him. And Kenred was there till the end of his life. And the same year bishop Wilfrid || died at Oundle, and his body was carried to Ripon ; he was bishop forty-five years ; him king Egfrid had formerly driven away to Rome.

A. 710. This year Acca, Wilfrid's priest, succeeded to the bishopric % which before he had held ; and the same year Bertfrid the ealdorman fought against the Picts between Heugh and Carau. And Ina and Nun his kinsman fought against Gerent king of the Welsh ; and the same year Higbald Avas slain.

A. 711.— 713.

A. 714. This year Saint Guthlac died, and king Pepin.

A. 715. This year Ina and Ceolred fought at Wanborough. This year died king Dagobert.

A. 716. This year Osred king of tlie North-humbrians was slain on the southern border ; he had the kingdom seven years after Alfrid; then Kenred succeeded to the kingdom, and held it tAvo years, then Osric, Avho held it eleven years ; and the same year Ceolred king of the Mercians died, and his body lies at Lichfield, and Ethelred's the son of Penda at Bardney. Then Ethelbald succeeded to the kingdom of the Mercians, and held it forty-one years. Ethelbald was the son of Alwy, Alwy of Eawa, Eawa of Pybba, whose genealogy is Avritten before.** And that pious man Egbert converted the monks in the island of Hii to the right faith, so that they observed Easter duly, and the ecclesiastical tonsure.

A. 717.

A. 718. This year Ingild the brother of Ina died, and tlieir sisters were Cwenburga and Cuthburga. And Cuthburga

• Of Lichfield. t Of Sherborne. t Winche.-.-ter.

$ Sherborne. See p. 267. U Of Hexham. % Hexham. ♦•A. 6-26.

334 THE ANGLO-SAXON CKRONICLE. [a.d. 719-731.

built the monastery at Wimljurn ; and she was given in marriage to Alfricl king of the North-humbrians ; but they separated during his life-time.

A. 719. 720.

A. 721. Tills year bishop Daniel * went to Rome; and the same year Ina slew Cynewulf the etheling. And this year the holy bishop Johnf died; he was bishop thirty-three years, eight months, and thirteen days ; and his body rests at Beverley.

A. 722. This year queen Ethelburga razed Taunton, which Ina had previously built ; and Ealdbert the exile departed into Surry and Sussex, and Ina fought against the South- Saxons.

A. 723. 724.

A. 725. This year Withred king of the Kentish-men died on the ninth before the Kalends of May ; he reigned thirty-four years ; his genealogy is above : and Egbert succeeded to the kingdom of Kent ; and Ina fought against the South- Saxons, and there slew Ealdbert the etheling, whom he before had driven into exile.

A. 726.

A. 727. This year Tobias bishop of Rochester died, and in his place archbishop Berthwald consecrated Aldwulf bishop.

A. 728. This year Lia went to Rome, and there gave (up) liis life, and Ethelard his kinsman succeeded to the kingdom of the West-Saxons, and held it fourteen years. And the same year Ethelard and Oswald the etheling fought ; and Oswald was the son of Ethelbald, Ethelbald of Cynebald, Cynebald of Cuthwin, Cuthwin of Ceawlin.

A. 729. This year the star (called) a comet appeared, and Saint Egbert died in li.

A. 7*29. And the same year Osric died ; he was king eleven years : then Ceolwulf succeeded to the kingdom, and held it eight years.

A. 730. This year Oswald the etheling died.

A. 731. This year Osric king of the North-humbrians was slain, and Ceolwulf succeeded to the kingdom, and held it eight years, J and Ceolwulf was the son of Cutha, Cutha of Cuthwin, Cuthwin of Leodwald, Leodwald of Egwald,

* Of Winton. t Of York.

X Osric's death is rightly placed by another JIS. in 729.

.D. 732-741.] THE ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE. 335

^gwald of Aldhelm, Aldhelm of Ocga, Ocga of Ida, Ida of i^oppa. And archbishop Berth^Yald died on the Ides of Fanuary ;* he was bisliop thirty-seven years six months and burteen days. And the same year Tatwine was con- ;ecrated archbishop ;t he had been before a priest at Bredon iniong the Mercians. Daniel bishop of Winchester, and Lngwald bishop of London, and Aldwin bishop of Lichfield, ind Aldwulf bishop of Rochester consecrated him on the ;enth of June : he had the archbishopric three years.

A. 732.

A. 733. This year Ethelbald conquered Somerton ; and :he sun was eclipsed, and the whole disc of the sun was like a, black shield. And Acca was driven from his bishopric. J

A. 734. This year the moon was as if it had been sprinkled with blood ; and archbishop Tatwine and Bede died, and Egbert was consecrated bishop. §

A. 735. This year bishop Egbert received his pall at Rome.

A. 736. This year archbishop Xothelm received his pall from the bishop of the Romans. ||

A. 737. This year bishop Forthere,^ and queen Fritho- githa** went to Rome. And king Ceolwulf-ft received Peter's tonsure, and gave his kingdom to Eadbert, his uncle's son ; he reigned twenty-one years ; and bishop Ethelwald J | and Acca died, and Conwulf was consecrated bishop. § § And the same year king Ethelbald laid waste the land of the North- humbrians.

A. 738. Tliis year Eadbert the son of Lata, Eata being the son of Leodwald, succeeded to the kingdom of the North- humbrians, and held it twenty-one years. His brother was archbishop § Egbert the son of Eata ; and they both rest in one porch in the city of York.

A. 739. 740.

A. 741. This year king Ethelard died, and Cuthred his kinsman succeeded to the kingdom of the West- Saxons, and held it sixteen years ; and he contended strenuously against Ethelbald king of the Mercians. And archbishop

* The 13th of Januarv. + Of Canterbury. J H/xham.

§ Of York. II Greg. III. H Of Winton.

** Of \Ve?sex. 1"+ Of Northumbria.

:^t Oi Lindisfarne. § § Of York.

336 THE ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE. [a.d. 742-755.

Nothelm* died, and Cuthbert was consecrated archbishop ; and Dun bishop to Eochester. This year York was burnt.

A. 742. This year a great synod was held at Cloveshou ; and there was Ethelbald king of the Mercians, and archbishop Cuthbert, and many other wise men.

A. 743. This year Ethelbald king of the Mercians, and Cuthred king of the West -Saxons, fought against the Welsh.

A. 744. This year Daniel gave up the see of Winchester, and Hunferth succeeded to the bishopric : and stars were seen to shoot rapidly : and Wilfrid the younger, f who was bishop of York, died on the third before the Kalends of May ;| he was bishop thirty years.

A. 745. This year Daniel died : then forty-three years had elapsed since he obtained the bishopric. A. 746. This year king Selred was slain. A. 747.

A. 748. This year Cynric the etheling of the West- Saxons was slain : and Eadbert king of the Kentish-men died ; and Ethelbert, the son of king Withred, succeeded to the kingdom. A. 749.

A. 750. This year Cuthred, king of the West- Saxons, fought against Ethelhun, the proud ealdorman. A. 751.

A. 752. This year Cuthred, king of the West- Saxons, in the twelfth year of his reign, fought at Burford against Ethelbald king of the Mercians, and put him to flight.

A. 753. This year Cuthred, king of the West-Saxons, fought against the Welsh.

A. 754. This year Cuthred, king of the West- Saxons, died ; and Kineward obtained the bishopric of Winchester, after Hunferth : and the same year Canterbury was burned : and Sigebert his kinsman succeeded to the langdom of the West- Saxons, and held it one year.

A. 755. This year Cynewulf, and the West- Saxon 'witan '

• Of Canterbiiry.

+ Wilfrid the second, archbishop of York, is apparently confounded \^ith the bishop of Worcester of the same name. The former was succeeded bv Egbert in 734. See A. 734 and 776, and Bede, p. 299.

t The 29th of April.

I.D. 755.] THE ANGLO-S.iXON CHRONICLE. 337

deprived his kinsman Sigebert of his kingdom, except Hampshire, for his unjust doings ; and that he held until he dew the ealdorman who longest abode bj him. And then I^jnewulf di-ove him into Andi-ed, and he abode there until I swine-herd stabbed him at Privets-flood [Privett, Hamp- ihire], and avenged the ealdorman Cumbra.

And Cynewulf fought very many battles against the kVelsh ; and after he had held the kingdom about one and hirty years, he purposed to expel an etheling, who was lamed Cyneard ; and Cyneard was Sigebert's brother, ind he then learned that the king with a small band was ^one to Merton to visit a woman ; and he there beset him Lnd surrounded the chamber on every side, before the men vho were with the king discovered him. And when the ling perceived this, he went to the door, and there manfully lefended himself, until he beheld the ethehng, and then he •ushed out upon him and sorely wounded him ; and they all •ontinued fighting against the king until they had slain lim.

And upon this, the king's thanes having discovered the iffray by the woman's cries, each, as he was ready, and with lis utmost speed ran to the spot. And the etheling offered noney and life to each of them, and not one of them would iccept it ; but they continued fighting till they all fell, except )ne, a British hostage, and he was sorely wounded.

Then upon the morrow, the king's thanes, whom he had eft behind him, heard that the king was slain, then rode they hither, and Osric his ealdorman, and Wiferth his thane, and he men whom he had previously left behind. And at the own wherein the king lay slain they found the etheling, and hose within had closed the gates against them ; but they hen went onward And he then ofiered them their own ;hoice of land and money if they would grant him the dngdom, and showed them that their kinsman were with dm, men who would not desert him. And they then said, hat no kinsman was dearer to them than their lord, and that hey never would follow his murderer. And they then bade heir kinsmen that they should go away from him in safety ; >ut they said that the same had been bidden their companions v^ho before that had been with the king ; then they said, that hey no more minded it 'than your companions who were

z

338 THE ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE. [a. d. 755-701.

slain with the king.' And then they continued fi.ahting around the gates until they made their way in, and slew the etheling, and all the men who were with him, except one who was the ealdorman's godson ; and he escaped with life, though he was wounded in several places.

And Cynewulf reigned thirty-one years, and his body lies at Winchester, and the etheling's at Axminster ; and their right paternal kin reaches to Cerdic.

And the same year Ethelbald king of the Mercians was slain at Seckington, and his body lies at Repton, and he reigned forty-one years ; and Bernred obtained the kingdom, and held it a little while and unhappily. And the same year Offa drove out Bernred and obtained the kingdom, and held it thirty-nine years ; and his son Egfert held it one hundred and forty- one days. Offa was the son of Thingferth, Thingferth of Enwulf, Enwulf of Osmod, Osmod of Eawa, Eawa of Pybba, Pybba of Creoda, Creoda of Cynewald, Cynewald of Cnebba, Cnebba of Icel, Icel of Eomeer, Eomasr of Angel theow, Angeltheow of Offa, Offa of Waermund, Waermund of Wihtlaeg, Wihtlaeg of Woden.

A. 755. This year Cynewulf deprived king Sigebert of his kingdom ; and Sigebert's brother, Cynehard by name, slew Cynewulf at Merton ; and he reigned thirty-one years. And in the same year Ethelbald king of the Mercians was slain at Repton. And OfFa succeeded to the kingdom of the Mercians, Bernred being driven out.

A. 756.

A. 757. This year Eadbert king of the North-humbrians was shorn, and his son Oswulph succeeded to the kingdom, and reigned one year ; and he was slain by his household on the eighth before the Kal. of August.*

A. 758. This year archbishop Cuthbert died ; and he held the archbishopric eighteen years.f

A. 759. This year Bregowin was ordained archbishop at St. Michael's-tide, and held the see four years. And Moll Ethelwald succeeded to the kingdom of the Northhum- brians, and reigned six years, and then resigned it.

A. 760. This year Ethelbert king of the Kentish-men died ; he was the son of king Withred : and Ceolwulf also died.

A. 761. This year was the severe winter ; and Moll king

• The 25th of July. f Of Canterbury.

4.D. 762— 777.] THE ANGLO-SAXON CHEONICLE. 339

of the Nortli-liumbrians slew Oswin at Edwin's Cliff on the eighth before the Ides of August.

A. 762. This year archbishop * Bregowin died.

A. 763. Tills year Lambert was ordained archbishop on the fortieth day after mid- winter, f and held the see twenty-six years. And Frithwald bishop of Whitherne died on the Nones of May. f He was consecrated at York on the eighteenth before the Kal. of September, § in the sixth year of Ceolv/ulf's reign, and he Avas bishop twenty-nine years. Then Petwin was consecrated bishop of Whitherne at AdKngfleet, on the sixteenth before the Kalends of August. ||

A. 764. This year archbishop Lambert received his pall.

A. 765. This year Alcred succeeded to the kingdom of the North-humbrians, and reigned nine years.

A. 766. This year died archbishop Egbert at York on the 13th before the Kalends of December ; he was bishop thirty-seven years ; and Frithbert at Hexham ; he was bishop thirty-three years ; and Ethelbert was consecrated to York, and Alhmund to Hexham.

A. 767.

A. 768. This year king Eadbert the son of Eata, died on the thirteenth before the Kalends of September.

A. 769.— 771.

A. 772. This year bishop Milred ^ died.

A. 773. This year a fiery crucifix appeared in the heavens after sunset : and the same year the Mercians and the Kentish-men fought at Otford ; and wondrous adders were seen in the land of the South- Saxons.

A. 774. This year at Easter-tide, the North-humbrians drove their king Alcred from York, and took Etheked, the son of Moll, to be their lord ; he reigned four years.

A. 775. ^ ^.

A. 776. This year bishop Petwin** died on the thir- teenth before the Kalends of October ; he was bishop four- teen years.

A. 777. This year Cynewolf and Offa fought about 13en- sington, and Offa took the town ; and the same year, on

* Canterbury. + The 2nd of February.

: The 7th of May. § The 15th of August.

II The 17th of July. Tl Of Worcester.

•* Of Whitherne.

Zm2

340 THE ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE. [a. d. 777— 780.

the seventeenth before the Kalends of July, Ethelbert was consecrated at York bishop of Whitherne.

In the days of king Offa there was an abbat of Medesham- stede called Beonna. The same Beonna, by the consent of all the monks of the minster, let to Cuthbert the ealdorman ten copy-lands at Swineshead, with lease, and with meadow, and with all that lay thereto, and on this condition: that Cuthbert should give the abbat therefore fifty pounds, and each year one day's entertainment, or thirty shillings in money ; and furthermore, that after his decease the land should return to the minster. The witnesses of this were king Offa, and king Egfert, and archbishop Higbert,* and bishop Ceolwulf, and bishop Inwona, and abbat Beonna, and many other bishops and abbats, and many other great men. In the days of this same Offa there was an ealdorman who was called Brorda. He desired of the king that for love of him he would free a minster of his called Woking, because he wished to give it to Medeshamstede, and St. Peter, and the abbat that then was, who was called Pusa. Pusa succeeded Beonna, and the king loved him greatly. And the king then freed the minster Woking, against king, and against bishop, and against earl, and against all men, so that no one should have any claim there except St. Peter and the abbat. This was done in the king's town called Free- Richburn.

A. 778. This year Ethelbald and Herbert slew three high-reeves ; Edulf, the son of Bosa, at Kings-cliff, and Cynewolf and Egga at Helathyrn, on the eleventh before the Kalends of April : and then Alfwold obtained the kingdom, f and drove Ethelred out of the country ; and he reigned ten years.

A. 779.

A. 780. This year the Old- Saxons and the Franks fought ; and the high-reeves of the North-humbrians burned Bern the ealdorman at Silton, on the eighth before the Kalends of January : and archbishop Ethelbert died at York, in whose place Eanbald vv^as consecrated ; and bishop Cynewolf gave up the bishopric of Lindisfarne. This year Alhmund, bishop of Hexham, died on the seventh before the Ides of September, and Tilbert was consecrated in his j^lace on the

* Of Lichfield? t Northiunbria.

A. D. 781- -789.] THE A^^GLO-S.OION CHRONICLE. 341

sixth before the Nones of October ; and Higbald was conse- crated at Sockbury bishop of Lindisfarne ; and king Alfwold sent to Rome for a pall, and invested Eanbald as archbishop.

A. 781.

A. 782. Tliis year died Werburh, Ceolred's queen, and Cynewolf, bishop of Lindisfarne ; and there was a synod at Acley.

A. 783.

A. 784. This year Cyneard slew king Cynewolf, and was himself there slain, and eighty-four men with him; and then Bertric obtained the kingdom of the West- Saxons, and he reigned sixteen years, and his body lies at Wareham ; and his right paternal kin reaches to Cerdic. At -this time king Elmund reigned in Kent. This king Elmund was the father of Egbert, and Egbert was father of Athulf.

A. 785. This year abbat Bothwin died at Ripon ; and this year there was a contentious synod at Chalk-hythe, and archbishop Lambert gave up some portion of his bishopric, and Higbert was elected by king Offa ; and Egfert was consecrated king. And at this time messengers were sent from Rome by pope Adrian to England, to rencAv the faith and the peace which St. Gregory had sent us by Augustine the bishop ; and they were worshipfully received, and sent away in peace.

A. 786.

A. 787. This year king Bertric took to wife Eadburga, king Offa's daughter ; and in his days first came three ships of Northmen, out of Hceretha-land [Denmark]. And then the reve* rode to the place, and would have driven them to the king's town, because he knew not who they were : and they there slew him. These were the first ships of Danish- men which sought the land of the English nation.

A. 788. This year a synod was assembled in the land of the North-humbrians at Fingall, on the 4th before the Nones of September ; and abbat Albert died at Ripon. ,

A. 789. This year Alfwold, king of the Northumbrians, was slain by Siga on the 8th before the Kalends of October ; and a heavenly light was frequently seen at the place where he was slain ; and he was buried at Hexham witliin the church ; and Osred, the son of Alcred succeeded to tha * Since called sheriff; i. e. the reve, or steward, of the shire.— Ingram.

342 THE ANGLO-SAXON CIIRONICLE. Ia.d. 789—794.

kingdom after liim : lie Avas his nephew. And a sjnod was assembled at Acley.

A. 790. This year archbishop Lambert died, and the same year abbat Athelard was chosen archbishop.* And Osred, king of the North-humbrians, was betrayed, and driven from the kingdom ; and Ethelred, the son of Ethel- wald, again obtained the government.

A. 791. This year Baldulf was consecrated bishop of Whitherne, on the 16th before the Kalends of August, by archbishop Eanbald,f and by bishop Ethelbert.f

A. 792. This year OfFa, king of the Mercians, commanded the head of king Ethelbert§ to be struck oif. And Osred, who had' been king of the Northumbrians, having come home after his exile, was seized and slain on the 18th before the Kalends of October ; and his body lies at Tinemouth. And king Ethelred took a new wife, who was called Ehfleda, on the 3rd before the Kalends of October.

A. 793. This year dire forwarnings came over the land of the North-humbrians, and miserably terrified the people ; these were excessive whirlwinds, and lightnings ; and fiery dragons were seen flying in the air. A great famine soon followed these tokens ; and a little after that, in the same year, on the 6th before the Ides of January, the ravaging of heathen men lamentably destroyed God's church at Lindis- farne through rapine and slaughter. And Siga died on the 8th before the Kalends of March.

A. 794. This year Pope Adrian || and king Offa died ; and Ethelred, king of the North-humbrians, was slain by his own people on the 13th before the Kalends of May ; and bishop Ceolwulf ^ and bishop Eadbald went away from the land. And Egfert succeeded to the kingdom of the Mercians and died the same year. And Eadbert, who by a second name was named Pren, obtained the kingdom of Kent. And Ethelherd the ealdorman died on the Kalends of Au- gust ; and the heathens ravaged among the North-humbrians, and plundered Egfert's monastery at the mouth of the Wear ; and there one of their leaders was slain, and also some of their ships were wrecked by a tempest ; and many of them

• Of Canterbury. f Of York.

t Of Hexham. § Of East Anglia.

II Pope Adrian died December 25th, 795. ^ Of Lindsey.

.DW93-736.] THE A^^GLO-SAXON CHKONICLE. 343

v-ere there drowned, and some came on shore alive, and tliey vere soon slain at the river's mouth.

A 795. This year the moon was eclipsed between cock- Towino- and dawn, on the 5th before the Kalends of April ; md Ea?dulf succeeded to the kingdom of the North-humbrians )n the 2nd before the Ides of May ; and he was afterwards con- secrated king, and raised to his throne on tlie 8th before :he Kalends of June, at York, by archbishop Eanbald, and oishop Ethelbert,* and Higbald,t and Badulf,t bishops.

A 796 This year Kenulf, king of the Mercians, laid waste Kent as far as the marshes, and took Pren their king and led him bound into Mercia, and let his eyes be picked out and his hands be cut off. And Athelard, aixhbisaiop of Canterbury, appointed a synod, and confirmed and ratified by the command of Pope Leo, all the thmgs respecting God s ministers which were appointed in Withgar's days, and m other kings' days, and thus sayeth :

"I Athelard, the humble archbishop of Canterbury, by the unanimous counsel of the whole synod, and with . ol all to the congregation of all the ministers to which in old dap immunity was° given by faithful --^ -f^^^-^^^f pL onri hvhis awful doom, I command, as i have com mand of Pope Leo ftat hencrforth none dare to choose ior TemXesTords oWr God's heritage f om .^ongst laym •

But even as it stands in the '^^^^"f ^^l^?* *"JXher given, or those holy men have appointed ^^^o a e our i the-

and instructors concerning toly.'^'^f '^^'. ^.'^ii'; if there tinue inviolate, without any kind of ga "^^/'"g' J'^ ^''^^^ be any man who will -' fX d si h a^rilcth it for of our pope, and o»rs.f"f ^^^^.^^'PJ'^f recount before the nought, let H- k-- *-i^^« flSaX archbishop, witl; i^lTbS Indfhreetd twenty abbats, do continn and ratify this same with Christ's rood-token.

And archbishop Eanbald ^^VhltdWie'st^Yo^k ;':l:i

+ Lindisfarne. * Of Hexham. r q^ Ljndsey.

1 Whitheme. '

344 THE ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE. [a.d. 79&-802.

bald was consecrated in the place of the other on the 19th before the Kalends of September.

A. 796. Tliis year Offa, king of the Mercians, died on the 4tli before the Kalends of August ; he reigned forty years.

A. 797. This year the Romans cut out the tongue of Pope Leo, and put out his eyes, and drove him from his see ; and soon afterwards, God helping, lie was able to see and speak, and again was pope as he before was. And Eanbald re- ceived his pall on the 6th before the Ides of September ; and bishop Ethelbert* died on tlie 17th before the Kalends of No- vember ; and Heandred was consecrated bishop in his place on the 3rd before the Kalends of November ; and bishop Alfun died at Sudbury, and he was buried in Dunwich, and Tidfrith was chosen after him ; and Siric, king of the East Saxons, went to Rome. In this same year the body of Wit- burga was found at Dereham, all whole and uncorrupted, five and fifty years after she had departed from this life.

A. 798. This year there was a great fight at Whalley in the land of the North-humbrians, during Lent, on the 4tli before the Nones of April, and there Alric, the son of Her- bert, was slain, and many others A\T[th him.

A. 799. This year archbishop Athelardf and Kenebert bishop of the West- Saxons, J went to Rome.

A. 800. This year, on the 17th before the Kalends of February, the moon was eclipsed at the second hour of the night. And king Bertric and Worr the ealdorman died, and Egbert succeeded to the kingdom of the West- Saxons. And the same day Ethelmund, ealdorman, rode over from the Wiccians, at Cynemaeresford [Kempsford]. Then Wox- tan the ealdorman with the men of Wiltshire met him. There was a great fight, and both the ealdormen were slain, and the men of Wiltshire got the victory.

A. 801.

A. 801. This year Beommod was ordained bishop of Rochester.

A. 802. This year on the 13th before the Kalends of January the moon was eclipsed at dawn ; and Beornmod was ordained bishop of Rochester. §

* Of Hexham. f Of Canterbury. + Wmchester.

§ Placed in 801 by another MS.

k.D. 803-819.] THE AA^GLO-SAXON CHRONICLE. 345

A. 803. This year died Higbald bishop of Lindisfarne on :he 8th before the Kalends of July, and Egbert II. was con- secrated in his stead on the 3d before the Ides of June ; and :his year archbishop Athelard died in Kent, and Wulfred was ordained archbishop ; and abbat Forthred died.

A. 804. This year archbishop Wulfred received his pall.

A. 805. This year king Cuthred died among the Kentish- waen, and Colburga abbess,* and Herbert the ealdorman.

A. 806. This year the moon was eclipsed on the Kalends )f September : and Eardulf king of the North-humbrians ,vas driven from liis kingdom ; and Eanbert bishop of Hex- lam died. Also in the same year, on the 2d before the Nones )f June, a cross appeared in the moon on a Wednesday at iawn ; and afterwards in this year, on the third before the Kalends of September, a wonderful circle was seen about the sun.

A. 807. 808.

A. 809. This year the sun was eclipsed at the beginning :)f the fifth hour of the day on the 17th before the Kalends of August, the 2d day of the week, the 29th of the moon.

A. 810. 811.

A. 812. This year king Charlemagne died, and he reigned five and forty years ; and archbishop Wulfred and Wigbert bishop of the West- Saxons f hoth went to Rome.

A. 813. This year archbishop Wulfred, with the blessing of pope Leo, returned to his own bishopric ; and the same year king Egbert laid waste West- Wales from eastward to westward.

A. 814. This year the noble and holy pope J Leo died, and after him Stephen succeeded to the popedom.

A. 815.

A. 816. Tliis year pope Stephen died, and after him Paschal was ordained pope ; and the same year the English school at Rome § was burned. A. 817. 818. A. 819. This year Kenulf king of the Mercians died,

• Of Berkeley. t Sherborne.

t Leo III. died 11th June 816. Eginhard,Ann. Stephen IV. was con- secrated on the •22d of the same month.

$ The Angle-School was a quarter near St. Peter's, where the English piliirims at Rome resided. According to Anastasius, they called it their * Borough,' (burgus). V. Anastas. Bibliothecar. de Vita Stephani 1 V.

346 THE ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE. [a.d. 820—827.

and Ceolwulf succeeded to the kingdom ; and Eadbert the ealdorman died.

A. 820.

A. 821. This year Ceolwulf was deprived of his king- dom.*

A. 822. This year two ealdormen, Burhelm and Mucca, were slain ; and there was a synod at Cloveshoo.

A. 823. This year there was a battle between the Welsh and the men of Devon at Camelford :f and the same year Eg- bert king of the West- Saxons and Bernulf king of the Mercians fought at Wilton, and Egbert got the victory, and there was great slaughter made. He then sent from the army his son Ethelwulf, and Ealstan his bishop,J and Wulfherd his ealdorman, into Kent with a large force, and they drove Baldred the king northwards over the Thames. And the men of Kent, and the men of Surrey, and the South- Saxons, and the East- Saxons, submitted to him ; for for- merly they had been unjustly forced from his kin. And the same year the king of the East- Angles and the people sought the alliance and protection of king Egbert for dread of the Mercians ; and the same year the East- Angles slew Bernulf king of Mercia.

A. 824.

A. 825. This year Ludecan king of the Mercians was slain, and his five ealdormen with him ; and Withlaf succeeded to the kingdom.

A. 826.

A. 827. This year the moon was eclipsed § on the mass- night of midwinter. And the same year king Egbert conquered the kingdom of the Mercians, and all that was south of the Humber ; and he was the eighth king who was Bretwalda. JEWa. king of the South- Saxons was the first who had thus much dominion ; the second was Ceawlin king of the West- Saxons ; the third was Ethelbert king of the Kentish-men ; the fourth was Redwald king of the East- Angles ; the fifth was Edwin king of the North-humbrians ; the sixth was Oswald who reigned after him ; the seventh was Oswy, Oswald's brother ; the eighth was Egbert king of the West- Saxons. And Egbert led an army to Dore

• Mercia. f In Cornwall. X Sherborne.

$ The eclipse happened on the 25th of December, 828.

i.D. 828— 836.] THE ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE. 347

Hgainst the North-humbrians, and they there offered liim )bedience and allegiance, and with that they separated.

A. 828. This year Withlaf again obtained the kingdom of he Mercians, and bishop Ethelwald* died ; and the same rear king Egbert led an army against the North-Welsh, ind he forced them to obedient subjection.

A. 829. This year archbishop Wulfred died, and after lim abbat Theologild was chosen to the archbishopric,! on ;he 7th before the Kalends of INIay ; and he was consecrated ipon a Sunday, the 5th before the Ides of June : and he iied on the 3rd before the Kalends of September.

A. 830. This year Ceolnoth w^as chosen bishop,^ and or- dained ; and abbat Theologild died.

A. 831. This year archbishop Ceolnoth received his pall.

A. 832. This year the heathen men ravaged Sheppey.

A. 833. This year king Egbert fought against the men of thirty-five ships at Charmouth, and there was great slaughter made, and the Danish-men maintained possession of the field. And Herefrith§ and Wigthun, || two bishops, died ; and Dudda and Osmod, two ealdormen, died.

A. 834.

A. 835. This year a great hostile fleet came to the West- Welsh, 1" and they united together, and made war upon Eg- bert king of the W>st- Saxons. As soon as he heard of it he went thither with an army, and fought against them at Hengeston, and there he put to flight both the Welsh and the Danish-men.

A. 836. This year king Egbert died; before he was king, Offa king of the Mercians, and Bertric, king of the West-Saxons, drove him out of England into France for three years ; and Bertric assisted Ofla, because he had his daughter for his queen. And Egbert reigned thirty-seven years and seven months : and Ethelwulf the son of Eg- bert succeeded to the kingdom of the West-Saxons ; and he gave his son Athelstan the kingdoms of the Kentish-men, and of the East-Saxons, and of the men of Surrey, and of the South- Saxons.

A. 836. And Ethelstan his other son succeeded to the kingdom of the Kentish-men, and to Surrey, and to the kingdom of the bouth-baxous.

•Of Lichfield. + Of Canterbury. i Of Canterbury.

§ Of Selscy. U Of Winchester. "H Cornwall.

348 THE ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE. [a.d. 837-85L

A. 837. This year Wulflierd the ealdorman fought at Hamtun [Southampton], against the forces of thirty-five ships, and there made great slaughter, and got the victory ; and the same year Wulfherd died. And the same year Ethelhehn the ealdorman fought against the Danish army at Portland-isle Avith the men of Dorset, and for a good while he put the enemy to flight ; but the Danish-men had possession of the field, and slew the ealdorman.

A. 838. Tliis year Herebert the ealdorman was slain by the heathen men, and many with him among the Marsh - men ; and afterwards, the same year, in Lindsey, and in East-Anglia, and in Kent, many men were slain by the enemy.

A. 839. This year there was great slaughter at London, and at Canterbury, and at Rochester.

A. 840. This year king Ethelwulf fought at Charmouth against the crews of thirty-five ships, and the Danish-men maintained possession of the field. And Louis the emperor died.

A. 841.— 844.

A. 845. This year Eanwulf the ealdorman, with the men of Somerset, and bishop Ealstan,* and Osric the ealdor- man, with the men of Dorset, fought at the mouth of the Parret against the Danish army, and there made great slaughter, and got the victory.

A. 846.— 850.

A. 851. This year Ceorl the ealdorman, with the men of Devonshire, fought against the heathen men at Wembury,t and there made great slaughter and got the victory. And the same year king Athelstan and Elchere the ealdormen fought on shipboard, and slew a great number of the enemy at Sandwich in Kent, and took nine ships, and put the others to flight ; and the heathen men, for the first time, remained over winter in Thanet. And the same year came three hundred and fifty ships to the mouth of the Thames, and the crews landed and took Canterbury and London by storm, and put to flight Berthwulf, king of the Mercians, with his army, and then went south over the Thames into Surrey ; and there king Ethelwulf and his son Ethelbald, with the army of the West- Saxons, fought against them at Ockley, * Of Sherborne. t Near Plymouth.

.I.D. 852— 855.] THE ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE. 349

und there made the greatest slaughter among the heathen irmy that we have heard reported to the present day, and here got the victory.

A. 852. At this time Ceolred, abbat of Medeshamstede md the monks let to Wulfred the land of Sempringham, on ;his condition, that after his decease the land should return 0 the minster, and that Wulfred should give the land of Sleaford to Medeshamstede, and each year should deliver nto the minster sixty loads of vs^ood, and twelve of coal md six of faggots, and two tuns full of pure ale, and lWo beasts fit for slaughter, and six hundi-ed loaves, and cen measures of Welsh ale, and each year a horse, and thirty shillings, and one day's entertainment. At this agreement were present king Burhred, and archbishop Ceolred, and bishop Tunbert, and bishop Cenred, and bishop Aldhun, and abbat Witred, and abbat Wertherd, and Ethelherd, the ealdorman, and Hunbert, the ealdorman, and many others.

A. 853. This year Burhred, king of the Mercians, and his council, begged of king Ethelwulf that he would assist him so that he might make the North-Welsh obedient to him. He then did so ; and went with an army across Mer- cia among the North-Welsh, and made them all obedient to him. And the same year king Ethelwulf sent liis son Alfred to Rome. Leo [IV.] was then pope of Rome ; and he consecrated him king, and took him for his son at confir- mation. Then, in the "same year, Ealhere, with the men of Kent, and Huda, with the men of Surry, fought in Tlianet, against the heathen army ; and at first they were \'ictorious ; and many there were slain, and drowned on either hand, and both the ealdormen were killed. And upon this after Easter Ethelwulf, king of the West- Saxons, gave his daughter to Burhred king of the Mercians.

A. 854.

A. 855. This year the heathen men, for the first time, remained over winter in Sheppey : and the same year king Ethelwulf gave by charter the tenth part of his land throughout his realm for the glory of God and his own eternal salvation. And the same year he went to Rome in great state, and dwelt there twelve months, and then re- turned homewards. And then Charles, king of the Franks,

350 THE ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE. [a.d. 855— SCO.

gave him his daughter to ^\^fe ; and after that he came to his people, and they were glad of it. And about two years after he came from France he died, and his body lies at Win- chester. And he reigned eighteen years and a half. And Ethelwulf was the son of Egbert, Egbert of Elmund, Elmund of Eafa, Eafa of Eoppa, Eoppa of Ingild ; Ingild was Ina's brother, king of the West- Saxons, he who held the kingdom tliirty-seven years, and afterwards went to St. Peter, and there resigned his life ; and they were the sons of Kenred, Kenred of Ceolwald, Ceolwald of Cutha, Cutha of Cuthwin, Cuthwin of Ceawlin, Ceawlin of Cynric, Cynric of Cerdic, Cerdic of Elesa, Elesa of Esla, Eslaof Gewis, Gewis of Wig, Wig of Freawin, Freawin of Frithogar, Frithogar of Brond, Brond of Beldeg, Beldeg of Woden, Woden of Frithowald, Frithowald of Frealaf, Frealaf of Frithuwulf, Frithuwulf of Finn, Finn of Godwulf, Godwulf of Geat, Geat of Tsetwa, Taetwa of Beaw, Beaw of Sceldi, Sceldi of Heremod, Heremod of Itermon, Itermon of Hathra, Hathra of Guala, Guala of Bedwig, Bedwig of Sceaf, that is, the son of Noah, he was born in Noah's ark ; Lamech, Methusalem, Enoh, Jared, Malalahel, Cainion, Enos, Seth, Adam the first man, and our Father, that is, Christ. Amen. Then Ethelwulf 's two sons succeeded to the kingdom ; Ethelbald succeeded to the kingdom of the West- Saxons ; and Ethelbert to the kingdom of the Kentish-men, and to the kingdom of the East-Saxons, and to Surry, and to the kingdom of the South- Saxons ; and then Ethelbald reigned five years. Alfred his third son he had sent to Rome : and when Pope Leo [IV.] heard say that Ethelwulf was dead, he consecrated Alfred king, and held him as his spiritual son at confirmation, even as his father Ethelwulf had requested on sending him thither.

A. 855. And on his return homewards he took to (wife) the daughter of Charles, king of the French, whose name was Judith, and he came home safe. And then in about two years he died, and his body lies at Winchester ; and he reigned eighteen years and a half, and he was the son of Egbert. And then his two sons succeeded to the kingdom ; Ethel- bald to the kingdom of the West-Saxons, and Ethelbert to the kingdom of the Kentish-men, and of the East-Saxons, and of Svury, and of the South-Saxons. And he reigned five years.

A. 856.-859.

A. 860. Tliis year died king Ethelbald, and his body lies

A.D. 8C1— 868.J THE ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE. 351

at Sherborne ; and Ethelbert succeeded to all the realm of his brother, and he held it in goodly concord and in great tranquillity. And in his days a large fleet came to land, and the crews stormed Winchester. And Osric the ealdorman, with the men of Hampshire, Ethelwulf the ealdorman, with the men of Berkshire, fought against the army, and put them to flight, and had possession of the place of carnage. And Ethelbert reigned five years, and his body lies at Sherborne.

A. 861. This year died St. Swithun the bishop.*

A. 862.-864.

A. 865. This year the heathen army sat down in Thanet, and made peace with the men of Kent, and the men of Kent promised them money for the peace ; and during the peace and the promise of money the army stole away by night, and ravaged all Kent to the eastward.

A. 866. This year Etheked, Ethelbert's brother, suc- ceeded to the kingdom of the West- Saxons : and the same year a great heathen army came to the land of the English nation, and took up their winter quarters among the East- Angles, and there they were horsed ; and the East- Angles made peace with them.

A. 867. This year' the army went from East-Anglia over the mouth of the Humber to York in North-humbria. And there was much dissension among that people, and they had cast out their king Osbert, and had taken to themselves a king, JEWa, not of royal blood ; but late in the year they re- solved that they would fight against the army ; and therefore they gathered a large force, and sought the army at the town of York, and stormed the town, and some of them got within, and there was an excessive slaughter made of the North- humbrians, some within, some without, and the kings were both slain : and the remainder made peace with the army. And the same year bishop Ealstan died; and he had the bishopric of Sherborne fifty years, and his body lies m the town.

' A. 868. This year the same army went into Morcia to

Nottingham, and there took up their winter quarters. And

Burhred king of the Mercians, and his 'witan,' begged of

Ethelred king of the West-Saxons, and of Alfred Ms brother,

* Winchester.

352 THE ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE. [a.d. 869, 870.

that tliej would help them, that they might fight against the army. And then they went with the West- Saxon power into Mercia as far as Nottingham, and there met with the army within the fortress ; and besieged them therein : but there was no great battle; and the Mercians made peace with the army.

A. 869. This year the army again went to York, and sat there one year.

A. 870. This year the army rode across Mercia into East- Anglia, and took up their winter quarters at Thetford : and the same mnter king Edmund fought against them, and the Danes got the victory, and slew the king, and subdued all the land, and destroyed all the minsters which they came to. The names of their chiefs who slew the king were Hingwar and Hubba. At that same time they came to Medesham- stede, and burned and beat it down, slew abbat and monks, and all that they found there. And that place, which before was full rich, they reduced to nothing. And the same year died archbishop Ceolnoth. Then went Ethelred and Alfred his brother, and took Athelred bishop of Wiltshire, and appointed him archbishop of Canterbury, because formerly he had been a monk of the same minster of Canterbury. As soon as he came to Canterbury, and he was sfablished in his arch- bishopric, he then thought how he might expel the clerks who (were) there within, whom archbishop the Ceolnoth had (be- fore) placed there for such need ... as we shall relate. The first year that he was made archbishop there was so great a mortaUty, that of all the monks whom he found there witliin, no more than five monks survived. Then for the .... he (commanded) his chaplains, and also some priests of his vills, that they should help the few monks who there survived to do Christ's service, because he could not so readily find monks who might of themselves do the service ; and for this reason he commanded that the priests, the while, until God should give peace in this land, should help the monks. In that same time was this land much distressed by frequent battles, and hence the archbishop could not there elTect it, for there was warfare and sorrow all his time over Eng'land ; and hence the clerks remained with the monks. Nor w&3 there ever a time that monks were not there within, and they ever had lordship over the priests. Again the archbishop

A.D. 871.] THE ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE. 353

Ccolnoth thought, and also said to those who were with Lim, ' As soon as God shall give peace in this land, eitht r these priests shall be monks, or from elsewhere I will place within the minister as many monks as may do the service of

themselves : for God knows that I )*

A. 871. This year the army came to Reading in Wessex ; and three days after this, two of their earls rode forth. Then Ethelwulf the ealdorman met them at Englefield, and there fouglit against them, and got the victory : and there one of them, whose name was Sidrac, was slain. About three days after this, king Ethelred and Alfred his brother led a large force to Reading, and fought against the army, and there was great slaughter made on either hand. And Ethelwulf the ealdorman was slain, and the Danish-men had possession of the place of carnage. And about four days after this, king Ethelred and Alfred his brother fought against the whole army at Ashdown ; and they were in two bodies : in the one were Bagsac and Halfdene the heathen kings, and in the other were the earls. And then king Ethelred fought against the division under the kings, and there king Bagsac was slain; and Alfred his brother against the division under the earls, and there earl Sidrac the elder was slain, earl Sidrac the younger, and earl Osbern, and earl Frene, and earl Harold ; and both divisions of the army were put to flight, and many thousands slain : and they continued fighting until night. And about fourteen days after this, king Ethelred and Alfred his brother fought

* As this portion of tlie text is slightly defective, the Latin narrative is subjoined : Cum autem venisset Cantuariam, statim cogitare corpit quo- modo possit ejicere clericos de ecclesia Christi, quos Ceohiothus pro tali ne- cessitate compulsus ibi posuit. Primo igitur anno ordmationis suje tanta mortalitas facta est in ecclesia Christi, ut de tota congi-egatione monacho- rum non remanerent nisi quinque. Qua de causa quia ita subito non potuit invenire tot monachos qui ibi servitium Dei facere possent, ex simp icitate cordis prscepit capellanis clericis suis, ut essent cum eis usque quod Deus paciticaret terram, qua^ tunc nimis erat turbata propter nimias tempestatcs bellorum. Accepit etiam de viUis suis presbyteros, ut essent cum monachis, ita tamen ut monachi semper haberent dominatum super clericos. Logita- vit idem archiepiscopus et sa^pe suis dixit, quia statim cum Deus pacem nobis dederit, aut isti clerici monachi fient, aut ego ubicumquemoia^^^^^^ inveniam quos reponam. Scit enim Deus, mquit \"«^. ^^^^^'^^/l"^!;^ "/„" possum. Sed nunquam temporibus suis pax fuit in Anglia, et ideo reinan- serunt clerici cum monachis, nee ullo tempore fuit ecclesia sine monachis Sed nee iste ^thelredus archiepiscopus potiut facere.

A A

354 THE ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE. [a.d. SH— 874.

against the army at Basing, and there the Danes obtained the victory. And about two months after this, king Ethelred and Alfred his brother fought against the army at Marden ; and they were in two bodies, and they put both to flight, and during a great part of the day were victorious ; and there was great slaughter on either hand ; but the Danes had pos- session of the place of carnage: and there bishop Heah- mund* was slain, and many good men : and after this battle there came a great army in the summer to Reading. And after this, over Easter, king Ethelred died ; and he reigned five years and his body lies at Winburn-minster.

Then Alfred the son of Ethelwulf, his brother, succeeded to the kingdom of the West- Saxons. And about one month after this, king Alfred with a small band fought against the whole army at Wilton, and put them to flight for a good part of the day ; but the Danes had possession of the place of carnage. And this year nine general battles were fought against the army in the kingdom south of the Thames, besides which, Alfred the king's brother, and single ealdormen, and king's thanes, oftentimes made incursions on them, which were not counted : and within the year nine earls and one king were slain. And that year the West- Saxons made peace with the army.

A. 871. And the Danish-men were overcome : and they had two heathen kings, Bagsac and Halfdene, and many earls ; and there was kuig Bagsac slain, and these earls ; Sidrac the elder, and also Sidrac the younger, Osbem, Frene, and Harold ; and the army was put to flight.

A. 872. This year the army went from Reading to London, and there took up their winter-quarters : and then the Mercians made peace with the army.

A. 873. This year the army went into North-humbria, and took up their winter-quarters at Torksey in Lindsey ; and then the Mercians made peace with the army.

A. 874. This year the army went from Lindsey to Repton, and there took up their winter-quarters, and drove king Burhred over sea about twenty-two years after he had obtained the kingdom ; and subdued the whole country : and Burhred went to Rome, and there remained ; and his body lies in St. Mary's church at the English school. And that same year they committed the kingdom of the ^Rlercians to

* Of Sherborne.

A.D. 875— 877.J THE ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE. 355

the keeping of Ceolwulf, an unwise king's-thane ; and he swore oaths to them, and delivered hostages that it should he ready for them on whatever day they would have it, and tliat he would be ready both in his own person and with all who would follow him, for the behoof of the army.

A. 875. This year the army went from Repton : and Halfdene went with some of the army into North-humbria, and took up winter-quarters by the river Tyne. And the army subdued the land, and oft-times spoiled the Picts, and the Strathclyde Britons. And the three kings, Gothrun, and Oskytel, and Anwind, went with a large army from Repton to Cambridge, and sat down there one year. And that summer king Alfred went out to sea with a fleet, and fought against the forces of seven sliips, and one of them he took, end put the rest to flight.

A. 876. This year the army stole away to Wareham, a fortress of the West- Saxons. And afterwards the king made peace A\dth the army ; and they delivered to the king hostages from among the most distinguished men of the army ; and then they swore oaths to him on the holy ring, which they never before would do to any nation, that they would speedily depart his kingdom. And notwithstanding this, that part of the army which was horsed stole away by night from the fortress to Exeter. And that year Halfdene apportioned the lands of North-humbria : and they thence- forth continued ploughing and tilling them. This year Rolla overran Normandy with his army, and he reigned fifty fears.

A. 876. And in this same rear the army of the Danes in England swore )aths to king Alfred upon the holy rin.i?, which before they would not do to my nation ; and they delivered 'to the king hostages from among the Host distinguished men of the army, that they would speedily depart from lis kingdom ; and that by night they broke.

A. 877. This year the army came to Exeter from Wareham ; and the fleet sailed round westwards : and then 1 great storm overtook them at sea, and there one hundred md twenty ships were wrecked at Swanwich. And king Alfred with his forces rode after the army which was mounted, as far as Exeter ; and they were unable to overtake them before they were within the fortress, where they could not be come at. And they there delivered to him hostages A a2

356 THE A2^GL0-SAX0N CHRONICLE. [a.p. 878, 879.

as many as he would have, and swore many oaths : and then they observed the peace welh And afterwards, during harvest, the army went into Mercia, and some part of it they apportioned, and some they delivered to Ceohvulf.

A. 878. This year, during midwinter, after twelfth night, the army stole away to Chippenham, and overran the land of the West- Saxons, and sat down there ; and many of the people they drove beyond sea, and of the remainder the greater part they subdued and forced to obey them, except king Alfred : and he, with a small band, with diificulty retreated to the woods and to the fastnesses of the moors. And the same winter the brother of Hingwar and of Ilalfdene came with twenty-three ships to Devonshire in Wessex ; and he was there slain, and with him eight hundred and forty men of his army : and there was taken the war-flag which they called the Ravex. After this, at Easter king Alfred with a small band constructed a fortress at Athelney ; and from this fortress, with that part of the men of Somerset which w^as nearest to it, from time to time they fought against the army. Then in the seventh week after Easter he rode to Brixton, on the east side of Selwood ; and there came to meet him all the men of Somerset, and the men of Wiltshire, and that portion of the men of Hampshire which was on this side of the sea ; and they were joyful at his presence. On the following day he went from that station to Iglea [Iley], and on the day after this to Heddington, and there fought against the whole army, put them to flight, and pursued them as far as their fortress : and there he sat down fourteen days. And then the army delivered to him hostages, with many oaths, that they would leave his kingdom, and also promised him that their king should receive baptism : and this they accordingly fulfilled. And about three weeks after this king Gothrun came to him, with some thirty men who were of the most distinguished in the army, at Aller, which is near Athelney : and the king was his godfather at baptism ; and his chrism-loosing* was at Wedm.ore : and he was twelve days with the king ; and he greatly honoured him and his companions with gifts.

A. 879. This year the army went to Cirencester from

* Apparently the removal of the fillet which, covering the chrism on the forehead, was bound round the head at confirmation.

357

A.D. 880-885.] THE ANGLO-SAXOX CHRONICLE.

Chippenham, and sat there one year. And that year a bodj of pirates drew together, and sat down at Fullmm on the^ Thames. And that same year the sun was edipsed during one hour of the day.*

A. 880. This year the army went from Cirencester to Ji-ast Angha, and settled in the land, and apportioned it And that same year the army, which previously had sat down at Fulham, went over sea to Ghent in France and sat there one year. '

A. 881. This year the army went further into France, and the French fought against them: and then was the army there horsed after the battle.

A. 882. This year the army went up along the banks of the Maese far into France, and there sat one year. And that same year king Alfred went out to sea with his ships, and fought against the forces of four ships of Danish men, and took two of the ships, and the men were slain that were in them ; and the forces of two ships surrendered to him, and they were sorely distressed and wounded before they surrendered to him.

A. 883. This year the army went up the Scheldt to Conde, and sat there one year. And Marinus the pope tlien sent 'lignum Domini' to king Alfred; and that same year Sighelm and Athelstan carried to Rome tlie alms which the king had vowed to send thither, and also to India, to St. Thomas and to St. Bartholomew, when they sat down against the army at London ; and there, thanks be to God, they largely obtained the object of their prayer after the vow.

A. 884. This year the army went up the Somme to Amiens, and there sat one year. This yearj the benevo lent bishop Ethelwold died.

A. 885. ^This year the fore-mentioned army divided it- self into two ; the one part went eastward, the other part

* The eclipse happened on the 14th of March, 880.

f The account of the death of Ethelwold bishop of Winchester, here inserted in MS. F., is anticipated a century by the carelessness of the scribe ; the name of his successor in the Latin puts this beyond all doubt. See A. 984.

t Asser omits the events of A. 884 of the Chronicle, and places those of 885 under that year. At any rate the foreign transactions are rightly so placed.

358 THE ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE. fA.D. 8S6.

to Rochester, and besieged the city, and wrought another fortress about themselves. And, notwithstanding this, the townsmen defended the city till king Alfred came out with his forces. Then went the army to their ships, and aban- doned their fortress ; and they were there deprived of tlieir horses, and soon after, in that same manner, departed over sea. And that same year king Alfred sent a fleet from Kent to East-Anglia. So soon as they came to the mouth of the Stour, there met them sixteen ships of pirates ; and they fought against them, and captured all the ships and killed the men. As they afterwards returned homeward with the booty, a large fleet of pirates met them, and then fought against them that same day, and the Danish-men had the victory. That same year, before mid-winter, *Charles king of the French died ; he was killed by a wild boar ; and one year before this, his brother f died : he too had the western kingdom : and they were both sons of Louis, who likewise had the western kingdom, and died that year when the sun was eclipsed: he was son of Charles j whose daughter Ethelwulf, king of the West- Saxons, had for his queen. And that same year a large fleet drew together against the Old Saxons ; and there was a great battle twice in that year, and the Saxons had the victory, and the Frisians were there with them. That same year Charles § succeeded to the wes- tern kingdom, and to all the kingdom on this side the Wen- del-sea [Tuscan Sea], and beyond this sea, in like manner as his great-grandfather had it, with the exception of the Lid-wiccas [Bretons]. Charles was Louis's son ; Louis was Charles's brother, who was father of Judith, whom king Ethelwulf had; and they were sons of Louis, Louis was son of the elder Charles, Charles was Pepin's son. And that same year died the good Pope Marinus, who, at the prayer of Alfred king of the West- Saxons, freed the Eng- lish school; and he sent him great gifts, and part of the rood on Avhich Christ suffered. And that same year the army in East-Anglia broke the peace with king Alfred.

A. 886. This year the army which before had drawn eastward, went westward again, and thence up the Seine, and there took up their winter quarters near the town of Paris. That same year king Alfred repaired London ; and

* Carloman. f Louis III. ^ The Bald. § The Fat.

.. D. 887-890.J THE ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE. 359

ill tlie English submitted to him, except those who were mder the bondage of the Danish-men; and then he com- nitted the town to the keeping of Ethered the ealdorman.

A. 887. Tliis year the army went up through the bridge it Paris, and thence up along the Seine as far as the IMarne, md thence up the Marne to Chezy, and then sat down, there, md on the Yonne, two winters in the two places. And that 3ame year Charles* king of the French died ; and six weeks before he died, Ai'nulf his brother's son bereaved him of the kingdom. And then was that kingdom divided into five, and five kings were consecrated thereto. This, however, was done by permission of Ai'nulf : and they said that they would hold it from his hand, because none of them on the father's side was born thereto except him alone. Ai'nulf then dwelt in the land east of the Rhine : and Eodulf then succeeded to the middle kingdom,f and Oda to the western part, and Beorngar and Witha| to the land of the Lombards and to the lands on that side of the mountain : and that they held in great discord, and fought two general battles, and oft and many times laid waste the land, and each repeatedly drove out the other. And that same year that the army went up beyond the bridge at Paris, Ethelhelm the ealdor- man § carried the ahns of the West- Saxons and of king Alfred to Rome.

A. 888. This year Beeke the ealdorman carried the alms of the West- Saxons and of king Alfred to Rome ; and queen Ethelswith, who was king Alfred's sister, died on the way to Rome, and her body lies at Pavia. And that same year Atheked archbishop of Canterbury, and Ethelwold the eal- dorman died in the same month.

A. 889. In this year there was no journey to Rome, ex- cept that king Alfred sent two couriers with letters.

A. 890. This year abbat Bernhelm carried the alms of the West-Saxons and of king Alfred to Rome. And Goth- run the Northern king died, Avhose baptismal name was Athelstan ; he was king Alfred's godson, and he abode in East-Anglia, and first settled that country. And that same year the army went from the Seine to St. Lo, which is be- tween Brittany and France ; and the Bretons fought against them, and had the victory, and drove them out into a river, • Tlie Fat. + Burgundy. t Guido. § Of Wilts.

360 THE AXGLO- SAXON CHRONICLE. [a.d. 891-894.

and drowned many of tliem. This year Plegmund was chosen of God and of all the people to be archbishop of Canterbury.

A. 891. This year the army went eastward; and king Arnulf, with the East-P>anks and Saxons and Bavarians, fought against that part which was mounted before the ships came up, and put them to flight. And three Scots came to king Alfred in a boat without any oars from Ireland, whence they had stolen away, because they desired for the love of God to be in a state of pilgrimage, they recked not where. The boat in which they came was made of two hides and a half ; and they took with them provisions sufiicient for seven days ; and then about the seventh day they came on shore in Cornwall, and soon after went to king Alfred. Thus they were named : Dubslane, and Macbeth, and Maelinmun. And Swinney, the best teacher among the Scots, died.

A. 892. And that same year after Easter, about Kogation week or before, the star appeared which in Latin is called cometa ; some men say in English that it is a hairy star, because a long radiance streams from it, sometimes on the one side, and sometimes on each side.

A. 893. In this year the great army, about wliich we for- merly spoke,* came again from the eastern kingdom westward to Boulogne, and there was shipped ; so that they came over in one passage, horses and all ; and they came to land at Limne-mouth with two hundred and fifty ships. This port is in the eastern part of Kent, at the east end of the great wood wliich we call Andred ; the wood is in length from east to west one hundred and twenty miles, or longer, and thirty miles broad : the river of which we before spoke flows out of the weald. On this river they towed up their ships as far as the weald, four miles from the outward harbour, and there stormed a fortress : within the fortress a few churls were stationed, and it was in part only constructed. Then soon after that Hasten with eighty ships landed at the mouth of the Thames, and wrought himself a fortress at Milton ; and the other army did the like at Appledore.

A. 894. In this year, that was about a twelve-month after these had wrought the fortress in the eastern district, the North-humbrians and the East-Angles had given oaths to ♦ See back at a.d. 891.

A.D. 894.] THE ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE. 361

king Alfred, and the East- Angles six hostages ; and never- theless, contrary to their plighted troth, as oft as the other armies went out with all their force, they also went out, either with them or on their own part. On' this king Alfred gathered together his forces, and proceeded until he en- camped between the two armies, as near as he could for the wood fastnesses, and for the water fastnesses, so that he might be able to reach either of them in case they should seek any open country. From this time the enemy always went out along the weald in bands and troops, by whichever border was at the time without forces : and they also were sought out by other bands, almost every day, either by day or night, as well from the king's force as also from the towns. The king had divided Ms forces into two, so that one half was constantly at home, the other half in the field ; besides those men whose duty it was to defend the towns. The army did not come out of their stations with their whole force oftener than twice : once when they first came to land, be- fore the forces were assembled ; a second time when they would go away from their stations. Then had they taken much booty, and would at that time go northward over the Thames into Essex towards their ships. Then the king's forces outrode and got before them, and fought against them at Farnham, and put the army to flight, and retook the booty ; and they fled over the Thames, where there was no ford ; then up along the Cohie into an island. Then the forces there beset them about so long as they there had any provisions : but at length they had stayed their term of ser- vice, and had consumed their provisions ; and the king was then on his way thitherwards with the division which warred under him. While he was on his way thither, and the other force was gone homewards, and the Danish-men remained there behind, because their king had been wounded in the battle, so that they could not carry him away, then those who dwell among the North-humbrians and among the East-Anglians gathered some hundred ships and went about south ; and some forty ships about to the north, and be- sieged a fortress in Devonshire by the north sea ; and those who went about to the south besieged Exeter. When the king heard that, then turned he westward towards Exeter with all his force, except a very strong body of the people

362 THE ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE. [a.d. 894.

eastward. These went onwards until they came to London ; and then with the townsmen, and the aid which came to them from the west, they went east to Bamtleet. Hasten was then come there with his band which before sat at Milton ; and the great army was also come thereto, which before sat at Appledore near Limne-mouth. The fortress at Bamfleet had been ere this constructed by Hasten, and he was at that time gone out to plunder ; and the great army was therein. Then came they thereto, and put the army to flight, and stormed the fortress, and took all that was within it, as well the property, as the women, and the children also, and brought the whole to London ; and all the ships they either broke in pieces or burned, or brought to London or to Rochester ; and they brought the wife of Hasten and his two sons to the king : and he afterwards gave them up to him again, because one of them was his godson, and the other Ethered, the ealdorman's. They had become their godfathers before Hasten came to Bamfleet, and at that time Hasten had delivered to him hostages and taken oaths : and the king had also given him many gifts ; and so like- wise when he gave up the youth and the woman. But as soon as they came to Bamfleet, and the fortress was con- structed, then plundered he that very part of the king's realm which was in the keeping of Ethered his compeer ; and again, this second time, he had gone out to plunder that very same district when his fortress was stormed. Now the king with his forces had turned westward towards Exeter, as I said before, and the army had beset the city ; but when he arrived there, then went they to their sliips. While the king was thus busied with the army there, in the west, and both the other armies had drawn together at Shoebury in Essex, and there had constructed a fortress, then both to- gether went up along the Thames, and a great addition came to them, as well from the East-Anglians as from the North-humbrians. They then went up along the Thames till they reached the Severn ; then up along the Severn. Then Ethered the ealdorman, and Ethelm the ealdorman, and Ethelnoth the ealdorman, and the king's thanes who were then at home in the fortified places, gathered forces from every town east of the Parret, and as well west as east of Seiwood, and also north of the Thames, and west of the

a.i). 895.] THE A]S^GLO-SAXON CHEOXICLE. 363

Severn, and also some part of tlie North-Welsh people. When they had all drawn together, then they came up with *he army at Buttington on the banks of the Severn, and there beset them about, on either side, in a fastness. When tliey had now sat there many weeks on both sides of the river, and the king was in the west in Devon, against the fleet, then were the enemy distressed for want of food ; and hav- ing eaten a great part of their horses, the others being starved ^vith hunger, then went they out against the men who were encamped on the east bank of the river, and fought against them : and the Christians had the victory. And Ordhelm a king's thane was there slain, and also many other king's thanes were slain ; and of the Danish-men there was very great slaughter made ; and that part which got away thence was saved by flight. When they had come into Essex to their fortress and to their ships, then the survivors again gathered a great army from among the East- Angles and the North-humbrians before winter, and committed their wives and their sliips and their wealth to the East- Angles, and went at one stretch, day and night, until they amved at a western city in Wirall, wliich is called Lega-ceaster [Chester]. Then were the forces unable to come up with them before they were within the fortress : nevertheless they beset the fortress about for some two days, and took all the cattle that was there without, and slew the men whom they Avere able to overtake without the fortress, and burned all the corn, and with their horses ate it every evening. And this was about a twelve-month after they first came hither over sea.

A. 895. And then soon after that, in this year, the army from Wirall went among the North- Welsh, for they were unable to stay there : this was because they had been de- prived both of the cattle and of the com which they had plundered. When they had turned again out of North- Wales, with the booty which they had there taken, then went they over Northumberland and East-Angha, in such wise that the forces could not overtake them before they came to the eastern parts of the land of Essex, to an island that is out on the sea, wliich is called Mersey. And as the army wliich had beset Exeter again turned homewards, then spoiled they the South-Saxons near Chichester ; and

<564 THE ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE. [a.d. 896, 897.

the townsmen put them to flight, and slew many hundreds of them, and took some of their ships. Then that same year, before winter, the Danish-men who had sat down in Mersey, towed their ships up the Thames, and thence up the Lea. Tliis was about two years after they had come hither over sea.

A. 896. In that same year the fore-mentioned army con- structed a fortress on the Lea, twenty miles above London. After this, in summer, a great body of the townsmen, and also of other people, went onwards until they arrived at tlie Danish fortress ; and there they were put to flight, and some four king's thanes were slain. Then after this, during harvest, the king encamped near to the town, while the people reaped the corn, so that the Danish-men might not deprive them of the crop. Then on a certain day the king rode up along the river, and observed where the river might be obstructed, so that they would be unable to bring out their ships. And they tlien did thus : they constructed two fortresses on the two sides of the river. When they had already begun the work, and had encamped before it, then perceived the army that they should not be able to bring out their ships. They then abandoned them, and went across the country till they arrived at Bridgenorth by the Severn ; and there they constructed a fortress. Then the forces rode westwards after the army : and the men of London took possession of the ships ; but all which they could not bring away, they broke up, and those which were worthy of capture they brought to London : moreover the Danish-men had committed their wives to the keeping of the East- Angles before they went out from their fortress. Then sat they down for the winter at Bridgenorth. This was about three years after they had come hither over sea to Limne-mouth.

A. 897. After this, in the summer of this year, the army broke up, some for East-Anglia, some for North-humbria ; and they who were moneyless procured themselves ships there, and went southwards over sea to the Seine. Thanks be to God, the army had not utterly broken down the Eng- lish nation ; but during the three years it was much more broken down by the mortality among cattle and among men, and most of all by this, that many of the most eminent

A.D. 897.] THE A:NGL0-SAX0N CHRONICLE. 365

king's thanes in tlie land died during the three years ; some of whom were, Swithulf, bishop of Rochester, and Ceol- mund, ealdorman of Kent, and Bertulf, ealdorman of Essex, and Wulfred, ealdorman of Hampshire, and Eal- hard, bishop of Dorchester, and Eadulf, the king's thane in Sussex, and Bernwulf, the governor of Winchester, and Eadulf, the Idng's horse-thane, and many also besides these, though I have named the most distinguished. That same year the armies from among the East-Anglians and from among the North-humbrians harassed the land of the West- Saxons, chiefly on the south coast, by pr£edatory bands ; most of all by their esks, which they had built many years before. Then king Alfred commanded long ships to be built to oppose the esks ; they were full-nigh twice as long as the others ; some had sixty oars, and some had more ; they were both swifter and steadier, and also higher than the others. They were shapen neither like the Frisian nor the Danish, but so as it seemed to him they would be most efficient. Then some time in the same year, there came six ships to the Isle of Wight, and there did much harm, as well as in Devon, and elsewhere on the sea-coast. Then the king commanded nine of the new ships to go thither, and they obstructed their passage from the port towards the outer sea. Then went they with three of their ships out against them ; and three lay in the upper part of the port in the dry ; for the men were gone ashore. Then took they two of the three ships at the outer part of the port, and killed the men, and the other ship escaped ; in that also the men were killed ex- cept five: they got away because the other ships were aground. They also were aground very disadvantageously : three lay aground on that side of the deep on which the Danish ships were aground, and all the rest upon the other side, so that no one of them could get to the otliers. But when the water had ebbed many furlongs from the sliips, then the Danish-men went from their three ships to the other three which were left by the tide on their side, and then they there fought against them. There was slain Lu- cumon, the king's reeve, and Wulfheard, the Frisian and Ebb, the Frisian, and Ethelere, the Frisian, and Lthelterth, the king's neat-herd, and of all the men, Frisians and Eng- lish, seventy-two ; and of the Danish-men, one hundred and

366 THE ANGLO-SAXON CITRONICLE. [ad- 893—001.

twenty. Then, however, the flood-tide came to the Danish ships before the Christians coukl shove theirs off, and they therefore rowed them out : nevertheless, they were damaged to such a degree that they could not row round the Sussex land ; and there the sea cast two of them on shore, and the men were led to the king at Winchester ; and he commanded them to be there hanged : and the men who were in the single ship came to East-Anglia, sorely wounded. That same summer no less than twenty ships, with their crews, wholly perished upon the south coast. That same year died Wulfi-ic, the king's horse-thane ; he was also " Wealh- reeve."

A. 898. In this year died Ethelm, ealdorman of Wiltshire, nine days before midsummer ; and this year died Elstan, who was bishop of London.

A. 899. 9(X).

A. 901. This year died Alfred, the son of Ethelwulf, six days before the mass of All Saints. lie was king over the whole English nation, except that part which was under the do- minion of the Danes ; and he held the kingdom one year and a half less than thirty years. And then Edward his .son succeeded to the kingdom. Then Ethelwald, the ethe- ling, his uncle's son, seized the castle at Wim])orne* and that at Twineham,"!" without leave of the king and of his "witan.'* Then rode the king with his forces until he encamped at Badbury, near Wimborne ; and Ethelwald sat within the vill. with the men wlio had submitted to him ; and he had obstructed all the approaches towards him, and said that he would do one of two things — or there live, or there lie. But notmthstanding that, he stole away by night, and sought the army in Korth-humbria ; and they received him for their king, and became obedient to him. And the king commanded that he should be ridden after ; but they were unable to overtake him. They then beset the woman whom he had before taken, without the king's leave, and against the bishop's command ; for she had previously been conse- crated a nun. And in this same year Ethelred, who was ealdorman of Devonshire, died, four weeks before Idng Alfred.

* Dorsetshire.

f Christchurch, New Forest division of Southampton.

A.D 902-90G.] THE A^^GLO-SAXON CI^RO^^ICLE. 367

A. 902. And that same year was the battle at the Hohne, between the Kentish-men and the Danish-men.

A. 902. This year Elswitha died.

A. 903. This year died Athulf, the ealdorman, brother of Elswitha, king Edward's mother ; and VirgiUus, abbat of the Scots ; and Grimbald,the mass-priest, on the 8th before the Ides of July. And this same year was the consecration of the New-minster at Winchester, and St. Judoc's advent.

A. 904. This year Ethelwald came hither over sea with the ships that he was able to gel, and he was submitted to in Essex. This year the moon was eclipsed.

A. 905. This year Ethelwald enticed the army in East- Anglia to break the peace, so that they ravaged over all the land of Mercia until they came to Cricklade, and there they went over the Thames, and took, as well in Bradon as thereabout, all that they could lay hands on, and then turned homewards again. Then king Edward went after them, as speedily as he could gather his forces, and overran all their land between the dikes and the Ouse, all as far north as the Tens. When, after this, he would return thence, then 3ommanded he it to be proclaimed through his whole force, that they should all return together. Then the Kentish-men -emained there behind, notwithstanding his orders, and jeven messengers whom he had sent to them. Then the irmy there came up to them, and there fought them : and ;here Siwulf the ealdorman, and Sigehn the ealdorman, and Eadwold the king's thane, and Kenwulf the abbat, and Bigebright son of Siwulf, and Eadwold son of Acca, were ilain, and likewise many with them, though I have named :he most distinguished. And on the Danish side were slain Sohric their king, and Ethelwald the ethehng, who had .nticed him to bi^ak the peace, and Byrtsige son of Brith- loth theetheling, and Ysopk the 'hold' [governor?], and Os- ijtel the hold, and very many with them, whom we are now mable to name. And there was great slaughter made on iither hand ; and of the Danish-men there were more slam, hough they had possession of the place of carnage. And ^Ihswitha died that same year. This year a comet appeared .n the thirteenth before the Kalends of November.

A. 906. In this year died Alfred, who was governor ot

368 THE ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE. [a. d. 906-931.

Bath. And in the same year peace was concluded at Ilitch- ingford, even as king Edward ordained, as well with the East- Angles as with the North-humbrians.

A. 906. This year king Edward, from necessity, concluded a peace both with the army of East-Anglia and of North-humbria.

A. 907. This year Chester was repaired.

A. 908. This year died Denewulf, who was bishop at Winchester.

A. 909. This year St. Oswald's body was removed from Bardney into Mercia.

A. 910. Tliis year Frithstan succeeded to the bishopric at Winchester : and, after that, bishop Asser died ; he was bishop at Sherborne. And that same year king Edward sent out a force both of West- Saxons and of Mercians, and they greatly spoiled the army of the north, as well of men as of every kind of cattle, and slew many of the Danish-men : and they were therein five weeks. In this year the Angles and tlie Danes fought at Tootenhall on the eighth before the Ides of August, and the Angles obtained the victory. And that same year Ethelfled built the fortress at Bramsbury.

A. 910. This year the army of the Angles and of the Danes fought at Tootenhall. And Ethelred ealdor of the Mercians died ; and king Edward took possession of London, and of Oxford, and of all the lands which owed obedience thereto. And a great fleet came hither from the south, from the Lidwiccas, [Brittany,] and greatly ravaged by the Severn ; but they there, afterwards, almost all perished.

A. 911. This year the army among the North-humbrians broke the peace, and despised whatever peace king Edward and his 'witan' offered them, and overran the land of Mercia. And the king had gathered together some hundred ships, and was then in Kent, and the ships went south-east along the sea-coast towards liim. Then thought the army that the i reatest part of his force was in the ships, and that they should be able to go, unfought, wheresoever they chose. When the king learned that, that they were gone out to plunder, then sent he his forces after them, both of the West- Saxons and of the Mercians ; and they overtook the army as they were on their way homewards, and then fought against them, and put them to flight, and slew many thousands of them ; and there were slain king Ec^vdls, and king Halfdene and Oliter the earl, and Scurf the earl, and Othulf the hold.

A. D. 911-916.] THE ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE. 369

and Benesing the hold, and Anlaf the black, and Thurferth the hold, and Osferth the collector and Guthferth the hold, and Agmund the hold, and Guthferth.

A. 911. Then the next year after this died Ethehed lord of the Mercians.

A. 912. This year died Ethered ealdorman of the Mercians ; and king Edward took possession of London and of Oxford, and of all the lands which owed obedience thereto. This year Ethelfled lady of the Mercians came to Scaergate on the holy eve, ' Livention of the Holy Cross,' and there built the fortress ; and the same year, that at Bridgenorth.

A. 913. In tliis year, about Martinmas,* king Edward commanded the northern fortress to be built at Hertford, between the Memer, the Benewic, and the Lea. And then after that, during the summer, between Kogation-days and midsummer, king Edward went wdth some of his forces to Maldon in Essex, and there encamped, wliilst the fortress at Witham was -wrought and built ; and a good part of the people who were before under the dominion of the Danish- men submitted to him : and in the meanwhile some part of his force constructed the fortress at Hertford, on the south side of the Lea. This year, by the help of God, Ethelfled lady of the Mercians went with all the Mercians to Tamworth,, and there built the fortress early in the summer ; and after this before Lammas, that at Stafford.

A. 914. Then after this, in the next year, that at Eddesbury, early in the summer ; and afterwards, in the same year, late in harvest, that at War^vick.

A. 915. Then after this, in the next year, after mid- winter, that at Cherburg, and that at Warburton ; and that same year, before mid-winter, that at Runcorn.

A. 915. This year was Warwick built.

A. 916. This year abbat Egbert was guiltlessly slain, be- fore midsummer, on the sixteenth before the Kalends of July : the same day was the feast of the martyr St. Ciricius and his fellows. And about three days after this, Ethelfled sent her forces among the Welsh, and stormed Brecknock,

♦ Florence of Worcester seems to understand this as relating to the festival of St. Martin of Tours, 1 1 Nov. and places Maldon, &c. as well as the events of 917 of the text, under the year 914.

B B

370 THE ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE. U-o. 917. 91$.

and there took the king's wife, and some four and thirty persons.

A. 917. In this year, after Easter, the army rode forth from Northampton and Leicester, and broke the peace, and slew many men at Hockerton, and there about. And then very speedily after that, when the one came home, then they got ready another troop which rode out against Leighton : and then the inhabitants were aware of them, and fought against them, and put them to full flight, and retook all wliich they had seized, and also a great portion of their horses and of their weapons. This year, before Lammas, Ethelfled, lady of the Mercians, God helping her, got possession of the fortress which is called Derby, with all tliat owed obedience thereto ; and there also were slain, Avithin the gates, four of her thanesr which to her was a cause of sorrow.

A. 918. This year, in the early part of the year, by God's help, she got into her power, by treaty, the fortress at Leicester, and the greater part of the army which owed obedience thereto became subject to her ; and the people of York had also covenanted ^vith her, some having given a pledge, and some having bound themselves by oath, that they would be at her command. In this year a great fleet came over hither from the south, from the Lidwiccas, [Brittany,] and with it two earls, Ohtor and Rhoald : and they went west about till they arrived within the mouth of the Severn, and they spoiled the North- Welsh everywhere by the sea-coast where they then pleased. And in Archenfield they took bishop* Cameleac, and led him with them to their ships ; and then king Edward ransomed him afterwards with forty pounds. Then after that, the whole army landed, and would have gone once more to plunder about Archenfield. Then met them the men of Hereford and of Gloucester, and of the nearest towns, and fought against them and put them to flight, and slew the earl Rhoald, and a brother of Ohter the other earl, and many of the army, and drove them into an inclosure, and there beset them about, until they delivered hostages to them that they would depart from king Edward's dominion. And the king had so ordered it that his forces sat down against them on the south side of Severn -mouth, from the Welsh coast westward, to the mouth of the Avon eastward ; so that on * Of Llandaif.

A.D.918— 921.] THE ANGLO-SAXON CHKONICLE. 371

that side they durst not anjavhere attempt the land. Then, nevertheless, they stole away by night on some two occasions ; once, to the east of Watchet, and another time to Porlock. But they were beaten on either occasion, so that few of them got away, except those alone who there swam out to the ships. And then they sat down, out on the island of Bradan- relice, [Flat-holms,] until such time as they were quite desti- tute of food ; and many men died of hunger, because they could not obtain any food. Then they went thence to Deo- mod, [S. Wales,] and then out to Ireland : and this was during harvest. And then after that, in the same year, before Martinmas, king Edward went with his forces to Buckingham, and there sat down four weeks; and, ere he went thence, he erected both the forts on either side of the river. And Thurk}^el the earl sought to him to be his lord, and all the captains, and almost all the chief men who owed obedience to Bedford, and also many of those who owed obedience to Northampton.

A. 918. But very shortly after they had become so, she died at Tam- worth, twelve days 'before midsummer, the eighth year of her having rule and right lordship over the Mercians ; and her body lies at Gloucester, within the east porch of St. Peter's church. [See end of a.d. 922.]

A. 918. This year died Etheifled the lady of the Mercians.

A. 919. In this year, before Martinmas, king Edward went wdth his forces to Bedford, and gained the town ; and almost all the toAvnsmen who formerly dwelt there submitted to him : and he sat down there four weeks, and commanded the town to be built on the south side of the river before he went thence.

A. 919. This rear also the daughter of Ethelred, lord of the :Mercians, was deprived of all dominion over'^the Mercians, and carried into Wessex, three weeks before mid-winter : she was called Elfwiua.

A. 920. In this year, before midsummer, king Edward went to Maldon, and built the town, and fortified it before he departed thence. And that same year Thurkytel the earl went over sea into France, together with such men as would follow him, with the peace and aid of king Edward.

A. 921. In this year, before Easter, king Edward gave orders to take possession of the town at Towcester, and to fortify it. And again, after that, in the same year, durmg Rogation days, he commanded the town at Wigmore to

B B 2

372 THE ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE. [a. d. 921.

be built. That same summer, between Lammas and mid- summer, tiie army from Northampton and from Leicester, and thence north, broke the peace, and went to Towcester, and fought against the town the whole day ; and they thought that they should be able to take it by storm. But, nevejrthe- less, the people who were within defended it until a larger force came to them : and then they departed from the town and went away. Then, again very soon after that, they went out once more by night with a predatory band, and came upon men who were unprepared, and took no small number as well of men as of cattle between Burnham wood and Ayles- bury. At that same time went out the army from Hunting- don and from the East- Angles, and constructed the fortress at Tempsford, and abode, and built there ; and forsook the other at Huntingdon, and thought that from thence they could, by warfare and hostility, get more of the land again. And they went forth until they arrived at Bedford : and then the men who were there within went out against them, and fought with them and put them to flight, and slew a good part of them. Then again, after that, a large army once more drew together from East-Anglia and from Mercia, •and went to the town at Wigmore, and beset it round about, and fought against it the greater part of the day, and took the cattle thereabout. And nevertheless, the men who were within the town defended it ; and then the army left the town and went away. Then, after tliat, in the same summer, much people, within king Edward's dominion, drew together out of the nearest towms, who could go thither, and went to Tempsford, and beset the town, and fought against it till they took it by storm, and slew the Iduir. Jind Toglos the earl, and Mann the earl, his son, and his brother, and all those who were there within and would de- fend themselves; and took the others, and all that was therein. Then, very soon after this, much people di-ew together during harvest, as well from Kent as from Surrey and from Essex, and from each of the nearest towns, and went to Colchester, and beset the town, and fought against it until they mastered it, and slew all the people there within, and took all that was there, except the men who fled away over the wall. Then after that, once again during the same harvest, a large army drew together out of East-Anglia,

A.D. 922.J THE ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE. 373

as well of the land-force as of the pirates whom they had en- ticed to their aid ; and they thought that they should be able to avenge their wrongs. And they went to Maldon, and beset the town, and fought against it until more aid came to the help of the townsmen from -vWthout ; and then the army left the town and went away. And then the men from the town went out after them, and those also who came from without to their aid ; and they put the army to flight, and slew many hundreds of them, as well of the pirates as of the others. Then, very shortly after, during the same harvest, king Edward went with the forces of the West- Saxons to Passoham, and sat down there while they encom- passed the town at Towcester with a stone wall. And Thur- .fertli the earl, and the captains, and all the army which owed ■obedience to Northampton, as far north as the Welland, sub- mitted to him, and sought to him to be their lord and pro- tector. And when one division of the forces went home, then another went out, and took possession of the town of Huntingdon, and repaired and rebuilt it, by command of king Edward, where it had been previously demoKshed ; and all who were left of the inhabitants of that country submitted to king Edward, and sought his peace and his protection. And after this, still in the same year, before Martinmas, king Edward went with the forces of the West- Saxons to Col- chester, and repaired the to^vn, and rebuilt it where it had been before broken down; and much people submitted to him, as well among the East-Anghans as among the East Saxons, who before were under the dominion of the Danes. And all the army among the East-Anglians swore union with him, that they would all that he would, and would observe peace towards all to which the king should grant his peace, both by sea and by land. And the army which owed obedience to Cambridge chose liim specially to be their lord and protector ; and confirmed it with oaths, even as he then decreed it. Tiiis year king Edward built the town at Gladmouth. This year king Sihtric slew Neil his brother.

A. 922. In this year, between Rogation days and mid- summer, king Edward went with liis forces to Stamford, and commanded the town to be built upon the south side of the river: and all the people which owed obedience to the northern town submitted to him, and sought to liim to be

374 THE ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE. [a.d. 023—925.

their lord. And then, during the sojourn which he there made, Ethelfled his sister died there, at Tamworth, twelve days before midsummer. And then he took possession of the town at Tamworth; and all the people of the land of Mercia, who before were subject to Ethelfled, submitted to him ; and the kings of the North-Welsh, Howel, and Cle- dauc, and Jothwel, and all the North-Welsh race, sought to him to be their lord. Then went he thence to Nottingham and took possession of the town, and commanded it to be repaired and occupied as well by English as by Danes. And all the people who were settled in Mercia, as well Dan- ish as English, submitted to him.

A. 923. In this year, after harvest, king Edward went with his forces to Thelwall, and commanded the town to be built, and occupied, and manned ; and commanded another force also of ^Mercians, the while that he sat there, to take possession of Manchester in North-humbria, and repair and man it. This year died archbishop Plegmund. This year king Reginald won York.

A. 924. In this year, before midsummer, king Edward went with his forces to Nottingham, and commanded the town to be built on the south side of the river, over against the other, and the bridge over the Trent, between the two towns: and then he went thence into Peakland, to Bake- well, and commanded a town to be built nigh thereunto, and manned. And then chose him for father and for lord, the king of the Scots and the wliole nation of the Scots, and Reginald and the son of Eadulf and all those who dwell in North-humbria, as well English as Danes, and North-men and others, and also the king of the Strath-clyde Britons, and all the Strath-clyde Britons.

A. 924. This year Edward was chosen for fother and for lord by the king of the Scote, and by the Scots, and king Reginald, and by all the North-humbrians, and also the king of the Strath-clyde Britons, and by all the Strath-clyde Britons.

A. 92-i. This year king Edward died among the Mercians at Famdon; and very shortly, about sixteen days after this, Elward his son died at (Oxford; and their bodies lie at Winchester. And Athelstan was chosen king by the Mercians, and consecrated at Kingston. And he gave his sister to Ofsse [Otho], son of the king of the Old-Saxons.

A. 925. This year king Edward died, and Athelstan his son succeeded to the kingdom. And St. Dunstan was born :

A.D. 924-937.] THE Als^GLO-SAXON CHRONICLE. 375

and Wulf helm succeeded to the archbishopric of Canterbury. This year king Athelstan and Sihtric king of the North- humbrians came tog-ther at Tamworth, on the 3d before the Kalends of February ; and Athelstan gave him his sister.

A. 925. This year Bishop Wulfhelm was consecrated. And that same year king Edward died.

A. 926. This year fiery lights appeared in the north part of the heavens. And Sihtric perished: and king Athel- stan obtained the kingdom of the North-humbrians. And he ruled ail the kings who were in this island : first, Howel king of the West- Welsh ; and Constantine king of the Scots ; and Owen king of the Monmouth people ; and Aldi'ed, son of Ealdulf, of Bambrough: and they confinned the peace by pledge, and by oaths, at the place which is called Eamot, on the 4th before the Ides of July ; and they renounced all idolatry, and after that submitted to him in peace.

A. 927. This year Idng Athelstan expelled king Guth- frith. And this year Archbishop Wulfhelm went to Rome.

A. 928. William succeeded to Normandy, and held it fifteen years.

A. 929. 930.

A. 931. This year Brinstan was ordained bishop of Win- chester on the 4th before the Kalends of June ; and he held the bishopric two years and a half.

A. 931. This year died Frithstan bishop of Winchester, and Brinstan was blessed in his place.

A. 932. This year died bishop Frithstan.

A. 933. This year Edwin the etheling was drowned at sea. This year king Athelstan went into Scotland, as well with a land army as Avith a fleet, and ravaged a great part of it. And bishop Brinstan died at Winchester on the feast of A 11- Hallows.

A. 934. This year bishop Elphege succeeded to the bishopric of AVinchester.

A. 935. 936.

A. 937.

Here Athelstan, king,

of earls the lord,

of heroes the bracelet-giver,

and his brother eke, Edmund etheling, life-long-glory

376

THE ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE.

[a.d. 937.

in battle won

with edges of swords

near Brumby.

The board-walls thej clove,

thej hewed the war-lindens,

Hamora lafan' offspring of Edward, such was their noble nature from their ancestors, that they in battle oft 'gainst every foe the land defended, hoards and homes. The foe they crushed, the Scottish people and the shipmen fated feU.

The field 'dgeniede' with warriors' blood, since the sun up at morning-tide, mighty planet, glided o'er grounds, God's candle bright, the eternal Lord's, till the noble creature sank to her settle. There lay many a warrior by javelins strewed; northern man over shield shot ; so the Scots eke, weary, war-sad. West- Saxons onwards throughout the day, in bands,

pursued the footsteps of the loathed nations. They hewed the fugitives behind, amain, with swords mill-sharp.

Mercians refused not the hard hand-play to any heroes who with Aulaf, over the ocean, in the ship's bosom, this land sought fated to the fight. Five lay

on the battle-stead, youthful kings, by swords in slumber laid : so seven eke of Anlaf 's earls ; of the army countless, shipmen and Scots. There was made flee the North-men's chieftain, by need constrained, to the ship's prow with a little band. The bark drove afloat : the king departed on the fallow flood, his life preserved. So there eke the sage came by flight to his country north, Constantine, hoary warrior. He had no cause to exult in the communion of swords. Here was his kindred band of friends o'erthrown on the folk-stead, in battle slain ; and his son he left on the slaughter-place, mangled with wounds, young in the fight : I he had no cause to boast.

».D. 937-941.]

THE ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE.

377

hero grizzly-haired,

of the bill-clastdng,

the old deceiver ;

Qor Anlaf the moor, [mies ;

with, the remnant of their ar-

thej had no cause to laugh

that they in war's works

Lhe better men were

in the battle-stead,

it the conflict of banners,

meeting of spears,

concourse of men,

traffic of weapons ; [field

that they on the slaughter-

with Edward's

offspring played.

The North-men departed in their nailed barks ; bloody relic of darts, on roaring ocean o'er the deep water Dublin to seek, again Ireland, shamed in mind.

So too the brothers, both together, king and etheling, their country sought. West- Saxons' land.

in the war exulting. They left behind them, the corse to devour, the sallowy kite and the swarthy raven Avith horned nib, and the dusky ' pada,' erne white-tailed, the corse to enjoy, greedy war-hawk, and the grey beast, wolf of the wood. Carnage greater has not been in this island ever yet of people slain, before this, by edges of swords, as books us say, old writers,

since from the east hither, Angles and Saxons came to land, o'er the broad seas. Britain sought, mighty war-smiths, the Welsh o'ercame, earls most bold, this earth obtained. A. 937. This vear king Athelstan and Edmund his brother led a force to Brumby, and there fought against Anlaf; and, Christ helpmg, had the victory: and they there slew live kings and seven earls.

A. 938. 939.

A. 940. This year king Athelstan died at Gloucester on the 6th before the Kalends of November, about forty-one years, except one day, after king Alfred died. And Edmund the etheUng, his brother, succeeded to the kingdom, and he was then eighteen years of age : and king Athelstan reigned fourteen years and ten weeks. Then was Wulf helm arch- bishop in Kent.

A. 941. This year ibe North-humbrians were ialse to

378

THE A2sGL0-SAX0N CHROXICLE.

[A.D. 942—945.

their plighted troth, and chose Aiilaf of Ireland to be their

king.

Here Edmund king, ruler of Angles, protector of men, Mercia obtained, dear deed- doer, as the Dor flows, course of the white-well, and Humber's river, broad sea-stream. Five towns, Leicester, and Lincoln, and Nottinsrham,

so Stamford eke,

and Derby, i to Danes were erewhile, i under North-men,

by need constrained,

of heathen men

in captive chains,

a long time ;

until again redeemed them,

for his Avorthiness,

the bulwark of warriors,

offspring of Edward,

Edmund kinor.

A. 941. This year king Edmund received king Anlaf at baptism ; and that same year, a good long space after, he received king Reginald at the bishop's hands.

A. 942. Tliis year king * Anlaf died.

A. 943. This year Anlaf stormed Tamworth, and great carnage was on either hand ; and the Danes had the victory, and much booty they led away with them : there during the pillage was Wulfrun taken. This year king Edmund be- sieged king Anlaf and archbishop Wulfstan in Leicester ; and he would have taken them, were it not that they broke out by night from the town. And, after that, Anlaf acquired king Edmund's friendship ; and king Edmund then re- ceived king Anlaf at baptism, and he royally gifted him. And that same year, after a good long time, he received king Reginald at the bishop's hands. Tliis year king I^dmund delivered Glastonbury to St. Dunstan, where he afterwards became the first abbat.

A. 944. This year king Edmund subdued all Northum- berland under liis poAver, and expelled two kings, Anlaf, son of Sihtric, and Reginald, son of Guthferth.

A. 945. This year king Edmund ravaged all Cumber- land, and granted it all to Malcolm king of -the Scots, on the

* See Hen. Huntingdon and Simeon of Durham. A. 941. There were several chiefs of that name at this period : Anlaf the son of Guthferth, Anlaf the son of Silitric, and Anlaf Cuaran, mentioned A. 949.

.D. 946—954.] THE A^S'GLO-SAXON CHRONICLE. 379

ondition, that lie should be his fellow-worker as- well by sea s by land.

A. 946. This year king Edmund died on St. Augustine's lass-day. That was widely known how he his days ended : hat Leofa stabbed him at Puckle-church. And Aelfleda t Damerham, Elgar's daughter, the ealdorman, was then is queen : and he had the kingdom six years and a half, md then after him his brother Edred the etheling suc- eeded to the kingdom, and subdued all Northumberland nder his power : and the Scots gave him oaths, that they i^ould all that he would.

A. 947. Tills year king Edred came to Tadden's-cliff, nd there Wulfstan the archbishop and all the North-hum- •rian " witan " plighted their troth to the king : and "v\atliin . little while they belied it all, both pledge and also oaths.

A. 948. This year king Edred ravaged all Northum- •erland, because they had taken Eric to be their king : and hen, during the pillage, was the great minster burned at iipon that St. Wilfrid built. And as the king went lomewards, then the army of York overtook him : the rear 'f the king's forces was at Chesterford ; and there they aade great slaughter. Then was the king so -^Toth that he rould have marched his forces in again and wholly destroyed he land. When the North-humbrian "witan" understood hat, then forsook they Eric, and made compensation for he deed with king Edred.

A. 949. This year Anlaf Curran came to Northumber- and.

A. 950.

A. 951. This year died Elphege bishop of Winchester, on >t. Gregory's mass-day. This same blessed St. Dunstan. . . .

A. 952. In this year king Edred commanded archbishop Vulfstan to be brought into the fastness at Jedburgh, •ecause he had been oft accused to the king : and in this ear also the king commanded great slaughter to be made in he town of Thetford, in revenge of the abbat Edelm, whom hey had before slain. This year the North-humbrians ex- •elled king Anlaf, and received Eric, Harold's son.

A. 953.

A. 954. This year the iSTorth-humbrians expelled Eric, nd Edi-ed obtained the kingdom of the North-humbrians.

380

THE ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE.

[A.D. 955— 958t

This year archbishop Wulfstan again obtained a bishopric at Dorchester.

A. 955. This year died king Edred on St. Clement's mass-day, at Frome, and lie rests in tlie Old-minster [Win- chester] ; and he reigned nine years and a half. And then Edwy succeeded to the kingdom, king Edmund's and St. Elfgiva's son. And he banished St. Dunstan out of the land.

A. 955. And Edwy succeeded to the kingdom of the West- Saxons, and Edgar his brother succeeded to the kingdom of the Mercians : and they were the sons of King Edmund and of S. Elfgiva.

A. 9.56.

A. 957. This year died Wulfstan archbishop of York, on the 17th before the Kalends of January, and he was buried at Oundle. And in the same year abbat Dunstan was driven away over sea. This year Edgar the etheling succeeded to the kingdom of the Mercians.

A. 958. In this year archbishop Odo* separated king Edwy and Elfgiva, because they were too nearly related. This year died king Edwy on the Kalends of October ; and Edgar his brother succeeded to the kingdom, as well of the West- Saxons as of the Mercians, and of the North-hum- brians ; and he was then sixteen years of age.

In his days

it prospered well,

and God him granted

that he dwelt in peace

the while that he lived ;

and he did as behoved him,

diligently he earned it.

He upreared God's glory wide,

and loved God's law,

and bettered the public peace,

most of the kings

who were before him

in man's memory.

And God him eke so helped,

that kings and earls

gladly to him bowed,

and were submissive

to that that he willed ;

and without war

he ruled all

that himself would.

He was -wade

throughout nations

greatly honoured,

because he honoured

God's name earnestly,

and God's law pondered

much and oft,

and God's glory reared

wide and far,

and wisely counselled,

most oft, and ever,

for God and for the world,

of all his people.

Of Canterbury.

3. 959—963.] THE AJf GLO-SAXON CHRONICLE. 38 J

and harmful people allured to this land. But God grant him that his good deeds be more avaihng than his misdeeds, for his soul's protection on the longsome course.

ne misdeed he did 1 too much i.at he foreign ces loved,

id heathen customs ithin this land 'ought too oft, id outlandish men ther enticed,

A. 959. This year Edgar sent after St. Dunstan, and i\e him the bishopric at Worcester ; and afterwards the shopric at London.

A. 960.

A. 961. This year departed Odo the Good, archbishop ; id St. Dunstan succeeded to the archbishopric.

A. 962. This year died Elfgar, the king's kinsman, in Devonshire, and his body rests at Wilton. And king Sif- ;rth killed himself, and his body lies at Wimborne. And len, within the year, there wds a great mortality, and the reat fever was in London ; and Paul's minster was burnt, rid that same year was again built up. In this same year -thelmod the mass-priest went to Rome, and there died, on le 18th before the Kalends of September.

A. 963. This year died Wulfstan the deacon, on Childer- lass-day, and after that died Gyric the mass-priest. In this ime year abbat Ethelwold* succeeded to the bishopric at V^inchester, and he was consecrated on the vigil of St. .ndrew : it was Sunday that day. In the year after he was Dnsecrated, then made he many minsters, and drove the lerks out of the bishopric, because they would not observe ny rule, and he set monks there. He made there two abba- ies ; one of monks, one of nuns ; all which was within Winchester. Afterwards, then came he to the king, Edgar, ad begged of him that he would give him all the minsters ^hich heathen men had formerly broken down, because he ^ould restore them : and the king cheerfully granted it. And len the bishop came first to Ely, where St. Etheldrida lies, nd caused the minster to be made : then he gave it to one f his monks, who was named Britnoth. He then conse- rated him abbat, and there set monks to serve God where * Of Abingdon.

382 THE ANGL0-5A.X0N CHRONICLE. [a.d. 9»

previously had been nuns : lie bought then manj village: of the king, and made it very rich. After that came bishoj Ethelwold to the minster which was called Medeshamstede which formeriy had been destroyed by heathen men : h( found nothing there but old walls and wild woods. Then found he, liidden in the old walls, writings that abba Hedda had erewhile written, how king Wulfhere anc Ethelred his brother had built it, and how they had freed ii against king and against bishop, and against all secular ser- vices, and how the pope Agatho had confirmed the same bj his rescript, and the archl3ishop Deus-dedit. Then causec he the minster to be built ; and set there an abbat, who waj called Adulf, and caused monks to be there where befort was nothing. Then came he to the king, and caused him to look at the -^Tntings which before were found ; and the king answered then and said :

" I, Edgar, grant and give to-day, before God and before the archbishop Dunstan, freedom to St. Peter's minster Medeshamstede, from king and from bishop : and all the villages which lie thereto ; that is to say, Eastfield, anc Dodthorp, and Eye, and Paston. And thus I free it, thai no bishop have there any command, without the abbat of the minster. And I give the town which is called Oundle, %ritl- all which thereto lieth, that is to say, that which is callec *the Eight-hundreds,' and market and toll, so freely, thai neither king, nor bishop, nor earl, nor sheriff, have there any command, nor any man except the abbat alone, and hin whom he thereto appointeth. And I give to Christ and St Peter, and through the prayer of bishop Ethelwold, these lands ; that is to say, Barro, WaiTnington, Ashton, Ketter- ing, Castor, Eylesworth, Walton, Witherington, Eye, Thorp and one moneyer in Stamford. These lands, and all th( others that belong to the minster, them declare I free : thai is, with sack and sock, toll and team, and infangthief ; thes( rights, and all others, them declare I the shire of Christ and St Peter. And I give the two parts of TThittlesey-mere, vnth the waters and with the wears and fens, and so through Meer- lade straight to the water which is called Nen, and so east- ward to King's-delf. And I "^-ill that a market be in the same town, and that no other be between Stamford and Hun- tingdon. And I will that the toll be thus given : first, froii

.D. 363.] THE A^-GLO-SAXON CHnONICLE. 383

.Vhittlesev-mere all as far as the kinor's toll of Norman-cross- lundred, and then back again from Whittlesev-mere, through rieerlade, straight to the Xen, and so as the water runneth 3 Crowland; and from Crowland to Must, and from ISIust D King's-delf, and to Whittlesey-mere. And I wiU that all ■berties, and aU the remissions that my predecessors have iven, that they stand ; and I sign and confirm it with Christ's rood-token." »^

Then Dunstan the archbishop of Canterbury answered, nd said : " I grant that aU the things which here are given nd spoken of. and all the things which thy predecessors and line have conceded, those will I that they stand ; and who- oever this breaketh, then give I him the curse of God, and f all saints, and of aU ordained heads, and of myself, unless e come to repentance. And I give, in acknowledgment, to >t. Peter, my mass-hackel, and my stole, and my ' reef,' for tie service of Christ." "'I, Oswald, archbishop of York, ssent to all these words by the holy rood which Christ suf- sred on.">^ "I, Ethelwold, bishop, bless aU who shaU bserve this ; and I excommunicate all who shall break this, nless he come to repentance." Here was Elfstan bishop, Lthulf bishop, and Eskwi abbat, and Osgar abbat, and Cthelgar abbat. and Elfere the ealdorman, Ethelwin the aldorman, Britnoth ; Oslac the ealdorman. and many other reat men : and all assented to it, and all signed it with Christ's cross. kJh This was done after the birth of our Lord ine hundred and seventy-two years, of the king's reign the Lxteenth year.

Then the abbat Aldulf bought lands, numerous and many, len greatly enriched the minster vrithal ; and then was e there so long as until the archbishop Oswald of York ^as dead, and then he was chosen archbishop. And then, X)n, another abbat was chosen of the self-same minster, who ^as called Kenulf : he was afterwards bishop at Winchester. Old he first made the wall about the minster : then gave he lat to name Peterborough, which before was called Medes- amstede: he was ther^e until he was appointed bishop t Winchester. Then another abbat was chosen of the self- ime minster, who was caUed Elfsy : Elfsy was then abbat, 'om that time, fifty years. He took up St. Kyneburg and •t. Kynes^ath, who lay at Castor, and St. Tibba, who lay at

384 THE ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE. [a.d. 963— 97J.

Ryhall, and brought them to Peterborough, and made an offering of them all to St. Peter in one day ; and preserved them all the while he was there.

A. 963. This year, by king Edgar, St. Ethelwold was chosen to the bishoprick at Winchester. And the archbishop of Canterbury, St. Dun- stan, consecrated him bishop on the first Sunday of Advent ; that was on the 3rd before the Kalends of December.

A. 964. This year king Edgar expelled the priests at Winchester from the Old-minster and from the New-minster, and from Chertsey, and from ]\Iilton, and filled them with monks ; cind he appointed abbat Ethelgar abbat to the New- minster, and Ordbert to Chertsey, and Cyneward to Milton.

A. 964. This year were the canons driven out of the Old-minster by king Edgar, and also from the New-minster, and from Chertsey and from Milton ; and he appointed thereto monks and abbats : to the New-minster Ethelgar, to Chertsey Ordbert, to Milton Cyneward.

A. 965. In this year king Edgar took Elfrida for his queen ; she was daughter of Ordgar the ealdorman.

A. 966. This year Thored, Gunner's son, ravaged West- moreland. And that same year Oslac obtained an ealdordom.

A. 967.

A. 968. In this year king Edgar ordered all Thanet- land to be ravaged.

A. 969. 970.

A. 971. This year died archbishop Oskytel : he was first consecrated bishop of Dorchester, and afterwards of York ; by favour of king Edred, and of all his 'witan,' he was consecrated archbishop ; and he was a bishop twenty two years; and he died on the mass-night of All- Hallows, ten days before Martin-mass, at Thame. And abbat Thurkytel his kinsman, carried the bishop's body to Bedford, because he was then, at that time, abbat there.

A. 972. This year died Edmund the etheling, and his body lies at Rumsey.

A. 97'2. This year Edgar the etheling was consecrated king at Bath, on Pentecost's mass-day, on the 5th before the Ides of May, the thirteenth year since he had obtained the kingdom ; and he was then one less than thirty years of age. And soon after that, the king led all his ship-forces to Chester; and there came to meet him six kings, and they all pliglitcd their troth to him, that they would be his fellow-workers by sea and hy land.

973.J

THE ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE.

385

A. 973. Here was Edgar, ruler of Angles, in full assembly, hallowed king, at the old city Akemanscester ; but it the islanders, beorns, by another word, name Bath. There was much bliss on that blessed day to all occasioned, which childi'en of men name and call Pentecost's day. There was a heap of priests ; of monks a large band, as I have heard, of sage ones, gathered : and then agone was ten hundred years, told in numbers, from the birth-tide of the glorious King, Pastor of light, but that there remaining then still was, 3f yearly -tale, as writings say, ;even and twenty : io nigh had to the Victor-lord i thousand run out ivhen this befel. And himself, Edmund's DfFspring, had line and twenty, guardian 'gainst evil works, fears in the world vvhen this was done,

* Of C

and then in the thirtieth, was hallowed ruler.

A. 974.

A. 975. Here, ended the joys of earth, Edgar, of Angles king chose him another light, beauteous and winsome and left this frail, this barren life. Children of men name, men on the earth, every where, that month, in this land,

those who erewhile were in the art of numbers rightly taught, July month,

when the youth departed, on the eighth day, Edgar, from Ufe, bracelet giver to heroes. And then his son succeeded to the kingdom, a child un-waxen, of earls the prince, to whom was Edward name. And liim, a glorious chief, ten days before, departed from Britain, the good bishop,* through nature's course, to whom was Cyneward name. Then was in Mercia, as I have heard, widely and every where, the glory of the Lord laid low on earth : many were expelled, Wells. " C

386

THE ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE.

[A.D. 975.

sage servants of God ;

that was much grief

to him wlio in his breast bore

a burning love

of the Creator, in his mind.

Then was the Source of wonders

too oft contemned ;

the Victor-lord,

heaven's Ruler. [through

Then men his law broke

and then was eke driven out,

beloved hero,

Oslac from this land,

o'er rolling waters,

o'er the ganet's-bath ;

hoarj-haired hero,

wise and word-skilled,

o'er the water's throng,

o'ei- the whale's domain,

A. 975. The 8th before the Ides of July.

Here Edgar died, ruler of Angles, West-Saxons' joy, and Mercians' protector.

Known was it widely throughout many nations. ' Thaet' offspring of Edmund, o'er the ganet's-bath.

And this year Edward, Edgar's son, succeeded to the kingdom ; and then soon, in the same year, during harvest, appeared ' cometa' the star ; and then came in the following year a very great famine, and very manifold commotions among the English people.

whom Edgar, king, ordered erewhilo

of home bereaved.

And then was seen,

high in the heavens,

a star in the firmament,

which lofty-souled

men, sage minded,

call widely,

cometa by name ;

men skilled in arts,

wise truth-bearers.

Throughout mankind was

the Lord's vengeance

widely known,

famine o'er earth.

That again heaven's Guardian,

bettered, Lord of angels,

gave again bliss

to each isle-dweller.

through earth's fruits.

I honoured far,

Kings him widely bowed to the kin;,', as w^s his due by kind.

No fleet was so daring, nor army so strong, that 'mid the English nation took from him aught, the while that the noble king ruled on his throne.

In his days,

for his youth,

God's gainsayers

God's law broke ;

Eldfere, ealdorman,

and others many ;

and rule monastic quashed.

and minsters dissolved,

and monks drove out,

and God's servants put down.

the holy bishop Ethelwold to stablish ; and widows they plundered, many times and oft : and many unrighteousnesses, and evil unjust-deeds arose up afterwards : and ever after that it greatly grew in evil.

And at that time, also, was Oslac the great earl banished from England.

A.D. 976-979.] THE ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE. 3^7

A. 976. This year was the great famine among the Ed<^ lish nation.

A. 977. This year, after Easter, was the great council at Kirtlington ; and there died bishop Sideman, by a sudden death, on the 2d before the Kalends of May. He was bishop in Devonshire, and he desired that the resting-place of his body should be at Crediton, at his episcopal seat. Then commanded king Edward and archbishop Dunstan that he should be borne to St. Mary's minster, which is at Abingdon : and so too waa it done : and he is moreover honourably buried on the north side, in St. Paul's chapel.

A. 978. In this year all the chief ' witan' of the English nation fell at Calne from an upper chamber, except the holy archbishop Dunstan, who alone supported himself upon a beam ; and there some were grievously maimed, and some did not escape with life. Li this year was King Edward martyred ; and Ethelred the etheling, his brother, succeeded to the kingdom, and he was in the same year consecrated king. In that year died Alfwold ; he was bishop of Dorset, and his body lies in the minster at Sherborne.

A. 979. In this year was Ethelred consecrated king at Kingston, on the Sunday, fourteen days after Easter; and there were at his consecration two archbishops, and ten suifra- gan-bishops. That same year was seen a bloody cloud, often- times, in the likeness of fire ; and it was mostly apparent at midnight, and so in various beams was coloured : when it began to dawn, then it glided away.

A. 979. This year was king Edward slain at even-tide, at Corfe-gate, )n the 15th before the Kalends of April, and then was he buried at Ware- lam, without any kind of kingly honom-s.

There has not been 'mid Angles I worse deed done han this was, iince they first iritain-land sought. Vien him murdered, )ut God him glorified. le was in life

.n e;u-thly king ; le is now after death

heavenly saint, lim would not his earthly

insmen avenge,

lut him hath his heavenly Father

greatly avenged.

The earthly murderers

would his memory

on earth blot out,

but the lofty Avenger

hath his memory

in the heavens

and on earth wide-spread.

They who would not erewhile

to his living

body bow doMTi,

they now humbly

on knees bend

to his dead bones.

cc2

38S THE ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE. [a.d. 980— 98S.

Now we may understand that men's \visdom and their devices,

and their councils, are like nought 'gainst God's resolves.

This year Ethelrcd succeeded to the kingdom ; and he was very quickly after that, with much joy of the English witan, consecrated king at Kingston.

A. 980. In this year abbat Ethelgar* was consecrated bishop on the 6th before the Nones of May, to the episcopal seat at Selsey. And in the same year was Southampton ravaged by a ship-force, and the most part of the townsmen slain, and led captive. And that same year was Thanet-land ravaged by a ship force, and the most part of the townsmen slain, and led captive. And that same year was Legecester-shire [Chester] ravaged by a northern ship-force. In this year St. Dunstan and Alfere the ealdorman fetched the holy king's body, St. Edward's, from Wareham, and bore it with much solemnity to Shaftsbury.

A. 981. In this year St. Petroc's-stowe [Padstow] was ravaged ; and that same year was much harm done every- where by the sea-coast, as well among the men of Devon as among the Welsh. And in the same year died Elfstan bishop of Wiltshire, and his body lies in the minster at Abingdon ; and Wulfgar then succeeded to the bishopric. And in the same year died abbat Womaref at Ghent.

A. 981. This year came first the seven ships, and ravaged Southampton.

A. 982. In this year landed among the men of Dorset three ships of pirates ; and they ravaged in Portland. That same year London was burnt ; and in the same year died two ealdormen, Ethelmer in Hampshire, and Edwin in Sussex ; and Ethelmer's body lies at Winchester, in the New-minster, and Edwin's in the minster at Abingdon. This same year died two abbesses in Dorset, Herelufu at Shaftesbury, and Wulfwina at Wareham. And that same year went Otho the Roman emperor to Greek-land [Calabria], and there met he a large force of Saracens, coming up from the sea, and they would then go plundering the Christian people. And then the Empe- ror fought against them, and there was great slaughter made on either hand ; and the emperor had possession of the place oi carnage : and nevertheless he was there much harassed be- fore he turned thence : and as he homeward went, then died

* Of New-minster. f Of St. Peter's.

A.D. 983—991.] THE ANGLO-SAXON CHKONICLE. 389

his brother's son, who was named Otho, and he was Leo- dulf the etheling's son, and Leodulf was the elder Otho's son and king Edward's daughter's son.

A. 983. This year died Alfere the ealdonnan, and Alfric succeeded to the same ealdorman-ship.* And Pope Benedict [VII.] died.

A. 984. This year died the benevolent bishop of Winches- ter, Ethelwold, father of monks, on the Kalends of August ; and the consecration of the succeeding bishop, Elphege [II.], who by another name was called Godwin, was on the 14t}i liefore the Kalends of November ; and he took the episcopal scat at "Winchester, on the day of the two apostles Simon and Jude.

A. 985. This year was Alfric the eoldorman banished the land. And in the same year was Edwin consecrated abbat of the minster at Abingdon.

A. 986. This year the king laid waste the bishopric of Rochester. This year tirst came the great murrain among cattle in the English nation.

A. 987.

A. 988. This year was Watchet ravaged, and Goda, the Devonshire thane, slain, and with him much slaughter made. And this year departed the holy archbishop Dunstan, and passed to the heavenly life : and bishop Ethelgarf succeeded, after him, to the archbishopric 4 and little while after that he lived, but one year and three months.

A. 990. This year Siric was consecrated archbishop,^ and afterwards went to Eome for liis pall. And abbat Ead- win|| died; and abbat Wulfgar succeeded to the abbacy.

A. 991. This year was Ipswich ravaged; and after that, very shortly, was Britnoth the ealdorman slain at Malclon. And in that year it was decreed that tribute, for the first time, should be given to the Danish-men, on account ot the creat terror which they caused by the sea-coast ; that was at first ten thousand pounds : tliis counsel was first given by

archbishop Siric. «- 1 i-^. ^t •

A. 992. This year Oswald the holy archbishopll lett this, and passed to the heavenly life: and Ethelwin the ealdor-

• Mercia. + Of Selsey. t Of Canterbury.

$ Of Canterburj-. H Of Abingdon. llOf^ork.

390 THE ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE. [.i r. 992, 903.

man* died in the same year. Then decreed the king and all his witan that all the ships which were worth anything should be gathered together at London. And the king then committed the forces to tlie leading of Elfric the ealdorman, and of Tliorod the earl, and of bishop Elfstan,f and of bishop Escwy;| and they were to try if they could any where betrap the army about. Then sent the ealdorman Elfric and directed the army to be warned ; and then during tlie niglit of which they should have joined battle by day, then fled he by night from the forces, to his great disgrace ; and the army then escaped, except one ship, whose crew was there slain. And then the ships from East-Anglia, and from London met the army, and there they made great .slaughter of them ; and took the ship, all armed and equip- ped, in which tlie ealdorman was. And then after the de- cease of archbishop Oswald, abbat Aldulf, of Peterborough, succeeded to tlie bishopric of York, and of Worcester ; and Kenulf to the abbacy of Peterborough.

A. 992. This year Oswald the blessed archbishop died, and Abbat Eadulf succeeded to York and to Worcester. And this year the king and all his witan decreed that all the ships wliich were worth anything should be gathered together at London, in order that they might try if they could any where betrap the army from without. But /Elfric the ealdorman, one of those in whom the king had most confidence, directed the army to be warned; and in the night, as they sliould on the morrow have joined battle, the self-same /Elfric fled from the forces; and then the army escaped.

A. 993. In this year was Bambrough entered by storm, and much booty there taken. And after tliat the army came to the mouth of the Humber, and there wrought much evil, as well in Lindsey as in Northumbria. Then a very large force was gathered together; and as they should have joined battle, then the leaders, first of all, began the flight ; that was Frene, and Godwin, and Frithgist. In this year the king ordered Elfgar, son of Elfric the ealdorman, to bc blinded.

A. 993. In this year came Olave with ninety-three ships to Staines, and ravaged there about, and then went thence to Sandwich, and so thence to Ipswich, and that all over- ran; and so to Maldon. And there Britnotli the tdldoniian came against them with his forces, and fought against them: and they there slew the ealdorman, and had Dossession of the place ut

• Of E. Anglia. t Of London. * Of Dore' ester.

A.D. 994, 995. J THE A^^GLO-SAXON CHRONICLE. 391

carnage. And after that peace was made ^vith them; and him [Anlaf] the king afterwards received at the bishop's hands, through the instruction of Siric bishop of the Kentish-men, and of ^Iphege [II.] of Winchester.

A. 994. In this year came Olave and Swejn to London, on the nativity of St. Mary, with ninety-four ships; and they then continued fighting stoutly against the city, and would also have set fire to it. But they there sustained more harm and evil than they ever supposed that any citizens would be able to do unto them. But the holy mother of God, on that day, shewed her mercy to the citizens and delivered them from their foes. And they then went thence, and wrought the utmost evil that ever any army could do, by burning, and plundering, and by man-slaying, both by the sea-coast and among the East- Saxons, and in the land of Kent, and in Sussex, and in Hampshire. And at last they took to themselves horses, and rode as far as they would, and continued doing unspeakable evil. Then the king and his witan decreed that they should be sent to, and promised tribute and food, on condition that they should cease from their plundering : which terms they accepted. And then all the army came to Southampton, and there took up their winter-quarters: and there they were vic- tualled from all the realm of the West- Saxons, and they were paid sixteen thousand pounds of money. Then the king sent bishop Elphege [II]* and Ethelwerd the ealdorman after king Olave, and the while, hostages were delivered to the ships; and they then led Olave with much worship to the king at Andover. And king Ethelred received him at the bishop's hands, and royally gifted him. And then Olave made a covenant with him, even as he also fulfilled, that he never again would come hostilely to the English nation.

A. 995. In this year appeared 'cometa,' the star, and archbishop Sigic died: and Alfric bishop of Wiltshire f was chosen t on Easter-day, at Amesbury, by king Ethelred and by all his witan. This Alfric was a very wise man, so that there was no sager man in England. Then went Alfric to his arcliiepiscopal seat ; and when he came tliither he was received by those men in orders who were most unacceptable to him, that was, by clerks. And soon (he sent for) all the wisest men he any^vhere knew of, and also the old men who

• Of Winchester. t Afterwards Salisbury. l To Canterbury.

392 THE AXGLO-S.tXON CHRONICLE. [a.d, 995-

were able to say the sootliest how each thing had been in this land in the days of tlieir elders ; in addition to what himself had learned from books and from wise men. Him told the very old men, as well clergy as laity, that their elders had told them how it had been established by law soon after St. Augustine came to this land. When Augus- tine had obtained the bishopric in the city,* then was he archbishop over all king Ethelbert's kingdom, as it is re- lated in Historia Anglorumj make (a bishop's) see by

the king's aid in ... . was begun by the old Romans . . . and to sprout forth. In that company the foremost were Mel- litus, Justus, Paulinus, Riifinianus. By these sent the blessed pope the pall, and therewith a letter, and instruction how he should consecrate bishops, and in which place in Britain he should seat them. And to the king (also) he sent letters and many worldly gifts of divers things. And the churches which they had got ready he commanded to be consecrated in the name of our Lord and Saviour Christ and St. Msltj ; and for himself there fix a dwelling-place, and for all his after-followers ; and that he (should) place therein men of the same order that he had sent tliither, and of which he

liimself was, and also that each monks who should

fill the archiepiscopal seat at Canterbury, and that be ever observed by God's leave and blessing and by St. Peter's, and by all who came after him. When this embassy came again to king Egelbert and to Augustine, they were very pleased with such instruction. And the archbishop then conse- crated the minster in Christ's name and St. Mary's, (on) the day which is called the mass-day of the two martyrs. Primus et Felicianus, and there within placed monks all as St. Gregory commanded : and they God's service continently performed ; and from the same monks bishops were taken for

each as thou mayst read in Historia Anglorum. J Then

was archbishop Alfric very blithe, that he had so many wit- nesses (who) stood best at that time with the king. Still more, the same witan who were with the archbishop said: Thus also we ... . monks have continued at Christ-Church during Augustine's days, and during Laurcntius', Mellitus', Justus', Honorius', Deusdedit, Theodore's, Berthwold's, Tat-

wine's, Nothelm's, Cuthbert's, Bregmne's, Lambert's,

* Canterbixry. t Bede, b. 1. c. 25. J Bede, b. i. c. 33.

A.D.995] THE A>fGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE. 393

Athelard's, Wulfred's, Theologild's. But the (first) year when Ceolnoth came to the archbishopric, there was such a mor- tality that there remained no more than five monks within Christ-Church. During all his time there was war and sor- row in this land, so that no man could think of anything else but ..... Now, God be thanked, it is in the king's power and thine, whether they may be longer there within, because they (might) never better be brought thereout than now may be done, if it is the king's will and thine. The archbishop then, without any staying, with all (these) men, went anon to the king and showed him all, so as we here before have related. Then was the king very glad (at these) tidings, and^ said to the archbishop and to the others, ' It seemeth advisable to me that thou shouldst go first of all to Rome after thy (pall, and that) thou show to the pope aU this, and, after that, act by his counsel :' And they all answered, that that was the best counsel. When (the priests) heard this, then resolved they that they should take two from among themselves and send to the pope ; and they should offer him great gifts and silver, on condition that he should give them the arch(-pall). But when they came to Rome, then would not the pope do that, because they brought him no letter either from the king or from the people, and commanded them to go, lo ! where they would. (So soon as) the priests had gone thence, came archbishop Alfric to Rome, and the pope received him with much worship, and commanded him on the morrow to perform mass at St. Peter's altar, and the pope himself put on him his own pall, and greatly honoured him. When this was done, the archbishop began telling the pope all about the clerks, how it had happened, and how they were within the minster at his archbishopric. And the pope related to liim again how the priests had come to him, and offered great gifts, in order that he should give them the pall. And the pope said, 'Go now to England again with God's blessing, and St. Peter's and mine ; and as thou comest home, place in thy minster men of that order ^vhich St. Gregorius commanded Augustine therein to place, by God's command, and St. Peter's and mine.' Then the irchbishop wdth this returned to England. As soon as he :ame home, he entered his archiepiscopal seat, and after that ■went to the (king) and the king and all his people thanked

394 THE AKGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE. [a.d. 996— 999.

God for his return, and that he so had succeeded as was pleasing to them all. He then went again to Canterbury, and drove the clerks out of the minster, and there within placed monks, all as the pope commanded him.

-A. 996. In tliis year was Alfric consecrated archbishop to Christ-Church.* This year was Wulstan ordained bishop of London.

A. 997. In tliis year the army went about Devonshire into Severn -mouth, and there ravaged, as well among the Cornish-men as among the North- Welsh, and among the men of Devon ; and then landed at Watchet, and there wrought much evil by burning and by man-slaying. And after that they again went about Penwithstert, on the south side, and went then into the mouth of the Tamar, and then went up until they came to Liddyford, and burned and de- stroyed every thing which they met with ; and they burned Ordulf's minster at Tavistock, and brought unspeakable booty with them to their ships. Tliis year archbishop Al- fric went to Rome after his arch-pall.

A. 998. Tliis year the army went again eastward into Frome-mouth, and everywhere there they went up as far as they would into Dorset. And forces were often gathered against them ; but, as soon as they should have joined battle, then was there ever, through some cause, flight begun ; and in the end they ever had the victory. And then at another time they sat down in the Isle of Wight, and got their food the while from Hampshire and from Sussex.

A. 999. This year the army again came about into Thames, and went then up along the Medway, and to Rochester. And then the Kentish forces came there to meet them, and they there stoutly joined battle : but alas ! that they too quickly yielded and fled ; for they had not the sup- port which they should have had. And the Danish-men had possession of the place of carnage ; and then they took horse and rode wheresoever they themselves would, and full nigh all the West-Kentish men they ruined and plundered. Then the king, with his witan, decreed that, with a ship force and also with a land force, they should be attacked. But when the ships were ready, then the miserable crew delayed from day to day, and distressed the poor people who lay in • Canterbury.

D.lOOO.lOOl.J THE iLNGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE. 395

he ships : and ever as it should have been forwarder, so was : later ^ from one time to another; and ever they let their nemies' forces increase, and ever the people retired from the ea, and they ever went forth after them. And then in the nd, these expeditions both by sea and land effected notliing, xcept the people's distress and waste of money, and the mboldening of their foes.

A. 1000. In this year the king went into Cumberland, ,nd ravaged it well nigh all. And his ships went out about yhester, and should have come to meet him, but they were lot able : then ravaged they Anglesey. And the hostile leet went this summer to Richard's dominions.*

A. 1001. In this year was much hostiHty in the land of he English through the ship-force, and well nigh every vhere they ravaged and burned, so that they advanced n one course until they came to the town of Alton ; and hen there came against them the men of Hampshire, and ought against them. And there was Ethelwerd the king's ligh-steward slain, and Leofric at Whitchurch, and Leofwin he king's high-steward, and Wulf here the bishop's thane, and jodwin at Worthy, bishop Elfsy's son,f and of all men, )ne and eighty ; and there were of the Danish-men many nore slain, though they had possession of the place of car- lage. And they went thence west until they came to Devon ; and there Paley came to meet them, with the ships .vhich he could gather, because he had fled from king Ethel- :*ed, contrary to all the plighted troth that he had given him ; ind the king had also well gifted him with houses, and with ^old and Tvdth silver. And they burned Teignton, and also nany other good towns which we are unable to name ; and there, afterwards, peace was made with them. And they then went thence to Exmouth, so that they proceeded up- wards in one course until they came to Pen : and there Cole the king's high-reve, and Edsy the king's-reve, went against them with the forces which they were able to gather together ; and they there were put to flight, and there were many slain : and the Danish-men had possession of the place of carnage. And the morning after, they burned the village of Pen and at CHfton, and also many goodly towns which we are unable to name, and then went again east until they * Normandy. f See note at p. 413.

396 THE A^'GLO-SAXOX CIIKOXICLE. [a.d. 1002, 1003.

came to the Isle of Wight ; and on the morning after, they burned the town at Waltham, and many other small towns ; and soon after a treaty was entered into mth them, and they made peace.

A. 1001. This year the army came to Exmouth, and then went up to the town, and there continned fighting stoutly ; but they were very strenu- ously resisted. Then went they through the land, and did all as was their- wont ; destroyed and burnt. Then was collected a vast force of the peo- ple of Devon and of the people of Somerset, and they then came together at Pen. And so soon as they joined battle, then the people gave way : and there they made great slaughter, and then they rode over the land, and their last incursion was ever worse than the one before : and then they brought much booty with them to their ships. And thence they went into the Isle of Wight, and there they roved about, even as they themselves would, and nothing Tvithstood them : nor any fleet by sea durst meet them ; nor land force cither, went they ever so far up. Then was it in every wise a hea^y time, because they never ceased from their evil doings.

A. 1002. In this year the king decreed, and his witan, that tribute should be paid to the fleet, and peace made with them, on condition that they should cease from their evil- doings. Then sent the king to the fleet Leofsy the ealdorman ; and he then settled a truce with them by the king's word, and his witan's, and that they should receive food and tribute. And that they then accepted : and then were they paid twenty-four thousand pounds. Then during tliis, Leofsy the ealdorman slew Eafy the king's high-steward ; and the king then banished him the land. And then in the same Lent came the lady, Richard's * daughter, Emma Elfgive, hither to land : and in the same summer archbishop Aldulf I died. And in that year the king ordered all the Danish-men who were in England to be slain. Tliis was done on St. Brice's mass-day ; because it was made known to the king that they would treacherously bereave liim of his life, and afterwards all his witan ; and after that have liis kingdom without any gainsajdng.

A. 1003. This year was Exeter entered by storm, through the French churl Hugh, whom the | lady had appointed her steward : and then the army entirely ruined the town, and there took much booty. And in the same year the army went up into Wiltshire. Then was gathered a very large force from Wiltshire and from Hampshire, and veiy

* Duke of Normandy. f Of York. -^ Emma.

A.D. 1004, 1005.J THE ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE. 397

resolutely they came in presence of the army. Then should the ealdorman Elfric have led the forces, but he then had recourse to his old devices : as soon as they were so near that either army could look on the other, then feigned he himself sick, and began by retching to spew, and said that he was grievously ill : and thus deceived the people whom he should have led ; as it is said : When the leader groweth feeble, then is all the army greatly hindered. When Sweyn saw that they were not unanimous, and that they all separated, then led he his army into Wilton ; and they spoiled the town, and burned it ; and he went then to Salisbury, and thence went to the sea again, where he knew that liis sea-horses were.

A. 1004. This year came Sweyn ^vith his fleet to Xor^vich, and entirely spoiled and burned the town. Then decreed Ulf k)i:el, with the witan of East-Anglia, that it were better that they should purchase peace of the army before they did very much harm in the land ; because they had come unawares, and he had not time that he might gather his forces. Then during the truce which ought to have been between them, then stole the army up from their ships, and went their way to Thetford. When Ulfkytel understood that, then sent he word that the ships should be hewed in pieces, but they in whom he trusted failed to do it, and he then gathered his forces secretly, as he best might. And tlie army then came to Thetford, within three weeks of their luiving before plundered Norwich, and were one day there within, and plundered and burned the toi^Ti. And then on the iiK.rrow, as they would have gone to theii' ships, then came Ull^kytel with liis band, in order that they might there join battle with them. And they there stoutly joined battle, and much slaughter was there made on either hand. There were the cliief among the East-AngHan people slam ; but if the full force there had been, they never again had gone^ to their ships ; inasmuch as they themselves said, that they never had met a worse hand-play among the Engbsh nation than Ulfk^-tel had brought to them.

A. 1005. In this year was the great famine throughout the EngUsh nation ; such, that no man ever before recollected one so erim. And the fleet in tliis year went from this land to Denmark ; and staid but a Httle space ere it came agam.

398 THE ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE. [ad. lOOd

A. 1006. This year died archbishop Alfric, and after hiir bishop Elphege [H.] succeeded to the archbisliopric :* and bi- shop Brithwin succeeded to the bishopric of Wiltshire. f Anc in the same year was ^V'ulfgeat deprived of all his possessions and Wulfeah and Ufgeat were blinded, and Elfelm tht ealdorman was slain ; and bishop Kenulf | died. And then, after mid-summer, then came the great fleet to Sandwich, anc did all as they had been before wont ; they ravaged, anc burned, and destroyed, wherever they went. Then the king «;ommanded all tlie people of Wessex and of Mercia to bt called out ; and then tliey lay out all the harvest in the field against tlie army. But it availed nothing the more than it oft before had done : but for all this the army went wheresoever itself would, and the forces did every kind of harm to the inhabitants ; so that neither profited them, nor the home army nor the foreign army. When it became winter, then went the forces home ; and the army then came, over St. Marti n's-ma.ss, to their quarters in the Isle of Wight, and procured themselves there from all parts that which they needed. And then, at mid-winter, they went to their ready .store, throughout Hampshire into Berkshire, to Reading: and they did their old wont ; they lighted their war-beacons as they went. Then went they to AVallingford, and that all burned, and were then one day in Chol.-ey : and they went then along Ashdown to Cuckamsley-hill, and there abode, as a daring boa<t ; for it had been often said, if they should reach Cuckamsley-hill, that they would never again get to the sea : then they went homewards another way. Then were forces assembled at Kennet, and they there joined battle : and they soon brought that band to flight, and afterwards carried their booty to the sea. But there might the W^inchester-men see an army daring and fearless, as they went by their gates towards the sea, and fetched themselves food and treasures over fifty miles from the sea. Then had the king gone over Thames into Shropshire, and there took his abode during the mid-winter's tide. Then became the dread of the army so great, that no man could think or discover how they could be driven out of the land, or this land maintained against them ; for they had every shire in

* Of Canterbury. t Afterwards the diocese of Salisbury,

t Of Winchester.

A.D. 100&-1009.] THE AKGLO-SAJCON CHRONICLE. 399

Wessex sadly marked, bj burning and by plundering. Then the king began earnestly with his witan to consider what might seem most advisable to them all, so that this land might be saved, before it was utterly destroyed. Then the king and his witan decreed, for the behoof of the whole nation, though it was hateful to them all, that they needs must pay tribute to the army. Then the king sent to the army, and directed it to be made known to them, that he would that there should be a truce between them, and that tribute should be paid, and food given them. And then all that they accepted : and then were they victualled from throughout the English nation.

A. 1006. This year Elphege [II.] was consecrated archbishop.*

A. 1007. In this year was the tribute delivered to the army, that was thirty-six thousand pounds. In this year also was Edric appointed ealdorman over the kingdom of Mercia. This year bishop Elphege went to Rome after his pall.

A. 1008. This year the king commanded that ships should be speedily built throughout the English nation : that is then, from three hundred hides and from ten hides, one vessel ; and from eight hides, a helmet and a coat of mail.

A. 1009. In this year were the ships ready about which we before spake ; and there were so many of them as never before, according as books say unto us, had been among the English nation in any king's days. And they were all brought together to Sandwich, and there they were to lie and defend this land against every foreign army. But still we had not the good fortune nor the worthiness, that the ship-force could be of any use to this land, any more than it oft before had been. Then befell it at this same time, or a little before, that Brihtric, Edi'ic the ealdorman's brother, accused [of treason] to the king Wulfnoth the "child" of the South- Saxons, father of Godwin the earl. He then went out, and enticed sliips unto him, until he had twenty ; and he then ravaged everv where by the south coast, and wrought every kind of evil.^ Then it was told unto the ship-forces that they might be easily taken, if they would go about it. Then Brihtric^ took with him eighty ships, and thought that he 5hould acquire great fame if he could seize Wulfnoth alive * Of Canterbury.

400 THE AXGLO-SAXOX CHEOXICLE. LaJl IMl

<ff dead- But as they were oo their way thither, then came sach a wind against them as no man before remembered, and the ships it then utterly beat, and smashed to pieces, and cast upon the land : and soc»n came Wultnoth, and burned the ships. When this was thus known in the other ships where the king was, bow the c»thers had tared, then was it as if ii had been all hopeless ; and the king went his way home, and the ealdormen and the nobility, and thus lightly left the ships ; and then afterwards, the people who were in the ships brought them to London : and they let the whole nation's toil thus lightly pass away ; and no bener was that victory on which the whole English nation had nxed their hopes. When this ship-expedition had thus ended, then came, soon after Lammas, the vast hostile army, which we have called Thui^ili's army, to Sandwich : and they soon went their way to Canterbury, and the city would sood have subdued, if the citizens had not nrst desired peace of them : and aii the people of East-Kent made peace with the army, and gave them three thousand pounds. And then, sdi^ after that, the army went forth till they came to the Isle of Wijht ; and thence every where in Sussex, and in Hampshire, and also in Berkshire, they ravaged and plundered as their womi «.* Then the king ccMnmanded the whole nation to be called out ; so thai they shoidd be opposed on every side : but lo I nevertheless, they marched as xhej pleased. Then, upc^ a certain occasion, the king had got before them with afl his fc«t^5S- as they would go to their ships : and all :..e pec^e were ready to attack them. But it was then prevent 1 through Edric the ealdorman. as it ever is stUL* Th:r^ after St. Martin's-mass, they went onc-e more into Ker.:. and took up their winter-quartei^ on the Thames, and ^y,- tained their food from Essex, ani from the shires wL: . were there nearest, on bi^th sides of the Thames. And : they fought against the city of London : but praise be * » God that it yet stands sound, and they there ever il : vith in £ure. And then, after mid- winter, took they their

r- wards through Chiitem, and so to Oxford, and burr. \

:r : and betook themselves then, on both sides of : r

i-/c _»i-^ ,

i

AAKHa] THE AXGLO-EAXOX CHEOXICLE, 401

Thames, towards their ships. Then were they warned that there were forces gathered at London against them : then went they over at Staines, And thos they went the whole winter ; and during Lent they were in Kent, and repaired their ships.

A- 1010. This year, after Easter, came the fore-mentioned army into East-Anglia, and landed at Ipswich, and went forthwith where they understood Ulikytel was with his forces. This was on the day, called the first of the ascension of our Lord The East Angles soon fled. Then stood Cam- bridge-shire firmly against them. There was slain Athelstan the king's son-in-law, and Oswy and his son. and Wulfric, Leofwin's son, and Eadwy, Ery's brother, and many other good thanes, and numberless of the pec»ple : the flight first began at Thurkytel Myrehead. And the Danes had possession oi the place of camaze : and there were they horsed ; and afterwards had dominion over East-Anglia, and the land three months ravaged and burned ; and they even went into the wild fens, and they destroyed men and cattle, and burned throughout the fens : and Thetford they burned, and Cam- bridge, And after that they went southward again to the Thames, and the men who were horsed rc^ie towards the ships : and after that, very speedily, they went westward into Oxibrdshire, and thence iato Buckinghamshire, and so along the Ouse until they came to Bedford, and so onwards to T^msford ; and ever burning as they went. Then went thev again to their ships with their booty. And when they went to their ships, then ought the wrces again to have gone out against them, until they should land : but then the forces went home : and when they were eastwards, then were the forces kept westwards : and when they were southwards, then were our forces northwards. Then were all the witan summoned to the kine, and they were then to counsel how this land miiiht be defe'nded But although something might be then counselled, it did not stand even one month : at last there was no chief who would assemble forces, but each fled as he best miirht : nor. at the last, would even one shire assist another, then before St, Andrew's mass-day. came the enemv to Northampton, and they soon burned the town and took' there-about as much as they themselves would : and thence thev went over Thames into Wesse3:, aad so by

D D

402 THE AXGLO-S.\:s:OX CHRONICLE. La.d. 1011, 3012.

Cannlngs-marsli, burning all the way. "When they had gone so far as they then would, then came they at mid-winter to their ships.

A. 1011. In this year sent the king and his witan to the army, and desired peace, and promised them tribute and food, on condition that they would cease from their plundering. They had then over-run, 1st, East-Anglia, and 2d, Essex, and 3d, Middlesex, and 4th, Oxfordshire, and oth, Cambridge- shire, and 6th, Hertfordsliire, and 7th, Buckinghamshire, and 8th, Bedfordshire, and 9th, half of Huntingdonshire, and iOth, much of Northamptonshire ; and south of Thames, all Kent, and Sussex, and Hastings, and Surry, and Berkshire, and Hampshire, and much of Wiltshire. All these misfortunes befel us tlirough unwise counsel, tluit they were not in time offered tribute, or fought against ; but when they had done the most evil, then peace and truce were made with them. And nevertheless, for all the truce and tribute, they went everywliere in bands, and plundered our miserable people, and robbed and slew them. And then in this year, between the Nativity of St. Mary and St. Michael's-mass, they besieged Canterbury, and got into it through treachery, because Elfmar betrayed it, whose life the archbishop Elphege had before saved. And there they took the archbishop Elphege, and Elfward the king's steward, and the abbess Leo- fruna,* and bishop Godwin. I And abbat Elfmar J they let go away. And they took there within all the men in orders, and men and women : it is not to be told to any man how many there were. And they remained within the city aftenvards as long as they would. And when they had thoroughly searched the city, then went they to their ships, and led the archbishop with them. Was then captive erewhile saw bliss,

he who erewhile was in that hapless city,

head of the English race whence to us came first

and Christendom. Christendom and bliss.

There misfht then be seen 'fore God, and 'fore the world, misery, where men oft

And they kept the archbishop with them so long as until the time that they martyred him.

A. 1012. In this year came Edric the ealdorman, and all • Of S. :Mildre(i's. f Godwin III. of Rochester. * Of St. Augusline's.

A.D.1013.] THE A1^'GL0-SAX0X CHRONICLE. 403

the cliief witan, clergv and laity, of the English people to London, before Easter ; Easter-daj was then on the Ides of April; and they were there then so long as until all the tribute was paid, after Easter ; that was eight and forty thousand pounds. Then on the Saturday was the army greatly excited against the bishop, because he would not pro- mise them any money : but he forbade that any tiling should be given for him. They had also drunk deeply, for wine had been brought there from the south. Then took they the bishop, led him to their hustings on the eve of Sunday, the octaves of Easter, which was on'^the 13th before the Kalends of May ; and there they then shamefully slaughtered him : they cast upon him bones and the horns of oxen, and then one of them struck him with an axe-iron on the head, so that mth the blow he sank down ; and his holy blood fell on the earth, and his holy soul he sent forth to God's kingdom. And on the morrow the body was carried to London, and the bishops Ednoth* and Elfhun,i- and the townsmen, re- ceived it with all reverence, and buried it in St. Paul's minster ; and there God now manifesteth the mii-aculous powers of the holy martyr. When the tribute was paid, and oaths of peace were sworn, then the army separated widely, in like manner as before it had been gathered together. Then became subject to the king five and forty ships of the army, and covenanted with liim that they would defend this country, and that he should feed and clothe them.

A. 1013. Li the year after that in which the archbishop Elphege was martyred, the king appointed bishop Living to be archbishop of Canterbury. And in this same year, before the month of August, came king Sweyn with his fleet to Sandwich, and went then, very soon, about East- Anglia into the mouth of the Humber, and so upward along Trent, until he came to Gainsborough. And then, soon, Utred the earl and all the Xorth-humbrians submitted to him, and all the people in Lindsey, and afterwards the people in the Five Boroughs,! and soon after, all the army north of Watling-street ; and hostages were dehvered to him from every shire. After he had learned that all the people were

* Of Dorchester. + Of London.

t Nauielv, Leicester, Lincoln, Nottins:liam, Stamford, and Derby. See A. 942, 1015.

dd2

404 THE A^GLO-SAXON CHRONICLE. [a.d. 1013.

obedient to him, then bade he that his army should be victualled and horsed ; and he then afterwards went south- ward with all the forces, and committed the ships and the hostages to his son Canute. And after he came over WatUng- street, they wrought the most evil that any army could do. Then went he to Oxford, and the townsmen soon submitted, and delivered hostages ; and thence to Winchester, and they did the like. Then went he thence eastward to London, and much of his people was drowned in the Thames, because they kept not to any bridge. When he came to the city, then would not the townsmen submit, but held out against him with all their might, because king Ethelred was therein, and Thurkill with liim. Then went king Sweyn thence to Wallingford, and so over the Thames westward to Bath, and sat down there with his forces. And Ethelmar the ealdor- man came thither, and the western thanes with him, and they all submitted to Sweyn, and delivered hostages for them- selves. And when he had thus succeeded, then went he northward to his ships ; and then all the people held him for full king. And after that the townsmen of London sub- mitted, and delivered hostages, because they dreaded lest he should utterly undo them. Then Sweyn ordered a full-tri- bute and provisions for his army during the winter ; and Thurkill ordered the like for the army which lay at Green- wich : and for all that, they plundered as oft as they would. Then was this people nothing benefited either from the south or from the north. Then was king Ethelred some while with the fleet which lay in the Thames ; and the lady* then departed over sea to her brother Richard, f and Elfsy, abbat of Peterborough, with her. And the king sent bishop Elf hun with the ethelings, Edward and Alfred, over sea, that he might have charge of them. Then departed the king from the fleet at mid-winter into the Isle of Wight, and was there during that tide ; and after that tide he went over the sea to Richard, and was there with him until such time as Sweyn was dead. And the while that the lady was with her brother beyond sea, Elfsy, abbat of Peterborough, who was there with her, went to the minster which is called Boneval, where St. Florentine's body lay. There found he a poor place, a poor abbat, and poor monks , for they had been plundered. Then * Emma. f Duke of Normandy.

A.D. lOU.] THE ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE. 405

bought he there of the abbat and of the monks St. Floren- tine's body, all except the head, for five hundred pounds ; and then when he came home again, then made he an offer- ing of it to Christ and St. Peter.

A. 1014. In this year king Sweyn ended his days, at Candlemas, on the third before the Nones of February. And that same year Alwy was consecrated bishop of London, at York, on St. Juliana's mass-day. And all the fleet then chose Canutefor king. Then counselled all the witan who were in England, clergy and laity, that they should send after king Ethelred ; and they declared that no lord were dearer to them than their natural lord, if he would rule them better than he had before done. Then sent the king his son Edward hither with his messengers, and ordered them to greet all his people ; and said that he would be to them a loving lord, and amend all those things which they all ab- horred, and each of those things should be forgiven which had been done or said to him, on condition that they all, with one consent, would be obedient to him, without deceit. And they then established full friendship, by word and by pledge, on either half, and declared every Danish king an outlaw from England for ever. Then, during Lent, king Ethelred came home to his own people ; and he was gladly received by them all. Then, after Sweyn Avas dead, Canute sat with his army at Gainsborough until Easter ; and it was agreed between him and the people of Lindsey that they should find him horses, and that afterwards they should all go out to- gether, and plunder. Then came king Ethelred thithei-, to Lindsey, with liis full force, before they were ready : and then they plundered, and burned, and slew all the people ivhom they could reach. And Canute went away out with his ^eet, and thus the poor people were deceived through him, md then he went southward until he came to Sandwich; Imd there he caused the hostages to be put on shore who had i>een delivered to his father, and cut off their hands, and •s, and noses. And besides all these evils, _ the king )rdered the army which lay at GreenAvich to be paid tAventy- )ne thousand pounds. And in this year, on the eve of St. Michael's mass, came the great sea-flood wide throughout his land, and ran so far up as it never before had done, and V7ashed away many towns, and a countless number of people.

406 THE ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE. Ea-d. 1015, 1016.

A. 1015. In this year was the great council at Oxford ; and there Edric the ealdorman betrayed Sigeferth and Morcar, the cliief thanes in the Seven Boroughs. He allured them into his chamber, and there within they were cruelly slain. And the king then took all their possessions, and ordered Sigeferth's relict to be taken, and to be brought to Malmesbury. Then, after a little space, Edmund the etheling went there and took the woman, contrary to the king's will, and had her for his wife. Then, before the Nativity of St. Mary, the etheling went thence, from the west, north to the Five Boroughs, and soon took possession of aU Sigeferth's property, and Morcar's ; and the people all submitted to him. And then, during the same time, came king Canute to Sandwich ; and soon after went about Kent into Wessex, until he came to the mouth of the Frome : and then he ravaged in Dorset, and in Wiltshire, and in Somer- set. Then lay the king sick at Corsham. Then gathered Edric the ealdorman forces, and the etheling Edmund in the north. When they came together, then would the ealdorman betray the etheling, but he was not able : and they then parted without a battle on that account, and gave way to their foes. And Edric the ealdorman then enticed forty ships from the king, and then went over to Canute. And the men of Wessex submitted, and delivered hostages, and horsed the army ; and then was it there until mid-winter.

A. 1016. In this year came Canute with his army, and Edric the ealdorman with him, over Thames into Mercia at Cricklade. And then they went to Warwickshire, during the midwinter's tide, and ravaged, and burned, and slew all that they could come at. Then began the etheling Edmund to gather his forces. When the forces were assembled, then would it not content them except it so were that the king were there with them, and they might have the help of the citizens of London : then gave they up the expedition, and each man went liim away home. Then after that tide, the forces were again called out, so that each man, who was able to go, should come forth, under full penalties ; and they sent to the king at London, and prayed liim that he would come to meet the forces with such help as he could gather. When they all had come together, then it availed them nothing more than it oft before had done.

X..D. 1016] THE ANGLO-SAXO^ CHRONICLE. 407-

Then was it made known to the king that they would hetray him ; they who ought to have been of aid to liim. Then left he the forces and returned to London. Tiien rode the etheling Edmund into North-humbria to Utred the earl, and every man thought that they would assemble forces a<^ainst king Canute. "Then marched they into Staffordshire, aSd into Shropshire, and to Chester ; and they plundered on their part, and Canute on his part. He went out through Buckinghamshire into Bedfordshire, and thence to Hunting- donshire, and so into Northamptonshire along the fens to Stamford, and then into Lincolnshire ; then thence to Nottinghamshire, and so to North-humbria towards York. When Utred heard this, then left he off his plundering, and hastened northwards, and then submitted, from need, and all the North-humbrians with him ; and he delivered hostages : and, notwithstanding, they slew him, through the counsel of Edric the ealdorman, and Thurkytel, son of Nafan, with him. And then, after that, king Canute appointed Eric to be his earl in North-humbria, in like manner as Ltred had been ; and afterwards went southward, by another way, all to the west : and then before Easter, came all the army to their ships. And the etheUng Edmund went to London to his father. And then, after Easter, went king Canute with all his ships towards London. Then befell it that king Ethelred died before the ships arrived. He ended his days on St George's mass day, and he held his k^^gff ^T^^^Vf' W^d and Snder ^reat difficulties the while hat his life lasted. Tnd then, after his end, all the peers who were m Loudon ^d the citizens chose Edmund to be king: and he t":sly deTended his kingdom ^^^S^^: lasted Then came the ships to Greenwich at Rogation days. And within a little space they went to London, and they dug f"dtch on the south side, and dragged their ships to k^:^f ^ of the bridge ; and then ^^^^^^^^^^^ the city around, so that no one could g?^^^"Xe cuizens they repeatedly fought against the .^^^ i.^kinrEdmund sti/nuof ly withstood t^-; J^^^^^^^^^^^^^

before that, gone out -f ™^^ ,fter that he fought

the people submitted to him A ^^^ ^ ^^^^^^

408 THE ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE. [a.d. 1016.

much slaughter was made on either side, and the armies of themselves separated. In that battle was Edric the ealdorman, and ^Elmer darling, helping the army against king Edmund. And then gathered he his forces for the third time, and went to London, all north of Thames, and so out through Clayhanger ; and relieved the citizens, and drove the army in flight to their ships. And then, two days after, the king went over at Brentford, and there fought against the aiTay, and put them to flight : and there many of the English people were drowned, from their own carelessness ; they who went before the forces, and would take booty. And after that the king went into Wessex, and collected his forces. Then went the army, soon, to London, and beset the city around, and strongly fought against it, as well by water as by land. But the Almighty God delivered it.

The enemy went then, after that, from London, with their ships, into the Orwell, and there went up, and proceeded into Mercia, and destroyed and burned whatsoever they over-ran, as is their wont, and provided themselves "s\ath food : and they conducted, as well their ships as their droves, into the Medway. Then king Edmund assembled, for the fourth time, all his forces, and went over the Thames at Brentford, and went into Kent ; and the army fled before him, witli their horses, into Sheppey : and the king slew as many of them as he could overtake. And Edric the ealdorman went then to meet the king at Aylesford : than which no measure could be more ill-advised.

The army then went again up into Essex, and passed into Mercia, and destroyed whatever it over-ran.

When the king learned that the army was upward, then assembled he, for the fifth time, all the English nation, and followed after them, and overtook them in Essex, at the down which is called Assingdon : and there they strenuously joined battle. Then did Edric the ealdorman, as he had oft before done, begin the flight first with the Maisevethians, and so betrayed his royal lord and the whole people of the English race. There Canute had the victory ; and all the Enghsh nation fought against him. There was slain bishop Ednoth,* and abbat Wulsy, and Elfric the ealdorman, * Of Dorchester.

>.D. 1017.] THE AlsGLO-SAXON CHKONICLE. 409

.nd Godwin the ealdorman of Lindsej, and Ulfkytel of ^^ast-Anglia, and Ethelward, son of Ethelwine* the ealdor- nan; and all the nobility of the English race was there lestroyed.

Then, after this battle, went king Canute up with his army nto Gloucestershire, where he learned that king Edmund vas.

Then ad\dsed Edi-ic the ealdorman, and the counsellors who vere there, that the kings should be mutually reconciled, ^d they delivered hostages mutually ; and the kings came ogether at Olney near Deerhurst, and then confirmed their riendship as well by pledge as by oath, and settled the tribute or the army. And they then separated TNath this recon- dlement ; and Edmund obtained Wessex, and Canute Mercia md the northern district. The army then went to their ihips A\dth the things they had taken. And the men of ijondon made a truce with the army, and bought themselves jeace: and the army brought their ships to London, and ook up their winter-quarters therein. Then, at St. An- Irew's mass, died king Edmund; and his body lies at jlastonbury, ^dth his grandfather Edgar. And in the >ame year died Wulfgar, abbat of Abingdon ; and Ethelsy jucceeded to the abbacy.

A. 1017. In this year king Canute obtained the whole •ealm of the English race, and divided it into four parts: ^Vessex to himself, and East-Anglia to Thurkill, and Mer- na to Edric, and North-humbria to Eric. And in this rear was Edi'ic the ealdorman slain in Loudon, very justly, md Norman, son of Leofwin the ealdorman, and Ethel- A^ard, son of Ethelmar the great, and Britric, son of Elphege, in Devonsliire. And king Canute banished Edwy -he etheling, and afterwards commanded him to be slain, and Edwy king of the churls. And then, before the Kalends of August, the king commanded the reUct of king Etheh-ed, Richard's daughter, to be fetched for his wife ; that was Elf- give in English, Emma in French.

A. 1017. This year Canute was chosen king.

A. 1018. In this year the tribute was delivered through- out the whole English nation ; that was altogether, tvvo and * Called Ethelsy in some MSS.

410 THE AXGLO-SAXOX CHRONICLE. [a.d. 101&-10-22.

seventy thousand pounds, besides that which the townsmen of London paid, which was ten and a half thousand pounds. And then some of the army went to Denmark, and furry ships remained Avith king Canute. And the Danes and tiic Angles agreed, at Oxford, to live under Edgai-'s law. And this year abbat Ethelsy died at Abingdon, and Ethelwine succeeded him.

A. 1019. This year king Canute went with forty ships to Denmark, and there abode all the winter.

A. 1019. And this winter died archbishop Elfstan :* he was named Li\-ing; and he was a ven' provident man, both as to God and as to the world.

A. 1020. In tliis year died archbishop Living : and king Canute came again to England. And then, at Easter, there was a great council at Cirencester: then was outlawed Ethelward the ealdorman, and Edwy, king of the churls. And in this year went the king to Assingdon, and arch- bishop Wulstan [U-J't ^^^ Thurkyl the earl, and many bishops and also abbats, and many monks with them, and consecrated the minster at Assingdon. And Ethelnoth the monk, who was dean at Christ-Church, was in the same year, on the Ides of November, consecrated bishop at Christ-Church,:[ by archbishop Wulfstan.

A, 1 020. And caused to be built there a minster of stone and lime, for the souls of the men who there were slain, and gave it to one of his priests, whose name was Stigand.

A. 1021. In this year, at Martin-mass, king Canute out- lawed Thurkyl the earl. And bishop Elfgar,§ the alms- giver, died on Christmas-morn.

A. 1022. This year king Canute went out with his ships to the Isle of Wight. Archbishop Ethelnoth went to Eome, and was there received by Benedict, the honourable pope, "vvith much worship ; and he, with his own hands, put his pall upon him, and very honourably consecrated him archbishop, and blessed him, on the Nones of October. And the arch- bishop soon after, on the self-same day, sang mass there^-ith : and then thereafter was honourably entertained by the same pope, and also himself took the pall from St. Peter's altar ;

♦ Of Canterbury'. + Of York.

"^ Canterbury. ' $ Of Elmham.

A.D. 1022, 1023.] THE AJsGLO-SAXOX CHROXICLE. 4]1

ind then afterwards he blithely went home to his country. And abbat Leofwine, who had been unjustly driven out Tom Ely, was his companion; and he cleared himself of Bverjtliing that was said against him, as the pope instructed aim, in the presence of the archbishop, and of all the fellow- ship which was with him.

A. 1022. And afterwards with the pall he there performed mass as the Dope instructed him: and he feasted after that with the pope; and after- ^vards went home uith a fuJl blessing.

A. 1023. This year king Canute came again to England, ind Thurkyl and he were reconciled ; and he committed" Den- Daark and his son to the keeping of Thurkyl ; and the kin? took Thurkyl's son -with him to England. This year died archbishop Wulfstan :* and Elfric succeeded him ; and archbishop Ethelnoth blessed him at Canterbury. This year king Canute, ^4thin London, in St. Paul's minster, gave fiill leave to archbishop Ethelnoth and Bishop BrithT\dne,f and to all the servants of God who were with them, that they might take up from the tomb the archbishop St. El- phege. And they then did so, on the sixth before the Ides d£ June. And the illustrious king, and the archbishop and suffragan bishops, and earls, and very many clergy, and also laity, carried, in a ship, his holy body over the Thames to Southwark, and there dehvered the holy martyr to the arch- bishop and his companions; and they then, with a worshipful band and sprightly joy, bore him to Eochester. Then, on the third day, came Emma the lady, with her royal child Harda- Canute : and then they all, with much state and bliss, and songs of praise, bore the holy archbishop into Canterbury; and then worshipfully brought "him into Christ's Church, on the third before the Ides of June. Again, after that, on the eighth day, the seventeenth before the Kalends of July, arch- bishop Ethelnoth, and bishop Elfsy,! and bishop Brith- wine, and aU those who were with them, deposited St. Elphege's holy body on the north side of Christ's altar, to the glory of God, and the honour of the holy archbishop, and the "^ eternal health of all who there daily seek to his holy body with a devout heart and with all humility. God Ahnighty have mercy on all Christian men, thi'ough St. Elphege's holy merits.

• Of York. t Of Sherborne. :; Of Winchester.

412 THE ANGLO-S.VXON CHKONICLE. [a.d. 1C23— 1031.

A. 1023. And he caiised St. Elphege's remains to be borne from London to Canterbury.

A. 10-23. And the same year archbishop Ethelnoth bore St. Elphege's, the archbishop's, remains to Canterbury, from London.

A. 1024.

A. 1025. This year king Canute went to Denmark, with his ships, to the holm by the holy river. And there came against him Ulf and Egla^ and a very great army, as well a land-army as a fleet from Sweden. And there very many men were destroyed on king Canute's side, as well of Danish-men as of English : and the Swedes had possession of the place of carnage.

A. 1026. This year bishop Elfric* went to Rome, and received his pall of Pope John, on the 2d before the Ides of November.

A. 1027

A. 1028. This year king Canute went from England, with fifty ships of English thanes, to Norway, and drove king Olave out of the land, and possessed himself of all that land.

A. 1029. This year king Canute came home again to Eng- land. And so soon as he came to England, he gave to Christ- Church at Canterbury the haven at Sandwich, and all the dues that arise thereof, on either side of the haven : so that, lo! when the flood is all at the highest, and all at the fullest, if a ship be floating so nigh the land as it nighest may, and there be a man standing in the ship, and he have a taper ax in his ... .

A. 1030. This year was king Olave slain in Norway by liis own people ; and afterwards was sainted. And in this year, before that, died Hacon, the doughty earl, at sea.

A. 1030. This year came king Olave again into Norway, and the people gathered against him, and fought against him ; and he was there slain.

A. 1031. This year king Canute went to Rome. And so soon as he came home then went he into Scotland : and the king of the Scots, Malcolm [II.], submitted to him, and be- came his man, but that he held only a little while, and two other kings, Macbeth and Jehmar. And Robert, earl of Nor- mandy, went to Jerusalem, and there died ; and William, who Avas afterwards king in England, succeeded to Nor- mandy, though he was a child.

• Of York.

A.D. 1032—1036.] THE ANGLO-SAXON CHEON^CLE. 413

A. 1032. In this year appeared tte wild fire, suet as no man before remembered; and moreover on all sides it did harm, in many places. And in the same year died Elfsy,* bishop at Winchester ; and Alwyn, the king's priest, suc- ceeded thereto.

A. 1033. This year died bishop Leofsy, and liis body rests at Worcester : and Brihtege was raised to his see.-j- In this year died Herewith bishop of Somerset 4 and he is buried at Glastonbury.

A. 1034. This year died bishop Etheric,§ and he lies at Ramsey. This same year died Malcolm [11.], king in Scotland.

A. 1035. This year died king Canute ; and Harold, his son, succeeded to the kingdom. He departed at Shaftesbury, on the 2d before the Ides of November ; and they bore him thence to Winchester, and there they buried him. And Eifgive, Emma, the lady, then sat there within : and Harold, who said that he was son of Canute and of the other Eifgive, though it was not true ; he sent thither, and caused to be taken from her all the best treasures, which she could not withhold, that king Canute had possessed ; and nevertheless she still sat there within, as long as she could.

A. 1036. This year Alfred the innocent ethehng, son of king Ethelred, came in hither, and would go to his mother, who sat at Winchester ; but that neither Godwin the earl, nor the other men who had much power, would aUow him be- cause the cry was then greatly in favour of Harold, though that was unjust. But Godwin him then let,

and him in bonds set ; [ed and his companions he dispers- and some divers ways slew ; some they for money sold, some cruelly slaughtered, some did they bind, some did they blind, some did they mutilate, some did they scalp : nor was a bloodier deed done in this land

since the Danes came, and here accepted peace. Now is our trust in the beloved God, that they are in bliss, blithely with Christ, The etheling still lived, who were without guilt so miserably slain, every ill they him vowed, until it was decreed that he should be led

• Godwin and Dugdale make Elfsy or Elsinus. to be translated to Can- terbiiry, 1038. f Worcester. t Wells. " *"'

414 THE AXGLO-SAXOX CHRONICLE. [a-D. 1035— 1038.

to Elj-bury,

thus bound.

Soon as he came to land,

in the ship he was blinded ;

and him thus blind

they brought to the monks :

and he there abode

the while that he lived.

After that him thev buried,

as well was his due

full wortliily,

as he worthy was,

at the west end,

the steeple well-nigh,

in the south aisle.

His soul is with Christ.

A. 1036. This year died king Canute at Shaftesbiin-, and he is buried at Winchester in the Old-minster : and he was king over all England voy nigh twenty years. And soon after his decease there was a meeting of aU the witan at Oxford : and Leofric the earl, and almost all the thanes north of the Thames, and the ' lithsmen' at London, chose Harold for chief of all England, him and his brother Hardecanute who was in Denmark. And Godwin the earl and all the chief men of Weseex withstood it as long as ther could ; but thej were unable to effect anv thing in opposition to it. And then it was decreed that Eitgive, Hardecanute's mother, should dwell at Winchester with the king's, her son's, household, and hold all Wessex in his power ; and Godwin the earl was their man. Some men said of Harold that he was son of king Canute and of Eltgive daughter of Elfelm the ealdorman, but it seemed quite incredible to many men j and he was nevertheless full king over all England.

A. 1037. This year was Harold chosen king over aU, and Hardecanute forsaken, because he stayed too long in Den- mark ; and then they drove out his mother Eltgive, the queen, without any kind of mercy, against the stormy winter : and she came then to Bruges beyond sea ; and Baldwin the earl* there well received her, and there kept her the while she had need. And before, m this year, died Eafy the noble dean at Evesham.

A. 1037. This year was driven out Elfrlve, king Canute's reL'ct ; she was king Hardecanute's mother ; and she then sought the protection of Bald- win south of the sea, and he gave her a dwe'lin2 in Bruges, and protected and kept her, the while that she there was.

A. 1038. This year died Ethelnoth the good archbishop.f and bishop Ethehic in Sussex, i who desired of God that he would not let him live, any while, after his beloved father Ethelnoth ; and accordingly, within seven days after, he departed, and bishop Elfric in East-Anglia, § and bishop Briteagus in "Worcestershire on the 13th before the Kalends of January. And then bishop Eadsine succeeded to the arch-

• Of Flanders. t Of Canterbury ^ Selsey. § Elmham.

A.D.103?-ir41.] THE AXGLO-SAXOX CmiOXICLE. 415

bishopric, and Grinketel to the bishopric in Sussex, and bishop Living to Worcestershire and to Gloucestershire.

A. 1038. This year died Ethelnoth, the good archbishop, on the Ka- lends of Xovember, and a little after, Ethelric bishop in Sussex, and then before Chnstmas, Briteagiis bishop in Worcestershire, and soon after, Eliric oishop in East-Anglia.

A. 1039. This year vras the great wind: and bishop Brithmar died at Lichfield. And the Welsh slew Edwin orother of Leofric the earl, and Thurkil, and Elfget and rery many good men with them. And this year also came Hardecanute to Bruges, where his mother was.

^ A. 1039. This rear king Harold died at Oxford, on the 16th before the Kalends of April, and he was bnried at Westminster. And he ruled Eng- and four vears and sixteen weeks : and in his dars sixteen ships were re- :ained in par, at the rate of eight marks for each rower, in like manner as had 3een before done m the days of king Canute. And in this same year came dng Hardecanute to Sandwich, seven days before midsummer. And he was 50on acknowledged as well by English as by Danes ; though his advisers ifterwards grievously requited it, when they decreed that seventy-two ships should be retained in pay, at the rate of eight marks for ^ch rower. And n th3 same year the sester of wheat went up to hfty-five pence, and even urther,

A. 1040. This year died king Harold. Then sent they ifter Hardecanute to Brages ; thinking that they did well. And he then came hither with sixty ships before midsummer, ind then imposed a very heavy tribute, so that it could hardly ye levied ; that was eight marks for each rower, and all were hen averse to him who before had desired him : and more- »ver he did nothing royal during his whole reign. He -aused the dead Harold to be taken up. and had him cast into . fen. This year archbishop Eadsine went to Rome.

A. 1040. This year was the tribute jjaid ; that was twenty-one housand pounds and ninety-nine pounds. And after that they paid to nirty-two ships, eleven thousand and forty-eight pounds. And, in lis same year, came Edward, son of king Etheired, hither to land, from Veal-land ; he was brother of king Hardecanute : they were both sons of Ilfgive ; Emma, who was daughter of earl Richard.

A. 1041. This year Hardecanute caused all Worcestershire D be ravaged, on account of his two household servants, who emanded the heavy impost ; when the people slew them in the Dwn vdthin the minster. This year, soon after, came from •eyond sea Edward, his brother on the mother s side, king

416 THE ANGLO-SAXON CITROXICLE. [a.d. 1041 1C43.

Ethelred's son, who before for many years had been driven from his country ; and yet was he sworn king : and he then abode thus in his brothers family while he lived. And in this year also Hardecanute betrayed Eadulf the earl.* while under his protection : and he became then a belier of his "wed." And this year bishop Egelricf was ordained at York, on the 3rd before the Ides of January.

A. 1041 . This vear died king Hardecanute at Lambeth, on the 6th before the Ides of June : and he was king over all England two years wanting ten days ; and he is buried in the Old-minster at Winchester with king Canute his' father. And his mother, for his soul, gave to the New-minster the head of St. Valentine the mart}T. And before he was bvu^ed, all people chose Edward for king at London : may he hold it the while that God shall grant it to him ! And all that year was a ven.- hea\y time, in many things and divers, as well in respect to ill seasons as to the fruits of the eartL And so much cattle perished in the year as no man before remem- bered, as well through various diseases as through tempests. And in this same time died Elsinus abbat of Peterborough ; and then Arnwius the monk was chosen abbat, because he was a very good man, and of great simplicity.

A. 1042. This year died king Hardecanute as he stood at his drink, and he suddenly fell to the earth \\ith a terrible convulsion : and then they who were there nigh took hold of him ; and he after that spake not one word : and he died on the 6th before the Ides of June. And all people then ac- knowledged Edward for king, as was his true natural right.

A. 1043. This year was Edward consecrated king at Win- chester, on the first day of Easter, with much pomp ; and then was Easter on the third before the Xones of April. Archbishop Eadsine consecrated him, and before all the people well instructed him ; and for his own need, and aU the peo- ple's, well admonished him. And Stigand the priest was blessed bishop of the East- Angles. J And soon after, the king caused all the lands which his mother possessed to be seized into his hands, and took from her all that she pos- sessed in o-old, and in silver, and in things unspeakable, be- cause she had before held it too closely with him. And soon after, Stigand was deposed from his bishopric, and all that he possessed was seized into the king's hands, because he was nearest to his mother's counsel, and she went just as he advised her, as people thought.

• Of Northumbria. t Of Durham. ; Elmham.

A D. 1043—1045 ] THE A^'GLO-SAXOX CHEOXICLE. 417

A. 1043. This year was Edward consecrated king at Winchester on the first day of Easter. And this year, foiir:een days before Andrew"s-mass, the king was advised to ride from Gloucester, and Leofric the earl, and Godwin the earl, and Sigwarth [Siward] the earl, with their followers, to Winchester, unawares upon the lady [Ernma] ; and they bereaved her of all the treasures which she possessed, they were not to be told, because before that she had been very hard with the king her son ; inasmuch as she had done less for him than he would, before he was king, and also since : and they suffered her after that to remain therein-

This year king Edward took the daughter [Edgitha] of Godwin the earl for his wife. And in this same year died bishop Brithvrin, and he held the bishopric thirty-eight years, that was the bishopric of Sher- borne, and Herman the king-'s priest succeeded to the bishopric. And in this year Wulfric was hallowed abbat of St. Augustine's at Christmas, on Stephen's mass-day, by leave of the king, and, on account of his great infir- mity, of abbat Elfstan.

A. 1044. Tliis Tear archbishop Eadsine* gave up the bishopric by reason of his infirmity, and he blessed thereto Siward abbat of Abingdon, as bishop, by the king's leave and counsel and Godwin's the earl's : it was known to few men else before it was done, because the archbishop thought that some other man would obtain or buy it whom he could less trust in, and be pleased with, if more men should know of it. And in this year was a very great famine over all England, and corn was so dear as no man before remem- bered ; so that the sester of wheat went up to sixty pence, and even further. And in the same year the king went out to Sandwich with thirty-five ships : and Athelstan the churchwarden obtained the abbacy at Abingdon. And Sti- gand re-obtained his bishopric. And in the same year king Edward took Edgitha. daughter of Godwin the earl, to wife, ten days before Candlemas.

A. 1044. This vear died Livins bishop in Devonshire, and Leofric suc- ceeded thereto : he was the king's priest. And in this same year died Elfstan abbat of St. Augustine's, on the third before the Nones of July. And in this same year was outlawed Osgod Clapa-

A. 1045. In this vear died bishop Brithwint on the 10th before the Kalends *of May ; and king Edward gave the bishopric to Herman his priest. And in the same sum- mer kin^ Edward went out with his ships to Sandwich ; and there so great a force was gathered, that no man had

• Of Canterburv.

t Of Ramsbury, afterwards removed to Salisbury. £ £

418 THE ANGLO-SAXOX CHRONICLE. [a.d. 1045, 1046.

seen a greater fleet in this land. And in this same year died bishop Living* on the 13th before the Kalends of April ; and the king gave the bishopric to Leofric his priest. This year died EliVard bishop of London, on the 8th before the Kalends of August. He was first abbat of Evesham, and greatly advanced the minster whilst he was there. He went then to Ramsey, and there gave up his life. And Manni was chosen abbat,| and ordained on the 4th before the Ides of August. And in this year was driven out Gunnilde, the noble woman, king Canute's niece ; and she, after that, stayed at Bruges a long while, and after- wards went to Denmark.

A. 1045. This year died Grimkytel bishop in Sussex, and Heca the king's priest succeeded thereto. And in this year died Alw>'n, bishop of Winchester, on the 4th before the Kalends of September ; and Stigand, bishop to the north,t succeeded thereto. And in the same year Sweyn the earl went out to Baldwin's land§ to Bruges and abode there all the winter ; and then in summer he went out.

A. 1046. In this year Sweyn the earl went into Wales, and Gritfin the Northern king|| went with liim ; and they delivered hostages to liim. As he was on liis way home- wards, then commanded he to be brought unto liim the ab- bess of Leominster : and he had her as long as he listed ; and after that he let her go home. And in this same year Osgod Clapa was outlawed before mid-winter. And in this same year, after Candlemas, came the severe winter, with frost and with snow, and -svith all kinds of tempestuous wea- ther, so that there was no man then alive who could remem- ber so severe a winter as this was, as well through mortality of men as murrain of cattle ; even birds and fishes perished through the "Treat cold and famine.

A. 1046. This year died Brithwin, bishop in Wiltshire, and Herman was appointed to his see. In that year king Edward gathered a large ship- force at Sandwich, on account of the threatening of Magnus in Norway : but his and Swej-n's contention in Denmark hindered his coming here,

A. 1046. This year died Athelstan, abbat of Abingdon, and Spar- hawk, monk of St. Edmimd's-bmy-, succeeded him. And in this same year died bishop Siward, and archbishop Eadsine again obtained the whole bia.iopric.li' And in this same year Lothen and Irling came with twenty- 6vi; ships to Sandwich, and there took unspeakable booty, in men, and in

* Of Crediton. + Of Evesham. t Of Elmham.

j Flanders. D Of North Wales. ^ Of Cantor! Jury.

A-D. 1046. 1047.] THE A:NGL0-SAX0X CHKOXICLE.

419

gold, and in silver so that no man knew how much it all was. And thev then wen about Thanet and would there do the like ; but the landVfolk strenuously withstood them, and denied them as well landing as water • and thence utterly put them to flight. And they betook themselves then into Es^ex, and there they ravaged, and took men, and property, and what- soever they m^ght find. And they betook themselves Then e^t to BaW- wine 8 land, and there they sold what they had plundered : and after that went their way east, whence thev before had come.

A. 1046. In this year was the great synod at St. Remi's [Rheimsl. Thereat was Leo the pope, and the archbishop of Burgundy [Lvons], and the archbisnop of Besan9on, and the archbishop of Treves, and the arch- bishop of Rheims ; and many men besides, both clergv and laitv And king Edward sent thither bishop Dudoc,* and Wulfric abbat of St. Au^nis- tme's, and abbat Elfwin,+ that they might make kno^m to the king what should be there resolved on for Christendom. And m this same year kin<r Edward went out to Sandwich with a great fleet. And Swevn'the earf. son of Godwm the earl, came in to Bosham with seven ships ; and he obtained the king's protection, and he was promised that he should be held worthy of every- thing which he before possessed. Then Harold the earl, his brother, and Beom the earl contended that he should not be held wor- thy of any of the things which the king had granted to them : but a pro- tection of four days was appointed him to go to his ships. Then befell it durmg this, that word came to the kmg that hostile ships lay westward, and were ravaging. Then went Godwin the earl west about with two of the king's ships ; the one commanded Harold the earl, and the other Tos- ty his brother ; and forty-two of the people's ships. Then Harold the eaif was removed from the king's ship which Harold the earl before had com- manded. Then went they west to Pevensey, and lay there weather-bound. Upon this, after two days, then came Sweyn the earl thither, and spoke with his father, and with Beorn the earl, 'and begged of Beom that he would go with him to the king at Sandwich, and help him to the king's friendship : and he granted it. Then went they as if they would go to the king. Then whilst they were riding, then begged Sweyn of him that he would go with him to his ships : saving that his seamen would depart from i'im imless he should at the soonest come thither. Then went they both where his ships lay. When they came thither, then begged Sweyn the ^arl of him that he would go with him on ship-board. He strenuously 'efused, so long as imtil his seamen seized him, and threw him into the ooat, and bound him, and rowed to the ship, and put him there aboard. Then they hoisted up their sails and ran west to Exmouth, and had him tyith them until they slew him : and they took the body and buried it in a :hurch. And then his friends and htsmen came from London, and took lim up, and bore him to Winchester to the Old-minster : and he is there Duried with king Canute his uncle. And Sweyn went then east to Bald- ivin's land, and sat down there all the winter at Bruges, with his full pro- jection. And in the same year died Eadnoth [IL] bishop J of the north; •And Ulf was made bishop. '

A. 1047. In this year died bishop Grinketel ; he vras

• Of Wells. t Of Ramsey. ; Of Dorchester.

E E 2

420 THE ANGLO-SAXON CIIROXICLE. [a d. 1047, 1048.

bishop* in Sussex, and lie lies in Christ- Church, at Canter- bury ; and king Edward gave the bishopric to Heca his priest. And in this same year died bishop Alwyn^ on the 4th before the Kalends of September ; and king Edward gave the bishopric to bishop Stigand. And Athelstan abbat of Abingdon died in the same year, on the 4th before the Kalends of April: then was Easter-day on the 3rd before the iSTones of April. And there was over all England a very great mortality in the same year.

A. 1047. This year died Linng the eloquent bishop, on the 10th before the Kalends of April, and he had three bishoprics; one in Devonshire, and in Cornwall, and in Worcester. Then Leofric J succeeded to Devon- shire and to Cornwall, and bishop Aldred to Worcester. And in this year Osgod, the master of the horse, was outlawed : and Magnus § won Denmark.

A. 1047. In this ye;ir there was a great council in London at ]\Iid-lent, and nine ships of lightermen were discharged, and five remained behind. In this same year came Swe}-n the earl into England. And in this same year was the great synod at Rome, and king Edward sent thither bishop Herom;in and bishop Aldred ; and they came thither on Easter eve. And after^vards the pope held a synod at Vercelli, and bishop Ulf came thereto ; and well nigh would they have broken his staff, if he had not given very great gifts ; because he knew not how to do his duty so well as he should. And in this year died archbishop Eadsine, on the 4th before the Kalends of November.

A. 1048. In this year was a great earthquake wide through- out England. In the same year Sandwich and the Isle of Wight were ravaged, and the chief men that were there slain. And after that king Edward and the earls went out with their ships. And in the same year bishop Siward resigned the bishopric on account of his infirmity, and went to Abing- don, and archbishop Eadsine again received the bishopric : || and he [Siward] died within eight weeks after, on the lOth before the Kalends of November.

A. 1048. This year was the severe winter : and this year died AIwjti, bishop of Winchester, and bishop Stigand was raised to his see. And be- fore that, in the same year, died Grinketel, bishop in Sussex, and Heca the priest succeeded to the bishopric. And Swe}'n also sent hither, beg- ging assistance against Magnus, king of Nonvay ; that fifty ships should be Bent to his aid. But it seemed unad\asable to all people : and it was then hindered by reason that Magnus had a great ship force. And he then drove out Sweyn, and with much man-slaying won the land : and the

* Of Selsey. + Of Winchester.

t Leofric removed the see to Exeter.

$ King of Norway. || Of Canterbury.

I

LD.1048.] THE ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE. 421

3anes paid him much money and acknowledged him as king. And 'hat ame year Magnus died. ° "■ '"^^

tu-?^^" 3"^ ^^^ Z^'"'' ^^"" 'Edward appointed Robert, of London Tchb.shop of Canterbury, during Lent. And in the same Lent he ^^^nt tJ lome after his pall : and the king gave the bishopric of London to Spar- Ttnn P ff Abingdon ; and the kmg gave the abbacy of Abingdon to ■i^hop Rodu f, his kinsman. Then came the archbishop from Rome one ^aybefore St Peter s-mass-eve, and entered on his archiepiscopal see at .hrists Chm-ch on St Peter's mass-day ; and soon after went to the king. _hen came abbat Sparhafoc to him ^rith the king's MTit and seal, in order hat he should consecrate him bishop of London. Then the archbishop etused, and said that the pope had forbidden it him. Then went the abbat 3 the archbishop again for that purpose, and there desired episcopal ordi- ,^ 5Jind the archbishop constantly refused him, and said that the pope ad forbidden it him. Then went the abbat to London, and occupied the ishopnc winch the king before had granted him, with his full leave, all the ummer and the harvest. And then came Eustace* from bevond sea soon tter the bishop, and went to the king, and spoke with him that which he then .^ould, and went then homeward. When he came to Canterburv, east, then ook he refreshment there, and his men, and went to Dover. When he was ome mile or more on this side of Dover, then he put on his breast-plate, nd so did all his companions, and went to Dover. When they came hither, then would they lodge themselves where they chose. Then came ne of his men, and would abide in the house of a householder against his all, and wounded the householder ; and the householder slew the other, ^hen Eustace got upon his horse, and his companions upon theirs ; and hey went to the householder, and slew him within his own dwelling ; and hey went up towards the town, and slew, as well within as Avithout, lore than twenty men. And the townsmen slew nineteen men on he other side, and wounded they knew not how many. And Eustace scaped with a few men, and went again to the king, and made known 3 him, in part, how they had fared. And the king became very wroth dth the to^vnsmen. And the king sent ofFGodmn the carl, and bade him o into Kent in a hostile manner to Dover : for Eustace had made it ppear to the king, that it had been more the fault of the townsmen than IS : but it was not so. And the earl would not consent to the inroad, be- ause he was loath to injure, his o^vn people. Then the king sent after all is council, and bade them come to Gloucester, nigh the aftermass of St. lary. Then had the Welshmen erected a castle in Herefordshire among le people of Sweyn the earl, and Avrought every kind of harm and dis- race to the king's men there about which they could. Then came God- ■in the earl, and Sweyn the earl, and Harold the earl, together at Bever- ;one, and many men Anth them, in order that they might go to their royal )rd, and to all the peers who were assembled ^vith him, in order that ley might have the advice of the king and his aid, and of all this council, ow they might avenge the king's disgrace, and the whole nation's. Then ere the Welshmen with the king beforehand, and accused the earls, ) that they might not come ^vithin his eyes' sight ; because they said that -ley were coming thither in order to betray the kmg. Thither had come

* Earl of Boulome.

422 THE ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE. [a.d. 1049.

Siward the earl * and Leofric the earl,+ and much people with them, from the north, to the king ; and it was made known to the earl Godwin and his sons, thnt the king and the men who were with him, were taking counsel concerning them : and they arrayed themselves on the other hand reso- lutely, though it were loathful to them that they should stand against their royal lord. Then the peers on either side decreed that every kind of evil should cease : and the king gave the peace of God and his full friendship to either side. Then the king and his peers decreed that a council of all the nobles should be held for the second time in London at the harvest equinox ; and the king directed the army to be called out, as well south of the Thames as north, all that was in any way most eminent. Then de- clared they Sweyn the earl an outlaw, and summoned God^vin the earl and Harold the earl, to the council, as quickly as they could effect it. When they had come thither, then were they summoned into the coimcil. Then required he safe conduct and hostages, so that he might come, unbetrayed, into the council and out of the council. Then the king demanded all the thanes whom the earls before had ; and they granted them all into his hands. Then the king sent again to them, and commanded them that they should come with twelve men to the king's council. Then the earl again required safe conduct and hostages, that he might defend himself against each of those things which were laid to him. Then were the hostages re- fused him ; and he was allowed a safe conduct for five nights to go out of the land. And then Godwin the earl and Sweyn the earl went to Bosham, and shoved out their ships, and betook themselves beyond sea, and sought Bald^vin■s protection, and abode there all the winter. And Harold the earl went west to Ireland, and was there all the \vinter within the king's protection. And soon after this happened, then put away the king the lady who had been consecrated his queen,:^: and caused to be taken from her all which she possessed, in land, and in gold, and in silver, and in all things, and delivered her to his sister at Wherwell. And abbat Spar- hafoc was then driven out of the bishopric of London, and William the king's priest was ordained thereto. And then Odda was appointed earl over Devonshire, and over Somerset, and over Dorset, and over the Welsh. And Algar, the son of Leofric the earl, was appointed to the earldom which Harold before ^held.

A. 1049. In this year the emperor gathered a countless force against Baldwin § of Bruges : by reason that he had destroyed the palace at Nimeguen, and also, that he had done many other injuries to him : the force was not to be told which he had gathered. There was Leo [IX.] the pope of Rome, and many great men of many nations. He sent also to king Edward, and begged the aid of his ships, in order that he should not suffer him to escape from him by water. And he went then to Sand^vich, and there continued lying with a great fleet, until the emperor obtained of Bald-

* Of Northumbria. t Of IMercia.

X Editha. § Earl of Flanders.

^D. 1049.J THE ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE. 423

win all that he would. Thither came back again Sweyn Lhe earl to king Edward, and requested land of him, from ^vhich he might maintain himself. But Harold his brother contended, and Beorn the earl, that they should not give ap to him any thing which the king had given to them. He came hither with false pretences ; saying that he would 36 his man, and begged of Beorn the earl that he would aid lira : but the king refused him every thing. Then went Sweyn to his ships at Bosham ; and Godwin the earl went rom Sandwich with forty-two ships to Pevensey, and Beorn the earl went forth with him ; and then the king gave leave to all the Mercians to go home : and they did so. Then was it made known to the king, that Osgod lay at Ulps with thirty-nine ships. Then the king sent after the ships which lay at the Nore, that he might send after liim. But Osgod fetched his wife from Bruges, and went back again with six ships ; and the others landed in Essex, at Eadulf- ness, and there did harm, and went again to their ships. Then lay Godwin the earl and Beorn the earl at Pevensey, with their ships. Then came Sweyn the earl with fraud, and begged of Beorn the earl that he would be his companion to the king at Sandwich ; saying that he would swear oaths to him, and be faithful to him. Then Beorn concluded that, on account of their kindred, he would not deceive him. Then took he three companions with him, and they then rode to Bosham, as if they would go to Sandmch, where Sweyn's ships lay. And they soon bound him, and led him on ship- board ; and then went to Dartmouth, and there caused him to be slain and deeply buried. But liim liis kinsman Harold thence fetched and bore to Winchester, and there buried with king Canute his uncle. And then the king and all the army declared Sweyn an outlaw. Eight ships he had before he murdered Beorn ; after that, all forsook him except two ; and then he went to Bruges, and there abode with Baldwin. And in this year died Eadnoth, the good bishop, in Oxford- shire,* and Oswy abbat of Thorney, and Wulfnoth abbat ot^ Westminster: and king Edward gave the bishopric to Lit his priest, and unworthily bestowed it. And in this same year king Edward discharged nine ships from pay ; and they went away, ships and all ; and five ships remained be- * Dorchester.

424 THE ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE. [a.d. 1049, 1050.

hind, and the king promised them twelve months' pay. And in the same year went bishop Heroman* and bishop Aldredf to Kome, to the pope, on the king's errand.

A. 1049. This year Sweyn came again to Denmark, and Harold, uncle of Magnus, went to Norway after ^lagnus was dead ; and the Normans acknowledged him : and he sent hither to land concerning peace. And Sweyn also sent from Denmark, and begged of king Edward the aid of liis ships. They were to be at least fifty ships : but all people opposed it. And this year also there was an earthquake, on the Kalends of May, in many places in Worcester, and in Wick, and in Derby, and elsewhere ; and also there was a great mortality among men, and murrain among cattle : and moreover, the wild-fire did much evil in Derbyshire and elsewhere.

A. 1050. In this year came the bishops home from Rome : and Sweyn the earl was inlawed. And in this same year died archbishop Eadsine, on the fourth before the Kalends of November ; and also, in this same year, Alfric archbishop of York, on the eleventh before the Kalends of February ; and his body lies at Peterborough. Then king Edward held a council in London at IMid-lent, and appointed Robert archbishop of Canterbury, and abbat Sparhafoc to London ; and gave to bishop Rodulf, his kinsman, the abbacy at Abingdon. And the same year he discharged all the lightermen from pay.

A. 1050. Thither also came Sweyn the earl, who before had gone from this land to Denmark, and who there had ruined himself with the Danes. He came thither with false pretences ; saying that he would again be obedient to the king. And Beorn the earl promised him that he would be of assistance to him. Then, after the reconciliation of the emperor and of Baldwin, many of the ships went home, and the king remained behind at Sandwich with a few ships ; and Godwin the earl also went with forty- two ships from Sandwich to Pevensey, and Beom the earl went with him. Then was it made known to the king that Osgod lay at Ulps with thirty-nine ships ; and the king then sent after the ships which before had gone home, that he might send after him. And Osgod fetched his wife from Bruges, and they went back again with six ships. And the others landed in Sussex X at Eadulf-ness, and there did harm, and went again to their ships : and then a strong -wind came against them, so that they were all destroyed, except four, whose crews were slain beyond sea. While Godwin the earl and Beom the earl lay at Pevensey, then came Sweyn the earl, and begged Beorn the earl, with fraud, who was his uncle's son, that he would be his companion to the king at Sandwich, and better his affairs with him. He went then, on account of the relationship, with three companions, with him ; and he led him then towards Bosham, where his ships lay : and then they bound him, and led him on ship-board. Then went he thence with

* Of Ramsbury. Heroman removed the see to Salisbury. t Of Worcester. X Essex.

A.D. 1051, 1052.] THE ANGLO-SAXON CKROXICLE. 425

him to Dartmouth, and there ordered him to be slain, and deeply buried. Aftejwards he was found, and borne to Winchester, and bui'ied with king Canute his uncle. A little before that, the men of Hastings and thereabout, fought two of his ships with their ships ; and slew all the men, and brought the ships to Sandwich to the king. Eight ships he had before he betrayed Beom ; after that all forsook him except two. In the same year arrived in the Welsh Axa, from Ireland, thirty-six ships, and thereabout did liarm, Avith the help of Griffin the Welsh king. The people were gathered together against them ; bishop Aldred * was also there with them ; but they had too little power. And they came vmawares upon them at very early morn ; and there they slew many good men, and the others escaped with the bishop : this was done on the fourth before the Kalends of xVugust. This year died, in Oxfordshire, Oswy abbat of Thomey, and Wulfnoth abbat of Westminster ; and Ulf the priest was appointed as pastor to the bishopric Avhich Eadnoth had held ; but he was after that driven away ; because he did nothing bishop-like therein : so that it shameth us now to tell more about it. And bishop Siward died : he lieth at Abingdon. And this year was consecrated the gi-eat minster at Rheims : there was pope Leo [IX.] and the emperor ;+ and there they held a great synod concerning God's service. St. Leo the pope presided at the s}-nod : it is difficult to have a knowledge of the bishops Avho came there, and how many abbats : and hence, from this land were sent two— from St. Augustine's and from Ramsey.

A. 1051. In this year came arclibisliop Eobert hither over sea ^dth his pall. And in this same year were banished Godwin, the earl, and all his sons from England ; and he went to Bruges and his wife, and his three sons, Swejn, and Tosty, and Grith : and Harold and Leofwine went to Ireland, and there dwelt during the winter. And in this same year died the old lady, king Edward's mother, and Hardecanute's, who was called Emma, on the second before the Ides of March ; and her body hes in the Old-minster^ with king Canute.

A. 1051. In this year died Eadsine archbishop of Canterbury ; and the king gave to Robert 'the Frenchman, who before had been bishop ot Lon- don, the archbishopric. And Sparhafoc abbat of Abingdon succeeded to the bishopric of London ; and it was afterwards taken from him belore he was consecrated. And bishop Heroman and bishop Aldred went to Rome.

A. 1052. This year came Harold, the earl, from Ireland, with his ships to the mouth of the Severn, nigh the bound- aries of Somerset and Devonshire, and there greatly ravaged ; and the people of the land drew together again.>t Inm, as well from Somerset as from Devonshire ; and he put them to flight, and there slew more than thirty good thanes, besides * Of Worcester. t Hen. III. t Winchester.

426 THE ANGLO-SAXON CKRONICLE. [a. d, 1052.

other people : and soon after that he went about Penwith- stert. And then king Edward caused forty vessels to be fitted out. They lay at Sandwich many weeks ; they were to lie in wait for Godwin, the earl, who had been at Bruges during the winter ; and, notwithstanding, he came hither to land first, so that they knew it not. And during the time that he was here in the land, he enticed to him all the men of Kent, and all the boatmen from Hastings and every- where there by the sea-coast, and all the East-end, and Sus- sex, and Surrey, and much else in addition thereto. Then all declared that they with him would die and live. When the fleet which lay at Sandwich, learned this concerning God- win's voyage, then set they out after him. And he escaped them, and concealed himself wherever he then could ; and the fleet went again to Sandwich, and so homeward to Lon- don. Then when Godwin learned that the fleet which lay at Sandwich was gone home, then went he once more to the Isle of Wight, and lay thereabout by the sea-coast so long as until they came together, he and his son earl Harold. And they did not much harm after they came together, except that they seized provisions : but they enticed to them all the land-folk by the sea-coast and also up the country ; and they went towards Sandwich, and collected ever forth with them all the boatmen which they met with, and then came to Sandwich, with an overflowing army. When king Edward learned that, then sent he up after more help ; but they came very late. And Godwin advanced ever towards London with his fleet until he came to Southwark, and there abode some time until the flood-tide came up. During that time he also treated with the townsmen, that they should do almost all that he would. When he had mustered all his host, then came the flood-tide ; and they then soon drew their anchors, and held their way through the bridge by the south shore, and the land-force came from above, and arrayed themselves along the strand : and they then inclined with the ships towards the north shore, as if they would hem the king's ships about. The king also had a great land-force on his side, in addition to his shipmen ; but it was loathful to almost all of them that they should fight against men of their own race ; for there was little else there which was of much account except Englishmen, on either side ; and more-

A.D. 1052.] THE ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE. 427

over they were unwilling that this land should be still more exposed to outlandish men, by reason that they themselves destroyed each other. Then decreed they that wise men should be sent between them : and they settled a truce on either side. And Godwin landed, and Harold his son and from their fleet as many as to them seemed iittino-. Then there was a general council : and they gave his earldom clean to Godwin, as full and as free as he before possessed it and to his sons also all that they before possessed, and to his wite and his daughter as full and as free as tlipy before pos- sessed it. And they then established between them full friendship, and to all the people they promised good law And then they outlawed all the Frenchmen who before had instituted unjust law, and judged unjust judgments, and counselled ill counsel in this land ; except so many as they agreed upon, whom the king liked to have with him, who were true to him and to all his people. And bishop Eobert * and bishop William, t and bishop Ulf,j: with difficulty escaped, with the Frenchmen who were with them, and thus got over sea. And Godwin, the earl, and Harold, and the queen, § sat down in their possessions. Sweyn had gone before this to Jerusalem from Bruges ; and he died on liis way home at Constantinople on Michael's-mass. It was on the Monday after St. Mary's-mass that Godwin with his ships came to Southwark ; and the morning after, on the Tuesday, they were reconciled, as it here before stands. Godwin then grew sick soon after he landed ; and he after- wards departed : but he did all too little penance for the property of God which he held belonging to many holy places. And the same year came the strong wind, on Tho- mas's-mass -night, and did much harm in many parts. More- over Eees, the Welsh king's || brother, was slain.

A. 1052. This year died Alfric, archbishop of York, a very pious mean, md wise. And in the same year king Edward abolished " the tribute, vvhich king Ethelred had before imposed : that was in the nine-and- -hirtieth year after he had begun it. That tax distressed all tlie English lation during so long a time, as it here above is written ; that was ever be- :ore other taxes which Avere variously paid, and whereAvith the people were nanifestiy distressed. In the same year Eustace 1[ landed at Dover : he

* Of Canterbury. f Of London. J Of Dorcliester.

§ Editha. II Of South Wales. •^ Earl of Boulogne.

428 THE ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE. [a.d. 1052.

had king Edward's sister to wife. Then went his men inconsiderately after quarters, and a certain man of the town they slew ; and another man of the town their companion ; so that there hiy seven of his companions. And much harm was there done on either side, by horse and also by weapons, until the people gathered together : and then they fled away until they came to the king at Gloucester ; and he gave them protection. When Godwin, the earl, understood that such things should have hap- l)ened in his earldom, then began he to gather together people over all his earldom,* and Sweyn, the earl, liis son, over his, and Harold, his other son, over his earldom ; and they all drew together in Gloucestershire, at Lang- tree, a great force and countless, all ready for battle against the king, un- less Eustace were given up, and his men placed in their hands, and also the Frenchmen who were in the castle. This was done seven days before the latter mass of St. Mary. Then was king Edward sitting at Gloucester. Then sent he after Leofric, the earl,t and north after Siward the earl,t and begged their forces. And th.en they came to him ; first with a moderate aid, but after they knew how it was there, in the south, then sent they north over all their eai-ldoms, and caused to be ordered out a large force for the help of their lord ; and Ralph, also, over his earldom : and then came they all to Gloucester to help the king, though it might be late. Then were they all so united in opinion with the king that tliey would have sought out Godwin's forces if the king had so willed. Then thought some of them that it would be a great folly that they should join battle ; because there was nearly all that was most noble in England in the two armies, and they thought that they should expose the land to our foes, and cause great de- struction among ourselves. Then counselled they that hostixges should be given mutually ; and they appointed a term at London, and thither the people were ordered out over all this north end, in Siward's earldom, and in Leofric's, and also elsewhere ; and Godwin, the earl, and his sons were to come there vrith their defence. Then came they to Southwark, and a great multitude with them, from Wessex ; but his band continually dimin- ished the longer he stayed. And they exacted pledges for the king from all the thanes who were under Harold, the earl, his son ; and then they outlawed Sweyn, the earl, his other son. Then did it not suit him to come with a defence to meet the king, and to meet the army which was with him. Then went he by night away ; and the king on the morrow held a council, and, together with all the army, declared him an outlaw, him and all his sons. And he went south to Thomey, and his wife, and Sweyn his son, and Tosty and his wife, Baldwin's relation of Bruges, and Grith his son. And Harold, the earl, and Leofwine, went to Bristol in the ship which Swe}-n, the earl, had before got ready for himself, and provisioned. And the king sent bishop Aldred § to London with a force ; and they were to overtake him ere he came on ship-board : but they could not or they would not. And he went out from Avonmouth, and met with such heavy weather that he with difficulty got away ; and there he sustained much damage. Then went he forth to Ireland when fit weather came. And Godwin,

• Godwin's earldom consisted of Wessex, Sussex, and Kent : Sweyn 'a of Oxford, Gloucester, Hereford, Somerset, and Berkshire : and Harold's of Essex, East-Anglia, Huntingdon, and Cambridgeshire.

+ Of Mercia. J Of Northumbria. $ Of Worcester.

A.D. 1052.] THE ANGLO-SAXON CHKOXICLE. 429

and those who were with him, went from Thomey to Bruges, to Baldwin's land, in one ship, with as much treasure as they might therein best stow for each man. It would have seemed wondrous to every man who was in England if any one before that had said that it should end thus ; for he had been erewhile to that degree exalted, as if he ruled the king and all Eng- land ; and his sons were earls and the king's darlings, and his daughter ■wedded and united to the king : she was brought to Wherwell, and they delivered her to the abbess. Then, soon, came William, the earl,* from beyond sea, with a great band of Frenchmen ; and the king received him, and as many of his companions as it pleased him ; and let him awav again. This same year was given to William, the priest, the bishopric of London, which before had been given to Sparhafoc.

A. 1052. This year- died Elfgue, the lady, relict of king Ethelred and of king Canute, on the second before the Nones of March. In the same year Griffin, the Welsh king, plvmdered in Herefordshire, xmtil he came very nigh to Leominster ; and they gathered against him, as well the landsmen as the Frenchmen of the castle, and there were slain of the English very many good men, and also of the Frenchmen ; that was on the same day, on which, thirteen years before, Eadwine had been slain by his companions.

A. 1052. In this year died Elfgive Emma, king Edward's mother and king Hardecanute's. And in this same year, the king decreed, and his coimcil, that ships should proceed to Sandwich ; and they set Ralph, the earl, and Odda, the earl,t as head-men thereto. Then Godwin, the earl, went out from Bruges ■\nth his ships to Ysendyck, and left it one day before Midsummer's-mass eve, so that he came to 2Sess, which is south of Rom- ney. Then came it to the knowledge of the earls out at Sandwich ; and they then went out after the other ships, and a land-force was ordered out against the ships. Then during this, Godwin, the earl, was warned, and then he went to Pevensey ; and the weather was very severe, so that the earls could not learn what was become of Godwin, the earl. And then Godwin, the earl, went cut again, until he came once more to Bruges ; and the other ships returned again to Sandwich. And then it was decreed that the ships should return once more to London, and that other earls and commanders should be appointed to the ships. Then was it delayed so long that the ship-force all departed, and all of them went horne. When Godwin, the earl, learned that, then drew he up his sail, and his fleet, and then went west direct to the Isle of Wight, and there landed and ravaged so .ong there, until the people yielded them so much as they laid on them. And then they went westward until they came to Portland, and there they landed, and did whatsoever harm they were able to do. Ihen was Harold come out from Ireland with nine ships ; and then landed at Porlock, and there much people was gathered against him ; but he failed not to procure himself provisions. He proceeded further, and slew there a great number of the people, and took of cattle, and of men, and of property as it smted him. He then went eastward to his father : and then they both Avent east- ward until thev came to the Isle of Weight, and there took that which was vet remaining for them. And then they went thence to Pevensey, and got away thence as many ships as were there Ht for service, and so onwards

• Of Normandv. t Of Devon.

430 THE ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE. [a d. 1052.

until he came to Ness, and got all the ships which were in Romney, and in Hythe, and in Folkstone. And then they went east to Dover, and there landed, and there took ships and hostages, as many as they would, and so went to Sandwich and did " hand " the same ; and everywhere hostages were given them, and provisions wherever they desired. And then they went to North-mouth, and so toward London ; and some of the ships went within Sheppey, and there did much harm, and went their way to King's Milton, and that they all burned, and betook themselves then toward London after the earls. When they came to London, there lay the king and all the earls there against them, with fifty ships. Then the earls sent to the king, and required of him, that they might be held worthy of each of those things which had been unjustly taken from them. Then the king, however, resisted some while ; so long as until the people who were with the earl were much stirred against the king and against his people, so that the earl himself with difficulty stilled the people. Then bishop Stigand interposed with God's help, and the wise men as well within the town as without ; and they decreed that hostages should be set forth on either side : and thus was it done. When archbishop Robert and the Frenchmen learned that, they took their liorses and went, some west to Pentecost's castle, some north to Robert's castle. And archbishop Robert and bishop Ulf went out at East-gate, and their companions, and slew and otherwise injured many young men, and went their way direct to Eadulf 's-ness ; and he there jjut himself in a crazy ship, and went direct over sea, and left his fall and all Christendom here on land, so as God would have it, inasmuch as he had before obtained the dignity so as God would not have it. Then there was a great council proclaimed without London : and all the earls and the chief men who were in this land were at the council. There Godwin bore forth his defence, and justified himself, before king Edward his lord, and before all people of the land, that he was guiltless of that which was laid against him, and against Harold his son, and all his children. And the king gave to the earl and his children his full friendship, "and full earl- dom, and all that he before possessed, and to all the men who were vnth him. And the king gave to the lady* all that she before possessed. And they declared archbishop Robert utterly an outlaw, and all the French- men, because they had made most of the difference between Godwin, the earl, and the king. And bishop Stigand obtained the archbishopric of Canterbury. In this same time Arnwy, abbat of Peterborough, left the abbacy, in sound health, and gave it to Leofric the monk, by leave of the king and of the monks ; and abbat Arnwy lived afterwards eight years. And abbat Leofric then (enriched) the mhister, so that it was called the Golden-borough. Then it waxed <;reatly, in land, and in gold, and in silver. A. 1052. And went so to the Isle of Wight, and there took all the ships which could be of any service, and hostages, and betook himself so eastward. And Harold had landed with nhie ships at Porlock, and slew there much people, and took cattle, and men, and property, and went his way eastward to his father, and they both went to Romney, to Hythe, to Folkstone, to Dover, to Sandwich, and ever they took all the ships which they found, which could be of any service, and hostages, all as they proceeded ; and went then to London.

• Editha.

A.D 1053, 1054.1 TTTP AxrnT/-w r,.^

J THE ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE. 43 1

earl, his son, and Tol -rr' '"a""*^ ^^='™'''. 'he Easter, sat he'vrith the k 7^ at ft e feast"- th' ''"T." /'"^ "^ he down by the footstool, 3epr ve/7speech\'„1 oT ^f r'' power, and he was then carried into the l,W . ^" '"' they thought it would pass over h^,t U i'^^ chamber, and

had, he bemg yet Uvmg and di-iven from it

ndrr''^''1r/i\S-""'^"™^^' ^'^d Wulfsy, bishop of Lt^cld and Gouwin, abbat of Wmchcomb, and Egelward, abbat of Glaltonburv

Il^nthm one month, and Leofwine succeeded to the bishopric of lS' ^e d, and bishop Aldredf took the abbacy at Winchconib and E.el SfHroS'^'/' ?' "''^^-^^* Giastonb^i^ And the same year dfed ^ndt'helm '^^^^^^/t Deorhurst ; and hi^ body resteth at Pershore

hektt S W-^^'f t'"^ ^fT. '^"' ''''^ ' ""^ ^« ^'^^ ill ^« J^e s^t with iiekmgat Wmchester. And Harold his son succeeded to the earldom

^omwb!^'M"^^1^''l^'/"^ ^^-^^^^^^^ ean, succeeded to the Z^ lorn which Harold before held.

■^atni^n?\i''^^'''J?'-^^f^ •^.^^^"^■"' *^^ *^^'l' «" ^^'^ J^th before the l.rnl r.f -T' ^"^ ^^ ^ ''""^^ ^^ Winchester, in the Old-minster ; and 1 s fatW 1? Tl ', ^' '°"^' '"f ^^^df'i to the earldom, and to all that which LdfbeteS; °"'^''' '"'' succeeded to the earldom which

A. 1054. This year went Siward the earlj: with a great irmj into Scotland, and made much slaughter of the Scots - Dorchester. f Of Worcester. J Of Northumbria.

432 THE ANGLO-SAXOX CHROXICLE. [a.d. 1054, 1055.

and pnt them to flight : and the king escaped. Moreover, many fell on his side, as well Danish-men as English, and also his own son.* The same year was consecrated the minster at Evesham, on the 6th before the Ides of October. In the same year bishop Aldredf went south over sea into Saxony, and was there received with much reverence. That same year died Osgod Clapa suddenly, even as he lay on his bed. In this year died Leo [IX.] the holy pope of Rome. And in this year there was so great a murrain among cattle, as no man remembered for many years before. And Victor [n.] was chosen pope.

1 054. This Tear went Siward the earl "with a great army into Scotland, both with a ship-force and with a land-force, and fought against the Scots, and put to flight king Macbeth, and slew all who were the chief men in the land, and led thence much booty, such as no man before had obtained. But his son (Jibom, and his sister's son Siward, and some of his house-carls, and also of the king's, were there slain, on the day of the Seven Sleepers. The same year went bishop Aldred to Cologne, over sea, on the king's errand ; and he was there received ^vith much worehip by the emperor,J and there he dwelt well nigh a year ; and either gave him entertainment, both the bishop of Cologne and the emperor. And he gave leave to bishop Leofwine§ to consecrate the minster at Evesham on the 6th before the Ides of October. In this year died Osgod suddenly in his bed. And this year died St. Leo the pope ; and Victor was chosen pope in his stead.

A- 1055. In this year died Siward the earl at York, and his body lies ^\4thin the minster at Galmanho, |j which himself had before built, to the glory of God and of all his saints. Then, within a little time after, was a general council in London, and Elgar the earl, Leofric the earl's son, was outlawed without any kind of guilt ; and lie went then to Ireland, and there procured liimself a fleet, which was of eighteen ships, besides his own : and they went then to Wales, to king Griffin, •[ with that force ; and he received him into his pro- tection. And then, with the Irishmen and with Welshmen, they gathered a great force : and Ralph the earl gathered a great force on the other hand at Hereford-port. And they sought them out there : but before there was any spear thrown, the English people fled because they were on horses ;

♦ Osbom. + Of Worcester.

: Henry III. § Of Lichfield.

II A Saxon ab^ev, merged afterwards in St. Mary's at York.

% Of North Wales.

A.D. 1055.1 THE ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE. 433

and there great slaughter was made, about four hundred men or five ; and thej made none on the other side. And they then betook themselves to the town, and that they burned ; and the great minster which Athelstan the vene'- rable bishop before caused to be built, that thev plundered and bereaved of rehcs and of vestments, and of all things ; and slew the people, and some they led away. Then a force was gathered from well nigh throughout all England, and they came to Gloucester, and so went out, not far, among the Welsh ; and there they lay some while : and Harold the earl caused the ditch to be dug about the port* the while. Then, during this, then spoke they concerning peace ; and Harold the earl, and those who were with him, came to Bilsley : and there peace and friendship was established between them. And then they inlawed Elgar the eai'l, i and gave him all that before had been taken from him ; and : the fleet went to Chester, and there awaited their pay, which Elgar had promised them. The man-slaying was on the I ninth before the Kalends of November. In the same year 1 :lied Tremerin the Welsh bishop,j soon after that ravaging ; tie was bishop Athelstan's coadjutor from the time that he had become infirm.

A. 1055. In this year died Siward the earl at York, and he lies at Gralmanho, in the minster which himself caused to be built, and consecrated n God's and Olave's name. And Tostr succeeded to the earldom which he lad held. And archbishop K}"nseyJ fetched his pall from pope Victor. A.nd soon thereafter was outlawed Elgar the earl, son of Leofric the earl, ^vell-nigh without guilt. But he went to Ireland and to Wales, and pro- cured himself there a great force, and so went to Hereford : but there came Lgainst him Ralph the earl, with a large army. And with a slight conflict le put them to flight, and much people slew in tne flight : and they went tlien nto Hereford-port, and that they ravaged, and burned the great minster ivhich bishop Athelstan had bxiilt, and slew the priests within the minster, ind many in addition thereto, and took all the treasures therein, and carried hem away with them. And when they had done the utmost evil, this rounsel was counselled : that Elgar the earl should be inlawed, and be riven his earldom, and all that had been taken from him. This ravaging lappened on the 9th before the Kalends of November. In the same year lied Tremerin the Welsh bishop,^ soon after that ravaging : and he was )ishop Athelstan's coadjutor from the time that he had become infirm.

A. 1055. In this year died Siward the earl : and then was summoned a ;eneral council, seven days before Mid-lent ; and they outlawed Elgar the arl, because it was cast upon him that he was a traitor to the king and to

• Hereford. + Of St. Dand's. + Of York. § Of St. David's: F P

434 THE ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE. [a.d. 1056, 1057.

ill! the people of the land. And he made a confession of it before all the men who were there gathered ; though the word escaped him uninten- tionally. And the king gave the earldom to Tosty, son of earl Godwin, which Siward the earl before held. And Elgar the earl sought Griffin's protection in North-Wales. And in this year Griffin and Elgar bui-ned St. Elihelbert's minster, and all the town of Hereford.

A. 1056. This year bishop Egeh'ic gave up his bishopric at Durliam, and went to St. Peter's minster, Peterborough ; and his brother Egehvine succeeded thereto. Tliis year died Athelstan the venerable bishop, on the 4th before the Ides of February, and his body lies at Hereford-port ; and Leof- gar was appointed bishop ; he was the mass-priest of Harold the earl. He wore his knapsack during his priesthood until he was a bishop. He forsook his chrism and his rood, his ghostly weapons, and took to Ids spear and his sword, after his bishophood ; and so went to the field against Griffin the AVelsli king : and there was he slain, and his priests with him, and Elnoth the sheriiF and many good men with them ; and the others fled away. This was eight days before midsummer. It is difficult to tell the distress, and all the marching, and the camping, and the travail and de- struction of men, and also of horses, which all the English army endured, until Leofric the earl* came thither, and Harold the earl, and bishop Aldred,"}* and made a reconcilia- tion there between them ; so that Griffin swore oaths that he would be to king Edward a faithful and unbetraying under- king. And bishop Aldred succeeded to the bishopric which Leofgar had before held eleven weeks and four days. In the same year died ConaJ the emperor. This year died Odda the earl,§ and his body lies at Pershore, and he was ordained a monk before his end ; a good man he was and pure, and right noble. And he died on the 2nd before the Kalends of September.

A. 1057. Here came Edward etheling to Angle-land ; he was king Edward's brother's son, Edmund king, who Ironside was called

for liis valour.

This etheling Canute king

had sent away

to Unger-land||

to be betrayed :

but he there grew uj»

to a good man.

Of :Mercia. f Of Worcester. J Hen. III.

Of Devon. || Hvmgary.

A.D. 1057,1038.] THE ANGLO-SAXON CHKONICLE. 435

as God him granted. I his kinsman Edward

and him well became ; i king behold.

so that he obtained [wife,

the emperor's kinswoman to

and by her, fair

offspring he begot :

she was Agatha hight.

Nor wist we

for which cause

that done was,

that he mio;ht not

Alas ! that was a rueful case

and harmful

for all this nation

that he so soon

his life did end [came

after that he to Angle-land

for the mishap

of this wretched nation.

In the same year died Leofric the earl,* on the second before the kalends of October ; he was very wise for God and also for the world, which was a blessing to all this nation. He bes at Coventry ; and his son Elgar succeeded to his govern- ment. And within the year died Ralph, the earlf on the 12th before the kalends of January ; and he lies at Peter- borough. Moreover, bishop Heca died in Sussex, and Agel- ric was raised to his see.| And this year pope Victor died, and Stephen [IX.] was chosen pope.

A. 1057. In this year Edward ethelinjr, king Edmunds son, came hither to land, and soon after died : and his l)ody is buried within St. Paul's min- ster at London. And pope Victor died, and Stephen [IX.] was chosen pope : he vras abbat of Mont-Cassino. And Leofric the earl died, and Elgar his son succeeded to the eai-ldom which the father before held.

A. 1058. This year Elgar, the earl,§ was banished ; but lie soon came in again, with violence, through Grifiin's || aid. And this year came a fleet from Norway : it is tedious to tell how all these matters went. In the same year bishop Aldred^ consecrated the minster at Gloucester, which himself lad raised to the glory of God and of St. Peter ; and so he vent to Jerusalem with such splendour as none other had lisplayed before him, and there devoted himself to God : and I worthy gift he also offered at our Lord's tomb ; that was a rolden chalice of five marks of very wonderful work. In he same year died Pope Stephen [IX.], and Benedict 'X.] was appointed pope : he sent a pall to bishop Stigand.

^ Of Mercia. + Of Hereford.

X Selsey. § Of Mercia.

II King of North Wales. % Of Worcester.

F f2

436 THE ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE. [a.v. 10:S-1063.

Algeric was ordiuned bishop of Sussex,* and abbat Siward of Rochester.

A. 1058. This year died Pope Stephen, and Benedict was consecrated pope : the same 's?nt hither to land a pall to archbishop Stigand. And in this year died Heca, bishop of Sussex ; and archbishop Stigand ordained Algeric, a monk at Christchurch, bishop of Siissex, and abbat Sisrard bishop of Rochester.

A. 1059. In this year was Nicholas [11.] chosen pope, he had before been bishop of the town of Florence ; and Benedict was driven away, who had there before been pope. And in this year was the steeple consecrated at Peter- borough, on the 16th before the Kalends of November.

A. 1060. In this year there was a great earthquake on the Translation of St. ^lartin : and king Henry died in France. And Kynsey, archbishop of York, departed on the 11th before the Kalends of Januaiy, and he lies at Peter- borough ; and bishop Aldred succeeded to the bishopric, and Walter succeeded to the bishopric of Herefordshire : and bishop Dudoc also died ; he was bishop in Somerset ;f and Giso the priest was appointed in his stead.

A. 1061. This year bishop Aldred went to Rome after his pall, and he received it from Pope Nicholas. And Tosty and his wife also went to Rome : and the bishop and the earl suffered much distress as they came homeward. And this year died Godwin, bishop of St. Martin's ;1 and Wulfric nbbat of St. Augustine's, on the 14th before the Kalends of April [May?]. And Pope Nicholas died, and Alexander [II.] was chosen pope : he had been bishop of Lucca.

A. 1061. In this year died Dudoc, bishop of Somerset, and Giso succeedeo. And in the same year died Godwin, bishop of St. Martin's, on the 7th before the Ides of March. And in the self-same year died Wulfric, abbat of St. Augustine's, within the Easter week, on the 14th before the Kalends of May. When word came to the king that abbat Wulfric was departed, then chose he Ethelsy the monk thereto, from the Old-Min- ster, who then followed archbishop Stigand, and was consecrated abbat at Windsor, on St. Augustine's mass-day.

A. 1062.

A. 1063. In this year, after midwinter, Harold, the earl,

went from Gloucester to Rhyddlan, which was Griffin's, and

burned the vilL, and his ships, and all the stores which

thereto belonged, and put him to flight. And then, at Rogu-

* Selsey. + Weils. J At Canterbury.

A.D.1063— 1065.] THE ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE. 437

tion-tide, Harold went with his ships from Bristol about Wales ; and the people made a truce and delivered hostages ; and Tostv went with a laud-force against them : and they subdued the land. But in tliis same year, during harvest, was kiug Griffin slain, on the Xones of August, by his own men, by reason of the war that he warred with Harold the earl. He was king over all the Welsh race : and his head was brought to Harold the earl, and Harold brought it to the king, and his ship's head, and the rigging therewith. And king Edward committed the land to his two brothers, Bleth- gent and Rigwatle ; and they swore oaths, and delivered hostages to the king and to the earl, that they would be faithful to him in all things, and be everywhere ready for him, by water and by land, and make such renders from the land as had been done before to any other king.

A. 1063. This year went Harold the earl, and his brother Tosty the earl, as well with a land-force as a ship-force, into Wales, and they sub- dued the land ; and the people delivered hostages to them, and submitted ; and went aftenvards and slew their king Griffin, and brought to Harold his head: and he appointed another king thereto.

A. 1064.

A. 1065. In tliis year, before Lammas, Harold the earl ordered a building to be erected in Wales at Portskeweth, after he had subdued it ; and there he gathered much good ; and thought to have king Edward there for the purpose of hunting. But when it was all ready, then went Caradoc, Griffijo^s son, with the whole force which he could procure, and slew almost all the people who there had been building ; and they took the good which there was prepared. We wist not who first devised tliis ill counsel. This was done on St. Bartliolomew's mass-day. And soon after this, all the thanes in Yorkshire and in Northumberland gathered themselves together, and outlawed their earl, Tosty, and slew his house- hold men, all that they might come at, as well EngUsh as Danish : and thev took all his weapons at York, and gold, and silver, and all his treasiu-es which they might any where there hear of, and sent after Morkar, the son of Elgar the earl, and chose him to be their earl : and he went south with all the shire, and with Nottinghamshire, and Derbyshire, and Lincolnshire, until he came to Northampton : and his brother Edwin came to meet him with the men who were

43S

THE JLN-GLO-SAXOX CHBOXICIX.

[A.D- 106S.

in his earldom, and also manv Britons came with him. There came Harold, the earL to meet them ; and thev laid an errand upon him to king Edward, and also sent messen- gers with him, and begged that thev might have Morkar for their earL And the king granted it, and sent Harold again to them at Northampton, on the eve of St. Simon's and St. Jade's mass ; and he made known the same to them, and delivered a pledge thereof unto them : and he there renewed Canute's law. But the northern men did much harm about Northampton whilst he went on their errand, inas- much as thev slew men and burned houses and corn ; and took all the cattle which thev might come at, that was many thousand : and manv hundred men they took and led north with them : so that that shire, and the other shires which there are nigh, were for many years the worse. And Tosty the earL and his wife, and aU those who would what he would, went south over sea with him to Bald\s'in, the earl. and he received them all ; and they were all the winter there. And king Edward came to Westminster at midwin- ter, and there caused to be consecrated the minster which him- self had built to the glory of God and of St. Peter, and of aU God's saints ; and the church-hallowing was on Childer- mass-day. And he died on Twelfth-day eve, and him they buried on Twelfth-day eve, in the same minster, as it here- after saveth.

Here Edward king,

of Angles lord,

gent his stedfast

soul to Christ,

in God's protection,

spirit holy.

He in the world here

dwelt awhile

in royal majesty

mighty in cotmciL

Four-and-twenty,

lordly ruler !

of winters ntmibered,

he wealth dispensed ;

and he a prosperous tide,

mler of heroes.

distinguished governed. Webh and Scots, and Britons also, son of Ethelred, Angles and Saxons, chieftains bold. Where'er embrace cold ocean-waves, there aU to Edward, noble king I obeyed faithfully, the warrior-men. Aye was blithe-mind the harmless king, though he long erst of land bereaved.

I

A.r.- 1065,

THE AX.iLO-SAXON CHE02n<:LE.

439

in exile dwelt wide o'er the earth, since Canute o'ercame the race of Ethelred, and Danes wielded the dear realm of Angle-land, eight-and-twentr of winters numbered, wealth dispensed. After forth-came, in vestments lordlr, king with the chosen good- chaste and mild, Edward the noble : the realm he guarded, land and people, until suddenly came

death the bitter,

and so dear a one seized-

This noble, nx>m earth

angels carried,

stedfast soul.

into heaTens light.

And the sage ne'ertheless.

the realm committed

to a hi;?hlv-bom man,

Harold's self,

the noble earl !

He in all time

obeyed faithfully

his rightful lord

by words and deeds,

nor aught neglected j which needful was I to his soTereism-kinsr.

And this year also was Harold consecrated king : and he with little quiet abode therein, the while that he wielded the realm.

A. 1055. And the man-slaying "was on Si, Bartho'omew's inas-<iaT. And then, after MichaeFs-mass. all the thanes in Yorkshire went to York, and there slew ail earl Tostr's household servants "whom they might hear of, and took his treasures : and Tosrr was then at Biitford with the kin;?. And then, verv soon thereafter, was a great cotmcii at Northamp- ton ; and then a; Oxford on the day of Simon and Jude. And there "was Harold the earl, and would work their reconciliation if he might, but he could not : but aR his earldom hiTn unanimously forsook and outlawed, and ail who with him lawlessness upheld, because he robbed God first, and all those bereaved over whom he had power of life and of land. And they then took to themselves Morkar for earl ; and Tosty went then over sea, and his -wife with him, to Baldwin's land, and they took up their winter residence at St. Omers.

A. 1066. In this year king Harold came from York to Westminster, at that Easter which was after the mid-winter in which the king died ; and Easter was then on the day, 16th before the Kalends of May. Then was, over all Eng- land, such a token seen in the heavens, as no man ever before saw. Some men said that it was eometa the star, which some men call the haired star : and it appeared first on the eve Litania Major, the 8th before the Kalends of May,

440 THE ANGLO-SAXOX CHRONICLE. [a.d. 1066.

and so shone all the seven nights. And soon aft'M' came in Tostv the earl from beyond sea into tlie Isle of Wight, with so great a fleet as he might procure ; and there they yielded him as well money as food. And king Harold, his brother, gatliered so great a ship-force, and also a land-force, as no king here in the land had before done ; because it was made known to him that William the bastard would come hither and win this land ; all as it afterwards happened. And the while, came Tosty the earl into Humber with sixty ships ; and Edwin the earl came with a land-force and drove him out. And the boatmen forsook him ; and he went to Scotland with twelve vessels. And there met him Harold king of Norway with three hundred ships ; and Tosty submitted to him and became his man. And they then went both into Humber, until they came to York ; and there fought against them Edwin the earl, and IMorkar the earl, his brother : but the Northmen had the victory. Then was it made known to Harold king of the Angles that this had thus happened : and this battle was on tlie vigil of St. ^Matthew. Then came Harold our king unawares on the Northmen, and met ^vith tliem beyond York, at Stanford-bridge, with a great army of English people ; and tliere during the day was a very severe fight on both sides. There was slain Harold the Fair- iiaired, and Tosty the earl ; and the Northmen who were there remaining were put to flight ; and the English from behind hotly smote them, until they came, some, to their ships, some were drowned, and some also burned ; and thus in divers ways they perished, so that there were few left : and the English had possession of the place of carnage. The king then gave his protection to Olave, son of the king of tlie Nor- wegians, and to their bishop, and to the earl of Orkney, and to all those who were left in the ships : and they then went up to our king, and swore oaths that they ever would observe peace and friendship towards this land ; and the king let them go home with twenty-four ships. These two general battles were fought within five days. Then came William earl of Normandy into Pevensey, on the eve of St. Michael's- mass : and soon after they were on their Avay, they construc- ted a castle at Hasting's-port. This was then made known to king Harold, and he then gathered a great force, and came to meet him at the estuary of Appledore ; and William came

A.D. 1066.] THE ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE. 441

against him unawares, before his people were set in order. But the king nevertheless strenuously fought against him with those men who would follow him ; and there was great slaughter made on either hand. There was slain kino- Harold, and Leofwin the earl, his brother, and Girth the earl, his brother, and many good men ; and the Frenchmen had possession of the place of carnage, all as God granted them for the people's sins. ^Vrchbishop Aldred and the townsmen of London would then have child Edgar for king, all as was his true natural right : and Edwin and Morcar vowed to him that they would fight together Avith him. But in that degree that it ought ever to have been forwarder, so was it from day to day later and worse ; so that at the end all passed away. This fight was done on the day of Calix- tus the pope. And William the earl went afterwards again to Hastings, and there awaited to see whether the people would submit to him. But when he understood that they would not come to him, he went upwards with all his army which was left to him, and that which afterwards had come from over sea to him ; and he plundered all that part which he over-ran, until he came to Berkhampstead. And there came to meet him archbishop Aldred,* and child Edgar, and Edwin the earl, and Morcar the earl, and all the chief men of London ; and then submitted, for need, when the most harm had been done : and it was very unwise that they had not done so before ; since God would not better it, for our sins : and they delivered hostages, and swore oaths to him ; and he vowed to them that he would be a loving lord to them : and nevertheless, during tliis, they plundered all that they over-ran. Then, on mid- winter's day, arch- bishop Aldred consecrated him king at Westminster ; and he gave him a pledge upon Christ's book, and also swore, before he would set the crown upon his head, that he would govern this nation as well as any king before him had at the best done, if they would be f\iithful to him. Nevertheless, he laid a tribute on the people, very heavy ; and then went, du- ring Lent, over sea to Normandy, and took Avith him arch- bishop Stigand, and Aylnoth, abbat of Glastonbury, and child Edgar, and Edwin the earl, and Morkar the earl, and Waltheof the earl, and many other good men of Eng- » Of York.

442 THE A2fGLO-SAXOX CHKONICLE. [^d. 1C<C

land- And bishop Odo* and William the earl remained here behind, and they built castles wide throughout the nation, and poor people distressed ; and ever at\er it greatlv grew in eviL May the end be good when God will I

A. K*o6. Tils rear died king Edward, and Harold the earl succeeded to the kiiuxioin. and held it tony veek? and one day. And this year came William, and ■«ron Er-i:land. And in this year Christ-Church-^ was burned. And this year appeared a comet on the l4th before the Kalends of May.

A. 1066 * And then he [Tosty] went thence, and did harm everywhae

by the sea-coast where he c<:-uid land, as tar as SandwicK Then was it made known to king Hait.ld, who was in London, that Testy his brother was come to Sandwich. Then gathered he so great a ship-force, and also a land force, as no king here in the land had before r "~ - ". because it had been scvthly said unto him, that William the N -irmandy,

king Edward's kinsman, would come hither and su -.- .-■s.d: alias

it afterwards happened. When Tosty learned that king Harold was cm his way to Sandwich, then went be from Sandwich, and took some of the boatmen with him, some willingly and some unwillingly ; and went then north into Himaber, and there rarased in Lindsey, and there slew many good men. \H*hen Edwin t^ - - " ^' .r the earl understood that, then came they thither, and •". :- land. And he went

then to Scotland : and the krng c: ^ : : , . _ ^ him, and assisted him

with proTisaons ; and be there abode aii the summer. Thai came king Harold to Saadwidi, and there awaited his fleet, because it was long before it could be gathered together. And when his fleet was gathered together, then went be into the Isle of Wight, and there lay all the summer and the harvest ; and a land-force w:as kept every - - .--...- -_ .j^^

end it vas of DO benefit. When it w:as tr ere

the men^ piOTJaoBS gone, and no man c : .ere.

Tlien woe the men allowed to go home, and the tnng rode up, and the eidps woe despatched to London ; and many perished before they came thither. When the ships had reached home, then came king Harold from Nonray, north into Tyne, and unawares, with a very large ship- force, and BO smaU <Hie; that nught be, or mme. And Tosty the earl came to him wA all that he had gotten, all as they bad before agreed ; and then they went both, with all the Seet, along the Ouse, up towards York. Then was it made known to king Harold in the south, as he was come from on ship- board, that Harold king of Norway and Tosty the earl were landed near Yoric Then went he northward, day and night, as quickly as be could gather bs forces. Then, before that king Harold could come thither, then gathered Edwin Ihe eazL and Morear the earl from ther earldom as great a farce as Uber could get tog^ethe- ; and they fought against the army, and made great daiiglhtcr : and these was much of the English people slain, and drowned, and dnren away in flight ; and the Northmen had possession of the pbce of canage. And this fight was on the vigil of St. ^latthew the apostle, and it was Wednesday. And then, afta" the fight, went Ha- rold king of Norway, and Tosty the earL, into York, with as much people * Odo, bi^K>p of Bayeux, half brother of king William, and William Fitz Osbert, created c^arl of Hereford. ♦ Canterbury.

J Continued after "money as food,"' in paee 440.

A.D. 1CC6.1 THE ANGLO-SAXON CIIEOXICLE. 443

as seemed meet to them. And they delivered hostages to them from the city, and also assisted them with provisions ; and so they went thence to their ships, and they agreed upon a full peace, so that they should all go ^ith him south, and this land subdue. Then, during this, came Harold king of the Angles, with all his forces, on the Simday, to Tadcaster, and there drew up his force, and went then on Monday thjoughout York ; and Harold king of Norway, and Tosty the earl, and their forces, were gone from their ships beyond York to Stanfordbridge, because it had been pro- mised them for a certainty, that there, from all the shire, hostages should be brought to meet them. Then came Harold king of the English against them, imawares, beyond the bridge, and they there joined battle, and very strenuously, for a long time of the day, continued fighting : and there was Harold king of Norway and Tosty the earl slain, and numberless of the people with them, as well of the Northmen as of the English : and the Northmen fled from the English. Then was there one of the Norwegians who withstood the English people, so that they might not pass over the bridge, nor obtain the ^'ictorv■. Then an Englishman aimed at him with a javelin, but it availed nothing ; and then came another imder the bridge, and pierced him terribly inwards under the coat of mail. Then came Harold, king of the English, over the bridge, and his forces onward M-ith him, and there made great slaughter, as well of Norwegians as of Flemings. And the king's son, Edmund, Harold let go home to Norway, with all the ships. A. 1 (166. In this year was consecrated the minster at Westmmster, on Childer-mass-day. And king Edward died, on the eve of Twelfth-day ; and he was buried on Twelfth-day, within the newly consecrated church at Westminster. And Harold the earl succeeded to the kingdom of England, even as the king had granted it to him, and men also had chosen him thereto ; and he was cro^vned as king on Twelfth-day. And that same year that he became king, he went out with a fleet against William ;* and the wliile, came Tosty the earl into Humber with sixty ships. Edwin the earl came ^vith a land-force and drove him out ; and the boatmen forsook him. And he went to Scotland with twelve vessels ; and Harold the king of Nor- way met him with three hundred ships, and Tosty submitted to him ; and they both went into Humber, until they came to York, And Morcar the earl, and Edwin the earl, fought agamst them ; and the king of the Norwe- gians had the \ictory. And it was made known to king Harold how it there was done, and had happened ; and he came there ^-Ith a great army of English men, and met him at Stanfordbridge, and slew him and the earl Tostv, and boldlv overcame all the army. And the while, ^ illiam the earl landed at Hastings, on St. Michael's-day : and Harold came from the north, and fought against him before all his army had come up : and there he fell, and his two brothers. Girth and Leofwin ; and Wilham subdued this land. And he came to Westminster, and archbishop Aldred conse- crated him kin?, and men paid him tribute, and delivered him hostages, and afterwards iDOught their land. And then was Leofric abbat of Peter- borough in that same expedition ; and there he sickened, and came home, and was dead soon thereafter, on AU-hallows-mass-night ; God be merciful to his soul ! In his dav was all bliss and all good in Peterborough; and he was dear to all people, so that the king gave to St. Peter and to hun the abbacy at Burton, and that of Coventrv-, which Leofric the earl, who * Earl of Normandy.

444 THE ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE. >.o. loe:.

was hb uncle, before had made, and that of Crovrland, and that of Thor- ney. And he conferred so much of good uptn the minster of Peter- borough, in g:>Id, and in silver, and in vestments, and in land, as never anr other i^d before him, nor anv after him. After, Golden-borough became a wretched borough. Then chose the monks for abbat Brand the provost, bv reason that he was a verr good man, and verr wise, and sent him then to Edgar the etheling, bv reason that the people of the land supposed t!:at he should become king: and the etheling granted it him then gladly. When king Wi'Jiam heard say that, then was he very wroth, and said that the abbat had despised him. Then went good men between them, and reconciled them, by reason that the abbat was a g<x>d man. Then gave he the king forty marks of cold for a reconciliation ; and then thereafter, lived he a little while, but three years. Afta* that came every tribulation and evoT evil to the minster. God have mercy on it !

A. 1067. This year the king came back to England on St. Xicolas's day, and on the same day Christ's Church, Canterbury, was consumed by tire. Bishop Wulfwy als<j died, and lies buried at his see of Dorchester. Child Edric and the Britons were unsettled this year, and fought ^\^th the men of the castle at Hereford, to whom they did much harm. The king this year imposed a heavy tax on the unlbrtunate people ; but, notwithstanding, he let his men plunder all the coontry which they passed through : after which he marched to Devonshire and besieged Exeter eighteen days. Many of his army were slain there : but he had promised them weU and performed ill : the citizens surrendered the city, because the thanes had betrayed them. This sunmier the child Edgar, "w-ith his mother Agatha, his Sisters 3Iargaret and Christina, Merlesweyne and several good men, went to Scotland under the protection of king ^lalcolm, who received them alL Then it was that king Malcolm desired to have Margaret to wife: but, the child E«igar and all his men refused for a long time ; and she herself abo was unwilling, saying that she would have neither him nor any other person, if God would allow her to serve him with her carnal heart, in strict continence, during this short life. But the king urged her brother until he said yes ; and indeed he did not dare to refuse, for they were now in Malcolm's kingdom- So that the marriage was no^v fuMlled, as God had foreordained, and it could not b^ otherwise, as he says in the Gospel, that not a sparrow full.s to the ground, without his foreshowing. The prescient Creator knew long before what he would do with her,

A,D. 1067.: THE AyCLO-FAXpy CHEOhlCLE. 44o

namelv that she should increase the glorr of God in this land, lead the king out of the wrong into the right path, bring him and his people to a better way, and suppress all the bad customs which the nation formerlr followed. These things she afterwards accomplished. The king therefore married her, though against her will, and was pleased with her manners, and thanked God who had given him such a wife. And being a prudent man he turned himself to God and forsook all impurity of conduct, as St. Paul, the apostle of the Gentiles, says : " Sahabitur rir," &€. which means in our language '* Full oft the unbelieving husband is sanctified and heied through the believing wife, and so belike the wife through the believing husband.^ The queen above-named afterwards did many things in this land to promote the glory of God, and conducted herself well in her noble rank, as alwavs was her custom. She was sprung from a noble line of ancestors, and her father was Edward Etheling, son of king Edmund. This Edmund was the son of Ethelred, who was the son of Edgar, the sc»n of Edred ; and so on in that roval line. Her maternal kindred traces up to the emperor Henry, who reigned at Rome.

Tins year Harold's mother, Githa, and the wives of many good men with her, went to the Steep Holmes, and there abode some time ; and afterwards went from thence over sexi to St. Omer s.

This Easter the king came to Winchester ; and Easter was then on the tenth day before the Kalends of April Soon al\er this the lady Matilda came to this country, and arch- bishop Eldred consecrated her queen at Westminster on Wliitsunday. It was then told the king, that the people in the North' had gathered together and would oppose him there. Upon this he went to Nottingham, and built a castle there, and then advanced to York, where he built tsvo castles : he then did the same at Lincoln, and everywhere in those parts. Then earl Cospatric and all the best men went into Scotland. During these things one of Harold's sons came \\-ith a fleet from Ireland unexpectedly into the mouth of th^ river Avon, and soon plundered all that neighbourhc'od. Thev went to Bristol and would have stormed the town, but the inhabitants opposed them bravely. Seeing they could fret nothing from the town, thev went to their ships with the

446 THE A^'GLO-SAXON CHRONICLE. [a.d. 1068, 1069.

booty they had got by plundering, and went to Somersetshire, where they went up the country. Ednoth, master of the horse, fought with them, but he was slain there, and many good men on both sides ; and those who were left departed thence.

A. 1068. This year king WilUam gave the earldom of Northumberland to earl Robert, and the men of that country came against him, and slew him and 900 others with him. And then Edgar etheling marched with all the Northum- brians to York, and the townsmen treated with Iiim ; on which king William came from the south with all his troops, and sacked the town, and slew many hundred persons. He also profaned St. Peter's minster, and all other places, and the etheling went back to Scotland.

After this came Harold's sons from Ireland, about Mid- summer, with sixty-four ships and entered the mouth of the Taff, where they incautiously landed. Earl Beorn came upon them unawares with a large army, and slew all their bravest men : the others escaped to their ships, and Harold's sons went back again to Ireland.

A. 1069. This year died Aldred archbishop of York, and he lies buried in his cathedral church. He died on the festival of Protus and Hyacinthus, having held the see with much honour ten years, all but fifteen weeks.

Soon after this, three of the sons of Sweyne came from Denmark with 240 ships, together with earl Osbern and earl Thorkill, into the Humber ; where they were met by child Edgar and earl Waltheof, and Merle- Sweyne, and earl Cospatric with the men of Northumberland and all the landsmen, riding and marching joyfully with an immense army ; and so they went to York, demolished the castle, and found there large treasures. They also slew many hundred Frenchmen, and carried oif many prisoners to their ships ; but, before the shipmen came thither, the Frenchmen had burned the city, and plundered and burnt St. Peter's minster. When the king heard of this, he went northward with all the troops he could collect, and laid waste all the shire ; wliilst the fleet lay all the winter in the Humber, where the king could not get at them. The king was at York on midwinter's day, remaining on land all the winter, and at Easter he came to Winchester.

i.D. 1070.] THE ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE. 447

This year bishop Egelric being at Peterborough, was iccused and sent to Westminster ; and his brother bishop Egelwin was outlawed. And the same year Brand abbat >f Peterborough died on the fifth before the Kalends of December.

A. 1070. This year Lanfranc abbat of Caen came to England, and in a few days he was made archbishop of Canterbury. He was consecrated * at his metropolis on the

* In the second year after Lanfranc's consecration he went to Rome. 3ope Alexander so greatly honoured him, that contrary to his custom he •ose to meet him, and gave him two palls in token of especial favoiu" : Lanfranc received one of them from the altar after the Roman manner, md the pope, with his own hands, gave hiin the other, in which he himself lad been accustomed to perform mass. In the presence of the pope, rhomas brought forwards a calumny touching the primacy of the see of [Canterbury, and the subjection of certain bishops. Lanfranc briefly and I'learly states the conclusion to which this affair was afterwards brought in England, in an epistle to the aforesaid pope Alexander, This year a general council Avas held at Winchester, in which he deposed Wulfric, ibbat of the new monastery, and made many regulations touching Christian discipline. A few days afterwards, he consecrated Osbem at London as mhoTp of Exeter, and Scotland at Canterbury as abbat of St. Augustine's.

In his third year he consecrated Peter at Gloucester as bishop of Lich- field or Chester. This year also a great council was held at a place called Pennenden Heath [near Maidstone], in which Lanfranc proved that he md his church held their lands and their rights by sea and by land, as freely as the king held his : excepting in three cases : to wit, if the highway be dug up ; if a tree be cut so as to fall upon it ; and if murder be com- mitted and blood spilt : when a man is taken in these misdeeds, the fine paid shall belong to the king ; otherwise their vassals shall be free from regal exactions.

In his fourth year he consecrated Patrick at London as bishop of Dublin, In Ireland, from whom he received a profession of obedience, and he moreover gave him very memorable letters to the kings of Ireland.

In his fifth year a general council was held at London, the proceedings of which Lanfranc committed to -writing, at the request of many.

In his sixth year he gave the bishopric of Rochester to Ernost, a monk of Christ church, whom he also consecrated at London. A council was held at Winchester : and the same year Ernost departed this life.

In his seventh year, he gave the bishopric of Rochester to Gundulph, whom he consecrated at Canterbiu-y. This year Thomas archbishop of York sent letters to Lanfranc, requesting that he would send two bishops to consecrate a certain priest, who had come to him with letters from the Orkneys, to the intent that he might be made bishop of those islands. Lanfranc consenting to this, commanded Wolstan bishop of Worcester, and Peter bishop of Chester, to go to York, and to assist Thomas in com- pleting the ceremony.

In his eighth year, a council was held at London, in which Lanfranc deposed Ailnoth abbat of Glastonbury.

44S THE ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE. a^ lf7»-

foorth before the Kalends of September, by eight bishops his STifiugaiis ; the rest who were absent signifying through messengers, and by writing, why they could not be

In his elerecth jear, a coancil was held at Gloucesto^, wherein, by the king-'s oric^. and ^rith the cc«isait of Lanfranc, Thomas archbishop of York cionsecratc^ William to the bishopric of Durham ; and because he could EOt be arrended bj the Scotch bishops his su&agans, the bidwpa Wolstan. «><bem. Giso. and Robot asosted at this ceremony by the com- mand of LanfrsLZc. At this time LaJL&anc sent letios rich in sacred lore to bishop Dirjild in Ireland.

In his sirteenth year Lan&anc consecrated Donatos, his monk at Canterbury, to the bishopric of Dublin, by the desre of the king, clergy, and people of Ireland. Tnis year a coundl was held at Gloucester, whertin Lanfranc deposed Wulsccetel abbat of Croyland. He consecrated Rober: to the bishopric of Chester, and William to that of Elmham. in one czj. at Cant«T3ury. At Winchester also he consecrated Maurice as bish :'p of L-imdon. who brought noble gifts to his mother church at Can- terbury a few days afterwards.

In the eiihteenth year of Lanfranc's prelacy, on the death of king WiUiani beyond sea, he ackii:>w-l edged his son William, as he had done his fathe-, and c-^nsecrated and crowned him in St. Pet»-'s church, which is in the westen part of I>Dndon- The same year, and at his metropolitan dty of CamterboiT, he examined and coDseciated Godfrey as bishop of Clddieater, Wjdo also as abbot of St. AngiiBtiiie's and John as bishop of Wdis. llie sext day Lan&anc oo his own aiith<Rity, and raV^cr with biTn Odo h^fat^ oi Bayeox the king-'s brother, who was then at Cantabory, condncfied the abbat Wydo to St. Augiistne's and commanded the brothers of die Older to leceiTe Mm as thear owa abbat and pastor ; but they, wi-.h one acoovd, ai^vesed that they •■ouid nerier submit to bfm nor rect: i- hmu TboB l^aatfraatf came Va^mg the abbat, and when he foand that :!' Books vere obsijaate m reaataraee, and that tber wonld not obey him. : commanded ibat all €be ic£actoij should come oot one by one. Whr . tihoi^Re neailT all had k& the raonasterr, Tawfrawr and his suite led :n &e abbot vith mach pomp, placed faira in the chair, and delivered thr choreh up to faim. He aJao semed the ptior, El&in by name, snc odios as he thoag|it fit, and be pot than forthwith into claustral meni at Gantetbvij ; bat he sent those who had the greatest infiuer.r. . . w€xe tihe mdhaa of Ais scandal, to the castle to be coined there. Af. - he hod retmned home harii^ finJEhed all, he was in£xmed that the monks w3io had 1^ the monaatexj w^ere assembled, near St. Mildred's church. HereiqwB he sent to tbem, saying, that if they would, they misit return to die cfaiBch b^bce the nindi'hoor, but that if they delayed lon?e?, th^v wwiM not be afloved fiee entrance, but he treated as rsjegadoes. Ha-lr .- beaad 'dm mesrage they doobted vhether to r^urn <» to remain, but at : -r boar of icfeciaon, vhen they became hxm^j, many repenting of ttT^r oh^ananr sent to T^anffaiir and prorated snhmiasioiL These he treat r-i w&b IsntT, asid deared that t3iey ^Kmld return directly and confirm bv oath tiMJr profeaaan of obedience to the aforesaid abbat. Thus they and obedience to the abbat Wydo, upon

A.D. I0:t).j THE ANGLO-SAXOX CHKONICLE. 449

there. This year Thomas, who had been chosen as bishop of York, came to Canterbmy. that he might be consecrated there after the old form, but when Lanfranc craved the

the relks of St Augxistrne. Lan&anc seized those who remained behind and placed them in varions monasteries of England, confining them till be brought them to profes their submision. About the same time, he seized one of them named Al&ed, -srho had attempted to flee, and confined h^ loaded with irons at Canterburv, together with some of his fellows : and he exercised upon them the utmost severitj of their order. But when these monks were thought to be sumcientiv humbled and had promised <»mend- ment, Laafranc takinr pity on them, had them brought from the several places whither he had banned them, and reconciled them to their abbat.

The same rear the dissensions were renewed, and the monks plotted the death of their abbat, but one of them, named Columban, being taken, Lanfranc caused him to be brought to him. As he stood there before him, Lanfranc asked if he desired to murder his abbat. And the monk forth- with replied, " Yes I if I could I would certainly kill him."' Then Lan- franc commanded that he should be tied up naked bj the gates of St. Augustine's and su5er flagelladon before all the people, that his cowl ^ould then be torn off, and that he should be driven out of the dtr. This order was executed, and thenceforth, during Lanfranc's life, sedition was represed bv the dread of his severity.

Li the nineteenth rear of his prelacy, died the renCTable archbkhop Lanfranc, and he was buried at his m^ropolitan see of Canterbury, of which he had been possessed eighteen years, nine months, and two days. His deeds, his buildings, alms, jmd labours, are only in part recounted in the writing which is read on his anniversary, for they were very numerous. After his death the monks of St. Augustine's, openly rebelling against their aforesaid abbat Wydo. stirred up the crdzens of Canterbury, who, with an armed force, attempted to slay him in his house. But his family made resistance, and when manv had been wounded, and some killed on both sides, the abbat with much diSculty escaped unhurt from amongst them, and fled for refuge to the mother church of Canterburv (Christ's church.) On the report of this disturbance Walkelin bishop of Winchester, and Gundolf bishop of Rochester, suS-agans to the see of Canterbury, with some noblemen sent bv the kinz, hascened to Canterbury, that they might take vengeance on the delinquents ; and when they had inquired into the causes of the sedition, and had found the monks unable to clear themselves, they condemned them to suffer public punishment because they had trans- gressed openly. But the prior and monks of Christ's church, moved with piety, pleaded against the sentence, lest, if they were to receive their discipline before "all the people, they should henceforth be accounted infamous, and so their profession and office come to be despised. "^Tiere- fore it was granted on their intercession, that the punishment should take place in the church, into which the populace should not be admitted, but these onlv who were appointed to see it executed. And two monks of Christ's church, Wydo and Norman, were called in, and they inflicted the punishment at the" command of the bishops. Then the rebellious monks were dispersed into varioxis monasteries c f England ; and twenty-tour monks

450 THE ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE, [a.d. 107a

confirmation of his subjection bj oath, he refused, and said that he was not obliged to give it. Then was the archbishop Lanfranc wroth, and he commanded the bishops, who were there at his behest to assist at the ceremony, and all the monks, to unrobe themselves ; and thej did as he desired : 30 this time Thomas returned home without consecration. It happened soon after this, that the archbishop Lanfranc went to Rome, and Thomas ^vith him : and when thej were come thither, and had said all that thev desired on other subjects, Thomas began his speech, saying how he had come to Canterbury, and how the archbishop had desired of him an oath of obedience, and that he had refused it. Then the archbishop Lanfranc began to make manifest with clear reasoning, that he had a right to demand that which he required : and he proved the same with strong arguments before the Pope Alexander, and before all the council then assembled : and thus they departed home. After this, Thomas came to Canterbury, and humbly performed all that the archbishop required, and thereupon he received the blessing. This year earl Waltheof made peace with the king. And during Lent in the same year the king caused all the monasteries in England to be despoiled of their treasures. The same year king Sweyn came from Denmark into the Humber, and the people of those parts came to meet him and made an alliance with him, for they believed that he would conquer the land. Then the Danish bishop Christien, and earl Osbern, and their Danish retainers, came into Ely, and all the people of the fens joined them, for they believed that they should conquer the whole country. Now the monks of Peterborough were told that some of their own men, namely,

of Christ's church were substituted in their place, together with the prior, named Anthony, who had been sub-prior at Christ's church. The townsmen who entered the abbafs hall in arms were seized, and those who were con- victed of having struck him lost their eyes.

After the death of Lanfranc the see remained vacant four years, nine months, and nine days, during which time it suffered much adversity. At length, in the year of our Lord's incarnation 1093, and on the second before the Nones of March, the archbishopric of Canterbury was given to Ansehn abbat of Bee, a good and an upright man, of great learning, and amongst the most noted of his time. He came to Canterbury on the seventh before the Kalends of October, his earlier arrival having been prevented by many sufficient causes, and he was consecrated on the second before the Nones of December.

A.D. 1070.] THE AXGLO-SAXO^ CHEOXICLE. 4ol

Hereward and Ms train, would pillage the monastery, because they had heard that the king had given the abbacy to a French abbat named Turold, and that he was a veiy stem man, and that he was come into Stamford with all his French followers. There was, at that time, a church-warden named Ywar ; who took all that he could by night, gospels, mass- robes, cassocks, and other garments, and such other smdl things as he could cany away, and he came before day to the abbat Turold, and told him that he sought his protection, and told how the outlaws were coming to Peterborough, and he said that he had done this at the desire of the monks. Then early in the morning all the outlaws came with many ships, and they endeavoured to enter the monastery, but the monks ^^dthstood them, so that they were not able to get in. Then they set fire to it, and burned all the monks' houses, and all those in the town, save one : and they broke in thi'ough the lire at Bolhithe-gate,* and the monks came before them and desired peace. However they gave no heed to them, but went into the monastery, and climbed up to the holy crucifix, took the crown from our Lord's head, which was all of the purest gold, and the footstool of red gold from under his feet. And they climbed up to the steeple, and brought down the table f which was hidden there ; it was all of gold and silver. They also seized two gilt shi'ines, and nine of silver, and they carried off fifteen great crosses of gold and silver. And they took so much gold and silver, and so much treasure in money, robes, and books, that no man can compute the amount ; sa}*ing they did this because of their allegiance to the monastery : and afterwards they betook themselves to their ships and went to Ely, where they secured their treasures. The Danes beheved that they should overcome the Frenchmen, and they di'ove away all the monks, leaving only one named Leofwin the Long, and he lay sick in the hospital. Then came the abbat Turold, and eight score Frenchmen ^^^th him, all well armed : and when he arrived he found all burnt both within and without, excepting the church itself ; and all the outlaws were then embarked, knowing that he would come thither. This happened on the fourth day before

• Bulldyke Gate.

t Ingram so translates the word, referring to a Gallo-Xonnan poem published by Shorpe. Gibson, Lye, and Miss Gumey read " cope." G G 2

4o2 THE ANGLO-SAXON CHKONICLE. [a.d. 1071-

the Nones of June. Then the two kings, William and Sweyn, made peace with each otlier, on which the Danes departed from Ely, canying with them all the aforesaid treasure. When they were come into the midst of the sea, there arose a great storm, which dispersed all the ships in which the treasures were : some were driven to Norway, some to Ireland, and others to Denmark, and all the spoils that reached tlie latter country, being the table * and some of the shrines and crosses, and many of the other treasures, they

brought to one of the king's towns called , and laid it all

up in the church. But one night, through their carelessness and drunkenness the church was burned, with all that was in it. Thus was the monastery of Peterborough burned and pillaged. May Almighty God have pity on it in his great mercy : and thus the abbat Turold came to Peterborough, and the monks returned thither and performed Christian worship in the church, which had stood a full week without service of any kind. When bishop Egelricf heard this, he excommunicated all the men who had done this evil. There was a great famine this year ; and this summer the fleet from the Humber sailed into the Tliames, and lay there two nights, and it afterwards held on its course to Denmark. And earl Baldwin died, and his son Arnulf succeeded him ; and earl William J and the French king should have been his support: but earl Robert came and slew his kinsman Arnulf, and the earl ; put the king to flight, and slew many thousands of his men.

A. 1071. This year earl Edwin and earl Morcar fled, and wandered through the woods and fields. Then earl Morcar took ship and went to Ely ; and earl Edwin was slain treacherously by his own men : and bishop Egelwine,§ and Siward Barn, and many hundreds with them, came into Ely. And when king William heard this, he called out a fleet and army ; and he surrounded that land, and he made a bridge and entered in, his fleet lying off the coast. Then all the outlaws surrendered ; these were, bishop Egelwine and earl Morcar, and all who were with them, excepting only Hereward, and his followers whom he led off with great valour. And the king seized their ships, and arms, and much

* Or cope : see the last note. ♦ Of Selsey.

J Fitz-Osberne. § Of Durham.

A o. 1071—1074.] THE ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE. 453

treasure ; and lie disposed of the men as he would ; and he Bent bishop Egelwine to Abingdon, where he died early in the winter.

A. 1072. This year king William led an army and a fleet against Scotland, and he stationed the ships along the coast and crossed the Tweed with his army ; but he found nothing to reward his pni^s. And king Malcolm came and treated with king \Yilliam, and deUvered hostages, and became his liege-man ; and king William returned home with his forces. Bishop Egelric died this year ; he had been consecrated to the archbishopric of York, of which he was unjustly deprived, and the see of Durham was given to him ; this he held as long as he chose, and then resigned it and went to the monastery of Peterborough, and there he spent twelve years. Then after king William had conquered England, he removed Egelric from Peterborough, and sent him to Westminster, and he died on the Ides of October, and he ia buried in the abbey, in the aisle of St. Nicholas.

A. 1073. This year king William carried an anny of Eughsli and French over sea, and conquered the province of Maine : and the English did great damage, for they destroyed the vineyards and burned the towns, and they laid waste that province, the whole of which submitted to William ; and they afterwards returned home to England.

A. 1074. Tills year king William went over sea to Normandy ; and child Edgar came into Scotland from Flanders on St. Grimbald's mass-day. King Malcolm and Margaret liis sister received him there with much pomp. Also Philip, king of France, sent him a letter inviting him to come, and offering to give him the castle of Moiitreuil, as a place to annoy his enemies from. After this, king Malcolm and his sister Margaret gave great presents and much treasure to him and his men, skins adorned with purple, sable-skin, grey-skin and ermine-skin- pelisses, mantles, gold and silver vessels, and escorted them out of his dominions with much ceremony. But evil befell them at sea ; for they had hardly left the shore, when such rough weather came on, and the sea and wind drove them with such force upon the land, that their ships went to pieces and they saved theii* lives with much difficulty. They lost nearly all their riches and some of their men were taken by

454 THE A^GLO-SAXON CKROXICLE. [a.d. 1074, 1075.

the French : but the boldest of them escaped back to Scot- land, some on foot and some mounted on wretched horses. King Malcolm advised Edgar to send to king William beyond the sea, and request his friendship. Edgar did so, and the king acceded to his request and sent to fetch him. Again, king Malcolm and his sister made them handsome presents, and escorted them with honour out of their dominions. The sheriff of York met him at Durham, and went all the way with him, ordering him to be provided with meat and fodder at all the castles which they came to, until they reached the king beyond the sea. There king WilHam received him mth much pomp, and he remained at the court,, enjoying such privileges as the king granted him.

A. 1075. This year king William gave the daughter of William Fitz-Osberne in marriage to earl Ralph : the said Ralph was a Welchman on his mother's side, and his father was an Englishman named Ralph, and born in Norfolk. Then the king gave the earldom of Norfolk and Suffolk to his son, who brought his wife to Norwich, but

There was that bride-ale The source of man's bale.

For earl Roger and earl Waltheof were there, and bishops and abbats, and they took counsel to depose the king of England. And this was soon reported to the king then in Normandy, and it was told him withal that earl Roger and earl Ralph were the heads of the conspiracy, and that they had brought over the Britons to their side, and had sent eastward to Denmark for a fleet to assist them. And earl Roger departed to his earldom in the west, and gathered his people together in rebellion against the king, but he was checked in his attempt. And earl Ralph also being in his earldom would have marched forth with his people ; but the garrisons of the castles of England, and the inhabitants of the country came against him, and prevented his eflfecting any thing, on which he took ship at Norwich : and his wife remained in the castle, and held it till she had obtained terms, and then she departed from England with all her adherents. And after this the king came to England, and he took his kinsman earl Roger and put him in prison ; and earl Waltheof went over the sea and betrayed himself, but he

A.D. 1075, 107(>.] THE ANGLO-SAXOX CHRONICLE. 455

asked forgiveness and offered a ransom. The king let him off lightly until he came to England, when he had liim seized. And soon afterwards two hundred ships arrived from Denmark, commanded by two chieftains, Canute the son of Sweyn, and earl Hacco, but they durst not risk a battle Avith king William, but chose rather to go to York, where they broke into St. Peter's minster, and having taken thence much treasure, went away again. They then crossed over the sea to Flanders, but all who had been concerned in the act perished, namely earl Hacco and many others with liim. And the lady Edgitha died at Winchester seven nights before Christmas, and the king caused her to be brought to Westminster with great pomp, and to be laid by her lord king Edward. And the king was at Westminster during Chi^istmas, and there all the Britons who had been at the bridal feast at Norwich were brought to justice ; some were Winded, and others banished. Thus were the traitors to William subdued.

1076. This year Swejm king of Denmark died, and Harold his son succeeded to the kingdom. And the king gave Westminster to Vitalis, who had before been abbat of Bernay.* Earl Waltheof was beheaded at Winchester on the mass-day of St. Petronilla,! and his body was carried to Croylancl, where it now lies. And the king went over sea and led his army into Brittany, and besieged the castle of Dol, and the Britons defended it till the king of France came up, and then William departed, having lost both men and horses and much treasure.

» Or Beroeges. A cell to the abbey of Fescamp, in Normandy.

t "II. Kal. Jun. or the 31st of May. This notice of St. Petromlla, whose name and existence seem scarcely to have been known to the Latin historians, we owe exclusively to the valuable MS. c. t. b. iv. Yet if ever female saint deserved to be' commemorated as a conspicuous example of early pietv and Christian zeal, it must be Petronilla. She was no 1^ a person than the daughter of St. Peter himself; who, bemg solicited to marry a nobleman at^ Rome of the name of Flaccus, and on her refusal allow'ed three davs to deliberate, after passing the whole time m fasting and prayer, and receiving the sacrament at the hands of Nicomedes the priest, expired on the third dav ! This is no Romish legend of modem groAvth, for her name appears' in the martyrology of Bede, and m the most venerable records of primitive Christianity."— Ingram. And yet, the reader, who shall receive even the existence of Petromlla m any other light than as a fable, must possess a credulity which ^nll enable him to realize all the impostures with which ecclesiastical history abounds.

456 THE ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE. [a.d. 1077-1030.

1077. This year a peace was made between the king of France and William king of England, but it lasted only a little while. And this year, one night before the assumption of St. Mary, there was a more dreadful fire in London than had ever happened since tlie town Avas built. And the moon was eclipsed, three nights before candlemas : the same year died Egelwig abbat of Evesham, on the fourteenth day before the Kalends of March, which was the mass-day of St. Juliana ; and Walter became bishop in his stead. Bishop Herman also died on the tenth day before the Kalends of March. He was bishop in Berkshire, Wiltshire, and Dorset- shire. Also in this year king Malcolm won the mother of Malslaythe and all his best men and all his treasure and his oKen and himself hardly escaped .... There was also this year a dry summer, and wild-fire burned many towns, and many cities were ruined by it.

A. 1078.

A. 1079. This year king William's son Robert, fled from his father to his uncle Robert in Flanders, because his father would not let him govern his earldom in Normandy ; which lie himself, and with his consent Piiilip king of France, had given to him. The best men of that land had sworn allegiance to him and taken him for their lord. And the same year king William fought against his son Robert without the borders of Normandy near a castle called Gerberoy, and there king William was wounded, and the horse on Avhicli he sat was killed, and he that brought him another horse, namely, Tookie Wiggodson, was killed with a dart, and his son William was also wounded, and many men were slain, but Robert returned to Flanders. We will not say more at present of the harm that he did to liis father.

This year, between the two festivals of St. Mary, king Malcolm invaded England with a large army, and laid waste Northumberland as far as the Tyne ; and he slew many hun- dred men, and carried home much money and treasure and many prisoners.

A. 1030. This year Walcher bishop of Durham was slain at a gemot, and a hundred French and Flemings with him : Walcher himself was born in Lorraine. The Northumbriana perpetrated this in the month of May.

A.D. 1031— 1085.] THE ANGLO-SxVXON CHRONICLE. 457

A. 1081. This year the king led an army into Wales, and there he set free many hundred persons.

A. 1082. This year the king arrested bishop Odo. And there was a great famine this year.

A. 1083. This year a quarrel arose in Glastonbury be- tween the abbat Thurstan and liis monks. It was first caused by the abbat's unwise conduct, in that he treated his monks ill in many respects, but the monks were lovingly- minded towards him, and begged him to govern them in right and in kindness, and they would be faithful and obe- dient to him. But the abbat would none of this, and wrought them evil, and threatened worse. One day the abbat went into the chapter-house, and spoke against the monks, and would have taught them amiss;* and he sent for laymen, and they came in all armed upon the monks in the chapter-house. Then the monks were greatly terrified and knew not what to do, and some ran for refuge into the church and locked the doors from within ; but the others followed them, and would have dragged them forth when they durst not come out. Rueful things happened there on that day, for the French broke into the choir and threw darts towards the altar w^iere the monks were collected, and some of their servants went upon the upper floor f and shot down arrows towards the chancel, so that many arrows stuck in the crucifix which stood above the altar, and the wretched monks lay around the altar, and some crept under it, and they called earnestly upon God and besought his mercy, since they could obtain no mercy at the hands of men. What can we say, but that they shot without ceasing, and others broke down the doors, and rushed in, and they slew some of the monks and wounded many, so that the blood ran down from the altar on the steps, and from the steps to the floor ? Three were smitten to death and eigh- teen wounded. And the same year Matilda the wife of king William died on the day after the feast of All Saints. And the same year after Christmas the king caused a great and heavy tax to be raised throughout England, even seventy- two pence upon every liide of land.

♦ He wished to substitute the chant of William of Feschamp for that called the Gregorian.

t Proliably' aloni- the open galleries in the upper story of the choir, commonly called the trifoiium.

458 THE ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE. [a.d. 10S4, 1085.

A. 1084. This year Wulfwold abbat of Chertsey died on the 13th day before the Kalends of May.

A. 1085. This year men said and reported as certain, that Canute king of Denmark, the son of king Sweyn, was coming hither, and that he designed to conquer this land, with t)ie assistance of Robert earl of Flanders, wiiose daughter he had married. When king William, who was then in Nor- mandy, heard this, for England and Normandy Avere both his, he hastened hither with a larger army of horse and foot, from France and Brittany, than had ever arrived in this land, so that men wondered how the country could feed them all. But the king billeted the soldiers upon his sub- jects throughout the nation, and they provided for them, every man according to the land that he possessed. And the people suffered much distress this year: and the king caused the country near the sea to be laid waste, that if liis enemies landed they might the less readily find any plunder. Afterwards when he had received certain information that they had been stopped,* and that they would not be able to proceed in this enterprise, he let part of liis forces return to their own homes, and he kept part in this land through the winter. At midwinter the king was at Gloucester with his witan ; and he held his court there five days ; and afterguards the archbishop and clergy held a synod during three days ; and Maurice was there chosen to the bishopric of London, William to that of Norfolk, and Robert to that of Cheshire ; they were all clerks of the king. After this the king had a great consultation, and spoke very deeply with his witan concerning this land, how it was held and what were its tenantry. He then sent his men over all England, into every shire, and caused them to ascertain how many hun- dred hides of land it contained, and what lands the king possessed therein, what cattle there were in the several counties, and how much revenue he ought to receive yearly from each. He also caused them to write down how muck land belonged to liis archbishops, to his bishops, his abbats, and his earls, and, that I may be brief, what property every

* Because there was a mutiny in the Danish fleet; which was carried to such a height, that the king, after his return to Denmark, was slain by his own soldiers. Vide Antiq. Celto-Scand. p. 228. See also our Chron- icle, A.D. 1087. — Ingram.

A.D. 10S6, 10S7.] THE A>,^GLO-SAXON CHRONICLE. 459

inhabitant of all England possessed in land or in cattle, and how much money this was worth. So very narrowly did he cause the survey to he made, that there was not a single hide nor a rood of land, nor — it is shameful to relate that which he thought no shame to do — was there an ox, or a cow, or a pig passed by, and that was not set down in the accounts,* and then all these writings were brought to him.

A. 1086. This year the king wore his crown and held his court at Winchester at Easter, and he so journeyed forward that he was at Westminster during Pentecost, and there he dubbed his son Henry a knight. And afterwards he tra- velled about, so that he came to SaUsbury at Lammas ; and his witan, and all the land-holders of substance in England, whose vassals soever they were, repaired to him there, and they all submitted to him, and became his men, and swore oaths of allegiance, that they would be faithful to him against all others. Thence he proceeded to the Isle of Wight because he was to cross over to Normandy; and this he afterwards did; but first, according to his custom, he extorted immense sums from his subjects, upon every pretext he could find, whether just or otherwise. Then he went over to Normandy, and king Edward's kinsman Edgar etheling left liim, because he received no great honour from him : may Almighty God give him glory hereafter. And the etheling's sister Chi'istina went into the monastery of Romsey, and took the holy veil. And the same was a very heavy year, and very disastrous and sorrowful ; for there was a pestilence among the cattle, and the corn and fruits were checked; and the weather was worse than may easily be conceived: so violent was the thunder and lightning, that many persons were killed : and things ever grew worse and worse with the people. May Almighty God mend them, when such is liis will !

A. 1087. The year 1087 after the birth of Christ our Saviour, and the one and twentieth of king William's reign, during wliich he governed and disposed of the realm of Eng- land even as God permitted him, was a very grievous time of scarcity in this land. There was also so much illness,

* This is the famous Doomsday Book, or Rotulus Wintoniae, called also Liber Wintonice. At the end of it is the date, An7io millesimo octogesimo sexto ab incarnatione Dei, vigesimo vero regni Willelmi, 8^-c.

463 THE ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE. [a.d. 1087-

that almost every other man was afflicted with the worst of evils, that is, a fever ; and this so severe, that many died of it. And afterwards, from the badness of the weather which we have mentioned before, there was so great a famine throughout England, that many hundreds died of hunger. Oh, how disastrous, how rueful were those times ! when the wretched people were brought to the point of death by the fever, then the cruel famine came on and finished them. Who would not deplore such times, or who is so liard-hearted that he will not weep for so much misery ? But such things are, on account of the sins of the people, and because they will not love God and righteousness. Even so was it in those days ; there was little righteousness in this land amongst any, excepting the monks alone, who fared well. The king and the chief men loved much, and over much, to amass gold and silver, and cared not how sinfully it was gotten, so that it came into their hands. The king sold out his lands as dear as dearest he might, and then some other man came and bid more than the first had given, and the king granted them to him who offered tlie larger sum ; then came a third and bid yet more, and the king made over the lands to him who offered most of all ; and he cared not how iniquitously his sheriffs extorted money from the miserable people, nor how many unlawful things they did. And the more men spake of rightful laws, the more lawlessly did they act. They raised oppressive taxes, and so many were their unjust deeds, it were hard to number them. And the same year, before harvest, St. Paul's holy minster, the resi- dence of the bishops of London, was burnt, together with many other monasteries, and the greater and handsomer part of the whole city. At the same time likewise almost all the principal toAvns of England were burnt down. Oh, how sad and deplorable was this year, which brought forth so many calamities I

The same year also, before the assumption of St. Mary, king William marched with an army out of Normandy into France, and made war upon his own lord king Philip, and slew a great number of his people, and burned the town of Mante, and all the holy monasteries in it, and two holy men who served God as anchorites were burned there. This done king William returned into Normandy. Rueful deeds

A.D. 10S7.] xnE ANGL0-S.1X0N CKRONICLE. 461

he did, and ruefully he suffered. Wherefore ruefully ? He fell sick and became grievously ill. What can I say ? The sharpness of death, that spareth neither rich nor poor, seized upon him. He died in Normandy the day after the nativity of St. Mary, and he was buried in Caen, at St. Stephen's monastery, which he had built and had richly endowed. Oh, how false, how unstable, is the good of this world! He, who had been a powerful king and the lord of many territories, possessed not then, of all his lands, more than seven feet of ground ; and he, who was erewhile adorned with gold and with gems, lay then covered with mould. He left three sons : Eobert the eldest was earl of Normandy after him ; the second, named William, wore the crown of England after his father's death ; and his third son was Henry, to whom he bequeathed immense treasures.

If any would know what manner of man king William was, the glory that he obtained, and of how many lands he was lord ; then will we describe him as we have known him, we, who have looked upon him, and who once lived in his court.* This king William, of whom we are speaking, was a very wise and a great man, and more honoured and more powerful than any of his predecessors. He was mild to those good men who loved God, but severe beyond mea- sure towards those who withstood his will. He founded a noble monastery on the spot where God permitted him to conquer England, and he established monks in it, and he made it very rich. In his days the great monastery at Can- terbury was built, and many others also throughout Eng- land ; moreover this land was filled Avith monks who lived after the rule of St. Benedict; and such was the state of religion in his days that all that would, might observe that wliich was prescribed by their respective orders. King William was also held in much reverence : he wore his crown three times every year when he was in England : at Easter he wore it at Winchester, at Pentecost at Westmin- ster, and at Christmas at Gloucester. And at these times, all the men of England were with him, archbishops, bishops, abbats, and earls, thanes, and knights. So also, was he a ^ery stern and a wrathful man, so that none durst do anything

* From this we learn that this part of the Chronicle was ^vritten by a contemporary aiid eye-witness of the facts wliich he relates.

462 THE AXGLO-SAXON CIIEOXICLE. [a.d. 10S7.

against his will, and lie kept in prison those earls who acted against his pleasure. He removed bishops from their sees, and abbats from their otfices, and he imprisoned thanes, and at length he spared not his own brother Odo. Tliis Odo was a very powerful bishop in Normandy, liis see was that of Bayeux, and he was foremost to serve the king. He had an earldom in England, and when William was in Xormandy he was the first man in this country, and him did he cast into prison. Amongst other things the good order that WilUam estabhshed is not to be forgotten ; it was such that any man, who was himself aught, might tra- vel over the kingdom with a bosom-full of gold unmolested ; and no man durst kill another, however great the injury he might have received from him. He reigned over England, and being sharp-sighted to his own interest, he surv^eyed the kingdom so thoroughly that there was not a single Idde of land throughout the whole, of which he knew not the pos- sessor, and how much it was worth, and this he afterwards entered in his register.* The land of the Britons f was under his sway, and he built castles therein; moreover he had full dominion over the Isle of Man (Anglesey) : Scot- land also was subject to him from his great strength; the land of Xormandy was his by inheritance, and lie possessed the earldom of Maine ; and had he lived two years longer he would have subdued Ireland by his prowe.-s, and that v/ichout a battle. Truly there was much trouble in these times, and very great distress ; he caused castles to be built, and oppressed the poor. The king was also of great stern- ness, and he took from his subjects many marks of gold, and many hundred pounds of silver, and this, either with or without right, and with little need. He was given to avarice, and greedily loved gain. He made large forests for the deer, and enacted laws therewith, so that whoever killed a hart or a hind should be bhnded. As he forbade killing the deer, so also the boars; and he loved the tall stags as if he were their father. He also appointed con-

* This is certainlr an evident allusion to the compilation of Doomsday Book already described, a.d. 1085, as Gibson obsen-es; and it is equally c'-.H.r to me, that the conposition of this part of the Chronicle is by a diiferent hand. — Ingra3I.

T Wales.

^.D. 10S7.] THE AXGLO-SAXON CIHiOXICLE. 463

cerning the hares, that thej sho^old go free. The rich com- plained and the poor murmured, but he was so sturdy that he recked nought of them ; thej must wiU aU that the kin^r willed, if they would live; or would keep their lands- o? v.-ould hold their possessions; or would be maintained in their rights. Alas ! that any man should so exalt himself and cany himself in his pride oyer aU ! May Ahni^hty God show mercy to his soul, and grant him the fordye- ness of his sins ! We haye written concerning him these things, both good and bad, that yirtuous men ^^ht follow alter the good, and whoUy ayoid the eyil, and might ^o in the way that leadeth to the kingdom of heayen. ° °

We may write of many eyent's which happened during this year. In Denmark, the Danes who were formerly accounted the most loyal of people, turned to the greatest possible per- fidy and treachery, for they chose king Canute, and submit- ted to him, and swore oaths of allegiance, and afterwards they shamefully murdered him in a church.* It also came to pass in Spain, that the heathen men went forth, and made war upon the Chiistians, and brought gi-eat part of the "country into subjection to themselyes. But the Christian king, whose name was Alphonso, sent to all countries and begged assistance. And allies flocked to him from eyery Chi-istian land, and they went forth, and slew or di'oye away all the heathens, and they won theii' land again by the help of God. The same year also many great men died in this land : Stigand bishop of Chichester, and the abbat of St. Augustine's, and the abbats of Bath and of Pershore, and the lord of them aU "William king of England, concerning whom we haye spoken aboye.

After his death, his son WiUiam, of the same name with his father, took to himself the goyermnent, and was conse- crated king in Westminster by archbishop Lanfranc three days before ^lich^lmas : and all the men of England acknow- ledged him, and swore oaths of allegiance to him. This done, the king went to Winchester and examined the treasury, and the hoai-ds which his father had amassed ; gold and silyer, yessels of plate, paUs, gems, and many other yalu-

* A church at Odensee, dedicated to St. AJban, whose relics had been br.iught from England by this Canute.

464 THE ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE. La.d. 1088.

ables tliat are hard to be numbered. The king did as his father before he died commanded him ; he distributed trea- sures amongst all the monasteries of England, for the sake of his father's soul : to some he gave ten marks of gold, and to others six, and sixty pennies to every country church, and a hundred pounds of money was sent into every county to be divided among the poor for his soul's sake. And before he died he had also desired that all who had been imprisoned during his reign should be released. And the king was at London during midwinter.

A. 1088. This year the land was much disturbed, and filled with treason, so that the principal Frenchmen here would have betrayed their lord the kiiiir, and have had his brother Robert instead, who was earl of Normandy. Bishop Odo was the chief man in the conspiracy, together with bishop Gosfrith, and William bishop of Durham. The king esteemed the bishop so higlily, tliat tlie affairs of all England were directed after his counsel, and according to his pleasure, but the bishop purposed to do by him as Judas Tscariot did by our Lord. And earl Roger was concerned in this con- spiracy, and many others with him, all Frenchmen. This plot was concerted during Lent ; and as soon as Easter came they marched forth, and plundered, and burned, and laid waste the lands of the crown ; and they ruined the estates of those who remained firm in their allegiance. And each of the head conspirators went to his own castle, and manned and victualled it, as best he might. Bishop Gosfrith and Robert the peace-breaker went to Bristol, and having plun- dered the town, they brought the spoils into the castle ; and afterwards they sallied forth and plundered Bath, and all tlie surrounding country, and they laid waste all the lordshij) of Berkeley. And the chief men of Hereford and all that county, and the men of Shropshire, with many from Wales, entered Worcestershire, and went on plundering and burning, till they approached the county town, and they were resolved to burn this also, and to plunder the cathedral, and to seize the king's castle for themselves. The worthy bishop Wul- stan seeing this, was much distressed in mind, because the castle was committed to his keeping. Nevertheless his re- tainers, few as they were, marched out, and through the mercy of God, and the good desert of the bishop, they slew

A.D. 1088.] THE ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE. 4G5

or took captive five hundred men, and put all the rest to flight. The bishop of Durham did as much harm as he could in all the northern parts : one of the conspirators named Roger, threw himself into Norwich castle, and spread devastation throughout that country : Hugo also was in no respect less formidable to Leicestershire and Northampton. Bishop Odo, with whom these commotions originated, de- parted to his earldom of Kent, which he ravaged, and he wholly laid waste the lands of the king and the archbishop, and brought all the plunder into his castle at Rochester. When the king had heard all tliis, and with what treason they were acting towards him, he was greatly disturbed in mind ; and he sent for the English, and laid his necessities before them, and entreated their assistance. He promised them better laws than had ever been in this land, and forbade all unjust taxes, and guaranteed to his subjects their woods and hunting. But these concessions were soon done away. Howbeit the English came to the aid of their lord the king, and they then marched towards Rochester, desiring to seize bishop Odo, for they thought that if they had him who was the head of the conspiracy in their power, they might with greater ease subdue the others. Then they came to Tun- bridge castle, in which were the knights of bishop Odo and many others, who resolved to hold out against William. But the English came on, and stormed the castle, and the garrison capitulated. They then proceeded towards Rochester be- lieving that the bishop was there : but the king was told that he was departed to his castle at Pevensey, and the king and his troops went after him, and he besieged that castle fuU six weeks with a very large army.

In the meantime Robert earl of Normandy, the king's brother, gathered together a great multitude, and thought that he should win England with the aid of the disaifected of this country. And he sent some of his troops to this land, intending to follow them himself. But the English who guarded the sea attacked these men, and slew and drowned more than any one can number. At length provisions be- came scarce in the castle, on which the insurgents prayed for a truce and surrendered the place to the king, and the bishop took an oath that he would depart from England, and never return unless the king sent for him, and that he would also

n H

466 THE ANGLO-SAXON CnnONICLE. U-d. 10S9,10SO.

give up Roeliester castle. After this the bishop proceeded thither that he might deliver up that fortress, and the king sent his men with him. but then the soldiers who were in the castle arose, and seized the bishop, and the king's men, whom they put into confinement. There were very good knights in this castle : Eustace the younger, the three sons of earl Roger, and all the best born of this land, and of Normandy. When the king knew this, he set forth with all the troopa then with him, and he sent over all England and commanded that every man of mark, French or English, from town and from country, should come and join him. Many were those who flocked to him, and he marched to Rochester and be- sieged the castle till the garrison capitulated. Bishop Odo and those who were with him departed over sea, and thus the bishop lost the station he held in this land. The king after- wards sent an army to Durham, and besieged the castle, and the bishop capitulated, and surrendered it, and he gave up liis bishopric and went to Normandy. Many Frenchmen also left their lands, and went over sea, and the king gave their estates to those who had held fast to him.

A. 1089. This year the venerable father and patron of monks, archbishop Lanfranc, departed tliis life, but we trust that he has entered into the kingdom of heaven. There was also a great earthquake throughout England on the 3rd day before the Ides of August.* And it was a very late year both as to the corn, and fruits of all kind, so that many men reaped their corn about Martinmas, and even later.

A. 1090. Things being in the state we have described, as regarding the king. Ids brother, and liis people, William considered how he might take the surest vengeance on his brother Robert, harass him most, and win Normandy from him. To this end, he gained the castle and port of St. Valery by stratagem or bribery, and also Albemarle castle, and he placed his knights in them, and they did much harm, ravag- ing and burning the country. After this he got possession of more castles in that land, and in these also he stationed his knights. When Robert earl of Normandy found that his sworn liege-men revolted and gave up their castles to his great injury, he sent to his lord Philip king of France, who

* The 11 th of August.

A.D. 1091.J THE ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE. 4G7

came into Normandy with a large armj ; and the king and the earl with an innumerable force besieged a castle defended by the king of England's soldiers : but king William of Eng- land sent to Philip king of France, and he, for love of Wil- liam or for his great bribes, deserted his vassal earl Robert and his land, and returned to France, leaving things as tliey were. During all these transactions, England was greatly oppressed by unlawful taxes, and many other grievances.

A. 1091. This year king William held his court at Westmin- ster at Christmas, and the following Candlemas he departed from England to Normandy, bent on his brother's ruin : but whilst he was in that country, peace was made between them, on condition that the earl should give up Feschamp, the earldom of Eu, and Cherbourg, to Wilham, and withal that the king's men should be unmolested in those castles of which they had possessed themselves in the earl's despite. And the king, on his side, promised to reduce to their obedience the many castles conquered by their father, which had since revolted from the earl, and also to estabUsli him in the possession of all their father's territories abroad, excepting those places which the earl had then given up to the king. Moreover aU who had lost their lands in England on account of the earl were to regain them by this treaty, and the earl also was to receive certain estates in England then specified. It was also agreed that if the earl died leaving no legitimate son the king should be heir of all Normandy, and in like manner if the king died, that the earl should be heir of all England. Twelve of the chief men on the part of the king, and twelve on that of the earl, guaranteed this treaty by oath ; yet it was observed but a short time. During this peace Edgar etheling was dispossessed of those lands which the carl had granted him, and he departed and went from Normandy into Scotland, to the king his brother-in-law, and his sister. Whilst king Wil- liam was out of England, Malcolm king of Scotland invaded this country, and ravaged great part of it, till the good men to whom the keeping of the land was entrusted, sent their troops against him and drove him back. When king William heard this in Normandy, he hastened to return, and he came to Eng- land and his brother earl Robert with him. And they called out a fleet and army, but almost all the sliips were lost, a few days before Michaelmas, ere they reached Scotland. And

H H 2

463 THE ^VXGLO-SAXOX CnROXlCLE. [a.d. 1092, 1093.

the king and his brother proceeded with the army : and when king: Malcolm heard that thev sought to attack him, he marched with his array out of Scotland into Lothian in England, and remained there. And when king William approached, earl Robert and Edgar etheling mediated a peace between the kings, on condition that king Malcolm should repair to our king, and become his vassal, and in all the like subjection as to his father before him ; and this he confirmed bv oath. And king William promised liim all the lands and possessions that he held under his father. Bj this peace Edgar etheling was reconciled to the king. And the kings separated in great friendship, but this lasted during a short time only. Earl Robert abode here with the king till Christmas drew near, and in this time he found little good faith as to the fulfilment of the treaty, and two days before the feast he took ship from the Isle of Wight and sailed to Normandy, and Edgar etheling with him.

A. 1092. This year king William went northward to Carlisle with a large army, and he repaired the city, and built the castle. And he drove out Dolfin, who had before governed that country ; and having placed a garrison in the castle, he returned into the south, and sent a great number of rustic Englishmen thither, with their wives and cattle, that they might settle there and cultivate the land.

A. 1093. This year, in Lent, king William was very sick at G-loucester, insomuch that he was universally reported to be dead: and he made many good promises in his illness; that he would lead his future life in righteousness — that the churches of God he would guard and free — and never more sell them for money — and t'at he would have all just laws in his kingdom. And he gave the archbishopric of Canter- bury, which he had hitherto kept in his own hands, to Anselm, who was before this abbat of Bee, and the bishopric of Lincoln to his chancellor Robert ; and he granted lands to many monasteries, but afterwards, when recovered, he took them back, and he neglected aU the good laws that he had promised us. After this the king of Scotland sent desiring that the stipulated conditions might be performed ; and king William summoned him to Gloucester, and sent hostages to him in Scotland, and afterwards Edgar etheling and others met him, and brought him with much honour to the court.

A.D. 1093, 1094.] THE ANGLO-SAXON CHROXICLE. 469

But when he came there, he could neither obtain a confer- ence with our king nor the performance of the conditions formerly promised him, and therefore they departed in great enmity : and king Malcolm returned home to Scotland, and as soon as he came thither, he assembled his troops and invaded England, ravaging the country with more fury than behoved him : and Robert, earl of Northumberland, with his men, lay in wait for him, and slew him unawares. He was killed by Moreel of Bambrough, the earl's steward, and king Malcolm's own godfather:* his son Edward, who, had he lived, would have been king after his father, was killed with liim. When the good queen Margaret heai'd that her most beloved lord, and her son, were thus cut off, she was grieved in spirit unto death, and she went with her priest into the church, and having gone through all befitting rites, she prayed of God that she might give up the ghost. And then the Scots chose I Dufenal, the brother of Malcolm, for their king, and drove out all the English who had been Tvdth king Malcolm. When Duncan, the son of king Malcolm, heard all this, for he was in king William's court, and had re- mained here from the time that liis father gave him as an hostage to our king's father, he came to the king, and did such homage as the king required; and thus, T\4th liis con- sent, he departed for Scotland, with the aid that he could muster, both English and French, and he deprived his kins- man Dufenal of the throne, and was received as king. But then some of the Scotch again gathered themselves together, and slew nearly all his men, and he himself escaped with few others. They were afterwards reconciled on this con- dition, that Duncan should never more bring EngUsh or Frenchmen into that country.

A. 1094. This year, at Christmas, king WilUam held his

• Ingram translates the original « godsib" baptismal friend, and adds the foUoNring note, "literally a gossip; but such are the changes which words undergo in their meaniBg as well as in their form, that a title of honour, formerly imph-ing a spiritual relationship m God is now applied oniv to those whose conversation resembles the contemptible tittle-tattle of a christening:- Gibson translates it a ' susceptor,' i e. an undertaker.

+ « From this expression it is e^•ident, that though preference waa naturally and properly given to hereditary claims the monarchy of Scot- land, as' well as of England, was in principle elective. The doctnne of hereditary, of divine, of indefeasible right, is of modem growth."- Ikgraii.

470 THE ANGLO-S.VXON CHUOXICLE. [a.d. 1034

court at Gloucester ; and there came messengers to him out of Normandy, from his brother Robert, and they said that his brother renounced all peace and compact if the king would not perform all that they had stipulated in the treaty ; moreover they called him perjured and fiiithless unless he would perform the conditions, or would go to the place where the treaty had been concluded and sworn to, and there clear himself. Then at Candlemas the king went to Hastings, and whilst he waited there for a fiiir wind, he caused the monastery on the field of battle* to be conse- crated ; and he took the staff from Herbert Losange, f bishop of Thetford. — After this, in the middle of Lent, he went over sea to Normandy. When he came thither he and his brother, earl Robert, agreed that they would meet in peace, and they did so, to the end that they might be reconciled. But afterwards, when they met, attended by the same men who had brought about the treaty, and had sworn to see it executed, these charged all the breach of faith upon the king ; he would not allow this, neither would he observe the treaty, on which they separated in great enmity. And the king then seized the castle of Bures, and took the earl's men who were in it, and he sent some of them over to this coun- try. And on the other hand the earl, with the assistance of the king of France, took the castle of Argences, in which he seized Roger the Poitou and seven hundred of the king's soldiers ; and he afterwards took the castle of Hulme ; and frequently did each burn the towns and take captive the people of his rival. Then the king sent hither and ordered out 20,000 Englishmen to aid him in Normandy, but when they reached the sea they were desired to return, and to give to the king's treasury the money that they had received; this was half a pound for each man, and they did so. And in Normandy, after this, the earl, with the king of France, and all the troops that they could collect, marched towards Eu, where king William then was, purposing to besiege him therein, and thus they proceeded until they came to Lune-

* Battle Abbey.

+ Commonly called Herbert de Losinga. His letters are of much his- torical interest : they were supposed to be lost, until they were recently discovered by Robert Anstruther in the Brussels library, and published 8vo, Bruxellis, apud Vandale, et Londini apud D. Nutt.

A.D. XidS.] THE AIS'GLO-SAXON CHRONICLE. 471

ville, and tliere the king of France turned off through treachery, and on this the whole army dispersed. In the meantime king William sent for his brother Henry, who was in the castle of Damfront, and because he could not pass through Normandy in security, he sent ships for him, with Hugo, earl of Chester. And when they should have made for Eu, where the king was, they directed their course in- stead to England, and landed at Hampton* on the eve of All Saints' day; and they then remained in this country, and were in London at Christmas.

The same year also the Welsh gathered themselves to- gether, and made war upon the French in Wales, or in the neighbouring parts, where they had been before deprived of their lands, and they stormed many fortresses and castles, and slew the men, and afterwards their numbers increased so much, that they divided themselves into many bodies; Hugo, earl of Shropshire, fought with one division and put it to flight, but nevertheless the others abstained not, during the whole year, from committing every outrage in their power. This year also the Scots conspired against their king Duncan, and slew him, and they afterwards took liis uncle Dufenal a second time for their king ; through whose instructions and instigation Duncan had been betrayed to his death.

A. 1095. This year king William was at Whitsand during the first four days of Christmas, and after the fourth day he set sail and landed at Dover. And the king's brother Henry remained in this country till Lent, and then he went over sea to Normandy, with much treasure to be employed in the king's service against their brother, earl Robert : and he gained ground upon the earl continually, and did much damage to his lands and subjects. Then at Easter the king held his court at Winchester, and Robert earl of Northumberland would not repair thither ; therefore the king's anger was greatly stirred up against him, and he sent to him, and sternly commanded that if he would remain in peace he should come to his court at Pentecost. This year Easter feU on the 8th before the Kalends of April, and after Easter,

* Now called Southampton, to distinguish it from Northampton ; l.ut the common people, in both neighbourhoods, generaUy say Hampton to this day. — Ingram.

472 THE ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE. [a.d. 1095.

on the niglit of the feast of St. Ambrose, the 2nd before the Nones of April, there was seen all over the country a great multitude of stars falling from heaven during nearly the whole of the night, not one or two at a time, but so thickly that no man might number them. After this, at Pentecost, the king was at Windsor, and all his witan ^vith him, excepting the earl of Northumberland, for the king would neither give hostages nor pledge his troth that he should come and go in security. On this the king called out an army, and marched against the earl into Northumberland, and as soon as he came thither he seized almost all the chief men of the earl's court in a certain fortress, and he put them in confinement. And he besieged Tinmouth castle until he took it, and there he seized the earl's brother, and all who were with him : thence he proceeded to Bambrough, and there he besieged the earl ; and Avhen the king found that he could not reduce him, he caused a castle to be built over against Bambrough, and called it in his speech, Malveisin, which is in English, '"the evil neighbour," and he garrisoned it strongly, and afterwards he departed southward. Then one night, soon after the king's return into the south, the earl went out of Bambrough towards Tinmouth : but those in the new castle, being aware of liis design, pursued and attacked him, and they wounded liim, and afterwards took him prisoner, and some of his followers were slain, and some taken alive. In the meantime the king was told that the Welsh had stormed a certain castle in Wales, called Montgomery, and had slain earl Hugo's men who defended it ; on this he commanded another army to be called out in haste, and after Michaelmas he proceeded into Wales. He divided his forces, and his troops made their way through all parts of the country, and met at Snow don, on All Saints' day. But the Welsh ever Hed before him to the mountains and moors, so that no man could get near them, and the king at length returned home- wards, because he could do no more there that winter. When the king came back, he commanded his people to take Robert earl of Northumberland, and lead him to Bambrough, and to put out both his eyes, unless the besieged would surrender the castle, which was defended by his wife, and his steward Morel, who was also his kinsman. On this, the castle was given up, and Morel was received at WilUam's court ; and

A. D. 1090.] THE ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE. 473

through him many were discovered, both clergy and laity, who had aided this rebellion with their counsel. Then the king ordered some of tliem to be imprisoned before Christ- mas, and he straightly commanded throughout the kingdom, that all who held lands of liim should be at his court, on that festival, as they would retain his protection. And the king had earl Robert brought to Windsor, and confined there in the castle. This year also, a little before Easter, the pope's legate came to England ; this was Walter, bishop of Albano, a man of a very virtuous life, and at Pentecost he presented archbishop Anselm with his pall from pope Urban, and he received it at his metropolitan city of Canterbury. And bishop Walter remained h^re great part of this year, and on his return the Romescot,* which had not been paid for many years before, was sent with liim. This year also the weather was very unseasonable, so that the fruits of the earth were much injured over all the country.

A. 1096. This year king Wilham held his Chi-istmas court at Windsor; and William bishop of Durham died there on New Year's day. And the king and all his witan were at Salisbury on the octaves of the Epiphany. There Geoffry Bainard accused William of Eu, the king's relation, saying that he had been concerned in the conspiracy against the king, and for this cause he fought with him and over- came him in single combat, and after he was vanquished the king commanded that liis eyes should be put out ; and the king also caused his steward named William, who was his aunf s son, to be hanged on the gallows. Then also Eoda earl of Champagne, the king's uncle, and many others, were deprived of their lands, and some were brought to London, and there executed. At Easter, this year, there was a very great stir in this country and in many others also, through Urban, who was called pope, though he was not in posses- sion of the see of Rome ; and an innumerable multitude of men, with their A\dves and children, departed to go and con- quer the heathen nations. The king and his brother, earl Robert, were reconciled in consequence of this expedition, so that the king went over sea, and received from the earl all Normandy for a sum of money, according to contract. And thereupon the earl departed, and with him went the earls of * Commonlv called Peter's pence.

474 THE ANGLO-SAXON CHPtONICLE. [a.d. 1097.

Flanders and of Boulogne, and many other headmen.* And earl Robert and those who accompanied him abode in Apulia that winter. But of those who went by Hungary, many thou- sands perished miserably there, or on the road, and many, rueful and hunger-bitten, toiled homewards against winter. These were very hard times to all the English, as well because of the manifold taxes, as of the "very grievous famine which sorely afflicted the land. This year also the nobles who had charge of this country frequently sent forth armies into Wales, and thus they greatly oppressed many, and for no purpose, but with much loss of men and of money.

A. 1097. This year king William was in Normandy at Christmas, and before Easter he sailed for this land, intend- ing to hold his court at Winchester, but he was kept at sea by bad Aveather till Easter eve ; and Arundel was the first place to which he came, therefore he held his court at Wind- sor. After this, he marched into Wales with a large army, and his troops penetrated far into the country by means of some Welshmen who had come over to him, and were his guides. And William remained there from Midsummer till near Au- gust, to his great loss of men and horses and many other things.

When the Welsh had revolted from the king, they chose several leaders from among themselves, one of these was named Cadwgan, he was the most powerful of them all, and was the son of king Griffin's brother. The king, seeing that he could not effect his purpose, returned into England, and he forthmth caused castles to be built on the marches. Then at Michaelmas, on the 4th before the Nones of Octo- ber, an uncommon star appeared shining in the evening, and soon going down : it was seen in the south-west, and the light which streamed from it seemed very long, shining to- wards the south-east ; and it appeared after this manner nearly all the week. Many allowed that it was a comet. Soon after this, Anselm archbishop of Canterbury obtained permission from the king, though against his inclination, to leave this country and go over sea, because it seemed to him that in this nation little was done according to right, or after his desires. And at Martinmas the king went over sea to

* " Headmen or chiefs." The term is still retained with a slight varia- tion in the north of Europe, as ' the hetman Platoff, of celebrated memory.* ■ — Ingram.

A.D. 1037— lOOa.] THE AJs^GLO-SAXOJN' CHRONICLE. 475

Normandy ; but whilst he waited for a fr.ir wind, liis train did as much injury in the county in which the/ were de- tained, as any prince's retinue, or even an army could have committed in a peaceable land.

This year was in all respects a very heavy time, and the weather Avas singularly bad at the seasons when men should till their lands and gather in the harvest; and the people had nevertheless no respite from unjust taxes. Many shires, moreover, which are bound to duty in works at London, were greatly oppressed in making the wall around the tower, in repairing the bridge which had been almost washed away, and in building the king's hall at \Vestminster. These hardships fell upon many. This year also, at Michaelmas, Edgar etheling, with the king's aid, led an army into Scot- land, and won that country by hard fighting, and drove out the king Dufnal, and established his kinsman Edgar the son of king Malcolm and queen Margaret, as king in fealty to William, and then he returned into England.

A. 1098. This year king William was in Normandy at Christmas ; and Walkelin bishop of Winchester, and Bald- win abbat of St. Edmund's, both died during this festival. This year also died Turold abbat of Peterborough. More- over in the summer of this year a spring of blood burst out at Finchamstead, in Berkshire, according to the declaration of many men of credit, who said that they had seen it. And earl Hugo was slain in Anglesey by foreign pirates ; his brother Eobert succeeded him, having obtained this of the king. Before Michaelmas- day the heaven appeared as it were on fire, almost all the night. This was a year of much distress, caused by the manifold oppressive taxes ; nearly all the crops in the marsh lands failed also from the great rains, which ceased not the whole year.

A. 1099. This year king William was in Normandy at Christmas ; and at Easter he came hither ; and at Pentecost he held his court for the first time in the new building at Westminster, and there he gave the bishopric of Durham to his chaplain Eanulf, who had long been the chief manager and director of all the king's councils held in England. And soon afterwards William went over sea, and drove earl Eliaa from Maine, and brought that province into subjection ; and at Michaelmas he returned to this land. This year also, on

476 THE ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE. [a.d. IICO.

St. Martin's day, there was so very high a tide, and the damage was so great in consequence, that men remembered not the like to have ever happened before, and the same day- was the first of the new moon. And Osmond bishop of Salis- bury died during Advent.

A. 1100. This year, at Cliristraas, king VYilliam held his court in Grloucester ; and at Easter in Winchester ; and at Pentecost in Westminster. And at Pentecost blood was observed gushing from the earth, at a certain town of Berkshire, even as many asserted who declared that they had seen it. And after tliis, on the morning after Lammas-day, king William was shot with an arrow by his own men, as he was hunting, and he was carried to Winchester and buried there.* This was in the thirteenth year from his accession. He was very powerful, and stern over his lands and subjects, and towards all his neighbours, and much to be di'eaded, and through the counsels of evil men wldch were always pleasing to him, and through his own avarice, he was ever vexing the people with armies and mth cruel taxes ; for in his days all justice sank, and all unrighteousness arose, in the sight of God and the world. He trampled on the church of God, and as to the bishoprics and abbacies, the incumbents of which died in liis reign, he either sold them outright, or kept them in his OAvn hands, and set them out to renters ; for he desired to be the heir of every one, churchman or layman, so that the day on Avhich he was killed he had in his own hands the archbishopric of Canterbury, the bishoprics of Winchester and Salisbury, and eleven abbacies, all let out to farm, and in fine, however long I may delay mention of it,f all that was abominable to God and oppressive to men was common in this island in William's time : and therefore he was hated by almost all his people, and abhorred by God as his end showeth, in that he died in the midst of his unrighteousness, without repentance or any reparation made for his evil deeds. He was slain on a Thursday, and buried the next morning : and after he was buried, the witan who were then near at hand, chose his brother Henry as king,

• His monument is still to be seen there, a plain gravestone of black marble, of the common shape called " dos d'ane," such as are now frequently seen, though of inferior materials, in the church-yards of A-illages, and are only one remove from the grassy sod.— Ingram.

f Ingram renders this, " though I may be tedious."

A.D. 1100, 1101.] THE ANGLO-SAXON CnRONICLE. 477

and he forthwith gave the bishopric of Winchester to William GifFard, and then went to London ; and on the Sunday- following he made a promise to God and all the people, before the altar at Westminster, that he would abolish the injustice which prevailed in his brother's time, and that he would observe the most equitable of the laws established in the days of any of the kings before him : and after this Maurice bishop of London consecrated him as king, and all the men of this land submitted to him, and swore oaths and became his liege-men. And soon afterwards, the king, by the advice of those about him, caused Ranulf bishop of Durham to be taken and brought into the Tower of London, and confined there. Then before Michaelmas Anselm archbishop of Canterbury came to this land ; king Henry having sent for him by the advice of his witan, because he had left the country on account of the injustice done him by king William. And soon afterwards the king took for his wife Maud the daughter of Malcolm king of Scotland and of the good queen Margaret king Edward's kinswoman, of the true royal line of England ; and on Martinmas day she was given to him vnth great pomp at Westminster, and archbishop Anselm wedded her to Henry, and afterwards consecrated her as queen. And soon after tliis Thom.as archbishop of York died. This year also, in the autumn, earl Robert came home into Normandy, and Robert earl of Flanders and Eustace earl of Boulogne also returned from Jerusalem, and on earl Robert's arrival in Normandy he was joyfully received by all the people, excepting those in the castles which were garrisoned with king Henry's men, and against these he had many contests and struggles.

A. IIOL This year, at Christmas, king Henry held his court at Westminster, and at Easter at Winchester. And soon afterwards the chief men of this land entered into a league against the king, both from their own great treachery, and through Robert earl of Normandy who had hostile designs upon this land. And then the king sent out ships to annoy and hinder his brother ; but some of them failed at time of need, and deserted from the king, and submitted to earl Robert. At Midsummer the king posted himself with all his troops at Pevensey to oppose his brother, and he waited for him there. And in the meantime earl Robert

478 THE AKGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE. [a.d. 1101, 1102.

landed at Portsmouth, twelve nights before Lammas, and the king marched against him Avith all his forces ; but the chief men interfered and made peace between them, on condition that the king should give up all those places in Normandy which he then detained from his brother by force of arms ; and that all who had lost their lands in England on the earl's account should have them again, and that earl Eustace should also have his father's estates in this country, and that earl Robert should receive yearly 3000 marks of silver from England ; and it was stipulated by tins treaty that whichever of the brothers outlived the other, he should inherit all England together with Normandy, unless the deceased left legitimate issue. And twelve men of the highest rank on either side confirmed this treaty by oath : and the earl afterwards remained here till after Michaelmas ; and Ids men did much harm wherever they went, whilst the earl stayed in this land. This year also, at Candlemas, bishop Ranulf escaped by night from the Tower of London, in which he was confined, and went to Normandy. It Avas at his sugges- tion chiefiy, that earl Robert was incited to invade this land.

A. 1102. This year king Henry was at Westminster during the feast of the Nativity, and at Easter he was at Winchester. And soon afterwards a difference arose between the king and Robert of Belesme, who held the earldom of Shrewsbury in this country, which his father earl Roger had enjoyed before him, and who had other great possessions both here and abroad ; and the king went and besieged Arundel Castle, and when he found that he should not be able to take it speedily, he caused castles to be built before it, and garrisoned with his men ; and then he led all his troops to Bridgenorth, and remained there till he had reduced the castle, and deprived earl Robert of his lands, and he took from him all that he possessed in England ; so the earl departed over sea, and the king's soldiers were disbanded and returned home. On the Michaelmas following the king was at Westminster, with all the head men of this land, both clergy and laity ; and archbishop Anselm held a synod, at which many decrees were made touching the Christian religion ; and many abbats, both French and English, lost their staffs and their abbacies, because they

A.D. 1102-1104.] THE ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE. 479

had obtained them unlawfully, or had lived unrighteously therein. And the same year, in Pentecost Aveek, there came robbers, some from Auvergne, some from France, and some from Flanders, and they brake into the monastery of Peter- borough, and carried off much treasure of gold and silver ; crosses, chalices, and candlesticks.

A. 1103. This year king Henry was at Westminster at Christmas. And soon afterwards the bishop William GifFard departed from this land, because he would not against right receive consecration from Gerard archbishop of York. And at Easter the king held his court at Winchester ; and after- wards, Anselm archbishop of Canterbury journeyed to Rome, as he and the king had agreed. This year also earl Robert of Normandy came to this land, to speak w4th the king, and before he departed hence he gave up the 3000 marks which king Henry should have paid him yearly according to the treaty. This year blood w\as seen gushing out of the earth at Hampstead,* in Berkshire. This w^as a year of much distress from the manifold taxes, and also from a mortality among the cattle, and from the failure of the crops, both of the corn and all fruits of trees. In the morning also of St. Lawrence's day, the wind did so much damage to all the fruit of this land, that no man remembered the like to have ever happened before. The same year died Matthias abbat of Peterborough, w^io had not lived more than one year after he was made abbat. After Michaelmas, on the 12th before the Kalends of November, he was received in procession as abbat, and the same day the year following he died at Gloucester, and there he was buried.

A. 1104. This year, at Christmas, king Henry held Iiis court at Westminster, at Easter at Winchester, at Pentecost again at Westminster. This year the first day of Pentecost was on the Nones of June, and on the Tuesday after, at mid- day, there appeared four circles of a white colour round the sun, one under the other as if they had been painted. All who saw it wondered, because they never remembered such before. An alliance was afterwards formed between Robert earl of Normandy and Robert of Belesme,t whom king Henry had deprived of his estates, and di-iven out of Eng-

* Finchamstead. t Hence the English name Bellamy.

480 THE ANGLO-SAXON' CHRONICLE. [a.d. 1104-1106.

land, and from this, the king of England and the earl of Normandy became at variance. And the king sent his people over sea into Normandy, and the head men of that country received thfm, and admitted them into their castles in treachery to their lord the earl, and they greatly annoyed the earl by plundering and burning his territories. This year also, William earl of Moreton (Mortaignc) departed to Normandy, and being there, he took arms against the king, on which the king confiscated all his possessions and estates in this country. It is not easy to describe the misery of this land, which it suiFered at this time through the various and manifold oppressions and taxes that never ceased or slack- ened : moreover wherever the king went his train fell to plundering his wretched people, and withal there was much burning and manslaughter. By all this was the anger of God provoked, and this unhappy nation harassed.

A. llOo. This year, at Christmas, king Henry held his court at Windsor, and the following Lent he went over sea to Normandy against his brother earl Robert. And whilst he remained there he won Caen and Bayeux from his brother, and almost all the castles and chief men of that land became subject to him ; and in the autumn he came again to this country. And all that he had conquered in Normandy re- mained to him afterwards in peace and subjection, excepting those places which lay in the neighbourhood of William earl of Moreton,* and Avhich he harassed continually as much as harass he might, in revenge for the loss of his estates in England. Then before Christmas Robert de Belesme came hither to the king. This Avas a year of great distress from the failure of the fruits, and from the manifold taxes which never ceased, either before the king went abroad, while he was there, or again after his return.

A. 1106. This year at Christmas, king Henry wao at Westminster, and there he held his court, and during this festival Robert de Belesme departed from the king in enmity, and left this country for Normandy. After this, and before Lent, the king was at Northampton, and his brother earl Robert of Normandy came to him there ; and because the

• " De Moritonio" is the Latin title ; the to\vn of Mortaigne in Nor- mandy is the place from which it is taken.

A.D. 1106.1 THE ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE. 481

king would not give up that which he had won from the earl in Normandy, they separated in enmity, and the earl soon went again over sea. In the first week of Lent, on the evening of Friday, the 14th before the Kalends of March, a strange star appeared, and it was seen a wliile every evening for a long time afterwards. This star appeared in the south- west, it seemed small and dim, but the light that stood from it was very bright, and like an exceedingly long beam shining to the north-east ; and one evening it seemed as if a beam from over against the star darted directly into it. Some persons said that they observed more unknown stars at this time, but we do not write this as a certainty because we saw them not ourselves. One night, the morrow being the day of our Lord's supper, that is, the Thursday before Easter, two moons appeared before day in the heavens, the one in the east and the other in the west, both full ; and the same day was the 14th of the moon. At Easter the king was at Bath, and at Pentecost at Salisbury, because he would not hold his court over sea during his absence from this country. After this before August, the king went into Normandy, and almost all the inhabitants bowed to his will, excepting liobert de Belesme, and the earl of Mortaigne, and a few other chiefs who yet held with the earl of Normandy : the king therefore came with an army, and besieged a castle of the earl of Mortaigne called Tinchebrai. Whilst the king was besieging tliis castle, Robert earl of Normandy and his army came upon him on Michaelmas eve, and Avith him were Robert de Belesme and WilHam earl of Mortaigne, and all who wished well to their cause, but strength and victory were with the king. The earl of Normandy was taken, together with the earl of Mortaigne and Robert de Stutte- ville : and they were afterwards sent to England, and kept in confinement ; Robert de Belesme was put to flight, and William Crispin was taken, with many others ; Edgar ethel- ing who had gone over from the king to the earl a short time before, was also taken ; but the king afterwards let him depart unhurt. After this, the king subdued the whole of Normandy, and brought it under his own will and power. This year also there was a very terrible and sinful war between the emperor of Saxony and his son, during which the father died, and the son succeeded to the empire.

II

482 THE A^'GLO-SAXON CHKONICLE. [a.d. 1107— llOa

A. 1107. This year king Henry was in Normandy at Christmas and reduced that land, and having settled the government, he came to England the following Lent ; and he held his court at Windsor at Easter, and at Pentecost he held it at Westminster. And in the beginning of August he was again at Westminster, and there he gave away bishoprics and abbacies, disposing of such as were without elders and pastors, both in England and ISTormandy ; the number of these was so great that no man remembered that so many were ever before given away at one time. And amongst others who then received abbacies, Ernulf prior of Canter- bury obtained that of Peterborough. Tins was about the seventh year of king Henry's reign, and the one and fortieth year that the French ruled in this land. Many said that they saw various tokens in the moon this year, and his* light waxing and waning contrary to nature. This year died Maurice bishop of London, and Eobert abbat of St. Ed- mund's Bury, and Richard abbat of Ely. This year also Edgar king of Scotland died on the Ides of January, and his brother Alexander succeeded to the kingdom with king Henry's consent.

A. 1108. This year, at Christmas, king Henry was at Westminster ; and at Easter at Winchester ; and at Pente- cost again at Westminster. After tliis, before August, he went into Normandy. And Philip king of France dying on the Nones of August, his son Louis succeeded him, and there were afterwards many battles between the kings of France and of England, whilst Henry remained in Normandy. Tlds year also Gerard archbishop of York died before Pentecost, and Thomas Avas afterwards appointed as his successor.

A. 1109. Tliis year king Henry was in Normandy both at Christmas and at Easter ; and before Pentecost he came hither and held his court at Westminster, at which place the stipulations were ratified, and the oaths sworn, relative to the marriage of his daughter with the emperor. There was much thunder this year, and that very terrible. And An- selm archbishop of Canterbury died on the 11th before the Kalends of April, and the first day of Easter was on the greater Litany.

* The moon is of the masculine gender, and the sun feminine, in Anglo-Saxon, as in Arabic. See a.d. 1110.

A.D. 1110, nil.] THE Als^GLO-SAXON CHRONICLE. 483

A. 1110. This year, at Cliristmas, king Henry held his court at Westminster ; and at Easter he was at Marlbo- rough ; and at Pentecost he held his court for the first time in the New Windsor. This year, before Lent, the king sent his daughter with manifold treasures over sea, and gave her to the emperor. On the fifth night of the month of May the moon appeared shining brightly in the evening, and after- wards his light waned by little and little, and early in the night he was so wholly gone that neither light, nor circle, nor any thing at all of him was to be seen, and thus it con- tinued till near day, and then he appeared shining full and bright ; he was a fortnight old the same day : the sky was very clear all the night, and the stars shone very brightly all over the heavens, and the fruit trees were greatly injured by that night's frost. After tliis, in the month of June, there appeared a star in the north-east, and its light stood before it to the south-west, and it was seen thus for many nights, and ever as the night advanced it mounted upwards and was seen going off to the north-west. This year Philip de Brause,* aiid WiUiam Mallet, and Wilham Baynard, were deprived of their lands. This year also died earl Elias, who held Maine in fee-tail f of king Henry; but on his death the earl of An- jou took possession of that province, and kept it against the king's will. This was a year of much distress from the taxes which the king raised for his daughter's dowry, and from the bad weather by which the crops were greatly in- jured, and nearly all the fruit on the trees destroyed through- out the country. — This year men first began to work at the new monastery of Chertsey.

A. 1111. Tliis year king Henry wore not his crown at Christmas, nor at Easter, nor at Pentecost. And in August he was caUed over sea to Normandy, by the hostihty of cer- tain of his enemies on the marches of France, and principally by that of the earl of Anjou, who held Maine against him : and after his arrival many were the intrigues and great the

• This is the term used by Miss Gumey. Dr. Ingram renders it Braiose ; the Anglo-Saxon is Brause ; the Latin, Braicsa. Is not the modem name Bracv derived from this root ?

t That is, the territory was not a fee-simple, but subject to taillage, or taxation ; and that particular species is probably here intended, Avhich ia called in old French " en queuage," an expression not very ditferent from that in the text above.— Ingram.

II 2

484 THE ANGLO-SAXON CIIROXICLE. [a-d. 1112-llH.

burning and plundering carried on bj either party against the otlier. — This year Robert earl of Flanders died and his son Baldwin succeeded him. The winter was very long this year, a heavy and a severe time, by which the fruits of the earth were much injured ; and there was the greatest pesti- lence among the cattle ever remembered.

A. 1112. All this year king Henry remained in Nor- mand}^, on account of the war in which lie was engaged with France, and with the earl of Anjou, w^lio held Maine against liim. And wliilst he was there he deprived the earl of Ev- reux and William Cnspin of their lands, and drove them out of Normandy : and he restored to Pliilip de Brause the es- tates which had been taken from him, and he caused Robert de Belesme to be seized and put into prison. This was a very good year as to the croi)S, the trees and fields being very fruitful ; but it was a very heavy and a sorrowful time, by reason of a dreadful pestilence among men.

A. 1113. This year king Henry was in Normandy at Christmas, at Easter, and at Pentecost. And in the summer he sent hither Robert de Belesme, to be confined in Wareham castle, and he himself came to this land soon afterwards.

A. 1114. This year, at Christmas, king Henry held his court at \V'indsor, and he held no court again this year. And at Midsummer he entered Wales with an army, and the Welsh came and treated with tlie king, and he caused castles to be built in tliat country. And in September he went over sea to Normandy. In the end of May, this year, a strange star Tsnth a long light was seen shining for many nights. Th:'5 year also there was so great an ebb of the tide every where in one day, as no man remembered before, so that men went through the Thames both riding and walking, east of London bridge. This year there were very high winds in the month of October, and more especially on the niglit of the octaves of St. Martin, as w^as apparent in all woods and towns. This year also the king gave the archbishopric of Canterbury to Ralph bishop of Rochester ; and Thomas [II.] archbishop of York died, and the king's chaplain Thurstan Fucceeded him. At this time the king went towards the sea, and he would have gone over but he was detained by the weather. In the meanw^liile he sent his writ to Ernulf ab- bat of Peterborough, desiring him to come to him with speed,

A.D. 1114—1116.] THE ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE. 485

for that he would speak with him on something of import- ance. On Ernulfs arrival, the king and the archbishops and bishops, and the English nobility who attended the king, forced him to accept the bishopric of Rochester ; he with- stood them long, but his resistance availed nothing. And the king commanded the archbishop to take him to Canter- bury, and to consecrate him as bishop whether he would or not. This was done in the town called Burne* on the 17th before the Kalends of October. When the monks of Peter- borough heard this, they were so sorry as never before, be- cause Ernulf was a very good and a mild man, and did much good within the monastery and out of it whilst he remained there. May Almighty God be ever with him ! Soon after- wards, at the request of the archbishop of Canterbury, the king gave that abbacy to a monk of Sieyes named John. And soon after this the king and the archbishop sent him to Rome for the archbishop's pall, and with him a monk named Warner, and the archdeacon John the archbishop's nephew, and they sped well on their journey. This was done on the 11th before the Kalends of October, at the town called Ruge- nor (Rowner, near Gosport), and the same day the king took ship at Portsmouth.

A. 11 15. This year, during Chi-istmas, king Henry was in Normandy, and whilst he was there he caused all the chief men of Normandy to do homage and swear oaths of allegiance to his son William, whom he had by his queen; and afterwards in the month of July he returned hither. This year the winter was so severe with snow and with frost, that no man then living remembered a harder: and it occasioned much disease among the cattle. This year pope Paschal sent hither a pall to archbishop Ralph, and he received it with much pomp at his see of Canterbury. Anselm an abbat of Rome, the nephew of archbishop An- selm, and John abbat of Peterborough, brought the pall from Rome.

A. 1116. This year, at Christmas, king Henry was at St. Alban's, and there he caused the monastery to be con- secrated; and at Easter he was at Wudiham.f This year

* " East Bourne, in Sussex, where the king was waiting for a Mr wind to carry him over sea." — Ingram. " Sittingburn." — Miss Gurney. f O'diham.

486 THE ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE. Ia.d. 1117.

also, the winter being severe and long, it was a very heavy time for the cattle and all things. And soon after Easter the king went over sea, and much treachery was practised, and there was plundering and taking of castles between France and Normandy. The chief cause of enmity was that king Henry aided his nephew earl Theobald de Blois, who was then at war with his lord Louis king of France. This was a very calamitous year, the crops being spoiled by the heavy rains, which came on just before August and lasted till Candlemas. Mast also was so scarce this year that none was to be heard of in all this land, or in Wales : moreover this land and nation were many times sorely op- pressed by the taxes which the king raised both within the towns and out of them. This year also the whole of the monastery of Peterborough was burnt, with all the houses, excepting the chapter-house and the dormitory : and the greater part of the town was burnt also. All this happened on a Friday, being the 2iid day before the Nones of August.

A. 1117. All this year king Henry abode in Normandy, because of the war with the king of France and his other neighbours: then in the summer the king of France, and the earl of Flanders with him, entered Normandy with an army and remained in the country one night, and went away again in the morning without fighting. And Normandy was greatly oppressed by taxes and by the levies of troops that king Henry raised to oppose them. This nation also was sorely aggrieved in like manner, to wit, by the manifold taxes. This year also there was a violent storm of thunder and lightning, rain and hail, on the night before the Kalends of December ; and on the 3rd night before the Ides of Decem- ber the moon appeared for a long time as it were bloody, and then it was darkened. Also, on the night of the 17th before the Kalends of January the heaven appeared very red, as if it were burning. And on the octave of St. John the Evan- gelist's day there was a great earthquake in Lombardy, by which many monasteries, towers, and houses were thrown down, and the inhabitants suffered greatly. This was a very bad year for the corn, through the rains which ceased scarcely at all. And Gilbert abbat of Westminster died on the 8th before the Ides of December, and Farit* abbat of Abingdon

* Faricius is the Latin name. Is he the same who wrote the life of

A.D. 1118, 1119.J THE AJv^GLO-SAXON CHRONICLE. 487

died on the 7tli before the Kalends of March. And in the same year

A. 1118. All this year king Henry was in Normandy, being at war with the king of France, and with the earl of Anjou, and with the earl of Flanders. And the earl of Flanders was wounded in Normandy, on which he returned to Flanders. The king was greatly impoverished by this war, and lost much money and land, and he was most harassed by his own men, who continually revolted and be- trayed him, and went over to his enemies, and treacherously gave up their castles in the king's despite. England paid dearly for all this by the manifold taxes which ceased not all this year. This year, one evening in Epiphany week, there was dreadful lightning which caused many deaths. And queen Matilda died at Westminster on the Kalends of May, and was buried there. And Robert earl of Mellent died also this year. This year also, on St. Thomas's day, there was so exceedingly high a wind that none who then lived remembered a greater, and tliis might be seen everywhere from the state of the houses and of the trees. Pope Paschal also died this year, and John of Gaeta, whose other name was Gelasius, succeeded to the popedom.

A. 1119. All this year king Henry remained in Normandy, and was greatly perplexed by the war with the king of France, and by the treachery of his own men, who were continually revolting from him, till at length the two kings with their forces met in Normandy. The king of France was there put to flight and all his best men taken, and many of king Henry's vassals who with the garrisons of their castles had been against him, now submitted, and were reconciled to him, and some of the castles he took by force. This year, William the son of king Henry and of queen INIatilda went to Normandy to his father, and the daughter of the earl of Anjou was there given and wedded to him. On Michaelmas eve there was a great earthquake in some parts of this land ; and it was felt most in Gloucestershire and Worcestershire. The same year pope Gelasius died on this side of the moun- tains, and he was buried at Cluuy ; and the archbishop of Vienne was chosen pope, his name was Calixtus. He

bishop Aldhelm, published in the end of my edition of Aldhelm's works ? [Aldhelmi Opera, Oxon. Lond. et Cant. 1845.]

488 THE ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE. [a.d. 111£)— 112L

afterwards came to Rheims, in France, on the feast of St. Luke the evangelist, and held a council there. And Thurstan archbishop of York journeyed thither, and because he received consecration from the pope, against right, and to the prejudice of the see of Canterbury, and against the king's will, Henry wholly forbade liis return to England ; and being thus deprived of his archbishopric, he proceeded with the pope towards Rome. This year also Baldwin earl of Flanders died of the wound which he had received in Normandy, and was succeeded by Charles the son of his aunt and of St. Canute, king of Denmark.

A. 1 120. This year peace was made between the kings of P^ngland and of France, and after this all king Henry's own men in Normandy made their peace with him ; also the earls of Flanders and of Ponthieu. Then the king ordered and disposed of his castles and land in Normandy after his own will ; and so, before Advent, he returned to England. And the king's two sons William and Richard were drowned in the passage, together with Richard earl of Chester, and Ottuel his brother ; and very many of the king's court, stewards, and chamberlains, and butlers, and other men in office, and an innumerable multitude of all ranks, were also lost. The manner of their death was a twofold grief to their friends, first because they lost their lives so suddenly, and next that few of their bodies were ever found. And this year that remarkable light twice came upon our Lord's sepulchre at Jerusalem, once at Easter, and again on the Assumption of St. Mary, according to the report of men of credit, who came from thence. And Thurstan archbishop of York was reconciled to the king through the pope, and he came to this land, and was put in possession of his arch- bishopric, though much against the will of the archbishop of Canterbury'.

A. 1121. This year, at Christmas, king Henry was at Bramton, and before Candlemas Athelis was given liim to wife at Windsor, and afterwards consecrated queen ; she was the daughter of the duke of Lou vain. And the moon was eclipsed on the night before the Nones of April, being the fourteenth day of the moon. And the king was at Berkley at Easter, and the Pentecost following he held a great court at Westminster, and in the summer he entered Wales with

A.0. 1121—1123.] THE AJfGLO- SAXON CHRONICLE. 489

an armv, and the Welsh came to meet him, and made a treaty with him on his own terms. This year the earl of Anjou returned from Jerusalem to his own land, and after this he sent hither to fetch away his daughter who had been married to the king's son William. And on the night of Christmas eve there was a very high wind throughout this land, as might be seen plainly in its effects.

A. 1122. This year king Henry was at Norwich at Christmas, and at Easter he was at Northampton. And the town of Gloucester was burned the Lent before, for while the monks were singing mass, the deacon having begun the gospel '-'• Prceteriens Jcsus,^' the fire fell on the top of the steeple,* and burned the whole monastery, and all the treasures in it, excepting a few books and tliree vestments : this hap- pened on the eighth before the Ides of March. And there was a very high wind on the Tuesday after Palm Sunday, the eleventh before the Kalends of April : after this many strange tokens were noticed throughout England, and many ghosts were seen and heard. And on the night of the eighth before the Kalends of August, there was a great earthquake tlii'oughout Somersetshire and Gloucestershire. Again on the sixth before the Ides of September, St. Mary's day, there was a very high wind, which continued from nine in the morning till dark night. The same year Ralph arch- bishop of Canterbury died on the thirteenth before the Kalends of November. After this many shipmen were at sea, and on the w-ater, and said that they saw a fire in the north-east, large and broad, near the earth, and that it grew in height unto'the welkin, and the welkin divided into four parts 'and fought against it, as it would have quenched it ; nevertheless the fire flamed up to heaven. They observed this fire at day -break, and it lasted until it was light every where : this was on the seventh before the Ides of December.

A. 1123. This year king Henry was at Dunstable at Christmas, and the messengers from the earl of Anjou came to liim there, and he proceeded thence to Woodstock, and his

* Bv steeple we are here to understand not a spire, but a tower ; spires not being then invented. I believe ' spear ' is the word in Saxon to express what we mean bv a spire ; 'stepel,' or *steopel,' signifying only a steep, lofty, or perpendicular stmcture ; and our old antiquarians very properly make a distinction between a spire-steeple and a tower-steeple."— Ingram.

490 THE ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE. [a.d. 1123.

bishops and all his court with him. Now it fell out on a Wednesday, being the fourth before the Ides of January, that the king rode in his deer-park, and Roger bishop of Salisbury was on one side of him, and Robert Bloet bishop of Lincoln on the other ; and they rode there talking. Then the bishop of Lincoln sank down, and said to the king, " My lord king ! I am d^-ing," and the king alighted from his horse, and took him between his arms, and bade them bear him to his inn, and he soon lay there dead ; and they took his body vrith much pomp to Lincoln, and Robert bishop of Chester,* who was called Pecceth, buried him before St. Mary's altar. Soon after this the king sent his writs over all England, and desired his bishops, his abbats, and his thanes, that they should all come to the meeting of his witan at Gloucester, on Candlemas-day, and they obeyed ; and when they were there assembled the king bade them choose to themselves whomsoever they would as archbishop of Canterbury, and that he would confirm their choice. Then the bishops spake among themselves, and said that they would never more have a man of any monastic order as archbishop over them. And they all with one accord went to the king, and entreated that they might choose one of the clergy for their archbishop, and to this the king consented. All this had been set on foot by the bishop of Salisbury, and by the bishop of Lincoln before he died, for they never loved the rule of monks, but were ever against monks and their rule. And the prior and monks of Canterbury and all others of the monastic order who were there, resisted this proceeding two full days, but in vain, for the bishop of Salisbury | was very powerful, and swayed all England, and he was against them with all his might. Then they chose a clerk named William of Curboil, he was a canon of a monastery called Chiche ; J and they brought him before the king, who gave him the archbishopric, and he was received

* Or Lichfield. Peter, the bishop of that see in 1075 removed it to Chester, where it remained for a short period. Hence the bishops are frequently styled bishops of Chester. The present bishopric of Chester was not founded till 1541.

t Roger, bishop of Salisbury, was Lord Chief Justice, Lord Chancellor, and Lord Treasvurer.

Z "St. Osythe, in Essex ; a priory rebuilt a. 1118, for canons of the Augustine order, of which there are considerable remains." — Lngiiam.

A. D. 1123.] TEE ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE. 491

"by all the bishops ; but the monks and earls, and almost all the thanes who were there, would not acknowledge him. At tliis same time the messengers of the earl departed from the king dissatisfied, nothing regarding his gifts. At this time also a legate arrived from Rome ; his name was Henry, and he was abbat of the monastery of St. John of Angelo. He came for the Romescot ; and told the king that a clerk had no right to be set over monks, and that therefore they had formerly chosen the archbishop in the chapter, as was befitting ; but, for love of the bishop of Salisbury, the king would not undo his act. Soon afterwards, the archbishop went to Canterbury, and was received, though unwillingly, and he was forthwith consecrated there by the bishop of London, and Ernulf bishop of Rochester, and William Giflfard bishop of Winchester, and Bernard bishop of Wales (St. David's), and Roger bishop of Salisbury. Then early in Lent the archbishop journeyed to Rome for his pall, and Bernard bishop of Wales, and Sefred abbat of Glastonbury, and Anselm abbat of St. Edmund's, and John archdeacon of Canterbury, and Giffard who was the king's court- chaplain, went ^vith him. Thurstan archbishop of York went to Rome at the same time by order of the pope, and he arrived three days before the archbishop of Canterbury, and was received -with much honour. Then came the archbishop of Canter- bury, and it was a full week before he could obtain an audience of the pope, because the pope had been given to understand that he had received the archbishopric in opposi- tion to the monks of the monastery, and against right ; but that which overcometh all the world, namely gold and silver,* overcame Rome also, and the pope relented and gave

• " How fortunate for the vrriter that the pope and his cardinals did not imderstand Saxon ! The boldness of this remark might otherwise have procured him the distinguished honour of an excommunication. Matthew Paris has a similar remark, but less openly expressed, respecting the venality of the Roman see: ' quae nuUi deese consuevit, dummodo albi aliquid vel rubei intercedat. An. 1103.' Dr. Ingram might have quoted an equally elegant compliment paid to the cardinals. '' quorrim nares odor lucri quc£stiLS causa mJcBcavxtr by Alan of Tewkesbury, if the ortho- dox editor of the Brussels edition of Vita Sancti Thomse had not carefully expunged the passage : I have only done justice to historical accuracy by restoring the offensive words in " Vita Sanctx ThomcB, vol. i. p. 3o9, edU. Oxon. et Lond.' "

492 THE ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE. [a.d. 1123, 1124.

liim his pall, and the archbishop swore obedience in all things that he should impose, on the heads of St. Peter and St. Paul, and the pope then sent him home with his blessing. Whilst the arclibishop was abroad, the king gave the bishopric of Bath to the queen's chancellor, named Godfrey ; he was of Louvain : this was done at Woodstock on the Annunciation of St. Mary. Soon afterwards the king went to Winchester, where he remained during the festival of Easter ; and while there he gave the bishopric of Lincoln to a clerk named Alexander, Avho was a nephew of the bishop of Salisbury, and he did this all for love of that bishop. Then the king proceeded to Portsmouth, and stayed there over Pentecost week ; and as soon as he had a fair wind he sailed for Normandy, having committed all England to the care and administration of Roger bishop of Salisbury. The king was in Normandy all this year, and a great war broke out between him and his thanes, for earl Waleram of Mellent, and Amalric, and Hugh of Montfort, and William of Romare, and many others revolted from him and held their castles against him ; and the king on his part opposed them with vigour, and the same year he won from Waleram his castle- of Pont-Audemer, and from Hugh that of Montfort, and after this his affairs continued to prosper more and more. The same year, before the bishop of Lincoln came to his see, nearly the whole town of Lincoln was burnt, with a great number of persons, both men and women, and so much harm was done that no man could tell another how great the damage was. This happened on the fourteenth before the Kalends of June.

A. 1124. All this year king Henry was in Normandy, being detained there by his great wars with Louis king of France, and the earl of Anjou, and with his own subjects most of all. Then it befell on the day of the annunciation of St. Mary, that Waleram earl of Mellent was going from one of his castles called Beaumont, to another, Watteville, and Amalric the steward of the king of France, and Hugh the son of Gervais, and Hugh of Montfort, and many other good knights went with him. Then the king's knights from all the neighbouring castles came against them, and fought with them, and put them to flight, and they took the earl Waleram, and Hugh the son of Gervais, and Hugh of Montfort, and

.D.1124.] THE ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE. 493

five and twenty other knights, and brought them to the king ; and the king caused earl Waleram and Hugh the son of Gervais to be confined in the castle of Rouen, and he sent Hugh of INIontfort to England, and caused him to be put in strong bonds in that of Gloucester, and as manj of the others as he thought fit he sent north and south to his castles for confinement. Then the king went on, and won all earl Waleram's castles in Normandy, and all the others which his enemies held against him. All this was on account of the son of Robert earl of Normandy named William. The same William had married the younger daughter of Fulk earl of Anjou, and for this cause the king of France, and all the earls and great men held Avith him, and said that the king did wrongfully keep his brother Robert in confinement, and that he had unjustly driven his son William out of Nor- mandy. This year there was much unseasonable weather which injured the corn and all fruits in England, so that, between Christmas and Candlemas, one acre's seed of wheat, that is, two seedlips, sold for six shillings, and one of barley, that is, three seedlips, for six shillings, and one acre's seed of oats, being four seedlips, for four shillings. It was thus, because corn was scarce, and the penny* was so bad, that the man who had a pound at the market, could hardly, for any thing, pass twelve of these pennies. The same year, the holy bishop of Rochester Ernulf, who had been abbat of Peterborough, died on the Ides of March. After this died Alexander king of Scotland, on the 9th before the Kalends of May, and his brother David, then earl of Northamptonshire, succeeded him, and held at the same time both the kingdom of Scotland and the English earldom. And the pope of Rome called Calixtus died on the 19th before the Kalends of January, and Honorius succeeded to the popedom. The same year, after St. Andrew's day, and before Christmas, Ralph' Basset, and the king's thanes held a witenagemot at Huncothoe, in Leicestershire, and there they hanged more thieves than had ever before been executed within so short a time, being in all four and forty men : and they deprived six men of their eyes and certain other members.f Many

* The pennies were of silver at this time.

f « Of here agon and of here stanes." — Original text.

494 THE AJsGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE. [a.d. 1125.

men of truth said that several of them suffered with great injustice, but our Lord God Ahiiighty, who seeth and knoweth all hidden things, seeth that the miserable people is oppressed with all unrighteousness ; first men are bereaved of their property, and then they are slain. Full heavy a year was this ; he who had any property was bereaved of it by heavy taxes and assessments, and he who had none, starved with hunger.

A. 1125. Before Christmas, this year, king Henry sent from Normandy to England, and commanded that all the mint-men of England should be deprived of their limbs, namely of their right hands and of certain other members. And this because a man might have a pound, and yet not be able to spend one penny at a market. And Roger bishop of Sahsbury sent over all England, and desired all of them to come to Winchester at Christmas ; and when they came thither his men took them one by one, and cut oif their right hands. All this was done within the twelve days, and with much justice, because they had ruined this land with the great quantity of bad metal which they all bought. This year the pope of Rome sent John of Crema, a cardinal, to this land. He first came to the king in Normandy, and the king received him with much honour, and commended him to William archbishop of Canterbury, who conducted him to Canterbury ; and he was there received with much pomp, and a great procession, and he sang the high mass at Christ's altar on Easter day ; and then he journeyed over all England, to all the bishoprics and abbacies, and he was honourably received every where, and all gave him great and handsome gifts ; and in September he held his council in London full three days, (beginning) on the Nativity of St. Alary, with the archbishops, bishops, and abbats, and the clergy and laity, and he sanctioned the laws which archbishop Anselm had made, and he enacted many others, though they remained in force but a little while. Thence he went over sea soon after IVIichaelmas, and so to Rome. William archbishop of Canterbury, and Thurstan archbishop of York, and Alexander bishop of Lincoln, and John bishop of Lothian (Glasgow), and Geoffrey abbat of St. Alban's accompanied him, and were received with great honour by the pope Honorius, and they remained there the whole winter. The same year there was so great a flood on

A.D. 1026, 1027.] THE ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE. 495

St. Lawrence's day, that many towns were deluged, and men drowned, the bridges were broken up, and the corn fields and meadows spoiled ; ^^and there was famine and disease upon men and cattle ; and it was so bad a season for all fruits as had not been for many years before. The same year John abbat of Peterborough died on the 2nd before the Ides of October.

A. 1126. This year king Henry was in Normandy till after harvest ; and he came to this land between the nativity of St. Mary, and Michaelmas, accompanied by the queen, and by his daughter whom he had before given in marriage to the emperor Henry of Lorrain. He brought with him the earl Waleram, and Hugh the son of Gervais, and he imprisoned the earl at Bridge-north, and he afterwards sent him to Wallingford, and he sent Hugh to Windsor, and caused liim to be kept in strong bonds. And after Michael- mas David king of Scotland came hither, and king Henry received him with much honour, and he abode through the year in this land. The same year the king caused his brother Robert to be taken from Roger bishop of SaUsbury, and deUvered to liis son Robert earl of Gloucester, and he caused him to be removed to Bristol, and put into the castle. All this was done through the advice of his daughter, and of her uncle David king of Scotland.

A. 1127. This year, at Christmas, king Henry held his court at Windsor, and David, king of Scotland, was there, and all the head men of England, both clergy and laity. And the king caused the archbishops, bishops, abbats, earls, and all the thanes who were present, to swear to place Eng- land and Normandy, after his death, in the hands of his daughter the princess, who had been the wife of the emperor of Saxony. And then he sent her to Normandy, accom- panied by her brother Robert, eari of Gloucester, and by Brian, the son of the earl Alan Fergan ; and he caused her to be wedded to the son of the eari of Anjou, named Geoffrey Martell. Howbeit this displeased all the French and the English, but the king did it to have the aUiance ot

♦ Miss Gurney renders this « to obtain peace from," folloTving Gibson, who turns ' sibbe' into Latin by pacem, which Ingram justly disapproves of, on the ground that the powerful Hemy would hardly fear so small a potentate as the earl of Anjou.

495 THE ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE. [a.d. 1127.

the earl of Anjou and aid a,<rainst his nephew "William. The same year Charles, earl of Flanders, was slain in Lent by his own men, as he lay before the altar in a church, and prayed to God daring mass. And the king of France brought William, the son of the earl of Normandy, and gave him the earldom, and the men of Flanders received him. The same William had before taken to Avife the daughter of the earl of Anjou, but they were afterAvards divorced because of their nearness of kin, and this through the interference of Henry, king of England ; he afterwards married the sister of the king of France, and on this account the king gave him the earldom of Flanders. The same year Henry gave the abbacy of Peterborough to an abbat named Henry of Poitou, who was in possession of the abbacy of St. Jean d'Angeli ; and all the archbishops and bishops said that this grant was against right, and that he could not have in hand two ab- bacies. But the same Henry made the king believe that he had given up his abbey on account of the great disquietude of the land, and that he had done so by the order and with the leave of the pope of Rome, and of the abbat of Cluny, and because he was legate for collecting the Rome-scot. Nevertheless it was not so, but he wished to keep both abbeys in his own hands, and he did hold them as long as it was the will of God. In his clerical state he was bishop of Soissons, afterwards he was a monk at Cluny, then prior of the same monastery, and next he was prior of Sevigny ; after this, being related to the king of England and to the earl of Poitou, the earl gave him the abbey of St. Jean d'Angeli. Afterwards, by his great craft, he obtained the archbishopric of Besangon, and kept possession of it three day ; and then lost he it right worthily, in that he had gotten it with all injustice. He then obtained the bishopric of Saintes, which was five miles from his own abbey, and he kept this for nearly a Aveek, but here again the abbat of Clugny displaced him, as he had before removed him from Besan^on. Noav he bethought himself, that if he could be sheltered in England, he might have all his Avill, on which he besought the king, and said to him that he was an old man, and completely broken, and that he could not endure the wrongs and oppressions of that land, and he asked the king himself, and through all his friends, by name for the

A.D.1128.] THE .'LNGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE. 497

abbacy of Peterborough. And the king granted it to him, forasmuch as he was lus kinsman, and in that he had been one of the first to swear oaths, and to bear witness, when the son of the earl of Normandy and the daughter of the earl of Anjou were divorced on the plea of kindred. Thus vex- atiously was the abbacy of Peterborough given away at Lon- don, between Christmas and Candlemas; and so Henry went with the king to Winchester, and thence he came to Peterborough, and there he lived even as a drone in a hive ; as the drone eateth and draggeth forward to himself all that is brought near, even so did he ; and thus he sent over sea all that he could take from religious or from secular, both witliin and without ; he did there no good, nor did he leave any there. Let no man think lightly of the marvel that we are about to relate as a truth, for it was full well known over all the country. It is this; that as soon as he came there, * it was on the Sunday, when men sing " Exurge quare 0 Domine;^^ several persons saw and heard many hunters hunting. — These hunters were black, and large, and loathly, and their hounds were all black, with wide eyes, and ugly, and they rode on black horses and on black bucks. This was seen in the very deer-park of the town of Peter- borough, and in all the woods from the same town to Stam- ford ; and the monks heard the blasts of the horns which they blew in the night. Men of truth kept in the night their watch on them, and said that there might well be about twenty or thirty horn-blowers. This was seen and heard from the time that the abbat came thither, all that Lent, until Easter. Such was his entrance, of his exit we can say nothing yet : G-od knoweth it.

A. 1128. All this year king Henry was in Normandy, on account of the war between him and his nephew the earl of Flanders ; but the earl was wounded in battle by a servant, and being so wounded he went to the monastery of St. Ber- tin, and forthwith he was made a monk, and lived five days after, and then died, and was buried there: God rest liis soul ! He was buried on the 6th before the Kalends of

* ' Timer' in the original, not ' thider.' Dr. Ingram remarks, that thia is the first instance of the neglig3nt use of the word ' there' for " thither.' But use is second natiire, and in conversation at least, the former of these words has entirely superseded the latter.

K K

498 THE A2fGL0-SAX0N CHROXICLE. [a.d. 1123.

August. The same year died Randulph Passeflambard bishop of Durham, and he was buried there on the Nones of September. And this year the aforesaid abbat Henry went home to his own monastery in Poitou, with the king's leave. He had given the king to understand that he would wholly quit that monastery, and that country, and abide with him in England, and at his monastery at Peterborough. But so it was not, for he spake thus guilefully, wishing to remain there a twelvemonth or more, and then to return again. May Almighty God have mercy upon this wretched place ! The same year Hugh of the Temple came from Jerusalem to the king in Normandy, and the king received him with much honour, and gave him much treasure in gold and silver, and afterwards he sent him to England, and there he was well received by all good men, and all gave him treasures ; and in Scotland also : and they sent in aU a great sum of gold and silver by him to Jerusalem. And he invited the people out to Jerusalem, and there went with him and after him so great a number, as never before since the first expedition in the days of pope Urban. Yet this availed little : he said that there was a furious war between the Christians and the heathens, and when they came there it was nothing but leasing. Thus were all these people miserably betrayed.

A. 1129. This year the king sent to England after earl Waleram, and after Hugh the son of Gervase ; and there they gave him hostages, and Hugh went home to France his own country, and Waleram remained with the king, and the king gave him all his lands, excepting his castle alone. Then the king came to England in harvest, and the earl came with him, and they were as great friends as they had been enemies before. Then soon, by the king's counsel and consent, William archbishop of Canterbury sent over all Englantl, and commanded the bishops, and abbats, and arch- deacons, and all the priors, monks, and canons of all the cells of England, and all who had the charge and oversight of the Christian religion, that they should come to London at ^Michaelmas, to hold conference upon all God's rights. ^Vhen they came thither, the meeting began on the Monday and lasted till the Friday, and it came out that it was all concerning the wives of archdeacons and priests, that they

A.D. 1130.] THE ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE. 499

should part with them by St. Andrew's day; and that he who would not do this, should forego his church, his house, and his home, and never be permitted again to claim them. This was ordered by William archbishop of Canterbury, and all the bishops of England : and the king gave them leave to depart, and so they went home, and these decrees were in no respect observed, for all kept their -svives, by the king's per- mission, even as before. The same year William Giffard bishop of Winchester died, and was buried there on the 8th before the Kalends of February ; and after Michaelmas the king gave the bishopric to his nephew Henry abbat of Glas- tonbury, and he was consecrated by William archbishop of Canterbury on the fifteenth before the Kalends of December. The same year died pope Honorius, and before he was well dead, two popes were chosen. The one was named Peter, he was a monk of Clugny, and descended from the greatest men of Kome, and the Romans and the duke of Sicily held Avith him ; the other was named Gregory-, he was a clerk, and he was driven from Rome by the other pope and his kinsmen, and he was acknowledged by the emperor of Sax- ony, by the king of France, by Henry king of England, and by" all on this side of the mountains. There was now so great a division in Christendom, that the like had never been before. May Christ appoint good counsel for his miserable people ! The same year there was a great earthquake on St. Nicholas's night, a little before day.

A. 1130. This year the monasteiy of Canterbury was consecrated by archbishop William, on the 4th before the Nones of May. The following bishops were there: John of Rochester, Gilbert Universal of London, Henry of Win- chester, Alexander of Lincoln, Roger of Salisbury, Simon of Worcester. Ro^er of Coventry, Godfrey of Bath, Ever- ard of NorT\4ch,''Sigefrid of Chichester, Bernard of St David's, Owen of Evreux, in Normandy, and John of Sie- zes. On the fourth day after this, king Henry was at Ro- chester, and nearlv the whole to^m was bm-nt down; and archbishop William and the aforesaid bishops consecrated St. Andrew's monastery. And king Henry went over sea to Normandv during harvest. The same year Henry abbat of AnireU came to Peterborough after Easter, and said that he had whollv ffiven up that monastery. After him, the K K 2

500 THE ANGLO-SAXO>' CHRONICLE. [a.d. 1131.

abbat of Clugny named Peter came to England with the king's leave, and he was received with much honour wher- ever he went ; he came to Peterborough, and there the abbat Henry promised that he would obtain for him the monastery of Peterborough, and that it should be annexed to Clugny ; but as it is said in the proverb :

" The hedge stUl stands That parts the lands."

May Almighty God frustrate evil counsels ! And soon afterwards the abbat of Clugny went home to his own country. This year was Angus slain by the Scottish army, and a great number of persons with liim. There was God's right wrought upon him, for that he was all forsworn.

A. 1131. This year, on a moonhght night* after Christ- mas, during the first sleep, the northern half of the heaven was, as it were, a burning fire ; so that all who saw it were more afearedf than ever they were before; this happened on the 3rd before the Ides of January. The same year there was so great a pestilence amongst animals over all England, as had not been in the memory of man; it chiefly fell on cattle and on swine, so that in the town where ten or twelve ploughs had been going, not one remained, and the man, who had possessed two or thi-ee hundred swine, had not one left liim. After this the hens died ; and flesh-meat became scarce, and cheese and butter. God mend the state of things when such is his will ! And king Henry came home to England before harvest, after the feast of St. Peter ad vm- cula. The same year before Easter the abbat Henry went from Peterborough over sea to Normandy, and there he spoke with the king, and told him that the abbat of Clugny had commanded him to come over, and resign to him the abbey of Angely ; and that then, with his leave, he would return home : and so he went to his own monastery and abode there till ]Midsummer-day. And on the day after the feast of St. John, the monks chose an abbat from among themselves, and brought him into the church in procession ; they sang Te Deum laudamus, rang the bells, and set him on the abbat's seat, and did all obedience to him, even as

• " Luna splendente." — Gibs. " Monday night." — I^'GRAM. + The original Anglo-Saxon has it so, ' offaerd.'

A.D. 1131—1135] THE ANGLO-SAXON CHEONICLE. 501

they would to their abbat ; and the earl and all the chief men and the monks drove the other abbat Henry out of the monastery, and well they might, for in five and twenty years they had never known a good day. All his great craftiness failed Mm here, and now it behoved him to creep into any comer, and to consider if perchance there yet remained some slippery de\ace, by which he might once more betray Christ and all Christian people. Then went he to Clugny, and there they kept him, so that he could go neither east nor west ; the abbat of Clugny saying that they had lost St. John's minster through him, and his great sottishness ; wherefore seeing he could give no better compensation, he promised and swore on the holy relics, that if he might pro- ceed to England he would obtain for them the monastery of Peterborough, and would establish there a prior of Clugny, a churchwarden, a treasurer, and a keeper of the robes, and that he would make over to them all things l^oth within and without the monastery. Thus he went into France and abode there all the year. May Christ provide for the Avretched monks of Peterborough, and for that miserable place, for now do they stand in need of the help of Christ and of all Christian people.

A. 1132. This year king Henry returned to this land: then the abbat Henry came, and accused the monks of Peter- borough to the king, because he desired to subject that mon- astery" to Clugny ; "so that the king was well nigh beguiled, and sent for the monks ; but by God's mercy, and through the bishops of Salisbury and Lincoln, and the other great men who were there, he found out that the abbat dealt treacherously. ^Mien he could do no more, he wished that his nephew might be abbat of Peterborough, but this was not the will of Christ. It was not very long after this that the king sent for him, and made him give up the abbey of Peterborough, and depart out of the country, and the king granted the'abbacy to a prior of St. Neot's named Martin, a"nd he came to the monastery, right worshipfully attended, on St. Peter's day.

A. 1135. Tliis year, at Lammas, king Henry went over sea : and on the second day, as he lay asleep in the ship,^ the day was darkened universally, and the sun became as if it were a moon three nights old, with the stars shining round it

502 THE ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE. La.d. 1137.

at mid-day. Men greatly marvelled, and great fear fell on them, and they said that some great event should follow there- after— and so it was, for the same year the king died in Nor- mandy, on the day after the feast of St. Andrew. Soon did this land fall into trouble, for every man greatly began to rob his neighbour as he might. Then king Henry's sons and Ins friends took his body, and brought it to England, and buried it at Reading. He was a good man, and great was the awe of him ; no man durst ill treat another in his time : he made peace for men and deer. Whoso bare his burden of gold and silver, no man durst say to him ought but good. In the meantime his nephew Stephen de Blois had arrived in England, and he came to London, and the inhabitants re- ceived him, and sent for the archbishop, William Corboil, who consecrated him king on midwinter-day. In tliis king's time was all discord, and evil-doing, and robbery ; for the powerful men who had kept aloof, soon rose up against him ; the first was Baldwin de Redvers, and he held Exeter against the king, and Stephen besieged liim, and afterwards Baldwin made terms with him. Then the others took their castles, and held them against the king, and David, king of Scotland, betook him to Wessington [Derbyshire], but notwithstanding liis array, messengers passed between them, and they came together, and made an agreement, though it availed little.

A. 1137. This year king Stephen went over sea to Nor- mandy, and he was received there because it was expected that he would be altogether like his uncle, and because he had gotten possession of his treasure, but this he distributed and scattered foolishly. King Henry had gathered together much gold and silver, yet did he no good for his soul's sake with the same. When king Stephen came to Eng- land, he held an assembly at Oxford ; and there he seized Roger bishop of Salisbury, and Alexander bishop of Lincoln, and Roger the chancellor, his nephew, and he kept them all in prison till they gave up their castles. When the traitors perceived that he was a mild man, and a soft, and a good, and that he did not enforce justice, they did all wonder. They had done homage to him, and sworn oaths, but they no faith kept; aU became forsworn, and broke their allegi- ance, for every rich man built his castles, and defended them against him, and they filled the land full of castles. They

A.D. 1137.] THE ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE. 503

greatly oppressed the wretched people by making them work at these castles, and wlien the castles were finished they filled them with devils and evil men. Then they took those whom they suspected to have any goods, by night and by day, seizing both men and women, and they put them in prison for their gold and silver, and tortured them with pains unspeakable, for never were any martyrs tormented as these were. They hung some up by their feet, and smoked them with foul smoke ; some by their thumbs, or by the head, and they hung burning things on their feet. They put a knotted string about their heads, and twisted it till it went into the brain. They put them into dun- geons wherein were adders and snakes and toads, and thus wore them out. Some they put into a crucet -house, that is, into a chest that was short and narrow, and not deep, and they put sharp stones in it, and crushed the man therein so that they broke all his limbs. There were hateful and grim things called Sachenteges in many of the castles, and which two or three men had enough to do to carry. The Sachen- tege Avas made thus : it was fastened to a beam, having a sharp iron to go round a man's throat and neck, so that he might no ways sit, nor lie, nor sleep, but that he must bear all the iron. Many thousands they exhausted with hunger. I cannot and I may not tell of all the wounds, and all the tortures that they inflicted upon the wretched men of this land ; and this state of things lasted the nineteen years that Stephen was king, and ever grcAV worse and worse. They were continually levying an exaction from the towns, which they called Tenserie,* and when the miserable inhabitants had no more to give, then plundered they, and burnt all the towns, so that well mightest thou walk a whole day's journey nor ever shouldest thou find a man seated in a town, or its lands tilled. ^ , -

Then was corn dear, and flesh, and cheese, and butter, tor there was none in the land— wretched men starved with hunger— some lived on alms who had been erewhile rich : some fled the country— never was there more misery, and never acted heathens worse than these. At length they spared neither church nor churchyard, but they took all that was valuable therein, and then burned the church and all to- gether. Neither did they spare the lands of bishops, nor ol * A payment to the superior iord for protection.

504

THE ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE.

[A.D. 1137.

II

abbats, nor of priests ; but tliey robbed tlie monks and the clergy, and every man plundered his neighbour as much as he could. If two or three men came riding to a town, all the township fled before them, and thought that they were robbers. The bishops and clergy were ever cursing them, but this to them was nothing, for they were all accursed, and forsworn, and reprobate. The earth bare no corn, you might as well have tilled the sea, for the land was all ruined by such deeds, and it was said openly that Christ and his saints slept. These things, and more than we can say, did w^e suffer during nineteen years because of our sins. Through all this evil time the abbat Martin held his abbacy for twenty years and a half and eight days, with many diffi- culties: and he provided the monks and guests with all necessaries, and kept up much alms in the house ; and withal he wrought upon the church, and annexed thereto lands and rents, and enriched it greatly, and furnished it with robes : and he brought the monks into the new monastery on St. Peter's day with much pomp. This was in the year 1140 of our Lord's incarnation, the twenty-third year after the Are. And he went to Rome and was well received there by pope Eugenius, from whom he obtained sundry privileges, to wdt, one for all the abbey lands, and another for the lands that adjoin the monastery, and had he lived longer he meant to have done as much for the treasurer's house. And he re- gained certain lands that powerful men possessed by force ; he won Cotingham and Easton from William Malduit, who held Rockingham castle, and from Hugh of Walteville he won Hirtlingbery, and Stanwick, and sixty shillings yearly out of Oldwinkle. And he increased the number of monks, and planted a vineyard, and made many works, and im- proved the town ; and he was a good monk and a good man, and therefore God and good men loved him. Now will we relate some part of what befell in king Stephen's time. In his reign the Jews of Norwich bought a Christian cliild before Easter, and tortured him with all the torments where- with our Lord was tortured, and they crucified him on Good Friday for the love of our Lord, and afterwards buried him. They believed that this would be kept secret, but our Lord made manifest that he was a holy martyr, and the monks took liim and buried him honourably in the monastery, and he

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OLD. 1138, 1140.] THE ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE.

505

.performed manifold and wonderful miracles through the power of our Lord, and he is called St. William.

A. 1138. Tliis year David king of Scotland entered this land with an immense army resolving to conquer it, and William earl of Albemarle, to whose charge the king had committed York, and other trusty men, came against liim with few troops, and fought with him, and they put the king to flight at the Standard, and slew a great part of his followers.

A. 1140. This year Stephen attempted to take Robert earl of Gloucester the son of king Henry, but failed, for Robert was aware of his purpose. After this, in Lent, the sun and the day were darkened about noon, when men eat, so that they lighted candles to eat by. This was on the 13th before the Kalends of April, and the people were greatly as- tonished. After this William archbishop of Canterbury died, and the king made Theobald, abbat of Bee, archbishop. Then there arose a very great war between the king and Randolph earl of Chester, not because the king did not give him all that he could ask, even as he did to all others, but that the more he gave them, the worse they always carried ! themselves to liim. The earl held Lincoln against the king, i and seized all that belonged to the king there, and the king went thither, and besieged him and his brother William de Romare in the castle : and the earl stole out and went for Robert earl of Gloucester, and brought him thither with a large army ; and they fought furiously against their lord on Candlemas-day, and they took him captive, for his men be- ll trayed him and fled, and they led him to Bristol, and there I they put him into prison and close confinement. Now was all England more disturbed than before, and all evil was in the land. After this, king Henry's daughter, who had been empress of Germany, and was now countess of Anjou, ar- rived, and she came to London, and the citizens would have seized her, but she fled with much loss. Then Henry bishop of Winchester, king Stephen's brother, spake with earl Robert and with the empress, and swore them oaths that he never more would hold with the king his brother, and he cursed all those that did hold with him, and he said that he would give up Winchester to them, and he made them come thither. But when they were in that place Stephen's queen

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504 THE AXGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE. [a.d.1137.

abbats, nor of priests ; but they robbed the monks and the clergy, and every man plundered his neighbour as much as he could. K two or three men came riding to a town, all the township fled before them, and thought that they were robbers. The bishops and clergy were ever cursing them, but this to them was nothing, for they were all accursed, and forsworn, and reprobate. The earth bare no corn, you might as well have tilled the sea, for the land was all ruined by such deeds, and it was said openly that Christ and his saints slept. These things, and more than we can say, did we suffer during nineteen years because of our sins. Through all this evil time the abbat Martin held his abbacy for twenty years and a half and eight days, with many diffi- culties: and he provided the monks and guests with all necessaries, and kept up much alms in the house ; and withal he wrought upon the church, and annexed thereto lands and rents, and enriched it greatly, and furnished it with robes : and he brought the monks into the new monastery on St. Peter's day with much pomp. This was in the year 1140 of our Lord's incarnation, the twenty-third year after the fire. And he went to Rome and was well received there by pope Eugenius, from whom he obtained sundry privileges, to wit, one for all the abbey lands, and another for the lands that adjoin the monastery, and had he lived longer he meant to have done as much for the treasurer's house. And he re- gained certain lands that powerful men possessed by force ; he won Cotingham and Easton from William Malduit, -who held Rockingham castle, and from Hugh of Walteville he won Hirtlingbery, and Stanwick, and sixty shillings yearly out of Oldwinkle. And he increased the number of monks, and planted a vineyard, and made many works, and im- proved the to^vn ; and he was a good monk and a good man, and therefore God and good men loved him. Now will we relate some part of what befell in king Stephen's time. In his reign the Jews of Norwich bought a Christian child before Easter, and tortured him with all the torments where- with our Lord was tortured, and they crucified him on Good Friday for the love of our Lord, and afterwards buried him. They believed that this would be kept secret, but our Lord made manifest that he was a holy martyr, and the monks took him and buried him honourably in the monastery, and he

A.D. 1138, 1140.] THE ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE. 505

performed manifold and wonderful miracles through the power of our Lord, and he is called St. William.

A. 1138. This year David king of Scotland entered this land with an immense army resolving to conquer it, and William earl of Albemarle, to whose charge the king had committed York, and other trusty men, came against liim with few troops, and fought with him, and they put the king to flight at the Standard, and slew a great part of his followers.

A. 1140. This year Stephen attempted to take Robert earl of Gloucester the son of king Henry, but failed, for Robert was aware of his purpose. After this, in Lent, the sun and the day were darkened about noon, when men eat, so that they lighted candles to eat by. Tliis was on the 13th before the Kalends of April, and the people were greatly as- tonished. After this William archbishop of Canterbury died, and the king made Theobald, abbat of Bee, archbishop. Then there arose a very great war between the king and Randolph earl of Chester, not because the king did not give him all that he could ask, even as he did to all others, but that the more he gave them, the worse they always carried themselves to liim. The earl held Lincoln against the king, and seized all that belonged to the king there, and the king went thither, and besieged him and his brother AVilliam de Romare in the castle : and the earl stole out and went for Robert earl of Gloucester, and brought him thither with a large army ; and they fought furiously against their lord on Candlemas-day, and they took him captive, for liis men be- trayed him and fled, and they led him to Bristol, and there they put him into prison and close confinement. Now was all England more disturbed than before, and all evil was in the land. After this, king Henry's daughter, wlio had been empress of Germany, and was now countess of Anjou, ar- rived, and she came to London, and the citizens would Iiave seized her, but she fled with much loss. Then Henry bishop of Winchester, king Stephen's brother, spake with earl Robert and with the empress, and swore them oaths that he never more would hold with the king his brother, and lie cursed all those that did hold with him, and he said that he would give up Winchester to them, and he made them come thither. But when they were in that place Stephen's queen

506 THE ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE. [a.d. 1140.

brought up her strength and besieged them, till there was so great a famine in the town, they could endure it no longer. Then stole they out and fled, and the besiegers were aware of them, and followed them, and they took llobert earl of Gloucester and led him to Rochester, and imprisoned him there : and tlie empress fled into a monastery. Then wise men, friends of the king and of the earl, interfered between them, and they settled that the king should be let out of pri- son for the earl, and the earl for the king ; and this was done. After this the king and earl Randolph were recon- (dled at Stamford, and they took oaths and pledged their troth, that neither would betray the other : but this promise was set at nought, for the king afterwards seized the earl in Northampton through wicked counsel, and put him in prison, but he set him free soon after, through worse, on condition that he should swear on the cross, and find hostages that he would give up all his castles. Some he did deliver up, and others not ; and he did worse than he should have done in this country. Now was England much divided, some held with the king and some with the empress, for when the king was in prison the earls and the great men thought that he would never more come out, and they treated with the em- press, and brought her to Oxford, and gave her the town. When the king was out of prison he heard this, and he took liis ai-my and besieged her in the tower, and they let her down from the tower by night with ropes, and she stole away, and she fled : and she went on foot to Wallingford. After this she went over sea, and all the Normans turned from the king to the earl of Anjou, some willingly, and some against their v/ill ; for he besieged them till they gave up their castles, and they had no help from the king. Then the king's son Eustace went to France, and took to wife the sis- ter of the king of France : he tliought to obtain Normandy through this marriage, but little he sped, and that of right, for he was an evil man, and did more harm than good wher- ever he went : he spoiled the lands, and laid thereon heavy taxes : he brought his wife to England, and put her into the

castle of ;* she was a good woman but she had little

bliss with him, and it was not the will of Christ that he

* "The MS. is here deficient ; but . . . . b for ' byrig' is discernible." — Lngium.

\.D. 1140,1154.] THE A^GLO-SAXO:S CHROXICLE. 507

should boar rule long, and he died, and his mother also. A.nd the earl of Anjou died, and his son Henry succeeded iiim ; and the queen of France was divorced from the kin^, md she went to the young earl Henry and he took her to ivife, and received all Poitou with her. Then he came into England with a great army and won castles ; and the king n arched against him with a much larger army, howbeit they lid not fight, but the archbishop and wise men went between ihem and made a treaty on these terms : that the king should be lord and king while he lived, and that Henry should be king after his death, and that he should consider him as his father, and the king him as his son, and that peace and con- ::ord should be between them, and in all England. The king, ind the earl, and the bishop, and the earls, and all the great men swore to observe these and the other conditions that were then made. The earl was received with much honour \t Winchester and at London, and all did homage to him, and ?wore to keep the peace, and it soon became a very good peace, such as never was in this land. Then the king was more powerful here than ever he was ; and the earl went .)ver sea, and all the people loved him, because he did good justice, and made peace.

A. 1154. This year king Stephen died, and he was buried with his wife and his son at Faversham ; they had built that monastery. When the king died the earl was beyond sea, nid no man durst do other than good for very dread of him. When he came to England he was received with much hon- 3ur, and w:\s consecrated king at London on the Sunday be- fore Christmas, and he held a great court there : and on the ^ame day that Martin abbat of Peterborough should Lave [jone thither he sickened, and he died on the 4th before the Nones of January. And that day the monks chose another abbat from among themselves. He is named William de Walteville, a good clerk, and a good man, and well beloved af the king and of all good people : and they buried the abbat honourably in the church, and soon al^erwards the iibbat elect and the monks went to the king at Oxford, and the king aave him the abbacy, and he departed soon after- wards to Peterborough, where he remained with the abbat before he came home. And the king was received at Peter-

508 THE ANGLO-SAXON CHKOXICLE. [a.d. 1154.

borough with great respect, and in full procession ; so he was also at Ramsey, at Thomey, and at .... and Spalding, and . . . .*

* The MS. is defective. Ramsey and Thomey are elicited from some faint traces in the Laud MS. which seem to have escaped the penetration of Gibson. The last paragraph, if Gibson's reading be correct, appears to relate to some building which the abbat and monks of Peterborough had begun about this time. See Gunton's History of Peterborough Minster, and Cent. Hug. Candid, ap. Sparke, pp. 92, 93.

END OF ANGLO-SAXON CHRONICLE.

INDEX,

uaron, martyr, 15.

.bercumig (Abercom) monastery, 20, 224. .bon, ealdorman, 324.

.cca, bishop of Hexham, 129, 196, 274, 276, 292, 293. 333, 335.

r^cha, sister to king Edwin, 118. .clev, synod of, 342.

Ldamnan, abbat of lona, 262—266, 287, 288. vdamnan, monk of Coldingham, 220. Ld Barve, 174, 1S4. Ldda, abbat of Gateshead, 144. iddi, earl, 241.

idgefrin, Northumberland, a royal seat, 97. i.drian, emperor of Rome, 307. i.drian, legate, in England, 323. vdrian, pope, 341. 342. Ldi'ian, abbat. See Hadrian. Edan, king of the Scots, 61. E;::., king of the South Saxons, 68, 310. li--.i, usurper of Northumbria, 351. K>.. king of Kent, 310. Etherius, bishop of Lyons, 35, 36, 40, 53. Etius, groans of the Britons to him, 22, 33. Vcrelric, bishop of Selsev, 435. ■ / ' .rt, bishop, 120, 155, 156, ICO, 165, 271, . 325. ... bishop of Lindisfarne, 112—117, 132

— i37, 153, 160, 161, 320. Ubinus, abbat of St. Augustine's, sxsviii,

2, 276. Uban (St.) 12—15, 307. Alban's (St.) monastery, 485. \lcluith, a British city, 7, 19, 20. ilcred, king of Northumbria, 300, 339. \lcuin. See Albinus. fi.ldbert, bishop of Dunwich, 292. Aldhelm, bishop of Sherborne, 267, 333. -Udred, bishop, 420, 425, 428, 431, 434, 436,

446. ^dulf. abp. of York, 382, 383, 390, 396. A.ldwich, bishop of Sidnacester, 300. A.ldwin, abbat of Pearteneu, 127. ;Vldwin, bishop of Lichfield, 293. A-ldwulf, bT>. of Rochester, 291, 292, 334, 335. Aldwulf, king of the East Angles, 93, 212. Alexander, bishop of Lincoln, 492. A.lexander, king of Scotland, 482, 493. Aliric, archbishop of Canterbury, 391 — 398. Alfric, ealdorman, 389. Alfred, king of England, 349—366. Alirid, king of Deira, 144, 154, 164, 224, 263,

206, 274, 329, 332. Alfun, bishop of Dunwich, 344. Alfwold, bishop of Sherborne, 387.

Alfwold, king of Northumbria, 340, 341.

Alhmund, bishop of Hexham, 339, 340.

AUa, king of Northumbria, 312—314.

AUectus, usurps authority in Britain, 11. li'.

Alric killed, 344.

Alwy, bishop of London, 405.

Alwyn, bishop of Winchester, 413, 418, 420.

Ambrosius Aurelius, 26.

Androgens, commander of Trino van turn, ?.

Anlaf Curran, 379.

Anlaf, king of Northumbria, 376—373

Anlaf, son of Sihtric, 378.

Anna, king of the East Angles, 119, 138,

139, 320. Anselm, archbishop of Canterbury, 450, 468,

47.3, 474, 477—479, 482. Anselm, abbat of Bury St. Edmund's, 485. Anvrind, a Danish king, 355. Arculf, a French bishop, 2i3. Arianism spreads in Britain, 16. Aries, the principal see of Gaul, 36,40. 44, 53. Asclepiodotus, captain of the pretorian

bands, 11. Asser, bishop of Sherborne, 368. Athelard, abp. of Canterbury, 342—345. Athelred, abp. of Canterbury, 352, 359. Athelstan, bishop of Hereford, 434. Athelsten, king of Kent, 347, 348. Athelstan, king of Mercia, 374—377. At the Wall, a regal village, 144, 146. Attila. kinc; of the Huns, 22, 308- Athulf, bishop, 383. Augustine, archbishop of Canterbury, 34 —

74, 314, 315. Augustine's abbey, 60, 73.

Baccancelde (Beckenham) council, 331. Badwin, bishop of North Elmham, 183. Bagsac, a Danish king, killed, 353. Baldred, king of Kent, 346. Baldulf, bishop of Whitherne, 342. Baldwin V. earl of Flanders, 422, 433. Baldwin VI. earl of Flanders, 452. Baldwin VII. earl of Flanders, 484—488. Bambrough (Bebba), a royal city, 112, 134,

312, 472. ^ ^

Bancornburg (Bangor-Iscoed^ 70, /I. Bai-king monastery, 184— 1S9. Barton monastery, 174. Bassianus, son of Severus, 11, 307. Bass, mass-priest, 326. Bassus, a soldier of king Edwin, 107. Battle Abbey founded, 461, 470. Beardney ^B'ea^deneu) monastery, 126.

510

INDEX.

Bede ("Venerable), his life, vi— xxiii ; Eccle- siastical History, xxiii — xxx ; his other works, 297; death, xxi, 300, 335. Bega, abbess, 215.

Benedict Biscop, abbat, vii— ix, 202,270,297-

Benedict (St.) 310, 311, 461.

Beonna, abbat of Peterborough, 340.

Beom, carl, 419, 423—425.

Beornmod, bishop of Rochester, 344.

Beort, ealdorman, 329, 332.

Bernard, bishop of St. David's, 491.

Bernred, king of Mercia, 300, 338.

Bernulf, king of Mercia, 346.

Bertgils, or Boniface, bishop of Dunwich, 143, 183.

Bertha, queen, 37, 38, 41, 77.

Berthun, abbat of Beverley, 237-

Berthwald, archbishop of Canterbury, 73, 246, 292, 297, 331, 334, 335.

Bethwegen, monk, 233.

Berthwulf, king of Mercia, defeated, 343.

Bertric, king of Wessex, 341, 344

Beverley monastery, 237.

Bieda arrives in Britain, 311.

Birinus, bishop, 119, 318—320.

Bisi, bishop of Dunwich, 183.

Blecca, governor of Lincoln, 100, 318.

Bledla, king of the Huns, 22.

Boisil, abbat, 225, 226, 248.

Boniface, pope, 75, 80, 81, 85, 88, 90.

Bosa, bishop of York, 192, 193, 276, 329, 330.

Bosanham monasterj', 194.

Bosel, bishop of Worcester, 214.

Bothelm, a monk at Hexham, 111.

Bregowin, abp. of Canterbury, 338, 339.

BridiuR, king of the Picts, 114.

Brie monastery, 121.

Brihtege, bishop of Worcester, 413, 414.

Brinstan, bishop of Winchester, 375.

Britain, its geography described, 4, 303 ; under the Romans, 7—18 ; 304—308.

Brithmar, bishop of Lichfield, 415.

Brithwin, bishop of Sherborne, 411, 417, 418.

Britnoth, abbat of Ely, 38L

Briudun monasterv, 292.

Brocmail, 72, 74, 315.

Burhred, king of Mercia, 349 — 354.

Burton Abbey, 443.

Cadwalla, king of the West Britons, 10 \

109, 318. Cffidmon the poet, 217. CfBdwalla, king of Wessex, 191, 198, 244 —

246, 329, 330. Caerleon-upon-Usk, a Roman city, 15 Caesai's, Julius, invasion, 7 — 9, 304. Campodonum, 98. Canterbury cathedral, 60, 499. Canute, king of England, 404—415. Canute, king of Denmark, 458, 463. Canute, prince of Denmark, 455. Carlegion (Chester), 71. Carausius, a British general, 11, 12. Cassibellaun, a British king, S.

Cassibellaun's town ,St. Alban'.s?), 9. Cataract (Catterick), 98, 108, 132. Cearl, king of the Mercians, 97. Ceawlin or Celin, king of Wessex, 76, 312

—314. Cedd, bishop of the East Saxons, 3, 144 -

149, 155, 160, 165. Celin, priest, 148. Cenbert, father of Caedwalla, 325. Ceolfrid, abbat of Wearraouth, 202, 277, 299 Ceol, king of Wessex, 314. CeoUach, bishop of Repton, 145, 152. Ceolnoth, abp. of Canterburv, 347, 352. Ceolred, king of Mercia, 268, 333 Ceolwulf, bishop of Lindsey, 342, 343. Ceolwulf, king of Northumbria, xvii, 1, 292,

293, 300, 334, 335, 338. Ceolwulf, king of Wessex, 311, 315. Ceowulf, king of Mercia, 345, 34C. Cerdic, king of Wessex, 311. Chad, bishop of Lichfield, 3. 149, 153, 1C5.

173, 174—178. 325. Chalk-hythe synod, 341. Charles, earl of Tlanders, 483, 496. Charles (the Fat), 358, 359. Chelles monastery, 121, 212. Chertsey monastery, 184, 483. Chester bishopric, 490. Chiche (St. Osythe) monastery, 490. Cissa, king of the South Saxons. 310. Claudius invades Britain, 9, 30.5. Cloveshoo synod, 336, 346. Cnobheresburg or Cnobher's town, 139. Coenred, or Kenred, king of Mercia, 259,

268, 289, 332, 333. Coiti, 94—96.

Coinwalch. See Kenwalk. Colburga, abbess of Berkeley, 345. Coldinghara monastery, 204, 220, 320. Colman, bp. of Lindis'fame, 154—163, 179. Columba, abbat of lona, 113, 114, 159, 248,

313. Columbanus, abbat, 75. Constantino, emperor, 12, 16, 53. Constantine, usurper, 18. Constantius, count, defeats Constantine, 18 Constantius, emperor, 12, 16. Conwulf, or Cvnewulf, bishop of Lindisfarne.

300, 335, 340. 341. Crida, king of Mercia, 314. Cuichelm, bishop of Rochester, 192. Cuichelm, king of the West Saxons, 84,

315—319. Cunebert, or Cynebert, bishop of Sidnacestor,

3, 193, 293. Cutha, 313, 314. Cuthbald, abbat, 274, 327, 323. Cuthbert, bishop of Lindisfarne and Hex- ham, 3, 22.5—235, 239 Cuthbert. abp. of Canterbury, 300, 335, 333. Cuthred, king, 319, 320, 32.5. Cuthred, king of Kent, 34.5. Cuthred, king of Wessex, 300, 335, 335. Cuthwine defeats the Britons, 314. Cyneberga, daughter of king Penda, 144, 333,

INDEX.

511

Cynebil, priest, 149.

Cynegils, king of Wessex, 119, 315—319.

Cynemund, priest, 134.

Cyneward, bishop of Wells, 384, 385.

Cynev-Tilf, king of Wessex, 300, 336—341.

Cynric, king of Wessex, 311, 312.

Cjnwise, queen of Mercia, 151.

Dacre monastery, 234.

Dagan, bishop, 75.

Dagobert, king, 107.

Dalreudins, 7.

Damian, abp. of Canterbury, 143.

Danes arrive in England, 341.

Daniel, bishop of Winchester, 2, 200, 2G7,

292, 333-336. David, king of Scotland, 493, 495, 502, 505. Deann-ach (now Derryi, 114. Deda, abbat, 100. Degsastan, 61, 315.

Denewulf, bishop of Winchester. 368. Denisesburn, or Denis's-brook, 109. Deusdedit, abp. of Canterbury, 80, 81, 143,

165, 170, 321—325. DicuU, priest, 142, 194. Dinood, abbat, 70. Diocletian, emperor, 10, 11, 16. Diuma, bishop of Repton, 144, 145 152. Dommoc (Dunwich), 99. Doomsday book compiled, 459. Dorchester (Dorcic) bishopric, 119. Dudoc, bishop of Wells, 419, 436. Dunchad, abbat of lona, 290. Dunstan (St.), abp. of Canterbury, 374, 378

—389.

Eadbald, king of Kent, 79, 81, 83, 86, 89,

107, 121. 316—319. Eadbert, bishop of Lindisfame, 153. Eadbert, bishop of Selsey, 195, 268. Eadbert, king of Kent, 3'34, 336. Eadbert, k. of Northumbria, 300, 335-338, 339. Eadbert Pren, king of Kent, 342, 343. Eadbert, a Mercian general, 153. Eadburga, married to Bertric, 341. Eadfrid, son of king Edwin, 97, 106. Eadhed, bishop of Sidnacester, 165, 192, 329. Eadnoth, bishop of Dorchester, 419, 423. Eadsine, abp. of Canterbury, 414 — 424. Eafa, a Mercian general, 153. Eafy, high-steward, murdered, 396. Ealhard, bishop of Dorchester, 365. Ealstan, bishop of Sherborne, 346, 348, 351. Eanbald 1., archbishop of York, 340, 343. Eanbald II., archbishop of York, 343, 344. Eanbert, bishop of Hexham, 345. Eanfled, daughter of king Edwin, 84, 107,

133, 152, 154, 224, 269, 317. 318. Eanfrid, son of Ethelfrid, 108 ; king of Ber-

nicia, 109, 317, 318. Eanwulf, earl of Somerton, 348. Eappa, priest, 194, 196, 324, 325. Earconbert, king of Kent, 121, 170, 319, 32.". Earcongota, daughter of king Earconbert,

122, 319.

Earconvrald, bishop of London, 184. Eardulf, king of Northumbria, 343, 345, Easter controversy, 104, 112, 115, 153—161.

262, 271, 277, 289. Eata, bishop of Lindisfame, 161, 192, 22.5,

226, 229, 237. 329. Ebb, the Frisian, alain, 365. Ebba, queen, 194. Ebba, abbess of Coldingham, 204. Ecci, bishop of Dunwich, 183. Ecgric, king of the East Angles, 138. Edbert, bishop of Lindisfame, 231—233, Eddi, 173.

Edgar, king of Mercia, 380—386. Edgar, etheling, 441—446, 453—481. Edgar, king of Scotland, 475, 482. Edgils, monk of Coldingham, 223. Edgitha, Edward's queen, 417. Edmund, St. king of East Anglia, 352. Edmund, the son of Edgar, 384. Edmund Ironside, 406—409. Ednoth, bishop of Dorchester, 403, 408. Edred, king, 379, 380, 384. Edric,king of Kent, 225. Edric, ealdorman of Mercia, 399, 406, 409. Edward (the elder), king, 366—37.5. Edward (the martvr), 368—388. Edward (the confessor), 404, 405, 41.5—442. Edward, son of Edmund, dies, 434 435. Edwin, abbat of Abingdon, 389. Edwin, etheling, drowned, 375. Edwin, king of Northumbria, 76, 82, 108,

152, 315, 317, 318. Edwy, etheling, banished by Canute, 409. Edwy, king of Wessex, 380. Egbald, abbat of Peterborough, 330. Egbert, king of Kent, 170, 183, 325, 326. Egbert, king of Wessex, 344—347. Egbert, bishop of York, 299, 300, 335, 339. Egbert, abbat of lona, 163, 164, 178 247—

249, 289, 291, 333, 334. Egbert, priest, 11.5. Egbert II. bishop of Lindisfame, .34.5. Egelric, bp. of Durham, 416, 434, 447, 453. Egelwine, bishop of Durliam, 434, 453. Egfert, king of Mercia, .341, .342, Egfrid, king of Northumbria, vii, 180, 192,

204, 209, 223, 225, 326—330. Elatius, a British chief, 32, 33. Eleutherius, bishop of Rome, 10, .307. Eleutherius, bishop of Winchester, 120, 191,

326. Elfgar, bishop of Elmham, 410. Elfhun, bishop of London, 403, 404. Elfleda, daughter of k. Osw}-, 144, 151, 224. Elfric. archbishop of York, 411, 412, 424. Elfric, uncle to Osric I., 108. Elfric, bishop of Elmham, 414. Elfric, ealdorman, 389, 390, 397. Elfrida, Edgar's queen, 384. Elfstan, bishop of London, 36.3, 390. Elfstan, bishop of Wiltshire, 388. Elfsy, abbat of Peterborough, 38.3. Elf.?y, bishop of Winchester, 411, 413. Elfward, bishop of London, 418.

512

INDEX.

Elfwin, brother to sing Egfrid, 209, 329.

Elfwina, queen of Mercia, 371.

Elgar, earl of Mercia, 431-435.

Ella, king of the South Saxons, 76.

Elmetewood, 98.

Elmund, king of Kent, 341.

Elphege, bishop of Winchester, 375, 379.

Elphege II., archbishop of Canterbury, 369,

391, 398—403. Elstan, bishop of London, 366. Elswitha, Alfred's queen, 367. Ely monastery, 205. 326, 381. Emma Elgiva, 396, 404, 409, 414, 417, 429. Eolla, bishop of Selser, 268. Eorpwald, k. of East Anglia, 98, 99, 137, 318. Erconwald, the patrician, 142. Eric, king of Northumbria, 379. Eric, earl of Northumbria, 407, 409. Ermenred, son of Eadbald, 319. Eniost, bishop of Rochester, 447. Ernulf, bishop of Rochester, 485, 493. Escwin, king of Wessex, 326, 328. Escwy, bishop of Dorchester, 390. Esius, abbat, 3.

Ethelard, king of Wessex, 300, 334, 335. Ethelbald, king of Mercia, 300, 333—333. Ethelbald, king of Wessex, 348, 350. Ethelberga, daughter of king Ethelbert, 83,

68, 97, 107, 318. Ethelberga, daughter of k. Anna, 121, 122. Ethelberga, abbess of Barking, 187. Ethelbert, archbishop of York, 339. 340. Ethelbert, bishop of Whitheme, 340, 344. Ethelbert, king of Kent, 36—40, 58, 60, 68,

72- 77, 83, 312—316. Ethelbert II. king of Kent, 336, 338. Ethelbert, king of East Anglia, 342. Ethelbert, k. of Kent, Essex, tc. 350, 351. Ethelburga, Ina's queen, 334. Etheldrid, queen, 175. Etheldrida, daughter of king Anna, 204, 326,

329, 381. Etheldrith, 97.

Ethelfled, lady of Mercia, 368-374. Ethelfrid, king of Northumbria, 61, 71, 91

—93, 108, 314—317. Ethelgar, abp. of Canterburv, 384, 388, 389. Ethelhere, king of the East Angles, 148. 151. Etheihilda, abbess, 127. Ethelhun, son of king Edwin, 97. Ethelhun, monk, 163. Ethelnoth, abp. of Canterburv, 410, 414. Ethelred, k. of Mercia, 192, 209, 321—333. Ethelred, son of Moll, 339—342. Ethelred [Etheredl, k. of Wessex, 351-3:4. Ethelred, king of England, 337- 4o7. Ethelric, king of Northumbria, 314. Ethelric, bishop of Selsey, 414. Ethelswith, queen of Mercia, 359. Ethelwalch, king of the South Saxons, 193,

1P5, 198, 325. Ethelwald, king of Deira, 148. Ethelwald, prince, 366, 367. Ethelwald, bp. of Lindisfame, 292, 300, 335. Ethelwald, bishop of Lichfield, 347.

Ethelwald, abbat, 82, 235. Ethelward, k. of Wessex, SCO, 334, 335. Ethelwerd, high-steward, slain, 395. Ethelwin, bp. of Sidnacester, 1^7, 163, 192. Ethelwold, bishop of Winchester, 357, 381,

384, 386, 389. Ethelwulf, king of Wessex, 347—350. Ethered, ealdorman of Mercia, 359, 362, 369. Etheric, bishop of Dorchester, 413. Eumer, 84. Eustace II., earl of Boulogne, 421, 466.

Para's monastery, 121.

Fame, isle of, 135.

Felix, bishop of Dunwich, 99, 138, 143, 319,

Finan, bishop of Lindisfame, 136, 144, 153,

154, 160. Fingale synod, 341. Fonhhere, 84, 268, 292, 333, 335. Frithbert, bishop of Hexham, 300, 339. Frithstan, bishop of Winchester, 368, 375. Frithwald, bishop of Whitheme, 300, 339. Fullan, abbat, 142. Fursey, abbat, 138—142.

Gebmund, bishop of Rochester, 192, 247, 331.

Gerard, archbishop of York, 482.

Germanus, bishop, 2U — 34, 41.

Gervii, 143, 204.

Gessoriacum (Boulogne), 4.

Geta, son of Severus, 11, 307.

Gewissae (West SaxonsI, 78, 118, 1S8.

Gildas, the historian, 34.

Giso, bishop of Wells, 436.

Glastonbury minster, 330, 457.

Gobban, priest, 142.

Godfrey, bishop o( Bath, 492.

Godmundingham (Goodmanham), 96.

Godwin, earl, 413—431-

Godwin III. bishop of Rochester, 402.

Gosfrith, bishop, 464.

Gothmn, a Danish king, 355, 3-56, 359.

Graiian, emperor, 16, 17, 308.

Gratian, tyrant, 18.

Gregory I. pope, 2, 34—68, 314.

Griffin, Welsh king, 41&— 437.

Grinketel, bishop of Selsey, 415, 419.

Gundulph, bishop of Rochester, 447

Gunnilde banished, 418.

Guthfrid, abbat of Lindisfame, 236.

Guthfi-ith, king of Northumbria, 375.

Hackness, a cell to Whitby, 215.

Hadrian, abbat of St. Augustine's, 2, 170— 172, 27.5, 391.

Hadulac, bishop of Elmham, 292.

Hagulstad (Hexham), 110, 111.

Halfdene, a Danish king, 353—355, 368.

Hardecanute, 411 — 416.

Harold Harfager killed, 440. I Harold I. king of England, 413—415. ; Harold II. 421—443. I Hasten invades England, 360—362. I Heahmund, bishop of Sherborne, 354. ; Heandred, bishop of Hexham, 344.

i

INDEX.

513

Heathfield (Hatfield), 106, 201, 329.

Heavenfield, or Havenfelth, 110.

Heca, bishop of Selsey, 418—420, 435.

Hedda, bishop 119, 191, 267, 328, 332.

Heia, abbess, 212.

Hengist, a Saxon chieftain, 24, 77, 143, 309,

310. Henry de Blois, bp. of Winchester, 499, 505. Henry I. 45.9, 461, 471, 47C— 502. Herbert Losange, bishop of Thetford, 470. Herebald, abbat, 242. Herebert, priest, 230. Herefrith, bishop of Selsey, 347. Hereward plunders Peterborough, 451, 452 Herman, bp. of Sherborne, 417, 424, 425, 426. Hertford s>-nod, 181.

Heruteu (Hartlepool) monastery, 151, 212. Hewalds, missionaries, 250. Higbald, bishop of Lindisfame, 341, 345. Higbert, bishop of Dorchester, 341. Hilda, abbess, 151, 155, 211, 329. Hildelith, abbess of Barking, 188. Hingwar and Hubba, 352. Honorius, archbishop of Canterbury, 99 —

104, 318, 320. Honorius, emperor, 17, 18. Honorius, pope, 15, 101—103, 318. Horsa, a Saxon chieftain, 24, 309. Howel, king of North Wales, 274. Howel, king of West Wales (Cornwall), 375. Huetbert, abbat of Wearmouth, xiv, xviii,

299.

Ida, king of Northumbria, 312.

Irfa, 97, 107.

Iramin, a Mercian general, 153.

Ina, king of U'essex, 330—344.

Ingethlingum (GUling), 132, 152.

Ingild, brother of Ina, 333.

Ingwald, bishop of London, 292.

lona monastery, 113—115, 313.

Ireland described, 6, 7.

Irminric, 77.

Ithamar, bishop of Rochester, 131, 322, 324.

James, deacon, 100, 108, 154, 172.

Jarrow monastery, viii.

Jaruman, bishop of Repton, 153, 169, 174,

322, 324. John, abbat of St. Martin's, 202. John IV., pope, 104, 105. John (St. I, of Beverley, x, xi, 237—244,330,

334. Julius, martyr, 15. Justus, abp.'of Canterburr, 54, 72—74, 78—

83, 100, 102, 315.

Kenebert, bishop of Winchester, 344. Kenred, king of Mercia. See Coenred. Kentwin, king of We^sex, 328, 329. Kenulf, king of Mercia, 343, 345. Kenulf, bi-shopof \Vinchester, 383, 390, 398. Kenwalk, k. of Wessex, 119, 120,319—326. Kineward, bishop of Winchester, 336. Kyneburg, sister of Wulf here, 321—324

Kyneswith, sister of Wulf here, 321—3^4 Kynsey, abp. of York, 431—436.

Lambert, abp. of Canterbury, 339—342. Lanfranc, abp. of Canterbury, 447—450, 466 Lastingham monastery, 3, 149. Laurentius, abp. of Canterburj-, 40, 74. 75

78—80, 316, 317. Leofgar, bishop of Hereford, 434. Leofric, bishop of Devon, 417. Leofric, earl, 417—435. Leofric, bishop of Exeter, 420. Leofsy, bishop of Worcester, 413. Leofwine, bishop of Lichiield, 432. Leo III., pope, 344, 345. Lilla, 84.

Lindisfame monasterv, 3, 112. Lindsey province, 99," 126. Living, abp. of Canterbury, 403, 410. Living, bishop of Worcester and Gloucester.

415, 417—420. Loidis (Leeds) a regal seat, 98, 152. Lothen and Irling arrive, 418- Lothere, king of Kent, 1S3, 224, 330. Lucius, king of the Britons, 10, 307. Ludecan, king of Mercia, 346. Luidhard, bishop, 37, 38, 41. Lupus, bishop, 26, 27.

Marcus Antoninus, emperor, 10. Margaret, daughter of Edward, 444, 469 Malcolm III., king of Scotland, 444, 453.

467—469. Maserfeld, 123. Ma^s-jriest, his duti-^s, xii. Maud, daughter of Malcolm, 477. Maurice, bishop of London, 448, 477, 482. Maximian, emperor, 11, 303. Maximus, usurper, 17- Mellitus, abp. of Canterbury, 54, 55, Tl—

75, 78—80, 315—317. Melrose monaster}-, 254. Merewitb, bishopof Somerset, 413. Milred, bishop of Worcester, 339. iloU Ethelwald, king of Northumbria, 333. Morcar, earl of Northumbria, 437 — 45z. Mull, brother of Casdwalla, 329-331.

Naitan, king of the Pict.?, 277. Natan-leod, a British king, 17. Nero, emperor of Rome, 10, 11, 306. Ninias, bishop, converts the Picts, 11.3, 31.^. Northumbria divided into two parts, Deira

and Beraicia, 108. Nothelm, abp. of Canterbury, 2, 36, 300,

335, 336.

Octa, 77.

Odda, earl of Devon, 422, 429.

Odo, abp. of Canterbur)-, 380, 381.

Odo, bishop of Bayeux, 457, 462 — 466.

Oeng, king of the Picts, 300.

Offa, son of king Sighere, 208, 333.

Offa, king of Mercia, 338—342, 344.

Oisc, 77.

Oiscings, or ^Escingas, 77, 99.

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