first Bishop there in the Saxons time Iustus the first Bishop of Rochester Câ—ntention betweene the English and Brittish Cleargie about celebration of the feast of Easter WIth these and other such like instructions the Messengers were dispatched into Britannie where at their returne they presented to Austen the Pall the ornament of a Bishop which the Bishop of Rome had sent vnto him as a 〈◊〉 and confirmation of his Ecclesiastical dignitie and authority and also certaine Vessels and Vestments which were thought meete to be vsed for 〈◊〉 in the English Churches 〈…〉 with divers other godly leaâ—ned men were appoynted to accompanie the Messengers into the Iland to the end they might assist Austen and the Priests there in preaching the Gospel At that time the Bishop of Rome sent also certaine gifts of great value to Ethelbert the Prince and by speciall Letters commended his favourable vsage and princely bountie shewed in receyving and mainteining such persons as came into his Countrey to instruct himselfe and his Subiects in the knowledge of true Religion the greatest blessing that ever any Nation could enjoy signifying withall that by his conformitie to those things which they taught a happie entrance was alreadie made for reducing the whole Iland to Christianitie and that if he persevered as he had begun he might vndoubtedly expect an eternall reward in heaven For albeit Ethelbert at the first was not verie readily induced to abandon the ancient superstitious customes of his owne Nation partly for that he had beene trained vp therein from his tender yeares and partly for that he was secretly informed that some of the Priests which then preached the faith of Christ were seditious persons exercising witchcraft and seducing the people vnder pretence of simplicitie yet after his conversion he became a zealous professor and practiseâ— of pietie erecting faire Temples for divine Service endowing them with large possessions and earnestly exhorting other Princes within the I le to do the like He founded a Church in the Citie of London which the Kentish Saxons in right of superioritie over the East-Saxons at that time possessed and dedicated it to the Apostle Saint Paul In more ancient times as some conjecture by the bones of such beasts as were vsually sacrificed by the Gentiles and found in that place there had beene a Temple dedicated to Diana of that Church Melitus being sent by Austen to preach the Christian faith to the East-Saxons was afterwards elected the first Bishop The Cittie of Rochester also he assigned to Iustus who was consecrated the first Bishop of that Sea But while these things were a doing there arose some controversie betweene the English Roman Cleargie and certaine British Bishops concerning the celebration of the feast of Easter and other Rites and Ceremonies wherein the Brittish Church dissented from the Church of Rome for the Britans then dwelling in Wales and the West parts of the Ile continued there the exercise of the Christian faith which had beene preserved among them ever since it was first planted in the Iland though now and then the cleere course thereof was either by contagious Heresies or by prophane and irreligious Princes interrupted for a time howbeit when they perceived the Saxons themselves in some measure to approove it they beganne with boldnesse to make open profession of it as seeming therein to agree even with their enemies howsoever otherwise in respect of language situation or the law of Nations they were divided CHAP. V. Austen calleth a Synode to reconcile the differences between the Brittish and English Cleargie The Brittish Bishops aske counsaile of an Anchorite whether they should conforme themselves to such things as Austen the Monke should require of them They refuse to accept him for their Archbishop Austen appointeth Laurentius to succeed him in the Sea of Canterburie He dieth AVsten perceiving that this disagreement was likely to prove prejudiciall to the state of the new Church thought it the best and safest way to prevent the inconvenience in the verie beginning and to that end he summoned a Synod which by the meanes of Ethelbert the Prince he procured to be held vpon the borders of the West Saxons Country At that Synod seven Brittish Bishops certain Monks of Bangor the greatest Monasterie in the I le whereof Dinothus was then Abbot and diverse others well reputed for their learning and knowledge in divinitie were present It is reported that the Brittish Bishops before their comming thither asked counsaile of an Anchorite a wise and holie man living there about what he thought meetest for them to do in that great businesse which they had then in hand and whether they should follow the advice and directions of Austen or retaine still their ancient Traditious whereto it is said that the Anchorite made this answer If he be of God follow him and that shall you best discerne by his humilitie For Christ sayeth Take vpon you my yoke and learne of me for I am milde and humble of heart If therefore you perceive by his behaviour that hee is prowd and high minded then be ye well assured that he is not of God Heereupon when they came to the place where the Synod was to be kept and saw Austen sitting in a chaire but not saluting them at their first entrance nor seeming by his outward gesture to respect them they supposed the Anchorists speech to have beene in part then verified and with much impatiency heard the Arch-bishops oration wherein they were specially required to preserve the vnitie of the Christian faith and though they did many things contrarie to the vsage of the Roman Church yet to conforme themselves thereto in three points namely in celebrating the feast of Easter in due-time in exercising the ministery of Baptisme according to the manner of the Church of Rome and in joyning with him and the rest of the English Bishops in preaching the Gospel of Christ to the heathen of that Nation which if they would faithfully performe he promised for avoyding contention a matter very dangerous considering the present condition of the time to tolerate the continuance of any other old rites and traditions wherein they should dissent from the Church of Rome But the Britans imagining that he who at his first comming vsed them in that disdainefull manner would afterwards being setled in a superintendency over them vtterly despise them discovered plainely their discontentment by their countenances and made a short answer that they would neither observe those things which he required at their hands nor acknowledge him for their Bishop Whereto Austen with bitter words replyed that sith they would not receive peace when it was offered they should ere long feele the heavy hand of war and vengeance vpon themselves and their posteritie and so the assembly was dissolved Not long after Austen the Arch-bishop wearied with care and travaile of minde fell sicke of a languishing disease and doubting lest the state of the Church being as yet greene and
shaken with the blasts of schisme and division might easily miscarry for want of a Pastor he thought good while he lived to provide for it by appointing Laurence a grave and learned Priest to succeede him in the Sea of Canterbury and having to that end elected him and caused the election to be published he departed this life His body was buried in his owne Monastery within the Church which Ethelbert had there erected and an inscription in Latine was set over the place of his buriall declaring his name and qualitie and the time occasion and successe of his comming into the I le of Britannie CHAP. VI. Ethelbert the Prince provideth for the maintenance of religious persons Hee ordaineth lawes for civill governement publishing the same in the English tongue Edbald his sonne succeedeth him in the Principalitie of the Kentish-Saxons His Apostacie Repentance Death IN the meane while Ethelbert the Prince persisting with great devotion in the profession of the Christian faith did move very many of his subiects to follow his example therein and such persons as professors of one faith with him he vsed with speciall favour the rest that refused to doe the like he would not compell saying that he had beene taught that The service of Christ must be voluntarie and not forced And as he was very forward in advancing and supporting the State ecclesiasticall so he was not altogether carelesse of the civill governement For by advice of the wisest and best learned men of his Province he made certaine constitutions after the manner of the Romans and published them in the English tongue to the end his people might vnderstand them and by knowing the penalties imposed vpon offences more readily avoid the offences themselves By these lawes he provided first for the weale and safegard of religious persons ordaining restitution and severe punishment for such as by theft or violence tooke away anything from Churches Bishops or Priests For he thought it very meete that he should by all meanes protect and prefer from worldly annoyance such men as watched and prayed for the health salvation of soules And thus spending the rest of his time in the exercise of pietie and all princely vertues after he had prosperously raigned many years he ended his daies in peace He had issue Edbald who succeeded him in the governement and Ethelburga married to Edwin Prince of Northumbers Edbald was by his fathers direction trained vp in the knowledge of the Christian faith which after he had obtained the Principalitie hee vtterly renounced being otherwise also defamed for divers notorious and detestable vices whereby the greater number of his subjects following his example returned againe to idolatry and ran head-long into all kinds of enormity from which in his fathers time rather feare of temporall punishment then love of vertue and religion restrained them Heereupon Iustus the Bishop of Rochester and Melitus the Bishop of London perceiving this generall defection in the Provinces both of the Kentish and East-Saxons by reason of Edbalds Apostacie and being vnable eyther to direct or to oppose themselves against the streame of superstition which sodainely brake in vpon them gave way to the time and secretly fled into France where they remained till Edbalds conversion Laurence the Arch-bishop also intended to have followed them but that he was admonished by a vision as it is reported that hee should not forsake his flocke In the meane time Edbald continuing his profane and vicious manner of living fell at the last through distemperature of minde into a frenzie being also possessed with an vncleane spirit When the Arch-bishop of Canterbury taking courage as in a good cause repaired boldly vnto him partly by admonition partly by exhortation prevailed so farre with the Prince as in the end he wan him to approve and professe the truth of Christianitie from which by infidelitie he had fallen whereupon soone after ensued the recoverie of his bodily health which by many grievous infirmities had beene a long time much empaired The remnant of his life after he was rebaptized he spent in devotion and deeds of charity to expiate and make satisfaction for his former impietie and Apostacie CHAP. VII Ercombert succeedeth Edbald in the Principality The institution of Lent Honorius the Arch-bishop of Canterbury divideth his Province into Parishes Deusdedit succeedeth Honorius in the Sea of Canterbury Egbert ruleth the Kentish-Saxons after the death of Ercombert Theodorus the Arch-bishop of Canterbury expelleth Wilfrid out of the Sea of York His learning in Divinitie and Philosophie His estimation in the Court of Rome THen Ercombert his son by Emma the daughter of the King of France a temperate and religious Prince prosecuted the worke which his father had begun in reestablishing the Christian faith within his Dominions The idolatrous Priests he banished razing their Temples to the ground and erecting others for the service of the true God The subjects of his Realme being much inclined to excesse in eating and drinking he restrained by commanding a publike fast during the space of fortie daies to be yeerely kept for the better exercise of devotion which custome continueth among the English even to this day The Church of Canterburie was governed in his time by Honorius who first as it is reported divided his Province into Parishes and left his Sea to Deus-dedit the first Saxon Arch Bishop the former being strangers of other nations his owne name was Frithona which for his zealous inclination towardes the advancement of the Church and Common-weale was changed into Deus-dedit as the man whom God himselfe had specially given After him Wighard was elected but died at Rome before his consecration Ercombert the Prince having peaceably ruled the Kentish Saxons about foure and twenty yeares ended his life when the continuance thereof was most desired He had by Sexourga one of the daughters of Anna Prince of the East-Angles a sonne named Egbert that succeeded him in the governement Egbert ruled the Kentish-Saxons with great moderation and had not his hands beene defiled with the innocent blood of Elbert and Egelbright his cosin germans he might worthily have beene registred in the number of their best princes In his time there lived Adrianus the Abbot and Theodorus a Graecian borne then Arch-bishop of Canterbury and the last of those that came out of Italie They were men of speciall regard for their learning and holinesse of life This Theodorus began first of all others to exercise his Pontificall authoritie over all Britannie placing and displacing Bishops at his pleasure consecrating contrary to ordinances of the church of Rome Bishops of other Seas in the Citie of Yorke and either by force or shew of right removing first Cedda and afterwards Wilfrid who had bin Bishops of that place pretending that the wealth and possessions of that Bishopricke alone were sufficient to maintaine three Bishops and that it was meete they should be divided accordingly but whether he did it for the selfe same end that
part of the Ile lying vpon the sea South-ward which at this day containeth the Counties of Surrey and Sussex though his successors by encroching vpon their neighbor Princes extended it afterwards even to the Firth of Humber After his death his two elder sonnes Cimen and Plening being either slain in the field or dead by course of nature Cissa his yongest sonne was by generall consent of the people of his owne nation received as Governor The chiefe seate of his principalitie was the Citie of Chichester which he reedified and called by his owne name He also fortified the place now called Cissburie in Sussex by casting a trench about it for defence of the Province What other things were done by him as also by the rest of the South-Saxon Princes the Writers of the occurrents of that age have for the most part omitted or Time it selfe hath vnhappily bereaved vs of the knowledge of them He ruled the South-Saxons verie many yeares and died naturally leaving the government in peaceable estate to Edilwalch who succeeded him therein Edilwalch by the earnest perswasion of Wulfhere the religious Prince of the Mercians was first moved to embrace the Christian faith and Wulfhere himselfe being his Godfather did at the time of his baptisme give vnto him the I le of Wight and another small Province in the West part of Britannie CHAP. II. Variance betweene the Archbishops of Canterburie and Yorke Wilfrid chiefe Bishop of the Northumbers expulsed from his owne sea at Yorke flieth into Sussex where he converteth the inhabitants to the Christian faith He is curteously entertained by Edelwalch the Prince who assigneth to him the I le of Selesey for an Episcopall sea The South-Saxons are brought vnder the obedience of the West-Saxon Princes IN the meane time Wilfrid chief Bishop of the North-humbers being expulsed from his sea at York by Theodorus the Archbi of Canterburie openly disgraced by Egfrid then Prince of Northumberland appealed to the Court of Rome from which he obtained a definitive sentence for his justification touching those matters wherewith he was charged and also for his restitution and reestablishment in his Sea But Egfrid the Prince refused to receive him protesting against the sentence as vnduly procured whereupon Wilfrid the Bishop fled secretly into Sussex and preached the Christian faith to the South-Saxons whose Prince named Edelwalch received him with great joy assigning vnto him for his Sea the I le of Selesey where afterwards the foundation of a Monasterie was laid After the death of Egfrid Prince of the Northumbers he was revoked and restored to his former dignitie which yet he enjoyed not long without interruption He was a man of great courage as having beene continually exercised with troubles and worldly incumbrances which do commonly deject and oppresse such as yeeld thereunto but do engender constancie or obduracie in such as encounter and oppose them The authoritie of the Sea of Rome he was euer stiffely bent to maintaine The custome of celebrating the feast of Easter after the Roman maner he diligently taught and defended in publike disputation against the Bishops of Scotland who observed the vsage of the East Churches according to the tradition of the Iewes It is reported of him that while he remained in the Province of the South-Saxons he instructed the rude poore people dwelling vpon the Sea coasts in the art of fishing with Nets and Ginnes by which meanes they were relieved in the time of famine wherewith the Country was then much afflicted The province enjoyed a long time of prosperitie vnder this Christian Prince till in the end it was assailed by Ceadwall a man of great power and courage descended from the race of the West-Saxon Princes who being banished from his owne Country attempted by force to have expulsed Edelwalch and finally after many conflicts slue him in battaile Howbeit the greatest number of his owne forces being spent in that warre he was afterwards constrained to abandon the Province which Aldin then governed till afterwards obteyning the West-Saxon Principalitie he assaied the recoverie of it againe and in the end by conquest annexed it to that government when it had remained about three hundred yeares vnder the obedience of the South-Saxon Princes The succession of the Mercian Princes 1 Creda the first Prince of the Mercians ruled about ten yeares 2 Wibba the sonne of Creda twentie yeares 3 Ceorla the sonne of Wibba ten yeares 4 Penda surnamed the Stowt the sonne of Wibba thirtie yeares 5 Peda the sonne of Penda the first christian Prince 6 Oswin 7 Wulfere the brother of Peda. 8 Ethelred the brother of Wulfhere 9 Kinred the sonne of Wulfhere 10 Celred the sonne of Ethelred 11 Ethelbald 12 Bartred 13 Offa the nephew of Ethelbald 14 Ecfrid the sonne of Offa. 15 Kenulph nephew to Penda in the fifth degree 16 Kenelm a child of seven yeares the sonne of Ecfrid murdered by his owne sister and reputed a Martyr 17 Ceolwulph brother to Kenulph 18 Bernulph defeated by Egbert Prince of the West-Saxons ⧠The succession of Bishops in the Principalitie of the Mercians till the raigne of Egbert the first English Monarch Bishops of Lichfield and Chester 656 Diuma the first Bishop of the Mercians sate two yeares 658 Cella two yeares 660 Trumherus five yeares 665 Iarumannus foure yeares 669 Cedda removed from the Sea of Yorke three yeares 672 Winfridus foure yeares 676 Sexulphus sixteene yeares 692 Hedda twentie-foure yeares 716 Aldwinus twentie one yeares 737 Witta fourteene yeares 751 Hemetus thirteene yeares 764 Cuthfridus nine yeares 773 Bertunus seven yeares 780 Higbertus ten yeares 790 Aldulfus in the time of Egbert the West-Saxon Prince twentie foure yeares Bishops of Lindisferne now called Holy-Iland 678 Edhedus sate one yeare 679 Aethelwinus twenty two yeares 701 Edgarus nineteene yeares 720 Kenebertus thirteene yeares 733 Alwich eighteene yeares 751 Aldulphus sixteene yeares 767 Ceolwulfus seventeene yeares 784 Vnwona two yeares 786 Ealdulphus after whose death the Sea was void certaine yeares lived about the time of Egbert the West-saxon Prince Bishops of Hereford 680 Putta sate eleven yeares 691 Tirthelus twelve yeares 703 Tortherus fifteene yeares 718 Walstodus eighteene yeares 736 Cuthbertus five yeares 741 Podda five yeares 746 Ecca six yeares 752 Cedda six yeares 758 Aldbertus eleven yeares 769 Esna six yeares 775 Ceolmundus eight yeares 783 Vtellus five yeares 788 Wulfhardus in the time of Egbert the West-Saxon Prince twentie one yeares Bishops of Worcester 688 Boselus sate twelve yeares 692 Ostforus one yeare 693 Egwinus twentie foure yeares 717 Wilfridus twentie seven yeares 744 Mildredus thirtie two yeares 776 Weremundus three yeares 779 Wolberus two yeares 782 Eathoredus seven yeares 789 Denebertus in the time of Egbert the West-Saxon Prince thirtie three yeares Bishops of the Middle-English whose Sea was at Leycester 692 Wilfrid expulsed from his province of Northumberland sate ten yeares after whose departure the Sea of Leycester was governed by the Bishops of Lichfield
Coelestine bishop of Rome to the Irish and Scottish-men inhabiting the Iles of the Orcades and Hebredes to instruct them in the Christian faith and to confirme them therein against the Pelagian heresie Bacchiarius the Scholler of Patricius was brought vp in Rome and lived in great favour with the Bishop of that place Leo the first Dubrius who as some write was Archbishop of Chester Legâ—â— of the Sea Apostolike Primate of all Britannie He gave over his Ecclesiasticall dignities and betooke himselfe to an Eremiticall life Congellus the first Abbot of the Monasterie of Bangor about the yeare 530. David Menevensis the vncle as some writers report of the warre-like Prince Arthur translated the Archbishoprike from Chester to Saint Davids in Wales whereupon that Sea is called to this day of his name Menevensis Kentegernus a learned Abbot Helmothus Gyldas a Monke of Bangor and a writer of some part of the British storie Daniel the first Bishop of Bangor Sampson the successor of David Menevensis in the Bishoprike of Saint Davids Elnodugus Assaph the Scholler of Abbot Kentegerne who was made Bishop of Elgoa in Wales which place was afterwards called Assaph according to his name which it continueth to this present He was the first that received his authoritie and consecration from those religious men that were sent by Gregorie the Great to preach the Christian faith to the English Nation Herlanus Elbodus Dinothus Abbot of Bangor in the time of Austen the Monke Samuel Nivius THE SECOND PART of the Historie of Great Britannie The first Booke VORTIGER VLT PRINC BRIT The first CHAPTER A repetition of the Contents of the former part A briefe Relation of the condition of the Britans vnder the Picts and Scottishmen from the Romans departure thence vntill the beginning of the raigne of Vortiger the last Brittish Prince THe Conquest of Britannie as hath beene afore shewed was first attempted by the Romans in the time of Iulius Caesar whose short aboad in the I le and occasions of imploiment else-where would not permit him to go forward therewith After him Caius the Emperor vpon lightnesse and ambition pretended a voyage thither which Claudius his successor prosecuted with effect for he entred the Iland in his owne person and subdued a small part thereof which he brought into the forme of a Province placing there Aulus Plautius the first Lievtenant vnder whom Vespasian and Titus his sonne being then but private men bare office in the camp Thence-forth men of special note regard were commonly sent thither namely Ostorius Scapula that tamed the Silures and Ordovices and tooke Caractacus their Captaine prisoner Suetonius Paulinus that conquered the I le of Anglesey and recovered the Province well neere lost by the generall revolt of the Britans Petilius Cerealis that brought the Brigantes vnder subjection Iulius Agricola who enlarged the limits of the Province and marched with his forces even to Caledonia making the Romans Lords in a maner of the whole Iland as commanding all both by sea and land Within few yeares after Adrian the Emperor himselfe having transported an armie thither to expell the Picts north Britans that then invaded the Province began first of all to reare a Wall of Turfes to defend it and this example Lollius Vrbicus the Lievtenant vnder Antoninus Pius advisedly following raised another wall also of like stuffe to strengthen the borders with a double rampire which fortresses the Northern Britans boldly assailed greatly annoying the Province till by Vlpius Marcellus they were opposed and repulsed After whose departure there chanced in the Roman Campe diverse mutinies which Pertinax that soone after obtained the Empire fortunately appeased Then lived the Britans in peace for a time till Clodius Albinus the Lievtenant affecting innovation in the state and presuming vpon the strength and valour of the armie in Britannie assumed there the title of Caesar and carried over with him into France a great number of the most warlike Britans to renforce his armie for support of his vsurped Soveraigntie by which meanes the Province was much weakned and the Picts encouraged againe to assaile it Severus the Emperour also for desire of glorie made a voiage thither with Caracalla and Geta his two sonns and successors in the Empire intending the conquest of the most remote and Northerne part of the I le beyond Adrians wall but his ill successe in the beginning and despaire of better made him soone give over the enterprise and to retire himselfe vnto the borders of the Province where having repaired the decayed wall and cut a trench thwart the I le from sea to sea he ended his life at Yorke What was done there from the time of Caracalla to Gallienus the Emperour whose state as well in Britannie as other places was disturbed by the Thirtie Tyrants the hystories now extant make little mention till Carausius the Admirall of the Brittish fleete and after him Alectus vsurped the Empire in Britannie at what time Constantius Caesar ruled the Province and afterwards dying there left it as a member of the Empire to his sonne Constantine surnamed the Great who was first declared Emperor in Britannie whence he transported no small number of the Inhabitants that had beene trained vp vnder the Roman Legions there to make warre in France and Germanie which were then in Armes for Maxentius After the death of Constantine the discord betweene his three sonnes gave advantage also to Magnentius Taporus whose father was a Britan to vsurpe the Empire in Britannie and even then was the Province in danger to have beene over-run by the Scottish-men and Picts if Theodosius had not providently repressed their furie Clemens Maximus in like maner vpon emulation of Theodosius glory attempted the Empire and shipped over the flower of all Britannie into Belgia and France where such as escaped the sword of the enemie did afterwards seat themselves leaving to their posteritie the continuance of their name in that place even to this day Then ensued confusion of all things in Britannie the Souldiers there swaying them at their owne will now naming Emperours then deposing them againe and declaring others in their stead among whom they proclaimed one Constantine for the names sake onely a man fatally ordained to be the instrument of the subversion of the Province For by transporting into France the remnant of the Brittish Souldiers he vtterly dis-furnished it and laid it open to all oportunities of annoyance by the Picts and Scottish-men who afterwards waxing insolent with their prosperous successe in subduing a great part of the Province and now and then falling at variance and open warre among themselves about the distribution of such spoyles and booties as they had taken did thereby give intermission and time of breathing to the distressed Britans that stood for the most part vpon doubtfull termes as wavering betweene hope and despaire and yet sometimes like men not vtterly dejected or neglecting occasions of advantage when they were offered
sonnes of Sebert ruled ioyntly Serred Seward Sigbert 4 Sigebert surnamed the Little the sonne of Seward 5 Sigbert the sonne of Sigebald brother of Sebert 6 Sigher 7 Sebbi 8 Sigeherd the sonne of Sebbi 9 Seofride the brother of Sigeherd 10 Offa the sonne of Sigeherd 11 Celred 12 Suthred defeated by Egbert Prince of the West-Saxons ⧠The succession of the Bishops of London in the Province of the East-Saxons 604 Melitus the first Bishop sent from Rome sate thirteene yeares after whose translation the Sea was void about fortie yeares 658 Cedda eight yeares 666 Wina translated from the Sea of Winton 9. yeares 675 Erkenwaldus twenty two yeares 697 Waldherus eighteene yeares 715 Ingualdus thirtie one yeares 746 Egwulfus eight yeares 754 Wighedus seven yeares 761 Eadbrichtus eleven yeares 775 Deora nine yeares 784 Eadbaldus eleven yeares 795 Heathobertus in the time of Egbert the West-Saxon Prince eighteene yeares The first CHAPTER The principalitie of the East-Saxons erected by Erchenwin Sebert the first Christian Prince Miletus the first Bishop of the East-Saxons hath his Sea at London Saint Pauls church there founded by Ethelbert the first Christian Prince of the Kentish-Saxons The Church at Westminster founded by Sebert Cedda afterward called St. Chadde preacheth the Gospel to the East-Saxons Sigher and Sebbi ioyntly rule the Province ERchenwin was the first of all the Saxons that erected a Provinciall government among the East-Saxons who then inhabited those parts which now containe the Counties of Essex Middlesex and part of the Countie of Hartford all which both himself and his successors many yeares togither held by homage of the Kentish Princes as of their superiour Lords This Prince having reigned a long time with what successe I find no certaine report left the government to Sledda his sonne who to strengthen his estate by affinitie married Ricula the daughter of Ermerick the Prince of Kent by whom he had issue Sebert that succeeded him Sebert governed peaceably the Province of the East-Saxons which in his time was converted to Christianitie for in the yeare of Grace 604. Miletus was sent by Augustin the Archbish. to preach the faith of Christ to that people and had the Cittie of London assigned to him for his Episcopall Sea where Ethelbert the Kentish Prince erected a Church which he dedicated to Saint Paul endowing it with large possessions and Sebert following his example therein founded an other at the West end of the citie where afterwards a Monasterie was builded The place at that time being environed with water and overgrowen with thornes was called Thorney and afterwards by reason of the situation thereof the West-Minster It is reported that in more ancient times there had beene a Temple of Apollo which being overthrowen by an Earth-quake Lucius the first Christian Prince of the Britans reedified and converted to a Church for the exercise of the Christian Religion Sebert having spent the most part of his time after his conversion in deedes of Charitie and Devotion ended his life and was buried in that Church togither with his wife Ethelgoda Serred Seward and Sigbert his sonnes ruled ioyntly the province of the East-Saxons They were all men of disordered conversation and open despisers of religious rites for being not yet baptised they would have receyved the Sacrament of Christs bodie wherein for that Miletus the Bishop had opposed himself against them they expelled him from his Sea at London and themselves soone after were by Kinegles the West-Saxon Prince deprived both of government and life Sigebert surnamed the Little the sonne of Seward succeeded in the principalitie which in short time he left to Sigbert the nephew of Sebert the first Christian Prince of the East-Saxons Sigbert was by perswasion of Oswin chiefe governor of the Northumbers converted from Paganisme to Christianitie wherein he was confirmed by Cedda a devout learned man that then preached to the East-Saxons and recovered many of them which after the expulsion of Miletus had fallen from the faith He was afterwards by Finan the Bishop of Holy-Iland consecrated bishop of the East-Saxons amongst whom he preached the Gospell of Christ without interruption till such time as Sigbert the Prince procoring the dislike of his Subjects for that he shewed too much clemency to the Mercians his enemies was trecherously murdered by one of his owne kindred After his death Swidhelin the sonne of Sexbald obtained the regement and was baptised by Cedda the Bishop Then Sigher Sebbi ruled togither but not with absolute authoritie for at that time they acknowledged allegeance to Wulfere Prince of the Mercians In those dayes great plague and mortalitie fell vpon the Inhabitants of the Province and Sigher renouncing the faith fell to Idolatry which in a short time greatly encreased till Iarumanus the Bishop of Lichfield and certain priests being sent thither by VVulfere to that end laboured with all diligence to stop the course thereof and in the end suppressed it CHAP. II. The Devotion Chastitie and Chiritie of Sebbi the Prince The maner of his death Offa resigneth the government and goeth to Rome where he entreth into Religion Egbert the West-Saxon Prince obtaineth the principalitie of the East-Saxons IN the meane time Sebbi and the people vnder his obedience notwithstanding the relapse of their Country-men persisted constantly in the faith of Christ and Sebbi himselfe by praying fasting and Almes ceeds manifested his owne earnest desire to maintaine the same being so strongly possessed with the spirit of zeale and love of Chastitie as he perswaded his wife to a separation whereby they might serve God with more puritie of heart and his pietie and humilitie was had in such estimation even among the religious persons as they reputed him more meete to have beene a Priest then a Prince After he had with much difficultie obtained his wives consent for a separation he bestowed the greatest part of his worldly wealth vpon the poore reserving nothing for himselfe besides his necessarie maintenance but onely the expectation of a future recompence In his time lived Erkenwald a godly Priest who was afterward Bishop of London He founded two Monasteries the one for himselfe at Chartsey in Surrey and the other for Ethelburga his sister at Barking in Essex Sebbi having ruled about thirtie yeares fell sicke of a grieuous and verie painfull disease by reason whereof doubting lest â—hrough frailtie of the flesh he might burst out into any intemperate speeches or do any other thing vnseemely for his person profession he desired Waldher the successor of Erkenwald then Bishop of London by prayers and ghostly counsaile to assist him in his agonies and that no more then himselfe and two of his Chaplains onely might be present at the time of his departure so great a care had this religious Prince in well finishing that race which he had prosperously continued the most part of his life and in preventing all occasions of scandall to the faith which he professed His bodie