accounted himselfe most happy Thus died Constantius Caesar a wise and vertuous Prince as being not subject to those vices which commonly accompany the highest fortunes He was first called from the degree of a Senator to be a Caesar not affecting the title for ambition nor refusing it in respect of the danger Helena his wife the mother of Constantine the Great was as some have written the daughter of Coil a British King though by others it be otherwise reported But of what Country or kindred soever she was it appeareth by consent of all Writers that she was a wise and vertuous Lady worthy to be the Wife of such a Husband and the Mother of such a Sonne She was an earnest professor of Christianitie and vpon religious zeale travailed to Ierusalem where she found out the Manger wherein Christ was laid at the time of his birth and the Crosse whereon he was nailed when he suffered By this Crosse many diseases were cured and strange miracles wrought if credit may be given to such as have written thereof Her constant desire to advance the Christian faith first moved Constantius her husband to favour the Christians who having in times of danger hidden themselves for the most part in desarts and dennes did then come abroad againe into the view of the world reedified their old Churches founded new instituted holy daies to be celebrated in honour of their Martyrs and exercised religion freely and peaceably as being licensed so to doe by publike Edicts In all vertues beseeming a Prince there were few of his degree either before his time or since that might worthily be compared with Constantius who in the administration of Iustice in civill causes carryed so even a hand as he never vsed to make difference of persons or to be mis-led by affection He was no wastefull spender of his subjects treasure no greedie horder vp of his owne for he esteemed money onely as a thing to be vsed not kept and hee would oft times say That it was more behoovefull for the Common-weale that the wealth of the land should be dispearsed in subjects hands then barred vp in Princes coffers For glorious apparrell and other outward ornaments wherewith Princes vse to dazell the eyes of the common people he was more meanly furnished then beseemed the greatnesse of his estate His diet was neither curious nor costly and when he feasted his friends he borrowed his silver vessell supposing it a thing vnnecessarie to have any of his owne and considering perhaps that the mettall whereof they were made might be converted to a better vse In times of war he was diligent and industrious yet not vsing force where pollicie might prevaile for he so much esteemed the life of a man as he would never hazard it in desperate attempts for his owne glory which wan him great reputation among his Souldiers who for the love they bare him did presently after his death elect Constantine his sonne to succeede him other Nations supposing this our Iland most happie in first seeing him saluted Emperor CHAP. XV. Constantine the Great is declared Emperour at Yorke He subdueth Maxentius and Licinius the one vsurping the West Empire and the other the East He establisheth a new forme of governement in Britannie appointing Pacatianus to rule the Province there as Deputie to the Praefectus Praetorio of Gallia He translateth the seate of the Empire from Rome to Bizantium His three sonnes Constantinus Constans and Constantius raigne successively after his death Gratianus Funarius hath the charge of the Armie in Britannie when Constans the Emperor is staine by Magnentius Martinus Deputie in Britannie vnder Constantius Paulus Catena a Commissioner to enquire of Magnentius confederates THen Constantine residing at Yorke although he seemed at the first vnwilling to accept the Imperiall Title and protested openly against it yet when the Senate had confirmed the election he tooke vpon him the government of those Provinces which his father had held in the West parts and with an Armie of Britans and other Nations he first setled France and Germany being then in Armes against him and afterwards subdued Maxentius Maximians sonne that vsurped the Empire in Italy Then with like successe he made war vpon Licinius his Associate who persecuted the professors of Christianitie in the East parts of the world By which meanes Constantine alone enjoyed the Empire and for his many and glorious conquests was worthily surnamed the Great In his time the forme of government in Britannie both for Civill and Martiall causes was altered and new lawes established The civill governement of the Province there he committed to Pacatianus who ordered the same as Deputy to the Praefectus Praetorio of Gallia an Officer instituted by him with a limitation of place and restriction of that power which the antient Praefectus Praetorio had vnder the first Emperors Then Constantine intending to make war in Persia either to defend or enlarge the limits of the East Empire removed the Imperiall seate from Rome to the Citie Bizantium which he reedified and caused the same to be called of his owne name Constantinopolis drawing thither the Legions in Germany that garded the frontires of the Westerne Empire which was thereby laid open to the incursions of those barbarous people that afterwards assailed it and in the end possessed the greatest part thereof The borders also of the Province in Britannie were weakened by removing the Garrisons there into other Cities and Townes which being pestered with Souldiers for the most part vnruly guests were abandoned by the antient inhabitants After the death of Constantine the Great Constantinus his eldest sonne enjoyed Britannie as a portion of his dominion till making some attempts vpon his brother Constans for the enlarging of it he was by him slaine Then was the Empire divided betweene Constans and Constantius the two younger brethren Constans seised vpon the Provinces which Constantinus his brother had held and made a voyage into Britannie where Gratianus an Hungarian by birth had then charge of the Armie This Gratianus was surnamed Funarius for that being a young man he was able as it is written of him to holde a rope in his hand against the force of five Souldiers assaying to pull it from him But Constans afterwads following ill counsell the ready way to Princes ruines and giving himselfe over to all kinds of vice was slaine by Magnentius Taporus the sonne of a Britan who then invaded the Empire vsurping the governement of Gallia and Britannie till after three years warre with Constantius the successour of Constans his brother finding himselfe vnable any longer to vphold his greatnesse he murdered himselfe Then was Martinus an aged man made Deputy of Britannie when Paulus a Spaniard surnamed Catêna a name well sorting with nature was sent thither as a commissioner to inquire of such as had conspired with Magnentius But vnder colour of his authoritie he called in question such as were not faulty either vpon false information or
for that they would not have the knowledge of their superstitious rites laid open to the common people in whom ignorance seemeth to ingender a kind of devotion or else for that they would have their schollers to trust the more to their memorie while they wanted the helpe of writing They preached that the soule was immortall and that after the death of one man it went into another By this perswasion they stirred vp men to vertue and tooke away the feare of death the maine obstacle of glorious adventures Other things they taught also concerning the motion of the Starres the situation of the earth and the power of their prophane gods The strange behavior of these religious Priests and the out-cries of the people of Mona so amazed the Roman souldiers that like men inchaunted they stood still without motion till the Captain spake vnto them and encouraged them to adventure not fearing a flocke of feelie women or frantike people and then boldly giving the charge he soone disordered dispersed them making himselfe maister of the field which done the Roman souldiers entred the Townes and placed garrisons there felling the woods which the Inhabitants superstitiously reputed holy by reason of the Altars whereupon they sacrificed the blood of captives and prophecied of the successe of their owne affaires by viewing the entralls of men whom they had killed CHAP. II. The Britans oppressed by the crueltie and covetousnesse of the Roman officers discover their greevances one to another Prodigious signes foregoing the subversion of the Roman Colonie The Britans take armes vnder the conduct of Voadica IN the meane time Prasutagus Prince of the Icenians a man renowned for his riches did by his last will make the Roman Emperour his heire joyntly with two of his daughters supposing that thereby his principalitie and family should have beene maintained in good estate and protected from violence after his death all which fell out contrarie to his hopes for his kingdome was made a prey to the Souldiers Voadica his wife whipped his daughters deflowred such as were of his family made slaves and the wealthiest men of his Country either by open force or surmised pretences deprived of their goods and dispossessed of their inheritance Besides that Seneca one of Neroes counsailors having forced diverse of the better sort of the Britans to take great summes of money of him vpon vsurie did then for his private gaine exact the payment of the principall vpon a sodaine to the vtter vndoing of his debtors and Decianus Catus the Procurator in Britannie renued the Confiscation of their goods which Claudius the Emperour had pardoned The souldiers placed in the Colonie at Camalodunum had thrust the owners and ancient Inhabitants out of their houses terming them slaves and drudges and abusing them in all reprochfull maner The Temple erected in the honour of Claudius was an eie-sore and continuall burden vnto them while the Priests Augustales that attended there wasted the wealth of the inhabitants vnder the pretext of religion To these common grievances of the afflicted people the present occasion seemed to offer means of redresse while the Roman Generall was making warre in Mona Whereupon they resolved to take armes inciting the Trinobantes and other Nations that were not wholy brought vnder subjection to doe the like Then they began to discourse of the miseries of bondage to lay their injuries togither aggravating them by their owne Constructions and complaining that their patience had profited them nothing but to draw heavier burdens vpon them as men that would gently beare That whereas in former times they had onely one Commander now there was two thrust vpon them the Lievtenant to sucke their blood and the Procurator their substance whose disagreement was the vexation of the subject and agreement their vtter vndoing while the one burdened them with Souldiers and Captaines the other with wrongs and indignities that the lust and covetousnesse of these their enemies laid hold vpon all persons without exception that though in the field he that spoyleth be commonly the stronger yet themselves were by Cowards and weaklings for the most part dispossest of their houses bereft of their Children enioyned to yeeld Souldiers for other mens behoofe as though they were such a kind of people as knew how to do any thing else save onely to die for their owne Countrey For otherwise there was but a handfull of Souldiers come over if they did but reckon their owne number considering withall that Germanie had alreadie shaken off the yoke having no Ocean Sea but a river to defend it that the causes then moving them to take armes were just and honourable namely to recover their libertie and to defend their Parents Wives Children and Countrey whereas the Romans had nothing to provoke them to warre but their owne covetousnesse and wanton lust and were likely enough to depart as Iulius Caesar had done if themselves would imitate the vertues of their progenitors and not be dismaid with the doubtfull event of one skirmish or two seeing that men in miserie have commonly more courage then at other times and more constancie to continue and now the heavens themselves seemed to pittie their poore estate by sending the Roman Governour out of the way and confining the army as it were into another Iland by which meanes oportunitie of revenge and hope of libertie was offred and finally that being assembled to devise and deliberate togither they had obtained the hardest point in an action of that nature wherein it were more danger to be taken consulting then doing With these and the like speeches they stirred vp one another each man laying open his owne particular greevances and adding them to the common cause About this time diverse prodigious signes were noted to portend the subversion of the Roman Colonie as namely an Image of Victorie falling downe reversed at Camalodunum Strange noyses sounding in the ayre Strange apparitions seene in the sea The Ocean bloody in shew and the print of mens bodies vpon the sands Diverse constructions were made of these things as ominous whether that they proceed of some naturall causes though not alwayes observed or else that they do necessarily forego the ruine and change of great States Howbeit commonly in such cases mens minds do mis-give them while they frame the future event of things answerable to their owne fearefull imaginations and great alterations falling out sometimes after like accidents they superstitiously suppose them to be alwayes the certaine fore-runners of destruction The apprehension of these things at the first strooke the Romans with greater feare by reason of the absence of their General and thereupon they required the ayde of Catus Decianus the Procurator who sent a small companie badly armed to renforce the garrison The old souldiers that had beene left within the Towne although few in number yet trusting to the franchize of the Temple and not doubting the secret conspiracie of their confederates were in a maner
supplies which should then of force be employed else-where for defence there might be some hope of a speedie and full end of the warre the event whereof otherwise was now more to be feared then in former times if the North-Britans whetted with desire of revenge and having space of breathing given them should make head and assaile them againe This counsell seeming profitable howsoever it prooved pernitious in the end was allowed by the King eyther for that he foresaw not the perill likely to ensue thereupon or else for that such things as God himselfe hath determined are doubtlesse though sometimes foreseene yet never prevented CHAP. IIII. Saxons Iutes and Angles arrive in Britannie Vortiger marrieth Hengists daughter He is deposed IN the meane while the Germans inflamed with continuall reports of the wealth and fruitfulnesse of the Ile and sollicited by Hengist who discovered to them the weake estate of the Britans and the facillitie of supplanting them hired certaine small vessels wherein themselves their wives children and families were transported into diverse parts of the Land at which time Rowen the daughter of Hengist a woman of excellent beautie and not of the worst behavior having beene specially sent for by her father arrived in Kent and was forthwith conveyed to the pallace where Vortiger and Hengist made their abode Of those Germans that then came over there were three severall kinds of people namely Saxons Iutes and Angles though the Saxons seemed to beare the most sway by reason both of the generall respect of that Nation for their many and great exploits and also for the authoritie of their Captains Hengist and Horsa who were of the linage of Woden from whom the Saxon Princes that afterwards reigned in the Ile vsed alwayes for honours sake to derive their discent From these Saxons the East West and South Saxons had their originall The Iutes as some writers report and as the affinitie of the names may seeme in some sort to inferre were discended from the Getes and Gothes and dwelt in the vpper part of Denmarke which is at this day called Iuitland From them the Kentishmen with the Inhabitants of the I le of Wight and of that part of the firme land which lieth over against it had their beginning The name of the Iutes was of no long continuance in Britannie notwithstanding their posteritie was incorporated into the Saxons and Angles who were accounted but one Nation the name of either of them being indifferently vsed as common to both till in the end the Angles possessing the greatest part of the land they were all knowen and called by that name alone The Angles in those dayes were a people well esteemed among the Germans and in number exceeded both the Saxons and Iutes Touching their ancient seat the opinions of Writers are differing though it be most probable that they did sometimes inhabit that part of Denmarke yet retaining the name of Angle which lieth betweene Iuitland and Holsatia From them came the East Angles the Mercians and Northumbers But Hengist knowing well that fraud and cunning practises ofttimes prevaile where force it selfe cannot resolved as occasion might serve to make vse of both and to that end observing well the Kings humor he applied himselfe in all things to follow it specially by soothing and nourishiug him in those vices to which by Nature he was most addicted supposing thereby to strengthen his owne estate and with more securitie to accomplish his desire while the King intended nothing more then the satisfaction of his immoderate appetite in sensuall pleasures which had alreadie brought him into contempt and hatred with his people and would by all likelihood open the way to his speedie destruction Whereupon one day inviting Vortiger to a feast he appointed Rowen his daughter to attend vpon him as his Cup-bearer at which time by her fathers instruction she behaved herselfe in such maner as the King fell in love with her and although he had a wife then living yet was he not ashamed to tell Hengist in plaine termes that he earnestly desired to become his sonne in law if he might attaine his consent for the mariage of his danghter Hengist who had cast out his bait of purpose to catch him pretended respect of Vortigers owne reputation which as he said should be too much impaired by matching with a poore Maiden a stranger by birth farre inferior to him in degree and no way worthy of so great fortune howbeit in the end he seemed by intreatie to yeeld to that which himselfe would voluntarily have offred and so making vse of the occasion he was content to take the thanks which he of right should have given Hereupon Vortiger having cast behind him all regard both of divine and humane lawes did put away his lawfull wife by whom he had three children and contrarie to the advise of his faithfull Counsellers married Hengist the Saxons daughter Vpon the conclusion of this marriage a great part of the Countrey of Kent which had beene many yeares togither governed by Guorongus as the Kings deputie there was assigned to Hengist who like a wilie Serpent having now gotten in his head found meanes in a short time to wind in his whole bodie It is reported by some Writers that Vodin then Archbishop of London reprooving the King for his incontinencie and other vices which drew him down with his Realme to ruine was by the commandement of Hengist put to death with many other Priests and religious Votaries as persons too well affected to their Country and odious to the Saxons for profession of Christianitie This inconsiderate match and immesurable bountie of the King was much disliked by the Britans for that the Saxons presuming of the Kings favour by reason of his new affinitie with them came over dayly in great numbers pestering the East parts of the I le and many times offering abuse to the naturall Inhabitants Whereupon the Brittish Nobilitie complained to the King that their estate was now much woorse then before the Saxons arrivall that Strangers vnder the colour of friendship robbed them of their goods and bereaved them of their lands that secret practises of such as they trusted were no lesse to be feared then open hostilitie and that if speedie order were not taken to expell them they would in short time roote out the ancient Britans and make themselves Lords of the whole Iland But Vortiger whose affection to his wife and her kindred weighed downe all other respects whatsoever neglected their complaints till by his owne experience he was taught what daungerous inconveniences proceede from wilfull rashnesse and mis-government For the Britans disdaining to be any longer commanded by such a Prince as had neither power to command his owne affections nor care to provide for the safetie of his Subjects declared him vncapable and by generall consent deprived him of all regall authoritie CHAP. V. Vortimer succeedeth his father in the government Vortiger is restored The most noble of the
successe till by the perfidious dealing of Offa the Mercian Prince he was shamefully murdered For being betrothed to Alfride the daughter of Offa who ambitiously affected the Principality of the East-Angles he was vnder colour of friendship invited to a feast where Offa by the perswasion of his wife commanded his head to be cut off and his body to be buried in the banke of a river By this dishonourable act the Mercians obtained the Province But Offa being afterwards touched with sorrow and compunction of heart for committing it caused Ethelberts body to be taken vp and to be conveied to the Citie of Hereford not farre from the place where he was slaine and there to be very solemnly enterred supposing thereby to expiate in part the guilt of his former offence Afterwards a Church was there built and dedicated to Ethelbert by the name of a Saint Then Offa vndertooke a voyage to the Holy-land and passing through Saxony was there received with great ioy by Alkemond the King his kinsman and Syware his wife at that time he adopted Edmund the son of Alkemond to be his heire and to succeede him in the Principalitie of the East-Angles which did soone after fall vnto him for Offa in his returne from the Holy-land ended his life at Port St. George whereupon Edmund speedily repaired into Britannie where he was received by the East-Angles as their Prince In his time Hinguar Hubba the two Danish Pirates invaded Northumberland and Hinguar having enriched himselfe with the spoyles of that Country sailed towards the coast of the East-Angles where afterwards landing hee surprized their chiefe Citie consuming it by fire The Citizens also without respect of age or sect he cruelly murdered and in the end tooke Edmund the Prince whom first the Pagan Danes perswaded to renounce the profession of Christianitie But when they could neither by promises of assurance of life and safetie nor by threats and terror of death prevaile with him therein they beate him with staves scourged him with whips and vsed him with all kindes of barbarous in civilitie and crueltie which the religious Prince with great meekenesse and patience endured cheerefully calling vpon the name of Iesus as reioycing for his sake to suffer those torments and indignities The Pagans seeing his great constancie and courage were transported with furie and at the last wounded him with their shafts which they shot at him till his body was covered over with them Theâ— they cut off his head and cast it into a bush His body being afterwards found was enterred at Bury in folke where a goodly Monastery was erected and â—â—â—dicated to him the ruines therof remaining yet to this day After his death the Principalitie of the East-Angles was possessed by the Danes about 50. yeares till Edward the sonne of Etheldred the West-Saxon Prince expulsing them annexed both that Province the country of the East-Saxons adjoyning to it vnto his owne government ⧠The succession of the Princes of the Northumbers 1 Ida. 2 Alla. 3 Ethelrick the younger sonne of Ida. 4 Ethelfrid the brother of Ethelrick 5 Edwin the first Christian Prince 6 Osric 7 Eanfrid 8 Oswald the Martyr brother of Eanfrid 9 Oswin the brother of Oswald the Martyr 10 Adilwald the sonne of Oswald the Martyr 11 Egfrid the sonne of Adilwald 12 Alfred the bastard sonne of Oswin 13 Osred the sonne of Alfred 14 Osric 15 Kenred 16 Ceolnulph 17 Egbert 18 Oswolf 19 Moll 20 Alered 21 Etheldred 22 Aelfwold 23 Osred ⧠The succession of Bishops in the Principalitie of the Northumbers Arch-bishops of Yorke 625 Paulinus sate nine yeares 666 Cedda three yeares 669 Wilfrid nine yeares 678 Bosa nine yeares 687 Wilfrid restored foure yeares 691 Bosa fourteene yeares 705 Ioannes sixteene yeares 721 Wilfridus two yeares 738 Egbertus nine and twenty yeares 767 Ethelbertus thirteene yeares 780 Eanbaldus 1. sixteene yeares 796 Eanbaldus 2. sixteene yeares Bishops of Lindisfarn Holy-Iland 635 Aidanus sate seventeene yeares 652 Finanus nine yeares 661 Colmannus three yeares 664 Tuda two yeares 666 Cedda three yeares 669 Wilfridus nine yeares 678 Eata five yeares 685 Cuthbertus two yeares 687 Wilfridus restored one yeare 688 Eadbertus ten yeares 698 Eadfridus twentie three years 721 Aethelwoldus nineteen years 740 Kinewulfus thirty nine years 779 Higbaldus twenty foure years Bishops of Haugustald Hexham 678 Eata sate two yeares 680 Tumbertus five yeares 686 Ioannes one yeare 687 Wilfridus foure yeares 691 Ioannes after Wilfrids expulsion 705 Wilfrid restored foure yeares 709 Acca thirtie yeares 739 Frithebertus twenty seven yeares 766 Alhmundus fourteene yeares 780 Tilherus nine yeares 789 Aethelbertus eight yeares 797 Heardredus three yeares 800 Heanbertus ten yeares Bishops of Whit-hern in Scotland 723 Pethelmus sate thirteene yeares 736 Frithewaldus twenty seven yeares 763 Pechtwinus fourteene yeares 777 Aethelbertus thirteene yeares 790 Beadwulfus CHAP. I. The Principalitie of the Northumbers divided into two Provinces namely Deira and Bernitia which are vnited by Ethelrick Ethelfrid defeateth the Britans and killeth the Monks of Bangor Edwin the first Christian Prince Paulinus preacheth the faith to the Northumbers and hath a Sea assigned him at Yorke The death of Edwin THe Principalitie of the Northumbers extended northward over all that part of the land which at this day containeth the Counties of Lancaster Yorke Durham Cumberland Westmerland and Northumberland all which were possessed by the Angles and divided into two Regiments whereof the one was called Deira and the other Bernitia Bernitia was bounded with the river Tyne and Edenborough Firth and Deira with the Tyne and Humber When Hengist was setled in the possession of the Kentish governement he sent Octa his brother and Ebusa his sonne to vndertake the conquest of those parts which with verie much difficultie they obtained The Province afterwardes during the space of ninetie and nine yeares was governed by certaine Dukes or Captaines who held the same by homage of the Kentish-Saxons About the yeare of grace 547. Ida erected a Principalitie in Deira and Alla his kinsman succeeded him therein for at that time Adda the eldest sonne of Ida ruled the Bernicians Alla governed Deira many yeares but little mention is made of him save onely that in his time the English Nation was first made knowne to Gregorie then Arch-deacon of the Sea Apostolike who being afterwards Bishop of Rome sent Augustin the Monke into Britannie to preach the Gospel of Christ vnto the inhabitants there Ethelrick the younger sonne of Ida succeeded Alla in the government of Deira and in short time adioyned thereto the Province of Bernicia making of them both one entire Principality which he left to Ethelfrid his brother Ethelfrid was a valiant and victorious Prince Hee made continuall warre vppon the Britans that inhabited the borders of his Province and chasing them from their habitations planted his owne subjects therein But Aidan the King of Scots suspecting the neighbourhoode of so mightie an enemie assayed by force
to empeach his further passage Northward till by the Northumbers being fewer in number then the Scottes hee was in battaile overthrowne Then Ethelfrid incouraged with this good successe remooved the warre to Chester where the Britans in great number had assembled themselves to make resistance but while the Monks and other religious persons were praying there that the Britans their countrymen might speed and prosper well in that enterprize Ethelfrid with his forces furiously assayled them putting to the sword about one thousand and two hundred religious persons of the Monastery of Bangor driving the rest of the Britans into the woods and marishes many of them perishing by the hand of the enemie before they could recover those places When Ethelfrid had raigned about twentie seven yeares he was slaine in a battaile by Redwald Prince of the East-Angles and left behind him seven sonnes whom Edwin that succeeded in the government dispossessed and banished out of the Province Edwin was by Boniface the Bishop of Rome exhorted to embrace the Christian faith and in the yeare of Grace 6â—6 Paulinus the third Bishop of Rochester in succession was appointed by Iustus the Archbishop of Canterburie to preach the Gospel vnto the Northumbers and to be their Bishop to which end also Edbald the Prince of the Kentish-Saxons had by letters recommended him to Edwin his brother in law In the mean time Evichelm the West-Saxon Prince ambitiously affecting the soveraigntie of the Northumbers practised with Eumer a man easily corrupted for desire of gaine to murder Edwin the Prince for the execution of which detestable purpose Eumer with a poysoned weapon hidden vnder his garment assailed the Prince and had slaine him in the place if Lilla had not thrust himselfe betweene his person and the danger and by making himselfe the memorable example of a faithfull servant preserved his masters life with the losse of his owne In revenge of this trecherous act Edwin invaded the territory of the West-Saxons after a great slaughter of the Inhabitants of that Province reduced the most part of it vnder his obedience Then to shew the fruits of his conversion to Christianitie he gave vnto Paulinus the Citie of Yorke to be a Bishops Sea for him and his successors laying the foundation of the Cathedrall Church of Saint Peter which was afterwards finished by Oswald About the same time also Paulinus himselfe erected the great Church at Lincoln This prince in felicitie of government excelled all his predecessors he was greatly beloved and honored of his people and no lesse feared of his neighbor Princes who for the most part held their Provinces of him by homage The Roman Banner Tufa was carried before him in token of triumph as well in times of peace as warre It is not to be forgotten that he caused certain cups of Iron and Brasse to be set by cleare Wels and fountaines running by high wayes for the vse of Pilgrims and Travailers which Cups remained long after in those places no man attempting to convey them away either for the reverence they bare vnto the Prince by whose appointment they were set there or else that they made a conscience to convert to their private commoditie such things as were ordained for a publike good But Edwin having reigned about seventeene years was in the end assailed at one time both by Penda the Prince of the Mercians and Ceadwall the Brittish Prince till with the losse of his life he made an end of the warre CHAP. II. Oswald ruleth the Northumbers He is slaine in battaile against Penda the Mercian Prince He is honoured with the title of a Martyr Oswin his brother succeedeth him A Bishops Sea at Lichfield Egfrid the Prince removeth Bishop Wilfrid from his Sea at Yorke Ceolnulph and Egbert successively ruling give over the government to enter into Religion Venerable Bede liveth in the time of Ceolnulph The Northumbers are brought vnder the subiection of the West-Saxons AFter his death the Principalitie of the Northumbers was dismembred againe For Osrick the sonne of Elfrick Prince Edwins vncle held onely the government of Deira and Eanfrid the sonne of Ethelfrid commanded the Bernicians Both these Princes forsaking the Christian faith fell to Idolatrie and were slain in battell by Ceadwall the Brittish Prince that spoiled wasted the country of Northumberland til Oswald the brother of Eanfrid opposed himselfe against the power of the Britans whose Captaine Ceadwall with the greatest number of his forces perished in the field After this victorie Oswald possessed the Province in peace and then sent for Aidan a Scottish-man to preach the Christian faith vnto his people assigning to him Holy-Iland for his Sea The Inhabitants of Deira and Bernicia who for the hatred which they bare one to another had submitted themselves to severall heads he wisely reconciled and vniting them in affection brought them vnder the obedience of one governor He was a zealous professor of the Catholike Religion which he endevoured to establish throughout all his Dominions When he had raigned about eight yeares he was killed in a conflict with Penda the Mercian Prince a cruell Pagan who commanded his head and armes to be cut from the rest of his bodie and in reprochfull maner to be hanged vp vpon high polles by reason whereof and for his holy conversation while he lived he was after his death honoured with the title of a Martyr Then Oswin the brother of Oswald succeeding him was much incumbred partly by the invasion of the Mercians and partly by the rebellion of his own sonne Elfrid Adilwald the sonne of Oswald the Martyr attempted by force to have recovered the Province and Oswy the sonne of Osrick sometime governor of Deira being trecherously delivered into his hands he caused to be murdered He fought oft times with fortunate successe against the Mercians whom after he had vanquished Penda he procured to be instructed in the christian faith and the better to strengthen his purpose therin he erected the Church at Lichfield to be the Bishops Sea for that Province After he had raigned about thirtie two yeares he ended his life in peace Then Egfrid his son ruled the Northumbers He married Mildred one of the daughters of Ana Prince of the East-Angles It is reported of her that living with her husband about twelve yeares she continued all that time both a wife and a virgin and in the end tooke vpon her the vaile of a Nun at Ely where she erected a Monasterie and was her selfe the first Abbesse In the meane while Egfrid removed Wilfrid from his Bishopricke at Yorke appointing two other Bishops over the Northumbers for their better instruction in the knowledge of Religion In his time diverse Synods were called by Theodorus then Archbishop of Canterburie for reformation of abuses in the Church for approbation of the five first general Councels and for the condemnation of the heresie of Eutyches who denied the humanitie of Christ. Not long before his death he made warre