neither held, honour'd, or preach'd up any thing but what we do, that is, the Redempti on of Mankind, through the Paffion, RefurreЄtion and Afcenfion into Heaven of the Mèdiator betwixt God and Man, the Man JESUS CHRIST. And therefore, he always celebra ted the fame on the Lord's Day, from the 14th to the 20th Moon, not as fome fafly imagine, on the 14th Moon,whatsoever the Day was with the Jews viz. by reafon of the Faith of the Refurrection of our Lord, happening on the Day after the Sabbath, for the Hope of our Refurrection, the which alfo, he, with the Holy Church believ'd, would truly fall out on the Day after the Sabbath, now call'd the Lord's Daya

CHAP. XVIII.

Of the Life and Death of the Religious King Sigbercht.

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T this Time the Kingdom of the Eaft Angles, after the Death of Eorpwald, the Succeffor of Redwald, was fubject to his Brother Sigbercht, a good and religious Man, who long before had been baptiz'd in France, whilft he liv'd in Banishment, flying from the Enmity of Redwald; and returning home, as foon as he afcended the Throne, being defirous to imitate the good Orders he had feen in France, he fet up a School for Youth to be inftructed in Literature, and was affifted therein by Bi

fhop Felix, whom he had receiv'd from Kent, and who furnish'd them with Mafters and Teachers after the manner of Kent; and that King became fo great a Lover of the Heavenly Kingdom, that quitting the Affairs of his Crown, and recommending the fame to his Kinfman Ecgric, who before held a Part of that Kingdom, he went himself into à Monaftery, which he had built, and being fhorn, apply'd himself rather to gain an Heavenly Throne. When he had long done fo, it hapned that the Nation of the Mercians, under the Conduct of King Penda, made War on the Eaft-Angles; who finding themselves inferior in Martial Affairs to their Enemy, intreated Sigbercht to.go with them to Battle, to encourage the Soldiers. He refufing, and oppofing them, they drew him against his Will out of the Monafte ry, and carry'd him to the Army, hoping that the Soldiers would be lefs fearful, or think of flying in the Presence of him, who had once been a notable and brave Commander. But he ftill keeping in mind his Profeffion, whilst, in the midft of a Royal Army, would carry nothing in his Hand but a Wand, and was kill'd with King Ecgric, and the Pagans preffing on, all their Army was either flaughter'd or difpers'd. Anna, the Son of Eni, of the Blood Royal, a good Man and Father of an excellent Offspring, fucceeded them in the Kingdom. Of whom we shall speak hereafter; he being alfo flain by the fame Pagan Commander, as his Predeceffor had been.

СКАРА

CHA P. XIX.

How Furfius built a Monastery among the Eaft-Angles, and of bis Vifions and SanEtity, of which, bis Flesh remaining uncorrupted after Death, bore Teftimony.

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HILST Siglercht yet govern'd the Kingdom, there came out of Ire land an Holy Man, call'd Furfus, renown ed for his Words and Actions, but remarkable for fingular Virtues, being defirous to live a Stranger for our Lord, wherefoever he fhould find it convenient. He coming into the Province of the Eaft-Saxons, was honourably receiv'd by the aforefaid King, and performing his usual Employment of Preaching the Go fpel, by the Example of his Virtue and the Efficacy of his Difcourfe, converted many Unbelievers to CHRIST, and confirm'd those that already believ'd in his Faith and Love. Being fallen into fome Infirmity of Body, he twas found worthy to enjoy an Angelical Vifion; in which he was admonifh'd, diligently to proceed in the Miniftry of the Word, he had undertaken, and indefatigably to continue his ufual Watching and Prayers; for as much 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 confirm'd by that Vifion, he apply'd himself with all speed

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to build the Place for a Monaftery, which had been given him by King Sigbercht, and to eftablish regular Difcipline therein. That Monaftery was delightful, by reafon of the Nearness of the Woods and Sea, founded in a Castle, which in the English Language is call'da Cnobheresburg, that is, Cnobber's Town; the which afterwards, Anna, King of that Province, and the Nobility embellifh'd with more ftately Buildings and Donations. This Me was of a most noble Scotifh Blood, but muc nore noble in Mind than by the Flefh. From his Boyifh Years, he had particularly apply'd himself to reading of facred Books, and following Mo naftical Difcipline, and, as is moft becoming Holy Men, he carefully practis'd all that he learnt was to be done. In fhort, he afterwards built himfelf a Monaftery, wherein he might with more Freedom indulge his Heavenly Studies. There falling fick, as the Book writ of his Life fufficiently informs us, he was in a Rapture, and quitting his Body from the Evening, till the Cock crow'd, he was found

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worthy to behold the Choirs of Angels, and to hear the Heavenly Praises. He was wont to declare, that among other Things he had diftin&tly heard this ecco'd, The Saints fhall advance from one Virtue to another. And again, The God of Gods fhall be feen in Sion. Being reftor'd to his Body at that Time, and again taken from it three Days after, he not only faw greater Joys of the Bieffed, but also extraordinary Combats of evil Spirits, who by their frequent Accufations wickedly endeavour'd to obftru&t his Journey to Heaven; but the Angels protecting him, all their Endeavours prov'd in vain. Concerning which Particulars, if any one defires to be more fully inform'd, that is, with what fubtile Fraudulency, the Devils re-. prefented both his Actions and fuperfluous Words, and even his Thoughts, as if they had been writ down in a Book; and what pleafing or disagreeable Things he was inform'd of by the Angels and Saints, or just Men appearing to him among the Angels, let him read the little Book I have mention'd of his Life, and I believe he will thereby reap much fpiritual Profit. But there is one Thing among the reft, which we have thought may be beneficial to many to be inferted in this Hiftory. When he had been lifted up on high, he was order'd by the Angels that conducted him, to look back upon the World. Then he cafting his Eyes downward, faw as it were a dark Vale in the Bottom, under him. He alfo faw four Fires. in the Air, not far diftant from each other: Then asking the Angels, What Fires thofe were? Was told, They were the Fires which would kindle and confume the World. One of them of

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Falfod,