been kill'd on that very Day. Then calling the Brethren, he order'd Dinner to be provided, Masles to be faid, and all of them to communicate as usual; causing also a Particle of the Lord's Oblation of the fame Sacrifice to be carry'd to the fick Boy. These Things being so perform'd, the Boy dy'd foon after on that same Day, and by his Death prov'd that what he had heard from the Apostles of God was true. A farther Testimony of the Truth of his Words was, that no Person besides himself belonging to the same Monastery, at that Time departed this World. By which Vision, many that heard of it, were wonderfully excited to implore the Divine Mercy in Adversity, and to undertake the wholsome Remedy of Fasting. From that Time, the Day of the Nativity of that King and Soldier of CHRIST began to be yearly honour'd with the Celebration of Mafies, not only in that Monastery, but in many other Places.

CHAP. XV.

How King Ceadwal having flain Edilwalch, King of the West-Saxons, wasted that Province with much Slaughter and Ravaging.

IN

N the mean Time Ceadwal, a most daring young Man, of the Royal Race of the West-Saxons, who had been banish'd his Country, coming with an Army, flew Edilwalch, (King of the South-Saxons,) and wasted that Country with much Slaughter and Plundering; but he was foon expell'd by Berchthum and Andhun, the King's Commanders, who afterwards held the Government of that Province. The first of them was afterwards kill'd by the same Ceadwall, when he was King of the WestSaxons, and the Province was more entirely fubdu'd. Ina likewise, who reign'd after Ceadwall, kept that Country under the like Servitude for feveral Years. For which Reason, during all that Time, they had no Bishop of their own; but their first Bishop Wilfrid being recall'd home, they were subject to the Bishop of the West-Saxons, whose See was in the City of Winchester.

How the Isle of Wight receiv'd Chriftian Inhabitants, two Royal Youths of which Place were kill'd immediately after having been baptiz'd.

A

FTER Ceadwall had poffefs'd himself of the Kingdom of the West-Saxons, he also took the Isle of Wight, which till then was entirely addicted to Idolatry, and by cruel Slaughter endeavour'd to destroy all the Inhabitants thereof, and to place in their stead, People of his own Province; obliging himself by a Vow, thơ not yet, as is reported, rege

generated in CHRIST, to give the fourth Part of the Land, and of the Booty to our Lord, if he took the Island; which he perform'd by giving the same for our Lord to the Use of Bishop Wilfrid, who hapned then to be there, coming from his own Nation. The Measure of that Island, according to the Computation of the English, is of twelve Hundred Families, and accordingly the Bishop had given him the Poffeffion of Land of three Hundred Families, (in the Saxon they are call'd Hides.) The Part which he receiv'd, he committed to one of his Clerks, call'd Berchtwin, (in the Saxon, Berchtwine,) who was his Sifter's Son, afsigning him a Priest, whose Name was Hiddila, who might adminifter the Word and Lavre of Life to all that would be sav'd. Here I think it ought not to be omitted, that as the first Fruits of the Natives of that Island, that believing were sav'd, two Royal Youths, Brothers to Atvald, King of the Island, were particularly crown'd by the Grace of God. For the Enemy approaching, they made their Escape out of the Island, and pass'd over into the Neighbouring Province of the Viti, (in the Saxon it is Eota Land, which is Hampshire.) Where being conducted to the Place call'd * Etstane, (that is, At the Stone,) as they thought, to be conceal'd from the victorious King, they were betray'd and order'd to be kill'd. This being made known to a certain Abbat Abbat and Prieft, whose Name was Kyneberht, who had a Monastery not far from thence, at a Place call'd a Reodford (in the Saxon, Hreodford) that is, the Ford of Reeds; he came to the King, who then lay privately in those Parts, to be cur'd of the Wounds he had receiv'd, fighting in the Isle of Wight, and begg'd of him, that if the Lads must of neceffity be kill'd, he might be allow'd first to instruct them in the Mysteries of the Faith. The King confented, and he having taught them the Word of Truth, and cleans'd their Souls by Baptifm, made the Entrance into the Kingdom of Heaven sure to them. Then the Executioner being at hand, they joyfully underwent the Temporal Death, through which they did not doubt they were to pass to the Everlasting Life of the Soul. Thus, when all the Provinces of the Island of Britain had embrac'd the Faith of Christ, the Isle of Wight alfo receiv'd the same; yet being under the Affliction of Foreign Subjection, no Man there received the Degree of the Ministry, and of an Epifcopal See before Daniel, who is now Bishop of the West Saxons. This Island is seated opposite to the middle Part of the South and West Saxons, being parted by a Sea, three Miles over, which is call'd Solente. In this narrow Sea, the two Tides of the Ocean. which flow round Britain from the immenfe Northern Ocean, daily meet and Y oppofe

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oppose one another, beyond the Mouth of the River Homelea (or Amelea) which runs into that narrow Sea, from the Lands of the Vites (Hampshire) which belongs to the Country of the West Saxons. Having ended their Struggle, they return into the Ocean from whence they come.

Of the Synod held in the Plain call'd Haethfeld, where Archbishop Theodore prefided.

A

BOUT this Time Theodore being inform'd, that the Faith of the Church at Constantinople was much perplex'd by the Herefy of Eutyches, and defiring to preferve the Churches of the English over which he prefided, from that Infection, having gather'd an Aflembly of many venerable Priests and Doctors, he diligently enquir'd into their Faith, and found they all unanimously agreed in the Catholick Faith. This he took care to have committed to writing by the Authority of the Synod, as a Memorial, and for the Instruction of fucceeding Generations; the Beginning of which Instrument is as follows.