fhed the Britains in those Parts, after which he affumed the Name of King of that Province. Herdick, the firft King of the Weft-Saxons, arrived in the Western Cherdick, A. D. 485. Parts of this Ifland, in the Seventh Year of Ella's Reign; where in his firft Battle with the Britains he flew a mighty King of theirs, Vodinus nanied Natonleod, or Nazaleod. This Battle was fought in Hampfire, and Theonear unto a Brooke of Water, which from Cherdick, began to be call- dorus, Arch ed Cherdickford, where now a Town of the fame Name itandeth; but Broops of by contraction called Cherford. London. Enrick the 2d King of the Weft-Saxons, enlarged his confines upon Kenrick, the Territories of the Britains, giving them two great overthrows, the one at Seatbury in Wiltshire, the other at Banbury in Oxfordshire. Helwin, or Cheuline, the Son of Kenrick, and 3d King of the Weft- Chelwin, to enlarge his own Territories upon his Country-Mens; for entring Kent, in a fet Battle he defeated that King's Forces. He furprized the Cities of Glocefter, Bath and Cyrencefter; flew three of the Britib Kings, named Coinmagil, Candidan and Farimnagil: But grown proud, through his many Victories, he tyrannized over his own Subjects, which moved them to take part with the Britains against him; and at Wodensbeath, now Wandfditch in Wiltshire, they vanquished and put him to flight, forcing him into Banifament, in which he died. E Thelbert the 5th King of Kent, was married to Berta, the Daugh- Ethelbert; ter of Chilperick, King of France, on thefe Conditions, That the A.D. 56 Lady fhould enjoy the Profeffion of her Christian Faith, and the Converfation of Luidhard, her learned Bishop. About this time it chanced that Gregory the Great, then Arch-Deacon of Rome, faw certain Youths of this Ifland of Britain, brought to Rome to be fold, concerning whom he enquired, first of what Nation they were; and being anfwered that they were Angles, Gregory replied, And not without caufe are they fo named, their refemblance is fo Angelical; and fit it is that they be made Inheritors with the Angels in Heaven. But of what Province are they in Britain, faid he? And being anfwered of Deira; now great pity it is, faid he, but that thefe People fhould be taken from Dei ira, the Wrath of God. And being told that their King's Name was Ella, he, by way of Allufion, faid, That Allelujah to the praife of God, fhould fhortly be fung in that Prince's Domi-, rions: To which end, when he had attained to be Bishop of Rome, he fent Augustine, a Monk, with forty others, his Affittants, which landed in Thanet, about An. Dom. 596, finding at their coming feven Bithops in the British Churches. These Roman Chriftians, fent by Auguftine Gregory, were by King Ethelbert freely permitted to preach the Gofpel, zhe Monk and in his chief City of Canterbury, he allowed them fit places of re- Archbishop fidence, and to Auguftine refigned his own Palace. In this City, Au- of Canterfin laid the Foundation of that great Church Dedicated to the Name and bury. P and Service of Chrift. And allo at his coft built a moft fair Monaftery, wherein eight Kings of Kent, and ten Archbishops, were afterwards interred. But between the Britain Chriflians and Austin, there was a great Difference about the due time for celebrating the Feast of Eafter. Eafter was kept in Britain after the manner of the Eastern Church, on the fourteenth day after the full Moon, whatsoever Day of the Week it happened on, and not on Sunday, as we at this Day obferve it; which made Auguftine ingreat difpleasure against them, and they to dislike him for his Pride. The British Bishops were Confecrated by their own Archbishops, and they by their own Suffragans, making no profeffion of Subjection to any other Church. And when Auguftine, the Monk, required of the British Bishops to profefs Subjection to the See of Romic, Dinothus, Abbot of Bangor, made it appear by divers Arguments, that they owed him none; nor did they follow the Rites of Rome. But King Ethelbert being by Auguftine converted to the Chriftian Faith, was the Intrument of converting of Sebert, King of the Eaft-Saxons, whom he affifted in the Building of St. Paul's, where had flood the Temple of Diana, as alfo the Church of St. Peter's at Westminster, then called Thorney, where the Temple of Apollo ftood, and himself built the Cathedral Church at Rochester, Dedicating it to St. Andrew. He brought the Laws of his Country into their own Mother-Tongue, and was very forward in advancing the Chriftian Religion. He died in or near A. D. 616. and was buried at Canterbury. Auguftine, the first Archbishop of Canterbury, died, dur ing the Reign of Ethelbert, and was buried in the Northern Porch of Laurentius the New Church in Canterbury, dedicated to St. Peter and Paul; and A. B. of Laurentius fucceeded him in that Bishoprick. R Canterbury Edwald Third King of the Eaft-Angles, was Baptized in Kent; Redwald, but returning into his own Country (through the perfwafions 4. D. 616. of his Queen) he returned to his Superflitions, and in one and the fame Temple, erected an Altar for the Service of Chrift, and another for his Idols. EDwin the Great, and 2d King of Northumberland, fubdued all the Edi * A. Coafts of Britany, wherefoever any Provinces were Inhabited, 4. D. 624 either by Britains or Saxons; which thing, no King of the English before him had done : And added the Mevian Illes, or Hebrides, unto his own Dominions. He was converted to the Christian Faith by Paulinus, and Baptized at York in St. Peter's Church, then built of Wood, which he rebuilt of Stone, making it the Cathedral Church; and Paulinus Archbishop of that See. He fuppreffed Idolatry, eftab- Church of lifhed the Gofpel in the Northern Parts, which daily fpread into other Lincoln Provinces, and with fuch Fruit of Peace, that throughout his Do-founded by Bp. Pauli minions, a weak Woman with her new-born Babe might have paffed without danger or damage over all the Ifland, from Sea to Sea. And for the conveniency of way-faring. Men, he inclofed clear Springs by the way-fides, where he placed great Bafons of Brafs, both to wash and bath in. But Penda the Mercian King, and Cadwallo the Britain confederated against him, and in fight flew him and his Son Osfryd His Body was buried at Streanfball, now called Whitby. nus. Swald, the stlt King of Deira, the 9th of Bernicia, and 3d of Ofwald Northumberland, having received the Chriftian Faith in Scotland, A.D÷633 during his Banifhment there; at his return took fuch care for the Salvation of his Subjects, that he fent into Scotland for Aidan, a Chriftian Bishop, to inftruct his Northumbrians in the Gospel of Truth. And becaufe the Bishop could not speak their Language, the King himself would interpret his Sermons to the People. Which godly Undertaking of the good King and Bifhop was fo fuccefsful, that, as it is reported, in feven Days fpace, Fifteen Thousand received Baptifm. At this time the whole Ifland flourished with Peace and Plenty, and acknowledged their Subjection to Ofwald. But Penda King of Mercia envying his flourishing Eftate, flew him in Battel, at a place called Maferfield in Shropshire, and then tote his Body in piece Meal : Whereupon the faid place of his Death is called to this Day Ofwald'sTree. His difmembred Limbs were first buried in the Monastery of Bradney in Lincolnfbire, afterwards removed to Glocefter, and buried in the North-fide of the upper end of the Quire in the Cathedral Church, King Ofwald being at Dinner on Eafter-Day, one brought him word, that there was a great Company of poor People in the Streets which asked Alms of him; whereupon he commanded the Meat prepared for his own Table to be carried to them, and brake a Silver Platter to pieces and fent it amongst them. Honorius and Deus dedit A. Bishops of L. 643. Vulfhere, A.D. 668. In the Year of Chrift 636, Honorius, Archbishop of Canterbury first divided England into Parishes. Northumberland was fometime parted into two Kingdoms, namely Deira, and Bernicia. Sway, the 4th King of Northumberland, flew Tenda in fight, with the difcomfiture of all his Mercian Power; and in the fame Battel flew Ethelbert King of the Eaft-Angles, who fided with Penda; after which Victory he fubdued the Mercians,and made the Northern part alfo wholly fubject unto him. He founded the Cathedral Church in Litchfield for a Bishop's See, died in A. D. 670. and was buried in St. Peter's Church in Streanfball. V TUlfhere, the 6th King of the Mercians, flew his two Sons Vulfald and Rufin, because they usually reforted to reverend Chad for the profit of their Souls, and had received at his hands the Sacrament of Baptifm. Their Martyr'd Bodies, Queen Erminbild their Mother caufed to be buried in a Sepulchre of Stone, and thereupon a fair Church to be erected; which by reafon of the many Stones brought thither for the Foundation, was ever after called Stones; and is now Theodorus a fair Market Town in Staffordshire. But Vulfhere repenting his most and Bertu inhumane Murther, and becoming a Chriftian, converted his Heathen aldus. A-Temples unto Churches and Monafteries, and finished Medifbam, now Bifoops of Peterborough (his Brother Puda's Foundation) inriching it largely with Canterbury Lands and Poffeffions. He died A. D. 674. and was buried at Peter Ethelred. Tarninus and Nothelmus borough Thelred, because of his Nephew Kenrid's Minority, and difpofiti on to a private Life, was accepted of the Mercians for their King. His entrance was with War against the Kentifb King Lothair, whofe Country he miferably deftroyed, fparing neither Religions, nor Secular place. But at length difquieted in Mind, because of his Cruelties, to expiate his Crimes, he firft built a goodly Monaftery at Beadney in Lincolnshire, then refigned the Crown to Kemed, became there a Monk himself, living there a regular Life the term of Twelve Years, and died Abbot of the place, A. D. 716. In the 4th Year of his Reign a fearful blazing Star difcovered it felf, and for three Months together continued rifing in the Morning, and giving forth a blazing Pile, very high, and of a glittering flame. Enved, the 8th King of Mercia, reigned in Peace the term of four Years; but affecting a private retired Life, he appointed Archbishops Chelred his Coufin to rule in his tead, and accompanied with Offa, of Cant, King of the Eaft Saxons, and Edwin Bishop of Winchester, he went Kenred. unto Rome, where himself and Offa became Monks, and there died. Chelred. Hlred, the 9th King of the Mercians, was all along, during his feven Years Reign, engaged in Wars against Inas, King of the Weft Saxons. Which Inas being in Pilgrimage at Rome, in 4. D. 720, gave a Tribute to Rome, called Peter-Pence, being a Penny for every House. At first it was called the King's Alins; it was also called Rome Rome-fcot. Inas built a College at Wells, and a ftately Abby at Glaftenbury, where formerly the old Cell of Jofeph of Arimathea had been. He alfo built a Cattle at Taunton. King Chelved died A. D. 716, and was buried in the Cathedral Church at Lichfield. Thelbald, the 10th King of the Mercians, fpent the most part of. his Reign in Peace, and too much thereof in Luxury; for the which he was reproved by Roniface (an English Man) Bishop of Mentz: Whofe Epiftle Redargutory had this Influence upon the King, that in fign of Repentance, he privileged the Church from all Tributes to himself, and Founded the Abby of Crowland. About which time it was appointed by Archbishop Cuthbert and his Clergy, in a Convocation held in his Province, (the King being prefent at the fame Council with his Princes and Dukes) that the Sacred Scriptures fhould be read in their Monafteries, the Lord's Prayer and Creed taught in the Cuthbert Englife Tongue, A. D. 733. In January the Sun fuffered fo great an and Brog Eclipfe, that the Earth feemed to be overshadowed, as with Sack- mius, d cloth. And 4. D. 756, and in December, the Moon being in her full, Cant Bishops of appeared both dark and bloody; for a Star (though there be none lower than the Moon) feemed to follow her, and to deprive her of light, till it had got before her. But great Ethelbald fighting against Cutbred the Weft Saxon, was traiteroufly flain by the procurement of one of his own Captains, near Tamworth, and was buried at Repton in Derbyshire. Ffa, the 11th King of the Mercians, as is faid, was born both Off, A.D. Lame, Deaf and Blind, continuing fo unto his Man's Eftate. 75%. He was of fuch a flout and daring Spirit, that he thought nothing impoffible for him to attain unto. The first that felt his fury were the Kentif Men, whofe King Alrike he flew in fight with his own Hands. From South to North he then marched, and beyond Humber made havock of all that oppofed him. Whence returning in Triumph, he vanquished Kenwolph and his Weft Saxons, with whom Marmadius, King of the Britains fided. He caufed a great Ditch to be made between his and the Britains borders, that is, from Bafingwark in Flintfire, and North Wales, not far from the mouth of Dee, running along the Mountains into the South, ending near Bristol at the fall of Wye. The tract whereof in many places is yet feen, being called Clawdh Offa, or Offa's Ditch. The Danes that had invaded Eng land, he forced back to their Ships, with the lofs of all their Booty, and inany of their Lives. Then making his Son Egfryd Partner with him in the Kingdom, he went to Rome, where he made his Kingdom fubject to a Tribute, called Peter Pence, and gave rich Gifts to Pope Hadrian for canonizing Alhan a Saint; in Honour of whom, at his return, he built a magnificent Monaitery over against Ferolamium. Alfo in Teftimony of his Repentance, for the Blood he had fhed in his Wars, he gave the Tenth part of his Goods unto the Churchmen and Poor. At Bath he built a Monaftery, and in Warwickfire a Church, where the adjoining Town from it and him beareth the Name Off |