The Holinshed Project

Holinshed Project Home

The Texts

Previous | Next

5.76. Cadwallo or Cadwalline.

Cadwallo or Cadwalline.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 CAdwallo,Cadwal+lo, or Cadwal+line. or Cadwalline, for we finde him ſo alſo named, be+gan his raigne o|uer the Britains in the yere of our Lord .635.635 in the yeare of the raign of the Empero [...]r Heraclius .35. and in the .xiij. yeare of Dagobert king of France.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 Of this man ye haue heard partly before tou|ching his dealings and warres agaynſt the Nor|thumbers, EEBO page image 166 and other of the Engliſh Nation: but forſomuch as diuerſe other things are reported of him by the Brytiſh wryters, wee haue thought good in this place to rehearſe the ſame in part, as in Gal. Mon. we finde written, leauing the cre|dite ſtill with the authour, ſith the truth thereof may the more be ſuſpected, bycauſe other Au|thours of good authoritie, as Beda, Henrie Hun|tington, William Malm. and other, ſeeme great|ly to diſagree from him herein. But this is it written.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 2 Edwin was not ſonne to Ethel|fred but to Al|la, or Elle, as in [...]ther places it plainly ap [...] This Cadwallo, and Edwyn the ſonne of Ethelfred, as Galfride ſayth, were brought [...]p in Fraunce, being ſent thither vnto Salomon king of Brytaine, by king Cadwane, when they were verie yong: and that after their returne into thys lande, when they were made kings, Cadwall of the Brytaynes, and Edwyne of the Northum|bers, there continued for the ſpace of two yeares great friendſhip betwixt them, till at length Ed|wyn requyred of Cadwallo that he might weare a Crowne, and celebrate appoynted ſolemnities within his dominion of Northumberlande, as well as Cadwall did in his Countrey. Cadwall taking aduice in this matter, as length by per|ſwaſion of his nephew Brian, denied to gia [...] vnto Edwin his requeſt, wherwith Edwin [...] ſuch diſpleaſure, that he ſent word vnto Cadwall, that he would be crowned without his leaue ordi|cence, ſith he would not willingly gra [...]ie it wh [...]|vnto Cadwal anſwered, that if he ſo did, he [...] [...]ut off his head vnder his dia [...]eme, if he pre [...]ed to weare any within the cõfines of Britain. Here|of diſcord ariſing betwixt theſe two princes, they began to make fierce and cruell warre either of them againſt the other, and at length ioyning in battail with their maine armies,Cadwallo vanquiſhed by Edwyn. Cadwall loſt the field, with many thouſands of his men, and being chaſed, fled into Scotlande, and from thence got ouer into I [...]eland,Cadwallo [...]eeth the lande. and finally paſſed the ſeas into Brytain Armorike, where of his couſin king Sa|lom [...]n he was curteouſly receyued, and at length obteyned of him .x.M. men to go with him [...]acke into his cũtry to aſſiſt him in recouery of his lãd [...] and dominions the which in the mean time were cruelly ſpoiled, waſted, & haried by king Edwin. [figure appears here on page 166] The ſame time, Brian the nephew of Cadwallo whom he had ſent into Britain a little before for to flea a certaine wiſard or ſouthſayer, which K. Edwin had gottẽ out of Spain, named Pelitus, that by diſcloſing the purpoſe of Cadwallo vnto Edwin greatly hindred Cadwalloes enterpriſes, had fortified the Citie of Exeter, meaning to de|fende it till the comming of Cadwallo, whervpon Penda king of Mercia beſieged that Citie with a mightie armie, purpoſing to take it, and Brian within it. Cadwallo then aduertiſed hereof, im|mediately after his arriuall haſted to Exeter, and deuiding his people into foure parts, ſet vpon his enimies, & tooke Penda, and ouerthrew his whole armie. Penda hauing no other ſhift to eſcape, ſub|mitted himſelf wholy vnto Cadwallo, promiſing to become his liegemã, to fight againſt the Sax|ons in his quarell. And this Penda being ſub|dued, Cadwallo called his nobles togither which had bene diſperſed abrode a long ſeaſon, and with all ſpeede went agaynſt Edwyn king of Nor|thumberlande, and ſlue him in battaile at Hat|fielde (as before is mencioned) with his ſonne Oſ|fride, and Godbold, king of the Iles of Orkney, which was come thither to his ayde.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 By this it ſhould appeare, that Fabian hath gathered amiſſe in the account of the raignes of the Brytiſh kings: for it appeareth by Beda and others, that Edwyn was ſlayne in the yeare of our Lorde .634.634

Compare 1587 edition: 1 And where Fabian (as before is ſayd) attry|buteth that acte & diuerſe other vnto Cadwan the EEBO page image 167 father of this Cadwallo: yet both Gal. Mon. and Beda, with the moſt part of all other wryters, ſignifie that it was done by Cadwallo.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 Harding aſſigneth but .xiij. yeares vnto the raigne of Cadwan, and declareth that he dyed in the yeare of our Lorde .6 [...]6. in the which yeare as he ſayeth) Cadwallo began his raigne, which his opinion ſeemeth beſt to agree with that which is written by other authors.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 But to returne to the other doings of Cad|wallo, as we finde them recorded in the Brytiſhe Hyſtorie.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 After hee had got this victorie agaynſte the Northumbers, he cruelly purſued the Saxons, as though he ment ſo farre as in him lay, to deſtroye the whole race of them oute of the landes of all Brytayne and ſending Penda agaynſt King Oſwalde that ſucceeded Edwin, though at the firſt Penda receyued the ouerthrowe at Heauen|fielde, yet afterwardes Cadwallo hymſelfe high|lye diſpleaſed with that chaunce, purſued Oſ|walde, and fought with hym at a place called Bourne,Oſwald ſlaine. where Penda ſlue the ſayd Oſwalde.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 After that Oſwalde was ſlayne, his brother Oſunus ſucceeded him in gouernment of the Northumbers, and ſought the fauour of Cad|wallo, now ruling as King ouer all Brytayne, and at length by great gyftes of golde and ſiluer, and vppon his humble ſubmiſſion, hee obteyned peace, tyll at length vpon a ſpyte, Penda King of Mercia obteyned lycence of Cadwallo to make warres agaynſt the ſayde Oſunus,Oſwy. Math. VVeſt. 654 in the which (as it happened) Penda himſelfe was ſlaine.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 Then Cadwallo after two yeres graunted that Vlfridus the ſonne of Penda ſhoulde ſucceede in the kingdome of Mertia.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 And thus Cadwallo ruled things at his ap|poyntment within this lande, And finally when he had raigned .xlviij. yeares,678 676. ſayth Mat. VVeſt. hee departed thys lyfe the .xxij. of Nouember.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 His bodie being embalmed and dreſſed with ſweet confections, was put into a braſen Image, by maruellous arte melted and caſt, the whiche Image beeing ſet on a braſen Horſe of excellente beautie, the Brytaynes erected aloft vppon the Weſt gate of London called Ludgat, in ſigne of his victorious conqueſtes, and for a terror to the Saxons.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 And moreouer the Church of Saint Martine ſtanding vnderneath the ſame gate, was by the Brytains then builded.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 Thus haue the Brytaynes made mention of theyr valiaunt Prince Cadwallo, but diuerſe men thinke that much of that Hyſtorie is but fa|bles, bycauſe of the diſſonance founde therein ſo manifeſtly varying both from Beda and other autentike wryters (as before I haue ſayde.)

Compare 1587 edition: 1 The true hy|ſtorie of king Oſwalde.But nowe to the truth of the Hyſtorie tou|ching Oſwalde King of the Northumbers,Oſwald mea|neth to bee thankfull to God for his benefites. Beda. li. 3. ca. 3.5.6. Hector. Bo. wee finde after that he had taſted of Gods high fau [...]r extended to hymwardes, in vanquiſhing hys enimyes as one mynding to be thankfull there|fore, was deſirous to reſtore agayne the Chri|ſtian fayth through hys whole Kingdome, [...]ore lamenting the decaye thereof wythin the ſame, and therefore euen in the beginning of his raigne, he ſente vnto Donwalde the Scottiſhe King (with whome hee had beene brought vp in tyme of his baniſhment the ſpace of .xviij. yeares) re|quiring him to haue ſome learned Scottiſh man ſent vnto him, ſkilfull in preaching the worde of lyfe, that with godly Sermons and wholeſome inſtructions, hee might conuerte the people of Northumberland vnto the true and liuing God, promiſing to entertaine him with ſuch prouiſion as apperteyned.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 At his inſtance there was ſent vnto him one Corman, a Clerke ſingularly well learned,Corman. and of great grauitie in behauiour: but for that he wan|ted ſuch facilitie, and plaine vtterance by waye of gentle perſwading, as is requiſite in him that ſhal inſtruct the ſimple, onely ſetting forth in his Ser|mons high myſteries, & matters of ſuch profound knowledge, as vneth the verie learned might per|ceyue the perfect ſenſe and meaning of his talke, his trauaile came to ſmall effect, ſo that after a yeares remayning there, he turned into his coun|trey declaring amongeſt his brethren of the clear|gie, that the people of Northumberlande was a froward, ſtubburn & ſtiffe harted generatiõ, whoſe minds he could not frame by any good meanes of perſwaſion to receiue the chriſtian faith ſo that he iudged it loſt labor to ſpende more time amongſt them being ſo vnthankfull & intractable a people, as no good might be done vpon them.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 Amongſt other learned and vertuous prelates of the Scots, there chaunced one to be there pre|ſent at the ſame time called Aydan,Aydan. a man of ſo perfite life, that (as Beda writeth) he taught no o|therwiſe than he liued, hauing no regarde to the cares of this world, but whatſoeuer was giuẽ him by kings or men of welth and riches, that he free|ly beſtowed vpon the poore, exhorting other to do the lyke.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 This Aydane hearing Cormans words, per|ceiued anon that the fault was not ſo much in the people, as in the teacher, & therefore declared, yt (as he thought) although it were ſo that the people of Northũberland gaue no ſuch attentiue eare vnto the preaching of that reuerend prelate Cormã, as his godly expectation was they ſhould haue done, yet might it be that his vttring of ouer many my|ſtical articles amongſt thẽ, far aboue the capacity of the vnderſtanding of ſimple men, was ye cauſe why they ſo lightly regarded his diuine inſtructi|ons, whereas if he had (according to the counſaile EEBO page image 168 of Saint Paule) at the firſt miniſtred vnto theyr tender vnderſtãdings,Saint Paules [...]ounfaile. only milke without harder nouriſhments, he might happely haue wonne a farre greater number of them vnto the receyuing of the fayth, and ſo haue framed them by lyttle and lyttle to haue diſgeſted ſtronger foode. And therefore hee thought it neceſſarie in diſcharge of theyr duetyes towardes God, and to ſatiſfie the earneſt zeale of King Oſwalde, that ſome one amongeſt them myght bee appoynted to goe againe into Northumberlande, to trie by procee|ding in this maner afore alledged, what profite woulde thereof enſue.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 The Byſhoppes hearing the opinion of Ay|dane, and therewith knowing Cormans maner of preaching, iudged the matter to bee as Ay|dane had declared, and therevppon not onely allowed his wordes, but alſo willed him to take the iourney vppon him, ſithe they knewe none ſo able, with effect to accompliſh theyr wiſhed de|ſires in that behalfe.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 Aydan com|meth into [...]ngland to [...]reach the goſpell.Aydane for that he would not ſeeme to refuſe to take that in hande whiche he himſelfe had mo|cioned, was contented to ſatiſfie their requeſt, and ſo ſet forwarde towardes Northumberland, and comming thither, was ioyfully receyued of King Oſwalde, who appoynted him the Ile of Lindeſ|farne wherein to place the Sea of his newe Bi|ſhoprike.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 This Aydane in one point varied from the vſe of the new begon Church of England,Beda. li. 3. ca. 3: Hector. Bo. that is to witte, touching the time of obſeruing the feaſt of Eaſter, in like maner as all the Biſhoppes of the Scottes and Pictes inhabiting within Brytaine in thoſe dayes did, following therein (as they tooke it) the doctrine of the holy and prayſe wor|thie father Anatholius. But the Scots that in|habited in the South partes of Irelande, alreadie were agreed to obſerue that feaſt, according to the rules of the Church of Rome. But Aydane be|ing thus come into Northumberlande, applyed himſelf ſo earneſtly in prayer and preaching, that the people had him within ſhort whyle in won|derfull eſtimation, chiefely for that hee tempered his preachings with ſuche ſweete and pleaſaunt matter, that all men had a great deſire to heare him, inſomuche that ſometyme hee was glad to preache abrode in Churche yardes, bycauſe the audience was more than coulde haue rowmth in the Church.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 One thing was a great hinderance to him, that he had not the perfite knowledge of the Sax|ons tongue. But Oſwald himſelfe was a great helpe to him in that matter, who beeing of no|thing ſo much deſirous, as to haue the fayth of Chriſt rooted in the heartes of his ſubiects, vſed as an interpreter to report vnto the people in their Saxon tongue, ſuch whole Sermons as Aydan vttered in his mother tongue. Beda. Oſwalde [...] the [...] For Oſwalde [...]|uing bene brought vp (as ye haue heard) in S [...]|lande during the time of his baniſhment, was [...] readie in the Scottiſhe, as he was in the Saxon tongue.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 The people then ſeeing the kings earneſt de|ſire in furthering the doctrine ſet forth by Aydan, were the more inclined to heare it: ſo then it was a maruellous matter to note, what numbers of people dayly offred themſelues to be baptiſed,Het. [...] inſo much that within the ſpace of ſeauen dayes (as is left in wryting) he chriſtened .xv. thouſande per|ſons, of the whiche no ſmall parte for ſauing the world, betooke thẽſelues to a ſolitarie kind of [...].

Compare 1587 edition: 1 Thus by his earneſt trauail in continual prea|ching and ſetting forth the Goſpell in that coun|try, it came to paſſe in the ende, that the faith was generally receyued of all the people, and ſuch zeale to aduaunce the glorie of the Chriſtian Religion dayly increaſed amongeſt them, that no where could be found greater.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 Herevpon were no ſmall number of Churches buyle in all places abrode in thoſe parties by pro|curement of the king,Oſwalde zeale to ad|uaunce reli|gion. (all men liberally cõſenting according to the rate of their ſubſtance) to be con|tributaries towardes the charges.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 By this meanes the kingdome of the Nor|thumbers flouriſhed, as well in fame of increaſe in religion, as alſo in ciuill policie and prudent ordi|nances: inſomuch that (as Bede writeth) Oſwald atteyned to ſuche power,Beda. li. 5. [...] that all the nations and prouinces within Brytaine which were deuided into four tongues (that is to ſay) Britains, Picts,Oſwald [...] i [...] eſtimation with his neigh|bours. Scots, and Engliſhmen, were at his cõmaunde|ment. But yet was he not lift vp in any pride or preſumption, but ſhewed himſelfe marueylous curteous and gentle, and very liberal to poore peo|ple, and to ſtraungers.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 It is ſayde that he being ſet at the table vpon an Eaſter day, hauing Biſhop Aydan at diner then with him, his Almoner came in as ye Biſhop was about to ſay grace, and declared to the king that there was a great multitude of poore folks ſet before the gates to looke for the kings almes. The king herewith tooke a ſiluer diſh which was ſet on the table before him with meate & cõmanded the ſame meat ſtreightways to be deſtributed amõgſt the poore, and the diſh broken into ſmall peeces, & deuided amongſt thẽ: for which act he was highly commended of the Biſhop, as he well deſerued.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 By the good pollicie and diligent trauail of this king, the prouinces of Deira and Bernicia, which hitherto had beene at variaunce, were brought to peace and made one.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 ABout the ſame time,Beda. li. 3. ca. 7 Birinus cõ [...]|teth the weſt Sax [...]s to the chriſtian [...]. the Weſt Saxons were conuerted to the Chriſtian fayth, by the preaching of one Birinus a Biſhop, the whiche came into this lande at the exhortation of Pope EEBO page image 169 Honorius, to ſet foorthe the Goſpell vnto [...] people which as yet were not baptiſed. By his di|ligent trauell in the [...]ordes harueſt, [...]inigils [...]ing of weſt Saxon becõeth [...] Chriſtiã. Cynigilſus or Rynigils one of the Kings of that countrey receyued the faithe, and was baptiſed about the fiue and twentith yeare of his raigne. King Oſ|wald that ſhould haue his daughter in marriage, was preſent the ſame time; & [...]rſtoere hee became a ſonne in law, was made a Godfather vnto Ki|nigils (that ſhould be his father in lawe) by recey|uing him at the fontſtone, in that his ſecond birth of regeneration.Polidor. This B [...]inds was an Italian, & now that King Kinigils was become a Chri|ſtian, he appoynted vnto the ſayd Byrinus the ci|tie of Dorceſter ſituate by the Thames, diſtaunt from Oxforde about ſeuen miles,Dorceſter or|deined a Bi|ſhops See. to be the See of his Biſhopricke, where he procured Churches to be buylt, and by his earneſt trauell and ſetting foorth the word of life, [...] the right beleefe.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 In the yeare folowing, [...] the other King of the Weſt Saxons [...] ſonne to Ki [...]|gils was alſo chriſtned, and dyed the ſame yeare, and ſo then. Cinigilſus or Kinigils raigned a|lone.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 In this meane while Penda King of Mer|cia that ſucceeded next after Ciailus,Hen. Hunt. being a mã giuen to ſeeke trouble in one place or other,This chanced in the yeare. 627. as Mat. Weſt. hath. [...]ea| [...]ied warre againſt the Kings of Weſt Saxon, Kinigils and [...], the whiche gathering their power, gaue hym battell a [...] Ciren [...]ter, where both the parties fought [...] out to the v [...]ter|moſt, as though they had forſoo [...]ne to giue p [...]ace [...] to another in ſo much that they continued in fighte and in making of cruell ſlaughter [...] the night parted them in ſunder. And in the mor [...]ing [figure appears here on page 169] when they ſaw that if they ſhould buckle togy|ther againe, the one parte ſhoulde vtterly deſtroy the other, they fell to agreemente in moderating eache others demaundes.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 640 Beda. lib. 3. cap. 8. Mat. VVeſt.After this in the yeare of our Lord .640. Ead|bald King of Kent departed this life after hee had raigned .24. yeares, leauing his Kingdome to hys ſonne Earconbert. This Earconbert was the firſte of the Engliſhe Kings, whiche tooke order for the vtter deſtroying of all Idols through out his whole Kingdome.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 He alſo by his royall authoritie,Lent firſt or|deined to be kept in Eng|land. commaunded the faſt of fortie dayes in the Lente ſeaſon to bee kept and obſerued, appoynting worthy and com|petent puniſhmente agaynſte the tranſgreſſors of that commaundemente. Hee hadde by hys wife Segburg,Sexburga. that was daughter vnto Anna King of the Eaſt Angles, a daughter named Eartongatha, the which was profeſſed a Nonne within the Monaſterie of Briege or Ea|la in Fraunce:Almoious. For in theſe dayes, bycauſe there were not many Monaſteries as yet buylded within this land, a great number of Engliſhmen that tooke vppon them the profeſſion of a Religi|ous life, gote them ouer vnto Abbeyes in France, and there profeſſed themſelues Monkes: and ma|ny there were which ſente their daughters ouer to be profeſſed Nonnes within ye Nunneries there, and ſpecially at Brige, Cale, and Andeley: a|mongſt other, there were Sedrike the lawfull daughter, and Edelburgh the baſtard daughter of the ſayd King Anna, the whiche both in proceſſe of time were made Abbeiſſes of the ſaide Mona|ſterie of Brige.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 Yee haue hearde already, how Oſwald King of Northumberland bare himſelfe in all poyntes like a moſt worthy Prince, not ceaſing to releeue the neceſſitie of the poore, aduancing the good, and reforming the euill, whereby hee wanne to hym|ſelfe exceeding prayſe and commendation of all good men, and ſtill his fame encreaſed for his ver|tuous doings, namely, for the ardent zeale he had to the aduancing of the Chriſtian fayth. Heere|vpon Penda King of Mercia, enuying the pro|ſperous EEBO page image 170 proceedings of Oſwald, as he that could neuer abyde to heare the good report of other mẽs well doings, began to imagine howe to deſtroy him, and to conquere his Kyngdome that hee might ioyne it to his owne. [...] the [...]. Bed. [...] King [...] ſlayne. At length he inuaded his countrey by open warre, met with him in the field at a place called Maſerfield, & there in ſharp and cruell fight Oſwald was ſlayne on the [...] [figure appears here on page 170] day of Auguſt in the yeare of our Lord .642. and in the .38. yeare of his age,Mat. VVeſt. Math. 644. after he had raigned the tearme of eyght or nine yeares after ſome, whych accompt that yeare vnto his raigne, in the whych his predeceſſors Oſrick and Eaufride raigned, whome they number not amongſt Kings, by|cauſe of their wicked appoſtacie, and renouncing of the faith which before they had profeſſed. Such was the ende of the vertuous Prince King Oſ|wald, beeing cruelly ſlayne by that wicked Ty|rant Penda. Afterwards for the opinion concey|ued of his holyneſſe, the foreſayde Oſwald was canonized a Saynt, and had in greate worſhippe of the people,VVil. Malm. beeing the firſte of the Engliſhe na|tion that approoued his vertue by miracles ſhe|wed after hys departure out of this life. Oſwy King of Nor| [...]humberland.

[figure appears here on page 170]

Compare 1587 edition: 1 Beda. lib. 3. [...]ap. 14. AFter that Kyng Oſwalde was ſlaine, his brother Oſwy being about a .30. yeres of age, tooke vpon him the rule of the Kingdom of Nor|thumberland, gouerning ye ſame wt great trouble for the ſpace of eyght and twentie yeares, be|ing ſore vexed by the foreſayde Penda Kyng of Mercia and his people, whiche as yet were Pa|ganes.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 In the firſt yeare of his raigne, whiche was in the yeare of our Lorde .644.644 Pauline the Biſhop of Rocheſter whiche had bin alſo Archbiſhoppe o [...] Yorke departed this life, and then one Thama [...] an Engliſhman of the parties of Kente was or deyned Biſhoppe of Rocheſter by Honorius the Archbiſhoppe of Canterbury. Kyng Oſwy had a partner with hym in gouernement of the Nor|thumbers in the firſt beginning of his raigne one Oſwin, which was ſonne to Oſrick, ſo that Oſ|wy gouerned in Bernicia, and Oſwin in Dei [...],Bernicia. and continued in perfect friendſhip for a ſeaſon, till at length, through the counſell of wicked per|ſons, that couered nothing ſo muche as to ſowe diſcorde and variance betwixte Princes, they fell at debate, and ſo beganne to make warres the one agaynſte the other, ſo that finally when they were at poynte to haue tried theyr quarrell in o|pen battayle, Oſwin perceyuing that he had not an army of ſufficiẽt force to encounter with Oſ|wy, he brake vp hys campe at Wilfareſdowne, a tenne mile by Weſt the Towne of Catarac|tone, and after withdrewe hymſelfe onely with one ſeruant named Condhere vnto the houſe of Erle Hunwald, whome he tooke to haue bin hys truſty friende: but contrary to his expectation, the ſayd Hunwalde did betray hym vnto Oſwy, the whyche by his Captayne Edelwine ſlewe the ſayde Oſwin and hys ſeruaunte the foreſayde Conhere, in a place called Ingethling, the thir|teenth Calends of September, in the ninth yeare of his raigne, whyche was after the birth of oure Sauioure .651.651

Compare 1587 edition: 1 EEBO page image 171This Oſwin was a goodly Gentleman of perſon, talle, and beautifull, and very gentle of ſpeeche, ciuill in manners, and very liberall both to high and lowe, ſo that he was beloued ouer al. Suche a one he was, to bee brirfe, as Biſhop Ay|dan geſſed, that hee ſhoulde not long continue in life, for that the Northumbers were not worthy of ſo good & vertuous a gouernor. Such humble|neſſe and obedience hee perceyued to [...] in hym towards the law of the Lord [...], in taking yt which was tolde him for his better inſtruction in good part, that he ſayd, he neuer ſawe before that tyme an humble King.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 The ſame Aydan lyued not paſt twelue days after the deathe of the ſayd Oſwin, whome hee ſo much loued, departing this world the laſt day of Auguſt, in the ſeuententh yeare after he was or|deyned Biſhop. His body was buried in the Iſle of Lindeſferne.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 After Aydan, one Finan was made Biſhop in his place, a Scottiſhman alſo, and of the Iſle of Hu [...], from whence his predeceſſor the foreſaid Ay|dan dame, being firſt a man of Religion profeſſed in the Monaſterie there (as ſome writers doe report.)

Previous | Next

5.29. The true storie of the forenamed king Oswald, his desire to restore christian reli|gion, Cormans preaching taking small effect among the Northumbers, persuadeth him to de|part into his owne countrie, he slandereth them be|fore the Scotish clergie, Aidan a godlie man telleth the cause of the peoples not profiting by Cormans preaching, Aidan commeth into England to instruct the people in the faith, he varieth in the obseruation of Easter from the English churches custome, the Northumbers haue him & his doctrine in reue|rence, Oswalds earnest zeale to further religion by Aidans preaching and ministerie, 15000 baptised within 7 daies; Os|wald hath the Britains, Scots, Picts, & English at his comman|dement, his commendable deed of christian charitie, the West+saxons conuerted to the faith by the preaching of Birinus, king Kinigils is baptised, he maketh Birinus bishop of Dorcester, Penda king of Mercia maketh war against the christian kings of the Westsaxons, both sides after a bloudie battell fall to a|grement, Ercombert the first English king that destroied idols throughout the whole land, he ordeineth Lent; why English men became moonks, and English women nunnes in mo|nasteries beyond the seas; why Penda king of Mercia enuieth vertuous king Oswald, he is assaulted, slaine in battell, and canonized a saint after his death. The xxix. Chapter.

The true storie of the forenamed king Oswald, his desire to restore christian reli|gion, Cormans preaching taking small effect among the Northumbers, persuadeth him to de|part into his owne countrie, he slandereth them be|fore the Scotish clergie, Aidan a godlie man telleth the cause of the peoples not profiting by Cormans preaching, Aidan commeth into England to instruct the people in the faith, he varieth in the obseruation of Easter from the English churches custome, the Northumbers haue him & his doctrine in reue|rence, Oswalds earnest zeale to further religion by Aidans preaching and ministerie, 15000 baptised within 7 daies; Os|wald hath the Britains, Scots, Picts, & English at his comman|dement, his commendable deed of christian charitie, the West+saxons conuerted to the faith by the preaching of Birinus, king Kinigils is baptised, he maketh Birinus bishop of Dorcester, Penda king of Mercia maketh war against the christian kings of the Westsaxons, both sides after a bloudie battell fall to a|grement, Ercombert the first English king that destroied idols throughout the whole land, he ordeineth Lent; why English men became moonks, and English women nunnes in mo|nasteries beyond the seas; why Penda king of Mercia enuieth vertuous king Oswald, he is assaulted, slaine in battell, and canonized a saint after his death. The xxix. Chapter.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 _NOw will we (after all these diffe|ring discourses of the British chronolo|gers) approch and draw as néere as we can to the truth of the historie touching Oswald king of the Northumbers, of whom we find,Oswald mea|neth to be thankefull to God for his benefits. that after he had tasted of Gods high fauour extended to himwards,Beda. li. 3. cap. 3. 5. 6. Hector Boet. in vanquishing his enimies, as one minding to be thankefull therefore, he was desirous to restore the christian faith through his whole kingdome, sore lamenting the decay there|of within the same, and therefore euen in the begin|ning of his reigne, he sent vnto Donwald the Sco|tish king (with whome he had béene brought vp in the time of his banishment the space of 18 yéeres) requi|ring him to haue some learned Scotishman sent vn|to him, skilfull in preaching the word of life, that with godly sermons and wholesome instructions, he might conuert the people of Northumberland vnto the true and liuing God, promising to interteine him with such prouision as apperteined.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 At his instance, there was sent vnto him one Cor|man, a clerke singularlie well learned,Corman. and of great grauitie in behauiour: but for that he wanted such fa|cilitie, and plaine vtterance by waie of gentle per|suading, as is requisite in him that shall instruct the simple, onelie setting foorth in his sermons high my|steries, and matters of such profound knowledge, as the verie learned might scarselie perceiue the perfect sense and meaning of his talke, his trauell came to small effect, so that after a yéeres remaining there, he returned into his countrie, declaring amongst his brethren of the cleargie, that the people of Northum|berland was a froward, stubborne and stiffe-harted generation, whose minds he could not frame by anie good meanes of persuasion to receiue the christian faith: so that he iudged it lost labour to spend more time amongst them, being so vnthankfull and intrac|table a people, as no good might be doone vnto them.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 Amongst other learned and vertuous prelats of the Scots, there chanced one to be there present at the same time called Aidan,Aidan. a man of so perfect life, that (as Beda writeth) he taught no otherwise than he liued, hauing no regard to the cares of this world, but whatsoeuer was giuen him by kings or men of wealth and riches, that he fréelie bestowed vpon the poore, exhorting other to doo the like. This Aidan hea|ring Cormans woords, perceiued anon that the fault was not so much in the people as in the teacher, and therefore declared, that (as he thought) although it were so that the people of Northumberland gaue no such attentiue eare vnto the preaching of that re|uerend prelate Corman, as his godlie expectation was they should haue doone, yet might it be that his vttering of ouer manie mysticall articles amongst them, farre aboue the capacitie of the vnderstanding of simple men, was the cause why they so lightlie re|garded his diuine instructions, whereas if he had (ac|cording to the counsell of Saint Paule) at the first ministred vnto their tender vnderstandings, onelie milke,S. Paules counsell. without harder nourishments, he might hap|pilie haue woone a farre greater number of them vnto the receiuing of the faith, and so haue framed them by little and little to haue digested stronger food. And therefore he thought it necessarie in dis|charge of their duties towards God, and to satisfie the earnest zeale of king Oswald, that some one a|mongst them might be appointed to go againe into Northumberland, to trie by procéeding in this ma|ner afore alledged, what profit would thereof insue.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 The bishops hearing the opinion of Aidan, and therewith knowing Cormans maner of preaching, iudged the matter to be as Aidan had declared, and therevpon not onelie allowed his woords, but also willed him to take the iournie vpon him, sith they knew none so able with effect to accomplish their wished desires in that behalfe. Aidan,Aidan com|meth into England to preach the gospell. for that he would not seeme to refuse to take that in hand which he himselfe had motioned, was contented to satisfie their request, and so set forward towards Northum|berland, EEBO page image 114 and comming thither, was ioifullie receiued of king Oswald, who appointed him the Ile of Lin|desfarne, wherein to place the see of his new bishop|rike.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 This Aidan in one point varied from the vse of the new begun church of England,Beda li. 3. ca. 3. Hector Boet. that is to say, tou|ching the time of obseruing the feast of Easter, in like maner as all the bishops of the Scots and Picts inhabiting within Britaine in those daies did, fol|lowing therein (as they tooke it) the doctrine of the holie and praise-woorthie father Anatholius. But the Scots that inhabited the south parts of Ireland, alreadie were agréed to obserue that feast, according to the rules of the church of Rome. Howbeit Aidan being thus come into Northumberland, applied him|selfe so earnestlie in praier and preaching, that the people had him within short while in woonderfull e|stimation, chiefelie for that he tempered his prea|chings with such swéet and pleasant matter, that all men had a great desire to heare him, insomuch that sometime he was glad to preach abroad in church|yards, bicause the audience was more than could haue roome in the church.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 One thing was a great hinderance to him, that he had not the perfect knowledge of the Saxon toong. But Oswald himselfe was a great helpe to him in that matter, who being desirous of nothing so much, as to haue the faith of Christ rooted in the harts of his subiects, Beda. Oswald an interpretor to the preacher. vsed as an interpretor to report vnto the people in their Saxon toong, such whole ser|mons as Aidan vttered in his mother toong. For Oswald hauing béene brought vp (as ye haue hard) in Scotland during the time of his banishment, was as readie in the Scotish, as he was in the Saxon toong. The people then seeing the kings earnest de|sire in furthering the doctrine set foorth by Aidan, were the more inclined to heare it: so that it was a maruellous matter to note, what numbers of people dailie offred themselues to be baptised, insomuch that within the space of seuen daies (as is left in writing) he christened 15 thousand persons,Hector Boet. of the which no small part forsaking the world, betooke themselues to a solitarie kind of life.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 3 Thus by his earnest trauell in continuall prea|ching and setting foorth the gospell in that countrie, it came to passe in the end, that the faith was gene|rallie receiued of all the people, and such zeale to ad|uance the glorie of the christian religion dailie in|creased amongst them, that no where could be found greater.Oswalds zeale to ad|uance religion Heerevpon were no small number of chur|ches built in all places abroad in those parties by pro|curement of the king, all men liberallie consenting (according to the rate of their substance) to be contri|butorie towards the charges. By this meanes the kingdome of the Northumbers flourished, as well in fame of increase in religion, as also in ciuill poli|cie and prudent ordinances:Beda lib. 5. ca. 6 insomuch that (as Beda writeth) Oswald atteined to such power, that all the nations and prouinces within Britaine, which were diuided into foure toongs (that is to say) Britains, Picts,Oswald had in estimation with his neighbours. Scots, and Englishmen, were at his com|mandement. But yet he was not lifted vp in anie pride or presumption, but shewed himselfe maruel|lous courteous and gentle, and verie liberall to poore people and strangers.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 It is said, that he being set at the table vpon an Ester day, & hauing bishop Aidan at diner then with him, his almoner came in as the bishop was about to say grace, and declared to the king that there was a great multitude of poore folks set before the gates to looke for the kings almes. The king héerewith tooke a siluer dish, which was set on the table before him with meate, & commanded the same meate streight|waies to be distributed amongst the poore, & the dish broken into small péeces, and diuided amongst them: for which act he was highlie commended of the bi|shop, as he well deserued. By the good policie and di|ligent trauell of this king, the prouinces of Deira and Bernicia, which hitherto had béene at variance, were brought to peace and made one.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 ABout the same time, Beda lib. 3. [...] Birinus con|uerteth the Westsaxons [...] the christian faith. the Westsaxons were con|uerted to the christian faith, by the preaching of one Birinus a bishop, who came into this land at the exhortation of pope Honorius, to set foorth the gospell vnto those people which as yet were not baptised. By whose diligent trauell in the Lords haruest, Cinigils or Kinigils, one of the kings of that countrie recei|ued the faith,Kinigils king of Westsaxon becommeth a christian. and was baptised about the fiue & twen|tith yéere of his reigne. K. Oswald that should haue had his daughter in mariage, was present the same time, who first yer he became a sonne in law, was made a godfather vnto Kinigils (that should be his father in law) by receiuing him at the fontstone, in that his second birth of regeneration. To this Biri|nus, who was an Italian,Polydor. king Kinigils (now that he was become a conuert or christian) appointed and assigned the citie of Dorcester,Dorcester or|deined a bi|shops sée. situat by the Tha|mes, distant from Oxford about seuen miles, to be the sée of his bishoprike, where he procured churches to be built, and by his earnest trauell & setting foorth the woord of life, conuerted much people to the right beliefe. In the yéere following, Quichelmus the o|ther king of the Westsaxons, and sonne to Kinigils was also christened, and died the same yéere, and so Cinigilsus or Kinigils reigned alone.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 In this meane while Penda king of Mercia that succéeded next after Ciarlus,Henr. Hunt. being a man giuen to séeke trouble in one place or other, leauied warre a|gainst the kings of Westsaxon,This chance [...] in the yéere 620, as Math West. saith. Kinigils and Qui|chelmus, the which gathering their power, gaue him battell at Cirenchester, where both the parties fought it out to the vttermost, as though they had for|sworne to giue place one to another, insomuch that they continued in fight and making of cruell slaugh|ter till the night parted them in sunder. And in the morning, when they saw that if they shuld buckle to|gither againe, the one part should vtterlie destroie the other, they fell to agréement in moderating ech o|thers demands.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 After this,640 Beda lib. 3. cap. 7. Matth. West. in the yéere of our Lord 640, Eadbald king of Kent departed this life, after he had reigned 24 yéeres, leauing his kingdome to his sonne Er|combert. This Ercombert was the first of the En|glish kings, which tooke order for the vtter destroieng of all idols throughout his whole kingdome. He also by his roiall authoritie commanded the fast of fortieLent first or|deined to be kept in Eng|land. daies in the Lent season to be kept and obserued, ap|pointing woorthie and competent punishment a|gainst the transgressors of that commandement. He had by his wife Segburga,Segburga. that was daughter vnto Anna king of the Eastangles, a daughter named E|artongatha,Aimoinus. a professed nunne within the monasterie of Briege or Cala in France: for in those daies, bi|cause there were not manie monasteries builded within this land, a great number of Englishmen, that tooke vpon them the profession of a religious life, got them ouer vnto abbeies in France, and there professed themselues moonks: and manie there were which sent their daughters ouer to be professed nuns within the nunneries there, and speciallie at Briege, Cala, and Andelie: amongst other, there were Se|drike the lawfull daughter, and Edelburgh the bas|tard daughter of the said king Anna, both which in processe of time were made abbesses of the said mo|nasterie of Briege.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 Ye haue heard alreadie, how Oswald king of Northumberland bare himselfe in all points like a most woorthie prince, not ceasing to releeue the ne|cessitie EEBO page image 114 [...] EEBO page image 115 of the poore, aduancing the good, and refor|ming the euill, whereby he wan to himselfe excée|ding praise and commendation of all good men, and still his fame increased for his vertuous dooings; namelie, for the ardent zeale he had to the aduan|cing of the christian faith. Herevpon Penda king of Mercia, enuieng the prosperous procéedings of Oswald, as he that could neuer abide the good re|port of other mens well-dooings, began to imagine how to destroie him, and to conquere his kingdome, that he might ioine it to his owne.Penda inua|deth the Nor|thumbers. At length he in|uaded his countrie by open warre, met with him in the field at a place called Maserfield,Beda. lib. 3. cap. 9. and there in sharpe and cruell fight Oswald was slaine on the fift day of August,King Os|wald slaine. Matt. Westm. saith 644. in the yeare of our Lord 642, and in the 38 yeare of his age, after he had reigned the tearme of eight or nine yeares after some, which ac|count that yeare vnto his reigne, in the which his predecessors Osrike and Eaufride reigned, whome they number not amongest kings, because of their wicked apostasie and renouncing of the faith which before they had professed. Such was the end of that vertuous prince king Oswald, being cruellie slaine by that wicked tyrant Penda. Afterwards, for the opinion conceiued of his holinesse, the foresaid Os|wald was canonized a saint,Will. Malmes. and had in great wor|ship of the people, being the first of the English na|tion that approoued his vertue by miracles shewed after his departure out of this life.