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5.77. Cenwalch King of VVeſt Saxons.

Cenwalch King of VVeſt Saxons.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 2 Cen|walch. H. Hunton. [figure appears here on page 171] IN the meane time, after ye Kinigils or Ci+nigilſus Kyng of the Weſt Saxons hadde raigned one & thirtie yeares, he departed this life anno .643.943 leauyng hys Kingdome to his ſon Cenwalch or Chenwald, who helde the ſame Kingdome the tearme of .30. yeares, or . [...]1. (as ſome write) in manner as his fa|ther had done before him.R [...]. Higden. In the thirde, or as o|thers haue in the fifth yere of his raigne, Penda K. of Mercia made ſharp warre againſt him, by|cauſe he had put away his wife ye ſiſter of ye ſame Penda, and in this warre Cenwalde was ouer|come in battell, and driuen out of his countrey, ſo that hee fledde vnto Anna King of the Eaſt Angles, with whome hee remayned the ſpace of a yeare, or as other haue three yeares, to his great good happe: for before he was growen to be an e|nimie to the Chriſtian Religion, but now by the wholeſome admonitions and ſharpe rebukes of King Anna, he became a Chriſtian, and receiued his wife againe into his company, according to the preſcript of Gods lawe, and to be briefe, in all things ſhewed himſelfe to be a new man, embra|cing vertue, and auoyding vice, ſo that ſhortly af [...]er through the help of God, he recouered again his Kingdome. After that he was returned in|to his Kingdome, & had recouered the ſame, there cauſe a Biſhop named (Agilbertus out of Are [...]ãd,Agilbertus a Biſhop. a [...] bor [...]e, but hauing remayned in Ire|land along time to reade the Scriptures. Thys Agilbert [...] into the prouince of the Weſt Saxõs, was gladly [...]e [...]eyued of King [...]nwald, at whoſe deſi [...] he tooke vppon him to exerciſe the [...] of a Biſhop there, but afterwardes, when the ſayd King admitted an other Biſhop named Wins, which had [...] in Fraunce, and knewe the tong better than Agilbert, as hee that was borne in Englande: Agilbert [...] offended for that the King had admitted [...] without ma|king him of any counſell therein, returned into Fraunce, and there was made Biſhop of Paris: within a few yeares after, the foreſaid Win [...] was expulſed alſo by King Cenwald, who gote hym into Mercia vnto King V [...]lfhere, of whome hee bought the Biſhopricke of London, which he held during his life, and ſo the countrey of Weſt Sax|on remayned long withoute a Biſhoppe, till at length the ſaide Agilberte [...] the requeſt of Kyng Cenwald ſent to him Eleutherius that was his Nephew.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 Sigibert [figure appears here on page 171] YEe haue hearde that after Carpe|wald, his bro|ther Sigilberte ſucceeded in rule of ye Eaſt Angles, a mã of greate ver|tue and wor|thineſſe, who whileſt hee remayned in Fraunce as a baniſhed man, being conſtreyned to flee his countrey vp|pon diſpleaſure that King Redwalde, bare hym, was baptiſed there, and after returning into hys countrey, and obteining at length the Kingdom,Beda. lib. 3. cap. 4. thoſe things whiche hee had ſeene well ordred in Fraunce, he ſtudyed to followe the example of the ſame at home, and heere vppon conſidering with himſelfe that nothing coulde more aduaunce the ſtate of the common wealth of his countrey than learning and knowledge in the tongs, beganne the foundation of certayne Scholes, and namely at Cambridge,The Vniuer|ſitie of Cam|bridge foun|ded by King Sigibert. where children mighte haue pla|ces where to be inſtructed and brought vp in lear|ning vnder appoynted teachers, that there might bee greater numbers of learned men trayned vp than before time had bin within this land, to the furtherance of true Religion and vertue.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 2 And thus hathe Englande good cauſe to haue in thankfull remembrance this noble Prince K. Sigibert, for all thoſe hir learned menne whyche EEBO page image 172 haue bin broughte vp and come foorth of that fa|mous vniuerſitie of Cambridge, the firſt founda|tion, or rather renouation whereof was thus be|gunne by hym about the yeare of our Lord .630. At length,Bals hath .636. when this worthy Kyng beganne to growe in age, hee conſidered with himſelfe howe hard a matter, and how painefull an office it was to gouerne a Realme as apperteyned to the due|tie of a good Kyng, wherevppon he determined to leaue the charge thereof to other of more conue|niente yeares, and lyue from thencefoorth a pri|uate kinde of lyfe,Sigibert re|ſigneth his Kingdome to Egricus. and ſo reſigning the admini|ſtration vnto hys kinſman Egricus, hee became a Monke, and ledde the reſt of his life in a cer|taine Abbey. But ſhortly after it ſo came to paſſe that Penda Kyng of Mercia that cruell Eth|nike Tyrante made ſore warres vppon Egricus, wherevppon the people of Eaſt angles compelled Sigebertus to come foorthe of his Monaſterie, and to goe with them into the fielde agaynſte Penda. Sigebertus beeyng thus conſtreyned a|gainſt his wil, would not put on armour or beare any other kinde of weapon, than onely a wande in his hande in ſteade of a Scepter, and ſo the ar|my of the Eaſtangles in hope of good ſpeede by the preſence of Sigiberte, ioyned in battell with their enimies, but the Eaſt angles were finally vanquiſhed, and the more part of them ſlaine,Sigibert [...] Egricus [...] to|gither with Sigiberte, and his couſin Egricus theyr King.

[figure appears here on page 172]

Compare 1587 edition: 1 The yeare in the which Sigiberte and Egri|cus were ſlayne in manner as is aboue rehearſed, was after the birth of our Sauioure as ſome haue 652. 652 Baleu [...]. Beda. lib. 3. cap. 19. Furſeus. In the dayes whileſt Sigibert as yet ruled the Eaſt angles, there came out of Irelande a de|uoute perſon named Furſeus, who comming in|to the countrey of the Eaſt angles, was gladly receyued of Kyng Sigiberte, by whoſe help af|terwardes hee buylded the Abbey of Cumbreſ|burge, in the which Sigibert (as ſome haue writ|ten) when he renounced his Kingdome, was pro|feſſed a Monke. Of this Furſeus, many thyngs are writtẽ, the which for breefeneſſe we ouerpaſſe.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 After that Felix the Biſhop of the Eaſt an|gles was dead, one Thomas was ordeyned in his place, who after he had bin Biſhop fiue yeres, dyed, and then one Beretgils was ordeyned in his roomth by Honorius the Archbiſhop of Can|terburie. The ſayd Honorius hymſelfe when hee had runne the race of his naturall life, deceaſſed alſo in the yeare of our Lord .653. the laſt of Sep|tember.653

Compare 1587 edition: 1 AFter Egricus ſucceeded Anna the ſonne of Enus in the Kingdome of Eaſt Angle,Anne. and was likewiſe ſlayne by Penda King of Mercia,VVil. [...]. with the moſt parte of his army, as he gaue bat|tell vnto the ſayde Penda that inuaded his coun|trey. He lefte behynde him many children,Edelhere king of Eaſt angle. but his brother Edelhere ſucceeded hym in gouerne|mente of the Kingdome, who was ſlaine by Oſ|wy the King of Northumberlande, togyther with the foreſayd Penda, and woorthely, ſith that hee woulde ayde that Tyrante whyche hadde ſlayne hys kinſman, and hys brother that were predeceſſors with him in his Kingdome.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 After this, when the Sea of Canterbury had bene vacant by the ſpace of one whole yeare and ſixe Monethes,Deus Dedit. one Deus Dedit of the countrey of the Weſt Saxons, was elected and conſecra|ted by Ithamar the Byſhop of Rocheſter the .7. Calends of April. He gouerned the Church of Canterbury by the tearme of nine yeres, four mo|neths, and two days. When he was departed this life, the foreſayd Ithamar cõſecrated for him one Damianus of the countrey of Suſſex.

5.77.1. Mercia receyueth the fayth.

EEBO page image 173
Mercia receyueth the fayth.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 2 [...]. hiſt. eccle. 3. cap. 21. [figure appears here on page 173] ABout this time, the people of Mercia cõ|monly called midle An|gles, receyued the Chri|ſtian faythe vnder theyr Kyng named Peda,653 or Peada the ſonne of Pen|da King of Mercia, the which being a towardly yong Gentleman, and worthy to haue the guy|ding of a kingdome,Peda or Peada [...] of the [...]ddle angles his father Penda aduaunced him to the rule of that Kingdome of the middle angles during his own life. Heere may you note, yt the Kingdome of the midle angles was one, & the Kingdome of Mercia another, though moſt commonly the ſame were gouerned by one king. This yong Peda came to the king of Northum|berlande Oſwy, to require of him to haue hys daughter Alchfled in marriage: but when he was enformed that he mighte not haue hir except hee would become a Chriſtian, then vppon hearyng the Goſpell preached, with the promiſe of the ce|leſtiall ioyes and immortalitie, by the reſurrectiõ of the fleſhe in the life to come, he ſayde, that whe|ther hee had King Oſwyes daughter to wife or not, he woulde ſurely be baptiſed, and chiefly hee was perſwaded thereto by his kinſman Alchfride which had in marriage his ſiſter the daughter of Penda named Cimburgh. He was therfore bap|tiſed by Biſhop Fynnan, with all thoſe whyche [figure appears here on page 173] came thither with him,Ad murum. at a place called at ye wal. And taking with him foure prieſtes whiche were thought meete to teache and baptiſe his people, he returned with great ioy into his owne countrey. The names of thoſe Prieſtes were as followeth, Cedda, Adda, Betti, and Diuna, of the whyche, the laſt was a Scotte by nation, and the other were Engliſhmen. Theſe Prieſtes commyng into the prouince of the middle angles, preached the worde, and were well hearde, ſo that dayly a greate number, both of the nobilitie and commu|naltie renouncing the filthy dregges of Idolatrie, were chriſtned. Neyther dyd King Penda for|bidde the preaching of the Goſpell within his pro|uince of Mercia, but rather he hated and deſpiſed thoſe whome hee knewe to haue profeſſed them|ſelues Chriſtians,The ſaying of K. Penda. and, yet ſhewed not ye workes of faythe, ſaying, that thoſe were wretches, and not to be regarded, which woulde not obey theyr God in whome they beleeued. This alteration of things began, about two yeares before the deathe of King Penda.

5.77.2. The Eaſt Saxons eftſoones receyue the faith.

The Eaſt Saxons eftſoones receyue the faith.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 [figure appears here on page 173] ABout the ſame tyme,Beda. lib. 3. cap. 22. the Eaſt Sax|ons at the in|ſtãce of Oſwy King of Nor|thumberlande, receyued efte|ſoones the faith which they had renoũced, whẽ they [...] their Biſhop Melitus. Ye haue hearde tha [...] Se [...]|red, Siward and Sigibert brethrẽ, and ye ſonnes of King Sabert (which brethren occaſioned the reuolting of that prouince from ye faith of Chriſt) were ſlayne in battel by the kings of Weſt Sax|on, after whome ſucceeded Sigibert ſurnamed ye little ſonne to the middlemoſt brother Siwarde as ſome write. This Sigibert the little lefte the Kingdome to an other Sigibert that was ſonne to one Sigebald ye brother of king Sabert, which EEBO page image 174 ſecond Sigibert raigned as king in that prouince of the Eaſt Saxons, being a moſt eſpeciall friend of King Oſwy, ſo that oftentimes he repared in|to Northumberlande to viſit him, wherevppon king Oſwy ceaſſed not moſt earneſtly at tymes conuenient to exhort him to receyue the faythe of Ieſus Chriſt, and in the ende by ſuche effectuall perſwaſions as he vſed, Sigibert gaue credite to his words,King Sigibert receyued the fayth. and ſo beeing conuerted, receyued the Sacrament of Baptiſme by the hands of Biſhop Finan, at the Kings houſe called, At the wall, ſo named, bycauſe it was built neere to the wall which the Romaynes had made ouerthwarte the Iſle, as is often before remembred, being a twelue miles diſtant from the Eaſt Sea.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 This was a|bout the yeare 649. as Math. Weſt. hath noted.King Sigibert hauing now receiued the Chri|ſtian faith, when he ſhould returne into his coun|trey, required king Oſwy to appoynte hym cer|tayne inſtructors and teachers which might con|uert his people to the faith of Chriſt. King Oſ|wy deſirous to ſatiſfie his requeſt, ſente vnto the prouince of the middle angles, calling from thẽce that vertuous man Cedda,Cedda. and aſſigning vnto him another Prieſt to be his aſſociate, ſente them vnto the prouince of the Eaſt Saxons, there to preache the Chriſtian faithe vnto the peo|ple. And when they had preached and taughte through the whole countrey to the great increaſe and enlarging of the Church of Chriſt, it chaun|ced on a time that Cedda returned home into Northumberlande to conferre of certaine things with Biſhop Fynan which kept his See at Lin|deſferne, where vnderſtãding by Cedda the great fruite whiche it had pleaſed God to proſper vnder his handes in aduancing the fayth amongſt the Eaſt Saxons, hee called to him two other By|ſhops, and there ordeyned the foreſayde Ced Bi|ſhop of the Eaſt Saxons.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 Ced or Cedda Biſhop of the Eaſt angles.Herevppon, the ſame Ced returning vnto hys cure, wente forewarde with more authoritie to performe the worke of the Lord, buildyng Chur|ches in diuers places, ordeyned Prieſts and Dea|cons whiche mighte helpe him in preaching, and in the miniſterie of Baptiſing, ſpecially in the Citie of Ithanceſter vpon the riuer of Pente, and likewiſe in Tileburg on the riuer of Thames.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 2 Tilbery.Whileſt Ced was thus buſie to the great com|fort and ioy of the Kyng and all hys people in the ſetting forwarde the Chriſtian Religion with great increaſe dayly proceedyng, it chaunced tho|rough the inſtigation of the enimie of mankynde the Deuill, that King Sigibert was murthered by two of his owne kinſmen which were brethrẽ, the which when they were examined of the cauſe that ſhoulde moue them to that wicked fact, they had nothing to alledge, but that they did it by|cauſe they had conceyued an hatred againſte the King, for that he was too fauorable towards his enimies, and would with great mildnes of mind forgiue iniuries committed againſte him: ſuche was the kings faulte, for the which he was mur|thered, bycauſe he obſerued the commaundemẽts of the Goſpell with a deuoute hart: in the whyche his innocent death yet, his offence was puniſhed, wherein hee had ſurely tranſgreſſed the lawes of the Churche. For where as one of them whyche ſlewe him kept a wife whiche he had vnlawfully married, and refuſed to put hir away at the Bi|ſhops admonition, he was by the Biſhop excom|municated, and all other of the Chriſtian con|gregation commaunded to abſteyne from hys company. This notwithſtanding, the Kyng being deſired of him, came to his houſe to a ban|quet, and in his comming from thence met with the Biſhop, whome when the King behelde, hee waxed afrayde, and alight beſide his Horſe, and fell downe at his feete, beſeeching him of pardon for his offence. The Biſhop which alſo was on Horſebacke likewiſe alight, and touching the K. with his rodde which he had in his hande, as one ſomething diſpleaſed, and proteſting as in the authoritie of a Biſhop, ſpake theſe words,The authori|tie of a [...] bicauſe (ſaith he) thou wouldeſt not abſteyne from en|tring the houſe of that wicked perſon beeing ac|curſed, thou ſhalte die in the ſame houſe, and ſo it came to paſſe.

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