The Holinshed Texts (1577, Volume 1, p. 181 with companion text)

5.79. King Ethelred.

King Ethelred.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 [figure appears here on page 181] AFter Vulf|here,Edilred hys brother Edil|red or Ethel|red ſucceeded in gouernemẽt of the Kyng|dome of Mer|cia. This Edil+red inuaded the Kyngdome of Kente with a mighty army in the yeare of oure Lord .677. deſtroying the countrey afore him, not ſparing Churches nor Abbeyes, but ſpoyled the [figure appears here on page 181] ſame without reſpect, as well as other common places.H. Hunt. King Lothaire durſt not appeare in the fielde to giue hym battell, ſo that Edilred wente through the countrey, deſtroyed the Citie of Ro|cheſter & with great riches gotten by the ſpoyle, he returned home.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 The Biſhoppe of Rocheſter Putta, after that his Church was ſpoyled and defaced by the eni|mies, wente vnto Sexvulfe the Biſhop of Mer|cia, and there obteyning of him a ſmall [...]re, and a portion of ground, remayned in that countrey, not once labouring to reſtore his Church of Ro|cheſter to the former ſtate, but wente aboute in Mercia to teach ſong, & inſtruct ſuche as would learne muſicke, whereſoeuer hee was required, or could get entertaynement.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 EEBO page image 182Herevpon the Archbiſhop Theodore conſecra|ted one William Biſhop of Rocheſter in place of Putta, and after when the ſayd William con|ſtreyned by pouertie, left that Church, Theodore placed one Gebmound in his ſteede. In the yeare of our Lord .678. in the moneth of Auguſt,678 A blaſing Starre. a bla|ſing Starre appeared, with a long bright beame like to a piller. It was ſeene euery morning for the ſpace of three monethes togither. The ſame Ecgfrid king of Northumberland, Mat. VVest. Beda. li. 4. cap. 12. Biſhop Wil| [...]rid baniſhed. Hlaguſtald Hexam. Eadhidus. Lindeſferne [...]oly ilande. baniſhed Bi|ſhop Wilfrid vppon diſpleaſure taken with hym, out of his See, and then were two Biſhops or|deyned in his place, to gouerne the Church of the Northũbers, y^e one named Boſa at Yorke, & the other called Eata at Haguſtald or Lindeſferne. Alſo one Eadhidus was ordeined about the ſame time Biſhop of Lindſey, the which prouince king Egfride hadde of late conquered and taken from Vulfhere the late King of Mercia, whome he o|uercame in battel, and droue him out of that coũ|trey. The ſaid three Biſhops were conſecrated at Yorke by the Archbiſhop of Canterbury Theo|dorus, the whiche within three yeares after or|deyned two Biſhops more in that prouince of the Northumbers, that is to witte, Tumbert at Haguſtald, Eata that was appoynted to remain at Lindeſferne, and Trumuine was ordeyned to haue the cure of y^e prouince of thoſe Pictes which as then were vnder the Engliſhe dominion. Alſo bycauſe Edilred King of Mercia recouered the countrey of Lindſey, and ioyned it to his domi|nion,The Church of Ryppon. Biſhop Eadhedus comming from thence, was appoynted to gouerne y^e Church of Ryppõ.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 2 3 After that Biſhop Wilfrid was expulſed out of his dioceſſe and prouince of the Northumbers, he went to Rome, & returning from thence, came into the kingdome of the South Saxons, y^e whi|che conteyning ſeuen thouſande houſholdes or families, as yet was not conuerted to y^e Chriſtian faith.Wilfrid by li| [...]ence of King Edilwalke preacheth [...]he Goſpell to [...]hem of Suſ| [...]ex. Wherefore the ſaid Wilfrid began there to preach the Goſpell with licence of K. Edilwalke, who as before is mencioned, was conuerted and baptiſed in Mercia, by the procurement of King Vulfhere, that then became his Godfather, & gaue him at the ſame time the Iſle of Wight, and the prouince of the people auntiently called Mean|uari, which he had wonne frõ the Weſt Saxõs. Biſhop Wilfrid then by King Edilwalke hys furtherance and helpe, baptiſed the chiefeſt Lords and Gentlemen of that prouince. But certayne Prieſtes baptiſed the reſidue of the people, eyther then or in time following. [...]acke of [...]ayne. It chanced that for the ſpace of three yeares (as it is ſaid) before the com|ming thither of Biſhop Wilfrid, there had fallen no rayne from the ayre within that prouince of the South Saxons, ſo that y^e people wer brought into greate miſerie by reaſon of famine, whyche through wante of neceſſary fruites of the earthe, ſore afflicted the whole countrey, in ſomuch, that no ſmall number threwe themſelues headlong into the Sea, deſpayring of life, in ſuche lacke of neceſſary victuals. But as God would, the ſame daye that Wilfrid began to miniſter the Sacra|ment of Baptiſme, there came downe ſweete and plentifull ſhowres of rayne, ſo watering y^e earth, that thereby great ſtore of all fruites plentifully tooke roote, and yeelded full increaſe in growth, to the great comfort and reliefe of al y^e people, which before were in manner ſtaruen and loſt through want of foode.Catching of fiſhe with nettes. Biſhop Wilfrid alſo taught them in that countrey the manner howe to catche fiſhe with nettes, where before that time, they had no great ſkill in any kind of fiſſhing, except it were in catching eeles. Heereby the ſayd Biſhop grew there in greate eſtimation with the people, ſo that his wordes were the better credited amongſt thẽ, for that through him, they receyued ſo greate be|nefites, God by ſuch meanes working in the peo|ples hartes a deſire to come to the vnderſtandyng of his lawes. The King alſo gaue vnto Wilfrid a place called Seoleſew, compaſſed about on each ſide (except on the Weſt halfe) with the Sea, con|teyning .87. houſholdes or families, where he built an Abbey, and baptiſed all his tenauntes there, a|mounting to the number of .250. bond men and bond women,Bondmen made t [...]ely free. whome hee made free both in body and ſoule, for he did not only baptiſe them, but al|ſo enfranchiſed them of all bodily ſeruitude and bondage.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 2 In this meane while, many things happened in other partes of this lande, and firſt in the yeare after the appearing of the blaſing Starre before mentioned, a mightie battell was fought betwixt the ſayd Ecgfrid, and Edilred King of Mercia, neere to the riuer of Trent, where Alſwine y^e bro|ther of King Ecgfrid was ſlaine, with many o|ther of the Northumbers, ſo that King Ecgfrid was conſtreyned to returne home with loſſe. The Archbiſhop of Canterbury Theodorus percey|ning that great warre and effuſion of bloud was like to followe thereof, trauelled ſo in the matter betwixt them, that they were made friendes, and Ecgfrid had a peece of money in recompence of his loſſes. The foreſayd battell was fought in the yeare of our Lord .679. and in the yeare follo|wing, that is to ſay,679 680 in the yere of our Lord .680. whiche was alſo the tenth yeare of the raigne of Ecgfrid King of Northumberland, the ſixth yere of the raigne of Edelred King of Mercia, the ſe|uententh of the raigne of Aldvulfe King of the Eaſt angles, and in y^e ſeuenth yeare of the raigne of Lothere king of Kente,A Synode at Hatfielde. the Archbiſhop of Cã|terbury Theodorus held another Synod at Hat|field, about the day of the fifteenth Kalendes of October, in the which all the Cleargie there pre|ſent, ſubſcribed to certaine Articles touching the EEBO page image 183 beleefe of the trinitie of perſons,Articles ſub|ſcribed. in the vnitie of the Gadhead of like ſubſtãce, and alſo of the ſame vnitie in trinitie, according to the true faith of the Church of God: and moreouer, they acknowled|ged by the like ſubſcription, the fiue generall coũ|cels of Nice, and Conſtantinople the firſt, of E|pheſus, of Calcedone, and of Conſtantinople the ſecond, with the Synode alſo holden at Rome in the dayes of Martin Biſhop of Rome, about the ninth yeare of the Emperour Conſtantine. At this Sinode holden at Hatfield, was preſente one Iohn the Archechanter of Saint Peters Church at Rome, ſent into this lande of purpoſe to bring from hence a certificat vnto Pope Agatho of the agreement of the Engliſh Church in matters of faith, with other churches of the Chriſtiã world: but the foreſayde Archechantor dyed by the way in Fraunce, as he returned homewards, and was buried at Towers in Towrayne.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 Bale. The Abbeſſe Hilda. Beda. The ſame yeare, that famous woman Hilda Abbeſſe of Whitby, departed out of this life, or as other ſay, a fiue yeares after, hauing firſte bin de|teyned a long time with greeuous ſickneſſe. She was the daughter of one Herrericus the Nephew of King Edwin, and conuerted to the faythe of Chriſt at the preaching of Biſhop Pauline, and afterwards inſtructed by Biſhop Aydan, profeſ|ſed hir ſelfe a Nunne, applying hir whole ſtudie to the reading of the Scriptures, to prayer, and o|ther godly exerciſes. She builded the Abbey of Whitby, wherein were placed both men and wo|men, with ſuche an equalitie in all thyngs, that there was no rich perſon amongſt them, nor any that wanted things neceſſary. She departed out of this life on the fifteenth Kalendes of Decem|ber,Bale. Beda. Ran. Ceſtren. Mat. VV eſt. being .66. yeares of age. As ſome haue writ|ten ſhe argued ſtoutly on Biſhop Colmons part, at the diſputation holden in the Monaſterie of Whitby, in the yeare of grace .664. whereof yee haue heard before.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 H. Hunton.About the yeare of our Lorde .682. that is to ſay, in the ſeuenth yeare of Centwine or Centi|uinus King of Weſt Saxons, the ſame Cent|wine fought with the Britaynes, and ouercame them in battayle,The Britaynes diſcomfited. purſuing them with fire and ſword vnto the Sea ſide.

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5.35. Edilred king of Mercia inuadeth the kingdome of Kent, and maketh great waste without resistance of Lothaire the king there|of, Putta of a bishop becommeth a poore curat and teacheth musicke, Wilfred deposed from his bishop|rike by king Egfrid vpon displeasure, he preacheth the gospell in Sussex by the licence of king Edilwalke no raine in Sussex for the space of three yeeres, the woord and sacraments bring blessings with them; bishop Wilfrid the first teacher to catch fish with nets, the people haue him in great reuerence, a great and bloudie battell betweene Egfrid & king Edil|red, they are reconciled by the meanes of archbishop Theodore; a synod holden at Hatfield, the cler|gie subscribe to certeine articles, of Hilda the famous abbesse of Whitbie. The xxxv. Chapter.

Edilred king of Mercia inuadeth the kingdome of Kent, and maketh great waste without resistance of Lothaire the king there|of, Putta of a bishop becommeth a poore curat and teacheth musicke, Wilfred deposed from his bishop|rike by king Egfrid vpon displeasure, he preacheth the gospell in Sussex by the licence of king Edilwalke no raine in Sussex for the space of three yeeres, the woord and sacraments bring blessings with them; bishop Wilfrid the first teacher to catch fish with nets, the people haue him in great reuerence, a great and bloudie battell betweene Egfrid & king Edil|red, they are reconciled by the meanes of archbishop Theodore; a synod holden at Hatfield, the cler|gie subscribe to certeine articles, of Hilda the famous abbesse of Whitbie. The xxxv. Chapter.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 _AFter Uulfhere,Edilred. his bro|ther Edilred or Ethelred suc|céeded in gouernment of the kingdome of Mercia. This Edilred inuaded the king|dome of Kent with a mightie armie, in the yéere of our Lord 677,677 destroieng the countrie afore him, not sparing churches nor abbeies, but spoi|ling the same without respect, as well as other com|mon places.Hen. Hunt. King Lothaire durst not appéere in the field to giue him battell, so that Edilred went tho|rough the countrie, destroied the citie of Rochester, and with great riches gotten by the spoile he retur|ned home. Putta the bishop of Rochester, after that his church was spoiled and defaced by the enimies, went to Sexvulfe bishop of Mercia, and there obtei|ning of him a small cure, and a portion of ground, remained in that countrie, not once labouring to re|store his church of his church of Rochester to the former state, but went about in Mercia to teach song, and instruct such as would learne musicke, wheresoeuer he was re|quired, or could get intertainment.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 Heerevpon the archbishop Theodore consecrated one William bishop of Rochester in place of Putta, and after, when the said William constreined by po|uertie, left that church, Theodore placed one Geb|mound in his stéed. In the yéere of our Lord 678,678 in the moneth of August, a blasing starre appéered,A blasing starre. with a long bright beame like to a piller. It was séene e|uerie morning for the space of thrée moneths togi|ther. The same Egfrid king of Northumberland, Matth. West. Beda lib. 4. ca. 12. ba|nished bishop Wilfrid vpon displeasure taken with him,Bishop wil|frid banished. Hagustald. Hexham. Eadhidus. Lindesferne Holie Iland. out of his sée, and then were two bishops ordei|ned in his place, to gouerne the church of the Nor|thumbers, the one named Bosa at Yorke, and the o|ther called Eata at Hagustald or Lindesferne. Also one Eadhidus was ordeined about the same time bi|shop of Lindsey, the which prouince king Egfrid had of late conquered and taken from Uulfhere the late king of Mercia, whome he ouercame in battell, and droue him out of that countrie. The said thrée EEBO page image 123 bishops were consecrated at Yorke by the archbishop of Canturburie Theodorus, the which within thrée yéeres after ordeined two bishops more in that pro|uince of the Northumbers, that is to say, Tumbert at Hagustald, Eata that was appointed to remaine at Lindesferne, & Trumuine was ordeined to haue the cure of the prouince of those Picts which as then were vnder the English dominion. Also bicause E|dilred king of Mercia recouered the countrie of Lindsey, and ioined it to his dominion, bishop Ead|hedus comming from thence, was appointed to go|uerne the church of Rippon.The church of Rippon.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 After that bishop Wilfrid was expelled out of his diocesse and prouince of the Northumbers, he went to Rome, and returning from thence, came into the kingdome of the Southsaxons, the which conteining seuen thousand housholds or families, as yet was not conuerted to the christian faith. Wherefore the said Wilfrid began there to preach the gospell with licence of king Edilwalke,Wilfrid by li|cence of king Edilwalke preacheth the gospel to them of Sussex. who (as before is mentio|ned) was conuerted and baptised in Mercia by the procurement of king Wolfher, that then became his godfather, and gaue him at the same time the Ile of Wight, and the prouince of the people ancientlie called Meanuari, which he had woon from the West|saxons. Bishop Wilfrid then by king Edilwalke his furtherance and helpe baptised the chiefest lords and gentlemen of that prouince. But certein priests baptised the residue of the people, either then or in the time following.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 ¶It chanced that for the space of thrée yeeres (as it is said) before the comming thither of bishop Wil|frid,Lacke of raine. there had fallen no raine from the aire within that prouince of the Southsaxons, so that the people were brought into great miserie by reson of famine, which through want of necessarie fruits of the earth sore afflicted the whole countrie, insomuch that no small numbers threw themselues hedlong into the sea, despairing of life in such lacke of necessarie vit|tels. But as God would, the same day that Wilfrid began to minister the sacrament of baptisme, there came downe swéet and plentifull showers of raine, so watering the earth, that thereby great store of all fruits plentifullie tooke root, and yéelded full increase in growth, to the great comfort and reliefe of all the people, which before were in maner starued and lost through want of food.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 Bishop Wilfrid also taught them in that coun|trie the maner how to catch fish with nets,Catching of fish with nets. where be|fore that time, they had no great skill in anie kind of fishing, except it were in catching éeles. Hereby the said bishop grew there in great estimation with the people, so that his words were the better credited a|mongst them, for that through him they receiued so great benefits, God by such meanes working in the peoples hearts a desire to come to the vnderstanding of his lawes. The king also gaue vnto Wilfrid a place called Sealesew, compassed about on each side (except on the west halfe) with the sea, conteining 87 housholds or families, where he built an abbeie, and baptised all his tenants there,Bondmen made trulie free. amounting to the number of 250 bondmen and bondwomen, whome he made frée both in bodie and soule: for he did not onelie baptise them, but also infranchised them of all bodilie seruitude and bondage.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 In this meane while manie things happened in other parts of this land, and first in the yeere after the appéering of the blasing starre before mentioned, a mightie battell was fought betwixt the said Egfrid and Edilred king of Mercia, néere to the riuer of Trent, where Alswine the brother of king Egfrid was slaine, with manie other of the Northumbers, so that king Egfrid was constreined to returne home with losse. The archbishop of Canturburie Theodorus perceiuing that great warre and effussion of bloud was like to follow therevpon, trauelled so in the matter betwixt them, that they were made friends, and Egfrid had a péece of monie in recom|pense of his losses. The foresaid battell was fought in the yéere of our Lord 679;679 and in the yéere follo|wing, that is to say, in the yéere of our Lord 680;680 which was also in the tenth yéere of the reigne of Eg|frid king of Northumberland, the sixt yéere of E|delred king of Mercia, the 17 of Aldvulfe king of Eastangles, and in the 7 of Lother king of Kent.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 The archbishop of Canturburie Theodorus held another synod at Hatfield,A synod at Hatfield. about the 15 kalends of October,Articles sub|scribed. in the which all the clergie there present sub|scribed to certeine articles touching the beléefe of the trinitie of persons, in the vnitie of the Godhead of the like substance, and also of the same vnitie in tri|nitie, according to the true faith of the church of God. Moreouer, they acknowledged by the like subscrip|tion, the fiue generall councels, of Nice, of Con|stantinople the first, of Ephesus, of Calcedon, and of Constantinople the second, with the synod also hol|den at Rome in the daies of Martin bishop of Rome about the yéere of the emperour Constantine. At this synod holden at Haifield, was present one Iohn the archchanter of S. Peters church at Rome, sent into this land of purpose to bring from hence a certificat vnto pope Agatho of the agréement of the English church in matters of faith, with other chur|ches of the christian world: but the foresaid archchan|ter died by the way in France, as he returned home|wards, and was buried at Towers in Towraine.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 2 The same yéere that famous woman Hilda ab|besse of Whitbie departed this life, Bale. The abbesse Hilda. Beda. or (as other say) fiue yéeres after, hauing first beene deteined long with gréeuous sickenesse. She was the daughter of one Herrericus the nephue of king Edwin, and con|uerted to the faith of Christ at the preaching of bi|shop Pauline, and afterwards instructed by bishop Aidan, she professed hirselfe a nun, applieng hir whole studie to the reading of the scriptures, to praier, & o|ther godlie exercises. She builded the abbeie of Whit|bie, wherein were placed both men and women, with such an equalitie in all things, that there was no rich person amongst them, nor anie that wanted things necessarie. She departed this life on the 15 kalends of December,Bale. Ran. Cest. Matth. West. Beda. being 66 yéeres of age. As some haue written she argued stoutlie on bishop Colmans part, at the disputation holden in the mo|nasterie of Whitbie, in the yéere of Grace 664, whereof ye haue heard before.Henrie Hunt. About the yéere of our Lord 682, that is to say, in the seuenth yere of Cent|wine or Centiuinus king of Westsaxons, the same Centwine fought with the Britains, and ouercame them in battell,The Bri|tains dis|comfited. pursuing them with fire and sword vnto the sea side.

¶Thus (at this time as also at diuerse other times) they were discomfited and put to flight, being a peo|ple allotted and shared out as it were to suffer many an ouerthrow, and abide manie a sharpe and shame|full repulse at the hands of their enimies, who con|uerted the distresse of that people to their profit, and tooke pleasure in the extreamitie of the miseries wherein they were plunged, as may be obserued by the pitifull alteration of their state vnder diuerse go|uernors, and speciallie vnder the Danish dominion, who kept them in no lesse vile seruitude than Pharao did the Hebrues at the making of bricke & chopping of straw. So that some thinke this land to be cor|ruptlie named Britania, Gorop. in Go|to danica lib. 7. pag. 759. but ought rather to called Bridania, that is, Liberae Dania, siue regio in qua Dani libe|rè viuant, for they liued as lords in the land, & did (for the time being) what they listed. But of this matter more shall be spoken hereafter in place conuenient.