Raphael Holinshed - Chronicles 1 (of 6): The Historie of England 5 (of 8)
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Raphael Holinshed >> Chronicles 1 (of 6): The Historie of England 5 (of 8)
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The archbishop imboldned by this vision, and also repenting him of his
determination, came to king Eadbald, and shewed to him his stripes,
and the maner of his dreame. The king being herewith put in great
feare, renounced his heathenish worshipping of idols, and was
baptised, and as much as in him laie, from thenceforth succoured the
congregation of the christians, and aduanced the church to his power.
He sent also into France, and called home the bishops Melitus and
Iustus, so that Iustus was restored to his see of Rochester.
But the Eastsaxons would not receiue Melitus to his see at London,
but continued in their wicked mawmetrie, in obeieng a bishop of their
pagan law, whom they had erected for that purpose. Neither was king
Eadbald of that authoritie and power in those parties, as his father
was before, whereby he might constreine them to receiue their lawfull
bishop. But suerlie the said king Eadbald with his people, after he
was once conuerted againe, gaue himselfe wholie to obeie the lawes of
GOD, and amongt other deeds of godlie zeale, he builded a church
[Sidenote: _Beda lib. 2_.]
to our ladie at Canturburie, within the monasterie of saint Peter,
afterwards called saint Agnes. This church was consecrated by Melitus,
who after the death of Laurence succeeded in gouernance of the
archbishops see of Canturburie. After Melitus, who departed this
[Sidenote: _Beda. lib. 2. ca. 8_.]
life in the yeare of our Lord 624, Iustus that before was bishop
of Rochester, was made archbishop of Canturburie, and ordeined one
Romanus to the see of Rochester. About that time, the people of the
north parts beyond Humber receiued the faith, by occasion (as after
shall appeere.)
* * * * *
_Edwin reigneth ouer the Northumbers, his great power and reputation,
a marriage betweene him and Ethelburga the sister of king Eadbald vpon
religious couenants, the traitorous attempts of murtherous Eumerus
against him, his wife Ethelburga is deliuered of a daughter, he
assalteth the Westsaxons, and discomfiteth them, Boniface the fift
writeth to him to desist from his idolatrie, and to his ladie to
persist in true christianitie; the vision of Edwin when he was a
banished man in the court of Redwald king of the Eastangles, whereby
he was informed of his great exaltation and conuersion to christian
religion._
THE XXV. CHAPTER.
Ye haue heard how Edelfred the king of Northumberland was slaine in
battell neere to the water of Idel by Redwald king of the Eastangles,
in fauour of Edwin whom the said Edelfred had confined out of his
dominion, 24 yeeres before. The foresaid Redwald therefore hauing
obteined that victorie, found meanes to place Edwin in gouernement of
that kingdome of the Northumbers, hauing a title thereto as sonne
[Sidenote: EDWIN. _Beda. lib. 2. ca. 5_.]
to Alla or Elle, sometime king of Northumberland. This Edwin prooued
a right valiant prince, & grew to be of more power than anie other
king in the daies of the English nation: not onelie ruling ouer a
great part of the countries inhabited with English men, but also with
Britains, who inhabited not onelie in Wales, but in part of Chesshire,
Lancashire, Cumberland, and alongst by the west sea-coast in Galloway,
and so foorth euen vnto Dunbritaine in Scotland: which I haue thought
good to note, that it may appeare in what countries Cadwallo bare
rule, of whome so often mention is made in this part of the historie.
But as concerning Edwin, his reputation was such, as not onelie the
English men, Britains and Scots, but also the Iles of Orknie, and
[Sidenote: _W. Malm._ taketh Meuania to be Anglesey.]
those of Man, and others the west Iles of ancient time called Meuaniae,
had him in reuerence, and feared his mightie power, so as they durst
not attempt anie exploit to offend him.
It chanced that shortlie after, king Redwald had aduanced him to the
kingdom of Northumberland, to wit, about 6 yeares, the same Redwald
deceassed, which made greatlie for the more augmentation of Edwins
power. For the people of the Eastangles, which (whilest Edwin remained
amongst them as a banished man) had conceiued a good opinion of him
for his approoued valiancie and noble courage, offered themselues to
[Sidenote: Carpwaldus.]
be wholie at his commandement. But Edwin suffering Carpwald or
Erpwald the sonne of Redwald to inioie the bare title and name of the
king of that countrie, ruled all things at his owne will and pleasure.
Neither was there anie prouince within Britaine that did not obeie
him, or was not readie to doo him seruice (the kingdome of Kent onelie
excepted) for he suffered the Kentishmen to liue in quiet, because
he began to haue a liking to the sister of king Eadbald, namelie the
ladie Ethelburga, otherwise called Tate or Tace.
[Sidenote: _Beda. lib. 2. cap. 9_.]
He made request therefore by sending ambassadours to hir brother,
to haue the said ladie in marriage, and at length obteined hir, with
condition that she being a christian woman, might not onelie vse the
christian religion, but also that all those, whether men or women,
priests or ministers, which came with hir, might haue licence to doo
the same, without trouble or impeachment of anie maner of person.
Herevpon she being sent vnto him, there was appointed to go with hir
[Sidenote: _Matth. West._ _Beda. lib. 2. cap. 9_.]
(besides manie other) one Pauline, which was consecrated bishop by
[Sidenote: 625.]
the archbishop Iustus the 21 of Iulie, in the yeare of our Lord 625,
who at his comming into Northumberland thus in companie with
Ethelburga, trauelled earnestlie in his office, both to preserue hir
and such christians in the faith of Christ, as were appointed to giue
their attendance on hir, least they should chance to fall: and also
sought to win some of the Pagans (if it were possible) vnto the same
faith, though at the first he little profited in that matter.
In the yeare following, there came a murtherer vnto the court of king
Edwin, as then soiourning in a palace which stood vpon the side of the
riuer of Dorwent, being sent from Quichelme king of the Westsaxons, to
the intent to murther Edwin, because he had of late sore damnified the
countries of the Westsaxons. This murtherer was called Eumerus, &
[Sidenote: Other say an axe, as _Matth. West._]
caried vnder his coate a shost double edged woodknife inuenomed of
purpose, that if the king being but a little hurt therewith, should
not die of the wound, yet he should not escape the danger of the
[Sidenote: Emmerus.]
poison. This Eumerus on Easter mondaie came to the king, and making
foorth to him as it had beene to haue declared some message from his
maister, when he had espied his time, drew his weapon, and offered to
strike the king. But one of the kings seruants named Lilla, perceiuing
this, stept betwixt the king and the blow. Howbeit the murtherer set
the stripe forward with such force, that the knife running through
the bodie of Lilla wounded also the king a little: and before this
murtherer could be beaten downe, he slue another of the kings
seruants, a knight that attended vpon him, called Fordher.
[Sidenote: Eaufled borne.]
The same night Ethelburga was deliuered of a daughter named
Eaufled, for the which when king Edwin gaue thanks vnto his gods, in
the presence of bishop Pauline, the bishop did admonish him, rather to
giue thanks vnto the true and onelie God, by whose goodnesse it came
to passe that the queene was safelie and without danger deliuered. The
king giuing good eare vnto the bishops wholesome admonition, promised
at that present to become a Christian, if he might reuenge his
injuries receiued at the hands of the Westsaxons. And to assure
Pauline that his promise should take place, he gaue vnto him his new
borne daughter to be made holie to the Lord, that is to say, baptised.
The bishop receiuing hir, on Whitsundaie next following baptised hir,
with twelue other of the kings houshold, she being the first of
the English Northumbers that was so washed in the founteine of
regeneration.
In the meane time K. Edwin being recouered of his hurt, assembled an
armie, and went against the Westsaxons, with whome incountring in
battell, he either slue or brought to his subiection all them that
had conspired his death, and so returned as a conquerour into his
countrie. But yet he delaied time in performance of his promise to
become a Christian: howbeit he had left his dooing of sacrifice to
idols, euer since he made promise to be baptised. He was a sage
prince, and before he would alter his religion, he politikelie
thought good to heare matters touching both his old religion, and the
Christian religion throughlie examined.
Now whilest he thus hoong in doubt vnto whether part he should
[Sidenote: _Beda. lib. 2, cap. 10_.]
incline, there came letters to him from pope Boniface the fift of
that name, exhorting him by sundrie kinds of gentle perswasions, to
turne to the worshipping of the true and liuing God, and to renounce
worshipping of mawmets and idols. The pope wrote also to queene
[Sidenote: _Beda. lib. 2, cap. 11_.]
Ethelburga, praieng hir to continue in hir good purpose, and by
all meanes possible to doo what might be doone for the conuerting of
hir husband vnto the faith of Christ. But the thing that most mooued
[Sidenote: A vision.]
the king, was a vision which sometime he had while he remained
as a banished man in the court of Redwald king of the Eastangles, as
thus.
[Sidenote: _Beda. cap._ 12.]
After that king Ethelfred was informed that the foresaid Redwald
had receiued Edwin, he ceased not by his ambassadours to moue Redwald
either to deliuer Edwin into his hands, or to make him awaie. At
length by often sending, & promises made of large summes of monie,
mixed with threatnings, he obteined a grant of his sute, so that
it was determined that Edwin should either be murthered, or else
deliuered into his enimies hands. One of Edwins friends hauing
intelligence hereof, in the night season came to Edwins chamber, and
leading him abroad, told him the whole practise, and what was purposed
against him, offering to helpe him out of the countrie, if he would so
[Sidenote: The honorable consideration of Edwin.]
aduenture to escape. Edwin being woonderouslie amazed, thanked his
friend, but refused to depart the countrie, sith he had no iust cause
outwardlie giuen to play such a slipper part, choosing rather to
ieopard his life with honour, than to giue men cause to thinke that he
had first broken promise with such a prince as Redwald was, to whome
he had giuen his faith.
Herevpon his friend departing from him, left him sitting without the
doores: where after he had reuolued manie things in his mind, and
thought long vpon this matter, at length he perceiued one to come
towards him vnknowne, and in strange apparell, seeming to him in
euerie point a stranger, at which sight (for that he could not imagine
who it should be) Edwin was much afraid: but the man comming to him
saluted him, and asked of him what he made there at that time of the
night when other were at rest. Edwin on the other part asked what he
had to doo therewith, and whether he vsed to lie abroad in the night,
or within house? Who answering said; Thinke not Edwin that I am
ignorant of thy heauinesse, of thy watchings, and this thy solitarie
sitting here without doores. For I know who thou art, wherefore thou
art thus pensiue, and what euils thou fearest to be towards thee at
hand. But tell me, what wouldest thou giue him, that could deliuer
thee out of this heauinesse, and perswade Redwald that he should
neither doo thee hurt, nor deliuer thee to thine enimies? Here with
when Edwin said that he would gladlie giue all that in him might lie
to such a one in reward: The other said; What wouldst thou giue then,
if he should promise in good sooth that (all thine enimies being
destroied) thou shouldest be king, and that thou shouldest passe in
power all the kings which haue reigned in the English nation before
thy time? Edwin being better come to himselfe by such demandes, did
not sticke to promise that he would requite his friendship with
woorthie thanks.
Then replied he to his words and said; If he that shall prophesie to
thee this good hap to come, shall also be able to informe thee in such
counsell for thy health and life, as neuer anie of thy forefathers or
kinsfolke yet haue heard, wouldest thou obey him, and also consent
to receiue his wholesome aduertisement? Wherevnto without further
deliberation Edwin promised, that he would in all points follow the
instruction of him that should deliuer him out of so manie and great
calamities, and bring him to the rule of a kingdome. Which answere
being got, this person that thus talked with him, laid his hand vpon
his head, saieng: When this therefore shall chance to thee, be not
forgetfull of this time, nor of this communication, and those things
that thou now dooest promise, see thou performe. And therewith he
vanished awaie. So that Edwin might well perceiue it was no man but a
vision that thus had appeared vnto him.
[¶ This vnaccustomed course it pleased God to vse for the conuersion
of the king (to whose example it was no doubt but the people and
inferiour sort would generallie be conformed) who otherwise had
continued in paganisme and blind ignorance both of Gods truth and true
christianitie. And it maie be that there was in him, as in other kings
his predecessors, a settled perswasion in gentilish error, so that
neither by admonition nor preaching (though the same had proceeded
from the mouth of one allotted to that ministerie) he was to be
reuoked from the infidelitie and misbeleefe wherein he was nuzzeled
and trained vp. For it is the nature of all men, to be addicted to the
obseruation of such rites and customes as haue beene established and
left in force by their progenitors, and sooner to stand vnto a desire
and earnest purpose of adding somewhat to their elders corrupt
constitutions, and irreligious course of conuersation, than to
be inclinable to anie article or point tending to innouation: so
inflexible is the posteritie to swarue from the traditions of
antiquitie, stand the same vpon neuer so grosse and palpable
absurdities.]
Edwin still reioising in the foresaid comfortable talke, but
thoughtfull in mind what he should be, or from whence he came that had
talked in this sort with him; behold his friend returned that first
had brought him foorth of his chamber, and declared vnto him good
newes, how the king by perswasion of the queene had altered his
determination, and minded to mainteine his quarell to the vttermost of
his power: and so he did in deed. For with all diligence he raised
an armie, and went against Ethelfrid, vanquished him in battell, and
placed Edwin in the kingdome (as before ye haue heard.)
* * * * *
_King Edwin is put in mind of his vision by Pauline who sawe the
same in spirit, he is licenced to preach the gospell, bishop Coifi
destroieth the idols, Edwin and his people receiue the Christian
faith, his two sonnes Osfride and Eadfride become conuerts, Redwald
king of the Eastangles is baptised, he serueth God and the diuell,
Sibert receiueth the faith, Felix bishop of Burgongne commeth ouer to
Honorius archbishop of Canturburie, he preacheth to the Eastangles,
the Northumbers and Lincolnshiremen are conuerted manie are baptised
in the riuer of Trent; king Edwins iustice how effectuall and
commendable, his care for the common-wealth, his prouidence for the
refection of trauellers, pope Honorius confirmeth Pauline archbishop
of Yorke, the tenor of his letters touching the mutuall election of
the archbishop of Canturburie and Yorke, if either of them happened to
suruiue other, his letters to the Scots touching the keeping of Easter
and avoiding the Pelagian heresie, Cadwallo king of Britaine rebelleth
against Edwin, Penda king of Mercia enuieth his good estate, Cadwallo
and Penda inuade Northumberland, Edwin and his sonne Osfride are
slaine, Penda putteth his other sonne Eadfride cruellie to death._
THE XXVJ. CHAPTER.
Notwithstanding the former vision, king Edwin deferred time yer he
would receiue the Christian faith, in somuch that Pauline vpon a daie
came vnto him as he sat musing what he were best to doo, and laid his
hand vpon his head, asking him if he knew that signe. Whereat when the
king would haue fallen downe at his feet, he lifted him vp, and as it
were in familiar wise thus said vnto him: "Behold, by the assistance
of Gods fauour thou hast escaped the hands of thine enimies, whome
thou stoodst in feare of: behold through his bountious liberalitie,
thou hast obteined the kingdome which thou diddest desire, remember
then that thou delaie no time to performe the third thing that
thou diddest promise, in receiuing his faith, and keeping his
commandements, which deliuering thee from worldlie aduersities, hath
thus aduanced thee to the honor of a king: and if from henceforth thou
wilt obey his will, which by my mouth hee setteth and preacheth to
thee and others, he will deliuer thee from euerlasting torments, and
make thee partaker with him in his celestiall kingdome." It is to be
thought that the vision which the king had in times past receiued, was
in spirit reuealed vnto Pauline, wherevpon without delaie of time, he
put him in remembrance of it in maner as aboue is mentioned.
The king hauing heard his words, answered, that he would and ought to
receiue the faith which he taught, but first he would conferre with
his nobles, and if they would agree to doo the like, then would they
be baptised altogither at one time. Pauline satisfied herewith,
[Sidenote: Edwin consulteth with his nobles.]
Edwin did as he had promised, calling togither the wisest men of his
realme, and of them asked the question what they thought of this
diuinitie, which was preached vnto them by Pauline, vnto whome
[Sidenote: The answere of an heathen bishop.]
his chiefe bishop named Coifi, incontinentlie made this answer; that
Suerlie the religion which they had hitherto followed was nothing
worth. "For saith he, there is none of thy people that hath more
reuerentlie woorshipped our gods than I haue doone, and yet be there
manie that haue receiued far greater benefits at thy hands than I haue
doone: and therefore if our gods were of anie power, then would they
rather helpe me to high honor and dignitie than others. Therefore if
it maie be found that this new religion is better & more auailable
than our old, let vs with speed imbrace the same."
Finallie, when other of the kings councell & men of high authoritie
gaue their consents, that this doctrine which Pauline taught ought to
be receiued, if therein appeered more certeintie of saluation than
could be found in the other: at length the king gaue licence to
[Sidenote: Pauline licenced to preach the gospell.]
Pauline openlie to preach the gospell, and renouncing his worshipping
of false gods, professed the Christian faith. And when he demanded of
his bishop Coifi who should first deface the altars of their idols,
and the tabernacles wherewith they were compassed about? He answered,
that himselfe would doo it. "For what is more meet (saith he) than
that I, which thorough foolishnesse haue worshipped them, should now
for example sake destroie the same, thorough wisedome giuen me from
the true and liuing God?" And streightwaies throwing awaie the
superstition of vanitie, required armour and weapon of the king, with
a stoned horsse, vpon the which he being mounted, rode foorth to
destroie the idols.
This was a strange sight to the people: for it was not lawfull for the
bishop of their law to put on armour, or to ride on anie beast, except
it were a mare. He hauing therefore a swoord gird to him, tooke a
speare in his hand, and riding on the kings horsse, went to the place
where the idols stood. The common people that beheld him had thought
he had beene starke mad, and out of his wits: but he without longer
deliberation, incontinentlie vpon his comming to the temple, began
to deface the same, and in contempt threw his speare against it, &
reioising greatlie in the knowledge of the worshipping of the true
God, commanded his companie to destroie & burne downe the same
temple with all the altars. This place where the idols were sometime
worshipped was not farre from Yorke, towards the east part of the
riuer of Derwent, and is called Gotmundin Gaham, where the foresaid
bishop by the inspiration of God defaced and destroied those altars,
which he himselfe had hallowed.
[Sidenote: King Edwin with his people receive the christian faith.
_Beda. lib. 2. cap. 14_. 627.]
King Edwin therefore with all the nobilitie, and a great number of
his people, receiued the faith and were baptised, in the yeere of our
Lord 627, in the tenth yeere of his reigne, and about the 178 yeere
after the first comming of the Englishmen into this land. He was
baptised at Yorke on Easter daie (which fell that yeere the day before
the Ides of Aprill) in the church of S. Peter the apostle, which he
had caused to be erected and built vp of timber vpon the sudden for
that purpose, and afterwards began the foundation of the same church
in stone-woorke of a larger compasse, comprehending within it that
oratorie which he had first caused to be built: but before he could
finish the woorke, he was slaine (as after shall be shewed) leauing
it to be performed of his successor Oswald.
Pauline continued from thencefoorth during the kings life, which
was six yeeres after, in preaching the gospell in that prouince,
conuerting an innumerable number of people to the faith of Christ,
among whom were Osfride and Eadfride the two sonnes of Edwin, whom he
begot in time of his banishment of his wife Quinburga, the daughter
of Cearlus king of Mercia. Also afterwards he begot children on his
second wife Ethelburga, that is to say, a sonne called Edilhimus,
[Sidenote: Ediltrudis.]
and a daughter named Ediltrudis, and another sonne called Bustfrea, of
the which the two first died in their cradels, and were buried in the
church at Yorke. To be briefe: by the kings assistance & fauour shewed
vnto Pauline in the woorke of the Lord, great multitudes of people
dailie receiued the faith, and were baptised of Pauline in manie
places, but speciallie in the riuer of Gleuie within the prouince of
Bernicia, and also in Swale in the prouince of Deira: for as yet in
the beginning thus of the church in those countries, no temples or
fonts could be builded or erected in so short a time.
Of such great zeale was Edwin (as it is reported) towards the setting
[Sidenote: This chanced in the yeere 632, as _Matt. West._ saith.]
foorth of Gods truth, that he persuaded Carpwald the sonne of Redwald
king of the Eastangles to abandon the superstitious worshipping of
idols, and to receiue the faith of Christ with all his whole prouince.
[Sidenote: Redwald king of Eastangles baptised.]
His father Redwald was baptised in Kent long before this time, but in
vaine: for returning home, through counsell of his wife and other
wicked persons, he was seduced, and being turned from the sincere
puritie of faith, his last dooings were woorse than his first, so
[Sidenote: Redwald would serve God and the diuell.]
that according to the maner of the old Samaritans, he would seeme
both to serue the true God and his false gods, (whom before time he
had serued) and in one selfe church had at one time both the
sacraments of Christ ministred at one altar, and sacrifice made vnto
diuels at another.
But Carpwald within a while after he had receiued the faith, was
slaine by one of his owne countrimen that was an ethnike, called
Richbert, and then after his death, that prouince for the tearme
[Sidenote: Sibert or Sigibert.]
of three yeeres was wrapped eftsoones in errour, till Sibert or
Sigibert, the brother of Carpwald, a most christian prince, and verie
well learned, obteined the rule of that kingdome, who whilest he liued
a banished man in France during his brothers life time, was baptised
there, and became a christian: and when he came to be king, he caused
all his prouince to be partaker of the same fountaine of life, wherein
he had beene dipped himselfe.
Vnto this godlie purpose also, a bishop of the parties of Burgoigne
named Felix was a great furtherer, who comming ouer vnto the
archbishop of Canturburie Honorius that was successor vnto Iustus, and
declaring vnto him his earnest desire, was sent by the same archbishop
to preach the woord of life vnto the Eastangles, which he did with
such good successe, that he conuerted the whole countrie to the faith
of Iesus Christ, and placed the see of his bishoprike at Dunwich,
[Sidenote: A bishop ordained at Dunwhich. _Beda lib 1. cap. 16._]
ending the course of his life there in peace after he had continued in
that his bishoplike office the space of 17 yeeres. Moreouer Pauline,
after that he had conuerted the Northumbers, preached the woord of God
vnto them of Lindsey, which is a part of Lincolnshire: and first he
persuaded one Blecca the gouernour of the citie of Lincolne to
[Sidenote: This chanced in the yeere 628, as _Matth. West_ saith.]
turne vnto Christ, togither with all his familie. In that citie he
also builded a church of stone woorke. Thus Pauline trauelled in the
woorke of the Lord, the same being greatlie furthered by the helpe of
Edwin, in whose presence he baptised a great number of people in the
riuer of Trent, neere to a towne, which in the old English toong was
called _Tio vulfingacester_. This Pauline had with him a deacon named
Iames, the which shewed himselfe verie diligent in the ministerie, and
profited greatlie therein.
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