Observations of all the Kings of England, Chapter 3
CHAP. III.
ELLA.
THe first King of the South-Saxons, and second Monarch of the English men.
He raigned six yeares.
Cherdik.
The first King of the West-Saxons, and third Monarch of the English men.
He raigned twenty one yeares.
Kenrik.
The second King of the West-Saxons, and fourth of the English men.
He raigned twenty six yeares
Cheuline.
The third King of the West-Saxons, and fifth Monarch of the English men.C…aulini spectatissimum in praeli…s robar annales ad invidiam esserunt, quippe qui fuis Anglis stupori, Brittonibus odio, …trisque exitio. Mal…esburiensis de Gest is Anglorum. l. 1. c. 2.
He raigned thirty one yeares.
Ethelbert.
The fifth and first Christian King of Kent, and the sixth Monarch of the English men.
He was eminent for first receiving the Christian faith, brought from Rome by Austin, and for converting …ebert King of the East-Angles to Christianity, and assisting him in building St. Pauls in London, and St. Peters in Westminster.
That the Christian Religion was here in Brittain before the coming of Austin the Monk, may be proved out of Beda, who maketh mention of Brittish Bishops, but nameth none of them. Hist. Ang. l. 2. c. 2
Eusibius in vità Constantini l. 3. c. 18. saith that this Country was Christian three hundred yeares before.
Mr Saller in his Rights of the Kingdome, saith, The first times of Christian Religion here, were much higher then Austin the Father, who might have been great Grandfather to Austin the Monk.
He brought the Lawes of his Country into their own mother-tongue, and left nothing unattempted, which might advance the glorious Gospel of Christ.
He built St. Augustines, a goodly Church in Canterbury. He built also St. Pauls Church in London: and St. Andrews in Rochester.
He died in the three and twentieth year of his Monarchy, and the fifty sixth of his Kingdome of Kent.
Redwald.
The third King of the East-Angles, and seventh Monarch of the English men.
Of this Redwald Cambden reporteth out of Bede, that he was baptized; and that (to make sure, as he thought, of the right way of worship) he had in the same Temple one Altar for Christian Religion, and another for sacrifice to Devils.
He raigned eight yeares, and was King of the East-Angles thirty one.
Edwine.
The Great King of Northumberland, and the eighth sole Monarch of the English men.
He was slain in Battell by Penda and Cadwallo the seventh year of his Monarchy,Polydor Virgil. Ang. hist. l. 4 p. 80. relates the manner of the Battell. the seventeenth of his Kingdome.
He lived fourty eight yeares.
Oswald.
King of Northumberland, and the ninth Monarch of the English men.
He was a religiou… King,Oswaldus fide quam ferro instruct…or. and took such care for the co…version and salvation of his Subject…, that he sent into Scotland for aid, and a Christian Bishop to instruct his Northumbrians in the Gospel of truth.
Mira fuit in homine sanctitas,H…jus regis laudes historia Bedae panegyrico prosequitur stylo. Malmesburiensis de Gestin Regum Anglorum. l 1. c. 3. vide plura ibid. mirum pietatis studium, nulli unquam malum pro malo reddidit, sed Christi regis summi exemplum imitatus, ijs etiam bene precabatur, beneque voleba…, à quib…s accepisset injurias. Polyd. Virg. Ang. Hist. l. 4. p. 82.
He left the name to Oswalster in Shropshire.
Of this Oswald (as also of Stephan King of Hungary) it is storied,Inclytus ille & plurimis animi virtutibus (aa pietate pr…esertim in Deum) Princeps merito celeberrimus, Osuualdus, cum Northumbrorum regno anno salutis 634 fuisset potitus. God w. de Pra… sul. Angl. that their right hands though dead, never putrified, because they had been much exercised in almes-deeds. Bed. hist. Angl. l. 3. c. 6. Bonsinius.
Quis suit Alcides? quis Caesar Julius, aut quit
Magnus Alexander? Alcides se superasse
Fertur, Alexander mundum, sed Julius hostem.
Se simul Osuualdus, & mundum vicit, & hostem.
He died in the 23. year of his Monarchy, and the 56. of his Kingdome of Kent.
Oswy.
King of Northumberland, and the tenth Monarch of the English men.
He was Brother to Edwin and Oswald.
He founded the Cathedrall Church in Litchfield, for a Bishops See.
Upon an occasion Oswin humble … himself before the holyman Adrian, Beda.who upon sight thereof wept, and gave this reason of his weeping, I know this King will not live long; and this reason of his reason, for I never before this saw an humble King.
He lived fifty seven yeares, and raigned the space of twenty ei…ht yeares.
Wulphere.
The sixth King of the Mercians, and the eleventh Monarch of the Engl… men.wulpherus, ne spem civium falleret, edulò satagere, magnis & animi & corporis viribus utilem se principem ostentare; denique Christianitatenst vix in regno suo palpitantem, & per fratrem initiatam favore suo enixissime suvit. Maimesburiensis de Gestis Regum Anglorum l …. c. 4.
He becoming a …hristian destroyed all those Tem…les, wherein his Heathen Gods had been worshipped, converting them all into Christian Churches, and religious Monasteries.
He raigned King over the Mercians seventeen yeares, and Monarch of the English fuily four.
Ethelred.
The seventh King of Mercia, Ethelredus animi religione, quam pugnandi exercitatione celebrtor▪ Malm. de Gestis Regum Angl. l. 1. c. 4.and twelfth Monarch of the English.
A modest Prince, which loved better to preserve then to encrease his power by Arms.
He raigned above thirty yeares.
Kenred.
The eighth King of Mercia, Quipietate in Deum, probitat… in patriam perinsignis, magna morum sinceritate vitam cucurrit, quintoque anno regni Romam ire pergeus, reliquum temporis illic rel…giosè complevit. Malmes. de Gestis Regum Angl. l. 1. c. 4.and the thirteenth Monarch of the English men.
He raigned in peace four yeares; then weary of Government, and desirous of contemplation, be sought a more private and religious life; and thereupon appointing …helred his Cosen-germane to rule in his place, in the fifth year of his Raign, abandoned his Kingdome and Country, and departed to Rome, and in a Monastery in that City was made Monk.
Chelred.
The ninth King of the Mercians, Celredus immatura morte miscrabilis; siquidem non ultra octo annos regno satisfaciens Liceselda conditus est. Malmes. de gestis Regum Ang. l. 1. c. 4.and the fourteenth Monarch of the English.
He had got as great reputation of military valour, as any Prince of his time, if he had not died so soon.
He raigned only seven yeares.
Ethelbald.
The tenth King of the Mercians, and the fifteentth Monarch of the English.
A peaceable Prince, but was over amorous.
Boniface the Archbishop of Mentz, an Englishman by Nation, sent an Epistle to him.
This is one passage in it.
Quapropter, …li charissime, paeniteat te & memora quam turpe sit, ut tu, qui multis gentihus dono D… dominaris, al injuriam ejus sis libidinis servus.
The Epistle is full of good counsell to be seen in Malmesbury.Lib. 1. c. 4.
He ruled forty two yeares.
Offa.
The eleventh King of the Mercians, and the sixteenth Monarch of the English men.
He was a warlike Prince, and for the most part fortunate.
He built a Church in Warwickeshire, where the adjoyning Town from it and him, beareth the name Off-Church, and caused a great Ditch to be made, large and deep from Sea to Sea, betwixt his Kingdome and Wales, whereby he might the better defend his Country from the incursions of the Welsh men. And this Ditch is to be seen in many places as yet, and is called Offas Ditch at this day. Lords History of Wales.
The Ditch began at the River Dee by Bassing-werke, between Che…ter and Ruthlan, and ran along the hils sides to the South-Sea a little from Bristow, reaching above a hundreth miles in length. Id. the description of Wales.
He first gave the Peter-pence to Rome, and was himself at the length shorne a Monk.
He raigned thirty nine yeares.Or Elfrid.
Egfrid.
The twelfth King of the Mercians, and the seventeenth Monarch of the English.
He re-establisht the priviledges and liberties of all the Churches which his Father had supprest.
He raigned only four moneths; he was taken away by sudden death in the hundreth fourty first day after his Fathers decease.
Kenwolfe.
The thirteenth King of the Mercians, Kenul…hus magnus vir & virtutibus famam supergredicus, nihil quod livor digne carperet unquam admisit, domi Religiosus, in bello victoriosus vir, cujus meritò laudes …itentur in altum, quamdiu aeq nus arbiter in Angliâ invenietur; laudandue tum regni sublimitas, tum mentis humilitate, qua cuisuit amplissime, Malmesb. de gest is Reg. Angl. l. 1. c. 4.and the eighteenth Monarch of the English men.
At home he was an example of piety, peace, justice, and Religion: abroad temperate, humble, and courteous, without vain ostentation, or ambitious conceits. In Warres he was stout and victorious; in peace studious to enrich his Subjects: he carried himself so at all times, that envy could not touch him with her tongue.
Bede dedicateth his Ecclesiasticall History to him.
He raigned twenty two yeares.