Oswio died in 670. With him expired both the title and authority of Bretwalda. The power of Northumbria had for some years been on the decline; while the neighbouring state of Mercia, created by the genius of Penda, had gradually matured its strength, and the southern kingdom of Wessex had, with a slow but steady progress, constantly advanced in the subjugation of the Britons. These three rival nations will, in the following chapter, solicit the attention of the reader: the feeble kingdoms of Essex, Kent, East-Anglia, and Sussex, sometimes the allies, but generally the vassals of their more powerful neighbours, cannot awaken sufficient interest to deserve a more detailed and separate narration. A. D. CHAPTER III. ANGLO-SAXON S Kings of Northumbria-of Mercia-Ethelbald-Offa-Cenalf-of Wessex NORTHUMBRIA. FROM OSwio the Northumbrian sceptre was transferred to the hands of Egfrid, the elder of his surviving sons *. The Picts, despising the youth of the new monarch, assembled under their prince Bernherth, and asserted 670. their independence. But Egfrid, with a vigour which surprised and dismayed them, put himself at the head of a body of horse, entered their territory, defeated them in a bloody battle, and compelled them to submit again to the superior power of the Northumbrians. With equal expedition he anticipated and defeated the designs of Wulphere, king of Mercia, who numbered among his vassals most of the southern chieftains. The victory broke for a while the power of the Mercians. Wulphere died soon after: and his kingdom was at first seized by the Northumbrian, but restored to Ethelred, who had married Osthryda, the sister of Egfrid +. Religious prejudice has conferred an adventitious *Malmsbury (20, 21) and several later writers say that Alchfrid the elder son was still alive, but rejected on account of illegitimacy: and that he ascended the throne after the death of Egfrid. From a diligent examination of Bede it appears to me that they have confounded Alchfrid, and Aldfrid, and made the two but one person. Aldfrid was illegitimate, and thought to be the son of Oswio. He lived in spontaneous exile among the Scots through his desire of knowledge, and was called to the throne after the decease of the legitimate offspring of Oswio. See Bede, p. 129. 132. 178. 206, 207. 234. 247. 293. Also the poem De Abbat. Lindis. in Act. SS. Bened. p. 305. † Edd. Vit. Wilf. xix. xx. 61, 62. Bed. iv. 12. interest on the reign of Egfrid; and his quarrel with Wilfrid, the celebrated bishop of York, occupies a distinguished but disproportionate space in our modern histories. Wilfrid was a noble Northumbrian, who had travelled for improvement; and after his return from Italy, had been selected as the instructor and confidant of Alchfrid, the son of Oswio. When Tuda died, Wilfrid was chosen to succeed him in the bishopric of York, and was sent by the two princes into Gaul to be consecrated by his friend Agilberct, bishop of Paris. Whether it was that during his absence the quarrel arose between Oswio and his son, or that the party of the Scottish missionaries had acquired the ascendency, as is intimated by Eddius, Wilfrid, at his return, found Ceadda in possession of the episcopal dignity, and retired peacefully to his monastery at Rippon. But Theodore of Canterbury restored Wilfrid, and translated Ceadda to Lichfield. Oswio acquiesced in the decision of the metropolitan, and the bishop enjoyed for several years his friendship, and that of his successor Egfrid *. At his Egfrid's first wife was Edilthryda, the daughter of Anna king of the East-Angles, and widow of Tondberct, ealdorman of the Girvii. At an early period in life she had bound herself by a vow of virginity, which was respected by the piety or indifference of her husband. death she was demanded by Oswio for his son Egfrid, a youth of only fourteen years: and in spite of her remonstrances was conducted by her relations to the court of Northumbria. She persisted in her former resolution; and Egfrid, when he ascended the throne, referred the matter to the decision of Wilfrid, having previously offered him a valuable present if he could prevail on Edilthryda to renounce her early vow. The prelate however disappointed his hopes: the princess took the veil at Coldingham; and the friendship between Wilfrid and Egfrid was considerably impaired. The king now* • Edd. i-xv. Bed. iii. 28; iv. 3; v. 19. married Ermenburga, a princess, the violence of whose character excited the discontent of the people, and the remonstrances of the bishop. The freedom of his admonitions mortified her pride, and she found in her husband the willing minister of her vengeance *. In the exercise of his authority archbishop Theodore was always severe, occasionally despotic. He had already deposed three of the Saxon prelates; and Wilfrid A. D. was destined to experience the same fate. At the so678. licitation of Egfrid and Ermenburga, he came to North umbria, divided the ample diocese of York into three portions; and consecrated three new prelates, one for Bernicia, a second for Deira, and a third for the Lindiswaras. But Wilfrid did not submit in silence. He complained that he had been deprived without notice or accusation; and, with the advice of his episcopal colleagues, appealed to the equity of the sovereign pontiff. The appeal was admitted. The injured prelate prosecuted it in person: Cænwald, a monk, appeared as the advocate of Theodore. After a patient hearing, pope Agatho decided that Wilfrid should be restored to his former bishopric; but that he should select three proper persons out of his own clergy, should ordain them bishops, and divide among them the more distant parts of his diocese †. Egfrid and Ermenburga had made several fruitless attempts to intercept the prelate on his journey: at A. D. his return they threw him into prison, and during 680. nine months endeavoured, by the alternate employment of lenity and rigour, of promises and threats, to extort a confession that the papal rescript had been procured by bribery, or falsified by his contrivance. Wearied at last with his constancy, and harassed by the importunities of the abbess Ebba, they consented to his enlargement, but on the condition that he should bind himself by an oath never more to set his foot within the dominions of * Bed. iv. 19. Edd. xxiv. Edd. xxiv-xxxi. Bed. iv. 12; v. 19. Egfrid. Wilfrid retired into Mercia. From Mercia he was driven by the intrigues of his persecutors into Wessex; and from Wessex was compelled to seek an asylum among the pagans of Sussex. Edilwalch their king took him under his protection; and the exile repaid the benefit by diffusing among his subjects the doctrines of the gospel. The South-Saxons were the last people of the octarchy who embraced Christianity * Though the royal families of Northumbria and Mercia were allied by marriage, their union had been broken by the ambition of Egfrid. The hostile armies met on a. D. the Trent; their valour was wasted in a dubious con- 679. flict; and peace was restored by the paternal exhortations of Theodore. Elfwin, the brother of Egfrid, had fallen in the battle; and, as the honour of the king compelled him to demand compensation, he was persuaded to accept the legal were instead of prolonging hostilities for the uncertain purpose of vengeance +. Afterwards, in the year preceding his death, he despatched Beorht, a warlike and sanguinary chieftain, to ravage the coast of Ireland. Of the motives for this expedition we are not informed. Bede assures us that the Irish were a harmless and friendly people. To them many of the Angles had been accustomed to resort in search of knowledge, and on all occasions had been received kindly, and supported gratuitously. Beorht requited their hospitality by ravaging their country, and burning their towns, churches, and monasteries. The natives, unable to repel the invader by force, implored on the author of their wrongs the vengeance of heaven; and their imprecations were believed to be fulfilled in the following year by the unfortunate death of Egfrid. 685. Against the advice of his council the king led an army into the territory of the Picts. Brude, the Pictish king, prudently retired before a superior enemy, till his pursuers had entangled themselves in the defiles Edd xxxiii-xl. Bed. iv. 13; v. 19. + Edd. xxiii. Bed. iv. 21. A. D. |