He
succeeded
his brother Wulfhere in 675.
bede
541 Cc. 5, 12. Florence of Worcester mentions a Putta, Bishop of
Hereford, who died in 688, but it is very doubtful whether he can be
identified with the above. Bede’s words in Chapter 12 do not imply
that Putta, Bishop of Rochester, became Bishop of Hereford. Hereford
was not one of the five sees into which Florence tells us that
Theodore divided the great Mercian bishopric, but it appears soon
after as a separate see for Hecana (Herefordshire). Possibly Putta,
who is traditionally reckoned as its first bishop, may have acted as
Sexwulf’s deputy there.
542 Cf. II, 20 _ad fin. _, note.
543 III, 24, 30. He had probably died two years before Chad’s
appointment, _i. e. _, in 667, and the see had been vacant in the
interval, for Wilfrid, then in retirement at Ripon, is said (by
Eddius) to have discharged episcopal functions for the Mercians.
544 Lastingham. Cf. Preface, p. 3; III, 23, 28.
545 Lindsey at this time belonged to Mercia. Cf. c. 12, p. 243, note 5.
546 Smith believed this place to be Barton-on-Humber. It is now
generally identified with Barrow in Lincolnshire. For the
preposition, cf. II, 14, p. 119, note 5.
547 It had not previously been an episcopal see, though Wulfhere had
wished to establish Wilfrid there during the vacancy in the Mercian
bishopric (p. 218, note 4). When the bishopric of Mercia and Lindsey
was subdivided by Theodore in 679, Lichfield remained the see of the
bishopric of Mercia proper. In 787, under Offa, King of Mercia, with
the consent of Pope Hadrian, it was raised into a separate
archbishopric for Mercia and East Anglia, but in 802 Canterbury was
re-established as the sole archbishopric for the Southern Province.
The popular derivation of the name, Lichfield (“Field of the Dead”)
is from _lic_ = a corpse, and the place is traditionally connected
with the martyrdom of a great number of British Christians. Another
derivation, however (from _leccian_ = to irrigate), points to the
meaning “the watered field. ”
548 Eccl. , iii. 5.
549 A stone which is believed to have formed part of Owini’s tomb was
found at the end of the eighteenth century at Haddenham, near Ely,
and is now in Ely Cathedral. It bears the inscription, “Lucem tuam
Ovino da Deus et requiem. Amen” (Mayor and Lumley).
550 Cf. c. 19.
551 Ps. xviii, 13, 14.
552 III, 4, 27.
553 He is said to have been Abbot of Bardney.
554 In 672. The original Church of St. Mary at Lichfield, said to have
been built by Oswy in 656-657, was replaced about 1140 by the new
Cathedral, and Ceadda’s relics were soon after removed to it.
555 Cf. III, 24, _ad fin. _, note.
556 Cf. III, 26, _ad init. _
557 Iona. Cf. III, 3, _ad fin. _, note.
558 Innisboffin, off the coast of Mayo. The annals of Ulster give 667 as
the date of his retirement to it.
559 Mayo, called from this settlement, “Mayo of the Saxons. ” It
continued to be an English monastery (_v. infra_), and after awhile
adopted those usages, to avoid which Colman had left England. It
became an episcopal see, which in 1559 was annexed to the
archbishopric of Tuam.
560 Hertford.
561 It seems probable that we ought to read 671; cf. Plummer _ad loc. _
562 Oswy is the last king in Bede’s list of those who held an “imperium”
(_v. _ II, 5). With the rise of Mercia under Wulfhere (III, 24), the
supremacy of Northumbria had virtually passed away. After Oswy’s
death, the position of Northumbria was an isolated one, and it was
by conquests over Britons, not Englishmen, that Egfrid enlarged the
bounds of his kingdom.
563 In his youth he had been a hostage at the court of Queen Cynwise,
wife of Penda (III, 24, p. 188).
564 This is of supreme importance as the first English provincial
Council and the first national assembly of the English. The rule
laid down at Nicaea and confirmed by later councils was that
provincial synods should meet twice a year to settle all
ecclesiastical matters which affected the province as a unity.
565 24th September, 673, falls in the first indiction, whether the
Pontifical or the “Caesarean” system is meant (_v. _ Haddan and
Stubbs, III, 121). Bede himself used the Caesarean indiction, of
which we get the first notice in his “De Temporum Ratione. ” It began
on 24th September. It does not, however, follow that Theodore also
used it. The oldest scheme, viz. , the Constantinopolitan, began on
1st September; the Roman or Pontifical, on New Year’s Day as
received at the time, _i. e. _, 25th December, 1st January, or 21st
March. For Indictions, _v. _ “Dictionary of Christian Antiquities. ”
They were cycles of fifteen years, a mode of reckoning dates which
appeared in the fourth century, based upon the Imperial fiscal
system, but which came to be used irrespective of taxation. “1st
indiction” stands for “1st year of the indiction. ”
566 Of the six suffragans only four were present. Wilfrid was at this
time (669-678) in possession of his see; why he did not appear in
person is not explained. Possibly his action foreshadows the future
troubles between him and Theodore. Wini, Bishop of London, was still
alive (_v. _ III, 7, and note). If the story of his retirement to
Winchester is true, this would account for his absence. For Bisi,
_v. infra_. His see was at Dunwich (cf. II, 15). For Putta, _v. s. _
c. 2 and note; for Leutherius, _v. _ III, 7; for Wynfrid, III, 24;
IV, 3, _ad fin. _
567 The collection of Canons approved by the Council of Chalcedon,
translated into Latin by Dionysius Exiguus (early in the sixth
century, cf. V, 21, p. 369, note) and adopted by the Western Church.
568 This place used to be identified with Cliff-at-Hoe near Rochester,
but the theory rests mainly on the similarity of name. As in the
recorded Councils of Clovesho the supremacy of Mercia is clearly
indicated, it is generally assumed that the place must have been
either in Mercia or a kingdom subject to it, as Kent was at the
time. Except one Council in 716, we find none mentioned as having
taken place at Clovesho till seventy years after this time (747),
but councils were held at other places.
569 The subdivision of the great bishoprics was an important part of
Theodore’s policy, and though at this Council he failed to carry his
point, possibly through the opposition of Wilfrid’s representatives,
in the succeeding years he effected a great change in the
organization of the episcopate, creating dioceses co-extensive with
tribal territories.
570 III, 29; IV, 1.
571 Cc. 22, 26.
572 His original name was Bertgils, _v. _ III, 20.
573 Theodore availed himself of this opportunity for subdivision. Aecci
was appointed to Dunwich and Badwin to the new see of Elmham.
Suffolk and Norfolk thus each received a separate bishopric. The
Danish invasions broke up this arrangement; Dunwich disappeared as
an episcopal see, and the succession to Elmham was interrupted for a
time. In 1075 the see of the single East Anglian bishopric was
removed to Thetford, and in 1094 to Norwich.
574 It has been conjectured that he resisted the subdivision of his
diocese. For his subsequent adventures, _v. _ III, 24, p. 192, note
4.
575 This was probably in 675 (Flor. of Wor. ). Sexwulf (_v. infra_ c. 12)
had been a rich thegn who became a monk and was made first abbot of
Medeshamstead.
576 Peterborough, as the town which grew up around the monastery came to
be called in the tenth century, the monastery being dedicated to St.
Peter. Peada is said to have planned the foundation (_v. _
Peterborough additions to the Saxon Chronicle), but the accounts are
late and untrustworthy.
577 III, 20, note.
578 C. 3, p. 219, note 2.
579 He succeeded Wini (III, 7) in 675 and died about 693. He was
canonized. It was in his house that the reconciliation between
Theodore and Wilfrid took place. It is said that as a boy he had
heard Mellitus preach in London. He was present at the West Saxon
Witenagemot which enacted the “Dooms of Ine” (c. 15 and V, 7), and
is spoken of as one of Ine’s bishops, Essex being probably subject
to Wessex at that time.
580 In III, 30.
581 Cc. 7-10. She is not to be confused with Ethelberg, daughter of Anna
(III, 8), Abbess of Faremoûtier-en-Brie.
582 Chertsey in Surrey. William of Malmesbury tells us that it was a
flourishing monastery till it was destroyed by the Danes.
583 Barking in Essex, _v. infra_ cc. 7-10. For the preposition, _v. _ II,
14, p. 119, note 5.
584 The plague of 664 has been mentioned in III, 27; IV, 1, 3; but this
may have been a later visitation. Barking is generally supposed to
have been founded in 666.
585 Two different dates are given for her succession, 664 and 675. If
the former is right, the plague (c. 7) must have been that of 664,
and Ethelburg probably died of it. It appears from a letter of St.
Boniface that Hildilid was alive in 709. She was one of Aldhelm’s
numerous women-scholars. He dedicated the prose version of his work
in praise of virginity (_v. _ V, 18) to her and others of the
sisterhood, and speaks highly of their scholarly attainments.
586 Apparently a life of St. Ethelburg not known to exist now.
587 Cf. III, 30; IV, 6.
588 For Earconwald, _v. s. _ c. 6. Waldhere is the first of a long list of
undistinguished bishops of London given by William of Malmesbury. A
letter of his to Archbishop Bertwald survives, and there is a
charter in which Swefred (_v. _ next note) grants lands at Twickenham
to him in 704.
589 Cf. V, 8, note on Suaebhard.
590 St. Paul’s, London. Sebbi’s tomb is believed to have survived till
the fire of 1666.
591 For these bishops, cf. III, 7.
_ 592 Ibid. _ He died in 672 (Sax. Chron. ). Of the sub-kings the most
prominent were Aescwine and Centwine, a brother of Coinwalch. The
Saxon Chronicle gives a different account. According to it,
Coinwalch’s widow, Sexburg, reigned for one year after him and was
succeeded by Aescwine, who was succeeded by Centwine.
593 Cf. III, 7, and for his character, V, 18. The Saxon Chronicle says
he succeeded in 676 and died in 703. Bede places his death in 705
(V, 18).
594 Cc. 15, 16, and V, 7. He was of Ceaulin’s line (II, 5) and so
belonged to a younger branch of the West Saxon royal house. Welsh
writers confuse him with the British king, Caedwalla (II, 20), and
with his son, Cadwalader.
595 A son of Penda.
He succeeded his brother Wulfhere in 675. In 704 he
became a monk (V, 24) and afterwards Abbot of Bardney Monastery (cf.
III, 11), which he is said to have founded. His invasion of Kent was
probably provoked by an attempt on the part of that kingdom, at
Wulfhere’s death, to resume a position of independence towards
Mercia. In spite of his conduct on this raid, Theodore, Florence of
Worcester, and others, speak of the saintliness of his character.
596 Cc. 2 (and note), 5.
597 C. 6, and note, and _infra_, p. 244.
598 The dates of these changes in the episcopate are uncertain. Probably
Gebmund was consecrated in 678. For his death, _v. _ V, 8 _ad fin. _,
and note.
599 This was Wilfrid’s first expulsion (_v. _ V, 19). Bede’s reticence on
the subject is noteworthy. Egfrid’s hostility to his former friend,
Wilfrid, was doubtless caused by Wilfrid’s encouragement of Queen
Ethelthryth (cc. 19, 20) in her desire to take the veil. It was
probably increased by Egfrid’s second wife, Eormenburg, who is said
to have resented Wilfrid’s power and magnificence. Theodore,
carrying out his policy of subdivision, availed himself of the
opportunity afforded by this dissension. He consulted some of his
suffragans (we do not know who they were; it was apparently at a
mixed council of ecclesiastics and laymen), but did not communicate
with Wilfrid, being, no doubt, conscious of the uselessness of
trying to get his consent. Wilfrid, after demanding an explanation
from the archbishop and the king in a Northumbrian “gemot,” and
receiving no satisfaction, appealed to Rome (cf. V, 19, p. 351). For
the importance of this step, _v. _ Bright, “Early English Church
History,” pp. 323-326.
600 Probably the intention was that Wilfrid should keep the larger part
of Deira, with his see at York, and that three new dioceses should
be formed. But, on his departure to appeal to Rome, it was assumed
that he had resigned his bishopric, and Bosa was consecrated Bishop
of Deira with his see at York, Eata, Bishop of the Bernicians, with
the option of fixing his see either at Lindisfarne or Hagustald
(Hexham). These two were “substituted for him. ” Lindsey, which at
this time belonged to Northumbria, became for the first time a
separate diocese. When it passed again to Mercia in 679 it was
included in the subdivision of the Mercian bishopric, and Ethelwin
(_v. infra_ note 6) became its bishop with his see at Sidnacaestir
(generally identified with Stow, but the locality is unknown).
601 He was one of the bishops educated in Hilda’s monastery (_v. _ c.
23). Bede speaks highly of him (V, 3, 20), and Alcuin calls him “vir
sine fraude bonus. ” He retired from York when Wilfrid was restored,
but appears to have been reinstated on Wilfrid’s second expulsion.
602 Abbot of Melrose, afterwards of Lindisfarne (III, 26, and note; IV,
27; V, 9).
603 III, 28, and this Chapter, _ad fin. _, and note.
604 In 675. Lindsey which had been Northumbrian under Edwin and Oswald,
had passed through many vicissitudes. Penda conquered it, Oswy
recovered it (in 655), Wulfhere conquered it again, Egfrid recovered
it (675). It passed finally to Mercia under Ethelred in 679 (_v.
infra_ this Chapter, _ad fin. _).
605 III, 11, 27.
606 He was still Bishop of Lindsey in 706, when he signed a charter of
Ethelward, “subregulus” of the Hwiccas.
607 Preface, p. 4, and V, 23. Simeon of Durham says that he died in 732.
608 Lindsey was at that time subject to Mercia. Sexwulf was expelled
when Egfrid conquered it in 675. When the Mercian diocese was
subdivided, he retained his see at Lichfield (_v. s. _ c. 3, p. 219,
note) as Bishop of the Mercians proper.
609 By Theodore alone. The suffragans did not take part in the
consecration.
610 In 681 a fresh subdivision took place. The Bernician diocese was
divided, Eata retaining Lindisfarne and giving up Hexham to Tunbert.
Afterwards Eata retired from Lindisfarne in favour of Cuthbert and
took Hexham (_v. infra_ c. 28). Tunbert had been Abbot of Gilling
(In Getlingum, III, 14, 24). He was deposed by Theodore from Hexham
three years after his consecration (_v. infra_ c. 28), like Wynfrid,
“pro culpa cujusdam inobedientiae” (Vita Eatae in “Miscellanea
Biographica,” Surtees Society).
611 His see was not at Whitern among the Picts of Galloway, as has been
supposed (Florence of Worcester, Richard of Hexham, and others), but
at the monastery of Abercorn on the Forth (I, 12; IV, 26), the Picts
north of the Forth being at this time subject to Northumbria. After
Egfrid’s disastrous expedition in 685, they freed themselves from
Northumbrian rule, the see was abandoned, and Trumwine retired to
Whitby (c. 26). We hear of him as one of the deputation to Cuthbert
in 684 (c. 28).
612 In 679; _v. s. _, p. 243, note 5.
613 Whether Ripon became for a time an episcopal see seems doubtful. In
III, 28, Bede says distinctly that Eadhaed became “praesul” of the
church there, and it does not seem consistent with his use to
understand it as = abbot. Probably there was an attempt to subdivide
the diocese of Deira (Eddius mentions it as one of Wilfrid’s
grievances), but the scheme was abandoned when Wilfrid was restored
in 705. Ripon did not finally become an episcopal see till 1836.
614 For a fuller account, _v. _ V, 19, and notes.
615 For the early importance of this kingdom under Aelli, _v. _ II, 5. It
had become a small insignificant nation, cut off from its neighbours
by forests (the “Andredsweald”) and marshes, and though we read
(III, 20) that Damian, bishop of Rochester, was of the South Saxon
race, it was almost untouched by Christian influences.
616 Cf. _infra_ c. 15.
617 He also brought about the reconversion of the East Saxons by sending
Bishop Jaruman to them. Cf. III, 30.
618 Wulfhere had invaded Wessex, probably in 661 (Sax. Chron. ), and
conquered the Isle of Wight and the district of the Meanware,
_i. e. _, the district from Southampton Water to the South Downs. The
inhabitants were Jutes. The name survives in the hundreds,
Meonstoke, and East and West Meon. For the termination “ware” =
dwellers, cf. Lindisfari, Cantuarii, Boructuari, etc.
619 Cf. c. 14.
620 Cf. II, 2, p. 84, note 2.
621 They were probably joint kings of the Hwiccas.
622 “Scottish,” as usual, means Irish. There is another Dicul mentioned
in III, 19. Stevenson suggests the identification of this Dicul with
the Irish monk who wrote a geographical work, the “De Mensura Orbis
Terrae,” but he lived in the ninth century.
623 Bosham, near Chichester. It was the favourite South Saxon abode of
Harold and Godwine (Freeman, “Norman Conquest”).
624 Selsey, the island of the seal (“sea-calf”), south of Chichester. It
was a royal “vill. ” It became the episcopal see for the South Saxons
at some time about 709 (cf. V, 18, _ad fin. _ and note), transferred
to Chichester in 1075.
625 Egfrid fell at the battle of Nechtansmere in 685 (_v. _ c. 26), and
Wilfrid was restored to his bishopric “in the second year of
Aldfrid,” Egfrid’s successor (V, 19, p. 353). He was in Wessex with
Caedwalla for part of the year 686 (cf. c. 16).
626 III, 13, note.
627 C. 13.
628 This English equivalent for “viaticum” is used by Stapleton in his
translation (1565).
629 Calendars to show the proper days for commemorative Masses, cf.
_infra_ “chronicle” (“annale”). The burial was generally on the day
of death, hence “depositio” of the festival of a saint.
630 It must be remembered that this was a monastery of Northumbrians.
But Oswald is said to have held an “imperium” over all England
except Kent (II, 5).
631 C. 12, note.
632 The West Saxons, _v. _ II, 5 and note. Cf. III, 7.
633 C. 13.
_ 634 v. _ V, 7 _ad fin. _ Like Caedwalla, a descendant of Ceaulin, “A king
who deserves the name of great” (Bright), great both as a conqueror
and a legislator. He was probably the first king to introduce
written law into Wessex, viz. , his famous “Dooms,” enacted by a West
Saxon witenagemot in the early years of his reign.
635 Winchester. At this time Haedde was bishop there (c. 12). For the
creation of a South Saxon bishopric _v. _ V, 18 _ad fin. _
636 Eddius says that Caedwalla sent for him and made him his counsellor;
Wilfrid had befriended him when in exile.
637 Roger of Wendover calls him a _subregulus_.
638 Cf. I, 15.
639 Stoneham on the Itchen, near Southampton. For the preposition, cf.
II, 14, p. 119, note 5.
640 Redbridge in Hampshire.
641 Pref. , p. 3 and note; V, 18.
642 The Solent.
643 The Hamble.
644 Eutyches was Archimandrite of a monastery near Constantinople. He
was condemned by the synod of Constantinople in 448, and by the
council of Chalcedon in 451. He was the originator of the
Monophysite heresy which denied the existence of the two natures,
the Divine and human, in the Incarnate Son. Monothelitism, which was
the subject of the controversy alluded to here, arose out of an
attempt to reconcile the Monophysites by the assertion of one will
and operation (activity, ἐνέργεια) in our Lord. It was condemned in
the General Council of Constantinople, 680-681. In anticipation of
this council various provincial synods were held, as well as the
synod at Rome assembled by Pope Agatho, at which Wilfrid represented
the English church (_v. _ V. 19).
645 The year was 680 (cf. V, 24), but it falls in the eighth year of
Hlothere of Kent, who succeeded in July, 673. For Egfrid, _v. s. _ c.
5, _ad init. _ Probably he succeeded in 671. Ethelred of Mercia
succeeded in 675 (V, 24), so that Sept. , 680, might easily fall in
his sixth year; Aldwulf, of East Anglia, in 663 or 664 (_v. _ II, 15;
IV, 23). The eighth indiction, whether Cæsarean or Pontifical
(_v. s. _ c. 5, note), includes Sept. 17, 680.
646 Generally identified with Hatfield in Hertfordshire, but T. Kerslake
(“Vestiges of the supremacy of Mercia”) supposes it to be Clovesho
(Cliff-at-Hoe); _v. s. _ c. 5, and note.
647 The five Oecumenical Councils which had been held before this time,
viz. , Nicaea, in 325; Constantinople, in 381-382; Ephesus, in 431;
Chalcedon, in 451; Constantinople, in 553. For the Arian heresy,
_v.
