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.