Chronicles 1 (of 6): The Historie of England 5 (of 8): The Fift Booke of the Historie of England.Holinshed, Raphael
History
Chronicles 1 (of 6): The Historie of England 5 (of 8): The Fift Booke of the Historie of England.
Holinshed, Raphael
Great Britain -- History -- Anglo-Saxon period, 449-1066
At the same time Brian the nephue of Cadwallo, whom he had sent into
Britaine as little before to slea a certeine wizard or southsaier,
whom king Edwin had gotten out of Spaine named Pelitus, that by
disclosing the purpose of Cadwallo vnto Edwin, greatlie hindered
Cadwallos enterprises, had fortified the citie of Excester, mening to
defend it till the comming of Cadwallo, wherevpon Penda king of Mercia
besieged that citie with a mightie army, purposing to take it, and
Brian within it. Cadwallo then aduertised hereof, immediatlie after
his arriuall hasted to Excester, and diuiding his people in 4 parts,
set vpon his enimies, tooke Penda, and ouerthrew his whole armie.
Penda hauing no other shift to escape, submitted himselfe wholie vnto
Cadwallo, promising to become his liegeman, to fight against the
Saxons in his quarrell. Penda being thus subdued, Cadwallo called his
nobles togither which had bene dispersed abroad a long season, & with
all spéed went against Edwin king of Northumberland, and slue him in
battell at Hatfield (as before is mentioned) with his son Osfride, and
Eodbold king of the Iles of Orknie, which was come thither to his aid.
¶ By this it should appeare, that Fabian hath gathered amisse in the
account of the reignes of the British kings: for it appeareth by Beda
and others, that Edwin was slaine in the yéere of our Lord 634.
[Sidenote: 634.]
And where Fabian (as before is said) attributeth that act & diuers
other vnto Cadwan the father of this Cadwallo: yet both Gal. Mon. and
Beda with the most part of all other writers signifie that it was done
by Cadwallo. Harding assigneth but 13 yéeres to the reigne of Cadwan,
and declareth that he died in the yéere of our Lord 616, in the which
(as he saith) Cadwallo began his reigne, which opinion of his séemeth
best to agrée with that which is written by other authors. But to
returne to the other dooings of Cadwallo, as we find them recorded
in the British storie. After he had got this victorie against the
Northumbers, he cruellie pursued the Saxons, as though he ment so
farre as in him lay, to destroie the whole race of them out of the
coasts of all Britaine: and sending Penda against king Oswald that
succéeded Edwin, though at the first Penda receiued the ouerthrow at
Heauenfield, yet afterwards Cadwallo himselfe highly displeased with
that chance, pursued Oswald, and fought with him at a place called
[Sidenote: Oswald slaine.]
Bourne, where Penda slue the said Oswald. Wherevpon his brother
Osunus succéeding in gouernment of the Northumbers, sought the fauour
of Cadwallo now ruling as king ouer all Britaine, and at length by
great gifts of gold and siluer, and vpon his humble submission,
[Sidenote: Oswie. _Matth. West._ 654.]
obteined peace, till at length vpon spite, Penda king of Mercia
obteined licence of Cadwallo to make warres against the said Osunus,
in the which (as it hapned) Penda himselfe was slaine. Then Cadwallo
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