Penda “the Strenuous,” being a heathen, has received scant justice at the hands of Christian writers, but even they have reluctantly admitted his possession of that chief mark of civilisation—tolerance. His character has also puzzled modern historians, but puzzled them needlessly I think, for the few facts we have give the key to the position. It is clear that the advanced and Christian British would not have joined hands with him had he shown any inclination to force his heathenism upon them. In the same way had he intended to conquer them, which was the averred purpose of Christian Northumbria, they would not have chosen him their political ally, nor would the small midland states around him. What then seems to have attracted them alike was his unaggressive spirit towards the unaggressive—the British and the small states—and the tremendous antagonism he showed to any attempt at aggression on the part of the larger kingdoms—Northumbria, East Anglia, and Wessex. Though the small kingdoms are massed together by historians under the general title of “Mercia” they appear under Penda’s guidance to have really retained their integrity and their kings and ealdormen and to have formed a defensive federation rather than a single state. This may have been the secret of Penda’s power and of Mercia’s greatness. FOOTNOTES [1] The land of the North English lay between the Trent and the Don including the present Nottinghamshire. [2] Weeping. [3] The flood of light which fell from the sun when hurled through the heavens every morning by Luga or Lugh the Gaelic sun god. [4] Gentlemen. [5] _Clead mhor_—great sword. [6] A breastplate. [7] The Welsh of the kingdoms of Elmet and Loidis conquered by the Northumbrians. [8] The hills in Glencorse now known as East and West Kip.