The Saturday Magazine. N^o 66. JULY 13^{th}, 1833. { PRICE { ONE PENNY. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE COMMITTEE OF GENERAL LITERATURE AND EDUCATION, APPOINTED BY THE SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [Illustration: LICHFIELD CATHEDRAL.] VOL. III. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ LICHFIELD CATHEDRAL. The first authentic mention of Lichfield occurs in Bede’s Ecclesiastical History, where it is alluded to as the See of an Anglo-Saxon Bishop. The name is of Saxon origin, but its etymology has been much disputed. In the Saxon Chronicle the word is written _Licetfeld_; in Bede, _Lyccetfelth_ and _Licitfeld_. Some etymologists derive its signification from _leccian_, to water (and it is well known to have abounded in numerous lakes and pools); others, from the verb _licean_ or _lician_, to like, or to be agreeable, and therefore make it to signify Pleasant Field. It has however been more frequently allowed to be derived from _lic_, a dead body, and consequently as signifying _cadaverum campus_, the Field of Dead Bodies. This derivation is supported by a prevailing tradition, of the martyrdom of a thousand British Christians on this spot, at the time of the persecution (A. D. 303) under Dioclesian, when Maximian was governor of Britain. It is certain that the present diocese of Lichfield and Coventry, anciently formed a part of the kingdom of Mercia, which, being conquered by (the _Christian King_) Oswy, introduced the Christian faith into this powerful kingdom of the Saxon Heptarchy. He made Lichfield an episcopal See, by appointing Diuma, a Scotsman, the first Bishop, A. D. 656. After a succession of three others, the famous Ceadda, or Chad, was raised to the Bishopric A. D. 667. Bede informs us, that “he had built himself an habitation not far removed from the church; wherein he was wont to pray, and read with a few, that is, seven or eight, of the brethren, as often as he had any spare time from the labour and ministry of the word.”