CHAPTER III.
Of The City Under The Saxons.
The Britons being ruined of all their strength, by the Romans continual carrying off their youth, and now abandoned by their garrisons,
which alone could have supported the declining state, fell into
miserable confusions, and terrible calamities, occasioned by the barbarians invasions on one hand, and the tumultuous factions of her
own great men on the other, striving for the supreme government,
every one being for usurping it to himself; and thus (as Ninius tells
us) they lived forty years in fear and affliction. (fn. 1) Vortigern, who was
then king, fearing attacks from such Romans as remained here, and
from the Picts and Scots, and troubled with the opposition of Aurelius
Ambrosius, who survived his slain parents, that had worn the imperial
robe, sends for the Saxons out of Germany to his assistance, who were
called in as friends, but proved indeed the greatest enemies, for after
the event of several battles, they dispossessed the poor Britons of the
most fruitful part of their country, and ancient inheritance, as
Cambden, from Gildas, informs us. Now, agreeable to this account
which all authors gives us, we are informed by John Brame, a monk
of this place, in his manuscript History in Bennet College Library, in
Cambridge, that one Rond, a valiant man of this city, who flourished
in the time of King Vortigern, seeing the Roman forces withdrawn
and gone, and the remaining Romans sluggish and inactive, and perceiving Vortigern and his army fully employed against the Picts and
Scots, he thereupon usurped the supreme government of this city, and
became King thereof; and it seems not unlikely but the inhabitants
might be well satisfied with it, especially if he was as popular as he
seems valiant, for he did not continue idle, when he had got the
government, but endeavoured immediately either to gain or subdue
his neighbours, and bring them under his power, (fn. 2) which was no bad
policy, as things then were, because, by so doing, he made himself
and people the stronger to resist the approaching invasions of the
Saxons. But alas! neither policy nor strength was sufficient to withstand the growing power of that people, for which reason it seems,
from the comparison of history, that he either thought it his interest to
join with Vortimer, son of Vortigern, whom the Britons had made King
against them, or else was forced to it, for want of power to resist them
alone. This Vortimer, with his army of Britons pursued the Saxons
very close, overcame them in four principal pitched battles, besides
which, "He had dybers conflynctes (with them) in Kente, at Thetforde
in Northfolke, and Essex near unto Colchester, lefte not, tyl
he had byrafte from them the more parte of such possessyons, as
before tyme they had wonne, and kepte them onely to the Ysle Tanet (fn. 3) "
But when this noble defence of the British nation fell a sacrifice to
the malicious Rowena's poison, and Vortigern his father was again
restored to the British throne, Hengist and his Saxons soon entered
again, but not caring to give battle to Vortigern, who had a large
army with him, under colour of treaty and peace he deceived the
too credulous Britons, by a new manner of treason, at that time unheard of; for under pretence of meeting on the plains of Ambrij (now
called Salisbury-Plains) on the May Day following, to conclude and
treat of peace and amity, Vortigern and his nobles met at the day,
and at the watch-word given, were all (except the King) killed by the
Saxons, with their long knives, which they had, by Hengist's order,
concealed under their clothes for that purpose; (fn. 4) and thus fell the
British nobles, and with them all the renown of the British name;
for Vortigern being Hengist's prisoner, was immediately forced to
give him three provinces in the east part of Britain, viz. Kent, EastSaxon, or Essex, and East-Angles, viz. Norfolk and Suffolk, of all
which when Hengist was entirely possessed, he let the King have his
liberty. Then began Hengist's reign over Kent, in the year 476, (fn. 5)
who gave the other provinces to his generals that had assisted him in
his enterprises. And thus this city came into the Saxons hands, of
whose first landing and progress it will not be amiss to take some
observations from divers authors, who, though they often disagree as
to time, yet agree well as to matters of fact.
In the year 449, the Saxons called over by Vortigern first entered
this land, under the conduct of Hengist and Horsa, two brethren, who
raised their reputation so much among the Britons, by beating the
Scots and Picts in two engagements, that they too much trusted to
their management, who being pleased with the country, determined
to make themselves masters of it, and in order thereto, under pretence of manning the frontier garrisons, and diverting the enemy on
the sea coast, sent to the Angles for more assistance, who got together
an army out of three provinces in Germany, viz. the old Saxons, the
Angles, and Jutes, (fn. 6) and transported themselves hither without delay,
and counterfeiting pretences of ill pay, and short diet, they enter
into league with the Picts, whom they had made really afraid of them,
and so raised a most bloody war against the Britons that entertained
them, putting them to the sword, wasting their lands, razing their
cities, and at last quite dispossessed them of the best part of the island,
which they after divided among themselves into seven kingdoms,
thence called the Heptarchy. The Jutes had only Kent and the
Isle of Wight; the Saxons had three kingdoms, the East, West, and
South Saxons, which were but of narrow bounds, if compared with
the large dominions of the Angles, who were the most numerous of
the three nations that came over, (fn. 7) as well as the most valiant, for
they erected three of the largest kingdoms, viz. Northumberland,
Mercia, and the East-Angles, which last contained the tract afterwards divided into the counties of Norfolk and Suffolk, and some say
Cambridgeshire and the Isle of Ely, as Speed, Cambden, &c.; but
Fabian says not; and indeed I am of his mind, for Speed (fol. 326)
hath bounded it by St. Edmund's-Ditch on the West, but Holinshed
(vol. i. fol. 126) and Stow (fol. 61) and Fabian (fol. 77) have its
bounds more plain, viz. that at first it contained Norfolk and Suffolk,
and was bounded on the east and north by the sea, on the north-west
by Cambridgeshire, on the south by Essex, and on the west by Hertfordshire and St. Edmund's-Ditch, which I believe was its boundary;
and that that part of Cambridgeshire on this side the Ditch did belong
to the East-Angles. I make no doubt but Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire were part of the Roman Iceni, but cannot think, with
Mr. Cambden, that they were included at first in the kingdom of the
East-Angles, though they might be afterwards, for Sammes (fol. 63)
says, "The Iceni inhabited that part of Britain which the EastAngles did under the Saxons; it comprehended Norfolk, Suffolk,
and at some time Cambridge, which
Uffa, (fn. 8) one of the three principals of the Angles, first united into
one kingdom, and took the government thereof, in the year of our
Lord 575, (fn. 9) and settled at Sitomagus, the prosperity and grandeur of
which city is allowed by all authors to be owing to the Saxon kings
making it the metropolis of their kingdom of the East-Angles, by
placing their chief residence there; and it was now that its new masters gave it the then new name of [Deodford], or Theodford; and from
this time was this royal city continually increasing in its greatness and
glory, though labouring again under the dark clouds of paganism, and
heathenish worship, which her heathen king had wholly introduced. (fn. 10)
I meet with no further account of the acts of Uffa, but that he
reigned about seven years, and then left his kingdom to his son,
Titulus, who began his reign in the year 581; and though we
find no mention of his acts, we must suppose his days were not quietly spent in the infancy of his new-erected kingdom, which he governed 20 years, having his chief residence here; he lived and died
a heathen, and left his kingdom to his son,
Redwald, the greatest of all the East-Anglian kings, and the first
that embraced Christianity, from which he afterwards apostatized; he
was a warlike prince, and conquered Ethelfrid King of Northumberland;
and it is to be observed of this kingdom, above all others, that in its first
appearance in history, we find its full proportion, contrary to others,
which were raised by degrees only. At first he was tributary to
Ethelbert King of Kent, and served him as a viceroy over all his dominions, and managed so well, that at the death of that potent king
he became monarch of the Englishmen, and had all his neighbours
at his disposal, so that now this city was not only the seat of the
East-Anglian king, but the metropolis of all the Saxon government;
but he resided not here only, for Rendlesham in Suffolk was another
of his palaces, (fn. 11) which place, if we may credit history, received its
present name from him; he was baptized in Kent, it seems more in
compliance to Ethelbert, than persuasion of the truth of the Christian
religion; but yet he was not, like many now-a-days, for rejecting all,
but, on the contrary, that he might be sure on one side or other, he
erected, in the same temple, an altar for the service of Christ, and
another for burnt sacrifices for his idols. He reigned monarch eight
years, King of the East-Angles thirty-one, and died, according to
Speed, in the year 623.
Erpenwald, his younger son, (his elder brother, who was a strict
Christian, being slain by a heathen,) succeeded in the kingdom of the
East-Angles, and was the first king of this province that openly professed the Christian faith, at the friendly exhortation of Edwine King
of Northumberland, (fn. 12) at which his subjects were much angry, and
employed a pagan ruffian, named Richebert, or Rochbert, who murdered him, and thus he fell a martyr to the faith of Christ, after he
had reigned twelve years; and leaving no issue, was succeeded by
Sigebert, the son of Redwald's second wife, and half brother to
the deceased king, whose father-in-law's jealousies caused him to
retire into France, where he instructed himself in good learning, and
became a sound professor of the Christian faith; at his return, he
brought with him one Felix, a Burgundian, his great acquaintance,
and made him Bishop over his whole dominions. In the year 636, (fn. 13)
according to the Saxon Chronicle, he was ordained by Honorius Archbishop of Canterbury, and placed his episcopal see at Dommoc, or
Dunwich, in Suffolk, a place then of great reputation, and strongly
fortified, but not sufficient to withstand the raging ocean, which hath
wholly devoured the city, and very near all its suburbs. This Sigebert
was the first that introduced the custom of France, to have publick
schools; for sending for teachers out of Kent, he settled a place of
teaching, generally thought to be the University of Cambridge, says
Sammes. (fn. 14) Speed says he built a school for the education of youth, and
appointed Kentishmen, who had the liberal sciences professed among
them, for teachers, but determines not where; it seems he thinks the
contrary. Indeed, it is most likely it was at this city, (fn. 15) for Caius, in
his Antiquities of Cambridge, tells us, there was anciently a great
school or nursery of learning in this place, for which he quotes an
anonymous author, which may perhaps be the same that Bede in his
Ecclesiastical History (lib. iii. cap. 18) refers to, when he tells us how
Sigebert, after he returned from France, (where he had resided and
studied some years, to avoid his father's and brother's jealousies of
his aspiring to the crown,) and was settled in his kingdom, built a
school for the education of youth, in imitation of those he had seen
in France; but Bede not mentioning the place where it was fixed, it
has been doubted whether it was not at Cambridge, though the royal
seat of the East-Anglian kings being then at Thetford, Dr. Caius (fn. 16)
seems rightly to conjecture that it was here. This King resigned the
government to
Egrick, his kinsman, who became a monk in Cumbersburgh (fn. 17)
abbey, which he had founded, and there he lived, till Penda, that
wicked King of Mercia, with his heathenish cruelty, troubled the
East-Angles' peace, who besought Sigebert to encourage his soldiers
by his appearing in his army, and forcing him from his convent thither, he was slain, refusing to use any weapon but a white rod only,
after he had reigned three years, before he quitted the government.
With him was slain Egric, or Egrick, whom he had made king, and
had reigned four years.
Anna, son of Ewide, brother to Edwald, succeeded Egric; he
bare the character of a good man, but was in continual wars with
Penda and his heathens, whom he withstood nineteen years, (fn. 18) but
was then killed by them, and buried at Blitheburgh in Suffolk, with
Firminus his brother, who was killed in the same battle, and buried
with him, but afterwards was translated to St. Edmund's-Bury. Etheldred, Ethelburgh, and Sexburgh, his daughters, were all royally married, and after their deaths canonized.
Ethelherd, or Æthelhere, brother to Anna, became King in the
year 655, according to the Saxon Chronicle, and siding with Penda,
against his own brother and kinsman, was deservedly slain, in the
second year of his reign, and was succeeded by
Edelwald, his brother, who reigned nine years, and left
Aldulf, eldest son of Ethelherd, his heir, who reigned nineteen
years. In his time it was, that Theodore Archbishop of Canterbury
visited all the parts of this land, being the first archbishop to whom
all the English churches acknowledged their obedience; (fn. 19) he ordained
bishops where he thought convenient, and made what reformation he
thought necessary, especially in causing all the churches to observe
the feast of Easter according to the usage of the church of Rome;
to effect which he called a general Synod, where all the bishops of
the land were present, either in person or by their deputies, Holinshed (fol. 179) says that it was held December 24, Ao 673, at Herford,
Howel (fn. 20) says at Hereford, and historians disagree as to the exact
time and place. I must own, I imagine that neither of the aforecited authors are right, but think that this Synod was held at Thetford,
about the year 669, which falls in this King's reign, and do not only
ground my supposition upon the easy mistake, which might be in reading of the ancient manuscripts, there being only a letter or two difference between Herford and Tetford, but I find some of our Chronicles absolutely asserting it, Ralph Higden, in his Policronicon, (lib. v.
p. 239,) hath it thus, "Anno 669, facta est Synodus Episcoporum
sub Theodoro apud Tetford, in qua statutum est, primo, de recta
Paschæ observatione; secundo, ut nullus Episcoporum alienam
parochiam invadat; tertio, ut Episcopi monasteria non inquietent;
quarto, ut clerici et monachi passim non migrent, absque licencia
superiorum; quinto, ut saltem semel in anno Synodus congregetur in provincia." Which Trevisa hath also in his Policronicon,
in these words, "That yere was made a Synode of Bysshopes under
Theodorus at Tetforde. In that Smode was ordeyned a Statute
of the ryght holdynge of the Esterivde: the second, that no Bysshay
sholde assoyle, in another mannes Bysshopeyche. The third, that
Byshops shold not dystourbe abbayes. The fourthe, that clarked
and Monkes sholde not change benefyces, withoute lebe of theyr sobe
rayns. The fyfthe, that in a provynce the Smode sholde be gadred
ones in a yere" (fn. 21)
And what makes me the rather conclude this
Synod to be held here, (fn. 22) is, because among the Bishops said to be
present, Bisi, then Bishop of the East-Angles, is named first after
the Archbishop, (fn. 23) according as he ought to be, by reason, as I take it,
of his authority in the bishoprick, where the Synod was held, and
for that reason it was also, that the life of this Bishop only is touched
upon by the same author; this Bisi was consecrated Bishop of the
East-Angles by Theodore himself, and though his see was at Dunwich, where is it more likely that a Synod should be held in his province, than at its metropolis, which was Thetford? That being also
a far more convenient place than Dunwich, which, without doubt, he
looked upon as inconveniently situated for the see of so large a
bishoprick, else he had never divided it, as he did, and placed a newerected see at North-Elmham in Norfolk. I am well aware that many
may wonder that he should not place it at this royal city, but I must
observe all agree, that in these early times bishopricks were placed in
towns that were small at first, (before they increased, as they usually
did, by the see's being placed there,) and remote, as places best suiting contemplation and prayer; and from the time of the bishoprick's
being placed there. some make a doubt whether Elmham or Thetford
ought to be esteemed the metropolis of the province, as Fabian, (fn. 24) who
says, "And of this lordshoppe, at that dayes mas Elman or Thet
forde the thefe towne."But there remains no doubt of it, Elmham
then was a small village, Thetford a large city, and the King's residence, and if so, no doubt the metropolis, or chief place in the province.
Elswolf, Eltwolde, Arkwoldf, or Elohwaldus, Adulf's
brother, reigned seven years. (fn. 25)
Beorne, or Hisberna. youngest son of King Ethelherd, reigned
after him twenty-six years, (fn. 26) and was succeeded by
Ethelred, son of Edelwald, brother of Anna, cousin to Beorne,
a man noted for virtue and goodness; he is supposed to reign about
fifty or fifty-two years, and died in 748, and left his kingdom to
Ethelbert, or Egilbert, his son, a learned and religious prince,
charitable, sober, profound, and wise, according to all historians;
he reigned forty-five years, and was taken off (as Sammes says) in
792, (Speed says, May 18, 783,) by the treachery of Offa King of the
Mercians, who by fair promises of giving him his daughter in
marriage, drew him to his court at Sutton-Wallis, in the county of
Hereford, and there, against all the laws of nature and common hospitality, he had his head struck off by one Winnebert, or Grimbert,
and his body was at first privately buried at Morden on the river Lug;
but after, on remorse of conscience, Offa removed it to Hereford,
over whom Milfrid, an under king of the Mercians, built a most fair
church to his memory, which yet bears his name, and is the cathedral
of that see; (fn. 27) but notwithstanding this splendid kind of repentance,
Offa takes possession of the inheritance of the murdered king,
laying the country of the East-Angles to his own dominions; but this
vineyard, as it was bloodily obtained, lasted not long in him or his
posterity, the Danes breaking in like wild boars, laying it waste not
long after. And now Thetford began to decline in its grandeur;
Holinshed tells us, (fol. 197,) that from this time of Ethelbert's murder, the kingdom of the East-Angles was brought so into decay, that
it was sometimes subject to the Mercians, sometimes to the WestSaxons, and sometimes to Kent, till Edmund the Martyr obtained its
government: (fn. 28) and this account is very true, for about 826 they received
Egbert King of the West-Saxons for their lord and king, (fn. 29) and
invading the Mercians, slew Bernulf their king, and the next year
they set upon Ludicenus, Bernulf's successour, and slew him also,
which so encouraged Egbert, that he openly invaded Mercia, conquered Whitlafe their king, Ludicenus's successour; and so, by means
of the East-Angles, the Mercians became subject to the West-Saxons,
as a just retribution for the unjust murder of Ethelbert King of the
East-Angles, whom Offa their king had murdered, and they had assisted in seizing his kingdom. This Egbert was afterwards proclaimed
king of the whole land, the other kings being tributary to him. At
his death he left two sons, Ethelwoulf, or Athaulf, whom he ordered
should succeed him in the kingdom of the West-Saxons, and
Athelstan, to whom he gave the government of Kent, Sussex,
and Essex, with the rest of the countries he had subdued, (viz. the
East-Angles, &c.) it seems the kingdom of Kent, Essex, &c. came to
Ethelwoulf, before his death, for he then assigned them to his
second son, (fn. 30)
Ethelbert, or Ethelbright, who began his reign in 857, and after
his brother's death, was governour of the whole, and as such acknowledged in the year 867; and thus the kingdom of the East-Angles,
and consequently this city, from the murder of Offa, to this time, was
destitute of her own governours for the space of seventy-five years,
or, as Mr. Speed computes it, seventy-seven, (fn. 31) till the assaults of the
Danes caused the other kings to stand upon their guard, and rather
defend what they had, than seek to enlarge their territories, to the
hazard of all: and then this kingdom revived again, though during
this time it seems the heir to the East-Anglian crown was well
known, and perhaps held it tributary under the aforesaid masters,
though I meet with none of their names till now, whence it appears
that they were in a servile state, and consequently their city in a declining condition all the time, till
Offa, to whom the right of the crown at that time belonged, upon
a religious devotion, went in pilgrimage to Christ's Sepulchre, and
having no heir, he visited his kinsman Alkmund by the way, and
adopted Edmund, his son, his heir, who after his death succeeded him
accordingly, and was crowned King of the East-Angles, being the
last king of the Saxon race, of whom I must treat in the next chapter, his history being so blended with that of the Dancs, that I am
obliged to it, to avoid repetition and confusion.