This Edwin the son of Alba, was converted by Paulinus, and was the first christian K. of Northumberland, although his wife were a Christian woman, & K. Ethelbert's daughter. Who, although he was much laboured with by his wife, yet was he hard to be won to the faith, till a certain trouble fell upon him, which was the cause of his calling: for his death being conspired by the K. of Westsaxons, Quincelinus, with Kinegilsus his brother, he was wounded by one that was suborned to kill him. About whitsuntide after, the K. assembled his host, & intended to make war against them, & ⟨p. 76⟩vowed to Christ if he would give him victory that he would be christened, and in token thereof caused his daughter borne of Edelburgh, the same Easter day when he was wounded, named Eufled to be baptized, with twelve other of his family, by Paulinus. So he obtained the victory, and yet with much ado, forsook his Mahometrie at the preaching of Paulinus, and denied to be christened till a time after. This Edwin before he married the daughter of Ethelbert fell into some displeasure with him, and fled to Redwald king of the East Angles, which Redwald being corrupted intended to betray him, wherefore being pensive and not having whether to fly, there appeared suddenly to him a stranger, who said unto him with other speeches: wilt thou do after his counsel that shall deliver thee, and follow him if he show thee a better way of life? to whom he promised faithfully so he would. Then he laying his hand upon his head: when (saith he) this token happeneth unto thee,1 then remember this time of thy tribulation, and the promise which thou hast made, and suddenly he vanished out of sight. Now Paulinus seeing the king to hard to believe, prayed for him, and God revealed unto him the vision above mentioned. Whereupon Paulinus coming unto the king upon a time, and laying his hand upon the Kings head, asked him if he knew that token: the king hearing this, and remembering the token, was ready to fall down at his feet. But Paulinus would not suffer that, and declared unto him, the victories he obtained by Christ, and put him in mind of his former promise.
This Edwin the sonne of Alba, was conuerted by Paulinus, and was the first christian K. of Northumberland, although his wife were a Christian woman, & K. Ethelbertes daughter. Who, although he was much laboured with by his wife, yet was he hard to be woon to the faith, till a certaine trouble fell vpon him, which was the cause of his calling: for his death being conspired by the K. of Westsaxons, Quincelinus, wt Kinegilsus his brother, he was woūded by one yt was suborned to kill him. About whitsontide after, the K. assēbled his host, & entended to make war against them, & ⟨p. 76⟩vowed to Christ if he would giue him victory that he would be christened, and in token therof caused his daughter borne of Edelburgh, the same Easterday when he was wounded, named Eufled to be baptized, with twelue other of his familie, by Paulinus. So he obtained the victory, and yet with much adoo, forsooke his Mahometrie at the preaching of Paulinus, and denied to be christened till a time after. This Edwin before he maried the daughter of Ethelbert fell into some displeasure with him, and fled to Redwald king of the East Angles, which Redwald being corrupted intended to betray him, wherefore being pensiue and not hauing whether to fly, there appeared suddenly to him a straunger, who said vnto him with other spéeches: wilt thou doe after his counsell that shall deliuer thée, and follow him if hee shewe thée a better way of life? to whom he promised faithfully so he would. Then he laying his hand vppon his head: when (saith hée) this token happeneth vnto thée,1 then remember this time of thy tribulation, and the promise which thou hast made, and sodainly he vanished out of sight. Now Paulinus séeing the king to hard to beléeue, praied for him, and God reuealed vnto him the vision aboue mentioned. Wherevppon Paulinus comming vnto the king vpon a time, and laying his hand vpon the Kings head, asked him if hee knew that token: the king hearing this, and remembring the token, was readie to fall downe at his féete. But Paulinus would not suffer that, and declared vnto him, the victories he obtained by Christ, and put him in minde of his former promise.
- 1A vision.
