Acts and monuments of matters most special and memorable, happening in the Church. [vol.…Actes and monuments of matters most speciall and memorable, happenyng in the Church. [vol.…

¶And thus hast thou (gentle Reader) concerning the vij. kingdoms of these Saxons, ruling altogether in England, the course and order of their doings briefly described and discoursed unto thee, in such order, as the matter being so intricate, in such confusion & diversity of things incident together, would permit: following especially in this story hitherto, the line of the Northumberland kings as the other stories most follow the line of Westsaxō kings. The which seven kingdoms of these said Saxons, after they had untruly expulsed and chased out the Britons from their land, like as they never were in quietness among themselves, reigning thus together till the time of this Egbert: so also after the reign of Egbert, the whole realm being reduced into one regiment, no less were they impugned & afflicted by the Danes continually from time to time, till the last conquest of William the Normand Thus it pleaseth (God ever) lightly to revenge with blood,¹ bloody violence, and the unjust dealings of men, with just and like retribution. But of this let the christian Reader consider, as Gods grace shall work in him. In the mean time we, as much as in us did lye, satisfying the part of an Historician, have thus hitherto set forth and declared concerning these vij. foresaid kingdoms: first the names and lineal descent of the kings severally by themselves, as by the table precedent may appear, then what were the doings and acts of the same. How first being Pagans, they were converted to the christian faith: what things in their time happened in the church, how many of them, of kings were made monks: how devout they were then to holy church and to the churchmen, and especially to the church of Rome. But the churchmen then were much otherwise in life, then afterward they declared themselves to be. Through which devotion of the said kings, first came in, the Peterpence or Romeschots in this Realm, as by Ive first in his dominion, then by Offa in his Lordship, & afterward by Adelwulph brought in and ratified through the whole Realm: where also is to be noted, that by the foresaid Kings and Queens of the said Saxons, the most part of the greatest Abbeys & Nunneries in this realm, were first begun and builded, as partly the names of some ⟨p. 133⟩here follow to be seen.

¶And thus hast thou (gentle Reader) concerning the vij. kingdoms of these Saxons, ruling altogether in England, the course and order of their doings briefly described and discoursed vnto thee, in such order, as the matter beyng so intricate, in such confusion & diuersitie of things incident together, would permit: followyng especially in this story hitherto, the line of the Northumberland kings as the other stories most folow the line of Westsaxō kings. The which seuen kingdoms of these sayd Saxones, after they had vntruely expulsed and chased out the Britaines from their land, like as they neuer were in quietnes amōg themselues, raigning thus together till the tyme of this Egbert: so also after the raigne of Egbert, the whole realme beyng reduced into one regimēt, no lesse were they impugned & afflicted by the Danes continually frō tyme to time, till the last conquest of William the Normand Thus it pleseth (God euer) lightly to reuenge with bloud,