of his countrie than learning & knowledge in the toongs, began the foundation of certeine schooles, and namelie [Sidenote:  The vniuersitie of Cambridge founded by king Sigibert.] at Cambridge, where children might haue places where to be instructed and brought vp in learning vnder appointed teachers, that there might be greater numbers of learned men trained vp than before time had beene within this land, to the furtherance of true religion and vertue.

So that England hath good cause to haue in thankfull remembrance this noble prince king Sigibert, for all those hir learned men which haue bin brought vp & come foorth of that famous vniuersitie of Cambridge, the first foundation or rather renouation whereof was thus begun [Sidenote:  Bate saith 636.] by him about the yeare of our Lord 630.  At length when this worthie king began to grow in age, he considered with himselfe how hard a matter, and how painefull an office it was to gouerne a realme as apperteined to the dutie of a good king, wherevpon he determined to leaue the charge thereof to other of more conuenient yeeres, and to [Sidenote:  Sigibert resigneth his kingdome to Egricus.] liue from thencefoorth a priuat kind of life, and so resigning the administration vnto his kinsman Egricus, he became a moonke, and led the rest of his life in a certeine abbeie.

Shortlie after it so came to passe that Penda king of Mercia (that cruell ethnike tyrant) made sore warres vpon Egricus, whervpon the people of Eastangles compelled Sigibert to come foorth of his monasterie, & to go with them into the field against Penda.  Sigibert being thus constreined against his will, would not put on armour or beare anie other kind of weapon, than onelie a wand in his hand in steed of a scepter, and so the armie of the Eastangles in hope of good speed by the presence of Sigibert, ioined in battell with their enimies, but the Eastangles were finallie vanquished, and the more [Sidenote:  Sigibert and Egricus slaine. 652.] part of them slaine, togither with Sigibert and his coosen Egricus their king.  This happened in the yere after the birth of our Sauiour (as some haue noted) 652.

[Sidenote:  Baleus. Beda lib. 3 cap. 19.  Fuersus.] In the daies whilest Sigibert as yet ruled the Eastangles, there came out of Ireland a deuout person named Furseus, who comming into the countrie of the Eastangles, was gladlie receiued of king Sigibert, by whose helpe afterwards he builded the abbeie of Cumbreburge, in the which Sigibert (as some haue written) when he renounced his kingdome, was professed a moonke.  Of this Furseus manie things are written, the which for briefenesse we ouerpasse.  After that Felix the bishop of the Eastangles was dead, one Thomas was ordeined in his place, who after he had beene bishop fiue yeeres, died, and then one Beretgils was ordeined in his roome by Honorius the archbishop of Canturburie.  The said Honorius himselfe when he had run the race of his naturall life, deceassed also the last of September in the yeere of our Lord 653. [Sidenote:  653.]