THE XXXV.  CHAPTER.

[Sidenote:  EDILRED.] After Vulfhere, his brother Edilred or Ethelred succeeded in gouernment of the kingdome of Mercia.  This Edilred inuaded the kingdome of Kent with a mightie armie, in the yeere of our Lord [Sidenote:  677. Hen.  Hunt.] 677, destroieng the countrie afore him, not sparing churches nor abbeies, but spoiling the same without respect, as well as other common places.  King Lothaire durst not appeere in the field to giue him battell, so that Edilred went thorough the countrie, destroied the citie of Rochester, and with great riches gotten by the spoile he returned home.  Putta the bishop of Rochester, after that his church was spoiled and defaced by the enimies, went to Sexvulfe bishop of Mercia, and there obteining of him a small cure, and a portion of ground, remained in that countrie, not once labouring to restore his church of Rochester to the former state, but went about in Mercia to teach song, and instruct such as would learne musicke, wheresoeuer he was required, or could get intertainment.

Heerevpon the archbishop Theodore consecrated one William bishop of Rochester in place of Putta, and after, when the said William constreined by pouertie, left that church, Theodore placed one [Sidenote:  678.] Gebmound in his steed.  In the yeere of our Lord 678, in the moneth of [Sidenote:  A blasing star. Matth.  West. Beda. lib. 4 ca. 12. Bishop Wifrid banished.] August, a blasing starre appeered, with a long bright beame like to a piller.  It was seene euerie morning for the space of three moneths togither.  The same Egfrid king of Northumberland, banished bishop Wilfrid vpon displeasure taken with him, out of his see, and then were two bishops ordeined in his place, to gouerne the church of [Sidenote:  Hagustald.  Hexham.  Eadhidus.  Lindesferne.  Holie Iland.] the Northumbers, the one named Bosa at Yorke, and the other called Eata at Hagustald or Lindesferne.  Also one Eadhidus was ordeined about the same time bishop of Lindsey, the which prouince king Egfrid had of late conquered and taken from Vulfhere the late king of Mercia, whome he ouercame in battell, and droue him out of that countrie.  The said three bishops were consecrated at Yorke by the archbishop of Canturburie Theodorus, the which within three yeeres after ordained two bishops more in that prouince of the Northumbers, that is to say, Tumbert at Hagustald, Eata that was appointed to remaine at Lindesferne, & Trumuine was ordeined to haue the cure of the prouince of those Picts which as then were vnder the English dominion.  Also bicause Edilred king of Mercia recouered the countrie of Lindsey, and [Sidenote:  The church of Rippon.] ioined it to his dominion, bishop Eadhedus comming from thence, was appointed to gouerne the church of Rippon.