Cadwallo streight prouoked Oswald to trie the matter by battell, but Oswald forbare the first day, and caused a crosse to be erected in the same place where he was incamped, in full hope that it should be an ensigne or trophie of his victorie, causing all souldiers to make their praiers to God, that in time of such necessitie it might please him to succour them that worship him.  It is said, that the crosse being made, and the hole digged wherein it should be set, he tooke the crosse in his owne hands, and putting the foot thereof into that hole, so held it till his souldiers had filled the hole, and rammed it vp:  and then caused all the souldiers to kneele downe vpon their knees, and to make intercession to the true and liuing God for his assistance against the proud enimie, with whom they should fight in a iust quarell for the preseruation of their people and countrie.

After this, on the next morning he boldlie gaue battell to his enimies, so that a sore and cruell fight insued betwixt them.  At length Oswald perceiued that the Britains began somwhat to faint, and therfore caused his people to renew their force, and more lustilie to preasse forward, so that first he put that most cruell enimie to flight, and after pursuing the chase ouertooke him, and slue him [Sidenote:  Beda. Wil.  Malm.] with the most part of all his huge and mightie armie, at a place called Denisborne, but the place where he caused the crosse to be erected he named Heuenfield.  Thus Cadwallo the most cruell enimie of the English name ended his life:  he was terrible both in nature and countenance, for the which cause they say the Britains did afterwards set vp his image, that the same might be a terror to the enimies when they should behold it.

¶ But here is to be remembred by the British historie of Gal.  Mon. it should appeare that Cadwallo was not slaine at all, but reigned victoriouslie for the space of 48 yeeres, and then departed this life, as in place afterwards it shall appeere.  But for that the contrarietie in writers in such points may sooner be perceiued than reformed, to the satisfieng of mens fansies which are variable, we will leaue euerie man to his libertie to thinke as seemeth him good, noting now and then the diuersitie of such writers, as occasion serueth.

[Sidenote:  PENDA. 636.] Penda the sonne of Wilba succeeded in the gouernement of the kingdome of Mercia after Ciarlus, and began his reigne in the yeere of our Lord 636.  He was fiftie yeeres of age before he came to be king, and reigned 30 yeres, he was a prince right hardie and aduenturous, not fearing to ieopard his person in place of danger, assured and readie of remembrance in time of greatest perill.  His bodie could not be ouercome with anie trauell, nor his mind vanquished with greatnesse of businesse.  But these his vertues were matched with notable vices, as first with such bitternesse of maners as had not beene heard of, crueltie of nature, lacke of courtesie, great vnstedfastnesse in performing of woord and promise, and of vnmeasurable hatred toward the christian religion.