He anfwer'd, I thank

frid fhall ever find you. you for your good Will, yet I cannot do what you propofe, that is, to be myfelf guilty of breaking the Compact I have made with fo great a King, when he has done me no Harm, nor yet offer'd any Injury; but, on the contrary, if I must die, let it rather be by his Hand than by a meaner Perfon. For whither fhall I now fly, who have for fo many Years been a Vagabond through all the Provinces of Britain, to escape the Hands of my Enemies. His Friend being gone, Edwin remain'd without alone, and fitting with an heavy Heart before the Palace, began to be overwhelm'd with many Thoughts, not knowing what to do, or which Way to turn himself. And having long filently labour'd in Mind with inward Anguifh, he, on a fudden, in the dead of the Night, faw an unknown Perfon, both as to his Face and Habit, drawing near to him, at which unexpected Sight of a Stranger, he was not a little frighted. But he coming clofe up faluted him, and ask'd, Why he fate there alone, and melancholy on a Stone at that Time, when all others took their reft, and were faft afleep? Edwin, in his turn ask'd, What it was to him, whether he spent the Night within Doors or abroad? Who anfwering, faid Do not think that I am ignorant of the Caufe of your Grief, your watching, and fitting without alone. For I certainly know who you are, and why you grieve, and the Evils you fear will fall upon you. But tell me, what Reward you will give the Man, that shall deliver you out of this Anguish, and perfuade Redwald neither to do you any Harm himself, nor to deliver you up to be murder'd by your Enemies? He anfwering, That he would give that Perfon

L 4

all

all that he was able for fo fingular a Favour. The other farther added, What if I also assure you, that you shall overcome your Enemies, and be fuch a King as to furpass in Power, not only all your own Progenitors, but even all that have reign'd be fore you of the English Nation? Edwin being encourag'd by thefe Questions, did not hesitate to promife, that he would make fuitable Returns to him that fhould fo highly oblige him. Then faid the other again, But if he who truly foretels fo much good as is to befal you, can also give you better Advice for your Life and Salvation, than any of your Progenitors or Kindred ever heard of do you confent to fubmit to him, and to follow his. uholfome Counfel? Edwin did not ftick immediately to promife, he would in all Things follow his Directions, who delivering him from fo many Calamities, fhould raife him to a Throne. Having receiv'd this Anfwer, the Person that talk'd to him laid his Hand on his Head, faying, When this Sign fhall be given you, remember this Time, and the Difcourfe that has pass'd between us, and do not delay the Performance of what you now promife. This faid, he immediately vanifh'd, as is reported, that he might underftand, it was not a Man, but a Spirit that had appear'd to him. The Royal Youth ftill fitting there alone, glad of the Comfort he had receiv'd; but feriously confidering who he was, or whence he came, that had fo talk'd to him; his abovemention'd Friend came to him, and faluting him with a pleafant Countenance, Rife, faid he, go in, and laying afide all Anxiety of Mind, compofe your felf to sleep; for the King's Refolution is alter'd, and he defigns to do you no Harm, but rather to perform the Pro

mife he has made you: For when he had in private acquainted the Queen with his Intention, I to'd you of before, fhe diffuaded him from it, declaring it was unworthy of fo great a King, to fell his good Friend in fuch Diftrefs for Gold, and to facrifice his Honour which is more valuable than all other Ornaments, to the Lucre of Mony. In fhort, the King did as he was advis'd, and not only refus'd to deliver up the banish'd Man to his Enemy's Meffengers, but affifted him to recover his Kingdom. For as foon as the Embaffadors were return'd home, he rais'd a mighty Army to make War on Ethelfrid; who meeting him with much inferior Forces, for he had not given Time to gather ail his Power, was flain on the Borders of the Nation of the Mercians, on the Eaft fide of the River, that is call'da Ide. In this Battle, Redwald's Son, call'd Regnheri, was kill'd; and thus Edwin, pursuant to the Oracle he had receiv'd, not only efcap'd the Danger of his Enemy King, but he being flain, fucceeded him in the Throne. King Edwin therefore delaying to receive the Word of God upon the Preaching of Paulinus, and using for fome Time, as has been faid, to fit feveral Hours alone, and feriously to ponder with himself what he was to do, and what Religion he was to follow; the Man of God coming into him, laid his Right Hand on his Head, and ask'd, Whether he knery that Sign.

The King offering in a trembling

Con

a A Small River rifing in Shirwood Forreft, fo call'd, which gives Name to a Village where this Battle was fought, call'd Idleton, in Nottinghamshire,

Condition to fall down at his Feet, he rais'd him up, and in a familiar Manner faid to him, Behold, by the Help of God you have efcap'd the Hands of the Enemies you fear'd. Behold you have of his Gift obtain'd the Kingdom you defir'd. Take beed that you do not delay that which you promis'd to perform, embracing his Faith, and keeping his Precepts, who delivering you from Temporal Adverfity, has rais'd you to the Honour of a Tempoand if, from this Time forward, you shall be obedient to his Will, which through me he fignifies to you, he will not only deliver you from the everlafting Torments of the Wicked, but alfo make you Partaker with him of his Eternal Kingdom in Heaven.

ral Kingdo ais'd,

CHAP. XIII.

Of the Council be held with his prime Men about embracing the Faith of CHRIST, and how his High Priest profan'd bis

Altars.

TH

HE King hearing thefe Words, anfwer'd, That he would, and was oblig'd to receive the Faith which he taught; but faid, he would confer about it with his principal Friends and Counsellors, to the end that if they also would be of his Opinion, they might all together be cleans'd in CHRIST the Fountain of Life. Paulinus confenting, he did as he had faid; for holding a Council with the wife

Men,

Men, he ask'd of every one in particular, what he thought of that, till then unheard of, Do&rin, and the new Worship of the Deity that was preach'd? To which the chief of his own Priefts, Coifi, immediately anfwer'd, Do thou, King, confider what this is that is now preach'd to us; for I verily declare to you what I have learnt, that the Religion we have hitherto profefs'd has no Virtue in it: For none of your People has apply'd himself more diligently to the Worship of our Gods than I; and yet there are many who receive greater Favours from you, and are more preferr'd than I, and are more profperous in all their Undertakings. Now if the Gods were good for any thing, they would rather forward me, who have been more careful to ferve them. It remains therefore, that if upon Examination you find that thofe new Doctrins which are now preach'd to us, are better and more efficacious, we immediately admit of them, without any delay. Another of the

King's chief Men approving of his Words and Exhortations, presently added: The prefent Life of Man, O King, Jeems to me, in comparison of that Time which is unknown to us, like to a Sparrow Swiftly flying through the Room, well warm'd with the Fire made in the midst of it, wherein you fit at Supper in the Winter, with Commanders and Minifters, whilst the Storms of Rain and Snow prevail abroad; the Sparrow, I fay, fly ing in at one Door, and immediately out at another, whilst he is within is not affected with the Winter Storm; but after an extraordinary Short Space of fair Weather, he immediately vanishes out of your fight, returning from one Winter to another. So this Life of Man appears for a short space, but of what went before, or what is to follow, we are utterly