on the southside of Humber, with their kings and rulers, were subiect
vnto Edilbald or Ethelbald king of Mercia. The nation of the Picts
were in league with the English men, and gladlie became partakers of
the catholike faith and veritie of the vniuersall church. Those Scots
which inhabited Britaine, contenting themselues with their owne
bounds, went not about to practise anie deceitfull traines nor
fraudulent deuises against the Englishmen. The Britains otherwise
called Welshmen, though for the more part of a peculiar hatred they
did impugne the English nation, & the obseruance of the feast of Ester
appointed by the whole catholike church, yet (both diuine and humane
force vtterlie resisting them) they were not able in neither behalfe
to atteine to their wished intentions, as they which though they were
partlie frée, yet in some point remained still as thrall and mancipate
to the subiection of the Englishmen: who (saith Beda) now in the
acceptable time of peace and quietnesse, manie amongst them of
Northumberland, laieng armour and weapon aside, applied themselues
to the reading of holie scriptures, more desirous to be professed in
religious houses, than to exercise feates of warre: but what will come
therof (saith he) the age that followeth shall sée and behold. With
these words dooth Beda end his historie, continued till the yéere of
our Lord 731, which was from the comming of the Englishmen into this
land, about 285 yéeres, according to his account.

[Sidenote: 732. _Wil. Malm._]
In the yéere following, that is to say 732, in place of Wilfrid
the second, Egbert was ordeined bishop of Yorke. This Egbert was
brother vnto an other Egbert, who as then was king of Northumberland,
by whose helpe he greatlie aduanced the see of Yorke, and recouered
the pall: so that where all the other bishops that held the same sée
before him sith Paulins daies, wanted the pall, and so were counted