[Sidenote: The victories of king Offa. _Matth. West._ 779.]
ouermatch his vertues. He ouercame the Kentishmen in a great battell
at Otteford, and the Northumbers also were by him vanquished, and in
battell put to flight. With Kenvulfe king of Westsaxons he fought in
open battell, and obteined a noble victorie, with small losse of his
people, although the same Kenwulfe was a right valiant prince, and a
good capteine.

[Sidenote: Falsehood in fellowship.]
Againe, perceiuing that to procéed with craft, should sooner
aduance his purpose, than to vse open force against Egilbert king of
Eastangles, vnder faire promises to giue vnto him his daughter in
mariage, he allured him to come into Mercia, and receiuing him into
his palace, caused his head to be striken off, and after by wrongfull
meanes inuaded his kingdome, and got it into his possession: yet he
caused the bones of the first martyr of this land saint Albane (by a
miraculous meanes brought to light) to be taken vp, and put in a rich
shrine adorned with gold and stone, building a goodlie church of
excellent woorkmanship, and founding a monasterie in that place in
honor of the same saint, which he indowed with great possessions.
[Sidenote: The archbishops sée remoued from Canturburie to Lichfield.
785.]
He remoued the archbishops see from Canturburie vnto Lichfield,
thereby to aduance his kingdome of Mercia, as well in dignitie &
preheminence of spirituall power as temporall. He made great suit to
bring his purpose to passe in the court of Rome, and at length by
[Sidenote: _Matt. West._]
great gifts and rewards obteined it at the hands of pope Adrian the
first, then gouerning the Romane sée. And so Eadulfus then bishop of
Lichfield was adorned with the pall, and taken for archbishop,