place due and conuenient may more largelie appeare.

Finallie king Offa (as it were for a meane to appease Gods wrath,
which he doubted to be iustlie conceiued towards him for his sinnes
[Sidenote: _Polydor_.]
and wickednesse) granted the tenth part of all his goods vnto
churchmen, and to poore people. He also indowed the church of Hereford
with great reuenues, and (as some write) he builded the abbeie of
Bath, placing moonkes in the same, of the order of saint Benet, as
[Sidenote: 775.]
before he had doone at saint Albons. Moreouer he went vnto Rome,
about the yeare of our Lord 775, and there following the example of
Inas king of the Westsaxons, made his realme subiect by way of tribute
[Sidenote: Peter pence, or Rome Scot. _Will. Malmes._ 797.]
vnto the church of Rome, appointing that euerie house within the
limits of his dominions, should yearelie pay vnto the apostolike see
one pennie, which paiment was after named, Rome Scot, and Peter pence.
After his returne from Rome, perceiuing himselfe to draw into yeares,
[Sidenote: Offa departed this life.]
he caused his sonne Egfrid to be ordeined king in his life time:
and shortlie after departing out of this world, left the kingdome vnto
him, after he had gouerned it by the space of 39 yeares.

Amongst other the dooings of this Offa, which suerlie were great and
maruellous, this may not passe with silence, that he caused a mightie
great ditch to be cast betwixt the marshes of his countrie, and the
Welsh confines, to diuide thereby the bounds of their dominions.
[Sidenote: Offditch.]
This ditch was called Offditch euer after, and stretched from the
south side by Bristow, vnder the mountaines of Wales, running