¶ About this time, there was a maid in Oxford named Friswide,
daughter to a certeine duke or noble man called Didanus, with whome
one Algar a prince in those parties fell in loue, and would haue
rauished hir, but God the reuenger of sinnes was at hand (as the
storie saith.) For when Algar followed the maid that fled before him,
she getting into the towne, the gate was shut against him, and his
sight also was suddenlie taken from him. But the maid by hir praiers
pacified Gods wrath towards him, so that his sight was againe restored
to him. But whether this be a fable or a true tale, héereof grew the
report, that the kings of this realme long times after were afraid to
enter into the citie of Oxford. So easilie is the mind of man turned
to superstition (as saith Polydor.)

* * * * *




_Kinewulfe king of Westsaxons, his conquest ouer the Britains, his
securitie and negligence, he is slaine by conspirators, inquisition
for Kineard the principall procurer of that mischiefe, he is slaine in
fight; legats from the pope to the kings and archbishops of this land
about reformation in the church, a councell holden at Mercia;
iudge Bearne burnt to death for crueltie, Alfwold reigneth ouer
Northumberland, his owne subiects murther him; a booke of articles
sent by Charles king of France into Britaine quite contrarie to the
christian faith, Albinus writeth against it; great waste by tempests
of wind and rage of fire._

THE SIXT CHAPTER.