Chapter 18

In the year of our Lord 705, Aldfrid, King of the Northumbrians, died after a reign of nearly twenty years, and was succeeded on the throne by his son Osred, a boy of about eight years of age, who reigned eleven years. At the commencement of his reign, Bishop Haeddi of the West Saxons departed to the life of heaven. He was a good, just man, who carried out his duties as bishop guided by an inborn love of goodness rather than by anything learned from books. The most reverend Bishop Pecthelm – of whom more will be said in due course – who was a fellow-monk or deacon for a long time with Haeddi’s successor Aldhelm, relates how many miracles of healing occurred through Haeddi’s holiness at the place where he died. He says that the people of that province used to carry away earth from it to mix in water for the sick, and that many sick men and beasts who drank or were sprinkled with it were restored to health. In consequence, there was a considerable pit created there by the continual removal of the hallowed soil.

At his death, the bishopric of the province was divided into two dioceses, one of which was assigned to Daniel,¹ who rules it to this day, and the other to Aldhelm,¹ who administered it with great energy for four years. Both bishops were well acquainted with church matters and learned in the study of the Scriptures. While Aldhelm was still a priest, and abbot of the monastery known as Maelduib’s Town,² he was directed by a synod of his own people to write a notable treatise against the errors of the Britons in observing Easter at the wrong time and doing other things contrary to the orthodoxy and unity of the Church. By means of this book he persuaded many of those Britons who were subject to the West Saxons to conform to the Catholic observance of our Lord’s Resurrection. He also wrote an excellent book On Virginity, which he composed in a double form in hexameter verse and prose on the model of Sedulius. He also wrote other books; for he was a man of wide learning, with a polished style and, as I have said, extremely well-read both in biblical and general literature. At his death, Forthere, who is also a man of great learning in the scriptures, was appointed to the bishopric in his place and is still living today.

During their episcopates, it was decided by synodical decree that the province of the South Saxons, which had hitherto belonged to the diocese of Winchester under Bishop Daniel, should have an episcopal see and bishop of its own. Eadbert, who was Abbot of Selsey, a monastery founded by Bishop Wilfrid of blessed memory, was consecrated its first bishop, and at his death Eolla succeeded him in the office. After some years he also departed this life, and the bishopric has fallen into abeyance to this day.