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FROM ENGLISH CHRONICLERS 37
triumphed over his enemies, but when the priest was dead
displeased God and ceased to triumph over his enemies, and
diminished his kingdom ;
l so while king Egfrid lived in
harmony with our bishop [Wilfrid,] according
to the testi-
mony of many his kingdom was everywhere increased through
triumphant victories ; but when harmony flagged between
them, and the aforesaid queen [Etheldreda] was separated
from him and dedicated to God, 2
triumph ceased in the days
of the king.
For in his first years and yet tender kingdom 3 the bestial
peoples of the Picts with savage mind despised subjection to
the Saxons, and threatened to cast from them the yoke of
slavery
of the north innumerable nations, like swarms of ants in
summer sweeping from the hills built up a mound against
their falling house.
When he heard this, king Egfrid, humble among his
own peoples, courageous against his foes, knowing no slow
; gathering on all sides from the hollows and cavities 4
endeavours straightway prepared an army of cavalry, and
like Judas Maccabeus, trusting in God, 5 with a small band
of the people of God advanced with Beornheth, a bold underking,
against an enormous and upon an invisible enemy, and
made an immense slaughter of the people, filling two rivers
with corpses of the dead ; so that (as is wonderful to relate)
they walked over upon dry feet and pursued, slaying a multitude
of the fugitives. And the peoples were reduced to
slavery, and lay subject to the yoke of captivity till the day
of the slaying of the king. 6
heavy ramparts the Pictish nation in rebellion strove even then to throw off
the accustomed English chains. . . . Therefore with courage fired the prince
[king Egfrid] moved forward light cohorts, and slew with unconquered sword
the guilty ones. They dammed two streams with slain enemies ; the king's
companies came back laden with spoil. They made slaughter far and wide.
Chains returned upon their necks ; long did the victorious king enjoy his
great triumph. For he conquered with few soldiers, not with arms ; but by
the virtue of God, and the merits of the gracious prince, he gained the nations
which with empty bombast threatened him." Cf. Edm., V.W.Ep ., XX,
XXI, ibid., i, 182-183.
1 Cf. 2 Chron., XXIV, 2, 17-18, 23-24.
2 In 672 A.D. Cf. Bede, H.E., IV, 19 ; i, 243. Cf. infra, s.a. ? 683, note.
3 Oswy died and was succeeded by his son Egfrid in February, 671 ;
although Bede (H.E., IV, 5, V, 24 ; i, 214, 354) twice gives the date as 670 ;
v. Plummer, Bede, ii, 211.
4 Lit., "sacks and bags."
5 Cf. 2 Maccab. XV, 7, 21-28.
6 Infra, s.a. 685.