CHAPTER XIII

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EDWIN, KING OF THE DEIRI AND BERNICIA.

Adventures of Edwin, king of the Deiri--His residence in Wales with Cadvan, one of the ancient British kings--Ethelfrith having deprived him of his kingdom, seeks his life--Edwin flies from Wales, and seeks the protection of Redwald, king of East Anglia--Edwin's dream--The queen of East Anglia intercedes in behalf of Edwin--Redwald prepares to wage war with Ethelfrith --Religion of the king of East Anglia--Description of the battle fought between Redwald and Ethelfrith on the banks of the river Idel--Death of Ethelfrith, and accession of Edwin to the throne of Northumbria--Edwin's marriage with Edilburga, daughter of Ethelbert--Journey of the Saxon princess from Kent to Northumbria--Attempted assassination of Edwin--Paulinus endeavours in vain to convert Edwin to the Christian faith-- The king assembles his pagan priests and nobles to discuss the new religion--Speech of Coifi, the heathen priest--Beautiful and poetical address of a Saxon chief to the assembly--Coifi desecrates the temple of Woden--Peaceful state of Northumbria under the reign of Edwin--Death of Edwin at the battle of Hatfield-chase in Yorkshire--Victories of Cadwallon, the British king--Triumph of the Saxons under Oswald, and death of Cadwallon at the battle called Heaven-field p. 111

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