CHAPTER XIV

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PENDA, THE PAGAN MONARCH OF MERCIA.

Description of the kingdom of Mercia--Character of Penda, the pagan king--Charity of Oswald--Barbarous cruelty of Penda-- His desolating march through Northumbria--Attacks the castle of Bamborough--His march into Wessex--His invasion of East Anglia--Sigebert, the monk-king, leads on the East Anglians --Is defeated by Penda, who ravages East Anglia--The pagan king again enters Northumbria--Oswy offers all his treasures to purchase peace--Is treated with contempt by Penda--Oswy prepares for battle--Penda's forces driven into the river-- Death of the pagan king--Great changes effected by his death --Courage of Saxburga, the widowed queen of Wessex--Perilous state of the Saxon Octarchy p. 119

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