THE HEPTARCHY.

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the throne. He is celebrated by Bede for two chap.exploits , for establishing the fast of Lent in his 1.kingdom , and for utterly extirpating idolatry;which, notwithstanding the prevalence of Chris-tianity , had hitherto been tolerated by the twopreceding monarchs. He reigned twenty - fouryears; and left the crown to Egbert, his ton,who reigned nine years. This prince is renownedfor his encouragement of learning; but infamousfor putting to death his two cousin-germans, sonsof Erminfrid, his uncle. The ecclesiastical writerspraise him for his bestowing on his sister Dom-nona, some lands in the isie of Thanet, whereshe founded a monastery.

The bloody precaution of Eg&rt could notfix the crown on the head of his son, Ednc.

Lothaire, brother to the deceased prince tookpossession of the kingdom; and, in order to securethe power in his family, he associated with himRichard, his son, in the administration of thegovernment. Edric, the dispossessed prince, hadrecourse to Edilwach, king of Sussex, for assistance;and being supported by that prince , fought abattle with his uncle, who was defeated and slain.

Richard fled into Germany, and afterwards diedin Lucca, a city of Tuscany. William of JMal-mesbury ascribes Lothaire’s bad fortune to twocrimes , his concurrence in the murder of hiscousins, and his contempt for reliques 7 *.

Lothaire reigned eleven years; Edric, hissuccessor , only two. Upon the death of the

Will. Malm. p. 11.

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