214 OSWALDKIRK. 



value in the king's books, 10. Is, 8d. ; patron, the 

 Rev. Thomas Comber, the present rector ; curate, 

 the Rev. Henry Comber, 



reared, by this new commander of the army, from 

 the impulse of devout faith, when he was on the point of 

 engaging with a most cruel enemy." 



Oswald, experiencing in this battle the aid of Christ, 

 which he had implored, immediately embraced Christian- 

 ity, nnd sent for Aidan, to instruct his subjects in the 

 Christian faith ; and the field of victory had from suc- 

 ceeding ages the name of HEAFENFIELD, or the HEAVEN- 

 IY-FIELD, now to the same effect called II AI.FDON. Cam- 

 den iii, 492, " There is a fame" says Leland, '' that 

 Oswald wan the battle at Halydene, two miles east from 

 St. Oswald ; ashe, and that HALIDEN is it that Bede 

 calleth HAVEN-FIELP, and that men thereabout yet find 

 small wooden crosses in the ground." Itinerary, vii, 73. 

 Thechuich erected on the spot is still standing, and 

 in a late repair was found a silver coin of Oswald, with 

 his bust and a cross on the reverse. Camden iii, 509. 



Quis fuit Alcides ? Caesar Julius ? aut quis 

 Magnus Alexander? Alcides se superasse 

 Fertur; Alexander mundum ; sed Julius hostem \ 

 Se, simul Oswaldus, et mundum vicit, et hostem. 



Who was Alcides ? Alexander who? 

 Or Julius Caesar ? Let the first subdue 

 Himself, the next the world the last the foe, 

 Oswald subdued himself the world the foe. 



Camden. III. p. 492. 



The victory of Oswald was marked with humanity ; 

 every action of his is represented in the fairest light ; but 

 we must recollect that the historians of his conduct were 

 extremely partial. His liberality was unbounded, his 

 piety sincere, and his knowledge extensive. After ex- 

 tending his power, improving the state of the country, 

 and ornamenting it with churches, the glory of his splen- 

 did reign was clouded in the end. The hoary-headed 

 Penda, king of Mercia, cut short the number of his days ; 

 he fell, together with the flower of his army, A. D. 642, 

 in an engagement with the pagan monarch, at Musei field 



