LESTINGHAM. 



ftupply of preachers for the instruction of his people, 

 C'cdd was recalled out of Mercia, and sent with 

 another to plant the gospel in Essex ; where he la- 

 boured with success ; and some time after, bavins? 

 occasion to visit Lindisfarne, in order to consult 

 with Finan, the latter ordained him bishop of the 

 east Saxons : after which he returned to his province 

 with renewed zeal, displaying the utmost diligence 

 in his work of establishing churches, and supplying 

 them with ministers : but retaining a strong attach- 

 ment to the province of Northumberland, Cedd 

 often visited it ; his principal object in so doing is 

 aid to have been to assist his brother Caelin, who 

 then ministered at the court of Ethelwald, king of 

 Deira. That prince having become acquainted 

 with Cedd, and knowing him to be a man of piety 

 -and worth, desired him to accept ome land for 

 erecting a monastery, at which tiie king might fre- 

 .queutly attend for prayer, and hearing the word ; and 

 where at his death he might be interred. Cedd 

 Agreed to the proposal, and chose Lestingham. 

 Having fixed on the spot for the site of hi 

 monastery, he resolved first of all to consecrate 

 it by prayer, and fasting all the lent, eating nothing, 

 except on the lord's .day, till Jhe evening^ and then 

 only a little bread, an egg, and a small quantity of 

 milk mingled with water ; and then beginning the 

 building of it ; which when he had finished, institu*- 

 ted in it the same discipline as was used at LindiSr 

 fame. Cedd governed his diocese many years, and 

 dying as it is said of a plague, when on a visit to 

 Jtiis favourite .monastery, iu the year 664, was buxk<i 



