74 ANTIQUITIES OF NORTHUMBERLAND. 



be prevailed on to be a bifhop. At length, through the forcible 

 perfuafions of the king, and the importunity of the bifliops, he 

 complied to be bifhop of Lindisfarn, and 



Eata, who had it, was tranflated to Hexharn, which he had be- 

 fore held with Lindisfarn. He was fucceeded by 



John of Beverley, 685, a Saxon of quality, born at Harpham*,' 

 in York/hire ; firft a fcholar of St. Hilda a, abbefs of Whitby, and 

 afterwards of Archbifhop Theodore's, and a fludent at Oxford, 

 where he compleated his education. The humility, piety, and 

 learning, for which he was remarkable, made him much ca-> 

 re fled. The See of York being vacant, by the death of Arch- 

 bifliop Bojh, he was tranflated thither, 687 (a). He there lived 

 in high reputation and love for upwards of 33 years. Finding 

 age come upon him, and epifcopal cares weighty, he refigned 

 718. He retired to the monaflery of Beverley, of which he was 

 abbot. There he fpcnt the remainder of his days in devotion, 

 and in educating his foul for the glories of another life. When 

 he was at Hexham, all the leifurc he could get, he ufed to fpend 

 this way. It was his cufloin to retire, on every opportunity that 

 offered, particularly in Lent, to his country vill, or epifcopal 

 feat, where he had a little chapel or oratory, dedicated to St. Mi- 

 chael. This place is on the north banks of the Tyne, a mile and 

 a half north-weft from Hexham. Both Bede and Prior Richard 

 fpeak of it. Bede fays, it flood among a few fliady trees, enclofed 

 with a rampier (b). The Prior calls it Mons Aqull^ Mount-Eagle, 



* Browne Willis makes him to be a native of Beverley, 



f, t ) Survey of the Cathedr. Vol. i. p. 31. 



' (b) Eed, Eccles. Hift. L. 5. C. 2. 



and 



