ANTIQUITIES OF NORTHUMBERLAND. 417 

 CI/CA3vI3 i U I '.iTi . '. \ 



Lindisfarn, or Holy I/land, which was a bifliop's fee, founded by 



Ofwald, King of Northumberland. Aldan, a Scotchman, was the fir (I 



bifhop, and had that whole kingdom for his diocefe. Hiflorians 



have given him an excellent character. By his prudent conduct, 



and the unwearied pains he took in the miniftry, he acquired 



great efteem. His country -idiortfnot being underftood by a Saxon*- 



a.udience, the king himfelf became the interpreter of his clif- 



courfes, which had fuch an influence, that crowds thronged to 



him for baptifm. And no wonder, fmce, befidcs the advantages 



of his own eloquence, and perfonal good qualities, his humility 



and condcfcenfion, uncommon afliduity and humanity, he had 



the authority and example of a benevolent and good king, and 



the higherl and bed men of hh court, to back him. For how 



captivating is religion, how perfuafive her voice, when uttered 



from the throne, and her precepts explained in all the beauty 



and force of language ? Aldan affected no ftate. He travelled on 



foot, not by neceiiity, b\u choice, (for he that was the favourite 



* 



of a good king could not be in fuch circumftances) to win the 

 Heathens to embrace and love Chriftianity. His care for thr - 

 was fuch, that he was their follicitor with the rid 1 , to becoi. ^ 

 their patrons and benefactors ; ufmg all his intercft ;o gain them 

 favour, to get them relief, and to fct them above mifcry and 

 daft re fs. May they never want fuch friends ! After a life thus 

 pioufly fpcnt in his biflioprick for 17 years, he died, 3; ft Auguft, 

 65 1 . He was fucccedcd by 



Finan, one of the fame monaftery, Finan had orders from 

 Gregory, the Roman Pontiff, to remove his Sec to York, but Popes in 

 thofc days having no influence in Northumberland, he continued it 

 here, preferring the model of government in the Eajlern churches 

 to that of Rome. He built a cathedral-church, which he dedicat- 

 ed to St. Peter. He thatched it, 'after the Scotch fafliion, t with 



VOL. II. M h h reeds. 



