.ANTIQUITIES OF NORTHUMBERLAND. 



narch his' friend, and to get one of the four bifhopricks in his 

 kingdom, the bifhoprick of Leicejlcr, then vacant. His paffion 

 for pre-eminence, and immoderate love of power, hurt him in 

 his new fit nation. The king, and his nephew, Berthivald, arch* 

 hifhop of Canterbury, being offended with him for fome undue 

 liberties, they refolvcd, in concert witli Alfred, king of Northum- 

 berland , to clip the plumes of his ambition. They tried him by a 

 fynod, charged him with many things, and at length requefted 

 a formal resignation of his bifhoprick. On his refufal, he was 

 dcpofecl. lie was now 70 years of age, yet not fo feeble, but he 

 took another journey to Rome for red re is. The pope convened a 

 council, and fent him back with a decree for his refloration, 

 with letters recommendatory to the* two kings, and the archbi- 

 iliop. The archbifhop, out of refpect to the pope, and the- king 

 of Mercia having taken on him the habit of a monk, and the 

 king of Northumberland falling fick, and relenting on his death- 

 bed, received him again into favour. But another difficulty 

 came in his way. Alfred, king of Northumberland, died before lie 

 could be replaced in his fee of York. However, he acquired fo 

 much favour with his fucccffor, the young king Ofred, as to 

 have a council held near the river Nidd (c). With great difficulty 



* - 



he obtained the bifhoprick of Hexham, the third part only of the 

 antient diocefc of Northumberland (d). But to return to Lindisfar'n* 



On the reduction of this diocefe to the kingdom of Bernicia, 



Eata was made bilhop of it. He was one of Aidaris fcholar& 

 Aldan, upon his firft coming tQ this fee, undertook the educatioa 



(c) Spelm. Confil. i. 203. 

 Heddhn. p. 58. 



' : -' an;"- , U'-idv* 



.(d) Vid. Hcxbam* 



Of 



