4 2'4 ANTIQUITIES OF NORTHUMBERLAND. 



build monafteries and churches to get a name and a reputation, 

 but for the glory of God, and the increafe of virtue ; find out 

 and punifh diflembling priefts, who had the form, but not the 

 power of godlinefs ; employ his epifcopal leifure not in pleafmg 

 the world, but God ; in fludving his holy fcriptures, and tranf- 

 lating them into the Saxon language for the benefit of his own 

 and other diocefes. The bimop, io far from being angry with 

 this freedom of his friend, received his letter kindly, and re- 

 turned an anfwcr, calling it " An Anfwer of Gratitude." He fet 

 about tranflating f cveral of the facred books into the Saxon tongue. 

 This thews, that, however rcmifs he might be in fome things, 

 in reproving the great for their ambition, or the little for their 

 hypocrily, he had the true fpirit and temper of a Chriflian bifliop, 

 and might be led into an over-forbearance and remifTnefs,' by an 

 excels of humility and modefty, his natural candour and good 

 nature. He was bifhop twenty-four years, dying in 721. He 

 was fuccccded by 



abbot of Metros, a fcholar, companion, and friend 

 of Sr. Cnthbcrt. In his time king Ccohvulf diverted himfelf of his 

 royalty, to add to the number of the religious in the monaftery 

 of Lindisfarn. This biihop died in 740. The next was 



) chofen the fame year. His cpifcopacy abounded with 

 troubles. K. Egbert imprifoncd him in the caftle of Bambrcugk, 

 on fufpicion of a murder being committed with his knowledge 

 and connivance on one of the royal line, named Ojfrt, who had 

 taken fancluary within his jurifdict.ion. Ha did not get hia liber- 

 ty till the year 780, and then with difficulty. Sorrow .and age 

 had brought him fo weak, that he turned over the burthen of 



his 



