527 
palace, we learn from Venerable Baeda, who tells us that the 
succeeding kings, that is, Osric and Oswald, built for 
themselves a palace " in regione qua? vocatur Loidis." The 
names Coneyshaw and Coneygarth, (the king's wood and 
enclosure,) and the remains of trenches, existing until the 
last century, led Thoresby to fix upon Osmundthorpe as the 
site of this palace ; and I think there can be no doubt that 
it was there. 
Here then, most probably, resided Osric, St. Oswald, 
and St. Oswini, and here was residing Oswiu at the time 
when Penda invaded his dominions, and was overthrown and 
slain at the decisive battle of Winwsedfield. The site of this 
battle, which has been the subject of many conjectures, may, 
I think, be accurately ascertained by comparing Venerable 
Ba\da's account of it with what is stated in the Early British 
Chronicle, appended to some MSS. of Nennius. 
The former may be briefly summed up as follows : — 
Penda, king of the Mercians, had invaded the dominions 
of Oswiu, and Oswiu, unable to contend with him, offered 
him an exceedingly great ransom, on condition of his return- 
ing home. Penda, bent on the entire subjugation of North- 
umbria, rejected his offers ; and Oswiu, relying on the help 
of God, determined on resistance ; and though his force 
was but small, and the army of Penda consisted of thirty 
legions, led by as many princes renowned for their bravery, 
he gave him battle near the river Winwaed. At the 
beginning of the engagement the pagan army was routed, 
iEthelhere, King of the East Angles, and most of the princes 
who were on Penda's side were slain ; and more perished in 
the river, which had over-flowed its banks at the time, than 
perished by the sword. It is afterwards said King Oswiu 
concluded the aforesaid war in the region of Loidis, that he 
cut off the head of Penda, and converted the Mercians to 
the Christian faith. 
