54.8 The 5\(^tural Hijiory 
Religion^ of what perfwafion foever they were , heretofore as 
well as now. Since again on the 8 of Jum^Jac, 6, it was made 
71 M^jor Town, confiding of a Major^ 12 AlJermen^ ^nd 6 Capi- 
tal Burgefes. 
114. And fecondly, Benfon^ zlhs Benefingtune'^^ which Af^- 
rian (fays Camden) calls villam Regiam, the Kings Town^ and re- 
porteth that Ceaulin^ the third King of the Weft-Saxons^ about the 
year 572, took it from the Brit ans^ which his fucceifors kept 
200 years after, till they were difpolfeft again by Ojfa the great 
King of the Mercians^ And thirdly, though 'Dorchefler has 
its name from the Britiftj Dour , which fignifies water , and 
therefore called by Leland^ Hydrofoils ; and feems to have been 
known to the Romans by the mony found thereabout, and the La- 
tin termination Ce^er^ which, fays Leland^ the Saxons applyed to 
Cities as well as Fortifications^ ; yet it never came to its height till 
Birinws^ an. ^ 1 4. was feated there as Bidiop of the We^l-Saxons^ 
by Cynigelj-e their King, whom he had newly Baptized, and Of- 
waldKing of Northumberland^ God-father to Cjnigelfe^, 
115. About this time the Town of Berencefter^ zYnsBernce^ 
y?er, in Saxon Bujienceajrep, and Bepnacerrep, which I take to have 
been its primitive names, feems alfo to have been raifed, and to 
have taken its name ,as fomehave thought, from the fame Biflhop 
BirinuSj quafi Birini caftrum : But I much rather believe it fo caU 
led from Bern-wood^ or Forreft, mentioned by Bede""^ Florilegus^ 
and Wigornienfes ^, upon the edge whereof it was then feated, 
nor is now far off it ; after which perhaps from St, Eadburg^ to 
whom the Priory there was, and PariJJ^ Church is now dedicated, 
it changed its name to Burgcefter, and fince that to Burce/ler^ now 
Bifeter, 
116. The Town of Burford^ in too«Beoppop&, feems alfo to 
have been a place of good Antiquity^ but moft remarkable for a 
battle fowght near it, about the year 750 % perhaps on the place 
ft ill cAled Battle- edge ^ Weft of the Town betwixt it znd Vpton ; 
between Cuthred or Cuthhert^ a tributary King of the Weft-S^^ons^ 
and Ethelbald the Mercian^ whofe infupportable exactions the for- 
mer King not being able to endure,i>e came into the Field againft 
* Will. Malmesburienf de gefiis Reg. Ang.lil>- I. cap- 2- Camdeni Britan. inCom.Oxojt. * Lelandi 
Comment. In Cygneam Cant, in v. Hydrepolis. ^ Ven. Beda Hift. Ecclefta Gent, Ang. lib. . cap. 7. ^ Chro' 
7iologiaSaxomca.,inAn.^'2.\, * Mat.Wefimon. ^ Fhrent.Wigorn. in An. 918. * Rog. Uoveden Annal. 
Fart priori in An. citat. 
him^ 
