Page:Historical Works of Venerable Bede vol. 2.djvu/269

 Rh was the forty-sixth year of his episcopacy, which was the nineteenth year from that in which the body of St. Cuthbert had been translated to Cuncacester. The episcopal see was after him given by the suffrages of all to Cutheard, a man irreproachable before God and men, for the virtues of his life. His care in providing sustenance for those who served God in the presence of the incorruptible body of the saint, and the number of estates which he bought with the saint's money, and added to the former donations of the kings, are fully described in the chartulary of the church, which contains the ancient munificence of the kings and other religious individuals towards the saint. Now, whilst Edward was ruling the kingdom of the East Saxons, East Angles and Northumberland, Cutheard also being Bishop of the Bernicians, a certain pagan king, Reingwald by name, appeared with a large fleet on the coast of Northumberland. Immediately York was taken, and all the better part of the inhabitants slain or expelled their country. After this, he seized the whole domain of St. Cuthbert, and distributed his estates to two of his own soldiers, one of whom was called Scula, and the other Onlaf bald. The former of these, Scula, having obtained dominion of all the country from the village of Iodene to Billingham, oppressed the Eden and wretched nation, by imposing on them a grievous and intolerable tribute. Wherefore, even to this day, the inhabitants of York, as often as they are compelled to pay the king's tribute, endeavour to relieve themselves by imposing a fine of money on that portion of the land of St. Cuthbert which Scula had possessed. No doubt they make a law of that which a pagan had done from tyranny, and one too who served not a lawful king of England, but a barbarian, and a foreigner, and an enemy to the English king. But although they have taken great pains to introduce this custom, the resistance of St. Cuthbert has always prevented them from accomplishing their object. The other portion of the estates