primary sources
7th Century Anglo-Saxon Records
Primary Sources
Primary sources recording Lindsey in the 7th century, as used in the book.
Content
The growth of the Christian Faith and succession of bishops in the province of Lindsey. Bede informs us of his sources for Lindsey: learned from letters of the most Reverend Bishop Cynibert, or by word of mouth from other reliable persons. Cyneberht was Bishop of Lindsey from 716 to 731. Bede completed his book in 731.
Significance
Bede informs us of his sources for Lindsey — providing the evidential chain for subsequent references in his work.
Content
Paulinus preaches the word of God in the Province of Lindsey during the reign of King Edwin 628. Blaecca is Prefectus in Lincoln. Paulinus builds a stone church of fine workmanship, now lost its roof (731). Paulinus consecrated Honorius as Bishop. Priest Deda, abbot of the monastery of Partney, described the oldest inhabitant being present at the baptism by Paulinus at noon in the River Trent at Tiowulfingcaester, along with a description of Paulinus.
Significance
Blaecca is Prefectus in Lincoln. Baptism of Blaecca and his followers in the Trent. A stone church built by Paulinus in Lincoln in 628. Confirms the existence of a monastery at Partney — its priest Deda is alive in Bede's time (Bede was a priest from 702).
Content
A heavenly light appears all night over Oswald's tomb. Osthryth moves Oswald's bones to Bardney, with the monks being reluctant from his ruling over them. Osthryth's visit to Bardney where she is visited by the venerable Ethelhild, abbess of a neighbouring house — sister of Bishop Ethelwin of Lindsey and of Abbot Aldwin of Partney, who relates witnessing the light from Oswald's relics. Must have been before Osthryth's murder in 697 and probably after Ethelred became king in 675.
Significance
Confirms the Mercian royal household views Lindsey as being part of Mercia by this date. Also tells us that Oswald had ruled over Lindsey at some point in his reign 633–642. Another reference to Partney being a 7th century monastery.
Content
Death of Penda; Mercians accept the Faith of Christ. Oswiu gives endowments and lands to build monasteries. Oswiu defeats Penda at Winwaed who led 30 battle-hardened legions — almost all killed, including Ethelhere, brother and successor of King Anna of East Anglia, and Ethelwald, King Oswald's son who acted as guide to Penda. Oswiu ruled the Mercians and other peoples of the southern provinces until the Mercian revolt. Lindsey was under the bishop of Mercia — the first being Diuma, second Ceollach (who returned to Scotland), the third Trumhere, English ordained by the Scots.
Significance
As Christianity is established in Mercia following Penda's death, Lindsey is included in the Bishop of Mercia's see. Following Winwaed, Oswiu rules the peoples of the southern provinces — this includes Lindsey.
Content
Chad is appointed Bishop of the Mercians 667: his life, death 672, and burial. Chad had been in Northumbria where Wilfrid was Bishop. He received the Bishopric of the Mercians and the people of Lindsey. Wulfhere gave him 50 hides of land to build a monastery at At-Barwe (At the wood) in the province of Lindsey — Barrow upon Humber. Hygbald, a very holy and austere man who was an abbot in the province of Lindsey, came from Britain to visit Father Egbert. Hygbald was said to be the first abbot of Bardney monastery. He died in 690 and was buried at Hibaldstow. His stone sarcophagus was found in renovations in 1866.
Significance
Chad becomes the bishop of the Mercians and Lindsey, and Wulfhere, King of Mercia, founds Barrow monastery. Confirms Wulfhere's dominion over Lindsey and the establishment of Christian institutions within it.
Content
The succession of the West Saxon and Northumbrian Bishops 678. Bishop Wilfrid driven from his diocese by King Ecgfrith. Eadhead was made Bishop of Lindsey, which Ecgfrith had recently annexed after defeating and driving out Wulfhere. For the first time this province had its own bishop; the second was Ethelwin, the third Edgar, and the fourth Cynibert. Before Eadhead, Sexwulf had been bishop not only in Lindsey, but also the Mercians and Middle Angles. When Ethelred recovered the province of Lindsey, Eadhead was appointed by Theodore as Bishop of Rippon. Eadhead, Bosa and Eata were consecrated at York by Archbishop Theodore.
Significance
Records the Northumbrians once again ruling Lindsey. The Northumbrians separate Lindsey from the rest of Mercia by creating a separate bishopric. This division had been proposed by Archbishop Theodore at the Synod of Hertford in 673, although it had not been agreed at that time.
Content
King of the Mercians, roused all of the southern nations — Ecgfrith overthrew them with their tiny force. Countless numbers were slain, the king put to flight and his kingdom laid under tribute. Afterwards, when Wulfhere died through some cause, Ecgfrith ruled in peace over a wider realm.
Significance
Although Lindsey is not mentioned directly, this account confirms Ecgfrith's governance south of the Humber — providing independent corroboration of the events recorded by Bede.
Content
A Deiran priest named Trimma was told in a dream to go and retrieve the body of King Edwin from the site where he lay slain in that district which is called Hatfield. When asked how he is to locate the body, he is instructed to go to a village in Lindsey (Lindissi) where he will find a peasant householder who can show him the exact spot.
Significance
Suggests that Edwinstowe, where Edwin's body was originally hidden, was within the boundary of the Kingdom of Lindsey in 633. Men of Lindsey fought in the battle presumably on Edwin's side, since they helped hide the body — it would follow that the King of Lindsey would have led these men.
Content
Arriving at the river which is called the Humber, she made crossing of its channel, thanks to the blowing of a light breeze, and arrived successfully at the port of Winteringham. About ten furlongs on from there, she turned aside for a little village called Alftham, more or less surrounded by marshes like an island. Staying there for a few days, she constructed a church for the Lord. The site of Alftham is believed to be today's West Halton. Aethelthryth was a daughter of East Anglian King Anna, married to Ecgfrith, King of Northumbria.
Significance
Confirms a functioning port at Winteringham and that Ermine Street is clearly still a main route between north and south of the River Humber. As suggested by Kevin Leahy, when Aethelthryth stayed in northern Lindsey, she will have stayed with local elites — suggesting West Halton was an important and possibly "royal" site.
Content
In this year King Edwin was baptised by Paulinus; and this same Paulinus also preached Christianity in Lindsey, where the first to be converted was a certain powerful man called Blecca with all of his chief men (Praefectus in Latin version, translated to gerefa or reeve in the Old English version). At this time Honorius succeeded Boniface to the papacy. Archbishop Justice died on 10th November and Honorius was consecrated by Paulinus at Lincoln.
Significance
Aligns with Bede's account. Shows the close relationship between King Edwin of Northumbria and Lindsey. The central power in Lindsey is clearly Blecca, who is not listed on the Anglian Collection. Also shows that Lincoln is the seat of authority in Lindsey, with both Edwin's presence and Paulinus' consecration of Honorius in Lincoln.
Content
Aethelred, King of Mercia, gives lands to Medeshamsteade (Peterborough monastery) including lands at Swineshead and Bardney in Lindsey. Repeats the information in Charter S72.
Significance
Confirms that Aethelred, King of Mercia, is the power in Lindsey — not an independent king of Lindsey. This suggests that the title and lineage of Lindsey's kings no longer exists at this date.