CHAPTER 19: The king’s victory over the fierce Picts[671–3]
CHAPTER 19
The king’s victory over the fierce Picts[671–3]
THE pious King Ecgfrith and Queen Aethilthryth were both obedient to Bishop Wilfrid in everything, and their reign was marked by fruitful years of peace and joy at home and victory over their enemies. Queen Aethilthryth’s body did not corrupt in death, an indication that it was unstained in life.1
Joas, the youthful king of Judah, during the lifetime of the great high-priest, Joada, pleased God and vanquished his enemies; when the priest died, however, he displeased the Lord and his kingdom diminished. This was the case with Ecgfrith too. While he was on good terms with the bishop, as many will tell you, he enlarged his kingdom by many victories; but when they quarrelled and the queen separated from him to give herself to God, the king’s triumphs ceased, and that within his own lifetime. In the early years of his reign while the kingdom was still weak, the vicious tribes of the Picts fiercely resented their being subject to the Saxons; indeed they began to stir up revolt. Swarms of them gathered from every cranny of the north, like ants in summer sweeping up an earthwork to prevent their home from ruin. When the news reached Ecgfrith he quickly mustered a troop of cavalry and putting his trust in God, like Judas Maccabeus, set off with Beornhaeth, his trusty sub-king, and the little band of God’s people against a vast army hidden in the hills. Ecgfrith was quite gentle with his people and merciful to his enemies, but quick in battle, impatient of delay. Host upon host of the enemy fell before him. He filled two rivers with the slain and his men crossed dry-shod over the corpses to slay the fugitives. Thus the Picts were reduced to slavery, a condition in which they remained until Ecgfrith himself was slain.