Florence both put his death in 709, his death-day being May the 25th. Bede says he was succeeded by Forthere, who was bishop when he was writing, i.e. in 731.[1]
Turning to Northumbria, our dates are much more satisfactory. Bede says that St. Aidan died on August 11, 651.[2] He elsewhere tells us that he had been a bishop seventeen years, which puts his accession in 634.[3] St. Finan, who succeeded him, reigned ten years, i.e. till 66 1 ; St. Colman, who followed, three years, i.e. till 664.[4] Tuda, who succeeded, died the same year, of the plague,[5] and was succeeded in the same year by Ceadda, better known as St. Chad. He was deposed by Archbishop Theodore in 669, St. Wilfrid being put in his place.[6] In 678 Wilfrid was driven out by King Ecgfrid,[7] and the diocese of the Northumbrians was divided into three parts: Lindisfarne, York, and Lindsey, presided over respectively by Eata, Bosa, and Eadhaed.[8]
We will examine them in turn. In 681 Eata's diocese was divided in two, the see of one of which remained at Lindisfarne under himself, while that of the other was fixed at Hexham, and to it Trunberht was appointed.[9] Presently Trunberht was deposed.[10] This is dated in 685 in MS. E of the Chronicle, the only copy that names it. Thereupon Cuthberht was elected in his place as Bishop of Hexham; but as Lindisfarne was more suitable and acceptable to him, he and Eata exchanged sees.[11] Cuthberht died two years after his appointment, i.e. in 687, and was succeeded by Eadberht,[12] who died May 5, 698.[13] He was succeeded by Eadfrid, who, according to Florence of Worcester, died in 721, and was succeeded by Oidilwald or Edilwald,[14] who was bishop when Bede wrote in 731. In the year 685 King Ecgfrid of Northumbria died, and was succeeded by his brother Aldfrid. Bede tells us that in the beginning of the latter's reign Bishop Eata died, and was succeeded as Bishop of Hexham by John. He says that John died in 721, after an episcopate of thirty-three years.[15] This would put his consecration in 688. Mr. Plummer argues strongly that his consecration was in fact in August 687. Florence of Worcester tells us his death-day was May 7, and it was on that day he was commemorated at Beverley.
