..3 . 706 . SICINNIUS APPOINTED TO THE SOMAN CHAIS. 341 he provinces of Wilton, Dorset, Berru, and Somerset, Devon, and Cornwall. But the village of Sherborne is so small, that it appears marvellous that a bishopric should have lasted there so many ages. CH. XIII.—FEOM A.D. 705 το 742. Death of Ethelred—The See of Worcester isfounded—Saint Guthlae of Croyland—Gregory is Pope—Ina, king of the West Saxons, defeats and kills Eadbert—Bede writes his History—Schism of the Iconoclasts— Wars of Ethetbald, King of Mercia—Death of Bede—His Character—Death of Gregory. A .©. 705. Ethelred, king of Mercia, who had become a monk, after having ruled the kingdom with great vigour for thirty years, died at Bardoneia, and was buried there. This king had two sisters, who were most holy virgins, by name Kinesdrida and Kineswitha, both dedicated to God from their in fancy, and who nobly persevered to old age in their noble determination of virginity. But the younger, not being con tent with the salvation of herself alone, restored Offa, her betrothed husband, also to the kingdom of heaven ; and Offa reigned in the kingdom of the East Saxons a few years after Sigehard and Scofrid, being a youth of pleasant countenance, in the flower of his age, and greatly beloved by his country men. He then, in consequence of the exhortations of the before-mentioned Kineswitha, as she disdained to become his wife, was taught to sigh for heavenly love, and went to Rome, and having become a monk there, he ascended devoutly to I the kingdom of heaven. The remains of these holy virgins are worshipped by, and bring good fortune to the people at iHettceiiamâttoe, a village which is sometimes called the Borough of Saint Peter (Peterborough). The same year, iElfrid, king of Northumberland, died, and was succeeded by his son Osred, who reigned eleven years. Ethelred was succeeded as king of Mercia by Kinred, who reigned five years. This year also, John was selected pope of Rome, and occupied that see one year. A.D . 706. Sicinnius was appointed to the Roman chair, and held it only twenty days. The same year, Justinian, who had been an exile, was, by the assistance of Trehelbus, king of Bulgaria, restored to his kingdom, and reigned six years. And when he was firmly seated on the throne, he put to death all those men who had formerly expelled him, and ordered