of slaughter, with love scenes; 'Robin Hood;' 'Adam Bell, Clym o' the Cleugh, and William of Cloudeslie,' a long story of woodland adventures, 1842, with one of Egan's best etchings; 'Paul Jones,' the privateer, 2 vols., with Egan's etched frontispiece and designs on wood, 1842. Other early works were, "The London Apprentice, and the Goldsmith's Daughter of East Chepe;' Edward the Black Prince; or, Feudal Days;' and 'Clifton Grey; or, Love and War,' a tale of the Crimean war, published in 1854-5. In spite of the extravagant narrations of feudal cruelty, these early works were inoffensive, never immoral nor irreligious. But their unreality, owing to their author's superficial knowledge of history, is very conspicuous. He contributed to the early volumes of the Illustrated London News,' started in 1842, and from 7 July 1849 to the end of 1851 edited the 'Home Circle.' In Nos. 53-119, vols. iii-v. of this work, ending 11 Oct. 1851, reappeared, extended and recast, his 'Quintyn Matsys, the Blacksmith of Antwerp,' afterwards reissued separately in library form with illustrations. An early edition had been published about 1839. He wrote in January 1857 for 'Reynolds's Miscellany,' Nos. 444-8, a popular Christmas story called 'The Waits; since republished in John Dicks's series of English Novels, No. 106. Also in Reynolds's Miscellany,' 'The False Step; or the Castle and the Cottage' (begun 21 Feb. 1857, ended 3 Oct., Nos. 450-82). He then transferred himself to the London Journal,' to the success of which he largely contributed, remaining one of its most attractive contributors until the end of his life. Sir John Gilbert illustrated many of the following works. On 5 Dec. 1857, in vol. xxvi. No. 667, appeared the first chapters of Egan's Flower of the Flock.' It ended in No. 689, and was next week followed by 'The Snake in the Grass' (8 May 1858, ending 27 Nov. 1858, in No. 720). A note from Pierce Egan to the public craved leave of absence for a brief period 'to recruit health and strength.' Otherwise he was singularly unobtrusive, and avoided all personal squabbles. He had married, and already had several children, enjoying a fair income derived from his literary work. He afterwards developed a completely different style from his early feudal extravagances, and delighted in rural scenes, intermingled with tragic incidents of town poverty and aristocratic splendour. Despite sensationalism and contrasts of ranks and classes, there was always a singular charm of purity and wholesome honesty in all his 'London Journal' serials. In 1858 and 1859 a new proprietor of the 'Journal,' to encourage a higher taste among the pur 6 chasers of penny miscellanies, dispensed with Egan's services and reprinted three novels by Sir Walter Scott. But the circulation of the Journal' diminished, so that Pierce Egan was again summoned to restore the popularity. This he attempted, somewhat hurriedly, with a slight story called 'The Love Test' (15 Jan. 1859, in vol. xxix., completed in No. 746 on 28 March). After a short interval he began a new story, with his best power, 'Love me, Leave me Not' (22 Oct. 1859, ending 30 June 1860, Nos. 767-803). In rapid succession, with undiminished success, there followed 'The Wonder of Kingswood Chace' (6 Oct. 1860 to 6 July 1861, Nos. 817-56); Imogine; or The Marble Heart' (7 Sept. 1861 to 14 June 1862, Nos. 865-905); The Scarlet Flower,' in which he went back to cavalier days (7 June 1862 to 15 Nov., Nos. 904-27); 'The Poor Girl,' one of his best known novels (on 1 Nov. 1862 to 5 Sept. 1863); 'Such is Life' (5 Dec. 1863 to 2 July 1864, Nos. 982-1012); Fair Lilias' (14 Jan. 1865 to 16 Dec. 1865, Nos. 1040-88); 'The Light of Love; or the Diamond and the Snowdrop' (28 April 1866 to 16 Feb. 1867, Nos. 1107-49); 'Eve; or The Angel of Innocence,' another widely popular work (18 May to 21 Dec. 1867, Nos. 1162-93). The incessant toil and excitement of such rapid production told on him, but ' Eve' embodied his best thoughts, which lacked neither poetry of expression nor some higher flights of imagination, such as his early years had never promised. His personal friends valued him for his manly qualities, and his readers admired him. He wrote nothing in vol. xlvii., but resumed on 5 Sept. 1868 with The Blue-eyed Witch; or not a Friend in the World' (ending 8 May 1869, Nos. 1230-65). Henceforward his powers diminished, as may be seen in his wild and ghastly story 'My Love Kate; or the Dreadful Secret (6Nov. 1869 to 7 May 1870, Nos. 1291-1317); and in his attempt to trade on his former success with 'The Poor Girl' (a study of a virtuous maiden triumphing over persecu tions and temptations) by his adding a com panion novel entitled 'The Poor Boy (8 Oct. 1870 to 8 April 1871, Nos. 1339-65). Of other works the titles and dates were these: Mark Jarrett's Daisy, the Wild Flower of Hazelbrook' (25 Nov. 1871 to 25 May 1872, Nos. 1398-1424, in vol. lv.); Ever my Queen' (15 Feb. to 5 July 1873, Nos. 14621482); Her First Love' (21 March to 8 Aug. 1874, Nos. 1519-39, in vol. lx.); False and Frail' (13 Feb. to 19 June 1875, Nos. 1566-84); The Pride of Birth' (20 Nov. 1875 to 1 April 1876, Nos. 1606-25); 'Two Young Hearts' (25 Nov. 1876 to 14 April 1877, Nos. 1659-79); then, after short intervals, His Sworn Bride' (15 Dec. 1877 to 4 May 1878, Nos. 1714-34, in vol. lxvi.); 'Loved in Secret' (2 Nov. 1878 to 29 March 1879, Nos. 1760-81); and, his latest work of all, at first entitled A Shadow on the Threshold,' but the name having been anticipated elsewhere, it was changed to 'A Shadow on the Future' (13 Dec. 1879, ending on 6 March 1880, Nos. 1818-33, in vol. lxxi.) He was a liberal in politics, and had been for some time connected with the Weekly Times.' He is deservedly accounted one of the pioneers of cheap literature.' His 'Snake in the Grass' was republished in 1887. He died on 6 July 1880. [Works mentioned above, with dates; obituary notice in Athenæum, No. 2750, p. 49, &c.] J. W. E. sey, relates how Ecgberht told him that he knew a man in Ireland who on the night of Ceadda's death (2 March 672) saw in a vision the spirit of Cedd, his brother, descending from heaven with an angel host to fetch his brother to his reward in the celestial realms. Bæda suspected that Ecgberht himself had this vision, but is not sure. In later times, however, there was no hesitation in making Ecgberht the witness of this miracle (FLOR. WIG. s. a. 672). Twelve years later Ecgberht boldly remonstrated with the rash Ecgfrith, king of the Northumbrians, who, as part of his policy of war against the Celtic neighbours and tributaries of his kingdom, carried on an unprovoked war with the friendly Irish. Ecgfrith's death next year in his war with the Picts was generally regarded as the penalty of his neglect of Ecgberht's counsel. Ecgberht's vow kept him EGBERT or ECGBERHT, SAINT (639- away from Britain, but he was seized with an 729), was an Angle, doubtless a Northum- irresistible impulse to preach the gospel to the brian, of noble lineage, who some time after heathen Germans beyond the sea, especially 652 went to Ireland. Among his companions the Frisians and the old Saxons. If this there were Æthelhun, brother of Ethelwine, ambitious scheme should fail, he would at subsequently bishop of Lindsey, and the more least be able to visit the threshold of the famous Ceadda. Young men visited Ireland apostles at Rome. He chose his companions either for study or to cultivate in its highest and his ship, but at the last moment a monk form the monastic life. Ecgberht was one of from Melrose who was among them was those who visited the cells of the masters,' warned by his old abbot, Boisil, in a dream and were entertained without cost and re- to tell Ecgberht to desist, and visit instead the ceived gratuitous instruction from the hos- monasteries of Columba. Ecgberht hesitated pitable islanders. But in 664 a terrible plague until the message was repeated in a second desolated both Britain and Ireland, and Ecg- and clearer vision. A storm now cast his berht and Ethelwine were seized with the ship on the coast, and he finally desisted disorder when sojourning at the monastery from his missionary journey. But he enof Rathmelsigi, a house placed by some in couraged others to go where it was forbidden Connaught, and identified by others with for him to enter. Wihtberht, an EnglishMellifont, near Drogheda, but in both cases man, long an anchorite in Ireland, underon insufficient evidence. Fearing that death took the Frisian mission in 690. He laboured was at hand, Ecgberht, as Bæda was told by a two years without result and then returned hoary priest who had heard the story from in despair. But in 692 Ecgberht found in Ecgberht himself, prayed that he might have Willibrord [q. v.] and his twelve companions time for repentance, and vowed solemnly that more fortunate missionaries. It was not, howif he recovered he would never return to ever, until some years had elapsed that EcgBritain, would recite the whole psalter every berht proceeded to fulfil the divine command. day, and would fast a day and a night in He was still living among the Scots when every week. His comrade died, but Ecgberht about 705 he was consulted by Eanmund, recovered and became a priest and a monk. the Northumbrian noble whom the cruelty For the rest of his long life he kept his vows of King Osred had driven into a monastery. and soon won a great reputation for humi- At the monk's request Ecgberht consecrated lity, kindness, continency, simplicity, and an altar for the monastery of St. Peter. He justice. He added to his old vows a new also bade Eanmund build a chapel on a one, that he would only refresh himself once hill covered with thorn coverts, the haunt a day in Lent, the forty days before Christ- of robbers. Eanmund fulfilled his request. mas, and the forty after Pentecost, and then Perhaps Utan the Scot, one of Eanmund's only on a limited quantity of bread and most zealous disciples, came from Ecgberht skimmed milk. He was exceptionally learned (ÆTHELWULF, 'Carmen de abbatibus cellæ in the scriptures. The students and monks suæ,' in T. ARNOLD'S Symeon of Durham, from England sought his counsel. One of i. 270-3, Rolls Ser.) It is remarkable that them, Higbald, afterwards an abbot in Lind-the relator of this story speaks of Ecgberht as bishop, while Bæda always describes him as a presbyter. But Alcuin twice (Vita S. Willibrordi; and Versus de Sanctæ Eboracensis Ecclesiæ, in JAFFÉ, vi. 43, 112) describes Ecgberht as a bishop, just as Ethelwulf does. Despite the sanctity of Ecgberht's life and his orthodoxy on all the points of controversy between the Roman and Celtic churches, Bæda either ignores or forgets that he had in any sense the character of a bishop. At last, in 716, Ecgberht went on his mission to Iona. The Celtic Easter and tonsure had already lost ground even in the centre of Celtic christianity. Adamnan [q. v.] had become since 686 an advocate of the Roman usages; and after the synod of Tara in 692 all the northern Scots but a few Columban monasteries had conformed to Rome. It was about this time that Ecgberht became anxious for their conversion, though he himself could hardly have been of the Celtic party even before this. But on Adamnan's death schism broke out in Iona. When Ecgberht arrived in 716 he found two rival abbots, though doubtless the larger party were with the Abbot Dunchad on the Roman side. The traditions of the place tended powerfully for the local usages. Ecgberht's eloquence and earnestness turned the monks from their old ways. In 716 both Irish and English annalists commemorate the abandonment of the Celtic Easter at Iona (Tighernac, in SKENE, Chron. Picts and Scots, p. 73; Anglo-Saxon Chron. s.a.716). In 717 Dunchad died, and Faelchu, the rival abbot, found his cause strengthened by the fugitive Columban monks expelled in that year from the dominions of Nectan, king of the Picts. Ecgberht still persevered. In 718 he forced on Iona the Roman tonsure (Tighernac, in SKENE, p.74). But the struggle was long and severe, and the victory gradual. Ecgberht never left Iona, and doubtless found his work there in subduing the last traces of the schism. But his influence extended over the greater part of the land of the Scots. He had now attained an unusual age. He was ninety years old when, on Easter day (24 April) 729, he suddenly died, just after he had completed the celebration of mass. In him, as Bæda says, the English repaid to the Scots their gift of christianity by recalling them to the true catholic knowledge of Easter. It was little less than a miracle that he died on Easter day. He was revered as a saint as early as the times of Alcuin. [Bada Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Anglorum, iii. 4, 27, iv. 3, 26, v. 9, 10, 22; Chronicles of the Picts and Scots, ed. Skene, pp. 73, 74; AngloSaxon Chronicle, s. a. 716, 729; Ethelwulf, in Symeon of Durham, ed. T. Arnold, i. 270-3 (Rolls Ser.); Jaffe's Bibliotheca Rerum Germanicarum, vi. 43, 112; Skene's Celtic Scotland, ii. 278–81, corrects Bæda by comparison with the Irish sources; Lanigan's Ecclesiastical History of IreT. F. T. land, iii. 95, 135.] EGBERT or ECGBERHT (d. 766), archbishop of York, son of Eata and cousin of Ceolwulf [q. v.], the king of Northumbria, to whom Bæda dedicated his 'History,' was sent by his father to a monastery to receive his education. When he had grown up he went to Rome with his brother Ecgred, and was ordained deacon there. Ecgred died at Rome, and Ecgberht returned home alone. He was appointed to the see of York by Ceolwulf, probably in 732 (Carmen de Pontiff. 1284; Addit. ad Badam, 734; A.-S. Chron. 735, SYMEON), and Bæda thereupon wrote him a long letter of advice as to his life and doctrine, the administration of his diocese, the evils that prevailed among the clergy, the corrupt state of the monasteries, and the measures of reform that he desired him to adopt (Ad Ecgberctum antistitem,' Opera Hist. Min. 207-26). As a means of restoring discipline, he urged him to forward the erection of new bishoprics and the fulfilment of the scheme of Pope Gregory, which invested the see of York with metropolitan authority by the gift of the pall. Acting on this advice Ecgberht obtained his pall at Rome from Gregory III in 735, and thus became the second archbishop of York; for as none of his predecessors since Paulinus received the vestment, they are not entitled to a higher title than that of bishop (Anglia Sacra, i. 66). His power was evidently greatly increased by the accession of his brother Eadberht [q. v.] to the Northumbrian throne in 738; he worked in perfect harmony with him, exercised full authority in ecclesiastical matters, and issued coins bearing his own name along with that of the king. He was learned, just, gracious, and liberal. He enriched the churches of his diocese with many splendid gifts, took care to ordain worthy men as priests, and paid attention to the cultivation of church music. Above all, he founded the school attached to his cathedral church. In this school the range of teaching was wide, and besides divinity included the study of classical authors, and especially of Virgil, of grammar, arts, and science. The work of teaching was mainly confided to Albert (Ethelberht), who succeeded Ecgberht as archbishop, and here among other scholars of note was educated Alcuin (Eahlwine), who also took part in the direction of the school. In the anonymous Life cf Alcuin' we are told that Ecgberht each morning, as soon as his business was transacted, used to sit on his couch and instruct his young clerks till midday; he then prayed privately and celebrated mass. At dinner he ate sparingly, and listened to his scholars discussing literary questions. In the evening he always said the compline service with them, and then gave each his blessing singly (Vita Alcuini, Bibl. rerum Germ. JAFFE, IV. 10, 11). He corresponded with the English missionary Boniface, who wrote to him thanking him for his gifts, asking him to send him the 'Commentaries' of Bæda, and consulting him on a question of church discipline (epp. 60, 100). In 758 he received into his monastery his brother Eadberht, who voluntarily resigned his crown and became a monk. He died on 19 Nov. 766, after having ruled the diocese for thirty-four years (Carmen de Pontiff.; thirty-two years, SrMEON), and was buried in one of the porches or chapels of his cathedral church. A letter of Paul I, with a superscription addressing it to Ecgberht as well as Eadberht, was really written to the king alone (Councils and Eccl. Docs. iii. 394-6). Ecgberht wrote: 1. 'The Pontificale,' or a book of ritual, first printed by the Surtees Society, vol. xxvi. 1853. 2. The Succinctus Dialogus Ecclesiastica Institutionis,' printed with two epistles of Bæda by Ware 1664, by Wharton 1693, by Wilkins in his' Concilia' 1737, by Thorpe in his 'Ancient Laws and Institutes' 1840, and by Haddan and Stubbs in their 'Councils,' &c., 1851. 3. The Pænitentiale,' printed by Haddan and Stubbs in their 'Councils,' &c., iii. 413 sq., from the text of Wasserschleben, which presents what may be taken as the genuine work of the archbishop. Other versions of the Penitential' ascribed to Ecgberht have been printed by Spelman, Wilkins, and Thorpe, but in each case his work has been mixed up with much that is clearly extraneous. A book of 'Excerptiones,' also ascribed to him, is of later date. The editors of the 'Councils,' &c. (see above), in a learned note on the works attributed to Ecgberht, consider that 'it seems rather more probable than not' that he may have translated the Anglo-Saxon version or paraphrase of the 'Confessionale' from the 'Penitential' of the so-called Cummeanus.' Other writings of which, if they ever existed, no traces now remain are ascribed to him by Bale (Scriptt. Brit. cent. ii. 109). Fasti Ebor. p. 94 sq.; Haddan and Stubbs's W. H. (d. 839), king of the West-Saxons, son of EGBERT, ECGBERHT,or ECGBRYHT Ealhmund, an under-king of the kingdom of Kent, which at this time, besides Kent, included Surrey, Sussex, and Essex (A.-S. Chron. sub an. 823), was when a young man banished from England by the joint action of Offa, king of Mercia, and Beorhtric [q. v.], king of Wessex. of the house of Cerdic that He represented the branch wine, the son of Ceawlin [q. v.], for his father sprang from Cuthwas the great-grandson of Ingils, the brother of Ine. parted from his house when Ine was sucThe West-Saxon kingship had deceeded by his kinsman Æthelheard. When the West-Saxon king, Cynegils, died in 786, Ealhmund was reigning in Kent, and probably died shortly afterwards; for soon after Beorhtric succeeded Cynegils the pretensions of Ecgberht were held to endanger his throne. Beorhtric forced him to take refuge in Mercia, and sent an embassy to Offa offering alliance and requesting that the fugitive might be given up. Offa determined to support Beorhtric, probably because the accession of Ecgberht to the West-Saxon kingdom might have led to the withdrawal of Kent from the Mercian over-lordship and its union with Wessex; he therefore made alliance with the West-Saxon king, gave him his daughter Eadburh [q. v.] to wife in 789, and joined him in driving Ecgberht out of England. Ecgberht took refuge with the Frankish king, Charles, afterwards the emperor Charles the Great (Charlemagne), who entertained many exiles from the different English kingdoms. The date of Ecgberht's banishment and its duration are uncertain. The 'Anglo-Saxon Chronicle' (sub an. 836), Florence of Worcester (i. 69), and Henry of Huntingdon (p. 733) say that his exile lasted for three years; William of Malmesbury (Gesta Regum, sec. 105) makes it last for thirteen years. While, as far as written evidence goes, the period of three years thus rests on strong ground, it is less probable than the other. Ecgberht certainly came to the throne in 802 (KEMBLE, Coder Dipl. Introd. p. 87; Eccl. Documents, [Carmen de Pontiff. Ebor. Eccl. 1247-86, His-iii. 557, the dates of the 'Chronicle' needing torians of York, i. 386; Symeon of Durham, correction by two years at this period), and it Hist. Eccl. Dunelm. ii. 3 (Rolls Ser.); Bæda is likely that he returned to England in that Opera Hist. Minora, pp. 207-26 (Engl. Hist. year on the death of Beorhtric; his exile, Soc.); William of Malmesbury, Gesta Pontiff. however, could not have begun three years p. 245 (Rolls Ser.); Addit. ad Bædam, Mon. Hist. before that date, as Offa was then dead. If Brit. p. 288; Vita Alcuini, Jaffé, pp. 10, 11; the account given in the 'Chronicle' is to be Borifacii Epistolæ, Jaffé, epp. 60, 100; Raine's accepted, his return must have taken place on the death of Offa in 796, and his exile in 793, a date which seems to have no significance in this connection, while if William of Malmesbury's statement of the matter is correct, his exile would coincide with the marriage of Beorhtric to Offa's daughter, and would come to an end when, on the death of Beorhtric, he returned to England to ascend the West-Saxon throne; and it is highly probable that Malmesbury based his story on some version of the 'Chronicle' that has not been preserved. According to this theory, then, Ecgberht was banished in 789, and remained with Charles for thirteen years. Nothing is known of his life during his exile save that Henry of Huntingdon records the tradition that he dwelt in honour. At the same time account must be taken of the influence that his long stay at the court of the Frankish monarch must have had on his future career, of the lessons in war and empire that he must have learnt there. He returned to England in 802, and was accepted by the West-Saxons as their king. No opposition seems to have been offered to his accession by Cenwulf of Mercia, and it may reasonably be supposed that his acquiescence had been secured by the emperor (Making of England, p. 431). Nothing is recorded of Ecgberht for the next thirteen years; for the statement that appears in the register of a hospital at York that soon after his accession he held a 'parliament' at Winchester, in which he ordered that the name of his kingdom should be changed from Britain to England (Monasticon, vi. 608), does not need confuting here. It should, however, be noted that he dates certain charters granted in the later years of his reign (KEMBLE, Codex Dipl. 1035, 1036, 1038) by the year of his 'ducatus,' which he refers to 812 or 813 (STUBBS, art. Egbert,' Dictionary of Christian Biography). Whatever he may have meant by the term 'ducatus,' it certainly points to some accession of dignity, and as in 815 (A.-S. Chron. sub an. 813) he laid waste West Wales [Cornwall] from eastward to westward,' it has been conjectured (STUBBS) that he refers to the beginning of this war, which in later days he probably regarded as the first step towards the attainment of the leadership he afterwards won. From 815 he does not appear again until 824, when he held a meeting of the WestSaxon witan at Acle, probably Oakley in Hampshire (KEMBLE, Codex Dipl. 1031). The next year was evidently marked by a rising of the West Welsh, who were defeated by the men of Devon at Gafulford or Camelford, a war in which Ecgberht took part in person (Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, sub`an. 823; FLORENCE; KEMBLE, Codex Dipl. 1033; STUBBS). As soon as Ecgberht had overthrown the Welsh of Cornwall he had to repel a Mercian invasion. The greatness of Mercia had been shaken by civil discord since the death of Cenwulf in 821; his successor was deposed, and another king, Beornwulf, chosen in his place. Beornwulf, who no doubt took advantage of the rising of the Welsh, seems to have marched far into Wessex. Ecgberht defeated him at Ellandune, probably in the neighbourhood of Winchester, for Hun, an ealdorman who fell in the battle, was buried there (ÆTHELWEARD, p. 510). The slaughter was great on both sides, and the 'river of blood' that was shed was commemorated in popular verse (HENRY OF HUNTINGDON, p. 733). Beornwulf fled, and set himself to gather another army. From Ellandune Ecgberht sent his son Ethelwulf, Ealhstan, the bishop of Sherborne, and an ealdorman, with a large force, to regain his father's kingdom of Kent. Baldred, king of Kent [q.v.],was driven across the Thames, and the people of Kent, Surrey, Sussex, and Essex willingly submitted to Ecgberht as the rightful successor of his father. The king and people of East Anglia, who were under the over-lordship of Mercia, also sent to him seeking his peace and protection.' On this Beornwulf led his army against them, and began to lay waste the country, but they defeated and slew him (825), and remained under the over-lordship of Ecgberht (FLORENCE, i. 66; HENRY OF HUNTINGDON, p. 733). Mercia, however, was not yet subdued, for Beornwulf was succeeded by Ludecan, who made another attempt to subdue East Anglia, and was likewise defeated and slain in 828. He was succeeded by Wiglaf. Ecgberht, however, at once led an army against him, drove him from the kingdom, and received the submission of Mercia. In 829 he marched against Northumbria, and the Northumbrians met him on the border of their land at Dore in Derbyshire, and there submitted to him and took him for their lord. Under this year (827, correctly 829) the Chronicle' says of him that he was the eighth Bretwalda. He had for the first time united all the English race under one over-lordship, and, though there were future divisions of his empire, his work was never wholly undone (Making of England, p. 436). He was not king of England, for the idea of a territorial kingship belongs to a later period. Nor was he the immediate ruler of the peoples that had submitted to him; they still had kings of their own, who were dependent on the West-Saxon overlord, and in 830 Ecgberht restored Wiglaf |