Baring-Gould’s sources: Modern Roman Martyrology, inserted by Baronius, not in any ancient Martyrologies. Authority: — Bede, Hist. iii. 29, iv. n.] INGS SIGHERE and Sebbi, though subject to Wulfhere, King of the Mercians, governed the, East Saxons after Swidhelm. During this reign a pestilence broke out in Essex, and Sighere with that part of the people which was under his dominion, thinking the plague was sent by their old gods in punishment for their desertion of Woden, returned to their ancient faith, and began to restore the pagan temples, and set up again the images of the great gods of Walhall — Woden the one-eyed, Thor the red-bearded holding his hammer, and Frey, beautiful, long-haired, holding a fish. But Sebbi, with his people, clave to the Lord. King Wulfhere sent Jaruman, Bishop of Lichfield, into the realm of Sighere to preach to the people. Bede says: “ He proceeded with much discretion, as I was informed by a priest who bore him company in that journey, and had been his fellowlabourer in the Word. For he was a religious and good man, and travelling through all the country, reduced both August 29.3 •S'. Sebbi.

…the aforesaid king (Sighere) and people to the way of righteousness, so that, forsaking or destroying the temples and altars which they had erected, they opened the churches, and rejoiced in confessing the name of Christ. These things being done, the priests and teachers returned home with joy.” “Sebbi,” continues Bede [English monk and historian (d. 735)], “ was much addicted to religious works, almsgiving, and frequent prayer; preferring a private and monastic life to all the wealth and honours of his kingdom, which sort of life he would also long before have adopted, had not his wife positively refused to part with him; for which reason many were of opinion, and gave vent to it in words, that he was more fit to be a bishop than a king. When he had been thirty years a king, and a soldier of the heavenly kingdom, he fell violently sick, and died of this sickness; but when attacked, he admonished his wife that they should then at least jointly devote themselves to the service of God, since they could no longer enjoy, that is, serve, the world. Having with much difficulty obtained this of her, he repaired to Waldhere, Bishop of London, and with his blessing received the religious habit, which he had long desired. He also carried to him a considerable sum of money, to be given to the poor, reserving nothing to himself, but rather coveting to remain poor in spirit for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. “When the aforesaid distemper increased upon him, and he perceived the day of his death to be drawing near, being a man of royal disposition, he began to apprehend lest, when under pain, and at the approach of death, anything unbecoming might escape from his lips, or there might be want of dignity in the posture of his limbs. He therefore called to him the Bishop of London, and entreated that none might be present at his death except the bishop and two of his attendants. The bishop consented.” As Waldhere dozed by the King’s bed, he thought he saw men in shining garments minister to the sick man, and promise him a painless death. Sebbi passed away gently in a slumber, and was buried in S. Paul’s, London. Bede adds an unworthy and ridiculous story about the stone coffin of Sebbi.