Bede's Ecclesiastical History of England

CHAP. XXX. How the East Saxons, during a pestilence, returned to idolatry, but were soon
brought back from their error by the zeal of Bishop Jaruman. [665 A.D.]
AT the same time, the Kings Sighere and Sebbi, though themselves subject to Wulfhere, king
of the Mercians, governed the province of the East Saxons after Suidhelm, of whom we have spoken
above.When that province was suffering from the aforesaid disastrous plague, Sighere, with his
part of the people, forsook the mysteries of the Christian faith, and turned apostate. For the king
himself, and many of the commons and nobles, loving this life, and not seeking after another, or
even not believing in any other, began to restore the temples that had been abandoned, and to adore
idols, as if they might by those means be protected against the plague. But Sebbi, his companion
and co-heir in the kingdom, with all his people, very devoutly preserved the faith which he had
received, and, as we shall show hereafter, ended his faithful life in great felicity.
King Wulfhere, hearing that the faith of the province was in part profaned, sent Bishop
Jaruman,who was successor to Trumhere, to correct their error, and recall the province to the true
faith. He acted with much discretion, as I was informed by a priest who bore him company in that
journey, and had been his fellow labourer in the Word, for he was a religious and good man, and
travelling through all the country, far and near, brought back both the people and the aforesaid king
to the way of righteousness, so that, either forsaking or destroying the temples and altars which
they had erected, they opened the churches, and gladly confessed the Name of Christ, which they
had opposed, choosing rather to die in the faith of resurrection in Him, than to live in the
abominations of unbelief among their idols. Having thus accomplished their works, the priests and
teachers returned home with joy.