Penda remained its rallying point; and the long reign of the Mercian king was in fact one continuous battle with the Cross.

Alfred, the son of Oswy, in return married the daughter of Penda, whose name was Cyneburga.

But so far as we can judge from his acts, Penda seemed to have looked on the strife of religion in a purely political light.

Penda, king of Mercia, remained faithful to his gods to the end himself, but his children adopted the new faith.