Editing Eadbald of Kent (section)

===Bede's account===
Bede's account of Eadbald's rejection of the church and subsequent conversion is quite detailed but not without some internal inconsistency.<ref name=Kirby_37/> Bede's version of events is laid out as follows:

*24 February 616: Æthelberht dies and Eadbald succeeds.<ref name=Bede_II_5/>
*616: Eadbald leads a pagan reaction to Christianity. He marries his stepmother, contrary to church law, and refuses baptism. At about this time Mellitus, bishop of London, is expelled by the sons of Sæberht in Essex and goes to Kent.<ref name=Bede_II_5/>
*616: Mellitus and Justus, bishop of Rochester, leave Kent for Francia.<ref name=Bede_II_5/>
*616/617: Some time after Mellitus and Justus depart, Laurence, the archbishop of Canterbury, plans to leave for Francia but has a vision in which [[St Peter]] scourges him. In the morning he shows the scars to Eadbald who is converted to Christianity as a result.<ref name=Bede_II_6>Bede, ''Ecclesiastical History'', bk. II, ch. 6, p. 113.</ref>
*617: Justus and Mellitus both return from Francia "the year after they left". Justus is restored to Rochester.<ref name=Bede_II_5/>
*c. 619: Laurence dies, and Mellitus becomes archbishop of Canterbury.<ref name=Bede_II_7>Bede, ''Ecclesiastical History'', bk. II, ch. 7, p. 114.</ref>
*619–624: Eadbald builds a church which is consecrated by Archbishop Mellitus.<ref name=Bede_II_6/>
*24 April 624: Mellitus dies and Justus succeeds him as archbishop of Canterbury.<ref name=Bede_II_7/>
*624: After Justus's succession, [[Pope Boniface V|Pope Boniface]] writes to him to say that he has heard in letters from King Aduluald (possibly a scribal error for Eadbald) of the king's conversion to Christianity. Boniface sends the [[pallium]] with this letter, adding that it is only to be worn when celebrating "the Holy Mysteries".<ref name=Bede_II_8>Bede, ''Ecclesiastical History'', bk. II, ch. 8, p. 116.</ref>
*By 625 [[Edwin of Northumbria|Edwin]] of [[Deira (kingdom)|Deira]], king of Northumbria, asks for the hand in marriage of Æthelburg, Eadbald's sister. Edwin is told he must allow her to practice Christianity and must consider baptism himself.<ref name=Bede_II_9>Bede, ''Ecclesiastical History'', bk. II, ch. 9, p. 117.</ref>
*21 July 625: Justus consecrates [[Paulinus of York|Paulinus]] bishop of York.<ref name=Bede_II_9/>
*July or later in 625: Edwin agrees to the terms and Æthelburg travels to Northumbria, accompanied by Paulinus.<ref name=Bede_II_9/>
*Easter 626: Æthelburg gives birth to a daughter, Eanflæd.<ref name=Bede_II_9/>
*626: Edwin completes a military campaign against the West Saxons.<ref name=Bede_II_9/> At "about this time" Boniface writes to both Edwin and Æthelburg. The letter to Edwin urges him to accept Christianity and refers to the conversion of Eadbald. The letter to Æthelburg mentions that the pope has recently heard the news of Eadbald's conversion and encourages her to work for the conversion of her husband, Edwin.<ref name=Bede_II_10>Bede, ''Ecclesiastical History'', bk. II, ch. 10, p. 120.</ref>