4. yeareâ— Â After whose death the Sea was voyd one yeare 628 Honorius 26. yeares  After whose death the Sea was voyd three yeares 655 Deus-dedit 10. yeares  After whose death the Sea was voyd three yeares 668 Theodorus 22. yeares 693 Bertualdus 38. yeares 731 Tatwinus 4. yeares 735 Nothelmus 5. yeares  After his death the Sea was voyd one yeare 740 Cuthbertus translated from the Sea of Hereford 18. yeares 759 Bregwinus 3. yeares 762 Lambrihtus who had formerly beene Abbot of St. Augustine 31. yeares 791 Aethelardus in the time of Egbert the West-Saxon Prince 13. yeares Anno Dom. Bishops of Rochester 604 Iustus ordained the first Bishoppe there by Augustine the Archbishop of Canterbury sate 20. yeares 624 Romanus 10 yeares 634 Paulinus translated from the Sea of Yorke 10. yeares 644 Ithamarus 12. yeares  After whose death the Sea was voyd foure yeares 656 Damianus 9. yeares 669 Putta 8. yeares 677 Quichelmus 4. yeares  After whose death the Sea was voyd three yeares 681 Gebmundus 9. yeares 693 Tobias 34. yeares 727 Aldwulfus 13. yeares 740 Dunnus 24. yeares 764 Eardulfus 11. yeares 775 Deora 15. yeares 790 Weremundus in the time of Egbert the West-Saxon Prince 12. yeares THE SECOND PART The second Booke HENGIST I PRINC SAX CHAP. I. The Principalitie of the Kentish-Saxons established by Hengist whom Vsk Otta and Ermeric succeede in the government Austen the Monke is sent from Rome by Gregorie the Great to preach the Christian faith to the Saxons and English He landeth in Kent where he is curteousâ— â—ertained by Ethelbert the Prince of that Countrie THE Territorie of the Kentish-Saxons did at the first include only that part which at this day is contained within the county of Kent being the very entrance key of the whole Iland The west south sides of it butte vpon the firme land on the East the Brittish Ocean beateth and vppon the North runneth the famous river Thames navigable for ships of very great burden and ebbing and flowing many miles within the land whereby commodities are brought in and carryed forth to the enriching of it selfe and the Countries round about This Principalitie enlarged by addition of such Provinces as Vortiger after the slaughter of the Brittish Nobilitie delivered to the Saxons for his ransome was established by Hengist eight yeares after his arrivall about the yeare of grace 456. Valentinian the third of that name then shoring vp the decayed Empire in the West Although by consent of divers Writers he ruled a long time yet little or nothing is left of record concerning any thing done by him after he was setled in the governement either for that perhaps no great occasion was ministred to shew himselfe in action the Britans being now seated in the remote parts of the I le and his owne countrymen making warre in other places of the same or else for that being wearied with the warre he gave himselfe to ease and quietnesse supposing hee had done enough alreadie in making the first attempt in an enterprize so difficult and in getting and leaving to his posteritie the possession of so faire and fruitfull Countries After his death there raigned eyther joyntly or successively Vsk Otta and Ermeric concerning whom I finde no other mention then of their names onely Ethelbert succeeding Ermeric his father was in the beginning of his raigne much encumbred with warres which he made with very ill successe against Ceaulin Prince of the West-Saxons but afterwards his knowledge in militare affaires increasing with his yeares hee fortunately repaired those losses extending his Dominion by reducing the South Provinces to his obedience even to the water of Humber And the better to strengthen his estate by forraigne aliance hee married Bertha the danghter of Châ—rebert then King of France a vertuous Lady and a professor of Christianitie wherein the King her husband was not as yet instructed howbeit hee permitted both her selfe and Luidhard a French Bishop that accompanied her into Britannie to vse the Rites and Ceremonies of their owne Countrie and religion eyther for observance of the contract which Ethelbert before the marriage had made with the King her Father to that end or else for the heartie and entire affection which hee bare vnto her as his wife whom God had ordained to bee the meanes of his conversion to the Christian faith For in the yeare of grace five hundred ninetie sixe and fourteenth of the raigne of Mauritius the Emperour Austen a Monke was sent by Gregory the first surnamed the Great then Bishop of Rome to preach the faith to the Saxons and English then inhabiting the I le of Britannie where landing in the I le of Tanet vpon the coast of Kent hee was entertained in curteous manner by Ethelbert the Prince whose heart being somewhat prepared by his wives perswasion and by the example of Luidhard the devout Bishop that lived with her was more apt in time to take impression of the Truth whereto though himselfe assented not at the first yet hee licensed it to be taught privately and assigned to Austen a convenient seate at Canterbury the cheefe Citie of that Province giving him an olde Church which in former times had beene erected by certaine Romans exercising there the Christian religion and consecrated to our Saviour Christ. This Church was then reedified and not many yeares after Austen without the Citie Eastward layd the foundation of a Monasterie for which Ethelbert erected a Church wherein both Austen himselfe with his successours and also the Christian Princes of Kent were for the most part interred after their death This Monasterie being finished long time after Austens decease was dedicated to him by the name of Saint Austen whose memoriall the ruines of that place retaine even to this day CHAP. II. Austen converteth divers of the Saxons and English from Paganisme to Christianitie The cause that first moved Gregorie the Great to intend their conversion Austen is consecrated chief Bishop of the English Nation by the Bishop of Arles in France He advertiseth the Bishop of Rome of the successe of his voyage into Britannie and requireth directions touching the Ecclesiasticall governement to be there established IN the meane time Austen beeing now received as the Apostle of the English Nation and such Priests as were with him exercised their Ecclesiasticall functions without empeachment and for that they were altogether ignorant of the Brittish language they vsed the helpe of such Interpreters as they had brought with them out of France in preaching and instructing the people with whom partly by their doctrine and partly by their example they prevailed so much as many of them beleeved and were baptized for their teachers began then to expresse in their lives the practise of the Apostles in the Primitive Church by continuall watching fasting and praying contemning the world and contenting themselves with things necessarie to sustaine Life and Nature so strongly were they possessed with the
first Bishop there in the Saxons time Iustus the first Bishop of Rochester Câ—ntention betweene the English and Brittish Cleargie about celebration of the feast of Easter WIth these and other such like instructions the Messengers were dispatched into Britannie where at their returne they presented to Austen the Pall the ornament of a Bishop which the Bishop of Rome had sent vnto him as a 〈◊〉 and confirmation of his Ecclesiastical dignitie and authority and also certaine Vessels and Vestments which were thought meete to be vsed for 〈◊〉 in the English Churches 〈…〉 with divers other godly leaâ—ned men were appoynted to accompanie the Messengers into the Iland to the end they might assist Austen and the Priests there in preaching the Gospel At that time the Bishop of Rome sent also certaine gifts of great value to Ethelbert the Prince and by speciall Letters commended his favourable vsage and princely bountie shewed in receyving and mainteining such persons as came into his Countrey to instruct himselfe and his Subiects in the knowledge of true Religion the greatest blessing that ever any Nation could enjoy signifying withall that by his conformitie to those things which they taught a happie entrance was alreadie made for reducing the whole Iland to Christianitie and that if he persevered as he had begun he might vndoubtedly expect an eternall reward in heaven For albeit Ethelbert at the first was not verie readily induced to abandon the ancient superstitious customes of his owne Nation partly for that he had beene trained vp therein from his tender yeares and partly for that he was secretly informed that some of the Priests which then preached the faith of Christ were seditious persons exercising witchcraft and seducing the people vnder pretence of simplicitie yet after his conversion he became a zealous professor and practiseâ— of pietie erecting faire Temples for divine Service endowing them with large possessions and earnestly exhorting other Princes within the I le to do the like He founded a Church in the Citie of London which the Kentish Saxons in right of superioritie over the East-Saxons at that time possessed and dedicated it to the Apostle Saint Paul In more ancient times as some conjecture by the bones of such beasts as were vsually sacrificed by the Gentiles and found in that place there had beene a Temple dedicated to Diana of that Church Melitus being sent by Austen to preach the Christian faith to the East-Saxons was afterwards elected the first Bishop The Cittie of Rochester also he assigned to Iustus who was consecrated the first Bishop of that Sea But while these things were a doing there arose some controversie betweene the English Roman Cleargie and certaine British Bishops concerning the celebration of the feast of Easter and other Rites and Ceremonies wherein the Brittish Church dissented from the Church of Rome for the Britans then dwelling in Wales and the West parts of the Ile continued there the exercise of the Christian faith which had beene preserved among them ever since it was first planted in the Iland though now and then the cleere course thereof was either by contagious Heresies or by prophane and irreligious Princes interrupted for a time howbeit when they perceived the Saxons themselves in some measure to approove it they beganne with boldnesse to make open profession of it as seeming therein to agree even with their enemies howsoever otherwise in respect of language situation or the law of Nations they were divided CHAP. V. Austen calleth a Synode to reconcile the differences between the Brittish and English Cleargie The Brittish Bishops aske counsaile of an Anchorite whether they should conforme themselves to such things as Austen the Monke should require of them They refuse to accept him for their Archbishop Austen appointeth Laurentius to succeed him in the Sea of Canterburie He dieth AVsten perceiving that this disagreement was likely to prove prejudiciall to the state of the new Church thought it the best and safest way to prevent the inconvenience in the verie beginning and to that end he summoned a Synod which by the meanes of Ethelbert the Prince he procured to be held vpon the borders of the West Saxons Country At that Synod seven Brittish Bishops certain Monks of Bangor the greatest Monasterie in the I le whereof Dinothus was then Abbot and diverse others well reputed for their learning and knowledge in divinitie were present It is reported that the Brittish Bishops before their comming thither asked counsaile of an Anchorite a wise and holie man living there about what he thought meetest for them to do in that great businesse which they had then in hand and whether they should follow the advice and directions of Austen or retaine still their ancient Traditious whereto it is said that the Anchorite made this answer If he be of God follow him and that shall you best discerne by his humilitie For Christ sayeth Take vpon you my yoke and learne of me for I am milde and humble of heart If therefore you perceive by his behaviour that hee is prowd and high minded then be ye well assured that he is not of God Heereupon when they came to the place where the Synod was to be kept and saw Austen sitting in a chaire but not saluting them at their first entrance nor seeming by his outward gesture to respect them they supposed the Anchorists speech to have beene in part then verified and with much impatiency heard the Arch-bishops oration wherein they were specially required to preserve the vnitie of the Christian faith and though they did many things contrarie to the vsage of the Roman Church yet to conforme themselves thereto in three points namely in celebrating the feast of Easter in due-time in exercising the ministery of Baptisme according to the manner of the Church of Rome and in joyning with him and the rest of the English Bishops in preaching the Gospel of Christ to the heathen of that Nation which if they would faithfully performe he promised for avoyding contention a matter very dangerous considering the present condition of the time to tolerate the continuance of any other old rites and traditions wherein they should dissent from the Church of Rome But the Britans imagining that he who at his first comming vsed them in that disdainefull manner would afterwards being setled in a superintendency over them vtterly despise them discovered plainely their discontentment by their countenances and made a short answer that they would neither observe those things which he required at their hands nor acknowledge him for their Bishop Whereto Austen with bitter words replyed that sith they would not receive peace when it was offered they should ere long feele the heavy hand of war and vengeance vpon themselves and their posteritie and so the assembly was dissolved Not long after Austen the Arch-bishop wearied with care and travaile of minde fell sicke of a languishing disease and doubting lest the state of the Church being as yet greene and
sonnes of Sebert ruled ioyntly Serred Seward Sigbert 4 Sigebert surnamed the Little the sonne of Seward 5 Sigbert the sonne of Sigebald brother of Sebert 6 Sigher 7 Sebbi 8 Sigeherd the sonne of Sebbi 9 Seofride the brother of Sigeherd 10 Offa the sonne of Sigeherd 11 Celred 12 Suthred defeated by Egbert Prince of the West-Saxons ⧠The succession of the Bishops of London in the Province of the East-Saxons 604 Melitus the first Bishop sent from Rome sate thirteene yeares after whose translation the Sea was void about fortie yeares 658 Cedda eight yeares 666 Wina translated from the Sea of Winton 9. yeares 675 Erkenwaldus twenty two yeares 697 Waldherus eighteene yeares 715 Ingualdus thirtie one yeares 746 Egwulfus eight yeares 754 Wighedus seven yeares 761 Eadbrichtus eleven yeares 775 Deora nine yeares 784 Eadbaldus eleven yeares 795 Heathobertus in the time of Egbert the West-Saxon Prince eighteene yeares The first CHAPTER The principalitie of the East-Saxons erected by Erchenwin Sebert the first Christian Prince Miletus the first Bishop of the East-Saxons hath his Sea at London Saint Pauls church there founded by Ethelbert the first Christian Prince of the Kentish-Saxons The Church at Westminster founded by Sebert Cedda afterward called St. Chadde preacheth the Gospel to the East-Saxons Sigher and Sebbi ioyntly rule the Province ERchenwin was the first of all the Saxons that erected a Provinciall government among the East-Saxons who then inhabited those parts which now containe the Counties of Essex Middlesex and part of the Countie of Hartford all which both himself and his successors many yeares togither held by homage of the Kentish Princes as of their superiour Lords This Prince having reigned a long time with what successe I find no certaine report left the government to Sledda his sonne who to strengthen his estate by affinitie married Ricula the daughter of Ermerick the Prince of Kent by whom he had issue Sebert that succeeded him Sebert governed peaceably the Province of the East-Saxons which in his time was converted to Christianitie for in the yeare of Grace 604. Miletus was sent by Augustin the Archbish. to preach the faith of Christ to that people and had the Cittie of London assigned to him for his Episcopall Sea where Ethelbert the Kentish Prince erected a Church which he dedicated to Saint Paul endowing it with large possessions and Sebert following his example therein founded an other at the West end of the citie where afterwards a Monasterie was builded The place at that time being environed with water and overgrowen with thornes was called Thorney and afterwards by reason of the situation thereof the West-Minster It is reported that in more ancient times there had beene a Temple of Apollo which being overthrowen by an Earth-quake Lucius the first Christian Prince of the Britans reedified and converted to a Church for the exercise of the Christian Religion Sebert having spent the most part of his time after his conversion in deedes of Charitie and Devotion ended his life and was buried in that Church togither with his wife Ethelgoda Serred Seward and Sigbert his sonnes ruled ioyntly the province of the East-Saxons They were all men of disordered conversation and open despisers of religious rites for being not yet baptised they would have receyved the Sacrament of Christs bodie wherein for that Miletus the Bishop had opposed himself against them they expelled him from his Sea at London and themselves soone after were by Kinegles the West-Saxon Prince deprived both of government and life Sigebert surnamed the Little the sonne of Seward succeeded in the principalitie which in short time he left to Sigbert the nephew of Sebert the first Christian Prince of the East-Saxons Sigbert was by perswasion of Oswin chiefe governor of the Northumbers converted from Paganisme to Christianitie wherein he was confirmed by Cedda a devout learned man that then preached to the East-Saxons and recovered many of them which after the expulsion of Miletus had fallen from the faith He was afterwards by Finan the Bishop of Holy-Iland consecrated bishop of the East-Saxons amongst whom he preached the Gospell of Christ without interruption till such time as Sigbert the Prince procoring the dislike of his Subjects for that he shewed too much clemency to the Mercians his enemies was trecherously murdered by one of his owne kindred After his death Swidhelin the sonne of Sexbald obtained the regement and was baptised by Cedda the Bishop Then Sigher Sebbi ruled togither but not with absolute authoritie for at that time they acknowledged allegeance to Wulfere Prince of the Mercians In those dayes great plague and mortalitie fell vpon the Inhabitants of the Province and Sigher renouncing the faith fell to Idolatry which in a short time greatly encreased till Iarumanus the Bishop of Lichfield and certain priests being sent thither by VVulfere to that end laboured with all diligence to stop the course thereof and in the end suppressed it CHAP. II. The Devotion Chastitie and Chiritie of Sebbi the Prince The maner of his death Offa resigneth the government and goeth to Rome where he entreth into Religion Egbert the West-Saxon Prince obtaineth the principalitie of the East-Saxons IN the meane time Sebbi and the people vnder his obedience notwithstanding the relapse of their Country-men persisted constantly in the faith of Christ and Sebbi himselfe by praying fasting and Almes ceeds manifested his owne earnest desire to maintaine the same being so strongly possessed with the spirit of zeale and love of Chastitie as he perswaded his wife to a separation whereby they might serve God with more puritie of heart and his pietie and humilitie was had in such estimation even among the religious persons as they reputed him more meete to have beene a Priest then a Prince After he had with much difficultie obtained his wives consent for a separation he bestowed the greatest part of his worldly wealth vpon the poore reserving nothing for himselfe besides his necessarie maintenance but onely the expectation of a future recompence In his time lived Erkenwald a godly Priest who was afterward Bishop of London He founded two Monasteries the one for himselfe at Chartsey in Surrey and the other for Ethelburga his sister at Barking in Essex Sebbi having ruled about thirtie yeares fell sicke of a grieuous and verie painfull disease by reason whereof doubting lest â—hrough frailtie of the flesh he might burst out into any intemperate speeches or do any other thing vnseemely for his person profession he desired Waldher the successor of Erkenwald then Bishop of London by prayers and ghostly counsaile to assist him in his agonies and that no more then himselfe and two of his Chaplains onely might be present at the time of his departure so great a care had this religious Prince in well finishing that race which he had prosperously continued the most part of his life and in preventing all occasions of scandall to the faith which he professed His bodie
short continuance of his government did not suffer him to enter into any great actions in places so remote for having held the Empire little above a yeare he left the same by death to Vlpius Traianus a Spaniard whom he had adopted for his valour and wisedome beginning even then the first president of electing strangers In his time some of the Britans desirous to free themselves from the Roman tyranny entred into rebellion but wanting meanes to effect what they had begun they soone gave over the enterprise Howbeit Aelius Adrianus who succeeded Traian in the Empire having intelligence that the Northern Britans made incursions into the Province sent over Iulius Severus to empeach their attempts but before he could make an end of the war he was revoked sent into Syria to suppresse the Iewish rebellion Adrian the Emperor himselfe came with an Army into Britannie where he encountred those Northern riders recovered such Forts as they had taken forced them to retire to the Mountaines and woods whither the Roman horsemen without danger could not pursue them And then fortifying the borders of the Province by raising a wall of Turves about eightie miles in length betweene the mouths of the rivers Ituna and Tina to defend the inhabitants thereof from the sodaine assaults of their ill neighbours he returned triumphantly to Rome This exploit wan much reputation to the Roman Army and no smal honor to the Emperor himselfe who was then called The Restorer of Britannie and had the same inscription figured in the stamp of his Coyne Now the Britans dwelling within the Province seemed for the most part patiently to beare the yoke which Custome had made lesse painefull and they obeyed the more willingly as standing in neede of the Romans helpe against their owne Country men whose crueltie was now as much feared as in former times the invasion of strangers Whereupon they conformed themselves to the Roman lawes both in martiall and civill affaires which were then principally directed by Licinius Priscus who had beene not long before employed by Adrian the Emperour in the expedition of Iurie and was at that time Propraetor of Britannie CHAP. II. Lollius Vrbicus is Lievtenant of Britannie vnder Antoninus Pius the successor of Adrian the Emperour He erecteth another wall of Turves for defence of the Province and appeaseth the Brigantes the ancient inhabitants of the Counties of Yorke Lancaster Durham Westmerland and Cumberland beginning to revolt Seius Saturninus Admirall of the Brittish Fleet gardeth the Sea coasts M Aurelius Antoninus surnamed Philosophus succeedeth Antoninus Pius in the Empire and Calphurnius Agricola Lollius Vrbicus Britannicus in the Province A Ntoninus Pius succeeded Adrianus the Emperour when Lollius Vrbicus being Lievtenant the Northern people made a road into the Province but were beaten backe by the Roman forces that lay vpon the borders and then was there another wal of Turves built by commandement of the Lievtenant to strengthen those parts with a double rampire In the meane time a new warre was kindled among the Brigantes that annoyed some of the Roman confederates but by the discretion of the Generall it was quenched before it came to a flame For Lollius Vrbicus vpon the first rumor of the revolt marched thither with part of the army leaving the rest behind to guard the borders and Seius Saturninus Admirall of the Brittish Fleet being well appointed by Sea lay vpon the North side of the I le to defend the Coasts and vpon occasions to further the land-service by this meanes the Brigantes were easily reduced to obedience even by the presence onely of the Lievtenant who for his good service done in Britannie during the short time of his imployment there obteined the surname of Britannicus Antoninus Pius being dead and Marcus Aurelius surnamed Philosophus possessed of the Empire Calphurnius Agricola was made Lievtenant of the Province who at his first entrance into office vnderstood of some new tumults raised during the vacation but partly by policie in preventing occasions and partly by shew of force his very name striking a terror in the inhabitants by reviving the memory of Iulius Agricola he in short time appeased them deserving thereby great commendation though the glory of such exploits was for the most part attributed to the Emperors themselves the labour and perill in attempting and commonly disgrace and envie after victory remaining onely as rewards to their ministers CHAP. III. Elutherius the Bishop of Rome sendeth Preachers into Britannie to instruct the inhabitants there in the Christian Faith Lucius the first Christian Prince in Britannie The planting and propagation of religion among the Britans NOw was the time come namely about one hundred and fourscore yeares after the birth of our Saviour when Christian religion which many yeares together had beene for the most part shadowed with the darke cloudes of heathenish superstition began to discover it selfe more openly in this Iland by the meanes of Lucius surnamed Lever-Maur who by permission of the Roman Lievtenant did governe as King a great part of the Province For it appeareth by the testimonie of some antient Writers that Britannie received the Christian faith even in the infancie of the Church immediately after the death of our Saviour Christ whose Apostles and Disciples according to his commandement published and dispersed the same in divers Regions partly by themselves in their owne persons and partly by their ministers among whom were sent into Britannie Simon Chananaeus that after his peregrination in Mauritania as it is reported was slaine and buried in the Iland Aristobolus a Roman of whom Saint Paul in his Epistles maketh mention and Ioseph of Arimathia a Nobleman of Iury specially remembred of posterity for his charitable act in burying the body of our Saviour This man was appointed by Philip the Apostle then preaching the Christian faith in Gallia to instruct the antient Britans among whom he began first as some write to institute an Eremiticall life in a place then called Avalonia and afterwards Glastenbury where himselfe and his companions imitating the austerity and zeale of solitude which they had observed in Mary Magdalen with whom they travelled out of Iury vnto Marsilia in France sequestred themselves from all worldly affaires that they might freely intend the exercise of pietie which they professed Yea some Writers of former ages have constantly affirmed that the Apostles Saint Peter and Saint Paul in their owne persons at severall times came into Britannie and that afterwards one Sueton a Noblemans sonne of that Country being converted by such Christians as first planted the faith there and called after his baptisme Beatus was sent by them to Rome vnto Saint Peter to be better instructed and confirmed in Christianitie and that in his returne homewards thorough Switzerland he found in the inhabitants there such a desire and readinesse to receive the Christian faith as he resolved to continue in that place where he erected an
Oratorie to exercise a Monasticall life and departed the world about the yeare of Grace 110. But who were the very first teachers and at what time the Christian faith was first of all received there it is not certainely knowne howbeit it is likely as I have before remembred that in the expedition of Claudius the Emperour which was about the third yeare of his raigne and twelve yeares after the assention of our Saviour some Christians of Rome and schollers of the Apostles themselves by occasion of those warres and by reason of the entercourse of affaires betweene both Nations became first knowne to the Britans who in processe of time were drawne by the exhortations and examples of their teachers to imbrace the truth the vnblameable life of those religious men mooving sometimes even their Princes though yet vnbeleeving to protect and regard them as Lucius then began to doe Besides that the Roman Lievtenants also as well in Britannie as other Provinces did sometimes tolerate the exercise of Christian Religion as not altogether disliking it howsoever for worldly respects they forbare to shew themselves openly in favour of it But Lucius declared his inclination thereto after another manner For inwardly disliking the profane superstitions then vsed among the Romans and being informed of the great constancy vertue and patience of the Christians at Rome and other places in suffering persecution and Martyrdome for the faith of Christ whereby the number of Christians whom many men esteemed for the miracles which they wrought was contrary to common expectation daily increased that Pertinax and Treâ—ellius two worthy Senators of Rome had beene lately converted from Paganisme to Christianitie that Marcus Aurelius the Roman Emperour then raigning began to conceive a better opinion of them then himselfe and his predecessors had done and so much the rather by reason he had not long before obtained a famous victory against his enemies the prosperous event whereof he attributed to the prayers of the Christians at Rome Vpon these considerations Lucius determined to be instructed in the Religion which they professed and first of all he commanded Elvanus and Meduinus two learned men of the Brittish Nation to goe to Rome where Elutherius was then Bishop to require some meete persons to be sent into Britannie to instruct him and his people for which purpose Fugatius and Damianus were specially appointed by Elutherius with all speede to repaire thither where they afterwards not without some danger by tempest vpon the seas arrived and applied themselves both by doctrine and example to performe the charge committed vnto them the successe therein proving answerable to their endevors For the Prince and his familie was by them baptised some of the inhabitants that had formerly received the faith were confirmed therein and others that remained yet in their infidelitie were converted to Christianity CHAP. IIII. Lucius Sendeth to Rome for the Lawes of the Empire The The counsell of Elutherius Bishop of Rome touching same Idolatrie suppressed in Lucius his dominions and Ecclesiasticall iurisdiction established there The first Archbishop of London BVt Lucius the Prince having received instructions from the Sea of Rome for the direction of himselfe and his people in the profession and exercise of Christian Religion was desirous also to order his temporall estate according to the Roman policie and to that end solicited Elutherius the Bishop to send vnto him the lawes of the Empire out of which he might collect and compose some certaine ordinances for the administration of civill Iustice whereupon Elutherius sent Letters to the Prince commending therein his former zealous disposition in embracing the Truth then exhorting him to reade with humilitie and reverence the holy Scripture the divine law which he had lately received in his dominions and out of that by Gods grace and advise of faithfull Counsellors to collect meet observations for the framing of lawes necessarie for the preservation of his estate which observations so collected and lawes so framed he did affirme to be much better then the Imperiall Constitutions of the Romans or any other whatsoever that to make lawes and execute Iustice was the proper office of a Prince who was vpon earth the Vicar of God himselfe and received from him that title and authoritie to the end he should vse the same to the good of the Catholike Church and of the people living vnder his obedience Hereupon Lucius began first of all to provide for establishment of that Religion whereof he was become at the selfe same time both a professor and practiser Then was the worshipping of Images forbidden The seates of the Arch-Flamins at London Yorke and Chester were changed into the Seas of three Arch-bishops in the same places and those of the Flamins into so many Bishoprikes whereby the Temples vowed by Idolatrous Priests to prophane gods were consecrated to the service of the onely true God His temporall estate also he adorned with good profitable lawes comformable to the rule of Christian Religion whereupon ensued the blessings of Plentie and Peace in his dayes It is reported that he was founder of a Church at Cornhill in London which he dedicated to Saint Peter placing therein one Thean an Arch-bishop to have a superintendence over the other Bishops within his principalitie and that the Metropolitan seat continued there in the succession of 13. Archbishops about the space of 400. years vntil the comming of Augustine the Monk who translated the Archbishoprike from London to Canterburie And now Christianitie being thus generally received among the Britans kept on her course vntainted and without opposition till the time of Dioclesian the Emperour who kindled the fire of that raging persecution the last and longest in the Primitive Church which consumed the lives of many Christian Martyrs as well in Britannie as other places But returning to the raigne of Lucius and considering the state of Britannie vnder his government we may justly admire the felicitie of those times ascribing to the Britans for their greatest glory that among all other nations they had the happinesse to see and enjoy the first Christian Prince CHAP. V. The Northern Britans breaking downe Adrians wall vpon the borders enter and annoy the Province Vlpius Marcellus being sent by Commodus the Emperor to take charge of the armie in Britannie beateth them backe The rare vertues of Vlpius Marcellus the Governor He is dimissed of his office THis was the state of the Church in Britannie when new troubles began to the disturbance of the Province For the Northern Britans making a breach in the wall which Adrian the Emperour had built and finding the borders but weakly garded entred the Province and surprising the Roman General killed many of his Souldiers then ranging the countries they wasted and spoyled everie where without resistance till Vlpius Marcellus being sent over by Commodus the Emperour stayed their furie and with great difficultie forced them to retire within the Wall By which meanes the Province being quieted he
faith whereof he had beene long time a persecutor he dranke of the same cup with Saint Alban and in steed of the sacramentall signe of Baptism was washed in the bath of his own blood It is also written of Saint Alban his executioner that his eyes fell out of his head at the verie instant that the Martyrs head being severed from the bodie fell to the ground But whether it were the pleasure of God in the first planting of his truth here to approve the same by miracles or whether the incredulitie of that Age might give Writers occasion to report more then the truth I will not take vpon me to censure There suffered also in Legecestria about the same time and for the same cause Aaron and Iulius and in sundrie other places of this I le many other as well women as men who gave testimonie of their patience in praying for their persecutors and also of their pietie by doing things miraculous which moved the Pagan Princes at the last to cease their tyrannie as being rather wearied with afflicting the Christians then the Christians themselves with enduring the affliction Such power hath man being assisted with divine grace to do and suffer even above and against Nature it selfe The maner of Saint Albans death being engraven vpon a Marble stone was set vp within the Citie for a terror to the Christians who afterwards erected a Temple in that place which was accounted venerable for many ages after the destruction of Verulamium out of whose ruines an other Towne was raised continuing the name and memorie of Saint Alban the Martyr even to this day Not many yeares after Amphibalus also who converted S. Alban being apprehended by the Roman Souldiers for preaching the Christian faith vnto the Britans was put to death neere the place where Saint Alban his disciple had suffered Martyrdome before him CHAP. XIII A briefe Relation of the state of the British Church from the raigne of Dioclesian vnto the comming of Austen the Monke who converted the Saxons and English to the christian Faith THe storm of persecution afterward ceasing when Dioclesian yeelded vp the government gave free passage to the profession of christian religion both in Britannie and other parts of the Western Empire till such time as Arrius a Priest of Alexandria whose heart inwardly boyling with discontentment for not obtaining the Bishopricke of that place which he ambitiously affected burst out at the last into open blasphemy and impietie against the divinitie and omnipotencie of the Sonne of God which heresie like a contagious disease infecting most parts of the world invaded also this our Iland the inhabitants whereof in those daies as men delighting in novelties were carried hither and thither with every blast of vaine doctrine retaining nothing in matters of religion for certaine but their owne vncertaine opinions But the Arrian heresie being afterwards condemned by the general Counsell of Nice in the raigne of Constantine the Great the number of the professors and favourers thereof as well in Britannie as other places daily diminished and the truth of Christianitie was generally imbraced by the Britans whose Bishops conformed themselves to the doctrine and ceremonies of the Church of Rome without difference in any thing specially remembred save onely in celebration of the feast of Easter after the antient manner of the Iews imitating therein the custome of the Greeke Churches in Asia who solemnized that feast vpon the fourteenth day of the Moone of March on what day of the weeke soever it fell whereas the West Churches did celebrate it vpon the first Sunday after the full Moone of the same moneth in regard that Sunday was properly accounted and called The Lords day as being dedicated in the Apostles time to the eternall memory of Christs resurrection And this custome of celebrating the feast of Easter after the manner of the Iewes and of the East Churches continued in vse among the Britans even till the comming of Austen the Monke albeit it had been condemned by divers publike Decrees and generall Counsells Neither is it to be forgotten that in this third Age after Christ there were among the Britans divers men of speciall note for pietie and learning as namely in the time of Constantine the Great and Pope Sylvester Restitutus a Bishop of London was present and subscribed to the Synod held at Arles in France about the yeare of our redemption 325. Likewise by the testimonie of Athanasius certain British Bishops appeared at the Counsell of Sardica which was summoned in the behalfe of that holy Father against the Arrian heretikes about the yeare 350. and also at the Counsell of Ariminum where Saint Hillarie greatly commendeth the Bishops of Britannie for their zeale and constancie in maintaining the truth against Arrianisme which was then dispersed in most parts of Christendome And it is not to be doubted but that there were many others also worthy of remembrance if Time had not worne out the knowledge of their names and doings But that which most disturbed the peace of the Church in Britannie was the heresie of Pelagius the British Monke who in the age next ensuing maintained the power and free will of man against the vertue of divine grace with other divelish positions which being plausible to flesh and blood were easily admitted but proved in the end verie pernicious These occurrents in the estate Ecclesiasticall howsoever severed by distance of time I have thought good to set downe together rather then to mix them with the relations of matters civill and yet not omitting as occasion shall require to touch them againe in their proper places CHAP. XIIII Constantius Chlorus stayeth the persecution in Britannie He dieth at Yorke Helena his wife the mother of Constantine the Great travaileth to Ierusalem to seeke out the Crosse whereon our Saviour suffered Her pietie and zeale towards the advancement of Christian Religion The vertues of Constantius Caesar her husband DIoclesian and Maximianus having resigned their authority Constantius Chlorus stayed the persecution in Britannie afterwards went thither himselfe renforcing the garrisons both within the Province and vpon the borders and establishing a generall peace throughout the Iland which done he repaired to Eboracum and there fell sicke of a languishing disease In the meane time Constantinus his sonne being left at Rome as his fathers pledge escaped from his keepers and houghing the post horses as he passed the Countries that he might not be overtaken by pursuit came at length into Britannie where he was received with great joy by Constantius his father who being then past hope of life signified in the presence of his Counsellers and Captaines That he willingly and gladly imbraced his death since he should leave a memorable monument of himselfe in the life of his sonne who he hoped should succeede him in the governement to protect the innocent from oppression and to wipe away the teares from the Christians eyes for therein above all other things he
and strength of all Britannie into Gallia made many dishonourable leagues to the prejudice of the Empire with the barbarous Nations that then invaded it and sent his sonne Constans whom of a Monke he had made a Caesar into Spaine where Constans having put to death some principall men whom hee suspected to favour Honorius committed the governement of the Country to Gerontius his chiefe Captaine by whom he was afterwards slaine at Vienna in Gallia and Constantine his father having run through many fortunes was in the end besieged at Arlâ—s where he was taken and slaine by the Souldiers of Honorius the Emperour who then recovered Britannie Chrysanthus the sonne of Martianus a Bishop a man of consular dignitie was then Deputy of Britannie where he wan so great reputation for his vertue and integritie in the governement both of the Church which was then tainted with the gracelesse heresie of Pelagius the Britan and also of the weale publike of the Province as he was afterwards thogh against his will preferred to the Bishopricke of Constantinople Now the Romans about foure hundred and seventie years after their first entrance into the I le waxed weary of the governement of Britannie and the Britans that had beene many times assailed by their vncivill neighbours consorted with strangers of divers Nations perceived themselves vnable to make resistance as in former times whereupon they sent Ambassadors to Rome requiring aid and promising fealtie if the Romans would reskew them from the oppression of their enemies Then was there a Legion sent over into the Iland to expulse the barbarous people out of the Province which being with good successe effected the Romans counselled the Britans for their better defence to make a stone wall betweene Glota and Bodatria the two Armes of the sea that ran into the Iland and so departed thence But this wall was afterwards made onely of Turves and not of Stone as they were directed the Britans having not then any skill in such kind of buildings by which meanes it served to little purpose For the Scottishmen and Picts vnderstanding that the Romans were gone passed over the water in boats at both ends of the wall invaded the borders of the Province and with maine force bare downe all before them Whereupon Ambassadors were sent againe out of Britannie to declare the miserable state of the Province which without speedy succour was likely to be lost CHAP. XIX A second supply of forces sent by the President of Gallia into Britannie The Romans erect a wall of stone for defence of the Province The Picts and Scottishmen breake it downe The Pelagian heresie is suppressed in Britannie by the meanes of Germanus and Lupus two French Bishops The Scottishmen are converted to the Christian faith by S. Palladius the Picts by S. Ninianus and the Irishmen by S. Patricius VPon the complaint and earnest solicitation of the Britans there was another Legion sent overby Aetius the President of Gallia vnder the conduct of Gallio of Ravenna to aide the distressed Britans and the Romans having reduced the Province into her former state did tell the Britans that it was not for their ease to take any more such long costly and painefull journeies considering that the Empire it selfe was assailed and in a manner over-run by strangers and therefore that from thence forth they should provide for their owne safetie that they should learne to vse armor and weapons and trust to their owne valor Howbeit the Romans in regard of the good service done by the British Nation in former times beganne to build a wall of stone from East to West in the selfe same place where Severus the Emperour had cast his Trench the labour and charges of the worke being borne partly by the Romans and partly by the Britans themselves This wall contained about eight foote in breadth and twelve in height some reliques thereof remaining to be seene at this day Vpon the sea coasts towards the South they raised Bulwarkes one somewhat distant from another to empeach the enemies landing in those parts and this done they took their last farewell transporting their Legions into Gallia as men resolved to returne hither no more Assoone as they were gone the barbarous people having intelligence thereof presumed confidently that without any great resistance they might now enter the Province And thereupon accounting as their owne whatsoever was without the wall they gave an assault to the wall it selfe and with grapples and such like engines pulled downe to the ground a great part thereof while the Britans inhabiting the borders being awaked with the suddainnesse of the enterprize gave warning to the rest of their countrymen within the land to arme themselves with speede and to make resistance About this time also which was the yeare of our redemption 430. the state of the Church in Britannie was much incumbred with the heresie of Pelagius who being by birth a Britan by profession a Monke and as some thinke trained vp in the Monastery of Bangor travailed first into Italy then into Sicilia Aegypt and other East parts of the world to learne and studie as he professed whereby he wownd himselfe into the good opinion of many men of great fame in those daies for learning and pietie as namely of Paulinus Bishop of Nola and by his meanes of Saint Augustine till the heretical assertions which himselfe and his disciple Celestius a Scottishman secretly taught being by Saint Hierom discovered were afterwards condemned by the Bishop of Rome Innocentius the first Whereupon they returned againe into Britannie being obstinately bent to maintaine their former heresie which Agricola the sonne of Severianus a Bishop of that sect had not long before brought thither whereby the same in short time was received and approoved among the Chistians in divers parts of the I le so that betwixt heresie among the Britans themselves and paganisme professed by their enemies the light of Christian religion seemed for a time to be eclipsed Howbeit some of the Britans disliking those hereticall opinions which as yet they were vnable by knowledge in the Scriptures to confute and perceiving withall what dangerous inconveniences to the State arose oft times by reason of their disagreement one from another in matters of religion earnestly required the Bishops of France to send over some godly wise learned men that might defend the truth of Christianitie which seemed to be borne downe by the subtill allegations of humane reason Heereupon the Bishoppes there called a Synod wherein Germanus the Bishop of Auxerre and Lupus Bishop of Troyes in Champaigne were appointed to goe into Britannie and to vndertake the cause which they afterwards prosecuted with so good successe as many heretickes among the Britans were openly convinced and Christians confirmed in the faith About the same time Ninianus Bernitius of the race of the British Princes was sent into Pict-land to convert the inhabitants there to Christianitie Palladius a Graetian was likewise appointed
shaken with the blasts of schisme and division might easily miscarry for want of a Pastor he thought good while he lived to provide for it by appointing Laurence a grave and learned Priest to succeede him in the Sea of Canterbury and having to that end elected him and caused the election to be published he departed this life His body was buried in his owne Monastery within the Church which Ethelbert had there erected and an inscription in Latine was set over the place of his buriall declaring his name and qualitie and the time occasion and successe of his comming into the I le of Britannie CHAP. VI. Ethelbert the Prince provideth for the maintenance of religious persons Hee ordaineth lawes for civill governement publishing the same in the English tongue Edbald his sonne succeedeth him in the Principalitie of the Kentish-Saxons His Apostacie Repentance Death IN the meane while Ethelbert the Prince persisting with great devotion in the profession of the Christian faith did move very many of his subiects to follow his example therein and such persons as professors of one faith with him he vsed with speciall favour the rest that refused to doe the like he would not compell saying that he had beene taught that The service of Christ must be voluntarie and not forced And as he was very forward in advancing and supporting the State ecclesiasticall so he was not altogether carelesse of the civill governement For by advice of the wisest and best learned men of his Province he made certaine constitutions after the manner of the Romans and published them in the English tongue to the end his people might vnderstand them and by knowing the penalties imposed vpon offences more readily avoid the offences themselves By these lawes he provided first for the weale and safegard of religious persons ordaining restitution and severe punishment for such as by theft or violence tooke away anything from Churches Bishops or Priests For he thought it very meete that he should by all meanes protect and prefer from worldly annoyance such men as watched and prayed for the health salvation of soules And thus spending the rest of his time in the exercise of pietie and all princely vertues after he had prosperously raigned many years he ended his daies in peace He had issue Edbald who succeeded him in the governement and Ethelburga married to Edwin Prince of Northumbers Edbald was by his fathers direction trained vp in the knowledge of the Christian faith which after he had obtained the Principalitie hee vtterly renounced being otherwise also defamed for divers notorious and detestable vices whereby the greater number of his subjects following his example returned againe to idolatry and ran head-long into all kinds of enormity from which in his fathers time rather feare of temporall punishment then love of vertue and religion restrained them Heereupon Iustus the Bishop of Rochester and Melitus the Bishop of London perceiving this generall defection in the Provinces both of the Kentish and East-Saxons by reason of Edbalds Apostacie and being vnable eyther to direct or to oppose themselves against the streame of superstition which sodainely brake in vpon them gave way to the time and secretly fled into France where they remained till Edbalds conversion Laurence the Arch-bishop also intended to have followed them but that he was admonished by a vision as it is reported that hee should not forsake his flocke In the meane time Edbald continuing his profane and vicious manner of living fell at the last through distemperature of minde into a frenzie being also possessed with an vncleane spirit When the Arch-bishop of Canterbury taking courage as in a good cause repaired boldly vnto him partly by admonition partly by exhortation prevailed so farre with the Prince as in the end he wan him to approve and professe the truth of Christianitie from which by infidelitie he had fallen whereupon soone after ensued the recoverie of his bodily health which by many grievous infirmities had beene a long time much empaired The remnant of his life after he was rebaptized he spent in devotion and deeds of charity to expiate and make satisfaction for his former impietie and Apostacie CHAP. VII Ercombert succeedeth Edbald in the Principality The institution of Lent Honorius the Arch-bishop of Canterbury divideth his Province into Parishes Deusdedit succeedeth Honorius in the Sea of Canterbury Egbert ruleth the Kentish-Saxons after the death of Ercombert Theodorus the Arch-bishop of Canterbury expelleth Wilfrid out of the Sea of York His learning in Divinitie and Philosophie His estimation in the Court of Rome THen Ercombert his son by Emma the daughter of the King of France a temperate and religious Prince prosecuted the worke which his father had begun in reestablishing the Christian faith within his Dominions The idolatrous Priests he banished razing their Temples to the ground and erecting others for the service of the true God The subjects of his Realme being much inclined to excesse in eating and drinking he restrained by commanding a publike fast during the space of fortie daies to be yeerely kept for the better exercise of devotion which custome continueth among the English even to this day The Church of Canterburie was governed in his time by Honorius who first as it is reported divided his Province into Parishes and left his Sea to Deus-dedit the first Saxon Arch Bishop the former being strangers of other nations his owne name was Frithona which for his zealous inclination towardes the advancement of the Church and Common-weale was changed into Deus-dedit as the man whom God himselfe had specially given After him Wighard was elected but died at Rome before his consecration Ercombert the Prince having peaceably ruled the Kentish Saxons about foure and twenty yeares ended his life when the continuance thereof was most desired He had by Sexourga one of the daughters of Anna Prince of the East-Angles a sonne named Egbert that succeeded him in the governement Egbert ruled the Kentish-Saxons with great moderation and had not his hands beene defiled with the innocent blood of Elbert and Egelbright his cosin germans he might worthily have beene registred in the number of their best princes In his time there lived Adrianus the Abbot and Theodorus a Graecian borne then Arch-bishop of Canterbury and the last of those that came out of Italie They were men of speciall regard for their learning and holinesse of life This Theodorus began first of all others to exercise his Pontificall authoritie over all Britannie placing and displacing Bishops at his pleasure consecrating contrary to ordinances of the church of Rome Bishops of other Seas in the Citie of Yorke and either by force or shew of right removing first Cedda and afterwards Wilfrid who had bin Bishops of that place pretending that the wealth and possessions of that Bishopricke alone were sufficient to maintaine three Bishops and that it was meete they should be divided accordingly but whether he did it for the selfe same end that
was pretended or for envie at the glorie and greatnesse of that Sea I will not take vpon me to censure Howbeit Wilfrid being thus expelled and his Sea dismembred exhibited his complaint to Agatho then Bishop of Rome notwithstanding he sought thereby rather to manifest his owne innocency then to accuse Theodorus Whereupon being in the end acquited by judgement of the Court of Rome he was remanded into his former seate which yet he could not obtaine by reason that Egfrid the Prince of Northumberland refused to receive him while Theodorus either openly opposed against his re-admission or cunningly vnderhand laboured to empeach it the reputation of this Arch-bishop as of a stowt Prelate and very well learned both in Philosophie and Divinitie being so great with the Church of Rome in those daies as she would not alter or make frustrate what he indirectly had established for further proofe whereof also may serve the verie testimonie of Agatho the Bishop of Rome who deferred the Session of the sixth Synod at Constantinople where the Bishops of all other Nations were assembled vpon expectation onely of Theodorus his comming thither out of Britannie CHAP. VIII Lothar by intrusion succeedeth Egbert his brother in the governement The West-Saxons invade the Province of Kent Cuthbert Arch-bishop of Canterbury calleth a Synod for reformation of abuses in the Clâ—rgy The succession of the Kentish Princes from Lothar to Alrich Kent is subdued and annexed to the Principalitie of the West-Saxons AFter Egbert Lothar his brother vsurped the governement which by right appertained to Edrick his Nephew and seeking by force to keepe and maintaine what by wrongfull intrusion he had gotten was in the end after many conflicts wounded with a dart whereof he died Then Edrick the sonne of Egbert recovered the Principalitie which hee possessed with little quiet partly by reason of civill dissention among some of his owne subjects that aspired to the governement and partly for that the Kentish Territorie was then invaded by Moll the brother of Ceadwall Prince of the West-Saxons and divers valiant Captaines his associates whom the Kentishmen by casting fire vppon their Tents destroyed and consumed to ashes Whereupon Ceadwall to revenge his brothers death hotly pursued the war in Kent and expulsed Edrick the Prince spoiling and burning Townes as he marched and chasing the inhabitants from place to place with little or no resistance By reason of these troubles the Province remained certaine yeares without a Governor till Withred the sonne of Egbert purchasing peace with money obtained the Regiment although Swebherd at that time held part of the Province either by vsurpation or composition About this time Berctualdus governed the Sea of Canterbury vnto which Tatwinus succeeded and after him Nothelmus who was a speciall helper of venerable Bede in furnishing him with notes and instructions for composing his storie of the Church of England After the death of Withred his three sonnes Edbert Edelbert Alrich ruled successively During the raigne of Edbert the Prince Cuthbert was translated from the Sea of Hereford to the Archbishopricke of Canterbury where he sate about eighteene yeares Hee was had in great reverence both of religious and secular men in regard of his holinesse of life and zealous care for reforming abuses in the Clergie For to that end he summoned a counsell of the Bishops and Prelates of the land at which Ethelbert the Prince of the Mercians with the most part of his Nobilitie were present Alrich raigned many yeares and fortunately defended his Dominions against the Mercians till at the last he was overthrowne in battaile by Offa their Prince who in his owne person invaded the Province of Kent He died without issue being the last Prince of the Kentish line which was cut in sunder with the threed of his life Then Edelbert surnamed Pren vsurping the State made warre vpon the Mercians by whom he was taken prisoner and afterwards escaped though recovering his libertie he could not recover his former dignitie Cuthred likewise assum'd for a time the title of Prince which he left to Balbred his sonne But now the Provinciall governement of the Kentish-Saxons which had continued about 380. yeares drawing on to his fatall period Egbert the West-Saxon Prince strongly assailed the chiefe places of defence driving the Mercians out of the Province and forcing Balbred also to abandon it by which meanes in the end making a conquest of the whole Countrie he vnited it to the Principalitie of the West-Saxons ⧠The succession of the South-Saxon Princes 1 ALla ruled about 24. yeares Simen the two elder sonnes of Alla. Plening 2 Cissa the youngest sonne of Alla. 3 Edilwalch the first Christian Prince 4 Aldin the last Prince of the South-Saxons It is very likely that there were more Princes of the South-Saxons though I finde no certaine report of any other then those aboue mentioned ⧠The succession of Bishops in the Principalitie of the South-Saxons Bishops of Selesey 681 Wilfrid expulsed from his Sea in Northumberland sate 5. yeares 686 Hedda who was also at the same time Bishop of Winton sate 19. yeares 705 Daniel who likewise held the Sea of Winton sate 6. yeares 711 Eadbertus 8. yeares 719 Eolla 9. yeares After the death of Eolla the Sea was void about 5. yeares 733 Sigga 28. yeares 761 Alubertus 29. yeares 790 Osa alias Bosa who was Bishop of Selesey in the time of Egbert the West-Saxon Prince sate 27. yeares The first CHAPTER The principalitie of the South-Saxons established by Ella Cissa his yongest sonne succeedeth him therein Edilwalch the first Christian Prince of the South-Saxons ELLA the Saxon was one of those Captains which Hengist vpon pretence of ayding the Britans against the Picts had sent for out of Germanie while himselfe was making warre in Kent About the yeare of Grace 478. being well appointed for men shipping and other warlike provisions he arrived on the coast of Sussex with his three sonnes Cimen Plening and Cissa and after many sharpe encounters with the Britans inhabiting those parts was constrained by reason of his ill successe in the beginning to send into Germanie for new supplies wherewith he besieged Andred-Cester a place situated neere a verie great Forrest the chiefe and most defensible fortresse in all the Southern parts and having by policie intercepted the Brittish forces that came to relieve it entred the Citie by assault and put to the sword all those that were within the souldiers ransacking the houses for bootie murdering the inhabitants and defacing the Citie it selfe whereof Time hath left no other remembrance to this day then onely the name and calamitie of the place After this great losse the Britans sought rather to provide for their owne saftie by flying into the woods whence they might sallie forth vpon advantage and retire themselves againe then by making open resistance which oft-times procured apparant and irrecoverable daunger In the meane time Ella began to erect a Provinciall government over that
Crowland He is slaine in battaile EThelbald the successour of Celred was a professour of Christian religion though much addicted to wantonnesse and sensuall pleasures for which he was sharpely reprooved by Bonifacius an Englishman then Bishop of Vtricht in Holland and afterwards Arch-bishop of Mogunce in Germanie who wrote vnto him how fowle and dishonourable a thing it was that he which raigned over so many Nations should himselfe be the bondslave of fleshly lust signifying withall that those offences of impuritie which he committed were punished even among the heathen with death and cruell torments that by his ill example he corrupted his subjects that God himselfe for those vices had plagued many Princes both in their own persons and in their posteritie and finally that the pleasures of this life are but short and vaine and the paines ordained for sinne intolerable and eternall He likewise admonished Cuthbert Arch-bishop of Canterbury that hee should cause the light habites of Priests and Nunnes who fashioned themselves too much after the secular guise to be reformed But Ethelbald being stricken with compunction of heart for the lascivious follies of his youth sought by all good meanes to prevent those dangers into which through securitie and continuance in sinne he doubted that he might irrecoverably have fallen and first by the advise of his Clergie and temporall Nobilitie he ordained that all the Churches within his Dominions should be discharged of tribute and freed from all burthens and labours excepting onely such as were to be vndertaken for the necessary building of Towers Castles and Bridges for the defence and generall good of the Province in which case none were to be exempted and that persons professed in religion should enioy the profits of their lands entirely and not be constrained to make any other payments out of the same vnto the Prince About that time also Cuthbert Arch-bishop of Canterbury by the advice of Bonifacius the Arch-bishop of Mogunce made certaine constitutions for the governement of the Clergie vnder his jurisdiction by which amongst other things it was ordered that the holy Scriptures should be vsually read in Monasteries that Priests should be no buiers nor sellers of worldly commodities that they should receive no rewards for administring the Sacraments that there should be an vniformitie among them in the observation of Ecclesiasticall ceremonies that they should both learne themselves and teach others the Lords praier the articles of the Christian faith in the English tongue and that none should be admitted to holy Orders but such persons whose conversation and maner of living was first examined and approoved In the meane time Ethelbald the Prince partly of his owne religious inclination and being partly moved by the examples of his predecessors caused a great and goodly Monastery to be erected at Crowland in the Countie of Lincolne where for that the ground was fennie and vnable to support the weight of a stone building many huge piles of Oke were driven into the Marish and hard earth brought thither about nine miles by water was rammed in with the piles wherevpon the foundation of the Church was laid such was the zeale of Princes in those dayes as they could levell Mountaines convert fennie bogs into firme land and alter in a maner the verie course of nature no cost seeming too much no labour too great nor any thing impossible that they had a will to effect When he had reigned aboue fortie yeares Cuthred the West-Saxon Prince invaded the territorie of the Mercians during the continuance of which warres Ethelbald was slaine by Bartred a person notorions for his crueltie and was afterwards buried in the famous Monasterie of Rippon howbeit Bartred soone lost that which he had ill gotten for he was also slaine by Offa the Nephew of Ethelbald who succeeded him in the government CHAP. IIII. Offa ruleth the Mercians He foundeth the Monasterie of Saint Albans He maketh a ditch to divide the Territories of the English and Walshmen Kenelmus the Martyr The Catalogue of the Mercian Princes from Offa vntill the West-Saxons obtained their Principalitie OFfa was a warlike Prince and for the most part fortunate Kineulph the West-Saxon Prince he overthrew in a setbattaile and Ethelbert Prince of the East-Angles he surprized vnder colour of friendship and after his death vsurped that Province Howsoever ambition and desire of glorie transported him beyond the limits of his owne Principalitie yet was he a great benefactor to the Church for he erected a faire Monasterie in the honour of Saint Alban neere the Towne that now beareth the Martyrs name and richly endowed it by his Charter He founded also the Abbey of Bathe the Archi-Episcopall Sea he translated from Canterburie to Lichfield the chiefe seat of the Mercian government where it continued but a short time Betweene Wales and the borders of his Province he caused a ditch to be made for defence against the incursions of the Britans whom the Saxons then called Walsh which in their language signifieth stranger Elfrid his sonne succeeding him reigned but one yeare Then Kenulph descended from Penda the Tyrant obtained the regiment He assailed the territorie of the Kentish-Saxons and tooke prisoner Egbert their Prince whom afterwards he freely delivered vpon the selfe same day that he dedicated the Church at VVinchelcombe whereof he was the founder adding that speciall Act of clemencie to the other exercises of prayer and fasting then ordinarily vsed at such dedications In the Cittie of Hereford also he founded a Church which he consecrated to Saint Ethelbert Kenelm sonne of Ecfrid being about the age of seven yeares was slaine by Quinda his owne sister that aspired to the government and dying innocently was afterwards reputed a Martyr Then Ceolworth the brother of Kenulph having raigned but one yeare was expulsed the Principalitie by Bernulph and Bernulph himselfe after three yeares defeated by Egbert the VVest-Saxon Prince Then Lucan defending himselfe against the West-Saxons was assailed and overthrowne by the East-Angles VVithlasm for a time withstood the VVest-Saxons but in the end submitted himselfe to their subiection which he acknowledged by the payment of a yearely Tribute After his death Berthulf possessed the principalitie with like conditions till being assailed by the Pirates of Denmarke he was constrained for safegard of his life to abandon the Countrie Burdred succeeded Berthulf both in estate and fortunes for being chased out of Mercia by the Danes he fled to Rome where he died Then was some part of the principalitie assigned by the Danes to Ceolwolph who held it of them by homage till Alfred the nephew of Egbert the West-Saxon Prince entred the Province with an armie and expulsing both Ceolwolph and the Danes reduced it vnder the obedience of the VVest-Saxons ⧠The succession of the East-Saxon Princes 1 Erchenwin held the province of the East-Saxons as feodatarie to the Princes of Kent 2 Sledda the sonne of Erchenwin 3 Sebert the sonne of Sledda the first Christian Prince the
to empeach his further passage Northward till by the Northumbers being fewer in number then the Scottes hee was in battaile overthrowne Then Ethelfrid incouraged with this good successe remooved the warre to Chester where the Britans in great number had assembled themselves to make resistance but while the Monks and other religious persons were praying there that the Britans their countrymen might speed and prosper well in that enterprize Ethelfrid with his forces furiously assayled them putting to the sword about one thousand and two hundred religious persons of the Monastery of Bangor driving the rest of the Britans into the woods and marishes many of them perishing by the hand of the enemie before they could recover those places When Ethelfrid had raigned about twentie seven yeares he was slaine in a battaile by Redwald Prince of the East-Angles and left behind him seven sonnes whom Edwin that succeeded in the government dispossessed and banished out of the Province Edwin was by Boniface the Bishop of Rome exhorted to embrace the Christian faith and in the yeare of Grace 6â—6 Paulinus the third Bishop of Rochester in succession was appointed by Iustus the Archbishop of Canterburie to preach the Gospel vnto the Northumbers and to be their Bishop to which end also Edbald the Prince of the Kentish-Saxons had by letters recommended him to Edwin his brother in law In the mean time Evichelm the West-Saxon Prince ambitiously affecting the soveraigntie of the Northumbers practised with Eumer a man easily corrupted for desire of gaine to murder Edwin the Prince for the execution of which detestable purpose Eumer with a poysoned weapon hidden vnder his garment assailed the Prince and had slaine him in the place if Lilla had not thrust himselfe betweene his person and the danger and by making himselfe the memorable example of a faithfull servant preserved his masters life with the losse of his owne In revenge of this trecherous act Edwin invaded the territory of the West-Saxons after a great slaughter of the Inhabitants of that Province reduced the most part of it vnder his obedience Then to shew the fruits of his conversion to Christianitie he gave vnto Paulinus the Citie of Yorke to be a Bishops Sea for him and his successors laying the foundation of the Cathedrall Church of Saint Peter which was afterwards finished by Oswald About the same time also Paulinus himselfe erected the great Church at Lincoln This prince in felicitie of government excelled all his predecessors he was greatly beloved and honored of his people and no lesse feared of his neighbor Princes who for the most part held their Provinces of him by homage The Roman Banner Tufa was carried before him in token of triumph as well in times of peace as warre It is not to be forgotten that he caused certain cups of Iron and Brasse to be set by cleare Wels and fountaines running by high wayes for the vse of Pilgrims and Travailers which Cups remained long after in those places no man attempting to convey them away either for the reverence they bare vnto the Prince by whose appointment they were set there or else that they made a conscience to convert to their private commoditie such things as were ordained for a publike good But Edwin having reigned about seventeene years was in the end assailed at one time both by Penda the Prince of the Mercians and Ceadwall the Brittish Prince till with the losse of his life he made an end of the warre CHAP. II. Oswald ruleth the Northumbers He is slaine in battaile against Penda the Mercian Prince He is honoured with the title of a Martyr Oswin his brother succeedeth him A Bishops Sea at Lichfield Egfrid the Prince removeth Bishop Wilfrid from his Sea at Yorke Ceolnulph and Egbert successively ruling give over the government to enter into Religion Venerable Bede liveth in the time of Ceolnulph The Northumbers are brought vnder the subiection of the West-Saxons AFter his death the Principalitie of the Northumbers was dismembred againe For Osrick the sonne of Elfrick Prince Edwins vncle held onely the government of Deira and Eanfrid the sonne of Ethelfrid commanded the Bernicians Both these Princes forsaking the Christian faith fell to Idolatrie and were slain in battell by Ceadwall the Brittish Prince that spoiled wasted the country of Northumberland til Oswald the brother of Eanfrid opposed himselfe against the power of the Britans whose Captaine Ceadwall with the greatest number of his forces perished in the field After this victorie Oswald possessed the Province in peace and then sent for Aidan a Scottish-man to preach the Christian faith vnto his people assigning to him Holy-Iland for his Sea The Inhabitants of Deira and Bernicia who for the hatred which they bare one to another had submitted themselves to severall heads he wisely reconciled and vniting them in affection brought them vnder the obedience of one governor He was a zealous professor of the Catholike Religion which he endevoured to establish throughout all his Dominions When he had raigned about eight yeares he was killed in a conflict with Penda the Mercian Prince a cruell Pagan who commanded his head and armes to be cut from the rest of his bodie and in reprochfull maner to be hanged vp vpon high polles by reason whereof and for his holy conversation while he lived he was after his death honoured with the title of a Martyr Then Oswin the brother of Oswald succeeding him was much incumbred partly by the invasion of the Mercians and partly by the rebellion of his own sonne Elfrid Adilwald the sonne of Oswald the Martyr attempted by force to have recovered the Province and Oswy the sonne of Osrick sometime governor of Deira being trecherously delivered into his hands he caused to be murdered He fought oft times with fortunate successe against the Mercians whom after he had vanquished Penda he procured to be instructed in the christian faith and the better to strengthen his purpose therin he erected the Church at Lichfield to be the Bishops Sea for that Province After he had raigned about thirtie two yeares he ended his life in peace Then Egfrid his son ruled the Northumbers He married Mildred one of the daughters of Ana Prince of the East-Angles It is reported of her that living with her husband about twelve yeares she continued all that time both a wife and a virgin and in the end tooke vpon her the vaile of a Nun at Ely where she erected a Monasterie and was her selfe the first Abbesse In the meane while Egfrid removed Wilfrid from his Bishopricke at Yorke appointing two other Bishops over the Northumbers for their better instruction in the knowledge of Religion In his time diverse Synods were called by Theodorus then Archbishop of Canterburie for reformation of abuses in the Church for approbation of the five first general Councels and for the condemnation of the heresie of Eutyches who denied the humanitie of Christ. Not long before his death he made warre