was not by the zeale of unarmed Preachers that the Professours of Calvinism in France Scotland and Holland and of Lutheranism in Germany and the Northern Regions became possessours of Churches not built by their own Ancestours for they had no Ancestours at all Truly if for the space of above a thousand years which the following History comprehends I could have discovered any Province or Citty by such unchristian arts made Christian and Catholick or but one Catholick Writer pretending to such a Method of propagating his Religion I should not have passed it over with a desingenuous silence For the generall substance therefore of this History YOVR MAIESTY already knowes it before you cast your eyes on the Book Yet I may take leave to say That one Advantage this History may boast of beyond that of any other Catholick Nation For which therefore it may invite even YOVR MAIESTIES curiosity As it embraces a greater variety of Revolutions hapning in our Island the Scene of it then any other countrey So in all those Revolutions it affords many great and extraordinary Rarities Never any Nation was so plentifull and over-flowing in Benedictions to other Countreyes by sending forth an incredible number of Apostolick Bishops and Preists which converted to the FAITH almost all our confining Nations Never any Nation was blessed with so many glorious Saints adorned with Crownes and Purple Yea it may be affirmed that the Annalls of the whole CATHOLICK CHVRCH doe scarce record in all other Countreyes so many Kings and Princes who have relinquished their Thrones to change their Scepters for Crosses their Treasures for Poverty their magnificent numerous Courts for bare solitary Cells and their awefull Power for Subjection This was a change which none could work but onely the right hand of THE MOST HIGH And yet the like Change wrought by the same ALMIGHTY HAND in the soules of a far greater number of our Queens and Princesses was more admirable in as much as their imbecillity delicacy of education and naturall timidity were greater For the space of severall Ages the Daughters of our Monarks seemed as if they thought themselves born in a countrey none of their own a Countrey of Strangers or rather Enemies the destruction of whose race they sought to procure by refusing their concurrence to continue it And therefore as if they had been ashamed to acknowledge their Native countrey and afraid to converse with the inhabitants of it they made hast to hide themselves from them that they might freely entertain their far more Noble and aspiring thoughts and desires of A BRIDEGROOM worthy of their Love and a Crown answerable to their holy ambition Or if such Retreats were denyed them they were taught by A HEAVENLY INSTRVCTOVR to erect solitary Monasteries or Bride-chambers for their CELESTIALL SPOVSE in their own hearts Where they could live undisturbed even among Crowds of Visitants or Flatterers they could macerate themselves with Fastings at the most luxurious Feasts and with painfull Hayrcloathes under their softest and most gorgeous Vestments They knew no use of worldly Riches but to supply the necessities of the poore or to adorn the Altars of their CELESTIALL SPOVSE from a continuall entertainment of whom nothing could distract them even in sleep their hearts waked to him A great well-orderd Army of such glorious Saints of your own Sexe will the following History discover to YOVR MAIESTY and this of all states Wives Widdowes and Virgins and which was wonderfull some of them all these both Wives Widows and yet Virgins So that here YOV may sett before your eyes a numerous Variety of Heavenly Patterns of YOVR own rank by conversing with whom YOV may yet more richly adorne YOVR soule Each of them will present YOVR MAIESTY with a Gemme sparkling with a peculiar different luster all of them both like and unlike in beauty and glory Now may a Heavenly Crown besett with such more then Starlike Iewells attend YOVR MAIESTY whensoever Death shall ease YOV of that YOV now wear This is the argument of the dayly Prayers of YOVR SACRED MAIESTIES Most humbly devoted Subject and Servant in our LORD Br. S. CRESSY Permissio A. R. P. Praesidis Generalis EGO Fr. Augustinus Hungate Congregationis Anglo-Benedictinae Praeses Generalis Librum cui Titulus The Church-History of Brittany à R. P. Sereno Cressy nostrae Congregationis Monacho compositum à S. Theologiae Doctoribus ad id deputatis approbatum typis mandari lubens permitro Datum 2â— Maij stilo Vet. 1668. Fr. AVGVSTINVS qui suprà Approbationes Doctorum LIBER hic cui Titulus Historia Ecclesiae c. nihil continet sanae Doctrinae aut bonis moribus dissonum Antiquorum acta doctrinam mores clarè succinctè tradit dum Historiae veritatem felici essequitur indagine Fidem veram contra quoâ—cunque Novatores mirificè confirmat quare reipublicae Christianae hunc Librum vtilissimum fore iudico Datum Londini Maij 12. stilo Veteri 1668. Fr. BENEDICTVS STAPYLTON Ord. S. Ben. Sac. Theol. Doctor EGO subsignatus Doctor Facultatis Theologiae Cadomensis legi librum Anglico idiomate scriptum cui Titulus The Church-History of Brittany sive Historia Ecclesiastica Brittanniae à R. P. Sereno de Cressy Religioso Anglo Ordinis S. Benedicti compositum in quo plurima scitu digna omnia Fidei Catholicae consona bonis moribus nihil absonum deprehendi Quare ad Catholicorum utilitatem Hereticorum convictionem praelo debere mandari censui Actum Rothomagi die 20. Augusti annoque Domini 1667. THOMAS DE SIMON EGO infrà scriptus in Alma Facultate Parisiensi Sacrae Theologicae Doctor fidem facio me accuratè perlegisse librum Anglicano idiomate conscâ—iptum cui Titulus The Church-History of Brittany composed by the R. Father F. Serenus Cressy Religious of the holy Order of S. Bennet In quo quidem nihil deprehendi quod Catholicae Apostolicae Romanae fidei aut bonis moribus adversetur Quin imo hanc ipsam fidem quam hodie Romano-Catholici in Anglia profitentur validissimis argumentis demonstrat omnino consonam esse illi quam primitùs viri Apostolici in Britannia propagarunt quam Christus Dominus Apostolos docuit quamque Ecclesia Catholica suggerente Spiritu Sancto perpetuò retinuit Datum Parisiis Kal. Aprilis 1668. FRANCISCVS GAGE EGO infrà scriptus Sacrae Facultatis Parisiensis Doctor Theologus testor me legisse Librum Anglicè conscriptum cui Titulus The Church-History of Brittany composed by the R Father F. Serenus Cressy Religious of the holy Order of S. Bennet Et nihil in eo invenisse quod Fidei Orthodoxae aut bonis moribus repugnet Datum Parisijs prima die mensis Aprilis Ann. Dom. 1668. GVILIELMVS PHELAN VPON THE ENGLISH ECclesiasticall History written by his honourd freind F. SERENVS CRESSY STILL lovely in thy beautie 's ruines look ENGLAND thy face in this reflecting Book Start not at Scarrs or wrinckles this smooth glasse Shews
among the stains and Errours of his writings they reckon these That he seems to maintain the libertie of mans will And that the law is possible for he sayes it is no impossible thing for men who have a good will to love God above themselves and their neighbours as themselves Yea moreover he denyes concupiscence to be sin Lastly in general they write that the doctrine of Iustification was delivered by the Doctours of this age too negligently and obscurely that is much otherwise than Luther delivered it 34. In the third Century they find yet more things to displease them The Doctours of this age say they for the greatest part admitt free will Thus Tertullian Origen Cyprian and Methodius Again the most sublime article of Iustification is for the most part obscured by Origen and Methodius And as for the doctrine touching Good works the Doctours of this age did yet more decline from the true Doctrine of Christ and his Apostles and Luther then those of the former For they invented and inculcated many voluntary observances Thus Tertullian doth immoderatly extoll chastity and continence Origen attributes to good workes that they are a preparation to salvation and consequently a cause And with the like errour was Cyprian misled who ascribes to good works that they are the Guardians of hope the stay of Faith and cause us to abide continually in Christ to live in God and to attain to heavenly promises and Rewards Then for Pennance the doctrine thereof hath been wonderfully depraved by the Writers of this age They impute remissions of sins to Contrition Cyprian expressely affirmes that sins are redeemed and washed away by penitentiall satisfaction Moreover the same Cyprian speakes dangerously not according to the Tradition of Christ and the Apostles concerning unction in Baptisme saying it is necessary that the person baptised should be annointed with Chrisme that thereby he may become the annointed of God and have the grace of Christ in him And concerning the Eucharist Cyprian does superstitiously faine that some vertue accrews thereto from the person administring it for he sayes the Eucharist sanctified on the altar And again The Priest doth execute the office of Christ and offers sacrifice to God the Father Which phrase of offring sacrifice is used also by Tertullian You may moreover say they observe in the writings of the Doctours of this age Origen and Cyprian not obscure signes of Invocation of Saints And lastly touching the Primacy of the Bishop of Rome Cyprian affirms expressely and without any foundation of holy scripture that the Roman Church ought to be acknowledged by all for the mother and root of the Catholick Church Likewise Origen sayes that Peter by vertue of Christs promise deserved to be made the foundation of the Church The foresaid Cyprian hath moreover on this subiect other dangerous opinions as where he tyes and limits the Pastorall office to ordinary succession And for bids inferiours to iudge Bishops and prelates of the Church 35. It is pitty to proceed any further in producing out of the following Centuries the sometimes sad but most often angry complaints acknowledgments made by these honest German Writers how generally their Patriark Luthers Doctrines have been preiudged and condemned by the fathers and Doctours of Gods Church and the Faith of the present Roman Church asserted The further they proceed in their collection a greater number of yet more Severe Iudges they discover till in short tyme they cannot find one to speake a good word for them And this like a conscionable Iury they attest In so much as one would be tempted almost to suspect that they had been secretly bribed by the Pope to publish their own condemnation 36. These things considered I cannot fore see any probabilitie of a Debate likely to ensue touching this Historie I mean for asmuch as concerns the doctrinall part of it nor any considerable arguments to proove against the result of it that the points of Catholick faith have not been taught through all the ages comprised within its limits And as for the ages following that is since the Conquest by the Normans it is out of all dispute that our forefathers have been Romans in a deeper degree perhaps then wee their children are now 37. But I must acknowledge I am not secure against quarrels for as much as concerns the Christian practises of pietie and vertue commended in the Saints whose Gests are heere related and the reason is because our modern sectaries have a quite different notion of vertue and pietie from that which Catholicks from the beginning to this age have entertained Therefore such Readers missing in this booke storyes of Exploits performed in old tymes such as they magnifie in their primitive red-lettred saints of their new fashioned Calendars and finding practises here exalted for vertues which with their good-will they would renounce in their Baptisme as works and pompes of Sathan I shall not want adversaries good store of all ages and sexes 38. For I confesse that among the hundreds of Saints commemorated in this book of whom not a few are acknowledged for Saints even by the Protestants and which is more for Workers of stupendious Miracles not one can be found of their new Mode Not one can be found magnified as Inventours of new Doctrines opposite to the Common faith of the Church Not one who to spread abroad such Doctrines armed subiects against their Princes demolished altars burnt Churches violated Holy Virgins or invaded the possessions of God Not one who thought his Christian libertie could iustifie sacrilegious lusts in breaking vowes of Chastity and soliciting others to doe the like Here we shall not read of somuch as one Good-wife of the citty or country not one chamber-maid Prentice or Groome disputing with Doctours and Bishops and confuting all the Fathers and Councils of Gods Church c. So that if for want of such qualifications as these all our antient Holy Bishops Martyrs Doctours and Virgins must be unsainted there remains for us no remedie but the old uncomfortable one Patience 39. Yet perhaps this defect or want of heroicall perfections will not so confidently at least in publick be obiected against our Worthies as the vertues for which we commend them A continuall macerating of the flesh with abstinences fastings Watchings Haire-cloathes lying on the cold hard ground and the like these austerities our moderne spiritualists will mock at as uselesse us voluntary self-afflictions concerning which they assure God wil say Who hath required these things at your hands And they will be yet more angry and doe hope that God will be so too against consecrating ones self to perpetuall Virginity or continence in Mariage against secluding ones selfe from all conversation with the world against almost all use of the tongue except speaking to God against an entire submission of the will to the Direction of another and specially against renouncing riches honours Pleasures c. 40. But such
S. Peter and his successours did constitute any Churches in the West may seem to receive an attaint from that which S. Paul says his intention was to preach the Gospell in Spain which that he did effectually execute the ancient Tradition of that countrey together with the assertions of severall Authours doe testify And most certain it is that he taught many years in Rome yea there are not wanting ancient Monuments witnessing that he came into Brittany likewise teaching ordaining here 6. Notwithstanding if wee consider the extraordinary condition of S. Paul's Apostleship wee will see that nothing here alledged will prejudice the forecited testimony of S. Innocentius For S. Paul being a Supernumerary Apostle adjoyned to the twelve had no speciall Province assignd to him but was at liberty to exercise his office through all Provinces yet so as that he left not any particular Church denominated from him for though he was in a particular manner Bishop of Rome yet the Chaire of Rome was always called by Posterity the Chaire of S. Peter only and all the Churches constituted in the West even where S. Paul preached yet regarded S. Peter as their Head and cheif Patriark 7. Therfore though Nicephorus relates that Brittany was the lot of Simon Zelotes and the Greek Menology adds that he was here crucified by Infidells yet saich Baronius this they affirm without any testimony of the Ancients who witnes that this Simon the Cananite preach'd the Gospell in Mesopotamia and from thence went into Persia where he receiv'd Martyrdome So that the Greek Menology and Nicephorus seeme to have transcribed that passage out of an Apocryphall Authour Dorotheus 8. S. Innocentius his testimony therefore remains untouched That the whole Western part of the world was S. Peters peculiar Province This he says is manifest and the same is confirmed by the consent of many Provinces and kingdoms Severall Roman Bishops his Successours likewise doe expressly attest the same and particularly as touching our Brittain Churches To this purpose Pope Iohn the fifth almost a thousand years since writing to Ethelred and Alfred Saxon Princes here sayth Wee doe reioyce hearing of the encrease of your Religion through the cooperation of Divine Grace and perceiving the fervour of your Faith Which Faith you first received by the preaching of the Prince of the Apostles God graciously illuminating your minds and the same Faith you still effectually hold fast The same hath generally been acknowledged by our Brittish and Saxon Kings Hence Kenulphus King of the Mercians in the yeare of Grace seaven hundred ninety Six writing to Pope Leo the third saith From the same root that the Apostolick dignity was derived to thee the truth of Christian Faith came likewise to us Therfore wee think it expedient humbly to incline our eare and obedience to thy holy commands and with our utmost endeavour to execute what soever thy Piety shall think fit to enioyn us Yea King Iames himselfe did not doubt in a publick Audience to affirm that Rome was the Mother of all Churches And again That if a contestation were once more renewed between the East and West about the Prerogative of place and Seat he would stand for Rome and the West Lastly hereto we may adde S. Peters own testimony in a Vision hapning in the dayes of S. Edward the Confessour wherin himselfe professed that he had preached the Gospell in Brittany 9. Now in what particular yeare it was that S. Peter left Rome and passing through severall Provinces came at last into Brittany it is not easy positively to affirm Whether he left Rome upon the Emperour Claudius his Edict banishing all Iews from thence or afterwards in the beginning of Nero's raign as Baronius inclines to beleive is doubtfull But that he was absent thence when S. Paul wrote his Epistle to the Romans seems unquestionable since S. Peter is omitted in the Catalogue of his salutations 10. The particular Acts of S. Peter during his long abode in Brittany though in those dayes illustrious are now swallow'd up in the darknes of oblivion all ancient Monuments of this Nation by so many revolutions having been consumed Certain it is that a far freer scope was allowd for the publishing of Divine Verities in Brittany then almost any other part of the Western World because Nero's persecution of Christianity did not extend hither so that this Island was a Sanctuary for all those who either to avoyd the cruelty of Magistrats or to find an opportunity of a quiet solitude for Contemplation would repaire hither And this may be attributed partly to the limited power of the Romans here likewise to the Clemency and Civility of the Brittish Princes then living particularly taken notice of by historians and lastly to the great distance of this Countrey from the other parts of the Empire Such advantages had Truth and Piety to settle themselves here in Brittany more then in any other place and a proofe most remarkable hereof we have in the quiet uninterrupted Solitude of Glastonbury where within a few years after this was erected the first Schoole of Contemplation which continued the glorious habitation of a world of Saints in all Ages from the beginning of Christianity till almost our unhappy times VII CHAP. 1. c. Further Testimonies of S Peter and S. Pauls preaching in Brittany from Isengrenius and some ancient Fathers 1. ISengrenius a learned Chronologist mentioning the affairs of Brittany in his first Century and in the yeare of our Lord Sixty five fitly expressed them thus the exaltation of the Brittish Church under Nero adding withall that many Churches were built through this Island by S. Peter the prime of the Apostles 2. Indeed Gods good Providence so disposed for our good that Nero the most abominable Emperour yea person that ever lived though he was a plague and malediction to Rome Italy Greece and most other Provinces yet was an occasion of wonderfull blessings to Brittany For a tedious impatience to see his horrible actions almost forced S. Paul also to quit Rome and disperse the precious seed of the Gospell among other Western nations even as far as Brittany This is attested by witnesses of great antiquity and authority and seems agreeable to the design of the Holy Ghost when by his command S. Paul and Barnabas were separated unto him for the work unto which he had called them Which was to carry the light of the Gospell to the utmost ends of the earth 3. Now that S. Paul the Doctour of the Gentiles made good that title even to the Brittains we find acknowledged by Protestant Writers also with an intention therby to exclude S. Peter But how inconsequently they argue hath been already declared and the Brittains themselves though anciently they gave to both these prime Apostles a most high veneration yet they never calld their Church the seat of S. Paul but only S. Peter Hence our ancient Historian and Satyrist Gildas in
used to speak in it remaining mute only being able to signify that the Body of the holy Martyr Babylas hindred his speech Iulian caused the Sacred body to be removed from thence into the Citty which the Christians perform'd with great solemnity singing Psalms all the way specially those wherin Idolatry is derided to the infinit indignation of the Emperour who thereupon caused many of them to be tortured but by the intercession of the Holy Martyr their torments were miraculously converted into pleasure The same Story is confirm'd likewise by S. Chrysostom 7. But a war against the Persians interrupted his rage against Christians who at his first setting forth threatned that when that Expedition was finish'd he would destroy all who profess'd the name of Christi A threatning very acceptable to the Pagans but greivous to the afflicted Christians Whilst he was busy in the prosecution of this war Libanius a Heathen Sophister in derision of Christ ask'd a certain Christian What the Carpenters Son was then doing Who answerd He is preparing a Coffin for Iulian. And the event made these words propheticall for the wicked Emperour receiv'd from an unknown hand a wound mortall to him self but healthfull to all the world beside 8. In his place the Army chose Iovian Emperour though he refus'd that honour professing that being a Christian he neither would nor could govern an Army poysond with heathenish Idolatry Whereupon all the soldiers cryed out that they also were Christians those who were ancient among them having been train'd up in the piety of Constantin and the younger imbued with the precepts of Constantius So that the two years raign of Iulian could not extirpate the good seeds sown in their hearts 9. Iovian thus chosen restored the Christian Faith reducing the Church to its former splendour He also publish'd a Law by which in all Cittie 's a certain proportion of Wheat was contributed to Sacred Virgins by vow consecrated to God And another which inflicted death on any who should ravish or but attempt their Chastity He likewise ordain'd that all Catholick Bishops who had been formerly banish'd should return to their Sees There is extant an Epistle of S. Athanasius in answer to one from the Emperour who had desir'd to be inform'd by him who among the divided Sects of Christians retain'd the Orthodox Faith Which Epistle challenges a mention in this History because among the severall Nations constantly persevering in the Faith of our Saviours Divinity establish'd in the Councill of Nicéa he expressly names Brittany Whence appears that hitherto the Brittish Churches were pure in their Faith however some particular persons there might have been infected 10. This pious Emperour lived but one year to whom succeeded Valentinian a Prince equally Orthodox But who unhappily made partner in his Empire his Brother Valens infected with the Arian Heresy and impiously zealous in the promoting of it XI CHAP. 1.2.3 Picts Scotts and Attacotti infest the Brittains Who these last were 4.5 c. Theodosius Governour of Brittany His Victories there 8. Brittany divided into five Provinces 9. Theodosius recall'd 1. IN Brittany during Iulians raign the Prefect was Alipius the Successour of Gumoharius Where quietnes continuing the Picts and Scotts securely multiplied both in numbers and strength Of which presently after they showd terrible proofs For as Marcellinus relates in the first year of Valentinians raign the barbarous Nations on all sides of the Roman Empire as if universally excited by a trumpet broke their limits made furious incursions into the Roman Provinces The Alamanni wasted Gaule and Rhetia The Sarmatians and Quadi made irruptions into Pannonia and the Picts Saxons Scotts and Attacotti vexed the Brittains with incessant calamities 2. By which appears that the Enemies of Brittany were multiplied For to the Picts Scotts here is an addition of the Saxons and the Attacotti never mention'd before in Story with relation to Brittany As for the Saxons a Germā Nation who now first made thēselves known by their cruelty to the Brittains within a few years they will be too well known not by their piracies on the Seacoasts as at this time but by an invasion of the whole Island so successfull to them that they gott almost an entire possession of it leaving only a barren mountainous corner to the fearfull Brittains 3. But who were the Attacotti S. Hierom will tell us What shall I say of the immanity of other Nations I my selfe in my youth saw in Gaule the Attacotti a Brittish Nation who nourish'd themselves with human flesh These men in the forrests meeting with heards of beeves sheep and swine neglected them and cutt off the hanches of the Pastours breasts of the woemen and fed upon them accounting these to be their principall delicacies It seems therefore that these Attacotti were a Savage people in the Northern mountains of Scottland living without all Law or Government who likewise had promiscuous wives ad common children This rude multitude were invited by the Picts Scotts ioyn with them in the invasion of the Civill Brittains 4. Vpon this occasion the Emperour Valentinian leaving his Brother Valens to govern the East made an expedition into Gaule where he compos'd the troubles rais'd by the Alamanni This being done as he was in a hasty march from the Province of the Ambiani or Amiens toward Triers he was stopp'd by an astonishing message out of Brittany which informed him how by a conspiracy of severall barbarous Nations the Brittains were reduc'd to the utmost extremity How Nectaridius Admirall Comes of the Sea coasts had been slain by the Enemies and Bulchobaudes the General circumvented by their ambushes Vpon which horrible reports the Emperour dispatch'd into Brittany Severus one of his cheif Officers to remedy those disorders But shortly after recalling him he sent Iovinus thither making a suddain provision of ammunition and store preparing strong armies to assist him according to the instant urgent necessities In conclusion fresher and more horrible rumours encreasing he made choice of Theodosius to goe General thither a man famous for many martiall exploits happily atchiev'd who being attended with courageous Legions and cohorts made up of lusty youth prosecuted the expedition with a noble confidence 5. At the same time the Franks and Saxons had infested the coasts both of Gaule and Brittany and into this latter they had made an impression as far as London where they drove all the countrey about To remedy which injuries the vigilant Generall Theodosius took shipping at Boloyn in Gaule and passing the Sea landed at Rutupiae Richborough in Kent neer Sandwich Which is a secure Station for ships Whither as Soon as his Cohorts call'd Herculij Iovij Victores Fidentes c. aborded he marched from thence streight to London an ancient town afterward call'd Augusta and dividing his Army into severall squadrons he set on the stragling Enemies loaden with
moreover ambition and revenge had such power over him that they invited him to commit crimes which hastned the ruine of his countrey Hence it is that Gildas calls him the Tyrant of Danmonia Tyrant by reason of his cruelty and Tyrant of one onely Province because severall others at the same time had invaded each one their severall Principalities and for the maintaining of their unjustly usurp'd power fill'd the whole nation with all manner of crimes and impiety 4. This gave occasion to the same Gildas to write and publi'sh a passionate Invective against the vices of the whole Brittish Nation which had universally deprav'd the inhabitants of all states and conditions excepting a few exceeding few who seing destruction unavoydably coming on the Nation sequestred themselves from publick affaires and in solitude deplor'd the sins of others and by great austerities and pennances procur'd indulgence to their own soules 5. In former times saith he our Kings publick Officers private persons Bishops and other Ecclesiasticks every one kept their order and perform'd the duties belonging to them But when they were dead Such as Ambrosius Vther-pendragon Arthur and likewise Dubricius David c. there succeeded a generation utterly ignorant of the former Vertues among whom all the rules of Truth and Iustice were so shaken and subverted that no foot-steps nor so much as the least monument of those vertues appeard in any of the foresaid orders and conditions c. 6. Constantin at his first ascending into his Throne bound himself by a solemn Oath to govern justly and to use his utmost endeavours to defend his subjects from injuries and oppressions and the common wealth from the violence of its enemies This appers because the year following we find him accused of perjury and violating his Faith given for his barbarous cruelty and sacrilegious profanation of Gods house 7. For two sons of Mordred saith Mathew of Westminster rose in arms against Constantin being desirous to revenge their Fathers death slain by King Arthur as hath been said These ioyning in a confederacy with the Saxons fought many battles with him But at last being compelled to flye Constantin pursued them and one he slew before the Altar of S. Amphibalus his Church in Winchester And the other who had hid himself in a certain Convent of Monks he condemned to a cruell death at London 8. For this Sacrilegious inhumanity Gildas in his too free stile calls Constantin the tyrannicall whelp of the Lyonnes of Danmonia an infringer of the dreadfull Sacrament of an Oath by which he bound himself before God and all his Saints to abstain from all injustice and treachery to his subjects notwithstanding which in the very bosoms both of their carnall Mother and the common Spiritual Mother the Church and nere unto the most Holy Altars he had torn the bowels of two Royal Youths though covered with the Vestment of a holy Abbot Sancti Abbatis amphibalo whilst they stretched forth their hands not armed with swords to resist but to implore help from God and his Altar notwithstanding all which he most barbarously shed their blood which with a purple dye stained the Seat of the Ecclesiasticall Sacrifice and the Sacred palls which covered it By which expression of Gildas it seems that these two children Sons of Mordred had not been guilty of raising war against Constantin but without any offence done by them had been murdred contrary to his â—ath 9. In consequence to which Invective the same Authour adioyns most pressing exhortations to Constantin that he would doe suitable pennance for these horrible crimes implore the Divine Mercy that if possible he might avoyd the dark inextricable torrents of eternall fires in which otherwise he must for ever be rolled and roasted 10. It is probable that this Zealous Writer who flourished at this time did personally use the like exhortations to him which he after recorded in his Book and that they wrought a good effect on him For though some of our Historians write that he was slain by Conan who succeeded in the Kingdom Yet Hector Boëtius relates how Constantin after a short raign having been deprived of his wife and children grew weary of his Kingdom and privily stealing from his freinds went into Ireland And that there for the love of Christ he laboured unknown like a poore servant in a Mill. But afterward by perswasion of a Monk to whom he had discovered his condition he was induced to shave his head and consecrate himself to a Religious life in a Monastery where he lived with such piety and devotion that he became a pattern of all vertues to the rest of the Monks That at last he was by the Prelat of that place sent in Mission to the Scotts to instruct that nation in the doctrin of Christ where he suffred Martyrdom by the hands of certain impious persons After some Ages he was venerated as a Saint and by the authority of succeeding Bishops Temples were dedicated to his honour which yet remain in that Nation 11. What is thus related by Boëtius receives a strong confirmation from the Authour of S. Davids life in Capgrave where we read That when the fame of S. Davids holines was spread abroad severall Princes forsaking their Kingdoms retired to his Monastery Likewise Constantin King of the Cornishmen which is the same Title with Rex Danmoniae in Gildas forsaking his Throne became a Monk there and after some time spent in the devout service of God he at last went into a far distant countrey where he built a Monastery II. CHAP. 1.2 c. S. Kentigern forced to flye into Wales where he founds a Monastery and Episcopall See Of Malgo a Prince who opposed him 1. BEfore we proceed to the Gests of Conan Successour to Constantin in the Kingdom of Brittany it will be requisite that we relate a great affliction and persecution which befell the famous and Holy Bishop Kentigern in the second year of the raign of the said Constantin His Birth Education consecration to the Bishoprick of Glasco with the defects attending it have been already declared 2. Now in pursuance of his succeding Gests Iohn of Tinmouth thus writes Certain Sons of Belial kinsmen to King Marke rose against the Saint conspiring his death Whereupon being admonished by Divine revelation he departed directing his journey to Menevia where the Holy Bishop David flourished with all vertues Near Caër-leon he converted many to the Faith and built a Church Being come to S. David he abode with him some time and received from the Prince of that Region Cathwallam a place commodious for a Monastery Which having erected at Egla Elwy he fixed there an Episcopall See Near that place there was a certain Noble man which often threatned and effectually endeavoured to expell him from thence whom God therefore smote with blindnes But upon the holy Bishops prayers his sight was restored for which he became
Poets Musicians vain ieasters drinkers and feasters be utterly forbidden since great scandalls and suspicion arise from such 21. That all Ecclesiasticks and Monks fly particularly the Sin of Drunkennes 22. That such likewise live in a fitt preparation for the Holy Communion and that when occasion is they confesse their sins c. 12 That Lay persons also young and old dispose themselves so as to be fitt to receive the same Holy Sacrament 24. That Seculars be not admitted to Religious Profession till after fitt examination and probation 25. That after every Synod Bishops promulgate to their Clergy the Decrees there made 26. That the people be exhorted to Almsgiving by which their sins may be redeemed but withall that they be taught not so to trust in their Almes as from thence to take a licence to sin 27. That in the Holy exercise of Psalmody whether in the Latin or Saxon tongue men be carefull to ioyn their hearts to their voyces And that those who doe not understand the Office in Latin should however be carefull to have their minds and affections fixed upon God and Spirituall things 28. That Monasteries be not burdned with a greater multitude then they can maintain That Superiours doe not over-presse their Religious with labour and that both Men and women Religious abstain from secular vanity and fashions in apparell 9. That Monks and Nunns be not permitted to inhabit among Seculars 30. That since there is a suspicion entred into the minds of Kings and Princes that Ecclesiasticks Bishops and Preists doe not bear them inward affection nor wish their proâ—perity but rather the contrary The said Ecclesiasticks in this Synod doe protâ—st that such suspicion is without ground and iâ— it were iust they should be guilty oâ— sins not only contrary to their sublime Profession but even to the common Duty of Christians To shâ—w therefore that they wâ—re free from a vice so detestable it was ordained Tâ—at all Ecclesiasticks and Monks in every Canonicall Hower should incessantly implore the Divine â—lemency for the safety of their Kings Dukes Nobles and all Christian people as â—ell as for themselves 31. Thatâ—â—ey â—â—ey be all unanimons in Faith Hope and Charity both to God and one another and diligent in Praâ—ing both for the Living and the Dead celebrating often the Propitiatory Sacrifices for their repose c. 6. To this effect were the Canons of this worthy Synod After the conclusion whereoâ— Cuthbeâ—t the Arch-bishop of Canterbury sent a Copy of all the Acts and Decrees by his Deacon Kâ—nebert to Saint Boniface thereby shewing him that he had not been unmindfull of his admonitions nor of the Precepts of Pope Zacharias And it is not to be doubted but now King Ethelbald renewd thâ—t respect to Gods Church which he shewd so worthily in his younger years a further proof whereof he gave two years after this in restoring the Priviledges and immunities thereof which had by himself and others been so much infringed XX. CHAP. 1. Succession of Kings in Kent 2. Kenred a hopefull Prince of the West-Saxons unhappily slain 3. The Monastery of Bredon in Worcestershire founded 4 5 c. Of Sampson a naughty Scottish Preist 1. THE year following Edilbert King of Kent and eldest son of Withred after a raign of three and twenty years dying withoâ—t issue his Brother Edbert succeeded him Some of our Historians account Edbert the elder Brother and affirm that he dying this year Edilbert the next succeeded The Eâ—rour on which side soever it lyes is not much materiall And indeed these Princes oâ— Kent to whom the Titles oâ— King are given wâ—re so obscure that no wonder both their names and actions should be delivered to poâ—terity uncertainly In the late Sâ—nod at Cloveâ—â— in Kent among the subscriptions none 〈◊〉 named as King but Ethelbald King oâ— the Mercians to whom these Princes were tributary and therefore those three Brothers Edilbert Edbert and Alâ—c wâ—o raigned successively in Kent are to be esteemed â—s reckond under the Tiâ—les of Princes and Dâ—â—es Subscribers to the said Synod As touching the Prince who now dyed all that is recorded of him is that he bestowd on the Monastery of Religious Vâ—rgins at Menâ—rey in the â—sle of Thanet certain lands as Harpsfeild declares 2. The same year which was the ninth of the Raign of Cuthred King of the West-Saxons saith Huntingdon his Son Kenric was slain a Prince of wonderfull hopes tender in years but vigorous and â—eirce in combats and ioyfull to find any occasion to exercise his valour This young Prince in a certain expedition being too eager in pursuing his good successe through immoderat heat discontented his own soldiers and in a â—edition raised by them was slain 3. To thiâ— year is referred the new erection of a Church and Monastery at a Town called Bredon in the Province of Worcester by a certain Noble man of the Mercian kingdom called Eanulf Concerning which Camden thus writes At the root of the said Hills is seated a Town called Bredon where was a Monastery founded Concerning which wee read this passage in a Charter made by Offa who was afterwards King of the Mercians I Offa King of the Mercians doe give land containing thirty five acres of tributaries to the Monastery named Breodun in the Province of the Wiccians Worcestershire to the Church of S. Peter Prince of the Apostles built there which my Grand-father Eanulf founded to the praise and glory of God who lives for ever This devout Charity of Eanulf Almighty God rewarded by exalting to the throne of the Mercian Kingdom his grandchild Offa who held it illustriously the space of nine and thirty years as shall hereafter be declared 4. This is all which occured memorable in Brittany this year Passing therefore over into Germany wee shall find there the whole care of the late planted Church to lye in a manner upon Saint Boniface alone Who being much disquieted with false Teachers pretending to be Preists and spreading pernicious errours touching the Sacraments of the Church his best remedy was to consult the See Apostolick for which purpose he sent this year Burchard Bishop of Wirtzburg to Rome with Letters to acquaint Pope Zacharias with the impediments which he mett with in propaâ—ating the Faith 5. What those speciall impediments were does appear by the Popes Answer In which wee find that great numbers of false Preists who never had been ordained by Bishops and confounding all Ecclesiasticall order refused to be subiect to Bishops against whom they armed popular tumults making separated Congregations in which they taught doctrines contrary to Catholick Faith not requiring before Baptism an abrenunciation of Satan and refusing to sign with the Crosse yea not so much as instructing such as were baptized in the Faith of the Blessed Trinity 6. And among such Ministers of Satan a principall one was a certain Scott named Sampson who also had the impudence to teach that without the Mysticall
sirnamed the Great Huntingdon and Hoveden doe thus write oâ— it In the said year which was the fifteenth of the Raign of Kenulf King of the West-Saxons began a great change of the right hand of the most High For then did Charles the Greaâ— King of France upon the death of his Father King Pipin begâ—n his raign to whom thirty years after the Roman Empire which had been glorious so many ages became subject and continues so to his Successours to these times 2. We declared before how a great league of freindship and Royall presents interven'd between the two late Kings Pipin and Egbert King of the Northumbers The like freindship and society did Alâ—ed now King of the Northumbers demand of Charles the glorious Successour of King Pipin This we collect from a Letter written by him and his Queen Ogâ—â—fu to S. Lullus Arch-bisop of Mentz In which he desires him to assist with his counsell and favour the Embassadours which he had sent to his Lord and Patron the most glorious King Carl that peace and freindship many be established between them 3. In the same Epistle likewise which is an answer to one sent him from S. Lullus in behalf of the disquietted Churches in his dominion the same King and Queen not only humbly begg the Holy Bishops prayers for themselves but likewise send him a Catalogue of the Names of their speciall kinred freindâ— lately dead of whom they desire him to be mindfull at the Holy Altar assuring him that the same Charity shall be extended to all his relations in their Churches Indeed we can scarce meet with any Epistleâ— written in theâ—e times but this is generally onâ— clause and part of the busines 4. About this time saith Harpsfeild there flourished in Brittany two Religious Virgins famous for their piety and learning calld Rictrudis and Gisla Disciples of the famously learned Alcuin who taught very many aâ— this time in Brittany He was not unmindfull of the advice given him by his Master Archbishop Egbert of going to Rome and thence returning into France But seeing how usefull and even necessary his abode was in Brittany he delayd the said iourney till a fitt opportunity was presented him as we shall declare And as touching the foresaid Illustrious Virgins we shall in due time mention the kind and learned Letters which passed between them and their Master when he lived in France XII CHAP. 1. Succession of Bishops 2. Of Pope Adrian to whom the King of the Northumbers sends Embassadours 5. The Church of S Boniface miraculously preserved from fire 6 7 c Offa King of the Mercians invades and subdues severall Principalities Fictions of Mathew Paris 1. IN the year of our Lords Incarnation seaven hundred seaventy one the two Bishops of the East-Angles luckily again dyâ— together and to Aldebert Bishop of Dumwich is substituted Eglafe to Lanfeâ—t Bishop Oâ— Helmham Athelwolf In the next following age these two Sees were united into one which first remaind at Helmham thence waâ— translated to Thetford and lastly to Norwich 2. The year following to Pope Steven succeeded the worthy and learned Pope Hadrian first of that name to whom Alfred King of the Northumbers sent an Embassadour to congratulate his assuÌ„ption and for other Ecclesiasticall affairs not recorded To this Embassadour Alcuin gave an Epistle direâ—ted to the same Pope full of humble respect to him and congratulation to the Church for enioying the happines of so worthy a Pastour The Embasadours name was Angilbert whom Alcuâ—â— calls his most beloved Son to wâ—om he câ—â—mitted certain requests to be presented by word of mouth 3. The same year Kenulf King of the West-Saxons added to his former liberality towards the Ancient Monastery of Glastonbury the Mannor of Compton This he gave to the Abbot thereof called Waldun who newly succeeded to Guban 4. Afterward the See of London being vacant by the death of Eadgar in his place succeeded Kenwalck Nothing remains of the Gefts of either Neither can any account be given more of the names of Cuthrid Bishop of Lichfeild who dyed at the same time to whom was substituted Bertâ—â—n Hoveden calls them by other names as likewise the Episcopall See too It is a difficulty not worth the penetrating 5. It will not be impertinent in this place to relate how miraculously God gave testimony to the Gests Doctrine Sanctity of S. Boniface of late happy memory by defending his Church of Fritzlar froÌ„ the fury of the Saxons They making an invasion into the confines of the French dominions besieged a certain Strong Castle called Barimburg During which siege they wasted with sword and â—â—e the countrey circumjacent Their principall rage was directed against the Church of Fritzlare built by S. Boniface and concerning which he had prophecied that it should never be consumed by fire Whilst the furious Pagans were exeâ—cising their utmost diligence to make this a false Prophecy and were heaping wood and casting firebrands to sett it on fire there appeard to severall Christians in the foresaid Castle and to some Pagans likewise two men in white shining raiments who protected the Church from fire so that by no diligence or pains taken within or without the Church could the Pagans effect their desire On the contrary a terrour from heaven seising on them they fled away none pursuing them When they were gone there was found one Saxon Soldier stark dead upon his knees with fire and wood in his hands bowing down in the posture of one blowing the fire with an intention to burn the said Church Thus did God shew his power and favour to his faithfull servant And though shortly after he permitted the Church of S. Swibert at Werda to be consumed by fire yet so terrible a punishment he inflicted on the Authours that it became evident that the said Blessed Bishop preached the true Orthodoxe Faith 6. In the year of Grace seaven hundred seaventy four Offa King of the Mercians a Prince of high Spirits began troubles which in successe of time endangerd the ruine of severall petty kingdoms of Brittany For having three years before this subdued the Nation of the Hestings in the Southern parts of the Island or Sussex he extended his ambition to add also the kingdom of Kent to his conquests And because Lambert or as some Copies write Lambert then Archbishop of Canterbury endeavoured to defeat his ambition he turned his indignatioÌ„ against that Church also the dignity and revenews of which â—e sought to diminish For he took from it severall Mannors as Cherring Seleberts Chert and severall others which were afterward restored 7. This wart between Offa and Alric is thus breifly described by Huntingdon In the twentieth year of Kenulf King of the West-Saxons saith he Offa King of the Mercians fought against the Kentish men at place called Ottanford where the slaughter was most horrible especially on the Kentish partâ— So that King
as followeth He became a Christian in Brittany converted by some unknown Primitive Beleiver Before his Conversion his name was Suetonius being born of noble parents Out of Brittany he under took a voyage to Rome moved therto by other devout Christians to be instructed more perfectly in the holy Faith by the Blessed Apostle S. Peter by whom being baptised as a testimony of his present happines and hopes of a future accomplishment of it he was called Beatus After he was sufficiently instructed he was esteemed worthy to be employed in the Apostolicall office of instructing others In his return toward his Countrey passing through Helvetia now called Suizzerland he neglected not to disperse the good seed with which he had been furnish'd at Rome and perceiving that very many in that Countrey chearfully embraced the true Faith he rested there pursuing his journey no further Thus he became the Apostle of the Helvetians illustrious for his Piety holines and miracles In his declining age having distributed all his substance to the poore he retir'd himselfe to the exercises of a contemplative life chusing for his habitation nere a village called Vrbigenum Vnderseven a Grotte in a Mountain out of which with the sign of the Crosse he expelled a dangerous and cruel serpent It is not certain in what place he dyed S. Bede makes only this mention of him At Rome is the commemoration of S. Beatus a Confessour on the ninth of May. But the Roman Martyrologe thus In the Town Vindecinum or Vendosme is celebrated the deposition of S. Beatus a Confessour But the Ecclesiasticall Writers of Germany the Annals of the Helvetians and Monuments of the Church of Constantia doe unanimously agree that he dyed in his solitude neer Vnderseven in Helvetia in the hundred and tenth yeare of our Lord when the Emperour Traian raigned VI. CHAP. 1. Testimonies of S. Peters preaching in Brittany 2. Proved by the Catalâ—gue of the Provinces of the severall Apostles 3. And by the testimony of Pope Innocentius the first 4. S. Paul sayd to have preached in Brittany 5.6.7 Simon Zelotes reported by Nicephorus to have preached in Brittaâ—ny but disproved by C. Baronius 8.9 The time of S. Peters coming in to this Island uncertain as likewise his Gests 1. IT was no doubt a great mercy which God extended to this our Island that he was pleased so early to enlighten it with his Divine Truth and moreover to transforme its barbarous inhabitants into Apostles and Messengers of salvation to other Countreys also But a far greater blessing yet did God bestow on it by directing hither his Apostle him who was the Prime of the whole order S. Peter himselfe whose accesse to this Island is attested by Ancient Monuments and by Writers who had no interest at all to induce them to partiality Those who formerly had preached the Gospell here were persons though of great holines and zeale yet such as for want of an Apostolicall Episcopall Character could onely preach unto baptise those with whom they conversed But wheresoever any of the Apostles themselves came or persons sufficiently qualified by them they provided for posterity also The former could only beget children but the other could beget both children and Fathers establishing in the places where they preached a constant order and Government which might last to the worlds end 2. When the Apostles before their separation divided by lott among themselves the severall Regions of the world the West became the portion of Saint Peter as Eusebius quoted by Metaphrastes testifies saying S. Peter spent twelve yeares in the East and twenty he pass'd at Rome in Brittany and other citties in the West Which passage though it be not extant in any Books of Eusebius now remaining this does not prejudice the validity of this authority since as S. Hierom writes in his Catalogue Eusebius publish'd an infinite number of volumes and among others an Vniversall History together with an Epitome of it severall Books likewise of Martyrs and other works Of which a great number are by the iniury of time perished And in some of those we may ought reasonably to judge that those words were found rather then to imagin that such a Writer as Simeon would voluntarily feign such things from his own brain since he had no interest in the glory of Brittany and besids was one who for his Sanctity is venerated in the Greek Church 3. The same Authour out of ancient Monuments adds furcher S. Peter says he out of the East came to Rome from whence he went to Millan and Photice which are Citties in the continent In which places having constituted Bishops and Preists he pass'd into Brittany In which Island having made a long abode and converted to the Faith of Christ severall Nations of unknown names he had a Vision of Angells which sayd to him Peter the time of thy dissolution is at hand and it is necessary that thow goe to Rome where thou must suffer the death of the Crosse and so receive the reward of righteousnes Having received this Revelation he glorified God giving thanks for the same and continuing certain dayes among the Brittains during which he enlightned many more with the word of Grace having constituted Churches and ordained Bishops Preists and Deacons in the twelfth yeare of the Emperour Nero he return'd to Rome To this revelation made to him in Brittany the Apostle has regard in his second Epistle saying I know that shortly I must put off my Tabernacle even as our Lord Iesus Christ hath shew'd me 4. Hereto wee may adde an important testimony of S. Innocent the first Pope of that name who writing to Decentius Bishop of Eugubium hath this passage Who can be ignorant or not observe that that which hath been delivered to the Roman Church by Peter Prince of the Apostles and is there observed to this day ought to be obediently kept by all and that nothing ought to be introduced or super-added by any which doth not come from the same authority or seems to be practised in imitation of any other Especially since it is manifest that through all Italy Gaules Spain Africk and Sicily as likewise the interiacent Islands none ever instituted any Churches but only such as the Venerable Apostle S. Peter or his Successours did ordain Preists and Bishops If any would contradict this let them produce Records testifying that any other of the Apostles can be found or heard to have taught in those Provinces Therfore if no such Records can be produced they must be obliged to submitt to the observation of that which the Roman Church teaches and practises from which without doubt they received their Originall This they must doe least while they affect strange observances they may seem to divide from the Head of Ecclesiasticall Institutions 5. This positive Assertion of so ancient learned and Holy a Pope to witt that none of the Apostles besids
ancient Ecclesiasticall Monuments be asserted Vpon which grounds Malmsburiensis saith There is no certainty in what place was seated the Archiepiscopall Iurisdiction in the time of the Brittains before the entry of the Saxons X. CHAP. 1.2 S. Fugatius and Damianus return to Rome to obtain a Confirmation of their Acts. 3.4 Recourse to the See Apostolick ancient 5 6. At their return they bring a blessed Crown and a Letter to King Lucius 7. The extent of King Lucius his Dominions 8. Of Archflamens and Flamens 1. AFter three years succesfull labours in this new Vineyard of our Lord these two Holy Apostolick Preachers Fugatius and Damâ—anus returned to Rome to give an account to S. Eleutherius of the affairs of Brittany This is testified by our ancient Historians Geffrey of Monmouth Roger Wendover the compiler of the History of Rochester as likewise a Brittish ancient Poet taking the name of Gildas and quoted by Bishop Vsher. 2. But most expresly by Matthew of Westminster whose words are these In the year of Grace one hundred eighty six the Blessed Prelats Fugatius and Damianus returned to Rome and obtained from the holy Pope Eleutherius a Confirmation of all they had done in Brittany And having perform'd this the foresayd Doctours came back into Brittany accompanied with many others By whose inctructions the Nation of the Brittains being confirm'd in tho Faith of Christ became illustrious The names and Acts of these men are found in the Book which our Historian Gildas wrote of the Victory of Aurelius Ambrosius 3. That it was the practise of Christian Churches especially in the West upon severall occasions to have recourse to the Chair of S. Peter many examples occurre in the Ecclesiasticall History and this even from the beginning of Christianity We mention'd formerly a Message sent from the Christians of Brittany by S. Beatus to Rome for a more perfect instruction in the Christian Faith And about this time of King Lucius the Church of Lyons in France sent S. Irenaeus to this Holy Pope Eleutherius for resolving certain Questions about Ecclesiasticall affairs saith S. Ierome 4. This they did partly to shew their dependance and subordination to the supreme Tribunal of the Church as likewise for the preservation of Vnity of which the Chair of S. Peter was always acknowledged the Center But the present Church of Brittany having been constituted a Church by the zeale and authority of this blessed Pope Eleutherius there was a greater necessity and obligation of recourse to him for the confirmation of those Ordinances which had been made by his Delegats 5. Among other memorable passages touching the Answer sent by Pope Eleutherius to this Message of King Lucius this is one That Fugatius and Damianus presented the King from him with a Crown blessed by him This is asserted by a late learned Protestant Lawyer William Lambard who professes that in his search among the Ancient Lawes of England for many ages hid in darknes he produced this adding withall that besides a Crown bless'd by this Holy Pope he likewise ordain'd the limits of the Brittish Kingdom and withall prescrib'd the Duty and Right of a Christian King saying thus A King being the Minister and Delegat of the Supreme King is appointed by God for this end that he might govern this earthly Kingdom and people of our Lord and above all that he should venerate and govern his Church defending it from all who would injure it that he should root out of it and utterly destroy all evill doers 6. Roger Hoveden four hundred years before M. Lambard transcribing the same passage out of the Ancient Laws of King Edward onely differs from him in this That where mention is made of a Kings Office toward the Church he leaves out the word Regat 7. As touching the limits of King Lucius his Kingdom which this Authour saith was prescribed by Pope Eleutherius whether from thence it came that all the Northern Provinces of the Island afterwards called Scotland governed by a King of their own Nation were subiect to the Ecclesiasticall iurisdiction of the Metropolitan Church of York cannot now be determin'd Polydor Virgil out of ancient Scottish Records affirms that this subjection was a principio from the very beginning of Christianity and that the Bishop of Glasco was to receive his consecration from the Arch-Bishop of York More Maiorum by an immemoriall custom of their Ancestors But of this hereafter 8. One passage more relating to this Answer of Pope Eleutherius is recorded by Martinus Polonus who writes thus The foresaid Holy men Fugatius and Damianus by an Apostolicall Mandat of the Pope ordained that Bishops should be placed in those Citties where formerly there were Flamens and Arch-bishops where Arch-flamens Wherby he signifies that the Pope confirmed the Ordonances formerly made by these his Legats XI CHAP. 1. Severall Churches built by King Lucius 2.3 As Westminster deputed for the buriall of Princes 4. A second at York then the Cheif Citty 5. A third at CaeÌ„r-leon in Wales 6.7 It is question'd whether that was a Metropolitan See 8. A Church built at Dover 9. An Episcopall See said to be erected at Kungresbury in Somersetshire buâ— that is doubtfull 1. IT hath already been declared that King Lucius presently after his Baptism or Theanus consecrated first Bishop of London built a Cathedrall Church to the honour of S. Peter on Cornhill in London Now after the return of Fugatius and Damianus there were severall other Churches erected The names of many of which are still extant upon ancient Records 2. The first of these was the Church of Westminster concerning the first foundation wherof Sulcardus a Monk wrote a Book which he dedicated to Vitalis constituted Abbot there by King William the Conquerour From whence some have collected that in the same place had been formerly erected an Idol-temple consecrated to Apollo which by an Earthquake in the raign of Antoninus Pius was cast to the ground 3. Another Authour called Iohn Fleet who wrote in the year of our Lord one thousand four hundred forty three adds in consequence to Sulcardus out of an Ancient Chronicle written in the Saxon tongue that this place was from the days of King Lucius destin'd for the burying place of our Kings as wee see to this day His words quoted by Bishop Vsher are these From the Primitive age of Christian Faith among the Brittains that is from the days of Lucius their King who in the year of Grace one hundred eighty four is sayd to have received the Divine Law of Christ and together with it the Baptism of holy Regeneration this place of Westminster was founded and consecrated to the honour of God and specially deputed for the buriall of Kings and a Treasury or Repository of their Royall Ornaments To the same effect writes Radolphus Nigerâ— affirming that it was built in the last year of Marcus Aurelius Antoninus
by Tradition was the last who sate in the Chair of Kungresbury transfer'd that See which had continued six hundred years or more at Kungresbury to a Town then call'd Tethescine but now Welles which was given by King Ina who also consented to the Translation The said Daniel was the last of the Brittains who sate in that Bishoprick 10. This Story at least for as much as concerns the antiquity of the Episcopall See of Kungresbury seems to want a solide foundation For that Town took its name about the year of our Lord seaven hundred and eleaven from a holy man called Cungar a son of a Constantinopolitan Prince who coming into Brittany and desirous to live a retired life was kindly received by King Ina who bestow'd on him that portion of Land call'd afterward by his name and withall built for him a Mansion and Oratory there As for the Church of Wells it was then built by King Ina and endow'd with Lands by Kenulphus the Successour of King Ina in the year seaven hundred and sixty six But saith Bishop Godwin it was then not a Cathedrall but Collegiat or Monasticall Church and was erected into an Episcopall See in the year nine hundred and five in which the first Bishop was Adelmus XII CHAP. 1.2 King Lucius richly endows Churches with possessions 3.4 Priviledge of Sanctuary long continued in Brittany 1. KIng Lucius as he was very zealous and munificent in building Churches to the Glory of God he was no lesse in liberall endowments and Priviledges bestow'd on them To this purpose Matthew of Westminster call'd Florilegus writes thus In the year of Grace one hundred eighty seaven Lucius the glorious King of the Brittains having seen the true Worship of God largely spread in his Kingdom liberally bestow'd possessions and territories on Churches and Ecclesiasticall persons and also firmly established them with Charters and immunities Such liberties he gave to Churches and their Precincts that if any Malefactour made his refuge to them he became safe from all injuries of any man whosoever Thus living happily in the love of God and his Neighbour he governed his Kingdom in great peace A Modern Historian Richard White adds That this King having destroyed all the Idols and worship of false Gods transfer'd all their possessions on Christian Churches which he further enrich'd with more Lands and greater immunities as knowing very well that greater honour is due â—o the houses of the true God 2. We may from hence in some degree compute this King Munificence to Gods Church for since he judged that the Worship of the true God ought to be more splendid and sumptuous then that of their profane Idols had been by searching into ancient Monuments we shall find that the former Brittish Idolatry had been very costly and consequently the true worship much more To this purpose Geffrey of Monmouth and after him Ponticus Virunnius thus writes At London the Pagan Flamens sacrificed yearly forty thousand cowes a hundred thousand sheep and fowle of all kinds so many as could scarce be numbred And besides all these they offred thirty thousand savage cattle stags and other beasts bred in the woods 3. As for the Priviledge of Sanctuary granted by King Lucius to Churches he seems therein to have been a pattern to the Emperour-Constantin and other Christian Princes in future Ages who by their Laws gave unto the Church the like prerogative Hence the Fathers of the Councill of Orleans above eleaven hundred years since made this Canon to renew the use of former Canons and Lawes Concerning Manslayers adulterers and theeves who shall seek refuge in a Church we now ordain that that shall be observed which the Ecclesiasticall Canons have decreed and the Roman Law appointed to wit that it shall not be lawfull for any man by force to draw them from the Courts of Churches or houses of Bishops 4. This respect and reverence which King Lucius shew'd to the Church and Church-men was for many ages continued in Brittany more then in any Christian Nation besides These Priviledges of Sanctuaries were extended not only to Churches and Church-yards but much further according to limits and bounds determined by Bishops Insomuch saith Giraldus Cambrensis that by the indemnity of such immunity far exceeding the indulgence allow'd by the Canons of the Church which grant security only to the body and members of offenders many were induced to commit great outrages and from such places of Refuge did greivously molest both their Countrey and even their Princes themselves Whence appears with what religion the Ordinances of King Lucius were received and practised by posterity XIII CHAP. 1.2 c. A famous Church and Monastery erected by King Lucius at Winchester with Possessions and Priviledges which continued till the raign of Diocletiaâ— 6.7 Of what Institute the Monkâ— in those days were 9. Severall decays and restitutions of that Monastery 1. THE Piety of King Lucius in the sixth year after his conversion did more gloriously shew it selfe in the foundation and plentifull endowment of a Church and Monastery at Winchester then call'd Ventae Belgarum Which Church saith Bishop Godwin was consecrated by Fugatius and Damianus on the twenty ninth of October in the year one hundred eighty nine 2. Moratius a very ancient Authour quoted by Thomas Radburn Harpsfeâ—ld Bishop Vsher c. gives us a perfect description of this Church and Monastery And first as touching the dimensions and bounds of it he writes thus as he is quoted by Thomas Radburn Bishop of S. Davids The measure of the Church founded by King Lucius according to Moratius in his first Book and second Chapter was in length two hundred and nine paces in breadth fourscore paces and in heighth ninety two paces From one corner crosse the Church to the opposite corner were one hundred and thirty paces The situation of the Monastery on the East side of the Church towards the Temple of Concord was one hundred paces in length and in breadth towards the New Temple of Apollo â—orty On the Northpart it was one hundred and sixty paces in length and ninety eight in breadth On the West side of the Church there were in length one hundred and ninety in breadth one hundred On the south coast there were in length four hundred and fifty paces and in breadth five hundred and eighty On this side was seated the Episcopall Palace as likewise the habitation of the Monks 3. In the next place the same Authour Moratius describes the large possessions wherewith this Church and Monastery were endowed by King Lucius saying The limits of their possessions were extended twelve miles round about the Citty of Winchester reaching so far on every side In which space there were on each quarter seated eight wealthy Villages Now if one Church possessed so large 2 Territory we may collect how richly all the Churches of Brittany were endowed even in those Primitive times 4. The forementiond Thomas
whom succeeds Carus and after him his Sons Carinus and Numerianus To whom being slain Diocletian succeds in the Empire 1. THE mariage of the Senatour Constantius with a pious Christian Lady and the birth of Constantin though they were the seeds of infinit blessings to Gods Church yet they were seeds as yet hid in the earth for Christian Religion and the Professours of it were never more cruelly persecuted then during the time between Constantins birth and the beginning of his raign 2. The Emperour Aurelianus who sent Constantius into Brittany was one of the most inhuman adversaries of Gods truth as the Churches Martyrologe in a world of places does witnes And this Constantin when he had obtain'd the Empire exprobrated to his Memory in an Oration which he made to an Assembly of Bishops Thou likewise O Aurelianus saies he wert the incentive of all mischeif But when thou with horrible fury marched'st through Thrace thou wast slain in the midst of thy iourney and filled'st the tracts of the high way with thy impious blood He was the Authour of the Ninth Persecution and both the Eastern and Western Church groaned under his cruelty Only Brittany was free from violence enioying great tranquillity by the moderate government of Constantius now become not averse from Christianity 3. But after seaven years raign God revenged his own cause upon Aurelian who was slain by his own soldiers between Byzantium and Heracléa In whose place the Roman Senat chose Tacitus famous for nothing more then his moderation and refusing to continue the Empire hereditary in his family 4. Tacitus after six months concluded both his Empire and life to whom succeeded Probus a person of so great renown for his military vertues saith Vopiscus that the Senat wish'd him the Army chose him and the people with acclamations approv'd the Election 5. In the third year of Probus his raign after an admirable Victory gain'd by him in Gaule where he slew four hundred thousand of his Enemies by his own testimony in a letter to the Senat a certain man call'd Bonosus by originall a Brittain whom the Emperour had left Admirall of the Roman fleet upon the Rhene fearing his anger because most of the ships by some casualty had been set on fire in his absence took on him the Purple and Title of Emperour and continued his dominion over Brittany Spain and a part of Gaule a longer time then he deserved saith Vopiscus But in the end his army with great difficulty being defeated by the Emperour he was forced to hang himselfe 6. This mans rebellion no doubt caused great disquiet in Brittany from the government of which Constantius had been removed and returning to Rome had been made Prefect of Dalmatia 7. After Bonosus his death troubles were renew'd in Brittany by him who administred that Province suppos'd by M. Camden to be Cl. Cornelius Laelianus recommended to that Government by a frein'd of the Emperours call'd Victorinus of Mauritania For Laelianus invaded the Tyranny upon which Victorinus fearing the Emperours indignation went presently into Brittany and by subtilty procured the death of the Vsurper which restored peace to the Province The security of which saith Zosimus was much confirmed by the sending thither great numbers Franks then of taken prisoners in a battell by Probus which in following seditions were proffitable to the Emperour 8. After five years raign Probus was also slain by his own army and in his place Carus Manlius Aurelius was chosen Emperour who created his two sons Carinus and Numerianus Caesars But Carus the next year being kill'd by lightning and Numerianus by the treason of his father in law Aper and Carinus by one of his Tribuns whose Wife he had abused Diocletian was by the generall acclamation of the Army pronounced Emperour Diocletian the Authour of the last most dire and most prolonged persecution that ever the Church of God suffred VII CHAP. 1. Diocletian stiled Britannicus 2. He makes Maximianus his partner in the Empire 3 4 5. A most furious Persecution rais'd by them against the Christian Church Brittish Martyrs 1. THere is extant an ancient Inscription recited by Baronius and dated the second year of Diocletians raign wherin among other Titles he is stiled Britannicus which imports some victory gained by him or his Lieutenant in the Island Certain it is that though Carinus was not slain till the year following yet at this time Brittany and the Western regions of the Empire following the example of Rome had submitted to Diocletian deserting Carinus 2. Who being slain the year following at Murgum Diocletian assum'd as Companion to himself in the Empire M. Valerius Maximianus committing to him the government of Gaule Brittany c. These two Emperours of which Diocletian from Iupiter took the Sirname of Ioviuâ— as Maximianus from Hercules did that of Herculius at the beginning of their raign conspired in a resolution to be the Defendeâ—s of their Pagan Gods and profes'd enemies of Christ whose Religion they intended wholly to extirpate out of the World 3. Certainly there was never given a stronger proof that Gods Church is built upon a Rock impossible to be shaken by human force then the unsuccesfullnes of the rage of these two Emperours against it They had the whole power of the world in their hands they were Princes of eminent valour wisedom and policy above twenty years they governed the Empire and employed all that time without any relaxation in executing their rage against Christ and his truth they omitted no manner of tentations by favours and terrours to withdraw his servants from their Worship of him all mens witts were exercised in devising the most exquisite torments against them not only magistrates but private persons were arm'd to destroy them they were not only executed and tortur'd singly one by one but whole armies of them were butcher'd together and the most effectuall means to obtain the Emperours favour or pardon for the greatest crimes was the heaping of all disgraces and unjust violences upon poor Christians Yet with all this Christian Religion was so far from being destroyed that the Emperours cruelty and injustice gain'd more soules to Christ then the Sermons and exhortations of devout Preachers could doe in time of peace insomuch as these two Princes though vainglorious and ambitious beyond any of their predecessours seeing all their endeavours against Christ to prove fruitles out of rage and despair voluntarily depos'd themselves from the government of the world which they had undertaken principally in design against Christ. 5. One notable proof of the supereminent cruelty of these two Emperours against the Professours of the name of Christ was this that the Isle of Brittany divided from the Roman world which in former persecuting Emperours times had been exempted from participating with the suffrings of other Nations was now made a scene of blood Yea it may truly be affirmed that Brittany was the first Province dignified
the Prayers and assistance of holy men Thus with great glory he pass'd the remainder of his life in tranquillity being free from all trouble 8. To this happy change it is not to be doubted but S. Helena his wife did much contribute whose presence with him at this time the same Eusebius seems to imply in the words following Thus did he through all the remaining time of his raign procure a constant peaceable state to his children and wife together with his whole family all which he consecrated to God the supreme king insomuch as his Court seem'd litle to differ from the form of a Church in which the Ministers and servants of God offreâ— continually Prayers and Sacrifices for him wheras in the other Princes courts and countreys the very name of the true Gods worshippers could not without utmost danger be pronounced Thus writes he of Constantius his family Now if inquiry be made which was that wife mention'd by him it cannot be suppos'd to be Theodora the daughter in law of Maximianus for wâ— no where read that she ever entred Brittany and much lesse that she was addicted to Christian Religion so that it can be no other but S. Helena a Brittish Lady and a Christian who doubtles was always attended by Preists dayly praying for Caesar. XXVII CHAP. 1. Diocletian and Maximianus depose themselves to whom Galerius and Constantius succeed Constantius his moderation 2. The persecution continues at Rome S. Agnes Martyr 3 Constantius courage against the Sarmatians His Duell 4 S. Augulus Bishop of London and Martyr in what sence 5. Ilutus or Restitutus succeeds in that Bishoprick 1. IN the year of Grace three hundred and four the two Emperours Diocletian and Maximianus after twenty years raign together weary of the fruitlesnes of their cruelty voluntarily depos'd themselves from the Empire Diocletian at Nicomedia and Maximianus at Milan in Italy In Diocletians place Galerius succeeded in the Government of the Eastern Empire and in Maximianus his room Constantius govern'd the western Yea so moderat was he in his ambition that as Eutropius says contenting himself with the Title of Augustus or Emperour he refused to undeâ—take the solicitude of administring Italy and Africk esteeming France and Brittany sufficient where all his care was to enrich his subjects not affecting at all to heap up treasure 2. Constantius his absence from Rome was the cause that the former Edicts of Diocletian against Christians were still in force For not only Pope Marcellinus was crownd at this time with Martyrdom but the blessed Virgin Saint Agnes triumphed also most gloriously over the New Emperour Galerius his cruelty 3. Zonaras reports that in the year three hundred and five young Constantin accompanied Galerius in his warr against the Sarmatians where he was by the Emperour expos'd to a single combat with their Cheif leader whom by Divine help having overcome he lead him prisoner to the Emperour so reaping great glory by that which was intended for his destruction The same is likewise confirmed by Eumenius the Oratour in his Panegyrick to him where he says Although fortune had already placed thee in a condition wherin glory could not be wanting to thee yet thou wouldst encrease it by warfare and combatting in thine own person with the Enemy yea entring into a single appointed combat thou mad'st thy self more known then before when thou couldst not be more noble 4 This year out English Martyrologe celebrates the Martyrdom of S. Augustus Bishop of London S. Beda likewise Ado Viennensis Vsuardus and others make mention of him Now wheras he is call'd a Martyr it is to be understood that in the late persecution he suffred many things for Christs cause and this year receiv'd the reward of his Confession He is sayd to have dyed at Augusta in Brittany which Citty saith Ammianus Marcellinus was anciently called Londinium He is called by some Authours Augulinus Augurius And concerning him Bishop Vsher thus writes we find a commemoration of the same Bishop not only in the Martyrologes of Ado Ricemarchus and Beda but also of Vsuardus Rabanus Wandelbertus and that of Rome moreover in the Manuscript Martyrologes of the Churches of Salisbury Evesham and Winchester Genebâ—ard in his Chronology wrongfully calls him an Irish Bishop and Dempster according to his custom will needs have him a Scott 5. To him succeeded in the Bishoprick of London Iltutus whom Iocelinus omitts in his Catalogue of the Bishops of London But since he omitts likewise the name of Restitutus who a few years after this is known to have assisted at the first Councill to which his name with the Title of his Bishoprick is found subscrib'd it may probably be conjectur'd that Iltutus and Restitutus were the same person XXVIII CHAP. 1.2 Constantius wars against the Picts and returning to York falls sick 3. He is troubled for the absence of Constantin 4. He is warn'd by an Angell to leave the Empire to Constantin 5.6 Constantin escapes wonderfully 7 His affectionate wellcom 8. Constantius dyes and is Christianly buried by his Son and by the Romans consecrated 9. He is buried at York not at Caernarvon 1. THE year of Grace three hundred and six was notable for the death of the Emperour Constantius and the succession of his eldest Son Constantin Constantius was at this time in Brittany where some commotion among the Picts or Caledonian Brittains drew him into the Northern parts where having removed those unquiet enemies beyond the limits prescribed them he return'd to York and there being old was assaulted by his last sicknes in which how piously he disposed himself for death may be collected from the Character before mention'd which was given him by Eusebius 2. And moreover the same Authour treating particularly of his death addeth It may easily be conceived by any one who shall seriously observe the nature and condition of the actions performd by the Emperours Diocletian Maximianus and Constantius how happy a death this Emperour obtain'd from God whom he served with such zeale and piety far unlike in his manners and life to those who were partakers of the same Empire with him 3. Only one thing was now wanting to his full contentment which was the presence of his Son Constantin who at this time was at Rome there detained as a pledge or hostage by Galerius This was a great affliction to Constantius who though he had with him other Sons born to him by Theodora received small satisfaction from them considering their want of spirit and courage 4. Zonaras reports that at this time whilst Constantius was sick and afflicted in mind by reason of the unfitnes of his other children to succeed him an Angell appeard to him commanding him to leave the Empire to Constantin Eusebius likewise more then once affirmeth that it was by Divine counsell ordinance that Constantin succeeded his Father in the Empire And hereto the Oratour Eumenius
the Saxon coasts through Brittany Gaule c. 8. Concerning their Religion Adam Bremensis thus describes it In a Temple of theirs call'd in their Native language Vbsola adorn'd with gold throughout the people adore the Statues of three Gods The most powerfull of them called Thor is placed in a Chappell in the midst and on each side are set the Statues of Wodan and Fricco The signification of which Names is this Thor say they presides in the aire and sends thunder lightning showers and calm seasons so that he governs the fruits of the Earth Then Wodan which signifies Valiant disposes of warrs and administers courage to them against their Enemies And the third Fricco is the God which bestows peace and pleasure on men whose statue is fram'd with a huge Priapus But Wodan they carve in arms as the Romans did Mars And Thor with a Scepter answering to Iupiter 9. From these three Deities they gave names to three days in the Week For from Wodan whom others interpret to be Mercury Wednesday took its appellation From Thor Thursday and from Fricco or Frea suppos'd to be the Wife of Woden Friday Tewsday had its name from Tuisco the founder of the German Nation who thence are nam'd Tuitsch or Dutch The month of April they call'd Eoster-Monath whence still remains the same Name for the Solemnity of our Lords Resurrection usually falling on that Month. Tacitus adds that generally the Nations worshipped Herthus as their common mother the Earth for the same name is still in use with us wheras the Germans now call it Arden To Wodan they usually offred human sacrifices chosen from among their captives 10. Yet among all these abominations there were in those ancient Saxons some qualities very commendable especially their Chastity This was of old observ'd by Tacitus who saith Their Mariages are severe and chastity exactly observ'd among them For they are almost the only Barbarians who content themselves with single wives unlesse a few of their Nobles who not for lust but honour are sought to and even wooed by severall women c. Their wives are confin'd to their houses free from the sights of impure spectacles and provocations of intemperate Feasts c. And afterward Salvian gives this character of some barbarous Nations in his time The Alans saith he are an unchast Nation but not perfidious The Franks are lyars yet given to hospitality The Saxons are savage in their cruelty but to be honour'd for their Chastity And S. Bonifacius in times succeeding writes thus In old Saxony where is no knowledge of Christ if either a maid or wife be guilty of adultery they force her to strangle her self and then burn her body Or else after they have cut her garments to the wast the chast Matrons whipp her out of their confines and there fresh woemen meet her with whips or prick her with knives and thus is she used till they have kill'd her 11. Vpon this foundation of Chastity the Saxon Churches among us continued stable for many ages Hence were derived such numberles swarms of Virgins and men consecrated to God in a Religious Profession despising and trampling under foot all carnall tentations and pleasures In no other Nation or Church were afforded such frequent Examples of Princes voluntarily and by vow abstaining from lawfull matrimonial delectations of Virgins willingly exposing their lives to preserve their purity yea maiming and disfiguring themselves to appear odious to those who otherwise would have violated their Chastity But now alas it is call'd a Reformation of Gods Church to forbid'd living in such hatred of the flesh a Reformation becoming the grand incestuous Patriark of Reformers Luther II. CHAP. 1.2 c. Horrible crimes of the Brittains 5. Whether their Kings were annointed 6.7 c. Shamefull depravation of the Brittish Clergy and generally through all Europe 10. Christians justly punish'd by Barbarous Nations to the benefit of Gods Church 1. SVCH and so qualified were the Saxons Angli and Iutes when they were first call'd in to fight for the cowardly Brittains but destin'd by Almighty God to root them from the Earth and possesse their Provinces In the next place therefore let us take a view of the same Brittains in that age that it may appear that God did not forsake them till they had fill'd up the measure of their sins by all manner of crimes and impieties And hereof a more convincing witnes cannot be found or desired then our Brittish Historian Gildas who liv'd in that age and seems to have had his penn directed by God on purpose to write like a second Ieremias the miseries of his countrey the heavy judgments inflicted on it and the more heavy crimes which exacted from heaven those judgments 2. The whole Nation generally is by him acknowledg'd guilty of all manner of vices joyn'd with extreme ingratitude to God For whereas after the incursions of the Picts and Scotts there succeeded such wonderfull plenty of all things as no former age could parallell the Brittains turn'd this mercy into wantonnes abounding more then ever in all manner of uncleannes and luxury which filthines was attended with a hatred of truth and the professours of it Insomuch as if any one in conversation shew'd any sign of a Christian life presently the generall hatred of the Brittains pursued and persecuted such an one as a subverter of his countrey 3. After this contempt of Divine benignity God sought to reclaim them by his scourges of pestilence and famine by which such multitudes perish'd as the living were not able to bury the dead Yet with this severity they were nothing amended for as Salomon saith The foole is scourged and feeles it not God call'd to mourning and baldnes and wearing of sackcloath When behold killing of calves and ramms behold nothing but eating and blasphemously saying Let us eate and drink for to morrow we shall dye 4. Besides these enormous sins the same Authour describes a strange savage nature in the Brittains of those times saying Princes were annointed but not by our Lord for those were made choice of to raign who were most eminent for their cruelty And presently after they were murdered by those who had annointed them and in their places others more feirce and savage were elected 5. From this testimony of Gildas it appears that even in those ancient times of the Brittish Government the solemne Ceremony of annointing Kings in Brittany was in use And this is confirm'd by S. Gregory who liv'd in the following age who discoursing on that passage in the first Book of Kings Samuel took a cruse of oyle and powr'd it on his head sayth The same thing is express'd by this Vnction which now in the Holy Church is materially exhibited For what soever Prince is rais'd to the supreme height of Regall Dignity receives the Sacrament of Vnction And the manner of administring this Vnction in those ancient times is still extant in the
raign our Ecclesiasticall monuments doe record extreme cruelty exercis'd by Hengist in all places where his armies came principally in Kent against Preists and Holy Virgins especially great numbers of which he caused to be massacred Altars he profaned every where and demolish'd Churches 3 But among the Victimes of this barbarous Princes cruelty there onely remains the memory of one illustrious Bishop Voadinus Arch-bishop of London who dyed a glorious Martyr in this tempest The names of all the rest are onely written in heaven 4. Now concerning Saint Voadinus we read thus in our ancient English Martyrologe On the third of Iuly at London is the commemoration of Saint Voadinus Martyr Arch-bishop of London who being a man of great Sanctity reproved Vortigern King of Brittany for repudiating his lawfull wife and marrying an â—nfidell For which cause Hengist King of Kent the father of Vortigerns second illegitimate wife inflam'd with fury commanded the said Holy Bishop together with many other Preists and religious men to be stain Whence may appear that all good men did execrate the Kings last and adulterous mariage 5. Chamber in the life of Vortigern as Richard White relates affirms that Saint Voadinus his admonition to King Vortigern had two heads The first was his unlawfull dispâ—sall of part of the patrimony and crown of the Kingdom without the consent of the Clergy Nobility and people The other was his marrying a Pagan wife his own being yet alive against whom he could alledge no cause which might iustify a divorce This double reprehension did Hengist revenge by the death of the holy Bishop Now though both these grounds of reprehension were very iust yet it was the latter proceeding from a a reverence to the Sacrament of the Church vitiated by the new Bride which principally regarded a Bishop to censure and which for so doing and suffring for his duty gave him a sufficient title to Martyrdom 6. Gildas and Saint Beda though they mention not by name this Martyrdom of Saint Voadinus yet deliver generall expressions of the cruell persecution rais'd by Hengist especially against Ecclesiasticall persons that they afford sufficient grounds to render it unquestionnable For Gildas declares that great numbers of Bishops and Preists were massacred by that Saxon-King And Saint Beda relates the same in these words The impious King after his Victory almighty God the iust Iudge so disposing layd wast the Citties and provinces adjoyning and without any resistance continued the flame from the Eastern to the Western sea covering the whole surface of the miserable Island with ruine Both publick and private buildings were demolish'd And every where the Prelats of the Church together with the people without any regard to their dignity were consum'd with sword and fire neither were there any who took care to bury their bodies after they were so cruelly slain VII CHAP. 1.2 c. Hengist at a Feast perfidiously murders the Brittish Nobles 5. Stone-henge a Monument of this 6.7 Vortigern being a Prisoner redeems himself with surrendring severall Provinces to the Saxons 1. FOR two or three years wee read nothing memorable perform'd between the Brittains and Saxons but the year of Grace four hundred sixty one is noted with an act of most horrible perfidious cruelty done by Hengist For he having a resolution by any means to enlarge his bounds in Brittany and finding that by exercice of war the Brittish courages encreased turnd his thoughts to invent some stratagem by which without any hazard he might compasse his end 2. For this purpose insinuating himselfe into the minds of Vortigern and the Brittish Nobility as if he were desirous of amity and peace which if they would grant he would turn his arms against the Picts and Scotts and drive them quite out of the Island He quickly obtain'd beleif from the easy nature of Vortigern as if his intentions were sincere Whereupon a Meeting is ordain'd between the Brittains and Saxons with this caution that each King should be attended with only three hundred and those unarm'd at which Meeting they were to treat of the conditions of peace 3. The place appointed for this fatall Assemblâ— was a plain neer Sorbiodunum or Old Salsbury a Citty seated in the Province of the Belgae in which still remains a monument of a dismall Tragedy For these being mett on both sides a great Feast was prepared for the Brittains at which the articles of agreement were to be ratified by mutuall promises and oathes 4. But toward the end of the Feast when they were dissolv'd in wine Hengist on a sudden calld aloud To arms which was the watchword agreed on among the Saxons Whereupon they immediately drew out short swords which they had conceald under their cloathes and quickly slew their unarmed guests the Brittains Yet in that Tragedy one memorable example of courage was perform'd by a Brittish Noble man if Geffrey of Monmouth may be beleived For Eldol the valiant Governour Consul of Glocester Claudiocestriae snatching up a stake by chance lying near slew seaventy of the Saxons with it 5. A Monument not long after rais'd by the Brittains continues to this day the memory of this most barbarous and perfidious Tragedy This is that which is Vulgarly calld Stone-henge on Salsbury plains where in a space of ground compass'd with a ditch are placed as in a threefold crown stones of an incredible vastnes some of them twenty eight feet in height and seaven in breadth over many of which other great stones are placed a crosse The report is saith Camden that Ambrosius Aurelianus or his brother Vther Pendragon by the help and art of Merlin the famous Magician rais'd this Monument in memory of the Brittains treacherously slain by the Saxons at a conference Though others deliver that this was a magnificent Sepulcher rais'd to Ambrosius Aurelianus himself slain near this place from whom likewise the town of Ambresbury not far distant took its name 6. In this slaughter the Saxons took Vortigern prisoner and the year following saith Mathew of Westminster threatning him with death they bound him in chains and for his life requir'd of him to deliver up severall of his Citties and munitions Who quickly granted whatsoever they demanded so he might scape with his life This being confirm'd by oath they gave him his liberty and first of all they seys'd on the Citty of London then Yorck and Lincoln likewise Winchester all which Provinces they wasted killing the miserable Brittains like Sheep They destroyed to the ground all Churches and buildings belonging to Ecclesiasticall persons they killd the Preists near the Altars they burnt with fire all Books of Holy Scripture and heaped earth on the sepulchers of Martyrs Such religious men as could scape their fury repaired to desarts woods and rocks carying with them the Relicks of Saints Vortigern therfore seing so horrible destruction retir'd into the parts â—f Wales Cambria and there inclos'd himself in a town
after so great a tempest of warrs and changes in which his parents who had worn the Royall Purple were slain Now though in these two ancient Authours the name of his parents be not extant it may be probably affirm'd that he was the Son of Constantin who fifty years before had pretended to the Roman Empire and in the attempt was slain in Gaule For that Constantin besides his Son Constans also slain had other children appears by the expression of Sozomen who calls the said Constans sirnamed also Iulianus the Elder Son of Constantin 5. That he was born and bred up in Brittany seems to appear because as severall Writers affirm in the competition for the Crown when Vortigern was chosen Ambrosius being a pretender was compell'd to quitt both his right and the countrey and to retire himself into lesser Brittany Frō whence notwithstanding during the raign of the generous King Vortimer he return'd and assisted him courageously against the Saxons as hath been related and it seems after his death retir'd again to his former refuge 6. The return of these two Princes was more formidable to Vortigern then any thing he could apprehend from the Saxons who therefore fortified himself more carefully in his new Castle I will not here trouble the reader with any large description of that prodigious omen of two dragons one red and the other white which issuing out of a lake whilst Vortigern sate on the bank began a terrible combat in which at last the White was conquerour By which two Dragons according to Merlins interpretation were meant the Brittains and Saxons and the successe of their fight was the flight and destruction of the Brittains These seem to be inventions of the old Bards easily composed after the event and foolishly collected by Geffrey of Monmouth to signalize the expiring of the Brittish Kingdome 7. Hengist being inform'd of the coming of Aurelius Ambrosius with considerable forces in aid of the Brittains endeavoured to come to a battell with him before the uniting of their Armies but was not able to effect his intention So that a main battell was fought by the two Nations in Kent neer the ancient famous port of Roch borow which is thus describ'd by Henry of Huntingdon A while after that auxiliary forces were come King Hengist and his Son Esca gathered an invincible army in the seaventeenth year after the coming of the Saxons into Brittany which was the year of Grace four hundred sixty five On the other side the Brittains uniting all their forces oppos'd them with an Army gallantly ranged into twelve Bodies The fight continued long and with little advantage But at last Hengist having slain the twelve Leaders and cast down their Ensigns forc'd the Brittains to flye He himself likewise lost great numbers of his soldiers and principall Officers and particularly a certain great Prince of his Nation call'd Wipped in whose memory the place of the battell was call'd Wippeds-stede So that this Victory was much bewayld by the Saxons themselves and therefore after that time neither did he take the confidence to enter into the Brittains Borders nor the Brittains into Kent X. CHAP. 1. King Vortigern consumed by fire 2.3 A. Ambrosius King his Character 5.6.7 Death of S. Patrick and place of his buriall 1. THE year following was free from an extern war against the Saxons which gave Aurelius Ambrosius an opportunity to convert his arms against the principall Authour of all the miseries of Brittany the unhappy King Vortigern Therefore he march'd to the Castle Genorium which he beseiged but found him so strongly fortified there that by no force or cunning he could expugn it At last by fire whether cast by Ambrosius or coming from heaven is uncertain both the King and his Castle were consum'd so as saith Huntingdon his body never appear'd 2. Vortigern being thus removed the whole power and authority of the Kingdom was devolv'd on Ambrosius not after a tumultuary manner or by the factious suffrages of the Army but by an unanimous Election of the Clergy Nobility and Commons of the Nation For which purpose saith S. H. Spelman a Council or Assembly was call'd in Cambria about the Mountains of Erir in the Province of the Ordovices or Northwales in which he was exalted to the Regal Dignity This he says was done in the year four hundred sixty five following the account of Mathew of Westminster But other Historians as Stow Speed c. more probably place this Election the year following after the death of Vortigern 3. How happy an exchange the Brittains made of their King will appear from this Character given to Aurelius Ambrosius by Matthew of Westminster far unlike that which all writers ascribe to Vortigern Ambrosius saith he assoon as he was placed on the throne of Brittany employed himself to the utmost of his power in repairing Churches which had been ruind He was a Prince magnificent in his gifts sedulous in the worship of God modest averse from flattery a valiant soldier on foot yet more valiant on hors-back and very skilfull in conducting an army For which vertues and endowments his fame was spread through far distant regions 4. Being so worthy a Prince it is not altogether unlikely that this is the same Ambrosius mention'd by Eugypius in the life of S. Severin who writes thus Odoacer King of the Erul◠having subdued Italy wrote kind and familiar letters to S. Severin desiring him to ask of him whatsoever he pleased This he did in consideration that the same holy Bishop had foretold him that he should raign there The Holy man encouraged with so kind an offer requested him to free from banishment a certain person call'd Ambrosius who had been thereto condemned by the said King Which passage being cited by Baronius he thus adds As concerning this Ambrosius my opinion is that he is the same who afterward going into Brittany with great courage attempted and in some degree effected the freeing of that Island from the oppression of the barbarous Saxons Thus writes the learned Cardinal though he erroneously places the beginning of Odoacers raign in Italy too late 5. Severall years pass'd after the Election of Ambrosius either in peace or not considerable war between the Brittains and Saxons The occurrents of which time is thus describ'd by S. Beda The Brittains under the conduct of Ambrosius Aurelianus a modest Prince and who alone of the Roman race had remain'd after the slaughter made by the Saxons in which his parents who had worn the Regall Purple were slain provoking at last that Victorious Nation to combat gave them an overthrow And from that time now the Brittains and now the Saxons gott the better in small encounters till at last new forces of strangers arriving the Saxons gott possession of the whole Island 6. During this lesse disturbed time it was that S. Patrick many years before return'd out of Ireland dyed
be blessed for ever 11. After this her soule being ready to depart out of her body she saw standing before her a troop of heavenly Angels ready ioyfully to receive her soule and to transport it without any fear or danger from her spirituall Enemies Which having told to those who stood by her blessed soule was freed from the prison of her body on the eighth day before the Ides of October In her dissolution her face smiled and was all of a rosy colour and so sweet a fragrancy proceeded from her Sacred Virgin-body that those who were present thought themselves in the ioy of Paradice S. Cadocus buried her in her own Oratory where for many years she had lead a most holy mortified life very acceptable to God XV. CHAP. 1.2 Of S. Almedha sister to S Keyna and strange things hapning on her solemnity 3. Of her Brother Saint Canoc and his wreath 4. Of Saint Clitanc King of Brecknock and Martyr 1. TO the Gests of this Holy Virgin Saint Kâ—yna we will here adjoyn what remains in ancient Monuments concerning her sister Saint Almedha 〈◊〉 her Brother Saint Canocus There are saith Giraldus Cambrensis dispersed through severall Provinces of Cambria many Churches illustrated by the names of the Children of Braganuâ— Of these there is one seated on the top of a certain hill in the region of Brecknock not far distant from the principall Castle of Aberhodni which is called the Church of Saint Almedha who reiecting the mariage of an Earthly Prince and espousing her self to the Eternall King consummated her life by a triumphant Martyrdom The day of her solemnity is every year celebrated in the same place the first of August Whereto great numbers of devout people from far distant parts use to assemble and by the merits of that Holy Virgin receive their desired health from divers infirmities 2. One especiall thing usually hapning on the solemnity of this Blessed Virgin seems to mee very remarkable For you may oftimes see there young men and maids sometimes in the Church sometimes in the Church-yard and sometimes whilst they are dancing in an even ground encompassing it to fall down on a sudden to the ground at first they lye quiet as if they were rapt in an Extasy but presently after they will leap up as if possess'd with a frenzy and both with their hands and feet before the people they will represent whatsoever servile works they unlawfully performed upon Feast-dayes of the Church One will walk as if he was holding the plow another as if he were driving the Oxen with a goad and both of them in the mean time singing some rude tune as if to ease their toyleâ— One will act the trade of a Shoomaker another of a tanner a third of one that were spinning Here you may see a mayd busily weaving and expressing all the postures usuall in that work After all which being brought with Offrings unto the Altar you would be astonish'd to see how suddenly they will return to their senses again Hereby through Gods mercy who rejoyces rather in the conversion then destruction of Sinners it is certain that very many have been corrected and induced to observe the Holy Feasts with great devotion 3. As touching their Brother Saint Canoc the fame of his Sanctity was most eminent among the Siluâ—es His name is consign'd in our English Martyrologe on the eleaventh oâ— February where likewise he is sayd to have flourish'd in all vertues about the year of Christ four hundred ninety two To him most probably is to be referd that which is reported of the Wreath Torques of S. Canauc for so he calls him Which the inhabitants of that countrey esteem to be a precious Relick and of wonderfull vertue insomuch as when any one is to give a testimony by Oath if that Wreath be placed in fight he dares not presume to commit periury 4. Our Martyrologe also among other Saints of this time commemorates the death and Martyrdom of a King of Brecknock in Southwales calld Clitanc or Clintanc on the nineteeth day of August in the year of Grace four hundred niâ—â—ty two Concerning whom we read in Capgrave that he was a Prince very observant of peace and iustice among his Subiects and that in the end he became a Martyr adorn'd with a celestiall crown for his vertues and merits and particularly his Chastity and purity from carnall delectations For he was murdred by treason of a certain impious wretch whose name is perished with him But to return to the publick affairs of these times between the Brittains and Saxons XVI CHAP. 1.2.3 The erection of the Kingdom of the South-Saxons 4. Of the Citty Anderida 5. Two Metropolitans constituted 1. IN the year of Grace four hundred ninety one is placed by our best Historians the beginning of the Kingdom of the South-Saxons which as it began on a sudden and more timely then the rest so was it likewise the first that fayled and the last which embraced the Christian Faith The manner how this New Kingdom was erected is thus described by Henry of Huntingdon 2. Then began saith he the Kingdom of Sussex which Ella a long time held and administred with great power He had received great recruits out of Germany so that being confident of his forces he in the third year after the death of Hengist the Roman Emperour Anastasius then raigning layd siege to the Strong Citty of Andredecester Whereupon the Brittains were gatherd together in infinite numbers to raise this siege and both day and night vexed the besiegers with ambushes and incursions But they nothing discouraged gave continuall assaults on the Citty and in every assault the Brittains sett on their backs showrâ—ng arrows and darts upon them So that they were forc'd to give over the assault and turn their forces against them But the Brittains being more nimble quickly ran into the woods and when the Saxons returnd to the walls they follow'd them at their bac'ks 3. By this means the Saxons were a long time extremely harass'd and great slaughters were made of them Till at last they were compell'd to divide their Army into two parts that whilst one was employed in expugning the Citty the other part might be in a readines to fight with the Brittons from without Than indeed the besieged being weakned with famine could no longer resist the Saxons by whom they were all consum'd with the sword so that not one escaped And moreover in revenge of the great losses sustain'd by the Saxons during this Siege they demolish'd the Citty utterly so that it was never built again Onely the marks of the place where a most Noble Citty had been seated might be seen by passengers 4. The Citty here called Andredecester was by the Romans call'd Anderida Guido Pancirolus discoursing on the Officers subordinate to the Count of the Saxon-shore in Brittany makes mention of a Provost of a company of soldiers call'd
himself became a Guide in a spirituall life and Father of Monks For which purpose he also built a Monastery which was calld Lancarvan from an admirable accident in the building of it in which saith Harpsfeild he employ'd will Harts which became familiar obedient and serviceable to him 6. Thus both the Father and Son contemning the world liv'd in it to God only and dyed happily And as touching the death of S. Gunlaeus the Father wee read thus in Capgrave When the end of his dayes approch'd he sent to S. Dubricius who had been Bishop of Landaff but now had translated the Bishoprick to another place and to his Son Cadoc desiring the charity of a visit from them Who came and comforted him and after he had receiv'd the Holy Communion for a Viaticum and defence of his soule he departed to our Lord the fourth day before the Calends of April He was honourably buried and at his sepulcher Angels were often seen Sick persons of all infirmities coming thither and imploring his intercession were healed and glorified God in his Saint The day of his consummation is celebrated in our Martyrologe on the twenty ninth of March. 7. Concerning his Son S. Cadocus it is further related there That he dayly sustain'd a hundred Ecclesiasticall persons as many Widows and as many other poor people besides strangers which frequently visited him For though he was an Abbot and had many Monks under his Government yet he reserved a portion of his Fathers Principality to be charitably distributed to such as had need Now we are not to iudge that hereby this Holy Abbot did trangresse a Monasticall Profession which forbids Propriety in temporall goods for in the distribution of them he only exercised a pious Procuration as he did in other Goods of his Monastery 8. He dyed with a great opinion of Sanctity in the Province of the Ordovices and there was held in high veneration among the Brittains For Harpsâ—eild testifies that a Church was erected to his honour among the Danmonij at a place call'd Corinia which to this day conserves his memory The year wherin he dyed is uncertain But since S. Dubritius is recorded to have been present at it it could not happen so late as Harpsfeild places it In â—he ancient English Martyrologe he is commemorated on the four and twentieth of February 9. In the same Martyrologe are recorded the names of other Brittish Saints who dyed about the year of Grace five hundred Among the rest is named S. Dogmael called also by the Brittains S. Tegwel illustrious for his great vertues his Sanctity and Miracles A famous Abbey in Penbrockshire took its name â—rom him His memory is celebrated on the four-teenth of Iune There likewise on the seaventh of the Ides of April is a commemoration of S. Bernach Abbot a man of admirable Sanâ—â—ity Who in devotion made a journey to Rome and from thence returning into Brittany fill'd all places with the fame of his piety and miracles 10. The same year likewise a famous Irish Saint and Martyr call'd S. Finguar is recorded to have dyed He was the Son of Cliâ—on a Prince in Ireland Who to enjoy a commodious vacancy for contemplation is said to have retir'd into Cornwall where together with many others he was slain by Theodorick a Prince of that Countrey His life is found written by S. Anselm Arch-bishop of Canterbury XXIII CHAP. 1. Aesca King of Kent escapes out of prison 2. New forces arrive from Germany to Cerdic at Portsmouth 3. The Scottish Kingdom of Albania erected 1. Aesca the Son of Hengist who had been taken prisoner by Vther-pendragon was confind at London Who yet shortly after escap'd out of prison and return'd to his kingdom of Kent Where being not like his Father of a stirring spirit he contented himself with what his Father had conquered enjoying quietly the fruits of his labours 2. As for Cerdicius who landed in Northfolk after some years stay in those parts he in the year five hundred sought a more commodious Seat in the Western parts of Brittany And being with his present forces unable to establish a kingdom there he sent into Germany for new supplies so the year following there arrived a German captain call'd Port with his two sons Bleda and Magla in two great ships furnish'd with souldiers who landed at a haven from him call'd Portsmouth though Ptolomy affirms that the ancient Name of it was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Great haven or port Thus writes Mathew of Westminster And Henry of Huntingdon adds that this hapned in the seaventh year after Cerdicius his first coming Moreover that upon his landing a great clamour fill'd the whole Province Insomuch as the Brittish Governour and the whole multitude with great boldnes but without order set upon the Saxons and were presently dispers'd by them 3. This year likewise whilst the Saxons dayly made a progresse in the Southern and more fertile Provinces of Brittany the Scotts in the North layd a foundation of their New kingdom at the foot of the Mountain Grampius which was call'd the Kingdom of Albany For so we read in the Annals of Tigernac anâ— is Writer cited by Bishop Vsher where it is sayd that Fergus the Son of Eric with a Nation call'd Dalraids or Dalreudins possess'd themselves of a part of Brittany And Camden likewise writes That Fergus the Son of Eric of the seed of Chonare was the first who took on him the Title of King of Albany from Brun Albain to the Irish Sea And the following Kings of the Seed of Fergus to Alpin the Son of Eochal raign'â— in Brun Albain This Nation saith S. Beda were call'd Dalreudini from Reuda under whose conduct they first came out of Ireland XXIV CHAP. 1 2. c Of S. Petroc His Gests And of S Coemgen 8.9 Translation of the Relicks of S. Petroc of S. Meven 1. AS from Ireland many Holy men sought a retreat for their devotions in Brittany so there were not wanting some who from the same motives were induced especially in these tumultuous times to retire out of Brittany into Ireland Among which Bishop Vsher exemplifies in S. Petroc who being a stranger born in Brittany lived in Ireland where there was recommended to his care and instruction a youth of seaven years old call'd Coâ—mgen or Kegnius to be by him educated in learning and piety Which Coëmgen was afterward Abbot of Glindelac 2. S Petroc was by Nation a Cambrian not a Cimbrian as by mistake is set down in the Gallican Martyrologe He was born of Princely parentage in Wales and saith the authour of his life in Capgrave from his infancy he did so well imitate the Faith and vertues of Saint Peter the Prince of the Apostles that his name may seem to have been given him by Divine inspiration as if God had destin'd him also to be a Rock Petra upon which Truth would
build the Church of Brittany When the Prince his Father was dead the Nobles of the Countrey with the consent of the whole people were desirous he should succeed in the Royalty But he neglecting worldly pomp assum'd with him sixty companions and with them entred into a Monastery there undertaking a Monasticall Profession After some years spent there he went into Ireland where for the space of twenty years he addicted himself to the studies of litterature and the holy Scriptures There and then it was that the foresaid S. Coemgen was recommended by his parents to be instructed by him 3. Having in this space saith Leland heap'd a great treasure of learning under the most perfect Teachers of that Island he return'd into Brittany and in the Province of Corinia or Cornwall intended to employ for the benefit of others also that treasure And to shew that he had not all this while forgotten much lesse deserted his Râ—ligious profession he built there a Monastery not many miles distant from the Severn shore neer a town in those days call'd Loderic and Laffenac and afterwards from his name Petrocstow at this day more contractedly Padstow 4. At this time the Saxons under Cerdic had possess'd themselves of that Province And hence it is that the Narration of his gests follows thus in Capgrave Assoon as S. Petroc with his Disciplis had left their ship and were landed there certain Reapers then at work spoke rudely and bitterly to them and among other contumelious speeches requir'd them that their conductour S. Petroc should for the asswaging of their thirst cause a spring of fresh water to issue out of a rock there adjoyning This they said either in derision of them being strangers or for a tryall whether their sanctity was answerable to their Profession Hereupon S. Petroc who never refused those that ask'd any thing in his power address'd his prayers to our Mercifull Lord and with his staffe smiting the rock immediatly there gush'd forth a spring of clear sweet water which flows there to this day 5. Those barbarous Pagans utterly ignorant of Christian Religion were astonish'd at this Miracle And when the Holy servant of God ask'd them whether there were in that Province any one who profess'd the Christian Faith they directed him to a certain Holy man call'd Samson concerning whom they acquainted him that he lead a solitary life and exercis'd himself in corporall labours fasting watching and Prayers and that he sustain'd life with no other thing but a small portion dayly of barley bread This it that Samson who first succeeded S. David in the See of Mersevia and afterward was Bishop of Dole in Lesser Brittany concerning whom we shall treat in due place 6. After thirty years aboad in this solitude in which he is sayd to have instructed Credan Medan and Dachant three of his principal Disciples illustrious for their learning and piety he left his Monastery of Lodoric and undertook a forrain pilgrimage visiting Rome and after that Hierusalem From whence he is said to have proceeded as far as India and to have spent seaven years in the exercises of a contemplative life in a certain unknown Island of the Eastern Ocean From which tedious voyage he at last return'd home and with twelve companions retir'd himself into a dry and barren solitude The Prince of that part of Cornwal was called Tendur a man of a feirce and savage nature 7. His death in our Ecclesiasticall monuments is referr'd to the year of Grace five hundred sixty four And he was buried in the place now call'd Petrocstow or Padstow In which town anciently was placed an Episcopall See which was afterward translated to another town calld Bodmin The reason wherof seems to have been because the Body of S. Petroc which had first been simply and meanly buried at Padstow was afterward transfer'd and honourably repos'd at Bodnun To which purpose we find this passage in Mathew of Westminster The Bishops of Cornwal had their See at S. Petroc's of Bodmin apud Sanctum Petrocum de Bodmini for so the words are to be corrected saith Bishop Vâ—her And the same place was meant by Harpsfeild thus writing The Monument of S. Petroc is in the Citty Bosuenna the most noted town of Merchandise Emporium of Cornwal 8. But the Relicks of S. Petroc did not always rest at Bodmin for from thence they wâ—re stolln conveyd over sea into Lesser Brittany and reverently plac'd in the Monastery of S. Meven but in the time of King Henry the second restor'd Thus writes Roger Hoveden Martin a Canon Regular of the Church of Bodmin by stealth took away the Body of S. Petroc and fled with it into Brittany to the Abbey of S. Meven Which theft having been discovered Roger Priour of that Cathedrall Church with the more ancient Canons of the Chapter address'd themselves to King Henry the Father for at that time he had made his son likewise King And from him they obtained a strict command to the Abbot and Convent of Saint Meven that without delay they should restore to Roger Priour of Bodmin the said Body of S. Petroc Which if they refus'd the King gave order to Roland of Dinant the Governour of Brittany to take away the sacred Body by force and give it to the said Roger. Assoon as the Abbot and Monks of S. Meven heard of these things to prevent any dammage to their Church they restor'd the said Body entire and without any diminution to the foresaid Priour swearing withall upon the Holy Gospels and upon the Relicks of certain Saints there that it was the very same Body unchanged and unempair'd 9. The reason why the Convent of S. Meven in lesser Brittany were so desirous of the Relicks of S. Petroc was because S. Meven himself the Patron of that Monastery was born in our Brittany as many other Saints besides from hence had fled thither and were with great veneration honour'd in the territory of S. Malo Where likewise Iudicael Prince of the Armorici or Lesser Brittany who was descended from our Brittany built the said Monastery XXV CHAP. 1.2 c. The battell between the Saxons and Brittains and death of King Vther-pendragon or Natanleod 1. THE five hundred and eighth year of our Lord was fatall to the Brittains by the death of their valiant King slain in a battell against the West-Saxons For thus writes the Noble Historian Ethelwerd In the seaventh year afteir their arrivall Cerdic and his son Cenric slew Natan-leod King of the Brittains and with him five thousand of his soldiers 2. Mathew of Westminster relates the same somewhat more expresly and withall signifies who this Natan-leod was for thus he writer In the year of Grace five hundred and eight Cerdic and Kenric provok'd the Brittains to a battell At that time Vther King of the Brittains was sick in such extremity that he could not turn himself from one side to another in his bed Wherfore he
in his practise fullfilld the Instructions which he mett with in reading Now it fell out that his Master Paulens with extreme pains falling on his eyes lost the use of them Hereupon calling his Disciples together he desired that one after another they would look upon his eyes and say a prayer or benediction on them When they had done this and that he receiv'd no ease or remedy David said thus to him Father I pray you doe not command mee to look you in the face for ten years are pass'd since I studied the Scripture with you and in all that time I never had the boldnes to look you in the face Paulens admiring his humility said since it is so it will suffise if by touching my eyes thou pronounce a benediction on them Presently therefore assoon as he touched them sight was restored to them XIV CHAP. 1.2 The Westsaxon Kingdom founded 3.4 Priviledges given to Cornwall c. 5.6 A second combat at Monâ— Badonicus 7. c. Fables of King Arthurs conquests 1. THE same year in which the Synod of Brevi was celebrated Cerdic began the Kingdom of the West-Saxons that is saith Huntingdom in the seaventy first year after the first coming of the Saxons and in the raign of the Emperour Iustin the Elder of that name With him agrees Ethelwerd Malmsbury and others And Thomas Rudburn in his greater Chronicle addes that he was crowned with Pagan Ceremonies at Winchester in the place which once had been the Church of the true God but which those barbarous heathens had changed into a Temple of Dagon having slain all the Monks who served God there 2. The raising of this New Kingdom sufficiently disproves the Fables of Geffrey of Monmouth who reports great and frequent Victories of King Arthur in these dayes Whereas Huntingdon expresly declares that this year a terrible battell was fought between Cerdic and the Brittains and that on both sides the Captains fought magnanimously till even but then the Saxons gott the victory which would have been more bloody to the Brittains had not the darknes hindred the pursuit After this the fame of Cerdic and his son Kinric was largely spread through the whole land For from that day began the Kingdom of the West-Saxons which remains to our times having swallowd all the other Principalities And Ranulpâ—us of Chester relates how after many battells fought betweem King Arthur and Cerdic wherin sometimes one some times the other had the better at last King Arthur grew weary and contenting himself with an oath of fidelity received from Cerdic he gave to him the Provinces of Hampshire and Somerset 3. But Thomas Rudburn taking no notice of any Oath of Fidelity declares that King Arthur growing weary of renewing war against Cerdic entred into league with him by which Cerdic obliged himself to the inhabitants of Cornwal to permitt them paying an annual tribute to enjoy the exercise of Christian Religion And that such a speciall indulgence was allowd to that Province appears by the great numbers of Saints which in these and the following times flourished there whereas scarce any were to be found in other parts of Brittany subject to the Saxons Now the ground of this Priviledge afforded particularly to them of Cornwal no doubt was because great multitudes of Brittains flying from the Saxons into those most distant and more defensible parts as likewise into Wales rendred them more capable to resist new Masters who therefore were forced to give them better conditions 4. Notwithstanding we are not to suppose that the two Provinces of Hampshire and Somerset mentioned by Ranulphus and Cornwall by Rudburn were all the Provinces which made up the new Kingdom of the West-Saxons for besides them Cerdic had subdued the Danmonij in Devonshire the Durotriges in Dorsetshire the Atrebatij in Barkshire and the Belgae in Wiltshire And to these shortly after was added the Isle of Wight which he bestowd on his late arriv'd kinsmen Stuffa and Whitgar who saith Camden utterly destroy'd the Brittish inhabitants there at Whitgarn-burg from Whitgar so call'd but now more contractedly Caresburg 5. Whilst Cerdic was busy establishing his new Kingdom fresh enemies to the Brittains arriv'd For as Mathew of Westminster relates in the year five hundred and twenty the Saxon Captains Colgrin Baldulf and Cheldric lately subdued by King Arthur at York and forced to abiure the Island repented themselves of the Covenants made and returning took land at Totenes from whence passing through Cerdic's dominion they came to the Citty of Bath which they besieged The fame whereof coming to King Arthur he caused the hostages left by them to be hanged And gathering a might army came to raise the siege Where the armies being ioyned he calling on the name of the Blessed Virgin Mary whose Image he wâ—re over his armour he slew great numbers of them and among the rest Colgrin and his Brother Baldulph Which Cheldric seing fled and by the Kings command was purâ—â—ed by Cador Duke of Cornwal who rested not â—ill he overtook them in the Isle of Thane where â—e slew Cheldric and â—orced the rest to yeild 6. Though some particulars in this Nâ—râ—ation may deserve to be excepted against is the place which is sayd to have been the Citty oâ— Bath neer which is the Mountain called Badonicus where Arthur before he was King is sayd to have defeated the Saxons long before the time mentioned by this Historian Besides Bath being a part of Cerdics new Kingdom how come the new arrived Saxons to besiege it Notwithstanding it may probably be answered that there might have been and comparing our Writers it is likely there were two battles fought by Arthur at this Mount Badonicus And again the Citty of Bath being seated in the utmost extremity Westward of Cerdic's Pricipality it might perhaps at this time have been in the possession of the Brittains 7. As touching King Arthurs invoking our blessed Lady's assistance in the fight it was a devotion generally practis'd by the Church in this age For two year before this there having been assembled two Councils in the East one at Ierusalem and another at Constantinople the Synod of Ierusalem thus wrote to the Bishops of the other Council O most holy Bishops we beseech you to pray with us to our Lord for these same things for the necessities of all Gods Preists ought to be common Make your supplications likewise together with us to the most holy and glorious Virgin Mary Mother of God that she would intercede for the peace of the holy Churches and for the victory and long life of our most pious and most Excellent Emperour The like practise we find elsewhere of which many Examples may be given 8. The year following King Arthur was called into the Northern parts to assist Prince Howel who three years before was come out of Lesser Brittany to his aid and was now besieged by the 〈◊〉 and Scots in the Citty
ever after his helper and protectour 3. There were assembled in that Monastery no fewer then nine hundred sixty five Brethren who all lived under Monasticall Discipline serving God with great abstinence Of which number three hundred who were illiterate he appointed to tilling of the ground and guard of the Cattell out of the Monastery Other three hundred he assigned for preparing nourishment and performing other necessary works within the Monastery And three hundred sixty five who were learned he deputed to the celebrating Divine offices dayly Not any of which without great necessity would he permitt to goe out of the Monastery but ordaind them to attend there continually as in Gods Sanctuary 4. And this part of the Convent he divided so into troops and companies that when one had finished the service of God in the Church another presently entred and begun it againe which being ended a third without any delay entred Iâ— this means Prayers were offred in that Church without any intermission and the praises of God were allways in their mouths 5. Among these there was one named Asaph more especially illustrious for his descent and form who from his childhood shone brightly both with vertues and miracles and dayly endeavoured to imitate his Master in all Sanctity and abstinence To him the Man of God bore ever after a particular affection and committed the care of the Monastery to his prudence and in conclusion appointed him his Successour in the Bishoprick 6. As touching the forementioned Nobleman who opposed this Holy Bishop B. Godwin thus writes in his Catalogue Saint Kentigern at first built a Church of wood and lime but afterward he renewd it of stone although he was therein much hindred and molested by a certain Prince named Malgo or Maglocun whose dwelling was six miles from thence at Degâ—nwy But afterward being asswaged he permitted him to place there an Episcopall See on which he bestowd both ample possessions and priviledges Doing the same likewise to the Monastery The See is by some called Elguy or Llanelwy so named from the River Elwy near which it was seated And of that Church Saint Kentigern was the first Bishop But in succeeding times it was called Saint Asaphs from his name who sate there Bishop next after 7. As touching this Prince Maglocunus or Malgo Conanus he is mentioned by Gildas but deeply accused by him to have been though an expeller of many Tyrants yet withall as he was greater then many in power so likewise in malice Of him more hereafter III. CHAP. 1.2 c. S. Kentigern wonderfully recalled to Glasco where he destroyes Idolatry among the Picts 8.9 S. Columba Visits him Twenty Irish Saints called Columba 1 SAint Kentigerns life was prolonged till after S. Augustin the Monks coming into Brittany for his death is by the best Historians assigned to the year of our Lord six hundred and one Yet because his following actions are not mixd nor have any considerable influence on the generall affaires touching the Brittish Churches we will in this place summ up the remainder of his life 2. During S. Kentigerns abode in Cambria hapned the blessed death of the Holy Bishop S. David whose glory was discovered to Saint Kentigern by revelation as hath been shewd In that countrey he remaind the space of seaventeen years exercising most perfectly the functions both of an Abbot and afterward a Bishop at Elwy till in the end he was recalled to his first Bishoprick at Glasco the admirable manner whereof we find related by Iohn of Tinmouth to this effect 3. After that all the enemies of S. Kentigern in the Kingdom of the Cumbrians had been consumed by diverse calamities and diseases the inhabitants of that region by reason of the absence of Saint Kentigern who had been so many years exild from thence had forsaken the way of our Lord taught by him and were returned to Idolatry like doggs unto their vomit Which Apostasy of theirs God punished with a greivous famin the earth sea and all the elements refusing their accustomed aid and comfort to them 4. But at length our Lord was pleased to raise up in that Region a good King named Rederech who had been baptised by some of the Disciples of S. Patrick and who was very desirous to restore the Faith of Christ in his Kingdom For which purpose he directed Messengers with letters to S. Kentigern in which having acquainted him that the men who sought his life were dead he most earnestly beseeched and in the name of our Lord adjured him that he would no longer be absent from his flock for which he was obliged even to sacrifise his own life 5. S. Kentigern having received this Message without delay prepared for his return and having by admonition from an Angel appointed Saint Asaph his Successour in the Bishoprick of Elwy he being attended with six hundred and sixty of his Brethren took his iourney back to the Region of the Cumbrians at his entrance whereinto he was mett by the devout King and very great numbers of the people giving thanks to God for his presence Vpon whom the holy man pronounced a solemne benediction 6. After that he cryed with a loud voyce In the name of our Lord Iesus Christ I command all those who doe envy the salvation of men and resist the preaching of Gods word to depart presently from hence that they be no hindrance to those who shall beleive Having said this immediatly in the sight of all an innumerable multitude of wicked Spirits horrible to behold both for their stature and shapes fled away from the company which caused a wonderfull fear and trembling in them But the holy Man encouraged and comforted them letting them see visibly Who they were in whom they had beleived and by whom they had been induced to adore dumb Idols or the Elements which were creatures appointed by God for their use and service And as for Woden whom by the seduction of the Saxons they esteemd their Principall God and to whose honour they consecrated the fourth day of the Week he shewd that he was no better then a mortall man who had been King of the Saxons and Ancestour to severall nations that his Body was then resolv'd into dust and his soule tormented in hell-fire for ever 7. When he had sayd thus adding also many other speeches to explain the Christian Faith the ground on which he sate in a plain feild calld Holdelin swelld up under him in the sight of them all so that it grew to a reasonable high hill and so remains to this day And all the people seing these wonders after they were instructed in the Faith receiv'd Baptism Thus by his doctrine he freed the Nation of the Picts from Idolatry and Heresy He converted likewise the countrey of Albania building many Churches and founding severall Monasteries By which it appears that they were Picts not Saxons to whom he preach'd and that they were such as had forsaken
Columba came into Brittany in the ninth year of the raign of Bridius the Son of Meilochon the most powerfull King of the Picts and by his preaching and example converted that Nation to the Faith of Christ. So that for a reward he received the Island of Hy or Iona for the possession of a Monastery The Isle is but small being according to the estimation of the Angli only of five families And his Successours doe hold it to this day where himself was likewise buried being seaventy years old after he had spent about thirty two years from his entrance into Brittany 8. This Holy man before his coming into Brittany had founded a Noble Monastery in Ireland named in that tongue Dear-mach or the feild of Oakes for the abundance of those trees growing there And from these two Monasteries of Hy and Dear-mach many others were propagated in Ireland and Brittany by his Disciples Among all which notwithstanding the Monastery of Hy in which his sacred Body rests doth hold the preeminence and cheif authority Now the said Island is usually governed by an Abbot who is a Preist To whose Iurisdiction the whole Province and even Bishops themselves by a custom no where else practis'd ought to be subiect according to the example of their first Teacher S. Columba who was only a Preist and Monk and not a Bishop Of whose Life and Sayings many strange things are extant in writing compild by his Disciples But what a kind of man soever he was of this we are assur'd that he left behind him Successours famous for their great continence Divine Love and Regular institution Thus writes S. Beda 9. Hector Boetius hath moreover collected from ancient Records the names of S. Columba's twelve Companions in his Voyage and labours calld by Adamannus his Commilitones fellow soldiers There came saith he into Albion with S. Columba twelve men eminently imbued with the Doctrin of Christ but more adorn'd with sanctity Their Names were Baathenus and Cominus who after S. Columba's death were Superiours over Monasteries and no mean ornaments of the Christian Church among the Scotts Also Cibthacus and Ethernan nephews to S. Columba by his Brother and both of them Preists Moreover Domitius Rutius and Fethâ—â— men illustrious for their descent but more for their piety Lastly Scandalaus Eglodeus Totaneus Motefer and Gallan These men when S. Columba pass'd from Ireland â—â—to Brittainy fixing their habitations in the Isle Iona afterward travelled through the Regions of the Scots and Picts and by their labours in teaching disputing and writing imbued both those nations with vertuous manners and true Religion 10. One companion more the Scottish Historians add to S. Columba to wiâ— S. Constantin formerly King of the Brittains who repenting of his crimes sharply censur'd by Gildas became a Monk Concerning whom Iohn Fordâ—n quoted by B. Vsher thus writes ConteÌ„porary to S. Columba was S. Constantin King of Cornwal who leaving his earthly kingdome became soldier to the Heavenly King and with Saint Columba went into Scotland where he preached the Faith to the Scots and Picts He built a Monastery in Govane near the River Cluid which he govern'd as Abbot He converted to the Faith the whole Province of Kentire where he likewise dyed a Martyr and was buried in his Monastery of Govane 11. Hector Boetius names the King of the Picts who bestowd the Isle of Hy or Iona on the Irish Monks Comgall or Conval who saith he was King of Dalrieda and so eminent for his Piety that the fame therof drew S. Columba out of Ireland 12. At the same time not far from S. Columba liv'd S. Kentigern lately returnd to his Bishoprick of Glasco and who no doubt was an efficacious assistant to him in his Apostolicall Office Of the solemne meeting of these two Saints with their Disciples we have already spoken in the Gests of Saint Kentigern 13. That in all Points there was a perfect agreement in Faith not only between S. Kentigern and S. Columba but also between the Disciples of S. Columba and S. Augustin is evident from S. Beda c. Onely in one Rite or Ceremony they differed which was the time of observing Easter Vpon which unconsiderable difference notwithstanding some Modern Protestants doe ground an opinion that the Brittish Churches did receive not only their Sacred Rites but Faith also from the Eastern Churches and not from Rome But how great this mistake is hath in some part already and shall more clearly be demonstrated when we shall treat of the Controversy agitated between S. Augustin the Monk who urged a conformity to the Roman observance and the Brittish Bishops zealous to continue the Errour taught them by the Picts and Scots who had first received it from S. Columba whereas he fell into it not out of any love to Novelty or refractary contention but meerly ignorance of the Paschall Computation 14. Adamannus followd herein by B. Vsher placing the arrivall of S. Columba in Brittany two years sooner then generally our other Historians doe they consequently assign thirty four to have been spent by him here When therfore thirty of those years were past the Holy man out of an impatient desire to be freed from the burthen of mortality earnestly prayd to God to end his pilgrimage After which prayers oft repeated he saw in a vision certain Angels approaching to him as to conduct his soule to heaven Which sight imprinted such ioy in his countenance that his Disciples observ'd it But that ioy presently vanish'd and in its place succeeded great sadnes For he saw those Angels recalld who told him that upon the Petitions of the Pictish Churches c. God haâ— added four years more to his life Thus writes the Authour of his life in Capgrave 15. At last in the year of Grace five hundred ninety seaven the year in which S. Augustin came into Brittany this Holy man dyed most happily and his Sacred Body was buried in his Monastery of Hy from whence notwithstanding it was translated at least a great portion of it into Ireland and repos'd in the Church of Doun-patrick The memory of which translation is celebrated in the Ecclesiasticall Office long ago printed at Paris and in the same Church of Doun according to the testimony of Ranulfus of Chester an Inscription on his Monument signified That in that one Tomb three Saints S. Patrick S. Brigide and S. Columba did repose XIII CHAP. 1.2 King Ethelbert invades the other Saxon Kings by whom he is worsted 3.4 c. His Mariage with Bertha or Aldiberga a Daughter of France who is permitted a free exercise of Christian Religion 9.10 Saying Masse was the generall Devotion of the Church 1. HItherto the Saxon Princes had employ'd their forces onely to the destruction of the Brittains but now finding no resistance from them turnd their arms against one another For saith Ethelwerd three years being expir'd after the coming of S.
them more probably to any then to the pious Queen Aldiberga her Bishop Saint Lethardus and her Christian Family whose devout charitable peaceable and humble lives and conversation could not chuse but recommend the Religion which they professed 10. Particularly Queen Aldiberga had among her own Ancestors a worthy pattern to imitate which was her Great Aunt Saint Clotilda by whose prayers and exhortations her husband Clodoveus King of the Franks was powerfully moved to relinquish Idolatry and with his whole Nation to embrace Christianity as Baronius declares Now though Aldiberga's exhortations did not produce so ample an effect on her husband King Ethelberts mind yet that she effectually concurred to dispose him to hearken to Divine Truth when represented by one employd from a greater authority and enabled more powerfully to confirm it seems sufficiently clear from severall passages of Saint Gregories letter to her in the close whereof he seems to wonder that she had not long before enclined her husbands mind to follow that Faith which the professed And however he testifies that after Saint Augustins coming her diligence and zeale was extraordinary in consideration of which he uses this expression We gave thanks to Almighty God who in mercy has vouchsafed to reserve the Conversion of the English Nation for your merit and reward 11. And it is observable that oftimes in this age God was pleased to use that infirm Sexe in the great work of planting his Faith in severall kingdoms Thus four years before this by Queen Theodolinda the Longobards who were Pagans or Artans were brought into the bosome of the Catholick Church And not twenty years before that Ingundis daughter of Sigebert King of the Franks and Aunt to this Queen Aldiberga was an instrument of converting her husband the Spanish Prince S. Hermenegild from Arianism who became a glorious Martyr II. CHAP. 1.2.3 The first Missioners Names they were Monks 4.5 c. Whether Benedictins or Equitians 16. Whether the Brittish Monks were of the Egyptian Institut 1. THE notice which Saint Gregory had of the good inclination which King Ethelbert and his Saxons had to hearken to the Word of life in all probability came from his Queen And this no doubt encouraged him to hasten thither a Mission of devout and zealous Preists whom he chose out of his own Monastery Ad clivum Scauri Religious men well known by him to be eminent for learning and piety These he instructed with good admonitions and having furnished them with Letters of recommendation to Princes Bishops through whose territories they were to passe to be assistant to them in so holy a Work he dismissed them with spirituall authority to preach the Gospell particularly advising them in their passage through France to adjoyn to their company such as might be helpfull to them by their knowledge of the manners and language of the Saxons little differing from that of the Franks lately converted to Christianity 2. What the Names were of these first Missioners is not agreed on among our Modern Historians Baronius affirms that the principall of them were Augustin and Mellitus Others to Mellitus adjoyn Iustus and Iohn But they have not well distinguished times for a Second Mission four years after this was destined by Saint Gregory into Brittany to assist and cooperate with Saint Augustin when the number of Converts was multiplied and on that ground the names of the Missioners are confounded But Saint Beda sayes expressly that Mellitus a Roman Abbot went not at first with Saint Augustin but was sent afterward for supply and with him Paulinus and Ruffinianus In our authentick Records therefore we find onely these Missioners named at the first Delegation Augustin Laurence Peter and Iohn 3. That these first Preachers of Christianity among the Saxons in Brittany were Religious Monks in all regards the Predecessours of those which about a thousand years after were violently deprived of their Monasteries their countrey and many of them their lives also for continuing in the same Faith and a Profession of the like austerity of Discipline which they had from the beginning been taught is a truth so manifest in all our Records that only Passion can question it 4. But whether these Religious persons were peculiarly of the Family of Saint Benedict has of late been made a question Cardinal Baronius was the first who denyed it and his principall reason is because Saint Gregory out of whose Monastery they came assumed an Abbot to govern the same Monastery not from Mount Cassin where Saint Benedict had established his principall Convent but out of the Province of Valeria and schoole of S. Equitius 5. To clear this matter in which some partiall minds are willing to frame a difficulty wee are to take notice that in those more ancient and devout times the Masters and Instructours in a Monasticall life did utterly neglect the continuance and eternity of their names their principal and onely care being employed in cultivating the soules of their Disciples and purifying their affections Hence it came to passe that the Professours of a Solitary austere life under what Master soever were simply called Monks without any addition of the title or name of their prime Institutour Thus here in Brittany though Saint Patrick Saint Columba Saint Columban Saint David Saint Brindan and others had gathered many families of Religious men yet none of these or their Successours did distinctly call themselves by the names of their Masters or factiously pretend to any advantage or honour from being descended from any of those Saints So it was then in Italy and elsewhere And therefore no wonder if in Saint Gregories or long after in Saint Beda's Writings we find not the names of Benedictins Equitians c. 6. Moreover though most of the foresaid Institutours of Monks did no doubt prescribe certain Laws and Rules by which their Disciples were to be directed so we read that Saint Brindan received a Rule by an Angel dictating it Yet those Laws were not published nor known out of their particular Convents neither did they extend beyond the generall duties and exercises of their Religious Subjects very many things being reserved to the iudgement discretion and will of the Abbots Whereas Saint Benedict no doubt by a speciall direction of Gods Spirit composed an entire and perfect Rule comprehending the whole duty both of Superiours and Subjects and obliging both to conformity as well in the order of reciting the Ecclesiasticall Office and Psalmody as the duties of each respective Officer the managing of the Convents revenews the prescribed times of refection of working reading silence sleep c. Which Rule for the excellency and perfection of it became in a short time publickly known admited and generally accepted 6. Which generall admission of Saint Benedicts Rule among the professours of a Coenobiticall life found little or no difficulty after the said Rule had not only been highly commended in the Writings of so holy
in his leggs that he was not able to walk or stand And fifteen years did he remain in this infirmity 6. By this Miracle the Sanctity of the Holy Bishop was approved whereupon his Sacred body was translated to the Monastery of Ramsey on the fourth of the Ides of Iune To whose honour the Abbot Ednothus built a Church in which he placed his Tomb after such a manner that half of it appeared within and half without the wall to the end that a fountain of water which flowed thence might be ready for the use of every one who came in devotion whether the Church was shutt or not Which Water by the merits of the Holy Bishop had the vertue to cure many diseases 7. One great Miracle wrought there shall not be omitted because the Relatour protests himself an eye-witnes of it I my self saw saith Malmsburiensis what I shall now relate A certain Monk languished a long time with a Dropsy His skin was strangely swelled and his breath so noysom that none could approach him and his drouth was so excessive that he thought he could drink whole barrells On a time by an admonition received in sleep he went to Saint Ivo's Monument where after he had taken onely three draughts of the water he cast up all the superfluous humours within him The swelling of his belly presently fell and his thighs lost their former withered leannes In a word he was restored to perfect health 8. As for the Abbot Ednothus though the infirmity and pain in his leggs continued till his death yet for a sign that his fault was pardoned Seaven days before he dyed the Holy Bishop Ivo appeared to him in great glory and said The time is now at hand when thou shalt perceive that the pains I have inflicted on thee will prove a remedy to procure thee eternall rest Prepare thy self therefore for seaven days hence I will come and deliver thee from the prison of thy body And it fell out accordingly X. CHAP. 1.2 c. The Gests of S. Paul de Leon. 1. THE same year likewise is mark'd with the happy death of S. Paul a kinsman of S. Sampson Bishop of Dâ—le Concerning whom we read in the Gallican Martyrologe publish'd by Andrew Saussay that he was one of the Companions of S. Sampson That his Fathers name was Perfius and that he was a Scholler to S. Iltutus both in wit and innocence excelling all his companions Being very young he was prevented with many Graces of Gods holy Spirit and thereupon fearing least he should be tempted with vain glory at the age of fifteen he retir'd into a desart where building for himself an Oratory and a Cell he lead there an Angelicall life Thus growing every day more rich in merits when he was arrived at mature age he was compelled to accept the dignity of Preistly Office which he adorned with the splendour of his Sanctity The fame whereof being spread abroad he was sent for by King Margus probably the same with Malgus or Maglocunus whom together with his people he more perfectly instructed in the Mysteries of Christian Faith to which they had lately been converted 2. After some time by the admonition of an Angel he retired into an Island on the Coast of Lesser Brittany called Ossa where he brought many Infidels to the heavenly Light of the Gospell Where likewise by divine vertue he slew a monstrous Dragon After which the Prince of that Region called Vintrurus or Withurus offred him a Bishoprick which he with a resolute humility refused Notwithstanding he was with a pious fraud circumvented by him For being sent upon certain pretended affairs to Childebert King of the Franks he caried with him private letters desiring the King to ratify his Election to the Bishoprick The King received him with great reverence but withall compelled him to accept the Bishoprick which he had refused to which he was Canonically ordained by three Bishops The See of his Bishoprick was by the Kings decree seeled at Leon to which he was wellcomed by all the people with wonderfull ioy And this sublime Office he administred with admirable sanctity and Pastorall prudence to his death His sacred body many years after was thence translated by his Successour Mabbo to the Monastery of Fleury by occasion of the incursions of the Normans where it was a long time held in great veneration 3. The Authour of his life in the Bibliotheque of Fleury relates how he quitted his Bishoprick three severall times but was forced to resume it upon the death of his Successours But at last when his strength was even quite spent he ordained one of his Brethren named Cetomerin Bishop in his place a certain Noble Prince called Induael being present who came thither to recommend himself to his prayers And this being performed he retired himself into an Island called Batha where he spent many years governing a great Congregation of Monks and at last happily concluded his life being more then a hundred years old His Church is from him to this day called Saint Paul de Leon. 4. We read in Capgrave how this S. Paul on a time visiting a sister of his who devoutly served God in a Cell seated near the Sea on the Brittish shore at her request he obtained of God by his prayers that the Sea should never swell beyond the bounds marked by her by placing a row of stones By which means the sea was restrained the space of a mile from his usuall course and continues so to this day XI CHAP. i. 2 c. S. Gregory sends new Missioners with Letters and presents to severall persons 1. THE Messengers sent by S. Augustin to Rome stayd there a full year which delay it seems was caused by the difficulty of finding a sufficient number of able lobourers to cultivate our Lords Vineyard in Brittany At length in the year of Grace six hundred and one Laurence and Peter return'd accompanied with twelve others to assist them in the founding of the Saxon Church in our Island the principal of whom were Mellitus Iustus Paulinus and Ruffintanus all of them Monks and Brethren of the same Institut with S. Augustin 2. These devout Missioners were as the former by S. Gregory recommended to Princes and Bishops residing in the Citties through which they were to passe or were not far distant from their way One Letter exemplified in severall Copies he directed to Serenus Bishop of Marseilles to Mennas Bishop of Tholouse to Lupus Bishop of Chaillon on the Saone to Agilius Bishop of Mets and to Simplicius Bishop of Paris all whom he entreated to assist these Religious Monks with their charity that they might not be hindred from a quick dispatoh of their iourney so beneficiall to the Church of Christ. 3. Another letter was written by Saint Gregory to Siagrius Bishop of Autun in which he highly extolls his kindnes exhibited lately to S. Augustin desiring the like
celebration of Easter consisted But we doe not find their particular defect in administring the Sacrament of Baptism Certain it is notwithstanding that they did not celebrate it so nakedly destitute of solemne Rites as it is of late in the Churches which call themselves Reform'd For besides the sign of the Crosse without which no Sacrament is administred saith S. Augustin they used Holy Chrism the benediction of Water and salt c. Most probable therfore it is that the like defects were in practise among them which are complaind of by S. Leo in his Decretal Epistle to wit the celebrating of it without necessity out of the solemn times prescrib'd by the Church Easter Whitsontide c. or without sufficient previous instructions for want of which the Exorcisms and imposition of hands on persons of age converted would want their due effect But concerning this matter for want of light from Antiquity we can onely give coniectures 8. These most equall conditions of brotherly affection and Vnity were reiected by the Brittains For saith S. Beda Their answer was that they would not doe any one of these things Neither would they receive him for their Arch-bishop This latter clause of their Answer proceeded meerly from the spirit of faction in them since the receiving him for Arch-bishop was not included in the conditions of Vnion nor so much as proposed by Saint Augustin Which ill spirit is denoted by the following words of the same Authour For conferring among themselves they said If he would not vouchsafe euen now to rise out of his seat in civility to us how much more will he contemne us in case we begin to yeild subiection to him 9. The Brittains therefore obstinatly refusing compliance in every thing the Treaty between them necessarily ended But before the dissolution of the Assembly Saint Augustin by inspiration from God prophecied a heavy iudgement shortly to befall them for their uncharitablenes The man of God Augustin saith S. Beda is reported to have foretold the Brittains by way of threatning That since they would not accept of peace with their brethren they should receive war from their Enemies And since they refused to preach the way of life to the English Nation they should by the hands of the same Nation suffer no lesse a revenge then death Which Prophecy of his in all the circumstances of it was through the just iudgement of God fulfilled upon them The manner how this came to passe shall in its due place be related where likewise we will clear S. Augustin from a most horrible calumny imputed to him as if by his impulsion many thousands of Religious Monks were murdred XX. CHAP. 1.2 c. Sebert King of the East Saxons converted 4 5. c. The Church and Monastery of Westminster built 7.8 c. The wonderfull consecration of it by S. Peter attested by Authours of eminent credit 1. THIS Synod of Worcester as some call it being thus ended without producing any good effect the minds of both parties being rather far more exulcerated S. Augustin returned into Kent where he laboured diligently in propagating the Gospell Neither were his endeavours in vain on the contrary Almighty God to shew that the uncharitablenes of the Brittains could not prejudice his designs of good to the Saxons so wonderfully exalted his Divine Truth among those Pagans and so depressed the Brittains that the words of our Saviour may seem to have been fullfilled in them The Kingdom of God shall be taken from you and given to a Nation bringing forth the fruits thereof For from the Brittish Churches which hitherto had with so much devotion and gratitude honoured the Apostolick See but now rejected it scarce any thing memorable is afforded to furnish our Ecclesiasticall Story Whereas every year almost will suggest new matter to glorify God in the heroically Christian actions of Saxon Princes the sanctity of Bishops and the wonders which God wrought for the testifying of both 2. In the next confining Kingdom to Kent divided from it by the River Thames raigned a Prince called Sigibert or Sebert or Saberet King of the East-Saxons whose Father had married Ricula the only Sister of King Ethelbert This Prince moved either by the authority of his Vncle or the admiration of the Sanctity of Saint Augustin and his comâ—panions signified his desire to be instructed in Christian Religion Whereupon Saint Augustin readily sent him Preachers who found little difficulty in perswading him to relinquish his Idolatry and embrace the Faith of Christ. 3. Presently after Saint Augustin himself repaired to him and administred the first Sacrament of Baptism to King Sebert and his Queen Ethelgoda And many of his Subject following his example gave up their names to Christ insomuch as Saint Augustin for the government of this New Church consecrated Mellitus the Roman Abbot sent him by Saint Gregory Bishop of London That these things hapned this year presently after the Synod of Worcester Saint Beda is witnes as likewise an ancient Historian named Iohn Fleet whose words are these King Sebert having been baptised by Saint Augustin in the Western part of London demolished a certain Idoll-Temple dedicated to Apollo in a place called Thorney and in the room thereof built a Church to the honour of God and Saint Peter which he recommended to Saint Mellitus to be by him consecrated 4. Others refer the foundation of this Church to King Ethelbert whose Tributary not only King Sebert was but all other Saxon Kings as far as the River of Humber by the testimony of Saint Beda But in the Charter of King Edgar afterwards granted to this Church of Westminster it is more properly said to have been built by Sebert a very rich Prince on the perswasion of Ethelbert the first English Christian King And in the same Charter the place where it was built called Thorney is said to have been a terrible place probably not so much for the Savage rudenes of it as because wicked Spirits formerly worshipped in Apollo's Temple had possession of it 5. To this Church of Saint Peter the Holy Bishop Saint Mellitus adioyned a Monasterâ— being admonished to doe so as the fame is by S. Peter himself saith William of Malmsbury Indeed in these ancient times scarce any illustrious Churches were built without a Congregation of Monks to attend Divine Service there A mark whereof remains to this day for our Cathedrall Churches are vulgarly called Ministers or Monasteries And this was according to the advice given to Saint Augustin by Pope Gregory to institute in his Churches a conversation of religious persons like that in the primitive Church of Ierusalem in which none accounted those things which he possessed his own but all things were common among them as hath been declared already from S. Beda 6. How this Church was consecrated immediatly and miraculously by S. Peter himself though my intention is to be modest in recounting such wonders I
will adventure to declare from an Ancient Writer Ealred Abbot of Rievall But because such things seem dreams to Protestants for mine own iustification or at least excuse I conceive fit to premise That the Tradition of this wonder has been confirmd moreover by Sulcard in his Chronicle of Westminster by William of Malmsbury in his second Book of English Bishops by Richard of Cicester in his Annals Yea moreover by other Witnesses of higher rank and authority Saint Edward the Confessour in his Charter given to that Church nine days before his death in the year of Grace one thousand sixty six and before him by King Edgar repairer of the same Church in his Charter dated in the year nine hundred sixty nine and lastly by Pope Nicholas the second in his Rescript to King Edward 7. The Narration of the foresaid Abbot Ealred in his life of S. Edward touching this Miracle is as followeth In the time when King Ethelred by the Preaching of Saint Augustin embraced the Faith of Christ his Nephew Sibert who governed the East-Angles rather East-Saxons by the same Holy Bishops Ministery also received the same Faith This Prince built one Church within the walls of London the principall Citty of the Kingdom where he honourably placed Mellâ—tus Bishop of the same Citty Without the walls likewise toward the West he founded a famous Monastery to the honour of S. Peter and endowd it with many possessions Now on the night before the day design'd for the dedication of this Church the Blessed Apostle S. Peter appearing to a certain Fisherman in the habit of a stranger on the other side of the River of Thames which flows beside this Monastery demanded to be wafted over which was done Being gone out of the boat he entred into the Church in the sight of the Fisherman And presently a heavenly light shone so clear that it turnd the night into day There was with the Apostle a multitude of heavenly Cittizens coming out and going into the Church a divine melody sounded and an odour of unexpressible fragrancy was shed abroad Assoon as all things pertaining to the Dedication of the Church were perform'd the glorious Fisher of men returnd to the pooâ— Fisherman who was so affrighted with his Divine splendour that he almost lost his senses But Saint Peter kindly comforting him brought him to himself Thus both of them entring into the Boat Saint Peter asked him if he had any provision Who answerd that partly being stupified with seeing so great a light and partly detaind by his return he had taken nothing being withall assured of a good reward from him Hereto the Apostle replied Let down thy Netts The Fisherman obeyd and immediatly the Nett was filld with a multitude of fishes They were all of the same kind except one Salmon Esocium of a wonderfull largenes Having then drawn them to shore Saint Peter sayd Cary from mee this gâ—eat Fish to Mellitus the Bishop and all the rest take for thy hire and moreover be assured that both thou all thy life time and thy children after thee for many years shall be plentifully furnish'd with these kinds of fishes Onely be carefull you fish not on our Lords days I who speak now with thee am Peter and I my self have dedicated this Church built to my fellow-cittizens and to my honour so preventing by mine own authority the Episcopall Benediction Acquaint the Bishop therfore with the things which thou hast seen and heard and the signs yet marked on the walls will confirm thy speeches Let him therefore surcease from his design of consecrating the Church and only supply what I have omitted the celebration of the Mystery of our Lords Body and Blood and the instruction of the people Let him likewise give notice to all that I my self will oftimes visit this place and be present at the prayers of the faithfull and I will open the gates of heaven to all who live soberly iustly and piously in this world As soon as he had sayd this he presently vanish'd from his sight 8. The next morning as the Bishop Mellitus was going in procession to the Church with an intention to dedicate it the Fisher-man mett him with the Fish and related to him whatsoever Saint Peter had enioynd him At which the Bishop was astonish'd and having unlock'd the Church-dores he saw the pavement mark'd with Letters and inscriptions both in Greek and Latin and the wall annointed in twelve severall places with holy Oyle He saw likewise the remainders of twelve torches sticking to as many Crosses and the Church every where yet moyst with aspersions All which being observ'd by the Bishop and people present they rendred praises and thanks to Almighty God 9. A further testimony and proof to this Miracle is afforded by the whole progeny of that Fisherman For his children according to the command receiv'd from their Father brought the tythes of all their gains by fishing and offred them to Saint Peter and the Preists attending Divine service in his Church But one among them having presum'd to defraud the Church of this Oblation presently was deprived of the wonted benefit of his trade till having confess'd his fault and restord what he had reserv'd he promis'd amendment for the future Thus wrote Ealred above five hundred years since The summ wherof was delivered some what before him by William of Malmsbury who adds this particular That the Fisherman who was very simple and as yet not a Christian described to the Bishop very exactly the shape and line aments of Saint Peter well known to the Bishop by his Picture publickly extant at Rome which long before this S. Silvester shewd to the Emperour Constantin 10. The beleif of this miraculous Story was the cause that this Church was wonderfully enrich'd by following Princes as King Offa and Kenulph mentiond in the fore nam'd Charter of King Edgar And for the same reason it was chosen anciently for the place of the inauguration of our Kings And a proof full of evidence demonstrating the Truth here related was S. Mellitus his forbearing to repeat the Ceremonies of the Dedication which by certain signs he perceived to have been performed before And moreover because going awhile after to Rome he related these particulars to a Synod there assembled and demanded their advice whether any more was to be done to the Consecration of the same Church These particulars being related by our Authours of the prime Classe it argues a great contempt of the authority of our Ancestors in Protestants who without any proof from Antiquity will confidently proscribe such Traditions as dreams and fables XXI CHAP. i. 2 c. The Church of S. Paul in London built and endowed 1. THE same year in the same Citty of London and by the piety of the same King Sebert another Noble Church was erected in the midst of the Citty to the honour of the other Prince of the Apostles Saint Paul Yet some Writers
stole or by fraud usurped any thing belonging to the Church to Bishops or other Ecclesiasticks of inferiour degrees For his desire was to give his protection especially to those whom he had so reverently received and whose Doctrine he had embraced 2. What those Decrees and Forms of Iudgments were may be seen in that celebrated Manuscript called the Text of Rochester which in the days of King Henry the first was composâ—d by Enulphus Bishop of that Citty under this Title These are the Decrees or Iudgements which King Ethelbert constituted in the life time of Saint Augustin Here I will sett down onely such Laws as regard the Church and which Saint Beda seems to mention The which have been brought by Sir H. Spelman into the first Tome of English Councils and expressed both in the Saxon and Latin tongues The sence of them here follows 3. Whosoever shall uniustly take away any thing belonging to God and the Church shall make satisfaction by a twelve-fold restitution If such things belong to a Bishop he shall restore eleaven fold If to a Preist nine fold If to a Deacon six fold If to an inferiour Clark three fold If the peace of the Church shall be violated by any one let satisfaction be made by paying double and the like for disturbing the peace of a Monk If when the King shall call an Assembly of his people and any iniury shall be offred them the Offender shall restore double and moreover pay to the King fifty shillings Solidos If when the King shall be entertained in any house any dammage shall be done there let it be recompenced double c. 4. Besides these saith the same Sir H. Spelman in his Annotations to these Decrees there follow many other Laws pertaining to honesty of life and correction of manners but these are all which regard the Church The precise time when these Decrees were published does not appear but as the Title declares they were made whilst Saint Augustin was alive and as the care of the Church manifests they were published after King Ethelberts conversion XXVI CHAP. i S. Augustin ordains S. Laurence his Successour 2.3 c. His Bull confirming the Monastery of Canterbury suspected 1. THERE is among our Historians great variety of iudgments touching the number of years spent by Saint Augustin in Brittany and in what year he dyed Those who place his death in the third year of this Century as Iohn Stow or in the fourth as Baronius endeavours to collect from Saint Beda doe too-much hasten his end For the Charters of King Ethelbert before mentioned declare that he was alive in the fifth year On the other side those prolong his life too-much who affirm that he dyed not till the year of Grace six hundred and fifteen as some Authours quoted by F. Reyner in his Apostolatus or thirteen as Sir Henry Savill in his Chronologicall Fasts or twelve as Malmsburiensis or eleaven as Polydor Virgil For Pope Boniface in his Letters dated six hundred and ten does suppose him dead Therefore in such variety of opinions Sigebert and Mathew of Westminster most probably place his death in the year of Grace six hundred and eight 2. A little before his death Saint Augustin consecrated Laurence a Bishop designing him his Successour in the Archiepiscopall See Which he did after the example of many former holy Bishops who upon their view of death approaching relinquishing the care of others attended devoutly to the contemplation of that one necessary thing This same passage is thus related by Saint Beda Laurence succeeded Saint Augustin having been ordained Bishop by him whilst he was yet alive out of an apprehension least after his death the State of the Church as yet tender being destitute of a Pastour though but foâ— a moment shâ—uld begin to falter And herein he followed the Example of the Prime Pastour of Gods Church namely Saint Peter Prince of the Apostles who having founded the Church of Christ at Rome is reported to have made Saint Clement his Coadjutour in preaching the Gospell and consecrated him his Successour 3. The last publick Act attributed to Saint Augustin was the Confirming by a Solemne Bull all the Rights and Priviledges of his Beloved Monastery of Saint Peter and Saint Paul exempting it from all Episcopall Iurisdiction from all tribute servitude c. Prohibiting all Bishops to say Masses exercise Ordinations or Consecrations c. as by their own authority or Iurisdiction in that place deputed for the Treasury of Saints and burying place of succeeding Arch-bishops and Princes And assigning the Election of Abbots to the free Suffrages of the Monks c. All which Priviledges he confirmed with a denunciation of eternall damnation to transgeessours of them by the authority of Saint Peter and his Vicar the Bishop of Rome Saint Gregory This Bull was published in the presence and with the approbation of King Ethelbert his Son Eadbald all the Nobility of the Kingdom his Successour Laurence Mellitus Bishop of London Iustus Bishop of Rochester and Peter the Abbot and Monks of the same Monastery 4 To which Bull there was appended a Seale of Lead Neither is it a wonder saith the Transcriber of the said Bull that Saint Augustin being a Roman an Apostle of the English Nation and a Legat of the Apostolick See indued with a plenary Authority to erect Bishopricks and consecrate Bishops all which were to be subject to him should have the power and right to make use of a leaden Seale Though for the space of five hundred years the like priviledge was not afterward granted to any of our Bishops 5. Notwithstanding Sir H. Spelman not unreasonably suspects this not to be a genuine Bull because the fabrick of the Seale expresses not so great antiquity and the Sculpture of it more elegant then suited with that age likewise the Image of our Saviour and the form of a Church engraved in it ressembles the exactnes almost of these later times Moreover the Letters of the Inscription are such as were used in far later ages about the raign of King Henry the second or Richard the first And lastly the Seal is appended to the Bull not after the Roman fashion with a Chord of Silk but with a Skrole of parchmin after the Norman custom To these we may add that by mentioning in the same Writing together both Laurence his Successour and Peter the Abbot who was drowned above a year before that designation of a Successour the order of times is manifestly crofounded and the authority of the Bull prejudiced 6. However that most of these Priviviledges were even from the beginning conferred on that Monastery yea by Saint Augustin himself in vertue of a delegated authority from the See Apostolick though the simplicity of that age did not need such Legall Instruments and formall clauses the constant Tradition of that age doth justify Which Priviledges in succeeding times were frequently ratified by following Popes
into a formed Schism as Baronius suspects and others who make mention of an Interdict imposed by S. Gregory on the publick Schooles in Brittany of which no ground can be found in our ancient Writers But why this Letter should be written to the Brittish Preists and not their Bishops it does not appear 7. The same Saint Beda discoursing of the pious industry of our Holy Bishop in promoting Vnity thus concludes How much good he wrought by these his endeavours and labours the present times declare By which expression he implies that the ceasing of those Controversies which in S. Beda's time were quite silenced was much to be imputed to the care and industry of S. Laurence For we shall see him shortly not contenting himself with writing letters but undertaking a voyage into Ireland c. to promote Ecclesiasticall Vnity and that with good successe II. CHAP. i. 2 c. S. Mellitus his iourney to Rome touching Monks that they might have a power of Elections And to know whether they might be employed in Pastorall Functions c. 1. THere is extant in Sir Henry Spelman the Copy of a third Charter of King Ethelbert by which he gave to the Monastery of S. Peter and S. Paul a village named Sturigaâ— otherwise Cistelet together with many other precious Gifts all which he offred for the redemption of his soule and out of hope of eternall retribution Adding that in the same Church he provided a place of buriall for himself and Successours hoping that he should be loosed from the chains of his sins and conducted into the gate of eternall happines by the Prince of the Apostles to whom our Lord delivered the Keyes of heaven giving him the power of binding and loosing c. Which Charter is dated the year six hundred and ten which was the fiftieth year of the same Kings raign 2. At the same time saith S. Beda Mellitus Bishop of London went to Rome there to treat with Pope Boniface about affairs nearly concerning the English Church Being arrived the Pope assembled a Synod of the Bishops of Italy with an intention to make ordinances concerning the life and secure quietnes of Monks In which Synod Mellitus sate among the Italian Bishops and by his authority subscribed and confirmed the Decrees regularly ordained which at his return into Brittany he caried with him that they might be observed there The same Pope likewise wrote Epistles to the Holy Arch-bishop Laurence and to the Clergy as also to King Ethelbert and the English Nation This Synod was celebrated in the eighth year of the Empire of Phâ—cas and the thirteenth Indiction 3. In this Narration we find insinuated the principall Motive of Mellitus his iourney to Rome which was to provide for the life and quiet of Monks Which will more manifestly appear by Pope Bonifacius his Letters to the King and Arch-bishop but especially by a Decree of the said Pope 4. There were two speciall Points concerning Monasticall Institution the clearing of which did much concern the present State of the English Church the first was a care to make them immortall by a succession by permitting the present Monks to chuse and assume into the same Profession such among the Brittains as they found well disposed thereto This permission and power King Ethelbert by Mellitus desired to be confirmed by the Pope which he easily obtained as appears by Bonifacius his answer extant in a Letter of Pope Alexander many ages after written to S. Lanfranc Arch-bishop of Canterbury in which we read this passage extracted out of it That which thou O glorious Son hast desired of the Apostolick See by our Fellow-bishop Mellitus we willingly grant and by our Apostolick authority decree namely that your Royal benignity may appoint an habitation of Monks living regularly and that the present Monks who were the Preachers of Salvation to you may associate to themselves a congregation of Monks and adorn them with holy Instituts in the Monastery which your Holy Doctour Augustin the Disciple of Gregory of Blessed Memory did consecrate in the Citty of Canterbury to the Name of our Holy Saviour in which at present our beloved Brother Laurence is Prelat This our present Decree if any of your Successours Kings or Bishops c. shall attempt to make voyd let him be subject to Anathema c. This part of Pope Bonifacius his Letter is recited out of Pope Alexanders by Eadmer the Monk and the entire Letter is extant in the Annals of Peterborough 5. The other Point seems to have been touching the employing of Monks in the Office of preaching administring Sacraments and other Pastorall Dutyes which some thought improper for Monks who are obliged to Solitude But this Controversy had been before decided by S. Gregory in his employing onely Monks in the English Mission and was confirmed by Pope Boniface the fourth in a Solemne Decree by which he declares from the Examples of S Martin S. Gregory and the late S. Augustin that the power of binding and loosing may worthily be administred by Monks Neither saith he did S. Benedict the glorious Institutour of Monkes in his Rule forbid this but only commanded them to abstain from secular affairs Which last Clause strongly proves against Baronius that S. Augustin Saint Laurence S. Mellitus S. Iustus and the rest yea S. Gregory also were Disciples of S. Benedict and subject to his Rule The Summe of this Decree is referr'd into the Canon Law by Gratian Cap. Sunt nonnulli 16. q. 1. And other authorities added froÌ„ whence he concludes thus By all these authorities it is clearly demonstrated that Monks may lawfully give Pennance baptise and administer other Preistly Offices 6. If the Acts of this Roman Synod had not been lost we should no doubt have read their judgment touching the Consecration of the Church of Westminster performed as hath been declared by S. Peter himself But the result of it appears by what William of Malmsbury writes It is believed saith he that the Mystery of its Consecration was never repeated which was shewd to have been perfected by so many Candles lighted in the Church Crosses made Holy Water sprinckled and marks of Sacred Oyle in the due places Human diligence therefore gave place to an Office divinely administred prophetically declaring how illustrious that Church and Monastery would prove in which the Apostle himself exercised the Pontificall Office III. CHAP. 1. Of Saint Golven a Bishop in Lesser Brittany 2. Of S. Baldred or S. Balter 3. S. Mellitus his return from Rome 4 Ceolulf King of the West-Saxons dying Kinegils succeeds 1. THE same year dyed S. Golvin Bishop of Leon in Lesser Brittany who in our Martyrologe is sayd to have been an Englishman But whether thereby be meant a Brittain I cannot define In the Gallican Martyrologe his Commemoration is thus expressed On the first of Iuly at Leon in Armorica under the Arch-bishoprick of Tours is celebrated the Memory of
And when S. Paulin preached among the Northumbers she with others embraced the Faith and received the Sacraments of Christ After which laying aside her Secular Habit desiring to serve our Lord more strictly she went into the Province of the East-angles where she staid a year She had a purpose likewise saith S. Beda to forsake her countrey and all relations and to goe into France there to spend her life as a stranger in the Monastery of Cala thereby to obtaine a perpetuall mansion in heaven For at the same time her Sister Hereswida Mother of Aldulph King of the East-angles had submitted her self to Regular Disciplines expecting a heavenly Crown Desirous therefore to follow her example S. Hilda had a purpose to goe into a strange Countrey but before she could execute that purpose she was recalld by Bishop Aidan into her Countrey of the Northumbers and receiving a place of one family at the North side of the River Wire she with a few companions lived a Monasticall life there another year After which she was made Abbesse in the Monastery calld Heorthu which not long before had been built by the devout handmaid of our Lord Heiu or rather Bega according to Capgrave vulgarly S. Bees who is sayd to have been the first woman in the Province of the Northumbers who took the Habit and Profession of a Nunne by the Benediction of Bishop Aidan But she not long after she had built the Monastery retird to the Citty Calcaria named by the English Calcester vulgarly Tadcaster and there instituted another Mansion 2. S. Hilda therefore being preferd to the government of that Monastery was carefull to establish therin Regular observance in every thing according to the instructions she had received from learned men For both Bishop Aidan and other Religious men who had known her were wont to visit her invited thereto by her wisedom and Love of the service of our Lord for which they bore great affection to her and were diligent to inform her touching Religious Observances 3. After she had governed this Monastery some years she undertook likewise the care of founding and ordaining another Monastery for Religious woemen in which the like Instituts of a Regular life were established the place where this Monastery was built is calld Streanshalc now calld Whitby And there also she taught the perfect observance of Iustice piety chastity and other vertues but principally Peace and Charity So that according to the example of the Primitive Church none were there either rich or poor all things were common to all since none challenged a propriety in any thing For she was a woman of such eminent Prudence that not only men of ordinary condition but Kings and Princes also would sometimes demand and follow her Counsell Such care she had â—o make her subiects diligent in reading Scripture and exercising works of piety that there were very many Ecclesiasticall persons found there very fitt to undertake the Ecclesiasticall degree and Office of the Altar In a word out of that one Monastery we have seen to proceed no fewer then five Bishops all of them men of singular Merits and Sanctity their Names are Bosa Eata Ostfor Iohn and Wilfrid 4. This Monastery of Streneshalch she piously governd till the year of Grace six hundred and eighty in which saith the same S. Beda she passed to our Lord to receive in heaven a reward for many heavenly works wrought upon earth on the fifteenth day before the Calends of December being then Sixty six years old Which time she divided into equall portions living the first thirty three years most nobly in a secular state and the other thirty three far more nobly in Monasticall conversation 5 For her Piety and other excellent vertues illustrious even among persons far distant from her she was generally stiled by the Name of Mother which she made good by being the occasion and instrument of conversion and Salvation to many so fullfilling the dream of her Mother Bregosuid who living in banishmeÌ„t with her husband Hereric under Cerdice King of the Brittains where he dyed by poison she dreamd that she had suddeÌ„ly lost him wherefore seeking him with great solicitude instead of him she found under her garment a most precious chain of Iewells so sparkling that the beams thereof shone through all Brittany Which dream was truly fulâ—filld in this her daughter whose life afforded examples of heavenly light to many persons both near and far removed 6. Before her death she was visited for the space of six years together with sharp and tedious infirmities during all which time she never ceased from praising our Lord for so purifying a tryall of her patience nor from instructing the flock committed to her charge to be diligent in serving and praising God as well in adversity as prosperity In the midst of which exhortations also she ended her life 7. Severall Testimonies our Lord gave of her celestiall happines after death For one of her Religious Sisters in a Monastery thirteen miles distant from thence the same night being wakened with the sound of a Bell like that which called them up to Midnight prayers saw a glorious light and in that light Angels carying S. Hilda's soule to heaven This vision she presently ran to declare to a Holy Virgin named Frigit who in the Abbesses place was Superiour of the Nunnes and the next morning Messengers came to inform them of her death The like vision was communicated to another devout Virgin in the same Monastery where the Holy Abbesse dyed who had then the care of such woemen as coming to conversion were for Probation lodged beyond the bounds of the Enclosure So that this Blessed Virgin Hilda is deservedly placed in the number of Saints in our Martyrologe on the fifteenth of December 8. Neither was it a deminution to her Sanctity that she declared her self in opposition to S. Wilfrid both in the rite of the Paschal Observation and also ioyning in a complaint to the See Apostolick against him as S. Beda testifies and Pope Iohn in his Epistle to King Ethelred in the year seaven hundred and five For it is not to be wondred if a woman should be zealous in maintaining a ceremony received from her Ancestors And we find in Ecclesiasticall Story that S. Athanasius Saint Chrysostom were persecuted not only by impious men but also by some Bishops esteemd for their Sanctity From such exaÌ„ples we learn saith William of Malmsbury the wretched condition of our humane Mortality when we read that men celebrated for their Sanctity by our Forefathers as Theodore Berthwald Iohn Bosa and likewise the Abbesse Hilda with an irreconcileable passion persecuted S. Wilfrid a man most acceptable to God 9. S. Hilda's Successour in the Government of her Monastery was the Royal and Holy Virgin Edelfleda who had been consecrated as an Offring to our Lord by her Father Oswi King of the Northumbers when she was then but a year old
in thankfullnes for his victory obtaind against the bloody King of the Mercians Penda XXII CHAP. 1.2 The Gests of S. Adulf and S. Botulph brethren 1. AT the same time with S. Hilda flourished S. Botulph and his Brother S. Adulph whom erroneously some Writers affirm to have been Scotts who are confuted by the whole contexture of their Lives For thus we read in their Gests recorded by Ioannes Anglicus in Capgrave Before Christian Religion was spread over Brittany the Venerable Fathers Botulph and Adulf born of a Noble family and of a German descent and more strictly linked by charity then blood being very young were initiated in spirituall and celestial exercises For being born of a Saxon stock which conquered Brittany by martiall courage they from their infancy were imbued in the Christian Faith But their parents being rude and unacquainted with the Documents of perfection sent their children five in number to their ancient countrey of Saxony there to learn the Discipline of a holy conversation 2. Thus by mistake writes that Authour for as yet Christianity was not entred into Saxony Therefore in stead of Saxony we are to understand Belgick France whither by S. Beda's testimony our Ancestors in those times usually sent their children to be in 〈◊〉 in more sublime Christian Philosophâ— The same Writer thus prosecutes hiâ— Narratio 3. With this intention the foresaid Fathers paâ—sing the Sea repaired to Monasteries of Holy Religious men desiring coÌ„munication with them to be instructed in the Document of a spirituall life There being imbued with Monastical Instituâ— and disciplines of a more austere life they received the Religious Habit and in a short time Gods Grace became enabled co be Teachers â— Perfection 4. The King therefore hearing the fame of S. Adulphus exalted him to the Government of the Church of Virect in Belgium Who in discharge of that sublime employment was very watchfuâ— and solicitous to prevent the snares and cunning designs of the Devill who like a ravening wâ—l sought the destruction of his flock He was sedulouâ— in works of mercy feeding the poor cloathing the naked correcting those which strayd and comforting the afflicted to the end he might himself obtain the effect of our Lords Promise Blessed are the mercifull for they shall obtain mercy He was instant in fasting watching and prayers He prevented his preaching by his practise and in all things lead a saintlike life 5. In the Gallican Martyrologe he is adorned with this Elogy On the seaventeenth of Iune is celebrated the Memory of S. Adulph Bishop of Vâ—rect who was Brother of S. Botulph and out of Brittany passing with him into France for his eminent endowments and Sanctity of life was raised to that See wherein by his admirable vertues and learning he became a shining light to his flock and at last with a great affluence of merits ended his life or rather being translated by death he passed to a life immortall 6. As for his Venerable Brother S. Botulph by the testimony of the foresaid Authour being well exercised in vertue and holines he resolved to return into England Now there were in the same Monastery where he made his abode two Sisters of Ethelmund a Prince among the Southangles who had been sent thither to be instructed in Monasticall Disciplines They hearing that the Blessed man had a purpose to return to his countrey gave him commissions to be delivered to their Brother Having therefore passed the Sea S. Botulph was honourably received by the said Prince who having heard his Sisters petitions and accepted them granted to the Holy man a place for building a Monastery Now S Botulph did not desire that for his cause any one should be driven out of his hereditary possession but rather that some place unpossessed and uncultivated should be assigned him that there he might build a Church and congregate brethren to serve God by whose pious lives and prayers his Principality might be established in this world and an eternall kingdom prepared for him in the world to come This request the Prince willingly granted whereupon the Venerable Father chose a certain untilled place where none dwelt named Ikanho It was a Wildernes unfrequented by men but possessed by Devills whose phantasticall illusions were to be expelled thence and a Religious conversation of pious men to be introduced that where the Devills fallacies abounded there our Lords Divine Grace might superabound 7. Where this place called Ikanho was seated is now uncertain The Centuriators of Magdeburg from Leland and Bale place it not far from the Citty of Lincoln And indeed in that Province where the River Witham enters the Sea there is a Town called Boston but more truly Botulphs-town for saith Camden it being formerly by Beda called Icanhoe took a new name from Botulph a most holy Saxon. Likewise in Huntingdon-shire there is a town called Bottle-bridge for S. Botulphs-bridge So that it seems in one of these two places S. Botulph built his Monastery 8. The said Authour thus pursues his Narration When he had finished his Monastery like a good shepheard he gathered together his flock whom he diligently taught Apostolick Doctrines and Instituts of the Holy Fathers and whatsoever good Documents he had learnt abroad concerning Monasticall Disciplines those he instilled into the minds and practises of his Monks He was beloved by all for he was free from arrogance being humble mild and affable in all things He was illustrious likewise for many miracles and the gift of Prophecy For sometimes by Divine inspiration he foretold future things as expressly as if they had been passed When he was oppressed with any infirmity he with blessed Iob persisted in thanking God and all his discourse was of matters which might edify and advance the hearers Such was his conversation during his life and in such exercises he attained to a good old age 9. He dyed most happily the same year in which S. Hilda also dyed and was buried in the Monastery which he had built There his Sacred Relicks remained till the Danes invading this Island wasted all Holy places with fire and sword Then by the care of S. Ethelwold they were translated part to the Monastery of Ely and part to that of Thorney The Memory of S. Botulph was elsewhere also celebrated for at London there is a Church dedicated to his honour Hence we read this passage in Capgrave In the Book of the Church of S. Botulph near Aldersgate London there is mention how a part of the Body of S. Botulph was by King Edward of Happy memory conferred on the Church of S. Peter in Westminster His memory is celebrated in our Martyrologe on the sixteenth of May. THE SIXTEENTH BOOK OF THE CHVRCH-HISTORY OF BRITTANY I. CHAPTER 1.2 c. The Mercians Converted and an Episcopall See erected there 5 Ithamar Bishop of Rochester dyes and Damian succeeds 6. The Holy Offspring of Merovald a Prince of the Mercians
1. BY the death of Penda King of the Mercians that Kingdom â—ogether with that of the East-Angles whose Kings he had slain became an accession to the Dominions of the Victorious Oswi King of the Northumbers Notwithstanding in the year of Grace six hundred fifty six he permitted Peoda the Son of Penda on whom he had bestowd his daughter Alefleda to raign over the Southern Mercians and likewise Edelwald the Brother of Ethelhere to govern the East-Angles 2. By this indulgence of King Oswi the Christian Faith became spread through severall Provinces For he built many Churches and Monasteries in the Kingdom of the Mercians among which the principall was that which was founded in an Island called the Isle of the Hart in which as a testimony of gratitude to God for his Victory he enclosed his daughter So that within the space of two years the Mercians following his example were converted to the Faith and baptised 3. And for a firmer establishment of Christianity among them he erected an Episcopall See common to the Mercians and Midland Angli in the Citty of Lichfeâ—ld saith Bishop Godwin Though more probable it is that as yet there was no certain place affixed for the Bishops residence For severall years after this we read how Wuifer King of the Mercians offred Lichfeild to S. Wilfrid that he might there either build a Monastery or erect an Episcopall See The first Bishop of the Mercians was Diuma a Scottish Preist of whom we have already made mention 4. This is testified by S Beda in this passage When Oswi the most Christian King of the Northumbers having slain King Penda took possession of his Kingdom Diuma one of the four forementioned Preists was ordainen Bishop both of the Midland Angli and Mercians by Fâ—nan Bishop of Lindisfarn For by reason of the Scarcenes of Preists they were compelled to sett one Bishop over two Nations Now Diuma having in a short time converted great multitudes dyed To whom in the year of Grace six hundred fifty eight succeeded Cellach who was likewise a Scotch-man Who after he had a few years governed that Province voluntarily relinquished his Bishoprick and returned to his Native countrey the Island of Hu or Hy. 5. At this time Ithamar who had succeeded S. Paulinus in the Episcopall See of Rochester dyed He was not inferiour to his Predecessours in Sanctity and learning saith Harpsfeild who adds That many years after his death by reason of frequent Miracles wrought by his intercession his Body was translated to a more honourable place Which translation was made on the fourth day before the Ides of Ianuary on which day his Anniversary Solemnity is celebrated in the Church of Rochester In our Martyrologe his Commemoration is made on the Tenth of Iune which was the day of his death And his Successour was Damian descended of the South-Saxons saith S. Beda 6. This year Merevald a Prince among the Mercians built a Monastery for Religious Virgins at a Town called Lemster in the Province of Hereford He is said to have been the Son of Penda and Brother of Peoda and of his Successour Wolfer Kings of the Mercians But he is more illustrious by his Holy Offspring his son Merefin and his daughters Milburga Mildreda and Milgitha born to him by his Wife S. Ermenburga â— King Peoda likewise the Son of Penda first King of the Mercians this same year for propagating Christian Religion layd the foundation of the Mâ—nastery of Medeshampsted in the Region of the Girvians or Northamptonshire But having been the next year slain by the treason of his Wife Alcfleda the naturall daughter of Oswi King of the Northumbers he could not perfect it Thus writes Camden from Robert Swapham an ancient Authour And Ingulphus adds That he left his fervour and devotion to his Brother Wulfer his Successour in that Kingdom and to Saxulph a man of great power there who finished the said Monastery eight years after The place anciently called Medeshampsted afterward took the name of Peterborough illustrious in regard of this Monastery II. CHAP. 1.2.3 The Brittains overthrown by the King of the West-Saxons 1. IN the year of Grace six hundred fifty eight the Brittains received a great overthrow from Kenewalch King of the West-Saxons which is thus described by Huntingdon Cenwald so he calls him King of the West-Saxons in the seaventeenth year of his raign fought against the Brittains at Pennum For they knowing that he had been overcome by the stouâ— King Penda and almost driven out of his kingdom imagined that he was unable to sustain the burden of a battell Whereupon having gathered a numerous army they with great pride invaded his Dominions At the beginning of the fight the Brittains feircely setting on the Saxons made them give ground But the Saxons with great courage and constancy resisting them for they preferred death before flying at last so wearied the Brittains that their forces melted away like snow so that they turned their backs to the pursuers and fled from Pennum as far as Pedredan The wound which the Progeny of Brutus received this day was incurable 2. The place where this battell was sought was an obscure Village in Somersetshire at this day called Pen but anciently famous for this Victory over the Brittains and another which in after ages King Edmond Ironside gaind there against the Danes From thence the Brittains fled to the River Pedreâ— now called Parret where was seated the town called by the Saxons Pedridan but now Pederton and it was sometimes the Royal Seat of Ina King of the West-Saxons 3. After this combat and Victory the Saxons became so terrible to the Brittains that they never afterward descended from their mountains to encounter them Besides this their State became divided among severall petty Princes each of which sought to secure and enlarge his own territory so that they never combind in any generall design against the Saxons or English III. CHAP. 1.2 Wolfer King of the Mercians His wife S. Erminilda Trumhere Bishop of the Mercians 1. KING Peoda as hath been declared having been slain by the treachery of his Wife in the time of the Paschall Solemnity that Kingdom of the Southern Mercians returned to the Dominion of King Oswi But three years after the Princes of the Nation of the Mercians rebelled against him their names were Immin Eaba and Eadbert These exalted to the throne Wulfer the Son of Penda then a young man whom they had preserved and kept conceald among them And so with their new King they ioyfully persevered in Profession of Christianity 2. The wife of this King Wulfer was S. Erminilda Whose parents were Ercombert King of Kent and S. Sexburga By their pious instructions she became so zealous in promoting the Christian faith that by her perswasions kindnes and holy example that perverse and rude Nation of the Mercians was brought
that the building was interrupted Insomuch as seaven years after they resolved by reason of the excessive charges to give over that structure and to translate the Body of the Abbesse into another Church already finished and dedicated Therefore opening the Sepulcher they found the Body of the Holy Virgin as free from all corruption as it had been during her life free from carnall affections Therefore the Religious Virgins having again washed and cloathed it with fresh vestments they translated it into the Church of S. Steven the Martyr The solemnity of her Deposition is there with great glory celebrated on the Nones of Iuly On which day likewise her name is recited among the Saints in our English Martyrologe VIII CHAP. 1.2 The Gests of S. Beuno and S. Elerius Brittish Saints and Masters to Saint Winefrida 4.3 c. The Gests of the glorious Martyr S. Winefrida 1. AT the same time Virginity and chastity triumphed likewise in the Brittish Church for excepting the difference about the celebration of Easter there was a perfect agreement in all points of Faith between the Brittains and Saxons The person whose Victorious Chastity illustrated this age was the glorious S. Winefride who willingly offred her self a Sacrifice to preserve her Virginity consecrated by vow to her Celestiall Bridegroom Which voluntary Oblation was so acceptable to Almighty God that he recompenced it with so stupendious a Miracle as neither the precedent nor following ages of the Church could afford one to equall it 2. This love and valew sett upon holy Virginity was instilld into her by her Spirituall Teachers two Brittish Saints Saint Beuno and Saint Elerius of both which the Memory is celebrated in our Martyrologe Of the former on the fourteenth of Ianuary where he is sayd to have been famous for Sanctity and Miracles and of the latter on the thirteenth of Iune and the year of both their deaths is assigned this six hundred and sixtieth in which also the Authour of Saint Winefrides life in Surius says that she flourished Now the Gests of these three Saints we will here deliver together from the credit of Robert Abbot of Shrewsbury who above five hundred years since wrote the life of Saint Winefride out of ancient Brittish Records which he begins thus 3. There was a certain holy man of great perfection who dwelt in the Western part of Brittany He was descended of Princely parents but despising his hereditary glory he fled away poore and became a Monk eminent in all vertues And having built severall Churches in many places in which he placed Monks for the service of God he was divinely admonished to seek out an habitation provided for him by God At last he came to the territory of a certain man of great power named Thewith or as some call him Trebwith to whom he said I beseech you to grant me out of your hereditary possessions a small portion which may serve partly for mine own use and partly for the service of God that I may there build a Church in which I may attend on Gods worship and dayly pray for your salvation The Noble man readily granted his request and withall committed to him his onely daughter named Wenefred to be instructed by him in piety Whensoever therefore the holy man taught the people preaching to them the doctrines of salvation he sett the said young maid at his feet admonishing her to attend diligently and affectuously to his admonitions By this means the Virgin through Gods Grace and mercy encreased every day in piety and spirituall Wisedom and entertained a purpose of renouncing mariage yet durst not make known to her parents such her resolution But coming to the man of God she freely declared her most secret thoughts to him telling him That the seed of the Divine Word which he had sowd had wrought such effect in her that she determind to renounce all the pleasures of the world and for the honour of God to preserve her Virginity entire and undefiled Now that I may perform this my purpose said she I must desire your intercession with my parents 4. The Holy man having heard the Virgins request promised her his utmost endeavour to obtain her parents consent And presently after having proposed the matter to them they with teares blessed God for their childs piety and willingly granted her desire From that time the devout maid assiduously sate at the Holy mans feet and with an ardent affection attended to the praises of her heavenly Spouse proceeding from his mouth She suffred no earthly cares to enter into her mind she frequently watched whole nights at her prayers in the Church She would oft importunely sollicite the Holy man to discourse to her of the life graces and perfections of her Lord which when he delivered the comfort and pleasure which she received from thence exceeded all worldly or sensuall concentment Thus though she was of tender years yet in vertues and piety she was very aged and as it were dead to all concupiscence 5. Now it hapned on a certain Sunday when her parents were gone to Church some necessary occasion detaind her at home At which time a certain young man named Caradoc the Son of Alan Prince of that countrey entred the house where he found the Virgin alone sitting near the fire She knowing the Prince hastily rose up and humbly desird to know his pleasure His answer was You are not ignorant who I am and how I abound in riches and honour all these riches and honours you shall partake if you will yeild to my will The modest Virgin perceiving his foule intent held down her dead and blushed extremely At first she seemd as if she was much troubled that he should find her unready and unadorned and she told him Sir you being a Prince there is no doubt but you are able to heap upon mee all worldly happines in abundance if I were your wife However be pleased to expect here awhile till my Fathers return in the mean time I have some busines in my chamber and will come back presently This she said to gain a little time for she saw the unhappy young man burning and almost enraged with lust With much adoe he permitted her to goe to her chamber having some hope that she would return assoon as she was dressed and adorned She therefore entred hastily her chamber and as hastily went out of the dore on the other side and with all her force ran toward the Church 6. Assoon as the young man perceived this he became all in a fury and drawing out his sword he ran swiftly after her soon owertaking her and with a stern look told her I have a long time loved thee and desired to enioy thee and darest thou scorn mee Be now assured that if thou refusest my embraces I will presently cutt of thy head She hearing and nothing affrighted with these threats answered him saying I am by Vow espoused to the heavenly King
we declared to have been of English parentage and kinsman of Oswin King of the Northumbers that he had his education from the Scotts was a Monk and afterward Abbot of the Monastery of Gethlin and last of all consecrated Bishop of the Mercians 5 But a greater difficulty remains How King Wulfere should deserve the Elogy here given him of piety and zeale for the propagation of the Orthodox Faith beyond the limits of his own Kingdom Yea besides this in other Authours we find him employd in building of Monasteries and Churches And William of Malmsbury gives him this generall Character that at his first Assumption to the throne to the end he might not deceive the expectation of his Subiects he spared no diligence study or labour to shew himself a good Prince who sought the proffit and felicity of his Kingdom Moreover that by his favour and countenance he earnesty advanced the Christian Faith then even gasping for life as being but a little before newly brought in by his Brother Whereas severall other Authours particularly such as have written our Saints lives paint him forth for a most horrible persecutour insomuch as seaven years after this Conversion of the South-Saxons by his incitation he is sayd to have putt to death his two sons Vlfald and Ruffin because by the preaching of S. Ceadda then Bishop of Lichfeild they embraced the Christian Faith 6. How can those things consist together Perhaps some will imagine that the praises given this King proceeded from flattery in the first Authours by whom those which followed were seduced Yet we shall find that those very Historians who so much celebrate his praises have not conceald his vices Thus the last mentioned Authour after the passage even now cited thus tempers the commendations given him Notwithstanding in these and whatsoever other vertues were in him were corrupted and depressed by the infamous crime of Simony of which he was the first King of England that was guilty selling for money the Sacred Bishoprick of London to a certain ambitious man called Wina He moreover adioyns the Off-spring of King Wulfere Kinred and Wereburga without any mention of the two Martyrs Vlfald and Ruffin So that in this Kings Story there is an obscure Mist which we may conceive to proceed from our Ancient Writers of Saints Lives who having a Story for the substance of it true to relate deliver it undigestedly without any choice of names times and other circumstances In order therefore to the clearing of this obscurity we will first breifly sett down the Summ of the Story of those two Martyrs and consequently endeavour to correct the circumstantiall faults of the relatours 7. Vlfald and Ruffin were Brethren sons of Wulfere King of the Mercians and Hermenilda who was daughter of Earcombert King of Kent and his wife S. Sexburga Wulfere their Father was an Infidell But Herminilda a devout Christian Lady of great Sanctity She during the tender age of these her children was diligent to imbue their minds with Christian Principles of piety and when they were come to riper â—ears she sought out a Master for them but with great secrecy least her Husband who was horribly averse from Christianity should know it She had recourse therefore to Ceadda Bishop of Lichfeild who instructed them more perfectly and regenerated them to Christ by the Water of Baptism These young Princes oft went forth â—pon pretence of hunting and either by their Mothers perswasion or their own inclination took that opportunity to Visit the Holy Bishop But being at last deprehended by their Father he agitated with the furies of his false Gods would compell them to renounce their Religion which they constantly refusing to doe he caused them both to be slain in the Sacred place of Prayer Their Holy Mother having understood the cruell death and Martyrdom of her children was desirous to give them an honourable buriall for which purpose she according to the Roman custom gathered a mighty heap of Stones for their Monument The place of their Sepulcher by its name still testifies the same for it is to this day called Stone a place which upon this occasion is grown to a populous Town Now when the death of these Holy Martyrs Vlfald and Ruffin was made known to the people and the cause likewise for which they dyed they began to be held in great honour and a Church with a Monastery was built consecrated to S. Vlfald yet so as that his Brother also became partaker of his honour By this means the place came to be frequented Neither was their Father King Wulfere more slow then others in honouring them For the guilt of the parricide committed by him wounding his conscience he in an humble manner went to Saint Ceadda and with great greif acknowledging his crime embraced the Christian Faith and with the Sacred Waters of Baptism expiated all his offences 8. This account doe our ancient Records give of the Martyrdom of these two Princes the substance whereof cannot reasonably be questioned considering the lasting monument yet remaining and that their names are extant among the Saints in our Martyrologe on the four and twenâ—tieth of Iuly But that they should have been instructed by S. Ceadda then Bishop of Lichfeild and slain in the year of Grace six hundred sixty eight by their Father then a Pagan this contradicts all our most authentick Histories in which long before that time King Wulfere is celebrated for his Faith and Piety Therefore it will be necessary to affirm that they were instructed by some Bishop of the Mercians before their Father began his raign during the time that their cruell Grand Father Penda lived who earnestly laboured to extinguish the Christian name and effectually caused the death of many Christian Kings 9. Therefore the Narration given by Camden deserves our acceptation who more distinctly and simply recounts the story in this manner To Peada King of the Mercians succeeded his Brother Wolfer who having been most averse from Christian Religion with barbarous inhumanity slew his Sons Wolfald and Ruffin because they had given up their names to Christ. But a few years after himself also embraced the Christian Faith and to the end he might by some pious work expiate that his impiety he finished a Monastery begun by his Brother XV. CHAP. 1.2 c. Of S. Winoc 1. SOme refer to this year the retiring of S. Winoc into the Monastery of Saint Bertin Thus writes Iperius in his Chronicle About the year of Grace six hundred sixty one S. Winoc Son of Iudicael King of the Brittains and brother of S. Iudocus of whom we have alreaâ—dy treated despising the world became a Monk in the Monastery of Sithiu under Saint Bertin together with his three brethren Kadanoc Ingenoc and Modoc S. Bertin then was Abbot over one hundred and fifty Monks among whom Saint Winoc shone like the Morning Starr 2. Marcellinus in his life of S. Suibert affirms that S
was miraculously forbidden and hindred as we shall shew more at large when we come to the season of that Mission For Almighty God designed him for another employment which was the reducing of the Scottish Monks and Clergy to a conformity with the Catholick Church in the Celebration of Easter in Canonicall Tonsure and other Rites How this was effected S. Beda thus relates 10. Not long after saith he those Monks also which inhabited the Island of Hy of the Scottish nation together with all the Monasteries subiect to them were by Gods Providence brought to the Catholick Observance of Easter and Canonicall Tonsure For in the year after our Lords Incarnation seaven hundred and sixteen in which after that Osred King of the Northumbers was slain Coeâ—red governed there there came to them out of Ireland the holy and Venerable Preist Egbert of whom we spoke before and was with great reverence and ioy received by them He being a very winning Teacher and moreover one who devoutly practised what he taught was willingly hearkned to by them all and by his diligent and pious exhortations changed the inveterate Tradition of their Ancestours to whom we may apply that saying of the Apostle That they had a zeale of God but not according to knowledge and taught them to celebrate the Prime Christian Solemnity and to receive the Canonicall Tonsure after the Catholick and Apostolick manner And herein we may admire the mercifull dispensation of Divine Providence that the same Nation which formerly had with great willingnes communicated to our Ancestours the Light of Divine knowledge should afterward by our English Nation be brought to a perfect form of living in things whereof they were formerly ignorant As on the other side the Brittains who refused to communicate to the English the knowledge of the Christian Faith now that the same English were perfectly instructed in the Rule of Christianity yet they remaind in their inveterate Errours and celebrated Christian Solemnities and Rites in a manner different and opposite to the Vniversal Church 11. Now the said Monks of Hy by the teaching of Egbert received the Catholick Rites when Dunchad the tenth from S. Columba was Abbot of that Monastery and about fourscore years after they had sent Aidan to preach the Gospell to the English Nation The man of God Egbert remaind thirteen years in the said Island which he had consecrated as it were anew to our Lord by bringing among them the Spirit of Christian communion and peace 12. At length in the year of our Lords Incarnation seven hundred twenty nine in which the Paschall Solemnity fell on the eighth before the Calendâ— of May when he had solemnly celebrated Masse in Memory of the said Resurrection of our Lord the same day he likewise went to heaven and there in the Society of our Lord and his Apostles finished the ioy of that highest Festivity which he had begun on earth with his Brethren whom he had converted to Vnity Yea now he never ceases to celebrate it without end 13. And truly it was a wonderfull dispensation of the Divine Providence that this Venerable man not only passed out of this world to the Eternal Father upon the Paschal Feast but when that Feast was celebrated aright on such a day as it never had been before in those places This was great ioy to the Monks that they were arrived to the certain Catholick time of that Feast and that they were assured to enioy the Protection of the same Venerable Father by whom they were rectified And it was a ioy to him that he was preserved alive till he might see his Disciples solemnise that day together with him which formerly they had always avoyded Thus being assured of their amendment the most Reverend Father exulted to see that day of our Lord he saw it and was glad Thus happily he dyed and both in the Roman and other Martyrologes his name is recited among the Saint on the four and twentieth of April THE SEAVETEENTH BOOK OF THE CHVRCH-HISTORY OF BRITTANY I. CHAPTER 1.2 c. Pope Vitalians Letter to King Oswi concerning the election of an Arch-bishop of Canterbury in the place of Wigard who dyed at Rome 1. BY reason of the distractions caused by the late raging Pestilence the two principall Sees of Brittany were some years vacant But in the year of Grace six hundred sixty five by the care of two pious Kings Oswi King of the Northumbers and Egbert King of Kent order was taken for supplying them Thus writes Saint Beda King Oswi saith he though he had received his education and instruction from the Scotts yet now came to understand of a truth that the Roman was the Catholick Apostolick Church therefore ioyning in counsell with Egbert King of Kent they with the election and consent of the English Clergy sent to Rome to be ordained Arch-bishop of Canterbury a certain vertuous Preist and fittly qualified for that dignity named Wigard one of the Clergy of the late Arch-bishop Deus-dedit to the intent that he being invested with Archiepiscopall authority might ordain Catholick Bishops over all the Churches in Brittany 2. Moreover in token of their respect to the See Apostolick together with Wigard they sent Letters and presents to Pope Vitalâ—an who then sate in S. Peters Chaire with vessels of gold and silver in no small number saith the same Authour 3. Wigard being arrived at Rome and having acquainted the foresaid Pope with the cause of his iourney presently after both himself and almost all those of his attendance were swepd away by a pestilence which suddenly seised on them 4. Pope Vitaliam by his Letters to King Oswi dated the year following and which are extant in S. Beda gave him an account of these things In which Letters he first congratulates the Kings Orthodoxe faith and zeale for propagating the same Faith among his subjects Exhorting him earnestly in all things to follow the pious Rule and Tradition of S. Peter and S. Paul who were the two great Lights of the Vniversall Church Particularly he instructs him how the Catholick way of observing the Paschall Solemnity came from their teaching and practise 5. Consequently he informs him how he could not so soon find a man in all points adorned with such qualities as they required in a Prelate considering that the great distance of their countrey deterred men from accepting the Episcopall charge there But assoon as a fitt person could be found he would not fayle to direct him thither to pluck up all the tares which the Enemy had sown in their Churches 6. Then he adioyns his gratefull acknowledgment for the Gifts which he had sent in honour to the Blessed Prince of the Apostles assuring him that both himself and his whole Clergy would dayly pray to Almighty God for his health But as for the design'd Arch-bishop Wigard who brought those gifts he with great greife recounts his sudden taking out of
same purpose and that they having received his Benediction were returned full of sorrow the Monk who had heard the celestiall Musick went to the Bishop and prostrating himself to the ground before him said Venerable Father may it be permitted mee to ask you a question The Bishop answered Ask freely whatsoever thou wilt Then said he I beseech you tell mee What meant that ioyfull song which I heard sung by many with great ioy who came from heaven to this Oratory and after a while returned back to heaven again The Bishop replyed If thou hast indeed heard that Musick and perceived the heavenly company which came hither I command thee in the Name of our Lord that thou acquaint none with it before my death The truth is they were Angells and celestiall Spirits which came to call mee to receive those heavenly rewards which I always loved and desired and they have promised mee to return seaven dayes hence and conduct mee with them to heaven And indeed thus it came to passe as he had foretold For presently after a languishing infirmity came upon him which dayly encreased and on the seaventh day as had been promised him after he had armd himself against death by receiving devoutly the Body and blood of our Lord his soule was freed from the prison of his body and as we may piously beleive accompanied by Angells to celestiall ioyes Of whose glory S. Egbert was a witnes as we have already shewed in his Gests related by the same Authour 5. It is no wonder if he entertained with ioy the day of his death saith the same Authour since through the whole course of his life his cheif solicitude was to prepare himself for it insomuch as when any great wind or thunder hapned he would presently lay aside all other busines in hand and prostrating himself on his face pour forth his soule to God in prayer For as he told his Disciples the reason why God sends forth those voyces of terrour is to imprint his fear in mens minds and make them mindfull of those storms and tempests which shall be raised in the last dayes before the Generall Iudgment This S. Beda relates from the testimony of a Religious Monk called Trumbert his Master in Divine learning who had been a Disciple of this Holy Bishop 6. Now S. Ceadda dyed on the sixth day before the Nones of March and was first buried near the Church of our Blessed Lady But afterwards a magnificent Church having been built to the honour of the Prince of the Apostles his Sacred bones were translated thither And in both places for a proof of his Sanctity frequent miracles and cures were wrought 7. The place where he was buried was covered with a woodden tomb built in the form of a little house having a window in the wall through which such as in devotion came thither were accustomed to putt in their hand and take thence some part of the dust Which they mingled with water and gave to be tasted to sick men or cattell also by which their infirmities were presently taken away 8. We may with more assurance relate these Miracles because even the Lutheran Centuriators of Magdeburg acknowledge their beleif of them For thus they write Ceadda the Brother of Ced succeeded Iarumannus in the Bishoprick of the Mercians He received from King Wulfere his Episcopal See in a town of Lindissi called Lichfeild and governed the Churches of the Midland-English and Lindesfarians After his death he was renouned for Miracles insomuch as a man who was frantick and slept only at his tomb was restored to health and others afflicted with any manner of diseases by tasting the dust of his monument were perfectly cured 9. His Memory was with great devotion celebrated in all succeeding ages insomuch as the Cathedrall Church of his Bishoprick being raised with greater magnificence took its appellation from him This came to passe in the dayes of King Edward the second at which time saith B. Godwin Walter Langton Bishop of that See of Lichfeild bestowed two thousand pounds to enrich the Chest which contained the Body of his Predecessour S. Ceadda or Chad and likewise encompassed the precincts of the Church with a wall and ditch adding thereto two gates one very magnificently built toward the west and a lesser one to the East 10. To conclude this Narration we must not omitt one late memorable example of a wonderfull iudgment of God against the professed Enemies of his Saints In the beginning of the late rebellious warr a warr undertaken as much against Gods departed Saints as living Governours one of the most zealous Leaders of a Sacrilegious faction conducting his Army to this Citty of Lichfeild with an intention to break into the Inclosure of S. Ceadda's Church fortified by a Royal party whilst compleatly armed he pulled up the visour of his helmet that he might better view how to place his Ordinance against the wall was mortally wounded in the eye being the only part of his body exposed to danger by a bullet short at random Thus he perished in the heat of his fury whilst he assaulted the Church of S. Ceadda and upon the very Feast day of S. Ceadda 11. In the place of S. Ceadda the Arch-bishop Theodore ordained Bishop of that See a good and modest man saith S. Beda named Winfrid or Wilfrid who was Deacon to his Predecessour and at that time lived in the Monastery of Athburn Of whom we shall speak more hereafter X. CHAP. 1.2 c. The death of severall Saints Of King Oswi Of Abbot Boisilus Of Oswin a Monk of Diman and Adammannus 1. IN the six hundred and seaventieth year of our Lords Incarnation saith S. Beda which was the second year after the coming of Theodore into Brittany Oswi King of the Northumbers in the fifty eighth year of his age fell sick of an infirmity of which he dyed At the same time he was so affectionatly desirous to receive more perfect Instruction in Religion from the Apostolick See of Rome that he was determined in case he had recovered of that disease to goe thither and end his days at the Sacred places of the Apostles for which purpose he had desired the Holy Arch-bishop Wilfrid to be his guide in that journey for which he designed him a great summe of money He dyed the fifteenth day before the Calends of March and left his Son Egfrid heyr of the Kingdom He was buried in the Monastery of Strenshalch to which he had long before consecrated his daughter Edelfleda from her first infancy as hath been declared 2. That he dyed in general opinion of Sanctity appears in that his Name is read among the Saints in our Martyrologe on the fiâ—teenth of February And William of Malmsbury recounts how his body together with the bodies of many other Saints was removed three hundred years after his death For thus he writes At Streneshalt in the Quire
of Religious Wirgins there famous for being the Monument of many holy Bishops and glorious Princes it is now called Whitby by the devout industry of certain persons their sacred ashes almost lost in oblivion were discovered to the light and of late there were found and translated to a more honourable place the Bodies of severall Saints as Bishop Trumwin King Oswi and his daughter Elfleda who was Abbesse of the same Monastery after S. Hilda 3. Besides King Oswi severall other English Saints are recorded to have dyed the same year Among whom our Martyrologe mentions the Holy Abbot Boisilus who governed the Monastery of Mailrose and there gave the Habit and Tonsure to S. Cuthbert He was famous for the gift of Prophecy and after he had spent many years there as Monk and afterward Abbot was at last called and conducted to heaven by Angells S. Beda stiles him a man of sublime Vertues relates how S. Cuthbert was vont to say of him I have known very many who have far excelled mee in purity of heart and sublimity of Propheticall Grace Among whom was the Venerable servant of Christ Boisilus whose name is to be mentioned with all honour by mee in as much as in his old age he gave mee then a young man my education in the Monastery of Mailrose at which time he prophetically foretold all things which were to befall mee And among all his predictions there remains now onely one which I desire may never be fulfilld This he spoke because the said Servant of our Lord had declared to him that he should be exalted to the degree and Office of a Bishop Which charge he trembled to undergoe being much affected to a retired contemplative life His successour in the government of the said Monastery was the same S. Cuthbert 4 The same year likewise dyed a certain holy Monk in the Monastery of Lestinghen called Oswin a man eminent for his abstinence and Prayer He was descended from Brittish Ancestours but spent his life among the Scotts and English wfiich is an argument that the Brittains Scotts and Saxons were united in the same Faith 5 In the same Martyrologe are recorded also the names of S. Diman on the nineteenth of Iuly and S. Adamannus Abbot of the Monastery of Hye on the second of November this same year Whose gests I leave to the Scottish Writers XI CHAP. 1. Many pious Kings and Bishops 2. King Kenwalch his Liberality to Glastonbury 3.4 Of Brithwald Abbot of Glastonbury 1. THE English-Saxon Church at this time flourished wonderfully under severall Kings eminent in Sanctity and munisicent in advancing the service of God by building Churches and Monasteries such were Egbert in Kent Sebb at London Kenwalch in the West Wulfer among the Mercians and Oswi among the Northumbrians And at the same time the piety of these Kings was much advanced by the zeale of many holy Bishops industrious in propagating the true Faith and Ecclesiasticall Discipline Theodore Arch-bishop of Canterbury Wilfrid in the Province of the Northumbers Ceadda in that of the Mercians To whom we may adde Putta Bishop of Rochester and Lentherius or Eleuthetherius Nephew of S. Agilbert Bishop of Paris who accompanied Theodore into Brittany and at the desire of King Kenwalch was this year consecrated by the same Theodore Bishop of the West-Saxons 4. Among the fruits this year gathered out of this fertile ground we may reckon the Donation of King Kenwalch to the Monastery of Glastonbury mentioned in the Great Charter of King Ina dated the year of Grace seaven hundred twenty five in which among others we read this passage To the Ancient Church seated in the place called Glasteie I grant out of my paternall possessions for the maintaining Regular Observance and use of the Monks ten hydes of land at Brente c. together with all the lands conferred by my Ancestors on the same Church as King Kenwalch who by the intercession of S. Theodore Arch-bishop gave to the same Church Ferlinguere Beokerie Godeneie Martinsie and Edresie But this though stiled a Donation seems rather for the most part to have been a Restitution of Lands anciently given to that famous Monastery by former Brittish Princes 3. At this time the Abbot of Glastonbury was Brithwald who was the first of the Saxon race who governed that Monastery for before this all the Abbots were Brittains So writes William of Malmsbury in his Antiquities of this place There succeeded at Glastonbury saith he very many Abbots of the Brittish Nation whose names gests and memory have been oblitterated by antiquity Yet that the Church it self was held in great veneration by the Nobles of the Brittains appears by this that many of their Bodies have been enterred there c. But after that two hundred sixty seaven years from the time of Saint Patrick were run out during the raign of Kenwalch the Son of Kinegilse who was also called â—enwallâ— the first Abbot of the English Nation who governed that Monastery was Brithwald 4. This Brithwald was Son to a Brother of the King of the Mercians and according to the familiar devotion of that age renounced all secular pretentions and retired from the world to consecrate himsel to the service of God in solitude to which he was so affected that he again retired from that Monastery much frequented to another more obscure called Raculf or Reculver although both the King and Bishop of the Diocese saith the same Authour did earnestly oppose it But Almighty God for the good of his Church crossed his design for the New Monastery chosen for his retreat being seated near Canterbury a person so illustrious for his birth being son to a Brother of King Ethelred and so famous for his religion and piety could not long lye hid but after the death of the Arch-bishop Theodore was elected and even compelled to succeed him in that See Of him we shall treat further in due place XII CHAP. 1. 2. c. Of the building of the Monastery of Abindon by Cissa and his Nephew HEANE 6. Cylla the Sister of Heane builds a Monastery of Virgins at Helnestow Of her Black Crosse. 1. A Certain Authour called Iohn in his Golden History cited by the R F. Clement Rayner in his Apostolate of the Benedictins affirms that at this time the Monastery of Abindon was built by a certain Saxon Prince called Cissa Which if it be true as indeed it seems most probable it will invalidate the authority of the Brittish Records which pretend that this Monastery was built and flourished exceedingly in the ancient times of the Brittains and that there was a famous Schoole of learning in which Constantin is sayd to have been taught in his younger yeares as we have related in the occurrents of the year of Grace three hunered and nine 2. Concerning this famous Monastery we read in the History anciently written of it that when Hengist the Saxon perfidiously murdred at
this time given to the Monks of Glastonbury of electing their own Abbott argues that in former ages the constituting of Abbots belonged not to the Monks but to the Bishop or the Prince from whose power and Iurisdiction the Monks could not exempt themselves without their free devesting themselves of it which we see here done by King Kentwin and Bishop Hedda concerning whom we shall speak more hereafter 7. As for King Kentuin the Memory of his Munificence to the Monastery of Glastonbury was there gratefully conserved for this Elogy we read of him in the great Table of that Monastery In the same place reposes the body of King Câ—â—twin under a stone-Pyramid in the Church-yard of the Monks He was the first of the English Kings which granted to the Isle of Glastonbury an Exemption from all Regal Service as the Brittish Kings before him had of old time confirmed 8. To this time is referred the erecting or rather restoring of the prime Church in the Isle of Ely which was first consecrated to the honour of S. Peter Prince of the Apostles but afterward entitled to S. Ediltrudis or Ethelreda Concerning which Church we read this testimony of B. Godwin Ethelbert saith he King of Kent by the advice of S. Augustin had seaventy years before this time built a Church in that place to witt in the year of our Lords Incarnation six hundred and seaven Which Church through neglect for want of reparation falling to ruine was rebuilt in a more magnificent manner in the year six hundred seaventy seaven by S. Ediltrudis This she did by the counsel of Wilfrid Arch-bishop of York but her Brother Aldulfus or Alnufus King of the East-Angles furnished the Charges of the work This Aldulfus was the Successour of Edilwald in that Kingdom and if according to Speed he was the Son of Ethelherd Brother of Anna he was not Brother but cousin german to S. Ediltrudis XXII CHAP. 1.2 c. Kent miserably wasted Putta Bishop of Rochester quitts his See in whose place Quichelm succeeds 1. AT this time there was a great desolation in the Churches and kingdom of Kent wherby the labours of Saint Theodore were much encreased Which desolation was caused by a furious invasion of that kingdom the year before by Edilred King of the Mercians What the provocation or motive of this warr was is not mentioned by ancient Writers but the effects of it were terrible 2. S. Beda thus breifly describes it In the year of our Lords Incarnation six hundred seaventy six Edilred King of the Mercians brought a furious army into Kent and layd the whole countrey wast yea without all regard of Piety or the fear of God profaned and demolished also Churches and Monasteries Particularly the Gâ—tty Rhofi or Rochester was utterly consumed in â—hat common calamity Of that Citty Putta was â—heâ— Bishop though absent at the time of its destruction Lothair was now King of Kent who fearing the violence and courage of Edâ—red saith Huntingdon made no resistance at all but auoyded his fight So that Edilred passed freely through the whole Province destroyed the Citty of Rochester and carted back with him innumerable Spoyles 3. As for Putta Bishop of Rochester being a man that loved quietnes and solitude he according to Saint Beda's relation seing his Church utterly spoyled and wasted retired to Sexulphus Bishop of the Mercians from whom having received the possession of a Church and a small peice of ground adioyning he there ended his life in peace He did not at all employ his solicitude about the restoring of his Bishoprick being one whose industry was little exercised in worldly affaires Therefore he contented himself in serving God after a poor manner in the foresaid Church and some times when he was entreated he would goe to other places for the instruction of Ecclesiasticall persons in the Roman manner of singing the Church service 4. The See of Rochester being thus deprived of a Pastour the Arch-bishop Theodore in the place of Putta consecrated Quithelm Bishop of that Citty and when he also shortly after quitted his Bishoprick by reason of its extreme poverty the said Arch-bishop substituted in his room another Bishop called Gebmund XXIII CHAP. 1.2 The death of Vina the Simoniacall Bishop of London 3 4. c. S. Erconwald succeeds in that See 1 DVring this confusion in Kent the Kingdom of the adioyning East-Saxons enioyd a profound peace under the government of Sebb and Sigher two pious Kings Particularly King Sebb employed all his care in advancing Piety among his Subjects in promoting the affaires of the Church and in encouraging devout persons to renounce thâ— world and consecrate themselves to God in a Monasticall Profession To which state of life himself also earnestly aspired being desirous to abandon his Regall authority and to change his purple for a poor Religious Habit but was hindred by the obstinacy of his Queen who refused to consent to a separation and to imitate her husbands piety and without her complyance the Ecclesiasticall Canon rendred him incapable of executing his pious design Many years he spent in perswading her to her own and his happines and at lost by devout importunity expugned her resistance as shall shortly be shewed 2. In the mean time a great part of his solicitude was employed in settling a worthy Prelut in London the Metropolis of his Kingdom We have declared before how Wina the Sacrilegious Bishop of the West-Saxons having for his crimes been expelled out of that Province with a summ of money Simoniacally procured from Vulfere King of the Mercians to be violently introduced into that See in the year of Grace six hundred sixty six which he for the space of nine years unworthily administred After whose death King Sebb expressed a zealous care to repair the prejudice and harm done to that Province by so impious a Prelat For which purpose he earnestly sought out a Successour as eminent for piety and integrity as the other was for his crimes 3. At that time there lived not any one in that Kingdom in so high esteem of all men for vertue and Religion as Erconwald He was as hath been declared the Son of Anna King of the East-angles not of Offa as Capgrave and from him Harpsfeild mistakes and from his tender years conceived a distast and contempt of secular designs and pleasures Insomuch as he relinquished his Native Province and retired among the East-Saxons where he employed his plentifull patrimony in works of piety We have already declared how he founded two Monasteries in that Kingdom one for himself at Chertsey in Surrey near the River Thames and another for his Sister Edilburga in Essex in a village called Barking 4 This in all regards so eminent an Abbot Erconwald was made choice of by King Sebbe to administer the vacant See of London to which he was consecrated by Saint Theodore Arch-bishop of Canterbury according to this relation of Saint Beda
At that time saith he to witt in the year of our Lords Incarnation six hundred seaventy five Sebbe and Sighere Kings of the East-Saxons constituted Earconwald Bishop in the Citty of Londen whose life and conversation both whilst he was Bishop and before is reported to have been full of Sanctity as the Miracles to this day wrought by his intercession doe demonstrate For the horse litter in which during his sicknes he was wont to be caried and which is preserved by his Disciples does still continue to cure many persons afflicted with feavers and other infirmities Neither doth it work this effect only upon such as are placed under it or leane against it but likewise chipps sliced from it and caried to the sick doe restore them to health 5. We will adioyn hereto the testimony even of B. Godwin likewise Erconwald saith he a man eminent for learning and Sanctity bestowed his whole Patrimony in erecting and endowing Monasteries One he founded for himself at Chertsey and another for Religious Virgins at Barking over which he appointed his Sister Edilburga Abbesse He employed wast summs of money in the structure of the Church dedicated to S. Paul the revenews whereof he much encreased and obtained from the Princes of that age great Priviledges thereto He addsi That his Body was layd in a Coffin of great price and buried in the East part of S. Pauls Church above the high Altar where it continued till about fourscore years agoe at which time it disappeared Concerning this Holy Bishop occasion will offer it self to say more hereafter THE EIGHTEENTH BOOK OF THE CHVRCH-HISTORY OF BRITTANY I. CHAPTER 1.2 c. A debate between Saint Wilfrid and Saint Theodore raised by the covetous Queen of the Northumbers Saint Wilfrids Appeal and banishment 1. IN the year of Grace six hundred seaventy eight Pope Donus dying Pope Agathon succeeded him in the Chair Apostolick whom we shall have occasion frequently to mention by reason of a great controversy this year begun in Brittany between the two Supreme Prelats of this Island S. Wilfrid Arch-bishop of York and S. Theodore of Canterbury which lasted many years sometimes composed by the said Popes authority and again breaking forth to the great disturbance of the peace of our Saxon Churches though it pleased the Divine goodnes by occasion thereof to enlarge his Church by the happy câ—nversion of severall Nations both within and out of Brittany 2. A breif account of this dissention foresignified by a prodigious Comet appearing the same year it thus recorded by S. Beda In the year of our Lords Incarnation six hundred seaventy eight saith he which was the eighth year of the raign of Egfrid King of the Northumbers there appeared in the month of August a Comet or blazing star which for three months together arose every morning representing a great pillar of wonderfull light The same year a dissention arising between the said King Egfrid and the most Reverend Prelat Wilfrid the Holy Arch-bishop was driven from his See and in his place were substituted two Bishops to govern the Nation of the Northumbers to witt Bosa who administred the Episcopall Office in the more Southern parts of the Deiri or Yorkshire c. and Eata in the Nation of the Bernicians or Northumberland c. The former had his Episcopall See at York the other in the Church of Hagulstad Hexham or Lindesfarn Both of them were taken out of a Convent of Monks and thence promoted to the Episcopall degree And together with these a third person named Eadhed was ordained Bishop over the Province of the Lindesfars or Lincolnshire which a short time before King Egfrid having defeated Wulfere King of the Mercians had gott the possession of This Eadhed was the first peculiar Bishop of the said Province the prime Seat of his Bishoprick was Sidnacester a place whose memory is now worn out by age Yet some esteem it to be the same that is now called Gainsborow or at least situated near it from whence in after times the See was translated to Dorchester and last of all to Lincoln where it still remains 5. Thus writes S. Beda of S. Wilfrids expulsion and of a new distinction and institution of Episcopall Sees Saint Ceadda before he was translated to Lichfeild had been the only Prelat of the whole Kingdom of the Northumbers governing both the Churches of York and Lindesfarn He by the sentence of Arch-bishop Theodore surrendred that whole Province to Saint Wilfrid Now Saint Wifrid by the displeasure and Violence of King Egfrid being expelled in his place Bosa administers the See of York and Eata that of the Province of the Bernicians who is reckoned the fifth Bishop of Lindesfarn and first of Hagulstad 4. The Institution of these New Bishopricks was ordered in vertue of the ninth Canon of the fore-mentioned Synod of Hertford assembled by Arch-bishop Theodore five years before this where it was ordained that the number of Christians encreasing Bishopricks likewise should be multiplied From hence issued the first spark of dissension this year between the two Holy Arch-bishops S. Wilfrid and S. Theodore which afteward was raised to a great flame The progresse of which dissension we will consequently relate from William of Malmsbury which indeed took its first originall from the Court of King Egfrid and the malicious envy of his new Queen Ermenburga For it has been fatall to the Brittish Saxon and Norman Churches of this Island that generally disorders and Schisms have been begun by woemen 5. As long as the glorious Virgin Saint Ediltrudis enioyd the Title of Queen and Consort to King Egfrid all things succeeded happily to the Kingdom and Church of the Northumbers and Saint Wilfrid by the great esteem and reverence which his piety and zeale had obtained was well enabled to promote the affairs of the Church But assoon as the said Holy Virgin by Saint Wilfrids assistance had gained her husbands consent to exchange a temporal for a celestiall mariage and to retire into a Religious Solitude enriched with poverty and a want of all sensuall contentments there more freely to enioy the Spirituall embracements of her heavenly Bridegroom King Egbert received into her place a Second Consort Ermenburga a Lady of a disposition much different from the former and particularly tainted with the vices usually enough attending that Sex Covetousnes and Envy 6. By the piety of the former King Oswi and severall of the Nobility so wonderfull an accession of possessions and riches had been made to the tender growing Churches of the Northumbers under the care of Saint Wilfrid that the Sacred Vessels pertaining to Gods Altars were many of them of pure gold and not any of a lower mettall then Silver and the Vestments and other ornaments of a suitable magnificeÌ„ce This splendour dazeled the eyes of the New Queen who with a malignant aspect began to look upon the Holy Arch-bishop by whose zeale such riches had been
filthy Idolatry the Devill to interrupt that good work or to be revenged on the worker kindled again in the minds of his Adversaries among the Northumbers that envy and malice which seemd to have been asswaged by his exile insomuch as they became enraged to hear that the Holy Bishop persecuted by them should be made an instrument of good to Srangers Hereupon by messages and gifts they solicited the Franks to procure the murder of the Apostolick Prelat 5. There lived still in greatest power among the Franks Ebroin Maire of the Kings Palace who as hath been declared had already embrued his hands in the blood of Dalphinus Bishop of Lyons and severall other Prelats of the French Church Him did the malicious Northumbers hire to this execrable murder Who immediatly by promises gifts and menaces solicited Adalgise King of the Frisons to be the Executioner But this barbarous half-pagan Prince did so utterly abhorr this unchristian proposall that he threw the Letters of Ebroin into the fire after he had read them in the hearing of Saint Wilfrid who was then feasted by him and whilst they were burning he added these words So may he be burned who for covetousnes of gold would dissolve the band of freindship once agreed upon 6. Thus by the watchfull Providence of God did the Holy Bishop escape the snares layd against his life and when the Spring had mitigated the feircenes of the aire and opened the wayes for travelling Saint Wilfrid renewed his iourney towards Rome and as William of Malmsbury relates passing through the Kingdom of the Franks inhabiting beyond the Rhene came to the King of that Nation called Dagobert Who entertained him with all kindnes and respect calling to mind how when he himself had formerly by a faction of his Nobles been driven out of his Kingdom into Ireland at his return this Holy Bishop had lodged him freindly and moreover furnished him with horses and attendants to his own countrey To expresse his gratitude therefore this King not only with extreme benignity received Saint Wilfrid but with most earnest prayers solicited him to accept the Bishoprick of Strasbourg and fixe his habitation in his countrey This kind offer the Holy Bishop thought not convenient then to accept but deferred his resolution till his return from Rome Whereupon he was though unwillingly dismissed by the King and being accompanied with his Bishop Deodatus prosecuted his iourney 7. Thus writes the said Historian But what he relates of Dagoberts expulsion into Ireland ought to be applied to Theodoric King of the Franks who lived at this time and being reiected by his Subjects might have been thus hospitably entertained by S. Wilfrid Whereas King Dagobert was dead severall years before this 8. Saint Wilfrid being thus dismissed with recommendations passing through Champaigne diverted out of the straight way to visit Berthaire Prince of that Province This Prince had from the Holy Bishops enemies been informed of the cause of his journey and moreover invited by promises to procure some mischeif to him Whereupon at his first coming he received him with an arrogant frowning countenance but assoon as he had been acquainted with a true relation of the cause his displeasure was mitigated insomuch as he did not only abstain from doing him any hurt but by his recommendation and assistance brought the controversy to a good end Withall professing that he was induced hereto by the humanity of the King of the Hunns in whose Court he had formerly lived during his banishment who though he was a Pagan yet could by no offers be corrupted to doe the least harm to him to whom he had once promised security 9. The like courtesy and Civility did Saint Wilfrid find from all Princes through whose Courts and Provinces he passed insomuch as at last he arrived safely at Rome where he found Pope Agathon busily employed in repressing the Heresy of the Monothelites who taught that our Saviour though subsisting in two Natures yet had but one Will. This Heresy had at that time greivously infected the Eastern Churches for the extirpation whereof and preventing the spreading of it in the West that Holy Pope had at this time assembled a Synod at Rome to which S. Wilfrid was invited where likewise his cause was determined But before we relate the successe thereof it will be expedient to declare how in his absence almighty God justified his innocence by inflicting a sharp judgment on his Enemies and persecutours at home III. CHAP. 1 2. c. Saint Wilfrids Prophecy fullfilled Winfrid Bishop of Lichfeild expelled 1. THAT Propheticall denunciation by which Saint Wilfrid being derided by the Courtiers of King Egfrid for his Appeale to Pope Agathon â—oretold them That their laughter should precisely within the space of a year be turned into greivous lamentation was exactly fulfilld the next yeare in which he remaind at Rome For not long after his departure Ethelred King of the Mercians Brother of Wolfere being desirous to avenge the iniuries of his brother sustained from King Egfrid who had overcome him in battell and possessed himself of the Province of the Lâ—ndesfars or Lincolnshire he denounced war against the said Egfrid Who swelling with pride for his former victory courageously mett him with an army not doubting of like successe against him 2. The two armies mett saith Saint Beda near the River Trent where coming to a decisive battell the Mercians utterly defeated the army of the Northumbers and among a multitude of others there was slain Eâ—win the Brother of Egfrid a young man â—bout eighteen years old tenderly loved both by the Northumbers and Mercians for his Sister named Ostrids was wife to King Etheâ—red And it hapned that on the very day a twelf-month after Saint Wilfrid had suffred the â—orementioned iniury the dead body of that hopefull young Prince was brought to York which caused a generall and long continued mourning both to the Citty and Province 3. If this battell was fought on the South side of Trent in Nottingham-shire where remains a village called Edwinstow it is most probable that place took its name rather from this Prince who by William of Malmsbury is called Edwin then from the Holy King and Martyr Saint Edwin who by Saint Beda's testimony was slain at a place called Heathfeild in Yorkshire 4. By this victory King Ethelred recovered that portion of his Kingdom called the Province of the Lindesfari which Egfrid had formerly won from his brother Wolfere But this one defeat not concluding the war to the continnance of which both these Kings made great preparations S. Theodore Archbishop of Canterbury trusting in the Divine assistance interposed himself between them and by many zealous exhortations pacified their minds so as that flame was quite extinguished insomuch as no other satisfaction was given to King Egfrid for the death of his Brother but only a summ of money And the peace concluded between the two Nations continued
inviolate for many years 5. King Ethelred having thus repaired the breaches formerly made in his Kingdom expelled out of his Province Winfrid Bishop of Lichfeild and Successour to the Holy Bishop Ceadda for that he had favoured the party of King Egfrid The exiled Bishop therefore passing over the Sea was driven on the shore of France where he fell in to the hands of Theodoâ—ick King and Ebroin cheif Commander of the Franks to whom as hat been sayd a Message had been sent toâ—â— apprehend the Holy Bishop Wilfrid These therefore by a mistake of the name of Winfrid for Wilfrid slew the said Bishops attendants and suffred him after he had been pillaged of all things to goe his way So dearly did he pay for the affinity of his Name to Saint Wilfrid Thus writes William of Malmsbury In whose narration this difficulty appears that Theodorick King of the Franks is declared a persecutour of Saint Wilfrid who a little before is said to have entertaind him with all kindnes But the same excuse is here to be made for him which heretofore was made for Saint Bathildis Queen Regent of France to whom some Writers impute the murder of the Holy Bishop Dalphinus not that she was guilty of it but because it was done during her Regency by the cruelty of Ebroin who had the whole power of the kingdom in his hands IV. CHAP. 1.2 c. A wonderfull Miracle shewing the efficacy of the Holy Sacrifice of the Masse 1. IT would be a fault in this place to omitt a wonderfull accident which befell in the late bâ—ttell where the young Prince Elwin was slain by which Almighty God was pleased to declare the efficacy of his servants Prayers especially during the solemne Sacrifice of his Church The fact is upon good testimony related by S. Beda in the manner following 2. Among others saith he there was in the said battell one of the Princes soldiers named Imma slain at least in opinion This soldier all that day and the night following lay among the other dead bodies as if he had been slain but at last his Spirit returning he sate up and as well as he could bound up the wounds he had received Then resting himself awhile he raised himself on his feet and began to walk away with an intention to find out if possible some freinds who might take care of him As he was going away he was mett with and taken by some of the enemies the Mercians and brought to their Captain a principall Officer of King Ethelred who examined him what he was The poore man was a fraid to acknowledge himself a soldier therefore he answered that he was a poore country-man who had a wife and was come in this expedition with severall others of the like quality to bring provision to the Army Vpon this answer the Officer commanded that care should be taken of his wounds and when they began to be almost cured he made him every night to be putt in chains to prevent his running away 3. But no chains could hold him for after they were gone which had putt the chains upon him they presently fell off And the cause of this wonder was this He had a Brother named Tunna a Preist and Abbot of a Monastery in a certain town which at this day from his name is called Tunnacestir This Abbot having heard that his brother was slain in the late battell came himself to search for his body and having found another in all regards very like to his he caried it to his Monastery and there buried it honourably Moreover he took care that severall Masses should be said for the pardon of his sins and by vertue of those Masses it came so passe that no bands could hold him but they presently fell loose from him 4. In the mean time the Officer whose Prisoner he was began to ask him How it came to passe that he could not be bound Whether he had about him certain Charms which as some think have a power to untye all bands His answer was that he was utterly ignorant of such unlawfull arts But said he I have a Brother in mine own countrey and I am assured that he thinking I am slain says frequent Masses for mee so that if I were now in the other world I doubt not but my soule by his intercession and prayers would be absolved from all pains 5. After he had continued a good space a Prisoner to the said Officer those who guarded him observed by his countenance gesture and speeches that he was no countrey-peasant but a person of quality Thereupon the Officer calling him aside privatly enquired more diligently who he was withall promising him that if he would simply declare his condition he would not use him any thing the worse He then plainly manifested to him that he was a servant of the King of the Northumbers Whereupon the Officer replied I did assure my self by the manner of thy speech that thou wert not of a base condition And now thou deservest to dye in revenge of all my brethren and kinsmen who have been slain in the battell but because I will not break my promise I will not kill thee 6. Assoon therefore as he had recovered health and strength the Officer sold him to a certain man at London called Freson But neither could he be bound by his New Master for after try all of severall sorts of bands and chaines they became all unloosed When he therefore who had bought him perceived that he could not be restained by fetters he gave him permission to redeem himself if he could For commonly after nine of the clock in the morning the usuall time of Masses his bands were untyed Vpon this offer the Prisoner was suffred to depart having first given his promise by oath that he would either send the money agreed on for his ransome or return and yeild himself a prisoner again He went therefore from London into Kent to King Lothere Nephew to the famous Queen Ethelreda by her Sister who likewise had formerly been a servant to the sayd Queen and from him the Prisoner received the money appointed for his ransome which according to promise he sent to his Master 7. Being thus free after some time he returned to his Countrey and coming to his Brother the Abbott he related to him particularly all the accidents both good and bad which had befalln him and then perceived that his chains for the most part had been loosed precisely at the howers in which Masses had been celebrated for him and moreover that many other commodities and comforts had befalln him from heaven in his dangers by his Brothers prayers and the Oblation of the saving Sacrifice 8. Very many persons being informed from the foresaid person of these particulars have been much kindled in their Faith and devotion to pray give almes and Offer holy Sacrifices for the deliverance of their freinds who were departed this life For hereby they perceived that
one accepted the Episcopall ministery and charge there till the time that S. Beda wrote his History when a certain Prelat called Daniel was ordained Bishop of the West-Saxons and Gevissi Notwithstanding true it is that at this time presently after the conquest of the Island S. Wilfrid discharged that Office there being one saith William of Malmsbury whom King Cedwalla sett over the whole Province as Master and Governour neither without his assent would he himself doe any weighty matter in his kingdom VI. CHAP. 1.2 c King Cedwalla having made Inas his Successour in devotion goes to Rome to receive Baptism 5.6 c. The occurrents of his iourney his Companions 9. c. Assoon as he was baptized he dyed at Rome His Epitaph c. 1. THE year following which was the year of Grace six hundred eighty eight Cedwalla who had hitherto acted the Lions part now devested himself of his naturall feircenes entertaining thoughts and designs of peace meeknes and humility and though he was a victorious King and withall young full of spirits and vigour yet he made choice rather to shew himself an humble servant of Christ then to continue his raign full of temporal glory This was a wonderfull change of the right hand of the Almighty of which we may confidently acknowledge S. Wilfrid to have been the principal Instrument And therein admire the good Providence of God in the disposall of that his faithfull servant 2. Wee can scarce find in Ecclesiasticall story any example except S. Athanasius of an innocent holy Prelate which suffred persecutions and banishments so frequent and tedious for we shall see S. Wilfrid once more restored and again banished and after that restored again all which vicissitudes of suffrings did not onely cooperate to the perfectionating his own soule in patience but were occasions of procuring eternall happines to thousands of soules Whole nations were converted to Christ by this wandring Prelate as the Frisons South-Saxons and inhabitants of the Isle of Wight so that he had the fate of the ancient Prophets to be loved and honoured every where but in his own native countrey 2. But to return to Cedwalla This year in a voluntary and heroïcall devotion he devested himself of his Royall Purple and assumed the Habit of a Pilgrim to visit the Monuments of the Holy Apostles at Rome and there to receive the humble badge of Christianity There wanted not in Brittany many holy and Venerable Bishops and Prelats who might have conferred that blessing on him as S. Theodore at Canterbury S. Erconwald at London S. Hedda in his own countrey and S. Wilfrid also then present with him to whom wee may adde the holy and learned Abbot S. Aldelm the Abbot Cymbert and many others But it seems Cedwalla calling to mind that his Noble Predecessours King Lucius the Emperour Constantin and King Ethelbert had received their Faith and Baptism from Rome he desired to repair to the fountain of Ecclesiasticall Hierarchy and to pay his huÌ„ble respects to the Princes oft he Apostles then in a sort living and governing in their Successour Sergius at that time Pope 3. To this effect S. Beda has left us an account of this matter In the third year of the raign of Alfrid King of the Northumbers saith he Cedwalla King of the West-Saxons after he had for two years space valiantly governed his Kingdom voluntarily quitted the same for our Lord and for the gaining an eternall Kingdom and went to Rome For his desire was to obtain this singular priviledge and glory to be washed from his Sins by Baptism at the Sepulchers of the Blessed Cheif Apostles for he had been taught that by Baptism only the entrance into eternall life was opened to mankind Withall he had a hope that assoon as he was baptised he should be freed from his mortall flesh and passe to everlasting ioyes Neither did he fayle of his hope in either of these regards so great was the Mercy of God to him 4. Before he departed out of Brittany he took care to compose and settle his Kingdom under the government of a worthy Successour For which purpose with the advice and consent of his Nobles choice was made of Inas a Prince of the Blood Royal being great grandchild of Cuthbald brother to King Kâ—negils or as Florentius writes the son of Ken son of Ceolwald brother of Kinewald sons of Cuthwin who was son of Ceaulin Others affirm him to have been the son of Cissa founder of the Monastery of Abindon He was a young man of eminent endowments which gained him the affections of all and thereby the Crown Therefore as William of Malmsbury well observes he was advanced to the Principality rather for his courage and industry thâ—n proximity of blood being a Prince of admirable valour prudence and piety by which qualities he obtaind great affection at home and reverence abroad Insomuch as he exercised supreme authority the space of forty years wanting two without any apprehension of treachery 5. King Cedwalla having provided so worthy a Successour delayed not his iourney to Rome In which his Companions were Saint Aldelm Abbot of the Monastery oâ— Malmsbury who had also another motive to obtain from the See Apostolick certain Priviledges and liberties to this Monastery and as some writers affirm Saint Leitphard a Bishop and Martyr who returning from Rome anâ— passing through a forest called Trecaultium near Arras was by certain impious persons lewdlâ— slain But of this supposed companion of King Cedwalla no mention is made among ouâ— Ecclesiasticall Writers 6. Having taken ship they landed in the Province of the Morini or Terouanne in France the nearest to Brittany where saith Suriuâ— and Miraeus King Cedwalla then a Catechumen having heard of the Sanctity of an Abbot called wulmar and of his admirable zeale anâ— prudence in instructing soules repaired to him to receive his spirituall counsell and a more perfect knowledge in Christian Mysteries The holy Abbot at that time had finished the building a Church to the honour of the Blessed Virgâ—n and of S. Peter the Apostle 7. From thence travelling through France and having passed the Alpes King Cedwalla called by Paul Warnefridus Theoâ—wald a Prince who in his own countrey had fought many battells after which having been converted to the Faith of Christ he hastned to Rome there to receive Baptism and by the way passing through Câ—â—alpin Gaule or Lombardy he visited the King of that Nation called Cunibert by whom he was entertained with wonderfull humanity and magnificence 8. From thence arriving at Rome very opportunely near the Solemnity of Easter at which time by the ancient custom of the Church the Sacrament of Baptism was solemnly administred to such as had been converted from Infidelity he addressed himself to Pope Sergius in the Second year of his Pontificat by whom he was gladly received and admitted to Baptism in which also according to the usuall manner his Name
perfection voluntarily surrendred the Church of Lindesfarn which he committed to the governance of Eadbert mentioned before upon occasion of the death of S. Cuthbert who was ordained Bishop of that Diocese At this time the English-Saxon Churches flourished wonderfully when the Princes and others following their example sought not their own interests but those of Iesus Christ. This wee shall shorty make good by relating the actions of severall of our Kings and Apostolicall men who filled France Germany and even Italy it self with the seeds of Gods Word and the fame of their Sanctity 3. The year following in which King Cedwalla dyed at Rome S. Aldelm who as hath been said was his companion in that iourney became a Petitioner to Pope Sergius and obtaind of him in the behalf of his Monastery of Malmsbury a Priviledge of exemption from Episcopall Iurisdiction and a power to the Monks of electing their own Abbot according to the Rule of S. Benedict Of this Priviledge saith William a Monk of the same Monastery the same S. Aldelm obtained a confirmation from Ina King of the West-Saxons and Ethelred of the Mercians 4. Among other Acts of S. Aldelm at Rome there is reckoned by a certain Authour of no great credit saith Baronius his freeing Pope Sorgius from a scandalous imputation and calumny imposed on him of being the Father of a bastard then incestuously born Which calumny S. Aldelm is said to have dissipated by commanding the infant then but nine dayes old expressely to acquitt the Pope of that crime This fable the Centuriatours of Magdeburg having mett with they according to their accustomd impudence doe thus pervert There was great familiarity between Aldelm and Pope Sergius to whom a Son having been born by adultery at Rome he had not the boldnes to declare the truth ingenuously What ever the truth was certain it is that these Writers have most disingenuously adulterated it XIII CHAP. 1.2 The death of Saint Theodore Archbishop of Canterbury His Disciples 3. The death of S. Eanfleda 4.5 Likewise of S. Hersewida 1. THE next year after the death of King Cedwalla at Rome that is the six hundred and ninetieth after our Lords Incarnation saith S. Beda Arch-bishop Theodore of blessed memory being an old man and full of dayes for he was then in the eighty eighth year of his age happily dyed That his life should be continued to this number of years he had been advertised by Revelation in a dream as he oft told his freinds He administred the See of Canterbury the space of two and twenty years and was buried in the Church of S. Peter where the Bodies of all the Arch-bishops were enterred Concerning him and all his Predecessours in that See likewise it it may be truly and properly said Their Bodies doe rest in peace and their names live from generation to generation For to summ up all in a word the English Churches received more spirituall advancement during his government then they had done in any age before 2. A great ornament to S. Theodore were his Disciples whom he left behind him for the perpetuating his name Among which the most eminent were those who are named by Bishop Parker in his Antiquities where speaking of S. Theodore he saith Besides his other vertues he was in great perfection learned and after his death he did as it were live in his Disciples which were many and illustrious Among which the more notable were these Saint Beda Iohn of Beverley Albin the Venerable Abbot of the Monastery of S. Augustin in Canterbury and Thobias Bishop of Rochester who was as skillfull and ready in the Latin and Greek as his own native language S. Beda ingenuously acknowledges that Albin assisted him much in the collecting his History and for the tongues makes him equall to Thobias Of all these Disciples of S. Theodore wee shall speak particularly hereafter 3. The same year dyed also S. Eanfleda the daughter of Edwin King of the Northumbers She was the first person baptized in that Province After her Fathers death she returned with her mother into Kent and in processe of time was married to Oswi King of the Northumbers who by her admonition built the Monastery of Gethlin now called Gilling not far from Richmond in expiation for the death of Oswin slain by Oswi After the death of her husband she retired into the Monastery of Streneshalch or Whitby in which her daughter S. Elfleda had spent many years in great devotion and after the death of S. Hilda was made Abbesse of it There S. Eanfleda received the Religious habit and veyle and submitted herself to the instructions and command of her own daughter She was buried in the Church of Saint Peter belonging to the said Monastery where formerly her husband King Oswi and afterward her daughter S. Elfleda were also enterred Her name is commemorated in our Martyrologe among the Saints on the fifth of December 4. To the same year is likewise assigned the happy death of S. Hereswida the daughter of Hereric Nephew to the glorious King S. Edwin She was married to Ethelhere King of the East-Angles to whom she bore three Sons all which were consequently Kings Aldulph Eflwold and Beorna After her husbands death she retired from Court and being desirous to passe to a more strict and private life she left her countrey and in the famous Monastery of Cala or Chelles in France she undertook the Profession of a Religious life So great was her devotion and piety that both in France and Brittany many were inflamed to imitate her example And among the rest her Sister S. Hilda had an intention to follow her into France but was perswaded not to deprive her own countrey the Kingdom of the Northumbers of the luster of her vertues In the mean time S. Hereswida having spent many years in the delicious exercises of Contemplation this year received the Crown so long expected by her 5. In the Gallican Martyrologe we read this testimony of her In the Monastery of Cale seated in the territory of Paris this day being the twentieth of September is celebrated the memory of S. Hereswida She being a Queen in England out of love to Christ forsook her Scepter and kingdom and betook her self to the said famous Monastery where after she had afforded admirable examples of Piety humility and Regular Observance professed by her she was consummated with a blessed end and obtained the reward of a heavenly crown Her glorious gests Saint Beda who was a great admirer of her hath celebrated with condigne praises XIV CHAP. 1.2.3 Saint Wilfrid again expelled his Diocese 4 5. c. He retires among the Mercians where he succeeds to Sexulf in administring the See of Leicester and ordains Bishops 7 8. Bosil Bishop of Worcester dying Ostfor succeeds 1 SAint Wilfrid had now five years enioyd with quietnes and with great piety administred his Province of the
them therefore to Ecclesiasticall Vnity and charity the Saxon Bishops enioyned S. Aldelm present in the same Synod to write effectually in their names to Geruntius King of the sayd Brittains in Dâ—nmonia or Cornwall and to demonstrate to them their dangerous errours and schism earnestly inviting them to depose their passions and aversenes from their brethren and unanimously to promote the true Faith This charge was imposed on S. Aldelm as being a person the most eminent for learning and piety in that age and this he discharged with the sufficiency expected from him as may appear by the said Treatise or Epistle yet extant the tenour whereof in English wee will hereto adioyn 3. And whereas from those words of Saint Beda saying that Saint Aldelm wrote against the Brittains because they offended much against Ecclesiasticall Chastity certain of our late more learned Pâ—otestant Writers doe pretend to derive and confirm the lawfullnes of mariage in Bishops and other Ecclesiasticall persons But besides that this collectioÌ„ is disproved by ancient Manuscripts in which wee read not Castitatem but Charitatem the following Epistle it self will be an evident confutation in which not one word can be found which gives any suspicion that the Brittains were guilty of incontinence or impurity but extreme uncharitablenes is imputed to them Which clearly evinces that the printed copies ought to be corrected 4. But before we sett down the said Epistle of Saint Aldelm it will be fitt to premise how in the way as he was going to this Synod he was presented with a Letter from certain Religious Virgins to witt Hilâ—elida whom he stiles the Mistresse of Regular and Monasticall conversation together with Iustina Cuthburga and Osburgi who had some relation of kinred to him also Alfgiaa scholastica Hidburga Berngida Eulalia and Tecla Which Letter he highly commended as arguing not only a great zeale and love of chastity vowed by them but an exquisite skill in Holy Scriptures with the flowers whereof they gracefully adorned their Letter In answer whereto he compiled a whole Book which he inscribed Of Virginity and which the Reader may find in the Bibliothecâ Patrum XVII CHAP. 1.2 c. The tenour of Saint Aldelms Letter in the name of the English Saxon Synod to Geruntius King of the Brittains in Cornwall 1. THE Letter of Saint Aldelm reproving the errours of the Brittains now followeth which though it be some what long will deserve a place in our History though it were onely to shew that excepting two or three points of Discipline there was a perfect agreement between the Saxons and Brittains in all things touching the Catholick Faith otherwise the Saxon Bishops would not have railed in case they had erred to rectify their iudgment The Inscription of the said Letter is as followeth 2 To my glorious Lord Geruntius King of the Western Kingdom whom I as God the searcher oâ— hearts is my witnes doe embrace with brotherly charity And likewise to all Gods Preists inhabiting Danmonia or Cornwall I Althelm unworthy Abbot doe wish health and salvation in our Lord. 3. Being lately in a Synod of Bishops assembled out of the whole nation in a manner a wonderfull multitude of Gods Preists came thither being moved thereto out of a solicitude for the good of the Churches and care of the peoples salvation to the end that advising in common about the Ecclesiasticall Canons and Ordinances of the Fathers they should through Christs assistance be putt in practise 4 After these things were duly perform'd the whole Assembly uâ—animously imposed upon mee though unworthy a command to frame Letters directed to your Piety in which I might acquaint you with their fatherly suggestion request that you would be carefull not to break the Vnity of the Catholick Church nor admitt opinions not suiting with the Christian Faith since so doing you would deprive your selves of future rewards in heaveÌ„ For what proffit can any one receive from good works done out of the Catholick Church although a man should be never so strict in Regular Observances or retire himself into a desart to practise an Anachoreticall life of Contemplation 5. Now that you may better understand for what especiall causes this Letter is directed to you I will here breifly discover them to you Wee have heard and by severall relations been assured that your Preists doe very much swerve from the Rule of Catholick Faith enioynd in the Scriptures and that by their quarrells and verball coÌ„tentions there is arisen in the Church of Christ a greivous Schism scandal whereas the Psalmist saith Great peace is to those who love thy name and among them there is no scandall For the Peace of Religion is preserved by a charitable concord of mens minds as on the other side contention violates Charity Hence the same Psalmist exhorts all those who embrace the true Faith to a fraternall unity saying It is God who makes brethren to live in one mind in a house Now by this House is understood the whole Church of God spread through the world For Hereticks and Schismaticks being estranged from the Communion of the Church and by contending about severall new opinions encreasing in their nuÌ„bers doe like unproffitable tares sown in a rich soyle corrupt and defile our Lords harvest But the Apostles truÌ„pet doth represse this shamefull humour of contention saying If any one will be contentious we have no such custom nor the Church of God which is without spott or wrinckle For that peace is the Mother of Catholicks is declared by the Evangelicall Oracles Blessed are the peaceable for they shal be called the children of God And hence it is that when our Lord and Saviour descended from heaven that he might wipe away the hand-writing of our first parents which was against us and that by Peace intervening he might reconcile the world an Angelicall Quire melodiously sung Glory to God on high and on earth peace to men of good will and the Psalmist saith Let Peace be made by thy power and abundance in all thy Towers 6. Moreover a rumour is spread abroad that in your Province there are certain Preists and other Ecclesiasticks who contrary to the teaching of the Church doe obstinatly refuse to admitt the Tonsure of S. Peter Prince of the Apostles and doe pertinaciously defend themselves with this excuse that they doe imitate the Tonsure of their Predecessours whom with pompous phrases they exalt as men eminently illustrated with Divine Grace Whereas if we presse them to tell us who was the first Authour of this their rasure and Tonsure either out of ignorance of the Truth or dissembling a lye they have not a word to say But wee and many others with us can assure them that Simon the Inventour of Magicall arts was the Authour of this Tonsure The fraudulent and diabolicall skill of Necromancy contrived by whom against S. Peter is testified by the ancient Book called The Combat of the
Harpsfeild writing of S. Kineburga affirms from Marianus and Mathew of Westminster that she founded another Monastery at Winburn But he seems to be mistaken For there were at this time two Holy women called Kineburga This who was Wife to King Alfrid and Mother to his Successour Osred and another Kineburga Sister to Ina King of the West-Saxons a Virgin of whom we shall treat in the next Century 10. The present S. Kineburga is said to have been Mother to another child called Rumwold who immediatly after he was born is reported to have made coÌ„fession of his Faith and demanded Baptism after which he presently dyed Thus writes Capgrave whose credit though it may be questionable yet certain it is that anciently in the Church of Brackley in Northamptonshire a child named Rumwold was had in great veneration to which Church his Body was translated three years after his death where his Monument remained an illustrious Mark of the peoples Love and Reverence to his Memory His name is in our Martyrologe commemorated among the Saints on the Second of November XII CHAP. 1.2 c. Saint Willebrord ordained at Rome Arch bishop of Vtrecht His Name changed into Clement c. 1. BVT relinquishing a while Brittany the affaires happily succeeding with our English Apostolick Missioners in Germany require our care and attendance to them and that wee should contemplate the wonderfull goodnes of God to that Nation Wee have before related how considering the multitude of Converts there it was thought expedient by our holy and zealous Preists to compose and settle the Church there in good Order by ordaining Bishops to govern it And how for this purpose Saint Swibert and Saint Willebrord were chosen by them as most meet to sustain so sublime and weighty an Office For this purpose Saint Swibert was sent into Brittany to receive consecration from Saint Wilfrid the rightfull Arch-bishop of the Northumbers though at this time living in exile among the Mercians After which Consecration performed he returned the same year into Germany where how executed his Episcopall charge and how wonderfully God assisted him hath been declared 2. As for Saint Willebrord who six years before this had been at Rome from whence he received authority of preaching Christ to the Pagans how this same year by the counsell and recommendation of the Pious Prince Pipin he undertook a second voyage thither to receive Episcopall Ordination Saint Beda in his History declares He might have received Ordination either in Brittany or France but New Episcopall Sees were to be erected which by the ordinary Iurisdiction of Bishopâ— could not be done and therefore authority to effect that was to be obtained from the Supreme Bishop Now how this was performed â— Beda thus â—elaâ—est 3. After that the foresaid English-Preists bad for the space of siverall years preached the Gospell in the countrey of the Frisons by the generall consent of them all Pipin sent the Venerable man Willebrord to Rome the Pontificat whereof was still administred by Pope Sergius to the end he might be ordained Arch-bishop of that Nation Which according to his request was fullfilled in the year six hundred ninety six after our Lords Incarnation Now he was ordained in the Church of the Holy Martyr Saint Cecily and on the day of her Feast and the Pope who ordained him imposed on him the Name of Clement and presently after to witt fourteen dayes after his arrivall at Rome he dismissed him that he might return to his Episcopall See 4. The which See by the munificence of Pipin was established in his illustrious Castle which in the old German language was called Wiltaburg that is the Town of the Wilâ—â— but in the Gallick language was called Vtrecht In this place a Church was built and the most Reverend Bishop preaching the Word of Faith far and wide and recovering much people from their Pagan Errours erected in those Regions many Churches and some Monasteries For not long after the said Venerable Arch-bishop ordained severall other Bishops out of the number of his Brethren the prime Missioners who attended him at his first coming of which some are falln asleep in our Lord but Willebrord himself sirnamed Clement is yet alive that is in the seaven hundred and one and thirtieth year of Grace in which Saint Beda ended his History A Prelat he is Venerable for his old age for this is the thirty sixth year since he was Bishop and after manifold labours and dangers sustained in this Christian Warfare he with his whole mind and a longing desire expects a heavenly retribution 5. To this Narration of Saint Beda touching the Ordination of Saint Willebrord Albinus Flaccus who has compiled the Gests of this Holy Prelat addes one particular very memorable to witt that it was not performed without a Prophecy Revelation from heaven preceding it for thus he writes On the fourth day before Saint Willebrords arrivall at Rome the Holy Pope Sergius was in sleep admonished by an Angell to receive him with great honour as being a man appointed by God to enlighten many soules who came thither to receive the supreme honour of Preist-hood and therefore that he should deny him in none of his requests The Pope thus admonished entertaind him with wonderfull honour and ioy and by conversation with him observing in him great Fervour devotion of Religion and plenitude of wisedom having appointed a convenient day and assembled great numbers of Prelats to ioyn with him in the Ordination to which there was a wonderfull concourse of people he publickly ordained him Arch-bishop with great solemnity after an Apostolick manner in the Church of S. Peter Prince of the Apostles and when he was ordained he imposed on him the name of Clement Moreouer he vested him with his own Pontificall Robes adding likewise the Pall an ensign of the plenitude of Archiepiscopall dignity Whatsoever he desired whether Sacred Relicks of Saints or Ecclesiasticall ornaments he with all chearfullnes bestowed upon him and having conferred on him his Apostolicall Benediction with wholesome precepts and admonitions he sent him back to the Work of the Gospell XIII CHAP. i. 2 c Saint Willebrord arrives at Vtrecht Their preaching A Synod assembled there câ— 1. SAint Willebrord or Clement having thus prosperously performed his iourney to Rome arrived not at his Archiepiscopall See till the year following When the News of his approach thither was divulged Saint Swibert saith his companion Marcellin attended by his Disciples and many other Christians made hast as far as Embrica to meet him where with much honour and ioy in our Lord they received him And Saint Willebrord having been informed that Saint Swibert had been consecrated Bishop and that by his preaching the County of Teisterband with almost all Batâ—a and a great part of Lower Friseland had been converted to our Lord he with great devotion gave infinite thanks to God Being thus mett they returned together
with this Elogy In England the Commemoration of S. Eadbert Bishop of Lindesfarn eminent for his learning and piety 2. His Successour in the same See of Lindesfarn was Edfrid a man saith the same Bishop Godwin who from his childhood had been brought up in good letters and in that age was highly esteemed for his eminent learning This is that Edfrid at whose request S. Beda extolled the vertues and miracles of his Predecessour S. Cuthbert both in prose and verse as appears by his Epistle prefixed to his Book 3. About the same time dyed S. Adamannus the devout Abbot of Hy commemorated in our Martyrologe on the second of September To him is attributed the conversion oâ— most of the Irish and many Brittains to the true observation of the Solemnity of Easter according to the Catholick manner though he could not reduce the obstinate minds of his own Monks His zealous endeavours herein are thus expressed by S. Beda 4. At that time the greatest part of the Scotts in Ireland and not a few Brittains in Brittany by our Lords blessing conformed themselves to the right Ecclesiastical time of celebrating the Paschal Solemnity For Adamannus a Preist and Abbot over the Monks lived in the Isle of Hy having been sent in Embassage from his Nation to Alfrid King of the Northumbers and staying a good space of time in his Province carefully observed the Canonicall Rites of the English Church and moreover was seriously admonished by certain learned men that he with a few Monks hid in the utmost corner of the world should not presume to live in a practise directly contrary to the custom of the whole Church in the Paschall Observance and other Ecclesiasticall Decrees By which admonitions his judgment became quite changed insomuch as he willingly preferred the Observances which he had seen and heard in the Churches of the English before the customs of his own countrey For he was a good man and wise and moreover eminently skillfull in the Scriptures 5. When he was returned home he employd his utmost care to induce his Monks in Hy and all the rest depending on them to return into the path of Truth which he had lately found and with his whole heart approved But all his endeavours through their obstinacy proved vain Whereupon leaving them he sayled into Ireland where by preaching and modest exhortations he perswaded in a manner all the Monks who were not subiect to the Dominion of the Monastery of Hy to quitt their Errour and return to Catholick Vnity in observing the legitimat time of Easter which he taught them Thus having celebrated in Ireland one Canonicall Solemnity of Easter he returned to his Island And again earnestly preached the true Observance to his own Monks yet could by no means perswade them to conformity Now it hapned that before the years Circle was finished he was taken out of this world Divine ProvideÌ„ce so mercifully disposing that this Holy man who was an earnest lover of Vnity and Peace should be taken from hence to eternall Happines before the next â—asâ—hall time was come least he should be compelled to enter into a more sharp debate and discord with those who would not be perswaded to follow him in the way of Truth 6 The same year the Northumbers received a great defeat from the Picts for as Mathew of Westminster relates Brithric a Count of the Northumbers being desirous to avenge the death of his Master King Egfrid invaded in a hostile manner the land of the Picts but as his Lord before had done he likewise felt the curses of the Irish for he also was slain by the Pictish people Notwithstanding as shall be shewd ten years after this the Northumbers had a sufficient revenge upon them XVI CHAP. 1.2 c. The Picts reduced to the Catholick observance of Easter upon occasion of an Epistle written to their King Naitan by the Holy Abbot Ceolfrid 1. WHAT S. Adamannus could not effect among his Scottish obstinat Monks and Islanders of Hy to take away their Errouâ— about the Paschall Solemnity was the next year brought to passe among the Picts by their King Naitan exhorted thereto and instructed by the holy English-Saxon Abbot Ceolfrid The order and manner of this memorable change S. Beda thus describes 2. At that time saith he Naitan King of the Picts inhabiting the Northern coasts of Brittany by frequent meditation on Ecclesiasticall Writings became rectified in his iudgment and renounced the errour which formerly himself and his whole nation had embraced and persisted in reducinâ— all his Subiects to the Catholick observance of the solemnity of our Lords Resurrection Now to effeâ—â— this more easily and with greater authority bâ— sought for help and advice from the English Nation whose Religion he knew was instituted according to the pattern of the Holy Roman and Apostolick Church 3. He sent therefore Messengers to the Venerable man Ceolfrid Abbot of the Monastery of the Blessed Apostles S. Peter and S. Paul seated in a place called Girwum at the mouth of the River Wire and near the River Tine in the Government of which Monastery he succeeded the Holy Abbot S. Benedict Biscop And by those Messengers the said King Naitan requested him to send in Writing instructions to him by which he might be enabled more efficaciously to confute such as presumed to observe the Paschall Solemnity in an undue time He desired likewise to be informed of the true and â—anonicall manner of Ecclesiasticall Tonsure Moreover he entreated him to send him Masons and Architects to build a Church in his countrey of stone after the Roman manner promising that he would dedicate it to the honour of S. Peter Prince of the Apostles and likewise that both himself and all his subiects should in all things imitate the manners and Disciplin of the Holy Roman and Apostolick See as far as they who lived at so great a distance from thence and whose language was so different could be informed 4. The most Reverend Abbot Ceolfrid very willingly complying with desires and requests so full of Religion and Piety sent him such Architects as he demaÌ„ded and withall wrote an Epistle containing an exact information in all the points proposed to him by the King Which Epistle by reason of the prolixity of it it will not be expedient to transcribe the curious Reader may have recourse to Saint Beda's History for it who no doubt as may appear by the stile was either the inditer of it or at least had a great influence in the framing it For at this time he was a Monk living under the government of Ceolfrid and the â—ame of his learning was so far spread that the year next following Pope Sergius by letters to the said Abbot invited Saint Beda to Rome whither he had gone but that news of the said Popes death prevented his voyage 5. The sence of the said Epistle is summarily this In the first place as
touching the Paschal Solemnity common both to Iews and Christians wee are to observe how the Iewish Synagogue celebrated it in shadow and figure and next how the Christian Church in truth and reality 6 God commanded the Iews to begin their Ecclesiasticall year in the Spring and that the third week of the first Month beginning froÌ„ the Second Vespers of the fourteenth day to the one and twentieth day at evening should be entirely coÌ„secrated to him as a most solemne feast to be spent only in his Service in commemoration of a twofold deliverance one from the destroying Angell which killed all the first born in every family of the Egyptians and the other from their slavery under the Egyptians The former deliverance they celebrated by the Sacrifice of a Lamb whose blood having been sprinckled on the upper posts of their dores was a mark for the destroying Angell to passe over them And the Second deliverance by putting away out of their houses all leaven and for the space of seaven days together using unleavened bread only Of which seaven dayes the first and the seaventh were to be esteemed most holy and solemne This deliverance was effected on the fifteenth day of the Moon and was thus celebrated because they were urged to goe out of Egyt in such hast that they were forced to take their dough before it was leavend Thus did the Iews observe their Paschall Solemnity 7. But when Christ our true Passeover was immolated and by his Resurrection had consecrated for ever the first day of the Week therefore called our Lords day Apostolick Tradition ordained that our Paschall solemnity should always begin on our Lords day yet so that the said day should be inserted within the space of the Iewish solemnity that is on some day in the third week beginning at the fifteenth and ending on the one and twentieth day The first Month therefore being come and the even of the fourteenth day likewise being come then must moreover be expected the Lords day which of necessity must fall within the third week that is on one of the seaven solemne days celebrated by the Iews beginning at the fifteenth and ending at the one and twentieth This is the order of the Catholick Observance prescribed anciently by the Church of Alexandria 8. From which order severall sorts of Christians have swerved after severall manners For. 1. Some had no regard at all to Sunday or the Lords day but celebrated the Paschall solemnity exactly on the very day that the Iews did whether it were Sunday or not These were the Quarto-decimani 2. Again others anticipated the due time for in case that Sunday fell on the fourteenth day they then celebrated our Lords Resurrection beginning the feast on the even of the thirteenth day which is no part of the third week nor at all prescribed by the Iewish Law This was the Errour of the Scotts and ancient Brittains who thought that the seaven days of the Moon were to be reckoned from the fourteenth to the twentieth 3. Lastly some there were who did transcend the due time accounting from the sixteenth to the two and twentieth and in case the Lords day fell on the two and twentieth they then kept the Christian Paschall Feast not in the third week of the Moon but in the beginning of the fourth contrary to the prescriptions of the Law This was anciently a mistake of the Latins who afterward corrected themselves and conformed to the Alexandrins 9. Now it was by the Vernall Equinox that Catholicks found out what Month according to the Computation of the Moon was to be esteemed the first Month of the year Which Vernall Equinox according to the calculation of the holy Bishops in the Councill of Nicéa was to be the fixed on the twelfth-day before the Calends of April that is the one twentieth of March. So that whatsoever Moon was full before the Equinox it belonged to the last Month of the precedent year and pertaind not to the Paschall solemnity But if it was full that is if the fourteenth or fiâ—teenth day of it fell either in the Vernall Equinox or after it the first Month was to be reckoned from the first day of its New-moon and on the first Sunday then following the Feast of our Lords Resurrection is to be celebrated 10. The Christian Paschall solemnity depending on the right placing of the first full Moon there were severall Cycles instituted as the most ancient Cycle of Nineteen years which was enlarged by Saint Cyrill into a Cycle of ninety-fiue years containing five of the former Cycles and in these days in Brittany many had extended it to five hundred thirty two years The use of which Cycles were to shew that when they were expired the Full Moons returned again to the same order as formerly This is the substance of what the Holy Abbot Ceolfrid wrote concerning the Paschall Solemnity 11. In the next place touching Ecclesiasticall Tonsâ—re of which there were severall manners and fashions though he acknowledged that a difference in Tonsure could not harm such as have true Faith in God and charity to their Neighbour yet that among all the sorts that was most to be approved which Saint Peter used and which represented the Crown of Thorns which our Lord bore at his Passion As on the other side that was most to be detested which they say Simon Magus wore which was so made that if a man looked him that wore it in the face it would have some appearance of a Crown but behind was so curtaild that it had no such shew at all How ever he did not deny but that those who out of custom used even this kind of Crown and Tonsure might be good men such was the Holy Abbot and Preist of the Columbin Monks of Hy Adamannus who was lately sent on a message to King Alfrid and for this reproved by Ceolfrid himself and whose only excuse was That though he wore the Tonsure of Simon Magus yet he detested his Simoniacall perfidiousnes and desired to follow the example of S. Peter whom in the secret of his heart he sincerely venerated To which Ceolfrid replied That it was very fitting as he in his heart reverenced S. Peter and abhorred Simon Magus so outwardly to imitate the habit of S. Peter and reiect that of Simon Magus Which Discourse so wrought upon the good Abbot Adamannus that no doubt he would have endeavoured to correct this custom as well as he did the Scottish Errour about the Observance of Easter if it had been in his power 12. To this effect was the said Epistle which concluded with a serious exhortation to King Naitan to cause his whole Kingdom to observe such things as were accordant to Catholick Vnity and practised by the Apostolick Church of Christ that so S. Peter Prince of the Apostles after the end of his Temporall Kingdom might open him an entrance into a Heavenly 13. This Epistle being sent and publickly read in the Kings
that extremity that he could not so much as ride on horseback but by his servaÌ„ts was caried in a hand-litter In this maÌ„ner he was brought to Meaux Meldum a Citty of France where four days and nights together he lay as one dead and a faint breathing scarce perceptible shewd only that he was yet alive Thus long continuing without meat or drink without speaking or hearing any thing spoken at last about day-break on the fifth day he awaked as from a deep sleep and sate up in his bed Then opening his eyes he saw about him his Brethren singing Psalms and weeping And sighing a little he demanded where Acca the Preist was Presently therefore he was called for and seeing the Holy Bishop pretty well recovered and able to speak he kneeled down and the other Brethren with him and gave thanks to God for so great a blessing 9. After this they sate down together and entred into discourse concerning the terrour of Divine iudgments which discourse having continued awhile the Holy Bishop commanded all the rest to leave the room except Acca to whom directing his countenance and speech he said A terrible Vision lately hapned to mee which I intend to discover to thee but which thou must conceale till I see how it shall please God to dispose of mee There stood before mee a certain person in a glorious shining vestment who said he was the Archangell Michael and that he was sent to recall mee from death For sayd he our Lord moved by the Prayers and tears of thy Brethren and Disciples and by the Intercession of his most Blessed Virgin Mother has given thee life Therefore I assure thee that thou shalt for the present recover of this sicknes but be prepared for four years hence I will visit thee Thou shalt arrive safe in thy native countrey and there receive the greatest part of thy possessions and conclude thy life in great tranquillity 10. The event shewed this Vision to have been no illusion for presently the Holy Bishop perfectly recovered his health to the great ioy of all who gave humble thanks to God for it And not long after renewing his iourney he came safe into Brittany But because he arrived not there till the year following wee will here interpose a Narration of the great chaÌ„ges hapning in this Island in the mean time which gave a new course to the Holy Bishops affaires XXIII CHAP. 1.2 Ethelred King of the Mercians becomes a Monk 3. He founds certain Monasteries 4. Coâ—nred succeeds in the Kingdom 5.6 Munificence of King Ina And of Bugga a Princesse to Glastonbury c. 1. SAint Wilfrid among other requests to Pope Iohn had desired him to write Letters in his favour to Ethelred King of the Mercians which he also did accordingly But in the Holy Bishops absence King Ethelred having been visited with the Grace and mercy of the Omnipotent was become a Monk saith Henry of Huntingdon And this change all our other ancient Historians attribute to his piety and contempt of worldly glory Whereas certain Modern Protestant Writers not traind up in the School of Gods Spirit doe without any ground from Antiquity affirm That King Ethelred being touched with remorse of his crimes and a terrour in conscience for having usurped the Kingdom was moved to build a Monastery and to enter himself into it after he had held the Kingdom full thirty years 2. As touching the place where this devout King undertook a Monasticall Profession S. Beda thus writes There is in the Province of Lindissi or Lincolnshire a Noble Monastery named Beardanam which was much affected and honoured by Offrida Queen of the Mercians as likewise by her husband Ethelred 3. The same King before he forsook the world had founded severall other Monasteries one whereof he bestowed upon Egwin afterward Bishop of Worcester of which himself makes mention thus Being in the prime of my age in the days of Ethelred King of the Mercians I made my humble request to him that he would vouchsafe to bestow on mee an ancient Monastery called Fledâ—nburch which he with great kindnesse granted mee It was seated in the Province of Worcester neer to the River Avon is at this day called Flatbury a place which saith Camden in the Primitive Church of the English was inhabited by Religious men The same Authour likewise ascribes to this King Ethelred the founding of the famous Monastery of Evesham concerning which wee shall treat more largely e're long 4. The Successour to King Ethelred in the Kingdom of the Mercians was Coënred or Kenrea son to his Brother Wulfere who diligently imitated all his vertues for as his Predecessour had done he passed his life in great sincerity of manners being eminent for his piety to God and justice in administring his Kingdom Thus writes Polydor Virgil and William of Malmsbury And as he lived so likewise ended he his life according to his example for he built many Monasteries and after a few years embraced also a Monasticall Life 5 Piety and munificence to Gods Church was the ordinary employment busines of the Kings of this age For Ina also King of the West-Saxons by the Counsell of S. Aldelm re-instated the ancient Monastery of Glastenbury in all possessions and priviledges which by reason of former troubles had been taken from it and settled the Monks in good order under the government of their Abbot Hemgesil And the said Abbot dying this year he gave to his Successaur Berwald severall Lordshâ—ps mentioned in his Grant preserved by the said Authour and the Tabernacles and other Vessells of gold and silver given by the said King to that Monastery are of a valew almost incredible Also at the same time Bugga the daughter of Kentwin formerly King of the West-Saxons seemed to contend with King Ina in adorning this famous Church and Monastery for as Alcuin in his Poâ—m recounts she built there a Chappell in which were twelve sumptuous Altars shining with gold and silver and consecrated to the twelve Apostles This she did for the refreshment of her Fathers soule who was there buried 6. The same King Ina moreover built a Church in Somersetshire at a Town anciently called Theorodunum and vulgarly Tiddington but afterwards for the abundance of springs named Welles To which he added a Colledge for Ecclesiasticall persons to live sequestred from the world in devotion The Church he dedicated to God the Apostle S. Andrew which shortly after saith Camden was by Princes and Noble men enriched with large revenews It grew in succeeding times into an Episcopall See and Athelm is by Bishop Godwin reckoned the first Bishop of Welles in the year of Grace nine hundred and five So that Polydor Virgil was mistaken in saying that King Ina erected it into a Bishoprick XXIV CHAP. 1. 2. c. Saint Wilfrid returns with the Popes Letters which are neglected by King Alfrid 8.9 who shortly after dyes 1. IN
lyes saith he notwithstanding he made good his threatning to S. Swibert when he was cast out of a person possessed by him That he would take a course to drive him out of the Province For two years after that an illustrious man called Bruno one of the principall Nobility among the Saxons coming into the Province of the Boructuarians with a great retinue took up his lodging in a village named Ratigen Where being entertained by one of principall authority there there hapned a quarâ—ell between them after they had been inflamed with drink and in this dissension the Saxon through the Devils instigation killed the other with two of his servants Which being known through the village the freinds and kinred of those who had been slain betook themselves to â—rms and to revenge their death putt to the sword the said Noble man of Saxony and almost all his followers 4. A true report of this being spread through Saxony presently the Saxons in great rage with a powerfull army entred the borders of the Boructuarians where they killed great numbers with the sword besides other horrible mischeifs which they did to the rest as for the village of Ratigen they with an implacable fury utterly destroyd it On the other side the Boructuarianâ— and principally such as had relation to the men who had â—een slain there having likewise assembled strong forces of armed men with fire and sword demolished many towns and fortifications of the Saxons 5. Such violences and depopulations on both sides having continued a long time the Boructuarians and specially such Christians among them as had been converted by Saint Swibert considering that they were not able to resist the power and insolence of the Saxons they took leave of Saint Swibert and having received his benediction they were forced to remove themselves into remoter Provinces to the end they might there with more security serve our Lord. 6. In the mean time the glorious Prelat S. Swibert perceiving his flock to be dispersed up and down and that no truce could be procured between the two Nations nor any fruit by his preaching by reason of the stony hearts of the Saxons he made his prayers earnestly and assiduously to God that he would please to shew him some convenient place where he might dwell quietly in his old age At last by the admonition of an Angel he was commanded to goe to Colen where the Noble Duke Pepin and his wife Plectrude would bestow on him a fitt place for his habitation 7. Now saith Baronius how when the Holy Bishop came to Colen he was there kindly and respectfully entertained by Plectrude the Wife of Pipin how likewise after he had done many things beseeming his Apostolicall Office and by her recommendation obtained from her husband a village called Werda seated in an Island of the Rhene where he built a Noble Monastery is at large recounted by the same Marcellinus That establishment proved a strong bulwark to expugne the infidelity of the Saxons And thus it hapned that wheresoever this Apostolicall Bishop went his presence proved advantageous and healthfull to soules and that dispersion of Christians became a mean for the further spreading of the Gospell as it hapned in the Primitive Church when by occasion of a violent persecution of Christians at Ierusalem the dispersion of the Disciples round about became proffitable to the salvation of infinite multitudes 8. Thus writes Baronius out of Saint Marcellin But let us heare the relation from the Holy mans penne The Noble and devout Princesse Plectrudis saith he with great devotion received the Holy Bishop in the Palace of the Dukes of Colen and Lorrain a great part of which she had changed and consecrated into a Cloister of Religious Virgins intitled the Church of the glorious Virgin Ad Capitolâ—um And awhile after she directed the holy man attended by a Noble person of Ardenna named Gerald who had been healed by Saint Swibert a little before of a pestilent disease with commendatory Letters to her husband Prince Pinpin earnestly requesting him that he would bestow on the holy Bishop the village of Werda seated in an Isle of the Rhene to the end that there he and his Disciples attending him might take care and doe good to the soules of the Pagan Saxons living near Pipin being at that time well stricken in years received S. Swibert with great honour detaining him a good space of time with him In the end with great chearfulnes as one who thirsted after the Conversion of the Infidell-Saxons he with a Regall magnificence not only bestowed on him the said village but withall out of his own copious Treasure offred and added great store of gold and silver to enable him for the building a Church and Monastery to the glory of God and the nourishing with the word of life that barbarous people utterly ignorant of the Faith 9. Now this Pipin was not the younger Pipin who was son to Charles the Great but Pipin firnamed de Herstallo Father to Charles Martel who was founder of this Monastery So that the Centuriators of Magdeburg relating otherwise doe shew great want of exactnes in distinguishing times and great ignorance in citing Saint Beda for a witnes who was dead above forty years before the younger Pipin raigned who was so far from being a founder of the Monastery of Werda that he changed into a Castle and fortification against the Saxons But let us return to S. Marcellins Narration 10. The holy Bishop saith he having taken leave of the Prince returned to Colen to Saint Plectrudis By whose assistance and authority he being attended by many Masons and other workmen went to Werda where he presently began to found a Monastery near the Rhene to the honour of the glorious Virgin Mary and there he collected a Congregation of Monks devoutly serving our Lord. After which it can hardly be expressed with what humility devotion and reverence he preached the Faith of Christ to that rude Pagan people and especially with what purity of mind and body he celebrated Masses and performed all other Ecclesiasticall duties XV. CHAP. 1.2 c. Saint Swibert raises to life a dead man c. 1. AFter two years preaching there saith Baronius the foundations of the Saxon-Church began to be layd by the most holy Apostolick Bishop S. Swibert who came to them in abundance of benedictions with signs and Miracle raising a dead man to life being powerfull in all things both deeds words Let us attend therefore to what S. Marcellinus has delivered coÌ„cerning these things 2. In the seaven hundred and eleaventh year of our Lords Incarnation saith he when S. Swibert not only in Werda but also in the towns and villages preached the Gospell of Christ with great fervour to the profane Saxons it hapned on a certain day being Teusday that he went into a certain neighbour-village attended by a venerable Preist called Willeic to celebrate Masse and a certain
three years after and is commemorated on the two and twentieth of September 6 A great proof of the perfection of Monasticall Disciplin observed after her death in her Monastery is this That Saint Boniface the glorious Apostle of the Germans having founded a Monastery in those parts made choice of her Disciples above all others and particularly of Saint Lioba to plant Religious observance there This is testified by Rodulphus Disciple of Rabanus Maurus in the life of S. Lioba written by him 8. The same Writer also affirms that in the same town of Winburn there was erected likewise a Cloyster of Monks either by Saint Cuthburga or her Brother King Ina And that from the beginning a Law and Decree of Religious Disciplin had been made That excepting Preists who were to serve at the Altar no men should be permitted to enter the Monastery of those Religious Virgins Nor any woman into that of Religious men And that among the other obligations of the Virgins at their Profession this was one never to step out of their Cloyster except upon a necessary cause to be approved by Superiours 9. Among the Epistles of Saint Boniface there is one inserted from one Aldhun an Abbot and two Abbesses called Cnenburg and Coenburg which were probably these two Princely Sisters Saint Cuthburga and Saint Quenburga desiring a devour Preist called Wietbert an attendant of Saint Boniface to recommend to God in his Prayers two Religious woemen Quoengyth and Edlu both which dyed the same day being the Ides of September XIX CHAP. 1.2 c. The death of Prince Pipin to which S. Swibert endeavoured in vain to prepare him 1. THE death of Duke Pipin hapning about this time since the holy Apostolick Bishop Saint Swibert was employed in preparing him to it which charge he performed with great zeale though with small effect it will not be iudged impertinent to give an account of what passed between them from the relation of S. Marcellin a witnes whose authority cannot be questioned Thus therefore he writes 2. It hapned sayth he in the year seaven hundred and fourteen after our Lords Incarnation that Pipin of Herstall a magnanimous Prince and Maâ—re of the King of France his house sell fick of that disease which endred with his life Hereupon the illustrious Bishop Saint Swibert was earnestly desired by certain Noble persons to visit him But he thought fitt first to goe to Colen attended by his two Disciples Willeic and Theodorick there to demand counsell of Plectrudis the illustrious Duchesse of Lorrain or the Austrasians how he should cary himself in that affaire She with great devotion received and entertaind him at last for her own consolation retaining with her the pious Preist Willeic she dismissed Saint Swibert accompanied by Agilulf Archbishop of Colen and other Prelats giving them charge seriously to advise her husband Prince Pipin that in case he should dye he would take care not to disinherit his illustrious lawfully begotten children Drogo Duke of Champagne and Grimoaldus Maire of the house to Childebert King of France by substituting in his Will as his Heyr Charles Martell a bastard by Alpaide his Concubine which injustice he could not doe without the losse and damnation of his soule besides the stain that he would bring upon his name in the sight of the whole Church and Scandall of his Nobility and Subjects 3. This was an employment which not long before had cost the Holy Bishop Lambert very dear for because he had reprehended the same Prince for his unlawfull cohabitation and mariage with the same Harlot he lost his life and was deservedly esteemed a Martyr 4. The foresaid Bishop therefore being arrived at Ioppilta a Town upon the River Mosa where the sick Prince lay were kindly received by him They therefore to comfort and encourage him to suffer with patience temporall afflictions or infirmities told him that Almighty God in his wisedom and goodnes made the way to heaven rough and unpleasant to his Elect least being delighted in the way they should forget or disesteem the happines which they expected in their countrey 5 After such like discourse often repeated at last having found a convenient and opportune season among other spirituall advices which they gave him for the good of his soule they with great affection and zeale discovered to him the speciall motive of their iourney sharply reprooving him for his unlawfull mariage But they had no sooner touched upon this argument but they were with great indignation repulsed by the Prince And the harlot Alpaide having diligently enquired into and found the occasion of these Prelats iourney rudely commanded them presently to be gone And withall was so importunate with the Prince in behalf of her Son Charles Martel that she obtained of him whatsoever she requested And accordingly Pipin dying the same year left Charles Martel heyre of all his Principalities 6. This being seen by the foresayd Prelats they were forced to return to Colen with greif and dishonour where they made known to Plectrudis all things which had passed at Ioppilia with Pipin withall comforting and exhorting her to sustain such crosses with patience XX. CHAP. i. 2 c. The Birth education and Gests of S. Guthlac Of his Disciple Bertelins intention to murder him Of Ethelbald a banished Mercian Prince comforted by him c. BVT in Brittany a far more comfortable and happy death befell a Hermit of admirable Sanctity named S. Guthlac who as in this life he enioyd a familiar conversation with Angels so in the next he was made their companion in blessednes for ever His Gesis we have thought fitt to remitt till this time when he dyed because having lived a solitary life they were scarce at all involved with the common occurrents of the Church in his time The story of his life may require from us a more then ordinary attention credit because written by Felix a devout â—reist of the same age and dictated to him by Bertelin a Monk of Croyland his companion in Solitude The Authour dedicated his Writing to Elwold King of the East-Angles which is a sufficient warrant to rectify the Chronology of some of our Historians who place the death of this Elwold in the year of Grace six hundred and ninety By the generall account S. Guthlac lived forty seaven years and being twenty four years old he undertook a soldiers Profession in which he lived eight years and fifteen years after in the Solitude of Croyland so that his Birth must fall in the year of Grace six hundred sixty seaven The wonderfull circumstances of which is thus recorded by the foresaid Authour Felix 2. In the dayes of Ethelred King of the Mercians saith he a certain Noble person of Royall offspring named Penwald had by his wife Tecta the holy servant of God Guthlac At the hower of his birth his future Sanctity was miraculously designed For from heaven there appeard the hand as it were of
a certain Prince of Mercia called Ethelbaldus by the good advice of S. Guthlac 11. In those days saith he that is in the year before the death of this Holy Hermit Prince Ethelbald great grandchild of Alwy the Brother of King Penda was banished out of the kingdom of the Mertians He was of an elegant stature strong of body and warlick of mind but which was to be bewayled he was high-minded and apt to any rash attempt against the King For which turbulent spirit of his as we may iustly imagine he was exposed to many dangers and for a long space debarred all medling with State-affaires And not only so but King Coelred did violently persecute him every where insomuch as being in great danger and wholly destitute of freinds and all means to resist he would oft come privatly to the man of God Saint Guthlac who was his Confessour to seek for spirituall counsell when all worldly assistance fayled him and to him he humbly made his complaints 12. The Holy man having heard him kindly and mildly comforted him and withall as one to whom future things were by divine revelation known he distinctly and particularly discovered to him what should succeed afterward promising him that he should be King of his Nation and subdue all his Enemies Yea moreover he bad him be confident that all these things should happen to him without any combat or effusion of blood only by Gods power and Providence over him 13. But to these comforting promises he added serious admonitions that he should fear our Lord God above all things and shew â—ll subwission and respect to his Holy Church That he should often deplore his former crimes and constantly make good his purpose of amendment For he told him that if he would be carefull to obey the Divne Law he might with confidence expect Gods help and favour By such exhortations and comforts the mind of the afflicted Prince was exceedingly refreshed insomuch as in the presence of his holy Father Saint Guthlac and others then standing by he expressly promised that assoon as God should sett him peaceably in the Throne of the Kingdom he would found a Monastery in the same place to the honour of God and memory of his sayd Father And this promise a short time after he effectually accomplished XXI CHAP. 1. 2. c. The death of Saint Guthlac and wonderfull occurrents Of his Sister Saint Pega 1. AFter a life spent with such austerity holines and devotion there must needs follow a death conformable to it which is thus related from the mouth of his companion and Disciple Berthelin 2. When the day of his departure approached he called to him his Disciple Berthelin to whom he sayd My son I am now going to reap the fruit of my Labours I desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ. And after other words to the same effect he enioynd him to goe and with great affection in his name salute his Sister Pega desiâ—ing her to take care of his buriall Withall he bid him tell her that therefore he had avoyded the seeing and conversing with her in this present life that they might for ever enioy each others company in the life to come 3. Then his sayd Disciple took the boldnes to say thus to him I adiure you Holy Father that you will not refuse to tell mee plainly what the matter was that every morning and evening since I dwelt with you I heard you speak to and sometimes seem to answer some body Who was that person with whom you conversed Your speeches I heard but could never understand with whom you spoke To this question the Holy-man answered My dear son My last hower is now at hand It is not therefore expedient for mee now to lye who all my life have abhord it Know therefore that from my first entrance into this wildernes every morning and evening I have enioyd the conversation and comfort of a heavenly Angell who by his celestiall consolations refreshed mee in all my labours and tentations He foretold to mee things future discovered such as were absent and acquainted mee with hidden Mysteries which it is not expedient nor lawfull for mee to make known But now My son be carefull to seal up in silence these things and presume not to discover them to any but my Sister Pega and the devout Anchoret Egbert 4. When he had sayd this such an odortferous fragrancy came from his mouth that it seemed as if one had strowed roses or pourd forth balsam in the place And from midnight till morning a Light of inestimable brightnes shone through the whole house And assoon as the Sun was risen he sayd to his Disciple Bertelin My Son now is the moment that I must goe to Christ Having said this with hands stretched forth toward heave he fell asleep in our Lord on the third day before the Ides of April And the same Brother saw as it were a tower of fire reaching from the earth to heaven the splendour of which was so wonderfull that in comparison the light of the Sun at midday was pale and obscure A while after Blessed Pega the holy Mans Sister coming into the Island found the whole house replenished with a sweet fragrancy infinitly exceeding all odours which either art or nature could produce Then having decently buried her Brother S. Guthlat in his Oratory she returned to her own dwelling 5. About a year after his death his sister and other Preists came to his Oratory with a resolution to bury his body more honourably and they found it entire without the least corruption as if he had been asleep The ioynts likewise of his arms and fingers were as easily flexible as if the humours and spirits were yet running through his veyns his sinews had lost nothing of their former vigour Moreover the garments in which his sacred body had been wrapped preserved stil their primitive freshnes and glasse With great ioy and exaltation therefore they again reposed the Sacred Body once more in a Tombe expressly made for it 6. Now Prince Ethelbald in his exile having heard of the death of the Holy man was overwhelmed with greif and coming to his sepulcher he cryed out with many tears O Father whither shall I a poor banished man goe to whom shall I have recourse Now indeed I perceive that I am a miserable exile Dear Father Guthlac doe not you forsake him who is abandond by all and exposed to all miseries and torments Having spoken many such words with extreme greif and bitter sighs towards midnight he saw the Oratory wonderfully enlightned with an inexpressible brightnes and the Holy man himself appeard to him with a celestiall splendour saying to him these words My dear Son our Lord has a regard to thee be comforted and assured that within two years all thy travells shall have an end and thou shalt recover thy throne with great glory Besides this the Holy man expressly discovered to him how many
without delay denounce them to his Holines But if it should happen which God forbid that I should hereafter attempt or any way doe any thing contrary to the tenon of this my Vow may I in the last dreadfull Iudgment incurr the Sentence and punishment of Ananias and Saphira who presumed to deale unfaithfully with you in disposing their goods This form of Oath also I Boniface humble Bishop have written with mine own hand and having layd it upon the most sacred Body of S. Peter I have in the presence of God who is my judge taken this my oath accordingly which I doe promise to keep 6. After this the Pope studiously assisted and respected him in all things for he gave him a Book containing all Ecclesiasticall Decrees which had been Synodically made by his Predecessours enioyning him that both his Clergy and people should be ordered according to the said Instituts He likewise by a Priviledge in Writing promised and confirmed to him and all that depended on him the favour and Protection of the See Apostolick 7. To conclude at his departure he gave him severall Letters to the illustrious Duke Charles Mair of the French Kings palace to all Bishops Preists Nobles c. requiring their assistance and defence of the said holy man in the execution of his Apostolick Office among the Nations feared on the Eastern parts of the Rhene With these he adioynd a Letter also to the Clergy and people peculiarly subject to this Holy Bishop requiring them to shew all reverence and obedience to him acquainting them withall that among other Iniunctions given him he had commanded him not to presume to make any unlawfull Ordinations not to permitt any one who had two wives or one which had not been a Virgin no illiterate man or deformed and vitiated in any of his members none which had been in publick Pennance or obnoxious to Iustice to be promoted to Holy Orders That he should not receive to the same Orders any Aegyptians or Africans because many such were Manicheans and often rebaptized That he should be carefull not to diminish but rather encrease the revenews or ornaments of his Churches And that the Rents and Oblations should be divided into four portions of which one he should reserve to himself a second should be distributed to the Clergy proportionably to their Offices a third to the poor and strangers and a fourth to be reserved for maintaining the fabricks of Churches Of all which he was to give an account in the Iudgment of God That Ordinations of Preists and Deacons should be celebrated onely in the Fasts of the fourth and tenth Monthes at the beginning of Lent and on the Vespers of Saturday after Whitsontide Lastly that except in danger of death the Sacrament of Baptism should not be conferred but only on the Solemnities of Easter and Pentecost 8 To these Letters were added others full of pious exhortations and Catechisticall Instructions to the people of the Province of the Thuringians and also the Alt Saxons both Idolaters and new converted Christians And lastly whereas among the Thuringians there were some courageous persons who in defence of their Faith had suffred greivous persecutions from the Pagans he addressed a particular letter to them by name to these Noble persons Altolph Godolas Wilary Gunthar Albold c. in which he highly exalted their constancy giving humble thanks to God for the same and encouraging them to persevere in their constancy to have recourse to the See Apostolick in any of their necessities and to be obedient to their new consecrated Bishop XIV CHAP. 1.2 c. S Boniface returning into Germany constantly exercises his Apostolick Office He destroye Idolatry c. 4. He excommunicates Hereticks and licentious Christians 5. He is encouraged by S. Michaël to whom he builds a Church 6.7 8. He by Letters beggs the Prayers of severall Devout persons 1. SAint Boniface encouraged and secured by the authority of so many recommendations began his iourney towards Germany the beginning of the year following and being come to the Noble Prince Charles sirnamed Martel he presented to him the Holy Popes Letters and recommending himself to his protection with his consent he proceeded in his iourney to the Region of the Catti now called Hassians to whom he had already begun to preach the Gospell and to secure him both there and in the way thither the Prince gave him likewise Letters of safe-guard directed to all Bishops Dukes Counts c. signifying to them that it was his will that the Apostolick Father and Bishop Boniface the bearer of those should without any molestation or iniury goe or remain in the said countreys as being one whom he had received into his favour and Protection which he calls Mundiburde 2. When he was come into the Province of the Catti he found there very many who had cast off the Profession of Christianity Some Sacrifised to trees and fountâ—ins at least privatly some followed sooth saying and cousening divinations and many were addicted to abominable Sacrifices so that a very small number remained constant in the way of Truth which they had been taught 3. By the advice of these the Holy Bishop with their assiâ—tance attempted to cutt down a certain Tree of a prodigious vastnes which grew in a place called Geâ—smer and had been for many ages called the Tree of Iupiter Whereupon a great multitude of Pagans ran thither with an intention to kill him as an Ennemy of their Gods But at the same instant the Tree though not at all deep cutt as if it had been agitated by a Divine force was torn into four peices This when those Pagans saw they gave glory to God and embraced the Faith 4. Neither did he find greater opposition from Pagans then from Hereticks and licentious Christians For going from that Province to the Thurigians he found there a great decay of the Catholick Faith occasioned by the death of some of their Princes which had been converted The principall Authours of severall Heresies among them had been these infamous persons Dorthuvia Berther Eanbert and Humed Others there were horribly defiled with scandalous lusts and adulteries All which after sharp reprehensions he cutt off from the Churches Communion by Excommunication 5. In the mean time the famâ— of his Preaching being spread great accessions were made to the number of Beleiveâ—s Many Churches were erected and Monasteries built Among which one of the most Notable was founded at Ordorf to the honour of the Blessed Archangel Saint Michael who had appeared with great glory to the Holy Bishop on a certain night sleeping in his Tent near the River Oraham where he had been employed in preaching and baptizing and with many comfortable words encouraged him to be constant in that holy employment The morning following he celebrated Masse in the same place after which he commanded that dinner should be prepared But being told that there was no meat Is it so answered he How many
of the Customes and likewise the Church belonging to the Castle there which S. Amand Bishop of Maestrick had built These gifts he bestowd for buying incense and Lights and that the Preists serving in the said Church might pray for Gods mercy and pardon of the Sins of the Donours as appears in the Charter of the said Princes recorded by the same Authour Moreover in a Second Charter the same Prince and his wife signify that they had also given to the Church of S. Peter and S. Paul built likewise by Saint Amand of which Church S. Willebrord had the oversight the entire village of Preprusdare seated on the River Nutta and half the rents and proffits of another village called Winlindechim Thus writes Miraeus out of an ancient Manuscript belonging to the Abbey of Epternac where also the same S. Willebrâ—rd dyed as shall be shewd in its due place And he thus concludes That Evangelicall Plantation which S. Amandus and S. Eligius began among the inhabitants of Antwerp was perfected by S. Willebrord XVI CHAP. 1.2 c The Piety of King Ina His devout iourney to Rome 1. THE year of Grace seaven hundred twenty six was much illustrated by the piety and devotion of the glorious King of the West-Saxons Ina who after a raign of thirty eight years having munificently extended his liberality to the See of Rome then at last in his old age undertook a tedious iourney thither leaving his Kingdom to younger and stronger shoulders and resolving to spend the remainder of his life in devotion meditation of celestiall things near the monuments of the glorious Apostles S. Peter and S. Paul A practise of devotion in these dayes very frequent with all sorts Noble and ignoble men and women also as S. Beda testifies 2. Before he putt this in execution he the year before had beyond all his Predecessours richly endowed the ancient venerable Monastery of Glastonbury where from the foundation he erected a New Church consecrated to our Saviour and the Honour of S. Peter and S. Paul Princes of the Apostles and withall conferred on the said Monastery which he stiles the prime fountain and Originall of all Religion in Brittany very many large possessions and Manors confirming withall whatsoeves had been formerly given by Kings his Predecessours or any others a particular account whereof he setts down in his Charter Moreover he granted to the same Monastery very great Priviledges and exemptions from the Bishops authority permitting the Monks to receive in the said Monastery or in any Chappell 's annexed to it the Ecclesiasticall Sacraments froÌ„ whatsoever Bishop they should think fit so he were such an one as was conformable to the Church in the Paschall celebration 3. A Coppy of which Royal Charter is extant in Sir H. Spelman extracted out of the ancient Archives of that Monastery Where it is further written that the foresaid King Ina after the sealing of this Charter by himself with the consent and attestation of his Queen Edilburga of King Buldâ—ed of Adelard the Queens Brother of Beorthwald Arch-bishop of Canterbury c. directed Letters to Pope Gregory signed with his Royall Seale in which was enclosed the same Charter exemplified together with a Cup of gold and other royall presents beseeching him that he would receive the Church of Canterbury with all its appartenances and priviledges into the protection of the See Apostolick and confirm them for ever by his authority The same year likewise the said King took a iourney personally to Rome and sent back to Glastonbury this Priviledge confirmed by the Apostolick signet 4. This devout iourney of King Ina to Rome was suggested to him principally by his vertuous and pious Queen Ethelburga The innocent subtilty by which she at last effected it is related by William of Malmsbury to this effect King Ina saith he had to wife Ethelburga a Lady of Royall blood and a Royall mind likewise She frequently instilld into the cares of her husband motives to induce him to bid farwell at least in his last age to all wordly vanities Such good suggestions he would seem to approve but the execution of them he delayd from day to day At last she attempted to overcome him by subtilty in the manner following 5. On a certain time being in their Countrey-palace where a Royall court was kept with extreme magnificence assoon as they were gone from thence the Keeper of the house by the Queens private order defiled all the rooms of the palace with rubbish and the dung of cattell yea in the bed where the King and Queen had lyen he putt a sow with her young piggs In the mean time when the Court had proceeded little more then a mile in their return the Queen entreated and importuned the King to goe back to the same palace as if it imported almost her life The King with no great difficulty was perswaded but when he found his Palace which he had elâ—t but even then magnificeÌ„tly adorned now become so ugly and nasty he wonderd at it and turning his eyes to the Quern seemed to ask her the reason of this change She taking advantage of this occasion with a smiling look said to him so where are now the rustling tumults and noises Where are the magnificent purple Tapistries Where are the many vessels of gold and silver where the luxurious banquets for which sea and land was searched Are not all these vanished away like smoke and wind But woe to those who fixe their minds on such vanities which like a swift torrent make hast to loose themselves in the abysse for they likewise sholl be snatched away with them The more powerfull wee are the more powerfull will our torments be unlesse wee provide in time for our eternall state To this purpose she spoke and with such efficacy she by this emblem drew her husbands mind to perform what for many years together she could not obtain by her perswasions For after many victories and rich spoyles gained from his enemies and many noble exploâ—â—s performed in the world he at last aspiring to the supreme perfection of piety undertook a pilgrimage to Rome 6. As touching his pious Queen Edilburga how she disposed of her self entring into a Monastery of which she became Abbesse and dyed in great Sanctity wee shall treat in due season and place XVII CHAP. 1.2 King Ina first conferrs on the See Apostolick the Pension called Romescot or Peter pence 3. 4. c The same is continued by succeeding Princes even of the Norman Race and the like by forrain Kings c. 1. KING Ina being not only resolved but in a readinesse to begin his Pilgrimage towards Rome determind to leave some lasting monument of his Piety and affection to the See Apostolick His Predecessour Cedwalla had voluntarily quitted the throne and with great devotion changed his Purple into a poor Monasticall habit there near the Monuments of the Apostles King Ina not content to
English as should come to the Citty and in which if any of them hapned to dye here they might be buried Thus writes the same Authour who in another place declares that Burrhed last King of the Mercians going in pilgrimage to Rome and there dying was after a Royall manner buried in the Church of the Blessed Virgin adioyning to the Schoole of the English 5 It is not easy to determin in what region of this Citty the said Schoole and Church were placed Severall of our Historians agree that it was the same which is to this day called the Hospitall of the English or the Hospitall of S. Thomas thus write Polydor Harpsfeild Parker c But other Authours mentioning the frequent conflagrations of it particularly Anastasiuâ— Biâ—bliothecarius in his description thereof about the year of Grace eight hundred twenty three shews that it was seated in the Suburbs near to the Church of S. Peter in that place which is now called the Borgo and anciently Saxia because a Colony of Saxons was sent thither by Charles the great 6. King Inas having thus provided for securing a perpetuall succession and propagation of the Faith among his countreymen presently retired himself to a quiet repose in contemplation He therefore in the expression oâ— William of Malmsbury cutt off his hair and cloathing himself with a vile plebeian habit spent the short remainder of his age in a secret retirement And how acceptable this last sacrifice of himself was to Almighty God he was pleased to shew by many miracles saith the same Authour Now that by this plebeian habit was meant a Monasticall one the generall consent of our Historians doe confirm For the cloathing of Religious persons at the beginning was the same with that of the ordinary meaner sort of people but fashions altering among secular persons and Religious men not changing hence it comes that they have a distinct peculiar habit nothing at all resembling the generall fashion of other men in the world 7. His life was not prolonged at Rome For in our Martyrologe he is recorded to have dyed this same year and his memory is celebrated among Saints on the seaventh of February Which does not well agree together For his arrivall at Rome and the orders taken for such buildings could not be effected so early in the year Yet that he did not passe through the following year may be collected from hence that being dead his Sacred Body was buried with great honour in the entrance of S. Peters Church by reason that the Church founded by him to the honour of the Blessed Virgin was not quite finished XX. CHAP. 1.2 Death of S. Willeic and of S. Engelmund a Martyr 3.4 Oswold rebells against King Ethelard and is expelled 5 6 c. Death of S Egbert 8.9 Osric King of the Northumbers dying the pious King Ceolulf succeeds 1. TO this same year is consigned the happy death of the Holy Preist and Disciple of S. Swibert S. Willeic of whom some what hath been sayd before Concerning him thus writes Miraeus in his Belgick Calendar S. Willeic was an assistant of the holy Bishop S. Swibert in the preaching of the Gospell and became a Canon of the Church of Vtrecht lately erected After S. Swiberts death he governed the Monastery of Werda the space of ten years with great commendasion and esteem He dyed this year and his Memory is celebrated among the Saints on the second of March 2. About the same time also dyed yet more happily because his life was sacrifised by Martyrdom the glorious Saint and câ—panion of S. Willebrord S. Engelmund who according to the same Authour imbueâ— with Evangelicall Doctrin the â—acavians and Kenemarians But in the Supplement to the Gallican Martyrologe a larger Elogy is â—iven oâ— him in this manner At Welsa in Holland on this one and twentieth day of Iune is celebrated the happy death of S. Engelmund Preist and Martyr He by Nation an Englishman was companion of S. Willebrord by command of Pope Sergius was ioynd in commission with him in his Apostolick Office in preaching converting of soules and working miracles among the Pâ—isons He was also Abbot and directour of many Religious persons which he assembled together to praise our Lord. At length being zealously vrgent to withdraw the Savage Nation of the Prisons from their horrible Superstitions and barbarous manners he for so great Charity incurred their hatred and furâ—ous persecution with which he was at last oppressed So crowning his Apostolick Office with a glorious Martyrdom 3. The year following the Kingdom and Churches of the West-Saxons were much disquieted by the restles ambition of a young Prince of the Royall family called Oswold who it seems in indignation that King Ina in resigning the Crown preferred his kinsman Ethelward or Adelhard before him thought by force to give it himself Concerning this tumult and the successe of it unhappy to the aggressour thus writes Henry of Huntingdon Adelhard King of the West-Saxons before the first year of his raign was expired fought a batel against Oswold a young man of the Royall stock who attempted to obtain the kingdom for himself But the young man not being able to bring equall forces into the feild having for some time born the burden of a furious combat at last being overpowred was forced to fly and quite abandon the kingdom By which means King Ethelward was firmly established therein 4. This worthy King to shew himself a deserving Successour of King Ina presently after extended his Royall magnificence to houses of piety and Religion particularly to the famous Monastery of Glastonbury the memory whereof the Antiquities of that place doe thus commend to posterity When Câ—ngisle was Abbot in the year of our Lords Incarnation seaven hundred twenty nine Ethelard King and Successour of Ina bestowed for a stable possession to the Religious family serving our Lord in the Monastery of Glastonbury sixty hâ—des of land in Pohonholâ— and twelve hydes in Thoric His Queen likewise named Fridogitha gave Brunant How this devout Queen nine years after this quitted her Royall state and undertook a pilgrimage to Rome where she consecrated herself to God wee shall shew hereafter 5. This year likewise dyed the most holy Abbot Egbert of whom frequent mention has been made This is he who in the year of Grace six hundred sixty four being mortally sick of the Pestilence was wonderfully restored to health and forsaking his Native countrey Brittany went into Ireland in the year six hundred and ninety where for his admirable piety he was in â—igh estimation and being desirous to expose himself to all incommodities and dangers for spreading the Faith in forrain countreys waâ— by Almighty God who designed him for another employment hindred Notwithstanding by his exhortations the glorious Saint Willebrord Sutbert and their companions undertook that most famous Apostolick Mission into Germany This likewise was he who thirteen years
Beda saith he was esteemed by many even above Gregory the Great for his exact skill both in the Latin and Greek tongues There is scarce any thing worthy the reading in all Antiquity which is not found in his Writings If he had lived in the times of Hierom Augustin and Chrysostom I doe not doubt but he might have come in competition with them for esteem He published very many works full of all kinds of learning and in a decrepit age he dyed at last among his Disciples and obtained a most happy end 15. Now since evident Truth extorted such praises from the penns of the desertours of that Religion which so pious and so learned a Doctour of Gods Church who both lived and dyed in eminent Sanctity always taught our dear Countreymen will doe wisely to attend to the affrighting admonition of the learned Cardinal Baronius saying The Holy English Church hath always gloried and with great reason in so holy Doctour whom since her Apostate children doe now reject and instead of him doe follow deceived and deceiving Apostles of Satan they have reason to apprehend least in the last Iudgment so great and powerfull an accuser standing against them before the Tribunal of our Lord they shall receive a sentence of damnation THE THREE AND TWENTIETH BOOK OF THE CHVRCH-HISTORY OF BRITTANY I. CHAPTER 1.2 S. Boniface receives from the Pope a resolution of certain doubts 3 4. Likewise an Archiepiscopall Pall. 5 6. Of another Saint Wigbert his companion c. 1. HAVING with due honour buried S. Beda who hath hitherto been our principall and most secure Guide and with whom in the judgment of William of Malmsbury all knowledge in a manner of the Gests of former ages hath been buried We will pursue this History making use of the best Light can be found and beginning with an account of the proceedings the same year of the glorious English Apostle of Germany S. Boniface as we are informed by the Authour of his Life from the Writings of his Holy Disciple and companion Saint Willebald 2. S. Boniface saith he having by himself or his companions converted to the Faith of Christ many thousands whom he purified with the Water of saving Baptism heard news of the death of the Holy Pope Gregory second of that name whose Successour was a third Gregory Whereupon he sent Messengers with Letters to Rome to renew with the New Pope the league of amity which he had enioyd with his Predecessour to make profession of all duty and obedience to the See Apostolick and to give him an account of the great number of German Idolaters converted to the Faith Moreover he proposed certain difficulties occurring in the exercise of his Apostolick charge a resolution whereof he desired 3. Though S. Boniface's Epistle be not extant yet all these particulars may be collected from Pope Gregorye's Answer to him In which 1. He testifies his ioy for the great Benediction given by God to his preaching 2. He signifies to him that to give him more authority in those parts he has sent him an Archiepiscopall Pall which yet he was only to wear when he celebrated Masse or ordained Bishops Which power he now gives him 3. Whereas S. Boniface had given him notice of a certain Preist who went to Rome and at his return boasted that he had obtained Absolution of the Pope from his many scandalous and enormous crimes He tells him that such a Preist came to him signifying only that he was a Preist and desiring Letters of recommendation to Charles Martel but that he made no Confession to him nor by consequence received any Absolution Therfore he advises S. Boniface to avoyd Communion with him and such like as he 4 He advises him severely to pennance such as fed upon horse-flesh 5. He enioyns him to rebapâ—ize such as had been unduly baptized by Pagans and by a Christian Preist revolted from the Faith and who had sacrifised to Iupiter 6. That Oblations should be received and commemoration made by the Preist at the Altar not indifferently for all that were dead but only such as were true Catholick Christians 7. He disswades from Mariage to the seaventh degree of affinity or consanguinity 8. And counsells him to exhort men after the death of their wives not to marry more then once 9 As touching such as had murdred their Father Mother Brother or sister that they should be denyed Communion all their life except only at the point of death and be oblâ—ged to fast every Munday Wednesday and Friday 10. And whereas there was an impious custom among even the converted Germans to sell their slaves to Pagans to be sacâ—ifised by them he requires him absolutely to forbid it and to impose the same Pennance on transgressours which the Canons inflict on Homicides 11 Lastly that he should never consecrate any Bishop but in the presence and with the assistance of at least two Bishops 4. The Messengers returning with these Letters and Presents brought great ioy to S. Boniface who presently after erected two new Churches one at Fritzlare to the honour of S. Peter Prince of the Apostles and the other at Amanbury to the honour of S Michael the Archangel And to those two Churches he adioynd two Monasteries in which he placed a good number of Monks to serve and praise Almighty God 5. Over one of these Monasteries he seems to have appointed Abbot a certain Preist named Wigbert whom he sent for out of Brittany from out of the Monastery of Glastonbury Which devout Preist being arrived wrote an Epistle yet extant to his Fathers and Brethren at Glastonbury to give them notice of his prosperous iourney desiring their prayers to God that he would give good successe to his labours in this Mission which exposed him to great incommodities and dangers He requests them to give notice of all these things to his Mother Tetta and the Congregation with her 6. This S. Wigbert is evidently different from that Saint Wigbert a Martyr which wee mentioned six years before this time And he is doubtlesse the same concerning whom Miraeus thus writes in his Calender on the thirteenth of August In Germany the commemoration of S. Wigbert Preist and Confessour He was I suppose designed first Abbot of Fritzlare by S. Boniface the Apostle of the Germans His Relicks were afterward translated to the Monastery of Hirsfeld in Hassia by Lullus Successour of S. Boniface in his Arch-bishoprick To his name and honour Rabanus Maurus who was Arch-bishop in the year of our Lords Incarnation eight hundred and fifty built a Church in Hirsfeild And severall ages afterward Mathildis the most pious Empresse Mother of Otho the first did the like 7. This S. Wigbert was present at a Synod celebrated at Mentz in the year of Grace seaven hundred forty five and consequently outlived S. Beda Therefore whereas his name is found in S. Beda's Martyrologe and a Homily pretended as made by S. Beda on
at London in which Church he was Preist not Bishop as Parker mistakingly affirms Some thing hath already been spoken of him when wee related how S. Beda made use of his industry and assistance in composing his History 6. To this New Arch-bishop Nothelm presently after his consecration S. Boniface directed an Epistle in which after he had desired from him the same Christian affection Vnion of minds which heretofore he had with S. Brithwald his Predecessour he proposed to him a difficulty and scrupule which had much and long tormented him a resolution whereof he desired from him as he did from diverse others and particularly from Pecthelm Bishop of Candida Casa and also from an English Abbot called Duddo who had formerly been S. Boniface his own Schollar yet such was his humility that he disdaind not to consult him Now the Doubt or difficulty I will sett down in S. Boniface's own expression 7. I desire saith he to hear your counsell touching a sin committed by mee through ignorance in permitting mariage between two parties the Case stood thus A certain Man with my leave maried a woman a widdow to whose sâ—n he had formerly been God-father This the Romans say is so unlawfull that they ought to be divorced Yea moreover they affirm that anciently under the Christian Emperours â—uch a crime was punished with death or at least perpetuall banishment Now I beseech you to inform mee whether you can find either in the Decrees of the Ancient Catholick Fathers or Holy Scriptures that this is so great a sin For mine own part I can by no means comprehend how a carnall conjunction between persons in a Spirituall prâ—pinquity should be a heynous sin since in Sacred Baptism wee are all of us sons and daughters of Christ and his Church and Brothers and Sâ—sters to one another 8. The Resolution of this Doubt wee can not find since their Answers hereto are lost But Serrarius a learned Iesuit who published Saint Boniface's Epistles with Annotations after he had produced severall Decrees of Ancient Popes strictly forbidding such Mariages shews the Answer to this Doubt to be now very easy Adding withall That if in S. Boniface's time the Ancient Caâ—ins had been in the same number and order as now he would never have doubted of the Question However his diligence in seeking satisfaction is highly to be praised and his humility of mind to be imitated since he not only proposes his doubts to Bishops but even his own Disciples desiring to be taught by them now in his old age yea since he professes that he will not pertinaciously adhere to his own iudgment but obediently acquiesee in the Decrees of the Church and Holy Fathers How far now are our modern Sectaries from such a disposition of mind For Luther and Beza grounding themselves upon their private iudgment and proudly contemning and opposing all Antiquity and authority doe sett as nought all regard of Spirituall Alliance Such difference there is between the Spirits of a modest humble Catholick and an arrogant Heretick IV. CHAP. 1.2 c The Gests of S. Pecthelm 6.7.8 Of S. Wiro 9. And of S. Otger 1. AS touching S. Pecthelm Bishop of Candida Casa to whom S. Boniface directed one of his Epistles demanding his iudgment touching the forementiond doubt it is not easy to determin in what place that Epistle might find him Wee signified his Ordination to that See in the year seaven hundred twenty three and S. Beda in the eighth year after concluding his History affirms that he continued at that time Bishop there Yet the Writers of the Gallican and Belgick Antiquities consonantly aâ—â—â—rm that he left Britâ—tany and after the example of S. Boniface propagated the Christian Faith in those Countreys Of which there is an absolute silence among our English Historians Let us therefore enquire concerning his Gests of forrain Authours 2. In the Gallican Martyrologe upon the fifteenth day of Iuly wee read thus In the Mount of S. Peter otherwise called the Monastery of S. Odila neer Ruremâ—nd in Belgium â—s that day celebrated the deposition of S. Pecthelm Bishop of Candida Casa in Scotland that 〈◊〉 now for anciently it was within the Doâ—â—nioâ— of the English-Saxons and Confessour who being inflamed with a zeale to root out Heathenish Superstition to that time springing â—p in some parts of Belgium undertook a voyage into those countreys in the company of S. Wiro Bâ—â—hop and S. Otger a Deacon Where he was kindly entertaind by King Pipin and encouraged â—o so pious a work He brought very many to the Light of Evangelicall Truth and cast down severall profane Temples of fâ—lse Gods building many Churches to the honouâ— of the only true God The like testimony wee find in Miraeus his Belgick Calendar 5 Now the death of this Holy Bishop our Historian Florentius referrs to this present year Concerning which the sayd Martyrologe thus treats In the same Monastery S Pecthelm full of dayes and merits peaceably dyed And many Divine Miracles shining at his Sepulcher declared him a glorified Saint in heaven Whereupon veneration and honour due to Saints was attributed to him and his Holy Companions For â—heir Sacred Relicks were taken up and reposed under the Altar of the Cathedrall Church of Ruâ—emond and moreover an annuall Feast and Office celebrated in their honour not only through that whole Diocese but also at Oldensale in the Bishoprick of Daventer where his Head is preserved and with great veneration of the people honoured Hereunto Miraeus adds That this anâ—ient Inscription is found upon their Shrines Parts of the Relicks of S. Wiro S. Pecthelm and Saint Otger In the year of Grace one thousand five hundred seaventy one in which the rebellious Gueuses or Calvinists having overthrown the Table of the Altar but leaving the base untouched they were by a singular Providence of God defended from the fury of those Hereticks and twenty three years after when the same Altar was repaired they were there found and afterward honourably taken up as wee read in the Office of the Church of Ruremond 4 In this Narration there occurr difficulties of some weight For whereas it is sayd that Saint Pecthelm was kindly received by King Papin it will not be easy to determin among three Princes in this age all of the same name which was he who received our Saints Whether the first Pipin son to the elder Carloman or his Grandchild by his daughter Begga or the last who was Son to Charles Martel and was the only Pipin who was King But he not beginning his raign till the year seaven hundred fifty two he could not be King at S. Pecthelm's arrivall in France Therefore most probable it is that he was at this time only a young Duke but is stiled King because he became so afterward Notwithstanding after all this the Irish Historians confidently apply all this Story to their Pecthelm Bishop of Tuam and indeed their
certain Preist besides whom there was none other to administer Baptism and celebrate Masse in a large territory inhabited by Christians indeed yet such as were tainted with errours considering that the said Preist who long agoe had falln into the sin of fornication afterward not only was absolved after Pennance but also restored to his degree and Office contrary to the expresse Canons of the Church Now the Question is Whether it be better or at least a lesse ill that such a Preist should perform the Office of the Altar contrary to the Canons or in case he be deprived a multitude of Infants should dye without Baptism and the rest of the people without Sacraments since that people can not be furnished with another more chast Preist Which is indeed no Question at all 5. Egbert having obtaind his Archiepiscopall Pall this same year supplied two Episcopall Sees which were vacant For to Plecthelm Bishop of Candida Casa he substituted Fridwald And the Holy Bishop Acca having been unjustly expelled his Church of Hagustald and there being no probability of his restitution least our Lords flock should remain longer without a Pastour he consecrated thereto Fridbere Who notwithstanding in our Ecclesiasticall Monuments is not esteemed Bishop till the death of Acca which followed five years after VI. CHAP. 1.2 c. A Summe of the Gests of S. Willebrord and his death 6.7 c. Severall Bishops consecrated by Nothelm Arch-bishop of Canterbury 9. Queen Frithogitha's pilgrimage to Rome 1. THE year following the most famous Apostle of the Frisons the erectour and first Arch-bishop of Vtrecht Saint Willebrord received the eternall reward of all his labours Wee have often mentioned him before and will here only add a breif Summ of his Life and Gests out of the Gallican Martyrologe 2. On the seaventh of November at Epternac in the Territory of Triers is celebrated the Commemoration of Saint Willebrord Bishop and Confessour Apostle of the Frisons He was by Nation an English-Saxon and being endowed with many Divine Graces he with nine Companions were by Saint Egbert directed into Lower Germany From Brittany therefore he passed over into Friseland and began the Apprentissage of his Apostolick Office at Vtrecht but was desired by Pipin to goe further into the countrey of the Frisons At the Castle of Vtrecht near an Ancient ruind Church of Saint Thomas he built an Oratory to the honour of the Holy Crosse. Pope Sergius being before admonished by an Angelicall vision solemnly ordained him Arch-bishop in the Church of Saint Peter at the request of Duke Pipin and withall strengthning him with Apostolick authority to preach and dilate the Gospell to the end he might with a more prosperous omen undertake that labour he gave him the Sirname of Clement to whom after the two Princes of the Apostles the Care of Religion in its infancy was committed 3. From Rome he returned into Friseland and at Vtrecht upon Rhene placed his Episcopall See building there a Church which he consecrated to Saint Martin He baptized with the Water of regeneration Pipin the Son of Charles Martel He spread the Gospell largely in Friseland baptizing Catechumens confirming Neophytes celebrating holy Orders and almost in every village building Churches over which he constituted Pastours 4. Whilst he was busily employed in these sacred works there came to him Saint Boniface who in processe of time became his Successour in his Bishoprick and Apostleship of the Frisons Who staying with him about two years assisted him with courage and diligence in procuring the salvation of many At last after many labours incommodities and travells undertaken by him for many years in planting the Church and saving of soules he rendred his holy and happy Spirit to his Creatour at Epternac after he had for the space of forty years with a piety and vertue truly Apostolick governed the Church founded by himself 5. His Sacred Body was buried in a Monastery of that Town which formerly he had erected where it did â—hine with so many illustrious Miracles that both the Monastery and Church were afterwards called by his Name Concerning his Successours Eoban Boniface and Gregory we shall treat in due place His Life was written both in verse and Prose by his Countrey man Saint Alcuin an eloquent Witnesse of his Sanctity 6. The same year Nothelm Arch-bishop of Canterbury having received his Archiepiscopall Pall from Rome consecrated severall Bishops For the See of Hereford being vacant by the death of Walstâ—d he substituted in his place Cuthbert Who four years after succeeded Nothelm himself being translated to the See of Canterbury But before that he finished a very costly Crosse begun by his Predecessour and moreover built a sumptuous Tomb in which he placed the Bodies of the three preceding Bishops Tirtil Torthere and Walstâ—d to which he adioyned three more a certain Nobleman called Milfrid with his Lady called Quenburga and Osrith the Son of Oselin as appears by the verses inscribed on it recorded by B. Godwin in his Catalogue of the Bishops of Hereford 7. The Church of the East-Angles likewise being deprived of her two Pastours Eadbert Bishop of Dumwich and Hadulac Bishop of Helmham The said Arch-bishop gave for successour to the former Cuthwin called by Hoveden Heordwald and to the other Ethelfrid Concerning whom nothing remains to posterity but their names 8. The next year Alduin Bishop of Lichfeild dying two Bishops were consecrated in his place Witta in Lichfeild and Totta or Torthelm in Leycester In this Citty of Leycester which saith William of Malmsbury is very ancient and situated in the midland countrey of England called Legecestria from the River Leger passing by it Saint Wilfrid as hath been declared after his expulsion out of the Kingdom of the Northumbers made his abode and exercised Iurisdiction there After whose departure the Kingdom of the Mercians had but one Bishop till this year in which for the Vastnes of the Province two Bishops were ordained And Leycester continued an Episcopall See till the time of King Edgar when Leovâ—n Bishop of the Lindesfari or Lincoln united Leycester to his See 9. Moreover in the place of Forthere Bishop of Shirburn Herwald was consecrated The cause whereof was not the death of Farther but as Florentius testifies because be attending Frithogitha Queen of the West-Saxons undertook a Pilgrimage to Rome And it was not fitt that the Church should want a Pastour This is the same Frithogitha Wife to King Ethelard who eight years before this was so munificent a Benefactrice to the Monastery of Canterbury And now the flame of Divine Charity encreasing in her soule she abandoned all her splendid possessions and gave her self entirely to God And in those days at wee read in Mathew of Westminster many Kings and Bishops Noble men and â—gnoble Clergy-men and Secular yea women also did the like VII CHAP. 1.2 c Ceolulf King of the Northumbers becomes a Monk His Muneficence to the Church
to send three Palls for three Arch-bishops newly ordained by S. Boniface Grimmon in the Citty of Roâ—en Abel in the Citty of Sens and a third at Triers 2. In the same Synod likewise as appears by Pope Zacharias his Answer S. Boniface discovered and condemned the blasphemies and errours of two Arch-hereticks Adalbert and Clement Of which the one challenged to himself Episcopall authority without Ordination wallowd in luxury sett ut Crosses and little Oratories in the feilds seducing the people by false pretended miracles and withdrawing them from publick Churches Yea such was his Pride that he would be stiled a Saint and consecrated Churches to his own honour affirming that he knew many Angells by name severall of which names S. Boniface had sert down in his Epistle to the said Pope which were iudged to be the Names rather of Devills then Angells 3. The other Heretick was so given over to lust that he kept a Concubine by whom he had two children yet challenged Preisthood to himself saying that this was agreable to the Old Testament Further he affirmed that Christ rising from the dead took with him all that were then in Hell not leaving any one behind him All which most detestable Doctrines and practises the Pope likewise condemned saying that S. Boniface rightly stiled the Authours of them Ministers and Precursours of Antichrist and did well in causing them to be shutt up in prison 4. The reason which made Saint Boniface more earnest against these Hereticks particularly Adalbert was because though his Errours and wicked practises were manifestly contrary to the Doctrin and Tradition of the Church yet his behaviour was so subtile and hypocritiâ—all and such a moving perswasivenes he had in his tongue that he had almost seduced the Religious Prince Carolâ—man Now the first time that Saint Boniface entred into disâ—ute with him among others Sturmis the first Abbot of Fulda was present who earnestly â—ndeavoured to disswade him from that dispute the like did Lullus and Meginguazus But S. Boniface answerd them He that is in us is greater then he that is in him Thereupon reasoning with him he so convinced him that he putt him to silence After which he enclosed him prisoner in the Monastery of Fulda But more of these Hereticks when they shall be sent to Rome where their Heresies will be more fully detected 5 But presently afterward by the false suggestion of certain unknown persons there had like to have ensued a breach and division between the said Pope and S. Boniface by occasion of a scandalous imputation cast upon the Pope that he had Simoniacally demanded money for the Archiepiscopall Palls which he had lately sent This report being too easily beleived by S. Boniface he wrote a sharp Letter to the Pope telling him he was astonished that Simon Magus his poyson should infect S. Peters Chair which had heretofore thundred out maledictions against that crime 6. But the good Popes mild yet grave answer prevented all progresse of dissention between them Dearest Brother said he I beseech your Charity that hereafter you would forbear to write in such a stile to us for it is very offensive and injurious to be accused of that which we doe detest Far be it from us or any of our Clergy to sell for money the Gift which we have received by the Grace of the Holy Ghost And as for those three Palls know for certain that not any money at all hath been received by any of my Officers for them Yea on the contrary the Fees which by custome was due to our Coffer for your Confirmation I freely allowd it out of mine own purse 7. Besides this in the same Letter to shew he had blotted out all resentment of this iniurious imputation he not only confirmed the Province granted to Saint Boniface by his Predecessour but besides Bavaria enlarged his Iurisdiction through all France giving him authority in his Name and his Power to correct reforme whatsoever he found any where to decline from Christian Faith or the Constitutions of Canons The year following an occasioÌ„ hapned to S. Boniface to have his turn of reprehension from the same Pope which he suffred with the same Spirit of Christian meeknes But before we relate it certain affairs of Brittany require to be interposed XIII CHAP. 1.2 The Brittains furiously invade the west Saxons and are repulsed 4.5 The resignation and death of Daniel the Venerable Bishop of Winchester c. 1. ALL sorts of vices raigning among the English and Saxons provoked Almighty God to punish the Kingdom with a bloody war against an Enemy which though allways full of malice yet through civill divisions and want of strength had many years given disquiet to none but themselves These were the Brittains who this year made an irruption into the Provinces of the English with such prodigious forces that they seemed to have a design hope to hazzard the regaining of the whole Kingdom again The time and successe of the warr is thus described by Henry of Huntingdon 2. Cuthred King of the West-Saxons in the fourth year of his Raign saith he making peace with Ethelbald King of the Mercians they ioynd both their forces together to fight against an innumerable multitude of Brittains which had newly broke into their Provinces When they were mett the two Kings each of them followd by most valiant tryed soldiers dividing their armies to a reasonable distance made severall ways so furious an impression upon the Vast body of the Brittains that though for some time they couragiously resisted yet they were not long able to sustain so terrible a weight but at length were forced to fly yeilding their backs to the swords of their pursuers and their spoyles to them returning Victorious Which being done the two Kings â—ith triumph retiring each into his own dominion were with great ioy received by their Subâ—ects 3 The year following the Reverend and Holy Bishop of Winchester Daniel having with great piety spent forty three years in the administration of that Diocese to the end he might conclude his long-lasting age in quiet repose surrendred his Bishoprick and became a Monk at Malmâ—bury Melduni Thus writes William of Malmsbury from the ancient Tradition of his own Monastery But his repose on earth continued a short time for the year following he happily attained to an eternall repose in heaven His Successours name was Humfrid whose name we find among the Subscriptions to a Synod assembled at Cloveshove the second time shortly after As for the Holy Bishop Daniel though by his great vertues he well deserved a nâ—me among our Saints yet we doe not find him recorded in our Calendar 4. The same year Milred was ordined Bishop of Worcester the successour of Wilfrid who dyed the year before Concerning whom we can find nothing in our Ecclesiasticall Monuments but what Bishop Godwin produces Wilfrid Bishop of Worcester contemporancy to S. Beda was consecrated Bishop in
the year of Grace seaven hundred and seaventeen and dyed in the year seaven hundred forty three XIV CHAP. 1.2 S Boniface falsely calumniated to Duke Pipin 3.4 c. His Letter to the Pope and Ansâ—er 6. Aâ—stedius his malicious mistake 1. IN the mean time Saint Boniface his patience is exercised for his good for he found adversaryes not only in the Court of Duke Pipin a proper seat for envy and malignity but at home also among his companions in the work of the Gospell As for the former sort he easily made voyd all their designs against him with a Letter written to the Duke and his domesticall accusers he overcame by his meeknes 2. Who these were what they layd to his charge we find in a Letter written to him by the Pope the tenour whereof is this Virgilius and Sidonius Religious men living in the Province of the Bavarians have lately visitted us with their Letters in which they have intimated that your Revered Fraternity enioynd them to rebaptize certain Christians At the reading of this we were much troubled and should extremely wonder if it should be true Among other examples they produced this of a certain Preist in the same Province who being ignorant of the Latin tongue he pronounced it wrong in baptizing saying Baptizo â—e in nomine Patria Filia Spiritua Sancta And for this it iâ— sayd your Reverend Fraternity thought fit that Baptisme should be reiterated But holy Brother if he who baptizes introduces no errour oâ— heresy but through ignorance only failes in pronunciation we can by no means allow that sucâ— Baptism should be repeated For as your Holy Fraâ—ternity well knows who soever is baptized even by Hereticks in the name of the Father of the son and of the Holy Ghost must by no means be rebaptized but only be purified by imposition of hands If the matter therefore stand as hatâ— been related to us Holy Brother abstain hereafter from such iniunctions and be carefull to observe what the Holy Fathers teach 3. Vpon the receit of this Letter S. Boniface presently without reply acquiesced Anâ— the same year dispatched to Rome his Preist Eoban with Letters to the Pope in which hâ— suggested many things very necessary for the Churches of France contained in twenty seaven heads of great advantage to Ecclesiasticall Discâ—pline 4. Hereto Pope Zacharias immediatly answerd adioyning to every one of the said Points his own iudgment Withall he inâ—formed him that the most excellent Prince Pâ—pin had sent likewise to him a Religious Preist named Audobaâ— with other Points of the like nature concernâ—ng the Rights of Bishops Preists c. also touching unlawfull Mariages inquiring what was to be observed therein according the Rites of the Church the Dâ—ctrine of Holy Fathers and Canons of Councils And many other things he had proposed relating to the good of soules To all which likewise he had returned an Answer Consequently he enioyned S Boniface to assemble a Synod and therein to discover to the Bishops his said Determinatiâ—ns 5. He gave him moreover order that the forementioned contumacious and Sacrilegious Hereticks Aldebert Godelâ—ace and Clement should be made to appear before the said Synod that their cause might again be accurately examined And in case they were found wholly to swerve from the way oâ— Truth and iustice and being convinced would not retract their errours and amend their faults that then the Princes assistance being desired they should be proceeded against with all severity according to the Canons of the Church But if they should persist in Pride and protest that they were innocent then his will was that they should be sent to Rome and with them two or three Preists approved for their piety and prudence to be their accusers and there the cause should be with all care examined by the See Apostolick and judgment given on them according to their merits 6. Before we declare how S. Boniface observed what was enioynd him by the Pope in calling a Councill and therein convincing again the said Hereticks and doing other matters for the Churches good all which was done the year following it will be expedient in the mean time to admonish the Reader of a mistake made by Alstedius a Calvinisticall Chronologist who affirms that this year a Synod was assembled in Brittany against the Sodomiticall impurity of the English Clergy Whereas no Synod was called there this year and in that which was assembled two years after though many disorders are censured in it yet this is not named among them XV. CHAP. 1.2 A third Synod assembled by S. Boniface at Mâ—nts 3 4 c In which Geâ—vilio Bishop of Mentz is deposed â—oâ— Homicide c. 6 S Boniâ—ace Aâ—ch bishop of Mentz and Primat of Germany 1. IN the year of Grace seaven hundred â—orty five S Boniface according to the admonition given him by Pope Zacharias and the command of Duke Caroloman assembled his third Councill at Mentz in Germany at which were present according to the account given by himself to Herefrâ—d an English Prelat eight Bishops all of the English Nation But of them those only Names remain which Miraeus hath recorded saying At the Synod of Ments convoked by S. Boniface were present Abel Burchard Willebald Werbet and Wera perhaps Wetta or Wittan 2. The Decrees of this Synod touching Ecclesiasticall Disciplin containd in the forementioned thirty seaven Heads sent by Saint Boniface to Pope Zacharias and by him with some correctiâ—ns approved are not now extant But other affairs of great coÌ„sequence agitated and determined are mentioned in the Life of S. Boniface in Surius Where we read that in the said Synod not only many Ecclesiasticks infected with Heresy were excommunicated but severall Bishops also infamous for horrible crimes were depofed The prime Authours of all Errours in Germany were the two Arch-hereticks Aldebert and Clement Whose cause was remitted to Rome and there with all circumspection iudged as shall be largely declared 3. Of Bishops sayd to be deposed in this Synod the name and speciall demerit of one only is now recorded and that was Gervilio Bishop of Menâ—z where the Councill was held The cause of his Deposition according to the said Authour was this At that time the Thuringians implored the â—ssiâ—â—ance of â—aroloman against the Saxons which wasted their countrey He presently sent an Army and with it Gerold Bishop of Mentz who was Father of Gervilio Gerold in the combat among many others was slain And his son who at that time was a Lay man attending at Court to asswage his greif for his Fathers death was taken into the Clergy and made Bishop of Mentz in his Fathers place 4 Not long after Caroloman gathered another Army which himself lead into Germany and took Gervilio with him Whilst this Army lay encamped on both the sides of the River Visurgis Weser Gervilio commanded his servant to goe privatly into the enemies
camp and there diligently enquire who it was that slew his Father This he did and finding the man not far off he desired him to come and speak with his Master He came and assoon as Gervilio had notice of it he meâ—t him on horse back in the midst of the River Where as they were discoursing togeâ—her Gervilio taking out a Sword which he caried privily run the man through who presently falling into the river there dyed Vpon this a mighty clamour was made and the two Armies began a feirce combat in which the Saxons were overcome and Caroloman after the victory retired home Now this fact of Gervilio was by none at that time imputed to him as Homicide He returned therefore to Mentz where as before he administred the Office of Bishop 5. But among other crimes with which he was charâ—ed in the present Synode this was one And the Holy Pâ—elat Saint Boniface publickly declared That no man could exercise lawfully the function â—f a Bishop who had been polluted with the slaughter oâ— any one And besides this he obiected to him that he himself had seen him with Hawks and Hounds publickly recreate himself which was abâ—olutely forbidden to Bishops by the Canons Gervilio having heard his accusation and perceiving that he could not resist both secular and Ecclesiasticall authority armed against him reâ—erred himself to the iudgment of the Synod and was deposed 6. After whose deposition Saint Boniface who hitherto had been an Arch bishop at large without any particular Title or See was by Caroloman and his Brother Pipin appointed Prelat oâ— the Church of Mentz And that his dignity might be more eminent the same Princes determined to exalt the See of Mentz which at this time was subiect to another to be the Metropolitan Church of all Germany which likewise by a Message sent to the Pope they obtained and effected XVI CHAP. 1.2 c. The Heresies of Adalbert a French man and Clement a Scotâ— condemned by Pope Zacharias in a Synod 11. Colen made an Archbishoprick but subordinate to Mentz 1. THE cause of Gervelio being thus determined the Fathers of the Synod consulted concerning the two Arch-hereticks Aldebert and Clement Whose Errours though they then condemned yet they thought meet to send them to the Apostolick See that their condemnation might be more solemn They decreed likewise to send with them the forementioned Preist Deneard to act the part of an Accuser in the name of the Synod before the Pope To him likewise they gave Letters and the Acts of the Synod to be presented and confirmed by him 2. Being arrived there Pope Zacharias called together according to the custom a Synod of Bishops before whom Deneard appearing presented the Epistle of S. Boniface in which he informed the Pope that since the time that he had conferred on him a Iurisdiction over all the Churches of France at their own request he had suffred many injuries and persecutions from false and adulterous Preists and other Ecclesiasticks But that his greatest trouble proceeded from the said two blasphemous Hereticks Adelbert who was a French-man and Clement a Scott Who though they differed in their Errours yet were equall in the enormity of their crimes For whose regard he had incurred the enmity and maledictions of the French who greivously complaind against him because he had taken from them their great Apostle Adelbert their Patron and intercessour with God a man who was a worker of wonderfull Miracles He desired therefore the Pope to shutt them up in close prison after he had given them up to Satan that none might be poysond by their abominable Heresies 3. Now we will here more fully declare the Errours blasphemies and crimes charged upon Adelbert and further demonstrated by Deneard who presented certain Writings to the Synod containing the Life Acts of that Arch-heretick together with an Epistle of our Lord Iesus which he said fell from heaven into the Citty of Ierusalem and was found by the Archangel Michael in the Gate of Ephraim and copied out by a Preist called Icoras and by him sent to another Preist in Germany called Thalassius c. and at last by the hands of an Angell was brought to the Sepulcher of Saint Peter at Rome where twelve persons belonging to the Pope finding is kept that days Vigill with fasâ—ing and prayers c. 4. As for the other Book it was read and it began thus In the name of our Lord Iâ—su Christ here beginneth the life of the Holy and Blessed Bishop Adelbert born by the Election of God He was begotten of simple parents and crownd by the Grace of God For whilst he was yet in his Mothers womb she saw in a vision as it were a Calf issuing out of her right side Which Calf designed that Grace which he received from an Angell before he was brought forth c. 5. Besides these the same Deneard presented likewise a Prayer composed by Adelbert â—n which after supplications made to God the Father he addressed himself to the Angells saying I beseech conjure and humbly entreat you c. Angell Vriel Raguel Tubuel Michael Adinis Tubuas Sabaouc Simichel c. 6. When these Writings were read before the Synod by Gregory the Notary Regionary and Nomenclator all the Bishops concluded that the man was madd and that those were names of Devills not of Angells except only S. Michael since Divine authority delivers to us only the Names of three Angells Michael Gabriel Raphael Therefore they condemned them all to be burnt Notwithstanding the Pope thought fitt they should be layd up in his Archives with a perpetuall mark in memory of their condemnation and reprobation 7. Besides these Writings it was layd to the charge and proved against the same Adelbert that from his childhood he was an Hypocrite saying that an Angell of our Lord in human shape haâ— from the utmost ends of the world brought him Relicks he knew not of whom but such aâ— were of wonderfull Sanctity by vertue of which he could doe all things whatsoever he asked of Goâ— Hereby he insinuated himself into the minds oâ— silly women and ignorant peazants who affirmeâ— him to be a man of Apostolick Sanctity That he had hâ—â—ed unlearned Bishops to ordain him contrary to the Canons and that hereby his heart sâ—relled with such Pride that he esteemed himself equall to the Apostles of Christ. Insomuch as being appointed to consecrate a Church to the honour of the Apostles and Martyrs he consecrated it to hâ—â— own honour â—or rather defiled it That he would likewise reprehend those who desired to visit the Shrines of the Apostles and to hinder them he built Oratories and sett up Crosses in the feilds or near Springs or where soever he thought good commanding the people there to make their Prayers to him Insomuch as multudes of seduced people despâ—sing their own Bishops and Churches gathered meetings in such places saying The meâ—rits of S. Adelbert will help us Besides
Adrian Bishop Saint Ceolfrid Saint Benedict Biscop Saint Efterwin and Saint Sigfrid Abbots of Wiremouth and Girwy of Saint Beda Preist of Saint Ebba Saint Bega and Saint Hilda Abbesses of Saint Boisil and Saint Idan Brother to Saint Fursey of Saint Vltan Bishop and Oyle from the Tombe of Saint Nicholas some Relicks likewise of S. German Bishop of Auxerre 5. To this Abbot Ticca or Tictan and to the Monks of Glastenbury did King Sigebert for the valew of fifty peices of Gold bestow two and twenty Hydes of land in Pohelf The Same Abbot likewise at the fame price bought of this King six hydes of land remaining there in the Western part XXVIII CHAP. 1.2 c. Saint Boniface preparing his iourney to the Frisons become Apostates resigns his Arch bishoprick of Mentz to S. Lullus c. 1. NOthing illustrated this present year so much as the last labours and blessed Martyrdom of S. Boniface Thirty years had he now spent in cultivating our Lords vineyard employing all his strength and vigour both of mind and body in so laborious a work He had often petitioned the See Apostolick in vain to allow him in his old age to appoint a Successour in his See of Mentz that he might enioy a quiet repose in his Monastery of Fulda But of late hearing that the barbarous Nation of the Frisons had renounced the Christian Faith which had been so diligently taught them by S. Willibrord and his Disciples the zeale of Gods house did so burn in his heart that instead of seeking repose he resolved to renew his former labours and to expose himself to the extremest dangers among those ingratefull Frisons whilst he endeavoured to rebuild Gods Church there demolished 2. But before he would execute this New purpose he iudged necessary to provide for the Security and quietnes both of his Church of Mentz and Monastery of Fulda For the former he wrote a Letter to Pope Steven signifying to him his intention of endeavouring to replant the Faith among the Frisons and least by his absence his Church of Mentz should be deprived of a head and directour he begged his permission that he might resign it to his faithfull companion and assistant in his labours Lul or Lullo a man both for his learning piety and prudence most eminent among his Disciples 3. It seems it was the Divine Will that this Apostolick Bishop should conclude his life in the laborious exercise of his Charge For though his hitherto so ofteÌ„ renewd requests for this favour would never be granted him when the motive thereto was a quiet retirement Now assoon as he demanded it to the end he might more freely engage himself in new travells and dangers the Pope easily granted his request Whereupon he immediatly consecrated Lul Arch-bishop of Mentz whom also he enioyned to be diligent and faithfull in preaching to the people and doing all other Offices belonging to his charge of so many soules He required him likewise to finish the building of the Church which he had begun at Fulda and there to bury his body wheresoever it was Gods will he should dye Moreover to provide all things necessary for his iourney and particularly that in a chest of his Books he should enclose a Sheet to enwrapp his body after his death For by many tokens he signified that his death was approaching the apprehension whereof did not at all discourage him notwithstanding from this his dangerous iourney 4. Now this Lul say the Centuriators of Magdeburg was by nation an Englishman of a Citty called Maldubia brought up in learning and piety by the holy Abbot Eata and had for his Sirname Irtel as appears by an Epistle of Hereca to him He was one of the twelve Monks which Egbert Arch-bishop of York sent into the countrey of the Frisons From whence Saint Boniface as soon as he was delegated into Germany called him Who made no delay to attend him He planted severall Churches in Hassia Thuringia and Erford and instituted in Regular Discipline Monks in the Monastery of Fulda Notwithstanding in this Narration there is a mistake for Saint Lullo was not sent by Egbert but called out of England with many other devout Preists by Saint Boniface in the year of Grace seaven hundred twenty five as hath been declared 5. Now Saint Boniface having thus ordained Lullo by the consent of Pope Steven as likewise of King Pipin and the Nobility of the countrey he further wrote a Letter to a certain Preist called Fulrad who was Chaplain to King Pipin and had great power with him Him he earnestly desired to obtain from the King his Protection of this his Son and now fellow-Bishop as likewise of all the people committed to his charge that after his death they might not by the rage of confining Pagans be dispersed and loose the Faith they had embraced 6. In the next place for the security of his beloved Monastery of Fulda he had recourse to King Pipin for his protection of it that the Secular power might be ioynd to the Ecclesiasticall which he had formerly obtain'd of the See Apostolick And accordingly the devout King gave him a lage Charter ratifying all the Immunities and Priviledges which the Pope had formerly granted to the said Monastery A Copy of which Charter is still extant among the Epistles of Saint Boniface In which likewise the said King confirmed for ever the possession of all the lands with which his Brother Caroloman had endowd it 7. Such preparation being made S. Boniface was ready with an undaunted courage inspired by the Grace of Gods holy Spirit to begin his iourney when one obstacle more presented it self a removall whereof he was forced to begg of Pope Steven in a Letter which is the last that ever he wrote That Obstacle was a pretention which the Bishop of Colen made to the Church of Vâ—recht the principall See of the Countrey of the Frisons as belonging to his Province and consequently that S. Boniface had no right to enter into it In opposition hereto S. Boniface informed the Pope that though indeed anciently King Dagobert had bestowd the Castle of Vtrecht with a Church there demolished on the Bishoprick of Colen yet it was with a condition annexed that he should undertake the charge of preaching and converting the Nation of the Frisons which he had never done but that people remained Pagan till the coming of S. Willebrord and his companions sent thither and ordained Bishop by his Predecessour Pope Sergius who built there an Episcopall Church consecrating it to the honour of our Saviour And after his death Prince Caroloman had recommended the same See to himself desiring him to take it into his care and constitute a Bishop therin as he thought fitt Therefore he concluded that the said See did of no right belong to the Bishop of Colen but was immediatly subiect to the See Apostolick In conclusion he besought the Pope that search might be
the other Provinces to call themselves English and the whole kingdom England as shall be shewed hereafter 8. In those dayes as Hoveden writes Rictrith who long before had been a Queen and was then an Abbesse departed this life to our Lord. It does no where appear of what Province this Lady was Queen nor of what Monastery Abbesse But her piety deserves that her name and memory should not be abolished XXI CHAP. 1.2 c Pope Hadrian sends Legats into Brittany Their Gests there 1. IN the year of Grace seaven hundred eighty seaven great care was taken both by Princes and Bishops in Brittany for the settling of Ecclesiasticall affairs For the better composing of which Pope Adrian sent his Apostolick Legats George Bishop of Ostia and Theophylact Bishop of Tudertum Whether this proceeded from the said Popes voluntary care and solicitude least the errours and disorders by which the Orientall Churches were defiled should infect the Western likewise Or that he was solicited thereto by the Bishops in Brittany and some Princes too to the end that provision might be made against the aspiring attempts of Offa King of the Mercians who of late not only sought the oppression of some of the weaker Princes but had also usurped the revenews of the Church of Canterbury and sought likewise to depresse its dignity it cannot certainly be determined But this seems most probable as may be collected from the proceedings of the said Legats 2. When they were come into Brittany they were received both by the Kings Clergy and people with great honour They landed in Kent as appears by the Letter of George Bishop of Ostia to the Pope in which he gives him an account of all their proceedings The first person who entertained them was Iaenbrach so he calls the present Archbishop of Canterbury who is by our Historians named Iambert or Lambert After they had admonished the said Arch-bishop concerning such matters as they esteemed necessary they proceeded in their iourney Northward and came to the Court of Offa King of the Mercians who for the great reverence which he bore to S. Peter and the Pope his Successour received with wonderfull ioy and respect both the Legats and Epistles which the said Pope by them had written to him 3. At the same time the King of the West-Saxons Brithric also came to advise with Offa concerning the common affairs of the Church to whom they likewise presented the Popes Letter directed to him in which Letters were mentioned certain disorders in Ecclesiasticall matters about which it seems those Kings themselves were faulty which disorders they promised to amend 4. After some consultation with those Kings the Legats divided themselves For George Bishop of Ostia who seems to have been the principall Legat thought fitt to leave his companion Theophylact among the Mercians and other more southern Provinces to reform disorders there and for himself he went into the Northern parts to Alfwold King of the Northumbers and Eambald Arch-bishop of York In which iourney he took with him as an assistant Wighod an Abbot and Preist a man of approved fidelity whom Charles the Great had sent with him into Brittany 5. When he was come as far as York he found that King Alfwold at that time remained at a place a great way distant from thence Northward The Arch-bishop therefore thought fitt to send Messengers to him to give him notice of the Legats arrivall and intention to assemble a Synod for rectifying abuses The King received this information with much ioy and immediatly appointed a day when the Synod should meet commanding all Princes both Ecclesiasticall and Secular to give their attendance at it 6. It is not in the Legats Epistle mentioned where this Synod mett but since our Ecclesiasticall Writers doe speak of two Synods this year and the next assembled in the Kingdom of the Northumbers the one at a place called Fincenhale not Wincenhale as some corruptly write it it is now called Finkeley The other at Acley both which places are in the Province now called the Bishoprick of Durham it is very probable that the Legat went so far Northward to preside in both those Synods as being most commodiously assembled in the midst of the Northumbriam Kingdom 7. When the Synod was mett One of the prime things which the Legat did was to deliver Popes Adrians Epistles to be publickly read Which being done both the Princes and Bishops unanimously professed that they would obediently observe the Decrees contained in them What those Decrees were the Legats does not declare But wee find that the year before this Pope Adrian had made a Collection of certain Heads of Ecclesiasticall Disciplin out or both the Greek and Latin Canons the Roman Synods and Decrees of Ancient Popes which he sent by his Legats to severall Churches to be received in their respective Synods as the Common Law of the Church Such a Collection wee read sent to Ingelramnus Bishop of of Metz in Germany and very probably the same was also directed to the Bishops of Brittany to the end that there might be an uniformity of Discipline through the whole Western Patriarchat 8. Besides these Epistles sent from the Pope the Legat advising with the Bishops and Princes found that great disorders and irregularities were spread through those Churches which said he was no wonder considering that since the time of Saint Augustin no Bishop had been sent from Rome to make inspection into those Churches and to reform abuses To rectify which he with advice compiled a Capitular or Writing containing the severall points to be reformed Which having caused to be read publickly there followed a generall profession of subiection and obedience to the orders and regulations prescribed by him with humble thanks for his seasonable admonitions XXII CHAP. i. 2. c. The Capitular containing twenty Ecclesiasticall Decrees proposed by the Popes Legat in a Synod oâ— the Northumbers and Subscribed to by the Bishops Abbots and Nâ—bles 1. THE Capitular here mentioned contained severall Ordonnances and Admonitions prescribed by the Legat in order to the correcting of abuses which had crept into the Churches of Brittany They were twenty in number the sence of which we will here breifly sett down 2. The First admonished them to hold fast the Faith and Decrees established in the Councill of Nicéa and the five following Generall Councils and that every year Bishops in their Synods should examine diligently their Preists whether they taught the people conformably to those Decrees 2. That Baptism should be administred according to the Canonicall Staâ—â—ts and at the due times appointed and that God fathers and Godmothers according to their obligation instruct their God-children teaching them the Creed and our Lords Prayer 3. That Bishops every year visitt their Dioceses and twice assemble Synods to prevent abuses rising Likewise that they appoint Congregations whither the people might resort to hear Gods word preached 4. That
Bishops take great care that Canons live Canonically and Religious men and women regularly as well in their dyet as Cloathing that so a distinction be made between Canons Monks and Seculars in their habits Wherin the two former were to conform themselves to the grave fashions observed in the Eastern parts avoyding light-colourd and costly rayment 5. That when any Abbot or Abbesse dyes care be had with the counsell of the Bishop that fitt Superiours be chosen in their places out of their respective Convents or in case none be found there they should be taken out of others 6. That none be ordained Preists or Deacons but such as are of approved lives and can perform their Charges and that they persevere in the Titles to which they are consecrated 3. The .7 was that all Publick Churches at Howers Canonicall with reverence observe their Course or Ecclesiasticall Office 8. That all ancient Priviledges conferred by the Apostolick See on any Churches and Monasteries in Brittany be preserved inviolate and in case any preiudice has been done to them by wicked men that such iniury be taken away 9. That Ecclesiasticall persons eat their meat in common that it may be observed whether they doe fast and abstain according to their obligation and therefore that none except he be sick presume to eat in Secret because such is the prachise of Hypocrites and Saracens 10. That Preists at the Altar for decencies sake under their Sacerdotall Vestments weare other clothing as it was commanded in the Old Law Also that Oblations should be bread not Crusts And that no Câ—alices be made of Horn. Likewise that Bishops meddle not in Secular Iudicatures 11. Kings and Princes were admonished to doe iustice and to hearken to the admonitions of Bishops who also are commanded confidently without fear or flattery to tell them their duty 12. That in the election of Kings regard be had to such as are not born of adultery or incest and that the Electours should be not the common people but the Nobles and Bishops And Kings being once constituted that none should resist or detract then much lesse conspire against their lives under pain of an eternall Anathema 4. The 13. was That Great men and iudges should iudge causes iustly without acception of persons 14. That no uniust Tributâ— should be imposed on the Church not any greater then were according to the custom of pious Emperours and Kings or as the Roman Law appâ—ints And that such Princeâ— should especially abstain from this violence as doe communicate with the Roman Church 15. That all Mariages incestuous with near kinred or consecrated Virgins be utterly forbiden 16. That bastards or children of Religious persons shall not be admitted to inherit 17. That Tithes be duly payed without fraud that God may blesse them For it often happens that he who pays not tithes is reduced to tithes Vsury is utterly prohibited And iust equall weights measures ordained 18. That all vowes made either in prosperity or adversity be performed 19. That all superstitious rites and relicks of Paganism be rooted out And particularly that men abstain from dying and colouring their bodies or painting figures on them as the Heathenâ—â—h Brittains of old did Likewise that none should cutt off their horses eares slitt their nostrills curtall their tales or eat their flesh for all these are according to the practises of Pagans 20. All are admonished to Pennance and to bring forth â—ruits beseeming Pennace Not approaching to the Holy Eucharist but according to the iudgment of the Preist after Satisfaction imposed according to the measure of their faults And that if any one departed this woâ—ld without Confession and Pennance none should pray for him 5. In these Decrees there are some passages which require our consideration For whereas in the fourth Canon Bishops are required to take care that Monks in their cloathing conform themselves to the grave fashion of those in the Eastern parts Some may peâ—haps from hence inferre that the Legaâ— by the Orientalls intended the Grecians and consequently that Monachism came to us from the Eastern Church and perhaps Religion also It is not to be doubted but that by that phrase he meant the Orders of Religion observed in Kent the most Eastern Province of the Kingdom and the most civilized part of the Island Which is confirmed by the like expression in the nineteenth Canon where he forbids the eating of horse-flesh a custome not practised in the Eastern parts For surely he hid no need to have recourse to Greece or the Eastern Church for decrying that barbarous custom 6. Again whereas in the sayd ninetenth Canon he enveighs against painting their Bodies it seems that ancient rude fashion of the Old Brittains and Picts was not altogether disused Yet not so as if the Northumbers practised it as in old times over their whole naked bodies but only on some parts which were discovered as the face armes or thighs which savoured of some relicke of Gentilisme 7. Lastly whereas in the Seaventh Canon mention is made of the Ecclesiaâ—ticall Course oâ— Office we are to observe that though some Churches had their peculiar Office for Divine Service Yet that in Brittany and principally among the Northumbers they conâ—ormâ—d themselves to the Roman praâ—tise introduced by S. Benedict Biscop as S. Beda declares 8. These Decrees were by the Legat proposed in Councill and withall devotion â—ubmitted to both by the Bishops Abbots and all the Nobleâ—â— And thereupon confirmd by the Legat in the Popes name with making the sign of the Crosse and in like manner signed by the Bishops and Nobles there present As touching the Subscriptions there are found severall names both of Bishops and Episcopall Sees which are no where else to be found and therfore the false Writing of them is to be imputed to the unskillfullnes of Trâ—nscribers XXIII CHAP. 1.2 c. The same Capitular received in a Synod of the Mercians 3.4 c Offa King of the Mercians to the preiudice of the See of Canterbury raises Lichfeild to an Archiepiscopall See 6.7 King Offa makes his Son Egfrid King with him Of his Queen Quendrida 1. AFter this Synod in the Kingdom of the Northumberâ— the Legat attended by the Kings Embassadours and certain Bishops went back into the kingdome of the Mercians With them also went Malvin and Pitâ—eâ— Lectours who caried with them the Decreeâ— of this Synod And being arrived there they called another Synod at a place by our Historians called Cealchithe Cealtide Calthuthe and Calchuch Where this place is seated none of them determine Probably wee may understand Chelsey which saith â—amden in ancient Records is found written Chelchehith which was oâ—t a fear of the Mercian Kings 2. In this Synod there were present King Offa and the Nobility of the countrey Likewise lambert or Lambert Archbishop of Canterbury with the other Bishops of that Province There in the presence of the Councill the foresaid Decrees were read
writes Hoveden And Mathew of Westminster adds as a prodigy of great wonder that on mens cloathes were seen the sign of the Crosse which he conceived to have been intended by God for a warning against the coming of the Danes which shortly followed 5. In the place of Alfwold there was substituted Osred son to King Alred who a little before raigned in the Kingdom of the Northumbers But this Osred enioyd but a short time the fruit of the treason committed against Alfwold For within a years space the Northumbers according to their naturall inconstancy grew weary of him So that he was circumvented by the treachery of his Nobles and deprived of his kingdom after which he had the Monasticall Tonsure in the Citty of York and yet not finding security there he was compelled to fly out of the Kingdom 6. After the deposall of Osred the Northumbers recalled out of banishment Ethelred the son of Ethelwold who was a second time exalted to the throne Among the Epistles of Alcuin there is extant one directed to this King Ethelred after his restitution as likewise to Osbald and Osbert two of his Principall Nobles in which he with great affection admonishes them to sett before their eyes the great calamities lately befailn that Kingdom by the iniustice rapines uncleannes of former Princes which vices if they did not avoyd they must expect the like iudgments Particularly he exhorts them to apprehend the scourge which lately afflicted the Church of S. Cuthbert a place enriched with the holy Relicks of many Saints but now miserably wasted by Pagans Before which Letter was sent it seems King Ethelred was slain as appears by the destroying the Church of Lindesfarn 7. The same year in which King Alfwold was slain Tither or as Hoveden stiles him S. Gilbert Bishop of Hagustald dying Ethelbert a little before consecrated Bishop of Wite-hern or Candida casa relinquishing that See was translated to the Church of Hagustald 8. To this Ethelbert newly Bishop of Hagustald and to the Congregation of Monks there serving God in the Monastery dedicated to S. Andrew there is â—ound an Epistle also of the same Alcuin in which after congratulation for his assumption to that Bishoprick he humbly recommends himself to his and all their Prayers and exhorts them to be carefull in the pious education of young Religious that they may be worthy successours of the honour which they had obtained in other Churches and likewise that they might be intercessours for them when they were dead For saith he the prayers of the living are proffitable to the dead to obtain for some the pardon of their sins and to others an encrease of their happines In the same Epistle likewise he magnifies the beauty and sumptuousnesse of that Church and Monastery at Hagustald built long before by S. Wilfrid Which according to the testimony of William of Malmsbury was so magnificent that in no countrey on this side of the Alpes could be found a Church which might deserve to be compared with it Insomuch as those which came from Rome seeing it imagined they saw the Roman ambition in Brittany And indeed it was from Rome that S. Wilfrid called the Architects and Masons which built it II. CHAP. 1.2 c. Succession of Bishops in England Ethelard an illustrious Arch-bishop of Canterbury 5. Two young Northumbrian Princes murdred 6. Osred after his deposall and Monasticall Tonâ—ure slain 6. Ethelred maries the daughter of Offa. 1. EThelbert having relinquished the Episcopall See of Candida casa it was supplied by Eadulph or Baldulj who was ordained in a place called Hearvahalah which may be interpreted a place of Lords About the same time likewise after the death of Higbert Bishop of Lichfeild and lately called Arch-bishop there succeeded in the same See Aldulf who was the only Arch-bishop of that See which received a Pall from Rome for not long after this See was reduced to its primitive state simply Episcopall Moreover Alubert Bishop of Selesey in the kingdom of the South-Saxons dying in his place was substituted Osa by some called Bosa 2. The Archiepiscopall See of Canterbury had been a good space vacant after the death of Iambert and in the year of Christ seaven hundred ninety one was supplied by the translation of Ethelard thither from the See of Winchester to which he had eleaven years before been ordained He was a man to be compared yea prefered above the most famous Prelats of this Island if we except the first Apostolick Doctours of it For he restored unto the primitive splendour the dignity and Priviledges of his Church which had been depressed by King Offa and in what esteem he was for his Sanctity will appear by the Epistle of Pope Leo to King Kenulphus of which hereafter 3. A little after his assumption to this supreme See Alcuin wrote a letter of congratulation to him in which he exhorted him to imitate the vertues of his glorious Predecessours the Doctours and lights of Brittany by whose prayers he should certainly be assisted if he would reclame their intercession with whose Sacred Bodies and Monuments he was compassed Which Epistle seems to have been an answer to one which this worthy Prelat wrote to him to demand his counsell and instructions as one perfectly versed in all sacred and Ecclesiasticall learning touching the discharge of his New sublime Office 4. To the See of Winchester from which this illustrious Bishop Ethelard had been taken was promoted Egbald who is reckond the tenth Prelat of that Church 5. At this time was performed an impious fact by King Ethelred lately restored to the Kingdom of the Northumbers For whereas two children of the pious King Alfwold fearing the cruelty of King Ethelred had fled for security to the Church of York as to an inviolable Sanctuary they were by deceitfull promises withdrawn from thence and miserably slain by the said King in a place called Wonwaldremere The names of those two Princes were Elf and Elfwin 6 The death of Osred presently after this following did not deserve to be so much lamented because though he had been violently deposed from his throne to which King Ethelred was restored yet having been in some sort engaged in the security of a Religious life of which he had received the Tonsure it was not so glorious for him to aspire to a Crown to which Ethelred had a right preferable to his However he was about this time privatly recalled from his banishment in a place called Enfania by certain Princes of the Northumbers discontented with King Ethelred who interposed their oathes to be loyall to him But afterward his own soldiers deserting him he was taken prisoner by King Ethelred and upon his command slain in a place called Dingburch or as others call it Cunburg His body was caried to the mouth of the River Tine and buried in the famous Monastery seated there 6. King Ethelred not
thinking himself as yet secure to confirm his kingdom yet more strongly sought the freindship and association of Offa King of the Mercians the most powerfull of all the English Saxon Princes at this time And to knitt more strictly the league between them he demanded his daughter named Elfleda for his wife which he likewise obtained having cast off his former wife But that which he contrived for his security was the occasion of his ruine for his Subiects abhorting such impiety deprived him of his kingdom and afterwards of his life And with him ended the Nortumbrian Kingdom though the Name of King was given to some few others Notwithstanding by the invasion and horrible depopulation made by the barbarous Danes those Titular Kings of the English blood were scarce taken notice of by any III. CHAP. 1.2 c. The Gests and happy death of Saint Burchard Bishop of Wirtzburg 10.11 c. Likewise of his Suceessour Saint Megingand 1. THE same year in which Ethelard was assumed to the Archiepiscopall See of Canterbury is marked with the death of two English Apostolick Bishops in Germany S. Burchard and S. Willehade the former Bishop of Wirtzburg and the other of Bremen 2. The Life of S. Burchard has been written by Egilward a Monk of his own Monastery near Wirtzburg as Trithemius testifies Some affirm saith that Authour that S. Burchard and S. Swithun concerning whom we will treat in the next Century were brethren born of Noble parents in the Kingdom of the West-Saxons in Brittany and that they were kinsmen to S. Boniface Certain it is that S. Burchard was one of those who were called out of Brittany in the year of Christ seaven hundred twenty five to assist S. Boniface in his Apostolick Office in Germany 3. Assoon as S. Burchard was arrived there S. Boniface destined to him in a propheticall manner the flock of Christ which had been gathered by S. Kilian and his companions and for which they had suffred Martyrdom But to fitt him for so high an employment he lived some years in the society of severall devout and learned Preists under the Conduct of S. Boniface After which S. Boniface ioyning to his own Letters also written by King Pipin to Pope Zacharias requested that the Citty of Wirtzburg might be erected to an Episcopall See To which request the Pope easily condescended after he had been informed that the said Church was endowd by S. Boniface himself with sufficient revenews to sustain the necessities of the poor as well as of the Clergy And upon the testimony given by S. Boniface S. Burchard his Disciple was consecrated the first Bishop of that Episcopall See 4. These things being happily effected at Rome Saint Boniface conducting his now fellow Bishop to Wirtzburg recommended him to his flock by whom he was most ioyfully received At which time the bounds of the said Diocese were limitted And S. Burchard being left in his New See omitted no duty of a worthy Prelat being assiduous in reading affable in conversation powerfull in preaching exemplary in life liberall in almes-giving tenderly loving and beloved by his flock 5. In the second year after he was consecrated Bishop by the advice and with the assistance of S. Boniface he made diligent search for the Sacred Bodies of S. Kilian and his companions the holy Apostolick Martyrs of Christ which having found he with great devotion took them out of the place into which they had been ignominiously cast by their murderers the Idolatrous Pagans Assoon as the earth was opened a celestiall fragrancy was breathed from thence and though their flesh was already resolved into dust yet the vestments and books which had been cast with them into the pitt were found entire nothing at all defaced They were in a most solemne Procession caried to the Church of Wirtzburg where by a world of miracles they so encreased mens devotion that by means thereof the Church became enriched with great possessions S Burchard himself gave a village called Michelnstat which Prince Caroloman had formerly bestowed on him King Pipin afterwards gave a certain Castle called Karelburg with severall other ample possessions 9. Near the said Castle there was a small Monastery which had been built by a Holy Virgin named Gertrudis This Monastery being much retired did another devout Virgin called Immina begg of Saint Burchard and in exchange gave him a place called The Mount of Saint Mary or Old Wirtzburg of far greater valew To this place were the Sacred Bodies of Saint Kilian and his companions translated There likewise did Saint Burchard build a magnificent Monastery and placed there his Episcopall See And thither did he oft retire whensoever he could obtain any vacancy from the solicitudes of his charge and conversation of men and there did he attend to God and celestiall things only 7. Forty years did this Holy Bishop spend in the exercises of perfect Charity either to God in Prayer and contemplation or to men in advancing their soules in the same Divine Charity And after such incessant labours in our Lords Vineyard his corporall strength diminishing he called his Clergy together to whom he declared his desire to see his Episcopall See provided of a person able to sustain the weighty employments of it for which purpose he proposed to them his Disciple and companion Megingand well known to them for his eminent vertues and piety who was immediately by common consent elected to be after his death his Successour and during his life his assistant A confirmation of this Election he easily obtained from his Metropolitan the Arch-bishop of Mentz Charles the Great King of France consenting thereto 8. Having discharged his mind of so great a care he took with him only six of his Disciples and by boat descended to a certain Castle called Hohenburg where he employed the remainder of his dayes in great austerities in watching fasting and incessant Prayer He had a desire to have continued his iourney to Michelnstat where his purpose was to build another Monastery But his infirmity encreasing upon him would not permitt him to accomplish his desire For within a few days after his coming to Hohenburg he gave up his soule into his Redeemers hands having before secured his last passage by the Sacraments of Holy Church which he received with admirable fervour and Spirituall ioy 9. His Sacred body was by the affectionate care of his Disciple and Successour Mengingand transported to his Cathedrall Church of Wirtzenburg where it was reposed near to the Sacred Relicks of Saint Kilian all the Nobility and in a manner all the inhabitants of the Countrey being assembled to honour the funeralls of their beloved Pastour Who as in his life time he had been an instrument of great benedictions to them so after his death likewise they experienced many effects of his Love by frequent deliverances and consolations obtained by his intercession The day of his death is marked oâ— the fourth day before the Nones
forsake your tender flock least when you are gone the wolves seise upon it The Blessed man answered him My son doe not you desire to detain mee from the sight of my Saviour These my sheep he gave mee and to him I commend them of whose goodnes the whole earth is full Thus piously affected and always intent upon God was this Blessed servant of his to the hower of his death which befell on the sixth day before the Ides of November To his funeralls all the people on all sides made hast and with hymnes and praises to God caried the Sacred Body of their most dear Father and Teacher to the Church of Bremen which himself had built and dedicated to the Apostle Saint Peter He sate in the same See onely two years three months and twenty six dayes having been a laborious Preacher since the death of S. Boniface the space of thirty five years V. CHAP. 1.2 c. A falsely supposed Book against Images said to be sent from Charles the Great to King Offa Alcuin's iudgment touching Images 7.8 c. It was upon misinformation that the Councill of Francfort censured the Eastern Church in that Point 1. THE year of Grace seaven hundred ninety two is much celebrated by modern Protestant Writers because as they suppose it affords them a great advantage to question yea condemne the Roman-Catholick Faith touching Images and the Veneration due to them Sir Henry Spelman thus breifly gives an account of the busines That year saith he Charles the Great King of the French sent into Brittany to Offa King of the Mercians a Book of the second Councill of Nicéa in which a Decree is made that Images are to be adored But the English reiect this 2. To iustify this Device he first produces a Letter pretended to be written by King Charles to Offa thereto annexing a passage out of the Authour by whom the said Letter is recorded to witt the Compiler of the Life of this King Offa the second lately published under the Name of Mathew Paris As touching the Letter there is nothing in it relating to the Controversy about Images But thereto the said Authour adioyns That among others marks of extraordinary freindship between the two Kings Charles who as he was the most powerfull so also the most meck and kind of the Eastern Kings sent to Offa the greatest and most pious of the Western Kings certain Epistles and together with them Synodall Statutes as it were certain rudiments of Catholick Faith for informing the minds of the English Prelats whom he beleived to be rude unlearned and irregular These things he sent to King Offa for perpetuating the freindship begun happily between them And this present Offa received with ioy as a blessing sent him from heaven 3. This foundation being thus layd though as yet not a word touching Images be found yet Sir Henry Spelman to prove that at this time the English-Saxons as to the Point of Images were Protestants that is Iconomachi will needs collect from hence that the Synodall Statuts here mentioned as sent to inform the unlearned disorderly Prelats in Brittany was the same Book of which Hoveden thus writes The same year Charles King of the French sent a Synodall Book into Brittany which had been directed to him from Constantinople In which Book alas were found many things disagreeing yea directly contrary to true Faith and principally one Point confirmed by the unanimous consent of almost all the Eastern Doctours and not so few as three hundred Bishops That Images ought to be adored which is an assertion which the Church of God doeth altogether abominate And against this Point Albin or Alcuin wrote an Epistle admirably established upon the Divine authority of Scriptures which together with the forementioned Book he himself caried to the King of the French in the name of our Bishops and Princes 4. Harpsfeild taking Notice of the like passages as he iudges frudulently interposed in the writings of some of our ancient Authours esteems the whole Narration to be a foolish unsavoury fable not worth the trouble of confuting And indeed Sir H. Spelman himself after he had produced these things foreseeing that it would be a difficult taxe to iustify these allegations is content to represse himself and onely in geâ—nerall to affirm that hitherto he could find no ground to iudge that as yet the English Church had admitted the adoration of Images Thus writes he and yet in the same Book he before had with great earnestnes endeavoured to iustify a pretended Synod of London assembled almost fourscore years before this time in which a Decree is made by the English-Saxon Clergy and Nobility for admitting the adoration that is veneration of Images as we have already shewed 5. And as touching the pretended Epistle in confutation of the said Doctrine written by Alcuin and by him caried into France besides that it neither appears in the volume or his Epistles published by himself nor in any other Authour Let the indifferent Reader iudge how unsavoury a fable the imputing of this to Alcuin is when he shall read what Alcuin himself writes concerning this Point 6. In his Book of Divine Offices treating of the Ceremonies appointed by the Church to be observed on Good Friday he writes thus Towards evening in all Churches of Preists Bishops and Monasteries a Crosse is prepared before the Altar which is sustained on both sides by two Acolytes and a cushion layd before it Then comes the Bishop alone and having adored the Crosse kisses it The same also is done by the Preists Deacons and other Clarks and lastly by the people The Bishop sitts in his Seat whilest all salute the Crosse. The two first Preists having saluted the Crrsse enter into the Sacristie c. Moreover the same Alcuin not content with this further teaches why and how this Ceremony is to be performed When we adore the Crosse saith he let our whole body lye prostrate on the ground and with our mind let us look upon him whom we adore as hanging on the same Crosse and we adore the vertue it self which it received from the son of God In body we are prostrated before the Crosse in mind before our Lord. We venerate the Crosse by which we are redeemed and we pray to him who redeemed us Yea further for exploring Alcuins mind touching this matter these following words of his are remarkeable Those who cannot have any part of the very wood of our Lords Crosse doe without any prejudice to Faith adore that Crosse or Image of it which they have Such a Protestant Iconoclast was Alcuin thus does he confute by the Divine authority of Scripture the veneration of Images asserted by the Council of Nicéa 7. Notwithstanding what ever becomes of this Story touching King Charles his Synâ—â—dall Book sent into Brittany which is no other but his Capitulare containing a great number of Ecclesiasticall Ordonnances or of Alcuins
related by Sir H. Spelman out of an ancient Manuscript of the Life of S. Alban in this manner King Offa having then assembled at Verulam a Council of his Bishops and Nobles by their unanimous consent and out of his great affection to Saint Alban he conferred on that Monastery very large possessions considering that great hospitality was to be kept there Because near thereto lyes the broad high way called Watlingstrete by which men came from the Northern parts and returned Therefore he esteemed it a pious thing that travellours might find there a house to be entertaind freely For this reason he addicted that place to the Monastery which he dignified with many Priviledges and immunities Moreover he gathered a Congregation of Monks out of severall houses where Regular Observance was kept with best care especially from the Monastery of Becc in Neustria or Normandy in France and ordained an Abbot over them named Willigode a man who was indeed according to his Name of good Will He was descended of the Royall family being near of kin to King Offa. 7. The particular possessions given by the King at this time to the said Monastery are specified in his Charter which remains to this day And besides the Priviledges before related he added these that what soever exactions or for feytures due to the King from any criminall person within the liberties of the same Monastery should be payed thereto That the Abbot or Monk who was Arch deacon under him should exercise Episcopall Iurisdiction over all persons both Preists and Laymen living within their possessions and that they should pay subiection neither to Archbishop nor Legat but to the Pope alone In a word the said Church as it had all Royall rights from the King so did it likewise enioy Episcopall ornaments from the Pope 8. This Charter the King sent to Rome to be confirmed by Pope Hadrian and this seems to have been one of the last actions performed by the same worthy Pope Who having sate in S. Peters chair twenty three years ten months and seaventeen days was notwithstanding esteemed by all good men to have quitted the government of the Church immaturely Particularly King Charles for the respect which he bore him distributed alms not only through the Churches in Provinces subiect to him but also in forrain countreys for his soule as we have declared in his Letter sent to King Offa. 9. The same year Higbert or Humbert the first Archbishop of Lichfeild dying there succeeded him Aldulf to whom a Pall was sent from Rome notwithstanding before he dyed he was obliged to lay aside that Archiepiscopall ornament and to content himself with the simple Title of Bishop Likewise to Eadbald Bishop of London the same year succeeded Heathobert and to Egbald Bishop of Winchester Dudda IX CHAP. 1.2 c. The death of King Offa and his Children 4.5 c. Egfrid his pious Successour dyes shortly after him being ready to restore the Rights to the See of Canterbury 9. Eanbald Archbishop of York dyes to whom another Eanbald succeeds 1. THE year of Christ seaven hundred ninety six was the last of the raign life of Offa the illustrious King of the Mercians after he had raigned thirty nine years He left a noble memory of his courage in three victories obtained against the Kings of Brittany the King of Kent of the West-Saxons and Northumbers And of his Piety in founding the famous Monastery of S. Alban and charitable contribution to the See Apostolick besides many other Monuments of his Charity and devotion 2. The memory of his name he left to severall places For in Warwickshire having built a Church a town thereto adioyning was called Off-Church and in Suffolck another town was called Offton Lastly he dyed in a village named Offley From whence his Body was removed to the Town of Bedford where it was buried in a Chappell without the Citty-walls with Royall solemnity But in processe of time his Sepulcher was swept away by a violent inundation of the River Vsk. 3. He left behind him by his Queen Quendreda severall children His eldest son and Successour was Egfrid who succeeded to his Fathers vertues but not the years of his raign for he governed the Kingdom not a full half year In Capgrave we read of another Son of his called Fremond slain afterward by the Danes but the story related of him does so disagree from Chronology that it is manifest the Authour of it mingled together the Occurrents of severall ages He had two daughters the one named Ethelburga who in her vices ressembled her impious Mother Queen Quendreda for she not only left a stain upon her own countrey by poysoning her husband King Brithric but upon France also as wee shall declare The other much unlike her sister truly the daughter of her fathers Piety 〈◊〉 Alfleda whom the Holy Martyr King Etheâ—â—â—rt had demanded for his wife and who after his deâ—th preferred the fenns of Croyland before her Fathers Palace 4. His eldest son Egfrid had been assumed by his Father into a society in his Throne nine years before this yet this is called the first and only year of his raign for he did not out-live his Father more then five months Yet in that short time he left many and lasting Monuments of his piety wholly employing the few days of his raign in adorning and amplifying Monasteries and Churches He was a Prince saith William of Malmsbury who studiously avoyded the steps of his Fathers cruelty He restored all the Priviledges of Churches which had been preiudiced by his Father Moreover a possession which his Father had taken from the Monastery of Malmsbury he willingly returned into the hands of Cuthbert then Abbot thereof upon the exhortation of the worthy and courageous Archbishop of Canterbury 5. Above all he most favoured the Monastery of S. Alban to which he not only confirmd all the possessions and liberties given by his Father but himself added new in a place called Pinnelesfeld as appears by his Charter recorded at the end of Mathew Paris and subscribed by the Queen Cynedrida his Bishops and Nobility In a second Charter likewise to the same Monastery in like manner subscribed he added another possession called Thyrefeld The place where this was written and confirmed in a Synod is named Celchyed 6. Athelard Arch-bishop of Canterbury perceiving the pious disposition of this young King suggested to him his obligations to repair the iniuries done by his Father to the mother-Mother-Church of Brittany Canterbury which by all Princes since the beginning of Christianity had been esteemed the only Metropolitan Church of that part of Brittany but lately had been diminished by the uniust exaltation of the See of Lichfeild With which suggestion of the worthy Archbishop King Egfrid was mollified and had restored the honour of the Archiepiscopall See of Canterbury if death had not too hastily taken him away But what Athelard could not
it 1. WE will conclude this Book and Century with a short view of the state of Gods Church in Brittany at this time Sir Henry Spelman has published another Synod held this year at Clovesho In which after a publick attestation of the Vniformity of their Faith with the same which Saint Gregory the Great caused to the taught here at the first Conversion of the Nation with a Profession that what they beleived they would also in their lives practise a Decree was made for the restitution of all lands and goods which had been usurped by Lay-persons and violently taken from Churches and Monasteries 2 More specially Athelard Arch-bishop of Canterbury presiding in the same represented to the Synod how Ethelbald King of the Mercians had given formerly to the Church of our Saviour in Canterbury a certain Monastery called Cotham with all the Lands and possessions belonging thereto and that such his Donation might be of perpetuall force he sent by Cuthbert then Archbishop a Turf of the said land together with all Writings perâ—aining to the same Monastery which he required him to lay upon the Altar of our Saviours Church But after the death of the said Arch-bishop two men who had been educated by him named Veâ—head and Osbert by the Devills instigation stole away those Writings and caried them to Ceolulf King of the West-Saxons who thereupon took to his own use the said Monastery and land notwithstanding any thing that the Arch-bishop could alledge His Successours likewise in the Arch-bishoprick Bregwan and Iambert in severall Synods made complaints of this injury done to the Church of our Saviour both to the King of the West-Saxons and to Offa King of the Mercians who had subdued many Citties and particularly that Territory in which the said Monastery of Cotham was seated which he annexed to his own Dominion But now at last Kenulf King of the Mercians repenting of his injustice had restored all the said Writings adding withall a great summe of money humbly requesting that he might be absolved from the Excommunications denounced against Sacrilegious usurpers of Church-lands 3. Matters standing thus the said Arch-bishop Athelard together with his principall Officer Cuba brought the foresaid Writings into the Synod which were publickly read and approved Then he acquainted the Synod that by a mutuall agreement between himself and a certain Abbesse named Cynedritha she should possesse the said Monastery of Cotham with all lands belonging to it giving in exchange land of one hundred and ten Mansions and Sixty Hides Cassatarum in a place named Fleot and thirty in another called Tenaham and twenty in a third named Creges Ennulina all which lands King Offa had formerly given to her and her heyrs and after their decease to the Church of Beodford This agreement touching an exchange with a mutuall surrendry of all Writings on both sides the Arch-bishop desired might be approved and confirmed by the Synod that no difference might hereafter happen between his Successours and the heyrs of King Offa. He moreover gave to the same Abbesse another Monastery seated in a place called Pectonege which the devout King Egfrid had bestowd on him to be possessed by a right of inheritance XXIII CHAP. 1.2 c. The Martyrdom of S. Alcmund a Northumbrian Prince 4.5 c. Brithric King of the West-Saxons murdred by his Queen Eadburga For which it was ordained that the wives of succeeding Kings should never have the Title of Queens 1. THE Kingdom of the Northumbers at this time was again most greivously plagued by the Danish Pirats for a most horrible army of them landing in the Northern parts cruelly spoyled the Churches of Hercenes and Tynmouth 2. The same year also Alcmund son of Alred who had been there King was apprehended by the guards of the present Vsurping King Eardulf and by his command was slain together with all those who had been his companions in banishment 3. This Prince Alcmund was son of that King Alred who in the year of Christ seaven hundred seaventy four was by a rebellion of his Subiects driven out of his kingdom and fled to the Picts This Prince willingly followed his Father into banishment the incommodities whereof he bore with a Christian equanimity By such afflictions God disposed this pious Prince for a far richer crown For though by the relation of Mathew of Westminster he is said to have been slain by the cruelty of King Eardulf yet in our Martyrologe he is commemorated in the quality of a Martyr made a sacrifice to God by the inhumanity of the Danes Certain it is that he dyed a violent and uniust death and by posterity has been aâ—ways venerated as a Saint which God approved by many Miâ—racles In the Citty of Darby a magnificent Church was built to his honour called to this day the Church of S. Alcmund Another likewise was erected in Shrewsbury as our Martyrologe testifies where his Name is celebrated among Saints on the nineteenth of March. And in former times a great concourse thither was made especially from the Northern parts to pay their devotions to God in honouring his Saint their iniured countreyman 4. This Century concluded with the death of Brithric King of the West-Saxons by the treacherous cruelty of his Wife The manner thereof is thus described by Mathew of Westminster King Brithric saith he had taken to wife Eadburga daughter to Offa King of the Mercians This woman being exalted to so great honours did not content her self but was restlesse in her ambition to enioy alone all wealth and power Therefore with a tyrannous malice she was wâ—nt to accuse before the King and persecute all the Nobles of the Kingdom and all others who favoured iustice By which means she became the Obiect of the Vniversal hatred both of the Princes and inferiour subiects Because that wicked woman by her flatteries had so insinuated her self into the Kings affection and esteem that whosever she accused were presently either banished or slain Or if she could not obtain this her custom was privatly to destroy them by poison 5. Now there was at that time a certain young man of a Noble family and deeply in the Kings favour against whom the Queen not having any thing of which she could with any pretence of iustice accuse him she provided poyson with which she killed him And a part of this poyson the King unawares taesting immediatly dyed Her purpose then was not that the poison should be given to the King but only to the young man his favourite but by mishap they both drank of it and both presently dyed 6. The King being thus unhappily slain the Queen knowing how universally she was hated in great fear fled away privatly carying with her inestimable treasure And passing the Sea she went to the Emperour-Charles to whom she presented many rich gifts On a certain time 〈◊〉 she was among other Ladies standing in his presence being though a most wicked yet a
Christ. She spent her life in serving God with all purity in the Church and Convent where her Neice S. Mildred was Abbesse to whom likewise she succeeded in the government of it 7. Among the praises of this holy King Ethelebrt we will in the last place mention his zeale to convert Redwald King of the East-Angles to the Christian Faith though the event proved not so happy in him as it had been in Sebert King oâ— the East-Saxons Concerning which Redwald S. Beda writes That in Kent the Kingdom of Ethelbert he had been imbued with the Mysteries and Sacraments of Christian Faith But in vain for when he return'd home he was perverted and depraved from the sincerity of Faith by his Wise and other impious Teachers so that his latter end was worse then his beginning for like the old Samaritans he would both serve Christ and his old Pagan Gods together placing in the same Temple a Holy Altar for the Sacrifice of our Lord and an impure Altar for the Victimes of Devills Which profane Altar Athelwolf who lived King of that Province in the dayes of S. Beda testifies to have remained to his time VII CHAP. 1.2 c. Apostacy of the Kings of Kent and the East-Saxons 5.6 S. Mellitus banished from his See at London 7 8. c. Laurentius determining to fly is chastâ—sâ—d by S. Peter 10. The Centuriators impudence 1. CHristian Religion seemd to have been so firmly rooted in the two Kingdoms of Kent and the East-Saxons by the piety and zeale of the two late holy Kings Ethelbert and Sebert that no danger could reasonably be apprehended of its fayling But that it might appear that Faith is the free gift of God his just Providence permitted the impiety of their children and successours to endanger the utter ruine of that heavenly Edifice which their Fathers had erected insomuch as that the Pastours of Gods people were banish'd their Churches profan'd and their Profession if not prohibited at least discountenanced 2. The order and manner of these disorders was as followeth King Ethelbert had left in Kent his Successour his only Son Eadbald who though in his Fathers dayes he seemd inclined to Christian Religion for he was a Witnes and approver of his Fathers Charters by which he bequeathed to the Church of S. Peter and S. Paul severall possessions Yet after his Fathers death he quickly returned to his vomit The first step whereof was his unlawfull lust to his Fathers second Wife whom he more unlawfully and incestuously married After which crime incompatible with a sincere Christian Profession he publickly renounced Christianity and again sett up Pagan Idols inviting also and tempting his subjects to follow his Example which the greatest part of them did Yet he did not force either S. Laurence Archbishop of Canterbury or S. Iustus Bishop of Rochester to abandon their Sees 3. This unhappy change in Kent was accompanied with a like or worse change in London and the rest of the East-Saxons Kingdom For the three Sons and Successours of Sebert perhaps communicating counsels with Eadbald relinquished their former seeming profession of Christianity an occasion whereof they took from the Holy Bishop Mellitus his refusing them the Holy Communion which they demanded out of a foolish curiosity or perhaps with an intention to make a quarrel The particular Story is thus related by S. Beda 4. This storm and perturbation was much encreased by the death of Sabereth or Sebert King of the East-Saxons who at his departure out of this life to a better Kindgdom in heaven left heyrs of his temporall kingdom his three Sons Sexred Seward and Sigebert who had remained obstinate in their Heathenish Superstitions though during his life time they had seemed to intermitt the exercise thereof But assoon as he was dead they publickly professed Idolatry and gave free leave to their subjects to doe the same 5. Now it hapned on a certain time that they saw the Holy Bishop Mellitus at the celebrating a Masse in the Church give the Holy Eucharist to the people Whereupon they in a foolish pride sayd to him Why doest thou not as well give us that white wafer which thou wast wont heretofore to give to our Father Saha for so they usually called him and still continuest to give the people His answer to them was If you will be washed with that saving water with which your Father was purified you may likewise as he was be partakers of this Holy bread But if you despise the water of life you must by no means receive the Bread of life But they replied We have no intention to enter into that Font of which we have no need But however we will have our part of that Bread When they were thus often and earnestly admonished by him that without a precedent purification by Baptism it was not lawfull to give them part of the most holy Oblation at last they grew into fury and told him If thou refusest to consent to us in a matter so easy as this thou shalt stay no longer in our Kingdom Thus they banished him commanding both him and all that belonged to him to depart out of their Province 6. Mellitus being thus expelled from his See of London came into Kent with an intention to demand counsell of Laurentius and Iustus what course for him was best in these extremities And after serious deliberation it was decreed by common advice among them that their best way was rather to return into Italy their Native countrey where they might serve our Lord with free minds then to remain among such rebelles and Apostats from their Faith where no good could be done conâ—idering the malice of their Princes Mellitus therefore and Iustus forthwith departed retiring themselves into France 7. But S Laurence shewd a little more constancy he could not so suddenly resolve to desert his flock though extremely diminished of which he was the Cheif Pastour Sometimes he would entertain hopes that God would not permitt so much labour so prospered by him to be lost But on the other side a sad consideration of the inconstancy of the people the impiety and unrestraind lusts of the King and that himself was now left alone without any to counsel or assist him such thoughts as these peircing deeply into his mind quickly extinguished his former faint rising hopes so that he resolved to quitt the ingratefull countrey likewise and to foâ—low his fellow-Bishops into France And this resolution he had putt in execution had not our Mercifull Lord by his Cheif Apostle prevented it The manner of which prevention is thus described by S. Beda 8. When S. Laurence was upon the point to follow Mellitus and Iustus and to desert Brittany the night before his iourney was to begin he gave order that a couch should be prepared for him in the Church of Saint Peter and S. Paul Whereon when after many prayers and tears powrd forth to God he had layd him
down to rest and was falln asleep there appeared to him the most Blessed Prince of the Apostles who after many sharp stripes inflicted on him askd him with an Apostolick Severity Why he would forsake the flock with which he had entrusted him And to what Pastours care he would committ the sheep of Christ now encompassed with so many wolves Hast thou forgott said he the example I have given thee who for the good of those Lambs which our Lord in testimony of his love recommended to mee suffred from Infidels and enemies of Christ bonds stripes prisons torments and in conclusion death it self even the death of the Crosse for which I am now crownd with him 9. The servant of Christ Laurence being encouraged with these stripes and exhortations of the Blessed Apostle as soon as morning appeared went to the King and laying aside his vestment shewd him how greivously his body had been torn with whipps The King wondring at it demanded who durst be so presumptuous to treat so worthy a person so cruelly But when he was informed that the Bishop had for his Salvation and eternall happines suffred so sharp torments he was struck with great feare 10. We will awhile interrupt the prosecution of S. Beda's Narration of the happy effect of this Miracle in the Kings conversion to attend the iudgment given hereof by some Modern Protestants especially the Centuriators of Magdebury whose censure is this These things were prettily feigned by Laurence to astonish a Pagan King for none but superstitious fooles will beleive that he was in earnest scourged by Peter Saint Beda then it seems was misinformed S. Laurence was a cheating lyar and all posterity superstitiously credulous yea God himself who prospered this invention with the Kings Conversion and the restitution of the Christian Faith in these mens iudgment stood in need of a lye to perfect his own work Certain it is that above eight hundred years since Alcuinus a man of admirable learning made use of this argument of S. Laurence his being chastised by S. Peter to encourage a then Arch-bishop of Canterbury chased from his See And the same example was afterward applied by Osbern a Monk and Precentor of Canterbury to S. Anselm declining the burden of the same Church But what proofs have those Censurers to disprove Saint Beda's Narration None at all but their bare assertion That these lying Miracles were contrived to support an Opinion that Saints have power to hurt those with whom they are displeased So that it seems in their opinion the reall scourging of a man is an act exceeding Gods Omnipotence VIII CHAP. 1.2 c. Edwin Prince of the Northumbers banished His dangers 7.8 He is comforted by an Angell 9 10. His Enemy Ethelfrid slain 1. WE must a little longer delay the relation of the happy effects which the visible marks of S. Laurence his stripes wrought in the mind of the Pagan King Eadbalous which effects began to be publickly seen the year following to insert another illustrious Example of Gods Goodnes to our Nation in exalting to the Throne of the Northumbers a Prince called Edwin by the destruction of that cruel King Etheâ—frâ—d the murderer of so many hundred innocent Monks of Bangor Which Edwin not long after embracing the Christian Faith raised up a glorious Church in those rude and barbarous Provinces which were indeed the first towards whom S. Gregory intended to expresse his Charity upon the sight of a few beautiâ—ull young slaves from hence exposed to sale in the Market at Rome 2. This Edwin was the Son of Alla King of the Deiri or Northumbers to whose name S. Gregory alluded saying that Alleluia's should ere long be sung in his Kingdom Now Alla dying in the year of Grace five hundred eighty nine and leaving his only Son Edwin but three years old the throne due to him was usurped by Ethelfrid sirnamed the Cruel or Savage 3. Edwin living in this Tyrants Court grew up an example of all vertues and endowments which rendred him agreable to all but formidable to Ethelfrid Who yet though he haâ—ed him as one who both had right to the Kingdom and deserved it yet he durst not lay snares for his life fearing in case such designs should want successe least considering the generall compassion and love born to Edwin a party should declare in his behalf and endanger his Crown Therefore imputing to him some feign'd crimes he sent him into Exile hoping that by poverty want of freinds and discontent he would quickly shorten his own life 4. Before his banishment he had maried Quenburga the daughter of Ceorl King of the Mercians who accompanied him in his exile and brought him two sons Offrid and Edfrid after which she dyed before his restitution And Edwin fearing the Tyrants trains was forced to disguise himself and shift from place to place in the habit of a peasant Till at last going into the Kingdom of the East-Angles he committed himself to the faith of Redwald King there in whose Court he lived with great splendour being acceptable both to the King and all others for his rare endowments for he divided his time between reading and Martiall Exercises and in both he so far advanced himself that his fame was spread through the whole Island 5. In the mean time Ethelfrid sought his destruction by all the ways he could imagine sending spyes every where to discover him and assassins to murder him But at last hearing that he was so kindly entertained among the East-angles he resolved either with treasure to buy or with an army to procure his death He sent therefore an Embassadour to Redwald by whom at first he offred great summs of money to purchase the delivering up of Edwin But those offers being rejected he next threatned open war upon refusall This threatning terrified Redwald in somuch as chusing rather to expose the single life of a stranger then hazzard the destruction of his kingdom he yeilded to the solicitations of Ethelfrid promising either to deliver him up or to take order for the shortning his life 6. These Treaties between the two Kings were not caried so secretly but Edwin had notice of them and by the change of King Redwalds countenance and gestures began to suspect his own danger Which suspicion was changed into assurance by an advice given him by a freind of Redwalds resolution Which freind advised him to secure himself by flight offring himself his companion and guide therin But Edwins answer was That having had so many years experience of Redwalds fidelity and generosity he would not be the first to shâ—w a suspicion of so base a crime in a King and that if he must perish he would chuse to doe it rather by the hand of a freind then of a declared Enemy With this resolution he dismissed his freind This discourse betwen them for the greater privacy passed in a solitary place and in the evening when it began to