citie of Rotchester where the see had bene nowe longe vacant by the death of Damian did appoint and consecrat byshop there a man better skilled in the ecclesiasticall discipline and more geuen to plaine and simple sinceritie of lyfe than any thinge politike in worldly affayres His name was Putta a good churche man and cunning in musike after the Romaine vse which he had learned of Pope Gregories scholers How Chadda afore mentioned was appointed bishop of the Marshes or middleenglishmen and of his lyfe death and buriall The 3. Chap. AT that time was VVulpher king of the Marshes who after the death of Iaruman desired of Theodore to haue an other bishop appointed for him and his But Theodore would not consecrate them a newe bishop but desyred king Oswin that Chadde might be their bishop who at that time liued quietly in his monasterie at Lesting and VVilfrid ruled the diocese of yorke and also of all Northumberlande and of the Pictes to as far as king Oswines dominion dyd reache And bicause the said most reuerend bishop Chadde was wonte alwaies to preache and doo the worke of the ghospell more walking a fote wher he went than on horsebacke Theodore willed him to ryde when so euer he had any iourney to take But he refusing vtterly so to doo for the exceding desire and loue that he had of that holy labour and trauaile Theodore himselfe did lifte him on horsebacke with his owne handes knowing him in dede to be a very holy man and so cōpelled him to ride whether nede required Chadd heing thus made bishop of the Marshes the middle english men and of Lindisse he diligently gouerned the same after the examples of the auncient fathers in great perfection of life Vnto whom also king VVulpher gaue the land of L. tenements to build a monasterie with all in the place which is called Etbeare which is by a wood in the prouince of Lindisse where vntill this daye the steppes of monasticall lyfe which he began and placed there do yet remaine The seate and chiefe mansion of the diocese he held at Lichfield where he dyed also and was buried and where vntill this day cotineweth the see of the bishops that succede in the same prouince This man had made himselfe not far from the churche a certaine closet and priuate mansion in which as often as he was at leysure from the busynesse and ministerie of the ghospell he was wont to pray and reade secretly with a fewe that is to saye vij or viij bretherne with him And when he had gouerned the church most worthely in that prouince two yeres and an halfe by the dispensation and appointement of God aboue that time came which the Ecclefiastes speaketh of There is a time to lay abrode stones and a time to gather them together againe For there came a plage sent from God which by the death of the body remoued the liue stones of the churche from the earthly places to the celestiall building in heauen For very many of the churche of this most reuerend bisshop were taken out of this life And when his howre was come to that he should passe out of this worlde to our Lorde it happened on a certaine day that he abode in the foresayd closet and had no mo but one brother with him whose name was Owen all the reast of his felowes being retourned to churche as the cause and houre required This same Owen was a monke of great perfection and one that had forsaken the world with pure intent and hope of the rewarde of heauen a man for all pointes worthy to whome God in speciall wise might reuele and shewe his secrettes and well worthy to whose wordes the hearers may giue credit For coming with Quene Edildride from the prouince of the East English and being the chief off her seruauntes and gouernour of her house for the great zeale of faith that encreased in him determining with himselfe to renounce the world did in dede accomplysh the same not slackely and negligently but in such sort vncladd himself of worldly matters that forsaking all that euer he had being clothed but with plaine and poore apparayl and bearing an hatchet or axe in his hand came to the monasterie of the same most reuerend father called Lestinghe For he signified that he would entre into the monasterie not for ease and idlenesse as some do but to trauaile and labour which thing he well shewed and proued in his doinges for the leasse able and apte that he was for the studie and meditatiō of the scriptures the more diligēt and painfull he was to worke with his handes Finally his reuerence and deuotion was such that the bishop accepted him for one of his brethern to accompany him with the other fewe in the foresaid closet Where while they with in were occupied in reading and prayer he without dyd those thinges abrode that were necessarie to be done And on a certaine day as he was dooing some such thing abrode the reast being gone to churche as I began to say and the bishop being alone in the oratorie of the house occupied in reading or prayer this Owen heard sodainly as he after told a most swete noyse of voyces singing and reioysinge comming downe from heauen to the earth the which voice he sayd he first heard begynning from the south east that is from whence the depth of winter comes and then by litle and litle drawinge nere him vntill it came to the roofe of the oratorie where the bishop was where it entred filled it within and compassed it all rownd about Whereat geuing earnestly mind to marke the thinge that he heard he did againe as it were about an houre after heare the same ioyfull song go vp and ascend from the roofe of the said oratorie and retourne vp to the heauens the very same way that it came with vnspeakeable swetenes Whereat as he mused a space and was as it were astouned imagining and deuising depely in his minde what this might be the bishop opened the oratorie windowe and as he vsed to doo made a noyse and signe with his hand and bad some man come into him if there were any body without Then came he straight way to whome the bisshop said Go to the churche quickely and cause those vij bretherne to come hither and come you with them to And when they were come first he admonished them to kepe among them selues and toward all faithfull folke the vertue of charitie and peace and also with vnweary continuance to folowe the rules and orders of monastical discipline which they had either learned of him and sene in him or founde in the doings or sayings of the former fathers And then did he tell them moreouer that the day of his departing was very nigh at hand For that most louely geast quod he who was wonte to visit our bretherne hath voutsafed this day to come to me also and to call me out of this world Wherefore
religious eares of protestants then such deuâ—tion Of relikes of holy men of the reuerence vsed towâ—rdes them and off miracles wrought by them the history is full Namely the first booke the 29. chap. the 3. booke the 29. the iiij booke the 6. chap. Nothinge is more vile in the sight of protestants then suche reuerence of Christians Blessing with the signe of the Crosse accompted no superstition but practised for godly and good in our primitiue church witnesseth the history in the iiij booke the xxiiij chapter and in the v. booke the ij chapter In the deuotion of protestants it is estemed for magicke Solemnites of Christen buriall protestants despise and sett light by terming it a vaine of gentilite or heathen superstition The deuotion of our primitiue church was to be buried in monasteries churches and chappels as it appeareth in the history in the second booke the iij. chap. the third booke the viii chap. and otherwhere Benediction of the bishop whereby the superiorite of the spirituall pastour ouer the laie according to the reasoning of S. Paule euidently appeareth is to be read in this history of our primitiue Churche in the iiii booke the xi chap. Protestants confounding all good order do scorne at this also The seruice of the church was at the first planting of our faith in the latin and lerned tounge as it may appeare in the first booke the xxix chapter and the iiii booke the xviii chap. This protestants haue altered bothe against due orâ—er and condemning wickedly other partes of Christendom for the contrary Aultars protestants haue plucked downe contrary to the order of our primitiue faith as this history witnesseth in the first booke the xxix chap. And in the second booke the xiiij chap. Aultar clothes and holy vestements the prophane saith of protestaÌ„ts admitteth not Our primitiue church vsed them witnesseth the History in the first booke the xxix chap. Holy vessels in like maner for the due administration of Christes holy Sacraments protestans bothe diminishing the number of them and prophaning the right vse of such as they kepe knowe none Our first faith had and vsed theÌ„ The history reporteth it in the first booke the xxix chap. and in the second booke the last chapter Holy water protestants abhorre Our first faith vsed it In the history 〈◊〉 appeareth In the first booke the xxix chap. Nothinge is more reuiled of protestants then the ecclesiasticall tonsure of the clergy How after what maner and wherefore the church of Christ vseth it the history disputeth and sheweth at large in the fifte booke the xxii chapter toward the ende Our primitiue church was gouuerned by Synods of the clergy only in determining controuersies ecclesiasticall The History declareth this practise in the first booke the ii chap. the fourth booke the v. chap. the xvii chap. and xxviii chap. Protestants haue called the determination of ecclesiasticall matters from thence to the laie Courte only The spirituall rulers of our primitiue church were bishops and pastours duly consecrated It appereth in the History the first booke the 27. chap. and the second booke the 3. chap. Protestants haue no such due consecration no true bishops at all Protestants haue brought the supreme gouuernement of the church to the laie authorite In the primitiue faith of our countre the laie was subiect to the bishop in spirituall causes Peruse the xiii and xxii chapters of the third booke Last of all the finall determination of spirituall causes in our primitiue Church rested in the See Apostolike of Rome This practise appeareth in the second booke the iiii the xvii and the xx chapters Item in the fifte booke the xx chap. How farre that See is nowe detested by the sober religion of protestants all men do see To note how differently the Catholike faith of al Christendom was first planted in our countre and the parted faith of protestants hathe corrupted the same the first difference is clere herin that our first Catholik faith we receaued of the See of Rome This heresy hath begonne by first departing from that See The Apostles of our faith came from Rome the messangers of these schismes beganne first by scattering froÌ„ the See Apostolik of Rome How we receiued our faith of Rome the later chapters of the first booke and the first of the secoÌ„d do testifie Againe our faith was first preached with Crosse and procession Lib. 1. cap. 25. These heresies first raged by throwing downe the Crosse and altering the procession therewith Our first Apostles were monkes See the first booke the xxiii chap. and the third booke the iii. chap. The first preachers of protestants haue ben Apostatas Luther Oecolampadius Bucer Peter Martyr Barnes Barlow and other The first impes off our faith the first scholers off oure Apostles were holy and vertuous meÌ„ Reade the xxvj chap. of the third booke The broode of protestants in the very first issue hath ben so enormous that Luther the holy Father thereof confesseth his scholers to be vnder him farre more wicked then they were before vnder the Pope The first preaechers of our faith liued Apostolically in voluntary pouerty as the history reporteth in the first booke the xxvj chap. This Apostolicall perfection protestaÌ„ts bearing theÌ„ selues for the Apostles of England neither practise them selues neither can abide it in other As touching the effect and consequences of both religions our faith builded vp monasteries and chirches as the history reporteth in the firste booke the 32. chap. in the third booke the iij. and xxxiij chap. IteÌ„ in the fourth booke the iij. chap. Protestants haue throwen down many erected none By the first Christians off our faith God was both serued day and night as in the fourth booke the vij chap. it is expressely mencioned Protestants haue abolished al seruice off God by night and done to the deuill a most acceptable sacrifice By the deuotion of the people first embracing our catholike faithe much voluntary oblations were made to the church as in the first booke the xxvij chap. it appeareth By the rechelesse religion off protestants due oblations are denied to the church Princes endued the church with possessions and reuenues moued with deuotion and feare of God The loose lewdenes off protestants haue stirred Princes to take from the church possessions so geuen Last of all our first faith reduced the Scottishmen liuing then in schisme to the vnite of the Catholike church This late alteration hath remoued them from vnite to schisme All these differences touching doctrine and ecclesiasticall gouernement are proued to concurre with the belefe and practise of the first vj. C. yeares in the second part of the Fortresse of our first faith set forthe presently with the History ET Priuati BrabaÌ„tici Regiae Maiestatis Consilij diplomate cautum est ne quis infra quadriennium proximum Historiam ecclesiasticam gentis Anglorum Authore Venerabili Beda Presb. a Thoma Stapletono in Anglicum sermonem versam per omnes Burgundicae
flames the house which this weake man kept remained sound and vntouched The people much ioyed at the miracle and reioyced in god to see his power to saue that their labour could not Before the cottage of this poore prelate laye there a multitude of people without number some to be cured of the maladies of their soules some of their bodies It can not be expressed what miracles Christe wrought by his seruaunt and what cures this sick man did In the meane suffering no remedies to be applied vnto his owne infirmities on a certaine night he sawe a very beutifull persone cladde all in white apparell to stande by his bedds side which stretching out his hand semed to lyfte him vpp as he laye in his bedde and bid him stand vpright vppon his feete After which time his paines being asswaged he was so restored vnto his helth that as sone as it was day he tooke his iourney without feare How the sayd Bishops by the power of God ayded the Britannes in Battaile and so returned home The. 20. Chap. IN this meane time the Saxons and the Pictes waged battaile against the Britannes Which being assembled together in the campe and fearing much that they should not be able to ouermatche them thei required the helpe of the holy bishops Which comming into their campe put their fearefull hartes in such confidence as though a great army had ben come at that instant to ayde them Wheruppon they being their capitaines Christ warred with them in their campe This happened in the xl daies of lent which were the more deuoutly obserued through the presence of the priestes in so muche that they being instructed with daily preaching many of the countrye came daily to be christened And the greatest part of the army required their baptisme Vppon Easter day they made in the campe the likenes of a church with poles and bouse where they were solemnely baptised By vertu of whiche holy sacrament they became feruent in faith and bolde in hope of goddes strength which before were in dispaire of their owne The ennemies had worde of the maner and fourme of their campe and of all thinges done therein Whereuppon they thinking to steale vppon them and so easely obtaine the victory ouer them as vnwares and vnarmed maketh all the haste they could toward them But yet by skoutes their comming was knowen in good time And now the holy daies of Easter being past the greatest part of the hoste goeth freshe froÌ„ baptisme to their armour Among theÌ„ Sainâ— Germane making him selfe as a capitaine pieketh out a certaine of light souldiours and going forth with them placeth them priuely in a vally that was beset with hilles on euery side by the which it was thought the ennemy wold passe vnto the BritaÌ„nes caÌ„pe Shortly after commeth on the same way the army of the Saxons which when they that wer set in the ambush perceiued to approche Saint Germane being with them geueth warning vnto them all that as they heard him begynne all they should cry and aunswer the same And sodainly breaking out of the ambush the enemy not being ware of them the priest cried out thrise together Alleluya All the rest strayt aunswereth the same The Ecko wherof through the sounde of their voices rebounding back from the hilles made such a sound as though they had ben thrise as many more in number then they wer Wherwith their enemies wer so amased as though not only the hiller but heauen it selfe also did cryâ— out and fight against them Where uppon they fled with all the speede they could make casting away their weapon and harneys and thinking it inough if they might with their naked bodies eskape the daunger Many of them for feare and haste wer drowned in the riuer which was betwext home and them The innocent army behouldeth the reuenge of their enemies and seith them selues to haue the Victory without battaile The souldiers gathereth vp the spoile and with great ioye acknolegeth god only to be the geuer of that ouerthrow The bishops them selues triuÌ„pheth in God to see the enemy put to flight without bludshed and the Victory to haue ben gotten by faith in God and not by force of man This the Iland being sett in good order the enemies both visible and inuisible being ouercommed the bishop returneth home warde to whom God gaue prosperous passage both for their owne vertues sake and also at the intercession of the blessed martyr saynt Albane How the Pelagian hereâ—ies begynning to spryng againe Germanus returning to Britanny with Seuerus cured a lame young man corrected the heretikes restored the faith The. 21. Chap. NOt longe after was there worde brought owt of the same Iland that the Pelagian heresies beganne of new to grow and multiplye by meanes of certaine whiche began againe to set furth the same Againe therfor ar directed to the bishop the prayers of al the clergy that he wold go through with the cause of God which he had taken in haÌ„d before Whose petition he accepting retourneth again wyth prosperous windes in to Britanny with one Seuerus a man of great holynes as the which was the disciple of Lupus bishop of Trecassa and was ordeyned bishop of Treuers and preached first vnto that part of the Germans the word of God In this meane season the wycked sprittes flieng about the Iland did foreshew euery where so forced and constrayned that Saynt Germane was comyng In so much that Elafius one of the cheifest of the Iland with out the report of any manifest messanger hasted to the seas side their to meete the holy men at their ariuall bringing with him his son which in the flower of his youth was benummed of his leg which was so shrunke in to his thigh warde through the dryth of his sinowes that he could not set his fote vppon the ground With this Elafius cam a great multitude of people to receiue the holy prelates which as sone as they cam a lande fell a preaching to the people after their wont maÌ„ner They finde the people as touching their faith in the self same stay they lefte them they learneth the fault to remayne in a few after whom they seeke and finding them owt they condeÌ„ne them This donne Elafius falleth downe at the feete of the byshops offering them his sonne whose pitefull case neded no prayers to entrete for the relief thereof Euery man of him selfe pityed the young man especially the priestes who altogether according to the pitie conceiued beseched the clemency of God And forthwith Saynt Germane takyng the younge man to him made him sitt downe he â—ealeth his knee that was thus bowed inward and with his blessed haÌ„d sercheth thourow all the affected place as farre as the greif went And beholde ech parte as sone as he touched it receiued helth and the sinowes returned to their naturall course so that in sight of them all the younge man is restored sounde vnto his father The people ar all
Howe Coenrede kinge of the Marsshes and Offa king of the East Saxons ended their liues in the habitt of religion and of the lyfe and death of bisshop VVilfride The 20. Chap. THe iiij yeare of Osredes raigne king Coenrede which kept the soueraintie in the countrie of Marshes honourably for a tyme did more honourably forsake it and all his dominions For vnder Constantine the Pope he went to Rome and receiuing there the tonsure and habitt of a religious man at the Apostles toumbes continued in praying fasting and dealing of almes vntill his dying daye Vnto this noble prince Coenrede succeded kinge Edilredes son which Edildred had the gouuernement of the same realme before him There went with him also to Rome Sigheres sonn king of the east Saxons called Offa whome we mentioned before a princely and beautefull gentleman and then in his first flowres and much desired of his subiectes to remaine and rule among them But he moued with leke deuotion and zeale as the other prince was forsoke his ladye his landes his kinsfolke and countrie for Christes sake and the ghospell that in this world he might receiue an hundred folde and in the world to come life euerlasting with Christ. When he came to the holy places att Rome he also was shoren into religion in the which he passed the rest of his life and came to the vision of the blessed Apostles in heauen as he had longe desired before The very selfe same yere that these ij princes went out of Britannie a worthy prelate and notable bishopp called VVilfride died the xlv yeare after he had ben made bisshoppe in the territory called Wundale And his body well chested was caried to the monastery of Rhippon wher he had before liued and with al honour and solemnitie worthy for so noble a bishopp was buried in Saincte Peters church at Rhyppon Of whose life and behahauiour let vs brieflly make mention what things were done returning as it were backe againe to that we haue spokeÌ„ before This Wilfride being but a childe was of such towardnesse and good nature induced with so many goodly qualities of such modest and honest behauiour in all pointes that all the elders and auncients did with a speciall good loue reuerence him After he was xiiij yere olde he more estemed a monasticall and solitarie lyfe than all secular and wordly wealth The which thing when he had communicated with his father for his mother was departed to the mercy of God he gladly condescended to his holly requestes and godly desires and exhorted him to persiste in that godly purpose which he had entended Hereuppon he came to the isle Lindisfarne and there atteÌ„ding vpoÌ„ the monks he diligeÌ„tly lerned and gladly practised al pointes of chastity and godlinesse required in a solitarie and religious man And because he had a goodly pregnant witt he lerned spedely psalmes and certain other bookes of prayers being not yet shoren in or professed but well garnished with those vertues which far surmounted the outward profession to witt of humility and obedience For the which he was wel loued and estemed bothe of the elders and also of his equals When he had serued God certaine yeares in that monastery he perceaued by litle and litle being growen in iudgement as a wife younge man that could quickly fore see the waye of trewe religion and vertue taught by the Scotts not to be altogether perfecte Whereuppon he fully determined to make a voyage to Rome only to see what riâ—es and ceremonies were obserued there as well of secular priestes as of religious personnes The which determination of his after notice geuen to his Bretherne by preuy conference eche man did well commeÌ„d it and persuaded him to go forward in his good purpose Incontinent coming to Quene Eamflede who knew him wel and by whose counsell and coÌ„mendation he was receaued into that monastery declared to her hyghnesse that he had an earnest and feruent desyre to visit the monuments of the holy Apostles The Quene much delited with the younge mans good purpose and zele sent him to Caunterbury to kinge Ercombert which was her vncles sonne requiring that it might please his highnesse to send him honorably to Rome at what time Honorius one of the blessed Pope Gregories schollers a man profoundly lerned in holy scripture was Archebishop there When this younge man lackinge nor good courage nor lyuely sprite had tarried there a space and employed his diligence to lerne and commit to memory that which he ouerloked there repaired thither an other younge gentilman whose name was Bishop and Christen name Benet one of the nobles of Englande desyrours to go to Rome of whom I haue mentioned before The kinge committed VVilfride to this younge gentilman and his company with chardge that he shuld conduct him safe to Rome When they came to Lyons in Fraunce VVilfrid was stayd there by Dalphine bishop of that city The gentleman went on his iourney to Rome The delight and pleasure which the bishop had in VVilfrides wyse talke aminable continaunce ioly actituity and graue inuention was the occasion why he was staied there For that cause also he gaue him and all his company frendfull intertainement as long as they continued there and furder offred him the gouernement of a greate parte of Fraunce the mariadge of his brothers daughter whiche was yet in the flower of her virginity brefely to adopte him for his heyr if he wolde make his abode there But he rendring lowly and harty thankes for so great courtesy and gentilnesse that the bishop vouchsafed to shew vnto him being but a straunger answered that he was fully determined to an other conuersation and trade of lyffe and therfore had forsaken his country and taken this iourney to Rome The which when the bishop heard he sent him to Rome with a guide to conducte him in the waye and gaue him mony sufficient to beare his chardges desyringe that at his returne he wolde remember to take his house by the waye VVilfride with in fewe dayes after cominge to Rome and occypuing him selfe in daily contemplation of heauenly thinges according to his first determination fel acquainted with a notable holy and lerned man called Boniface who was Archedeacon and one of the Apostolike Popes counsellers By whose instruction he lerned orderly the foure bookes of the Gospell and the trewe counte of Easter and many other godly lessons commodious and profitable to vnderstande the orders and disciplines of the churche which he could not attaine vnto in his owne country And when he had passed certaine monethes there in godly exercise and study he returned to Dalfine againe in Fraunce and after he had tarried with him iij. yeares he toke the inferiour orders of the bishop and was so entierly loued of him that the bishoppe fully determined to make him his successour But by cruel death he was preuented and VVilfride reserued to a bishoprike in his owne natyue country England For Brunechild
Quene of Fraunce sent a power and commaunded the bishop to be put to death whom VVilfride his chappellain folowed to the place of execution desyring to die with him albeit the bishop did vtterly forbid him But whē the executioners knew he was a stranger and an English man borne they spared him and wold not put him to death with the bishop Wereuppon returning to England he was brought to be in frendship and amity with kinge Aldfride Who leke a good Prince had lerned to folow and reuerence the general ordinaunces and rules of the catholike church And for that he perceaued this VVilfride to be Catholique he gaue him streytwayes a Lordshippe of x. tenements in Stanford and within a while after a monastery with xxx tenements in Rhippon which he had geuē but late to build an Abbay forsuch as folowed the Scottes but because they being put to liberty and choise had rather departe thence then to receiue the trewe and Catholique celebration of the feast of Easter and other canonicall rites and ceremonies after the custome of the church of Rome and see Apostolike he gaue it to him whome he sawe better qualified both for lerninge and for vertue The same time in the very selfe same monastery he was made priest by Agilbert bishop of Geuisse of whom we spake before at the instaunce of the Kinge moste earnestly requiringe that so lerned a man shuld cōtinually follow his Courte and especially be his teacher and preacher Whome not longe after when the Scottes secte was disclosed as is a fore said and vtterly abandoned he sent to Fraunce by the counsell and aduise of his father Oswin when he was but xxx yeres of age to be consecrated and made bishop by Agilbert then bishop of Paris With whom xj other bishopps assemblinge them selfes to consecrate hym did their dewty in that behalfe very honorably with all solemnities But while he was yet beyonde the seas Ceadda a godly and vertuous man as it is aboue mentioned was consecrated byshop of yorke at the commaundement of King Oswin Who hauing gouerned the churche iij. yeares departed thence and toke the cure and charge of Lesting Abbay After him VVilfrid toke vphōim the bishoprick of al Northūberland Who afterwarde in the raigne of Kinge Ecgfride was depriued of his bisshopricke and others consecrated and put in his place of whome we made mention before But when he had taken shipp to go to Rome and pleade his cause before the Apostolike pope he was dryuen by a Sowthweast winde into Freslande where he was honorably receaued as well of the rude and barbarous people as of the Kinge Aldgiste Where he preached also vnto them Christ and his ghospell conuerting many thousandes to the faith and with baptisme wasshing away their sinnes Whereby he layed the fundation of Christes ghospell in those countries which the Reuerend father and holy byshopp VVilbrord perfited and finyshed afterward But when he had passed ouer a winter with this people newly conuerted to Christe he went forwarde his iourny to Rome When his cause was debated to and fro in the presence of Pope Agatho and many other bishopps he was founde in processe by all their iudgementes to haue bene most vniustly accused and best worthy of that bishopprick At what time the same Agatho gathering a Synode at Rome of a 125. byshopps against such heretikes as held the opinion that there was but one will and one operation in our Sauiour Christe commaunded VVilfride also to repaire thither And when he came he willed him to declare his faith and the faith of the countrie from whence he came sittinge amongest the other bishops Wherin when he and his country was founde to be Catholique it pleased them amongest other things to haue this also put in the Actes of the decrees the tenour wherof foloweth VVilfride the vertuous bishop of yorke and appealinge to the see Apostolique for his cause and by that full authoritie absolued as well from certaine complaints laied to his chardge as all other vncertaine quarels and sitting in iudgement in the felowship of a 125. bishopps in this present Synod hath confessed for al the north partes of the isles of Englande and Irelande whiche ar inhabited with Englishe men Britons Scottes and Pictes the trewe and catholike faith and confirmed the same with his subscription After his returne to Britanny againe he conuerted the South saxons frō idolatrye and superstition to Christes trewe faith and religion In the isle of Wight also he apointed certain to preach the word of God and the seconde yere of kinge Aldfrides raigne who had the soueraintye next after Ecgfride receaued his see and bishoprick againe at the instaunt request of the kinge But fyue yeres after he was accused of the same king and many other bishopps and depriued againe of his bishopricke Wherein vpon repairing againe to Rome and obtaining lycence to pleade in his owne defence before his accusers Pope Iohn and many other byshopps sittinge in iudgment it was by their diffynitiue sentence concluded that in some parte his accusers hadd falsly forged these malycious surmises against him The Pope also wrote letters to the kinges of England Edilrede and Alfride requiringe them to see him restored to his bishopricke againe because he was vniustly condemned The reading of the decrees concluded in the fore said Synod assembled by Pope Agatho of blessed memory kept but of late when he hym selfe was present in the cytie and resident amongest other bishops did much furder his cause For when the Actes of the Synode as occasion was moued were openly read ij or iij. dayes before the nobylitie and greate assembles of people by the popes commaundement the protonotarie coming to that place where it was written Wilfride the vertuous bishopp of yorke appealing to the see Apostolique for his cause and by that ful authoritie absolued as well from certaine thinges layed to his chardges as all other vncertaine quarells c. As we sayed before these wordes being read euery man was astonned and the protonotary ceasing eche man inquired off other what manner of man thys bysshopp VVilfride was Then Bonyface a counseller to the Pope and many other whiche sawe hym there in Pope Agatho his tyme made answere and sayd He is the bishop which was accused of his owne cuntry men and came to Rome to be iudged by the see Apostolik euen the very same which of late coming hither for the false accusations of his aduersaries was iudged giltlesse and innocent by◠Pope Agatho after the cause and controuersie was well examined of bothe parties and thought to haue ben depriued of his bishopricke against all lawe and more than that hadd in such honour and estimation of Pope Agatho of blessed memory that he cōmaunded him to sitt in the Synode which he assembled at Rome as a man off a trew perfect faith and syncere minde All these allegations being heard the Pope and all that were present
the master The holy bishop Saint Germane at the beginning hereof was a sleepe theÌ„ Lupus and the other wakeneth and calleth vpon him as in whose prayers they had a speciall trust Who seing the present perill they wer in commaunded them all to fall to prayer He him selfe hauing a greater trust in God then he had feare of the tempest calleth vpon Christ and taking in the name of the Trinite of a few sprinkles of water casteth it in to the sea And forthwith the rage of the stormes breketh the surges falleth God being called vppon differreth not his help the euill sprits ar chaced away the ayer returneth to his naturall course and the wind which of late blustered all against them now with a mery gale blowing all together with them sett them shortly after a lande in the place where they them selues desired Thether a great multitude of people being assembled receiued the priestes of God of whose cumming the wicked spirites gaue warning long before they landed which afterward when they wer expelled out of the obsessed bodies by the commaundement of these holy seruauntes of God they declared bothe the whole order of the tempest whiche they had raysed and the great daunger which they had wrought the sayd good bishops and did not denye but they wer ouercomed by their merites and commaundement In short time after their ariuall they filled the Ilande with their good name their preaching and their vertues And the worde of God was preached by them not only in their churches but also in the open stretes and in the country in such sort that in all places both the sound and faithfull catholikes wer confirmed and they that before swarued out of the right faith wer amended And in short time thourough their authoritie vertue and learning they brought all the whole country vnder obedience to their doctrine The authors and head professours of hereticall errour lay lurking all this while and like the wicked sprites much spighted to see the people daily to fal from theÌ„ At lenght after longe aduisement vsed they taketh vpon them to trye the matter by open disputation which being agreed vpon they come forth richely appointed gorgiously apparailed accompained with a number of flattering fauoures hauing leifer to committ their cause to open disputing theÌ„ to seeme to the people whom they had subuerted to haue nothing to sayin defence thereof Thether resorted a great multitude of people with their wynes and children The people was present both to se and iudge the matter the parties therewer farre vnleke of coÌ„ditioÌ„ In the one side was the faith on the other maÌ„s presumptioÌ„ on the one side meekenes on the other pride on the one side Pelagius on the other Christ. First of all the blessed priest Germanus and Lupus gaue their aduersaries leaue to speake which vainly occupied both the time and eares of the people with naked wordes But after the Reuerend bishops poored out their flowing wordes confirmed with scriptures out of the gospelles and Apostles they ioyned with their owne wordes the wordes of god and after they had said their owne minde they read other mens mindes vppon the same Thus the Vanite of heretikes is conuicted and falsehed is confuted so that at euery obiection they were forced in effecte to confesse their errour not being able to answer them The people had much to doe to kepe their handes from them yet shewed their iudgement by their clamours How Germanus restored the blinde daughter of the Tribune to her sight and after cumming to Saint Albanes shrine did both from thence take sum relikes and left other of the Apostles or other Martyres there The. 18. Chap. THis don sodainly a certaine man of the dignitie of the Tribunes commeth forth among them offeringe them his daughter of x. yeres oulde to be cured which was blinde They bidâ—e them haue her to the aduersaries But they their oune conscience fearing them to take such an enterprise in hand ioyneth their praiers together with their parentes desiring the priestes to doe their cure vppon the gyrle Which seing their aduersaries to yelde maketh their praiers for her And after Germanus full of the holy goste calleth vppon the Trinite and strayte loseth from his nek a litle bugget whiche he had by his side full of the relliques of the martyres and in the sight of them all putteth it to the eyes of the mayden which done she strait receiued her sight The parents much ioyeth ther at the people ar all amased at the sight of the miracle After that day the saied errors were so pulled out of the mindes of all men that with all hart and desire they embraced the doctrine of the bishops Thus these damnable heresies being suppressed and the authors thereof vtterly confuted and all mens myndes instructed with the purite of the faith they went vnto saint Albanes to geue god the praise and thankes by him Wher Germanus hauing reliques of the Apostles and of diuers Martyres making his prayer coÌ„maunded the toumbe to be opened entending their to leaue those precious treasures Thinking good that the members of the Sainctes gotten in diuers countries shoulde be buried together in one tumbe as being like of merites they reioyced together with god in heauenâ— which being there lefte with much honour he toke of the dust of the place where the holy Martyrs bloud was shead and caried it away with him Which thinges being thus disposed a very great multitude of people was that day conuerted vnto our Lord. How he being driuen through sycknes to remaine there did both quench a great fire with his prayer and was by a vision him selfe healed of his infirmitie The 19. Chap. AS they were cumming back it happened by the diuells procurement that Saint Germane by meanes of a sore fall he had brake his legge Litle knew the diuell that by the affliction of the bodye as it was in Iob the merites of the holy man should be thereby the more encreased Whiles for the time by the reason of his weaknes he was faine to tarry stil in one place the next house he lodged in was by chaunce set on fire so that after it had quickly consumed the houses about thetched with reede it was now coming through the blowing of the winde to the house where this good man was harboured Many came running in great haste to the Bishop willing him to make awaye and saue him selfe WhoÌ„ he rebuking through coÌ„fidence in his faith would not remoue out of the place he was in The people al frighted with feare and dispaire came running to quench the fire But that the power of god might appeare the playner the fire still consumed what so euer the people sought to saue but what the sick man lying in his bed did keepe that the fire as being a feared of the holy mans lodging skipped both aboue and beneth fearcely burning without stay so that in the middle of the raging flakes and
country Writing thus Vnto his deare beloued son Mellitus abbat Gregorius the seruaunt of the seruauntes of God After the departure of you and the company which was with you we wer in dought what becam of you for that we could heare nothing how you sped in yower iourny When then God shall bring you vnto our reuerend brother Augustine bishop tell him what I haue of longe time deuised with my selfe of the cause of the English men That is to with that not the temples of the Idols but the Idoles which be in them be broken that holy water be made and sprinkled about the same temples altars buylded relikes placed For if the sayd churches be well made it is nedefull that they be altered frō the worshipping of diuels in to the seruice of God that whiles the people doth not see their temples spoiled they may forsaking their error be moued the more ofte to haunt their wont place to the honor and seruice of God And for that they are wōte to kill oxē in sacrifice to the diuells they shal vse the same slaughter now but chaunged to a better purpose It may therefore be permitted them that in the dedication dayes or other solemne daies of martyrs they maketh them bowers about their churches and feasting together after a good religious sorte kill their oxen now to the refreshing of them selues to the praise of God and encrease of charite which before they wer wont to offer vp in sacrifice to the diuells that whiles sum outward comfortes ar reserued vnto them they may thereby be brought the rather to the inward comfortes of grace in God For it is doutlesse impossible from men being so rooted in euell customes to cut of all their abuses vppon the sodaine He that laboreth to clim vpp vnto a highe place he goeth vpward by steppes and pases not by leapes So vnto the childrē of Israel being in Aegipt our Lord was wel knowē But yet he suffered them to doe sacrifice vnto him still in offring vp of beastes vnto him which otherwise they wold haue offered vpp vnto the diuels as they wer wont to doe in the land of Egypt that altering their intente they should leue sum and also kepe sum of their ould sacrifices that is that the beastes which they offred before they should now offer still But yet in offring them vnto the true God and not vnto the diuels they should not be the same sacrifices in all pointes as they wer before These be the thinges which I think expedient you declare vnto our sayd brother to th entent that he being there may consider with him selfe how ech thing is to be disposed God kepe you in helth dearly beloued son in Christ. Geuen the xv day of Iune The xix yere of the raigne of our soueraine Lord Mauricius Tyberius emperour and the xvij yere after his consulship Indictione quarta A letter of S. Gregorie to Augustine exhorting him that he should not glorie in him selfe of his vertues and miracles The. 31. Chap. ABout this time he sent Augustine an epistle touching such miracles as he had knowen to be done by the said Augustine In the which epistle he exhorteth him that he should take no pride of minde therefore I know saith he deare brother that it pleaseth god to shewe by thee great miracles amōg the people which by thee he hath called to his faith Wherevpon it is nedefull that of that heauenly gifte both thou ioyest with feare and fearest with ioye Thou hast to ioye for that by meanes of the said miracles the Englishmens soules are wonne to the faith Thou hast to feare leste through the miracles which be don by thee thy weake mind be lifted vp in presumption falling as farre inwardly by vaine glory as thou arte by outward praise puffed vp We must remember that the disciples returning with ioy from their preaching when they saied vnto their heauenly master Lorde in thy name the very diuells were obedient vnto vs it was by and by aunswered vnto them Doe you not reioyce tereat but rather reioyce for that your names are written in heauen For they had fastened their mind vppon a priuate and temporall ioye when they ioyed of their miracles But Christ calleth them backe from priuate ioy vnto commune and from temporall to eternall when he said Ioy for that your names are written in heauen For not all the chosen of god doth miracles but yet all their names are written in heauen For why They which be the disciples of the truth ought to ioye in nothing but only in that good thing which all other good shall haue as well as they and whereof they all shall haue ioy without ende This therefore remaineth deare beloued brother that of the thinges whiche by the power of god thou workest outwardly thou exactly euer discusse thy selfe inwardly and thourouly vnderstand both thy selfe who thou arte and what plenty of grace god hath bestowed vppon that countrie for whose sake to th entēt it might be the rather conuerted thou hast receiued the gift of working miracles And if thou remember that thou haste at any time ether by worde or dede offended god haue that euer in thy remembraunce that the ofte thinking vppon thy synne may presse doune the mounting pride of thy hart And what so euer grace thou ether hast or shalt receiue to worke miracles think it geuen thee not for thine owne sake but for theirs the minister of whose saluation thou art ordained How Saynt Gregorie sent letters and presentes to king Ethelberte The 32. Chapter THe said holy pope Gregorie at the selfe same time sent vnto king Ethelberte a letter with rich presentes of diuerse sortes doing vnto the king temporall honours which through his helpe was growē in knowledg of the glory of heauen The coppy of the said letter is this Vnto the right honorable and his most worthy sonne Ethelbert king of the English Gregorie bishop God almighty for this cause dothe calle good men to the gouernaunce of his people that by their handes he may distribute the giftes of his mercy and grace vnto all such ouer whom they haue the gouernaunce Which thing we know to haue ben done among the nation of the English ouer whom you are chosen to haue the rule that by the giftes of God employed vppon you the like benefites of grace might by your meanes be geuen to all such as are vnder your dominiō And therfor O Noble Son labour diligently to kepe the grace which you haue receiued from god and seeke with spede to set forth the faith of Christ to your subiectes Haue a good zele to procure the conuersion of as many as you can possibly forbid the worshipping of Idoles ouerthrow their temples edifie the maners of your people with exāple of your owne integrite with wordes of exhortation feare fayer speach and well doing that he may be your rewarder in heauen whose knowledg and name you make to be enlarged vppon the earth
time he gaue to Penda sonne to Pendam the hethen because by mariage he was now his cosen the kingdome of the south Marshes contayning as men saie fyue thousand familes diuided by the riuer Trent from the Northmarshes whose lande contayneth 7000. familes or housholdes But the same Penda the next spring after was trayterously slayne by the treason as they saie of his owne wife in the very tyme of Easter Thre yeares after the victory of Oswin and the death of Pendam the hethen the Nobilitie of the Marshes Immin Eaba and Eadbert rebelled against kinge Oswin auauncing to the crowne VVulfher sonne to Pendam a younge man whom vntell that tyme they had kept preuy Thus expelling the gouuernours sett ouer them by kinge Oswin who was not their naturall kinge they recouered agayne valiauntlye their liberty and their landes liuing from that time forewarde free vnder a kinge of their owne bloude and seruing ioyefully the true king of all kinges Christe our Sauiour to be at lenght partakners of his euerlasting kingdom in heauen This VVulfher raigned ouer the Marshes xvij yeres His first bishop as we saied before was Trumber the second Iaroman the third Ceadda the fourth VVinfride All these in continual succession were bishops of the Marshes vnder kinge Wulf her How the controuersy about the obseruation of Easter was moued against those which came out of Scotland The. 25. Chapter IN the meane while after the death of Aidan FinaÌ„ succeded in the bishoprik of Northumberland sent and consecrated of the Scottes Who in holy Iland builded a church mete for a bishops see Yet not of stone but of oken tymber and thatche worke as the maner of Scottes was This church afterward the most reuerend father Theodore Archebishop of Caunterbury dedicated in the honour of S. Peter the Apostle Eadbert also the bishop after of that place couered the churche bothe the ruffe and the walles with lead About this time a great controuersy was moued touching the obseruation of Easter The bishops of Fraunce and kent affirmed that the Scottes obserued the Sonday of Easter contrary to the accustomed maner of the vniuersall church And amonge them one Roman a Scott borne but yet instructed in the truthe in Fraunce and Italie and therefore an earnest and stoute defender of the true obseruation of Easter Who couplingand disputing of this matter with Finanus the bishop induced many to the truthe and enflamed other to a farder serche and examination of the question but with Finanus him self he could nothinge preuaile but rather exasperated him being a hasty nature man and made him an open aduersary to the cause Iames that reueâ—ent deacoÌ„ of tharchbishop Paulin with al such as he coÌ„uerted to the faith obserued the true and catholike time of Easter EaÌ„ fled also the quene king Oswins wife with al her train and coÌ„pany obserued after the same maner according as she had sene it practised in keÌ„t bringing with her one RomaÌ„ out of keÌ„t a catholike priest By this variaunce it happened ofteÌ„times that in one yere two Esters wer kept As the king breaking vp his fast and soleÌ„nising the feste of easter the Quene with her coÌ„pany cotinued yet the fast and kept palme SuÌ„day Yet this diuersite of obseruing Easter as longe as Aidan liued was of all men tolerated knowing very well that though in obseruing easter he folowed the custome of those with whom he was brought vp yet he beleued as al holy men did and kept vnitie and loue with al. Vpon which consideration he was beloued of all men euen those which varied from him in that opinion and was reuerenced not only of the meane and common sort but also of Honorius the Archebishop of Caunterbury and of Felix the bishop of the east english But after the death of Finanus which succeded him Colman being made bishop sent also out of Scotland the controuersy began to increase and other variaunces touching externall trade of life were stirred vp By occasion wherof many begaÌ„ to fear and doubt lest bearing the name of ChristiaÌ„s they did ruÌ„ne as the Apostle saieth or had runne in vaine This controuersy reached euen to the princes theÌ„ selues to king Oswin and his sonne Alcfrid For Oswin being brought vp and baptised of the Scottes and skilfull also of their tounge thought the maner which they obserued to be the best and most agreable to truthe Contrary wise Alck frid the kinges sonne being instructed of the lerned man VVilfrid preferred worthely his iudgement before al the traditions of the Scottes This VVilfrid for better instruction and lerninges sake had trauailed to Rome and liued also a longe time with Dalphinus the Archebishop of Lyons in Fraunce of whom also he tooke benet and collet To this lerned Prince Alcfrid gaue a monastery of fourty families in a place which is called Humpum The Scottes before were in possessioÌ„ of that monastery But bicause after the decision of this controuersie they chose rather of their owne accorde to departe and yelde vp the place then to chaunge their accustomed maner of obseruing the Easter it was geuen by the prince to him who bothe for lerning and vertu was worthy thereof About this time Agilbert bishop of the west saxoÌ„s a freÌ„de of Prince Alcfrid and VVilfrid the Abbot came to the prouince of Northumberland and staied there with them for a space Who in the meane while at the request of Alc srid made VVilfride a priest He had in his company also at that time one Agatho a priest At their presence therfore the question being renewed and much talked of they agreed on bothe sides that in the monasterie of Stranshalch where that deuout and vertuous woman Hilda was Abbesse a Synod should be kept for the decidyng of this question and other then in controuersy To this Synod came bothe the kinges Oswin the father and Alcfrid the sonne With king Oswin stode bishop Colman with his clergy of Scotland Hilda also the Abbesse with her company among whom was Cedda that reuereÌ„t bishop lately consecrated of the Scottes as we haue touched before who in that assemble was a most diligent interpreter on both sides For the other opinion which kinge Alcfrid folowed Agilbert the bishop stode with Agatho and VVilfrid priestes Iacobus and also Romanus two other lerned men stode of that side First then kinge Oswin premising that it behoued those which serued one God to kepe one order and rule in seruing the same nor to vary here in celebrating the heauenly sacramentes who looked all for one kingdom in heauen but rather that the truthe ought to be serched out of all and folowed vniformely of euery one commaunded his bisshop Colman first to declare what his obseruation was whence he receiued it and whom he folowed therein The bishop aunswered and saied The Easter which I obserue I haue receiued of my forefathers of whom I was sent hether bishop who all being vertuous and godly men haue after the
sayed that a man of such authoritie which had bene bisshoppe xl yeares ought not to be condemned but once agayne dischardged and quitted from the false accusations and malicious surmises of his enemies and sent home againe with honour to his countrie With this iudgement returning towardes England he fell sodainly sicke when he came to Fraunce and was so weakened the desease growing vppon him more and more that he could not ryde nor kepe his horse but was caried in a bed by strength of his seruauntes Being thus brought to Meldune a citye in Fraunce he lay iiij dayes and iiij nights as though he had byn dead Only declaring by a litle breath which he drewe very fayntly and short that he was a lyue Thus continuing iiij dayes without meate and drinke as speachelesse and past hearing he rose the fifte daye and sate vppe in his bed as a man awaked out of a deape sleepe and when his eyes were open he sawe a company of his brethern aboute him some singing some weaping and fetting a litle sigthe asked for his chaplyn Acca By and by he was called Who entring into the chambre and seing his bishoppe somewhat better amended and able to speake he fell downe vpon his knees and gaue thankes to God with all the company that was present And when they had sate together a litle while and entred talke fearefully of the high iudgements of God the bishop commaunded al to auoide the chambre for an houre and beganne to talke after this manner to his chaplin Acca There appeared vnto me euen now a terrible vision the which I wil haue thee heare and concele withal vntill I know knowe furder the pleasure of almighty God what shal become of me A certaine man clothed all in white stode by me saying I am Michael the Archangell sent hither for this only purpose to deliuer thee from daunger of death For our Lord hathe geuen the longer tyme to lyue for the earnest prayers and lamentations which thy scholars and bretherne here haue made and also for the intercession of the blessed virgin Marie his mother Wherefore I say vnto the that presently thou shalt be healed of this infirmitie and sickenesse but yet be in a readynesse for after iiij yeares I will returne againe and visit the. Agayne as sone as thou art returned to thy countrye the greatest part of thy possessions that haue ben taken away from the thou shalt receiue againe and ende thy life in tranquillitie and peace Vppon which comfortable wordes the bisshoppe recouered to the greate ioye of all men reioysing and praysing God for him Thus going forward on his iourney he came to England When the letters brought from the see Apostolique were reade Berechtwald archebisshop and Edilrede sometimes kinge but then made an Abbot receiued him gladly in fauour againe Edilred also entreating Coenrede whom he had made kinge in his place to come and speake with him requested him to be a good and gratious Lord to the saied bisshopp which also he obtained But Aldfride king of Northumberland which would not receiue him died within a while after By which occasion it fel out in the raigne of kinge Osred his sonne that in a Synode assembled by the riuer Nid after greate contention and reasoning in both partes he was receiued into his church and bisshopprike againe with all fauour they coulde shewe him So iiij yeres space to witt to his dying daye he liued in peace and died the xij daye of October in a monasterie which he had in the prouince of Wundale vnder the gouuernement of Abbot Cudbalde From whence by the handes of the couent he was caried to his owne monasterie in Rhyppon and interred in the blessed Apostle S. Peter his churche harde by the aultar towarde the Sowth side as we signified before and ouer him is written this epitaphe An Epitaphe vppon Bisshop VVilfride VVilfrid that worthy prelat lyeth bodely in this graue VVho moued with godly zeale to Christ this temple gaue And of the Apostle Peters name S. Peters church did it call To whom the kayes of heauen Christ gaue cheaf gouernour of all He guilted it with golde most fyne and hanged it with scarlat rouÌ„d And sett vp there a Crucifix of golde euen from the ground The foure bookes of Christes ghospell in golden letters are wrote At his coÌ„maundmeÌ„t and charges eke right worthy to read and note A couer for the same also of beaten golde he did fitt The price and valew was great but his hart surmounted it Touching the course of Easter in dew time to be kept Bicause by wronge tradition many it ouerlept He taught the catholike order all England thourough out Extirping the contrary errour by authorite most stoute A numbre of religious men he assembled in this place Instructing them vertuously in the holy Fathers race VVith miseries and perills eke much vexed of longe time And of his owne dere countremen charged with many a crime But when fiue and fourty yeares he had kept a bishops state To heauen be past his bretherns cause with Christ for to debate And that with all alacrite with mirth and ioyfull hart Now graunto Christ that after his trace we folowe thee on our part How Albine succeded the holy Abbot Adrian and Acca the good bishop VVilfride The 21. Chapter THE next yere after the death of that forsaid holy father which was the fifte of king Oâ—rede his raigne the Reuerend and worthy father Adrian Abbot and coadiutour to Theodore Bishop of most blessed memory in preachinge the worde of God passed oute of this transitory lyff and was interred in his owne monastery in our ladyes church the one and fourtith yeare after he was directed from Pope Vitalian and made coadiutor to Theodore and the 39. after he came to Englande Of whose profounde knowledge and lerninge amongest other thinges this may be a sufficient testimony that Albine his schollar who had the gouernaunce of the Abbay after his decesse was so well practised in exercise of holy scripture that he had greate knowledge in the greeke tounge and did speake latin as eloquently withoute staggering or staying as he did english which was his naturall language After the death of bishop VVilfride Acca his priest succeded in the bishoprik of Hagulstad a man of a ioly courage and honorable in the sight of God and of men who enlarged his Cathedrall church dedicated in the honour of saincte Andrewe and set forth the buildinges with diuers comely and sightfull workes and moreouer imployed all his diligence and endeuour to gather together oute of all places the holy Apostles and Martirs reliques to the ende he might in honour of them builde certaine aultars a parte by them selues in litle chapels made for the same purpose within the precincte and walles of the same churche Besides he sought with al possible diligence the histories of their martyrdome and other ecclesiastical writers and made vp a very large and worthy library Moreouer he zelously