most illustrious are S. Aaron and S. Iulius who in this persecution of Diocletian and Maximianus consummated a most glorious Martyrdom there 3. Concerning whom our Countrey-man Balâ— though as became an Apostat a bitter Enemy of the Roman-Catholick Church writes thus Iulius and Aaron Noble Cittizens of the famous Citty of Caer-Leon for so Isca of the Silures is called from two Legions garrisond there and Disciples in Christ of the holy Martyr Amphibalus were most illustrious ornaments of piety to our Countrey of Brittany These two addicted themselves with much diligence to the study of learning not only in their own countrey but also undertook a Voyage into forraign Nations for the attaining skill in good arts for history informs us that they studied at Rome especially and therfore celebrates them much for their Learning 4. Iohn Fox likewise commends these two holy men but mistakes when he calls them Cittizens of Verolam whom Gildas and S. Beda positively affirm to have been inhabitants of Caer-Leon The words of S. Beda are these At the same time during the persecution of Diocletian Aaron and Iulius Cittizens of Caer-Leon together with very many others in diverse places of both sexes suffred Martyrdom Who after the suffering of severall tortures had their members torn asunder by unheard of cruelty and at last consummating a glorious Martyrdom they sent up their soules to the ioys of the heavenly Citty The same expression is used concerning them in the Roman Martyrologe on the first of Iuly when the Martyrdom of Aaron and Iulius is commemorated And both the said Martyrologe and S. Beda have borrowed the phrase describing the manner of their death from our most ancient Historian Gildas 5. And the deuout Brittains of those times after the same manner honourd the Memory of these two Holy Martyrs as they had done that of S. Albanus and S. Amphibalus by erecting Altars and Churches to their honour Thus Giraldus Cambrensis in his Itinerary of Wales treating of the famous Citty of Caër-Leon writeth Here lye the bodies of two Noble Christians and next to S. Albanus and S. Amphibalus the most illustrious Protomartyrs of Brittany who were here crowned with Martyrdom I mean Iulius and Aaron each of which had a famous Church erected to his honour in this Citty For there were in ancient times in the said Citty three magnificent Churches One of the Martyr S Iulius adornd with a Quire and Convent of Religious Virgins A second dedicated to the honour of his Companion S. Aaron and graced with a Noble Quire of Canons The third was the Metropolitan Church of all Cambria This last Church was afterward translated by the holy Bishop S. David to Menevia the authority of Dubritius Legat of the Bishop of Rome concurring thereto 6. It is observable that all these Churches were built by Brittains long before the Saxons entred into this Island So that there is no need of expecting S Gregory the Great or S. Augustin the Monk to him who would find arguments to proove the Antiquity of the Roman Faith touching the Veneration of Saints in Brittany 7. Besids these wee find celebrated in ancient Martyrologes the memory of two Noble Brittish Christians the Disciples of S. Amphibalus who were crownd with Martyadom in the same persecution of Diocletian their names are Stephanus and Socrates Mention is made of them likewise by S. Beda Vsuardus Ado and others whereto also severall ancient Manuscripts doe accord We find no particular Gests of theirs only in the English Martyrologe it is said that in the Province of the Silures Churches were built to their honour Now whether this Stephanus was Bishop of London it is a doubt A Bishop of that name is sayd to have governed that See in this age though Authours place him somewhat later To this time likewise is referd the murdring of all the Monks in the Monastery of Winchester built by King Lucius Of which wee shall speak in the next year but one 8. Whilst the Romans thus raged in Brittany very many Christians not having the courage to keep their ranks expose themselves to their Enemies Violence yet resolving not to betray their Faith withdrew themselves from the fury of men least by the immanity of torments they should be compell'd to renounce it Thus Gildas writes of the remainder of Christians in those dayes Those persecuted Christians saith he which were left hid themselves in woods defarts and caves of rocks expecting from God the iust Iudge of all when he would please to execute his iudgments on their persecutours and restore safety and liberty to their own soules 9. This Christian prudence and caution of theirs was suitable to the advice given the year before by the holy Pope and Maâ—tyr Caius at Rome when the persecution first began For he in an Assembly of beleivers meeting together on that occasion thus spoke to them Our Lord Iesus Christ who perfectly foresees and knows the frailty of mankind hath ordained two ranks and degrees of Beleivers namely Confession and Martyrdom to the end that those who have not strength or courage enough to sustain the weight of Martyrdom may at least hold fast the Grace of Confession Let such yeild up the glory of Martyrdom to the valiant soldiers of Christ which are resolved to coÌ„bat for him and take a sollicitous care of their own soules Let them therfore who are so disposed depart out of this feild of battell whither they please together with our dear children Chromatia and Tiburtius and for the rest who are more courageously resolved let them remain still here in the Citty with mee 10. This flight of Christians in Brittany suitable to the Roman practise gave occasion to Persecutours to extend their rage upon Churches and Monasteries all which by this tempest were so uterly destroyd that as Gildas saith in severall Provinces of this Island there remained no marks at all of Christian Religion This desolation continued about seaven years till the happy return of Constantius as soon as he was created Caesar by whose clemency the Christian Faith and worship again flourishd in Brittany and this much sooner then in any other parts of the Roman Empire Which mercy of God seems to have been extended in a speciall manner toward the Brittains because as S. Beda saith they only preserv'd among them their primitive Faith received in the dayes of King Lucius entire and inviolate till the Raign of Diocletian XX. CHAP. 1.2.3 Carausius the Admirall of the Emperours Navy his rapines and rebellion he takes possession of Brittany 4.5 Maximianus his preparations against him without effect 6. The Tyrant left in quiet possession of Brittany subdues the Caledonian Brittains A monument of his Victory 1. THIS Tyranny of the Roman Emperours against Christian Religion God was pleased to revenge by permitting another Tyrant to raise himself against them in Brittany This was Carausius who saith Victor drew his Originall from
but that afterward the sayd Abbey was destroyed which was again repaired by S. Edward the Confessour and richly endowed In which testimony is implied that from the beginning there were placed in it a Convent of Monks Concerning whose Rule and Institute we shall treat hereafter 4. A Second Metropolitan Church at this time was erected at the City of York which a learned Writer Philip Berterius quoted by Bishop Vsher esteems in that age the prime Citty and Church of Brittany Whose opinion the Bishop seems to approve saying Though as this day London be the most noble Citty of the whole British Kingdome and though it has been in former ages celebrated by Ammianus Marcellinus as an ancient Town and by Cornelius Tacitus as famous for Marchandise and abord of strangers Nowithstanding the most learned Berterius positively affirms that York was much rather the ancient Metropolis of the Diocese of Brittany not only as being a Colony of the Romans but because there was placed the Emperours Palace and Courts of Iudgment And hence it is that Spartianus in the life of the Emperour Severus calls it by way of preeminence The Citty The same thing is likewise further proved by this That in the Synod of Arles assembled under Constantin the Great among the subscriptions the name of Eborius Bishop of York precedes Restitutus Bishop of London Though I am not ignorant that in the ordring of such subscriptions regard was had rather to the antiquity of the persons then dignity of their Sees 5. As for the third Metropolitan Citty of Cair-leon upon Vsk Henry of Huntingdon thus writes of it In Cair-legion there was an Arch bishoprick in the times of the Brittains but at this day one can scarce discern any remainders of its walls except a little where the River Vsk falls into Severn And Giraldus Cambrensis adds that in the same Citty there were in ancient times three Noble Churches One bearing the Title of the holy Martyr Iulius which was beautified with a Monastery of Virgins consecrated to God A second founded by the Name of his companion S. Aaron ennobled with an illustrious Quire of Canons And the Third famous for being the Metropolitan See of all Cambria 6. Notwithstanding however this Citty of Cair-leon being in the times of King Lucius the Civill Metropolis of those parts might then to be design'd from an Archiepiscopall See yet we doe not find in History any ancient Bishops with that Title Yea the Church of Landaff seems to have enjoy'd that Title before Cair-Leon Concerning which Church thus writes Bishop Godwin The Cathedrall Church of Landaff as some report was first built by King Lucius about the year of Grace one hundred and eighty Notwithstanding I doe not find any Bishop there before Dubritius who was consecrated Bishop there by S. German Bishop of Auxerre and was by the King and whole Province elected Arch-bishop over all the Welsh Brittains saith the Authour of his life extant in Capgrave 7. Vpon these grounds it was that in succeeding times the Bishops of Landaff refused Canonicall obedience to the Metropolitans of Menevia or S. Davids as appears by a Protestation made by Bishop Vrbanus in the Councill of Rhemes before Calixtus second Pope of that name part whereof is cited by Bishop Vsher out of the Register of that Church as followeth From the time of our ancient Fathers as appears by the handwriting of our Holy Patron Teiliavus this Church of Landaff was first founded in honour of S. Peter and in dignity and all other Priviledges was the Mistresse of all other Churches Thus it remained till by reason of intestin seditions and forraign war in the days of my Predecessour Herwold it became weakned and almost deprived of a Pastour by the cruelty of the inhabitants and invasion of the Normans Yet there always remain'd in it Religious men attending to Divine service After this partly by reason of the neighbourhood of the English from whom we differed nothing in matters touching Ecclesiasticall Ministery as having been bred and instructed together and likewise because from most ancient times that is from the time of Pope Eleutherius there hath always been a Bishop of this place subject to none After the coming of S. Augustin into Brittany the Bishop of Landaff has always been subject and obedient both to the Arch-bishop of Canterbury and also the King of England Thus argued the sayd Bishop Vrbanus but what proofs he had does not appear Certain it is that in all Records at this day extant there is no mention of any Bishop actually sitting at Landaff before Dubritius Whence it is that the erecting of that See is attributed to S. Germanus by Mr. Camden saying Germanus and Lupus French Bishops having repress'd the Pelagian Heresy largely spread in Brittany erected Landaff into a Cathedrall Church preferring thereto the most holy man Dubritius to be the first Bishop to wit in the year of our Lord four hundred thirty and six 8. Besides these the same King built a Church at Dover concerning which Bishop Vsher writes in this manner That in the time of King Lucius there was a Chappell erected in the Castle of Dover and dedicated to the honour of our Saviour is related by Leland out of the Annals of the same Citty venerable for their great antiquity The same thing we likewise read in a Commentary touching the first beginning of the sayd Castle where it is sayd That in the one hundred sixty one year of our Lord King Lucius built a Temple to Christ on the height of Dover-Castle for the maintaining of which he assign'd the Tribute of that Haven And whereas in a later Chronicle of Dover we read That among other liberalities besto'wd by King Lucius on God and his Church one was the building of a Church in the Castle of Dover to the honour of S. Mary the glorious Mother of God where both the King and his people as likewise their Catholick Successours received the Sacraments and Holy Rites of Christian Religion This does not prejudice the foregoing Record for all Churches are primarily erected to the honour of Christ and in consequence thereof to the honour of his Saints 9. There are severall other sacred places and Churches which in old Records pretend to King Lucius as their Founder but whose pretentions cannot in reason and prudence be admitted Thus the Authour of the Chronicle of Glastonbury written about four hundred years since relates That in the one hundred eighty seaventh year of our Lords Incarnation the Bishoprick of Somerset took its beginning being erected by the Holy men Fugatius and Damianus and for a long time the Episcopall See was placed at Kungresbury in which very many Bishops sate successively till the dayes of Ina King of the West Saxons the number gests and times of which Bishops can no where be found But in the time of the foresayd King Ina Daniel who as we have received
Arch-bishop of Bourdeaux and Metropolitan of that Citty who there accommodated him with a convenient habitation for serving God For the Holy Arch-bishop Leontius bore a most tender affection to him admiring and reverencing the Divine Graces which he observ'd in him whom he esteemd as sent from heaven to assist him in his Pastorall charge For which reason in all Visitations of his Diocese and Province he took him for his companion earnestly beseeching him to be his assistant by his wholesom counsells by his Prayers acceptable to God and by the examples of his holy Life 9. Moreover this Man of God although so disgracefully and uniustly exild was not unmindfull of his flock but forgetting all iniuries he dayly invok'd our Lords clemency for the conversion of that stubborn people The Divine Majesty aâ— last condescended to his Prayers and by an Angel acquainted him that his flock was now penitent and earnestly desir'd the return and favour of their Pastor and that it was Gods will that he should repair to them and restore to health that Region which was greivously afflicted with the scourges of Divine severity that he should restore plenty to the barren earth and bestow his benediction on the inhabitants And lastly having done this that he should again return to Xaintes where he was to be devested of his corruptible flesh that his soule might freely ascend to partake eternall felicity All these things the Holy Bishop perform'd according as God had commanded and when he came back from Brittany S. Leontius receiv'd him with greater ioy and express'd more respectfull Offices and kindnes to him then formerly 10. Shortly after this S. Mahutus or S. Maclovius dyed full of dayes and sanctity and was buried by Leontius in Aquitain And though the inhabitants of Aleth were deprived of the sacred Relicks of their prime Prelat whom they had treated so iniuriously yet the Name of Blessed Maclovius remains never to be blotted out which to this day both adorns and defends that Citty with his glorious protection and celestiall benefits Notwithstanding the Episcopall See does not now remain at Aleth but is remov'd to an Island two miles distant from thence anciently call'd Aaron where a Citty new built is in memory of their Holy Prelat and Patron call'd S. Malo Vrbs Macloviensis 11. To this large relation in the Gallican Martyrologe Iohn of Tinmouth adds That S. Mahutus with his seaven Disciples in devotion visited Rome where he redeemd many Infidell Captives and having instructed them in the true Faith baptis'd them Moreover that after forty years government having been iniustly and violently driven from his See at Aleth he cursed and excommunicated the people and then retired to an Island in Aquitain calld Agenis from whence he repair'd to Leontius a Bishop there Which relation contradicts the Gallican Martyrologe according to which S. Maclovius was so far from cursing his flock that he prayed dayly for it However the Centuriators of Magdeburg charitably remember only his cursing and not his prayers and most unskilfully write that he flourish'd under Leontius Bishop of the Saxons mistaking Saxonum for Santonum and that he curs'd the Brittains his own countreymen from whom he never receiv'd any iniury How long he liv'd appears not but his death is in our Martyrologe assign'd to the year of Grace five hundred sixty four XXX CHAP. 1.2 Of S. Brendan 3. Of S. Doc and S. Canic 1. SAint Brendan the spirituall Father and Instructour of S. Maclovius though by birth no Brittain is not be denied a place in this History Concerning whom we read in B. Vsher that he came out of Ireland to visit the Holy man S. Gildas Albanius in Brittany where he built a Monastery and a Church He was also Superiour in the Monastery of Lancarvan where he baptised S. Maclovius After that he returned into Ireland where he was Abbot of a Monastery call'd Birra and in the year of Grace five hundred seaventy one most happily ended his holy Life Of whose glory and Beatitude revealed to S. Columba the Authour of that Saints life call'd Adamannus thus writes where he introduces S. Columba thus discoursing with his Minister Diormitius Columba Goe and quickly provide all things necessary for celebrating the Holy Eucharist for this is the day of the blessed death of S. Brendanus Diormitius Why doe you command that we should prepare so solemnly for Masse to day since no Messenger from Ireland Scotia has yet brought tidings of the death of that Holy man Columba However goe and faile not to doe as I have commanded for this last night I saw heaven on a sudden opened and quires of Angels descending to meet S. Brendans soule by whose incomparable splendour the whole world was that houre enlightned 2. S. Brendan thus call'd to heaven enjoyd on earth also an eternall Monument of his name and Sanctity for in the Isles of Orkney a town and Church were built and were call'd from his Name The reason of which honour and devotion was because his Sacred body was thither translated The day of his death is celebrated in our Martyrologe on the sixteenth of May and his Translation on the fourteenth of Iune 3. We will here conclude with the Memory of a Holy Brittish Abbot call'd S. Doc who flourish'd in this Age. Of whom the Irish Annals thus write in the life of Saint Canic from whom the Province of Kilkenny took its appellation importing the Church of Canic When S. Canic was grown to an age capable of knowledge he was desirous of instruction and therefore pass'd over the Sea into Brittany to a Religious wise man naimed Doc and under him he studied diligently and was taught both learning and piety This S. Doc was one of the three Holy Brittains from whom the Irish learnd the form and Rites of celebrating Masse as hath already been shewd the other two were S. David and S. Gildas THE TWELTH BOOK OF THE CHVRCH-HISTORY OF BRITTANY I. CHAPTER 1.2 c. Constentin succeeds King Arthur His Cruelly Pennance and undertaking a Religious life 1. IT seems the Brittains at the beginning had no such conceit of King Arthurs returning for surely they would have expepected awhile and not immediatly have filled his Throne with a succession of strange Princes The Bards had not yet contrived their fantasticall Stories which could find none in these times to hearken to them 2. Therefore after King Arthurs death Constantin according to his designation succeeded him in the Government of Brittany He was the Son of Cador Duke of Cornwall and kinsman to King Arthur His sufficiency to discharge that employment for the benefit of his countrey was enough approv'd by his glorious Predecessours choice But Almighty God having fix'd a period to the Brittish Monarchy permitted many factions to arise and many pretendants to the Principality the opposing of whom hindred Constantin from advancing the common proffit and safety of the Kingdom 3. Yea
pleasure and sweetnes which the memory of past occurrents produced in him he was all on a sweat as if it had been in the heat of summer 10. This is the Narration af Saint Beda touching the visions of Saint Fursey which for the authority of the relatour was not to be omitted Though I am not ignorant that our Protestant Centuriators of Magdeburg confidently pronounce all such Stories ridiculous and Saint Beda for relating them a man full of Superstitions c. 11. As touching the other Gests of this Holy man the same Saint Beda writes that King Sâ—gebert bestowed on him a place for a Monastery which he built with speed and having replenished it with Monks instituted in it Regular Disciplines The said Monastery was erected in a certain Castle called Cnobberbury or Citty of Cnober seated in a very pleasant place near the Sea and encompassed with woods Which the succeeding King of that Province Anna and his Nobles adorned with magnificent Gifts and buildings It is at this day called Burgh-castell in Suffolk where the Rivers Garien and Waveney mingle waters 12. After this having well setled his Monastery he was desirous to abandon all secular cares even of the Monastery it self and therefore committed the charge of it to his Brother Foilan and to Gobban and Dicul Preists so being freed from all solicitudes he intended to spend the remainder of his life in an Anachoreticall conversation He had another Brother named Vitan who from a Cenobiticall life was becom an Hermite To him therefore he went alone and with him lived a year in labours continence and Prayer But troubles arising in the Province by the invasion of the Pagan King of the Mercians of which we shall speak in the proper place and foreseeing the danger imminent over his Monastery he sailed into France where he was respectfully received by the French King Clodovéus and Helconwaldus a Patrician and built a Monastery in the place called Latiniac And not long after being surprised with sicknes he piously ended his life 13. His Memory is celebrated in the Gallican Martyrologe on the sixteenth of Ianuary Where he is sayed to have been Son to a Prince in Ireland named Philtan and that desirous to serve God with freedom he passed first into Brittany and after into France where he built the Monastery of Latiniac and in his way to a place where he intended to build another Monastery he fell sick of the infirmity whereof he dyed In his sicknes he was visited by the King by Erchenald the Maire of his Palace and other Courtiers to whom he gave excellent exhortations touching Eternall life and after some dayâ— of sicknes which he bore with admirable patience full of merits in the midst of his prayers he went to enioy the same life of which he had discoursed His Sacred Body was buried in the Monastery of Peronne and four years after was found entirely free from the least corruption by the Holy Bishops S. Eligius of Noyon and S. Aubert Bishop of Arras who with very great honour layd it where it now remains in wonderfull veneration and fully rewards the inhabitants devotion by the continual protection which they receive from it 14. What speciall Monasticall Institut he professed does not appear B. Vsher mentions four severall Rules in practise among the Irish written in the language of that countrey but so ancient that it cannot be understood in this age all which like small Rivulets flowed from S. Patrick as the fountain The first was the Rule of the Monks of S. Columba the second of Comgal Abbot of Banchâ—r the third of Carthag the famous Abbot of Bathen and first Bishop of Lismore and the fourth of S. Albeus Arch-bishop of Imelac or Emely It is probable that one of these Rules S. Fursey brought with him out of Ireland but whether in Brittany or France he assumed the Rule of S. Benedict cannot certainly be defined VII CHAP. 1.2 King Sigebert becomes a Monk 3. The Southern Scotts in Ireland are corrected in the Observation of Easter But the Northern become more obstinate 1. THE year of Grace six hundred thirty eight afforded an example of Horoicall humility and contempt of the world which had hitherto never been practis'd in Gods Church but was afterward frequently imitated which was that a King not forced thereto by any calamity freely abandon'd his throne to inclose himself in a Monastery there to be subiect to the will of a poor stranger depriv'd of all things that might please sence mortified with continuall abstinence frequent fasts watching cilices and scarce ever interrupted devotion All which he chearfully underwent that he might more securely provide for another kingdom after this life 2. This was Sigebert King of the East-Angles who saith S. Beda became so zealous a lover of a heavenly kingdom that at last abandonning all affairs of his temporall Kingdom which he commended to his Kinsman Egric who before held a part of it he entred a Monastery which he before had built and receiving the Tonsure made it his only care afterward to contend for an eternall kingdome The Monastery wherin he enclosed himself was the same which S. Fursey at the Kings charges had taken the care of building and no doubt it was by the same Saints encouragement that he undertook a design so strange and unexpected Within four years we shall see him forced to leave his solitude to change his Monastical Cowl for the glorious robes of a Martyr 3. This year the Southern Scots inhabiting Ireland who corrected by Pope Honorius now kept the Canonical day of Easter wrote Letters to the same Pope accusing their Northern Countreymen of obstinacy in their erroneous practise and moreover of reviving the poysonnous Doctrin of Pelagius To these Letters an answer came the year following from Iobn the fourth of that name elected Pope For in the mean time both Honorius and his Successour Severinus dyed In which answer recorded by S. Beda we read that the said Northern Scots according to the perverse humour of disobedient Spirits began now to renew the formall Heresy of the Quartodecimani celebrating Easter with the Iews on the fourteenth day of the Moon This Heresy says S. Beda now newly rose up among them and did not infect the whole Nation but some particular persons among thus And the like may be affirmd of the Pelagian Heresy However certain it is that the Saxon Churches were free from these VIII CHAP. 1. Ercombert King of Kent 2.3 c. His Sister S. Eanswitha a Holy Abbesse Her Gests 8.9.10 K. Ercombert by a Law commands the Observation of Lent 1. IN the year of our Lords Incarnation six hundred and forty saith S. Beda Eadbald King of Kent pass'd out of this life and left the government of the Kingdom to his Son Earcombert which be managed most worthily the space of four and twenty years and some months 2. King Eadbald
of which were most horribly depraved and defiled with all manner of uncleannes These were so impatient of reformation that they endeavoured many wayes to destroy him who spared no labours to save them But God defended his servant from their malice 3. After many years spent and divided between the exercises of Martha and Mary sometimes attending in the solitude of his Monastery to Prayer and Contemplation as likewise to the establishing perfect Regular Observance and sometimes travelling abroad to win soules to Christ At last a greivous infirmity seized on him nowithstanding which he would needs undertake a iourney to visit his fellow Disciple Megingant then Bishop of Wizteburg with whom he staied only three dayes For returning homeward his infirmity encreasing he retired to a Monastery in the way dedicated to S Benedict Being there he sent to his Brother S. Willebald who was a Bishop and to other his freinds desiring them to visit and assist him in his last sicknes Who being come exhibited to him all requisit Offices of Christian Charity At last the Holy man perceiving his last hour to approach after many pious exhortations made to all that were present quietly yeilded up his soule to God 4. S. Ludger who wrote the life of S. Gregory the third Bishop of Vtrecht his Master affirms that S. Winnebald was very dear to him who by many Miracles after his death shewd how great the sanctity of his life had been His memory is celebrated in our Martyrologe on the four and twentieth of September but in the Gallican on the first of May Where mention is made of his Relicks translated to Furnes a town in Flanders 5. The other Disciple of S. Boniface was S. Sola an English-Saxon likewise who emulating the piety of his Master taught the Counsells of Christian Perfection to such as S. Boniface had converted to the Faith He accompanied S. Winnebald and S. Willebald in their pilgrimages to Rome And was afterward the first Abbot of a Monastery founded by himself in a place from him called Solenhoffen His Life is extant written above eight hundred years since by Ermenold a Deacon and Disciple of Rabanus Arch-bishop of Mentz Wherin wee read how he became a Father of a great congregation of devout Monks and after many blind lame dumb and deaf miraculously healed by him in the name of Iesus he at last full of all vertues in a good old age gave up his Spirit to God About a hundred years after his death Altimus Bishop of Eysâ—at obstained of Pope Gregory the fourth that his name shâ—uld be written among the Saints Molanus affirms that his Feast is celebrated on the third of December IX CHAP. 1. 2. c. A Rebellion among the Northumbers c. 4.5 Bregvin Arch-bishop of Canterbury dying Iambert succeeds 6.7 c. Severall Episcopall Sees vacant supplied 1. IN the year of Grace seaven hundred hundred sixty one which was the third of the Raign of Ethelwald Mol King of the Northumbers a certain Nobleman of that kingdom named Oswin raised a rebellion against the said King and Armies on both sides being brought into the feild a terrible battell was fought at a place called Edwinscliff in which Oswin was slain 2. The year following the same King in the Citty of Cataract took to wife his Queen called Edilthrida As touching the Citty where this Mariage was celebrated Camden writes that at this day nothing remains of it great but its name being a very small village called Ca-Catarick and Catarick bridge The antiquity whereof is demonstrated by the large Roman way and old broken monuments there digged up 3. No more is found touching the forenamed Queen Edilthrida unlesse this be the same to whom an Epistle of Alcuin is found directed with this inscription To the devout servant of God formerly a Queen now a most beloved Religious Sister Aedilthrydis the humble Levite Alchuin wisheth health Which Epistle is full of pious exhortations and instructions suitable to the state professed by her and likewise of thankfullnes for her munificent liberality to him then living in France 4. The same year Bregwin Arch-bishop of Canterbury after he had governed that Province only three years dyed Concerning whom this Elegy is found in Capgrave Bregwin was appointed by God as a Mirrour so brightly shining with all vertues that in his life every one might find what he ought to imitate At length in the third year of his Bishoprick being full of good works and examples of vertues he departed this life to eternall happines on the seaventh day before the Calends of September and was buried in the Church of S. Iohn adioyning to the Cathedrall Church But in our Martyrologe his Deposition is commemorated on the ninth day before the said Calends In B. Godwins Catalogue of Bishops wee read that the Monks of S. Augustin with armed men entred the Archiepiscopall Palace endeavouring by force to take away the dead Body of Bregwin and that their Abbot Lambrith or Iambert went to Rome to make complaint of the wrong done to that Monastery 5. But besides that none other of our Historians mention this the relation is probably disproved because the same Iambert was by the Citty Monks elected to succeed in the Archiepiscopall See who two years after either went to Rome or from Rome received the Archiepiscopall Pall. 6. The year following the Episcopall See of Candida Casa or Witern being vacant by the death of Frithwald Pectwin was immediatly ordained his successour As yet that Bishoprick pertained to the Iurisdiction of the English and was subordinat to the Metropolitan See of York and so it remaind saith William of Malmsbury all the time of Pectwin Ethelbrith and Beadulf the succeeding Bishops after whom no more can be found because the said Bishoprick quickly failed being seated in the utmost Northern coast of the English Territory and exposed to the violence of the Scotts and Picts 7. Assoon as Iambert Arch-bishop of Canterbury had received his Archiepiscopall Pall he consecrated four Bishops the same year One in Kent and three in the kingdom of the Mercians In Kent the See of Rochester being vacant by the death of Dunn there was substituted in his place Eardulâ— From whom together with a Kentish Prince of the same name there is among the Epistles of S. Boniface found one directed to tâ—e Holy Arch-bishop of Mentz Lullus to renew a charitable correspondence which had past between him and the others his Predecessours Withall as a testimony of such Charity he desired him in his holy Prayers and Sacrifices to be mindfull of three Religious Virgins lately dead in Kent their names were Irmigy Northry and Dulicha 8. There interven'd a great communication of affections and Christian Offices between Saint Lullus and our English Bishops yea Kings also For wee find an Epistle likewise sent to him from Kenulf King of the West-Saxons by a Messenger formerly directed
Offa by this victory became famous and terrible William of Malmsbury adds that Alric King of Kent by this unhappy battell against the Mercians did cast a great clowd upon the glory of his times 8. It is probable that by such great successe enlargement of power which this victory gave to Offa the other Saxon Kings might be so terrified as to seek assistance from abroad especially from Charles the illustrious King of the French But sureâ—y there is small truth in the relation made by Mathew Paris how not only Alric King of Kent was slain in this battell but that thereupon five Kings of Brittany should in a pompous manner writte a common letter to the said Charles in which calling themselves the most powerfull Kings of Brittany they demanded his aid and strict society giving him the Title of Imperiall Maiesty and that he in his Letter to King Offa should stile himself the most potent of all Kings These seem to be groundles fictions borrowd by that Authour from some such fabulous Writers as began to abound in this age However certain it is that King Charles had not the Title of Emperour given him till many years after this time 9. And as groundlesse is another Story of the same Authour how after the conquest of Kent the same King Offa subdued all the other Saxon Kings and particularly Alred King of the Northumbers whom he compelled to fly into Wales And that thereupon some hostility began between Offa the French King Charles who is sayd to have written to Offa a threatning Letter containing imperious demands and that King Offa should answer What have I doe with Charles the beyond-Sea King Iâ— he offer any iniury to mee I will in hostile manner invade him and endeavour to make him tributary to my Crown These are triviall inventions which the said Hâ—storian borrowd from some obscure Writer who straind his witt to sound forth in an immodest indiscreet manner the praises of King Offa. 10. As for that clause which regards Alred King of the Northumbers it is true that this year in Easter-week his subiects compelled him to fly out of York and afterward out of his Kingdom as Huntingdon relates And Hoveden more expressly declares that King Alred by the unanimous consent of the Northumbers was deprived of all power and priviledge of a King and that he changed the Majesty of a Prince into the miserable condition of a banished person First he fled into the Citty Bebban attended with a very small train and afterward he had recourse to Cynotha King of the Picts This misfortune therefore was not brought upon King Alred by Offa as the foregoing fabulous narration pretends Neither did he fly into Wales but into the Province of the Picts 11. Alred being thus compelled to forsake his kingdom there was chosen in his place Ethelred son to the late King Edilwald Mul. But neither did Ethelred sitt quiet any long time in his throne but by another faction of his Subjects was expelled and the same misfortune hapned to severall succeeding Princes there by a fatall giddines then possessing the minds of that Northern Nation 12. This same year Kenulf King of the West-Saxons extended his liberality to the Church of Shirborn upon which as Camden from his Charter declares he bestowed a possession of one Mansion seated on the Westside of the River Lym not far from the place where it enters the Sea This land he gave to the end that salt might there he made for the necessity and manifold use of the said Church XIII CHAP. 1. The Monastery of Bathe founded by King Offa 2. Succession of English Bishops 3 4 c. The happy death of S. Walburga Virgin and Abbesse 1. THE following year Offa King of the Mercians founded a Monastery at Bathe This Monastery being afterward burnt and utterly ruined by the Danes was restored by King Edgar being delighted with the magnificent situation af the place and because there he first received the Crown of his Kingdom 2. The same year Eadulf Bishop of Rochester dyed and was succeeded by Diora to whom a certain Noble man in Kent named Egbert gave so much land as ten ploughs could labour besides certain woods To Milred likewise Bishop of Worcester was substituted Weremund And to Efna Bishop of Hereford Ceolmund 3. In the year of Grace seaven hundred seaventy six the Blessed Virgin Walburga made a happy change of a mortall life for an immortall We have a ready shewed that she was daughter to Richard by right a King and Sister to S Wintbald and S. Willibald and that together with them she went into Germany to S. Boniface She was constituted Abbesse of a Monastery at Heydenham the same town where her Brother S. Winnebald governed a Monastery of Religious men There she lived with wonderfull Perfection both by her words and example teaching her spirituall children to live the life of Angells 4. Her Life was written by Wolfhard a devout Preist who lived in the next Century and who recounts many wonderfull Miracles wrought by her intercession to whom I refer the devout Reader But one ought not to be omitted since it is related by an Authour that writes what hapned to himself This is Philip Bishop of Eystadt who also wrote her Life He relates how her Sacred Body was first buried in her own Monasteay of Heydenham and afteâ—ward translated at least a great part of it to Eystadt and reposed in a Monastery consecrated to her Name There saith he to this day which was five hundred years and more after her death there flows from her chast Relicks a precious Oyle of soveraign and universall vertue to cure all manner of diseases The wonderfull vertue whereof I my self had experience of For being cast down by a vehement disease of proof against all Art of Physick or naturall remedies I commanded some of that Sacred Oyle to be brought to me which with earnest Prayers to God and begging her intercession I drunk Which was no sooner done but to the admiration of all I presently recover'd my perfect health 5. Her Sanctity was so famed that many Churches ambitiously sought and obtaind some portion of her Relicks Thus in the Gallican Martyrologe on the fourth of August we find a commemoration of the receiving the Relicks of S. Walburga Virgin Abbesse which with great honour were brought out of Germany to Furnes in Flanders by Baldwin sirnamed Ferreus Count of the same countrey And in the same place saith Haraeus there was built a Monastery of the Order of S. Benedict to her honour wherein since hath been placed a Colledge of Canons 6. Again in the Gallican Martyrologe on the second of May there is at Anâ—werp said to be an anniversary celebration of the memory of this Holy Virgin from whose tomb doth flow an oyely liquour which restores health to very many who desire her assistance and intercession