Rudborn in the greater Chronicle of the Church of Winchester further shews the speciall affection that King Lucius bore to that Church and the Immunities which he bestowd on it The glorious and most Christian King Lucius saith he perceiving how by the two holy men Fugatius and Duvianus his Kingdom did wonderfully increase in the Worship of God taught by true Faith and being therfore replenishd with great ioy he converted to a better use the possessions and territories formerly possess'd by the Temples of the Flamens transferring them to the Churches of the Faithfull and he not only added more and larger Mannors and lands but advanced them likewise with all sorts of Priviledges And particularly touching the Church of Winchester which in his affection he in a speciall manner preferd before others he raisd it from the very foundations And before he had perfected the whole work he built a little habitation an Oratory Dormitory and Refectory for the Monks design'd by him to dwell there Having finishd the entire building in the fifth year after his Conversion the foresayd Prelats and Monks Fugatius and Duvianus dedicated it to the honour of our holy Saviour on the fourth of the Calends of November in the year of Grace one hundred Sixty nine and filld it with Monks who devoutly served our Lord there constituting the Abbot of the place a certain Monk called Denâ—tus The same excellent Prince likewise resolved to conferr on the Bishop and Monks of that Church of Winchester all the possessions and farms which anciently belonged to the Flamens of the same Citty together with all their Priviledges and Immunities 5. What those Priviledges were the same Authour a little after thus declares saying The foresaid most Christian King Lucius bestow'd on the said Church newly founded by him the Suburbs of the Citty of Winchester together with the Priviledge of Dunwallo Molmutius Which Dunwallo as Moratius Gildas and Geffrey of Monmouth also testify was the sixteenth King of the Brittains And being extremely zealous in his Heathenish Superstition he enacted Lawes famous till the dayes of King William the Conquerour under the Title of Molmutian Lawes by which he ordained That the Citties and Temples of their Idoll-Gods as likewise the high wayes leading to them together with the Farms of their Tenants and husbandmen should enioy the immunity of Sanctuary Insomuch as if any Malefactour should seek refuge there he might safely depart though his adversary were present Now by means of such endowments and Priviledges the Church of Winchester enioyd its possessions in all tranquillity dayly singing the praises of God the space of one hundred and two years to wit from the first year of the most Christian King Lucius his Conversion to the second year of the Tyrant Diocletian Thus writeth this Authour though he faile somewhat in his Chronology Which defect is rectified by the ancient Authour of the Book of Antiquities of the Church of Winchester who numbers exactly one hundred years from King Lucius his Conversion to the first year of Diocletian during which time the said Monks quietly served God in their Monastery 6. If any one have the curiosity to enquire what the Rule and Institut of these ancient Monks were the foresaid Thomas Rudburn will satisfy him presently adding That S. Faganus and Duvianus filld that Church with Monks devoutly serving and praising God and profess'd according to the Rule delivered by S. Mark the Evangelist 7. Now the order and manner of the Rule prescribed by S. Mark is thus declared by Cassianus an ancient Writer of the Church In the beginning of the Christian Faith saith he a very few and those of approved sanctity were dignified with the Title of Monks Which men as they receiv'd their Rule of living from S. Mark the Euangelist first Bishop of Alexandria of blessed Memory they did not content themselves with retaining the order of living practis'd by the Primitive Christians concerning which wee read in the Acts of the Apostles That all the multitude of beleivers were of one soule Neither did any one esteem that which he possessed to be his own but they had all things common For those who were possessors of lands or houses sold them and brought the price laying it at the Apostles feet Which was divided to every one according to their need But besids this the ancient Monks aspired to other practises more sublime For retiring themselves into the most secret places of the suburbs there they lead a life so austere and with such rigorous abstinence that even those who were strangers to Christian Religion were astonish'd at it For with so wonderfull fervour they attended day and night to the reading of holy Scripture prayer and labouring with their hands that neither the appetite nor so much as thought of meat did interrupt their abstinence except every second or third day and then they received food not to satisfie their desire but meer necessity And neither did they this till after Sun-set so dividing their time as to make the Light accompany the exercise of their spirituall Meditations and darknes the care of their Bodies These and besides these many other more perfect and sublime were the practises of the Ancient Monks Thus Cassianus 8. Such were the Monks who first possess'd the Church of Winchester and in such holy exercises they continued till the Tempest of the persecution raised by the Tyrant Diocletian dissipated them After which in a short time they were restored and the Church consecrated by Constantius Bishop of Winchester in the year of Grace three hundred and nine taking its new name from S. Amphibalus who together with Saint Alban was crow'nd with Martyrdom at which time the Abbot was named Deodatus Hence it is that Gildas the most ancient of all our Historians mentions it under that Title where he relates how the sons of Mordred to avoyd the cruelty of Constantin fled thither But in vain For the Tyrant not regarding the Sanctity and Priviledge of the place took the sons of Mordred and murdred one of them before the Altar of the Church of S. Amphibalus at Winchester whither he had fled for Sanctuary 9. The same Church afterward suffred another Ecclipse when the barbarous Infidell-Saxons profan'd and layd wast all the sacred places of this Island But not long after the same Saxons having by Gods mercy embraced that Faith which they formerly persecuted repaired with advantage all the ruins they had made And particularly this Church and Monastery of Winchester called afterwards de Hida was restored with far greater splendour and magnificence then ever before And thus it with the rest continued for many Ages fortified with the Charters of Kings encreased by the Devotion of the people secured by the Bulls of Popes and the Curses of Prelats against all tyrannous usurpations till by the schism avarice lust and fury of King Henry the eighth more fatall to the Church then the savage cruelty of heathenish
take a view of the effects which these Letters and admonitions produced in the persons to whom they were directed King Ethelbert and Saint Augustin King Ethelbert therefore casts down all Idols and commands the Temples accustomed to profane and impious Sacrifices to be changed into places of pure Worship and Piety And S. Augustin assisted by fresh labourers purges those profane Temples and instead of Idols erects the Sacred Crosse the Hieroglyphick of our Faith 2. More particularly King Ethelbert to whom S. Gregory had proposed Constantin for a pattern with a munificence like Constantins gave his Palace and whole Royal Citty of Canterbury to S. Augustin saith Camden and built for himself a Palace at Reculver Regulbium Which place Saith Parker was situated near the Sea Where likewise he founded a Monastery the last Abbot whereof was called Wenred Nothing now remains of this place by reason the Sea breaking in has cover'd it Onely the tops of towers other ruins of the Monastery are marks to Seamen that they may avoyd the dangerous flats there 3. Together with the Royal Citty King Ethelbert conferred likewise on S. Augustin and his Successours many Regall Priviledges Iura Regalia Among which one was a right of coyning Money with his own Stamp For to this effect Selden thus Writes The ancient Right of the Arch-bishops of Canterbury is signified by an Old Coyn one side whereof is signed with the name Plegmuud Arch-bishop and the other with the name of Eâ—cmund the Coyner The Prototype is preserved in the Treasure of the family of Cotton where I my self saw a peice of silver having imprinted on it the name image of Celnoth Arch-bishop And it seems the right of coyning money generally esteemed a Regal Priviledge did belong to the Arch-bishop as Lord of that Citty in those times 4. This Right remained to that See till the times of King Ethelstan about the year of Grace nine hundred twenty four who then abrogated it in the opinion of Selden publish'd a Law that not any coyn should passe but such as was stamped with the Kings Image Notwithstanding it was not quite abrogated for among the same Kings Laws this is one Let there be seaven Minters or Coyners at Canterbury Of which four shall belong to the King two to the Arch-bishop and one to the Abbot So that this prerogative remained many ages entire to the Arch-bishops though the measure and valew of the money coynd was restrain'd by King Athelstan who commanded the same coyn for price and quantity to have passage through his dominions and that none out of Citties should be permitted to stamp it Neither can it appear from any authentick Record but that this Priviledge continued till the time of the Norman Conquest 5. To the same See of Canterbury also by vertue of S. Gregories Rescript did belong an Vniversall Iurisdiction over the whole Island Forthough in a Synod shortly following the Brittish Bishops made their opposition and contradiction to this Priviledge for which reason S. Augustin forbore to presse it Yet the same was afterward admitted not only by all the Churches of the Saxons but of Brittany in the largest sence yea of the Brittanies in the plurall number Britanniarum comprehending in the language of ancient Authours Polybius hist. l. 3. and Ptolomy Georg. l. 2. both old Scotland which is Ireland and Albany which is Modern Scotland For on the See of Canterbury did both those Nations depend in Ecclesiasticall matters 6. Thus Queen Matildis call'd S. Anselm the Arch-bishop of the prime See and Primar of the Northern Islands call'd Orcades And before S. Anselms time the custom was for the Irish Bishops to receive Consecration from the Arch-bishops of Canterbury as evidently appears from S. Lanfrancs letter to Gothric King of Ireland extant in Baronius as likewise from the letter of Murchertac another Irish King and Dofnald a Bishop to S. Anselm Arch-bishop of Canterbury in which they request him to institute a Bishop at Waterfoxd by vertue of the power of Primacy over them which was invested in him and of the authority of Legat of the Apostolick See which he exercised This is testified by Eadmerus the Monk an eye-witnes of that transaction 7. Next as touching Scotland in the modern acception though anciently it was subject to the Arch-bishop of York by a Decree of Pope Eleutherius sent by Fugatius and Damianus Yet now S. Gregory derogated from that Decree and either having regard to S. Augustins sanctity or the eminent Empire of Ethelbert who was in some sort Monarch of the whole Island he publish'd a New Decree that all Churches of the Brittanies should be subject to the See of Canterbury And this is manifest in the Controversy between Alexander King of the Scotts and the foresaid Eadmer who at the request of that King was appointed Bishop of S. Andrews in Scotland by Radulphus Arch-bishop of Canterbury whom the King would have to receive Consecration from the Arch-bishop of York but he refused informing him that the authority of the See of Canterbury did of old extend over all Brittany and therefore that he would require Consecration from the said Arch-bishop But the King not being satisfied Eadmer chose rather to relinquish his new Bishoprick then prejudice the Prerogative of the Prime See of Brittany XV. CHAP. i. 2 The King of the Northumbers overcomes the King of the Scotts 1. THE year following which was the six hundred and third of our Lords Incarnation Ethelfrid King of the Northumbers overcame Edan King of the Scotts This Ethelfrid saith Beda was a most potent King and wonderfully thirsty after glory He had wasted the Brittains more then any of the Saxon Princes and had made many of their Provinces tributary Whereupon Edan King of the Scots inhabiting Brittany being mov'd by the great progresse of his Victories came against him with a mighty and well appointed army but was overcome and forced to fly back with few attendants For in a place called Degsasten or The Stone Degsa celebrated by that battell his whole army in a manner was destroyed Yet in the same combat Theobald Brother of Ethelfrid with that part of the army lead by him was slain And from that time till the dayes of S. Beda himself never durst any King of the Scotts enter Brittany against the English Nation 2. The said King Aidan as Fordon the Scottish Chronicler testifies after that discomfiture did so afflict himself with greif that two years after he dyed at Kentyre After whose death Kennet Ker son of Conal seysed on the Crown but within lesse then a years space dying Eugenius Buydwel Son of Aeidan succeeded in the Kingdom Which King Eugenius saith he infested the Regions of the Saxons and sometimes of the Picts with furious irruptions But in this clause he manifestly contradicts S. Beda forecited who likewise elsewhere expressly affirms That the Scotts inhabiting Brittany contented themselves with
consonantly to Saint Beda writes Florilegus In the year of Grace six hundred twenty eight the Arch-bishop Paulinus converted to the Faith of Christ the Province of Lindissa which lyes on the South-coast of the River Humber And the first baptised by him was Blecca governour of the Prime Citty thereof Lindocollina with all his family In which Citty he likewise built a Church Which Church saith Saint Beda was of stone of exquisite work the Roof whereof either by negligence or hostile violence is cast down but the walls are yet standing and every year in that place miraculous cures are wrought to the great benefit of those who in devotion visit it 2. The same Saint Beda also testifies that the Pious King Edwin accompanied Saint Paulinus in this devout labour and was present when he baptised a very great multitude in the River Trent Concerning the Faith of the inhabitants of this Province belonging to the kingdom of the Mercians saith he I was told by a certain Abbot and Preist calld Deda of the Monastery of Peurtanei a man of great integrity that an ancient man had assured him that he himself was one of those who had been baptised by Saint Paulinus at Mid-day King Edwin being present and that a great multitude were also baptised with him in the River Trent neer a Citty calld in the English tongue Tiovulsingacestir The same man was likewise wâ—nt to describe the shape of the said Holy Bishop that he was a man of a tall stature but some what bowing that he had black hayre a lean face a nose somewhat rising that he was very slender and with his aspect begetting both veneration and terrour in the beholders He had likâ—Wise attending him a Deacon calld Iames Who was a man very illustrious in Christ and his Church who lived to our very times 3. We read likewise in Camden that in the Province of Nottingham at the same time a Church was built and consecrated to the Blessed Virgin at a town calld Southwell the which Church as the fame goes Was erected by Paulinus first Arch-bishop of York when he baptised the inhabitants of this countrey in the River Trent He coniectures likewise very probably that this Southwel was the same Citty of the Mercians which Saint Beda calls Tiovulfingacestir 4. The same year dyed S. Iustus Archbishop of Canterbury after he had administred that See three entire years He was a Bishop saith Harps-feild of such integrity that the Name of Iustus may seem to have been given him rather to honour his vertues then as belonging to his family Which vertues were acknowledged to be in him and wonderfully cherished by Pope Boniface the fourth rather fifth who likewise by his Letters exhorted him to consummate to the end his so excellent course of piety He ended this mortall life the fourth day before the Ides of November and was buried in the Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul near to Saint Augustin 5. His Successour in the Archbishoprick was Honorius who indeed deserved all Honour for his piety and zeale in preaching the Gospell When he was to be ordaind he came to Saint Paulinus who mett him in the Citty of Lincoln where he was consecrated the fifth Prelat of that See after Saint Augustin saith Saint Beda Hereby it appears that Saint Paulinus either had before this received his Pall or at least a power of ordaining the Prime Arch-bishop in case of vacancy without the assistance of any other Bishops Which Priviledge considering the penury of Bishops at this time was by Pope Honorius shortly after conferred on each of those two Sees in these terms That when either of the Arch-bishops should leave this world and return to his Creator the surviver might ordain another in his place This appears in the Letters of the said Pope to King Edwin and Saint Paulinus written five years after this Notwithstanding this Ordination of Honorius to the Arch-bishoprick seems to have been conferred on him not the same year that Saint Iustus dyed but the year following during which time probably such Faculties were sent from Rome XVII CHAP. 1.2 c. Of Penda the cruell King of the Mercians His war against the West-Saxons 1. AFter such hopefull beginnings of the Gospell in the kingdom of the Mercians the progresse therof was interrupted by the violence of Penda King of those Provinces a Prince of an ambitious turbulent and cruel nature and one who professedly bore an irreconcileable enmity to Christian Religion He is by some Authours esteemd the first King of the Mercians For Cridae descended in the tenth degree from Woden the Idol-deity of the Saxons about the year of Grace five hundred eighty five invading the midland Provinces of this Island layd the first foundations of that Kingdom To him succedeed his Son Wibba who by fire and sword enlarged the bounds thereof After him raigned Ceorl whose daughter Quenburga was the first wife of King Edwin and he dying Penda a Son likewise of Wibba inherited the Crown and more then all his Predecessours rendred the Name and power of the Mercians formidable to all their Neighbours The former Princes are said to have contented themselves whith the Title of Dukes and Penda to have assumed that of King 2. He was according to William of Malmsbury fifty years old when he ascended the Throne which was in the year of our Lords Incarnation six hundred twenty six a Prince illustrious for his descent active and vigilant in war and who by frequent excursions into his Neighbours Provinces had nourished and much encreased his boldnes But withal he was even fanatically zealous in his Pagan superstition and impiety Therefore as soon as he was possessed of the Kingdom being impatient of rest and not regarding how great a crime an uniust war was he infested the neighbouring Citties disturbed the bounds of his confining Saxon Princes and filld all the Provinces about him with tumult and terrour 3. In the third year of his raign in which hapned the Conversion of Blecca Governour of Lincoln he broke into open war against Kinegils and Quicelm Kings of the West-Saxons and beleaguerd the Citty of Cirencester belonging to them To raise which siege they gathred a great army and came to battell Which was fought a whole day together with extreme fury each army having abjured flight so that only want of light sever'd them The next morning both sides being much weakned by the intercession of persons of more moderation they entred into conditions of peace and retired 4. Cirencester where this battel was fought is the same ancient Citty which Ptolomy calls Corinium Antoninus Cornovium and the Brittains Caâ—r-Cori It is seated in the Province of the Dobuni Glocestershire at the River Corin now call'd Churn The ruines of the ancient walls containing a circuit of two miles shew it to have been a large Citty It belonged to the West-Saxons for we read how Penda King of
before this reduced the Monks of Hy in Scotland to conform themselves to the Catholick observation of the Paschall Soâ—lemnity 6. This Blessed Saint whom S. Beda calls a Venerable and not without honour to be named servant of Christ and Preist Egbert being ninety years old departed this world to a heavenly kingdom And for a proof that this his zeale whereby he united that Schismaticall Church to the Vniversall Church was acceptable to God the same Authour observes that as he had much laboured in establishing the true celebration of Faster he received his eternall recompence on the same Feast For thus he writes 7. The man of God Egbert remained thirteen years in the said Island of Hy which he by a new extraordinary illustration of Divine Grace of Ecclesiasticall Communion and peace had consecrated to our Lord. In the year therefore of our Lords Incarnation seaven hundred twenty nine in which the Paschall Solemnity was celebrated on the eighth day before the Calends of May when he had solemnly celebrated Masse in memory of our Lords Resurrection the very same day he himself likewise departed to our Lord and having begun the ioy of so great a Festivity with his Brethren on earth whom he had converted to the Grace of Ecclesiasticall Vnity he finished it with our Lord and his Apostles together with all the glorified Saints in heaven or rather he still celebrates it to all eternity Indeed the Divine dispensation was wonderfull that not only this Venerable man should passe to our Lord on this Feast of Easter but in such a day on which it had never before been celebrated in that place His Religious Brethren therefore reioyced for the certainly true Catholick knowledge of the Paschall time which they had learnt of him and they reioyced in the assured protection of their holy Father by whom they were taught and corrected And he himself likewise congratulates that he was continued alive in the flesh till he might enioy the happines to see his Brethren and Disciples admitt and together with him celebrate Easter on that day which in former times they had always avoyded Thus the most reverend Father being assured of their correction reioyced to see the day of our Lord he sâ— it and was glad He dyed therefore thus happily and both in the Roman and other Martyrologes his name is anniversarily recited among the Saints on the four and twentieth day of Aprill 8. To conclude the same year King Osric having raigned eleaven years over the Northumbers and appointed for his heyr in the kingdom Ceoluâ—f Brother to King Kenred dyed or as Ethelwerd writes was slain He was in nothing happy so much as leaving behind him so worthy a Successour for Ceolulf both for piety and learning was comparable with the best Princes and after he had happily governed his kingdom many years voluntarily quitted it to aspire to an immortall Crown 9. Concerning the beginning of his Raign William of Malmsbury writes in this manner Ceolulf saith he the eighth King from Ida ascended the trembling throne of the Northumbers this year A man he was of ability sufficient for any employment and besides that endued with learning in great perfection which with assiduous study and a sharp witt he attained to S. Beda will be my surety for this for presently after this in a time when Brittany most abounded with learned men he made choice of this Prince to whom he dedicated his History of English affaires as being a person who by his authority could add strength to whatsoever was well written therein and by his knowledge and skill could correct if any thing was written amisse Concerning him more shall be said hereafter XXI CHAP. 1.2 Death of the Venerable Abbot Cymbert 3.4 Death of Saint Brithwald Arch-bishop of Canterbury to whom succeeds Tatwin 1. IN the year of our Lords Incarnation seaven hundred and thirty according to our English Martyrologe dyed the holy Abbot Cymbert stiled there Bishop and Confessour and supposed by some to have had his See in the Isle of Wight But none of our Ancient Monuments doe signify that that Island was ever made the Seat of a Bishop for generally it hath been assigned to the See of Winchester neither is the name of Cymbert recorded among Bishops except only by Saint Beda who thereby understands the same person who by other Writers is called Kinebert and was Bishop of the Mercians and had his Seat at Lindesfare now called Lincoln Which Kinebert is at this time alive as S. Beda testifies in the conclusion of his History which ends the year following 2. This therefore may seem to have been the ground of the mistake of those who compiled our Martyrologe The Cymbert therefore commemorated there as dying this year is the same Holy Abbot of Redford in Hampshire who as hath been declared obtaind permission to instruct in the Christian Faith and baptize two young Princes Brethren oâ— Arwald King of the Isle of Wight before they were to be putt to death by the command of King Cedwalla who had subdued the said Island The Memory of this holy Abbot is celebrated among the Saints on the one and twentieth of February 3. The same year also dyed Saint Brithwald Arch-bishop of Canterbury successour to Saint Theodore after he had administred that See the space of almost thirty eight years saith Huntingdon Wee have before declared how he being Nephew to Ethelred King of the Mercians was the first of the Saxon race who was Abbot of Glastonbury which dignity in love to solitude he relinquished and retireâ— himself to a secret place called Reculver From whence he was even by force drawn to sitt in the Archiepiscopall See of Canterbury which he adorned with many actions of Pastorall zeale and piety assembling Synods and regulating disorders in severall Provinces of this Island And at last full of years and merits was this year translated to heaven He is commemorated in our Martyrologe on the ninth of Ianuary 4. In his place the year following was elected and consecrated Arch-bishop the Venerable Abbot Tatwin saith S. Beda a Preist and Abbot of a Monastery called Bruidun or Brenton He was consecrated in the Citty of Canterbury by the Venerable Bishops Daniel of Winchester Inguald of London Aldwin of Lichfeild and Aldwof of Rochester on the tenth of Iune in the year of our Lords Incarnation seaven hundred thirty one He was a man illustrious for his piety and prudence and eminently learned in Sacred Scriptures Of him more hereafter XXII CHAP. 1.2 c. The State of Brittany at this time in which Saint Beda ended his History 1. SINCE it was in this year of Grace seaven hundred thirty one that Saint Beda concluded his History and as some Authours affirm his Life also wee will here as he has done give a breif prospect in generall of the state of Brittany at this time as well touching the Church as State In the next
Egypt and Iulianus together with the Nations called Quinquegentana Africk 2. These distractions occasion'd the Election of two New Caesars that so the Empire might rest more securely upon more pillars Constantius was chosen by Maximianus and Galerius sirnamed Armentarius by Diocletian Notwithstanding the supreme authority and Majesty of the Empire resided in Diocletian to whom the other three imputed their advancement and were his hands and instruments to fight and overcome for him 3. Moreover it was prudently advised among them to streiten their Society by the bond of affinity Whereupon Diocletian gave his daughter Valeria a wife to Galerius and Maximianus his wifes daughter Theodora to Constantius before which mariage he was compelled to a divorce from his beloved Wife Helena who after this was esteem'd his Concubine or at least a wife in the second and inferiour place Which divorce notwithstanding brought no prejudice to their Son Constantin who was born in mariage before and enioyd his right of Primogeniture and succeeded his Father in the Empire notwithstanding other Sons born to Constantius by Theodora 4. What became of Helena after this new mariage will deserve our enquiry Malbranque a French Historian affirms tha she lived at Quantia a Town in the Province of Belgick Gaule where now Hesdin is situated But more probable it is that Constantius fixd her habitation at Triers where he built her a sumptuous Palace saith the Abbot Berengosius who stiles her an inhabitant of the Citty of Triers Trevirorum adding this passage The ancient magnificence of her Palace at Triers argues the Nobility of Helena's race where the Pavement strow'd with marble of severall sorts declares how much that house excelled all other The walls also enrich'd with gold and purple doe gracefully testify the marks of their Mistrisses high extraction Besides all this the great number of possessions conferr'd by her on Gods Churches loudly speak the ancient Nobility of her stock From hence it is saith Lupoldus Bebenburgius that many Authours as Otto Frisingensis and Godefridus Viterbiensis doe affirm that S. Helena the Mother of Constantin had her originall from Triers 5. Certain it is that there are many marks which testify her affection to that Citty which a little while after this to declare its relation to S. Helena and to eternise her name caused Medalls to be coyned with this Inscription on the one side FLAVIA HELENA AVGVSTA and on the other SECVRITAS REIPVBLICAE whereto was adjoyned underneath S. TR. importing that it was Signed or Coyned at Triers Which Inscription evidently declaring Helena to have been adopted into the Imperiall Flavian family and honour'd with the Title of Augusta or Empresse sufficiently evict that Helena was not the daughter of a mean host nor cast off by Constantius after his mariage with Theodora 6. As for her Son Constantin he was at this time received into the family of Diocletian at Rome there to remain as it were a pledge of his Fathers fidelity Where saith Eusebius being then but a youth though his conversation was among persons full of all impiety yet he was not infected by them For his naturall good disposition directed by an instinct of Gods holy Spirit drew him from their vitious customs to a course of life acceptable to God and exemplary for piety Besides this an earnest desire to imitate his Fathers vertues invited him powerfully to conform his practises to the good examples given him by those who were pious and good Thus writes Eusebius who professes that himself was an eye-witnes of all this in a progres of the Court through Palestina and how he saw the great esteem that Diocletian had of him when he was but very young at whose right hand he commonly stood highly graced by the Emperour and acceptable to all that saw him for his beauty grace fullnes and modesty But leaving young Constantin at Rome or perhaps in the East we must return to his Father Constantius XXIII CHAP. 1. Constantius his expedition against Carausius into Gaule 2. He winâ— Gessoriacum or Boloign He subdues the Franks in Batavia 3. Caransius slain by Allectus in Brittany who succeeds in the Tyranny 4 Constantius passes into Brittany 5. Allectus defeated and slain by Constantius his Generall 6. Constantius saves London from ruine and makes the Franks captives and slaves to the Brittains 7. The ioy of the Brittains at the reception of Constantius 8. Constantin accompanies Diocletian into the East his vertues 1. COnstantius being created Caesar immediatly made an expedition into Gaule with an intention to passe over into Brittany against the Tyrant Carausius Being in Gaule he by admirable art and industry took the Sea-town Gessoriacum now call'd Boloign which Carausius had for his own safety and use strongly fortified Which exploit of Constantius is elegantly celebrated by the Oratour Eumenius in his Panegyrick pronounced before him 2. There likewise we read how Constantius not to be idle during the time that a fleet was preparing for his expedition into Brittany subdued Batavia Carausius his own countrey then possess'd by severall Princes of the Franks who were a German Nation great numbers of whom had transplanted themselves thither 3. Now whilst Constantius thus employ'd himself on the other side of the Sea Carausius in Brittany was murdred by C. Allectus whom he had made Generall of his forces and who for diverse flagitious acts done by him feared his just revenge After which the Traytour thinking that the better way to secure himself assumed also the Title of Emperour as is declared by his Coyns yet extant bearing the said Title 4. Against this new Tyrant Constantius the year following sailed into Brittany Allectus then had a strong fleet in the Isle of Wight to oppose his Enemies coming But such was Constantius his felicity that by reason of tempestuous weather his fleet pass'd undiscovered by Allectus his Ships and landed without opposition in Brittany where being arrived Constantius in excesse of courage sett on fire all his own ships to let his soldiers know that they must either over com or be slaves All this we learn from the forementioned Oratour 5. After this saith the same Authour Constantius marching against the Tyrant divided his Army one part he lead himselfe and the other he committed to the conduct of Asclepiâ—doâ—us Praefect of his Praetorian bands Allectus avoyding the opposing himself against Constantius chose to try his fortune against Asclepiodotus by whom without any losse of the Romans side he was utterly defeated and notwithstanding his design to disguise himself by casting off his Imperiall Purple he was found out and slain 6. But a great part of his Army consisting of strangers Franks and Batavians seeing their Prince and Tyrant dead fled diligently towards London with an intention to take the spoyles of that rich Citty abounding with merchandise When on the sudden Constantius happily appeard unawares and cutt them in peices so freeing that Citty from
midway between the Church of Saint Martin and the walls of the Citty In this Temple after it had been purified from its former Superstitions and the Idol cast out S. Augustin consecrated to the honour of S. Pancratiâ—â— 3. Concerning which Church Sir H. Spelman in his Councils furnishes us with this Extrait out of an ancient Manuscript of the foundation of S. Augustins Monastery in Canterbury Augustin being ordaind Bishop returned into England and was received by the King and peoâ—ple with all becoming solemnity and by the same Kings grant obtaind an Episcopall See in the Citty of Canterbury which was the Primatial Church of the English Nation The pious King himself undertaking the Patronage of that Church did triumph through ioy constituting him the President of his Metropolis whom before he had received as a poore stranger Neither did he onely make him a Spirituall Watchman over his Citty but his whole Dominions also translating the throne of his Kingdom into a Pontificall Seat and his Royal Court into a Church of Christ. 4. Yea moreover to shew that he had putt off the old man with his acts and putt on the New by the wholesom advice of the blessed Bishop he caused that Idol-temple seated Eastward from the Citty between the Church of S. Martin and the walls in which he had oft according to the rite of his Superstition sacrifised to Devills and not to God to be purged from the pollutions of Paganism and having broken in peices the Idol which was in it he changed it into an Ecclesiasticall Synagogue and caused it to be consecrated by the name of S. Pancratius Martyr And this was the first Church dedicated by our Patriark and prime Prelat S. Augustin 5. Now it was very convenient and suitable to reason that the blessed child Pancratius who at Rome the Mistresse of the world was honoured as a famous Martyr should especially be venerated by the English since that certain English Children exposed to sale in Rome by their beauty and brightnes had moved Saint Gregory then an Abbot in the Monastery of S. Andrew built by himself to associate those English children with Angels 6. After this narration there follows in the same Manuscript a relation of a prodigy caused by the Devill enraged against Saint Augustin for eiecting him out of his possession Whilst the blessed Bishop S Augustin saith that Authour was celebrating Masse the first time in the same Church the Enemy of mankind envying the purity of the English Nation likely to be much encreased by the child Saint Pancratius and out of rage to see himself expelled from a place possessed by him so long a time he endeavoured all he could to destroy that Church to the ground A rent in the Eastern wall of it plainly seen to this day which he made with his nayles is a sufficient witnes of his rage By which is evident that the Masse is not hated by Calvinists alone 7. King Ethelberts liberality ended not here for as the same Authour writes Saint Augustin obtained of him after this a certain portion of land adjoyning in which the King built a Church to the honour of the Apostles S Peter and S. Paul to be as it were a perpetuall munition and Safe-guard for himself and his whole kingdom and instituted therin a Convent of Monks to serve God for ever over whom was canonically chosen and placed Abbot a Monk called Peter one of S. Augustins companions sent thither from the See Apostolick But between the foundation and endowment of this Monastery there intervened six years saith Sir H. Spelman as appears by the Charters of that Foundation 8. In this Church saith S. Beda the Bodies of S. Augustin and his Successours the Arch-bishops of Canterbury as likewise of the Kings of Kent were designed to be buried Notwithstanding this Church was not consecrated by S. Augustin but by his Successour S. Laurentius And the first Abbot of the Monastery was Peter a Preist 9. S. Augustin also by the liberality and assistance of the King obtaind another Church in the same Citty which as he was informed had been built by the ancient Christians in the time of the Romans This Church he consecrated to the glory of our Lord and Saviour and adioyning thereto he fixed an habitation for himself Successours where he lived with such Clerks as he had brought with him out of France who performed all the Ecclesiasticall Offices in the Church For a Monastery was not instituted in that Church till the age following And though these Latter Monks contended with the other for antiquity yet they lost their cause For as the Authour of the forementioned Manuscript observes in all the authenticall Priviledges granted by Popes to the Monastery of S. Peter and S. Paul we find this clause inserted As in the infancy of Christianity in England this was the first wherein Monasticall Instituts were observed So we decree that it with all belonging to it remain for ever free from all service undisturbed by all secular noyse and tumults and exempted from all Ecclesiasticall iurisdiction and burdens 10. Moreover the Church of S. Martin without the walls of the Citty eastward in which the Queen before had performed her Devotions he made an Episcopall See in which he placed a Suffragan Bishop Corepiscopum who was alwayes to remain at home or at the Archiepiscopall Palace within the Citty and supplied the place of the Arch-bishop when he was to attend the King or to be absent upon occasion of Visitations or other affaires At such times he celebrated Solemnities in the Metropolitan Church after which he returned home He being a Monk had power to call Monks to his assistance He performed the Office of Arch-deacon and summoned ordered and corrected such Clergy-men as pertained to the Arch-bishop but those Clergy-men which lived in the Mannâ—rs pertaining to the Monks were corrected by the Priour of the Church otherwise called the Dean The same Suffragan Bishop likewise conferred the Minour Orders in the Arch-bishops absence Yet we doe not find that ever he was summoned to Councills or subscribed in them This custom continued till the beginning of King William the Conquerours raign At which time the last of such Suffragan Bishops was Godwin who dying in the fourth year of his raign S. Lanfranc then Arch-bishop refused to substitute another in his place alledging that two Bishops must not be in one Citty whereas his See was out of the Citty Therefore instead of a Suffragan Bishop he constituted one of his Clarks Arch-deacon For which he was by many condemned Though in that age generally through the Church those Corepiscopi were suffred to expire because it was found that they took too much upon themselves so as to consecrate Holy Oyles to ordain Preists c. insomuch as for humbling them many Decrees had been made in Councills c. VII CHAP. 1.2 c. Ten thousand baptized by S. Augustin by the
was attended by a certain person named Oswin her prime servant and steward of her house A man worthy to serve such a Queen For he afterward became a Monk being a man of great merit and who out of a pure intention forsaking the world to obtain an eternall retribution became worthy to receive many revelations of Divine Mysteries from our Lord. 10. S. Etheldreda or Ediltrudis thus accompanied was conducted and maried to Egfrid Prince of the Northumbers Who being possessed of such a treasure omitted nothing whereby he might conciliate her affections But one onely thing could content her which was the preservation of her Virginall integrity all other blandishments which a Princely State could afford without this were tastlesse and noysom to her 11. Once more therefore she made use of her former arts to obtain that from Egfrid which had been granted her by Tombert that there might be between them a conjunction of minds onely with a separation of bodies Egfrid was a Prince in whose veyns youthfull blood was then boyling Yet such power had the prayers and reasons alledged by his chast Princesse that by an example scarce hitherto heard of in the Church they lived twelve years together without any prejudice or diminution of Saint Ethelreds Virginity Her youth beauty and other admirable perfections of mind produced in him nothing but reverence they conversed together as if they had been devested of their Bodies 12. To the present sensuall age this may seem incredible but there is not wanting a clowd of witnesses to testify it William of Malmsbury thus writes Etheldrida though maried to two husbands by a happy continence lived free from any stirring of lust so that without the least deminution of her chastity she victoriously obtained in heaven the garland of perpetuall Virginity To the same purpose Henry of Huntingdom Aeldiltrida was the wife of King Egfrid yet to the end remained a pure Virgin 13. But before these Saint Beda who lived in the sâ—me age with her thus more expressly testifies the same King Egfrid saith he took to wife a Lady named Ediltruda the daughter of Anna King of the Angles who was a very Religious Prince and every way illustrious The same Lady had been before wife to a Prince of the Southern Girvians named Tombert after whose death which succeeded not long after the mariage she was given to the foresaid King And though she continued the space of twelve years his Consort yet she remain'd glorious in the perpetuall integrity of her Virginity Hereof the Blessed Bishop Wilfrid gave mee an assurance when upon the occasion of some persons who called it into doubt I ask'd him concerning it For he professed that he himself was a most certain witnesse of it in so much as King Egfrid promised him great store of money and lands if he could perswade the Queen who respected none so much as him to afford him the use of mariage 14. Thus writes Saint Beda and as if he foresaw that there would arise in our Nation a Sect either disgracing Virginity or Professing that Continence is a Vertue exceeding human forces he adds Neither ought we to distrust that that might happen in our age which faithfull history testifies to have sometimes formerly come to passe since it is a gift of the same Lord who promised to be present with us to the end of the world Moreover God was pleased by a Divine miracle to witnes the same For the flesh of S. Edildreda a long time after she was buried could not be corrupted which was a sign that whilst she was alive she remaind uncorrupted by human touches 15. After twelve years thus conversing â—ogether during which time King Egfrid used all means but force to expugn his wives purpose at last he gave her free permission to spend the rest of her dayes according to her own desire in a stare of Religious retirement where she might â—ive free from all solicitations and entirely employ her whole affection on her heavenly Bridegroom Thus writes Saint Beda After she had made many earnest requests to the King that she might be permitted to relinquish all worldly cares and serve our Lord Christ alone the true King in a Monastery at last with much adoe she obtaind her petition and entred into a Monastery where Ebba the Aunt of King Egfrid was Abbesse and which was seated in a place calld the Citty of Coluda or Coldingham There she received the Sacred veyle of Religions from the foresaid Bishop Wilfrid 16. Wee must here interrupt the Narration of Saint Beda and insert the occurrents hapning to this Blessed Virgin upon her departure from Saint Ebba before she arrived at her own Territory of Ely as we find recorded in the ancient Archives of that Monastery 17. There we read how not long after her permission to retire her self King Egfrid repenting his indulgence towards her was desirous to recall her and by the instigation of his servants resolved by force to take her out of the Monastery Which being made known to the Holy Abbesse Ebba she counselled Saint Ethelreda to fly speedily away and not to rest till she came to her own house at Ely Whereupon the Holy Virgin without delay taking with her two other devout Virgins Selbenna and Selbera went out of the Monastery and went up a high Mountain not far distant called Coldeburches-heved which signifies the Head of Coldeburt In the mean time King Egfrid was come to the Monastery and hearing of her flight pursued her But Almighty God to defend his servants had encompassed the Hall with deep waters from the Sea insomuch as the King could find no means to passe them At which being amazed and perceiving a Divine hand in it he returnd to York and shortly after took to wife Ermenburga And after that time he conceived a deep hatred against Saint Wilfrid which broke forth afterward as shall be declared 18. The Tradition of that region informs us that the Holy Virgin and her companions were sustained by God seaven dayes on that mountain without any corporall food After which they descended and passing over the River of Humber they came prosperously to a place called Wintringham and rested at a Village named Alfham where she took order for building a Church From thence travelling with great labour and finding in her way a commodious shade she there layd her down to sleep And when she awaked she found her staff which she had fastned in the ground at her head had taken root and began to flourish with leaves In succeeding times it became a very large and tall Tree and continues to this day called Etheldredstow or Ethelreds rest And in memory thereof a Church was there afterward built to her honour She therefore pursuing her iourney through many difficulties and dangers at last arrived safe at Ely with her two companions There she found a Holy Preist called Huna who ioyfully received her and performed all Ecclesiasticall functions
so tedious and bitter torments And within a short time her prayers were heard for the twelfth day after she was delivered from her corruptible body and made an exchange of her temporall afflictions for eternall happines and rest 6. We will hereto from the same Authour add another Testimonial of the same Holy Virgins Sanctity hapning three years after in her Monastery of Barking When the forementioned Hand-mayd of our Lord Thorithgâ—d had continued yet three years in the body after the decease of her Mistresse she was so wholly consumed with her foresaid infirmity that there remaind scarce any flesh to cover her bones And at last when the time of her dissolution approached she lost all use and motion not only of her limbs but her tongue also In this state after she had continued three days and as many nights she was on a sudden revived with a spiritual vision insomuch as she opened both her eyes and lipps also and looking up stedfastly to heaven she began thus to speak to a person who it seems appeared to her Your presence is most wellcom to mee Having said this she held her peace a little while as expecting the answer of the said person And again with some shew of passion she added If this may not be yet I beseech you let not the space in the mean time be long Then remaining silent awhile she concluded If this decree can by no means be altered yet I pray you let the delay not be beyond this following night Having spoken this she was askd by her companions assisting her who it was with whom she talkd With my most dear Mother Edilburga said she From whence they understood that the Saint was come to signify to her that the â—ower of her departure was at hand For according to her request after one day and night had passed she was freed from the chain both of her infirmity and body and was rewarded with eternal ioyes No wonder therefore that this devout Virgin Thorithgitha is placed among the Saints in our Martyrologe on the three and twentieth of February in the year of Grace six hundred seaventy eight 7. There succeeded her in the government of the Monastery of Barking saith Saint Beda the devout servant of our Lord Saint Hildelida who continued many years Abbesse thereof no lesse then four and twenty and shewed great diligence and zeale in maintaining Regular observance and providing all things necessary for her Community This is the same Saint Hildelida to whom Saint Aldelm fourteen years after this inscribed his Book entitled of Virginity and between whom passed severall Letters yet extant Of whom we shall treat further hereafter XXI CAAP. 1. The death of Escuin King of the West-Saxons 2. Of Hedda Bishop of the West-Saxons Successour to S. Leutherius 3. 4. c. The Rule of S Benedict introduced into Glastonbury when into other Monasteries c. 1. EScuin King of the West-Saxons after a short raign of two years dying Kentuin remained sole King of those Provinces He is by Alcuin named Entuin 2. In the beginning of his raign Leutherius Bishop of the West-Saxons dying the said King called out of his Monastery a Religious man named Hedda who according to Saint Beda's testimony was a good and iust man and worthily exercised the Episcopal charge in directing and teaching his flock being enabled thereto rather by the love of piety engrafted in his heart then by study or learning Which Character seeming to import that he was but meanly furnished with litterature does not satisfy William of Malmsbury who professes that he had seen severall Epistles of his which argued the Writer not to have been destitute of learning as likewise severall Treatises of S. Aldelm directed to him abounding with eloqâ—nce and profound knowledge He having been a Monk and Abbot administred the said Bishoprick the space of thirty years and more and his Sanctity was testified by many Miracles c. He was consecrated Bishop in the Citty of London saith S. Beda by Theodore Arch-bishop of Canterbury 3. Concerning this Holy Bishop and particularly his solicitude to advance Religious Observance we read this passage qouted out of the great Table of Glastonbury by B. Vsher Bishop Hedda his body to this day reposes under a stone-Pyramid heretofore curiously engraven in the upper Church-yard of the Monks He obtained of King Cantwin to the Old Church a liberty royal in the Isle of Glastonbury as likewise a free power to the Monks there serving God of electing and constituting over themselves an Abbot according to the Rule of S. Benedict 4. Inas King of the West-Saxons in his great Charter of Priviledges granted to the same Monastery in the year of Grace seaven hundred twenty five makes mention of this Indult confirming all former Donations given by his Predecessours or others to that Monastery particularly that of King Kenwalch who by the intercession of Theodore Archbishop of Canterbury bestowed on it these lands Ferlingmere Beokeri Godney Martinesey Edresey likewise of King Kentwin who gave Glastingie and was wont to call the said Monastery the Mother of Saints ordaining that it should enjoy an immunity from all both Secular and Ecclesiasticall duties and added withall this Priviledge That the Monks living there should have the power to elect and constitute to themselves a Superiour according to the Rule of S. Benedict Also of Bishop Hedda who with the allowance and approbation of Cedwalla though a Pagan under his own hand gave Lantocai of Baldred who gave Pennard containing six hydes of land of Athelard who gaue Pohelt containing sixty hydes all whose Donations I doe approve and confirm c. 5. Here is the first mention of S. Benedicts Rule received in the Monastery of Glastonbury How long before this time it had been there embraced or whether it now entred by the procuring of Bishop Hedda does not appear But certain it is that those Writers are mistaken who affirm that before S Dunstan's government of that Monastery the Monks thereof were not professed Disciples of S. Benedict After this time the said Rule and Profession by little and little took place in most other Monasteries as in the Norin-parts by the diligence of S. Wilfrid and of S. Benedict sirnamed Biscop Yea the Brittains also and Scotts who had received their Religious Instituts from the Irish began to disuse their ancient Rites and esteemed it piety to conform themselves to the Rule of S. Benedict But as for the Monasteries of Canterbury and the whole Province of Kent there is not the least mark afforded in ancient Story that the Institut of S. Benedict was introduced among them after their coming into Brittany on the contrary they were Kentish Monks who were employd in settling the said Institut among the Northumbers So that it is demonstrably evident that the Prime Apostles of the Christian Faith among the Saxons professed and brought in the same Rule 6. Now this Priviledge at
and far more labour in her high condition afford examples of vertue and piety to all her Subjects Which she performed in a most admirable manner being as the Authour of her Life describes her a most reverenced Mistresse to the Great ones and a kind Patronesse to the poor The former observed her as a Princesse and the lâ—tter as a Mother Those venerated her Majesty these admired her humility To the Nobles she was awfull and to meaner persons she seemed equall To all she was amiable and to all venerable rarely seen in throngs but frequent in Churches 8. Four and twenty years she raigned with her husband King Ercombert but he dying in the year of Grace six hundred sixty four and thereby she being left free to her self would be a Queen no longer but after she had seen the Commonweale settled saith Harpsfeild like a bird which had been a long time enclosed in a Cage she gladly escaped out of it and devesting her self of all her Royall Ornaments and marks of worldly pomp and pride she betook her self to the Society of Sacred Virgins in the Citty of Ely governed then by her Sister the most glorious Virgin Ediltrâ—dis or Ethelreda Fifteen years she lived under her disciplin being therefore more assiduous in devotion and more rigorous in mortifications because she came later then the rest to that School of Piety 9. In the end she buried her Blessed Sister and by the Vnanimous votes of her companions the Religious Virgins was chosen Abbesse in her place as hath been already declared in the Gests of the year of Grace six hundred seaventy nine In which charge being to afford documents and examples of all vertues to others she was more vigilant over herself more circumspect in her actions and more fervent in her prayers to God as being to give an account to him for so many soules besides her own 10. Having spent sixteen years more with all Perfection in this Office at last being mindfull of her dear Sister the constant opinion of whose Sanctity had taken deep root in all minds she thought fitt to take up her ashes and translate them to a more honourable place But how instead of empty ashes she found her Sisters body as entire as fresh and sweet as if she had rested in sleep wee have already declared To conclude after she had with admirable constancy and fervour performed the course appointed her by God she was this year called to receive a heavenly crown so that the day before the Nones of Iuly she followed her Sister to heaven leaving a command that her Body should be enterred together with her Sisters 11. From so holy a roote there sprung two most fragrant and beautifull flowers her daughters S. Eartongatha and S. Erminilda Of the former we have treated already As for S. Erminilda she was as hath been said maried to Wulfere King of the Mercians whose mind she inclined to all piety After her Husbands death she with her daughter S. Werburga as her Mother formerly had done consecrated her self to our Lord in the same Monastery of Ely where entring into the Royall path of Humility she behaved her self more submissly then the rest as her desire was more earnest to approach nearer to our Lord. This was so gratefull to all that her Mother Sexburga being dead she by the unanimous suffrages of her Religious Sisters was elected to succeed in her office of Abbesse of that famous Monastery 12. The year of S. Erminilda's death is not recorded But her Deposition is commemorated in our Martyrologe on the Ides of February 13. The summ of what concerns these three Holy Princesses and Religious Abbesses is thus breifly sett down by William of Malmsbury The most happy Lady Edildrida says he first founded the Monastery of Religious Virgins at Ely After her her Sister Sexburga who had been wife of Ercombert King of Kent and Mother of the most Holy Virgin Ercongetta lived to her old age in the same place under the Religious profession and Title of Abbesse And there succeeded her in the government of the same Abbey her other Daughter Erminilda who had been wife of Wulfere King of the Mercians and Mother of the holy Virgin Wereburga These three in continued successions were Abbesses there 14. This only is to be added in this place That this holy Queen and Abbesse Sexburga is different from another Queen of the same name wife to Kenwalch King of the West-Saxons who after his death in the year of Grace six hundred seaventy four governed the same Kingdom But either willingly or forced thereto by a faction of the Nobility which refused to be ruled by a woman retired to a quiet Religious life as hath before been declared XVIII CHAP. 1. The death of Saint Trumwin Bishop of the Picts 2. Also of S. Baruâ— a Hermite 3. c. And of S. Hildelida Abbesse 1. IN the year of Grace seaven hundred is recorded the death of S. Trumwin B. of the Picts who in the revolt of that Nation from the Northumbers was driven from theÌ„ce retired to the Monastery of Religious Virgins at Streneshalck where he lived fifteen years with some few companions in Monasticall rigour both to the good of his own soule and the benefit of many other and was with due honour buried there in the Church of S. Peter Many centuries of years after his Sacred Body was found and translated to a more honourable place together with the Bodies of severall other Saints reposing there Concerning which William of Malmsbury thus writes At Streneshalck now called Whitby in the Quâ—re of the Church belonging tâ— Religious Virgins which is famous for the Monuments of Holy Bishops and glorious Kings the industry of certain devout men hath as it were restored to life the slumbring ashes of severall persons For not long since there were found and translated to a more eminent place the Bodies of many Saints particularly of S. Trumwin Bishop of the Picts c. His name is commemorated among Saints in our Martyrologe on the tenth of February 2. The same year likewise is assigned to the death of S. Baruck a Hermite whose meâ—mory is celebrated in the Province of the Silures and region of Glamorgan He lyes buried in the Isle of Barry which took its name from him Concerning which we read this testimony in Camden The most outward Isle there is called Barry from Baruck a Holy man there buried Who as he gave his Name to the Island so did the Island give a Sirname to the Lords of it For the Noble family of the Viscounts of Barry in Ireland received their originall from thence In our Martyrologe this Holy Heremit Baruck is said to have sprung from the Noble Blood of the Brittains and that entring into a solitary strict course of life he at this time attained to a life immortall 3. We will conclude this year which concludes the seaventh Century of our History
esteem Saints Yet neither their Sanctity nor learning could secure their Lives from the present sanguinary Laws now in force 7. Some Writers affirm that S. Aldelm was a Scott but his name meerly Saxon does disprove them which signifies an ancient Helmet And generally our Historians acknowledge him to have been of the English-Saxon progeny Capgrave B. Godwin and others affirm that he was Brothers son to King Ina. Brian Twine says he was son to King Ina himself And William of Malmsbury that he was from â—is ancient Progenitours nearly allied in blood to King Ethelstan 8. There succeeded him in the Episcopall See of Shirborn a devout Preist named Forther who by the testâ—mony of Saint Beda his contemporaney is described to have been a man well versed in the study of Divine Scriptures Little more is extant concerning him in our Ecclesiasticall Monuments Onely Bishop Godwin relates of him that almost thirty years after this he attended a Queen of the West-Saxons in her pilgrimage to Rome 9. Probably this is the same person to whom Brithwald at this time Archbishop of Canterbury wrote an Epistle extant among those of Saint Boniface the Apostle of Germany with this Inscription To the most Reverend and most Holy our Fellow-Bishop Fortherey Berthwald a Servant of the Servants of our Lord sendeth health in our Lord. The Epistle it self because it gives some Light to the practise of that age wee will here adioyn as followeth 10. Since the request which in your presence I made to the Venerable Abbot Beorwald took no effect which was that he would sett at liberty a young captive mayd whose kinred dwell near to this Citty being importuned by them I thought fitt to direct once more these Letters to you by a Brother of the same mayd whose name is Eppa Hereby therefore I doe earnestly entreat you that you would by all means obtain from the foresaid Abbot that he would from this bearers hands accept three hundred shillings solidos for the ransome of the sayd young mayd and consign her into his hands to be brought hither to the end she may spend the rest of her age in ioyfull freedome among her freinds This affaire if you will bring to good effect you will not fayle to receive a good reward from God and many thanks from mee Besides this I conceive that our Brother Beorwald receiving this money will be no looser I ought to have made my first request that you would be mindfull of mee in your dayly Prayers Our Lord Iesus Christ preserve your Reverence in health many years 11. The slavery of this young mayd mentioned here denotes the ancient custome of the Saxons continued a long time after by the Normans of buying slaves and annexing them to certain Mannors or Lands which were therefore called Villains which without a ransome could not be restored to freedome 12. As for Beorwald mentioned in this Letter he was probably Abbot of Glastonbury who succeded Hemgisle in the year of Grace seaven hundred and five as the Antiquities of that Monastery declare And he it was who wrote the life of the Holy Bishop Egwin and not as some mistakingly affirm Brithwald Arch-bishop of Canterbury who sate above four and twenty years in that See before S. Egwin died IX CHAP. 1.2 c. The Martyrdom of S. Indractus an Irish Prince his murder miraculously discovered 1. ABout this time hapned the Martyrdom of a son of a certain Irish King who returning from a Pilgrimage to Rome by Brittany in his way from Glastonbury towards Ireland was together with seaven of his companions barbarously murdred by robbers His name was Indractus and his Memory is celebrated in our Martyrologe on the fifth of February 2. Concerning him thus writes the Authour of his life in Capgrave After that Saint Patrick had converted the Irish Nation to the Faith of Christ by many signs and wonders he passed over the Sea thence into Brittany and at Glastonbury he happily ended his days in a good old age For this cause many devout persons of Ireland have accustomed in devotion to visit the sayd Monastery Now there was in Ireland the son of a certain King his name was Indractus a young man well imbued with learning adorned with vertues and favoured both by God and man This young Prince aspiring only to heavenly ioyes for a more secure obtaining them resolved to despise yea to fly from all the snares of Princely palaces and delicacies Taking therefore with him nine companions together with his Sister named Dominica our Martyrologe calls her Drusa he in devotion undertook a pilgrimage to Rome Having therefore a prosperous passage by Sea he arrived at a Haven in Brittany named Tamerunt And there this devout assembly built an Oratory and spent a long space of time in the service of God and mortification At length leaving his Sister there he with his other Companions pursued their pilgrimage to Rome As for the frequent Miracles wrought by the Holy man in Brittany or in his iourney I omitt them the curious Reader may have recourse for them to the Authour who thus prosecutes his Story 3. Returning after some time from Rome into Brittany he had a resolution to goe to Glastonbury and there at the Monument of Saint Patrick to pour forth his Prayers to God Now at that time Inas King of the West-Saxons held his Court neer that place in a town called Pedret in the villages round about which many of his Servants and attendants were dispersed Among whom there was a certain son of iniquity named Hona This man curiously observing Indractus and his companions in their way from Glastonbury that their baggs and purses were well stuffed with money Whereupon the Minister of Satan with his complices following them overtook them at a Village named Shapwick and violently breaking into the house while they were sleeping there murdred them all Which having done they took their Sacred Bodies and cast them into a deep pitt to the end no man might find them 4. Now it fortuned that King Inas whose abode was near that place on a certain night being afflicted with great pain in his bowells to assâ—age the same went abroad into the open aire and looking towards heaven he saw a pillar as it were of fire issuing out of the place in which the sacred bodies were hidden the splendour of which was always in his eyes which way soever he turned them The same spectacle offred it self to him three nights consequently whereupon taking some of his Courtiers with him he went to the place and having found the bodies of the holy Martyrs he took care that they should be buried at Glastonbury with great honour The Body of S. Indractus was placed on the left side of the Altar opposite to the Monument of S. Patrick and his companions under the pavement round about As for the Murderers they having the impudence to be present at the buriall were visibly seysed
he apprehended that some freinds would present him with gifts which he should not be able to require on a sudden For this had been always his custom that whensoever any presents were made him he would not fayle either presently or in a competent time to return some thing as valuable 7. On the day therefore before the Nones of Iune being thursday Masse being solemnly sung very early in tâ—e Church of the most Blessed Virgin and S. Peter at which all who were present communicated he immediatly prepared himself foâ— his voyage All the Monks therefore being assembled in the Church of S. Peter he having incenced the Altar and made his Prayer before it standing upon the steps with the Censer in his hand gave his benediction to them all whilst they were singing Litaries which they interrupted with their sighs and tears Then from thence they went into the Oratory of the Holy Martyr S. Laurence which is in the Dormitory there giving them his last farewell he admonished them all to preserve mutuall Charity and peace and not to omitt on occasion brotherly Correption as the Gospell enioyns after which he imparted to all who had any way offended him his pardon and love desiring all to pray for him and to pardon him if he had shewd too much severity in reprehending any 8. This being done they went to the Sea shoare where once again kneeling he recited a Prayer and having given them all the kisse of peace who wept all the while he took ship with his attendants The Deacons of the Church likewise lighting their Tapers and carying their golden Crosse he passed over the River adores the Crosse mounts on horse-back and so departed leaving in his Monasteries allmost six hundred Religious Brethren 9. When he was gone the Brethren went to the Church where with weeping they commended themselves and all their affairs to our Lord. And awhile after having recited Tierce they assembled againe and consulted what was to be done and resolved that by Prayer Psalmody and fasting they should without delay demand a Superiour and Father of God and wâ—thall by sending some of their brethren they declare to the Religious Monks or Saint Paul what they had determined â—o doâ— who willingly give their assent theâ—eto So that â—ll became of one mind all their hearts and tongues were lifted up to God 10. At length on the third day after being Whitsunday they mett tâ—gether again and to them came not a few of the elder Monks of Saint Paul Then with an unanimous consent they elected for their Abbot Whetbert wâ—o from his childhood had been brought up in the Monastery and well instructed not only in Regular Observance but in the skill of writing singing reading and teaching He likewise in the dayes of Pope Sergius of happy memory had been at Rome where continuing a good space he learnt wrote and brought back with him whatsoever things he iudged necessary 11. This man then being by the generall consent of the Monks of both the Monasteries chosen Abbot took with him some of his Brethren and with hast went to the Holy Abbot Ceolfrid who expected a wind proper for his voyage and to him he signifyed the Election which the Monks had made whose answer was God be thanked and presently confirmed the Election Then he received of the new Abbot Letters commendatory to Pope Gregory in which with great tendernes they besought his Holines to extend all requisite Charity to their most beloved and most carefull Father whose corporall presence though they were deprived of yet they were assured that whether he were alive or dead they should ever find him an intercessour with God and Patron to them 12. Now when Abbot Whetbert was returned home Bishop Acca was desired to come to the Monastery who with the accustomed form of Benediction confirmed the Abbot in his Office And he among innumerable actions performed to the common aduantage of the Monastery added this which was very acceptable to all that he took up the bones of Abbot Easterwin which had been buried in the porch entring into the Churâ—h of Saint Peter as likewise the bones of Abbot Sigfrid who had formerly been his Master which had been reposed without the Sacristie and putting them into one Coffin yet so that there was a partition between them they buried them within the Oratory of the Blessed Father Saint Benedict This solemnity was performed on the eleaventh day before the Calends of September being the Anniversary day of Abbot Sigfrid on which very day also by a strange Providence of God the Venerable servant of Christ Withmer mentioned before departed this world and was buried in the same place with the sayd Abbots the example of whose vertues he had carefully imitated 13. But to return to the servant of God Ceolfrid he pursuing his iourney towards the Monuments of the Apostles at Rome before he could approach thither he was seised on by a sicknes of which he dyeâ— For being come as far as Langres in France about nine of the clock before noon at four in the after noon he departed to our Lord and the day following was honourably buried in the Church of the three Twin-brethren and glorious Martyrs Speusippus Eleusippus and Meleusippus who as they were born at the same birth by one Mother so they were regenerated together in the same faith of their Mother the Church and on the same day together with their Grand-Mother Leonilla they left to that place a worthy Memory of their Martyrdom 14. At the buriall of the Holy Abbot Ceolfrid there was vehement weeping not only by those of the English Nation attending him in his iourney who were no fewer then fourscore but likewise the inhabitants of that Citty who much bewayld the retarding and fayling of the desire of the Reverend Old man Neither could any one without difficulty contain his teares seeing the dispersion of this good Abbots Disciples and followers for some of them notwithstanding the losse of their Father continued their devout iourney to Rome and others thought fitt rather to return home and give notice of his death Lastly some there were who out of an unquencheable affection to their beloved Father would continue at his Tombe amongst a people whose language they understood not at all 15. He was when he dyed seaventy four years of age he had been a Preist forty seaven and had executed the Office of Abbot thirty five or rather three for from the time that Saint Benedict began to build his Monastery to the Honour of the Prince of the Apostles he was his inseparable companion and assisted him not only in that labour but also in the care of Monasticall Institution In the practise of which he was so sedulous that notwithstanding any occasion of age infirmity or iourney from the day that he left his Monastery till his death that is from the day before the Ides of Iune to the seaventh before the Calends of October which was one
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
effect by reason of the too short raign of this King since a busines of that importance required many messages and returns froÌ„ Rome serious agitation on both sides and reasons to be given by the two contrary pretendants His Successour in the Archbishoprick Kenulf at last perfected after the death of King Egfrid 7. This good King therefore being accomplished in a short time fullfilled a long age and after five months payed his debt to nature He was taken away saith Alcuin not for his own sins but because his father for the establishing his kingdom had shed much blood But how unsecure a foundation blood is for the establishing of kingdoms was shewd in this example for Offa was so far from confirming his Throne to his posterity that five months after his death it was transferred to another family a quite stranger to his 8. The same year dyed also Eanbald Archbishop of York and in his place was chosen and consecrated another Eanbald a Preist of the same Church and Disciple of Alcuin The place where his Predecessour dyed was called Edere and his body attended by great multitudes was conveyed to the Church of York where it was honourably buried 9. This second Eanbald ioyned courageously with Ethelard Archbishop of Canterbury to nullify the invasion which Offa King of the Mercians had made on the Archbishop of Canterbury which they also effected as shall shortly be declared And this endeavour of Eanbald was much commended by his Master Alcuin as appears by part of his Letter cited by William of Malmsbury XII CHAP. 1.2 c. Alcuin famous for learning teaches at York and is called into France 1. WEE have oft made mention of Alcuin as making his abode in France It will not be impertinent to declare what occasion drew him into France and obliged him to spend the remainder of his life there Twice he had passed into France before the first time upon some busines for which his Master Egbert Arch-bishop of York sent him to King Charles What that speciall busines was it does no where appear The second time when he was sent by Alfwold King of the Northumbers to Rome to demand and bring the Archiepiscopall Pall to Eanbald the first of that name Archbishop of York in the year of Grace seaven hundred eighty one In this iourney both going and returning he passed through FraÌ„ce But neither of these times did he make any long abode there However his second iourney was the occasion of his going a third time thither never to return Because at his coming from Rome he meâ—t K. Câ—arles the Great at Pavia who being much delighted with his discourse and behaviour earnestly entreated him that assoon as he had finishd the present affair for which he had undertaken that voyage to Rome he would return to him into France 2. The answer which Alcuin gave him was That without the order of his King and Arch-bishop he could not dispose or himself And in effect his stay in Brittany was esteemed so necessary that twelve years more passed before he could comply with this request of so great a King But to speak more properly it was not in compliance to this request that he then went but he was obliged thereto by the emergent necessities of the Church which was combatted by a New Heresy for repressing of which none was â—ound more sufficiently enabled then Alcuin considering his eminently famous piety and learning 3. That which detained him so long in Brittany was for the instructing the youth thereof in all manner of learning both sacred and secular For since S. Beda's time Brittany had never enioyed so universally a knowing Master Some Writers pretend that he was a Disciple of S. Beda But the long space of time which intervened between them takes away all probablity from such an assertion and those Writers mistake is grounded upon a confounding of two persons â—nto one for they suppose that this Alcuin or Albin is the same with that Albin who many years before was Abbot of S. Augugustins Monastery at Canterbury The Master and Instructour of this Alcuin was Egbert the Noble and learned Archbishop of York as not only the Authour of Alcuins life but Alcuin himself declares 4. The twelve years which Alcuin employed in Brittany in teaching produced a wonderfull happy effect for out of his Schoole were produced almost all the able Bishops Preists Abbots and other Religious persons which adorned this Island in the present and following Age. Yea not a few came out of France and Germany to enrich themselves and their countreys with those treasures of knowledge which Alcuin communicated to them at his Schoole which he kept open at York in his own Native Province where he was furnished with a most plentifull Library instituted there by his Master Egbert the Archbishop whose Successour Eanbald the second of that Name was one of the most eminent among Alcuins Scholars XIII CHAP. 1.2 c. Of two holy and learned English Virgins Gisla and Rictrudis or Columba Disciples of Alcuin Their Letter to him in France and his Answer c. 1. AMong Alcuins schollars in Brittany we must not omitt two illustrious Virâ—ins Gisla and Rictruda concerning whom our Learned Pits gives this short account Rictruda and Gisla saith he English Nunns of the Order of S. Benedict were for their extraction Noble but much more for their vertues and learning From their chilhood they were instructed in the purity of the Latin tongue and other good lâ—tterature by their learned Master Alcuin After whose departure out of Brittany it is reported that they made great progresse both in the studies of learning and exercises of vertues in their Monastery at Canterbury They diligently imitated both S. Mary Magdalen in contemplation and S. Martha in actions of Charity They with continuall watchfullnes attended to the perfectionating their own soules by Mortification and Spirituall Meditations and next to benefits their neighbours by externall works of Charity espeâ—cially comforting the afflicted These two Virgâ—ns were renouned in Brittany during the time of Alâ—ric King of Kent But this suspicion that they lived at Canterbury seems to be grounded on the forementiond mistâ—ke that Alcuin was Abbot in the same Citty Whereas it is not to be doubted but that they were Northumbrian Virgins living in their Monastery at York where Alcuin taught 2. There has lately been rescued from the dust of oblivion one Epistle written by these devout Virgins to Alcuin which alone may be a proof sufficient both of their piety and learning In which Epistle they signify to him their earnest desire to receive from him out of France sometimes letters of instruâ—ction and consolation and that he would therein imitate S. Hierome who living in his Monastery at Bethleem did not disdain to write Epistles to severall Noble Virgins at Rome notwithstanding the great distance between in which Epistles he did moreover explicate to them many obscure passages in the Propheticall