with Valentinian the 46. emperour after August raigned vij yeres In whose time the people of the English or Saxons being sent for of the sayd kyng in to Britanny landed there in iij. longe shipps and by the kynges commaundement is appointed to abide in the east part of the land as to defende the couÌ„try like frendes but in dede as it proued afterward as minding to destroy the country as enemies Wherefor encountring with the northen enemy the Saxons had the better Wherof they sending word home in to their country as also of the batfulnes of the lande and the cowardnes of the Britannes the Saxons sent ouer a greater nauy and number of men better appointed for the warres which being now ioyned with the former bande drew to a stronger army then all the power of the Britannes was able to ouercomme These by the Britannes wer allowed a place to dwell among them with that coÌ„dition that they should war for them against their enemies and should receiue waiges of the Britannes for their trauailes These that cam from beyond the seas wer iij. of the strongest natioÌ„s in Germany That is the SaxoÌ„s English the and the Vites Of the Vites cam the people of Kent and of the I le of Wite and they which in the prouince of the West Saxons or called vnto this day the nation of the Vites right ouer against the I le of wite Of the Saxons that is of that region which now is called of the ould Saxons desceÌ„ded the east Saxons the south Saxons and the west Saxons Of the English that is of that country which is called England and from that time to this is thought to stande in the middest betwene the Vites and the Saxons descendeth the easte English the vplandish English the Marshes and all the progeny of the Northumbers that is of that people which inhabiteth the north side of the flud Humber The chiefe capitaynes of the Saxons ar sayd to haue ben ij brothers Hengistus and Horsus Of the which Horsus being after slayne in battaill of the Britannes was buried in the east partes of kent where his tombe bearing his name is yet to shew They wer the sonnes of one Vetgissus whose father was Vecta whose father was Voden of whose ishew many kynges of sundry prouinces had their originall Now then great companies of the sayd nations dayly flocking in to this Iland they begaÌ„ to grow so stroÌ„ge that the people of the couÌ„try which sent for them stode in great feare of their powessance And sodaynly taking leage with the Pictes whom they had now dreuen farder of beganne to turne their force vppon the Brytannes And first they require of them more plenty of vittayles and pycking matter of falling owt with them threateneth them that except they wold prouide them better store they wold break of wyth them and spoyle all the country about And as much as they then promised they after in dede performed To be short the fire once kendled in the handes of the Paganes tooke iust reuenge of the wyckednesse of the people not much vnlike vnto that fire which being kendled of the Caldees consumed the citty of Ierusalem So allso this fire of vengaunce the wycked conquerour kendeling it or rather God the iuste iudge disposing it raiged first vppon the citties and countrey next vnto it after from the east sea vnto the west ouer whelmed all the whole Iland with out any resistaÌ„ce made to queÌ„ch it Both publick and priuat houses were ouerthrowne to the grownd the priestes wer slayne standing at the aultar the bisshops with their flock wer murdered without respect of their dignitie nor was there any that wold bury the slayne Sum of the miserable leuinges being taken in the hilles wer there kylled other being sterued with hungre wer fayne to creape out of their caues and buy their vittall at their enemies hands with sale of their liberte for euer if yet they wer not killed owt of hand Other fled ouer the seas with a heauy hart Other taryeng still in their country in feare of death and lack of foode liued full miserably in the mountaines woddes and cliffes How the Britannes obteyned the first victory of the English by the helpe of Ambrosius a Romane The. 16. Chapter BVt after that the English men hauing nowe dryuen owt and disperkled the lande dwellers wer come back agayne the Britannes by litle and litle begannne to take strength and couraige vnto them comyng out of their caues in which they lay hidde before and with one vniforme consent calling for heauenly helpe that they might not for euer vtterly be destroyed They had then for their capitaine a Romane called Ambrosius Aurelianus a gentle natured man which only of all the blud of the Romans remayned then a liue his parentes being slayne which bore the name of the kynge of the country This man being their Capitaine they assembled them selues together and prouokyng the victoures to the fight through gods assistance atcheiued the victory And from that day forward now the men of the country nâ—w the enemye had the victory vntill the yere that Bathe was beseiged where they gaue their enemies a great ouerthrowe which was about the xliiij yere of their comyng in to the land But of this we shall speake more here after How Germanus the bishop sayling with Lupus in to Britanny ceased first the tempest of the sea after the stormes of the Pelagian heresies by the power of God The. 17. Chapter A Few yeres before the comming of the Saxonnes in to the lande the Pelagian heresies being browght in by Agricolâ— the son of Seuerianâ—s a Pelagian bishop did sore corrupte the faith of the Britannes But the BritaÌ„nes being neither willing to receiue their lewde doctrine as blasphemous against the grace of God neither able to refute their wylye and wycked persuasioÌ„s they deuiseth this holsom couÌ„sel to seeke for ayde of the byshops of Fraunce against these their spiritual enemies And they calling a coÌ„mon counsell coÌ„sulted among them selues whom of them all it wer best to send to helpe their neybours faith By the assent of them all ther was chosen ij worthy prelates Germanus Altisiodorensis and Lupus bishop of the cite Trecassa which should passe ouer in to Britanny to confirme them in the faith which with reddy obedience accepting the commaundement of the Synode tooke shipping thether ward and had very prosperous windes vntill they were halfe way ouer betwene Fraunce and Britanny Then sodenly as they wer sayling the diuell much enuyeng that such men should goe to recouer the people out of their dauÌ„ger and winne them to the right faith of Christ he rayseth such tempestes and stormes against them that a maÌ„ could not know day from night The sayles ar not able to beare the boysterous fury of the winde the marinours being in despair gaue ouer the ship was guided rather by the prayer of the good theÌ„ pollice of
and before he was yet baptised Layeng therfore depe foundations aboute this his first oratorie he began to buylde there a fayre churche fowre square But before the wall therof came to his iuste hyghnes the king was slayne by cruell deathe and lefte that royall worke to be endyd and parfyted by kyng Oswald his successour Now Pauline from that time 6. yeares after that is to the end of king Edwynes raygne preched the word of God continually by his good leaue and fauour throughe out all that prouince And they beleaued him and were Christened who were preordinated to lyfe euerlasting emongest whome was Offride and Eadfride king Edwynes sonnes Which he had in his banishement by dame Quenburge daughter to Cearle king of the Marshes After whome his other children which he had by Queene Edelburge were baptised as his sonne Edilhune his daughter Edilfride and an other of his sonnes called Buskfrea of which the ij first were taken oute of this mortall lyfe in their infancie or tender youthe and buryed in the church of Yorke Iffy also Offride his sonne was Christened too with manie other of the nobilitie and diuers honorable men And as it is reported then was the feruour of faithe and ernest desyre of holie baptisme so greate emongest the people of Northumberland that on a certaine time when bishop Pauline came with the kings and Quenes maiestie to the courte or princes palacie at Adregin he stayed there with them 36. dayes only occupied in catechising and instructing the people in Christe his faithe and afterward baptising them in eche of the which dayes he did nothing els from morning to euenynge but instructe them with the word of God and teach theÌ„ the faith and saluation in Christe Iesus which flocked thither out of all places and villages theraboute Whome after he had thus informed and taught he baptised in the fludde Elene For that was the next nere water which he could conueniently vse for baptim This towne Adregin in the time of the kinge and aftercommers waxed rude and deserte And an other was buylt vp for hit in a place called Melwyn And this muche dyd byshop Pawline in the Bernicians prouince But in the couÌ„trie of the Deires where he laie most coÌ„monly with the kinge he baptised in the fludde Suale which renneth fast by a village adioyned to Cataracte For as yet there could not be buylded oratories fountes or places of baptisme in this newe begon and late founded churche But yet was there buylte a greate church in the coast and champyon called Dâ—wne Where was an other of the kinges courtes and palace Which church the painims that slewe king Edwine bâ—rned afterward with the whole village In sted of the which palace the kinges euer after made their mansion place in the country called Loides But the aultar of the before mentioned churche eskaped the fire bycause it was made of stone And is kept to this present daye in the monasterie of the right reuerend Abbot and priest Trunwulfe standing in the wodde Elmete How the prouince of the Este English receiued the fayth of Christ. The. 15. Chap. NOw had king Edwine by common reporte suche a zele and ernest deuotion toward the Christian faithe that he perswadid Carpwald kinge Redwalds sonne and king of the Est English to leaâ—â— of the vaine superstition of idols and to come with his whole royalme and embrace the true faythe and receaue the sacramentes of Christe his churche For his father king Redwald before him was Christened in kent but alas in vaine For returning home againe he was seduced by his wyfe and certaine other peruerse doctours And being in suche wyse depraued from the sincerite and purenesse of fayth his end was worse then his beginning For he would seme after the maner of the olde Samaritanes to serue both Christe and his owne false Godes to as he dyd before And in one temple he had erectyd an aultar for the sacrifice of Christe and an other litle aultar for burnt sacrifices to his Idols and dyuels The which temple Aldwolfe kinge of that prouince after him who lyued in this ourâ—age sayde that it dured so vnto his time and witnessed that he sawe it himselfe in his childhoode Truly this before named king Redwald was a noble prince of byrthe althowgh vile and base in his actes and deades For he was king Tityls sonne whose fathers name was Woffa of whome the kinges of the east english men are called Woffinges But king Carpwald not long after he had ben Christened was slayne by a gentile and paynim named Richbert And froÌ„ that time 3. yeares after the prouince liued in gentâ—lite falling from Christian religion vntyll at the last Sibert king Carpwalds brother toke the kingdome a man in all pointes lerned and most Christian. Who whiles his brother was yet alyue lyuing bannished in Fraunce was Christened there and instructed in the holy mysteries of our faythe of which he went about to make all his royalme partakener as sone as he came to the crowne To whose good endeuour herin bishopp Felix dyd moste ernestly fauoure and with greate praise applie himselfe Who when he came from Burgundie where he was borne and toke holie orders into Britanny to Honorius tharchbishop and had opened this his desire and godly purpose vnto him the Archebishopp gladly gaue him licence and sent him furthe to preche the worde of God vnto the foresayde Este English Wher certes his zele and vertuous desire proued not in vayne For this holie husbande man and happie tiller of the spirituall filde founde in that nation plentifulnes of fruite and encrease of people that beleaued him For he browght all that prouince beinge now delyuered by his healpe from their long iniquite and vnhappines vnto the fayth and workes of iustice and in the end reward of perpetuall bâ—isse and happines for euer according to the good abodement of his name whiche in Lattin is called Felix and in our Englishe tounge soundeth happie He was Byshopp in the cite of Dummocke afterward Where when he had ruled the churche of Christe 17. yeares in that dignite and in that prouince he endyd his life in peace How Pawlyne preched in the prouince of Lindisse and of the state of king Edwynes raygne The. 16. Chap. BVt Byshopp Pawlyne continued styll and at this tyme preched the worde of God in the prouince of Lindisse which is the next toward the South bancke of Humber bending euen vnto the seas side where he first conuerted to our Lord the maior of Lincolne whose name was Blecca withal his howseholde In the which citie he buylt a well wrowght churche of stone the rouffe whereof eyther for long lacke of reparations or by the spoyle of enemies is nowe cast downe But the walles thereof stand yet to be seene at this present daie and yearly some or other miracles are wont to be showen ther to the greate good and comforte of
and prouide that the poysoned infection of so dedly an heresie sinke no farder into your myndes but labour as ye may vtterly to forgett it For ye ought to remembre howe this execrable heresie hath longe sithens ben condemned And hathe ben abolished and put owte of remembrance not only these ij hundred yeares but is also yet at this present daylie condemned of vs with continuall curses and all they excommunicated which folowe thesame We therfore exhorte and request yowe that ye suffer not their asshes to be stirred and blowen vp emongest yowe whose strength and weapons be burnt and consumed For what Christen harte is there whiche detesteth not to death and abhorreth their prowde intent and wicked wordes which dare affirme that a man maye lyue and be withowt synne euen of his owne voluntarie will and not throwghe the grace of God And then to consider againe the trueth hereof it is blasphemie and extreme foolishnes to saye that a man is withowt synne For he can not possibly be so Neither euer any was but only the mediator of God and man Christe Iesus our Lorde who was a verie and true man conceyued and borne withowt synne For as for other men they are all borne in oryginall sinne And doe beare the wytnes and token of Adams first preuarication and breaking of Godes commaundement yea althowghe they lyued without actuall synne accordinge to the Prophete saying Behold I was conceiued in iniquite and my mother hathe browght me forthe in sinne c. How after kinge Eduynes deathe bishop Pawlyne returned to kent and there toke the Bysshoprike of Rotchester The 20. Chapter WHen king Edwyne had moste triumphantly raygned ouer the English and Britons bothe the space of xvij yeares in some of whiche as abowt the number of 6. yeares he had himselfe ben subiecte to Christe and euer looked for his raygne and kingdome Cardwell king of the Britons made a rebellion against him hauing ayde and succor therunto of Penda a stowght man and of the kinges bloud of Marshland Ouer which nation afterward he had by dyuers chaunces and fortune rule and gouernance for the space of xxij yeares Nowe when they had thus ioyned battaile and entred fight with kinge Edwine in a great large and plaine field called thereof Hethfilde they slewe him there at the last the. 4. daye of October in the yeare of our Lorde 633. and of kinge Edwynes age the. 47. yeare whose whole hoste was other presently murdered there or shamefully put to flight In the which warres one of kinge Edwines sonnes that lustie and warlyke yonge prince Offryde was kylled before his father died The other sonne Edfryde of verie vrgent necessite fled vnto kinge Penda for succour Of whome afterward against the promised faythe and his solemne othe he was most cruellye put to deathe in the raygne of kinge Oswald At this tyme there was a verie greauouse persecution in the churche and a fowle murder of the Northumberlandes especially bicause that one of the Capitaines whiche caused this persecution and aduersite was a painim the other thowgh not a paynim yet more feerce and barbarouse thē was any heathen or paynim For kinge Penda with all the nation of the Marshland men was wholly geauen to Idolatrie and altogether heathen and vnchristened But king Cardwell althowgh he had the name of a Christian and professed that lyfe yet was he in mynde and maners so rude and owtrageouse that he woulde not spare eyther womens weaknes or childrens innocencie but put all to deathe withe greauous and bytter torments according to his bestly cruelty and vnmercyfull tyrannie Wasting a longe time and raging oure all the prouinces purposing moreouer with himselfe to exterminate out of the borders of Britannie the whole nation of Englishmen and to extinguish the verie name of them Neither did he ought esteme or anie thing reuerence and honor the Christian religion which the English men had So that vnto this daye the Britons maner and custome is to set light by the faithe and religion of English mē Neither will they in anie one pointe more communicate with them then they wold with heathens and painims Kinge Edwynes head was brought vnto Yorke And afterward carryed into S. Peters churche which churche he himselfe had begon to buylde but his successour king Oswald finished hit as we haue before declared And there layed in S. Gregories chappell By whose disciples and of whose preachers he had in his lyfe time receiued and lerned the word of true lyfe Thus was the state of Northumberlande muche troubled with this greate slaughter and cruell persecution Seing therfore there was none other remedie nor anie saftie could befounde but only by flight bishop Pauline accompaning the good Quene Edelburge with whome not longe before he came into that cuntrie tooke shipp and returned againe to kent And was there verie honorably receiued of Honorius the Archebishop and of kinge Edulbald His guide and gouerner in iorning vnto kent was Bassus one of the strongest of kinge Edwynes chiefe garde This bishop brought awaye with him from the cuntries of Northūberlande Eanfride king Edwynes daughter and Wulcfrea his sonne Iffy also Offrides sonne and nephue to king Edwyne Which ij yonge princely childrē this tender mother for feare of kinge Edbald and Oswald sent into Fraūce to be brought vp in king Dagoberts courte Wher they both died in their infancie And were buried in the high church with such honour as is mete for kinges sōnes and innocēt babes of Iesus Christe He brought moreouer away with him much pretious plate of king Edwynes amongest which was a greate goldē crosse and a goldē chalice cōsecrated for the ministerie of the aultar which are yet both reserued and to be seē at this day in the Cathedral church of Caunterbury Now was the see of Rotchester vacāt at this time For Romanus bishop therof sent frō the Archebishop Iustus legat to Pope Honorius was drowned in the tēpest going to Italie Thē bishop Pauline at the offer of bishop Honorius and at king Edubaldes request toke that charge on him and kept Rotchester dioces vntill at his full and rype age he quietly departed this transitorie lyfe and was receiued into the blesse of heauen with the godly fruite and reward of his labours and trauailes that he suffred here on earthe for Christe his truthe and Gospell Who at his decease lefte in his churche of Rotchester his palle which he had receifrom the Pope of Rome And in his Archebishoprike of Yorke he lefte Iames his deacon a good and godly mā Who liuing long after in that churche by preching and baptising toke manie prayes out of the diuels teathe and wonne manie soules vnto Christe Of whose name the village hath a name at this daye in which he for the most part abode and dwelled nere vnto Cataracte Who bycause he was conninge in songe and musycke and also in the office and seruice of the quyre when that contrie was
more quiet and the companie of faithfull began a litle and litle to encrease againe set vp a schole emongest them and professed to be a master of church musyke and singinge according to the fashion and maner of the Romās and the Diocesans of Cāterbury Which thinge whē he had so don a longe time with greate profyt at the lenght that I may vse the worde of scripture being a man well strooken in age full of yeares and hauing seen manie good dayes he walked the wayes whiche his fathers went THE THIRD BOOKE OF THE HISTORIE OF THE CHVRCH OF ENGLAND How the first successours of kinge Edwin did both forsake the faith of their nacion and also lost their kingdome Moreouer how the most christen kinge Oswald restored bothe The. 1. Chapter KYnge Edwin beinge in battaile the sonne of Elfrike his vncle by his fathers syde called Osrich who after that he had hearde Paulin preache receaued the faith succeded him in the gouernance of the Deirans of the whiche prouince he had the petigree of his parentage and the firste beginninge of his kingdome But the realme of the Bernicians for the nation of Northumberland had been deuided of olde time into these two countries was ruled by Edelfrides sonne named Eanfride who had of that prouince the beginning of his kinred and kingdome For during all the time of Edwines raigne the sonnes of kinge Edelfride who as we saied before raigned before Edwin were banished with a greate numbre of noble young gentill men and so liued amonge the Scottes or Redshankes where they wer instructed accordinge to the Scottes doctrine and had receiued the grace of baptisme These younge princes after the death of their ennemie kinge Edwin retourninge in to their countrie Osrich the eldest of them toke the kingdome of the Deirans and Eanfride the seconde sonne the kingdome of the Bernicians but alas as bothe had now receiued the yles of an earthly kingdome so likewise bothe in geuing and abandoning them selfes to the diuell lost the diuine mysteries of the heauenly kingdome wherein they were instructed and yelded them selues againe to be defiled with the former olde filth of Idolatrie This apostasie remained not longe vnpunished For Kadwallader the king of Britons with wicked force but with worthy vengeaunce slew them both the next sommer ensuing sodeinly issuing out with all his host At what time he murdereth first Osrich vnprepared and his whole armie pending themselues miserably with in the suburbes of their owne citie Then afterward when by the space of a whole yere hauing possessed the prouinces of the people of Northumberland not as a king that were a conquerour but as an outragious cruell tyranne destroying them and with tragicall slaughter renting them in pieces he put Eanfride also to death coming vnto him very vnaduisedly with twelue chosen souldiers minding to intreate vppon peace That same yere continueth vntill this daye vnhappy and hatefull to all good men as well for the Apostasie of the English kinges forsaking the religion of Christe as also for the king of Britanes furiouse tyrannie Wherefor the historiographers and writers of that time haue thought it best that the memorie of those Apostate kinges being vtterly forgotten the selfe same yere should be assigned to the raigne of the king that folowed next which was Oswald a man dearely beloued of God Who after that his brother Eanfride was slaine coming vnlooked for with a small armie but fenced with the faith of Christe the Britons cursed capitaine and that victorius hoste whereof he made his auant that nothing coulde be able to withstand it was vanquished and slaine in a certain place which in the English tonge is called Denises Burna that is to say the riuer of Denise How by the signe of the Crosse which the same kinge set vp when he fought against the Barbarous Britons he cōquered thē and among diuers other miraculous cures a certaine yownge man was healed of a desease in his arme The. 2. Chap. THe place is shewed vntill this daye and is had in greate reuerence where Oswald when he should come to this battayle did set vp a signe of the holy crosse amd beseeched God humbly vppon his knees that with his heauenly helpe he would succour his seruauntes being in so great a distresse The report also is that the crosse being made with quicke spede and the hole prepared wherein it should be sette the kinge being feruent in faithe did take it in hast and did put it in the hole and held it with both his handes when it was sett vp vntill it was fastened to the earth with duste which the souldiars heaped about it Nowe when this was done he cried out a loude to his whole armie Let vs all kneele apon our knees and let vs all together pray ernestly the almighty liuing and true God mercifully to defend vs from the proude and cruell ennemy for he knoweth that we enterprise warres in a ryghtfull quarell for the saulfegard of our subiectes All did as he commaunded them And thus in the dawning of the day they marched forth encountred with their enemie and according to the merite of their faith atchieued and wonne the victorie In the place of which prayer manifold miraculous cures are knowen to be done questionlesse in token and remembraunce of the kinges faith For euen vntill this present day many men do customablye cut chyppes out of the veraye tree of that holy crosse which casting into waters and geuing thereoff to sick men and beastes to drinke or sprinckling them therwith many forthwith are restored to their helth That place is in the Englishe tongue named heauen feld and was so called long before not without a sure and a certaine fore sight of thinges to come as signifieng vndoubtedly that in the same place a heauenly memoriall was to be set vp a heauenly victorie should be gotte heauenly miracles should be wrought and remembred euen vnto our dayes This place is nere to that wal which stādeth toward the northeast wherwith the Romaines did ones in time past cōpasse all whole Britaine frō sea vnto sea to kepe of the inuasions of forenners as we haue declared before In the self same place the religious mē of Hagstalden church which is not far frō thēce haue now of long time been accustomed to come euery yere the eue and the day that the same king Oswald was afterward slaine to kepe Diriges there for his soule and in the morning after psalmes being saied solemnely to offer for him the sacrifice of holy oblation This good custome longe continuing the place was made more holy and is now much honoured of al men by the reason of the church that was lately builded and dedicated in the same place And not without a cause considering that no signe of the Christen faith no church no aultar was sett vpp in all the whole countrey of the Bernicians before that this vertuous warrier moued wyth harty deuotion of
vp and layed at the right side of the aultar The bishop at his departure left the monastery to be gouuerned of his brother Ceadda who after also was made bishop as we shall anon declare For foure german brothers which is a rare thinge Cedd Cymbill Celin and Ceadda wer al vertuous priestes and two of them bishops When it was knowen in Northumberland that their bishop was dead and buried thirty brethern of the monastery which he erected amonge the east Saxons came to the place where he died Desiring by the body of their father either to liue or if it so pleased God to die and be buried there Who being gladly receiued of the brethern in that time of mortalite were all taken out of this life except one litle boye who as it is well knowen was saued by the praiers of the bisshop For liuing many yeares after and studying holy scripture he lerned at lenght that he had not ben yet baptised Whereuppon being forthwith christened afterward was promoted to priesthood and proued a profitable member to the church Of whom we doubt not to pronounce but that as I saied he was by the speciall intercession of that blessed bishop whose bodye of charite he came to visit saued from the danger of death bothe that he might thereby escape eternall death and might be occasion also of life and saluation to other by his doctrine How the prouince of the Marshes receiued the faythe of Christ Penda their kinge being sâ—aâ—en And howe Oswin vowed for the victory against Penda twelue farmeplaces to the building of monasteries The. 24. Chap. IN those daies king Oswin after often and cruell inuasions of the heathen vnmercifull Prince Penda forced of necessite offred him many and most precious iewells with an infinit summe of treasure to redeme quiet and peace to his countre and to cease the continuall wasting and cruel spoyles that he made But the heathen and barbarous tyran yelding nothing to his request and petition but pursuing his deadly enterprise and protesting vtterly to extinguish the whole nation from the highest to the lowest the vertuous kinge Oswald called for helpe of God against the barbarous impiete of his ennemie vowing and saying sith the infidell regardeth not our presentes let vs offer theÌ„ to our Lord God who will vndoubtedly regard them And withalâ— hâ— vowed that is he had the vpper hand of his enemy his young ' daughter should be consecrated to God in perpetuall virginite and twelue farme places withe the landes appertaining should be conuerted to the erecting of monasteries which being saied he prepared him self to battaill with a very small army The army of the heathen is reported to haue ben thirty tymes more in quantite conteyning thirty whole legions well appointed and gouuerned withe olde tried and valiaunt capitaynes Against all the which kinge Oswin with his sonne marched forth boldely though with a very smal army as we saied yet with a sure confidence in Christ. His other sonne Ecfrid was at that tyme kept in ostage in the prouince of the Mercians vnder Quene Cinwise Edelwald son to kinge Oswald who ought of all reason to haue stode withe his countre and vncle kinge Oswin forsoke bothe and became a capitain vnder the heathen prince Although when the field was begonne he departed a side and getting him to a holde by expected the euent of the battaill Thus meting and coupling together the thirty capitaines of the heathen prince were all put to flight and slaine and with them almost all other whiche from other countres came to aide them Amonge the which was Edilher brother to Anna Kinge of the east english then raigning after his brother who also had ben the chiefe and principall motiue of the battaill And whereas the field was fought nye to the riuer Iuuet it did at that tyme so ouerflowe al the bankes and fieldes about that in the flight more of the enemies were drowned in the water then slaine with the sworde This noble victory being by gods helpe so miracuiously obtained incontinently king Oswin rendring due thankes therefore and perfourming the vowe he had made gaue his daughter Elfled which was yet scant one yeare olde to be brought vp and consecrated to perpetuall virginite and the twelue possessions which he promised for the erecting of monasteries where in stede of worldly tillage and coÌ„modites religious monkes by continuall deuotion might labour to purchase eternall rest and peace for him and the countre Of the which twelue farmes six he appointed in the prouince of the Bernicians and six other in the prouince of the Deirans Eche farme contained ten housholdes which made in all six score The daughter of Oswin entred the monastery of Hartesilond there to be brought vp vnder Hilda the Abbesse in religioÌ„ and perpetuall virginite Who two yeres after purchasing a farme of ten housholdes builded for her selfe a monastery in a place called Stranshalch In the which monastery this kinges daughter was first brought vp as a lerner but was after her selfe a lady and teacher of monasticall life vntell at the age of threscore yeres this vertuous virgin passed to the blessed mariage of her heauenly and longe desired spouse Christ her Sauiour In this monastery she her father Oswin her mother Eanfled and her grandfather kinge Edwin and many other noble personages are buryed in the churche of S. Peter the Apostle This battaill kinge Oswin kept in the countre of Loide the thirtenth yeare of his raighn the xv daie of Nouember to the great quyet and commodite bothe of all his dominions and of the aduersary part also For his owne countre he set at rest and deliuered from the cruell inuasions of his deadly enemies and his aduersaries the Marshes and midleenglish men he brought to the faithe of Christ their wicked head being ones cutt of The first bishop as we saied before bothe of the Marshes and of all the midleenglishmen and also of those of holy Iland was Diuna whiche died in the countre of the middleenglish men The second bishop was Cellach who leauing at length his bishoprick yet liuing returned to ScotlaÌ„d Both these were Scottishmen The third bishop was Trumher an englishman borne but instructed and made byshopp of the Scottes who was also Abbat of Ingethling monastery builded in the place where kinge Osuuius was slaine For Quene Eanfled cousen and alliant to Osuuius required of kinge Oswin who hadkilled Osuuius in parte of satisfaction of his vniust murther the erecting of a monastery for the vse of the holy man Trumher who also was of kinne to Osuuius To th entent that in that monastery daily praier might be had for the helth and saluatioÌ„ of bothe kinges aswell the slaine as of him that slewe This kinke Oswin raigned thre yeares after the death of kinge Pendam ouer the Marshes and ouer the south people of England subduing also the nation of the Pictes for the most parte to the allegeaunce of the english men At what
his way to the prouince of the South Saxons which from kent reacheth southwarde and westward as far as the West Saxons contayning vij M. tenementes and was yet at that time lyuing in the paynimes lawe Vnto them did he minister the worde of faith and baptisme of saluation The king of the same countree whose name was Edilwach was christened not long before in the prouince of the Marshes in the presence and at the exhortatioÌ„ of king Wulfhere Who also at the fonte was his godfather and in signe of that adoption gaue him two prouinces that is to say the I le of wight and the prouince of Manures in the West parte of England By the permission therefore and great reioysing of the king this bishopp christened the chiefe Lordes and knightes of the countree And the reast of the people at thesame time or sone after were christened by the priestes Eappa Padda Bruchelin and Oidda The Quene also named Ebba was christened in her I le which was in the prouince of the Viccians for she was the doughter of Eanfride who was Eanberes brother whiche were both christen men and all their people But all the prouince of the South Saxons had neuer before that time heard of the name of God nor the faith Yet there was in the countree a certaine monke a Scot borne named Dicul which had a very litle monasterie in a place called Bosanham all compassed about with woddes and the sea and therein a v. or vj. bretherne seruing God in humble and poore life But none of the people there did giue them selues either to followe their lyfe or heare their preaching But when bishop Wilfride came and preached the gospel vnto them he not only deliuered theÌ„ from the miserie and perill of eternall damnation but also from an horrible morraine of this temporall death For in three yeares before his comming to that prouince it had not rayned one drop in all those quarters Whereby a very sore famine came vpon the common people and destroyed them by hole heapes in most pitifull wyse In so much that it is reported that diuerse and many times xl or l. men in a company being famished for hunger would go together to some rocke or sea banke and there wringing their handes in most miserable sort would cast themselues all downe either to be killed with the fall or drowned in the sea But on that very day on which the people receaued the baptisme and faith there fell a goodly and plentifull shoure of raine wherewith the earth florished againe and brought a most ioyfull and frutefull yere with goodly greene fieldes euery where Thus their old superstition being layed away and idolatrie blowen out and extincted the hartes and bodies of them all did reioyse in the liuing God knowing that he which is the true God had by his heauenly grace enryched them both with inwarde and outward giftes and goodes For this bishop also when he came into the countree and sawe so great a plage of famine there taught them to get their sustenaunce by fysshing For the sea and riuers there about them had great abundance of fysh But the people had no skill at all to fish for any thing els but eeles And therefore they of the bishops company gat somewhere a sort of eelenettes together and cast them into the sea and straight way by the helpe and grace of God they tooke CCC fishes of diuerse kindes The which they diuided into three partes and gaue one hundred to poore folke and an other to them of whom they had the nettes and the third they kept for themselues By the which benefit the bishop tourned the hartes of them all much to loue him and they began the more willingly to hope for heaueÌ„ly things at his preaching by whose helpe and succour they receaued the giftes and goodes of this worlde At this time did Edilwach giue vnto the most reuerend bishop VVilfrid the land of lxxxvij tenementes where he might place his company that were exiles with him The name of the place was Sâ—â—lâ—seâ—s The whiche place is compassed of the sea round about sauing on the west where it hath an entraunce into it as brode as a man may caste a stone with a slinge Which kinde of place is in Latin called Paeninsula and in Greke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 When bishop VVilfride had receaued this place he founded a monasterie there which he did binde to monastical life and rule and did put therein monkes namely some of them that he had brought with him Whiche monasterie his successours are knowen to holde and kepe vnto this day For vntil the death of king Ecgbert which was v. yeares space he continewed still in those quarters in great honour and reuerence among all men for his good deseruing for he did the office of a bishop both in word and dede And bicause the king with the possession of the forsaid place had giueÌ„ him also al the goodes and demaynes of the same with the groundes and men to he instructed them all in the Christian faithe and baptised theÌ„ al. AmoÌ„g the which ther wer CCC bond men and bondwemen whome he did all not only deliuer by christening them from the bondage of the deuil but also by giuing them their freedom did louse them from the yoke of the bondage of man How by the prayer and intercession of Saint Oswald the pestilent mortalitie was taken away The. 14. Chapter IN this monasterie att the same time there were shewed certaine giftes of heauenly grace by the holy Ghoste as in which place the tyrannye of the deuill being lately expelled Christ had newly begonne to raigne One of which thinges we thought good to put in writing to be remeÌ„bred hereafter the which in dede the most reuerend father Acca was ofte times wont to tell me and affirmed that be had it shewed him of the bretherne of the same monasterie a man most worthy to be credited About the same very time that this prouince receaued the name of Christ a sore plage and mortalitie raigned in many prouinces of England which plage by the pleasure of Gods dispensation and ordinaunce when it touched also the foresayed monasterie which at that time the most Reuerend and vertuouse priest of Christ Eappa did rule and gouerne and that many bothe of them that came thither with the bishop and also of such as had bene lately called to the faith in the same prouince of the South Saxons were taken daily out of this life it semed good to the bretherne to appoint themselues to faste three daies and humbly to beseke the mercy of God that he wold voutsafe to shew grace and mercy towarde them and deliuer them from this perilouse plage and present deathe or at least when they were taken out of this world to saue their soules from eternall damnation There was at that time in the same monasterie a certaine litle boye that was lately come
to the faith a Saxon borne which was taken with the same sickenesse and had kept his bed no small time And when the second day of the said fasting and praying was nowe come it happened that about vij a clocke in the morning as the boy was leafte al alone in the place where he lay sicke sodainly by the appointement of God there vowtsafed to appere vnto him the most blessed two chiefe Apostles S. Peter and S. Paul For the boy was of a very innocent and meke mind and nature and with sincere deuocion kepte the sacramente of faith which he had receaued In this vision the Apostles first saluted him with most gentle wordes saying Feare not Sonne the death for which thou art so pensife for we wil this day bring thee to the kingdom of heauen But first thou must tary til the Masses be said and after thou hast receaued thy viage prouisioÌ„ the body and bloud of our Lord being so released both of sickenes and death thou shalt be lifted vp to the euerlasting ioyes in heauen Therefore doo thou call for priest Eappa vnto thee and tell him that our Lorde hath heard your prayers and deuocion and hath mercifully looked vpon your fastinge neither shall there any one more dye of this plage either in this monasterie or in any of the possessions that adioyne to the same But as many as belonge to you any where and lye sicke shall rise againe from their sickenes and be restored to their former health saue only thow which this daye shalt be deliuered from death and be brought to heauen to the vision of our Lord Christ whome thow haste faithfully serued Which thing it hath pleased the mercy of God to doo for you through the intercession of the godly and dere seruant of God king Oswald which sometime gouerned the countre of Northumberland most nobly both with the authoritie of this temporall kingdome and also in holynesse and deuotion of Christen pietie which leadeth to the euerlasting kingdom For on this very day the same king being bodely slaine in battaile of the infidels and miscreants was straight takeÌ„ vp to heaueÌ„ to the eternal ioyes of the soule and felowship of the chosen and electe companies Let them seke in their booke that haue the notes of the departing of the dead and they shall fynd that he was takeÌ„ out of the world on this selfe day as we haue sayd And therfor let theÌ„ say Masses and geue thankes that their prayer is heard and also for the memory of the sayd king Oswald which sometime gouerned their nation For therefore did he humbly pray our Lord for them as being strauÌ„gers and exiles of his people And when all the bretherne are come together to the churche let them all be houselled and so fynish their faste and refresh their bodies with sustenaunce All the which wordes when the boy had declared to the priest being called vnto him the priest enquired of him what maner of aray and lykenes the men had which appeared vnto him He aunsweared they were very notable and goodly in their aray and countenaunces and exceding ioyfull and beautifull such as he neuer had sene before nor beleued that any men could be of so great comlynesse and beautie The one was shauen like a priest the other had a long beard And they sayd that the one of them was called Peter and thother Paul and that they were the ministers and seruantes of our Lorde and Sauiour Iesus Christ of whome they were sent from heauen for the sauing and defense of our monasterie Wherefore the priest belieued the wordes of the boye and went out by aud by and sought in his booke of Cronicles and found that king Oswald was slaine on that very day Then called he the bretherne together and commaunded dyner to be prouided and masses to be sayd and that they should all communicat after the accustomed maner And also willed a parte of the same sacrifice of our Lordes oblation to be brought to the sicke boye which thinge so done not loÌ„g after the boy died the very same day and proued by his death that the wordes were true which he had heard of Christes Apostles And this morouer gaue witnesse to his wordes that at that time no creature of the same monasterie was taken out of the world except him only By which vision many that might heare of the same were meruaylowsly styrred and enflamed both to praye and call for Gods mercy in aduersitie and also to vse the holesome helpes and medicines of fastinge And from that time not in that monasterie only but in very many other places to the birthe day of the sayd kinge and champion of Christ began yearely to be kept holy with masses and deuout seruice most reuerently Howe king Ceadwall â—lew Edilwach king of the Genisses and wasted that prouince with cruell death and ruyn The. 15. Chap. IN this meane time Ceadwall a valiant yong man of the royall blood of the Genisses being bannyshed from his countre came with an hoste of men and slewe king Edilwach of Sussex and wasted that prouince cruelly murdering and spoyling euery where But he was sone after driuen owt by two Capitaines of the kinges Berthun and Authun whiche from that tyme dyd holde and kepe the dominion of the prouince The chief of whiche two was afterward slaine of the same Ceadwall being then kinge in the west countre and the prouince subdued and browght into more greuouse subiection then it was before Againe he that raigned after Ceadwall oppressed it with lyke miserie and bondage a great many yeres Whereby it came to passe that the people of Sussex in all that time could haue no bishop of their own but were faine their first byshop VVilfride being called home againe to be vnder the diocese of the byshop of the Genisses which belongeth to the VVest Saxons as many as were in the territory of Selsee Howe the Ile of Wyght receaued christen inhabitantes in which I le two childerne of the kinges blood as sone as they were Christened were slayne The. 16. Chap. AFter that Ceadwall had thus obtayned the kingdome of the Geuisses or west Saxons he tooke the I le of Wight also which was so all giuen to the worshipping of idols that he entended vtterly to bannysh and dryue owt thence all the old natiue inhabitantes and to put people of his owne countre in their place For thowghe he was not yet at that time christened and regenerated in Christ him selfe at it is sayd yet he bownd him selfe with a vowe that if he tooke the Iland he wold giue vnto God the fourth part therof and of all the pray Which thing he so perfourmed that bishop VVilfride happening to be there at that time a man of his own countree he gaue and offred the same vnto him to the vse and seruice of our Lorde The sayd Iland conteyned as the English doo rate it M. CC. tenementes Whereof was giuen to
the history of oure countre citeth him with these titles Beda homo Anglus quo nihil castius nihil melius nihil verius caet Bede an english man then whom none more chaste none off more vertu none of more truth c. With like commendation and reuerence he is alleaged of his lerned posterite in al ages In his life time not only at home with his owne countremen for his vertu and learning he was in high estimation and in greate credit with the Nobilite of our countre but also he was abrode with other Christen princes being but a monke by profession in greate estimation and muche reuerenced Therefore lyke as we reade of S. Antony S. Hierom before his tyme off S. Bernard and other after him all monkes and religious men that in their priuat celles they had yet a care of publike quyet and lyke counsellers of the whole worlde they moued princes to their duty so of holy S. Bede we reade the same For thus Platin reporteth of him Cum Africa Hispania á Sarracenis occuparetur Beda qui eisdem temporibus fuit hanc calamitatem literis ad Principes Christiani nominis scriptis lamentatus est quo bellum in hostes Dei atque hominum susciperent When Afrike and Spayne was taken and helde of the Sarrazens Bede which lyued in that time lâ—mented this calamite in letters writen to Christen Princes to the entent that they should make warres against the enemies of God and men Wherein bothe the vertuous zele and religions care of common quiet in holy S. Bede appereth and the authorite also whiche he hadd abrode with other Christen princes is signified Vnto whom also a litle before his death in familiar letters he prophecied of the great waste of Europe and the West church whiche soone after his death ensued by the Sarazens For as Afrike by their meanes lost the faith and lacketh it yet so Spayne off late only recouered the faith againe Thus muche off his learning and vertu Other especialls of his life as where he was borne howe he lyued and dyed ye maye partly reade in his lyfe written by Thrithemius which we haue translated and placed a part after the preface partly in his own words folowing after th ende of this history The Authour of this history being a man of suche lerning and vertu a countreman of oures one that writeth the history of thinges done at home done in his lyfe time or in few yeares before the memory of them being yet fresh and newe it shall not nede I trust to persuade the Reader in many words to geue credit vnto him in such thinges as he reporteth Neither may I feare to prefer his authotite before the authorite or report of any man that now liueth For beside his lerning and vertu it is to be considered that he liued in a quiet time before these controuersies which nowe so trouble Christendom were moued He is an indifferent reporter There is no suspicion of partes taking no preiudice of fauouring either side no feare of affection or misseiudgement to be gathered vpon him We haue good cause to suspect the reportes of Bale of Fox of Beacon and suche other whiche are knowen to maintaine a faction and singular opinion lately spronge vp who reporte thinges passed many hundred yeares before their daies No such suspicion can be made of S. Bede who lyued aboue eight hundred yeares paste and reporteth the planting of Christen religion among vs englishmen partly by that whiche he sawe him selfe partly by the reporte of such who either liued at the first coming in of Christendom to our countre them selues or were scholers to suchâ— Who also was no maintainer of any secte or faction but liued and died in the knowen common faith of Christendom which then was and is now but one In this history therefore vewe and consider the coming in of Christen faithe in to oure countre the heauenly tydinges brought to our Lande the course encrease and multiplying thereof The vertuous behauiour of oure forefathers the firste Christen englishmen Peruse and marke the faith which they beleued the hope wherein they continued the charite wherby they wrought Their faith taught them to submit them selues to one supreme head in Christes church the Apostolike Pope of Rome Peters successour to whom holy Scripture telleth vs the kayes of the kingdome of heauen were geuen Their faith taught them all such thinges as are now by protestants denied as for the more part we haue out of the history gathered by a numbre of differeÌ„ces placed in the second part of the Fortresse Their hope and charite so wrought that our dere countre of England hath ben more enriched with places erected to Gods honour and to the fre maintenaunce of good lerning then any one countre in all Christendome beside Gather honny lyke bees oute of this comfortable history of oure countre not venim like spiders Reade it with charitable simplicite not with suspicious curiosite with vertuous charite not with wicked malice As for example The facte of Saint Gregory described in the seconde booke the first chapter of this history reporting how that holy man seing in Rome certain of our countremen sette to be solde in the market moued with their outwarde beauty beganne to pitie and lament their inward foule infidelite holy S. Bede writeth diligently as an argument of his greate good zele and tendering of Christes religion and construeth it to the beste as no honest Reader can other wyse do But baudy Bale according to the cleanes of his sprit and holy ghospell like a venimous spider being filthy and vncleane him selfe sucketh out a poisonned sence and meaning charging that holy maÌ„ with a most outragious vice and not to be named So like an other Nero who liuing in lewde lechery woulde not be persuaded that any was honest this olde ribauld as in other stories he practised maketh this history also ministring no vnhonest suspicion at al nor geuing any colour of vncleane surmising to serue his filthy appetit and bestly humour It will better become the godly reader and Christen hart to interpret al to the best For in dede none can think euill of other which is not euill him selfe Charite saieth S. Paule thinketh no euill reoyseth not of iniquite but is delited in verite Such charite if it had ben in Bale and his felow protestants we should not now haue had so many lewde lies and malicious surmises vpon the liues of holy men as are to be sene in the workes of Bale Fox and other In this history it shal be no losse time to peruse the lerned vertuous and zelous epistles of certain Popes of Rome after S. Gregory as of Bonifacius Honorius Vitalianus and other to the kinges of our countre as wel for the encreasing of Christen faith as for the extirping of Pelagians heresy for the due obseruation of Easter which al Christendom hetherto kepeth and other like matters
of the history which I read and partely also haue added thereunto such things as I could learne my selfe by the faithful testimony of such as knew him I humbly beseche the Reader that if he shal finde any thing otherwise then truth in this treatise he wil not impute it vnto me as the which hath endeuoured to put in writing to the instruction of our after-commers such thinges as we could gather by common report which is the true lawe of an history THE FIRST BOOKE OF THE HISTORY OF THE church of Englande Of the situation of Britanny and Ireland and of the people which inhabited there of owld time The 1. Chapter BRitāny an Iland of the Oceane which of owld time was called Albion doth stande betwext the north and the west right ouer against Germany Fraunce and Spayne iij of the greatest countries of Europe Which being eight hundred myles longe Northward is but ij hundred myles broade excepte yow reckon the cabes or poyntes of the mountaynes which runneth owt a long far into the sea wherby the Iland is in cumpasse forty and eight times lxxv myles Of the sowth side it hath Flaunders the first hauen towne wherof to arriue at for a man comyng owt of England is called Ruthubi the hauen whereof is now corruptely called Reptacester 50 myles of from Calleis or as some write 60. myles On the back syde of it where it lyeth open vnto the mayne Oceane it hath the Iles called Orcades It is an Iland very batfull of corne frute and pasture In sum places it beareth vines it hath plentif of fowles of diuerse sortes both by sea and by land of sprynges also and riuers full of fysh but specially of lampriles and eles Ther be many times also takē porposes Dolphyns and whales beside many kynde of shellfishes among other of muskles in whom be founde perles of all coulours as red purple crymson but specially white ther is also great store of cockles whereof is made the dye of crymson whose rudd will be appalled nether with heate of sonne nether with wette of wether but the oulder it is the more bright and beutifull glasse it casteth It hath also sprynges fitt to make salt and others of whott waters where ar buylded seuerall places meete for all ages as well for men as women to bathe them selues For the water as saynt Basill writeth runnyng thowrogh certayne metalles receiueth therof such vertue of heate that it is not only made warme therby but also skalding whot This Iland is stored wyth mynes of sundry metalles as of brasse lead iron and syluer It bringeth furth also great plētyf of the Geate stone and that of the best This stone is blacke and burneth being put to the fire and then is of vertu good to chase away serpentes If you rub him till he be warme he holdeth fast such thinges as ar layd vnto him euen as Aumber doth This Iland had in it sumtimes xxviij fayre cities beside an innumerable sort of castles whiche also wer well and strongly fensyd wyth walles turrettes gates and bullwarkes And for as much as it is placed right in manner vnder the north pole it hath light nightes in the sommer so that at mydnight many times men dowteth whether it be yet twylight of the euening past or breach of the day followyng Wherby the daies be of a great length there in sommer as contrary the nighte in wynter that is to wytt xviij howers by reason the sonne there is so farre gō sowthward And so in like maner the nightes in the sommer ar there very shorte and the daies in the wynter that is to wytt vj. equinoctiall howers where as in Armenia Macedonia Italia and other countries subiect to the same line the longest day or night passeth not xv the shortest ix howers This Iland at this present to the number of the v. bookes of Moses wyth v. sundry languages doth study and set furth the knowledge of one perfecte truth that is wyth the language of the English the Britannes the Scotts the Pictes and the latine which by study of the scriptures is made common to all the rest At the first this land was inhabited of none other nation but only of the Britānes of whom it receiueth his name which Britānes comyng out of Armorica called now litle Britāny as it is thought chose vnto them selues the sowth parte of this land And after when they from the sowth forward had in their possession a great parte of the I le it chaūced that certaine people of the Pictes coming owt of Scythia as it is sayd trauailing vppō the seas with a few long shippes the winde dryuing them in cumpasse rownde about the coaste of Britannye blewe them a land on Irelands syde on the north partes therof Which they finding inhabited of the Scottes besought thē to allow them some part of the land where they might plante them selues But they coulde not obtayne their desire This Ireland next vnto Britanny is the greatest lland of the Oceane sea and standeth westward of Britanny But as Northward it is not so longe as it so westward it is much longer and reacheth vnto the North partes of Spayne hauing the mayne sea runnyng betwext The Pictes as I haue sayd arriuing wyth their nauy in Ireland required of the inhabitants that they might be suffered there to rest and place them selues The Scottes aunsered that the Iland was not bigg inowgh to hold them both But we can geue you good counsel quoth they what we thynke best for you to doe We know well there is an other Iland not farre from oures standing easte ward from hence which we may see owt of this land in a fayer sonnye day If you will goe thether you may inhabit ther at will And if there be any resistance made against you we wil ayde you Whervpon the Pictes arriuing in Britanny planted them selues in the North partes therof For as for the sowth partes the Britānes had taken vpp before And wheras the Pictes hauing no wyues did require of the Scottes to marry their dawghters the Skottes agreed to graunt them their bone vnder condition that as often as the matter was in dowt they should choose their kyng rather of the next of the howse of the woman then of the man Which order it is well knowen the Pictes kepeth euen to this day In processe of yeres after the Britās and the Pictes the Skottes also wer receiued in to Britanny amōg the Pictes Which coming owt of Ireland vnder Rewda their Capitaine either by force or frendship entered and inhabited the country in Scotland which they possessed Of which capitaine euen vnto this day they ar callid dall reudini for in their language dall signifieth part Irelande both in bredth holsomnes and fines of ayre for passeth Britanny so that there snow remayneth skant iij. dayse to gether and no man there for foddering of his beastes ether maketh hay in the sommer or buyldeth stawles for
Tripolis the 17. emperour froÌ„ August reigned 17. yeres This maÌ„ being rough of nature entaÌ„gled with much warres gouerned the coÌ„mon welth very valiauÌ„tly but yet with much trauail After he had vanquyshed his ciuill enemies with which he was very sore assayled he is called in to Britanny by the meanes of the great defection of the most part of the country from the Signorie of the Romans Where after he had recouered by great and greuous warres a great part of the land he made a partition betwext them and the other wild and sauage people not with buylding of a waâ—â— of stone as some suppose but with a trench and a raÌ„paire of turâ—e and timber thyck fensed with bulwarkes and turrets Which sayed trench he caused to be drawen from one sea to the other And there at yorke he died leauing behinde him 2. sonnes Bassianus and Geta which Geta being condemned of treason died And Bassianus taking vpon him the surname of Antonius gouerned the empire after the deceasse of his father Of the Raygne of Dioclesian and of the persecution which he raysed against the Christians The. 6. Chap. THe yere of our Lorde 286 Dioclesianus the xxxiij Emperour after August being chosen of the army raygned xx yeres and he created Maximinianus surnamed Herculeus his fellowe in gouernement of the Empire In whose time one Carausius of low degre in byrth but valiaunt in armes and politicke in counsell was appointed toward the sea coaste against the French menne and the Saxons whiche then with continuall robberies much wasted that countries But he so behaued him selfe that he did more hurt there then the ennemies them selues For such pillage as he had recouered from them he did not restore it to the right owners but reserued it to him selfe whereby he was suspected that he wittingly suffered them to pill and spoyle at pleasure Wher vppon being commaunded to be put to death of Maximinianus he toke vppon him the princely authoritie and vsurped the gouernance of the Britannes which after he kept vij yeres At length by treason of his fellow Allectius he was slayne Which Allectius him selfe Carausius being killed kept the possession of the Iland iij. yeres whom Asclepiodotus chiefe gouernour of the army ouercam and receiued the Iland in his possession the tenth yere after it was inuaded In the meane time Dioclesian in the easte Maximinianus in the West raysing the tenth persecution after Nero against the Christians commaunded the churches to be spoyled the Christians to be tormented and killed which persecution was both longer and also crueller then all the other for hole x. yeres together it continued in burning the churches in baÌ„nishing the innoceÌ„ts in murdering the Martyrs and neuer ceased Brefely among other places it made Britanny to be honored wyth the glory of many holy Martyres which constantly stode and died in the confession of their faith The passion of Saynt Albane and his fellowes which did shead their bludd for Christes sake The 7. Chap. AMong other suffered Saynt Albane of whom Fortunatus priest in the booke he wrote in the prayse of virgines speaking of the Martyres which from all coastes of the world cam vnto God sayth Albanum egregium foecunda BritaÌ„nia profert The fertile lande of batfull Britanny Bringeth furth Albane a Martyr right worthy This Albane being yet but a Pagane when the cruell commaundements of the wicked Princes were set forth against the Christians receiued in to his house one of the clergy whiche had fled from the persecutours whom he perceiuing bothe night and day to continewe in praying and watching beinge sodaynly towched with the grace of God began to follow the example of his faith and vertu and by litle and litle instructed by his holesom exhortations forsaking his blind idolatry became ChristiaÌ„ with his hole hart At length after the sayd person of the clergy had certain daise taried with him it came to the eares of the Prince that this holy confessor of Christ whose time was not yet come that god appointed for him to suffer martyrdome lay hid in Albanus house Whereuppon he commauÌ„did his souldiours to search his house with all diligence Whether when they were cum saynt Albane apparelled in his gests and masters garments offerid him selfe to the souldiours and so was brought bound vnto the iudge It chaunced that the iudge the same time was doing sacrifice vnto the deuills before the aultars And when he had sene Albane being all chaufed with anger for that he feared not voluntarily to offer him selfe vnto the souldiars and perell of death for his geste whom he had harbored he commaunded him to be brought before the idoles of the diuells before whom he there stode And for so much quoth he as thou haddest rather to conueye awaye the rebell and traytour to our Gods then deliuer him vp vnto the souldiours that he might sustaine due punishement for his blasphemous despising of the Gods looke what paynes he should haue suffered if he had ben taken the same shalt thou suffer if thou refuse to practise the rites of ower religion But Saynt Albane which wilfully had before discouered him selfe to be a Christian litle heeded the menacies of the Prince But being thorouly fensed with spirituall armour of grace told him plainly to his face that he would not obey his coÌ„maundemeÌ„t Then said the iudge of what house or stock art thou Albane aunsweredâ— what is that to the of what house I am but if thou be desirous to know of what religion I am be it knowen vnto the that I am a Christian and that I employe my selfe to Christian maners and excercises Then the iudge demaunded him his name My parents quoth he nameth me Albane and I honor and worship the true and liuing god whiche made al thing of naught TheÌ„ the iudge being very wroth sayde If thou wilt enioy long life cum of and do sacrifice vnto the great goddes Albane aunswered theis sacrifices whiche yow offer vp vnto the diuells neither helpe the offerers nor obtaine them their desires but rather purchase them for their reward eternall paynes in hell fire The iudge hearing this being in a rage commaunded the holy confessor of God to be all beaten of the tormentours thinking his constance would relent at strypes which refused to yeld to words but he shewed him self not only patient but also ioyful in the middle of all his torments The iudge when he sawe he could be nether wonne with wordes nor tourned with torments from the religion of Christes faith commaunded that he should be behedded In the way as he was ledd to his death he came to a floudde which with a very swift course ranne betwixt him and the place where he should suffer Now he saw a great company of all sexes degrees and ages going with him to the place of his execution in so much that it semed the iudge was left alone at home without any to attend vppon him This company was so
a Brittain made wicked battail against the grace of God The. 10. Chap. THe yere of our Lord 394. Arcadius son vnto Theodosius with his brother Honorius being the xliij Emperour after August raigned xiij yeres In whose time Pelagius a Britan borne disperkled the venim of his faithlesse doctrine very far abroad holding that a man might liue well without the helpe of the grace of God vsing herein the ayde of Iulianus of Campania who was intemperatly sturred with the losse of his byshoprick To whom S. Austen and other catholick fathers also hath aunswered in most ample maÌ„ner but yet they would not be amended therby But being conuicted of their falshed they rather would encrease it by defending and mainteining it then amend it by retourning to the truth How that Honorius being Emperour Gratian and Constantine vsurped tyranny in Britanny where the first shortly after was slayne and the other in Fraunce The. 11. Chap. THe yere of our Lord 407. Honorius son of Theodosius the younger being emperour in the 44. place after August ij yere before that Rome was iuuaded by Alaricus Kyng of the Gothes when the nations of the Alanes the Sueâ—es and the Vandalls and many such other with them the frenchmen being beaten downe passing the Rhene raiged thorough out al Fraunce about that time Gratianus in BritaÌ„ny is created tyraÌ„ and is slayne In his place Constantine being but a coÌ„mon souldiour was chosen only for the names sake with out any desert of vertu which so sone as he had taken vppon him the empire passed ouer in to Fraunce where being ofte deluded of the barbarous nations as vnwisely and vncertainly making his leage with them greatly endomaged the common welth Wher vpoÌ„ Honorius sending Constantius the Counte in to Fraunce with an army Constantine was beseiged at Arells and there taken and slayne and Gerontius his partener slew his son CoÌ„stans at Vienna whom of a moÌ„ke he had made emprour Rome was destroyd of the Gothes the 1164. yere after it was buylded After which time the Romans lefte to rule in BritaÌ„ny after almost 470. yeres that C. Iulius Caesar first entered the sayd I le The Romanes dwelt with in the trench which as we haue sayd Seuerus drew ouerthwart the IlaÌ„d at the south part which thing may appeare by the citties temples bridges and paued stretes to this day remayning Not withstanding they had in possession and vnder their dominion the farder partes of Britanny and also the Ilandes which ar aboâ—e Britanny How the Britannes being spoyled of the Scottes and the Pictes sought ayde of the Romans which at the second time of their comming buylded a wall betwene the ij countries but they shortly after were oppressed with greater miseres then euer they wer in before The. 12. Chap. BY meanes the sayd tyrannes and capitaines of the Romans did vse to transport with them ouer in to Fraunce the flower of all the youthe of Britanny to serue them in their forayne warres their men of warre wer consumed and the country being all disarmed was not now able to defend them selues against the inuasion of their enemies Where vppon many yeares together they liued vnder the miserable seruage and oppression of ij most cruell outlandish nations the Scottes and the Pictes I cal them outlandish not for that they wer out of the circuit of Britanne but that they wer diuided from the land of Britanny by ij armes of the sea running betwext them of the which one froÌ„ the easte sea the other from the west ruÌ„neth in far and wyde in to the land of Britanny though they may one reach to the other In the middle of the east creeke there is a citte buylded called Guidi Aboue the west creeke towarde the right hand standeth a citte called Alcuith which in their language is as much to say as the Rock Cluith for it standeth by a fludd of the same name The Britannes then being thus afflicted by the sayd nations sent their embassadours wyth letters vnto Rome wyth lamentable supplications requiring of them ayde and succour promising them their continuall feaâ—te so that they would reskue them against the oppression of their sayd enemies where vppon there was sent vnto them a legion of armed souldiours from Rome which commyng in to the iland and encountering wyth the enemies ouerthrew a great number of them and draue the rest owt of the fruntiers of the couÌ„try and so setting them at liberte and fre from the misery wyth which they wer before so greuously ouercharged couÌ„seled them to make a wall betwene thâ— ij seas which might be of force to kepe out their euill neyghboures and that don they returned home with great triumph But the Britons buylding the wall which they wer bid to make not of stone as they wer willed but of turue as hauing none among them that had skyll there in made it so slender that it serued them to litle purpose This walle they made betwen the ij sayd armes or creekes of the sea many myles longe that wher as the fense of the water lacked there by the helpe of the treÌ„ch they might kepe their country from the breakyng in of their ennemies Of which pece of wurke there remayneh euen vnto this day most assured tokens yet to be seene This trench begynneth about two myles of from the monastery of AEbercuring Westward in a place which in the Pictes language is called Peanuakel and in English is called Penwelt and runnyng owt eastward is ended by the citty of Alâ—luith But the former enemies when they had once perceiued that the Roman legion was returned home againe furth with being sett on land by boates inuadeth the borders ouercometh the countrey and as it wer corne reddy to be cutt they moweth beateth and beareth downe all before them Where vpon Ambasadours be sent agayne to Rome wyth lamentable voyce requiring their succour beseching them they would not suffer their miserable country to be vtterly destroyed nor permitt that the name of the prouince which thorow them had so long â—lorished should now thus despirefully be extingueshid by the wycked crueltie of their forayne people Agayn there is sent an other legion which in the hâ—â—â—est time comyng vpon the sodayne made a great slawghter of the enemies and such as could eskape chased them ouer the seas in to their owne conntry which before wer wont to waste and spoyle the country of Britanny wythout resistance Then the Romans toulde the Brytans playne that it was not for their ease to take any more such trauaylous iourneis for their defence and bydd them to practise their armour them selues and learne to wythstande their enemy whom nothing els did make so strong but their faynt and cowardous hartes And forsomuch they thought that wold be sum helpe and strength vnto their loyal fellowes whom they wer now forced to forsake they buylded vp a walle of hard stone from sea to sea a right betwene the two citties
He also shall make your memory the more famous vnto your posterite whose honour you seke and maintaine among your people For so Constantinus being sometimes a most vertuous Emperour him selfe and calling his subiectes from the wicked worshipping of Idoles brought them all with him selfe vnder the obeysance of God almighty our Lord Iesus Christe Whereby it was brought to passe that his name was of higher renoune then any of the princes that went before him and so much in glorie excelled all his auncetours howe much also he passed them in well doing Wherfore let your highnes also seeke now to publish vnto the kinges and countries subiecte to your dominion the knowledg of one god the Father the Son and the holy Goste to th entent thereby you may passe in honorable fame the aūcient kinges of your natiō and how much the more you trauail to do away sinne in your subiectes you may haue so much the lesse fear of your own sinnes before the dreadful bench of Gods iustice Our right reuerend brother Augustine bishop being brought vp in rule of religiō hauing good knowledg in the holy scriptures and a man through the grace of god of much vertue what so euer he shall aduertise you to doe gladly heare it deuoutly doe it diligently remember it For if you will heare him in that he speaketh vnto yow in Gods behalfe God also shall the soner heare him speaking and entreating for yow If otherwise as God forbid yow refuse to geue eare and heede to his wordes how can God heare him praying for yow whom yow despise to heare speaking to yow from god Wherfor with all yowr harte ioyne yower selfe with him and assiste him in gods busynes with all such authorite that God hath geuen yow that he may make yow partaker of his kyngdom whose fayth yow in your kyngdom cause to be receiued and obserued We will also yower highnes to know that according as we ar taught in the holy scriptures by the very wordes of God the end of this world draweth onward and the kyngdom of the sayntes of God shall follow which neuer shall haue ende And the ende of the world approching many thinges shall fall vppon vs which haue not ben heard of before that is to witt chaunge of the ayer terrible sightes from heauen tempestes contrary to the order of the times All which shall not yet fall in ower dayes Wherfor if yow shall know any of these to happen in your land let not yower mynd be dismayed therwyth For therfor shall there be signes sent before the end of the world to th entent we should the more diligently tender the helth of ower soules liue euer in dowte and feare of death ready prepared by good workes for the cumming of Criste our Iudge Thus much haue I sayd in few wordes right honorable Son intending to speak more at large as I shall heare the fayth to be enlarged in your kyngdom Then shall I be so much the more encouraged to speake how much the greater comfort I shall conceiue by the conuersion of your country I haue sent yow small presentes which yet shall not seme small vnto yow if yow shall accepte them as halowed wyth the blessing of S. Peter All mighty god make perfecte in yow his grace according as he hath begonne And send yow both longe life here vppon the earthe and that ended eternall life in his kyngdom of heauen The grace of God kepe yower highnes in safte my dere Son Datum vt supra How Augustine repayred the church of our Sauiour and buylded the abbay of S. Peter the Apostle The. 32. Chap. AVgustine after he had obtayned to haue a bishops see appoynted him in the kinges citty as is aboue sayd through the ayd of the kyng he recouered there a churche which was there of owld buylt by the Romans which wer Christianes and did dedicate it to the name of our Sauiour Iesus Christ and there made a house for him and his successors And not far eastward from the citty he buylded a monastery in the which kyng Ethelbert through his aduise buylded a new church in the honor of Saynt Peter and Paule and enriched it with sundry gyftes in which both the body of Augustine him selfe and of all the bishops of Cātorbury and of all the kinges of kent wer wont to be enterred Which church yet not Augustine him selfe but Laurentius his successor did consecrat The first Abbat of that monastery was one Petrus a priest which being legat vnto Fraunce was drowned in a creake called Amflete and burned after a homly maner of the inhabitours of the same place But ower Lord entending to haue it knowen how worthy a man he was made that euery night there appeared a light from heauen vppon the place where he lay buried which when the neyghbours about had espyed gathering therby that he was some good and holy man and searching out what and from whence he was remoued his body from thence and buried it honorablye in the towne of Bulleyne in a place of the churche conuenient sor so worthy a person How Edilfrith kyng of the Northumbers wasted Britanny and conquered the Scottes The. 33. Chap. ABout this time Edilfrith a man very valiaunt and much desirous of renowne was king of Northumberland one that more wasted the Land of Brytanny then any of the English Princes So that it semed he might be cōpared vnto Saul kyng of the Iraelites saue only in that he was voide and ignorant of Gods religion For none of all the coronells none of all the kinges did conquer more of the lande of Britanny ether makyng them tributary ether dreuing them cleane owt of the countrye and planting the Englsh in their places then did this Edilfrith To whom that might be wel applyed that the Patriarke Iacob sayd when he gaue his sonne Beniamin his blessing in the person of Saul Beniamin like a rauening wolfe in the morning shall eate his pray and at night shall diuide the spoyle Wherby Edanaden kyng of Skottes much grudging to see him goe forward after this sorte assembled a mayne and a strong army agaynste him But the sayd Edelfrith encountering him in the field with a few men gaue him the ouerthrow and in that famous place of Degsastone disconfited his great army In which field Theobald brother to Edilfrith was slayne with that parte of the army wherof he was generall This battell was foughtē in the yere of our lorde 603. and the xj yere of his raygne which lasted xxiiij yeres and the first yere of the raigne of Phocas then Emperour of Rome From that time forward vnto this present neuer was there king of Scottes which durst meete the English men in the field THE SECOND BOOKE OF THE HISTORIE OF the churche of Englande Of the life lerning and death of blessed Pope Gregory The. 1. Chapter IN the yeare of the incarnation of our Lord 605. the hollie pope Gregory when he had most
persuade king Redwald that neyther he himselfe shuld hurte yowe nor yealde yowe vp to your enemies that they myght slaye yow When Edwyne answered that he would geaue all that he possible could to anie suche a one for reward of so good a turne this maÌ„ added moreouer and sayde But what if besyde this he do warrant you that ye shal be a kinge and all your enemies vanquished yea and that in suche sorte that you shall not only excell all your auncient progenitours but also far passe in powre all the kinges of Englishemen which haue euer ben in this couÌ„trie Here Edwyne being made more firme and constant by ofte questioning doubted not to promis that in all pointes and at all tymes he wold be answerable with worthie thankes geauing to the man that shuld bestowe on him such greate benefites Then this man spake the thyrd tyme and sayde But tell me againe what yf besyde all this the same man which sheweth yow now before truly and vnfaynedly that yow shall hereafter surely and vndoubtedly doubtedly haue suche and so greate benefites can geaue yowe also better couÌ„sell and more profitable for your sowles health and saluation then euer any your parentes and auncesters heard of could ye then consent and obey him and harken to his holsome sayenges Here Edwyne promised owt of hand without anie lenger delaye that he would altogether followe his lerning and doctrine which both could and would deliuer him presently from so manie miseries and so greate daungers as he was in and exalte him afterward to the raygne and souerantie of his countrie Which his answer was heard and taken Then this man straightwaye which had so long talked with him layde his right hande vpon Edwines heade and said when these thinges therfore shall happen herafter in suche sorte to yowe remember well this tyme and this our talke And differ not at that time to fulfil and accomplishe this that yow do nowe promesse me Which being sayde by and by he vanished awaye To the entent that Edwine might vnderstand and perceaue that it was no man but a ghoste which appeared to him Now when this younge prince was lefte alone and sate there solitarie reioysing with himselfe for this gentle consolation and good comforte but yet very careful and muche counting with himselfe who it shuld be or whence he shuld come which had thus spoken and talked familiarly with him beholde his forsayd frende came againe and greating him cherfully Arise Edwine sayde he and come in Let passe this your carke and cares Set your harte at rest and take your quiet sleape For the kinges minde is chaunged Neither dothe he purpose nowe or intend to doe yow any wronge but ratheâ— to defend yowe and accomplishe his promised fayth vnto yowe For after he had shewed the Quene in secret that his purpose which I told yowe of before â—he dehorted him moste ernestly and withdrew him from so euill and so deadly an intention saying that it was in no wise mete for suche a king of so greate proweâ—e and honour as he was to sell his best and derest frend being now browght into straightes and miserie for a litle gold Nor that he should breake his faith and promesse which owght to be more estemed then al treasures or not bide by his word for the coueit and loue of monie But to be shorte the king did euen as his Ladie had counselled him to doe For he not only not betrayed and yelded to thembassadours this his banished man Edwine but helped him rather to the kingdome For as sone as these embassad ours were thus with deniall departed home againe he gathered incontineÌ„tly a myghtie armie to conquer king Edelfrede Whome he slewe without difficultie bicause he marched forth against him hastely and with a weake and vnordred oste in the borders of the Marchland men at the Este syde of the riuer called Idle For in deade kinge Edelfride had not time and space enowgh grawnted him to gather all his force together and to ioygne his powre with well disposing his hoste and sowldiers in order In this skirmishe Renier king Redwalds sonne was slayne And thus Edwin according to the oracle which he had receiued not only auoyded the dawnger of his most dedly enemie but also by his death succeded in thonor of his Souerainte and kingdome Now therfore to returne againe vnto my purpose thowgh Bishop Pawline seriously preched the word of God yet kinge Edwine slacked and lengered to beleaue him Vsing yet for a certaine space at diuers competent howres to sitte solitarie as I haue sayde before and diligently to compte with him selfe what were best to be donne and what religion was best to be folowed At which solitary meditation of the prince this good and godly bishoppe Pawline entred on a daye in to the palace and cominge to the kinge laied his right hand on his heade and asked hym whether he remembred that sygne or no The king sodenly trembled therat for feare And when he wold haue fallen downe at Paulinus feate the bishoppe lyfted him vppe and spake after a familiar sorte thus vnto him Behold o Soueraine Prince by the bountifull hand and powre of our Lorde and God you haue eskaped the hande and vengeance of your moste hated and dredfull enemie Behold also by his most gratiouse goodnes you haue obtained the Soueraintie of raigne and rule of the kingdome Remember now therfore the third thinge which yowe promised him and differ no lenger to performe and accomplishe the same by receauing his faithe and keaping his commaundements who hath deliuered you from your temporall aduersities and exalted you to the honour and maieste of a king Whose holy will yf you will hereafter obey and euer more doe his pleasure which by me he preacheth and declareth to yowe he will also deliuer you from the perpetuall tormente of hell and make you partakener with him in heauen of eternall kingdome and blesse without end What counsell king Edwyne had of the nobles and peares of his royalme for the receiuing of Christian faithe and how one of his Bisshops profaned and brake downe the Idols aulters The 13. Chapter WHich worde when the kinge heard he answered immediatly bothe that he would and also that he was bounde to receaue this faithe which B. Pauline had preched and taught But yet I thinke it good quoth he first to confer and common herof with my frendes the nobilitie and peares of my realme that if they shall happely thinke herein as I doe then we maye be Christened all together in the founte of lyfe Whereunto when Byshop Pauline agreed king Edwyne calling the states together consulted with them And asked seuerally eche of them what maner of doctrine this semed to be which vntill that daye had neuer ben head of before And how they liked the honour and worshipping of this new God whiche was preached nowe emongest them To whome Bishop Coyfi first of all his Bishops
them which faythe fully seeke therfore In this churche after Iustus departure hence vnto Christe Pawlyne consecrated Honorius Archebishopp of Caunterbury as I shall shewe more conueniently herafter Nowe as towching the faythe and belefe of this prouince a certaine preist and abbot a man of good credit and to be beleued whose name is Deda of the monasterie of Peartan told me that one of the elders of that couent as he reported him selfe was baptised with manie other of the people there at none daye by bishop Pawline in the presence of king Edwine and in the fludde of Trent nere the citie Thwolfing acester the which father and elderly man was wont to describe Paulinus personne saying that he was a taule man sumwhat crooked backe and blacke of heare lene in face and hauing a hooked and thinne nose in countenance bothe dredful and reuerent Who had in his chappel one Iames by name who was a deacoÌ„ and an industrious and diligent maÌ„ noble certes and of greate fame in Christ and the church Who liued also eueÌ„ vnto our time But in those dayes such was the peace and tranquillite through out all Britannie which waye soeuer king Edwynes dominions laye that as it is yet in a coÌ„mon prouerbe a weake womaÌ„ might haue walked with her new borne babe ouer al the yland euen from sea to sea without anie dammage or danger Moreouer this king did so muche tender his subiectes and the welth of the commons that in most places where he sawe fayâ—e clere wel springes breaking out by the highwaies syde he enclosed them in quicke sett boures for the refreshing of wayfaring men hauing by greate brasen basens to bathe or washe in Which basens either for feare of the kinges displeasure no man durst touche farder then to his owne present vse and necessite or no man wold take them awaye for the loue and good will they boore to their prince Who was for the time of his raigne so honoured and loued that the triumphing banners and flagges were borne before him not in warre only but in peace too whersoeuer he went abrode or rode with his garde in progresse aboute the greate cities townes and sheres of his dominions Yea euen when he passed through the stretes to any place there was carried before him that kinde of flag or stremer which the Romans calle Tufa and the English men now a Thuuffe How king Edwyne receaued letters of exhortation from Pope Honorius who sent therwith a palle to bishop Pauline The. 17. Chapter AT what time Honorius Boniface his successor was bishop of Rome and sate in the see Apostolike when he had vnderstoode that the kinge of Northumberland and all his subiectes in that countrie were conuerted to the faithe and confession of Christe by Paulinus preaching he sent the same bishop Pauline a palle and letters to king Edwyne exhorting him and his subiectes with fatherly loue and charite to persist or rather go forward in this true faithe which they had now receiued The tenor of which letters is suche To the most puissant prince and his most vertuous sonne in our Lorde Iesus Christe Edwyne king of the English men bishop Honorius seruant to them that serue God sendeth greating So is your Christian loue and integrite fyred with the flame of faith to the worshipping of your creator and maker that it shineth far and wyde and being declared through all the worlde bringeth furth fruyt of your doinge And truly so doe ye know your selfe best to be a king when that after ye are taught by the right and true preching ye beleaue in almightie God your king and creator Worshipping him adoring him and rendring vp to him the syncere deuotion of your hart as far forthe as mans weaknes and poore abilite can attaine vnto For what other thinge I praye you are we able to offer vnto our God then that persisting in good workes and confessing him to be the author of mankinde we worship him and spedely render our vowes and prayers vnto him Therfore we exhorte you our most derely beloued sonne in our Sauiour Christe Iesu as it is mete for a louing father to doe that ye endeuour al maner of wayes ye caÌ„ with ernest will and daily prayer to hold and kepe this that the mercy of God hath wrought in you calling you and all yours vnto his grace And so shall he which hath voucheâ—afed to bring you in this present world from all errour to the knowlege of his holy name prepare for you in the worlde to come a mansion place in heauen Be ye therfore often occupied in the reading of S. Gregories workes Who was a man certes of blessed memorie our good predecessour and your true precher and Apostle Haue before your eyes continually the greate zele of his doctrine and good affection which he gladly practised for your soules health and saluation That by this meanes his verâ—â—ouse prayer may both encrease your kingdome and also prosper yoâ—â—eople And that in the end he may represent you all as clene soules and without fault before the throne of almighty God Now as concerning these thinges which your grace desyred to be ordeined and appointed by vs for your priestes we haue without all delay prouided the same and truly the rather for your syncere and vnfayned faithes sake Which hath ben at diuers times and by diuers relatioÌ„s as also now by the bearers of these our presentes commendably declared vnto vs. We haue therfore with the rest of our rules and orders sent here ij palles for the ij metropolitans of your countre that is for bishop Honorius and bishop Pauline Willing and commaunding that when one of them is called out of this mortall lyfe to the mercie of God then shall his make and felowe which is yet a lyue subro gate by this our authorite an other bishop metropolitane in his place which is deceased which thinge we doe graunte vnto them as well for your good affection to vs and loue to the truthe as also for the distance of places and of so greate prouinces and cuntries as lye betwene Rome and Britannie And last to thintent that we might in all pointes shewe your highnes howe our consent and agrement is euer more redie at hand to your deuoute zele and ernest desyre of Gods glorie Who keape your grace alwaies in parfecte healthe and prosperite How bishop Honorius who succeded Iustus in the byshoprike of Caunterbury receiued from Pope Honorius a palle and letters The 18. Chapter NOW about this tyme died Archebishop Iustus the x. daie of Nouember And Honorius was chosen in his place Who comming to Archebishop Pauline to be appointed thereto met him at Lincolne And there was consecrated and instituted byshop of Caunterbury And is nowe numbred fifthe after S. Austin To whome also Pope Honorius sent a palle with letters in the which he commaunded the verie selfe same thinge that he wrote before in his epistle to king Edwine Which is
king entreated him to remaine with him enduing him with a bishoprik in his dominions which at the princes request he accepted and ruled the same people many yeres with priestly authoritie At the lenght the king who could only speake the Saxon tonge being wery of that foren language that Agilbertus vsed did priuely bring into the prouince an other bishop of his owne language named VVini the which also was made bishop in fraunce And diuiding the prouince into two dioceses gaue him a bishops see in the citie of Venta which the Saxons cal Vintancester Wherfor Agilbertus being highly displeased because the king did this without his counsayle returned againe into fraunce and after that he was aduanced to the bishoprike of the cite of Parris there he died an old man and very aged But not many yeres after his departure out of BritaÌ„ny Wini also was by the same king deposed from his bishoprike froÌ„ wheÌ„ce he departed to the king of the Marshes called Vulfhere and of him he bought with mony the see of the cite of LondoÌ„ and coÌ„tinued there bishopto the end of his lif Wherby the prouince of the west SaxoÌ„s lacked no small time a bishop At which time the forsaid king of the west Saxons being very often disquieted in his mind for the great losse and spoile which in his kingdome he susteined by his enemies called at last to his minde how he had wickedly expelled him out of his realme by whom he had receiued the faith of Christ vnderstanding withall that by want and lacke of a bisshop he wanted also the helpe and grace of almighty God Therfore he sent embassadours into fraunce to Agilbert beseeâ—hing him that he wold returne and resume againe his bishoprike offering with all to make satisfaction for that which was past But Agilbert excusing him selfe alleaged that he could in no wise repaire thither because he was bound to abyde at his bishoprike whiche he had in his owne countrey and diocesse Neuerthelesse to th eÌ„d he mought somwhat helpe him who did most earnestly desyre him he sent thither in his stede a certaine priest Eleutherius by name his own nephew who should be made a bishop for him if it were his plesure affirming that he deemed him to be well worthy of his bishoprike This Eleutherius was honourably receiued of the people and the kinge who entreated also Theodore then Archebishop of Caunterbury that Eleutherius should be consecrated their bishop In whiche function he liued and laboured many yeares beinge the only bishoppe of that prouince appointed so by a Synodall decree How Earconbert king of kent gaue commaundement to destroye ydolls and of his daughter Eeartongath and also of his kynse woman Edelburg virgins dedicated to God The. 8. Chap. IN the 640. yere of the incarnation of our Lord Eadbaldus king of kent passing out of this life left the gouernance of the realme to his sonne Earconbert Earconbert did prosperously raigne xxiiij yeres and certaine moneths This was the first king of England who of his princely authoritie commaunded that the idols which were in all his whole realme should be forsaken and destroyed and moreouer that the fast of fourty dayes should be kept And that this his authoritie mought not lightly be contemned of any man he appointed mete and conuenient punishments for the transgressours thereof Eartongath this princes daughter as a worthy childe of such a father was a virgin of greate vertu She serued god in a Monasterie all dayes of her life that was builded in the countree of Fraunce by an honourable Abbesse called Fara in a place named Brige For in those dayes when many monasteries were not yet builded in England many were wont for the loue of religious life to go to the religious houses of Fraunce sending also their daughters to the same to be brought vp and maried into heauenly bridegrome especially to the monasterie of BrigÌ„e and in Cale and also Andilegum Among whom was Sedrido daughter to the wife of Anna king of the east English of which king Anna we haue made mention before and Edelburg the sayd kinges naturall daughter who being straungers and alians were yet both made abbesses of the same monasterie in Brige by reason of their worthy vertues This kinges elder daughter Sexburg wife to Earconbert king of kent had a daughter named Eartongath and of her we will now treate The inhabitans of that place are wont euen at this day to tell of many vertuous dedes and miraculous signes wrought by this holv virgin We only will be contented to speke somewhat shortly of her departure out of this worlde and passage to a better lyfe The time and houre of her calling to God being at hand she began to visit in the monasterie the celles of the sicke especially of such her sisters as either for age or for vertuous conuersation were most notable Vnto whose prayers lowly commending her selfe signified vnto them the houre of her death approching according as she had learned by reuelation The reuelation as she reported was such She said she had seen a company of men apparelled in white enter into the same monasterye of whom asking what they sought for or what they would there it was answered her that they were sent thither to th end they might take with them that golden coyne which came from kent to that place And on the same night in the last part thereof that is to saye when the sonne began to rise she passing ouer the darkenesse of this present world went vp to the light that is aboue Many of the brethren of the same monasterie which were in other houses reported that they heard euen at the same moment the melodie of angels singing together and the noyse as though it were of a very greate multitude coming into the monastery whereuppon uppon they by and by going foorth to knowe what maner a thing it were saw that there was an exceading greate light sent downe from heauen which ledd and conducted that holy soule deliuered out of the pryson of the flesh to the euerlasting ioyes of the heauenly countrye Beside all this they reported of other miracles which were shewed by the hand of god that very night in the selfe same monastery But we passing to other miracles doe leue these to the religious persons of this monastery to report The honorable body of Christes virgin and spouse was buried in the church of S. Steuen that first blessed martyr And it was thought good three dayes after the buriall that the stone wherwith the graue was couered should be layed asyde and reered vp higher in the same place At the doing whereof so pleasaunt a smell and so swete a sauour came from the bottom of the earth that to all the brethern and sisters that stode by there semed as though there were storehouses and cellars of balme naturall opened Yea furthermore Edelburg aunte by the mothers side to this Eartongath of
the porche of his church vntell the church it selfe was consecrated in Perone Which being solemnely done within six and twēty daies after the body was brought thither and being remoued from the porche to be layed by the high aultar it was founde as whole and vncorrupted as if the man had but that houre departed Foure yeares after a litle chappell being erected at the east syde of the aultar wher the body shuld more honourably betoumed being takē vp againe to be transposed thither it was founde in like maner without any blemish of corruption In the which place it is well knowen that his merites haue much ben renowned by sundry miracles wrought by the allmighty power of God Thus much of the incorruption of his body we haue brefely touched that the reader might more clerely vnderstande of what excellency and vertu this man was All which thinges and of other his vertuous companyons in the booke writen of his life he that readeth shall finde more ample mencion made How after the death of Honorius Deusdedit succeded and who in that time were bishops of Rochester and in the east partes of England The. 20. Chap. IN this meane Felix the bishop of the east englishmen departing this worlde hauing ben their bishop 17. yeares Honorius the Archebishopp of Caunterbury created in his place Thomas one of his deacons borne in the prouince of Giruij after whose death liuing in that bishoprick fyue yeares he substituded in his roome Beretgilsus surnamed Bonifacius a kentishman borne Honorius also the Archebishop the measure of his life expired passed to a better in the yeare of our Lord 653. the last daye of October Whom Deusdedit a west Saxon borne succeded after a yeare and a halfe the see being vacant all that tyme. For whose creation and consecration Ithamar byshop of Rochester came to Cannterbury He was consecrated the. xxiiij of Marche and gouuerned that see ix yeares iiij moneths and two dayes After whose departure Ithamar consecrated in his place Damianus a Sussex man borne Howe the Marshes or vplandish englishmen that is the sheres of Lincolne Couentry Lichefield and worceter receaued the Christen faith vnder Penda their kinge The. 21. Chapter AT this time the Middelenglishmē that is of the sheres aboue named receiued the Christen faith and the sacramentes thereof vnder Penda their kinge sonne to Pendam that cruell and vnmercifull hethen This being a vertuous young man worthy of the name and person of a kinge was of his father put in gouuernement of that countre Who coming after to Oswin kinge of Northumberland requiring Alcfled his daughter to wife could in no other wise obtaine his suite vnlesse he would as that countre was receiue the Christen faith and be baptised Hereupon the ghospell was preached vnto him Who hearing the promis of euerlasting life the hope of resurrection and immortalite of the soule yelded him self gladly to be Christned though he shoulde not spede of his suite To this he was muche persuaded by Alcfrid king Oswins son who had maried his sister Cymburg kinge Pendan his daughter Thus then he with the Erles and kinghtes that waited vpon him and all their seruauntes were baptised of Finanus the bishopp in a famous towne of the kinges called Admurum From whence he returned home with much ioye and comfort accompained with foure priestes notable bothe for lerning and for vertue whiche shoulde instruct and baptise his people These priestes were called Cedda Adda Betti and Diuna who was a scottesman borne the other thre english Adda was brother to Vtta that holy and vertuous priest that we mencioned before and Abbot of the monastery called Cubeshead These foresaied priestes entring the prouince of the middleland with the Prince preached the worde of God and were gladly heard Whereby many daily as well noble as of the base forte renouncing the filth of idolatry were clensed in the fonte of life Neither king Pendam father to this young prince did withstande or gainsaie the preaching of the ghospell in his dominions yf any would heare it But hated in dede and persecuted all such as bearing the name of Christians liued not according to the faithe they professed saying commonly that suche men were wretched and worthely to be spited whiche regarded not to please their God in whom they beleued These thinges began two yeares before the death of kinge Penda the younger who being after slayne and Oswin a moste Christen kinge succeding him in the crowne Diuna one of the foure foresaied priestes was consecrated of Finanus and created bishop of all the middle or vplandish english men For the scarcety of priestes made that ouer all that people one Bishop was sett Who winning to the faith in short time a great multitude of people in Fepping died leauing for his successour Ceollach a Scottish man also borne Who not longe after leauing the bishoprike returned to his countre the Iland of Hij where the chief and principall monasteries of Scotland were To him succeded Trumher a vertuous man and brought vpp in religion an Englishman borne but consecrated byshopp of the Scottes in the raigne of kinge VVillher as we shall hereafter more at larg declare How the East Saxons at the preaching of Cedda receiued again the faith◠which vnder kinge Sigibert they had loste The 22. Chapter AT this very time the east Saxōs by the meanes of kinge Oswin receiued againe the faith which before expelling Melitus the first bishop of Londō out of the coūtre they abandonned Their kinge then was Sigbert succeding to Sigibert surnamed the litle This Sigbert being a nere and familiar frende of kinge Oswin then king of the Northumbrians came by that occasion oftentimes to Northumberland At which metinges the vertuous kinge Oswin vsed eftsoones to persuade with him that such could not be Gods which were made with mens handes that wodde or stone coulde not be any quicke matter to make a liuing God the pieces and remnants whereof either were wasted with fire or serued to make vessels for the vse of man or otherwise being naught worthe were caste forth troden vnder foote and turned into earth God rather saied he must be vnderstanded to be of maiesty incomprehensible to mens eyes vnuisible almighty and euerlasting who made bothe heauen and earth and all mankinde gouerned them also and should iugde the whole worlde in equite whose mansion place is euerlastinge Finally that al such as would lerne and perfourme the will of their Creatour should vndoubtedly receiue of him euerlasting rewarde therefore These and such other godly aduertissemtēs being frendly and brotherly from time to time made and repeted to king Sigbert by Oswin he began at lenght his other frendes agreing therunto to sauour them and beleue them Whereupon aduise being taken with his company and all bothe consenting and pricking him fore ward he was baptised of Finanus the bisshop in the cite of Admurum nigh vnto the walle wherewith the
should be gathered or houses prouided for the receiuing and intertainement of the worshipfull and welthy Who neuer came then to church but onely to praye and to heare the worde of God The kinge him selfe when occasion serued to resort thither came accompayned only with fyue or six persons and after praier ended departed But if by chaunce it fortuned that anye of the nobilite or of the worshipfull refreshed them selues in the monasteries they contented them selues with the religious mens simple fare and poore pittens looking for no other cates aboue the ordinary and daily diett For then those lerned men and rulers of the churche sought not to pamper the panche but to saue the soule not to please the worlde butt to serue God Whereof it came then to passe that euen the habite of religious men was at that time had in greate reuerence So that where anye of the clergye or religious person came he shoulde be ioyefully receiued of all men like the seruaunt of God Againe if any were mett going on iourney they ranne vnto him and making lowe obeissaunce desyred gladly to haue their benediction either by hand or by mouth Also if it pleased them to make any exhortation as they passed by euery man gladly and desirously harkened vnto them Vpon the Sondayes ordinarely the people flocked to the church or to monasteries not for bely chere but to heare the worde of God And if any priest came by chaunce abrode into the village the inhabitaunts thereof would gather about him and desire to haue some good lesson or collation made vnto them For the priestes and other of the clergy in those daies vsed not to come abrode in to villages but only to preache to baptise to visit the sicke or to speake all in one worde for the cure of soules Who also at that time were so farre from the infection of couetousnes and ambition that they would not take territories and possessions toward the building of monasteries and erecting of churches but through the ernest suite and almost forced of noble and welthy men of the worlde Which custome in all pointes hath remained a longe time after in the clergy of Northumberland And thus much of these matters How Egberecht a holy man english borne lead a religious solitary life in Ireland The. 27. Chapter THis very yeare of our Lorde 664. a great eclipse of the Son happened the third daye of Maye about ten of the clocke In the which yeare also a sodain great plague consuming first the south partes of Britanny taking holde also in Northumberland with longe and much continuance wasted away an infinit number of men In the which mortalite the foresaied bishop Tuda was taken out of the worlde and honourably buried in a monastery called Pegnalech This plague perced also euen to Ireland There were at that time in the Iland diuers young gentle men and other of England which vnder Finanus and Colmanus their bishops had departed a side thither partly to study partly to liue more straightly And some of those forthwith bounde them selues to the religious habit some other wandering rather about the celles and closets of such as taught folowed more their study and lerning All these the Scottes entertained gladly and cherefully geuing them not only their borde and their lerning free but bookes also to lerne in AmoÌ„ge these two young gentlemen of England were of great to wardnesse aboue the rest Edelhum and Ecgbert Of the which two the former was brother vnto Edelhum that blessed man who in the age folowing liued also in Ireland for studies sake from whence with great lerning and knowleadg returning home to his countre he was made bisshop of Lindisse and ruled the church honourably a longe time These younge gentlemen liuing in the monastery which in the Scottish tounge is called Rathmelfig all their companyons being other taken away by the mortalite or otherwise gone abrode remained bothe of them behinde lying sicke of the plage Ecgbert one of the two when he thought his time was come to die as I lerned by the report of a most trusty and reuerent olde maÌ„ which tolde me he heard the whole story at Ecgberts owne mouthe departed very erly out of his chamber where the sicke were wonte to lye and getting him to a secret commodious place sate downe all alone began diligently to thinke on his former life and being pricked with the remembraunce of his sinnes washed his face with teares beseching God from the bottom of his hart to lende him life and time of repentaunce to bewaile and recompence with amendment of life his former negligences and offences He vowed also neuer to returne home to his countre where he was borne but to liue as a pilgrim all daies of his life Againe beside the ordinary seruice of the canonicall houres if sicknes or weakenesse of body letted him not to say euery daye the whole psalter to the honour and praise of almighty God Last of all to faste ones euery weke one whole daye and night His vowes praiers and lamentinges thus being ended he returned to his chaÌ„ber and finding his felow a slepe went also to bedde to take some reste Which after he had a litle done his felowe waking looked vpon him and saied O brother Ecgbert what haue ye done I had hoped we should bothe haue passed together to life euerlasting But now vnderstand ye ye shall haue your request For by a vision it was reueled vnto him bothe what the others petition was and that he had obtained it What nede many wordes Edilhum the night folowing departed Ecgbert recouered and liuing many yeres after being made priest leading a life worthy of that vocatioÌ„ after great ameÌ„dmeÌ„t of life as he desired departed this worlde of late to witt in the yeare of our Lorde 729. in the xc yere of his age He lead his life in great perfection of humilite mekenes continency innoceÌ„cy and of righteousnes Whereby he profited much bothe his owne countre and the place where he liued in voluntary banishment the scottes and the pictes in example of liuing in diligence of teaching in authorite of correcting in bountifulnesse of bestowing that which the riche gaue aboundantly vnto him Beside his vowes mencioned before he made and kept other as that thourough out the whole lent he neuer eate more then ones in the daye eating also then nothing els but bread and thinne milke and that with a certain measure His milke was of one day olde which the day before he would eate it he was wont to put and kepe it in a viole and the night folowing skimming away the creme with a litle bread to drinke it vp This kind of faste he vsed to kepe xl dayes before Christmas and as longe after whitâ—â—ntyde all his life tyme. How after the death of bishop â—da VVilfrid in Fraunce and Ceadda amonge the west Saxons were made bishops of Northumberland prouince The. 28. Chapter IN this
men able and willing to take paines amongest whome that notable and excellent lerned man VVilbrorde priest was chieff Who after their arriuall thither being in number xij went streyt to Pypine chiefe gouuernour then of Fraunceâ— where being very frendly intertained of him because he had lately taken the lower part of Frisland and by force driuen oute their kinge Radbed he sent them thither to preache ayding and assisting them with his princely authoritie that no man should by violence iniury them or interrupte their preachinge and also bountifully rewarding all such as would embrace and receiue the faithe Whereby it came to passe by the assistaunce of Gods grace that in shorte tyme they conuerted very many from idolatrie to the faith of Christ. After the example of these holy men ij other englishe priestes which had voluntarily liued in banishment a longe tyme in Ireland for hope of aeternall lyfe came to Saxonie if happely by their preaching they might winne any to Christ. As these good men had leeke deuotion so had they bothe one name being bothe called Henwalde Yet for diuersitie to knowe one from the other one was called blacke Henwalde and the other white Henwalde because of the diuerse colour of their heare Bothe of them had a greate zeale and reuerend loue to Christes religion But blacke Henwalde was the better diuine They coming into the countrey went to a farmers house and desired they might be conducted to the Lorde which had the rule and gouuernaunce there saying they had an embassy and other matters of importaunce to declare vnto him For the olde Saxons had no kings but many Lordes to rule the countrie Who as often as there was surmise or feare of warres towarde did cast lotts equally amongest them selfs and vppon whome the lott fell him they folloed as their generall capitaine as longe as the warres indured and obediently exequuted what so euer he commaunded When the warres were done all the Lordes wer equal in powre and authority againe as they were before The farmer intertained these good men and promising to conduct them to the Lorde of the soyle according to their request staied them iij. or iiij dayes in his house When they were espied of the rude barbarous people and knowen to be of an other religion for they soonge hymnes psalmes and other deuoute prayers and saied masse hauing with them bookes and holy vessells and a litle table hallowed in stede of an aulter they had them in ieolosy and suspicion that if they came to the Lorde and talked with him they would turne him quite from worshipping of their gods and bringe him to the new religion of Christes faith Wherby a litle and litle all the whole country should be enforced to chaunge the old auncient manner of worshipping their Gods into some newe religion neuer heard of before Wherfore they toke them away sodainly and killed white Henwald with a sworde and blacke Henwald with longe torments and horrible diâ—membringe all partes of his body and after they had murdred theÌ„ cast theÌ„ into the riuer of Rhene This fact when the Lord of the couÌ„try whom they desyred to see vnderstoode he was very angry that straungers repayring to him could not haue free passage And streytwais sending forth his men of armes slew all the inhabitaunts of the same village and burnt their houses downe to the grounde Those good priestes and faithfull seruants of our Sauiour Christe suffred the third day of Octobre and to testifye their Martirdom vnto the wordle there lacked no miracles from heauen For when their bodies were cast of the paynims as we signified before into the ryuer Rhene it so fortuned that they were caried against the maine runninge streame almost xl miles where their companions were and a greate bright beame of light reaching vp to heauen shyned euery night ouer the place whersoeuer they came they them selues that had cruelly murdered them beholding and seing the same Moreouer one of them appered by vision in the night to one of their companions whose name was Tilmon a noble man of great renowne in the worlde who from the high degre of a knyght becacame a monke shewing that he might finde their bodies in that place where he should see a light shyne from heauen The which came so to passe And their bodies being founde they were buried with all honour worthy for such holy martires And the day of their Martirdome or rather of the findings of their bodies is kepte solemne and holy in those parties with much deuotion and reuerence Finally when that worthy and renouned Captaine of the frenchmen named Pipine had vnderstanding of this he caused their bodies to be buried very honourably in the church of Coollen a famous citie situated harde by the riuer Rhene Besides it is commonly saied that in the place where they were kylled there spronge vp a fountaine which at this present day floweth with a greate streame to no litle commoditie of the country How ij reuerend and holy men were made bishoppes to set forth and preache Christes religion in Frisland Switbert in Britanny and Wilbrorde in Rome The. 12. Chapter AT the first arriuall of these holy men to Freslande Wilbrorde hauing lycence of the prince to preache went first to Rome where Sergius at that present occupied the sea Apostolique that with his lycence and benediction also he might set vpon that Apostolike office of preachinge to the heathen which he longe desyredâ— hoping with al to receiue of him some reliques of Christes holy Apostles and Martirs to the end that while in the country where he preached he should erect churches after the idolles were cast out and destroyed he might haue in a readinesse some holy saintes reliques to bring in their place and to dedicat churches in their honour whose reliques he had receuid Diuers other thinges also he lerned and receiued from thence requisite for so greate an enterprise In al which requestes when his desyre was accomplished he returned backe againe to preache At the very same time his bretherne and companions left in Fresland altogether beÌ„t to the setting forth of Gods word choosed out of their coÌ„pany a maÌ„ modest and sober in al outward behauiour and humble of spirit called Switbert to be their bishop Whom sent for that purpose into Britanny the most reuerend father in God VVilfride did consecrate lyuinge then as a banished man out of his country amongest the Marshes For at that tyme Canterbury had neuer a bishop Theodore was dead and Berthwalde his successour which went ouer the sea to be consecrated was not yet returned to his bishoprike The said Switbert returning out of Britanny after he was consecrated and made bishopp went within a shorte tyme after to the Bruchtuars And coÌ„uerted a greate nuÌ„ber of them to the perfect way of truth but shortly after wheÌ„ the Bruchtuars wer subdued and conquered by the old SaxoÌ„s al that receiued the gospell were dispersed some into this
for the time made their abode there Notwithstandinge I durst not be so bold as to demaunde or aske any question of my conductour or guide but in the midest of these meditatioÌ„s I perceued by what meanes I can not tell that I was in the world again and liued as other meÌ„ did These sightes and many other thinges ells this vertuous and holy man wold not report to sleuthfull sluggards and idell folkes men that had no regard of their owne life but to such only as either dismayed with feare of torments or rauished with hope of eternall ioye wolde gladly receiue and sucke oute of his woordes some heauenly comforte and encrease of piety Wel to be shorte in the same rewe where is celle stoode dwelled a monke called Hengils promoted to the holy ordre of priesthod which he honoured much with his vertuous woorkes This man remaineth yet a lyue and leeke a solitary heremitein Ireland fedeth his old impotent body with browne bred and cold runninge water This monke resorting to the saied holy man oftentimes vnderstode by certaine questions which he propounded what sightes he sawe after his body and soule were departed and by his relation all which I haue brefly declared came to our knowledge Moreouer he communicated his visions with kinge Alfride a man excellently lerned in all good literature who hearde him with such comfort and attention that at his desyre he was placed at the length in the same monastery and shoren in religion In the which monastery at that time Edilwald priest of most godly and modest life was Abbot but now he is made bishop of Lindisfarn which church he gouerneth in right good ordre both with holsome doctrine and good example of lyfe semely for his vocation This holy man toke after in the same monastery a more secret celle vnto him where with more liberty he might serue his maker in continuall praier without intermission And because the place was situated vpon a riuers side he was wont to dippe and plungâ— him self in the flowinge water oftentimes for greate desyre he had to chastise his body and coÌ„tinue ther singing of psalmes and other duout prayers as longe as he coulde abyde for cold the water now and then comming vp to his hippes and now and then to his chinn And when he came out of the water he neuer chauÌ„ged his clothes being wet and cold but taried vntil they wer warmed and dryed by the natural heat of his body In the winter season wheÌ„ peaces of yce half brokeÌ„ dropt down on euery syde of him which of purpose he had broken to plounge into the riuer and diuerse men seeing him sayd it is a maruelous matter and straunge case brother Drithelme for so he was called that you can possibly suffer such bitter and sharpe colde he answered simplye for he was but a simple and sober spryted man I haue sene places colder then this is And when they said vnto him we maruel that you wil liue so coÌ„tinent and auster a lyf he answered I haue sene more austeryte and hardnesse then this is So vntill the day of his calling hence owte of this wretched world for the ernest desire he had of heauenly felycitie he punyshed his old impotent bodye with dayly fastinge and was by good fruteful instruction and godly conuersation a great comforte to manye Howe an other contrary wise dyinge founde all the synnes that euer he had donne written in a booke brought vnto hym by the deuill The. 14. Chapter BVt contrary wyse there was a man in the countre and prouince of the Marshes whose visions talk and manner of life dyd profitt many but not hym selfe In the time of Coenrede which raygned after king Edilrede there was a certaine lay man taken vpp for a souldiar and put in office in the campe who for his dyligence and actyuitie in feates of armes was greate in fauour with the kinge but for the negligence and improuident care concerninge the state of his owne sowle in displeasure with the princâ—â— Wherefore the kynge charged him eftesoones to make humblâ— confession of his sinnes and amend his former lyfe and vtterly to forsake al his detestable actes and haynous offenses lest by deathes sodayne preuention he loste tyme of repentaunce and amendment of his life but he notwithstandinge this gentyll admonition and fryndly exhortation of his souerayne contemned and set naught by those comfortable wordes of saluation and promised that he wolde do penaunce afterwarde In the meane season beinge vysited with sycknesse he toke his bedd and beganne to be more and more vexed with the vehement pangs of his dysease The kinge came to his chamber for he louyd hym tenderly and exhorted and counseled him that at the lest nowe he wolde falle to penaunce for his naughty lyfe and sinfull actes before he died Na quoth he I wyll not be confessed now but when I am well recoueryd and able to go abrode agayne than I wyll lest if I should now do it my felowes would saye that I dyd it now for feare of deathe which in my prosperyty and health I wold neuer vouchsafe to do Wherein he spake to his owne leekinge stowtly and leeke a man but certes as yt appeared after he was myserably deceuyd with the crafty illusions of the deuyll WheÌ„ the kynge came to visite hym agayne and geue him good counsell because his desease grewe more vehemently vpon him euery daye he cryed oute incontynent with a pytyfull and lamentable voyce saying Alas what meane yow my liege why come you hither Yowe are nether able to profitt nor pleasure me nor do me any good The kynge answeryd streytways Ah say not so see ye play the wyse mans parte Nay sayth he I am not madde but I haue here vndoutedly before my eies a wicked conscience all woundyd and mangled And what is this said the kinge Yf yt please yower hyghnesse quoth he a litle before yower grace came ij bewtyfull and hansome yownge men came into the howse and sate downe by me One at my head the other at my feete and one of them toke a goodly faire booke owte of his bosome but litle in quantytye and gaue yâ— me to reade In the which when I looked a litle whyle I founde all the good dedes that euer I had done fayre written and god knoweth they were fewe in number and litle in effecte when I had done they toke the booke of me againe and said nothing Then sodainly came there abowte me an whole legion of wicked sprytes and beseaged the howse rownde abowte in the vtter side and sittinge downe replenisshed euery corner within Than he which for his fowle euyll fauouryd blacke face and hyghest seate apperyd to be greatyst amongst them takyng out a booke terrible to all mens sight vnmeasurable for greatnesse and for weyght importable coÌ„mauÌ„dyd one of his blacke garde to bringe yt to me to reade When I had read a litle I founde all the enormous detestable sinnes
Howe Coenrede kinge of the Marsshes and Offa king of the East Saxons ended their liues in the habitt of religion and of the lyfe and death of bisshop VVilfride The 20. Chap. THe iiij yeare of Osredes raigne king Coenrede which kept the soueraintie in the countrie of Marshes honourably for a tyme did more honourably forsake it and all his dominions For vnder Constantine the Pope he went to Rome and receiuing there the tonsure and habitt of a religious man at the Apostles toumbes continued in praying fasting and dealing of almes vntill his dying daye Vnto this noble prince Coenrede succeded kinge Edilredes son which Edildred had the gouuernement of the same realme before him There went with him also to Rome Sigheres sonn king of the east Saxons called Offa whome we mentioned before a princely and beautefull gentleman and then in his first flowres and much desired of his subiectes to remaine and rule among them But he moued with leke deuotion and zeale as the other prince was forsoke his ladye his landes his kinsfolke and countrie for Christes sake and the ghospell that in this world he might receiue an hundred folde and in the world to come life euerlasting with Christ. When he came to the holy places att Rome he also was shoren into religion in the which he passed the rest of his life and came to the vision of the blessed Apostles in heauen as he had longe desired before The very selfe same yere that these ij princes went out of Britannie a worthy prelate and notable bishopp called VVilfride died the xlv yeare after he had ben made bisshoppe in the territory called Wundale And his body well chested was caried to the monastery of Rhippon wher he had before liued and with al honour and solemnitie worthy for so noble a bishopp was buried in Saincte Peters church at Rhyppon Of whose life and behahauiour let vs brieflly make mention what things were done returning as it were backe againe to that we haue spokeÌ„ before This Wilfride being but a childe was of such towardnesse and good nature induced with so many goodly qualities of such modest and honest behauiour in all pointes that all the elders and auncients did with a speciall good loue reuerence him After he was xiiij yere olde he more estemed a monasticall and solitarie lyfe than all secular and wordly wealth The which thing when he had communicated with his father for his mother was departed to the mercy of God he gladly condescended to his holly requestes and godly desires and exhorted him to persiste in that godly purpose which he had entended Hereuppon he came to the isle Lindisfarne and there atteÌ„ding vpoÌ„ the monks he diligeÌ„tly lerned and gladly practised al pointes of chastity and godlinesse required in a solitarie and religious man And because he had a goodly pregnant witt he lerned spedely psalmes and certain other bookes of prayers being not yet shoren in or professed but well garnished with those vertues which far surmounted the outward profession to witt of humility and obedience For the which he was wel loued and estemed bothe of the elders and also of his equals When he had serued God certaine yeares in that monastery he perceaued by litle and litle being growen in iudgement as a wife younge man that could quickly fore see the waye of trewe religion and vertue taught by the Scotts not to be altogether perfecte Whereuppon he fully determined to make a voyage to Rome only to see what riâ—es and ceremonies were obserued there as well of secular priestes as of religious personnes The which determination of his after notice geuen to his Bretherne by preuy conference eche man did well commeÌ„d it and persuaded him to go forward in his good purpose Incontinent coming to Quene Eamflede who knew him wel and by whose counsell and coÌ„mendation he was receaued into that monastery declared to her hyghnesse that he had an earnest and feruent desyre to visit the monuments of the holy Apostles The Quene much delited with the younge mans good purpose and zele sent him to Caunterbury to kinge Ercombert which was her vncles sonne requiring that it might please his highnesse to send him honorably to Rome at what time Honorius one of the blessed Pope Gregories schollers a man profoundly lerned in holy scripture was Archebishop there When this younge man lackinge nor good courage nor lyuely sprite had tarried there a space and employed his diligence to lerne and commit to memory that which he ouerloked there repaired thither an other younge gentilman whose name was Bishop and Christen name Benet one of the nobles of Englande desyrours to go to Rome of whom I haue mentioned before The kinge committed VVilfride to this younge gentilman and his company with chardge that he shuld conduct him safe to Rome When they came to Lyons in Fraunce VVilfrid was stayd there by Dalphine bishop of that city The gentleman went on his iourney to Rome The delight and pleasure which the bishop had in VVilfrides wyse talke aminable continaunce ioly actituity and graue inuention was the occasion why he was staied there For that cause also he gaue him and all his company frendfull intertainement as long as they continued there and furder offred him the gouernement of a greate parte of Fraunce the mariadge of his brothers daughter whiche was yet in the flower of her virginity brefely to adopte him for his heyr if he wolde make his abode there But he rendring lowly and harty thankes for so great courtesy and gentilnesse that the bishop vouchsafed to shew vnto him being but a straunger answered that he was fully determined to an other conuersation and trade of lyffe and therfore had forsaken his country and taken this iourney to Rome The which when the bishop heard he sent him to Rome with a guide to conducte him in the waye and gaue him mony sufficient to beare his chardges desyringe that at his returne he wolde remember to take his house by the waye VVilfride with in fewe dayes after cominge to Rome and occypuing him selfe in daily contemplation of heauenly thinges according to his first determination fel acquainted with a notable holy and lerned man called Boniface who was Archedeacon and one of the Apostolike Popes counsellers By whose instruction he lerned orderly the foure bookes of the Gospell and the trewe counte of Easter and many other godly lessons commodious and profitable to vnderstande the orders and disciplines of the churche which he could not attaine vnto in his owne country And when he had passed certaine monethes there in godly exercise and study he returned to Dalfine againe in Fraunce and after he had tarried with him iij. yeares he toke the inferiour orders of the bishop and was so entierly loued of him that the bishoppe fully determined to make him his successour But by cruel death he was preuented and VVilfride reserued to a bishoprike in his owne natyue country England For Brunechild
kepinge of Easter but nowe I do so well knowe the cause and reason why it shuld be so obserued that me thinketh I had no knowledg of it at all before wherfore I professe and openly protest before you all that ar here present that from henceforth I and all my people wil kepe the feast of Easter at the time which is here described I thinke it good also that all priests and religious men in my realme ought to receaue this kinde and manner of shauing which we haue heard to be very reasonable And without any furder delaye by his princely authority he performed that which he spoke For forthwith the accompte of xix yeres were sent abrode by a publique edicte to be copied oute lerned and obserued through out al the prouinces of the Pictes the erroneous accomptes of 84. yeres altogether blotted oute All priestes and religious men had their heads shauen rounde after the trew shape aâ—d figure of a crowne And all the whole country being well reformed was glad that they were reduced now to the discipline and ordre of saincte Peter primate and head of the Apostles and committed as though it were to his patronage and protection How the monkes of Hij with other monasteries vnder their iurisdiction beganne at the preaching of Egbert to kepe Easter after the canonical ordonaunce of Christes church The 23. Chapter NOt longe after the monkes of Scotland which inhabitt the island Hij with al other monasteries vnder their iurisdiction were brought by gods great prouidence to the canonicall obseruation of Easter and ryght manner of ecclesiasticall tonsure For the yere after Christes incarnation 716. when Coenrede toke the gouuernaunce and souerayntye off Northumberlande after Osrede was slayne the derely beloued of God and honourably of me to be named the Father and priest Ecgbert cominge vnto them owt of Irelande was honourably receiued and ioyfully intertayned of them This Ecgbert beinge diligently heard of theÌ„ as one that had a singular good grace in preachinge and that practised in lyfe with much deuotioÌ„ which he taught openly in their congregation dyd chaunge by godly exhortations and aduertisements the olde tradition of their forefathers Of whom we may verifie that saying of the Apostle Aemulationem dei habebant sed non secundum scientiam They had an earnest desyre to folow God but not accordinge to knowleadge And he taught theÌ„ by one appointed compasse which shoulde be perpetuall to kepe the chefe and princypall feast after the Catholique churches institution and manner of the Apostles The which appeareth to be done to by the great goodnesse and infinit mercy of God that because the countre which had the knowleadge of God and his holy worde dyd freely and gladly communicate the same to englishmen shoulde them selues afterward come to a more perfect trade of life then they had before by the helpe and instruction of Englishmen also now associated and allied vnto them As contrary wise the Britons which woulde not ones open their mouthe to teache the Englishmen the knowleadge of Christ which they had before receiued are nowe hardned in blindnesse and halte allwaies from the right waie of truthe neither vsing the ecclesiasticall tonsure after dew maner neither celebrating the solemne feste of Easter in the societe of the Catholike church Whereas now all Englishmen are established in the faith and perfectly instructed in all pointes of Catholike religion The monkes of the Iland Hij in Scotland receiued at the preaching of the lerned father Ecgbert the Catholike rites and customes vnder their Abbat Dumchad about 80. yeares after they sent Bishopp Aidan to preache the faith to Englishmen This man of God Ecgbert remained in that Ilande xiij yeres which he had now as though it were newly and first consecrated vnto Christ by reducing it to the Catholike vnite and societe The same good father in the yere of our Lorde 728. vpon Easter daye which then fell vpon the xxiiij of Aprill after he had that day saied Masse in remembraunce of our Lordes resurrection departed this worlde and finished that day that ioyfull festiuite with our Lorde and all the blessed company in heauen which he had begonne with his brethern euen that day by him reduced to the Catholique vnite And truly the prouidence of God herein was wonderfull that that Reuerent father should passe out of this worlde to the Father not only vpoÌ„ an Easter day but also vpoÌ„ that Easter day which was the first Easter after the Catholike order celebrated in that place The brethern therefore reioysed bothe for the certaine and Catholike obseruation of Easter then lerned and also to see their teacher and master that time also to passe to God to be there their patrone and intercessour The good father also reioysed that he liued here so longe vntell he might see presently his scholers to celebrat with him that Easter whiche euer before they shunned and abhorred So this most reuerend Father being nowe certainly assured of their vndoubted amendment reioysed to see that day of our Lorde He sawe it I saie and reioysed What is the state of EnglishmeÌ„ or of all BrytaÌ„nie at this present with a brief recapitulation of the whole worâ— and with a note of the tyme. The. 24. Chap. THE yeare of Christes incarnation 725. which was the vij off Osric kinge of Northumberlandes raygne Vicbert Ecgbertes sonne kinge of kent passed oute of this transitorie lyfe the xxiij of Aprill leauing iij. sonnes Edilbert Eadbert and Aldric heires of his kingdome whiche he hadd gouuerned 34. yeares and a halffe After his death the next yeare folowing Tobias bishoppe of Rochester died a man certainly well lerned as I mentioned before for he was scholler to ij Masters of most blessed memory Archebishoppe Theodore and Abbat Adrian By which occasion beside his knowledge in diuinitie and all other sciences he so perfectly lerned the greeke tounge and the Latyn that he had them as perfecte and familiar as his owne propre language He is buried in a litle chappel of saincte Paule whiche he builded in S. Andrewes churche for a toumbe and place of buriall after his deathe After him Aldwulff succeded in the bishoppricke and was consecrated by Berthwalde the Archebishoppe The yeare of our Lorde 729. appeared ij greate blasinge starres aboute the sonne makinge all that behelde them maruelously afraied For one went before the sonne euery morninge the other appeared in the eueninge streyt after the sonne was downe presaging as it were to the east and weast some greate destruction Or if you wil saie one appeared before daye the other before night that by bothe the saied tymes they myght signifie diuerse miseries to hange ouer mens heads They helde vp a fyer brande towarde the Northe ready as it were to set all a fyer They appeared in Ianuarye and continued almoste ij weekes At what time the Saracenes wasted and spoiled Fraunce with much murder and bloudshed Who not longe after