possession of fifty families for building a Monastery in a place called Etbearn that is At the wood in the Province of Lindissi or Linconshire where to this day the Observances of a Regular life instituted by him doe still remain The Authour of Saint Ceadda's life in Capgrave calls this place Brawe the situation whereof is now unknown 7. But his Episcopall See was at Lichfeild concerning which the same Authour thus writes He had the See of his Bishoprick at a place called Licidfeld where he also dyed and was buried and where his Successours have still remaind Moreover he built for himself a mansion not far from the Church whither he was wont to retire with seaven or eight Monkes that he might in solitude attend to prayer and reading as oft as the solicitudes of his Episcopall Office would permitt 8. The same King Wulfere finished likewise the Monastery begun by his Brother in the year of Grace six hundred fifty six which he consecrated to S. Peter commanding it to be called Peterborough and enriched it with great possessions appointing the first Abbot of the same in the year six hundrod sixty nine a very pious man saith Camden called Sexwulf by whose perswasion principally it was built And he addes That the said Monastery flourished with great opinion of Sanctity the space of two hundred and fourteen years till the most calamitous times when the Danes layd all places especially Sacred wast For then the Monks were murdred and the Monastery lay buried in its own rubbish a hundred and nine years This Sexwulf had formerly lived an Eremiticall life in the Island called Thorney where he built an Oratory which by the liberality of King Edgar became a Noble Monastery in the year of Grace nine hundred sixty nine as we shall then declare 9. As touching the said Bishop Ceadda he was industrious in preaching assiduous in prayer unwearied in labours and always conversant with God And whereas saith Saint Beda it was the usuall custom of that most Reverend Bishop in preaching the Gospell through his Diocese for the most part to goe on foot from place to place the Arch-bishop Theodore enioyned him that when he was to goe to any place a good way distant he should ride the good Bishop was very unwilling so great was his aversion from ease in the work of God Yet in the end the Arch-bishop even compelled him thereto and with his own hands lifted him on horse back For he saw that he was a very holy man c. IX CHAP. 1.2 c. The Holy and most happy death of S. Ceadda 1. BEcause we will not interrupt the Narration touching this Holy Bishop Ceadda we will here adioyn the relation of his happy death shortly ensuing suitable to his pious life which is thus at large recorded by S. Beda 2. After he had governed the Church of the Mercians most gloriously the space of two years and a half the time by divine dispensation approached concerning which Ecelesiastes writeth There is a time to scatter and a time to gather stones For a destroying sicknes was sent from heaven by which many living stones of Gods Church were translated from earth to the heavenly building And hereby not a few belonging to the Church of this most Reverend Prelate having been taken out of the world the hour of his passage likewise to our Lord drew near It hapned then on a certain day that himself accompanied only with one Monk named Owin abode in the forementioned Mansion all the rest upon some occasion being returned to the Church The said Owin was a Monk of great merit who out of a pure intention for a heavenly reward had forsaken the world and indeed he was in all respects a person esteemed by our Lord worthy to receive Divine revelations and worthy also of beleife when he discovered them to any He had formerly come into that Province from the Region of the East-Angles with Queen Edildride being the cheif Officer of her family Not long after his arrivall the fervour of his Faith encreasing he resolved to leave the world which resolution he exeâ—uted diligently insomuch as relinquishing all his possessions and contenting himself with a simple habit and taking in his hands onely an axe to cutt wood he went to the Monastery of the same most Venerable Prelat called Lestinghen For he did not as some have done retire to a Monastery to live idlely there but to labour diligently as he gave good proof by his conversation for the lesse proper he was to spend much time in Meditation the more did he addict himself to manuall labour 3. This man therefore having for his zeale and devotion been selected to abide with the Bishop in the said Mansion commonly when the rest were busied within-dores in reading he was abroad busy about some externall work for the common benefit Now on a certain day as he was thus employed while the rest of the Monks as hath been said were returned to the Church and the Bishop in his Oratory reading or praying he said that on a sudden he heard most melodious voyces of many persons singing and reioycing which descended from heaven to the earth These voyces he heard at first as from the South-east quarter which by little and little approached to him till they came to the roof of the mansion where the Bishop was into which they entred and filled it all about He therefore attending solicitously to this Musick about an hour after he heard the same voyces songs of Ioy with unexpressible sweetnes ascending from the top of the house by the same way to heaven again After which remaining astonished a good space and wondring what this should be the Bishop opened the window of his Oratory and according to his custom made a noyse with his hand which was to give notice that if any were without they should come to him Hereupon the Monk hastily entred to whom the Bishop said Goe presently to the Church and bidd those seaven brethren to come immediatly hither and come thou with them When they were all come he first admonished them to observe Charity and peace both among themselves and with all others and likewise diligently to follow the Instituts of Regular Discipline which they had learnt both from his tongue and practise or had found in the instructions and actions of their precedent Fathers Hereto he added that the day of his death was near at hand For said he that blessed and amiable Guest who was wont to visit our Brethren did mee the grace to come this day to mee and summoned mee to depart out of this world to our Lord. Therefore goe to the Church and desire the rest of our Brethren to commend my departure to our Lord and let them be mindfull to prevent also their own deaths the hour of which is uncertain with watchongs prayers and good works 4. After he had spoken these and other words to the
to it together with the Isle of Wight Again how by the ministery of the Holy Preists Ceddand Ceadda the Province of the Mercians came to embrace the Faith of Christ before unknown to them and that of the East-Saxons to recover that Faith which once received was afterward reiected by them And likewise how those two Holy Fathers spent their lives in all Sanctity and how happily they dyed all these things wee learnt from the Religious Brethren of the Monastery of Lestingen built by them Moreover in the Province of the East-Angles the Ecclesiasticall Gests wee understood partly by writings and Tradition of their Ancestours and partly by the relation of the most Reverend Abbot Esius 5. But as touching the Province of Lindissi or Lincoln how the Faith of Christ 〈◊〉 spread there together with the Succession of Bishops we were informed in some part by Letters of the most Revered Bishop Cymbert or Kinebert or by discoursing with severall men of good credit To conclude the occurrents hapning in the Kingdom of the Northumbers and severall regions of it these I came to the knowledge of by the constant report not of a few but of allmost innumerable Witnesses who might well know or remember them besides many things to which I my self can give testimony Among which those things which I have written concerning our most holy Father and Bishop Saint Cuthbert either in this History or in a particular Book of his Gests those I received and transcribed out of certain writings compiled by the Religious Monks of the Church of Lindesfarn the sincerity of which I had no reason to suspect and to those I added with great care many other things which I my self learnt from the most sure attestation of severall faithfull and sincere persons 6. To conclude I humbly entreat the Reader that in case he find in those my Writings any particular passage swerving from Truth he would not impute that to mee as my fault since my only care has been simply and sincerely to commit by writing to posterity for their instruction such things as either from vulgar fame or writings of former ages I have collected Now it is against the generall Law of History that the Writer should be answerable for the mistakes of other men Thus much touching the Truth and sincerity of S. Beda's History XXIV CHAP. 1.2 c. The birth life and Gests of the Venerable Doctour of the Church S. Beda 1. WE will in the last place adde a Narration of the Life and blessed Death of this great Ornament of his age and glory of our Island S. Beda a man so admirably eminent in all kinds of learning so excellent a Poet an Oratour an Historian an Astronomer an Ariâ—hmetician a Chronographer a Cosmographer a Philosopher and a Divine that it was a common saying among the learned of his age That a man born in the utmost corner of the earth had dazeled the whole world with the luster of his Witt and learning And such use he made of all these great Talents in his life that according to his own testimony between the observances of Regular Disciplin and dayly singing the Divine Office in the Church he always found a great sweetnes in learning or teaching or writing some thing For which in his life time he was first by Pope Sergius and for that reason perhaps generally by all stiled Venerable and in that regard that Title since his death has by the whole Church been in a sort appropriated to him For though in all Histories and Martyrologes his Sanctity is celebrated yet he is seldom found written or named Saint but Venerable Beda so that perhaps I may incurr the censure of some Readers for not observing the same in this present History 2. How long he lived cannot certainly be determined Some as hath been said assign his death to this year in which he concluded his History But this is sufficiently disproved in that Saint Boniface fourteen years afther this writing to Egbert Arch-bishop of York and desiring some Books of Venerable Beda to be sent to him speaks of him as then newly dead for he entitles him a man as he had heard who of late had been much enriched with divine Grace and spirituall knowledge and shined gloriously in that Province c. And the like passage we find in an Epistle of the same Holy Bishop to Cuthbert Abbot and Disciple of S. Beda 3. Again others prolong his age beyond the year of Grace seaven hundred seaventy six grounding their opinion on an Epistle written as by him that year to a Preist called Withreda Vpon which account he should many years over-live Saint Boniface contrary to what was even now produced Moreover severall of our ancient Historians place his death four years after this But neither will S. Bonifaces expression well suit with that position 4. In this uncertainty without interposing mine own iudgment it seemd most expedient since we can no longer make use of the testimony and light of this so holy and faithfull an Historian to adioyn his own story to that which he wrote of his countrey especially considering that wee find no Gests of his hereafter inter-woven with the generall Ecclesiasticall affairs so that without any preiudice to order wee may treat of his end in this place conveniently enough 5. He was born in the year of Grace six hundred seaventy one as evidently appears in that himself affirms that he was this year in which he concluded his History fifty nine years old The place of his Birth was a little village not far from Durham called Girwy now Iarrow where the River Tine is ready to fall into the Sea A village then of no consideration though since ennobled not only by his birth but by its neighbourhood to the famous Monastery of Saint Peter founded by S. Benedict Biscop three years after S. Beda was born and it self being the Seat of another Monastery about eight years after built by the same Holy Abbot and dedicated to S. Paul 6. Who or of what condition his parents were hath not been recorded but in a poor village then so obscure we may expect to find inhabitants as obscure What ever condition they were of he was in his infancy deprived of them both and left to the care of his kinred who probably for want of subsistence recommended him being but seaven years old to the care and discipline of the foresaid S. Benedict by which means he in his tender years was imbibed in the rudiments of a Monasticall Life according to the Rule of the Great Patriark of Monasticall Instition S. BENEDICT which Rule as hath been declared was not long before this time introduced into the Province of the Northumbers by the famous Bishops S. Wilfrid 7. In this Monastery of S. Peter seated at Wiremouth S. Beda under so carefull and pious a Master spent his time in all innocence and devotion till he came to an age capable of Professing that Disciplin under
was directed an Apostolick Teacher into Ireland where he wrought the like effect with greater fruit And by him S. Germanus and S. Lupus two holy and learned Bishops of Gaule were employ'd to cure Brittany of the pestilent infection of Pelagianism spread there by the impious diligence of Agricola in which execrable employment he was assisted by the oft times excommunicated Heretick Celestius prime Disciple of Pelagius if the testimony of one single modern Authour Claudius Menardus may be taken 3. Now the circumstances touching the execution of this three-fold Mission we intend consequently to declare And though the Ecclesiasticall affairs of Ireland be not comprehended directly within our present Design yet since the great Apostle of that Countrey as hath been shew'd was a Brittain both beginning and ending his dayes in Brittany it will either be no excursion or one very excusable if not commendable to insert here some of his principall Gests 4. He did not begin the execution of his Apostolicall Office till after the time that S. Germanus and Lupus came into Brittany to expugne the Pelagian Heresy For by them he was encouraged therto Till which time he convers'd here in Brittany by his holy example inviting his countrey-men to the imitation of his vertues and piety 5. The ancient Authour of his life extant in Capgrave relates many admirable deeds perform'd by him before he had addicted himself to the discipline and instruction of S. Germanus One of which we will recite in this place and probably hapning about this time by which will be discover'd how wonderfully he was call'd to the Apostleship of Ireland 6. On a certain day S. Patrick in his sleep saw a man coming to him as out of Ireland having many letters in his hand one of which he gave to the holy man who read it Now this was the beginning of the Letter This is the voyce of the Inhabitants of Ireland Assoon as he had read those words the same instaÌ„t he heard the voyces of a world of infants crying to him out of their Mothers wombs in many Provinces of Ireland and saying We beseech thee Holy Father to come and converse among us Having heard this S. Patrick immediatly felt great compunction in his heart and could read no more of the Letter And assoon as he awak'd he gave thanks to God for this heavenly Vision being assured that our Lord had call'd him to be an instrument of the salvation of those who had cryed unto him 7. Hereto Iocelinus another Writer of his life adds That S Patrick hereupon ask'd counsell of our Lord the Angell of the great councell touching this affaire and by the mean of the Angell Victor receiv'd this Divine Oracle That forsaking his parents and countrey he should passe over into Gaule there to be more perfectly instructed in the Doctrin of Christian Faith and Ecclesiasticall Discipline III. CHAP. 1.2.3 c. Of S. Palladius Apostle of the Scotts in Brittany 8.9 His Disciples Servanus and Tervanus 10. c. Of S. Palladius his death 1. OF the foresaid three Missions the first that was put in execution was that of S. Palladius into Brittany This S. Palladius was a Deacon of the Roman Church a man no doubt of great prudence learning and sanctity since he alone was made choice of though as yet in an inferiour Ecclesiasticall degree to free the whole Island of Brittany from Heresy and Infidelity Twice was he sent as Legat of Pope Celestinus into our countrey Concerning the first Legation thus writes Baronius In the four hundred twenty ninth year of our Lord saith he during the Consulship of Florentius and Dionysius Pope Celestin by a Legation of the Deacon Palladius deliver'd Brittany infected with the Pelagian Heresy 2. Being come into Brittany assoon as he had inform'd himself of the state of the Island how the Civiller part formerly under the Roman Iurisdiction was defiled by Heresy and the Northern Regions now possess'd by the Scotts wholly buried in the mists of Paganism He gave notice hereof to Pope Celestinus who recall'd him to Rome to advise with him about a remedy against both these mischeifs 3. Vpon serious consultation therfore it was thought fit to divide these two employments and to commit them to severall persons Hereupon in opposition to the â—elagian Heresy by which the Roman Island as S. Prosper calls it that is the Provinces heretofore subject to the Empire were miserably infected two Holy Bishops of Gaule S. Germanus and S. Lupus were directed into Brittany whose labours with the happy successe of them shall be presently declared Again out of an Apostolick solicitude to rescue the barbarous Northern Regions from Paganism the same Palladius after he was exalted to an Episcopall Degree was by Pope Celestinus as his Legat again sent to be the Apostle and converter of the Scottish Nation 4. This double Mission is thus recorded by S. Prosper a Holy and learned Father living at the same time Pope Celestinus saith he of venerable memory upon whom our Lord had confer'd many gifts of his Grace for the defence of the Catholick Church knowing that to the Pelagians already condemn'd no new examination was to be allow'd but only the remedy of Pennance commanded that Celestius who impudently demanded a new audience as if his Heresy had not been discuss'd should be excluded out of the confines of Italy For his resolution and judgment was that the Statuts of his Predecessours and former Synodall Decrees ought to be inviolably observed by himself and that he should not admit to a new retractation those doctrins which already had deserv'd and suffred condemnation 5. Neither did he extend a lesse zealous care towards Brittany which he likewise freed from the same contagious discease of Heresy for by his order and the labours of S. Germanus and S. Lupus he excluded from that secret retirement divided by the Ocean from the rest of the world certain Enemies of Divine Grace which had seised upon that Island which by producing the Arch-hereticks Pelagius and Celestius had given an originall to their Heresy Moreover the same Holy Pope ordain'd Palladius a Bishop to the Scottish Pagan Nation and by these means whilst he studiously endeavour'd to preserve the Roman Island Catholick he made the barbarous part of the Island Christian. 6. Now here the Ancient and Later Scotts that is the Irish and the people now only call'd Scotts doe earnestly contend which should appropriat to themselves S. Palladius for their Apostle with exclusion of the other But the controversy may be compounded by allowing each of them a share in him For no doubt his Legation extended to the Scottish Nation in generall both in Brittany and beyond the Sea And during the short time that he lived he attempted the conversion of Ireland but in vain So that he was effectually the Apostle only of the Brittish Scotts 7. Hereof we have a proof in the life
raign our Ecclesiasticall monuments doe record extreme cruelty exercis'd by Hengist in all places where his armies came principally in Kent against Preists and Holy Virgins especially great numbers of which he caused to be massacred Altars he profaned every where and demolish'd Churches 3 But among the Victimes of this barbarous Princes cruelty there onely remains the memory of one illustrious Bishop Voadinus Arch-bishop of London who dyed a glorious Martyr in this tempest The names of all the rest are onely written in heaven 4. Now concerning Saint Voadinus we read thus in our ancient English Martyrologe On the third of Iuly at London is the commemoration of Saint Voadinus Martyr Arch-bishop of London who being a man of great Sanctity reproved Vortigern King of Brittany for repudiating his lawfull wife and marrying an â—nfidell For which cause Hengist King of Kent the father of Vortigerns second illegitimate wife inflam'd with fury commanded the said Holy Bishop together with many other Preists and religious men to be stain Whence may appear that all good men did execrate the Kings last and adulterous mariage 5. Chamber in the life of Vortigern as Richard White relates affirms that Saint Voadinus his admonition to King Vortigern had two heads The first was his unlawfull dispâ—sall of part of the patrimony and crown of the Kingdom without the consent of the Clergy Nobility and people The other was his marrying a Pagan wife his own being yet alive against whom he could alledge no cause which might iustify a divorce This double reprehension did Hengist revenge by the death of the holy Bishop Now though both these grounds of reprehension were very iust yet it was the latter proceeding from a a reverence to the Sacrament of the Church vitiated by the new Bride which principally regarded a Bishop to censure and which for so doing and suffring for his duty gave him a sufficient title to Martyrdom 6. Gildas and Saint Beda though they mention not by name this Martyrdom of Saint Voadinus yet deliver generall expressions of the cruell persecution rais'd by Hengist especially against Ecclesiasticall persons that they afford sufficient grounds to render it unquestionnable For Gildas declares that great numbers of Bishops and Preists were massacred by that Saxon-King And Saint Beda relates the same in these words The impious King after his Victory almighty God the iust Iudge so disposing layd wast the Citties and provinces adjoyning and without any resistance continued the flame from the Eastern to the Western sea covering the whole surface of the miserable Island with ruine Both publick and private buildings were demolish'd And every where the Prelats of the Church together with the people without any regard to their dignity were consum'd with sword and fire neither were there any who took care to bury their bodies after they were so cruelly slain VII CHAP. 1.2 c. Hengist at a Feast perfidiously murders the Brittish Nobles 5. Stone-henge a Monument of this 6.7 Vortigern being a Prisoner redeems himself with surrendring severall Provinces to the Saxons 1. FOR two or three years wee read nothing memorable perform'd between the Brittains and Saxons but the year of Grace four hundred sixty one is noted with an act of most horrible perfidious cruelty done by Hengist For he having a resolution by any means to enlarge his bounds in Brittany and finding that by exercice of war the Brittish courages encreased turnd his thoughts to invent some stratagem by which without any hazard he might compasse his end 2. For this purpose insinuating himselfe into the minds of Vortigern and the Brittish Nobility as if he were desirous of amity and peace which if they would grant he would turn his arms against the Picts and Scotts and drive them quite out of the Island He quickly obtain'd beleif from the easy nature of Vortigern as if his intentions were sincere Whereupon a Meeting is ordain'd between the Brittains and Saxons with this caution that each King should be attended with only three hundred and those unarm'd at which Meeting they were to treat of the conditions of peace 3. The place appointed for this fatall Assemblâ— was a plain neer Sorbiodunum or Old Salsbury a Citty seated in the Province of the Belgae in which still remains a monument of a dismall Tragedy For these being mett on both sides a great Feast was prepared for the Brittains at which the articles of agreement were to be ratified by mutuall promises and oathes 4. But toward the end of the Feast when they were dissolv'd in wine Hengist on a sudden calld aloud To arms which was the watchword agreed on among the Saxons Whereupon they immediately drew out short swords which they had conceald under their cloathes and quickly slew their unarmed guests the Brittains Yet in that Tragedy one memorable example of courage was perform'd by a Brittish Noble man if Geffrey of Monmouth may be beleived For Eldol the valiant Governour Consul of Glocester Claudiocestriae snatching up a stake by chance lying near slew seaventy of the Saxons with it 5. A Monument not long after rais'd by the Brittains continues to this day the memory of this most barbarous and perfidious Tragedy This is that which is Vulgarly calld Stone-henge on Salsbury plains where in a space of ground compass'd with a ditch are placed as in a threefold crown stones of an incredible vastnes some of them twenty eight feet in height and seaven in breadth over many of which other great stones are placed a crosse The report is saith Camden that Ambrosius Aurelianus or his brother Vther Pendragon by the help and art of Merlin the famous Magician rais'd this Monument in memory of the Brittains treacherously slain by the Saxons at a conference Though others deliver that this was a magnificent Sepulcher rais'd to Ambrosius Aurelianus himself slain near this place from whom likewise the town of Ambresbury not far distant took its name 6. In this slaughter the Saxons took Vortigern prisoner and the year following saith Mathew of Westminster threatning him with death they bound him in chains and for his life requir'd of him to deliver up severall of his Citties and munitions Who quickly granted whatsoever they demanded so he might scape with his life This being confirm'd by oath they gave him his liberty and first of all they seys'd on the Citty of London then Yorck and Lincoln likewise Winchester all which Provinces they wasted killing the miserable Brittains like Sheep They destroyed to the ground all Churches and buildings belonging to Ecclesiasticall persons they killd the Preists near the Altars they burnt with fire all Books of Holy Scripture and heaped earth on the sepulchers of Martyrs Such religious men as could scape their fury repaired to desarts woods and rocks carying with them the Relicks of Saints Vortigern therfore seing so horrible destruction retir'd into the parts â—f Wales Cambria and there inclos'd himself in a town
Orphans and his wife a Widow And the King with his whole Region remaind the space of two years more under the same Excommunication 8. After that the King seing the perdition of his own soule and damnation of his Kingdom could no longer sustain an Excommunication of such continuance but humbly beggd pardon at Landaff of Bishop Oudoceus Who thereupon in the presence of three Abbots imposed on him the yoke of Pennance proportionated to the quality and heynousnes of his crimes the King all the while humbly inclining his head shedding teares abundantly The Pennance was that he should three wayes make satisfaction to God and the Church of Landaff namely by Fasting Prayer and Almes 9. King Mouric accepted this Yoke of Pennance And for the redemption of his own soule and for the soule of Cynetu he gave to the Church of Landaff and into the hand of Oudoceus Bishop and all his Successours four villages with their entire liberty to be held free from all service for ever and with absolute enjoyment of Common through his countrey to the inhabitants abiding in the said lands in feilds woods pastures and Water The first is called Ringracnauc the second Nantavo the third a village beyond Kadava where Cynetu was slain the fourth a village beyond Nadava where the Kings Son committed adultery it reaches from the Fenn called Elleti to Nandava and it is called the village Gudberdh These four villages contain four and twenty Modij of Land 10. Witnesses hereto of Clergy men were Oudoceus Bishop Consen Abbot of the vale of Carban Carbam Abbot of Ildute Sulgen Abbot of Docuni And of Laicks were present King Mouric with his Son Frioc and Morrant the Son of Arthruis c. This is the form of the first Synod of Landaff in which the discreet Reader will observe severall passages which will give light to see both the Religion and Discipline of that age IX CHAP. 1.2 c Severall Welsh Synods and the occasions of them 6. S. Oudoceus his death 1. THE Complaint of Gildas touching the Princes living in his time was very just that Brittany had Kings but those Kings were bloody Tyrants often times swearing and as oft forswearing ready enough to make vows and promises but presently breaking those promises sanguinary proud parricids c. For besides the fore-cited Synod the same Bishop Oudoceus was obliged upon the very like causes to collect two more which are extant also in Sir H. Spelman Which to avoyd tediousnes shall not here be set down at length being both of them parallel to the former It will suffise therefore breifly and summarily to sett down the occasions of collecting thē the proceedings in them 2. The occasion of the former of them was this King Morcant and his Vnkle Frioc in the presence of S. Oudoceus Bishop and the three forenamed Abbots at the podium Church of S. Ildutus took their oaths at the Holy Altar on which were placed the Relicks of Saints that they would observe peace and amity together without any guile adding this convention That if either of them should kill or commit treachery against the other he should not redeem his crime by money or lands but should be obliged to quit his kingdom and spend his whole life in pilgrimage in forrain countreys A good while after which Covenant made King Morcant by the Devils instigation slew his Vncle. After which crime committed he came to the Holy Bishop Oudocéus to Landaff humbly desiring pardon of those his two crimes of Homicide and perjury The Bishop thereupon assembled a Synod at the Monastery of the Vale of Carban whereto came all the Clergy and forenam'd Abbots as likewise King Morcant attended with the principall persons of Morcannuc or Glamorganshire 3. The Synod being assembled and consulting on this affaire gave their judgment that to avoyd the depriving the land of the protection of its naturall Lord the King should be permitted to redeem a pilgrimage by fasting prayers and Almes Which Pennance the King laying his hand on the four Gospells and the Relicks of Saints undertook to perform promising moreover that for ever after he would in all things mercifully execute justice Which Pennance being finish'd accordingly and Christian Communion restor'd to him he proclam'd the Churches of Catoc Ildut and Docunni free from all Regall service discharging likewise the Church of S. Ildutus of a bagg of Honey and an iron-caldron which formerly were to be presented to the King 4. The Third Synod which for affinity of the matter shall be adjoyn'd here though it was celebrated probably many yerrs after was assembled on this occasion A certain Brittish Prince named Guidnerth in a contention for the Principality slew his Brothe Merchien For which he was excommunicated by S. Oudoceus in a full Synod in testimony of which Excommunication the Crosses were taken down and layd on the ground and the Cimbals were turned Thus he remain'd excluded from Christian Communion the space of three years At the end of which demanding pardon he was sent into Lesser Brittany to S. Sampson Arch-bishop of Dole from him to receive iudgment and suitable pennance This was done partly because of the great amity between those Bishops but cheifly because the same language being spoken in both countreyes he could more freely discover his fault and require indulgence from the said Arch-bishop This voyage was undertaken by Guidnerth who having obtain'd absolution he return'd with Letters sealed by S. Sampson before the year was ended But because he had not according to the injunction given him remain'd a whole year in Exile the Bishop would not take off his Excommunication Presently after S. Oudoceus dyed to whom Berthgiun succeeded in the Bishoprick of Landaff To him King Morcant and Guednerth made an earnest request to take off the Excommunication from Guednerth and to raise again from the earth the Crosses and Cimbals with the Holy Relicks Whereupon after a promise made by him to make satisfaction for his crime by fasting prayers and alms he was at last with great devotion and many tears shed by him absolv'd by the Bishop After which the said Guednerth to testify his gratitude gave to the Church of Landaff these Lands Lann Catgual and Tye with all the woods Sea-coasts and liberties c. Witnesses whereof were these Clarks c. 5. B. Godwin affirms that this third Synod was celebrated not by S. Oudoceus but by a Bishop of Landaff call'd Grecielus the seaventh from S. Oudocéus to whom Berthguin succeeded and that the fratricide Guidnerth to shew his gratitude gave to the foresaid Bishop and his Successors of his free liberality Lancadwallader now call'd Bishton or Bishopston which saith he is the only Mannour now left to that See 6. As touching S. Oudocéus the Authour of his life in Capgrave relates that he quitted his Pastorall Cure and built a Monastery nere the River Weye Vaga where assembling a great multitude of Brethren he spent
the Holy Fathers And lastly how during the space of forty five years in which he exercised the Episcopall charge he having been exposed to many dangers both at home and abroad at last attained to his eternall happy rest in our Lord. His Memory is celebrated among the Saints by the Church on the twelfth of October the day on which he dyed How his Sacred Relicks were translated from Rippon to Canterbury two hundred and thirty years after his death we shall in due place declare 8. His Successour in the See of Hagulstad or Hexham saith Saint Beda was Acca formerly one of his Preists a man of admirable magnificence for having founded a Church to the honour of Saint Andrew the Apostle he richly adorned it and having gathered many Relicks of the Apostles and Martyrs he raised therein severall Altars in which he placed the said Relicks Moreover he built in the same a most Noble Library furnished with a vast number of volumes He provided also for his Church all manner of holy vessels Lamps and other ornaments And for a more solemne performance of the Divine Office he sent for out of Kent a famous Cantour named Maban who had learnt Ecclesiasticall modulation of the Successours of Saint Gregory there Him he detained the space of twelve years to instruct his Monks both in such Song as they either had never learnt or by disuse had forgotten 9. The devout Bishop Acca also himself was very skilfull in Church-song and moreover learned in Holy Scriptures untainted in his Confession of the Catholick Faith and perfectly versed in Ecclesiasticall Discipline For from his infancy he had been brought up among the Clergy of the Holy Bishop Bosa Bishop of York And afterward aspiring to Religious Perfection he adioynd himself to Saint Wilfrid in whose attendance he continued to his death Whith him also he went to Rome where he learnt many things pertaining to Ecclesiasticall institution which he could not have learnt at home 10. Wee find in Saint Beda that Saint Acca before his exaltation to the Episcopall degree had been an Abbot for under that title there is an Epistle directed to him declaring how by his instinct and order Saint Beda had written his Treatise called Hexameron touching the Creation of the world And how after he was made Bishop he wrote oftimes to the same Saint Beda and exhorted him to write his Commentaries on Saint Luke c. shall be declared hereafter VIII CHAP. 1.2 c. Death of S. Aldelm Bishop of Shirborn 5.6 c. Elogies given to him even by Protestants 8.9 c. Forther succeeds him To whom an Epistle from Arch-bishop Brithwald 1 THE same year in which Saint Wilfrid dyed our Island lost another Star likewise of the first magnitude the Holy and most learned Bishop Saint Aldelm Bishop of Shirborn concerning whom frequent mention hath been already made 2. As touching his death thus writes the Auâ—hour of his life in Capgrave S. Aldelm in a good old age full of vertues and Sanctity departed to our Lord on the eighth day before the Calends of Iune in the seaven hundred and ninth year after our Lords Incarnation and the fifth year after he had been promoted to the Episcopall charge and the thirty fourth after his being instituted Abbot He was buried in his Monastery of Meldun or Malmsbury with great honour 3. His death was by divine revelation foreknown to Saint Egwin who in a certain Treatise thus writes Two years after the foundation of the Monastery of Evesham the Holy Bishop Aldelm departed to our Lord whith being made known to mee by revelation I called together she Religious Brethren to whom I declared the decease of that Venerable Father and presently after with great speed I took my iourney to the place where his Sacred Body reposed above fifty miles distant from his Monastery of Malmsbury Whither I conducted the same and there buried it very honourably Moreover I gave command that in every place in which the said Body dayly rested during the Procession there should be erected Sacred Crosses All which Crosses doe remain to this day neither hath any one of them felt any injury by time One of the said Crosses is yet to be seen in the Cloister of that Monastery 4. Two hundred and forty years after his death to witt in the year of Grace nine hundred forty nine saith the foresaid Authour his Sacred Body was taken up out of his Tomb and placed with great honour in a Shrine His Memory is yeaâ—ly celebrated by the Church on the Anniversary day of his death which was the twenty fifth of May. 5. This glorious Bishop is never mentioned by any of our ancient Historians without high praises Yea even our late Protestant Writers are very large in his commendations Bale though ordinarily rude and uncivill towards Catholicks yet of S. Aldelm he testifies that he was so diligently studious in all learning Divine and Humane that he far exceeded all the Ecclesiasticall Writers of his time And that both in verse and prose he was wonderfully learned both for Latin and Greek for his witt sharp and for his stile elegant He happily departed to our Lord in the year of his Incarnation seaven hundred and nine Camden likewise thus writes of him He is truly worthy that his Memory should for ever flourish not only in regard of his Sanctity but learning also He was the first of the English Nation who wrote in the purity of the Latin tongue and the first who taught the English to compose both verse and prose as well in the Greek as Latin stile This Aldelm after he was dead was reclamed by the Great King Athelstan as his Tutelar Saint The like Elogies doe Bishop Godwin D. Iames and the Centuriators of Magdeburg make of him 6. Yet after all this there is scarce one Point in which they condemne the Roman Church as an Errour iustifying their Separation from it but was held by him And particularly touching the Supreme Vniversall authority of the Pope in the heretofore mentioned Epistle of his to Gerontius King of Cornwall he in the name of the whole English Synod writes That S. Peter merited by a happy and peculiar Priviledge to receive from our Lord the Monarchicall Power of loosing sins both in heaven and Earth Moreover That the foundation of the Church and bullwark of Faith was placed principally on Christ consequently on Peâ—eâ— c. And that Christ who is Truth it self did thus establish on Peter the Priviledge over the Church Thou art Peter and on this Rock I will build my Church Yea Flacius Illyricus writes that S. Aldelm maintained That the Confession of the true Faith wholesome Doctrine and a life otherwise unreprocheable would nothing proffit him who lived in separation from the Vnity of the Catholick Roman Church This is the Faith taught then in the English Church and the Teachers of this Faith the Protestants now
three years after and is commemorated on the two and twentieth of September 6 A great proof of the perfection of Monasticall Disciplin observed after her death in her Monastery is this That Saint Boniface the glorious Apostle of the Germans having founded a Monastery in those parts made choice of her Disciples above all others and particularly of Saint Lioba to plant Religious observance there This is testified by Rodulphus Disciple of Rabanus Maurus in the life of S. Lioba written by him 8. The same Writer also affirms that in the same town of Winburn there was erected likewise a Cloyster of Monks either by Saint Cuthburga or her Brother King Ina And that from the beginning a Law and Decree of Religious Disciplin had been made That excepting Preists who were to serve at the Altar no men should be permitted to enter the Monastery of those Religious Virgins Nor any woman into that of Religious men And that among the other obligations of the Virgins at their Profession this was one never to step out of their Cloyster except upon a necessary cause to be approved by Superiours 9. Among the Epistles of Saint Boniface there is one inserted from one Aldhun an Abbot and two Abbesses called Cnenburg and Coenburg which were probably these two Princely Sisters Saint Cuthburga and Saint Quenburga desiring a devour Preist called Wietbert an attendant of Saint Boniface to recommend to God in his Prayers two Religious woemen Quoengyth and Edlu both which dyed the same day being the Ides of September XIX CHAP. 1.2 c. The death of Prince Pipin to which S. Swibert endeavoured in vain to prepare him 1. THE death of Duke Pipin hapning about this time since the holy Apostolick Bishop Saint Swibert was employed in preparing him to it which charge he performed with great zeale though with small effect it will not be iudged impertinent to give an account of what passed between them from the relation of S. Marcellin a witnes whose authority cannot be questioned Thus therefore he writes 2. It hapned sayth he in the year seaven hundred and fourteen after our Lords Incarnation that Pipin of Herstall a magnanimous Prince and Maâ—re of the King of France his house sell fick of that disease which endred with his life Hereupon the illustrious Bishop Saint Swibert was earnestly desired by certain Noble persons to visit him But he thought fitt first to goe to Colen attended by his two Disciples Willeic and Theodorick there to demand counsell of Plectrudis the illustrious Duchesse of Lorrain or the Austrasians how he should cary himself in that affaire She with great devotion received and entertaind him at last for her own consolation retaining with her the pious Preist Willeic she dismissed Saint Swibert accompanied by Agilulf Archbishop of Colen and other Prelats giving them charge seriously to advise her husband Prince Pipin that in case he should dye he would take care not to disinherit his illustrious lawfully begotten children Drogo Duke of Champagne and Grimoaldus Maire of the house to Childebert King of France by substituting in his Will as his Heyr Charles Martell a bastard by Alpaide his Concubine which injustice he could not doe without the losse and damnation of his soule besides the stain that he would bring upon his name in the sight of the whole Church and Scandall of his Nobility and Subjects 3. This was an employment which not long before had cost the Holy Bishop Lambert very dear for because he had reprehended the same Prince for his unlawfull cohabitation and mariage with the same Harlot he lost his life and was deservedly esteemed a Martyr 4. The foresaid Bishop therefore being arrived at Ioppilta a Town upon the River Mosa where the sick Prince lay were kindly received by him They therefore to comfort and encourage him to suffer with patience temporall afflictions or infirmities told him that Almighty God in his wisedom and goodnes made the way to heaven rough and unpleasant to his Elect least being delighted in the way they should forget or disesteem the happines which they expected in their countrey 5 After such like discourse often repeated at last having found a convenient and opportune season among other spirituall advices which they gave him for the good of his soule they with great affection and zeale discovered to him the speciall motive of their iourney sharply reprooving him for his unlawfull mariage But they had no sooner touched upon this argument but they were with great indignation repulsed by the Prince And the harlot Alpaide having diligently enquired into and found the occasion of these Prelats iourney rudely commanded them presently to be gone And withall was so importunate with the Prince in behalf of her Son Charles Martel that she obtained of him whatsoever she requested And accordingly Pipin dying the same year left Charles Martel heyre of all his Principalities 6. This being seen by the foresayd Prelats they were forced to return to Colen with greif and dishonour where they made known to Plectrudis all things which had passed at Ioppilia with Pipin withall comforting and exhorting her to sustain such crosses with patience XX. CHAP. i. 2 c. The Birth education and Gests of S. Guthlac Of his Disciple Bertelins intention to murder him Of Ethelbald a banished Mercian Prince comforted by him c. BVT in Brittany a far more comfortable and happy death befell a Hermit of admirable Sanctity named S. Guthlac who as in this life he enioyd a familiar conversation with Angels so in the next he was made their companion in blessednes for ever His Gesis we have thought fitt to remitt till this time when he dyed because having lived a solitary life they were scarce at all involved with the common occurrents of the Church in his time The story of his life may require from us a more then ordinary attention credit because written by Felix a devout â—reist of the same age and dictated to him by Bertelin a Monk of Croyland his companion in Solitude The Authour dedicated his Writing to Elwold King of the East-Angles which is a sufficient warrant to rectify the Chronology of some of our Historians who place the death of this Elwold in the year of Grace six hundred and ninety By the generall account S. Guthlac lived forty seaven years and being twenty four years old he undertook a soldiers Profession in which he lived eight years and fifteen years after in the Solitude of Croyland so that his Birth must fall in the year of Grace six hundred sixty seaven The wonderfull circumstances of which is thus recorded by the foresaid Authour Felix 2. In the dayes of Ethelred King of the Mercians saith he a certain Noble person of Royall offspring named Penwald had by his wife Tecta the holy servant of God Guthlac At the hower of his birth his future Sanctity was miraculously designed For from heaven there appeard the hand as it were of
hundred and fourteen days besides the Canonicall howers he recited the whole Psalter twice a day and this when he was so sick that he could not tide on horse-back but was forced to be caried in a Litter every day except that on which he passed the Sea and three days before his death he sung Masse and offred the Saving Sacrifice to God 16 He dyed on the five and twentieth day of September in the year after our Lords Incarnation seaven hundred and sixteen upon a Friday after three of the clock in the after noon in the feilds of the foresaid Citty of Langres and was buried the day following in the Monastery of the three Twin-Martyrs about a mile distant from the Citty toward the south there being present no small army partly of English who attended him as likewise inhabitants of the Monastery and Citty adioyning all which with loud voyces sung Psalmes at his enterrment Thus far writes S. Beda 7. It seems his body did not remain at Langres for in the Supplement of the Gallican Martyrologe on the six and twentieth of November we read celebrated the Translution of Saint Ceolfrid an English Abbot who at his return from his pilgrimage to Rome dyed at Langres in France and was buried in the Church of the three twinn Martyrs Afterward his countrey-men demanding his Sacred Body which had been glorified by many Miracles it was with great veneration caried back to his own Monastery The day of his deposition is celebrated in our Martyrologe on the five and twentieth of September II. CHAP. 1.2 c. The death Buriall and Miracles of S. Swibert 1. THE same year as hath been sayd Saint Swibert the glorious Apostle of the Germans and Frisons ended his mortality This was the third year after he had visited Prince Pipin and was returned to Werda saith Marcellin At last Almighty God who is himself the great reward of his faithfull servants and who by a temporall death of the flesh translates the living Stones of his Church from earth to his heavenly building was pleased to call the valiant Champion of his Faith Saint Swibert to receive his Crown in his eternall kingdom Therefore in the said year Saints Swibert replenished with all Divine Graces and inflamed with a cordiall desire to See God after he had celebrated the Divine Mysteries on the Feast of Saint Peters Chair in his Monastery a languishing sicknes took him so that he was forced to confine himself to his bed 2. And when he saw that his disease every moment grew more violent he called all his Brethren and Disciples togeâ—her to the number of twenty and in the first place admonished them to follow our Lords foot-steps and to be carefull to preserve peace and charity with one another and with all of the house-hold of Faith Likewise that with all care they should observe the Instituts of Regular Disciplin which he had taught them by Word and example Then he told them expressly that the day of his death was at hand whereupon they all began to weep bitterly But the Holy Bishop said to them My beloved Brethren doe not weep but rather reioyce in my behalf for now I shall receive the recompence of all my labours Extend your charity to mee at this time of my retiring out of the world and protect mee with your prayers After he had said this he much reioycing in our Lord exhorted them to a contempt of this present world and an earnest desire of heavenly rewards again putt them in mind by their watchings prayers and good works to prevent the hour of his death which was uncertain And having added other words to this effect and bestowed his Benediction on them by his command they went out to the Church with great sadnes 3. But he retained with him the Superiour of his Monastery Saint â—iâ—eic with whom he ioynd in most devout Prayer to God and meditation of Divine things And when the day of his departure and repose was come of which he had before been informed by an Angel causing his foresaid Brethren to be once more assembled he commanded that Masse should solemnly be celebrated in his presence Then arming himself with the Communion of our Lords Body and making the sign of the Crosse on all that stood about him he quietly slept in death and his blessed soule was caried by Quires of Angels to the eternall happy Society of the Saints And immediatly his face became of a shining brightnes his Cell likewise yeilded an odoriferous fragrancy which wonderfully refreshed all that were present Thus this most Holy Prelat Saint Swibert Bishop of Werda happily dyed in the sixty ninth year of his age on a friday being the first day of March on which day the Church every where celebrates his Memory 4. In the same hower that he dyed his soule with great glory and ioy appeared to Saint Willebrord his beloved companion Bishop of Vtrecht then in his way returning from Epternac to Verona requesting and admonishing him that he would be present at his Funeralls in Werda and commend his body to the Sepulcher This being declared to us by Saint Willebrord with much greif he presently took boat and made great hast to Werda There was then present with him his illustrious Spirituall daughter the Duchesse Plectrudis with certain Prelats who blessed God for the merits of his holy Confessour Saint Swibert All these the day following being Saturday as they were according to custom singing the Vigile of the Dead a young man was brought among them who had been made blind by lightning and with his clamours interrupting the Psalmody and calling to the Saint to have his sight restored assoon as he had touched the Coffin he immediatly recovered his sight to the astonishment of all Besides another who was raging mad being brought in and kissing the cover of the same Coffin was presently restored to his senses A third also who was possessed by the Devill by the same means was perfectly freed from the Wicked Spirit 5 At last on Sunday after all the solemnity of the funerals had been devoutly fullfilld the Sacred Body with hymns and Lauds was reverently committed to the ground by Saint Willebrord Arch-bishop of Vtrecht Saint Willeic a Preist the glorious Princesse Pâ—ectrudâ— Duchesse of the Austrasians and many others his Brethren and Disciples 6. And I Marcellin Preist who have written this History and had been formerly a Disciple and companion of the Holy Bishop S. Swibert I was also present at the Buriall with Saint Willebrord after which at the earnest request of my dear Brethren Willeic Gerard Theodoric and others we remained with them in the Monastery of Werda fifteen dayes for their consolation I will therefore here relate among many some few testimonies of Miracles which I saw with mine own eyes and many other with mee so that it not only deservedly may but ought to be beleived that the said Holy Bishop is great in
without delay denounce them to his Holines But if it should happen which God forbid that I should hereafter attempt or any way doe any thing contrary to the tenon of this my Vow may I in the last dreadfull Iudgment incurr the Sentence and punishment of Ananias and Saphira who presumed to deale unfaithfully with you in disposing their goods This form of Oath also I Boniface humble Bishop have written with mine own hand and having layd it upon the most sacred Body of S. Peter I have in the presence of God who is my judge taken this my oath accordingly which I doe promise to keep 6. After this the Pope studiously assisted and respected him in all things for he gave him a Book containing all Ecclesiasticall Decrees which had been Synodically made by his Predecessours enioyning him that both his Clergy and people should be ordered according to the said Instituts He likewise by a Priviledge in Writing promised and confirmed to him and all that depended on him the favour and Protection of the See Apostolick 7. To conclude at his departure he gave him severall Letters to the illustrious Duke Charles Mair of the French Kings palace to all Bishops Preists Nobles c. requiring their assistance and defence of the said holy man in the execution of his Apostolick Office among the Nations feared on the Eastern parts of the Rhene With these he adioynd a Letter also to the Clergy and people peculiarly subject to this Holy Bishop requiring them to shew all reverence and obedience to him acquainting them withall that among other Iniunctions given him he had commanded him not to presume to make any unlawfull Ordinations not to permitt any one who had two wives or one which had not been a Virgin no illiterate man or deformed and vitiated in any of his members none which had been in publick Pennance or obnoxious to Iustice to be promoted to Holy Orders That he should not receive to the same Orders any Aegyptians or Africans because many such were Manicheans and often rebaptized That he should be carefull not to diminish but rather encrease the revenews or ornaments of his Churches And that the Rents and Oblations should be divided into four portions of which one he should reserve to himself a second should be distributed to the Clergy proportionably to their Offices a third to the poor and strangers and a fourth to be reserved for maintaining the fabricks of Churches Of all which he was to give an account in the Iudgment of God That Ordinations of Preists and Deacons should be celebrated onely in the Fasts of the fourth and tenth Monthes at the beginning of Lent and on the Vespers of Saturday after Whitsontide Lastly that except in danger of death the Sacrament of Baptism should not be conferred but only on the Solemnities of Easter and Pentecost 8 To these Letters were added others full of pious exhortations and Catechisticall Instructions to the people of the Province of the Thuringians and also the Alt Saxons both Idolaters and new converted Christians And lastly whereas among the Thuringians there were some courageous persons who in defence of their Faith had suffred greivous persecutions from the Pagans he addressed a particular letter to them by name to these Noble persons Altolph Godolas Wilary Gunthar Albold c. in which he highly exalted their constancy giving humble thanks to God for the same and encouraging them to persevere in their constancy to have recourse to the See Apostolick in any of their necessities and to be obedient to their new consecrated Bishop XIV CHAP. 1.2 c. S Boniface returning into Germany constantly exercises his Apostolick Office He destroye Idolatry c. 4. He excommunicates Hereticks and licentious Christians 5. He is encouraged by S. Michaël to whom he builds a Church 6.7 8. He by Letters beggs the Prayers of severall Devout persons 1. SAint Boniface encouraged and secured by the authority of so many recommendations began his iourney towards Germany the beginning of the year following and being come to the Noble Prince Charles sirnamed Martel he presented to him the Holy Popes Letters and recommending himself to his protection with his consent he proceeded in his iourney to the Region of the Catti now called Hassians to whom he had already begun to preach the Gospell and to secure him both there and in the way thither the Prince gave him likewise Letters of safe-guard directed to all Bishops Dukes Counts c. signifying to them that it was his will that the Apostolick Father and Bishop Boniface the bearer of those should without any molestation or iniury goe or remain in the said countreys as being one whom he had received into his favour and Protection which he calls Mundiburde 2. When he was come into the Province of the Catti he found there very many who had cast off the Profession of Christianity Some Sacrifised to trees and fountâ—ins at least privatly some followed sooth saying and cousening divinations and many were addicted to abominable Sacrifices so that a very small number remained constant in the way of Truth which they had been taught 3. By the advice of these the Holy Bishop with their assiâ—tance attempted to cutt down a certain Tree of a prodigious vastnes which grew in a place called Geâ—smer and had been for many ages called the Tree of Iupiter Whereupon a great multitude of Pagans ran thither with an intention to kill him as an Ennemy of their Gods But at the same instant the Tree though not at all deep cutt as if it had been agitated by a Divine force was torn into four peices This when those Pagans saw they gave glory to God and embraced the Faith 4. Neither did he find greater opposition from Pagans then from Hereticks and licentious Christians For going from that Province to the Thurigians he found there a great decay of the Catholick Faith occasioned by the death of some of their Princes which had been converted The principall Authours of severall Heresies among them had been these infamous persons Dorthuvia Berther Eanbert and Humed Others there were horribly defiled with scandalous lusts and adulteries All which after sharp reprehensions he cutt off from the Churches Communion by Excommunication 5. In the mean time the famâ— of his Preaching being spread great accessions were made to the number of Beleiveâ—s Many Churches were erected and Monasteries built Among which one of the most Notable was founded at Ordorf to the honour of the Blessed Archangel Saint Michael who had appeared with great glory to the Holy Bishop on a certain night sleeping in his Tent near the River Oraham where he had been employed in preaching and baptizing and with many comfortable words encouraged him to be constant in that holy employment The morning following he celebrated Masse in the same place after which he commanded that dinner should be prepared But being told that there was no meat Is it so answered he How many
professed Hereticks such as Vigilantius and Iovinian ever opposed the Doctrines confirmed by such Stories XVI CHAP. 1.2 c. Severall Successions of English Bishops 4.5 c. The Gests and Death of S. Sturmis first Abbot of Fulda 1. THE year following severall Episcopall Sees were vacant in Brittany In the kingdom of the East-Angles Eglaf Bishop of Dumwiâ—h and Athelwolf of Helmham as it were by an ancient Law dying at the same time to the former was substituted Eadred and to the other Hunfert Again the See of Hagulstadt being vacant by the death of a Prelat of eminent vertue Alcmund Tilbert or Tilher or as some call him Gilbert was ordained in his place And Kenulf Bishop of Lindesfarn dying his Successour was Higbald Lastly in our ancient Catalogue of the Succession of Bishops we find that another Tilher was consecrated Bishop of Worcester in the place of Weremund who dyed this year 2. Not long after Albert or Aldebert sirnamed Coena Arch-bishop of York as Hoveden writes departed this life to our Lord but a little before he dyed Eanbald was ordained in his room Some affirm that this Eanbald was a Disciple of S. Alcuin But they are mistaken for it was not this but an other of the same name who sixteen years after this was his immediate Successour in the said Arch-bishoprick that was Alcuins Disciple 3. Moreover Kineard Bishop of Winchester at this time ended his life to whom succeeded Aethelard Abbot of Meldun or Malmsbury who was afterward assumed to the See of Canterbury And in the place of Bertun Bishop of Lichfeild was substituted Higebert 4. Wee shall not much transgresse the bounds of this History if wee commemorate the death of Sturmis the first Abbot of Fulda who by the Centuriators of Magdeburg is affirmed to have been an English-Saxon but more truly a German of the Province of Noricum as wee read in his Life written by Aegila the fourth Abbot of the same Monastery of Fulda He was in his childhood offred to S. Boniface who recommended him to the care of his devout Preist Wigbert Abbot of the Monastery of Fritzlar by whose inspection he was in his tender years brought up in piety and learning in so much as that being yet but a child he committed to his memory the whole Psalter and a great part of the Gospells and other Lessons of Holy Scripture 5. In due time he was ordained Preist and with great zeale preached the Gospell among the Pagans Almighty God confirming his Doctrine by frequent Miracles as casting out of Devills restoring many to health by imposition of his hands with prayer Many seduced Christians he recovered to the Orthodox Faith and many discords and dissentions he composed teaching all his hearers to practise meeknes humility longanimity and Charity 6. After three years thus piously employed he was by inspâ—ration moved to undertake a life of solitude austerity and contemplation Which having discovered to Saint Boniface he was by him appointed to find out in the Province called Bâ—chonia a convenient retired place for a Monastery to which quiet state S. Boniface himself had an intention in his old age to betake himself though he could never effect his desire After a long search at last his Disciple Sturmis found out the most proper and in all respects most convenient Seat of Fulda where as hath been declared S. Boniface by the munifiâ—ence of the Noble Princes Caroloman and Pipin built that famous Monastery 7. When it was built he committed the care and government of it to S. Sturmu to whom he gave instructions how he should direct such as were committed to his care adding likewise Precepts concerning obedience and Humility to be practised by the Monks conformable to the Rule of S. Benedict which he established among them Among other Instructions he told them that he could not find in any Writings of the ancient Institutours of Caenobiticall Profess on that Wine or Strong drink were becoming the Disciplin of a Monastery he therefore forbad the same to them But some years after in the raign of King Pipin this custom by the Decree of a Synod was altered in coÌ„sideration of the weaknes infirmities of many among them though some persisted in the ancient austerity to their deaths 8. But for a more perfect Instruction in Monasticall Disciplin S. Sturmis four years after he had been constituted Abbot with the consent of S. Boniface went to Rome where for a years space he perfectly informed himself in the Regular practises and Traditions of the Monasteries there and severall other parts of Italy And having made a collection of the best and most perfect returned homewards and first informing Saint Boniface of of all by his advice he established the practises of them in his Monastery of Fulda Hence it came to passe that many seeing the innocence and piety of those Religious men were induced to heap possessions on the said Monastery 9. After S. Boniface's Martyrdom the Holy Abbot Sturmis to whom S. Boniface had given order that his body should be buried at Fulda went into Friseland attended with a great multitude to fetch the Sacred Body which after earnest contention with S. Lullus Arch-bishop of Mentz at last he obtained and with a most solemn Procession brought to his Monastery By occasion of which the devotion of many to that holy place encreasing the Monastery became much enlarged and enriched 10. Not long after the Devill enviously looking on the prosperity of the said Monastery suggested to the minds of three malevolent Monks to accuse their Holy Abbot to King Pipin obiecting to him that he was an enemy to the King The Holy man did not expresse much earnestnes to refute this accusation saying only I have a witnes in heaven of the falsenes of this imputed crime Whereupon by the Kings command he was banished from thence with a few other Monks and retired to a Monastery called Vanediâ—h where he remained two years with all kindnes entertained by the Abbot As for the Monastery of Fulda the care or it was committed to Lullus who had conceived a bitter passion against the Holy Abbot Sturmis upon occasion of the contention about S. Boniface his body Lullus thereupon appointed over them a certain Monk called Marc whose government the Monks could by no means support insomuch as when they were ready unanimously to forsake the Monastery Lullus quietted them by permitting the choice of an Abbot to themselves This pleasing them they elected one of their brethâ—en a true servant of God named Freszold one who from his infancy had been brought up by S. Sturmis and was tenderly loved by him who accepted of the Orrice of Abbot onely out of a desire and intention to ioyn with his brethren in endeavouring to restore their good Spirituall Father Sturmis For which purpose they demanded the Prayers of all the neighbouring Monasteries 11. By vertue of which Prayers God moved the heart of King Pipin to call to mind