own innocence Insomuch as by their importunity the Emperour was even inforc'd to banish him into the West 4. This certainly unjust Sentence Saint Athanasius himself excuses in a letter written by him to the Egyptian Hermits where we read this passage Constantin upon the calumnious accusation of the Eusebians removed for a time Athanasius into Gaule that so he might be deliver'd from their cruelty who sought all opportunities treacherously to destroy him For thus wrote his Son Constans of blessed Memory as appears by his letters yet extant 5. And the same charitable interpretation did his other Son Constantin who succeeded him in the western Empire make of his Fathers action For writing to the people of Alexandria he saith To elude the Savage cruelty of the Arians whose iawes were opened to swallow him Athanasius was ordered to withdraw himself being commanded to live under my government Thus he made his abode in this Citty of Triers where nothing necessary is wanting to him So that no just suspicion can be imputed to the Emperour as if he wavered or had deserted the Orthodoxe Faith 6. This was further confirmed by a memorable accident hapning this year at Constantinople For the Emperour perceiving that Arius though avoyded by all Catholicks was defended as Orthodoxe by many others commanded him to repair to his presence in that Citty Whither being arrived Constantin himself ask'd him whether he did approve the Decrees of the Nicen Councill He presently with a chearfull countenance answered That he approved them The Emperour not content with his affirmation and subscription urged him to confirm this by oath in which likewise he complied But all this was meere craft and impious subtilty For whilst be made this Profession and oath he held in his bosome a Paper containing his heresy and swore that from his heart he beleived as he had written Notwithstanding the Emperour being ignorant of his fallacy beleived him Orthodoxe and thereupon commanded Alexander then Bishop of Constantinople to receive him into Communion 7. S. Athanasius to this relation adds That Constantin having heard what Arius professed and swore said thus to him If thy Faith be true and Orthodoxe thou hast sworn well But if it be impious and yet thou hast thus sworn may God condemne thee for thy perjury Which imprecation wanted nor an effect for presently God miraculously shew'd the impiety of Arius and true Faith of Constantin in this manner 8. Alexander Bishop of Constantinople being unwilling to admitt the Arch-heretick into his Communion was threatned by Eusebius Bishop of Nicomedia that if he refused he would presently cause him to be deposed But Alexander being much more solicitous for the true Faith then his Bishoprick had his recourse to Gods onely assistance and severall dayes and nights lying prostrate before his Altar in presence of his Sacraments pray'd in this manner O God I beseech thee to grant that if the opinion of Arius be true I may dye before the day of disputation come But if the Faith which I professe be true Let Arius the Authour of all these calamities suffer just punishment for his impiety 9. What was the fearfull successe of these fervent prayers is thus related by S. Athanasius When the Bishop had thus ended his Prayers he went away full of anxious cogitations and presently a wonderfull and incredible thing hapned The Eusebians threaten the good Bishop prayes As for Arius confiding in the power of the Eusebians in his way to the Church he used many vain and boasting bablings when on a sudden he was forced to retire into a common privy to exonerate nature where suddenly as it was written of Iudas he â—ell on his face to the ground and burst asunder in the middle Thus was he deprived both of life and Communion 10. The consequents of this fearfull iudgment Socrates thus further prosecutes This being done saith he the Eusebian faction was struck with a wonderfull â—errour and consternation and the fame therof was spread not through the Citty only but the whole world almost By this mean the Emperour likewise adhered still more firmly to the Catholick Faith affirming that the Nicene Faith was now also visibly confirmed by Divine authority and for this reason he much reioyced at the end of the Heretick Arius 11. This same year dyed the Holy Pope Marcus the Successour of S. Silvester after he had sate onely one year in whose place succeeded Pope Iulius whos 's first year is accounted the last of the Emperour Constantin the circumstances of whose death are now to be related XIX CHAP. 1.2.3 c. Constantins pious preparation to death 6. Whether he was baptiz'd by Eusebius the Arian 7. c. Manner of his death And prayers for him after 10. His Memory celebrated among Saints 1. ONE of the last Acts of Constantins zeale and devotion was the building at Constantinople a most magnificent Temple dedicated to the honour of all the Apostles The sumptuousnes of its structure is particularly described by Eusebius who adds That all these things the Emperour dedicated to the end he might eternise the Memory of our Saviours Apostles among all nations 2. In this Temple saith he he placed twelve 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 honorary repositories which should be as twelve Pillars for the honour and Memory of the twelve Apostles And in the midst of them he caused his own Tomb to be placed enclosed on each side by six of them Wisely forethinking that the Tabernacle of his dead body would decently and worthily rest there And having long before framed in his mind this cogitation he dedicated the Church to the Apostles having an opinion and beleif that their Memory would procure very much proffit to his soule 3. Now wherin this proffit did consist the same Authour thus further explains He by a provident dispensation design'd this place opportunely for the day of his death approaching by an incredible propension of his Faith foreseeing that when his Body after death should participate with the Apostles the same common appellation that then he being dead should also be made partaker of the Prayers which there should be offred in honour of the Apostles And with this mind did many of our Brittish and Saxon Kings and Nobles erect so many magnificent Churches and Monasteries for a remedy and redemption of their soules as they frequently expresse in their Charters of Foundations 4. Other more immediate preparations to a happy death made by the same pious Emperour are thus related by the same Writer The Emperour saith he enioyd his faculties and strength of reason in such a perfection that till the extremity of his age he continued to write Orations to make discourses with his freinds and to minister to his hearers advices well beseeming a good Christian. He likewise diligently published Laws both touching Civill and Military affaires for he had an understanding so dilated that he could comprehend what soever was
sublime a name they might better resist the Enemy But the unconstant soldiers finding his incapacity as suddenly depos'd him and in his place chose Gratianus born in the same Island 2. But within four monthes they slew likewise Gratianus for his insupportable cruelty Which being divulg'd in the countreys abroad their old Enemies out of Ireland return'd and being attended by the Scots Norvegians and Daci they march'd crosse the Island from sea to sea wasting all with fire and sword 3. In this extremity the Brittish Army proclam'd Emperour a Soldier called Constantin not for any merit of his courage saith S. Beda but only for the hope they fancied in his name as if the present ruins could not be repair'd but by another Constantin 4. Concerning this mans Election Geffrey of Monmouth follow'd by Florilegus and others frames this story How Wichelin commonly call'd Guithelin Arch Bishop of London seeing the calamity of Brittany and weaknes of the Romans pass'd over Sea into lesser Brittany formerly call'd Armorica where Aldroenus raign'd the fourth from Conanus whom Maximus had first constituted King there To him the Bishop made his humble petition that he would out of commiseration to the countrey from which himself was descended undertake the Government of it The King refused this offer as to himself but was content that his Brother Constantin should accept that Title whom he furnished with Soldiers and a Navy sent them into Brittany When presently the Brittains generally flock'd to him out of their caverns and lurking places and vnder his conduct marching against the Enemies obtain'd an illustrious Victory This being done they sett the Crown on his head at Chichester and gave him to wife a Noble Roman Lady who had been brought up by the same Bishop Guithelin By her he had three Sons the Eldest was Constans whom he made a Monk at Winchester in the Church of S. Amphibalus The other two were Aurelius Ambrosius and Vterpendragon whom he committed to the education of the same Archbishop 5. But these are fictions either invented or credulously embraced by Geffrey of Monmouth a man whose end in writing a history was not to propagate Truth but to exalt his own nation For first it is certain that when Constantin was proclam'd Emperour in Brittany the Arch-Bishop of London was not Wichelin but Fastidius Priscus who dyed about the year four hundred and twenty whose Successour was Voadinus and after him Guithelin in the year four hundred fifty six 6. Again that this Constantin was so far from being Brother of a King that his originall was base and unknown we have the testimony of the most ancient and authentick Historians S. Beda sayes he was chosen Ex infimâ militiâ out of the lowest rank in the Army and this not for any merit but meerly a fortunat presage of his name The place where he was chosen Emperour was Caër-Segont neer Caër-narvon afterward call'd Caer-custenith perhaps from this Constantins election there Being chosen he directed Messengers to the Emperour Honorius to excuse himself as being by violence compell'd by the soldiers to accept that Title thus writeth Zosimus which alone destroys Geffreys fable 7. The same year Constantin pass'd over into Gaule where gathering an army he subdued all the regions on this side the Cottian Alpes dividing Gaule from Italy and then saith the same Zosimus he accounted his possession of the Empire secure He likewise drew out of his Monasticall Solitude his Son Constans whom he created Caesar This is testified by Orosius and Marcellinus Comes 8. The seat of his Empire he placed at Arles he constituted firm guards upon the River Rhine to hinder the excursions of the Germans and utterly broke the forces of the Vandalls Sueves and Alans which had wasted all the Provinces between the river Seine and the Rhine 9. Afterward he sent his Son Constans into Spain who by many successfull combats subdued the countrey And whereas two Noble Brethren Didymus and Verenianus having collected an army of Spaniards faithfull to the Roman Empire had seised on the streit passages through the Pyrenean mountains Constans courageously broke through them Which having done he committed the care of defending those passages to forraign Soldiers to the great displeasure of the Spaniards who thereupon entred into league with the Vandals and Gothes against him For these good successes Constans by his Father was pronounced Emperour to whom he repaired leaving Gerontius in his place Generall in Spain 10. But the year following he was sent back into Spain attended by Iustus a famous Captain Whereat saith Zosimus Gerontius was so offended that he procured the barbarous Soldiers in Gaule to revolt so that Constantin having sent a considerable part of his army into Spain and not being able to represse them severall Provinces both in Gaule and Brittany forsook their dependence on Rome casting out the Roman Magistrats and governed themselves by their own will and laws Notwithstanding the same Authour afterward insinuats that the Emperour Honorius himself freed the Brittains from their dependence writing letters to them wherin he exhorted them to provide for themselves 11. Gerontius not content with this assumed to himself the Title of Emperour and investing with the same purple Maximus whom he left in Spain he with an army marched against Constantin whom he beseiged in Arles But an Army from Honorius under the conduct of Constantius a Roman approaching Gerontius his soldiers forsook him and the Spaniards remaining out of contempt of him attempted to kill him and encompassing the house into which he retired they sett it on fire So that Gerontius having first killd his wife at last killd himself also This is Sozomens relation 12. As for Constantin he was again beseiged at Arles by the Roman General Constantius and being inform'd that Ebodicus whom he had sent into Germany to collect aid from the Franks and Alemanni was intercepted in his return he devested himself of his Imperiall Purple and flying for refuge into a Church was there consecrated a Preist Whereupon the Soldiers in the Town having pardon offred them opened the gates Constantin with his Son Iulian was sent into Italy but by the way was slain 13. The year before Constantins unhappy death was deplorable to the whole world by the destruction of Rome overcome and sack'd by Alaricus King of the Goths Then not only the immense wealth of the Citty for so many years heap'd together but the ornaments of Churches became the prey of barbarous Soldiers who were astonish'd to see the munificent vessells with which Constantin the Great had enrich'd them XXVI CHAP. 1.2 c. The Martyrdom of S. Melorus a young Brittish Prinie 1. OVR Martyrologe the same year wherin the Vsurper Constantin was slain commemorats a more happy death call'd a Martyrdom of a young Brittish Prince whose name was Melorus or Meliorus Of whom mention is made in the Monuments of Cornwall
fourscore years 6. Afterward in the year four hundred ninety two saith Florilegus King Aurelius Ambrosius coming to the mountain of Ambri neer to Caer-carec now call'd Salisbury where the Brittish Princes treacherously murdred by Hengist lay he there appointed Pastours over two Metropolitan Churches granting York to S. Sampson an illustrious person and Caër-leon to Dubricius Which last See was now become vacant by the death of Threminius Geffrey of Monmouth adds That he was Primat of Brittany and Legat of the Apostolick See which dignity it seems was annexed to that Church by S. Germanus by vertue of the authority in his Mission hither received from Rome 7. In the year five hundred and sixteen he solemnly crowned King Arthur After which being very aged he is sayd to have relinquish'd his See and retir'd into the Isle of Enhly or Berdesy there to attend to his Devotions and more perfectly to prepare himself for death From which quiet repose and solitude notwithstanding his zeale to the Catholick Faith drew him to the Synod of Brevy there to defend it against the renewd Heresy of the Pelagians In which Synod he obtained that S. David should be placed governour of the Church which a little before he had relinquish'd 8. At last three years after full of sanctity and age he gave up his soule into the hands of his Creatour in the foresaid Isle of Berdsey where among a great multitude oâ— Saints he chose his place of buriall And there his Sacred Body reposed till the year oâ— Grace one thousand one hundred and twenty at which time it was translated from thence on the Nones of May and on the fourth before the Calends of Iune by Vrbanus Bishop of Landaff with great honour buried in the Cathedrall Church on the Northside of the Altar of our Blessed Lady saith B Godwin At which time saith the Authour of his life in Capgrave the whole countrey of Glamorgan was afflicted with a great drouth for for many weeks before no rain had falln there But at the time when these Sacred Relicks were transported great store of rain fell to the comfort of the inhabitants XIII CHAP. 1.2 c. Of S. Theliau his Gests 6. c. Of S. Pauleus 1. ONE of the most illustrious Disciples of S. Dubricius was S. Theliau call'd by the Centuriators of Magdeburg Thelesinus Helius against whom they in like manner vomit their poyson saying that he was Anglicus Vaâ—es ex genere Baraorum an English Soothsayer of the stock of the Bards Wheras he neither was an English man nor Bard but descended from a Noble Brittish family as the Authour of his Life declares Adding further that from his infancy he was addicted to Devotion Prayer and contempt of secular pleasures And being come to a riper age he was for his piety and Wisedom by wise men Sirnamed Helios because with his doctrine he enlightned the hearts of the faithfull as the Sun doth the world He was instructed in holy scriptures by S. Dubricius till he was enabled to clear the most difficult places therein Then having heard the fame of a certain wise man called Paulinus he went to him to confer with him of the most abstruse Mysteries of Gods Word There he contracted freindship with S. David a man of great Perfection in sanctity insomuch as their hearts were so firmly knitt together by charity and the Grace of Gods holy Spirit that in all things they had but one Will. 2. When S. Dubricius was translated from the See of Landaff to the Metropolitan Church of Caër-leon S. Theliau succeeded him in that of Landaff in which he sate very many years and if the authority of the English Martyrologe â—ayle not he dyed not till the coming of S. Augustin the Monk into Brittany by whom his successour S. Oudoceus was consecrated 3 When a certain plague call'd the Yellow plague infested Brittany raging both against men and beasts by a divine admonition he departed into a far remote countrey accompanied with manâ— Disciples where he abode till by the same authority he was recalled Neither did he cease by dayly prayers and fasting to pacify Gods wrath At 〈◊〉 gathering together all his devout companions he returned and all his life after exercised suâ—â—eme jurisdiction over all the Churches of Western Brittany At last S. Theliau being replenish'd with all vertues dyed in a good old age on the fifth day before the Iâ—es of February Thus write the Authour of his life Therefore it is difficult to find out the grounds upon which in ouâ— Martyrologe he is commemorated on the twenty sixth of November by the Title of a Martyr murdred by a certain Brittain named Gueddant since all our â—râ—teâ—s Pits Harpsfeild Capgrave B. Godwin andâ— Vsher make no mention that he dyed a violent death 4. Many Miracles are recorded as done by him both before and after his death which I wiâ—â—ingly omiâ—t Onely one which B. Godwin thought good not to passe over in siâ—ence shâ—ll be nâ—re related and the rather becauâ—e as he says there is mention of it in the Prayer inserted in the Liturgy of his Feast whiâ—h was this After he was dead the inhabitants of three severall places contended earnestly which of them should enjoy his Body those of Peâ—nalum where his Ancestours had been buried those of Lantelio-vaur where he dyed and those of Landaff among whom he had been Bishop When therefore no agreement could be made amongst them there appeared presently three Bodies so like to one another that three eggâ— could not more perfectly resemble So each of thâ—se people took one of them and by that means the controversy ended Thus writes that Authour and in conclusion for his own Church of Landaff he addes That by frequent miracles at his Tomb it appear'd that the inhabitants of Landaff possess'd the true Body 5. Now whereas both in the life of S. Thâ—liau there is mention of Paulinus said to be iâ— Instruâ—â—â—â—r and likewise in the Acts theâ—â—nod â—â—nod of Brevy Paulinus was the man by whose exhortation Messengers were depâ—rted by the Synod to call thither S. David it any deserve our inquiry who this Paulinus was who was a Bishop before S. David consideâ—ing that in the Catalogue of our Bâ—shops none is found of that name before the â—ime of the Holy Monk S. Augustin Most probable therefore it is that this is the same which in the life of S. David is said to have been a Disciple of Saint Germanus Bishop of Auxerre and is sometimes sayd to have been S. Davids Teacher and elsewhere to have studied together with him and whose true name seems to have been Paulens 6. Concerning this Paulens we find this passage related by the Authour of S. Davids life in Capgrave S. David assoon as he was promoted to Preisthood went to Paulens a Disciple of S. Germanus who in a certain Island lead a holy life acceptable to God With him S. David lived many years and
BOOK OF THE CHVRCH-HISTORY OF BRITTANY I. CHAPTER 1.2 c. Osric and Eanfrid succeed King Edwin Their Apostacy from Christianity 6. Oswald succeeds his Brother Eanfrid 7.8 Letters of Pope Honorius 1. RETVRNING to the Kingdom of the Northumbers we shal see nothing but spectacles of misery a Nation desolated a Church torn in peices and nothing but horrour and confusion Yet in a short time all these tempests will be asswaged and so great a peace and order will return both to the Kingdom and Church by another pious King that even the losse of King Edwin will be fully recompenced But first let us view the present calamities thus sett down by S. Beda 2. After that King Edwin was slain in battell saith he Osric the Son of his Vncle Elfric who by the preaching of S. Paulinus had been imbued with the Sacraments of our Faiâ—h took upon him the Kingdom of the Deiri As for the Kingdom of the Bernicians for anciently the Nation of the Northumbers was divided into these two Provinces that was possessed by Eanfrid the Son of Edilfrid born in the same Province Now we have already declared that during the whole course of King Edwins raign the Sons of his Predecessour Edilfrid attended by great numbers of the Nobility retired themselves among the Scots and Picts where they lived in banishment And they were instructed in Christian Religion professed by the Scots and purified by the Grace of Baptisme 3. Assoon therefore as their Enemy King Edwin was dead they were permitted to return into their countrey and there the elder of them Osric became King of the Province of the Deiri and the Second Eanfrid of the Bernicians But both of them were no sooner invested with the marks of a temporall Kingdom but they renounced the Sacraments and badges of the Heavenly kingdom with which they had been initiated and to their eternall ruine polluted themselves with the filth of their former Idolatry 4. But divine iudgment quickly overtook them both for they were slain in a short time by the impious hand of Cedwalla King of the Brittains whom Almighty God made the instrument of his iust severity For the elder of them Osric having rashly besieged the said King in a certain town the summer following the King made an unexpected furious sally and in a moment destroyd both him and his whole army After which Cedwalla possessed the whole kingdom of the Northumbers not as a victorious King but a furious Tyrant for he tore it in peices with the tragicall slaughters committed by him At length after about a year was passed the other Prince Eanfrid accompanied only with twelve soldiers unadvisedly coming to him to demand conditions of peace was in like manner slain by him 5. This was an unhappy year and the memory of it remains still in execration with all good men as well for the Apostacy of these two Saxon Kings who had abjured the Sacraments of their Faith as for the barbarous Tyranny of the Brittish King And therefore by a generall consent in the computation of the times and succession of our Kings the memory of these two perfidious Princes was abolished and this year assigned to the raign of the pious King Oswald who succeeded them 6. This Oswald brother to Eanfrid was the son of Ethelfrid and Nephew to the Holy King Edwin by his sister Acca so that his Title to the Kingdom of the Northumbers was sufficiently valid He after his Fathers death retired also among the Scots where understanding the vanity of Idols he embraced the Christian Faith Seaventeen years he continued in banishment But now hearing the desolation of his countrey the ruine of Christianity and death of his Brother armed with zeal and charity he took the courage though attended with very unconsiderable forces to hasten to the rescew of his kingdom and the Church of God in it almost become in visible With what successe this attempt was undertrken S. Beda will inform us the year following 7. It seems by the Letter of Pope Honorius to Honorius Arch-bishop of Canterbury dated this year and recorded only by William of Malmsbury that the miseries of the Northumbrian Church and Kingdom were come to his knowledge for therin he comforts and encourages the same Arch-bishop not to faint in the midst of so many and greivous calamities but to fix his trust in the promises of God to his Church and those who sustain the care of it In the same letter he likewise confirms the authority and Primacy of the Church of Canterbury over all the Churches of Brittany c. This Epistle found in the Archives of Canterbury was by S. Lanfranc directed afterwards to Pope Alexander the Second as a proof of the ancient Priviledges of his See 8. There is another Letter of the same Pope produced by Caius the Defender of the Antiquity of Cambridge in which the said Pope exempts that Vniversity from the Iurisdiction of all Arch-bishops Bishops Arch-Deacons c. and their Visitations or Censures giving the sole authority over Students to the Chancellour and Rectors of the same with power to excommunicate c. In the granting of which Priviledges he professes to follow the examples of his Predecessours Pope Eleutherius Fabian Simplicius Felix and Bonifacius But what grounds there are to suspect fraud in the compiling this Grant may be read in Brian Twyne the Advocat for Oxford and since him in the learned Bishop Vsher to whom I refer the Reader II. CHAP. 1.2 c. King Oswalds miraculous Victory over the Brittains 5.6 c. The Crosse Venerated by all Christians This approved by Miracles 1. IN the year six hundred thirty five Oswald King of the Northumbers fighting against the Tyrants happily triumphed And because our gravest Authours S. Beda William of Malmsbury and others affirm that encountring them Faith was his strongest armour we will endeavour more diligently and largely to recount the order and manner of the Combat by which he restored the Crown to himself security and Faith to his Subjects and the Churches to God 2. S. Beda's summary Narration of it is this Assoon as Ceadwalla had slain the two Kings Osrich and Eanfrid Oswald attended with an army weak for their numbers but fortified with Divine Faith came upon him and in the combat that execrable King of the Brittains was slain together with his immense army which he thought no power could resist This combat hapned in a place in Northumberland called in the English tongue Devils-burn or the Devils-brook It is at this day saith Camden called Dilston but in ancient Records Divelston the Seat and Mansion of the Noble family of Ratcliff Yet Bâ—omton calls the place Denysbourn or River of Denys and adds that from this combat it took the appellation of Slaughter of the Ceâ—wallians 3. Oswald preparing himself for the fight coÌ„sidered no doubt by Gods inspiration that victory was not to be expected
such a fault but moreover encreased his Merit since it hapned to him for iustice sake and for his zeale to obserâ—e the Precepts of our Lord. Thus writes S. Beda and the same iudgment is given also by William of Malmsbury 7. The Successour to this good King Sigebert was Suidelm the son of Sexbald who was baptised by the same Holy Bishop Cedd in the Province of the East-angles in a village belonging to the King called Rendelesham or the mansion of Rendilus And Edelwald King of the East-angles the Brother of Anna formerly King was his God father who received him ascending out of the Sacred Font. His raign continued only three years XIII CHAP. 1.2 c. The Province of the West-Saxons divided into two Dioceses Dorchester and winchester For which the Holy Bishop Agilbert retires into France 1. IN the same year of our Lord six hundred sixty and one which was the eighteenth of the raign of Kenewalch King of the West-Saxons the said King perfected the Structure of the Church of Winchester begun by his Father Kinegils and not only ratified his Fathers donation thereto but moreover added the Mannours of Dornton Altesford and Wordyam thus writes B. Godwin 2 And at the same time the Church of the West-Saxons by the industry of Agilbert Bishop of the same Province was so mightily encreased that the King thought good to divide that Province into two Dioceses One other Motive hereto the King had because Agilbert being a stranger could not but very imperfectly speak the Saxon tongue For saith Saint Beda At last the King who understood no other but his Native language being weary to heare the Bishops barbarous pronunciation of the Saxon tongue or his expressing himself in French which the King understood not brought into the Province another Bishop of his own tongue named Wini who was ordained in France Thus he divided the Province into two Dioceses and to Wini he gave for his Episcopall See the Citty Venta called by the Saxons Wintancestir or Winchester Herewith the Holy Bishop Agilbert being greivously offended because the King had done this without his advice returned into France where he received the Bishoprick of Paris and died there an old man and full of dayes 3. Andrew Saussay in his Martyrologe assigns another cause of Bishop Agilberts indignation and departure for saith he the King being corrupted with money gave a portion of that Bishoprick to Wina Which abominable Simony Agilbert having an Excoration quitted his Episcopall Seat and returned presently into his native countrey retiring himself to Paris as a secure harbour But herein he much wrongs the memory of King Kenewalch who is not taxed by any of our Historians for that Crime Indeed it was justly imputed to Wina who by such an execrable negotiation purchased the Bishoprick not of Winchester but of London for so S. Beda testifies saying Not many years after the departure of Agilbert out of Brittany Wini was thrust out of his Bishoprick of Winchester by Kenewalch and retiring to the King of the Mercians named Wulfere bought with money of him the See of London where he remained Bishop till his death 4. As for the Holy Bishop Agilbert after his relinquishing of his See at Dorchester he did not presently goe into France but as Huntingdon relates he retired to Alfrid the son of Oswi King of the Northumbers who was his freind And three years after this we read that he was present at a Synod or solemne Conference touching the Celebration of Easter and the Preistly Tonsure of which we shall treat shortly where he declared himself for the Roman Observation against the Scotts XIV CHAP. 1.2 c. The South Saxons last converted And their King Edilwalch baptised 8 9. c. The Martyrdom of Vlfald and Rufin sons of King Wulfere 1. THE same year was illustrious in the Conversion of the South-Saxons That was one of the first Saxon-Principalities settled in Brittany by Ella then the most potent of all the Kings and it was the last which admitted the Christian Faith The manner how that Kingdom came to be converted is thus described by Henry of Huntingdon Kenwald or Kenwalch King of the West-Saxons in the twentieth year of his raign fought against Wulfere King of Mercia the Son of Penda a Prince who inheâ—â—ed both his Fathers courage and successe in Martiall affaires in which battell the King of the West-Saxons was defeated and compelled to fly Whereupon Wulfere entred his countrey in a hostile manner insomuch as penetrating to the utmost confines of it he invaded and conquered the Isle of Wight In which expedition by Wulfers industry and zeale Adelwold or as S. Beda calls him Edilwalch King of Sussex was converted first of all to the Faith Vpon whom at his Baptism Wulfere being his God father bestowed as a sign of adoption the Isle of With or Wight and withall for the conversion of the said Island he sent thither a Preist named Epa to preach the Gospell But his preaching as yet had not any good successe 2. It is no easy matter to find out who the person was that baptised this King The Historiall Books of S. Swithun of Winchester in Speed of S. Hilda relate how Athelwold was the first King of Sussex who was converted to the Faith of Christ and baptised in Mercia by S. Birinus a Monk and Apostle of the Gevisses in the presence and by the suggestion of Wolfere King of the Mercians But this cannot consist with the truth of Story and Chronology because S. Bâ—rinus was dead long before Wulfere was King of the Mercians Others ascribe his Baptism to S. Wilfrid Bishop of York But these Writers place his Baptism too late as the former did too early for S. Wilfrid was not yet Bishop And though they would ground their asserâ—tion on the authority of S. Beda yet S. Beda plainly disproves them affirming that this King was baptised before S. Wilfrid came into his Province 3. His words are these S. Wilfrid turning out of his way into the Province of the South-Saxons and finding the people as yet addicted to Pagan Idolatry preached to them the word of Faith and baptised many Now the King of that Nation Edilwalch not long before had been baptised in the Province of the Mercians in the presence and by the perswasion of King Wulfere By whom as he came out of the Font he was received and for a mark of adoption had bestowed on him the Isle of Wight and the Province of the Meanvari belonging formerly to the West-Saxons but lately conquered by Wulfere Which little Province seems to be a small Territory in Hampshire containing three Hundreds East-mean West-mean and Means-borough which preserve still the Marks of the old name in S. Beda Meanvari 4. Therefore in all probability King Edilwalch was by the Sacred Waters of Baptism admitted into the number of Christians by Trumhere Bishop of the Mercians whom before
by the incitement of Odobert he had submitted himself to receive Holy Orders By which exercises of Piety the shining beames of his Sanctity were spread abroad to the admiration of all 5. The Enemy of mans Salvation could no longer support the brightnes of Divine Graces shining in this Saint to obscure which he inflamed with lust the mind of a certain Noble Woman dwelling near who impudently attempted to expugne the Chastity of the Seruant of God But Saint Clare resolutly resisted the shameles Lady notwithstanding which resistance when her sollicitations still more encreased he was forced for his own quietnes and liberty â—o forsake the Monastery 6. The lascivious Woman desperatly enraged with his departure sent two Murderers in search of him who at last found him in a poor cottage where he had fixed his habitation with one onely companion named Cyrinus There they first sett upon him with many opprobrious speeches and at last drawing out their swords they most cruelly cutt off his head whilst he devoutly kneeling offred his Sacrifice of Chastity to our Lord the lover of pure minds and Patron of innocence 7. This glorious Champion of Chastity being thus Victorious by patience presently after arose and with his hands taking up his head by the assistance of Angells caried it to a fountain not far distant into which he cast it and then caried the same back to the Oratory of his Cell and going on a little further towards a Village seated near the River Epta which since took a new name from this glorious Martyr he there consummated his course and transmitted his blessed Soule to Heaven 8. Much to the same effect is the Narration of this holy Saints Martyrdom extant in Capgrave Where concerning his Companion Cyrinus we read That he being first dangerously wounded was by the prayers of Saint Clarus wonderfully restored to health And hence it follows in the fore said Martyrologe in this manner 9. Saint Cyrinus miraculously recovered took care of the Holy Martyrs buriall Who also afterward in a conflict for piety consecrated his own name likewise to Martyrdom whose memory is there celebrated on the thirteenth of Iune Moreover the Sacred Head of Saint Clarus is with due Veneration conserved in a Village in the territory of Paris called by his name whither it was afterward translated And at Paris it self in the ancient Monastery consecrated to Saint Victor the Martyr his commemoration is anniversarily repeated For thither the most Chast Martyr like the Patriark Saint Ioseph is sayd to have fled from the face of the foresaid unchast Lady And a fitt place it was for his retirement being in those dayes divided from the noyse and tumult of that Citty 10. The distinct place where this Holy Martyr suffred is there said to be in the Territory about Roâ—â—en in Normandy in tractu Vulcassino neer the River Seyne where in the Primitive times another S. Clarus a Preist and Martyr is recorded to have suffred Who immediatly after the Apostles times being sent from Rome to preach the Gospell illustrated a good part of Celtick Gaule first with his Doctrine and after with his Blood The day of his Passion is said to have been the fourth of November as that of our present Martyr the fifteenth before the Calends of August IV. CHAP. 1.2 c. The Martyrdom of two Kentish Princes Ethelred and Ethelbert 6 7. their murder miraculously discovered 8.9 c. Satisfaction made for it by King Egbert 1. A Little before the arrival of a New Arch-bishop of Canterbury from Rome two young innocent Princes Ethelred and Ethelbert in the Kingdom of Kent were crownd with Martyrdom For that Name was given to the violent death by which they were taken out of this world without any demerits of their own inasmuch as God was pleased miraculously to testify their innocence 2. We have before declared that Eadbald King of Kent had by his Queen Emma two sons Ermenred the elder and his Brother Ercombert Ermenred dying before his Father and leaving behind him two infants Ethelred and Ethelbert of whose Martyrdom we now treat not they but their Vncle Ercombert succeeded in the Throne Notwithstanding these two young Princes were bred as became their birth and were yet more enriched with Divine Graces then secular ornaments For saith Mathew of Westminster after their Regeneration by Baptism they remaining in their innocence and voluntary neglect of worldly advantages fortified their other vertues by the safe-guard of Humility 3. King Ercombert at his death recommended them to the care of his Son and Successour King Egbert who being a Prince of great benignity treated them with all Kindnesse and affection not having any jealousy or preiudice against them though their Title to the Kingdom in reason and iustice ought to have taken place of his who was their Vncle since they were children to the Elder Brother 4. But his kindnes to them did not last long For by the ordinary fate of Courts certain Sycophants suggested to him that by cherishing them he fomented his own danger Among these the principall Counseller of mischeif was one called Thunrâ— chieâ— Minister of state in that Kingdom who in a seeming care of King Egberts safety advised him to take out of the way these two Princes now of an age fitt for government whose vertues and excellent endowments had fixed them in the affections of the people so that it was iustly to be feared that either they would challenge their right or the people voluntarily give them it 5. These Suggestions at first were unwillingly heard by King Egbert who forbad him to continue them But Thunre called by others Thimur pretending duty and a zealous care of the Kings Safety again renewed them more earnestly and eloquently then before till in the end the King made no reply but by silence seemed to consent to his proposall Hereupon Thunre promising to himself at least impunity inhumanly murdred these two innocent Princes It was easy for him to execute this crime by reason of his familiarity and privacy with them for in his outward profession and behaviour he always expressed a great tendernes and affection to them in so much as they not suspecting any treachery at all from him afforded him all advantages against themselves so that with drawing them into a solitary place amidst his caresses and embracings of them he stabbed them with his ponyard 6. Having thus murdred them as the report is he buried their bodies in a deep trench which he digged under the Seat where the King was wont to sitt supposing that none would seek for them there But the Eye of Divine Providence from whom the secrets even of hearts are not concealed quickly discovered them and by many Miracles testified their innocence For the next time that the King was sitting there a flame issuing out of the Seat scorched and extrely terrified him Whereupon his servants digging the ground under it where they
and the feilds with a pleasant verdure brought forth fruits of all kinds in great plenty Thus abandoning their Idolatry the hearts and flesh of all the inhabitants exalted in the living God perceiving that he was indeed the only true God who in mercy had enriched them with goods of all kinds both for their soules and bodies 8 The same Authour in another place relates how Saint Wilfrid taught the people another remedy against the famine For says he the Sea and rivers in that countrey abounded with fish but the inhabitants had no skill at all in fishing except only for Eeles But by his command a great number of such Netts as were used for Eeles being gathered together they cast them into the Sea and by Gods providence took of severall sorts of fishes to the number of three hundred Which being divided into three parts one hundred was given to the poore anotheâ— to those which laboured and the third he reserved for the use of him and his attendants By such benefits as these he gott a cordiall affection of them all by which means they were the more easily induced to expect heavenly blessings promised them in his Sermons since by his assistance they had already obtained temporall 9 Great numbers therefore having been converted the next care was to appoint a Mansion for Saint Wilfrid and his companions This care was not wanting for as the same Authour says At that time King Edilwalch gave to the most Reverend Bishop a possession of eighty seaven families for the entertainment of himself and those who would not forsake him in his banishment The place was called Seolesea or the Island of Seales It was encompassed by the Sea on all sides except toward the West where the entrance into it is in breadth about a bow-shoot Assâ—on as the Holy Bishop had the possession of this place he founded there a Monasâ—ery placing therein for the most part â—uch as he had brought with him whom he instituted in a Regular conversation and this Monastery is to this day governed by such as have succeeded him For he remained in those parts the space of five years that is to the death of King Egfrid and worthily exercised his Episcopall Office both by word and deed And whereas the King together with the said land had bestowed on him all the goods and persons upon it he instructed them all in the Christian Faith and purified them with the Sacrament of Baptism among whom were men and mayd-serâ—ants two hundred and fifty all which were not only by baptism rescued from the slavery of the Devill but had likewise bestowed on them a freedom from human servitude 10. Severall Bishops anciently have had their Episcopall See in this Half-Island and were called Bishops of Selsey but none succeeded S. Wilfrid there till the year of Grace seaven hundred and eleaven Afterward about the year one thousand and seaventy the Episcopall See was translated thence to Cissancester now called Chichester where it remains to this day As for the ancient small Citty in which those Bishops resided there remains only the caâ—keyse of it which in high tides is quite covered with the Sea but at low water is open and conspicuous saith Camden 11. Over the Monks in this new founded Monastery S. Wilfrid appointed Abbot a devout Preist named Eappa of whom we have already treated And a little after hapned a terrible plague which swept away great numbers both of Religious persons there and in the countrey about By occasion of which the Monks appointed a solemn Fast three days together with prayers and Sacrifices for the asswaging of it And on the second day of the said Fasâ— hapned that Miracle which we mention'd â—â—fore at the Death of the Holy King Martyr S. Osâ—ald how a young child in the said Monastery lying alone sick of the infection whilst the Monks were at Prayers in the Church there appeared to him the Apostles S. Peter and S. Paul bidding him not to be afraid of death for the same day he should be caried by them into heaven but he was to expect till the Masses were finished after which he should receive the precious body and blood of our Lord for his Viaticum They commanded him likewise that he should call for the Preist and Abbot Eappa to whom he should declare that God had heard and accepted their prayers and excepting the young child himself not any one of the Monastery or possessions adioyning should dye of that sicknes And that this mercy to them was obtained by the intercession of the glorious King and Martyr Saint Oswald who the very same day had been slain by Infidels This the child declared accordingly to the Preist Eappa and the event confirmed the truth for he dyed the same day and not any one after him all that were sick recovered and the infection ceased X. CHAP. 1.2 Three Bishopricks among the Northumbers 3.4 c. Trumwin ordained Bishop of the Picts and afterward expelled 1. WEE will leave S. Wilfrid among the South-Saxons awhile busy in his Apostolick employment among his new Converts and return to take a view what passed in the mean time in the Northern parts of Brittany We have already declared how S. Theodore Arch-bishop of Canterbury partly in compliance with King Egfrids passion against S. Wilfrid and partly in conformity to a Canon of the Council of Hertford divided the single Diocese of the Northumbers into two that of York and another of the more Northern Provinces the Episcopall See whereof was placed indifferently at Lindesfarn and Hagulstad This was done in the year of Grace six hundred seaventy eight And two years after he again added a third Bishoprick in the same Province For wheras Eata had been consecrated Bishop both of Lindesfarn and Hagulstad he then divided that Diocese leaving that of Lindesfarn to Eata and ordaining Tumbert or Cumbert over that of Hagulstad now called Hexham 2. He instituted likewise at the same time a New Bishoprick among the Viccians or inhabitants of Worcester-shire consecrating Boselus their first Bishop For he who had been formerly designed thereto named Tatfrith a man of great courage and learning and of an excellent iudgment saith S Beda quote by B. Godwin had immaturely been snatchâ—â— away by death before he could be consecrated 3. At this time the Nation of the Pictâ— though they had embraced the Christia Faith many years before yet by reason oâ— the great vicissitudes hapning among them wanted a Bishop In the year six hundred forty two they were subdued by King Oswald and made tributary After the death of the next King Oswi and in the first year of the raign of Egfrid the same Picts saith William of Malmsbury contemning the infancy of this young King withdrew themselves from his obedience and boldly invaded his Kingdom under the conduct of a Noble man named Berney The young King courageously mett them and with an army much inferiour
him large possessions for the building of Monasteries Whose intentions he diligently executed erecting severall Churches and Monasteries in commodious places and assembling many Disciples studious of piety and learning among whom the most eminent were Boysil Priour of the Monastery of Mailros and S. Cuthbert afterward Bishop of Lindesfarn who were men of admirable sanctity and withall eminently endued with the Spirit of Prophecy 4. After the disputation and conflict touching the Observation of Easter which was held in the Monastery of the Holy Abbesse S. Hilda Bishop Colman by descent a Scott obtaind of King Oswi that the Venerable Monk Eata should as Abbot govern the Church of Lindesfarn For the Scots bore a great affection to Eata insomuch as he was one of the twelve English children which had received their education from Bishop Aidan Eata therefore having undertaken the care of the Church of Lindesfarn brought with him thither S. Cuthbert whom after the death of Boysil he had made Priour of the Monastery of Mailros and constituted him Priour of the Convent in Lindesfarn And when afterward the dissention grew hott between King Egfrid and the holy Bishop Wilfrid by means of which he was expelled his Bishoprick Bosa was in his place substituted Bishop of York in the Kingdom of the Deiri and the Holy Abbot Eata was ordained Bishop in the Province of the Bernicians having his Episcopal See partly at Hagulstad that is Extoldesham now Hexham where at this time there are Canons Regulars and partly in the Church of Lindesfarn or Holy Island They were consecrated Bishops by Theodore Arch-bishop of Canterbury 5. Thus writes the Authour of the Life of S. Eata whereto he adioyns the Narration how the Province of Lindesfarn being divided S. Eata was confined to that of Lindesfarn and another placed at Hagulstad and after the Election of S. Cuthbert he resigned to him the See of Lindesfarn and removed to Hagulstad then vacant by the deposition of Tumbert And in conclusion he relates the manner of his death after he had with great zeale and piety administred his Episcopal Office saying When our mercifull Lord thought good to crown the labours of this holy Bishop with an eternall reward he was struck with a greivous disease of the bowells called a Dyssentery the torments whereof encreasing dayly he was purged therby like gold in a fiery fornace and at last all the drosse of sinfull imperfections being spent and consumed he dyed most happily so entring the gate of heaven there to abide for ever He was buried toward the South end of the Church of Hagulstad and a little Chappell of stone was built over his Tomb. From which place his body was afterward translated but by whom is uncertain and with due honour placed in a Shrine within the Church 6. His Successour in the said Bishoprick of Hagulstad was the famous Bishop Iohn de Beverlaco of Beverley so called from a well-known Town of that name in Yorkshire where he or his family lived This holy man as we learn from the Authour of his Life in Capgrave was born in England and being very young was for his instruction committed to Saint Theodore Arch-bishop of Canterbury who educated him in all innocence of manners and vertue and taught him the knowledge and prudence of Holy Scriptures And after he had been well imbued with other learning likewise his custome was to travell through severall provinces sowing among the ignorant people the word of God But after that the Venerable Bishop Eata by Gods disposition had ended the course of human life he with the consent of King Alfrid received the Episcopall honour Concerning this Holy Bishop more will be said in the Sequele of this History VI. CHAP. 1.2 The Tyranny and death of Edric King of Kent 2.3 c. Of Cedwalla King of the west Saxons at first a Pagan His Brother Mol is burnt 7.8 He conquers the Isle of wight which receives the Christian Faith 9. Cedwalla's munificence to S. Wilfrid 1. WE must awhile surcease this Narration touching the Ecclesiasticall affairs among the Northumbers that we may attend to the great combustions and changeâ— in the Southern parts of this Island This was the first year of the Raign of Edric King oâ— Kent after the death of his usurping Vncle Lothere His government was Tyrannous and therefore unquiet For as William of Malmsbury observeth he did boast but a short time in the Successe of his Tyranny for within two years he was deprived both of his kingdom and life leaving his countrey exposed to be torn in peices by its enemies 1 But Cedwalla the Successour of Kentwin in the kingdom of the West-Saxons though at the first no Christian raigned fair more gloriously and concluded both his raign and life more happily He was saith the same Authour a Noble branch of a Royal Stock being the great grandchild of Ceaulin by his brother-Cuda He was a young man of immoderate ambition who would let passe no occasion of exercising his courage His restles disposition had procured against him the anger of the greatest part of the Nobility of that kingdom by a faction and conspiracy of whom he was driven into banishment In resentment of this iniury he drew out of the kingdom in a manner the whole strength of it for the warlick youth there either out of pitty of his misfortune or affection to his courage resorted to him in his exile Edilwalch King of the South-Saxons was the first against whom he vented his fury insomuch as coming to a battell his whole army was defeated and himself slain But after that Victory obtained Cedwalla was driven out of that Province by Bertun and Ethelhun two South-Saxon Generalls who after that possessed themselves of the Kingdom 3. About this time Kentwin dying Cedwalla by consent of the inhabitants was made King of the West-Saxons Who immediatly with new forces invaded once more the Kingdom of the South-Saxons which he subdued and held in great slavery moreover killing Beorthun the Prince or Generall of the forces of that Nation 4. And not content with this acquest he and his Brother Mul wasied also the Kingdom of Kent but in the end was driven out with losse This hapned indeed the year following but since the whole Raign of Cedwalla containd onely two years or little more in which short time the hand of God wrought wonderfull changes upon him converting him from a furious Pagan to an humble devout Christian from a Lyon to a Lamb We will here make no breaches in his Story but deliver it all at once 5. Concerning his invasion of Kent William of Malmsbury thus describes it Presently after Cedwalla accompanied by his Brother Mollo breathing forth a furious hatred against the inhabitants of Kent with all the forces he could make made an invasion into that Province which he thought might easily be subdued by reason of a long peace it had enioyed and at this time was also
the eyes of God and is with devotion celebrated by his Church being commemorated both in our English and also the Roman Martyrologe on the twentieth day of August But the Centuriators of Magdeburg reading all these things are moved to choler both against S. Beda Sebbe and all Monks in generall which choler suggested this profane censure to their pens A Monasticall course of life not having any ground in Gods word stood in need to be recommended by vain dreams and Visions And again In this seaventh age say they Kings began to relinquish their authority and to addict themselves to a Monasticall life Which impiety must be adorned with lying miracles Hence Beda writes concerning King Sebbe that in a Vision three men appeard to him as he lay sick in his bed and foretold to him both the day of his death and that it should be without pain So that to forsake all worldly pleasures and contentments purely for the Love of God is not only not warranted by Gods word but is an impiety excluding men from the enioying of God in the judgment of these new sensuall Evangelists 7. But how after this holy Kings death God was pleased to declare how far different a judgment he gave of his servant the same learned and devout Historian thus further relates A Coffin of Stone saith he was prepared for entombing the Body of this holy King But when they endeavoured to putt the Body into it they found that it was a hands-breadth too long for the Coffin Whereupon paring away as much of the stone at each end as they could they thereby lengthned it about the measure of two fingers breadth Yet after all it would not receive the body Whereupon finding so great a difficulty to enteire him they intended either to seek out a new Coffin or to endeavour by hewing the body to shorten it so much as to make it enter into the Coffin But by a wonderfull accident which could proceed from no lesse then a heavenly power both these designs of theirs were prevented for presently in the sight of the Bishop and Sighard son to the said King and Monk who together with his Brother Seofrid raignd after him a great multitude likewise of others being present the Coffin was found of a convenient length insomuch as there was room enough to place a cushion under his head and yet at the feet there remaind four fingers breadth beyond the body He was buried in the Church of Saint Paul the Doctour of the Gentiles by whose teaching he had learnt to aspire to heavenly things onely 8. To this day his Sepulcher is seen in the same Church adioyning to the Wall on the North side and encompassed with railes But the present Monument being of marble and not ordinary stone as at first shews that in ages following through some mens devotion it was changed and more honourably entombed So that a late malignant Historians skoffe does little prejudice S. Beda's narration saying that the Coffin which in the beginning was miraculously lengthned hath been since by a new Miracle again contracted 9. The Holy Bishop of Worcester Ostfor consecrated the year before by Saint Wilfrid this year dyed in whose place succeeded a Religious person named Egwin born of Princely blood but one who aspiring to a higher kingdom for Christs sake became poor Concerning whom we shall treat more largely hereafter for great examples of patience and equanimity in suffrings he will afford us insomuch as being tryed in the furnace of many tribulations his sanctity became illustrious not in Brittany onely but forrain regions also THE TWENTIETH BOOK OF THE CHVRCH-HISTORY OF BRITTANY I. CHAPTER 1.2 Of English Missioners sent to convert the Germans 3.4 c. S. Egbert the First Mover in that work He is desirous to goe himself but is hindred by God and employed to bring the Scotts to the Vnity of the Church 8.9 Wibert preaches without Successe to the Frisons 10.11 S Willebrord with eleaven others undertake the Mission 1. THE same year of Grace six hundred ninety three was made illustrious by the death and Martyrdom of two Apostolicall Brethren of the English Nation both of them called by the same name Ewald whose zeale for the enlarging of Christs kingdom compelled them to become strangers to their own countrey and in the company of severall other devout Preists to passe over into Germany exposing themselves to all incommodities and dangers yea death it selfe for the rescuing of a world of soules from ignorance and Idolatry in which hitherto the Devill had held them captive 2. But before we apply our selves to the relating of the particular Gests of these two Apostolick Martyrs it will be requisite that we return three years back to the year six hundred and ninety in which the Mission for the conversion of severall German nations began We deferd it to this year because now are seen the first fruits of the labours of those Apostolicall Missioners It will now therefore be seasonable to relate the occasion and first execution of this Mission the names of the devout persons who undertook it their first attempt and succeeding progresse hitherto Which having done we will in due place declare the wonderfull and happy successe of it 3. The First Mover in this holy Work and cheif Architect of so glorious a design was S. Egbert of the rudiments of whose Sanctity this our History has from S. Beda treated in the year six hundred sixty four where we declared how he together with his companion Edelhum in the time when Finan and Coleman were Bishops went out of this their native countrey into Ireland together with many other associats both of Noble and meane condition Not long after the great plague which had almost wasted Brittany passed over into Ireland and among many others seised on this S. Egbert then living in an Irish Monastery called Rathmelsige Who expecting death with great compunction examined his former life and with many teares besought almighty God not to take him out of the world till he had performed due pennance for his sins He adioynd to his Prayers a Vow never to return to his native countrey to recite the whole Psalter dayly to fast every seaventh day c. After which God restored him to his health and he lived many years in great perfection of humility meeknes continence and simplicity and both by his example and teaching was very beneficiall to the Irish. 4. After he had spent twenty six years thus devoutly in Ireland in the year of Grace six hundred ninety saith S. Beda and out of him Baronius he took a resolution to extend his charity to forrain Nations and for that purpose to undertake the Apostolicall Office of preaching the Gospell to such as had yet never heard of it Particularly he knew that in Germany there were many Nations as yet in darknes from whom the English and Saxons now inhabiting Brittany drew their Originall such were the
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
Apostolick And withall commanded him that in case any thing were wanting to him in the succeeding discharge of his Office and Ministery that he would not faile to give intimation thereof to him 6. Saint Boniface after he had received these Letters from the Venerable Pope went from Rome to Luitprand King of the Lombards by whom he was honourably entertained and abode with him some space of time Then taking leave of him he passed the steep mountains of the Alpes and visiting the formerly unknown borders of the Bavarians and Germany from thence came into Thuringia where like a diligent and prudent Bee he searched all places where he might gather and carry the delicious Nectar of the Holy Faith 7. During his abode which was a considerable time in Thuringia he with lively and spiritually exhortations invited the Princes of that Province to embrace the Holy Faith and Religion of Christ. And certain Preists whom he found in those parts addicted to many vices and disorders he with effectuall reprehensions reduced to an orderly and Canonicall conversation VII CHAP. i. 2 c. The miserable death of King Radbode deluded by the Devill 1. WHilst S. Boniface abode in Thuriâ—gia the happy newes came to him of the death of the Tyrant Radbode King of the Frisons who had lately with great fury persecuted the Christians At which report he received great ioy and presently after sayled into Friseland where with great Zeale and diligence he disperâ—ed the precious seed of the Gospell and withdrew very many from their Superstitions and Idolatry 2. But before wee proceed in this Narration touching the Gests of this glorious Apostle it will be expedient to declare the circumstances of the miserable death of this Tyrant Radbode recorded by a devout Writer of the same age Ionas a Monk of Fontanell in France who in the life of S. Wulfran Archbishop of Sens a ioynt-labourer with S. Willebrord and S. Boniface in the Conversion of the Frisons professes that what he wrote he received from the testimony of a Venerable Preist called Ovo a Frison by Nation who himself had been miraculously delivered from death by the said Apostolick Bishop when he had been condemned and for the space of two howers actually hanged by the Tyrants command as a Sacrifice to his Idols 3. When by the sight of many Miracles saith he King Radbode had been convinced of the Verity of Christian Religion and was disposed to receive Baptism he by many earnest adiurations obliged the Apostolick Bishop to answer him to this Question In whether of the two places did remain his Predecessours Kings and Princes in that celestiall Region promised to him in case he would be baptised or in the other Region of darknes and torments Hereto the Bishop replied that without doubt since they all dyed without Faith in Christ and Baptism they were condemned to eternall torments When the barbarous King heard this He being ready to step into the fountain where he was to be baptised streight with-drew his foot and said That he could not be induced to want the society of so many gallant Princes and live for ever among a small company of beggars and vile people 4. Yet again after this he was perswaded once more to advise with the Holy Bishop Willebrord whom he sent for to see whether he taught the same Doctrine with S. Wulfran S. Willebrord answered the Messenger Since the King will not hearken to the counsell of my Holy Brother Wulfran it is not likely that he will be perswaded by mee For this last night I saw him bound fast with a fiery chain Yet he followed the Messenger but in the way was told that that the unhappy King was dead without Baptism 5. And indeed it appeard that the wicked King had filled up the measure of his sins and was given up by God to impenitency For in his last sicknes by the Divine permission the Devill appeard to him in his sleep transformed into an Angell of light with a crown of gold upoÌ„ his head glistering with inestimable iewells and garments gloriously shining and said to the astonished King Tell mee Noble Prince who has seduced you to a willingnes to forsake the Religion of your Predecessours Doe not hearken to them but continue constant in the worship of the ancient Gods of your Nation and you shall not fayle after death to be translated to golden Palaces and live there in all manner of pleasures and felicity And to shew you that I doe not seduce you To morrow send for the Christian Doctour Wulfran and command him to give you a sight of that happy eternall mansion which he promises you in case you will embrace the Christian Faith and be baptized This since I am assured he cannot doe Let there be Messengers chosen of his Beleif and yours I will undertake to be their Guide to shew them that gloriously happy Mansion which I have promised you 6. Assoon as the King awaked he sent for the Holy Bishop and recounted to him his Vision Who groaning in Spirit told him that it was an illusion of the Devill to bring him to eternall misery no way to be avoyded but by Faith in the Saviour of the world and purging of Sins by Baptism But the King replied that unlesse he would give him a sight of the Happines promised him he would not fayle according to the order prescribed in the Vision to send his Messengers Hereupon the Holy Bishop apprehending that in case he should refuse to send one Messenger likewise to detect the Devills fraud the Pagans would publish their own fictions therefore he thought good to send one of his Deacons to accompany the Kings Messenger These two therefore assoon as they were at an indifferent distance from the town mert with one who appeared in the shape of a man and told them saying Make hast for I will shew you the happy mansion which I promised the King Hereupon they following him travelled through many unknown pathes till at last they came to a large way paved with severall sorts of polished marble Then they saw afarr off a golden house and the street leading to it was covered with gold and precious Stones Assoon as they were entred into the house they saw a most glorious Throne of a wonderfull beauty and magnificence and their Guide told them This is the Palace and this the Seat which God has promised to give to King Radbode 7. When the Deacon with great astonishment saw these things he said If all these things be works of the Omnipotent God let them remain for ever But if they be illusions of the Devill let them presently vanish Having said this he immediatly armed himself with the sign of the Crosse and the Guide which seemed to have been a man vanished into a Devill and the whole Palace became durt So that the two companions the Deacon and the Frison found themselves entangled in the midst of reeds and briars in a great
before this reduced the Monks of Hy in Scotland to conform themselves to the Catholick observation of the Paschall Soâ—lemnity 6. This Blessed Saint whom S. Beda calls a Venerable and not without honour to be named servant of Christ and Preist Egbert being ninety years old departed this world to a heavenly kingdom And for a proof that this his zeale whereby he united that Schismaticall Church to the Vniversall Church was acceptable to God the same Authour observes that as he had much laboured in establishing the true celebration of Faster he received his eternall recompence on the same Feast For thus he writes 7. The man of God Egbert remained thirteen years in the said Island of Hy which he by a new extraordinary illustration of Divine Grace of Ecclesiasticall Communion and peace had consecrated to our Lord. In the year therefore of our Lords Incarnation seaven hundred twenty nine in which the Paschall Solemnity was celebrated on the eighth day before the Calends of May when he had solemnly celebrated Masse in memory of our Lords Resurrection the very same day he himself likewise departed to our Lord and having begun the ioy of so great a Festivity with his Brethren on earth whom he had converted to the Grace of Ecclesiasticall Vnity he finished it with our Lord and his Apostles together with all the glorified Saints in heaven or rather he still celebrates it to all eternity Indeed the Divine dispensation was wonderfull that not only this Venerable man should passe to our Lord on this Feast of Easter but in such a day on which it had never before been celebrated in that place His Religious Brethren therefore reioyced for the certainly true Catholick knowledge of the Paschall time which they had learnt of him and they reioyced in the assured protection of their holy Father by whom they were taught and corrected And he himself likewise congratulates that he was continued alive in the flesh till he might enioy the happines to see his Brethren and Disciples admitt and together with him celebrate Easter on that day which in former times they had always avoyded Thus the most reverend Father being assured of their correction reioyced to see the day of our Lord he sâ— it and was glad He dyed therefore thus happily and both in the Roman and other Martyrologes his name is anniversarily recited among the Saints on the four and twentieth day of Aprill 8. To conclude the same year King Osric having raigned eleaven years over the Northumbers and appointed for his heyr in the kingdom Ceoluâ—f Brother to King Kenred dyed or as Ethelwerd writes was slain He was in nothing happy so much as leaving behind him so worthy a Successour for Ceolulf both for piety and learning was comparable with the best Princes and after he had happily governed his kingdom many years voluntarily quitted it to aspire to an immortall Crown 9. Concerning the beginning of his Raign William of Malmsbury writes in this manner Ceolulf saith he the eighth King from Ida ascended the trembling throne of the Northumbers this year A man he was of ability sufficient for any employment and besides that endued with learning in great perfection which with assiduous study and a sharp witt he attained to S. Beda will be my surety for this for presently after this in a time when Brittany most abounded with learned men he made choice of this Prince to whom he dedicated his History of English affaires as being a person who by his authority could add strength to whatsoever was well written therein and by his knowledge and skill could correct if any thing was written amisse Concerning him more shall be said hereafter XXI CHAP. 1.2 Death of the Venerable Abbot Cymbert 3.4 Death of Saint Brithwald Arch-bishop of Canterbury to whom succeeds Tatwin 1. IN the year of our Lords Incarnation seaven hundred and thirty according to our English Martyrologe dyed the holy Abbot Cymbert stiled there Bishop and Confessour and supposed by some to have had his See in the Isle of Wight But none of our Ancient Monuments doe signify that that Island was ever made the Seat of a Bishop for generally it hath been assigned to the See of Winchester neither is the name of Cymbert recorded among Bishops except only by Saint Beda who thereby understands the same person who by other Writers is called Kinebert and was Bishop of the Mercians and had his Seat at Lindesfare now called Lincoln Which Kinebert is at this time alive as S. Beda testifies in the conclusion of his History which ends the year following 2. This therefore may seem to have been the ground of the mistake of those who compiled our Martyrologe The Cymbert therefore commemorated there as dying this year is the same Holy Abbot of Redford in Hampshire who as hath been declared obtaind permission to instruct in the Christian Faith and baptize two young Princes Brethren oâ— Arwald King of the Isle of Wight before they were to be putt to death by the command of King Cedwalla who had subdued the said Island The Memory of this holy Abbot is celebrated among the Saints on the one and twentieth of February 3. The same year also dyed Saint Brithwald Arch-bishop of Canterbury successour to Saint Theodore after he had administred that See the space of almost thirty eight years saith Huntingdon Wee have before declared how he being Nephew to Ethelred King of the Mercians was the first of the Saxon race who was Abbot of Glastonbury which dignity in love to solitude he relinquished and retireâ— himself to a secret place called Reculver From whence he was even by force drawn to sitt in the Archiepiscopall See of Canterbury which he adorned with many actions of Pastorall zeale and piety assembling Synods and regulating disorders in severall Provinces of this Island And at last full of years and merits was this year translated to heaven He is commemorated in our Martyrologe on the ninth of Ianuary 4. In his place the year following was elected and consecrated Arch-bishop the Venerable Abbot Tatwin saith S. Beda a Preist and Abbot of a Monastery called Bruidun or Brenton He was consecrated in the Citty of Canterbury by the Venerable Bishops Daniel of Winchester Inguald of London Aldwin of Lichfeild and Aldwof of Rochester on the tenth of Iune in the year of our Lords Incarnation seaven hundred thirty one He was a man illustrious for his piety and prudence and eminently learned in Sacred Scriptures Of him more hereafter XXII CHAP. 1.2 c. The State of Brittany at this time in which Saint Beda ended his History 1. SINCE it was in this year of Grace seaven hundred thirty one that Saint Beda concluded his History and as some Authours affirm his Life also wee will here as he has done give a breif prospect in generall of the state of Brittany at this time as well touching the Church as State In the next
pretentions are not all together unprobable 5. Saint Pectelm being dead to him succeeded Frithwald in the See of Candida Casa So that the Illustrious Cardinall Baronius is evidently mistaken in the sence of a passage in S Beda in which after mentioning the death of Heddi he immediatly addes these words To conclude Pecthelm who a long time was Deacon and a Monk with his Successour Aldelm was wont to relate c. From which Passage the learned Cardinall affirms that Pecthelm had for his Successour Aldelm whereas S. Beda's meaning was that Aldelm was Successour to Heddi and that Pecthelm was S. Aldelms Deacon and Monk which from severall Authours we have verified before 6. As touching the Companions of S. Pecthelm the uncertainty of their native countrey is as great Saint Wiro as hath been declared is likewise challenged by the Irish and one particular mentioned in his Life argues strongly for it where it is sayd That it was the custom in the Island where he was born that when any Bishop was elected he was sent to Rome to receive Ordination from the hands of the Pope and so to return and take possession of his See 7. Saint Wiro therefore being thus ordaind was with great ioy received by his flock to whom he diligently gave wholesom instructions both by preaching and example Yet a desire long fixed in his mind to live in a forrain countrey known only to God still remained Whereupon privatly escaping away with S. Pecthelm and S. Otger he passed over into France where as hath been sayd he was with all respect and favour received by Prince Pipin who held him particularly in such Veneration for his eminent Sanctity that he chose him for his Spirituall Father and Guide of his soule to whom he usually confessed his sins and this with so great humility that his custom was to approach to him with bare feet 8. How long he remaind wiâ—h 〈◊〉 is â—ncertain But certain it is that thirsting after Solitude he retired himself to the place called the Mount of S. Peter of Odilia near the Citty of Ruremond in the Diocese of Liege where both by his preaching Sanctity and Miracles he became illustrious And being full of years and Sanctity a feaver not violent freed him from the prison of his flesh and sent his Spirit to heaven His commemoration among the Saints is placed in our Martyrologe on the eighth of May. His Body was buried in the Chappell dedicated to our Blessed Lady near Ruremond but afterward at least a great part of it was translated to Maestrick where it is held in great veneration 9. It remains that wee speak breifly of S. Oâ—ger who is generally acknowledged to have been born in Brittany For Surius in his Life declares that Saint Pecthelm and S. Wiro in their iourney to Rome passing through Brittany by a speciall Providence of God S. Otger a Deacon adioynd himself to their company who out of a fervent desire of heavenly good things contemning all commoditie and pleasures on earth became an inseparable Companion to S. Wiro whom from Rome he followed to the said Mount of Saint Peter where leading a heavenly life upon earth and inflaming the soules of many with a Love of Spirituall and Celestiall good things he there happily ended his Life on the tenth of September on which day his memory is celebrated The Centuriators of Magdeburg confounding him with S. Aldebert doe mistake in affirming that he was son to the King of the Deiri or Yorkshire V. CHAP. 1.2 c. Egbert Archbishop of York restores the Primitive dignity to his See 5. He consecrates Suffâ—agan Bishops 1. THE same year as hath been sayd not only the See of Canterbury but that of York also received a New Pastour For Wilfrid the younger either dying or which seems more probable voluntarily reliquishing that See there was chosen in his place Egbert Brother to Eadbert or as some also call him Egbert who shortly after was King of the Northumbers 2. The Church of York since the death of the founder of it and first Arch-bishop Saint Paulinus to this time continued in much depression By whose fault this hapned it does not appear perhaps it was by means of the contentions long continuing among the Bishops or the multiplication of Bishopricks But now Egbert being a man of great parts and courage restores it to its primitive Dignity as William of Malmsbury thus declares Egbert saith he by his prudence and assisted with his Brothers power reduced that See to its first State For as it is manifest to any one who reads the Ancient Gests of the English Nation Saint Paulinus the first Prelat of that Church was by open violence and hostility driven out of it So that he was forced to retire himself to Rochester in Kent where he died Bishop of that See and there left the Archiepiscopall Pall which he had received from Pope Honorius As for his Successours in that great Church of York they contented themselves with the simple Title of Bishops not aspiring higher But Egbert a man of a more haughty disposition considering with himself that as it is a mark of â—ride for a man to seek honours undue so is it a mark of basenes to neglect such as are due thereupon by severall Appeals to the See Apostolick he at last recovered the Archiepiscopall Pall so raising that Church once more to a Metropolitan Dignity 3. Not any of our Historians doe impute this action of Egbert to a culpable ambition on the contrary his memory is much celebrated by them Harpsfeild sayes that he was a Prelat in many regards worthy of high commendation And William of Malmsbury gives him this Character That he was a Treasury of all liberall sciences And of this says he I can produce a witnes of unquestioned authority the learned Alcuin who in an Epistle to the Emperour Charles the Great thus writes Let mee be furnished with Books of more exquisite learning such as whilst I lived in mine own countrey of Brittany by the favour and industry of my worthy Master Egbert Arch-bishop of York I had the use of And if such be your Excellencies pleasure I will send thither some of my Disciples to coppy out there bring with them into France the choycest flowers in their Libraries Probably this Alcuin who after Saint Aldelm and Saint Beda was the most learned man of the English Nation had a principall regard in this passage cited out of him to that most Noble Library which Egbert furnished at York 4. But nothing gives a greater luster to him and more setts forth his learning and erudition then that Saint Boniface iudged him a person capable to resolve his difficulties There is among his Epistles one written after the death of Saint Beda to him in which he desires him to send him some of that Holy Doctours Treatises and withall asks his advice whether he might lawfully permitt a
the Gospell to the Brabanters and Frisons Which Office having performed in an Apostolick manner he received an Apostolick reward which was a Crown of Martyrdom this year Rosâ—eydâ—s a learned Iesuit mentions him in the Calendar on the second of May. Whether this were a person distinct from him who was Brother to S. Ediltrudis is uncertain Concerning whom William of Malmsbury makes mention saying In the Church of S. Edmundsbury these lye the Bodies of two Saints German and Botulf whose Gests I cannot find in the Antiquities of that Church nor any where else Only this I find of them that the former was Brother to Saint Etheldritha and the second a Bishop XXIII CHAP. 1.2 Edilhun a Valiane Consul rebells against the King of the West Saxons and is subdued 3.4 The King of the Northumbers persecutes a holy Bishop 1. THE same year there were commotions both in the Western and Northern Provinces of our Island For in the West-Saxons Kingdom as Huntingdon relates Cuthred in the eleaventh year of his Raign fought a furious combat against Edelhun a Noble man Consulem of a most bold courage Who raising a sedition against his Lord and both their Armies meeting in the feild though Edilhun was far inferiour to the King in number of soldiers yet he maintaind the combat a long time with admirable courage for his single valour supplied the place of many bands of soldiers And when the victory was ready to declare it self for him an unfortunat wound peircing his body made the Kings iust cause to triumph over his perjury and infidelity 2. Edelhun with the blood issuing out of this wound expelled likewise Pride and contumacy out of his heart So that voluntarily submitting himself to his King and repenting his rebellious Treason he not only found pardon but was admitted into his Lords favour and freindship 3. But in the Kingdom of the Northumbeâ—s wee find a vertuous King persecuting a worthy Bishop and another innocent person and what the offence or provocation was not any of our Historians mention The Story is thus breifly touched by Mathew of Westminster and Hoveden Eadbert or Egbert King of the Northumbers took Renulphus Bishop of Lindesfarn Prisoner and lead him Captive into the Citty called Bebba where he was cast into chains in that state remained a long time Likewise he commanded the Church of S. Peter in Lindesfarn to be besieged The motive of which siege is further declared by the same Houeden saying Offo the son of Alfred an innocent young man was compelled for avoyding the fury of King Eadbert to seek sanctuary at the Relicks of the Holy Bishop S. Cuthbert where he remained till being almost starved to death by famin he was without armes taken out from thence As touching the Citty where the said Bishop was so straitly imprisoned and which in this Narration is called Bebba it is seated in the Province of Northumberland near the Isle of Farne and is at this day called Bamborow 4 Now though wee find expressed in no Historian the cause of the Kings displeasure against the said Bishop yet wee may perhaps probably collect it from other actions of the same King performed this year To which purpose the Authaur of the Epitome at the end of S. Beda's History relates how King Eadbert this same year by force annexed to his Dominions the territory of Cyel with other regions Now this Territory at this day called Keile or Coyle was possessed by the Scotts and was seated at the Frith of Cluid Glottae aestuarium where the Citty Alcuit and the Castle now called Dunbritton lyes Notwitstanding since the King of the Northumbers pretended to all the right which the Romans formerly enioyed in those parts which extended as far as the said Frith King Eadbert might think he had iust cause to recover it Now it is probable that the pious Bishop Renulf opposed the Kings ambition and avarice and so incurred his displeasure XXIV CHAP. 1.2 c. Pope Zacharias resolves severall Doubts of S. Boniface c. 1. THE following year nothing occurrs to furnish our History either in the Ecclesiasticall or Civill state of Brittany but only the death of two Bishops in the Kingdom of the Mâ—rcians of Witta Bishop of Lichfeâ—ld to whom succeeded Hemel And of Alwy Bishop of the Lindesfari whose place was supplied by Aldulf 2. But in Germany S. Boniface affords sufficient matter For he this year sent Lul or Lullo in a message to Pope Zacharias to desire of him a resolution of certain difficulties occurring in his Province and also a confirmation and Priviledges to his Archiepiscopall See of Mentz and his new founded Monastery of Fulda 3. As touching the Doubts proposed to the said Pope the Resolution of them is found in his Answer where he tells him 1. That he could not condemn him for refusing to communicate with the French Bishops who refused to keep the Promises made by them 2. That Christians ought to abstain from eating the flesh of Choughs Crows Storks and much more of wild horses 3. That the Roman Rite was upon Maundy Thursday after the making of Chrism to cause three Lamps to be lighted capacious enough to burn three days that upon Saturday the Vigil of Easter other Lamps to be lighted froÌ„ thence for the ceremony of blessing the Font. As for the making use of fires taken from burning glasses they had no such Tradition at Rome 4. Concerning such as had the falling-sicknes if it came from their birth they were not to be admitted into the Church for fear of infecting others But the same rigour was not to be used to such as had it afterwards those might be admitted to the Communion yet so as that they must come when all others had communicated 5. That there was no prohibition for Religious Virgins to wash one anothers feet as well as men 6. That it is more congruous not to admitt to Preisthood any till they be of good years and such as have a good testimony and that the age prescribed by Canons is thirty years Notwithstanding in case of want and necessity such may be taken as have passed five and twenty 7. As touching the Question how long men are to stay from eating Lard after the beast is skilld this was not found in Tradition yet his counsell was not to eat of it till it had been dryed well in smoke and then boyld Yet in case any desired to eat it unboyld let him at least abstain till after Easter 8. That concerning the revenews of the Church he need to make no scruple to require a shilling of every house solidum de casa and that would suffise 9. That in case any had been received into the Clergy who at their Ordination had conceald such Capitall sins as they had formerly been guilty of and such sins came afterward to be discovered such were to be deprived and condemned to Pennance 10. That in
of Media call'd Nacianus whom S. Ioseph had formerly baptis'd in a Citty call'd Saram and who was sent by our Lord with an army to deliver S. Ioseph out of prison into which a wicked King of Northwales had cast him which King is sayd to be mentiond in a Book found by the Emperour Theodosius in Pilats palace at Ierusalem Such foolish dreames as these as they are not with out scorn to be recited so neither ought they to be made use of for the disgracing or discrediting sober History prudently grounded on Tradition III. CHAP. 1. S. Ioseph first addresses himself to the Brittish King 2.3 c. The Kings name was Arviragus whether he and Caractacus were the same person 7. He is sayd to be the Founder of the Vniversity of Oxford by the advice of Olenus Calenus an Hetrurian Augur 1. THis Tradition informs us that S. Ioseph at his first abord in the Western parts of this Island with his companions assumed the confidence to repaire to the Brittish Kings presence raigning there to whom he gave an account of the design of his journey which was to bring the happy newes and to offer the only assured means of eternall happines to all that would embrace it It is not to be doubted but this Message gravely and modestly delivered by one filled with the spirit of God and also of a venerable presence one that renounced all worldly designs of power or riches Professour of a Religion sufficiently recommended in that it deserved the hatred of Nero a Prince then infamous beyond any ever mention'd in former Histories such a message I say could not but at least be hearkned to without displeasure if not with favour at least by such a King as this is described by our ancient Annals 2. His name was Arviragus the same no doubt who in an ancient coyn is called Arivog but from what Ancestours he was descended is not clearly enough reported in History Certain Modern Writers will needs make him the same with Caractacus before spoken of suppos'd likewise by them to be the same with Cogidunus the youngest son of Cunobelin from whom also they are willing to deduce King Lucius in a direct line who raigned in the following Age By which art they indeed give some grace to their Histories by a distinct sorting of actions and occurrents to the precise years of Kings then suppos'd to raign in this Island 3. It cannot truly be denied but that the Character given by Historians to Caractacus and Arviragus is very much agreeing in resemblance For as Caractacus is described by Tacitus and Dio to be a Prince of great courage magnanimity and Beneficence and moreover a freind to the Romans so likewise is Arviragus represented by others For thus doth a Writer learned in Antiquity describe him Arviragus saith he was well acquainted with those arts which adorn and dispose the mind to humanity Neither did he alone himselfe love learning but was also a singular favourer of those who were learned c. He was valiant and couragious in warre mild and clement in peace He was in his conversation affable and chearfully pleasant liberall in bestowing gifts and always most deare to his subiects 4. But the resemblance of their Characters is not a proof sufficient to render their persons one and the same unlesse we must be obliged to beleive that Brittany was a soyle too barren to produce more then one brave and commendable Prince And there are in ancient Records severall grounds of more then a suspicion that they were distinct Kings raigning in severall parts of this Island and in severall times also 5. It cannot be denyed that in Brittany there were very many petty Kings and Princes independent of one another some of them subject to the Romans and others free In Caesars time there were in Kent no fewer then three As for Cynobelin and his family their Dominions for ought appears were confind to the Trinobantes that is Essex and Middlesex whereas Arviragus raigned in the Western parts upon the Confines of the Belgae in the Provinces of Dorsetshire and Somersetshire Which argues that he was of a different race 6. But moreover this King Arviragus seems to have raigned much later then Caractacus who after his captivity by the Emperour Claudius is suppos'd to have been sent back to his Kingdom though no Roman Writers speak of his restitution Wheras the Roman Satyrist mentions Arviragus as a Prince of great renown in the dayes of Domitian the seaventh Emperour after Claudius and as an enemy very formidable to the Romans which certainly Caractacus never was For upon occasion of an enormously great fish a Mullet presented to Domitian he brings in a flatterer making that Present an Omen of some great conquest to follow Thou shalt take captive some great King says he or the famous Arviragus shall be â—umbled down from his Brittish chariot c. By which expression it seems more then probable that Arviragus though bred up in the Roman civility and literature yet upon advantage of the great factions succeeding in the Empire after Nero's death shook off his chains and renounced his dependance on the Romans Certain it is so great and famous a King he was that without any wrong to Caractacus he might be mistaken for him 7. Among other illustrious Monuments of his affection to literature and munificence for promoting it this is recorded that he was the Founder of the famous Vniversity of Oxford For thus writeth a modern learned Authour It is the opinion of some that in the seaventieth yeare after the Nativity of our Lord the Citty of Oxford was built during the raign of King Arviragus And that then there came into Brittany a certain Hetrurian Prophet or Augur named Olenus Calenus concerning whom Pliny in his naturall History Writes and that this man layd the foundations yea and perfected the building of it from his own name calling it Calena which name was continued to it till the entrance of the Saxons into Brittany after which is was called Oxenford IV. CHAP. 1. c. Arviragus though not converted affords to S. Ioseph c the Isle of Glastonbury for a place of retreat and twelve Hydes of Land for their nourishment 1. TO this renowned King Arviragus S. Ioseph and his Companions addressed themselves and expounded their Message The successe hereof was though not a Conversion of the King himselfe yet a free leave to publish their Doctrin among his Subjects And herein we ought withtrembling to adore the most holy but with all most secret judgments of God It is probable that there could not be found a mind in all this Island at that time better dispos'd as far as nature and human education could dispose a soule for the entertaining of Saving Truch then in King Arviragus Yet though by his kindnes to the Professours of it he tacitly shewd his approbation therof he did not receive from heaven the Gift of
Divine Faith to submitt therto So unhappily prevalent is worldly Power and Riches against the Spirit of Christianity which teaches Humility and a contempt of such transitory vanities 2. The King not content only to giue permission to these Apostolick Preachers to convert and save his subjects was pleas'd moreover to extend his liberality to them so far as to afford them a place of retreat commodious for their quiet and holy Devotions and sufficient for their sustenance that so without distraction and sollicitude they might attend to the worship of the true God and the instruction of all those that were willing to seek it Yet we cannot without injury to the zeale and charity of these our Primitive Fathers imagin that they were willing to spare their labour and travells to make Christ known to many which enquired not after him No doubt they behav'd themselves as all other holy Missioners did in those dayes through all places 〈…〉 to fly from the wrath to come and made use of that Retreat allowd them by 〈◊〉 King only as a place of repose after they had been spent with toyling in Gods harvest in which place being separated from worldly conversation they might purify themselves before their deaths that so they might be admitted into Gods presence to receive the Crown of all their labours 3. The Seat assignd by King Arviragus to S. Ioseph and his Companions was an Island rude and uncultivated call'd by the Britons for the colour of it Iniswytrin that is the glassy Island compass'd by the River Bry and situated in Somersetshire In succeeding time being cleard from bryars draynd and cultiuated it was by the inhabitants nam'd Avallonia for the plenty of apples and other fruit growing there But in after ages when the Saxons had possess'd themselves of those parts they resum'd the former Title and call'd it in their own language Glaston or Glascon whence the famous Monastery of Glastonbury begun after a homely fashion by S. Ioseph but in future times with a prodigious magnificence enlarged tooke its name 4. In the same place there was by King Arviragus and his Son Marius allotted a certain proportion of ground for the nourishment of these twelve strangers containing according to their ancient measure twelve Hydes of Land Now this term Hyde is by our Writers sometime call'd a Manse Mansa Manentium sometime a Family by others it is call'd a Plough containing as much as one Plough and Oxen could cultivate in one yeare or as could nourish a small Family And within this proportion seems to have been contained a certain fenny but rich peice of ground which the Saxons afterwards call'd Godney that is Gods Island as being the first portion of ground which in the Christian Church was consecrated to Gods service V. CHAP. 1. S. Ioseph at Glastonbury build's a Church 2.3.4 c. This confirm'd by ancient Testimonies as an Epistle of S. Patrick here produced 11.12 Observations from that Epistle 13 14. An Objection answerd 1. THe first thing that our New blessed Inhabitants did in their new Habitation was to build and consecrate to the worship of the only true God a Temple or Church in which so great was the fervour and piety of our Primitive Christians that is was deservedly call'd the Mother of Saints 2. This Church erected by S. Ioseph moved thereto by Divine Revelation as our Ancient Records testify was also dedicated to the honour of the most blessed Virgin Mary and moreover was immediatly consecrated by our Lord himselfe Of these things the Testimonies are so ancient and of such authority that severall Protestant Writers refuse not their assent to them We will here produce the attestation of Authours and Monuments which cannot reasonably be excepted against 3. The first is of S. Patrick the so illustrious Apostle of Ireland He after many years Labours spent in his Apostolicall Office there thirsting after a quiet retired life of Contemplation in the year four hundred thirty nine returning into his native Countrey Brittany made choice of Glastonbury a then famous schoole of Sanctity for his abode where he spent his last thirty years in Prayers Fasting Watching and all other Penitentiall austerities Now having by Tradition been inform'd that in that place many Primitive Saints had been enterr'd desirous to find out and honour their Relicks he caused the ground to be broken in severall places and thought fit to give an account to posterity of what he found there This he did in Writing preserv'd hitherto with great care and approv'd not only by ancient and modern Catholick Authours but by learned Protestants also The tenour of it is as followeth 4. In the name of our Lord Iesus Christ. I Patrick the poor humble servant of God in the four hundred twenty fifth yeare of the Incarnation of our Lord being sent by the most holy Pope Celestin into Ireland by the assistance of divine Grace I converted the Irish people to the way of Truth And having establish'd them in the Catholick Faith I at last am return'd into Brittany where as I beleive by a speciall conduct of God who is the life and the way I arrived at the Island Ynswitrin Where I found a holy ancient place chosen and sanctified by God to the honour of the immaculate Virgin Mary the Mother of God There also I met with certain Brethren of holy Conversation instructed in the rudiments of Catholick Faith who were the Successors of the Disciples of the holy Saints Phaganus and Diruvianus whose names considering the merits of their lives I assuredly beleive are written in heaven And because the Iust shall be had in perpetuall memory out of the tender affection which I bore to the sayd Brethren I resolved to commemorate their Names in this my Writing the which are Brumban Hiregaan Bremwal Wentreth Bantomeweny Adelwolred Loyot Wellias Breden Swelwes Hinloërnus and another calld Hin These being born of Noble parentage and desirous to adorn their Nobility with works of Christian Faith made choice of an Eremiticall life And because I found them of humble and quiet spirits I chose rather to live with them as an abiect in the worlds esteem then to dwell in Courts of Princes Moreover being all of us of one heart and one soule we thought it best for us to live eat and drink in Community and to sleep in the same habitation and thus though much against my will they would needs make me their Superiour who was not worthy to untye the latchets of their shooes 5. Whilst we thus lead a Monasticall life together according to the Rules of Ancient approved Fathers the foresayd Brethren shewd me certain Writings of S. Phaganus and Diruvianus wherin was declared that twelve Disciples of the Holy Apostles Philip and Iacob built the sayd ancient Church to the honour of the foresayd Blessed Virgin by the appointment of the blessed Archangel Gabriel And moreover that our Lord himselfe from heaven dedicated the sayd Church to the honour
largest being placed Westward from Brittany not reaching so far Northward as it but extended further toward the South over against the Northern parts of Spain yet so as that a vast Ocean divides them The Picts therfore as we sayd arriving in that Island by Sea made their request to have a Seat granted them there But the Scots answerd that the Island could not nourish them both Notwithstanding sayd they we can give you proffitable counsell what to doe We know that Eastward from us there is another Island which upon clear dayes we can discover with our eyes If you will goe thither you may gain possessions for your selves there or if you find resistance we will afford you succours Hereupon the Picts sayling into Brittany possess'd themselves of the Northern parts For the Brittains were seised of all more Southernly Now the Picts being destitute of wives requested the Scots to bestow some on them wherto they yeilded but upon this condition that whensoever the title to the Principality among them was questionable they should prefer the Descendants by the femal sexe before the males Which is a custom to this day observ'd among the Picts And in processe of time after the Brittaine and Picts this Island receiv'd a third Nation of Scots in the Northern parts possess'd by the Picts 4. The authority of S. Beda deserves certainly to be esteem'd of great weight and were it not for that our Modern learned Writers would not doubt to affirm that the Nation which about these times began to be called Picts was no other then the Native Brittains inhabiting the Northern parts of this Island Anciently all Brittains were indeed Picts that is a people which delighted to paint themselves with woad figuring upon their bodies the shapes of severall wild beasts as beleiving that would render them more formidable to their Enemies Thus Caesar and other more ancient Roman Authours describe them But when all the Southern parts of the Island were either possess'd by the Romans or became dependent on them the inhabitants left their barbarous custome of painting and conform'd themselves to the Roman fashion Those Brittains therfore inhabiting the Northern parts continuing in hostility with the Romans and constant to their old customs of painting begun to be considered as a new distinct Nation divided in saction from the civilis'd Brittains and for that reason had the new name of Picts appropriated to them being indeed Brittains as Mr. Cambden would willingly conjecture were he not discourag'd by S. Bedes authority And this conjecture he fortifies by severall arguments especially because all the names of places and other things among the Picts are purely Brittish And such Roman Historians as mention the Picts seated in Caledonia a part of Scotland yet call the Caledonians Brittains 5. But this is more then sufficient to be written on a subject which is not our busines but only so far as may give light to Ecclesiasticall affairs of those times For which reason we shall in the progresse of this story speak likewise of the Scots another Nation which e're long entred into the Provinces possess'd by the Picts and gave name to the whole Countrey X. CHAP. 1.2 A Monument of King Marius his victory over the Picts The mistake of Malmsburiensis c. touching King Marius 3. Berwick whence call'd 1. KIng Marius having slain Roderick King of the Picts or Northern Brittains erected a stone or Pillar as a Mark of his Triumph in the Province which was afterward called by his name Westmaria or Westmerland The Title inscrib'd in which Pillar saith Geffrey of Monmouth continued the memory of that victory to the present day Yea saith B. Vâ—her before the Brittish History was by Geffrey translated out of the Brittish into the Latin tongue a much graver Authour William of Malmsbury in the Prologue of his third Book touching the Gests of Brittish Bishops makes mention of the same in this manner In the Citty Lugubalia commonly call'd Carlile there is a room or parlour built of stone and vaulted over so firm that neither any iniury of weather nor fire purposely kindled with wood could destroy or weaken it The Province is call'd Cumberland and the Inhabitants Cumbrians In the front of the sayd Parlour this Inscription may be read To the Victory of Marius Though Mr. Camden affirms that in some Copies it is To Mars the Conquerour 2. But it is a great mistake of the same Authour applying the foresayd Victory of Marius to the Roman Consul Marius as if these Cumbrians were the Cimbrians driven out of Italy by Marius and in their flight resting in that Province It seems he had not read the ancient Brittish History translated by Geffrey of Monmouth which expresly attributes it to the Brittish King Marius as saith Ranulphus Cestrensis in his Polychronicon 3. When Roderick King of the Picts was slain his souldiers being onely nine hundred which remain'd alive chose another for their Captain called Berench from whom the Town of Berwick receiv'd its name saith Iohn Rosse of Warwick But others more probably refuse this Etymology affirming truly that the Countrey and people call'd Ottadinâ— where Berwick is seated were at this time under the Romans Dominion Besides the word Berwick signifies a Village which is an Appendix to some other place of note whence Ingulphus calls that Town only a Mannour or Farm XI CHAP. 1.2.3 A brief of Roman affairs from the end of Nero to Vespasian 4.5 Trebellius Maximus Prâ—pretour in Brittany after whom succeeded Vectius Bolanus 6. Then Petilius Cerealis 7. Next Iulius Frontinus 8. After whom Iulius Agricola 1. IT was in the days of Coellus the Son oâ— this King Marius that S. Ioseph accoâ—â—ding to ancient Tradition ended his labours and mortality in the eighty second yeare of our Lord concurring with the second yeare of the Emperour Titus son of Vespasian Now before we treat of the particulars touching this our Holy Patriark's death it will be convenient that we first give a breif account of Roman affairs in this Island occurring between the end of Nero and that time 2. Nero by self-murder having revenged upon himself all the execrable crimes committed especially toward the latter end of his raign as the killing of his Mother the burning of Rome and imputing that most facinorous act to the innocent Christians against whom he raged with a most savage cruelty a cruelty extending even to the extinguishing of the two most glorious Lights then shining in the world S. Peter and S. Paul the family of the Caesars ending in him there followed in the Roman Empire most terrible seditions no fewer then four Emperours within the space of two years having been chosen by severall Armies to wit Galba Otho Vitellius and Vespasian by whose contentions against one another the Roman world was all torn in peices and Italy especially was almost drowned with the blood of severall armies meeting there
conâ—â—â—â—ed there the space of thirty years For 〈…〉 did not end in Brittany with S. Ioseph On the contrary the 〈◊〉 Kings favouring and the people applauding the piety and devotion of those primitive Saints such a solitary contemplative life was in high esteem among them so that after the decease of S. Ioseph and his companions others succeeded both to the right of the possession bestowd on S. Ioseph and the imitation of his manner of life â— Such a succession continued till the 〈…〉 At which time a free and 〈…〉 of the Gospell being 〈…〉 couraged it is 〈…〉 of that 〈…〉 by charity 〈◊〉 〈…〉 and without 〈◊〉 〈…〉 care of perfectionating their 〈…〉 both their Devotions and 〈◊〉 in converting and saving the soules of others For about that time 〈◊〉 we find related in the life of S. Ioseph that place was become a den of wild beasts which was before the habitation of Saints â— Howbeit in succeeding ages when there was no such necessity of so great a number of labourers in Gods vineyard by reason of the extension and fruitfullnes of it the Memory of S. Ioseph was renewd and devout Christians with great fervour visited the Church dedicated to the honour of the most Blessed Virgin Then their liberality was plentifully enlarg'd to adorn that place which they esteem'd the fountain and Originall of Christian Religion in Brittany as we find it call'd in our Kings ancient Charters THE THIRD BOOK OF THE CHVRCH-HISTORY OF BRITTANY I. CHAP. 1.2.3 c. About the time of S. Iosephs death Iulius Agricola came to be Governour of Brittany His gests and Victories 1. THE death of S. Ioseph hapned little after the time that Iulius Agricola was sent Pretor into Brittany in the last year of the raign or the Emperour Vespasian At his first entrance he was entertained with seditions in the Army and commotions in the Countrey The former he by his prudence and authority easily quieted and the other by his courage and diligence 2. It was the Province of the Ordovices or Inhabitants of Northwales that taking example from their neighbours the Silures endeavoured to shake off the Roman yoke The first Act of their Rebellion was to invade and utterly rout certain Troops of horse quarterd amongst them Hereupon Agricola though then newly arrived and the Winter already beginning yet assembled the Legions and march'd into their countrey Which diligence of his so discouraged them that they durst not oppose him with an Army inso much as he freely wasted and destroyed almost the whole Province 3. That which made his conquest entire was an impression which he made into the Isle of Mona or Anglesey from the possession wherof Suetonius Paulinus had been recall'd by the rebellion of Boudicea Queen of the Trinobantes The Ordovices thought themselves secure in this Island because Agricola was unprovided of boats to passe his army But this defect he supplied by his wisdome and constancy For chusing among his Auxiliaries such as were most skillfull in swimming and in the water could both carry their arm 's and direct their horses he made them passe over into the Island Hereby the Enemies were so astonished that they humbly begg'd peace and deliver'd up the Island to him 4. After this victory Agricola's care was to govern the Province peaceably for which purpose he restrain'd the avarice of the Roman soldiers and defended the Natives from their injuries Yea moreover having terrified them with marches through all the difficult passages in the Island he by his courtesy civility invited them to take pleasure in living peaceably For which purpose he incourag'd them to conform themselves to the Roman fashion of life by building houses Temples and Market-places Yea he allured them to imitate even the vices of their Conquerours in magnificent banquets baths and other instruments of Luxury He likewise caused the children of the Brittish Nobility to be instructed in literature preferring their witts and naturall endowments beyond the capacities of the Gaules By which means not only the Roman tongue became familiar to the Brittains from which formerly they had a great aversion but they aspired also to learn and practise Eloquence 5. Such was the employment of the two first years of Agricola's government In the third he march'd Northward there discovering new Nations and Provinces whose countrey he wasted as far as the river Taus or Tweed And the summer following he continued his conquests as far as Bodotria or Edinborow-frith Eastward and Glotta or the Frith of Dunbritton Westward and the narrow space of land between them he strengthned with forts and garrisons so that the only Enemies remaining unconquer'd which were the Caledonian Brittains were driven beyond those Northern limits In the foresayd streits neare a town called by Ptolomy Coria now Abercurven there is to this day extant an ancient Structure of squard stones call'd by the Inhabitants Iulius Hot fancied by them to have been built by Iulius Caesar who yet never came near this Province but in all probability rais'd by Iulius Agricola as a Monument of his Conquests 6. In the fifth year of his Expedition he subdued the Northwest Provinces of Brittany looking towards Ireland into which parts he drew most of his forces as if he had had some thoughts of invading that Island from whence a petty Prince expell'd by a Sedition of his Subjects repaired to him whom with a shew of freindship he detaind intending when an opportunity offred it selfe to make use of him in a design upon that Island 7. The following yeare he spent in a march northward from Bodotria or Edinborough on purpose to find out the limits of the countrey for hitherto it was not known to the Romans whether Brittany was an Island or no. And both to secure his march and carry provisions he caused his Navy to keep pace with his land Army a spectacle of great terrour to the poore Brittains Who therupon united all their counsells and forces to endeavour by this last attempt to free themselves from danger by the Romans 8. Their first exploit was to assault the camp of the ninth Legion separated from the rest But the watchfull Generall came upon them when they were ready to break into the Camp and at last though with great difficulty dispersed them 9. The Caledonian Brittains fayling in this resolved to decide the whole controversy by a generall Combat Wherupon they assembled all their forces on a Mountain call'd Grampius which divides the whole countrey since call'd Scotland into the Northern and Southern Provinces Their Generall specially elected for this warre was called Galgacus eminent both for his Nobility and courage who omitted no arguments which might inflame his soldiers valour especially insisting on this That the Romans by their shipping having discovered that Brittany was an Island they had nothing behind them but the Sea and rocks to which by flying they might have recourse 10. Agricola on
afterward ordained Bishop of Tongres and Triers For before Constantins time saith Miraeus those two Citties were govern'd by one Bishop In the Annals of which Church we read that Saint Lucius King of Brittany was made a Christian and baptised by this Marcellus a Teacher of the inhabitants of Triers Indeed it is not unprobable that King Lucius might have been instructed in the verities of Christian Religionâ— and well disposed to the Profession of it by this Saint but there are far more authentik testimonies demonstrating that he was baptised by Fugatius and Damianus sent from Rome by Pope Eleutherius as shall be demonstrated herafter 4. This holy Bishop was the first Brittain which suffred Martyrdom out of the Island as S. Alban was the first that suffred within it He is commemorated in our Martyrologe on the fourth of September and in the Gallican Martyrologe he is celebrated with an illustrious Elogy This his Martyrdom hapned many years after this time in a great persecution rais'd against Christians during the raign of Antoninus his Successour Marcus Aurelius when he was absent from Rome and gone into the Eastern parts then in commotion after he had finished the German warr XII CHAP. 1.2 S. Timothy the son of Pudens preaches in Brittany 3. Of his Sister S. Pudentiana 4. Who Priscilla was 1. TOgether with S. Marcellus there came from Rome another illustrious Saint of Noble Birth and plentifull fortunes all which notwithstanding he despis'd and relinquish'd that with more freedom he might preach Christ crucified This was S. Timotheus the son of Pudens a Roman Senatour and of his wife suppos'd by many to have been the famous S. Claudia the Brittish Lady concerning whom we have already treated He was Brother to Novatus and to S. Pudentiana and S. Prâ—xedes whose memories are anniversarily celebrated by the Catholick Church 2. The coming of S. Timotheus is a considerable proof that his Mother was a Brittain and for that reason the whole family may iustly challenge a place in this History And because he survived the rest we will breifly set down what we find in the Ecclesiasticall Office touching the two Holy Sisters 3. Pudentiana a Virgin daughter of Pudens a Roman Senatour with admirable piety practising the duties of Christian Religion together with her sister Praxedes sold her patrimony and distributed to the poore the monâ—y arising from thence giving her selfe wholly â—o fasting and prayer By her endeavours and zeale her whole family consisting of ninety six persons was converted to the Faith and baptised by Pope Pius And wheras by an Edict of the Emperour Antoninus publick Sacrifices of Christians were forbidden the Holy Pope celebrated the Divine Mysteries together with other Christians in the house of Pudentianâ— who kindly entertained them all affording them all things necessary for their sustenanâ—e Thus continually employing herselfe in these offices of Piety she departed out of this life and on the fourteenth of the Calends of Iune in the year of our Lord one hundred sixty and one she was buried in the Sepulcher of her Father in the Coemitory of Priscilla situated in the Salarian way 4. Priscilla here mention'd by whom a Coemitory or common place of buriall for Christians had been bestow'd was the Mother of Pudens and Grand-mother of this holy Virgin From her probably it was that her Mother Claudia took her name For as she being a Captive attending King Caractacus when he was taken prisoner by Ostorius she changed her Brittish name into Claudia out of regard to Emperour Claudius so being maried to Pudens she it seems once more changed it for another peculiar to her husbands family XIII CHAP. 1.2 The death of Novatus Brother of S Timothy and S Pudentiana signified in a lâ—tter from the Holy Preist Pastor S. Timothy in Brittany 3. S. Timothy's Answer who leaves to the disposall of his Sister S. Praxedes the state left by their Brother 4 5. She dedicats the Bathes of Novatus or Timothy into a Church where Christians assembled 6. Why Churches in Rome call'd Tituli 1. THe next yeare followed the death of Pudentiana's Brother Novatus Concerning which the ancient Ecclesiasticall Monuments have still preserved a letter written by the Holy Preist called Pastor directed to S. Timotheus then absent from Rome and employed in the Apostolick Office in Brittany the tenour of the Letter is as follows 2. Pastor a Preist to his follow Preist Timotheus health in our Lord. The Venerable Virgin Praxedes was in great affliction for the death of her Sister Pudentiana Whereupon many honourable Christians together with our Holy Pope Pius came to her to comfort her There came likewise to her for the same purpose Novatus your Brother who is also our Brother in our Lord and gave her much consolation and moreover by his liberality he greatly refreshed many poore Christians ministring to them plentifully of his wealth Being with his Sister he earnestly desired that by her prayers he might obtain mercy from our Lord. He likewise together with our most blessed Bishop Pius doth frequently commemorate you at the Altar of our Lord. About a month and twenty eight days days after he was departed from the Virgin Praxedes he fell sick Now our Bishop Pius together with the Virgin Praxedes having a solicitude for all Christians they enquired where the Man of God Novatus was since he appeared not in the Congregation And they were informed that he was detained thence by sicknes then were all very sorrowfull Hereupon the Blessed Virgin Praxedes sayd to our Bishop Pius If it be your Holines pleasure let us goe to him for by your visitation and prayers I doe assure my selfe our Lord will save him Vpon this her proposall it was resolved accordingly and at night wee together with our Bishop Pius and the Virgin of our lord Praxedes went to the Man of our Lord Novatus And when this Holy man heard that this assembly was come to see him he gave thanks to our Lord for the comfort he received by the Visitation of the Holy Bishop Pius together with the Virgin of our Lord and all the rest of us Thus wee remained in his house eight days and nights And during the time we were with him he expressed his Will and pleasure to be to bequeath to your selfe and the Blessed-Virgin Praxedes all his estate and on the thirteenth day following he departed to our Lord. Of these things we together with holy Pius Bishop of the Apostolick See and the Virgin Praxedes thought meet to give you an account by these our letters to the end you might acquaint us with your pleasure how you would have the estate of your Brother Novatus disposed that your appointment may in all things be observed Sent by Eusebius a Subdeacon of the holy Roman Church 3. To this Letter S. Timotheus his Answer follows though short yet full of piety and perfum'd with the simplicity and Christian Charity of that age
Timotheus to his Brother and fellow preist Pastor and to his most holy Sister Praxedes health We being desirous in all things without delay to expresse our service beseech your holines to recommend us to the Memory and intercession of the Holy Apostles the holy Bishop Pius Prelat of the holy Apostolick See and all the saints I your humble servant perusing the letter you were pleased to direct to mee am more abundantly filled with ioy For my soule always was and still continues resigned to yours Wherfore your Holines may take notice that the same is pleasing to us your servant which was agreable to our Brother Novatus namely that what he bequeathed to mee should be at the disposition of the holy Virgin Praxedes and therefore hereby you have full power to employ the said legacy which way soever shall be thought good by you and the said holy Virgin 4. Now what was the successe of this holy negotiation appears in the ancient Acts of the same Pastor in these words Having therfore received this Epistle we were filled with ioy and presented it to the Holy Bishop Pius to be read by him Then the blessed Bishop Pius gave thanks to God the Father Almighty At the same time the holy Virgin of our Lord Praxedes having received such power from her Brother Timotheus humbly besought the Blessed Bishop Pius that he would dedicate a Church in the Baths of Novatus at that time not frequented because in them there was a large and spacious Edifice To this request Bishop Pius willingly yeilded and dedicated a Church in the Baths of Novatus at Rome in the street calld The Bricklayers street where likewise he constituted a Roman Title and consecrated a Font for Baptism on the fourth of the Ides of May. 5. These Bathes here named from Novatus have elsewhere their title from S. Timotheus being situated on the Mountain at Rome call'd Viminal To this place it was before a Church was solemnly consecrated that Christians usually repaired but privately for the celebration of holy Christian Mysteries as we find in the Acts of S. Iustin the Philosopher and Martyr For being examined by the Prefect of Rome concerning the place in which the Christians made their Assemblies his answer was I have hitherto had my abode near the house of one Martius at the Bath named The Timothin-bath For which Assemblies having been forbid by the Emperour the same Iustin four years after suffred Martyrdom 6. Now Wheras in this relation made by the holy Preist Pastor there is mention of a Roman Title constituted by Pope Pius we may observe that in the first infancy of the Church those who were ordained Preists to celebrate Divine Mysteries were not confined to any fixed residence but exercised their function in severall places as occasion presented it selfe But about the year of our Lord one hundred and twelve S. Evaristus Pope assign'd to each Preist a peculiar Cure and Parish in Rome which were called Tituli or Titles so named from the Ensigns or Marks set on the places where they assembled which in the ancient Churches were Crosses erected to signify that such buildings were appropriated to Christian Worship XIV CHAP. 1. The death of Antoninus Emperour to whom succeed Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus 2. The death of S. Praxedes 3. Persecution rais'd by M. Aurelius at the instigation of Philosophers 1. THE same yeare with S. Novatus did the Emperour Antoninus likewise end his life to whom succeeded Marcus Aurelius call'd the Philosopher and Lucius Verus so that the Roman Empire was joyntly governed by two persons with equall authority 2. In the second year of the raign of these Emperours dyed the holy Virgin Praxedes Concerning whom thus the Holy Priest Pastor continues to write Two years and eighteen days after this Church was dedicated there was a great persecution rais'd against Christians to the end to force them to worship Idols and many were crown'd with Martyrdom Now the holy Virgin of our Lord Praxedes being fervent in the Holy Ghost secretly conceal'd many Christians in the sayd Title or Church whose bodies she strengthned with food and their minds with exhortations proceeding from Gods spirit Then information was given to Antoninus that is M. Aurelius that Christian assemblies were made in the house of Praxedes Who sent Officers and layd hold on many among which was Symitrius a Priest with twenty two more All which he commanded to be put to death in the same Title without any examination Whose bodies the blessed Virgin Praxedes took by night and buried them in the Coemitery of Priscilla on the seaventh day of the Ides of Iune After this the Holy Virgin became much afflicted in mind and with many groans prayd unto our Lord that she might passe out of this life whose prayers and teares found accesse unto our Lord Iesus Christ. For on the thirty fourth day after the Martyrdom of the foresaid Saints the consecrated Virgin went unto our Lord on the twelfth of the Calends of August Whose body I Pastor a Priest buried next to her Father in the Coemitery of Priscilla in the Salarian way where at this day the Prayers and devotions of Saints are frequently exercised 3. This persecution was begun cheifly at the instigation of Heathen Philosophers especially the inhuman beastly Sect of the Cynicks For by reason of the Emperours studiousnes and profession of Stoicall Philosophy such persons had easy admittance to him Among whom Tatianus a learned Christian in that time takes notice of one infamous Cynick called Crescens whose vanity luxury cruelty and profanenes is well described by him and S. Iustin Martyr in his Oration publickly pronounc'd before the Senat mentions the same Cynick with contempt and indignation as it were prophecying his Martyrdom following and procured by those Sycophants XV. CHAP. 1.2 Of S. Timotheus his death by Martyrdom at Rome 3. A Letter of Pope Pius signifying this c. 4. His universall care over the Church 5.6 A second Letter of the same Holy Pope 7. Great care of Christians touching the Sacred bodies of Martyrs 1. THus we have the summe of what is in Ecclesiasticall Monuments delivered touching three holy children of Pudens a Roman Senatour and his wife Claudia Priscilla in the Acts of whom our Nation has an interest partly in regard of their Mother a Brittish Lady as likewise their Brother S. Timotheus who besides his generall Apostolicall Office exercised in this Island had no doubt a great influence in disposing King Lucius to the embracing of our Christian Faith 2. Now besides this generall Character of this our Saint there is little extant touching S. Timotheus but only that the year after his devout Sister Praxedes death he return'd to Rome where also he became a happy prey to those sensuall savage Philosophers and in the following year gloriously ended his life by Martyrdom together with another worthy companion called Marcus This appears both in the ancient Roman
Ensigns of our Enemies And the same thing did Pompeianus our Generall declare to us which our selves likewise saw Now having in our Army onely four Legions the First the Tenth the Twinn-Legion and that of the Ferentarij and there being in our Enemies Camp no fewer then nine hundred seaventy seaven thousand when I compar'd our small forces with the vast multitudes of our Barbarous Foes I addressed my prayers and vows to our Roman Gods But when I saw that I was neglected by them and that the Enemy began to overcharge us considering the small number of our own forces I sent to call the Christians which were not a few in our Army whom I both by prayers and threats also urged to assist us But threats were neither needfull nor indeed seemly as I perceived afterward when I found how powerfull they were For they undertaking our defence did not set themselves to provide themselves of weapons or to make use of arms or Trumpets For to put their trust in such things is not acceptable to that God whose name cause and honour they always carry in their hearts Therefore it is just that we should acknowledge those to be safely protected by God whom formerly we esteem'd to be impious and enemies to him For having cast themselves prostrate on the ground they offred their prayers not only for me but for the whole Army that some remedy might be sent us to asswage the hunger and thirst with which we were tormented For for the space of five days we had not drunk any water there being none best among us nor any means to procure any we being clos'd round about with Mountains in the very heart of Germany Now assoon as these Christians had cast themselves on the ground and addressed their Prayers to that God of whom I was ignorant immediately there fell from heaven abundance of rain which to us was coole and refreshing but to the Enemies of the Romans it was accompanied with haile in the likenes of fire and with thunderbolts Thus that God who cannot be overcome or resisted was in a wonderfull manner readily propitious to their prayers and supplications For this reason let us freely permit such as these to be what they professe Christians least we force them by their prayers to obtain such weapons from heaven against us My judgment and sentence therefore is That none be question'd or call'd into judgment upon this charge that he is a Christian. So that if any one shall be found to lay this as a crime to any one that he is a Christian let it be made known to the person accus'd for being a Christian in case no other crime be objected to him that he is to be presently dismiss'd and acquitted and let him that accused such a Christian be burnt alive Whosoever therefore professes himselfe a Christian is hereby freed from any danger in that regard threatned against him Neither let the Magistrate who governs the Province endeavour to make him renounce his Profession or any way abridge his liberty And my Sentence moreover is That this Edict be further establish'd by a Decree of the Senat and publickly expos'd in the common place of Trajan that any one may read it Let Vetrasius Pollio likewise Prefect of the Citty take order that this Constitution be sent into all Provinces Neither let any one who has a mind to take a copy and make any use of it be prohibited so to doe Fare ye well 8. The Emperour not content with celebrating so advantageously the wonderfull power and goodnes of the true God by Edicts and Writings published to the whole world proceeded to a yet more illustrious expression of his gratitude And because Edicts were only in force for the present age he to eternise the memory of so great a deliverance rais'd up in a spacious place at Rome a vast Pillar on which was graved the whole History to be read by all future times 9. Now such a Confession of the impotency of the Roman Deities and the Omnipotency of the true God worshipped only by Christians a Confession made by the most wise learned and vertuous Emperour that ever assumed the Title of Caesar this no doubt had a strange influence on the minds of a world of perâ—ons in all the Provinces of the Empire to incline them to conform themselves to the Emperours judgment though worldly interests made his practise contradict his judgment Hence it came to passe that the numbers of Christians wonderfully encreas'd at this time and those not only of the vulgar rank but persons of honour and esteem in the world as we read in Tertullian a Christian Writer of the next Age We says he who are counted Externs by you doe yet fill all your places your Citties Isles Castles Free Towns Camps Tribes Corporations Palaces Senats and places of Iudicature c. 10. No wonder then if our Brittish King Lucius so well prepar'd before having been inform'd as our Historian Bale writes by the Emperours principall Officers Trebellius and Pertinax sent by him into Brittany not only of the late miraculous deliverance but how a great number of the Roman Nobility and Senatours had thereupon given their names to Christ No wonder I say if he being convinc'd in judgment and not deterd by the Roman Civill power at last submitted his neck to the same easy yoke But whereas the Centuriators of Magdeburg mistaking this passage of Bale do affirm that Pertinax and Trebellius were themselves converted to the Christian Faith and thereby an occasion of King Lucius his conversion this evidently contradicts the current of the Roman History Eor Pertinax who in these times was sent the Emperours Lievtenant into Brittany he after the death of Commodus who succeeded M. Aurelius his father was chosen Emperour and not the least intimation is given by any Historian that he was affected to Christian Religion As for Trebellius a person unknown in the History of these times for he could neither be that Trebellius Maximus who governed Brittany in the year of our Lord sixty seaven nor probably that Cneus Trebellius the Emperours Lievtenant here in the year one hundred and eighteen concerning whom we find in no Monuments any ground of suspicion that either of them became Christians 11. For this reason we cannot afford him a place among those illustrious persons concerning whom Eusebius thus writes At the same time when Commodus governed the Roman Empire our Religion was brought to a quiet and peaceable state through all the Churches in the world Yea moreover the Word of salvation did then so attract the minds of all sorts of men to the holy Religion which teaches the worship of the onely true omnipotent God Creatour of all things that at Rome it selfe and in the Roman Empire very many persons illustrious for their birth and flowing with wealth embraced that Truth which brought salvation to them and moreover drew to the same Holy Profession their whole families and
who travell'd over the whole Island teaching and baptising the inhabitants 3. Moreover in the same Records we find how these two Saints having been inform'd that about a hundred yeares before S. Ioseph of Arimathea and eleaven of his companions had in some measure spread the seed of Christian Faith in Brittany and at last retired themselves to Glastonbury where they died hereupon they visited that sacred place call'd the Isle of Avallonia which saith Cap-grave was then become a covert for wild beasts that formerly had been a habitation of Saints till it pleas'd the Blessed Virgin to reduce to the memory of Christians her Oratory erected there 4. These two holy men therfore penetrating into this solitary Isle as Moses the Lawgiver of the Iews did into the inmost parts of the desart by the divine conduct they found there an ancient Church built by the hands of the Disciples of our Lord which the Supreme Creatour of heaven declar'd by many Miraculoâ— signs that himself had consecrated it to his own glory and to the honour of his most Blessed Mother The foresaid holy men having found this Oratory were fill'd with unspeakeable ioy and there they continued the space of nine years employing all that time in the praises of God And searching diligently that sacred place they found the Holy Crosse the figure of our Redemption together with severall other signs declaring that that place had been formerly the habitation of Christians Afterwards being admonished by a Divine Oracle they considered that our Lord had made choice of that place above all others in Brittany wherin the intercession of the most Blessed Virgin should be implored in all necessities A perfect relation of all which things they found in ancient Writings there to wit How when the Apostles were dispersed through the world S. Philip with many Disciples came into France and sent twelve of them to preach the Faith in Brittany the which being admonish'd by a Revelation of an Angell built the foresaid Oratory which afterward the Son of God dedicated to the honour of his Mother And likewise how three Kings though Pagans had given them twelve portions of land for their sustenance Thus we read in the Antiquities of Glastonbury 5. The same Records doe further testify how these two Holy men added another Oratory built of stone and dedicated to the honour of our Lord and his Apostles S. Peter and S. Paul and on the top of the Mountain raised a Chapell to the honour of S. Michael the Archangell Moreover to continue the service of God there which had been interrupted they established a succession of twelve devout persons in memory of the first twelve companions of S. Ioseph Which number continued till the coming of S. Patrick the Apostle of Ireland into that place c. 6. Now whether these two Apostolicall men dyed at Glastonbury or no is not certain saith the Authour of those Records though that they continued there the space of nine years is delivered by certain Tradition Most probable it is that they dyed and were buried there considering that the space of nine years contains almost the whole time of their abode in this Island so that it seems to have been a place of retirement chosen by them from their first coming to which they usually had recourse for a refreshment from their labours and where by the exercise of Prayer and Contemplation they obtain'd a greater measure of the Divine Spirit to enable them more perfectly to discharge their Apostolicall Office In due gratitude to whose Charity the Brittish Church hath made an anniversary commemoration of them on the twenty fourth of May consigning their death to the year of our Lord one hundred ninety and one XVIII CHAP. 1.2.3 After King Lucius his death the Romans permit not any of his family to succeed and why 4.5.6.7 Commotions in Brittany compos'd by Vlpius Marcellus to whom Pertinax succeeded who was Emperour next after Commodus 1. AFter King Lucius his death which hapned in the seaventh year of the Emperour Severus we doe not find any of his family or indeed of the Brittish blood to have succeeded him Hence it is that Iohn Fordon a Scottish Chronologist thus writes Lucius King of the Brittains being dead or as he says elswhere Not appearing the Royall offspring ceased to raign in that Kingdom Tribuns being there placed by the Romans to govern the Island by Tribuns understanding the Emperours Legats commanding the Roman army 2. Hector Boethius likewise a French Historian having recounted how King Lucius as being a favourer of the Romans had been permitted by the Emperours benevolence to rule he adds That after his death the Romans considering that the Brittish Kings had been Authours of many seditions among themselves and rebellions against the Romans therfore by a publick Decree they prohibited any of the Brittish blood for the future to enioy the Title and dignity of a King 3. Now though not any of the Roman Historians mention such a Decree yet that King Lucius had no Successours of his blood is certain Probably he had not children Or if he had their exclusion from the crown might be caused by his Profession of Christianity However in our following Narration we shall be obliged to referre occurrents to the raign of the respective Roman Emperours then living 4. And as for the Roman or Brittish civill affaires during the Raign of Commodus lasting thirteen yeares in the beginning wherof King Lucius became a Christian the Roman Historians afford us little to furnish this our History Some few particulars shall here breifly be mention'd 5. In the fifth year of Commodus his raign saith Dio who liv'd in those times the Caledonian Brittains having made an eruption through the wall which divided them from the more southern Provinces wasted all the countrey before them and slew the Roman Generall together with all his soldiers Wherewith Commodus being terrified sent against them Vlpius Marcellus a man of admirable vertue and courage who returned upon those barbarous people their injuries with advantage and heaped on them most greivous calamities and losses For which good service through the Emperours envy he scarce escaped being kill'd Notwithstanding for that victory Commodus assumed the sirname of Britannicus among his other Titles as appears by ancient Medalls mention'd by Camden and Speed 6. Two years after Helvius Pertinax who succeeded Commodus in the Empire though he raigned but a few months was sent into Brittany whither he brought back five hundred soldiers sent by the Army there to Rome to complain of the injuries offred them by Perennius the Emperours favourite whom they boldly killd in his presence 7. Pertinax having with much adoe quietted the Brittish Legions made it his suit to the Emperour to be eas'd of the government alledging for his principall reason that the Army hated him for his care to preserve military discipline Wherupon Commodus in the eleaventh
wall separated from those which were under the Romans dominion Dio an Historian of these times though he curiously prosecutes the progresse of the Emperour Severus through these countreys finds only two Nations in these parts against whom he fought the Maeares and the Caledonians to which saith he all other names are refer'd as the Vecturiones and Deucalidonians c. the former neighbouring to that wall and the other possessing the remainder of the Island to the Northern Sea As for the name of Scots there is as yet no mention of them either in him or any other ancient Writer Where as if there had been any such distinct Nation here Severus who was most ambitious to multiply his Titles would not have faild to have inserted Scoticus among them We shall ere long determine when that Nation entred those parts and when they changed the Name of those Provinces 3. It is without question true that such a Prince there was in those times as Donaldus who by Rosierius is sayd to be the Brother of Ethodius but whether he was a King of that whole Countrey of Brittany not yet conquered by the Romans or only a Prince of some one Province there cannot certainly be determin'd A Tradition likewise sufficiently grounded approves the Conversion of that Prince with his Family and subjects about two years after the Death of King Lucius Which is evidently confirmed by the forecited testimony of Tertullian in a Book written not above seaven years after it happned 4. As for Fulgentius or as the Brittains call'd him Fulgenius he was a Southern Brittain not only a Subject of King Lucius but of the same Royall family descended saith Boethius from the ancient blood of the Brittish Kings and who together with his King and kinsman embraced the Christian Faith He was not a Writer of Books as Dempster fains but a Prince of high Spirits and courage And being such an one no marvell if after so great an injury done to his family which was excluded from the Succession by the Romans he refused to continue their subject and fled to their profess'd Enemies the Caledonian Brittains beyond the wall 5. Fulgenius therfore was doubtles the first who instill'd into the mind of Donaldus a love of Christian verities and suggested to him the same way and meanes to obtain a more perfect instruction which his Kinsman King Lucius had lately made use of which was to direct Messengers to the Bishop of Rome Pope Victor with a request that he would send authoris'd Teachers to instruct that Nation and establish a Church there This the King perform'd and accordingly Paschasius with other his companions were sent into those Northern Provinces who by the Divine assistance converted to the Faith such infinite numbers of the Inhabitants that there were not Preists enow to baptise them 6. It seems the reputation of Fulgenius his courage and conduit was so great that King Donaldus made him Generall of the forces with which he broke into the Roman Provinces causing a terrible desolation there And being opposed by the Roman Generall he defeated his Army and kill'd both him and in a manner all that follow'd him So great a calamity hence follow'd through all the Southern paâ—ts of the Island that the Emperour Severus himselfe thought his own presence and authority necessary to secure the Province Hereupon he brought with him an Army so formidable that the Maeates and Caledonians made an offer to surrender themselves But the Emperour ambitious of fame by a conquest of them entred their countrey where his cheif difficulty was to find his enemies for by reason of the vast mountains woods and marishes all the passages wherof were known to the Brittains the Romans became oft entangled in their march and sometimes received considerable defeats Notwithstanding by their constancy and advantage in numbers the Roman Army did not interrupt their progresse till they had peirced to the utmost bounds of the Island confining on the Northern Sea There was no decisive battell at all fought between them Notwithstanding the Emperour esteem'd his exploit of marching through the whole countrey which never any Enemy before had done to be so illustrious that he therfore assum'd among his other Titles that of Britannicus Which likewise was communicated to his two Sons Bassianus and Geta his Successours in the Empire though only Bassianus accompanied him in the invasion Geta being left in the Southern parts to compose Civil affaires 7. As for the Noble and pious Brittain Fulgenius he is sayd shortly after to have ended his life at York then the Imperiall Citty It is doubtfull whether he returned thither as a Prisoner or upon composition For some of the Princes and Provinces yeilded themselves to the Emperour though the greatest part avoyding any encounter with the Romans remain'd still in their former hostility That therfore which is related by a Modern Writer touching Fulgenius is very uncertain namely that in a battell against Septimius Severus he was mortally wounded and died at York in the year of Grace two hundred and twelve being the eighteenth and last year of Severus his Raign And other stories of him though confidently reported by some as that he was the Brother of Martia the first wife of Severus and that by him Severus him selfe was slain are meer inventions contriv'd to adorn a Fable rather then a History III. CHAP. 1.2 How far Severus the Emperour subdued the Caledonian Brittains And of the wall built by him 3.4 Severus his ominous retreat to York and his death there And Consecration by the Romans 5. His Sons left Successours in the Empire but Bassianus the Elder murders his Brother Geta. 6. A sharp reply of a Brittish Lady to the Empresse Iulia. 7. A Description of the Caledonian Picts by Herodian 1. SEverus though he took the Title of Britannicus and coyned Medalls inscrib'd with Britannica Victoria was far from subduing those Northern Brittains He wrote indeed to Rome that the Caledonians by covenant had yeilded up a part of the countrey formerly possess'd by them Notwithstanding if we consider the situation of the Wall or Rampire renewd by him to exclude those Nations from commerce with the civiliz'd Provinces we shall find that the Romans rather yeilded to the Brittains a considerable space of ground which had formerly been subdued and gaind by Iulius Agricola and Lollius Vrbicus 2. Our famous Historian S. Beda indeed is of opinion that this Wall or rather Rampire of earth was rais'd by Severus in the same place where Agricola in the former Age had made his enclosure to wit between the two bayes of Edinborough and Dunbritton But certain it is that this Rampire was placed much more to the Southward where the Emperour Hadrian afterward had rais'd his Wall now utterly demolish'd between the Mouth of the River Tine and the bay of Eden Ituna in Cumberland The length of which Rampire was not as Orosius relates as likewise S. Hierom and
Cassiodorus one hundred thirty two miles but onely fourscore as Spartianus truly measures it calling this work the greatest ornament of his Empire from whence he took the Title of Britannicus 3. Having finish'd this vast work with frequent towrs and a most deep and spacious Trench Severus retir'd with his Army to York and being superstitious he busied his thoughts in the way with an expectation of some good omen that might portend an establishment of his future happines But was much daunted seeing an Aethiopan souldier coale black and crown'd with Cypresse who came to meet him And when he commanded him to be taken away he being a noted Ieaster sayd thus to him Thou hast been all thou hast overcome all Now be a God The apprehension which so portentous a sign wrought in his mind was much encreas'd when entring into York he was by a rusticall Sâ—â—thsayer conducted to the Temple of Bellona and afterwards when the beasts brought for sacrifice were all black and through the negligence of his servants followd him all the way to the entrance into his Palace These saith Spartianus were the presages of his death which followd presently after in the same Citty His last words were these When I receiv'd the Government I found the common-wealth every where in troubles I leave it peaceable even to the Brittains Though I be an old man unable to walk I leave to my children Antoninâ— if they be good an Empire firm and secure but if they be ill they will find it weak and tottring 4. Being dead he was with all most exquisite solemnity consecrated and made a God the Ceremonies wherof are exactly described by Herodian His ashes were gathered into a precious boxe with costly odours and by his two sons with great veneration caried to Rome to be layd up in the sacred Monuments of their Princes 5. Now though these two sons Bassianus or Antoninus and Geta were left by their Father with equall power Governours of the Empire yet presently after their coming to Rome the Elder son Bassianus most barbarously murdred the Younger together with all that had adhered to him and after his death raigned alone fower yeares 6. Before we quit this subject in hand it will not be impertinent to relate from Dio a story touching a quarrell between Severus his Empresse Iulia and a Brittish Lady by which we may observe the sprightfullnes of the Brittains When the Emperour had entred into a league with the Caledonian Brittains whilst he was sitting on his Tribunal his wife Iulia intending an affront to the Brittish woemen sayd publickly that they conversed impudently with men Whereto the Wife of Argentocoxâ—s a Caledonian Prince thus pleasantly answer'd We doe much more honourably satisfy out naturall passions then you Roman Ladies For we converse indeed freely with men but they are such as are of the best and Noblest rank Wheras you Roman woemen prestitute your selves secretly to the basest of men This Reply proved the more sharp because Iulia was infamous for her adulteries which it seems the Brittish Lady was not ignorant of and had courage enough to let her know it Shortly after the Empresse became the object of the utmost infamy by marying publickly her own son Bassianus to whose lusts she most impudently offred her selfe 7. We will conclude the present argument with an observation out of Herodian an Historian living in these times who describing the fashions of those Northern Brittains says That they used no garments at all that about their Necks and breasts they wâ—re swords esteeming that to be a principall ornament and argument of their wealth Moreover that they in severall colours mark'd their bodies with the pictures and figures of all sorts of beasts and this being their cheif bravery they therfore refused to weare any garments because they would have those pictures exposed to mens eyes Hence it is that in Roman Authours of this and the succeeding ages we find not the Brittains in generall but only these Northern Caledonian Brittains stiled Sky-colourd Brittains and sky-colourd Brigantes Ausâ—nius the Poet particularly ascribes such painting to the Caledonian Brittains So that no doubt it was from hence that those utmost northern Brittains came to be called Picts or a Painted people IV. CHAP. 1. Of the Actions and death of Donaldus the first Christian King of the Caledonians 2. The Ancient Scottish Christianity how different from the Modern 3. Of a Monument erected to the Dui or God of the Brigantes 1. IN the fourth year of Antoninus Bassianus his Raign dyed Donaldus the first Christian Prince among the Caledonians Concerning whom thus writes Hector Boethius Donaldus was the first of all the Scottish Kings as our ancient Annals inform us which coyned silver and gold marking it on one side with the figure of the Saving Crosse and on the other with his own face Which coyns may propagate to posterity the Memory of the Christian Faith being first embraced by him among all the Kings of that Nation He at last dyed in the one and twentieth year of his raign famous both for his religious and Civill actions Being dead he by the perswasion of such Preists as among the Scots administred the sacred Mysteries of Christianity was with Christian ceremonies and solemnity buried in a feild which with many pious accustomed Prayers had been consecrated for the buriall of Christians 2. In this relation made by Boethius extracted out of ancient Records the present inhabitants of Scotland may observe how great the difference is between the Christianity of the first King who profess'd it in their countrey and that which they have lately chosen in stead of it This King refus'd to be buried among his heathen Ancestours chusing rather to mingle his bones with those of common beleivers then to have them proudly entomb'd with Heathen Princes He would not rest after death but in a place consecrated by the Devotions of holy Preists who likewise celebrated his Obsequies according to the Primitive Christian manner by making oblations for him and offring the most Holy Sacrifice for the refreshment of his soule as S. Cyprian who liv'd not long after describes the manner of ancient Christian buriall The same holy Father likewise as if he intended not only to justify but commend this last act of King Donaldus his devotion among other crimes with which he charges one of his Bishops call'd Marâ—ialis adds this that he buried his children in the profane Sepulchers of the Heathen Among other ceremonies peculiar to Christian burialls in those ancient times this was one that a Crosse was raised upon their Monuments as shall be shew'd hereafter 3. Having thus related the actions and death of this second Christian Prince Donaldus as fully as ancient Records inform us it will not be amisse to add here a Monument yet remaining which in those very days was erected nere the River Calder in Yorkshire by Titus Aurelius a Roman officer
the Prayers and assistance of holy men Thus with great glory he pass'd the remainder of his life in tranquillity being free from all trouble 8. To this happy change it is not to be doubted but S. Helena his wife did much contribute whose presence with him at this time the same Eusebius seems to imply in the words following Thus did he through all the remaining time of his raign procure a constant peaceable state to his children and wife together with his whole family all which he consecrated to God the supreme king insomuch as his Court seem'd litle to differ from the form of a Church in which the Ministers and servants of God offreâ— continually Prayers and Sacrifices for him wheras in the other Princes courts and countreys the very name of the true Gods worshippers could not without utmost danger be pronounced Thus writes he of Constantius his family Now if inquiry be made which was that wife mention'd by him it cannot be suppos'd to be Theodora the daughter in law of Maximianus for wâ— no where read that she ever entred Brittany and much lesse that she was addicted to Christian Religion so that it can be no other but S. Helena a Brittish Lady and a Christian who doubtles was always attended by Preists dayly praying for Caesar. XXVII CHAP. 1. Diocletian and Maximianus depose themselves to whom Galerius and Constantius succeed Constantius his moderation 2. The persecution continues at Rome S. Agnes Martyr 3 Constantius courage against the Sarmatians His Duell 4 S. Augulus Bishop of London and Martyr in what sence 5. Ilutus or Restitutus succeeds in that Bishoprick 1. IN the year of Grace three hundred and four the two Emperours Diocletian and Maximianus after twenty years raign together weary of the fruitlesnes of their cruelty voluntarily depos'd themselves from the Empire Diocletian at Nicomedia and Maximianus at Milan in Italy In Diocletians place Galerius succeeded in the Government of the Eastern Empire and in Maximianus his room Constantius govern'd the western Yea so moderat was he in his ambition that as Eutropius says contenting himself with the Title of Augustus or Emperour he refused to undeâ—take the solicitude of administring Italy and Africk esteeming France and Brittany sufficient where all his care was to enrich his subjects not affecting at all to heap up treasure 2. Constantius his absence from Rome was the cause that the former Edicts of Diocletian against Christians were still in force For not only Pope Marcellinus was crownd at this time with Martyrdom but the blessed Virgin Saint Agnes triumphed also most gloriously over the New Emperour Galerius his cruelty 3. Zonaras reports that in the year three hundred and five young Constantin accompanied Galerius in his warr against the Sarmatians where he was by the Emperour expos'd to a single combat with their Cheif leader whom by Divine help having overcome he lead him prisoner to the Emperour so reaping great glory by that which was intended for his destruction The same is likewise confirmed by Eumenius the Oratour in his Panegyrick to him where he says Although fortune had already placed thee in a condition wherin glory could not be wanting to thee yet thou wouldst encrease it by warfare and combatting in thine own person with the Enemy yea entring into a single appointed combat thou mad'st thy self more known then before when thou couldst not be more noble 4 This year out English Martyrologe celebrates the Martyrdom of S. Augustus Bishop of London S. Beda likewise Ado Viennensis Vsuardus and others make mention of him Now wheras he is call'd a Martyr it is to be understood that in the late persecution he suffred many things for Christs cause and this year receiv'd the reward of his Confession He is sayd to have dyed at Augusta in Brittany which Citty saith Ammianus Marcellinus was anciently called Londinium He is called by some Authours Augulinus Augurius And concerning him Bishop Vsher thus writes we find a commemoration of the same Bishop not only in the Martyrologes of Ado Ricemarchus and Beda but also of Vsuardus Rabanus Wandelbertus and that of Rome moreover in the Manuscript Martyrologes of the Churches of Salisbury Evesham and Winchester Genebâ—ard in his Chronology wrongfully calls him an Irish Bishop and Dempster according to his custom will needs have him a Scott 5. To him succeeded in the Bishoprick of London Iltutus whom Iocelinus omitts in his Catalogue of the Bishops of London But since he omitts likewise the name of Restitutus who a few years after this is known to have assisted at the first Councill to which his name with the Title of his Bishoprick is found subscrib'd it may probably be conjectur'd that Iltutus and Restitutus were the same person XXVIII CHAP. 1.2 Constantius wars against the Picts and returning to York falls sick 3. He is troubled for the absence of Constantin 4. He is warn'd by an Angell to leave the Empire to Constantin 5.6 Constantin escapes wonderfully 7 His affectionate wellcom 8. Constantius dyes and is Christianly buried by his Son and by the Romans consecrated 9. He is buried at York not at Caernarvon 1. THE year of Grace three hundred and six was notable for the death of the Emperour Constantius and the succession of his eldest Son Constantin Constantius was at this time in Brittany where some commotion among the Picts or Caledonian Brittains drew him into the Northern parts where having removed those unquiet enemies beyond the limits prescribed them he return'd to York and there being old was assaulted by his last sicknes in which how piously he disposed himself for death may be collected from the Character before mention'd which was given him by Eusebius 2. And moreover the same Authour treating particularly of his death addeth It may easily be conceived by any one who shall seriously observe the nature and condition of the actions performd by the Emperours Diocletian Maximianus and Constantius how happy a death this Emperour obtain'd from God whom he served with such zeale and piety far unlike in his manners and life to those who were partakers of the same Empire with him 3. Only one thing was now wanting to his full contentment which was the presence of his Son Constantin who at this time was at Rome there detained as a pledge or hostage by Galerius This was a great affliction to Constantius who though he had with him other Sons born to him by Theodora received small satisfaction from them considering their want of spirit and courage 4. Zonaras reports that at this time whilst Constantius was sick and afflicted in mind by reason of the unfitnes of his other children to succeed him an Angell appeard to him commanding him to leave the Empire to Constantin Eusebius likewise more then once affirmeth that it was by Divine counsell ordinance that Constantin succeeded his Father in the Empire And hereto the Oratour Eumenius
One William Basing likewise is sayd to have built a Church consecrated to S. Helena at London XVII CHAP. 1.2 Constantins zeale against Paganism and Heresy 3. c. He is seduced by his Sister to favour Arius c. but repents 5.6 He adorns his New Citty Constantinople 7.8 Miracles by the Holy Crosse. 9. Other acts of Constantins piety 1. AFter S. Helena's death Constantin returned into the East where he express'd his zeale against Pagan Idolatry For Eunapius a Pagan writer complains Through the whole world the most celebrated Temples were overthrown by Constantin He made severe Lawes against Heathenish Sacrifices mention'd in Theodosius his Code 2. Neither was he wanting to establish the Churches Peace and Vnity by publishing rigorous Edicts against Hereticks Novatians Valentinians Marcionists Paulians Montanists c. forbidding all Assemblies among them both publick and private and withall exhorting them to return to the Communion of the Catholick Church that so they might be rendred partakers of its Sanctity and so attain to Truth Thus writes Eusebius adding that hereupon many of them did acknowledge their errours and at last joyn'd themselfves to the Churches Communion 3. Notwithstanding being seduced by the Craft of Eusebius Bishop of Nicomedia the Pillar of the Arian faction he began a persecution against S. Athanasius then Bishop of Alexandria This Eusebius had cunningly insinuated himself into the affections of Constantiae the Emperours Sister by whom at her death he was recommended to Constantin in whose mind a scruple likewise was injected by certain speeches of hers threatning a severe punishment to him after death for his severity against so many innocents so she called the Arians Wherupon he commanded that Arius himself should return and be received at Alexandria For which purpose he wrote threatning letters to S. Athanasius that he should be deposed in case he refused him Notwithstanding being inform'd by Athanasius that Arius did not repent of his Heresy but was still a profess'd Enemy of the Councill of Nicaea Constātin desisted from urging his reception 4. Afterward the Meletians accused Saint Athanasius of many crimes but Constantin upon examination finding his innocence quickly absolved and dimiss'd him Yea moreover the pious Emperour turn'd his anger against him who was the cheif Architect of all machinations against S. Athanasius to witt Eusebius Bishop of Nicomedia as appears by his letters written to the people of that Citty and recited by Theodoret in which he complains how himself had been deluded by his forgeries and lyes And on that occasion he proceeds to pronounce Sentence against the whole faction of the Arians banishing Eusebius and severall other Bishops from their Sees 5. But the year following by occasion of the inauguration of his New Citty Constantinople among other Examples of his Clemency he restored them Nicephorus writes that the Citty was consecrated to our Lord and his immaculate Mother with offring the unbloody Sacrifice and prayers Adding that Constantins Statue was erected in a publick place upon a pillar of Porphyry having in his right hand a golden Apple on which was placed the Holy Crosse with this Inscription To thee O Christ our God I commend this Citty 6. Eusebius describing the Magnificence of Constantin in adorning this Citty with many Churches consecrated to the Holy Martyrs saith The Emperour intending to illustrate after an extraordinary manner the Citty called by his own name adorn'd it with many magnificent Churches partly in the Suburbs and partly in the Citty it self by which he both celebrated the Memories of the Holy Martyrs and consecrated the Citty it self to the God of Martyrs The principall of those Martyrs are recorded to have been S. Mocius S. Agathonicus S. Mennas and S. Acacius 7. Sozomen likewise an eye witnes especially celebrats a Church built in a place formerly dedicated to Vesta which was afterward named Michaelium from an apparition of that Holy Archangell In which many Miracles had been wrought by vertue of the Holy Crosse there erected of which vertue the Authour acknowledges that himself had been partaker Among which one speciall Miracle must not be omitted which he relates after this manner 8. I have been informed saith he that a Soldier of the Emperours Guards called Probianus being afflicted with greivous torments in his feet not only received ease in that place but was also honoured with a wonderfull divine vision For he having been formerly a Pagan and converted to Christianity though he were satisfied of the truth of all other instituts of our Religion yet he would never be perswaded that the Holy Crosse could be the cause of mankinds salvation Being thus affected there was offred to him a Divine Vision which set before his eyes the Image of the Crosse which usually was sett on the Altar of that Church and the same Vision declared to him manifestly that whatsoever thngs had been performed either by Angells or Holy men for the publick or privat proffit of men since the time that Christ was crucified were not rightly performed but by the vertue of the saving Crosse. 9. Besides these sacred Ornaments Constantin added much wealth to endow the holy Churches built by him He likewise caused a world of Copies of the Holy Scriptures to be curiously written in parchments richly adorned which he dispersed through severall Churches in the Citty He gave likewise great priviledges to Physicions Grammarians and Professours of other Arts by which means learning much flourish'd there In a word he endeavour'd to make it equall in all respects to Old Rome placing there a Senat with the same honours and authority into which many Christians were elected as Baronius declareth XVIII CHAP. 1.2 S. Athanasius persecuted by Arians 3.4.5 He is banish'd into the west for his safety 6.7 Arius conven'd before Constantin 8.9 c. His fearfull death 10. Pope Iulius 1. BVT the restlesse malice of the Arians against S. Athanasius the principall defender of the Faith declared by the Nicene Councill urged them to invent and forge new accusations against him of breaking a Chalice of murdering a man and using enchantments with his dead hand of committing adultery by violence c. With these crimes they charged him before the Emperour importuning him that he might be condemned and deposed 2. Hereupon a Synod of Bishops being assembled at Tyre Athanasius his cause was there examined and though in all particulars his innocence was evidently declared ye◠he was condemned by them Which manifest injustice astonish'd Constantin as appears by a Letter of his recorded by Saint Athanasius in his Apology 3. Notwithstanding these impious Bishps after they had consecrated at Ierusalem a magnificent Church built by Constantin repairing to Constantinople there renew'd their accusations and probably by the favour of the Emperours Son Constantius infected with their Heresy did so beseige Constantins eares that S. Athanasius could scarce gett accesse to prove his
there is not express'd by the Writers of his life Yet our Martyrologe relates on the sixth of Iune that he rested in our Lord with great Sanctity about the year of Christ four hundred and three and the visions and wonders preceding his death are thus related by those who have written his life 8. An Angel of our Lord from heaven appear'd to him with a pleasant countenance saying O worthy soldier of God may the joy of our Lord always encrease in thee and his peace continually remain with thee Be ready prepar'd for e're long God will call thee out of this world and thou shalt meet thy heavenly King with a palm of Victory This celestiall Messenger of God stay'd with him a good space and fill'd his soule with a spirituall sweetnes known only to God A second time another Angell appear'd unto him and sayd I am Michael the Archangel sent to thee from our Lord by whose command I am to acquaint thee with what shall shortly befall Behold I declare unto thee the hour of thy departure for after ten dayes thou shalt ioyfully issue out of thy prison of flesh and escape out of the dungeon of this world With inestimable gladnes thou shalt meet thy heavenly King into whose presence we will beare thee and he will receive thee with glory enrolling thee among the Cittizens and Courtiers of his kingdom 9. It is said that his Mother and sisters were present and assisting at his death being invited thither by the fame of his miracles And after his departure it seems they caried his body back with them into Brittany But afterward when the Pagan Saxons demolish'd the Christian Sepulchers in our Island it was transported again into Flanders for thus we read in his life 10. The Holy man dyed the eighth day before the Ides of Iune and his Body was buried in the Isle of Plet or Plecit where it remained many years illustrious by many miracles But barbarous people afterwards invading the Countrey forced the Brittains to fly into forrain regions at which time the Brethren of the foresaid Monastery took up the sacred Body and carried it with them over the Sea which divides Brittany from Gaule And travelling with this sacred pledge at last they arrived at his own Monastery where they repos'd it Where because it was not entertained with due honour a certain Noble Marques call'd Arnulphus appointed by God to be the instrument of the safety of many men removed it to the Monastery of Blandinium in Gaunt together with the precious Relicks of the famous Confessour Bertulpus Which Translation was made on the third day before the Nones of December when Clotharius raigned in France On which day yearly to this time the sacred Body is caried in a solemne Procession And what miracles were wrought severall times during such Processions Cap-grave relates III. CHAP. 1. Constans quiets Gaule and comes into Brittany 2 3. A Synod at Sardica where Brittish Bishops come 4. Gests of the Synod 5.6 c. Of Appeales to Rome c. 12.13 c. S. Athanasius restor'd and again banish'd 15.16 Constans his death 1. IN the yeare three hundred forty two as Paulus Diaconus writes great commotions began in the Roman Empire For the Nation of the Franks setling themselves in Gaule used all hostility against the Romans But this trouble was quickly appeas'd by the Emperour Constans who coming out of Illyricum â—ought with and subdued them After which he pass'd over into Brittany which usually follow'd the motions of Gaule This appears from Iulius Firmicus who in a Book dedicated to the same Emperour recounts this journey performed during the tempestuous season of Winter telling him that the Brittains at the unlook'd for sight of him were affrighted into obedience 2. Four yearts after this upon occasion of great combustions especially in the Eastern Empire the two Emperours ioyn'd to call a Council intended to be Oecumenicall For the Eastern Bishops of the faction of Eusebius Bishop of Nicomedia Cheif-Pillar of the Arians had condemned S. Athanasius in two Synods at Tyre and Antioch On the contrary Iulius Bishop of Rome in a Synod of Italian Bishops received him into his Communion notwithstanding the intercession of the Orientals who sent to Rome their Decree of the condemnation of S. Athanasius Wherupon a Schism between the Eastern and Western Churches being likely to break forth to prevent it the Orthodox Emperour Constans earnestly solicited his brother Constantius ro joyn with him in calling a Generall Councill therby to preserve inviolate the heritage of their Fathers piety by which he had establish'd the Empire destroyed Tyrants and reduced to his obedience many barbarous Nations 3. Hereupon a Synod was assembled the year following at Sardica in Illyrium to which there came out of the Western Empire about three hundred Bishops and out of the East onely seaventy sixe Now among the Western Bishops some there were who came out of Brittany as S. Athanasius in whose cause especially the Synod met expressly affirms naming one of them to wit Restitutus Bishop of London who twenty years before had been at the Councill of Nicea to establish the Faith of the Consubstantiality of the Son of God In which regard to treat more particularly of this Synods affairs appertains to our present History for therby will appeare the conformity of the Brittish Churches in those dayes to the Faith and Discipline of the Catholick Church 4. For as much therfore as concerns the Acts of this Synod the principall was a confirmation of Faith establish'd in the Council of Nicéa Next the declaring the innocence of S. Athanasius Marcellus Asclepas and other Orthodox Bishops persecuted and chased from their Sees by the Arian faction together with the deposition and excommunication of their adversaries Then succeeded a condemnation of those Eastern Bishops which deserted the Synod and made a Schismaticall Assembly at Philippopolis neer Sardica where they likewise publish'd Decrees and Canons in contradiction to the lawfull Synod 5. Then touching matters of Disciplin establish'd in this holy Synod the most considerable was the confirming by an expresse Canon the lawfullnes of Appeales that is Petitions for Revisions of Episcopall causes From all other Churches both Eastern and Western to the See Apostolick of Rome The form of which Canon is as followeth 6. Osius Bishop said This must likewise necessarily be added That it may not be lawfull for Bishops to passe out of their own Province into another Province in which there are Bishops unlesse peradventure they be invited by their Brethren least they should seem to shut the dore of Charity But if it happen that in any Province a Bishop have a contention against his Brother Bishop one of the two may call out of another Province a Bishop to judge the cause But if any Bishop shall be judged and condemned in any cause yet thinks his cause to be good In this case to
there to celebrate the Feast of Easter then at hand His first acquaintance and familiarity in that Province was with a certain man who having heard his Doctrin presently beleived and receiving the Sacrament of Baptism was chang'd into a new man With him S. Patrick lodged This man had a young child call'd Beonna who bâ—re a tender affection to S. Patrick so that he would oft play with him and embrace him sometimes kissing his foote which he would presse to his breast When the holy man retir'd to rest the child would weep and say he would not sleep unles he might lye with him Whereupon S. Patrick with a Propheticall eye perceiving the great Graces which the Divine bounty would conferr upon the Child vouchsaf'd to take him to his bed and gave him the name Benignus A while after when the Holy Bishop was ready to take his iourney the child with pittifull cryes begd that he would not forsake him saying that if he forsook him he would dye He was therfore forc'd to receive him into his waggon and withall prophecied that he should be his heyr and successour in the Bishoprick which accordingly came to passe 3. This was the first solemnity of Easter which the Holy Bishop celebrated in Ireland saith Probus And he celebrated it by imitating the Son of God who at his last supper with his Disciples consecrated his Body and Blood for the redemption of mankind 4. The day before this great Feast of our Lords Resurrection S. Patrick observing the Ecclesiasticall Rite still in use kindled the Holy Fire the flame whereof shone brightly about the place Now according to the custom of that countrey it was unlawfull for any one to light a fire before it was kindled in the Kings palace Hereupon the King whose name was Logorius perceiving the brightnes of the flame in great indignation threatned death to whosoever he was that had presumed to infringe that custom in his kingdom The Magicians who were present said to the King O King live for ever And know for a certain that this fire which against Law has been thus kindled unlesse it be presently extinguish'd will never cease to the worlds end Moreover it will obscure all the fires which according to our customs we kindle and the man who lighted it will be the destruction of thy Kingdom X. CHAP. 1.2 c. Of S. Winwaloc his Gests and death 6. c. Of his Deacon S. Ethbin â— WHilst S. Patrick laboured in the Gospell with so great successe Brittany was illustrated with the glory of another great Saint who notwithstanding by reason of the calamities afterward hapning was forc'd to leave his Native countrey and passe over into Armorica in Gaule This was S. Winwaloc the son of a certain Noble person call'd Fracan cousin german to a Brittish Prince nam'd Coton as wee read in the Gallican Martyrologe 2. Malbranc a French Antiquary affirms that his Mothers name was Alba and sirname Trimavis citing for his authority the ancient Manuscript Monuments of Monstrueil And the said Martyrologe gives this Character of him Winwaloc from his childhood was inflam'd with an earnest desire of celestial things to despise worldly allurements and live to God only Wherfore he earnestly begg'd of his parents that â—e might be commended to the care of a certain Religious man to be imbued by him in the knowledge of Holy Scripture and the documents of piety Having obtain'd his request he made wonderfull progres in Holines and vertue under his discipline insomuch that when he was but seaven years old he became an example of all piety and goodnes In processe of time having undertaken a Monasticall Profession Divine Graces shone more brightly in him being withall enrich'd with the Gift of Prophecy Many miracles almighty God wrought by him in performing which having a firm Faith he made use only of the Sign of the Crosse and oyle which had been bless'd Among which miracles the most stupendious was his raising a young man to life 3. At the same time saith Haraeus from Surius the most holy Prelat S. Patricks glory was famous in Gods Church who like a bright starr illustrated Ireland The report of whose admirable vertues kindled so great an affection to him in S. Winwaloc that he us'd all endeavours to goe to him and be subject to his direction in piety But whilst he busied his thoughts with this design S. Patrick in a vision presented himself to him with an Angelicall brightnes and having a golden Diadem on his head he thus spoke to him Behold I am the same Patrick whom thou so earnestly desirest to visit But to prevent so tedious a iourney by sea and land our Lord hath sent mee to thee to fullfill thy desire and that thou maist enjoy both my sight and conversation Besides this he foretold him that he should be a Guide and Directour of many in spirituall warfare for which end he gave him many wholesom instructions Exhorting him withall to desire from his Master some companions and that with them he should remove to another place Assoon as this Vision vanish'd S. Winwaloc went to the Cell in which the Father of the Monastery was attending to Divine Meditation and contemplation To whom assoon as he had declar'd his Vision he with a joyfull countenance said to him My son thou hast been honour'd with a Divine visitation and revelation And without delay as if he had receiv'd a precept from heaven he assign'd to him eleaven Disciples such as were most fervent in Gods service c. 4. The same Authour adds that with these companions he pass'd over into a certain Island where for the space of three years they lead an Heremiticall life But the place being both expos'd to violent tempests and also incommodious by reason of its barrennes S. Winwaloc humbly begg'd of God that he would direct them to a more convenient habitation Our Lord heard his servants prayers and shewd him a place further remov'd in the Sea But wanting a ship he renewd his Prayers to God and having done this he said to his Brethren Be courageous and firm in a strong Faith and as you see mee leade this Brother by the hand so doe every one of you take his next fellows hand and follow one another Then invoking the name of our Lord with his Pastorall Staff he strook the Sea upon which God renewd once more the ancient Miracle of the Red sea for it opened a passage for them so that taking one another by the hand and himself marching in the front they walk'd securely over the dry sands the waters on both sides standing like walls and as they went they sang to our Lord a Hymne of praise and joyfulnes 5. Concerning his austerities wee read thus in Capgrave From the twentieth year of his age to his death S. winwaloc was never seen to sitt in the Church He never exceeded moderation in any thing Never was he deiected with
Superstitions and quite changed from that which Saint Germanus profess'd as Protestants affirm who therefore magnify Saint Germanus for the purity of his Faith and as much derogate from S. Augustin 3. Touching therefore Saint Germanus his Religion particularly in the Points now most controverted and wherein Saint Augustin is charged to have been faulty we cannot more certainly nor more ingenuously determine it then by seeking information from a person of eminent learning in Antiquity a Protestant or however without question no Roman Catholick to witt M. Selden Who in a Treatise by him call'd Analecta Anglo-Britannica has inserted one Chapter exactly pertinent to our present purpose The Title of which Chapter is Touching the practises of Ecclesiasticall Discipline wherewith Germanus and Lâ—pus Bishops imbued the Brittains Which Enquiry he consequently satisfies in the following Chapter in the manner following 4. Germanus Bishop of Auxerre and Lupus Bishop of Troyes in Gaule came into Brittany to restore Christian Religion deprav'd by the Heresy of Pelagius and Errours of Pagans Their doctrines and documents taught by them as the fame is which also Giraldus Cambrensis testifies to have continued to his dayes were as followeth 1. Of every loaf of Bread set before them one corner they gave to the poore 3. They sate three together at dinner in memory of the Blessed Trinity 4. If any one mett in the way a Religious Monk or Clergy-man or any one in a Religious habit he would presently lay aside his weapons and with a low inclination of his head demand his Benediction 5. Generally all the people doe earnestly demand Episcopall Confirmation and Inunction with Holy Chrism by which the Holy Ghost is conferr'd 6. They some times bestow the Tithe of all their Substance cattle and Sheep namely either when they marry or undertake some long Pilgrimage or by the Churches Order submitt to some extraordinary Pennance for their sins This they call the great Tithe and two parts of it they bestow on the Church where they received Baptisme the third they give to the Bishop of the Diocese 7. Beyond all other externall labours of Mortification they are most devoted to Pilgrimages undertaken to Rome to visit the Monuments of the Apostles 8 Beyond any other Nation they expresse a devout reverence to Churches and Church-men likewise to Relicks of Saints to portable Bells Sacred Books and the Holy Crosse. And this devotion hath been rewarded with greater peace they any other Churches enjoyd 9. For entire security is observed in regard of Beasts feeding not only in Church yards but much beyond them through all bounds inclosed with ditches which Bishops design for observation of peace and indemnity And greater Churches to which antiquity always afforded greater reverence have power to grant and enjoyn the observation of such peace and security for cattle whilst at morn they goe and at Even return from their pastures This peace and security is observ'd so inviolably that if any one should incurr the mortall indignation of his Prince and afterward seeke refuge in a Church he may enjoy the fruit of this Peace both for his person and goods And indeed from such large immunities far beyond the ancient Canons which in such cases allow safety only to a mans life and body occasion of great abuses have been taken for by reason of such impunity many doe audaciously practise hostility and from such plâ—ces of Reâ—uge doe horribly infest the whole countrey about and even the Prince himself 5. There is scarce any one of these Christian practises but was taught by S. Augustin also and yet Protestant Writers condemne S Augustin for them and absolve S. Germanus yea magnify him and glory in an opinion that they are conformable to his Doctrin and Discipline They allow to Saint Germanus the glorious Title of Apostle of the Brittains who taught them no new Doctrins of Christianity but only confirmed them in what they had beleived before And the same Title they with contempt refuse to S. Augustin who withdrew the barbarous Pagan Saxons from their Idolatry and Infidelity and instilled first into their minds the true knowledge and worship of God Faith in the Redeemer of the world and Veneration to the Holy Crosse the Sign of our Redemtion Such partiality the Spirit of Schism does naturally produce 6. Our Ancestours in testimony of their gratitude to the Veneraâ—le Bishop S. Germanus and the high esteem of his Sanctity approved by many Miracles not long after his death built Chappell 's and Churches to his honour Particularly concerning one of these Camden thus writes In Cornwall neer the River Liver there is a village named from Saint German to which during the Danish tumults the Episcopall see of that Province was transferr'd out of feare it being a place more remote and secure There a Church had been erected and consecrated to the honour of S. Germanus Bishop of Auxerre who extirpated the Pelagian Heresy that began to rise anew among the Brittains In Yorkshire likewise a famous Monastery was consecrated to him as the same Authour thus testifies The River Ouse does water Selby a town well peopled there King William the First founded a Church in memory of S. Germanus who happily wounded to death the many-headed Hydra of Pelagianism which was oft quelld and oft revived again The Abbot of this Monastery and of S. Marâ—es at York were the only two Northern Abbots which had Seats in Parliament 7. Among the Silures in Northwales the Memory of S. Germanus is much celebrated for from him a part of Radnorshire is called Guarthenion For as our ancient Historian Nennius relates Vortimer the Son of Vortigern in satisfaction for injuries done by his Father to Saint Germanus dedicated that part of the countrey to him where he had been wrongd In memory of which it took the name of Guartheny which in the Brittish language signifies a calumny justly retorted Besides these many other Monuments testifying the like veneration to the same Apostolick Bishop might be produced but these are sufficient And this last Example proves this Devotion of the Brittains to him to have begun presently after his death XIII CHAP. 1.2 c. Vortigern chosen King of all Brittany His Character c. 1. HItherto since the time that the Romans had relinquish'd all care and protection of Brittany the severall Provinces of the Island had been governed by petty Princes independent on one another But in the year four hundred thirty and eight by reason of the frequent inroads of their cruell Enemies the Picts and Scotts by a common agreement of the severall Provinces a Generall Captain of the whole Nation was chosen after the example of their Ancestors in the days of Iulius Cesar and the Kingdom established in his line 2. Which choice unhappily fell on Vortigern a man born for the destruction of his countrey for he it is that by his slouthfull vices first weakned it and afterward calling in to
on both sides and at last they came to a battell which was fought saith Ethelwerd in the feild of Egelestirpe now call'd Alesford a town in Kent wash'd by the River Medway On the Brittains side were three Cheif Captains who lead each a third part of the Army Ambrosius Aurelianus lead the first division Vortimer the second and Catigern a younger Brother of Vortimer lead the third The Saxon army was conducted by the two Brethren Hengist and Horsa 3. The order and successe of this battell is thus describ'd by Huntingdon In the seaventh year after the arrivall of the Saxons in Brittany a Battell was fought at Alestrew At the beginning whereof Horsa set upon the army of Catigern with such Vigour that it was dispers'd like dust before the wind and Catigern the Kings son was slain But his Brother Vortimer a Prince of admirable courage falling in sidewayes into Horsa's squadrons routed them and kill'd Horsa the most valorous of the Saxons the remainder of his forces fled to Hengist who then was fighting with invincible courage against Ambrosius By this means the whole Weight of the combat lay upon Hengist who being assalted and brought into great straits by the accession of Vortimers forces after he had a good while sustain'd the impression of the whole Brittish army was at last overcome and compell'd to fly which he had never done before Yet this victory cost the Brittains very deare for great numbers of them were slain 4. With this account given by Huntingdon agrees likewise Mathew of Westminster Yet Wigorniensis expressly affirms that Hengist after the death of his Brother Horsa obtained the Victory And with him Ethelwerd seems to agree 5. Horsa's body was buried in a place not much distant from that of the battell which to this day continues a Monument of his Memory being from him called Hâ—rsted As for Catigern the Son of Vertigern his body is suppos'd to have been buried at Aylsford by the Saxons call'd Eglesford by Henry of Huntingdom Ellestre and by the Brittains Saissenaeg-haibail because the Saxons were over come there To testify which victory there still remain four great stones standing upright over which others are crossewise layd after the manner of Stone-heng in Wiltshire which from Catigern are vulgarly and imperfectly call'd Keith-coty-house Thus writes Camden 6. Horsa being dead the Saxons exalted Hengist to the Title of King of Kent saith Mathew of Westminster And the same year he is reported to have fought three battells against the Brittains But being unable to resist the valour of Vortimer he was forced to retire himself into the Isle of Thanet where likewise he was dayly assalted by the Brittish ships At last the Saxons leaving their wives and children in that Island returned into Germany to call in new and greater forces 7. The year after Hengists return into Germany dyed the glorious King Vortimer in the fourth yeare after he was assumed to a participation of the regall authority Some Writers affirm that he dyed a naturall death by a disease Others say he dyed by poyson administred to him by the fraud of his late Mother-in-law Rowena to which effect thus writes Sigebert with whom agree Geffrey of Monmouth Mathew Westminster Richard White c. The Devill envying the goodnes of Vortimer suggested to the mind of his Step-mother to cause poyson to be given him by one of his servants Which he having drunk and perceiving that death approach'd he divided his treasures among his soldiers earnestly exhorting them to fight courageously for their countrey Moreover he commanded a Pyramid of brasse to be made and placed in the Haven where the Saxons usually landed Vpon which Pyramid his body was to be layd to the end that the Enemies seeing the Monument of so great and valorous a Prince might be frighted back into their own countrey 8. But it is more probable that it was only his statue which he intended should be so placed on the Pyramid For being a Christian Prince he was no doubt buried after the Christian manner with decent solemnity Moreover the same Sigebert acknowledges that he was buried in the Citty of the Trinobantes now called London And with him saith Henry Huntingdon was buried the flower and glory of the Brittish Nation 9. Besides Vortimers courage he is celebrated by ancient Writers for his Piety and other Vertues Chamber a Writer formerly cited by Richard White affirms that in his war against the Saxons be bore in his Ensign the Image of our Lord Iesus Christ to which devotion of his we may impute his Victories In like manner a few years after the famous King Arthur yet more prosperously bore against the same Enemies the Image of our Blessed Lady Sigebert likewise testifies of the same King Vortimer that he restored the Churches destroyed by the Saxons and possessions wrested by them from his Subjects 10. The same year after Vortimers death Hengist return'd out of Germany with greater forces and took a firmer possession of his Kingdom of Kent and for the better establishment of his family therein he joyn'd in his regall power his son Aescae To oppose him therin the Brittains invaded the countrey with a great army the successe of which invasion is thus related by Henry of Huntingdon Hengist and his son Aesca having received auxiliary forces from their own countrey and being more confident of victory by reason of the death of the Young Prince Vortimer prepar'd themselves for war at Creganford The Brittains army consisted of four great Bodies conducted by four valiant Captains But when the conflict was begun they found themselves too weak for the Saxons whose numbers were much more encreas'd then formerly For those that came last were chosen robustious soldiers who with their swords and battle-axes did horribly cleave asunder the bodies of the Brittains Yet did they not give ground till they saw their four Captains slain But after that they were so incredibly terrified that they fled from the feild of battell as far as London and from that time never had the courage to bring an army into Kent again So that Hengist and his son Aesca quietly enjoy'd that Kingdom having their Palace fixed at Canterbury Thus began this new Kingdom of Kent in the eighth year after the coming of the Saxons into Brittany VI. CHAP. 1.2 Hengist persecutes Christians 3 4 c. The Martyrdom of Voadinus Arch-bishop of London 1. IT is not probable that when Vortimer was rais'd to the throne of Brittany this was done by the deposition of his Father Vortigern for we find that when Vortimer was dead his Father afterward continued King for some years and for a while gave proofs of his courage in endeavouring to represse the ambition and violence of his Father in-law Hengist though afterward he returnd to his former slouthfull licentious manner of living 2. Now during the warrs between the Brittains and Saxons in the third year of Vortimers
after so great a tempest of warrs and changes in which his parents who had worn the Royall Purple were slain Now though in these two ancient Authours the name of his parents be not extant it may be probably affirm'd that he was the Son of Constantin who fifty years before had pretended to the Roman Empire and in the attempt was slain in Gaule For that Constantin besides his Son Constans also slain had other children appears by the expression of Sozomen who calls the said Constans sirnamed also Iulianus the Elder Son of Constantin 5. That he was born and bred up in Brittany seems to appear because as severall Writers affirm in the competition for the Crown when Vortigern was chosen Ambrosius being a pretender was compell'd to quitt both his right and the countrey and to retire himself into lesser Brittany Frō whence notwithstanding during the raign of the generous King Vortimer he return'd and assisted him courageously against the Saxons as hath been related and it seems after his death retir'd again to his former refuge 6. The return of these two Princes was more formidable to Vortigern then any thing he could apprehend from the Saxons who therefore fortified himself more carefully in his new Castle I will not here trouble the reader with any large description of that prodigious omen of two dragons one red and the other white which issuing out of a lake whilst Vortigern sate on the bank began a terrible combat in which at last the White was conquerour By which two Dragons according to Merlins interpretation were meant the Brittains and Saxons and the successe of their fight was the flight and destruction of the Brittains These seem to be inventions of the old Bards easily composed after the event and foolishly collected by Geffrey of Monmouth to signalize the expiring of the Brittish Kingdome 7. Hengist being inform'd of the coming of Aurelius Ambrosius with considerable forces in aid of the Brittains endeavoured to come to a battell with him before the uniting of their Armies but was not able to effect his intention So that a main battell was fought by the two Nations in Kent neer the ancient famous port of Roch borow which is thus describ'd by Henry of Huntingdon A while after that auxiliary forces were come King Hengist and his Son Esca gathered an invincible army in the seaventeenth year after the coming of the Saxons into Brittany which was the year of Grace four hundred sixty five On the other side the Brittains uniting all their forces oppos'd them with an Army gallantly ranged into twelve Bodies The fight continued long and with little advantage But at last Hengist having slain the twelve Leaders and cast down their Ensigns forc'd the Brittains to flye He himself likewise lost great numbers of his soldiers and principall Officers and particularly a certain great Prince of his Nation call'd Wipped in whose memory the place of the battell was call'd Wippeds-stede So that this Victory was much bewayld by the Saxons themselves and therefore after that time neither did he take the confidence to enter into the Brittains Borders nor the Brittains into Kent X. CHAP. 1. King Vortigern consumed by fire 2.3 A. Ambrosius King his Character 5.6.7 Death of S. Patrick and place of his buriall 1. THE year following was free from an extern war against the Saxons which gave Aurelius Ambrosius an opportunity to convert his arms against the principall Authour of all the miseries of Brittany the unhappy King Vortigern Therefore he march'd to the Castle Genorium which he beseiged but found him so strongly fortified there that by no force or cunning he could expugn it At last by fire whether cast by Ambrosius or coming from heaven is uncertain both the King and his Castle were consum'd so as saith Huntingdon his body never appear'd 2. Vortigern being thus removed the whole power and authority of the Kingdom was devolv'd on Ambrosius not after a tumultuary manner or by the factious suffrages of the Army but by an unanimous Election of the Clergy Nobility and Commons of the Nation For which purpose saith S. H. Spelman a Council or Assembly was call'd in Cambria about the Mountains of Erir in the Province of the Ordovices or Northwales in which he was exalted to the Regal Dignity This he says was done in the year four hundred sixty five following the account of Mathew of Westminster But other Historians as Stow Speed c. more probably place this Election the year following after the death of Vortigern 3. How happy an exchange the Brittains made of their King will appear from this Character given to Aurelius Ambrosius by Matthew of Westminster far unlike that which all writers ascribe to Vortigern Ambrosius saith he assoon as he was placed on the throne of Brittany employed himself to the utmost of his power in repairing Churches which had been ruind He was a Prince magnificent in his gifts sedulous in the worship of God modest averse from flattery a valiant soldier on foot yet more valiant on hors-back and very skilfull in conducting an army For which vertues and endowments his fame was spread through far distant regions 4. Being so worthy a Prince it is not altogether unlikely that this is the same Ambrosius mention'd by Eugypius in the life of S. Severin who writes thus Odoacer King of the Erul◠having subdued Italy wrote kind and familiar letters to S. Severin desiring him to ask of him whatsoever he pleased This he did in consideration that the same holy Bishop had foretold him that he should raign there The Holy man encouraged with so kind an offer requested him to free from banishment a certain person call'd Ambrosius who had been thereto condemned by the said King Which passage being cited by Baronius he thus adds As concerning this Ambrosius my opinion is that he is the same who afterward going into Brittany with great courage attempted and in some degree effected the freeing of that Island from the oppression of the barbarous Saxons Thus writes the learned Cardinal though he erroneously places the beginning of Odoacers raign in Italy too late 5. Severall years pass'd after the Election of Ambrosius either in peace or not considerable war between the Brittains and Saxons The occurrents of which time is thus describ'd by S. Beda The Brittains under the conduct of Ambrosius Aurelianus a modest Prince and who alone of the Roman race had remain'd after the slaughter made by the Saxons in which his parents who had worn the Regall Purple were slain provoking at last that Victorious Nation to combat gave them an overthrow And from that time now the Brittains and now the Saxons gott the better in small encounters till at last new forces of strangers arriving the Saxons gott possession of the whole Island 6. During this lesse disturbed time it was that S. Patrick many years before return'd out of Ireland dyed
in his solitary retreat at Glastenbury as already hath been declared before the proper time because wee would not too distractedly sett down the Gests of that glorious Apostolicall Saint Concerning whom thus wee read in the antiquities of Glastenbury In these days after the death of Vorâ—igern Aurelius Ambrosius raigned â—ver the Brittains And the Saxons grew strong multiplying exceedingly Then it was that S. Patrick the Apostle of Ireland and first Abbot in the Isle Avallonia after he had sufficiently instructed the foresaid Brethren in Regular Disciplines and competently enrich'd that Monastery with possessions procured from Kings and Princes at last yeilded to nature in the thirty ninth year after his return to the said Island And was buried in the Old Church on the right hand of the Altar by direction of an Angell a great flame likewise in the sight of all breaking forth in the same place 7. The Irish Writers eagerly contend against this and other Brittish testimonies concerning S. Patrick's being buried in Brittany confidently affirming that his Body reposes in the Church of Downpatrick in Ireland Whose assertion likewise seems to be confirm'd by S. Bernard who in the life of S. Malachias a Holy Irish Bishop writes that S. Patricks body rests in the See of Armagh accompanied with those of S. Colombanus and S. Brigide But this controversy may be commodiously enough composed as many of the like nature have been by replying that some considerable Relicks of his Sacred Body have been requested by the Irish from the Brittains and deposited at Down Which Relicks have after by mistake been reputed his entire Body a world of examples of the like errour being exstant in Ecclesiasticall History XI CHAP. 1. Hengists victory 2.3 c. Ella a Saxon invades Sussex where he erects the Kingdom of the South-saxons 6.7 c. King Ambrosius marches Northward against Hengist His pious vow and Victory 10 11. c. Hengist a Prisoner sentenced to death by the cruell sentence of a Bishop 13. Hengists son Aesca succeeds in the Kingdom of Kent 1. AFter some years cessation or at least sleight incursions occasionally exercis'd between the Brittains and Saxons in the year four hundred seaventy three Hengist obtain'd an important Victory against the Brittains for thus we read in Ethelwerd a Noble Saxon Writer The space of eight years being compleat after the Battell at Wippedflet Hengist together with his son Esca took up arms against the Brittains once more whose army they discomfited and caried away immense spoyles This Victory is not expressly mention'd by any other Historians but may be conceiv'd to be in generall words intended by Gildas and S. Beda in this expression From that time sometimes the Brittains and sometimes their Enemies had the Victory till the year wherin the Mountain of Bath Mons Badonicus was beseig'd which was ten years after this combat 2. In the year of Christ four hundred seaventy seaven Hengist perceiving that with his present forces he could make no progres against so valiant a Captain as Ambrosius nor yet maintain the Provinces lately given him by Vortigern for his redemption sent for new and greater supplies out of Germany Whereupon a famous Saxon captain calld Ella with his three sons Cymen Pleting and Cissa attended with a numerous army and strong fleet took sea and by Hengists directions bended their course to the Southern shore of Sussex 3. The order and successe of this expedition is thus describ'd by Henry of Huntingdon The great Saxon Commander Elle with his Sons and navy furnish'd with a strong and well orderd army landed in Brittany at a place call'd Cymen-shore from the name of Ella's eldest Son And while the Saxons were landing from their ships the Brittains rais'd a loud crye at which a world of people repaired to them from the places adiacent And streight a combat began The Saxons men of high stature and courage receiv'd them politickly and the Brittains most imprudently sett upon their enemies for coming in loose companies one after another they were easily slain by the Saxons who kep'd themselves together in close bodies Thus the Brittains which still came in to ayd their countreymen were suddenly discouraged by the noyse they heard of the defeat of the former They were all therefore putt to flight as far as the next wood called Andredesbeige And the Saxons possess'd themselves of the coasts of Sussex lying toward the Sea every day by little and little enlarging their limits till the ninth year after their coming 4. In which ninth year whilst Ella and his sons boldly entred further into the countrey The Princes and Nobles of the Brittains mett in arms together at a place call'd Mercredeburn and fought against the Saxons The Victory was doubtfull for on both sides the Armies were much empaired and broken So that each of them retired back to their own quarters 5. Mathew of Westminster addes that Ella with his Sons were forced to forsake the feild So that perceiving that he had not strength enough to make good his present conquests much lesse to enlarge them he sent into Germany for new supplies till the coming of which he lay still upon the defensive But after their arrivall he courageously continued his progresse in gaining more territories till he establish'd a new Kingdom of the South-Saxons in those parts 6. Whilst King Ambrosius employ'd his forces to represse the Saxons in these Southern regions Hengist having well fortified his Kindom of Kent took a journey into the Northern Provinces where joyning himself with the Picts and Scots he took many Citties and towns before the Brittains could oppose him and for the security of his new Conquests he built many Castles and strong holds and wheresoever he came he demolish'd all Churches Of which King Ambrosius being informed he with great courage as in Gods cause march'd after him And saith Richard white whilst he passed on his journey beholding the towns layd wast the lamentable ruines of Churches and miseries of the poore people he could not refrain weeping Whereupon by Vow he promised Almighty God that if he would grant him the Victory over the impious Saxons he would restore and rebuild all the Churches destroyed 7. How his pious Vow was approved by God the successe demonstrates thus related by Mathew of Westminster In the year of Grace four hundred eighty seaven Aurelius Ambrosius having gathered a great Army of Brittains resolved to provoke the Saxons to a combat Marching therefore with his army to the North he found Hengist with his forces beyond Humber Who being inform'd of his approaching boldly went to meet him with an intention to sett upon his army unawares in a feild call'd Maisbely through which Ambrosius was to passe whom he hoped to find unprovided But the Brittish King had notice of his design which hindred him to march to the same feild At last the two Armies meeting in good military order
a feirce battell was begun and much blood shed on both sides But at last Hengist perceiving his army to give ground and that the Brittains began to prevayle he presently fled to a town call'd Caêr-conan now Cuningbury But considering the weaknes of the town to resist he knew his only safety consisted in the swords and spears of his followers Ambrosius pursued him and by the way putt to the sword all the Saxons he found Thus having obtaind the Victory he with great zeale and devotion gave praise to the God of heaven 8. As for Hengist he fortified his camp as well as he could neer the said town But after a few days saith Camden he was forc'd to come to a battell before his camp which was fatall to him and his for the greatest part of his army was cutt in peices and himself being taken prisoner was beheaded by the Brittains 9. This battell saith Florilegus was fought on the banks of the River Don. And the manner how Hengist was taken prisoner was this The valiant Eldot Duke or Consul of Glocester Claudiocestriae had an earnest desire to cope with Hengist Therefore with the forces under his command furiously peircing through the Enemies squadrons he at last found him and laying hold on the fore part of his helmet with main force he drew him in among his own troops saying God at last hath fullfilld my desire It is he who hath given us the Victory Presently after this the Saxons fled every one his own way whom Ambrosius pursuing manfully slew Octa the Son of Hengist with the greatest numbers fled to York But Esca and not a few with him betook themselves to another Citty call'd Aclud After this Victory Ambrosius took the Citty Caër-conan which he entred triumphantly staying there onely three days 10. The same Author consequently relates the manner how Hengist was sentenced and executed after the fight After the saith he Ambrosius calling his Captains together commanded them to decreet what should becom of Hengist Whereupon Eldad Bishop of Glocester who was also Brother of Eldot impos'd silence on them all and gnashing his teeth for rage he thus said Though all here present had a desire to set him free I my self would cutt him in peices Why doe you delay O effeminat Brittains Did not Samuêl a Prophet having taken the King of Amalec prisoner in a battell cutt him in peices one limme after another saying As thou hast made many Mothers childles so will I make thy mother childles this day Doe you therefore deale in the same manner with this barbarous King who is another Agag and has depriv'd a world of Brittish Mothers of their children When he had thus sayd Eldad drew his sword and leading him out of the Citty cutt off his head sending his soule into hell 11. If this relation be true Eldad shew'd himself an unmercifull man and one who forgott the duty of a Christian Bishop who ought rather to have mitigated the rigour of other mens sentences then to pronounce so cruell a iudgment whilst others who were soldiers too held their peace He therefore little deserves the commendation given him by Pits for his piety and prudence which he â—ill express'd when gnashing his teeth for rage he extorted a Captive Kings death from an Assembly of soldiers The Book of Invective Orations for which the same Authour likewise reckons him among the ancient Brittish Writers probably proceeding from the same spirit deserved rather to be forgotten then recorded as in honour of our Ancestors 12. After this so signall a Victory Ambrosius mindfull of his Vow call'd together workmen Masons and Carpenters and took care to repaire the Houses of God which had been destroyed and placing in them Preists and other Clergy-men he reduc'd the Divine service to the pristine order And wheresoever he found any Idols or Temples of false Gods he defac'd them utterly out of the memory of men He was studious to observe iustice and peace especially to Ecclesiasticall persons and confer'd on them liberall revenews enjoyning them all to pray for the Kingdom and state of Gods Church 13. Hengist being thus dead his Son Aesca succeeded him in the Kingdom of Kent He is call'd Oisc by S. Beda who addes that from him the succeeding Kings of Kent were call'd Oiskings As for his other Son Otta in the former narration of Florilegus said to have fled to York nothing can be found of him among the Ancient Writers So that small credit is to be given to what Modern Historians relate concerning him that King Ambrosius bestow'd on him the Province of Galloway in Scotland since in those days that Province was not in the disposall of the Brittains XII CHAP. 1.2 S. Brigit comes out of Ireland into Brittany for Relicks and returns 1. THE same year in which Hengist was slain the Holy Virgin S. Brigit came out of Ireland into Brittany as we find recorded in the Antiquities of Glastonbury and her busines was to obtain some Relicks of her most dear and honour'd Patron S. Patrick for she had been his Disciple and a great admirer of his sanctity which she zealously imitated Being in Brittany she pass'd some years in a certain small Island near Glastonbury where there was an Oratory consecrated to the honour of S. Mary Magdalen The Island was called Bekery or the Little Island Afterward having left behind her scripp chain bell and other vestments of her own weaving which for the memory of her Sanctity are there expos'd she return'd into Ireland where not long after she rested in our Lord and was buried in the Citty of Down 2. This is that famous Virgin for her Sanctity and miracles venerated by Gods Church on the first day of February On which day we read in the Martyrologes of Rome S. Beda and Ado these words This day is celebrated the Memory of S. Brigid a Virgin who in testimony of her virginity having touch'd the Wood of an Altar it became presently green Her death is frequently assign'd by writers to the eighteenth year of the following Century But truër Chronology saith Bishop Vsher makes her to out live S. Patrick only thirty years XIII CHAP. 1.2 c. S. Sophias a Brittish Martyr and Bishop of Beneventum 1. IN our English Martyrologe on the four and twentieth of Ianuary there is a commemoration of a Brittish Saint and Martyr call'd S. Sophias whose death is assigned to the four hundred and ninetieth year of our Lord. 2. This S. Sophias was the Son of Guilleicus Prince of the Ordovices or Northwales He undertook a Monasticall Profession in a Monastery built by himself in the same Province It is written of him that he had such devotion to our Lords Passion that he made three pilgrimages to Ierusalem to visit the marks and footsteps of it He had likewise a great Veneration to Rome and those places which had been consecrated by the
blood and Martyrdom of the two Princes of the Apostles 3. At his being there S. Felix or his Predecessour S. Simplicius sate in the Apostles Chair By whom he was consecrated Bishop of Beneventum Which See he governed with prudence and Sanctity till at last he was slain by an impious Pagan whilst he was at the holy Altar celebrating the Mystery of our Redemption 4. This Saint Sophias was by another name call'd Cadocus being the same who gave advice to Saint Iltutus to forsake a secular life as hath been already declared And he is to be distinguish'd from another Saint Cadocus who was an Abbot concerning whom we shall treat in the year of Grace five hundred XIV CHAP. 1.2 c. Of Saint Keyna daugher of Braganus Prince of Brecknock and of her Brothers and sisters 4. c. The Gests of S. Keyna 1. NO lesse famous at the same time was the Holy Brittish Virgin Saint Keyna whose death in our Martyrologe is likewise placed in the same year four hundred and Ninety Illustrious she was for her Birth being the Daughter of Braganus Prince of that Province in Wales which from him was afterward called Brecknockshire but more illustrious for her zeale to preserve her Chastity for which reason she was call'd in the Brittish language Keynvayre that is Keyna the Virgin 2. This Prince Braganus or Brachanus the Father of Saint Keyna is said to have had twelve sons and twelve daughters by his Lady call'd Marcella daughter of Theodoric son of Tethphalt Prince of Garthmatrin the same region call'd afterward Brecnock Their first born Son was Saint Canoc of whom we shall speak ere long And their eldest daughter was Gladus who was mother of Cadocus by Saint Gunley a Holy King of the Southern Britons The second daughter was Melaria the Mother of the Holy Arch-Bishop Saint David Thus writes Capgrave neither doth he mention any other of their children besides S. Keyna 3. But in Giraldus Cambrensis another daughter is commemorated call'd Saint Almedha of whom more will be said presently And David Powel makes mention of a fifth named Tydvaâ—l who was the wife of â—ongen the Son of Cadel Prince of Powis-land and mother of Brochmaâ—l sirnamed Scithroc who slew Ethelfred King of the Northumbers 4. Concerning the Holy Virgin Saint Keyna we find this Narration in the Authour of her life extant in Capgrave She was of Royal blood being daughter of Braganus Prince of Brecknockshire When she came to ripe years many Noble persons sought her in mariage But she utterly refused that state having consecrated her virginity to our Lord by a perpetuall vow For which cause she was afterward by the Brittains called Keyn-wâ—ri that is Keyna the Virgin 5. At length she determined to forsake her countrey and find out some desart place where she might attend to Contemplation Therefore directing her journey beyond Severn and there meeting with certain wooddy places she made her request to the Prince of that countrey that she might be permitted to serve God in that solitude His answer was that he was very willing to grant her request but that the place did so swarm with serpents that neither men nor beasts could inhabite in it But she constantly replyed that her firm trust was in the name and assistance of Almighty God to drive all that poysonnous brood out of that region 6. Hereupon the place was granted to the Holy Virgin who presently prostrating her self in fervent prayer to God obtaind of him to change all the serpents and vipers there into stones And to this day the stones in that Region doe resemble the windings of Serpents through all the feilds and villages as if they had been framed so by the hand of the engraver 7. Our learned Camden in his diligent search after Antiquities seems to have visited this countrey being a part of Somersetshire though he is willing to disparage the miracle His words are On the western bank of Avon is seen the town of Cainsham Some are of opinion that it was named so from Keyna a most holy Brittish Virgin who according to the credulous perswasion of former ages is beleived to have turn'd serpents into stones because such like miracles of sporting nature are there sometimes found in the Quarries I my self saw a stone brought from thence representing a serpent rolled up into a spire The head of it stuck out in the outward surface and the end of the tayle terminated in the Center 8. But let us prosecute the life of this Holy Virgin Many years being spent by her in this solitary place and the fame of her Sanctity every where divulged and many Oratories built by her her Nephew Saint Cadoc performing a pilgrimage to the Mount of Saint Michaâ—l mett there with his blessed Aunt Saint Keyna at whose sight he was replenish'd with great ioy And being desirous to bring her back to her own countrey the inhabitants of that region would not permitt him But afterward by the admonition of an Angel the holy Mayd returned to the place of her Nativity Where on the topp of a hillock seated at the foot of a high mountain she made a little habitation for her self and by her prayers to God obtaind a spring there to flow out of the earth which by the merits of the Holy Virgin afforded health to divers infirmities 9. But when the time of her consummation approached one night she by the revelation of the holy Ghost saw in a vision as it were a fiery pillar the base whereof was fixed on her bed Now her bed was the pavement strow'd over with a few branches of trees And in this Vision two Angels appear'd to her One of which approaching respectfully to her seem'd to take off the sack cloath with which she was covered and instead thereof to putt on her a smock of fine linnen and over that a tunick of purple and last of all a mantell all woven with gold Which having done he thus sayd to her Prepare your self to come with us that we may lead you into your heavenly Fathers Kingdom Hereupon she wept with excesse of joy and endeavouring to follow the Angels she awak'd and found her body inflamed with a feaver so that she perceiv'd her end was near 10. Therefore sending for her Nephew Saint Cadocus she sayd to him This is the place above all others beloved by mee Here my memory shall be perpetuated This place I will often visit in spirit if it may be permitted mee And I am assured it shall be permitted mee because our Lord has granted mee this place as a certain inheritance The time will come when this place shall be inhabited by a sinfull people which notwithstanding I will violently root out of this seat My Tomb shall lye a long time unknown till the coming of other people whom by my prayers I shall bring hither them will I protect and defend and in this place shall the name of our Lord
c. Pascentius a Son of K. Vortigern comes with forces into Brittany And contrives the murder of K. A. Ambrosius But is slain by K. Vther 6. Vther overcomes the Saxons 1. THE Brittains though they had seen their Island thus dismembred and on all sides oppress'd by barbarous enemies yet sustained a greater dammage by civill dissensions rais'd by a Son of the late King Vortigern call'd Pascentius who in the end treacherously depriv'd them of their Noble King Ambrosius 2. This Pascentius after the death of his Father Vortigern seing the minds of the Brittains out of hatred to his Father inclin'd to Ambrosius fled into Germany where he remained severall years endeavouring to gather forces sufficient to place himself in the throne of his Ancestors At length in the year four hundred ninety six he came saith Florilegus with a powerfull and well furnish'd Army and landed in the Northern parts of the Island intending to revenge his own and his fathers injuries upon Ambrosius Who upon news hereof gathered likewise an Army and march'd speedily to meet him Shortly they came to a battell in which Pascentius was overcom and forc'd to fly 3. His refuge was into the countrey of the Scotts where again recruiting his army he return'd to try his fortune once more against the Brittains But hearing that Ambrosius lay sick in the Citty of Winchester he thought it best to work his revenge by treason rather then open force Therefore by gifts and promises he hired a certain Saxon call'd Eopa to fain himself a Physicion and a Brittain and by that means to attempt the murder Who under this feigned shew and with a pretence of great piety and affection to the King being admitted mingled poyson in a potion administred to him of which Ambrosius presently dyed in the one and thirtieth year of his raign 4. But Pascentius did not long enjoy the fruit of his Treason For Vther-pendragon the Brother of Ambrosius who during his Sicknes was Generall of the Brittish forces marching against Pascentius in a battell slew him and all his Captains that came along with him over whom he obtain'd a signall Victory 5. The year following saith Florilegus Vther the Brother of the late King Ambrosius came with hast to Winchester and calling an Assembly of the people and Clergy of the Kingdom took on him the Crown of Brittany which is said to have been set on his head by the Holy Bishop Dubritius And calling to mind how the year before a Comet had appear'd of a wonderfull magnitude darting forth onely one beam at the end whereof was seen a globe of fire shaped like a dragon out of whose mouth proceeded two beames one reaching to Gaule and the other shooting towards Ireland which ended in seaven lesser beames For this reason he commanded two Dragons to be made of gold like to that which had appear'd One of them he gave in oblation to the Church of Winchester the other he caried with him placing it in every combat in his Ensign And from that time he was call'd in the Brittish language Vther-pendragon And hence it is that to this day our Kings in their warlick expeditions cary the like Ensign 6. But Vther had no sooner put on his crown but he was forc'd to exchange it for a Head-peice for as the same Authour relates Eska the Successour of Hengist and his Son Octa attended with a mighty army of Saxons invaded the Northern Provinces of Brittany and destroyd all the Munitions between Albany and York At last when they attempted the seige of a Citty call'd Alcluid Vther-pendragon came upon them with all the strength of the countrey and entred battell against them The Saxons manfully resisted and in the end compell'd the Brittains to fly as far as to a mountain calld Danet which they seis'd upon as a place of refuge being so dismay'd that they scarce knew what they did But at last they resolv'd upon a prudent exploit which was to sett courageously upon the enemies by night This design they executed prosperously For the Saxons being thus unexpectedly invaded scarce rendred any combat at all but were utterly routed and Octa and Eska were taken prisoners whom the King caried with him to London where he caus'd them to be kept safe 7. That which follows in Florilegus touching King Vthers love to Igerna wife to Gorlo Duke of Cornwall on whom he is sayd to have begott Arthur with many other Fables repugnant to all order of time are not worth the exscribing In the narration of the Gests of Arthur wee shall follow William of Malmsbury a far more authentick Guide then Geffrey of Monmouth By him we are informed that Arthur at this time was of a full ripe age and by his assistance King Ambrosius had repress'd the Saxons XXI CHAP. 1.2 c Of S. Gunléus a Brittish Prince and Hermite and of his Son S. Cadoc and his Tutour S. Tathai 9. Of S. Dogmael and S. Bernach Brittish Saints 10. Of S. Finguar an Irish Saint in Cornwall 1. THE year of Grace five hundred is in our Ecclesiasticall monuments mark'd with the death of S. Cadoc not the Martyr sirnamed Sophias but the holy Abbot Son of Gunlaeus Prince of the Southern Brittains and of Gladus or Gundalus a daughter of Braghan who gave the name to the Province of Brecknock of whom we have already treated 2. His Father Gunleus by divine vocation growing weary of the world built a Church saith Capgrave where he began to live in great abstinence and purity of conversation His cloathing was sack-cloath his dyet barley bread mingled with ashes and his drink water He usually rose at midnight and to abate carnall desires cast himself into cold water He received nothing from any but sustained himself with the Labour of his hands 3. This retirement of his Father begun during the child-hood of S. Cadoc who when he came to years of understanding chose rather to imitate his Fathers devotion then enjoying his Principality to be expos'd to the tentations and vicissitudes of the world 4. He had for his Master and directour in the way of Piety a learned and holy man famous in that age called Tathai who liv'd a solitary life in all austerity among the mountains in Southwales till he was invited by Caradoc Prince of that Province to live coenobitically and to institure young men in learning and piety at a Citty calld Venta Silurum in the Province of Monmouth Which Region saith Camden from that Citty Venta was by the Brittains calld Guent And as wee read in the life of Tathai a Brittish Saint it was as an Academy dedicated to the studies of litterature over which was President the said Tathai invited from his solitude to that employment by King Caradoc the Son of Inirius This Office Tathai executed with great commendation and there built a Church 5. Vnder so worthy a Master S. Cadoc made wonderfull progresse in vertue and piety and
build the Church of Brittany When the Prince his Father was dead the Nobles of the Countrey with the consent of the whole people were desirous he should succeed in the Royalty But he neglecting worldly pomp assum'd with him sixty companions and with them entred into a Monastery there undertaking a Monasticall Profession After some years spent there he went into Ireland where for the space of twenty years he addicted himself to the studies of litterature and the holy Scriptures There and then it was that the foresaid S. Coemgen was recommended by his parents to be instructed by him 3. Having in this space saith Leland heap'd a great treasure of learning under the most perfect Teachers of that Island he return'd into Brittany and in the Province of Corinia or Cornwall intended to employ for the benefit of others also that treasure And to shew that he had not all this while forgotten much lesse deserted his Râ—ligious profession he built there a Monastery not many miles distant from the Severn shore neer a town in those days call'd Loderic and Laffenac and afterwards from his name Petrocstow at this day more contractedly Padstow 4. At this time the Saxons under Cerdic had possess'd themselves of that Province And hence it is that the Narration of his gests follows thus in Capgrave Assoon as S. Petroc with his Disciplis had left their ship and were landed there certain Reapers then at work spoke rudely and bitterly to them and among other contumelious speeches requir'd them that their conductour S. Petroc should for the asswaging of their thirst cause a spring of fresh water to issue out of a rock there adjoyning This they said either in derision of them being strangers or for a tryall whether their sanctity was answerable to their Profession Hereupon S. Petroc who never refused those that ask'd any thing in his power address'd his prayers to our Mercifull Lord and with his staffe smiting the rock immediatly there gush'd forth a spring of clear sweet water which flows there to this day 5. Those barbarous Pagans utterly ignorant of Christian Religion were astonish'd at this Miracle And when the Holy servant of God ask'd them whether there were in that Province any one who profess'd the Christian Faith they directed him to a certain Holy man call'd Samson concerning whom they acquainted him that he lead a solitary life and exercis'd himself in corporall labours fasting watching and Prayers and that he sustain'd life with no other thing but a small portion dayly of barley bread This it that Samson who first succeeded S. David in the See of Mersevia and afterward was Bishop of Dole in Lesser Brittany concerning whom we shall treat in due place 6. After thirty years aboad in this solitude in which he is sayd to have instructed Credan Medan and Dachant three of his principal Disciples illustrious for their learning and piety he left his Monastery of Lodoric and undertook a forrain pilgrimage visiting Rome and after that Hierusalem From whence he is said to have proceeded as far as India and to have spent seaven years in the exercises of a contemplative life in a certain unknown Island of the Eastern Ocean From which tedious voyage he at last return'd home and with twelve companions retir'd himself into a dry and barren solitude The Prince of that part of Cornwal was called Tendur a man of a feirce and savage nature 7. His death in our Ecclesiasticall monuments is referr'd to the year of Grace five hundred sixty four And he was buried in the place now call'd Petrocstow or Padstow In which town anciently was placed an Episcopall See which was afterward translated to another town calld Bodmin The reason wherof seems to have been because the Body of S. Petroc which had first been simply and meanly buried at Padstow was afterward transfer'd and honourably repos'd at Bodnun To which purpose we find this passage in Mathew of Westminster The Bishops of Cornwal had their See at S. Petroc's of Bodmin apud Sanctum Petrocum de Bodmini for so the words are to be corrected saith Bishop Vâ—her And the same place was meant by Harpsfeild thus writing The Monument of S. Petroc is in the Citty Bosuenna the most noted town of Merchandise Emporium of Cornwal 8. But the Relicks of S. Petroc did not always rest at Bodmin for from thence they wâ—re stolln conveyd over sea into Lesser Brittany and reverently plac'd in the Monastery of S. Meven but in the time of King Henry the second restor'd Thus writes Roger Hoveden Martin a Canon Regular of the Church of Bodmin by stealth took away the Body of S. Petroc and fled with it into Brittany to the Abbey of S. Meven Which theft having been discovered Roger Priour of that Cathedrall Church with the more ancient Canons of the Chapter address'd themselves to King Henry the Father for at that time he had made his son likewise King And from him they obtained a strict command to the Abbot and Convent of Saint Meven that without delay they should restore to Roger Priour of Bodmin the said Body of S. Petroc Which if they refus'd the King gave order to Roland of Dinant the Governour of Brittany to take away the sacred Body by force and give it to the said Roger. Assoon as the Abbot and Monks of S. Meven heard of these things to prevent any dammage to their Church they restor'd the said Body entire and without any diminution to the foresaid Priour swearing withall upon the Holy Gospels and upon the Relicks of certain Saints there that it was the very same Body unchanged and unempair'd 9. The reason why the Convent of S. Meven in lesser Brittany were so desirous of the Relicks of S. Petroc was because S. Meven himself the Patron of that Monastery was born in our Brittany as many other Saints besides from hence had fled thither and were with great veneration honour'd in the territory of S. Malo Where likewise Iudicael Prince of the Armorici or Lesser Brittany who was descended from our Brittany built the said Monastery XXV CHAP. 1.2 c. The battell between the Saxons and Brittains and death of King Vther-pendragon or Natanleod 1. THE five hundred and eighth year of our Lord was fatall to the Brittains by the death of their valiant King slain in a battell against the West-Saxons For thus writes the Noble Historian Ethelwerd In the seaventh year afteir their arrivall Cerdic and his son Cenric slew Natan-leod King of the Brittains and with him five thousand of his soldiers 2. Mathew of Westminster relates the same somewhat more expresly and withall signifies who this Natan-leod was for thus he writer In the year of Grace five hundred and eight Cerdic and Kenric provok'd the Brittains to a battell At that time Vther King of the Brittains was sick in such extremity that he could not turn himself from one side to another in his bed Wherfore he
especially building and fortifying of Citties In two of which he left the memory and footsteps of his own name Chichester and Cisbury in the Province of Sussex Concerning which Camden thus writes Chichester is a large Citty compass'd with walls by Cissa the second Saxon Prince of that Province who succeeded his Father Ella From this Cissa it takes its name So likewise did another town call'd Cisbury Now this Cissa together with his Father Ella and Brother Cimen landed in a port of that Province call'd therefore Cimenshore V. CHAP. 1.2 c. S. Kentigern his Birth c. 1. THE same year in which Cerdic obtained an illustrious Victory against the Brittains was yet more signalized with the Birth of the famous Brittish Bishop Saint Kentigern Whose Nativity admirable for the strangenes of it since it is celebrated by many ancient Writers must not here be omitted This year is assigned thereto by Bishop Vsher in his Chronologicall Index where his Mother is sayd to have been Thenis the daughter of Loth King of Pict-land and of Anna the daughter of Vther Pendragon Whence it follows that he was Nephew to King Arthur by his Sister It is not known who was his Father yet some suppose Eugenius the third of that name King of the Scotts 2. Iohn of Tinmouth an Ancient Historian cited by Capgrave thus relates his originall A certain King in the Northern parts of Brittany who was a Pagan begot of his wife a very beautifull daughter She having frequently been a hearer of Sermons preached by the servants of God obtain'd the Grace to beleive his Truth and renounce the worshipping of Idols And though she had not yet been purified with the Sacrament of Baptism yet she was diligent in observing Gods commandements with an humble and devout mind being much addicted to prayer and Almsgiving and other Duties of Ecclesiasticall Discipline as much as the fear of incensing her Father would permit She bore so great devotion to the fruitfull Virginity and integrity of the Blessed Virgin Mary that mov'd with a womanish presumption she begg'd of our Lord that she might in some measure imitate her in her Conception and birth At length as she thought she obtain'd her desire for she found her self with child Now it is not to be conceiv'd that this hapned without the embrace of a man notwithstanding who that man was or in what manner and when this was done she oft protested and with oaths confirmed it that she was utterly ignorant 3. Her Father perceiving this and not being able either by fair speeches or threatnings to wrest from her who was the Father of the Child for she seriously protested that she had never suffred the unlawfull embraces of any man hereupon in a great rage he determined to execute upon her the law establish'd by his ancestours by which it was enacted that whatsoever young maid should be with child by fornication in her fathers house should be thrown down headlong from the top of a high mountain and the person corrupting her should loose his head 4. In conformity therefore to this Law the young woman was placed on the highest point of a Mountain in that countrey called Dunpelder from thence to be thrown down and torn in peices She therefore with deep sighs looking up to heaven implored the mercy and help of her Redeemer holding up her hands and shedding many tears After this she was cast down but by the fall was neither bruised nor received the least harm but sliding down easily and slowly came safe to the bottom 5. The Pagans who were present ascribed this deliverance 〈…〉 magicall enchantments of Christians and therefore with the Kings consent they caried her severall miles into the Sea and there left her destitute of all human help in a small Boat made of leather and without any oares But he who commands the winds and the Sea was her Protectour for by his power the Boat was caried streight to a far distant haven with greater swiftnes then either rowers or sayles could have driven her Being arrived there the young Lady went out of the Boat and presently after in a place called Collenros her throws of child-birth coming upon her she without the assistance of a Midwife was safely delivered of a Son Now the place here called Colenros is probably the same which Saint Beda calls Coludi and Ptolomy Colania in the Province of Laudon So that Pits from I know not what Authour erroneously makes the place of S. Kentigern's birth to have been S. Asaph's in Flintshire formerly called Elqua The ground of which Errour seems to have been because afterward he was Bishop and built a Monastery there from whence he is by the Centuriators of Magdeburg called Elicius 6. But whatsoever his Sirname was his proper name was given him by S. Servanus For thus it follows in Tinmouths narration The next morning Saint Servanus came to the place and seing the desolate Mother with her infant he said in his countreys language Mochohe Mochohe that is my beloved child my beloved child Blessed art thou who art come in the name of our Lord. He took them therefore into his care nourish'd and baptised them calling the Mother Thanen and the child Kientâ—ern that is Cheif Lord. The child being of a towardly disposition proffited much in learning and vertue and was beloved by S. Servanus beyond all his companions insomuch as usually he call'd him Munghu which signifies one dearly beloved By which name to this day saith Bishop Vsher the Scots call S. Kentigern Thus far the Nativity and Name of this Holy man After five and twenty years when he was consecrated Bishop of Glasco more will be sayd of him VI. CHAP. 1. King Arthur crowned 2.3 Of the Isle of Berdesey 4.5 c. Twelve Victories gained by K. Arthur 1. THE continuall troubles caused by the Saxons through all the quarters of Brittany would not alow King Arthur to solemnise his Coronation till eight years after his Fathers death Which Ceremony was magnificently perform'd in the year of Grace five hundred and sixteen in a generall Assembly of the Bishops and Nobles at the Citty Caâ—r-leon And S. Dubricius Bishop of that Citty set the Crown on his head 2. After this the said Holy Bishop being very aged retired into a certain Island in Northwales call'd by Ptolomy Edri by Pliny Adros by the Brittains Enhly and by the English Berdsey Which Island saith Camden was inhabited by so many Saints that besides Dubricius and Merlin the Caledonian no fewer then twenty thousand holy men were buried there as ancient Records inform us 3. Concerning this Island we read in the Life of Aelgar saith Bishop Vsher that it was call'd by the Brittains the Rome of Brittany for the distance of it the difficulty of the passage likewise the Sanctity and security of it the Sanctity since twenty thousand bodies of Saints are there venerated as Martyrs And the
called Acluid in which he lay sick Vpon King Arthurs approach saith Mathew of Westminster the Enemies retired to a place called Mureif whither he pursued them But they escaping by night fled to a Lake named Lumonoy Whereupon Arthur gathering many ships together encompassed the Island and in fifteen days brought them to such extreme famine that many thousands of them perish'd In which utmost danger the Bishops of that Regioâ— came bare-foot to the King with teares beseeching him to take pitty of that miserable people and to give them some small portion of that countrey to inhabit under the Yoake of perpetual servitude The King mollified with the teares of the Bishops both pardon'd his Enemies and granted their request 9. Here it is that some of our Brittish and Saxâ—n Writers ground the subjection of Scotland to the Crown of Brittany Particularly Walsingham relates how King Arthur having subdued Scotland placed over it as King a certain person named Angulsel who at a publick Feast in Caer-leon caried King Arthurs sword before him and did homage to him for his Kingdom And that successively all the Kings of Scotland were subject to the crown of Brittany But it seems very improbable that King Arthur at a time when his own countrey was peece-meale renting from him should be at leasure to conquer forrain Nations And however if the Scots were indeed now subdued certain it is that they shortly shook off that yoke XV. CHAP. 1.2.3 Of the Holy Bishop Nennion And of S. Finanus 1. WHereas in the last recited exploit of King Arthur it is sayd that certain Pictish or Scottish Bishops were suppliants to him in behalf of their distressed countreymen our inquiry must be what Bishops those probably were That the Province of the Picts where the Citty of Acluid was seated had many years since received the Christian Faith by the preaching of S. Ninianus hath been already demonstrated But who were his Successours till this time we can only find by conjecture In the Annals of Ireland there is mention of a certain Bishop call'd Nennion who is sayd to have flourished in Brittany about the year five hundred and twenty and to have had his seat in a place called the great Monastery This man probably was the Successour of S. Ninianus and this Great Monastery the same with Candida Casa where was the Monument of that Apostolick Bishop which by reason of frequent miracles wrought there invited great numbers of devout men to embrace a Coenobiticall Life as hath been shewd from Alcuinus Of this Bishop Nennion we read in the life of S. Finanus this passage That the said S. Finanus having in his childhood been instructed by S. Colman a Bishop was afterward recommended to â—he care of Nennion The words of Tinmouth extant in Capgrave are these Behold certain ships out of Brittany entred the said haven in Ireland in which ships was the Holy Bishop Nennion and severall others accompanying him These men being received with great ioy and honour Coelanus Abbot of Noendrum or as Iocelin writes of Edrum very diligently recommended young Finanus to the Venerable Bishop Thereupon Finanus presently after returned with him into his countrey and for severall years learned from him the Rules of a Monasticall life at his â—ee called the great Monastery Moreover with great proficiency he studied the Holy Scriptures and by invoking the name of Christ wrought many Miracles 2. Concerning the same Finanus it is further added Having been more then ordinarily instructed in Monastick institutions and holy Scripture by S. Nennion Finanus determined to take a journey to the See Apostolick to the end he might there supply whatsoever was defective in saving knowledge At Rome therefore he continued the space of seaven years dayly studying and advancing in Sacred science And after that he ascended to the degree of Preisthood 3. Thus much by the way concerning the holy Bishop Nennion who probably was one of those who interceded with King Arthur in behalfe of their countrey And it was about this time that S. Finanus lived under his Discipline For thus B. Vsher in his Chronologicall Index writes in the year five hundred and twenty Nennion Bishop of the See called The great Monastery flourish'd at this time in Brittany XVI CHAP. 1.2 Fables concerning King Arthur censured 1. IN the year of Grace five hundred twenty three King Arthur after the death of his wife Guenevera maried a Noble Lady called Guenhumara By occasion of which mariage his fame was spread through all countreyes This is thus declared by Florilegus In the forenamed year saith he King Arthur having reduced the Isle of Brittany to its former state maried a wife named Guenhumara descended from the Noble stock of the Romans She had been brought up in the Court of the Duke of Cornwal and in beauty excelled all the women of Brittany To this mariage he invited all Princes and Noble persons in the Regions adjacent and during the celebration of it such sports and such magnificence both in feasting and military exploits were shewn by him that Nations far removed did admire and emulate him By this means from some transmarine Kings he gained love and in others he imprinted a fear and terrour 2. Within little more then a year after this mariage he is sayd to have passed into Ireland and there to have taken Prisoners the King Gillamur and his Nobles and subdued the whole Island From thence to have sayled into Holland Gott-land and the Isles of Orkney all which Regions he brought under Tribute 3. Such Fables as these invented by idle and ignorant Bards and with addition published in a Latin stile by Geffrey of Monmouth have passed for true stories not only among the Brittains in succeeding times who might be pardond if in their poverty and miseries they recreated their minds with the imagined past glory of their Ancestours but they have imposed on forrain Writers and some of them otherwise not unlearned Hence it is that Malbranque a diligent French Antiquary has been induced to acknowledge that King Arthur after having forced Brittany from the Saxons subdued afterward that part of France which was inhabited by his own countreymen the Morini 4. Neither hath the Brittish Fables ended here They have sent King Arthur into Norway and his exploits there are thus recorded by Mathew of Westminster In the year of Grace five hundred thirty three King Arthur having a design to subdue all Europe passed with a Navy into Norway Where being arrived he found Sichelin King of that countrey dead who had bequeathed that Kingdom to Loth sisters son to King Arthur a Prince of great vertue and magnificence The sayd Loth had at that time a son called Walwan a youth twelve years old who was recommended to Pope Vigilius to be by him brought up from whom likewise he received the Order of Knight hood In the end King Arthur
having conquered the Norvegians placed his Nephew Loth in the throne and then with ioy returned into Brittany 5. Acts of Chevalry yet more prodigious have been in a seeming sober manner recounted especially by Geffrey of Monmouth which in a generall manner shall be here set down in the expression and with the Censure of Ranulphus of Chester As touching this King Arthur saith he among all Historians only thus extolled by Geffrey of Monmouth many doe wonder how any one can beleive those things to be true which are reported of him For if there were any probability that he conquered thirty Kingdoms if he subdued the King of the Franks if he slew Lucius the Emperours Governour in Italy how comes it to passe that all Historians Romans French Saxons should make no mention at all of such Heroicall Exploits of so great a Prince whereas they have related far lesse acts of persons much inferiour Geffrey tells us that his Arthur conquered Frollo King of the Franks whereas among the French Writers such a Name as Frollo cannot be found He says likewise that during the raign of the Emperour Leo King Arthur kild Lucius an Italian Generall of the Empire and yet according to all the Roman Historians there was no Lucius Governour in Italy Neither did King Arthur raign nor was so much as born in the time of Leo but of Iustinian the fifth Emperour after Leo. To conclude Greffrey says he much wonders that Gildas and S. Beda should make no mention of King Arthur in their Writings Whereas we may much rather wonder that this Geffrey should so highly extoll a man whose actions have scarce been mentioned by any ancient Historians of high esteem for their truth sincerity But perhaps this is the custom of every nation to exalt some one of their Princes with excessive praises as the Grecians have enormously magnified their Alexander the Romans their Octavian the English their Richard the French their Charles and in like manner the Brittains their Arthur This often happens saith Iosephus either for the beautifying of their Histories or the delighting their Readers or extolling their own blood 6. That there was such a King of the Brittains as Arthur and that he was a Prince of a most magnanimous and Heroical Spirit we are assured by Monuments of such unquestioâ—ned authority that Geffreys lyes cannot disparage them And had it not been that Almighty God had given up the Brittains to destruction no hand could have been more proper able to rescue them then King Arthurs and no doubt it was to his valour that we ought to ascribe the security of the remains of them amoÌ„g the Mountains of Wales But as for his conquering so many kingdoms and driving the Saxons out of his own these are inventions so impudently false that in the very same years to which these Victories are assigned our unquestioned Histories inform us that the Saxons made some notable progresse in their conquests and some new kingdom of theirs became established 7. It may notwithstanding be allowd to Malbranque since he will needs entitle King Arthur to the subduing his Morini that being weary of contending in vain with the Saxons and a surcease of arms being agreed between them King Arthur to avoyd idlenes might transport some forces over Sea into that Province of France and there settle in the Principality his kinsmaÌ„ Leodegarius bestowing on him the Strong Citty of Bouloign Bononia with the territory adjoyning with this condition that he and his Successours should hold it with acknowledgment and dependance of the Blessed Virgin to whom we have seen before that King Arthur bore so particular devotion All which saith that Authour is extracted out of the ancient Archives of that Citty 8. Thus much may be iudged expedient to be said concerning King Arthur of whom nothing will remain more to be related for the space of many years till we come to treat of his death The intercurring time being to be supplyed by a few passages touching Ecclesiasticall affaires occurring in Brittany XVII CHAP. 1.2.3 The Kingdoms of the East-angles and East-Saxons erected 4 The Isle of wight conquered whence the name 1. ABout the year of Grace five hundred twenty seaven two new Kingdoms were erected in Brittany without any disturbance from King Arthur The seat of them was in the Eastern parts of the Island The Province of the Iceâ—â— containing Norfolk Suffolk and Cambridgshire was possessed by the Angli and made up the Kingdom of the East-angles The Province of the Trinobantes containing Essex Middlesex were possessed by a Tribe of the Saxons and made up the Kingdom of the East-Saxons But whether of these two kingdoms began first is uncertain in our History because the names of their first Kings are for the unconsiderablenes of their actions not left recorded 2. Mathew of Westminster fixes their beginning in the same year five hundred twenty sixe when saith he there came out of Germany certain Pagans who seysed on the Eastern parts of Brittany namely that Region which is called the Kingdom of the East-Angles And some of the same Germans invading the Middle Provinces of the Island fought many battles against the Brittains But because their Leaders were many and not subordinate to one their names are forgotten The same year the Kingdom of the East-Saxons also took its Origiâ—nal in these days called Essex the first King whereof as is beleived was Erkenwin the Son of Offa. 3. This Writer does not acquaint us with the name of the first King of the East-Angles But that defect is supplied by Ranulphus of Chester though he assign the Original of that Kingdom much sooner For thus he writes In the year of Grace four hundred ninety 〈◊〉 the Kingdom of the East-Angles began under Vffa from whom all the succeeding Kings were anciently called Vffings which since we call Ficans or Fikeys Such is the uncertainty about the beginning of these two Kingdoms to discourse of which concerns not our design 4. The year following the Isle of Wight was invaded by King Cerdic and his Son Kinric as hath been sayd But almost three years passed before they could quite subdue it For in the year five hundred and thirty saith Huntingdon Certic and his Son with a numerous army fought with the Brittains in Witland or the Isle of Wight and having overcome them took possession of the Island In which battell they made a wonderfull slaughter of them at Whitgaresberg in the thirteenth year of their Raign This Island called in Latin Vâ—cta they gave four years after to their Nephews â—â—uffa and Witgar The Brittains call this Island Guith which saith Nennius signifies a divorce or renting asunder because is is divided from Brittany by so narrow a sea intervening that is seems to have been once ioynd with it The Saxons from the Brittish word called it Witland or Vitland XVIII CHAP. 1.2 A Synod assembled in Wales by Saint
administration of his Kingdom to a Nephew by his Sister and Son of Loth King of the Picts called Mordred Who taking advantage of his Vncles absence invaded the throne upon a pretence that King Arthur was a bastard as being born not in lawfull mariage And to this treason he added the crime of incest violently taking his Vncles wife Queen Guenhumara Moreover to strengthen him self he entred into a Confederacy with the King of the West-Saxons to whom he quietly yeilded severall Provinces 3. These infamous crimes being come to the ears of King Arthur he presently returned into Brittany inflamed with a rage and hatred unquencheable against his abominable kinsman Mordred was prepared to hinder his landing at which time a cruell batell was fought between them in which Angusâ—lus King of Albania and Walwan another Nephew of King Arthur were slain Notwithstanding at last with infinite difficulty he landed And renewing the fight he made a great slaughter of his enemies and compelled Mordred to fly to Winchester Whither he was with great fury pursued by King Arthur where in a second batell after much blood shed Mordred was again putt to flight which he directed towards Cornwal But King Arthur not ceasing to follow at last overtook him neer the River Camblan in which place the controversy between them was ended but fatally to them both 4. For Mordred having ranged his army in a desperat fury rushed among his enemies resolved rather to dye then once more to shew his back to them In this coÌ„bat which continued almost a whole day after horrible blood-shed on both sides King Arthur with the courage and fury of a lyon rushed into the troop where he knew Mordred was and making way with his sword at last with horrible slaughter dispersed his enemies There fell the Traytour Mordred and with him severall Saxon Commanders Cheldric Elaphius Egbrith and Bruning and many thousands with them 5. But this Victory cost King Arthur his life also For in the combat he received a mortall wound Whereupon he was conveyed into the Isle Avallonia now Glastonbury by the charity of a kinswoman of his a noble Matron called Morganis This gave the foolish Brittish Bards occasion to invent the story of a Faery Goddesse called Morganis which caried the Body of King Arthur by Magical skill into Avallonia with a promise that she would cure his wounds and that he should return with his former courage and strength to govern his Brittains And for this reason during many years yea ages his return was expected by them as foolshly as the coming of the Messias is by the Iewes 6. When Queen Guenhumara heard of the return of her husband and his war with his Nephew she fled in great hast to the Citty Caër-leon where she took the Habit of Religion among the Nunns in the Monastery of S. Iulius the Martyr 7. The true reason why King Arthur would be caried to the Monastery of Glastonbury doubtles was partly to prepare himself more perfectly for death in the company and by the assistance of the Holy Monks living there and likewise that after his death he might be buried among such a world of Saints as reposed there from the beginning of Christianity The like design we read of in Constantin for he ordaind his buriall in like manner to the end he might be partaker of the Suffrages of so many Saints of the prayers of such as in succeeding times should come to visit their Monuments 8. King Arthur before his death gave unto the said Monastery Brent-march and Poulden with other lands beside Which the Pagan Angli took away but afterward being converted to the Faith restored with advantage He appointed likewise for his Successour a kinsman of his called Constantin and having recommended himself to the Prayers of the Monks he dyed happily and after a Christian manner was buried with a Crosse. 9. His conveyance to Glastonbury was it seems by own order done with great secrecy and by the same order his death and place of burial was studiously coÌ„ceald The reason is given by Mathew of Westminster in these words The dying King was desirous to be hidden least his enemies should insult and his freinds be molested for so great a calamity And hence it is that since our Histories doe relate nothing of his death and buriall the Brittish Nation out of their great affection to him doe contend that he is still alive And on this occasion was invented the Prophecy fathered on Merlin the Magician that he should appear and raign once more Lastly Malmsburiensis affirms that in his time who dyed in the year of Grace one thousand one hundred forty two the Sepulcher of King Arthur could no where be found whereas the Monument of his Heroical Nephew Walwin Prince of a Territory called Walwerth had lately been found in the time of King William near the Sea-coast and that it was fourteen foot long 10. Notwithstanding a little while after in the raign of King Henry the Second by the pious industry of certain devout persons King Arthurs Monument was at last found and the expectation of his return utterly vanished among the Welsh Nation The manner how it was found together with the description of it we have in severall of our Historians as Mathew Paris and Giraldus Cambrensis who affirms that the Abbot who found it shewd him the Crosse which lay over King Arthurs body the characters whereof he curiously read c. 11. But the most authentick account hereof we may receive from the Great Table of Glastonbury framed on purpose to continue the memory of the said Invention a copy whereof is preserved by B. Vsher in this tenour In this Island Avallonia or rather this Tomb of Saints at Glastonbury doe rest King Arthur the flower of the Kings of Brittany and Guenhavera his Queen who after their decease were honourably buried near the old Church between two stone-Pyramids heretofore nobly engraven And in the same place have their bodyes rested for many ages to wit six hundred twenty eight years till the time of Henry de Soili who after the burning of the said Church was Abbot of the same place The which said Abbot after many admonitions by severall persons commanded men to digg between the said Piramids to try whether they could find the Kings body but before they began to digg the place was all encompassed with cortains They digged therefore exceeding deep and at last found a very great Biere of wood altogether shutt which with their instruments they opened and within it discovered the Kings body and a certain Crosse of Lead of which one whole side was filled with this Inscription Here lyes buried the famous King Arthur in the Island Avallonia Then they opened the Tomb of the Queen and the hayr 's of her head were spread over her body and seemd as if she had been lately buried but assoon as they touched them they fell all
Arch-bishop of Bourdeaux and Metropolitan of that Citty who there accommodated him with a convenient habitation for serving God For the Holy Arch-bishop Leontius bore a most tender affection to him admiring and reverencing the Divine Graces which he observ'd in him whom he esteemd as sent from heaven to assist him in his Pastorall charge For which reason in all Visitations of his Diocese and Province he took him for his companion earnestly beseeching him to be his assistant by his wholesom counsells by his Prayers acceptable to God and by the examples of his holy Life 9. Moreover this Man of God although so disgracefully and uniustly exild was not unmindfull of his flock but forgetting all iniuries he dayly invok'd our Lords clemency for the conversion of that stubborn people The Divine Majesty aâ— last condescended to his Prayers and by an Angel acquainted him that his flock was now penitent and earnestly desir'd the return and favour of their Pastor and that it was Gods will that he should repair to them and restore to health that Region which was greivously afflicted with the scourges of Divine severity that he should restore plenty to the barren earth and bestow his benediction on the inhabitants And lastly having done this that he should again return to Xaintes where he was to be devested of his corruptible flesh that his soule might freely ascend to partake eternall felicity All these things the Holy Bishop perform'd according as God had commanded and when he came back from Brittany S. Leontius receiv'd him with greater ioy and express'd more respectfull Offices and kindnes to him then formerly 10. Shortly after this S. Mahutus or S. Maclovius dyed full of dayes and sanctity and was buried by Leontius in Aquitain And though the inhabitants of Aleth were deprived of the sacred Relicks of their prime Prelat whom they had treated so iniuriously yet the Name of Blessed Maclovius remains never to be blotted out which to this day both adorns and defends that Citty with his glorious protection and celestiall benefits Notwithstanding the Episcopall See does not now remain at Aleth but is remov'd to an Island two miles distant from thence anciently call'd Aaron where a Citty new built is in memory of their Holy Prelat and Patron call'd S. Malo Vrbs Macloviensis 11. To this large relation in the Gallican Martyrologe Iohn of Tinmouth adds That S. Mahutus with his seaven Disciples in devotion visited Rome where he redeemd many Infidell Captives and having instructed them in the true Faith baptis'd them Moreover that after forty years government having been iniustly and violently driven from his See at Aleth he cursed and excommunicated the people and then retired to an Island in Aquitain calld Agenis from whence he repair'd to Leontius a Bishop there Which relation contradicts the Gallican Martyrologe according to which S. Maclovius was so far from cursing his flock that he prayed dayly for it However the Centuriators of Magdeburg charitably remember only his cursing and not his prayers and most unskilfully write that he flourish'd under Leontius Bishop of the Saxons mistaking Saxonum for Santonum and that he curs'd the Brittains his own countreymen from whom he never receiv'd any iniury How long he liv'd appears not but his death is in our Martyrologe assign'd to the year of Grace five hundred sixty four XXX CHAP. 1.2 Of S. Brendan 3. Of S. Doc and S. Canic 1. SAint Brendan the spirituall Father and Instructour of S. Maclovius though by birth no Brittain is not be denied a place in this History Concerning whom we read in B. Vsher that he came out of Ireland to visit the Holy man S. Gildas Albanius in Brittany where he built a Monastery and a Church He was also Superiour in the Monastery of Lancarvan where he baptised S. Maclovius After that he returned into Ireland where he was Abbot of a Monastery call'd Birra and in the year of Grace five hundred seaventy one most happily ended his holy Life Of whose glory and Beatitude revealed to S. Columba the Authour of that Saints life call'd Adamannus thus writes where he introduces S. Columba thus discoursing with his Minister Diormitius Columba Goe and quickly provide all things necessary for celebrating the Holy Eucharist for this is the day of the blessed death of S. Brendanus Diormitius Why doe you command that we should prepare so solemnly for Masse to day since no Messenger from Ireland Scotia has yet brought tidings of the death of that Holy man Columba However goe and faile not to doe as I have commanded for this last night I saw heaven on a sudden opened and quires of Angels descending to meet S. Brendans soule by whose incomparable splendour the whole world was that houre enlightned 2. S. Brendan thus call'd to heaven enjoyd on earth also an eternall Monument of his name and Sanctity for in the Isles of Orkney a town and Church were built and were call'd from his Name The reason of which honour and devotion was because his Sacred body was thither translated The day of his death is celebrated in our Martyrologe on the sixteenth of May and his Translation on the fourteenth of Iune 3. We will here conclude with the Memory of a Holy Brittish Abbot call'd S. Doc who flourish'd in this Age. Of whom the Irish Annals thus write in the life of Saint Canic from whom the Province of Kilkenny took its appellation importing the Church of Canic When S. Canic was grown to an age capable of knowledge he was desirous of instruction and therefore pass'd over the Sea into Brittany to a Religious wise man naimed Doc and under him he studied diligently and was taught both learning and piety This S. Doc was one of the three Holy Brittains from whom the Irish learnd the form and Rites of celebrating Masse as hath already been shewd the other two were S. David and S. Gildas THE TWELTH BOOK OF THE CHVRCH-HISTORY OF BRITTANY I. CHAPTER 1.2 c. Constentin succeeds King Arthur His Cruelly Pennance and undertaking a Religious life 1. IT seems the Brittains at the beginning had no such conceit of King Arthurs returning for surely they would have expepected awhile and not immediatly have filled his Throne with a succession of strange Princes The Bards had not yet contrived their fantasticall Stories which could find none in these times to hearken to them 2. Therefore after King Arthurs death Constantin according to his designation succeeded him in the Government of Brittany He was the Son of Cador Duke of Cornwall and kinsman to King Arthur His sufficiency to discharge that employment for the benefit of his countrey was enough approv'd by his glorious Predecessours choice But Almighty God having fix'd a period to the Brittish Monarchy permitted many factions to arise and many pretendants to the Principality the opposing of whom hindred Constantin from advancing the common proffit and safety of the Kingdom 3. Yea
moreover ambition and revenge had such power over him that they invited him to commit crimes which hastned the ruine of his countrey Hence it is that Gildas calls him the Tyrant of Danmonia Tyrant by reason of his cruelty and Tyrant of one onely Province because severall others at the same time had invaded each one their severall Principalities and for the maintaining of their unjustly usurp'd power fill'd the whole nation with all manner of crimes and impiety 4. This gave occasion to the same Gildas to write and publi'sh a passionate Invective against the vices of the whole Brittish Nation which had universally deprav'd the inhabitants of all states and conditions excepting a few exceeding few who seing destruction unavoydably coming on the Nation sequestred themselves from publick affaires and in solitude deplor'd the sins of others and by great austerities and pennances procur'd indulgence to their own soules 5. In former times saith he our Kings publick Officers private persons Bishops and other Ecclesiasticks every one kept their order and perform'd the duties belonging to them But when they were dead Such as Ambrosius Vther-pendragon Arthur and likewise Dubricius David c. there succeeded a generation utterly ignorant of the former Vertues among whom all the rules of Truth and Iustice were so shaken and subverted that no foot-steps nor so much as the least monument of those vertues appeard in any of the foresaid orders and conditions c. 6. Constantin at his first ascending into his Throne bound himself by a solemn Oath to govern justly and to use his utmost endeavours to defend his subjects from injuries and oppressions and the common wealth from the violence of its enemies This appers because the year following we find him accused of perjury and violating his Faith given for his barbarous cruelty and sacrilegious profanation of Gods house 7. For two sons of Mordred saith Mathew of Westminster rose in arms against Constantin being desirous to revenge their Fathers death slain by King Arthur as hath been said These ioyning in a confederacy with the Saxons fought many battles with him But at last being compelled to flye Constantin pursued them and one he slew before the Altar of S. Amphibalus his Church in Winchester And the other who had hid himself in a certain Convent of Monks he condemned to a cruell death at London 8. For this Sacrilegious inhumanity Gildas in his too free stile calls Constantin the tyrannicall whelp of the Lyonnes of Danmonia an infringer of the dreadfull Sacrament of an Oath by which he bound himself before God and all his Saints to abstain from all injustice and treachery to his subjects notwithstanding which in the very bosoms both of their carnall Mother and the common Spiritual Mother the Church and nere unto the most Holy Altars he had torn the bowels of two Royal Youths though covered with the Vestment of a holy Abbot Sancti Abbatis amphibalo whilst they stretched forth their hands not armed with swords to resist but to implore help from God and his Altar notwithstanding all which he most barbarously shed their blood which with a purple dye stained the Seat of the Ecclesiasticall Sacrifice and the Sacred palls which covered it By which expression of Gildas it seems that these two children Sons of Mordred had not been guilty of raising war against Constantin but without any offence done by them had been murdred contrary to his â—ath 9. In consequence to which Invective the same Authour adioyns most pressing exhortations to Constantin that he would doe suitable pennance for these horrible crimes implore the Divine Mercy that if possible he might avoyd the dark inextricable torrents of eternall fires in which otherwise he must for ever be rolled and roasted 10. It is probable that this Zealous Writer who flourished at this time did personally use the like exhortations to him which he after recorded in his Book and that they wrought a good effect on him For though some of our Historians write that he was slain by Conan who succeeded in the Kingdom Yet Hector Boëtius relates how Constantin after a short raign having been deprived of his wife and children grew weary of his Kingdom and privily stealing from his freinds went into Ireland And that there for the love of Christ he laboured unknown like a poore servant in a Mill. But afterward by perswasion of a Monk to whom he had discovered his condition he was induced to shave his head and consecrate himself to a Religious life in a Monastery where he lived with such piety and devotion that he became a pattern of all vertues to the rest of the Monks That at last he was by the Prelat of that place sent in Mission to the Scotts to instruct that nation in the doctrin of Christ where he suffred Martyrdom by the hands of certain impious persons After some Ages he was venerated as a Saint and by the authority of succeeding Bishops Temples were dedicated to his honour which yet remain in that Nation 11. What is thus related by Boëtius receives a strong confirmation from the Authour of S. Davids life in Capgrave where we read That when the fame of S. Davids holines was spread abroad severall Princes forsaking their Kingdoms retired to his Monastery Likewise Constantin King of the Cornishmen which is the same Title with Rex Danmoniae in Gildas forsaking his Throne became a Monk there and after some time spent in the devout service of God he at last went into a far distant countrey where he built a Monastery II. CHAP. 1.2 c. S. Kentigern forced to flye into Wales where he founds a Monastery and Episcopall See Of Malgo a Prince who opposed him 1. BEfore we proceed to the Gests of Conan Successour to Constantin in the Kingdom of Brittany it will be requisite that we relate a great affliction and persecution which befell the famous and Holy Bishop Kentigern in the second year of the raign of the said Constantin His Birth Education consecration to the Bishoprick of Glasco with the defects attending it have been already declared 2. Now in pursuance of his succeding Gests Iohn of Tinmouth thus writes Certain Sons of Belial kinsmen to King Marke rose against the Saint conspiring his death Whereupon being admonished by Divine revelation he departed directing his journey to Menevia where the Holy Bishop David flourished with all vertues Near Caër-leon he converted many to the Faith and built a Church Being come to S. David he abode with him some time and received from the Prince of that Region Cathwallam a place commodious for a Monastery Which having erected at Egla Elwy he fixed there an Episcopall See Near that place there was a certain Noble man which often threatned and effectually endeavoured to expell him from thence whom God therefore smote with blindnes But upon the holy Bishops prayers his sight was restored for which he became
one onely person among you shall in his Name give an assault he alone by Gods power shall putt them to flight Be courageous therfore Not a man of you shall fall in this combat 4. Assoon as he had spoken this which his army hearing beleiv'd as an assurance given them from God himself a few of his soldiers the same moment with wonderfull courage rush'd upon their Enemies not at all expecting them for the Holy mans words had utterly taken from their minds all apprehension of death And at the same time an Angel of God armd like a soldier and in the shape of a man of an incredibly high stature appeard in the Kings Camp His aspect was so terrible that the soldiers hearts utterly faild them and instead of resisting their enemies they rush'd one upon another in their hast to fly away and such a confusion there was of horses and charrets that for hast they killd one another Thus a handfull of men without the losse of any one defeated a great army taking many prisoners 5. This wonderfull victory being obtain'd they return'd to the Man of God who addressing his speech to a youth named Scandalan then attending on him with a propheticall voyce thus said to him My son this day will procure for mee a tedious pilgrimage in a strange countrey where I must live absent from my kinred and freinds many years But say nothing of what I tell thee till the event shew the truth of my words 6. After this S. Columba went to S. Finian a Bishop to receive condign Pennance from him because of so much blood shed in the foresaid war and with him there went an Angel of God who shone with wonderfull brightnes but was visible to none except the Holy man Finian calld also Find barr When therfore Saint Columba demanded Pennance of the Holy Bishop his answer was Thou must be obliged by thy preaching and example to bring as many soules to heaven as by occasion of this war have sunk into Hell After which sentence S. Columba with great ioy said Thou hast pronounced a iust and equall iudgment upon mee 7. But the Holy mans troubles did not end thus for by occasion of this war and bloodshed Saint Columba in a Synod of Bishops was censur'd to abstain from the Communion though many among them dissented from this sentence upon whiâ—h great contentions and disputes arose among the Clergy which occasiond Saint Columba his letter to Saint Gildas requesting him to endeavour the composing those differences XII CHAP. 1.2 c. S. Columba's coming into Brittany He fixes his habitation in the Isle called Hye 6.7 c. He Converts the Picts Monasteries built by him 9. c. His twelve companions One of them was Constantin late King of Brittany 11. c. His agreement with Saint Kentigern c. 14.15 His death and place of buriall 1. SAint Columba wearied with these Ecclesiasticall contentions resolved to quitt his Native countrey but not permitting himself to be a chuser of his place of Exile he consulted by a messenger the Holy man Brendan Abbot of Birre to whom God had given the Spirit of Counsel and Discretion Who after he had lifted up his eyes and heart to heaven commanded to digg under the feet of the Messenger where was found a stone on which was engraven only the letter I whereupon he bade the Messenger to tell his Master that he must goe to an Island called I or Hy where he should find employment for his zeale and be the cause of bringing many soules to heaven Thus writes Adamannus in his life quoted by B. Vsher. 2. But Hector Boëtius assigns another more probable reason of his going into that Countrey saying The fame of the great devotion and piety of Conal King of the Picts draw the Holy man Columba out of Ireland into Brittany attended with a multitude of his disciples where he became the Father and directour of many Monasteries 3. As for the Island called Hy it is erroneously written by Dempster Hydestinatus and from him by Baronius likewise The ground of which mistake was the wrong reading of this passage in S. Beda Monachus erat Episcopus Aidan uâ—pote de Insula quae vocatur Hy destinatus where the two last words which ought to be severed are by him read as conjoynd into one This Island was afterward called Iona falsly by some Exscribers of Adamannus written Iova 4. In the ordinary Copies of S. Beda in stead of S. Columba we find written S. Columbanus Whence many Writers being deceived doe confound this Saint with that S. Columbanus who founded the Monasteries of Luxueil Luxoviense in France and Gobio in Italy who was likewise an Irishman and a Father of many Monks Whereas they are indeed distinguished both by their names gests and ages wherein they lived As for the present S. Columba the Brittains usually called him S. Columkill for the great number of Monasteries or Cells of Monks which he built in Brittany 5. The Authour of his Life in Capgrave besides a large Character of his vertues piety austerities c. solemnly repeated allmost in all Modern Stories of Saints further relates how he was many years before prophecied of for saith he A certain Disciple of S. Patrick a Brittain named Maccaeus foretold of him saying In latter times shall be born one called Columba who shall illustrate the age wherein he shall live and his name shall be spread through all the Provinces of the Isles of the Ocean for he shal be acceptable to God and highly favoured by him He shall descend from Noble parents and in the forty fifth year of his age shall passe out of Ireland Scotiâ into Brittany where he will live a stranger and exiled person for Christ. 6. As touching his coming into Brittany and his Gests here we receive this account from S. Beda In the five hundred sixty fifth year of our Lords Incarnation when Iustinus the Successour of Iustinian governed the Roman Empire there came out of Ireland a certain Preist and Abbot in habit and profession a Monk called Columba with an intention to preach the Word of God to the Northern Picts who are separated from the Southern Regions by vast and horrible Mountains For as for the Picts dwelling on the South of those Mountains they had many years before renounced their Idolatry and embraced the Christian Faith as their Tradition is by the preaching of Nynias a most Reverend and holy Bishop born in Brittany who had been regularly instructed in the Mysteries of Divine Truth at Rome The Seat of whose Bishoprick dignified with a Church dedicated to S. Martin where the said holy Bishop with many other Saints doth rest is now in the possession of the Angli The said place pertaining to the Province of the Bernicians is ordinarily called Candida casa White House because he built there a Church of hewn stone a way of building not practised by the Brittains 7. Now
Columba into Brittany Ceaulin and Cutha mov'd a Civill war against Ethelbert But Malmsbury and Huntingdon acknowledge Ethelbert King of Kent to have been the aggressour For it seems being vex'd to see the Dominions and power of Ceaulin King of the West-Saxons so much encreas'd for besides his own Territoryes immediatly subiect to him the other Saxon Princes in the East and South acknowledged a dependance so that Ceaulin assum'd the Title of Monark Hereupon Ethelbert a valiant Young Prince being mindfull of the glory of his Ancestours who first had establish'd a Kingdom in Brittany and had always enjoyd a preeminence above other Princes resolved to enlarge the bounds of his Empire and not to content himself with the only Province of Kent 2. In pursuance of which design he rais'd an Army and with it march'd out of his own confines into the Province of the Regni or Surrey where passing unwarily over a little River calld Vandalis he was rudely repuls'd by Ceaulin and again endeavouring to march forward the Armies mett at a Village calld Wibbandun now Wimbledon where he was with a great slaughter of his army compelld to fly back into Kent having lost in the combat his two Cheif Captains Oslaf and Knebban Near the place where the battell was fought remains still a Monument of it to wit a rampire rais'd in a round form as encompassing a Camp which is at this day calld Knebensbury or the Burg of Kneben 3. Ethelbert after this losse sought to strengthen himself by forrain aid for which purpose he treated a freindship and confederacy with the neigbouring powerfull Kingdom of the Franks to make which confederacy more lasting he desired to joyn it more strictly by mariage which accordingly was effected 4. Hitherto when we had occasion to mention that Kingdom we calld it Gaule which was its ancient Primitive name But afterward a Nation out of Germany calld Franks invading it and under King Pharamond possessing the greatest part of it changed the name of it from Gaule into France and so hereafter we shall call it The Successours of Pharamond for severall generations were Pagans till by the Apostolick zeale of Saint Remigius Bishop of Rhemes in the year of Grace four hundred ninety nine King Clodovéus was converted to the Christian Faith and with him the greatest part of his kingdom Which Faith ever after continued and encreased there 5. At this time that Kingdom was divided into four parts each of them severally governed by four Kings Sons of Clotharius and Grandchildren of Clodovéus Charibert the Eldest Son had the seat of his Kingdom at Paris Chilperic at Soissons Gunthram at Orleans and Sigebert at Rhemes Now a daughter of one of these did Ethelbert King of Kent marry but of which of them particularly is not mention'd in our Story Saint Beda indefinitly writes that she was daughter of a King of the Franks 6. The name of this Lady according to S. Beda Malmsburiensis c. was Berta But S. Gregory who liv'd in this age and had entercourse by letters with her more rightly calls her Aldiberga and adiudges great praise due to her in the conversion of the Saxons 7. The parents of this Lady made a difficulty to deliver a daughter professing the Christian Faith to the bed of a Pagan But Ethelbert engaging himself to allow her and her family an entire freedom publickly to professe her Religion and to exercise all the Sacred Rites belonging to it the mariage was concluded and the Lady sent into Brittany 8. She was attended by a prudent and devout Christian Bishop called Lethardus by Harpsfeild said to have been Bishop of Salvanort but he doubts there is an errour in the Copies where this unknown name is found This Bishop is in Capgrave stiled the Precursor of S. Augustin and one who opened the dore by which he brought in Christianity 9. There were then in Dorobernia the prime Citty of Kent since calld Canterbury severall Churches which had been built many ages before by Christians in the times of the Romans and which had not been utterly demolish'd by the Saxons Among which the Queen made choice of that which was dedicated to the honour of Saint Martin a holy Bishop in wonderfull veneration through all France For thus writes Saint Beda There was near to the Citty toward the East a Church anciently consecrated to the memory of S. Martin whilst the Romans inhabited Brittany In which Church the Queen who as hath been said was a Christian usually perform'd her devotions 10. What those Devotions were is thus more particularly express'd by the Authour of the life of the Holy Bishop Lethardus in Capgrave who writes thus In the most ancient Church of the Holy Bishop S. Martin situated near the Citty the Queen together with her Christian family did frequent the Sacraments of Masses and Prayers in the celebrating whereof the Blessed Bishop Lethardus was President or Cheif Prelat For the saying or singing of Masses were indeed the Solemn Devotions of the Church in those times as appears for as much as concerns France particularly the Native countrey of this Queen by the Councils of Orleans and Tours celebrated in these very times And this is acknowledged to have been the generall practise of this age by the Centuriators of Magdeburg who write thus The reader hereby may observe that the Solemnities of Masses did now fill all places And for as much as concerns Brittany we have already shewd that among the Northern Picts S. Columba knowing by revelation the death of S. Brendan in Ireland celebrated a Solemne Masse for his soule XIV CHAP. 1.2 King Ceaulins conquests and death 3. c. The Kingdom of the East Saxons Erected 1. THE two Saxon Kings in Kent and the Western parts did not prosecute their hatred against one another but esteemd it more for their advantage to enlarge their Dominions by invading the Provinces as yet in the possession of the Brittains In order whereto Ceaulin King of the West-Saxons who had hitherto employ'd his forces in the conquest of places bordring especially on the Sea sent his Brother Cutha or Cuthwolf with an army into the inland Provinces The Successe of which expedition is thus described by Florentius and which saith he was undertaken in the year of Grace five hundred seaventy one 2. Cuthulf the Brother of King Ceaulin fought with the Brittains in a place calld Bedanford or Bedford And having obtaind the Victory he took from them four Royal Citties to wit Linganburgh a place now unknown Egelesburgh now calld Aylsbury in Buckinghamshire Bensingtun or Benson in Oxfordshire and Egnesham where placed is uncertain After which victory he the same year departed this life 3. In the year five hundred seaventy five was erected the Kingdom of the East Angles in Norfoll Suffolk and Cambridgshire together with the Isle of Ely The name of the first King raigning there was Vffa from whom his
deliverd from the ire of God de ira Dei eruti and call'd to partake his Mercy His last Question was How the King of that Nation was call'd And he was told that his name was Alle whereupon in allusion to that name he sayd Alleluia must be sung in those parts to the prayse of God the Creatour of all things 6. Afeer this discourse ended he went to Pelagius Bishop of the Roman and Apostolick See For as yet himself was not chosen Pope and humbly entreated him to send into Brittany some Ministers of Gods word to convert that Nation to Christ Adding That himself was ready to be employd with Gods assistance in such a work in case his Holines thought fit But his offer could not be taken for though the Pope would have granted his desire yet the Romans would not permit his absence so far from the Citty Notwithstanding a while after when himself was exalted to the Popedom he brought to perfection the work so long and so earnestly desir'd by him sending indeed other persons to preach the Gospell there but himselfe by his counsels exhortations and prayers contributing very much to make their preaching fruitfull and effectuall These things according to what our Ancestours have deliver'd we thought proper and fit to be inserted in our Ecclesiasticall History XVII CHAP. 1.2 S. Columban comes out of Ireland into Brittany and thence goes into France 3. Of S. Phara a Holy Abbesse to whom many Brittish Virgins repaire 1. BVT Alla King of the Deiri saith Malmsburiensis though by the selling of those children he gave occasion of bringing Christianity among the Angli yet was not so happy to hear any thing of it himself For the Divine Election regarded hiâ— Son Which Son was not his immediate Successour Edelric who the next year upon the death of his Father Alla possess'd his throne But Edwin a Prince who after many vicissitudes oâ— fortune came first to the Crown of the Northumbrians afterward to the Faith of Christ and lastly to the glory of Martyrdom as shall be shewd As for Ethelric his raign was short for it lasted onely five years and afforded nothing memorable 2. In the first year of King Ethelrics raign S. Columban after he had spent severall years in the Monastery of Benchor in Ireland came over into Brittany being mov'd with a desire of seing strange countreys saith Haraeus out of Ionas who largely wrote that Saints life The Venerable Abbot Comogel did much bewayle his departure but being unable to resist the Divine Will he dismiss'd him so that he with twelve Companions inflamed with the same desire took ship and came into Brittany from whence he afterward pass'd into France When he undertook this journey he was no more then twenty years of age In France he was very courteously receiv'd by King Sigebert or rather his Son Childebert who gave him the choice of any place for his abode These devout men therefore entring into a desart call'd Vosegus the Vauge found there a certain place encompass'd with old walls and watred with warm springs but time had ruind all the buildings The name of it was Luxovium 3. Whilst S. Columban lived in Austrasia a Province of France he was Spirituall Master and instructour to the Holy Virgin Phara reckon'd by the Centuriators of Magdeburg among the Brittish Nunnes Others say she was Neice to S. Columban himself From whomsoever she was descended certain it is that the sweet odour of her vertues and sanctity was so largely spread that many devout Virgins and some of them of Princely families out of Brittany repair'd to her to learn piety under her government in France as shall in due place be shewd XVIII CHAP. 1.2.3 War betwen the Scots and Picts 4. The South-Saxon King subject to the West-Saxons 5. S. Gregory consecrated Pope 1. IN the year five hundred and ninety a war was began in the Northern parts of Brittany between the Scotts and Picts which drew the whole Island into great factions In those parts Aidan or Edan son of the King of the Scotts then enioyd the principality who had been crownd King by S. Columba in the Isle Iona or Hy saith Adamannus 2. The cause of these commotions was the same which had formerly rais'd so long and furious wars between the Saxons and the Brittains For the Scots out of Ireland at first were invited by the Picts to assist them against the Brittains as the Saxons were by the Brittains against the Picts and Scots and these Irish Scots imitating the Saxons at first stayd in those parts upon courtesy but afterward grew insolent and new Aids from their own countrey dayly flocking to them they fix'd their habitation and not long after a Kingdom there Which being once establish'd their next attempt was to drive the Picts out of their own Provinces which at last they effected far more entirely then the Saxons had against the Brittains for the Scotts utterly rooted out of the world the very name and Nation of the Picts 3. It was for this Empire of the Northern parts of Brittany that Edan Prince of the Scotts now contended and the whole successe of the war though waged at a great distance from the Isle of Iona where S. Columba then was yet was divinely reveal'd to him For thus doe we read in his Life S. Columba being in the Isle of Iona on a certain day called his brethren together and kneeling down sayd Let us now pray fervently for this people and their King Aidan for this very hower the battell against their enemies begins A little while after he rose up and looking towards heaven sayd Now are the barbarous enemies put to flight and the victory is given to Aidan though dearly purchas'd for of his army there are slain three hundred and three This needs not seem incredible for many examples occurr in Ecclesiasticall story declaring how God has oft been pleas'd to reveale unto his servants events hapning in places far removed 4. The same year dyed Cissa King of the South-Saxons saith Mathew of Westminster and his Kingdom was devolved on Ceaulin King of the West-Saxons Yet so as that it was administred by his son Edelwalc who enioyd also the Title of King yet as Beneficiary to Ceaulin 5 But that which most illustrated this year was the advancement of S. Gregory to the Popedom who immediatly after the death of Pope Pelagius was with the wonderfull applause of all degrees and orders in Rome placed in S. Peters Chair to the great benefit of the whole Church but more especially to the incomparable felicity of our Island For his admirable Gests among which the most illustrious was the Conversion of the Angli and Saxons he was deservedly call'd S. Gregory the Great and the Apostle of England as our Martyrologes declare XIX CHAP. 1.2 Ceaulin King of the West-Saxons driven out of his Kingdom dyes 3 Ethelbert King of Kent becomes Supreme among the Saxons 1.
THE year following Brittany afforded a memorable example of the instability of worldly greatnes and power in the person of the hitherto prosperous King of the West-Saxons Ceaulin who after all his conquests was at last overcome in fight and expell'd his kingdom and life also Which is in this manner related by Malmsburiensis Ceaulin saith he in his last days was banish'd from his kingdom exhibiting to his Enemies a miserable spectacle of himself For such was the generall hatred born to him both by the Brittains and Saxons that they all unanimously conspir'd to destroy him Armies therefore being gathred on both sides a battle was fought at Wodensdike in the one and thirtieth year of his raign where his forces were utterly defeated after which he was compell'd to forsake his kingdom and a little after he dyed 2. The place where this battle was fought is in Wiltshire where a great fosse divides the Province in the middle saith Camden from East to West call'd by the inhabitants Wansdike and fabulously reported to have been made by the Devil upon a Wednesday for it takes its name from Woden or Mercury the Saxon Idol which gave the appellation to Wednesday The cause of the raising of that rampire seems to have been for a separation of the Kingdoms of the Mercians and West-Saxons And neer thereto is seated a Village call'd Wodensbury where Ceaulin fighting against the Brittains and Saxons was utterly broken 3. After the death of Ceaulin his Brothers son Cealric possess'd the Kingdom of the West-Saxons but being much inferiour in courage to his Predecessour he did not inherit that extent of power which Ceaulin had exercised over the other Saxon Princes Which opportunity was not omitted by Ethelbert King of Kent next in power to Ceaulin who without much hazard obtained that preeminence By which meanes a freer way was opened to communicate Christian Truthes to severall Provinces of the Kingdom after they had been once entertained by Ethelbert which hapned little above three years after the death of Ceaulin XX. CHAP. i. 2 c. The Irish Churches reduced from Schism by S. Gregory 1. SAint Gregory in the third year after he was Pope by his authority and wisedom restored the Churches of Ireland to Catholick Vnity from which they had been separated upon occasion of the quarrell about the Tria Capitula of which we treated before His Epistle to them concerning that subject is extant which that it had its full effect to their satisfaction may be proved by many arguments For presently after this time there is mention of severall of their Bishops and devout persons which undertook Pilgrimages to Rome to visit the Holy places and to expresse their duty to the supreme Bishop 2. Moreover another Epistle of the same Holy Pope is extant also in answer to certain doubts and questions which they had proposed to him touching the Rites and manner of Baptism what Form of Profession was to be administred to such as returned to the Church from the Nestorian Heresy c. But since those matters doe not concern the Ecclesiasticall affaires of Brittany the Reader if he be inquisitive may inform himself concerning S. Gregories resolutions in those cases from S. Gregory himselfe in his Works every where to be mett with 3. Onely we shall in this place observe that the Churches of Brittany were at this time free from any stain of Schism or Errours in Doctrines Yea probable it is that by them the Churches of Ireland were denounced to the See Apostolick as culpable It was about the year five hundred sixty six saith Baronius that they engaged themselves in the said Schism and now after twenty six years through Gods goodnes and by the endeavours of his servant S. Gregory they were restored XXI CHAP. 1.2 c. The death of severall Saxon Princes 4.5 The Death of the devout Queen Ingoberga Mother to Queen Bertha 1. IN the year of Grace five hundred ninety three Edelric King of the Northumbers dyed and his Son Ethelfrid succeeded him sirnamed the Cruel concerning whom Malmsburiensis gives this Character Thus being possessed of his Kingdom he began first vigorously to defend his own dominions then unjustly to invade the bounds of others and every where to seek occasions of exalting his glory Many combats were undertaken by him providently and executed gallantly for neither was he restraind by slouth when war was necessary neither in the exercising it did his courage impell him to temerity 2. About the same time Titillus King of the Eastangles being dead his Son Redwald possessed his throne who by some Writers is accounted the first founder of that Kingdom By the perswasion of the Holy King and Martyr S. Edwyn he was induced to give his name to Christ in Baptism But these and many other things concerning him which fill the Saxon Annalls hapned severall years after this time and shall in their due place be declared 3. This year was fruitfull in the deaths of our Saxon Princes for Crida King or Duke of the Mercians now likewise ended his life to whom succeeded his Son Wibba or Wippa not memorable in story for any thing so much as leaving behind him his illustrious children Penda Kenwalch and Sexburga of whom hereafter 4. About the year five hundred ninety four the pious and vertuous Queen Ingoberga received the reward of her patience by a holy and happy death She had been the wife of Charibert one of the Kings of the Franks and after she had born him a daughter was unworthily repudiated by him to make way for a Concubine called Meroflenda Her memory challenges a place in our History in as much as most probably she was Mother to Bertha or Aldiberga the Christian Lady above twenty years since maried to Ethelbert King of Kent whose piety and endeavours had a great influence in disposing her Husbands mind to embrace the Christian Faith very shortly to be proposed to him by S. Augustin the Monk 5. As touching the said Queen Ingoberga we receive a character of her vertues and an account of her happy death from a worthy French Bishop an eyewitnes of both to wit Gregory Bishop of Tours whose relation is as followeth In the fourteenth year of King Childebert Ingoberga Widow of Charibert departed this life A Lady she was of great sincerity and devotion diligent in watching prayers and Alms-giving She I suppose by direction of the Divine Providence sent messengers to mee desiring my counsel and assistance about her Last Will and disposing of matters which she intended for the good and remedy of her soule For which purpose she requested my personall presence that after advice between us her intentions might be committed to writing I could not refuse to come to her and at my entrance I mett with a Religious man who received mee courteously and presently called for a Notary Then we advised together after which she bequeathed some legacies and
Peter design'd Abbot of his New Monastery to assure S. Gregory of the well-fare of his children and the great hopes of a good successe of their Mission 2. Withall he made a request for a fresh supply of New Missioners to assist them in the dispensation of Divine Mysteries considering the great coÌ„course of those which desired instruction to comply with all which exceeded the power of those few labourers already employd And lastly for his own information and enablement to govern as became him the infant-Church of the Saxons so as to give no offence nor advantage of calumny to the Brittish Clergy which no doubt attentively bent their eyes upon his actions S. Augustin proposed certain Questions and difficulties to S. Gregory desiring his resolution of them What these particular Questions were will appeare when S. Gregories answer comes 3. For the present we will only take notice of a somewhat confident Censure which a Protestant B. Godwin has given of S. Augustin on this occasion Augustin saith he was perhaps no ill man but his ignorance was shamefull as appears by the Questions proposed by him to S. Gregory But he might have considered that those Questions principally regarding outward Rites and Iurisdiction which Rites were not altogether uniformly practised at Rome and in France c. It was necessary in a tender Church as this was to take care and circumspection about matters which otherwise were not of so great importance However the Character wich S. Gregory from knowledge and experience gave of S. Augustin deserves more to be regarded then B. Godwins which Character is contain'd in an Epistle written by that Holy Pope to King Ethelbert Our most Reverened Brother and Fellow-bishop Augustin saith he is a man very learned in the Rule of Monastick Institution full of the Science of the Sacred Scriptures and through the Divine Grace eminent in good works and vertues 4. Iohn Pits testifies moreover that by the same Messengers Letters were sent to Saint Gregory from King Ethelbert whom he reckons among the ancient Illustrious Writers of Brittany because there were extant besides a Treatise call'd Decrees of Iudgment a Book of Epistles writen by the same King to S. Gregory and S. Augustin as this Authour collects from S. Beda IX CHAP. 1. 2. c. The Gests Miracles Translation c. of S. Ivo 1. WIthout interrupting the order of the Gests of S. Augustin the next of which regards S. Gregories Answer to his Letters and Requests which will not arrive till this year of our Lord six hundred be past We will here interpose the Gests of two Saints the one a stranger but dying in Brittany the other a Brittain but dying beyond seas and of both the death hath been consign'd to this year 2. The first was S. Ivo concerning thorn Camden thus Writes The River Vse being ready to enter into Cambridgshire passes by a town handsom enough and well inhabited which in the Saxon tongue was anciently call'd Slepe but now S. Ives from Ivo a Persian Bishop who about the year six hundred travelled through England and every where left a sweet-odour of his Sanctity carefully sowing the word of God where he pass'd and at last left his name to this Town where he ended his life From whence notwithstanding the Monks of Ramsey shortly after translated his Body thither This was a very rich Monastery seated among the Fennâ— about seaven miles distant from thence 3. More particularly concerning this Saint we read in Capgrave Florentius Matheâ—â— of Westminster and Malmsburiensis that he was born in a Citty of Persia called Frianeos that his Father was a Prince there named Yomos and his Mother Isitalia That his onely Brother Athanatos lived an Eremiticall life in a certain wood and was illustrious for Miracles That Saint Ivo was elected Bishop in the town where he was born and not long after translated to the Archiepiscopall See of the Citty Asitanea Which See he governed with great Sanctity and prudence till a terrible famine so desolated the Countrey that Parents were compelled to devour their children By reason whereof Saint Ivo with eleaven more devout companions forsook that Region and passing through many countreys at last came to Rome where by the advice of the Pope they severed themselves and Saint Ivo by divine disposition together with his Nephew Sithius his kinsman Inthius and some others caâ—e into Brittany Where he spread the Gospell wheresoever he came and afterward went over into France where yet he could not be perswaded to abide long though the king and people expressed all kindnes and respect to him but returned into Brittany and to his death remaind in a town call Slepe at three miles distance from Huntington serving God all his days in watching fasting and prayers 4. The occasion of the Translation of his body from thence is by the same Authours described after this manner His Sacred Body remained severall ages in the place of his buriall insomuch as his Memory was lost in that place But at last in the year of Grace one thousand and one a certain husband man as he was plowing the ground light upon his Tomb which being taken up and opened the Body of a Bishop in his Pontificall ornaments was seen in it Whereupon the Pastor of that village called Ednoth a Monk being sent for they with his advice caried the Body into the Church and with great reverence placed it near the Altar The night following the same Bishop S. Ivo appeared in a very reverend form and with great brightnes to a Carpenter called Ezi and told him who he was commanding him to signify to another Ednoth Abbot of Ramsey that he should translate his and his companions bodies from thence to his Monastery But the poor man not having the boldnes to relate this vision he appeared to him a second time repeating the same commands Which he still neglecting to perform at the third apparition the Bishop smote him on the side with his Crosier telling him that the pain of that stroke should remain till he had performed what had been enjoyned him The mun awaking presently after found a greivous pain in his side as if a sword had peirced it 5. That was he compelled to declare his vision to the Abbot which assoon as he had done he was freed his pain But the Abbot would give no credit to what the man told him but calling him clown and fool said Must we translate and venerate the ashes of I know not what cobler The night following the Holy Bishop appeared to the Abbot and said Rise quickly for I whom thou scornfully calledst Cobler have brought thee here a pair of boots that will last a good while These thou must putt on and wear for my sake Having said thus he seemed to draw on his leggs a pair of boots with care to make them sitt smooth and hand som. Presently the Abbot waking felt such horrible pain
in his leggs that he was not able to walk or stand And fifteen years did he remain in this infirmity 6. By this Miracle the Sanctity of the Holy Bishop was approved whereupon his Sacred body was translated to the Monastery of Ramsey on the fourth of the Ides of Iune To whose honour the Abbot Ednothus built a Church in which he placed his Tomb after such a manner that half of it appeared within and half without the wall to the end that a fountain of water which flowed thence might be ready for the use of every one who came in devotion whether the Church was shutt or not Which Water by the merits of the Holy Bishop had the vertue to cure many diseases 7. One great Miracle wrought there shall not be omitted because the Relatour protests himself an eye-witnes of it I my self saw saith Malmsburiensis what I shall now relate A certain Monk languished a long time with a Dropsy His skin was strangely swelled and his breath so noysom that none could approach him and his drouth was so excessive that he thought he could drink whole barrells On a time by an admonition received in sleep he went to Saint Ivo's Monument where after he had taken onely three draughts of the water he cast up all the superfluous humours within him The swelling of his belly presently fell and his thighs lost their former withered leannes In a word he was restored to perfect health 8. As for the Abbot Ednothus though the infirmity and pain in his leggs continued till his death yet for a sign that his fault was pardoned Seaven days before he dyed the Holy Bishop Ivo appeared to him in great glory and said The time is now at hand when thou shalt perceive that the pains I have inflicted on thee will prove a remedy to procure thee eternall rest Prepare thy self therefore for seaven days hence I will come and deliver thee from the prison of thy body And it fell out accordingly X. CHAP. 1.2 c. The Gests of S. Paul de Leon. 1. THE same year likewise is mark'd with the happy death of S. Paul a kinsman of S. Sampson Bishop of Dâ—le Concerning whom we read in the Gallican Martyrologe publish'd by Andrew Saussay that he was one of the Companions of S. Sampson That his Fathers name was Perfius and that he was a Scholler to S. Iltutus both in wit and innocence excelling all his companions Being very young he was prevented with many Graces of Gods holy Spirit and thereupon fearing least he should be tempted with vain glory at the age of fifteen he retir'd into a desart where building for himself an Oratory and a Cell he lead there an Angelicall life Thus growing every day more rich in merits when he was arrived at mature age he was compelled to accept the dignity of Preistly Office which he adorned with the splendour of his Sanctity The fame whereof being spread abroad he was sent for by King Margus probably the same with Malgus or Maglocunus whom together with his people he more perfectly instructed in the Mysteries of Christian Faith to which they had lately been converted 2. After some time by the admonition of an Angel he retired into an Island on the Coast of Lesser Brittany called Ossa where he brought many Infidels to the heavenly Light of the Gospell Where likewise by divine vertue he slew a monstrous Dragon After which the Prince of that Region called Vintrurus or Withurus offred him a Bishoprick which he with a resolute humility refused Notwithstanding he was with a pious fraud circumvented by him For being sent upon certain pretended affairs to Childebert King of the Franks he caried with him private letters desiring the King to ratify his Election to the Bishoprick The King received him with great reverence but withall compelled him to accept the Bishoprick which he had refused to which he was Canonically ordained by three Bishops The See of his Bishoprick was by the Kings decree seeled at Leon to which he was wellcomed by all the people with wonderfull ioy And this sublime Office he administred with admirable sanctity and Pastorall prudence to his death His sacred body many years after was thence translated by his Successour Mabbo to the Monastery of Fleury by occasion of the incursions of the Normans where it was a long time held in great veneration 3. The Authour of his life in the Bibliotheque of Fleury relates how he quitted his Bishoprick three severall times but was forced to resume it upon the death of his Successours But at last when his strength was even quite spent he ordained one of his Brethren named Cetomerin Bishop in his place a certain Noble Prince called Induael being present who came thither to recommend himself to his prayers And this being performed he retired himself into an Island called Batha where he spent many years governing a great Congregation of Monks and at last happily concluded his life being more then a hundred years old His Church is from him to this day called Saint Paul de Leon. 4. We read in Capgrave how this S. Paul on a time visiting a sister of his who devoutly served God in a Cell seated near the Sea on the Brittish shore at her request he obtained of God by his prayers that the Sea should never swell beyond the bounds marked by her by placing a row of stones By which means the sea was restrained the space of a mile from his usuall course and continues so to this day XI CHAP. i. 2 c. S. Gregory sends new Missioners with Letters and presents to severall persons 1. THE Messengers sent by S. Augustin to Rome stayd there a full year which delay it seems was caused by the difficulty of finding a sufficient number of able lobourers to cultivate our Lords Vineyard in Brittany At length in the year of Grace six hundred and one Laurence and Peter return'd accompanied with twelve others to assist them in the founding of the Saxon Church in our Island the principal of whom were Mellitus Iustus Paulinus and Ruffintanus all of them Monks and Brethren of the same Institut with S. Augustin 2. These devout Missioners were as the former by S. Gregory recommended to Princes and Bishops residing in the Citties through which they were to passe or were not far distant from their way One Letter exemplified in severall Copies he directed to Serenus Bishop of Marseilles to Mennas Bishop of Tholouse to Lupus Bishop of Chaillon on the Saone to Agilius Bishop of Mets and to Simplicius Bishop of Paris all whom he entreated to assist these Religious Monks with their charity that they might not be hindred from a quick dispatoh of their iourney so beneficiall to the Church of Christ. 3. Another letter was written by Saint Gregory to Siagrius Bishop of Autun in which he highly extolls his kindnes exhibited lately to S. Augustin desiring the like
take a view of the effects which these Letters and admonitions produced in the persons to whom they were directed King Ethelbert and Saint Augustin King Ethelbert therefore casts down all Idols and commands the Temples accustomed to profane and impious Sacrifices to be changed into places of pure Worship and Piety And S. Augustin assisted by fresh labourers purges those profane Temples and instead of Idols erects the Sacred Crosse the Hieroglyphick of our Faith 2. More particularly King Ethelbert to whom S. Gregory had proposed Constantin for a pattern with a munificence like Constantins gave his Palace and whole Royal Citty of Canterbury to S. Augustin saith Camden and built for himself a Palace at Reculver Regulbium Which place Saith Parker was situated near the Sea Where likewise he founded a Monastery the last Abbot whereof was called Wenred Nothing now remains of this place by reason the Sea breaking in has cover'd it Onely the tops of towers other ruins of the Monastery are marks to Seamen that they may avoyd the dangerous flats there 3. Together with the Royal Citty King Ethelbert conferred likewise on S. Augustin and his Successours many Regall Priviledges Iura Regalia Among which one was a right of coyning Money with his own Stamp For to this effect Selden thus Writes The ancient Right of the Arch-bishops of Canterbury is signified by an Old Coyn one side whereof is signed with the name Plegmuud Arch-bishop and the other with the name of Eâ—cmund the Coyner The Prototype is preserved in the Treasure of the family of Cotton where I my self saw a peice of silver having imprinted on it the name image of Celnoth Arch-bishop And it seems the right of coyning money generally esteemed a Regal Priviledge did belong to the Arch-bishop as Lord of that Citty in those times 4. This Right remained to that See till the times of King Ethelstan about the year of Grace nine hundred twenty four who then abrogated it in the opinion of Selden publish'd a Law that not any coyn should passe but such as was stamped with the Kings Image Notwithstanding it was not quite abrogated for among the same Kings Laws this is one Let there be seaven Minters or Coyners at Canterbury Of which four shall belong to the King two to the Arch-bishop and one to the Abbot So that this prerogative remained many ages entire to the Arch-bishops though the measure and valew of the money coynd was restrain'd by King Athelstan who commanded the same coyn for price and quantity to have passage through his dominions and that none out of Citties should be permitted to stamp it Neither can it appear from any authentick Record but that this Priviledge continued till the time of the Norman Conquest 5. To the same See of Canterbury also by vertue of S. Gregories Rescript did belong an Vniversall Iurisdiction over the whole Island Forthough in a Synod shortly following the Brittish Bishops made their opposition and contradiction to this Priviledge for which reason S. Augustin forbore to presse it Yet the same was afterward admitted not only by all the Churches of the Saxons but of Brittany in the largest sence yea of the Brittanies in the plurall number Britanniarum comprehending in the language of ancient Authours Polybius hist. l. 3. and Ptolomy Georg. l. 2. both old Scotland which is Ireland and Albany which is Modern Scotland For on the See of Canterbury did both those Nations depend in Ecclesiasticall matters 6. Thus Queen Matildis call'd S. Anselm the Arch-bishop of the prime See and Primar of the Northern Islands call'd Orcades And before S. Anselms time the custom was for the Irish Bishops to receive Consecration from the Arch-bishops of Canterbury as evidently appears from S. Lanfrancs letter to Gothric King of Ireland extant in Baronius as likewise from the letter of Murchertac another Irish King and Dofnald a Bishop to S. Anselm Arch-bishop of Canterbury in which they request him to institute a Bishop at Waterfoxd by vertue of the power of Primacy over them which was invested in him and of the authority of Legat of the Apostolick See which he exercised This is testified by Eadmerus the Monk an eye-witnes of that transaction 7. Next as touching Scotland in the modern acception though anciently it was subject to the Arch-bishop of York by a Decree of Pope Eleutherius sent by Fugatius and Damianus Yet now S. Gregory derogated from that Decree and either having regard to S. Augustins sanctity or the eminent Empire of Ethelbert who was in some sort Monarch of the whole Island he publish'd a New Decree that all Churches of the Brittanies should be subject to the See of Canterbury And this is manifest in the Controversy between Alexander King of the Scotts and the foresaid Eadmer who at the request of that King was appointed Bishop of S. Andrews in Scotland by Radulphus Arch-bishop of Canterbury whom the King would have to receive Consecration from the Arch-bishop of York but he refused informing him that the authority of the See of Canterbury did of old extend over all Brittany and therefore that he would require Consecration from the said Arch-bishop But the King not being satisfied Eadmer chose rather to relinquish his new Bishoprick then prejudice the Prerogative of the Prime See of Brittany XV. CHAP. i. 2 The King of the Northumbers overcomes the King of the Scotts 1. THE year following which was the six hundred and third of our Lords Incarnation Ethelfrid King of the Northumbers overcame Edan King of the Scotts This Ethelfrid saith Beda was a most potent King and wonderfully thirsty after glory He had wasted the Brittains more then any of the Saxon Princes and had made many of their Provinces tributary Whereupon Edan King of the Scots inhabiting Brittany being mov'd by the great progresse of his Victories came against him with a mighty and well appointed army but was overcome and forced to fly back with few attendants For in a place called Degsasten or The Stone Degsa celebrated by that battell his whole army in a manner was destroyed Yet in the same combat Theobald Brother of Ethelfrid with that part of the army lead by him was slain And from that time till the dayes of S. Beda himself never durst any King of the Scotts enter Brittany against the English Nation 2. The said King Aidan as Fordon the Scottish Chronicler testifies after that discomfiture did so afflict himself with greif that two years after he dyed at Kentyre After whose death Kennet Ker son of Conal seysed on the Crown but within lesse then a years space dying Eugenius Buydwel Son of Aeidan succeeded in the Kingdom Which King Eugenius saith he infested the Regions of the Saxons and sometimes of the Picts with furious irruptions But in this clause he manifestly contradicts S. Beda forecited who likewise elsewhere expressly affirms That the Scotts inhabiting Brittany contented themselves with
and B. Godwin cast on the memory of our glorious Apostle Saint Augustin to whom they impute this horrible Massacre as if by his instigation that Pagan King had by this cruelty revenged their refusall to submitt to his Metropoliticall authority Whereas by the ioynt testimony of our Historians and the expresse words of Saint Beda Saint Augustin was dead long before to wit five years at least 8. But they reply that those words of Saint Beda quamvis ipso iam multo antè tempore ad caelestia regna sublato that is though Saint Augustin himself a good while before this was translated to Heaven included in a Parenthesis were added by Papists to salve Saint Augustins honour and are not found in the Saxon Translation of Saint Beda made by King Alfred True it is that in the Latin and Saxon Edition publish'd by Abraham Whelock in the year 1643 those words appear not in the Saxon Copy But the publisher though a Protestant ingenuously confesses that not only in all Impressions of Saint Beda's History some of which saw the light before any Protestants were but in all ancient Manuscripts extant in the Libraries of Cambridge that Clause of S. Beda was extāt and never included in a Parenthesis but only distinguish'd by Comma's 7. Surely if we will iudge of Saint Augustin by the Spirit of his Father and Master Saint Gregory we would not suspect him of so horribly murdrous a disposition For Saint Gregory though Rome and all Italy had been many years infested and wasted by the Lombards yet was so fearfull of being in any measure accessory to blood that he durst not concur to the death of any one of their Princes though he was assured therby to free the whole countrey from their Tyranny And S. Augustin himself as hath been shewed taught King Ethelbert a quite contrary Lesson That in the cause of Religion no violence or compulsion ought to be used 8. If any credit may be given to Ancient and till this age never questiond Tradition Saint Augustin was a man of eminent piety of admirable zeale for the rooting out Pagan Idolatry and planting the Gospell in this Island And even Protestants themselves acknowledge that Almighty God gave testimony to his Teaching by many great miracles If he had been guilty of some defects Christian Charity requires us either not to mention them or to let a thousand great obligations we have to his Memory preponderate them But upon meer ungrounded suspicions disproved by the current of Story to charge with crimes execrable to Heathens a person in the iudgment of the whole Church for almost a thousand years now raigning with Christ in glory is certainly a presumption of which God with whom the death of his Saints is precious will one day require a severe account 9. Yet of late this poysonnous humour of calumniating Gods Saints is become the principall Character of the New reformed Gospell I will adde one example more of a calumniatour at least parallel to these witt Mr William Prinn alate stigmatized Presbyterian who in his not long since publish'd Censure of Arch-bishop Whitgift charges Saint Anselm that he induced Sir Walter Tirrel to murder King William Rufus Now by the consent of all our Historians Tirrel himself was no murderer for it was by the unhappy casuall glancing of an arrow that the King was slain However it hapned yet certain it is that at that time Saint Anselm was an exild person in France and whereas at that Kings burial many Noble men mett but few mourned for his death yet saith a late Protestant Historian of all mourners Anselm express'd most cordial sorrow at the news That blasphemous tongue therefore must expect that such envenomed darts as these shott against heaven it self will if he repent not one day descend upon his own head and the wounds made by them never be cured But alas what Repentance can be expected in such a person who is inveteratus dierum malorum when wee see in his decrepite age his rancorous tongue against innocent Catholicks yet more violently sett on fire of hell so far as to solicite a generall Massacre of them by publishing himself and tempting others to damne their soules also by publishing through the whole kingdom that in the last fatall calamity by fire hapning to London they were the onely incendiaries This he did though himself at the same time confessed that not the least proof could be produced against them But said he it concerns us that this report should be beleived Complaints of this most execrable attentat were made and severall Oathes to confirm this were offred But in vain However surely there is a reward for the innocent oppress'd And what soever Mr Prinn may think doubtles there is a God who iudges the world Let him therefore remember what the Spirit of God sayes Quid detu◠tibi aut quid apponatur tibi ad linguam dolosam Sagittae potentis acutae cum carbonibus desolatoriis that is What must be given to thee and what must be assigned to thee for thy portion O deceitfull Tongue Sharp darts cast by an Almighty arme with devouring coales of juniper 10. With as good reason therfore S. Augustin may be accused of the slaughter of these Brittishs Monks as S. Columban a Holy Irish Monk in France might be charged with the most horrible death of Queen Bronichild hapning at this very time for he also by the Spirit of Prophecy forewarn'd her of it And so far may we esteem the ancient Prophets guilty of the calamities befalling many Princes and Stares which by Divine Inspiration they foretold 11. To all this wee may adde that there was no such freindly correspondence between the Kings of Kent and the Northumbers as that this latter should be employed by the former as an instrument of his unworthy revenge On the contrary wee read that Ethelfrid bore so mortall a hatred to all Christians that he denounced to the Kings of Kent and Essex that he would be no lesse an enemy to them because they had forsaken the Institutes of their Fathers then he was to the Brittains and Scotts And to conclude according to the plain Narration of S. Beda the Pagan King Ethelfrid came with no design against the Brittish Monks but their slaughter was caused by occasion of his seing them on a hill together and being told that they were assembled there to pray to God against him So that the Pagan Authour himself of the slaughter absolves both King Ethelbert and S. Augustin unjustly condemned by partiall and ungratefull Christians V. CHAP. 1. Kinegils the West Saxon King overcomes the Brittains 2. 3 The death of Sebert King of the East-Saxons His Successours 1. IN the year of Christ six hundred and fourteen Kinegilsus King of the West-Saxons after he had raigned three years assumed his Son others say his Brother Quicelmus a companion in his Throne And presently after they both fought a battell
against the Brittains at Beandune Bindon in Dorsetshire But at the first onsett the Brittains affrighted with their large swords and long bucklers were quickly putt to flight without any considerable losse on the Saxons side who upon a survay found the bodies of two thousand and six hundred Brittains slaine These large swords called by Huntingdon Secures and by Witechind large knives were in the Saxon tongue called Saxa from whence that Nation is sayd to have received its name 2. The year following according to Walsinghams account dyed the vertuous and devout Sebert King of the Trinobantes or East-Saxons and with great and general mourning was buried in the Church of Westminster built by himself which in succeeding times was magnificently enlarged and adorned and made the common Sepulcher of our Kings 3. How acceptable to God was the Sanctity and merits of this good King appeared by a lasting Miracle For in the days of King Edward the first of the Norman Race the Monks of Westmâ—nster having a resolution to translate his Body from the Old Church to the New assoon as with great devotion they had opened his Sepulcher they found his right hand to the middle of his arm entire in flesh skin nayles and bones compacted This was seaven hundred years after he had been there buried Thus writeth Walsingham In his place succeeded his three sons Sered Seward and Sigebert ioynd equally in the Government but much degenerating from their fathers piety VI. CHAP. 1.2 c. The death of King Ethelbert and of the Holy Bishop Lethard 4.5 The Sanctity of King Ethelbert acknowledged 6. 7. His Children 1. PResently after if it was indeed after dyed also Ethelbert glorious in piety and merits the first Protectour of the rising Christian Church of the Saxons His death befell in the fifty sixth year of his raign and the one and twentieth after he had embraced the Christian Faith He was the third King of the English Nation whose Empire extended over all the Provinces Southward from the River Humber saith S. Beda adding that he was the first of those who went to heaven By which clause is implyed that he dyed before King Sebert However certain it is that a very small space of time intervend between both their deaths He was buried in the porch of Saint Martin within the Church of the blessed Apostles Peter and Paul where likewise the Body of his devout Queen Bertha or Aldiberga was layd And his memory is consecrated both in ours and the Roman Martyrologe on the sixth of the Calends of March. 2. King Ethelbert had also another blessed companion in the place of his Sepulture to wit S. Lethard the Holy B. of Senliâ— who came with Queen Aldiberga out of France into Brittany Concerning whom William of Malmsbury thus writes An ancient Authour called Gosselin celebrates the miracles of Saint Lethard who accompanied Queen Bertha into this Island particularly his readines to afford rain in times of drouth when his intercession is demanded a pleasant example whereof was shewd about the same Writers time For there having been a terrible fiery drouth about the height of Sommer the Sacred Body of the Saint was solemnly carried in Procession with Litanies But no rain succeeding thereupon the Cantor at his return with the Body with some indignation addressed his speech to the Holy Bishop saying Doest thou not see how great the tribulation of the whole countrey is by reason of this drouth and yet thou art negligent in succouring us These words of a seeming reproof were no sooner uttred but presently there fell such abundance of rain that the most greedy desires were satisfied 3. The vertues of King Ethelbert are comprised by the Authour of his Life in these words This blessed King though his power extended as far as Humber yet in his conversation he shewd himself as perfectly one of Christ beggars as if he had possessed nothing It was a blessed sight to see this glorious King humbly serving the poore to see him who terrified Kings to stand in fear of Gods Preists and to shew an humble respect to the meanest Ministers of the Church How brightly he shone in repressing vice exalting vertue fulfilling the Divine precepts and in all works of piety is so much more clearly to be read in Gods heavenly Book as human Writers have been negligent in expressing c. Antiquity and the favourable authority of former Saints is an irreproachable Witnes of his Sanctity since from the beginning his Solemnity has been celebrated by Gods Saints 4. Among which Saints devoted to this Holy Kings memory S. Dunstan was one who in a certain night watching in devotion at the sepulchers of this King of S. Augustin and other Holy Bishops his Successours heard on a sudden voyces of certain persons singing this Antiphone of the Ecclesiasticall Office Gaudent in coelis animae Sanctorum qui c. The soules of thâ—se Saints who have followed our Lords steps doe now reioyce in heaven c. Whereat being astonish'd he approach'd to the dore and looking through the clefts for it was lock'd he saw the whole Oratory shining with a wonderfull light and a quire of persons in white robes melodiously and ioyfully singing that Antiphone Such honour is due to holy Kings and Prelats c. This we read related by Osbern an ancient Compiler of the Life of Saint Dunstan In which Narration though Saint Ethelbert be not named yet without question he reposing there was principally intended 5. In proof of his acknowledged sanctity c. there were in S. Augustins Church set up dayly five cierges continually burning to wit before the Tomb of S. Augustin of S. Mâ—â—red of S. Adrian Abbot before the great Altar before the Monument of King Ethelbert and of S. Lethard Bishop and a sixth in the Grott before the Image of the Blessed Virgin Mary where S. Dunstan was honourd with many visions of her as the Authour of S. Augustins liâ—e testifies And Polydor Virgil affirms that even to his days the Sacred body of King Ethelbert was illustrious by many Miracles 6. He left behind only two children by his Queen Adilburga Eadbald to whom he resign'd the Title of King after he had earnestly admonish'd him to be carefull in preserving and promoting the Christian Faith which admonition how he complyed with shall be shewd hereafter And Edelburga who was afterward married to Edwin King of the Northumbers and of whose Conversion she was a principall instrument To these two a third is added by Camden Speed and other Modern Writers namely the Holy Virgin Edburga who among Saxon Virgins was the first which undertook the Profession of a devout Nunne This holy Virgin saith the Authour of her life after she had received Sacred Baptisme gave praises to God day and night fervently begging of him the grace to be esteem'd worthy to enioy the spirituall rewards of her onely Bride-groom Iesus
the Isle of Man contains little more then three-hundred 4. Many proofs may be produced to demonstrate that these Islands anciently belonged to the Iurisdiction of the Brittains for S. Beda expressly calls them Brittish Isles but had been a long time injuriously possessed by the Scotts taking advantage from the weaknes of the Brittains at their first invasion by the Saxons Hence it was that the Bishop of Sodore in the Isle of Man or lesser Menavia was subject to the Iurisdiction of the Arch-bishop of York XII CHAP. 1. 2. Death of the Apostats East Saxon Kings 3. 4 Also of S. Mellitus Arch bishop of Canterbury to whom S. Iustus succeeds 5.6 Epistles of P. Boniface confirming the Priviledges of the See of Canterbury 1. THE year of Grace six hundred twenty three is by Florileguâ— marked with the death of Sexred and Siward Kings of the East-Saxons who were slain by Kinegils King of the West-Saxons and his Son Quicelm And this saith he came to pâ—sse by the iust judgment of God because after the death of their Father King Sebert they return'd to the worship of Idols having expelled S. Mellitus Bishop of London out of their Dominions Their whole army was utterly destroyd that not one escaped home to carry the news 2. There succeeded in the Kingdom of the East-Saxons Sigebert sirnamed The little son of Siward saith William of Malmsbury from whence may be collected that the third Brother Sigebert the Son of Sebert was dead before For to this Sigebert the Little of whom small mention is made there succeeded another Sigebert Nephew to King Sebert by his Brother Sigebald As for Sigebert who begun his raign this year he had a Brother truly deserving the sirname of Great celebrated in all our Martyrologes for a Saint Of whom more hereafter 3. The year following S. Mellitus the lately made Arch-bishop of Canterbury dyed having seen the miserable end of those ingratefull Kings of the East Saxons who had banished him from his See of London and was buried saith S. Beda in the Church of S. Peter His Memory is celebrated on the four and twenâ—ieth of April both in the Roman and Englih Martyrologe as likewise that of S. Beda Vsuardus and Ado. 4. His Successour in the said See was Saint Iustus Bishop of Rochester who only of all the Romans remained in the Island adorned with a Miter Which moved King Eadbald to acquaint Pope Boniface with the penury of persons sufficient for so high a function Saint Iustus likewise informed the same Pope of the vertues and zeale of the King and how great hopes appeared of a great accesse to the Church if more labourers were sent to cultivate our Lords Vineyard 5. These particulars appear in the answer sent by Pope Boniface to Iustus recited by Saint Beda Wherein he expresses his great ioy to heare the good effects of his labours and zeale which King Eadbald had declared to him and exhorts him to persevere to communicate the Gospell both to Kent and other Provinces He likewise informs him that he had sent him a Pall to be made use of only in celebrating the Divine Mysteries giving him moreover a power to ordain Bishops in all places commodious c. 6. Another Epistle from the same Pope to Saint Iustus or rather a wrong Copy of the same is transcribed by William of Malmsbury wherein the Pope confirms the Priviledges conferred by Saint Gregory on the See of Canterbury constituted the Metropolitan and Primatiall See of the whole Nation immediatly under the protection of the See Apostolick Yet this Copy was by Saint Lanfranc sent to Pope Alexander to justify the Priviledges of the See of Canterbury as the same Authour declares Yea even Bishop Parker transcribes it entirely into his Antiquities and on this Letter grounds the dignity and supereminence of his See For other arguments he has none but such as are derived from Popes to whom notwithstanding he can allow no other titles but proud superstitious impious Prelats and such as had no lawfull Iurisdiction over Brittany Thus manifestly mentita est iniquitas sibi Such self-contradictions necessarily attending injustice and disorderly passion 7. Vpon the receit of these Letters and the Pall Saint Iustus consecrated Romanus Bishop of Rochester who for some time assisted him in propagating the Christian Faith But shortly after being obliged upon occasion of some emergent businesses not for the obtaining Consecration as the Cenâ—uriators fancy to goe to Rome he was drownd at Sea by the way and the See of Rochester became once more vacant XIII CHAP. 1.2 c. Redwald K. of the East angles dyes And Edwin elected his Successour but gives it to Redwalds Son 3.4 c. Edwin Monark of the English demands the Sister of the King of Kent to wife and on certain conditions obtains her 1. THE same year Redwald the party-Christian and party-heathen King of the of the East-angles dyed and though he left behind him a son Erpenwald who was bred up to the expectation of the Crown yet were the affections and esteem of that people to Edwin King of the Northumbers so great that neglecting their late Kings Son they unanimously chose Edwin for their King having had long experience of his vertues during his exile in that Court and also incited with the fame of his Conquests 2. Notwithstanding Edwin gave to Erpenwald the Title and Ensigns of Kingly authority contenting himself with an authority paramount over that Kingdom as he enioyd the same over all the rest excepting only the Kingdom of Kent So that among his other Titles he now inserted that of Monark of the English Nation For after King Ethelberts death that Title descended not upon Eadbald his Son but on Redwald King of the East-Angles For saith Saint Beda the first who enioyd this Empire was Elli King of tho South saxons the second Celin or Ceaulin King of the West-Saxons the third Edilbert King of Kent the fourth Redualt King of the East-Angles who also during the life of Edilbert was Prince of that Nation And the fifth was Edwin King of the Northumbers who with greater power then any before governd all the inhabitants of Brittany whether Saxons or Brittains except Kent only He had also lately subdued to his Empire the two Brittish Islands calld Menavia seated between Brittany and Ireland 3. There remained nothing of the forementioned Divine Oracle given to Edwin unaccomplish'd that concernd his felicity in this life Of a poore afflicted and persecuted Exile he was exalted to the Throne of the Northumbers to that Kingdom he had added severall Regions and Islands lately subdued likewise another Kingdom of the East-Angles which offred it self to him and lastly a Supereminent Monarchicall Power over all the Brittains and Saxons excepting Kent Yet that was still wanting which alone could indeed make him happy the knowledge and love of the true God 4. In order therefore to a
further danger by his Guards Neither could the Messenger whose name was Eumerus be dispatched before he had slain another of the Kings soldiers calld Forder 2. This wound brought everlasting health both to the King and Kingdom of the Northumbers The Queen Ethelbuga was then great with child and by the consternation caused by that dismal accident and the Kings danger was before her time the same night deliverd of a daughter Whereupon the King partly in gratitude to his Gods for his escape and partly for ioy of receiving issue obliged himself by certain vowes to them for he was naturally very devout and causing Publick Prayers to be appointed his intention was to sacrifise his young daughter to the vain Idol worshipped by him Which impious design of his being come to the knowledg of Saint Paulinus he very opportunely interposed himself and informed the King that he owed his present safety not to the false Deities adored by him but to the one onely true God from whom himself by Prayer had obtaind safety both to the Father and daughter and therefore that it was iust that the young child should be consecrated to Christ the Authour of his health 3. Vpon this remonstrance King Edwin was somewhat moved but yet replied What assurance canst then give mee that I owe mine own and my daughters life to the God worshipped by thee and not to mine own Deities Hereto Paulinus answerd by setting forth the impotency of Idols and omnipotency of the true God adding other considerations touching the Queens sanctity very acceptable to God and her Prayers also for his life and prosperity Well said the King who was then recoverd of his wound I will now putt it to the tryall whether I am to give thanks for my present safety and happy successes to thy God or no. I am resolved to invade this murdrous King If Christ whom thou adorest will give mee victory I engage my Faith here to serve and worship him alone In the mean time since Ethelburga earnestly desires it I resign my child to be disposed of by thee and initiated in the Mysteries of thine and her Religion And moreover I promise in case I return from this war with health and victory that I will seriously deliberate of the great affaire and will doe as thou advisest mee 4. S. Paulinus infinitly glad at these promises of the King departed from him and on the solemne day of Pentecost following baptised this first-born child of Ethelburga together with twelve others of the Kings family saith S. Beda who were the first fruits of that Nation And then was accomplish'd the Oracle pronounced by S. Gregory and Alleluia with great ioy sung among them The name imposed on the child was Eanfleda She was afterward a Queen and illustrious for Sanctity concerning whom more shall be related in due place 5. King Edwin deferd not the war but the same year gathering a great army saith S. Beda he marched against the West-Saxons and coming to a battell he gaind the victory after which he either killd or had surrendred to him all those whom he was informed had conspired his death Florilegus adds that Quichelm whom he calls Quinchelin was slain in the place of battell which place in testimony of his victory Edwin calld Quinchelines hame And so returnd with triumph into his own kingdom But William of Malmsbury affirms that both the West-Saxon Kings Kinegils and Quichelm escaped and not long after embraced the Christian Faith by the preaching of Berinus a holy Bishop likewise that they fought prosperously against Penda King of the Mercians XIV CHAP. 1.2 King Edwin wonderfully converted to Christianity 3.4 c. A Generall Assembly called in which Idolatry is renounced and the Christian Faith received 11. The place of this Assembly 1. CErtain it is that King Edwin obtaind an illustrious victory as shortly appeard by his acknowledgment of his obligation to discharge the Vow he had made to Almighty God Notwithstanding at the first he delayd partly upon a pretence of publick affaires and partly out of a desire to deliberate more maturely For being a man as S. Beda saith naturally of a peircing sagacious Spirit he would oftimes sitt alone silent but revolving in his mind many doubtfull thoughts what he should resolve upon and what Religion he should professe He was already unsatisfied in his own superstition but withall he had fram'd in his mind obiections against Christian Religion He thought it misbecoming a great victorious King to submit his neck to the yoak of one who had been crucified c. 2. On a certain day as he was agitated with such uncertain thoughts Saint Paulinus no doubt by divine Inspiration came suddenly to him and laying his hand on the Kings head severely asked him Whether he calld to mind that Sign of his Faith and promise formerly given when he was in a privat condition an exild person and in imminent danger of death And he bad him take heed how he continued longer a rebell against God since he who had raised him up so high could as easily depresse him The King was struck with this unexpected behaviour of Saint Paulinus but having recovered the freedom of his thoughts and perfectly remembring the forementioned Divine Oracle he presently fell at Saint Paulinus his feet acknowledging his guilty doubtfullnes and submitting himselfe to obey what soever he should command him from God whom by a new infused Light he perceived to have been his Guide through strange and wonderfull wayes to his Divine saving Truth Now all his doubts and obiections vanished and he is resolved not only himself to become a servant of Christ but to endeavour to make his subiects also companions with him in that happy servitude He perceives a compleat effect of all the promises formerly made by the invisible Messenger and he condemnes his own slownes in corresponding to the Divine Goodnes 3. But withall considering what inward suspicions and commotions in mens minds a sudden publick change of Religion would probably cause he with the advice and approbation of Saint Paulinus thought fitt to proceed with as much prudence and caution as might be and by calling a Generall Assembly of his Estates to endeavour to make the introducing of Christian Religion an Act of the Kingdom as well as of the King To this expedient Saint Paulinus the rather consented because since the Queen and her Christian families coming he saw a generall disesteem of their Idoll-Gods among the people 4. The great Assembly being convened the King in the first place signified to them the great and signal blessings he had received from God and how desirous he was to expresse his gratitude to his Benefactour But since severall Nations according to their fancy appropriated to themselves many peculiar Gods he could not perswade himself there could be any more then One Omnipotent God That therefore which he desired to propose to their serious considerations was Which
the Mercians besieging it with a numerous army was discomfited by Kinegils the West-Saxon King Yet it came afterward into the power of the Mercians and so remained till the English Monarchy XVIII CHAP. 1.2 King Edwins Tufa or Ensign of the Crosse. 4. Conwal King of the Scotts his devout veneration of the Crosse. 5. Custom of subscribing Charters with the Crosse now began 1. THVS tumults and bloodshed raged in the Province of the Pagan Saxons Whereas after receiving of the Gospell saith S. Beda there followd so great peace through all the parts of Brittany to which the Empire of Edwin extended that according to the vulgar saying If a woman alone with her new-born infant should travel through the whole Island from Sea to Sea she might doe it without the least danger And such solicitude the King shewd to procure the commodity of his Subjects that in most places where he saw any fresh spring rising near the High-ways he would for the refreshment of travellours cause brasen vessells with provisions caucos to be sett upon posts which no man would presume to mak use of beyond necessity such was the greatnes either of their fear or love to him The Majesty likewise and splendour in which he lived was so great that whither so ever he went Ensigns were caried before him and this not in war-time onely but likewise in peace Moreover in his progresse both through Citties and countrey that kind of Ensign which the Romans called Tufa and the English Tuf was born on high before him 2. This Ensign according to Lipsius was a Ball or Globe which Augustus used as a Mark of Monarchicall Soverainty But Christian Emperours and Kings were accustomed to fix a golden Crosse upon the said Ball as we see in many of their ancient Coynes Particularly in those of the Emperour Heraclius and his Son who the same year that King Edwin was baptised recovered the Holy Crosse which Cosroes the Persian King had taken from Ierusalem after which time the Veneration of Princes thereto much encreased 3. Particularly of King Edwin we read that he bore with him a Crosse of Gold which his Queen Ethelberga after his death caried with her into Kent Neither can his reverence to that Sacred Ensign of our Salvation be doubted of since his Master and Prelat S. Paulinus caused many Crosses to be erected through the Kingdom One of which Camden testifies to have been lately extant at Deusborough Duisburgum a town in York-shire on the river Calder with this Inscription Paulinus preached and celebrated Masse here 4. Neither can this veneration of the Crosse be imputed to these Roman Missioners as if they had first introduced it into this Island for besides many Examples already mentioned our Historian Hollinshead will inform us that Conwall King of the Scotts in the year of Grace five hundred sixty nine was caried with such devotion to the Holy Crosse that whither soever he went he made it be born before him and both when he mounted on horsback and descended he prostrated himself before it and reverently kissed it as his attendants likewise did according to the fore mention'd example of S. Alban That Crosse was of Silver to which was fixed the Image of Christ crucified and this Inscription was upon it The glory of Christians He commanded likewise a Woodden Crosse to be sett upon the tops of Churches over the gates of Castles Citties and most eminent Towers 5. From the same respect proceeded the practise of subscribing Charters and other publick Writings with golden Crosses and other like sacred marks which continued in use saith Ingulâ—us to the dayes of S. Edward the Confessour And Selden adds That it was not rashly or without cause that Writings and Instruments for conveying Lands c. were generally signed with such sacred Marks since Supreme Princes did usually carry round Balls with Crosses Staurophoros globulos as testimonies of their Soverainty For so Suidas relates of the Emperour Iustinian that he caried in his left hand a globe with a Crosse for a sign that by his Faith in the Crosse he became Lord of the Earth The like intention no doubt had King Edwin in carying his Tufa before him signifying that he ascribed to the Vertue of the Holy Crosse and his Faith in Christ crucified all the Empire which he possessed XIX CHAP. 1.2 A Controversy about Easter 3.4 c. An Irish Synod determining the said Controversy Of S. Lesrean S. Munnu c. 1. WHilst all things were so peaceable in King Edwins Dominions commotions were renewed among the Brittains and Scotts touching the celebration of Easter Their practise discordant from the whole Church S. Beda calls the errour of the Quartodecimani which is not to be understood strictly for they alwayes observ'd it on a Sunday But their account was such that when the fourteenth day of the Moon fell upon a Sunday they kept the Paschall Solemnity on that day as the Iews and Quartodecimani did whereas in that case according to the Decree of the Synod of Nicéa they ought to deferr it till the Sunday following He adds That Pope Hâ—norius by an Epistle reproved their practise and Pope Iohn his next Successour after Severinus as soon as he was elected to the Pontificat wrote to them likewise upon the same subiect and touching the Pelagian Heresy which was revived among them 2. In like manner Ado of Vienna in his Chronicle testifies that at this time among the Scots a very great Errour arose touching the Solemnity of Easter He calls it errorem maximum a very great Errour both because it was esteemed a kind of Sacrilege to conform with the Iews in Christian solemnities and likewise because all the Mysteries and Feasts of our Lord almost depended on this of Easter so that upon a wrong solemnization of it there followed a great distraction among Christians in the Worship of God 3. The occasion of mentioning this by the said Authours was because at this time a great Synod was convok'd in Ireland about this controversy which had been agitated formerly by S. Columba and his Disciples For a certain Irish Abbot nam'd Lasrean earnestly defended the Roman custome wheras S. Munnu otherwise calld Fintan or Finten as earnestly opposed it In which Saints life saith B. Vsher we find these particulars related thouching this Synod On a certain time there was a great Council of the people of Ireland assembled in the White feild among whom there arose a great contention about the order of observing Easter For Lasrean Abbot of the Monastery of Leighlenne under whom lived fifteen hundred Monks defended the New order which came from Rome But others defended their old practise Now Saint Munnu came not presently to this Council therefore all the rest expected him The said Saint was for the Old custom Then Subne Son of Domnail and Duke of the Region Huamaircha sayd Why doe you expect so long this
following Now in his Letters to King Edwin calld by S. Beda exhortatory Letters the Copy of which is recorded by him after â—ongratulating with him for his piety and zeal he with a fatherly charity incites him to persist continually and advance in the Faith of that saving truth which he had embraced Adding withall that at his request he had sent two Palls for the two Metropolitans Honorius and Paulinus with a Faculty enabling each of them by his authority to subrogate another when either of them should depart this life This priviledge he granted as well out of his affection to the King as in consideration of the great distance between Rome and Brittany 4. At the same time likewise Pope Honorius wrote letters to Honorius the new Arch-bishop of Canterbury in which saith S Beda he renewd the Decree mentioned in the former letter That when the Arch-bishop of Canterbury or York should dye he who remaind alâ—ve being of the same degree should have power to ordain another in the place of him who was dead that it might not be necessary to weary themselves with sending to Rome through so far extended spaces of land and Sea for the ordaining an Arch-bishop He further signified that he had sent him a Pall and another to S. Paulinus for the same purpose The Exemplar of this Letter is likewise extant in S. Beda 5. Moreover the same year Pope Honorius wrote to the Scotts touching their Errour about Easter for thus writes the same Authour The same Pope likewise directed Letters to the Nation of the Scotts having found that they erred in the observation of the Paschal solemnity Whom he earnestly exhorted not to prefer their own reason being inconsiderable for their paucity and living in the utmost bounds of the world before all other Churches both ancient and Modern through the whole world and consequently that they would not celebrate another different Easter contrary to the Paschall computations and Synodal Decrees of the Vneversal Church 6 The successe of which Letters is thus declared by B. Vsher That these admonitions were not unproffitable I partly collect from Beda who relates how the Scotts dwelling in the Southern parts of Ireland by the advice given them from the Bishop of the Apostolick See were taught to observe Easter after the Canonical Rite and partly from Cummian who lived at the same time and in his Epistle to Segeni Abbot of the Monastery of Hye writes thus touching the first admitting in Ireland the great Cycle of the Alexandrins consisting of five hundred thirty two years composed of the multiplication of nineteen or the Cycle of the Sun into eight and twenty the Cycle of the Moon The first year saith he in which the Cycle of five hundred thirty two years was received by our countrey-men I my self received it not but held my peace neither daring to discommend nor commend it But after a year was passed I consulted the Successour of our Holy Fathers Albeus Bishop Queran of Cloen Brendin Nessan and Lugid who being assembled in the feild of Lena made a Decree that the year following Easter should be celebrated the same time with the Church Vniversal 7. By this narration of Cummian it seems that in the Synod of Lena two years since at least the more sound and considerable part of the Irish Ecclesiasticks determined to conform to the generall practise of the Church but that those inhabiting the Northern and more rude parts continued refractary Which the Abbot Lasrean signifying to the Pope occasioned the writing of these Letters in which the Church of Ireland in generall is not taxed but onely some part of it for the Popes expression related by S. Beda is this I am informed that certain persons of your Province in opposition to the Orthodox Faith doe endeavour to renew an Heresy already antiquated c. It was so of old in Asia for not that whole Province even of Lesser Asia but some particular Churches in it obstinatly maintained the Errour of the Quarto decimani XXI CHAP. 1.2 c. King Edwin slain and acknowledged a Martyr c. 8. His Queen Ethelburga returned into Kent 1. WHilst these contentions were agitated among the Scotts who desired to draw the Brittains into the same faction the English-Saxon Churches flourished wonderfully Christian Faith having changed their manners heretofore extremely barbarous but now exemplary to the whole world for their Modesty Iustice and Charity especially in the Kingdom of the Northumbers In which saith William of Malmsbury there were no domestick theeves no treacherous under-miners of conjugal chastity no fraudulent usurpers of other mens Estates which happines is to be attributed to King Edwins care For this large extended Empire was limited by Iustice and peace which there mutually kissed each other And this felicity had been accomplished but that an immature death unfortunatly snatchd him from his countrey His death indeed which hapned this year was most deplorable to his countrey but most happy to himself For the cheif blessing promised him by the forementioned Divine Oracle remaind alone not yet accomplished which was after many temporal Crowns one that was eternal The manner how he attaind it is now to be declared 2. We have before shewd how Cadwan Prince of Northwales for his valour and good conduct against Ethelfrid King of the Northumbers was chosen King of all the Brittains After his death his Son succeeded in the same power called by Writers severally Cadwallin Cedwalla and by Saint Beda Carduella but the Brittains call him Caswallo Now there hapned a Controversy between him and King Edwin saith Florilegus which could not be decided without war Whereupon they came to a battell in which Cadwallin was putt to flight and lost many thousands of his Soldiers King Edwin therefore having obtaind the Victory marchd with his Army into the Provinces of the Brittains burning their Citties destroying the inhabitants till at last he brought under his Dominion their three kingdoms of Demetia Venedotia and Menevia 3. Cadwallin seing his power thus broken enters into a league with the potent King of the Mercians Penda by which both of them conspired to the destruction of King Edwin Cadwallin was a Christian and Penda a violent Pagan yet the Christian Prince was in his manners and cruelty far more barbarous and cruel then the Pagan Wherefore ioyning all their forces together they invaded King Edwins Territories 4. The time and successe of this war is thus describ'd by S. Beda King Edwin saith he had now raignd seaventeen years most gloriously over the English and Brittains of which he spent six years in the service and Spirituall warfare of Christ. Then did Carduella King of the Brittains rebell against him and was assisted with the auxiliary forces of Penda the potent Prince of the Mercians who governed that Kingdom with variable fortune the space of two and twenty years They came at length to a furious combat in a
place calld Hethfeild in which King Edwin was slain on the fourth day before the Ides of October and the year of our Lords Incarnation six hundred thirty three in the forty eighth year of his age and his whole army was either slain or dispersed 5. In the same battell was also slain King Edwins son Offrid a little before his Father And because this war was managed by him in defence of Gods Church and Christian Faith against its barbarous enemies our Ancestors have allways esteemd Kind Edwin a Saint and Martyr so that his name deservedly enioys a place in our Martyrologe on the fourth of December Where likewise it is sayd that a Church was anciently consecrated to him in London and another in Somersetshire at a Town calld Brewe His head saith S. Beda was brought to York and buried in the Church of S. Peter the Apostle begun by himself but finished by his Successour Oswald It was layd in the Porch of S Gregory Pope by the preaching of whose Disciples he had received the Word of life 6. What followd the death of this Blessed King is thus further related by the same Authour At that time there was made a most greivous slaughter in the Church and Nation of the Northumbers inasmuch as one of the Leaders was a Pagan and the other because in his nature barbarous more cruel then a Pagan For Penda with his whole Nation was devoted wholly to Idols and ignorant of Christianity But Carduella or Cedwalla though in name and outward profession he was a Christian notwithstanding in his mind and manners he was so very barbarous that be spared neither sex nor age but like a raging wild beast with cruel torments killd all he could meet with A long time he ranged through the countrey every where exercising his savage cruelty determining to root out of the land the whole Saxon race Neither had he any regard to Christian Religion newly planted among them For such was and to this day continues the malice of the Brittains that they sett at nought the Christianity of the English with whom they will no more communicate then with Pagans 7. To this horrible slaughter may be added the most iniust murder of King Edwins second son Edfrid born to him by his former Queen Quenburga and baptised by S. Paulinus Which Edfrid saith S. Beda being thereto compelld by necessity fled to Penda King of the Mercians by whom he was afterward slain contrary to his promise confirmd by an Oath during the raign of Oswald 8. What became of the pious Queen Ethelburga the same S. Beda thus declares The affairs of the Northumbers being brought to this miserable state saith he immediatly after this slaughter S. Paulinus seing there was no security but in flight took with him the Queen Ethelburga whom he had at first conducted thither and fled with her into Kent where he was honourably received by the Arch-bishop Honorius and King Eadbald He came thither under the guard of Bassus a most valiant soldier of King Edwins and with the Queen there was her daughter Heanfled and her son Vulcfrea together with Iffi the son of Offrid both whom the afterward sent into France recommending them to the protection of King Dagobert out of the fear she had of Edbold and Oswald Kings of the Northumbers And there both those infants dying were buried with such honour as became their Royal birth and such innocent lambs of Christ. The Queen likewise caried with her great store of King Edwins most precious jewells and Vessells and among the rest a great Crosse of gold and a golden Chalice consecrated for the ministery of the Altar Both which have to this day been kept in the Church of Canterbury XXII CHAP. 1.2 S. Paulin administers the Church of Rochester 3. He repaires the Old Church of Glastonbury 4 5 His Death and Translation 6 7. c. Queen Ethelburga retires into a Monastery Her happy death 1. SAint Paulinus having been thus in duty obliged to conduct his special charge the Queen in safety to her own Countrey left not for all that his flock deprived of a good Pastor For according to S. Beda's narration he recommended the care of the Church of York to Iames his Deacon of whom we have already made mention a holy man and very observant of Ecclesiastical Order He remaind in the said Church a long time and by teaching and baptising recoverd from the Devills power very many soules There is a village neer Cataract where he most usually made his abode that beares his name to this day He was very skilfull in Church Musick and therfore when peace was afterward restord and the number of Christians augmented he became the Master of Ecclesiasticall Singing according to the custom of Rome and Canterbury and in the end full of days and merits he followd the way of his fathers 2. In the mean time S. Paulinus was not without employment in Kent The Church of Rochester saith S. Beda being vacant because Romanus who had been Prelat therof had been drownd in passing the Sea towards Rome whither he was sent by S. Iustus Arch-bishop to consult with Pope Honorius about Ecclesiasticall affairs S. Paulinus therefore at the invitation of the Arch-bishop Honorius and King Badbald undertook the charge of it till in his due time he went to heaven there to reap the fruits of his glorious labours And at his death he left in the said Church the Pall which he had received from the Pope 3. We read in the Antiquities of Glastonbury That S. Paulinus who had been Arch-bishop of York but then was Bishop of Rochester the third from S. Iustus who had been consecrated by S. Augustin came to Glastonbury where he abode a long time and made the walls of the old Church to be built from the top to the bottom of timber wheras anciently they were made of wattles and to be coverd with lead And thus that Holy Oratory remaind in the same plight till the time that the Church was burnt in the days of King Henry the first Such care had that holy Bishop that without preiudicing the Sanctity of that place an addition should be made to its beauty We find mention of this Church thus repaird by S. Paulinus in the Charters granted to it by King Inas in the year of Grace seaven hundred and four and of King Canuâ—us above three hundred years after Inas both which Charters are said to have been confirmd and signd in the same woodden Church 4. Concerning S. Paulinus nothing occurrs in our Ecclesiasticall Records till his death which hapned in the year of Grace six hundred forty four the sixth day before the Ides of October saith S. Beda after he had held the Bishoprick of Rochester nineteen years and one and twenty days He was buried in the Secretary of S. Andrew the Apostle which King Ethelbert built from the foundations in the Citty of Rochester 5.
Heathens and how impossible it was that there should be more then one Eternall Omnipotent God Governour of the world This foundation layd in his mind easily prepared it to admitt the Light of the Gospell which once kindled was never after extinguish'd He received Baptism from the said Felix stiled in his Life a Bishop who therby gave him a Title to a far better Kingdom 5. In the mean time King Erpenwald dyed having been slain by one of his Pagan Noblemen at the Instigation of Penda the cruel King of the Mercians as hath been sayd After whose death Sigebert succeeded in the kingdom Who assoon as he was King made it his prime care to introduce among his subiects the Christian Faith and civility of the French For which purpose he calld out of France his Spiritual Father Felix the Burgundian Who coming into Brittany first addressed himself to Honorius Arch-bishop of Canterbury by whom he was sent to preach the Gospel to the East-Angles Bo Parker says that Honorius first consecrated him Bishop and then directed him in that Mission But the Authour of his life affirms that he was a Bishop before his coming So that the reason why at his first coming he addressed himself to the Arch-bishop was because not having received his Mission immediatly from the See Apostolick he could not according to the Laws of the Church exercise iurisdiction within the Arch-bishops Province without his permission Now if any one shall obiect the coming of Aidan out of the Monastery of Hy without expecting orders either from within or without the Island Saint Beda will solve the difficulty by declaring that the said Isle of Hye or Iona did always enioy for its governour an Abbot who was a Preist to whose Iurisdiction that whole Province and even Bishops themselves were subiect the like example being no where else to be found But the reason of it was because the first Apostolick Teacher of that Nation was not a Bishop but only a Preist and Monk 6. Felix now Bishop of the East-Angles went to Sigebert by whom he was received with great honour and had assignd him for the See of his Bishoprick saith Saint Beda the Citty calld Dummoc situated in the Province of the Iceni or Suffolk It is now calld Dunwich saith Camden the greatest part wherof is swallowd by the Sea and almost reduced to a solitude the Episcopall See many ages since having been transferd At first it alone exercised the whole Iurisdiction over the Kingdom of the East-Angles But Bisus the fourth Bishop from Saint Felix growing old and sickly and uncapable to manage so large a Province divided it into two Dioceses constituting the other Episcopal See at North-Elmholm now a small town 7. The desire which Saint Felix had to serve our Lord in that Employment wanted not good successe saith Saint Beda for his labours produced manifold fruits in that Nation For according to the happy omen of his name he reduced the whole Province from its former infelicity and iniquity to the true Faith to the works of Christian Iustice and the rewards of eternall Felicity And as King Oswald assisted Saint Aidan by interpreting his speeches into a more intelligible language So did King Sigebert to Saint Felix being a stranger in the countrey For Huntingdon writes that Sigebert the Successour and Brother of Erpwald was a most Christian King and together with Felix the Biâ—hop brought others to Christianity 8. The same King whom S. Beda calls a most learned and most Christian Prince as by his example and command he lead his subiects to the true Faith and works of Iustice So to establish the same Faith more firmly he built Churches adorned Altars reverenced the Clergy and those who professed a more severe Christian austerity of life Besides the Church belonging to the Episcopal See he erected another at a town calld Babingley where Felix first entred that Province and a third a place calld Sharnburn Thus writes Camden 9. Moreover remembring the inconstancy of his subiects who had more then once deserted the Christian Profession the pious King Sigebert saith Saint Beda desirous to imitate the good orders which he had seen practised in France instituted a Schoole for the instructing of children Wherein he was assisted by his Bishop Felix who appointed Teachers and Masters according to the manner of Kent And though Saint Beda mentions a School in the singular number only which some interpret to be understood of the Vniversity of Cambridge Notwithstanding our other ancient Historians affirm that S. Felix instituted Schooles in severall opportune places and by little and little reformd the barbarousnes of the Nation by introducing the civility of the Latin tongue Which was a benefit much to be celebrated to bring a people formerly rude and fanatick to tast the sweetnes of human literature This is the testimony of William of Malmsbury in which Florilegus and Huntingdon doe ioyn And our modern Writers doe more particularly affirm that at this time a Schoole for the instructing young children was erected at Flixton a Town which took its name from Saint Felix 10. This same year Quichelm the Son of Kinegils and partner with him in the Kingdom of the West-Saxons followd the example of his Father in embracing the Christian Faith and receiving the Sacrament of Baptism but went before him to receive the crown of his Faith and innocence for he dyed the same year saith Huntingdon and Florentius of Worcester who adds that he was baptised by Saint Birinus in the Citty Dorice by which he seems to understand Dorchester the Episcopall See of S. Birinus 11. King Oswald likewise the same year maried Kineburga daughter to Kinegils by whom the year following he had a Son called Ethelwald VI. CHAP. 1.2 c. The Gests of S. Fursey 5.6 c. His wonderfull Visions 11.12 He builds a Monastery in Essex which he recommends to his Brother 13. He goes into France where he dyes His Memory celebrated at Peronne 1. IN the year of Grace six hundred thirty seaven Saint Felix Bishop of Dunwich received great comfort and assistance in his Apostolick labours by the arrival of a stranger out of Ireland This was Saint Fursey who having spent many years in preaching the Gospel in his own countrey came this year into Brittany saith Bishop Vsher. 2. Saint Beda relates the same more expressly saying Whilst Sigebert as yet held the raines of the Government in his hand there came out of Ireland a holy man named Fursey illustrious both for his teaching and piety who was desirous to spend the remainder of his life in a strange countrey wheresoever he could find opportunity the more perfectly to serve our Lord. This devout man coming into the Province of the East-Angles was honourably received by the said King and there he executed his usuall employment of preaching by which ioynd with his vertuous example he converted many Infidels
having surrendred the Kingdom to his Cousen Egric was retired into a Monastery Now Egric during his short raign had oft been vexed with the incursions of Penda King of the MerciaÌ„s but this year he invaded his countrey with a powerfull army which he was not able to resist In this danger by common advice it was decreed to call King Sigebert out of his solitude For which purpose Messengers were sent to solicite him to prefer the common care of the Kingdom before his privat Devotions He earnestly opposed a good while this proposal but at last saith Saint Beda even against his will they drew him from his Monastery to the Army for they hoped that the presence of so Noble and Valiant a Prince would encourage the fainting soldiers ready for fear to disband Notwithstanding Sigebert mindfull of his present profession though he was encompassed with a Royal army would not act the part of a soldier nor carry in his hand any other thing besides a rodd 2 Thus unarmed and with an intention to act the part of a General onely with his counsell and prayers he proceeded to the Battell Which was violently begun by Penda in which Sigebert being prepared to receive not give wounds took no care to defend his own life So that he became an easy Victime to the Enemies cruelty King Egric likewise was slain with him and for a perishing Crown received one that was immortall How precious the death of Sigebert was fighting for Religion and his countrey posterity shewd by giving him the title of a Martyr for with that dignity he is commemorated in our Martyrologe on the seaven and twentieth of September but in the Gallican on the seaventh of August 3. The innocent blood of Sigebert and Egric watering this Eastern feild made it fruitfully budd with flowers of many royal vertues in his Successour which was Anna the Son of Eni of the Royal family a Prince of admirable Vertue and Father of a most glorious Offspring saith S. Beda Now Eni was Son of Titullus and brother of Redwald so that Anna's succession being legal was unquestioned by all Never any Saxon King was blessed with such a progeny His son Erconwald afterward Bishop of London was for his Sanctity illustrious to the whole Church His daughters were Queen Etheldreda twice a wife yet always a most chast Virgin Sexburga also a Queen Ethelburga a most holy Virgin and Abbesse of Barking Edilburga a Virgin likewise and Abbesse of Brigue And lastly Withburga a chast Virgin All which are inscribed in our Martyrologe with the Title of Saints concerning each of which we shall hereafter treat in due place With so many glorious Stars did this one good King Anna adorn the palace of our Heavenly King X. CHAP. 1.2 c. King Oswalds Mercy and Piety 5.6 His desire to dye for his people 7.8 His battell against Penda and death 1. KING Oswald yet remained alive expecting the like end of his race But before we conduct him to his death it will be expedient after the old Roman fashion to adorn and crown the Sacrifice before its immolation by declaring some of those many vertues which he shewd both in living and dying We sayd some thing before of his Piety to God and munificence in his service These sublime vertues were accomâ—panied with others regarding Gods poorest servants whose wants and incommodities he would not only supply when they were in his view but he would often be inquisitive to find out objects of his mercy and liberality He never sent away from him any poore man empty-handed but performed exactly that precept of our Lord Give to every one who asks thee Yea his liberality was so boundlesse that he almost empoverished himself by supplying the indigence of the poore 2. One Noble Example of this vertue is recorded by S. Beda and generally all our Historians which was this On a certain Feast of our Lords Resurrection the Holy Bishop Aidan and King Oswald dined together when one of the Kings servants coming in told him that at the gate there stood a great multitude of beggars in great necessity King Oswald glad of an occasion to exercise his Charity stretched forth his hand and took up a silver dish full of meat which he commanded the servant to distribute among those poore not the meat only but the dish which for that purpose was to be broken in peices S. Aidan was much affected with so commendable an expression of piety in the King and taking that hand which had given the Plate said Let this hand never be consumed which has so liberally distributed the Gifts of God This propheticall benediction God heard and approved with a great Miracle For after the Kings death when all the rest of his body was dissolved into dust that hand remaind entire both in the flesh and sinews for many ages as shall be proved by many witnesses 3. How acceptable these vertues were to Almighty God he shewd by heaping on him even great temporal prosperity For sayes Saint Beda King Oswald together with the Nation governd by him was blessed not only with a sure hope of a heavenly Kingdom unknown to his Ancestours but moreover by Gods speciall assistance who made both heaven and earth he encreased his Dominion by the accesse of more Provinces then any of his Progenitours had enioyd For he not only united the Kingdoms of the Deiri and Bernicians but had a supereminent power over the four Nations and Provinces of Brittany which were divided into four tongues of the Brittains Picts Scotts and English 4. Yet did not the cares of so largean Empire withdraw his mind from a frequent conversation with God On the contrary the same Authour writes that whilst he managed the government of so many Provinces his cheif solicitude and labours were how to obtain a celestiall Kingdom The generall same gives that his frequent practise was to persist in his prayers from Morning Lawds to brâ—ad day and that by reason of his almost continuall custom of Praying and praising God wheresoever he was sitting he would hold his hands on his knees with his face looking up to heaven and lastly that he ended his life in the midst of his Prayers For being compassed on all sides with enemies and weapons when he saw himself upon the point to be slain he prayed for the soules of his soldiers And hence arose the Now common Proverb God have mercy on their soules sayd King Oswald when he was falling dead to the Earth This expression of piety we English Catholicks to this day owe to this good King for though the generall practise or the whole Church in all ages was to implore the Divine mercy for those who dyed in her Communion yet this speciall form of expressing our Charity by saying God have mercy â—n their soules came from this most pious King who in his last danger as it were forgetting himself became an intercessour for
others 5. Another eminent Example of the like Charity to others with neglect of himself the same King formerly gave in the time of a wasting Pestilence For being peirced to the soule with compassion seing such a world of funeralls he earnestly prayd to God as King David had done that he would spare his people and turn the scourge against himself and his family Which prayer Almighty God heard for presently after the plague seised upon him with such violence that he was brought to the utmost extremity Lying thus a victime for the whole Nation and inwardly ioyfull in hope that with his single death he should purchase a world of lives to others he saw three persons of a stature more then human who approached to his bed and conversing together spoke many words full of comfort to him At last one of them sayd to him O King thy Prayers and resignation are acceptable to God Thou art one of ours for shortly thou shalt receive an immortall crown for thy Faith Charity and Piety But that time is not yet come For God at the present gives thee both thine own and thy subiects liveâ— Now thou art willing to dye for them Shortly thou shalt dye far more happily a Martyr for God Having said this they disappeared leaving the King full of wonder Who presently recoverd his health and after that not any of his subiects dyed of the same infection 6. The Authour of his life adds That the King was wont to relate to his Bishops that not only with his intellectual but corporall eyes also he often saw Angelical Spirits in great splendour By which visitations Divine love was much more kindled in his heart and a studious care to encrease in all vertues And because corporal purity doth frequently attend that of the mind by the consent of his Queen Kineburga daughter of Kinegils King of the West-Saxons he abstaind from matrimonial conversation knowing well how gratefull to heavenly spirits is an aversion from carnall sensuality 7. Thus happily did King Oswald proceed in his course to heaven when that scourge of all good men Penda King of the Mercians envying the progresse of Christianity and the glory of Oswald became an instrument of exalting him to a heavenly Crown For whilst King Oswalds thoughts were busied in advancing Châ—ists Kingdom the said Tyrant made an impression into a Province belonging to him to repell which King Oswald with an army mett him in a place by S. Beda calld Macerfelth 8. It is not yet decided in what Province that place of combat between these two Kings is seated The inhabitants of Lancashire earnestly contend that King Oswald was slain neer a well known village of theirs calld Winwick where they find a place to this day nam'd Macerfelth and alledge likewise an ancient Inscription in the Church of Winwick importing the same And their coniecture may seem to receive strength from this consideration that the said Province certainly belonged to the Dominion of King Oswald who was assalted by Penda 9. Notwithstanding Camden and others of our learned Writers doe rather design the place of the Combat in the Western part of Shropshire neer the Kiver Morda where there is a town from Oswald calld Oswestre and by the Brittains Oswalds-Crosse And this agrees with what wee read in Saint Oswalds life that the place of the Combat was near the confines of Armorick Wales seaven miles distant from Shrews bury not full half a mile from King Offa's ditch dividing Wales from England and Sixteen mileâ— from the Monastery of Wenlock In the feild where the battell was fought a Church called the White Church was founded to the honour of Saint Oswald near which arises a fresh spring which the Inhabitants call Saint Oswalds fountain 10. Now although Shropshire anciently belonged to the Kingdom of the Mercians yet at this time it seems among other Provinces to have been a portion of King Oswalds conquests For the same Authour relates how Penda a little before this had been overcome and puâ—t to flight by King Oswald so that it seems that part of the Mercian kingdom was become an accession to that of the Northumbers 11. The two armies therefore ioyning here that of King Oswald could not sustain the fury of Penda but after a short combat was forced either to seek safety by flight or like devout Soldiers fighting for God and his Church by patient exposing themselves to purchase immortality King Oswald seing his Army dispersed perceived that now the hower promised him by the Angels was come Therefore he was not very solicitous to avoyd his Enemies weapons but in the expression of William of Malmsbury having seen all his guards cutt in peices though he had as it were a grove of iron weapons planted on his breast yet neither the greivousnes of his wounds nor the approach of death could hinder or interrupt his devout Prayers to God for the salvation of his faithfull subjects Thus was this Blessed King slain saith Saint Beda in a place called in the English tongue Macerfelth in the year of our Lords Incarnation six hundred forty two and the thirty eighth of his age on the fifth day of August 12. The barbarous Tyrant Penda was not satisfied with the death of his Enemy but most cruelly raged against his dead body which he cutt in peices and caused his head and armes divided from the trunk to be hung up on three stakes as a Trophey and monument of his Cruelty and to be a terrour to others XI CHAP. 1. 2. c. King Oswi buries the Relicks of his Brother S. Oswald 5.6.7 The Incorruption of his hand testified in severall ages 8. 9. c. His other Relicks where disposed The great Veneration given to him Churches built in his honour 1. THE inhuman Tyrant Penda thought by his barbarous usage of the Holy King Oswalds liveles body to render him a spectacle of misery but Almighty God shewd himself more powerfull to glorify him then the Tyrant had been to dishonour him For his Members had been for a whole years space exposed to the injuries of rain and tempests yet notwithstanding they preserved their former lineaments lively freshnesse and comlines The head and left arm continued all that time hanging on the stakes and the right arm was faln into water for no man durst take them away or shew any regard to them for fear of the Tyrant 2. At last Oswy the Brother and Successour of King Oswald by a Divine Oracle was admonished to perform due respect to his Brothers torn Body by bestowing an honourable buryall on it Therefore fearles of the Tyrants rage or power he gathered an Army and marching into that Province he came to the place Where taking out of the Water the right Arm he inclosed it in a Silver Boxe and reverently deposed it in the Church of S. Peter in a Citty then called Bebba from a Queen of that Name now Bamburg
for Oswin urging all men by Promises rewards and terrible threatnings to discover him Hunwald either allured with gain or affrighted with danger treacherously betraid his King and Benefactour Assoon as Oswin saw himself discovered and the place encompassed with soldiers he desired Ethelwin to content himself with his death alone and to spare his companion Tunder since his life only was sought by Oswi But the cruel executioner presently slew them both for indeed the faithfull soldier refused to survive his King This murder was committed on the thirteenth day before the Caâ—ends of September 5. The death of this pious King was greatly bewayld by all for from his child hood saith Mathew of Westminster he was a devout Professour of Christian Religion He was tall in stature valiant civill prudent liberall he was as his table sober in his bed modest affable to all and between the poor and rich he caried himself so that the poor regarded him as their equall and the rich as their Master Whence it came to passe that for the civility of his Royal mind all sought accesse to him and tenderly lov'd him even out of forrain Provinces The like character S. Beda gives of him 6. But among all his vertues the same Authour most commends his Humility a worthy example whereof he thus relates He had bestowd on the Holy Bishop Aidan a horse on which though ordinarily he went afoot sometimes he passed the rivers or upon necessity rode a iourney Awhile after as the Bishop was travelling a poor man mett him and begged an almes The Bishop presently lighting down commanded the horse to be given him with all his sumptuous furniture for he was very mercifull to the poor and a Father to such as were in misery This being related to the King he said to the Bishop as they were ready to sitt down to table My Lord Bishop what meant you to give so generous a horse to a beggar which I gave you for your own use We had horses of lesse valew or some other gifts which would have suffised him The Bishop presently answerd him Why says your Maâ—esty so Is a colt in more esteem with you then the Son of God Aâ—ter these speeches had passed between them they entred into the dining room and the Bishop sate in his place but the King being newly come from hunting stood with his servants warming himself at the fire And there calling to mind the Bishops words to him he putt off his sword and in hast went and cast himself at the Bishops feet beseeching him to pardon him for said he I will never speak or censure you for what you give to Gods children of my goods be it never so much The Bishop seing this was deeply struck with it and rising took the King up assuring him that he was very well satisfied upon condition he would be chearfull and sitt down to meat Now whilst the King at the Bishops request expressed much ioy the Bishop on the other side began to be very sad insomuch as he could not contain himself from weeping Which being observed by his Preist he asked him in his own countrey-language which neither the King nor his servants understood why he wept The Bishops answer was I am assured that this good King will not live long for till this hower I never saw an humble King whence I conclude that he will shortly be snatched out of this life And indeed it was not long after that the Kings death made good the Holy Bishops Prophecy 7. The place where he was slain was in the English tongue called Ingethling where his body was ignobly buried It was afterward called Gilling not far distant from Richmond and there saith Saint Beda and the Authour of his life Queen Eanfled wife of King Oswi and Kings Oswins kinswoman having obtaind permission from her husband built a Monastery for the expiation of his death in which dayly Prayers were to be offred to God for the redemption of both the Kings soules of him who had been slain and him by whose command he was slain Of which Monastery she appointed Abbot a certain devout man named Trumhere by nation an Englishman but instructed and ordaind by the Scotts who was also kinsman to the King This holy man was afterward made Bishop of the Southern Mercians under their King Wulsere where he converted great multitudes to Christ 8. This Monastery and Church by the furious incursion of the Danes was so totally destroyd that the memory of King Oswin was abolished But about the year of Christ one thousand sixty five by a vision in sleep a certain Monk of the Church of Tinmouth was admonished to inform the Bishop where the Holy Kings body lay which being taken up afforded a most sweet odour and was there with great veneration deposed in the Church of Tinmouth A second Translation followed in the year of Grace eleaven hundred and ten when his Sacred Relicks were removed to a New Church in the same town dedicated to our Blessed Lady 9. After which time mens devotion to this Holy King and Martyr much encreased the twentieth day of August being assigned for his Festivall And Thomas Walsingham Historiographer to King Richard the second relates how by a strange prodigy the neglect of that Feast was punished For saith he two Marriners at New-castle on the Tyne on that day being busy at work in hewing a peice of Timber for their ship at every stroke with their axe great quantity of blood issued And when one of them persisted notwithstanding in his work and turned the timber still the blood on all sides flowd abundantly out of it This Miracle says he was seen by very many and verified in an assembly of Ecclesiasticks appointed â—o examine it and the peice of Timber all staind with blood was caried into the Church of Tinmouth where the Saints Body reposed XV. CHAP. 1. 2. c. Death of Saint Aidan Bishop of Lindesfarn His vertues c. 1. THE deplorable death of this Holy King Oswin was attended with that also of S. Aidan Bishop of Lindesfarn for thus writes S. Beda On the twelfth day after the murder of the King dyed likewise the Holy Bishop who tenderly loved him to wit the day before the Calends of September 2. The place where this Holy Bishop dyed is described by the same Authour to be a countrey village belonging to the King where there was a Church and a lodging prepared for the Bishop to which he frequently retired to enjoy a better commodity for preaching For he had nothing in his own possession but a few small feilds about the said Church His lodging was a Tent pitched against the Western wall of the Church here leaning his head against the side of the Tent he gave up the ghost in the seaventeenth year after he had been Bishop His Body was caried to the Isle of Lindesfarn and buried in the Church-yard of the
any habitation of men Therefore said she I desire you before you goe to receive some sustenance for fear you should faint if you fast all day Notwithstanding out of a love to the Religious custom of fasting he would not be overcome with the womans importunity but fasting as he was he returned to his iourney and so continued till evening 5. Here we see that from the beginning of the English-Saxon Church the fast of Friday was observed so as that it was not permitted to dissolve the fast before evening They likewise anciently kept the fast of Wednesday but custom afterward moderating the piety of our Ancestours tempered that rigour affixing the observance only to Friday Thus we read in an ancient English National Council at Enham this among other Decrees Every Friday except it be a Festival a Fast must be observed The same is found among the Ecclesiasticall Laws of King Ina and King Canutus Both which are recorded by Sir H. Spelman But let us prosecute S. Cuthberts iourney 6. When Saint Cuthbert saw that by reason of the evenings approach he could not finish his iourney that day neither was there any lodging near as he was riding he saw certain cottages which in the Sommer time the Heardsâ—en had hastily raised up for their present use but then the winter approaching were left empty Thither he went with an intention to stay all night and tying his horse to the wall he gathered up a bundle of hay which the wind had blown from the house-covering and gave it him to eat and himself passed his time in Prayer But on a sudden as he was repeating Psalms he saw the horse lift up his head and with his teeth biting some thing which was on the house roof and presently after he drew down a linnen cloth wrapped up Being desirous therefore to know what that was as soon as he had finished his Prayers he took up the linnen and found wrapped up in it half a loaf of Bread warm from the Oven and so much flesh as would suffise for one refection For which he ioyfully praised God saying Blessed be God who vouchsafed to provide a supper both for mee and my companion Half of the Bread therefore he gave to the horse and the other half he eat himself 7. From that day he was ever after more willing and diligent to observe Fasts perceiving that in that solitude the same mercifull Lord had provided sustenance for him who in old times had by the ministery of Crows a long time nourished the Prophet Elias in the wildernes with the like food for his eyes are upon such as fear him and hope in his mercy to deliver their soules from death and nourish them in time of famine This passage was related to mee by a certain Religious Preist of our Monastery at the mouth of the River Wire named Inguald who is yet alive a very old man and one who can better see heavenly objects with the eyes of his mind then outward things with his bodily eyes and he protested that he heard this from S. Cuthberts own mouth being then Bishop 8. Saint Cuthbert being thus wonderfully refreshed went in the strength of that meat whither he intended Now there were at that time both in the Church of Lindesfarn men who lived in Regular observance and likewise Monks at Mailros on the Râ—ver Tweed Both which Communities had been instituted by the Holy Bishop Aidan At Mâ—iâ—ros Eata was Abbot and under him Boâ—silus was Priour of the Monks Thither Saint Cuthbert went Boisilus saith Saint Beda kindly received the devout young man and when he had declared to him the Motive of his iourney he detaind him there approving much his resolution to prefer a Monasticall life before a secular And a few days after at the return of Eata of happy memory then Preist and Abbot of the Monastery and afterward Bishop also of Lindesfarn he declared to him the good intention of Cuthbert and obtaind permission for him after Tonsure received to be admitted among the Brethren Thus entring the Monastery he was carefull to equall or excell the rest of the Monks in Religious observances of reading working watching and Prayer 9. The Institut under which Saint Cuthbert began his Religious Profession was certainly the same which Saint Aidan had formed and which he had learnt in the Monastery of Hye For as yet Saint Wilfrid had not published in those parts the Holy Rule of Saint Benedict neither was the Roman manner of celebrating Easter introduced among them Which controversy divided the Black Monks from those whom Saint Columba and the Monastery of Hye sent into Brittany Now that Saint Cuthbert did not weare then a Black Habit is evident from the testimony of Saint Beda who saith Saint Cuthbert used vestments of the common fashion and colour so as he shewed no singularity either in the nearnes of them or a wilfull neglect of cleanlines And hence it is that to this day in the said Monastery the Monks following his Example are content with habits of the naturall colour of the wooll afforded by the Sheep But whether afterward the Rule and Institut of S. Benedict was introduced among them we shall examine in due place We will now leave S. Cuthbert in the solitude of his Monastery perfectionating his mind with those vertues and Graces which rendred him a glorious Light to that Age whose Actions will plentifully furnish our following History XVII CHAP. 1.2 Finan Bishop of Lindesfarn after S. Aidan 3.4 Conversion of the Mercians 5.6 c. And of the East-Saxons by S. Cedde 9. Saint Honorius Arch-bishop of Canterbury dyes to whom Deus-dedit succeeds 1. IN the year of Grace six hundred fifty two Finan succeeded to the Holy Bishop Aidan in the Church of Lindesfarn He was ordaind and sent by the Scotts from the Monastery of Hye saith S. Beda He built in the Isle of Lindesfarn a Church for the Episcopal See which according to the Scottish fashion he made not of Stone but hewn Timber and covered it with reeds This Church was afterward dedicated by the most Reverend Arch-bishop Theodor to the honour of Saint Peter the Apostle But Eadbert who in following time was Bishop of that place took away the thatch and made it be covered all over both roof and walls with plates of lead 2. As for King Oswi though by the death of Oswin he became possessed of the whole Kingdom of the Northumbers yet either out of remorse of conscience or a pious regard to the memory of Oswin he permitted his Son Edilwald to raign over the Province of the Deiri 3. The year following is worthily celebrated for the accession of two Provinces in Brittany to the Faith of Christ the Midland-Angli and the East-Saxons Concerning the former Saint Beda thus writes At this time the Midle-Angli under their Prince Peoda Son of King Penda embraced the Faith and Sacraments of Truth This Prince being a young
could not hinder the fury of Ebroinus was in common fame charged with the crime though according to the Gallican Martyrologe she was at this time retired into a Monastery 3. The said Martyrologe therefore will give us a true information of this Fact where on the twenty eighth of October in the commemoration of this Holy Bishop we find this passage Clodoveus being some years before dead and his Widow S. Bathildis retired into her Monastery at Cala Ebroin Maire of the Palace a most cruel man and extremely disaffected to Ecclesiasticall persons began to rage every where with sacrileges rapines and murders of innocent persons No wonder therefore if S. Ennemund Bishop sirnamed Dalfin incurred his hatred because out of an affection of piety and iustice he was earnest with the King to ease the people of their pressures Therefore after that the Brother of the Holy Bishop who was Prefect of Lyons had been slain at Orleans upon a false accusation as if he had an intention to rebell Ebroin presently after with the like violence persecuted S. Ennemund Who being informed that accusations were falsely charged on him before the King perceiving the machinations of his cruel adversary at first departed from Lyons But presently after taking courage and placing his whole trust in God he returned thither again where whilst he was diligent in his devotions and pious works he was seised upon by the Emissaries of Ebroin and to the generall extreme greif of the Citty caried away with shew that he was to be lead to the Kings presence but by the way near Chaillon in Burgundy he was murdred by night whilst he prayd God to pardon his enemies and so for a reward of his iustice charity and patience he received a never fading crown of Glory 4. This Narration doth evidently absolve the good Queen Bathildis Whose memory ought to be in a speciall manner precious to us since she descended from a Saxon family in Brittany which she left unwillingly For as the Authour of her life in Surius and Haraeus who lived in the same age recounts She was stolln out of Brittany by Pirats and by them sold to Erchinoald a famous Prince in France then Maire of the Kings palace In whose service she behaved herself so decently for she descended from Noble Saxon Ancestors that the said Erchinoald's Lady being dead he intended to have taken her to wife But the Holy Virgin withdrew her self from his sight till he had maried another This her Modesty made her so acceptable to King Clodovaeus the second of that name son of Dagobert that as we read in the Appendix to Gregory Bishop of Tours he made her though a stranger his Queen for her prudence and comlines and had by her three Sons Cloathair Childeric and Theodoric 5. After Clodovaeus his death she awhile governed the Kingdom with her children and then with great difficulty obtaind permission of the Nobility to retire her self into a Monastery built by her self in a place called Cala in the Territory of Paris over which she had placed Abbesse a Holy Virgin called Bertilia sent for by her out of the Monastery of Iâ—dro To this Monastery of Cala therefore she retired where she lived a great example of Piety and vertue Now at that time there being in Brittany few Monasteries of Religious Virgins saith Saint Beda many Noble men sent their daughters out of Brittany into France to be instructed there and espoused to their Heavenly Bridegroom especially in the Monasteries of Brige Cale now called Chelles and Andilege 6. She built likewise in the Territory of Amiens at a place called Corbey a Monastery for Religious Monks which she magnificently enriched with possessions and all things necessary for their subsistence Over which Monks she placed Abbot a venerable person called Theofred whom she had for that purpose desired to be sent out of the Monastery of Luxueil Luxovium Which Abbot was afterward a Bishop 7 Neither was her piety confined to France onely For she honourd with many precious Gifts the Churches of the Holy Apostles S. Peter and S. Paul at Rome out of the great love and devotion she had to them Likewise great liberality she extended to the poor and to persons professing a Reclused solitary life in the same Citty 8. Thus in all conditions both as a simple Virgin a Queen and a Religious Nunne she sparkled with all divine Graces Particularly during her Regency by her zeale the Simoniacal Heresy which then defiled the Church of God was quite driven out of the Kingdom And for a further proof of her innocency touching the death of S. Ennemund or Dalfin Bishop of Lyons there is mention in her life of another Bishop called Sigebrand who by the practise of Ebroin against her will without conviction or examination was slain coÌ„trary to Law and iustice 9. Her piety to Holy Bishops particularly to S. Eligius the famous Bishop of Noyon is celebrated by S. Audoâ—n Bishop of Rouen who lived at the same time and wrote his life For he relates with what affection and devotion this Holy Queen with her children and Nobles hastned to take care for his honourable enterment Her desire was it should be conveyed to her Monastery of Cala but by no force it could be removed Whereupon overcome with a violent greif she uncovered his face which she bedewed with showrs of tears At last turning her self to her Nobles she said We now see it is not his will that his body should be removed from his own Citty let us therefore permitt his own flock to enioy it Which words she had no sooner uttered but the Body and Coffin became easily moveable so that two persons alone were able without difficulty to carry it Thus having venerated the Sacred Body she retired weary and hungry for she had continued a Fast of three days with Prayers and tears thereby to know Gods will for disposing the Body 10. The same Holy Writer further declares the same Queens devotion to S. Eligius after his death and how in a vision by night he commanded a certain Courtier to reprove her for wearing iewells and costly apparrell during her Widdow-hood Which she did not out of Pride but because she thought it fitting to be done whilst she took care of administring the Kingdom during her sons minority This command thrice repeated not having been executed by the said Courtier he was pâ—nished with a violent feaver During which having been visited by the Queen he declared it to her and immediatly the feaver quitted him Whereupon the Queen layd aside her Iewells and Ornaments a great part of which she distributed to the Poor and with the richest of them she made a most beautifull sumptuous Crosse which she deposed at the head of S. Eligius or S. Eloy Which devotion of hers was imitated by the Nobles so zealously that in a short time his Church was enriched with incredible riches Offrings
11. Her death was answerable to her life before which a wonderfull vision was shewd to her for before the Altar of the Blessed Virgin a Ladder was erected up to heaven Angels descended to comfort her She commanded her Sisters to conceale this Vision and awhile after signing her self confidently with the sign of the Crosse and lifting up her eyes hands to heaven she breathed forth her pure spirit and those who were present saw her freind the holy Bishop Genesius among troops of Angels coming to meet her on the third day before the Calends of February Her memory is celebrated the same day in the Gallican Martyrologe Her Sacred Body was afterward diligently sought and translated to a more honourable place in the time of S Lewis the Commemoration whereof is solemnised on the eight and twentieth of March. XX CHAP. 1. Anna King of the East-Angles slain by K. Penda 2.3 c The Mercian Tyrant Penda miraculously slain by K. Oswi who consecrates his daughter to God 1. IN the year of Grace six hundred fifty four saith Mathew of westminster Penda King of the Mercians a man who breathed nothing but fury and war and loved to tread in ways staind with blood invaded the Religious King of the East-Angli Anna and in a moment destroyd him and his army To him his Brother Aethelherus succeeded in the Kingdom With King Anna was slain his eldest son Firminâ—â— and both their bodies were buryed at a Town called Blithborow in Suffolk seated on the River Blith Which town saith Camden deserves to be mentioned for no other thing but that there was the Sepulcher of Anna a Christian King of the East-Angli slain in battle by Penda the Mercian King But afterward their bodies were translated to S. Edmunds-bury in the same Province 2. But the year following this bloody King Penda who seems to have been raised up for the destruction of good Kings received at last the reward of his cruelty by the hands of Oswi King of the Northumbers The particular Narration we receive from S. Beda In those times saith he King Oswi having received intolerable vexations from Penda King of the Mercians who formerly slew his Brother King Oswald at last was forced to promise him incredibly rich gifts to obtain a peace for a cessation of the ruines of his Provinces But the perfidious King Penda would accept of no conditions being determined to exterminate his whole Nation Whereupon King Oswi had his recourse to the Divine Protection only to deliver him from the barbarous impiety of his enemy Wherefore he obliged himself by vow saying since this Pagan King refuses our gifts let us offer them to our Lord God who will graciously accept tâ—em He vowed therefore that in case he gott the victory he would consecrate his daughter to serve our Lord in perpetuall Virginity and withall bestow twelve possessions of farms for building and endowing Monasteries After which vow he marched with a very small army to combat him 3. Such a wonderfull inequalâ—ty there was between the two Armies that the Pagans had a thirty fold greater army then the Christian King Oswi for they had thirty Legions conducted by as many Generalls against whom notwithstanding Oswi with his Son Alcfrid trusting only in Christ their conductour with very small forces adventured to combat King Oswi his Son Egfrid was not present there for he was then kept as an hostage by King Penda's wife And Edilwald son of King Oswald who ought to have assisted him was on the Enemies side being one of Penda's Captains to fight agaâ—nst his Vncle and countrey Though true it is that in the time of battell he withdrew himself into a safe place there expecting the event Yea we read in the History of the Brittains that Alcfrid also the Son of King Oswi rebelling against his Father was ioynd with King Penda 4. Yet notwithstanding all these disadvantages as soon as the combat began the thirty Pagan Generalls of King Penda were putt to flight and slain and almost all their auxiliaries Among which was also Edilhere Brother and Successour of Anna late King of the East-angles who was the authour of the war he together with the forces attending him was likewise slain And because the battell was fought near the River Iuwet which by reason of great raines had overflowed its banks the waters consumed more in the flight then swords had in the combat 5. This wonderfull victory was gaind in the thirteenth year of King Oswi his raign and on the seaventeenth day before the Calends of December in the region of Loidis now called Leeds io Yorkshire were above thirty years before King Edwin had overcome the Brittains The River which in S. Beda is called Iuwet Mathew of Westminster more properly calls Winwed adding that thence the Proverb came That in the River Winwed were revenged the slaughters of five Kings Anna Sigebirt Egric Oswald and Edwin And near the place is yet extant a village either from this or King Edwins victory called Winfeild 6. This victory brought incredible proffit to both the Nations for the Northumbers were secured from the hostile incursions of their Enemies and the Nations both of the Mercians and other confining Provinces became converted to the Christian Faith assoon as their perfidious Head was cutt off For immediatly after the most Christian King Oswi took possession of Penda's kingdom by whose order the Holy Preist Diuma was ordaind by Finan Bishop both of the Mercians and Midland-Angli for by reason of the scarcity of Preists one Prelate was obliged to govern two Nations And now also the Conversion of the East-Saxons under their King Sigebert of which we treated before was perfected 7. King Oswi having thus by divine assistance gaind so miraculous a victory forgot not his Vow But saith the same S. Beda according to his promise made to our Lord and in thanks-giving for his victory he gave his daughter Elsleda scarce then a year old to be consecrated in perpetual Virginity to our Lord and moreover twelve possessions of lands for the maintaining Religious persons to pray dayly for the perpetual peace of his Nation Of which each possession was ten families The foresaid daughter of King Oswi therefore entred into the Monastery calld Heortsig or the Island of the Hart which was governed by the Holy Abbesse Hilda And two years after having obtaind a possession of ten families in a place calld Streneshalch she there built a Monastery in which the foresaid Kings daughter first learnt and afterwards taught Regular observance till having spent three-score years in our Lords service the happy Virgin hastned to the embraces of her heavenly Bridegroom XXI CHAP. i. 2 c. The Gests and happy death of the Holy Abbesse S. Hilda 1. AS for S. Hilda mentiond by S. Beda she was the daughter of Hereric Grand child of King Edwin by his son Egfrid
was attended by a certain person named Oswin her prime servant and steward of her house A man worthy to serve such a Queen For he afterward became a Monk being a man of great merit and who out of a pure intention forsaking the world to obtain an eternall retribution became worthy to receive many revelations of Divine Mysteries from our Lord. 10. S. Etheldreda or Ediltrudis thus accompanied was conducted and maried to Egfrid Prince of the Northumbers Who being possessed of such a treasure omitted nothing whereby he might conciliate her affections But one onely thing could content her which was the preservation of her Virginall integrity all other blandishments which a Princely State could afford without this were tastlesse and noysom to her 11. Once more therefore she made use of her former arts to obtain that from Egfrid which had been granted her by Tombert that there might be between them a conjunction of minds onely with a separation of bodies Egfrid was a Prince in whose veyns youthfull blood was then boyling Yet such power had the prayers and reasons alledged by his chast Princesse that by an example scarce hitherto heard of in the Church they lived twelve years together without any prejudice or diminution of Saint Ethelreds Virginity Her youth beauty and other admirable perfections of mind produced in him nothing but reverence they conversed together as if they had been devested of their Bodies 12. To the present sensuall age this may seem incredible but there is not wanting a clowd of witnesses to testify it William of Malmsbury thus writes Etheldrida though maried to two husbands by a happy continence lived free from any stirring of lust so that without the least deminution of her chastity she victoriously obtained in heaven the garland of perpetuall Virginity To the same purpose Henry of Huntingdom Aeldiltrida was the wife of King Egfrid yet to the end remained a pure Virgin 13. But before these Saint Beda who lived in the sâ—me age with her thus more expressly testifies the same King Egfrid saith he took to wife a Lady named Ediltruda the daughter of Anna King of the Angles who was a very Religious Prince and every way illustrious The same Lady had been before wife to a Prince of the Southern Girvians named Tombert after whose death which succeeded not long after the mariage she was given to the foresaid King And though she continued the space of twelve years his Consort yet she remain'd glorious in the perpetuall integrity of her Virginity Hereof the Blessed Bishop Wilfrid gave mee an assurance when upon the occasion of some persons who called it into doubt I ask'd him concerning it For he professed that he himself was a most certain witnesse of it in so much as King Egfrid promised him great store of money and lands if he could perswade the Queen who respected none so much as him to afford him the use of mariage 14. Thus writes Saint Beda and as if he foresaw that there would arise in our Nation a Sect either disgracing Virginity or Professing that Continence is a Vertue exceeding human forces he adds Neither ought we to distrust that that might happen in our age which faithfull history testifies to have sometimes formerly come to passe since it is a gift of the same Lord who promised to be present with us to the end of the world Moreover God was pleased by a Divine miracle to witnes the same For the flesh of S. Edildreda a long time after she was buried could not be corrupted which was a sign that whilst she was alive she remaind uncorrupted by human touches 15. After twelve years thus conversing â—ogether during which time King Egfrid used all means but force to expugn his wives purpose at last he gave her free permission to spend the rest of her dayes according to her own desire in a stare of Religious retirement where she might â—ive free from all solicitations and entirely employ her whole affection on her heavenly Bridegroom Thus writes Saint Beda After she had made many earnest requests to the King that she might be permitted to relinquish all worldly cares and serve our Lord Christ alone the true King in a Monastery at last with much adoe she obtaind her petition and entred into a Monastery where Ebba the Aunt of King Egfrid was Abbesse and which was seated in a place calld the Citty of Coluda or Coldingham There she received the Sacred veyle of Religions from the foresaid Bishop Wilfrid 16. Wee must here interrupt the Narration of Saint Beda and insert the occurrents hapning to this Blessed Virgin upon her departure from Saint Ebba before she arrived at her own Territory of Ely as we find recorded in the ancient Archives of that Monastery 17. There we read how not long after her permission to retire her self King Egfrid repenting his indulgence towards her was desirous to recall her and by the instigation of his servants resolved by force to take her out of the Monastery Which being made known to the Holy Abbesse Ebba she counselled Saint Ethelreda to fly speedily away and not to rest till she came to her own house at Ely Whereupon the Holy Virgin without delay taking with her two other devout Virgins Selbenna and Selbera went out of the Monastery and went up a high Mountain not far distant called Coldeburches-heved which signifies the Head of Coldeburt In the mean time King Egfrid was come to the Monastery and hearing of her flight pursued her But Almighty God to defend his servants had encompassed the Hall with deep waters from the Sea insomuch as the King could find no means to passe them At which being amazed and perceiving a Divine hand in it he returnd to York and shortly after took to wife Ermenburga And after that time he conceived a deep hatred against Saint Wilfrid which broke forth afterward as shall be declared 18. The Tradition of that region informs us that the Holy Virgin and her companions were sustained by God seaven dayes on that mountain without any corporall food After which they descended and passing over the River of Humber they came prosperously to a place called Wintringham and rested at a Village named Alfham where she took order for building a Church From thence travelling with great labour and finding in her way a commodious shade she there layd her down to sleep And when she awaked she found her staff which she had fastned in the ground at her head had taken root and began to flourish with leaves In succeeding times it became a very large and tall Tree and continues to this day called Etheldredstow or Ethelreds rest And in memory thereof a Church was there afterward built to her honour She therefore pursuing her iourney through many difficulties and dangers at last arrived safe at Ely with her two companions There she found a Holy Preist called Huna who ioyfully received her and performed all Ecclesiasticall functions
Monks of her Convent in her name to pray unto our Lord for the common safety of the Kingdom adding that She her self would also add her prayers for the same purpose And when the young man had not the courage to perform her commands she told him that for a sign he should be contracted in his members lame and disabled to every thing till the day of her Deposition on which solemnity if he were caried to her Sepulcher he should recover his perfect health Hereupon the young man published his Vision insomuch as many beleived it being induced thereto by seing the penalty layd on him For to shew that there was no fiction in the matter his leggs were so slender that there was nothing but skin and bones and his hamms were so drawn up that his heeles stuck to his hanches 16. The report of this being spread abroad many came to see him and for tryal they prickd his leggs and feet with iron bodkins but the skin being dead he felt nothing Others endeavoured but in vain to draw back his leggs They determined therefore to expect the prefixed day wherein the event would prove his speeches either true or false On the solemnity therefore of the glorious Virgin-Queen the young man was caried to the Church There being layd he began first to fall into a slumber but being wakd he leapt up Those who were near heard the cracking of his sinews after which followed the stretching forth of his members and the young man began to leape and in the presence of many he went about the Virgins Sepulcher And whereas by command of the Holy Virgin he had foretold many secret matters touching particular persons the which he revealed to his Parish-Preist under seal of Confession all which were found to be true men therefore did assure themselves that all the rest which he sayd should afterward come to passe were true likewise Among which he foretold that the summer following the heats would be so extreme that the leads on some Churches would be melted unlesse God would qualify it And indeed we felt a very great heat which but for the prayers of some devout persons would have been intolerable Moreover by lightning from heaven the lead on some Churches was melted as at a town called Manfeild in Sussex the Collegiat Church of Canterbury likewise was burnt with a great part of the Citty severall farm-houses also in Essex and in some places both ships and mariners were consumed by fire from heaven 7 This Vision and prediction was moreover confirmed by another shortly following made by the same glorious Saint to an old decrepit woman of fourscore years who was healed of a long continued lamenes at her Sepulcher as the same Historian at large recounts to whom the Reader is referred To conclude we will here only add the Testimony given to this Holy Virgin in the Roman Martyrologe where on the three and twentieth of Iune we read these words In Brittany on that day is the Commemoration of S. Ediltrudis Queen and Virgin illustrious for Sanctity and Miracles whose Body eleaven years after she was buried was found uncorrupted VI. CHAP. 1.2 c. The Gests of S. Withburga Sister to S. Ethelreda 6 7. c. Her Body likewise uncorrupted after many ages 10.11 The Priviledge of England above other countreyes 1. THE same year in which S Ethelreda was the second time maried to Egfrid Prince of the Northumbers her Sister S. Withburga daughter of Anna King of the East-angles according to our ancient Martyrologe is sayd to have dyed though in a later and more correct Edition her death is placed ten years after 2. This Holy Virgin S. Withburga having scarce passed the years of child hood was enflamed with a desire of retiring from the tumults and conversation of the world that she might more freely attend to God And accordingly she built for her self an Oratory in a village of Norfolk called Derrega now Derham where as if she had been devested of her body and estranged from all delectations of sence she gave her self entirely to Divine Contemplation living an Angelicall life in perfect chastity and neglect of all contentments of the flesh 3. Now it hapned that her self and her innocent family of Virgins her attendants being solicitous only to feed their minds with spirituall delicacies fell into want of necessary sustenance Whereupon the Holy Virgin carefull of her companions addressed her prayers to her heavenly Master whose care extends it self even to the foules of the aire beseeching him to provide for his hand maids who only attended on his service After such Prayers she fell into a slumber in which she saw standing by her the Queen of Virgins adorned with inexpressible beauty and Majesty who bid her still putt her confidence in God and not to trouble herself for the morrow Send sayd she two of the mayd servants every morning to the bridge which passes over the neighbouring River for there will meet them two milch Does which will afford sufficient nourishment for this small family According to this command the next morning she sent her two mayds to whom two Does offred themselves from which they drew a sufficient quantity of milk for their sustenance 4. This effect of the Divine Providence towards his servants continued a long time till at last the Devill full of envy and rage incited the like passions into the mind of a rude barbarous man of principall authority in the same village who deriding so great a miracle and agitated with a malicious spitefull indignation with arrows killed the said beasts But he that despised miracles perished with a miracle for presently after being smitten with the jaundise he consumed away and miserably dyed 5. But mans envy could nor shorten Gods hand who is not confined to one mean of providing for his servants He who fills every creature with his benediction was not wanting in his care for the sustenance of this Holy Virgin and her devout family who persevered to the end in the same course of piety How many years she spent therein is not expressly declared by any ancient Writer Onely the eighth day before the Ides of Iuly is in our Calendâ—r assigned for the day of her deposition 6. She was first buried saith Camden in the same town of Derham whither she had retired herself and for her aversion from all luxury and vanity was by our Ancestours reckond among the Saints And with great reason since God was pleased not only to beatify her Spirit with immortality but her chast body likewise with incorruption For by the testimony of Florentius her body fifty five years after being translated and more honourably reposed in the Church built by her self was found entire untouched by any corruption The Authour of her life addes that not her body only but vestments likewise were found as fresh as if she had the same day been layed in her tomb And
proceeded out of the same family S. Edilburga the naturall daughter of King Anna Saint Sedrido daughter to King Anna's wife Hereswida by another husband and Saint Eartongatha neice to them both being daughter to Earcombert King of Kent and his wife Saint Sexburga These three Holy Virgins though they dyed in severall years yet since Saint Beda ioyns them together we will here follow his example placing their Gests this year of Grace six hundred and sixty in which S. Sedrido according to our Martyrologe dyed 3. They all out of a desire of a more strict and perfect life went over into France by reason that as yet there were not in Brittany many Monasteries for Religious Virgins and there betook themselves to the Monastery of Saint Phara whom formerly Saint Columban had instructed in Piety and a love of Christian Perfection The relation which Saint Beda gives of them is as followeth 4. Eartongatha the daughter of King Earcombert and S. Sexburga was a Virgin of eminent vertues as became the offspring of such parents She spent her life in our Lords service in a Monastery of France built by the most illustrious Abbesse S. Phara in a place called Brige or Brye For at that time by reason there were not many Monasteries erected in Brittany it was the custome for many parents in this Island to send over their daughters into French Monasteries there to be instructed in piety and consecrated to our Lord especially in the Monasteries of Brige Cale or Chelles and Andilegum In the number of such noble Virgins so sent into France was Sedrido daughter of the wife of Anna King of the East-angles and likewise Edilburga a naturall daughter of the same King Both these Virgins for the merit of their vertues though strangers were constituted Abbesses of the Monastery of Brye now called Pharmonstier And hence may those Writers be corrected who place Saint Sedrido in the Monastery of Chelles which as yet was not built by the Holy Queen S. Bathildis 5. Therefore Andrew Saussay in his Martyrologe on the seaventh of December truly writes concerning Saint Phara and these Virgins after this manner The Father of Saint Phara being at last better advised built for her a Monastery in the forest of Brye in a place then called Eboriacum but afterwards it took the name of Pharmonstier from the said Holy Abbesse She being settled there by the odour of her Sanctity drew many other devout Virgins thither over whom she becoming a Mother excelled them more in Grace and vertue then in her preeminence and dignity And indeed so great was the some of her Sanctity that great numbers of Noble Virgins yea and Princesses out of all the Provinces of France yea Germany England and Ireland contended to be there received and to those being inflamed with Divine love she communicated her own vertues and Graces Among those devout Virgins the most renowned for Piety was Edilburga naturall daughter of Anna King of the East-angles who after the death of Saint Phara supplied her Office in the government of the Monastery and by the divine progresse of her life deserved to be inscribed in the number of Saints after her death Where succeeded her in the same Office her neece Saint Earthongatha daughter of Earcombert King of Kent a worthy branch and well beseeming so noble a Stock for she flourishing with eminent piety and vertue served our Lord there till her death in wonderfull purity both of body and Spirit 6. Our Martyrologe seems to make Saint Sedrido the immediate Abbesse of Pharmonstier after S Edilburga and after her S. Earthongatha is supposed to have succeeded though her name which is strange be there omitted And as touching S. Sedrido her commemoration in the French Martyrologe is on the tenth of Ianuary in these words On that day is celebrated the memory of S. Sethrida Virgin in the Monastery of S. Phara in the territory of Brye Who being an English Lady out of zâ—ale to Perfection came to the same Monastery where she professed a Religious state and having consummated the course of an Angelicall life upon earth departed to the heavenly society of Holy Virgins Her praises are written by venerable Beda 7. We must not here omitt what the same Saint Beda writes concerning S. Earthongata Many things are related very miraculous by the inhabitants of that territory concerning this Holy Virgin But we will onely mention breifly her death and the wonders succeeding it When the day approached in which she was to be called out of this world to eternall happines she went about the Monastery visiting the Celles of the Religious Virgins especially such as were more ancient and eminent for piety to whose prayers she humbly recommended her self not concealing from them that she was taught by revelation that her departure was at hand The manner of which revelation was sayd to be this She saw a great troop of men in white garments enter the Monastery and asking them what they sought for there their answer was That they were sent thither to receive and carry back with them a precious Medall of gold which came thither out of Kent Now on the same night toward the end whereof near break of day she passed from the darknes of this world to the heavenly Light many of the Monks whose lodgings were adioyning to the Monastery report that they heard distinctly a Melody of Angells singing and a noyse as it were of a great multitude entring the Monastery Whereupon going forth to see what the matter was they saw a wonderfull great Light from heaven in which that holy soule when delivered from the prison of her body was conducted to eternall ioyes They add many other wonders hapning the same night which we pursuing other matters leave to their relation 8. The Sacred body of the Virgin and Spouse of our Lord was buried in the Church of the Protomartyr S. Steven Three days after they having a mind to take up the Stone which covered her Sepulcher and raise it higher as they were busy about this a sweet odour of so wonderfull fragrancy evaporated from beneath that it seemd to the Religious men and Sisters there assisting as if a cellar full of precious bauâ—m was then opened Thus writes S. Beda touching S. Earthongata 9. And concerning S. Edilburga he addes Likewise S. Edilburga formerly mentioned the Aunt of S Earthongata by her Mother she likewise preserved the glory of perpetuall Virginity with great purity and perfection and of how eminent merits she was appeared yet more after her death In the time whilst she was Abbesse she began the building of a Church in the Monastery to the honour of all the Apostles where her desire was to be buried But death snatched her away before half the building was finished notwithstanding she was buried in the same place where she had desired After her death the Monks who had care of the Monastery employd their minds in other matters so
severall years later X. CHAP. 1.2 c. The Gests of Saint Foillan Martyr And of S Vltan both of them Brethren of S. Fursey 1. THIS year was wonderfully fruitful in Saints For in the same S. Foillaâ— was crownd with Martyrdom He was Brother of S. Fursey and with him came oâ—t oâ— Ireland into Brittany where he lived a 〈◊〉 in the Monastery of Knobberri-burg and aâ—teâ— his departure succeded him in thâ— Oâ—ce oâ— Abbot as hath bene already declâ—â—â—d in thâ— year six hundred forty two He is commeâ—morated in our Martyrolâ—gâ— on the thirtieth of October and held in great veneration not only in Brittany but Ireland also and France 2. Concerning him we read thus in the French Martyrologe That out of Brittany he went to Rome to obtain a benediction and faculties from Pope Martin to convert Infidels Which having received he went into France where after some progresse made in his Apostolicall Office of preaching he was received with great reverence by S Gertruâ—e with whose assistance he founded the Monastery of Fosse Yet he did not so fixe himself in that place as if he had found there a quiet abode and secure haven and would dispense with his Apostolick Office but on the contrary his zeale to exalt the glory of Christ was so urgent in him that like lightning he went up and down plucking up the seed of Idolatry yet remaining there and sowing the true Faith he incited the inhabitants as yet spiritually blind to admitt the Light of Truth the Grace of God and eternall life to their soules those who were obstinat against the light he sharply reproved and both by exhortations and good example instantly besought and with a pious zeale even compelled them to be saved But the Enemy of mans salvation could no longer endure so watchfull a preacher of the Mystery of piety He therefore arms certain impious men with a blind envy and malice against hâ—m who violently and furiously assaulted this Holy Messenger of God in a forest of Hannow where with their swords they barbarously massacred him who did not resist them but dyed praying for them But God was not wanting to honour his servant for both from the merits of his past life and the miracles following his death he was acknowledged and honoured as a glorious Martyr and not long after a magnificent Monument was erected at his grave near Râ—dium a Town of Hannow which remains illustrious to this day where there is seen a Noble Monastery of Canons Regulars of the Order of Saint Norbert which takes its appellation from this Blessed Martyr 3. We must not separate Brethren Therefore we will here adjoyn the commemoration of Saint Vltan Brother to S. Fursey and Saint Foillan whose death in our Martyrologe is assigned to the same year on the second of May Concerning whom the Gallican Martyrologe thus writers on the first day of the same month At Peronne is the commemoration of Saint Vltan Confessour Abbot of the Monastery in the same town and Brother and Successour of Saint Fursey and of the glorious Martyr S. Foillan He was a wonderfull observer of Religious piety and by the assistance of Saint Gertrude of Nivelle having finished the Monastery of Fosse in the territory of Liege and emparted wholesome instructions to the Religious there returned to this Monastery of Peronne the Abbot whereof he was after his Brothers death he there honourably received and in a fatherly manner entertained S. Amatus Bishop of Sâ—ns who for his zeale to iustice was banished his Diocese and having spent the remainder of his life in a most holy conversation was called to his eternall reward and presently after was followed by S. Vltan Both whose Sacred Relicks are with due honour preserved partly at Peronne and partly at Fosse XI CHAP. 1.2 c. Of S. Christiana an English-Saxon Virgin 1. ABout this time most probably a Holy Virgin named Christina or Christiana derived from an English-Saxon family ended a most holy life yet her memory is not celebrated by any of our English Histories But Miraeus in his Belgick Calendar on the twenty sixth of Iuly thus writes concerning her Teneramund a town of Flanders Imperiall in the diocese of Gaunt seated at the meeting of the Rivers Scaldis and Tenera acknowledges two Tutelar Saints S. Hilduard Bishop and S. Christiana a Virgin whose Sacred Relicks are preserved there in a College of Canons S. Christiana was the daughter of a King of England And Saint Hilduardus flourished in the year seaven-hundred and fifty 2. But some what more particularly touching her parents and manner of life we read in the Gallican Martyrologe as followeth On the seaventh of September at Teneramund in the Bishoprick of Gaunt is commemorated the Translation of S. Christiana a Holy Virgin the daughter of Migraâ—nus King of England who coming into Flanders at Diclivena was received among the Religious Virgins and having devoutly performed her course of vertue in the service of our Saviour the Spouse of Holy Virgins there happily dyed and was buried with a great esteem of Sanctity And afterward being glorified by innumerable miracles to the end her veneration might be more frequent her Sacred Relicks were translated to Teneramunda and honourably reposed there in the Collegiat Church of the most Holy Virgin-Mother of God together with the bones of S. Hilduardus the Apostle and Tutelar Saint of the same town together with whom she is by the inhabitants of the same Town and Territory adioyning honoured as companion of the same Saint in the protection of that place 3. Again touching the manner how being born and educated a Pagan she was miraculously converted and exalted to so high a degree of Sanctity is thus further related in the same Martyrologe On the twenty seaventh of Iuly at Teneramunda in Flanders is celebrated the Memory of S. Christiana a Virgin who being the only daughter of Migramnus King of the English was in her tender age most devout to her false Gods and Idols according to the Tradition of her Ancestours But Almighty God looking on her with eyes of Mercy sent an Angell from heaven to her in the shape of a beggar who instructed her in the Christian Faith and commanded her to be baptised By whose conduct likewise she came to Dikelvenna where after she had with great perfection consummated her course she attained to eternall Beatitude Her Body afterward shining with many Divine Miracles was from thence translated to Teneramunda For whose honour and veneration Ringot Prince of that place having reedified a Church which had been demolished by the Normans commended the Patronage of that Citty to the same Holy Virgin Hence it was that to this day she is honoured by the inhabitants as their peculiar Protectresse 4. This Translation was performed in the year one thousand ninety two But who this Migramnus said to have been an English King was and what time he lived does not appear
in any History Probably he was some inferiour Saxon Prince in Brittany for among the Kings of that Heptarchy no such name is mentioned And later then this time he could not probably live since very few of the Saxon Princes did now remain in their ancient Heathenish Idolatry His daughter S. Christiana's name is placed among the Saints recited in our Martyrologe on the same seaven and twentieth of Iuly XII CHAP. 1.2 c. The Gests of S. Cedde and his Brethren 6.7 The death of Sigebert King of the East Saxons denounced by Saint Cedde 1. AT the same time our Island of Brittany received a notable luster by the piety of four Brethren all of them consecrated Saints their names were S. Cedd Saint Celin S. Cimbell and S. Ceadda or Chad. they were all of them Preists and two of them exalted to the dignity of Bishops to witt S. Cedd who was now Bishop of London and S. Ceadda who shortly will be the first Bishop of Lichfeild 2. As touching S. Cedd how in this year of Grace six hundred and sixty he founded the Monastery of Lesting in Yorkshire S. Beda at large thus relates It was the custom of the man of God S. Cedd whilst he was Bishop of the East-Saxons frequently to visit his own native countrey of the Northumbers to the end he might impart among them his Spirituall exhortations Now Edilwald the son of King Oswald raigning then in the Province of the Deirâ— or Yorkshire perceiving him to be a holy and wise man of great integrity desired of him that he would accept at his hands a certain possession of land there to build a Monastery where to himself might repair to perform his devotions and heare Gods word as likewise bury the dead For this King beleived that he should receive much benefit by the dayly prayers of those that served our Lord there Now the said King had then in his attendance a Brother of the said Bishop named Celin a man of great piety who was wont to administer to him and hiâ— family the Sacraments of our Faith for he was a Preist and by his information he came to know and love the Holy Bishop S. Cedd therefore complying with the Kings desire made choice for the Seat of a Monastery a place among steep and remote mountains which seemd fitter to be a retrait for theeves or lurking place for wild beasts then a habitation for men Now the man of God being desirous by prayers and fasting first to cleanse that place from the filth of crimes formerly executed there and consequently to lay the foundation of a Monastery desired permission of the King that he might abide there in Prayer the whole Lent then at hand Which being granted he according to the Ecclesiasticall custom prolonged his Fast till evening every day except Sundays and then also he contended himself with a small portion of bread one egg and a little milk mingled with water For he said that such was anciently the custom of those who founded Monasteries and from whom he had received the Rule of Monasticall Profession by prayers and fasting to consecrate the places where they intended to build a Monastery or Church 3. Now toward the latter end of Lent when onely ten days remained one came to call him to the King He therefore to the end so Religious a work should not be intermitted for the Kings affaires desired his Brother Cymbel who was a Preist to continue there the devotions which he had piously begun Whereto he willingly condescended And thus the full time of Prayer and fasting being consummated he there built a Monastery called now Lestinghen and instructed the Monks with such Religious Instituts as were practised at Lindesfarn where he had been brought up The care of which Monastery he recommended to his Brother Ceadda who was afterward Bishop first of York and shorly after of Lichfeild 4. Now whereas Saint Beda calls this Edilwald King of the Deiri he is to be esteemed only a King by courtesy of Osâ—â— â—o whom the whole Kingdom of the Northumbers at this time belonged And therefore in the Catalogue of the Northumbrian Kings extant in Mathew of Westminster Edilwald is omitted And as for the Monastery of Lestinghen in the Breviary of Sarum it is sayed to belong to the Isle of Lindesfarn Which Island notwithstanding did not pertain to the Province of the Deiri but of the Bernicians Wheresoever it was placed there flourished in it many persons eminent for Sanctity among which Osâ—i a Monk in our Martyrologe is reckoned in the number of Saints who dyed in the year of Grace six hundred sixty seaven 5. Saint Cedd remaind among the Northumbers no long time for the year following hapned the death of Sigebert the good King of the East-Saxons inflicted on him for contemning the Ecclesiasticall Câ—nsure imposed by this Holy Bishop Cedd on one of his Nobles The Story is thus particularly recounted by S. Beda One of the Nobles of King Sigeberts Court had contracted an unlawfull mariage against the Orders of the Church Which the Bishop not being able to prevent nor correct he excommunicated him commanding all under his care to abstain entring into his house or eating of his meat Which prohibition the King not regarding when he was invited by the said Count he went to feast at his house At his return the Holy Bishop mett him Whom as soon as the King lookd â—n he began to tremble and leaping from his horse prâ—strated himself at his feet begging pardon for his offence for the Bishop likewise who was on horse-back had lighted down And being angry he touched the King as he lay with his rodd which he held in his hand and with an Episcopall authority said to him I tell thee O King because thou wouldst not abstain from the house of that desperat excommunicated person thou thy self shalt dye in the same house 6. This denunciation of the Holy Bishop was accordingly accomplished for as the same Authour relates Whilst the Christian Faith encreased dayly in that Province to the great mutuall ioy both of the King and people it hapned by the instigation of the Enemy of all good that the King himself was murdred by the hands of his own kinred They were two Brethren who executed this heynous crime And being askd why they did it they could give no other answer but this That they were enraged enemies to the king because he was wont to be too mercifull to his enemies and quietly to pardon injuries whensoever those who did them begged his mercy Such was the fault for which this good King was slain because with a devout heart he observed the Precepts of the Gospell Yet by this death hapning to him without his fault a former reall fault was punished according to the Prophecy of the man of God Now we may piously beleive that such a death of this Religious Prince did not only wash away the stain of
he taught every where things belonging to Christian Faith and Truth Presently after his consecration being struck with the contagion then raigning in that Province saith Huntingdon he dyed and was buried at a place called Womalet But in S. Beda it is called Peynalech who adds that it was a Monastery 5. Moreover as S. Beda testifies when the Scottish Monks living in Lindesfarn departed thence with their Bishop Colman those which remaind received for their Superiour with the authority of Abbot the most Reverend gentle and mild man Eata who before was Abbot in the Monastery called Mailros This Translation was made as the report is upon the request of Bishop Colman at his departure to King Oswi Because the same Eata was one of the twelve children which Saint Aidan in the time of his Bishoprick had received from the English Nation to instruct them in the Doctrine of Christ. The said request of Bishop Colman was easily granted by King Oswi because he loved him very much for his gravity and prudence This is the same Eata who a while after was ordained Bishop of the same Church of Lindesfarn 6. Presently after the death of the Venerable Bishop Tuda there followed great commotions and debates in the Church of the Northumbers by reason of severall pretenders to the administration of the same Church as shall shortly be declared more at large XXIII CHAP. 1.2 The Plague in Ireland 3.4 c. The Gests of S. Egbert a Saxon Preist He reduces the Scotts to Catholick conformity his death 1. THere are severall other Saints commemorated in our Martyrologe whose death is assigned to this year as the two Royall Martyrs Ethelâ—ed and Ethelbert Sons of Wulfere King of the Mercians of whom we have already treated demonstrating that their Martyrdom could not fall so late Likewise two Royall Virgins S. Mildreda and Saint Milburga Neices of the same King by his Brother Merevald of whom we shall treat more commodiously hereafter 2. Following therefore the progresse of this Pestilence it will lead us into Ireland were we shall find matter proper for our present Subiect and related by S. Beda in the manner following The same killing infection faith he with equall destruction raged in Ireland Now there were at that time in the same Island many persons both of noble extraction and meaner state who in the times of Finan and Colman Bishops leaving their native countrey retired thither some to gain instruction and others to attend to their Spirituall Exercises and Mortification Severall of them therefore undertook a Monasticall Profession and not a few going from Cell to Cell where learned Masters inhabited addicted themselves to Reading and Study All these were freely and with a good will entertained by the Scotts who afforded them upon free cost both dayly nourishment books to read and instruction likewise 3. Among these there were two Noble young men of vertuous and towardly disposition Their names were Edelhum and Egbert The former of these was Brother of Edilhum or Ethelwin a man of great Sanctity who likewise the year following went into Ireland to enrich his mind with learning and being well instructed returned into his Native countrey Brittany where he was ordained Bishop of Lindisse or Lindesfare and worthy governed that Church many years of whom we shall treat more at large hereafter 4. The said two young men being in a Monastery which the Scotts or Irish call Rathmesige where all their companions were either taken out of the world by the infection or dispersed in other places they likewise both of them were struck with the same disease and greivously affected And of these two Egbert as a certain grave and sincere Preist who professed that he heard it from Egbert himself assured mee beleiving that he should not escape went one morning out of the Infirmary into a retired place where â—itting alone he began seriously to call to mind his former actions and feeling great compunction by the memory of his past sins he bedewd his face with teares and from the depth of his soule prayed to Almighty God not to take him out of the world till he had more perfectly performed Pennance for his past negligences and faults committed in his child hood and youth and till he had more plentifully exercised himself in good works He made a Vow likewise that he would live all his days a stranger and never return into Brittany where he was born likewise that besides the Solemn Canonicall Office he would every day recite the whole Psalter in memory of the Divine praises and also every week passe one whole day and night in fasting except he should be hindred by some bodily infirmity 5. Having concluded his weeping prayer and Vows he returned to his Cell where finding his companion asleep he likewise layd himself on his bed and falling into a slumber he was presently awaked by his companion who looking earnestly upon him said O Brother Egbert what have you done I hoped we should both together have gone to heaven But know that the things thou so earnestly prayed for are granted thee For he had learnt by a Vision both the subiect of Egberts prayers and that God would perform his desires In a word the following night Edelhum died 6. But Egbert in a short time shaking off the pains of his disease recovered and lived many years after He received the degree and Order of Preisthood which he adorned by many good actions suitable to that Profession and according to his desire being full of vertue and piety he a little while since to witt in the year of our Lords Incarnation seaven hundred twenty nine being fourscore and ten years old went to everlasting ioyes 7. He lead a life with all perfection of Humility meeknes continence simplicity and iustice Insomuch as both by the example of his life by his assiduity in teaching zeale in correcting and liberality in giving what he had received from rich men he was very beneficiall both to his own countreymen and also to the Scotts and Picts among whom he lived 8. He added likewise to his forementioned Vows this Of never tasting any thing in Lent but once a day and then also onely bread and a small measure of thin milk Which milk his custom was to putt the day before in a glasse and when the night was past to take off the cream and drink the rest with a small portion of Bread The like measure of abstinence he was wâ—nt likewise to observe forty days before our Lords Nativity and as many after Pentecost 9. This is that S. Egbert who was the first and cheif mover of the glorious design of twelve Apostolicall English Preists to convert certain German Nations our Primitive Ancestors to the Christian Faith which they undertook and in a great measure performed These were S. Suâ—bert S. Willebrord S. Boniface and the rest of their illustrious companions S. Egbert was desirous to have ioynd in their labours and dangers but
the world whom he buried honourably in the Church dignified with the Sacred Bodies of the Prime Apostles 7. He further tells him that he had delivered to the present Messengers as tokens of his Fatherly respect certain Relicks of the Blessed Apostles S. Peter and S. Paul and of the Holy Martyrs Saint Laurence S. Iohn and Paul Saint Gregory and Saint Pancratius which they were commanded to present to him Adding withall that he had sent a Crosse in which was a golden key containing of the filings of the chains of the same Prime Apostles which were to be presented to the Queen his spirituall daughter the fame of whose piety caused great ioy in the whole Roman Church 8. Then he concludes his letter with exhortations to proceed in his zeale of reducing the whole Island to an uniformity of Catholick Faith and Practise which he doubted not but would be effected if to his diligence he would adde his Prayers to our Lord to give a successe to his endeavours Withall assuring him that his own continuall Prayers should not be wanting for Gods assistance in all pious works in this life and an eternall kingdome with Christ in the world to come 9. The Queen here generally mentioned though not named was Eanfleda the daughter of S. Edwin King of the Northumbers and Ethelburga daughter of Ethelbert the first Christian King of Kent She was the first who received Baptism in that Kingdom by the Ministry of S. Paulinus and after her Fathers death was forced to retire with her Mother into Kent but at last was sent back to become the Wife of this King Oswi 10. It may seem strange why this letter concerning the Election of an Arch-bishop of Canterbury should be addressed to Oswi King of the Northumbers without any mention of Egbert King of Kent But the difficulty will cease if we consider that though in Brittany there was a Heptarchy of Kings yet among them one for the most part had a generall superintendence over the rest being in a sort the Monark of the whole Island so that without his advice and concurrence no matters of moment or generall concern might passe such as was the constituting an Arch-bishop with authority to ordain Bishops in other Provinces and regulate their actions Now such a Monark at this time was Oswi King of the Northumbers the most potent of all the Saxon Princes 11. Almost three years passed before an Arch-bishop was sent in the place of Wigard who dyed at Rome Therefore it will be convenient to intermitt awhile the prosecution of this subject that we may insert other Ecclesiasticall affairs regarding the Saxon Churches in Brittany which intervened II. CHAP. 1.2.3 Saint Wilfrid constituted Bishop of York by King Alcfrid And Saint Ceadda by King Oswi 1. KING Oswi whose care we have seen in providing for the Widowed State of the See of Canterbury was not wanting at the same time in supplying the Vacancy of the Churches of the Northumbers by the death of Tuda last Bishop of Lindesfarn Now the Kingdom of the Northumbers consisting of two Provinces one more Northerly called the Province of the Bernicians containing all beyond the River Tine to the Frith of Edinborough and the other the Province of York and Lancaster called the Province of the Deiri The Former was governed immediatly by King Oswi himself and the Latter by his Son Alcfrid subordinatly to him 2. King Alcfrid being likewise solicitous for a Spirituall Pastour to govern his Churches sent his freind and Instructour S. Wilfrid into France to Agilbert who as hath been said was lately departed out of Brittany into his Native countrey France where presently after his coming upon the death of Importunus Bishop of Paris he was substituted Bishop of the same See To whom as to the most resplendent Starr of all France when Saint Wilfrid newly elected Bishop of York came out of England to receive Episcopall Consecration he was by him solemnly ordained eleaven other Bishops assisting These are the words of the French Martyrologe Huntingdon adds That S. Wilfrid was consecrated in the village called Compendium or Compiegne 3. Whilst these matters were transacting in France King Oswi either prevented by the suggestions of those whom S. Wilfrid had maisterd in the late disputation or impatient at his delay in France without expecting longer sent the Holy Abbot Ceadda into the Western Province to be consecrated Bishop of York by Wina who as yet did not administer the See of London Thus the Church of York had two Bishops at the same time and moreover Ceadda administred the Vacant See of Lindesfarn Which Controversie between two Bishops both of them eminent for Sanctity how it was managed between them and how upon occasion thereof great benefit accrewd to other nations by enlarging the Churches bounds shall be shewd hereafter in the proper Season III. CHAP. 1.2 c. The Martyrdom of Saint Clarus a Hermite and of his Companion Saint Cyriâ—us 1. OVR English Martyrologe refers to the year of Grace six hundred sixty six the Martyrdom of an English Hermit called Saint Clare Whose Gests are more expressly and largely related in the Gallican Martyrologe where on the fourth day of November the following Narration is inserted 2. This day is celebrated the Memory of Saint Clare an Ermit and Martyr by birth an Englishman of a very Noble descent and illustrious for his outward comelines and inward naturall endowments but principally for his singular piety and rare Chastity Being come to years of maturity he was by his parents affianced to a Noble and beautifull Virgin But when the time wherin the Mariage was to be solemnised approached the devout young man out of a desire to preserve his Virginall purity privily withdrew himself from his parents house and out of Brittany passed over to Neustria in France and arrived at a town called Cherbourg Casaris-burgum 3. There he retired himself to a certain Wood confining to that place where assuming to himself two others who were desirous to imitate his pious conversation he began to serve our Lord in all purity of body and mind being wholly abstracted from secular cares and attending entirely to celestiall But by the Devills envy he was exposed to many persecutions so that unable to abide there longer he repaired to a Holy man called Odobert Abbot of a Monastery called Madvin by whom he was kindly entertaind and from him learnt and practised a more strict Rule of Monasticall Discipline 4. But when the fame of his eminent Vertue occasioned a concourse of great multitudes of both sexes to the said Monastery He fearing lest by his frequent conversing with such throngs of visitants his Chastity or Humility which he earnestly desired to preserve might be endangered he obtaind premission from Odobert to retire to another Monastery seated neer the River Epta And there being exempted from all other care he entirely addicted himself to the Spirituall employments of Prayer and Preaching for
perceived the rubbish newly layd discovered the bodies and afterward a Church was built in the same place to honour their Martyrdom 7. Hereupon King Egbert saith Mathew of Westminster inwardly considering what had passed imputed the whole crime to himself alone and being wonderfully confounded in his mind spent the whole night following in tears Assoon as the morning light appeard he commanded an Assembly to be convoked of the newly arrived Arch-bishop Adeodatus or Theodorus and his Nobles and to them he freely related all former passages touching that busines and likewise how the night before a pillar of fire from heaven descended on the Bedies of those Holy Princes The Arch-bishop hereupon gave his advice that the Bodies should be caried to the Metropolitan Church and there buried after a Royall manner Thence proceeding therefore to the place they found the Sacred Relicks undecently layed under the Kings Chair These things befell in a village belonging to the King called Eastrey Wherefore taking up the Bâ—aâ—es and honourably putting them in coffins the Arch-bishop commanded to cary them to Christ-Church in Canterbury But in vain they attempted this for with all the force they â—ula use they could not remove them out of the place Whereupon changing his purpose he advised to transport them to the Church of Saint Augustin but with as little successe as before At last it was agreed that they should be caried to the Monastery of Wering or â—akering of great renoun in those days Which being resolved upon the Sacred Bodies were as easily removed as if they had no weight at all Being arrived therefore at that place the Exequies were solemnly performed by the Arch-bishop after which the Saints bodies were honourably buried near to the great Altar Where many wonderfull Miracles are dayly wrought to the glory of God and honour of his Saints The fame of which Miracles encreasing a certain Count of the East-Angles named Egelwin caused them to be translated to Ramsey in the time of King Edgar as shall in due place be declared 8 After this King Egbert by the advice of the Arch-bishop Theodorus and the holy Abbot Adrian endeavoured to redeem his former note of impiety by liberall Almes and many Religious Works Among which one memorable Monument of his Piety was the erecting a Monastery in the Isle of Thanet at a place called Menstrey or Minster This is testified by Thorne an ancient writer who saith The said Arch-bishop and Abbot sharply reproved King Egbert for his fault and perswaded him to send for Domneva Princesse of the Mercians and Sister to the two murdred Princes and Holy Martyrs of our Lord and to make sâ—me satisfaction to her for the losse of her Brethren She therefore being come received in the Isle of Thanet as much ground as a hind nourished by her at one course encompassed by running which contained forty eight ploughes There Domnevae with the Kings assistance built a Monastery of Virgins and sent for her daughter Milreda by Merwald Prince of the Mercians from the Monastery of Chelles Cala in France near Paris who being arrived was consecrated Abbesse of the said Monastery by the Holy Arch-bishop Theodore 9. Of this Lady Domneva we have already spoken she is called by severall names in our ancient Monuments Speed stiles her likewise by the Name of Edburga and Harpsfeild of Ermenburga As for her daughter Milreda she was not the first Abbesse of Minster in Thanet but succeeded to a Holy Virgin named Sabba to whom the government of the said Monastery was first committed 10. Such satisfaction the penitent King made for a crime the guilt whereof was cheifly to be imputed to his impious Minister Thunre who though by the Kings taking upon himself the whole sin he was not made a due Sacrifice to human iustice yet he scaped not the Divine vengeance For as William of Malmsbury writes When the said Thunere according to his usuall impudence with scornfull and depraved words misinterpreted the Kings piety in building the said Monastery he was swallowed up into the ground which opened wide under his feet and so descended quick into Hell 11. There is yet extant a Charter granted by King Edward the Confessour to the said Monastery in which severall of these particulars are recorded for therein we read this passage I likewise who am descended from the stock of the same King Edelbert and by the Divine Grace enioy his Kingdom doe in like manner grant the Isle of Thanet which King Egbert gave for an hereditary possession to the Venerable Queen Domneva the Mother of Saint Mildreda as much thereof as a Hind in her course encompassed in satisfaction for the murder of her two Brethren Ethelred and Ethelbert who by command of the said King were uniustly slain by the accursed Thimur whom presently after the Divine vengeance pursued in a terrible manner by a sudden death V. CHAP. 1.2 c. S. Theodore a Grecian sent Arch-bishop of Canterbury into Brittany with Adrian an Abbot 1. THE forementioned murder of the two innocent Princes hapned the same year that the new consecrated Arch-bishop Theodore arrived in Brittany Concerning the manner of whose Election we will now treat 2. The See of Canterbury had been now vacant four years since the death of the Arch-bishop Deus-dedit For Wigard who had been elected to succeed him and sent to Rome to receive consecration from Pope Vitalian dyed there of the plague before that could be effected After whose death the Pope as he informed King Oswi by letters undertook to provide that See and Church of a worthy Prelat 3. For which purpose after much consultation with his freinds saith S. Beda he at last resolved to make choice of a certain Abbot named Adrian residing in a Monastery called Nirida not far from Naples in Campania who was by birth an African eminently imbued in Sacred Learning as likewise in Monasticall and Ecclesiasticall Instituts and perfectly skilled in the Greek and Latin tongues Him therefore he sent for and enioyned him to accept of Episcopal Ordination and to repair into Brittany But the humble Abbot answered that he was unworthy of so high a degree yet withall told him that he could recommend another both for learning and age much better qualified for so sublime a charge then himself Therefore presenting to him a certain Monk named Andrew who was Spirituall Father in a Monastery of Religious Virgins near adioyning after examination he was acknowledged by all worthy of that Bishoprick Notwithstanding by reason of his corporal infirmity he obtaind to be excused Once more therefore the Abbot Adrian was urged to accept of that degree who humbly begged a short respit to the end he might try whether he could find any one more proper for that employment 4. Now there was at the same time in Rome a Monk well known to Adrian named Theodore born in Tarsus of Cicilia a man instructed both in secular and Divine litterature and skilfull
same purpose and that they having received his Benediction were returned full of sorrow the Monk who had heard the celestiall Musick went to the Bishop and prostrating himself to the ground before him said Venerable Father may it be permitted mee to ask you a question The Bishop answered Ask freely whatsoever thou wilt Then said he I beseech you tell mee What meant that ioyfull song which I heard sung by many with great ioy who came from heaven to this Oratory and after a while returned back to heaven again The Bishop replyed If thou hast indeed heard that Musick and perceived the heavenly company which came hither I command thee in the Name of our Lord that thou acquaint none with it before my death The truth is they were Angells and celestiall Spirits which came to call mee to receive those heavenly rewards which I always loved and desired and they have promised mee to return seaven dayes hence and conduct mee with them to heaven And indeed thus it came to passe as he had foretold For presently after a languishing infirmity came upon him which dayly encreased and on the seaventh day as had been promised him after he had armd himself against death by receiving devoutly the Body and blood of our Lord his soule was freed from the prison of his body and as we may piously beleive accompanied by Angells to celestiall ioyes Of whose glory S. Egbert was a witnes as we have already shewed in his Gests related by the same Authour 5. It is no wonder if he entertained with ioy the day of his death saith the same Authour since through the whole course of his life his cheif solicitude was to prepare himself for it insomuch as when any great wind or thunder hapned he would presently lay aside all other busines in hand and prostrating himself on his face pour forth his soule to God in prayer For as he told his Disciples the reason why God sends forth those voyces of terrour is to imprint his fear in mens minds and make them mindfull of those storms and tempests which shall be raised in the last dayes before the Generall Iudgment This S. Beda relates from the testimony of a Religious Monk called Trumbert his Master in Divine learning who had been a Disciple of this Holy Bishop 6. Now S. Ceadda dyed on the sixth day before the Nones of March and was first buried near the Church of our Blessed Lady But afterwards a magnificent Church having been built to the honour of the Prince of the Apostles his Sacred bones were translated thither And in both places for a proof of his Sanctity frequent miracles and cures were wrought 7. The place where he was buried was covered with a woodden tomb built in the form of a little house having a window in the wall through which such as in devotion came thither were accustomed to putt in their hand and take thence some part of the dust Which they mingled with water and gave to be tasted to sick men or cattell also by which their infirmities were presently taken away 8. We may with more assurance relate these Miracles because even the Lutheran Centuriators of Magdeburg acknowledge their beleif of them For thus they write Ceadda the Brother of Ced succeeded Iarumannus in the Bishoprick of the Mercians He received from King Wulfere his Episcopal See in a town of Lindissi called Lichfeild and governed the Churches of the Midland-English and Lindesfarians After his death he was renouned for Miracles insomuch as a man who was frantick and slept only at his tomb was restored to health and others afflicted with any manner of diseases by tasting the dust of his monument were perfectly cured 9. His Memory was with great devotion celebrated in all succeeding ages insomuch as the Cathedrall Church of his Bishoprick being raised with greater magnificence took its appellation from him This came to passe in the dayes of King Edward the second at which time saith B. Godwin Walter Langton Bishop of that See of Lichfeild bestowed two thousand pounds to enrich the Chest which contained the Body of his Predecessour S. Ceadda or Chad and likewise encompassed the precincts of the Church with a wall and ditch adding thereto two gates one very magnificently built toward the west and a lesser one to the East 10. To conclude this Narration we must not omitt one late memorable example of a wonderfull iudgment of God against the professed Enemies of his Saints In the beginning of the late rebellious warr a warr undertaken as much against Gods departed Saints as living Governours one of the most zealous Leaders of a Sacrilegious faction conducting his Army to this Citty of Lichfeild with an intention to break into the Inclosure of S. Ceadda's Church fortified by a Royal party whilst compleatly armed he pulled up the visour of his helmet that he might better view how to place his Ordinance against the wall was mortally wounded in the eye being the only part of his body exposed to danger by a bullet short at random Thus he perished in the heat of his fury whilst he assaulted the Church of S. Ceadda and upon the very Feast day of S. Ceadda 11. In the place of S. Ceadda the Arch-bishop Theodore ordained Bishop of that See a good and modest man saith S. Beda named Winfrid or Wilfrid who was Deacon to his Predecessour and at that time lived in the Monastery of Athburn Of whom we shall speak more hereafter X. CHAP. 1.2 c. The death of severall Saints Of King Oswi Of Abbot Boisilus Of Oswin a Monk of Diman and Adammannus 1. IN the six hundred and seaventieth year of our Lords Incarnation saith S. Beda which was the second year after the coming of Theodore into Brittany Oswi King of the Northumbers in the fifty eighth year of his age fell sick of an infirmity of which he dyed At the same time he was so affectionatly desirous to receive more perfect Instruction in Religion from the Apostolick See of Rome that he was determined in case he had recovered of that disease to goe thither and end his days at the Sacred places of the Apostles for which purpose he had desired the Holy Arch-bishop Wilfrid to be his guide in that journey for which he designed him a great summe of money He dyed the fifteenth day before the Calends of March and left his Son Egfrid heyr of the Kingdom He was buried in the Monastery of Strenshalch to which he had long before consecrated his daughter Edelfleda from her first infancy as hath been declared 2. That he dyed in general opinion of Sanctity appears in that his Name is read among the Saints in our Martyrologe on the fiâ—teenth of February And William of Malmsbury recounts how his body together with the bodies of many other Saints was removed three hundred years after his death For thus he writes At Streneshalt in the Quire
of Religious Wirgins there famous for being the Monument of many holy Bishops and glorious Princes it is now called Whitby by the devout industry of certain persons their sacred ashes almost lost in oblivion were discovered to the light and of late there were found and translated to a more honourable place the Bodies of severall Saints as Bishop Trumwin King Oswi and his daughter Elfleda who was Abbesse of the same Monastery after S. Hilda 3. Besides King Oswi severall other English Saints are recorded to have dyed the same year Among whom our Martyrologe mentions the Holy Abbot Boisilus who governed the Monastery of Mailrose and there gave the Habit and Tonsure to S. Cuthbert He was famous for the gift of Prophecy and after he had spent many years there as Monk and afterward Abbot was at last called and conducted to heaven by Angells S. Beda stiles him a man of sublime Vertues relates how S. Cuthbert was vont to say of him I have known very many who have far excelled mee in purity of heart and sublimity of Propheticall Grace Among whom was the Venerable servant of Christ Boisilus whose name is to be mentioned with all honour by mee in as much as in his old age he gave mee then a young man my education in the Monastery of Mailrose at which time he prophetically foretold all things which were to befall mee And among all his predictions there remains now onely one which I desire may never be fulfilld This he spoke because the said Servant of our Lord had declared to him that he should be exalted to the degree and Office of a Bishop Which charge he trembled to undergoe being much affected to a retired contemplative life His successour in the government of the said Monastery was the same S. Cuthbert 4 The same year likewise dyed a certain holy Monk in the Monastery of Lestinghen called Oswin a man eminent for his abstinence and Prayer He was descended from Brittish Ancestours but spent his life among the Scotts and English wfiich is an argument that the Brittains Scotts and Saxons were united in the same Faith 5 In the same Martyrologe are recorded also the names of S. Diman on the nineteenth of Iuly and S. Adamannus Abbot of the Monastery of Hye on the second of November this same year Whose gests I leave to the Scottish Writers XI CHAP. 1. Many pious Kings and Bishops 2. King Kenwalch his Liberality to Glastonbury 3.4 Of Brithwald Abbot of Glastonbury 1. THE English-Saxon Church at this time flourished wonderfully under severall Kings eminent in Sanctity and munisicent in advancing the service of God by building Churches and Monasteries such were Egbert in Kent Sebb at London Kenwalch in the West Wulfer among the Mercians and Oswi among the Northumbrians And at the same time the piety of these Kings was much advanced by the zeale of many holy Bishops industrious in propagating the true Faith and Ecclesiasticall Discipline Theodore Arch-bishop of Canterbury Wilfrid in the Province of the Northumbers Ceadda in that of the Mercians To whom we may adde Putta Bishop of Rochester and Lentherius or Eleuthetherius Nephew of S. Agilbert Bishop of Paris who accompanied Theodore into Brittany and at the desire of King Kenwalch was this year consecrated by the same Theodore Bishop of the West-Saxons 4. Among the fruits this year gathered out of this fertile ground we may reckon the Donation of King Kenwalch to the Monastery of Glastonbury mentioned in the Great Charter of King Ina dated the year of Grace seaven hundred twenty five in which among others we read this passage To the Ancient Church seated in the place called Glasteie I grant out of my paternall possessions for the maintaining Regular Observance and use of the Monks ten hydes of land at Brente c. together with all the lands conferred by my Ancestors on the same Church as King Kenwalch who by the intercession of S. Theodore Arch-bishop gave to the same Church Ferlinguere Beokerie Godeneie Martinsie and Edresie But this though stiled a Donation seems rather for the most part to have been a Restitution of Lands anciently given to that famous Monastery by former Brittish Princes 3. At this time the Abbot of Glastonbury was Brithwald who was the first of the Saxon race who governed that Monastery for before this all the Abbots were Brittains So writes William of Malmsbury in his Antiquities of this place There succeeded at Glastonbury saith he very many Abbots of the Brittish Nation whose names gests and memory have been oblitterated by antiquity Yet that the Church it self was held in great veneration by the Nobles of the Brittains appears by this that many of their Bodies have been enterred there c. But after that two hundred sixty seaven years from the time of Saint Patrick were run out during the raign of Kenwalch the Son of Kinegilse who was also called â—enwallâ— the first Abbot of the English Nation who governed that Monastery was Brithwald 4. This Brithwald was Son to a Brother of the King of the Mercians and according to the familiar devotion of that age renounced all secular pretentions and retired from the world to consecrate himsel to the service of God in solitude to which he was so affected that he again retired from that Monastery much frequented to another more obscure called Raculf or Reculver although both the King and Bishop of the Diocese saith the same Authour did earnestly oppose it But Almighty God for the good of his Church crossed his design for the New Monastery chosen for his retreat being seated near Canterbury a person so illustrious for his birth being son to a Brother of King Ethelred and so famous for his religion and piety could not long lye hid but after the death of the Arch-bishop Theodore was elected and even compelled to succeed him in that See Of him we shall treat further in due place XII CHAP. 1. 2. c. Of the building of the Monastery of Abindon by Cissa and his Nephew HEANE 6. Cylla the Sister of Heane builds a Monastery of Virgins at Helnestow Of her Black Crosse. 1. A Certain Authour called Iohn in his Golden History cited by the R F. Clement Rayner in his Apostolate of the Benedictins affirms that at this time the Monastery of Abindon was built by a certain Saxon Prince called Cissa Which if it be true as indeed it seems most probable it will invalidate the authority of the Brittish Records which pretend that this Monastery was built and flourished exceedingly in the ancient times of the Brittains and that there was a famous Schoole of learning in which Constantin is sayd to have been taught in his younger yeares as we have related in the occurrents of the year of Grace three hunered and nine 2. Concerning this famous Monastery we read in the History anciently written of it that when Hengist the Saxon perfidiously murdred at
in the same place where the Holy Virgin suffred Martyrdom a clear fountain broke forth which cured severall kinds of diseases Now her parents having heard of her death earnestly desired as some recompence for their losse to enioy the comfort of burying with them her heaules body Which being brought to them they enterreâ— it it a coffin of lead in the Church of Aylesbury where many Miracles were wrought by her intercession At length her Sacred Relicks â— a Divine Vision were translated thence back again to the Church of Chic which Maurice Bishop of London reposed in a precious coffer â— at whicâ— time the Bishop of Rochester then present was cured of a greivous infirmity 5. Her memory is celebrated in our Martyrologe on the seaventh of October where also is mention how the said holy Virgin Maâ—tyr took up her head after it was separated from her Body Which the Authour of her Life in Capgrave thus more expressly relates Assoon as her head was off the body presently rose up and taking up the head in the hands by the conduct of Angells walked firmly the straight way to the Church of the Apostles S. Peter and S. Paul about a quarter of a mile distant from the place of her suffring and when it was come there it knocked at the dore with the bloody hands as desiring it might be opened and theron left marks of blood Having done this it fell there down to the ground 6. The Sanctity of Ositha called by William of Malmsbury Osgitha has quite extinguished the name anciently belonging to the Village where she lived For thus writes Camden In the place where the River Coln enters into the Sea is seated the little Town called S. Osith's the ancient Name wherof was Chic which Name this Royal Virgin Ositha has abolished Who living there in great Sanctity and devotion was slain by Danish Pirats and therefore acknowledged by our Ancestors a Saint and Martyr XVI CHAP. 1. 2. King Kenewalch dying leaves the Kingdom to his wife Sexburga 3. S. Egelwin Brother to King Kenewalch 4 5. Sexburga retiring into a Monastery Escuin succeeds in the Kingdom with Kentuin Their liberality to the Monastery of Malmsbury as likewise of Leutherius Bishop 6. 7. Warr between Escuin and Wolfer King of the Mercians 8. The death of Wolfere 1. IN the year of Christ six hundred seaventy four hapned the death of Kenewalch King of the West-Saxons after a raign of thirty and one years Who leaving no issue behind him he bequeathed the administration of the Kingdom to his wise Sexburga saith 〈◊〉 liam of Malmsbury And adds withall That she wanted not spirit and courage to exercise so great a charge insomuch as she gathered new forces and kept the old in their duty She governed her Subiects with clemency and kept her enemies in awe with threats In a word she behaved her self in all things so worthily that no man could discerne any difference in her government from that it was in her husbandâ— time but only that she was a woman Notwithstanding her Rule was but short for before she had fully spent a year death-surprised her in the midst of her magnanimous designs 2. This Character given her by William of Malmsbury is more proper receiveable then that which Mathew of Westminster writes That the Nobility of that Kingdom disdaining to be subiect to a womans government expelled her out of the Province Other Historians say That out of a desire of entring into a more holy and strict life she voluntarily quitted the Royalty and for devotions sake entred into a Monastery But they doe wrongfully ascribe to her the founding of a Monastery in the Isle of Shepey where she is sayd to have taken the Habit of Religion and afterward to have succeded S. Edrifride in the Abbey of Ely For these things belong to another Sexburga daughter of Anna King of the East-angles of whom wee treated before 3. Though K Kenwalch had no sons yet he had a Brother eminent for Sanctity named Egelwin concerning whom William of Malmsbury thus writes The Monks of Adeling exalt to the skies the praises of their Patron S. Egelwin the effects of whose Sanctity they perceive by many benefits which they receive by his intercession The constaÌ„t fame is that he was Brother of K. Kenewalch that he was more illustrious for his Sanctity then emineÌ„cy of descent He was all his life afflicted with sicknes yet that hindred not at all his service and deâ—otion to God He ended his life most happily and after his death readily assisted the necessities of all that reclamed his help and intercession 4. After Sexburga's death saith S. Beda two Princes of that nation took on them the government and held it divided between them the space of about ten years These were Escuin and Kentwin both of them of the Royal family Kentwin was Brother Huntingdon says he was son to King Kenwalch and Escuin was descended in the fourth degree from Cerduic Some Writers affirm that they did not ioyntly raign But that Escuin first managed the government and after two years dying left it to Kentwin who raigned after him nine years 5. They were both of them Catholick devout Princes as appears by the magnificent Structure of the Monastery of Malmsbury built this year at their charges by the procurement of S. Aldelm who had now been nine years a Monk and four years Abbot of the same It was at first as hath beeÌ„ said poorly built by a certain Scott named Maydulf by profession a Monk and by erudition a Philosopher from whom the place took its name But till this time the revenues of it were so scant that the Monks had great difficulty to provide themselves necessary sustenance saith William a Monk of the same place But now that by the suggestion of S. Aldelm those two Princes endowd it with possessions and adornd it with buildings the affairs and reputation of that Monastery encreased wonderfully from all quarters Religious men flocked thither to S. Aldelm some of them desiring from him instructions in a devout Life others in the knowledge of learning 5. Moreover Leutherius Bishop of the West-Saxons contributed his care to the establishing of this Monastery as appears by a Charter of his extant in William of Malmsbury in which upon the Petition of the Abbot of this Diocese he grants the said place to the Monks there living to be entirely possessed by them Which argues that heretofore they enioyd it only by courtesy This Charter is dated the eighth day before the Calends of September in the year of our Lords Incarnation six hundred seaventy five at a place neer the River Bladon Where saith Camden in ancient times Dumwalio Malmutius King of the Brittains built a handsom town and called it Caer-Bladon which having been destroyed in the Saxon warrs they built out of the rubbish of it a Castle which in their
tongue they named Ingelborn a mile distant from which the Saxon Princes had a Palace called Caer-Durburg now Broken-bridge The said place kept the name of Ingelborn till Maidulf the Scottish Monk retired thither from whom it took the name of Maâ—dulfs-burg and contractedly Malmsbury some Writers call it Meldun Among the Disciples of Maidulf the most famous was Aldelm who succeeded him and by the help of the Bishop Eleutherius to whom the Seat belonged built there a very fair Monastery of which himself was Abbot and from him some Writers have calld the place Aldelms-birig but that Name was quickly obliterated though his Memory be continued there by a much frequented Faire yearly kept on his Feast 6 The said West-Saxon Kings Escuin and Kentwin as they were in their Faith Orthodoxe and in their Charity magnificeÌ„t so were they likewise in defence of their Kingdom courageous For saith the same Authour Escuin in a battell gave a great overthrow to the Mercians and Kentwin in another to the Brittains The Controversy which Escuin had with Wulfere King of the Mercians was touching the limits of their kingdoms to decide which they were forced to come to a combat in which notwithstanding Huntingdon rather ascribes the victory to Wulfere However certain it is that neither of these two Kings survived their Victory or defeat many days for Wulfere dyed the same year and Escuin in the following 7. The place where this battell was fought is by Florentius called Bindanheafâ—l and in a Manuscript cited by Sir Henry Spelman Bedanead Probably it was the same Town in Devonshire which is now called Bediford of some esteem saith Camden for the numerousnes of its inhabitants and a stone-bridge of arched work 8. The foresaid Florentius mentioning the death of Wulfere called by some Authours Fulgere gives him this Elogy In the year of Christ six hundred seaventy five dyed Wulfere King of the Mercians after he had raigned seaventeen years He was the first King of that Province who embraced the Christian Faith and received the Sacrament of Regeneration He utterly rooted out of his whole Kingdom the Pagan Worship of Devills commanding the name of Christ to be preached every where He built many Churches c. At his death saith Saint Beda he left his Brother Edilred or Ethelred his Successour in his Kingdom XVII CHAP. 1.2 c. Of S Wereburga daughter to King Wolfere her Gests Miracles death and uncorruption of her body 1. THE Memory of King Wulfere received a great luster from the wonderfull Sanctity of his daughter Saint Wereburga born unto him saith the same Authour by his Queen Ermengilda who was the daughter of Ercombert King of Kent and his Queen S. Sexburga daughter of Anna King of the East-Angles and Sister to the glorious Virgin and Queen Saint Ethelreda 2. S. Wereburga from her infancy was by her pious Mother Ermenilda educated in the fear and love of God and in a contempt of worldly vanities so that from her tender years she entertained a desire to consecratt her whole life to our Lord in a state of Religion and Virginity Her great beauty and endowments of Nature rendred her desireable to others but the greater beauty of her mind enriched with Divine Grace disposed her to reserve her affections for him only who was beautifull beyond the Sons of men During her Fathers life she was not permitted to aspire to the Espousals of her heavenly Bridegroom But assoon as he was dead she accompanied with her Mother Erminilda betook her self to the lately founded Monastery of Ely where she undertook a Religious Profession 3. This is thus more expressly related by Harpsfeild Saint Wereburga saith he being descended from most Noble Parents would not be affianced to any but the most Noble Bridegroom and therefore gave up her immaculate body and chast soule to the spirituall embraces of our Lord. These glorious Espousalls to which the Church and heavenly Angells were witnesses were publickly celebrated in the Monastery of Religious Virgins at Ely of which her Mothers Sister the illustrious S. Ethelreda was Abbesse there this devout Virgin received the Sacred Veyle of Religion And from that time her only diligence and solicitude was employed in avoyding all things that might displease the eyes of her Heavenly Bridegroom for whose love she despised gold iewells rich attire and all other vanities admired by the world All her thoughts were busied in this one thing how she might excell her Religious Sisters in observing silence abstinence watching devout reading and Prayers Which holy design having compassed insomuch as she was as far exalted above them in these and all other Vertues as in the Noblenes of her descent yet the thought so meanly of her self and was so free from arrogance and pride that she shewd her self always ready and willing to obey them all and chearfully underwent the vilest Offices among which a charitable care of the poor and needy to whom she was a pious and tender Mother took the principall place In a word through the whole course of her life her conversation was such as shewd that though according to humane condition her body moved on the earth yet her mind was always fix'd in heaven 4. How long this Holy Virgin lived in the Monastery of Ely under the government of S Ediltrudis does not distinctly appear Certain it is that her death is unduly in our Martyrologe referd to this present year for from our most ancient authentick Records it is unquestionable that she survived her Mother S. Erminilda who became Abbesse of the same Monastery after S. Sexburga who succeeded S. Ediltrudis dying the year of Grace six hundred seauenty nine However in as much as her Gests are not interwoven with the general History we will here adioyn the remainder of her Acts recorded by Mathew of Westminster Florentius c. 5. Her Brother Ethelred who succeeded his Father Wolfere in the kingdom of the Mercians admiring his Sisters Sanctity and unwilling that his Province should be deprived of so illustrious a light recalled her from Ely into her native countrey where she with difficulty was persuaded to accept the government of three Monasteries of Religious Virgins Trickingham since called Trent in Staffordshire Wedun and Hamburg in Northampâ—onshire which she governed with such meeknes that she seemd rather their servant then Mistresse directing them more by her example then command 6. And no wonder she should find obedience from her devout Daughters when as even irrationall and wild creatures became subiect to her command as if by her Sanctity she had recovered that empire which man enioyd in his primitive Innocence I should forbeare relating an illustrious miracle to this purpose touching her banishing from her territory great flocks of Wild-geese for their importunity and wastfull devouâ—ing her corn and other fruits were it not that I find it related by ancient credible Authours and not concealed also by Protestants 7.
mutuall charity and Humility After which she happily departed to our Lord on the third day before the Ideâ— of Iuly and was both durâ—ng her life and after her death powerfull in Miracles 5. Her Body was with great honour enterred in the said Monastery of Menstrey where it reposed near four hundred years illustrious by the Veneration of pious Christians and the glory of frequent Miracles From thence about the year of Grace one thousand and thirty it was translated to Canterbury Alstan being Abbot there as shall be declared Concerning which Translation William of Malmsbury thus writes In following time the Sacred Body of Saint Mildred was translated to the Monastery of Saint Augustin in Canterbury where it is with great devotion venerated by the Monks and for the fame of her piety and sweetnes answerable to her Name honoured by all And although all the corners of the said Monastery are full of Saint Bodies eminent for their Sanctity and Merits insomuch as any one of them might suffise to give a luster to the whole Kingdom yet the Relicks of none are with more affectionate honour venerated then hers She is present to all that love her and ready to hear and fullfill the requests of every one c. At London likewise there remains to this day a Church dedicated to her honour 6. Moreover her Memory is celebrated in the Belgick Provinces For as Aubert Miraeus testifies part of her Relicks was transported to Daventry and reposed there in the Cathedral Church Mention is also made of the same Relicks in the Gallican Martyrologe on the thirteenth of Iuly in these words At Daventry in Belgium is the Veneration of the Relicks of S. Mildreda an English Virgin consecrated to God in the Monastery of Chelles in the Territory of Paris which are reposed in the Cathedral Church of S. Lebuin together with the Bodies of the same Saint Lebuin and also of S. Marcellinus Her departure out of the world have given luster to this day Saint Mildreda was conveniently associated to these two Saints Lebuin and Marcellinus for her agreement with them both in her faith and countrey For they were English-Saxons likewise who together with Saint Willebrord preached the Faith to the inhabitants of Friseland and Geldres of whom we shal treat hereafter 7. The determinate year of the death of these two Holy Virgins Saint Milburga and Saint Mildreda is uncertain Certain only it is that it is wrongfully ascribed by some Writers to the year of Grace six hundred sixty four For since the same Authours affirm that they were consecrated by Saint Theodore Arch-bishop of Canterbury who came not into Brittany till after that year it is evident that in their computation there is an Antichronism 8. We may therefore more commodiously ascribe it to this year of our Lords Incarnation six hundred seaventy six In which year on the six and twentieth of February our Martyrologe commemorates the Deposition of their youngest Sister Saint Milgitha or Saint Milwida Concerning whom a very shhort account is given by our ancient Authours For of her wee read only that she entred into the Monastery of Estrey built by the Penitent King Egbert in Kent where she so well imitated the Sanctity of her Sisters that she likewise deserved a place in the Catalogue of our Saints 6. From these we must not separate a young Brother of theirs called Mereâ—in Concerning whom Mathew of Westminster and Florentius testify this only that he was a child of eminent Sanctity XX. CHAP. 1. 2. c. The death and Miracles of Saint Ethelburga daughter of Anna King of the East angles 5. 6 Of S. Thoritgitha 7. Of S. Hildelida 1. TO the same year is referred likewise the death of Saint Ethelburga daughter to Anna the pious King of the East-angles and Sister to Saint Erconwald She was as hath been said Abbesse of the Monastery of Berking founded by her Brother 2. Concerning her death hapning the fifth day before the Ides of October thus writes Saint Beda When Edilburga the proâ—â— Mother of that devoâ—â— Congregation was to be taken out of the world a wonderfull vision appeared to one of the Religious Sisters named Theorethid who had lived many years in the Monastery serving our â—ord with all humility and sincerity and had been an assistant to the Holy Abbesse in promoting the observance of Regular Disciplin her charge being to instruct and correct the younger Sisters Moreover to the end that her spirituall strength might be perfected by infirmity as the Apostle saith she was suddenly assaulted by a most sharp disease and for the space of nine years greivously tormented with it This hapned to her by the mercifull Providence of her Saviour to the end that by this furnace of divine tribulation whatsoever defects or impurities through ignorance or negligence had insinuated themselves into her soule might be cleansed away and consumed 3. Now on a certain night towards the dawn of the morning this Religious Virgin upon some occasion going out of her chamber saw manifestly as it were a human body more bright then the Sun enwrapped in linnen which being transported out of the Dormitory of the Religious Virgins was caried up to heaven And whilst she observed diligently by what force the said body should be raised upwards she saw that it was so lifted up by certain ropes more resplendent then gold by which it was drawn higher and higher till at last the heavens opening it was received in after which she could see it no longer 4. Considering this Vision she did not at all doubt but that it imported that some one of that devout Congregation should shortly dye whose soule by good works formerly done should as by certains cords be raised up to heaven And indeed so it fell out For a few days after Saint Edilburga the devout Mother of the said Congregation was freed from the prison of her body who had lead her life in such perfection that none who knew her could doubt but when she left this world the entrance into her heavenly countrey would be opened to her 5. S. Ethelburga was buried in the same Monastery and after her death likewise was not wanting to procure comforts and blessings to her Religious Sisters For as the same S. Beda relates There was in the same Monastery a Devout Virgin of Noble descent but more ennobled by her Piety called Thorithgida who for many years had been so utterly deprived of the use of her limbs that she could not stirr any one of them She being informed that the Body of the Venerable Abbesse was caried to the Church where it was exposed some time before the buriall desired she might be transported thither and placed leaning toward it in the posture of one that prayes This being done she addressed her petition to her as if she had been alive beseeching her to obtain from her mercifull Creatour that she might at length be freed from her
this time given to the Monks of Glastonbury of electing their own Abbott argues that in former ages the constituting of Abbots belonged not to the Monks but to the Bishop or the Prince from whose power and Iurisdiction the Monks could not exempt themselves without their free devesting themselves of it which we see here done by King Kentwin and Bishop Hedda concerning whom we shall speak more hereafter 7. As for King Kentuin the Memory of his Munificence to the Monastery of Glastonbury was there gratefully conserved for this Elogy we read of him in the great Table of that Monastery In the same place reposes the body of King Câ—â—twin under a stone-Pyramid in the Church-yard of the Monks He was the first of the English Kings which granted to the Isle of Glastonbury an Exemption from all Regal Service as the Brittish Kings before him had of old time confirmed 8. To this time is referred the erecting or rather restoring of the prime Church in the Isle of Ely which was first consecrated to the honour of S. Peter Prince of the Apostles but afterward entitled to S. Ediltrudis or Ethelreda Concerning which Church we read this testimony of B. Godwin Ethelbert saith he King of Kent by the advice of S. Augustin had seaventy years before this time built a Church in that place to witt in the year of our Lords Incarnation six hundred and seaven Which Church through neglect for want of reparation falling to ruine was rebuilt in a more magnificent manner in the year six hundred seaventy seaven by S. Ediltrudis This she did by the counsel of Wilfrid Arch-bishop of York but her Brother Aldulfus or Alnufus King of the East-Angles furnished the Charges of the work This Aldulfus was the Successour of Edilwald in that Kingdom and if according to Speed he was the Son of Ethelherd Brother of Anna he was not Brother but cousin german to S. Ediltrudis XXII CHAP. 1.2 c. Kent miserably wasted Putta Bishop of Rochester quitts his See in whose place Quichelm succeeds 1. AT this time there was a great desolation in the Churches and kingdom of Kent wherby the labours of Saint Theodore were much encreased Which desolation was caused by a furious invasion of that kingdom the year before by Edilred King of the Mercians What the provocation or motive of this warr was is not mentioned by ancient Writers but the effects of it were terrible 2. S. Beda thus breifly describes it In the year of our Lords Incarnation six hundred seaventy six Edilred King of the Mercians brought a furious army into Kent and layd the whole countrey wast yea without all regard of Piety or the fear of God profaned and demolished also Churches and Monasteries Particularly the Gâ—tty Rhofi or Rochester was utterly consumed in â—hat common calamity Of that Citty Putta was â—heâ— Bishop though absent at the time of its destruction Lothair was now King of Kent who fearing the violence and courage of Edâ—red saith Huntingdon made no resistance at all but auoyded his fight So that Edilred passed freely through the whole Province destroyed the Citty of Rochester and carted back with him innumerable Spoyles 3. As for Putta Bishop of Rochester being a man that loved quietnes and solitude he according to Saint Beda's relation seing his Church utterly spoyled and wasted retired to Sexulphus Bishop of the Mercians from whom having received the possession of a Church and a small peice of ground adioyning he there ended his life in peace He did not at all employ his solicitude about the restoring of his Bishoprick being one whose industry was little exercised in worldly affaires Therefore he contented himself in serving God after a poor manner in the foresaid Church and some times when he was entreated he would goe to other places for the instruction of Ecclesiasticall persons in the Roman manner of singing the Church service 4. The See of Rochester being thus deprived of a Pastour the Arch-bishop Theodore in the place of Putta consecrated Quithelm Bishop of that Citty and when he also shortly after quitted his Bishoprick by reason of its extreme poverty the said Arch-bishop substituted in his room another Bishop called Gebmund XXIII CHAP. 1.2 The death of Vina the Simoniacall Bishop of London 3 4. c. S. Erconwald succeeds in that See 1 DVring this confusion in Kent the Kingdom of the adioyning East-Saxons enioyd a profound peace under the government of Sebb and Sigher two pious Kings Particularly King Sebb employed all his care in advancing Piety among his Subjects in promoting the affaires of the Church and in encouraging devout persons to renounce thâ— world and consecrate themselves to God in a Monasticall Profession To which state of life himself also earnestly aspired being desirous to abandon his Regall authority and to change his purple for a poor Religious Habit but was hindred by the obstinacy of his Queen who refused to consent to a separation and to imitate her husbands piety and without her complyance the Ecclesiasticall Canon rendred him incapable of executing his pious design Many years he spent in perswading her to her own and his happines and at lost by devout importunity expugned her resistance as shall shortly be shewed 2. In the mean time a great part of his solicitude was employed in settling a worthy Prelut in London the Metropolis of his Kingdom We have declared before how Wina the Sacrilegious Bishop of the West-Saxons having for his crimes been expelled out of that Province with a summ of money Simoniacally procured from Vulfere King of the Mercians to be violently introduced into that See in the year of Grace six hundred sixty six which he for the space of nine years unworthily administred After whose death King Sebb expressed a zealous care to repair the prejudice and harm done to that Province by so impious a Prelat For which purpose he earnestly sought out a Successour as eminent for piety and integrity as the other was for his crimes 3. At that time there lived not any one in that Kingdom in so high esteem of all men for vertue and Religion as Erconwald He was as hath been declared the Son of Anna King of the East-angles not of Offa as Capgrave and from him Harpsfeild mistakes and from his tender years conceived a distast and contempt of secular designs and pleasures Insomuch as he relinquished his Native Province and retired among the East-Saxons where he employed his plentifull patrimony in works of piety We have already declared how he founded two Monasteries in that Kingdom one for himself at Chertsey in Surrey near the River Thames and another for his Sister Edilburga in Essex in a village called Barking 4 This in all regards so eminent an Abbot Erconwald was made choice of by King Sebbe to administer the vacant See of London to which he was consecrated by Saint Theodore Arch-bishop of Canterbury according to this relation of Saint Beda
filthy Idolatry the Devill to interrupt that good work or to be revenged on the worker kindled again in the minds of his Adversaries among the Northumbers that envy and malice which seemd to have been asswaged by his exile insomuch as they became enraged to hear that the Holy Bishop persecuted by them should be made an instrument of good to Srangers Hereupon by messages and gifts they solicited the Franks to procure the murder of the Apostolick Prelat 5. There lived still in greatest power among the Franks Ebroin Maire of the Kings Palace who as hath been declared had already embrued his hands in the blood of Dalphinus Bishop of Lyons and severall other Prelats of the French Church Him did the malicious Northumbers hire to this execrable murder Who immediatly by promises gifts and menaces solicited Adalgise King of the Frisons to be the Executioner But this barbarous half-pagan Prince did so utterly abhorr this unchristian proposall that he threw the Letters of Ebroin into the fire after he had read them in the hearing of Saint Wilfrid who was then feasted by him and whilst they were burning he added these words So may he be burned who for covetousnes of gold would dissolve the band of freindship once agreed upon 6. Thus by the watchfull Providence of God did the Holy Bishop escape the snares layd against his life and when the Spring had mitigated the feircenes of the aire and opened the wayes for travelling Saint Wilfrid renewed his iourney towards Rome and as William of Malmsbury relates passing through the Kingdom of the Franks inhabiting beyond the Rhene came to the King of that Nation called Dagobert Who entertained him with all kindnes and respect calling to mind how when he himself had formerly by a faction of his Nobles been driven out of his Kingdom into Ireland at his return this Holy Bishop had lodged him freindly and moreover furnished him with horses and attendants to his own countrey To expresse his gratitude therefore this King not only with extreme benignity received Saint Wilfrid but with most earnest prayers solicited him to accept the Bishoprick of Strasbourg and fixe his habitation in his countrey This kind offer the Holy Bishop thought not convenient then to accept but deferred his resolution till his return from Rome Whereupon he was though unwillingly dismissed by the King and being accompanied with his Bishop Deodatus prosecuted his iourney 7. Thus writes the said Historian But what he relates of Dagoberts expulsion into Ireland ought to be applied to Theodoric King of the Franks who lived at this time and being reiected by his Subjects might have been thus hospitably entertained by S. Wilfrid Whereas King Dagobert was dead severall years before this 8. Saint Wilfrid being thus dismissed with recommendations passing through Champaigne diverted out of the straight way to visit Berthaire Prince of that Province This Prince had from the Holy Bishops enemies been informed of the cause of his journey and moreover invited by promises to procure some mischeif to him Whereupon at his first coming he received him with an arrogant frowning countenance but assoon as he had been acquainted with a true relation of the cause his displeasure was mitigated insomuch as he did not only abstain from doing him any hurt but by his recommendation and assistance brought the controversy to a good end Withall professing that he was induced hereto by the humanity of the King of the Hunns in whose Court he had formerly lived during his banishment who though he was a Pagan yet could by no offers be corrupted to doe the least harm to him to whom he had once promised security 9. The like courtesy and Civility did Saint Wilfrid find from all Princes through whose Courts and Provinces he passed insomuch as at last he arrived safely at Rome where he found Pope Agathon busily employed in repressing the Heresy of the Monothelites who taught that our Saviour though subsisting in two Natures yet had but one Will. This Heresy had at that time greivously infected the Eastern Churches for the extirpation whereof and preventing the spreading of it in the West that Holy Pope had at this time assembled a Synod at Rome to which S. Wilfrid was invited where likewise his cause was determined But before we relate the successe thereof it will be expedient to declare how in his absence almighty God justified his innocence by inflicting a sharp judgment on his Enemies and persecutours at home III. CHAP. 1 2. c. Saint Wilfrids Prophecy fullfilled Winfrid Bishop of Lichfeild expelled 1. THAT Propheticall denunciation by which Saint Wilfrid being derided by the Courtiers of King Egfrid for his Appeale to Pope Agathon â—oretold them That their laughter should precisely within the space of a year be turned into greivous lamentation was exactly fulfilld the next yeare in which he remaind at Rome For not long after his departure Ethelred King of the Mercians Brother of Wolfere being desirous to avenge the iniuries of his brother sustained from King Egfrid who had overcome him in battell and possessed himself of the Province of the Lâ—ndesfars or Lincolnshire he denounced war against the said Egfrid Who swelling with pride for his former victory courageously mett him with an army not doubting of like successe against him 2. The two armies mett saith Saint Beda near the River Trent where coming to a decisive battell the Mercians utterly defeated the army of the Northumbers and among a multitude of others there was slain Eâ—win the Brother of Egfrid a young man â—bout eighteen years old tenderly loved both by the Northumbers and Mercians for his Sister named Ostrids was wife to King Etheâ—red And it hapned that on the very day a twelf-month after Saint Wilfrid had suffred the â—orementioned iniury the dead body of that hopefull young Prince was brought to York which caused a generall and long continued mourning both to the Citty and Province 3. If this battell was fought on the South side of Trent in Nottingham-shire where remains a village called Edwinstow it is most probable that place took its name rather from this Prince who by William of Malmsbury is called Edwin then from the Holy King and Martyr Saint Edwin who by Saint Beda's testimony was slain at a place called Heathfeild in Yorkshire 4. By this victory King Ethelred recovered that portion of his Kingdom called the Province of the Lindesfari which Egfrid had formerly won from his brother Wolfere But this one defeat not concluding the war to the continnance of which both these Kings made great preparations S. Theodore Archbishop of Canterbury trusting in the Divine assistance interposed himself between them and by many zealous exhortations pacified their minds so as that flame was quite extinguished insomuch as no other satisfaction was given to King Egfrid for the death of his Brother but only a summ of money And the peace concluded between the two Nations continued
forthwith acquainted with all these things by a message from his Officer who with much greif beseeched him that he would not sacrifice him to the Devill by making him any longer guilty of cruelty to the holy and innocent Bishop But nothing could alter or mollify the Kings rigour therefore he commanded that he should be taken from the custody of Offrith so was the said Officer called as being a faint-hearted coward and delivered to another named Tumber a Sergeant of a far more fell and savage disposition 7. But as the Kings cruelty encreased so likewise did Almighty God more miraculously declare his goodnes to his servant For when this new â—aylour commanded him to be layd in chains the chains applied by his servants to the Holy Bishops limbs were found either so streit that his leggs would not enter or so large that they took no hold and if at any time they proved fitt hey were no sooner putt about his limbs but they presently fell off At last thereâ—ore the laylours obstinate malice was forced to yeild to the Divine power and the Holy Bishop suffred no other incommodity but only a confinement 8. As for King Egfrid the report of these things wrought no good effect upon him yea when any one mentioned them he could not abstain from casting reviling scoffs against the Saint Yet frequent Messengers passed between him and the Bishop with commands that he should acknowledg the invalidity of the Roman Decrees and that they were illegally extorted with bribes This if he would yeild to then perhaps by the Kings indulgence he might recover the things taken from him and a part of his Bishoprick But if he refused he might thank himself for his losses as being the only cause of the present quarrell and variance But such threatnings as these had small effect on the holy Bishops mind on the contrary he protested to the King that to save his own life he would not doe any thing that might cast an infamy or disparagement on the authority of the See Apostolick 9. But how does Queen Ermenburga behave her self all this while she who was the first cause of all this mischeif and continually fomented it She passed her whole time days and nights in banquets and entertainments and whither soever she went she caried with her either on her neck or in her chariot as in triumph Chrismarium the precious Box of Sacred Oyles or as we read in Capgrave a costly Reliquary which had been violently extorted from the holy Bishop This she were not out of a sence of piety or devotion but to testify her envy and pride in enioying the spoyles of her enemy 10. But this her ioy did not last long For as the same Authour in pursuance of the story relates On a certain night in which she lodged with the Holy Abbesse Ebba her husbands Aunt by Gods permission the Devill entred into her which put her besides her senses insomuch as she began to be outrageous and frantick in her talk The Abbesse being awaked with the noyse she made arose and in great hast ran to her asking her mildly what she ayled The Queen answered her nothing to the purpose for by the extremity she was in her speech was taken from her But the good Abbesse having been informed ly others of the true cause earnestly solicited the King her Nephew that the Holy Bishops Reliquary might be restored and himself according to the Popes sentence re-invested in his rights This she told him was to be done if he would have his Queen restored to her health But if through animosity he would not yeild so far at least let restitution be made of the things wrongfully extorted from the Holy Prelat and permission given him to quitt the countrey To this the King yeilded and presently the Queen recovered her senses and health and after the death of her husband the forsook the world and undertook a Religious Profession shewing great sorrow and remorse for the iniuries done to the Holy Bishop 11. Hence we may be informed of the true cause of S. Wilfrids suffrings and banishment The pretence was piety in committing the care of so large a Province and the revenews of it to severall persons as being too exorbitant for one but under this pretence was shrowded the envy and avarice of Queen Ermenburga who earnestly thirsted after Church goods and by this division expected a good share in those sacred spoyles Therefore the partiality of the Centuriators of Magdeburg is evident who against the testimony of all Antiquity affirm that Wilfrid was therefore driven into banishment because he had perswaded Ethelreda the former wife of King Egfrid to forsake her husband and under pretence of a vow to retire into a Monastery as Bale sheweth Whereas in all the debates of S. Wilfrids cause in his own countrey at Rome and in severall Synods both before and after this not any scruple was moved about S. Ethelreda But it concernd such Writers as these to invent any fictions for iustifying the sacrilegious mariage of Luther But who can suffer himself to be perswaded that Queen Ermenburga who is stiled by William of Malmsbury the cause and nourisher of this long debate should fill all Europe with the noyse of this Controversy in which if proof had been made that S. Ethelreda had done ill in retiring from the world and S. Wilfrid in advising her thereto it would have followed that Ermenburga was no lawfull Queen but an Adulteresse VIII CAAP. 1.2 The Death of S. Hilda one of S. Wilfrids adversaries 3. The death of S. Ermenburga Mother to S. Milburga c. 4. S. Erection of two New Bishopricks at Worcester and Hereford A succession of the Bishops in Hereford 1. IT is an usefull admonition which William of Malmsbury affords us from this debate between S. Wilfrid and his adversaries For says he we may thence observe the miserable condition in which human nature is involved when as those persons which by Antiquity are celebrated for eminent Saints and were such indeed as Theodore Brithwald Iohn Bosa as likewise the famous Abbesse Hilda should ioyn themselves with those impious persons who with an irreconciliable hatred persecuted a Bishop of such eminent Sanctity as was S. Wilfrid 2. As for the glorious Abbesse S. Hilda of whom we have already treated this same year of S. Wilfrids banishment she received the reward of so many heavenly works performed by her on earth And we can not doubt but that this fault of persecuting S. Wilfrid proceeding from misinformation of others and not premeditated malice in her own heart was expiated by her former merits for thirty three years together and a sharp sicknes which continued sixe years before her death all which time she ceased not from praising God for her suffrings and dayly instructing the innocent flock committed to her charge What testimonies at and after her death God was pleased to shew of her Sanctity hath been already declared
in number destroyed an innumerable multitude of Picts insomuch as the feilds were covered and rivers choaked up with their carkeyses This hapned in the year of our Lords Incarnation six hundred seaventy one 4. Now King Egfrid who notwithstanding his uniust rage against S. Wilfrid was yet zealous enough to protect and enlarge the Church admonished S. Theodore Arch-bishop oâ— Canterbury to whom the generall care of the Ecclesiasticall state of Brittany was committed that the said Nation though professed ChristiaÌ„s was distitute of a common Pastour to administer to them spirituall nourishment Here upon S. Theodore ordained Trumwin Bishop whom in the year of Grace six hundred eighty one he sent into the Province of the Picts at that time subiect to the Empire of the English saith S. Beda 5. It does not appear in any ancient Records whether any peculiar place was assigned him for his Episcopall See Most likely it is that he had no fixed habitation for in a Synod a little while after his consecration at which he was present he subscribed in this form I Trumwine Bishop of the Picts have subscribed hereto 6. This good Bishop though he continued alive till the year of Grace seaven hundred yet administred that Bishoprick but a short while For four years after this the Nation of the Picts rebelled against King Egfrid and coming to a battell obtained a great victory against him and slew him After which Victory they entirely freed themselves from the dominion of the English whom they drove out of their countrey killing all those which fell into their hands Now among those which by flight escaped their fury saith S. Beda one was the most reverend man of God Trumwine who lately had received the Office and dignity of Bishop among them He together with all the Religious persons and others living in the Monastery of Abercurwig newly founded by him departed out of that countrey His escape was the lesse difficult because the said Monastery was seated near the limits of both the Nations of the English and Picts Assoon as he was come into a place of security he sent away the Monks attending him commending theÌ„ to severall Abbots his freinds As for himselfe he chose for his mansion the famous Monastery of streanshalck where there was a Congregation both of men and woemen consecrated to God There attended with a few of his Brethren he spent many years in a strict Monasticall Conversation to the benefit not only of himself but many others At that time the Royal Virgin Elfleda was Abbesse of the said Monastery together with her Mother Eanfleda And by the coming of the Holy Bishop thither the said devout Abbesse received much comfort and assistance in the regulating her Religious subjects 7. This Holy Abbesse Elfleda or Edelfleda was the daughter of Oswi formerly King of the Northumbers and consecrated by him to God in the year of Grace six hundred fifty five when she was but a year old so fullfilling a vow which he made to God when he was to fight a battell against Penda the cruell King of the Mercians She had all her life been educated in piety by the Holy Abbesse Hilda and after her death succeeded in the government of the Monastery of Streanshalck Among her Subjects and Disciples none deserved better to have her memory recorded then her Mother Eanfleda who after the death of her husband Oswi retired into the same Monastery willingly submitting her self to be instructed in Monastick Observance and governed by her own daughter Concerning whom occasion will be given to speak further XI CHAP. 1.2.3 Two Monasteries of S Peter and S. Paul built by King Egbert among the Northumbers 4.5 c The Gests of S. Benedict Bisâ—op of S. Ceolfrid and S. Easterwin Abbots there 1. IN the year of Grace six hundred eighty two Pope Agathon dyed after which the See remained vacant the space of nineteen months for what cause it is uncertain His name is read recorded among the Saints for his zealous and prudent administration of Gods Church and many acts of Vertue and piety 2. The same year saith Florentius Egfrid King of the Northumbers for the redemption of his soule gave again to the Holy Abbot Benedict sirnamed Biscop a possession of forty families Vpon which land the said Abbot built another Monastery in a place called Giruum which he dedicated to S Paul the Apostle as the other had been to Saint Peter and sent thither two and twenty Monks appointing over them Abbot Ceolfrid who was in all things his ready and courageous assistant 3. It wil be convenient and seasonable in this place to treat somewhat largely of the foundation of the two Monasteries of S. Peter and S. Paul by the liberality of King Egfrid and care of S. Benedict Biscop Likewise of the Abbots governing them and other occurrents related by Saint â—â—da who was a Monk in one of them in the first age of their foundation and besides severall particulars regarding them sprinckled in his generall Ecclesiasticall History has compiled a Treatise expressly on this Subject which has been lately rescued from the dust and darknes and published by the learned Antiquary Sir Iames Ware 4. In which Treatise we read how S. Benedict Biscop born of a Noble family and a household servant of Oswi King of the Northumbers from whom he received a possessioÌ„ of land competent to his degree notwithstanding at the age of five and twenty years despised worldly preferments and aspiring only to celestiall honours forsook his countrey and kinred for Christ and travelled to Rome out of a devotion to visit religiously venerate the Monuments of the Blessed Apostles S. Peter and S. Paul At the same time Alcfrid son of the said King Oswi moved with the same devotion accompanied him in that voyage but was recalled by his Father Yet this hindred not S. Benedict from proceeding in his iourney which he dispatched with great diligence and arrived at Rome in the dayes of Pope Vitalian 5. The short time of his abode there which was not many months he employed in perfecting himself in the knowledge of Divine things of which he had tasted some sweetnes before After that he departed to the famous Island Lerin where he adioyned himself to a Congregation of Monks received the Ecclesiasticall Tonsure and with great diligence observed Monasticall Disciplin to which he obliged himself by Vow After he had spent two years in the Exercises of Mortification and Devotion the zealous affection which he bore to Saint Peter incited him to return to Rome sanctified with his Body Which voyage he performed by Sea in a Merchants ship 6. This his return to Rome hapned at the time when Egbert King of Kent as hath been declared desirous to have an Arch-bishop of Canterbury acquainted with the Saxon tongue who might without an Interpreter imbue his Subjects with Divine Mysteries sent thither a devout and learned Saxon Preist elected to
that dignity named Wighard to be by Pope Vitalian ordained Bishop But this good man with all his attendants presently after their arrivall at Rome dyed of the Pestilence After which the said Pope to the end King Egberts Message and request should not be wholly ineffectuall among his Preists made choice of S. Theodore whom he consecrated Arch-bishop of Canterbury assigning him a collegue and Counsellour the holy and prudent Abbot Adrian And knowing S. Benedict Biscop to be an industrious noble and religious person he enioynd him for a higher and more common good to interrupt his pilgrimage undertaken for Christ and to attend the said Arch-bishop in his iourney to Brittany in the quality of a guide and interpreter 7. Being thus arrived in Brittany S. Theodore committed to him the government of the Monastery dedicated to S. Peter at Canterbury Which charge assoon as Adrian arrived he resigned to him And after about two years abode there resumed a third iourney to Rome which he prosperously performed and shortly after returned furnished with a plentifull Library of sacred Books of all kinds some of which he bought with his money and some were given him by the liberality of freinds both at Rome and Vienna in France 8. Assoon as he was landed in Brittany his intention was to repair to Coynwalh or Kenwalch King of the West-Saxons with whom he had formerly contracted freindship and received many kindnesses But being informed that he at the same time was taken away by an untimely death he went into his own native countrey and presented himself to Egfrid King of the Northumbers To whom he related particularly all the occurrents of his Voyages how many sacred volumes and what plenty of holy Relicks of the Blessed Apostles and Martyrs of Christ he had brought into Brittany out of forrein countreys He did not conceale likewise from him the ardent desire he had to a Religious Profession and what knowledge he had gott at Rome and elsewhere of Ecclesiasticall and Monasticall Discipline 9. By such discourses he found so much favour and kindnes with the King that he presently bestowd upon him of his own possessions as much land as might maintain seaventy families commanding him to build theron a Monastery to be dedicated to the honour of S. Peter the Supreme Pastour of the Church This was done and the Monastery seated at the mouth of the River Wire Vedra on the northside of the River in the six hundred seaventy fourth year of our Lords Incarnation the second Indiction and fourth year of the raign of King Egfrid 10 Scarce a year was passed after the Monastery was built but S. Benedict went over Sea into France from whence be brought with him Masons to erect a Church of Stone according to the Roman fashion which he always most affected And so great was his diligence out of the love he bore to Saint Peter to whose honour it was built that within the compasse of a year after the foundations were layd it was entirely perfected insomuch as Solemne Masses were sung there Moreover when the building was almost finished he sent Messengers into France who brought back with them glasiers to make windows for the Church and upper galleries This was an art formerly unknown in Brittany and was taught the Brittains at this time being very commodious for lamps and other vessells usefull in the Church In a word whatsoever was convenient for the service of the Altar and adorning of the Church both vessels and Vestments which could not be found in Brittany he took order should be brought out of forrein countreys 11. And because he could not be furnished with all things out of France he undertook a fourth iourney to Rome from whence he came loaded with abundance of spirituall wares as Books Relicks Images c. Besides that he obtained oâ— Pope Agathon to send with him the fore-mentioned Iohn Abbot of S. Martins and Arch-Cantour of S. Peters Church in Rome to be a Master of Church-Musick and singing in his Monastery according to the Roman manner Which Office the said Iohn diligently performed not only in that but many other Churches in Brittany Lastly the devout Abbot Benedict brought with him from Rome another which was no mean present to wit a Bâ—eif of Pope Agathon by which the said Monastery was made free and exempted from all outward usurpations and oppressions Which Priviledge was dâ—manded by the advice and desire of King Egfrid 12. The said King being well satisfied and delighted with the zeale and industry of S. Benedict and perceiving that his former Gift had been well and proffitably employd he added a second Gift of a possession of forty families on which by command of the said King Egfrid he built another Monastery on the opposite side of the same River which he consecrated to the honour of S. Paul the Apostle sending thither seaventeen Monks under the government of Ceolfrid a Preist their Abbot Now a speciall care S. Benedict had in the constitution of these two Monasteries of S. Peter and Saint Paul the former seated at Wiremouth and the other at Girwy now called Iarrow that they were linked together in peace and unity as if they were but one body being governed by the same Rule and Institut 13. As for this Ceolfrid he had been a companion and assistant in all things to S. Benedict from the first foundation of the former Monastery He had also attended him in his last iourney to Rome which he willingly undertook both out of devotion and also a desire to encrease his knowledge in sacred and Ecclesiasticall matters Vpon occasion of which iourney Saint Benedict made choice of a certain Preist and Monk of the Monastery of S. Peter called Easterwin whom he constituted Abbot of the said Monastery to the end he might assist him in the labour of its government which by reason of his frequent iourneys and absence he could not sustain alone Neither ought it to seem absurd that two Abbots at the same time should ioyntly govern one Monastery For Ecclesiasticall History informs us that Saint Peter constituted two Bishops aâ— Rome under himself the necessity of affairs so requiring at that time And the great Patriark S. Benedict himself as the Blessed Pope S. Gregory writes of him appointed over his Disciples twelve Abbots subordinate to himself without any prejudice to Charity yea to the augmentation of it XII CHAP. 1.2 The Gests of the holy Abbot Easterwin his death 1. BEcause we will not interrupt this narration touching the foundation of those two Monasteries of S. Peter and Saint Paul with the discipline and government of them for severall years under the direction of S. Benedict and other Abbots subordinate to him we will proceed in setting down a summary of the Treatise of S. Beda touching that argument in which is contained an abstract of the lives and actions of the said Abbots beginning with him who dyed first which was the Venerable Abbot Easterwin 2.
He was born of a Noble extraction but was far from making that an argument of pride and contempt of others as some doe but as became a true servant of God he used it as a motive to aspire to true Nobility of soule consisting in Piety and humility He was cousin germain to his Abbot S. Benedict but in both of their minds there was such a contempt of worldly respects or priviledges that neither did Easterwin at his first admission into the Monastery expect any preeminence in consideration of his birth nor any priviledge or favour for his propinquity to the Abbot who likewise for his part did not at all consider these relations but he lived in the Monastery in an equall state with the meanest 3. Add hereto that whereas he had been an Officer in the Court of King Egfrid assoon as he had quitted secular employments and undertaken a spirituall warfare onely he continued always like the rest of his poor brethren humble and obedient and not only willingly but ioyfully would he winnow or thrash corn milk the ewes or heyfers and labour in the bake-house garden or kitchen and any other painfull or mean services of the Monastery 4. Yea after he had unwillingly undertaken the degree and Office of Abbot he remained in the same mind he was before towards all according to the Wise mans admonition saying They have made thee a Ruler be not lifted up but be amongst them as one of them mild affable and kind to all Whensoever upon occasion he was obliged to exercise Regular Discipline or correction towards any of his brethren after a fault committed he so behaved himself as rather to prevent any future recidivation then to expresse anger for what was past neither did he shâ—w a countenance clouded with any passion Whensoever the necessity of busines called him abroad which often hapned if he found any of his brethren at labour he would presently ioyne himself with them either holding the plough or turning the van to winnow or hammering iron and the like For in his youth he was robustious and fitt for any labour He had a sweet and winning speech a cheerfull heart a liberall hand and well conditioned aspect Whilst he was Abbot he contented himself with the same dyet he used before and as the rest of his Community used he lay in the same Common Dormitory insomuch as when the disease of which he dyed seised on him so that as he perceived by certain signs it would prove mortall he continued two dayes resting in the Dormitory For the five remaining dayes before his death he made himself to be removed to a more retired lodging in the Monastery And one of those dayes coming abroad into the aire he sent for all his Brethren and with great compassion and kindnes gave to each of them the kisse of peace they all the while weeping bewayling the departure of so good and great a Father and Pastour 5. He dyed the night before the Nones of March whilst the Monks were exercised in singing Martins He was four and twenty years old when he first entred the Monastery in which he lived twelve years seaven of which were spent in his Preistly duty and four in governing the Convent after which leaving his earthly corruptible body he went to receive his reward in the heavenly kingdom Having premised this short account of the life of the Venerable Abbot Easterwin we will return to the order of our Narration XIII CHAP. 1.2 c. The Gests sicknes and death of the Holy Abbots S. Sigfrid and Saint Benedict Biscop 1. SAint Benedict having constituted the said Easterwin Abbot of the Monastery of S. Peter and Ceolfrid of that of Saint Paul he not long after undertook his fourth voyage to Rome and as formerly he returnd enriched with innumerable gifts proper for the Church as Sacred Books and abundance of holy Images In which was described the whole life of our Saviour in so many severall peices as they suffised to encompasse the whole Church of our Lady built in the greater Monastery And our Church of S. Paul likewise was adorned with pictures containing such histories in the Old and New Testament as had a coÌ„formity each to the other For example there were placed opposite to one another the Image of Isaac carrying wood with which he was to be burnt in sacrifice and over against it our Lord in like manner carrying his Crosse Again to the Serpent exalted by Moyses in the wildernes there answered the Image of our Lord exalted on his Crosse. Besides these he brought with him two Mantles all of pure silk of inestimable work for which he had in exchange from King Aldfrid and his Counsellours for before his return King Egfrid was slain a possession of three families lying Southward to the Mouth of the River Wire 2. But to qualify the ioy of the good successe of his voyage he found his Monastery in a sad condition by reason of the death of the Venerable Abbot Easterwin and a great number of the Monks under his charge which had been taken out of the world by a pestilence raging through all that countrey Yet this greif was attended with some consolation for as much as in the place of Easterwin by an Election made by the Religious Monks there with whom also was ioyned the Reverend Abbot Ceolfrid there was substituted a Successour in the charge of Abbot Sigfrid a Deacon a man of equall gravity and meeknes with his Predecessour He was sufficiently learned in the Scriptures adorned with all vertues and of wonderfull abstinence But as his mind was enriched with all Graces his body was much depressed with sicknes for he was tormented with an incurable disease of the lungs 3. And not long after the Venerable Abbot Benedict also began to be afflicted with a tedious sicknes For God in his mercifull Providence to the end he might prove the solidity of their piety by patience cast them both upon their beds that after their infirmities had been cured by death he might eternally refresh them in the quiet repose of Light and peace For as we said Sigfrid after he had been vexed with a tedious and irksom pain in his lungs and entralls was brought to his end And Benedict for three years space languishing with a Palsey was reduced to that extremity that all the lower members of his body were deprived of motion and life and the upper parts without which life could not consist were reserved free for the exercise of his patience Now during the time of their sicknes both these Holy Abbots ceased not to give thanks to their Creatour continually attending to the Praises of God and charitable admonitions to their Brethren 4. Particularly S. Benedict did frequently and earnestly exhort his Monks to a constant Stability in the Observance of the Rulâ— which he had given them For said he You must not think that the Constitutions which you have received from mee were inventions of
due punishment For the very next year the same King leading forth his army to wast the Province of the Pâ—â—sts was slain by them 2. Among others who fearfully apprehended Gods revenge upon this unjust cruelty of King Egfrid was his devout Sister Edelfleda who lately succeeded the Holy Abbesse Saint Hilda in the government of the Monastery of Streneshalâ— Therefore in great solicitude she consulted with S. Cuthbert then a Monk and famous for the gift of Prophecy concerning her Brother and whether the imprecations of the Irish nation ahainst him would not proove too successfull And from him she understood that the King her Brother should not out-live the following year The particular narration of these things is thus compiled by Saint Beda 3. On a certain time saith he the most Venerable Virgin and Mother of our Lords Virgins Elfleda or Edilfleda sent to the man of God Cuthbert adjuring him in the name of God that she might have the happines to see him and to speak with him about matters of necessary importance He therefore accompanied with some of his Brethren took ship and came to an Island which receives its name from a River called Coqued before whose entrance into the Sea it was situated For the foresaid Abbesse had desired him to meet her there When they were come together she proposed many questions to him whereto he gave her satisfactory answers And upon a sudden in the midst of their discourse she cast her self prostrate at his feet and adjured him by the terrible name of the Almighty and of his Angells to tell her plainly how long a time the life and raign of her Brother was to last For said she I am assured that if you will you can tell mee this by the Spirit of Prophecy which God has given you But he astonished at this adjuration yet unwilling to give her a plain discovery of the secret thus answered her It is a strange thing that you being a prudent woman and skillfull in the Scriptures will call the time of mans life long whereas the Psalmist sayes Our years are like a spiders webb and Salomon admonishes us If a man live many years and has spent in mirth all his life he ought to be mindfull of the time of darknes and the many dayes following which when they shall come all that is passed will appear to be vanity How much more truly may this be applied to him who has but one year more to live 4. When the devout Abbesse heard this answer she fell a weeping bitterly bewayled this ominous presage But at last wiping her eyes she again with a woman-like boldnes adiured him by the Majesty of God to tell her who should succeed him in the Kingdom for said she you know he has no children and I have never a brother besides him The Holy man continuing silent awhile at last said Doe not say that you want Brethren for you shall see one to succeed him whom you will affect with as tender and sisterly a love as you now doe Egfrid himself She replied I beseech you tell mee in what countrey he now lives He answered Doe you see this Vast Sea abounding with Islands It is an easy thing for God out of some one of them to provide a man whom he may sett over this Kingdom By this she understood that he spoke of Alfrid who was reputed to be her Fathers naturall Son and at that time lived as a banished man in one of those Scottish Islands where he addicted himself to the study of learning After many discourses he said to her I command you in the name of our Lord and Saviour that you reveale to none before my death what you have heard from mee After this he returned to his solitary Island and Monastery 5 Before this year was ended King Egfrid whose disafâ—ection to S. Wilfrid still continued was so far from any intention to recall him to his See of York that when there was a vacancy in any of his Bishopricks by the death of any who possessed his place he would take care that some other should be substituted in their room as he did this year in which S. Theodore Arch-bishop of Canterbury at the said Kings request assembled a Synod of Bishops at a place called Twiford in Northumberland in which the famous Saint Cuthbert was notwithstanding his earnest resistance elected and the year following consecrated Bishop of Lindesâ—arn But of this we will treat more largely when we come to the Gests of the said glorious Bishop We will now declare the successe of his Prophecy touching the approaching death of King Egfrid XVII CHAP. 1.2.3 King Egfrid slain by the Picts 4.5 Different censures of him 6. Bishop Trâ—mwin driven out of Pictslands 1. THE year after the forementioned invasion of Ireland saith S. Beda King Egfrid would himself conduct an army to spoyle and wast the Province of the Picts though his freinds and especially S. Cuthbert lately ordaind a Bishop earnestly dissâ—aded him Being entred the Province with his army the enemies conterfeâ—â—ing fear fled from him whom he pursuing was lead into streits of inaccessible mountains and there with the greatest part of his forces slain on the thirteenth day befoâ—e the Calends of Iune in the fortieth year of his age and fifteenth of his raign Now as I said his freinds earnestly opposed his undertaking this warr But as the year before he would not hearken to the most Reverend Father Egbert who dissâ—aded him from invading Ireland Scotiam from whence he had received no injury So now by Gods just iudgment for punishment of that crime he was hindred from hearkning to those who desired to with-hold him from his destruction 2. Whilst King Egfrid was fighting against the Picts S. Cuthbert anxious about the successe went to Lugubalia or Carlile to comfort his Queen Ermenburga and there God revealed to him the death of the King and defeat of his army The particulars are thus related by S. Beda Whilst King Egfrid saith he rashly adventured the invasion of the Picts and with horrible cruelty wasted their countrey the man of God Cuthbert knowing that the time drew near which he had foretold his Sister that the King should live but one year longer he went to the Citty Lugubalia corruptly named by the inhabitants Luel to speak with the Queen who there expected the event of this warr in a Monastery of her Sister The day after as the Cittizens were honourably leading him to see the walls of the Citty and a fountain in the same of a wonderfull structure according to the Roman manner the Holy Bishop on a suddain as he was leaning on his staff became troubled in mind and with a sad countenance cast his eyes on the ground and presently raising himself up again and looking to heaven he said not very loud Now is the combat decided A Preist-standing by who understood his meaning suddenly and indiscreetly said to him How doe
you know this But he unwilling to publish that which he had received by revelation said Doe you not see how suddenly and strangely the weather is changed and grown tempestuous But who can find out the iudgments of God 3. After this he immediatly went to the Queen and speaking with her secretly it was then Saturday Be sure said he that on Munday morning betimes you take coach for on Sunday you must not travell and make hast into the Royall Citty for fear the King be killed And because to morrow I am entreated to consecrate a Church in a Monastery near at hand assoon as the dedication is dispatched I will make all hast after you Thus writes S. Beda and a little after he addes The day following one who had fled out of the battell arrived who plainly enough declared the secret predictions of the man of God and by computation it was found that the same moment the King was killed in which it had been revealed to the Holy Bishop whilst he stood by the forementioned fountain 4. Thus unhappily dyed this famous King Egfrid and has left to posterity an argument of much dispute whether he be to be numbred among good or evill Kings William of Malmsbury after a curious debate and examination of his particular acts abstains notwithstanding from a resolute Sentence whom we will imitate Certain it is that he had a great zeale in defending and propagating the Catholick Faith that he was wonderfully munificent towards Churches and Monasteries that he bore great reverence to holy men as to S. Cuthbert c. But on the other side what excuse can we find for his obstinat and irreconcileable hatred to S. Wilfrid or his cruelty against the innocent Irish c. We will therefore leave him to the Iudgement of Him who cannot iudge unjustly 5. Some Writers affirme that he was slain by Bride or Birde his cousin germain King of the Picts However certain it is that by his death the Kingdom of the Northumbers suffred an irreparable losse for by the testimony of Saint Beda from that time the hopes and strength of the English began to decay for both the Picts recovered all their lands of which the English had been possessed and the Scotts likewise living in Brittany and some part of the Brittains regained their liberty which they enioy to this time forty six years after that battell By which last clause and computation it appears that S Beda wrote his History in the year of Grace seaven hundred thirty and one 6. The Picts puffed up with Victory drove all the English out of their countrey and among others their worthy Bishop Trumwin who as hath been said betook himself to Streneshalâ— the Monastery of Saint Elfleda where he lived a great comfort and assistant to her in the government of her Monastery XVIII CHAP. 1.2 To Lothere King of Kent succeeds Edric 3.4 5. Kentuin King of the West-Saxons dying Cedwalla succeeds him 6 Cadwaâ—lader last King of the Brittains 1. THIS year was fatall to severall of our Saxon Kings in Brittany for besides Egfria King of the Northumbers slain by the Picts Lothere King of Kent was also slain by his Nephew Edric This Lothere was brother to the former King Egbert after whom he seised upon the Kingdom to the prejudice of his Nephews as hath been declared of which he kept the possession twelve years though with much trouble and danger For Edric the elder of his Nephews and lawfull heir of the Crown after he was come to years sought to gain his right by force insomuch as many battells were fought between them with various successe At last Edric assisted with an army of the South-Saxons fought with his Vsurping Vncle in which battell Lothere was sore wounded of which wounds he shortly after dyed He is said to have left behind him a son named Richard eminent for sanctity of whom we shall treat hereafter 2. Concerning these two Brothers Egbert and Lothere successively Kings of Kent our ancient Ecclesiasticall Writers doe observe saith William of Malmsbury that for their cruelty they both came to an untimely end in as much as Egbert slew or at least connived at the murder of his uncles children Ethelred and Etheâ—â—bert who were Canonized Martyrs and Lotherâ— derided the honour done to their memory Truâ— it is Egbert afterward bewayld the fact anâ— in testimony of his sorrow gave part of the Isle of Thanet to their Mother for the endowment of a Monastery 3. Besides these this year also dyed Kentwin King of the West-Saxons after a raign of nine years His memory is celebrated for his great victories against the Brittainâ— whom he invaded with great forces and without much difficulty drove them to the Sea wasting their countrey and inhabitants with fire and sword 4. His piety and munificence to the famous and ancient Monastery of Glastonbury is recorded in the Antiquities of the same where we read that Kentwin granted to the said Monastery a liberty from all service six hides of land and a priviledge that the Monks of the same place might have the power of electing and constituting to themselves an Abbot according to the Rule of S. Benedict He gave moreover near the wood called Cantodun the Mannour of West-munkaton three and twenty hides and in Caric twenty hides of land for a supplement of Regular Observance in the same Monastery And when he had raigned nine years he departed to our Lord. His Body reposes in the Church-yard under a Pyramid of an ancient and noble structure Some Writers are of opinion that before his death he layd aside his Crown in the said Monastery spending his last dayes as his Successours did in solitude and devotion 5. To Kentwin succeeded Cedwalla in the Kingdom of the West-Saxons to Lothere Edric in Kent and to Egfrid Alfrid among the Northumbers according to the Prophecy of S. Cuthbert to his Sister the Holy Abbesse and Virgin Saint Elfleda Of which severall Princes more hereafter 6 To this same year likewise is consigned the beginning of the raign of Cadwallader Son of Cadwallon and last King of the Brâ—ttains in Wales For after his death hapning twelve years from this time the Brittains lost all shew of Monarchy THE NINETEENTH BOOK OF THE CHVRCH-HISTORY OF BRITTANY I. CHAPTER 1.2 Of Boysil the Holy Priour of Mailros 3.4 c. The Gests and vertues of S. Cuthbert before he was Bishop 1. THE same year that the foresaid Kings dyed the famous and glorious S. Cuthbert having the year before with great repugnance been drawn out of his beloved Solitude was consecrated Bishop of Lindesfarn The admirable way by which Almighty God drew him from keeping sheep to a spirituall life of contemplation by representing to him in a Vision the assumption into heaven of S. Aidaeus soule Bishop of Lindesfarn and how thereupon he betook himself to the Monastery of Mailrâ—s seated beyond the River of Tweed in the Province
of Tâ—fidale then part of the dominion of the Northumbers of which Eata was then Abbot and Boyfil Priour by whom he received the Monasticall tonsure and was admitted into the Society of the Monks there all this we have particularly related among the Acts of the year of Grace six hundred fifty one 2. Nineteen years after that when the holy man Boyfil dyed S Cuthbert succeeded him in the government of the said Monastery in the year of our Lords Incarnation six hundred and seaventy Concerning the said Holy Abbot Boysil S. Cuthbert as S. Beda relates was wont to give this Character I have known very many who have much excelled mee biâ—h in purity of mind and the eminent grace of Prâ—phecying Among whom was the Venerable servant of Christ never without honour to be mentioned by mee the Abbot Boysil who many years since being then an old man admitted and educated mee in the Monastery of Mailros being then very young He during the time that I was under his discipline foretold mee all things that should befall mee and the event confirmed the truth of all his predictions There remains of all the particulars foretold by him onely one thing unaccomplished which I wish may never come to passe This saith S. Beda he spâ—ke because the said Holy servant of God had signified to him that he should be called to the charge and dignity of a Bishop from which he had a great aversion out of the love he bore to a retired contemplative life and humility 3. During the fifteen years of his government of the said Monastery the odour of S. Cuâ—hberts vertues and graces dispersed it self far beyond the bounds of his Solitude insomuch as many resorted to him to receive comfort in their afflictions or light in their doubts and apprehensions An example whereof we have already given in the Holy Abbesse Elfleda to whom he foretold the death of her Brother Egfrid King of the Northumbers If we would be informed of the manner of his life we shall onely need to read the most perfect precepts of a Monasticall conversation and conceive them to be exemplified in his His whole employment was to perfectionate his own soule and the soules of those committed to his charge by Solitude both externall and internall by continuall silence except when Devotion to God or Charity to his neighbour opened his lips by zeale and authority of a Governour ioynd with the humility of a Monk by an uninterrupted attendance to God in spirit even in the midst of externall businesses by an Angelicall purity of heart by rigorous Mortifications of the flesh fastings Watchings c. And as for the wonderfull Graces communicated by Almighty God unto him by which he was enabled to penetrate into the thoughts of such as conversed with him to foretell future events miraculously to cure the diseased yea and to raise the dead with these things though testified by great authority I doe unwillingly enlarge this History the Reader may have recourse to the compilers of his Life among whom the principall is S. Beda to be informed 4. Omitting therefore a particular account oâ— his privat life it will be sufficient to relate his Gests during his last three years two of which he spent in administring the Episcopall Office and in the last returned to his solitude That he might have been exalted to the dignity of a Bishop long before appears by a passage in the forementioned conversation between him and the Holy royall Abbesse S. Elfleda in which after he had signified to her the death of King Egfrid to succeed the year following she sayd to him according to the relation of S. Beda O how variously are the hearts of mortall men divided in their intentions and desires Some doe much reioyce having obtained riches for which they sought Others who love riches are yet always in want As for you you reiect the pomp and honour of the world though it be offred you Though you may arrive to the dignity of a Bishop which is the highest degree in Gods Church yet you preferr the enclosure of this wildernes before it Hereto the holy man answerd I doe know my self to be unworthy of that sublime degree Yet I cannot avoyd the judgment of God our Supreme Governour Whose pleasure if it be that I must undergoe so burdensome a charge yet I beleive he will free mee from it in a short time and within the space of no more then two years will restoâ—e mee to my accustomed solitude and rest 5. Now how his resistance against that honour was combatted at last vanquished and how his prophecy concerning the short time of his administring that charge and how he was permitted to prepare himself for heaven by retiring to a conversation with God only we will from the same Authour consequently declare II. CHAP. 1.2 c. In a Synod Saint Cuthbert is elected and with great difficulty perswaded to be consecrated Bishop 6.7 c. The great munificence of King Egfrid to him 1. WE have already declared how Egfrid King of the Northumbers the year before his death being constant in his disaffection to S. Wilfrid obtained of S. Theodore Arch-bishop of Canterbury to make a supply of vacant Sees in his kingdom by ordaining new Bishops without any regard to S. Wilfrid to whom the administration of the whole Province belonged For this purpose S. Theodore assembled a Synod saith S Beda near the River Alne Alaunum at which the said King was present in a place called Twiford which signifies a double ford Which Synod was no small one for besides S. Theodore who was President Seaven other Bishops are said to have mett there onely four of whose names we can reckon to witt Trumwin Bishop lately of the Picts Bâ—sa Eata and Tumbert who was deposed in whose place succeeded S. Cuthbert For as touâ—hing Saint Ceadda and S. Ced whose presence by some Writers is affirmed the generall consent of History contradicts it since S. Ced Bishop of London was dead twenty years before this and S. Ceadda of Lichfeild twelve 2. In this Synod which we may wonder how it came to be omitted by Sir Henry Spelman Tumbert Bishop of Hagulstad or Hexham for what demerit is not expressed in any ancient Authour was deprived of his See and by an unanimous consent S. Cuthbert was elected in his place But it was no easy matter to obtain his own consent to this Election For saith S. Beda though many letters were sent and severall Messengers directed to him from the Synod he could not be removed out of his solitude At length the foresaid King Egfrid attended by the holy Bishop Trumwin and very many other Religious persons sailed to the Island where he was retired Whither being come they kneeled before him they adiured him in the name of our Lord they besought him with teares and persevered so long in their humble request till at last they vanquished his resistance and
drew him full of tears likewise out of his most sweet retirement to the Synod Where being arrived though he again renewd his resistance yet at last he was overcome by the united wills of all the Bishops and compelled to submitt his neck to the burden of the Episcopall Office 4. But though he was then elected and had consented to his Election yet he was not consecrated till the year following at the great solemnity of Easter The See to which he was ordained was not that of Hagulstadt now vacant by the deposition of Tumbert but Lindesfarn administred by Eata For Eata who at first had been consecrated Bishop both of Lindesfarn and Hagulstad in the year of Grace six hundred seaventy eight when that Province was shortly after divided he surrendred the See of Hagulstad to Tumbert reserving Lindesfarn to himself and now perceiving that S. Cuthbert rather desired Lindesfarn in which Diocese his beloved desart was seated the humbly devout Bishop Eata willingly surrendred it to him and again resumed Hagulstad Thus writes the Authour of S. Cuthberts life in Capgrave 5. This Synod in which S Cuthbert was Elected Bishop continued a part of two years for he was elected towards Winter and not ordained till the Easter following at whose ordination all the Bishops were present And before the dissolution of the Synod King Egfrid gave many munificent gifts to his new Prelat which were confirmed by the subscription of the King and all the Bishops 6. In his Life preserved by Capgrave we read That King Egfrid gave to him in York all the land from the Wall of S. Peters to the great Westgate and from thence to the Citty-wall toward the South He gave him likewise a village called Creike three miles in circuit that it might be a mansion for him in his iourney to and from York There Saint Cuthbert founded a Monastery constituting an Abbot named Gave The said place called Creike is seated in the forest of Gautres in Calaterio nemore in some parts abounding with wood and elsewhere a morish plain It stands a little Northward from York in the way towards Durham thus writes Camden 7. Besids this the King added another and greater Gift for he bestowd on him the Citty Luel or Caer-leil and fifteen miles about it where the holy Bishop founded a Monastery for consecrated Virgins ordaining an Abbesse over them He appointed Schooles for learning also in the same Citty Concerning this Donation the same Camden thus writes in his Description of Cumberland Egfrid gave to S. Cuthbert the Citty Lugubalia in this form I have given the Citty which is called Lugubalia and the land about it for the space of fifteen miles This name of Lugubalia or Luguvallia was given to that citty by reason of its proximity to the famous rampire or Vallum raised by the Romans to exclude the barbarous Nations beyond it commonly called The Picts Wall 8. Neither did King Egfrids munificence rest here for thus it follows in Capgrave After that S. Cuthbert had raised a child from death in a village called Exenford King Egfrid gave to him the land called Carthmel and all the Brittains inhabiting there c. Afterward Egfrid gave to the man of God Mailros that is to say Meuros and Carram and all the Appurtinances It is said that in that rich Treasury of Brittish Antiquities the Library of Sir Iohn Cotton there is extant a Charter of these Donations of King Egfrrid subscribed by Trumwin Bishop of the Picts and other English Bishops out of which Bishop Vsher quotes certain passages And the Munificence of King Egfrid was imitated by severall Princes his Successours who wonderfully enlarged their liberality to his Church and See afterward transferred to Durham called the Patrimony of S. Cuthbert Of which more hereafter 9. But as for S. Cuthbert himself he was nothing the richer for these possessions he practised the poverty of a Monk in the sublime state of a Bishop and as S. Beda reports in his life he adorned with works of piety the Episcopall degree undertaken by him therin imitating the Apostles of our Lord and with his wholesom admonitions invited to eternall happines the flock committed to his charge And the thing which gave the greatest efficacy to his exhortations was that himself in his own practise afforded an example for others to imitate For he was in a supreme degree fervent in divine Charity modest in the vertue of patience studiously intent to Prayer and affable to all who came to him for comfort Yea he esteemed the contributing his charitable assistance to his infirm brethren equivalent to Prayer because he who said Thou shalt love the Lord thy God said also Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thy self His abstinence was admirable he through the grace of compunction had his mind always elevated to heavenly things To conclude Whensoever he offred to God the most holy Sacrifice he addressed his prayers to him not with a loud voyce but with teares flowing from the depth of his heart This may suffise touching S. Cuthbert for the present wee shall add more when we come to treat of his death III. CHAP. 1.2 c. The Gests of Saint Eata Bishop of Hagulstad with his death 6. S. Iohn of Beverley succeeds him 1. IN the year of Grace six hundred eighty six the holy Bishop Eata after the administring the Sees of Lindesfarn and afterward of Hagulstad the space of seaven years dyed with such opinion of Sanctity that in our English Martyrologe his memory is celebrated among the Saints on the twenty sixth of October 2. Concerning his education from his infancy wee read thus in the Authour of his Life who follows S. Beda The Holy Bishop Aidan saith he undertook to instruct in the Religion of Christ twelve young children of the English Nation Of these Eata was one being a child of a very good disposition and a meek humble heart By the admonitions and good examples of his pious Teacher to whom he gave diligent attendance he became notable in all vertues so that finding grace both with God and man he became a Monk and according to the Profession of that state he sedulously gave himself to Watchings fasting and other good Exercises day and night For he was a man eminent for the vertue of patience brightly adorned with chastity affable and pleasing to all and as Venerable Beda testifies of him he was beyond all others adorned with the Grace of Meeknes and holy simplicity Afterward the was made Abbot of the Monastery of Mailros or Meuros in the execution of which charge he exhibited to his Brethren yet greater examples of humility and charity then formerly insomuch as they tenderly loved him not as an awfull Master but an indulgent Father He was held in such veneration among the rich and powerfull men of that age that even Kings themselves reverenced him as a Father and with devout minds conferred on
divided by an intestin warr But he did not as he hoped find them unprepared nor destitute of courage to resist him For after many losses sustained in severall parts of the countrey they at last took courage and uniting their forces together came to a battell wherein they had the upper hand and constraind Cedwalla to fly As for his Brother Mollo or Mull he in his flight being compelled to retire into a certain Cottage the enemies fett it on fire so that he not daring to issue out was consumed by the flames Yet did not Cedwalla for all this desist from repairing his losses by frequent micheifs done to the inhabitants of Kent and a more full revenge he bequeathed to his Successour King â—naâ— as in due place shall be declared 6. B. Parker in his Antiquities assigns a strange cause wâ—y this Mollo was burnt by the Kentish soldiers saying Some affirm that the cause of the death of Mollo was because the Kentishmen perceived that he was very obstinat in defending Images concerning which a Controversy in that age was solemnly debated But it does no where appear that Mollo was a Christian. Certain it is his Brother Cedwalla was not baptised till after this when he had made a iourney to Rome in devotion for that purpose It was therefore in probability his obstinacy not to reliquish his Idols or Pagan worship that might because of his death And as for the pretended Question about Sacred Images it was not raised in the Church till about a hundred years after this and then it began in the East by certain factious Christians half-Iewes Neither doe we find any signs in our ancient Records that Brittany was disturbed with that debate If this Mollo therefore was a Christian it is well known what doctrine Saint Augustin and his Successours taught in Kent touching the Veneration of Images and that Saint Birinus Agilbert Hedda and Wilfrid taught the same among the West-Saxons 7. Cedwalla after he had for some time vented his fury against Kent turned his arms to the subdâ—ing the Isle of Wight adioyning to the Province of the south-Saxons already conquered by him And how great a blessing that Island obtained by his cruelty wee find thus related by Saint Beda After that Cedwalla saith he had the possession of the Kingdom of the Gevissi or West-Saxons he subdued the Isle of Wight the inhabitants whereof were to that time wholly addicted to Pagan Idolatry whom he endeavoured wholly to exterminate and to place in their rooms his own Subjects yea as the report is he obliged himself by vow though as yet he was no professed Christian nor baptized that if he gott the possession of the Island he would consecrate to our Lord the fourth part both of the land and spoyles And this Vow he effectually performed insomuch as he gave to Saint Wilfrid who not long before was arrived there out of the Northern parts the use of the said land and prey Now the measure of that Island according to the English estimation is so much as may maintain twelve hundred families So that the possession of three hundred families was given to the Bishop But he recommended the portion given him to one of his Clarks named Berwins who was his Sisters Son And withall gave him a Preist called Hildila to the end he might administer the Word of life and Baptism to all that would be saved 8. It is also probable that about this time the same Cedwalla gave to S. Wilfrid the Town called Paganham concerning which Selden makes mention of a certain clause in the said Kings Charter importing that a threefold freedom was granted to that place now given to the Church to witt a freedom from having a Castle built there and from contribution to mending the bridge and lastly from payments to the army if this be the right interpretation of the rude Latin phrase Absque trinoda necessitate totius Christiani populi id est areis munitione pontis emendatione exercitij congestime liberam perstrinxi Another Charter to the same holy Bishop is likewise extant to which is annexed this clause For a further confirmation hereof I Cedwalla have putt a turf of the said ground upon the holy Altâ—r of our Saviour and by reason of my ignorance in writing my name I have expressed and subscribed the sign of the holy Crosse. Now from hence is manifest that at the time of the invasion of the Isle of Wight Cedwalla was a Christian Cathecumen though he deferred his Baptism out of a desire to receive it at Rome V. CHAP. 1.2 Two young Princes Martyrs in the Isle of Wight 3. King Cedwalla his reverence to Saint Wilfrid 1. THE Isle of Wight was the last Province of Brittany which received the Christian Faith and that New Church was consecrated with the blood of two young Princely Martyrs the Brethren of Arvald or Arvand King of that Island The manner hereof is thus described by S. Beda 2. Wee must not passe over in silence saith he how two Royall children brethren to Arvald King of the Island were by a speciall Grace of God crownd with Martyrdom being made an Oblation of First fruits of such inhabitants of the said Island as were to be saved by Faith For when the Enemies army approached they fled privatly out of the Island into the adioyning Province of the Iutae or Hampshire Where being come to a place called Ad lapidem Stoneham they hoped to conceale themselves from the sight of the conquering King Cedwalla but they were betrayd and by his command appointed to be slain The report of this command being come to the hearing of a Certain Abbot and Preist named Cymbert who governed a Monastery not far distant from thence called Read-ford or the Ford of Reeds it is now called Redbridge he came to the K. who then lay privatly in those parts to be cured of his wound received in the late battell in the Isle of Wight and humbly requested of him that of those children must needs be killed he would at least permitt them to be instructed in the Christian Faith and baptized before their death The King yeilded to this request whereupon the good Abbot taught them the Mysteries of Christian Religion which they embracing he washed them from all their sins in the Laver of saving Baptism and therby gave them an assurance that they should enter into an eternall kingdom Thus the Executioner being come they ioyfully underwent a corporall death not doubting but that thereby their soules should be translated to a life of happines everlasting 3. Thus writes S. Beda the summ whereof is repeated by Camden in his description of Hampshire thereto adding this observation from the same Authour That after all other Provinces of Brittany had receiued the Faith of Christ the Isle of Wight in the last place of all embraced the same Notwithstanding by reason of the miserable Subiection thereof to a forrain Prince not any
was changed from Cedwalla to Peter the cause of which change is thus related by S. Beda At the time of his Baptism the foresaid Pope imposed on him the name of Peter to the end he might bear the Name of the Prince of Apostles out of a pious love to whom he had undertaken so long a iourney to visit the Monument of his most sacred Body 9. After the celebration of his Baptism he was according to the most ancient Ecclesiasticall custom cloathed with a White Vestment or Stole signifying the immaculate purity of those who had duly received that holy Sacrament The Stole was to be worn eight dayes but before those dayes were ended he was seised on by a mortall infirmity of which he dyed most happily to the great greif of the whole Citty 10. Pope Sergius bewayling the losse of so glorious and pious a Son to testify his affection and esteem of him celebrated his funeralls with great solemnity and moreover by his order his body was entombed in the Church of S. Peter and an Epitaph both in verse and prose inscribed on his monument saith S. Beda to the end the memory of his devotion might remain to future ages and that those who either did read or hear it might by his example be inflamed to the love and Zeale of Religion The Epitaph in verse is at large copied out by the same Authour containing a Summary of what hath been already related touching this glorious King To which was adioynd this Inscription in prose Here lyes buried Cedwalla otherwise named Peter King of the Saxons the twelfth day before the Calends of May in the second Indiction who lived about the space of thirty years and dyed in the fourth year of the Pontificat of Pope Sergius 11. It deâ—erves not our care to disprove the assertion of the fabulous Writer Geffrey of Monmouth who confounds this Cedwalla a Saxon King with Cadwallader the last King of the Brittains to whom he ascribes the heroicall Gests of Cedwalla so burying that Kingdom with honour Whereas it is evident from S. Beda William of Malmsbury Henry of Huntingdon Florentius of Worcester and the expresse tenour of the forementioned Epitaph that Cedwalla who dyed at Rome was King of the West-Saxons or Gevissi Which Nation was so called from the name of the Grand father of the first King Cerdic Geuvis the father of Elesa the Father of Cerdic saith Asser. Neither are there three Kings called â—edwalla mentioned by S. Beda as Baronius by mistake affirms but only two one who was a Brittish Prince who in the year of Grace six hundred thirty three slew the pious King of the Northumbers Edwin and this Saxon King Cedwalla of whom we now treat 12. A place is assigned to him in our Martyrologe among the Saints where on the twentieth of Aprill his deposition is commemorated with this Elogy that he was baptised at Rome by Pope Sergius and dyed in his white baptismall robe in the year of Christ six hundred eighty nine His whole raign not having coÌ„tinued full three years we have here to the relation of his Gests added that also of his happy death because we would not interrupt our narration concerning him though in the progresse of our Story we are not yet arrived to the year in which he dyed We will therefore return to relate occurrents hapning in the Saxon Churches in the mean time between King Cedwalla's raign and death Among which the most memorable are those which concern the last actions of our glorious S. Cuthbert VII CHAP. 1.2 S. Cuthbert gives the Religious Veyle to Queen Ermenburga 3.4 c. He obtains for a Holy Hermite Herebert that they should dye at the same time 8 He cures miraculously a sick Lady with Holy Water 1. WITH what unwillingnes S. Cuthbert was drawn out of his solitude to be exalted to the Episcopall Throne and with what perfection he afterward discharged his Episcopall function hath been already declared It remains that we relate how the conclusion of his Life was suitable to the beginning and progresse of it 2. Yet one action of piety more performed by him whilst he was Bishop we will not omitt which was the consecrating to almighty God the Queen Ermenburga whose heart it seems Gods holy Spirit had touched with compunction for all the mischeifs done by her to the Holy Arch-bishop Wilfrid This particular is thus related by S. Beda Not long after the death of King Egfrid the Servant of God S. Cuthbert being thereto requested came to the Citty Luguballia or Carlile there to ordain Preists and also to give his benediction to the Queen Ermenburga by conferring on her the Religious habite of Holy conversation 3. At the same time he was admonished from heaven concerning his approaching death which he discovered to a devout Hermit to whom he bore a particular affection and who had been accustomed once a year to repair to him for spirituall comfort and instruction The circumstances of their last conversation the same devout Authour setts down in the manner following 4. There was saith he a certain Venerable Preist named Herebert who for many years before had been ioynd in spirituall freindship to the Holy Bishop This man lead a solitary life in a little Island situated in the vast lake out of which the River Derwent flows and his custome was every year to visit the man of God to receive from him documents of piety and salvation He being informed that S. Cuthbert was to make some stay in the fore-said Citty came to him as his manner had been with a desire to be more inflamed in heavenly desires by his wholesome exhortations 5. They being thus mett together and interchangeably communicating to one another draughts of celestiall wisedome among other discourses S. Cuthbert said to him Be mindfull Brother Herebert to propose now to mee whatsoever doubts you desire to be resolved in for after we are parted we shall never see one the other in this life For I am assured that the time of my dissolution approaches and that I shall very shortly putt off this my mortall Tabernacle The devout Hermite having heard these words cast himself at his feet and with many â—eates and grones said I beseech you by our Lord that you will not forsake nor forgett your old companion but make your petition to the Divine mercy that as we have joyntly served our Lord together on earth we may likewise together passe out of this world to see his Glory For you know that I have always been diligent to conform my life to your admonitions and likewise according to your will to correct what soever faults I have any time committed through ignorance or frailty 6. Hereupon the Holy Bishop betook himself to prayer and being inwardly taught in Spirit that his petitions were granted by our Lord he said to him Arise dear Brother weep no longer but rather reioyce for the Divine Clemency
of Lindesfarn where it was received by a great Troop of devout people who mett it together with severall Quires of Monks singing Psalms and it was with great reverence layd in a Stone Coffin and buried in the Church of the Blessed Apostle S. Peter on the right side of the Altar This is the Narrative which the Venerable Abbot Herefride who was an eye-witnes of all things gave to Saint Beda touching the circumstances of the happy death of the glorious Saint Cuthbert IX CHAP. 1 2. c. The incorruption of Saint Cuthberts Body testified in all ages The great liberality of our Kings to his Church Its Priviledges c. 1. SO precious in the Sight of God was the death of this most admirably holy Bishop that to shew the incorruption of his Faith God was pleased to conferre an incorruption on his Body likewise A miraculous Priviledge not only conspicuous to the age immediatly following but even to these our times Saint Beda who wrote his life and might have been an eye-witnes of what he wrote testifies as much for that age â— The Divine disposition saith he being pleased to demonstrate in how great glory the man of God Saint Cuthbert lived after his death the Sanctity of whose life had before been arrested by many miraculous signs gave this illustrious testimony Eleaven years after his buriall God inspired into the minds of his Brethren the Monks to take up his his bones which they conceived according to the course of Nature to be dry and the flesh dissolved into dust Those bones they intended to lay in a new Coffin and place them more honourably in a Tombe raised above the pavement This intention of theirs they signified to their Venerable Bishop Eadbert who approving it commanded them to put it in execution on the next Anniversary day of his Deposition They did so and opening the Sepulcher found his body perfectly entire with a lively freshnes and all his limbs as flexible as if he had been alive so that he appeared like a person rather asleep then dead Moreover all his Vestments were not only undecayed but appeared in their primitive freshnes and also with the addition of a wonderfull luster â— The Monks seing this were much astonished and with great hast signified these wonders to their Bishop who then had retired himself to a place a good way distant from the Church which every tide was encompassed by the Sea For his custome was every year both during the time or Lent and forty dayes likewise before our Lords Nativity to confine himself to that solitude there passing the time in great abstinence compunction and prayer And to the same place his Venerable Predecessour S. Cuthbert had been accustomed severall times to retire himself for devotion and mortification before he went to the Isle Farne 4. Hither came the Monks bringing with them some shreds of the vestments wherwith the Sacred Body had been cloathed which they presented to the Bishop He accepted their gift very thankfully and with much content heard their relation of this miracle with an affectionate devotion kissing those garments as if the body which they had covered had been there present Withall he commanded them to provide new vestments to enwrapp the body and to lay it reverently in the New Coffin which they had provided For I am assured said he that the place consecrated by God with so celestiall a miracle will shortly be frequenâ—ted with great devotion And how happy shall that man be on whom God the Authour of all Blessednes shall conferre the Grace and priviledge to repose there Many other like speeches did the Venerable Bishop adde with a trembling tongue and great compunction After which the Monks according to his command inwrapped the Sacred Body in new vestments and layd it in a New Coffin which they putt into a Tombe raised above the pavement of the Sanctuary 5. Presently after this the devout Bishop Eadbert was assaulted by a very sharp disease the violence of which encreasing more more an within in a few dayes that is the day before the Nones of May he also departed to our Lord. Whose body likewise the Monks layd in the Tombe of their Blessed Father S. Cuthbert over the Coffin in which his incorrupted Body râ—posed After which many miraculous cures there done have given an assured testimony of the Sanctity of them both a particular relation of severall of which I have sett down in the Book of the life of the same glorious S. Cuthberth to which I referr the Reader 6 Occasion will frequently be given in the pursuit of this History to renew the memory of this glorious Saint for severall times have his Sacred Relicks been translated and never without a renewing of miraculous testimonies of his Sanctity and glory 7. So wonderfull was the Veneration in which his memory was held by all succeeding ages that Kings Princes sett no bounds to their magnificence toward him that is toward the Church for his honour heaping Gifts lands Priviledges and immunities on it Alfrid who at this time was King of the Northumbers out-passing the liberality of his Father Egfrid gave the whole countrey between the Rivers Were and Tine for a perpetuall possession to S. Cuthbert and those who administred divine Mysteries in his Church Which likewise succeeding Kings made a Sanctuary and Refuge to all that on any occasion whatsoever repaired to it granting them an entire security for the space of thirty seaven dayes upon no â—ccasion to be infringed Thus writes Camden in his Description of the Bishoprick of Durham to which place S. Cuthberts Reliks were last of all translated 8. And for that reason saith the same Authour that whole Region with others confining is by Monks in their writings called The land or patrimony of Saint Cuthbert For that title was given to all the land belonging to the Church of Durham of which Saint Cuthbert was Patron This Cuthbert in the first infancy of the Saxon Church was Bishop of Lindesfarn a man of such Sanctity and integrity of life that he was canonized among the Saints And our Kings and Nobles beleiving him to be a Tutelary S. against the Scotts did not onely very oft visit his Body with great devotion which our Writers have perswaded us to have continued hitherto entire and uncorrupted but likewise bestowed upon it very large possessions and many immunities 9. Among which immunities this was one not the least signall that all the inhabitants of that countrey as being the Watchmen and Guards of Saint Cuthberts Body were exempted from all servitudes and obligations of attending even the King himself in his warr for as we read in the ancient Book of Durham They sayd that they were Halywerke folks and that they held their land for the defence of the Body of Saint Cuthbert and they ought not either for King or Bishop to goe out of the limits of the Bishoprick that is beyond the Rivers
Tine and Teise 10. It was no doubt not so much by perswasion of our Writers as by evidence of wonderfull Miracles wrought by the intercession of this illustrious Saint that our Kings honoured his Monument with such extraordinary Priviledges Such esteem our greatest among the Saxon and Danish Princes before the times of the Normans had of Saint Cuthbert And particularly of the last of these King Canutus it is related that going in devotion to visitt his body he approached his monument with bare feet a signe of his excellency and incorruption of his Body 11. Four hundred and eighteen years after his death his Sacred Body was again raised out of his Monument and shewed openly to all who had a mind to see it at which time it was found still uncorrupted This Translation was made by Radulph afterward Arch-bishop of Canterbury saith William of Malmsbury And four hundred twenty-three years after that when by command of King Henry the eight the Sâ—rines of all our Saints through England were broken and robbed his body was again found entire onely a small part of the extremity of his nose was wanting and on his finger was found a gold ring in which a Saphire was enchased which Harpsfeild boasts that he had seen and touched and the late learned Bishop of Chalcedon with greater reason gloried in the possession of it having received it in gift from the late Lord Antony Viscount Montagu who had it from Robert Hare a Noble Catholick Gentleman and he from Thomas Watson Bishop of Lincoln who in Queen Elizabeths time suffred much for the Catholick Faith 12. So unquestionably illustrious was his Sanctity that even Protestant Writers deny him not their testimony B. Godwin affirms that he discharged the Episcopall Office committed to him with great praise of Sanctity and industry And if any one be desirous to read the miracles performed by him he may find them at the end of the fourth Book of Saint Beda's Ecclesiasticall History He addes That he was a diligent preacher of Gods word And Foxe in his Acts writes thus Cuthbert Iaruman Cedda and Wilfrid lived in the same age all whom I esteem to have been Bishops of holy Conversation Aâ— touching their miracles since they are not written in the Gospell or Creed but in certain ancient Chronicles of that age they are no part of my Faith But as for their lives this I read and beleive that the Brittish and English Clergy of that time had no worldly designs but gave themselves wholly to preaching and teaching the word of our Saviour and in their lives and actions they performed what they taught so giving good examples to others c. 13. Both the Scotts and Irish would arroâ—gate him to their own countreys The Scotts because he was in his childhood bred at Mailros a place now belonging to Scotland But they forget that in this age the Province of Laudon in which Mailros is seated was under the dominion of the English and was afterward in the year of Grece nine hundred seaventy five given to Kened King of the Scotts by Edgar King of England as Mathew of Westminster witnesses 14. As for the Irish some of their writers affirm that Saint Cuthbert was born in Ireland of a certain Kings daughter defloured by force and left in England at Mailros whilst his Mother performed a pilgrimage to Rome But Saint Beda a witnes beyond all exception in the beginning of his Poëm of Saint Cuthberts life expressly sayes that he was born in Brittany and likewise affirms that he oft visitted a devout woman in England who had nourished him in the very beginning of his childhood whom therefore he oft called Mother And moreover that being a child he had the care of guarding Cattell committed to him And being come to mans age he entred the Monastery of Mailros Yea his Name alone compounded of English-Saxon words Cuth that is knowledge and Bert or bright manifestly declares his Originall to have been English 15 The Anniversary celebration of his Memory is in our English Martyrologe assign'd to the twentieth day of March And with him is ioynd S. Herebert the holy Hermite before mentioned who in the same day moment in which S. Cuthbert dyed in the Isle of Farne departed likewise this life in an Island seated in a very great lake in Cumberland out of which first issues the River Derwent Which was obtained by the merits and prayers of S. Cuthbert X. CHAP. i. 2 c. Saint Theodore repents his persecuting Saint Wilfrid and is reconciled to him recommending him to the Kings of the Mercians and Northumbers By whom he is restored to his rights 1. THE same year in which by the death of S. Cuthbert the Northern Provinces were deprived of so eminent a Light a compensation was made by the return of Saint Wilfrid from his long but not unproffitable five years exile For Saint Theodore Archbishop of Canterbury who had so earnestly opposed him was at last a little before his death mollified by the good Bishops patience and struck with admiration of his Sanctity and successfull labours in the Conversion of so many nations from Idolatry to the obedience of Christ. Insomuch as he was desirous instead of restoring him to his Northern Province to make him his Successour in the See of Canterbury Almighty God likewise touched the heart of Alfrid King of the Northumbers to desire and endeavour to procure the Holy Bishops return This together with the circumstance of time is thus breifly related by Saint Beda Wilfrid saith he in the second year of the raign of Alfria who succeeded Egfrid by the invitation of the said King received again his See and Bishoprick In the quiet possession whereof he remained the space of five years after which by a New tempest he was driven out of the haven as in due place shall be declared 2. As touching Saint Theodores repentance and reconciliation with Saint Wilfrid the particular circumstances thereof are thus sett down by William of Malmsbury At this time Egfrid King of the Northumbers had been slain in his warr against the Picts and Theodore Arch-bishop of Canterbury declined toward his end when being wounded in conscience for his injustice committed against Saint Wilfrid he summoned him and Bishop Erconwald to meet him at London There being mett together he confessed to them all his sins acknowledging withall that the thing which caused in his mind the sharpest remorse was his injustice against the said Holy Bishop in that he had partly by open endeavours procured or by secret connivance permitted him to be despoyled of his Bishoprick against the Ecclesiasticall Canons And because said he I am by a warning from heaven and my frequent infirmities admonished that my death will not be delayd beyond the next year I beseech you O holy Bishop Wilfrid mildly to forgive mee my fault and moreover to take upon you the charge of my
Arch-bishoprick for I doe not know any one of the English Nation so capable of it considering the eminence of your learning and skill in the Ecclesiasticall Lawes of Rome As for my self I will by Gods grace for the future be very diligent to wipe out all old offences by my care to perform all good offices and among the rest I will endeavour by my intercession and all the authority I have to reconcile to you all the Princes who have hitherto been your persecutours 3. Saint Wilfrid answered the Arch-bishop with all meeknes as became so holy a person but to accept of the Arch-bishoprick without the order and decree of a Nationall Councill he would by no means consent Saint Theodore notwithstanding used his utmost endeavours to obtain his complyance in this point but in vain Therefore he sent Messengers with letters to Alfrid King of the Northumbers who succeeded Egfrid and to his Sister Elfleda Abbesse of Streneshalch earnestly requiring them to lay aside all displeasure and without delay to receive into their affection and favour the Holy Bishop These Letters are not now extant but others which he wrote to the same effect to Ethelred King of the Marâ—cians have been preserved by William of Malmsbury in this forme 4. Your admirable Sanctity My beloved son may hereby take notice that a perfect reconciliation is made between my self and the Venerable Bishop Wilfrid Therefore I doe admonish you and in the Love of Christ require that yâ—u woulâ— still continue as you have hitherto done your protection of him who these many years has beeâ— despoyled of his revenews and forced to live among Pagans in the Conversion of whom he has seâ—ved our Lord with great effect Therefore I Theodore humble Bishop doe now in my decrepite age make this request unto you desiring the same which the Apostles authority recommends touching a Holy Bishop who has so long a time possessed his soule in patience and in imitation of Christ our Head with all humility and meeknes expects an end of so many injuries done him Moreover if I have found favour in your eyes let mee enioy the comfort of seeing your face most desirable to mee and let not a iourney for that purpose seem burdensome to you that my soule may blesse you before I dye Beloved Son perform the requesâ— I have made you in behalf of the said holy Bishop and be assured that if you obey your Father who am shortly to depart out of this world you will reap great proffit to your soule by it Farewell 5 S. Wilfrid armed with these Letters and reâ—recommendations took his iourney to the Kingdom of the Northumbers and beforâ— he entred it he received a kind invitation â—rom King Alâ—frid who at his coming with the consent of a Synod assembled restored to him all the revenews of which he had been deprived The Church of Lindesfarn was now vacant by the voluntary cession and ensuing death of Saint Cuthbert And as for Bosa Bishop of York and Iohn lately ordained Bishop of Hagulstad or Hexham they shewed a greater inclination to preserve peace and declare their obedience to the ordinance of the Pope then to retain their dignities or revenewes To this effect the foresaid Authour thus writes When Saint Wilfrid came with the Arch-bishops Letters to the forementioned Kings he was entertained with very kind speeches and all expressions of favour And particularly King Alfrid who had familiarly known him before of his own accord invited him to come to him And being arrived he first of all restored to him the Monastery of Hengsteldeim and afterward by decree of a Synod the Bishoprick of York together with the Monastery of Rippon We will now leave him in quiet possession of his Bishoprick which lasted the space of five years after which shall be related fresh troubles and persecutions renewed against him XI CHAP. 1. The Martyrdom of Saint Lewina a Virgin 2.3 Her Relicks removed into Flanders and venerated there 1. TO this year of Grace six hundred eighty seaven is assigned in our ancient Records the death and Martyrdom of a certain Brittish Virgin called Lewina whose memory is celebrated in our Martyrologe on the two twentieth day of Iuly and she is said to have been slain in this our Island by a certain Saxon out of his hatred to the Christian Faith She suffred in the Province of the South-Saxons whom S. Wilfrid had lately converted to the Faith And she was buried in Sussex at a place called Seaford not far from the Town of Lewes which probably took its name from this Virgin 2. When the Danes in after ages cruelly vexed this Island and with a furious zeale imitated since by Calvinistes raged against the Monuments of Saints the Holy Virgins Body was taken up and translated beyond Sea where it was reposed at a place called Berga or Monts in Brabant or rather Flanders where now is seated the Town of S. Winoc Thus writes Miraeus in his Belgick Calender on the two and twentieth of Iuly Then is celebrated the memory of Levinna or Lewina an English Virgin whe flourished under Eubert or rather Egbert the Father of Alfrid King of the English Nation and suffred Martyrdom in the time of Theodore the seaventh Arch-bishop of Canterbury Her Sacred Body was taken out of her Monument by Edelin a Bishop and translated at last to Bergs of S. Winâ—c together with the Relicks of S. Oswald King and Martyr and of S. Itiâ—berga or Idalberga a Virgin Concerning the Miracles of Saint Lewina there is extant a Book written by Drogo Bishop of the Morini or Teroüâ—â—ne 3 Consonantly hereto wee read in the Gallican Martyrologe on the fifth of August At Bergs in the Province of the Morini is then celebrated the Memory of the reception of Saint Lewina Virgin and Martyr whose most Sacred Body was by Balger a Monk of Bergs brought to his Monastery from the Monastery of S. Andrew at Zevored or Seaford a Sea port in England The said Sacred Body being caried through severall villages and Towns in Flanders before it came to Bergs became illustrious by many Miracles affording comfort and health to any one who implored her intercession as Drogo Bishop of the Morini manifestly declares in his Book of the said holy Virgin and Martyrâ— Miracles XII CHAP. 1. Ina King of the West-Saxons 2.3 c. Saint Aldelm at Rome obtains Priviledges for his Monastery of Malmsbury A fabulous report concerning Pope Sergius 1. IN the year of Grace six hundred eighty eight began the raign of the glorious King Ina King of the West-Saxons as we have already declared when we treated of the cession of King Cedwalla after his conversion who left his throne to undertake a pilgrimage to Rome there to receive Baptism where he happily dyed in his Baptismall innocence 2. The same year Saint Wilfrid contenting himself with the Churches of York and Hagulstad which he administred with great
perfection voluntarily surrendred the Church of Lindesfarn which he committed to the governance of Eadbert mentioned before upon occasion of the death of S. Cuthbert who was ordained Bishop of that Diocese At this time the English-Saxon Churches flourished wonderfully when the Princes and others following their example sought not their own interests but those of Iesus Christ. This wee shall shorty make good by relating the actions of severall of our Kings and Apostolicall men who filled France Germany and even Italy it self with the seeds of Gods Word and the fame of their Sanctity 3. The year following in which King Cedwalla dyed at Rome S. Aldelm who as hath been said was his companion in that iourney became a Petitioner to Pope Sergius and obtaind of him in the behalf of his Monastery of Malmsbury a Priviledge of exemption from Episcopall Iurisdiction and a power to the Monks of electing their own Abbot according to the Rule of S. Benedict Of this Priviledge saith William a Monk of the same Monastery the same S. Aldelm obtained a confirmation from Ina King of the West-Saxons and Ethelred of the Mercians 4. Among other Acts of S. Aldelm at Rome there is reckoned by a certain Authour of no great credit saith Baronius his freeing Pope Sorgius from a scandalous imputation and calumny imposed on him of being the Father of a bastard then incestuously born Which calumny S. Aldelm is said to have dissipated by commanding the infant then but nine dayes old expressely to acquitt the Pope of that crime This fable the Centuriatours of Magdeburg having mett with they according to their accustomd impudence doe thus pervert There was great familiarity between Aldelm and Pope Sergius to whom a Son having been born by adultery at Rome he had not the boldnes to declare the truth ingenuously What ever the truth was certain it is that these Writers have most disingenuously adulterated it XIII CHAP. 1.2 The death of Saint Theodore Archbishop of Canterbury His Disciples 3. The death of S. Eanfleda 4.5 Likewise of S. Hersewida 1. THE next year after the death of King Cedwalla at Rome that is the six hundred and ninetieth after our Lords Incarnation saith S. Beda Arch-bishop Theodore of blessed memory being an old man and full of dayes for he was then in the eighty eighth year of his age happily dyed That his life should be continued to this number of years he had been advertised by Revelation in a dream as he oft told his freinds He administred the See of Canterbury the space of two and twenty years and was buried in the Church of S. Peter where the Bodies of all the Arch-bishops were enterred Concerning him and all his Predecessours in that See likewise it it may be truly and properly said Their Bodies doe rest in peace and their names live from generation to generation For to summ up all in a word the English Churches received more spirituall advancement during his government then they had done in any age before 2. A great ornament to S. Theodore were his Disciples whom he left behind him for the perpetuating his name Among which the most eminent were those who are named by Bishop Parker in his Antiquities where speaking of S. Theodore he saith Besides his other vertues he was in great perfection learned and after his death he did as it were live in his Disciples which were many and illustrious Among which the more notable were these Saint Beda Iohn of Beverley Albin the Venerable Abbot of the Monastery of S. Augustin in Canterbury and Thobias Bishop of Rochester who was as skillfull and ready in the Latin and Greek as his own native language S. Beda ingenuously acknowledges that Albin assisted him much in the collecting his History and for the tongues makes him equall to Thobias Of all these Disciples of S. Theodore wee shall speak particularly hereafter 3. The same year dyed also S. Eanfleda the daughter of Edwin King of the Northumbers She was the first person baptized in that Province After her Fathers death she returned with her mother into Kent and in processe of time was married to Oswi King of the Northumbers who by her admonition built the Monastery of Gethlin now called Gilling not far from Richmond in expiation for the death of Oswin slain by Oswi After the death of her husband she retired into the Monastery of Streneshalch or Whitby in which her daughter S. Elfleda had spent many years in great devotion and after the death of S. Hilda was made Abbesse of it There S. Eanfleda received the Religious habit and veyle and submitted herself to the instructions and command of her own daughter She was buried in the Church of Saint Peter belonging to the said Monastery where formerly her husband King Oswi and afterward her daughter S. Elfleda were also enterred Her name is commemorated in our Martyrologe among the Saints on the fifth of December 4. To the same year is likewise assigned the happy death of S. Hereswida the daughter of Hereric Nephew to the glorious King S. Edwin She was married to Ethelhere King of the East-Angles to whom she bore three Sons all which were consequently Kings Aldulph Eflwold and Beorna After her husbands death she retired from Court and being desirous to passe to a more strict and private life she left her countrey and in the famous Monastery of Cala or Chelles in France she undertook the Profession of a Religious life So great was her devotion and piety that both in France and Brittany many were inflamed to imitate her example And among the rest her Sister S. Hilda had an intention to follow her into France but was perswaded not to deprive her own countrey the Kingdom of the Northumbers of the luster of her vertues In the mean time S. Hereswida having spent many years in the delicious exercises of Contemplation this year received the Crown so long expected by her 5. In the Gallican Martyrologe we read this testimony of her In the Monastery of Cale seated in the territory of Paris this day being the twentieth of September is celebrated the memory of S. Hereswida She being a Queen in England out of love to Christ forsook her Scepter and kingdom and betook her self to the said famous Monastery where after she had afforded admirable examples of Piety humility and Regular Observance professed by her she was consummated with a blessed end and obtained the reward of a heavenly crown Her glorious gests Saint Beda who was a great admirer of her hath celebrated with condigne praises XIV CHAP. 1.2.3 Saint Wilfrid again expelled his Diocese 4 5. c. He retires among the Mercians where he succeeds to Sexulf in administring the See of Leicester and ordains Bishops 7 8. Bosil Bishop of Worcester dying Ostfor succeeds 1 SAint Wilfrid had now five years enioyd with quietnes and with great piety administred his Province of the
Northumbers when this calm was disturbed with new â—torms S. Beda dispatches this Tragedy in a â—ew words saying After five years he was accused once more and by the said King Alfrid and very many Bishops expelled from his See not mentioning the heads of his accusation 2. But William of Malmsbury insinuats that the ground of their charge against him was the same with the former to witt that he had united the Iurisdiction and revenews of two Bishopricks which S. Theodore had formerly separated namely York and Hagulstad Adding that considering the vast exâ—ent of the Province it was fitt to erect a third at Rippon 3. The freindship saith he between King Alfrid and S. Wilfrid stood a good while unshaken till about five years after his return the poysonnous counsells harboured in the breasts of certain malignant persons at last broke forth By these mens suggestions King Alfrids mind being prevented withdrew some of the possessions belonging to the Monastery of Rippon having a design to constitute a new Bishoprick there For he alledged that these Decrees of the late Arch-bishop Theodore which he made not in the beginning or end of the Controversy but in the time intervening were 〈◊〉 continue in force 4. S. Wilfrid resenting this iniustice and violence left the Province of the Northumbers and retired to his freind Ethelred King of the Mercians with whom he continued a long time After whose departure King Alfrid restored the See of York to Bosa who formerly had the possession of it and Iohn sirnamed of Beverley he constituted Bishop of Hagulstad or Hexham who this same year at the request of the Abbot Ceolfrid promoted to the Order of Deacon S. Beda now entred into the twentieth year of his age 5. Before S. Wilfrid entred into the Kingdom of the Mercians Putta who ten years before had been ordained Bishop of Hereford dying there succeeded him in the same See Tirtellus this year according to the Calender published by Sir Henry Savill So that not any Church being vacant in that Kingdom S. Wilfrid lived a private retired life but in high esteem and favour with King Ethelred who had a great desire to fixe him in the government and Episcopall administration of some Province there 6. Which good design of his was effected the year following by the death of Sexulf Bishop of Lichfeild who in the year of Grace six hundred seaventy eight as hath been declared was constituted Bishop of that Diocese upon the deposition of Winfrid This Sexulf was a very holy man and highly honoured and beloved through his whole Province in so much as after his death he was numbred among the Saints 7. To him by Kings Ethelreds appointment succeeded S. Wilfrid Notwithstanding some Writers affirm that after the death of Sexulf his Diocese was divided into two Sees the one at Lichfeild and the other at Leicester and that S. Wilfrid was constituted Bishop of Leicester and that Headda Bishop of Winchester adioyned the other to his Diocese However these matters were ordered certain it is that S Wilfrid exercised the Office not only of a Bishop but a Metropolitan also ordaining Bishops there Thus this very year in the Diocese of Worcester Wicciorum Bosiâ— who twelve years before was there consecrated Bishop being now broken with age and labours at the request of King Ethelred S Wilfrid ordained Bishop there a man of eminent piety and worth named Ostfor 8. Concerning this Ostfor S. Beda gives this account Ostfor saith he after that in both the Monasteries of the Holy Abbesse Hilda he had employd his time diligently in the study of the Divine Scriptures at length aspiring to greater perfection he went into Kent to the Arch-bishop Theodore of blessed memory where having spent some time in sacred Lections he resolved to goe further as far as to Rome for in that age it was an argument of great vertue and piety to undertake that iourney In processe of time returning from thence into Brittany he diverted into the Province of the Wiccians or Worcestershire the Governour whereof was a person called Osriâ— There he remained a long time preaching the Word of God and in his conversation affording an example of all vertues and piety to those that saw or heard him At this time the Bishop of thaâ— Province named Boselus was so oppressed with infirmity of body that he could not himself discharge his Episcopall Office Therefore by the iudgment and consent of all the foresaid holy man Ostfor was elected Bishop in his place and by comman of King Edilred Wilfrid of happy memory whâ— then administred Episcopall iurisdiction amonâ— the Midland-English or Mercians ordained him Bishop because the Arch-bishop Theodore was then dead and not any as yet ordaind to succeed him XV. CHAP. 1. 2. c. Of King Ina's Lawes especially such as regard the Church 4 c. The Welsh whence so called c. 6 7 Preists whether then maried 8. The Saxons c. tender of shedding blood 1. THE same year Inas King of the West-Saxons being desirous to compose and settle his kingdom in good order by rooting out such ill customes as had crepp'd in among the people called an Assembly of his Bishops and Nobility at which great numbers of other inferiour Ecclesiasticall and Secular persons were present also and by common advice enacted those famous Lawes called King Ina's Lawes which continued in force many ages even till the coming and Conquest of the Normans and of which William of Malmsbury saith a mirrour of their purity remained to his time These were seaventy five in number and are extant in Sir Henry Spelmans collection of Councils to which the curious Reader may have recourse I will onely select a few of them such as regard Ecclesiasticall affaires and therefore are pertinent to this History 2. In the first place saith King Inas wee command that Gods Ministers be carefull to observe the Canonicall order of living And our Will is that these Lawes and Ordinances be observed by the people 2. Let each infant be baptized within thirty dayes after he is born If this be not done let the person in fault be fined in thirty shillings solidis But if it happen that the infant dye before he is baptized let the faulty persons forfeyt their whole estate 3. If a servant a slave shall doe any servile work on our Lords day by his Masters command let him be free and his Master fined in thirty shillings But if the servant without command of his Master doe any such work let him be whipped or redeem that penalty with money If a free man work on that day not commanded by his Master let him either be made a slave or pay sixty shillings And if a Preist offend in this kind let his penalty be doubled 4. Let the Firsts-fruits of seeds be payed on the solemnity of S. Martin And whosoever shall not then pay them Let him be fined in forty shillings and
moreover pay the said First-fruits twelve-fold 5 If any one guilty of a Capitall Offence shall flye to the Church Let him enioy his life and make compensation according to iustice and Law And if any one who has committed a fault punishable onely with stripes and shall implore the priviledge and favour of the Church let those stripes be remitted 3. Then after severall Ordinances touching Civill matters follows the eleaventh Law If any one shall buy one of his own countrey servant or free or guilty of any crime and shall send him away to be sold beyond sea let his penalty be the full price of such a person and moreover let him make full satisfaction both to God and his Master That this was the ancient custom among the Saxons to sell their children hath been formerly declared in the relation how S. Gregory having seen in the Roman market-place certain children brought to sale out of the Province of the Northumbers was by that spectacle moved to procure the conversion of our countrey The twelfth Law is If any one shall bring a false testimony or pledge before a Bishop let his penalty be one hundred and twenty shillings soâ—lidos 4 We will hereto add the two and twentieth Law though not regarding the Church because therin is the first mention that can any where be found of the Welsh Walli Let a Wallus or stranger who payes an annuall taxe be rated at one hundred and twenty shillings and his Son at one hundred From whence we may observe that the German-Saxons among us called the Brittains Walli or Welchmen a Name which they never gave to themselves and the utmost Western Province Cornwall not from a certain Qveen called Wallia nor as descended from the Gaules but because they were strangers and spoke a language not understood by them for such the Germans call Wealsh and hence it is that the lower Germans called their neighbours towards France Wallons as Camden has learnedly observed 5. There remain onely three Laws which regard Bishops and the Font of Baptism One is the forty sixth Law in which by the piety and sence of that age a King and a Bishop are in a sort esteemed equall Let one hundred and twenty shillings be the penalty of one breaking peace in a town of the King or Bishop and fourscore shillings in the town of a Senatour who is called in the Saxon tongue Ealdorman and Eorle c. Another Law is this Let every one pay the first fruits of his Seeds out of that house in which he abode at the Solemnity of our Lords Nativity 6. The last being the seaventy fifth in order is this If any one shall kill the God-father or God-son of any one let him pay to the kinred of the person slain as much as is due to a Lord for compensation of the slaughter of his servant And let this payment be encreased or diminished according to the rate of the slain persons estimation in like manner as the payment to a Lord for his servant slain is to be rated But if the person slain was the Kings God-son let satisfaction be made to him according to that made to the kinred of the slain But if such a mans life was taken away by one of his kinred let some abatement be made of the money to be payed to the God-Father accordingly as it uses to be done when money is to be payed to the Lord for the slaughter of his servant And if he who is slain be the Son of a Bishop let the amercement be diminished by the halfe 7. As touching this last clause Sir Henry Spelman well observes That whereas some Writers would thence contend that Bishops in this age were married because here is mention made of a Bishops Son they are mistaken For this is not to be understood of the Naturall or coniugall Son of a Bishop but of his spirituall Son for whom he was undertaker at the Sacred font This is manifest from the Rubrick of this Law which is inscribed Of the slaughter of a God-father or God-son or to use the ancient Terms Of him that shall kill Patrinum or filiolum of any one For in old time a God-father or undertaker for one in Baptisme was called Patrinus and a God-son filiolus as now in France Parrain and Filieul 8. In generall from these Laws of King Inas wee may observe That among the Saxons man slaughter was never punished with death but onely with a fine of money nor any other crime except Robbery and that committed not by a single person but by at least seaven in a troop So tender they were of blood Wheras in later times the life of a man is become of so low an estimation that the losse of it is made the satisfaction for a trifle as the private pilfering of any thing beyond the valew of a shilling And the like tendernes of mens lives wee may observe in the Lawes of all the Northern Nations of old as the Visigoths Vandals Lombards c. XVI CHAP. 1.2 c. S. Aldelm appointed to write to the Brittish King of Cornwall to invite his Bishops to Catholick Vnity 4. His Book of Virginity written to certain devout Virgins 1. AS touching the foresaid Assembly in which these Laws were enacted whether it may properly be called a Synod is doubtfull But since in the Title of these Laws the only persons as Authours of the same named are King Inas himself by the perswasion and appointment of his Father Kenred and Hedda and Erkenwald his Bishops together with his Aldermen it is not probable that this was that Synod concerning which S. Beda writes thus Aldelm being only a Preist and Abbot by command of a Synod of his Nation wrote an excellent Book against the errours of the Brittains because they celebrated Easter not in its due Season and did many things contrary to Ecclesiasticall chastity and peace So the printed Copies read wheras in ancient Manuscripts we read Ecclesiasticall Charity and peace and concerning which Synod S. Aldelm himself thus writes When I was lately in a Synod of Bishops assembled out of all Brittany almost an innumerable company of Gods Preists mett there c. 2. However certain it is that such a Nationall Synod of the English-Saxons was convoked and held about this time in which after wholesome Constitutions made for the regulating and composing their own Churches the charity of those Bishops extended it self to their uncharitable neighbours the Brittains especially such as inhabited in Cornwall under the government of their King then called Geruntius who was Tributary to Inas King of the West-Saxons Which Brittains hitherto retained their old aversion and hatred of the Saxons and perhaps for that reason were obstinate in persisting in their old Errours particularly about Ecclesiasticall Tonsure and which was most considerable an undue celebration of Easter insomuch as this their perversenes rendred them Schismaticks from the Catholick Church To restore
apprehend to be indissolubly bound them mercifully absolved from his sins 12. But it may be some nice Disputer presuming on his skill in Scripture and other learning will fancy that he can excuse and defend himself under the sheild of such an Apology as this saying I doe sincerely venerate the Precepts of both the Old and New Testament and with my heart and tongue I doe confesse in God an Vnity of Essence and Trinity of Persons I doe freely preach to the people the Mystery of our Lords Incarnation the Crosse of his Passion and the Victorious Trophey of his Resurrection I doe diligently denounce to my hearers the last Iudgment of the living and dead in which with a most equall ballance every one according to their different merits shall receive a different retribution of happines or misery This I beleive and professe and by the priviledge of this Faith I doe not doubt but I shall be reckoned and rewarded with the lott of true Orthodox Catholicks 13. But alas this seeming Fortresse under which they hope to lurk securely I will endeavour to batter to the ground with the Engin of the Apostles reproof For S. Iames who is called the Brother of our Lord saith Thou beleivest that there is one God and immediatly he adioyns directing his speech by an Irony to the twelve Tribes in the dispersion Thou doest well But take notice of this The Devills likewise beleive this and tremble For Faith without Works is dead His meaning is that Catholick and Brotherly Charity must inseparably walk together in the same path as that glorious Preacher and Vessell of Election S. Paul testifies saying If I knew all Prophecy and all Mysteries if I had Faith so that I could remove mountains and if I should give my body to be burnt and had not Charity all this would proffit mee nothing at all I will summ up all in one short sentence That man does in vain boast of the Catholick Faith who does not follow the Dogme and Rule of S. Peter For the foundation of the Church and stability of Faith which can be shaken by no winds or tempests rests principally on Christ and after him consequently on S. Peter Hence the Apostle saith Other foundation can no man lay besides that which is layd which is Iesus Christ. And Divine Truth it self hath thus established the Priviledge of the Church to S. Peter Thou art Peter and on this Rock I will build my Church 14. This is the tenour of Saint Aldelm's Epistle to Geruntius King of Cornwall and to the Brittish Preists his Subjects in which may be observed what extreme bitternes and malice still possessed their minds against the Saxons insomuch as they chose rather to be separated from the Communion of the Catholick Church then to conform to them by relinquishing any of their old irregular Rites And here likewise may be observed how vainly our Protestant Writers endeavour to fly to the Brittains for defence of their deserting Catholick Doctrines Hence the Centuriators of Magdeburg and others imitating them taking advantage from an errour in the printed Copy of S Beda's history where Castitatem is read for Caritatem doe affirm That there was a sharp debate between Aldelm and the Brittains against whom he earnestly inveighs because they would not approve Celibacy of Preists and other new invented Rites as Beda testifies in the fifth Book of his History and nineteenth Chapter The same likewise is manifest out of Aldelms Epistle to Geruntius King of the English Whereas it is manifest that not a word is spoken in this Epistle touching Celibacy 15. This Epistle was not written in vain for as S. Beda testifies By the reading of it many Brittains subject to the West-Saxons were brought to the Catholick Rite of celebrating our Lords Paschall solemnity Whence we may likewise observe that these Brittains though they were immediatly governed by a King of their own nation yet both he and they were subordinatly dependent on Inas King of the West-Saxons Notwithstanding which dependence and subjection the Saxons did not seek by violence and terrour to force their consciences but with all meeknes and tendernes to invite them to Catholick Vnity XVIII CHAP. 1.2 Withred after six years interregnum is made King of Kent 3.4 He redeems with money an invasion of his Countrey by King Inas And builds S. Martins Church in Dover 1. IN the year of Grace six hundred ninety three the Kingdom of Kent began to take breath after six years agitation both by civill and extern commotions For after Edrick had deposed his usurping Vncle Lothere and obtained the throne by right of blood due to him by his Tyranny and injustice he incurred the hatred of his Subjects and after two years raign lost both his government and life His death notwithstanding rather encreased then ended the troubles of that Province for whether it was that many pretending to the succession factions and civill debates divided the nation or whatsoever was the cause for Historians afford us little Light to discover those affairs distinctly during the space of six years there was not any King there 2. To these civill broyles was added an invasion of that Kingdom by Cedwalla King of the West-Saxons as hath been declared Which invasion notwithstanding for the time united their dissentions so that after much hurt received the inhabitants of Kent repulsed Cedwella and driving his Brother Mul or Mollo into a Cottage sett it on fire and consumed him in it Cedwalla after this being converted to Christianity and relinquishing his kingdom to perform a pilgrimage to Rome where he desired to receive Baptism recommended the revenge of the death of his Brother Mul to his Successour Inas Who having prudently employed the five first years of his raign in settling his own kingdom the Churches in it by wholesom Lawes and constitutions at last this year he made a terrible impression into Kent 3. At this time the principall Pretender to that Kingdom was Withred the Son of Egbert who by his courage and industry had repressed the envy of his opponents and gained the generall affection of the people so that he was unanimously chosen and acknowledged King When King Inaâ— therefore in revenge of the death of Mul brought a formidable army into Kent for a while a vigorous resistance was made But King Inas having great advantage by his martiall skill and courage assisted with a far greater power King Withred was at last forced to redeem the safety and peace of his countrey with money So that a Treaty was begun and King Inas being mollified with the summ of thirty thousand marks of gold pardoned them the death of Mul and drew back his army into his own countrey 4. Bishop Parker from S. Beda gives to Withred an associate in the throne his Brother Swinfard who ioyntly administred the kingdom with great justice and piety They built saith he the Church of S.
Martin in the Town of Dover and enriched the Monks living there with large possessions XIX CHAP. 1. Brithwald consecrated Arch bishop of Canterbury 2.3 Pope Sergius his Letters to the Saxon Kings and Bishops 4. Brithwald ordains Bishops 1. PEace and tranquility being thus restored to the Kingdom of Kent the Consecration of a New-Arch-bishop in the place of S. Theodore dead two years since was very seasonable and necessary His Successours name was Brithwald who saith S. Beda was an Abbot in a certain Monastery seated near the place called Raculf where the River Genlade discharges it self into the Sea He was a man well versed both in holy Scriptures and likewise in Ecclesiasticall and Monasteriall Disciplines Yet much inferiour to his Predecessour He was chosen Bishop in the year of our Lords Incarnation six hundred ninety two on the first of Iuly Wichtred and Suebhard being then Kings of Kent But his Ordination was deferred to the year following for the attaining of which he was forced to passe over the Sea to Rome thence returned into France where he was consecrated by Godwin a Metropolitan there on the third day before the Calends of Ianuary and took possession of his own See on the day before the Calends of September being a Sunday 2. The same year there came Letters from Pope Sergius directed to Ethelred Alfrid and Adulf English Kings to whose protection and favour he earnestly recommended the New Arch-bishop The Motive of writing this Letter seems to have been the divisions and turmoyles of Kent of the composing of which it seems the Pope was ignorant and therefore did not addresse it to Withred King of Kent 3. Other Letters also came then from the same Pope to all the Bishops of Brittany in which he acquaints them with how much gladnes he entertained the said Elect Arch-bishop newly arrived at Rome as likewise the tidings of the Orthodox Vnity which was amōg them Consequētly he signified to them that according to the ancient Priviledge of that Church of Cāterbury from the dayes of his Holy Predecessour S. Gregory to the present time he had invested him with the Primacy of all the Churches of Brittany conferred on him the Sacred use of the Pall and Dalmatick Vestment Whereupon he required and commanded them to yeild to him all due honour and obedience as their Supreme Prelat and Primat These two Letters are cited by William of Malmsbury in his Discourse touching the dignity of the See of Canterbury 4. The first care of this New Arch-bishop was to supply the vacant Sees with worthy Prelats and saith S. Beda among many Bishops ordained by him he consecrated in the place of Gebmund Bishop of Rochester then dead Tobias a man skilfull in the Greek Latin and Saxon tongues and adorned with great variety of litterature To Tobias we may adioyn Waldher about this time ordained Bishop of London and successour to the holy Bishop Erconwald concerning whose Princely extraction vertues and Sanctity attested by many miracles before and after his death we have already spoken S. Erconwalds body was buried in his Church at London but in the year of Grace eleaven hundred forty eight his Sacred Relicks were taken up and translated to a more honourable place where for many miracles they were held in great veneration as Mathew of Westminster testifies in the same year XX. CHAP. 1.2 c. King Sebbe becomes a Monk His sicknes and Blessed death 6. Impious folly of the Centuriators of Magdeburg 7. c. A miracle at the enterrement of the Holy King Sebbe 9. The Holy Bishop Egwin succeeds to Ostfor in the See of Worcester 1. THE same year afforded to the world an illustrious example of the contēpt of perishing honours and pleasures in the person of a Prince who had many years enjoyd them and by experience knew the iust valew or rather the reall basenes of them and unsatisfaction to be found in them This was an example as ordinary in that age as to be esteemed miraculous in this 2. The person who afforded this example was Sebbe King of the East-Saxons concerning whose piety and desire to relinquish his purple for a poor Religious habit we have spoken already This desire at last he this year executed The order and manner whereof is thus related by S. Beda 3. When Sebbe had spent thirty years in the government of the East-Saxons all which time by his piety and devotion he shewed himself a soldier contending for a heavenly kingdom he was at last assaulted by a greivous sicknes which left him not till it brought him to his grave Being in this condition he admonished his wife that she should no longer oppose his retirement from the world but rather ioyn with him in dedicating the remainder of their lives in the service of God since neither of them could any longer enioy any content in the pleasures or rather slavery of the present world It was with much adoe that he obtained her liking hereto But having at last with much importunity wrested her consent he went to Valdhere then Bishop of London and successour to S. Erconwald and with his approbation and benediction he received the Habit of Religion so long and so earnestly desired by him He brought to the said Bishop a great summ of money to be distributed among the poore reserving nothing at all to himself so great was his desire to become truly poor in spirit for the kingdom of heaven 4. When his sicknes encreased on him so far that he perceived his death to approach being a person of a truly royall mind and therefore apprehending least the pains of his end night enforce him either by words gestures or actions to behave himself otherwise then became a person of his quality and condition he being then at London sent for the foresaid Bishop and desired him that besides himself and two of his own servants no other should be present at his death 5. This request the venerable Prelat willingly granted And not long after the devout King in his sleep by a comfortable Vision was freed from all the anxiety of his former solicitude and moreover had notice given him of the precise day in which he was to end his life For as himself afterward related he saw three men in shining vestments coming to him of which one sate down before his bed whilst the other two his companions stood by and askd him how he did Then he that was sett down said to him Be of good chear for your soule shall without any pain at all and with great splendour forsake your body and on the third day following you shall dye And the event really made good both these promises which he received in the vision For on the third day immediatly after Noon without any sence of pain he breathed forth his soule as if he had quietly rested in sleep 6. Thus happily dyed this Religious King whose death no doubt was precious in
to Vtrecht and presently after upon the ruined foundation of the ancient Church of Saint Thomas near the Castle they erected a Church in which they placed Canonicall Preists who lived in Community Which Church they dedicated to the honour of S. Martin Bishop of Tours There S. Willebrord Arch-bishop of the Frisons established his Cathedrall See and together with S. Swibert and the rest of the Brethren with their own hands consecrated it with its primitive benediction having translated into it the Sacred Body of S. Cunera Virgin and Martyr being one of the companions of S. Vrsula 2. In processe of time when Radbode King of the Frisons was dead free permission was given to Christians to preach the Gospell every where through Friseland Wherefore the foresaid Holy Prelats with the Preists and other Ecclesiasticks passing through the coasts of Holland and Friseland instructed the rude people in the Documents of the Gospell teaching them to renounce their profane Idolatry they baptized the Cathecumens they confirmed the Neophyts they dispensed Sacred Orders and with great constancy and devotion published the Gospell of Peace through all villages ordaining Preists and Deacons every where to assist them in the Ministery of Baptism especially in the great Town of Duerstat where after two years preaching they brought the whole people to embrace the Faith of Christ and by the assistance of the forementioned Noble man Gunther and his freinds they changed the Temples of Idolls into fifty two Christian Churches 3. Neither did they content themselves with preaching the Word of life in Friseland and Thuringia or Hervingia but as far as Denmark they brought to the Orthodox Faith great multitudes having purified them from their barbarous and Idolatious customs Thus these Holy Prelats and Preachers having with great fervour published for the space of severall years the Doctrine of Christ in severall Provinces they returned with great ioy to Vtrecht to their Brethren and fellow-laboures declaring to them how great things God had done by them And though the Holy Bishop S. Swibert was first advanced to Episcopall Dignity yet S. Willebrord in place and honour went before him and is esteemed the first Arch-bishop of Vtrecht inasmuch as he was by Pope Sergius ordained specially the Archbishop of the Frisons and by the Apostolick See sent in Mission to the same people 4. Conformably hereto writes Albinus Flaccus who likewise touching S. Willebrords preaching to the Danes addes this relation When the Holy Arch-bishop says he perceiv'd that he could not with any fruit or successe endeavour the Conversion of Radbode King of the Frisons he turned his steps and course of preaching to the Savage Danes At that time as the report is there raigned a Prince called Ongend a man of a disposition more cruell then any wild beast and whose heart was more impenetrable then a rock Yet this man by Gods operation treated with great honour this Preacher of Truth Who finding the said barbarous Prince obdurate in his perverse manners and wholly given up to Idolatry so that he had no hopes at all to work any good change in him He took with him thirty young children of that countrey returned with them to the Provinces subiect to the French But being desirous to prevent the cunning malice of the Devill he in the iourney having catechized the said children washed them in the Font of life for fear least by some accident in so long a voyage by Sea or the incursions oâ— the barbarous people through which he passed he might endanger their eternall state 5. Now this Devout Apostle pursuing his voyage came to a certain Island in the confines of the Frisons and Danes called by the inhabitants Fositesland from a certain profane Deity of theirs named Fosite to whom many Temples were there erected This place was held by them in such wonderfull veneration that no man durst presume to touch any beast feeding there or any other thing consecrated to the said Idoll nor so much as draw any water from a spring flowing there except in sign of veneration he observed an exact silence Into this Island the man of God being cast by tempest was forced to stay there some dayes expecting a seasonable time to putt to Sea But the Holy Bishop making small account of the foolish superstition of that place or of the feirce disposition of King Radbode who was wont to putt to a cruell death all those that violated such ceremonies he himself with the solemne invocation of the Blessed Trinity baptised three men newly converted and moreover gave order to his companions to kill certain beasts feeding there for their nourishment This the Pagans beholding verily beleived that such a sacriledge would be punished either with madnes or some sudden death But perceiving no harm to come to them in a great rage they went and told the King what had been done by the Christians Who being enflamed with excessive fury against the Holy Bishop seised upon him and intending to revenge the iniury done to his false Gods he according to the ancient custom of that Nation every day cast lotts three times upon him and his companions and yet never did that Lott which condemned to death fall upon the Bishop or his Disciples onely one Christian of the company was designed to death by the lott and so ended his life by Martyrdom Now this custom of casting lotts in such cases is verified to have been very ancient among the Germans by the testimony of Caesar in his commentaries 6. The same Authour moreover testifies how after the return of Clement or Willebrord a Synod was assembled at Vtrecht by appointment whereof other Missioners and Preachers were sent into the circumiacent Provinces And by occasion of the mentioning this ordinance of the Synod he makes a collection of the names and most memorable Gests of those devout Missioners which either formerly or in this present Synod or afterward were sent to labour in our Lords vineyard saying Then the foresaid Holy Prelats together with the excellent Preists and Preachers which came out of Brittany with them to Vtrecht observing that through Gods blessing much people was converted from Infidelity to the Faith of Christ they in the Synod assembled in this lately sprung Church of Vtrecht decreed that other zealous Preachers should after the manner of the Apostles and Disciples of our Lord be sent through the confining barbarous Nations to preach unto them the Faith of Christ. Now there were in the said Primitive Church of Vtrecht at that time the foresaid Apostolicall Prelats Canonicall Preists and worthy Preachers which together with the two Holy Brethren whose names were Ewald following S. Swibert constantly preached Christ to the Gentiles Afterward likewise were ioyned to them S. Winfrid a Preist who after he had lived thirteen years a Canon in the Church of Vtrecht was consecrated Arch-bishop of Mentz and called by a new name Boniface from whence returning after the death of S. Willebrord
he was ordained the Second Arch-bishop of Vtrecht And having spent sixteen years in preaching the Gospell through Friseland he together with his associats was crowned with Martyrdom In like manner S. Wirâ— a Bishop of the Deiri or rather of Iren that is Ireland and S. Plechelm Bishop of the Church by S. Beda called Candida casa Saint Orger a Deacon with other glorious Preists and Preachers But of these later Missioners wee shall speak more largely in due place for they are mentioned in this place by Marcellâ—â—us onely occasionally 7. Hereto he adds a Summary Narration of the various successes and ends of the Prime Missionners thus proceeding S. Acca returning in England with S. Swibert was by S. Wilfrid consecrated Bishop of Hagulstad and after many years spent in great purity and Holines there rested in our Lord. S. Wigbert as hath been declared was crownd with Martyrdom in Fosteland Saint Willâ—bald going into the Eastern part of France was made Bishop of Eystat S. Winnibald his Brother was ordained Abbot of Heyndelam the Sister of these two Holy men was the devout Virgin Walburgis Lebvin after he was consecrated Bishop was crownd with Martyrdom near Gaunt The two Brethren of the Name Ewald having preached Christ in Nabia and thence going up into Saxony ended their lives with a glorious Martyrdom Saint Werenfrid a Preist and worthy Preacher was sent towards Batua and piously governed the new-converted flock of Christ in Eâ—st and Westerwâ—irt being both in his life death illustrious through many Miracles at Westerwâ—irt happily rendred his Spirit to God on the Ides of September and was miraculously buried at Elst. S. Adelbert a Deacon son of Edilbald King of the Deiri who was Son of S. Oswald King and Martyr having built a Church at Egmond in Holland after the Conversion of many Pagans and glorious consummation of a most holy life happily rested in Christ on the seaventh day before the Calends of Iuly and was buried in Egmond where by his intercession many Miracles are wrought to this day He was an illustrious Confessour and first Arch-deacon of the Church of Vtrecht Thus writes Marcellinus touching his Brethren and devout companions and concerning himself adds these words 8. And I Marcellinus an unproffitable Preist was sent by the foresaid Holy Bishops to the Region beyond the River Isel and at the present have the care over Aldenseel Trent Tuvent Coverdy and Daventry in which places through Gods Providence and blessing I have by preaching gained to our Lord in a manner all the people having purged them from their Superstitious Idolatry As for Saint Willebrord he remained in his Diocese of Vtrecht and with great fervour preached the Gospell of Christ to all the people there about But the rest were dispersed here and there to preach the Word of God and after the Conversion of a world of Pagans happily rested in our Lord. XIV CHAP. 1.2.3 Lawes of King Withred 4. Ostritha Queen of the Mercians murdred 1. THE same year in Brittany there was assembled a Synod also by Withred King of Kent and Brithwald Arch-bishop of Canterbury at Berghansted where many wholesome Laws and Constitutions called The Iudgments of King Withred were enacted for the regulating both the Church and Civill state of that Kingdom 2. Of which Laws the first was That publick Prayers should be made for the King And the following regard severall Heads as the preserving the Peace of the State and Church The punishment of Adultery in severall conditions of men Against irregular Tonsure Forbidding working or travelling on our Lords day and the even before it Against offring any thing to the Devill and giving flesh to ones servant on a Fast-day Concerning the severall ways by which severall conditions of men were to purge themselves the King and Bishops by a simple affirmation without Oathes Preists and Abbots in this Form I speak the truth in Christ I lye not So likewise Deacons Inferiour Clerks with four compurgators laying one hand on the Altar and the other extended to the Oath a stranger without compurgators laying his hand on the Altar So likewise a Thane or Noble man of the King a simple countrey-man with four compurgators and bowing down his head towards the Altar That if any one depending on the Bishop be accused the hearing of the cause belongs to Ecclesiasticall Iurisdiction c. That no compensation shall be made by one who kills a Theife c. And that if a stranger shall privily wander through the countrey and neither crye aloud nor sound with his horn he is to be taken for a theif and either to be killed or banished 3. These Iudgments of King Withred are extant among the Collection of Brittish Councills compiled by Sir Henry Spelman and translated by him into Latin out of Ancient Saxon Manuscript called The Text of Rochester Textus Roffensis to whom the Reader is referred 4. About this time a barbarous Act was committed by the Mercians against their Queen Ostritha or Ostgida Sixteen years before this she had been given by her Brother Egfrid King of the Northumbers a wife to Ethelred King of the Mercians as it were in compensation for the death of his Brother Elwin and to establish a peace between the two Kingdoms And this year saith Huntingdon the Mercians called South-humbers committed a base Villany for they inhumanly murdred Ostrida their Queen Wife to King Edelred and Sister to King Egfrid S. Beda particularly charges the Nobility of those Mercians with that foul crime namely the inhabitants of Lincoln or of Nottingham shire What was the Motive or provocation to this inhuman act does not appear in History XV. CHAP. 1.2 Edfrid succeeds to Eadbert in the See of Lindesfarn 3.4 c. Death of Adamannus the Holy Abbot of Hy he could not perswade his Monks to the Catholick Observance of Easter 6. The Northumbers defeated by the Picts 1. THE year of Grace six hundred ninety eight was the eleaventh after the death of S. Cuthbert in which the Monks in whose Church his sacred Body reposed having hitherto privatly performed veneration to his memory seing the frequent Miracles wrought at his Sepulcher thought fitt to translate his Relicks to some more honourable place and expecting to have found nothing but dry bones they saw his Body as entire yea and his garments as fresh as when they were first layd in the ground Which being certified to his Successour Saint Eadbert he caused New Vestments to be putt upon him and the Body to be raised above the pavement pronouncing withall happines to any to whom God would grant the priviledge to be layd by him Which Priviledge himself obtained this same year for rendring his devout soule to our Lord on the day before the Nones of May his Body was enterred under the Body of S. Cuthbert saith Bishop Godwin And his memory is celebrated not only in the English but Roman Martyrologe also on the sameday
and far more labour in her high condition afford examples of vertue and piety to all her Subjects Which she performed in a most admirable manner being as the Authour of her Life describes her a most reverenced Mistresse to the Great ones and a kind Patronesse to the poor The former observed her as a Princesse and the lâ—tter as a Mother Those venerated her Majesty these admired her humility To the Nobles she was awfull and to meaner persons she seemed equall To all she was amiable and to all venerable rarely seen in throngs but frequent in Churches 8. Four and twenty years she raigned with her husband King Ercombert but he dying in the year of Grace six hundred sixty four and thereby she being left free to her self would be a Queen no longer but after she had seen the Commonweale settled saith Harpsfeild like a bird which had been a long time enclosed in a Cage she gladly escaped out of it and devesting her self of all her Royall Ornaments and marks of worldly pomp and pride she betook her self to the Society of Sacred Virgins in the Citty of Ely governed then by her Sister the most glorious Virgin Ediltrâ—dis or Ethelreda Fifteen years she lived under her disciplin being therefore more assiduous in devotion and more rigorous in mortifications because she came later then the rest to that School of Piety 9. In the end she buried her Blessed Sister and by the Vnanimous votes of her companions the Religious Virgins was chosen Abbesse in her place as hath been already declared in the Gests of the year of Grace six hundred seaventy nine In which charge being to afford documents and examples of all vertues to others she was more vigilant over herself more circumspect in her actions and more fervent in her prayers to God as being to give an account to him for so many soules besides her own 10. Having spent sixteen years more with all Perfection in this Office at last being mindfull of her dear Sister the constant opinion of whose Sanctity had taken deep root in all minds she thought fitt to take up her ashes and translate them to a more honourable place But how instead of empty ashes she found her Sisters body as entire as fresh and sweet as if she had rested in sleep wee have already declared To conclude after she had with admirable constancy and fervour performed the course appointed her by God she was this year called to receive a heavenly crown so that the day before the Nones of Iuly she followed her Sister to heaven leaving a command that her Body should be enterred together with her Sisters 11. From so holy a roote there sprung two most fragrant and beautifull flowers her daughters S. Eartongatha and S. Erminilda Of the former we have treated already As for S. Erminilda she was as hath been said maried to Wulfere King of the Mercians whose mind she inclined to all piety After her Husbands death she with her daughter S. Werburga as her Mother formerly had done consecrated her self to our Lord in the same Monastery of Ely where entring into the Royall path of Humility she behaved her self more submissly then the rest as her desire was more earnest to approach nearer to our Lord. This was so gratefull to all that her Mother Sexburga being dead she by the unanimous suffrages of her Religious Sisters was elected to succeed in her office of Abbesse of that famous Monastery 12. The year of S. Erminilda's death is not recorded But her Deposition is commemorated in our Martyrologe on the Ides of February 13. The summ of what concerns these three Holy Princesses and Religious Abbesses is thus breifly sett down by William of Malmsbury The most happy Lady Edildrida says he first founded the Monastery of Religious Virgins at Ely After her her Sister Sexburga who had been wife of Ercombert King of Kent and Mother of the most Holy Virgin Ercongetta lived to her old age in the same place under the Religious profession and Title of Abbesse And there succeeded her in the government of the same Abbey her other Daughter Erminilda who had been wife of Wulfere King of the Mercians and Mother of the holy Virgin Wereburga These three in continued successions were Abbesses there 14. This only is to be added in this place That this holy Queen and Abbesse Sexburga is different from another Queen of the same name wife to Kenwalch King of the West-Saxons who after his death in the year of Grace six hundred seaventy four governed the same Kingdom But either willingly or forced thereto by a faction of the Nobility which refused to be ruled by a woman retired to a quiet Religious life as hath before been declared XVIII CHAP. 1. The death of Saint Trumwin Bishop of the Picts 2. Also of S. Baruâ— a Hermite 3. c. And of S. Hildelida Abbesse 1. IN the year of Grace seaven hundred is recorded the death of S. Trumwin B. of the Picts who in the revolt of that Nation from the Northumbers was driven from theÌ„ce retired to the Monastery of Religious Virgins at Streneshalck where he lived fifteen years with some few companions in Monasticall rigour both to the good of his own soule and the benefit of many other and was with due honour buried there in the Church of S. Peter Many centuries of years after his Sacred Body was found and translated to a more honourable place together with the Bodies of severall other Saints reposing there Concerning which William of Malmsbury thus writes At Streneshalck now called Whitby in the Quâ—re of the Church belonging tâ— Religious Virgins which is famous for the Monuments of Holy Bishops and glorious Kings the industry of certain devout men hath as it were restored to life the slumbring ashes of severall persons For not long since there were found and translated to a more eminent place the Bodies of many Saints particularly of S. Trumwin Bishop of the Picts c. His name is commemorated among Saints in our Martyrologe on the tenth of February 2. The same year likewise is assigned to the death of S. Baruck a Hermite whose meâ—mory is celebrated in the Province of the Silures and region of Glamorgan He lyes buried in the Isle of Barry which took its name from him Concerning which we read this testimony in Camden The most outward Isle there is called Barry from Baruck a Holy man there buried Who as he gave his Name to the Island so did the Island give a Sirname to the Lords of it For the Noble family of the Viscounts of Barry in Ireland received their originall from thence In our Martyrologe this Holy Heremit Baruck is said to have sprung from the Noble Blood of the Brittains and that entring into a solitary strict course of life he at this time attained to a life immortall 3. We will conclude this year which concludes the seaventh Century of our History
the year of Grace seaven hundred and five Saint Wilfrid arrived in Brittany bringing with him Letters and Messengers likewise from the Pope to the two Kings Ethelred and Alfrid giving them account of what had lately passed at Rome in debating the Controversy What the successe was William of Malmsbury thus relates 2. Saint Wilfrid says he presently after his return presented the Letters from the See Apostolick to Ethelred late King of the Mercians now a Monk Which he received in an humble posture kneeling And having read them he with little difficulty obtained from Kenred Son of Wulfere whom he had made his Successour in the Kingdom an order that they should be obeyd For Kenred was a Prince replenished with the fear of God a good proof whereof he gave to the world by a voluntary renouncing his Kingly authority four years after and embracing a Monasticall Profession In like manner Brithwald Arch-bishop of Canterbury shewed himself as earnest to enter into brotherly concord with Saint Wilfrid Some say he was affrighted thereto by the Popes Messengers who denounced to him his condemnation from the See Apostolick altough S. Wilfrid interposing hindred the pronouncing Sentence 3. Only Alfrith King of the Northumhers still persisted in his obstinacy and resistance For when Messengers directed from Saint Wilfrid came to him at first he gave them a mild answer But afterward being as is beleived depraved by the suggestions of certain malignant persons about him favoured by him much to his dishonour when the Messengers again presented themselves to him on the day appointed he sent them away with sad hearts by pronouncing this his determinate Sentence That for the persons of the Messengers for the gravity of their lives and veneâ—ablenes for their age he honoured them as parents But as touching the subject of their message he utterly refused complyance with it since it was against all reason that upon any Letters perhaps surreptitiously obtained from the See Apostolick a man who had been twice condemned by a Nationall Synod of the English should be restored to his dignity and Communion 4. Having made frequent mention of these Letters of Poope Iohn inasmuch as they afford great light to Saint Wilfrids cause wee will bere sett down the tenour of them from William of Malmsbury by whom they are recorded They are inscribed To the most eminent Lords Ethelred King of the Mercians and Alfrid King of the Deiri and Bernicians 5. Wee doe much reioyce heâ—â—ing the report of the encrease of your Religious devotion through Gods Grace cooperating and seeing the fervour of your Faith which God illuminating your minds yee at first received by the preaching of the Prince of Apostle and doe still constantly retain And I would to God that this our ioy might be enlarged by the good behaviour of many among you But the incurable dissension of some Spirits there does much disquiet our minds Which dissension wee are obliged to censure and correct least instead of being observers we be found transgressours of Apostolick Precepts 6. For it is now a good while since that Bishop Wilfrid in the time of Pope Agathon of Blessed Memory appealed in a certain cause of his to this See His accusers also sent from Theodore Arch-bishop of Canterbury and from Hilda an Abbesse of Religious memory came hither Whereupon Bishops from severall places were assembled in this Citty who examined the matter diligently and canonically and after Examination pronounced Sentence Which Sentence the Popes his Successours and my Predecessours have confirmed And the Arch-bishop Theodore never contradicted the said Sentence nor sent afterward any more accusations against him Moreover now of late more accusations having been sent against the same Wilfrid wee took order that they should be examined in a Synod of Reverend Bishops together with his respective Answers and defence which Examination continued many dayes together both from Epistles ancient and modern touching that cause and verball allegations made by such persons as were present So that all hath been done in the cause that can be performed in the absence of the principall accusers who in case they approve not the Sentence here given must repaire in presence hither 7 Wherefore wee doe hereby admonish our Brother Arch-bishop Brithwald that together with Wilfrid he convoke a Synod commanding Bosa and Iohn to repair to the same There let him hear and consider what the parties can say and what proofs can be made on either side Which being done if he can determine the cause he will doe a thing very acceptable to us But in case he cannot let him then admonish both parties to have recourse in person hither where the cause hitherto depending may be finally decided by a greater Councill And let those who shall neglect to come hither know that they shall be ipso facto suspended and neither here nor there esteemed legall Bishops As for your Royall Highnes be pleased to afford your assistance that the Orders which with Christs help wee have herein given may come to effect And whosoever of what condition soever shall presumptuously contemne our authority he shall not remain without Gods punishment nor escape without his harm and danger from the spirituall bonds in which he is tyed 8. This was the tenour of the Popes Letters which were contemned by King Alfrid alone who notwithstanding presently after found that the denunciation of Divine iudgment in the end of them was not in vain For he lived but a little while after as the same Authour relates saying Assoon as the Messengers were departed he was assaulted by a very sharp disease which shortly brought him to his end But then the bitternes of his torments awaked reason which had slumbred a long time in the Kings mind and according to the Prophets saying Vexation gave him understanding For perceiving that this punishment had deservedly come upon him for his disobedience he promised to make a reparation of his fault to Wilfrid if he could be brought to his presence before his death And the same he continued to promise as long as he had use of his tongue withall adiuring his Successour to perform the same in case himself could not doe it Thus he repented too late his contempt of the Letters sent from the See Apostoâ—ick the comminations of which he could not avoyd 9 Thus dyed this worthy King Alfrid who for the space of nineteen years had governed his Kingdom in great iustice and peace and against whom wee read not any accusation or charge of any other crime but this his pertinacious persecution of this Holy Bishop Whosoever he was that inserted him in our Martyrologe on the twelfth of March by the Title of a Monk in the Monastery of Mailros was surely mistaken since neither S. Beda who lived at the same time near the place nor any of our Ancient Historians mention any such thing And Florilegus expressly says that he dyed at Driffeld seated on the River Hull in Yorkshire which
Camden calls the village of Alfrid the most learned King of the Northumbers wherein his Monument is exâ—ant XXV CHAP. 1.2 c. S. Wilfrid in a Synod in Brittany restored to his Rights The testimony of the Holy Royall Virgin Elfleda c. in his behalf 1. WEE are now approching towards an end of the long continued troubles of this illustrious Bishop Saint Wilfrid Whose restitution though it found some delay and opposition after the death of King Alfrid yet by a Synod shortly after assembled in the Province of the Northumbers it was fully effected The manner and progresse whereof is thus declared by the same Authour 2. When King Alfrid was dead a certain Noble man named Edulf who had a design to usurp the Kingdom vomited likewise forth his malicious fury against Saint Wilfrid as if he had been by oath engaged in the frenzy of King Alfrid For when the Holy Bishop calling to mind that the same Edulf had professed freindship formerly to him thought it expedient to goe to him the senceles man fell into such a passion that he commanded him presently to depart his Kingdom and gave order that all his goods should be confiscated and himself cast out thence But two months after the Tyrant loft both his Kingdom and life and the Nobility restored to the Throne Osred the Son of Alfrid 3 Now among the Nobles of that Kingdom the highest both in authority and fidelity was one named Berthfrid Him did Brithwald Arch-bishop of Canterbury admonish to cause a Synod to be assembled in that Kingdom for determining the cause of Saint Wilfrid whereto he consented And in the said Synod to the end that controversy might have a peaceable end it was ordered according to the precepts contained in the Popes Letters that a choice should be offred to the Bishops who were parties against Saint Wilfrid that either they should resign to him his Episcopall See or repair presently to Rome there to iustify the cause of their refusall And whosoever would not accept of this choice should be excommunicated 4. S. Beda notes the particular place where this Synod meâ—t saying it was near the River Nid which gives a name to the Province of Nidds-dale now belonging to the Kingdom of Scotland but anciently within the Dominion of the Northumbers At this Synod were present Arch-bishop Brithwald with S. Wilfrid likewise Bosa Bishop of York and Iohn of Hagulstad There came thither also the Royall Virgin and Abbesse of Streneshalck Elfleda Sister to King Alfrid whose testimony was of great moment for ending the controversy For thus writes William of Malmsbury 5. Whilst the cause of S. Wilfrid was agitating in the Synod and the Bishops according to their former manner contradicted his pretentions the Holy Virgin Elfleda Sister to the late King Alfrid and Abbesse of Streneshalck after S. Hilda putt an end to the busines Saying Let these tedious discourses little to the purpose cease Here doe I produce the last Will of my Brother at the making whereof my self was present by which he declares that if God restored him his health he would without delay observe and execute the commands of the See Apostolick or if death kindred him he would oblige his heyr and successour thereto 6. After the Holy Virgin had spoke thus Berthfrid immediatly added these words My sentence is that we ought to obey the Popes commands especially considering that our obligation thereto â—â— strengthned by our late Kings will and the solemn promise also which we our selves made in our necessity for when after his death we were besieged in the Citty of Bedda-burgh and that the enemies inclosing us used their utmost endeavour to break into the Town in this extremity and danger we made a Vow to God that if we might escape we would fullfill the commands of the See Apostolick We had scarce ended this Vow but presently the whole Province submitted it self to us and every one strove who should prevent the other in running to our assistance The Royall youth Osred was acknowledged King the Enemy was defeated and the usurping Tyrant slain To conclude it is our young Kings will also that the Venerable Bishop Wilfrid be restored Now Berthfrid had no sooner spoke thus but immediatly all clouds of dissension were dissipated and a lightsome calmnes of peace succeeded All the Bishops hastned to embrace one another and passed the remainder of their lives in amity and concord 7 The result of the Synod was That Saint Wilfrid should be re-instated in all the dignities and possessions formerly belonging to him Notwithstanding Bosa who had been Bishop of York dying presently after this Synod S. Wilfrid permitted Iohn to remove to York and himself being now very old contented himself with the See of Hagulstad or Hexham and his own Monasteries 8. Thus at last ended all the troubles of this Holy Bishop Wilfrid Which were the more heavy to him in that all his persecutours were persons of vertuous holy lives The consideration whereof gave occasion to the Historian to make this complaint It is hence manifest how great the misery is wherein human Nature is involved inasmuch as those men and woemen whose sanctity is much celebrated by Antiquity such were Theodore Brithwald Iohn Bosa and likewise the Holy Abbesse Hilda they all with utmost violence persecuted S. Wilfrid a Bishop most highly favoured by Almighty God Particularly as touching Bosa he is stiled by S. Beda a most holy Prelat and beloved by God and his Name is commemorated among Gods Saints in our Martyrologe on the ninth of March though his death hapning this year is assigned to the year of Grace seaven hundred THE ONE AND TWENTIETH BOOK OF THE CHVRCH-HISTORY OF BRITTANY I. CHAPTER 1.2 c. S. Hedda Bishop of the West-Saxons dying his Sâ—e is divided into two Winchester of which Saint Daniel is made Bishop and Shirborn of which S. Aldelm 1. THE same year in which debates were so happily ended in the Northern part of Brittany Hedda Bishop of Winchester dyeâ— concerning whom thus writes S. Beda In the beginning of the Raign of Osred King of the Northumbers Heddi Bishop of the West-Saxons departed this world to eternall felicity For he was a good and iust man and was enabled to discharge his Episcopall function in governing and teaching rather by the light proceeding from Charity and the love of vertue deeply imprinted in his heart then by reading of Books In a word the most Reverend Prelat Pechthelm who then was a Deacon and Monk in the Monastery of S. Aldelm his successour was wont to relate how in the place where the holy Bishop Heddi was buried many miracles were wrought by his merits and intercession and that the inhabitants of that Province were accustomed to take dust from thence which they putt into water and either therewith sprinckled or gave it to drink to such as were sick either men or beasts and thereby conferred health on them
By means of which frequent taking away the dust a trench of no small depth and largenes was made in the place His name therefore is deservedly commemorated in our Martyrologe and the Roman likewise among the Saints on the Nones of Iuly 2. S. Hedda being dead the Bishoprick of that Province saith the same Authour was divided into two Dioceses one whereof was given to Daniel who governs the same to this day that is to the year of Grace seaven hundred thirty one in which S. Beda concluded his History and the other to S. Aldelm who worthily administred the same the space of four years Both these men were eminently skilfull in Ecclesiasticall affairs and in the doctrine of Holy Scriptures 3. S. Beda does not mention the name of the Episcopall See assigned to Daniel but other Authours doe generally agree that it was Winchester which he governed forty years As for S. Aldelm the Seat of his Bishoprick was Shirburn in the Province of the Durotriges or Dorsetshire in which a few of his Successours continued till the Episcopall See was afterward translated to SaruÌ„ or Salisbury 4. These were two Prelats of eminent learning and illustrious starrs of the West-Saxon Kingdom As touching Daniel we shall shew hereafter how S. Boniface the glorious Apostle of the Germans frequently consulted him in difficulties occurring about the discharge of that sublime office Hence it is that Bishop Godwin gives this Character of him Daniel was a man excellently learned and wrote many volumes amongst others these following Of the affairs of the Province of the South-Saxons Of the Life of the Holy Bishop Cedda Of the affairs of the Isle of Wight All which are now lost 5. As for S. Aldelm he was froÌ„ his youth bred up in learning and piety by S. Maâ—dulf a Scottish Hermiâ— from whom the famous Monastery of Malmsbury received its name for many devout persons moved with the fame of his Sanctity had recourse to him in that solitude by whom they were coenobitically governed and a Monastery was there erected by Kenwalch King of the West-Saxons In the year six hundred and seaventy S Maidulfus dying Saint Aldelm succeeded Abbot in his place And five years after the said Monastery was endowed by the liberality of Leutherius Bishop of the West-Saxons upon the suggestion of S. Aldelm For before that time the Monks lived there only upon courtesy Thirteen years after he attended King Cedwalla to Rome where he obtained from Pope Sergius a Breif of Priviledges and immunities to his Abbey How in the year of Grace six hundred ninety two he was appointed by a Synod to write to a certain Prince of Cornwall called Geruntius a Book in confutation of the Brittains erroneous observation of Easter and other miscariages hath heretofore been declared At last this year he was upon the death of S. Hedda ordained a Bishop of the West-Saxons and as hath been said kept his Episcopall residence at Shireburn 6. Being thus made a Bishop he gave a full and free authority to his Monks of Malmsbury to chuse their Abbot But their duty and affection to him was such that during his life they would acknowledge no other Spirituall Father Only they humbly petitioned him to grant them the Priviledge after his death to elect their own Abbot And that such Election should not pertain to the Bishop as the custom was in Kent by the Ordinance of King Withred but descend to the Monks This Priviledge S. Aldelm granted not only to them but to all other Monasteries which he had founded And moreover caused his Indult to be confirmed by the Subscription of K. Ina and of Daniel Bishop of Winchester Authentick Copies are still extant of this Indult and Priviledge granted both by S. Aldelm and King Ina in the Register of the said Abbey of Malmsbury Concerning this holy Bishop S. Aldelm more remains to be said when we come to speak of his death In the mean time the affairs of Germany happily managed by S. Swibert and his blessed companions recall us thither II. CHAP. i. 2 c. Swiberts Preaching and miraculous freeing a man possessed by the Devill 1. SAint Swibert after he had successfully preached the Gospell to the Inhabitants of Brunswick and other neighbouring Nations directed his steps to a people called Boructuarians or Prussians lying more Northerly and yet more savage then the former Concerning his progresse in their conversion we have this account from his companion S. Marcellinus Assoon as he was entred that Province saith he he instilled the saving Mysteries and precepts of the Gospell into their foolish and blind hearts and enlightned their savage minds with the luster of divine Truth being glorious among them in his preaching and holy in his actions So that turning them from their profane superstitions to the Faith of Christ he confirmed them in the same Faith by many wonderfull miracles But the multitude oâ— Converts encreasing the Devils envy likewise encreased who enraged to see so many escape his snares earnestly endeavoured by his malicious instruments either to kill him or expell him from that Province 2. On a certain day therefore as he was preaching to a great multitude of Pagans their sacrilegious Preists drunk with the Idolatrous cupp of Babylon sett violently upon him and after they had beaten him with their fists rodds and stones they endeavoured to drive him out of their coasts But by the industry of certain courageous Christians he was taken out of their hands and for a few days was concealed by them for they durst not kill him out of fear least their Governour should be offended But presently after the Holy Bishop renewd his preaching among them and dayly baptized great numbers which despising their Idols publickly confessed the Name of Christ. 3. Consequently the same Holy Writer declares how by occasion of the Devills malice the Faith of Christ became more illustrious among that people For saith he on a certain time in a village of the Boructuarians a Rich and potent man named Ethelhere was possessed by the Devill insomuch as they were forced to bind him with chains because he endeavoured to bite all that came near him and tore his own cloaths Now the same Ethelhere was one of those who had persecuted and incited others to persecute the Holy Bishop and was the first that had the boldnes to smite him with a staff This man being thus dayly in a horrible manner tormented by the devill it hapned on a certain day in the presence of severall Pagan Preists and others who came to visit and condole with him that the Devill cryed out Except Swibert servant of the living God and Bishop of the Christians come hither I will not depart out of this man And when he oft more and more loudly repeated the same words the Idolatrous Preists and other freinds of the Demoniack went away in great confusion and perplexity what they should doe At last they all agreed that Saint
never attributed Divine honour but a Veneration infinitly inferiour thereto to Gods Saints 6 This veneration he probably obtained from a Miracle related by the Authour of his life in this manner Wee must not saith he leave buried in silence this prodigious wonder how when his head was cutt from his body the trunk raising it self up took the head which it caried from the place where he was slain to a spring not far off which flowed with a most Christallin water in which with the hands it washed the blood away Which spring in a reverent memory of the Saint is to this day called S. Decumanus his Spring Near to which place the body together with the head was honourably buried by the neighbouring inhabitants IV. CHAP. 1. 2. c. A fearfull iudgment on a Soldier who delayed Confession and Pennance to the last 1. AMong the Gests of the year of Grace seaven hundred and seaven Mathew of Westminster relates the sad accident of a Soldier of the family of Kenred King of the Mercians which deserves a place in this History to forewarn the Reader of the danger of delaying Confession and Pennance for sins The Narration he receives from S. Beda in whose words wee will deliver it though he names not the precise year as the other does 2. In the days of Coenred or Kenred who succeded Edilred in the kingdom of the Mercians there was a certain military Officer who as he was for his industry and courage acceptable to the King so on the contrary for the neglecting his soule he no lesse displeased him And therefore he on admonished him to confesse and amend his wicked life for fear a sudden death might prevent his repentance But the unhappy man though thus frequently admonished by the King little regarded his wholesom advice only he promised that he would take a time afterwards to doe pennance for his crimes Not long after it hapned that a sicknes surprising him he was forced to keep his bed where he lay in great tormeÌ„ts The King then who loved him much came to visit him and earnestly renewd his exhortations that at least then before he dyed he would goe to confession and demand Pennance but the man answered him That he would not confesse his sins till he were recovered of his present disease for fear his companions should upbraid him that the fear of death made him doe that which in the time of health he had refused to doe Now he thought this Answer argued a great courage in him but as afterward appeared he found that he had been miserably seduced by the Devill 3. His sicknes then growing more violent and dangerous the King once more came to visit and advise him but assoon as he was entred the chamber the sick man cryed out with alamentable voyce What would you have Sir Why come you hither It is not now in your power to give mee any comfort or assistance The King replied Doe not say so I fear your sicknes distracts you No Sir answerd he I am not mad but I have before mine eyes a foul and miserable conscience What means this said the King His reply was Awhile since there entred into this chamber two beautifull young men the one of which sate down at my head and the other at my feet And one of them brought forth a Book curiously garnished but extreme little which he gave mee to read and there I found written every good action which I had done in my life but alas the number was very small and the worth of them not at all considerable When I had read it they took it from mee without saying a word 4. Then there presently came toward this house a vast army of wicked Spirits horrible to be looked on which both surrounded it without and filled all the rooms within Assoon as they were sate down one of them who by the more horrid darknes of his face and preference in sitting seemed to be the principall among them brought forth likewise a Book of a dreadfull shape an enormous greatnes and insupportable weight This Book he gave to one of his attendants bidding him to bring it to mee that I might read it Assoon as I had looked into it I found there all the crimes which ever I had committed in deed word and even the slightest thoughts all this plainly described in hideous letters Then he said to the two young men in white garments who sate there why doe you stay here since you manifestly see that this man is ours They answered It is true take him and make him partaker of your damnation 5. Assoon as they had said this they presently disappeared and two of the most wicked among those Spirits of darknes arising with forkes in their hands smote mee one on the head and the other on the feet And now they are to my most horrible torment creeping through my inward parts and assoon as they shall meet together I shall dye and be hurried by them into Hell Thus â—pake this unhappy despairing man and presently after dyed and now being for all eternity tormented he practises repentance without any fruit which he neglected to doâ— in his life time when a short Pennance might have procured him pardon 6. Now as S. Gregory writing of the like case observes wee are to iudge that this man had these apparitions not for himself to whom they proffited nothing but for our good that wee knowing his unhappy end may fear to delay the time of Pennance now allowed us least being prevented by unlooked for death wee may dye impenitent And as touching the Bookâ— of a fashion so different which he saw presented to him by the good and by the evill Spirits this was done by Divine dispensation to putt us in mind that our deeds and even our thoughts doe not vanish into aire but are reserved to the examination of the Supreme Iudge and shall be presented to our view in the last day either by our good or evill Angells And whereas in this Vision the Angells brought forth a white Book and afterward the Devills a Black one the former a very small one and the latter one of an enormous bignes that signified that in his youth â—e had done some few good actions all which notwithstanding had been obscured by the sins of his riper age But on the contrary those who in their ripe age doe endeavour to hide from the eyes of God the sins committed in their childhood may be associated to those concerning whom the Psalmist saith Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven whose sins are covered This Story saith S. Beda as I received it from the Venerable Prelat Pecthelm I thought fitt simply to commit to writing for the spirituall benefit of those who shall read or heare it V. CHAP. 1. 2. c. S Egwin Bishop of Worcester is by calumny eiected goes in Pennance to Rome and is miraculously absolved 8 9. c At his return
presently with that farewell disappeared The Holy man with great ioy rendring thanks to God for this favour understood thereby that it was Gods will that the same place should be consecrated to his service and dedicated to the honour of the Blessed Virgin Mother of our Lord. For during his former afflictions and persecutions he had made a vow that if God would vouchsafe to give a prosperous end to his desires he would build a Church to his service Hereupon without delay be cleansed the place began the work and shortly brought it to perfection The fidelity of this Narration is verified by a writing or Charter of S. Egwin himself which shall shortly be produced VI. CHAP. 1.2 c. Two Kings Coenred and Offa undertake a Pilgrimage to Rome where they dye 7.8 c. S. Egwin obtains great Priviledges to his Monastery of Evesham from Pope Constantin 1. TO this miraculous vision of S. Egwin we may in part impâ—te the devout pilgâ—â—mage oâ— King Coenred or Kenred King of the Mercians to Rome to visit the Sacred Monuments of the Apostles In which Pilgrimage he was also attended by the same Saint Egwin Other encouragements thereto likewise he might have from the example of his Predecessour King Ethelred whose Sanctity was at this time in high esteem Moreover the sad and horrible death of his impenitent servant mentioned before probably incited him not to delay the securing of his future everlasting condition for that might teach him that sins are with ease committed but with great difficulty cleansed away Which of these or whether all these Motives concurred to induce this devout King to free himself from those encombrances with which a Crown was attended which made the way to heaven far more dangerous and painfull it is uncertain But certain it is that at this time This pious King as Saint Beda saith having for the space of four or â—ive years with great dignity and renown governed the Kingdom of the Mercians with far greater dignity and Noblenes relinquished that Scepter to become an humble suppliant at the Sepulchers of the glorious Apostles S. Peter and S. Paul And by the advice of S. Egwin he constituted his Successour in the Kingdom Coenred the son of Ethelred from whom himself had received the Crown 2. How much more efficacious good Examples are then Words was at this time also in an eminent manner declared to the world For the generous Act of King Ethelred who out of Love to Christ exchanged his Purple into an humble Habit of Religion was so far not only imitated by his Successour King Coenred but also by Offa the pious King of the East-Saxons that he also at this very time resolved in his company to quitt his Throne after a raign of eight years â—o undertake a tedious iourney that he might dye as it were in the Society of the same Blessed Apostles 3. We have already declared how in the beginning of his Raign he demanded for his wiâ—e Kineswida daughter of Penda King of the Mercians a Lady adorned with all the embellishmets of Nature and Grace This proposition was readily accepted by her freinds who without consulting her confidently promised him a successe to his desires for they doubted not but she would esteem it a condition to be accepted with willingnes and ioy 4. But the devout Virgins ambition lay a quite different way She had lately seen her Sister Kineburga descend from a Royall Throne into a Monastery and from thence by the Ministery of Angells called to their Society in Heaven Such a spectacle raised her thoughts and desires above the earth and notwithstanding the earnest opposition of her freinds those desires were effected by the intercession of the Quuen of Virgins to whom she had recourse as hath been already related 6. It is not to be doubted but King Offa though perhaps afflicted with the refusall yet by her example learnt to disesteem worldly pompes which he saw she trodd under her feet And thereupon would not neglect the present opportunity to accompany his neighbour King Kenred in his devout Pilgrimage to Rome 6. These two devout Kings together with Saint Egwin Bishop of Worcester arrived there the year following Pope Constantin then sitting in S. Peters chair Where having performed their publick Devotions each of them receiving the Monasticall Tonsure ended their dayes in an humble Religious Profession 7. As for the Holy Bishop Egwin the Motive of his iourney thither was not only to attend these pious Princes but also to obtain from the See Apostolick a Confirmation and Priviledges for his new erected Monastery at Evesham Which by the intercession of the two Kings he easily and effectually obtained 8 Moreover to the endowing of the said Monastery King Kenred and Offa before their quitting the world munificently contributed severall Mannors and villages containing sixty six Manses the names of which are contained in a Charter yet extant made by the same Kings the Title whereof is A Charter of Kenred and Offa Kings concerning the Lands in which the Blessed Virgin Mary is said to have appeared to Bishop Egwin together with many other possessions conferred on the Monastery of Evesham all which were confirmed by Pope Constantin in the Church of Lateran To the same effect there is likewise still remaining another Charter of Bishop Egwin in which he relates the substance of the forementioned Story concerning the appearing of our Blessed Lady to him and likewise setts down the names of the seâ—verall Lordships and villages given to the said Monastery by the Kings Ethelred and Kenred as likewise by a young Noble Gentleman called Atheric and a Venerable Preist named Walterns So that in a short time there were conferred on his Monastery one hundred and twenty Manses All which possessions saith he were by Apostolick authorities and priviledges and by Regall Edicts exempted from all exactions by any power whatsoever to the end that the Monks serving God there according to the Rule of S. BENEDICT may passe their lives in quietnes without any disturbance 6. Pope Constantin being a Witnes of these Kings munificence and having been informed of the wonderfully gracious Visitation by which our Blessed Lady had vouchsafed to dignify the Province of the Mercians admonished the Holy Arch-bishop Brithwald to publish the great wonders of our Lord and for that purpose to assemble a Synod of the whole Kingdom in which he should in the name of the sayd Pope denunciate to all Princes Nobles Bishops and other Ecclesiasticks the Confirmation which he had given to the endowments of the said Monastery made by the said Kings together with many Priviledges and Exemptions by himselfe bestowd upon it to the end saith he that there should be restored a Congregation of Monks who should incessantly serve our Lord according to the Rule of the glorious S. Benedict which Institut as yet is rarely observed in those parts Moreover he enioyned him and his Successours with the assent of
on by Devills and so horribly tormented that they tore their own flesh with ther teeth and shortly after with terrible roarings miserably ended their lives 5. Thus writes the sayd Authour a summary of which relation may be read in William of Malmsbury collected out of the Antiquities of the Church or Glastonbury The village where they were murdred still keeps the same name Shapwick and it is seated near unto Glastonbury X. CHAP. 1.2 c. Geruntius King of Cornwall overcome by King Ina. 5.6 The Picts overcome by the Northumbers 1. THE year of Grace seaven hundred and ten was spent in Brittany in great preparations and turmoyles of warr For one way the Picts and another the Brittains invaded the Saxons and English endeavouring to recover some part of their former losses 2. Gerontius King of the Brittains in Cornwall was the first who brought his army into the feild against Inas King of the West-Saxons This is the same Gerontius to whom S. Aldelm wrote the Epistle before cited in which he endeavoured to quality the inveterate rancour still burning in the hearts especially of the Brittish Clergy against the Saxons though now Christians and their Brethren 3. What was the particular ground of their quarrell not any of our Historians doe declare It is probable that Gerontius seeing King Inas so employed in works of piety building of Churches and settling affairs both of State and Religion imagined that by a sudden invasion finding him unprepared he might gain some considerable advantage against him But he found himself deceived for King Inas shewd himself as courageous in warr as devout in peace 4. The combat fought between them and the time of that combat is thus described breifly by Huntingdon The next year after the death of S. Wilfrid saith he King Ina and his kinsman Nun fought against Gerente King of Wales In the beginning of which combat Higebald a Saxon Duke was slain But afterward Gerente with his army and associates was compelled to fly leaving their arms and other spoiles to their pursuers 5. At the same time saith the same Authour Berfrid who was Consul or Generall of the Kingdom of the Northumbers resisted and quelled the Pride of the Picts That which begott and nourished this pride in them was the good successe which twelve years before this they had against Brâ—thric or Berthred Captain of the Northumbers who desiring to avenge the death of his Master King Egfrid slain by them made an hostile invasion upon their countrey but as his Lord upon whom the curses of the Irish cruelly treated by him lay heavy fell by the swords of the Picts so did Brithric also saith Mathew of Westminster who yet places this story two years too late which mistake in Chronology is usuall with him Since that time till this present year no mention is made of any debates between those two Nations which it seems the Picts attributed to the weaknes of the Northumbers and thereupon now attempted an invasion of their countrey 6. But they found not the same successe as before for Berthfrid Captain of the Northumbers coming to a battell with them between Here and Cere putt them to flight and slew great multitudes of the Picts so avenging the death both of King Egfrid and his Consul Brithric XI CHAP. 1.2 Death of Saint Adrian Abbot of Canterbury 3. His Successour Albinus different from Alcuinus 1. THE same year saith S. Beda which was the fifth of the Raign of Osred King of the Northumbers the most reverend Father Adrian Abbot of the Monastery of S. Augustin in Canterbury dyed and was buried in his Monastery He was a faithfull assistant in preaching the Word of God with Theodore Arch-bishop of Happy Memory This was the one and fortieth year since he had been appointed by Pope Vitalian to attend Theodore and the nine and thirtieth since he arrived in Brittany Among other proofs of the learning and great endowments of this holy Abbot as likewise of S. Theodore this is one that Albinus his Disciple who succeeded him in the government of the sayd Monastery was by his care so perfectly instituted in learning and the study of Holy Scriptures that he had more then an ordinary skill in the Greek tongue and for the Latin he was as perfect in it as in his Native language 2. Our Island preserves a gratefull memory of this holy Abbot Adrian for in our Martyrologe his name is recorded among the Saints and anniversarily recited on the ninth of Ianuary It was not by his learning that he purchased this honour for as the Authour of his life in Capgrave testifies his Sanctity was testified by many miracles 3. As touching his Successour Albinus there is a great controversy among our Modern Historians whether he was the same with Flaccus sirnamed Albinus or Alcuinus the Instructour of the Emperour Charlemagne and founder of the Vniversity of Paris But the proofs demonstrating that they were different persons seem unanswerable For this Elder Albinus was of Canterbury the other of York This was the Disciple of his Predecessour Adrian and the Holy Arch-bishop Theodore The other had for his Masters Hechbert Arch-bishop of York a Disciple of S. Beda and Egbert his Successour This was an Abbot the other only a Priour during his abode in Brittany Lastly This Albinus dyed and was buried at Canterbury in the year of Grace seaven hundred thirty two as Weaver in his Monuments testifies as likewise our ancient Chronicler William Thorn but the younger Albinus or Alcuinus dyed and was buried at Cormorac in France in the year of Grace eight hundred and four or rather eight hundred and nine So that a whole age intervened between them XII CHAP. i. 2.3 An Episcopall See established among the South-Saxons at Selsey 1. IT hath been declared in the occurrents of the year of Grace six hundred eighty one how S. Wilfrid being driven from York and retiring into the Kingdom of the South-Saxons did in a wonderfull manner convert them to the Faith of Christ. After which he received from their King the Isle of Selsey for a quiet and setled habitation Which Isle saith Malmsbury he filld with Monks withall transmitted it to posterity dignifyed with an Episcopall See Notwithstanding hitherto not any one since his departure from thence had succeeded him in that Bishoprick but the Churches there were governed by the Bishop of Winchester The first therefore who sate in that peculiar See after S. Wilfrid was Eadbert concerning whom Mathew of Westminster thus writes 2. In the year of Grace seaven hundred eleaven a Synodal Decree was made in the Province of the South-Saxons that whereas the said Province had hitherto pertained to the Diocese of Winchester at this time administred by Daniel Bishop thereof it should afterward enioy its own Bishop Now the first Bishop ordained there was Eadbert who had been Abbot of a Monastery built by S.
years he should live and many other things which should befall him And when the Prince desired some sign to assure him that these things should be accomplished the Holy man added Let this be a mark and sign to thee that to morrow before nine a clock in the morning the inhabitants of this place now in want shall be beyond their hope supplied with abundance of provisions Now when the Prince saw this really fullfilld his mind before wavering was confirmed with great hope and confidence And indeed a short while after Almighty God took out of the way King Ceolred his persecutor and dispersed all his enemies so that within the â—â—ne promised the Royall dignity was restored to him as shall shortly be declared and likewise how Ethelbald gratefully and magnificently accomplished his Promise XXII CHAP. 1.2 The Death of the Royall Virgin Saint Eanfleda c. 3. The death of Waldhere Bishop of London to whom Inguald succeeds 4. Beorna King of the East Angles after Elwold 1. THE same year the Royall Virgin and holy Abbesse S. Eanfleda likewise left this valâ—â—y of tears to goe and enioy the eternall embraces of her heavenly Bridegroom to whom she had been consecrated from her infancy We have already declared how she being born immediately before her Father Oswi King of the Northumbers was ready to ioyn battell with the bloody King of the Mercians Penda he made a vow that in case God would give him the Victory he would devote her to his service in a Religious life And the Victory ensuing he gave her to the care of S. Hilda Abbesse of the Monastery of Heortsig and afterward of Steneshalch in which S. Eanfleda lived some years in obedience and afterward became Abbesse thereof Where saith S. Beda having accomplished threescore years in great devotion and purity she was translated to heaven to celebrate her mariage with our Lord to whom she had been all her life espoused In the same Monastery both she and her Father Oswi her Mother Eanfled and her Mothers Father Edwin and many other Noble personages were buried in the Church of S Peter the Apostle and her name is anniversarily recited among the Saints in our Martyrologe on the eighth of February 2. Among the Epistles of S. Boniface there is one which seems to have been written by this Holy Virgin to an Abbesse named Adolana who lived in forrain parts somewhere in the way to Rome for therein she recommends to her care and charity another Religious woman formerly brought up in her Monastery who in devotion to the Blessed Apostles S. Peter and S. Paul had undertaken a pilgrimage to Rome to visit their Holy Sepulchers 3. The year following Waldhere Bishop of London dyed who had succeeded the glorious Bishop S. Erconwald in that See and who as S. Beda testifies gave the Habit of Monasticall Profession to Sebbe the devout King of the East-Saxons a little before his death His Successour was Inguald who governed the same Diocese about thirty years and is reckoned the sixth among the Bishops of London 4. About the same time also hapned the death of Elwold King of the East-Angles in whose place his Brother Beorna raigned who was the youngest son of Ethelhere XXIII CHAP. 1.2 Warr between King Ina and Ceolfrid 3. Horrible crimes of Ceolfrid 1. THE same year there arose great troubles in Brittany by reason of a bloody war between Inas King of the West-Saxons and Ceolred King of the Mercians These were both in power and extent of Dominion the most puissant Kings among the Saxons An equality therefore bred a mutuall emulation and desire in each of them to advance themselves by the ruine of the other King Ina was the invader Neither did he find Ceolred unprepared so that they quickly came to a battell And the place of their combat was a Town in Wiltshire called Wodensbury from Woden the Idol of the Pagan-Saxons answering to Mercury It is seated near Wansdike and is the same place where in the year of Grace five hundred ninety one Ceaulin King of the West-Saxons fought his last battell which having lost he dyed presently after 2. In this place did Inas and Ceolred meet to decide their controversy whether should be Master And saith Huntingdon the battell was fought on both sides with such horrible obstinacy that it could scarce be determined â—â— wâ—ether part the destruction was greater 3. Ceolred esteemed it as a victory that he could resist so powerfull a King as Ina from whom he little apprehended a second invasion considering the great deminution of his forces by the last combat So that he esteemed himself secure and freely gave himself up to his lusts and abominable sacriledge By which he filled up the measure of his sins and felt the year following in a terrible manner the avenging hand of Gods justice His lusts he extended even to Religious Virgins consecrated to the immortall God who therefore ought to be exempted from the touch of any mortall man And as for his Sacriledge in inâ—ringing the priviledges of Religious houses and invading their possessions our Historians doe not particularly exemplify in any So that it is probable that it was the late-built Monastery of Evesham which was violated by him notwithstanding the great Priviledges and Exemptions conferred on it both by the Papall and Regall authority and notwithstanding the solemne maledictions denounced by the founder thereof Saint Egwin yet alive who in consecrating it is recorded to have pronounced these words If any King Prince or other shall be incited by the Spirit of avarice so as to diminish the Rights of this Monastery which God forbid Let him be judged before the Tribunal of God and never come into the memory of Christ but let his name be for ever blotted out of the Book of the living and himself bound with the chains of eternall torments except he repent and satisfy for his crime in this life 4. But before we relate the effect of this Curse upon this unhappy King it will be expedient to recount the story of a wonderfull vision hapning about this time to a certain man who was restored from death to life on purpose that by relating the wonders of the other world he might deterr sinners from the obstinacy of their rebellion against God By which vision it appears that this King Ceolred was some time before his death destined to eternall torments It is not without some scruple that I am moved to insert in this History Narrations of this Nature But the unquestionable authority and Sanctity of the Relatâ—ur obliges mee not to omitt it though the Centuriators of Magdeburg without any shew of a rationall disproof of it doe voluntarily and at adventure condemne it as a fable XXIV CHAP. 1.2 c. The Narration of a terrible Vision of a man when his soule was separated from the body and afterward restored related hy S. Boniface 1. THIS wonderfull relation is
had recourse to him he should tell the Preists that for the Love he bore to God he had worn the space of many years an iron girdle about his loyns a thing which no man alive knew of 21. To conclude he told mee that whilst he was separated from his Body he had such a horrour and hatred against it that in all his Visions he saw nothing so odious to him or so contemptible and that evaporated so filthy a stink except the Devills and the flame in which they were tormented as his own body Yea seeing the care and kindnes which his brethren and fellow-servants expressed to his hatefull body he had a horrour therefore to approach to them However being commanded by the Angells he was forced to return to his body and this he did at break of day having left it a little after mid-night 22. After he was restored to life it was a full week before he could see any thing for his eyes were full of Blisters and blood issued out of them And afterwards all proved to be true which had been told him by the Angels touching the devout Preist and sinfull woman Likewise the sudden death presently following of the wicked King Ceolred confirmed too well the truth of those things which were seen touching him 23. Besides these there were many other like things represented to him in his vision which he could not distinctly call to mind and indeed he professed that his memory afterward was nothing so retentive as formerly Now all these particulars which at your earnest request I have here written were related by him not to mee alone for there were three Religious and venerable Monks present with mee who doe here ratify by their subscriptions the truth of this Writing Farewell truly holy Virgin c. 24. Such is the tenour of S. Boniface Epistle and accordingly as S. Gregory observes thus does the Divine Goodnes in his great mercy dispose that some even after their death doe return presently to their body to the end that by seeing they might be induced to fear the torments of Hell which having heard from others they would scarce beleive XXV CHAP. i. 2. c. Death of King Ceolred to whom Ethelbald Succeeds who according to his promise to S. Guthlac builds the Monastery of Croyland 1. IN the year seaven hundred and sixteen after our Lords Incarnation Ceolred King of the Mercians by his incestuous lasts sacriledge and other crimes having filled up the measure of his sins by his fearfull death too well confirmed the truth of the foregoing Propheticall Vision concerning him William of Malmsbury only writes in generall concerning it saying Ceolred miserable in his immature death after a raign of only eight years was buried at Lichfeild leaving his wife Queen Wereburga a widow who became a Religious woman and afterward an Abbesse His heyr and successour in the Kingdom being Ethelbald grandchild of Alwi brother to King Penda 2. But Saint Boniface writing to this New King Ethelbald and deterring him from impiety by the sad example of his Predecessour thus describes his miserable death Colred says he thy Predecessour a ravisher of Consecrated Virgins and infringer of Ecclesiasticall priviledges whilst he was splendidly feasting with his Nobles the infernall Spirit seised on him and forced from him his soule without Confession or any Sacrament as he was talking with the Devill and blasphemously detesting God and Divine Law By which expression that learned and famous Saint reckons among the most heavy and terrible punishments of a soule to depart out of the world not purified by Confession nor armed with its last Viaticum the Sacrament of our Lords Body 3. The Successour of Ceolred in the Kingdom of the Mercians was as hath been sayd Ethelbald to whom Saint Guthlac had promised it not long before And he likewise delayd not the same year to perform the promise he had made to the Saint by building and richly endowing the Monastery of Croyland Concerning which Ingulphus a Monk and Abbot of the same Monastery thus writes King Ethelbald perceiving that his dear Father and comforter Saint Guthlac became glorious by many Miracles with great ioy and devotion went to the place of his buriall and having now gott the kingdom promised by the Holy-man he entirely accomplished whatsoever he had promised him whilst he was alive For presently sending for a Monk of Evesham named Kenulph a man of noted piety he gave unto him the whole Isle of Croyland that he might there build a Monastery and gather a Congregation of Monks to serve God for ever Which Monastery he entirely freed from all secular charges and customes Of which Grant he made them a Charter signed and subscribed by his Bishop Nobles A Coppy of which Charter is there by the same Authour recorded 4. In the â—ame Charter is containd a measure of the Land by him given for the Isle of Croyland is there described to be four leagues in length and three in breadth To which were added two adiacent Marisnes the one being two leagues in length and one in breadth and the other each way two leagues Moreover for the building of the Monastery he gave out of his treasury the first year three hundred pounds and for ten years following one hundred pounds yearly 5 But this devout King thus far only was able to accomplish his vow this first year that he assigned the place for building the Monastery together with the lands and possessions annexed to it But to erect so vast a building on a soyle so fenny and yeilding required strange industry and labour Which how it was performed the same Authour thus describes Because Croyland was a fenny soyle as the name imports for it signifies a crude muddy ground and therefore could not sustain a stone-building of any considerable bulk the foresaid King took order that innumerable vast piles of oak should be forcibly driven deep into the earth and that solide earth should be brought in boats from a place called Vpland nine miles distant from thence which Neâ— earth was mixed with the morish soyle and layd over the said piles And thus whereas S. Guthlac had formerly contented himself with a woodden Oratory the King began and consummated a magnificent Church of Stone thereto building a Monastery which he enriched with possessions and all sorts of ornaments and during his whole life loved that place most tenderly And since this first foundation that Monastery never wanted Religious persons to inhabit it to this day that is till the Norman conquest at which time the sayd Authour lived 6. The first Abbot of that Monastery is in the forenamed Kings Charter called Renulphus sent for out of the Abbey of Evesham But besides the Monastery there was a little Hermitage in which S. Guthlac lived Who being demanded who should succeed him therein answered That it was a person who when that question was asked was a Heathen Idolatour His name was Cissa who
being afterward converted betook himself to an Anachoreticall Life and succeeded S. Guthlac in his solitude XXVI CHAP. 1.2 3. The unhappy death of Osred King of the Northumbers 1. IN the kingdom of the Northumbers the same year dyed King Osred after he had raigned eleaven years And as he resembled the Mercian King Ceolred in his life so he did in his unfortunat death likewise Therefore S Boniface in his Letter to King Ethelbald who notwithstanding his good beginning fell afterward into the crimes of incest and sacriledge to deterre him from pursuing such sins makes use not only of the unhappy end of his Predecessours Ceolred as hath been declared but likewise of this King Osred his neighbour The words of his Epistle are these 2. Since the time saith he that Saint Gregory sent from the See Apostolick Preachers of the Catholick Faith into Brittany the Priviledges of Churches have remaind unviolated to the times of Ceolred King of the Mercians and Osred of the Deiri and Bernicians These two Kings by the Devills instinct not only practised but by their example taught others publickly to practise in this kingdom these two horrible sins the viâ—lating of consecrated Nunns and infringing the Priviledges of Monasteries For which by the iust iudgment of God they have not only been cast down head-long from the height of Regal authority but being prevented by an immature and terrible death they are separated from everlasting Light and plunged deeply in the bottom of Hell For first as touching your Predecessour Ceolred c. as before And Osred who likewise was a Sacrilegious adulterer and â—avisher of holy Virgins the infernall Spirit never ceased to agitate and impell him from one excesse to another till he made him loose his kingdom youthfull life and soule likewise by a dishonourable death To these may be added a third exaÌ„ple for Charles the late King of the Franks who was an invader and consumer of the revenews of Monasteries was at last consumed by a tedious tormenting sicknes and fearfull death following it 3. As touching the manner of King Osreds death all that we can find in our Ecclesiasticall monuments is that in a combat near unto Mere he was unfortunatly slain by the treason of his kinsman Kenred the son of Cuthwin who succeeded him in the government of the kingdom but enioyd the price of his impiety only two years XXVII CHAP. 1.2 The happy death of the holy King Ethelred 3 And of Saint Egwin Bishop of worcester 1. BVT there were two illustrious persons in Brittany whose deaths this year were as precious and happy as those of the two forenamed Princes were miserable These were Ethelred who had quitt the throne of the Mercian Kingdom to spend the remainder of his Life in the solitude and austerities of a Monastery And Egwin the famous Bishop of Worcester founder of the Noble Monastery of Evesham 2. Concerning the former Florentius of Worcester thus breifly writes Ethelred late King of the Mercians after he had been Abbot of the Monastery of Bardeney built by himself this year departed this life and entred into the ioyes of eternall felicity tranquillity and Light He was buried in the same Monastery called Bardeney by William of Malmsbury who affirmeth that many ages it was famous for the Sanctity of the Religious Monks living in it and its plentifull endowments especially after that King Ethelred there took the Crown of Monasticall Toâ—sure In the Church of the said Monastery his Monument is seen to these times Wee doe anniversarily celebrate his Memory among Saints on the fourth of May. 3 In the next place the happy and holy death of Saint Egwin Bishop of Worcester is from the Authour of his life thus described by Harpsfeild When Saint Egwin 〈◊〉 come to the extremity of his mortall life he called together his Monks and children whom he had begotten to God and said to them My Brethren I have lived thus long amongst you and I am not ashamed that I have so lived for I have done what good I was able though all I have done is very small What you are to doe and what to avoyd I have frequently and in all the manners which seemed to mee expedient informed you Having therefore shewed you the only right way I beseech you to walk in it and let not any vain shadow of present felicity seduce you out of the way for it quickly vanishes and never remains in the same state Our Lord who is the way Truth and life remove from you the way of iniquity and instruct you in the way of his iudgments Thus being full of vertues he departed to our Lord on the third day before the Calends of Ianuary in the seaven hundred and twentieth year of Grace leg 16 And he was buried in the Monastery of Evesham founded by himself After his death God was pleased to work many Miracles by his intercession His Successour in the See of Worcester was Wilfrid or as he subscribes his name to the Charter of King Ethelbald given to the Monastery of Croyland Winfrid He was elected this year but not consecrated till the next XXVIII CHAP. i. 2 c. The Scottish Monks of Hyreduced to the due Observation of Easter c. by S. Egbert 1 A Great accesse was made to the luster of this year by the Conversion of the 〈◊〉 of Hy in Scotland and all the Monastâ—ries and Churches subject to them to the Vnity of the Catholick Church in the Observation of Easter and the Ecclesiasticall Tonsure Which pious work was perâ—ormed by the Hâ—ly Monk Egbert of whom we have severall times treated How this was done by him S. Beda thus relates 2. Not long after saith he those Monks of the Scottish Nation inhabiting the Island Hy together with other Monasteries subiect to them were brought through Gods Providence to the Observance of the Catholick rite of Easter and the Canonicall Tonsure For in the year seaven hundred sixteen after our Lords Incarnation in which Osred King of the Northumbers being unhappily slain Coenrea or Kenâ—e unâ—ertook the government of the same the most Venerable Father Egbert Preist of whom we formerly made mention came to them out of Ireland and was with great honour and ioy received by them He being both a winning Teacher and a devout practiser of the dutyes he taught was willingly hearkned to by them all and by his pious and diligent exhortations wholly changed the inveterate Traditions which they had received from their Fathers to whom might be applyed that saying of the Apostle That they had the Zeale of God but not according to knowledge and taught them the Celebration of the Paschal Solemnity and the right Ecclesiasticall Tonsure or Crown after the Catholick and Apostolick Manner 3. And truly herein was visible an effect of Divine dispensation and goodness that whereas that Nation had formerly with great charity communicated to the English people the knowledge of
the sight of God and that his glory is wonderfull in heaven since he has made him so resplendent by miracles on earth For after his death he ceases not to cure the sick c Thus Writes the Holy Apostolick Preist Saint Marcellin adding moreover a Narration of severall stupendious Miracles of which himself was an eye witnes and which the devout Reader may find in his Life for I am unwilling to swell this History with such like Relationâ— III. CHAP. 1.2 c. The Monastery of Theokesbury founded 7. The death of Saint Egwin Bishop of Worcester 1. TO the same year is by our Historians assigned the foundation of the Monastery of Tewksbury though in the Chronicles of that Monastery the Erection thereof is sayd to have been made two years sooner And there we find this account of it 2. In the raigns of the illustrious Kings of the Mercians Ethelred Kenred and Ethelbald there lived two Dukes in great estimation Oddo and Doddo men of high descent much regarded for their vertues but which most crowns their memory persons who with sincere devotion loved almighty God and sought his honour Which they made good by their charitable actions for they and their Progenitours magnificently built and endowed many Monasteries These foresaid Dukes about the year of Grace seaven hundred and fifteen gave order for the building a Monastery in their own Territory near the Severn seaven miles distant from Claudiocester or Glocester at place called Theokusbury from a certain Hermit named Theocus who anciently had lived there 3. This Monastery they built to the honour of God and the glorious Virgin Mary and conferred upon it a Village called Stanwey with all its dependances and some few possessions besides for the sustenâ—ation of Monks not many in number for at first there were but four or five which under the Obedience of a Priour served God according to the Rule of our Holy Father S. Benedict 4. Now after that these two Dukes were for their devout actions translated to heavenly ioyes as we firmly beleive their Bodies were buried in the Church of Persora Parshur in which Duke Doddo had taken the Habit of a Monk and which they had enriched with ample possessions 5. These foresaid Dukes had a certain Brother named Almaric whose body was buried at Derhurst in a little Chappell over against the Gate of the Priory there which Chappell had formerly been a Royall place There to this day is shewd his Sepulcher where in the wall over the dore is this Inscription This Royall Hall did Duke Doddo cause to be consecrated into a Church to the honour of the Blessed Virgin Mary for love which he bore to his Brother Almaric 6. Thus we read in the said Chronicle Where consequently is related how by reason of the great troubles and warrs hapning both in Mercia and other parts of the Kingdom till it was reduced to a Monarchy under King Althelslan the said Monastery was often spoyled and twice burnt But afterward reedified and annexed to the Abbey of Cranborn and in conclusion for the commodious and pleasant situation of the place it was it self erected into an Abbey and the Monastery of Cranborn depressed into a Priory and made subject to it The great Patron and enlarger of it was Robert the Son of Hamon in the beginning of the Norman times as William of Malmsbury testifies Who by mistake affirms that the Name of Theocksbury did seem to destine it to a Religious use being so called as if the Title were Theotocosbury or the Court of the Mother of God But Camden according to the forementioned Chronicle more genuinely derives the name from Theocus a devout Hermit formerly living there 7. To this year is assigned the death of Egwin Bishop of Worcester after he had administred that See the space of twenty four years To whom succeeded Wilfrid who governed the same seaven and twenty years Scarce any thing concerning either of them besides their names is recorded IV. CHAP. 1.2 Kenred King of the Northumbers dying Osric succeeds 3. The Piety of Ethelbald the Mercian King 1. THE year following Kenred King of the Northumbers after two years possession of the Throne to which he mounted by Treason and murder of Osred his Kinsman and predecessour dyed and in his place succeeded Osric his associate in the same crime 2. Concerning these Kings William of Malmsbury thus writes Kenred who raigned only two years and after him Osric eleaven have left this one mark upon their memories that shedding the blood of their Master how well soever deserving such an unhappy end they defiled the aire with their shamefull deaths Yet Osric before he came to that Crown seemd to have had more sence of piety for it is said that he built about the year seaven hundred a Monastery for Religious Virgins at Glocester 3. But in the Kingdom of the Mercians King Ethelbald saith Ingulphus having perfected his Monastery of Croyland employd his mind to promote Holy Church through his whole Kingdom granting immunities and Priviledges to other Monasteries also of Religious men and woemen For which purpose in the third year of his raign he pubâ—ished a generall Statut to that effect recorded there by the same Authour V. CHAP. i. 2 The Birth and first radiments of Saint Boniface Apostle of the Germans 1. THE great losse which the New-planted Churches of Germany sustained by the death of their glorious Apostle S. Swibert was quickly repaired with advantage For in the year seaven hundred and nineteen God provided for themâ— New Pastour no lesse diligent and powerfull both in word and deed and who after incredible pains and dangers with infinite fruit thence proceeding crownd all his labours with Martyrdom This was S. Winfrid which name was afterward changed into Boniface who the sayd year having received a Benediction and authority from Pope Gregory the Second of that name chearfully began his Apostolick Office in that countrey His Gests have been written by severall writers and particularly by S. Willebald a Bishop his Disciple with great care and sincerity likewise more largely by a certain Preist call'd Othlo and besides those a great Volume still extant of S. Boniface his Epistles will furnish us with sufficient materialls for this History many years consequently Here therefore we will begin a Narration hitherto deferred of his Birth and education till this great charge was imposed on him and consequently proceed in recounting his glorious actions and labours referring them to the severall times in which they were performed 2. He was born in the year of Grace six hundred and seaventy of an English Saxon family as appears evidently from his own Epistles The place illustrated by his Birth was Creden now called Kirton in Devonshire the names of his parents are not recorded He was by them with great care educated and even in his infancy he was so earnestly studious to enrich his mind with spirituall knowledge
Marish plain From whence they could not in lesse then three dayes space return to the Town But being thither arrived they found the King dead without Baptism and related to the Blessed Bishop how strangely they had been deluded by the Devill 8. As for the Frison he presently professed his beleif in Christ and was baptised his Name was Ingamar and afterward attended the Bishop to our Monastery of Fontanell But the unhappy King was not permitted to be undeceived because he did not pertain to Christs flock And this Miracle was spread through the countrey whereupon a great multitude was converted to our Lord. Now the death of the foresaid miserable King Radbode hapned in the year of our Saviour seaven hundred and nineteen which was the seaventh of the illustrious Prince Charles Martel VIII CHAP. 1.2 c. Severall Epistles of Saint Boniface 1. BVT to leave this not impertinent digression and return to S. Boniface He says Baronâ—us though he was by Apostolick delegation empowred to preach the Word of God independently yet even in this he shewd the marks of Apostleship in asmuch as embracing Christian humility he thought fist to exercise the apprentiship of his Apostolick Office under another For during the space of three years he adioynd himself a Coadiutour to S. Willebrord named by the Pope Clement in the conversion of the Frisons And being earnestly pressed by him to accept of his Arch-bishoprick of Vtrecht he constantly refused and begging licence departed from him to work alone in that heavenly Office 2. And moreover distrusting his own forces he humbly begged the Prayers of others for the Divine assistance in so sublime a work Among his Epistles there is still extant one to the same effect directed to Leodbata a kinswoman of his to Bedda Chunigildis and other Religious Virgins to continue their earnest Prayers to Almighty God that he might be delivered from many pressures which he suffred from importune and wicked men and that he might not be discouraged from defending Christs Faith and Church from many Hereticks Schismatiks and Hypocrites which used all their endeavours to make a prey of the new converted Lambs with their Mothers and did more encomber him then the professed enemies of our Faith the Pagan Idolaters 3. There is likewise found another Epistle to him from a Holy Virgin named Buggan an Abbesse then in Brittany of a Royall family as is witnessed in other Letters of a following date written to him by Hildebert King of Kent This devout Virgin he had found at Rome when he repaired thither to Pope Gregory and being returned into Brittany she in an Epistle congratulated with him the sublime Office imposed on him by that Holy Pope as likewise a vision which he had received from God who revealed to him the great successe of his preaching and moreover had cast down before him that great Enemy of his Holy Faith King Radbode Moreover she informed him that whereas he had desired her to send him the Passions of Martyrs she could not as then procure them but would use all her endeavours for his satisfaction Consequently she begged of him to send her certain Collections out of Holy Scriptures for her consolation as he had promised her and that he would offer to God the Sacrifices of his Holy Masses for the soule of a dear kinsman of hers lately dead In conclusion she told him that by the same messenger she had sent him for his present supply fifty shillings Solidos and a Pall for the Altar the smallnes of which presents she excused by her poverty and earnestly begged his Prayers in which she had great confidence 4. Another Epistle himself also about this time wrote to Tatwin and Wigbert Preists and to Bernard Hiedde Hunfrith and Stirme Monks of the Monastery of Nutscelle from whence he came earnestly exhorting them to conserve the Regular Discipline taught them by their late Venerable Father Wigbert He ordained likewise that they should observe the directions of the other Wigbert Preist and Mengingord Deacon touching the howers and order of the Ecclesiasticall Office That Hiedde should be the Superiour over the servants and Hunfrid his assistant that Stirme should be in the Kitchin and Bernard have care of building lastly that in all things they should be obedient to Tatwin their Abbot Now this Tatwin Abbot was a person of great esteem for after the death of Brithwald Arch-bishop of Canterbury he was chosen to succeed in that See Notwithstanding Bishop Parker affirms that Tatwin the Successour of Brithwald was taken out of a Monastery called Brinton and S. Beda calls it Bruidum which whether it was the same or a distinct Monastery from Nutscelle in the Province of the Mercians it is hard to determine IX CHAP. 1.2 c. Severall Bishops ordained c. 6. The Gests of Saint Pega sister to Saint Guthlac 1. BVT we must for some time leave Saint Boniface busy in his Apostolick Office in Germany and return into Brittany where according to our Ecclesiasticall Monuments Eadbert who eight years before had been consecrated Bishop of the South-Saxons by the Arch-bishop Brithwald dying there succeeded in his place Eolla Who governed that See a very short time for Saint Beda ending his History in the year seaven hundred thirty one there expressly affirms that the said Church of the South-Saxons having remained some years without a Bishop was obliged to have recourse to the Bishop of the West-Saxons for the performing of such rights as required an Episcopall iurisdiction 2. And the year following the See of Dumwich in the Kingdom of the East Angles becoming voyd by the death of Astwolf or Aesculf there succeeded in it Aldbert And likewise the other Episcopall See of Helmham being vacant by the death of Norbert Hadulac succeeded him which two Bishops are by the same S. Beda affirmed to be alive at the end of his History 3. The same year also Aedgar Bishop of the Lindesfart now called Lincoln dying his successour was Kinebert a man learned in the Ecclesiasticall History and from whom S. Beda professes that he received help in the writing of his Concerning all these Bishops little more besides their Names has been transmitted to posterity 4. In the Kingdom also of the East-Saxons at this time dyed King Beorna who left the throne to be possessed by Alfwald for so we shall find that he calls himself in Letters written by him to S. Boniface of which hereafter 5. But the person whose death gave the greatest loster to this year was Pega Sister to S. Guthlac mentioned before for so we read in our Martyrologe on the third of Iune And hereto agrees our Historian Ingulphus Abbot of Croyland who describing the state of that Island made famous by the Sanctity of Saint Guthlac records the names of severall holy Hermites which imitated the said Saint in a solitary life of Contemplation among the rest he makes expresse mention of
distauce of about a mile and a half from the Church of Hagustald from which it is separated by the River Tine To which mansion there is adioyning a Church-yard consecrated to the honour of Saint Michael the Archangel Thither the Holy Bishop attended by a few of his Disciples was wont when opportunity was afforded to retire himself especially in Lent that he might without interruption attend to Prayer and Spirituall Reading On a certain time therefore in the beginning of Lent going thither he commanded that there should be conducted thither some poor begger who withall was afflicted with some extraordinary infirmity that he might there have a fitt object for his charity and Almes And the same course he usually held in his retirements 7. Now there was then in a village not far distant a certain youth not unknown to the Bishop who was altogether dumb and withall had his head wholly covered with a thick scurf which entirely hindred the grouth of haires except a few which like bristles stood in a thinn circle about the lower part of his head This young man was brought therefore to him and a small cottage was built for him to which the Holy Bishop dayly went with his Almes Now on the second Sunday of Lent he commanded this poor child to enter into his Cell and being there to putt forth his tongue which the holy man took hold of and made the sign of the Crosse upon it And having done this he bid him speak Pronounce said he to him gea gea that is yea yea This the child pronounced distinctly and presently after other words of more syllables and in conclusion whole Sentences So that before night by frequent practise in which he took great delight he was able to expresse his thoughts freely 8. This recovery of the poor dumb child did much reioyce the Holy Bishop who presently after commanded a surgeon to use his skill for curing the scurse of his head and in a short time by such care but principally by the prayers and benedictions of the good Prelat his head was perfectly healed and the child who formerly had been deformed and dumb became of a lovely chearfull countenance adorned with beautifully curled haire and ready in speech Being thus cured the Holy Bishop offred to entertain him in his family but he chose rather to return to his freinds 9. This Miracle was wrought in his first Diocese oâ— Hagustald Whereto we will add another performed in that of York related by the same devout Abbot Brithun to Saint Beda There was said he a certain village belonging to a Count named Puch distant about two miles from our Monastery of Deirirode or Beverley This Counts wife had for the space of forty dayes been greivously tormented with a sicknes so that for three weeks she could not be removed out of her chamber Now it hapned at the same time that the Man of God was desired by the said Count to dedicate a Church in the same place Which having done the Count earnestly requested him to dine with him But the Bishop refused saying He must needs return to his Monastery near adioyning The Count told him that if he would vouchsafe to honour his house with his presence he would give considerable Alms to the poore I likewise ioynd with him in the same request promising the like Charity to the poor upon condition he would dine in his house and give his benediction to it 10. With much adoe at last we obtained this favour from him and so went to dinner Now the Holy Bishop had by one of my Monks attending us sent to the Counts wife some part of the Holy water which he had consecrated and used among the Ceremonies of the Dedication commanding him to give her some part of it to drink and that with the rest she should wash that part where she felt the sharpest pain Which she having accordingly performed immediatly rose up perfectly sound and was not only freed from her pains but had her former strength entirely restored so that she imitating Saint Peters wives Mother in the Gospell came down and during the whole dinner presented drink to the Bishop and to all the rest of the company 11. The Centuriators of Magdeburg write with a very uncertain stile concerning this famous Bishop sometimes highly commending him and again as sharply censuring him He dyed say they with great constancy of an Evangelicall Spirit And again He was illustrious for his piety and miracles as Saint Beda relates But withall they adde Notwithstanding such great wonders he did not perform without Superstition For he did not relye alone upon his Prayers but moreover made use of holy water aquâ lustrals Vnhappy man they little understand the efficacy of the Prayers and benedictions of Gods Church by vertue of which for at least fifteen ages together the power of Devills has been so oft rendred of no force by the use of Holy Water and sign of the Crosse terrible to infernall Spirits and odious to such Ministers 12. I will onely adde what William of Malmsbury relates as a thing usually performed and generally acknowledged by the inhabitants of Beverley in testimony of the sanctity of their glorious Patron which is that the feircest Bulls being haled with many strong ropes by the force and sweat of severall lusty men assoon as they are brought into his â—hurch yarâ— immediatly loose all their fury and feircenes and become gentle as lambes so that they are there left to their freedom to sport themselves whereas before with their feet and horns they endangered all that came near them Moreover how by the intercession and patronage of this Holy Prelate above a hundred years after his death King Ethelstan obtained a signall victory against the Scotts shall be declared in its proper place His Memory is celebrated in our Martyrologe on the seaventh of May the day of his death and his Translation made in the year of Grace one thousand sixty three is solemnly commemorated on the twenty fifth of October To conclude his Feast always solemnly observed in the Province of York was by a Decree of a Synod assembled in the year fourteen hundred and sixteen ordained to be kept Holiday through all England upon occasion of a great Victory which then King Henry the fifth obtained in France the same day XI CHAP. 1.2 Of S Brithun Abbot 3. The Pilgrimage of S. Daniel Bishop of winchester to Rome 1. IN this Narration of the Gests of the holy Bishops S. Iohn of Beverley often mention was made of his Deacon S. Brithun or as in a Manuscript Copy of S. Beda he is called S. Berctun whose Name is commemorated among the Saints in our Martyrologe on the fifteenth of May. Now though our Ecclesiasticall Monuments doe not place his death till almost twenty years after that of S. Iohn Yet in consecrating his Memory to posterity in this our History it seemed expedient not to divide them 2.
and Martin the fourth And Polydor Virgil an Italian acknowledges that he was sent into England to perform the Office of Collectour for the Pope 8. This liberality begun by our Saxon Kings was imitated by other Extern Princes in succeeding times Thus Pope Gregory the ninth of that Name in an Epistle to his Legats declares that in the Archives of S. Peter in three severall places it is fâ—und that Charles the Emperour collected yearly for the service of the Apostolick See twelve hundred pounds besides what every one offred in his particular devotion And in the year of Grace one thousand forty six by a Generall Assembly of the States of Poland under King Casimir a promise was made of a half penny yearly to be payed by every person in that kingdom to the Pope And in the year of our Lord one thousand seaventy six Demetrius Duke of Dalmatia Croatia in a Synod assembled at Salona obliged himself to pay to the See of Rome an annuall Tribute of two hundred peices of Gold called Byzantins The like Pensions we read to have been given by the Dukes of Brittany c. Thus much wee thought fitt to adde upon occasion of this charitable Liberality to the See of Rome begun by the devout Saxon King Ina. Wee will prosecute his iourney the year following XVIII CHAP. 1. Death of Tobias Bishop of Rochester 2 3 S. Boniface consults the Pope about severall Questions which are resolved by him 1. THE same year Tobias Bishop of Rochester dyed He was saith S. Beda Disciple of Theodore Arch-bishop of Canterbury of happy memory and of Adrian Abbot of S. Augustins Monastery And to a great perfection of learning both Ecclesiasticall and secular he added so accurate a skill in languages both Greek and Latin that they were as familiar to him as his Native countreys tongue He was buried in the Porch of S. Pauls which himself had built within the Church of S. Andrew to be a place for his sepulcher From this passage of S. Beda the great Cardinall Baronius inferrs that the English Nation received from the Roman Church not the Catholick Faith only but likewise all good literature To Tobias there succeeded in the See of Rochester Aldulfus who was the tenth Bishop of that Church 2. But the incessant labours of S. Boniface wil oft interrupt our Narration of the affaires of Brittany and require our attention to them This year as appears by an Epistle or Pope Gregory to him he sent his Preist Denuaâ— to the said Pope to onsult him about certain difficulties occurring in the discharge of his Apostolick Office As 1. within what degrees of propinquity Mariage may be permitted to which the Resolution was that the utmosâ— strictnes ought not to be exercised to such new converted Nation and therefore thaâ— beyond the fourth degree of affinity or consanguinity Mariage might be allowd Again 2. that in case a woman have an incurable infirmity before Mariage be accomplished it may be lawfull for the husband to marry another 3. That if a Preist be defamed by an accusation of the people and no certain Witnesses be produced against him the Preist by oath making God witnes of his innocence shall remain in his degree 4. That it is no fitt that more Chalices then one should be upon the Altar at celebration of Masse 5 That concerning eating meats consecrated to Idols it may be allowd after making the sign of the Crosse over them except in case oâ— scandal mentioned by S. Paul â—â— at one shoulâ— say This was offred to Idols 6. That childrenâ—o â—o either sex offred by their parents to God in their infancy to a Regular Discipline may not afterward in ripe age leave that state and contract matrimony 7. That persons baptized by adulterous and scandalous Preists ought not therefore to be rebaptized But in case there be a doubt whether infants have been baptized or not then according to the Tradition of the Holy Fathers they ought to be baptized 8 That the holy Sacrament of Christs body and blood ought not to be denyed to persons infected with Leprosy or other like contagious disease but they must not be admitted to eat and drink with others 9. That in case the Pestilence should rage in Monasteries oâ— Churches it would be a folly to flye since no man can scape Gods hands 10. That he ought sharply to reprove scandalous and licentious Bishops or Preists but was not obliged to refuse eating or conversing with them For this may be a mean to gain them 3. Some of these doubts also S. Boniface proposed to his learned freinds in Brittany and particularly to the holy Prelat Daniel Bishop of Winchester who returned him the like answers and comforted him being much afflicted with his perverse and obstinat German Clergy Both his Epistle and the Answer to it are still extant XIX CHAP. 1.2 c. King Ina at Rome builds the Schoole of the English â—hâ—re it was seated 6 7 He there takes a Monasticall Habit. his happy death 1. IN the year of Grace seaven hundred twenty seaven the devout King Ina finished his iourney to Rome At his leaving Brittany he resigned his kingdom to his kinsman called Ethelard a worthy Successour of so Noble a Prince And being thus discharged of so great a burden of secular solicitudes he performed his iourney more chearfully 2. Being arrived at Rome saith Mathew of Westminster he by the consent and will of Pope Gregory built in the Citty a certain house which he would have to be called The Schoole of the English To the said house the following Kings of this Nation the Princes Bishops Preists or any other Ecclesiasticks were to come to be instructed in the Catholick Faith and learning to prevent the teaching any perverse doctrine contrary to Catholick Vnity and when they were become well established in the Faith they returned home again 3. It seems that not only the Popes in these times but the Saxon Princes in Brittany thought more convenient that the youth of this Nation should be taught learning and vertue at Rome rather then publick Schooles should be erected at home And the reason is given by the same Authour saying From the time of S. Augustin our Apostle to this Publick Schooles and Professours of Teaching were by the Bishops of Rome straitly forbidden to the English by reason of the many Heresies which at the coming of the English into Brittany at which time the Pagans were mixed with the Christians did much corrupt the doctrines and Discipline of Christianity So that the Censure given by the Apostat Bale touching this Foundation does well become him who affirms That it was erected to the great mischeif of the English state 4. Besides this house the same King Inas built near to it a Church to the honour of the Blessed Virgin Mary in which the Divine Mysteries might be celebrated by and for such
English as should come to the Citty and in which if any of them hapned to dye here they might be buried Thus writes the same Authour who in another place declares that Burrhed last King of the Mercians going in pilgrimage to Rome and there dying was after a Royall manner buried in the Church of the Blessed Virgin adioyning to the Schoole of the English 5 It is not easy to determin in what region of this Citty the said Schoole and Church were placed Severall of our Historians agree that it was the same which is to this day called the Hospitall of the English or the Hospitall of S. Thomas thus write Polydor Harpsfeild Parker c But other Authours mentioning the frequent conflagrations of it particularly Anastasiuâ— Biâ—bliothecarius in his description thereof about the year of Grace eight hundred twenty three shews that it was seated in the Suburbs near to the Church of S. Peter in that place which is now called the Borgo and anciently Saxia because a Colony of Saxons was sent thither by Charles the great 6. King Inas having thus provided for securing a perpetuall succession and propagation of the Faith among his countreymen presently retired himself to a quiet repose in contemplation He therefore in the expression oâ— William of Malmsbury cutt off his hair and cloathing himself with a vile plebeian habit spent the short remainder of his age in a secret retirement And how acceptable this last sacrifice of himself was to Almighty God he was pleased to shew by many miracles saith the same Authour Now that by this plebeian habit was meant a Monasticall one the generall consent of our Historians doe confirm For the cloathing of Religious persons at the beginning was the same with that of the ordinary meaner sort of people but fashions altering among secular persons and Religious men not changing hence it comes that they have a distinct peculiar habit nothing at all resembling the generall fashion of other men in the world 7. His life was not prolonged at Rome For in our Martyrologe he is recorded to have dyed this same year and his memory is celebrated among Saints on the seaventh of February Which does not well agree together For his arrivall at Rome and the orders taken for such buildings could not be effected so early in the year Yet that he did not passe through the following year may be collected from hence that being dead his Sacred Body was buried with great honour in the entrance of S. Peters Church by reason that the Church founded by him to the honour of the Blessed Virgin was not quite finished XX. CHAP. 1.2 Death of S. Willeic and of S. Engelmund a Martyr 3.4 Oswold rebells against King Ethelard and is expelled 5 6 c. Death of S Egbert 8.9 Osric King of the Northumbers dying the pious King Ceolulf succeeds 1. TO this same year is consigned the happy death of the Holy Preist and Disciple of S. Swibert S. Willeic of whom some what hath been sayd before Concerning him thus writes Miraeus in his Belgick Calendar S. Willeic was an assistant of the holy Bishop S. Swibert in the preaching of the Gospell and became a Canon of the Church of Vtrecht lately erected After S. Swiberts death he governed the Monastery of Werda the space of ten years with great commendasion and esteem He dyed this year and his Memory is celebrated among the Saints on the second of March 2. About the same time also dyed yet more happily because his life was sacrifised by Martyrdom the glorious Saint and câ—panion of S. Willebrord S. Engelmund who according to the same Authour imbueâ— with Evangelicall Doctrin the â—acavians and Kenemarians But in the Supplement to the Gallican Martyrologe a larger Elogy is â—iven oâ— him in this manner At Welsa in Holland on this one and twentieth day of Iune is celebrated the happy death of S. Engelmund Preist and Martyr He by Nation an Englishman was companion of S. Willebrord by command of Pope Sergius was ioynd in commission with him in his Apostolick Office in preaching converting of soules and working miracles among the Pâ—isons He was also Abbot and directour of many Religious persons which he assembled together to praise our Lord. At length being zealously vrgent to withdraw the Savage Nation of the Prisons from their horrible Superstitions and barbarous manners he for so great Charity incurred their hatred and furâ—ous persecution with which he was at last oppressed So crowning his Apostolick Office with a glorious Martyrdom 3. The year following the Kingdom and Churches of the West-Saxons were much disquieted by the restles ambition of a young Prince of the Royall family called Oswold who it seems in indignation that King Ina in resigning the Crown preferred his kinsman Ethelward or Adelhard before him thought by force to give it himself Concerning this tumult and the successe of it unhappy to the aggressour thus writes Henry of Huntingdon Adelhard King of the West-Saxons before the first year of his raign was expired fought a batel against Oswold a young man of the Royall stock who attempted to obtain the kingdom for himself But the young man not being able to bring equall forces into the feild having for some time born the burden of a furious combat at last being overpowred was forced to fly and quite abandon the kingdom By which means King Ethelward was firmly established therein 4. This worthy King to shew himself a deserving Successour of King Ina presently after extended his Royall magnificence to houses of piety and Religion particularly to the famous Monastery of Glastonbury the memory whereof the Antiquities of that place doe thus commend to posterity When Câ—ngisle was Abbot in the year of our Lords Incarnation seaven hundred twenty nine Ethelard King and Successour of Ina bestowed for a stable possession to the Religious family serving our Lord in the Monastery of Glastonbury sixty hâ—des of land in Pohonholâ— and twelve hydes in Thoric His Queen likewise named Fridogitha gave Brunant How this devout Queen nine years after this quitted her Royall state and undertook a pilgrimage to Rome where she consecrated herself to God wee shall shew hereafter 5. This year likewise dyed the most holy Abbot Egbert of whom frequent mention has been made This is he who in the year of Grace six hundred sixty four being mortally sick of the Pestilence was wonderfully restored to health and forsaking his Native countrey Brittany went into Ireland in the year six hundred and ninety where for his admirable piety he was in â—igh estimation and being desirous to expose himself to all incommodities and dangers for spreading the Faith in forrain countreys waâ— by Almighty God who designed him for another employment hindred Notwithstanding by his exhortations the glorious Saint Willebrord Sutbert and their companions undertook that most famous Apostolick Mission into Germany This likewise was he who thirteen years
his solemnity we many conclude that both these were added by S. Beda's Disciples after his death 8. Not long after S. Boniface visited the confining Regions of Bavaria the Prince whereof was called Hugbert To whom the Holy Bishop with great zeale preached the Faith of Christ. There likewise with much fervour and authority he condemned and cast out of the Church a certain pestilent Heretick called Ermewolf What his Heresy was it does not appear probably it died with the Authour II. CHAP. 1.2 The Primacy of the Sea of Canterbury again established by the Pope 3.4 Bishops conâ—ecrated by Arch-bishop Tatwin after he had received the Archiepiscopall Pall. 5.6 Sedition among the Northumbers c. 1. WE read in B. Parkers Brittish Antiquities that in the year of Grace seaven hundred thirty two being the second after the consecration of Tatwin Arch-bishop of Canterbury a controversy arose between that See and the See of York about Primacy Vpon which occasion Tatwin went to Rome where he obtained the Pall from Pope Gregory and likewise a confirmation of his Primacy After which he made great hast to return into Brittany 2. There is indeed extant in William of Malmsbury an Epistle of Pope Gregory addressed to all the English Bishops in which he exhorts them to Vnity and constancy in Faith and Charity and withall signifies that he had given the Archiepiscopall Pall with the venerable use of the Dalmatick to Tatwin Successour to S. Augustin in his chair of Canterbury and that after a diligent search in the Sacred Archives for the Priviledges and rights of Iurisdiction belonging to that See from the time of the said S. Augustin he had confirmed the same commanding all the Churches of Brittany with their respective Bishops to yeild due obedience to all the Canonicall precepts of the said Tatwin whom he appointed Primat and withall conferred on him authority in his stead to visit all Churches in that Region Moreover that the Church of Canterbury being the first offspring of Christianity and Mother of all other Churches there he took it into his speciall protection threatning severely to vindicate all contempts and disobediences to it on any person whatsoever 3. To this effect did Pope Gregory write but without any mention or reflection on the See of York or any competition of any other in the Primacy Besides this the present Bishop of York Wilfrid second of that name was a man of great modesty and aversion from contention Whereas indeed his Successour of a Princely family and high Spirits did not long after not only restore his See oâ— York to the Archiepiscopall dignity which at first S. Paulinus the Apostle of that Province enioyd but challenged an equality with the Arch-bishop of Canterbury as shall be declared And this perhaps gave occasion of mistake and a confusion of times to B. Parker and likewise B. Godwin 4. Arch-bishop Tatwin having thus received the Pall and being returned into Brittany the year following consecrated two Bishops For Kinebert Bishop of the Lindesfari or Lincoln being dead he substituted in his place Alwâ— whom wee find present in a Synod assembled fourteen years after this Likewise the Episcopall See of the South-Saxons by the death of Eolla being vacant he consecrated for his Successour Sigga or Sigfrid 5. The same year there were great tumults in the Kingdom of the Northumbers by a faction the Head whereof is now unknown But so violent was the Sedition that both King Ceolulf and the Holy Bishop Acca were forced to submitt to the impetuousnes of it King Ceolulf was made prisoner and Shaved as a Monk Notwithstanding presently after in consideration of his integrity vertue and prudence he was restored to his Throne 6 But as for the Holy Bishop Acca the persecution against him continued longer For during the space of three years he remaind banished from his See Yea saith William of Malmsbury it is uncertain whether ever he returned to it or no. However that after his death he was with great honour buried there and became famous to posterity by his frequent Miracles shall be shewed hereafter III. CHAP. 1.2.3 Ethelbald the Mercian King invades his neighbours 4.5 Tatâ—in Arch bishop of Canterbury dying Nothelm succeeds And Egbert succeeds in the See of York 6 7 8. S. Boniface proposes a Scrupulous doubt to Nothelm c. The Râ—solution of it 1. IN the year of Grace seaven hundred thirty four Ethelbald Kiâ—g of the Mercians who as hath been sayd was wonderfully called by God to the Kingdom became very powerfull and not content with the limits of his own kingdom invaded the Provinces of his Neighbours All the Regions from the South-Saxons as far as Humber Northward though governed by petty Kings yet those Provinces with their Kings were subject to his Dominion saith Florentius Yet all these to a mind so vast as his were narrow bounds Therefore making an impression into the Western parts he besieged the Castle of Sâ—merton and no assistance coming to the souldiers there inclosed he brought it into his own power By which means he became possessour of a great part of Somersetshire which takes its name from that place 2. And not content with this he marched with his Army Northward and force prevayling over iustice he in a hostile manner entred the Kingdome of the Northumbers where finding none to resist him he enriched himself and his army with spoyles as much as he thought good then withdrew his forces homewards Thus writes Huntingdon The Abridger of S. Beda's History referrs this invasion to the year seaven hundred and forty but the generall consent of other Writers disproves him 3. But this prosperity which Gods goodnes gave him he abused and plunged himself into many enormous crimes as shall be shewed Notwithstanding the Divine Grace did not utterly forsake him For at last he repented his ingratitude to God amended his errours and with a mixture of vertues and vices ended his life by the treason of his Subjects 4. The same year as Hoveden testifies the Moon for the space of an hour early in the morning on the thirtieth day of Ianuary became of a deep blood-red colour and from thence turned black after which its naturall brightnes was restored This prodigy it seems in his opinion foreshewed the death of Tatwin Arch-bishop of Canterbury for he immediatly addes an account of his death thereto hapning the twenty ninth of Iuly following and in the fourth year after his Consecration He was a man saith S. Beda highly eminent for his Religion and prudence He succeeded Brithwald his equall in learning and piety who was Successour to S. Theodore 5. The year following gave to the two Principall Sees of Brittany Canterbury and York vacant by the death of their Pastours two worthy persons to succeed in the exercise of the Episcopall function to Canterbury Nothelm and to York Egbert As touching the former Nothelm was born
certain Preist besides whom there was none other to administer Baptism and celebrate Masse in a large territory inhabited by Christians indeed yet such as were tainted with errours considering that the said Preist who long agoe had falln into the sin of fornication afterward not only was absolved after Pennance but also restored to his degree and Office contrary to the expresse Canons of the Church Now the Question is Whether it be better or at least a lesse ill that such a Preist should perform the Office of the Altar contrary to the Canons or in case he be deprived a multitude of Infants should dye without Baptism and the rest of the people without Sacraments since that people can not be furnished with another more chast Preist Which is indeed no Question at all 5. Egbert having obtaind his Archiepiscopall Pall this same year supplied two Episcopall Sees which were vacant For to Plecthelm Bishop of Candida Casa he substituted Fridwald And the Holy Bishop Acca having been unjustly expelled his Church of Hagustald and there being no probability of his restitution least our Lords flock should remain longer without a Pastour he consecrated thereto Fridbere Who notwithstanding in our Ecclesiasticall Monuments is not esteemed Bishop till the death of Acca which followed five years after VI. CHAP. 1.2 c. A Summe of the Gests of S. Willebrord and his death 6.7 c. Severall Bishops consecrated by Nothelm Arch-bishop of Canterbury 9. Queen Frithogitha's pilgrimage to Rome 1. THE year following the most famous Apostle of the Frisons the erectour and first Arch-bishop of Vtrecht Saint Willebrord received the eternall reward of all his labours Wee have often mentioned him before and will here only add a breif Summ of his Life and Gests out of the Gallican Martyrologe 2. On the seaventh of November at Epternac in the Territory of Triers is celebrated the Commemoration of Saint Willebrord Bishop and Confessour Apostle of the Frisons He was by Nation an English-Saxon and being endowed with many Divine Graces he with nine Companions were by Saint Egbert directed into Lower Germany From Brittany therefore he passed over into Friseland and began the Apprentissage of his Apostolick Office at Vtrecht but was desired by Pipin to goe further into the countrey of the Frisons At the Castle of Vtrecht near an Ancient ruind Church of Saint Thomas he built an Oratory to the honour of the Holy Crosse. Pope Sergius being before admonished by an Angelicall vision solemnly ordained him Arch-bishop in the Church of Saint Peter at the request of Duke Pipin and withall strengthning him with Apostolick authority to preach and dilate the Gospell to the end he might with a more prosperous omen undertake that labour he gave him the Sirname of Clement to whom after the two Princes of the Apostles the Care of Religion in its infancy was committed 3. From Rome he returned into Friseland and at Vtrecht upon Rhene placed his Episcopall See building there a Church which he consecrated to Saint Martin He baptized with the Water of regeneration Pipin the Son of Charles Martel He spread the Gospell largely in Friseland baptizing Catechumens confirming Neophytes celebrating holy Orders and almost in every village building Churches over which he constituted Pastours 4. Whilst he was busily employed in these sacred works there came to him Saint Boniface who in processe of time became his Successour in his Bishoprick and Apostleship of the Frisons Who staying with him about two years assisted him with courage and diligence in procuring the salvation of many At last after many labours incommodities and travells undertaken by him for many years in planting the Church and saving of soules he rendred his holy and happy Spirit to his Creatour at Epternac after he had for the space of forty years with a piety and vertue truly Apostolick governed the Church founded by himself 5. His Sacred Body was buried in a Monastery of that Town which formerly he had erected where it did â—hine with so many illustrious Miracles that both the Monastery and Church were afterwards called by his Name Concerning his Successours Eoban Boniface and Gregory we shall treat in due place His Life was written both in verse and Prose by his Countrey man Saint Alcuin an eloquent Witnesse of his Sanctity 6. The same year Nothelm Arch-bishop of Canterbury having received his Archiepiscopall Pall from Rome consecrated severall Bishops For the See of Hereford being vacant by the death of Walstâ—d he substituted in his place Cuthbert Who four years after succeeded Nothelm himself being translated to the See of Canterbury But before that he finished a very costly Crosse begun by his Predecessour and moreover built a sumptuous Tomb in which he placed the Bodies of the three preceding Bishops Tirtil Torthere and Walstâ—d to which he adioyned three more a certain Nobleman called Milfrid with his Lady called Quenburga and Osrith the Son of Oselin as appears by the verses inscribed on it recorded by B. Godwin in his Catalogue of the Bishops of Hereford 7. The Church of the East-Angles likewise being deprived of her two Pastours Eadbert Bishop of Dumwich and Hadulac Bishop of Helmham The said Arch-bishop gave for successour to the former Cuthwin called by Hoveden Heordwald and to the other Ethelfrid Concerning whom nothing remains to posterity but their names 8. The next year Alduin Bishop of Lichfeild dying two Bishops were consecrated in his place Witta in Lichfeild and Totta or Torthelm in Leycester In this Citty of Leycester which saith William of Malmsbury is very ancient and situated in the midland countrey of England called Legecestria from the River Leger passing by it Saint Wilfrid as hath been declared after his expulsion out of the Kingdom of the Northumbers made his abode and exercised Iurisdiction there After whose departure the Kingdom of the Mercians had but one Bishop till this year in which for the Vastnes of the Province two Bishops were ordained And Leycester continued an Episcopall See till the time of King Edgar when Leovâ—n Bishop of the Lindesfari or Lincoln united Leycester to his See 9. Moreover in the place of Forthere Bishop of Shirburn Herwald was consecrated The cause whereof was not the death of Farther but as Florentius testifies because be attending Frithogitha Queen of the West-Saxons undertook a Pilgrimage to Rome And it was not fitt that the Church should want a Pastour This is the same Frithogitha Wife to King Ethelard who eight years before this was so munificent a Benefactrice to the Monastery of Canterbury And now the flame of Divine Charity encreasing in her soule she abandoned all her splendid possessions and gave her self entirely to God And in those days at wee read in Mathew of Westminster many Kings and Bishops Noble men and â—gnoble Clergy-men and Secular yea women also did the like VII CHAP. 1.2 c Ceolulf King of the Northumbers becomes a Monk His Muneficence to the Church
of Saint Cuthbert 1. THE same year Brittany saw a spectacle which all other Christian countreys esteemed prodigious but was become no wonder in our Island and this was a potent King in his ripe age and the midst of his prosperity to renounce all wordly glory advantages and contentment and to prefer before all these a poor Cell a course habit sparing and simple dyet and submission to the meanest of his Subiects This was Ceolulf King of the Northumbers to whom S. Beda had dedicated his History of Brittany not so much that he might by his eminent quality be a protectour of it or of the Authour as by his learning and iudgement to be a correctour And it is not to be doubted but that so many examples which he found there of persons contemning hating and flying from all worldly tentations and pleasures had a strong influence on his mind to inflame it with the love of heavenly and only true happines 2. A little before he thus offred himself a Holocaust to our Lord he had bestowd liberally many possessions on the Monastery of Lindesfarn where the famous S. Cuthbert learnt and practised the rudiments of his Sanctiâ—y whose life and glorious actâ—ons he had read in S. Beda's writings Hoveden among the munificent gifts of this King to S. Cuthbert reckons these pâ—aces Vdecester Wittingham Edulfingham and Cewlingham But the Religious King esteemed this liberality not considâ—rable unlesse he gave himself likewise to him by embracing a penitenciall Life in his Monasteâ—y which this year being the ninth of his raign he performâ—d 3 This space of nine years spent in vanity saith Huntingdon seemed to him a whole age for he was in great anguish of mind that so great a part of his Life should be lost in the vain cares and encombrances of the world He resolved therefore to consecrate the remainder of his years to spirituall Wisedom and to the eternall advantage of his own soul. Therefore proposing to himself out of the History of S. Beda six potent Kings for his imitation he resolved to follow their examples These were Ethelred King of the Mercians and Kenred his Successour Likewise Cedwalla King of the West-Saxons and Ina his Successour Sigebert King of the East Angels who became a Monk and was afterwards slain by the Tyrant Penda And Sebbi King of the East Saxons who embracing a Religious Profession by Dâ—vine revelation foresaw the wishd-for day of his death he saw it and was glad These did not consume their Substance with harlots like the Prodigal son but went on their way with sorrow sowing their seed that they might return with ioy and present their â—heaves to our Lord. King Ceolulf therefore added a seaventh Hebdomadam to the number of perfect Kings and receiving a Monasticall habit in exchange of the Temporall Crown which he left God sett upon his Head a glorious Crown of one entire precious stone 4. The Monastery into which he retired was thâ—t of Lindesfarn the Monks whereof were the Disciples of S. Aidan whom long before this King Oswald had sent for thither out of Scotland and they following his example practised far more rigourous austerities then were usually seen else where For not only all the Râ—ligious men and women too of that institut continued fasting every Wednesday and Friday till Vespers were accomplished but also wholly abstained from wine and all strong drink contenting themselves with Water mingled with a little milk But whether it was that experience shewd them that English Complexions not so robustious as those of the Scotts could not support this great austerity or whether likewise it was out of condescendance to the delicacy and infirm temper of King Ceolulf at his entrance an indulgence was given to the Monks and they were permitted for their drink to use a moderate proportion of Wine or Ale 5. Now besides his former liberalities to that Monastery King Ceolulf at the time of his Monasticall Tensure gave the Mannor of Warkworth So writes Camden out of our Ancient Monuments Warkworth saith he with all its dependences was a possession of the Church of Lindesfarn by the gift of King Ceolulf For this mansion at his renouncing the world he bestowd on the said Church in which beinâ— made a Monk he aspired to a heavenly kingdom 6. Our Martyrologe in which his memoâ—â— is celebrated among the Saints on the fifth of Ianuary refers his death to this saâ—â— year But certain it is that his life was proâ—longâ—d there the space of twenty thrâ—â— years So that we are to interpret thaâ— thiâ— year he dyed to the world Now how happily he concealed himself in that solitude from the world and how charged he was with merits and graces when he left it this is sufficiently testified saith William of Malmsbury by the honour he received in being buried close to S. Cuthbert and by many Divine Miracles wrought there by his intercession His Relicks were afterward translated to Northam saith Hoveden where they likewise became illustrious by Miracles being placed in a Church there built by Egred Bishop of Lindesfarn about seaventy years after this Kings death and dedicated to the honour of Saint Peter Saint Cuthbert and S. Ceolulf 7. This Holy King resigned his Kingdom to his Nephew Eadbert or Egbert a Successour likewise of his vertue and piety for saith William of Malmsbury he governed it the space of twenty years with great prudence and iustice He had likewise a Brother of his own name Arch-bishop of York who by his own wisedom and his Brothers power restored his See to its primitive dignity But of these two illustrious persons more hereafter VIII CHAP. 1.2 Saint Boniface his iourney to Rome 5.6 c. He by Apostolick authority erects severall Bishopricks in Germany 1. THE Gests of S. Boniface which are the principall busines of the greatest part of this Age almost yearly furnishing our History doe call us into Germany from thence to attend his iourney to Rome which he again undertook in the year of Grace seaven hundred thirty eight The occusion of his iourney as we read in the Authour of his Life the account whereof is collected from that of his Disciple S. Willebald was partly to visit Pope Gregory third of that Name as likewise to commend himself to the Prayers of the Holy Apostles and other Saints reposing there and also to obtain from the said Pope as appears by his Letters a resolution of certain difficulties touching the care of soules committed to his charge 2. He went therefore to Rome attended by a great troop of French men Bavarians and Brittaine Where being arrived he was kindly received by the Pope The people of Rome likewise had him in such veneration that they flocked in great multitudes to his preaching and endeavoured to detain him a long time among them For of old it had been their custom when any man of note or sanctity came to Rome they would with
all civility respect and kindnes entertain him Thus they did in former ages with S. Athanasius S. Epiphanius S Hierom S. Peter of Alexandria and many others 3 Now when S. Boniface was ready to depart the Pope very liberally bestowed on him many gifts and whatsoever Relicks of Saints he desired He sent likewise by him severall Letters to the Bishops Princes and Abbots of Germany requiring their assistance to S. Boniface in the great charge committed to him of converting soules as likewise their presence to whatsoever Synods he should assemble and their Obedience to his orders and Decrees made according to the Rule prescribed by the See Apostolick which had authorized him to his Apostolick Office and constituted him the supreme Prelat of Germany 4. With these Letters S. Boniface departed from Rome and came to Ticinum or Pavia where he abode some time with Luitprand King of the Lombards Thence he proceeded towards Germany and being arrived near the River Danubius he made some stay there expecting a Synod of Bishops which he by the Popes order had called And from thence he wrote Letters to certain speciall freinds Goppin Eoban Tacwin and Wyx Religious Abbots as likewise to all their Monks and severall Religious Virgins in which he gave them a particular account of this his iourney and the successe of it 5. The year following being invited by Vtilo Duke of the Bavarians he visited his countrey staying there many dayes and preaching the word of God with great fruit There he found many false Christians who wasted the Churches and seduced the people Some of these falsely pretended themselves to be Bishops and others usurped the Office of Pâ—eists Many likewise with fictions and pernicious lyes wrought great mischief among the ignorant A further course of whose malice he found not any meanes more effectually to prevent then by dividing the Province of Bavaria into four Dioceses which with the consent of Duke Vtilo he performed the Government of which he committed to persons of eminent vertue whom he ordained Bishops 6. Of these the first was Iohn whose Episcopall See was placed at Salisburg The second was Erimbert who governed the Church of Frislingen the third was Hunibald who was consecrated Bishop of Ratisbon the Metropolis of Bavaria And Winilus who before had been ordained Bishsp by the Pope of the whole countrey had the Church of Patary assigned to him 7. Having done this he wrote to the Pope giving him an account of all things and desiring his confirmation and ratification for perpetuity Therein imitating his Predecessours For so did Fugatius and Damianus in the Brittish Church so did S Patrick in Ireland and so did S. Augustin among the English-Saxons demand from the See Apostolick a confirmation of their Ordonnances 8. We have still extant the Popes answer hereto containing an approbation of what he had done Likewise an iniunction to asâ—semble a Synod of all Germany and in his place to preside over it And because the necessities of those Churches would not allow him repose in any one place he renewed his Apostolick Authority to erect Bishopricks wheresoever he should iudge expedient IX CHAP. 1. Cuthred succeeds King Ethelard in the Kingdom of the West-Saxons 2. Nothelm Arch-bishop of Canterbury dying Cuthbert succeeds 3.4 The Death of the Holy Bishop Saint Acca 5 6. c. The Martyrdom of Saint Iuthwara a Brittish Virgin of her Sister S Sidwella 10.11 c. The Gests of the Holy Virgin S. Fridâ—svida 17.18 Death of S Ethelburga Abbesse formerly Queen of the West-Saxons 19 The Death of Saint Arnulf a Hermite 1. IN the year of our Lords Incarnation seaven hundred and forty Cuthred began his raign over the West-Saxons whose Predecessour Ethelard by some called his Brother by others his kinsman dyed the year before This King saith Huntingdon was much afflicted by the proud King of the Mercians Ethelbald who sometimes made open war against him and sometimes raised sedition in his countrey In all which Fortune shewed her self very various between them sometimes the one and some times the other gaining advantage And now and then being weary they would make peace which seldom lasted any considerable time the one or the other presently renewing the warr 2. The same year there was exalted to the Archiepiscopall See of Canterbury being vacant by the death of Nothelm Cuthbert who four years before had been consecrated Bishop of Hereford He was descended from an illustrious Saxon family and as Nobly he administred his Office He was no sooner established in his Seat but Aldulf Bishop of Rochester dying he consecrated his Successour in that See a Preist called Dun. 3. At this time the Holy Bishop Acca formerly a great freind to S. Beda and encouâ—ager in his studies and Writing ended his â—ite of whom mention hath been severall times made before A breif relation of his Gests we will here adioyn from Miraeus who recites his name among the Saints on the last day of November though in our Martyrologe his commemoration be on the nineteenth of February Concerning him Miraeus thus writes Acca a Bishop is named the third among the Apostolick Preists which under the conâ—uct of S. Willebrord departed out of England and arrived at Vtrecht in the year of our Lord six hundred and ninety to procure the consecrat on of S. Swibert he was there detained and not long after ordained Bishop of Hagustald not Lindesfarn as Miraeus mistaking writes 4. How Saint-like his life was Almighty God shewd by many miracles after his death as Hoveden testifies saying The same year Acca Bishop of Venerable memory was received into the happy region of the living after he had administred the Church of Hagustald twenty four years His body was buried with great honour in the Eastern part of that Church And above three hundred years after his death by occasion of a Revelation made to a certain Preâ—st his Sacred Relicks were translated and putt into a shrine Where to this day he is held in great veneration And for a demonstration of his Sanctity his â—hasuble Albe and Maniple which had been buried with his Sacred Body to this day doe not only preserve their colour but primitive firmnes likewise 5. In our Martyrologe on the three and twentieth of December this year is commemorated the Martyrdom of a devout Brittish Virgin called Iuthwara The Circumstances of her death and Martyrdom and a breif abridgment of her life we find in Capgrave The Holy Virgin S. Iuthwara saith the Authour there was born of Noble parents and from her childhood being prevented by a plentifull Grace of Gods holy Spiriâ— she was diligent to serve our Lord in all good works She living in her Fathers house after the death of her Mother with all innocence became amiable to all and made a progresse in vertues as she did in years Whensoever any Pilgrims came to her Fathers house as frequently they did she with great
chearfullnes of devotion and humility attended and ministâ—ed to them She had a Brother called Bana and three devout Sisters S. Eadwara Saint Wilgitha and Sidwella all which imitated her piety and vertue 6. Not long after S. Iuthwara's Mother was dead her Father took a second Wife a woman for her extraction Noble enough but of a most malicious disposition for her soule by the Devills instinct was full of the gall of bitternes especially against this devout Virgin for the destruction of whom she employd continually the thoughts of her poysonnous heart in contriving snares and mischeivous treachery And for the executing thereof she intended to make Bana a robustious man but fitt for any villany her instrument 7. It was the Holy Virgin 's constant practise in all Vigils of Saints to be present at Divine Service and to spend whole nights in Prayer But thither she never went alone but in the company of other Virgins She was likewise very assiduous in Watching and Fasting and other Mortifications subduing carnall desires With these austerities and greif for her Fathers death she became extremely feeble and pale This occasion by the Devills suggestion her malicious Mother in Law took to execute her rancour against her For which purpose dissembling her bloody intent under a shew of Motherly affection and care she began to speak kindly to her and solicitously to enquire the causes of her palenesse S. Iuthwara suspecting no ill imputed it to the losse of her dear Father the greif for which had caused great pain in her breast The Malicious woman having heard this spoke comfortably to her and promised her to find out some remedy And presently after she brought her two small peices of Fresh cheese still dropping with whey which she bad her to lay upon each breast before she went to Church assuring her that this would take away all her pain The simple Virgin suspecting no harm did accordingly Then the cruell stepdame went to the Virgins Brother Bana and told him that his Sister was with child and for a proof thereof advised him to open her breasts and taking away the linnen cloath which covers them he should see them all were with milk dropping from them The young man foolishly beleiving her meets his Sister as she was coming out of Church and before all the people asked her Who had gott her with child The poor Virgin astonished at such a Question protested she was not with child Whereupon he presently opened her breasts and finding the linnen all moyst in a rage he drew out his sword and cutt off her head 8. Immediatly after this the Holy Virgin with her own hands took up the head and to the astonishment of all caried it back steadily into the Church And moreover for a further proof of the Holy Virgins Sanctity Almighty God caused a fountain to burst forth out of the place where the head fell and over the fountain as miraculously a Tree began to grow 9. Thus writes the Authour of her Life adding many other Miracles as testimonies of her Sanctity The memory of this Holy Virgin as likewise of her Sister Sidwella is much renowned in some Western parts of England and certain Chappell 's have been erected to their Honour in Devonshire Our Martyrologe stiles them Brittish Virgins adding that the Martyrdom of S. Iuthwara hapned in some part of South-wales Which is very probable because none of our Ancient Historians treating of Saxon affaires have mentioned any of these Sisters 10. Wee will adioyn to her another admirable Virgin who was without all question of English blood and whose glorious Memory is celebrated both at home and abroad Now though her actions and death can not by any certain signs be consigned to determinate years yet since our Writers generally agree that they belonged to the times of the Raign of Cuthred King of the West-Saxons our Martyrologe likewise declares that she flourished about this year seaven hundred forty it seems expedient here to assemble such particulâ—r passages touching her life and death as are found dispersed in our severall Authours William of Malmsbury Mathew Paris and Capgrave 11. The Holy Virgin concerning whom wee are now to treat is the famous S. Fridesâ—ida the ornament and Patronesse of the most illustrious Citty and Vniversity of Oxford Her Fathers name was Didan a person of Noble quality and her Mothers Safrida Both which for their happines in the birth and pious education of such a daughter have deserved to be kept in the memory of posterity Almighty God was pleased even from her infancy to shew that he chose her for his own so great a sence of piety he inspired into her soule in her most tender years For saith the Authour of her life even then she had an aversion from all delicacies in so much as she usually lay upon the hard pavement and not this rest would she afford her self till she could no longer resist sleep so that a great part of the night she spent in prayer upon her knees or prostrate on the ground Her ordinary dyet was barley-bread with a few hearbes and roots and her drink only water Hence it was that her Parents perceiving that all her thoughts were directed to God freely gave her leave to consecrate her self entirely to him in a Religious Profession And by her example twelve other Virgins of Noble families forsook the world to attend only upon our Lord. 12. By the Munificence therefore of the King she built a Monastery into which entring with her companions she passed the greatest part of her time in Prayer and Fasting And this particular task of Devotion she imposed on her self to recite a certain number of Prayers to God upon her knees a hundred times each day and as many in the night 13. But what soule can perfectly aspire to goodnes without incurring the envy of him who is unchangeably evill And when his envy is once raised all his pernicious subtilties will be employed to destroy or diminish at least the good which he envyes Saint Frideswida enclosed in a Monastery may seem secure from all attempts prejudiciall to her purity Yet even there the Devill found a way to endanger her Before she had consecrated herself to God there was a certain Prince deeply wounded by her beauty not knowing that he was prevented by another celestiall Rivall He used all the Arts and flatteries of a Lover to win the devour Virgins affections But in vain Her spirituall espousalls made his hoped-for Mariage impossible and the desire of it Sacrilegious But what will not carnall Love inflamed with rage attempt Since flatteries could not prevayle when she lived free in the world he will not fear to use force now she is confined to her Enclosure This when the Holy Virgin saw she concluded there could not be any other security for her but in flight Hereupon she privately stole alone out of the Monastery and endeavoured to secure her self in a wood neighbouring
thereto But the peircing eyes of a Lover discovered her flight pursued her thither Which she perceiving by secret pathes through our Lords guidance she escaped to Oxford whither she arrived very late in the dark night But thither also did lust and rage conduct the furious Lover who early in the morning entred the Town Then the Holy Virgin whose strength was wholly spent utterly despaired of all succour from Creatures and therefore having recourse to Gods omnipotence only she with rears begged of him a defence to her self and punishment to the Ravisher This she did at the instant when the Young Prince whose Name was Alard or Algar was entring the gate of the Town attended by many servants She had no sooner sent up his Prayer to heaven but by a Divine hand the lustfull young man was struck with blindnes Which visible iudgment opened the eyes of his mind and made him clearly perceive how hatefull to God his obstinate attempt was Whereupon by Messengers directed to the Virginâ—e â—e condemned his own foâ—ly and with great submission begged pardon promising an eternall banishment of all such desires out of his mind This his repentance procured compassion â—rom the Holy Virgin by whose â—enewd Prayers his blindnes was as quickly cured as â—t had been inflicted This Miracle recorded by all our Historians was so notable to all and so unquestioned for many Aâ—es that as William of Malmsbury observes the Princes of this Island had a scrupulous fear to enter into that gate of the Citty which Algar found so fatall to himself 14 In thankfullnes to God for this deliverance the pious Virgin erected another Monastery where assembling other chast companions of the same Institut and devotion she â—pent the remainder of her life in purity and divine Contemplation And after her death her immaculate Body reposing there became the principall Ornament of the Citty For though long before this in the time of the Brittains Oxford had been a Seat of the Muses yet wee doe not find that the English Saxons as yet had restored it to that dignity 15. Hence it is that Camden a diligent surveyer of ancient Monuments thus writes Our Ancestours the Brittains with great prudence consecrated this Citty of Oxford to the Muses which from Greklade they translated hither as to a more happy and fruitfull Seminary But the following ages under the Saxons being much employed in destroying of Citties this place was not exempted from the common lott So that for a long time it was celebrated for nothing but the Relicks of S. Frideswâ—de who was numbred among the Saints because a certain Prince called Algar violently attempting her chastity after she had by solemn vowes consecrated it to God was miraculously struck with blindnes 16 The Memory of her Sanctity is celebrated in our Martyroloâ—e on the niâ—eteenth of October And as for her Monastery a first inhabited by Religious Virgins it was in after times possessed by Seculars Canons from them it came to Regulars as shall be shewd in due time 17. This year aâ—so dyed S. Ethelburga formerly Queen of the West-Saxons who had so zealously and prudently incited her Husband King Ina to relinquish the perishing glory and pleasures of this world that he might without interruption attend only to eternal and Spirituall happines After his departure to Rome she retired her self into that famous Monastery of Barking where she professed a Religious life and after some time was elected Abbesse in which Office having with great Sanctity spent severall years she happily dyed and is numbred in our Martyrologe among the Saints on the ninth of Iuly William of Malmsbury writing of her and King Ina her husband says that they were both united in mutuall charity during their Lives and after their deaths both dignified by God with Divine Miracles 18. This is a different S. Ethelburga from her who was first Abbesse of the same Monastery of â—arking who was daughter of Anna King of the East Saxons and Sister to Saint Erâ—oâ— Wald Bishop of London She had for her Successour in the Office of Abbâ—sse 〈◊〉 S. Hildelitha to whom S. Aldelm dedicated his Book of Virginity And after her the third Abbesse of the same Monastery was this Saint Ethelburga Queen of the West-Saxons Insomuch as that Monastery well deserved 〈◊〉 Title given it by one of our Historians who stiles it a well known Sacred Repository of many Saints 19. Wee will conclude the occurrents of this year with breifly recording the Memory of a certain devout Hermite called S. Aâ—nuâ—f who as a Memoriall of his Sanctity has 〈◊〉 his name to a Town in Huntingdonshire whâ—â—e he piously lived and happily dyed â—is called Arnulfsbury or more contractedly Eynsbâ—ry near a place dedicated to S. Neoâ— There this devout Hermite having served God many years with great fidelity and fervour after he had filled the whole Province with the odour of his vertues this same year blessedly dyed as wee read in our Martyrologe where his Name is recorded among the Saints oâ— the two and twentieth of August X. CHAP. 1. 2. c. The Letters of Pope Zachrias to S. Boniface with severall Ordonnances 1 IN the year of Grace seaâ—en hundred forty one Pope Gregory third of that name dyed to whom succeeded Pope Zachrias Which being come to the knowlâ—dge of S. Boniface in Germany he presently wrote an Epistle to him by one oâ— his Preistâ— called Denechard to testify his obedience give him an account of his proceed in S. AmoÌ„g which he inform'd him that he had newly erecteâ— three Bishopricks in Germany The Episcopall Seat oâ— one was a Town called Wirtzburg of another Buriburg and of the third Erfsfurt or as some write Eychstedt so called from the abundance of Oakes growing near These Episcopall Sees he desires may be confirmed and established by the Pope And severall other Points he added in which he humbly desired the said Popes Order and resolution As will appear by the Answer returned to him the following year 2. Another Letter likewise he sent by the same Preist to a certain Prefect whose Territory lay in his way to Rome desiring him that he would grant the same security and afford the same assistance to this his Messenger that he had formerly done to others The said Prefects name is Regibert 3. As touching the three Episcopall Sees by him newly erected he does not name the Bishops ordaind in them But by the Subscriptions to a Synod the next year wee may collect that they were those three Preists which in the year of our Lord seaven hundred twenty five he had called to his assistance out of Brittany namely Burchard Witta and Willebald Burchard was consecrated by him Bishop of Wirtzburg Herbipolis Witta who likewise from Whitenes for so the German name signifies is by some named Albuinus had his See at Buriburg an ancient Town near Fritzlare or Paderborn And Willebald who came out of
no bounds to their rapin and crâ—â—lty to Ecclesiasticks and Monks depriving them of their subsistence and bringing them into servitude They therefore earnestly beâ—ought him to consider that among all the Saxon Kings since the Conveâ—sion of that Island not any had been guilty â—f such Sacrilegious cruelty and unbounded lusts except only two Osred King of the Northumbers and Ceolred his predecessour in the Kingdom of the Mercianâ— And how horrible their deaths were he could not be ignorant particularly of this latter whom the Devill visibly hurried away to hell in the midst of his iollity and banquetting 5. Therefore with humble and Fatherly prayers they besought him not to despise their counsell but freely and speedily to amend those greivous offences against God considering how short this present life is how momentany the delectation of the filthy flesh and how ignominious it is for a Prince after a short life to leave behind him a perpetuall example of sin to posterity c. 6. This Letter being written they did not send immediatly to King Ethelbald but prudently considering that reproofs or counsels which arrive unseasonably to persons of high estate seldom produce any good effects but rather harden them the more Therefore they inclosed it in another directed to a certain Prest named Heresfrid to whom the King would more willinâ—ly hearken then any other and who likewise out of fear to God would not fear boldly to admonish the King Him therefore they desired to present it to King Ethelbald when he saw a fitting opportunity 7. At the same time likewise Saint Boniface wrote another Epistle to Egbert the learned Arch-bishop of York in which he acquainted him that having received command from the Apostolick See that in what Nation soever he saw or understood that errours were sowed among the people oâ— the Ecclesiasticall Rules depraved by ill practises and customes that he with the Popes own authority should endeavour to invite and reduce into the right any Transgressours who soever they were In obedience to which command he together with eight other Bishops of the English Nation assembled in a Synod at Mentz had sent an humble admonitory Letter to Ethelbald King of the Mercians which they had given order should be first sheweâ— to him that he might correct in it any thing which he did not approve and add thereto what in prudence he should think meet Withall desiring him that if in his Province of the Northumbers any such poysonnous root of wickednes was springing he should speedily pluck it up He requested him likewise to senâ— him some Treatises of Beda who of late brightly shone with divine Light and Grace in that Province Telling him also that among other small presents he had sent him the Copies of certain Epistles of Saint Gregory which he beleived had never before â—ome into Brittany and if he pleased would afterwards send him more Because he had at his being at Rome copied out of the Popes Archives a multitude of such Writings Beâ—sides all this he with much seriousnes entreats him that he would be his Counsellour and helper in inquiring and finding out the Ecclesiasticall Rules of the Iudgments of God c. 8 What was the successe of the foresaid Letter of Saint Boniface to King Ethelbald it is not known saith Baronius But not any Historian hath declared that by these admonitions he any thâ—ng amended his life However certain it is that two years after this he should have said twelve he ended his life very unhappily For thus wee read in the Epitome of the English History In the year of our Redeemer seaven hundred fifty seaven Edilbald King of the Mercians was by night miserably murdred by his Guards Thus writes Baronius Notwithstanding though none of our Historians expressly mention the amendment of this King yet wee shall shew probable grounds of it byâ— declaring his ioyning with Cuthbert Arch-bishop of Canterbury in restoring the priviledges of the Church and Ecclesiasticall Discipline c. and we may reasonably iudge that this Epistlâ— had a great influence into such a good change XVIII CHAP. 1.2 c. S. Boniface by the Donation of Caroleman builds the famous Monastery of Falda in Germany 4.5.6 Successions of Bishops in England c. 1. SAint Boniface having established for himself and his successours a fixed Metropolitan See at Mentz in Germany was desirous to find for himself a place of quiet retirement in which he might unbend his mind and recollect it from Pastorall solicitudes and conversation whensoever his affairs would permitt For which purpose a certain Seat in the Solitude of Buâ—honia near the River Fulda seemd to him very convenient and agreable that there interrupting a while the tumultuous businesses of Martha he mâ—ght at fitt seasons embrace the best part and employment of Mary to sit at our Lords feeâ— and in quiet contemplation attend to what our Lord would say unto his soule 2. But because a Seat to agreable belonged to the right iurisdiction of others he was compelled to have recourse to Caroloman by Petition to have that place charitably bestowed on him Which petition of his was not in vain For as Baronius from the Authour of S. Boniface his Life declares Caroloman having read this Petition was much pleased with it and having called together all his Nobles he made known to them the Holy Bishops request and with their consent in their presence he made a surâ—endry of the place to him saying Whatsoever therein belongs to mee from this hower I transferr it to God insomuch as all the land which on all sides lyes about it for the space of three miles is to be assigned to his service Having made this Assignment he sent Messengers to all the Nobles in the Territory of Grapheld earnestly desiring them that whosoever had any interest in any part of the land situated within the foresaid limits they would freely bestow it upon God to be the Seat of a Monastery which S. Boniface had a desire to build This Request of the Prince being made known to those Noble men they unanimously and with all devotion gave up all their right to God to S. Boniface and the Venerable Abbot Sturmis And to the end the said Assignment and Delivery might remain firm to posterity Caroloman who was the principall Beâ—efactour commanded a Charter to be made in good form to which he putt his Seale 3. Thus in the year of our Lords Incarnation seaven hundred forty six the famous Monastery of Fulda saith Miraeus by the free donation of Caroloman and Pipin Princes and sons of Duke Charles Martel was erected or at least the foundations of it were layd In which assoon as it was perfected Sturmius having congregated a certain number of Monks was constituted Abbot This Noble Monastery prooved in after times a source of innumerable blessings to the whole countrey of Germany 4. The same year in Brittany Inguald Bishop of London
dying there succeeded him Egwolf known only by his name to posterity and by his subscription to a Synod the year following assembled by Cuthbert Arch-bishop of Canterbury 5 In the Kingdom likewise of the East-Angles both the Bishopricks of Dumwich and Helmham being vacant by the deaths of Cuthwin and Ethelfrid there was substituted in their rooms one only Bishop to administer both the Sees His name was Herdulf who subscribed likewise to the same synod as Bishop of Dumwich and Helmham Yet true it is that this does not agree with the order of Bishops of those Sees found in William of Malmsbury who assigns two Bishops succeeding at this time in the foresaid Sees namely Lamfert and Albrith But concerning these two we shall treat and of their succession many years after this 6 At this time also the Kingdom of the East-Saxons was deprived of their King Selâ—ed by a violent death after he had raigned twenty eight years All that wee can find concerning it is this short account given by Henry of Huntingdon King Selâ—ed saith he this year was taken out of this Life for ancient Writers affirm that he was slain at this time but how or by whom he was slain they say nothing at all XIX CHAP. 1.2 c. A third Synod at Clovesho in Kent for reforming abuses and the Decrees of it 1. THE year of Grace seaven hundred forty seaven brought much good and spirituall proffit to the English-Saxon Churches in Brittany by the happy reformation of Ecclesiasticall Disciplin made in a famous Synod a third time assembled at Clovesho by Cuthbert Arch-bishop of Canterbury Which place seated in Kent is at this time called Cliffe by reason of a high mountain or cliffe anciently named Clivas and a smâ—ll territory interiacent between the Rivers Thames and Medway called 〈◊〉 from which two names arose the word Clivetho or Clovesho 2. The cause of assembling this Synod was the miserable decay of piety and Order through the whole Kingdom suggested to Arch-bishop Cuâ—hbert by Saint Boniface in an Epistle sent him five years before as hath been declared For rectifyng which disorders the Arch-bishop seriously treated with Ethelbald King of the Mercians to whom the Kings of Kent were subiect and tributary desiring that himself would assist in Reformation of the Church by a Synod to which he would please to afford his own presence This being obtained the Synod was called in which twelve Bishop were present all of them contained within the Province of Canterbury for of the other Province of York not one appeard And besides them King Ethelbald with his Princes and Nobles was assistant 3. The Acts and Decrees of this Synod have out of a very ancient Manuscript in Saxon letters been faithfully extracted by Sir H Spelman In the Preface where of is expressed the generall design and motive of the present Meeting to have been that with good advice order might be taken for restoring Vnity in the Church concord among one another and Reformation of the State of Religion After which Cuthbert Arch-bishop of Canterbury presiding in it caused to be read two Writings of Pope Zacharias translated into English in which were contained Prescriptions for reforming abuses regarding persons of all degrees and conditions with terrible denunciations against the disobedient The reading of which caused great thoughtfullnes in the minds of the Bishops who began mutually to exhort one another by rectifying of their own lives to afford good example to the rest of the Clergy and Seculars of the kingdome and that they should sett before their eyes the Homilies of the Holy Pope S. Gregory and Canonicall Decrees of the Fathers as a fitt Rule by which they might reform themselves 4. Then followd severall speciall Canons one and thirty in number written in an abstruse stile which argues the Antiquity of them The Reader may at large peruse them in Sir H. Spelmans first volume of our ancient Saxons Councils It will suffise in this place breifly to sett down the sence of each in order as followeth 5. It was ordaind therefore 1. That Bishops should be carefull to shew themselves by the sanctity of their lives good examples to others and to exercise their Pastoral Offices according to the Canons of the Church 2. That they should preserve the Vnity of Peace among one another 3. That every year they should visit their Dioces 4. That they should take care that Abbots and Abbesses govern their Monasteries Regularly 5. That since at this time Monasteries by the avarice and Tyranny of Great men were miserably oppressed and depraved yet Bishops should at least take care that the poor Monks should not want the Ministery of a Preist for the necessity of their soules 6. That no Monks should be exalted to Preisthood till after due tryall of their vertue and capacity 7. That Bishops take order that in Monasteries there should be Schooles for the trayning up the young Religious in the love of Sacred knowledge to the end they might become afterwards proffitable to the Church 8. That Preists should always be mindfull of their Office and vocation to attend to the Altar in celebrating Masses to Reading Prayer c. 9. That they should be diligent in preaching and baptizing according to the lawfull Rites of the Church 10. That they should be studious to understand aright the Creed Pater noster and the Holy Mysterious words in the celebration of Masse and that they should interpret them to the people and explain them in the English tongue 11. That they should all agree in the manner and order of baptizing Teaching c. 12. That they should sing in the Church with modesty and if they were unskillfull they should content themselves with reading 13. That they should celebrate the Office of the Church uniformly and in like manner solemnize the Feasts of the Church 14. That our Lords day should be celebrated by all and that the people should be obliged to repaire to Church c. 15. That seaven Canonicall Howers should be observed uniformly both in Churches and Monasteries 16 That Litanies and Râ—gations should be performed by all the people uniformly according to the Rite of the Roman Church on the seaventeenth before the Calends of May and three dayes before our Lords Ascension with celebration of Masses and Fasting till three in the after noon without admixing vanities playes running of horses feast c. 17 That the Feasts of S. Gregory Pope and of S. Augustin sent by him the Apostle of the Kingdom should be solemnly celebrated 18 That the Times of Fasting in the fourth sea venth and tenth month according to the Roman Rite be neglected by none and that the people be admonished before those times come 19. That Religious men and woemen observe their Regular Instituts modestly and abstain from vanity in apparrell 20. That Bishops take care that Monasteries especially oâ— women be places of silence and devotion and that the entrance into them of
invâ—cation of the Blessed Trinity yea without any baptism at all a man might becom a good Catholick Christian only by the imposition of the hands of a Bishop 7. Now to prevent any further contagion by such guilefull seditious Ministers the Pope advised S. Boniface to collâ—ct a Synod and there not only depose them but likewise shutt them up in Monasteries there to doe Pennance to the end of their lives For which purpose he should require the assistance of the Noble Dukes and Potentats of France And particularly as touching that naughty Scottish Preist Nequissimum virum Sampson he required him not to content himself with only deposing him but that he should also excommunicate and expell him out of the Church XXI CHAP. 1.2 A Noble Charter confirming the Priviledges of the Church by Ethelbald King of the Mercians 3.4 c. A famous Miracle in Germany by the Intercessiâ—n of S. Swibert 1. IN the year of Grace seaven hundred forty nine Ethelbald King of the Mercians touched with a remorse for his Sins made worthy satisfaction to the Church for his formeâ— Sacriledges by publishing a Noble Charter to confirm its immunity Which Charter may be read in Sir H. Spelman thus inscribed by him The Priviledge of Ethelbald King of the Mercians granted to Monasteries and Churches In which being mindfull of the reprehension given him by S. Boniface in an Epistle fore mentioned and repenting his former Life he made all the Monasteries and Churches of his kingdom free from all taxes labours burdens gifts c. And at the end of it is signified that the said Charter was signed by severall Bishops and Noblemen in the three and thirtieth year of the said Kings raign at a famous place called Godmundsleech Which place is at this day called Godmunchester and it is seated in the Province of the Icens or Huntingdon shire 2 At the same time dyed Ethelwold King of the East-Angles called by some Elfwald by others Ethelred to whom succeeded his his son Ethelbert or as some Writers name him Albert who was born to him by his QueeÌ„ Leosruna Concerning whose admirable vertues Sanctity wee shall treat at large when wee come to his Mariage and death or more truly his Martyrdom immediatly attending it 3. Here wee ought not to omitt an illustrious testimony which God was pleased this year in Germany to give to the Sanctity of our glorious Saint and Apostle of the Germans Saint Swibert It is faithfully related in an Epistle sent by Saint Ludger Bishop of Munster to Rixfrid Bishop of Maestricht in which Epistle a large description is made of the affairs of the Authours own timâ— touching the Apostasy of the Frisons But that which concerns the glory of Sâ— Swibert is there thus related 4. It hapned in the year of our Lord seaven hundred forty nine that the illustrious Prince Pipin after a glorious Victory obtained against the Saxons and Westphalians hastned his return to Colen with his wearied Army But the Westphalians though utterly routed by the triumphant sword of this Noble Prince had such indignation to be under the dominion of Christians that without delay they gathered a new powerfull Army and marching by paths unhaunted and more compendious they gott before the Princes army near to the town of Werda where they cunningly layd ambuscades with a resolution furiously to rush upon him in his march 5. When this came to the Knowledge of Pipin by the relation of his Scouts he was some thing troubled by reason his Army was much diminished and had in it many wounded unserviceable men Notwithstanding calling to mind the many great Miracles which by the intercession of Saint Swibert whose body lay there at Werda had been performed and having a firm confidence in God he lighted from his horse and prostrating himself on the ground he with great devotion implored the help and Patronage of that most holy Bishop withall vowing to God and Saint Swibert that if by his intercession and merits he might obtain a Victory over the Pagans and bring his Christian Army safe home he would in a solemn Procession attended by all his Nobles with great devotion make a Pilgrimage to his shrine at Werda 6. This Prayer was no sooner made but immediatly a wonderfull light shone over the Christian Army which not only dazeled but quite blinded the Pagans insomuch as in a terrible fright least the God of the Christians should from heaven consume them they dispatched away to Prince Pipin two of their cheifest Princes to beg peace and make profession of subiection to him Who withall constantly related to him what they had seen and how much they were amazed at it 7. Assoon as the Prince heard this being assured that so great a delivery came by the intercession of S. Swibert with great ioy he adored and gave thanks to God and having received from the Pagans hostages for performance of conditions he attended by his whole army entred in an humble manner into Werda and there both himself and his Nobles putting off their shooes he visited the Shrine of S. Swibert and there offred Royall Gifts to Almighty God and S. Swibert for that without any effusion of blood he had gott the upper hand of his perfidious enemies And from that time he chose S. Swibert for his speciall Patron and Protectour Niether did his piety rest there but a few years after this he treated solemnly with the Pope for his Canonization XXII CHAP. 1.2 c. Of. S. Richard an English King the Father of S. Winebald c. He dyes at Lucca 5. The death of S. Tecla an English woman and Abbâ—sse in Germany 8. Of S. German an English Missioner in Germany and Martyr 1. THE year of Grace seaven hundred and fiâ—ty is consigned by severall Writers to the death of an English King called Richard memorable to posterity for his Sanctity A breif of whose life is represented in an Epitaph to this day extant in a Church of the Citty of Lucca in Italy where he dyed and was enterred the tenour whereof is as followeth 2. The sister of King Offo was Mother to S. Richard This King S. Richard was King of England a voluntary exile from his countrey a despiser of the world a contemner of himself He was Father to the two holy Brethren S. Willebald and S. Winibald and of their Sister S. Walburgis a Religious Virgin He made an exchange of an earthly kingdom for an heavenly He quitted a Kings Crown for a life-eternall He putt off his Royall Purple to take a mean habit he forsook a Royall throne and visited the shrines of the Saints He layd by his Scepter and took a Pilgrims staffe He left his daughter S. Walburga in his kingdom and went into a forrain countrey with his Sons Them also he left with S. Boniface the glorious Martyr theâ— Arch-bishop of Mentz a man of wonderfull sanctity and born in his own kingdom England Thâ— same
to destroy them in her husbands absence and so as that it might not come to the notice of any Presently therefore by the Devills suggestion she found two fitt Ministers of her cruelty who for a certain reward promised to satisfy her At this time it hapned on a certain night that Saint Kilian being not perfectly awaked fâ—om sleep there appeard to him a certain man in glorious apparell who said Freind Kilian arise thy labours are almost at an end there remains onely one conflict more and then thou thalt come home to mee with victory Having said this he presently vanished out of his sight And the Holy Bishop arising called to him his two companions knowing this to have been a divine Visitation and said to them My Brethren Now let us watch for our Lord is at hand to knock at our dore Let us take heed he find us not unprepared At midnight therefore as they were devoutly busy in prayer the two bloody executiones entred the room Whom assoon as the Holy Bishop saw he said to them Freinds Wherefore come you hither Doe you execute what you are commanded and we will finish our course Assoon as this was said they were all three murdred and buried in the same place likewise into the same grave were cast their Books and Vestments that no sign of their death might appear but it should be thought that they were travelled to some other place The abominable Duchesse likewise made a Stable be built over the place where the Sacred Bodies had been buried to prevent any sign of what had been done 8. Shortly after the Duke returning went to the house where he had left the Holy men and not finding them he enquired diligently whither they were gone the Dutches told him that they being at liberty without any restraint were gone whither they thought good With this answer the Duke was satisfied and enquired no further But not long after one of the Murderers was suddenly possessed by the Devill and cryed out with a loud voyce O Kilian thou pursuest mee terribly I am consumed with fire I see over my head a sword dropping with thy blood Thus roaring out and tearing his own flesh with his teeth he from a temporall torment was carried to torments everlasting The other likewise becoming raging-mad cast himself on his own sword and so in despair dyed At last the execrable Duchesse seeing these things was seised on and terribly tormented by Devills and with all her power cryed out I am iustly tormented for it was I who sent Murderers to destroy the Holy men O Kilian thou pursuest mee terribly O Koloman thou burnst mee O Totnan thou addest fewell to the fire Thus raging and blaspheming she was so horribly vexed that the force of many men could scarce hold her and in the end after intolerable torments she went to the place of endlesse inconceivable torments 9. After these things were past the generall report is that the Duke Gozbert was murdred by his own servants and his Son deprived of the Dukedom yea and all his kinred and freinds so persecuted by the inhabitants of the countrey that they were scarce permitted to live in it But the cause of all these disorders is not known whether it was for their constancy in the true Faith or some other Motive 10. The Martyrdom of these holy Saints hapned in the year of Grace six hundred eighty nine three years after they returned from Rome And their name is celebrated among Gods Saints on the eighth of Iuly Their Bodies were discovered to a certain man called Atalongus by his young schollars who by a Divine impulse cryed out that three Holy men were buried in such a place For which Atalongus reprehending them was strook with blindnes and miraculously recovered his sight when the â—acred Bodies were taken up From his relation Saint Boniface was informed of these things who therefore caused them to be honourably removed to another place And in respect to them procured the Town of Wirtzburg to be erected into an Episcopall See XXVI CHAP. 1.2 Cuthred the West Saxon King frees himself from subjection to the Mercian 6. Prince Caroloman becomes a Monk and his Brother Pipin crowned King of France in the room of Childeric who is deposed 1. AT this time began the decadence of the Mercian Kingdom and the advancement of that of the West-Saxons Before this year the Mercian was both in largenes of dominion riches and power incomparably surmounting any other in Brittany insomuch as except the Northumbers all the other States even that of the West-Saxons were tributary to him But God whose Providence had ordained that the whole English-Saxon Nation in Brittany should be reduced into one Monarchy under the West-Saxon race inspired courage into Cuthred King of the West-Saxons and a resolution by arms to â—ree hiâ—â—elf from dependance on the Mercian Crown Whereupon having composed all matters at home and received into Grace the valiant Captain Edilhun he assembled all the forces of his Kingdom against Ethelbald who mett him with an equall Army at a place called Beorsord probably the same which his now called Bursord in Shropshire where the preference between them was determined Henry of Huntingdom beyond any other of our Historians relates most exactly the circumstances of this war in this manner 2. Cuthred King of the West-Saxons in the thirteenth year of his raign not being able longer to support the imperious exactions and insolencies of the Mercian King Ethelbald raised an Army and boldly mett him in the feild at Beorford chusing much rather to expose himself to death then to suffer his liberty to be any longer restrained He brought with him the valiant Captain Edilhun whom he had lately received into grace on whose courage and prudence he did so much rely that he the more confidently undertook this warr On the other side Ethelbald who stiled himself King of Kings came into the feild attended wâ—â—h a potent army composed besides his own Mercians of Kentish-men East-Saxons and East-Angles 3. Both these armies being ranged in Order and marching directly towards one another when they were almost ready to meet the Courageous Edilhum who went in the front of the West-Saxons carying the Kings Ensign which was a golden Dragon struck the Enemies Standard bearer through the body upon which the West-Saxons gave a great showt and received great encouragement Then the Armies mett and the battell began with incredible fury and a thundring noise of clashing of arms resounding of strokes and crying out of wounded men trampied under feet Each part fought the more eagerly because they were assured that the Victory would for ever make either the Mercians or West-Saxons Masters of the other One might see there two Armies which a little before had dazeled the sight with the shining of their Armour and which looked like two forestâ— by reason of innumerable spears erected presently after all defild and obscured with dust and blood
dissipated and torn asunder and their beautifull Ensigns so rent and defiled that they could scarce be known to their own party On each side those who were most daring and courageous kept close to their Standards and most furiously rushed upon one another doing horrible execution with their swords and battell-axes Neither of them had any thought of yeilding yea each party assured themselves of Victory 4. But wheresoever the Valiant Edilhun made an impression ruine accompanied him on all sides his battle-axe like a thunderbolt clove asunder both bodies and arms And on the other side wheresoever the courageous Mercian King Ethelbald rushed in he made a horrible slaughter for to his irresistible sword arms were as thinn cloaths and bones as soft flesh Whilst therefore these two warriers like devouring flames wasted their enemies on all sides it hapned that they both mett one another Each of them then gnashing his teeth with rage against his opposite stretched forth their arms and with all their strength struck-terrible blows at one another with little advantage for awhile on either side But God who resists the proud and from whom alone strength courage and magnanimity proceeds then putt an end to his favour formerly shewd to King Ethelbald deprived his soule of his usuall confidence Therefore perceiving that his customed forces and valour faild him a terrour from heaven assaild his mind so that he was the first in his army who began the flight Neither from that day to the last moment of his life did God afford him a prosperous successe in any of his undertakings 5. Thus describes the foresaid Authour this terrible decisive battell and for a conclusion adds That from that time the Kingdom of the West-Saxons became very potent and so continually prospered till it brought all the rest into subiection to it But this was not till the beginning of the following Century when King Egbert became Monark of the whole Kingdom charging its Name into England Thus passed matters in Brittany 6. And at the same time a far greater change was made in France For the worthy Prince Caroloman having the year before quitted his Principality and out of a strange fervour of Divine Love retired himself into the Monastery of Saint Benedict at Mount Cassin there to serve God the remainder of his Life in poverty and solitude the Nobility of France contemning their effeminat King Childeric with one consent determined to raise Prince Pipin in whose onely hand the whole power and management of the State remained into the Throne And to give a greater authority to the Change they thought good to consult Pope Zacharias to whom they represented the impotency and vicious effeminacy of their King and the admirable courage prudence and all Royall endowments of Pipin withall the necessity in which that Kingdom stood of an able supporter against the Saracens and other terrible enemies which threatned the destruction of it Hereupon the Pope gave his sentence according to their desires and appointed S. Boniface to annoint and sett the Crown on the Head of Pipin which he accordingly performed in the Citty of Soissons As for Childeric who was the last of the Merovingian race after his deposition he was thrust into a Monastery XXVII CHAP. 1. The Brittains invade the West-Saxons and are repelled 2.3 c. King Cuthred dying Sigebert a Tyrant succeeds and raigns but one year 1. THE year next following the terrible battell between the Mercians and West-Saxons in Brittany the Brittains thinking this a fitt season for them to enlarge their Dominion when the West-Saxons though conquerours had much diminished their forces to gett a bloody victory with a great Army made an impression into the Western parts But their successe was not according to their expectation for as Huntingdon relates Cuthred in the fourteenth year of his raign fought against the Brittains who not being able to resist him who had lately conquered King Ethelbald presently began to fly and for their folly and cowardice deservedly suffred a great slaughter without any dommage done to the West-Saxons 2. This was the last exploit of this Noble King for as the same Historian writes the great and renowned King Cuthred after so great prosperities and victories the next year by the cruelty of death was taken out of this world leaving a successour unworthy to fill his Throne This his Successour was his kinsman Sigebert who held the Crown a very short time For swelling with pride because of his Predecessours victories he became insolent and intolerable to his own subiects whom he treated ill all manner of ways and for his particular proffit depraved all his Lawes Hereupon a principall man among his Nobles called Cumbra was enduced by the generall complaints of the people to intimate their greivances to their New King Which he faithfully performed earnestly beseeching him to make his government easier to his subiects and quitting his former inhumanity to shew himself amiable both to God and men But these exhortations were so far from producing a good effect that he commanded Cumbra should cruelly and uniustly be putt to death yea and encreased the insupportable fiercenes of his Tyranny 3. This behaviour of his did so inflame with rage the minds of the West-Saxons that within the space of one year they deprived him both of his kingdom and life The manner whereof the same Writer thus proceeds to declare Sigebert being incorrigible both in his pride and other vices the Nobility and common people assembling themselves together with prudent deliberation and unanimous consent drove him out of his Kingdom and chose for their King an excellent young man of the Royall family called Kinewolf As for Sigebert after he was thus expelled by his Subiects and fearing yet greater punishment for his former demerits he in great fear hidd himself in a vast forest called Andreadswald where a certain Swineheard of Cumbra who had been so unworthily slain by him finding him he revenged on him the uniust death of his Lord. Thus ended his unhappy life King Sigebert a man saith William of Malmsbury horribly cruell to his subiects and contemptibly cowardly to his Neighbours 4. Yet among the vices and impieties of Sigebert one good action of his is recorded which was his charitable liberality to the ancient Monastery of Glastonbury For in an Appendix to the life of Saint Patrick and in the Antiquities of the same Monastery wee read how the Danes at this time cruelly wasting the Northumbers a certain Abbot called Ticca who lived in those parts fled the countrey and coming among the West-Saxons there he retired himself into the Monastery of Glastonbury Where after he had for some time lived with much edification he was chosen Abbot this year A powerfull mean whereby he gaind the love and favour of the Monks was his enriching that place with many precious Relicks which he brought with him out of the Northern parts as the Sacred Bodies of Saint
Adrian Bishop Saint Ceolfrid Saint Benedict Biscop Saint Efterwin and Saint Sigfrid Abbots of Wiremouth and Girwy of Saint Beda Preist of Saint Ebba Saint Bega and Saint Hilda Abbesses of Saint Boisil and Saint Idan Brother to Saint Fursey of Saint Vltan Bishop and Oyle from the Tombe of Saint Nicholas some Relicks likewise of S. German Bishop of Auxerre 5. To this Abbot Ticca or Tictan and to the Monks of Glastenbury did King Sigebert for the valew of fifty peices of Gold bestow two and twenty Hydes of land in Pohelf The Same Abbot likewise at the fame price bought of this King six hydes of land remaining there in the Western part XXVIII CHAP. 1.2 c. Saint Boniface preparing his iourney to the Frisons become Apostates resigns his Arch bishoprick of Mentz to S. Lullus c. 1. NOthing illustrated this present year so much as the last labours and blessed Martyrdom of S. Boniface Thirty years had he now spent in cultivating our Lords vineyard employing all his strength and vigour both of mind and body in so laborious a work He had often petitioned the See Apostolick in vain to allow him in his old age to appoint a Successour in his See of Mentz that he might enioy a quiet repose in his Monastery of Fulda But of late hearing that the barbarous Nation of the Frisons had renounced the Christian Faith which had been so diligently taught them by S. Willibrord and his Disciples the zeale of Gods house did so burn in his heart that instead of seeking repose he resolved to renew his former labours and to expose himself to the extremest dangers among those ingratefull Frisons whilst he endeavoured to rebuild Gods Church there demolished 2. But before he would execute this New purpose he iudged necessary to provide for the Security and quietnes both of his Church of Mentz and Monastery of Fulda For the former he wrote a Letter to Pope Steven signifying to him his intention of endeavouring to replant the Faith among the Frisons and least by his absence his Church of Mentz should be deprived of a head and directour he begged his permission that he might resign it to his faithfull companion and assistant in his labours Lul or Lullo a man both for his learning piety and prudence most eminent among his Disciples 3. It seems it was the Divine Will that this Apostolick Bishop should conclude his life in the laborious exercise of his Charge For though his hitherto so ofteÌ„ renewd requests for this favour would never be granted him when the motive thereto was a quiet retirement Now assoon as he demanded it to the end he might more freely engage himself in new travells and dangers the Pope easily granted his request Whereupon he immediatly consecrated Lul Arch-bishop of Mentz whom also he enioyned to be diligent and faithfull in preaching to the people and doing all other Offices belonging to his charge of so many soules He required him likewise to finish the building of the Church which he had begun at Fulda and there to bury his body wheresoever it was Gods will he should dye Moreover to provide all things necessary for his iourney and particularly that in a chest of his Books he should enclose a Sheet to enwrapp his body after his death For by many tokens he signified that his death was approaching the apprehension whereof did not at all discourage him notwithstanding from this his dangerous iourney 4. Now this Lul say the Centuriators of Magdeburg was by nation an Englishman of a Citty called Maldubia brought up in learning and piety by the holy Abbot Eata and had for his Sirname Irtel as appears by an Epistle of Hereca to him He was one of the twelve Monks which Egbert Arch-bishop of York sent into the countrey of the Frisons From whence Saint Boniface as soon as he was delegated into Germany called him Who made no delay to attend him He planted severall Churches in Hassia Thuringia and Erford and instituted in Regular Discipline Monks in the Monastery of Fulda Notwithstanding in this Narration there is a mistake for Saint Lullo was not sent by Egbert but called out of England with many other devout Preists by Saint Boniface in the year of Grace seaven hundred twenty five as hath been declared 5. Now Saint Boniface having thus ordained Lullo by the consent of Pope Steven as likewise of King Pipin and the Nobility of the countrey he further wrote a Letter to a certain Preist called Fulrad who was Chaplain to King Pipin and had great power with him Him he earnestly desired to obtain from the King his Protection of this his Son and now fellow-Bishop as likewise of all the people committed to his charge that after his death they might not by the rage of confining Pagans be dispersed and loose the Faith they had embraced 6. In the next place for the security of his beloved Monastery of Fulda he had recourse to King Pipin for his protection of it that the Secular power might be ioynd to the Ecclesiasticall which he had formerly obtain'd of the See Apostolick And accordingly the devout King gave him a lage Charter ratifying all the Immunities and Priviledges which the Pope had formerly granted to the said Monastery A Copy of which Charter is still extant among the Epistles of Saint Boniface In which likewise the said King confirmed for ever the possession of all the lands with which his Brother Caroloman had endowd it 7. Such preparation being made S. Boniface was ready with an undaunted courage inspired by the Grace of Gods holy Spirit to begin his iourney when one obstacle more presented it self a removall whereof he was forced to begg of Pope Steven in a Letter which is the last that ever he wrote That Obstacle was a pretention which the Bishop of Colen made to the Church of Vâ—recht the principall See of the Countrey of the Frisons as belonging to his Province and consequently that S. Boniface had no right to enter into it In opposition hereto S. Boniface informed the Pope that though indeed anciently King Dagobert had bestowd the Castle of Vtrecht with a Church there demolished on the Bishoprick of Colen yet it was with a condition annexed that he should undertake the charge of preaching and converting the Nation of the Frisons which he had never done but that people remained Pagan till the coming of S. Willebrord and his companions sent thither and ordained Bishop by his Predecessour Pope Sergius who built there an Episcopall Church consecrating it to the honour of our Saviour And after his death Prince Caroloman had recommended the same See to himself desiring him to take it into his care and constitute a Bishop therin as he thought fitt Therefore he concluded that the said See did of no right belong to the Bishop of Colen but was immediatly subiect to the See Apostolick In conclusion he besought the Pope that search might be
I. CHAPTER 1.2 An Anniversary Commemoration of the Martyrdom of S. Boniface c. ordained by a Synod in England 3.4 c. Letters out of Brittany to Saint Lullus Successour of S. Boniface 1. A Year was scarce passed after the Martyrdom of Saint Boniface and his devout Companions when the English-Saxon Church in Brittany by a common Decree ordained an Anniversary Commemoration of them For assoon as Cuthbert Arch-bishop of Canterbury heard of their said Martyrdom he assembled a Synod of the Bishops and Abbots of his Province in whose Names he wrote a Synodicall Letter to Lullus the Successour of S. Boniface in the Archiepiscopall See of Mentz which to this day remains among the Epistles of E. Boniface 2. In which Epistle he acquaints him 1. With their sincere affection to him and his fellow-bishops in those barbarous new-converted Regions how ioyfull they all were of their prosperity and how great a part they took in any calamity befalling them 2. He adds that it was a great subject of ioy to them that their Nation of Brittany should have the Happines to send forth so many illustrious Preachers and Apostles endued with such Spirituall courage as not to fear to encounter with Nations so feirce in their superstition and with such spirituall Wisedom and knowledge as to perswade and induce them to forsake their ancient Idolatry 3. He tells him that in this their General Synod they had unanimously decreed to celebrate with an annuall Feast the fifth day of Iune in commemoration of the glorious Martyrdom of Saint Boniface and his companions whom they chose together with Saint Gregory and Saint Augustin as their speciall Patron and Intercessour with our Lord. 4. He desires that the same Charity and propinquity may continue between both their Churches which was begun in the life time of S. Boniface and that mutuall Prayers and celebration of Masses on both sides may dayly be made for one another both living and dead 5. He admonishes him that whereas in many places of late the State of Religion began to shake by the rising of New-Sects whilst unconstant and sensuall men deserting and contemning the Decrees of Ancient Fathers and Ecclesiasticall Laws invent and according to their own inventions publish new Doctrines prejudiciall to soules therefore he and his Churches together with them ought to begg the intercessions of the Holy Apostles and Martyrs of Christ that he would give them grace to continue constant in the Orthodox Faith and Vnity of the Church A good pattern and example of which constancy ought to be the late Famous Doctour and Martyr of our Lord S. Boniface who willingly suffred all incommodities and dangers for the Faith and who being now admitted as an houshold servant into the presence of God as he will be a powerfull Defender of those who follow his example so on the contrary he will be a terrible accuser before the Supreme Iudge of all such as shall forsake that Rule and Communion with the Roman and Apostolick Church which he allways followed â— Other Letters likewise out of Brittany were written â—t this time to the same Holy Archbishop Lullus one from his kinsman Kineara Bishop of Winchester who two years before this succeeded in the place of Humfrid In which he desires him that the same Communion of Prayers and charitable Offices may continue between then which had intervened between Saint Boniface and S. Daniel and Humfrid his Predecessours A second from Milret Bishop of Worcester signifying how a little before he had passed over into Germany to enioy the conversation oâ— S. Boniface and presently after his return heard the news of his deâ—th for which though at first he waâ— sad yet the consideration of the great glory which he now enioyes and what a glorious Patron and Pillar to all of his countrey he is now becom his sorrow was quickly turned into ioy and thanks giving He further exhorts him that the same mutuall Charity which S. Boniface had conciliated between them may still continue and that he would afford him his instructions and Prayers promising all Obedience to his commands c. II. CHAP. 1.2 c. The unhappy death of Ethelbald King of the Mercians and severall iudgments touching his future State 5 6. Beornred his murderer succeeds and is expelled by Offa. 1. THE same year Ethelbald King of the Mercians after a raign of forty one years with great vicissitude of fortune was taken out of the world by a violent death Huntingdon writes that Ethelbald fighting a second time against the West-Saxons at Secundune a wonderfull slaughter was made of his Army and he disdaining to flye was slain Another Historian sayes that though he fled he could not avoyd being slain Now this place of the Battell then called Secundun is seated in the borders of Staffordshire and Warwickshire about three miles from Tamworth and is now called Serkington Notwithstanding the Authour of the Epitome at the end of S. Beda's History affirms that he was by treachery miserably slain in the night time by his own guards So that it is probable this misfortune hapned to him after his flight from the said battell 2. Being thus unhappily slain his Body was buried at Repandun in the County of Darby Which Town saith Camden wee now call Reptoâ— which in ancient time was very ample and renowned but now is straitned to a small village It was formerly famous as having been the buriall-place of Ethelbald the good King of the Mercians who by the treachery of his own servants was slain And Ingulfus adds that there was then at Ripedune a most famous Monastery where this Kings body was buried But what became of his soule the iudgments of God are uncertain to us 3. The iudgments of men likewise concerning him are uncertain Huntingdon iudges hopelesly of his future state For after he had related the sad but iust death of the Tyrant Sigebert he ioyns him thus with Ethelbald Behold saith he the manifest iudgment of God Behold how our Lords justice retributes worthy punishments to mans demerits not only in the world to come but even in this life also For setting up wicked Kings for the punishment of their subjects one he suffers to rage a long time for their longer vexation and that such a King becoming by so long a continuance in wickednes more depraved he may in Hell be more sharply tormented as the forementioned King Ethelbold Another he quickly exterminates c. 4. Yet other Writers passe a more favourable iudgment of his state Camden calls him a good King and certain it is that he shewed great signs of Repentance Hence William of Malmsbury after he had produced S. Boniface his sharp letter to him addes Neither could the Letters of so great a Saint want effect which with so much circumspection and zeale he sent to him as became the duty of an Apostolick Legat and his Charity to his countreymen
5. There succeeded in his place Beornred who yet by others is not reckoned among the Mercian Kings because he impiously slew King Ethelbald and uninstly usurped his place from which he was cast by his worthy Successour King Offa. This is breifly thus related by Hoveden In the year of Grace seaven hundred fifty seaven a civill warr was raised in the Kingdom of the Mercians between the usurping Tyrant Beornred and Offa. But coming to a battell Beornred was compelled to fly and Offa by this victory became King 6. Beornred being thus deposed could find no security among the Mercians who all hated him both high and low He seems therefore to have fled into the Kingdom of the Northumbers For twelve years after this wee find him acting the last exploit of his cruelty in that countrey which was the burning of the Citty called Cataract now Catteridge But himself scaped not punishment long for the same year he through the iust iudgment of God perished likewise by fire Thus writes Mathew of Westminster III. CHAP. i 2. Pope Paul's Letter to Egbert King of the Northumbers 3 4 King Egbert becomes a Monk 1. THE same year Pope Steven dying there succeeded in his place Paul first of that name From whom wee find an Epistle not yet published directed to the two Northumbrian Brethren Egbert or Eadbert King of that countrey and Egbert Bishop of York In which he signifies to them how a certain Abbot called Fordred was lately come from thence to Rome where he made his coÌ„plaint to him that whereas a certain Abbessâ— had bestowed three Monasteries upon him the names of which were Staning Frago or Cuchawald and Donemade the said King had violently taken them from him and bestowed them on his Brother the Prince Mol. In case this complaint was true he desired the King to consider how great a crime and how dangerous to his soule it was to invade places dedicated to the service of God taking them from him who was ready to perform that service and bestowing them on another who was wholly immersed in worldly cares 2. What successe this Epistle had it does not appear Onely this is certain that at this time the Kingdom of the Northumbers was full of disquiets The year before this the King with the help of the Picts had taken from the Northern Brittains or Cumbrians the Strong Castle of Dunbritton as he had a little before from the Scotts the Territory of Coyle or Kiâ—e by which means probably his treasure being exhausted he was forced to reward his Brother Mollo's services out of Church revenews However it is not to be doubted but that a King so pious as Egbert was would not resist the Fatherly admonitions of so worthy a Pope 3. An irrefragable proof that he would not persist in such injustice was this that presently after he heroically contemned all worldly glory to serve God in solitude and devotion Which is thus related by Huntingdon with whom generally all other Historiâ—ns agree In the third year of the raign of Kernulf King of the West-Saxons saith he Eadbert King of the Northumbers seeing the unhappy lives and miserable deaths of the two Kings Ethelbald and Sigebert and with them comparing the landabâ—e life and glorious death of his Predecessour Ceolâ—olf he wisely chose the better part which shall never be taken from him For relinquishing his Kingdom which he resigned to his son Osulâ— and receiving a Monasticall Tonsure which would procure for him an eternall Crown cloathing himself likewise with dark simple rayment for which he should afterward receive vestments â—hining with a heavenly splendour he retired into a Monastery This now is the eighth of those Saxon Kings who for the Love of Christ quitted or to speak more truly for the hope of an infinitly more glorious celestiall Kingdom willingly exchanged an earthly throne And no doubt the eight Beatitudes shall be their rewarâ—s which are promised to voluntary Poverty Now the Tonsure which he received is by the Authour of the Epitome of S. Beda's History called the Tonsure of S. Peter from whence some would inferr that he did not become a Monk but a secular Clark But besides that all our Historians almost affirm expressly that he lived afterward and happily dyed in a Monasticall Profession That phrase of the Tonsure of S. Peter signifies that it was not the Scottish but Roman Tonsure which he received and which then was common both to the Seâ—â—lar Clergy and Religious persons also Yet withall that in his Monastery he was adopted to an Eâ—clesiasticall State and order is testified by Hâ—veden 4. Ten years this good King lived in his solitude and poverty after which he received the reâ—ompence of his Piety His memory remained in benediction with posterity and his Name is in our Martyrologe commemorated among the Saints on the eleaventh day of Iune Wee read in the Authour of S. Cuthberts life in Capgrave that there was a great freindship between this good King thâ— famous French King Pipin who likewise sent many Royall presents to him IV. CHAP. 1.2 Of S. Agatha a devout English Abbesse in Germany â— 4 c The Gâ—sts of the Holy Virgin Saint Lioba an Abbesse also there 14 Blasphemies of the Lutheran Centuriators 15.16 c Of Saint Tetta an English Abbesse of Winburn Mistresse of S. Lioba 1. THE same year two Holy Virgins Disciples of S. Boniface happily followed him to Heaven These were S. Agathe and S. Lioba both of them educated in the Monastery of Winburn and both esteemed fitt to be invited out of Brittany to establish Monasticall Discipline and piety in Germany where they were likewise both of them constituted Abbesses of the same Monastery successively 2. The name indeed of S. Agatha is not found among those who at S. Boniface's invitation went into Germany in the year seaven hundred twenty five so that it seems she was sent afterward Little is spoken of her in ancient Writers but only that she was Abbesse of the Monastery of Bischosheim after that S. Lioba had resigned that Office to undertake another nearer to Mentz It is a sufficient Proof of her piety that her Name is commemorated among the Saints on the twenty eighth of Iune 3. But the Name and Sanctity of S. Lioba was much better known in the Church Her Life was first written by Mogon a Monk of Fulda and afterwards better digested by Rodolphus another Monk there at the command of his Abbot Rabanus Maurus And out of him Haraeus thus compendiously recounts her Gests 4. At the time when the Venerable Abbesse Tetta Sister to King Ethelhard Kinsman and successour of Ina in the kingdom of the West-Saxons governed the Monastery of Religious Virgins at a place called Winburn in Dorcetshire there lived in the same Monastery a spirituall daughter of that devout Mother called Lioba Whose Gests my purpose is breifly here to relate 5. The parents of S. Lioba
from Saint Lullus upon some affairs 9. In the Kingdom of the Mercians Sees now vacant were Lichfeild by the death of Hemel Lindissa by the death of Eadulf and Leicester by the death of Totta To the first was substituted Cuthfrid to the second Ceolulf and to the third Edbert But wheras Mathew of Westminster affirms that he cannot find the names of the Citties where the said Bishops sate It cannot be denyed but that anciently those Episcopall Sees were moveable yet in this age by the munificence of Kings they seem to have been fixed As that of Lichfeild where many Bishops had already successively remained Likewise the See of Leicester was established But as for Lindissa the See was ordinarily at Dorchester a Town saith William of Malmsbury in the Country of Oxford small and unfrequented But the Majesty of the Churches either of old or lately built was great In that See after Hedhead there sate Ethelwin Edgar Kinebert Alwi Ealdulf and Celnulf Yet true it is that these Bishops sometimes sate at Sidnacester a place the memory of which has faild X. CHAP. 1.2 The unhappy death of Ethelwald Mol King of the Northumbers 3.4 c. Also of Egbert Arch bishop of York at which Alcuin was present 10. A strange Charter of King Kenulf to the Church of Welles 11. Severall Episcopall Sees vacant and supplied 1. IN the year of Grace seaven hundred sixty five Ethelwald sirnamed Mul King of the Northumbers dyed after he had raigned six years though William of Malmsbury assigns to him eleaven years Hoveden relates certain terrible apparitions in the aire which hapned in the beginning of this year presaging the unhappy death of this King who on the twenty seaventh of October was slain by the treachery of Alred at a place called Wircanheate 2. The condition of these Kings in this age was very sad few of them dyed naturall deaths This Ethelwald gott the Kingdom by the murder of Osulf and by the like means lost it And the same fate will attend his successour Alred 3. The year following gave an end to the worthy actions of Egbert Arch-bishop of York after he had nobly administred that See the space of one and thirty years A person he was descended of Royall progeny and imbued with divine knowledge Of whose vertues and memorable actions we have treated already Our Historians doe vary in the account of the years in which he continued Bishop the ground of which uncertainty is because it does not appear whether the time be to be reckoned from the resignation or death of his Predecessour Wilfrid the younger 4. There was present and assistant at his death his famous Disciple Alcuin whom a little before he had made Deacon and who having hitherto all his life composed all his actions by his rule and order was desirous to receive his commands and instructions at his death also for the future disposing of his actions Thus wee read in the Life of the said Alcuin prefixed before his Works and taken out of an ancient Manuscript belonging to the Church of Rhemes whence we will here extract the following passage S. Albinus or Alcuinus proceeding from one vertue to another was consecrated Deacon on the day of the Purification of our Blessed Lady for before on the same Feast he had received the Clericall Tonsure And perceiving that his Blessed Father Egberts infirmity encreasing shewed that his death was at hand having hitherto done all things by his counsell he was earnest to enquire of him what his pleasure was he should doe and how he should dispose of him self after that death should separate them 6. Hereto the Holy Bishop returned this Answer suggested to him as the event showd by a supernaturall direction of God I would have you said he first goe to Rome and in your return to visit France For I know that there you will produce much good Our Lord shall be the Guide of your journey and will bring you back in safety Be diligent in impugning the late abominable Heresy which endeavours to assert that Christ is only an adoptive Son of God and be a constant defender of the Mystery of the Holy Trinity this Doctrine cease not clearly and solidely to preach After he had spoken thus he gave him his fatherly Benediction commending him to our Lords safe protection and presently after he with chearfullnes departed to our Lord on the sixth day before the Ides of November 7. He was buried in the Porch of the Church of York and near to him was also layd the Body of his Brother King Egbert or Eadbert who exchanged his Royall Purple for a poore Monasticall habit and dyed two years after him 8. The Arch-bishop left behind him severall Monuments of his learning to enrich the Noble Library which he made at York Among which are reckoned A Book of Penitentiall Canons likewise Collections out of the Canon Law of the Church and others mention'd by Sir H. Spelman To those we may add A Dialogue of Ecclesiasticall Institution lately printed with an Epistle of S. Beda to him and other Treatises by the care of Sir Iames Ware 9. His successour in the Archiepiscopall See of York was Aldebert otherwise called Coena To whom by this latter name remains an Epistle from Saint Lullus Bishop of Mentz with his Answer to it The subiect whereof is only the renewing of Ancient Freindship sending of presents and entreating of Prayers for dead freinds 10. There is extant a Charter of Kenulf King of the West-Saxons by which he this year gave to the Church of Wells and Colledge formerly built there by King Ina certain Lands there adiacent the bounds whereof he setts down These possessions he gave for the love of God for the expiation of his siâ—s and for sâ—me vexation to his enemies of the Cornish Nation These are the words of the Charter What he meant by this last Motive I leave to the Reader to iudge 11. This year dyed Frithebert Bishop of Hagustaldt whose Successour was Alâ—mund a Prelat of great piety and prudence And shortly after Cuthwin Bishop of Dumwhich dying his place was supplied by Aldbert Like as upon the death of Ethelfrid Bishop of Helmham there was substituted Lansert I know not by what fate these two Episcopall Sees of the East-Angles for the most part loose and get new Bishops at the same time at least so we are informed by the Ecclesiasticall Chronicles of that Church And the following year Edbrith who is reckoned the ninth among the London Bishops after he had governed that Church eight years dying left it vacant to his Successour Eadgar XI CHAP. 1. 2. c. The beginning of the Raign of the Charlemagne c 4 Of two learned English Virgins 1. THE year of Grace seaven hundred sixty nine is notable through the whole Church for the beginning of the Raign of that most famous King and afterward Emperour Charles
sirnamed the Great Huntingdon and Hoveden doe thus write oâ— it In the said year which was the fifteenth of the Raign of Kenulf King of the West-Saxons began a great change of the right hand of the most High For then did Charles the Greaâ— King of France upon the death of his Father King Pipin begâ—n his raign to whom thirty years after the Roman Empire which had been glorious so many ages became subject and continues so to his Successours to these times 2. We declared before how a great league of freindship and Royall presents interven'd between the two late Kings Pipin and Egbert King of the Northumbers The like freindship and society did Alâ—ed now King of the Northumbers demand of Charles the glorious Successour of King Pipin This we collect from a Letter written by him and his Queen Ogâ—â—fu to S. Lullus Arch-bisop of Mentz In which he desires him to assist with his counsell and favour the Embassadours which he had sent to his Lord and Patron the most glorious King Carl that peace and freindship many be established between them 3. In the same Epistle likewise which is an answer to one sent him from S. Lullus in behalf of the disquietted Churches in his dominion the same King and Queen not only humbly begg the Holy Bishops prayers for themselves but likewise send him a Catalogue of the Names of their speciall kinred freindâ— lately dead of whom they desire him to be mindfull at the Holy Altar assuring him that the same Charity shall be extended to all his relations in their Churches Indeed we can scarce meet with any Epistleâ— written in theâ—e times but this is generally onâ— clause and part of the busines 4. About this time saith Harpsfeild there flourished in Brittany two Religious Virgins famous for their piety and learning calld Rictrudis and Gisla Disciples of the famously learned Alcuin who taught very many aâ— this time in Brittany He was not unmindfull of the advice given him by his Master Archbishop Egbert of going to Rome and thence returning into France But seeing how usefull and even necessary his abode was in Brittany he delayd the said iourney till a fitt opportunity was presented him as we shall declare And as touching the foresaid Illustrious Virgins we shall in due time mention the kind and learned Letters which passed between them and their Master when he lived in France XII CHAP. 1. Succession of Bishops 2. Of Pope Adrian to whom the King of the Northumbers sends Embassadours 5. The Church of S Boniface miraculously preserved from fire 6 7 c Offa King of the Mercians invades and subdues severall Principalities Fictions of Mathew Paris 1. IN the year of our Lords Incarnation seaven hundred seaventy one the two Bishops of the East-Angles luckily again dyâ— together and to Aldebert Bishop of Dumwich is substituted Eglafe to Lanfeâ—t Bishop Oâ— Helmham Athelwolf In the next following age these two Sees were united into one which first remaind at Helmham thence waâ— translated to Thetford and lastly to Norwich 2. The year following to Pope Steven succeeded the worthy and learned Pope Hadrian first of that name to whom Alfred King of the Northumbers sent an Embassadour to congratulate his assuÌ„ption and for other Ecclesiasticall affairs not recorded To this Embassadour Alcuin gave an Epistle direâ—ted to the same Pope full of humble respect to him and congratulation to the Church for enioying the happines of so worthy a Pastour The Embasadours name was Angilbert whom Alcuâ—â— calls his most beloved Son to wâ—om he câ—â—mitted certain requests to be presented by word of mouth 3. The same year Kenulf King of the West-Saxons added to his former liberality towards the Ancient Monastery of Glastonbury the Mannor of Compton This he gave to the Abbot thereof called Waldun who newly succeeded to Guban 4. Afterward the See of London being vacant by the death of Eadgar in his place succeeded Kenwalck Nothing remains of the Gefts of either Neither can any account be given more of the names of Cuthrid Bishop of Lichfeild who dyed at the same time to whom was substituted Bertâ—â—n Hoveden calls them by other names as likewise the Episcopall See too It is a difficulty not worth the penetrating 5. It will not be impertinent in this place to relate how miraculously God gave testimony to the Gests Doctrine Sanctity of S. Boniface of late happy memory by defending his Church of Fritzlar froÌ„ the fury of the Saxons They making an invasion into the confines of the French dominions besieged a certain Strong Castle called Barimburg During which siege they wasted with sword and â—â—e the countrey circumjacent Their principall rage was directed against the Church of Fritzlare built by S. Boniface and concerning which he had prophecied that it should never be consumed by fire Whilst the furious Pagans were exeâ—cising their utmost diligence to make this a false Prophecy and were heaping wood and casting firebrands to sett it on fire there appeard to severall Christians in the foresaid Castle and to some Pagans likewise two men in white shining raiments who protected the Church from fire so that by no diligence or pains taken within or without the Church could the Pagans effect their desire On the contrary a terrour from heaven seising on them they fled away none pursuing them When they were gone there was found one Saxon Soldier stark dead upon his knees with fire and wood in his hands bowing down in the posture of one blowing the fire with an intention to burn the said Church Thus did God shew his power and favour to his faithfull servant And though shortly after he permitted the Church of S. Swibert at Werda to be consumed by fire yet so terrible a punishment he inflicted on the Authours that it became evident that the said Blessed Bishop preached the true Orthodoxe Faith 6. In the year of Grace seaven hundred seaventy four Offa King of the Mercians a Prince of high Spirits began troubles which in successe of time endangerd the ruine of severall petty kingdoms of Brittany For having three years before this subdued the Nation of the Hestings in the Southern parts of the Island or Sussex he extended his ambition to add also the kingdom of Kent to his conquests And because Lambert or as some Copies write Lambert then Archbishop of Canterbury endeavoured to defeat his ambition he turned his indignatioÌ„ against that Church also the dignity and revenews of which â—e sought to diminish For he took from it severall Mannors as Cherring Seleberts Chert and severall others which were afterward restored 7. This wart between Offa and Alric is thus breifly described by Huntingdon In the twentieth year of Kenulf King of the West-Saxons saith he Offa King of the Mercians fought against the Kentish men at place called Ottanford where the slaughter was most horrible especially on the Kentish partâ— So that King
Offa by this victory became famous and terrible William of Malmsbury adds that Alric King of Kent by this unhappy battell against the Mercians did cast a great clowd upon the glory of his times 8. It is probable that by such great successe enlargement of power which this victory gave to Offa the other Saxon Kings might be so terrified as to seek assistance from abroad especially from Charles the illustrious King of the French But sureâ—y there is small truth in the relation made by Mathew Paris how not only Alric King of Kent was slain in this battell but that thereupon five Kings of Brittany should in a pompous manner writte a common letter to the said Charles in which calling themselves the most powerfull Kings of Brittany they demanded his aid and strict society giving him the Title of Imperiall Maiesty and that he in his Letter to King Offa should stile himself the most potent of all Kings These seem to be groundles fictions borrowd by that Authour from some such fabulous Writers as began to abound in this age However certain it is that King Charles had not the Title of Emperour given him till many years after this time 9. And as groundlesse is another Story of the same Authour how after the conquest of Kent the same King Offa subdued all the other Saxon Kings and particularly Alred King of the Northumbers whom he compelled to fly into Wales And that thereupon some hostility began between Offa the French King Charles who is sayd to have written to Offa a threatning Letter containing imperious demands and that King Offa should answer What have I doe with Charles the beyond-Sea King Iâ— he offer any iniury to mee I will in hostile manner invade him and endeavour to make him tributary to my Crown These are triviall inventions which the said Hâ—storian borrowd from some obscure Writer who straind his witt to sound forth in an immodest indiscreet manner the praises of King Offa. 10. As for that clause which regards Alred King of the Northumbers it is true that this year in Easter-week his subiects compelled him to fly out of York and afterward out of his Kingdom as Huntingdon relates And Hoveden more expressly declares that King Alred by the unanimous consent of the Northumbers was deprived of all power and priviledge of a King and that he changed the Majesty of a Prince into the miserable condition of a banished person First he fled into the Citty Bebban attended with a very small train and afterward he had recourse to Cynotha King of the Picts This misfortune therefore was not brought upon King Alred by Offa as the foregoing fabulous narration pretends Neither did he fly into Wales but into the Province of the Picts 11. Alred being thus compelled to forsake his kingdom there was chosen in his place Ethelred son to the late King Edilwald Mul. But neither did Ethelred sitt quiet any long time in his throne but by another faction of his Subjects was expelled and the same misfortune hapned to severall succeeding Princes there by a fatall giddines then possessing the minds of that Northern Nation 12. This same year Kenulf King of the West-Saxons extended his liberality to the Church of Shirborn upon which as Camden from his Charter declares he bestowed a possession of one Mansion seated on the Westside of the River Lym not far from the place where it enters the Sea This land he gave to the end that salt might there he made for the necessity and manifold use of the said Church XIII CHAP. 1. The Monastery of Bathe founded by King Offa 2. Succession of English Bishops 3 4 c. The happy death of S. Walburga Virgin and Abbesse 1. THE following year Offa King of the Mercians founded a Monastery at Bathe This Monastery being afterward burnt and utterly ruined by the Danes was restored by King Edgar being delighted with the magnificent situation af the place and because there he first received the Crown of his Kingdom 2. The same year Eadulf Bishop of Rochester dyed and was succeeded by Diora to whom a certain Noble man in Kent named Egbert gave so much land as ten ploughs could labour besides certain woods To Milred likewise Bishop of Worcester was substituted Weremund And to Efna Bishop of Hereford Ceolmund 3. In the year of Grace seaven hundred seaventy six the Blessed Virgin Walburga made a happy change of a mortall life for an immortall We have a ready shewed that she was daughter to Richard by right a King and Sister to S Wintbald and S. Willibald and that together with them she went into Germany to S. Boniface She was constituted Abbesse of a Monastery at Heydenham the same town where her Brother S. Winnebald governed a Monastery of Religious men There she lived with wonderfull Perfection both by her words and example teaching her spirituall children to live the life of Angells 4. Her Life was written by Wolfhard a devout Preist who lived in the next Century and who recounts many wonderfull Miracles wrought by her intercession to whom I refer the devout Reader But one ought not to be omitted since it is related by an Authour that writes what hapned to himself This is Philip Bishop of Eystadt who also wrote her Life He relates how her Sacred Body was first buried in her own Monasteay of Heydenham and afteâ—ward translated at least a great part of it to Eystadt and reposed in a Monastery consecrated to her Name There saith he to this day which was five hundred years and more after her death there flows from her chast Relicks a precious Oyle of soveraign and universall vertue to cure all manner of diseases The wonderfull vertue whereof I my self had experience of For being cast down by a vehement disease of proof against all Art of Physick or naturall remedies I commanded some of that Sacred Oyle to be brought to me which with earnest Prayers to God and begging her intercession I drunk Which was no sooner done but to the admiration of all I presently recover'd my perfect health 5. Her Sanctity was so famed that many Churches ambitiously sought and obtaind some portion of her Relicks Thus in the Gallican Martyrologe on the fourth of August we find a commemoration of the receiving the Relicks of S. Walburga Virgin Abbesse which with great honour were brought out of Germany to Furnes in Flanders by Baldwin sirnamed Ferreus Count of the same countrey And in the same place saith Haraeus there was built a Monastery of the Order of S. Benedict to her honour wherein since hath been placed a Colledge of Canons 6. Again in the Gallican Martyrologe on the second of May there is at Anâ—werp said to be an anniversary celebration of the memory of this Holy Virgin from whose tomb doth flow an oyely liquour which restores health to very many who desire her assistance and intercession
A particular reason why her veneration is great in that Citty is given by Miraeus Because saith he it is a constant Tradition of that Church that this same holy Virgin in her way from England into Germany made some abode in Antwerp And to this day there is seen in the most ancient Church of that Citty a certain Grott in which she was wont to pray for which reason the same Church formerly called the Castle Church was afterward by our Ancestours dignifyed with the Title of S Walburgis And indeed before the receiving of the Roman Office there the same Church was accustomed to celebrate the memory of S. Walburgis as their peculiar Patronesse four times every year but since that time they keep her Feast but once 7. It is very probable that this Holy Virgiâ— was entertained for some time at Antwerp by the Disciples of S. Willebrord as being of the same Countrey For it appears by the Testament of the same Holy Bishop that he possessed to his death the Church built in the Castle of Antwerp near the River Scald together with a third part of the custom or tribute belonging to it as we have before declared 8. The same Authour adds that in the forementioned vault of that Church there is preserved a part of S. Walburga's â—awbone which saith he in the year of Christ sixteen hundred and fifteen was visited and reverently kissed by the pious Archdukes Albert and Isabella XIV CHAP. 1.2 Succession of Bishops 3. The Northumbers rebellious 4.5 King Offa's victory over the West-Saxons 1. PEctwin the Bishop of Witern or Candida casa dying in the year of Christ seaven hundred seaventy seaven after he had administred the same See seaven years there was substituted in his place Ethelbert who twelve years after was translated to the See of Hagustald 2. The year following in the place of Ethelmod Bishop of Shirborn Denefrit was ordained in the same See Of these two Bishops saith B. Godwin besides their names I can find nothing in our Ecclesiasticall monuments 3. The Northumbers still persist in their seditious tumults For Ethelred whom they had five years before this placed in the throne out of which they had eiected Alred they now also drive into exile or as some write detain iâ— prison and in his place substitute Alfwold The principall movers of this sedition were two great Northuusbrian Dukes concerning whom Mathew or Westminster thus writes Ethelwald and Herebert saith he who were Dukes in the kingdom of the Northumbers rebelled against their King and at a place called Kings-clive they slew Ealdulf who was Generall of King Ethelreds army and a while after the same Dukes in a great battell slew two other Generalls of the same King Kenulf and Eggen As for King Ethelred he was forced to fly out of the Kingdom in whose place they constituted Alfwold King a Prince of great piety and iustice who raigned ten years After which time Ethelred was again restored 4. In the Western parts likewise there arose great commotions For anciently the West-Saxon kingdoÌ„ had extended as far as Oxfordshire Where among other strong places a Castle had been built at a place anciently called Bensigetun now Benson But Offa king of the Mercians unwilling any longer to suffer his neighbour Prince to enioy such an advantage to incommodate his countrey raised an Army and besieged the said Castle To raise this siege Kenulf King of the West-Saxons approached with other forces So that they came to a battell In which Kenulf was defeated and compelled to fly By which means King Offa took and possessed the Castle This was the only misfortune which hitherto had befalln Kenulf who was a Prince renowned both for his vertues and warlick exploits But after this continuall calamities oppressed him till his death which was also very unhappy 5. Kenulf after this defeat endeavoured by the assistance of the Brittainâ— to repair his losses But Offa to prevent the entercourse between the West-Saxons and Brittains caused a mighty trench for the space of ninety miles between the Rivers Dee Deva and Wey Vaga to be made which though it was the occasion of many contentions yet in them all Offa had the advantage XV. CHAP. 1.2 c. Miraculous Iudgments of God against the Pagan blasphemers of Saint Swibert and Sacrilegious destroyers of his Church and Monastery at Werda 9.10 c The Writer of that Narration is Saint Ludger whose Holines together with the Doctrine of the Veneration of Saints is asserted 1. WHilst these troubles afflicted Brittany Almighty God in Germany fought for the defence of the Faith planted there by the English-Saxons miraculously punishing the Sacriledge committed by the Saxons and Westphalian Pagans against the Monastery or Werda built by his servant S. Swibert as we find written in an Epistle of S. Ludger Bishop of Munster written to Rixfrid Bishop of Vtrecht 2. Whilst the glorious King of the French Charles sirnamed the Great was fighting in the Southern parts of France against the Saracens then raigning in Spain the feirce and perfidious Saxons and Westphalians iudging this to be a fitt time to revenge themselves of the losses which they had formerly suffred from the Christians raised a mighty army with which they wasted all the countreys as far as the Rhene expressing their raâ—e principally against the Churches of God and sparing neither sexe nor age With this fury they came to Werda where was the Church of S. Swibert There they utterly destroyed and burnt to the ground both the Town and Church all the inhabitants and Preists they killed which had not escaped by flight and all the Sacred Books and ornaments they burnt Only the Sacred Body of S. Swibert was preserved from their fury though with all possible diligence they made search for it Yea many of those Saxons who were Christians had a desire to expresse their hatred against this Holy Bishop because many years before this by his intercession the French had gaind a memorable victory against them 3. In this detestable Army there was not any one so execrable in his malice and cruelty as a certain Officer called Ogell Osterbach of Paderborn This man was the principall instrument of the Devill in all mischeifs committed in which he took excessive pleasure And particularly he it was who with great labour and diligence heaped wood for burning the said Church which with much adoe at last by Gods permission he performed 4. After he had among many other abominable actions executed this being at dinner with his companions in a meadow adioyning to the same place he with great ioy and triumph recited to them what he had done particularly insulting upon S. Swibert the Protectour of the French and blaspheming God But behold in the middst of his laughter and ioy the heavy wrath of God came upon him so that he fell backward before them all upon the plain ground and broke his neck by this horrible
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
the servant of God S. Sturmis and to give order that he should come to his presence Being then brought to the Palace and severall days expecting when he should be called to the Kings presence It hapned one morning early that the King intending that day to hunt went according to his custom to prayers into his Chappell where the Holy man after the Mattin office still remained Who seing the King presently took a light which he caried before the King till he came to the Altar where after he had prayed he said to the Holy Abbot God ha's once more brought us together What was that which your Monks accused you of and which moved my displeasure against you I have quite forgotten it The Holy man answerd Though I have oft ofâ—fended God yet I am free of all offence against your Maiesty The King replied However the matter stands If you have imagined or done any thing to my preiudice God forgive you as I likewise 〈◊〉 In saying which words he drew out of his garment a thread of silk which he threw on the ground saying Let this be a token that I have cast away all displeasure against you And presently after knowing how much his return was desired he sent him back honourably confirming the Priviledge given by the Pope by which that Monastery was exempted from the Iurisdiction of Lullus Arch-bishop of Mentz The report of his return being divulged he was solemnly mett by all the Religious Monks in those quarters who with singing of Psalms and great ioy attended him to his Monastery 12 The Blessed Abbot then employed his whole time in correcting all disorders in his Monastery in adorning the Church and repairing the decayd buildings about it And particularly to the end all occasions of going abroad might according the S. Benedicts Rule be taken away he took care that all necessary Manufactures should be exercised within the Convent and for a generall commodity he caused trenches to be made by which he conveyd water within the Monastery to the inestimable benefitt of his Religious He also made a sumptuous Shrine for the Sacred Body of S. Boniface enriched with gold and silver which remains to this day And so great favour and familiarity he had with King Pipin that he obtained of him a Mannor called Omunstat belonging to the Crown with all â—hat depended on it 13 The like favour he enioyed with King Charles after his Father King Pipins death who oft sent for him and bestowd another Mannâ—r on the said Monastery called Hamelenburg In consideration of which Prayers are said to this day by the Monks for him After this the said Most Christian King began to think seriously how to induce the barbarous Nation of the Saxons to embrace the Faith of Christ Which design he recommended to the prayers of all Gods servants Then gathering a great Army and taking with him many Ecclesiasticall persons he partly by terrour and partly by their preaching and exhortations withdrew a great part of that Nation hitherto captived by the Devill from Idolatry and caused them to submitt themselves to the easy yoke of Christ. After which he divided the countrey into Parishes appointing Preists to preach baptize among them 14. Notwithstanding after the King was departed with his army most of the Saxons renouncing Christianity returned to their old Idolatries and not content with that they raised forces killing all Christians among them and wasting the whole countrey as far as the River Rhene When they came neer to Fulda the Holy Abbot knowing that they had sent a band of soldiers to burn the Monastery and to kill all they found in it gave notice to his brethren of the danger Whereupon they all taking the holy Martyrs body with them went towards Hamelenburg But the Holy Abbot went to a place call'd Weisereth endeavouring to gather soldiers to represse the cruelty of the barbarous Saxons Which was also effected And when the Saxons were compelled to retire home the Monks returned with the Holy Martyrs body to Fulda 15. After this King Charles brought a second time his Army against the Saxons and commanded the Holy Abbot Sturmis with his Monks to remain in a strong town called Heresbury And after the warr which was prosperously ended by the King he seÌ„t him being sick to his Monastery atteÌ„ded by his own â—hysicion called Winter who mistaking his disease applied Physick to him which instead of qualifying much encreased it Whereupon the man of God perceiving that death approached commanded all his Monks to be assembled whom he earnestly exhorted to persevere in the same Regular observance which he had instituted among them And then recommending himself to their prayers he begged pardon of every one who thought himself any way iniurd by him and professed that he cordially forgave all his persecutours particularly the Arch-bishop Lullus who had always been his adversary Then he took leave of them all and presently after his sicknes coming to extremity we who assisted him besought him with tears that he would be mindfull of us and pray for us in heaven He suddenly turning himself toward us sayd Make your selves worthy that my Prayers may doe you good and I will not faile to doe what you desire After this his pious Soule was delivered out of the prison of the Body and being plentifully enriched with all divine vertues and graces departed to our Lord to live forever in his heavenly kingdom Amen 16. Thus writes the Devout Abbot Aegila successour and Disciple of this blessed man who was an eye witnes of many things here related He was canonized by Innocent the second in a Councill of Lateran celebrated in the year eleaven hundred thirty nine His Memory is celebrated on the sixteenth of December XVII CHAP. i. 2 c The Gests and happy death of Saint willebald an English Apostolick Bishop in Germany 1. THE year following another Disciple Companion of S. Boniface in his Apostolick Office received the reward of his labours This was S. Willibald Son of King Richard and Bonna who is said to have been sister to S. Boniface and Brother to S. Winnebald and Saint Walburga His Life remains written by a kinswoman of his a Religious Virgin who lived in his Sister Walburga's Monastery at Heidenham in Germany The summ whereof is this 2. When he was but three years old a certain greivous infirmity seised on him by which all his members were so contracted benummed that he became as in a sort dead so that his parents almost despaired of his recovery Where with being greivously afflicted they took him and offred him to our Lord to whose service they designed him in case he would please to restore him his health Now it was a custom among the Saxons that instead of Oratories they would erect in the feilds or near their houses Crosses of stone or wood to which they would repaire for performing their devotions Before such a Crosse they layd
the infant vowing him to Gods service Which they had no sooner done but his health was immediatly restor'd to him 3. Two years after therefore they being mindfull of their Vow delivered him to a venerable person named Theodoret who according to their order presented him to a devout Abbot named Egbald who governed a Monastery called Waltheim He with the advice and consent of his brethren received him as a Member of their Religious Congregation where he was bred up in all modesty piety and humility and withall according to his capacity was instructed in all Sacred learning 4. When he was arrived at a mature age he by earnest prayers obtaind permission to accompany his Father and Brother in a pilgrimage of devotion which they undertook to Rome In their return their Father S. Richard dyed at the Citty of Lucca where also he was buried with great honour as hath been else where declared After whose death an earnest desire took him to prolong his pilgrimage as far as the Holy land there to visit and perform his devotions in all the places where the principall Mysteries of our Salvation were wrought And accordingly being accompanied by two devout persons only he returned back and taking ship at Câ—â—eta they sailed to Cyprus and from thence into Syria where arriving at a Citty called Emesa he with his coÌ„panions who were now seaven was taken prisoner and in danger to loose his life upon a suspicion that they were Spies Being thus made captives God disposed the heart of a certain old man who was a Saraâ—en to pitty them insomuch as he oft visited them and â—ent them dayly sufficient nourishment in their prison Not long after a Spanish merchant who had a Brother a servant of the Prince of that Ciâ—cy in great favour with him by his intercession obtaind the freedom of these Captives 5. From thence therefore they went into the Holy Land which they passed quite through scarce omitting any place that was memorable or recorded in Holy Scripture A particular account of all their proceedings with â—he names of each place in order may be read in the History of the said Religious Virgin who professes that she received the relation from S. Willibalds own mouth 6. When they were come to Gaza S. Willibald being present at Masse solemnly sung to the honour of S. Mathias the Apostle lost his sight and for the space of two months continued blind whereupon he returned to Ierusalem entring into the Church where the Holy Crosse was found his sight was again restored to him After this passing through severall citties and places of devotion they took ship again return'd into Italy arriving at Naples From whence S. Willebald with one companion travelled to the famous Monastery of S. Benedict calld Mount Cassin where they found very few Monks under the government of their Abbot called Petronax a man of great mildnes prudence There S. Willibald made his abode the space of ten years during which he was some times appointed Sacristan of the Church afterwards a Dean and lastly the Porter 7. In this place having perfectly instructed himself in all duties belonging to Regular Observance at last with permission of his Abbot he returned to Rome where he was with great kindnes received by Pope Gregory the third who took great delight in hearing him recount the marvellons variety of accidents which befell him in his long voyages And awhile after the said Pope told him that his kinsman S. Boniface had earnestly requested him to command him to quitt the Monastery of Mount Cassin and to send him into Germany to assist him there in preaching the Gospâ—ll To which command S. Willibald humbly submitted and accordingly leaving behind him his companion in the Monastery be began his voyage into Germany and at last arrived at a place called Linthruth where he found S. Boniface who not long after sent him to a place calld Eystat Which place had been given to S. Boniface by a devout person called Suitgar who accompanied S. Willebald thiâ—her The Region thereabout was in a manner wast scarce any house to be seen but a small Church dedicated to our Lady Now after these two devout persons hâ—d chosen a place convenient to be the Seat of a Monastery they went to S. Boniface to give him notice thereof who returned thither with them and there ordaind S. Willibald a Preist A year after this S. Boniface called him into Thuringia whither being come he went to Heidenheim where his Brother was Abbot of a Monastery by whom he was with very great ioy received after so many years of separation To the same place shortly after S. Boniface came with two other Bishops S. Burchard and S. Wizo By whom S. Willibald was consecrated also Bishop and sent back to Eystat which Saint Boniface bestow'd on him to be an Episcopall See giving it the preeminence next to the Metropolis of Mentz 8. There he built a Monastery instituting the Monks in the ObservaÌ„ces which he had learnt at Mount Cassin And there leading an Angelicall Life among men dividing his employment between a quiet repose of Contemplation in the Monastery and charitable solicitudes in governing his Diocese he at last full of merits and Graces this year rendred happily his soule into his mercifull Creatours hands and was honourably buried in his own Church where his Memory is in great veneration and his Sanctity testified by many Miracles which are registred by Philip his Successour in the same Bishoprick Two hundred and eight years after his death he was solemnly Canonized by Pope Leo the Seaventh And both in the Roman and English Martyrologe his Memory is celebrated on the seaventh of Iuly XVIII CHAP. 1. The death of S Werburga 2. Succession of English Bishops 3. 4 c. A great miracle of a Soldier recovered by the Intercession of S. Bruno 1. ABOVT the same time is recorded the death of S. Werburga she had formerly been wife to Ceolred King of the Mercians after whose death which hapned in the year of Christ seaven hundred and sixteen she complying with a divine inspiration entred a Monastery where like the good Widdow Saint Anna the Prophetesse shâ— never departed from our Lords Temple serving God night and day in abstinence and prayer the space of sixty five years partly as a simple Religious woman under Obedience and partly as Abbesse of the same Monastery with as much humility governing others as she had formerly obeyd 2. Then the See of Worcester being vacant by the death of Tilher it was supplied by the substitution of Adored in his place Ceâ—lmund likewise Bishop of Hereford dying there was ordained in the same his Successour named Vtell in the year of Grace seaven hundred eighty three 3. Little else occurring the same year in Brittany S. Ludger will inform us how wonderfully Almighty God glorified his servant Swibert in Germany so recommending the Faith which he had taught That year saith
into the Church where having received the Body of our Lord he gave up his spirit to him looking towards the Altar His Memory is celebrated on the twenty fifth of August 5. As touching his Successour Albericus he was by birth an Englishman and is named in the Gallican Martyrologe with this elogy On the one and twentieth of August is celebrated at Vtrecht the deposiâ—ion of S Albertâ— Biâ—hop of the same Citty anâ— Confessour He was born in Brittany in the Diocese of York from whence he came into Germany to preach the Gospell and for his excellent endoâ—ments in piety and eminent learning he was made Canon of the Church of Vtrecht Afterward when S. Gregory through weaknes and old age was disabled to administer the same See S. Alberic was appointed a diâ—â—enser of the whole Diocese to govern both the Clergy and people and S. Gregory himself by inspiration of the Holy Ghost foretold that he should â—ucceeâ—â—im in the Bishoprick Therefore after the Holy Bishop was freed from the chains of his flesh S. Aâ—â—eric was according to the desires of all exalted to his Epiâ—â—copall throne After which not contentinâ— himself with the solicitudes of his particular Diocese and Province he extended his care to the adiacent regions and sent S. Ludger who was afterward Bishop of Munster into the countrey of the Frisons there to spread the Gospell aâ—d root out Idolatrous superstitions At lâ—nâ—th after he had governed the Church of Vtrecht many years with admirable Sanctity this blessed servant of God who was wholly celestiall forsook the earth to which his heart never had been fixed and departed to his heavenly countrey He was honourablâ— buâ—ied near to his holy Predecessour accompany 〈◊〉 him 〈◊〉 in his Tomb and reward whom he has always fâ—llowed in order and merit XX. CHAP. 1.2 Succession of Bishops in England 3.4 c. The unhappy death of Kenulphus King of the West Saxons 6. Brithric succeeds him 7. Of Rictritha a Holy Queen and Abbesse 1. AT the same time in Brittany the Episcopall See of London being vacant by the voluntary resignation of Kenwalch as it is sayd it was supplied by Eanbald or Eadberch And after the death of Edbert Bishop of Leicester Vnwona was ordaind in his place 2. The year next following the two Bishops of the East-Angles dye again together and to Eadred Bishop of Dumwich succeeded Alphun to Hunfert Bishop of Helmham Bibba And within two years both these agree to dye together and to leave their Sees to new Bishops 3. This was the last year of the Raign of Kenulf King of the West-Saxons a Prince who had given many examples of vertue and piety but yet ended his life unhappily The length of his raign and circumstances of his death are thus declared by William of Malmsbury Kenulf says he was a Prince illustrious both for his vertues and warlick exploits In one only battell which in the four and twentieth year of his raign he fought against Offa King of the Mercians he was overcome And after that he was afflicted with many calamities and in conclusion came to a dishonourable and unhappy end For after he had governed the kingdom of the West-Saxons the space of one and thirty years neither cowardly nor immodestly at last whether it was out of a proud confidence that none durst resist him or out of a provident care of the security of his Successour he commanded Kineard the Brother of the Tyrant Sigebert whom he saw to encrease dayly in power and wealth to depart his kingdom Kineard iudging it best to yeild to the tempest went away with a shew of willingnes But presently after by private meetings and unsinuations he assembled a body of men given to all manner of villany with which he watched an opportunity against the King And having been informed that he was for his recreation and lustfull pleasure retired with a small retinue into a certain countrey dwelling he came suddenly upon him with some light armed soldiers and encompassed the house where the King was securely attending to his unlawfull luxury Who perceiving the danger he was in advised with his servants what he should doe At first he barricadoed the dores hoping either by fair speches to winn or by threatnings to terrify the soldiers without But finding neither way to succeed in a furious rage he suddenly leaps forth upon Kineard and wanted very little of killing him But being compassed by the multitude and thinking it inglorious to fly after he had well avenged himself by the death of many of the Traytours he was slain And those few servants with attended him scorning to yeild and earnest to avenge their Lord were killd likewise 4. Presently the fame of so execrable a Tragedy was spread abroad and came to the knowledge of certain Noble men not far distant with the Kings Guards Among whom Osric who was most eminent both for age and prudence encouraged the rest not to suffer the death of their Prince to passe unrevenged to their perpetuall infamy Whereupon they all drew their swords and rushed upon the trayterous murderers Kineard at first endeavoured to iustify his cause to promise great matters and to challenge kinred But when all this proffited nothing then he inflam'd the minds of his companions and fellow soldiers to resist boldly A good while the combat was doubtfull one side fighting for their lives and the other for glory At last victory having a good space hovered uncertainly turned her self to the iuster cause So that wretched Traytour after a courageous but vain resistance left his life having enioyed the successe of his treachery a very short time The Kings body was caried to Winchester where it was buried in a Monastery in those times very magnificent but in this age almost desolate 5. Other Historians mention the name of the village where King Kenulf was thus unfortunatly slain Thus Florentius writes It hapned saith he that Kenulf at that time went to a certain village which in the English tongue is called Meretum for a certain wanton womans sake c. This village is in the Province of Surrey and is now called Merton of old saith Camden famous for the fatall end of the West-Saxons 6. There remaind in that Kingdom two Princes of the Royall family which might pretend to the succession Brithric and Egbert Brithric was preferred perhaps for his mild and modest disposition For he was a man more studious of peace then war he was skilfull in reconciling freinds when dissenting forraign Princes he civilly courted and was indulgent to his own servants yet so as not to prejudice the vigour of his government 7. As for Egbert he was to attend sixteen years before the scepter would fall to his lott Which having once gott he managed it gloriously for he it was who dissolved all the petty governments and reduced the whole kingdome into a Monarchy as it has ever since continued and moreover obliged all
with a loud distincâ— voyce moreover explaind both in Latin and English that all might understand Whereupon all who were present unanimously gave thanks to the Legats promising their obedience to the Popes admonitions and that they would faithfully observe the said Decrees And consequently both the King Archbishop Bishops Aâ—bots and Nobles confirmed them by their Subscriptions 3. Besides this King Offa had a desire to promote one of the Episcopall Sees of his own kingdom to a Metropoliticall Dignity partly out of a consideration of the coÌ„mmodity redounding therby to his own subiects and partly out of displeasure conceived against the Archbishop of Canterbury who being desirous to preserve the ancient Priviledges of his own See opposed earnestly this design of King Offa producing the frequent Edicts both old and new of the See Apostolick in confirmation of the Supereminent Dignity of his Church This resistance did so displease King Offa that he deprived him of all the lands seated in his kingdom which belonged to the See of Canterbury 4 A certain Monk of S. Albans in a Writing published under the name of Mathew Paris touching thâ— Life of King Offa affirms that the said Iambert Archbishop of Canterbury was accused before the King of conspiring against him and that by reason of the vicinity of his See to France he had promised to Charles the Great that in case he would invade Brittany he would give him free entrance into his Archbishoprick and all assistance likewise 5. This Controversy being earnestly prosecuted on both sides at last the King sent wise Messengers to Rome and partly by reasons partly by gifts so wrought in that Court that Pope Adrian condescended to his request and exalted the Episcopall See of Lichfeild to an Archbishoprick to which were subiect all the Bishops of the Mercian Kingdom namely Denebert Bishop of Worcester Werenbert Bishop of Leicester Edulf Bishop of Sidnacester Wolpheard Bishop of Hereford as likewise the Bishops of the East-Angles Alheard Bishop of Elmham and Tidfrid Bishop of Dumwich Now the name of the Bishop of Lichfeild who was made Archbishop was Adulf So that there remained to the Archbishop of Canterbury onely fower Bishops subiect to wit of London Winchester Rochester and Selesey or as others write Shirborn From whence appears that though King Offa this year laboured to effect this design yet it was not effected till some years after because Aldulf was not at this time consecrated Bishop the Bishop of that See now being Hygbert 6. This same year King Offa thought fitt to assume his Son Egfrid to a participation of his kingly dignity for which purpose he caused him to be solemnly crowned probably whilst the Synod was sitting This is insinuated in an Epistle of Alcuin to him in which he stiles him King and gives him good instructions for the discharge of that high Office though he say withall that his admonitions were not necessary since he might sufficiently at home learn authority from his Father and piety from his Mother 7. This Mother of Egfrid and wife of King Offa was called Quendrida and as Mathew Paris affirms was kinswoman to Charles the Great and before she came into Brittany was named Drida She was banished out of France for some unknown fault and being arrived in Brittany so wrought upon the affections of King Offa perhaps by a shew of Piety for which Alcuin commends her that he made her his Queen But that her Piety was only in shew appeard by her impious murdring of the most pious Prince Kenelm Of which hereafter XXIV CHAP. i. 2.3 Iambert Archbishop of Canterbury being wrongfully oppressed by King Offa would quitt his See but is disswaded by Alcuin His death 1. IAmbert Archbishop of Canterbury took very heavily this uniust deminution of his See He omitted nothing he spared neither cost nor labour to assert the dignity of his Church and to represse the greedy covetousnes of his adversaries Severall Appeals to Rome he interposed and when he saw that King Offa's power and gifts prevayled he determind to desert his See Notwithstanding leâ—st men should iudge that he took such a resolution out of passion and a sudden discontent he consulted with his freinds about it 2. There is among Alcuins Epistles extant one directed to a nameles person containing an Answer to the same person which doubtlesse was this Archbishop who signified to him the Moâ—ives inducing him to a purpose of forsaking his Episcopall charge Which Answer was sent by a Disciple of Alcuin called Candidus And therein Alcuin utterly disswaded him telling him that he could not have a more iustifiable motive then his Predecessour S. Laurence had which was the return of Idolatry and the danger of death and torments in case he opposed himself therto Yet he after he had been chastised by the Apostle S. Peter himself repented of his purpose It seems that when this Letter was written Iambert was already retired into France because Alcuin exalts the happines of the Church in which Iambert then lived under the protection of so glorious and so orthodoxe a King as Charles the Great was whom he there and else where calls David 3. Iambert hearkned to Alcuins advice and returned to his See where two years after he dyed on the twelfth of August and was buried after the ancient manner of his Predecessours in the Church of S. Peter and S. Paul For thus we read in the Antiquities of Brittany Iambert after he had the space of many years maintained the Dignity of his Prelacy with great constancy and no lesse labour when he foresaw that his death approached desiring to abolish the laâ—e decrees of his Predecessours touching the buriall place of the Archbishops and to reduce it to the ancient primitive custom commanded that when he was dead his body should be caried to be buried in the Church of S. Peter and S. Paul in the Monastery of S. Augustin Which command was accordingly without any opposition performed and he was honourably buried in the Chapter-house of S. Augustin Concerning his Successour we shall treat in due place XXV CHAP. 1. Brithric maries the daughter of King Offa. 2.3 The Danes begin to invade Brittany c. 4 5. Lands given to the Monastery of S. Denys in France 1. IN the year after the fore-mentioned Synods Brithric King of the West-Saxons saith Huntingdon demanded and received for his Wife Eadburga daughter of Offa King of Mercians By which alliance he was so much strengthned in his kingdom that he became haughty and proud 2. At the same time began the Prologue of all those inexpressible miseries which our Island in following times suffred from the rapines and cruelty of the Danes of which we shall oftentimes have but too just occasion to treat and recount most horrible tragedies acted by those barbarous in humane Pagans For the â—ame Authour immediatly aâ—ter mention oâ— that Mariage thus proceeds In those dayes saith he
there arrived three ships of Daâ—es in Brittany who came only to â—obb and spoile Which the Governour of that Province where they landed knowing he went with too much negligence and security to meet them intending to apprehend them and lead them captives to the Kings Court This he did not well informing himself who and how many they were nor for what cause they were come Therefore unadvisedly falling in among them he was slain This was the first Englishman which the Danes slew but afterward many thousands suffred the like fate And these were the first Danish ships which aborded in England 3 The same year two new Bishops were according to custom together consecrated in the Kingdom of the East-Angles Tâ—dfred to the Church of Dumwich and Alherd to that of Helmham And about the same time Wulfhard succeeded to Vtel in the See of Hereford These were the first Bishops consecrated by the late ordained Metropolitan of Lichfeild 4. We read among the Antiquities of S. Denys in France compiled by a Monk of the same Monastery a certain Charter in which the Authour of it Berthwald a Duke in the Kingdom of the South-Saxons in Brittany relates how having falln into a disease iudged by Physicians incurable he had been informed that in France at the Monastery of Saint Dionysius S. Rusticus and Saint Eleutherius of which the Venerable Florad was Abbot many miraculous cures were wrought by the intercession of the said Saints Whereupon having demanded and obtained leave of King Charles he went thither And there after he had for the space of a very few dayes lyen sick he was restored to perfect health through Gods mercy obtained by the intercession of those Blessed Saints Therefore according to a Vow which he had made to God and the said Saints some Relicks of whom he brought back into Brittany he built a Church dedicated to their honour at a Mansion house of his seated in a village called Kâ—â—reseld upon the River Saford in a territory called Cutfesta in which lyeth the Citty of Chichester For the maintaining of the Monks belonging to the said Church he by the consent of his Brother Eadbald gave the same Village with all its dependencies and moreover the benefit of the two havens near adioyning Hastings and Pevensel with the Salâ—pits c. that they might pray for his soule This Charter was accepted by a Monk called Deodatus in the name of the said Saints Dionysius c. 5. This donation made by Duke Berthwald to the Monastery of S. Denys in France was confirmed by a Charter of King Offa dated the second year following In which Charter there is likewise a ratification of another Donation to the same Monastery by two Brethren Agonowaâ—a and Sigren oâ— certain lands seated in a haven caâ—led Lundonwic To which the said King likewise adds a gift of all the rents and customs due to himself out of the same Haven and land And this at the Petition of Maginarius Abbot of S. Denys who sent a Monk of his called Nadetharius to receive in his Abbots name this Charter from the Kings hands And Subscribers thereto are King Offa Higbert Arch-bishop of Lichfeild Kinidred the Queen Vnwona a Bishop and others 6. In the next Century likewise upon occasion of a complaint made by the Abbot of S. Denys to Ethelwolf Monarch of the English of iniuries done by a certain Officer of the King called Togred to the Tenants of that Monastery in Ridrefeld in the Havens Saltpits c. the said King renewed a confirmation of the foresaid Donation and Charter The like did also King Edgar upon such a complaint above a hundred years after that XXVI CHAP. 1.2 c. The Gests of S. Lullo Arch-bishop of Mentz 6. The sudden and happy death of S. Witta Bishop and Abbot 7.8 c. The Blessed death of Saint Lullo 10. S. wille hade first Bishop of Bremen 1. IN the same year dyed S. Lul or Lullo the Successour of S. Boniface in the Archbishoprik of Mentz His parents were Noble for he was kinseman to Kineard Bishop of Winchester and as some write to S. Boniface He was educated in the Monastery of Malmsbury Maldubia When he was Deacon he went over into Germany with other Apostolick Preists in the year of Christ seaven hundred twenty five at the invitation of S. Boniface by whom he was ordained Preist and employed in the great charge of preaching to the Pagans in Hassia and Thuringia Afterward he was sent to Rome to procure the erection of the Church of Mentz into a Metropolitan See as likewise Priviledges to the Monastery of Fulda which he easily obtained 2. When S. Boniface undertook his last iourney into the countrey of the Frisons where he was martyrd he obtained permission to consecrate S. Lullo his Successour in the See of Mentz as hath been declared and withall recommended him to the protection and favour of King Pipin and other Princes and least they should forget this recommendation he wrote to a certain Preist named Fulrad Chaplain to King Pipin desiring him earnestly to take him into his care in which Epistle he gave S. Lullo this Character which shewd his esteem and particular affection to him I desire you saith he and in the name of God doe earnestly beseech you that you will so order matters that my Son and Fellow-bishop Lul may be constituted in a power to compose the affairs of the People and Churches and be made a Teacher of Preists And I confidently hope through Gods grace that the Preists will find in him a Master the Monks a Regular Doctour and the people a faithfull Preacher and Pastour 3. S. Lullo worthily made good this commendation given of him by his Master for assoon as he was gone he in person visited his Province teaching exhorting and correcting all abuses But shortly hearing of the Martyrdom of his dear Father he did not so wholly â—eild to greif for his losse but that he employd his thoughts how to honour his Memory And therefore calling his Clergy together he attended by a great multitude of Ecclesiasticks and Nobles also went to the place where the Holy Bishop had been martyred and with great solemnity singing of Psalms and lighted torches he brought the Sacred Body to Mentz where he earnestly desired it might be buried in the Archiepiscopall Church founded by him But herein he was strongly opposed by S. Sturmis Abbot of Fulda who bid him call to mind that the last words almost which he had spoken to S. Lullo himself were a command that his body should repose in his Monastery of Fulda Hereto S. Lullo was compelled to yeild but yet the love incomparable respect which He bore to the memory of his dear Master kindled in his heart such a passionate displeasure against S. Sturmis for depriving him of so beloved and so sacred a pledge that he scarce ever ceased afterward to doe him any dispâ—easure and even to persecute him
with a violence not beseeming his Profession Notwithstanding the Holy Martyrs bowell he placed in a Church at Mentz where they are held in great veneration 4. Moreover in a further expression of his love and regard to his blessed Masters memory he exhorted S. Willebald his Nephew to write the Holy Martyrs Life to the end that posterity might know honour and imitate the heavenly vertues which shone so brightly in him 5. Severall Monasteries he founded as that of Heresfeild in Hassia not far from Mentz which he endowd with ample revenews adorned it with many Relicks translating likewise thither from Fritzlar the Body of S. Wigbert for which a magnificent shrine was made by the contribution of King Charles the Great Another Monastery likewise he erected at a place called Bleidenstat about two miles from Mentz Which afterward by his Successour Bertold was changed into a Colledge of Canons Thither also he translated the Relicks of S. Ferruth from Kassel In a word his whole life was employed in nothing but the advancement of piety and vertue either in converting Pagans from Idolatry to the Christian Faith or in promoting devout Christians in the wayes of Perfection 6. When his last sicknes seised on him he sent for the Holy companion of his Apostolick Office S. Witta who had been consecrated by S. Boniface Bishop of Birburg and after that Town was destroyd was made Successour of S. Wigbert in the Monastery of Fritzlar Him being come he desired to say Masse after which he intended to direct him to his Monastery of Heresfeild The good Bishop after he had with great devotion prepared himself for celebrating that most dreadfull Sacrifice not then perceiving in himself any bodily infirmity at all went to the Holy Altar where he had no sooner performed that Divine Liturgy and communicated but immediatly he expired His Body Saint Lullo presently caused to be caried into a boat conveying it himself to Heresfeld where he buried it with great honour This Holy Bishop is by some German Writers called Albuinus according to the Saxon signification of his name Witta or White 7 Presently after S. Lullo himself followd him partaking together the eternall rewards of his labours on the sixteenth day of October His Body was there likewise in the same Monastery buried with all religious piety and solemnity And about threescore years after being taken up it was found with as fresh a colour as due proportion and softnes of all the members yea and covered with vestments as free from any decay as if it had been then newly buried 8. The said Monastery of Heresfeld having been ruined by the rebellious Lutherans it is not known whither that Sacred body was removed But his Head was caried to the Monastery of S. Godard the Abbot whereof Herman in the year of Christ sixteen hundred and three gave it to the Iesuits of Mentz to be placed there in their Colledge 9. Many Miracles are recorded as performed by him both in his life and after his death I will only mention one Is the year of Grace eight hundred forty seaven when his Body was taken up as the Monks there were removing a huge Stone which lay over it it fell from their hands upon the foot of one of their Brethren so crushing and breaking it that it quite lost the shape of a foot Whereupon the Religious Monks being much contristated had recourse to God in Prayer begging likewise the Saints intercession And the night immediatly following it was so perfectly restored that the said Brother assisted at the next Mattins not retaining any mark of the least bruise at all 10. A little before his death he by the appointment of Pope Adrian ordained S. Willehade Bishop of Bremen Which Citty was then newly erected into an Episcopall See by the same Pope and richly endowed by the munificence of Charles the Great Whose Charter describing the limits of the Territory whereof and likewise of the lands conferred on it is extant in Baronius As touching S Willehade the first Bishop thereof we shall deliver his Gests in the occurrents of the year of Christ seaven hundred ninety one in which he dyed THE FIVE AND TWENTIETH BOOK OF THE CHVRCH-HISTORY OF BRITTANY I. CHAPTER 1. 2. c. Alfwold the pious King of the Northumbers murdred to whom Osred succeeds and presently after Ethelred 7.8 Ethelred Bishop of Hagulstad the magnificence of that Church 1. NOTWITHSTANDING all the care which the Legats of Pope Adrian in the late Synod with the unanimous consent of the Bishops and Nobles had taken for the preventing seditions and rebellions in the Kingdom of the Northumbers yet such an unquiet tumultuous Spirit had taken so fixed a possession of the minds of that people that scarce any King could be permitted to sit upon that throne but by the murder of his Predecessour and the uniust usurper by his own destruction made way for his Successour Which restlesse turbulent disposition since it could not be cured by the Laws and authority of Gods Church God took the revenge into his own hands and sent the terrible Nation of the Danes first to lay wast that kingdom and afterwards to be a most tearfull scourge to the whole Island 2. In the year of Grace seaven hundred eighty nine Alfwolâ— the good pious King of the Northumbers after that he had with the great ioy of vertuous men governed that kingdom the space of eleaven years was by a tempestuous sedition of wicked men deprived of it and his life also The Head of the faction against him was Sâ—gga a Noble man of that Kingdom who gathering a troop of desperatly wicked men murdred this most innocent King in a place called Silcester near the Picts wall This was an ancient Station of the Romans where the Asturian Wing quartered to oppose the irruptions of the barbarous Picts and Caledonians and it was then called Cilurnam but is now much more celebrated for the death of this pious King In the place where he was slain a heavenly light was frequently seen saith Huntingdon 3. His Body was caried to the Cathedrall Church of Hagustald where it was with great honours and devotion buried which Church had been built to Gods honour and the memory of his Saints Saint Cuthbert and S. Oswald King and Martyr Of how great merit this innocent King was with God the miracles performed at his Tombe and elswere doe declare abundantly 4. Moreover the Divine iustice gave a yet greater testimony of his Sanctity by the terrible revenge with which God expiated this execrable murther which though committed by a few was punished with a common calamity For not only Sigga who defiled his hands with his blood the same year out of despair became his own executioner and murderer But likewise dire Prodigies terrified the whole Nation Horrible thunders and fiery dragons in the aire foretold a most greivous famine shortly ensuing and an unexpressible slaughter of men Thus
writes Hoveden And Mathew of Westminster adds as a prodigy of great wonder that on mens cloathes were seen the sign of the Crosse which he conceived to have been intended by God for a warning against the coming of the Danes which shortly followed 5. In the place of Alfwold there was substituted Osred son to King Alred who a little before raigned in the Kingdom of the Northumbers But this Osred enioyd but a short time the fruit of the treason committed against Alfwold For within a years space the Northumbers according to their naturall inconstancy grew weary of him So that he was circumvented by the treachery of his Nobles and deprived of his kingdom after which he had the Monasticall Tonsure in the Citty of York and yet not finding security there he was compelled to fly out of the Kingdom 6. After the deposall of Osred the Northumbers recalled out of banishment Ethelred the son of Ethelwold who was a second time exalted to the throne Among the Epistles of Alcuin there is extant one directed to this King Ethelred after his restitution as likewise to Osbald and Osbert two of his Principall Nobles in which he with great affection admonishes them to sett before their eyes the great calamities lately befailn that Kingdom by the iniustice rapines uncleannes of former Princes which vices if they did not avoyd they must expect the like iudgments Particularly he exhorts them to apprehend the scourge which lately afflicted the Church of S. Cuthbert a place enriched with the holy Relicks of many Saints but now miserably wasted by Pagans Before which Letter was sent it seems King Ethelred was slain as appears by the destroying the Church of Lindesfarn 7. The same year in which King Alfwold was slain Tither or as Hoveden stiles him S. Gilbert Bishop of Hagustald dying Ethelbert a little before consecrated Bishop of Wite-hern or Candida casa relinquishing that See was translated to the Church of Hagustald 8. To this Ethelbert newly Bishop of Hagustald and to the Congregation of Monks there serving God in the Monastery dedicated to S. Andrew there is â—ound an Epistle also of the same Alcuin in which after congratulation for his assumption to that Bishoprick he humbly recommends himself to his and all their Prayers and exhorts them to be carefull in the pious education of young Religious that they may be worthy successours of the honour which they had obtained in other Churches and likewise that they might be intercessours for them when they were dead For saith he the prayers of the living are proffitable to the dead to obtain for some the pardon of their sins and to others an encrease of their happines In the same Epistle likewise he magnifies the beauty and sumptuousnesse of that Church and Monastery at Hagustald built long before by S. Wilfrid Which according to the testimony of William of Malmsbury was so magnificent that in no countrey on this side of the Alpes could be found a Church which might deserve to be compared with it Insomuch as those which came from Rome seeing it imagined they saw the Roman ambition in Brittany And indeed it was from Rome that S. Wilfrid called the Architects and Masons which built it II. CHAP. 1.2 c. Succession of Bishops in England Ethelard an illustrious Arch-bishop of Canterbury 5. Two young Northumbrian Princes murdred 6. Osred after his deposall and Monasticall Tonâ—ure slain 6. Ethelred maries the daughter of Offa. 1. EThelbert having relinquished the Episcopall See of Candida casa it was supplied by Eadulph or Baldulj who was ordained in a place called Hearvahalah which may be interpreted a place of Lords About the same time likewise after the death of Higbert Bishop of Lichfeild and lately called Arch-bishop there succeeded in the same See Aldulf who was the only Arch-bishop of that See which received a Pall from Rome for not long after this See was reduced to its primitive state simply Episcopall Moreover Alubert Bishop of Selesey in the kingdom of the South-Saxons dying in his place was substituted Osa by some called Bosa 2. The Archiepiscopall See of Canterbury had been a good space vacant after the death of Iambert and in the year of Christ seaven hundred ninety one was supplied by the translation of Ethelard thither from the See of Winchester to which he had eleaven years before been ordained He was a man to be compared yea prefered above the most famous Prelats of this Island if we except the first Apostolick Doctours of it For he restored unto the primitive splendour the dignity and Priviledges of his Church which had been depressed by King Offa and in what esteem he was for his Sanctity will appear by the Epistle of Pope Leo to King Kenulphus of which hereafter 3. A little after his assumption to this supreme See Alcuin wrote a letter of congratulation to him in which he exhorted him to imitate the vertues of his glorious Predecessours the Doctours and lights of Brittany by whose prayers he should certainly be assisted if he would reclame their intercession with whose Sacred Bodies and Monuments he was compassed Which Epistle seems to have been an answer to one which this worthy Prelat wrote to him to demand his counsell and instructions as one perfectly versed in all sacred and Ecclesiasticall learning touching the discharge of his New sublime Office 4. To the See of Winchester from which this illustrious Bishop Ethelard had been taken was promoted Egbald who is reckond the tenth Prelat of that Church 5. At this time was performed an impious fact by King Ethelred lately restored to the Kingdom of the Northumbers For whereas two children of the pious King Alfwold fearing the cruelty of King Ethelred had fled for security to the Church of York as to an inviolable Sanctuary they were by deceitfull promises withdrawn from thence and miserably slain by the said King in a place called Wonwaldremere The names of those two Princes were Elf and Elfwin 6 The death of Osred presently after this following did not deserve to be so much lamented because though he had been violently deposed from his throne to which King Ethelred was restored yet having been in some sort engaged in the security of a Religious life of which he had received the Tonsure it was not so glorious for him to aspire to a Crown to which Ethelred had a right preferable to his However he was about this time privatly recalled from his banishment in a place called Enfania by certain Princes of the Northumbers discontented with King Ethelred who interposed their oathes to be loyall to him But afterward his own soldiers deserting him he was taken prisoner by King Ethelred and upon his command slain in a place called Dingburch or as others call it Cunburg His body was caried to the mouth of the River Tine and buried in the famous Monastery seated there 6. King Ethelred not
thinking himself as yet secure to confirm his kingdom yet more strongly sought the freindship and association of Offa King of the Mercians the most powerfull of all the English Saxon Princes at this time And to knitt more strictly the league between them he demanded his daughter named Elfleda for his wife which he likewise obtained having cast off his former wife But that which he contrived for his security was the occasion of his ruine for his Subiects abhorting such impiety deprived him of his kingdom and afterwards of his life And with him ended the Nortumbrian Kingdom though the Name of King was given to some few others Notwithstanding by the invasion and horrible depopulation made by the barbarous Danes those Titular Kings of the English blood were scarce taken notice of by any III. CHAP. 1.2 c. The Gests and happy death of Saint Burchard Bishop of Wirtzburg 10.11 c. Likewise of his Suceessour Saint Megingand 1. THE same year in which Ethelard was assumed to the Archiepiscopall See of Canterbury is marked with the death of two English Apostolick Bishops in Germany S. Burchard and S. Willehade the former Bishop of Wirtzburg and the other of Bremen 2. The Life of S. Burchard has been written by Egilward a Monk of his own Monastery near Wirtzburg as Trithemius testifies Some affirm saith that Authour that S. Burchard and S. Swithun concerning whom we will treat in the next Century were brethren born of Noble parents in the Kingdom of the West-Saxons in Brittany and that they were kinsmen to S. Boniface Certain it is that S. Burchard was one of those who were called out of Brittany in the year of Christ seaven hundred twenty five to assist S. Boniface in his Apostolick Office in Germany 3. Assoon as S. Burchard was arrived there S. Boniface destined to him in a propheticall manner the flock of Christ which had been gathered by S. Kilian and his companions and for which they had suffred Martyrdom But to fitt him for so high an employment he lived some years in the society of severall devout and learned Preists under the Conduct of S. Boniface After which S. Boniface ioyning to his own Letters also written by King Pipin to Pope Zacharias requested that the Citty of Wirtzburg might be erected to an Episcopall See To which request the Pope easily condescended after he had been informed that the said Church was endowd by S. Boniface himself with sufficient revenews to sustain the necessities of the poor as well as of the Clergy And upon the testimony given by S. Boniface S. Burchard his Disciple was consecrated the first Bishop of that Episcopall See 4. These things being happily effected at Rome Saint Boniface conducting his now fellow Bishop to Wirtzburg recommended him to his flock by whom he was most ioyfully received At which time the bounds of the said Diocese were limitted And S. Burchard being left in his New See omitted no duty of a worthy Prelat being assiduous in reading affable in conversation powerfull in preaching exemplary in life liberall in almes-giving tenderly loving and beloved by his flock 5. In the second year after he was consecrated Bishop by the advice and with the assistance of S. Boniface he made diligent search for the Sacred Bodies of S. Kilian and his companions the holy Apostolick Martyrs of Christ which having found he with great devotion took them out of the place into which they had been ignominiously cast by their murderers the Idolatrous Pagans Assoon as the earth was opened a celestiall fragrancy was breathed from thence and though their flesh was already resolved into dust yet the vestments and books which had been cast with them into the pitt were found entire nothing at all defaced They were in a most solemne Procession caried to the Church of Wirtzburg where by a world of miracles they so encreased mens devotion that by means thereof the Church became enriched with great possessions S Burchard himself gave a village called Michelnstat which Prince Caroloman had formerly bestowed on him King Pipin afterwards gave a certain Castle called Karelburg with severall other ample possessions 9. Near the said Castle there was a small Monastery which had been built by a Holy Virgin named Gertrudis This Monastery being much retired did another devout Virgin called Immina begg of Saint Burchard and in exchange gave him a place called The Mount of Saint Mary or Old Wirtzburg of far greater valew To this place were the Sacred Bodies of Saint Kilian and his companions translated There likewise did Saint Burchard build a magnificent Monastery and placed there his Episcopall See And thither did he oft retire whensoever he could obtain any vacancy from the solicitudes of his charge and conversation of men and there did he attend to God and celestiall things only 7. Forty years did this Holy Bishop spend in the exercises of perfect Charity either to God in Prayer and contemplation or to men in advancing their soules in the same Divine Charity And after such incessant labours in our Lords Vineyard his corporall strength diminishing he called his Clergy together to whom he declared his desire to see his Episcopall See provided of a person able to sustain the weighty employments of it for which purpose he proposed to them his Disciple and companion Megingand well known to them for his eminent vertues and piety who was immediately by common consent elected to be after his death his Successour and during his life his assistant A confirmation of this Election he easily obtained from his Metropolitan the Arch-bishop of Mentz Charles the Great King of France consenting thereto 8. Having discharged his mind of so great a care he took with him only six of his Disciples and by boat descended to a certain Castle called Hohenburg where he employed the remainder of his dayes in great austerities in watching fasting and incessant Prayer He had a desire to have continued his iourney to Michelnstat where his purpose was to build another Monastery But his infirmity encreasing upon him would not permitt him to accomplish his desire For within a few days after his coming to Hohenburg he gave up his soule into his Redeemers hands having before secured his last passage by the Sacraments of Holy Church which he received with admirable fervour and Spirituall ioy 9. His Sacred body was by the affectionate care of his Disciple and Successour Mengingand transported to his Cathedrall Church of Wirtzenburg where it was reposed near to the Sacred Relicks of Saint Kilian all the Nobility and in a manner all the inhabitants of the Countrey being assembled to honour the funeralls of their beloved Pastour Who as in his life time he had been an instrument of great benedictions to them so after his death likewise they experienced many effects of his Love by frequent deliverances and consolations obtained by his intercession The day of his death is marked oâ— the fourth day before the Nones
of February But his principall Feast is obser-served on the fourteenth of October the day of his Translation 10. His Successour Saint Megingand who was one of those which Saint Boniface had called out of Brittany was come to a great age at the death of Saint Burchard yet he administred that See the space of fifteen years in all things conformable to the good example of his Blessed Predecessour And â—t last being oppressed with age by the consent of his Clergy he elected for his Successour a certain Disciple and Monk of his Monastery called Bernwelf to whom he resigned the whole care of his Bishoprick consigning into his hands all the possessions and goods left by Saint Burchard And attended by a few disciples he retired to a certain place given to him by a devout person named Hatto 11. But in this his choice he was not so happy as his Predecessour had been for instead of kindnes and respect due to him he found extreme ingratitude and persecution from his Successour Insomuch as whereas in the Monastery of Saint Kilian he had left fifty Monks laudable in their observance of Regular Disciplin all these did Bernwelf with iniuries drive out of the Monastery and compelled them to have recourse to his Master Mengingand And not content with that he most greivously and incessantly vexed the good old man with frequent clamorous accustions of having detained certain Vestments and Books left by Saint Burchard So great and insupportable unquietnes and troubles he caused to his Master who had made him Bishop that he was compelled to forsake that place of his retirement called Korinlathe and afterwards Nieustat which he gave up to the patronage of King Charles and betook himself to another further distant Monastery by the same King bestowed upon him and his Monks Where living in all freedom from secular molestation under the protection of the illustrious King Charles in all things being acceptable to God and men he in a short time full of good works departed this life to receive his eternall reward IV. CHAP. 1.2 c. The Gests and blessed death of Saint Willehade first Bishop of Bremen 1. AS for Saint Willehade he likewise came out of Brittany presently after Saint Boniface his Martyrdom and arrived at a place called Dockum where the said Holy Martyr received his Crown There he remaind a good space not deterred by the so late cruelty of the barbarous Pagans from boldly preaching the Gospell and God so blessed his labours that many were converted and baptized by him From thence passing over the River Lavinca he went to a place called Huchmark where endeavouring likewise to withdraw those barbarous people from their Idolatry they in a great rage cryed out that such a profane seducer ought to be killed And when they were ready to putt this in execution certain men among them more moderate told them that they ought to make a tryall according to the ancient custom of their countrey by casting of Lotts whether his death would be acceptable to their Gods or no And being hereto perswaded through Gods Providence he escaped so that they gave him free permission to goe out of their countrey 2. Leaving them therefore he went to a place called Drente where by his preaching many were converted and baptized But when his Disciples moved with zeale began to destroy the Heathen Temples the barbarous people became incensed and had a resolution to kill them Saint Willehade was sore bruised with clubbes and one among them ran upon him with his sword purposing to cutt off his head Lifting up therefore his sword he with all his force smote him on the neck Now the Holy man had at that time a case full of Relicks tyed about his neck The sword then curt a sunder the string only and did not at all enter into the flesh The Pagans therefore astonished at this Miracle let both him and his Disciples depart without any further harm done them 3. Now the Victorious King of France Charles having heard report of this Holy man's sanctity and zeale encouraged him much to be constant in preaching the Gospell He went therefore into a Territory called Wigmode where he converted many and built Churches Yea the greatest part of the Frisons inhabiting thereabout promised they would embrace the Christian Faith But not long after Wittekind Duke of the Saxons rebelled against King Charles and raising an army began a great persecution against the Christians The holy man therefore after he had escaped an imminent danger went to Rome Where being much comforted and encouraged by Pope Adrian he returned back into Franconia 4. Moreover at the command of the same King the man of God went again into Wigmode where he openly and boldly preached the Faith and repaired the Churches which the Pagans had demolished And God did so prosper his labours that the Frisons once more embraced the Faith which they had renounced Yea Duke Wittekind himself the Authour of all the mischeif submitting himself to King Charles was perswaded to receive Baptism 5. The said King seeing so many Christians converted thought good that a New Episcopall See should be erected for which purpose he made choice of a place called Bremen in the countrey of Wigmode there he caused a Church to be built and with the advice of Lullo he sent to Pope Adrian to demand that this Holy man Willehade should be consecrated Bishop of Bremen which was accordingly performed There is in the Annalls of Baronius extant the Charter of King Charles for the erection and endowment of this Episcopall See in which after thanks given to God for his many victories over the Saxons he declares the limits of this new Diocese what possessions and Tithes were annexed to it as likewise to a Monastery adioyning all which were committed to the care of the Holy servant of God Willehade Which Charter was dated in the year of our Lords Incarnation seaven hundred eighty eight 6. In this function Saint Willehade behaved himself with wonderfull piety and encreased his diligence in the practise and progresse in all vertues And falling into an infirmity of body he was commanded by Pope Adrian to eat fish for formerly out of a rigorous abstinence he forbore the use of them Scarce any day passed in which he did not with great contrition of heart celebrate Masse and besides that he would some dayes recite the whole Psalter twice or thrice Thus the blessed man did wonderfully adorn his Doctrine and by his own example confirm that which with his tongue he preached to others 7. At length after he had severall times with great zeale visited his Diocese he came to a certain place called Bleckensee now Plexem Where so violent a feavour took him that his Disciples despaired of his recovery And one of them being more familiarly conversant with him could not forbear to testify his greif by teares and complaints saying Holy Father doe not so soon
a sumptuous shrine for the honour of this glorious Martyr added also a most magnificent Monastery for obtaining of Priviledges for which by advice of the Bishops recourse was had to the Pope Concerning which Monastery Mathew of Westminster writes that as S. Alban was the Prime among the Brittish Martyrs and Saints so his Monastery excelled both in possessions and liberties all the other Monasteries of the Kingdom 5. To this day is preserved the Charter which King Offa made to this Monastery in which he mentions the foresaid miraculous discovery of the holy Martyrs body adding that since Honour given to God and pious devotion to his Saints is the stability of an earthly kingdom the prosperity of long life and will undoubtedly be rewarded with eternall happines therefore he gave such lands and possessions there named to the said Monastery freeing it likewise from all tributs and burdens Apponting withall over it as Abbot Willigoda a Preist to govern it according to the Rule of S. Benedict for ever Lastly requiring that dayly prayers should continually be offred there for the soules of himself and his freinds 6. At the same time the Abbot of Croyland called Patrick successour to the first Abbot thereof Kenulph seeing the devotion piety of King Offa to Gods Saints and his kind inclination to the Prayers of Religious men obtained froÌ„ him a Charter likewise by which he took into his Protection the said Monastery confirming all the possessions and Priviledges formerly given to the same freeing the Monks thereof from all secular burdens and impositions as he had newly done his brethren the Monks of S. Alban such is his expression VII CHAP. i. 2 c. The Gests and Martyrdom of S. Ethelbert King of the East-angles 1. COncerning this King Offa the Character given him by William of Malmsbury is very proper saying In one and the same man sometimes vices did palliate themselves with a shew of vertue and sometimes vertues did succeed vices that a man would be uncertain in what shape to represent such a changeable Proteus For the same year in which he shewd himself so pious toward the Holy Martyr S. Alban he shewd himself most impious in cruelly killing an innocent Prince and making him a Martyr 2. This Prince was Ethelbert the Son of Ethelred and Leofrana by whom he was carefully instituted in piety and all vertues He had now governed the Kingdom of the East-angles forty four years with such iustice and moderation that he was tenderly loved by all his subiects All which time he had never admitted any proposall of mariage but now yeilding to the importunity of his Mother and Nobles who earnestly desired to see a Successour he remitted to their iudgments to propose to him a fitt Consort 3. When they were therefore to consult about the person in the first place they generally turned their thoughts upon a Princesse among the South-Saxons whose name was Seledrida and her Fathers Egeon by whose death she was possessed of a very considerable Province besides other great riches Therefore they advised the King to make choice of her whose Treasures and territory would be a great strength and accession to his Kingdom But the King whose iudgment was directed by better Rules then humane policy and interests reiected the proposall because that Province which Egeon had left unto his daughter was procured by uniust and fraudulent means and therefore he could not expect a benediction from God upon the possession of it 4. Some few others therefore whose counsells were guided by Principles more sublime and not so worldly proposed to the King a daughter of the most potent King Offa whose name our Historians generally call Alfreda only by Ingulfus she is named Etheldrita a Virgin endowd withall Graces against whom no exception could be made Yea moreover such affinity contracted with her Father would be an absolute security to the Kingdom To this therefore King Ethelbert consented and thereupon Embassadours were dispatched to King Offa to demand of him this grace which he willingly granted so that conditions on both sides were readily agreed on 5. When the time appointed for the mariage drew near King Ethelbert thought fitt to goe to the Mercians thereby to shew more affection and respect in conducting his espoused Lady home But when he began his iourney there hapned to him many terrible prodigies portâ—nding a fatall successe Among which this was one When he mounted on horsback attended by a great multitude of his loving Subiects who earnestly prayed for his happines on a sudden besides a great earth-quake the Sun became wholly darkned insomuch as one could not discern another neither durst they remove by reason of the trembling of the earth All were astonished at this and falling prostrate on the ground earnestly besought God to avert his wrath from them But the King more devoutly then the rest humbly begged of God at least an internall Light by which he might discern whether that iourney and the occasion of it were acceptable to him and for the benefit of his own soule in token of which he besought him to cease the trembling of the earth no to restore the Suns Light Assoon as he had ended his Prayer all these prodigies immediatly ended Thereupon the King confidently prosecuted his iourney though his Mother terrified by such ominous signs earnestly endeavoured to disswade him 6. Assoon as he was entred into Mercia attended by a small guard God was pleased in a vision by night to signify to him his approaching death and the immense glory which should follow it For First it seemed to him that the roof of his Palace fell upon him and that his Mother seeing it let fall from her eyes teares of blood Afterward he saw a wonderfully great and most beautifull Tree which certain persons feircely endeavoured to hew down and out of the wounds made in it flowed a torrent of Blood eastward Then a pillar of Light from the South more bright then the Sun seemed to rise up and himself in the shape of a Bird having the extremities of his wings shining like gold had a great desire to embrace that glorious pillar so that mounting to the top of it he heard a most celestiall Harmony to which he with infinite pleasure attended till his sleep ending all vanished away 7. The next morning he recounted this Dream to his freinds at which their astonishment and fears were renewed with great encrease considering such fearfull signs as the falling down of a house his Mothers bloody teares a fair tree cutt down and blood issuing out of it Thereupon they attempted to perswade him to return and not to tempt God after so manifest a warning given him of danger But the King thinking it both dishonourable and unsafe to publish a suspicion of any treachery in so great a King as Offa and withall considering that though in his Vision there were many ominous signs yet the end seemed glorious and
Alban but likewise to conferre spirituall Priviledges exemptions on it To which request the Pope willingly condescended for he adopted that Monastery to be a Speciall Daughter of the Roman Church exempted from all Iurisdiction Episcopall and Archiepiscopall as immediatly subiect to the See Apostolick He granted likewise that the Territory belonging to that Monastery should be the only place in his Dominions free from the generall contribution of Peter-pence Yea moreover that the Monks of S. Alban should be the Collectours of the same Contribution through the whole Province of Hertford which having collected they should reserve it to their own use for keeping hospitality To these he added this generall Grace that he enioyned King Offa for the remission of his sins at his returning home to call a Synod of his Bishops and Nobles and whatsoever possessions or Priviledges he with their advice should bestow on the said Monastery he promised that he would himself confirm such his Charter by his own authority And lastly in testimony of his great esteem of King Offa's piety he gave this generall Priviledge to all the subiects of his Kingdom That no publick Penitent should be obliged in execution of his Pennance enioyned to goe out of the kingdom that is Whereas in severall cases of enormous crimes men were obliged to seek Absolution at Rome he gave a generall Indulgence that for all sins men might be absolved at home 5. Thus did King Offa omitt no expedient wherby to expiate his crime touching the murder of the blessed Martyr King Ethelbert He returned not into his kingdom till the year following In the mean time severall occurrents hapning in Brittany require a place here As for his impious Queen Quendreda shee enioyd but a very short time the fruits of her cruelty for in the space of three months after she suffred a miserable death but well beseeming her wicked life And her Son Egfrid a vertuous and pious Prince for whose advantage especially she executed that horrible murder he was taken away by an untimely death after a few months raign by which means the Mercian Crown was translated from the family of King Offa to the posterity of King Penda And lastly her Daughter Alfreda designed to be the Spouse of the Holy Martyr she had such a horrour of her parents crime that out of a generall distast of the world she retired herself to a solitary devout life among the fenns of Croyland where she spent many years in aspiring to the embraces of a yet more glorious Bridegroom Concerning her wee shall treat further when we arrive to the year of her death IX CHAP. 1. The decay of Kentish Kings 2.3 c. The Scandalous Rebellions and Treasons of the Northumbers iustly punished by God Their miseries bewayled by Alcuin 1. THE same year which King Offa spent at Rome in his Devotions and Charities Alric King of Kent who was Tributary to King Offa ended his life after a raign of thirty four years He was the third and last of King Withreds children who succeeded him in that kingdom not any of them leaving heyrs behind them And afâ—er them saith William of Malmsbury the Noble stock of the Kentish Kings withred away and their generous blood lost all its vigour and Spirits Then any one who had impudence enough who either by fraud could make himself rich and popular or by faction terrible aspired to Tyranny there and unworthily adorned his head with the Regall Diadem Such an one was Edilbert sirnamed Pren who after Alric invaded the Kentish throne and after he had the space of two years tyrannised in that kingdom he had the foolish boldnes to provoke the Mercians by whom he was taken prisoner and forced to submitt his hands to chains and his body to captivity 2. The same decay likewise at this time befell the kingdom of the Northumbers for this being the fifth year after King Ethelred had been recalled from banishment to govern that Kingdom he was also slain by his Subiects And his death gave an end to the Kingdom of the Northumbers and after thirty three years vacancy and want of a Lawfull King it was seised upon and possessed by Egbert King of the West-Saxons Yet in the mean time there are named some few petty Kings there during the time of the Danish incursions Thus we read in the Books of the Succession of Saxon Kings The first who after the death of Ethelred usurped the place and title of King was Oswald and he after a short shew upon the stage for twenty eight dayes was compelled by the Northumbrians to flye to the King of the Picts so leaving place for Ardulf But the memory of these and some other like Kings following hath been in a sort obliterated by the tempestuous rage of the Danes wasting those parts at this time and putting all things in confusion 3. A most iust punishment that was sent by God to plague that rebellious Province the inhabitants whereof had no regard to the Maiesty of their Princes but freely defiled their hands with their blood by which they became odious both to God and man Yea the infamous scandall of their rebellions passed into forrein countreyes likewise as appears by a letter of Alcuin who at this time lived in France into which he was invited by King Charles the Great to assist by his learning the Church now combatted by New Heresies That Letter was written by him to Offa King of the Mercians the tenour whereof is as followeth 4. Your Maiesty may please to know that King Charles does oftimes speak to mee of you with much affection and sincerity and you have in him a most faithfull freind And to expresse his kindnes he has given order that presents should be sent to your Maiesty and your Bishops as likewise to King Ethelred and the Episcopall Churches in his Dominions But alas alas These presents together with letters were no sooner delivered into the Messengers hands but certain men out of Scotland which passed through your Countrey brought us a most sad Message concerning the unhappy death of that King of the Northumbers by the infidelity of his own subiects Hereupon King Charles presently in great anger drew back his presents intended thither calling them a perfidious perverse and rebellious Nation which so often murdered their own Kings esteeming them therefore worse then Pagans And if I had not interceded for them he would not only before this have hindred them from any good but likewise have done them all the micheif which lay in his power 5. Notwithstanding though Alcuin by his intercession with King Charles could avert the effects of his displeasure against the treacherous Northumbers he could not suspend the indignation and severity of Gods iudgments upon them For the same year a navall army from the Northern coasts like sharp stinging hornets invaded the kingdom of the Northumbers and the barbarous soldiers like dire half-famished Wolves ran up and down the
countrey wasting killing not only beasts as oxen and sheep but Preists Deacons and Quires of Religious men and women They came to the Church of Lindisfarn where they miserably spoyled all the countrey about they trode under foot the most sacred things they demolished Altars and caryed away all the treasures and ornaments of the Church severall of the Monks they killed some they took for slaves and most of them after shamefull usage they drove out naked and exposed to starving by cold and hunger some likewise they drownd in the Sea 6. Alcuin having been informed of the desolation of his countrey for by many proofs in his Writings it appears that he was born in the Province of the Northumbers wrote many bewayling sad letters to his freinds there to condole with theÌ„ in their miseries One he wrote to the Monks of the Monasteries of Wiremouth and Girwy in which he seriously exhorted them to sanctity of life and to tread in the steps of their Predecessour Saint Beda c. Anoâ—her to the same effect he sent to his Brethren in the Church of York in which he called himself a Son of that Church And a third to Higbald Bishop of Lindesfarn and the whole Congregation there whom he stiles the Câ—ildren of Saint Cuthbert and tells them that he iustfull feared the same misery would befall the whole Island since Saint Cuthbert and so many Saints reposing there did not defend his own Church He concluded that assoon as King Charles should return with victory over his enemies he would goe to him and take care of redeeming the Northumbrian children which the Danish Pagans had sold into France and of other their necessities recommended to him 7. Moreover in a Letter to Offa King of the Mercians he signified that he was prepared to cary himself the presents of King Charles sent to him and thence to goe into his Native Province of the Northumbers But on better consideration he thought it more convenient to abide still in France and there to serve his countrey by doing all good offices since he knew not what benefit he could bring to a place where none could remain in any security where the Holy Altars are demolished by Pagans Monasteries polluted by adulteries and the whole land stained with the blood of their Princes 8. What those presents were will appear in an Epistle which King Charles sent to King Offa as likewise in Hoveden who writes thus The magnanimous King Charles with a potent army had lately subdued the Nation of the Hunns their countrey he wasted putt to flight their King and destroyed his army From thence he brought home fifteen carts so loadned with gold silver and precious vestments of silk that four oxen could scarce draw each of them All which spoyles the same King in thankfullnes to God for his victory commanded to be distributed among the Churches and poore not only in his own kingdom but at Rome also and in Brittany c. X. CHAP. 1.2 Displeasure of Charles the Great against the English which is afterward composed 3 A Scottish Preist banished for eating flesh in Lent 4.5 Pope Adrian dyes and Leo the third succeeds 6.7.8 A Synod at Verulam wherein the Priviledges of the Monastery of S. Alban are confirmed 9 Successions of Bishops 1. KING Offa was now returned from his pilgrimage to Rome Some years before his going thither King Charles had taken some displeasure against him the occasion whereof seems to have proceeded from English Merchants which defrauded the French of their customs In somuch as a breach had like to have been made between the two Kings So forward it was that King Charles forbad trading between the two Nations neither was it safe for English men to passe through France in devotion to Rome But King Offa who by his invasions and usurpations had made almost all the Kings in Brittany his enemies much apprehended the displeasure of so powerfull a King as Charles and therefore by many Embassages and Presents endeavoured a reconciliation with him which at length with much solicitation he obtained After which followd not only frequent entercourse or Letters between them but many other expressions of kindnes 2. There is extant a Letter of King Charles to Ethilhard Archbishop of Canterbury and Ceolulf a Bishop of the Mercians in which he informed them that a certain man a Subiect of King Offa who had incurred his displeasure had fled into France with his whole family to seek protection and security there Now this mans family being desirous to return home after the Maisters death whose name was Vmrinstan desired King Charles his Letters of Recommendation which he most willingly granted them desiring these two Bishops to intercede in their behalf with King Offa and in case they could not qualify his displeasure he desired them to send them back to him 3. Two Letters did King Charles this year write to King Offa in the one informing him that a certain Preist by nation a Scott had made some abode in the Diocese of Colen where he had been accused of eating flesh in Lent But because the accusers Proofs were not absolutly convincing therefore the Bishops in those parts would not pronounce sentence against him Notwithstanding they thought not fitt he should stay any longer among them by reason of the scandall given by such an Offence and least others should by his example learn to neglect that holy Fast. So they thought best he should be sent into his own countrey to be iudged by his own Bishops To facilitate his iourney therefore King Charles desired King Offa to take care for his safe conveyance into Scotland from whence he first came where he hoped that the Ecclesiasticall Canons were well observed 4. In a second Letter he signified to him that free leave should be given to all English pilgrims to passe through France to Rome but if any upon a pretence of devotion shall bring prohibited merchandise into France or defraud the Kings customes there that should not be suffred He further told him that he had sent sacred Vestments to severall Churches in Brittany desiring that in consideration thereof there should be made Prayers for Pope Hadrian then newly dead for though he did not doubt but his soule was in rest yet he desired this to testify his cordial affection to his most dear freind The same day that Pope Hadrian dyed there was chosen his Successour Pope Leo the third of that name The suddennes of his election and the unanimous consent of his Electours argued an eminent esteem of his sanctity and abilities He was chosen both to doe and suffer many things By him the Empire was restored to the Western parts 6. A little before Pope Hdrian dyed King Offa being safe returned from Rome according to his order assembled a Synod at Verulam near which place he had built the famous Monastery of Saint Alban What was acted in that Synod is breifly
related by Sir H. Spelman out of an ancient Manuscript of the Life of S. Alban in this manner King Offa having then assembled at Verulam a Council of his Bishops and Nobles by their unanimous consent and out of his great affection to Saint Alban he conferred on that Monastery very large possessions considering that great hospitality was to be kept there Because near thereto lyes the broad high way called Watlingstrete by which men came from the Northern parts and returned Therefore he esteemed it a pious thing that travellours might find there a house to be entertaind freely For this reason he addicted that place to the Monastery which he dignified with many Priviledges and immunities Moreover he gathered a Congregation of Monks out of severall houses where Regular Observance was kept with best care especially from the Monastery of Becc in Neustria or Normandy in France and ordained an Abbot over them named Willigode a man who was indeed according to his Name of good Will He was descended of the Royall family being near of kin to King Offa. 7. The particular possessions given by the King at this time to the said Monastery are specified in his Charter which remains to this day And besides the Priviledges before related he added these that what soever exactions or for feytures due to the King from any criminall person within the liberties of the same Monastery should be payed thereto That the Abbot or Monk who was Arch deacon under him should exercise Episcopall Iurisdiction over all persons both Preists and Laymen living within their possessions and that they should pay subiection neither to Archbishop nor Legat but to the Pope alone In a word the said Church as it had all Royall rights from the King so did it likewise enioy Episcopall ornaments from the Pope 8. This Charter the King sent to Rome to be confirmed by Pope Hadrian and this seems to have been one of the last actions performed by the same worthy Pope Who having sate in S. Peters chair twenty three years ten months and seaventeen days was notwithstanding esteemed by all good men to have quitted the government of the Church immaturely Particularly King Charles for the respect which he bore him distributed alms not only through the Churches in Provinces subiect to him but also in forrain countreys for his soule as we have declared in his Letter sent to King Offa. 9. The same year Higbert or Humbert the first Archbishop of Lichfeild dying there succeeded him Aldulf to whom a Pall was sent from Rome notwithstanding before he dyed he was obliged to lay aside that Archiepiscopall ornament and to content himself with the simple Title of Bishop Likewise to Eadbald Bishop of London the same year succeeded Heathobert and to Egbald Bishop of Winchester Dudda IX CHAP. 1.2 c. The death of King Offa and his Children 4.5 c. Egfrid his pious Successour dyes shortly after him being ready to restore the Rights to the See of Canterbury 9. Eanbald Archbishop of York dyes to whom another Eanbald succeeds 1. THE year of Christ seaven hundred ninety six was the last of the raign life of Offa the illustrious King of the Mercians after he had raigned thirty nine years He left a noble memory of his courage in three victories obtained against the Kings of Brittany the King of Kent of the West-Saxons and Northumbers And of his Piety in founding the famous Monastery of S. Alban and charitable contribution to the See Apostolick besides many other Monuments of his Charity and devotion 2. The memory of his name he left to severall places For in Warwickshire having built a Church a town thereto adioyning was called Off-Church and in Suffolck another town was called Offton Lastly he dyed in a village named Offley From whence his Body was removed to the Town of Bedford where it was buried in a Chappell without the Citty-walls with Royall solemnity But in processe of time his Sepulcher was swept away by a violent inundation of the River Vsk. 3. He left behind him by his Queen Quendreda severall children His eldest son and Successour was Egfrid who succeeded to his Fathers vertues but not the years of his raign for he governed the Kingdom not a full half year In Capgrave we read of another Son of his called Fremond slain afterward by the Danes but the story related of him does so disagree from Chronology that it is manifest the Authour of it mingled together the Occurrents of severall ages He had two daughters the one named Ethelburga who in her vices ressembled her impious Mother Queen Quendreda for she not only left a stain upon her own countrey by poysoning her husband King Brithric but upon France also as wee shall declare The other much unlike her sister truly the daughter of her fathers Piety 〈◊〉 Alfleda whom the Holy Martyr King Etheâ—â—â—rt had demanded for his wife and who after his deâ—th preferred the fenns of Croyland before her Fathers Palace 4. His eldest son Egfrid had been assumed by his Father into a society in his Throne nine years before this yet this is called the first and only year of his raign for he did not out-live his Father more then five months Yet in that short time he left many and lasting Monuments of his piety wholly employing the few days of his raign in adorning and amplifying Monasteries and Churches He was a Prince saith William of Malmsbury who studiously avoyded the steps of his Fathers cruelty He restored all the Priviledges of Churches which had been preiudiced by his Father Moreover a possession which his Father had taken from the Monastery of Malmsbury he willingly returned into the hands of Cuthbert then Abbot thereof upon the exhortation of the worthy and courageous Archbishop of Canterbury 5. Above all he most favoured the Monastery of S. Alban to which he not only confirmd all the possessions and liberties given by his Father but himself added new in a place called Pinnelesfeld as appears by his Charter recorded at the end of Mathew Paris and subscribed by the Queen Cynedrida his Bishops and Nobility In a second Charter likewise to the same Monastery in like manner subscribed he added another possession called Thyrefeld The place where this was written and confirmed in a Synod is named Celchyed 6. Athelard Arch-bishop of Canterbury perceiving the pious disposition of this young King suggested to him his obligations to repair the iniuries done by his Father to the Mother-Church of Brittany Canterbury which by all Princes since the beginning of Christianity had been esteemed the only Metropolitan Church of that part of Brittany but lately had been diminished by the uniust exaltation of the See of Lichfeild With which suggestion of the worthy Archbishop King Egfrid was mollified and had restored the honour of the Archiepiscopall See of Canterbury if death had not too hastily taken him away But what Athelard could not
effect by reason of the too short raign of this King since a busines of that importance required many messages and returns froÌ„ Rome serious agitation on both sides and reasons to be given by the two contrary pretendants His Successour in the Archbishoprick Kenulf at last perfected after the death of King Egfrid 7. This good King therefore being accomplished in a short time fullfilled a long age and after five months payed his debt to nature He was taken away saith Alcuin not for his own sins but because his father for the establishing his kingdom had shed much blood But how unsecure a foundation blood is for the establishing of kingdoms was shewd in this example for Offa was so far from confirming his Throne to his posterity that five months after his death it was transferred to another family a quite stranger to his 8. The same year dyed also Eanbald Archbishop of York and in his place was chosen and consecrated another Eanbald a Preist of the same Church and Disciple of Alcuin The place where his Predecessour dyed was called Edere and his body attended by great multitudes was conveyed to the Church of York where it was honourably buried 9. This second Eanbald ioyned courageously with Ethelard Archbishop of Canterbury to nullify the invasion which Offa King of the Mercians had made on the Archbishop of Canterbury which they also effected as shall shortly be declared And this endeavour of Eanbald was much commended by his Master Alcuin as appears by part of his Letter cited by William of Malmsbury XII CHAP. 1.2 c. Alcuin famous for learning teaches at York and is called into France 1. WEE have oft made mention of Alcuin as making his abode in France It will not be impertinent to declare what occasion drew him into France and obliged him to spend the remainder of his life there Twice he had passed into France before the first time upon some busines for which his Master Egbert Arch-bishop of York sent him to King Charles What that speciall busines was it does no where appear The second time when he was sent by Alfwold King of the Northumbers to Rome to demand and bring the Archiepiscopall Pall to Eanbald the first of that name Archbishop of York in the year of Grace seaven hundred eighty one In this iourney both going and returning he passed through FraÌ„ce But neither of these times did he make any long abode there However his second iourney was the occasion of his going a third time thither never to return Because at his coming from Rome he meâ—t K. Câ—arles the Great at Pavia who being much delighted with his discourse and behaviour earnestly entreated him that assoon as he had finishd the present affair for which he had undertaken that voyage to Rome he would return to him into France 2. The answer which Alcuin gave him was That without the order of his King and Arch-bishop he could not dispose or himself And in effect his stay in Brittany was esteemed so necessary that twelve years more passed before he could comply with this request of so great a King But to speak more properly it was not in compliance to this request that he then went but he was obliged thereto by the emergent necessities of the Church which was combatted by a New Heresy for repressing of which none was â—ound more sufficiently enabled then Alcuin considering his eminently famous piety and learning 3. That which detained him so long in Brittany was for the instructing the youth thereof in all manner of learning both sacred and secular For since S. Beda's time Brittany had never enioyed so universally a knowing Master Some Writers pretend that he was a Disciple of S. Beda But the long space of time which intervened between them takes away all probablity from such an assertion and those Writers mistake is grounded upon a confounding of two persons â—nto one for they suppose that this Alcuin or Albin is the same with that Albin who many years before was Abbot of S. Augugustins Monastery at Canterbury The Master and Instructour of this Alcuin was Egbert the Noble and learned Archbishop of York as not only the Authour of Alcuins life but Alcuin himself declares 4. The twelve years which Alcuin employed in Brittany in teaching produced a wonderfull happy effect for out of his Schoole were produced almost all the able Bishops Preists Abbots and other Religious persons which adorned this Island in the present and following Age. Yea not a few came out of France and Germany to enrich themselves and their countreys with those treasures of knowledge which Alcuin communicated to them at his Schoole which he kept open at York in his own Native Province where he was furnished with a most plentifull Library instituted there by his Master Egbert the Archbishop whose Successour Eanbald the second of that Name was one of the most eminent among Alcuins Scholars XIII CHAP. 1.2 c. Of two holy and learned English Virgins Gisla and Rictrudis or Columba Disciples of Alcuin Their Letter to him in France and his Answer c. 1. AMong Alcuins schollars in Brittany we must not omitt two illustrious Virâ—ins Gisla and Rictruda concerning whom our Learned Pits gives this short account Rictruda and Gisla saith he English Nunns of the Order of S. Benedict were for their extraction Noble but much more for their vertues and learning From their chilhood they were instructed in the purity of the Latin tongue and other good lâ—tterature by their learned Master Alcuin After whose departure out of Brittany it is reported that they made great progresse both in the studies of learning and exercises of vertues in their Monastery at Canterbury They diligently imitated both S. Mary Magdalen in contemplation and S. Martha in actions of Charity They with continuall watchfullnes attended to the perfectionating their own soules by Mortification and Spirituall Meditations and next to benefits their neighbours by externall works of Charity espeâ—cially comforting the afflicted These two Virgâ—ns were renouned in Brittany during the time of Alâ—ric King of Kent But this suspicion that they lived at Canterbury seems to be grounded on the forementiond mistâ—ke that Alcuin was Abbot in the same Citty Whereas it is not to be doubted but that they were Northumbrian Virgins living in their Monastery at York where Alcuin taught 2. There has lately been rescued from the dust of oblivion one Epistle written by these devout Virgins to Alcuin which alone may be a proof sufficient both of their piety and learning In which Epistle they signify to him their earnest desire to receive from him out of France sometimes letters of instruâ—ction and consolation and that he would therein imitate S. Hierome who living in his Monastery at Bethleem did not disdain to write Epistles to severall Noble Virgins at Rome notwithstanding the great distance between in which Epistles he did moreover explicate to them many obscure passages in the Propheticall
Books of Scripture Adding that the distance between Brittany and Tours in France where Alcuin lived was in no comparison so great as between Betthleem and Rome More particularly they humbly requested of him an Explication of the Gospell of Saint Iohn the Mysteries of which they earnestly desired to understand And though they had already the Treatises of S. Augustin upon that Gospell they were too difficult to be understood by them 3. This request of theirs he charitably condescended to as appeares by a prolixe Epistle of his placed before his Explication of S. Iohns Gospell directed to them In which he informs them in the time and occasion of S Iohns writing his Gospell for the confutation of Marcion Cherinthus Ebion and other Hereticks who denyed the Divinity of our Saviour He further observes for their instruction the difference in the stile between S. Iohn and the other three Evangelists For they are most copious in relating the externall actions and speeches of our Saviour which serve to direct Christian manners in this life Whereas S. Iohn is very breif in relating the facts of our Lord and cheifly insists on such speeches of his as regard the Vnity of the Trinity the felicity of eternall Life and such Mysteries as are more proper for a Contemplative Life He addes that in explaining this Gospell he durst not rely on his own iudgment but followed therein the Expositions of Catholick Doctours S. Ambrose Saint Augustin Saint Gregory Saint Beda and others out of whom with an humble heart and profound submission he had gathered variety of flowâ—rs and like a good Physicion out of many ingredients had composed a spirituall Medecine which might be healthfull to their soules 4. There is extant moreover another shorter Epistle upon the same subject prefixed before the sixth Book of his Annotations on that Gospell importing that he had sent them for their present use and devotion during the time of Lent certain Extraits out of his explications on that Gospell proper for their present use by meditating whereon they might be disposed with more spirituall ioy to celebrate the ensuing Paschal Solemnity 5. This Latter Epistle is inscribed to his Sister in Christ Gisla and his devout daughter Columba And whereas therein he acquaints them that he directed to them the whole exposition of the said Gospell thereby it is evident that the same person was intended by the two names of Rictrudis and Columba Both these Holy Virgins are commemorated among the Saints in our Martyrologe on the ninth of Aprill XIV CHAP. 1. 2. c. Alcuin sent for by Charles the Great into France 4.5 c. He disputes with convinces and converts Felix a Spanish Bishop an Arch-heretick who denyed the Divinity of our Saviour c. 1. CHarles King of France was deservedly stiled Great both for his victories in war and his zeale to advance Learning and Catholick Truth He not only willingly and liberally entertained all learned men who addressed themselves to him but invited them with great rewards to accept his bounty On a certain time saith Bromton two Scottish that is Irish Monks learned both in secular and Sacred knowledge came out of Ireland with certain Brittish Merchants into France These havâ—ng no wares to sell were wont to cry aloud among the people who came to the faire If any one be desirous of wisedom let him come to us for we have it to sell. This they did severall times Insomuch as many thought them out of their witts But the report of this coming to the King he sent for them and demanded whether they had wisedom to sell Their answer was Yes Sir we have it and in the name of God are ready to impart it to those who shall desire it He again asked them what they demanded in recompence They replyed We demand three things Commodious places to teach Schollars of towardly disposition and such necessary nourishment and cloathes as humane life requires Hereat the King was much ieyed and retaind them both with him Afterward when he went to war he left one of them named Clement at Paris in a convenient lodging and commended to his care certain Noble children with order that he should be furnished with all commodities The other he took with him into Italy and bestowed on him the Monastery of Saint Augustin at Pavia to the end he might there teach all that would apply themselves to him 2. But there was none so highly esteemed by him as our famous Alcuin whom about this time he earnestly invited into France upon two speciall Motives The former is thus expressed by Quercetan in his Preface to Alcuins Works The most glorious King Charles says he who by experience was acquainted with the learning and Wisedome of Alcuin both in France when he was sent thither to make a league of peace between the King of the Northumbers and King Charles as likewise at Pavia whilst he abode there He therefore in an honourable manner called him out of the remote parts of Brittany to assist his affectionat desire to promote the studies of true Wisedome and restore to light the Liberall Sciences which at that time were in a manner extinguished in France And the same is testified by Alcuin himself in an Epistle which he wrote to the same King Charles 2. But the other more important Motive of Alcuins coming into France was the same which his Master Egbert lately Arch-bishop of York had prophetically told him a little before his death That he should goe into France where he should produce much fruit beneficiall to Gods Church by opposing a new pestilent Heresy endeavouring to maintain that Christ was only the adoptive son of God 3. This Prediction was fullfilld when King Charles called Alcuin out of Brittany For then Elipandus Bishop of Toledo and Felix Bishop of Vrgel Vrgelitanus endeavoured to poyson the Church with their blasphemies iniurious to the Divinity of our Saviour This Alcuin testifies himself in a Book written against the former of these two Arch-hereticks I never entertained a servant to minister to mee saith he but I much rather affectionatly desire to doe service to all the servants of Christ And for this purpose by Divine ordination as I beleive I came out of Brittany to the most illustrious King of this Nation Charles For that it was Gods will I should doe so was foretold mee by a most holy man in my countrey who was endued with the Spirit of Prophecy Yea the same my most Venerable Master enioynd mee by his last command that wheresoever I heard of the rising of any new Sects contrary to Apostolick Doctrines I should addict my self entirely to the defence of the Catholick Faith 4. Presently after he was come into France the first thing he did was to write an Epistle to Felix exhorting him to return to the Vnity of the Church In answer whereto Felix returned not a Letter but large Book in which
was principally interessed in the busines that he willingly made the message unsuccessefull 5. This Second Letter sent by Byrne a Preist and by Fildas and Ceolberth servants to the King is recorded by Baronius and is indeed a Letter well beseeming the piety of this good King In which after the expression of his ioy that so worthy a person had succeeded to the Venerable Hope Hadrian he with great submission begged his Fatherly Benediction and that he would accept him for his Son promising all duty and Obedience to him In the next place he represented to him how his Predecessour King Offa out of an enmity which he bore to the late Arch-bishop of Canterbury Iambert and to the Kingdom of Kent had divided that Archiepiscopall Province into two Provinces so making a Schism in the Churches of Brittany contrary to the expresse Ordonnance of the most Blessed Father Pope Gregory the Great who had decreed that to the See of Canterbury twelve Episcopall Sees should be subiect Now though he would not condemne either King Offa for procuring this change or Pope Hadrian for condescending to it since he did not know all the Motives which might induce them thereto Yet since it seemed to him and the Synod most iust that that Mother Church in which reposed the Sacred Body of Saint Augustin who brought Christianity into the Kingâ—dom should enioy the honour of Metropolitan he desired his Holines to advise with wise men about this matter and to search the Archives of the See Apostolick where the ancient Ordonnances touching the establishment of the Churches of Brittany were preserved and to give his iudgment and Sentence in the cause accordingly He besought him withall seriously to peruse a Letter sent by the same Messengers from Aethelard Arch-bishop of Canterbury touching severall other causes and necessities of the Churches of Brittaâ—y and to make known to them his will concerning them With this Letter the King sent likewise certain presents to wit a hundred and twenty Mancusas markes 6. Now though in this Letter the Names of the Messengers by whom it was sent be expressed Yet certain it is that Aethelard Arch-bishop of Conterbury whose cause was discussed either himself went with them or at least immediatly followed them Saint Alcuin indeed endeavoured to disswade him from that iourney but the good Arch-bishop esteeming it his duty to omitt nothing that might be advantageous for so iust a cause Saint Alcuin in a short Letter sent from his Monastery at Tours wished him a prosperous iurney And moreover knowing that the said Arch-bishop was desirous to salute King Charles by the way he wrote another to the same King whom he calls King David and himself Flaccus Matricularius in which he earnestly recommended to his favourable reception the same Arch-bishop as likewise other persons of quality which it seems attended him to witt Ceilmund who had been a servant to Offa late King of the Mercians and Torchmund a faithfull Officer to Edilred formerly King of the Northumbers a man of approved zeale for the Faith and of stout courage who had valiantly avenged the death of his Master 7. Now what successe this iourney had is thus breifly declared by Mathew of Westminster Kenulf King of the Mercians in his own Name and in the Names of all the English Bishops sent Messengers and Leters to Leo Successour to Pope Adrian the Arch-bishop of Canterbury himself undertaking the Charge of generall Embassadour and obtaind of him what he requested But this appears more expressly and fully by the Letter of Answer written by Pope Leo himself in which after many high commendations both of the Kings piety and the Arch-bishops excellent vertues he signified that after diligent search into the Sacred Roman Archives he found that his Predecessour Saint Gregory had to the Archiepiscopall See of Canterbury and to Saint Augustin Arch-bishop thereof subiected twelve Bishopricks granting to him only the power of Consecrating the said Bishops Therefore by Apostolick authority he decreed a restitution of the same Ordinations Consecrations to Athelard and his Successours A confirmation of which Priviledge he had given to the said Arch-bishop which he required should be observed under the penalty prescribed by the Sacred Canons XVI CHAP. 1.2 c. Pope Leo the third inhumanely tormented by two Assassins who pluckd out his eyes and tongue c. 3 4. His sight and speech miraculously restored 5.6 c. Charles the Great testifies this in Letters to S. Alcuin 1. THERE is one Clause in the foresaid Letter of Pope Leo to Kenulf which argues that the said Kings Letter was written two years after this time as implying a knowledge of a great calamity which befell this good Pope though some of our ancient Historians refer it to this year The said clause is conceived in these words In one of your Epistles said the Pope we doe find a proâ—estation of your Maiesty that such is your respect to our Apostolick function that if you had been present with mee at Rome you would willingly and affectionatly have layd down your own life for us 2. Now the calamity hapning to the Pope was this Though for his vertues and piety he was by the unanimous consent of the Roman Clergy and people chosen Pope the same day in which his Predecessour dyed yet some there were which bore excessive malice and envy towards him the principall of which were two Nephews of the former Pope named Paschal and Campulus It does not appear upon what provocation these two wicked persons should conceive displeasure against the Pope but their rancour and fury was so implacable that on a certain day when the Pope was publickly celebrating the great Litany they delivered him to certain troops of soldiers layd in ambush near the Monastery of Saint Steven who barbarously seising on him cast him on the ground and there inhumanly plucked out his eyes cutt out his tongue and so left him blind and dumb upon the pavement Yea moreover those two inhuman wretches not content with this drew him from that place into the Church it self before the Altar of Saint Steven where they again tore out whatsoever remaind of his eyes and tongue and tearing all his flesh with whipps they left him there wallowing in his own blood But afterwards fearing least some good men should take him from thence they sent some of their party who caried him to the Monastery of Saint Gerasime where they shutt him up in close prison 3. But God who patiently suffred the malice of these barbarous men thus far in a moment destroyed all their wicked designs For Pope Leo presently after he was conveyed to the said Monastery perfectly recovered both his sight and speech Which miraculous mercy being made known to his freinds and particularly to Albin his Chamberlain they came by night and by force took him out of the Cloyster and transported him to the Church of Saint Peter where
it 1. WE will conclude this Book and Century with a short view of the state of Gods Church in Brittany at this time Sir Henry Spelman has published another Synod held this year at Clovesho In which after a publick attestation of the Vniformity of their Faith with the same which Saint Gregory the Great caused to the taught here at the first Conversion of the Nation with a Profession that what they beleived they would also in their lives practise a Decree was made for the restitution of all lands and goods which had been usurped by Lay-persons and violently taken from Churches and Monasteries 2 More specially Athelard Arch-bishop of Canterbury presiding in the same represented to the Synod how Ethelbald King of the Mercians had given formerly to the Church of our Saviour in Canterbury a certain Monastery called Cotham with all the Lands and possessions belonging thereto and that such his Donation might be of perpetuall force he sent by Cuthbert then Archbishop a Turf of the said land together with all Writings perâ—aining to the same Monastery which he required him to lay upon the Altar of our Saviours Church But after the death of the said Arch-bishop two men who had been educated by him named Veâ—head and Osbert by the Devills instigation stole away those Writings and caried them to Ceolulf King of the West-Saxons who thereupon took to his own use the said Monastery and land notwithstanding any thing that the Arch-bishop could alledge His Successours likewise in the Arch-bishoprick Bregwan and Iambert in severall Synods made complaints of this injury done to the Church of our Saviour both to the King of the West-Saxons and to Offa King of the Mercians who had subdued many Citties and particularly that Territory in which the said Monastery of Cotham was seated which he annexed to his own Dominion But now at last Kenulf King of the Mercians repenting of his injustice had restored all the said Writings adding withall a great summe of money humbly requesting that he might be absolved from the Excommunications denounced against Sacrilegious usurpers of Church-lands 3. Matters standing thus the said Arch-bishop Athelard together with his principall Officer Cuba brought the foresaid Writings into the Synod which were publickly read and approved Then he acquainted the Synod that by a mutuall agreement between himself and a certain Abbesse named Cynedritha she should possesse the said Monastery of Cotham with all lands belonging to it giving in exchange land of one hundred and ten Mansions and Sixty Hides Cassatarum in a place named Fleot and thirty in another called Tenaham and twenty in a third named Creges Ennulina all which lands King Offa had formerly given to her and her heyrs and after their decease to the Church of Beodford This agreement touching an exchange with a mutuall surrendry of all Writings on both sides the Arch-bishop desired might be approved and confirmed by the Synod that no difference might hereafter happen between his Successours and the heyrs of King Offa. He moreover gave to the same Abbesse another Monastery seated in a place called Pectonege which the devout King Egfrid had bestowd on him to be possessed by a right of inheritance XXIII CHAP. 1.2 c. The Martyrdom of S. Alcmund a Northumbrian Prince 4.5 c. Brithric King of the West-Saxons murdred by his Queen Eadburga For which it was ordained that the wives of succeeding Kings should never have the Title of Queens 1. THE Kingdom of the Northumbers at this time was again most greivously plagued by the Danish Pirats for a most horrible army of them landing in the Northern parts cruelly spoyled the Churches of Hercenes and Tynmouth 2. The same year also Alcmund son of Alred who had been there King was apprehended by the guards of the present Vsurping King Eardulf and by his command was slain together with all those who had been his companions in banishment 3. This Prince Alcmund was son of that King Alred who in the year of Christ seaven hundred seaventy four was by a rebellion of his Subiects driven out of his kingdom and fled to the Picts This Prince willingly followed his Father into banishment the incommodities whereof he bore with a Christian equanimity By such afflictions God disposed this pious Prince for a far richer crown For though by the relation of Mathew of Westminster he is said to have been slain by the cruelty of King Eardulf yet in our Martyrologe he is commemorated in the quality of a Martyr made a sacrifice to God by the inhumanity of the Danes Certain it is that he dyed a violent and uniust death and by posterity has been aâ—ways venerated as a Saint which God approved by many Miâ—racles In the Citty of Darby a magnificent Church was built to his honour called to this day the Church of S. Alcmund Another likewise was erected in Shrewsbury as our Martyrologe testifies where his Name is celebrated among Saints on the nineteenth of March. And in former times a great concourse thither was made especially from the Northern parts to pay their devotions to God in honouring his Saint their iniured countreyman 4. This Century concluded with the death of Brithric King of the West-Saxons by the treacherous cruelty of his Wife The manner thereof is thus described by Mathew of Westminster King Brithric saith he had taken to wife Eadburga daughter to Offa King of the Mercians This woman being exalted to so great honours did not content her self but was restlesse in her ambition to enioy alone all wealth and power Therefore with a tyrannous malice she was wâ—nt to accuse before the King and persecute all the Nobles of the Kingdom and all others who favoured iustice By which means she became the Obiect of the Vniversal hatred both of the Princes and inferiour subiects Because that wicked woman by her flatteries had so insinuated her self into the Kings affection and esteem that whosever she accused were presently either banished or slain Or if she could not obtain this her custom was privatly to destroy them by poison 5. Now there was at that time a certain young man of a Noble family and deeply in the Kings favour against whom the Queen not having any thing of which she could with any pretence of iustice accuse him she provided poyson with which she killed him And a part of this poyson the King unawares taesting immediatly dyed Her purpose then was not that the poison should be given to the King but only to the young man his favourite but by mishap they both drank of it and both presently dyed 6. The King being thus unhappily slain the Queen knowing how universally she was hated in great fear fled away privatly carying with her inestimable treasure And passing the Sea she went to the Emperour-Charles to whom she presented many rich gifts On a certain time 〈◊〉 she was among other Ladies standing in his presence being though a most wicked yet a
relating what is extant in the ancient Monuments of severall Churches touching this matter Generally all Authours which have written of the Ecclesiasticall affairs of Bavaria Rhetia Vindelicia and the Cantons of the Swizzars do agree in this that a certain holy person called Lucius preached the Gospell of Christ in Bavaria and some other parts in Germany from whence he proceeded to Rhaetia in which Countrey he dyed and was buried in the Citty of Curia or Chur situated in the Countrey of the Helvetians or Grisons This saith Gaspar Buschius quoted by Raderus is certain But who this Lucius was of what family or nation cannot certainly be determined He adds that this Lucius who ever he was having preached among the Bohemians and other Regions bordering on the River Danubius was banish'd from thence and came into Rhaetia where he built for himselfe a poor narrow cottage c. 4. Aegidius Tscudus writing of the Ancient Rhaetia denotes the precise time when this Holy Apostolicall man came into those Countreyes saying that about the year of Christ one hundred seaventy six Eleutherius being Bishop of Rome Lucius out of a zeale to plant the Christian Faith is sayd to have come into Bavaria which he converted to the Faith and afterwards retired into Rhaetia c. But Andreas Presbyter as Raderus testifies determins this to have hapned more lately For says he about the year of our Lord one hundred eighty two Eleutherius the twelfth after S. Peter being Pope and in the raign of the Emperour Commodus Lucius being poor naked and therefore lesse encombred undertook a voyage into forraign Nations and by his preaching and Miracles is beleiv'd to have converted to the Faith of Christ the parts about Bavaria and the whole Countrey of Rhetia situated among the Alpes Aubertus Miraeus agrees in the same Chronology and lastly Alfledius most accuratly referrs this to the year of our Lord one hundred and ninety 5. Such a concurrence of Testimonies to which may be added the ancient Records of those Nations and Churches together with the Ecclesiasticall Office of the Cathedrall Church of Curia or Chur all these leave the matter unquestionable at least thus far that those Nations were about that time converted by one called Lucius Which Nations being seated not far from the place where about that time was performed the foremention'd Miracle of the saving the Emperour Marcus with the whole Roman Army from almost inevitable destruction by the prayers of his Christian souldiers no doubt they were thereby powerfully enclined to the embracing of the Christian Faith 6. But now who this Lucius was and out of what Countrey he came is a dispute among learned Authours who produce three onely of that Name 1. Lucius of Cyrene mention'd in the Acts of the Apostles and probably in the Epistle to the Romans too 2. Our Brittish King Lucius 3. Lucius or Lucion a pretended son of Constantius Chlorus and Helena And to each of these the Conversion of those Nations is by some Writers ascribed 7. As touching the first of these namely Lucius of Cyrene a Prophet and teacher at Antioch in the time of the Apostles that he could not be the Apostolick Converter of those German Nations seems unquestionable both from the ancient Martyrologes Eastern and Western affirming him to have lived and dyed in the East and likewise from the ancient Records of those Churches in Bavaria and Rhaetia which doe not pretend to such an Antiquity of the Profession of Christianity So that the learned and Noble Authour Marcus Velserus thus confidently writes concerning him The trifling assertions of those who confound Lucius of Cyrene with the Brittish Lucius deserve not to be answer'd since they doe not consider how vast a space there is between their times 8. And whereas our Hollingshead out of I know not what Apocryphall Writings would entitle to the Conversion of those Nations another Brittish Prince Lucius or Lucion pretended to be the second son of Constantius by our Brittish Lady Helena who is sayd to have been banished by his Father for killing his elder Brother and after his banishment to have repented and embraced the Christian Faith which he afterward preached in Germany c. the fabulousnes of this report discovers it selfe not only by the silence of all Ancient Historians living in and after the times of Constantius not any one of which make the least mention of such a Prince but on the contrary expresly affirm that Constantin was the only son born to Constantius by Helena Thus writes Eusebius familiarly acquainted with Constantin in the first Book of his Life To the same effect writes the Panegyrist Eumenius in his Oration pronounced to Constantin as likewise Liveneius descanting on another Panegyrick of an uncertain Authour spoken to the Emperours Maximian and Constantin And lastly Baronius who confidently affirms That Constantius begot of Helena any other son or daughter besides Constantin cannot be found recorded any where 9. To this unanswerable Proof against the assertion of Hollingshead follow'd herein by Broughton may be added the generall consent of the ancient Monuments and Writers of Germany and Rhaetia agreeing in this that the Conversion of those Nations was effected above one whole century of years before the age of Constantin 10. The first Lucius being therefore excluded for his too great antiquity and the third as living if at all much too late for such a work it remains that the Conversion of those Nations must be ascribed only to the second Lucius our first Pious Christian King 11. And indeed him only doe the most Ancient Monuments and Writers of those Churches and Regions acknowledge for their Prime Apostle Insomuch as Raderus a learned Authour and very diligent in the search of old Records confidently pronounces That the Beleif is most certain grounded upon the Testimonies of Authours most ancient and of prime Note that it was our Brittish King Lucius who converted those Nations The same is with the like confidence asserted by Aegidius Tscudus in his Treatise concerning Antient Rhetia by Andreas Presbyter by Petrus Mersaeus by Hertmannus Schedel Stumfius Aubertus Miraeus Nauclerus Notkerus Balbulus in his Martyrologe and Baronius To these may be added a Testimony of yet greater authority taken from the Church of Curia or Chur in whose Ecclesiasticall Office King Lucius is commemorated as the first Doctour and Apostle of that Countrey the place of whose buriall is there venerated though his Relicks have been dispersed through severall places in Germany And in the last place the same is confirmed by that Treasury of the Records of all Churches the Roman Martyrologe out of which every year on the third of December is chanted The Commemoration of S. Lucius King of the Brittains at Curia a Citty of Germany who was the first among Kings which received the Faith of Christ in the time of Pope Eleutherius XVI CHAP. 1.2.3 Of the iourney and
Gests of S. Lucius in his Apostolick Office 4.5 His death and buriall in the Citty of Curia or Chur. 6. Of S. Emerita a sister of King Lucius who accompanied him her Martyrdom 7. Dempsâ—ers ridiculous pretention that King Lucius as buried in Scotland 1. HAving from authorities of great weight asserted the Apostleship of this our Pious King in pursuance therof we will collect out of ancient Writers some of his particular Gests and suffrings in the discharge of the said Office 2. He having resolved to consecrate the remainder of his old age to the service of Christ pass'd first into France landing at Bolâ—ign a Citty of the Mâ—rini where saith Malbranque he first began his office of preaching the Faith of Christ and from thence made his progresse through the Region of the Nervians the Countrey of Liege to Triers in Germany After which the next place bless'd by his presence and Charity was Ausburg Augusta Vindelicorum where he converted to the Faith a Noble Cittizen call'd Campestrius with his whole family But there the Devill rais'd against him a great persecution for saith Nauelerus the people out of a hatred to a Religion formerly unknown by them pursued the preacher of it with stones and afterward cast him into a pit Out of which he was secretly drawn by some Christians there and conducted to the Citty of Curia where he ended his life by Martyrdom 3. From Ausburg S. Lucius went to Reginoburgum or Ratisbon where he efficaciously spread the seed of the Gospell And having spent almost all his strength in such works of Charity to others he desired to end his life in solitude quietnes and prayer For which purpose he retired himself into the mountainous countrey of Rhetia and saith Tscudus having pass'd over the hill under which is situated the Castle called Gutenberg which to this day retains the name of S. Lucius his Cliff he came into the Region where now the Citty Curia or Chur is placed together with his devout sister S. Emerita who presently after for preaching the Christian Faith suffred Martyrdom at Trimas or Trimontium distant from Curia the space of two or three miles But S. Lucius repos'd himselfe in a certain Grot in the Mountain above the Citty Curia where he taught the Faith of Christ. The place where he built a little Oratory doth still testify his Sanctity and abode there for in memory thereof there was afterward founded a Monastery of Norbertins Praemonstratenses which took its name from S. Lucius as Aubertus Miraeus and Raderus doe affirm 4. As touching the manner of S. Lucius his death the same Aegidius Tscudus writes thus At last Lucius was slain neer to Curia in the Castle call'd Martiola by the infidell inhabitants and the Prefect of that Region Notwithstanding other Authours affirm that he died in peace though the honour and Title of a Martyr cannot be denyed him since anciently as Baronius saith it was communicated not only to such as by a violent death for Christs honour were snatchd out of this world but likewise to those who for the confession of the Faith suffred any torments though they did not consummate Martyrdom by death 5. The precise year of the death of this glorious King is by Florilegus determin'd to be the year of Christ two hundred and one which was the seaventy eighth year of his Raign and the eighty eighth of his life Wherto the learned Chronologist Bishop Vsher likewise accords His words are these In so great a debate among Writers my iudgment doth incline to beleive that King Lucius ended his life in the first year of the third Century after Christ. And the grounds of this perswasion are because I observe that not only the Annals of the Church of Salisbury and the Chronicle of the Brittains abbreviated as likewise the London Tables but also Roger Wendover Mathew Paris and Mathew of Westminster together with the History of Rochester doe agree that he dyed in the year of our Lord two hundred and one 6. His sacred Relicks have been dispersed in severall places of Germany and to this day saith Raderus are venerated in a Church of the Franciscans and another of the Iesuits at Ausburg Which argues that he dyed not in Brittany but Germany Therfore although our Citties of Glocester and Winchester have boasted themselves to have been the Repositories of some parts of the body of this Pious King it is more likely that considering their near relation to him they should procure them from the Church of Curia then that the German Churches should obtain them out of Brittany 7. Now wheras in the Passage cited out of Aegidius Tscudus mention was made of Saint Emerita the devout Sister of King Lucius and companion of all his travails and dangers and how in the Countrey of the Helvetians she added the Crown of Martyrdom to the garland of Virginity our Brittish Martyrologe thus commemorats her At Trimas in the territory of Curia this day being the fourth of December is celebrated the Feast of S. Emerita Virgin and Martyr the Sister of Lucius King of the Brittains who together with her Brother went into Germany and for confession of the Christian Faith being persecuted by the infidells of that countrey consummated her glorious Martyrdom by fire about the year of our Lord one hundred ninety three The entire history of her life may be read in the Breviary of the Church of Curia Mention is made of this holy Virgin and Martyr by Isengrenius and Hermannus Schedelius in his Chronicle 8. But Philippus Ferrarius in his Catalogue of Saints omitted in the Roman Martyrologe being mislead by Dempster a Writer most ridiculously partiall for his Scottish Nation as Bishop Vscher observes assigns a place in the Western parts of Scotland call'd Trimontium and now Attetish for the place of this Virgins Martyrdom and in the Scottish Calander her commemoration is appointed on the twenty sixth of May. Which assertion is so evidently contradicted by many authentick Records of severall Churches and by Authours of such unquestion'd integrity that it deserves not a serious confutation XVII CHAP. 1.2 S. Fugatius and Damianus preach the the Gospell in Brittany 3.4.5 They retire to Glastonbury and rebuild it establishing a succession of Monks They find there the Holy Crosse c. 6. The place of their buriall uncertain 1. HAving thas largely set down the Gests of our Holy King Lucius the first among all Christian Kings we will adioyn hereto such particulars as our ancient Monuments furnish us with all touching the two Holy Legats Fugatius or Phaganus and Damianus or Diruvianus sent by the Venerable Pope Eleutherius to baptise the sayd King and to settle the affaires of the New Brittish Church 2. Now concerning these two glorious Saints thus writes Malmsburiensis out of the Ancient Records of Glastonbury Phaganus and Dervianus came into Brittany to preach the Gospell
The opinion of his Sanctity was great after his death and the memory of it remaind in that Church many ages for thus writes the Authour of his Life When Gundulph was Bishop of Rochester Lanfranc the Arch-bishop pluck'd quite down the Church of S. Andrew and built a new one at which time he took out of the ground the bones of S. Paulinus and putt them honourably in a boxe Now among others then present there was a certain Matron greivously afflicted with an infirmity of body but much more burdned with a certain crime She coming to the Sepulcher of S. Paulinus there with great devotion offred her vow to God That if by the merits of S. Paulinus she might be freed from her disease she would never more committ that sin in which she then lived and presently she was restord to health This Translation was on the fourth day before the Ides of Ianuary on which day his Anniversary solemnity was observ'd in the Church of Rochester His Memory is celebrated both in the English and Roman Martyrologes on the tenth of October In his place Honorius the Arch-bishop of Canterbury ordaind Ithamar descended from a family which was native of Kent but in learning and piety equal to his Predecessours 6. As for the Widdow-Queen Ethelburga after she had dispos'd of her Children the love to whom was the only worldly affection remaining in her heart she determind to shutt it entirely to temporall things and to employ in a Religious solitude all her thoughts and desires upon heaven and God alone Which intention of hers being known to her Brother King Eadbald he piously assiâ—ted her vow and assign'd her a place remov'd from the noise of the Court where she might with much commodity execute her Religious design and moreover bestowd on her a village calld Liming where she built a Monastery and for ought appears was the first Widow among the Saxons which with a Religious veyle receiv'd from S. Paulinus consecrated her self to serve our Lord. B. Parker most unskilfully calls her a veyld Virgin thinking perhaps that none but Virgins might take a Religious Veyle Whereas S. Hierome expressly says that both Virgins and Widows who in scorn of the world had vowd themselves to God did offer their hayr to be cutt off by the Mothers of the Monasteries and afterward went not in contradiction to the Apostles ordinance with their heads uncoverd but bound and veyld 7. Which Sacred veyl was not such an one as woemen ordinarily wear of a light transparent stuff but made of a course weal and â—o thick that mens sights could not peirce it True entire and pure Virginal Chastity saith Tertullian fears nothing so much as its own self It will not suffer the eyes even of women It flyes to the veyl on the head as to a helmet yea as to a sheild to protect its onely good from the darts of Teâ—tations and scandals against suspicions and whispers And concerning this Veyl S. Ambrose has this expression Let men lift up the eyes of their minds and bodyes and consider this congregation of modesty this assembly of integrity this Council of Virginity here are no curious ribbons to adorn the head but an ignoble veyl yet ennâ—bled with the exercise of chastity here all arts to set forth beauty are abandoned 8. This excursion may be pardond being occasiond by this first example in our Saxon Story But this was an example which presently after was imitated by thousands Almost every year we shall read of Virgins hastning out of the world to live with Christ of Monasteries erected enclosures establish'd and God most purely and devoutly served All which continued almost a thousand years in the esteem and gratulation of all Christians till an Apostate Friar solicited a Professed Virgin for his lust to break her vow of chastity and by that example the habitations of Piety became exposed to the rapines and lusts of a Sacrilegious generation 9. This Religious Widow after that by Poverty chastity and subiection of her Will she had ascended to the Perfection of Divine Love ended at last her Mortality Her Memory is celebrated in our Martyrologe on the tenth of September where she is stiled a Mother of Many Virgins and Widows because many such by her example undertook the Sacred Institut of a Religious Profession XXIII CHAP. 1.2 c. The Gests and Martyrdom of S. Livinus 1. ABout this time hapned the Martyrdom of S. Livinus who though not born in Brittany may yet challenge a place in this History The Summary of his Life is thus described by Aubert Miraeus Livinus was born of a noble race in Scotland he means Ireland His Teachers were first a worthy Preist called Benignus afterward the Great S. Augustin first Bishop of England by whom also he was baptised The same Holy Bishop exalted him likewise to the Order of Preisthood in the discharge of which Office he behaved himself so worthily that not long after the Scotts or Irish chose him for their Arch-bishop But he after a while leaving his Vicar in Scotland a man of eminent Sanctity called Silvanus who was his Arch-deacon being moved with the zeale of propagating the Gospell in other Countreys took with him three of his Disciples Folian Helias and Kilian sailed into Flanders and entring into a Monastery at Gant lately built by the Holy Bishop S. Amand he was there kindly entertained by the Abbot Floribert and his Brethren Three years before that S. Bavo had been there buried at whose monument great miracles were wrought And for this reason S. Livinus stayd there thirty days celebrating Masse continually upon his Sepulcher 2. After this departing from thence to execute the Office of preaching he by his instructions example and Miracles converted a world of Infidels to the Faith of Christ. But certain impious persons who hated our Lord and all piety perceiving such great multitudes brought by the Holy Bishop to a Religious life and a contempt of their former Vices and Errours persecuted him wonderfully Neither did they desist from their malice till having seised upon him they cut out his tongue which they cast to be devoured by doggs Which notwithstanding was miraculously restored to him Yet not mollified with this they at last having wounded him greivously in severall places murdred him at Escha a village in Flanders in the year of Grace six hundred thirty three or as some reckon the year following 3. This S. Livinus is to be distinguished from another almost of the same name called Levinus or Lebvinus a companion of S. Willebrord and S. Suibert who likewise finished his Life by Martyrdom neer Gant and is stiled the Apostle of Daventre But he was a Saxon as we shall declare toward the end of this Century Whereas S. Livinus of whom we now treat was an Irishman His Memory is celebrated in the English and Gallican Martyrologes on the twelfth of December THE FIFTEENTH
of which were most horribly depraved and defiled with all manner of uncleannes These were so impatient of reformation that they endeavoured many wayes to destroy him who spared no labours to save them But God defended his servant from their malice 3. After many years spent and divided between the exercises of Martha and Mary sometimes attending in the solitude of his Monastery to Prayer and Contemplation as likewise to the establishing perfect Regular Observance and sometimes travelling abroad to win soules to Christ At last a greivous infirmity seized on him nowithstanding which he would needs undertake a iourney to visit his fellow Disciple Megingant then Bishop of Wizteburg with whom he staied only three dayes For returning homeward his infirmity encreasing he retired to a Monastery in the way dedicated to S Benedict Being there he sent to his Brother S. Willebald who was a Bishop and to other his freinds desiring them to visit and assist him in his last sicknes Who being come exhibited to him all requisit Offices of Christian Charity At last the Holy man perceiving his last hour to approach after many pious exhortations made to all that were present quietly yeilded up his soule to God 4. S. Ludger who wrote the life of S. Gregory the third Bishop of Vtrecht his Master affirms that S. Winnebald was very dear to him who by many Miracles after his death shewd how great the sanctity of his life had been His memory is celebrated in our Martyrologe on the four and twentieth of September but in the Gallican on the first of May Where mention is made of his Relicks translated to Furnes a town in Flanders 5. The other Disciple of S. Boniface was S. Sola an English-Saxon likewise who emulating the piety of his Master taught the Counsells of Christian Perfection to such as S. Boniface had converted to the Faith He accompanied S. Winnebald and S. Willebald in their pilgrimages to Rome And was afterward the first Abbot of a Monastery founded by himself in a place from him called Solenhoffen His Life is extant written above eight hundred years since by Ermenold a Deacon and Disciple of Rabanus Arch-bishop of Mentz Wherin wee read how he became a Father of a great congregation of devout Monks and after many blind lame dumb and deaf miraculously healed by him in the name of Iesus he at last full of all vertues in a good old age gave up his Spirit to God About a hundred years after his death Altimus Bishop of Eysâ—at obstained of Pope Gregory the fourth that his name shâ—uld be written among the Saints Molanus affirms that his Feast is celebrated on the third of December IX CHAP. 1. 2. c. A Rebellion among the Northumbers c. 4.5 Bregvin Arch-bishop of Canterbury dying Iambert succeeds 6.7 c. Severall Episcopall Sees vacant supplied 1. IN the year of Grace seaven hundred hundred sixty one which was the third of the Raign of Ethelwald Mol King of the Northumbers a certain Nobleman of that kingdom named Oswin raised a rebellion against the said King and Armies on both sides being brought into the feild a terrible battell was fought at a place called Edwinscliff in which Oswin was slain 2. The year following the same King in the Citty of Cataract took to wife his Queen called Edilthrida As touching the Citty where this Mariage was celebrated Camden writes that at this day nothing remains of it great but its name being a very small village called Ca-Catarick and Catarick bridge The antiquity whereof is demonstrated by the large Roman way and old broken monuments there digged up 3. No more is found touching the forenamed Queen Edilthrida unlesse this be the same to whom an Epistle of Alcuin is found directed with this inscription To the devout servant of God formerly a Queen now a most beloved Religious Sister Aedilthrydis the humble Levite Alchuin wisheth health Which Epistle is full of pious exhortations and instructions suitable to the state professed by her and likewise of thankfullnes for her munificent liberality to him then living in France 4. The same year Bregwin Arch-bishop of Canterbury after he had governed that Province only three years dyed Concerning whom this Elegy is found in Capgrave Bregwin was appointed by God as a Mirrour so brightly shining with all vertues that in his life every one might find what he ought to imitate At length in the third year of his Bishoprick being full of good works and examples of vertues he departed this life to eternall happines on the seaventh day before the Calends of September and was buried in the Church of S. Iohn adioyning to the Cathedrall Church But in our Martyrologe his Deposition is commemorated on the ninth day before the said Calends In B. Godwins Catalogue of Bishops wee read that the Monks of S. Augustin with armed men entred the Archiepiscopall Palace endeavouring by force to take away the dead Body of Bregwin and that their Abbot Lambrith or Iambert went to Rome to make complaint of the wrong done to that Monastery 5. But besides that none other of our Historians mention this the relation is probably disproved because the same Iambert was by the Citty Monks elected to succeed in the Archiepiscopall See who two years after either went to Rome or from Rome received the Archiepiscopall Pall. 6. The year following the Episcopall See of Candida Casa or Witern being vacant by the death of Frithwald Pectwin was immediatly ordained his successour As yet that Bishoprick pertained to the Iurisdiction of the English and was subordinat to the Metropolitan See of York and so it remaind saith William of Malmsbury all the time of Pectwin Ethelbrith and Beadulf the succeeding Bishops after whom no more can be found because the said Bishoprick quickly failed being seated in the utmost Northern coast of the English Territory and exposed to the violence of the Scotts and Picts 7. Assoon as Iambert Arch-bishop of Canterbury had received his Archiepiscopall Pall he consecrated four Bishops the same year One in Kent and three in the kingdom of the Mercians In Kent the See of Rochester being vacant by the death of Dunn there was substituted in his place Eardulâ— From whom together with a Kentish Prince of the same name there is among the Epistles of S. Boniface found one directed to tâ—e Holy Arch-bishop of Mentz Lullus to renew a charitable correspondence which had past between him and the others his Predecessours Withall as a testimony of such Charity he desired him in his holy Prayers and Sacrifices to be mindfull of three Religious Virgins lately dead in Kent their names were Irmigy Northry and Dulicha 8. There interven'd a great communication of affections and Christian Offices between Saint Lullus and our English Bishops yea Kings also For wee find an Epistle likewise sent to him from Kenulf King of the West-Saxons by a Messenger formerly directed