c. And the Romans take their last leave of Brittany 1. WHilst Brittany was thus infested with suggestions of Hereticks the Scotts Picts and Norvegians saith Florilegus miserably vex'd it with their incursions In which necessity as Gildas writes the Brittains sent messengers to Rome with humble and earnest Petitions for assistance vowing their eternall subjection to the Roman Empire in case their cruell enemies might be repell'd 2. In complyance with which request saith the same Authour a Legion was sent into the Island sufficiently furnish'd with arms which had not been partaker of the former defeat given to the Romans This army coming to a conflict with those barbarous Nations slew great multitudes of them and drove all the rest out of the borders so freeing the poore Brittains from horrible vexations and imminent slavery 3. Who the Roman Generall was under whose conduct this Victory was obtained is not mention'd in story Probable it is that it was Chrysanthus the Son of Marcianus who afterward was chosen Bishop of Constantinople For concerning him Socrates thus writes In the raign of the Great Theodosius this Chrysanthus was by him design'd Prefect of Italy Afterward he was constituted the Emperours Vice-gerent in Brittany in the administration whereof he attained great commendation 4. Who ever was the Generall he together with his Legion was presently sent for back But before their departure saith Gildas they gave order to the Brittains once more to raise a wall between the two Seas Glotta and Bodotria to restrain the Enemies and be a defence to the Brittains But this wall being made by a rude multitude destitute of a Governour and framed for the most part of turfes availed little or nothing at all The bounds of this wall S. Beda thus describes It began toward the West about two miles distance from a Monastery call'd Aebercurnig in a place nam'd in the Picts language Penvahel but in English Penveltun and going Eastward it ended neer the Citty Acluith Now from the Name in the Pictish tongue Penvahel a Brittish word M. Camden iudiciously infers that the Picts were a Brittish Northern Nation for in Welsh at this day Pengual signifies the Head of a Rampire caput valli 5. So useles was this ill-built wall that it was scarce finished but the Scotts and Picts again broke in for according to Gildas his relation Assoon as the Legion with great triumph and joy was gone homeward those former Enemies like ravennous wolves Ambrones lupi enraged with excessive hunger on all sides encompassing the sheepfold in the absence of the shepheard so they with â—ares and full-blown sayles invaded the Island broke into the borders and layd wast all things in their way mowing down and treading underfoot the Brittains like ripe corn 6. Hereupon the afflicted Brittains again sent Messengers after a most deplorable manner with rent garments and their heads covered with dust to implore aide from the Romans endeavouring like fearfull chickens to shrow'd themselves under their Mothers wings They earnestly begg'd them to prevent the utter miserable ruin of their countrey and that the Roman name might not be rendred contemptible to forraign Nations 7. This wofull Petition was address'd to the famous Roman Generall Aetius Prefect of Gaule under whom Brittany was also subiect He therefore mov'd to pitty with so tragicall a relation sent forces under the conduct of Gallio a Cittizen of Ravenna who once more vanquish'd the Enemies But having done this he declar'd to them the Emperours pleasure That for the future Brittany must rely on its own strength and not expect any assistance at all from Rome which at so great a distance and amid'st so many distractions could not attend to so remote a Province He advis'd them therfore to exercise themselves in military affairs to build fortifications in places convenient especially towards the Sea to strengthen their Citties with walls c. And having thus counselled and encouraged the Brittains the Romans took their last leave of them never returning more Yet before they went they once more joyn'd with the Brittains to repair the Wall which they made far more strong then formerly contributing thereto both publick and private charges THE CHVRCH-HISTORY OF BRITTANY UNDER BRITTISH KINGS II. PART THE NINTH BOOK I. CHAPTER 1.2 c. Kingdoms of the Picts and Scotts established in Brittany 1. THE Romans having taken their farewell of this Island it is from that Epocha that we may reckon the institution of two Kingdoms here the Picts and the Scotts For though heretofore there hath been mention made of severall Princes and Kings of each Nation yet they seem to have been Kings rather by election and in the nature of Generall 's for present expeditions then as enjoying an establish'd Principality 2. For as much as concerns the Picts though they always had their habitation in the Northern parts of Brittany yet they were oft forced to change and contract their Seats But now enjoying peace and security by the Romans absence they became establish'd in their ancient Territory Which Territory they in a few years enlarged making an irruption through the Wall of separation and possessing themselves of the Province more Southerly 3. And as for the Scotts they being hitherto as auxiliaries of the Picts mingled among them in all their invasions and oâ—t compell'd by the Romans to return to their habitation in Ireland and other Northern Regions Yet now they fix'd their habitation in the Northern coasts of Brittany under Fergusius their King 4. Of these two Nations and Kingdoms the principall in this age was that oâ— the Picts And if we enquire into their peculiar Seats the Picts seem to have possess'd the Provinces about Edinborough confining to the Wall which therefore was anciently call'd the Picts-wall And the Scots inhabited the Northern and Western Provinces lying nearest to Ireland from whence they came But in the following age they turn'd their arms against the Picts whose numbers and power they by degrees diminished and at last utterly destroy'd their kingdom and name and gave to the whole countrey the new appellation of Scotland II. CHAP. 1. Death of Honorius to whom succeeds Valentinian the third 2 c. A three fold Mission by Pope Celestin into Brittany and Ireland 6 7 S. Patricks Divine vocation 1. IN the year of Grace four hundred twenty three the Emperour Honorius dyed in whose place succeeded Valentinian the third of that name Son of Constantius who had been created Caesar and immediatly before his death Augustus In the Eastern Empire there raign'd the younger Theodosius 2. The same year dyed also Pope Bonifacius and after him was chosen Pope Celestinus to whom our Islands of Brittany and Ireland have an eternall obligation for by him they were either preserved from errour or converted to the Christian Faith By him S. Palladins was sent to the Scotts who freed them from their barbarous Idolatry By him S. Patrick
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
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
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
the mis-intelligence between the severall petty Princes raigning here he forced them to yeild and submit themselves to Tribute Those who opposed him were only a few severall states in the Southern parts of the Island who made choice of Cassibelin King of a few Provinces about London to be Generall in the warre For as for the Northern and Midland Countreyes of Brittany they were not at all engaged nor suffred any prejudice by his conquest Notwithstanding that small purchase which he made and which he paints forth much to his own advantage was so highly esteemed by himselfe and the Roman Senate that they ordained no lesse then twenty days of publick thanksgiving to their Gods for so great a victory as beleiving that they had discovered a new world whose bounds were unknown to them For till the next Age it was not known to be an Island 4. Caesar in his description of this Attempt omits severall passages which were not for his advantage but other Roman Historians of those times take notice of them and particularly Lucan affirms that his affrighted soldiers turn'd their backs to the Brittains in search of whom they made so many voyages And all the fruit of his victory accrewing either to himselfe or the Citty of Rome was very inconsiderable besides the glory of having been an invader saith Dio. Insomuch as Tacitus confesses that though by one prosperous combat he terrified the inhabitants and got some possession of the Sea coasts yet he might be sayd rather to have discovered the Countrey to posterity then to have given them the possession 5. The Motives of his passing the Ocean thither in that warlike manner besides his naturall ambition and thirst of Glory which was boundles was a desire of revenge against the Brittains who sent succours to the Gaules against him and thereby gave some stop and delay to his victories over them Suctonius adds another Motive of Covetousnes for says he Caesar had a great hope of enriching himself with Brittish Pearles the largenes of which he did much admire 6. This first conquest in Brittany such an one as it was hapned about five and fifty yeares before the Birth of our Saviour And the effect of it was only obtaining a verball dependance of some few Southern Princes of the Island on Rome testified by an inconsiderable Tribute The Countrey in the mean time being altogether governed as before for there were as yet no Garrisons left there to keep them in awe the petty Kings raigning still enjoy'd their former dominion over their subjects which by acquaintance with the Romans became more Civil and in that regard were indeed gainers by being conquered III. CHAP. 1.2 The Birth of Christ in the three and fortieth yeare of Augustus when Cynobelin was King in Brittany 3 4 His three children 5. Adminius the eldest is banish'd and Togodumnus succeeds in the Kingdome who denies Tribute 6. The affairs of Brittany neglected by Augustus and Tiberius 7.8 Caligula's fanaticall attempt against it 9. c. Claudius his invasion and conquest continued by his Generall Plautius who after Togodumnus his death overcomes Caractacus and sends him prisoner to Rome 16. His Successours victories 17.18 Of Cartismandua Queen of the Brigantes 19. Suetonius Paulinus subdues the Isle of Mona 20. c. The Iceni under Queen Boudicea rebell and destroy eighty thousand Romans but are defeated by Paulinus 24. Peace succeds 1. CAesar relates as one occasion or pretence for his invasion of Brittany that Mandubratius a son of Immanuentius late King of the Trinobantes that is Middlesex and Essex who had been slain by Cassibelin fled over into France and there demanded Caesars Protection who brought him with him into Brittany and restored him to his Principality This Mandubratius seems to have been the same that Beda Eutropius c. call'd Androgeus a title probably given him by the Brittains for betraying the liberty of his Countrey for in that name according to the ancient Brittish lāguage is imported one that is a criminall facinorous person This Androgeus or Mandubratius seems afterward to have been again expell'd For in Augustus his days Caesars adopted son we find Cynobelin a son of Cassibelin to have raigned in Brittany and continued the payment of the Tribute imposed by Caesar as appears by ancient Coyns which were the Numismata Census 2. It was in the time of this Cynobelin usually by Brittish Historians called Kimbelin and in the forty third yeare of Augustus his raign that the Sun of righteousnes arose a light unto the Gentiles and the glory of his people Israel for then our Lord Iesus Christ the only eternal Son of God was born of a pure Virgin in Bethlem the Citty of David 3. The Seat of this King as likewise of his Predecessours was Camulodunum now called Maldon in Essex as Dio witnesses Which Town received its name from Camulus in an ancient inscription called the Holy and most powerfull God answering to the Roman and Grecian God Mars 4. According to the ancient Brittish Chronicles this Cynobelin had two sons Guiderius and Arviragus who raigned successively after him But in the Roman Histories we find that Cynobelin had three sons of quite different names to wit Adminius Togodumnus and Catarecus or Caractacus It is hard to devine whence this so great diversity of relations should proceed whether the same persons had severall names or whether these were severall persons and Princes of severall dominions in Brittany Neither indeed is it much important in it self and much lesse for our present design that this ambiguity should be cleared 5. It may suffise us to be informed from the Roman Story that in the raign of the Emperour Tiberius who succeeded Augustus the eldest son of Cynobelin called Adminius was for some great crime banish'd by his Father who dying presently after his second son called by the Brittains Guiderius and by the Romans Togodumnus succeeded in the Kingdome and had the confidence to be the first who denyed to pay the Tribute to the Romans imposed on his Ancestours 6. That which gave him this confidence may seem to have been the neglect which Augustus had of preserving his interest in this Island For though toward the middle of his raign upon some provocations he had had an intention to transport an Army hither which was diverted by other occurrents of greater importance yet growing old he changed his mind being so far from an ambition to extend his Empire that he straitned the bounds of it confining it with the River Euphrates on the East and the Ocean on the West and North by which this our Island was in a sort excluded from the Roman Empire And this design which was an effect of Augustus his wisedome was through sluggishnes and an attendance to sensuall pleasures continued by Tiberius who for the space of the first two years never went out of his Palace and during the succeeding twenty years of his his
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
the other side having brought his Army in sight of the enemy rais'd their courage by showing that they were now come to an end of all their labours and dangers that this Victory would bring them all manner of security and plenty And however that in case they should be overcome it would not be inglorious to their memory that they dyed in the utmost bounds of the Earth and Nature 11. The battell was fought with valour on both sides proportionable to the necessity but at last the Brittains were entirely defeated and though in the chace through woods and fast places their rage made them turn upon their pursuers and kill not a few of them yet they were so wholly broken that for many years after their impotency made them quiet 12. This combat was fought in the eighth and last year of Agricola's Government For in the beginning of the year following which was the fifth of Domitians raign he returned to Rome having triumphall ornaments decreed him by the Senat and though in appearance he was honourd by the Emperour yet his glory and vertues rendred him the object of the Tyrants Envy and hatred and within a few years the sacrifice of his cruelty II. CHAP. 1.2 Of the Successours of Agricola in the Government of Brittany 3. Roman Legions continued in Brittany 1. AFter Agricola's departure out of Brittany it does not evidently appeare in History who succeeded him And no wonder since so entire a conquest of the Nation had been gained by Agricola that whosoever follow'd him could not afford any considerable exploits to furnish a History 2. Some Writers say that Cneus Trebellius was the next who succeeded in the Government during Domitians raign Others that it was Salustius Lucullus mention'd by Suetonius in these words Domitian saith he put to death Salustius Lucullus who had been Generall of the Roman Army in Brittany for this only crime because he had suffred lances of a new fashion contrived by himselfe to be called Lucullean Lances 3. This is all that any of the Roman Historians mention touching Brittany during not only the remainder of Domitians raign but also the two Emperours Nerva and Traian which succeeded him The Roman Legions continued still in the Countrey though all their employment was only to prevent any insurrections among the Brittains Iosephus the Iewish Historian gives us an account of the number of those Legions writing thus Brittany is compass'd with the Ocean being a new discover'd world little lesse then ours The Romans now inhabiting there have reduced it to the obedience of their Empire and four Legions are sufficient to over-awe and keep in order the Island though abounding with great multitudes of inhabitants III. CHAP. 1.2 S. Clement Pope He sends Bishops into Gaule 3.4 Of S. Taurinus Bishop Ebroicensium of Eureux not Eboracensium of York 5. The Legation of Brittany to Saint Clement 1. ANcient Ecclesiasticall Monuments doe suggest little or nothing to History relating to Christian Religion in Brittany during the space of time between the end of Nero and the death of Domitian containing twenty eight years from the seaventieth year of Christ to the ninety eighth 2. Toward the latter end of that time S. Clement sitting in the Chair of S. Peter express'd his generall care over the Church both toward the East and West for by a most divine Epistle to the Church of Corinth he prevented a schism threatning its ruine and as Irenaeus saith he repair'd their Faith much decayd by declaring to them the Tradition which he freshly had received from the Apostles 3. Moreover he supplied these Northwest Regions principally the Gaules with Pastors and Bishops sending S. Nicasius to Rouen S. Eutropius to Xaintes S. Lucian to Beauvais and S. Taurinus to Eureux Concerning this last we read thus in the Roman Martyrologe Among the inhabitants of Eureux in Gaule there is on the eleaventh of August a commemoration of S. Taurinus Bishop who having been ordain'd Bishop of that Citty by Saint Clement Pope by his preaching the Gospel propagated the Christian Faith in those Regions and being illustrious by the Glory of his Miracles after many labours sustained for the Truth he slept peaceably in our Lord. 4. Particular notice is to be taken by us of this Saint because of a mistake of certain modern Historians who from a resemblance of the words Ebroicenses and Eboracenses affirm this S. Taurinus to have been Bishop of York For thus doe the Centurists of Magdeburg write S. Taurinus was Bishop of York and dyed a Martyr under the Emperour Adrian Licinius being then Prefect of the Countrey Yea moreover not only Bishop Godwin but S. Antoninus likewise affirm that S. Taurinus and S. Nicasius also pass'd over into Brittany Neither indeed is it altogether without example that Bishops in those days out of a common zeale to mens salvation should change their Seats and remove their residence whither greater necessities and want of spirituall Light did call them And if any credit may be given to the assertion of a Modern Historian that S. Clement formerly accompanying S. Peter preach'd the Gospel in Brittany it is not to be doubted but that his care was to promote the good work begun by himself 5. Yea I find an ancient Manuscript quoted by the R. F. Alford wherein is contained how the Church of Brittany in the year of Grace one hundred sent a Legation to S. Clement desiring him to communicate to them the Order and Rites of celebrating Divine Service And Baronius affirms it to be an ancient Tradition that S. Clement set down in Writing the Order of offring Sacrifice instituted by S. Peter which was afterward in use through the whole Western Church And long before him S. Isidore affirms the same True it is that in following times it was lengthned by additions made to it IV. CHAP. 1. Brittains sayd to have been divided into Ecclesiasticall Provinces by Pope Anacletus in the raign of Trajanus 2. Such a Division much later 1. IN the raign of the Emperour Traian S. Anacletus the Successour of S. Clement in the Chaire of S. Peter is sayd to have divided Brittany into five Provinces and Metropoles ordaining Bishops and Primats in each and hereto we find our Protestant Arch-Bishop Parker to have given his asassent The ground whereof is a certain Decretall Epistle long since publish'd under the name of the sayd Pope in which a division of Provinces is indeed mentioned yet without any application to Brittany But the authority of that Epistle being much suspected yea renounced by severall not only Protestant but Catholike Authours little credit is to be given to that relation grounded by some upon it touching the sayd Division though Giraldus our Welsh Historian undertake to set down the particular names of the Provinces calling one Britannia prima which is the Western part of the Island the second he names Britannia secunda
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
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
on the one side wherof were inscribed these words Antoninus and Geta the third time Consuls and on another was a votive dedication to the Dui or God of the Brigantes Who this God was is uncertain onely it appears that every Province and perhaps every city and Town in Brittany had their peculiar Deâ—â—y such an one was Belatucadrus Andates c. Now the Roman Superstition was such as that they worshipped all the Idols of the Nations conquered by them and such an one probably was this Dui or God of the Brigantes Yet considering the late conversion both of the Southern and Northern Brittains why may not this God of the Brigantes be the only true God worshipped by these New Converts and honour'd with an Inscription by this unbeleiving Roman as one among the croud of profane Deities superstitiously adored by them V. CHAP. 1.2 S. Amphibalus a Young Christian Brittain and afterward the Converter of S. Albanus accompanies the two young Emperours to Rome 1. AMong other Brittains which now attended the two young Emperours in their return to Rome being moved therto either out of respect to them or a curiosity of travelling into foraign countreys one young man is particularly taken notice of in our ancient Annalls which after some years doe celebrate his Memory as a glorious ornament of our Nation in being the Instructour of our first Martyr S. Alban in the Christian Faith and a companion of his Martyrdom This was young Amphibalus born at Cair-leon upon Vsk Isca in the County of Monmouth Concerning whom our Writers give this Character That he was from his â—ender years bred up in good literature and withall instructed in Christian Religion whilst he liv'd in Brittany that he learnt both the Greek and Latin tongues and was likewise instituted in Eloquence Afterward he travelled to Rome with a resolution there to betake himself to higher studies where he spent his time principally in reading and understanding Holy Scripture and the Doctrine of Christian Religion till the beginning of the cruell persecution rais'd by Diocletian 2. Two voyages of his to Rome are commemorated and it was in the Second that he made his continuance there in which he gave himselfe to these serious and sacred studies and was ordain'd a Preist and sent back by the Pope into Brittany where saith Boethius and Bale he became Bishop of the Isle of Man In this his first voyage thither he was an Auditour of the Holy Pope Zephirin who interpreted the Christian Law as our Martyrologe testifies But concerning Amphibalus more shall be spoken hereafter VI. CHAP. 1.2.3 A long silence touching British affairs And fictions of Geffrey of Monmouth touching Caransius 4. Succession of Popes 1. FOR the space of almost threescore yeares after the death of Severus the Writers of Roman affairs make no mention at all of Brittany which silence of theirs has given occasion to some of our ancient Historians to insert fictions of their own or to relate true occurrents without any regard to time and order 2. Thus Geffrey of Monmouth and some Modern Writers mislead by him affirm that a certain Brittish Prince called Carausius having kill'd the Emperour Antoninus Bassianus sirnamed Caracalla in a battell in the year of our Lord two hundred and eighteen therupon invaded the Kingdom of Brittany Wheras it is certain that at this time Antoninus was in the Eastern parts where with giving hopes of a Mariage with the daughter of King Artabanus he treachorously killd great numbers of the Parthians and presently after was himselfe murdred by Macrinus Prefect of the Pretorian bands who succeeding in the Empire was in lesse then a years space likewise kill'd by Heliogabalâ—s To whom afterward succeeded Alexander Severus 3. As for Carausius certain it is that he took the Title of Emperour in Brittany but that hapned sixty eight years after this time assign'd by Geffrey of Monmouth and his followers so that being not yet born he could neither raign nor kill Antoninus We shall speak of him in his due place and season 4. In the year of Grace two hundred twenty and one Pope Zephirin died having sate eighteen years and Calistus succeeded him In whose time our ancient Records mention one Cadorus Bishop of London after whose death Obinus followd the fourth Bishop of that See Of whom nothing remains recorded but only their Names VII CHAP. 1. The Emperour Alexander Severus murdred by Maximinus who succeeds in the Empire 1. THE Emperour Alexander Severus a vertuous Prince no enemy to Christianity which some conceive to have been profess'd by his Mother Mammaea was in the fourteenth year of his raign slain by the treason of Iulius Maximinus who succeeded in his place We mention this here that we may take notice of the mistake of some Writers who affirm that he was slain in Brittany in a town called Sicila This is evident saith Richard White and that town took its name from Sicilius a Son of King Guintelin True it is that Victor resolutly says that it was at Sicila a Village of Brittany that Alexander was slain and Lampridius affirms that it was in Brittany or as other Writers will have it in Gaule But Herodian Capitolinus and generally other Historians confidently pronounce that it was in a Village neer Mogontiacum or Mentz called Sicila wherin they are followed by Eusobius Onuphrius Panvinius Platina Baronius c. And this no doubt is the truth since there are no ancient Monuments testifying that Alexander or his Successour and Murderer Maximinus ever were in Brittany VIII CHAP. i. c. Of Chrathlintus a Christian King of the Caledonian Brittains taught by S. Amphibalus Sacred Rites of those days And who this S. Amphibalus was 1. IN these times when Maximinus began his raign Christian Religion flourish'd in Brittany both in the Southern parts under the Romans dominion and among the Caledonians also where raigned Chrathlintus a Christian Prince successour of Donaldus This Chrathâ—intâ—s is sayd to have been directed in matters of Religion by Amphibalus who is suppos'd to have return'd from Rome about this time and become a Teacher of the Caledonians 2. Now what Sacred Rites he taught them is thus declared by Hector Boethius King Chrathlintus saith he adorned the Sacred Temple built by the Holy Bishop Amphibalus in the Isle of Man with very Noble gifts as Chalices Patens Candlesticks and such like sacred Vessells all made of silver and gold likewise with an Altar enclos'd with Copper and brasse He assigned moreover for the maintenance of the said Church revenews out of the lands adioyning therto That was the first Church among the Scots consecrated according to Christian Rites and wherin the Prime Bishop and Ecclesiasticall Prelate had his See The same Authour hereto adds That this Church was called Sadorensis or rather as at this day Sodorensis the reason of which name as hath befalâ—n to many
other things and places is by the great antiquity conceal'd from posterity Some Writers imagine that it was called Sodorensis because it was by Amphibalus dedicated to our Saviour called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Soter 3. This Narration for as much as concerns Amphibalus if this be the Brittish Martyr Amphibalus seems to be of doubtfull credit since he could scarce be so timely a Bishop For almost fifty years must yet passe before we introduce him ascending the Episcopall throne offring himselfe a Champion and Sacrifice for the Christian Faith IX CHAP. 1. The Sixth Persecution rais'd by the Emperour Maximinus Martyrdom of Pope Pontianus 2. Of Cyriacus a Brittain falsly suppos'd to be the Successour of Pope Pontianus 3.4.5 The Martyrdom of S. Vrsula and the eleaven thousand Virgins falsly refer'd to this age Fictions concerning them 1. AT this time S. Pontianus Bishop of Rome governed the Church of God whose Predecessour was S. Vrban who succeeded S. Calistus Now the Tyrant Maximinus raising the sixth Persecution sharpned it especially against Bishops and Teachers of the Christian Flock By his command therfore S. Pontianus who by the Emperour Alexander had been banish'd into Sardinia was crown'd with Martyrdom being beaten to death with clubbs To him succeeded S. Anterus by NatioÌ„ a Grecian who the year following was likewise put to death by the same Tyrant 2. Hence it appears that those Writers are manifestly disprooved who after S. Pontianus place in the Chair of S. Peter a person unknown to Antiquity called Cyriacus The Patrons of this Errour are the Authour of the â—asciculus temporum Bergomensis Nauclerus c. Hereto some Modern Writers add that Cyriacus was by birth a Brittain and appointed by S. Pontianus going into banishment his Vicar at Rome to exercise there in his absence the Papall offices for which cause he was by some called Pope 3. A yet greater Errour is that by which certain Authours refer the Martyrdom of S. Vrsula and many thousand Virgins her companions to these times Concerning whose particular Gests things are reported beyond all bounds of probability or even possibility Hermanus Crombachius who has written a book of the Martyrdom of those Virgins pretends that S. Vrsula was the daughter of a certain Prince in Ireland a Christian called Dionethus or Dionothus and that all her companions came out of the same Countrey These holy Virgins saith he the Emperour Maximinus beseeging and winning by assault Colonia most barbarously murdred Wheras it is most certain both by Tradition and all ancient Monuments that before S. Patricks time the first Apostle of Ireland there was in that Island no Prince that was Christian and much lesse could it afford eleaven thousand Christian Virgins Which by what miracle they should in those times be brought to Colen no man can rationally imagin 4. A yet more absurd fancy is entertain'd by some others concerning these Virgins who affirm that they in devotion undertook a pilgrimage to Rome accompanied by severall Princes and in their retinue the foremention'd Cyriacus and returning by Colen were there martyred Indeed a proper time is found by these Writers for a Pilgrimage to be perform'd by such an Army of Virgins c. when the persecuting Tyrant Maximinus so cruelly raged against Christians Notwithstanding besid's pretended Revelations there is produced an eye-witnes of all this a certain companion of S. Vrsula call'd Vetena who it seems escaped the slaughter that she might acquaint posterity with the story of her Fellows The tale reported by her is as followeth When we were at Rome there were at that time two wicked Princes whose names were Maximinus and Africanus Yet Maximinus though then Consul with Africanus never was at Rome who seeing our great multituds and how many Romans associated themselves to us conceived great indignation against us fearing least by our means Christian Religion might encrease and gather strength Hereupon having by â—heir Spyes learnt out what way we intended to â—ourney they sent with great hast messengers to a certain kinsman of theirs called Iulius who was Prince of the Nation of the Hunns exhorting him to bring forth his Army to persecute and destroy us Who readily complying with their desire rush'd violently upon us when we were at Colen and there shed our blood 5. Such dreams as these the inventions of vain and idle witts which gain no beleif to themselves and disgrace Truth reported by others deserve not to be confuted but with indignation to be rejected and conteâ—â—'d And as for the true Story of S. Vrsula's Martyrdom with her companions we shall herafter in due time and place about the middle of the fifth Century give a sober and rationall account of it shewing that she was indeed the daughter of one Dionothus a petty Christian Prince not in Ireland but Cornwall and that those holy Virgins being destin'd for spouses to great multituds of Brittains not long before placed in Gallia Armorica from them named lesser Brittany they were on the Sea surpris'd by a Navy of Hunns and by them led captives up the Rhine to Câ—len where they received a glorious Martyrdom X. CHAP. 1. Maximinus the Emperour slain by his Army His Successours 2. Of Pope Fabianus and his pretended Bull to confirm the Priviledges of Cambridge 3. Peace of Gods Church and many Churches built 4. An Ancient Monument touching the Emperour Gordianus and his Wife 1. MAximinus having raign'd not full four years was slain by his own soldiers at Aquileia to whom succeeded Maximus and Balbinus chosen by the Roman Senat to oppose Maximinus who after a few months were likewise slain by the Soldiers and in their place they advanced to the Empire Gordianus the grandchild of a former Gordianus who in a sedition against Maximinus had been proclamed Emperour in Africk and approved by the Senat and people of Rome but presently after was deprived both of his Empire and life 2. During the Raign of Maximinus as likewise of the Younger Gordianus the Holy Pope Fabianus sate in the Chair of S. Peter being the Successour of Pontianus There is produced by Caius the Advocat of the Vniversity of Cambridge a Bull of Pope Honorius dated the six hundred twenty fourth year of our Lord in which this Pope Fabianus is sayd to have approv'd and confirm'd the sayd Vniversity In case the said Bull be authentick it shall not here be inquired what Proofs those who obtain'd it from Pope Honorius could alledge for their pretending to such a Confirmation by S. Fabianus This is however certain that this Holy Pope was not only watchfull over the affairs of the whole Church but a favourer of learning and learned men To him did the famous Origen give account in an Epistle of the orthodoxe soundnes of his doctrin as Eusebius testifies 3. At this time the Christian Church enioyed great tranquillity saith Baronius Of which occasion many Bishops making good use not
only propagated the Faith but likewise illustrated it by building many Churches This is affirm'd by S. Gregory Nyssen who says that in those days many Churches and Altars were erected every where And particularly the holy Pope Fabianus commanded Churches to be built over the vaults where the bodies of the holy Martyrs had been buried which Churches were much frequented by the devotion of Christians No wonder then if in Brittany as yet free from all persecution there be so many testimonies of Churches Altars and Sacrifices Neither can it be doubted but that among others Obinus Bishop of London as likewise Conanus his next Successour about these times were carefull to imitate the zeale of other Bishops 4. We will not here omitt the taking notice of a Monument or Inscription found among the Brigantes being a Votive Table For the safety of M. Antonius Gordianus the Son of Publius the invincible Emperour and of Sabina Furia Tranquilla his Wife and their whole sacred Family Which Table was erected by the Emperours Wing of horse for their courage call'd Gordia the Prefect wherof was Aemilius Crispinus a Gentleman of Rome born at Tuidrus or Thisdrus in the Province of Africa under the command of Nonnius Philippus the Emperours Lieutenant Propretor of Brittany Atticus and Pratextatus being Consuls 5. In which Table we learn two particulars no where else to be found The first is That Nonnius Philippus was at this time Governour of Brittany And the other That the Daughter of Misitheus whom the Emperour married was called Sabinâ— Furia Tranquilla though Paulus Diaconus calls her Tranquillina XI CHAP. 1. The Emperour Gordianus slain by Philippus who succeeded 2.3 The Emperour Philippus and his Son become Christians The occasion of their Conversion 4. After seaven years raign they are slain by their soldiers and Decius succeeded in the Empire 1. IN the sixth year of his raign was the Emperour Gordianus slain by the treason of M. Iulius Philippus who succeeded him and within a few years gave a proof how instable Kingdoms are which are unlawfully purchased for by the like though lesse uniust treason he was depriv'd both of his Empire and life by his own Guards Yet thiâ— advantage did Philip enioy above any of his Predecessors that Almighty God gave him the Grace to wash away his sins by Baptisme and Pennance 2. The occasion of whose conversion to Christianity is thus declared in the Acts of S. Pontius the Martyr Pontius a person advanced to a high dignity was known and a particular freind of the two Philips the Father and the son who were Emperours Now in the year one thousand after the foundation of Rome they sayd to Pontius Let us goe and begg the favour of the Gods which have brought us to this thousandth year of the Roman City But Pontius used many excuses to avoyd this however they in a freeidly manner endeavoured to compell him to the Sacrifice Whereupon he conceiving this to be a good opportunity given him by God to advance his truth sayd to them O most pious Emperours since it is the only true God which has bestowed on you the Supreme dominion over men why doe you not rather adore Him by whom such power and majesty has been conser'd on you The Emperour Philip answered him For that cause it is that I desire to sacrifice to the great God Iupiter But Pontius smiling Be not deceiv'd O Emperour said he It is that Omnipotent God whose throne is in heaven who created all things by his Word and by his Spirit gave life to them which made you Emperour In a word by these and other like speeches and perswasions the Emperours received the Faith of Christ and were baptis'd by the holy Pope Fabianus 3. The two Emperour being thus perswaded of the Truth of Christianity gave a worthy example of Christian modesty and humility when they came to be baptis'd as Eusebius relates it The report is saith he that Philip who was then converted to the Christian Faith on the last Vigils before Easter coming to the Church with a desire to be partaker of the Prayer together with the Congregation was not permitted by the Bishop then presiding over the Church to enter till he had confess'd his sins and placed himselfe among those who were yet unabsolved and therefore were separated from the rest in a rank appointed for Penitents For the Bishop told him plainly that considering the many crimes publickly known to have been committed by him he could not upon any other condition receive him into the Church Whereupon the Emperour with a willing and chearfull mind submitted himselfe to the Bishops injunction thereby declaring an ingenuous modesty together with a Religious and pious affection proceeding from a reverent fear of God 4. These two Emperours raigned full seaven years and at the end were slain by their own soldiers The time and manner of their death is signified by an ancient Inscription and Monument at Verona where the Elder Philip was kill'd The Words of the Inscription are these In the two hundred fifty and third year of Christ the Emperour Philip the Elder was slain at Verona and the Younger at Rome by their own Guards incited thereto by Decius who succeeded in the Empire XII CHAP. 1. The birth of Helena Mother of Constantin 2.3 A Controversy about the Place of her birth c. 1. THE Raign of the two Philips is rendred to us more illustrious by the Mother of Constantin the Great She was the daughter of a Brittish Prince called Coëllus or Coelus who exercised a Dominion among the Trinobantes the Regni and the Iceni that is Essex Middlesex Surrey Sussex Norfolk c. For though after the death of King Lucius not any Brittain was allow'd the name of King yet certain it is there were severall Princes of the Brittish blood which under an inferiour Title exercised a kingly Iurisdiction in their respective Provinces 2. There is a controversy among Writers in which of these Provinces S. Helena was born The more common opinion is that it was among the Trinobantes in Essex and particularly in Colchester which saith M. Camden was in those days the prime Citty of that Province as a world of ancient Coyns there dayly digg'd up doe testify And that she was indeed born there the same Authour prooves by an argument of some weight for says he The inhabitants of Colchester doe confidently affirm that Flavia Iulia Helena the Mother of Constantin the Great and daughter of King Coâ—llus was born in their Citty And therefore in memory of the Holy Crosse found by her they bear for their Arms in a Scutcheon a knotty Crosse placed between four Crowns 3. Notwithstanding severall Historians of the Greek Church doe challenge S. Helena to themselves affirming that she was born in Bithynia in a town rais'd by her son Constantin to the dignity of a Citty and from her called Helenopolis Moreover
though a Pagan may seem to allude where speaking to Constantin he says But why should we flatteringly commend thy Fathers private affection to thee Thy Succession in the Empire was the Decree of all the Gods first prescribed by their authority and afterwards confirm'd by mature counsell of men At that time thou wast call'd to be a saving guardian of the Empire by celestiall signs and divine suffrages 5. This affliction of Constantius for the absence and dangerous condition of his beloved Son did not long continue for God was pleased in an extraordinary manner to restore him to him before his death This is thus express'd by Eusebius Those Princes saith he which then govern'd the Empire with envy and fear look'd upon Constantin observing him to be a generous valiant tall young man of a noble and erected mind Whereupon they watchfully sought an opportunity to doe some notable mischeif to him This the young man perceiving for by a Divine instinct their private designs against him were severall times discovered he at last sought to secure himself by flight therin imitating well the example of the great Prophet Moyses Now Almighty God graciously disposed all things for his safety and advancement wisely ordaining that he should opportunely be present to succeed his dying Father 6. Aurelius Victor adds an Act of Constantins full of prudence and subtilty by which he secured his flight from all danger of pursuers to elude whom he through all his long iourney from Rome to Brittany gave command that all the publick Post-horses should be killd by which means saith the Oratour he arriv'd in Brittany with so prosperous a voyage that he seem'd to have been brought thither not riding by the ordinary Post but mounted and flying in a heavenly Chariot 7. Now with what ioy and affection he was received by his Father Eusebius thus describes Assoon as Constantius saw his Son beyond his expectation arriv'd he leaping from his bed with a tender affection embrac'd him saying that now his min'd was freed from the only trouble remaining in it which was his Sons absence for which he offred his Prayers and thanksgiving to God with great devotion Now he esteem'd death almost as wellcom to him as immortality Presently after this he disposed of his family and all worldly affaires in good order and placing himself in the midst of his Sons and daughters which like a Quire encompass'd him lying in his royall Palace and bed he bequeathed the inheritance of the Empire according to the common Law of Nature to that Son which in age went before the rest and so departed out of this life 8. When Constantius was dead his funeralls were celebrated by his Son with all pompe and solemnity infinite numbers of people assisting and with ioyfull acclamations and sweet harmony of Hymns celebrating his happines saith the same Eusebius Moreover that he was according to the Roman Heathenish manner consecrated and refer'd among their Gods ancient coyns doe testify in which he is inscribed with the Title of Divus or a person Deified and on the other side is represented a Temple and two Eagles over which are the words Happy Memory all which are manifest signs of Consecration as it is describ'd by Herodian 9. He was buried in the Citty of York For saith Camden men of good credit have reported to us that when the houses of Monks there were in the memory of our Fathers demolish'd there was found a lamp burning in a little vaulted Chappell in which the Tradition was that Constantius had been buried For Lazius a learned writer relates that the Ancients had the art to maintain a flame burning for many ages by the means of gold dissolved into a kind of liquid oyle So that Mathew of Westminster is mistaken when he reports that at Caer-custenith neer Snoudon hills was found the body of the glorious Emperour Constantius Father of the Noble Emperour Constantin and by the Kings command removed and honourably placed in the Church of Caërnarvon That body questionles belonged to some other of the same name for all Historians agree that this Constantius dyed and was buried at York THE SEAVENTH BOOK OF THE CHVRCH-HISTORY OF BRITTANY I. CHAP. 1.2 Constantin succeeds his Father 3. c. At first refuses the Title of Emperour 1. CONSTANTIVS dying left behind him severall children of both sexes for besides his eldest son Constantin born to him by Helena he had by Theodora daughter in Law to the Emperour Maximianus Herculius three Sons Constantius the Father of Gallus and Iulian Dalmatius and Annibalius to whom some adde a second Constantin and two daughters Constantia maried to Licinius and Eutropia 2. Notwithstanding Constantius at his death passing by all these his sons though born to him by a Wife of the Imperiall family and then present with him he left the Empire to his eldest son Constantin only Which is an undoubted argument that he acknowledged him for his legitimate Son Whence it is that Eusebius writes that Constantius at his death did by the common Law of Nature leave the inheritance of the Empire to that Son who in age went before the rest and that this disposall was ratified by the suffrages and acclamations of the Army 3. Notwithstanding Constantin not so much out of moderation as prudent caution contented himself with the Title of Caesar refusing that of Augustus or Emperour in so much saith the Panegyrist as when the soldiers with great affection and ardour would have cast on him the Imperiall Purple he sett spurs to his horse and fled from them 4. There may be supposed more then one Motive to induce Constantin to this modest refusall For Diocletian and Maximianus though they had relinqush'd the administration of the Empire were yet alive and by their counsells and authority had a great influence on the state by whom Galerius Maximinus and Severus were chosen Caesars and Successours who had the possession of the Eastern Empire and Italy Therfore Constantin being young and at so great a distance from the Imperiall Citty had reason to think it dangerous without their consent to assume the Supreme Authority Wherfore his first attempt was to gain the affection and consent of Maximianus Herculeus from whom his Father Constantius had received the Purple robe and who having then a daughter mariageable called Fausta Constantin demanded her for his wife presuming the Empire should be her dowry 5. That such was the mind and intention of Constantin a Panegyrist of that time hath well express'd Such was thy prudent moderation saith he O Constantin that whereas thy Father had bequeathed the Empire to thee thou thoughtst fitt to content thy self with the Title of Caesar expecting till the same Maximianus who had before declared thy Father Emperour should doe the same to thee for thou esteemedst it more glorious by thy vertues to deserve the Empire as a reward then to enioy it as an inheritance
living in Citties together with all trades should rest on the Venerable day of our Lord. But as for those Pagans who lived in the Countrey free license was given them to employ themselves in cultivating the grounds Because it often happens that no other day is more commodious for plowing or digging the Vines Care therfore ought to be taken that an opportunity of a common good granted by divine Providence should not be lost 7. Yea so admirable was Constantins piety that he thought fitt to prescribe a Form of Prayer to be recited on all Sundays both by Christians in Citties and Pagans in Villages and specially by Soldiers in these words Wee acknowledge thee the only God wee professe thee our Soveraign King Wee invoke thee our Helper By thee wee obtain Victories by thee wee have vanquished our Enemies Wee acknowledge that from thee wee have obtained present felicity and hope wee shall obtain future also Wee are all of us thy Suppliants Wee beseech to preserve many years safe and victorious Constantin our Emperour together with his pious children 8. Yea moreover as Sozomen relates in honour of our Saviours Crosse and Passion he ordained a vacancy of judgments and Trades likewise on Fridayes and that some time should be spent then in Prayers and supplications to God 9. Lastly he not only by his own magnificence enriched the Church but by a Law opened as it were the purses of all men to endow it For he gave a generall licence to all persons without exceptions to bequeath what proportion of their goods they thought fit to the most holy Congregation of the Catholick Church 10. Yet one action this time Constantin did by which he stained the purity of his Faith Being at Sardica he was inform'd from Rome that his Palace had been struck with lightning Which was an ominous sign to the Pagan Romans and according to their ancient Laws to be averted by many superstitious lustrations and purgations Wherupon in condescendence to their request he gave order to the Magistrats to consult the Sooth sayers what was portended therby onely he commanded them to abstain from domesticall Sacrifices 11. But this unlawfull condescendence of the Emperour wrought an effect to the prejudice of Christians which he did not expect For upon this occasion the Heathen Roman Magistrats at the instigation of the Aruspices or Soothsayers would compell the Christians to ioyn in the publick expiatory Sacrifices But they refusing to doe it chose rather to leave the Citty Which doubtlesse was the cause of the voluntary Exile of the Holy Pope Silvester 12. Hereupon Constantin being informed of this was forced to publish a Severe Law commanding That if any one should endeavour to compell any Ecclesiasticall persons or any other professing the most holy Law of the Catholick Sect to celebrate the Rites of Heathenish lustrations if he were a mean person he should be publickly beaten with clubs if otherwise he should have a greivous fine imposed on him XIII HAP 1.2 Constantin baptised at Rome and the occasion of it Errour of Eusebius 6.7 c. His Great acts of Piety after his Baptism 1. HItherto Constantin had deferd his Baptism according to the Custome of many in that Age who being taught that that Holy Sacrament is a certain purgation of all Sins and gives to the persons an immediate and undoubted right to heaven frequently delayed the receiving it till their declining age or when death was ready to seise on them But in this year many sad misfortunes proceeding from heynous sins enforced Constantin now to have recourse to that saving remedy 2. True it is that Eusebius and other Greek Authours mislead by him affirm that he was not baptised till near his death and then received that Sacrament from the Sacrilegious hands of Eusebius Bishop of Nicomediae a principall pillar of the Arian Heresy Thus wrote the other Eusebius Bishop of Caesarea of the same faction to please Constantius his Son seduced by them But the constant Tradition of the Western Church confirm'd by many proofs as the authentick Acts of Artemius c. doth positively inform us that this year being the three hundred twenty fourth after the Incarnation of our Saviour Constantin received Baptism at Rome by the hands of Pope Silvester upon this occasion 3. The younger Licinius his Sisters Son was falsely accused to him of a design to rebell against him wherupon Constantin commanded him to be slain Immediatly after this he putt to death his own eldest Son Crispus born to him by Minervina a young Prince already famous for many Victories and adorned with many vertues and principally with chastity The crime layd to his charge was an attempt to violate his Mother in Law Fausta Constantins wife In conclusion it being too late discovered that this accusation was falsely invented by Fausta because the young man would not yeild to her lust Constantin caused his wife to be stifled in a hot bath 4. After these calamities and crimes as we read in the Acts of Pope Silvester and find asserted by Pope Hadrian and the Fathers of the Second General Council of Nicaea c. Almighty God struck Constantin with a Leprosy who being anxious to find a remedy he was inform'd by the Soothsayers that the only way to restore him was by a bath of infants blood Which detestable Medecin being abhorr'd by Constantin God was pleas'd by a Vision in Sleep wherin the Apostles S. Peter and Paul appear'd to him to instruct him that the only certain Remedy would be to receive Baptism at the hands of the Holy Pope Silvester Which was accordingly with great solemnity perform'd 5. Hereof an evident and Visible proof to this day is the magnificent Chappell built by Constantin himself in the same place where he was baptised in which according to the description eight hundred years agoe taken by Anastasius Bibliothecarius out of a most ancient Manuscript there was a font Baptisterium built of Porphyry and covered within and without with three thousand pound weight of pure silver and over it hung a Phiale weighing fifty pounds of pure gold in which yearly two hundred pounds of Balsom did burn On the brink of the Font was placed a Lamb of pure gold which powred forth water and weighed thirty pounds At the right hand of the Lamb stood the Statue of our Saviour of pure Silver weighing one hundred and seaventy pounds And â—n the left hand was placed S. Iohn Baptist of silver weighing one hundred pounds holding a scroll wherin was written Behold the Lamb of God Behold him whâ— takes away the sins of the world c. 6. After his Baptism the Emperour according to the Churches Custom being for seaven days cloath'd in White consecrated every day with some signall act of Piety In the first he published as a Law that Christ is the true Lord who cleansed him from his Leprosy and whom he commanded to be adored through the whole
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
necessary or expedient for humane life Now this one particular is worthy of eternall memory that immediatly before his last day he recited a funerall Oration in the place accustomed wherin by a continued discourse he spoke of the immortality of soules of the rewards which God had prepared for those who lived piously in this world and on the contrary of the miserable end of those who lead ungodly lives Which discourses pronounced with gravity and constancy aâ—d so affect some of his domesticall servants that one of them a Pagan Idolater who pretended to wisedom being ask'd What his opinion was of the Emperours Oration answered though with some unwillingnes that the things spoken by him seem'd to him to be true and particularly that he could not but highly commend his discourse against a multitude of Gods Such entertainments as those the pious Emperour had among his familiar freinds a little before his death by which he seem'd to make the way to a better life more easy and eaven 5. Eutropius relates that there appeared in heaven at that time a Comet of an unusuall biggnes portending his death After which he fell into some distemper which encreasing forced him to make use of hott bathes in the Citty From whence saith Eusebius he was removed to his Mothers Citty Helenopolis in Bithynia where for a long time continuing in the Church consecrated to the Holy Martyr S. Lucianus he offred his Prayers and publick vowes to God 6. The same Authour in another place pretends that Constantin was at this time baptis'd by the Arian Bishop of Nicomedia neer that Citty But the generall Tradition of the Western Church refutes him as hath been shew'd Therfore what was done by Constantin was not receiving Baptism but Pennance which the same Eusebius relating it calls an imitation of saving Baptism For thus he writes when the consideration of his last day came into Constantins mind he iudging this an opportune time for him to be cleansed of his sins which as a mortall man he had committed and beleiving that by the efficacy of Divine Mysteries and an imitation of the saving laver of Baptism his soule would be purged he I say considering these things fell humbly on his knees in the Church of Martyrs at Helenopolis and there confessing his sins he offred himself a suppliant to God for the pardon of them And then it was that he first became worthy to receive absolution by imposition of hands and prayer 7. In the last place touching his death the same Authour thus prosecutes his Narration Assoon as all holy Mysteries were perform'd he was cloathed with Kingly robes shining brighter then light and was layd in a bed of a most pure whitenesse for his Imperiall Purple he rejected and would never make use of it afterward Then with a clear distinct voyce he prayd and gave thanks to God adding words to this purpose Now I am assured of happines and immortall life now I am made partaker of Divine light Withall he with detestation bewayld the state of miserable Pagans whom be affirm'd most unhappy in that they were deprived of such divine blessings 8. And when the Centurions and other Superiour Officers were admitted and deplored with mournfull voyces their unhappines in the losse of such an Emperour wishing him a longer life To these he answered that now he had attain'd true life indeed and that himself only understood his own happines for which reason his desire was to hasten his departure to God After this he disposed his will in which he gave honourable pensions to such Romans as inhabited the Royall Citty new built by him As for his Empire he left it as a Patrimony to his children Thus dyed Constantin during the solemnity of Pentecost 9. As for the Vniversall mourning the clamours of the people the tearing of garments and prostration of bodies on the ground practised by the Soldiers to testify their inconsolable sorrow for so great a losse together with the glorious solemnization of his funeralls at which was only of all his Sons Constantius present all these things may be read at large in the same Authour This one passage in him must not be omitted where he writes thus Great multitudes of people together with the Preists did not cease with teares and much groaning to powre forth Prayers unto God for the soule of the Emperour wherin they performed an Office very acceptable and desired by the pious Prince himself And likewise God therby shew'd his singular goodnes to his servant both in that after his death his Empire descended to his own dear children and that himself obtain'd repose in the place so affected by him wherin the Memory of the Apostles was ioyâ—tly celebrated 10. That the Church did not doubt of the happines and glory of this pious Emperour after his death the Martyrologes of the Greek the Gallican and Brittish Churches are assured testimonies in which on the one and twentieth of May his Memory is anniversarily solemnised And particularly in Brittany Temples were built and dedicated to his honour One of which still remaines in the Province of the Ordovices or Northwales call'd at this day by his name which was erected by the Brittains when they Were driven by the Saxons into those quarters THE EIGHTH BOOK OF THE CHVRCH-HISTORY OF BRITTANY I. CHAP. 1.2 Constantin divides the Empire among his three Sons 3. Brittany under Constantin the younger 4. His kindnes to S. Athanasius 5. He is slain by his Brothers soldiers 1. THE Emperour Constantin at his death divided the Roman Empire among his three Sons so as that his eldest Son Constantin enioy'd for his portion the Provinces of Gaule Spain Brittany and all other conquer'd countreyes on this side the Alpes Constantius the Second Son being only present at his Fathers death took possession of the Eastern Regions together with Egypt and the youngest son Constans had the government of Italy and Africk 2. Now the Gests of these and severall succeeding Emperours we will leave to such Historians as have written of the generall affaires of the Church and Empire For having confin'd our selves to matters which concern the Ecclesiasticall state of Brittany our purpose is to treat no further of such Emperours then as they are necessary for Chronology or shall concern our own countrey 3. As touching therfore the Second Constantin within whose Iurisdiction Brittany was comprised his Raign was short not lasting entirely four years And all that we can record of him is that he was constant in the Profession of the Catholick Faith establish'd in the Great Council of Nicaea wherin he was imitated likewise by his Youngest Brother Constans So that by these two Emperours means all the Western Churches were secured from the infection of Heresy which miserably defaced the Eastern parts by reason that Constantius raigning there suffred himself to be perverted by Eusebius Bishop of Nicomedia and other Arian Hereticks 4. Now an illustrious proof
that S. Patrick was by birth a Brittain yet mistakes in the particular Province For it was not in the Northern parts of Brittany that he was born but in the South-west coast among the Dimetae dwelling in the Province call'd Penbrockshire as besides Stanihurst a learned Irish Antiquary it is asserted by our Learned Camden The words of Stanihurst are these In the year of our Redemption three hundred sixty one a certain honourable and vertuous person call'd Calphurnius or Calphurinus had by his equally vertuous wife whose name was Conchessa a Son who at his Baptism was call'd Suchar or Socher which name afterward was by S. German Bishop changed into Magonius and in conclusion by Pope Celestin he was named Patrick Now Patrick was born in a territory of Brittany lying by the Sea which anciently was named Triburnia or Eiburnia This is a place of the Dimetae in Penbrockshire called by Ptolomy the Promontory of the Octopitae and at this day S. Davids or Menevia Menew A countrey this is stony and barren saith Giraldus Cambrensis neither cloath'd with woods nor divided with rivers nor adorn'd with meadows but â—n all sides expos'd to winds and tempests Notwithstanding this rude unfruitfull place as Camden relates was the â—etreat and dwelling of persons eminent in sanctity For Calphurnius a Brittish Preist as we find in our Ecclesiasticall Records in a valley of this countrey call'd Rosina had by his Wife Concha the Sister of S. Martin Bishop of Tours a Son call'd Patrick the Apostle of Ireland And also David a most Religious Bishop removed his Archiepiscopall See from Caer-leon Isca Legionum in Monmouthshire to Menew which is the remotest corner of this Region 5. In these testimonies we find not only the place of S. Patricks birth but the names of his parents also All which though with some variety is confirm'd by S. Beda who writes thus S. Patrick who was also called Sochet was by Nation a Brittain Where after great tribulations suffred in his youth he became an instrument of salvation to his nation and countrey He was begotten in Brittany by his Father Calphurnius a Deaton who was the Son of Potitus a Preist and his Mothers name was Concha The place of his birth was a village call'd Bannava in the Region of Triburnia not far distant from the Western Sea Which village we find was unquestionably situated in the Province of Neustria where anciently Gyants are said to have dwelt Thus writes S. Beda from Probus the first Describer of S. Patrick Gests 6. Now wheras Calphurnius the Father of S. Patrick is said by some to have been a Preist or more truly by S. Beda a Deacon we are to understand that according to the Ecclesiasticall Laws and custom of that age his Father after receiving holy Orders profess'd continency as S. Hilary of Poictiers and S. Restitutus Bishop of London likewise did 7. And as for S. Patricks Mother called Conches or Conchessa she was Sister or rather as Bishop Vsher iudges daughter to the Sister of the famous S. Martin Bishop of Tours who flourish'd gloriously in this age and who according to Sulpitius Severus his computation was at this time in the forty fifth year of his age He came out of Pannonia Hungary descended from parents saith the same Authour according to worldly dignity of no mean degree Thus much of the Birth countrey and Parents of this glorious S. Patrick of whose wonderfull Gests we shall in prosecution of this History have frequent occasion to treat X. CHAP. 1.2.3.4 c. Iulian succeeds Constantius Becomes an Apostate and Persecutour 7. c. Is slain to whom Iovian succeeds and restores Christianity 10. Iovian dying Valentinian is chosen Emperour 1. COnstantius in the five and twentieth year after his Father Constantins death and in the eleaventh after the death of his Brother Constans dyed of a feaver at Mopsuestia in Cilicia to whom Iulian formerly created Caesar by him succeeded in the Empire which he polluted by his infamous Apostacy 2. He had from his infancy not only been bred in the Profession of Christianity but was likewise inscrib'd in an inferiour Ecclesiasticall Degree of Lector but being of an inconstant curious disposition and unfortunatly falling into the acquaintance and freindship of certain Pagan Philosophers and Magicians he was perverted by them And though during Constantius his life he dissembled his change yet being possess'd of the Empire he publickly profess'd not only a defection from the Christian Faith but an implacable hatred of it and resolution to employ all the power of Earth and Hell to destroy it 3. The first proof hereof he gave as S. Gregory Nazianzen witnesses in taking away that famous Labarum or Imperiall Ensign of the Crosse which in Constantins and Constantius his times leading their Armies had given them assured victories in place whereof he restor'd the Images of the Heathen Gods and Devills together with the representations of Eagles Dragons Wolves Minotaurs c. which the soldiers were commanded to adore 4. Moreover saith Suidas he endeavoured to abolish all other monuments of the Holy Crosse insomuch as he caused to be digg'd out of the-Earth a representation of the Citty of Constantinople on the top wherof Constantin had caused the Crosse to be fixed to denote the felicity of that New Citty And his custome was both in words and Writing to object to Christians by way of ignominy their Veneration of the Holy Crosse. For this speech of his is quoted by S. Cyrill of Alexandria O wretched Christians said he you have left off to adore and worship those sheilds Ancilia which the great God Iupiter Father of Mars lett fall from heaven to be a reall not verball pledge of his perpetuall protection to our Citty and which are still kepd in it Instead of which you adore the wood of the Crosse painting images of it on your foreheads and before your dores Thus Iulian censures the Rite of the Ancient Church and of all the faithfull in his time who on all occasions express'd their Veneration of that blessed sign and instrument of our Redemption 5. With the same malignity he sought to abolish all other Sacred images and Statues erected in severall places to preserve the memory of past Divine benefits as likewise the Relicks of former Saints and Martyrs Thus Sozomen relates how he caused to be thrown down the miraculous Statue of our Saviour which the devout woman who had been curd by him of an issue of blood had rais'd at Caesaréa Philippi in the place wherof the impious Apostat erected his own But immediatly fire from heaven divided his Satue in the mid'st throwing to the ground the upper half which remain'd till the Historians days all black as things strook with lightning use to be 5. The same Authour likewise recounts how the same Impious Emperour consulting a certain Oracle at Daphne neer Antioch and the Devill which
consecrated Bishop by S. Siricius Successour to Pope Damasus sent back into his own countrey to preach the Gospell to the Picts shall be shew'd in due place 8. There are not wanting besides our own some forraign Authours also who affirm that the famous Bishop Moyses the Apostle of the Saracens was born in Brittany by name Notgerus Bishop of Liege Henry Fitz-Simon a learned Irish Iesuit Certain it is that he was in a speciall manner commemorated his Festivall observ'd in the Brittish Martyrologe compos'd by S. Beda where we read these words In Brittany in the Citty Augusta London is on the seaventh of February celebrated the memory of S. Augulus Bishop and Martyr Likewise of the Venerable Bishop S. Moyses Who first of all leading a solitary life in the desart became famous for many miracles He was afterward by his illustrious merits vertues and glorious miracles made Bishop of the Saracens at the request of Mauvia their Queen He preserv'd the Communion of the Catholick Faith without blemish and after he had converted to the Faith of Christ the greatest part of that Nation he rested in peace A larger narration of his Gests may be read in Theodoret Socrates and Ruffinus which are omitted by reason of the uncertainty whether they pertain to our present History XIII CHAP. 1. Fraomarius a Tribune in Brittany 2. Gratianus succeeds Valentinian 1. VAlentinian the year before his death sent over into Brittany a certain German King of the Bucinonantes call'd Fraomarius to exercise the Office of Tribune over the Alemanni a powerfull sqadron of the Brittish army And the reason was because the little territory pagus of which he was King lying neer to Moguntiacum Mentz had been wasted and impoverish'd by occasion of his Predecessour Macrianuâ— his rebellion saith Marcellinus Where we may observe how in those times the Title of King was attributed to such as govern'd a very small Territory So that our Legendaries are not much to be blam'd when they so frequently bestow that Title on petty Princes 2. To Valentinian succeeded his Son Gratianus who nine years before had been named Augustus or Emperour by his Father And six dayes after his younger Brother Valentinian also was saluted Emperour by the Soldiers which election Gratianus meekly approv'd XIV CHAP. 1.2 c. S. Patrick in his childhood made a Captive His wonderfull piety c. 5. He is freed 1. THE Picts Scots and other Enemies of the Brittains though they had been repress'd by Theodosius the Emperour Valentinians Generall yet were not so enfeebled but that they made frequent incursionâ— into the Roman Provinces there And particularly in one of them they led captive with them the child of Calphurnius Socher call'd afterward Patrick in the sixteenth year of his age whom they sold to a Noble man in the Northern parts of Ireland call'd by Florilegus Nulcu by Capgrave Miluch or rather as Malmsburiensis reads the name Milchu who employ'd the holy youth in keeping his swine 2. Iocelinus the most exact writer of his life thus relates the matter Inasmuch saith he as according to Scripture gold is tryed in the furnace and a just man by tribulation S. Patrick that he might be better fitted to receive a crown of glory was first exercis'd with tentations For the illustrious child entring into his sixteenth year was snatch'd away captive by Pirats which wasted that countrey and was caried by theÌ„ into Ireland There he was sold a slave to a certain Pagan Prince called Milcho whose territory lay in the Northern parts And herein his condition was parallell to that of the Holy Patriark Ioseph who at the same age was sold into Egypt And as Ioseph after his humiliation was exalted to the Government of all Egypt so likewise did S. Patrick after his captivity obtain a spirituall principality over Ireland Again as Ioseph by his providence nourish'd the Egyptians with corn during a long famine so S. Patrick in processe of time fed the Irishmen ready to perish by their Idolatry with the saving nourishment of Christian Faith So that on both of them affliction was brought for the advancement of their soules in piety for affliction had the same effect on them that the flaile has on corn the furnace on Gold the file on iron the wine-presse on grapes and the Olive-presse on Olives Now Saint Patrick by the command of the foresaid Prince was deputed to the keeping his hoggs 3. Six whole years the devout youth spent in this slavery during which time what wonderfull miracles God wrought by him are at large recited by the same Authour as likewise by Capgrave Bishop â—sher c. to whom I refer the curious reader for as much as a particular account of all the Gests or Saints would swell enormously our present History And in selecting their principall actions it seems more proffitable to recount their vertues which may and ought to be imitated by all then their Miracles which exceed the power of nature and some times of beleif 4. S. Patricks employmens therefore withdrawing him from the conversation of men afforded him space enough to attend to God Insomuch as Iocelinus testifieth that a hundred times a day and as oft in the night he address'd his prayers to God And to Prayer he added Fasting for the mortification of his Sences So that with these two Wings he mounted to such perfection as he enjoy'd a frequent conversation with Angells And particularly in Capgrave we read how an Angel calleâ— Victor frequently visited him and said to him Thou doest very well to fast Ere long thoâ— shalt return to thy countrey Now the Reader needs not wonder at the unusuall Name of this Angel For as S. Gregory observes Angels are therfore design'd by particular names that they may signify their speciall vertues and operations Therfore S. Patrick who was to conquer first his own tribulations and afterward the power of the Devill in that Idolatrous Nation was properly visited by an Angel named Victor or Conquerour 5. The Piety devotion Fasting patience in labours other heavenly vertues of this holy young man at last moved the divine Goodnes miraculously to free him as he had the Israëlites out of his captivity For as Malmsburiensis relates after six years slavery S. Patrick by the admonition of an Angel found under a certain â—urf a Summe of Gold which he gave to his Lord and so was deliver'd from captivity and returned to his parents and countrey which he gloriously illustrated with the admirable sanctity of his life The prosecution of his Gests we remit to the following age XV. CHAP. 1 Valens the Emp. burnt 2 Theodosius made partner of the Empire 3 4. c. Maximus Governour of Brittany Caries all the forces out whence came the Destruction of the Island 10. Mistake of those who place the Martyrdom of S. Vrsula c. here 1. ABout this time the
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
out of her hiding place and last of them all receiv'd the crown of Martyrdom 11. Such a Sacrifice as this had never before nor hath been since offred to Almighty God by his Church We read of a S. Agnes a S. Catherine a S. Lucia and a few other miraculous Examples of courage and chastity in tender Virgins but they were single persons neither is it unusuall with God to shew the power of his Grace in some particular favourits of his to exalt the Faith and confound Vnbeleivers There have likewise been recorded illustrious Examples of multitudes of men which have freely without resistance suffred Martyrdom as the Thebaean Legion c. But such courage in men especially soldiers who dayly look death in the face is not to be esteemed very extraordinary Whereas here we find a far more numerous Army consisting of young timerous tender Virgins to whom ordinarily the sight of an Enemies look is insupportable offring themselves freely to innumerable swords Among them all not one single soule is found which yeilds to their flatteries or fury and but one which delays her suffring the space onely of a single night after which she as it were animated with the united Spirits of all her Companions next day solicites the united fury of innumerable Enemies against her self alone and gloriously triumphing over the rage of men and Hell too is ioyfully receiv'd among her blessed CoÌ„panions XXIII CHAP. 1 2.3 c. The Names of these Holy Virgins Their Sacred Relicks dispersed all the world over Names of Churches where they are Venerated 1. THE fame of this Tragedy in which was display'd the extremity of savage cruelty in men and miraculous courage in Virgins was no sooner spread abroad in the world but that all countreys and Churches became suitours to be enrich'd with a portion of their sacred Relicks which have been spread through Germany Gaule Italy Brittany yea Asia Africk and of late India it self So exactly was fullfill'd the Canticle of S. Vrsula and her Associats mention'd by Gildas Thou O God hast given us as sheep to be devoured and hast disperst us among the Nations 2. Not above ten years after this glorious Martyrdom that is about the year of Grace four hundred sixty three saith Hermannus Fleien one of the Canons of Colen Solinus nam'd by others Aquilinus Arch-Bishop of that Citty as we find in our ancient Records out of reverence to the Memory of these holy Virgins enclosed with walls the sacred place of their Martyrdom in which was erected a Church consecrated to their cheif Captain S. Vrsula which remains to this day by the accesse of which place the Citty of Colen was so much enlarg'd He also took out of the ground as carefully as he could their sacred bones which he reverently again buried in chests hewn out of stone 3. Neither did Brittany long delay to testify her veneration to these her blessed countrey-women A witnes whereof is a well known Town call'd Maidenhead For thus writes Camden The Thames saith he winds back to a little town formerly call'd Southlington but afterward Maidenhead from the Superstitious reverence there given to the head of I know not what holy Virgin one of the eleaven thousand Brittish Martyrs which under the conduct of S. Vrsula returning from Rome into their countrey were martyrd by Attila call'd the Scourge of God near Colen in Germany Thus he censures the piety of a world of devout Emperours Kings Princes Bishops and Doctours of Gods Church in all ages 4. A volume might be written if we should â—eap up all testimonies which a world of Churches have given of their veneration to these Holy Martyrs Therefore we will only here sett down a Catalogue of such of their Names as have escaped oblivion And thereto adjoyn the Churches where many of them are venerated in regard their Holy Relicks repose there 5. S. Vrsula for orders sake divided that innocent Army into certain Squadrons First then she gave a generall authority over all under her to these Virgins S. Cordula S. Eleutheria S. Florentia and S. Pinnosa Next she assign'd the care inspection of a thousand to each of these following S. Benedicta S. Benigna S. Carpophora S. Celindes S. Clementia S. Columba S. Lata S. Lucia S. Odilia S. Sapientia and S. Sybylla After which these particular Virgins names are recorded Saint Agnes S. Antonina S. Areaphila S. Babcaria S. Baldina S. Candida S. Caraduméa S. Christina S. Columbina S. Corona S Cunera Saint Deodata S. Flora S. Florina S. Florentina S. Grata S. Honorata S. Honoria S. Hostia S. Languida S. Margarita S. Margaria S. Oliva S. Panpheta S. Panefrides S. Pavia S. Paulina S. Pharanina S. Pisona S. Sambaria S. Sancta S. Semibaria S. Terentia S. Valeria 6. The Body of S. Vrsula her self is still preserv'd at Colen but her Head was translated to Paris where the illustrious Colledge of Sorbon acknowledges her their Patronesse At S. Denys in France there is a commemoration of Panefredis Secunda Semibaria Florina and Valeria companions of S. Vrsula whose relicks repose there At Huy in Germany is celebrated the Translation of S. Odilia famous for frequent miâ—acles In Flanders the Monastery of Marcian possesses some part of the Body of S. Cordula The Monastery of Good Hope belonging to the Premonstratenses enjoy the Relicks of S. Terentia S. Marguarita S. Baldina S. Samburia and S. Margaria translated thither when Reinaldus was Arch-Bishop of Colen The Monastery of S. Martin in Tornâ—y glories in the Bodies of S. Honorata Florina and some part of the Relicks of S. Vrsula The Monastery of S. Amand in Pabula preserves the Bodies of three of these Virgins whose names are unknown At Andain in Arduenna repose the Bodies of S. Grata S. Hostia and S. Areaphila A Hospital in Tornay possesses S. Languida At Arras the Bodyes of S. Beata and S. Sancta are said to repose in the Cathedrall Church Four of these Holy Virgins are celebrated at the Monastery of S. Bertin in S. Aumar At the Church of S. Salvius the Relicks of S. Pavia and S. Caradumea are venerated The Norbertins at Vicoine possesse the Bodies of S. Corona S. Pharanina S. Babcaria S. Margarita another S. Margarita S. Benedicta S. Cordula S. Sambaria S. Deodata S. Panpheta and S. Christina The Canons of Tungres venerate the Heads of S. Pinnosa and S. Oliva The Nunnes of Mays venerate the Relicks of S. Paulina S. Florentina and eight other Holy Virgins companions of S. Vrsula In the town of Rhenen in the Diocese of Vtrecht is celebrated the memory of S. Cunera which holy Virgin in our Martyrologe is said to have been withdrawn from the slaughter by a certain noble Matron in whose house she was awhile conceal'd but being discover'd had her neck broken But the Belgick Writers say that she in compassion was by a certain Noble man privately taken from the rest and conveyed to his house Where his
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
place in this History because they illustrated Brittany with their miracles and Sanctity those were S. Iustinian ad S. Patern 2. As touching S. Iustinian Iohn of Tinmouth who wrote his life extant in Capgrave relates that he took his Original from a Noble family in Lesser Brittany where having spent his youth in the study of Learning he received the Order of Preisthood and by a divine Oracle was commanded to forsake his countrey Wherupon taking with him certain companions they adventured to sea in a boat covered with leather praying earnestly to God that he would so direct their course that they might come to a solitude commodious for the Exercises of a Spirituall life At length they landed in a Province calld Cormer Where they aboad a certain time during which many began to repair to the Holy man desirous to partake of his Instructions Not long after he received a second command from God to reliquish that place Whereupon entring his boat and committing himself to the Sea and winds he landed in an Island then calld Lemeney in which Honorious a devout son of King Thefriauc then lived a mortified holy life having preferd poverty and a free attendance on God before all worldly contentments By him S. Iustinian was received with great benignity who seing the fervour of his piety offred the same mansion to him to the end he might without any distraction be vigilant in gaining soules to our Lord. But this offer S. Iustinian would not accept but upon this condition that S. Honorius his sister and a mayd attending on her might no longer abide in the same Island This scrupulousnes of the holy man was derided by certain unbeleivers there but S. Honorius to enjoy his devout instructions and conversation complied with his desire and sent his Sister away into a remote region 3. After this very many repaird to him to be instructed in the Christian Faith and piety who return'd sufficiently enlightned both to find the way of salvation themselves and to teach it to others Now when the same of so great a Saint came to the knowledge of S. David he sent Messengers to him earnestly and humbly entreating him to come to him To whom he condescended without delay and was with great honour received by him Being come S. David chose him for his Conâ—essour and under God the cheif directour of his soule and withall granted to him and the devout Brethren who lived with him the mansions which he had chosen both in the Island and adjoyning continent 4. In consequence hereto the Authour of his life relates at large the envy and malice with which the Enemy of mankind impugn'd the devout and mortified life of this Holy man seeking to interrupt it by severall and frequent illusions by suggesting scandalous lyes concerning him But in conclusion saith he when the Devill saw himself every way vanquish'd by the Holy man and that neither by violent assaults nor malicious suggestions he could withdraw him from the service of God he attempted other arts and guilefull machinations For he infus'd the poyson of his malice into the hearts of three of the Holy mans servants Insomuch as they having been reprov'd by him for their idlenes and mispending the time they were â—â—â—staâ—'d with fury against him insomuch as 〈◊〉 upon him they threw him to the ground and most cruelly cutt off his head But in the place where the sacred Head fell to the ground a fountain of pure water presently flowd by drinking of which in following times many were miraculously restore to health 5 But Mâ—racles greater then these immediatly suceeded his death For the Body of the Blessed Martyr presently rose and taking the head between the two arms went down to the seaâ—hore and walking thence on the sea pass'd over to the port call'd by his name and being arriv'd in the place where a Church is now built to his Memory it fell down and was there buried by Saint David with spirituall Hymns and Canticles In which Church our Lord vouchsafes frequently to attest the sanctity of his servant by many miracles His Commemoration is on the three and twentieth of August 6. The Island in this Narration call'd Lemency is the same saith Camden which Pliny calls Silimnum and Ptolomy Limâ—s and which in English hath obtain'd a new Name being calld Ramsey It lyes opposite and in sight of Menevia the Episcopall seat of Saint David and it was in former ages famous by the death of a Holy man calld Iustinian who arriving there from Lesser Brittany in this age abounding with Saints lived many years a solitary life continually united to God but was at last murdred by his servants and inscrib'd in the Catalogue of Martyrs IX CHAP. 1.2 c. Of Saint Paternus Abbot and Bishop 1. THE sanctity of S. Dubricius and S. David c. drew into Brittany from forrein parts also Saint Paternus a devout young man in the year of Grace five hundred and sixteen saith B. Vsher together with eight hundred forty seaven Monks which accompanied him These fixed themselves in a place calld Mauritania and there S. Patern built a Church and Monastery in which he placed the Monks under an Oeconomus a Provost and a Deane Thus we read in the life of S. Paternus extant in Capgrave 2. But in what part of Brittany may we find a place calld Mauritania In all probability that name proceeds from the Writers mistake being putt for that Church which in the Province of the Dimetae or West Wales was dedicated to the honour of Saint Paternus and is calld Llan Patern Vaur or as the Brittains pronounce it Llan Patern Maur from which last word seems to be derived the Name Mauritania 3. The Monastery planted there by S. Paternus seems to have sent abroad many Colonies of Religious men into the Province for we read in Capgrave that S. Paternus built Monasteries and Churches through all the Region calld Ceretica now Cardigan-shire As for the Church here calld Mauritania it was also an Episcopal See in which S. Paternus himself first sate as we find in the life of S. Sulgen born there and describ'd in verse cited by B. Vsher. Venantius Fortunatus likewise a famous Poet of this age celebrates the memory of S. Paternus in both qualities both as an Abbot and a Bishop 4. After one and twenty years spent by S. Paternus in governing the See erected by himself and from him named Paternensis he was by Prince Caradoc recalld into his own Native countrey of Lesser Brittany where he was made Bishop of the Church of Vannes having left his Successour in his former Bishoprick one named Kinoc There was also another Saint Paternus Bishop of Auvranches in France Abrincae Ecclesiae many of whose Gests are by our Historians ascribed to this S. Paternus The Memory the former is celebrated in the Gallican Martyrologe on the sixteenth of May wheras that of our present Saint
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
stole or by fraud usurped any thing belonging to the Church to Bishops or other Ecclesiasticks of inferiour degrees For his desire was to give his protection especially to those whom he had so reverently received and whose Doctrine he had embraced 2. What those Decrees and Forms of Iudgments were may be seen in that celebrated Manuscript called the Text of Rochester which in the days of King Henry the first was composâ—d by Enulphus Bishop of that Citty under this Title These are the Decrees or Iudgements which King Ethelbert constituted in the life time of Saint Augustin Here I will sett down onely such Laws as regard the Church and which Saint Beda seems to mention The which have been brought by Sir H. Spelman into the first Tome of English Councils and expressed both in the Saxon and Latin tongues The sence of them here follows 3. Whosoever shall uniustly take away any thing belonging to God and the Church shall make satisfaction by a twelve-fold restitution If such things belong to a Bishop he shall restore eleaven fold If to a Preist nine fold If to a Deacon six fold If to an inferiour Clark three fold If the peace of the Church shall be violated by any one let satisfaction be made by paying double and the like for disturbing the peace of a Monk If when the King shall call an Assembly of his people and any iniury shall be offred them the Offender shall restore double and moreover pay to the King fifty shillings Solidos If when the King shall be entertained in any house any dammage shall be done there let it be recompenced double c. 4. Besides these saith the same Sir H. Spelman in his Annotations to these Decrees there follow many other Laws pertaining to honesty of life and correction of manners but these are all which regard the Church The precise time when these Decrees were published does not appear but as the Title declares they were made whilst Saint Augustin was alive and as the care of the Church manifests they were published after King Ethelberts conversion XXVI CHAP. i S. Augustin ordains S. Laurence his Successour 2.3 c. His Bull confirming the Monastery of Canterbury suspected 1. THERE is among our Historians great variety of iudgments touching the number of years spent by Saint Augustin in Brittany and in what year he dyed Those who place his death in the third year of this Century as Iohn Stow or in the fourth as Baronius endeavours to collect from Saint Beda doe too-much hasten his end For the Charters of King Ethelbert before mentioned declare that he was alive in the fifth year On the other side those prolong his life too-much who affirm that he dyed not till the year of Grace six hundred and fifteen as some Authours quoted by F. Reyner in his Apostolatus or thirteen as Sir Henry Savill in his Chronologicall Fasts or twelve as Malmsburiensis or eleaven as Polydor Virgil For Pope Boniface in his Letters dated six hundred and ten does suppose him dead Therefore in such variety of opinions Sigebert and Mathew of Westminster most probably place his death in the year of Grace six hundred and eight 2. A little before his death Saint Augustin consecrated Laurence a Bishop designing him his Successour in the Archiepiscopall See Which he did after the example of many former holy Bishops who upon their view of death approaching relinquishing the care of others attended devoutly to the contemplation of that one necessary thing This same passage is thus related by Saint Beda Laurence succeeded Saint Augustin having been ordained Bishop by him whilst he was yet alive out of an apprehension least after his death the State of the Church as yet tender being destitute of a Pastour though but foâ— a moment shâ—uld begin to falter And herein he followed the Example of the Prime Pastour of Gods Church namely Saint Peter Prince of the Apostles who having founded the Church of Christ at Rome is reported to have made Saint Clement his Coadjutour in preaching the Gospell and consecrated him his Successour 3. The last publick Act attributed to Saint Augustin was the Confirming by a Solemne Bull all the Rights and Priviledges of his Beloved Monastery of Saint Peter and Saint Paul exempting it from all Episcopall Iurisdiction from all tribute servitude c. Prohibiting all Bishops to say Masses exercise Ordinations or Consecrations c. as by their own authority or Iurisdiction in that place deputed for the Treasury of Saints and burying place of succeeding Arch-bishops and Princes And assigning the Election of Abbots to the free Suffrages of the Monks c. All which Priviledges he confirmed with a denunciation of eternall damnation to transgeessours of them by the authority of Saint Peter and his Vicar the Bishop of Rome Saint Gregory This Bull was published in the presence and with the approbation of King Ethelbert his Son Eadbald all the Nobility of the Kingdom his Successour Laurence Mellitus Bishop of London Iustus Bishop of Rochester and Peter the Abbot and Monks of the same Monastery 4 To which Bull there was appended a Seale of Lead Neither is it a wonder saith the Transcriber of the said Bull that Saint Augustin being a Roman an Apostle of the English Nation and a Legat of the Apostolick See indued with a plenary Authority to erect Bishopricks and consecrate Bishops all which were to be subject to him should have the power and right to make use of a leaden Seale Though for the space of five hundred years the like priviledge was not afterward granted to any of our Bishops 5. Notwithstanding Sir H. Spelman not unreasonably suspects this not to be a genuine Bull because the fabrick of the Seale expresses not so great antiquity and the Sculpture of it more elegant then suited with that age likewise the Image of our Saviour and the form of a Church engraved in it ressembles the exactnes almost of these later times Moreover the Letters of the Inscription are such as were used in far later ages about the raign of King Henry the second or Richard the first And lastly the Seal is appended to the Bull not after the Roman fashion with a Chord of Silk but with a Skrole of parchmin after the Norman custom To these we may add that by mentioning in the same Writing together both Laurence his Successour and Peter the Abbot who was drowned above a year before that designation of a Successour the order of times is manifestly crofounded and the authority of the Bull prejudiced 6. However that most of these Priviviledges were even from the beginning conferred on that Monastery yea by Saint Augustin himself in vertue of a delegated authority from the See Apostolick though the simplicity of that age did not need such Legall Instruments and formall clauses the constant Tradition of that age doth justify Which Priviledges in succeeding times were frequently ratified by following Popes
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
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
1. BY the death of Penda King of the Mercians that Kingdom â—ogether with that of the East-Angles whose Kings he had slain became an accession to the Dominions of the Victorious Oswi King of the Northumbers Notwithstanding in the year of Grace six hundred fifty six he permitted Peoda the Son of Penda on whom he had bestowd his daughter Alefleda to raign over the Southern Mercians and likewise Edelwald the Brother of Ethelhere to govern the East-Angles 2. By this indulgence of King Oswi the Christian Faith became spread through severall Provinces For he built many Churches and Monasteries in the Kingdom of the Mercians among which the principall was that which was founded in an Island called the Isle of the Hart in which as a testimony of gratitude to God for his Victory he enclosed his daughter So that within the space of two years the Mercians following his example were converted to the Faith and baptised 3. And for a firmer establishment of Christianity among them he erected an Episcopall See common to the Mercians and Midland Angli in the Citty of Lichfeâ—ld saith Bishop Godwin Though more probable it is that as yet there was no certain place affixed for the Bishops residence For severall years after this we read how Wuifer King of the Mercians offred Lichfeild to S. Wilfrid that he might there either build a Monastery or erect an Episcopall See The first Bishop of the Mercians was Diuma a Scottish Preist of whom we have already made mention 4. This is testified by S Beda in this passage When Oswi the most Christian King of the Northumbers having slain King Penda took possession of his Kingdom Diuma one of the four forementioned Preists was ordainen Bishop both of the Midland Angli and Mercians by Fâ—nan Bishop of Lindisfarn For by reason of the Scarcenes of Preists they were compelled to sett one Bishop over two Nations Now Diuma having in a short time converted great multitudes dyed To whom in the year of Grace six hundred fifty eight succeeded Cellach who was likewise a Scotch-man Who after he had a few years governed that Province voluntarily relinquished his Bishoprick and returned to his Native countrey the Island of Hu or Hy. 5. At this time Ithamar who had succeeded S. Paulinus in the Episcopall See of Rochester dyed He was not inferiour to his Predecessours in Sanctity and learning saith Harpsfeild who adds That many years after his death by reason of frequent Miracles wrought by his intercession his Body was translated to a more honourable place Which translation was made on the fourth day before the Ides of Ianuary on which day his Anniversary Solemnity is celebrated in the Church of Rochester In our Martyrologe his Commemoration is made on the Tenth of Iune which was the day of his death And his Successour was Damian descended of the South-Saxons saith S. Beda 6. This year Merevald a Prince among the Mercians built a Monastery for Religious Virgins at a Town called Lemster in the Province of Hereford He is said to have been the Son of Penda and Brother of Peoda and of his Successour Wolfer Kings of the Mercians But he is more illustrious by his Holy Offspring his son Merefin and his daughters Milburga Mildreda and Milgitha born to him by his Wife S. Ermenburga â— King Peoda likewise the Son of Penda first King of the Mercians this same year for propagating Christian Religion layd the foundation of the Mâ—nastery of Medeshampsted in the Region of the Girvians or Northamptonshire But having been the next year slain by the treason of his Wife Alcfleda the naturall daughter of Oswi King of the Northumbers he could not perfect it Thus writes Camden from Robert Swapham an ancient Authour And Ingulphus adds That he left his fervour and devotion to his Brother Wulfer his Successour in that Kingdom and to Saxulph a man of great power there who finished the said Monastery eight years after The place anciently called Medeshampsted afterward took the name of Peterborough illustrious in regard of this Monastery II. CHAP. 1.2.3 The Brittains overthrown by the King of the West-Saxons 1. IN the year of Grace six hundred fifty eight the Brittains received a great overthrow from Kenewalch King of the West-Saxons which is thus described by Huntingdon Cenwald so he calls him King of the West-Saxons in the seaventeenth year of his raign fought against the Brittains at Pennum For they knowing that he had been overcome by the stouâ— King Penda and almost driven out of his kingdom imagined that he was unable to sustain the burden of a battell Whereupon having gathered a numerous army they with great pride invaded his Dominions At the beginning of the fight the Brittains feircely setting on the Saxons made them give ground But the Saxons with great courage and constancy resisting them for they preferred death before flying at last so wearied the Brittains that their forces melted away like snow so that they turned their backs to the pursuers and fled from Pennum as far as Pedredan The wound which the Progeny of Brutus received this day was incurable 2. The place where this battell was sought was an obscure Village in Somersetshire at this day called Pen but anciently famous for this Victory over the Brittains and another which in after ages King Edmond Ironside gaind there against the Danes From thence the Brittains fled to the River Pedreâ— now called Parret where was seated the town called by the Saxons Pedridan but now Pederton and it was sometimes the Royal Seat of Ina King of the West-Saxons 3. After this combat and Victory the Saxons became so terrible to the Brittains that they never afterward descended from their mountains to encounter them Besides this their State became divided among severall petty Princes each of which sought to secure and enlarge his own territory so that they never combind in any generall design against the Saxons or English III. CHAP. 1.2 Wolfer King of the Mercians His wife S. Erminilda Trumhere Bishop of the Mercians 1. KING Peoda as hath been declared having been slain by the treachery of his Wife in the time of the Paschall Solemnity that Kingdom of the Southern Mercians returned to the Dominion of King Oswi But three years after the Princes of the Nation of the Mercians rebelled against him their names were Immin Eaba and Eadbert These exalted to the throne Wulfer the Son of Penda then a young man whom they had preserved and kept conceald among them And so with their new King they ioyfully persevered in Profession of Christianity 2. The wife of this King Wulfer was S. Erminilda Whose parents were Ercombert King of Kent and S. Sexburga By their pious instructions she became so zealous in promoting the Christian faith that by her perswasions kindnes and holy example that perverse and rude Nation of the Mercians was brought
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
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
a Feast four hundred and sixty Noble Brittains a son of one of the said Neblemen named Aben with much adoe escaping retired himself into a wood on 〈◊〉 mountain nor far distant from Oxford Southward where he lived a long time among wild beasts sustained only with hearbes and rootes and wanting water he by hiâ— Prayers obtained a spring remaining to this day And the people of the countrey observing his Sanctity frequently visited him for instruction in Christian Piety But he thirsting after solitude privately went into Ireland where he happily ended his dayes The mountain was from him called Abendun on which was built a Cell and a Chappell consecrated to the blessed Virgin Mary 3. In such state the place continued till this time in which a Monastery was built there by the liberality of the forementioned Cissa a Prince of the West-Saxons under whose dominion was Wiltshire and a great part of Barkshire And the occasion of that foundation was this Cissa had a Nephew called Heane a man of great piety who having heard from a certain Preacher a sermon on those words of our Saviour That it is easier for a Camell to goe through the eye of a Needle then for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of heaven presently conceived a contempt of earthly riches and a resolution to aspire only to heavenly Beatitude Thereupon coming to his Vncle Cissa he begged of him a place for erecting a Monastâ—â—y Which he willingly gave him making choice of this Mountain called Abendun 4. There therefore Heane began to build but with very ill successe For whatsoever wâ—s raised in the day fell down in the night and this hapned successively very oft At which Heane being much troubled there came to him a certain Hermite who lived in a Wood called Comenor and told him saying Father Heane this last night I saw certain men with carts carying away the stones and timber from thiâ— place And I sayd to them You doe very ill in taking away these materialls provided for the honour of God and our Blessed Lady But they answerd mee We know that very well Therefore to morrow goe and tell Heane the Abbot that it is not Gods will he should proceed in this building But let him goe to a town called Sevekesham there he shall find the place marked where he shall build Heane went thither with the Hermite and they found there near the Thames a large square Trench made as on purpose to lay the Foundation 5. There therefore the Monastery was built and the name of Sevekesham changed into Abendon The Habits of the Monks were black but they wore no stamines They had noods lined with Catts skins They lived separated in Cells and to each Cell belonged an Oratory but on Sundayes and Feasts they mett in the Church at Masse and dined together And then they used Silken Cowles They abstained from flesh except in great sicknes c. For the endowment oâ— this Monastery Cissa gave many Lordships and Heane the greatest part of his inheritâ—nce 6. Heane had also a Sister named Cylla or Cyssa who with the consent or her Vncle Cissa employed all her possessions in erecting a Monastery of Religious Virgins at a place called Heâ—nestow seated near the River Thames so called because there a Chappell had been built to the Honour of S. Helen There a Congregation being assembled of many devout Virgins she became their Abbesse And having obtained or rather probably found in the old Chappell a small portion of one of the Nayles of our Lords Crosse she caused it to be inserted â—nto a large Crosse of Iron with command that when she was dead it should be layd on her breast and buried with her And out of Reverence thereto she made her Moâ—astery to be consecrated to the honour oâ— the Holy Crosse and of S. Helena Concerning this Crosse called the Black Crossâ— how it was afterwards found by S. Ethelwold held in great Veneration we shall declare further in due place This Monastery was afterward translated to Witteham and warres following the Religious Virgins were dispersed and what became of them is not known for they never returned thither XIII CHAP. 1.2 c. Egfrid King of the Northumbers His Victory over Wulfere King of the Mercians 5. His Liberality to the Monastery of Rippon 6 7. Two Miracles wrought by Saint Wilfrid 1. IN the year of Grace six hundred seaventy one Egfrid succeeded his Father King Oswi in the Kingdom oâ— the Northumbers for though his Brother Alefrid King of the Deiri was elder yet he being then on some occasion absent in Ireland Egfrid was admitted to the Throne into the society whereof he piously received his Brother Elsuin 2. He was in the beginning of his raign disquietted on both sides on the North by the incursions of the Picts and on the south by the Mercians but by his valour and good conduct assisted also by the Prayers of Saint Wilfrid to whom he was most munificent he not only secured his Province from danger but triumphed gloriously over his Enemies 3. As touching the Picts William of Malmsbury relates how upon the death of King Oswi a Warlick Prince they despising the unsetled state of his Son Egfrid made furious incursions into his kingdom but the young King together with his Generall Berney mett them and with a very small army defeated an innumerable multitude of Picts insomuch as heaps of their dead bodies lying on the groand made that which formerly was a plain become a hilly countrey and the Rivers bâ— multitudes of carkeises were inâ—ercepted in their course 4. And presently after Wulfere King of the Mercians lead an army against the Northumbers enraged with the memory of his Father Penda who had been slain by them He came therefore with a confidence at least to recover the former dammage if nâ—t to acquire a New Kingdom But his fortune was unprosperous as his Fathers had been onely whereas King Penda had lost his life in the Battail his Son Wolfer was compelled to a shamefull flight which he survived but a few dayes and part of his Provinces became subject to the King of the Northumbers to witt the greatest part of Lincolnshire 5. King Egfrid expressed his thankfullnes to God for these victories by liberall endowments of his Church Particularly his bounty was extended to the Church and Monastery of Rippon founded by S. Wilfrid on which he bestowed large possessions saith William of Malmsbury And when the said Holy Bishop was to consecrate that Church he invited both King Egfrid and his Brother King Elswin to the Ceremony where they were entertained magnificently three days and highly exalted for their piety and munificence Which externall pompe and gladnes was encreased by a wonderfull miracle which God wrought by S. Wilfrid in restoring a dead child to life The manner whereof because from thence we may observe the agreement between the Brittish and Saxon Churches in Faith and Ecclesiasticall Discipline
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
from S. Beda 5. The same year likewise dyed S. Ermenburga Mother of the glorious Virgin S. Milburga S. Mildreda and S. Milgitha as likewise of the Saint-like child Merefin Concerning whom Harpsfeild thus writes Ermenburga though she had for her husband Mervald son of Penda King of the Mercians who was yet alive yet so inflamed a desire she had to a solitary Religious life that she never ceased her importunity till she had procured her husbands consent Having thus obtained her wish she returned into Kent to her Brother Egbert to whom she discovered her pious purpose desiring his assistance for the execution of it Whereupon he built for her at Estrey a town of Kent a Monastery consecrated to the young Princes Martyrs Saint Ethelbert and S. Ethelbritht There she passed the remainder of her life with seaventy other Virgins consecrated to God in wonderfull Sanctity Her name is recited among the Saints in our Martyrologe on the nineteenth of November 4. At this time Saint Theodore encreased the Number of Bishopricks erecting the Sees of Worcester and Hereford Of the former he consecrated Boselus and of the other Putta Bishop concerning whom as likewise his Successours for many years little more being recorded but their Names because we iudge it not expedient to make frequent breaches in this History only to insert Names wee will here breifly give a Catalogue of those which sate at Hereford for the Bishops of Worcester have left considerable monuments of their Gests and vertues 5. To Putta therefore Bishop of Hereford after he had administred that Province eleaven years succeeded Tirtell Whose Successour after twelve years was Torther who continued in that Bishoprick fifteen years and either deserting it voluntarily or by death the next was Walstod in the year of Grace seaven hundred and eighteen To whom after seaventeen years succeeded Cuthbert Now concerning Walstod the only thing memorable in him was that he began the fabrick of a Crosse very costly and magnificent but dyed before he could finish it which care he left to his Successour who engraved in it certain Latin verses importing the same which are recorded by Bishop Godwin in his Catalogue of the Bishops of that Diocese whereto I referr the curious Reader IX CHAP. 1.2 c. S. Wilfrid is forced to leave the West Saxons And converts the South-Saxons 8. He teaches the people a remedy against the famine 9. He erects an Episcopall See and Monastery at Shepey 11. Of Eappa the Abbot there 1. SAint Wilfrid being thus banished his Native soyl saith William of Malmsbury took his iourney towards the Kingdom of the West-Saxons where he was kindly entertaind by a certain Noble man called Berethwald But within a few dayes he was forced to quiâ—t that Refuge For Ethelred King of the Mercians whose subiect that Noble man was being likewise his Brothers Son with threatning commanded him that he should not retain the Bishop so much as one day longer This was done in compliance with Egfrid King of the Northumbers whose Sister Osdritha to comfort them for the losse of their Brother Elwin was given in mariage to the said King Ethelred by whom a peace was concluded between the New husband and Brother S. Wilfrid therefore during this short abode with Berethwald having built there a small Monastery was forced to leave the Monks and to fly for refuge to the Pagan South-Saxons since he could find no security among Christians 2. The King of these South-Saxons was named Edilwalch who having been informed of the causes of this holy Bishops banishment â—ith great readines and affection offred him his assistance resolutly and firmly engaging himself that no entreaties of his enemies should induce him to betray him nor any offers of money to expell him the countrey S. Wilfrid therefore being thus confident of his protection began to preach the Christian Faith first to the King and Queen and afterward to the inhabitants of that Province Neither were his perswasions unsuccessfull for in a very short time the King was baptized by him by whose example almost all his subiects were animated to embrace the Christian Faith Thus writes William of Malmsbury 3 But as touching the baptizing of King Edilwalch we have already related from S. Beda that he was baptized twenty years before this by the perswasion of Wolfere late King of the Mercians although indeed very few of his Subiects could then be induced to imitate him who yet now by the preaching of S. Wilfrid were perswaded to cast off their Pagan Idolatry The manner of this Conversion is thus declared by S. Beda 4. The Holy Bishop Wilfrid saith he having been driven from his See by Egfrid King of the Northumbers was forced to wander through many Provinces he went to Rome and after returned into Brittany And although by reason of â—he hostile enmity of the said King he could not be admitted to his Diocese yet none could hinder him from his Ministery of preaching the Faith For having been forced for refuge to turn aside into the Province of the South-Saxons lying between the Kingdoms of Kent and the West-Saxons and containing land for about seaven thousand families which Province at that time was wholly addicted to heathenish Superstitions he preached there the Christian Faith and having converted many he administred to them the Sacrament of Baptism 5. As for the King of that Nation Edilwalch he had some years before been baptized in the presence and by the suggestion of Wolfhere King of the Mercians by whom at his coming out of the Font he was received as his Son and in sign of such adoption he bestowed on him two Provinces to wit the Isle of Wight and the little Province of the Meanvari 6. But the whole Province of the South-Saxons remained ignorant of God and his holy Faith Now there was there a certain Scotâ—ish Monk his Name was Dicul who had built a very small Monastery in a place called Bosanham compassed with the Sea and woods where lived five or six Monks who served our Lord living in an humble and poore manner But not any of the inhabitants of that countrey gave any ear to their preaching and much lesse emulated their profession 7. But when the Holy Bishop Wilfrid preached the Gospell among them he not only delivered them from eternall damnation but likewise from a present temporall calamity ready to destroy them For the space of three years before his coming into that Province no rain at all had falln by means of which a most greivous famine â—ame among the people destroying great numbers of them For the report is that many times forty or fifty men together half consumed with hunger would goe to some precipice hanging over the Sea and holding their hands together cast themselves down into the water or upon the â—ocks But on the very day in which that Nation received Baptism there sell a seasonable and plentifull rain by which the earth flourished again
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
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
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
with celebrating the Memory of S. Hildelida who in the Monastery of Berking built by S. Erconwald for his Sister Edilburga as Saint Beda testifies succeeded her in the Office of Abbesse and for the space of twenty four years governed the same in a constant observance of Regular Disciplin withall carefully providing all things necessary for the subsistence of the Religious Virgins She by reason of the streitnes of the place in which the Monastery was built thought fitt to take up the Bodies of severall Holy persons of both Sexes there buried and to translate them all to one place in the Church dedicated to our Blessed Lady At which time Almighty God gave testimony to their Sanctity by a glorious light from heaven shining on them by a wonderful delightful odour and many other miraculous signs as may be read in the Book relating the same out of which wee have excerpted these particulars 4. The Authour of her Life in Capgrave affirms that this Holy Abbesse S. Hildelida was replenished with Divine Charity insomuch as both by instructions and actions she became a pattern and Teacher of all vertues in watchings abstinence benignity clemency and every other vertue becoming her profession She was carefull that her Religious Subiects should want nothing necessary for their soules or bodies so shewing herself unblameable both before God and men 5. And as in her life she was a singular Example of Piety to others so after her Death which is consigned to the two and twentieth of December in this year She deserved veneration and praise from all posterity For thus testifies the same Authour The Blessed Virgin Hildelitha is glorified by many glorious Saints For her Memory is celebrated not only by S. Dunstan S. Ethelwold and S. Elphegus but her Sanctity is also renouned by many Ancient Saints before them To her did Saint Aldelm as yet an Abbot dedicate his Book inscribed Of Virginity in the preface of which he highly exalts her vertues and piety XIX CHAP. 1.2 c. Of Offa the pious King of the East-Saxons 1. IN the year following Offa the pious King of the East-Saxons began his Raign eight years before this King Sebbâ— had relinquished the Court for a solitary retirement and exchanged his Royall Purple into an humble course Religious Habit. To whom succeeded in that Kingdom his Sons Sighard and Seofrid ioyntly raigning and as they were associated in receiving the Crown so were they likewise in quitting it in the beginning of this Century Whether it was by death or by a voluntary Secession after their Fathers example is uncertain But certain it is that in this year Offa by full right succeeded in the Kingdom and within a few years by an hereditary piety grew weary of worldly pomps as shall be shewd He was the Son of Sigher who a good while before this administered the Kingdom together with King Sebbe 3. King Offa at his coming to the Crown was a youth of a beautifull aspect and chearfull disposition he was of a floride age and tenderly beloved by his Subiects saith William of Malmsbuay Yet in this scarce ripe age he had a soule mature for piety insomuch as he entred into an inward debate whether he should expose himself to the anxiety of wordly cares and tempests wherewith being exalted so high he was in danger to be disquitted if not overthrown and to the entising snares of sensuall pleasures from which a Kingly state without almost a miraculous Grace can seldone be secure or after his Predecessours example at once break through all temporall impediments and give himself wholly to God in expectation of a far more glorious and eternall Kingdom 4. Such a debate and irresolution argued in so tender an age a solide piety and though his inward strength was not sufficient then to conquer the world so far as to forsake it yet it was not the love of sensuall contentments ambition or secular Pride which induced him not to reiect a Crown but a Hope that vertue and piety even with a Crown would be acceptable to God and rewarded by him He might likewise esteem it an argument of a more courageous mind in the midst of pleasures to preserve himself from the infection of them then entirely to exclude them 5. Being thus resolved his next care was to find an associate in his Throne for which purpose he demanded for his Wife Kineswida the daughter of Penda formerly King of the Mercians and sister to the present King Ethelred and the Holy Abbesse Kineburga King Ethelred without demanding his Sisters consent readily promised her But how she having in resolution consecrated her Virginity to God resisted and by the power of her Prayers obtained the execution of her pious and chast resolution hath been already declared And how her Example induced King Offa courageously to imitate her shall in due place be shewd XX. CHAP. 1.2 c. S. Wilfrid called before an English Synod and iniuriously treated 1. IN the year of Grace seaven hundred and two Pope Sergius dying there succeeded him in the Apostolick Chair Iohn the sixth of that name elected the year before He was by Nation a Grecian which was a proof of the consent of the Eastern and Western Churches in the same Faith since without any distinction of Nations or partiality the Supreme Bishop of Gods Church was thus chosen 2. Vnder this Pope Iohn the cause of Saint Wilfrid was again ventilated and at last determind He had lived a banished man from his See of York now eleaven years and though Pope Sergius had decreed his restitution yet Alfrid King of the Northumbers Brithwald Arch-bishop of Canterbury by delayes and excuses suspended the execution of the Popes commands But now pretending a shew of piety they assembled a Synod to which they summond S. Wilfrid and endeavoured with a fraudulent shew of kindnes to entangle him whom they had expelled by violence S. Wilfrid being secure in his own innocence and not suspecting any deceit presented himself to the Councill The proceedings of which Council and constant behaviour of S. Wilfrid therein are thus described by William of Malmsbury 3. When Sexulf Bishop of Lichfeild in the Kingdom of the Mercians was dead saith he S. Wilfrid governed that Bishoprick being both tenderly loved and cordially reverenced by all the inhabitants of that Province In the mean time Alfrid King of the Northumbers and Brithwald Successour to S. Theodore Arch-bishop of Canterbury complotted many designs to his preiudice At last it was resolved by them both that a Synod should be assembled and that under a pretended desire of Peace S. Wilfrid should be called to it and there either by fair words induced to a compliance with their wills or in case of his resistance oppressed by violence The Holy Bishop unskillfull in guiles and who measured other mens minds by the sincerity and uprightnes of his own went to the Synod But there he found
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
Divine Verities as far as they had â—carnâ— them they in succession of times should be instructed by the English Nation in those things which they had not so well learnt and be brought to a perfect form of living As on the contrary the Brittains who refused to make known to the English that knowledge of Christianity which they had when as afterward the English became by other means perfectly instructed in the Rule of Christian Faith and Discipline they remain in their old errour and irregular practises neither admitting the ancient Catholick Tonsure on their heads and observing the Christian solemnities contrary to the Orders and practise of the Catholick Church 4. Now these Monks of Hy by the instruction of Saint Egbert received the Catholick Rite when Dunchad was their Abbot about fourscore years after they had sent Aidan their Prelat to preach to the English Nation This Dunchad was the tenth Abbot of Hy after Saint Colomba and the Annals of Vlster observe that he admitted the Roman Rites of Easter in the year of Grace seaven hundred and sixteen on the fourth day before the Calends of September being Saturday and that he dyed the year following 5. As touchinh S. Egbert S. Beda addes that he remained thirteen years in the sayd Island which by a new Grace of Ecclesiasticall Communion and peace he had consecrated to Christ. Concerning his happy death we shall speak in due place THE TWO AND TWENTIETH BOOK OF THE CHVRCH-HISTORY OF BRITTANY I. CHAPTER 1.2 c. The Gests of the Holy Abbot S. Ceolfrid He resigns his Office and in travelling toward Rome dyes at Langres in France 1. THE year of Grace seaven hundred and seaventeen is illustrated by the deaths of two glorious English Saints the great S Swibert Apostle of the Germans and Saint Ceolfrid the worthy Successour of S. Benedict Bâ—scop in the government of the Monasteries of Saint Peter and S. Paul at Wiremouth and Girwy in the Kingdom of the Northumbers 2. Treating above of the occurrents of the year of our Lord six hundred eighty three we then out of a History of Saint Beda lately published concerning the Abbots of those two Convents related the memorable Gests and happy deaths of Easterwin Sigfrid and S. Benedict Biscop who had been Abbots of the same before this S. Ceolfrid to whom S. Benedict at his death recommended the care of them both and by whom Saint Beda himself received his education in learning and piety Now therefore it will be requisite to pursue his Narration concerning this his devout carefull Master and Benefactour Which is as follows 3. S. Ceolfrid saith he was a man industrious in all things sharp of witt diligent in busines ripe in iudgment and fervent in his zeale for promoting Religion He as hath been already declared by the assistance of S. Benedict Biscop in the space of seaven years founded perfected and governed the Monastery of S. Paul the Apostle and afterward became Abbot both of that and the other Monastery also of S Peter which considering their mutuall charity and propinquity were to be esteemed as one Monastery In which Office he continued twenty eight years carefully and prâ—dently accomplishing the worthy design begun by his Predecessour S. Benedict For he added severall new built Oratories encreased the number of Sacred Vessels and Vestments for the Altars and Church and also much enlarged the Libraries of both the Monasteries formerly well furnished by his Predecessour Particularly he added three Pandects of a New Translation to a former one of an old of which one he took with him in his last voyage to Rome leaving the others to each Monastery one he gave likewise a large Book of Cosmography of an admirable work which S. Benedict had bought at Rome 4. Moreover he purchased of the devout and learned King Aldfrid a peice of land of eight families near the River Fresca for a possession to the Monastery of S. Paul which land had been taxed by S. Benedict but he dyed before he could accoÌ„plish the purchase But afterward in the raign of King Osred Saint Ceolfrid made an exchange of this land for other land of twenty families near a town called Sambuâ—e from which it tooke its name because it lay nearer and more conveniently to the Monastery for the effecting of which exchange he added a considerable Summ of money And having done this he sent certain Monks to Rome who obtained of Sergius Pope of happy memory a Priviledge for the security of the Monastery as S. Benedict before had received from Pope Agathon and this latter likewise as the former was confirmed in a Synod by the subscription of the Magnificent King Aldfrid and the Bishops there present In his time also a certain servant of Christ learned in Scriptures and secular knowledge called Witmer undertaking a Monasticall Profession in the Monastery of S. Peter which he afterwards governed gave for a perpetuall possession to the same Monastery a peice of land of ten families which had been given him by King Aldfrid 5. But S. Ceolfrid after a long and exact practise of Regular Observance instructions for which he had received partly from his Father Saint Benedict and partly himself had collected from the ancient Fathers after an incomparably skillful exercise of Prayer and Psalmody never omitted by him after a wonderfull fervour showed by him in correcting the disobedient and irregular as likewise an equall mildnes in comforting and strengthning the infirm after a sparingnes in eating and drinking not usuall in governours as likewise a coursenes and vilenesse in cloathing at last seeing himself full of dayes and by reason thereof incapable of continuing the due Office of a Spirituall Superiour in teaching and giving good example to his Monks having seriously and a long space meditated on these things at last it seemed to him most expedient to give order to his Monks that according to the Priviledge given them and according to the Rule of the Holy Abbot Saint Benedict they should chuse to themselves an Abbot as himself had been chosen young by his Predecessour then going to visit the Sepulchers of the Apostles that by this means himself night have the opportunity before his death to attend to his own soule in solitude and exemption from secular cares and they under the conduct of a younger Abbot more perfectly observe the instituts of a Regular life 6. Now having made this proposall though all the Monks at first opposed themselves with sighs tears and prostrations yet at last he obtained his desire And so earnest he was to begin his iourney that the third day after he had discovered his purpose secretly to his Brethren he began it towards Rome For he was afraid least he should be prevented by death before he could come thither as in effect it fell out and indeed he was desirous to avoyd the importunity of his freinds men of quality in the world who he knew would interpose delayes and lastly
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
in thankfullnes for his victory obtaind against the bloody King of the Mercians Penda XXII CHAP. 1.2 The Gests of S. Adulf and S. Botulph brethren 1. AT the same time with S. Hilda flourished S. Botulph and his Brother S. Adulph whom erroneously some Writers affirm to have been Scotts who are confuted by the whole contexture of their Lives For thus we read in their Gests recorded by Ioannes Anglicus in Capgrave Before Christian Religion was spread over Brittany the Venerable Fathers Botulph and Adulf born of a Noble family and of a German descent and more strictly linked by charity then blood being very young were initiated in spirituall and celestial exercises For being born of a Saxon stock which conquered Brittany by martiall courage they from their infancy were imbued in the Christian Faith But their parents being rude and unacquainted with the Documents of perfection sent their children five in number to their ancient countrey of Saxony there to learn the Discipline of a holy conversation 2. Thus by mistake writes that Authour for as yet Christianity was not entred into Saxony Therefore in stead of Saxony we are to understand Belgick France whither by S. Beda's testimony our Ancestors in those times usually sent their children to be in 〈◊〉 in more sublime Christian Philosophâ— The same Writer thus prosecutes hiâ— Narratio 3. With this intention the foresaid Fathers paâ—sing the Sea repaired to Monasteries of Holy Religious men desiring coÌ„munication with them to be instructed in the Document of a spirituall life There being imbued with Monastical Instituâ— and disciplines of a more austere life they received the Religious Habit and in a short time Gods Grace became enabled co be Teachers â— Perfection 4. The King therefore hearing the fame of S. Adulphus exalted him to the Government of the Church of Virect in Belgium Who in discharge of that sublime employment was very watchfuâ— and solicitous to prevent the snares and cunning designs of the Devill who like a ravening wâ—l sought the destruction of his flock He was sedulouâ— in works of mercy feeding the poor cloathing the naked correcting those which strayd and comforting the afflicted to the end he might himself obtain the effect of our Lords Promise Blessed are the mercifull for they shall obtain mercy He was instant in fasting watching and prayers He prevented his preaching by his practise and in all things lead a saintlike life 5. In the Gallican Martyrologe he is adorned with this Elogy On the seaventeenth of Iune is celebrated the Memory of S. Adulph Bishop of Vâ—rect who was Brother of S. Botulph and out of Brittany passing with him into France for his eminent endowments and Sanctity of life was raised to that See wherein by his admirable vertues and learning he became a shining light to his flock and at last with a great affluence of merits ended his life or rather being translated by death he passed to a life immortall 6. As for his Venerable Brother S. Botulph by the testimony of the foresaid Authour being well exercised in vertue and holines he resolved to return into England Now there were in the same Monastery where he made his abode two Sisters of Ethelmund a Prince among the Southangles who had been sent thither to be instructed in Monasticall Disciplines They hearing that the Blessed man had a purpose to return to his countrey gave him commissions to be delivered to their Brother Having therefore passed the Sea S. Botulph was honourably received by the said Prince who having heard his Sisters petitions and accepted them granted to the Holy man a place for building a Monastery Now S Botulph did not desire that for his cause any one should be driven out of his hereditary possession but rather that some place unpossessed and uncultivated should be assigned him that there he might build a Church and congregate brethren to serve God by whose pious lives and prayers his Principality might be established in this world and an eternall kingdom prepared for him in the world to come This request the Prince willingly granted whereupon the Venerable Father chose a certain untilled place where none dwelt named Ikanho It was a Wildernes unfrequented by men but possessed by Devills whose phantasticall illusions were to be expelled thence and a Religious conversation of pious men to be introduced that where the Devills fallacies abounded there our Lords Divine Grace might superabound 7. Where this place called Ikanho was seated is now uncertain The Centuriators of Magdeburg from Leland and Bale place it not far from the Citty of Lincoln And indeed in that Province where the River Witham enters the Sea there is a Town called Boston but more truly Botulphs-town for saith Camden it being formerly by Beda called Icanhoe took a new name from Botulph a most holy Saxon. Likewise in Huntingdon-shire there is a town called Bottle-bridge for S. Botulphs-bridge So that it seems in one of these two places S. Botulph built his Monastery 8. The said Authour thus pursues his Narration When he had finished his Monastery like a good shepheard he gathered together his flock whom he diligently taught Apostolick Doctrines and Instituts of the Holy Fathers and whatsoever good Documents he had learnt abroad concerning Monasticall Disciplines those he instilled into the minds and practises of his Monks He was beloved by all for he was free from arrogance being humble mild and affable in all things He was illustrious likewise for many miracles and the gift of Prophecy For sometimes by Divine inspiration he foretold future things as expressly as if they had been passed When he was oppressed with any infirmity he with blessed Iob persisted in thanking God and all his discourse was of matters which might edify and advance the hearers Such was his conversation during his life and in such exercises he attained to a good old age 9. He dyed most happily the same year in which S. Hilda also dyed and was buried in the Monastery which he had built There his Sacred Relicks remained till the Danes invading this Island wasted all Holy places with fire and sword Then by the care of S. Ethelwold they were translated part to the Monastery of Ely and part to that of Thorney The Memory of S. Botulph was elsewhere also celebrated for at London there is a Church dedicated to his honour Hence we read this passage in Capgrave In the Book of the Church of S. Botulph near Aldersgate London there is mention how a part of the Body of S. Botulph was by King Edward of Happy memory conferred on the Church of S. Peter in Westminster His memory is celebrated in our Martyrologe on the sixteenth of May. THE SIXTEENTH BOOK OF THE CHVRCH-HISTORY OF BRITTANY I. CHAPTER 1.2 c. The Mercians Converted and an Episcopall See erected there 5 Ithamar Bishop of Rochester dyes and Damian succeeds 6. The Holy Offspring of Merovald a Prince of the Mercians
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