fled to Fincomark King of Scotland who refused to yeild him up at the request of Traërnus on the contrary in his quarrell he rais'd an army fought and vanquish'd Traërnus in the Province of Westmerland which say they since Carausius his times belonged to Scotland All which story seems an invention on purpose to illustrate the name of Scotland and its pretended Kings of which no mention as yet can be found in any approved Authours 7. At this time Constantin made his abode in Gaule afterward called France where he was much distracted and disquietted and more by the factions of Schismaticks among Christians then any commotions of confining barbarous Nations Vpon which occasion he was compell'd to command a Generall Assembly or Synod of the Western Empire to meet at Arles for composing the seditions rais'd by the Donatists To which Synod since the Brittish Bishops were by name call'd it is requisite we should make some stay to declare the proceedings of it IX CHAP. 1.2 c. Schism of the Donatists and its occasion 3. c The Donatists after severall condemnations still appeale 1. THE Enemy of Truth and Peace having lost the advantage of opposing Christian Religion by the violence and rage of his instruments the Heathen persecuting Emperours did not for all that cease from his malice which was heightned by Envy against it but rather executed another way with more successe by suggesting matter of seditions and divisions among Christians themselves The first publick infamous Scene of which scandalls was Carthage in Africk And the occasion was this 2. Caecilianus Archdeacon to Mensurius Bishop of Carthage had reprehended a Spanish woman call'd Lucilla then living in that Citty because before receiving the holy Sacrament she had with veneration kiss'd the head of a certain person esteem'd by her a Martyr yet not acknowledged for such by the Bishop Lucilla being a woman of great power and wealth upon this reprehension conceived an implacable rage and fury against Cacilianus earnestly expecting all occasions of revenge 3. This was afforded her not long after in the year of Christ three hundred and six when upon the death of Mensurius Caecilianus was chosen Bishop of that Citty For he requiring a restitution of certain vessells of silver and gold belonging to his Church which in the late time of persecution had by his Predecessour been recommended to the fidelity of certain Elders of that Citty they to avoy'â— the necessity of restoring them ioyn'd themselves to the faction of Botrus and Celesius who had ambitiously sought after the same Bishoprick and were rejected the resentment of which repulse incited them to question the Election of Caecilianus Lucilla earnestly ioynd herself to this faction of unjust discontented persons who publickly withdrew themselves from the Communion of their Bishop by which means there was rais'd in Africk a most horrible and irreconcileable Schism the flame wherof could not for many ages be extinguish'd 4. These factious persons to strengthen their party invited to Carthage a number of African Bishops who formerly in a publick Councill at Cirtha had been convicted Traditores that is such as for feare of persecution had deliver'd up to Heathen Magistrats the Holy Vessels and Books belonging to the Church among whom the principall was Secundus Bishop of Tâ—gisis and Primat of Numidia These Bishops seaventeen in number kept their Assemblies at Carthage separated from Caecilianus in opposition to whom they presumed sacrilegiously to ordain another counterfeit Bishop of Carthage calld Maiorinus one who had been Lector to Caecilianus when he was Archdeacon and was now a Domestick of Lucilla 5. Moreover to iustify their Schism these Bishops who were most manifest Traditors themselves alledged that Caecilianus his Ordination was illegall because he had received imposition of hands from Felix Bishop of Aptungis and others whom they falsly accused of their own crime They likewise wrongfully charged Caecilianus that he had forbidden necessary provision to be administred to certain Martyrs in prison during the last persecution All which calumnies they by letters spread through the whole countrey of Africa Caecilianus in the mean time being acknowledged lawfull Bishop by Marcellus Bishop of Rome and all other Bishops through the Catholick Church before whom he confidently offred himselfe to a legall tryall This relation is given by S. Optatus and Saint Augustin 6. Now though this Schism was cheifly forged by Botrus and Celesius together with the foremention'd Elders and Lucilla and encreased by Secundus and other Traditors Bishops yet it first took its name Title from Donatus Bishop of a place call'd Casae nigrae or Black Cottages in Numidia who first at the instigation of Lucilla withdrew himself from the communion of Caecilianus whilst he was Deacon But the Donatists being ashamed to take their appellation from one who had been condemn'd by Pope Melchiades chose rather to call themselves Donatists from another Donatus who succeeded Majorinus in the Schism and whom they esteem'd a person of great eminence both for learning and Sanctity 7. This unhappy Schism received such strength in a short space that within three years ioyning themselves with Traditors Bishops and drawing into their sacrilegious Communion all the Numidians they assembled a Councill of no fewer then two hundred and seaventy Bishops which continuing together seaventy five dayes and repeating all their former Constitutions made a Decree that all those who were guilty of the horrible crime of Tradition if they refused to be rebaptised should notwithstanding be admitted into Communion as if they were innocent 8. When Constantin had overcome Maxentius the Donatists obtain'd of Anulinus Governour of Africk to send his letters full of calumnious accusations against Caecilianus unto the Emperour who was then in Gaule and some of the same Schismaticall Bishops made a voyage to him earnestly requesting him to appoint Iudges of their cause The Emperour himself saith Optatus with great indignation answered theÌ„ You require a secular iudgment from mee who my self expect the iudgment of Christ. Yet with extreme importunity they at last wrested from him for their Iudges Maternus Bishop of Colonia Agrippina Rheticius Bishop of Austun Marius of Arles 9. But presently after this Constantin conâ—idering of what weight and necessity the authority of the Roman Bishop was in such a cause he commanded the Donatists Bishops together with Caecilianus and as many other of his Communion to attend these three Iudges at Rome to debate and conclude the cause before the holy Pope Melchiades in a Roman Synod To whom likewise the pious Emperour wrote a letter in which he tells the Pope that he thought fitt to send these contending Bishops before him to the end they might receive iudgment from him and the other Iudges as you know saith he the most holy law of God requires 10. A Synod therfore being assembled at Rome the result therof after a diligent examination of the parties and witnesses was a
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
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
the sight of God and that his glory is wonderfull in heaven since he has made him so resplendent by miracles on earth For after his death he ceases not to cure the sick c Thus Writes the Holy Apostolick Preist Saint Marcellin adding moreover a Narration of severall stupendious Miracles of which himself was an eye witnes and which the devout Reader may find in his Life for I am unwilling to swell this History with such like Relationâ— III. CHAP. 1.2 c. The Monastery of Theokesbury founded 7. The death of Saint Egwin Bishop of Worcester 1. TO the same year is by our Historians assigned the foundation of the Monastery of Tewksbury though in the Chronicles of that Monastery the Erection thereof is sayd to have been made two years sooner And there we find this account of it 2. In the raigns of the illustrious Kings of the Mercians Ethelred Kenred and Ethelbald there lived two Dukes in great estimation Oddo and Doddo men of high descent much regarded for their vertues but which most crowns their memory persons who with sincere devotion loved almighty God and sought his honour Which they made good by their charitable actions for they and their Progenitours magnificently built and endowed many Monasteries These foresaid Dukes about the year of Grace seaven hundred and fifteen gave order for the building a Monastery in their own Territory near the Severn seaven miles distant from Claudiocester or Glocester at place called Theokusbury from a certain Hermit named Theocus who anciently had lived there 3. This Monastery they built to the honour of God and the glorious Virgin Mary and conferred upon it a Village called Stanwey with all its dependances and some few possessions besides for the sustenâ—ation of Monks not many in number for at first there were but four or five which under the Obedience of a Priour served God according to the Rule of our Holy Father S. Benedict 4. Now after that these two Dukes were for their devout actions translated to heavenly ioyes as we firmly beleive their Bodies were buried in the Church of Persora Parshur in which Duke Doddo had taken the Habit of a Monk and which they had enriched with ample possessions 5. These foresaid Dukes had a certain Brother named Almaric whose body was buried at Derhurst in a little Chappell over against the Gate of the Priory there which Chappell had formerly been a Royall place There to this day is shewd his Sepulcher where in the wall over the dore is this Inscription This Royall Hall did Duke Doddo cause to be consecrated into a Church to the honour of the Blessed Virgin Mary for love which he bore to his Brother Almaric 6. Thus we read in the said Chronicle Where consequently is related how by reason of the great troubles and warrs hapning both in Mercia and other parts of the Kingdom till it was reduced to a Monarchy under King Althelslan the said Monastery was often spoyled and twice burnt But afterward reedified and annexed to the Abbey of Cranborn and in conclusion for the commodious and pleasant situation of the place it was it self erected into an Abbey and the Monastery of Cranborn depressed into a Priory and made subject to it The great Patron and enlarger of it was Robert the Son of Hamon in the beginning of the Norman times as William of Malmsbury testifies Who by mistake affirms that the Name of Theocksbury did seem to destine it to a Religious use being so called as if the Title were Theotocosbury or the Court of the Mother of God But Camden according to the forementioned Chronicle more genuinely derives the name from Theocus a devout Hermit formerly living there 7. To this year is assigned the death of Egwin Bishop of Worcester after he had administred that See the space of twenty four years To whom succeeded Wilfrid who governed the same seaven and twenty years Scarce any thing concerning either of them besides their names is recorded IV. CHAP. 1.2 Kenred King of the Northumbers dying Osric succeeds 3. The Piety of Ethelbald the Mercian King 1. THE year following Kenred King of the Northumbers after two years possession of the Throne to which he mounted by Treason and murder of Osred his Kinsman and predecessour dyed and in his place succeeded Osric his associate in the same crime 2. Concerning these Kings William of Malmsbury thus writes Kenred who raigned only two years and after him Osric eleaven have left this one mark upon their memories that shedding the blood of their Master how well soever deserving such an unhappy end they defiled the aire with their shamefull deaths Yet Osric before he came to that Crown seemd to have had more sence of piety for it is said that he built about the year seaven hundred a Monastery for Religious Virgins at Glocester 3. But in the Kingdom of the Mercians King Ethelbald saith Ingulphus having perfected his Monastery of Croyland employd his mind to promote Holy Church through his whole Kingdom granting immunities and Priviledges to other Monasteries also of Religious men and woemen For which purpose in the third year of his raign he pubâ—ished a generall Statut to that effect recorded there by the same Authour V. CHAP. i. 2 The Birth and first radiments of Saint Boniface Apostle of the Germans 1. THE great losse which the New-planted Churches of Germany sustained by the death of their glorious Apostle S. Swibert was quickly repaired with advantage For in the year seaven hundred and nineteen God provided for themâ— New Pastour no lesse diligent and powerfull both in word and deed and who after incredible pains and dangers with infinite fruit thence proceeding crownd all his labours with Martyrdom This was S. Winfrid which name was afterward changed into Boniface who the sayd year having received a Benediction and authority from Pope Gregory the Second of that name chearfully began his Apostolick Office in that countrey His Gests have been written by severall writers and particularly by S. Willebald a Bishop his Disciple with great care and sincerity likewise more largely by a certain Preist call'd Othlo and besides those a great Volume still extant of S. Boniface his Epistles will furnish us with sufficient materialls for this History many years consequently Here therefore we will begin a Narration hitherto deferred of his Birth and education till this great charge was imposed on him and consequently proceed in recounting his glorious actions and labours referring them to the severall times in which they were performed 2. He was born in the year of Grace six hundred and seaventy of an English Saxon family as appears evidently from his own Epistles The place illustrated by his Birth was Creden now called Kirton in Devonshire the names of his parents are not recorded He was by them with great care educated and even in his infancy he was so earnestly studious to enrich his mind with spirituall knowledge
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
the infant vowing him to Gods service Which they had no sooner done but his health was immediatly restor'd to him 3. Two years after therefore they being mindfull of their Vow delivered him to a venerable person named Theodoret who according to their order presented him to a devout Abbot named Egbald who governed a Monastery called Waltheim He with the advice and consent of his brethren received him as a Member of their Religious Congregation where he was bred up in all modesty piety and humility and withall according to his capacity was instructed in all Sacred learning 4. When he was arrived at a mature age he by earnest prayers obtaind permission to accompany his Father and Brother in a pilgrimage of devotion which they undertook to Rome In their return their Father S. Richard dyed at the Citty of Lucca where also he was buried with great honour as hath been else where declared After whose death an earnest desire took him to prolong his pilgrimage as far as the Holy land there to visit and perform his devotions in all the places where the principall Mysteries of our Salvation were wrought And accordingly being accompanied by two devout persons only he returned back and taking ship at Câ—â—eta they sailed to Cyprus and from thence into Syria where arriving at a Citty called Emesa he with his coÌ„panions who were now seaven was taken prisoner and in danger to loose his life upon a suspicion that they were Spies Being thus made captives God disposed the heart of a certain old man who was a Saraâ—en to pitty them insomuch as he oft visited them and â—ent them dayly sufficient nourishment in their prison Not long after a Spanish merchant who had a Brother a servant of the Prince of that Ciâ—cy in great favour with him by his intercession obtaind the freedom of these Captives 5. From thence therefore they went into the Holy Land which they passed quite through scarce omitting any place that was memorable or recorded in Holy Scripture A particular account of all their proceedings with â—he names of each place in order may be read in the History of the said Religious Virgin who professes that she received the relation from S. Willibalds own mouth 6. When they were come to Gaza S. Willibald being present at Masse solemnly sung to the honour of S. Mathias the Apostle lost his sight and for the space of two months continued blind whereupon he returned to Ierusalem entring into the Church where the Holy Crosse was found his sight was again restored to him After this passing through severall citties and places of devotion they took ship again return'd into Italy arriving at Naples From whence S. Willebald with one companion travelled to the famous Monastery of S. Benedict calld Mount Cassin where they found very few Monks under the government of their Abbot called Petronax a man of great mildnes prudence There S. Willibald made his abode the space of ten years during which he was some times appointed Sacristan of the Church afterwards a Dean and lastly the Porter 7. In this place having perfectly instructed himself in all duties belonging to Regular Observance at last with permission of his Abbot he returned to Rome where he was with great kindnes received by Pope Gregory the third who took great delight in hearing him recount the marvellons variety of accidents which befell him in his long voyages And awhile after the said Pope told him that his kinsman S. Boniface had earnestly requested him to command him to quitt the Monastery of Mount Cassin and to send him into Germany to assist him there in preaching the Gospâ—ll To which command S. Willibald humbly submitted and accordingly leaving behind him his companion in the Monastery be began his voyage into Germany and at last arrived at a place called Linthruth where he found S. Boniface who not long after sent him to a place calld Eystat Which place had been given to S. Boniface by a devout person called Suitgar who accompanied S. Willebald thiâ—her The Region thereabout was in a manner wast scarce any house to be seen but a small Church dedicated to our Lady Now after these two devout persons hâ—d chosen a place convenient to be the Seat of a Monastery they went to S. Boniface to give him notice thereof who returned thither with them and there ordaind S. Willibald a Preist A year after this S. Boniface called him into Thuringia whither being come he went to Heidenheim where his Brother was Abbot of a Monastery by whom he was with very great ioy received after so many years of separation To the same place shortly after S. Boniface came with two other Bishops S. Burchard and S. Wizo By whom S. Willibald was consecrated also Bishop and sent back to Eystat which Saint Boniface bestow'd on him to be an Episcopall See giving it the preeminence next to the Metropolis of Mentz 8. There he built a Monastery instituting the Monks in the ObservaÌ„ces which he had learnt at Mount Cassin And there leading an Angelicall Life among men dividing his employment between a quiet repose of Contemplation in the Monastery and charitable solicitudes in governing his Diocese he at last full of merits and Graces this year rendred happily his soule into his mercifull Creatours hands and was honourably buried in his own Church where his Memory is in great veneration and his Sanctity testified by many Miracles which are registred by Philip his Successour in the same Bishoprick Two hundred and eight years after his death he was solemnly Canonized by Pope Leo the Seaventh And both in the Roman and English Martyrologe his Memory is celebrated on the seaventh of Iuly XVIII CHAP. 1. The death of S Werburga 2. Succession of English Bishops 3. 4 c. A great miracle of a Soldier recovered by the Intercession of S. Bruno 1. ABOVT the same time is recorded the death of S. Werburga she had formerly been wife to Ceolred King of the Mercians after whose death which hapned in the year of Christ seaven hundred and sixteen she complying with a divine inspiration entred a Monastery where like the good Widdow Saint Anna the Prophetesse shâ— never departed from our Lords Temple serving God night and day in abstinence and prayer the space of sixty five years partly as a simple Religious woman under Obedience and partly as Abbesse of the same Monastery with as much humility governing others as she had formerly obeyd 2. Then the See of Worcester being vacant by the death of Tilher it was supplied by the substitution of Adored in his place Ceâ—lmund likewise Bishop of Hereford dying there was ordained in the same his Successour named Vtell in the year of Grace seaven hundred eighty three 3. Little else occurring the same year in Brittany S. Ludger will inform us how wonderfully Almighty God glorified his servant Swibert in Germany so recommending the Faith which he had taught That year saith
follow'd the Eastern Rite of the Quartodecimani from whence they inferr that the Gospell was not communicated to this Island from Rome but certain Eastern Apostolicall Missioners 11. But the contrary is most evident For First it is certain that they received the order about Easter from Pope Eleutherius Again as certain it is that Restitutus Bishop of London caried into Brittany the Decrees of the Councill of Arles Thirdly wee find expressly in the Letter written by Constantin to all Churches that among other Provinces which observed the order prescribed by the Councill of Nicâ—a after that of Arles Brittany was one 12. The Errour therfore which in succeeding times crept among the Baittains was not the Orientall Iewish way of observing Easter as in the Law of the Passeover exactly on the fourteenth day of the Moon as the Quatodecimani did whether that day were Sunday or not But only this that when it fell upon a Sunday they did not as all other Catholick Churches did delay the celebration of it till the Sunday following on purpose to declare their opposition to the Iewes but they kepd it on that day in which the Iews kepd it So that once in seaven years they varied from other Christian Churches The only cause of which Errour doubtlesse was the calamity of those times when all commerce between the Brittains and Rome was intercluded XV. CHAP. 1.2 c. S. Helenas iourney of Devotion to Ierusalem and Churches built by her 4.5 c. The Invention of the Holy Crosse. 1. PResently after the dissolution of this famous Councill Helena the Mother of Constantin being near fourscore years old had the courage and fervour to undertake a pilgrimage to Ierusalem there to visit the holy places sanctified by our Lords actions and suffrings and to adore his footsteps For Surely saith S. Hierom to adore the place where our Lords feet stood is a part of Faith So that it was not Superstition as the Lutheran Centuriators calumniously impute to her but an act of singular counsell and wisedome as Eusebius yea by divine admonition received in her sleep as Socrates saith that she was incited to this iourney 2. The place which she most ardently desired to visit and adorn was the Sepulcher of our Lord which the flagitious impiety of former Pagans had endeavoured to blott out of the memory of man kind foolishly thinking hereby to hide and make divine Truth undiscoverable saith Eusebius So that it cost incredible labour to remove that vast heap of earth with which it had been covered on the top of which had been raised a Temple to Venus solemnised with all manner of impurity 3. The place being cleansed there was by Constantins order erected upon it a most magnificent Temple the structure and ornaments wherof are particularly described by the same Historian And besides this the same devout Empresse began the building of two other sumptuous Churches the one at Bethlehem where our Lord was born and the other on Mount Olivet whence our Lord ascended into heaven Which after her death shortly succeeding were finish'd by her Son In this last place was yet extant the impression of our Lords feet which she honoured with due veneration Concerning which the Prophet Zacharias long before prophecied saying And in that day his feet shall stand upon the Mount Olivet over against Ierusalem to the East S. Hierom testifies that the same footsteps of our Lord imprinted on the ground were shewd in his time And though the Earth was continually taken away by the devotion of Christians yet those holy footsteps did immediatly receive their former state 4. Hereto we may not omitt to adioyn a stupendious Miracle related by Sulpitius Severus in these words That was a wonderfull thing saith he that place on which at his Ascension our Lords feet last stood could not be continued to the rest of the pavement about For whensoever marble was layd on it the earth refused to receive it casting the stones ofteÌ„times upward to the faces of those who applied them And moreover the footsteps of our Lord there seen are a lasting Monument that the dust there had been trod on by our Saviour S. Bede adds another Miracle that wheras the Temple built over the place consisted of three stories or concamerations the two uppermost wherof were vaulted with Arches that which was the lowest and most inward could by no art or labour be closed with a vault 5. But whilst these magnificent structures were preparing there yet wanted that which the devout Empresse most of all desired to find which was the Holy Crosse on which our Lord perfected the Redemption of mankind and by the apparition of which her Son had lately been drawn to Faith and Baptism A rumour there was that it was still extant hid in some of those holy places but where to find it was the difficulty Cammand therfore was given that all places there about should be digg'd but in vain At last saith Ruffinus the Religious Lady was by a celestiall admonition informed where it lay Wherupon causing all the rubbish to be removed she found deep under ground three Crosses in a confus'd order So that her ioy was much diminish'd by the uncertainty which of them was the true one There was found likewise with them the Title which had been written by Pilat in Greek Latin and Hebrew letters But yet that being separated did not give any signs wherby to discern which was our Lord Crosse. In this uncertainty the onely remedy was to begg by Prayer a Divine testimony It hapneâ— that at the same time there was in the Citty a certain woman of quality who lay sick of a greivous disease ready to expire Macarius therfore who was then Bishop of Ierusalem seeing the Empresse and all about her solicitous to discover the 〈◊〉 Crosse commanded saying Let all three be brought and God will be pleased to shew us that which bore our Lord. Entring therfore together with the Empresse and many of the people into the sick womans house he kneeled on the ground and in this manner prayed O Lord who by thy onely begotten Son hast vouchsafed to bring salvation to mankind through his suffring on the Crosse and hast lately inspired into the heart of thy Hand-maid here present a desire to find the Crosse on which our salvation did hang Be pleased to shew unto us evidently which of these three Crosses was employed to glorify our Lord and which for the servile punishment of malefactours and let this be the mark that this woman who lies here half dead assoon as she touches the saving Crosse of thy Son may be recalled to life from the gates of death Having said this he applied first one of the Crosses which availed nothing then the second yet without any effect But assoon as he had applied the third Crosse unto her immediatly the woman opened her eyes rose up in perfect health and with
be found in the Martyrologes of Canisius and of England as likewise in the Offices of a world of particular Churches which celebrate their memory as shall be shew'd hereafter And it must be ascrib'd to a miraculous Providence or Revelation that they have not utterly perished And thus having premis'd these generall observations touching this blessed Army of Saints we will now prosecute their Voyage XXII CHAP. 1.2 c. The story of the Martyrdom of S. Vrsula and the eleaven thousand Virgins 10.11 S. Cordula out of fear hides herself but next day returns and is Martyred 1. THE History of the Martyrdom of these glorious Virgins though for the substance of it attested by a world of particular Churches through all the Regions of Christendom yet has been so corrupted by the prodigious fictions of vain Writers even in more ancient times that some doe question whether ever there were any such persons at all and doubt not but the Legend of their Martyrdom is false The rather because the Writers of that age of the age immediatly following Gildas and S. Beda doe not in their Histories make any expresse mention of them 2. But as for Gildas his design to bewayle the generall destruction of the Brittish state and to declare the horrible crimes overspreading the Nation which provok'd Almighty God to give them up to the fury of a barbarous people which though ignorant of Gods Law yet was lesse stain'd with vices against the Law of Nature and reason then the other This considered no wonder if tying himself to his present subject he did not in so short yet comprehensive a narration involve occurrents hapning abroad Yet as hath been declared he has expressions which seem intended to describe in a generall way this particular matter deserving to be the sole argument of the Penn of a ready Writer 3. And as for S. Beda it is no wonder if his History intended only to relate the affaires of the Saxons does not recount such particular occurrents of the Brittains Notwithstanding in other Treatises he twice expressly mentions the celebration of the Memory of eleaven thousand Virgin Martyrs suffring for their Faith and Chastity at Colen to wit in his Martyrologe and in his Ephemeris So that his authority and testimony alone living so neer these times and being so wel vers'd in Ecclesiasticall Antiquities does render the truth of their story in grosse unquestionable 4. The particular Narration of which shall here be nakedly set down according to the consent of most of our Writers For as for the pretended Revelations of S. Elizabeth wherin we are told of an unheard of Pope Cyriacus of Iames a Patriark of Antioch of Seaven Bishops and eleaven Kings all these Brittains and accompanying S. Vrsula in her voyage as likewise of their wandring and sporting three years upon the Sea c. These things though formerly thrust into the Lessons of the Roman Breviary yet upon serious examination and correction of it by three Popes are now cast out as impertinent and uncertain Tales we following so great an authority will likewise neglect them 5. The plain and simple Narration of their Gests therefore is this S. Vrsula and her eleaven thousand chast companions chosen out of all the Provinces of Brittany together with a great but uncertain number of attendants partly to avoy'd the fury of Barbarous Saxons wasting their countrey and partly to goe to their design'd Husbands expecting them in Armorica in the year of our Lord four hundred fifty three saild out of their port in Brittany and pursuing their voyage Westward and toward the South by contrary winds and Tempests were not only stopp'd in their course but driven backward and forced to shelter themselves at the entrance of the Rhene into the Sea 6. At this time infinit numbers of Hunns Gepids Russians and other barbarous Nations of the North both by land and Sea vexed Germany and Gaule as the Writers of that age unanimously testify And by Gods speciall Providence who intended to match these Holy Virgins to a Spouse incomparably better then their parents had design'd them to in the same station where they took harbour a great Navy of those savage Pirats lay floating so that there was no possibility for them to escape 7. They are therefore seis'd upon by these Pirats among whom were mingled great numbers of the old Enemies of Brittany the Picts for the cheif Captains of this fleet are said to have been Gaunus a Hunn and Melga a Pict Being thus become Captives they are in boats conveyed up the Rhene as far as Colen where their generall forces were encamped and as some Writers affirm had beseig'd that Citty 8. When they were arriv'd thither and encompass'd with innumerable multitudes of Savages hating Christian Religion and brutish in their sensuall lusts both their Faith and chastity are at once assaulted and no means either by allurements or threatnings are left unattempted to expugnate their chast breasts In this extremity S. Vrsula with flaming words exhorts her companions to contemn death to sacrifice their chast soules and bodies to their celestiall Bridegrome and willingly to follow him who now calls them to receive eternall crowns of glory She tells them that in this conflict though their enemies be never so many strong and cruell yet that themselves were unconquerable unlesse they would willingly yeild up the victory c. 9. With this Exhortation the minds of these holy Virgins become so full of courage that they think their Executioners delay their death too long Insomuch as among so vast a multitude of tender maids not one single person was found which either out of hope or fear yeilded to the wills of the barbarous soldiers They all willingly offer their necks and breasts to the enemies swords which with unheard of cruelty are employ'd to exterminate from the earth so many immaculate soules not one of which by a miraculous care of Almighty God suffred any violation in their bodies 10. Onely one there was among them which though she did not yeild to the barbarous Enemies yet out of a naturall fear of death sought by hiding her self to delay it Her name was Cordula Yet she the next morning came to the place where her companions bodies lay massacred and condemning her former cowardlines willingly offred her self to her persecutours professing publickly her Faith and chastity And thus though she came late to receive her Crown with her companions yet her courage seem'd now greater in that she expos'd her self single to the fury of an innumerable multitude of savage enemies Her memory is thus particularly celebrated in the Roman Martyrologe on the day following the Martyrdom of S. Vrsula and the rest At Colen on the tenth of the Calends of November is solemniâ—'d the memory of S. Cordula who being one of the companions of S. Vrsula after she had in a fright to see their cruell massacre hid her self afterwards repenting she voluntarily came forth
divided by an intestin warr But he did not as he hoped find them unprepared nor destitute of courage to resist him For after many losses sustained in severall parts of the countrey they at last took courage and uniting their forces together came to a battell wherein they had the upper hand and constraind Cedwalla to fly As for his Brother Mollo or Mull he in his flight being compelled to retire into a certain Cottage the enemies fett it on fire so that he not daring to issue out was consumed by the flames Yet did not Cedwalla for all this desist from repairing his losses by frequent micheifs done to the inhabitants of Kent and a more full revenge he bequeathed to his Successour King â—naâ— as in due place shall be declared 6. B. Parker in his Antiquities assigns a strange cause wâ—y this Mollo was burnt by the Kentish soldiers saying Some affirm that the cause of the death of Mollo was because the Kentishmen perceived that he was very obstinat in defending Images concerning which a Controversy in that age was solemnly debated But it does no where appear that Mollo was a Christian. Certain it is his Brother Cedwalla was not baptised till after this when he had made a iourney to Rome in devotion for that purpose It was therefore in probability his obstinacy not to reliquish his Idols or Pagan worship that might because of his death And as for the pretended Question about Sacred Images it was not raised in the Church till about a hundred years after this and then it began in the East by certain factious Christians half-Iewes Neither doe we find any signs in our ancient Records that Brittany was disturbed with that debate If this Mollo therefore was a Christian it is well known what doctrine Saint Augustin and his Successours taught in Kent touching the Veneration of Images and that Saint Birinus Agilbert Hedda and Wilfrid taught the same among the West-Saxons 7. Cedwalla after he had for some time vented his fury against Kent turned his arms to the subdâ—ing the Isle of Wight adioyning to the Province of the south-Saxons already conquered by him And how great a blessing that Island obtained by his cruelty wee find thus related by Saint Beda After that Cedwalla saith he had the possession of the Kingdom of the Gevissi or West-Saxons he subdued the Isle of Wight the inhabitants whereof were to that time wholly addicted to Pagan Idolatry whom he endeavoured wholly to exterminate and to place in their rooms his own Subjects yea as the report is he obliged himself by vow though as yet he was no professed Christian nor baptized that if he gott the possession of the Island he would consecrate to our Lord the fourth part both of the land and spoyles And this Vow he effectually performed insomuch as he gave to Saint Wilfrid who not long before was arrived there out of the Northern parts the use of the said land and prey Now the measure of that Island according to the English estimation is so much as may maintain twelve hundred families So that the possession of three hundred families was given to the Bishop But he recommended the portion given him to one of his Clarks named Berwins who was his Sisters Son And withall gave him a Preist called Hildila to the end he might administer the Word of life and Baptism to all that would be saved 8. It is also probable that about this time the same Cedwalla gave to S. Wilfrid the Town called Paganham concerning which Selden makes mention of a certain clause in the said Kings Charter importing that a threefold freedom was granted to that place now given to the Church to witt a freedom from having a Castle built there and from contribution to mending the bridge and lastly from payments to the army if this be the right interpretation of the rude Latin phrase Absque trinoda necessitate totius Christiani populi id est areis munitione pontis emendatione exercitij congestime liberam perstrinxi Another Charter to the same holy Bishop is likewise extant to which is annexed this clause For a further confirmation hereof I Cedwalla have putt a turf of the said ground upon the holy Altâ—r of our Saviour and by reason of my ignorance in writing my name I have expressed and subscribed the sign of the holy Crosse. Now from hence is manifest that at the time of the invasion of the Isle of Wight Cedwalla was a Christian Cathecumen though he deferred his Baptism out of a desire to receive it at Rome V. CHAP. 1.2 Two young Princes Martyrs in the Isle of Wight 3. King Cedwalla his reverence to Saint Wilfrid 1. THE Isle of Wight was the last Province of Brittany which received the Christian Faith and that New Church was consecrated with the blood of two young Princely Martyrs the Brethren of Arvald or Arvand King of that Island The manner hereof is thus described by S. Beda 2. Wee must not passe over in silence saith he how two Royall children brethren to Arvald King of the Island were by a speciall Grace of God crownd with Martyrdom being made an Oblation of First fruits of such inhabitants of the said Island as were to be saved by Faith For when the Enemies army approached they fled privatly out of the Island into the adioyning Province of the Iutae or Hampshire Where being come to a place called Ad lapidem Stoneham they hoped to conceale themselves from the sight of the conquering King Cedwalla but they were betrayd and by his command appointed to be slain The report of this command being come to the hearing of a Certain Abbot and Preist named Cymbert who governed a Monastery not far distant from thence called Read-ford or the Ford of Reeds it is now called Redbridge he came to the K. who then lay privatly in those parts to be cured of his wound received in the late battell in the Isle of Wight and humbly requested of him that of those children must needs be killed he would at least permitt them to be instructed in the Christian Faith and baptized before their death The King yeilded to this request whereupon the good Abbot taught them the Mysteries of Christian Religion which they embracing he washed them from all their sins in the Laver of saving Baptism and therby gave them an assurance that they should enter into an eternall kingdom Thus the Executioner being come they ioyfully underwent a corporall death not doubting but that thereby their soules should be translated to a life of happines everlasting 3. Thus writes S. Beda the summ whereof is repeated by Camden in his description of Hampshire thereto adding this observation from the same Authour That after all other Provinces of Brittany had receiued the Faith of Christ the Isle of Wight in the last place of all embraced the same Notwithstanding by reason of the miserable Subiection thereof to a forrain Prince not any
three years after and is commemorated on the two and twentieth of September 6 A great proof of the perfection of Monasticall Disciplin observed after her death in her Monastery is this That Saint Boniface the glorious Apostle of the Germans having founded a Monastery in those parts made choice of her Disciples above all others and particularly of Saint Lioba to plant Religious observance there This is testified by Rodulphus Disciple of Rabanus Maurus in the life of S. Lioba written by him 8. The same Writer also affirms that in the same town of Winburn there was erected likewise a Cloyster of Monks either by Saint Cuthburga or her Brother King Ina And that from the beginning a Law and Decree of Religious Disciplin had been made That excepting Preists who were to serve at the Altar no men should be permitted to enter the Monastery of those Religious Virgins Nor any woman into that of Religious men And that among the other obligations of the Virgins at their Profession this was one never to step out of their Cloyster except upon a necessary cause to be approved by Superiours 9. Among the Epistles of Saint Boniface there is one inserted from one Aldhun an Abbot and two Abbesses called Cnenburg and Coenburg which were probably these two Princely Sisters Saint Cuthburga and Saint Quenburga desiring a devour Preist called Wietbert an attendant of Saint Boniface to recommend to God in his Prayers two Religious woemen Quoengyth and Edlu both which dyed the same day being the Ides of September XIX CHAP. 1.2 c. The death of Prince Pipin to which S. Swibert endeavoured in vain to prepare him 1. THE death of Duke Pipin hapning about this time since the holy Apostolick Bishop Saint Swibert was employed in preparing him to it which charge he performed with great zeale though with small effect it will not be iudged impertinent to give an account of what passed between them from the relation of S. Marcellin a witnes whose authority cannot be questioned Thus therefore he writes 2. It hapned sayth he in the year seaven hundred and fourteen after our Lords Incarnation that Pipin of Herstall a magnanimous Prince and Maâ—re of the King of France his house sell fick of that disease which endred with his life Hereupon the illustrious Bishop Saint Swibert was earnestly desired by certain Noble persons to visit him But he thought fitt first to goe to Colen attended by his two Disciples Willeic and Theodorick there to demand counsell of Plectrudis the illustrious Duchesse of Lorrain or the Austrasians how he should cary himself in that affaire She with great devotion received and entertaind him at last for her own consolation retaining with her the pious Preist Willeic she dismissed Saint Swibert accompanied by Agilulf Archbishop of Colen and other Prelats giving them charge seriously to advise her husband Prince Pipin that in case he should dye he would take care not to disinherit his illustrious lawfully begotten children Drogo Duke of Champagne and Grimoaldus Maire of the house to Childebert King of France by substituting in his Will as his Heyr Charles Martell a bastard by Alpaide his Concubine which injustice he could not doe without the losse and damnation of his soule besides the stain that he would bring upon his name in the sight of the whole Church and Scandall of his Nobility and Subjects 3. This was an employment which not long before had cost the Holy Bishop Lambert very dear for because he had reprehended the same Prince for his unlawfull cohabitation and mariage with the same Harlot he lost his life and was deservedly esteemed a Martyr 4. The foresaid Bishop therefore being arrived at Ioppilta a Town upon the River Mosa where the sick Prince lay were kindly received by him They therefore to comfort and encourage him to suffer with patience temporall afflictions or infirmities told him that Almighty God in his wisedom and goodnes made the way to heaven rough and unpleasant to his Elect least being delighted in the way they should forget or disesteem the happines which they expected in their countrey 5 After such like discourse often repeated at last having found a convenient and opportune season among other spirituall advices which they gave him for the good of his soule they with great affection and zeale discovered to him the speciall motive of their iourney sharply reprooving him for his unlawfull mariage But they had no sooner touched upon this argument but they were with great indignation repulsed by the Prince And the harlot Alpaide having diligently enquired into and found the occasion of these Prelats iourney rudely commanded them presently to be gone And withall was so importunate with the Prince in behalf of her Son Charles Martel that she obtained of him whatsoever she requested And accordingly Pipin dying the same year left Charles Martel heyre of all his Principalities 6. This being seen by the foresayd Prelats they were forced to return to Colen with greif and dishonour where they made known to Plectrudis all things which had passed at Ioppilia with Pipin withall comforting and exhorting her to sustain such crosses with patience XX. CHAP. i. 2 c. The Birth education and Gests of S. Guthlac Of his Disciple Bertelins intention to murder him Of Ethelbald a banished Mercian Prince comforted by him c. BVT in Brittany a far more comfortable and happy death befell a Hermit of admirable Sanctity named S. Guthlac who as in this life he enioyd a familiar conversation with Angels so in the next he was made their companion in blessednes for ever His Gesis we have thought fitt to remitt till this time when he dyed because having lived a solitary life they were scarce at all involved with the common occurrents of the Church in his time The story of his life may require from us a more then ordinary attention credit because written by Felix a devout â—reist of the same age and dictated to him by Bertelin a Monk of Croyland his companion in Solitude The Authour dedicated his Writing to Elwold King of the East-Angles which is a sufficient warrant to rectify the Chronology of some of our Historians who place the death of this Elwold in the year of Grace six hundred and ninety By the generall account S. Guthlac lived forty seaven years and being twenty four years old he undertook a soldiers Profession in which he lived eight years and fifteen years after in the Solitude of Croyland so that his Birth must fall in the year of Grace six hundred sixty seaven The wonderfull circumstances of which is thus recorded by the foresaid Authour Felix 2. In the dayes of Ethelred King of the Mercians saith he a certain Noble person of Royall offspring named Penwald had by his wife Tecta the holy servant of God Guthlac At the hower of his birth his future Sanctity was miraculously designed For from heaven there appeard the hand as it were of
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
hundred and fourteen days besides the Canonicall howers he recited the whole Psalter twice a day and this when he was so sick that he could not tide on horse-back but was forced to be caried in a Litter every day except that on which he passed the Sea and three days before his death he sung Masse and offred the Saving Sacrifice to God 16 He dyed on the five and twentieth day of September in the year after our Lords Incarnation seaven hundred and sixteen upon a Friday after three of the clock in the after noon in the feilds of the foresaid Citty of Langres and was buried the day following in the Monastery of the three Twin-Martyrs about a mile distant from the Citty toward the south there being present no small army partly of English who attended him as likewise inhabitants of the Monastery and Citty adioyning all which with loud voyces sung Psalmes at his enterrment Thus far writes S. Beda 7. It seems his body did not remain at Langres for in the Supplement of the Gallican Martyrologe on the six and twentieth of November we read celebrated the Translution of Saint Ceolfrid an English Abbot who at his return from his pilgrimage to Rome dyed at Langres in France and was buried in the Church of the three twinn Martyrs Afterward his countrey-men demanding his Sacred Body which had been glorified by many Miracles it was with great veneration caried back to his own Monastery The day of his deposition is celebrated in our Martyrologe on the five and twentieth of September II. CHAP. 1.2 c. The death Buriall and Miracles of S. Swibert 1. THE same year as hath been sayd Saint Swibert the glorious Apostle of the Germans and Frisons ended his mortality This was the third year after he had visited Prince Pipin and was returned to Werda saith Marcellin At last Almighty God who is himself the great reward of his faithfull servants and who by a temporall death of the flesh translates the living Stones of his Church from earth to his heavenly building was pleased to call the valiant Champion of his Faith Saint Swibert to receive his Crown in his eternall kingdom Therefore in the said year Saints Swibert replenished with all Divine Graces and inflamed with a cordiall desire to See God after he had celebrated the Divine Mysteries on the Feast of Saint Peters Chair in his Monastery a languishing sicknes took him so that he was forced to confine himself to his bed 2. And when he saw that his disease every moment grew more violent he called all his Brethren and Disciples togeâ—her to the number of twenty and in the first place admonished them to follow our Lords foot-steps and to be carefull to preserve peace and charity with one another and with all of the house-hold of Faith Likewise that with all care they should observe the Instituts of Regular Disciplin which he had taught them by Word and example Then he told them expressly that the day of his death was at hand whereupon they all began to weep bitterly But the Holy Bishop said to them My beloved Brethren doe not weep but rather reioyce in my behalf for now I shall receive the recompence of all my labours Extend your charity to mee at this time of my retiring out of the world and protect mee with your prayers After he had said this he much reioycing in our Lord exhorted them to a contempt of this present world and an earnest desire of heavenly rewards again putt them in mind by their watchings prayers and good works to prevent the hour of his death which was uncertain And having added other words to this effect and bestowed his Benediction on them by his command they went out to the Church with great sadnes 3. But he retained with him the Superiour of his Monastery Saint â—iâ—eic with whom he ioynd in most devout Prayer to God and meditation of Divine things And when the day of his departure and repose was come of which he had before been informed by an Angel causing his foresaid Brethren to be once more assembled he commanded that Masse should solemnly be celebrated in his presence Then arming himself with the Communion of our Lords Body and making the sign of the Crosse on all that stood about him he quietly slept in death and his blessed soule was caried by Quires of Angels to the eternall happy Society of the Saints And immediatly his face became of a shining brightnes his Cell likewise yeilded an odoriferous fragrancy which wonderfully refreshed all that were present Thus this most Holy Prelat Saint Swibert Bishop of Werda happily dyed in the sixty ninth year of his age on a friday being the first day of March on which day the Church every where celebrates his Memory 4. In the same hower that he dyed his soule with great glory and ioy appeared to Saint Willebrord his beloved companion Bishop of Vtrecht then in his way returning from Epternac to Verona requesting and admonishing him that he would be present at his Funeralls in Werda and commend his body to the Sepulcher This being declared to us by Saint Willebrord with much greif he presently took boat and made great hast to Werda There was then present with him his illustrious Spirituall daughter the Duchesse Plectrudis with certain Prelats who blessed God for the merits of his holy Confessour Saint Swibert All these the day following being Saturday as they were according to custom singing the Vigile of the Dead a young man was brought among them who had been made blind by lightning and with his clamours interrupting the Psalmody and calling to the Saint to have his sight restored assoon as he had touched the Coffin he immediatly recovered his sight to the astonishment of all Besides another who was raging mad being brought in and kissing the cover of the same Coffin was presently restored to his senses A third also who was possessed by the Devill by the same means was perfectly freed from the Wicked Spirit 5 At last on Sunday after all the solemnity of the funerals had been devoutly fullfilld the Sacred Body with hymns and Lauds was reverently committed to the ground by Saint Willebrord Arch-bishop of Vtrecht Saint Willeic a Preist the glorious Princesse Pâ—ectrudâ— Duchesse of the Austrasians and many others his Brethren and Disciples 6. And I Marcellin Preist who have written this History and had been formerly a Disciple and companion of the Holy Bishop S. Swibert I was also present at the Buriall with Saint Willebrord after which at the earnest request of my dear Brethren Willeic Gerard Theodoric and others we remained with them in the Monastery of Werda fifteen dayes for their consolation I will therefore here relate among many some few testimonies of Miracles which I saw with mine own eyes and many other with mee so that it not only deservedly may but ought to be beleived that the said Holy Bishop is great in
at London in which Church he was Preist not Bishop as Parker mistakingly affirms Some thing hath already been spoken of him when wee related how S. Beda made use of his industry and assistance in composing his History 6. To this New Arch-bishop Nothelm presently after his consecration S. Boniface directed an Epistle in which after he had desired from him the same Christian affection Vnion of minds which heretofore he had with S. Brithwald his Predecessour he proposed to him a difficulty and scrupule which had much and long tormented him a resolution whereof he desired from him as he did from diverse others and particularly from Pecthelm Bishop of Candida Casa and also from an English Abbot called Duddo who had formerly been S. Boniface his own Schollar yet such was his humility that he disdaind not to consult him Now the Doubt or difficulty I will sett down in S. Boniface's own expression 7. I desire saith he to hear your counsell touching a sin committed by mee through ignorance in permitting mariage between two parties the Case stood thus A certain Man with my leave maried a woman a widdow to whose sâ—n he had formerly been God-father This the Romans say is so unlawfull that they ought to be divorced Yea moreover they affirm that anciently under the Christian Emperours â—uch a crime was punished with death or at least perpetuall banishment Now I beseech you to inform mee whether you can find either in the Decrees of the Ancient Catholick Fathers or Holy Scriptures that this is so great a sin For mine own part I can by no means comprehend how a carnall conjunction between persons in a Spirituall prâ—pinquity should be a heynous sin since in Sacred Baptism wee are all of us sons and daughters of Christ and his Church and Brothers and Sâ—sters to one another 8. The Resolution of this Doubt wee can not find since their Answers hereto are lost But Serrarius a learned Iesuit who published Saint Boniface's Epistles with Annotations after he had produced severall Decrees of Ancient Popes strictly forbidding such Mariages shews the Answer to this Doubt to be now very easy Adding withall That if in S. Boniface's time the Ancient Caâ—ins had been in the same number and order as now he would never have doubted of the Question However his diligence in seeking satisfaction is highly to be praised and his humility of mind to be imitated since he not only proposes his doubts to Bishops but even his own Disciples desiring to be taught by them now in his old age yea since he professes that he will not pertinaciously adhere to his own iudgment but obediently acquiesee in the Decrees of the Church and Holy Fathers How far now are our modern Sectaries from such a disposition of mind For Luther and Beza grounding themselves upon their private iudgment and proudly contemning and opposing all Antiquity and authority doe sett as nought all regard of Spirituall Alliance Such difference there is between the Spirits of a modest humble Catholick and an arrogant Heretick IV. CHAP. 1.2 c The Gests of S. Pecthelm 6.7.8 Of S. Wiro 9. And of S. Otger 1. AS touching S. Pecthelm Bishop of Candida Casa to whom S. Boniface directed one of his Epistles demanding his iudgment touching the forementiond doubt it is not easy to determin in what place that Epistle might find him Wee signified his Ordination to that See in the year seaven hundred twenty three and S. Beda in the eighth year after concluding his History affirms that he continued at that time Bishop there Yet the Writers of the Gallican and Belgick Antiquities consonantly aâ—â—â—rm that he left Britâ—tany and after the example of S. Boniface propagated the Christian Faith in those Countreys Of which there is an absolute silence among our English Historians Let us therefore enquire concerning his Gests of forrain Authours 2. In the Gallican Martyrologe upon the fifteenth day of Iuly wee read thus In the Mount of S. Peter otherwise called the Monastery of S. Odila neer Ruremâ—nd in Belgium â—s that day celebrated the deposition of S. Pecthelm Bishop of Candida Casa in Scotland that 〈◊〉 now for anciently it was within the Doâ—â—nioâ— of the English-Saxons and Confessour who being inflamed with a zeale to root out Heathenish Superstition to that time springing â—p in some parts of Belgium undertook a voyage into those countreys in the company of S. Wiro Bâ—â—hop and S. Otger a Deacon Where he was kindly entertaind by King Pipin and encouraged â—o so pious a work He brought very many to the Light of Evangelicall Truth and cast down severall profane Temples of fâ—lse Gods building many Churches to the honouâ— of the only true God The like testimony wee find in Miraeus his Belgick Calendar 5 Now the death of this Holy Bishop our Historian Florentius referrs to this present year Concerning which the sayd Martyrologe thus treats In the same Monastery S Pecthelm full of dayes and merits peaceably dyed And many Divine Miracles shining at his Sepulcher declared him a glorified Saint in heaven Whereupon veneration and honour due to Saints was attributed to him and his Holy Companions For â—heir Sacred Relicks were taken up and reposed under the Altar of the Cathedrall Church of Ruâ—emond and moreover an annuall Feast and Office celebrated in their honour not only through that whole Diocese but also at Oldensale in the Bishoprick of Daventer where his Head is preserved and with great veneration of the people honoured Hereunto Miraeus adds That this anâ—ient Inscription is found upon their Shrines Parts of the Relicks of S. Wiro S. Pecthelm and Saint Otger In the year of Grace one thousand five hundred seaventy one in which the rebellious Gueuses or Calvinists having overthrown the Table of the Altar but leaving the base untouched they were by a singular Providence of God defended from the fury of those Hereticks and twenty three years after when the same Altar was repaired they were there found and afterward honourably taken up as wee read in the Office of the Church of Ruremond 4 In this Narration there occurr difficulties of some weight For whereas it is sayd that Saint Pecthelm was kindly received by King Papin it will not be easy to determin among three Princes in this age all of the same name which was he who received our Saints Whether the first Pipin son to the elder Carloman or his Grandchild by his daughter Begga or the last who was Son to Charles Martel and was the only Pipin who was King But he not beginning his raign till the year seaven hundred fifty two he could not be King at S. Pecthelm's arrivall in France Therefore most probable it is that he was at this time only a young Duke but is stiled King because he became so afterward Notwithstanding after all this the Irish Historians confidently apply all this Story to their Pecthelm Bishop of Tuam and indeed their
this 〈◊〉 gave to the people the parings of his nayles and the hayr which fell from his head bidding tâ—em tâ— mingle those with the Relicks of S. Peter Yea hâ—â— presumption came to that point that whâ—â— any came and prostrated themselves at hâ—â— feet desirous to confesse their sins hâ— would tell â—hem I know all your sins already your very thoughts are not hid from mee therefore there is no need to confesse theâ— Goe home in peace have no doubt at all but your sins are pardond These and many other like marks of Pride and Hippocrisy did Adelbert shew in his habit gate gesture and behaviour 8. As for the other Heretick called Clement his Heresies did more openly destroy the common Faith of the Church He rejected all the Sacred Canons all the Writings of the Holy Fathers and all authority of Councills He would maintain that he might lawfully be a Catholick Bishop though he had two children born in adultery Yea he introduced Iudaism affirming that a Christian might without sin if he pleased mary his own Brothers Widow Moreover in opposition to the constans Doctrine of the Fathers he taught that Christ the son of God when he descended into Hell delivered out of that Infernall prison all without exception beleivers and infidells And many Heresies more he published touching Divine Predestination contrary to Catholick Faith 9. These things being made known to the Synod at Rome The Fathers unanimously deprived Adelbert of his Sacerdotall function condemning him to Pennance and in case he should afterward seduce any they pronounced Anathema against him and all that should adhere to him or his doctrines In like manner they deposed Clement and actually excommunicated him and whosoever should consent to his sacrilegious Opinions 10. Our late Zealous Reformers of Scotland may here discover with gratulation their prime Patriark who desirous to be an Apostle of a New pureâ—-Religion made the foundation of it to be a contempt of the Doctrines of Ancient Fathers and Sacred Canons of the Church And in the like unhappy attempt he will shoâ—tly be imitated by another Preist of the same Nation called Sampson who in despight of Sacred Tradition and the Vniversall practise of the Church denyed the necessity of Baptism asserting that by the simple Imposition of hands by a Bishop without Baptism one might be made a good Catholick Christian. 11. An account of all these Proceedings Pope Zacharias gave S. Boniface in a Letter requiring him to publish through Germany France the condemnation of these Hereticks He signifyed moreover that he confirmed all things which had passed in the Synod of Mentz ratifying the erection of that See to a Metropolitan dignity though he knew that many Schismaticall Preists in France did earnestly oppose themselves against it And whereas a request had been made to him from France that the Citty formerly called Agrippina but then Colonia might be erected to be a Metropolitan Church he signified his â—ssent but so that it should be subordinate to hâ—s See of Mentz He also intimated to him that in case a certain Seducer named Geoleob who formerly had usurped the name authority of a Bishop should present himself to him at Rome without his approbation he would treat him as he deserved And he enioynd likewise S. Boniface not to admitt any Bishops or Metropolitans confirmed by him at Rome except they brought Commendatory Letters from him XVII CHAP. 1.2 c. A Letter of Saint Boniface and the Synod of English Bishops at Mentz to the Mercian King Ethelbald reproving him for his incestuous lusts and Sacriledge 7. c. Another Letter of the same to Egbert Arch-bishop of York 1. NEither did S. Boniface's Christian Charity and Pastorall solicitude confine it self to Germany alone But he thought it his duty to give his best assistance to his Native countrey Brittany almost over-whelmd with a Sea of vices There King Ethelbald the most potent among the English-Saxon Princes had in a high manner offended God in a sacrilegious invasion of the rights and revenews of Churches within his Dominions of Mercia in offring violence to the chastity of Religious Virgins consecrated to God and many other crimes and there was a iust fear least such enormities in a King should become exemplary to his subjects and draw many to imitate them Therefore S. Boniface and his companions in this Synod of Mentz who were all Bishops of English race thought expedient to admonish the sayd King Ethelbald of his Duty as a Christian Prince by a Letter directed to him in the name of â—he whole Synod Which was likewise done by them 2. This Letter is still extant In which with a modest yet vigorous stile becoming an Apostolick Spirit they signifyed to hâ—m that publick fame having informed them that he had all his life abstaind from Mariage which if he had done out of the Love and fear of God and for chastities sake they should have much reioyced in it But they were told that he refused to take a lawfull wife and polluted himself in adulteries and unlawfull lusts not abstaining even from devout Virgins the Spouses of our Lord a sin so horrible that it is by God esteemed equall to Heathenish Idolatry Yea the ancient Pagan Saxons did so abhorr adultery that if any woman though unmaried were found guilty of it they would coÌ„pell her with her own hands to hang her self after her death they would consume body with fire and hang him who had corrupted her over her smoking ashes Or else they would cause a multitude of women to drive her out of their town with whips cutting all her garment away to her wast and lancing her body with knives and thus she would be entertaind by the women of the next village who would use the like rigour towards her till they dispatched her of her Life Now if Heathens have such a zeale for Matrimoniall Chastâ—ty how iealous will our Lord be of his Spouses contracted to him by Vow and how infinitly more heavy will the punishment be which he will inflict on their Sacrilegious corrupters 3. They adiured him moreover to consider that Gods fury will more feircely be inflamed against Kings who are guilty of unlawfull lusts because probably their subjects will imitate them by which means the whole Nation like Sodom will become polluted and thereby leave a posterity effeminated by lusts despised both by God and men and regardles even of their Faith An example whereof might be seen in the Nations in Spain Province and Burgundy which giving themselves to filthy luxury were forsaken by God who justly suffred the Saracens to come upon them and overcome them so that now they have lost all knowledge of God and their Holy Faith 4. Hereto they added another great Crime which publick fame made him guilty of which was breaking the Priviledges of Churches and Monasteries and invading their revenews â—n which abominable sin he was followed by his Nobles who sett
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