blood and Martyrdom of the two Princes of the Apostles 3. At his being there S. Felix or his Predecessour S. Simplicius sate in the Apostles Chair By whom he was consecrated Bishop of Beneventum Which See he governed with prudence and Sanctity till at last he was slain by an impious Pagan whilst he was at the holy Altar celebrating the Mystery of our Redemption 4. This Saint Sophias was by another name call'd Cadocus being the same who gave advice to Saint Iltutus to forsake a secular life as hath been already declared And he is to be distinguish'd from another Saint Cadocus who was an Abbot concerning whom we shall treat in the year of Grace five hundred XIV CHAP. 1.2 c. Of Saint Keyna daugher of Braganus Prince of Brecknock and of her Brothers and sisters 4. c. The Gests of S. Keyna 1. NO lesse famous at the same time was the Holy Brittish Virgin Saint Keyna whose death in our Martyrologe is likewise placed in the same year four hundred and Ninety Illustrious she was for her Birth being the Daughter of Braganus Prince of that Province in Wales which from him was afterward called Brecknockshire but more illustrious for her zeale to preserve her Chastity for which reason she was call'd in the Brittish language Keynvayre that is Keyna the Virgin 2. This Prince Braganus or Brachanus the Father of Saint Keyna is said to have had twelve sons and twelve daughters by his Lady call'd Marcella daughter of Theodoric son of Tethphalt Prince of Garthmatrin the same region call'd afterward Brecnock Their first born Son was Saint Canoc of whom we shall speak ere long And their eldest daughter was Gladus who was mother of Cadocus by Saint Gunley a Holy King of the Southern Britons The second daughter was Melaria the Mother of the Holy Arch-Bishop Saint David Thus writes Capgrave neither doth he mention any other of their children besides S. Keyna 3. But in Giraldus Cambrensis another daughter is commemorated call'd Saint Almedha of whom more will be said presently And David Powel makes mention of a fifth named Tydvaâ—l who was the wife of â—ongen the Son of Cadel Prince of Powis-land and mother of Brochmaâ—l sirnamed Scithroc who slew Ethelfred King of the Northumbers 4. Concerning the Holy Virgin Saint Keyna we find this Narration in the Authour of her life extant in Capgrave She was of Royal blood being daughter of Braganus Prince of Brecknockshire When she came to ripe years many Noble persons sought her in mariage But she utterly refused that state having consecrated her virginity to our Lord by a perpetuall vow For which cause she was afterward by the Brittains called Keyn-wâ—ri that is Keyna the Virgin 5. At length she determined to forsake her countrey and find out some desart place where she might attend to Contemplation Therefore directing her journey beyond Severn and there meeting with certain wooddy places she made her request to the Prince of that countrey that she might be permitted to serve God in that solitude His answer was that he was very willing to grant her request but that the place did so swarm with serpents that neither men nor beasts could inhabite in it But she constantly replyed that her firm trust was in the name and assistance of Almighty God to drive all that poysonnous brood out of that region 6. Hereupon the place was granted to the Holy Virgin who presently prostrating her self in fervent prayer to God obtaind of him to change all the serpents and vipers there into stones And to this day the stones in that Region doe resemble the windings of Serpents through all the feilds and villages as if they had been framed so by the hand of the engraver 7. Our learned Camden in his diligent search after Antiquities seems to have visited this countrey being a part of Somersetshire though he is willing to disparage the miracle His words are On the western bank of Avon is seen the town of Cainsham Some are of opinion that it was named so from Keyna a most holy Brittish Virgin who according to the credulous perswasion of former ages is beleived to have turn'd serpents into stones because such like miracles of sporting nature are there sometimes found in the Quarries I my self saw a stone brought from thence representing a serpent rolled up into a spire The head of it stuck out in the outward surface and the end of the tayle terminated in the Center 8. But let us prosecute the life of this Holy Virgin Many years being spent by her in this solitary place and the fame of her Sanctity every where divulged and many Oratories built by her her Nephew Saint Cadoc performing a pilgrimage to the Mount of Saint Michaâ—l mett there with his blessed Aunt Saint Keyna at whose sight he was replenish'd with great ioy And being desirous to bring her back to her own countrey the inhabitants of that region would not permitt him But afterward by the admonition of an Angel the holy Mayd returned to the place of her Nativity Where on the topp of a hillock seated at the foot of a high mountain she made a little habitation for her self and by her prayers to God obtaind a spring there to flow out of the earth which by the merits of the Holy Virgin afforded health to divers infirmities 9. But when the time of her consummation approached one night she by the revelation of the holy Ghost saw in a vision as it were a fiery pillar the base whereof was fixed on her bed Now her bed was the pavement strow'd over with a few branches of trees And in this Vision two Angels appear'd to her One of which approaching respectfully to her seem'd to take off the sack cloath with which she was covered and instead thereof to putt on her a smock of fine linnen and over that a tunick of purple and last of all a mantell all woven with gold Which having done he thus sayd to her Prepare your self to come with us that we may lead you into your heavenly Fathers Kingdom Hereupon she wept with excesse of joy and endeavouring to follow the Angels she awak'd and found her body inflamed with a feaver so that she perceiv'd her end was near 10. Therefore sending for her Nephew Saint Cadocus she sayd to him This is the place above all others beloved by mee Here my memory shall be perpetuated This place I will often visit in spirit if it may be permitted mee And I am assured it shall be permitted mee because our Lord has granted mee this place as a certain inheritance The time will come when this place shall be inhabited by a sinfull people which notwithstanding I will violently root out of this seat My Tomb shall lye a long time unknown till the coming of other people whom by my prayers I shall bring hither them will I protect and defend and in this place shall the name of our Lord
BOOK OF THE CHVRCH-HISTORY OF BRITTANY I. CHAPTER 1.2 c. Osric and Eanfrid succeed King Edwin Their Apostacy from Christianity 6. Oswald succeeds his Brother Eanfrid 7.8 Letters of Pope Honorius 1. RETVRNING to the Kingdom of the Northumbers we shal see nothing but spectacles of misery a Nation desolated a Church torn in peices and nothing but horrour and confusion Yet in a short time all these tempests will be asswaged and so great a peace and order will return both to the Kingdom and Church by another pious King that even the losse of King Edwin will be fully recompenced But first let us view the present calamities thus sett down by S. Beda 2. After that King Edwin was slain in battell saith he Osric the Son of his Vncle Elfric who by the preaching of S. Paulinus had been imbued with the Sacraments of our Faiâ—h took upon him the Kingdom of the Deiri As for the Kingdom of the Bernicians for anciently the Nation of the Northumbers was divided into these two Provinces that was possessed by Eanfrid the Son of Edilfrid born in the same Province Now we have already declared that during the whole course of King Edwins raign the Sons of his Predecessour Edilfrid attended by great numbers of the Nobility retired themselves among the Scots and Picts where they lived in banishment And they were instructed in Christian Religion professed by the Scots and purified by the Grace of Baptisme 3. Assoon therefore as their Enemy King Edwin was dead they were permitted to return into their countrey and there the elder of them Osric became King of the Province of the Deiri and the Second Eanfrid of the Bernicians But both of them were no sooner invested with the marks of a temporall Kingdom but they renounced the Sacraments and badges of the Heavenly kingdom with which they had been initiated and to their eternall ruine polluted themselves with the filth of their former Idolatry 4. But divine iudgment quickly overtook them both for they were slain in a short time by the impious hand of Cedwalla King of the Brittains whom Almighty God made the instrument of his iust severity For the elder of them Osric having rashly besieged the said King in a certain town the summer following the King made an unexpected furious sally and in a moment destroyd both him and his whole army After which Cedwalla possessed the whole kingdom of the Northumbers not as a victorious King but a furious Tyrant for he tore it in peices with the tragicall slaughters committed by him At length after about a year was passed the other Prince Eanfrid accompanied only with twelve soldiers unadvisedly coming to him to demand conditions of peace was in like manner slain by him 5. This was an unhappy year and the memory of it remains still in execration with all good men as well for the Apostacy of these two Saxon Kings who had abjured the Sacraments of their Faith as for the barbarous Tyranny of the Brittish King And therefore by a generall consent in the computation of the times and succession of our Kings the memory of these two perfidious Princes was abolished and this year assigned to the raign of the pious King Oswald who succeeded them 6. This Oswald brother to Eanfrid was the son of Ethelfrid and Nephew to the Holy King Edwin by his sister Acca so that his Title to the Kingdom of the Northumbers was sufficiently valid He after his Fathers death retired also among the Scots where understanding the vanity of Idols he embraced the Christian Faith Seaventeen years he continued in banishment But now hearing the desolation of his countrey the ruine of Christianity and death of his Brother armed with zeal and charity he took the courage though attended with very unconsiderable forces to hasten to the rescew of his kingdom and the Church of God in it almost become in visible With what successe this attempt was undertrken S. Beda will inform us the year following 7. It seems by the Letter of Pope Honorius to Honorius Arch-bishop of Canterbury dated this year and recorded only by William of Malmsbury that the miseries of the Northumbrian Church and Kingdom were come to his knowledge for therin he comforts and encourages the same Arch-bishop not to faint in the midst of so many and greivous calamities but to fix his trust in the promises of God to his Church and those who sustain the care of it In the same letter he likewise confirms the authority and Primacy of the Church of Canterbury over all the Churches of Brittany c. This Epistle found in the Archives of Canterbury was by S. Lanfranc directed afterwards to Pope Alexander the Second as a proof of the ancient Priviledges of his See 8. There is another Letter of the same Pope produced by Caius the Defender of the Antiquity of Cambridge in which the said Pope exempts that Vniversity from the Iurisdiction of all Arch-bishops Bishops Arch-Deacons c. and their Visitations or Censures giving the sole authority over Students to the Chancellour and Rectors of the same with power to excommunicate c. In the granting of which Priviledges he professes to follow the examples of his Predecessours Pope Eleutherius Fabian Simplicius Felix and Bonifacius But what grounds there are to suspect fraud in the compiling this Grant may be read in Brian Twyne the Advocat for Oxford and since him in the learned Bishop Vsher to whom I refer the Reader II. CHAP. 1.2 c. King Oswalds miraculous Victory over the Brittains 5.6 c. The Crosse Venerated by all Christians This approved by Miracles 1. IN the year six hundred thirty five Oswald King of the Northumbers fighting against the Tyrants happily triumphed And because our gravest Authours S. Beda William of Malmsbury and others affirm that encountring them Faith was his strongest armour we will endeavour more diligently and largely to recount the order and manner of the Combat by which he restored the Crown to himself security and Faith to his Subjects and the Churches to God 2. S. Beda's summary Narration of it is this Assoon as Ceadwalla had slain the two Kings Osrich and Eanfrid Oswald attended with an army weak for their numbers but fortified with Divine Faith came upon him and in the combat that execrable King of the Brittains was slain together with his immense army which he thought no power could resist This combat hapned in a place in Northumberland called in the English tongue Devils-burn or the Devils-brook It is at this day saith Camden called Dilston but in ancient Records Divelston the Seat and Mansion of the Noble family of Ratcliff Yet Bâ—omton calls the place Denysbourn or River of Denys and adds that from this combat it took the appellation of Slaughter of the Ceâ—wallians 3. Oswald preparing himself for the fight coÌ„sidered no doubt by Gods inspiration that victory was not to be expected
forthwith acquainted with all these things by a message from his Officer who with much greif beseeched him that he would not sacrifice him to the Devill by making him any longer guilty of cruelty to the holy and innocent Bishop But nothing could alter or mollify the Kings rigour therefore he commanded that he should be taken from the custody of Offrith so was the said Officer called as being a faint-hearted coward and delivered to another named Tumber a Sergeant of a far more fell and savage disposition 7. But as the Kings cruelty encreased so likewise did Almighty God more miraculously declare his goodnes to his servant For when this new â—aylour commanded him to be layd in chains the chains applied by his servants to the Holy Bishops limbs were found either so streit that his leggs would not enter or so large that they took no hold and if at any time they proved fitt hey were no sooner putt about his limbs but they presently fell off At last thereâ—ore the laylours obstinate malice was forced to yeild to the Divine power and the Holy Bishop suffred no other incommodity but only a confinement 8. As for King Egfrid the report of these things wrought no good effect upon him yea when any one mentioned them he could not abstain from casting reviling scoffs against the Saint Yet frequent Messengers passed between him and the Bishop with commands that he should acknowledg the invalidity of the Roman Decrees and that they were illegally extorted with bribes This if he would yeild to then perhaps by the Kings indulgence he might recover the things taken from him and a part of his Bishoprick But if he refused he might thank himself for his losses as being the only cause of the present quarrell and variance But such threatnings as these had small effect on the holy Bishops mind on the contrary he protested to the King that to save his own life he would not doe any thing that might cast an infamy or disparagement on the authority of the See Apostolick 9. But how does Queen Ermenburga behave her self all this while she who was the first cause of all this mischeif and continually fomented it She passed her whole time days and nights in banquets and entertainments and whither soever she went she caried with her either on her neck or in her chariot as in triumph Chrismarium the precious Box of Sacred Oyles or as we read in Capgrave a costly Reliquary which had been violently extorted from the holy Bishop This she were not out of a sence of piety or devotion but to testify her envy and pride in enioying the spoyles of her enemy 10. But this her ioy did not last long For as the same Authour in pursuance of the story relates On a certain night in which she lodged with the Holy Abbesse Ebba her husbands Aunt by Gods permission the Devill entred into her which put her besides her senses insomuch as she began to be outrageous and frantick in her talk The Abbesse being awaked with the noyse she made arose and in great hast ran to her asking her mildly what she ayled The Queen answered her nothing to the purpose for by the extremity she was in her speech was taken from her But the good Abbesse having been informed ly others of the true cause earnestly solicited the King her Nephew that the Holy Bishops Reliquary might be restored and himself according to the Popes sentence re-invested in his rights This she told him was to be done if he would have his Queen restored to her health But if through animosity he would not yeild so far at least let restitution be made of the things wrongfully extorted from the Holy Prelat and permission given him to quitt the countrey To this the King yeilded and presently the Queen recovered her senses and health and after the death of her husband the forsook the world and undertook a Religious Profession shewing great sorrow and remorse for the iniuries done to the Holy Bishop 11. Hence we may be informed of the true cause of S. Wilfrids suffrings and banishment The pretence was piety in committing the care of so large a Province and the revenews of it to severall persons as being too exorbitant for one but under this pretence was shrowded the envy and avarice of Queen Ermenburga who earnestly thirsted after Church goods and by this division expected a good share in those sacred spoyles Therefore the partiality of the Centuriators of Magdeburg is evident who against the testimony of all Antiquity affirm that Wilfrid was therefore driven into banishment because he had perswaded Ethelreda the former wife of King Egfrid to forsake her husband and under pretence of a vow to retire into a Monastery as Bale sheweth Whereas in all the debates of S. Wilfrids cause in his own countrey at Rome and in severall Synods both before and after this not any scruple was moved about S. Ethelreda But it concernd such Writers as these to invent any fictions for iustifying the sacrilegious mariage of Luther But who can suffer himself to be perswaded that Queen Ermenburga who is stiled by William of Malmsbury the cause and nourisher of this long debate should fill all Europe with the noyse of this Controversy in which if proof had been made that S. Ethelreda had done ill in retiring from the world and S. Wilfrid in advising her thereto it would have followed that Ermenburga was no lawfull Queen but an Adulteresse VIII CAAP. 1.2 The Death of S. Hilda one of S. Wilfrids adversaries 3. The death of S. Ermenburga Mother to S. Milburga c. 4. S. Erection of two New Bishopricks at Worcester and Hereford A succession of the Bishops in Hereford 1. IT is an usefull admonition which William of Malmsbury affords us from this debate between S. Wilfrid and his adversaries For says he we may thence observe the miserable condition in which human nature is involved when as those persons which by Antiquity are celebrated for eminent Saints and were such indeed as Theodore Brithwald Iohn Bosa as likewise the famous Abbesse Hilda should ioyn themselves with those impious persons who with an irreconciliable hatred persecuted a Bishop of such eminent Sanctity as was S. Wilfrid 2. As for the glorious Abbesse S. Hilda of whom we have already treated this same year of S. Wilfrids banishment she received the reward of so many heavenly works performed by her on earth And we can not doubt but that this fault of persecuting S. Wilfrid proceeding from misinformation of others and not premeditated malice in her own heart was expiated by her former merits for thirty three years together and a sharp sicknes which continued sixe years before her death all which time she ceased not from praising God for her suffrings and dayly instructing the innocent flock committed to her charge What testimonies at and after her death God was pleased to shew of her Sanctity hath been already declared
the Monastery of Coldingham a Virgin of eminent Sanctity received the eternall Reward of her Piety She was daughter of Ethelfrid King of the Northumbers and consecrated to God in perpetuall Virginity by Finan formerly Bishop of Lindesfarn This was done saith the Authour of her life in an age when persons of high birth esteemed their Nobility to consist principally in the humble service of our Lord and that those were most highly exalted who with greatest submission undertook the Crosse of Christ. At that time innumerable Congregations both of men and woemen were sprinkled through the whole Island severally embracing the spirituall warfare of our Lord. Yea somewhere in the same place persons of both Sexes men and Virgins under the government of one spirituall Father or one Spirituall Mother armed with the sword of the Spirit did exercise the combats of Chastity against the Powers of darknes enemies thereto The Institut and practise of these was imitated by S. Ebba who for the love she bore to the Son of God even in the flower of her youth contemned whatsoever was great or desireable in the world She preferred the service of our Lord before secular Nobâ—lity spirituall Poverty before riches and voluntary objection before honours For though descended from Royall parents yet by Faith she overcame the world by vertues beauty and by spirituall Graces her own Sexe 2. At the beginning of her Conversion she by the assistance of her Brother King Oswi built a Monastery near the banks of the River Derwent in the Bishoprick of Durham where now is situated a small Village called Ebbchester so named saith Camden from the Virgin Ebba born of the family of the ancient Kings of the Northumbers who about the year of our Lord six hundred and thirty was so illustrious for her sanctity that by the Roman Church she was Canonized among Saints and very many Churches in this Island were dedicated to her name which are vulgarly called S. Tabbs This Monastery flourish'd till the time of the Danes whose fury as many others did it selt 3. S. Ebba did not long continue in her own Monastery before she was invited to the government of the Monastery of Coldingham seated in a place called by Saint Beda the Citty of Colud There saith the Authour of her life she had the charge of a Congregation of men and woemen which had Cells though divided yet contigiâ—ous to one another who all united in one holy Profession with great ioy and comfort lived under her direction for by an admirable prudence she shewd her self to the Virgins a carefull Mother by the power and efficacy of her admonitions and to the men as it were a Father by her constancy of mind That famous Virgin S. Ethelreda or Ediltrudis as hath been said was a Disciple of this holy Abbesse Ebba submitting her self to the rudiments of so great a Mistresse but afterwards became the glory of the Monastery of consecrated Virgins at Ely And the Blessed Bishop Cuthbert though from his infancy he avoyded the conversation of woemen like the pestilence yet he frequently came to discourse with S. Ebba and would some-times for instruction of the devout Virgins her subjects make some dayes abode in that Monastery 4. At last as we read in her life this holy Virgin Ebba full of all vertues and good works departed this life to her heavenly spouse on the eighth day before the Calends of September in the six hundred eighty and third year of our Lords Incarnation which was four years before the death of the said Holy Bishop S. Cuthbert And her body was with great honour buried in her own Monastery Her memory is worthily celebrated among the Saints in our English Martyrologe on the five and twentieth of August where her death is consigned to about the year of Grace six hundred eighty four XV. CHAP. 1.2 c. The burning of the Monastery of Coldingham and the cause of it foretold by an Angell 1. IT will not be impertinent in this place to adioyn to the Gests of the Holy Abbesse Ebba the relation of a wonderfull calamity which through Gods just judgment befell her Monastery a few years after her death and a warning whereof she herself had in her life-time The cause of which calamity was the relaxation of Discipline in the said Monastery proceeding from the vitious disposition of human Nature not restrained by the vigilance and severity of Superiours The whole matter is at large sett down by S. Beda in the tenour following 2. In those dayes saith he the Monastery of Virgins in the Citty of Colud or Coldingham through a faulty negligence was consumed with flames Which misfortune notwithstanding was indeed to be ascribed to the malice and wickednes of those which inhabited there especially Superiours as all that knew it did observe The divine Piety was not wanting to admonish before-hand those upon whom this judgment was to come to the end that correcting their faults they might like the Ninitives by fasting teares prayers avert from them the wrath of God For there lived in the same Monastery a man of the Scottish Nation whose name was Adamannus who lead a very devout life in continence and prayers insomuch as he never used to take any sustenance but on Sundays and Thursdayes and oftimes spent whose nights in Prayer 3. This so rigorous a mortification was first practised by him out of necessity for the correction of his former wickednes and licentiousnes but in processe of time necessity was turned into custom For in his youth he had committed some very great crime for which afterwards soberly considering he had a most horrible remorse and fearfull expectation of divine judgment Therefore going to a Preist who he hoped might shew him the way of salvation he simply confessed his guilt beseeching him to advise him how he might escape the Divine Vengeance The Preist having heard his Confession said thus to him A great wound requires a great cure Therefore according to thy utmost ability persist constantly in fasting reciting of Psalms and Prayers that thus preventing the face of our Lord in confession thou maâ—sâ— find mercy from him The young man overwhelmed with sorrow and infinitly desirous to be freed from the bonds of his sins thus replyed I am young in years and vigorous 〈◊〉 body so that whatsoever you shall impose upoâ— mee so I may in the end be saved I will chearfully suffer and perform though you should command mee to spend every night wholly in prayers standing all the while and passe the whole week entirely in fasting The Preist told him It is too much to endure a whole week without sustenance it will be sufficient therefore if you continue your Fast for two or three days together Doe this therefore for some time till I see you next and then I will tell you more particularly what you are to doe and how long your pennance is to last Having said
the Prayers and assistance of holy men Thus with great glory he pass'd the remainder of his life in tranquillity being free from all trouble 8. To this happy change it is not to be doubted but S. Helena his wife did much contribute whose presence with him at this time the same Eusebius seems to imply in the words following Thus did he through all the remaining time of his raign procure a constant peaceable state to his children and wife together with his whole family all which he consecrated to God the supreme king insomuch as his Court seem'd litle to differ from the form of a Church in which the Ministers and servants of God offreâ— continually Prayers and Sacrifices for him wheras in the other Princes courts and countreys the very name of the true Gods worshippers could not without utmost danger be pronounced Thus writes he of Constantius his family Now if inquiry be made which was that wife mention'd by him it cannot be suppos'd to be Theodora the daughter in law of Maximianus for wâ— no where read that she ever entred Brittany and much lesse that she was addicted to Christian Religion so that it can be no other but S. Helena a Brittish Lady and a Christian who doubtles was always attended by Preists dayly praying for Caesar. XXVII CHAP. 1. Diocletian and Maximianus depose themselves to whom Galerius and Constantius succeed Constantius his moderation 2. The persecution continues at Rome S. Agnes Martyr 3 Constantius courage against the Sarmatians His Duell 4 S. Augulus Bishop of London and Martyr in what sence 5. Ilutus or Restitutus succeeds in that Bishoprick 1. IN the year of Grace three hundred and four the two Emperours Diocletian and Maximianus after twenty years raign together weary of the fruitlesnes of their cruelty voluntarily depos'd themselves from the Empire Diocletian at Nicomedia and Maximianus at Milan in Italy In Diocletians place Galerius succeeded in the Government of the Eastern Empire and in Maximianus his room Constantius govern'd the western Yea so moderat was he in his ambition that as Eutropius says contenting himself with the Title of Augustus or Emperour he refused to undeâ—take the solicitude of administring Italy and Africk esteeming France and Brittany sufficient where all his care was to enrich his subjects not affecting at all to heap up treasure 2. Constantius his absence from Rome was the cause that the former Edicts of Diocletian against Christians were still in force For not only Pope Marcellinus was crownd at this time with Martyrdom but the blessed Virgin Saint Agnes triumphed also most gloriously over the New Emperour Galerius his cruelty 3. Zonaras reports that in the year three hundred and five young Constantin accompanied Galerius in his warr against the Sarmatians where he was by the Emperour expos'd to a single combat with their Cheif leader whom by Divine help having overcome he lead him prisoner to the Emperour so reaping great glory by that which was intended for his destruction The same is likewise confirmed by Eumenius the Oratour in his Panegyrick to him where he says Although fortune had already placed thee in a condition wherin glory could not be wanting to thee yet thou wouldst encrease it by warfare and combatting in thine own person with the Enemy yea entring into a single appointed combat thou mad'st thy self more known then before when thou couldst not be more noble 4 This year out English Martyrologe celebrates the Martyrdom of S. Augustus Bishop of London S. Beda likewise Ado Viennensis Vsuardus and others make mention of him Now wheras he is call'd a Martyr it is to be understood that in the late persecution he suffred many things for Christs cause and this year receiv'd the reward of his Confession He is sayd to have dyed at Augusta in Brittany which Citty saith Ammianus Marcellinus was anciently called Londinium He is called by some Authours Augulinus Augurius And concerning him Bishop Vsher thus writes we find a commemoration of the same Bishop not only in the Martyrologes of Ado Ricemarchus and Beda but also of Vsuardus Rabanus Wandelbertus and that of Rome moreover in the Manuscript Martyrologes of the Churches of Salisbury Evesham and Winchester Genebâ—ard in his Chronology wrongfully calls him an Irish Bishop and Dempster according to his custom will needs have him a Scott 5. To him succeeded in the Bishoprick of London Iltutus whom Iocelinus omitts in his Catalogue of the Bishops of London But since he omitts likewise the name of Restitutus who a few years after this is known to have assisted at the first Councill to which his name with the Title of his Bishoprick is found subscrib'd it may probably be conjectur'd that Iltutus and Restitutus were the same person XXVIII CHAP. 1.2 Constantius wars against the Picts and returning to York falls sick 3. He is troubled for the absence of Constantin 4. He is warn'd by an Angell to leave the Empire to Constantin 5.6 Constantin escapes wonderfully 7 His affectionate wellcom 8. Constantius dyes and is Christianly buried by his Son and by the Romans consecrated 9. He is buried at York not at Caernarvon 1. THE year of Grace three hundred and six was notable for the death of the Emperour Constantius and the succession of his eldest Son Constantin Constantius was at this time in Brittany where some commotion among the Picts or Caledonian Brittains drew him into the Northern parts where having removed those unquiet enemies beyond the limits prescribed them he return'd to York and there being old was assaulted by his last sicknes in which how piously he disposed himself for death may be collected from the Character before mention'd which was given him by Eusebius 2. And moreover the same Authour treating particularly of his death addeth It may easily be conceived by any one who shall seriously observe the nature and condition of the actions performd by the Emperours Diocletian Maximianus and Constantius how happy a death this Emperour obtain'd from God whom he served with such zeale and piety far unlike in his manners and life to those who were partakers of the same Empire with him 3. Only one thing was now wanting to his full contentment which was the presence of his Son Constantin who at this time was at Rome there detained as a pledge or hostage by Galerius This was a great affliction to Constantius who though he had with him other Sons born to him by Theodora received small satisfaction from them considering their want of spirit and courage 4. Zonaras reports that at this time whilst Constantius was sick and afflicted in mind by reason of the unfitnes of his other children to succeed him an Angell appeard to him commanding him to leave the Empire to Constantin Eusebius likewise more then once affirmeth that it was by Divine counsell ordinance that Constantin succeeded his Father in the Empire And hereto the Oratour Eumenius
greater alacrity then ever before she went up and down her house glorifying the Power of God Thus was the Empresse satisfied in that which she so earnestly desired 6. The substance of this relation given by Ruffinus is attested by the consent of severall other ancient Ecclesiasticall writers so that to doubt of it or impudently to deny the truth of it as the Lutheran Centuriators doe can be no other but an undeniable effect of malice against the Truth testified hereby to their confusion 7. The Pious Lady to declare her thankfullnes to God for so signall a favour was not content to build a magnificent Church to the Memory of our Saviours Passion but added another which was dedicated to the saving sign of the Crosse as Eusebius writes 8. And as touching the Crosse it self she took care that part of it should be sent to the Emperour and honourably layd up in his Palace the remainder she enclosed in a Boxe of silver and gave it to the Bishop of Ierusalem exhorting him that it might be there reserved as a Monument of our Salvation Thus Theodoret To which S. Paulinus adds That every year on the day of our Lords Resurrection it is produced by the Bishop and exposed to the peoples veneration the Bishop himself first performing that honour to it 9. Socrates further relates that Constantin assoon as he had received part of the Crosse beleiving that the Citty in which it was kept should be preserved in safety from all danger inclos'd it in a statue of his own which was placed in the Market place of Constantinople on a mighty Pillar of Porphyry This saith Eusebius seem'd to the most holy Emperour a firm bulwark of his Kingdom 10. Besides the Crosse there were found other Ensigns of our Saviours Passion which were not neglected by Helena to witt the Nailes which had not only touched our Lords Body as the Crosse did but peirced into his sacred flesh and sinews being bathed in his blood Part of which nayles saith Theodoret and S. Ambrose she took care should be artificially enclos'd within the Emperours helmet that therby his head might be preserved safe from his enemies weapons and part she mingled with the Iron of his horses bitt therby both to give a safe protection to him and likewise to fullfill an ancient Prophecy of Zacharias saying That which is on the horses bitt shall be holy to the Lord Omnipotent And a third nayle she cast into the Adriatick Sea during a horrible tempest by which meanes she saved her self and company from shipwrack Thus writes Gregory Bishop of Tours XVI CHAP. 1.2 Of S. Helenas piety to Religious Virgins 3. c. To Martyrs S. Lucianus the Magi c. 7.8 c. Place of her death Rome where a Church is built to the H. Crosse. 12.13 c. Constantins piety to his Mother Augusta 15.16 c. Her Memory celebrated in severall places Churches built to her honour in England 1. WITH such Acts of Piety devotion and liberality did Helena adorn her latter dayes a particular account of which belongs to the design of this History she being a Brittish Princesse For which reason we will prosecute the course of her life which seems to have ended the same year or in the beginning of the following 2. An example of her humility and devout respect to Virgins consecrated to Gods service by a profession of Chastity is related by Ruffinus in this manner The holy Virgins saith he which she found at Ierusalem she invited to dinner and entertain'd them with so great devotion and respect that she thought it a misbecoming thing that her Maids should attend on theÌ„ Therfore she herself being girt after the manner of a wayting maid sett meat on the Table gave them cupps to drink and powred water on their hands Thus she who was Empresse of the world and Mother of the Emperour esteem'd her self no better then a servant of the hand maids of Christ. 3. Eusebius likewise celebrates her wonderfull manificence shew'd through all her progresse in the Eastern Provinces For whither so ever she came she gave innumerable gifts both to whole citties and particular persons of all professions The poor she munificently supplied with all necessaries those who were condemn'd to working in mines or perpetuall imprisonment she sett at liberty the oppress'd she delivered from fraud and iniury and those which were banish'd she restored to their own countrey 4. At her return out of Palestina into Greece she passed by Drepanum a Town of Bithynia where reposed the Body of the glorious Martyr S. Lucianus Assoon as shee saw these holy Relicks lying so neglected without any mark of honour or reverence she in zeale to the honour of God and his Martyr caused a sumptuous Church to be built over them moreover enlarged the same place into a Citty which she compass'd with walls and bullwarks Which Citty her Son afterward call'd by his Mothers name Helenopolis and to make her name yet more celebrated by posterity the Sea there adioyning was called Helenopontus not because she was born there but because by her care and liberality the region there about formerly obscure became illustrious 5. We read moreover in severall ancient Monuments how this holy Empresse in her progresse through the East having been informed of the place where the Bodies of the three Magi or Wisemen which came to Bethlehem to adore our Saviour new born reposed brought them with her to her Son Constantin who reverently layd them in a Church of his new Citty from whence they were â—ranslated to Milan and afterward to Colen where now they are with great veneration celebrated 6. A more particular relation hereof we read in the Supplement of the Gallican Martyrologe made by Andrew de Saussay in these words At Colonia Agrippina in the Gallick Soyle is celebrated the Memory of the three holy Kings who on this day the Sixth of Ianuary adored our Lord in his cradle at Bethlehem The Bodies of these Saints were by the care and devotion of the Holy Empresse Helena brought out of the East to Constantinople where in the Temple of S. Sophia afterward more magnificently repaired by Iustinian they remained to the times of the Emperour Emanuël who bearing a great affection to Eustorgius Bishop of Milan by birth a Grecian at his earnest prayers bestowd on him those Sacred pledges Eustorgius presently conveyed them to Milan placing them in a Church of Religious Virgins But in the yeare eleaven hundred Sixty and fâ—wer the Emperour Frederick having by force reduced Milan to his obedience granted to his Chancellour Reynaldus Archbishop of Colen at his most earnest suit the same three Sacred Bodies which he transfer'd to Colen were he reposed them in the principall Church in which place they are to this day celebrated with great veneration 7. In such pious works did the Holy Empresse conclude her worldly pilgrimage The place of her death
One William Basing likewise is sayd to have built a Church consecrated to S. Helena at London XVII CHAP. 1.2 Constantins zeale against Paganism and Heresy 3. c. He is seduced by his Sister to favour Arius c. but repents 5.6 He adorns his New Citty Constantinople 7.8 Miracles by the Holy Crosse. 9. Other acts of Constantins piety 1. AFter S. Helena's death Constantin returned into the East where he express'd his zeale against Pagan Idolatry For Eunapius a Pagan writer complains Through the whole world the most celebrated Temples were overthrown by Constantin He made severe Lawes against Heathenish Sacrifices mention'd in Theodosius his Code 2. Neither was he wanting to establish the Churches Peace and Vnity by publishing rigorous Edicts against Hereticks Novatians Valentinians Marcionists Paulians Montanists c. forbidding all Assemblies among them both publick and private and withall exhorting them to return to the Communion of the Catholick Church that so they might be rendred partakers of its Sanctity and so attain to Truth Thus writes Eusebius adding that hereupon many of them did acknowledge their errours and at last joyn'd themselfves to the Churches Communion 3. Notwithstanding being seduced by the Craft of Eusebius Bishop of Nicomedia the Pillar of the Arian faction he began a persecution against S. Athanasius then Bishop of Alexandria This Eusebius had cunningly insinuated himself into the affections of Constantiae the Emperours Sister by whom at her death he was recommended to Constantin in whose mind a scruple likewise was injected by certain speeches of hers threatning a severe punishment to him after death for his severity against so many innocents so she called the Arians Wherupon he commanded that Arius himself should return and be received at Alexandria For which purpose he wrote threatning letters to S. Athanasius that he should be deposed in case he refused him Notwithstanding being inform'd by Athanasius that Arius did not repent of his Heresy but was still a profess'd Enemy of the Councill of Nicaea Constātin desisted from urging his reception 4. Afterward the Meletians accused Saint Athanasius of many crimes but Constantin upon examination finding his innocence quickly absolved and dimiss'd him Yea moreover the pious Emperour turn'd his anger against him who was the cheif Architect of all machinations against S. Athanasius to witt Eusebius Bishop of Nicomedia as appears by his letters written to the people of that Citty and recited by Theodoret in which he complains how himself had been deluded by his forgeries and lyes And on that occasion he proceeds to pronounce Sentence against the whole faction of the Arians banishing Eusebius and severall other Bishops from their Sees 5. But the year following by occasion of the inauguration of his New Citty Constantinople among other Examples of his Clemency he restored them Nicephorus writes that the Citty was consecrated to our Lord and his immaculate Mother with offring the unbloody Sacrifice and prayers Adding that Constantins Statue was erected in a publick place upon a pillar of Porphyry having in his right hand a golden Apple on which was placed the Holy Crosse with this Inscription To thee O Christ our God I commend this Citty 6. Eusebius describing the Magnificence of Constantin in adorning this Citty with many Churches consecrated to the Holy Martyrs saith The Emperour intending to illustrate after an extraordinary manner the Citty called by his own name adorn'd it with many magnificent Churches partly in the Suburbs and partly in the Citty it self by which he both celebrated the Memories of the Holy Martyrs and consecrated the Citty it self to the God of Martyrs The principall of those Martyrs are recorded to have been S. Mocius S. Agathonicus S. Mennas and S. Acacius 7. Sozomen likewise an eye witnes especially celebrats a Church built in a place formerly dedicated to Vesta which was afterward named Michaelium from an apparition of that Holy Archangell In which many Miracles had been wrought by vertue of the Holy Crosse there erected of which vertue the Authour acknowledges that himself had been partaker Among which one speciall Miracle must not be omitted which he relates after this manner 8. I have been informed saith he that a Soldier of the Emperours Guards called Probianus being afflicted with greivous torments in his feet not only received ease in that place but was also honoured with a wonderfull divine vision For he having been formerly a Pagan and converted to Christianity though he were satisfied of the truth of all other instituts of our Religion yet he would never be perswaded that the Holy Crosse could be the cause of mankinds salvation Being thus affected there was offred to him a Divine Vision which set before his eyes the Image of the Crosse which usually was sett on the Altar of that Church and the same Vision declared to him manifestly that whatsoever thngs had been performed either by Angells or Holy men for the publick or privat proffit of men since the time that Christ was crucified were not rightly performed but by the vertue of the saving Crosse. 9. Besides these sacred Ornaments Constantin added much wealth to endow the holy Churches built by him He likewise caused a world of Copies of the Holy Scriptures to be curiously written in parchments richly adorned which he dispersed through severall Churches in the Citty He gave likewise great priviledges to Physicions Grammarians and Professours of other Arts by which means learning much flourish'd there In a word he endeavour'd to make it equall in all respects to Old Rome placing there a Senat with the same honours and authority into which many Christians were elected as Baronius declareth XVIII CHAP. 1.2 S. Athanasius persecuted by Arians 3.4.5 He is banish'd into the west for his safety 6.7 Arius conven'd before Constantin 8.9 c. His fearfull death 10. Pope Iulius 1. BVT the restlesse malice of the Arians against S. Athanasius the principall defender of the Faith declared by the Nicene Councill urged them to invent and forge new accusations against him of breaking a Chalice of murdering a man and using enchantments with his dead hand of committing adultery by violence c. With these crimes they charged him before the Emperour importuning him that he might be condemned and deposed 2. Hereupon a Synod of Bishops being assembled at Tyre Athanasius his cause was there examined and though in all particulars his innocence was evidently declared ye◠he was condemned by them Which manifest injustice astonish'd Constantin as appears by a Letter of his recorded by Saint Athanasius in his Apology 3. Notwithstanding these impious Bishps after they had consecrated at Ierusalem a magnificent Church built by Constantin repairing to Constantinople there renew'd their accusations and probably by the favour of the Emperours Son Constantius infected with their Heresy did so beseige Constantins eares that S. Athanasius could scarce gett accesse to prove his
own innocence Insomuch as by their importunity the Emperour was even inforc'd to banish him into the West 4. This certainly unjust Sentence Saint Athanasius himself excuses in a letter written by him to the Egyptian Hermits where we read this passage Constantin upon the calumnious accusation of the Eusebians removed for a time Athanasius into Gaule that so he might be deliver'd from their cruelty who sought all opportunities treacherously to destroy him For thus wrote his Son Constans of blessed Memory as appears by his letters yet extant 5. And the same charitable interpretation did his other Son Constantin who succeeded him in the western Empire make of his Fathers action For writing to the people of Alexandria he saith To elude the Savage cruelty of the Arians whose iawes were opened to swallow him Athanasius was ordered to withdraw himself being commanded to live under my government Thus he made his abode in this Citty of Triers where nothing necessary is wanting to him So that no just suspicion can be imputed to the Emperour as if he wavered or had deserted the Orthodoxe Faith 6. This was further confirmed by a memorable accident hapning this year at Constantinople For the Emperour perceiving that Arius though avoyded by all Catholicks was defended as Orthodoxe by many others commanded him to repair to his presence in that Citty Whither being arrived Constantin himself ask'd him whether he did approve the Decrees of the Nicen Councill He presently with a chearfull countenance answered That he approved them The Emperour not content with his affirmation and subscription urged him to confirm this by oath in which likewise he complied But all this was meere craft and impious subtilty For whilst be made this Profession and oath he held in his bosome a Paper containing his heresy and swore that from his heart he beleived as he had written Notwithstanding the Emperour being ignorant of his fallacy beleived him Orthodoxe and thereupon commanded Alexander then Bishop of Constantinople to receive him into Communion 7. S. Athanasius to this relation adds That Constantin having heard what Arius professed and swore said thus to him If thy Faith be true and Orthodoxe thou hast sworn well But if it be impious and yet thou hast thus sworn may God condemne thee for thy perjury Which imprecation wanted nor an effect for presently God miraculously shew'd the impiety of Arius and true Faith of Constantin in this manner 8. Alexander Bishop of Constantinople being unwilling to admitt the Arch-heretick into his Communion was threatned by Eusebius Bishop of Nicomedia that if he refused he would presently cause him to be deposed But Alexander being much more solicitous for the true Faith then his Bishoprick had his recourse to Gods onely assistance and severall dayes and nights lying prostrate before his Altar in presence of his Sacraments pray'd in this manner O God I beseech thee to grant that if the opinion of Arius be true I may dye before the day of disputation come But if the Faith which I professe be true Let Arius the Authour of all these calamities suffer just punishment for his impiety 9. What was the fearfull successe of these fervent prayers is thus related by S. Athanasius When the Bishop had thus ended his Prayers he went away full of anxious cogitations and presently a wonderfull and incredible thing hapned The Eusebians threaten the good Bishop prayes As for Arius confiding in the power of the Eusebians in his way to the Church he used many vain and boasting bablings when on a sudden he was forced to retire into a common privy to exonerate nature where suddenly as it was written of Iudas he â—ell on his face to the ground and burst asunder in the middle Thus was he deprived both of life and Communion 10. The consequents of this fearfull iudgment Socrates thus further prosecutes This being done saith he the Eusebian faction was struck with a wonderfull â—errour and consternation and the fame therof was spread not through the Citty only but the whole world almost By this mean the Emperour likewise adhered still more firmly to the Catholick Faith affirming that the Nicene Faith was now also visibly confirmed by Divine authority and for this reason he much reioyced at the end of the Heretick Arius 11. This same year dyed the Holy Pope Marcus the Successour of S. Silvester after he had sate onely one year in whose place succeeded Pope Iulius whos 's first year is accounted the last of the Emperour Constantin the circumstances of whose death are now to be related XIX CHAP. 1.2.3 c. Constantins pious preparation to death 6. Whether he was baptiz'd by Eusebius the Arian 7. c. Manner of his death And prayers for him after 10. His Memory celebrated among Saints 1. ONE of the last Acts of Constantins zeale and devotion was the building at Constantinople a most magnificent Temple dedicated to the honour of all the Apostles The sumptuousnes of its structure is particularly described by Eusebius who adds That all these things the Emperour dedicated to the end he might eternise the Memory of our Saviours Apostles among all nations 2. In this Temple saith he he placed twelve 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 honorary repositories which should be as twelve Pillars for the honour and Memory of the twelve Apostles And in the midst of them he caused his own Tomb to be placed enclosed on each side by six of them Wisely forethinking that the Tabernacle of his dead body would decently and worthily rest there And having long before framed in his mind this cogitation he dedicated the Church to the Apostles having an opinion and beleif that their Memory would procure very much proffit to his soule 3. Now wherin this proffit did consist the same Authour thus further explains He by a provident dispensation design'd this place opportunely for the day of his death approaching by an incredible propension of his Faith foreseeing that when his Body after death should participate with the Apostles the same common appellation that then he being dead should also be made partaker of the Prayers which there should be offred in honour of the Apostles And with this mind did many of our Brittish and Saxon Kings and Nobles erect so many magnificent Churches and Monasteries for a remedy and redemption of their soules as they frequently expresse in their Charters of Foundations 4. Other more immediate preparations to a happy death made by the same pious Emperour are thus related by the same Writer The Emperour saith he enioyd his faculties and strength of reason in such a perfection that till the extremity of his age he continued to write Orations to make discourses with his freinds and to minister to his hearers advices well beseeming a good Christian. He likewise diligently published Laws both touching Civill and Military affaires for he had an understanding so dilated that he could comprehend what soever was
fourscore years 6. Afterward in the year four hundred ninety two saith Florilegus King Aurelius Ambrosius coming to the mountain of Ambri neer to Caer-carec now call'd Salisbury where the Brittish Princes treacherously murdred by Hengist lay he there appointed Pastours over two Metropolitan Churches granting York to S. Sampson an illustrious person and Caër-leon to Dubricius Which last See was now become vacant by the death of Threminius Geffrey of Monmouth adds That he was Primat of Brittany and Legat of the Apostolick See which dignity it seems was annexed to that Church by S. Germanus by vertue of the authority in his Mission hither received from Rome 7. In the year five hundred and sixteen he solemnly crowned King Arthur After which being very aged he is sayd to have relinquish'd his See and retir'd into the Isle of Enhly or Berdesy there to attend to his Devotions and more perfectly to prepare himself for death From which quiet repose and solitude notwithstanding his zeale to the Catholick Faith drew him to the Synod of Brevy there to defend it against the renewd Heresy of the Pelagians In which Synod he obtained that S. David should be placed governour of the Church which a little before he had relinquish'd 8. At last three years after full of sanctity and age he gave up his soule into the hands of his Creatour in the foresaid Isle of Berdsey where among a great multitude oâ— Saints he chose his place of buriall And there his Sacred Body reposed till the year oâ— Grace one thousand one hundred and twenty at which time it was translated from thence on the Nones of May and on the fourth before the Calends of Iune by Vrbanus Bishop of Landaff with great honour buried in the Cathedrall Church on the Northside of the Altar of our Blessed Lady saith B Godwin At which time saith the Authour of his life in Capgrave the whole countrey of Glamorgan was afflicted with a great drouth for for many weeks before no rain had falln there But at the time when these Sacred Relicks were transported great store of rain fell to the comfort of the inhabitants XIII CHAP. 1.2 c. Of S. Theliau his Gests 6. c. Of S. Pauleus 1. ONE of the most illustrious Disciples of S. Dubricius was S. Theliau call'd by the Centuriators of Magdeburg Thelesinus Helius against whom they in like manner vomit their poyson saying that he was Anglicus Vaâ—es ex genere Baraorum an English Soothsayer of the stock of the Bards Wheras he neither was an English man nor Bard but descended from a Noble Brittish family as the Authour of his Life declares Adding further that from his infancy he was addicted to Devotion Prayer and contempt of secular pleasures And being come to a riper age he was for his piety and Wisedom by wise men Sirnamed Helios because with his doctrine he enlightned the hearts of the faithfull as the Sun doth the world He was instructed in holy scriptures by S. Dubricius till he was enabled to clear the most difficult places therein Then having heard the fame of a certain wise man called Paulinus he went to him to confer with him of the most abstruse Mysteries of Gods Word There he contracted freindship with S. David a man of great Perfection in sanctity insomuch as their hearts were so firmly knitt together by charity and the Grace of Gods holy Spirit that in all things they had but one Will. 2. When S. Dubricius was translated from the See of Landaff to the Metropolitan Church of Caër-leon S. Theliau succeeded him in that of Landaff in which he sate very many years and if the authority of the English Martyrologe â—ayle not he dyed not till the coming of S. Augustin the Monk into Brittany by whom his successour S. Oudoceus was consecrated 3 When a certain plague call'd the Yellow plague infested Brittany raging both against men and beasts by a divine admonition he departed into a far remote countrey accompanied with manâ— Disciples where he abode till by the same authority he was recalled Neither did he cease by dayly prayers and fasting to pacify Gods wrath At 〈◊〉 gathering together all his devout companions he returned and all his life after exercised suâ—â—eme jurisdiction over all the Churches of Western Brittany At last S. Theliau being replenish'd with all vertues dyed in a good old age on the fifth day before the Iâ—es of February Thus write the Authour of his life Therefore it is difficult to find out the grounds upon which in ouâ— Martyrologe he is commemorated on the twenty sixth of November by the Title of a Martyr murdred by a certain Brittain named Gueddant since all our â—râ—teâ—s Pits Harpsfeild Capgrave B. Godwin andâ— Vsher make no mention that he dyed a violent death 4. Many Miracles are recorded as done by him both before and after his death which I wiâ—â—ingly omiâ—t Onely one which B. Godwin thought good not to passe over in siâ—ence shâ—ll be nâ—re related and the rather becauâ—e as he says there is mention of it in the Prayer inserted in the Liturgy of his Feast whiâ—h was this After he was dead the inhabitants of three severall places contended earnestly which of them should enjoy his Body those of Peâ—nalum where his Ancestours had been buried those of Lantelio-vaur where he dyed and those of Landaff among whom he had been Bishop When therefore no agreement could be made amongst them there appeared presently three Bodies so like to one another that three eggâ— could not more perfectly resemble So each of thâ—se people took one of them and by that means the controversy ended Thus writes that Authour and in conclusion for his own Church of Landaff he addes That by frequent miracles at his Tomb it appear'd that the inhabitants of Landaff possess'd the true Body 5. Now whereas both in the life of S. Thâ—liau there is mention of Paulinus said to be iâ— Instruâ—â—â—â—r and likewise in the Acts theâ—â—nod â—â—nod of Brevy Paulinus was the man by whose exhortation Messengers were depâ—rted by the Synod to call thither S. David it any deserve our inquiry who this Paulinus was who was a Bishop before S. David consideâ—ing that in the Catalogue of our Bâ—shops none is found of that name before the â—ime of the Holy Monk S. Augustin Most probable therefore it is that this is the same which in the life of S. David is said to have been a Disciple of Saint Germanus Bishop of Auxerre and is sometimes sayd to have been S. Davids Teacher and elsewhere to have studied together with him and whose true name seems to have been Paulens 6. Concerning this Paulens we find this passage related by the Authour of S. Davids life in Capgrave S. David assoon as he was promoted to Preisthood went to Paulens a Disciple of S. Germanus who in a certain Island lead a holy life acceptable to God With him S. David lived many years and
a town and Church calld Llan-lwit contractedly from Llan-iltut not far from Llan-carvan the habitation of S. Cadocus where S. Iltutus diligently preached Gods word and moreover instituted a Colledge of Schollars whom he instructed in learning and piety Among whom the most illustrious was S. Sampson of whom wee shall treat presently and who by his Masters directions embraced likewise a Religious Profession 6. Severall fables and unsavoury Miracles reported in Capgrave touching S. Iltutus deserve to be omitted Neither seems there to be any iust ground for this passage in the conclusion of his life That when his last end approach'd he return'd into lesser Brittany and there in the Citty of Orle after many signs and miracles wrought by him he commended his body to the earth and his Spirit to God on the eight day before the Ides of November For doubtles if he had dyed in Lesser Brittany the Gallican Martyrologe would not have been silent in that particular Wheras it mentions nothing of him but that he was a Disciple of S. Germanus of Auxerre whilst he preach'd against the Pelagians in Brittany that he was the Instructour of S. Sampson Bishop of Dole and of many other illustrious Monks and lastly that he was eminent for the Spirit of Prophecy and many Miracles Which Martyrologe differs in one particular from ours in which he is sayd to have been the Disciple of S. Germanus Bishop of Paris not of Auxerre XXVIII CHAP. 1.2 Of S. Sampson 3.4 Of S. Piro 5. S. Sampson an Arch-bishop in Brittany and where 6. c He caries the Pall to Dole in Lesser Brittany which Church therefore pretended an exemption from Tours 8. Of S. Conaid or S. Mein 1. AS touching S. Iltutus his Disciple S. Sampson he was born in Great Brittany in the Province of the Dimetae or South-wales now calld Glamorganshire He descended from Noble parents His Fathers name was Amon as we read in B. Vsher and his Mothers Anne who was born in the next Province calld Venetica from the cheif Citty Caer-guent or Venta Silurum His parents having liv'd many years childlesse at last by their frequent fasting Alms and prayers obtained him of God 2. In his younger years he became a worthy Disciple of S. Iltutus saith Pits from Leland from whom he learn'd human knovledge integrity of life and Monasticall institution in a Monastery which a little before he had founded by the assistance of a Holy man calld Piro 3. Concerning this Holy man we read in Vincentius this testimony There was saith he a certain Island not far distant from the Monastery of S. Iltutus in which another Monastery was built by a holy man named Piro Thither did S. Sampson hasten by Gods guidance and the advice of his Master S. Iltutus and there did he lead a perfect and Angelicall life He was in his conversation aâ—iable persevering in good works and vigilant in prayer c. Not long after Piro being prevented by Death the Holy man Sampson was by the unanimous suffrages of the Convent chosen Abbot This Election by B. Vshers computation was made in the year of Grace five hundred and thirteen And eight years before when S. Petroc as hath been said came into Cornwal the rustick Pagans living there gave him notice of the sanctity and austere life of this Holy man who then liv'd not far from thence a solitary life 4. Four years after he had been chosen Abbot saith B. Vsher by the permission of the Holy Bishop Dubricius he went into Ireland in the company of certain Scotts who in their return from Rome came thither His stay in Ireland was not long for he was present at the Synod of Brevy in the year of our Lord five hundred and nineteen 5. He was afterward ordain'd and consecrated an Arch-bishop in Brittany but neither the time nor place can assuredly be defined But that S. Sampson a Brittish Arch-bishop went out of this Island into Lesser Brittany and caried over with him the Pall which was the ensign of his dignity is certain beyond all controversy A great debate there was in the time of Pope Innocent the third whether the Pall was tranferd from York or from Menevia Mathew Paris declares his opinion that it was from York But Giraldus Cambrensis in his Dialogue concerning the Church of Menevia relating this controversy brings in Pope Innocent thus obiecting in the behalf of the Church of York Yea but this Sampson Bishop of Dole as the tradition is had formerly been Arch-Bishop of York Wherto Giraldus thus answers Saving your Reverence the case is otherwise for the History of the Church of Dole affirms him to be ours at Menevia and to have relation to no other Church in Brittany Hence it is that in the Sequence sung in that Church on the Festivity of S. Sampson it is expressly said That the Prelate of Menevia was transferd to the supreme Dignity of the Church of Dole As for the Advocats in behalf of the Church of York they are deceived by an equivocation of the Name because in their Records they find the name of an Arch-bishop Sampson And another plea which those of York had for their cause was a supposititious Prophecy of Merlin That the dignity of London should adorn Canterbury And the seaventh Pastour of York should be honour'd in Lesser Brittany 6. The debate therfore is generally concluded to the advantage of the Church or Menevia in which S. Sampson is supposed to have succeeded in the place of Kinorus who was next to S. David Now the Church oâ— Menevia being a Metropolitan Church enioying all the Priviledges of the Church of Caer-leon the Archbishop thereof by consequence wore a Pall the Ensign of that Dignity Which Pall was by S. Sampson caried over to Dole in â—esser Brittany in the year of Grace five hundred sixty six at which time the whole Province of Menevia was almost depopulated by a raging pestilential disease as hath been observed by Roger Hoveden Harpsfeild Sigebertus and others the Holy Bishop was unwilling to avoyd the danger But his freinds being urgent he took ship and landed in Armorica 7. Being arrived there he was admitted into great favour by Childebert then King of France and with his licence and contribution founded a Monastery where he lead a life wholly employ'd in Divine meditations and by his most holy example and admonitions directed many Disciples in the same way Thus we read in the Gallican Martyrologe 8. S. Sampson in his voyage took with him a companion of suitable holines call'd S. Conaid vulgarly by the French named S. Mein who probably is the same which otherwise is is stiled S. Mevennius whose life hath been written by Roland à Nova-Villa by whom he is stiled the son of a Noble man of Great Brittany living in the Region of Venta or Caër-guent in CaÌ„bria S. Sampsons countrey That he receiv'd good education having been by
severall years later X. CHAP. 1.2 c. The Gests of Saint Foillan Martyr And of S Vltan both of them Brethren of S. Fursey 1. THIS year was wonderfully fruitful in Saints For in the same S. Foillaâ— was crownd with Martyrdom He was Brother of S. Fursey and with him came oâ—t oâ— Ireland into Brittany where he lived a 〈◊〉 in the Monastery of Knobberri-burg and aâ—teâ— his departure succeded him in thâ— Oâ—ce oâ— Abbot as hath bene already declâ—â—â—d in thâ— year six hundred forty two He is commeâ—morated in our Martyrolâ—gâ— on the thirtieth of October and held in great veneration not only in Brittany but Ireland also and France 2. Concerning him we read thus in the French Martyrologe That out of Brittany he went to Rome to obtain a benediction and faculties from Pope Martin to convert Infidels Which having received he went into France where after some progresse made in his Apostolicall Office of preaching he was received with great reverence by S Gertruâ—e with whose assistance he founded the Monastery of Fosse Yet he did not so fixe himself in that place as if he had found there a quiet abode and secure haven and would dispense with his Apostolick Office but on the contrary his zeale to exalt the glory of Christ was so urgent in him that like lightning he went up and down plucking up the seed of Idolatry yet remaining there and sowing the true Faith he incited the inhabitants as yet spiritually blind to admitt the Light of Truth the Grace of God and eternall life to their soules those who were obstinat against the light he sharply reproved and both by exhortations and good example instantly besought and with a pious zeale even compelled them to be saved But the Enemy of mans salvation could no longer endure so watchfull a preacher of the Mystery of piety He therefore arms certain impious men with a blind envy and malice against hâ—m who violently and furiously assaulted this Holy Messenger of God in a forest of Hannow where with their swords they barbarously massacred him who did not resist them but dyed praying for them But God was not wanting to honour his servant for both from the merits of his past life and the miracles following his death he was acknowledged and honoured as a glorious Martyr and not long after a magnificent Monument was erected at his grave near Râ—dium a Town of Hannow which remains illustrious to this day where there is seen a Noble Monastery of Canons Regulars of the Order of Saint Norbert which takes its appellation from this Blessed Martyr 3. We must not separate Brethren Therefore we will here adjoyn the commemoration of Saint Vltan Brother to S. Fursey and Saint Foillan whose death in our Martyrologe is assigned to the same year on the second of May Concerning whom the Gallican Martyrologe thus writers on the first day of the same month At Peronne is the commemoration of Saint Vltan Confessour Abbot of the Monastery in the same town and Brother and Successour of Saint Fursey and of the glorious Martyr S. Foillan He was a wonderfull observer of Religious piety and by the assistance of Saint Gertrude of Nivelle having finished the Monastery of Fosse in the territory of Liege and emparted wholesome instructions to the Religious there returned to this Monastery of Peronne the Abbot whereof he was after his Brothers death he there honourably received and in a fatherly manner entertained S. Amatus Bishop of Sâ—ns who for his zeale to iustice was banished his Diocese and having spent the remainder of his life in a most holy conversation was called to his eternall reward and presently after was followed by S. Vltan Both whose Sacred Relicks are with due honour preserved partly at Peronne and partly at Fosse XI CHAP. 1.2 c. Of S. Christiana an English-Saxon Virgin 1. ABout this time most probably a Holy Virgin named Christina or Christiana derived from an English-Saxon family ended a most holy life yet her memory is not celebrated by any of our English Histories But Miraeus in his Belgick Calendar on the twenty sixth of Iuly thus writes concerning her Teneramund a town of Flanders Imperiall in the diocese of Gaunt seated at the meeting of the Rivers Scaldis and Tenera acknowledges two Tutelar Saints S. Hilduard Bishop and S. Christiana a Virgin whose Sacred Relicks are preserved there in a College of Canons S. Christiana was the daughter of a King of England And Saint Hilduardus flourished in the year seaven-hundred and fifty 2. But some what more particularly touching her parents and manner of life we read in the Gallican Martyrologe as followeth On the seaventh of September at Teneramund in the Bishoprick of Gaunt is commemorated the Translation of S. Christiana a Holy Virgin the daughter of Migraâ—nus King of England who coming into Flanders at Diclivena was received among the Religious Virgins and having devoutly performed her course of vertue in the service of our Saviour the Spouse of Holy Virgins there happily dyed and was buried with a great esteem of Sanctity And afterward being glorified by innumerable miracles to the end her veneration might be more frequent her Sacred Relicks were translated to Teneramunda and honourably reposed there in the Collegiat Church of the most Holy Virgin-Mother of God together with the bones of S. Hilduardus the Apostle and Tutelar Saint of the same town together with whom she is by the inhabitants of the same Town and Territory adioyning honoured as companion of the same Saint in the protection of that place 3. Again touching the manner how being born and educated a Pagan she was miraculously converted and exalted to so high a degree of Sanctity is thus further related in the same Martyrologe On the twenty seaventh of Iuly at Teneramunda in Flanders is celebrated the Memory of S. Christiana a Virgin who being the only daughter of Migramnus King of the English was in her tender age most devout to her false Gods and Idols according to the Tradition of her Ancestours But Almighty God looking on her with eyes of Mercy sent an Angell from heaven to her in the shape of a beggar who instructed her in the Christian Faith and commanded her to be baptised By whose conduct likewise she came to Dikelvenna where after she had with great perfection consummated her course she attained to eternall Beatitude Her Body afterward shining with many Divine Miracles was from thence translated to Teneramunda For whose honour and veneration Ringot Prince of that place having reedified a Church which had been demolished by the Normans commended the Patronage of that Citty to the same Holy Virgin Hence it was that to this day she is honoured by the inhabitants as their peculiar Protectresse 4. This Translation was performed in the year one thousand ninety two But who this Migramnus said to have been an English King was and what time he lived does not appear
possession of fifty families for building a Monastery in a place called Etbearn that is At the wood in the Province of Lindissi or Linconshire where to this day the Observances of a Regular life instituted by him doe still remain The Authour of Saint Ceadda's life in Capgrave calls this place Brawe the situation whereof is now unknown 7. But his Episcopall See was at Lichfeild concerning which the same Authour thus writes He had the See of his Bishoprick at a place called Licidfeld where he also dyed and was buried and where his Successours have still remaind Moreover he built for himself a mansion not far from the Church whither he was wont to retire with seaven or eight Monkes that he might in solitude attend to prayer and reading as oft as the solicitudes of his Episcopall Office would permitt 8. The same King Wulfere finished likewise the Monastery begun by his Brother in the year of Grace six hundred fifty six which he consecrated to S. Peter commanding it to be called Peterborough and enriched it with great possessions appointing the first Abbot of the same in the year six hundrod sixty nine a very pious man saith Camden called Sexwulf by whose perswasion principally it was built And he addes That the said Monastery flourished with great opinion of Sanctity the space of two hundred and fourteen years till the most calamitous times when the Danes layd all places especially Sacred wast For then the Monks were murdred and the Monastery lay buried in its own rubbish a hundred and nine years This Sexwulf had formerly lived an Eremiticall life in the Island called Thorney where he built an Oratory which by the liberality of King Edgar became a Noble Monastery in the year of Grace nine hundred sixty nine as we shall then declare 9. As touching the said Bishop Ceadda he was industrious in preaching assiduous in prayer unwearied in labours and always conversant with God And whereas saith Saint Beda it was the usuall custom of that most Reverend Bishop in preaching the Gospell through his Diocese for the most part to goe on foot from place to place the Arch-bishop Theodore enioyned him that when he was to goe to any place a good way distant he should ride the good Bishop was very unwilling so great was his aversion from ease in the work of God Yet in the end the Arch-bishop even compelled him thereto and with his own hands lifted him on horse back For he saw that he was a very holy man c. IX CHAP. 1.2 c. The Holy and most happy death of S. Ceadda 1. BEcause we will not interrupt the Narration touching this Holy Bishop Ceadda we will here adioyn the relation of his happy death shortly ensuing suitable to his pious life which is thus at large recorded by S. Beda 2. After he had governed the Church of the Mercians most gloriously the space of two years and a half the time by divine dispensation approached concerning which Ecelesiastes writeth There is a time to scatter and a time to gather stones For a destroying sicknes was sent from heaven by which many living stones of Gods Church were translated from earth to the heavenly building And hereby not a few belonging to the Church of this most Reverend Prelate having been taken out of the world the hour of his passage likewise to our Lord drew near It hapned then on a certain day that himself accompanied only with one Monk named Owin abode in the forementioned Mansion all the rest upon some occasion being returned to the Church The said Owin was a Monk of great merit who out of a pure intention for a heavenly reward had forsaken the world and indeed he was in all respects a person esteemed by our Lord worthy to receive Divine revelations and worthy also of beleife when he discovered them to any He had formerly come into that Province from the Region of the East-Angles with Queen Edildride being the cheif Officer of her family Not long after his arrivall the fervour of his Faith encreasing he resolved to leave the world which resolution he exeâ—uted diligently insomuch as relinquishing all his possessions and contenting himself with a simple habit and taking in his hands onely an axe to cutt wood he went to the Monastery of the same most Venerable Prelat called Lestinghen For he did not as some have done retire to a Monastery to live idlely there but to labour diligently as he gave good proof by his conversation for the lesse proper he was to spend much time in Meditation the more did he addict himself to manuall labour 3. This man therefore having for his zeale and devotion been selected to abide with the Bishop in the said Mansion commonly when the rest were busied within-dores in reading he was abroad busy about some externall work for the common benefit Now on a certain day as he was thus employed while the rest of the Monks as hath been said were returned to the Church and the Bishop in his Oratory reading or praying he said that on a sudden he heard most melodious voyces of many persons singing and reioycing which descended from heaven to the earth These voyces he heard at first as from the South-east quarter which by little and little approached to him till they came to the roof of the mansion where the Bishop was into which they entred and filled it all about He therefore attending solicitously to this Musick about an hour after he heard the same voyces songs of Ioy with unexpressible sweetnes ascending from the top of the house by the same way to heaven again After which remaining astonished a good space and wondring what this should be the Bishop opened the window of his Oratory and according to his custom made a noyse with his hand which was to give notice that if any were without they should come to him Hereupon the Monk hastily entred to whom the Bishop said Goe presently to the Church and bidd those seaven brethren to come immediatly hither and come thou with them When they were all come he first admonished them to observe Charity and peace both among themselves and with all others and likewise diligently to follow the Instituts of Regular Discipline which they had learnt both from his tongue and practise or had found in the instructions and actions of their precedent Fathers Hereto he added that the day of his death was near at hand For said he that blessed and amiable Guest who was wont to visit our Brethren did mee the grace to come this day to mee and summoned mee to depart out of this world to our Lord. Therefore goe to the Church and desire the rest of our Brethren to commend my departure to our Lord and let them be mindfull to prevent also their own deaths the hour of which is uncertain with watchongs prayers and good works 4. After he had spoken these and other words to the
tongue they named Ingelborn a mile distant from which the Saxon Princes had a Palace called Caer-Durburg now Broken-bridge The said place kept the name of Ingelborn till Maidulf the Scottish Monk retired thither from whom it took the name of Maâ—dulfs-burg and contractedly Malmsbury some Writers call it Meldun Among the Disciples of Maidulf the most famous was Aldelm who succeeded him and by the help of the Bishop Eleutherius to whom the Seat belonged built there a very fair Monastery of which himself was Abbot and from him some Writers have calld the place Aldelms-birig but that Name was quickly obliterated though his Memory be continued there by a much frequented Faire yearly kept on his Feast 6 The said West-Saxon Kings Escuin and Kentwin as they were in their Faith Orthodoxe and in their Charity magnificeÌ„t so were they likewise in defence of their Kingdom courageous For saith the same Authour Escuin in a battell gave a great overthrow to the Mercians and Kentwin in another to the Brittains The Controversy which Escuin had with Wulfere King of the Mercians was touching the limits of their kingdoms to decide which they were forced to come to a combat in which notwithstanding Huntingdon rather ascribes the victory to Wulfere However certain it is that neither of these two Kings survived their Victory or defeat many days for Wulfere dyed the same year and Escuin in the following 7. The place where this battell was fought is by Florentius called Bindanheafâ—l and in a Manuscript cited by Sir Henry Spelman Bedanead Probably it was the same Town in Devonshire which is now called Bediford of some esteem saith Camden for the numerousnes of its inhabitants and a stone-bridge of arched work 8. The foresaid Florentius mentioning the death of Wulfere called by some Authours Fulgere gives him this Elogy In the year of Christ six hundred seaventy five dyed Wulfere King of the Mercians after he had raigned seaventeen years He was the first King of that Province who embraced the Christian Faith and received the Sacrament of Regeneration He utterly rooted out of his whole Kingdom the Pagan Worship of Devills commanding the name of Christ to be preached every where He built many Churches c. At his death saith Saint Beda he left his Brother Edilred or Ethelred his Successour in his Kingdom XVII CHAP. 1.2 c. Of S Wereburga daughter to King Wolfere her Gests Miracles death and uncorruption of her body 1. THE Memory of King Wulfere received a great luster from the wonderfull Sanctity of his daughter Saint Wereburga born unto him saith the same Authour by his Queen Ermengilda who was the daughter of Ercombert King of Kent and his Queen S. Sexburga daughter of Anna King of the East-Angles and Sister to the glorious Virgin and Queen Saint Ethelreda 2. S. Wereburga from her infancy was by her pious Mother Ermenilda educated in the fear and love of God and in a contempt of worldly vanities so that from her tender years she entertained a desire to consecratt her whole life to our Lord in a state of Religion and Virginity Her great beauty and endowments of Nature rendred her desireable to others but the greater beauty of her mind enriched with Divine Grace disposed her to reserve her affections for him only who was beautifull beyond the Sons of men During her Fathers life she was not permitted to aspire to the Espousals of her heavenly Bridegroom But assoon as he was dead she accompanied with her Mother Erminilda betook her self to the lately founded Monastery of Ely where she undertook a Religious Profession 3. This is thus more expressly related by Harpsfeild Saint Wereburga saith he being descended from most Noble Parents would not be affianced to any but the most Noble Bridegroom and therefore gave up her immaculate body and chast soule to the spirituall embraces of our Lord. These glorious Espousalls to which the Church and heavenly Angells were witnesses were publickly celebrated in the Monastery of Religious Virgins at Ely of which her Mothers Sister the illustrious S. Ethelreda was Abbesse there this devout Virgin received the Sacred Veyle of Religion And from that time her only diligence and solicitude was employed in avoyding all things that might displease the eyes of her Heavenly Bridegroom for whose love she despised gold iewells rich attire and all other vanities admired by the world All her thoughts were busied in this one thing how she might excell her Religious Sisters in observing silence abstinence watching devout reading and Prayers Which holy design having compassed insomuch as she was as far exalted above them in these and all other Vertues as in the Noblenes of her descent yet the thought so meanly of her self and was so free from arrogance and pride that she shewd her self always ready and willing to obey them all and chearfully underwent the vilest Offices among which a charitable care of the poor and needy to whom she was a pious and tender Mother took the principall place In a word through the whole course of her life her conversation was such as shewd that though according to humane condition her body moved on the earth yet her mind was always fix'd in heaven 4. How long this Holy Virgin lived in the Monastery of Ely under the government of S Ediltrudis does not distinctly appear Certain it is that her death is unduly in our Martyrologe referd to this present year for from our most ancient authentick Records it is unquestionable that she survived her Mother S. Erminilda who became Abbesse of the same Monastery after S. Sexburga who succeeded S. Ediltrudis dying the year of Grace six hundred seauenty nine However in as much as her Gests are not interwoven with the general History we will here adioyn the remainder of her Acts recorded by Mathew of Westminster Florentius c. 5. Her Brother Ethelred who succeeded his Father Wolfere in the kingdom of the Mercians admiring his Sisters Sanctity and unwilling that his Province should be deprived of so illustrious a light recalled her from Ely into her native countrey where she with difficulty was persuaded to accept the government of three Monasteries of Religious Virgins Trickingham since called Trent in Staffordshire Wedun and Hamburg in Northampâ—onshire which she governed with such meeknes that she seemd rather their servant then Mistresse directing them more by her example then command 6. And no wonder she should find obedience from her devout Daughters when as even irrationall and wild creatures became subiect to her command as if by her Sanctity she had recovered that empire which man enioyd in his primitive Innocence I should forbeare relating an illustrious miracle to this purpose touching her banishing from her territory great flocks of Wild-geese for their importunity and wastfull devouâ—ing her corn and other fruits were it not that I find it related by ancient credible Authours and not concealed also by Protestants 7.
him large possessions for the building of Monasteries Whose intentions he diligently executed erecting severall Churches and Monasteries in commodious places and assembling many Disciples studious of piety and learning among whom the most eminent were Boysil Priour of the Monastery of Mailros and S. Cuthbert afterward Bishop of Lindesfarn who were men of admirable sanctity and withall eminently endued with the Spirit of Prophecy 4. After the disputation and conflict touching the Observation of Easter which was held in the Monastery of the Holy Abbesse S. Hilda Bishop Colman by descent a Scott obtaind of King Oswi that the Venerable Monk Eata should as Abbot govern the Church of Lindesfarn For the Scots bore a great affection to Eata insomuch as he was one of the twelve English children which had received their education from Bishop Aidan Eata therefore having undertaken the care of the Church of Lindesfarn brought with him thither S. Cuthbert whom after the death of Boysil he had made Priour of the Monastery of Mailros and constituted him Priour of the Convent in Lindesfarn And when afterward the dissention grew hott between King Egfrid and the holy Bishop Wilfrid by means of which he was expelled his Bishoprick Bosa was in his place substituted Bishop of York in the Kingdom of the Deiri and the Holy Abbot Eata was ordained Bishop in the Province of the Bernicians having his Episcopal See partly at Hagulstad that is Extoldesham now Hexham where at this time there are Canons Regulars and partly in the Church of Lindesfarn or Holy Island They were consecrated Bishops by Theodore Arch-bishop of Canterbury 5. Thus writes the Authour of the Life of S. Eata whereto he adioyns the Narration how the Province of Lindesfarn being divided S. Eata was confined to that of Lindesfarn and another placed at Hagulstad and after the Election of S. Cuthbert he resigned to him the See of Lindesfarn and removed to Hagulstad then vacant by the deposition of Tumbert And in conclusion he relates the manner of his death after he had with great zeale and piety administred his Episcopal Office saying When our mercifull Lord thought good to crown the labours of this holy Bishop with an eternall reward he was struck with a greivous disease of the bowells called a Dyssentery the torments whereof encreasing dayly he was purged therby like gold in a fiery fornace and at last all the drosse of sinfull imperfections being spent and consumed he dyed most happily so entring the gate of heaven there to abide for ever He was buried toward the South end of the Church of Hagulstad and a little Chappell of stone was built over his Tomb. From which place his body was afterward translated but by whom is uncertain and with due honour placed in a Shrine within the Church 6. His Successour in the said Bishoprick of Hagulstad was the famous Bishop Iohn de Beverlaco of Beverley so called from a well-known Town of that name in Yorkshire where he or his family lived This holy man as we learn from the Authour of his Life in Capgrave was born in England and being very young was for his instruction committed to Saint Theodore Arch-bishop of Canterbury who educated him in all innocence of manners and vertue and taught him the knowledge and prudence of Holy Scriptures And after he had been well imbued with other learning likewise his custome was to travell through severall provinces sowing among the ignorant people the word of God But after that the Venerable Bishop Eata by Gods disposition had ended the course of human life he with the consent of King Alfrid received the Episcopall honour Concerning this Holy Bishop more will be said in the Sequele of this History VI. CHAP. 1.2 The Tyranny and death of Edric King of Kent 2.3 c. Of Cedwalla King of the west Saxons at first a Pagan His Brother Mol is burnt 7.8 He conquers the Isle of wight which receives the Christian Faith 9. Cedwalla's munificence to S. Wilfrid 1. WE must awhile surcease this Narration touching the Ecclesiasticall affairs among the Northumbers that we may attend to the great combustions and changeâ— in the Southern parts of this Island This was the first year of the Raign of Edric King oâ— Kent after the death of his usurping Vncle Lothere His government was Tyrannous and therefore unquiet For as William of Malmsbury observeth he did boast but a short time in the Successe of his Tyranny for within two years he was deprived both of his kingdom and life leaving his countrey exposed to be torn in peices by its enemies 1 But Cedwalla the Successour of Kentwin in the kingdom of the West-Saxons though at the first no Christian raigned fair more gloriously and concluded both his raign and life more happily He was saith the same Authour a Noble branch of a Royal Stock being the great grandchild of Ceaulin by his brother-Cuda He was a young man of immoderate ambition who would let passe no occasion of exercising his courage His restles disposition had procured against him the anger of the greatest part of the Nobility of that kingdom by a faction and conspiracy of whom he was driven into banishment In resentment of this iniury he drew out of the kingdom in a manner the whole strength of it for the warlick youth there either out of pitty of his misfortune or affection to his courage resorted to him in his exile Edilwalch King of the South-Saxons was the first against whom he vented his fury insomuch as coming to a battell his whole army was defeated and himself slain But after that Victory obtained Cedwalla was driven out of that Province by Bertun and Ethelhun two South-Saxon Generalls who after that possessed themselves of the Kingdom 3. About this time Kentwin dying Cedwalla by consent of the inhabitants was made King of the West-Saxons Who immediatly with new forces invaded once more the Kingdom of the South-Saxons which he subdued and held in great slavery moreover killing Beorthun the Prince or Generall of the forces of that Nation 4. And not content with this acquest he and his Brother Mul wasied also the Kingdom of Kent but in the end was driven out with losse This hapned indeed the year following but since the whole Raign of Cedwalla containd onely two years or little more in which short time the hand of God wrought wonderfull changes upon him converting him from a furious Pagan to an humble devout Christian from a Lyon to a Lamb We will here make no breaches in his Story but deliver it all at once 5. Concerning his invasion of Kent William of Malmsbury thus describes it Presently after Cedwalla accompanied by his Brother Mollo breathing forth a furious hatred against the inhabitants of Kent with all the forces he could make made an invasion into that Province which he thought might easily be subdued by reason of a long peace it had enioyed and at this time was also
the eyes of God and is with devotion celebrated by his Church being commemorated both in our English and also the Roman Martyrologe on the twentieth day of August But the Centuriators of Magdeburg reading all these things are moved to choler both against S. Beda Sebbe and all Monks in generall which choler suggested this profane censure to their pens A Monasticall course of life not having any ground in Gods word stood in need to be recommended by vain dreams and Visions And again In this seaventh age say they Kings began to relinquish their authority and to addict themselves to a Monasticall life Which impiety must be adorned with lying miracles Hence Beda writes concerning King Sebbe that in a Vision three men appeard to him as he lay sick in his bed and foretold to him both the day of his death and that it should be without pain So that to forsake all worldly pleasures and contentments purely for the Love of God is not only not warranted by Gods word but is an impiety excluding men from the enioying of God in the judgment of these new sensuall Evangelists 7. But how after this holy Kings death God was pleased to declare how far different a judgment he gave of his servant the same learned and devout Historian thus further relates A Coffin of Stone saith he was prepared for entombing the Body of this holy King But when they endeavoured to putt the Body into it they found that it was a hands-breadth too long for the Coffin Whereupon paring away as much of the stone at each end as they could they thereby lengthned it about the measure of two fingers breadth Yet after all it would not receive the body Whereupon finding so great a difficulty to enteire him they intended either to seek out a new Coffin or to endeavour by hewing the body to shorten it so much as to make it enter into the Coffin But by a wonderfull accident which could proceed from no lesse then a heavenly power both these designs of theirs were prevented for presently in the sight of the Bishop and Sighard son to the said King and Monk who together with his Brother Seofrid raignd after him a great multitude likewise of others being present the Coffin was found of a convenient length insomuch as there was room enough to place a cushion under his head and yet at the feet there remaind four fingers breadth beyond the body He was buried in the Church of Saint Paul the Doctour of the Gentiles by whose teaching he had learnt to aspire to heavenly things onely 8. To this day his Sepulcher is seen in the same Church adioyning to the Wall on the North side and encompassed with railes But the present Monument being of marble and not ordinary stone as at first shews that in ages following through some mens devotion it was changed and more honourably entombed So that a late malignant Historians skoffe does little prejudice S. Beda's narration saying that the Coffin which in the beginning was miraculously lengthned hath been since by a new Miracle again contracted 9. The Holy Bishop of Worcester Ostfor consecrated the year before by Saint Wilfrid this year dyed in whose place succeeded a Religious person named Egwin born of Princely blood but one who aspiring to a higher kingdom for Christs sake became poor Concerning whom we shall treat more largely hereafter for great examples of patience and equanimity in suffrings he will afford us insomuch as being tryed in the furnace of many tribulations his sanctity became illustrious not in Brittany onely but forrain regions also THE TWENTIETH BOOK OF THE CHVRCH-HISTORY OF BRITTANY I. CHAPTER 1.2 Of English Missioners sent to convert the Germans 3.4 c. S. Egbert the First Mover in that work He is desirous to goe himself but is hindred by God and employed to bring the Scotts to the Vnity of the Church 8.9 Wibert preaches without Successe to the Frisons 10.11 S Willebrord with eleaven others undertake the Mission 1. THE same year of Grace six hundred ninety three was made illustrious by the death and Martyrdom of two Apostolicall Brethren of the English Nation both of them called by the same name Ewald whose zeale for the enlarging of Christs kingdom compelled them to become strangers to their own countrey and in the company of severall other devout Preists to passe over into Germany exposing themselves to all incommodities and dangers yea death it selfe for the rescuing of a world of soules from ignorance and Idolatry in which hitherto the Devill had held them captive 2. But before we apply our selves to the relating of the particular Gests of these two Apostolick Martyrs it will be requisite that we return three years back to the year six hundred and ninety in which the Mission for the conversion of severall German nations began We deferd it to this year because now are seen the first fruits of the labours of those Apostolicall Missioners It will now therefore be seasonable to relate the occasion and first execution of this Mission the names of the devout persons who undertook it their first attempt and succeeding progresse hitherto Which having done we will in due place declare the wonderfull and happy successe of it 3. The First Mover in this holy Work and cheif Architect of so glorious a design was S. Egbert of the rudiments of whose Sanctity this our History has from S. Beda treated in the year six hundred sixty four where we declared how he together with his companion Edelhum in the time when Finan and Coleman were Bishops went out of this their native countrey into Ireland together with many other associats both of Noble and meane condition Not long after the great plague which had almost wasted Brittany passed over into Ireland and among many others seised on this S. Egbert then living in an Irish Monastery called Rathmelsige Who expecting death with great compunction examined his former life and with many teares besought almighty God not to take him out of the world till he had performed due pennance for his sins He adioynd to his Prayers a Vow never to return to his native countrey to recite the whole Psalter dayly to fast every seaventh day c. After which God restored him to his health and he lived many years in great perfection of humility meeknes continence and simplicity and both by his example and teaching was very beneficiall to the Irish. 4. After he had spent twenty six years thus devoutly in Ireland in the year of Grace six hundred ninety saith S. Beda and out of him Baronius he took a resolution to extend his charity to forrain Nations and for that purpose to undertake the Apostolicall Office of preaching the Gospell to such as had yet never heard of it Particularly he knew that in Germany there were many Nations as yet in darknes from whom the English and Saxons now inhabiting Brittany drew their Originall such were the
three years after and is commemorated on the two and twentieth of September 6 A great proof of the perfection of Monasticall Disciplin observed after her death in her Monastery is this That Saint Boniface the glorious Apostle of the Germans having founded a Monastery in those parts made choice of her Disciples above all others and particularly of Saint Lioba to plant Religious observance there This is testified by Rodulphus Disciple of Rabanus Maurus in the life of S. Lioba written by him 8. The same Writer also affirms that in the same town of Winburn there was erected likewise a Cloyster of Monks either by Saint Cuthburga or her Brother King Ina And that from the beginning a Law and Decree of Religious Disciplin had been made That excepting Preists who were to serve at the Altar no men should be permitted to enter the Monastery of those Religious Virgins Nor any woman into that of Religious men And that among the other obligations of the Virgins at their Profession this was one never to step out of their Cloyster except upon a necessary cause to be approved by Superiours 9. Among the Epistles of Saint Boniface there is one inserted from one Aldhun an Abbot and two Abbesses called Cnenburg and Coenburg which were probably these two Princely Sisters Saint Cuthburga and Saint Quenburga desiring a devour Preist called Wietbert an attendant of Saint Boniface to recommend to God in his Prayers two Religious woemen Quoengyth and Edlu both which dyed the same day being the Ides of September XIX CHAP. 1.2 c. The death of Prince Pipin to which S. Swibert endeavoured in vain to prepare him 1. THE death of Duke Pipin hapning about this time since the holy Apostolick Bishop Saint Swibert was employed in preparing him to it which charge he performed with great zeale though with small effect it will not be iudged impertinent to give an account of what passed between them from the relation of S. Marcellin a witnes whose authority cannot be questioned Thus therefore he writes 2. It hapned sayth he in the year seaven hundred and fourteen after our Lords Incarnation that Pipin of Herstall a magnanimous Prince and Maâ—re of the King of France his house sell fick of that disease which endred with his life Hereupon the illustrious Bishop Saint Swibert was earnestly desired by certain Noble persons to visit him But he thought fitt first to goe to Colen attended by his two Disciples Willeic and Theodorick there to demand counsell of Plectrudis the illustrious Duchesse of Lorrain or the Austrasians how he should cary himself in that affaire She with great devotion received and entertaind him at last for her own consolation retaining with her the pious Preist Willeic she dismissed Saint Swibert accompanied by Agilulf Archbishop of Colen and other Prelats giving them charge seriously to advise her husband Prince Pipin that in case he should dye he would take care not to disinherit his illustrious lawfully begotten children Drogo Duke of Champagne and Grimoaldus Maire of the house to Childebert King of France by substituting in his Will as his Heyr Charles Martell a bastard by Alpaide his Concubine which injustice he could not doe without the losse and damnation of his soule besides the stain that he would bring upon his name in the sight of the whole Church and Scandall of his Nobility and Subjects 3. This was an employment which not long before had cost the Holy Bishop Lambert very dear for because he had reprehended the same Prince for his unlawfull cohabitation and mariage with the same Harlot he lost his life and was deservedly esteemed a Martyr 4. The foresaid Bishop therefore being arrived at Ioppilta a Town upon the River Mosa where the sick Prince lay were kindly received by him They therefore to comfort and encourage him to suffer with patience temporall afflictions or infirmities told him that Almighty God in his wisedom and goodnes made the way to heaven rough and unpleasant to his Elect least being delighted in the way they should forget or disesteem the happines which they expected in their countrey 5 After such like discourse often repeated at last having found a convenient and opportune season among other spirituall advices which they gave him for the good of his soule they with great affection and zeale discovered to him the speciall motive of their iourney sharply reprooving him for his unlawfull mariage But they had no sooner touched upon this argument but they were with great indignation repulsed by the Prince And the harlot Alpaide having diligently enquired into and found the occasion of these Prelats iourney rudely commanded them presently to be gone And withall was so importunate with the Prince in behalf of her Son Charles Martel that she obtained of him whatsoever she requested And accordingly Pipin dying the same year left Charles Martel heyre of all his Principalities 6. This being seen by the foresayd Prelats they were forced to return to Colen with greif and dishonour where they made known to Plectrudis all things which had passed at Ioppilia with Pipin withall comforting and exhorting her to sustain such crosses with patience XX. CHAP. i. 2 c. The Birth education and Gests of S. Guthlac Of his Disciple Bertelins intention to murder him Of Ethelbald a banished Mercian Prince comforted by him c. BVT in Brittany a far more comfortable and happy death befell a Hermit of admirable Sanctity named S. Guthlac who as in this life he enioyd a familiar conversation with Angels so in the next he was made their companion in blessednes for ever His Gesis we have thought fitt to remitt till this time when he dyed because having lived a solitary life they were scarce at all involved with the common occurrents of the Church in his time The story of his life may require from us a more then ordinary attention credit because written by Felix a devout â—reist of the same age and dictated to him by Bertelin a Monk of Croyland his companion in Solitude The Authour dedicated his Writing to Elwold King of the East-Angles which is a sufficient warrant to rectify the Chronology of some of our Historians who place the death of this Elwold in the year of Grace six hundred and ninety By the generall account S. Guthlac lived forty seaven years and being twenty four years old he undertook a soldiers Profession in which he lived eight years and fifteen years after in the Solitude of Croyland so that his Birth must fall in the year of Grace six hundred sixty seaven The wonderfull circumstances of which is thus recorded by the foresaid Authour Felix 2. In the dayes of Ethelred King of the Mercians saith he a certain Noble person of Royall offspring named Penwald had by his wife Tecta the holy servant of God Guthlac At the hower of his birth his future Sanctity was miraculously designed For from heaven there appeard the hand as it were of
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
Apostolick And withall commanded him that in case any thing were wanting to him in the succeeding discharge of his Office and Ministery that he would not faile to give intimation thereof to him 6. Saint Boniface after he had received these Letters from the Venerable Pope went from Rome to Luitprand King of the Lombards by whom he was honourably entertained and abode with him some space of time Then taking leave of him he passed the steep mountains of the Alpes and visiting the formerly unknown borders of the Bavarians and Germany from thence came into Thuringia where like a diligent and prudent Bee he searched all places where he might gather and carry the delicious Nectar of the Holy Faith 7. During his abode which was a considerable time in Thuringia he with lively and spiritually exhortations invited the Princes of that Province to embrace the Holy Faith and Religion of Christ. And certain Preists whom he found in those parts addicted to many vices and disorders he with effectuall reprehensions reduced to an orderly and Canonicall conversation VII CHAP. i. 2 c. The miserable death of King Radbode deluded by the Devill 1. WHilst S. Boniface abode in Thuriâ—gia the happy newes came to him of the death of the Tyrant Radbode King of the Frisons who had lately with great fury persecuted the Christians At which report he received great ioy and presently after sayled into Friseland where with great Zeale and diligence he disperâ—ed the precious seed of the Gospell and withdrew very many from their Superstitions and Idolatry 2. But before wee proceed in this Narration touching the Gests of this glorious Apostle it will be expedient to declare the circumstances of the miserable death of this Tyrant Radbode recorded by a devout Writer of the same age Ionas a Monk of Fontanell in France who in the life of S. Wulfran Archbishop of Sens a ioynt-labourer with S. Willebrord and S. Boniface in the Conversion of the Frisons professes that what he wrote he received from the testimony of a Venerable Preist called Ovo a Frison by Nation who himself had been miraculously delivered from death by the said Apostolick Bishop when he had been condemned and for the space of two howers actually hanged by the Tyrants command as a Sacrifice to his Idols 3. When by the sight of many Miracles saith he King Radbode had been convinced of the Verity of Christian Religion and was disposed to receive Baptism he by many earnest adiurations obliged the Apostolick Bishop to answer him to this Question In whether of the two places did remain his Predecessours Kings and Princes in that celestiall Region promised to him in case he would be baptised or in the other Region of darknes and torments Hereto the Bishop replied that without doubt since they all dyed without Faith in Christ and Baptism they were condemned to eternall torments When the barbarous King heard this He being ready to step into the fountain where he was to be baptised streight with-drew his foot and said That he could not be induced to want the society of so many gallant Princes and live for ever among a small company of beggars and vile people 4. Yet again after this he was perswaded once more to advise with the Holy Bishop Willebrord whom he sent for to see whether he taught the same Doctrine with S. Wulfran S. Willebrord answered the Messenger Since the King will not hearken to the counsell of my Holy Brother Wulfran it is not likely that he will be perswaded by mee For this last night I saw him bound fast with a fiery chain Yet he followed the Messenger but in the way was told that that the unhappy King was dead without Baptism 5. And indeed it appeard that the wicked King had filled up the measure of his sins and was given up by God to impenitency For in his last sicknes by the Divine permission the Devill appeard to him in his sleep transformed into an Angell of light with a crown of gold upoÌ„ his head glistering with inestimable iewells and garments gloriously shining and said to the astonished King Tell mee Noble Prince who has seduced you to a willingnes to forsake the Religion of your Predecessours Doe not hearken to them but continue constant in the worship of the ancient Gods of your Nation and you shall not fayle after death to be translated to golden Palaces and live there in all manner of pleasures and felicity And to shew you that I doe not seduce you To morrow send for the Christian Doctour Wulfran and command him to give you a sight of that happy eternall mansion which he promises you in case you will embrace the Christian Faith and be baptized This since I am assured he cannot doe Let there be Messengers chosen of his Beleif and yours I will undertake to be their Guide to shew them that gloriously happy Mansion which I have promised you 6. Assoon as the King awaked he sent for the Holy Bishop and recounted to him his Vision Who groaning in Spirit told him that it was an illusion of the Devill to bring him to eternall misery no way to be avoyded but by Faith in the Saviour of the world and purging of Sins by Baptism But the King replied that unlesse he would give him a sight of the Happines promised him he would not fayle according to the order prescribed in the Vision to send his Messengers Hereupon the Holy Bishop apprehending that in case he should refuse to send one Messenger likewise to detect the Devills fraud the Pagans would publish their own fictions therefore he thought good to send one of his Deacons to accompany the Kings Messenger These two therefore assoon as they were at an indifferent distance from the town mert with one who appeared in the shape of a man and told them saying Make hast for I will shew you the happy mansion which I promised the King Hereupon they following him travelled through many unknown pathes till at last they came to a large way paved with severall sorts of polished marble Then they saw afarr off a golden house and the street leading to it was covered with gold and precious Stones Assoon as they were entred into the house they saw a most glorious Throne of a wonderfull beauty and magnificence and their Guide told them This is the Palace and this the Seat which God has promised to give to King Radbode 7. When the Deacon with great astonishment saw these things he said If all these things be works of the Omnipotent God let them remain for ever But if they be illusions of the Devill let them presently vanish Having said this he immediatly armed himself with the sign of the Crosse and the Guide which seemed to have been a man vanished into a Devill and the whole Palace became durt So that the two companions the Deacon and the Frison found themselves entangled in the midst of reeds and briars in a great
Concerning him thus we read in the Authour of his Life in Capgrave The Venerable Confessour of Christ Saint Brithun drew his originall from the Nation of the English He was Deacon for many years to the Holy Bishop of York Saint Iohn of Beverley and for the sanctity â—f hâ—s life and laudable conversation he was in his affection preferred by him before others and constituted Abbot in the Monastery of Deirwode now called Beverley which the said Holy Bishop built from the foundations And to the same Monastery Saint Iohn in his old age refigning his Bishoprick retired by the counsell of the said holy Abbot where also he dyed after he had spent four years in an Angelicall purity of conversation After his translation to heavenly ioyes the Venerable Abbot imitating his good Master persevered to the end of his life in watchings fastrags prayers and other good works For he was a lover of vertues a persecutour of vice a despiser of this present world a Zealous aspirer to heavenly ioyes a faithfull guardian and instructour of the flock committed to him an unwearied practiser of jâ—stice and piety a munificent disperser of Almes and in a word one who with all diligence performed whatsoever he knew to be pleasing to God Thus constantly serving our Lord in all good works to his decrepiâ—e age he crownd a most holy life with a suitable death and having quiâ—ted this world on the Nones of May he received his reward in heaven His body was with great hâ—nour buried in his own Monastery Where in processe of time his sanctity becoming illustrious by many Miracles with consent of the Clergy and people it was taken up and his sacred Relicks placed near the Coffin of his beloved Master and Instructour the Holy Bishop Saint Iohn close to the Altar in his Church of Beverley 3. The same year is recorded the devout Pilgrimage of Daniel Bishop of Winchester to Rome who is supposed by â—ome to have subscribed to a Synod about this time assembled there in which a heavy Anathema is pronounced against al such as presume to associate to themselves in mariage any Virgins or other women consecrated to God or those whose matrimonial society men being promoted to such orders have according to the Churches Discipline been obliged to forsake XII CHAP. 1. A Rebellion of the South-Saxons repressed 2.3 c. Of Saint Pechelm Bishop of Casa Candida and of S. Wirâ— an Irish Bishop 6.7 c. Casa Candida was within the Saxon Dominions 1. THE year following great commotions were raised in the Southern parts of Brittany For the South-Saxons impatient of the yoak layd on them by the West-Saxons elected among them a Generall a young man of great courage called Ealdbrith under whose conduct they seised on a strong Castle newly built by King Inas in Somersetshire at the River Thone therefore called Thoneton and now Taunton At which time King Inas being by some design or perhaps by sicknes diverted his magnanimous Queen Edilburga with a choice army layd siege to the said Castle and in a short space took and destroyd it that it should no more be a seat of Rebellion But Ealdbrith by flight escaped into Surrey and from thence retired into Sussex where King Inas following him with a powerfull army and fighting with him dispersed all his forces and slew Ealdbrith so utterly extinguishing the rebellion 2. The same year a New Episcopall See was erected in the Province of the Picts or rather an ancient one being decayed was restored This was the Episcopall See called Candida Casa and a holy man called Pecthelm was consecrated Bishop of it For thus writes S. Beda concluding his History Pecthelm now sitts Bishop in that part of the Province which is called Candida Casa or White house the which Diocese was newly erected by reason of the multiplying of beleivers in those parts and the first Bishop was the said Pecthelm 3. Wee have in the eighth book of this History declared how in the year of Grace three hundred ninety four S. Siricius Pope consecrated S. Ninian first Bishop of the Southern Picts who established his Episcopal See at this place where he built a Church to the honour of S. Martin and with great industry converted a great part of the Nation But after the Saxons had subdued the Picts wee read of certain Bishops of the Picts as about forty years before this the devout Bishop Trumwin but it seems they had no determinate See at least not this of Wite-hern or Candida Casa which was at this time restored 4. As for this Pecthelm he was a man of great piety and learning and so illustrious that he was consulted in difficulties of great importance by Saint Boniface as appears by severall Epistles yet extant In his younger age he was educated in the kingdom of the West-Saxons where he was Disciple to the famous Saint Aldelm and made Deacon as William of Malmsbury testifies After that he went over into Germany where he associated himself to Saint Willebrord and was present at a Synod assembled by that Holy Apostolick Bishop at Vtrecht to which his name is found subscribed It was he who related to Saint Beda the sad Story of the impenitent Soldier and favourite of Coenred King of the Mercians formerly recounted in this History 5. By whom this holy man was consecrated Bishop not any of our Historians doe declare but in the Belgick Calendars published by Miraeus we read that he was ordained Bishop by the Pope as likewise the companion of his pilgrimage Saint Wâ—ro For there wee read this passage Saint Plechelm so he is there named born of Noble parents in the kingdom of the Northumbers from his youth excelled in humility and modesty and even in that tender age chastised his body by watchings and fastings attending assiduously to Prayer Being come to riper age he was diligent in the study of Holy Scriptures When he was promoted to the order of Preisthood he was liberall to the poor and adornâ—d with all vertues insomuch as that internall Light which he received from Gods holy Spirit shone forth gloriously in all his actions Not long after associating himself to Saint Wiro he accompanied him in a pilgrimage to the Monuments of the Blessed Apostles Saint Peter and Saint Paul at Rome There they with great devotion visited all holy places and by assiduous Mortifications and prayers offred themselves Holocausts of sweet savour to God These two holy men being observed by the Pope to be endued with divine wisedom and enflamed with Charity he consecrated them Bishops and enriching them with Sacred Relicks of Saints he dismissed them to their own countrey There Plechelm became Bishop in the Church called Candida Casa where with unwearied labour he extinguished all remainder of Idolatry 6. Here is a great controversy against the Saxon pretentions raised by the ancient Scotts or Irish and the Modern Scotts each of them challenging to their
his solemnity we many conclude that both these were added by S. Beda's Disciples after his death 8. Not long after S. Boniface visited the confining Regions of Bavaria the Prince whereof was called Hugbert To whom the Holy Bishop with great zeale preached the Faith of Christ. There likewise with much fervour and authority he condemned and cast out of the Church a certain pestilent Heretick called Ermewolf What his Heresy was it does not appear probably it died with the Authour II. CHAP. 1.2 The Primacy of the Sea of Canterbury again established by the Pope 3.4 Bishops conâ—ecrated by Arch-bishop Tatwin after he had received the Archiepiscopall Pall. 5.6 Sedition among the Northumbers c. 1. WE read in B. Parkers Brittish Antiquities that in the year of Grace seaven hundred thirty two being the second after the consecration of Tatwin Arch-bishop of Canterbury a controversy arose between that See and the See of York about Primacy Vpon which occasion Tatwin went to Rome where he obtained the Pall from Pope Gregory and likewise a confirmation of his Primacy After which he made great hast to return into Brittany 2. There is indeed extant in William of Malmsbury an Epistle of Pope Gregory addressed to all the English Bishops in which he exhorts them to Vnity and constancy in Faith and Charity and withall signifies that he had given the Archiepiscopall Pall with the venerable use of the Dalmatick to Tatwin Successour to S. Augustin in his chair of Canterbury and that after a diligent search in the Sacred Archives for the Priviledges and rights of Iurisdiction belonging to that See from the time of the said S. Augustin he had confirmed the same commanding all the Churches of Brittany with their respective Bishops to yeild due obedience to all the Canonicall precepts of the said Tatwin whom he appointed Primat and withall conferred on him authority in his stead to visit all Churches in that Region Moreover that the Church of Canterbury being the first offspring of Christianity and Mother of all other Churches there he took it into his speciall protection threatning severely to vindicate all contempts and disobediences to it on any person whatsoever 3. To this effect did Pope Gregory write but without any mention or reflection on the See of York or any competition of any other in the Primacy Besides this the present Bishop of York Wilfrid second of that name was a man of great modesty and aversion from contention Whereas indeed his Successour of a Princely family and high Spirits did not long after not only restore his See oâ— York to the Archiepiscopall dignity which at first S. Paulinus the Apostle of that Province enioyd but challenged an equality with the Arch-bishop of Canterbury as shall be declared And this perhaps gave occasion of mistake and a confusion of times to B. Parker and likewise B. Godwin 4. Arch-bishop Tatwin having thus received the Pall and being returned into Brittany the year following consecrated two Bishops For Kinebert Bishop of the Lindesfari or Lincoln being dead he substituted in his place Alwâ— whom wee find present in a Synod assembled fourteen years after this Likewise the Episcopall See of the South-Saxons by the death of Eolla being vacant he consecrated for his Successour Sigga or Sigfrid 5. The same year there were great tumults in the Kingdom of the Northumbers by a faction the Head whereof is now unknown But so violent was the Sedition that both King Ceolulf and the Holy Bishop Acca were forced to submitt to the impetuousnes of it King Ceolulf was made prisoner and Shaved as a Monk Notwithstanding presently after in consideration of his integrity vertue and prudence he was restored to his Throne 6 But as for the Holy Bishop Acca the persecution against him continued longer For during the space of three years he remaind banished from his See Yea saith William of Malmsbury it is uncertain whether ever he returned to it or no. However that after his death he was with great honour buried there and became famous to posterity by his frequent Miracles shall be shewed hereafter III. CHAP. 1.2.3 Ethelbald the Mercian King invades his neighbours 4.5 Tatâ—in Arch bishop of Canterbury dying Nothelm succeeds And Egbert succeeds in the See of York 6 7 8. S. Boniface proposes a Scrupulous doubt to Nothelm c. The Râ—solution of it 1. IN the year of Grace seaven hundred thirty four Ethelbald Kiâ—g of the Mercians who as hath been sayd was wonderfully called by God to the Kingdom became very powerfull and not content with the limits of his own kingdom invaded the Provinces of his Neighbours All the Regions from the South-Saxons as far as Humber Northward though governed by petty Kings yet those Provinces with their Kings were subject to his Dominion saith Florentius Yet all these to a mind so vast as his were narrow bounds Therefore making an impression into the Western parts he besieged the Castle of Sâ—merton and no assistance coming to the souldiers there inclosed he brought it into his own power By which means he became possessour of a great part of Somersetshire which takes its name from that place 2. And not content with this he marched with his Army Northward and force prevayling over iustice he in a hostile manner entred the Kingdome of the Northumbers where finding none to resist him he enriched himself and his army with spoyles as much as he thought good then withdrew his forces homewards Thus writes Huntingdon The Abridger of S. Beda's History referrs this invasion to the year seaven hundred and forty but the generall consent of other Writers disproves him 3. But this prosperity which Gods goodnes gave him he abused and plunged himself into many enormous crimes as shall be shewed Notwithstanding the Divine Grace did not utterly forsake him For at last he repented his ingratitude to God amended his errours and with a mixture of vertues and vices ended his life by the treason of his Subjects 4. The same year as Hoveden testifies the Moon for the space of an hour early in the morning on the thirtieth day of Ianuary became of a deep blood-red colour and from thence turned black after which its naturall brightnes was restored This prodigy it seems in his opinion foreshewed the death of Tatwin Arch-bishop of Canterbury for he immediatly addes an account of his death thereto hapning the twenty ninth of Iuly following and in the fourth year after his Consecration He was a man saith S. Beda highly eminent for his Religion and prudence He succeeded Brithwald his equall in learning and piety who was Successour to S. Theodore 5. The year following gave to the two Principall Sees of Brittany Canterbury and York vacant by the death of their Pastours two worthy persons to succeed in the exercise of the Episcopall function to Canterbury Nothelm and to York Egbert As touching the former Nothelm was born
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
all civility respect and kindnes entertain him Thus they did in former ages with S. Athanasius S. Epiphanius S Hierom S. Peter of Alexandria and many others 3 Now when S. Boniface was ready to depart the Pope very liberally bestowed on him many gifts and whatsoever Relicks of Saints he desired He sent likewise by him severall Letters to the Bishops Princes and Abbots of Germany requiring their assistance to S. Boniface in the great charge committed to him of converting soules as likewise their presence to whatsoever Synods he should assemble and their Obedience to his orders and Decrees made according to the Rule prescribed by the See Apostolick which had authorized him to his Apostolick Office and constituted him the supreme Prelat of Germany 4. With these Letters S. Boniface departed from Rome and came to Ticinum or Pavia where he abode some time with Luitprand King of the Lombards Thence he proceeded towards Germany and being arrived near the River Danubius he made some stay there expecting a Synod of Bishops which he by the Popes order had called And from thence he wrote Letters to certain speciall freinds Goppin Eoban Tacwin and Wyx Religious Abbots as likewise to all their Monks and severall Religious Virgins in which he gave them a particular account of this his iourney and the successe of it 5. The year following being invited by Vtilo Duke of the Bavarians he visited his countrey staying there many dayes and preaching the word of God with great fruit There he found many false Christians who wasted the Churches and seduced the people Some of these falsely pretended themselves to be Bishops and others usurped the Office of Pâ—eists Many likewise with fictions and pernicious lyes wrought great mischief among the ignorant A further course of whose malice he found not any meanes more effectually to prevent then by dividing the Province of Bavaria into four Dioceses which with the consent of Duke Vtilo he performed the Government of which he committed to persons of eminent vertue whom he ordained Bishops 6. Of these the first was Iohn whose Episcopall See was placed at Salisburg The second was Erimbert who governed the Church of Frislingen the third was Hunibald who was consecrated Bishop of Ratisbon the Metropolis of Bavaria And Winilus who before had been ordained Bishsp by the Pope of the whole countrey had the Church of Patary assigned to him 7. Having done this he wrote to the Pope giving him an account of all things and desiring his confirmation and ratification for perpetuity Therein imitating his Predecessours For so did Fugatius and Damianus in the Brittish Church so did S Patrick in Ireland and so did S. Augustin among the English-Saxons demand from the See Apostolick a confirmation of their Ordonnances 8. We have still extant the Popes answer hereto containing an approbation of what he had done Likewise an iniunction to asâ—semble a Synod of all Germany and in his place to preside over it And because the necessities of those Churches would not allow him repose in any one place he renewed his Apostolick Authority to erect Bishopricks wheresoever he should iudge expedient IX CHAP. 1. Cuthred succeeds King Ethelard in the Kingdom of the West-Saxons 2. Nothelm Arch-bishop of Canterbury dying Cuthbert succeeds 3.4 The Death of the Holy Bishop Saint Acca 5 6. c. The Martyrdom of Saint Iuthwara a Brittish Virgin of her Sister S Sidwella 10.11 c. The Gests of the Holy Virgin S. Fridâ—svida 17.18 Death of S Ethelburga Abbesse formerly Queen of the West-Saxons 19 The Death of Saint Arnulf a Hermite 1. IN the year of our Lords Incarnation seaven hundred and forty Cuthred began his raign over the West-Saxons whose Predecessour Ethelard by some called his Brother by others his kinsman dyed the year before This King saith Huntingdon was much afflicted by the proud King of the Mercians Ethelbald who sometimes made open war against him and sometimes raised sedition in his countrey In all which Fortune shewed her self very various between them sometimes the one and some times the other gaining advantage And now and then being weary they would make peace which seldom lasted any considerable time the one or the other presently renewing the warr 2. The same year there was exalted to the Archiepiscopall See of Canterbury being vacant by the death of Nothelm Cuthbert who four years before had been consecrated Bishop of Hereford He was descended from an illustrious Saxon family and as Nobly he administred his Office He was no sooner established in his Seat but Aldulf Bishop of Rochester dying he consecrated his Successour in that See a Preist called Dun. 3. At this time the Holy Bishop Acca formerly a great freind to S. Beda and encouâ—ager in his studies and Writing ended his â—ite of whom mention hath been severall times made before A breif relation of his Gests we will here adioyn from Miraeus who recites his name among the Saints on the last day of November though in our Martyrologe his commemoration be on the nineteenth of February Concerning him Miraeus thus writes Acca a Bishop is named the third among the Apostolick Preists which under the conâ—uct of S. Willebrord departed out of England and arrived at Vtrecht in the year of our Lord six hundred and ninety to procure the consecrat on of S. Swibert he was there detained and not long after ordained Bishop of Hagustald not Lindesfarn as Miraeus mistaking writes 4. How Saint-like his life was Almighty God shewd by many miracles after his death as Hoveden testifies saying The same year Acca Bishop of Venerable memory was received into the happy region of the living after he had administred the Church of Hagustald twenty four years His body was buried with great honour in the Eastern part of that Church And above three hundred years after his death by occasion of a Revelation made to a certain Preâ—st his Sacred Relicks were translated and putt into a shrine Where to this day he is held in great veneration And for a demonstration of his Sanctity his â—hasuble Albe and Maniple which had been buried with his Sacred Body to this day doe not only preserve their colour but primitive firmnes likewise 5. In our Martyrologe on the three and twentieth of December this year is commemorated the Martyrdom of a devout Brittish Virgin called Iuthwara The Circumstances of her death and Martyrdom and a breif abridgment of her life we find in Capgrave The Holy Virgin S. Iuthwara saith the Authour there was born of Noble parents and from her childhood being prevented by a plentifull Grace of Gods holy Spiriâ— she was diligent to serve our Lord in all good works She living in her Fathers house after the death of her Mother with all innocence became amiable to all and made a progresse in vertues as she did in years Whensoever any Pilgrims came to her Fathers house as frequently they did she with great
of February But his principall Feast is obser-served on the fourteenth of October the day of his Translation 10. His Successour Saint Megingand who was one of those which Saint Boniface had called out of Brittany was come to a great age at the death of Saint Burchard yet he administred that See the space of fifteen years in all things conformable to the good example of his Blessed Predecessour And â—t last being oppressed with age by the consent of his Clergy he elected for his Successour a certain Disciple and Monk of his Monastery called Bernwelf to whom he resigned the whole care of his Bishoprick consigning into his hands all the possessions and goods left by Saint Burchard And attended by a few disciples he retired to a certain place given to him by a devout person named Hatto 11. But in this his choice he was not so happy as his Predecessour had been for instead of kindnes and respect due to him he found extreme ingratitude and persecution from his Successour Insomuch as whereas in the Monastery of Saint Kilian he had left fifty Monks laudable in their observance of Regular Disciplin all these did Bernwelf with iniuries drive out of the Monastery and compelled them to have recourse to his Master Mengingand And not content with that he most greivously and incessantly vexed the good old man with frequent clamorous accustions of having detained certain Vestments and Books left by Saint Burchard So great and insupportable unquietnes and troubles he caused to his Master who had made him Bishop that he was compelled to forsake that place of his retirement called Korinlathe and afterwards Nieustat which he gave up to the patronage of King Charles and betook himself to another further distant Monastery by the same King bestowed upon him and his Monks Where living in all freedom from secular molestation under the protection of the illustrious King Charles in all things being acceptable to God and men he in a short time full of good works departed this life to receive his eternall reward IV. CHAP. 1.2 c. The Gests and blessed death of Saint Willehade first Bishop of Bremen 1. AS for Saint Willehade he likewise came out of Brittany presently after Saint Boniface his Martyrdom and arrived at a place called Dockum where the said Holy Martyr received his Crown There he remaind a good space not deterred by the so late cruelty of the barbarous Pagans from boldly preaching the Gospell and God so blessed his labours that many were converted and baptized by him From thence passing over the River Lavinca he went to a place called Huchmark where endeavouring likewise to withdraw those barbarous people from their Idolatry they in a great rage cryed out that such a profane seducer ought to be killed And when they were ready to putt this in execution certain men among them more moderate told them that they ought to make a tryall according to the ancient custom of their countrey by casting of Lotts whether his death would be acceptable to their Gods or no And being hereto perswaded through Gods Providence he escaped so that they gave him free permission to goe out of their countrey 2. Leaving them therefore he went to a place called Drente where by his preaching many were converted and baptized But when his Disciples moved with zeale began to destroy the Heathen Temples the barbarous people became incensed and had a resolution to kill them Saint Willehade was sore bruised with clubbes and one among them ran upon him with his sword purposing to cutt off his head Lifting up therefore his sword he with all his force smote him on the neck Now the Holy man had at that time a case full of Relicks tyed about his neck The sword then curt a sunder the string only and did not at all enter into the flesh The Pagans therefore astonished at this Miracle let both him and his Disciples depart without any further harm done them 3. Now the Victorious King of France Charles having heard report of this Holy man's sanctity and zeale encouraged him much to be constant in preaching the Gospell He went therefore into a Territory called Wigmode where he converted many and built Churches Yea the greatest part of the Frisons inhabiting thereabout promised they would embrace the Christian Faith But not long after Wittekind Duke of the Saxons rebelled against King Charles and raising an army began a great persecution against the Christians The holy man therefore after he had escaped an imminent danger went to Rome Where being much comforted and encouraged by Pope Adrian he returned back into Franconia 4. Moreover at the command of the same King the man of God went again into Wigmode where he openly and boldly preached the Faith and repaired the Churches which the Pagans had demolished And God did so prosper his labours that the Frisons once more embraced the Faith which they had renounced Yea Duke Wittekind himself the Authour of all the mischeif submitting himself to King Charles was perswaded to receive Baptism 5. The said King seeing so many Christians converted thought good that a New Episcopall See should be erected for which purpose he made choice of a place called Bremen in the countrey of Wigmode there he caused a Church to be built and with the advice of Lullo he sent to Pope Adrian to demand that this Holy man Willehade should be consecrated Bishop of Bremen which was accordingly performed There is in the Annalls of Baronius extant the Charter of King Charles for the erection and endowment of this Episcopall See in which after thanks given to God for his many victories over the Saxons he declares the limits of this new Diocese what possessions and Tithes were annexed to it as likewise to a Monastery adioyning all which were committed to the care of the Holy servant of God Willehade Which Charter was dated in the year of our Lords Incarnation seaven hundred eighty eight 6. In this function Saint Willehade behaved himself with wonderfull piety and encreased his diligence in the practise and progresse in all vertues And falling into an infirmity of body he was commanded by Pope Adrian to eat fish for formerly out of a rigorous abstinence he forbore the use of them Scarce any day passed in which he did not with great contrition of heart celebrate Masse and besides that he would some dayes recite the whole Psalter twice or thrice Thus the blessed man did wonderfully adorn his Doctrine and by his own example confirm that which with his tongue he preached to others 7. At length after he had severall times with great zeale visited his Diocese he came to a certain place called Bleckensee now Plexem Where so violent a feavour took him that his Disciples despaired of his recovery And one of them being more familiarly conversant with him could not forbear to testify his greif by teares and complaints saying Holy Father doe not so soon
in any History Probably he was some inferiour Saxon Prince in Brittany for among the Kings of that Heptarchy no such name is mentioned And later then this time he could not probably live since very few of the Saxon Princes did now remain in their ancient Heathenish Idolatry His daughter S. Christiana's name is placed among the Saints recited in our Martyrologe on the same seaven and twentieth of Iuly XII CHAP. 1.2 c. The Gests of S. Cedde and his Brethren 6.7 The death of Sigebert King of the East Saxons denounced by Saint Cedde 1. AT the same time our Island of Brittany received a notable luster by the piety of four Brethren all of them consecrated Saints their names were S. Cedd Saint Celin S. Cimbell and S. Ceadda or Chad. they were all of them Preists and two of them exalted to the dignity of Bishops to witt S. Cedd who was now Bishop of London and S. Ceadda who shortly will be the first Bishop of Lichfeild 2. As touching S. Cedd how in this year of Grace six hundred and sixty he founded the Monastery of Lesting in Yorkshire S. Beda at large thus relates It was the custom of the man of God S. Cedd whilst he was Bishop of the East-Saxons frequently to visit his own native countrey of the Northumbers to the end he might impart among them his Spirituall exhortations Now Edilwald the son of King Oswald raigning then in the Province of the Deirâ— or Yorkshire perceiving him to be a holy and wise man of great integrity desired of him that he would accept at his hands a certain possession of land there to build a Monastery where to himself might repair to perform his devotions and heare Gods word as likewise bury the dead For this King beleived that he should receive much benefit by the dayly prayers of those that served our Lord there Now the said King had then in his attendance a Brother of the said Bishop named Celin a man of great piety who was wont to administer to him and hiâ— family the Sacraments of our Faith for he was a Preist and by his information he came to know and love the Holy Bishop S. Cedd therefore complying with the Kings desire made choice for the Seat of a Monastery a place among steep and remote mountains which seemd fitter to be a retrait for theeves or lurking place for wild beasts then a habitation for men Now the man of God being desirous by prayers and fasting first to cleanse that place from the filth of crimes formerly executed there and consequently to lay the foundation of a Monastery desired permission of the King that he might abide there in Prayer the whole Lent then at hand Which being granted he according to the Ecclesiasticall custom prolonged his Fast till evening every day except Sundays and then also he contended himself with a small portion of bread one egg and a little milk mingled with water For he said that such was anciently the custom of those who founded Monasteries and from whom he had received the Rule of Monasticall Profession by prayers and fasting to consecrate the places where they intended to build a Monastery or Church 3. Now toward the latter end of Lent when onely ten days remained one came to call him to the King He therefore to the end so Religious a work should not be intermitted for the Kings affaires desired his Brother Cymbel who was a Preist to continue there the devotions which he had piously begun Whereto he willingly condescended And thus the full time of Prayer and fasting being consummated he there built a Monastery called now Lestinghen and instructed the Monks with such Religious Instituts as were practised at Lindesfarn where he had been brought up The care of which Monastery he recommended to his Brother Ceadda who was afterward Bishop first of York and shorly after of Lichfeild 4. Now whereas Saint Beda calls this Edilwald King of the Deiri he is to be esteemed only a King by courtesy of Osâ—â— â—o whom the whole Kingdom of the Northumbers at this time belonged And therefore in the Catalogue of the Northumbrian Kings extant in Mathew of Westminster Edilwald is omitted And as for the Monastery of Lestinghen in the Breviary of Sarum it is sayed to belong to the Isle of Lindesfarn Which Island notwithstanding did not pertain to the Province of the Deiri but of the Bernicians Wheresoever it was placed there flourished in it many persons eminent for Sanctity among which Osâ—i a Monk in our Martyrologe is reckoned in the number of Saints who dyed in the year of Grace six hundred sixty seaven 5. Saint Cedd remaind among the Northumbers no long time for the year following hapned the death of Sigebert the good King of the East-Saxons inflicted on him for contemning the Ecclesiasticall Câ—nsure imposed by this Holy Bishop Cedd on one of his Nobles The Story is thus particularly recounted by S. Beda One of the Nobles of King Sigeberts Court had contracted an unlawfull mariage against the Orders of the Church Which the Bishop not being able to prevent nor correct he excommunicated him commanding all under his care to abstain entring into his house or eating of his meat Which prohibition the King not regarding when he was invited by the said Count he went to feast at his house At his return the Holy Bishop mett him Whom as soon as the King lookd â—n he began to tremble and leaping from his horse prâ—strated himself at his feet begging pardon for his offence for the Bishop likewise who was on horse-back had lighted down And being angry he touched the King as he lay with his rodd which he held in his hand and with an Episcopall authority said to him I tell thee O King because thou wouldst not abstain from the house of that desperat excommunicated person thou thy self shalt dye in the same house 6. This denunciation of the Holy Bishop was accordingly accomplished for as the same Authour relates Whilst the Christian Faith encreased dayly in that Province to the great mutuall ioy both of the King and people it hapned by the instigation of the Enemy of all good that the King himself was murdred by the hands of his own kinred They were two Brethren who executed this heynous crime And being askd why they did it they could give no other answer but this That they were enraged enemies to the king because he was wont to be too mercifull to his enemies and quietly to pardon injuries whensoever those who did them begged his mercy Such was the fault for which this good King was slain because with a devout heart he observed the Precepts of the Gospell Yet by this death hapning to him without his fault a former reall fault was punished according to the Prophecy of the man of God Now we may piously beleive that such a death of this Religious Prince did not only wash away the stain of
such a fault but moreover encreased his Merit since it hapned to him for iustice sake and for his zeale to obserâ—e the Precepts of our Lord. Thus writes S. Beda and the same iudgment is given also by William of Malmsbury 7. The Successour to this good King Sigebert was Suidelm the son of Sexbald who was baptised by the same Holy Bishop Cedd in the Province of the East-angles in a village belonging to the King called Rendelesham or the mansion of Rendilus And Edelwald King of the East-angles the Brother of Anna formerly King was his God father who received him ascending out of the Sacred Font. His raign continued only three years XIII CHAP. 1.2 c. The Province of the West-Saxons divided into two Dioceses Dorchester and winchester For which the Holy Bishop Agilbert retires into France 1. IN the same year of our Lord six hundred sixty and one which was the eighteenth of the raign of Kenewalch King of the West-Saxons the said King perfected the Structure of the Church of Winchester begun by his Father Kinegils and not only ratified his Fathers donation thereto but moreover added the Mannours of Dornton Altesford and Wordyam thus writes B. Godwin 2 And at the same time the Church of the West-Saxons by the industry of Agilbert Bishop of the same Province was so mightily encreased that the King thought good to divide that Province into two Dioceses One other Motive hereto the King had because Agilbert being a stranger could not but very imperfectly speak the Saxon tongue For saith Saint Beda At last the King who understood no other but his Native language being weary to heare the Bishops barbarous pronunciation of the Saxon tongue or his expressing himself in French which the King understood not brought into the Province another Bishop of his own tongue named Wini who was ordained in France Thus he divided the Province into two Dioceses and to Wini he gave for his Episcopall See the Citty Venta called by the Saxons Wintancestir or Winchester Herewith the Holy Bishop Agilbert being greivously offended because the King had done this without his advice returned into France where he received the Bishoprick of Paris and died there an old man and full of dayes 3. Andrew Saussay in his Martyrologe assigns another cause of Bishop Agilberts indignation and departure for saith he the King being corrupted with money gave a portion of that Bishoprick to Wina Which abominable Simony Agilbert having an Excoration quitted his Episcopall Seat and returned presently into his native countrey retiring himself to Paris as a secure harbour But herein he much wrongs the memory of King Kenewalch who is not taxed by any of our Historians for that Crime Indeed it was justly imputed to Wina who by such an execrable negotiation purchased the Bishoprick not of Winchester but of London for so S. Beda testifies saying Not many years after the departure of Agilbert out of Brittany Wini was thrust out of his Bishoprick of Winchester by Kenewalch and retiring to the King of the Mercians named Wulfere bought with money of him the See of London where he remained Bishop till his death 4. As for the Holy Bishop Agilbert after his relinquishing of his See at Dorchester he did not presently goe into France but as Huntingdon relates he retired to Alfrid the son of Oswi King of the Northumbers who was his freind And three years after this we read that he was present at a Synod or solemne Conference touching the Celebration of Easter and the Preistly Tonsure of which we shall treat shortly where he declared himself for the Roman Observation against the Scotts XIV CHAP. 1.2 c. The South Saxons last converted And their King Edilwalch baptised 8 9. c. The Martyrdom of Vlfald and Rufin sons of King Wulfere 1. THE same year was illustrious in the Conversion of the South-Saxons That was one of the first Saxon-Principalities settled in Brittany by Ella then the most potent of all the Kings and it was the last which admitted the Christian Faith The manner how that Kingdom came to be converted is thus described by Henry of Huntingdon Kenwald or Kenwalch King of the West-Saxons in the twentieth year of his raign fought against Wulfere King of Mercia the Son of Penda a Prince who inheâ—â—ed both his Fathers courage and successe in Martiall affaires in which battell the King of the West-Saxons was defeated and compelled to fly Whereupon Wulfere entred his countrey in a hostile manner insomuch as penetrating to the utmost confines of it he invaded and conquered the Isle of Wight In which expedition by Wulfers industry and zeale Adelwold or as S. Beda calls him Edilwalch King of Sussex was converted first of all to the Faith Vpon whom at his Baptism Wulfere being his God father bestowed as a sign of adoption the Isle of With or Wight and withall for the conversion of the said Island he sent thither a Preist named Epa to preach the Gospell But his preaching as yet had not any good successe 2. It is no easy matter to find out who the person was that baptised this King The Historiall Books of S. Swithun of Winchester in Speed of S. Hilda relate how Athelwold was the first King of Sussex who was converted to the Faith of Christ and baptised in Mercia by S. Birinus a Monk and Apostle of the Gevisses in the presence and by the suggestion of Wolfere King of the Mercians But this cannot consist with the truth of Story and Chronology because S. Bâ—rinus was dead long before Wulfere was King of the Mercians Others ascribe his Baptism to S. Wilfrid Bishop of York But these Writers place his Baptism too late as the former did too early for S. Wilfrid was not yet Bishop And though they would ground their asserâ—tion on the authority of S. Beda yet S. Beda plainly disproves them affirming that this King was baptised before S. Wilfrid came into his Province 3. His words are these S. Wilfrid turning out of his way into the Province of the South-Saxons and finding the people as yet addicted to Pagan Idolatry preached to them the word of Faith and baptised many Now the King of that Nation Edilwalch not long before had been baptised in the Province of the Mercians in the presence and by the perswasion of King Wulfere By whom as he came out of the Font he was received and for a mark of adoption had bestowed on him the Isle of Wight and the Province of the Meanvari belonging formerly to the West-Saxons but lately conquered by Wulfere Which little Province seems to be a small Territory in Hampshire containing three Hundreds East-mean West-mean and Means-borough which preserve still the Marks of the old name in S. Beda Meanvari 4. Therefore in all probability King Edilwalch was by the Sacred Waters of Baptism admitted into the number of Christians by Trumhere Bishop of the Mercians whom before
from S. Beda 5. The same year likewise dyed S. Ermenburga Mother of the glorious Virgin S. Milburga S. Mildreda and S. Milgitha as likewise of the Saint-like child Merefin Concerning whom Harpsfeild thus writes Ermenburga though she had for her husband Mervald son of Penda King of the Mercians who was yet alive yet so inflamed a desire she had to a solitary Religious life that she never ceased her importunity till she had procured her husbands consent Having thus obtained her wish she returned into Kent to her Brother Egbert to whom she discovered her pious purpose desiring his assistance for the execution of it Whereupon he built for her at Estrey a town of Kent a Monastery consecrated to the young Princes Martyrs Saint Ethelbert and S. Ethelbritht There she passed the remainder of her life with seaventy other Virgins consecrated to God in wonderfull Sanctity Her name is recited among the Saints in our Martyrologe on the nineteenth of November 4. At this time Saint Theodore encreased the Number of Bishopricks erecting the Sees of Worcester and Hereford Of the former he consecrated Boselus and of the other Putta Bishop concerning whom as likewise his Successours for many years little more being recorded but their Names because we iudge it not expedient to make frequent breaches in this History only to insert Names wee will here breifly give a Catalogue of those which sate at Hereford for the Bishops of Worcester have left considerable monuments of their Gests and vertues 5. To Putta therefore Bishop of Hereford after he had administred that Province eleaven years succeeded Tirtell Whose Successour after twelve years was Torther who continued in that Bishoprick fifteen years and either deserting it voluntarily or by death the next was Walstod in the year of Grace seaven hundred and eighteen To whom after seaventeen years succeeded Cuthbert Now concerning Walstod the only thing memorable in him was that he began the fabrick of a Crosse very costly and magnificent but dyed before he could finish it which care he left to his Successour who engraved in it certain Latin verses importing the same which are recorded by Bishop Godwin in his Catalogue of the Bishops of that Diocese whereto I referr the curious Reader IX CHAP. 1.2 c. S. Wilfrid is forced to leave the West Saxons And converts the South-Saxons 8. He teaches the people a remedy against the famine 9. He erects an Episcopall See and Monastery at Shepey 11. Of Eappa the Abbot there 1. SAint Wilfrid being thus banished his Native soyl saith William of Malmsbury took his iourney towards the Kingdom of the West-Saxons where he was kindly entertaind by a certain Noble man called Berethwald But within a few dayes he was forced to quiâ—t that Refuge For Ethelred King of the Mercians whose subiect that Noble man was being likewise his Brothers Son with threatning commanded him that he should not retain the Bishop so much as one day longer This was done in compliance with Egfrid King of the Northumbers whose Sister Osdritha to comfort them for the losse of their Brother Elwin was given in mariage to the said King Ethelred by whom a peace was concluded between the New husband and Brother S. Wilfrid therefore during this short abode with Berethwald having built there a small Monastery was forced to leave the Monks and to fly for refuge to the Pagan South-Saxons since he could find no security among Christians 2. The King of these South-Saxons was named Edilwalch who having been informed of the causes of this holy Bishops banishment â—ith great readines and affection offred him his assistance resolutly and firmly engaging himself that no entreaties of his enemies should induce him to betray him nor any offers of money to expell him the countrey S. Wilfrid therefore being thus confident of his protection began to preach the Christian Faith first to the King and Queen and afterward to the inhabitants of that Province Neither were his perswasions unsuccessfull for in a very short time the King was baptized by him by whose example almost all his subiects were animated to embrace the Christian Faith Thus writes William of Malmsbury 3 But as touching the baptizing of King Edilwalch we have already related from S. Beda that he was baptized twenty years before this by the perswasion of Wolfere late King of the Mercians although indeed very few of his Subiects could then be induced to imitate him who yet now by the preaching of S. Wilfrid were perswaded to cast off their Pagan Idolatry The manner of this Conversion is thus declared by S. Beda 4. The Holy Bishop Wilfrid saith he having been driven from his See by Egfrid King of the Northumbers was forced to wander through many Provinces he went to Rome and after returned into Brittany And although by reason of â—he hostile enmity of the said King he could not be admitted to his Diocese yet none could hinder him from his Ministery of preaching the Faith For having been forced for refuge to turn aside into the Province of the South-Saxons lying between the Kingdoms of Kent and the West-Saxons and containing land for about seaven thousand families which Province at that time was wholly addicted to heathenish Superstitions he preached there the Christian Faith and having converted many he administred to them the Sacrament of Baptism 5. As for the King of that Nation Edilwalch he had some years before been baptized in the presence and by the suggestion of Wolfhere King of the Mercians by whom at his coming out of the Font he was received as his Son and in sign of such adoption he bestowed on him two Provinces to wit the Isle of Wight and the little Province of the Meanvari 6. But the whole Province of the South-Saxons remained ignorant of God and his holy Faith Now there was there a certain Scotâ—ish Monk his Name was Dicul who had built a very small Monastery in a place called Bosanham compassed with the Sea and woods where lived five or six Monks who served our Lord living in an humble and poore manner But not any of the inhabitants of that countrey gave any ear to their preaching and much lesse emulated their profession 7. But when the Holy Bishop Wilfrid preached the Gospell among them he not only delivered them from eternall damnation but likewise from a present temporall calamity ready to destroy them For the space of three years before his coming into that Province no rain at all had falln by means of which a most greivous famine â—ame among the people destroying great numbers of them For the report is that many times forty or fifty men together half consumed with hunger would goe to some precipice hanging over the Sea and holding their hands together cast themselves down into the water or upon the â—ocks But on the very day in which that Nation received Baptism there sell a seasonable and plentifull rain by which the earth flourished again