his pleading that with sharpe threatning words he affirmed that the king would rather hazard the losse of his whole kingdom then be depriued of this right Nether would I answered the pope graunt him this power allthough it were to saue my owne life And with this resolution he dismissed the Embassadours who returned towards England But by the way the fornamed William declared by the kings commaund vnto S. ANSELME that he must cease from entring more into England vnlesse he were resolued to obey the Kings will Soe that sainct ANSELME diuerted to his ould lodging at Lions where he remayned the space of a yeare and fower moneths XVI IN the meane time king Henry seazed on all the goods and lands belonging to the Archbishoprick and challenged them for his owne vse When the Pope seeing noe hope of reconciling the King to S. ANSELME purposed by excommunication to cutt him off from the communion of the Church Which resolution of his being made knowne to the king touched him to the quick and made him begin more exactly to take saint ANSELME cause into his consideration And at length he called him to him out off France into Normandie where they came to a parely at the Abbey of Bec In which the King patiently taking the holy Archbishops reprehension for manie abuses promised a future amendment and neuer more to disturbe the peace or exact anie fruits belonging to the Church or Churchmen and herevppon he receaued S. ANSELME into his fauour and sent him in peace to his Archbishoprick to the great contentment and enioy of the whole Kingdome Here now we may see of what power the constancie of a good Prelats is when purely and sincerely for the only loue and seruice of God they defend the authoritie of the Church without anie pretence of temporall respects by flattering kings in their iniustice and suffering them selues to be carried away with the wind of wordly fauour We may see allsoe the great grace which God shewed to kings that respect his Church Church-men for as soone as King Henry had submitted him self our Lord gaue him a noble victorie against his Brother Robert by meanes whereof he gott the Seigniorie of the Dukedom of Normandy Of which victory he presently made sainct ANSELME acquainted by letters ending thus Werefore Venerable father Wâ—ll Malm. l. 1. de PoÌ„t sayd he humbly and deuoutly prostrate at the feete of thy sainctitie J beseech thee to pray vnto the supreme iudge by whose will and arbitremeÌ„t J haue gayned this glorious and profitable triumph that it be not to my domage and detriment but for a beginning of good works and the seruice of God to settle and confirme the state of Gods-holy Church in peace and tranquillitie that from hence forth it may liue free and not be shaken with the tempest of warres XVII AFTER the kings returne out of Norman-die a famous Synod A sinod held at London was held at London in which in presence of S. ANSELME and all the bishops Abbots of England he resigned all the power which hitherunto he had vsurped in creating ordayning bishops to the Pope and Clergie S. ANSELME therefore being installed againe in his Church in great peace and quietnes performed the part of a most holy and vigilant pastour the space of about three yeares S. Anselme falleth sick when loaden with old age labours and merits he fell into a great sicknes and specially in his stomake which made him abhorre all sustenance till by little and litle the forces of his bodie being exhausted he fainted And when the infirmitie of his bodie was such that it would not suffer him to goe to the Church notwithstanding he was carried thither euery day in a chayre to be present at the sacred misteries of the masse whereunto he bore a singular great deuotion pierie and reuerence At length seeing him self to draw neere his end he receiued the holy sacraments of the Church and gaue his benediction no the assistance humbly recommending the king queene and all the whole Kingdom to Gods holy protection and lying on a hayre-cloath strewed with ashes according to the pious custom of those times he rend râ—d vp his blessed soule to the euerlasting possession of all blessednes on wensday morning His happie death before Easter the one and twentith day of Aprill in the yeare of our Lord 1109. the sixteenth since he was made bishop and the threescore and sixt of his age He was buried in great solemnitie and lamented by his Church and the whole Kingdom of England which lost a Master a Father and a Pastour soe holy soe wise soe couragious and soe venerable XVIII Our Lord ennobled this glorious Sainct with manie miracles His wonderfull miracles both during his life and after his death 1. As he was one night at his prayers he was seene to be encompassed round about with the brightnes of a heauenly splendour 2. One that dranke only of the water in which he had washed his hands was cured of a most pittifull leaprosie that raygned all ouer his bodie 3. By the signe of the crosse he quenched a mightie fier that was readie to deuoure the chamber where he â—ay 4. One of his religious most cruelly possessed with the deuill was cured only by the well-wishes of S. ANSELME 5. Manie diseased persons were cured by his prayers or eating only the reliques of his dinner 6. The shipp which carried S. ANSELME allbeit a boord brake out of it yet the water was miraculously hindered from entring 7. At his death the balsome which anoynted his bodie like vnto the flower of Holy was miraculously encreased 8. And the stone in which his bodie was to be buried being not of sufficient capacitie to receaue it was suddainly enlarged without humane helpe to the great admiration of the beholders Manie other miracles we omitt But the greatest miracle that euer God wrought by saint ANSELME was saint ANSELME himself and his life more diuine then humane He writt manie admirable workes with which he enriched the Catholick Church and with the singular reach of his vnderstanding and doctrine and a peculiar guift from heauen he gathered togeather His admirable writings the subtilitie and excellence of manie Theologicall questions seasoned with the sweetnes of pietie and deuotion Of whom a graue authour Trithemius in his worke of the famous men of S BENEDICTS order sayth That he was a man well acquinted in holy scripture and the learnedeâ—st of his time in humane doctrine most holy in iâ— life and con 〈…〉 tion most deuout in his soule eloquent in his discourse and full of effiâ—â—â—◠〈◊〉 his workes He was of an angelicall countenance of a graue gate of an exemplar life continuall in the studie of holy scriptures and one in whom lay hid a goulden mine of vertues and goodnes He was mirrour of Prelates the glorie of his countrey a pillar of Gods Church and a bright ornament of the Benedictine
that gaue such a wonderfull lustre to all therein as if it would haue preuented the sunnes comeing by turning night into day There was present with the Apostle in the Church a multitude of heauenly burgesses filling it with melodious musick and most fragrant odours Hauing finished all the solemnities and ceremonies due vnto the dedication of a Church he whom our Lord made a famous FISHER of men returned to the Fisher of fishes whom he found wonderfully amazed and carried allmost beyond him self with the flashes of the diuine splendour and therefore S. Peter consecrateth the Church of westminster with a courteous consolation the Apostle restored him to him self againe reduceing his distracted thoughts to the rules of reason and the two fishers entring into the boate togeather S. PETER demaunded whether he had taken anie fish or noe Being suddenly strucken replied he with the sight of that vnusuall brightnes and detained with expectation of thy returne I endeauoured not to fish but securely a tended my promised reward from thee wherevnto the Apostle answered cast forth thy netts and trie He obeyed his commaund and presently found his nett loaden with store of fish all of one kind excepting one fish of a mightie greatnes without comparison Hauing drawne them on shore the Apostle bad him present that great one to Bishop MELLITVS in his name and the rest said he take for thy reward An aboundance of this kind thou shalt enioy all thy life time and thy posteritie a long time Fishing on Sundaies forbidden after thee only hereafter dare not to fish on the Sundaies I am the Apostle PETER who with my heauenly fellow-citizens haue allreadie consecrated the Church built in my name and by the authoritie of my owne dedication I haue preuented the Bishops benediction Tell him therefore what thou hast seene and heard and the markes imprinted in the walles shall giue sufficient testimonie to strengthen the truth of thy relation Let him therefore forbeare from anie further dedication and supplie only what we omitted that is to celebrate the most sacred misteries of our Lords bodie and bloud and with a sermon to instruct the people giuing them to vnderstand that I will oftentimes visitt this place and be present at the prayers and petitions of the faithfull promising to lay open the gates of heauen to all those that spend their daies soberly iustly and piously in this world The next morning the fisher with his great fish meets the Bishop MELLITVS as he was goeing to dedicate the Church and makes knownes vnto him whatsoeuer was giuen him in charge by the Apostle Whereat the Bishop much astonished entred into the Church and finds the pauement signed with the inscription of the Greek and Hebrew alphabet the walls annoynted with holy oyle in twelue seuerall places and the remnants of as manie wax cādles fastened to twelue crosses all things being yet moist with the late springling of holy oyle and water Wherevppon togeather with the people he gaue prayse and thanks to allmightie God for that great remonstrance of his goodnes vnto them The whole posteritie of the fisherman confirmed the truth of this miracle for as they receiued by tradition from their father they offered the tenth of all the commoditie gotten afterward by that art to S. PETER and his seruants in that place Till among the The fishers deceit punished rest there was one that attempted to beguile them of that dutie but he receiued his punishment for soe long he was depriued of the benefitt of his art vntill hauing confessed his fault he had made condigne restitution of the wrong with a faythfull promise of amendment XIII WHEN S. EDWARD had vnderstood all these things out of the relation and records of antiquitie he was enflamed with an extreme desire to reedifie that Monasterie and to restore it out of the ruines of deiection and pouertie to the height of wealth and dignitie and to that end he dispatched messengers to Rome as well to obtaine priuiledges for that place as allsoe to treate some other affaires with letters to the Pope to this effect TO NICOLAS S. Edwards Epistle to Pope Nicolas 2. the chief father of the vniuersall Church EDWARD by the grace of God king of England sendeth due subiection and obedience We glorifie our Lord for the care he hath of his elect Church in ordayning thee an excellent successour in the place and seate of thy good predecessour Wherefore we thinke it fitt to leane vnto thee as vnto a firme rock to sharpen and approoue all our good actions and allwaies to admitt of thy knowledge and fellowship in doeing good especially desiring thou wouldest renew encrease all those donations and priuiledges which we obtained from thy predecessour to wit that thou ratifie and confirme the Monasterie of Monks which I haue built in honour of the B. Apostle S. PETER according as it was enioyned me by thy predecessour vnder title of obedience and penance for the dispensation of a vow I made to goe to Rome and the remission of all my sinnes as allsoe that thou reestablish determine and secure all the priuiledges belonging to the He willingly payeth duties to Rome possessions peace and dignitie of that place for euer And I for as much as lies in me doe increase and confirme the donations and customes of the moneies which S. PETER holdeth and chalengeth in England and now I send them accompanied with other free guifts from my self humbly intreating thee to offer prayers and sacrifices to allmightie God for me and the peace of my kingdom and that thou institute ordayne a continuall and solemne memorie of all England in generall before the sacred bodies of the Apostles XIV THE POPE answered him in this manner NICOLAS The Popes answer to the king Bishop seruant of the seruants of God to the most glorious most pious and most worthie of all honour our specially beloued EDWARD King of England sendeth all manner of salutation most sweet health and Apostolicall benediction We giue thankes vnto allmightie God who hath adorned and honoured thy most prudent excellence in all respects to conserue deuotion towards the blessed Apostle S. PETER and all loue towards vs his vnworthie successour in giuing obedience and consent vnto Apostolicque counsels and censures Wee therefore send our letters to thy Royall nobilitie whereby we graunt vnto thee the holy Apostles societie and ours beseeching his mercie who is truly Lord of all and only soueraigne aboue all to make thee par taker of all our good workes if anie we haue in the sight of God and at all times to make vs more feruent brethren and fellows in his loue wishing him to graunt noe lesse part or reward of our dutie and obedience in his heauenly kingdom vnto thee then we desire to fall vnto our selues Allsoe we will not cease heereafter vnfaynedly to powre out our dayly prayers for thee that God himself would bring thy foes and enemies
sayd thus they returned to heauen and I to you and my self againe XXIV WHILE the king related this vision there were present the Queene Robert keeper of the sacred pallace Duke Harold and wicked Stigand who mounting on his fathers bed had defiled it impiously inuading the Archiepiscopall Sea of Canturbury during the life time of Robert true Archkishop thereof for which offence he was afterwards suspended by Pope Alexander the second and in a Councell held at Winchester by the same Popes Legats and other Bishops and Abbots of England he was both deposed from all Episcopall dignitie and cast into prison by the commaund of William Conquerour where he ended his wicked life with a most miserable and well deserued death This Stigand being there present at the kings narration had all the powers of his soule soe barred vp against Stigand a Clergie-man punished for inuading a Sea belonging to the Benedictine Monks all goodnes that he waxed more obdurate at the dreadfull storie neyther was he terrified with the threatning oracle nor gaue anie creditt to the pious relatour but murmuring within him self that the king began to dote in his old age he laughed where he had more cause to weepe But the rest whose minds were more vertuously giuen lamented and wept abundantly knowing verie well that the Prelates and Princes led their liues according as the blessed king had declared XXV SOME are of opinion that the foresayd similitude is grounded vppon an impossibilitie and these were chiefly such as bewailed that the whole Nobilitie of the land was come to soe low anebbe and soe farre spent that there was neyther king nor Bishop nor Abbot nor Prince of the same nation scarse to be seene An interpretation of the Kings vision in England But quite of an other opinion am I saith Alured especially that S. DVNSTAN did both foretell that this calamitie should befall vs and yet afterwards promised a comfortable redresse Thus then it may be expounded This tree signified the kingdom of England in glorie beautifull in delights and riches plentifull and in the excellencie of the Royall dignitie most eminent The roote from whence all this honour proceeded was the Royall stemme or race which from Alfred who was the first of the English Kings annoynted and consecrated by the Pope descended by a direct line of succession to S. EDWARD The tree was cutt off from the stock when the kingdom being deuided from this royall issue was translated to an other linage the distance of three furlongs shewes that during the raigne of three Kings there should be noe mutuall participation betwixt the new and the auncient race of Kings for Harold succeeded King EDWARD next to him came in William Conquerour and after him his sonne William Rufus But this Royall tree tooke roote againe when Henry the first vnto whom all Regall dignitie was transported neyther by force compelled nor vrged with hope of gaine but meerly taken with an affection of loue tooke to wife Mawde daughter to S. EDWARDS neece ioyning and vniting togeather by this mariage the bloud royall of the Normans and the English both in one Then this tree did truely florish when of this vnited royaltie Mawde the Empresse was begotten and then it brought forth fruit when by her we had Henry the second who like vnto a corner stone vnited both nations togeather And therefore by this we now see that England hath an English King as allsoe Bishops Abbots Princes and knights of the same auncient race deriued from this vnion of both nations But if anie man be displeased with this exposition let him eyther expound it better or expect an other time vntill he find these particularities fullfilled XXVI BVT LET vs returne to our B. King whose sicknes still encreasing made him euidently feele and vnderstand by the secret S. Edwards death Embassadours of neere approaching death that his hower was come to passe out of this world and therefore caused his death to be pâ—blished abroade before hand lest the knowledge thereof being delayed he should want the comfort of the prayers and sacrifices of his Clergie and people which he earnestly desired This done the holy man loaden with manie dayes of ould age and as manie good workes as howers in each day he yeelded vp his pure soule into the most pure hands of his Redeemer By whose death England's whole felicitie libertie and strength was vtterly lost bâ—oken and ouerthrowne Noe sooner was the breath gone out of his holy bodie but his face casting forth beames of wonderfull brightnes made death in him seeme beautifull and louely to the behoulders This glorious King and worthie benefactour of S. BENEDICT's order died the fifth of Ianuary one thousand sixtie six The beautie of his dead bodie when he had raigned twentie three yeares six moneths and twentie seauen daâ—es He was honorably buried in S. PETERS Church which him self had built for the Benedictine Monks and had now bin newly consecrated during the time of his last sicknes on S. Innocents day before XXVII MANIE miracles by the merits of this B. Sainct were A lame man cured at his tombe wrought afterwards at his sepulcher among which one Raphe a Norman who for the space of manie yeares had bin by the contraction of his sinewes soe lame of his leggs that he could but creepe and that with great difficultie on his hands and hinder parts came the eight day after S. EDWARDS buriall to his tombe and making his prayers to allmightie God and this glorious Sainct he was perfectly cured and healed of all his infirmities XXVIII ALLSOE about twentie daies after his buriall six blind men came following a man with one eye hanging one to an other Six blind man restored to sight soe that one only eye leading the way directed seauen persons to the B. Saincts sepulcher where sorrowfully declaring their miserie vnto him they humbly beseeched his assistance against the woefull teadiousnes of their perpetuall darknes and immediatly by the merits of the holy King they had all their sights restored and soe perfectly restored vnto them that they were able to returne each one guiding his owne footsteps Allsoe the bell ringer of Westminster Church being blind vsed to pray dayly at S. EDWARDS tombe till one night he heard a voyce that calling him by his name bad him rise and goe to the Church but as he went he seemed to behould King EDWARD in great glorie goeing before him and from that Three cured of quartan agues time he had the perfect vse of his sight euer after Allsoe a Monk of Westminster a verie learned man one Sir Guerin a knight and an other man of Barking were all three cured of quartan agues as they prayed at his holy tombe XXIX SIX AND thirtie yeares after the death of this glorious King his sepulcher being opened at the earnest request and sute of His bodie found vncorrupted the people his holy bodie was found most entier
vision called to account before the dreadfull tribunall of Onâ— punished by God for hindering Wolstans preaching an vnknowne iudge who sharply rebuked him for his temeritie in checking his beloued seruant and commaunded him to be layd along out he ground where he was soe scourged with sharp whipps as the teares which trickled downe his cheekes and the black and blew markes of the stripes which appeared on his shoulders when he awaked were euident and feeling witnesses of what had past When this was made knowne vnto holy WOLSTAN pittying his calamitie he pardoned him the offence and with his benediction likewise gaue him soe perfect a cure of his griefe that there remayned noe signe thereof to be seene VI. S. WOLSTAN standing aloose off happened once to see one fall hedlong from the top of the steeple at which woefull sight being suddenly strucken with grief he made the signe of the crosse towards him as he fell who coming to the ground armed with that siâ—â—â— of life was nothing at all bruised or hurt with the markes of death The woÌ„derfull vertue of the signe of the crosse but getting vp safe without anie helpe he imputed the cause of his fall to his owne temeritie and the miraculous preseruation of his life to S. WOLSTANS sainctetie VII AFTER some yeares Alred of Worcester being chosen Archbishop of Yorke the generall consent both of the Monks and common He is chosen Bish. people inclined totally to the election of WOLSTAN holy King EDWARD allowing them to choose a Bishop whom they pleased Their election was confirmed by the Popes Legats who then liued at Worcester expecting a dispatch of some affaires from the Kings Court But WOLSTAN as obstinately resisted these honours as He refuseth to accept it manie now a dayes doe ambitiously labour to gett them prochiming him self most vnworthy and protesting by oathe that he would rather lay downe his neck to be diuided by the sharpe edge of the sword then vndertake the burden of soe high a dignitie Being often times perswaded herevnto by manie vertuous religious men he would neuer consent till at length well checkt and sharply rebuked for his obstinacie and disobedience by the holy man of God Vlsius an Anachorite who had then liued a solitarie life aboue fortie yeares and terrified with a heauenly oracle his constancie was broken and he to his great grief compelled to yeeld and consent to their desires Therefore on the feast of our B. Ladies Natiuitie by the hands of Alrâ—d Archbishop of Yorke Stig and the vsurper of Cauturbury then being suspended from his function he was ordayned Ouercome with persvvasion he is ordained bishop Joan. 1. v. 47. and consecrated Bishop of Worcester in presence of holy King EDWARD the Confessor in the twentith yeare of his raigne In this consecration S. WOLSTAN opening the Bible as the manner was happened on this sentence worthily deuining of him Behould a true Jsraelite in whom there is noâ— deceipt For he was an open plaine man voide of all quainâ— deuices of dissimulation Yet was he not soe meerely simple as easily to suffer him self to be cosened by the greatest and wisest masters of deceipt the allmightie wisedom manie times giuing euident restimonie approuing the vertuous innocencie of his simplicitie For when Thomas Archbishop of Yorke would haue reduced the Sea of Worcester vnder his iurisdiction and did wrongfully alienate and detaine some of the lands and meanes the 〈◊〉 belonging a verie sharpe controuersie was had there vppon in presence of the King the Bishops and other Peeres of the Realme to decide this case whereon depended a great part of the Bishop of Worcesters estate In the meane time S. WOLSTAN goeing out oâ— the Councell maturely to deliberate with his Monks concerning this weighâ—ie matter that â—oe neerely touched their freehould when all their minds were most eagerly attentiue to the diligent examination See his wonderfull contempt of the world in respect of the diuine seruice of their cause Beleeue my Brethren sayd WOLSTAN we haue not yet song None therefore let vs goe â—ing it The Monkâ— offended herewith First replied they let vs dispatch the busines we came for and studie our answeare to the Councell we shall haue time inough to â—ing afterwards Beleeue me answeared he we will first doe our duties to God and then debate the contentious reasons of those humane affayres Therefore hauing without anie delay dispatched the ninth hower he commaunded his Monks that were very sollicitous of the euent of their cause to depose all care constantly affirming that he saw the â—B Bishops and Saincts DVNSTAN and OSWALD who would defend both them and their cause against all theiâ— aduersaries Neyther was he anie thing deceaued for entring into the Councell with great alacritie and boldnes he gott the sentence of them all in his owne behalf against Thomas Archbishop of Yorke who then willingly yeelded and very earnestly desired WOLSTAN to make a visitt in his diocesse and instruct the people with the pietie of his sermons Which allthough they did not â—low from him with that abundance of humane science and flanting eloquence The vertue of his preaching as other men made shew off yet his speeches tooke such deepe roote and impression in the breasts of his audience and touched them soe to the quick that he would moue to repentance and amendment of life more then anie others Preachers that were For his singular innocencie of life ioyned to the manie miracles which it pleased God through his merits to shew vnto the world did pearce and sting the hardest hearts and draw euen his aduersaries though vnwilling to loue and honour him But among all his miracles this ensuing is worthy eternally to be recorded in the Church of God VIII IN A Councell held at Westminster were besides the King with the Bishops and Peeres of England were present a Bishop and two Cardinals the Popes Legaâ—s from Rome after they had deposed Stigand a secular Priest out of the sea of C 〈…〉 which by i 〈…〉 sion he had vsurped the King Williaâ— Conquerour pretending insufficiencie The couÌ„cell dispute of his depositioÌ„ of learning and want of the French tongue in S. WOLSTAN by all meanes endeauoured to depriue him of his office and dignitie meaning belike to putt some Norman in his place and Lâ—â—frâ—â—ck Archbishop of C 〈…〉 vnaduisedly following the Kings opinion commaunded the holy man without further delay to resigne vp his staffe and â—iâ—g the chief armes and â—â—signes of his Episcopall dignitie WOLSTAN without anie shâ—w of alteration eyther in mind oâ— in countenanâ—e stood vp and houlding his câ—o 〈…〉 staffe in his hand In very dâ—ed my Lord Archbishop sayd he I know that I am â—â—yther worthy of this honour nor fiâ—t for sâ—e great a His speech to the councell burden nor able rightly to vndergoe the labour this I know and this did I know before when the Monks elected 〈◊〉 when the
in the sight and conference he had of his old Master LANFRANCK the Archbishop between whom discoursing of manie graue affayres fell at this time that famous disputation mentioned in his life of S. ELPHEGVS the Martir Afterwards he returned againe to his Monasterie and gouerned the same the space of fifteene yeares with all vertue belonging to a good prelate In the meane time William Conquerour died leauing the crowne to his onne William Rufus who by all indirect waies possible sought to oppresse and empouerish the Clergie and Church thereby to satisfie his owne vnbridled couetousnes and with their gould to giue a glorious outside to his owne wickednes Wherevppon S. ANSELME at the earnest entreatie of the nobles resolued to come againe into England But in the meane time Lanfrank being dead a rumour arose of the aduancing of ANSELME to the Archiepiscopall sea of Canturbury which made him ô wonderfull contēmpt of honour to deferre his iourney for fiue yeares space How manie be there now adaies that would haue taken poste in this case X. COMING at length to Canturbury he was saluted by the Benedictine monks and others as their future Prelate which he tooke soe S. Anselme refuseth the stile of Archbishop heynously that the next day he departed before the sunne was guiltie of his being in towne allbeit it were the verie feast of the Natiuitie of our Ladie refusing to be wonne by anie prayers to celebrate there that solemnitie Thence he went to King William and dealt freely with him to amend his manner of life to order the common wealth in better fashion as well in Ecclesiasticall as temporall affayres telling him withall what an ill opinion of his bad life was blowne ouer the world But the king was deafe to all good counsell till falling into a grieuoussicknes he beganne to make him remember him self and hearken a litle more to his pious perswasions His is chosen Archbishop of Cauturbury In the meane time being putt in mind that the sea of Canturburie was void of a Pilot that that Mother-Church of England had manie yeares been a widdow he proclaimed ANSELME to be the most worthie of that dignitie that the disciple might succeed his master And this his proposition was presently accepted with the common consent and applause of the Benedictin monks of Canturbury vnto whom the election of the Archbishop belonged and the generall liking of the poeple Only ANSELME with might and maine resisted this election and obstinately refused to vndertake the dignitie with teares alleadging manie reasons and excuses he made manie protestations that it was a verie foolish and ouerthwart proceeding to ioyne to the plough an ould sheepe yoakt with an vntamed bull by the bull meaning king William But all in vaine for the pastorall staffe was forcibly thrust into his hands him self violently drawne into the next Church was proclaymed Archbishop and his election witnessed with manie ioyfull acclamations and singing of the himme Te Deum Laudamus c. And now the day of his consecration and installation at Canturbury was prefixed to the fourth of December when by the opening of the bible this Sentence fell to S. ANSELMES lott Homo quidam fecit caenam magnam vocanit multos c. XI AT THE first King William shewed goodwill and friendship Note the couetousnes of the king towards S. ANSELME in hope that being now aduanced to soe great dignitie he would bestow some worthie present vppon him but as soone as he perceaued that ANSELME had noe such meaning he beganne to repent him self of this one allbeit a rare good deed and being wholly giuen by hooke or by crooke as they say to gett money he not soe required as exacted a friendly guift of a thousand pound sterling for a gratuitie for his aduancement to the Archbishoprick But saint ANSELME hating that vnroyall couetousnes in the King was determined not to send him a pennie Till swayed by the counsell of manie friends lest he should greatly exasperate the king to the greater detriment of the whole English Church he sent him fiue hundred pound promising to gratifie his Maiestie more largely when occasion serued William vtterly refused to accept that present as too slender and sparing a reward for a king Whereat S. ANSELME greatly reioyced because by this meanes he cleered him self frō all staine of honour which for this fact malice might haue layd to King William mooued against S. Anselme his charge And without anie delay he distributed that whole summe of money to the poore Afterwards he began to call vppon the King to haue a Councell assembled for the reforming of the Clergie and establishing of Ecclesiasticall discipline in the Church But his good intētions receiued a sharpe rebuke from the king who sought by all meanes to breake all the liberties of the Church in persecuting the Clergie inuading the Ecclesiasticall goods and other such outrages that the holy man could nether hinder his vniust proceedings noe execute his function in peace Soe that allbeit he were wholely disposed to stand strongly in defence of the truth and the freedom of the Church yet then he iudged it more expedient for the auoyding of greater inconuenience which euen the other bishops and countrey backed with the authoritie and power of the King might cause to absent him self a while out of England imagining that to be the safest way both to appease the enraged king and qualifie the tempest of the countrey XII THEREFORE he made a supplication to the king to permitte him to goe to Rome to obtaine from Pope Urban the second the Pall due vnto his archiepiscopall seate The king amazed at this demaund answered that noe man in his kingdom should acknowledge anie Pope of Rome without his consent and that he him self was after a fashion Pope within his owne dominiōs Which answere infinitly afflicted the holy archbishop who to extinguish this sparke of infernall fier before it went anie further assembled a Councell He summoneth a Councell of the Bishops Abbbots and peeres of the realme wherein hauing declared the kings mind the consequence and importance of the matter he found the greatest part of the bishops inclined to subscribe to the Princes will soe great is the power of flatterie and ambition ioyned with the authoritie of a furious and resolute king for they cried out alowd that he was a person impious and rebellious to the king and state whosoeuer would attempt to maintaine anie obedience in England to be due to anie but king William alone as well in Ecclesiasticall as temporall matters robbing the Pope hereby of his primacie and soueraigne power ouer all the Catholick Church S. ANSELME seeing this vnlawfull proceeding and that he could not resist against soe horrible a streame desired leaue of the king to leaue the kingdom and goe to Rome but he receiued diuers times a bitter deniall The king allwaies affirming that he would hould him as an enemie to his crowne
and the common wealth yf the attempted that iourney And that at his first installement in the Archbishoprick he had bound him self by oath to obserue the lawes and customs of the countrey which forbid goeing Rome without the kings leaue The holy man answered that it was not the part of a Christian prince to cutt of anie He appealeth to the Pope appellation to the Roman sea of PETER and that he had engaged him self to the obseruance of noe other lawes then what stood with the honour of God and good reason When the King and his replied that there had been no mention made eyther of God or Goodnes To which ANSELME O goodly doeings sayd he that shunne the name of God or Goodnes Which words putt all his aduersaries to silence for that time But the kings anger and hatred against him encreased more and more euerie day which allso soe terrified manie of the other bishops that they began openly to forsake their Metropolitan and not to defend his cause although in their hearts they did not vtterly disproue it XIII IN the meane time sainct ANSELME constantly tould the king that notwithstanding all this opposition he would goe to Rome and before his departure prouided that he king would not reiect it he promised to giue him his benediction which done he went to Canturbury where after one dayes stay hauing with an oration He goeth to Rome like a pilgrim full of pietie and affection exhorted his monks to follow the traine of vertue and to putt on the armour of constancie and patience against the imminent dangers that threatned to follow he putt on the habitt of a pilgrim to the great grief of all his friends and especially of the monks of Canturbury and went to take shipping at Douer and with him went Eadmerus a Benedictin monk of Canturbury who writt his life They passed ouer into France to Lions where S. ANSELME was entertayned with wonderfull magnificence and respect by Hugue Archbishop of the place The Pope vnderstaÌ„ding of his being there sent for him to come to Rome with all speed Where he was honoured by all the court and soe highly praysed by the Pope in presence of the Cardinalls and Lords of Rome for his great learning and pietie that the holy man much confounded and ashamed therewith durst not lift vp his eyes before the companie which humilitie made them all iudge him to be an other manner of man in the presence of allmightie God then he appeared by his outside Then he sollicited the Pope in nothing more then to gett leaue to lay aside his Episcopall dignitie for the loue of a priuate life But Pope Vrban would by no meanes graunt his request but aduised him to seiourne a while in a monasterie of Benedictine Monks neere the cittie of Capna where by the prayers of Sainct ANSELME a liuely fountaine of water sprung out of a hard rock which is called A fouÌ„taine out of a Rock by his prayers the Bishop of Canturburys Well and the water cured manie diseases XIV S. ANSELME was present by the commaund of the Pope in the Councell of Bar where he made shew of his knowledge and prudence in the conuincing of the Greeks prouing the holy Ghost to proceed from the father and the sonne as from one Beginning And mention being made in this Councell of king William and of his outrages committed against ANSELME and the Church his crimes appeared soe heynous that all proclaymed him worthie to be cutt off from the Church by the sentence of excommunication had not ANSELME interposed him self and falling on his knees The wonderfull humilitie meeknes of S. Anselme craued a time of respite which with difficultie he obtained And this his meekenes and humblenes of mind gayned him a wonderfull great fauour amongst them all The Pope being returned to Rome is mett by an embassadour from king William to defend the Kings cause against ANSELME who but newly came from playing the part of an aduocate in his behalf And by the importunitie of this embassadour the cause was committed to be heard in a Councell held at Rome where S. ANSELME him self was present and certaine seate was allotted to him and his successors of Canturbury if anie should afterwards chaunce to be present in a Roman Councell And here the Pope by the consent of all the Prelates thundered an excommunication against all lay persons for manie princes at that time were ouer busie in those affayres that intruded them selues in challenging the inuestitures of bishopricks and against all Ecclesiasticks that receaued them at their hands This done ANSELME returned to Lions in France quite hopelesse of coming into England during the raigne of King William Where as he was exercised in his The death oâ— William Rufus accustomed workes of pietie and vertue newes was brought that by the permission of allmightie God his greatest enemie was robbed of his power to hurt him for king William being on hunting the second of August in the midst of his game was shott through the heart with an arrow which gaue a miserable end to his miserable life It is not credible how greatly S. ANSELME was afflicted with this newes and cheefly at the manner thereof professing with manie sighs and teares that he would willingly haue redeemed his vnhappie death with the losse of his owne life XV. HENRY the first of that name and brother to William succeeded who with the great applause of the whole countrey recalled King Henry recalleâ—h S. Anselme S ANSELME into England and endeauoured to gaine his fauour thereby promising togeather with allmost all his Lords and Bishops of the realme that all things should be carried according to his owne liking But when ANSELME was come and the king vnderstoode of the Popes decree made in the sinod of Rome touching the inuestiture of bishopricks he was wonderfully enraged and conceaued soe great hatred against S. ANSELME that vnlesse he would receaue his Archbishoprick as restored vnto him by his only authoritie there should he noe place for him in the kingdome And this ANSELME absolutly refused to doe as being contrarie to the late decree of the Roman Councell Soe that the matter being tossed and disputed a long time to and fro the king at length perswaded him to go to Rome togeather with his Embassadours to gett this act recalled by Pope Pasehall the secoÌ„d who now had succeeded Vrban S. Ansel goeth againe to Rome The holy man to auoyde greater inconueniences vndertooke the iourney foretelling before he went that the Pope would doe nothing contrarie to the libertie and decrees of the Church Neuerthelesse he went and being arriued at Rome was receaued with farre greater honour and respect then euer before Then it was hottly disputed at the Lateran of the kings affayres and manie reasons brought in by William procuratour of the kings cause in defence thereof Who came at length to such a vehemencie and heate in
MOLANVS and GALESINVS in their Martyrologes make worthie mention of S. BRITHWALD S. BENEDICTVS BISCOP ABBAS PATRONVS Congregationis â—enedictinorum Angliae Jan. 12º The life of S. BENNET surnamed Biscop Abbot and Confessor of the holy order of S. BENEDICT IAN. 12. Written by venerable Bede his disciple THE GLORIOVS seruant of God S. BENNET by byrth descended from the auncient race of the nobilitie of England but the nobilitie of his mind was such as farre more deserued the fellowship and companie of the noblest and worthiest sort of the English nation He was borne in Yorkshire and in his youth followed the discipline of warre in the Royall seruice of Oswy king of the Northumbers from whose princely liberalitie he receaued as the reward of his faithfull seruice no small possession of lands His life during his youth meanes suteable to his degree and calling These for a time he enioyed till he attayned to the florishing age of twentie fiue yeares and then a diuine inspiration mouing him therevnto he forsoke left the world and fading worldly goods for loue of the eternall he despised the warre fare of these lower regions the vaine rewards thereof that seruing vnder the enseigne of our true King CHRIST IESVS he might receaue an euerlasting kingdom aboue He left his countrey house and kinred for the loue of CHRIST and his Ghospell that he might gaine the hundredfould reward he promiseth and possesse life euerlasting he refused to enter into worldly mariage that in the court of heauen he might be worthie to follow the holy lambe soe candid with the glorie of virginitie he loathed to be a carnall father of children being ordayned by CHRIST to His first iourney to Rome traine vp his children in the spirituall doctrine of heauen Hauing left therefore his countrey because the Christian faith and Ecclesiasticall discipline was yet but rawly established in England he went to Rome there as in the source and fountaine of all true religion to learne a perfect forme oflife where CHRISTS chief Apostles had planted the first and principall foundation and head of the whole Catholicke Church He visitted the sacred tombes of the Apostles with great deuotion vnto whom his loue was allwaies such as the teares now shed ouer their shrines were sufficient witnesses to prooue it excellent But he made no long stay at Rome but returned back into England where he was verie diligent and carefull to honour and as farre as he was able to practise him self and teach others those rules of Ecclesiasticall discipline at home which he had learnt and seene abroade II. ABOVT that time Alchifridus sonne to Oswy hauing a great His secoÌ„d iourney to Rome desire to goe to Rome to visitt the holy shrines of the Apostles would needes take that iourney with S. BENNET notwithstanding the earnest persuasions and entreaties of his father to stay at home Their iourney succeeded well and shortly after they returned in safetie againe during the time of Pope Vitalian When S. BENNET came not emptie but loaden with the sweetnes of good and wholesom doctrine as before which the better to digest after some He taketh the habitt of S. Benedict moneths he departed out of England and went to the Benedictin monasterie of Lirin in France where he tooke leaue of the world and putt on the monasticall habitt of the great Patriark of Monks S. BENEDICT and receaued the Ecclesiasticall tonsure In this pious schoole of regular discipline he liued for the space of two yeares very carefully learning and obseruing the rules of a true monasticall and religious life But noe sooner was he a litle hardened in the surnace of religion and made perfectly strong and able to resist the temptations and aduersities of the world but his loue to the Prince of the Apostles which it seemes lay buried at Rome serued as a loadstone to draw him thither againe And finding a fitt opportunitie of shipping he committed him self to that much desired iourney which most prosperously he performed It was at the time when Egbert King of Kent as we haue sayd in the life of S. ADRIAN had sent Wighart to Rome to be consecrated Archbishop of Canturbury But Wighart dieing and Theodore being made Archbishop in his steede S. BENNET found to be a man very wise religious and industrious allthough at that time otherwise determined was by commaund of the Pope compelled to cease from the deuotion of his pilgrimage to attend vnto imployments of a higher calling which was to returne into England with Theodore now Elect of Canturbury and S. ADRIAN Abbot to serue them both for a guide and an interpreter by the way and in England BENNET whose chiefest lesson was obedience most willingly yeelded to the Popes desire and brought the Archbishop into Kent where they were both gratefully wellcome Theodore a scended the seate of the Archbishoprick and S. BENNET vndertooke the gouernment of the monasterie of S. PETER and PAVL in Canturbury of which afterwards S. ADRIAN was made Abbot For S. BENNET hauing ruled there two His third iourney to Rome yeares entred into his third iourney towards Rome which he performed with his wonted prosperitie And at his returne he brought with him not a few bookes fraught with diuine learning all which he had eyther bought at an easie rate or receaued gratis from his friends Coming thus loaden into England he betooke him self to haue some conference with the King of the West-Saxons called Kenewalk whose courteous friendship he had made vse of before bin much assisted by his benefitts to him-wards But this good King being about the same time taken away by an immature death the holy man was frustrated of his desire and therefore he turned his iourney directly into his owne countrey where he was borne and went to Egfrid then King of the Northumbers To whom he made relatioÌ„ of all whatsoeuer he had done since he departed a yonge man out of his countrey neyther did he keepe secret from him how he was enflamed with a feruent desire of religion then he tould him whatsoeuer he had learned both in Rome other places touching Ecclesiasticall and monasticall order and discipline and what store of diuine bookes he had purchased and with what great reliques of the Apostles and Martyrs he had enriched his countrey At length the King liked him soe well and preuayled soe farre with him and gott soe great loue and familiaritie that he gaue him out of his reuenews the lands of three score and tenne families to build a monasterie in honour of the Prince of the Apostles S. PETER which S. BENNET with great ioy and speed performed in the yeare of our Lord 674. the fourth yeare of King Egfrid III. IN THE meane time before the foundation of the Church was layd S. BENNET went ouer into France and brought thence masons other skillfull workemen to build it of stone according to the Roman fashion which he euer loued And
the great loue he The first vse of glasing in England bore to the Apostle S. PETER in whose honour he laboured made him vse such diligence that within the compasse of a yeare after the foundation was layd the solemnities of Masse were honorably celebrated therein But when the worke drew neere vnto perfection he likewise sent messengers into France to fetch ouer glasiers to adorne the windowes with glasse a worke neuer before vsed in England They came and did not only perfect this worke but allsoe taught their trade vnto manie of our Englishmen Allsoe such sacred vessels vestments and other necessaries for the seruice of Church and Altar as could not be found in England like a religious marchant he prouided and bought from beyond the seas But finding the pouertie and want of France not to be able to furnish him with such ornaments as he desired and especially to obtaine from the Pope new priuiledges for his new-built monasterie he made a fourth iourney to Rome and this as soone as he had assembled a Conuent of Monkes into it and His fourth iourney to Rome ordered them according to the rule and institution of great S. BENEDICT Shortly after he returned making a more happie returne of spirituall Gods then euer he had done before For besides allmost an innumerable multitude of bookes and great store of reliques of the Apostles and Martirs of CHRISTS Church he had obtayned of Pope Agatho to haue Iohn chief Cantor of S. PETERS and Abbot of S. MARTINS in Rome along with him into England to instruct and teach as well his monasterie as other Churches allsoe in the forme and manner of singing and doeing all other Ecclesiasticall rites and ceremonies according to the institution of the Roman Church All which Iohn at his coming he performed not only by word of mouth but allsoe by publishing manie rules and precepts to that purpose in writing which for memorie sake were afterwards carefully layd vpp and reserued in the librarie of the sayd monasterie Allsoe by the licence of King Egfrid and at his earnest entreatie he obtained of the same Pope letters of priuiledges graunted vnto the sayd monasterie to warrant defend and free it from all externe iurisdiction or forcible inuasions for euer Likewise he brought from Rome many pictures of holy images to beautifie and adorne his Church and namely a picture of the B. VIRGIN MARIE and the Pictures vsed in Catholick Churches twelue Apostles which he placed in the middle arche or vault of the Church from wall to wall and with pictures contayning all the Euangelicall history he adorned the north side and with others of the visions of the Apocalypse he made the south part correspondent vnto it To the end that all that came into the Church euen the vnlearned which way soeuer they cast their eyes might behold and contemplate though in an image eyther the louing countenance of CHRIST or his Saincts or with a more watchfull mind consider the wonderfull grace of his incarnation or hauing before their eyes the danger of the last rigid examin they might remember more districtly to examine the guilt of their owne conscience IV. NOW when King Egfrid saw with what great vertue industrie See the deuotion of this good king and religion this venerable man did doe the part of a wise and holy steward in all these proceedings he was wonderfull much delighted thereat and bicause he perceaued the land he had giuen him to haue bin well and fruictfully giuen he encreased his former guift with the donation of fortie families more On which land by counsell and perswasion of the King the holy man built an He buildeth an other monastery to S. Paul other monasterie on the other side of the riuer dedicated to the honour of S. PAVL not farre from the former and thither he sent Ceolfrid to be Abbot with seauenteen other Benedictine Monks strictly chardging and commaunding them that one and the self same peace familiaritie concord should be conserued in both places And as the bodie cannot liue without the head by which it breathes nor the head without the bodie by which it liues Soe let noe man anie way attempt to disturbe or disquiet these two monasteries of the chief Apostles that togeather are knitt in a fraternall societie of peace Whence it comes that afterwards both these monasteries were commonly called by one name Weremouth Abbey V. ABOVT this time the blessed Sainct hauing much encreased the number of Monks in both these places and ordered them according to the rule of his great Master S. BENEDICT he made one Eosterwin a Priest and Monk Abbot of the monastery of S PETER to Eosterwin Abbot the end that by the sociable assistance of soe vertuous a Colleague he might with more ease vndergoe the labour of gouernement which he was scarse able to performe alone by reason of his much trauelling vp and downe for the good of his monasterie and his frequent iourneys beyond seas vncertaine when to returne Eosterwin therefore vndertooke the care of the monasterie the ninth yeare after the foundation and remained in the same while he liued and he liued but fower yeares after He was a man by byrth noble but he did not make vse of the worth of his nobilitie as manie doe to breed matter of outward glorie and contempt of others but made it the first stepp to ennoble and enrich his mind with vertue For being cozen german vnto S. BENNET they were both soe truely allied in a vertuous nobilitie os minds both alike such sincere contemners of all worldly respects and honours that neyther the one coming into the monastery did expect to be preferred eyther by reason of his honourable nobilitie or kinred or the other iudge it a thing fitt to be offered him vppon those respects But being a manfull of good and holy intentions only reioyced that he did obserue regular discipline in all things in an equall measure with the rest of his brethren But S. BENNET soone after he had ordayned Eosterwin Abbot of S. PETERS and Ceolfrid of S. PAVLS made his fift iourney out of England to Rome and happily returned home enriched as before with very memorable guifts of ecclesiasticall wealth His fift iourney to Rōme as bookes reliques of Saincts and pictures contayning the histories of the ould and new testament compared togeather and such like And amongst other things he brought two cloakes all of silk of an incomparable worke for which he purchased of King Aldfrid and his Councell for Egfrid was slaine in his absence the land of three families on the south side of the riuer Were But the ioyes he brought from abroade where mingled with sadnes at home for he found Eosterwin whom at his departure he had left Abbot of S. PETERS Monasterie and not a few of his monasticall flock to haue changed this world for a better being taken away by the pestilent furie of a sicknes which raged all
the venerable and beloued man of God Sigfrid Luc. 11. v. 17. hauing passed through the fier and water of temporall tribulation was by a wellcome death brought into the sweet refreshing of an euerlasting rest And at length after fower moneths more the excellent worker of vertues and great conquerour of vices S. BENNET conquered with the weakenes of his earthly body came to his last It was when the frozen night came on with his winter blasts to begett a sacred day of eternall and cleere light of felicitie His watchfull brethren mett togeather in the Church with prayers and psalmes to driue away nights horrid shadows and to comfort the grief of their deare fathers departure with the continuall singing of the diuine prayses Some would not bouge out of the chamber and from the beds side in which the strong sickman lay expecting by the passage of death to take the sweet entrance of life With desire they expected that as his example taught them how to liue well by the same they might likewise learne how to die For the further mitigating of his grief the Ghospell was read all night as it was wont by a Priest that attended on him The hower of his departure drawing neere the Sacrament of CHRISTS facaed bodie was giuen him for his viaticum and soe that blessed soule hauing bin a long time parched and examined in the flames of an happie tribulation forsaketh the earthly furnace of the flesh and being at libertie tooke a long desired flight to the neuer-dieing glory of His death celestiall happines This glorious Confessor died in the yeare of our Lord 690. the twelfth day of Ianuary when he had gouerned his monastery sixteene yeares eight by him self and other eight with the assistance of his holy Colleagues Eosterwin Sigfrid and Colfrid He was buried in the Church of S. PETER which he built that soe he might not be separated from him in death whom he euer loued in his life and by whose ayde the gates of heauen were opened vnto him His life is written by S. BEDE whom we haue followed VSVARD MALMESBVRY WIGORNIENSIS IOHN CAPGRAVE BARONIVS and other graue Authours make honourable mention of his vertues This Sainct BENNET was the first that reduced the BENEDICTIN order in S. Bennet Batrone of the moderne Congregation of England England into the forme and gouernment of a Congregation that is when manie monasteries are vnder owne head or superiour who during his time whether it be perpetuall or determined vppon yeares is supreme monarke as it were of them all And for this cause the English Congregation of Benedictin Monks now extant and deriued immediatly from the auncient Congregation of England both by succession and Apostolicall priuiledge honoureth this glorious Sainct as their chief Patrone next after the vniuersall Patriarke of the whole order great S. BENEDICT him self and Sainct AVGVSTIN our first Apostle For allbeit in the beginning the Congregation which he erected consisted only of two monasteries as may be seene in his life yet afterwards the whole number of the Black Benedictin Monks in England was ranged into one Congregation as appeares by the bulle of Pope Innocentius the third graunted vnto them And in like manner as the Congregation of Clunie and others beganne srom a small number to grow to such greatnes soe likewise did that of England from the vniting of the sayd two monasteries by S. BENNET BISCOP encrease to a generall vnion of all the Benedictin Monks throughout the vvhole Jland The life of S. ALVRED Abbot and Confessor of the holy order of S. BENEDICT IAN. 12. Written by John Capgraue ALVRED borne in England of nobles parents was brought vp from his tender age in the feare of God and good learning he learnt euen in his youth to vndegoe the sweet yoake of our Lord remayning allwaies in the innocencie of his life pure from all spott of sinne His pietie and learning encreasing daily with his age he gayned soe great fauour and loue with Dauid King of the Scots that he esteemed him before most of his court and had exalted him to a Bishoprick had not his entrance into a He refuseth a Bishoprik religious order hindered it In all occasions this holy youth carried him self with soe great pietie and meeknes as noe iniurie could moue him to anger noe opprobrious speeches could prouoke him to reuenge he allwaies endeauoured to repay hatred with loue to render good for euill to ouâ—rcome enuie with dutie and seruice A certaine knight perceauing him to be beloued and honoured of the King more then anie other raysed a hatefull and malignant persecution against him and grew so fierce in his malice that he was not afray sometimes openly to vomitt part of his venom against him with iniurious words before the King him self To whom the holy man with a mild and vnmoued countenance You speake verie well sayd he and honestly I know your tongue was neuer acquainted with vntruths and therefore I take you to be His rare humilitie patieÌ„ce my verie good friend The knight finding him to be a firme rock whom all the outrageous stormes of his malice and hatred could not moue nor stirre from the ground of vertue suffred a willing ouerthrow in his wicked endeauours and shewing the effects of a repentant mind demaunded pardon for his great temeritie promising from thence forth euer to oblige himself vnto him in an vnsayned league of friendship To whom ALVRED I confesse sayd he I reioyce hartely at thy repentance and therefore I shall loue thee better farre then euer for thy hatred to me hath encreased my A good lesson loue to my deare Redeemer and my patience being exercised and tried hereby hath perhapps bina meanes to make me profitt a little in my dutie to allmightie God Thus this B. man froÌ„ the briers of other mens malice reaped the sweetroses of vertues vnto him self II. AFTER this meaning to bidd adieu to the world and all He taketh the habitt of a monk the vanities thereof he went vnto the Abbey of Rhieuall or Ridall in Yorkshire and putt on the habitt of a Bernardin Monk vnder the holy rule of S. BENEDICT In which solitarie kind of life giuing him self wholly to contemplation of heauenly things and the continuall exercise of true religious and monasticall vertues he attained to such perfection that like the moone amongst the lesser starres he shined amongst the rest of his brethren in all manner of vertuous life and behauiour And shortly aster he was soe He is made Master of the nouices good a proficient him selt that he waÌ„s thought able to read a lesson of vertue vnto others and therefore the education of the nouices or probationers was committed to this chardge But whilest he executed that office there was an vnconstant Clerk that entred into the order whose vocation after a small triall beganne to wauer like a reed in the wind His vnstedfast mind being
holy virgins and let him obserue where his cattle rest by night and in the verie place where he shall see the bull as he rises beate the ground with his right foote let him erect an aultar But that he may giue more creditt to these my commaunds behould I will bend thy finger crooked which he being freed from the goute that soe vehemently afflicts him shall presently restore to place againe The fisherman awaking cast forth his netts into the deepes and drew out great store of fish he presented the fayrest to the Count rehearsing at large what he had seene and what was giuen him in charge to say intreating him withall to make good his crooked finger The Count being healed of his goute straightened Count Alwin cured of the gout his finger and went in all hast to the Iland where he beheld the bull rising out of the midst of the other beasts that in their lying made the forme of a crosse beate the earth with his foote Wherevppon giuing creditt to the Fishermans relation he gaue thankes vnto allmightie God and erected a chappel out of hand in the same place Where not long after Alwin giuing verie ample possessions therevnto S. OSWALD within the coÌ„passe of fiue yeares erected a goodly monasterie for Benedictin Monks and in the yeare of our Lord 974. he dedicated the Church with great solemnitie to the honour of the B. Virgin MARIE and the great Patriark of monks S. BENEDICT and made a monk of his called Ednoth the first Abbot thereof The Abbotts of this Monasterie in times past were Barons of the realme and Parliament men Anno 97â— A Councel in England against the incontinencie of the â—ecular Clergie Mathew Westm Baronius and Osbern in vit Dunst. VII ABOVT the same time the worthie prelate of Canturbury mirrour of the Benedictine order S. DVNSTAN by the supreme authoritie of Pope Iohn summoned a Councell wherein it was firmely decreed and ordayned that all secular Canons Priests deacons subdeacons and others of the secular Clergie should eyther conforme theÌ„ selues to a chast life according to their calling or be dismissed from the Churches which by their lewd manner of life they rather polluted then gouerned And in this expeditioÌ„ S. DVNSTAN had the famous king Edgar his faythfuil Coadiutour and worthie Defender The executioÌ„ of his decree was coÌ„mitted to the two bright ornaments of the Benedictin familie S. OSWALD Bishop of Worcester and S. ETHELWOLD of Winchester Therefore S. OSWALD of who only wee are now to speak repayred built and restored seauen monasteries within his owne diocesse to the Monks ordayning to each one an Abbot hauing first cast out the secular Clergie for their insolent lewdnes of life Amongst those Abbots there was one called Fulbert Abbot of Persore a man of verie examplar life and a feruent zealer of monasticall religion but too seuere towards his subiects A fearfull â—xample or vnâ—isreâ— Rulerâ— which fault was much to be reprehended in him For coming to his last end and being layd dead on the biere he suddenly lifted him self vp to the great terrour of the beholders crying out that he was led by S. BENEDICT before the dreadfull sight of the supreme iudge and that God with difficultie had pardoned him his sinnes through the meritts of his beloued seruant OSWALD for the declaration of whose sainctitie he was thus miraculously reuiued At these words he was silent and hauing receaued the sacred Viaticum of our lords bodie he liued half a day and returned to death againe VIII ALLSOE in manie other places of England S OSWALD Oswald restâ—â—reth the monks to theâ—r Churches hauing expulsed the secular clergie for the self same cause of incontinencie he deliuered the gouernment of the Churches to monks of the Benedictin institution to whom they truely belonged to witt the Churches of S. ALBANS of S. ETHELDRED virgin in Ely and that of Beamfled In S. ALBANS he made one Elfrick Abbot afterwards Archbishop of Canturburie he ordayned Abbots at Ely one Brithnot and Gorman at Beamfled And all the monasteries which thus he instituted he was wont often times to visitt and out of a fatherly affection to furnish them both by word and deed with whatsoeuer appertayned to the health and saluation of their soules In the Abbey of Ramsey he placed one Abbo a Benedictin monk of Fleury in France a man famous both for sainctitie and learning to Abbo of â—â—â—ury teach direct and gouerne the monks in their schooles and togeather with the endowments of learning to aduance them in the exercise of regular and monasticall discipline This Abbo at S. DVNSTANS entreatie writt an exact relation of the life and passion of S. EDMVND King and martyr which you may read the twentith of Nouember At length returning to his owne Abbey of Fleury he was there made Abbot and afterwards martired by some vnruly monks whom he laboured to reforme IX THVS laboured blessed OSWALD in the reformation of Ecclesiasticall affayres redeeming and working the virginall Church and spouse of CHRIST out of the sacrilegious hands of her loose gouerners and clensing his sacred haruest from the impure tares of lasciuiousnes But after what manner he reduced the Benedictines into their auncient Cathedrall Church of Worcester let William Malmesburie tell vs. S. OSWALD saith he considering by little and little that in the minds of the clergie there residing there remayned yet some small sparkes of goodnes which might be bettered yf a man knew how to animate and shapen it aright did not expell How 〈◊〉 reâ—â—ored the monks to their Châ—rch of Worcester them forcibly but entrapped them with a most pious sleight And because the Cathedrall Church was dedicated to the honour of S. PETER he erected an other in the same Church-yard to the name of the blessed mother of God in which hauing placed a Conuent of monks he more willingly conuersed and more familiarly executed the diuine office amongst them then with the secular Clergie Which the poeple perceauing who held it a great offence to want the dayly Benediction of soe religious a Bishop flocked all thither Soe that the Clergie left alone chose rather to putt on the habitt and manners of the monkes then otherwise to be a domage to them selues and a mockerie to the common poeple But those sayth Wigorniensis that refused to take the monasticall habitt he quite expelled the monasterie and ouer the rest which consented to a monasticall life he made one Winsinure a vertuous Benedictin monk of Ramsey Prior in place of the Deane The rumour of S. OSWALDS prudent cariage of this busines coming to the eares of noble King Edgar gott him wonderfull great friendship and fauour both with him and all the Peeres S. Oswald made Arch bishop of Yorke of his realme And the pious King by the authoritie of a royall Charter greatly praysed and commended this act of S. OSWALD and confirmed the monastery of Worcester to the possession
dignitie came amongst the rest and saw among other things children of verie daintie white bodies fayre complexions and louely hayre exposed to sale Whom as he beheld he demaunded as it is reported out of what countrey or land they were brought and it was tould him they came from the Iland of Britaine the Inhabitants whereof shined all with the like beautie Againe he asked whether they were Christians in that Iland or entangled in the errour of Paganisme That they were Pagans it was answeared Then fetching a deepe sigh from the bottom of his heart O lamentable case sayd he that men of soe bright faces should be in the possession of the authour of Darkenes and that soe sweet a comlines of countenance should beare minds voyd of inward ioyes Againe therefore he demaunded what was the name of that nation It was replied that they were called ANGLES Rightly they are termed soe sayd he for they haue ANGELICAL faces and it is fitt that such be made coheires with the ANGELS in heauen Out of what Prouince pursued he are these brought hither It was resolued him that they were called DEIRI With good reason sayd he for thy are to be deliuered from IRE and wrath to be called to the mercie of CHRIST-IESVS But the King of that Prouince how is he called ADDELLE replied they And alluding to that name he sayd that to the prayse of allmightie God ALLELVIA should be sung in those parts And goeing to the Bishop of the Roman Apostolick His zealous desire to conuert the English Sea he earnestly requested him to send some Preachers of the Ghospell into Brittaine to conuert the English nation to to CHRISTS Church affirming him self to be most readie by the helpe of God to vndertake that sacred work yf soe it might stand with the good liking of the Apostolicque Sea To which request the Pope at first denied his consent till at length ouercome and wearied with his vnwearied entreaties he yielded against his will But he concealing the busines of his goeing from the citizens who had they knowne would neuer haue consented He begins his iourney towards England therevnto with as speed as he could hauing receaued the Apostolicall benediction began his iourney In the meane time the newes was blowne into the eares of the Romans who all with one mind and voyce as well the citizens as those of the suburbs mett with Pope Pelagius as he was goeing to saint PETERS Church all crying out with a terrible noyse and repeating these words Alas Apostolicall man what hast thou done Thou hast offended saint PETER ouerthrowne Rome thou not only hast dismissed but expelled Gregorie The Pope being mooued herewith for he feared the poeple sent letters to recall GREGORIE out of his iourney But before the messengers had ouertaken him he was gott three daies iourney on his way In the meane time as the manner is with trauellers about the sixt hower some of his companions tooke their rest in a faire meadow or were busied other waies whilst he read to those that sate by his side when a locust came leaping about him and lighting on his booke sate vppon the very page he read GREGORIE perceauing her sitt soe quietly there turning to his fellowes Locusta sayd he may be etimologised with Loco-sta that is stand in the place And you must know that we may not proceede anie further in our intended iourney rise notwithstanding and prepare our horses that as long He is called back by the Pope as it is lawfull we may hould on our way And whilst they discoursed thus togeather the Popes messengers came suddenly vppon them with their horses sweating out of hast and deliuered their letters which being read It is euen soe sayd he to his fellowes as vnhappily I foretould for we must presently returne to Rome And soe they did But as as soone as he was inuested in the Papall dignitie he accomplished this long desired work and sent other preachers he him self that their preaching might take good effect fortifying their mission with his pious exhortations prayers and rewards In summe he sent into the same Iland the seruants of God AVSTIN MELLITVS and IOHN with manie other Monkes that feared England conuerted by S. Augustine a Benedictine Monke God who in a short space conuerted the chiefest King that inhabited the head of the same Iland togeather with all his poeple And herein God graunted them soe great grace in doeing of wonders that they confirmed the doctrine of fayth which they preached with their mouths with the force and efficacie of strange signes and miracles whence it came to passe that within a few yeares the other Kings of the same Iland with their whole number of subiects receaued the Christian fayth Of whose deedes conuersion and the wonderfull miracles done therein saint GREGORIE speakes thus in the bookes of his Morals Behould the Britaine tongue that heretosore knew nothing else but rude accents of barbarisme began now lately to warble forth the diuine prayses in the Hebrew language Behould the Ocean in times past swelling with rage becomes obedient and calme vnder the feet of the Saincts and they whose barbarous valour the Princes of the world could not subdue with the sword are by the feare of God calmed with the simple words of his Priests And who seared not whole troupes of armed infidels and fierce souldiers doe now tremble being faythfull at the lest wordes of humble men For hauing vnderstood the diuine tidings of the Ghospell made manifest with manie miracles the vertue of heauenly knowledge is infused into them that bridled with the terrour of his diuine maiestie they are afrayd to doe ill desiring with all their hearts by docing well to attaine to the grace of enerlasting life All which that it might be brought to passe allmightie God graunted it vnto S. GREGORIE in such sort that deseruedly the English poeple ought to call him their APOSTLE for allthough to others he is not an Apostle yet to them he is for they are the seale of his Apostleship in our Lord. XII BVT NOW to aske whether this man of soe great merit hath been likewise famous in doeing of miracles is a superfluous question since it is as cleere as the day that he by his owne merits was able to shew signes of vertue whoe could through the bountie of CHRIST obtaine the like for others yf occasion had required But for the better satisfaction of those allsoe whoe togeather with the Jewes require visible signes to shew sainctity and for the greater edification of those that by the example of saincts seeke to stirre vp and aduance them selues to higher degrees of vertue I am determined to sett downe some few miracles which our Lord wrought at his intercession thereby to rowse vp the slouthfull dullnes of our minds and strengthen the feeblenes of our hearts inclined rather to want of beleef then ignorance of what we rehearse XIII A NOBLE woman in the cittie of Rome
more stately manner retaynes the name of CHRISTS-Church and is the mother and Metropolitan of all England IX BVT our new Apostolicall Archbishop vehemently desiring to reioyce holy Pope GREGORY with the newes of his happie successe S. Augustine consulteth Pope Gregorie presently after his returne from Arelas sent his holy fellow-Monkes and Preachers LAVRENCE and PETER to Rome to make relation to saint GREGORIE that the English nation had admitted the fayth of CHRIST and that he was made Bishop thereof desiring allsoe to haue his prudent counsell in manie difficulties that did arise in the plantation of that new Church The ioy that the holy Pope receaued with the breath of this newes I leaue to our hearts to imagine for doubtlesse it was such that noe tongue nor penne can expresse it Then he sent back with these holy legats more preachers and labourers into the new vineyard of our Lord of whom the chiefest were these holy Benedictine Monkes Mellitus Justus Paulinus and Ruffinianus and by them all things necessarie for the diuine seruice holy vessells chalices aultar-cloathes ornaments for the Church Priestly robes and vestements manie holy reliques of the Apostles and martirs and great store of bookes He allsoe dispatched letters to saint AVGVSTINE in which he signifieth the sending of the Palle vnto him insinuating withall after what manner he ought to ordaine Bishops in England Heare his Epistle X. GREGORIE Seruant of the Seruants of God to his most reuerend Pope Gregoâ—â—e â—eâ—terâ— to S. August and most holy Brother Augustine Bishop Allthough it is certaine that the vnspeakable rewards of the eternall Kingdom are rescrued for those that labour â—or allmightie God it behooues vs neuerthelesse to bestow on such the benefitts of honour that out of this recompence they may be encouraged to endeauour more abundantly in the exercise of their spirituall labour And because the new Church of the English by the peculiar bountie of our Lord and thy industrie is brought to the grace of allmightie God we graunt to thee there the vse of the Palle in the performance of the solemnities of Masse only soe that thou maiest ordaine twelue Bishops in diuers places all to be subiect The auncient vse of the Palle to thy iurisaiction because the Bishop of the Cittie of London ought allwaies hereafter to be consecrated by his proper Sinod and receaue the Palle from this holy and Apostolique Sca to which by the authoritie of God J serue But to the Cittie of Yorke we will thee to send a Bishop whom thou shalt thinke fitt to ordaine only soe that if that cittie with the countrey adioyning â—hall receaue the word of God he may allsoe ordaine twelue Bishops and enioy the dignitie of a Metropolitan because to him allsoe by the helpe of God yf our life last we resolue to giue the Palle whom notwithstanding we will haue to be subiect to the disposition of thy Fraternitie But after thy death August hath iurisdiction ouer all England let him soe preside ouer the Bishops he hath odayned that by noe meanes he be subiect to the Bishop of London But let this distinction be between the bishop of London and Yorke that he be accompted the first who was first ordered And with common counsell and peaceable dealing let them vnanimously dispose those things which are to be handled for the zeale of Christ let them iudge rightly and not performe their iudgements with disagreeing minds But let thy Brotherhood haue iurisdiction not only ouer the bishops by thee ordayned those ordayned by the bihop of Yorke but allsoe ouer all the bishops and Priests of Britaine by the authoritie of God and our Lord Iesus-Christ To the end that from the tongue and life of thy Sainctitie they may learne the forme both of rightly beleeuing and well liuing that executing their office with true fayth and good manners they may when our Lord will attaine to the heauenly Kingdom God keepe thee in health most reuerend brother Giuen the tenth of the Calends of July in the ninteenth yeare of the raigne of our most pious Emperour Mauritius Tiberius XI BY this Epistle it appeases how our holy Apostle AVGVSTINE What the Archbishops Palle is and meaneth receaued the dignitie of metropolitan Archbishop and Primate of of all England and the Palle the chiefe armes of that dignitie vsed in auncient times to be sent from the Roman Sea to all Archbishops But this Palle to satisfie the ignorant is a little poore cloath in breadth not exceeding three fingers which Archbishops going to the aultar putt about their necks after all other Pontificall ornaments it hath two labels hanging downe before and behind adorned with little black crosses all rude and vnpolisht made of the verie wooll as it comes from the sheepes back without anie other artificiall colour and this being first cast into the tombe of saint PETER the Pope sends to those that are designed to be Archbishops This auncient ceremonie fignified chiefely two things The first that the Bishop shining and glittering at masse in glorious robes adorned with gould gemmes looking vppon the pouertie of this cloath should learne not to grow insolent with the greatnes of his dignitie but cast off all high-aspiring spiritts The other that he should diligently and exactly obserue the sâ—me fayth which S. PETER taught at Rome in whose tombe this cloath was throwne and that which the other Bishops of the same sea haue followed This much by the way be sayd of the Palle XII BVT our foresayd holy legats being departed from Rome the blessed Pope GREGORIE sent letters after them worthie of memorie by which he manifestly she weth with what an industrious affectionate zeale he was carried towards the saluation of our couÌ„trey Oâ—her letters of S. Gregory writing in this manner GREGORIE seruant of the seruants of God to Mellitus Abbot After the departure of our Congregation which is with thee we were held greatly in suspense because we chaunced to heare nothing of the prosperitie of your iourney Therefore when allmightie God shall haue brought yee safe to the moct reuerend man Augustine our brother tell him that I haue long discussed with my self concerning the cause of the English and am now resolued that the Temples of the Idols ought not The vse of holy water in oâ—â— first Apostles time to be destroyed in that countrey but let the Idols them selues only be demolisht Let holy water be made and sprinkled in those Temples let altars be built and reliques placed therein because if those Temples be fittly built it is necessarie that they be chainged from the worship of deuils to the seruice of the true God that whilst the poeple them selues seeing their self same Temples vndestroyed may depose out of their hearts all errour and acknowledging and adoring the true God may more familliarly frequent their accustomed places And because their custom is to kill manie oxen in sacrifice to their God in this
of God and of the blessed Pope GREGORY of our Apostle AVGVST as allsoe by our curse let that person be segregated froÌ„ all the coÌ„munion of the holy Church and froÌ„ all the societie of the Elect in the day of iudgement This land is encompassed with these bounds c. In the yeare from the Incarnation of Christ 605. Indiction the 8. Note the auncient manner of subscribing ✚ I ETHELBERT King of the English haue confirmed this donation with the signe of the holy Crosse with mine owne hand ✚ I AVGVSTYNE by the grace of God Archbishop haue willingly subscribed ✚ I EDBALD the Kings sonne haue fauoured it ✚ I HAMEGâ—SILVS Duke haue praysed it I HOCCA Count haue consented ✚ I AVGâ—â—Vâ—â—DVS the secretarie haue approued it ✚ I GRAPHIA Count haue strengthened it ✚ I PINCA haue consented ✚ I GEDDE haue strengthened it XVI THE second donation of King ETHELBERT to this monastery which may be seene in the auncient records of the same we here omitt fearing toÌ„ be teadious to the reader Only one thing I will bring out of it which is that after manie priuileges and exemptions giuen thereunto the King following the tenour of the holy The Mâ—nkes of Canturbury Benedictines rule of sainct BENEDICT sayth these words Let the Abbot him self that shall be ordayned with the counsell of his brethren freely go 〈…〉 and order it to witt the monasterie within and without according to the feare of God that in the day of our Lord he may deserue to heare that 〈◊〉 voyce of our most pious Saniour saying Euge serue bone fidelis quia in panca fuisti fidelis supra multa re constituam intra in gaudium dominitui Allso our holy Apostle saint AVGVSTINE in his owne name and by the authoritie of Pope GREGORY graunted a verie large and ample priuiledge and exemption to the sayd Monasterie wherein he freeth it from all Episcopall subiection but that according to the Rule of our holy father sainct BENEDICT the Abbot chosen by his brethren in the same Monastery should be consecrated by the Bishop not to his seruice but to the ministrie of our Lord c. But the Benedictine The Benedictine Monkes seated in Christ-Church at Canturbury Monkes from the beginning of Christian religion in England had not only the possession of this Monastery of laint PETER and Paul in Canturbury but were allsoe seated in the Metropolitan sea of Christs-Church in the same cittie as appeareâ— by holy Pope GREGORIES answere to the first question of saint AVGVSTINE For when saint AVGVSTINE among other things had demaunded how the Bishops should liue and conuerse with their Clergie and how manie parts or portions ought to be made of those things which were giuen to the aultar from the offerings of the faythfull c. S. GREGORY answered that the manner of the Apostolicque Sea was to giue commaund to the Bishops that of euerie stipend that fell to the Church ought to be made fower portions or distributions one to the Bishop and his houshould for hospitalitie an other to the Clergie the third to the poore and the fourth to the repayring By the commauÌ„d of S. Gregory of the Churches Bâ—â— addes the holy Pope thy Brotherhood brought vp in the Rule of a Monasterie because it ought not to liâ—e separated from thy Clergie in the Church of the English which by the power of God is yet but lately brought to the Fayth must institute the same conuersation which was with our fathers in the beginning of the primitiâ—e Church in which none of them called aâ—â—e thing his owne of those things which he possessed but all things to them were common By which words the most blessed Pope GREGORY enioyned a monasticall cloister life to be obserued by saint AVGVSTINE allbeit a Bishop togeather with his subiects who professing religious pouertie by possessing all things in common as saint GREGORY had prescribed could be noe other then Monkes Whence this manner of gouernment was receaued throughout all England soe that in the Cathedrall Churches which were Monasteries the Bishop who was allwaies a Monke presided as Abbot ouer the Monkes and liued monastically with them Next to him was the Prior who for distinction from other Priors was call A Cathedrall Prior vnto whom and the Conuent of Monkes allwaies belonged the Election of the Bishop And of this kind there appertayned aunciently to the Benedictine Nine Cathedrall Churches in EnglaÌ„â—â— belonging to the Monkes Monkes nine Cathedrall Churches in England to witt the Metropolitan Sea of Canturbury the Churches of Winchester Elie Norwich Conentrie Worcester Rochester Durham and Bathe Whereat the reader need not wonder for the Benedictine Monkes saint AVGVSTINE and his fellowes hauing by the diuine grace been made the first Apostles and conuerters of England to Christianitie were by good reason euer after the chiefest gouerners and rulers of that Church The errours of the Britanâ— XVII IN THE meane time saint AVGVSTINE hauing by his continuall labour in preaching much enlarged and encreased the fayth of CHRIST amongst the English bent his endeauours to reforme the Church and Bishops of the Britans who allbeit they had remayned in the profession of the Catholick fayth euer since the time of King Lucius yet was not their fayth soe pure but that it was tainted with some errours and especially in the obseruance of Easter which contrary to the custom of the Catholick Church they celebrated from the fourteenth of the moone to the twentith and manie other things they held that were repugnant to the vnitie of the Catholick Church Therefore saint AVGVSTINE by the assistance of King ETHELBERT summoned the Bishops and the learned men of the next Prouince of the Britans to a parley at a place called afterwards in the tongue of the English Saxons by the name of Austens-Oke in the confines of the West-Saxons Where he began with a verie gentle and fraternall admonition to perswade them to embrace the Catholique vnitie and togeather Schismaticks worse to be conuerted with him to vndertake the common labour of preaching the Ghospell of CHRIST But he found by experience that it was easier to conuert Heathens the Hereticks that had noe knowledge of CHRIST or his Church then to reduce Schismaticks out off their errours to the truth For after a long disputation those stubborne Britans would not yeeld nether to the prayers exhortations nor rebukes of saint AVGVSTINE and his fellowes but rather preferred their owne customs before all the Churches of the world vnited togeather in CHRIST Therefore saint AVGVSTINE ended this laborious and long controuersie saying Let vs beseech allmightie God to voutchafe to shew by heauenly signes which tradition is to be followed yours or ours Let a diseased person be brought in and by whose prayers he shall be cured let his fayth and workes be beleeued and followed of all Which condition the aduersaries vnwillingly accepting one depriued of all sight