sunne beames Item in making whole the altarstone of Marble brought from Rome Ite in drawing a length one of the timber peces which wente to the building of the temple in Malmesbery Item in sauing the Mariners at douer c. As concerning these and such other myracles which William Malmesbery to hym attributeth I can not consent to him therein but thynke rather the same to be Monkishe deuises forged vpon their Patrons to maintaine the dignitie of their Houses And as the Authour was deceaued no doubt in beleuing such fables himselfe so maye he likewise deceaue vs through the dexteritie of his style and fyne handling of the matter but that father experience hath taught the worlde nowe a dayes more wisedome in not beleuing such practises this Aldelmus was Byshoppe of Schyrborne which sea after was vnited to the sea of Winton In which Church of Winchester the like miracles also are to be read of Byshop Adelwod and S. Swithune whom they haue canonized likewise for a Saint Moreuer neare about the xxv yeare of Iue by the report of Bede S. Iohn of Beuerley which was then Byshop of Yorke died and was buried at the porche of the Minster of Deirwod or Beuerley In the which portch it is recorded in some Chronicles that as the said Iohn vpon a time was praying being in the portch of S. Michaell in Yorke the holy Ghost in the similitude of a Doue sat before him vpon the altar in brightnes shining aboue the sunne This brightnes being sene of other first commeth one of his Deacons running vnto the portche who beholding the Bishop their standing in his praiers and all the place replenished with the holy ghost was strokeÌ„ with the light therof hauing al his face burnt as it were with hote burning fire Notwithstanding the Bishop by and by cured the face of his Deacon againe charging him as the storye saith not to publishe what hee had seene duryng hys lyfe time c. which tale semeth as true as that we read about the same time done of S. Egwyne in Polychron Abbot of Eusham and Byshop of Worcester then called Wyctes who vpon a time when he had fettered both his feete Inyrons fast locked for certaine sinnes done in his youth and had cast the key therof in the sea afterward a fish brought the key againe into the ship as he was saying homeward from Rome But to leaue these Monkishe phantasies and returne into the right course againe of the story In the time of this foresaide Iue began first the right obseruing of the Easter day to be kept of the Pictes and of the Britaines In the obseruation of which day as is largely set foorth in Bede and Polychron Lib. 5. cap. 17. and 22. three thinges are necessary to be obserued the full Moone of the first Moneth that is of the month of March Secondly the Dominical Letter Thirdly the Equinoctiall day which Equinoctiall was wont to be counted in the East church and especially among the Egiptians to bee about the 17. daye of Marche So that the full Moone either vppon the Equinoctiall day or after the Equinoctiall day being obserued the next dominicall day following that full moone is to be taken for Easter day Wherin is diligeÌ„tly to be noted two thinges First the fulnes of the Moone must be perfectly ful so that it be the beginning of the third weke of the mooue which is the 14. or 15. day of the moone Secondly is to be noted that the said perfect fulnes of the moone beginnyng the thirde weeke must happen either in the very euening of the Equinoctial day or after the Equinoctial day For els if it happen either on the Equinoctiall day before the euening or before the Equinoctial day then it belongeth to the last moneth of the last yeare and not to the first moneth of the first yeare and so serueth not to be obserued This rite and vsage in keping Easter day being receiued in the Latin church began now to take place amoÌ„g the Pictes Britaines through the busie trauaile of Theodorus Cuthlacus but namelye of Elbert the holy Monke as they terme him and of Colfrid Abbot of Sirwin in Northumberlande which wrote to Narcanus or Naitonus the King of Pictes concerning the same who also among other thinges writeth of the shauen crownes of Priestes saying that it was as necessary for the vow of a MoÌ„ke or degre of a Priest to haue a shauen crowne for restrainte of their lustes as for any Christen man to blesse him against spirits when they come vpon him Bede Lib. 5. The coppy of which letter as it is in Bede I haue here annexed not for any great reason therin conteined but only to delite the Reader with some pastime in seing the fond ignorance of that Monkish age the copy of the letter thus proceedeth ¶ Of the shauing of Priestes out of the fift booke of Beda the xxi chap. COncerning the shauing of Priests wherof you wryte also vnto me I exhort you that it be decently obserued according to the Christian faith We are not ignorant that the Apostles were not al shauen after one maner neither doth the Catholicke Church at this day agree in one vniforme maner of shauing as they do in faith hope and charity Let vs consider the former time of the Patriarches and we shall finde that Iob an example of patience euen in the very point of his afflictions did shaue his head and he proueth also that in the time of his prosperitye he vsed to let his heare grow And Ioseph an excellent Doctour executor of chastity humilitie pietie and other vertues wheÌ„ he was deliuered out of prison seruitude was shauen wherby it appeareth that whilst he abode in prisoÌ„ he was vnshauen Behold doth these being men of god did vse an order in the habite of their body one contrary to the other whose consciences notwithstanding within did wel agree in the like grace of vertues But to speake truely and â—rely the difference of shauing hurteth not such as haue a pure faith in the Lord sincere charity towardes their neighbor especially for that there was neuer any controuersie amongst the Catholike fathers about the diuersitie thereof as there hath beene of the difference of the celebration of Easter and of faith But of all these shauinges that wee fynde either in the Churche or els where there is none in mine opinion so much to be followed embraced as that which he vsed on his head to whoÌ„ the Lord said thou art Peter and vpon this rocke I will builde my Church and the gates of hel shall not preuaile against it I will gyue thee the keyes of the kingdome of heauen And contrarywise there is no shauing so much to be abhorred and detested as that which he vsed to whom the same S. Peter said thy money bee with thee to thy destruction because thou
13. chapter of the first to the Corinthians and to the Romaynes the 8. chapter All thinges turne to good to them whiche loue God Also I am certayne that neyther death nor life can seperate vs from the charitie and loue of God as it is more at large in the booke The fourth Article The predestinate although he be not in the state of grace according to present iustice yet is he alwayes a member of the vniuersall Churche Thys is an errour if it be vnderstand of all such as be predestinate for thus it is in the booke about the beginning of the fift chapter where it is declared that there be diuers maners and fortes of being in the Church for there are some in the Church according to a misshappen fayth and other some according to predestination as Christians predestinate now in sinne but shall returne agayne vnto grace The fift article There is no degree of honor or dignitie neyther any humain election or any sensible signe that can make any man a member of the vniuersall Church I aunswere this article is after this maner in my book And such subtilties are vnderstanded knowne by considering what it is to be in the Churche and what it is to be a part or member of the Church that predestination doth make a man a member of the vniuersall Church the whiche is a preparation of grace for the present and of glory to come not degree of dignitie neyther election of man neyther any sensible signe For the acuser Iudas Iscarioth notwtstanding Christes election the temporall graces which were geuen him for his office of Apostleship and that he was reputed and counted of men a true Apostle of Iesus Christ yet was he no true Disciple but a wolf couered in a sheps skinne as sainet Augustine sayth The vi Article A reprobate man is neuer no member of the holy Church I answere it is in my booke with sufficient long probation out of the 26. Psalme and out of the v. chapter to the Ephesians also by S. Barnarde saying the Church of Iesus Christ is more playnly and euidently his body then the body which he deliuered for vnto death I haue also written in the v. chap. of my booke that the holy church is the barne of the Lord in the whiche are bothe good and euill predestinate and reprobate the good being as the good corne or grayne and the ciuill as the chaffe thereunto is added the exposition of S. Augustine The seuenth article Iudas was neuer no true Disciple of Iesus Christ. I answere and I do confesse the same This appeareth by the fift article which is passed afore by S. Augustine in his booke of penaunce where he doth expound the meaning of S. Iohn in hys first Epistle and second chapter where he sayd They come out frō amōgst vs but they were none of vs. He knewe from the beginning all them whiche should beleeue and him also whiche should betray him and sayd And therefore I say vnto you that none commeth vnto me except it be geuen hym of my father From that tune many of the Disciples parted from him and were not those also called Disciples accordyng the wordes of the Gospell And yet notwithstanding they were no true Disciples because they did not remayne and continue in the word of the sonne of God according as it is said If you remayne in my word you be my Disciples For so much then as they did not continue with Christ as hys true Disciples so likewise are they not the true sonns of God although they seeme so vnto him they are not so vnto whom it is known what they shall be That is to say of good euill Thus much writeth S. Augustine It is also euident that Iudas could not be the true Disciple of Christ by meanes of hys couetousnesse for Christ himselfe sayd in the presence of Iudas as I suppose except a man forsake all that he hath he can not be my Disciple For somuch then as Iudas did not forsake all thinges according to the Lordes will and follow him he was a theefe as it is sayd Iohn the 12. and a deuill Iohn the 6. whereby it is euident by the worde of the Lord that Iudas was not hys true but sayned Disciple Whereupon S. Augustine writing vpon Iohn declaring how the sheepe heare the voice of Christ sayth what maner of hearers thinke we hys sheepe were Truely Iudas heard him and was a wolfe yet followed he the shepherd but being clothed in a sheeps skinne he lay in wayt for the shepheard The eight article The congregatiō of the predestinate whether they be in the state of grace or no according vnto present iustice is the holy vniuersall Church and therefore it is an article of fayth and it is the same Churche whiche hath neither wrinckle neyther spot in it but is holy vndefiled the which the sonne of God doth cal his own The answere The wordes of the booke out of the which thys Article was drawne are these Thirdly the Church is vnderstand and taken for the congregation and assembly of the faythfull whether they be in the state of grace according to present iustice or not And in this sort it is an Article of our fayth of the whiche S. Paule maketh mention in the fifth chapter to the Ephesians Christ so loued his Church that he deliuered and offered himself for the same c. I pray you then is there any faythful man the which doth doubt that the Church doth not signifie all the elect and predestinate the which we ought to beleue to be the vniuersall Church the glorious spouse of Iesus christ holy and without spot wherfore this Article is an article of fayth the whiche we ought firmely to beleue according to our Creede I beleue the holy Catholicke Church and of this Churche doth S. Augustine S. Gregory S. Ierome and diuers other make mention The ix article Peter neuer was neither is the head of the holy vniuersall Church The aunswere This Article was drawne out of these wordes of my booke All men do agree in this poynt that Peter had receiued of the rocke of the church which is Christ humilitie pouertie stedfastnes of fayth and consequently blessednes Not as though the meaning of our Lord Iesus Christ was when he said vpon this rocke I will build my Churche that he woulde build euery Militant Church vppon the person of Peter for Christ should buyld hys Church vpon the rocke which is Christ himselfe from whence Peter receiued hys steadfastnes of fayth for somuche as Iesus Christ is the onely head and foundation of euery Church and not Peter The tenth Article If he that is called the vicar of Iesus Christ do followe Christ in his life then he is his true vicare But if so be it he do walke in contrary pathes and wayes then is he the messenger of Antichrist the enemy
cap. 6. 10. And forasmuch as yee haue hearde the cruell Edict of Maximinus proclaymed against the Christians grauen in brasse which he thought perpetually should endure to the abolishing of Christ his Religion Now marke againe the great handy worke of God which immediatly fel vpon the same checking the proud presumption of the tyrant prouing al to be false and contrary that in the brasen Proclamation was contained For where the foresaide Edict boasted so much of the prosperitie and plentie of all things in the time of this persecution of the Christians sodenly befell such vnseasonable drought with famine and pestileÌ„ce among the people besides also the warres with the Armenians that all was founde vntrue that hee had bragged so much of before By reason of which famine and pestilence the people were greatly consumed in so much that one measure of wheat was sold for two thousand and fiue hundred peeces of money of Athens coyne by reason whereof innumerable died in the Cities but many more in the countrey and villages so that most part of the husbaÌ„d men and countreymen died vp with the famine and pestilence Diuers there were which bringing out their best treasure were glad to geue it for any kinde of sustenaÌ„ce were it neuer so litle Other selling away their possessions fel by reason thereof to extreme pouertie and beggary Certaine eating grasse and feeding on other vnholsome herbes were faine to relieue them selues with such foode as did hurt and poyson their dodies Also a number of women in the Cities being brought to extreeme miserie and penurie were constrained to depart the Citie and fal to begging through the couÌ„trey Some other were weake and faint as Images without breath wandring vp and downe not able to stand for feblenesse fel downe in the middle of the streetes and holding vp their handes most pitifull cried for some scrappes or fragments of bread to be geuen them being at the last gaspe ready to geue vp the Ghost and not able to vtter any other words yet cried out that they were huÌ„gry Of the richer sort diuers there were who being weary with the number of beggers and askers after they had bestowed largely vpon them became hard harted fearing least they should fall into the same miserie themselues as they which begged By reason wherof the market place streetes lanes and alleis lay full of dead naked bodies being cast out and vnburied to the pitifull grieuous beholding of them that saw them Wherefore many were eaten of dogges for which cause they that liued fell to the killing of dogges least they running mad shoulde fall vpon them and kill them In like maner the pestilence scattering through all houses and ages of men did no lesse consume them especially those which through pleÌ„ty of vitail escaped famine Wherfore the rich Princes Presidentes and other innumerable of the Magistrates being the more apt to receiue the infection by reason of their pleÌ„ty were quickly dispatched and turned vp their heeles Thus the miserable multitude being consumed with famine and with pestilence all places was full of mourning neither was there any thing else seene but wailing and weeping in euery corner So that death what for famine and pestilence in short time brake vp and consumed whole housholdes two or three dead bodies being borne out together from one house to one funerall These were the rewards of the vaine bragges of Maximinus and his Edicts which he did publish in all townes and Cities against vs wheÌ„ it was euident to al men how diligent and charitable the Christians were to them all in this their miserable extremitie For they onely in all this time of distresse shewing compassion vpoÌ„ them trauelled euery day some in curing the sicke some in burying the dead which otherwise of their owne sort were forsaken Other some of the Christians calling and gathering the multitude together which were in ieopardie of famine distributed bread to them whereby they ministred occasion to all men to glorifie the God of the Christians and to confesse them to be the true worshippers of God as appeard by their workes By the meanes and reason hereof the great God and defender of the Christians who before had shewed his anger and indignation against al men for their wrongfull afflicting of vs opened againe vnto vs the comfortable light of his prouidence so that by meanes thereof peace fell vnto vs as light to them that sit in darknesse to the great admiration of all men which easely perceiue God himselfe to be a perpetuall director of our doings who many times chasteneth his people with calamities for a time to exercise them but after sufficient correction againe sheweth himselfe mercifull and fauourable to them which with trust call vpon him By the narration of these things heeretofore premised taken out of the storie of Eusebius like as it is manifest to see so is it wonderfull to marke and note how those counsailes and rages of the Gentiles atchieued against Christ and his Christians when they seemed most â—ure against them were most against them selues And whereby they thought most to confouÌ„d the Church Religion of Christ the same turned most to their owne confusion and to the profite and praise of the Christians God of his marueilous wisedome so ordering disposing the end of things For where the brasen Edict of the Emperour promised temperate weather God sent drought where it promised plentie God immediatly sent vpon them famine and penurie where it promised health God stroke them euen vpon the same with grieuous pestilence and with other moe calamities in such sort that the most reliefe they had was chiefly by the Christians to the great praise both of them and to the honour of our God Thus most plainely and euidently was then verified the true promise of Christ to his Church affirming and assuring vs that the gates of hell shall not preuaile against his Church builded vpoÌ„ his faith as sufficiently may appeare by these x. persecutioÌ„s aboue specified and described Wherein as no man can deny but that Sathan his malignaunt world haue assayed the vttermost of their power and might to ouerthrow the Church of Iesus so must all men needes graunt that read these stories that when Sathan and the gates of hell haue done their worst yet haue they not preuailed against this mount of Sion nor euer shall For els what was here to be thought where so many Emperours and tyraunts together Dioclesian Maximinian Galerius Maximinus Seuerus Maxentius Licinius with their Captaines and officers were let loose like so many Lyons vpon a scattered and vnarmed flocke of sheepe intending nothing els but the vtter subuersion of all Christianitie and especially also when lawes were set vp in brasse against the Christians as a thing perpetually to stand what was here to be looked for but a finall desolation of the name and Religion of Christians But what
Paruus This Sigherius and Sebbi first fell to Idolatry then through the meanes of Wolferus King of Mercia were reduced at last Sebby became a Monke  Sebbi Sonne of Sewardus which was made a Monke  Sigehardus and Suefridus brethren 8   Offa. 5 Offa after hee had raigned a while became a Monke at Rome  Selredus or Colredus slaine 38  Swithredus  Thys Swithredus was subdued vnto Egbert King of Westsaxons Albeit London remained vnder the Mercias to the time that they also were subdued to the Westsaxons This kingdom began An. 561. and so continued till the time of Egbertus Some stories say it continued to the time of Edward sonne of Aluredus about the cōming of the Danes and contained vnder it the Lordship of Midlesex and London The Metropolitane sea of this prouince of Essex was London where the famous Church of S. Paul was builded by Ethelbert king of Kent and Sigebert king of Essex whō Ethelbert had lately before turned to Christes faith wherof the first bishop was Mellitus the ij byshop was Ceddus the third came in by Simonie whose name was Wine Malmesb. de vitis Pont. After him was Erkenwaldus of whom writeth Bede that he being diseased in hys legges that he could neither go nor ride yet would be caried about in a litter to preach in his Dioces c. Although W. Malmesb wryting of the Byshoppes of London in his booke De vitis Ponti sayth that Mauritius first the kings Chauncelor then Byshop there did first begin this so large and famous building of the Church of S. Paul in London Which worke after him Richardus his successour did prosecute bestowing al the rents of his Bishopricke vpon the same and yet was scarsely seene yet herein may be answered peraduenture that the Church builded before by King Ethelbert and king Sigebert myght be ouerthrowen by the Danes and afterward was reedified by these Bishops aboue mentioned 561 ¶ The kinges of the Eastangles with the yeares of their raigne Eastangles Vffa or Vlfa 30 Of thys Vffa the people of Northfolke were then called Vfkyns  Titulus or Titila 13 Redwaldus first was conuerted in Kent afterwarde through the wicked perswasion of his wife and other ioyned Idolatry with Christianitie  Redwaldus 12  Erpwaldus or Corpwaldus slaine 38 Notwythstanding his sonne Erpwaldus through the meanes of Edwyn king of Northūberland was brought to the perfect faith of Christ therein faithfully did continue  Sigebertus or Sibrect first a mōke slaine 3 Thys Sigebert made hym selfe a Monke and afterwarde brought out to fighte agaynst Penda wyth a white sticke in hys hande was slayne in the field The kings of the Eastangles Egnicus or Egricus slaine 3 Anna slaine 3 The daughters of Anna were Sexburga Ethelberta and Saint Etheldreda Adelhere or Adelredus slaine 2  Adelwoldus or Ethelbaldus 9   Adulphus 25   Elkwoldus 12 This Ethelredus for hys holinesse godly vertues is counted for a Saint he innocently comming to Offa kyng of Mercia to marrie wyth Althrid hys Daughter by the sinister suspicion of Offa and wicked counsaile of Kineswina his wife was cruelly put to death in the house of Offa. For the which cause Offa afterward repenting went to Rome where he made him selfe a Monke  Beorna 26  Ethelredus slaine 52  Ethelbritus slaine 5 ¶ After this sinfull murther of Ethelbert the kingdome of Eastangles during the time of certaine yeares was in great trouble and desolation vnder diuers kings and tyrants sometime the king of Westsaxe somtimes of Kent or of Mercia hauing dominion ouer them till the comming of S. Edmund whych was the last King there ruling vnder the Westsaxons S. Edmund Martyred 16. ¶ After the death of S. Edmund being slaine of the Infidel Danes the kingdom remained with the Danes .50 yeares till at length Edward King of the Westsaxons expulsed the Danes and ioyned it to hys kingdome It began about the yere of our Lord .561 and continued neare about 377. yeares Fabian numbreth but 12. kinges but in other I finde moe The Metropolitane sea of this prouince of Eastangles which was first at a towne called Dunmoke or or Dūwich which in time past hath bene a famous populous towne with a maior 4. bailifs also diuers Parish Churches hospitals whereunto great priuiledges by diuers kings haue bene graunted whych towne is nowe fallen into ruine and decay and more then half consumed by the eating in of the Sea as also greatly impouerished by losse of the Hauen which heretofore hath flourished wyth diuers tall shippes belonging to the same the inhabitantes therof being not able of them selues to repaire it wythout the helpe of other good people where the first bishop was Felix a Burgundian who sate there 14. yeres After this vnto the time of Egbert King of Westsaxe thys prouince was euer ruled by two Bishops wherof the one had hys sea at Dunmoke now called Dunwich The other at Demaham where 12. sate one after an other From thence it was translated to Thetford where sate three Bishops At last by Byshoppe Herbert it was remooued to Norwich where he erected a Monasterie of Monkes And thus standeth the order and race of the Saxon kinges raigning together wyth the Britaines in thys Realme Nowe foloweth the description of the Britayne kings raigning with the Saxons in like maner Although the miserable Britaines thus were beriued of their land by the cruel subtilty of the Saxons yet were they not so driuē out or expulsed but that a certaine kingdom remained amōg them in some part of the lād namely about Cornewall and the partes of Cambria which is deuided in two partes Southwales called Demetia and Northwales called Venedocia The sayd Britaines moreouer through the valiant actes of their kings sometimes raigned also in other countreis displacing the Saxons recouering againe their owne somtimes more somtimes lesse till the time of Carecius when as the Britaines being deposed by Godmundus whose help they themselues sent for out of Irelande agaynst Carecius theyr wicked King vtterly lost their land and kingdome being thence driuen vtterly into Wales and Cornewale the yere of our Lorde 570. What the order of these kings was what were theyr actes their names and times when they raigned in this briefe table vnder wrytten is expressed Wherein first is to be premonished that Constantinus secundus had three childrē to wit Constans whych was made a Monke in Winchester and after made a king the seconde was Aurelius Ambrosius the thirde was Vter Pendragon This being premised we wil now enter the description of our Table beginning with Vortigernus ¶ A Table declaring the Kings of Britayne which raigned together with the Saxones after their comming into this land Kinges of Britaine whiche here raigned in the time of the Saxones Vortigernus Vortimerius Vortigernus againe Aurelius Ambrosius Vter Pendragon Arthurus Constantinus 3. Aurelius Conanus
thinges whether they pleased or displeased God they regarded alyke And not secular men onely did this but also the congregation of the Lorde and their Bishops and teachers without any difference at all Therefore it is not to be marueiled that such people so degenerating and going out of kinde should lose that countrey which they had after this maner defiled And thus much hetherto concerning the history of the Britaines till by the grace of Christ the order of time shal bring vs heereafter to the treatise of Cedwalla and Calwalladrus Nowe remaineth in returning againe to the matter of the Saxons to discourse particularly that which before in the table aboue we haue sommarely comprehended In this order and rase of the Saxon kings aboue specified which had thus thrust out the Britones now deuided their land in seuen kingdomes as there were many noughty and wicked kings whose pernicious examples being all set on warre and bloudshed are greatly to be detested and eschued of all true godly Princes so some there were againe although but fewe very sincere good But none almost from the first to the last which was not either slaine in warre or murdered in peace or els constrained to make him selfe a monke Such was the rage then and tyranny of that time Whether we shuld impute it to the corruption of mans nature or to the iust iudgement of Gods hand so disposing the matter that as they had violently falsely dispossessed the Britons of their right so they most miserably were not onely vexed of the Danes and cōquered at last by the Normās but also more cruelly deuoured them selues one warring still agaynst an other till they were neyther able to helpe themselues nor yet to resist others Of thē which are noted for good among these Saxon kings the first and principal is Ethelbertus or Ethelbrict the first king of Kent aboue specified who by the meanes of Austen and partly through hys wife named Berda firste receiued and preferred the Christian faith in al this land of the English Saxons wherof more foloweth hereafter to be said the Lorde so permitting as place and oportunitie shall require The next place I geue to Oswaldus of Northumberland who not onely did hys endeuour in furthering the faith of Christ amongst his people but also being king disdained not himselfe to stande vp and interprete to his nobles subiectes the preaching of Aidanus preaching Christ to them in his Scottish language In the same cōmendation also like as in the same line commeth hys vncle Edwin king of Northumberlād a good Prince and the first receauer of Christes faith in that land by the meanes of his wife and Paulinus Byshop Adde to these also Sigebert first Christened king of the Eastangles Sebert first Christened king of Essex of whome the one was a great furtherer of Religion setter vp of scholes the other which is Sebert or Sexbrieth was neuew to Ethelbert of Kent vnder whom he ruled in Essex By the which Ethelbert in the time of the sayd Sebert the Church of Paules was builded at London and Christian faith much enlarged c. Of the same name there was also an other Ethelbert King of the Eastangles a good Prince who by the aduise of his counsaile perswaded to mariage though against his wil went peaceably to King Offa for despousage of Athilride hys daughter wher the good king meaning innocētly through the sinister and deuilishe counsaile of king Offa hys wife was secretely beheaded and made away Whereupon Offa through repentance thereof made the first Peter pence to be geuen to S. Peters church in Rome In the Cathologue of these good kinges is also to be numbered Kenelmus king of the Mercians and Edmundus king of the Eastangles of the which ij the first was falsely abhominably circumuented beheaded by the meanes of his cruell sister and hys tutor as he was in his hunting at Corfcastle The other whych is called king Edmund the Martyr was slaine at Bury or as some wryte at the Castle of Halesdon by the Danes vpon what occasion histories do vary The author of Flores Historiarū sayeth it was by reason of one Lothebrocus a Dane who being of the kings bloud being with his Hawke on the sea side in a litle boat was driuen by force of weather into the coast of Northfolke wher he being presented to king Edmūd was retained in his Court with great fauour til at length one Bericke the kings Fawkner enuying and despiting hym for his great dexteritie in that facultie priuily did murder him in a wood This being at last spied as murder lightly will come out Bericke was set in Lothbrockes boate alone without all tackling to be cōmitted vnto the Sea and as it chāced so was driuen into Denmarke who there being seene in Lothbrockes boate was straitly examined of the partie He then to excuse himselfe falsly sayd he was slaine by the cōmandement of the king Upō the occasion wherof Inguar and Hubba sonnes to the sayde Lothebroke gathering an army of Danes inuaded first Northūberland after that bursting into Northfolke on euery side sent thys message to king Edmund after this tenor Signifying that king Inguar the victorious Prince dreade both by sea and lande as he had subiect diuers other landes vnder him so arriuing now to the coasts of Northfolke where he intēdeth to winter chargeth and commaundeth him to deuide with him his olde treasures and his fathers riches and so to rule vnder him which if he would not do but wold cōtemne his power so strōgly furnished wyth such an army he should be iudged as vnworthy both of kingdom life c. The king hearing this message not a little astonyshed therat calling his coūsaile about hym consulted with them especially with one of his Bishops being then his Secretarie what was best to be done who fearing the kinges life exhorted him by wordes diuers examples to agree to the message At this a while the king holding his peace at length thereto made aunswere againe in these wordes saying Go saith he tel your Lord and let him know that Edmundus the Christened King for the loue of this temporal life wil not subiect him selfe to a Pagane Duke vnles before he become a Christiā c. The messenger taking his answere was not so soone out of the gates as Inguar meeting him and bidding him to be short in declaring hys answere caused all the kings garrison to be set round about Some say that the king flying to Thetforde there pitcht a field with the Danes but the Danes preuailing the good king from thence did flie to the Castle of Halesdon aboue mentioned where he beyng pursued of the Danes was there taken and at length being bounde to a stake there of the raging Danes was shot to death And thus much for the good kings Now as concerning those kinges which made them selues Monks which in number be vij or viij
maintaining of Monkery falsly being perswaded that remission of theyr sinnes remedy of their soules therein did lie in building monasteries erecting churches and cloysters and in placing monks in the same and such other almes deedes and workes of deuotion Wherin appeareth how ignorāt that time was of the true doctrine of Christes faith and of free grace of the Gospell which promiseth life remedy and iustification not by any deuout merits of oures nor by any workes either of the lawe of God or of the inuentions of man but onely and freely by our faith vpon Christ Iesus the sonne of God in whom only consisteth al the promises of God Amen Nowe remaineth as in the former booke before so in this likewise to prosecute the order race of Archbishops of Canterbury as we haue done the race of kings beginning with Etheredus who succeded next after Celnocke the seuententh Archbishop of that Sea mentioned where we last left before Pag. 131. The names and order of the Archbishops of Caunterburie from the time of king Egbert to William Conquerour 18. Ethelredus 18  19 Pleimūdus 29 This Pleimundus was scholemaster to king Altrede 20. Athelmus 12. 21. Vlfelmus 23  22. Odo 20. By the players of thys Oddo the Monkish stories say that the sworde of King Ethelstane was brought again into his scabberd As touching the Epistle of thys Odo sent to other Byshoppes vide pag. 251. 23. Elfius or Elfinus 1 This Elfius first bishop of Winchester came to the sea of Cant. by the commaundement of King Edgar some say by bribes contrary to the mind of Odo Wherupon in the first day of hys consecration he insulting vppon the tomb of Odo with despite shortly after wēt to Rome for his pal where in his iorny vpon the alps he died for colde in so much that his horses being killed he put in their warme bellies yet could get no heate Malms 24 Dunstan 20. Of this Dunstane many monkish miracles be fained as of the harpe vpon the wall playing by it self Gaudent in Coelis c. of our ladie with her companie appearing to him singing Cantemus domino sociae Cantemus honorem Dulcis amor christi personet ore pio Also of the Angels singing Kyrieleyson c. Item of holding the Deuill by the nose with a paire of tonges tempting him with women Malmes Item of seeing the holy Ghost at his masse in likenesse of a Doue Item in deliuering the soule of Edwine from the Deuill Item in foreseeing the death of King Edred by the death and falling of his horse Item of his mother being great with Dustane when all the candels of others went out her onely candle remained light many other like fables c. ¶ Polydorus maketh Dunstane to be the 23. archb 25. Ethelgarus 1 This Siricus was the counseller to king Egelred to redeme peace of the Danes with a great tribute 26. Elfricus 11 27. Siricius 5 28. Elphegus 6 Elphegus because he denied to paye to the Danes a tribute was stoned to death at Greenewich of some is called a martyr 29. Liuingus 7 30. Egenoldus 17 31. Edsius 11 32. Robertus 2 This Robertus caused Godwine and his sonnes to be banished accusing them of Treason But afterward they being restored he went to Rome and at his returne died 33. Stigandus 17 Stigandus being an English man in the time of W. Conquerour the Normane was by the craft of the sayd William conueied into Normandie where a while with great honour he was entertained At length the sayde William procured secreately the popes letters to depose him that hee might place Lanfrancus in his roume This Stigandus died at length in prison 34 Lanfrancus 19 The ende of the thirde Booke THE FOVRTH BOOKE CONTEINING other 300. yeares from William Conquerour to the tyme of Iohn Wickliffe wherein is described the proude and misordered raigne of Antichrist beginning to stirre in the Church of Christ. WILLIAM Duke of Normandie surnamed Conqueror base sonne of Duke Robert the sixth Duke of Normandie nephew vnto king Edward after the foresaid victorie against Harold the Englishmen obtained was receiued king ouer the Realme of Englande not so much by the assent as for feare and necessitie of time For els the Londiners had promised their assistance to Edgar Atheling to the vttermost of their power But being weakened wasted so greatly in battailes before and the Duke comming so fast vppon them fearing not to make their partie good submitted themselues Whereupon the saide William of a Duke made a King was crowned vpon Christmas day the yeare of our Lorde 1067. by the handes of Aldredus Archb. of Yorke Forsomuch as at that time Stigandus Archb. of Canterb. was absent or els durst not or woulde not come in the presence of the king A litle before the comming in of this Duke a terrible blasing starre was seene the space of 7. daies which was the yere before In record wherof as well of the conquest of the Duke as of the blasing starre these verses yet remaine Sexagenus erat sextus millesimus annus Cum pereunt Angli stella monstrante cometa Which king thus being crowned did reigne ouer the realme of England the space of 21. yeres and one moneth with great seuerity cruelnes towarde the Englishmen burdening them with great tribute and exactions which was to pay of euery hide of grounde containing 20. acres 6. shillings By meane wherof certaine parties of the land rebelled and specially the citie of Exceter But at last William ouercame them and wan the city and punished them grieuously But for that for other sterne deedes of William diuers of the Lordes departed to Scotland wherfore he kept the other Lordes that taried the straiter and exalted the Normanes geuing to them the chiefe possessions of the land And for so much as he obteyned the kingdome by force and dent of sword he chaunged the whole state of the gouernance of this common weale and ordeined new lawes at his owne pleasure profitable to himself but greuous hurtful to the people abolishing the lawes of king Edward Wherunto notwtstanding he was sworn before to obserue maintaine For the which great commotions and rebellions remained long after among the people as hystories record to haue the sayd lawes of king Edwarde reuiued againe Ouer and besides this he builded 4. strong castles 2. at Yorke one at Notingham another at Lincolne which garrisons he furnished with Normanes About the third yere of his reigne Harold Canutus sonnes of Suanus King of Denmarke entered into the North countrey The Normanes wythin Yorke fearing that the Englishmen woulde aide the Danes fired the suburbes of the towne wherof the flame was so big and the winde so strong that it tooke into the city and brent a great part therof with the minster of S. Peter Where no doubt many worthy workes and
in Egipt Petrus Byshop of Alexandria Faustus Didius Ammonius Phileas Hesichius Pachiminus Theodorus Byshops and martirs The Christian souldiours and Martyrs of Thebes The Christian souldiours and Byshops in Antino Asela Philemon Apollonius Martyrs 79. Martirs The persecution in Europe Euphemia Persecution in Fraunce Victor martyr Lucianus Martyr The persecucion in Spayne Eulalia Adula Vincentius Sabina Christina Lencadia Martyrs 18. Martyrs in Spayne Rictionaru notable 〈◊〉 The 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 made riuers Agrippina Augusta Martyrs The persecution in Brittany or England Beda de ratione temporum Dioclesianus did but dally in the beginning of the persecution Sundry sortes of tormentes deuised agaynst the Christians Euseb. lib 8. cap. 6.7.8 The woemen of Thebaide Martyrs Euseb. lib. 8. cap. 8. The persecution in Antioche Persecution in Pontus Persecution in Alexandria The contentes of the Epistle of Phileas sent to hys congregation Euseb. lib. 8. cap 10. Straunge kindes of tormentes Euseb. Lib. 8. cap. 10. Ex Sabellico Lib. 7. cap. 9. An holy martyr of Nicomedia tormented Eusebius a beholder and a witnes of their suffering The swordes blunt and the hangmen weryed with slaughter The marueilous constancie of the martyrs of God in persecution and at the tyme of death Martyrdome more desired in the olde tyme then Bishopprickes be now Christians that denyed in this persecution Miletius reuolteth from the fayth and is excommunicated Marcellinus the bishop reuolteth and coÌ„meth agayne to the 〈◊〉 and is mâ—â—â—tyred A hundreâ— martyrs 〈◊〉 one day Euseb. li◠〈◊〉 cap. 9. Seuenteen thousand Martyrs a one moâ—â—â—â— Three hundred slayne at one tyre in Alexandria Gereon Martyr Mauritius with 6666 Martyrs Victor 〈◊〉 360. martyrs slayne The history of Mauriâ—â—â—us captaine of the Theban souldiours Euery tenth man in the legion slayne The oration of the souldiours to the Emperour Mauritius and hys company Martyred The constant boldnes of Victor in refusing to eat with the cruell persecutors for the whiche he was also slayne Victor Martyr The number of the Christians increased for all this persecutioÌ„ Dioclesian and Maximinian were tyred with persecution and gaue vp their kingdome Euse. lib. 8. cap. 10. An. 309. The names of the tyrantes Dioclesian Maximinian Emperors deposed Gale Maximinus Constantius Emperours Maximinus Seuerus Constantinus Caesars Maxentius Emperour Licinius Caesar. Anno. 318. The commendation of Constantius O happy Constantius Euseb. lib. 8. Cap 13. Constantius gratious to the Christians Zozomenus lib. cap. 6. Constantius proueth who were true Christians in hys Court and who were not Ex Euseb. de vita Constan. Lib. 1. Ex Zozomeno lib. cap. 6. False Christians discerned from true Euseb. lib de vita Constan. Maximinus an enemy to the Christians The wickednes of Maximinus described A terrible plague sent by God to Maximinus Maximinus killeth hys phisitions Maximinus countermaund in the behalfe of the Christians Euseb. lib â— cap. vlt. Sabinus in the fauour of the christians publisheth the decree Euseb. lib. 9. Cap. 1. Persecution ceaseth for a time The infidels acknowledge the God of the Christians One alteration vpon an other The deuelish practise of Theotechnus The vayne practises of the HeatheÌ„ agaynst Christ and his religion A deuised accusation agaynst the Christians by harlots Maximi recountermaund graueÌ„ in brasse Euseb. Lib. 9. Cap. 3. The copy of the recountermaund made agaynst the Christians Wicked blasphemy The workes of the liuing God falsly imputed to dead stockes and Idoles Horrible blasphemy The lyke argument of wether corne plenty made the vnfaithfull Iewes and also make now our faythlesse Papistes Euseb. lib. 9. cap. 7. Persecution renued a fresh Syluanus Byshop Lucianus Elder Petrus Byshop Quirinus Byshop Marcellus Byshop Tymotheus Elder Martyrs The persecution of Maximinus the yonger Euseb. lib. 9. cap. 7. Niceph. lib. 7. cap. 44. Ex facisculo temporum Cosmas Damianus Dorothea with other martyrs 270. Martyrs Gemenianus with 79. Martyrs Seuerall kindes of tormentes Euseb. lib. 8. cap. 15. Euseb. Lib. 9. cap. 6.10 The worke of God agaynst the foresayd edict The proud and blasphemous proclamation of the Emperour proued false and contrary Ex Euseb. lib. 9. cap. 8. A terrible hunger among the heathen persecutors described Pestilence among the persecutors The charity of the Christians to the enemyes Let your light so shine among men that they may see your good works and glorifie your father which is in heauen The wisedome and pollicy of man ouerthrowne in hys owne turne Qui comprehendit sapientes in astutia The promise of Christ verified Mat. 6. the gates of hell shall not preuaile agaynst the Churche builded vpon the fayth of Christ. The death and end of Maximinian The wickednes of Maxentius described Euseb. lib. 8. Cap. 14. A shameful act of incontinency A Christian matron slayeth her selfe to auoyd the lust of Maxentius A monster in the likelihoode of an Emperour A liuely paterne of an hipocrite Euseb. Lib. 8. cap. 15. The Romaines send to Constantine for succour An. 318. Maxentius feared for hys magicke and sorcery A miracle of a crosse appearing to Constantine in heauen In hoc Vince Euse. lib. 2. Niceph. lib. 7. cap. 29. Eutropo lib. 11. Sozom. li. 1. cap. 3. Socrat. lib. 1. cap. 2. Vrspurgens Chronic. Paul Diacon lib. 11. This vision reported and testified by constantine himselfe to be true An admonition concerning the material crosse not to be woâ—shipped but to be a meanes to bring Constantine to the faith of him whiche was crucified Constantinus with hys army approcheth toward Rome Psal. 7. Maxentius taken in hys owne trap Maxentius beaten in the field Maxentius drowned by hys owne bridge Pharao a figure of Maxentius the last persecutor in Rome Pharao and Maxentius compared Exod. 15. The figure of the old testament verefied in the new The glorious and victorious host of Christ. Persecution in the West ceaseth for a M. yeares till the time of Wycklâ—ffe Euseb. Lib. 9. Cap. 9. Note well these thousand yeares and then read the xx chap. of the Apoc. Satanas was bound vp for a thousand yeares c. The copy of the imperiall constitution of Constantinus and Licinius Euseb. Lib. 10. cap. 5. The consideration of Gods work in defending hys Christians The kinges of the earth haue risen and Princes together agaynst the Lord and agaynst hys Christ. Psal. 2. No counsell standeth agaynst God The destruction of the cruell Emperours Dioclesian dyeth for sorrow The effect of the decree which Maximinus made against hys wil or suriecountermaund for feare of C. and L. in the behalfe of the Christians The surrecountermaunde of Maximi dissembled Ex Euseb. Lib. 9. ca. 9. The vnfayned repentaunce and finall decree of Maximinus for the christians A large graunt of Maximinus to the Christians Euseb. lib. 9. cap. 10. An. 319. God maketh his enemies to coÌ„fesse him The end and death of Maximinus The persecution of the church vnder Licinius An enemy to learning Euseb. Lib. 8. cap. 13. Euseb. Lib. 9. Cap. 9. Licinius an Apostata The fountayne of Apostacie
partes whilest that the tyranny of the heretickes indured made their concourse to vs and were recaiued and part fled vnto you that is olde Rome as to a strong tower of refuge and so receiued they cōfort in both places and one brother was thus receiued into the bosome of an other by mutuall loue for their defence Then after when Rome had bene often distressed by the barbarous and heathen nations the Grecians were euer ready to rescue and deliuer them Did not Agapitus and Vigilius flye vnto Constantinople by reason of the dissentions then at Rome and being honourablye receiued were here desended vnder our protection ' although the like kindenes was neuer yet shewed of your part to vs agayne in our like necesities Notwithstanding wee ought to do good to them also that be vngrateful for so doth the Sea participate her sinoth and calme tides euen vnto the Pirats And so God causeth the sunne to shine vpon the lust and vniust But alas for sorow what bitter diuision is this that hath thus sequestred vs a sonder One of vs detracteth an other shonning the company one of an other as the damnation of his soule What a mortall hatred is this come amongest vs if you thinke we are fallen then do you help to lift vs vp and be not to vs as a stombling blocke to our bodely ruine but helpers vnto the spirituall resuvrection of our soules So shall we acknowledge our selues boūd vnto you to geue you condigne thankes accordingly But if the blame and first origine of all this offence proceedeth from Rome and the successours of Peter the Apostle then read you the wordes of S. Paule to the Galathians saying When Peter came vnto Antioche I withstood him in the face because he was to be rebuked c. Howbeit this resistaunce was no cause of any discord or breach betweene them but the cause rather of further search and profounder disputations prouoking temporall agrement For they were fast ioyned together in the bond of charity in Christ agreeing in faith and conformity of doctrine separated by no ambition or auarice In which poyntes would God we also were like vnto them This to vs in our mindes gendreth a great offence that your gaping so greedyly after terrene possessions scrape together all that you can scratch and rake You heap vp gold and siluer and yet pretend that you be the Disciples of him which sayd gold and siluer I haue none c. You make whole kingdomes tributary to you and kings and princes your vassals You augment your mony by vsury by feates of marchaundise You vnteache by your deedes that whiche you teach in wordes Moderate your selues therefore with more temperaunce that you may be an example to vs and to all the world You see how good a thing it is one brother to helpe an other Onely God alone needeth no helpe or counsell but men neede one to be holpen one of another And were it not that I doe reuerence the blessed Apostle Peter the chiefe of Christes Apostles the rocke of our fayth I would here put you in remembraunce how greatly this rocke was shaken and remooued from the foundation at the sight of a seely woman and Christ of his secret purpose permitted the same which by the crowing of the cock brought him agayne to remembraunce of that which was foretolde him and raysed him from the slumber of desperation Then he being thus waked washed his face with teares confessing himselfe before God and all the world to be a true paterne of repentance which before bare the keyes of the kyngdome as saying thus vnto vs May not he which falleth rise agayne Oh you whiche are fallen rise vp beholde me harken vnto me trauelling toward Paradise The gates wherof to open I haue receiued power And thus do I write vnto you not for any instruction but onely to put you in remēbraunce for I know how God hath endued you with all wisedome and knowledge As Salomon sayth Geue onely occasion to the wise and he will learne wisedome Teach the iust man and he will be glad to take instruction This one thing more I will say and so make an end There be great and mighty nations that are of like mind and opinion with vs. First the Ethiopians that inhabite the chiefest part of the East After that the Sirians and other moe of greater number thē they and more disposed to vertūe as the Hyberi Alonà Gothi Chaiari with innumerable people of Russia and the kingdome of great victory of the Vulgarians And all these are obedient vnto vs as their mother Church persisting hetherto constantly in the auncient and true orthodoxasticall fayth immouáble The God of all holynes which for our sakes became man and which onely is the head of his Church and congregation vouchsafe to gather vs agayne together in vnity and graunt that the Grecian church together with her sister church of old Rome may glorify the same Christ the prince of peace by he vnitye of faith to the restitutiō of soūd wholsom doctrine wherein many yeres agone they haue agreed and were vnited God graunt vnto you brotherlike charity and the hand of the most mighty God gouern you all holy Cardinals till that ioyfully ye arriue in the heauen of euerlasting trāquility The grace of God be with you all Amē Ex Math. Parisiens fol. 111. Shortly after the sending of these letters Pope Gregory prepared to send men of warre signed with the crosse to fight agaynst the Grecians Wherupon the Archbishop of Antioch with the said Germanus solemnly excommunicated the Pope after he first had excommunicated them Par. fol. 118. In the meane time by the tenour of these letters of the Patriarch sent to the Pope and to the Cardinals it is euident to all men that haue eies in their heads to see first how the whole vniuersall church of Christ frō the east partes to the west in auncient times were altogether vnited in one cōsent of doctrine lincked together in brotherly charity one Church brotherly to helpe an other both with temporall ayd spirituall councell as case required Neither was then any one mother Church aboue other Churches but the whole vniuersall Churche was the mother Church and spouse of the Lord to euery faythfull beleuer Under which vniuersall Church in generall were comprehended all other particular Churches in speciall as sister churches together not one greater thē an other but all in like equality as God gaue his giftes so seruing one another euer holding together the vnity of fayth and Sisterly loue And so long was it and rightlye might so be called the catholicke church hauing in it true vnity uniuersality and free consent Unity in doctrine vniuersality in cōmunicating and ioyning together of voyces cōsent in spirit and iudgement For what soeuer was caught at Rome touching fayth and saluation it was no other then was taught at Antioch