containing the Province of Kent the third Flavia which is the middle part of Brittany which after the entrance of the Saxons was called Mercia The fourth Maximia containing Yorkshire and the last Valentia under which were comprehended all the Northern Provinces beyond the Brigantes 2. But certain it is that these Titles were not assign'd nor this Division made till severall ages afterward under the raign of the Emperours Valentinian and Valens As for the present age of Traian Brittany was then divided only into two Provinces call'd the First and the Second or as Ptolomy names them the Greater and the lesse and Dio the Vpper and Lower Brittany The former of these contain'd the Southern parts as far as the River Thamisis first possess'd by the Romans and the other the Western Provinces of Cornwall Wales c. V. CHAP. 1. Tumults in Brittany neglected by Trajan 2 3. Of King Coellus raigning there his Character 4. The Emperour Hadrian quiets Brittany as his Coyns testify 5. This he did not in person but by his Officers 1. TOward the latter end of Traians raign among other Nations which rebelled against the Roman Empire Brittany is reckoned for one by Spartianus But the Emperour finding a greater necessity to turn his arms against the Africans and Sarmatians neglected the Brittains 2. Now what particular Provinces in Brittany those were which at this time attempted to shake off the Roman Yoke it does not appeare Coellus was yet alive who is by our Historiographers call'd King of the Brittains not as if he were the only King in the Island but because he was the most considerable in power and wealth to whom the rest yeilded both honour and some kind of subjection as in Caesars time we read the severall Brittish Princes then raigning in their respective Dominions did to Cassibelin and afterward in the Saxon Heptarchy he that was called Rex Anglorum King of the English had a supereminence over the rest 3. Now as touching King Coellus he is described by our Histories to be a Prince of so benign and peaceable a nature and withall so affectionat to the Romans having had his breeding at Rome it selfe where as Polidor Virgil says he spent his younger years in the disciplin of war and civill literature and during his raign he shewd all respectfull submission to the Majesty of that Imperiall Citty restraining his Subjects from all designs and attempts against it So that it cannot be conceived that he ioyned in the said Rebellion 4. Now though Traian by greater concernments was hindred from reducing the tumultuous Brittains to obedience yet his Successour Adrian in the beginning of his raign neglected them not For there are yet extant ancient Coyns made by a Decree of the Roman Senat wherin is imprinted the Brittish Army with the figures of three Roman soldiers on one side and on the other the Emperour Adrians face denoting likewise his third Consulship which fell in the first year of his raign Such Coyns were framed and dispersed among the Soldiours as a gratuity to conciliate their affections to the Emperour And the figures of the three soldiers imported the three Legions then guarding this Island the Titles of which were the Second call'd Augusta the fourteenth called Victrix and the Twentieth Legion call'd also Victrix and Britannica 5. Notwithstanding these Coyns are no proof either of the Emperours coming then into Brittany or of any battell or Victory gained then upon the Brittains being only a ceremony of Adrians assumption to the Empire partly to oblige the Roman soldiers to him and likewise to admonish the Brittains that the New Emperour was mindfull of their disorders which if they continued he would as he effectually did three years after come himselfe to chastise them VI. CHAP. 1. Iulius Severus Governour of Brittany 2. The Emperour Hadrians progresse through the Empire 3.4 A wall made by him in Brittany to exclude the Caledonian Brittains 5. Hadrian returns out of Brittany 1. IVlius Severus was the Pretor who at this time administred the Province and governed the Roman Army in Brittany who for ought appears in story stood only upon his defence and made no expedition against the rebellious Brittains in the Northern parts of the Island as appears by the following exploits of the Emperour Hadrian By which it is manifest that King Coellus whose Dominions lay southward had no ingagement in those commotions 2. In the third year of his raign the Emperour began a progresse through all the Regions of the Empire to compose seditions to rectify disorders and restore discipline through all his armies He began with Germany and from thence took a view of France and the year following pass'd over into Brittany A generall view of whose actions in these Countreys is afforded us by Dio. 3. We will here only mention one memorable exploit in Brittany which was the separating of the peaceable subjects of the Roman Empire from the rest who refused to submit to its yoke Now whereas Iulius Agricola had formerly driven the ruder Brittains into the Northern parts of Scotland and had built forts in the narrow Isthmus between Edinborough frith and that of Dunbritton to hinder them from making inroads into the Provinces subject to the Romans it seems the Brittains had broke through that enclosure and subdued much of the Countrey beyond it 4. Hereupon Hadrian not esteeming it worth his care or endangering his Army to repell them within their former bounds contented himself to raise a wall or rampire more Southern then the former which he continued the space of fourscore miles between Solway frith on the West and Tinmouth on the East side of the Isle Which wall made of Turfs and strengthned with Timber was afterward repaired by the Emperour Severus and again changed into a stone wall by Theodâ—sius Father of the famous Emperour of that name This was in succeeding times call'd the The Picts Wall by reason that those Northern Brittains beyond it became as a distinct Nation taking their name from their continuing the old barbarous custome of painting themselves which the civill inhabitants had relinquished 5. Hadrian the year following was call'd out of Brittany to compose a sedition rais'd at Alexandria in Egypt Therefore he pass'd back into Gaule and from thence into Spain where he wintred Out of Spain the next year he sayld into Egypt where having quieted the Countrey he returned to Rome VII CHAP. 1.2 Persecution rais'd by Hadrian against Christians and the occasion of it 3. He profanes the holy places at Ierusalem 4. They remain desolate till S. Helena's time 5. Modern Sectaries imitate the rage of Heathens against the Crosse of Christ. 1. THis laborious circuit made by the Emperour though it was very beneficiall to the Regions through which he pass'd that is almost the whole Empire yet it was the cause of great suffrings to the Christians every where but especially in Palestina where
perspicuous 5. And concerning Amphibalus some Writers doe not without some reason doubt whether Amphibalus the Teacher of the Caledonians be the same with him who taught S. Albanus Because both the regard of time and quality of their persons seem to pronounce them to be severall He who taught the Caledonians is in ancient Writings said to have been forty years before a Bishop of the Prime See in the North under King Crathlintus wheras this Amphibalus the Converter of S. Albanus to the Faith is by our Historians simply call'd a Clark some times a Preist or a Monk for so we read in the Annalls of Winchester S. Amphibalus a Monk and Doctour in the Church of Caermardin otherwise call'd the Citty of Melin in wales 6. But as touching the time it does not necessarily proove his age to have been so excessively long but that he might have lived to this time and those who describe his Martyrdom affirm him to have been very old 7. Again considering his Titles it is well known that the name of Sacerdos Preist and Bishop were in those ancient dayes used promiscuously And moreover Amphibalus having had his Mission from the Bishop of Rome to preach the Gospell in Brittany no doubt was qualified for Episcopall functions Then whereas he is stiled a Monk it was the usuall practise among those Primitive Apostolicall Missioners to spend much of their time in solitary retirements to exercise prayer and Mortification And Cairmardin being not far distant from Caïr Leon the place of S. Amphibalus his Nativity might probably be chosen by him for such a retreit 8. But it will be more difficult to determin the place from whence he last came into the Southern parts of Brittany for if we beleive the Scottish Historians we must say that he came from the Caledonians though indeed they declare that their Amphibalus dyed quietly without any violence or persecution Whereas our writers professe that he came from the Western provinces of the Silure or Dimetae now South Wales But according to the more Authentick Narration of S. Albanus his life he seems to have come into Brittany from Rome and through France for he is sayd to have pass'd through regions of Heathens or such as professed the Pagan Idolatry of the Romans 9. Next for as much as concerns S. Albanus in our English Martyrologe he is stiled the Cheif Procuratour Oeconomus of Brittany from whence we may collect that he was the Emperours Quaestor or Treasurer to gather his rents and Tributs For such Officers were usually sent into the Provinces which were not Consular And these Procurators were some times Gentlemen of Rome of which rank S. Albanus his family seems to have been Some times likewise they were the Emperours liberti or freed servants as Dio informs as 10. Having premis'd these remarks touching the two holy Martyrs we now proceed to the Narration of their Gests according to the ancient authentick relation preserv'd by Capgrave X. CHAP. 1.2 c. The Ancient authentick Acts of S. Albanus his wonderfull Conversion by S. Amphibalus c. 1. THis then is the tenour of the Acts of the holy Proto-martyr of Brittany Saint Albanus thus they begin when the persecution under the Emperour Diocletian moved against Christians began to rage through the whole Empire a certain man named Amphibalus illustrious for his vertues and learning having pass'd the Sea into Brittany came through the divine conduct to Verolam And having entred the Citty he resorted to the house of Albanus desiring to be entertain'd as a stranger Now this Albanus was a Cittizen of Verolam eminent for his quality being descended from an illustrious Roman family He received the holy man with great kindnes and liberality And having withdrawn him from the noise of the servants into a privat room he ask'd him secretly How could you being a Christian passe without danger through the regions inhabited by Gentiles and arrive safely 〈◊〉 his Citty 2. This question was seasonably indeed made considering the subtile means employed by Diocletian for the discovery of Christians for as we read in the Acts of Martyrs cited by Baronius it was not permitted to any one either to buy or sell till he had offred incense to certain little Idols sett up in the Markets And moreover about all streets passages and fountains were placed Officers with order to compell all that would draw water or have their corn ground to sacrifice first to such Idols To this question therfore S. Amphibalus thus answered 3. My Lord Iesus Christ the son of the living God sayd he preserv'd mee safe among all dangers and sent mee into this Province for the salvation of many to the end that by preachin◠his holy Faith I may prepare a people acceptable to him But who is this Son of God replied Albanus Can God be said to be born These are strange speeches such as I never heard before I desire therfore to be inform'd what opinion you Christians have of these matters Then the Holy man answered thus Our Faith teaches us to acknowledge the Father to be God and the Son likewise to be God Which Son of God in infinite mercy vouchsafed to take our flesh upon him for the salvation of mankind that he might redeem us by suffring death And discoursing at large of the Birth Passion Resurrection and Ascension of Christ he added If you O Albanus will beleive these things to be true you will receive power by calling on the name of Christ to restore to health any infirm sick persons And the truth is I an come into this Citty on purpose to preach to you the healthfull Doctrin of our Lords Passion because our mercifull God will reward your kind offices of humanity and hospitality to which you frequently addict your selfe with the inestimable recompence of eternall happines Then Albanus ask'd him What honour and worship must I exhibite to Christ in case I embrace his Faith The other answered Beleive this that our Lord Iesus together with the Father and the Holy Ghost is one God and thou wilt have perform'd a work of high esteem in his sight But Albanus sayd what is all this Sure thou art mad thou knowst not what thou sayst No human understanding or reason can comprehend these things But be sure of this that if the inhabitants here of this Citty came to know that thou makest such discourses of Christ without delay they would put thee to a cruell death For mine own part I am very solicitous in thy behalf for fear some mischeif befall thee before thou departest from hence Having said this be arose and went his way much disturbed As for Amphibalus he spent the whole night alone in watching and prayer 4. The same night whilst Albanus was sleeping on the topp of the house wonderfull visions from heaven were presented to him With which being much affrighted he rose presently from his bed and went down to the lower
Now that which encreased the reverence to this holy King was because saith William of Malmsbury he gave the first-fruits of Sanctity to his Nation for before him I known not any of the English illustrious for miracles To conclude his Memory is celebrated both in the Roman and English Martyrologes on the fifth of August Some part of his Relicks are sayd to have been translated beyond sea into Flanders and reposed in the Monastery of Bergs S. Winok the Memory of which Translation is celebrated there on the twelfth day before the Calends of Iune XII CHAP. 1.2 Oswi and Oswin Kings of the Northumbers 3.4 c. K. Kenewalch succeeds Kinegils His Apostacy and Repentance 9. The Monastery of Malmsbury 1. AFter S. Oswald was translated to a heavenly kingdom saith Saint Beda his Brother Oswi a young wan of about thirty years succeeded him in his throne which with great labour he possessed eight and twenty years He was onely naturall brother to King Oswald for he was born to Ethelfrid by a Concubine At the beginning he was onely King of the Bernicians For saith the same Authour he made his consort in the Kingdom Oswin descended from the royal family being the son of Osric of whom we treated before a man of excellent piety and Religion who governd the Province of the Deiri seaven years enioying great affluence of all things and beloved by all 2. These two Princes for some years raign'd in great concord being united both in blood and Religion But afterward by giving â—are to flatterers and sycophants enmity arose between them which proceeded so far that war was declared the successe wherof we shall declare in due season 3. The same year that King Oswald dyed in the North Kinigils also ended his life in the West He had lately embraced the Faith by the preaching of S. Birinus An argument of his Piety was his demolishing the Pagan Temple at Winchester which had been polluted with the superstitions of Idols and in the place erecting a Church which notwithstanding being intercepted by death he could not finish the care wherof he left to his son To this Church he added a Monastery saith Harpsfeild the revenews wherof were so great as ancient Monuments record that the whole region at seaven miles distance about was assigned by Kinegils to its use The Church was dedicated to the honour of S. Peter 4. After a long and quiet raign for the space of one and thirty years he ended his life and left his Successour Kenwalch calld by others Kenwald his Son For Quechelm his eldest dyed before him Besides Kenwalch he left another son alive named Kentwin William of Malmsbury adds a third calld Egelwin a Holy man and patron of the Monastery of Adeling for treating of that Monastery he saith The Monks of that place are few in number and poore who notwithstanding doe at least reap comfort if not ioy from their poverty by reason it affords them solitude and quietnes They dâ—e highly exalt the praises of their Patron S. Egelwin of whose sanctity they have experience by many benefits The constant fame is that he was Brother to Kenwalch King of the West-Saxons and by his vertue yet more ennobled his blood for though he was continually chaind by a long infirmity yet that did not abate his diligence and fervour in the service of God At last he dyed happily and by his intercession is present to all who invoke his help 5. Kenwalch succeeded his Father Kinegils in his kingdom but not in his piety For saith S. Beda he refused to embrace or renounced â—he Faith and Sacraments of the heavenly Kingdom and not long after deservedly lost the power of his temporal Kingdom This Character also William of Malmsbury gives of him In the beginning of his raign he might be compard with the worst Princes but in the middle and conclusion with the best Some write that by occasion of a prosperous combat fought against the Brittains he grew insolent and trode underfoot all Laws both humane and Divine But most probably his unhappines arose from his unlawfull repudiating his Queen Sexburga Sister to Penda King oâ— the Mercians 6. This aâ—front encreased by his marrying another wife Penda deeply resenting saith S. Beda made war against him in the third year of his raign and deprived him of his Kingdom so that he was forced to seek refuge with Anna King of the East-angles with whom he lived in banishment three years and there came to the acknowledgment of the true Faith For King Anna was a pious Prince and happy in a holy Offspring Kinewalch his conversion came by the admonitions of this holy King and his Apostolick Bishop S. Felix by whom he was baptised 7. By this trienniall Disciplin the Pride of Kinewalch being depressed and his lawfull Queen Sexburga restored to his bed he regain'd his Kingdom and afforded to his Subiects a pleasing spectacle of his change The recovering his kingdom seems to have been effected rather by force then covenants for Huntingdon relats how he bestowd on his Kinsman Aedred who had assisted him three thousand villages neer Aescendun This Aedred is by William of Malmsbury calld Cuthred who was his Brother Quichelms son on whom he munificently bestowd almost the third part of his Kingdom 8. Kenewalch thus restored to his Kingdom and his reason also to secure his crown for the future addicted himself to piety He shewd great reverence to the holy Bishop Birinus and the Church begun by his Father he so diligently finished that the same Writer gives him the whole praise For says he he was so religious that he was the first of the Saxons who built a Church to God at Winchester which was so fair that though when it was made an Episcopall See it was more beautified by Workmanship yet the same structure remained 9. At this time was founded the famous Monastery of Malmsbury by Maidulf an Irishman with the assistance of King Kenelwalk It is seated in Wiltshire where in former time Dunwallo Mulmutius King of the Brittains had built a Town which he called Caër-bladon which having been burnt in the Saxon warrs out of its ruines was raised a Castle called by the Saxons in their tongue Ingleburn till Maidulf an Irish-Scott saith Camden a man eminent in learning and piety invited with the pleasant solitude of a wood growing under it lead there an Eremiticall Life Afterward he opened there a School for learning and consecrating himself together with his Schollars to a Monasticall Profession he built there a Monastery Hence from this Maidulf instead of Ingleburn it was called Maidulfs-bury and afterward more contractedly Malmsbury Some Historians call it Meldunum XIII CHAP. 1. Ithamar a Saxon Bishop of Rochester 2. Birth of S. Swibert 3. S. Foillan Brother of S. Fursey 4.5 Death of S. Birinus whose Successour was S. Agilbert 6. Death of Saint Felix Apostle
1. BY the death of Penda King of the Mercians that Kingdom â—ogether with that of the East-Angles whose Kings he had slain became an accession to the Dominions of the Victorious Oswi King of the Northumbers Notwithstanding in the year of Grace six hundred fifty six he permitted Peoda the Son of Penda on whom he had bestowd his daughter Alefleda to raign over the Southern Mercians and likewise Edelwald the Brother of Ethelhere to govern the East-Angles 2. By this indulgence of King Oswi the Christian Faith became spread through severall Provinces For he built many Churches and Monasteries in the Kingdom of the Mercians among which the principall was that which was founded in an Island called the Isle of the Hart in which as a testimony of gratitude to God for his Victory he enclosed his daughter So that within the space of two years the Mercians following his example were converted to the Faith and baptised 3. And for a firmer establishment of Christianity among them he erected an Episcopall See common to the Mercians and Midland Angli in the Citty of Lichfeâ—ld saith Bishop Godwin Though more probable it is that as yet there was no certain place affixed for the Bishops residence For severall years after this we read how Wuifer King of the Mercians offred Lichfeild to S. Wilfrid that he might there either build a Monastery or erect an Episcopall See The first Bishop of the Mercians was Diuma a Scottish Preist of whom we have already made mention 4. This is testified by S Beda in this passage When Oswi the most Christian King of the Northumbers having slain King Penda took possession of his Kingdom Diuma one of the four forementioned Preists was ordainen Bishop both of the Midland Angli and Mercians by Fâ—nan Bishop of Lindisfarn For by reason of the Scarcenes of Preists they were compelled to sett one Bishop over two Nations Now Diuma having in a short time converted great multitudes dyed To whom in the year of Grace six hundred fifty eight succeeded Cellach who was likewise a Scotch-man Who after he had a few years governed that Province voluntarily relinquished his Bishoprick and returned to his Native countrey the Island of Hu or Hy. 5. At this time Ithamar who had succeeded S. Paulinus in the Episcopall See of Rochester dyed He was not inferiour to his Predecessours in Sanctity and learning saith Harpsfeild who adds That many years after his death by reason of frequent Miracles wrought by his intercession his Body was translated to a more honourable place Which translation was made on the fourth day before the Ides of Ianuary on which day his Anniversary Solemnity is celebrated in the Church of Rochester In our Martyrologe his Commemoration is made on the Tenth of Iune which was the day of his death And his Successour was Damian descended of the South-Saxons saith S. Beda 6. This year Merevald a Prince among the Mercians built a Monastery for Religious Virgins at a Town called Lemster in the Province of Hereford He is said to have been the Son of Penda and Brother of Peoda and of his Successour Wolfer Kings of the Mercians But he is more illustrious by his Holy Offspring his son Merefin and his daughters Milburga Mildreda and Milgitha born to him by his Wife S. Ermenburga â— King Peoda likewise the Son of Penda first King of the Mercians this same year for propagating Christian Religion layd the foundation of the Mâ—nastery of Medeshampsted in the Region of the Girvians or Northamptonshire But having been the next year slain by the treason of his Wife Alcfleda the naturall daughter of Oswi King of the Northumbers he could not perfect it Thus writes Camden from Robert Swapham an ancient Authour And Ingulphus adds That he left his fervour and devotion to his Brother Wulfer his Successour in that Kingdom and to Saxulph a man of great power there who finished the said Monastery eight years after The place anciently called Medeshampsted afterward took the name of Peterborough illustrious in regard of this Monastery II. CHAP. 1.2.3 The Brittains overthrown by the King of the West-Saxons 1. IN the year of Grace six hundred fifty eight the Brittains received a great overthrow from Kenewalch King of the West-Saxons which is thus described by Huntingdon Cenwald so he calls him King of the West-Saxons in the seaventeenth year of his raign fought against the Brittains at Pennum For they knowing that he had been overcome by the stouâ— King Penda and almost driven out of his kingdom imagined that he was unable to sustain the burden of a battell Whereupon having gathered a numerous army they with great pride invaded his Dominions At the beginning of the fight the Brittains feircely setting on the Saxons made them give ground But the Saxons with great courage and constancy resisting them for they preferred death before flying at last so wearied the Brittains that their forces melted away like snow so that they turned their backs to the pursuers and fled from Pennum as far as Pedredan The wound which the Progeny of Brutus received this day was incurable 2. The place where this battell was sought was an obscure Village in Somersetshire at this day called Pen but anciently famous for this Victory over the Brittains and another which in after ages King Edmond Ironside gaind there against the Danes From thence the Brittains fled to the River Pedreâ— now called Parret where was seated the town called by the Saxons Pedridan but now Pederton and it was sometimes the Royal Seat of Ina King of the West-Saxons 3. After this combat and Victory the Saxons became so terrible to the Brittains that they never afterward descended from their mountains to encounter them Besides this their State became divided among severall petty Princes each of which sought to secure and enlarge his own territory so that they never combind in any generall design against the Saxons or English III. CHAP. 1.2 Wolfer King of the Mercians His wife S. Erminilda Trumhere Bishop of the Mercians 1. KING Peoda as hath been declared having been slain by the treachery of his Wife in the time of the Paschall Solemnity that Kingdom of the Southern Mercians returned to the Dominion of King Oswi But three years after the Princes of the Nation of the Mercians rebelled against him their names were Immin Eaba and Eadbert These exalted to the throne Wulfer the Son of Penda then a young man whom they had preserved and kept conceald among them And so with their new King they ioyfully persevered in Profession of Christianity 2. The wife of this King Wulfer was S. Erminilda Whose parents were Ercombert King of Kent and S. Sexburga By their pious instructions she became so zealous in promoting the Christian faith that by her perswasions kindnes and holy example that perverse and rude Nation of the Mercians was brought
particularly in their zeale and devotion to the Sacrament of Confirmation of which the Brittains also were very desirous as hath been declared I will here set down in the words of the same Authour with whom likewise Mathew of Westminster agrees in the relation 6. When the Bishop entred into a village called Tidâ—afrey or according to Mathew of Westminster Tundanfre there mett him a great multitude of Women offring their children to be confirmed by him Amongst them one woman mingled her self craâ—tiâ—y carrying in her armes her dead child pretending that he should be catechised but inwardly perswaded that by the Bishops Sanctity he should be restored to life The holy Bishop therefore uncovering the chids face to the end he might perform the due Rites found that he was dead Then the woman perceiving that her fraud did not succeed betook her self to prayers earnestly beseeching him for God and his holy Mothers sake if he had any Faith or pitty to restore life to her child Saying this she cast her self at his feet and would not be removed thus offring an importunate violence toward him All this while the Bishop continued doubtfull whether he should seem rash in attempting the Miracle or reject the tears and prayers of the disconsolate woman But a charitable pitty at last gott the Victory therefore after he had with a low voyce repeated certain devout passages out of the Psalms he layd his right hand on the dead body whereupon immediatly the soule was restored for by gasping moving his eye-lids and stirring his whole body he gave proof that he was alive The mother for ioy began to cry out but was restraind by the Bishop The child was called Eâ—hâ—lwald who was afterward a Monk at Rippon remaining there a Monument of the Bishops Sanctity 7. The same Authour further relates another Miracle wrought by the same Bishop upon a Monk who falling from the topp of the Church whilst it was building at the costs of the same King Egbert broke all his bones and tore a sunder almost all his members and was restored to health by the prayers of the Holy Bishop and his Convent 8. It was in the year following that King Egfrid at last gave way to the importunate prayers of his Virgin Wife Saint Ediltrudis to retire into a Monastery at Coldingham under the government of S. Ebba Aunt to King Egfrid and Sister to S. Oswald and Oswi Kings of the Northumbers as before hath been declared at large XIV CHAP. 1. Lothere succeedes his Brother Egbert in the Kingdom of Kent 2. 3 c. A Nationall Synod assembled by Arch-bishop Theodore at Hertford The Acts of the sayd Synod 1. IN the year of our Lords Incarnation six hundred seaventy three saith S. Beda Egbert King of Kent dyed in the ninth year of his raign and though he left behind him two sons Edric and Wigtred yet whether it was by Egberts example who succeeded his Brother to the prejudice of his Nephews or that the infancy of these two young Princes made them esteemd uncapable of governing he was succeeded by his Brother Lothere who raigned eleaven years and seaven monthes and then was deprived both of his Kingdom and life by his Nephew Edric 2. In the same year Theodore Arch-bishop of Canterbury having a pious intention to compose and introduce an uniformity in Faith and Discipline among all the Saxon Churches of Brittany convoked a Synod of the Bishops of both Provinces Such an Vniversal authority in this Island had been either conferred or confirmed to him by Pope Vitalian at the first entrance of the said Arch-bishop into Brittany as appears by his letters dated to him in the year of Grace six hundred sixty nine which Letters are recorded by William of Malmsbury and in them we read this passage It hath seemd good to us to exhort thee and at this present to commend to thy wisedom and piety all the Churches situated in the Isle of Brittany Whatsoever Priviledges and Ordinances therefore have been established and ratified by our Predecessour Saint Gregory to Augustin his Legate Sincello or allowed by the Sacred use of the Archiepiscopall Pall we grant unto thee for ever c. 3. By vertue of this authority therefore was this Synod assembled by the Arch bishop Theodore The place where it was celebrated is by the same S. Beda stiled Herudford mistakingly interpreted by B. Parker and B. Godwin to be Hereford in the Province of the Silures and by others to have been Thetford among the Iceni Camden therefore in his Description of the Cattieuchlani rightly names the place of this Synod Hertford the true name whereof is Herudford and it signifies the Red sord 4. We will here from S. Beda sett down a Copy of the Acts of this Synod compiled by the said Arch-bishop himself according to this tenour In the Name of our Lord God and Saviour Iesus-Christ the same Iesus Christ raigning for ever and governing his Church It was by us iudged fitt that wee should meet together according to the manner prescribed by the Venerable Canons and treat touching matters necessary for the Church Wee assembled therefore together on the four and twentieth day of September on the first Indiction in a place called Herudford The persons meeting were these I Theodore appointed though unworthy by the See Apostolick Bishop of the Church of Canterbury and my fellow Bishop and most Reverend Brother Bisi Bishop of the East-Angles Likewise our Brother and fellow Bishop Wilfrid Bishop of the Nation of the Northumbers was by his Delegates assistent to us There were personally present also our Brethren and fellow Bishops Putta Bishop of the Castle of the Cantuarians called Rochester Leutherius Bishop of the West-Saxons and Winfrid Bishop of the Province of the Mercians Harpsfeild adds that besides these Bishops there was present at this Synod Egfrid King of the Northumbers 5. When we were all mett together and every one had taken his seat according to his order I thus spoke to them I beseech you my beloved Brethren by the fear and love of our Redeemer that 〈◊〉 may all unanimously advise and determine sincerely to keep and observe all the Decrees and definitions touching our Holy Faith which have been made by the Holy and Orthodoxe Fathers These and severall other speeches regarding the conservation of Charity and Vnity of the Church I prosecuted to them and having concluded I asked them one by one in order Whether they did consent that those things which had been Canonically decreed by the Fathers should be inviolably observed Hereto all our Fellow-bishops answered saying It pleases us all very well that whatsoever has been defind by the Canons of the Holy Fathers should be chearfully and willingly observed by us all Hereupon I presently produced to them the same Book of Canons in which I had especially noted in severall places ten Chapters which I read unto them because I conceived them very necessary
and the feilds with a pleasant verdure brought forth fruits of all kinds in great plenty Thus abandoning their Idolatry the hearts and flesh of all the inhabitants exalted in the living God perceiving that he was indeed the only true God who in mercy had enriched them with goods of all kinds both for their soules and bodies 8 The same Authour in another place relates how Saint Wilfrid taught the people another remedy against the famine For says he the Sea and rivers in that countrey abounded with fish but the inhabitants had no skill at all in fishing except only for Eeles But by his command a great number of such Netts as were used for Eeles being gathered together they cast them into the Sea and by Gods providence took of severall sorts of fishes to the number of three hundred Which being divided into three parts one hundred was given to the poore anotheâ— to those which laboured and the third he reserved for the use of him and his attendants By such benefits as these he gott a cordiall affection of them all by which means they were the more easily induced to expect heavenly blessings promised them in his Sermons since by his assistance they had already obtained temporall 9 Great numbers therefore having been converted the next care was to appoint a Mansion for Saint Wilfrid and his companions This care was not wanting for as the same Authour says At that time King Edilwalch gave to the most Reverend Bishop a possession of eighty seaven families for the entertainment of himself and those who would not forsake him in his banishment The place was called Seolesea or the Island of Seales It was encompassed by the Sea on all sides except toward the West where the entrance into it is in breadth about a bow-shoot Assâ—on as the Holy Bishop had the possession of this place he founded there a Monasâ—ery placing therein for the most part â—uch as he had brought with him whom he instituted in a Regular conversation and this Monastery is to this day governed by such as have succeeded him For he remained in those parts the space of five years that is to the death of King Egfrid and worthily exercised his Episcopall Office both by word and deed And whereas the King together with the said land had bestowed on him all the goods and persons upon it he instructed them all in the Christian Faith and purified them with the Sacrament of Baptism among whom were men and mayd-serâ—ants two hundred and fifty all which were not only by baptism rescued from the slavery of the Devill but had likewise bestowed on them a freedom from human servitude 10. Severall Bishops anciently have had their Episcopall See in this Half-Island and were called Bishops of Selsey but none succeeded S. Wilfrid there till the year of Grace seaven hundred and eleaven Afterward about the year one thousand and seaventy the Episcopall See was translated thence to Cissancester now called Chichester where it remains to this day As for the ancient small Citty in which those Bishops resided there remains only the caâ—keyse of it which in high tides is quite covered with the Sea but at low water is open and conspicuous saith Camden 11. Over the Monks in this new founded Monastery S. Wilfrid appointed Abbot a devout Preist named Eappa of whom we have already treated And a little after hapned a terrible plague which swept away great numbers both of Religious persons there and in the countrey about By occasion of which the Monks appointed a solemn Fast three days together with prayers and Sacrifices for the asswaging of it And on the second day of the said Fasâ— hapned that Miracle which we mention'd â—â—fore at the Death of the Holy King Martyr S. Osâ—ald how a young child in the said Monastery lying alone sick of the infection whilst the Monks were at Prayers in the Church there appeared to him the Apostles S. Peter and S. Paul bidding him not to be afraid of death for the same day he should be caried by them into heaven but he was to expect till the Masses were finished after which he should receive the precious body and blood of our Lord for his Viaticum They commanded him likewise that he should call for the Preist and Abbot Eappa to whom he should declare that God had heard and accepted their prayers and excepting the young child himself not any one of the Monastery or possessions adioyning should dye of that sicknes And that this mercy to them was obtained by the intercession of the glorious King and Martyr Saint Oswald who the very same day had been slain by Infidels This the child declared accordingly to the Preist Eappa and the event confirmed the truth for he dyed the same day and not any one after him all that were sick recovered and the infection ceased X. CHAP. 1.2 Three Bishopricks among the Northumbers 3.4 c. Trumwin ordained Bishop of the Picts and afterward expelled 1. WEE will leave S. Wilfrid among the South-Saxons awhile busy in his Apostolick employment among his new Converts and return to take a view what passed in the mean time in the Northern parts of Brittany We have already declared how S. Theodore Arch-bishop of Canterbury partly in compliance with King Egfrids passion against S. Wilfrid and partly in conformity to a Canon of the Council of Hertford divided the single Diocese of the Northumbers into two that of York and another of the more Northern Provinces the Episcopall See whereof was placed indifferently at Lindesfarn and Hagulstad This was done in the year of Grace six hundred seaventy eight And two years after he again added a third Bishoprick in the same Province For wheras Eata had been consecrated Bishop both of Lindesfarn and Hagulstad he then divided that Diocese leaving that of Lindesfarn to Eata and ordaining Tumbert or Cumbert over that of Hagulstad now called Hexham 2. He instituted likewise at the same time a New Bishoprick among the Viccians or inhabitants of Worcester-shire consecrating Boselus their first Bishop For he who had been formerly designed thereto named Tatfrith a man of great courage and learning and of an excellent iudgment saith S Beda quote by B. Godwin had immaturely been snatchâ—â— away by death before he could be consecrated 3. At this time the Nation of the Pictâ— though they had embraced the Christia Faith many years before yet by reason oâ— the great vicissitudes hapning among them wanted a Bishop In the year six hundred forty two they were subdued by King Oswald and made tributary After the death of the next King Oswi and in the first year of the raign of Egfrid the same Picts saith William of Malmsbury contemning the infancy of this young King withdrew themselves from his obedience and boldly invaded his Kingdom under the conduct of a Noble man named Berney The young King courageously mett them and with an army much inferiour
that some Writers doe from Saint Beda's Narration collect that King Alfrid himself felt such compunction there from that he took the Monasticall habit in the same Monastery of Mailros in the one and twentieth year of his Raign as the Authour of our Martyrologe affirms Whereas indeed his Raign lasted not so long Whether therefore the said Vision or any other Motive wrought that effect in King Alfrids mind is uncertain But by agreement of all our Ancient Records his pious Queen Kyneburga about this time consecrated her self for the remainder of her life to God 2. She was the pious daughter of Penda the most impious cruell and Idolatrous King of the Mercians And though she had been bred by him in Pagan Superstition yet she was even then saith William of Malmsbury eminent for her continence and chastity Which naturall good disposition rendred her more capable and inclined to embrace the holy Doctrines of Christian Faith when after her Fathers death it was preached among the Mercians For her vertue she was by Oswy King of the Northumbers who had conquerd her Father and possessed his Kingdom chosen to be wife to this Son Alfrid And in exchange the same Oswy gave to her Brother Peada his daughter Alcfleda restoring him his kingdom to be held at his pleasure and courtesy 3. Thus Kyneburga now a Christian was obliged to quitt her countrey and follow her Husband into the Kingdom of the Northumbers to whom she bore a Son named Osred who succeeded him in the Kingdom as shall be declared But the seeds of Christian Perfection sown in her mind produced so ardent an affection to God that as writeth the Authour of her life in Capgrave she had an impatient desire to renounce a Temporall Kingdom that she might freely submitt her neck to the Yoke of Christ. Her Husband King Alfrid was much delighted with the devout chast mind of his Queen and now at last suffred himself to be perswaded to comply with her desires Yea moreover his Wives zealous affection to Chastity wrought so far upon him that he undertook a perpetuall Vow if not of a Religious yet a continent life so that in the expression of Harpsfeild in a short time the Kings Court was converted as it were into a Monastery and Schoole of Christian Perfection and Discipline 4. The place chosen by the devout Queen Kineburga for her future voluntary prison was Dormund anciently by Antoninus called Durobriva seated in the Region of the Girvij or Eastern Mercians now in the confines of Huntington and Northampton shires a place moist and fenny and though not propitious to bodily health yet pleasing to her for its retirednes There she built her self a Monastery to which she gathered a chast congregration of devout Virgins Though some Writers affirm that the said Monastery had been formerly built by her Brothers Wulfere and Ethelred The place is thus described by Camden Our ancient History affirms saith he that near the River Avon there was a place called Dormund-caster in which after that Kineburga had built for her self a small Monastery it first began to be called Kineburge-caster and afterward contractedly Caster The said Kineburga was the most Christian daughter of the Pagan King Penda and Wife of Alfrid King of the Northumbers who changed Royall authority into the humble service of Christ and governed this Monastery in the quality of a Mother of Holy Virgins 5. Thither flowed together saith the Authour of her Life to receive institution in a Religious life from her Virgins of all sorts Daughters of Dukes and Princes reverenced her as a Mistresse the Poor embraced her as a companion and all her Daughters venerated her as a Mother who neglecting to multiply a carnall offspring became far more happily fruitfull in Spirituall children c. And as for the Queen her self she was a Mirrour of all Sanctity and no expression of words can declare the bowells of Charity with which she cherished the soules committed to her care and which she had brought forth to Christ how watchfull she was over their conversation how diligent to instruct them in the Divine Law and Religious Discipline and with what teares she implored the heavenly protection over them She was a compassionate provider for the Poor a pious Mother of the afflicted and a Zealous exhorter of the Kings and Princes her Brethren to Alms-giving and works of Mercy 6. The odour of her Sanctity invited a few years after a younger Sister of hers to embrace a retired Religious life in the same Monastery Her name was Kineswitha a Virgin who though by her Brethren she had been promised a Wife to Offa King of the East-Saxons yet out of a desire to consecrate her Virginity to God she not being able to resist their earnest persecutions had recourse to Prayer imploring withall the assistance of the Queen of Virgins who in a Vision by night comforted her with an assurance that she should obtain her desire Whereupon she sent Messengers to King Offa employing her most earnest Prayers and adjurations that he would not by violence bereave our Lord of a Spouse in heart consecrated to him Vpon which the pious King not only disengaged her from a Promise and consent which her Brethren had extorted froÌ„ her but within a few years after followed her example and forsaking all worldly pomps and vanities he changed his Regall authority into an humble Service of God in Poverty and Devotion as in due place shall be shewed 7. How long those two Holy Sisters lived does not appear But their Festivity was celebrated together on the day before the Nones of March in the Monastery of Peterborough not above two miles distant from Dormond-caster the place of their Religious abode to which place their Sacred Bodies were translated There they remained till the year one thousand and ten in which the Danes cruelly wasting the whole Island and especially Monasteries they were from thence translated to Thorney 8. Together with them on the same day was celebrated the memory of Saint Tibba a Virgin and kinswoman of theirs Ingulphus calls her Tilba and Harpsfeild Cibba She having spent many years in a devout solitary life in the end rendred her Spirit to God And after her death appearing to a certain Holy man among other things told him I am come down from the celestiall Festivity to declare to thee the day of my happy transmigration This is the day of the blessed Virgin Lucia in the Night of whose Vigile I gave up my soule to our Lord Iesus Christ. She was anciently in great veneration among the Coritaâ—â— in the County of Rutland For saith Camden near the River Wash there is a Town called Rihal where a Saint named Tibba was honoured and particularly was by Falkoners as a Diana and Patronesse of their profession had in veneration Thus perversely he confounds the Honour due to Gods Saints with the Idolatrous Worship of Heathen Gods 9.
years he should live and many other things which should befall him And when the Prince desired some sign to assure him that these things should be accomplished the Holy man added Let this be a mark and sign to thee that to morrow before nine a clock in the morning the inhabitants of this place now in want shall be beyond their hope supplied with abundance of provisions Now when the Prince saw this really fullfilld his mind before wavering was confirmed with great hope and confidence And indeed a short while after Almighty God took out of the way King Ceolred his persecutor and dispersed all his enemies so that within the â—â—ne promised the Royall dignity was restored to him as shall shortly be declared and likewise how Ethelbald gratefully and magnificently accomplished his Promise XXII CHAP. 1.2 The Death of the Royall Virgin Saint Eanfleda c. 3. The death of Waldhere Bishop of London to whom Inguald succeeds 4. Beorna King of the East Angles after Elwold 1. THE same year the Royall Virgin and holy Abbesse S. Eanfleda likewise left this valâ—â—y of tears to goe and enioy the eternall embraces of her heavenly Bridegroom to whom she had been consecrated from her infancy We have already declared how she being born immediately before her Father Oswi King of the Northumbers was ready to ioyn battell with the bloody King of the Mercians Penda he made a vow that in case God would give him the Victory he would devote her to his service in a Religious life And the Victory ensuing he gave her to the care of S. Hilda Abbesse of the Monastery of Heortsig and afterward of Steneshalch in which S. Eanfleda lived some years in obedience and afterward became Abbesse thereof Where saith S. Beda having accomplished threescore years in great devotion and purity she was translated to heaven to celebrate her mariage with our Lord to whom she had been all her life espoused In the same Monastery both she and her Father Oswi her Mother Eanfled and her Mothers Father Edwin and many other Noble personages were buried in the Church of S Peter the Apostle and her name is anniversarily recited among the Saints in our Martyrologe on the eighth of February 2. Among the Epistles of S. Boniface there is one which seems to have been written by this Holy Virgin to an Abbesse named Adolana who lived in forrain parts somewhere in the way to Rome for therein she recommends to her care and charity another Religious woman formerly brought up in her Monastery who in devotion to the Blessed Apostles S. Peter and S. Paul had undertaken a pilgrimage to Rome to visit their Holy Sepulchers 3. The year following Waldhere Bishop of London dyed who had succeeded the glorious Bishop S. Erconwald in that See and who as S. Beda testifies gave the Habit of Monasticall Profession to Sebbe the devout King of the East-Saxons a little before his death His Successour was Inguald who governed the same Diocese about thirty years and is reckoned the sixth among the Bishops of London 4. About the same time also hapned the death of Elwold King of the East-Angles in whose place his Brother Beorna raigned who was the youngest son of Ethelhere XXIII CHAP. 1.2 Warr between King Ina and Ceolfrid 3. Horrible crimes of Ceolfrid 1. THE same year there arose great troubles in Brittany by reason of a bloody war between Inas King of the West-Saxons and Ceolred King of the Mercians These were both in power and extent of Dominion the most puissant Kings among the Saxons An equality therefore bred a mutuall emulation and desire in each of them to advance themselves by the ruine of the other King Ina was the invader Neither did he find Ceolred unprepared so that they quickly came to a battell And the place of their combat was a Town in Wiltshire called Wodensbury from Woden the Idol of the Pagan-Saxons answering to Mercury It is seated near Wansdike and is the same place where in the year of Grace five hundred ninety one Ceaulin King of the West-Saxons fought his last battell which having lost he dyed presently after 2. In this place did Inas and Ceolred meet to decide their controversy whether should be Master And saith Huntingdon the battell was fought on both sides with such horrible obstinacy that it could scarce be determined â—â— wâ—ether part the destruction was greater 3. Ceolred esteemed it as a victory that he could resist so powerfull a King as Ina from whom he little apprehended a second invasion considering the great deminution of his forces by the last combat So that he esteemed himself secure and freely gave himself up to his lusts and abominable sacriledge By which he filled up the measure of his sins and felt the year following in a terrible manner the avenging hand of Gods justice His lusts he extended even to Religious Virgins consecrated to the immortall God who therefore ought to be exempted from the touch of any mortall man And as for his Sacriledge in inâ—ringing the priviledges of Religious houses and invading their possessions our Historians doe not particularly exemplify in any So that it is probable that it was the late-built Monastery of Evesham which was violated by him notwithstanding the great Priviledges and Exemptions conferred on it both by the Papall and Regall authority and notwithstanding the solemne maledictions denounced by the founder thereof Saint Egwin yet alive who in consecrating it is recorded to have pronounced these words If any King Prince or other shall be incited by the Spirit of avarice so as to diminish the Rights of this Monastery which God forbid Let him be judged before the Tribunal of God and never come into the memory of Christ but let his name be for ever blotted out of the Book of the living and himself bound with the chains of eternall torments except he repent and satisfy for his crime in this life 4. But before we relate the effect of this Curse upon this unhappy King it will be expedient to recount the story of a wonderfull vision hapning about this time to a certain man who was restored from death to life on purpose that by relating the wonders of the other world he might deterr sinners from the obstinacy of their rebellion against God By which vision it appears that this King Ceolred was some time before his death destined to eternall torments It is not without some scruple that I am moved to insert in this History Narrations of this Nature But the unquestionable authority and Sanctity of the Relatâ—ur obliges mee not to omitt it though the Centuriators of Magdeburg without any shew of a rationall disproof of it doe voluntarily and at adventure condemne it as a fable XXIV CHAP. 1.2 c. The Narration of a terrible Vision of a man when his soule was separated from the body and afterward restored related hy S. Boniface 1. THIS wonderfull relation is
of the Customes and likewise the Church belonging to the Castle there which S. Amand Bishop of Maestrick had built These gifts he bestowd for buying incense and Lights and that the Preists serving in the said Church might pray for Gods mercy and pardon of the Sins of the Donours as appears in the Charter of the said Princes recorded by the same Authour Moreover in a Second Charter the same Prince and his wife signify that they had also given to the Church of S. Peter and S. Paul built likewise by Saint Amand of which Church S. Willebrord had the oversight the entire village of Preprusdare seated on the River Nutta and half the rents and proffits of another village called Winlindechim Thus writes Miraeus out of an ancient Manuscript belonging to the Abbey of Epternac where also the same S. Willebrâ—rd dyed as shall be shewd in its due place And he thus concludes That Evangelicall Plantation which S. Amandus and S. Eligius began among the inhabitants of Antwerp was perfected by S. Willebrord XVI CHAP. 1.2 c The Piety of King Ina His devout iourney to Rome 1. THE year of Grace seaven hundred twenty six was much illustrated by the piety and devotion of the glorious King of the West-Saxons Ina who after a raign of thirty eight years having munificently extended his liberality to the See of Rome then at last in his old age undertook a tedious iourney thither leaving his Kingdom to younger and stronger shoulders and resolving to spend the remainder of his life in devotion meditation of celestiall things near the monuments of the glorious Apostles S. Peter and S. Paul A practise of devotion in these dayes very frequent with all sorts Noble and ignoble men and women also as S. Beda testifies 2. Before he putt this in execution he the year before had beyond all his Predecessours richly endowed the ancient venerable Monastery of Glastonbury where from the foundation he erected a New Church consecrated to our Saviour and the Honour of S. Peter and S. Paul Princes of the Apostles and withall conferred on the said Monastery which he stiles the prime fountain and Originall of all Religion in Brittany very many large possessions and Manors confirming withall whatsoeves had been formerly given by Kings his Predecessours or any others a particular account whereof he setts down in his Charter Moreover he granted to the same Monastery very great Priviledges and exemptions from the Bishops authority permitting the Monks to receive in the said Monastery or in any Chappell 's annexed to it the Ecclesiasticall Sacraments froÌ„ whatsoever Bishop they should think fit so he were such an one as was conformable to the Church in the Paschall celebration 3. A Coppy of which Royal Charter is extant in Sir H. Spelman extracted out of the ancient Archives of that Monastery Where it is further written that the foresaid King Ina after the sealing of this Charter by himself with the consent and attestation of his Queen Edilburga of King Buldâ—ed of Adelard the Queens Brother of Beorthwald Arch-bishop of Canterbury c. directed Letters to Pope Gregory signed with his Royall Seale in which was enclosed the same Charter exemplified together with a Cup of gold and other royall presents beseeching him that he would receive the Church of Canterbury with all its appartenances and priviledges into the protection of the See Apostolick and confirm them for ever by his authority The same year likewise the said King took a iourney personally to Rome and sent back to Glastonbury this Priviledge confirmed by the Apostolick signet 4. This devout iourney of King Ina to Rome was suggested to him principally by his vertuous and pious Queen Ethelburga The innocent subtilty by which she at last effected it is related by William of Malmsbury to this effect King Ina saith he had to wife Ethelburga a Lady of Royall blood and a Royall mind likewise She frequently instilld into the cares of her husband motives to induce him to bid farwell at least in his last age to all wordly vanities Such good suggestions he would seem to approve but the execution of them he delayd from day to day At last she attempted to overcome him by subtilty in the manner following 5. On a certain time being in their Countrey-palace where a Royall court was kept with extreme magnificence assoon as they were gone from thence the Keeper of the house by the Queens private order defiled all the rooms of the palace with rubbish and the dung of cattell yea in the bed where the King and Queen had lyen he putt a sow with her young piggs In the mean time when the Court had proceeded little more then a mile in their return the Queen entreated and importuned the King to goe back to the same palace as if it imported almost her life The King with no great difficulty was perswaded but when he found his Palace which he had elâ—t but even then magnificeÌ„tly adorned now become so ugly and nasty he wonderd at it and turning his eyes to the Quern seemed to ask her the reason of this change She taking advantage of this occasion with a smiling look said to him so where are now the rustling tumults and noises Where are the magnificent purple Tapistries Where are the many vessels of gold and silver where the luxurious banquets for which sea and land was searched Are not all these vanished away like smoke and wind But woe to those who fixe their minds on such vanities which like a swift torrent make hast to loose themselves in the abysse for they likewise sholl be snatched away with them The more powerfull wee are the more powerfull will our torments be unlesse wee provide in time for our eternall state To this purpose she spoke and with such efficacy she by this emblem drew her husbands mind to perform what for many years together she could not obtain by her perswasions For after many victories and rich spoyles gained from his enemies and many noble exploâ—â—s performed in the world he at last aspiring to the supreme perfection of piety undertook a pilgrimage to Rome 6. As touching his pious Queen Edilburga how she disposed of her self entring into a Monastery of which she became Abbesse and dyed in great Sanctity wee shall treat in due season and place XVII CHAP. 1.2 King Ina first conferrs on the See Apostolick the Pension called Romescot or Peter pence 3. 4. c The same is continued by succeeding Princes even of the Norman Race and the like by forrain Kings c. 1. KING Ina being not only resolved but in a readinesse to begin his Pilgrimage towards Rome determind to leave some lasting monument of his Piety and affection to the See Apostolick His Predecessour Cedwalla had voluntarily quitted the throne and with great devotion changed his Purple into a poor Monasticall habit there near the Monuments of the Apostles King Ina not content to
English as should come to the Citty and in which if any of them hapned to dye here they might be buried Thus writes the same Authour who in another place declares that Burrhed last King of the Mercians going in pilgrimage to Rome and there dying was after a Royall manner buried in the Church of the Blessed Virgin adioyning to the Schoole of the English 5 It is not easy to determin in what region of this Citty the said Schoole and Church were placed Severall of our Historians agree that it was the same which is to this day called the Hospitall of the English or the Hospitall of S. Thomas thus write Polydor Harpsfeild Parker c But other Authours mentioning the frequent conflagrations of it particularly Anastasiuâ— Biâ—bliothecarius in his description thereof about the year of Grace eight hundred twenty three shews that it was seated in the Suburbs near to the Church of S. Peter in that place which is now called the Borgo and anciently Saxia because a Colony of Saxons was sent thither by Charles the great 6. King Inas having thus provided for securing a perpetuall succession and propagation of the Faith among his countreymen presently retired himself to a quiet repose in contemplation He therefore in the expression oâ— William of Malmsbury cutt off his hair and cloathing himself with a vile plebeian habit spent the short remainder of his age in a secret retirement And how acceptable this last sacrifice of himself was to Almighty God he was pleased to shew by many miracles saith the same Authour Now that by this plebeian habit was meant a Monasticall one the generall consent of our Historians doe confirm For the cloathing of Religious persons at the beginning was the same with that of the ordinary meaner sort of people but fashions altering among secular persons and Religious men not changing hence it comes that they have a distinct peculiar habit nothing at all resembling the generall fashion of other men in the world 7. His life was not prolonged at Rome For in our Martyrologe he is recorded to have dyed this same year and his memory is celebrated among Saints on the seaventh of February Which does not well agree together For his arrivall at Rome and the orders taken for such buildings could not be effected so early in the year Yet that he did not passe through the following year may be collected from hence that being dead his Sacred Body was buried with great honour in the entrance of S. Peters Church by reason that the Church founded by him to the honour of the Blessed Virgin was not quite finished XX. CHAP. 1.2 Death of S. Willeic and of S. Engelmund a Martyr 3.4 Oswold rebells against King Ethelard and is expelled 5 6 c. Death of S Egbert 8.9 Osric King of the Northumbers dying the pious King Ceolulf succeeds 1. TO this same year is consigned the happy death of the Holy Preist and Disciple of S. Swibert S. Willeic of whom some what hath been sayd before Concerning him thus writes Miraeus in his Belgick Calendar S. Willeic was an assistant of the holy Bishop S. Swibert in the preaching of the Gospell and became a Canon of the Church of Vtrecht lately erected After S. Swiberts death he governed the Monastery of Werda the space of ten years with great commendasion and esteem He dyed this year and his Memory is celebrated among the Saints on the second of March 2. About the same time also dyed yet more happily because his life was sacrifised by Martyrdom the glorious Saint and câ—panion of S. Willebrord S. Engelmund who according to the same Authour imbueâ— with Evangelicall Doctrin the â—acavians and Kenemarians But in the Supplement to the Gallican Martyrologe a larger Elogy is â—iven oâ— him in this manner At Welsa in Holland on this one and twentieth day of Iune is celebrated the happy death of S. Engelmund Preist and Martyr He by Nation an Englishman was companion of S. Willebrord by command of Pope Sergius was ioynd in commission with him in his Apostolick Office in preaching converting of soules and working miracles among the Pâ—isons He was also Abbot and directour of many Religious persons which he assembled together to praise our Lord. At length being zealously vrgent to withdraw the Savage Nation of the Prisons from their horrible Superstitions and barbarous manners he for so great Charity incurred their hatred and furâ—ous persecution with which he was at last oppressed So crowning his Apostolick Office with a glorious Martyrdom 3. The year following the Kingdom and Churches of the West-Saxons were much disquieted by the restles ambition of a young Prince of the Royall family called Oswold who it seems in indignation that King Ina in resigning the Crown preferred his kinsman Ethelward or Adelhard before him thought by force to give it himself Concerning this tumult and the successe of it unhappy to the aggressour thus writes Henry of Huntingdon Adelhard King of the West-Saxons before the first year of his raign was expired fought a batel against Oswold a young man of the Royall stock who attempted to obtain the kingdom for himself But the young man not being able to bring equall forces into the feild having for some time born the burden of a furious combat at last being overpowred was forced to fly and quite abandon the kingdom By which means King Ethelward was firmly established therein 4. This worthy King to shew himself a deserving Successour of King Ina presently after extended his Royall magnificence to houses of piety and Religion particularly to the famous Monastery of Glastonbury the memory whereof the Antiquities of that place doe thus commend to posterity When Câ—ngisle was Abbot in the year of our Lords Incarnation seaven hundred twenty nine Ethelard King and Successour of Ina bestowed for a stable possession to the Religious family serving our Lord in the Monastery of Glastonbury sixty hâ—des of land in Pohonholâ— and twelve hydes in Thoric His Queen likewise named Fridogitha gave Brunant How this devout Queen nine years after this quitted her Royall state and undertook a pilgrimage to Rome where she consecrated herself to God wee shall shew hereafter 5. This year likewise dyed the most holy Abbot Egbert of whom frequent mention has been made This is he who in the year of Grace six hundred sixty four being mortally sick of the Pestilence was wonderfully restored to health and forsaking his Native countrey Brittany went into Ireland in the year six hundred and ninety where for his admirable piety he was in â—igh estimation and being desirous to expose himself to all incommodities and dangers for spreading the Faith in forrain countreys waâ— by Almighty God who designed him for another employment hindred Notwithstanding by his exhortations the glorious Saint Willebrord Sutbert and their companions undertook that most famous Apostolick Mission into Germany This likewise was he who thirteen years
place to manifest the sincere veracity of so learned and pious an Authour wee will from his penn declare upon how well grounded an authority he built the whole frame of his History as likewise what diligent search he made for true information in all things as well such as hapned in former ages as during his own age in the other regions and kingdoms of Brittany and forrain countreyes And lastly wee will conclude with a particular Narration of Saint Beda's own life and happy death 2. As touching the first thus he writes At this present time to witt in the year of Grace seaven hundred thirty one the Bishops governing the severall Episcopall Sees of Brittany are these following The Province of Kent is administred by Tatwine Arch-bishop oâ— Canterbury and Aldulf Bishop of Rochester That of the East-Saxons by Inguald Bishop of London The East Angles by Eadbert or Aldbert Bishop of Dumwich and Hadulac Bishop of Helmham The Province of the West-Saxons by Daniel Bishop of Winchester and Forthere Bishop of Shirborn In the kingdom of the Mercians Alduin is Bishop of Lichfeild Walstod Bishop of Hereford and the region beyond the Severn Wilfrid Bishop of Worcester and Cymbert or Kinebert Bishop of the Lindisfari or Lincoln as for the Isle of Wight it was annexed to the See of Winchester The Province of the South-Saxons of late has been vacant and therefore has recourse to the Bishop of the West-Saxons that is Winchester for such necessities as require Episcopall Ministery And all these together with other Southern Provinces though governed immediatly by particular Kings yet both they and their Kings also from the South Sea as far as the Humber Northwards are subject to Edilbald King of the Mercians Lastly the large Province of the Northumbers of which Ceolulf is now King is administred by four Bishops the Church of York by Wilfrid the younger that of Lindeâ—â—arn by Edilwald Hagustald or Hexham by Acca and Candida Casa or Witehern by Pectheâ—m This last Episcopall See has been lately erected by reason that the number of Christians there has been greatly multiplied and Pecthelm was consecrated the first Bishop thereof Thus are the severall Episcopall Churches of Brittany administred 3. As touching the severall Nations inhabiting it that of the Picts is ioynd in league with the English and to their great ioy with the Vniversall Church in the Orthodox Faith Communion and peace The Scotts inhabiting the Northern parts of Brittany are quiet and make no attempts or fraudulent designs against the English The Brittains although for the most part out of a Nationall hatred they have an iâ—â—econcileable aversion from the English and likewise doe erroneously and impiously oppose the Catholick Church in the Paschall Observance yet in neither of these regards can they attain their purpose and prevaile both divine and human power resisting their designs For though a great part of that Nation be independent on any other yet in some places they are subject to the Empire of the English And again the times at present being peaceable very many of them in the Northern parts called Cumbers both Nobles and of inferiour condition doe more frequently receive the Monasticall Tonsure in English Monasteries and consecrate their children to the same Profession then exercise themselves in arms and warlike exploits And what good issue may come from hence the succeeding age will see 4. Such at present is the state of all Brittany in this year which is the two hundred eighty fifth since the coming of the English into this Island and the seaven hundred and one and thirtieth after our Lords Incarnation I will conclude with this prayer That the earth may all ways reioyce in the kingdom of our God and many Islands with ioy confesse to the memory of his Holines the constancy of Brittany in his Faith Thus does S. Beda conclude his History XXIII CHAP. i 2. c. The names and qualities of such persons from whom S. Beda received information in his History 1. IN the next place for a proof of his veracity in his History wee will produce his Epistle to the illustrious and learned King Ceolulf then raigning over the Northumbers to whom S. Beda presented the same desiring not so much his protection as iudgment and censure of it In which Epistle to the end he might approve his care and diligence to inform himself in the truth he produces the names and characters of the principall persons from whom he received information and assistance persons of such abilities piety and esteem that no man can reasonably suspect in them either want of knowledge or of sincerity Thus therefore he writes 2. The principall Authour and assistant in this work saith he was Albinus the most reverend Abbot of Canterbury a man of eminent learning in all kinds of litterature having been educated therein by those two most venerable and learned men Theodore Arch-bishop of the said Church of happy memory and Hadrian Abbot This worthy Abbot Albinus was pleased to communicate to mee partly in writing and partly by the Religious Preist of the Church of London Nothelm whom he sent to acquaint mee with all particular occurrents worthy memory which had after diligent enquiry come to his knowledge either in the Province of Kent or adiacent Regions concerning the Gests of the Disciples of the Blessed Pope S. Gregory or whatsoever he could find in ancient Record or receive from the Tradition of Ancestours The said Nothelm likewise afterward going to Rome by permission of Pope Gregory searching the Archives of that Church found and copied out certain Letters both of the said Pope and some of his Predecessours touching the affaires of Brittany which at his return by the advice of the most Reverend Abbot Albin he brought to mee to be inserted in this History 3. In the which those things which are related from the beginning thereof to the times in which the English Nation receiued the Christian Faith wee collected principally out of such Writings as we could here and there meet with Then from that time to the present age all the Gests performed in the Province of Kent by the Disciples of S. Gregory and their Successours and under what Kings they were performed all these came to my knowledge by the industry of the foresaid Abbot Albin and the relation of Nothelm sent by him The same persons likewise informed mee in severall things touching the Conversion of the West and East-Saxons the East-Angles and Northumbers by the preaching of what Bishops and in the raign of what Kings those Provinces received the Christian Faith In a word it was principally by the advice and perswasion of the same Albinus that I had the courage to sett upon this work 4. Besides these the most Reverend Bishop of the West Saxons Daniel who is yet alive gave mee an account in writing of many things regarding the Ecclesiasticall History of that Province and that of the South-Saxons confining
at London in which Church he was Preist not Bishop as Parker mistakingly affirms Some thing hath already been spoken of him when wee related how S. Beda made use of his industry and assistance in composing his History 6. To this New Arch-bishop Nothelm presently after his consecration S. Boniface directed an Epistle in which after he had desired from him the same Christian affection Vnion of minds which heretofore he had with S. Brithwald his Predecessour he proposed to him a difficulty and scrupule which had much and long tormented him a resolution whereof he desired from him as he did from diverse others and particularly from Pecthelm Bishop of Candida Casa and also from an English Abbot called Duddo who had formerly been S. Boniface his own Schollar yet such was his humility that he disdaind not to consult him Now the Doubt or difficulty I will sett down in S. Boniface's own expression 7. I desire saith he to hear your counsell touching a sin committed by mee through ignorance in permitting mariage between two parties the Case stood thus A certain Man with my leave maried a woman a widdow to whose sâ—n he had formerly been God-father This the Romans say is so unlawfull that they ought to be divorced Yea moreover they affirm that anciently under the Christian Emperours â—uch a crime was punished with death or at least perpetuall banishment Now I beseech you to inform mee whether you can find either in the Decrees of the Ancient Catholick Fathers or Holy Scriptures that this is so great a sin For mine own part I can by no means comprehend how a carnall conjunction between persons in a Spirituall prâ—pinquity should be a heynous sin since in Sacred Baptism wee are all of us sons and daughters of Christ and his Church and Brothers and Sâ—sters to one another 8. The Resolution of this Doubt wee can not find since their Answers hereto are lost But Serrarius a learned Iesuit who published Saint Boniface's Epistles with Annotations after he had produced severall Decrees of Ancient Popes strictly forbidding such Mariages shews the Answer to this Doubt to be now very easy Adding withall That if in S. Boniface's time the Ancient Caâ—ins had been in the same number and order as now he would never have doubted of the Question However his diligence in seeking satisfaction is highly to be praised and his humility of mind to be imitated since he not only proposes his doubts to Bishops but even his own Disciples desiring to be taught by them now in his old age yea since he professes that he will not pertinaciously adhere to his own iudgment but obediently acquiesee in the Decrees of the Church and Holy Fathers How far now are our modern Sectaries from such a disposition of mind For Luther and Beza grounding themselves upon their private iudgment and proudly contemning and opposing all Antiquity and authority doe sett as nought all regard of Spirituall Alliance Such difference there is between the Spirits of a modest humble Catholick and an arrogant Heretick IV. CHAP. 1.2 c The Gests of S. Pecthelm 6.7.8 Of S. Wiro 9. And of S. Otger 1. AS touching S. Pecthelm Bishop of Candida Casa to whom S. Boniface directed one of his Epistles demanding his iudgment touching the forementiond doubt it is not easy to determin in what place that Epistle might find him Wee signified his Ordination to that See in the year seaven hundred twenty three and S. Beda in the eighth year after concluding his History affirms that he continued at that time Bishop there Yet the Writers of the Gallican and Belgick Antiquities consonantly aâ—â—â—rm that he left Britâ—tany and after the example of S. Boniface propagated the Christian Faith in those Countreys Of which there is an absolute silence among our English Historians Let us therefore enquire concerning his Gests of forrain Authours 2. In the Gallican Martyrologe upon the fifteenth day of Iuly wee read thus In the Mount of S. Peter otherwise called the Monastery of S. Odila neer Ruremâ—nd in Belgium â—s that day celebrated the deposition of S. Pecthelm Bishop of Candida Casa in Scotland that 〈◊〉 now for anciently it was within the Doâ—â—nioâ— of the English-Saxons and Confessour who being inflamed with a zeale to root out Heathenish Superstition to that time springing â—p in some parts of Belgium undertook a voyage into those countreys in the company of S. Wiro Bâ—â—hop and S. Otger a Deacon Where he was kindly entertaind by King Pipin and encouraged â—o so pious a work He brought very many to the Light of Evangelicall Truth and cast down severall profane Temples of fâ—lse Gods building many Churches to the honouâ— of the only true God The like testimony wee find in Miraeus his Belgick Calendar 5 Now the death of this Holy Bishop our Historian Florentius referrs to this present year Concerning which the sayd Martyrologe thus treats In the same Monastery S Pecthelm full of dayes and merits peaceably dyed And many Divine Miracles shining at his Sepulcher declared him a glorified Saint in heaven Whereupon veneration and honour due to Saints was attributed to him and his Holy Companions For â—heir Sacred Relicks were taken up and reposed under the Altar of the Cathedrall Church of Ruâ—emond and moreover an annuall Feast and Office celebrated in their honour not only through that whole Diocese but also at Oldensale in the Bishoprick of Daventer where his Head is preserved and with great veneration of the people honoured Hereunto Miraeus adds That this anâ—ient Inscription is found upon their Shrines Parts of the Relicks of S. Wiro S. Pecthelm and Saint Otger In the year of Grace one thousand five hundred seaventy one in which the rebellious Gueuses or Calvinists having overthrown the Table of the Altar but leaving the base untouched they were by a singular Providence of God defended from the fury of those Hereticks and twenty three years after when the same Altar was repaired they were there found and afterward honourably taken up as wee read in the Office of the Church of Ruremond 4 In this Narration there occurr difficulties of some weight For whereas it is sayd that Saint Pecthelm was kindly received by King Papin it will not be easy to determin among three Princes in this age all of the same name which was he who received our Saints Whether the first Pipin son to the elder Carloman or his Grandchild by his daughter Begga or the last who was Son to Charles Martel and was the only Pipin who was King But he not beginning his raign till the year seaven hundred fifty two he could not be King at S. Pecthelm's arrivall in France Therefore most probable it is that he was at this time only a young Duke but is stiled King because he became so afterward Notwithstanding after all this the Irish Historians confidently apply all this Story to their Pecthelm Bishop of Tuam and indeed their
Poets Musicians vain ieasters drinkers and feasters be utterly forbidden since great scandalls and suspicion arise from such 21. That all Ecclesiasticks and Monks fly particularly the Sin of Drunkennes 22. That such likewise live in a fitt preparation for the Holy Communion and that when occasion is they confesse their sins c. 12 That Lay persons also young and old dispose themselves so as to be fitt to receive the same Holy Sacrament 24. That Seculars be not admitted to Religious Profession till after fitt examination and probation 25. That after every Synod Bishops promulgate to their Clergy the Decrees there made 26. That the people be exhorted to Almsgiving by which their sins may be redeemed but withall that they be taught not so to trust in their Almes as from thence to take a licence to sin 27. That in the Holy exercise of Psalmody whether in the Latin or Saxon tongue men be carefull to ioyn their hearts to their voyces And that those who doe not understand the Office in Latin should however be carefull to have their minds and affections fixed upon God and Spirituall things 28. That Monasteries be not burdned with a greater multitude then they can maintain That Superiours doe not over-presse their Religious with labour and that both Men and women Religious abstain from secular vanity and fashions in apparell 9. That Monks and Nunns be not permitted to inhabit among Seculars 30. That since there is a suspicion entred into the minds of Kings and Princes that Ecclesiasticks Bishops and Preists doe not bear them inward affection nor wish their proâ—perity but rather the contrary The said Ecclesiasticks in this Synod doe protâ—st that such suspicion is without ground and iâ— it were iust they should be guilty oâ— sins not only contrary to their sublime Profession but even to the common Duty of Christians To shâ—w therefore that they wâ—re free from a vice so detestable it was ordained Tâ—at all Ecclesiasticks and Monks in every Canonicall Hower should incessantly implore the Divine â—lemency for the safety of their Kings Dukes Nobles and all Christian people as â—ell as for themselves 31. Thatâ—â—ey â—â—ey be all unanimons in Faith Hope and Charity both to God and one another and diligent in Praâ—ing both for the Living and the Dead celebrating often the Propitiatory Sacrifices for their repose c. 6. To this effect were the Canons of this worthy Synod After the conclusion whereoâ— Cuthbeâ—t the Arch-bishop of Canterbury sent a Copy of all the Acts and Decrees by his Deacon Kâ—nebert to Saint Boniface thereby shewing him that he had not been unmindfull of his admonitions nor of the Precepts of Pope Zacharias And it is not to be doubted but now King Ethelbald renewd thâ—t respect to Gods Church which he shewd so worthily in his younger years a further proof whereof he gave two years after this in restoring the Priviledges and immunities thereof which had by himself and others been so much infringed XX. CHAP. 1. Succession of Kings in Kent 2. Kenred a hopefull Prince of the West-Saxons unhappily slain 3. The Monastery of Bredon in Worcestershire founded 4 5 c. Of Sampson a naughty Scottish Preist 1. THE year following Edilbert King of Kent and eldest son of Withred after a raign of three and twenty years dying withoâ—t issue his Brother Edbert succeeded him Some of our Historians account Edbert the elder Brother and affirm that he dying this year Edilbert the next succeeded The Eâ—rour on which side soever it lyes is not much materiall And indeed these Princes oâ— Kent to whom the Titles oâ— King are given wâ—re so obscure that no wonder both their names and actions should be delivered to poâ—terity uncertainly In the late Sâ—nod at Cloveâ—â— in Kent among the subscriptions none 〈◊〉 named as King but Ethelbald King oâ— the Mercians to whom these Princes were tributary and therefore those three Brothers Edilbert Edbert and Alâ—c wâ—o raigned successively in Kent are to be esteemed â—s reckond under the Tiâ—les of Princes and Dâ—â—es Subscribers to the said Synod As touching the Prince who now dyed all that is recorded of him is that he bestowd on the Monastery of Religious Vâ—rgins at Menâ—rey in the â—sle of Thanet certain lands as Harpsfeild declares 2. The same year which was the ninth of the Raign of Cuthred King of the West-Saxons saith Huntingdon his Son Kenric was slain a Prince of wonderfull hopes tender in years but vigorous and â—eirce in combats and ioyfull to find any occasion to exercise his valour This young Prince in a certain expedition being too eager in pursuing his good successe through immoderat heat discontented his own soldiers and in a â—edition raised by them was slain 3. To thiâ— year is referred the new erection of a Church and Monastery at a Town called Bredon in the Province of Worcester by a certain Noble man of the Mercian kingdom called Eanulf Concerning which Camden thus writes At the root of the said Hills is seated a Town called Bredon where was a Monastery founded Concerning which wee read this passage in a Charter made by Offa who was afterwards King of the Mercians I Offa King of the Mercians doe give land containing thirty five acres of tributaries to the Monastery named Breodun in the Province of the Wiccians Worcestershire to the Church of S. Peter Prince of the Apostles built there which my Grand-father Eanulf founded to the praise and glory of God who lives for ever This devout Charity of Eanulf Almighty God rewarded by exalting to the throne of the Mercian Kingdom his grandchild Offa who held it illustriously the space of nine and thirty years as shall hereafter be declared 4. This is all which occured memorable in Brittany this year Passing therefore over into Germany wee shall find there the whole care of the late planted Church to lye in a manner upon Saint Boniface alone Who being much disquieted with false Teachers pretending to be Preists and spreading pernicious errours touching the Sacraments of the Church his best remedy was to consult the See Apostolick for which purpose he sent this year Burchard Bishop of Wirtzburg to Rome with Letters to acquaint Pope Zacharias with the impediments which he mett with in propaâ—ating the Faith 5. What those speciall impediments were does appear by the Popes Answer In which wee find that great numbers of false Preists who never had been ordained by Bishops and confounding all Ecclesiasticall order refused to be subiect to Bishops against whom they armed popular tumults making separated Congregations in which they taught doctrines contrary to Catholick Faith not requiring before Baptism an abrenunciation of Satan and refusing to sign with the Crosse yea not so much as instructing such as were baptized in the Faith of the Blessed Trinity 6. And among such Ministers of Satan a principall one was a certain Scott named Sampson who also had the impudence to teach that without the Mysticall
professed Hereticks such as Vigilantius and Iovinian ever opposed the Doctrines confirmed by such Stories XVI CHAP. 1.2 c. Severall Successions of English Bishops 4.5 c. The Gests and Death of S. Sturmis first Abbot of Fulda 1. THE year following severall Episcopall Sees were vacant in Brittany In the kingdom of the East-Angles Eglaf Bishop of Dumwiâ—h and Athelwolf of Helmham as it were by an ancient Law dying at the same time to the former was substituted Eadred and to the other Hunfert Again the See of Hagulstadt being vacant by the death of a Prelat of eminent vertue Alcmund Tilbert or Tilher or as some call him Gilbert was ordained in his place And Kenulf Bishop of Lindesfarn dying his Successour was Higbald Lastly in our ancient Catalogue of the Succession of Bishops we find that another Tilher was consecrated Bishop of Worcester in the place of Weremund who dyed this year 2. Not long after Albert or Aldebert sirnamed Coena Arch-bishop of York as Hoveden writes departed this life to our Lord but a little before he dyed Eanbald was ordained in his room Some affirm that this Eanbald was a Disciple of S. Alcuin But they are mistaken for it was not this but an other of the same name who sixteen years after this was his immediate Successour in the said Arch-bishoprick that was Alcuins Disciple 3. Moreover Kineard Bishop of Winchester at this time ended his life to whom succeeded Aethelard Abbot of Meldun or Malmsbury who was afterward assumed to the See of Canterbury And in the place of Bertun Bishop of Lichfeild was substituted Higebert 4. Wee shall not much transgresse the bounds of this History if wee commemorate the death of Sturmis the first Abbot of Fulda who by the Centuriators of Magdeburg is affirmed to have been an English-Saxon but more truly a German of the Province of Noricum as wee read in his Life written by Aegila the fourth Abbot of the same Monastery of Fulda He was in his childhood offred to S. Boniface who recommended him to the care of his devout Preist Wigbert Abbot of the Monastery of Fritzlar by whose inspection he was in his tender years brought up in piety and learning in so much as that being yet but a child he committed to his memory the whole Psalter and a great part of the Gospells and other Lessons of Holy Scripture 5. In due time he was ordained Preist and with great zeale preached the Gospell among the Pagans Almighty God confirming his Doctrine by frequent Miracles as casting out of Devills restoring many to health by imposition of his hands with prayer Many seduced Christians he recovered to the Orthodox Faith and many discords and dissentions he composed teaching all his hearers to practise meeknes humility longanimity and Charity 6. After three years thus piously employed he was by inspâ—ration moved to undertake a life of solitude austerity and contemplation Which having discovered to Saint Boniface he was by him appointed to find out in the Province called Bâ—chonia a convenient retired place for a Monastery to which quiet state S. Boniface himself had an intention in his old age to betake himself though he could never effect his desire After a long search at last his Disciple Sturmis found out the most proper and in all respects most convenient Seat of Fulda where as hath been declared S. Boniface by the munifiâ—ence of the Noble Princes Caroloman and Pipin built that famous Monastery 7. When it was built he committed the care and government of it to S. Sturmu to whom he gave instructions how he should direct such as were committed to his care adding likewise Precepts concerning obedience and Humility to be practised by the Monks conformable to the Rule of S. Benedict which he established among them Among other Instructions he told them that he could not find in any Writings of the ancient Institutours of Caenobiticall Profess on that Wine or Strong drink were becoming the Disciplin of a Monastery he therefore forbad the same to them But some years after in the raign of King Pipin this custom by the Decree of a Synod was altered in coÌ„sideration of the weaknes infirmities of many among them though some persisted in the ancient austerity to their deaths 8. But for a more perfect Instruction in Monasticall Disciplin S. Sturmis four years after he had been constituted Abbot with the consent of S. Boniface went to Rome where for a years space he perfectly informed himself in the Regular practises and Traditions of the Monasteries there and severall other parts of Italy And having made a collection of the best and most perfect returned homewards and first informing Saint Boniface of of all by his advice he established the practises of them in his Monastery of Fulda Hence it came to passe that many seeing the innocence and piety of those Religious men were induced to heap possessions on the said Monastery 9. After S. Boniface's Martyrdom the Holy Abbot Sturmis to whom S. Boniface had given order that his body should be buried at Fulda went into Friseland attended with a great multitude to fetch the Sacred Body which after earnest contention with S. Lullus Arch-bishop of Mentz at last he obtained and with a most solemn Procession brought to his Monastery By occasion of which the devotion of many to that holy place encreasing the Monastery became much enlarged and enriched 10. Not long after the Devill enviously looking on the prosperity of the said Monastery suggested to the minds of three malevolent Monks to accuse their Holy Abbot to King Pipin obiecting to him that he was an enemy to the King The Holy man did not expresse much earnestnes to refute this accusation saying only I have a witnes in heaven of the falsenes of this imputed crime Whereupon by the Kings command he was banished from thence with a few other Monks and retired to a Monastery called Vanediâ—h where he remained two years with all kindnes entertained by the Abbot As for the Monastery of Fulda the care or it was committed to Lullus who had conceived a bitter passion against the Holy Abbot Sturmis upon occasion of the contention about S. Boniface his body Lullus thereupon appointed over them a certain Monk called Marc whose government the Monks could by no means support insomuch as when they were ready unanimously to forsake the Monastery Lullus quietted them by permitting the choice of an Abbot to themselves This pleasing them they elected one of their brethâ—en a true servant of God named Freszold one who from his infancy had been brought up by S. Sturmis and was tenderly loved by him who accepted of the Orrice of Abbot onely out of a desire and intention to ioyn with his brethren in endeavouring to restore their good Spirituall Father Sturmis For which purpose they demanded the Prayers of all the neighbouring Monasteries 11. By vertue of which Prayers God moved the heart of King Pipin to call to mind
it 1. WE will conclude this Book and Century with a short view of the state of Gods Church in Brittany at this time Sir Henry Spelman has published another Synod held this year at Clovesho In which after a publick attestation of the Vniformity of their Faith with the same which Saint Gregory the Great caused to the taught here at the first Conversion of the Nation with a Profession that what they beleived they would also in their lives practise a Decree was made for the restitution of all lands and goods which had been usurped by Lay-persons and violently taken from Churches and Monasteries 2 More specially Athelard Arch-bishop of Canterbury presiding in the same represented to the Synod how Ethelbald King of the Mercians had given formerly to the Church of our Saviour in Canterbury a certain Monastery called Cotham with all the Lands and possessions belonging thereto and that such his Donation might be of perpetuall force he sent by Cuthbert then Archbishop a Turf of the said land together with all Writings perâ—aining to the same Monastery which he required him to lay upon the Altar of our Saviours Church But after the death of the said Arch-bishop two men who had been educated by him named Veâ—head and Osbert by the Devills instigation stole away those Writings and caried them to Ceolulf King of the West-Saxons who thereupon took to his own use the said Monastery and land notwithstanding any thing that the Arch-bishop could alledge His Successours likewise in the Arch-bishoprick Bregwan and Iambert in severall Synods made complaints of this injury done to the Church of our Saviour both to the King of the West-Saxons and to Offa King of the Mercians who had subdued many Citties and particularly that Territory in which the said Monastery of Cotham was seated which he annexed to his own Dominion But now at last Kenulf King of the Mercians repenting of his injustice had restored all the said Writings adding withall a great summe of money humbly requesting that he might be absolved from the Excommunications denounced against Sacrilegious usurpers of Church-lands 3. Matters standing thus the said Arch-bishop Athelard together with his principall Officer Cuba brought the foresaid Writings into the Synod which were publickly read and approved Then he acquainted the Synod that by a mutuall agreement between himself and a certain Abbesse named Cynedritha she should possesse the said Monastery of Cotham with all lands belonging to it giving in exchange land of one hundred and ten Mansions and Sixty Hides Cassatarum in a place named Fleot and thirty in another called Tenaham and twenty in a third named Creges Ennulina all which lands King Offa had formerly given to her and her heyrs and after their decease to the Church of Beodford This agreement touching an exchange with a mutuall surrendry of all Writings on both sides the Arch-bishop desired might be approved and confirmed by the Synod that no difference might hereafter happen between his Successours and the heyrs of King Offa. He moreover gave to the same Abbesse another Monastery seated in a place called Pectonege which the devout King Egfrid had bestowd on him to be possessed by a right of inheritance XXIII CHAP. 1.2 c. The Martyrdom of S. Alcmund a Northumbrian Prince 4.5 c. Brithric King of the West-Saxons murdred by his Queen Eadburga For which it was ordained that the wives of succeeding Kings should never have the Title of Queens 1. THE Kingdom of the Northumbers at this time was again most greivously plagued by the Danish Pirats for a most horrible army of them landing in the Northern parts cruelly spoyled the Churches of Hercenes and Tynmouth 2. The same year also Alcmund son of Alred who had been there King was apprehended by the guards of the present Vsurping King Eardulf and by his command was slain together with all those who had been his companions in banishment 3. This Prince Alcmund was son of that King Alred who in the year of Christ seaven hundred seaventy four was by a rebellion of his Subiects driven out of his kingdom and fled to the Picts This Prince willingly followed his Father into banishment the incommodities whereof he bore with a Christian equanimity By such afflictions God disposed this pious Prince for a far richer crown For though by the relation of Mathew of Westminster he is said to have been slain by the cruelty of King Eardulf yet in our Martyrologe he is commemorated in the quality of a Martyr made a sacrifice to God by the inhumanity of the Danes Certain it is that he dyed a violent and uniust death and by posterity has been aâ—ways venerated as a Saint which God approved by many Miâ—racles In the Citty of Darby a magnificent Church was built to his honour called to this day the Church of S. Alcmund Another likewise was erected in Shrewsbury as our Martyrologe testifies where his Name is celebrated among Saints on the nineteenth of March. And in former times a great concourse thither was made especially from the Northern parts to pay their devotions to God in honouring his Saint their iniured countreyman 4. This Century concluded with the death of Brithric King of the West-Saxons by the treacherous cruelty of his Wife The manner thereof is thus described by Mathew of Westminster King Brithric saith he had taken to wife Eadburga daughter to Offa King of the Mercians This woman being exalted to so great honours did not content her self but was restlesse in her ambition to enioy alone all wealth and power Therefore with a tyrannous malice she was wâ—nt to accuse before the King and persecute all the Nobles of the Kingdom and all others who favoured iustice By which means she became the Obiect of the Vniversal hatred both of the Princes and inferiour subiects Because that wicked woman by her flatteries had so insinuated her self into the Kings affection and esteem that whosever she accused were presently either banished or slain Or if she could not obtain this her custom was privatly to destroy them by poison 5. Now there was at that time a certain young man of a Noble family and deeply in the Kings favour against whom the Queen not having any thing of which she could with any pretence of iustice accuse him she provided poyson with which she killed him And a part of this poyson the King unawares taesting immediatly dyed Her purpose then was not that the poison should be given to the King but only to the young man his favourite but by mishap they both drank of it and both presently dyed 6. The King being thus unhappily slain the Queen knowing how universally she was hated in great fear fled away privatly carying with her inestimable treasure And passing the Sea she went to the Emperour-Charles to whom she presented many rich gifts On a certain time 〈◊〉 she was among other Ladies standing in his presence being though a most wicked yet a
rooms where coming to his guest he said thus to him Freind If those things which thou told'st mee lately concerning Christ be true I beseech thee to declare to mee freely and without any feare the meaning of my dream Mee thought I saw a certain man come down from heaven and presently an innumerable multitude of men laid hold on him and tormented him all the wayes they could devise they bound his hands with chaines they tore his flesh most greivously with whips they hung him on a tree stretching his hands a crosse The man thus tormented was quite naked not having so much as shooes on his feet His hands and feet were fastned to the wood with nailes and his side was peirced through with a spear and from his wound as it seem'd to mee there flowd both blood and water On his right hand they sett a reed and upon his head they put a crown of thorns 5. And when they had exercised all that human cruelty could devise they began to insult on him with despightfull speeches Saying to him Hayle King of the Iewes if thou art the Son of God come down from the Crosse and wee will beleive in thee And when they had continued a good while thus reviling him the Young man answerd them not a word To conclude after they had sayd what so ever they thought good to him at last he cryed out with a loud voyce and sayd Father into thy hands I commend my spirit and having said this he expired His livelesse body was afterward taken down from the Crosse out of which the blood still flowd abundantly They then layd it in a sepulcher of stone sealing the monument and setting guards to watch it But then followd a wonderfull thing for this bloodlesse carkeys return'd to life and resuming its former strength came out of the sepulcher which remaind seald as before I my selfe with mine own eyes saw how he rose again Then came from heaven certain men cloathed with Vestments white as snow and taking the man with them returned from whence they came and were attended by an infinite number of others in white garments which all the way ceased not to sing praise incessantly blessing the Father I know not who he was together with his Son saying Blessed be God the Father together with his onely begotten Son They express'd such wonderfull ioy as nothing could be compar'd to it These things I saw and besides these many other which I neither will nor ought to declare I beseech thee now tell mee what is signified by these things which were represented to mee in Vision Doe not fear any danger to your selfe at all but speak freely 6. The holy man Amphibalus having heard all this sensibly felt his heart visited by our Lord with incredible ioy And presently taking out a Crucifix which he had born secretly he said to Albanus Behold in this figure and image thou maist manifestly perceive the meaning and importance of thy last nights Vision For the man who came from heaven is this Iesus Christ my Lord Who refused not to undergoe the punishment of the Crosse to the end that by his blood He might free us from the guilt which we had contracted by the transgression of our first Father Adam Now those men which layd violent hands upon him and afflicted him by diverse sorts of torments were his own people the Iewes For though they had a promise from God that he would send unto them from heaven his own Son yet when he whom they so much and so long a time expected was come they did not acknowledge him to be the Authour of their salvation but contradicted him in every thing and returned to him evill for good and hatred for his love and in conclusion being agitated with extreme envy and malice against him they broke forth to such horrible impiety that they layd hold on him crucified and murdred him Thus it was that our mercifull Lord redeem'd us with the price of his own blood thus by dying he became victorious over death and being rais'd upon the Crosse he drew all to him For descending voluntarily to the enclosures of Hell he freed from Captiuity his own servants detain'd there and binding the Devill in everlasting chaines he cast him into the utmost places of darknes 7. Then Albanus being fill'd with wonder at these speeches broke forth into these words All that thou hast said of Christ is most true and can not be charged with any falsity For this last night I evidently perceived and with mine own eyes saw how Christ overcame the Devill how he bound him and thrust him down into the bottom of Hell where that abominable wretch lyes fast tyed with chaines So that hereby knowing that all things told by thee are true from this moment I doe professe that I will be thy most obedient Disciple Tell mee therfore I beseech thee for I know thou art ignorant of nothing how must I behave my self to the Father and the Holy Ghost now that I professe my self a servant of the Son 8. Amphibalus at this question with great ioy sayd I give thanks to my Lord Iesus Christ for that thou of thine own selfe hast had the knowledge to pronounce these three adorable Names Beleive therfore firmly and professe faithfully that the three Persons express'd by thee with their proper names are one onely God Albanus answered I beleive said he and from hence forward my firm Faith is that there is no other God besides my Lord Iesus Christ who for the salvation of mankind took our nature and suffred death on the Crosse He together with the Father and the Holy Spirit is one onely God and besides him there is no other 9. Having said this he oft times cast himself prostrate before the Crucifix and as if he had seen our Lord Iesus himself hanging on the Crosse this happy Penitent earnestly begg'd pardon for his sins Such affectionate kisses he often pressed on his feet and places of his wounds as if he had lieâ— prostrate as the feet of his Redeemer whom he had seen crucified Teares mixt with blood flowd abundantly from his eyes upon the Venerable Crosse which he accompanied with these words I renounce the Devill said he and I detest all the enemies of our Lord in whom only I beleive and resigne my self to him who as thou affirmest rose the third day from the dead 10. Then Amphibalus said to him Be of good courage our Lord is with thee and his Grace will never be wanting to thee That saving Faith which other men attain to by ministery of men thou hast learnt not of men nor by men but by the revelation of Iesus Christ himself Therfore being assured of thy constancy my purpose is to leave thee and to travell further that I may shew the way of Truth to other Gentiles also By no means said Albanus Stay at least one week longer with mee that I may be more perfectly instructed in the Faith by
read this passage Vther-Pendragon the Brother of Ambrosius dying by poyson in the tenth year after the coming of Cerdic the West-Saxon his Son Arthur a youth of fifteen years began to rule over the Brittains His Mothers name was Igerna and he was born in a Castle of Cornwall call'd Tintagel In which Narration we find no aspersion cast on his Birth Though it be not very credibile which follows in the same Antiquities that by his Mother he was descended from a Nephew of Saint Ioseph of Arimathea call'd Heâ—anis And whereas he is savd to be no more then fifteen years of age when his Father dyed that suits not with what was before related from Malmsburiensis That Ambrosius repress'd the insolence of the Saxons by the courageous exploits of Warlick Prince Arthur So that he could be no lesse then twenty years old at the year of Grace four hundred ninety three By which account since generally our Writers assign twenty six years to his Raign and agree that he dyed in the year five hundred forty two his death will happen when he was seaventy years old II. CHAP. 1.2.3 Prince Arthur fights against the Picts and kills Huel 1. ARthur was not present in the Army when his Father Vther was slain For at the same time he had employment enough to oppose the irruptions of the Picts in the Northern parts of Brittany And for this reason probably it is that in the Annals of the Saxons there is no mention of him the design of which Annals being to relate the encounters between them and the Brittains and their own almost uninterrupted conquests they neglected the affaires intervening betwen the Brittains and Picts 2. Now at that time liv'd a King of the Picts by some writers call'd Navuâ— by others Can happy in a fruitfull offspring for he had four and twenty children Of which the Eldest was call'd Howel or Huel a Prince of invincible courage who would by no means acknowledge any subjection to Brittany into which faction he drew all the rest of his Brethren excepting only S. Gildas sirnam'd Albanius who was one of them and bore a particular affection to Prince Arthur 3. The sayd Huel being of a restles spirit made frequent inroads into Brittany as we read in the life of S. Gildas written by Caradoc a considerable Brittish Historian And so cruelly did he wast the Countrey that the Brittish King sent Prince Arthur with a numerous Army who began a most furious war against the bold young man And after many defeats given him he never left pursuing him till at last compelling him to fight in a certain Island call'd Mynau he slew him III. CHAP. 1.2 c. Of S. Gildas Albanius and his Gests 7.6 Melvas a Brittish Prince steales away K. Arthurs wife 1. HAving upon occasion of King Arthurs war against the Picts made mention of S. Gildas Albanius it will be seasonable in this place to relate breifly his Gests as we find them sprinckled in severall ancient Monuments We have already signified that he is to be distinguish'd from another of that name call'd Gildas Sapiens and Gildas Historicus who was younger then he though contemporary to him of whom we shall treat hereafter Yet their agreement in the same name and in severall good qualities hath been the cause that in some Writers they are confounded together and the titles of Sapiens and Historicus have been attributed also to this elder Saint Gildas who likewise by the testimony of Pits did write the life and Gests of S. German and S. Lupus and also a History of the Brittish Kings and other Treatises besides which are now lost 2. This Elder S. Gildas as we read in his life conserved by Capgrave was the Son of Can King of Albania In his childhood being of an excellent disposition he was carefully instructed in litterature wherein he proffited wonderfully Afterward he was sent into Gaule that there having greater advantages for encreasing in knowledge he might attain to higher perfection There he aboad seaven years after which he returned into Brittany furnish'd not only with â—earning but abundance of Books also a â—â—re treasure in his rude countrey And the report of his eminent learning being spread abroad many flock'd to him from all quarters to be instructed by him 3. But he was more diligent to enrich himself with vertue and piety then knowledge So that none could be found in all those regions comparable to him in assiduous prayers mortifications fasting and wearing sack-cloath He wholly abstaind from flesh contenting himself with barley bread and herbes with which he mix'd ashes to abate the pleasure which his tast might take in his food and his drink was pure water from the fountain He would ordinarily at midnight plunge himself in the river for mortification and spend the rest of the night in Prayer By these austerities he became so lean that he look'd as if he had been in a feaver Whatsoever was bestowed on him by rich men he presently distributed to the poore 4. Being thus qualified his Charity drew him out of his own countrey into Ireland where the Gospel of Christ was not so well settled There he spent many years in instructing that Nation But being informed that in the more Northern parts of his own countrey Gentilism was generally profess'd and those few Christians which lived there were poyson'd with many Heresies he return'd thither And being throughly furnish'd with the Spirituall Armour of God he demonstrated to the Pagans that the supposed Deities worship'd by them were nothing but the inventions of impious men and to the Hereticks that what they beleived was contrary to Divine Truth revealed to Gods Church By these means he brought the Pagans to destroy their Idols and prophane Temples to receive Baptism and erect Churches to the Honour of the true God and the Hereticks he reduced into the bosom of the Catholick Church Now to make his preaching more effectuall our Lord gave him a plentifull Grace to heale the sick to give light to the blind to cure the deaf to cleanse the leaprous and such as were possess'd by the Devill and to make the lame to walk c. Thus by his preaching confirmed with frequent miracles the true Faith was spread through all those Provinces to the unexpressible ioy of S. Gildas who ceased not to give thanks to our Lord for his infinite mercies to those poor people 5. The Authour of his life in Capgrave relates how after this he travelled to Rome But such a iourney not suiting with his old age it is more probable that it was undertaken in his younger years when he lived in Gaule Others write more reasonably that after this employment he was invited by the Holy Abbot Saint Cadocus to take care and preside over the Studies of many young Schollars in the Academy of Lancar-van where he continued only one year leaving there saith Bishop Vsher a Book of the four
mett on the fourth day before the Nones of May at which Vigilius refused to be present not esteeming it Canonicall by reason of the absence of the Western Bishops who were most interessed in the affaire 7. However after twenty dayes respite obtain'd Vigilius sent a Writing to the Emperour which he calld a Constitutum wherin he at large gave his iudgment of â—he Tria Capitula telling him that as touching the blasphemies of Theodorus he did abhorre them but in imitation of the Council of Ephesus wold spare his name Again that it would be superfluous to cast any infamy on the Writings of Theodoret against S. Cyrill since S. Cyrill himselfe and the Councill of Chalcedon had requir'd no other satisfaction from him but only to pronounce Anathema against Nestorius which he did And as touching the Epistle of Ibas no discussion should be made of it after the Council of Chalcedon 8. This Constitutum the Emperour contrary to his promise reserv'd to himself but withall acquainting the Synod with Vigilius his mind touching the Tria Capitula which he had oftimes both by words and writing express'd the Synod proceeded to a condemnation of them withall complaining that the Pope would not afford his presence among them 9. After this Definition of the Bishops in the Council the Pope being in extreme anguish because he saw how the Western Bishops would be offended and that this scandal would be the greater by reason that the Emperour had not sent his Constitutum to the Council utterly refus'd his consent and approbation of their Definition For which refusall he was by the Emperour sent into banishment with seuerall other Bishops 10. His banishment did not continue long for six months after the Synods Definition Vigilius sent a Decretal Epistle to Eutychius the Successour of Menas in which he condemn'd the Tria Capitula and profess'd Communion with all those who embracing the Four Councils of the Church had condemn'd the same meaning hereby the last Council which he would not name This Decree of Vigilius was by the Grecians referd among the Acts of the Council by vertue wherof it became acknowleged a lawfull Oecumenicall Council 11. This end being given to this unnecessary Controversy all the Western Churches excepting only the Bishops of Istria Venice and Liguria consented to it But these Churches being under the dominion of the Longobardi broke into an open Schism which continued till the time of S. Gregory the Great And besides them we doe not find any other Churches unsatisfied excepting Ireland only to the Bishops whereof S. Gregory in the year before S. Kentigerns iourney to Rome wrote an Epistle in answer to one of theirs which had charged the Roman See for injuring the Council of Chalcedon by condemning the Tria Capitula But S. Gregory informed them that this Controversy did not at all touch the Faith of the Church but only the persons of two or three Bishops That the authority of the Council of Chalcedon was entire both with those who oppugn'd and those who defended the Tria Capitula and therefore none could have just cause to make a rent in the Church upon so trifling a quarrel Which answer of the Holy Pope it seems gave satisfaction to the Irish Bishops for we read following Epistles from him to them as to unanimous Brethren instructing them touching Rites in Baptism and whether it was to be administred to such as return'd from the Nestorian Heresy c. 12. The state of this Controversy hath been thus largely sett down because at this very time it was hottly agitated when S. Kentigern went to Rome and probably was a principall motive of his journey Which is the more likely because an Irish Bishop called Albanus went thither at the same time likewise And though the Brittish Churches are no where mention'd as partaking with those who were divided from the Roman See yet it might well become the zeale of so holy a Bishop as S. Kentigern to inform himself truly of the state of the present controversy that so he might prevent a future breach V. CHAP. 1. S. Kentigerns death 2. The manner of it 3 His preparation thereto 4. Of his Miracles 1. SAint Kentigern eight years after this his voyage to Rome by a mature and happy death rested from his labours to witt in the year of our Lord six hundred and one being then fourscore and five years old according to the true computation of Bishop Vsher though others mislead by Capgrave add a hundred years more to his age 2. The manner of his death is thus related by Iohn of Tinmouth The man of God Saint Kentigern being worn away with age had his nerves so dissolved that he was forced to sustain his iawes by tying a linnen ruban about his head which came under his Chin to the end he might be enabled with lesse difficulty to pronounce his words This dissolution of his sinews may be ascrib'd to a promise a little before his death made him by an Angell Who told him Since thy whole life in this world has been a continuall Martyrdom it hath pleas'd our Lord to grant thee a milder and easier end of thy life then other men ordinarily find 3. And as touching his preparation to his death it thus follows in the same Authour At length calling together his Disciples he earnestly exhorted them to a continuance in observing the duties of their holy Religion to mutuall charity peace hospitality and diligence in reading and Prayer Moreover he gave and bequeath'd to them earnest and efficacious precepts firmly to obey the Decrees of the Holy Fathers and Constitutions of the Holy Roman Church After which Exhortation given he departed to our Lord on the Ides of Ianuary in the sixtieth year after he was first consecrated Bishop 4. After his death the same of his Sanctity was every where spread by a world of miracles the particulars may be read in Capgrave to whom the Reader is refer'd Concerning him thus writes Iohannes Major S. Kentigern was contemporary and a singular freind of S. Columba He was illustrious for many miracles and his body reposes at Glasgu to whose honour a Church was erected in that Citty second to none in Scotland for costly ornaments and rich endowments of Canonries His Memory is celebrated in our English Martyrologe on the thirteenth of Ianuary VI. CHAP. 1.2 c. The Kingdom of the Northumbers erected 7. K. Conan dyes and Vortiper succeeds 8. After whom Malgo Conan raigns 9.10 Battells between the Brittains and Saxons 1. COnstantin the kinsman and Successour of King Arthur being dead or removed Aurelius Conanus his Nephew a young man of extraordinary worth and well deserving the Crown saith Westmonasteriensis succeeded him his only fault was that he was a lover of Civill contentions He cast into prison his Vncle to whom the Crown in right belonged and murdred two of his Sons who stood in his way to the kingdom
Columba into Brittany Ceaulin and Cutha mov'd a Civill war against Ethelbert But Malmsbury and Huntingdon acknowledge Ethelbert King of Kent to have been the aggressour For it seems being vex'd to see the Dominions and power of Ceaulin King of the West-Saxons so much encreas'd for besides his own Territoryes immediatly subiect to him the other Saxon Princes in the East and South acknowledged a dependance so that Ceaulin assum'd the Title of Monark Hereupon Ethelbert a valiant Young Prince being mindfull of the glory of his Ancestours who first had establish'd a Kingdom in Brittany and had always enjoyd a preeminence above other Princes resolved to enlarge the bounds of his Empire and not to content himself with the only Province of Kent 2. In pursuance of which design he rais'd an Army and with it march'd out of his own confines into the Province of the Regni or Surrey where passing unwarily over a little River calld Vandalis he was rudely repuls'd by Ceaulin and again endeavouring to march forward the Armies mett at a Village calld Wibbandun now Wimbledon where he was with a great slaughter of his army compelld to fly back into Kent having lost in the combat his two Cheif Captains Oslaf and Knebban Near the place where the battell was fought remains still a Monument of it to wit a rampire rais'd in a round form as encompassing a Camp which is at this day calld Knebensbury or the Burg of Kneben 3. Ethelbert after this losse sought to strengthen himself by forrain aid for which purpose he treated a freindship and confederacy with the neigbouring powerfull Kingdom of the Franks to make which confederacy more lasting he desired to joyn it more strictly by mariage which accordingly was effected 4. Hitherto when we had occasion to mention that Kingdom we calld it Gaule which was its ancient Primitive name But afterward a Nation out of Germany calld Franks invading it and under King Pharamond possessing the greatest part of it changed the name of it from Gaule into France and so hereafter we shall call it The Successours of Pharamond for severall generations were Pagans till by the Apostolick zeale of Saint Remigius Bishop of Rhemes in the year of Grace four hundred ninety nine King Clodovéus was converted to the Christian Faith and with him the greatest part of his kingdom Which Faith ever after continued and encreased there 5. At this time that Kingdom was divided into four parts each of them severally governed by four Kings Sons of Clotharius and Grandchildren of Clodovéus Charibert the Eldest Son had the seat of his Kingdom at Paris Chilperic at Soissons Gunthram at Orleans and Sigebert at Rhemes Now a daughter of one of these did Ethelbert King of Kent marry but of which of them particularly is not mention'd in our Story Saint Beda indefinitly writes that she was daughter of a King of the Franks 6. The name of this Lady according to S. Beda Malmsburiensis c. was Berta But S. Gregory who liv'd in this age and had entercourse by letters with her more rightly calls her Aldiberga and adiudges great praise due to her in the conversion of the Saxons 7. The parents of this Lady made a difficulty to deliver a daughter professing the Christian Faith to the bed of a Pagan But Ethelbert engaging himself to allow her and her family an entire freedom publickly to professe her Religion and to exercise all the Sacred Rites belonging to it the mariage was concluded and the Lady sent into Brittany 8. She was attended by a prudent and devout Christian Bishop called Lethardus by Harpsfeild said to have been Bishop of Salvanort but he doubts there is an errour in the Copies where this unknown name is found This Bishop is in Capgrave stiled the Precursor of S. Augustin and one who opened the dore by which he brought in Christianity 9. There were then in Dorobernia the prime Citty of Kent since calld Canterbury severall Churches which had been built many ages before by Christians in the times of the Romans and which had not been utterly demolish'd by the Saxons Among which the Queen made choice of that which was dedicated to the honour of Saint Martin a holy Bishop in wonderfull veneration through all France For thus writes Saint Beda There was near to the Citty toward the East a Church anciently consecrated to the memory of S. Martin whilst the Romans inhabited Brittany In which Church the Queen who as hath been said was a Christian usually perform'd her devotions 10. What those Devotions were is thus more particularly express'd by the Authour of the life of the Holy Bishop Lethardus in Capgrave who writes thus In the most ancient Church of the Holy Bishop S. Martin situated near the Citty the Queen together with her Christian family did frequent the Sacraments of Masses and Prayers in the celebrating whereof the Blessed Bishop Lethardus was President or Cheif Prelat For the saying or singing of Masses were indeed the Solemn Devotions of the Church in those times as appears for as much as concerns France particularly the Native countrey of this Queen by the Councils of Orleans and Tours celebrated in these very times And this is acknowledged to have been the generall practise of this age by the Centuriators of Magdeburg who write thus The reader hereby may observe that the Solemnities of Masses did now fill all places And for as much as concerns Brittany we have already shewd that among the Northern Picts S. Columba knowing by revelation the death of S. Brendan in Ireland celebrated a Solemne Masse for his soule XIV CHAP. 1.2 King Ceaulins conquests and death 3. c. The Kingdom of the East Saxons Erected 1. THE two Saxon Kings in Kent and the Western parts did not prosecute their hatred against one another but esteemd it more for their advantage to enlarge their Dominions by invading the Provinces as yet in the possession of the Brittains In order whereto Ceaulin King of the West-Saxons who had hitherto employ'd his forces in the conquest of places bordring especially on the Sea sent his Brother Cutha or Cuthwolf with an army into the inland Provinces The Successe of which expedition is thus described by Florentius and which saith he was undertaken in the year of Grace five hundred seaventy one 2. Cuthulf the Brother of King Ceaulin fought with the Brittains in a place calld Bedanford or Bedford And having obtaind the Victory he took from them four Royal Citties to wit Linganburgh a place now unknown Egelesburgh now calld Aylsbury in Buckinghamshire Bensingtun or Benson in Oxfordshire and Egnesham where placed is uncertain After which victory he the same year departed this life 3. In the year five hundred seaventy five was erected the Kingdom of the East Angles in Norfoll Suffolk and Cambridgshire together with the Isle of Ely The name of the first King raigning there was Vffa from whom his
further danger by his Guards Neither could the Messenger whose name was Eumerus be dispatched before he had slain another of the Kings soldiers calld Forder 2. This wound brought everlasting health both to the King and Kingdom of the Northumbers The Queen Ethelbuga was then great with child and by the consternation caused by that dismal accident and the Kings danger was before her time the same night deliverd of a daughter Whereupon the King partly in gratitude to his Gods for his escape and partly for ioy of receiving issue obliged himself by certain vowes to them for he was naturally very devout and causing Publick Prayers to be appointed his intention was to sacrifise his young daughter to the vain Idol worshipped by him Which impious design of his being come to the knowledg of Saint Paulinus he very opportunely interposed himself and informed the King that he owed his present safety not to the false Deities adored by him but to the one onely true God from whom himself by Prayer had obtaind safety both to the Father and daughter and therefore that it was iust that the young child should be consecrated to Christ the Authour of his health 3. Vpon this remonstrance King Edwin was somewhat moved but yet replied What assurance canst then give mee that I owe mine own and my daughters life to the God worshipped by thee and not to mine own Deities Hereto Paulinus answerd by setting forth the impotency of Idols and omnipotency of the true God adding other considerations touching the Queens sanctity very acceptable to God and her Prayers also for his life and prosperity Well said the King who was then recoverd of his wound I will now putt it to the tryall whether I am to give thanks for my present safety and happy successes to thy God or no. I am resolved to invade this murdrous King If Christ whom thou adorest will give mee victory I engage my Faith here to serve and worship him alone In the mean time since Ethelburga earnestly desires it I resign my child to be disposed of by thee and initiated in the Mysteries of thine and her Religion And moreover I promise in case I return from this war with health and victory that I will seriously deliberate of the great affaire and will doe as thou advisest mee 4. S. Paulinus infinitly glad at these promises of the King departed from him and on the solemne day of Pentecost following baptised this first-born child of Ethelburga together with twelve others of the Kings family saith S. Beda who were the first fruits of that Nation And then was accomplish'd the Oracle pronounced by S. Gregory and Alleluia with great ioy sung among them The name imposed on the child was Eanfleda She was afterward a Queen and illustrious for Sanctity concerning whom more shall be related in due place 5. King Edwin deferd not the war but the same year gathering a great army saith S. Beda he marched against the West-Saxons and coming to a battell he gaind the victory after which he either killd or had surrendred to him all those whom he was informed had conspired his death Florilegus adds that Quichelm whom he calls Quinchelin was slain in the place of battell which place in testimony of his victory Edwin calld Quinchelines hame And so returnd with triumph into his own kingdom But William of Malmsbury affirms that both the West-Saxon Kings Kinegils and Quichelm escaped and not long after embraced the Christian Faith by the preaching of Berinus a holy Bishop likewise that they fought prosperously against Penda King of the Mercians XIV CHAP. 1.2 King Edwin wonderfully converted to Christianity 3.4 c. A Generall Assembly called in which Idolatry is renounced and the Christian Faith received 11. The place of this Assembly 1. CErtain it is that King Edwin obtaind an illustrious victory as shortly appeard by his acknowledgment of his obligation to discharge the Vow he had made to Almighty God Notwithstanding at the first he delayd partly upon a pretence of publick affaires and partly out of a desire to deliberate more maturely For being a man as S. Beda saith naturally of a peircing sagacious Spirit he would oftimes sitt alone silent but revolving in his mind many doubtfull thoughts what he should resolve upon and what Religion he should professe He was already unsatisfied in his own superstition but withall he had fram'd in his mind obiections against Christian Religion He thought it misbecoming a great victorious King to submit his neck to the yoak of one who had been crucified c. 2. On a certain day as he was agitated with such uncertain thoughts Saint Paulinus no doubt by divine Inspiration came suddenly to him and laying his hand on the Kings head severely asked him Whether he calld to mind that Sign of his Faith and promise formerly given when he was in a privat condition an exild person and in imminent danger of death And he bad him take heed how he continued longer a rebell against God since he who had raised him up so high could as easily depresse him The King was struck with this unexpected behaviour of Saint Paulinus but having recovered the freedom of his thoughts and perfectly remembring the forementioned Divine Oracle he presently fell at Saint Paulinus his feet acknowledging his guilty doubtfullnes and submitting himselfe to obey what soever he should command him from God whom by a new infused Light he perceived to have been his Guide through strange and wonderfull wayes to his Divine saving Truth Now all his doubts and obiections vanished and he is resolved not only himself to become a servant of Christ but to endeavour to make his subiects also companions with him in that happy servitude He perceives a compleat effect of all the promises formerly made by the invisible Messenger and he condemnes his own slownes in corresponding to the Divine Goodnes 3. But withall considering what inward suspicions and commotions in mens minds a sudden publick change of Religion would probably cause he with the advice and approbation of Saint Paulinus thought fitt to proceed with as much prudence and caution as might be and by calling a Generall Assembly of his Estates to endeavour to make the introducing of Christian Religion an Act of the Kingdom as well as of the King To this expedient Saint Paulinus the rather consented because since the Queen and her Christian families coming he saw a generall disesteem of their Idoll-Gods among the people 4. The great Assembly being convened the King in the first place signified to them the great and signal blessings he had received from God and how desirous he was to expresse his gratitude to his Benefactour But since severall Nations according to their fancy appropriated to themselves many peculiar Gods he could not perswade himself there could be any more then One Omnipotent God That therefore which he desired to propose to their serious considerations was Which
any habitation of men Therefore said she I desire you before you goe to receive some sustenance for fear you should faint if you fast all day Notwithstanding out of a love to the Religious custom of fasting he would not be overcome with the womans importunity but fasting as he was he returned to his iourney and so continued till evening 5. Here we see that from the beginning of the English-Saxon Church the fast of Friday was observed so as that it was not permitted to dissolve the fast before evening They likewise anciently kept the fast of Wednesday but custom afterward moderating the piety of our Ancestours tempered that rigour affixing the observance only to Friday Thus we read in an ancient English National Council at Enham this among other Decrees Every Friday except it be a Festival a Fast must be observed The same is found among the Ecclesiasticall Laws of King Ina and King Canutus Both which are recorded by Sir H. Spelman But let us prosecute S. Cuthberts iourney 6. When Saint Cuthbert saw that by reason of the evenings approach he could not finish his iourney that day neither was there any lodging near as he was riding he saw certain cottages which in the Sommer time the Heardsâ—en had hastily raised up for their present use but then the winter approaching were left empty Thither he went with an intention to stay all night and tying his horse to the wall he gathered up a bundle of hay which the wind had blown from the house-covering and gave it him to eat and himself passed his time in Prayer But on a sudden as he was repeating Psalms he saw the horse lift up his head and with his teeth biting some thing which was on the house roof and presently after he drew down a linnen cloth wrapped up Being desirous therefore to know what that was as soon as he had finished his Prayers he took up the linnen and found wrapped up in it half a loaf of Bread warm from the Oven and so much flesh as would suffise for one refection For which he ioyfully praised God saying Blessed be God who vouchsafed to provide a supper both for mee and my companion Half of the Bread therefore he gave to the horse and the other half he eat himself 7. From that day he was ever after more willing and diligent to observe Fasts perceiving that in that solitude the same mercifull Lord had provided sustenance for him who in old times had by the ministery of Crows a long time nourished the Prophet Elias in the wildernes with the like food for his eyes are upon such as fear him and hope in his mercy to deliver their soules from death and nourish them in time of famine This passage was related to mee by a certain Religious Preist of our Monastery at the mouth of the River Wire named Inguald who is yet alive a very old man and one who can better see heavenly objects with the eyes of his mind then outward things with his bodily eyes and he protested that he heard this from S. Cuthberts own mouth being then Bishop 8. Saint Cuthbert being thus wonderfully refreshed went in the strength of that meat whither he intended Now there were at that time both in the Church of Lindesfarn men who lived in Regular observance and likewise Monks at Mailros on the Râ—ver Tweed Both which Communities had been instituted by the Holy Bishop Aidan At Mâ—iâ—ros Eata was Abbot and under him Boâ—silus was Priour of the Monks Thither Saint Cuthbert went Boisilus saith Saint Beda kindly received the devout young man and when he had declared to him the Motive of his iourney he detaind him there approving much his resolution to prefer a Monasticall life before a secular And a few days after at the return of Eata of happy memory then Preist and Abbot of the Monastery and afterward Bishop also of Lindesfarn he declared to him the good intention of Cuthbert and obtaind permission for him after Tonsure received to be admitted among the Brethren Thus entring the Monastery he was carefull to equall or excell the rest of the Monks in Religious observances of reading working watching and Prayer 9. The Institut under which Saint Cuthbert began his Religious Profession was certainly the same which Saint Aidan had formed and which he had learnt in the Monastery of Hye For as yet Saint Wilfrid had not published in those parts the Holy Rule of Saint Benedict neither was the Roman manner of celebrating Easter introduced among them Which controversy divided the Black Monks from those whom Saint Columba and the Monastery of Hye sent into Brittany Now that Saint Cuthbert did not weare then a Black Habit is evident from the testimony of Saint Beda who saith Saint Cuthbert used vestments of the common fashion and colour so as he shewed no singularity either in the nearnes of them or a wilfull neglect of cleanlines And hence it is that to this day in the said Monastery the Monks following his Example are content with habits of the naturall colour of the wooll afforded by the Sheep But whether afterward the Rule and Institut of S. Benedict was introduced among them we shall examine in due place We will now leave S. Cuthbert in the solitude of his Monastery perfectionating his mind with those vertues and Graces which rendred him a glorious Light to that Age whose Actions will plentifully furnish our following History XVII CHAP. 1.2 Finan Bishop of Lindesfarn after S. Aidan 3.4 Conversion of the Mercians 5.6 c. And of the East-Saxons by S. Cedde 9. Saint Honorius Arch-bishop of Canterbury dyes to whom Deus-dedit succeeds 1. IN the year of Grace six hundred fifty two Finan succeeded to the Holy Bishop Aidan in the Church of Lindesfarn He was ordaind and sent by the Scotts from the Monastery of Hye saith S. Beda He built in the Isle of Lindesfarn a Church for the Episcopal See which according to the Scottish fashion he made not of Stone but hewn Timber and covered it with reeds This Church was afterward dedicated by the most Reverend Arch-bishop Theodor to the honour of Saint Peter the Apostle But Eadbert who in following time was Bishop of that place took away the thatch and made it be covered all over both roof and walls with plates of lead 2. As for King Oswi though by the death of Oswin he became possessed of the whole Kingdom of the Northumbers yet either out of remorse of conscience or a pious regard to the memory of Oswin he permitted his Son Edilwald to raign over the Province of the Deiri 3. The year following is worthily celebrated for the accession of two Provinces in Brittany to the Faith of Christ the Midland-Angli and the East-Saxons Concerning the former Saint Beda thus writes At this time the Midle-Angli under their Prince Peoda Son of King Penda embraced the Faith and Sacraments of Truth This Prince being a young
years When he was arrived at the fourteenth year of his age he in his affection preferd a Monastical life before a secular Which having discovered to his Father for his Mother was then dead he willingly approved his vertuous and heavenly desires advising him to pursue his good beginnings 3. He went therefore to the Isle of Lindesfarn where he committed himself to the direction and government of the Monks and was carefull to learn and practise such duties of Chastity and piety as belonged to that Profession And being of a sharp witt he quickly learnt the Psalms and other Books before he had yet received the Tonsure but in the vertues of Humility and Obedience he excelled those who had long before received it For which he was deservedly loved and reverenced both by his equals and seniours 4. It seems that whilst he lived in that Monastery he had not engaged himself in a Monasticall Profession for it follows in the same Authour Having spent some years in the said Monastery in Gods service he being of a peircing iudgment observed is young as he was that the way of vertue and piety taught by the Scots was not perfect therefore he resolved in his mind to undertake a iourney to Rome there to see what Ecclesiastical and Monasticall Rites were observed at the See Apostolick This his intention he having discovered to his Brethren they commended his purpose perswading him effectually to accomplish it 5. Thereupon without delay he went to Queen Eanfleda the Wife of King Oswâ— and daughter of Edwin by Ethelburga Sister of Eadbald King of Kent to whom he was well known for by her counsel and assistance he had been recommended to the foresaid Monastery To her therefore he made known his desire to visit the Monuments of the Holy Apostles She was much pleased with the good purpose of the young man and sent him to her Kinsman Earcombert King of Kent desiring him to assist him honourably in his iourney to Rome At that time the Arch-bishop there was Honorius one of the Disciples of Blessed Pope Gregory a man profoundly skillfull in Ecclesiasticall affairs 6. During the short time of his abode in Kent where he began studiously to inform himself in the things he cheifly desird there arrived another young man calld Bishop whose Sirname was Benedict born of Noble English parents who also had a desire to goe to Rome To his company therefore the King associated Wilfrid commanding him to take him along with him When they were come to Lyons Wilfrid was there detaind by Dalfâ—n Bishop of that Citty so that Benedict dispatched the rest of the iourney alone For that pious Prelat was much delighted with Wilfrids prudence in speech comelines of countenance alacrity in behaviour and maturity of iudgment insomuch as he supplyed both him and his companions as long as they stayd with him with all things plentifully and moreover offred him if he pleased to accept it a good part of the countrey to be governed by him and his Neice a virgin to be his wife so that he would account of him as his adopted son But he rendring him most humble thanks for the extraordinary goodnes shewed to him being a stranger told him that he had resolved upon a quite different state of life and that for that reason having left his countrey he had undertaken a iourney to Rome The Bishop having heard this dismissed him to his iourney furnishing him with a guide and all things necessary thereto but withall earnestly desired him in his return to his countrey to visit him once more 7. Being arrived at Rome he with wonderfull diligence applied himself to his Devotions and to the study of Ecclesiasticall matters as he had purposed and had the happines to attain to the freindship of a very holy man called Bonifacius who was Arch-deacon and one of the Popes Counsellors By his direction he learnt the four Gospells by heart likewise the true Method of the Paschall Computation and many other things pertaining to Ecclesiasticall Discipline which in his own countrey none could have taught him 8. After he had spent some monthes happily in these studies he returned back to the Bishop Dalfin in France with whom he remaind three years receiving the Ecclesiasticall Tâ—nsure of him and was so tenderly loved by him that he had a design to make him his heyr But this design was interrupted by the cruell death of the good Bishop and Wilfrid reserved to a Bishoprick at home For the Queen Brunichildâ— sending soldiers coÌ„manded the Bishop to be slain whom Wilfrid his clark attended to the place where he was beheaded desiring to dye with him though the Bishop earnestly desired him to leave him But the Executioners knowing him to be a stranger born in Brittany spared him and would not kill him with his Bishop XIX CHAP. 1. Saint Bathildis excused from the murder of Dalfin Bishop of Lyons 2. Ebroin Maire of the Palace guilty of it 3. Saint Bathildis her Piety she founded two Monasteries and retired into one 4. c. She came out of Brittany of a Saxon race 1. THVS writes S Beda But whereas in most of the printed Copies the death of this holy Bishop is imputed to Queen Brunichilda it is certain that cannot consist with Chronology for though she was infamous for the murders of severall Princes and Bishops as Desiderius Bishop of Vienna c. yet about forty years before this time she had received her condign punishment for her cruelties Therefore in the ancient Manuscripts and one ancient printed Copy we more correctly read in stead of Brunichildis Baldhildiâ— or Bathildis who was indeed at this time Queen of France But withall a Queen of such admirable piety and Sanctity that it is a wonder how S. Beda and severall of our Historians following him could be so misinformed as to brand her memory with a crime of so high a nature who in the story of her life is said to have been obedient to her Husband King Clodoveus the second as her Lord to have behaved her self to the Princes as a Mother and to Bishops as a daughter 2. To rectify this mistake therefore we are to observe from Sigebert and the French History that in this age the Kings of France had suffred their whole Regall Power to remain in the hands of their cheif Officer called Maâ—r of the Palace so that the Kings lived idlely and voluptuously within dores only on the first of May they came abroad in ceremony to salute and be saâ—uted to receive and bestow Gifts c. only enjoying the Name of Kings Now at this time the Mair of the Palace was Ebroinus a man of horrible cruelty and injustice and who was indeed Authour of this sacrilegious murther though in appearance done by the Royal authority in whose name the command issued The King of France at present was Lothaire a child and therefore no wonder if Bathildis the Queen his Mother who either knew not or
moreover from the place where she had been first buried there issued a spring of most pure water which had vertue to confer health on many persons afflicted with sundry diseases 7. This Holy Virgin was for many ages celebrated with great honour in our Church and the town of Derham where her Sacred body reposed esteemd it a most precious Treasure For thus we read in her life The holy Bishop Ethelwald repaired the Monastery of Ely and assembling a congregation of Monks he placed Abbot over them Brithnot who had been Priour of Winchester And King Edgar added to that Monastery the Convent of Derham together with the cheif Treasure thereof the Body of the Holy Virgin S. Withburga 8. Then it was that her Sacred Body was a second time translated and reposed together with her Sister S. Ethelreda But the inhabitants of Derham at first earnestly resisted this translation till the authority of King Edgar Bishop Ethelwald and the Abbot Brithnot prevayled The said inhabitants notwithstanding rose against the Monks sent to remove it and encompassed the Church with a guard But the Monks deceived them and in the dark night cunningly conveyed away the Body Which being although too late perceived by the people they pursued them and had not the Abbot Brithnot made great hast to putt off from shore the boat in which the Body was placed he had not escaped without mischeif for at that time there was no entrance into the Isle but by boat But our age more sharp-witted then the former hath overcome nature and by filling the marish with great banks and rampires has at last made it easily accessible on foot The boat-men therefore hastily committing themselves to the Vast poole of which they had no experience ran into danger but a pillar of fire from heaven descending directed the boat safely and swiftly to the shore 9. The untainted Bodies of these two incontaminate Virgins and Sisters reposed together in the Monastery of Ely till the year of Grace a thousand one hundred and six in the raign of King Henry the first And then again Richard the last Abbot caused them to be taken up that they might be more magnificently buried At which time for the removing a scruple entertained by some the miracle of their incorruption was publickly manifested This we read thus related by the same Authour A doubt entring into the minds of some touching the incorruption of S. Withburga in the time of the Abbot Richard when the Bodies of those two Holy Virgins were translated that doubt was putt to the tryall And as touching S. Ethelreda considering the ancient proofs of her incorruption none durst presume to touch her body But they discovered the Body of Saint Withburga as far as her breasts and she was seen perfectly entire more like to one asleep then dead with a silk cushion under her head her veyle and Vestments shining as if they had been new her countenance chearfull with a rosy blush her teeth white her lipps a little opened and her breasts exceeding small The Authour of her life addes That one of the Monks adventuring to touch her body a lively blush coloured her cheeks as if she still had breath in her her dead body expressing the same shamefastnes which her self would have done when alive 10. Surely if S. Athanasius his iudgment may be accepâ—ed who affirms That Virginity is a great proof of the true Religion that Religion which the Virgins of this age were taught was undoubtedly the true one for the Garden of Gods Church was never adorned with so many Lilies of so bright a candour Neither can any Christian province boast of so many Saints whose purity has been so visibly glorified by Almighty God And therefore William of Malmsbury discreetly observes in how extraordinary a manner the Divine piety did illustrate our Nation for says he I suppose that not in any part of the Christian world can be found so many Bodies of Saints exempted from corruption after their deaths being images of the last eternall incorruption This I conceive to have been an especiall grace and benediction of God to the end that our Nation seated as it were out of the world by considering the incorruption of his Saints may be animated to conceive a more assured hope of the Resurrection There are no fewer truly then five Saints of my knowledge and others boast of more among them to witt S Ethelreda and S. Withburga Virgins King Edmond Arch-bishop Elpheg and the ancient Father S. Cuthbert all whose bodies do still remain with a seeming exteriour Vitall warmth as representing persons asleep 11. So many visible proofs of Gods approbation of chastity and Virginity professed by Vow testified by so many Authours confirmed by the experience and sight of such a world of persons for many ages together by which our Island was illustrated above almost any other Christian Province such evidences as these I say in all reason ought to have been a demonstration even to the weakest iudgments that the New pretended Reformation of Religion begun by the impure incestuous mariage of a Religious Friar and a consecrated Nunn and continued with a professed condemnation of such Vows as unlawfull because impossible to be observed was far from deserving the name of a Reformation which endeavours to root out of the Churches garden the most beautifull ornaments of it those candid Lilies so precious in Gods sight that Salomon himself in all his glory was not adorned like one of them VII CHAP. 1.2 The Holy Offspring of Anna King of the East-Angles 3. 4. c. The Gests of S. Eartongatha S. Sedrido and Saint Edilburga Holy Virgins 1. NEVER surely did any Princes Court and family afford so many and such illustrious examples of Sanctity and purity as that of Anna King of the East-Angles He was blessed with a numerous issue and not any of his children of each sexe but is fixed like a bright starr in our Ecclesiasticall Calendar Besides the two glorious Virgins last treated of there was another Sister Wife to Earcombert King of Kent S. Sexburga who in obedience to her parents became a most pious chast wife and by her own election after she was Widdow became a consecrated Nunn under the obedience of her younger Sister S. Ethelreda to whom as hath been said she succeeded in the Office of Abbesse by the pious administration whereof she deserved a place among Gods Saints These glorious Sisters either were examples to invite and promote their Brother S. Erconwald in the course of Sanctity for which he is worthily glorified in our Annals or followed the pattern which he gave them for their ages are uncertain Concerning him we shall treat hereafter and shew how he relinquished all pretentions and designs of the Court to consecrate himself to the service of God in an Ecclesiasticall employment which he discharged with admirable charity humility and zeale 2. Besides all these three other Virgins eminent for Sanctity
by the incitement of Odobert he had submitted himself to receive Holy Orders By which exercises of Piety the shining beames of his Sanctity were spread abroad to the admiration of all 5. The Enemy of mans Salvation could no longer support the brightnes of Divine Graces shining in this Saint to obscure which he inflamed with lust the mind of a certain Noble Woman dwelling near who impudently attempted to expugne the Chastity of the Seruant of God But Saint Clare resolutly resisted the shameles Lady notwithstanding which resistance when her sollicitations still more encreased he was forced for his own quietnes and liberty â—o forsake the Monastery 6. The lascivious Woman desperatly enraged with his departure sent two Murderers in search of him who at last found him in a poor cottage where he had fixed his habitation with one onely companion named Cyrinus There they first sett upon him with many opprobrious speeches and at last drawing out their swords they most cruelly cutt off his head whilst he devoutly kneeling offred his Sacrifice of Chastity to our Lord the lover of pure minds and Patron of innocence 7. This glorious Champion of Chastity being thus Victorious by patience presently after arose and with his hands taking up his head by the assistance of Angells caried it to a fountain not far distant into which he cast it and then caried the same back to the Oratory of his Cell and going on a little further towards a Village seated near the River Epta which since took a new name from this glorious Martyr he there consummated his course and transmitted his blessed Soule to Heaven 8. Much to the same effect is the Narration of this holy Saints Martyrdom extant in Capgrave Where concerning his Companion Cyrinus we read That he being first dangerously wounded was by the prayers of Saint Clarus wonderfully restored to health And hence it follows in the fore said Martyrologe in this manner 9. Saint Cyrinus miraculously recovered took care of the Holy Martyrs buriall Who also afterward in a conflict for piety consecrated his own name likewise to Martyrdom whose memory is there celebrated on the thirteenth of Iune Moreover the Sacred Head of Saint Clarus is with due Veneration conserved in a Village in the territory of Paris called by his name whither it was afterward translated And at Paris it self in the ancient Monastery consecrated to Saint Victor the Martyr his commemoration is anniversarily repeated For thither the most Chast Martyr like the Patriark Saint Ioseph is sayd to have fled from the face of the foresaid unchast Lady And a fitt place it was for his retirement being in those dayes divided from the noyse and tumult of that Citty 10. The distinct place where this Holy Martyr suffred is there said to be in the Territory about Roâ—â—en in Normandy in tractu Vulcassino neer the River Seyne where in the Primitive times another S. Clarus a Preist and Martyr is recorded to have suffred Who immediatly after the Apostles times being sent from Rome to preach the Gospell illustrated a good part of Celtick Gaule first with his Doctrine and after with his Blood The day of his Passion is said to have been the fourth of November as that of our present Martyr the fifteenth before the Calends of August IV. CHAP. 1.2 c. The Martyrdom of two Kentish Princes Ethelred and Ethelbert 6 7. their murder miraculously discovered 8.9 c. Satisfaction made for it by King Egbert 1. A Little before the arrival of a New Arch-bishop of Canterbury from Rome two young innocent Princes Ethelred and Ethelbert in the Kingdom of Kent were crownd with Martyrdom For that Name was given to the violent death by which they were taken out of this world without any demerits of their own inasmuch as God was pleased miraculously to testify their innocence 2. We have before declared that Eadbald King of Kent had by his Queen Emma two sons Ermenred the elder and his Brother Ercombert Ermenred dying before his Father and leaving behind him two infants Ethelred and Ethelbert of whose Martyrdom we now treat not they but their Vncle Ercombert succeeded in the Throne Notwithstanding these two young Princes were bred as became their birth and were yet more enriched with Divine Graces then secular ornaments For saith Mathew of Westminster after their Regeneration by Baptism they remaining in their innocence and voluntary neglect of worldly advantages fortified their other vertues by the safe-guard of Humility 3. King Ercombert at his death recommended them to the care of his Son and Successour King Egbert who being a Prince of great benignity treated them with all Kindnesse and affection not having any jealousy or preiudice against them though their Title to the Kingdom in reason and iustice ought to have taken place of his who was their Vncle since they were children to the Elder Brother 4. But his kindnes to them did not last long For by the ordinary fate of Courts certain Sycophants suggested to him that by cherishing them he fomented his own danger Among these the principall Counseller of mischeif was one called Thunrâ— chieâ— Minister of state in that Kingdom who in a seeming care of King Egberts safety advised him to take out of the way these two Princes now of an age fitt for government whose vertues and excellent endowments had fixed them in the affections of the people so that it was iustly to be feared that either they would challenge their right or the people voluntarily give them it 5. These Suggestions at first were unwillingly heard by King Egbert who forbad him to continue them But Thunre called by others Thimur pretending duty and a zealous care of the Kings Safety again renewed them more earnestly and eloquently then before till in the end the King made no reply but by silence seemed to consent to his proposall Hereupon Thunre promising to himself at least impunity inhumanly murdred these two innocent Princes It was easy for him to execute this crime by reason of his familiarity and privacy with them for in his outward profession and behaviour he always expressed a great tendernes and affection to them in so much as they not suspecting any treachery at all from him afforded him all advantages against themselves so that with drawing them into a solitary place amidst his caresses and embracings of them he stabbed them with his ponyard 6. Having thus murdred them as the report is he buried their bodies in a deep trench which he digged under the Seat where the King was wont to sitt supposing that none would seek for them there But the Eye of Divine Providence from whom the secrets even of hearts are not concealed quickly discovered them and by many Miracles testified their innocence For the next time that the King was sitting there a flame issuing out of the Seat scorched and extrely terrified him Whereupon his servants digging the ground under it where they
a Feast four hundred and sixty Noble Brittains a son of one of the said Neblemen named Aben with much adoe escaping retired himself into a wood on 〈◊〉 mountain nor far distant from Oxford Southward where he lived a long time among wild beasts sustained only with hearbes and rootes and wanting water he by hiâ— Prayers obtained a spring remaining to this day And the people of the countrey observing his Sanctity frequently visited him for instruction in Christian Piety But he thirsting after solitude privately went into Ireland where he happily ended his dayes The mountain was from him called Abendun on which was built a Cell and a Chappell consecrated to the blessed Virgin Mary 3. In such state the place continued till this time in which a Monastery was built there by the liberality of the forementioned Cissa a Prince of the West-Saxons under whose dominion was Wiltshire and a great part of Barkshire And the occasion of that foundation was this Cissa had a Nephew called Heane a man of great piety who having heard from a certain Preacher a sermon on those words of our Saviour That it is easier for a Camell to goe through the eye of a Needle then for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of heaven presently conceived a contempt of earthly riches and a resolution to aspire only to heavenly Beatitude Thereupon coming to his Vncle Cissa he begged of him a place for erecting a Monastâ—â—y Which he willingly gave him making choice of this Mountain called Abendun 4. There therefore Heane began to build but with very ill successe For whatsoever wâ—s raised in the day fell down in the night and this hapned successively very oft At which Heane being much troubled there came to him a certain Hermite who lived in a Wood called Comenor and told him saying Father Heane this last night I saw certain men with carts carying away the stones and timber from thiâ— place And I sayd to them You doe very ill in taking away these materialls provided for the honour of God and our Blessed Lady But they answerd mee We know that very well Therefore to morrow goe and tell Heane the Abbot that it is not Gods will he should proceed in this building But let him goe to a town called Sevekesham there he shall find the place marked where he shall build Heane went thither with the Hermite and they found there near the Thames a large square Trench made as on purpose to lay the Foundation 5. There therefore the Monastery was built and the name of Sevekesham changed into Abendon The Habits of the Monks were black but they wore no stamines They had noods lined with Catts skins They lived separated in Cells and to each Cell belonged an Oratory but on Sundayes and Feasts they mett in the Church at Masse and dined together And then they used Silken Cowles They abstained from flesh except in great sicknes c. For the endowment oâ— this Monastery Cissa gave many Lordships and Heane the greatest part of his inheritâ—nce 6. Heane had also a Sister named Cylla or Cyssa who with the consent or her Vncle Cissa employed all her possessions in erecting a Monastery of Religious Virgins at a place called Heâ—nestow seated near the River Thames so called because there a Chappell had been built to the Honour of S. Helen There a Congregation being assembled of many devout Virgins she became their Abbesse And having obtained or rather probably found in the old Chappell a small portion of one of the Nayles of our Lords Crosse she caused it to be inserted â—nto a large Crosse of Iron with command that when she was dead it should be layd on her breast and buried with her And out of Reverence thereto she made her Moâ—astery to be consecrated to the honour oâ— the Holy Crosse and of S. Helena Concerning this Crosse called the Black Crossâ— how it was afterwards found by S. Ethelwold held in great Veneration we shall declare further in due place This Monastery was afterward translated to Witteham and warres following the Religious Virgins were dispersed and what became of them is not known for they never returned thither XIII CHAP. 1.2 c. Egfrid King of the Northumbers His Victory over Wulfere King of the Mercians 5. His Liberality to the Monastery of Rippon 6 7. Two Miracles wrought by Saint Wilfrid 1. IN the year of Grace six hundred seaventy one Egfrid succeeded his Father King Oswi in the Kingdom oâ— the Northumbers for though his Brother Alefrid King of the Deiri was elder yet he being then on some occasion absent in Ireland Egfrid was admitted to the Throne into the society whereof he piously received his Brother Elsuin 2. He was in the beginning of his raign disquietted on both sides on the North by the incursions of the Picts and on the south by the Mercians but by his valour and good conduct assisted also by the Prayers of Saint Wilfrid to whom he was most munificent he not only secured his Province from danger but triumphed gloriously over his Enemies 3. As touching the Picts William of Malmsbury relates how upon the death of King Oswi a Warlick Prince they despising the unsetled state of his Son Egfrid made furious incursions into his kingdom but the young King together with his Generall Berney mett them and with a very small army defeated an innumerable multitude of Picts insomuch as heaps of their dead bodies lying on the groand made that which formerly was a plain become a hilly countrey and the Rivers bâ— multitudes of carkeises were inâ—ercepted in their course 4. And presently after Wulfere King of the Mercians lead an army against the Northumbers enraged with the memory of his Father Penda who had been slain by them He came therefore with a confidence at least to recover the former dammage if nâ—t to acquire a New Kingdom But his fortune was unprosperous as his Fathers had been onely whereas King Penda had lost his life in the Battail his Son Wolfer was compelled to a shamefull flight which he survived but a few dayes and part of his Provinces became subject to the King of the Northumbers to witt the greatest part of Lincolnshire 5. King Egfrid expressed his thankfullnes to God for these victories by liberall endowments of his Church Particularly his bounty was extended to the Church and Monastery of Rippon founded by S. Wilfrid on which he bestowed large possessions saith William of Malmsbury And when the said Holy Bishop was to consecrate that Church he invited both King Egfrid and his Brother King Elswin to the Ceremony where they were entertained magnificently three days and highly exalted for their piety and munificence Which externall pompe and gladnes was encreased by a wonderfull miracle which God wrought by S. Wilfrid in restoring a dead child to life The manner whereof because from thence we may observe the agreement between the Brittish and Saxon Churches in Faith and Ecclesiasticall Discipline
mutuall charity and Humility After which she happily departed to our Lord on the third day before the Ideâ— of Iuly and was both durâ—ng her life and after her death powerfull in Miracles 5. Her Body was with great honour enterred in the said Monastery of Menstrey where it reposed near four hundred years illustrious by the Veneration of pious Christians and the glory of frequent Miracles From thence about the year of Grace one thousand and thirty it was translated to Canterbury Alstan being Abbot there as shall be declared Concerning which Translation William of Malmsbury thus writes In following time the Sacred Body of Saint Mildred was translated to the Monastery of Saint Augustin in Canterbury where it is with great devotion venerated by the Monks and for the fame of her piety and sweetnes answerable to her Name honoured by all And although all the corners of the said Monastery are full of Saint Bodies eminent for their Sanctity and Merits insomuch as any one of them might suffise to give a luster to the whole Kingdom yet the Relicks of none are with more affectionate honour venerated then hers She is present to all that love her and ready to hear and fullfill the requests of every one c. At London likewise there remains to this day a Church dedicated to her honour 6. Moreover her Memory is celebrated in the Belgick Provinces For as Aubert Miraeus testifies part of her Relicks was transported to Daventry and reposed there in the Cathedral Church Mention is also made of the same Relicks in the Gallican Martyrologe on the thirteenth of Iuly in these words At Daventry in Belgium is the Veneration of the Relicks of S. Mildreda an English Virgin consecrated to God in the Monastery of Chelles in the Territory of Paris which are reposed in the Cathedral Church of S. Lebuin together with the Bodies of the same Saint Lebuin and also of S. Marcellinus Her departure out of the world have given luster to this day Saint Mildreda was conveniently associated to these two Saints Lebuin and Marcellinus for her agreement with them both in her faith and countrey For they were English-Saxons likewise who together with Saint Willebrord preached the Faith to the inhabitants of Friseland and Geldres of whom we shal treat hereafter 7. The determinate year of the death of these two Holy Virgins Saint Milburga and Saint Mildreda is uncertain Certain only it is that it is wrongfully ascribed by some Writers to the year of Grace six hundred sixty four For since the same Authours affirm that they were consecrated by Saint Theodore Arch-bishop of Canterbury who came not into Brittany till after that year it is evident that in their computation there is an Antichronism 8. We may therefore more commodiously ascribe it to this year of our Lords Incarnation six hundred seaventy six In which year on the six and twentieth of February our Martyrologe commemorates the Deposition of their youngest Sister Saint Milgitha or Saint Milwida Concerning whom a very shhort account is given by our ancient Authours For of her wee read only that she entred into the Monastery of Estrey built by the Penitent King Egbert in Kent where she so well imitated the Sanctity of her Sisters that she likewise deserved a place in the Catalogue of our Saints 6. From these we must not separate a young Brother of theirs called Mereâ—in Concerning whom Mathew of Westminster and Florentius testify this only that he was a child of eminent Sanctity XX. CHAP. 1. 2. c. The death and Miracles of Saint Ethelburga daughter of Anna King of the East angles 5. 6 Of S. Thoritgitha 7. Of S. Hildelida 1. TO the same year is referred likewise the death of Saint Ethelburga daughter to Anna the pious King of the East-angles and Sister to Saint Erconwald She was as hath been said Abbesse of the Monastery of Berking founded by her Brother 2. Concerning her death hapning the fifth day before the Ides of October thus writes Saint Beda When Edilburga the proâ—â— Mother of that devoâ—â— Congregation was to be taken out of the world a wonderfull vision appeared to one of the Religious Sisters named Theorethid who had lived many years in the Monastery serving our â—ord with all humility and sincerity and had been an assistant to the Holy Abbesse in promoting the observance of Regular Disciplin her charge being to instruct and correct the younger Sisters Moreover to the end that her spirituall strength might be perfected by infirmity as the Apostle saith she was suddenly assaulted by a most sharp disease and for the space of nine years greivously tormented with it This hapned to her by the mercifull Providence of her Saviour to the end that by this furnace of divine tribulation whatsoever defects or impurities through ignorance or negligence had insinuated themselves into her soule might be cleansed away and consumed 3. Now on a certain night towards the dawn of the morning this Religious Virgin upon some occasion going out of her chamber saw manifestly as it were a human body more bright then the Sun enwrapped in linnen which being transported out of the Dormitory of the Religious Virgins was caried up to heaven And whilst she observed diligently by what force the said body should be raised upwards she saw that it was so lifted up by certain ropes more resplendent then gold by which it was drawn higher and higher till at last the heavens opening it was received in after which she could see it no longer 4. Considering this Vision she did not at all doubt but that it imported that some one of that devout Congregation should shortly dye whose soule by good works formerly done should as by certains cords be raised up to heaven And indeed so it fell out For a few days after Saint Edilburga the devout Mother of the said Congregation was freed from the prison of her body who had lead her life in such perfection that none who knew her could doubt but when she left this world the entrance into her heavenly countrey would be opened to her 5. S. Ethelburga was buried in the same Monastery and after her death likewise was not wanting to procure comforts and blessings to her Religious Sisters For as the same S. Beda relates There was in the same Monastery a Devout Virgin of Noble descent but more ennobled by her Piety called Thorithgida who for many years had been so utterly deprived of the use of her limbs that she could not stirr any one of them She being informed that the Body of the Venerable Abbesse was caried to the Church where it was exposed some time before the buriall desired she might be transported thither and placed leaning toward it in the posture of one that prayes This being done she addressed her petition to her as if she had been alive beseeching her to obtain from her mercifull Creatour that she might at length be freed from her
filthy Idolatry the Devill to interrupt that good work or to be revenged on the worker kindled again in the minds of his Adversaries among the Northumbers that envy and malice which seemd to have been asswaged by his exile insomuch as they became enraged to hear that the Holy Bishop persecuted by them should be made an instrument of good to Srangers Hereupon by messages and gifts they solicited the Franks to procure the murder of the Apostolick Prelat 5. There lived still in greatest power among the Franks Ebroin Maire of the Kings Palace who as hath been declared had already embrued his hands in the blood of Dalphinus Bishop of Lyons and severall other Prelats of the French Church Him did the malicious Northumbers hire to this execrable murder Who immediatly by promises gifts and menaces solicited Adalgise King of the Frisons to be the Executioner But this barbarous half-pagan Prince did so utterly abhorr this unchristian proposall that he threw the Letters of Ebroin into the fire after he had read them in the hearing of Saint Wilfrid who was then feasted by him and whilst they were burning he added these words So may he be burned who for covetousnes of gold would dissolve the band of freindship once agreed upon 6. Thus by the watchfull Providence of God did the Holy Bishop escape the snares layd against his life and when the Spring had mitigated the feircenes of the aire and opened the wayes for travelling Saint Wilfrid renewed his iourney towards Rome and as William of Malmsbury relates passing through the Kingdom of the Franks inhabiting beyond the Rhene came to the King of that Nation called Dagobert Who entertained him with all kindnes and respect calling to mind how when he himself had formerly by a faction of his Nobles been driven out of his Kingdom into Ireland at his return this Holy Bishop had lodged him freindly and moreover furnished him with horses and attendants to his own countrey To expresse his gratitude therefore this King not only with extreme benignity received Saint Wilfrid but with most earnest prayers solicited him to accept the Bishoprick of Strasbourg and fixe his habitation in his countrey This kind offer the Holy Bishop thought not convenient then to accept but deferred his resolution till his return from Rome Whereupon he was though unwillingly dismissed by the King and being accompanied with his Bishop Deodatus prosecuted his iourney 7. Thus writes the said Historian But what he relates of Dagoberts expulsion into Ireland ought to be applied to Theodoric King of the Franks who lived at this time and being reiected by his Subjects might have been thus hospitably entertained by S. Wilfrid Whereas King Dagobert was dead severall years before this 8. Saint Wilfrid being thus dismissed with recommendations passing through Champaigne diverted out of the straight way to visit Berthaire Prince of that Province This Prince had from the Holy Bishops enemies been informed of the cause of his journey and moreover invited by promises to procure some mischeif to him Whereupon at his first coming he received him with an arrogant frowning countenance but assoon as he had been acquainted with a true relation of the cause his displeasure was mitigated insomuch as he did not only abstain from doing him any hurt but by his recommendation and assistance brought the controversy to a good end Withall professing that he was induced hereto by the humanity of the King of the Hunns in whose Court he had formerly lived during his banishment who though he was a Pagan yet could by no offers be corrupted to doe the least harm to him to whom he had once promised security 9. The like courtesy and Civility did Saint Wilfrid find from all Princes through whose Courts and Provinces he passed insomuch as at last he arrived safely at Rome where he found Pope Agathon busily employed in repressing the Heresy of the Monothelites who taught that our Saviour though subsisting in two Natures yet had but one Will. This Heresy had at that time greivously infected the Eastern Churches for the extirpation whereof and preventing the spreading of it in the West that Holy Pope had at this time assembled a Synod at Rome to which S. Wilfrid was invited where likewise his cause was determined But before we relate the successe thereof it will be expedient to declare how in his absence almighty God justified his innocence by inflicting a sharp judgment on his Enemies and persecutours at home III. CHAP. 1 2. c. Saint Wilfrids Prophecy fullfilled Winfrid Bishop of Lichfeild expelled 1. THAT Propheticall denunciation by which Saint Wilfrid being derided by the Courtiers of King Egfrid for his Appeale to Pope Agathon â—oretold them That their laughter should precisely within the space of a year be turned into greivous lamentation was exactly fulfilld the next yeare in which he remaind at Rome For not long after his departure Ethelred King of the Mercians Brother of Wolfere being desirous to avenge the iniuries of his brother sustained from King Egfrid who had overcome him in battell and possessed himself of the Province of the Lâ—ndesfars or Lincolnshire he denounced war against the said Egfrid Who swelling with pride for his former victory courageously mett him with an army not doubting of like successe against him 2. The two armies mett saith Saint Beda near the River Trent where coming to a decisive battell the Mercians utterly defeated the army of the Northumbers and among a multitude of others there was slain Eâ—win the Brother of Egfrid a young man â—bout eighteen years old tenderly loved both by the Northumbers and Mercians for his Sister named Ostrids was wife to King Etheâ—red And it hapned that on the very day a twelf-month after Saint Wilfrid had suffred the â—orementioned iniury the dead body of that hopefull young Prince was brought to York which caused a generall and long continued mourning both to the Citty and Province 3. If this battell was fought on the South side of Trent in Nottingham-shire where remains a village called Edwinstow it is most probable that place took its name rather from this Prince who by William of Malmsbury is called Edwin then from the Holy King and Martyr Saint Edwin who by Saint Beda's testimony was slain at a place called Heathfeild in Yorkshire 4. By this victory King Ethelred recovered that portion of his Kingdom called the Province of the Lindesfari which Egfrid had formerly won from his brother Wolfere But this one defeat not concluding the war to the continnance of which both these Kings made great preparations S. Theodore Archbishop of Canterbury trusting in the Divine assistance interposed himself between them and by many zealous exhortations pacified their minds so as that flame was quite extinguished insomuch as no other satisfaction was given to King Egfrid for the death of his Brother but only a summ of money And the peace concluded between the two Nations continued
divided by an intestin warr But he did not as he hoped find them unprepared nor destitute of courage to resist him For after many losses sustained in severall parts of the countrey they at last took courage and uniting their forces together came to a battell wherein they had the upper hand and constraind Cedwalla to fly As for his Brother Mollo or Mull he in his flight being compelled to retire into a certain Cottage the enemies fett it on fire so that he not daring to issue out was consumed by the flames Yet did not Cedwalla for all this desist from repairing his losses by frequent micheifs done to the inhabitants of Kent and a more full revenge he bequeathed to his Successour King â—naâ— as in due place shall be declared 6. B. Parker in his Antiquities assigns a strange cause wâ—y this Mollo was burnt by the Kentish soldiers saying Some affirm that the cause of the death of Mollo was because the Kentishmen perceived that he was very obstinat in defending Images concerning which a Controversy in that age was solemnly debated But it does no where appear that Mollo was a Christian. Certain it is his Brother Cedwalla was not baptised till after this when he had made a iourney to Rome in devotion for that purpose It was therefore in probability his obstinacy not to reliquish his Idols or Pagan worship that might because of his death And as for the pretended Question about Sacred Images it was not raised in the Church till about a hundred years after this and then it began in the East by certain factious Christians half-Iewes Neither doe we find any signs in our ancient Records that Brittany was disturbed with that debate If this Mollo therefore was a Christian it is well known what doctrine Saint Augustin and his Successours taught in Kent touching the Veneration of Images and that Saint Birinus Agilbert Hedda and Wilfrid taught the same among the West-Saxons 7. Cedwalla after he had for some time vented his fury against Kent turned his arms to the subdâ—ing the Isle of Wight adioyning to the Province of the south-Saxons already conquered by him And how great a blessing that Island obtained by his cruelty wee find thus related by Saint Beda After that Cedwalla saith he had the possession of the Kingdom of the Gevissi or West-Saxons he subdued the Isle of Wight the inhabitants whereof were to that time wholly addicted to Pagan Idolatry whom he endeavoured wholly to exterminate and to place in their rooms his own Subjects yea as the report is he obliged himself by vow though as yet he was no professed Christian nor baptized that if he gott the possession of the Island he would consecrate to our Lord the fourth part both of the land and spoyles And this Vow he effectually performed insomuch as he gave to Saint Wilfrid who not long before was arrived there out of the Northern parts the use of the said land and prey Now the measure of that Island according to the English estimation is so much as may maintain twelve hundred families So that the possession of three hundred families was given to the Bishop But he recommended the portion given him to one of his Clarks named Berwins who was his Sisters Son And withall gave him a Preist called Hildila to the end he might administer the Word of life and Baptism to all that would be saved 8. It is also probable that about this time the same Cedwalla gave to S. Wilfrid the Town called Paganham concerning which Selden makes mention of a certain clause in the said Kings Charter importing that a threefold freedom was granted to that place now given to the Church to witt a freedom from having a Castle built there and from contribution to mending the bridge and lastly from payments to the army if this be the right interpretation of the rude Latin phrase Absque trinoda necessitate totius Christiani populi id est areis munitione pontis emendatione exercitij congestime liberam perstrinxi Another Charter to the same holy Bishop is likewise extant to which is annexed this clause For a further confirmation hereof I Cedwalla have putt a turf of the said ground upon the holy Altâ—r of our Saviour and by reason of my ignorance in writing my name I have expressed and subscribed the sign of the holy Crosse. Now from hence is manifest that at the time of the invasion of the Isle of Wight Cedwalla was a Christian Cathecumen though he deferred his Baptism out of a desire to receive it at Rome V. CHAP. 1.2 Two young Princes Martyrs in the Isle of Wight 3. King Cedwalla his reverence to Saint Wilfrid 1. THE Isle of Wight was the last Province of Brittany which received the Christian Faith and that New Church was consecrated with the blood of two young Princely Martyrs the Brethren of Arvald or Arvand King of that Island The manner hereof is thus described by S. Beda 2. Wee must not passe over in silence saith he how two Royall children brethren to Arvald King of the Island were by a speciall Grace of God crownd with Martyrdom being made an Oblation of First fruits of such inhabitants of the said Island as were to be saved by Faith For when the Enemies army approached they fled privatly out of the Island into the adioyning Province of the Iutae or Hampshire Where being come to a place called Ad lapidem Stoneham they hoped to conceale themselves from the sight of the conquering King Cedwalla but they were betrayd and by his command appointed to be slain The report of this command being come to the hearing of a Certain Abbot and Preist named Cymbert who governed a Monastery not far distant from thence called Read-ford or the Ford of Reeds it is now called Redbridge he came to the K. who then lay privatly in those parts to be cured of his wound received in the late battell in the Isle of Wight and humbly requested of him that of those children must needs be killed he would at least permitt them to be instructed in the Christian Faith and baptized before their death The King yeilded to this request whereupon the good Abbot taught them the Mysteries of Christian Religion which they embracing he washed them from all their sins in the Laver of saving Baptism and therby gave them an assurance that they should enter into an eternall kingdom Thus the Executioner being come they ioyfully underwent a corporall death not doubting but that thereby their soules should be translated to a life of happines everlasting 3. Thus writes S. Beda the summ whereof is repeated by Camden in his description of Hampshire thereto adding this observation from the same Authour That after all other Provinces of Brittany had receiued the Faith of Christ the Isle of Wight in the last place of all embraced the same Notwithstanding by reason of the miserable Subiection thereof to a forrain Prince not any
one accepted the Episcopall ministery and charge there till the time that S. Beda wrote his History when a certain Prelat called Daniel was ordained Bishop of the West-Saxons and Gevissi Notwithstanding true it is that at this time presently after the conquest of the Island S. Wilfrid discharged that Office there being one saith William of Malmsbury whom King Cedwalla sett over the whole Province as Master and Governour neither without his assent would he himself doe any weighty matter in his kingdom VI. CHAP. 1.2 c King Cedwalla having made Inas his Successour in devotion goes to Rome to receive Baptism 5.6 c. The occurrents of his iourney his Companions 9. c. Assoon as he was baptized he dyed at Rome His Epitaph c. 1. THE year following which was the year of Grace six hundred eighty eight Cedwalla who had hitherto acted the Lions part now devested himself of his naturall feircenes entertaining thoughts and designs of peace meeknes and humility and though he was a victorious King and withall young full of spirits and vigour yet he made choice rather to shew himself an humble servant of Christ then to continue his raign full of temporal glory This was a wonderfull change of the right hand of the Almighty of which we may confidently acknowledge S. Wilfrid to have been the principal Instrument And therein admire the good Providence of God in the disposall of that his faithfull servant 2. Wee can scarce find in Ecclesiasticall story any example except S. Athanasius of an innocent holy Prelate which suffred persecutions and banishments so frequent and tedious for we shall see S. Wilfrid once more restored and again banished and after that restored again all which vicissitudes of suffrings did not onely cooperate to the perfectionating his own soule in patience but were occasions of procuring eternall happines to thousands of soules Whole nations were converted to Christ by this wandring Prelate as the Frisons South-Saxons and inhabitants of the Isle of Wight so that he had the fate of the ancient Prophets to be loved and honoured every where but in his own native countrey 2. But to return to Cedwalla This year in a voluntary and heroïcall devotion he devested himself of his Royall Purple and assumed the Habit of a Pilgrim to visit the Monuments of the Holy Apostles at Rome and there to receive the humble badge of Christianity There wanted not in Brittany many holy and Venerable Bishops and Prelats who might have conferred that blessing on him as S. Theodore at Canterbury S. Erconwald at London S. Hedda in his own countrey and S. Wilfrid also then present with him to whom wee may adde the holy and learned Abbot S. Aldelm the Abbot Cymbert and many others But it seems Cedwalla calling to mind that his Noble Predecessours King Lucius the Emperour Constantin and King Ethelbert had received their Faith and Baptism from Rome he desired to repair to the fountain of Ecclesiasticall Hierarchy and to pay his huÌ„ble respects to the Princes oft he Apostles then in a sort living and governing in their Successour Sergius at that time Pope 3. To this effect S. Beda has left us an account of this matter In the third year of the raign of Alfrid King of the Northumbers saith he Cedwalla King of the West-Saxons after he had for two years space valiantly governed his Kingdom voluntarily quitted the same for our Lord and for the gaining an eternall Kingdom and went to Rome For his desire was to obtain this singular priviledge and glory to be washed from his Sins by Baptism at the Sepulchers of the Blessed Cheif Apostles for he had been taught that by Baptism only the entrance into eternall life was opened to mankind Withall he had a hope that assoon as he was baptised he should be freed from his mortall flesh and passe to everlasting ioyes Neither did he fayle of his hope in either of these regards so great was the Mercy of God to him 4. Before he departed out of Brittany he took care to compose and settle his Kingdom under the government of a worthy Successour For which purpose with the advice and consent of his Nobles choice was made of Inas a Prince of the Blood Royal being great grandchild of Cuthbald brother to King Kâ—negils or as Florentius writes the son of Ken son of Ceolwald brother of Kinewald sons of Cuthwin who was son of Ceaulin Others affirm him to have been the son of Cissa founder of the Monastery of Abindon He was a young man of eminent endowments which gained him the affections of all and thereby the Crown Therefore as William of Malmsbury well observes he was advanced to the Principality rather for his courage and industry thâ—n proximity of blood being a Prince of admirable valour prudence and piety by which qualities he obtaind great affection at home and reverence abroad Insomuch as he exercised supreme authority the space of forty years wanting two without any apprehension of treachery 5. King Cedwalla having provided so worthy a Successour delayed not his iourney to Rome In which his Companions were Saint Aldelm Abbot of the Monastery oâ— Malmsbury who had also another motive to obtain from the See Apostolick certain Priviledges and liberties to this Monastery and as some writers affirm Saint Leitphard a Bishop and Martyr who returning from Rome anâ— passing through a forest called Trecaultium near Arras was by certain impious persons lewdlâ— slain But of this supposed companion of King Cedwalla no mention is made among ouâ— Ecclesiasticall Writers 6. Having taken ship they landed in the Province of the Morini or Terouanne in France the nearest to Brittany where saith Suriuâ— and Miraeus King Cedwalla then a Catechumen having heard of the Sanctity of an Abbot called wulmar and of his admirable zeale anâ— prudence in instructing soules repaired to him to receive his spirituall counsell and a more perfect knowledge in Christian Mysteries The holy Abbot at that time had finished the building a Church to the honour of the Blessed Virgâ—n and of S. Peter the Apostle 7. From thence travelling through France and having passed the Alpes King Cedwalla called by Paul Warnefridus Theoâ—wald a Prince who in his own countrey had fought many battells after which having been converted to the Faith of Christ he hastned to Rome there to receive Baptism and by the way passing through Câ—â—alpin Gaule or Lombardy he visited the King of that Nation called Cunibert by whom he was entertained with wonderfull humanity and magnificence 8. From thence arriving at Rome very opportunely near the Solemnity of Easter at which time by the ancient custom of the Church the Sacrament of Baptism was solemnly administred to such as had been converted from Infidelity he addressed himself to Pope Sergius in the Second year of his Pontificat by whom he was gladly received and admitted to Baptism in which also according to the usuall manner his Name
Camden calls the village of Alfrid the most learned King of the Northumbers wherein his Monument is exâ—ant XXV CHAP. 1.2 c. S. Wilfrid in a Synod in Brittany restored to his Rights The testimony of the Holy Royall Virgin Elfleda c. in his behalf 1. WEE are now approching towards an end of the long continued troubles of this illustrious Bishop Saint Wilfrid Whose restitution though it found some delay and opposition after the death of King Alfrid yet by a Synod shortly after assembled in the Province of the Northumbers it was fully effected The manner and progresse whereof is thus declared by the same Authour 2. When King Alfrid was dead a certain Noble man named Edulf who had a design to usurp the Kingdom vomited likewise forth his malicious fury against Saint Wilfrid as if he had been by oath engaged in the frenzy of King Alfrid For when the Holy Bishop calling to mind that the same Edulf had professed freindship formerly to him thought it expedient to goe to him the senceles man fell into such a passion that he commanded him presently to depart his Kingdom and gave order that all his goods should be confiscated and himself cast out thence But two months after the Tyrant loft both his Kingdom and life and the Nobility restored to the Throne Osred the Son of Alfrid 3 Now among the Nobles of that Kingdom the highest both in authority and fidelity was one named Berthfrid Him did Brithwald Arch-bishop of Canterbury admonish to cause a Synod to be assembled in that Kingdom for determining the cause of Saint Wilfrid whereto he consented And in the said Synod to the end that controversy might have a peaceable end it was ordered according to the precepts contained in the Popes Letters that a choice should be offred to the Bishops who were parties against Saint Wilfrid that either they should resign to him his Episcopall See or repair presently to Rome there to iustify the cause of their refusall And whosoever would not accept of this choice should be excommunicated 4. S. Beda notes the particular place where this Synod meâ—t saying it was near the River Nid which gives a name to the Province of Nidds-dale now belonging to the Kingdom of Scotland but anciently within the Dominion of the Northumbers At this Synod were present Arch-bishop Brithwald with S. Wilfrid likewise Bosa Bishop of York and Iohn of Hagulstad There came thither also the Royall Virgin and Abbesse of Streneshalck Elfleda Sister to King Alfrid whose testimony was of great moment for ending the controversy For thus writes William of Malmsbury 5. Whilst the cause of S. Wilfrid was agitating in the Synod and the Bishops according to their former manner contradicted his pretentions the Holy Virgin Elfleda Sister to the late King Alfrid and Abbesse of Streneshalck after S. Hilda putt an end to the busines Saying Let these tedious discourses little to the purpose cease Here doe I produce the last Will of my Brother at the making whereof my self was present by which he declares that if God restored him his health he would without delay observe and execute the commands of the See Apostolick or if death kindred him he would oblige his heyr and successour thereto 6. After the Holy Virgin had spoke thus Berthfrid immediatly added these words My sentence is that we ought to obey the Popes commands especially considering that our obligation thereto â—â— strengthned by our late Kings will and the solemn promise also which we our selves made in our necessity for when after his death we were besieged in the Citty of Bedda-burgh and that the enemies inclosing us used their utmost endeavour to break into the Town in this extremity and danger we made a Vow to God that if we might escape we would fullfill the commands of the See Apostolick We had scarce ended this Vow but presently the whole Province submitted it self to us and every one strove who should prevent the other in running to our assistance The Royall youth Osred was acknowledged King the Enemy was defeated and the usurping Tyrant slain To conclude it is our young Kings will also that the Venerable Bishop Wilfrid be restored Now Berthfrid had no sooner spoke thus but immediatly all clouds of dissension were dissipated and a lightsome calmnes of peace succeeded All the Bishops hastned to embrace one another and passed the remainder of their lives in amity and concord 7 The result of the Synod was That Saint Wilfrid should be re-instated in all the dignities and possessions formerly belonging to him Notwithstanding Bosa who had been Bishop of York dying presently after this Synod S. Wilfrid permitted Iohn to remove to York and himself being now very old contented himself with the See of Hagulstad or Hexham and his own Monasteries 8. Thus at last ended all the troubles of this Holy Bishop Wilfrid Which were the more heavy to him in that all his persecutours were persons of vertuous holy lives The consideration whereof gave occasion to the Historian to make this complaint It is hence manifest how great the misery is wherein human Nature is involved inasmuch as those men and woemen whose sanctity is much celebrated by Antiquity such were Theodore Brithwald Iohn Bosa and likewise the Holy Abbesse Hilda they all with utmost violence persecuted S. Wilfrid a Bishop most highly favoured by Almighty God Particularly as touching Bosa he is stiled by S. Beda a most holy Prelat and beloved by God and his Name is commemorated among Gods Saints in our Martyrologe on the ninth of March though his death hapning this year is assigned to the year of Grace seaven hundred THE ONE AND TWENTIETH BOOK OF THE CHVRCH-HISTORY OF BRITTANY I. CHAPTER 1.2 c. S. Hedda Bishop of the West-Saxons dying his Sâ—e is divided into two Winchester of which Saint Daniel is made Bishop and Shirborn of which S. Aldelm 1. THE same year in which debates were so happily ended in the Northern part of Brittany Hedda Bishop of Winchester dyeâ— concerning whom thus writes S. Beda In the beginning of the Raign of Osred King of the Northumbers Heddi Bishop of the West-Saxons departed this world to eternall felicity For he was a good and iust man and was enabled to discharge his Episcopall function in governing and teaching rather by the light proceeding from Charity and the love of vertue deeply imprinted in his heart then by reading of Books In a word the most Reverend Prelat Pechthelm who then was a Deacon and Monk in the Monastery of S. Aldelm his successour was wont to relate how in the place where the holy Bishop Heddi was buried many miracles were wrought by his merits and intercession and that the inhabitants of that Province were accustomed to take dust from thence which they putt into water and either therewith sprinckled or gave it to drink to such as were sick either men or beasts and thereby conferred health on them
never attributed Divine honour but a Veneration infinitly inferiour thereto to Gods Saints 6 This veneration he probably obtained from a Miracle related by the Authour of his life in this manner Wee must not saith he leave buried in silence this prodigious wonder how when his head was cutt from his body the trunk raising it self up took the head which it caried from the place where he was slain to a spring not far off which flowed with a most Christallin water in which with the hands it washed the blood away Which spring in a reverent memory of the Saint is to this day called S. Decumanus his Spring Near to which place the body together with the head was honourably buried by the neighbouring inhabitants IV. CHAP. 1. 2. c. A fearfull iudgment on a Soldier who delayed Confession and Pennance to the last 1. AMong the Gests of the year of Grace seaven hundred and seaven Mathew of Westminster relates the sad accident of a Soldier of the family of Kenred King of the Mercians which deserves a place in this History to forewarn the Reader of the danger of delaying Confession and Pennance for sins The Narration he receives from S. Beda in whose words wee will deliver it though he names not the precise year as the other does 2. In the days of Coenred or Kenred who succeded Edilred in the kingdom of the Mercians there was a certain military Officer who as he was for his industry and courage acceptable to the King so on the contrary for the neglecting his soule he no lesse displeased him And therefore he on admonished him to confesse and amend his wicked life for fear a sudden death might prevent his repentance But the unhappy man though thus frequently admonished by the King little regarded his wholesom advice only he promised that he would take a time afterwards to doe pennance for his crimes Not long after it hapned that a sicknes surprising him he was forced to keep his bed where he lay in great tormeÌ„ts The King then who loved him much came to visit him and earnestly renewd his exhortations that at least then before he dyed he would goe to confession and demand Pennance but the man answered him That he would not confesse his sins till he were recovered of his present disease for fear his companions should upbraid him that the fear of death made him doe that which in the time of health he had refused to doe Now he thought this Answer argued a great courage in him but as afterward appeared he found that he had been miserably seduced by the Devill 3. His sicknes then growing more violent and dangerous the King once more came to visit and advise him but assoon as he was entred the chamber the sick man cryed out with alamentable voyce What would you have Sir Why come you hither It is not now in your power to give mee any comfort or assistance The King replied Doe not say so I fear your sicknes distracts you No Sir answerd he I am not mad but I have before mine eyes a foul and miserable conscience What means this said the King His reply was Awhile since there entred into this chamber two beautifull young men the one of which sate down at my head and the other at my feet And one of them brought forth a Book curiously garnished but extreme little which he gave mee to read and there I found written every good action which I had done in my life but alas the number was very small and the worth of them not at all considerable When I had read it they took it from mee without saying a word 4. Then there presently came toward this house a vast army of wicked Spirits horrible to be looked on which both surrounded it without and filled all the rooms within Assoon as they were sate down one of them who by the more horrid darknes of his face and preference in sitting seemed to be the principall among them brought forth likewise a Book of a dreadfull shape an enormous greatnes and insupportable weight This Book he gave to one of his attendants bidding him to bring it to mee that I might read it Assoon as I had looked into it I found there all the crimes which ever I had committed in deed word and even the slightest thoughts all this plainly described in hideous letters Then he said to the two young men in white garments who sate there why doe you stay here since you manifestly see that this man is ours They answered It is true take him and make him partaker of your damnation 5. Assoon as they had said this they presently disappeared and two of the most wicked among those Spirits of darknes arising with forkes in their hands smote mee one on the head and the other on the feet And now they are to my most horrible torment creeping through my inward parts and assoon as they shall meet together I shall dye and be hurried by them into Hell Thus â—pake this unhappy despairing man and presently after dyed and now being for all eternity tormented he practises repentance without any fruit which he neglected to doâ— in his life time when a short Pennance might have procured him pardon 6. Now as S. Gregory writing of the like case observes wee are to iudge that this man had these apparitions not for himself to whom they proffited nothing but for our good that wee knowing his unhappy end may fear to delay the time of Pennance now allowed us least being prevented by unlooked for death wee may dye impenitent And as touching the Bookâ— of a fashion so different which he saw presented to him by the good and by the evill Spirits this was done by Divine dispensation to putt us in mind that our deeds and even our thoughts doe not vanish into aire but are reserved to the examination of the Supreme Iudge and shall be presented to our view in the last day either by our good or evill Angells And whereas in this Vision the Angells brought forth a white Book and afterward the Devills a Black one the former a very small one and the latter one of an enormous bignes that signified that in his youth â—e had done some few good actions all which notwithstanding had been obscured by the sins of his riper age But on the contrary those who in their ripe age doe endeavour to hide from the eyes of God the sins committed in their childhood may be associated to those concerning whom the Psalmist saith Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven whose sins are covered This Story saith S. Beda as I received it from the Venerable Prelat Pecthelm I thought fitt simply to commit to writing for the spirituall benefit of those who shall read or heare it V. CHAP. 1. 2. c. S Egwin Bishop of Worcester is by calumny eiected goes in Pennance to Rome and is miraculously absolved 8 9. c At his return
presently with that farewell disappeared The Holy man with great ioy rendring thanks to God for this favour understood thereby that it was Gods will that the same place should be consecrated to his service and dedicated to the honour of the Blessed Virgin Mother of our Lord. For during his former afflictions and persecutions he had made a vow that if God would vouchsafe to give a prosperous end to his desires he would build a Church to his service Hereupon without delay be cleansed the place began the work and shortly brought it to perfection The fidelity of this Narration is verified by a writing or Charter of S. Egwin himself which shall shortly be produced VI. CHAP. 1.2 c. Two Kings Coenred and Offa undertake a Pilgrimage to Rome where they dye 7.8 c. S. Egwin obtains great Priviledges to his Monastery of Evesham from Pope Constantin 1. TO this miraculous vision of S. Egwin we may in part impâ—te the devout pilgâ—â—mage oâ— King Coenred or Kenred King of the Mercians to Rome to visit the Sacred Monuments of the Apostles In which Pilgrimage he was also attended by the same Saint Egwin Other encouragements thereto likewise he might have from the example of his Predecessour King Ethelred whose Sanctity was at this time in high esteem Moreover the sad and horrible death of his impenitent servant mentioned before probably incited him not to delay the securing of his future everlasting condition for that might teach him that sins are with ease committed but with great difficulty cleansed away Which of these or whether all these Motives concurred to induce this devout King to free himself from those encombrances with which a Crown was attended which made the way to heaven far more dangerous and painfull it is uncertain But certain it is that at this time This pious King as Saint Beda saith having for the space of four or â—ive years with great dignity and renown governed the Kingdom of the Mercians with far greater dignity and Noblenes relinquished that Scepter to become an humble suppliant at the Sepulchers of the glorious Apostles S. Peter and S. Paul And by the advice of S. Egwin he constituted his Successour in the Kingdom Coenred the son of Ethelred from whom himself had received the Crown 2. How much more efficacious good Examples are then Words was at this time also in an eminent manner declared to the world For the generous Act of King Ethelred who out of Love to Christ exchanged his Purple into an humble Habit of Religion was so far not only imitated by his Successour King Coenred but also by Offa the pious King of the East-Saxons that he also at this very time resolved in his company to quitt his Throne after a raign of eight years â—o undertake a tedious iourney that he might dye as it were in the Society of the same Blessed Apostles 3. We have already declared how in the beginning of his Raign he demanded for his wiâ—e Kineswida daughter of Penda King of the Mercians a Lady adorned with all the embellishmets of Nature and Grace This proposition was readily accepted by her freinds who without consulting her confidently promised him a successe to his desires for they doubted not but she would esteem it a condition to be accepted with willingnes and ioy 4. But the devout Virgins ambition lay a quite different way She had lately seen her Sister Kineburga descend from a Royall Throne into a Monastery and from thence by the Ministery of Angells called to their Society in Heaven Such a spectacle raised her thoughts and desires above the earth and notwithstanding the earnest opposition of her freinds those desires were effected by the intercession of the Quuen of Virgins to whom she had recourse as hath been already related 6. It is not to be doubted but King Offa though perhaps afflicted with the refusall yet by her example learnt to disesteem worldly pompes which he saw she trodd under her feet And thereupon would not neglect the present opportunity to accompany his neighbour King Kenred in his devout Pilgrimage to Rome 6. These two devout Kings together with Saint Egwin Bishop of Worcester arrived there the year following Pope Constantin then sitting in S. Peters chair Where having performed their publick Devotions each of them receiving the Monasticall Tonsure ended their dayes in an humble Religious Profession 7. As for the Holy Bishop Egwin the Motive of his iourney thither was not only to attend these pious Princes but also to obtain from the See Apostolick a Confirmation and Priviledges for his new erected Monastery at Evesham Which by the intercession of the two Kings he easily and effectually obtained 8 Moreover to the endowing of the said Monastery King Kenred and Offa before their quitting the world munificently contributed severall Mannors and villages containing sixty six Manses the names of which are contained in a Charter yet extant made by the same Kings the Title whereof is A Charter of Kenred and Offa Kings concerning the Lands in which the Blessed Virgin Mary is said to have appeared to Bishop Egwin together with many other possessions conferred on the Monastery of Evesham all which were confirmed by Pope Constantin in the Church of Lateran To the same effect there is likewise still remaining another Charter of Bishop Egwin in which he relates the substance of the forementioned Story concerning the appearing of our Blessed Lady to him and likewise setts down the names of the seâ—verall Lordships and villages given to the said Monastery by the Kings Ethelred and Kenred as likewise by a young Noble Gentleman called Atheric and a Venerable Preist named Walterns So that in a short time there were conferred on his Monastery one hundred and twenty Manses All which possessions saith he were by Apostolick authorities and priviledges and by Regall Edicts exempted from all exactions by any power whatsoever to the end that the Monks serving God there according to the Rule of S. BENEDICT may passe their lives in quietnes without any disturbance 6. Pope Constantin being a Witnes of these Kings munificence and having been informed of the wonderfully gracious Visitation by which our Blessed Lady had vouchsafed to dignify the Province of the Mercians admonished the Holy Arch-bishop Brithwald to publish the great wonders of our Lord and for that purpose to assemble a Synod of the whole Kingdom in which he should in the name of the sayd Pope denunciate to all Princes Nobles Bishops and other Ecclesiasticks the Confirmation which he had given to the endowments of the said Monastery made by the said Kings together with many Priviledges and Exemptions by himselfe bestowd upon it to the end saith he that there should be restored a Congregation of Monks who should incessantly serve our Lord according to the Rule of the glorious S. Benedict which Institut as yet is rarely observed in those parts Moreover he enioyned him and his Successours with the assent of
esteem Saints Yet neither their Sanctity nor learning could secure their Lives from the present sanguinary Laws now in force 7. Some Writers affirm that S. Aldelm was a Scott but his name meerly Saxon does disprove them which signifies an ancient Helmet And generally our Historians acknowledge him to have been of the English-Saxon progeny Capgrave B. Godwin and others affirm that he was Brothers son to King Ina. Brian Twine says he was son to King Ina himself And William of Malmsbury that he was from â—is ancient Progenitours nearly allied in blood to King Ethelstan 8. There succeeded him in the Episcopall See of Shirborn a devout Preist named Forther who by the testâ—mony of Saint Beda his contemporaney is described to have been a man well versed in the study of Divine Scriptures Little more is extant concerning him in our Ecclesiasticall Monuments Onely Bishop Godwin relates of him that almost thirty years after this he attended a Queen of the West-Saxons in her pilgrimage to Rome 9. Probably this is the same person to whom Brithwald at this time Archbishop of Canterbury wrote an Epistle extant among those of Saint Boniface the Apostle of Germany with this Inscription To the most Reverend and most Holy our Fellow-Bishop Fortherey Berthwald a Servant of the Servants of our Lord sendeth health in our Lord. The Epistle it self because it gives some Light to the practise of that age wee will here adioyn as followeth 10. Since the request which in your presence I made to the Venerable Abbot Beorwald took no effect which was that he would sett at liberty a young captive mayd whose kinred dwell near to this Citty being importuned by them I thought fitt to direct once more these Letters to you by a Brother of the same mayd whose name is Eppa Hereby therefore I doe earnestly entreat you that you would by all means obtain from the foresaid Abbot that he would from this bearers hands accept three hundred shillings solidos for the ransome of the sayd young mayd and consign her into his hands to be brought hither to the end she may spend the rest of her age in ioyfull freedome among her freinds This affaire if you will bring to good effect you will not fayle to receive a good reward from God and many thanks from mee Besides this I conceive that our Brother Beorwald receiving this money will be no looser I ought to have made my first request that you would be mindfull of mee in your dayly Prayers Our Lord Iesus Christ preserve your Reverence in health many years 11. The slavery of this young mayd mentioned here denotes the ancient custome of the Saxons continued a long time after by the Normans of buying slaves and annexing them to certain Mannors or Lands which were therefore called Villains which without a ransome could not be restored to freedome 12. As for Beorwald mentioned in this Letter he was probably Abbot of Glastonbury who succeded Hemgisle in the year of Grace seaven hundred and five as the Antiquities of that Monastery declare And he it was who wrote the life of the Holy Bishop Egwin and not as some mistakingly affirm Brithwald Arch-bishop of Canterbury who sate above four and twenty years in that See before S. Egwin died IX CHAP. 1.2 c. The Martyrdom of S. Indractus an Irish Prince his murder miraculously discovered 1. ABout this time hapned the Martyrdom of a son of a certain Irish King who returning from a Pilgrimage to Rome by Brittany in his way from Glastonbury towards Ireland was together with seaven of his companions barbarously murdred by robbers His name was Indractus and his Memory is celebrated in our Martyrologe on the fifth of February 2. Concerning him thus writes the Authour of his life in Capgrave After that Saint Patrick had converted the Irish Nation to the Faith of Christ by many signs and wonders he passed over the Sea thence into Brittany and at Glastonbury he happily ended his days in a good old age For this cause many devout persons of Ireland have accustomed in devotion to visit the sayd Monastery Now there was in Ireland the son of a certain King his name was Indractus a young man well imbued with learning adorned with vertues and favoured both by God and man This young Prince aspiring only to heavenly ioyes for a more secure obtaining them resolved to despise yea to fly from all the snares of Princely palaces and delicacies Taking therefore with him nine companions together with his Sister named Dominica our Martyrologe calls her Drusa he in devotion undertook a pilgrimage to Rome Having therefore a prosperous passage by Sea he arrived at a Haven in Brittany named Tamerunt And there this devout assembly built an Oratory and spent a long space of time in the service of God and mortification At length leaving his Sister there he with his other Companions pursued their pilgrimage to Rome As for the frequent Miracles wrought by the Holy man in Brittany or in his iourney I omitt them the curious Reader may have recourse for them to the Authour who thus prosecutes his Story 3. Returning after some time from Rome into Brittany he had a resolution to goe to Glastonbury and there at the Monument of Saint Patrick to pour forth his Prayers to God Now at that time Inas King of the West-Saxons held his Court neer that place in a town called Pedret in the villages round about which many of his Servants and attendants were dispersed Among whom there was a certain son of iniquity named Hona This man curiously observing Indractus and his companions in their way from Glastonbury that their baggs and purses were well stuffed with money Whereupon the Minister of Satan with his complices following them overtook them at a Village named Shapwick and violently breaking into the house while they were sleeping there murdred them all Which having done they took their Sacred Bodies and cast them into a deep pitt to the end no man might find them 4. Now it fortuned that King Inas whose abode was near that place on a certain night being afflicted with great pain in his bowells to assâ—age the same went abroad into the open aire and looking towards heaven he saw a pillar as it were of fire issuing out of the place in which the sacred bodies were hidden the splendour of which was always in his eyes which way soever he turned them The same spectacle offred it self to him three nights consequently whereupon taking some of his Courtiers with him he went to the place and having found the bodies of the holy Martyrs he took care that they should be buried at Glastonbury with great honour The Body of S. Indractus was placed on the left side of the Altar opposite to the Monument of S. Patrick and his companions under the pavement round about As for the Murderers they having the impudence to be present at the buriall were visibly seysed
three years after and is commemorated on the two and twentieth of September 6 A great proof of the perfection of Monasticall Disciplin observed after her death in her Monastery is this That Saint Boniface the glorious Apostle of the Germans having founded a Monastery in those parts made choice of her Disciples above all others and particularly of Saint Lioba to plant Religious observance there This is testified by Rodulphus Disciple of Rabanus Maurus in the life of S. Lioba written by him 8. The same Writer also affirms that in the same town of Winburn there was erected likewise a Cloyster of Monks either by Saint Cuthburga or her Brother King Ina And that from the beginning a Law and Decree of Religious Disciplin had been made That excepting Preists who were to serve at the Altar no men should be permitted to enter the Monastery of those Religious Virgins Nor any woman into that of Religious men And that among the other obligations of the Virgins at their Profession this was one never to step out of their Cloyster except upon a necessary cause to be approved by Superiours 9. Among the Epistles of Saint Boniface there is one inserted from one Aldhun an Abbot and two Abbesses called Cnenburg and Coenburg which were probably these two Princely Sisters Saint Cuthburga and Saint Quenburga desiring a devour Preist called Wietbert an attendant of Saint Boniface to recommend to God in his Prayers two Religious woemen Quoengyth and Edlu both which dyed the same day being the Ides of September XIX CHAP. 1.2 c. The death of Prince Pipin to which S. Swibert endeavoured in vain to prepare him 1. THE death of Duke Pipin hapning about this time since the holy Apostolick Bishop Saint Swibert was employed in preparing him to it which charge he performed with great zeale though with small effect it will not be iudged impertinent to give an account of what passed between them from the relation of S. Marcellin a witnes whose authority cannot be questioned Thus therefore he writes 2. It hapned sayth he in the year seaven hundred and fourteen after our Lords Incarnation that Pipin of Herstall a magnanimous Prince and Maâ—re of the King of France his house sell fick of that disease which endred with his life Hereupon the illustrious Bishop Saint Swibert was earnestly desired by certain Noble persons to visit him But he thought fitt first to goe to Colen attended by his two Disciples Willeic and Theodorick there to demand counsell of Plectrudis the illustrious Duchesse of Lorrain or the Austrasians how he should cary himself in that affaire She with great devotion received and entertaind him at last for her own consolation retaining with her the pious Preist Willeic she dismissed Saint Swibert accompanied by Agilulf Archbishop of Colen and other Prelats giving them charge seriously to advise her husband Prince Pipin that in case he should dye he would take care not to disinherit his illustrious lawfully begotten children Drogo Duke of Champagne and Grimoaldus Maire of the house to Childebert King of France by substituting in his Will as his Heyr Charles Martell a bastard by Alpaide his Concubine which injustice he could not doe without the losse and damnation of his soule besides the stain that he would bring upon his name in the sight of the whole Church and Scandall of his Nobility and Subjects 3. This was an employment which not long before had cost the Holy Bishop Lambert very dear for because he had reprehended the same Prince for his unlawfull cohabitation and mariage with the same Harlot he lost his life and was deservedly esteemed a Martyr 4. The foresaid Bishop therefore being arrived at Ioppilta a Town upon the River Mosa where the sick Prince lay were kindly received by him They therefore to comfort and encourage him to suffer with patience temporall afflictions or infirmities told him that Almighty God in his wisedom and goodnes made the way to heaven rough and unpleasant to his Elect least being delighted in the way they should forget or disesteem the happines which they expected in their countrey 5 After such like discourse often repeated at last having found a convenient and opportune season among other spirituall advices which they gave him for the good of his soule they with great affection and zeale discovered to him the speciall motive of their iourney sharply reprooving him for his unlawfull mariage But they had no sooner touched upon this argument but they were with great indignation repulsed by the Prince And the harlot Alpaide having diligently enquired into and found the occasion of these Prelats iourney rudely commanded them presently to be gone And withall was so importunate with the Prince in behalf of her Son Charles Martel that she obtained of him whatsoever she requested And accordingly Pipin dying the same year left Charles Martel heyre of all his Principalities 6. This being seen by the foresayd Prelats they were forced to return to Colen with greif and dishonour where they made known to Plectrudis all things which had passed at Ioppilia with Pipin withall comforting and exhorting her to sustain such crosses with patience XX. CHAP. i. 2 c. The Birth education and Gests of S. Guthlac Of his Disciple Bertelins intention to murder him Of Ethelbald a banished Mercian Prince comforted by him c. BVT in Brittany a far more comfortable and happy death befell a Hermit of admirable Sanctity named S. Guthlac who as in this life he enioyd a familiar conversation with Angels so in the next he was made their companion in blessednes for ever His Gesis we have thought fitt to remitt till this time when he dyed because having lived a solitary life they were scarce at all involved with the common occurrents of the Church in his time The story of his life may require from us a more then ordinary attention credit because written by Felix a devout â—reist of the same age and dictated to him by Bertelin a Monk of Croyland his companion in Solitude The Authour dedicated his Writing to Elwold King of the East-Angles which is a sufficient warrant to rectify the Chronology of some of our Historians who place the death of this Elwold in the year of Grace six hundred and ninety By the generall account S. Guthlac lived forty seaven years and being twenty four years old he undertook a soldiers Profession in which he lived eight years and fifteen years after in the Solitude of Croyland so that his Birth must fall in the year of Grace six hundred sixty seaven The wonderfull circumstances of which is thus recorded by the foresaid Authour Felix 2. In the dayes of Ethelred King of the Mercians saith he a certain Noble person of Royall offspring named Penwald had by his wife Tecta the holy servant of God Guthlac At the hower of his birth his future Sanctity was miraculously designed For from heaven there appeard the hand as it were of
Marish plain From whence they could not in lesse then three dayes space return to the Town But being thither arrived they found the King dead without Baptism and related to the Blessed Bishop how strangely they had been deluded by the Devill 8. As for the Frison he presently professed his beleif in Christ and was baptised his Name was Ingamar and afterward attended the Bishop to our Monastery of Fontanell But the unhappy King was not permitted to be undeceived because he did not pertain to Christs flock And this Miracle was spread through the countrey whereupon a great multitude was converted to our Lord. Now the death of the foresaid miserable King Radbode hapned in the year of our Saviour seaven hundred and nineteen which was the seaventh of the illustrious Prince Charles Martel VIII CHAP. 1.2 c. Severall Epistles of Saint Boniface 1. BVT to leave this not impertinent digression and return to S. Boniface He says Baronâ—us though he was by Apostolick delegation empowred to preach the Word of God independently yet even in this he shewd the marks of Apostleship in asmuch as embracing Christian humility he thought fist to exercise the apprentiship of his Apostolick Office under another For during the space of three years he adioynd himself a Coadiutour to S. Willebrord named by the Pope Clement in the conversion of the Frisons And being earnestly pressed by him to accept of his Arch-bishoprick of Vtrecht he constantly refused and begging licence departed from him to work alone in that heavenly Office 2. And moreover distrusting his own forces he humbly begged the Prayers of others for the Divine assistance in so sublime a work Among his Epistles there is still extant one to the same effect directed to Leodbata a kinswoman of his to Bedda Chunigildis and other Religious Virgins to continue their earnest Prayers to Almighty God that he might be delivered from many pressures which he suffred from importune and wicked men and that he might not be discouraged from defending Christs Faith and Church from many Hereticks Schismatiks and Hypocrites which used all their endeavours to make a prey of the new converted Lambs with their Mothers and did more encomber him then the professed enemies of our Faith the Pagan Idolaters 3. There is likewise found another Epistle to him from a Holy Virgin named Buggan an Abbesse then in Brittany of a Royall family as is witnessed in other Letters of a following date written to him by Hildebert King of Kent This devout Virgin he had found at Rome when he repaired thither to Pope Gregory and being returned into Brittany she in an Epistle congratulated with him the sublime Office imposed on him by that Holy Pope as likewise a vision which he had received from God who revealed to him the great successe of his preaching and moreover had cast down before him that great Enemy of his Holy Faith King Radbode Moreover she informed him that whereas he had desired her to send him the Passions of Martyrs she could not as then procure them but would use all her endeavours for his satisfaction Consequently she begged of him to send her certain Collections out of Holy Scriptures for her consolation as he had promised her and that he would offer to God the Sacrifices of his Holy Masses for the soule of a dear kinsman of hers lately dead In conclusion she told him that by the same messenger she had sent him for his present supply fifty shillings Solidos and a Pall for the Altar the smallnes of which presents she excused by her poverty and earnestly begged his Prayers in which she had great confidence 4. Another Epistle himself also about this time wrote to Tatwin and Wigbert Preists and to Bernard Hiedde Hunfrith and Stirme Monks of the Monastery of Nutscelle from whence he came earnestly exhorting them to conserve the Regular Discipline taught them by their late Venerable Father Wigbert He ordained likewise that they should observe the directions of the other Wigbert Preist and Mengingord Deacon touching the howers and order of the Ecclesiasticall Office That Hiedde should be the Superiour over the servants and Hunfrid his assistant that Stirme should be in the Kitchin and Bernard have care of building lastly that in all things they should be obedient to Tatwin their Abbot Now this Tatwin Abbot was a person of great esteem for after the death of Brithwald Arch-bishop of Canterbury he was chosen to succeed in that See Notwithstanding Bishop Parker affirms that Tatwin the Successour of Brithwald was taken out of a Monastery called Brinton and S. Beda calls it Bruidum which whether it was the same or a distinct Monastery from Nutscelle in the Province of the Mercians it is hard to determine IX CHAP. 1.2 c. Severall Bishops ordained c. 6. The Gests of Saint Pega sister to Saint Guthlac 1. BVT we must for some time leave Saint Boniface busy in his Apostolick Office in Germany and return into Brittany where according to our Ecclesiasticall Monuments Eadbert who eight years before had been consecrated Bishop of the South-Saxons by the Arch-bishop Brithwald dying there succeeded in his place Eolla Who governed that See a very short time for Saint Beda ending his History in the year seaven hundred thirty one there expressly affirms that the said Church of the South-Saxons having remained some years without a Bishop was obliged to have recourse to the Bishop of the West-Saxons for the performing of such rights as required an Episcopall iurisdiction 2. And the year following the See of Dumwich in the Kingdom of the East Angles becoming voyd by the death of Astwolf or Aesculf there succeeded in it Aldbert And likewise the other Episcopall See of Helmham being vacant by the death of Norbert Hadulac succeeded him which two Bishops are by the same S. Beda affirmed to be alive at the end of his History 3. The same year also Aedgar Bishop of the Lindesfart now called Lincoln dying his successour was Kinebert a man learned in the Ecclesiasticall History and from whom S. Beda professes that he received help in the writing of his Concerning all these Bishops little more besides their Names has been transmitted to posterity 4. In the Kingdom also of the East-Saxons at this time dyed King Beorna who left the throne to be possessed by Alfwald for so we shall find that he calls himself in Letters written by him to S. Boniface of which hereafter 5. But the person whose death gave the greatest loster to this year was Pega Sister to S. Guthlac mentioned before for so we read in our Martyrologe on the third of Iune And hereto agrees our Historian Ingulphus Abbot of Croyland who describing the state of that Island made famous by the Sanctity of Saint Guthlac records the names of severall holy Hermites which imitated the said Saint in a solitary life of Contemplation among the rest he makes expresse mention of
to us Be diligent in learning for I know not how long I may last nor whether my Creatour will very shortly take mee from you Such speeches made us beleive that he foresaw when he should dye The night following he passed without any sleep at all and spent it wholly in praying and praysing God The morning following very early he bid us to be very attentive and diligent to make an end of writing the Lesson we had begun So that we continued in receiving his Dictats till nine of the clock After which hower we went in solemâ—e Procession with Relicks of the Saints as the Office of that day required One of us his Disciples in the mean time stayd with him and told him saying There remains still one Chapter of the Treatise which you did dictate to us But I fear it will be too great trouble for you to speak No said he Take your pen presently and Write and he did accordingly 7. About three of the Clock after noon he called mee to him and said I have in a little boxe some precious things there is Pepper incense and Oraria which some interpret Handkercheifs others Stoles and some likewise Chaplets for numbring of Prayers which say they therefore from him took the name of Beades Run presently and fetch them and desire the Preists of our Monastery to come hither that I may distribute among them some such small Gifs as God bestowd on mee This I performed with much trembling And when the Preists were come he earnestly requested every one of them not to faile to pray and say Masses diligently for him Which they also heartily promised him But they burst out into bitter weeping when he told them he beleived they should never see his face again in this world But again it was a ioy to them when he said It is now time if such be the pleasure of God my Creatour that I should be delivered out of this flesh and goe to him who when I was not framd mee of nothing I have lived a long time and my mercifull Iudge has well ordered my life The time of my freedom is at hand for my soule desires to see Christ my King in his glory In such like speeches to our great comfort and edification he spent ioyfully that which was his last day till even 8. The foresaid young Disciple of his whose name was Wilberck sayd once again to him Dear Master There remains yet one sentence unwritten But he answerd Well well all is finished Thou hast said right Come and turn my head for I much desire to sitt and look to my Oratoâ—y and pray to my heavenly Father Thus being layd upon a hayr-cloath spread on the floor as he was singing these words Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost c. he happily breathed forth his soule And we may assuredly beleive that considering his laborious constancy in praising God his soule was by Angells caried to eternall ioyes 9. Now all which heard his speeches and were witnesses of the manner of the death of this our good Father Beda doe professe that they never saw any one end his life with so great tranquillity of mind and devotion For as you have heard as long as his soule continued in his body he never ceased to praise God and with arms stretchd forth to give thanks to him Now you must know that besides what I have written there remain many other particulars which for want of skill in expressing I am forced to omitt Yet I have a purpose through Gods help to relate more amply severall other things which I saw and heard from him This account did this Disciple give of his holy Masters death After which as we read in the Authour of his Life in Capgrave there followd in the room where he dyed a sweet fragrancy so wonderfully odoriferous that all the persons present thought themselves in Paradise for no Perfumes or precious balsam came near the sweetnes of it 10. And hereto William of Malmsbury adds which was omitted by the said Disciple That the whole congregation of the Monks being assembled he received Extreme-Vnction and communicated the Body of our Lord for his Viaticum to strengthen him in his last combat against his spirituall enemies and moreover that having kissed them every one he earnestly desired to be remembred in their Prayers c. 11. He dyed on the seaventh day before the Calends of Iune which was the twenty sixth of May But because that day was also the Feast of our great Apostle S. Augustin therefore the Church thought fitt to commemorate S. Beda the day following and so we find both in the Roman and English Martyrologes He was buried in his own Monastery in which from his infancy he had lived about threescore years But the fame of his Sanctity afterward encreasing his Bones together with the Sacred Body of Saint Cuthbert Bishop of Lindesfarn were translated to Durham and there reposed together 12. Assoon as his Death was known abroad severall Letters came from forrain countreys to desire some of his Treatises and Books Two Epistles there are still extant from S. Boniface and from S. Lullus Successour to him and to S. Willebrord to the same purpose And particularly S. Lullus writing to Cuthbert who had been his Disciple three and forty years and was afterward Abbot of the same Monastery tells him that he had sent a Vesture all of silk to enwrap the Relicks of his beloved Master To which the Answers of the same Cuthbert also are still extant 13. I doe not know by what warrant from Ancient Monuments the devout Writer by some stiled the Chancellour of the Blessed Virgin B. Alanus de Rupe affirms that Saint Beda was the first who began in England the Exercise of particular Devotions and reciting of Chaplets to the honour of that glorious Queen of Virgins for so weer find the Oraria distributed by S. Beda to his Brethren interpreted And that from Brittany such Devotion was propagated into France and other forrain countreys 14. I will conclude this Narration with the large Testimonies given to S. Beda's learning and Piety even by Enemies to that Religion which he taught Thus then writes Camden of him Beda among all our Writers is a lover of Truth And again Our Beda the singular glory of England for his piety and erudition gott the Title Venerabilis He gave up himself as he testifies to the Meditation of Holy Scriptures and wrote a very great number of Volumes in an age turmoyld with huge waves of barbarism Thus likewise Whitaker Beda did excell in many vertues and singular learning To the same purpose Foxe Beda was a man worthy of eternall memory the whole Western Church of that age gave him the palm and preeminence for learning and understanding of Scripture Very many more like testimonies may be added but I will content my self with that of the carnall Apostat Bale
of Saint Cuthbert 1. THE same year Brittany saw a spectacle which all other Christian countreys esteemed prodigious but was become no wonder in our Island and this was a potent King in his ripe age and the midst of his prosperity to renounce all wordly glory advantages and contentment and to prefer before all these a poor Cell a course habit sparing and simple dyet and submission to the meanest of his Subiects This was Ceolulf King of the Northumbers to whom S. Beda had dedicated his History of Brittany not so much that he might by his eminent quality be a protectour of it or of the Authour as by his learning and iudgement to be a correctour And it is not to be doubted but that so many examples which he found there of persons contemning hating and flying from all worldly tentations and pleasures had a strong influence on his mind to inflame it with the love of heavenly and only true happines 2. A little before he thus offred himself a Holocaust to our Lord he had bestowd liberally many possessions on the Monastery of Lindesfarn where the famous S. Cuthbert learnt and practised the rudiments of his Sanctiâ—y whose life and glorious actâ—ons he had read in S. Beda's writings Hoveden among the munificent gifts of this King to S. Cuthbert reckons these pâ—aces Vdecester Wittingham Edulfingham and Cewlingham But the Religious King esteemed this liberality not considâ—rable unlesse he gave himself likewise to him by embracing a penitenciall Life in his Monasteâ—y which this year being the ninth of his raign he performâ—d 3 This space of nine years spent in vanity saith Huntingdon seemed to him a whole age for he was in great anguish of mind that so great a part of his Life should be lost in the vain cares and encombrances of the world He resolved therefore to consecrate the remainder of his years to spirituall Wisedom and to the eternall advantage of his own soul. Therefore proposing to himself out of the History of S. Beda six potent Kings for his imitation he resolved to follow their examples These were Ethelred King of the Mercians and Kenred his Successour Likewise Cedwalla King of the West-Saxons and Ina his Successour Sigebert King of the East Angels who became a Monk and was afterwards slain by the Tyrant Penda And Sebbi King of the East Saxons who embracing a Religious Profession by Dâ—vine revelation foresaw the wishd-for day of his death he saw it and was glad These did not consume their Substance with harlots like the Prodigal son but went on their way with sorrow sowing their seed that they might return with ioy and present their â—heaves to our Lord. King Ceolulf therefore added a seaventh Hebdomadam to the number of perfect Kings and receiving a Monasticall habit in exchange of the Temporall Crown which he left God sett upon his Head a glorious Crown of one entire precious stone 4. The Monastery into which he retired was thâ—t of Lindesfarn the Monks whereof were the Disciples of S. Aidan whom long before this King Oswald had sent for thither out of Scotland and they following his example practised far more rigourous austerities then were usually seen else where For not only all the Râ—ligious men and women too of that institut continued fasting every Wednesday and Friday till Vespers were accomplished but also wholly abstained from wine and all strong drink contenting themselves with Water mingled with a little milk But whether it was that experience shewd them that English Complexions not so robustious as those of the Scotts could not support this great austerity or whether likewise it was out of condescendance to the delicacy and infirm temper of King Ceolulf at his entrance an indulgence was given to the Monks and they were permitted for their drink to use a moderate proportion of Wine or Ale 5. Now besides his former liberalities to that Monastery King Ceolulf at the time of his Monasticall Tensure gave the Mannor of Warkworth So writes Camden out of our Ancient Monuments Warkworth saith he with all its dependences was a possession of the Church of Lindesfarn by the gift of King Ceolulf For this mansion at his renouncing the world he bestowd on the said Church in which beinâ— made a Monk he aspired to a heavenly kingdom 6. Our Martyrologe in which his memoâ—â— is celebrated among the Saints on the fifth of Ianuary refers his death to this saâ—â— year But certain it is that his life was proâ—longâ—d there the space of twenty thrâ—â— years So that we are to interpret thaâ— thiâ— year he dyed to the world Now how happily he concealed himself in that solitude from the world and how charged he was with merits and graces when he left it this is sufficiently testified saith William of Malmsbury by the honour he received in being buried close to S. Cuthbert and by many Divine Miracles wrought there by his intercession His Relicks were afterward translated to Northam saith Hoveden where they likewise became illustrious by Miracles being placed in a Church there built by Egred Bishop of Lindesfarn about seaventy years after this Kings death and dedicated to the honour of Saint Peter Saint Cuthbert and S. Ceolulf 7. This Holy King resigned his Kingdom to his Nephew Eadbert or Egbert a Successour likewise of his vertue and piety for saith William of Malmsbury he governed it the space of twenty years with great prudence and iustice He had likewise a Brother of his own name Arch-bishop of York who by his own wisedom and his Brothers power restored his See to its primitive dignity But of these two illustrious persons more hereafter VIII CHAP. 1.2 Saint Boniface his iourney to Rome 5.6 c. He by Apostolick authority erects severall Bishopricks in Germany 1. THE Gests of S. Boniface which are the principall busines of the greatest part of this Age almost yearly furnishing our History doe call us into Germany from thence to attend his iourney to Rome which he again undertook in the year of Grace seaven hundred thirty eight The occusion of his iourney as we read in the Authour of his Life the account whereof is collected from that of his Disciple S. Willebald was partly to visit Pope Gregory third of that Name as likewise to commend himself to the Prayers of the Holy Apostles and other Saints reposing there and also to obtain from the said Pope as appears by his Letters a resolution of certain difficulties touching the care of soules committed to his charge 2. He went therefore to Rome attended by a great troop of French men Bavarians and Brittaine Where being arrived he was kindly received by the Pope The people of Rome likewise had him in such veneration that they flocked in great multitudes to his preaching and endeavoured to detain him a long time among them For of old it had been their custom when any man of note or sanctity came to Rome they would with
no bounds to their rapin and crâ—â—lty to Ecclesiasticks and Monks depriving them of their subsistence and bringing them into servitude They therefore earnestly beâ—ought him to consider that among all the Saxon Kings since the Conveâ—sion of that Island not any had been guilty â—f such Sacrilegious cruelty and unbounded lusts except only two Osred King of the Northumbers and Ceolred his predecessour in the Kingdom of the Mercianâ— And how horrible their deaths were he could not be ignorant particularly of this latter whom the Devill visibly hurried away to hell in the midst of his iollity and banquetting 5. Therefore with humble and Fatherly prayers they besought him not to despise their counsell but freely and speedily to amend those greivous offences against God considering how short this present life is how momentany the delectation of the filthy flesh and how ignominious it is for a Prince after a short life to leave behind him a perpetuall example of sin to posterity c. 6. This Letter being written they did not send immediatly to King Ethelbald but prudently considering that reproofs or counsels which arrive unseasonably to persons of high estate seldom produce any good effects but rather harden them the more Therefore they inclosed it in another directed to a certain Prest named Heresfrid to whom the King would more willinâ—ly hearken then any other and who likewise out of fear to God would not fear boldly to admonish the King Him therefore they desired to present it to King Ethelbald when he saw a fitting opportunity 7. At the same time likewise Saint Boniface wrote another Epistle to Egbert the learned Arch-bishop of York in which he acquainted him that having received command from the Apostolick See that in what Nation soever he saw or understood that errours were sowed among the people oâ— the Ecclesiasticall Rules depraved by ill practises and customes that he with the Popes own authority should endeavour to invite and reduce into the right any Transgressours who soever they were In obedience to which command he together with eight other Bishops of the English Nation assembled in a Synod at Mentz had sent an humble admonitory Letter to Ethelbald King of the Mercians which they had given order should be first sheweâ— to him that he might correct in it any thing which he did not approve and add thereto what in prudence he should think meet Withall desiring him that if in his Province of the Northumbers any such poysonnous root of wickednes was springing he should speedily pluck it up He requested him likewise to senâ— him some Treatises of Beda who of late brightly shone with divine Light and Grace in that Province Telling him also that among other small presents he had sent him the Copies of certain Epistles of Saint Gregory which he beleived had never before â—ome into Brittany and if he pleased would afterwards send him more Because he had at his being at Rome copied out of the Popes Archives a multitude of such Writings Beâ—sides all this he with much seriousnes entreats him that he would be his Counsellour and helper in inquiring and finding out the Ecclesiasticall Rules of the Iudgments of God c. 8 What was the successe of the foresaid Letter of Saint Boniface to King Ethelbald it is not known saith Baronius But not any Historian hath declared that by these admonitions he any thâ—ng amended his life However certain it is that two years after this he should have said twelve he ended his life very unhappily For thus wee read in the Epitome of the English History In the year of our Redeemer seaven hundred fifty seaven Edilbald King of the Mercians was by night miserably murdred by his Guards Thus writes Baronius Notwithstanding though none of our Historians expressly mention the amendment of this King yet wee shall shew probable grounds of it byâ— declaring his ioyning with Cuthbert Arch-bishop of Canterbury in restoring the priviledges of the Church and Ecclesiasticall Discipline c. and we may reasonably iudge that this Epistlâ— had a great influence into such a good change XVIII CHAP. 1.2 c. S. Boniface by the Donation of Caroleman builds the famous Monastery of Falda in Germany 4.5.6 Successions of Bishops in England c. 1. SAint Boniface having established for himself and his successours a fixed Metropolitan See at Mentz in Germany was desirous to find for himself a place of quiet retirement in which he might unbend his mind and recollect it from Pastorall solicitudes and conversation whensoever his affairs would permitt For which purpose a certain Seat in the Solitude of Buâ—honia near the River Fulda seemd to him very convenient and agreable that there interrupting a while the tumultuous businesses of Martha he mâ—ght at fitt seasons embrace the best part and employment of Mary to sit at our Lords feeâ— and in quiet contemplation attend to what our Lord would say unto his soule 2. But because a Seat to agreable belonged to the right iurisdiction of others he was compelled to have recourse to Caroloman by Petition to have that place charitably bestowed on him Which petition of his was not in vain For as Baronius from the Authour of S. Boniface his Life declares Caroloman having read this Petition was much pleased with it and having called together all his Nobles he made known to them the Holy Bishops request and with their consent in their presence he made a surâ—endry of the place to him saying Whatsoever therein belongs to mee from this hower I transferr it to God insomuch as all the land which on all sides lyes about it for the space of three miles is to be assigned to his service Having made this Assignment he sent Messengers to all the Nobles in the Territory of Grapheld earnestly desiring them that whosoever had any interest in any part of the land situated within the foresaid limits they would freely bestow it upon God to be the Seat of a Monastery which S. Boniface had a desire to build This Request of the Prince being made known to those Noble men they unanimously and with all devotion gave up all their right to God to S. Boniface and the Venerable Abbot Sturmis And to the end the said Assignment and Delivery might remain firm to posterity Caroloman who was the principall Beâ—efactour commanded a Charter to be made in good form to which he putt his Seale 3. Thus in the year of our Lords Incarnation seaven hundred forty six the famous Monastery of Fulda saith Miraeus by the free donation of Caroloman and Pipin Princes and sons of Duke Charles Martel was erected or at least the foundations of it were layd In which assoon as it was perfected Sturmius having congregated a certain number of Monks was constituted Abbot This Noble Monastery prooved in after times a source of innumerable blessings to the whole countrey of Germany 4. The same year in Brittany Inguald Bishop of London
holy King extended the bounds of his banishâ—ment further and visitted the shrines of the Holy Apostles beyond the Alpes and afterwards retired himself into other uninhabited places to the end he might more freely there attend to God At length after a long continued exile after many internall combats after frequent and painfull suffrings by hunger thirst and cold all his conflicts ended in the Province of Italy and Citty of Lucca there he received his rewards thence his soule was received into heaven and his Sacred members were placed near the Body of S. Frigidianus in a Church dedicated to his honour where his glorâ— shines abroad by many miracles His Festivity 〈◊〉 solemnized on the seaventh day before the Ides of February 3. The observations made by the illustrious Cardinall Baronius in his Annals this year upon this Inscription particularly to disprove the Title of King of the English attributed to S. Richard doe not seem to mee concluding For though it be true that his name is not found in the Catalogue of the Saxon or English Kings that is no sufficieÌ„t proof against him Since wee read very many examples or the like So in S. Beda mentioned is made of Edilward son of Oswald King of the Dierâ— likewise of Elbuin and of Osri King of the Wiccians And Cissa in his Charter in Harpsfeild calls himself King of the West-Saxons S. Boniface also mentions Sâ—gâ—â—ald King of the same Province and Ina a King called Balred Lastly in the Life of S. Botulph wee read of one Ethelmunâ— King of the South-Saxons yet not the name of any of these appear in the Catalogues oâ— the Kings of those severall Kingdoms And whereas he affirms that Philip of Eyslat a German is the first Authour who gives the Title of King to S. Richard it is a mistake For Wolfhard an Authour much more ancient who lived in the next Century to this and with great fidelity wrote the Life of Saint Walburga affords him the same Title and Stuartius in his Notes upon the same Life affirms that all Authours almost with one consent make him a King of England insomuch as none in his sound witts will deny it And indeed hereto agree the Roman Martyrologe Philip Bishop of Eystat Trithemius Molanus Yepes Gualter and very many others Yea Gretser in his observations on the Life of Saint Wilibald son to this Saint Richard prooves by many arguments the same as from common Tradition from ordinary Images of him from severall Missals Breviaries and Authours Notwithstanding that he did not actually at least not long enioy this Title and power may be granted Now the right which he had thereto may be shewed out of our Ancient Monuments 4. For wee have before declared how Lothere King of Kent succeeded to his Brother Egbert to the prejudice of his Brothers son Edric And after eleaven years raign being dispossessed and slain his son was also debarred the Succession never mounted the Throne Now this Prince Richard according to the opinion of some Writers and particularly of the learned Annalist R.F. Alford was that disinherited son of Lothere who content with the security and sweetnes of a private Life never sought nor desired soveraignty though iustly due to him 5. But more probable it is that this Richard was a King of the West-Saxons immediately after King Ina. For though Ethelard be the the onely King named his Successour Yet Saint Beda sayes expressely that King Ina left his Kingdom to severall young Princes among whoÌ„ this S. Richard probably was one This is confirmed by what we read in the life of this Prince that he recommended his children Winnebald and Willebald to S. Boniface because he was of his kingdom Now it is certain that S. Boniface was born at Kirton near Exceter in the Kingdom of the West-Saxons But Ethelard being a Prince of high spirits seems to have excluded the rest and S. Richard whose ambition lay another and better way was willing to employ his thoughts and endeavours in pursuing the hopes of an Eternall Kingdom to be obtained by peaceablenes and neglect of temporall Glory 6. And God was pleased to reward this his love with a far greater Blessing in giving him three children worthy of eternall memory S. Willibald S. Winibald and S. Walburga These three children in the year of Grace seaven hundred twenty five were sent by their Father to S. Boniface in Germany because he was born in his kingdom as the Authour of S Richards Life writes twenty years before the said S. Boniface was Arch-bishop of Mentz neither did their Father accompany them at that time as the Authour of the Inscription mistaking writes But severall years after followed them thither out of a desire to enioy their happy conversation and end his Life in the society of so many Saints Notwithstanding out of a Motive of Devotion very fashionable in that age he undertook a Pilgrimage in a mean habit to visit the Shrines of the Blessed Apostles at Rome After which in his return this year through Etruria or Tuscany God was pleased in the Citty of Lucca to putt an end to his iourney and restore to him with advantage a heavenly Crown And we are obliged to that Noble Citty for preserving his Memory in so Noble a Monument His name is both in the Roman and English Martyrologe recited among the Saints on the seaventh of February Where likewise he is stiled S. Richard King of the English because perhaps he had a right though never any possession of the Kingdom 7. The same year dyed the Holy Virgin Tecla Abbesse of the Monastery of Kirzengen at Ochnafort in Germany for so doe the Centuriators of Magdeburg stile the place And write concerning her and her holy companions in this manner This age or Century likewise had women famous for their learning some of which Boniface sent for out of England into Germany to preach the Gospell namely Chunitâ—ude Tecla Lioba Waldoburga Chunilda and Beragytha We doe indeed acknowledge that these Holy Virgins were sent for out of England into Germany but not to be Preachers It is no Catholick custom to make women overseers and disposers of Ecclesiasticall matters The end for which they were invited out of England was indeed to teach German Virgins the Instituts of a Religious Conversation As touching S. Tecla in particular she had her devout education in the Monastery of Winborn wherein she proffited so well that S. Boniface thought her fitt to teach others what she had so well learnt and to govern others having been so perfect in Obedience her self This Office after she had piously and diligently exercised fifteen years she was called to the embraces of her heavenly Bridegroom on the fifteenth day of October on which day she is commemorated among the Saints in the Roman Martyrologe 8. Our Martyrologe likewise mentions a certain English man a Bishop called German who went over Sea to preach
dissipated and torn asunder and their beautifull Ensigns so rent and defiled that they could scarce be known to their own party On each side those who were most daring and courageous kept close to their Standards and most furiously rushed upon one another doing horrible execution with their swords and battell-axes Neither of them had any thought of yeilding yea each party assured themselves of Victory 4. But wheresoever the Valiant Edilhun made an impression ruine accompanied him on all sides his battle-axe like a thunderbolt clove asunder both bodies and arms And on the other side wheresoever the courageous Mercian King Ethelbald rushed in he made a horrible slaughter for to his irresistible sword arms were as thinn cloaths and bones as soft flesh Whilst therefore these two warriers like devouring flames wasted their enemies on all sides it hapned that they both mett one another Each of them then gnashing his teeth with rage against his opposite stretched forth their arms and with all their strength struck-terrible blows at one another with little advantage for awhile on either side But God who resists the proud and from whom alone strength courage and magnanimity proceeds then putt an end to his favour formerly shewd to King Ethelbald deprived his soule of his usuall confidence Therefore perceiving that his customed forces and valour faild him a terrour from heaven assaild his mind so that he was the first in his army who began the flight Neither from that day to the last moment of his life did God afford him a prosperous successe in any of his undertakings 5. Thus describes the foresaid Authour this terrible decisive battell and for a conclusion adds That from that time the Kingdom of the West-Saxons became very potent and so continually prospered till it brought all the rest into subiection to it But this was not till the beginning of the following Century when King Egbert became Monark of the whole Kingdom charging its Name into England Thus passed matters in Brittany 6. And at the same time a far greater change was made in France For the worthy Prince Caroloman having the year before quitted his Principality and out of a strange fervour of Divine Love retired himself into the Monastery of Saint Benedict at Mount Cassin there to serve God the remainder of his Life in poverty and solitude the Nobility of France contemning their effeminat King Childeric with one consent determined to raise Prince Pipin in whose onely hand the whole power and management of the State remained into the Throne And to give a greater authority to the Change they thought good to consult Pope Zacharias to whom they represented the impotency and vicious effeminacy of their King and the admirable courage prudence and all Royall endowments of Pipin withall the necessity in which that Kingdom stood of an able supporter against the Saracens and other terrible enemies which threatned the destruction of it Hereupon the Pope gave his sentence according to their desires and appointed S. Boniface to annoint and sett the Crown on the Head of Pipin which he accordingly performed in the Citty of Soissons As for Childeric who was the last of the Merovingian race after his deposition he was thrust into a Monastery XXVII CHAP. 1. The Brittains invade the West-Saxons and are repelled 2.3 c. King Cuthred dying Sigebert a Tyrant succeeds and raigns but one year 1. THE year next following the terrible battell between the Mercians and West-Saxons in Brittany the Brittains thinking this a fitt season for them to enlarge their Dominion when the West-Saxons though conquerours had much diminished their forces to gett a bloody victory with a great Army made an impression into the Western parts But their successe was not according to their expectation for as Huntingdon relates Cuthred in the fourteenth year of his raign fought against the Brittains who not being able to resist him who had lately conquered King Ethelbald presently began to fly and for their folly and cowardice deservedly suffred a great slaughter without any dommage done to the West-Saxons 2. This was the last exploit of this Noble King for as the same Historian writes the great and renowned King Cuthred after so great prosperities and victories the next year by the cruelty of death was taken out of this world leaving a successour unworthy to fill his Throne This his Successour was his kinsman Sigebert who held the Crown a very short time For swelling with pride because of his Predecessours victories he became insolent and intolerable to his own subiects whom he treated ill all manner of ways and for his particular proffit depraved all his Lawes Hereupon a principall man among his Nobles called Cumbra was enduced by the generall complaints of the people to intimate their greivances to their New King Which he faithfully performed earnestly beseeching him to make his government easier to his subiects and quitting his former inhumanity to shew himself amiable both to God and men But these exhortations were so far from producing a good effect that he commanded Cumbra should cruelly and uniustly be putt to death yea and encreased the insupportable fiercenes of his Tyranny 3. This behaviour of his did so inflame with rage the minds of the West-Saxons that within the space of one year they deprived him both of his kingdom and life The manner whereof the same Writer thus proceeds to declare Sigebert being incorrigible both in his pride and other vices the Nobility and common people assembling themselves together with prudent deliberation and unanimous consent drove him out of his Kingdom and chose for their King an excellent young man of the Royall family called Kinewolf As for Sigebert after he was thus expelled by his Subiects and fearing yet greater punishment for his former demerits he in great fear hidd himself in a vast forest called Andreadswald where a certain Swineheard of Cumbra who had been so unworthily slain by him finding him he revenged on him the uniust death of his Lord. Thus ended his unhappy life King Sigebert a man saith William of Malmsbury horribly cruell to his subiects and contemptibly cowardly to his Neighbours 4. Yet among the vices and impieties of Sigebert one good action of his is recorded which was his charitable liberality to the ancient Monastery of Glastonbury For in an Appendix to the life of Saint Patrick and in the Antiquities of the same Monastery wee read how the Danes at this time cruelly wasting the Northumbers a certain Abbot called Ticca who lived in those parts fled the countrey and coming among the West-Saxons there he retired himself into the Monastery of Glastonbury Where after he had for some time lived with much edification he was chosen Abbot this year A powerfull mean whereby he gaind the love and favour of the Monks was his enriching that place with many precious Relicks which he brought with him out of the Northern parts as the Sacred Bodies of Saint
place to succeed nothing but tumults rage and treasons His young son Osulf to whom he had surrendred the kingdom in the space of one year saith Hoveden held it and lost it For on the ninth day before the Calends of August the year after his Father had instituted him in it he was impiously slain by his own family His tender age and innocence rendring him obnoxious and exposed to treachery His Successour was his Vncle Edilwald sirnamed Mul or Mollo mentioned before who is sayd to have contributed to his Nephews murder And though he was a man of great courage and prudence yet he found there could be no security in power obtaind by crimes for not long after he likewise came to a tragicall end 2. But among the Mercians a far more prosperous fate attended the new King Offa who had driven the Tyrant Beorâ—red out of the kingdom and was by the unanimous consent of the people placed in his Throne which he held the space of thirty nine years His Royall descent is thus described by Huntingdon The most Noble Prince Offa saith he was the son of Wingferd the son of Eanulf the son of Osmod the son of Epus the son of Wippa the son of Creada the son of Kinewal the son of Knibba the son of Icel the son of Eomer the son of Agelthen the son of Offa the son of Weremond the son of Withald the son of Woden Mathew of Westminster stops not here in his Genealogy but goes on till he brings him up to Adam 3. As for Mathew a Monk of Saint Albans his fictions either contrived or beleived by him wee will neglect who out of a partiall affection to Offa the founder of his Monastery recounts how he being the only son of his Father was born blind and dumb for which cause he was at first called Pinered But afterward God miraculously restored his sight and gave liberty to his tongue moreover bestowing on him a beautifull wife happy children and great triumphs over his enemies In acknowledgment for which blessings he founded the said Monastery 4. As soon as King Offa was crownd and established in his Throne saith Mathew Paris peace and prosperity flourishd again among the Mercians the people were eased of their former pressures the Regal Blood was restored Laws for publick tranquillity were enacted and the Nobles formerly banished out of the Kingdom by Beornred were recalled 5. We shall have occasion very frequently to treat of the actions of this Noble King Therefore at present we will only adioyn the Character in generall given to him by William of Malmsbury King Offa saith he the great grand child of Penda was a man of mighty courage and magnanimity who resolutely undertook whatsoever design he once conceived in his mind and he raigned the space of nine and thirty years When I revolve in my mind his Gests in which there was great variety I am in great doubt whether I should recken him among the Good or evill Kings such an interchangeable vicissitude there was of vertues and vices in him who like another Proteus was always changing his form and features VI. CHAP. 1.2.3 Cuthred Arch-bishop of Canterbury dying gave order that his body should be buried in the Archiepiscopall Church to the prejudice of Saint Augustins Monastery 4. Bregwin succeeds him 5.6 S. Eadburga Abbesse Six Saints of the same name 1. THE same year Cuthred Arch-bishop of Canterbury after he had administred that See seaventeen years dyed When he was ready to dye saith William of Malmsbury he commanded his servants to bury him privatly in his Archiepiscopall Church which was built within the walls of the Citty And because the Monks of S. Augustin whose Monastery was seated without the said Citty by an Ancient custom which they were stubboraly constant to observe did challenge as their vndoubted right that the Bodies of the Arch-bishops should be buried in their Church in so much as they would probably endeavour even by violence to take away with them his Body after he was dead therfore he enioynd his family as soon as he was dead to abstain from any noise in bewayling his death both in the Citty and Palace so that no notice of his death being given abroad there might be no concourse of people and by that means they might without disturbance bury him in the Archiepiscopall Church and not apprehend any danger that the Monks would take him out of the ground when they should perceive how they had been overreached by cunning 2. But B. Godwin relates that the Tradition was that the Body of Arch-bishop Cuthbert was not buried in the Archiepiscopall Church it self called Christ-Church but in another lesser Church seated near it and dedicated to S. Iohn which he had built on purpose for baptizing infants and which both himself and his successours vsed in their life time for a Consistory and for a place of buriall after they were dead Moreover that this Church in after ages having been consumed by fire together with the Cathedrall Church was never after rebuilt 3. The motive inducing the Arch-bishop to make this change was in the iudgment of Sir Henry Spelman a kind of indignation that his Cathedrall Church should be deprived of the honour of being a sepulcher of eminent persons and particularly of Arch-bishops who had performed all Episcopall duties in it Therefore in as much as till that time there had no buriall places been permitted within Citties he had recourse to the Pope for a dispensation from that obligation and to the King for a change of the place of buriall both for Arch-bishops and Kings Notwithstanding if the foregoing relation be true what need was there of that subtilty to circumvent the Augustinian Monks who doubtlesse would not have had the boldnes to contradict the Orders both of the Pope and King 4. The year following there was substituted to Cuthbert in the Archiepiscopall See Bregwin who was consecrated on the Feast of S. Michael the Archangel This Bregwin according as we read in the Antiquities of Brittany was born in old Saxony of noble parents After he had passed his childhood he betook himself to the study of sacred learning to which he had so great an affection that for advantaging himself in his studies he passed over into Brittany quite forsaking his native soile After some abode in Brittany he was for his modesty and vertue so much in generall esteem and favour that he had the priviledge of naturalization And he made so great progresse in sacred knowledge that he alone was esteemed worthy to be the successour to Cuthbert in the Archbishoprick After which he did so excell in all good works that not any in his time approached within many degrees to him 5. At that time the Holy Virgin and Abbesse Eadburga sirnamed Buggan also dyed It is no wonder there should be some confusion in Writers touching her and other Saints of
Bishops take great care that Canons live Canonically and Religious men and women regularly as well in their dyet as Cloathing that so a distinction be made between Canons Monks and Seculars in their habits Wherin the two former were to conform themselves to the grave fashions observed in the Eastern parts avoyding light-colourd and costly rayment 5. That when any Abbot or Abbesse dyes care be had with the counsell of the Bishop that fitt Superiours be chosen in their places out of their respective Convents or in case none be found there they should be taken out of others 6. That none be ordained Preists or Deacons but such as are of approved lives and can perform their Charges and that they persevere in the Titles to which they are consecrated 3. The .7 was that all Publick Churches at Howers Canonicall with reverence observe their Course or Ecclesiasticall Office 8. That all ancient Priviledges conferred by the Apostolick See on any Churches and Monasteries in Brittany be preserved inviolate and in case any preiudice has been done to them by wicked men that such iniury be taken away 9. That Ecclesiasticall persons eat their meat in common that it may be observed whether they doe fast and abstain according to their obligation and therefore that none except he be sick presume to eat in Secret because such is the prachise of Hypocrites and Saracens 10. That Preists at the Altar for decencies sake under their Sacerdotall Vestments weare other clothing as it was commanded in the Old Law Also that Oblations should be bread not Crusts And that no Câ—alices be made of Horn. Likewise that Bishops meddle not in Secular Iudicatures 11. Kings and Princes were admonished to doe iustice and to hearken to the admonitions of Bishops who also are commanded confidently without fear or flattery to tell them their duty 12. That in the election of Kings regard be had to such as are not born of adultery or incest and that the Electours should be not the common people but the Nobles and Bishops And Kings being once constituted that none should resist or detract then much lesse conspire against their lives under pain of an eternall Anathema 4. The 13. was That Great men and iudges should iudge causes iustly without acception of persons 14. That no uniust Tributâ— should be imposed on the Church not any greater then were according to the custom of pious Emperours and Kings or as the Roman Law appâ—ints And that such Princeâ— should especially abstain from this violence as doe communicate with the Roman Church 15. That all Mariages incestuous with near kinred or consecrated Virgins be utterly forbiden 16. That bastards or children of Religious persons shall not be admitted to inherit 17. That Tithes be duly payed without fraud that God may blesse them For it often happens that he who pays not tithes is reduced to tithes Vsury is utterly prohibited And iust equall weights measures ordained 18. That all vowes made either in prosperity or adversity be performed 19. That all superstitious rites and relicks of Paganism be rooted out And particularly that men abstain from dying and colouring their bodies or painting figures on them as the Heathenâ—â—h Brittains of old did Likewise that none should cutt off their horses eares slitt their nostrills curtall their tales or eat their flesh for all these are according to the practises of Pagans 20. All are admonished to Pennance and to bring forth â—ruits beseeming Pennace Not approaching to the Holy Eucharist but according to the iudgment of the Preist after Satisfaction imposed according to the measure of their faults And that if any one departed this woâ—ld without Confession and Pennance none should pray for him 5. In these Decrees there are some passages which require our consideration For whereas in the fourth Canon Bishops are required to take care that Monks in their cloathing conform themselves to the grave fashion of those in the Eastern parts Some may peâ—haps from hence inferre that the Legaâ— by the Orientalls intended the Grecians and consequently that Monachism came to us from the Eastern Church and perhaps Religion also It is not to be doubted but that by that phrase he meant the Orders of Religion observed in Kent the most Eastern Province of the Kingdom and the most civilized part of the Island Which is confirmed by the like expression in the nineteenth Canon where he forbids the eating of horse-flesh a custome not practised in the Eastern parts For surely he hid no need to have recourse to Greece or the Eastern Church for decrying that barbarous custom 6. Again whereas in the sayd ninetenth Canon he enveighs against painting their Bodies it seems that ancient rude fashion of the Old Brittains and Picts was not altogether disused Yet not so as if the Northumbers practised it as in old times over their whole naked bodies but only on some parts which were discovered as the face armes or thighs which savoured of some relicke of Gentilisme 7. Lastly whereas in the Seaventh Canon mention is made of the Ecclesiaâ—ticall Course oâ— Office we are to observe that though some Churches had their peculiar Office for Divine Service Yet that in Brittany and principally among the Northumbers they conâ—ormâ—d themselves to the Roman praâ—tise introduced by S. Benedict Biscop as S. Beda declares 8. These Decrees were by the Legat proposed in Councill and withall devotion â—ubmitted to both by the Bishops Abbots and all the Nobleâ—â— And thereupon confirmd by the Legat in the Popes name with making the sign of the Crosse and in like manner signed by the Bishops and Nobles there present As touching the Subscriptions there are found severall names both of Bishops and Episcopall Sees which are no where else to be found and therfore the false Writing of them is to be imputed to the unskillfullnes of Trâ—nscribers XXIII CHAP. 1.2 c. The same Capitular received in a Synod of the Mercians 3.4 c Offa King of the Mercians to the preiudice of the See of Canterbury raises Lichfeild to an Archiepiscopall See 6.7 King Offa makes his Son Egfrid King with him Of his Queen Quendrida 1. AFter this Synod in the Kingdom of the Northumberâ— the Legat attended by the Kings Embassadours and certain Bishops went back into the kingdome of the Mercians With them also went Malvin and Pitâ—eâ— Lectours who caried with them the Decreeâ— of this Synod And being arrived there they called another Synod at a place by our Historians called Cealchithe Cealtide Calthuthe and Calchuch Where this place is seated none of them determine Probably wee may understand Chelsey which saith â—amden in ancient Records is found written Chelchehith which was oâ—t a fear of the Mercian Kings 2. In this Synod there were present King Offa and the Nobility of the countrey Likewise lambert or Lambert Archbishop of Canterbury with the other Bishops of that Province There in the presence of the Councill the foresaid Decrees were read
saith Alcuin I found greater blasphemies then in any of his former Writings for he affirmed plainly That Christ Iesus was not the true son of God nor true God but titular 5. To combat this Heresy Alcuin desired of the King that others might be adioynd to him And accordingly upon the first sounding of the trumpett to battell there appeard severall Champions of the Orthodox Faith among whom the principall were Paulinus Patriark of Aquileia Ethereus a Bishop of Osma in Spain Vxâ—mensis and a certain Abbot called Beatus Paulinus the most learned of these wrote three Books to confute this Felician Heresy which he presented to King Charles humbly desiring they might be sent and delivered into the hands of the most reverend man most skilfull in divine knowledge Albin or Alcuin which was accordingly done And Alcuin writing back to Paulinus highly commended both the sweetnes and elegancy of his stile and vigour of his reasoning encouraging him withall to be constant in defence of Gods house 6. But none fought more prosperously in Gods cause then Alcuin himself For he utterly strangled the Felician Heresy in the beginning and converted the Arch-heretick himself to the Catholick Faith This is not taken notice of by any of our Historians as having passed in a forrain countrey But Quercetan from Felix his own Confession relates How the said Heretick being presented before King Charles at Aquisgran by Laidrad Archbishop of Lyons obtained leave to sett down in writing the Sentences of former Saints to prove that Christ was only an adoptive Son of God to be presented to such Bishops and Abbots as the King should cause to be assembled Which was accordingly granted him And in answer to those Alcuin produced many Sentences of Holy Fathers S. Cyrill S. Gregory S. Leo and other Authours formerly unknown to Felix and to these was added the authority of a late Synod at Rome which condemned not by violence but strength of reason the errours contained in Felix his Reply to Alcuins Epistle So great an authority of truth and so unanimous a consent of the Church did so convince the iudgment of Felix that as he writes in his own Confession I professed in the presence of many Bishops and Monks that I did heartily repent of my former errour and that I would from thenceforth never beleive nor teach the adoption of the flesh in the son of God Or that he had only the name and title of God given him in his Humanity But according to the Doctrine of the Holy Fathers That the same our Lord Iesus Christ was the proper and true son of God in his two Natures That he was the only begotten son of the Father without preiudice to the respective Propriety of each Nature 7. This Conversion of Felix did so enrage his former companion Elipandus that he wrote a Book against Alcuin in a most bitter furious stile calling him a Filthy rotten false Prophet a son of Hell a New Arius an Arch-heretick foule pitchy Albinus and moreover he charged Alcuinus that by torments he had made Felix a Martyr so forcing him to renounce his former Opinions To whom Alcuin thus answer Neither did I nor Ruffinus make Felix a Martyr But through Gods mercy I made Felix formerly a partner in your errour to become a good Catholick I persecuted indeed not his person but that impious Doubt of him who tempting our Lord said If thou beest the son of God command that these stones be made bread 8. After this Victory Alcuin returned to his Monastery at Tours For as a Monk of Sangall testifies King Charles gave to Alcuin the Abbey of Saint Martin near Tours to the end that when he was absent abroad with his Army he might rest there and instruct such as should repair to him And such plentifull fruits did his teaching produce that the modern French-men may deserve to be compared with the ancient Romans or Athenians Thus as Almighty God in the beginning of this age sent out of our Island seated in the extremities of the world such Apostolick men as Saint Swibert Saint Boniface c. to settle the Christian Faith in Germany So he thought good at the end of it to send the learned Alcuin to restore the same Orthodoxe Faith in France and Spain But of Saint Alcuin for so hereafter he deserves to be called more shall be said in this and the following Book We must now attend to the affaires of Brittany XV. CHAP. 1.2 Kenulf King of the Mercians 3.4 c. He solicites and obtains from Pope Leo a restitution of the Primacy of the See of Canterbury c. 1. EGFRID the son of Offa King of the Mercians after a short raign of scarce five entire months dying he named for Successour Kenulf having regard rather to his vertues and merits then title or proximity of blood Yet he was descended from a Brother of King Penda called Chenalch father to Kentwin who begot Cuthbert the Father of this Kenulf 2. The excellency of this Prince is well described by William of Malmsbury who affords him this Character Kenulf was a magnanimous person whose vertues over-went his fame He never did any thing that envy could carpe At home he was Religious in war Victorious He was a Prince whose praises will never be silenced as long as there lives in England a person ingenuous and sincere He is to be exalted for the sublimity of his State and Humility of his mind Which vertue did then shine most bright when he restored the iniured dignity of the Archiepiscopall See of Canterbury For this good King did little valew the worldly haughtines of his own Province when it could not be established without transgressing the ancient Ordonnance of Ecclesiasticall Canons 3. In this first year of his raign therefore Athelard Arch bishop of Canterbury encouraged by the iustice and piety of this King represented to him the iniurious oppression which by King Offa had been brought upon the Prime See of Brittany desiring him that the order instituted by Holy Progenitours might not be depraved by the ambition of particular persons In which request Embald Arch-bishop of York likewise ioynd Whereupon the King being satisfied in the iustice of his demand to the end the matter might be more maturely pondred commanded a Synod to be assembled at Cloveshâ— or Cliff where by the votes of the Bishops and Nobility Messengers with Letters were sent to Rome to Pope Leo desiring him to employ his spirituall authority also to rectify the disorders introduced lately into the Churches of Brittany 4. But this Embassage had not the good successe expected and the fault seems to have been in the Messenger which was an Abbot called Wada who as we read in a second Letter to the same Pope from the same King Bishops and Nobles behaved himself in thate Legation slouthfully negligently and imprudently Perhaps it might be by the suggestions of the Archbishop of Lichfeild who
that the building was interrupted Insomuch as seaven years after they resolved by reason of the excessive charges to give over that structure and to translate the Body of the Abbesse into another Church already finished and dedicated Therefore opening the Sepulcher they found the Body of the Holy Virgin as free from all corruption as it had been during her life free from carnall affections Therefore the Religious Virgins having again washed and cloathed it with fresh vestments they translated it into the Church of S. Steven the Martyr The solemnity of her Deposition is there with great glory celebrated on the Nones of Iuly On which day likewise her name is recited among the Saints in our English Martyrologe VIII CHAP. 1.2 The Gests of S. Beuno and S. Elerius Brittish Saints and Masters to Saint Winefrida 4.3 c. The Gests of the glorious Martyr S. Winefrida 1. AT the same time Virginity and chastity triumphed likewise in the Brittish Church for excepting the difference about the celebration of Easter there was a perfect agreement in all points of Faith between the Brittains and Saxons The person whose Victorious Chastity illustrated this age was the glorious S. Winefride who willingly offred her self a Sacrifice to preserve her Virginity consecrated by vow to her Celestiall Bridegroom Which voluntary Oblation was so acceptable to Almighty God that he recompenced it with so stupendious a Miracle as neither the precedent nor following ages of the Church could afford one to equall it 2. This love and valew sett upon holy Virginity was instilld into her by her Spirituall Teachers two Brittish Saints Saint Beuno and Saint Elerius of both which the Memory is celebrated in our Martyrologe Of the former on the fourteenth of Ianuary where he is sayd to have been famous for Sanctity and Miracles and of the latter on the thirteenth of Iune and the year of both their deaths is assigned this six hundred and sixtieth in which also the Authour of Saint Winefrides life in Surius says that she flourished Now the Gests of these three Saints we will here deliver together from the credit of Robert Abbot of Shrewsbury who above five hundred years since wrote the life of Saint Winefride out of ancient Brittish Records which he begins thus 3. There was a certain holy man of great perfection who dwelt in the Western part of Brittany He was descended of Princely parents but despising his hereditary glory he fled away poore and became a Monk eminent in all vertues And having built severall Churches in many places in which he placed Monks for the service of God he was divinely admonished to seek out an habitation provided for him by God At last he came to the territory of a certain man of great power named Thewith or as some call him Trebwith to whom he said I beseech you to grant me out of your hereditary possessions a small portion which may serve partly for mine own use and partly for the service of God that I may there build a Church in which I may attend on Gods worship and dayly pray for your salvation The Noble man readily granted his request and withall committed to him his onely daughter named Wenefred to be instructed by him in piety Whensoever therefore the holy man taught the people preaching to them the doctrines of salvation he sett the said young maid at his feet admonishing her to attend diligently and affectuously to his admonitions By this means the Virgin through Gods Grace and mercy encreased every day in piety and spirituall Wisedom and entertained a purpose of renouncing mariage yet durst not make known to her parents such her resolution But coming to the man of God she freely declared her most secret thoughts to him telling him That the seed of the Divine Word which he had sowd had wrought such effect in her that she determind to renounce all the pleasures of the world and for the honour of God to preserve her Virginity entire and undefiled Now that I may perform this my purpose said she I must desire your intercession with my parents 4. The Holy man having heard the Virgins request promised her his utmost endeavour to obtain her parents consent And presently after having proposed the matter to them they with teares blessed God for their childs piety and willingly granted her desire From that time the devout maid assiduously sate at the Holy mans feet and with an ardent affection attended to the praises of her heavenly Spouse proceeding from his mouth She suffred no earthly cares to enter into her mind she frequently watched whole nights at her prayers in the Church She would oft importunely sollicite the Holy man to discourse to her of the life graces and perfections of her Lord which when he delivered the comfort and pleasure which she received from thence exceeded all worldly or sensuall concentment Thus though she was of tender years yet in vertues and piety she was very aged and as it were dead to all concupiscence 5. Now it hapned on a certain Sunday when her parents were gone to Church some necessary occasion detaind her at home At which time a certain young man named Caradoc the Son of Alan Prince of that countrey entred the house where he found the Virgin alone sitting near the fire She knowing the Prince hastily rose up and humbly desird to know his pleasure His answer was You are not ignorant who I am and how I abound in riches and honour all these riches and honours you shall partake if you will yeild to my will The modest Virgin perceiving his foule intent held down her dead and blushed extremely At first she seemd as if she was much troubled that he should find her unready and unadorned and she told him Sir you being a Prince there is no doubt but you are able to heap upon mee all worldly happines in abundance if I were your wife However be pleased to expect here awhile till my Fathers return in the mean time I have some busines in my chamber and will come back presently This she said to gain a little time for she saw the unhappy young man burning and almost enraged with lust With much adoe he permitted her to goe to her chamber having some hope that she would return assoon as she was dressed and adorned She therefore entred hastily her chamber and as hastily went out of the dore on the other side and with all her force ran toward the Church 6. Assoon as the young man perceived this he became all in a fury and drawing out his sword he ran swiftly after her soon owertaking her and with a stern look told her I have a long time loved thee and desired to enioy thee and darest thou scorn mee Be now assured that if thou refusest my embraces I will presently cutt of thy head She hearing and nothing affrighted with these threats answered him saying I am by Vow espoused to the heavenly King
and besides him as long as I live I will never admitt another Lover Therefore use thy sword if thou pleasest for be assured that neither thy flatteries nor threats shall have power to draw mee from him to whom I â—an by vow obliged The lustfull young man enraged to see himself so contemned and the maid so inflexible beleiving he could never enioy rest as long as she lived so resolved mad with lust and rage presently strook of her head and immediatly in the place where it fell to the earth a most pure and plentifull Spring gushed forth which flowes to this day and by the Holy Virgins merits gives health to a world of diseased persons 7. It being in the steep descent of a hill where the Virgins head was cutt of it lightly rouling down to the bottom slidd into the Church whereas the body remaind in the place where it first fell The whole congregation there attending to Divine Mysteries were wonderfully astonished to see the Head tumbling among their feet detesting the crime of the murderer and impreâ—ating Divine vengeance on him But the parents of the Virgin broke forth iâ— to tears and sad complaints They all went out and found the murderer near the liveles body wiping his sword on the grasse For being the Princes Son he apprehended no danger and as for the crime committed against God he was unsensible of the heynousnes of it The man of God therefore seing his pride and obstinacy and having in his hands the Virgins head looked earnestly upon him and sayd Impious Villain hast thou no shame of the slain wherewith thou hast defiled thy high birth and shewst thou no repentance of this horrible crime Thou hast disturbed the peace thou hast polluted the Church with thy sacrilegious murder thou hast highly provoked Almighty God and doest thou shew no sorrow for all this Since therefore it is so that thou hast not spared Gods Church nor reverenced his solemn day I beseech him without delay to inflict on thee a iust punishment for this thy unworthy and detestable crime Assoon as the Holy man had ended these words the young man immediatly fell to the ground and gave up the ghost and which was more wonderfull his body presently disappeared from the eyes of the by-standers and many say that it was swallowed up by the earth and with the wicked soule sunk into Hell 8 But the man of God often kissing the head which he held in his hands could not refrain to weep bitterly Afterwards ioyning it to the body and covering it with his mantle he returned to the Altar where he celebrated Masse Which being ended he returned to the Virgins body and there began a devout sermon to the people in which among other passages he said That the Holy Virgin had made a vow of Religious Profession but being thus intercepted by death had not opportunity to perform it Therefore he exhorted them ro prostrate themselves on the ground and earnestly beseech Almighty God to restore her to life The Congregation readily obeyd him and after they had so continued a good while in prayer the man of God rose from the earth and stretching forth his hands to heaven sayed O Lord Iesus Christ for whose love this Virgin despised all earthly things and desired only heavenly we most ardently beseech thee in mercy to hear our prayers and grant the request we make to thee And although we doubt not but that this thy Virgin who suffred onely for thy love shall be received by thee into thy ioy and therefore little regards our society and conversation yet vouchsafe to grant the humble requests of thy servants and command this Virgins soule to return to her body and thereby shew that thou hast an entire power and rule both over our soules and bodies and likewise that she being by thy mercy restored to life may for ever magnify thy Name and encreasing in the fervour of a holy conversation may after many years return more pure to thee her Spouse who art the onely Son of the Eternall Father with whom and the Holy Ghost thou livest and raignest one God world without end This Prayer being ended to which all the people cryed aloud Amen the Virgin presently rose up as from sleep cleansing her face from the dust and sweat and filled the Congregation with wonder and ioy 9 Now in the place where the Head was reioynd to the body there appeard a white Circle compassing the neck small as a white thread which continued so all her life shewing the place where the Section had been made And the report in that countrey is that from that white circle she had the name of Winefrid given her whereas at first she had been called Breuna For in the Brittish language Win signifies White And moreover the Tradition is that after her death whensoever she appeared to any that White mark was always visible The place where her blood was first shed was not much distant from a Monastery in North-Wales calld Basingwerk The Name of it formerly was The dry vale but after her death to this day it is called Saint Winefrids Well The Stones likewise both where the spring gushes forth and beneath in the Current having been sprinkled with her blood retain the rednes to these times which colour neither the length of so many ages nor the continuall sliding of the water over them have been able to wash away and moreover a certain Masse which sticks to the said stones renders a fragrant odour like Incense 10. The Holy Virgin being thus miraculously revived did dayly attend the man of God and devoutly hearkned to his exhortations and at last received from him the Holy vayle of Religious Profession Whereupon assembling severall Maids of Noble families the instilld into their minds a Love of Purity and contempt of all flattering delights of the world so that they willingly submitted their neâ—ks to the easy Yoke of Christ and by a Regular vow consecrated themselves to his service 11 Not long after the Holy Man Beuno dyed and by Divine admonition Saint Winefrid had recourse to another devout Man named Deifer who was of so great Sanctity and so highly favoured by God that he made a fountiain break out of the earth and conferred health on many infirm persons When Saint Winefrid therefore came to this Holy man a voyce from heaven signified to him whilst he watched that night in prayer Saying Tell my most deare daughter Winefride that she repair unto a man named Saturn from whom she shall be informed in what place she is to spend the remainder of her life Assoon therefore as the Holy Virgin came to him he said to her There is a certain place calld Witheriac it is vulgarly named Guitherine in the Province of Denbigh which is held in great reverence by all the people This place it is Gods will that thou visit and remain there whilst thou livest by thy good example informing others in the way of
Boniface they entombed it and there it became glorious by many Miracles Notwithstanding whereas S. Boniface had commanded that her Body should be layd in his own Sepulcher the said Monks his Disciples not thinking it expedient to open his Tomb and discover his Sacred bones durst not presume so far to obey him for which reason they reposed her Body in a Tomb near adioyning thereto And this was the only Body of that Sexe which ever was permitted to enter into that Monastery Her Memory is celebrated both in the English and Roman Martyrologe on the fourth day before the Calends of October on which day she dyed 13. Her name is also written Liobgytha and so S. Boniface writes it in a short Epistle to her and herself also in an answer to him in which she shewes that he had formerly been ioynd in a great league of freindship with her Father whom she calls Tinne who lived in the Western parts of Brittany and that he was also a kinsman to her Mother Ebbe 14. This is the Summ of what we find recorded concerning this Blessed Virgin the miracle of her age for her learning and sanctity the object universall admiration and affectioÌ„ of Princes Queens Nobles Bishops and all that knew her Onely envied and hated by the Devill because she was a Virgin consecrated to God this incited him to endeavour but in vain to cast a spott upon the opinion of her Chastity and the same likewise has of late incited his Ministers the Lutheran Centuriatours of Magdeburg to renew his calumny yea and to enwrap S. Boniface also in the same suspicion Because he erected Monasteries and taught Prayer for the dead they call him a Minister and slave of Satan And because he brought Religious Virgins out of Brittany into Germany they write thus He drew out of England with him a flock of women among whom the prinâ—ipall were Chunitruda Aunt to Lullus Archbishop of Mentz and Valdopyrga these he placed in Bavaria Then Chynilda and Beregitha whom he left in Thuringia lastly Tecla and Lioba whom he settled in France to the end that in all his perambulations up and down he might every where find lascivious Mistresses What a horrible Religion must that be which such men as these professe which even acknowledges it self to be odious to God and man unlesse the Teachers of it can demonstrate that the consecrating of soules to Gods service in continuall fasting and prayer the mortifying of all lustfull passions the dedicating both soule and Body to devotion and chastity and such Chastity attested by Divine Miracles the converting of many Nations to Christ from abominable Idolatries and lastly the offring of ones life to God by Martyrdom be sinfull crimes and proofs that such persons are slaves of Anti-Christ 15. Wee have placed the Gests and death of S. Lioba in this year therein complying with our Martyrologe though certain it be that she ourlived it many years as appears by the freindship she had with King Charles the Great and his Queen Hildegardis who long after this began his raign and was maried 16. Before wee take off our pen from writing of this Holy Virgin wee will adde some thing in relation to her concerning her Venerable Mistresse the devout Abbesse Tetta The little wee know of her name and that to her was committed the instruction of S. Lioba we have not received from our own Monuments but wee are obliged to strangers who wrote her daughter and Disciples Gests for it particularly to the forenamed Religious Preist Mogâ— who had particular knowledge of her Disciples Agatha Tecla Nana and Lioba from whose relation he received what he wrote of her 17. From him therefore shall here be related only two particulars concerning her the first is the speciall Institut of her Monastery the Second a worthy example of her Charity to her daughters after they were dead and her care of the living 18. As touching the first Whereas at Winburn there had anciently been built by the West-Saxon Kings two Monasteries one for men and the other for women and in that age of innocent simplicity and fervour of Devotion mutuall free society between persons of different sexes did not render them exposed to tentations or suspicions Yet in her Monastery an inviolable Law was observed that no accesse was permitted for either to the others enclosure And this speciall Institut the Venerable Abbesse Tetta so rigorously observed that she would not so much as admitt the Bishops entrance among them 19. In the next place among many examples of the Devout Abbesse Tetta's vertues her daughter Lioba related this one to her Disciples for their instruction There was said she in the Monastery of Winburn a certain Religious Virgin which for her extraordinary strictnes in Regular Observance was oft made the Mistresse of the younger Virgins But in that Office she shewed such indiscreet rigour that thereby she incurred an extreme aversion and hatred from them which she never endeavoured to qualify by meeknes but on the contrary persisted to her death in her obstinacy to contemn their bitter displeasure against her and not to remitt any thing of her severity towards them In this pertinacy she dyed without seeking any reconciliation with them But their passions did not dye with her on the contrary they could scarce look on the place where she was buried without expressions of hatred to her memory yea some of them would not abstain from shewing their indignation by trampling upon her grave 20. This being come to the knowledge of the Venerable Abbesse Tetta she called them together about the grave where she with vehement sharpnes reproved their uncharitable presumption But withall observing that the loose earth covering the dead Virgins body was unmeasurably sunk below the pavement she was much affrighted at it fearing that such depression against the ordinary course of Nature argued no good state of her soule She renewed her rebukes therefore against those implacable Virgins and enioynd them to cast out of their hearts all bitternes against her Memory Yea she required the whole Congregation to ioyn with her in earnest and assiduous Prayers for their departed Sister that God would forgive her all her offences committed by indiscretion or obstinacy She moreover ordaind among them a three-days Fast adiuring them to employ that time in watching Prayers and Psalmody On the third day she with all her spirituall children lying prostrate before the Altar in devout Prayers with many sighs and tears assoon as they rose up they saw the earth upon the grave raised up to its naturall height which they did not doubt but was a sign that their Prayers were granted V. CHAP. 1. Troubles among the Northumbers 2.3 c. The Gests of Offa King of the Mercians 1. IN the kingdom of the Northumbers assoon as the pious and devout King Eadbert had hid himself in a Monastery all vertue and piety seemed to disappear with him and in the