this time given to the Monks of Glastonbury of electing their own Abbott argues that in former ages the constituting of Abbots belonged not to the Monks but to the Bishop or the Prince from whose power and Iurisdiction the Monks could not exempt themselves without their free devesting themselves of it which we see here done by King Kentwin and Bishop Hedda concerning whom we shall speak more hereafter 7. As for King Kentuin the Memory of his Munificence to the Monastery of Glastonbury was there gratefully conserved for this Elogy we read of him in the great Table of that Monastery In the same place reposes the body of King Câ—â—twin under a stone-Pyramid in the Church-yard of the Monks He was the first of the English Kings which granted to the Isle of Glastonbury an Exemption from all Regal Service as the Brittish Kings before him had of old time confirmed 8. To this time is referred the erecting or rather restoring of the prime Church in the Isle of Ely which was first consecrated to the honour of S. Peter Prince of the Apostles but afterward entitled to S. Ediltrudis or Ethelreda Concerning which Church we read this testimony of B. Godwin Ethelbert saith he King of Kent by the advice of S. Augustin had seaventy years before this time built a Church in that place to witt in the year of our Lords Incarnation six hundred and seaven Which Church through neglect for want of reparation falling to ruine was rebuilt in a more magnificent manner in the year six hundred seaventy seaven by S. Ediltrudis This she did by the counsel of Wilfrid Arch-bishop of York but her Brother Aldulfus or Alnufus King of the East-Angles furnished the Charges of the work This Aldulfus was the Successour of Edilwald in that Kingdom and if according to Speed he was the Son of Ethelherd Brother of Anna he was not Brother but cousin german to S. Ediltrudis XXII CHAP. 1.2 c. Kent miserably wasted Putta Bishop of Rochester quitts his See in whose place Quichelm succeeds 1. AT this time there was a great desolation in the Churches and kingdom of Kent wherby the labours of Saint Theodore were much encreased Which desolation was caused by a furious invasion of that kingdom the year before by Edilred King of the Mercians What the provocation or motive of this warr was is not mentioned by ancient Writers but the effects of it were terrible 2. S. Beda thus breifly describes it In the year of our Lords Incarnation six hundred seaventy six Edilred King of the Mercians brought a furious army into Kent and layd the whole countrey wast yea without all regard of Piety or the fear of God profaned and demolished also Churches and Monasteries Particularly the Gâ—tty Rhofi or Rochester was utterly consumed in â—hat common calamity Of that Citty Putta was â—heâ— Bishop though absent at the time of its destruction Lothair was now King of Kent who fearing the violence and courage of Edâ—red saith Huntingdon made no resistance at all but auoyded his fight So that Edilred passed freely through the whole Province destroyed the Citty of Rochester and carted back with him innumerable Spoyles 3. As for Putta Bishop of Rochester being a man that loved quietnes and solitude he according to Saint Beda's relation seing his Church utterly spoyled and wasted retired to Sexulphus Bishop of the Mercians from whom having received the possession of a Church and a small peice of ground adioyning he there ended his life in peace He did not at all employ his solicitude about the restoring of his Bishoprick being one whose industry was little exercised in worldly affaires Therefore he contented himself in serving God after a poor manner in the foresaid Church and some times when he was entreated he would goe to other places for the instruction of Ecclesiasticall persons in the Roman manner of singing the Church service 4. The See of Rochester being thus deprived of a Pastour the Arch-bishop Theodore in the place of Putta consecrated Quithelm Bishop of that Citty and when he also shortly after quitted his Bishoprick by reason of its extreme poverty the said Arch-bishop substituted in his room another Bishop called Gebmund XXIII CHAP. 1.2 The death of Vina the Simoniacall Bishop of London 3 4. c. S. Erconwald succeeds in that See 1 DVring this confusion in Kent the Kingdom of the adioyning East-Saxons enioyd a profound peace under the government of Sebb and Sigher two pious Kings Particularly King Sebb employed all his care in advancing Piety among his Subjects in promoting the affaires of the Church and in encouraging devout persons to renounce thâ— world and consecrate themselves to God in a Monasticall Profession To which state of life himself also earnestly aspired being desirous to abandon his Regall authority and to change his purple for a poor Religious Habit but was hindred by the obstinacy of his Queen who refused to consent to a separation and to imitate her husbands piety and without her complyance the Ecclesiasticall Canon rendred him incapable of executing his pious design Many years he spent in perswading her to her own and his happines and at lost by devout importunity expugned her resistance as shall shortly be shewed 2. In the mean time a great part of his solicitude was employed in settling a worthy Prelut in London the Metropolis of his Kingdom We have declared before how Wina the Sacrilegious Bishop of the West-Saxons having for his crimes been expelled out of that Province with a summ of money Simoniacally procured from Vulfere King of the Mercians to be violently introduced into that See in the year of Grace six hundred sixty six which he for the space of nine years unworthily administred After whose death King Sebb expressed a zealous care to repair the prejudice and harm done to that Province by so impious a Prelat For which purpose he earnestly sought out a Successour as eminent for piety and integrity as the other was for his crimes 3. At that time there lived not any one in that Kingdom in so high esteem of all men for vertue and Religion as Erconwald He was as hath been declared the Son of Anna King of the East-angles not of Offa as Capgrave and from him Harpsfeild mistakes and from his tender years conceived a distast and contempt of secular designs and pleasures Insomuch as he relinquished his Native Province and retired among the East-Saxons where he employed his plentifull patrimony in works of piety We have already declared how he founded two Monasteries in that Kingdom one for himself at Chertsey in Surrey near the River Thames and another for his Sister Edilburga in Essex in a village called Barking 4 This in all regards so eminent an Abbot Erconwald was made choice of by King Sebbe to administer the vacant See of London to which he was consecrated by Saint Theodore Arch-bishop of Canterbury according to this relation of Saint Beda
the Monastery of Coldingham a Virgin of eminent Sanctity received the eternall Reward of her Piety She was daughter of Ethelfrid King of the Northumbers and consecrated to God in perpetuall Virginity by Finan formerly Bishop of Lindesfarn This was done saith the Authour of her life in an age when persons of high birth esteemed their Nobility to consist principally in the humble service of our Lord and that those were most highly exalted who with greatest submission undertook the Crosse of Christ. At that time innumerable Congregations both of men and woemen were sprinkled through the whole Island severally embracing the spirituall warfare of our Lord. Yea somewhere in the same place persons of both Sexes men and Virgins under the government of one spirituall Father or one Spirituall Mother armed with the sword of the Spirit did exercise the combats of Chastity against the Powers of darknes enemies thereto The Institut and practise of these was imitated by S. Ebba who for the love she bore to the Son of God even in the flower of her youth contemned whatsoever was great or desireable in the world She preferred the service of our Lord before secular Nobâ—lity spirituall Poverty before riches and voluntary objection before honours For though descended from Royall parents yet by Faith she overcame the world by vertues beauty and by spirituall Graces her own Sexe 2. At the beginning of her Conversion she by the assistance of her Brother King Oswi built a Monastery near the banks of the River Derwent in the Bishoprick of Durham where now is situated a small Village called Ebbchester so named saith Camden from the Virgin Ebba born of the family of the ancient Kings of the Northumbers who about the year of our Lord six hundred and thirty was so illustrious for her sanctity that by the Roman Church she was Canonized among Saints and very many Churches in this Island were dedicated to her name which are vulgarly called S. Tabbs This Monastery flourish'd till the time of the Danes whose fury as many others did it selt 3. S. Ebba did not long continue in her own Monastery before she was invited to the government of the Monastery of Coldingham seated in a place called by Saint Beda the Citty of Colud There saith the Authour of her life she had the charge of a Congregation of men and woemen which had Cells though divided yet contigiâ—ous to one another who all united in one holy Profession with great ioy and comfort lived under her direction for by an admirable prudence she shewd her self to the Virgins a carefull Mother by the power and efficacy of her admonitions and to the men as it were a Father by her constancy of mind That famous Virgin S. Ethelreda or Ediltrudis as hath been said was a Disciple of this holy Abbesse Ebba submitting her self to the rudiments of so great a Mistresse but afterwards became the glory of the Monastery of consecrated Virgins at Ely And the Blessed Bishop Cuthbert though from his infancy he avoyded the conversation of woemen like the pestilence yet he frequently came to discourse with S. Ebba and would some-times for instruction of the devout Virgins her subjects make some dayes abode in that Monastery 4. At last as we read in her life this holy Virgin Ebba full of all vertues and good works departed this life to her heavenly spouse on the eighth day before the Calends of September in the six hundred eighty and third year of our Lords Incarnation which was four years before the death of the said Holy Bishop S. Cuthbert And her body was with great honour buried in her own Monastery Her memory is worthily celebrated among the Saints in our English Martyrologe on the five and twentieth of August where her death is consigned to about the year of Grace six hundred eighty four XV. CHAP. 1.2 c. The burning of the Monastery of Coldingham and the cause of it foretold by an Angell 1. IT will not be impertinent in this place to adioyn to the Gests of the Holy Abbesse Ebba the relation of a wonderfull calamity which through Gods just judgment befell her Monastery a few years after her death and a warning whereof she herself had in her life-time The cause of which calamity was the relaxation of Discipline in the said Monastery proceeding from the vitious disposition of human Nature not restrained by the vigilance and severity of Superiours The whole matter is at large sett down by S. Beda in the tenour following 2. In those dayes saith he the Monastery of Virgins in the Citty of Colud or Coldingham through a faulty negligence was consumed with flames Which misfortune notwithstanding was indeed to be ascribed to the malice and wickednes of those which inhabited there especially Superiours as all that knew it did observe The divine Piety was not wanting to admonish before-hand those upon whom this judgment was to come to the end that correcting their faults they might like the Ninitives by fasting teares prayers avert from them the wrath of God For there lived in the same Monastery a man of the Scottish Nation whose name was Adamannus who lead a very devout life in continence and prayers insomuch as he never used to take any sustenance but on Sundays and Thursdayes and oftimes spent whose nights in Prayer 3. This so rigorous a mortification was first practised by him out of necessity for the correction of his former wickednes and licentiousnes but in processe of time necessity was turned into custom For in his youth he had committed some very great crime for which afterwards soberly considering he had a most horrible remorse and fearfull expectation of divine judgment Therefore going to a Preist who he hoped might shew him the way of salvation he simply confessed his guilt beseeching him to advise him how he might escape the Divine Vengeance The Preist having heard his Confession said thus to him A great wound requires a great cure Therefore according to thy utmost ability persist constantly in fasting reciting of Psalms and Prayers that thus preventing the face of our Lord in confession thou maâ—sâ— find mercy from him The young man overwhelmed with sorrow and infinitly desirous to be freed from the bonds of his sins thus replyed I am young in years and vigorous 〈◊〉 body so that whatsoever you shall impose upoâ— mee so I may in the end be saved I will chearfully suffer and perform though you should command mee to spend every night wholly in prayers standing all the while and passe the whole week entirely in fasting The Preist told him It is too much to endure a whole week without sustenance it will be sufficient therefore if you continue your Fast for two or three days together Doe this therefore for some time till I see you next and then I will tell you more particularly what you are to doe and how long your pennance is to last Having said
his Sister Saint Pega withall relating the following course of her life 6. In the same Island saith he in those times severall devout persons lived an Heremiticall life who whilst the Holy man Saint Guthlac was alive enioyd a spirituall familiarity with him and as sick men to their Physicions they had recourse to him for remedy to all their spirituall infirmities Among whom one there was lately converted to the Catholick Faith a man illustrious for his noble descent and power in the world His name was Cissa who immediatly after his conversion forsook all secular pretensions and in a poore austere life followed our Lord Iesus Christ. A second was Bertelin a familiar attendant of the foresaid holy Father A third was Egbert to whom the said Saint did most frequently and confidently discover his secrets And a fourth was Tatwin the person who formerly had been his conductour by boat into the Island All these devout persons in severall cottages not far removed from the Oratory of Saint Guthlac by the permission of the fore mentioned Abbot Kenulphus spent their lives in solitude and prayer 7. As for S. Pega Sister to the said glorious Saint about a years space after his death having left in the hands of Kenulphus the Abbot the whipp of S. Bartholmew her Brothers Psalter and diverse other Relicks she removed from her Brothers Oratory to another place about four leagues distant toward the West where having spent two years and three monthes in a mournfull penitent life she undertook a pilgrimage with great abstinence and austerity to the Monuments of the glorious Apostles S. Peter and S. Paul at Rome There immediatly after her arrivall the whole Citty resounded with the fame of her Sanctity There she devoutly ended her dayes in the holy fear and service of our Lord. Her Sacred body was with great honour buried there and her soule freed from all incommodities of this present mortall life was received to eternall rest and ioy in heaven 8 But though she dyed in a forrein countrey yet her memory was preserved in Brittany with great veneration For a Church was built and dedicated to her honour in the same place where according to the description of Ingulphus her Cell had been seated There to this day in the County of Northampton remains a Town from her name called Peagkirk concerning which Camden describing the course of the River Welland thus writes After a few miles from hence the river Welland passing by Maxey Castle and Peagkirk is swallowd up in the fore-mentioned fenns Now Peagkirk is the place where in the primitive Church of the Saxons Pega the sister of Guthlac together with many other Sacred Virgins afforded illustrious documents of piety and Chastity From her that town took its name 9 In the territory about this place called Peagland wee shall find two hundred and thirty years after this time a certain community of Preists who though they lived a devout Religious life yet they were not Monks nor by any vow obliged to perseverance in that condition They wore a secular though very grave habit and were obliged to continence and obedience They depended on the Abbot of Croyland without whose authority none could be admitted among them But in the foresaid time Monasticall institution flourishing and few Ecclesiasticks offring themselves to embrace their Institut most of them became Monks of Croyland as the same Ingulphus testifies X. CHAP. 1.2 c. The Gests and blessed death of Saint Iohn of Beverley 6. 7. c. Severall Miracles wrought by him 1. IN the year of Grace seaven hundred twenty one the famous Saint Iohn sirnamed of Beverley being oppressed with age resigned his Bishoprick of York and retired himself to the end he might only attend to the care of his own soule and prepare himself for a happy end Concerning his originall as likewise his education during his childhood under the care of S. Theodore Arch-bishop of Canterbury by whom he was instructed in all learning and piety we have already treated After that returning to his own countrey of the Northumbers he retired into the Monastery of Screneshalch under the government of the Holy Abbesse S. Hilda for she near unto her own Abbey of Religious Virgins had founded a small Convent of Monks for the service of her Church Out of which Saint Beda professes that he had seen to issue five Bishops all of them men of singular merit and sanctity whose names were these Saint Bosa Saint Eata Saint Osifor this S. Iohn and S. Wilfrid 3. In the year of our Lords Incarnation six hundred eighty six he was consecrated Bishop of Hagustlad or Hexham and successour to Saint Eata But the year after Saint Wilfrid returning from his long banishment and being restored to the Arch-bishoprick oâ— the whole kingdom of the Northumbers comprehending the three Dioceses of York Hagustald and Lindesfarn Saint Iohn willingly yeilded up to him his New possessed Bishoprick But five years after S. Wilfrid being again expelled S. Iohn was restored to his See at which time he promoted to the order of Deaconship S. Beda then twenty years of age This he did at the request of his Holy Abbot S. Ceolfrid But in the year of Grace in which S. Wilfrid was recalled from his banishment and quietly restored to his rights he contenting himself with the single Bishoprick of Hagustald then vacant by the death of S. Bosa permitted S. Iohn to remove from thence to the See of York 4. Having therefore with admirable perfection spent thirty four years in the administration of those two Sees successively Hagustald and York and findinâ— that by reason oâ— his weaknes and old age he had not strength to discharge such an Office attended with cares and labours this year as hath been sayd hâ— eased himself of so great a burden and having ordained in his place his Preist Wilfrid who was a kinsman of the great S. Wilfrid and by the advice of the Holy Abbot Brithun retired himself to a Monastery built by him self at Deirwode Sylva Deirerum or Beverley he there spent the remainder of his life in all sanctity and on the Nones of May departed to our Lord and was buried in the porch of Saint Peter in the same Monastery Thus writes the Authour of his life in Capgrave 5. He was both in his life and after his death illustrious for his Miracles severall of which are recorded by Saint Beda who lived with him and writes nothing but what he had received by the testimony of such as familiarly knew him and particularly of the most reverend and most sincere Abbot Berctun or Brithun who had been his Deacon Now though I am unwilling to swell this History with the frequent narration of Miracles Yet being secured by such an irrefragable authority I will here adioyn a breif relation of one or two among them 6. There was a certain retired mansion compassed about with a wood and trench at the
the other side having brought his Army in sight of the enemy rais'd their courage by showing that they were now come to an end of all their labours and dangers that this Victory would bring them all manner of security and plenty And however that in case they should be overcome it would not be inglorious to their memory that they dyed in the utmost bounds of the Earth and Nature 11. The battell was fought with valour on both sides proportionable to the necessity but at last the Brittains were entirely defeated and though in the chace through woods and fast places their rage made them turn upon their pursuers and kill not a few of them yet they were so wholly broken that for many years after their impotency made them quiet 12. This combat was fought in the eighth and last year of Agricola's Government For in the beginning of the year following which was the fifth of Domitians raign he returned to Rome having triumphall ornaments decreed him by the Senat and though in appearance he was honourd by the Emperour yet his glory and vertues rendred him the object of the Tyrants Envy and hatred and within a few years the sacrifice of his cruelty II. CHAP. 1.2 Of the Successours of Agricola in the Government of Brittany 3. Roman Legions continued in Brittany 1. AFter Agricola's departure out of Brittany it does not evidently appeare in History who succeeded him And no wonder since so entire a conquest of the Nation had been gained by Agricola that whosoever follow'd him could not afford any considerable exploits to furnish a History 2. Some Writers say that Cneus Trebellius was the next who succeeded in the Government during Domitians raign Others that it was Salustius Lucullus mention'd by Suetonius in these words Domitian saith he put to death Salustius Lucullus who had been Generall of the Roman Army in Brittany for this only crime because he had suffred lances of a new fashion contrived by himselfe to be called Lucullean Lances 3. This is all that any of the Roman Historians mention touching Brittany during not only the remainder of Domitians raign but also the two Emperours Nerva and Traian which succeeded him The Roman Legions continued still in the Countrey though all their employment was only to prevent any insurrections among the Brittains Iosephus the Iewish Historian gives us an account of the number of those Legions writing thus Brittany is compass'd with the Ocean being a new discover'd world little lesse then ours The Romans now inhabiting there have reduced it to the obedience of their Empire and four Legions are sufficient to over-awe and keep in order the Island though abounding with great multitudes of inhabitants III. CHAP. 1.2 S. Clement Pope He sends Bishops into Gaule 3.4 Of S. Taurinus Bishop Ebroicensium of Eureux not Eboracensium of York 5. The Legation of Brittany to Saint Clement 1. ANcient Ecclesiasticall Monuments doe suggest little or nothing to History relating to Christian Religion in Brittany during the space of time between the end of Nero and the death of Domitian containing twenty eight years from the seaventieth year of Christ to the ninety eighth 2. Toward the latter end of that time S. Clement sitting in the Chair of S. Peter express'd his generall care over the Church both toward the East and West for by a most divine Epistle to the Church of Corinth he prevented a schism threatning its ruine and as Irenaeus saith he repair'd their Faith much decayd by declaring to them the Tradition which he freshly had received from the Apostles 3. Moreover he supplied these Northwest Regions principally the Gaules with Pastors and Bishops sending S. Nicasius to Rouen S. Eutropius to Xaintes S. Lucian to Beauvais and S. Taurinus to Eureux Concerning this last we read thus in the Roman Martyrologe Among the inhabitants of Eureux in Gaule there is on the eleaventh of August a commemoration of S. Taurinus Bishop who having been ordain'd Bishop of that Citty by Saint Clement Pope by his preaching the Gospel propagated the Christian Faith in those Regions and being illustrious by the Glory of his Miracles after many labours sustained for the Truth he slept peaceably in our Lord. 4. Particular notice is to be taken by us of this Saint because of a mistake of certain modern Historians who from a resemblance of the words Ebroicenses and Eboracenses affirm this S. Taurinus to have been Bishop of York For thus doe the Centurists of Magdeburg write S. Taurinus was Bishop of York and dyed a Martyr under the Emperour Adrian Licinius being then Prefect of the Countrey Yea moreover not only Bishop Godwin but S. Antoninus likewise affirm that S. Taurinus and S. Nicasius also pass'd over into Brittany Neither indeed is it altogether without example that Bishops in those days out of a common zeale to mens salvation should change their Seats and remove their residence whither greater necessities and want of spirituall Light did call them And if any credit may be given to the assertion of a Modern Historian that S. Clement formerly accompanying S. Peter preach'd the Gospel in Brittany it is not to be doubted but that his care was to promote the good work begun by himself 5. Yea I find an ancient Manuscript quoted by the R. F. Alford wherein is contained how the Church of Brittany in the year of Grace one hundred sent a Legation to S. Clement desiring him to communicate to them the Order and Rites of celebrating Divine Service And Baronius affirms it to be an ancient Tradition that S. Clement set down in Writing the Order of offring Sacrifice instituted by S. Peter which was afterward in use through the whole Western Church And long before him S. Isidore affirms the same True it is that in following times it was lengthned by additions made to it IV. CHAP. 1. Brittains sayd to have been divided into Ecclesiasticall Provinces by Pope Anacletus in the raign of Trajanus 2. Such a Division much later 1. IN the raign of the Emperour Traian S. Anacletus the Successour of S. Clement in the Chaire of S. Peter is sayd to have divided Brittany into five Provinces and Metropoles ordaining Bishops and Primats in each and hereto we find our Protestant Arch-Bishop Parker to have given his asassent The ground whereof is a certain Decretall Epistle long since publish'd under the name of the sayd Pope in which a division of Provinces is indeed mentioned yet without any application to Brittany But the authority of that Epistle being much suspected yea renounced by severall not only Protestant but Catholike Authours little credit is to be given to that relation grounded by some upon it touching the sayd Division though Giraldus our Welsh Historian undertake to set down the particular names of the Provinces calling one Britannia prima which is the Western part of the Island the second he names Britannia secunda
is thus obscurely described by Eusebius The Tabernacle of her Body saith he was honourd with splendid funeralls For it was conducted with a great train of Guards to the principall place of the Empire and there buried in a Royall Sepulcher From which expression some collect that she was entomb'd at Constantinople Thus writes Socrates But Nicephorus better understood the sence of Eusebius writing thus when the end of Helenas life approached she deceased at Rome being fourscore years old wanting one where her Memory is most celebrious 8. Most probable therfore it is that after her Eastern pilgrimage she stayd not in Greece but with her Son or before him took her iourney to Rome to visit the Sepulchers of the two Cheif Apostles a devout practise frequented by former Christians but much more afterward and particularly by many of our Princes as will hereafter appeare 9. In which last voyage of hers that seems to have hapned which was related out of Gregory of Tours concerning her casting away into the Sea one of the Sacred Nayles belonging to the Holy Crosse by which means she was delivered from imminent danger of Shipwrack by a Tempest 10. We read in her life anciently written and conserved by Capgrave that she brought with her to Rome a part of the Holy Crosse which with great honour and veneration was placed in a Church at her request built by her Son and dedicated to the honour and called by the Title of the Holy Crosse. 11. There likewise is related with what fervour and devotion she spent her last dayes and how approaching to her death after receiving the Sacraments of the Church she was comforted with a vision of our Lord Iesus encompassed with a multitude of Angells and holding his Crosse shining with inexpressible brightnes 12. Eusebius moreover testifies how her Son Constantin was present at her death and with a diligent and humble respect attended and ministred to her in her sicknes in whose presence accompanied with his Sons and Grandchildren she declared her last will And Theodoret adds That she gave him many exhortations to Piety and bestowing on him such Benedictions as Parents usually at their death give to their children she departed this world to eternall Happines 13. The same Eusebius worthily extolls Constantin for his wonderfull piety and respect to his Holy Mother which was so great that he made her partner of the Empire giving her the Title of Empresse or Augusta and causing golden Coyns to be made and stamped with her Image An Example of one such is afforded by Baronius and another by Camden in one side of which is written Fl. Helena Augusta and on the other Securitas Provinciae S.T.R. Whereby it appears that she was transferred by Adoption into the Flavian family And hence we find that Sulpitius Severus wrote with truth that Helena Mother of the Emperour Constantin raign'd as Empresse together with her Son 14. After her death Constantin as Anastasius relates built unto her honour a magnificent Sepulcher Mausolaeum where in a Tomb of Porphyry he layd the Body of the most blessed Empresse his Mother Which Mausolaeum was situated in the High Way called Lavicana between the two Laurell trees Nicephorus affirms that after two years he caried her Body to Constantinople But constant Tradition assures us that at least the greatest part of it remained in the west Concerning the translation and veneraâ—ion of which together with a breif recapitulation of her whole story we read thus in the Gallican Martyrologe 15. At Rhemes and Orleans this day the eighteenth of August is celebrated the Memory of Saint Helena Empresse Mother of Constantin who having been confirm'd in the Faith by the Holy Pope Silvester enioyed so great a happines that by a singular Grace of God she saw her Son enlightned with true Piety to become the first Emperour who openly profess'd and courageously maintain'd our most Holy Religion By his assistance and wonderfull munificence she performed illustrious works to promote the Worship of Christ. For incited by piety she took a journey to Ierusalem where miraculously she found the Crosse of our Lord together with the nayles She cleansed the sacred places from the filth of Heathenish and Iewish superstitions and adorn'd them with splendid buildings and Gifts Moreover out of a zeale to emulate the vertue of Humility so acceptable to Christ she would needs her self attend serve and minister to the Sacred Virgins whom she intertain'd at a Feast Afterwards at Rome she built the Church of the Holy Crosse which she enrich'd with a portion of the said saving Crosse. And out of the same religious propension to adorn Gaule also she built at Orleans the principall Church in veneration of Christ crucified Whose seamlesse Garment likewise together with many other monuments of our Redemption she sent to Triers there to be devoutly venerated At last after so many illustrious works of Piety perform'd all the world over she quietly slep'd in Christ whose glory she had with such fervent zeale exalted and was buried in a sepulcher of Porphyry at Rome under the patronage of S. Peter and S. Marcellinus In after times being illustrious by many Miracles and some of which she had performed in her life time her Sacred Body was translated into France by Theogisus a Monk and placed in the Monastery call'd Hauteville where it has been illustrated by great numbers of Miracles and there it still continues in great veneration Excepting some particles therof which were sent to the principall Church at Orleans a great ornament and safeguard thereto where they are kep'd with becoming honour 16. There is extant at Rome in the Church of the Holy Crosse which was anciently call'd also the Church of S. Helena an illustrious Memoriall of her For at the Basis of her statue there is this Inscription To our Lady Flavia Iulia Helena the most pious Empresse Mother of our Lord Constantin the Great most clement Victor and always Augustus and Grand-mother of Constantin and Constans most blessed and flourishing Caesars Iulius Maximianus Count and Senatour always most devoted to her Piety hath made this monument And another Inscription almost paralell is to be seen at Naples erected anciently by the Senate and people there 17. It is not to be doubted but that our Island of Brittany was at least as much devoted to her honour and memory as any other countreys But all Monuments rais'd in the times of the ancient Brittains have been consumed by age and miserable vicissitudes succeeding However in following ages the Saxons assoon as they became Converts to Christianity in severall places express'd their devotion to this most Pious Empresse For both among the Trinobantes and in the North and likewise in Berkshire there is a Town call'd Helenstow from a Church there dedicated to her Memory And at Bedford an illustrious Lady call'd Iudith built a Monastery for Religious Virgins which she consecrated to S. Helena
Successours or as some write all the subjects were called Vffings Some place the beginning of this Kingdom before that of the West-Saxons but no where can we find their names recorded the reason perhaps being because before Vffa's time they were Kings only by courtesy and with dependance on greater Princes as those of Kent c. as indeed in following ages they were again the Beneficiarij sometimes of the Mercian Kings and sometimes of those of Kent 4. Two years after the beginning of Vffa's raign was fought a Battle fatall to the Brittains by which they were expelld out of almost all the fertile plaine regions of the Island and driven to the Mountains of Cambria Geffrey of Montmouth to make his countrey-mens calamity more illustrious tells us that a certain King calld Gormand came with an army of one hundred sixty six thousand African soldiers and ioynd with the Saxons against King Careticus and his Brittains and drove them beyond the Severn into Wales 5. But Ethelwerd Malmsbury c. more soberly inform us that whereas the Brittains had hitherto defended themselves against the West-Saxons by the firm walls of their Citties of Glocester Cirencester and Bathe this year Ceaulin after an overthrow given them in battell expugn'd those three strong Citties and forc'd them to retire to mountains and woods This battell saith Camden was fought at a place calld Deorham after which the Citty of Bath was given up to the Saxons In which battell three Christian Kings of the Brittains were slaine whose names were Commagil Condidan and Faringmagil So that afterward Ceaulin and his Son Cuthwin were so terrible to the Brittains that all places hastned to render themselves to their power Thus we read in Henry of Huntingdom 6. The Brittains notwithstanding after seaven years rest again attempted another combat with the Saxons at a place calld Fedhanlea saith the same Authour where on both sides they fought with horrible fury In somuch as Cuthwin the Son of Ceaulin being oppressâ—d with multitudes was slain and the army of the Angli putt to flight But King Ceaulin having again repair'd his army the soldiers wherof bound themselves by an oath that they would not fly at last in a battell vanquish'd the conquering Brittains and pursuing them took many Provinces and innumerable spoyles B. Vsher saith that this Battell was fought iuxta Moram lapideam at Sâ—â—an-more in West-morland But that place being a part of the territories of Alla King of the Deiri and Northumbrians no probable cause can be assign'd to draw the King of the West-Saxons so far from his own Dominions unlesse perhaps to give assistance to Alla. XV. CHAP. 1.2 The Mercian Principality erected by Crida 3.4 c. Theonus Arch-bishop of London and Thadioc of York with most of the Brittains quitt England and fly into Wales c. carying Relicks c. with them 1. WHereas our Historians say that by the last battles the conquered Brittains lost many Citties and Regions we may iudge that Mathew of Westminster had some reason to affirm that in the year of Grace five hundred eighty five the Kingdom of the Mercians took beginning under their first King Croeda or Crida Notwithstanding it may more properly be said that the foundations of that Kingdom were now layd which took not its iust form till ten years after 2. This Crida reckond himself the tenth in descent from Woden the Idol Deity of the Saxons And wheras the other Saxon Princes possess'd themselves of the extreme parts of the Island towards the Cambrians Picts and the Ocean Crida peirc'd into the bowells of Brittany by little and little possessing himself of all the Provinces which were towards the North confined with the Rivers Humber and Mersey on the South with Thames on the East with the Severn and Deva and on the East with the German Ocean 3. The Brittains themselves by a voluntary cession made Crida's way very easy to his new erected throne in which he as yet sate contented with the inferiour Title of Governour or Duke For the Saxons being now dispersed through all the parts and Provinces of Brittany and every day gaining more strength became intolerably burdensom to the poor Brittains and being Infidels publish'd Lawes extremely preiudiciall to Christian Religion profess'd by them Whereupon by agreement between the Clergy and other Brittish Inhabitants hitherto mixt with the Saxons they resolved to quitt the Countrey and to retire some of them flying to the mountains of Cambria others into Cornwall and great numbers beyond Sea into Lesser Brittany and other Christian Regions 4. Then it was saith Mathew of Westminster to wit in the year of our Lord five hundred eighty six that the Arch-prelats Theonus Bishop of London and Thadioc of York seing all the Churches which had been subiect to them now destroyd to the ground they attended with many Ecclesiasticks who had escap'd danger from the Saxons fled into Cambria and caried with them the sacred Relicks of Saints out of fear least by an irruption of the Barbarous Saxons the Sacred Bones of so many and so great Saints should otherwise be blotted out of the memory of men Many likewise passing over into Armorick Brittany left the two Provinces of Loegria and Northumbria utterly depriv'd of Christian Congregations The Bodies also of some Saints after they had reverently hid them in Monuments they cast great heaps of earth over them least they should be obnoxious to the contumelious scorn of the Infidels For the Kings of the Angli and Saxons as they were very powerfull in arms so they were most violent Pagans who thirsted after nothing more then defacing of the name of Christ and subverting his Religious Worship Insomuch as when they had subdued the countrey if any Church remaind untouch'd they took occasion thereby to bring greater confusion and contempt on the Name of Christ by turning it into a Temple of their profane Idoll-Gods and with their impious Sacrifices polluting the Holy Altars of the true God 5. Concerning this Theonus Arch-bishop of London he was formerly Bishop of Glocester and from thence translated to London in the year five hundred fifty three saith B. Godwin And the year of Grace five hundred eighty Six taking his whole Clergy with him he is sayd to have fled to his own countrey men in Wales together with Thadioc Arch-bishop of York And those who afterward in the time of the Saxons sate at London were simple Bishops the Metropoliticall dignity being transferd to Dorobernia or Canterbury as shall be declared Neither after the departure of Thadioc doe we read of any other Arch-bishop of York till by the conversion of Edwin son of Alla King of the Northumbrians S. Paulinus was there consecrated Arch-bishop 6. By this Secession and flight of the Brittish Clergy and other inhabitants there remaind the miserable relicks of the Brittaâ—ns saith Mathew of Westminster onely in three Provinces to wit in
deserting his former profession For it was against their Superstitious Law for a Pontife to carry arms or to ride except upon a mare Thus being girt with a sword and having a lance in his hand mounted likewise on the Kings horse he went to the Idol-Temples When the common people saw this they thought him out of his witts but he went on however and when he was come to the Temple he profaned it by casting into it the lance which he held in his hands shewing great joy for the knowledge of the true God which he had newly learnt And having done this he commanded his companions to destroy and burn to the ground the Temple and all buildings belonging to it 11. The place where this Assembly was held and Idols destroyd is thus described by the same Saint Beda Men shew the place where the Idol-temple formerly stood It is not far from York toward the East beyond the River Derwen and it is at this day called Godmundigham where the foresaid Pontife by Divine Inspiration polluted and destroyd the Heathen Altars which himself had consecrated The memory thereof has likewise been conserved ever since Saint Beda's time being still called Godmunham or the mansion of the false Heathen Gods Yet some Authours ascribe an higher Original thereto as far as the ancient Brittish and Roman times For they conceive that the town called Delgovitia which in the Brittish tongue signifies an Idol was anciently seated here 12. Hereto accords this Observation of Camden in his perambulation through these parts I doe not doubt saith he but that in the times of the Brittains here was a famous Oracle when Superstition spread through all Nations had more strongly possessed the minds of the ignorant inhabitants But when Paulinus preached Christ to the Northumbers Coyfi who was the Pontife of their Pagan Ceremonies having embraced Christian Religion was the first who by casting a lance into it profaned the Temple a Mansion of impiety there XV. CHAP. 1.2 c. King Edwin Baptised and great numbers of his Subjects 1. KING Edwin though perfectly converted deferred hic Baptism to the year following which probably he did to the end he might have more companions of his happines Saint Beda thus relates it King Edwin with all the Nobles of his kingdom and great multitudes of the common people received the Faith and Laver of Regeneration or Baptism in the eleaventh year of his Raign which was the year of our Lords Incarnation six hundred twenty seaven and about the hundred and eightieth after the coming of the English into Brittany He was baptised at York on the Holy Feast of the Paschal Solemnity the day before the Ides of April in the Church of Saint Peter the Apostle which during the time of his instructing in the Faith he commanded to be suddenly erected for that purpose 2. This Church for the quicker dispatch was at first built of wood and though of a good capacity yet it was too narrow to receive all that flockd to Baptism among which are named Offrid and Edfrid the Kings Sons born to him by his Queen Quenburga whilst he was in exile 3. In the same Citty of York saith Saint Beda he assigned the Episcopall See to his Teacher and Prelat Saint Paulinus And presently after his Baptism upon the proposall of Saint Paulinus he took order for the erecting a far larger and more magnificent Church in the same place and in the midst of the New Church was inclosed the Oratory built before The foundations therefore being prepared in a large square on all sides of the former Oratory the Churches building went on with great diligence 4. How wonderfully King Edwins good example drew the rest of his Subjects in other parts to seek instruction in Christian Faith is thus described by the same Authour It is reported that the peoples fervour to embrace the Christian Faith and their desire to be initiated by Baptism was so great that on a certain time when Saint Paulinus attending the King and Queen came to a certain countrey Palace of theirs at a Town called Adregin or rather Adgefrin now Yeverin seated in the utmost parts of Northumberland he was obliged to stay there thirty six dayes spending that whole time from morning till evening in Catechising and baptising such as came to him in the River Glent which flowd not far of This village was deserted in the times of the following Kings who made their abode in another called Melmin but now Melfeild In the same countrey of the Bernicions not far from that place there is a Town saith Camden called Halyston or Holy Stone where the report is that in the Primitive Church of the Saxons Saint Paulinus baptised three thousand persons 5. But a more plentifull harvest did Saint Paulinus reap in the other Province of Deiri containing Yorkshire c. For thus Saint Beda prosecutes his Story In the Province of the Deiri where for the most part Saint Paulinus made his abode with the King he baptised greater numbers in the River Swale which passes by a village called Cataract For as yet in the infancy of that Church Oratoryes and Fonts could not so soon be built Notwithstanding at Campodon where the King had a Royal Mansion he erected a Church which afterward the Pagans by whom King Edwin was slain sett on fire together with the town adjoining Instead of which the following Kings built themselves another in the Territory called Leidis or Leeds Notwithstanding the Altar belonging to the said Church escaped the fire because it was of Stone and it is to this day kept in the Monastery of the most Reverend Abbot Trumwulsi which is seated in the forest Elmete This place Campodon is the same which now is called Almondbury but the true name is Albonbury saith Camden from a Church built there which was consecrated to Saint Alban by Saint Paulinus the Apostle of the Saxons And to this day the black colour of the Stones remaining of its ruines doe testify its burning 6. Among the persons baptised by Saint Paulinus we must not omitt three Royal Infants which Queen Ethelburga bore to King Edwin concerning whom Saint Beda thus writes In the time following there were baptised by him other children of King Edwin by his Queen Edilburga Their names were Edilhime Edilfrida a daughter and another son called Wlfrea Of which the two former were taken out of this life whilst they were in their white robes of Baptism and were buried in the Church at Yorke XVI CHAP. 1.2.3 Christianity received in Lincolnshire 4.5 Saint Iustus Arch-bishop of Canterbury dying Saint Honorius succeed him who is consecrated by Saint Paulinus 1 NEITHER was the piety of King Edwin and zeale of Saint Paulinus confined to the Provinces on the North-side of Humber but their effects passed over that River the year following into the Province of the Coritani or Lincolnshire For thus
in thankfullnes for his victory obtaind against the bloody King of the Mercians Penda XXII CHAP. 1.2 The Gests of S. Adulf and S. Botulph brethren 1. AT the same time with S. Hilda flourished S. Botulph and his Brother S. Adulph whom erroneously some Writers affirm to have been Scotts who are confuted by the whole contexture of their Lives For thus we read in their Gests recorded by Ioannes Anglicus in Capgrave Before Christian Religion was spread over Brittany the Venerable Fathers Botulph and Adulf born of a Noble family and of a German descent and more strictly linked by charity then blood being very young were initiated in spirituall and celestial exercises For being born of a Saxon stock which conquered Brittany by martiall courage they from their infancy were imbued in the Christian Faith But their parents being rude and unacquainted with the Documents of perfection sent their children five in number to their ancient countrey of Saxony there to learn the Discipline of a holy conversation 2. Thus by mistake writes that Authour for as yet Christianity was not entred into Saxony Therefore in stead of Saxony we are to understand Belgick France whither by S. Beda's testimony our Ancestors in those times usually sent their children to be in 〈◊〉 in more sublime Christian Philosophâ— The same Writer thus prosecutes hiâ— Narratio 3. With this intention the foresaid Fathers paâ—sing the Sea repaired to Monasteries of Holy Religious men desiring coÌ„munication with them to be instructed in the Document of a spirituall life There being imbued with Monastical Instituâ— and disciplines of a more austere life they received the Religious Habit and in a short time Gods Grace became enabled co be Teachers â— Perfection 4. The King therefore hearing the fame of S. Adulphus exalted him to the Government of the Church of Virect in Belgium Who in discharge of that sublime employment was very watchfuâ— and solicitous to prevent the snares and cunning designs of the Devill who like a ravening wâ—l sought the destruction of his flock He was sedulouâ— in works of mercy feeding the poor cloathing the naked correcting those which strayd and comforting the afflicted to the end he might himself obtain the effect of our Lords Promise Blessed are the mercifull for they shall obtain mercy He was instant in fasting watching and prayers He prevented his preaching by his practise and in all things lead a saintlike life 5. In the Gallican Martyrologe he is adorned with this Elogy On the seaventeenth of Iune is celebrated the Memory of S. Adulph Bishop of Vâ—rect who was Brother of S. Botulph and out of Brittany passing with him into France for his eminent endowments and Sanctity of life was raised to that See wherein by his admirable vertues and learning he became a shining light to his flock and at last with a great affluence of merits ended his life or rather being translated by death he passed to a life immortall 6. As for his Venerable Brother S. Botulph by the testimony of the foresaid Authour being well exercised in vertue and holines he resolved to return into England Now there were in the same Monastery where he made his abode two Sisters of Ethelmund a Prince among the Southangles who had been sent thither to be instructed in Monasticall Disciplines They hearing that the Blessed man had a purpose to return to his countrey gave him commissions to be delivered to their Brother Having therefore passed the Sea S. Botulph was honourably received by the said Prince who having heard his Sisters petitions and accepted them granted to the Holy man a place for building a Monastery Now S Botulph did not desire that for his cause any one should be driven out of his hereditary possession but rather that some place unpossessed and uncultivated should be assigned him that there he might build a Church and congregate brethren to serve God by whose pious lives and prayers his Principality might be established in this world and an eternall kingdom prepared for him in the world to come This request the Prince willingly granted whereupon the Venerable Father chose a certain untilled place where none dwelt named Ikanho It was a Wildernes unfrequented by men but possessed by Devills whose phantasticall illusions were to be expelled thence and a Religious conversation of pious men to be introduced that where the Devills fallacies abounded there our Lords Divine Grace might superabound 7. Where this place called Ikanho was seated is now uncertain The Centuriators of Magdeburg from Leland and Bale place it not far from the Citty of Lincoln And indeed in that Province where the River Witham enters the Sea there is a Town called Boston but more truly Botulphs-town for saith Camden it being formerly by Beda called Icanhoe took a new name from Botulph a most holy Saxon. Likewise in Huntingdon-shire there is a town called Bottle-bridge for S. Botulphs-bridge So that it seems in one of these two places S. Botulph built his Monastery 8. The said Authour thus pursues his Narration When he had finished his Monastery like a good shepheard he gathered together his flock whom he diligently taught Apostolick Doctrines and Instituts of the Holy Fathers and whatsoever good Documents he had learnt abroad concerning Monasticall Disciplines those he instilled into the minds and practises of his Monks He was beloved by all for he was free from arrogance being humble mild and affable in all things He was illustrious likewise for many miracles and the gift of Prophecy For sometimes by Divine inspiration he foretold future things as expressly as if they had been passed When he was oppressed with any infirmity he with blessed Iob persisted in thanking God and all his discourse was of matters which might edify and advance the hearers Such was his conversation during his life and in such exercises he attained to a good old age 9. He dyed most happily the same year in which S. Hilda also dyed and was buried in the Monastery which he had built There his Sacred Relicks remained till the Danes invading this Island wasted all Holy places with fire and sword Then by the care of S. Ethelwold they were translated part to the Monastery of Ely and part to that of Thorney The Memory of S. Botulph was elsewhere also celebrated for at London there is a Church dedicated to his honour Hence we read this passage in Capgrave In the Book of the Church of S. Botulph near Aldersgate London there is mention how a part of the Body of S. Botulph was by King Edward of Happy memory conferred on the Church of S. Peter in Westminster His memory is celebrated in our Martyrologe on the sixteenth of May. THE SIXTEENTH BOOK OF THE CHVRCH-HISTORY OF BRITTANY I. CHAPTER 1.2 c. The Mercians Converted and an Episcopall See erected there 5 Ithamar Bishop of Rochester dyes and Damian succeeds 6. The Holy Offspring of Merovald a Prince of the Mercians
drew him full of tears likewise out of his most sweet retirement to the Synod Where being arrived though he again renewd his resistance yet at last he was overcome by the united wills of all the Bishops and compelled to submitt his neck to the burden of the Episcopall Office 4. But though he was then elected and had consented to his Election yet he was not consecrated till the year following at the great solemnity of Easter The See to which he was ordained was not that of Hagulstadt now vacant by the deposition of Tumbert but Lindesfarn administred by Eata For Eata who at first had been consecrated Bishop both of Lindesfarn and Hagulstad in the year of Grace six hundred seaventy eight when that Province was shortly after divided he surrendred the See of Hagulstad to Tumbert reserving Lindesfarn to himself and now perceiving that S. Cuthbert rather desired Lindesfarn in which Diocese his beloved desart was seated the humbly devout Bishop Eata willingly surrendred it to him and again resumed Hagulstad Thus writes the Authour of S. Cuthberts life in Capgrave 5. This Synod in which S Cuthbert was Elected Bishop continued a part of two years for he was elected towards Winter and not ordained till the Easter following at whose ordination all the Bishops were present And before the dissolution of the Synod King Egfrid gave many munificent gifts to his new Prelat which were confirmed by the subscription of the King and all the Bishops 6. In his Life preserved by Capgrave we read That King Egfrid gave to him in York all the land from the Wall of S. Peters to the great Westgate and from thence to the Citty-wall toward the South He gave him likewise a village called Creike three miles in circuit that it might be a mansion for him in his iourney to and from York There Saint Cuthbert founded a Monastery constituting an Abbot named Gave The said place called Creike is seated in the forest of Gautres in Calaterio nemore in some parts abounding with wood and elsewhere a morish plain It stands a little Northward from York in the way towards Durham thus writes Camden 7. Besids this the King added another and greater Gift for he bestowd on him the Citty Luel or Caer-leil and fifteen miles about it where the holy Bishop founded a Monastery for consecrated Virgins ordaining an Abbesse over them He appointed Schooles for learning also in the same Citty Concerning this Donation the same Camden thus writes in his Description of Cumberland Egfrid gave to S. Cuthbert the Citty Lugubalia in this form I have given the Citty which is called Lugubalia and the land about it for the space of fifteen miles This name of Lugubalia or Luguvallia was given to that citty by reason of its proximity to the famous rampire or Vallum raised by the Romans to exclude the barbarous Nations beyond it commonly called The Picts Wall 8. Neither did King Egfrids munificence rest here for thus it follows in Capgrave After that S. Cuthbert had raised a child from death in a village called Exenford King Egfrid gave to him the land called Carthmel and all the Brittains inhabiting there c. Afterward Egfrid gave to the man of God Mailros that is to say Meuros and Carram and all the Appurtinances It is said that in that rich Treasury of Brittish Antiquities the Library of Sir Iohn Cotton there is extant a Charter of these Donations of King Egfrrid subscribed by Trumwin Bishop of the Picts and other English Bishops out of which Bishop Vsher quotes certain passages And the Munificence of King Egfrid was imitated by severall Princes his Successours who wonderfully enlarged their liberality to his Church and See afterward transferred to Durham called the Patrimony of S. Cuthbert Of which more hereafter 9. But as for S. Cuthbert himself he was nothing the richer for these possessions he practised the poverty of a Monk in the sublime state of a Bishop and as S. Beda reports in his life he adorned with works of piety the Episcopall degree undertaken by him therin imitating the Apostles of our Lord and with his wholesom admonitions invited to eternall happines the flock committed to his charge And the thing which gave the greatest efficacy to his exhortations was that himself in his own practise afforded an example for others to imitate For he was in a supreme degree fervent in divine Charity modest in the vertue of patience studiously intent to Prayer and affable to all who came to him for comfort Yea he esteemed the contributing his charitable assistance to his infirm brethren equivalent to Prayer because he who said Thou shalt love the Lord thy God said also Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thy self His abstinence was admirable he through the grace of compunction had his mind always elevated to heavenly things To conclude Whensoever he offred to God the most holy Sacrifice he addressed his prayers to him not with a loud voyce but with teares flowing from the depth of his heart This may suffise touching S. Cuthbert for the present wee shall add more when we come to treat of his death III. CHAP. 1.2 c. The Gests of Saint Eata Bishop of Hagulstad with his death 6. S. Iohn of Beverley succeeds him 1. IN the year of Grace six hundred eighty six the holy Bishop Eata after the administring the Sees of Lindesfarn and afterward of Hagulstad the space of seaven years dyed with such opinion of Sanctity that in our English Martyrologe his memory is celebrated among the Saints on the twenty sixth of October 2. Concerning his education from his infancy wee read thus in the Authour of his Life who follows S. Beda The Holy Bishop Aidan saith he undertook to instruct in the Religion of Christ twelve young children of the English Nation Of these Eata was one being a child of a very good disposition and a meek humble heart By the admonitions and good examples of his pious Teacher to whom he gave diligent attendance he became notable in all vertues so that finding grace both with God and man he became a Monk and according to the Profession of that state he sedulously gave himself to Watchings fasting and other good Exercises day and night For he was a man eminent for the vertue of patience brightly adorned with chastity affable and pleasing to all and as Venerable Beda testifies of him he was beyond all others adorned with the Grace of Meeknes and holy simplicity Afterward the was made Abbot of the Monastery of Mailros or Meuros in the execution of which charge he exhibited to his Brethren yet greater examples of humility and charity then formerly insomuch as they tenderly loved him not as an awfull Master but an indulgent Father He was held in such veneration among the rich and powerfull men of that age that even Kings themselves reverenced him as a Father and with devout minds conferred on
Northumbers when this calm was disturbed with new â—torms S. Beda dispatches this Tragedy in a â—ew words saying After five years he was accused once more and by the said King Alfrid and very many Bishops expelled from his See not mentioning the heads of his accusation 2. But William of Malmsbury insinuats that the ground of their charge against him was the same with the former to witt that he had united the Iurisdiction and revenews of two Bishopricks which S. Theodore had formerly separated namely York and Hagulstad Adding that considering the vast exâ—ent of the Province it was fitt to erect a third at Rippon 3. The freindship saith he between King Alfrid and S. Wilfrid stood a good while unshaken till about five years after his return the poysonnous counsells harboured in the breasts of certain malignant persons at last broke forth By these mens suggestions King Alfrids mind being prevented withdrew some of the possessions belonging to the Monastery of Rippon having a design to constitute a new Bishoprick there For he alledged that these Decrees of the late Arch-bishop Theodore which he made not in the beginning or end of the Controversy but in the time intervening were 〈◊〉 continue in force 4. S. Wilfrid resenting this iniustice and violence left the Province of the Northumbers and retired to his freind Ethelred King of the Mercians with whom he continued a long time After whose departure King Alfrid restored the See of York to Bosa who formerly had the possession of it and Iohn sirnamed of Beverley he constituted Bishop of Hagulstad or Hexham who this same year at the request of the Abbot Ceolfrid promoted to the Order of Deacon S. Beda now entred into the twentieth year of his age 5. Before S. Wilfrid entred into the Kingdom of the Mercians Putta who ten years before had been ordained Bishop of Hereford dying there succeeded him in the same See Tirtellus this year according to the Calender published by Sir Henry Savill So that not any Church being vacant in that Kingdom S. Wilfrid lived a private retired life but in high esteem and favour with King Ethelred who had a great desire to fixe him in the government and Episcopall administration of some Province there 6. Which good design of his was effected the year following by the death of Sexulf Bishop of Lichfeild who in the year of Grace six hundred seaventy eight as hath been declared was constituted Bishop of that Diocese upon the deposition of Winfrid This Sexulf was a very holy man and highly honoured and beloved through his whole Province in so much as after his death he was numbred among the Saints 7. To him by Kings Ethelreds appointment succeeded S. Wilfrid Notwithstanding some Writers affirm that after the death of Sexulf his Diocese was divided into two Sees the one at Lichfeild and the other at Leicester and that S. Wilfrid was constituted Bishop of Leicester and that Headda Bishop of Winchester adioyned the other to his Diocese However these matters were ordered certain it is that S Wilfrid exercised the Office not only of a Bishop but a Metropolitan also ordaining Bishops there Thus this very year in the Diocese of Worcester Wicciorum Bosiâ— who twelve years before was there consecrated Bishop being now broken with age and labours at the request of King Ethelred S Wilfrid ordained Bishop there a man of eminent piety and worth named Ostfor 8. Concerning this Ostfor S. Beda gives this account Ostfor saith he after that in both the Monasteries of the Holy Abbesse Hilda he had employd his time diligently in the study of the Divine Scriptures at length aspiring to greater perfection he went into Kent to the Arch-bishop Theodore of blessed memory where having spent some time in sacred Lections he resolved to goe further as far as to Rome for in that age it was an argument of great vertue and piety to undertake that iourney In processe of time returning from thence into Brittany he diverted into the Province of the Wiccians or Worcestershire the Governour whereof was a person called Osriâ— There he remained a long time preaching the Word of God and in his conversation affording an example of all vertues and piety to those that saw or heard him At this time the Bishop of thaâ— Province named Boselus was so oppressed with infirmity of body that he could not himself discharge his Episcopall Office Therefore by the iudgment and consent of all the foresaid holy man Ostfor was elected Bishop in his place and by comman of King Edilred Wilfrid of happy memory whâ— then administred Episcopall iurisdiction amonâ— the Midland-English or Mercians ordained him Bishop because the Arch-bishop Theodore was then dead and not any as yet ordaind to succeed him XV. CHAP. 1. 2. c. Of King Ina's Lawes especially such as regard the Church 4 c. The Welsh whence so called c. 6 7 Preists whether then maried 8. The Saxons c. tender of shedding blood 1. THE same year Inas King of the West-Saxons being desirous to compose and settle his kingdom in good order by rooting out such ill customes as had crepp'd in among the people called an Assembly of his Bishops and Nobility at which great numbers of other inferiour Ecclesiasticall and Secular persons were present also and by common advice enacted those famous Lawes called King Ina's Lawes which continued in force many ages even till the coming and Conquest of the Normans and of which William of Malmsbury saith a mirrour of their purity remained to his time These were seaventy five in number and are extant in Sir Henry Spelmans collection of Councils to which the curious Reader may have recourse I will onely select a few of them such as regard Ecclesiasticall affaires and therefore are pertinent to this History 2. In the first place saith King Inas wee command that Gods Ministers be carefull to observe the Canonicall order of living And our Will is that these Lawes and Ordinances be observed by the people 2. Let each infant be baptized within thirty dayes after he is born If this be not done let the person in fault be fined in thirty shillings solidis But if it happen that the infant dye before he is baptized let the faulty persons forfeyt their whole estate 3. If a servant a slave shall doe any servile work on our Lords day by his Masters command let him be free and his Master fined in thirty shillings But if the servant without command of his Master doe any such work let him be whipped or redeem that penalty with money If a free man work on that day not commanded by his Master let him either be made a slave or pay sixty shillings And if a Preist offend in this kind let his penalty be doubled 4. Let the Firsts-fruits of seeds be payed on the solemnity of S. Martin And whosoever shall not then pay them Let him be fined in forty shillings and
of curiosity desirous to see the manner of Christian Worship and particularly the Actions of S. Swibert of whom he had heard wonderfull things though as yet he remained in his ignorance and infidelity he attended by three servants took boat about seaven a clock in the morning willing to see the Ceremonies of the Dedication of the Church at Malsen which was but a small mile distant from Duerstat Now as the boat was sayling in the midst of the River Rhene or Leck the young man sate on the side of it leaning on his sword and sportfully passing the time but on a sudden by reason of the moistnes and slipperines of the boat his feet sliding he fell backwards into the River and notwithstanding all the endeavours of his servants to save him was swallowd by the deep gulfe and drowned Whereupon the servants filled the shores on both sides of the river with their clamours and not daring to return to his parents they ran away This misfortune caused an incredible sorrow not only to his parents and kindred but all the inhabitants neer adioyning 5. At last about noon the same day his body was taken up in a Nett by fishermen and with great lamentation caried to the house of his parents and though his ioynts were become stiff and inflexible yet by the advice of the Pagan Preists he was putt into a warm bed and so caried into their Idoll-Temple of Mars For they had heard that the Christians having caried severall persons who had been drowned into their Churches they were by the Sacrifices and prayers of the Bishops restored to life The Father therefore of this young man called Gunther a Noble Soldier and Lord of Adengyn made hast with his family and freinds to the Temple of Mars where he offred an abominable Sacrifice killing many beasts of severall sorts to their great God Mars hoping thereby to have his onely Son restored to life But after they had with mournfull hearts continued in their Sacrifices and Prayers two howers and found no help the afflicted Father despaired of his Sons recovery neither indeed had they ever heard that their false God had had the power to doe such things 6. Now the same day there were present severall Christians who being desirous to see the successe of these Sacrifices and Prayers followd the Funerall to the Porch of the Temple These seeing the inexpressible greif of Gunther and his freinds and reioycing at such a proof of the impotency of Heathen Gâ—ds they called Gunther aside and to the end that Christ might be magnified they advised him with all speed to send for S. Swibert the Christian Bishop from Malsen to whom his Sons intention had been to goe assuring him that upon condition himself would renounce his Idols and beleive in Christ the Bishop by our Lords Power would raise his Son to life 7. Gunther having heard this and calling to mind how the same Saint Swibert in that very Citty had been freed by an Angell out of Prison and how in Hagenstein he had in the Name of Iesus restored sight to one born blind was encouraged by these Christians speeches and without delay taking with him some freinds of the better sort he went presently to Malsen Where being come to the presence of Saint Swibert he immediatly leaped from his horse and casting himself at the Holy Bishops feet and kissing his hands he with many tears and sighs declared to him the manner of his Sons unfortunate death beseeching him that he would vouchsafe to goe with him to Duerstat and by the power of the glorious Name of Iesus the Omnipotent God restore his Son to life promising that himself with his whole family and kindred would beleive and be baptised 8. Saint Swibert with great courtesy and respect raised him up speaking comfortable words to him but notwithstanding he had great compassion of his greif and lamentations yet he piously excused himself fearing to tempt God in a matter of so great importance Gunther therefore again embracing his feet with great importunity beseeched him for the love of Iesus Christ the living God to goe along with him Thus at last being overcome with his pittifull cryes and principall with the prayers of Werenfrid and my self together with other New-Converts he attended by us entred a Charret prepared for him and with great speed came to Duerstat after Complin about six of the Clock Now there was a great multitude of people assembled on the banks of the Rhene or Leck expecting the arrivall of Saint Swibert at which Profane Idoll-Preists were much greived 9. Assoon then as we had passed over the River Leck as he was in the way toward the place where the dead body lay being attended by his Disciples and also a great troop of Pagans the Lady Mechtildis the Mother of Splinter who had been drownd mett him almost distracted with greif and casting her selfe at his feet in the open street she with a loud voyce cryed O servant of the living God help mee and restore my Son in the Name of thy God and I will beleive in him with my whole family for our Gods are unable to raise him up S. Swibert took up the Lady and comforting her sighed within himself a little 10. Now the Body of Splinter who had been drownd was again caried from the Temple of Mars into his fathers house When the Holy Bishop then was come before it he desired that the Pagan Preists would please to be present with him that they might see the power of our Lord Iesus Christ the Omnipotent God In the mean time he commanded us to attend devoutly to our prayers and to implore the Divine Mercy for restoring life to the dead man and himself likewise prayed Whilst the whole multitude therefore wept and when some of the Idoll-Preists at the request of the Lord Gunther stood by trembling S. Swibert kneeling down and weeping abundantly with a loud voyce cryed unto our Lord saying O Lord Iesus Christ who art our Refuge incline thine eare unto our prayers that thy glory may be revealed to these men and thy holy Name be glorified by these Vnbeleivers That they may know that our Faith is not vain and that besides thee there is no other God whose Mercy is endlesse and whose gifts are â—â—measurable For the glory of thy Name restore life to this thy servant who has been deluded by the fraud of the Devill that they may know that all Idolls which they worship for Gods are images filled with Devills and that seeing the Power of thy Mercy they may beleive in thee and beleiving may be saved 11. Having thus said he rose from Prayer having a great confidence in Christ and said O Lord Iesus Christ the comforter of the sorrowfull who hast sayd Whosoever beleives in mee the works that I doe he also shall doe and greater then these he shall doe O most mercifull Lord God who at the tears of the two holy Sisters Mary Magdalen and
in the day of Iudgment come to the Kingdom of heaven And many of them before that day are eased and delivered by the Prayers Fasting and Alms of the living and especially by the celebrating the most Holy Sacrifice Moreover that flame-vomiting and stinking pitt which thou sawest is the very Mouth of Hell into which whosoever once falls he shall never come out of it for all eternity 12. As for this pleasant flowry feild here before thine eyes in which thou seest such multitudes of youth making mercy and cloathed with white raiment this is the place which is the Receptacle of such soules which have continued to their death in the exercise of vertue but yet their Works have not been of such Perfection as to deserve their present admission in the Kingdom of Heaven Yet all these in the day of Iudgment shall arrive unto the Vision of our Lord and the Ioyes of his heavenly Kingdom But as for those who in their Words Works and Thoughts have attained to Perfection such assoon as they have left the Body shall enter into that Blessed Kingdom To the confines of which Kingdom that Place pertains where thou sawest so glorious a Light and heardst so sweet Harmony and wast refreshed with so admirably sweet-smelling Odours 13. Thou therefore having seen all these things must presently return to thy Body and again as formerly live among men If then hereafter thou wilt be diligent to examine all thine actions and to observe uprightnes and simplicity in thy conversation and speeches thou also after death shalt receive a mansion among these ioyfull troops of happy Spirits For I having departed for a time from thee did it to this end that I might see what would in the end become of thee When he had spoken thus to mee I had a horrible aversion from returning to my Body being extremely delighted with the sweetnes and beauty of that place which I saw and the happy society of the persons living in it Notwithstanding I had not the boldnes to make any such request to my Guide And whilst I was busy in these thoughts I know not how I presently perceived that I was again alive among men 14. These and other particulars did the Man of God usually recount concerning his Vision and these he related not to negligent slouthfull Christians but such only as being either affrighted with the meditation on future Torments or delighted with the Hope of eternall Ioyes were in a disposition to receive proffit by his words 15. At a small distance from his Cell there lived a certain Monk whose Name was Genigills who was also exalted to the Degree of Preist-hood which he adorned with many vertues He is alive at this day leading a solitary life in Ireland and sustaining his decrepit age with bread and cold water onely This Monk often visited that devout man and asking him many particulars touching his Vision received perfect information from him 16. The same Holy man related likewise his Visions to King Alfrâ—d a Prince adorned with all sorts of learning who with great willingnes and attention hearkned to his Narration nd at this Princes entreaty he was entertained in the foresaid Monastery there receiving the Monasticall Tonsure And when the King had occasion to make his progresse into those parts he very oft visited him out of a desire to heare the same things again At that time the Abbot of the Monastery was Aedilwald then a Preist of a conversation very Religious and modest who now worthily possesses the Cathedrall Church of Lindesfarn Now the Holy man had assigned unto him in the said Monastery a very retired place where he might with all freedom attend to the service of his Creatour and Prayer 17. And his privat Mansion being seated on the bank of the River his custome was frequently for mortifying his Body to plunge himself into the same sometimes to the loyns and sometimes to the neck where he continued singing Psalms and praying as long as he could possibly endure And when he came out he never putt off his wett and cold garments for change but suffred them to drye and receive warmth from his Body And when in the Winter time crusts of ice which himself oft broke to have place wherein to plunge himself came about him and some who saw it said to him It is a wonder Brother Drithelm for that was his name how you are able to endure such bitter cold He would answer simply for he was of a simple mild nature I have seen far colder places then this And when they said How is it possible you can sustain such strange austerities His answer was I have seen much greater austerities then these Thus to the day of his death he lived and out of a servent desire of celestiall Happines tamed his weak aged body with Fastings and other Mortifications and by his exhortations and pious conversation became an instrument of the salvation of many 18. This is Saint Beda's Narration which as appeareth he received from witnesses of unquestioned credit Notwithstanding weighing the circumstances of the Vision wee may probably conclude that the Holy man was mistaken in thinking that he had been really dead For this seems to have been a Vision imparted by Gods direction to his soule while he was in a deep and death-like Traunce both for his own good and the good of others So that wee are not to conceive that there are extant any where such Valleys pitts and Walls as are mentioned in this Story but that God thought fitt by representing to his imagination such objects to signify thereby the great variety of States in which soules according to their severall dispositions shall after death be placed Some Happy which Happines notwithstanding is greater or lesser according to the degrees of perfection to which they had ascended in their life-time And some painfull but with far greater variety the Torments of impenitent soules being inexpressible and endles whereas such soules as have lived sinfull lives but yet have had the Grace of Repentance before their deaths shall suffer most bitter anguish yet such as by the devotion of their freinds and mercy of God may be asswaged and shall certainly have an end The intolerablenes of which Anguish peircing the inmost Spirits of men is represented here by scorching flames and bitter Frosts the greatest tortures our bodies are capable of yet far short of the internall Agonies of imperfect separated soules which are altogether pure Sensation XI CHAP. 1.2 c. Queen Kyneburga becomes a Nunne 4. The Monastery of Dormund 6.7 S. Kineswitha Sister to Q. Kyneburga 8 Of S Tibba a Virgin 9.10 Of another S. Kyneburga and her Son S. Rumwold 1. ABout this time Kyneburga wife to Alfrid King of the Northumbers by permission of her Husband forsook the world and entred into a Monastery That which hastned the execution of this good design might probably be the famed report of this Vision of Drithelm Certain it is
did not enter into that See till the year of Grace seaven hundred thirty five And indeed that seems to have been one of the last things he ever wrote for in it he complains of his age and sicknes Neither would it have been very seemly for a simple Monk to write instructions of that Nature to an eminent Father of the Church but that the advantage authority of age might iustify it 17. Many Books he has written of great curiosity and subtilty but his cheif delight was to meditate and interpret Holy Scriptures which he did with so unwearied a diligence that he allowed no time oâ— leasure for the Devill or the flesh to tempt him And particularly concerning his Expositions of Scripture he says That if they brought no other proffit to the Readers at least they were beneficiall to himself in this that whilst he employed his whole studies on them he avoyded all vain thoughts of wordly things 18. A principall encourager and inciter of him to proceed in such expositions was the Reverend and Holy Bishop Acca the successour of S. Wilfrid in the Episcopall See of â—â—gustald as William of Malmsbury testifies There is still extant a Letter of Acca to him in which he exhorts him to explain the Gospell of S. Luke with a iust Commentary after he had finished that upon the Acts of the Apostles Many others had desired the same thing from him but he deferred or rather excused the labour partly for the difficulty and likewise because S. Ambrose had left a sufficient explanation of the Gospell But these reasons not satisfying the Holy Bishop Acca who told him that the commentary of S. Ambrose it self needed an Interpretation Hereupon S. Beda delayd no longer but in an Answer testifyed his Obedience Which Letter also he prefixed to the same Commentary 19. Such his Expositions of Holy Scriptures were even in his own age of so reverend esteem that by an Ordonnance of an English Synod they were received into the Ecclesiasticall Office and at this day by the consent of the Vniversall Church many Lessons on severall occasions are publickly read in the Church-Service out of his Homilies 20. It is not unexpedient to treat so particularly concerning S. Beda's study meditation and explanation of Holy Scripture to stop the mouths of Modern Sectaries who vainly impute the pretended Errours and Superstitions of Catholicks to their ignorance in Scripture Whereas we see a holy mortified disinteressed person who spent his whole life in prayer and Meditation on Scripture and yet confidently taught those Doctrins and Practises which such men will needs call Superstitions Errours 21. I will conclude this Discourse of this Holy Doctours Life with those words which he is sayd a little before his death to have spoken to his Disciples If by my labours and study I have in any measure proffited you or the Church of God render mee I beseech you this requitall to be mindfull of mee after my death there where Christ our Lord is every day both the Preist and Sacrifice of Propitiation XXV CHAP. 1.2 c. The order and circumstances of the happy Death of S. Beda 1. AS touching S. Beda's happy departure out of this Life to God there is still exitant an Epistle written by one of his Disciples whose name I suppose was Cuthbert afterwards Abbot of his Monastery It is written with great sincerity neither is it obnoxious â—o any suspicion of being supposititious We find it annexed to the end of his Works and well deserves a place in this History The person to whom it was directed is not known and the Writers name onely guessed at But the tenour of it is as follows 2. The small Gift you were pleased to send mee I gratefully received and your devout Letter I read with much consolation especially finding in it that your Community does carefully celebrate Masses and Prayers for our Beloved Master and Father in God Beda Therefore being moved rather by my affection to him then any opinion of mine own ability I will most willingly acquaint you in a short discourse with the order and circumstances of his happy departure out of this world since I perceive that you desire and have requested to be informed of it 3. His last sicknes began about a forthnight before Easter and continued till the Feast of our Lords Ascention The thing which most troubled him in it was shortnes of breath other pain he had little or none During all which time he ceased not day and night to give thanks to God All this hindred him not to continue his Lessons to his Disciples at the Ordinary howers and except that short time all the rest of the day he spent in singing of Psalms with great chearfullnes of mind The whole night likewise except when sleep which was very short interrupted him he spent in Prayer and giving of thanks to God I sincerely professe I never saw nor heard of any man who so incessantly employed his time in praising God A most blessed man certainly he was He would sometimes repeat also that sencence of S. Paul It is a fearfull thing to fall into the hands of God and other like passages of Holy Scripture to admonish us by meditating on our last hour to awake from spirituall sleep and negligence Again at other times he would sing certain Antiphones for both our and his own consolation Particularly in repeating one which begins thus O King of glory Lord of all power when he came to those words Leave us not orphans he broke forth into excessive weeping But he would again resume it and such was his employment all the day As for us his Disciples who attended him we could not abstain from weeping Some times wee would read and presently burst forth into tears and sometimes we would read and weep together 4. In such an exercise mixt with greif and ioy we passed the dayes of Lent till the aforesaid Feast And he would oftimes reioyce and give God thanks for his sicknes frequently saying God corrects every child whom he receives sometimes also he would repeat that speech of S. Ambrose I have not so lived among you as that I need to be ashamed neither doe I fear to dye because I have a mercifull Lord. 5. In those dayes moreover besides our dayly Lessons he accomplished two Works which deserves to be remembred for the strangenes the one was the Translation of S. Iohns Gospell into the English tongue for the Churches proffit till he came to those words in the sixth Chapter but What are these five loaves and two fishes among so many The other was a Collection of memorable passages out of S. Isidores works 6 But when the Tewsday before our Lords Ascension was come his sicknes became much more violent and breathing more difficult and besides that a swelling began to arise in his feet Yet all that day he taught and dictated to us very chearfully and he would now and then say
degrees or orders the Nobles whom they call Edlingen Free-men whom they called Frilingen and Servants whom they called Lassâ— every Borough or District was governed by a Noble man to whom the Freemen and Servants were Subjects Now every year once their custome was to hold a generall Assembly of all these Boroughs and all degrees of Inhabitants The place of their meeting was called Marklo neaâ—â—he River Weser 7. Now this great Assembly being ready to meet the Man of God S. Leibwin had a resolution to present himself before it and there either to gain a good number of Converts to God or Martyrdom to himself It hapned that at this time he was entertained in the house of a certain Noble man of great Power to whom he communicated his intention But the said Noble man whose name was Folbert endeavoured to disswade him telling him that though there were some to whom he was very dear yet the greatest part would shew themselves enemies and endanger to take away his life He besought him therefore during the time of the Assembly either to return home or to goe to the house of his dear freind Davo after which he might come and visiâ— him again But the Holy man replied That he neither ought nor durst neglect to perform the work which our Lord Iesus Christ had commanded him to doe The Noble man hearing this opposed no further but remained very sad 8. The Assembly then being mett the courageous soldier of Christ taking all his Spirituall Armour and withall cloathing himself with his Preistly Vestments and taking a Crucifix in one hand as our Lords Ensign-bearer and in the other a Book of the Gospells presents himself in the midst of the Assembly where they were offring Idolatrous Sacrifices and devotions to their false Gods Which the Holy man seeing with an inflamed zeale loud voyce condemned their Superstitions telling them that they were Devills which they worshipped which would reward them with eternall torments Whereas if they would turn to the only true God the Creatour of all things and Saviour of men and repenting of their Idolatries embrace the true Faith and be baptized to the remission of their Sins he would grant them tranquillity and plenty in this world and everlasting glory in the next He added hereto That if they neglected to follow his wholesom and saving counsell God had preordained for their present punishment a King not far distant from them of wonderfull prudence courage and power who would avenge the cause of God by their destruction 9 When they heard these words they be came inflamed with rage against him calling him Seducer and Impostour and not content with this they snatchd out of the hedges stakes of wood which they sharpned intending to kiâ—l him with them for they wore no weapons at such assemblies But the Holy man protected by Supernaturall assistance passed through the midst of them undiscerned and so escaped 10. Yet among them some there were whose â—earts Aâ—mighty God touched with his Grace Of whâ—ch the principall was one called Buâ—o who ascending to an eminent place boldly told them that since they never refused to receive and hearken to Embassadours sent from their barbarous neighbours much lesse ought they to stop their ears against the speeches of an Embassadour sent from the Supreme God who to procure their good was willing to sacrifice his own life That they might iudge of the power of that God since he had delivered his servant from the fury of so great a multitude Therefore no doubt the threatning which in the name of his God he had made against them would certainly be executed The mind of the Multitude hearing these things was deeply struck with fear and thereupon they decreed by common consent That none should hurt or disquiet that Messenger of God but suffer him freely to passe whithersoever he thought fitt 11. Saint Liebwin therefore seeing such a visible proof of Divine protection over him gave due thanks to God though he was not without some greif that the blessing of Martyrdom was denyed him But since he could not suffer from others he spared not to afflict himself mortifying and crucifying the flesh and sensuall affections of it with Watching Fasting and Prayer by which mean without persecution he suffred a long Martyrdom And as for the Apostolick Office enioynd him he incessantly employed his time in teaching exhorting and baptizing great multitudes which dayly gave up their names to Christ. This he ceased not to doe till Almighty God this year thought meet to call him to receive the reward of a good and faithfull servant on the day before the Ides of November on which day his memory is celebrated both in the English and Gallican Martyrologe 12. After his death certain malicious Pagans among the Saxons envying so great a Congregation of Christians as assembled in his Oratory first despoyled the place and then sett it on fire They had a great desire to exercise their rage by some indignities to his Sacred Body but with all their diligence in seeking it they could never find it 13. Not long after the said Oratory was again restored It was built in the haven of the Citty called afterwards Daventry Which name it took from the forementioned person Davon a Noble man of Saxony and most cordiall freind and Disciple of S. Liebwin 14. In the mean time the devout servant of God Gregory dyed and Alberic succeeded him in the Archiepiscopall See of Vtrecht By his directions and command a certain Preist afterward a Bishop named Ludger was sent to seek out the Sacred Relicks of this Holy man of God which at last by a vision in sleep he was directed to find and having taken them up he with great veneration deposed them in the Church new built Many years after this Bertulf accounted the twentieth Bishop of Vtrecht is said to have been the founder of another Magnificent Church in the same Town which was consecrated to the honour of God and his faithfull servant Saint Liebwin VIII CHAP. 1.2 c. The Gests of Saint Winnebald 5. And of Saint Sola 1. THE same year likewise gave an end to the labours of two Disciples of S. Boniface S. Winnebald and S. Sola As touching the former he was as hath been sayd Son to Saint Richard the English King and Brother to S. Willebald There little remains in Ecclesiasticall Monuments recorded of him but that he was one of those Preists which in the year of Grace seaven hundred twenty five were called out of Brittany to assist S. Boniface in preaching to the Frisons He was by the same Saint afterward made Abbot of the Monastery of Heildesham Which Office did not so wholly employ him but that he travelled the countrey about to root out Idolatrous superstitions 2. The greatest difficulty he found was in reprooving and correcting the errours and vices of false Christians especially such as took on them the title and Office of Preists Many
from Saint Lullus upon some affairs 9. In the Kingdom of the Mercians Sees now vacant were Lichfeild by the death of Hemel Lindissa by the death of Eadulf and Leicester by the death of Totta To the first was substituted Cuthfrid to the second Ceolulf and to the third Edbert But wheras Mathew of Westminster affirms that he cannot find the names of the Citties where the said Bishops sate It cannot be denyed but that anciently those Episcopall Sees were moveable yet in this age by the munificence of Kings they seem to have been fixed As that of Lichfeild where many Bishops had already successively remained Likewise the See of Leicester was established But as for Lindissa the See was ordinarily at Dorchester a Town saith William of Malmsbury in the Country of Oxford small and unfrequented But the Majesty of the Churches either of old or lately built was great In that See after Hedhead there sate Ethelwin Edgar Kinebert Alwi Ealdulf and Celnulf Yet true it is that these Bishops sometimes sate at Sidnacester a place the memory of which has faild X. CHAP. 1.2 The unhappy death of Ethelwald Mol King of the Northumbers 3.4 c. Also of Egbert Arch bishop of York at which Alcuin was present 10. A strange Charter of King Kenulf to the Church of Welles 11. Severall Episcopall Sees vacant and supplied 1. IN the year of Grace seaven hundred sixty five Ethelwald sirnamed Mul King of the Northumbers dyed after he had raigned six years though William of Malmsbury assigns to him eleaven years Hoveden relates certain terrible apparitions in the aire which hapned in the beginning of this year presaging the unhappy death of this King who on the twenty seaventh of October was slain by the treachery of Alred at a place called Wircanheate 2. The condition of these Kings in this age was very sad few of them dyed naturall deaths This Ethelwald gott the Kingdom by the murder of Osulf and by the like means lost it And the same fate will attend his successour Alred 3. The year following gave an end to the worthy actions of Egbert Arch-bishop of York after he had nobly administred that See the space of one and thirty years A person he was descended of Royall progeny and imbued with divine knowledge Of whose vertues and memorable actions we have treated already Our Historians doe vary in the account of the years in which he continued Bishop the ground of which uncertainty is because it does not appear whether the time be to be reckoned from the resignation or death of his Predecessour Wilfrid the younger 4. There was present and assistant at his death his famous Disciple Alcuin whom a little before he had made Deacon and who having hitherto all his life composed all his actions by his rule and order was desirous to receive his commands and instructions at his death also for the future disposing of his actions Thus wee read in the Life of the said Alcuin prefixed before his Works and taken out of an ancient Manuscript belonging to the Church of Rhemes whence we will here extract the following passage S. Albinus or Alcuinus proceeding from one vertue to another was consecrated Deacon on the day of the Purification of our Blessed Lady for before on the same Feast he had received the Clericall Tonsure And perceiving that his Blessed Father Egberts infirmity encreasing shewed that his death was at hand having hitherto done all things by his counsell he was earnest to enquire of him what his pleasure was he should doe and how he should dispose of him self after that death should separate them 6. Hereto the Holy Bishop returned this Answer suggested to him as the event showd by a supernaturall direction of God I would have you said he first goe to Rome and in your return to visit France For I know that there you will produce much good Our Lord shall be the Guide of your journey and will bring you back in safety Be diligent in impugning the late abominable Heresy which endeavours to assert that Christ is only an adoptive Son of God and be a constant defender of the Mystery of the Holy Trinity this Doctrine cease not clearly and solidely to preach After he had spoken thus he gave him his fatherly Benediction commending him to our Lords safe protection and presently after he with chearfullnes departed to our Lord on the sixth day before the Ides of November 7. He was buried in the Porch of the Church of York and near to him was also layd the Body of his Brother King Egbert or Eadbert who exchanged his Royall Purple for a poore Monasticall habit and dyed two years after him 8. The Arch-bishop left behind him severall Monuments of his learning to enrich the Noble Library which he made at York Among which are reckoned A Book of Penitentiall Canons likewise Collections out of the Canon Law of the Church and others mention'd by Sir H. Spelman To those we may add A Dialogue of Ecclesiasticall Institution lately printed with an Epistle of S. Beda to him and other Treatises by the care of Sir Iames Ware 9. His successour in the Archiepiscopall See of York was Aldebert otherwise called Coena To whom by this latter name remains an Epistle from Saint Lullus Bishop of Mentz with his Answer to it The subiect whereof is only the renewing of Ancient Freindship sending of presents and entreating of Prayers for dead freinds 10. There is extant a Charter of Kenulf King of the West-Saxons by which he this year gave to the Church of Wells and Colledge formerly built there by King Ina certain Lands there adiacent the bounds whereof he setts down These possessions he gave for the love of God for the expiation of his siâ—s and for sâ—me vexation to his enemies of the Cornish Nation These are the words of the Charter What he meant by this last Motive I leave to the Reader to iudge 11. This year dyed Frithebert Bishop of Hagustaldt whose Successour was Alâ—mund a Prelat of great piety and prudence And shortly after Cuthwin Bishop of Dumwhich dying his place was supplied by Aldbert Like as upon the death of Ethelfrid Bishop of Helmham there was substituted Lansert I know not by what fate these two Episcopall Sees of the East-Angles for the most part loose and get new Bishops at the same time at least so we are informed by the Ecclesiasticall Chronicles of that Church And the following year Edbrith who is reckoned the ninth among the London Bishops after he had governed that Church eight years dying left it vacant to his Successour Eadgar XI CHAP. 1. 2. c. The beginning of the Raign of the Charlemagne c 4 Of two learned English Virgins 1. THE year of Grace seaven hundred sixty nine is notable through the whole Church for the beginning of the Raign of that most famous King and afterward Emperour Charles