a Coppy of the Processe 6. Now the Emperour Theodosius solicited by Valentiniam whose Sister Galla he had maried came with an Army into the West To which warr he prepared himself by earnest prayer and fasting And having understood saith S. Augustin that in the Desart of Egypt there was a certain Monk a great servant of God who had the Spirit of prophecy Theodosius sent to him and receiv'd a most certain message of Victory 7. Thus arm'd he readily and quickly obtain'd a Victory against Maximus who only wanted a good cause After the discomfiture of his Army Maximus being taken prisoner was brought before Theodosius who was inclin'd to take pitty of him At which his soldiers conceiving great indignation remov'd him from his presence and kill'd him Our Historian Gildas mentions both his death and the place of it saying At Aquileia a Citty of Italy that abominable head was cutt off Which had almost cast out of the throne the most illustrious heads of the world And thus was the blood of the innocent Emperour Gratian expiated After his death followd likewise that of his Son Victor who saith Zosimus had been made Caesar or rather Emperour as Paulus Diaconus and some ancient coynes declare XVIII CHAP. 1.2 c. The Relicks of S. Gervasius c. miraculously discover'd to S. Ambrose The miracles wrought by them The Veneration of them attested 1. IT will not be amisse though it pertain not to our History of Brittany yet because it will afford us a prospect of the iudgment and practise of the ancient Church to declare the almost visible assistance which Almighty God afforded to his servant S. Ambrose at the time when the Arian Empresse Iustina used her son Valentinians power to persecute him For then it was to use the words of S. Augustin directed to God in a prayer that by a vision thou O God didst discover to thy Bishop Ambrose the place wherin the Bodies of thy Martyrs Protasius and Gervasius reposed which thou for so many years hadst preserved incorrupt in thy secret treasure from whence thy intention was to bring them forth for the restraining the rage of a woman yet no ordinary woman being an Empresse For when being discovered and digg'd up they were translated with due honour to the Ambrosian Church not only those who were vexed with unclean Spirits the same Devills confessing were healed but a certain Cittizen of Milan who had been blind many years well known in the town when he had enquir'd and was inform'd of the occasion of so great a noyse and assembly of the people he leap'd up and desir'd one present to guide him to the said Church Whither being come he obtain'd leave with his hand kercheif to touch the Coffin of those Martyrs whose death was pretious in thy sight Which having done and applying it to his eyes they were immediatly opened so that he saw clearly The fame hereof presently was spread abroad and praises given to thee with great fervour insomuch as the mind of thy Enemy the Empresse Iustina though it was not heald of her Spirituall blindnes yet it was repress'd from the fury of persecuting the Holy Bishop 2. The same holy Father repeats the substance of the same narration in severall other places in one wherof he professes himself to have been an eye-witnes of these Miracles saying my self was a witnes of the great glory of these Martyrs for being then at Milan I had certain knowledge of the miracles wrought c. This hapned two years before S. Augustin having been converted and baptis'd by S. Ambrose return'd from thence towards his own countrey Africk and by the way at Ostia lost his Blessed Mother Monica concerning whom in his Confessions he thus Writes When the day of her dissolution was at hand she did not busy her thoughts about a Sumptuous buriall c. but made this her only request that a commemoration of her should be made at thy Altar at which every day she had not failed to attend and from whence she knew that holy Sacrifice and Victime was dispensed by which the Handwriting which was contrary to uâ— was blotted out by which our Enemy the Devill was triumphed over c. 3. So authentick a Testimony of the Veneration of the Relicks of holy Martyrs performed by the ancient Church of God approv'd by unquestion'd divine Miracles as likewise of Prayers for the Dead at the most holy Sacrifice needs not be further confirm'd Therefore we will omitt the transcribing a large Narration of the foresaid Miracles compos'd by S. Ambrose himself and sent in an Epistle to his devout sister wherin he repeats the miracle of the blind man restor'd to sight and how very many had been dispossess'd of Devills and by only touching with their hands the Vestment of the Saints many others were healed of diverse infirmities How many hand kercheifs saith he were cast how many garments sent to be layd on the most holy Relicks to the end that by touching of them they might receive a medicinall vertue 4. There were notwithstanding in those times some who denyed that those were bodies of Martyrs that they could torment the Devill or free any one possess'd by him But these saith S. Ambrose were the blasphemies of Arian Hereticks refuted by the confessions of the Devills themselves who with loud clamours acknowledg'd their torments and the great benefitts proceeding from the Martyrs intercession were publickly testified by the blind and other sick people cured of their infirmities The blind mans name was Severus by trade a butcher well known to all the Citty who was forc'd to give over his profession assoon as that incommodity of blindnes befell him This man saies he calls for witnesses of the miracle all his former customers by whom he had been maintain'd in his trade He is desirous those should now testify the recovery of his sight who formerly had seen that he was blind XIX CHAP. 1. Valentinian the second Emperour 2.3 c. The Heresy of Iovinian against Virginity c. Condemn'd by Pope Siricius and the H. Fathers 1. AFter Maximus his death Theodosius left Valentinian Emperour of the West adding to his Government Gaule Brittany and Spain possess'd by the Tyrant But before he was entrusted with this great charge the pious Emperour Theodosius instructed him in the Orthodox Faith earnestly exhorting him to persevere in it These Instructions wanted not a good effect the rather because his Mother Iustina the great Patronesse of Artanism was lately dead 2. The year following broke forth a Heresy which in our last age taught Luther to renounce his Monasticall Profession to allow scope to his carnall appetites and to draw out of her Cloyster a Consecrated Nunne to his incestuous embraces The Authour of it was Iovinianus formerly a Monk but weary of his vowd austerities who this year was publickly declared a Heretick by Pope Siricius Whereupon most of
to the Faith and likewise strengthned in the same Faith and Love of Christ many who before beleived 3. Supposing it may be for the Readers edification I will not neglect to set down here at large some of those wonderfull visions which in an Excesse of mind our Lord revealed to him concerning the state of soules after death Which visions saith Saint Beda he himself would sometimes declare but only to such as out of a desire of compunction asked him 4. This holy man saith the same Authour was descended from a most Noble family among the Irish Scots but was much more Noble for the vertues of his mind then his blood From his very child-hood he carefully gave himself to reading holy Books and practising Religious austerities and which most became Gods Saints whatsoever good things he learnt by reading he was solicitous to expresse in his practise 5. To be breif in processe of time he built himself a Monastery to the end he might more freely and without interruption attend to heavenly meditations Where on a certain time falling into an infirmity he was rapt from his body and in that Extasy which continued from Evening to Cockcrowing he was favoured with the sight of troops of Angels and the hearing the Hymns of Praises which they sung to our Lord. And among other particulars he was wont to relate how he heard them distinctly to chant these verses of the Psalm The Saints shal goe from vertue to vertue And again The God of Gods shall be seen in Sion 6. Three days after being again in an Extasy he saw yet more glorious apparitions of Angels and heard Divine Lauds sung by them more solemnly Moreover there were discovered to him very earnest contentions of Wicked Spirits who by many accusations of a certain Sinner lately dead endeavoured to stop his passage to heaven but by reason the Holy Angels protected him they could not effect their desire 7. Now if any one desires to be more accuratly informed in all these particulars touching the malicious subtilty with which the Devils layd to the Mans charge all his actions idle words and even his very thoughts as if they had them written in a Book as likewise severall others some ioyfull others sad which he learnt from the Angels and glorified Saints which he saw among them let him read the Book of this Saints life and I doubt not he will receive thereby much spiritual edification Amongst all which I will select one passage to putt in this History from which many may receive proffit 8. On a certain time being elevated in Spirit he was commanded by the Angels which conducted him to look down upon the Earth whereupon bowing his eyes down ward he saw as it were a darke valley under him in a very low bottom He saw likewise in the aire four fires not much distant from one another And asking the Angels what fires those were he was told that those were the fires which now inflamed the world and would in the end consume it The first was the fire of Lying when we doe not perform what we promised in Baptism to renounce Sathan and all his works The second was the fire of Covetousnes when we preferre worldly riches before the love of heaven The third was the fire of Dissension when we are not affraid to offend our neighbours even for things of no moment The fourth was the fire of Iniquity when we make no conscience to robb or cousen those who are weaker then our selves Now these four fires encreasing by little at last ioynd together and became an immense flame And when they approached near them Fursey was afraid and sayd to the Angel Sir behold the flames come close to us But the Angel answered Fear not for since thou didst not kindle this fire it will not burn thee For though this flame seems to thee great and terrible yet it tryes every one according to his Merits so that the concupiscence which is in any one shall burn in this fire For accordingly as every one being in the body is inflamed by unlawfull pleasure so being loosd from his body shall he burn by condign torment Then he saw one of the three Angels which in both these visions had been his conductours goe before the other and divide the flame and the other two flying on each side of him which defended him from the danger of the fire He saw likewise many Devils flying through the fire and kindling war against the just These malign Spirits pursued him likewise with accusations but the good Angels defended him And after this he saw greater numbers of blessed Spirits among which some were of his own Nation Preists who had well discharged their Office as he had heard by report By these he was informed of many things very proffitable both to himself and all who are willing to attend to them When they had finished their speeches and were returned to Heaven with the rest of the Angels there remaind only with Saint Fursey the three Angels mentioned before who were to restore him to his body And when he came close to the foresaid great fire one of the Angels divided it as before But when the Man of God was come to a dore which stood open among the flames the Vnclean Spirits snatching up one of those whom they were tormenting in the flames and casting him against him touched him and burnt his shoulder and one of his cheekes He knew the man and remembred how when he was ready to dye he had received of him a garment But the Angel laying hold of him cast him back into the fire But the Devil answered Doe not cast him back since you have once received him For as you have taken the goods belonging to a Sinner so you must be partakers of his punishment But the Angel replied He took not that out of covetousnes but for saving the mans soule After this the burning ceased and the Angel turning himself to Saint Fursey said The fire that thou hast kindled has now burnt thee For if thou hadst not received money from this man who is dead in his sins thou hadst not tasted of his torments Many other discourses he made giving him wholesom instructions how he should deale with such as repented at their death 9. Saint Fursey being afterward restored to his body caried visibly in his shoulder and cheek all his life time the marks of the burning which he had suffred in his soule c. There remains alive to this day an ancient Monk of our Monastery who is wont to tell us that a man of great integrity and veracity assured him that he saw Saint Fursey himself in the Province of the East-Angles and from his own mouth heard him relate his Visions Adding that it was in the time of a very sharp frosty winter and yet the Holy man wearing only a single sleight garment whilst he related these things yet partly by the extreme fear and sometimes great
piety There inhabites an Abbot of Eminent vertues named Elerius who by continuall Pennance and Prayer is become so exempted from secular cares that nothing in this present life has any tast to him all his affections being employed on celestiall matters 12. Thither therefore the Holy Virgin directed her steps and the said Abbot Elerius by Gods holy Spirit being admonished of her coming went out to meet her and receiving her with great honour brought her into a Convent of Religious Virgins recommending them to her care and government Whosoever was sick and came to her returned back with perfect health and if any were sad or deiected in mind they received consolation and inward peace of soule 13. At last on a certain night as she was intenâ—ive to her devotions our Lord appeared to her and signified to her that the day of her dissolution was at hand Wherefore on the fourth day before the Nones of November being full of vertues and good works she gave up her Spirit to God And was buried neer the bodies of Saint Chebi and Saint Senan By her intercession Almighty God was pleased to work many Miracles among which this was one that she gave fight to a certain Carpenters daughter who had been blind from her Nativity c. 14. This is the account which Robert Abbot of Shrewsbury has given of the Gests of this glorious Virgin Saint Winefrid From what particular Records he extracted his Relation doth not appear But Tradition delivers that immediatly after her death her Story was written by the Holy Abbot Elerius her last Spirituall Father and probably from him the said Robert received most of the passages in his Narration 19. The Sacred Relicks of this Holy Virgin lay at Witheriac or Guitherine till the year one thousand one hundred and thirty eight at which time her Body was translated to a Monastery of Monks in Shrewsbury where Almighty God approved the Veneration which men with great devotion shewd to her by wonderfull miracles So frequent and so great a concourse there hath been ever since to her Shrine and likewise to her Well that in severall of our Kings raigns the fame of almost continuall Miracles wrought by her intercession hath invited severall Popes to confer speciall Indulgences on those which Visited them Her Feast on the third of November was generally celebrated in England with Nine Lessons and in her Office this Prayer was added O Almighty everlasting God who hast honoured the Blessed Virgin Saint Winefride with the reward of Virginity Grant to us we beseech thee by her intercession that we may despise the allurements of this world and together with her obtain the Seat of ever lasting glory Amen 16. Now it ought not to be esteemd a preiudice or ground of suspicion of the Truth of these Gests of Saint Winefride that Saint Beda and some other of our ancient Saxon Historians have not mentioned her among the other Saints of this age in whose praises they have so largely employed their Eloquence For Saint Beda professes his design to have been to relate the History of his own Saxon Nation onely in which he was imitated by following Historians and besides this so great a divorce there was in the affections of the Brittains and Saxons that they renounced all commerce together Hence it is that in the Writings of S. Beda c. there is a proâ—ound Silence not only of S. Winefride but likewise of S. Patrick S. Vrsuls S. David S. Dubritius S. Kentigern and others of whom we treated heretofore who yet without doubt were most illustrious Starrs of their respective ages and of the Brittish Church IX CHAP. 1.2 c. Of severall Brittish Saints Saint Beuno S Chebeus S. Senan S. Deifer S. Elerius 1 IN the forogoing Narration we have the Memory of five Saints celebrated Saint Beuno S. â—hebeus S. Senan S. Deifer and S. Elerius whose Names being written in the Book of Life have worthily found a place likewise in our Martyrologe As for S. Beuno no more of him is found then what hath been written already 2. S. Chebeus is no doubt the same whom heretofore we called S. Kebi sirnamed Corineus a Disciple of S. Hilary Bishop of Poâ—â—tiers in the year of our Lord three hundred sixty one who having instructed the Inhatants of Anglesey Monae in the Faith of Christ dyed and was buried in Northwales in whose Monument the Sacred Body of S. Winefride was layd His Memory is celebrated in our Martyrologe on the ninth of November 3. S. Senan the assistant and instructour of S. Winefride in the perfection of a Religious liâ—e is commemorated in our Martyrologe on the twenty ninth of April where his death is assigned to this year six hundred and sixty He was for his Sanctity famous not onely in Wales but Cornwall also where there is a small haven and Town of Fishermen called from his Name 4. S. Deifer at the same time lived a retired life not far from SS Winefrids Monastery built by S. Beuno whose Successour he was in the direction of the said Holy Virgin He for his Sanctity and Miracles is in our Martyrologe placed among the Saints on the seaventh of March and his death is ascribed to the year of Grace six hundred sixty four 5. The Memory of S. Elerius is more celebrated then the rest he lived longer with S. Winefride and built a Monastery in the vale called Clutina saith Leland c. because watered with the River Cluid which divides the Province of Flint from that of Denbigh There it was that S. Winefride directed by severall Divine admonitions found him He so conjoynd the exercises of an Eremiticall and Monasticall conversation that he had diverse Disciples of both sexes which imitated his example and Institut of life 6. He for some time to decline the frequent concourse of Visitants and that he might more freely attend to God retired into a desart saith Pits And from hence Malbranque a French Antiquary collects that he passed over into France and fixed his habitation in the Northern parts oâ— it amongst the Morini For thus he writes About the year of Lord six hundred and sixty Elerius a Noble personage of Brittany passing the Sea and travelling the way which from Bouloign leads to Teroâ—anne came to Fruge a little distant from the rising of the River Life where he chose a seat for his Solitary living To this day a fountain and little Chappell are monuments of his Memory These in ancient times afforded great benefit and help both to the inhabitants of those places and strangers 7. The same Authour acknowledges that he returned into Brittany where he also dyed as the Acts of S. Winefride doe testify Now though our Martyrologe doe consign his death to the year of our Lord six hundred and sixty yet since Pits and many other of our Writers doe affirm that he wrote her life and consequently out-lived her his death is to be placed
extant in an Epistle written by Winfrid afterward called Boniface the glorious Apostle of the German Nation and happy Martyr of Christ. Which Epistle was directed to Eadburga Abbesse sister to S. Editha or Edgitha and daughter of Frewald a Prince among the East-Angles And probably it is the same Eadburga concerning whom we read in the life of Saint Guthlac that the sent to that holy Hermit a coffin of lead and in it a linnen sheet in which she desired that after his death he would permitt his body to be enclosed Her name is commemorated among the Saints in our Martyrologe on the eighteenth of Iuly 2. Concerning these two devout sisters we read thus in Camdens Description of the Province of the Catechleum or Buckinghamshire The Town of Ailsbury in that county saith he was anciently illustrious by the Memory of Editha born and brought up in it Who having obtained from her Father Frewald this Town for her portion by the perswasion of Preists presently quitted all pretentions to a husband or the world and taking the Sacred veryle of Religion was together with her Sister Eadburga illustrious for holines in that age wonderfully abounding with Saints From her name there remains to this day a village seated among the hills near adioyning called Eâ—burton Now the â—enour of S. Boniface his letter to S. Eadburga is as followeth 3. Most dear Sister Your request to mee is that I would carefully send you in writing an account of the Visions shewd of late to a certain man in the Monastery of the Abbesse Milbâ—rga who was restored from death to life according as I was particularly informed by the Venerable Abbesse Hildelida I thank God I can now more fully and clearly through his help fullfill your desire for I my self have discoursed with the revived person himself in these transmarine parts who perfectly informed mee of all those wonderfull visions which he in Spirit and separated from his body saw 4 For first of all he told mee that by a violent and mortall sicknes he was delivered from the weight of his lumpish body and presently became in a state resembling that of one whose eyes having been clowded with a thick veyle was on a sudden freed from that impedimeÌ„t for all things which formerly had been in darknes became clearly visible to him So himself having cast off the thick veyle of his body the whole world was at once represented to his sight so that with one glance he saw all creatures 5. Assoon as he was thus escaped from his body certain Angels so bright shining that they dazeled his sight received him and they with a melodious harmony sung these Words of the Psalm O Lord rebuke mee not in thine anger neither correct mee in thy fury They raised mee up aloft into the aire an◠〈◊〉 â—aw the whole earth compassed with fire 〈◊〉 whence issued a flame upwards vastly spread and most terrible to behold and it seemed as if the fire would have consumed all things had not the Angels asswaged it by the impression of the sign of the holy Crosse Which assoon as they had done the flame presently settled and the paine which my eyes had felt by the ardour of it became much qualified though by reason of the splendour of the Angels accompanying mee it was not wholly taken away till one of the principall among them with his hand covering my head protected mee from all danger and incommodity 6. Moreover he told mee that whilest he was out of his body he saw such an innumerable multitude of soules that he thought there had not been so many since the Creation A like troop of wicked Spirits likewise there was as also of glorified Angells these were in a continuall earnest dispute together about soules assoon as they were issued out of their bodies the devills accusing and aggravating each ones sins and the Angels qualifying and excusing them 7. Yea all his own sins and offences which from his infancy he had committed and not confessed either through negligence forgetfullnes or ignorance that they were indeed sins all these he heard with his own voyce earnestly crying out against him and accusing him every vice setting itself distinctly before him upbrading him severally one saying I am thy oÌ„cupiscence by which thou didst desire things unlawfull and contrary to Gods Law I am thy vain glory by which thou didst boast thy self before men I am Lying with which thou hast oft offended I am idle speech oftimes practised by thee I am vain and wanâ—on on Seeing I am contumacy and disobedience to thy Superiours I am Spirituall sloath in holy Exercises I am wandring and curâ—m cogitation to which thy mind almost every day yeilded in the Church or elsewhere I am Drowsines which hindred thee from rising to praise God I am an idle iourney which thou tookest for thy vain pleasure I am negligence and want of care in study about divine matters And many other vices like these which in the days of his flesh he had committed and neglected to confesse yea beside these many sins cryed out terribly against him of which he had no suspicion that they were sins In like manner the Wicked Spirits ioynd with his sins in such clamours and accusations fiercely testifying to him he times and places where he had committed all his sins 8. Particularly he sayd he saw there a certain man whom whilst he was as yet in a secular state he had wouÌ„ded who was yet alive this man was brought to ioyn in testimony against him by those Wicked Spirits and his bloody gaping wound seemd to have a tongue which loudly upbraided him with his cruelty Thus all his Sins in a great heap being counted his terribly malicious Enemies cryed out confidently that he belonged to them and therefore they had a â—ight to torment him 9. On the other side those few small virtues said he which I poor wretch had with great imperfection practised in my life time they likewise lifted up their voyces to excuse mee One sayd I am Obedience which he shewd to his Superiours Another I am Fasting with which he moâ—tyfied the unlawfull desires of his flesh A third I am Psalmody exercised by him in satisfaction for idle speeches And thus every vertue cryed out in my behalf to excuse mee against the clamours of the opposite Sins And with these vertues did those gloriously shining Angels ioyn themselves in my defence so exalting and magnifying them that they now seemed to mee far more excellent then before and much exceeding the strength I formerly had 10. Besides this he told mee that in the lower part of the world he saw a great number of pitts vomiting flames and that in some parts the earth would break asuÌ„der there would issue terrible flames Now among those pitts he saw many wretched soules like birds of a black colour weeping and howling in the flames bewayling their demerits which had brought them to such
torments which soules would sometimes sitt on the brink of the pitts in some refreshment and anon with great wayling fall into the flames again And one of the Angells told him that such a short vicissitude of rest did signify that God after the last iudgment would give perpetuall rest to those poor soules 11. Now under those Pitts there were others infinitly lower whence said he I heard a most dreadfull and inexpressibly horrible groning and shreiking of soules such as to which our Lord would never extend his mercy but everlasting flames shall torment them 12. He saw likewise a place of admirable deliciousnes in which there was a glorious multitude oâ— persons wonderfully beautifull and reioycing with inexpressible ioy who invited him if it were possible to come to them and partake of their happines And from that place there was exhaled a most odoriferous fragrancy which was nothing but the breath issuing from those happy and ioyfull soules This place the Angells sayd was that so much spoken of Paradise of God 13. And not far from this delicious place he saw a terrible River which flowed with fire and pitch over which there lay a narrow plank instead of a bridge towards which those happy soules made great hast to the end that passing over it they might arrive on the other bank to another place infinitly more glorious and happy then the former And some of them without any wavering or difficulty soon passed over but others slipping aside fell into that horrible River some only to the knees others to the arm-pitts others quite plunged over head yet every one of them came out much more beautifull and glorious then before they fell in And one of the Blessed Angells said These are such â—oules as when they ended their mortall life were staind with some not very heynous sins and therefore stand in need of Gods mercy that they may be perfectly purified before they be admitted to his presence 14. Beyond that River he saw the walls of a Citty of an unmeasurable length height shining like the Sun and he heard the Angells saying This is that Holy and glorious Citty the Heavenly Ierusalem in which those pure soules shall reioyce for ever and their glory therein shall be so immense that for the incomprehensible splendour no eye can look upon them 15. The man likewise told mee that among others he saw the soule of a certain Abbot lately dead which seemed of great beauty which notwithstanding was seised on by the Wicked Spirits crying out earnestly that he belonged to them But one of the Angells sayd O you wicked wretches I will presently shew you that you can have no power ovrr him Then immediatly there appeared a great multitude of white shining soules which cryed out saying This man was our Teacher and Instructour and by his exhortation gained us to God by the merit of which charity he is rescued from you and therefore manifestly can not belong to you And with these soules the Angels ioynd in their contention with the other infernall Spirits by which assistance of the Angels that soule was delivered Then one of the Angels shâ—rply rebuking the Devills sayd Take notice that without any right or title at all you have layd hold on this soule therefore be gone from hence into everlasting fire Assoon as he had sayd this immediatly those Wicked Spirits with greivous houling cast themselves into those horrible pitts But a while after there came out others which renewed the contention about the merits or demerits of soules 16. He sayed moreover that at that time he could discern the different merits and condition of men yet alive And that those who kept themselves free from crimes were manifestly in Gods favour and defended from all danger by Angells to whom they were united and in a sort allyed by Charity But to those who polluted themselves by heynous sins there was continually associated a Wicked Spirit always inâ—iting them to sin And after every sin committed by them in thought word or deed this Wicked Spirit would make it known to other Infernall Spirits at which they would reioyce and immediatly the former Evill Spirit would return to his Office oâ— tempting 17. Particularly he told mee that he then saw a mayd yet alive who grinding in a mill saw near her lying a new distaffe curiously carved which belonged to another woman and this distaffe because it pleased her she stole Then those wicked spirits with ioy declared this theft to their companions bidding them take notice of it 1â— He added saying I saw the soule of a certain Brether newly dead to whom I gave assistance during his sicknes and assisted at his buriall and he at his death charged mee to require in his name of his brother that for the comfort of his soule he would give freedom to a certain captive mayd But his Brother through avarice refused to perform his request for which the foresaid soule with greivous sighs complaind of his brothers hard-heartednes 19. He likewise testified concerning Ceolred King of the Mercians who at the time of these visions was certainly alive Him he saw defended from the violence of Devills by Angells who held over his head a certain Vmbrella like a large book But the Devills panting with earnestnes besought the Angells to take away that defence and give him up to their fury for they layd to his charge a multitude of most horrible crimes for which sayd they he is designed to everlasting torments in Hell Then the Angells with sad countenances sayd Alas alas this wretched sinner can be defended no longer neither can we afford him any further assistance so great and unpardonable is his guilt and impenitence Having sayd this they removed the defence from over his head and immediatly those infernall spirits more in number then all creatures now alive in the world with shoutings and ioy layd hold on him tore him incessantly with severall sorts of torments 20. At length the Angels commanded the person who being rappd from his body saw and heard all these things in a spirituall vision that he should without delay return to his own body and that he should confidently manifest all these things to such as with a good intention asked him but by no means to unbeleivers or deriders They likewise charged him to discover particularly to a certain woman dwelling a great way off all her sins committed by her withall signifying to her that if she would she might yet by Pennance and satisfaction recover the favour of Gtd. But in the first place they commanded him to reveale all these visions distinctly to a certain Preist named Buggan and according to his instructions declare them to others That he should also confesse to the same Preist all those his own sins of which he had been accused by the Vnclean Spirits and according to his iudgment correct and amend them And for a proof that it was by an Angells command that he
wall separated from those which were under the Romans dominion Dio an Historian of these times though he curiously prosecutes the progresse of the Emperour Severus through these countreys finds only two Nations in these parts against whom he fought the Maeares and the Caledonians to which saith he all other names are refer'd as the Vecturiones and Deucalidonians c. the former neighbouring to that wall and the other possessing the remainder of the Island to the Northern Sea As for the name of Scots there is as yet no mention of them either in him or any other ancient Writer Where as if there had been any such distinct Nation here Severus who was most ambitious to multiply his Titles would not have faild to have inserted Scoticus among them We shall ere long determine when that Nation entred those parts and when they changed the Name of those Provinces 3. It is without question true that such a Prince there was in those times as Donaldus who by Rosierius is sayd to be the Brother of Ethodius but whether he was a King of that whole Countrey of Brittany not yet conquered by the Romans or only a Prince of some one Province there cannot certainly be determin'd A Tradition likewise sufficiently grounded approves the Conversion of that Prince with his Family and subjects about two years after the Death of King Lucius Which is evidently confirmed by the forecited testimony of Tertullian in a Book written not above seaven years after it happned 4. As for Fulgentius or as the Brittains call'd him Fulgenius he was a Southern Brittain not only a Subject of King Lucius but of the same Royall family descended saith Boethius from the ancient blood of the Brittish Kings and who together with his King and kinsman embraced the Christian Faith He was not a Writer of Books as Dempster fains but a Prince of high Spirits and courage And being such an one no marvell if after so great an injury done to his family which was excluded from the Succession by the Romans he refused to continue their subject and fled to their profess'd Enemies the Caledonian Brittains beyond the wall 5. Fulgenius therfore was doubtles the first who instill'd into the mind of Donaldus a love of Christian verities and suggested to him the same way and meanes to obtain a more perfect instruction which his Kinsman King Lucius had lately made use of which was to direct Messengers to the Bishop of Rome Pope Victor with a request that he would send authoris'd Teachers to instruct that Nation and establish a Church there This the King perform'd and accordingly Paschasius with other his companions were sent into those Northern Provinces who by the Divine assistance converted to the Faith such infinite numbers of the Inhabitants that there were not Preists enow to baptise them 6. It seems the reputation of Fulgenius his courage and conduit was so great that King Donaldus made him Generall of the forces with which he broke into the Roman Provinces causing a terrible desolation there And being opposed by the Roman Generall he defeated his Army and kill'd both him and in a manner all that follow'd him So great a calamity hence follow'd through all the Southern paâ—ts of the Island that the Emperour Severus himselfe thought his own presence and authority necessary to secure the Province Hereupon he brought with him an Army so formidable that the Maeates and Caledonians made an offer to surrender themselves But the Emperour ambitious of fame by a conquest of them entred their countrey where his cheif difficulty was to find his enemies for by reason of the vast mountains woods and marishes all the passages wherof were known to the Brittains the Romans became oft entangled in their march and sometimes received considerable defeats Notwithstanding by their constancy and advantage in numbers the Roman Army did not interrupt their progresse till they had peirced to the utmost bounds of the Island confining on the Northern Sea There was no decisive battell at all fought between them Notwithstanding the Emperour esteem'd his exploit of marching through the whole countrey which never any Enemy before had done to be so illustrious that he therfore assum'd among his other Titles that of Britannicus Which likewise was communicated to his two Sons Bassianus and Geta his Successours in the Empire though only Bassianus accompanied him in the invasion Geta being left in the Southern parts to compose Civil affaires 7. As for the Noble and pious Brittain Fulgenius he is sayd shortly after to have ended his life at York then the Imperiall Citty It is doubtfull whether he returned thither as a Prisoner or upon composition For some of the Princes and Provinces yeilded themselves to the Emperour though the greatest part avoyding any encounter with the Romans remain'd still in their former hostility That therfore which is related by a Modern Writer touching Fulgenius is very uncertain namely that in a battell against Septimius Severus he was mortally wounded and died at York in the year of Grace two hundred and twelve being the eighteenth and last year of Severus his Raign And other stories of him though confidently reported by some as that he was the Brother of Martia the first wife of Severus and that by him Severus him selfe was slain are meer inventions contriv'd to adorn a Fable rather then a History III. CHAP. 1.2 How far Severus the Emperour subdued the Caledonian Brittains And of the wall built by him 3.4 Severus his ominous retreat to York and his death there And Consecration by the Romans 5. His Sons left Successours in the Empire but Bassianus the Elder murders his Brother Geta. 6. A sharp reply of a Brittish Lady to the Empresse Iulia. 7. A Description of the Caledonian Picts by Herodian 1. SEverus though he took the Title of Britannicus and coyned Medalls inscrib'd with Britannica Victoria was far from subduing those Northern Brittains He wrote indeed to Rome that the Caledonians by covenant had yeilded up a part of the countrey formerly possess'd by them Notwithstanding if we consider the situation of the Wall or Rampire renewd by him to exclude those Nations from commerce with the civiliz'd Provinces we shall find that the Romans rather yeilded to the Brittains a considerable space of ground which had formerly been subdued and gaind by Iulius Agricola and Lollius Vrbicus 2. Our famous Historian S. Beda indeed is of opinion that this Wall or rather Rampire of earth was rais'd by Severus in the same place where Agricola in the former Age had made his enclosure to wit between the two bayes of Edinborough and Dunbritton But certain it is that this Rampire was placed much more to the Southward where the Emperour Hadrian afterward had rais'd his Wall now utterly demolish'd between the Mouth of the River Tine and the bay of Eden Ituna in Cumberland The length of which Rampire was not as Orosius relates as likewise S. Hierom and
which the younger Constantin gave of his zeale to the Orthodox Faith was his restoring S. Athanasius to his See of Alexandria after his two years and four months banishment during which time he abode at Triers in Germany where he was entertain'd with all honour liberality by Constantin This restitution of S. Athanasius was perform'd in coÌ„sequence to the last Will of his Father the late Emperour Constantin as appears by his Sons letter to the Church of Alexandria recited by S. Athanasius in his second Apology Wherin he further writes that it was not out of disaffection but rather a tendernes of S. Athanasius his safety that Constantin sent him into the West to his son that so he might elude the treacherous malice of his Enemies the Arian Bishops who left no means unattempted to destroy him 5. It does not appear that this younger Constantin ever came into Brittany which he governed by a Deputy himself making his residence in Gaule But in the fourth year of his raign he passed over into Italy with what design it is uncertain whether out of ambition to invade the portion of his Brother Constans or for some other intention However he was there traiterously slain at Aquileia by his Brothers soldiers and as Zosimus sayes by his order By his death the whole Western Empire became the Dominion of Constans Who placed in Brittany as his Lievâ—tenant Vetranio one who a few years after usurped the Title of Emperour II. CHAP. 1 2.3 Of S. Gudwal His Gests 4 The place where he lived 5.6 c. Of Mevorus a Prince and his Son S. Simeon 1. ABout this time in Brittany there flourished a famous holy Bishop call'd S. Gudwal commemorated by severall Martyrologes and Ecclesiasticall Writers the summe of whose Gests is as followeth 2. He was born in Brittany of Noble parents and assoon as his age rendred him capable he was made Deacon and afterwards a Preist At which time he largely communicated to others those treasures of spirituall Wisdom which he had been gathering from his youth Insomuch as by his instructions many were so enlightned that they were enabled to inflame others with divine Love After this beeing exalted to the Supreme degree of Episcopacy he so much the more dilated the odour of his holy conversation Gods Spirit declaring in him the operations of divine Grace to the great ioy of all both Clergy and people He received by Succession from his Parents a very ample patrimony but despising worldly riches and having lost the tast of fading pleasures he freely gave all his possessions to the Church 3. Moreover seing that his Pastorall Office obliged him to worldly cares and solicitudes he used his utmost diligence to disburden and unchain himselfe from it Therfore recommending his Church to a worthy Successour he retired himself into a certain Monastery in his own Diocese where he led a perfect Monasticall or rather Angelicall life Now this Monastery was placed neer the Sea in a bay wherof the holy man observing a certain vast rock or Promontory shooting forth he retir'd himself thither to the end he might without interruption attend to God only in which place he gathered to him the number of one hundred and eighty disciples But the place being too strait for so great a multitude the blessed man having recourse to God alone in whose Power and goodnes he placed his only confidence when the Sea at low Ebbe had left dry a great space of the shore he with a râ—d which he carried in his hands made impressions in severall places of the Sand and commanded the waves in the Name of Christ that they should not passe those bounds At which command pronounced by the holy man one might observe the Sea naturally raging to restrain its violence and swelling and effectually to this very day it never presum'd to transgresse the limits prescrib'd unto it Thus this holy man bid adieu to the world to to all his freinds in it all things which it could deprive him of to all which vanities he was crucified perfectly hating his own soule and sensuall desires And yet contented not himself with this but continually meditated how to aspire to more sublime perfection In order wherto having communicated his resolution to his Disciples he determined utterly to quitt his native countrey and to passe over into forrain parts For which purpose having provided seaven ships he accompanied with his Brethren entred into them and began his voyage and with a prosperous gale this little army of Saints took land in a strange countrey 4. Now though in the ancient Monuments relating his life and Gests the land where he aborded be not named notwithstanding there being mention made in them of a certain Prince called Mevorus who enioy'd possessions in that place anciently belonging to his Ancestors Which Mevorus professing Christianity and for that cause receiving great vexations from the inhabitants who were Infidels he transfer'd his dwelling to a place call'd Corminia and at this day Cormon neer a town in Gaule called Monstrueil we may upon the authority of Malbranc a learned French Antiquary conclude that S. Gudwal took land in the Province of Belgick Gaule inhabited by a People called Morini among whom he preach'd the Christian Faith and instructed many in the perfection of a more holy life For thus we read in the ancient narration of his life 5. Mevorus as soon as he had notice that the Holy Father S. Gudwal was entred into his confines gave great thanks to God for it and out of his Treasury richly endowed a Church which this famous Bishop devout Hermit and worthy Superiour of Monks founded in a strange countrey where he gave illustrious examples of all Christian vertues to the present age and left a fragrant odour of his fame to posterity 6. But before the said Church and Monastery were perfectly endowed we find a relation of a wonderfull fact of S. Gudwal For Mevorus together with his wife being much stricken in years had no children at all When behold about midnight S. Gudwal appeared in a dream to the Matron promising her that she should have a Son which himself as another parent to him in regard of education would call by the name of Simeon And Mevorus being inform'd of this made a promise that the said son who was to be born should both in his own person and with all his hereditary possessions be transcrib'd to the Monastery The event succeeded answerably to all their desires for a son is born to Mevorus he is called Simeon brought up in learning and made a Monk And then it was that the Princes possessions were confered on the Monastery It is very probable that this Monastery was seated in a confining part of Flanders neer Ipre where his memory to this day is with great devotion celebrated and where a village called Ghelwelt seems to afford marks of S. Gudwal's name 7. How long the Holy man liv'd
had the effect which Hengist desired and expected For the King naturally a slave to beauty was presently wounded with the gracefullnes of the maids looks and elegancy of her gestures nourishing in his mind a hope to enjoy her So that without any delay he demanded her of her Father for his wife Hengist though inwardly more willing to bestow her then the King was to receive her yet made show of an unwillingnes alledging that such a mariage was too mean for so great a Prince But at last after much importunity he condescended and for a reward or dowry to his daughter he receiv'd in gift the whole Province of Kent And this was suitable to the practise of the German Nation observ'd by Tacitus among whom saith he it is the custome for the Husband to give a portion and dowry to purchase his wife and not the wife to the husband 4. Other Historians adde that this Feast and mariage was celebrated at Thong-castle in Lincolnshire and that the Virgin was instructed by heâ— Father to drink a health to Vortigern after the German manner However certain it is that besides the infinite dammage to the Island by alienating so considerable a member as Kent and so opportune to the Saxons for powring in new forces this mariage was in a high degree criminall both because the King had already a lawfull wife living and likewise for that being a Christian he joyn'd himself to a Pagan Idolatresse 5. Presently after this unhappy mariage to consummate which the King repudiated his former wife hapned the sending over-sea of S. Vrsula and her glorious Companions in Virginity and Martyrdome whose Heroicall constancy related in the precedent Book was sufficient to obliterate the stain which the Kings lusts and injustice had cast upon the Nation 6. Hengist having thus prostituted his daughter to the King who in recompence prostituted his countrey to Hengist the Saxon began to entertain thoughts of ambition more vast then before and knowing that generally the Nation of Brittany highly disapproved their Kings mariage for which and other vices his subjects much diminished their affections and duty to him he began to contemn them and sought occasions of quarrells with them 7. The Archdeacon of Huntington thus describes the first breach between the Saxons and Brittains Hengist saith he and his army seeking an occasion of war against the Brittains ordain'd by God as a punishment of their crimes boldly required of his Son in law King Vortigern to supply them more plentifully with provisions threatning that otherwise they would renounce the league between them and lay wast the whole Island Which threatnings were presently attended with dismall effects For the Saxons entring into a new league with the Picts gathered an innumerable army which without any resistance spoyled the whole countrey Thus a flame kindled by the hands of those Pagans consuming the Brittains took a just revenge of the crimes of that Nation which crimes were the lesse pardonable because the people which committed them professed themselves to be the people of the true God This flame raged like that which the Chaldeans kindled about Ierusalem which utterly consumed all the walls and buildings of that Citty 8. It was no wonder that the Saxons met not with any resistance from the Brittains because by occasion of the Kings late mariage with an infidell Lady his divorce from his lawfull Queen and delivering up so considerable a part of his Kingdom to strangers high discontents arose among his subjects against him Whereupon by common consent persons were deputed to goe to him and beseech him to take pitty of his countrey now ready to sink into ruine Or if he had no care of his Kingdom and subjects yet that he should not neglect the Church of God and his Faith in danger to be destroy'd by â—eathen Miscreants Which if it should arrive by his fault and that the Diabolicall worship of Idols should prevayle against Gods true Religion so horrid a crime would be punish'd both by his own and his peoples eternall misery 9. But such remonstrances as these having made little or no impression in the mind of this sensuall King The Bishops and other Clergy afterward repeated with more earnestnes the like admonitions to him Which likewise producing no effect King Vortigern was deserted generally by his subjects and the Nobility by unanimous consent rais'd into the throne his Son Vortimer saith Florilegus 10. There is not any of our Ancient Historians affirm that Vortigern was deposed but only deserted by his subjects a Prince given up to his pleasures and therefore incapable to resist the ambitious designs of Hengist against whom they were resolved to joyn all their forces for the expelling him out of the Kingdom Therefore Malmsburiensis relates this change in a more moderate stile saying Vortimer was an earnest incentour of the war against the Saxons whose ambition and boldnes he was resolv'd to endure no longer And for this reason most of the Brittains follow'd him And from hence we may take notice of the seditious and truly Calvinisticall spirit of a late Historian Bishop Parker who thus expresses this passage of the Story That expostulation and complaint which with great vehemence the Brittains uâ—'d to their King Vortigern for his mariage with the daughter of Hengist a Pagan was a great argument of their perfect Faith in Christ. For which act of his the Nobles were so incens'd that having depriv'd Vortigern of his Regall authority they created his son Vortimer King 11. But in what manner soever this change was effected it can not be doubted but that it wrought great partialities and divisions in the kingdom For Vortigern having the space of sixteen years enjoy'd the quiet possession of it could not want many adherents who would disapprove the exalting of his Son without his consent So that the Saxons received great advantage by such disorders which much facilitated the progresse of their ambitious designs V. CHAP. 1.2 c Vortimer fights doubtfully with the Saxons in which battell Horsa c. are killed 7. c. Death of Vortimer his vertues c. 10. A Battell between the Brittains and Saxons in which the Brittains are overcome 1. VOrtimer being thus exalted either to an association with his Father in the Throne or to the Office of Generall of the Brittish forces hastned to give a proof of the wisedom of his countrey men in their Election of him For as Malmsburiensis writes judging it unfit and dangerous any longer to dissemble the taking notice of the ambitious designs of the Saxons and how by craft they had almost ruin'd the Kingdom he bent his mind earnestly how to drive them out of the Nation vehemently urging his Father to attempt the same By his instigation therefore an army was raised c. This saith he hapned in the seaventh year after the first entrance of the Saxons into Brittany 2. Great preparations there were
them to mind caused great unquietnes and remorse in him But whereas the foresaid Authour says That by a custom introduced among the Brittains this Sacrament of Ordination of Bishops was practis'd thus imperfectly it appears that such a deficiency was crept in among them and this only since the Saxons entring caused so great disturbances in the Island that the Ecclesiasticall Canons were either forgotten or if remembred could hardly be practised Either there were no Metropolitans or they were so far distant that in those dangerous times no accesse could be had to them Most places wanted Bishops and even inhabitants so that it was a wonder that even the Holy Chrism could be supplied which no doubt was furnish'd out of Ireland 7. Hence it is manifest that these disorders and neglect of Ecclesiasticall Canons were an Errour veniall because unavoydable that in former peaceable times the practise was otherwise and the Canons were duly observed So that the purity of the Brittains Faith was hereby nothing prejudiced Therefore some Protestant Controvertists doe unreasonably collect from hence that the Brittains before S. Gregories time did not in their Ordinations conform themselves to the Roman Church but received their Rites from I know not which Eastern Churches Whereas no Eastern Churches can be found which neglected any of these Ceremonies and as for the Roman it is evident by what hath been formerly declared that the Brittains in their Discipline establish'd by Councils demanded a confirmation from the Sea Apostolick 8. But a more Authentick proof of the respect and dependance which the Brittish Churches had of the Roman cannot be imagin'd then the behaviour of S. Kentigern himself For being afterwards afflicted in mind for the foresaid defects in his Ordination he did not seek for Counsel or remedy from any Metropolitains in Brittany Ireland or France but only from Rome and the Supreme Bishop thereof to whom the Custody of Ecclesiasticall Canons was by the Church committed and who had authority to enjoyn the observation of them to punish the transgression and to supply or dispence with the defects either by negligence or necessity occurring in the execution of them 9. This is expressly declar'd by the foresaid Iohn of Tinmouth in his prosecution of the Life of S. Kentigern where he tells us That the Man of God went seaven severall times to Rome where he simply and particularly layd open his whole life his Election Consecration and all the accidents which had befallâ— him to S. Gregory the speciall Apostle of the English Vpon which the Holy Pope perceiving that he was a sincere man of God and full of the Grace of Gods holy Spirit confirm'd his Consecration knowing that it came from God Moreover at his often and earnest request yet with great unwillingnes he condescended to supply those small defects which were wanting in his Consecration and having done this he dismissed him to the work of the Ministery which was enjoyn'd him by the Holy Ghost 10. Hence appears that in the Ordination of S. Kentigern nothing was omitted that was of any necessity since it was only upon his importunity and for satisfaction of his Scrupulosity that S. Gregory supplied the omissions of certain Rites required by the Canons The greatest fault that the Holy Bishop could impute to himself was his being consecrated by one onely Irish Bishop against the Expresse Canon of a General Council But considering the unquietnes and danger of the times and the want of Bishops though there was a transgression of the words of the Canon yet there was none of the mind of it which certainly does not oblige to impossibilites And this was the resolution of the sence of it which the same S. Gregory gave to S. Augustin answering the like difficulty in these words In the Church of the Angli wherein at present thou art the onely Bishop thou canst not ordain any other Bishop but thy self alone without the concurrence of other Bishops XXIV CHAP. 1.2 S. Kentigern Vertues 1. HOW S. Kentigern behav'd himself in discharge of his Episcopall Office is thus further declar'd by the same Authour After his Consecration during the whole course of his life his custom was to eat only every third day and sometims fourth and his food was bread Milk cheese and butter For he alway abstain'd from flesh and wine or any other drink which could distemper Next his skin he wore a very rough hayr-cloath and over that a garment made of goat-shins together with a close Cowle and his uppermost clathing was a white Albe He always wore a Stole and caried a Pastorall staffe or Crosier not sphericall nor gilded and sett with precious stones but of simple wood bowing back at the toop and in his hand he ever held a book Thus he was always in a readines to exercise his function whensoever necessity or reason requir'd He lay in a stone-chest made hollow like a Biere under his head lay a stone and under his body were cast cinders and a Cilice of hayr in which posture he with some unwillingnes admitted a short sleep after which he would plunge himself in cold water and so recite the whole Psalter This customary practise neither snow nor rain did interrupt nor any thing but sicknes or journeying and then he would redeem a discontinuation of these austerities with some spirituall exercise Thus does that Authour describe S. Kentigerns private life by many other arguments showing him to be a man absolutely perfect in all vertues 2. Consequently he relates other actions of his in order to the discharge of his Episcopall Office saying He fix'd his Episcopal See in the Citty of Glasco where likewise he ordain'd a great Congregation of Religious men who liv'd according to the form of the Primitive Church in community of all things The Infidels in his Diocese he converted to the Faith Apostats and Hereticks he by his sound doctrin recall'd to the bâ—som of our Holy Mother the Church He every where threw down Idols and Images of Devils and built some Churches He distinguish'd Parishes by their certain bounds He was always travelling to gain soules to God never riding on hors-back but in imitation of the Apostles always going a foot And because he would not eat his bread in idlenes his custom was to labour with his hands in agriculture His other Gests we shall relate here after XXV CHAP. 1.2 c. Mordred King Arthurs Nephew rebelles He is pursued by King Arthur and both slain 7.8 King Arthur dyed and was buried at Glastonbury 9. His appearing again long expected by the Welsh 10 11. c. His Monument discovered in after ages 1. ABout this time it was that our famous King Arthur found at last repose in his grave which he could never enjoy during life The manner how he was brought to his end is thus related by our Historians 2. In an expedition which upon some unknown occasion he made abroad he left the
and admired a Prelate as Saint Gregory but moreover produced read approved and the observation of it enjoyned in a Roman Synod celebrated under the same Pope the year before Saint Augustin and his fellow Monks were directed by him in Mission to Brittany 8. This we read to have been done in the Great Bibliotheque of the Fathers quoted no doubt out of that Ancient Manuscript belonging to Saint Benedict's Monastery at Sublac mentioned by Baronius In which this Form of Confirmation of the said Rule by Saint Gregory in that Synod is found I Gregory Prelat of the Holy Roman Church have written the Life of Benedict and I have read the Rule which the Saint himself wrote with his own hand I have commended it and confirmed it in a holy Synod Moreover I command that through the severall parts of Italy and where the Latin tongue is read it be to the end of the world observed diligently by all those who shall come to the Grace of Conversion I doe likewise confirm the twelve Monasteries which the Saint hath built 9. No doubt therefore can be made but that Saint Augustin brought with him this Rule into Brittany which was observed in all the Monasteries there founded by him and his Successours This is confirmed by the universall constant and unquestioned Tradition of the English Churches and the Testimony of ancient Records in which there is not the least mention or suspicion that our first Missioners brought any other Rule besides this and evident proofs there are that in the next Age the Institut of Monks in their Convents was Benedictin yet not any where can the least foosteps or signs appear that any change had ever been made among them nor is any time assigned when they began to be Benedictins Whereas manifest proofs there are that in Brittany there were many other Monasteries among the Brittains and Scotts both before and long after Saint Augustins coming as at Banchor Hy c. of a different Institut and which refused to submitt to Saint Augustin either as Bishop or Abbot all which notwithstanding in after times submitted to the Institut of Saint Benedict and the times of such submission are recorded 10. Thus we read that in the Northern parts there were after this time many illustrious Monks as Aidan Finian Colman and others who came out of the Monastery of Hy and never had known the Rule of Saint Benedict which when they afterward knew would not forsake their ancient Institut And generally through the Northern parts till about the year seaven hundred Saint Benedicts Rule was not in use at which time S. Wilfrid brought it amongst them as himself professed in a publick Synod as will be shewed in due place 11. Likewise in the Kingdom of the Mercians though-after its first Conversion to the Faith by the endeavours of King Oswi there were many Monasteries yet among them the same Rule was little in use till the year of Grace seaven hundred and nine But then Pope Constantin in a letter to the Arch-bishop of Canterbury confirming the Monastery of Evesham addes this condition To the the end that there the Congregation of Monks may be reformed or ordred according to the Rule of their famous Father Benedict and continually serve our Lord Which Rule is not commonly known or observed in those parts And yet before that time severall Monasteries at Peterborough and elso where had been founded by the same S. Wilfrid 12. Hence appears that our Records doe testify when the Rule of Saint Benedict was introduced in the Kingdoms of the Northumbrians and Mercians But no Memoriall can any where be found to witnes where or when the same Rule was establish'd in any Monasteries in the Kingdom of Kent which notwithstanding did abound in Monasteries in all which for ought appears no other Institut prevailed but that this of Saint Benedict flourish'd there innumerable Proofes are extant Which is an invincible argument that it was at first brought in there with Christianity 13. Therefore as touching the reason alledged to the contrary by Baronius because Saint Augustin came out of the Monastery of Saint Andrew at Rome the Abbot wherof was a Monk taken out of the Convent of Saint Equitius in the Province of Valeria What proof can be brought that that Convent had not embraced the Institut and Rule of Saint Benedict or how ever that after his coming thither Saint Gregory had not impos'd that Rule so much magnified by himself on that Monastery whereof he was founder 14. In those days the difference between Religious Instituts was not so considerable as to cause any great difficulty in the changes They all intended the same thing and generally proceeded the same wayes to their End It was not then in Gods Church as it is now Where severall Orders of Religious persons are instituted of severall Spirits some rigorously confined to solitude others permitted freely to exercise Spirituall Works of Charity in the world Some forbidden to begg others forbidden to accept of any thing but dayly Alms Some obliged to great externall austerities in their Habits dyet c. Others more exercised with internall Mortifications Some destined to preach or Write others only to pray Some to procure Charities for the Redemption of Christian Captives others to attend on hospitalls and sick persons c. 15. These things considered it may with full assurance be concluded that Saint Gregories Monks and Missioners were no other but Benedictins although they did not usually call themselves by that Title till a controversy arising in the following age between them and other Monks of a former Brittish Institut they were obliged for distinctions sake to assume that Name 16. And wheras many of our Modern Protestant Writers will needs have the Brittish Monks to have been of the Aegyptian or Asiatick Institut Not any Records can be produced to testify that ever any Aegyptian or Asiatick came into Brittany to establish their Orders here Or that any Brittain travelled into those Countreys to acquaint himself with their manner of Religious Conversation Certain it is that generally the great Masters and Teachers both of Faith and Monasticall Discipline in Brittany came from Rome From thence came S. Fugatius and S. Damianus and after them S. Patrick and S. Ninian c. And therfore we may conclude that as they were there instructed in the purity of Christian Doctrines so likewise in the institut of Monasticall observations Yet it is not denyed but that they might from thence also furnish themselves with Books treating of the Egyptian or Syrian Instituts touching Monasticall Discipline which in practise they might be willing to imitate such as are severall peices of S. Hierom or Cassians Institutions c. But this will not argue that they were Disciples of the Eastern Fathers in Religious observances and much lesse in the Doctrinâ— of Christian Religion and Discipline it self But it is time that we attend the Holy Monk S. Augustin and his companions in
further danger by his Guards Neither could the Messenger whose name was Eumerus be dispatched before he had slain another of the Kings soldiers calld Forder 2. This wound brought everlasting health both to the King and Kingdom of the Northumbers The Queen Ethelbuga was then great with child and by the consternation caused by that dismal accident and the Kings danger was before her time the same night deliverd of a daughter Whereupon the King partly in gratitude to his Gods for his escape and partly for ioy of receiving issue obliged himself by certain vowes to them for he was naturally very devout and causing Publick Prayers to be appointed his intention was to sacrifise his young daughter to the vain Idol worshipped by him Which impious design of his being come to the knowledg of Saint Paulinus he very opportunely interposed himself and informed the King that he owed his present safety not to the false Deities adored by him but to the one onely true God from whom himself by Prayer had obtaind safety both to the Father and daughter and therefore that it was iust that the young child should be consecrated to Christ the Authour of his health 3. Vpon this remonstrance King Edwin was somewhat moved but yet replied What assurance canst then give mee that I owe mine own and my daughters life to the God worshipped by thee and not to mine own Deities Hereto Paulinus answerd by setting forth the impotency of Idols and omnipotency of the true God adding other considerations touching the Queens sanctity very acceptable to God and her Prayers also for his life and prosperity Well said the King who was then recoverd of his wound I will now putt it to the tryall whether I am to give thanks for my present safety and happy successes to thy God or no. I am resolved to invade this murdrous King If Christ whom thou adorest will give mee victory I engage my Faith here to serve and worship him alone In the mean time since Ethelburga earnestly desires it I resign my child to be disposed of by thee and initiated in the Mysteries of thine and her Religion And moreover I promise in case I return from this war with health and victory that I will seriously deliberate of the great affaire and will doe as thou advisest mee 4. S. Paulinus infinitly glad at these promises of the King departed from him and on the solemne day of Pentecost following baptised this first-born child of Ethelburga together with twelve others of the Kings family saith S. Beda who were the first fruits of that Nation And then was accomplish'd the Oracle pronounced by S. Gregory and Alleluia with great ioy sung among them The name imposed on the child was Eanfleda She was afterward a Queen and illustrious for Sanctity concerning whom more shall be related in due place 5. King Edwin deferd not the war but the same year gathering a great army saith S. Beda he marched against the West-Saxons and coming to a battell he gaind the victory after which he either killd or had surrendred to him all those whom he was informed had conspired his death Florilegus adds that Quichelm whom he calls Quinchelin was slain in the place of battell which place in testimony of his victory Edwin calld Quinchelines hame And so returnd with triumph into his own kingdom But William of Malmsbury affirms that both the West-Saxon Kings Kinegils and Quichelm escaped and not long after embraced the Christian Faith by the preaching of Berinus a holy Bishop likewise that they fought prosperously against Penda King of the Mercians XIV CHAP. 1.2 King Edwin wonderfully converted to Christianity 3.4 c. A Generall Assembly called in which Idolatry is renounced and the Christian Faith received 11. The place of this Assembly 1. CErtain it is that King Edwin obtaind an illustrious victory as shortly appeard by his acknowledgment of his obligation to discharge the Vow he had made to Almighty God Notwithstanding at the first he delayd partly upon a pretence of publick affaires and partly out of a desire to deliberate more maturely For being a man as S. Beda saith naturally of a peircing sagacious Spirit he would oftimes sitt alone silent but revolving in his mind many doubtfull thoughts what he should resolve upon and what Religion he should professe He was already unsatisfied in his own superstition but withall he had fram'd in his mind obiections against Christian Religion He thought it misbecoming a great victorious King to submit his neck to the yoak of one who had been crucified c. 2. On a certain day as he was agitated with such uncertain thoughts Saint Paulinus no doubt by divine Inspiration came suddenly to him and laying his hand on the Kings head severely asked him Whether he calld to mind that Sign of his Faith and promise formerly given when he was in a privat condition an exild person and in imminent danger of death And he bad him take heed how he continued longer a rebell against God since he who had raised him up so high could as easily depresse him The King was struck with this unexpected behaviour of Saint Paulinus but having recovered the freedom of his thoughts and perfectly remembring the forementioned Divine Oracle he presently fell at Saint Paulinus his feet acknowledging his guilty doubtfullnes and submitting himselfe to obey what soever he should command him from God whom by a new infused Light he perceived to have been his Guide through strange and wonderfull wayes to his Divine saving Truth Now all his doubts and obiections vanished and he is resolved not only himself to become a servant of Christ but to endeavour to make his subiects also companions with him in that happy servitude He perceives a compleat effect of all the promises formerly made by the invisible Messenger and he condemnes his own slownes in corresponding to the Divine Goodnes 3. But withall considering what inward suspicions and commotions in mens minds a sudden publick change of Religion would probably cause he with the advice and approbation of Saint Paulinus thought fitt to proceed with as much prudence and caution as might be and by calling a Generall Assembly of his Estates to endeavour to make the introducing of Christian Religion an Act of the Kingdom as well as of the King To this expedient Saint Paulinus the rather consented because since the Queen and her Christian families coming he saw a generall disesteem of their Idoll-Gods among the people 4. The great Assembly being convened the King in the first place signified to them the great and signal blessings he had received from God and how desirous he was to expresse his gratitude to his Benefactour But since severall Nations according to their fancy appropriated to themselves many peculiar Gods he could not perswade himself there could be any more then One Omnipotent God That therefore which he desired to propose to their serious considerations was Which
others 5. Another eminent Example of the like Charity to others with neglect of himself the same King formerly gave in the time of a wasting Pestilence For being peirced to the soule with compassion seing such a world of funeralls he earnestly prayd to God as King David had done that he would spare his people and turn the scourge against himself and his family Which prayer Almighty God heard for presently after the plague seised upon him with such violence that he was brought to the utmost extremity Lying thus a victime for the whole Nation and inwardly ioyfull in hope that with his single death he should purchase a world of lives to others he saw three persons of a stature more then human who approached to his bed and conversing together spoke many words full of comfort to him At last one of them sayd to him O King thy Prayers and resignation are acceptable to God Thou art one of ours for shortly thou shalt receive an immortall crown for thy Faith Charity and Piety But that time is not yet come For God at the present gives thee both thine own and thy subiects liveâ— Now thou art willing to dye for them Shortly thou shalt dye far more happily a Martyr for God Having said this they disappeared leaving the King full of wonder Who presently recoverd his health and after that not any of his subiects dyed of the same infection 6. The Authour of his life adds That the King was wont to relate to his Bishops that not only with his intellectual but corporall eyes also he often saw Angelical Spirits in great splendour By which visitations Divine love was much more kindled in his heart and a studious care to encrease in all vertues And because corporal purity doth frequently attend that of the mind by the consent of his Queen Kineburga daughter of Kinegils King of the West-Saxons he abstaind from matrimonial conversation knowing well how gratefull to heavenly spirits is an aversion from carnall sensuality 7. Thus happily did King Oswald proceed in his course to heaven when that scourge of all good men Penda King of the Mercians envying the progresse of Christianity and the glory of Oswald became an instrument of exalting him to a heavenly Crown For whilst King Oswalds thoughts were busied in advancing Châ—ists Kingdom the said Tyrant made an impression into a Province belonging to him to repell which King Oswald with an army mett him in a place by S. Beda calld Macerfelth 8. It is not yet decided in what Province that place of combat between these two Kings is seated The inhabitants of Lancashire earnestly contend that King Oswald was slain neer a well known village of theirs calld Winwick where they find a place to this day nam'd Macerfelth and alledge likewise an ancient Inscription in the Church of Winwick importing the same And their coniecture may seem to receive strength from this consideration that the said Province certainly belonged to the Dominion of King Oswald who was assalted by Penda 9. Notwithstanding Camden and others of our learned Writers doe rather design the place of the Combat in the Western part of Shropshire neer the Kiver Morda where there is a town from Oswald calld Oswestre and by the Brittains Oswalds-Crosse And this agrees with what wee read in Saint Oswalds life that the place of the Combat was near the confines of Armorick Wales seaven miles distant from Shrews bury not full half a mile from King Offa's ditch dividing Wales from England and Sixteen mileâ— from the Monastery of Wenlock In the feild where the battell was fought a Church called the White Church was founded to the honour of Saint Oswald near which arises a fresh spring which the Inhabitants call Saint Oswalds fountain 10. Now although Shropshire anciently belonged to the Kingdom of the Mercians yet at this time it seems among other Provinces to have been a portion of King Oswalds conquests For the same Authour relates how Penda a little before this had been overcome and puâ—t to flight by King Oswald so that it seems that part of the Mercian kingdom was become an accession to that of the Northumbers 11. The two armies therefore ioyning here that of King Oswald could not sustain the fury of Penda but after a short combat was forced either to seek safety by flight or like devout Soldiers fighting for God and his Church by patient exposing themselves to purchase immortality King Oswald seing his Army dispersed perceived that now the hower promised him by the Angels was come Therefore he was not very solicitous to avoyd his Enemies weapons but in the expression of William of Malmsbury having seen all his guards cutt in peices though he had as it were a grove of iron weapons planted on his breast yet neither the greivousnes of his wounds nor the approach of death could hinder or interrupt his devout Prayers to God for the salvation of his faithfull subjects Thus was this Blessed King slain saith Saint Beda in a place called in the English tongue Macerfelth in the year of our Lords Incarnation six hundred forty two and the thirty eighth of his age on the fifth day of August 12. The barbarous Tyrant Penda was not satisfied with the death of his Enemy but most cruelly raged against his dead body which he cutt in peices and caused his head and armes divided from the trunk to be hung up on three stakes as a Trophey and monument of his Cruelty and to be a terrour to others XI CHAP. 1. 2. c. King Oswi buries the Relicks of his Brother S. Oswald 5.6.7 The Incorruption of his hand testified in severall ages 8. 9. c. His other Relicks where disposed The great Veneration given to him Churches built in his honour 1. THE inhuman Tyrant Penda thought by his barbarous usage of the Holy King Oswalds liveles body to render him a spectacle of misery but Almighty God shewd himself more powerfull to glorify him then the Tyrant had been to dishonour him For his Members had been for a whole years space exposed to the injuries of rain and tempests yet notwithstanding they preserved their former lineaments lively freshnesse and comlines The head and left arm continued all that time hanging on the stakes and the right arm was faln into water for no man durst take them away or shew any regard to them for fear of the Tyrant 2. At last Oswy the Brother and Successour of King Oswald by a Divine Oracle was admonished to perform due respect to his Brothers torn Body by bestowing an honourable buryall on it Therefore fearles of the Tyrants rage or power he gathered an Army and marching into that Province he came to the place Where taking out of the Water the right Arm he inclosed it in a Silver Boxe and reverently deposed it in the Church of S. Peter in a Citty then called Bebba from a Queen of that Name now Bamburg
Monastery But afterwards when a Church more magnificent was there built it was translated thither and deposed at the right hand of the Altar with veneration due to so holy a Prelat 3. How great the merit of this Blessed Bishop was saith the same S. Beda God was pleased to shew by severall Miracles It will suffise to relate onely two of them in this place A certain Preist named Vtta a man highly esteemed even by Princes for his gravity and integrity was sent into Kent to conduct from thence Eanfleda the daughter of King Edwin to be wife to King Osâ—in This Preist went thither by land but intended to return by Sea with the Virgin Before hâ—â— iourney he went to the Holy Bishop Aidan desiring his prayers for a safe iourney to himself and company The Bishop gave him his benediction and withall delivered to him some Oyle which had been sanctified saying I know that when you shall be at Sea a contrary wind and tempest will come on you but remember that when you are in danger you cast this Oyle into the Sea aend thâ— tempest will pâ—esently cease and your return will be prosperous All which particulars succeeded in order exactly as the Holy Bishop had foretold Thus the Man of God both foretold the Tempest by the Spirit of Prophecy and by the power of the same spirit though corporally absent he calmed the Tempest when it was risen The account of this Miracle I received not from a relatour of doubtfull credit but a Preist of our Church of great integrity called Cynimund who protested that it was told him by Vtta himself the Preist to whom and by whom it befell 4. The Second Miracle was that when King Penda entred with an Army into those parts and was determined to sett on fire the Royal Citty which took its name from Queen Ebba for which purpose he encompassed it with heaps of wood and other combustible matter to which fire was applied S. Aidan being then retired into his Isle of Farne about two miles distant from that Citty and seeing the fire smoke ascending up-wards he lifted up his eyes full of tears to heaven and said Behold o Lord how great mischeif Penda does to thy people Assoon as he had said those words the wind immediatly turned the flames upon those who had kindled them So that the enemies forbore to impugn the Citty which they saw was defended from heaven 5. Now though S Aidan and his White Monks did erroneously swerve from the generall practise of the Church in the Observation of Easter yet saith Baronius far be it from us to reckon among the Quartodeciman Hereticks such a man who by an Apostolick Spirit and power converted that Nation to the Faith How their practise differed from that of those Hereticks we have already declared out of S. Beda His Memory is celebrated in the Roman Martyrologe on the one and thirtieth of August where this elogium is given of him In England on the said day is the commemoration of S. Aidan Bishop of Lindesfarn whose soule S. Cuthbert then a keeper of sheep seing caried up to heaven he left his sheep and became a Monk XVI CHAP. 1.2 c. Saint Cuthbert a child sees Saint Aidans soule caried into heaven whereupon he quitts the world and retires into the Monastery of Mailros 1. THAT which the Roman Martyrologe wraps up in a few words touching the occasion of S. Cuthberts undertaking a Monasticall Profession S. Beda more at large sets down in his Book of the Life of that Saint which for the reverence due both to him and S. Aidan we will hâ—â—e transcribe And shall hereafter have â—â—equent occasion to write more of his Sanctity the rudiments whereof now began 2. When the Divine Grace which governs the lives of Gods servants was pleased that the devout young man Cuthbert by undergoing a more austere Profession should obtain a higher reward of Glory he was then employed in the guard of sheep committed to his care in the remote mountains One night it hapned that whilst he was watching in prayer his companions then being asleep he saw on a sudden a light from heaven so bright that it dispelled all the darknes and therein he saw great multitudes of Angels descending to the earth and presently after return to heaven carying with them a soule of a marvellous brightnes This sight caused great compunction in the devout youth and an earnest desire to undertake a spiritual Life that thereby he might be partaker of eternall felicity among Gods Saints And presently giving thanks and praises to God for this favour he also wakened his companions inciting them with brotherly exhortations to ioyn with him in praising God Alas poor wretches said he we are wholly given up to sleep and idlenes and are unworthy to see the light of Christs ServaÌ„ts who are always watchfull in his Praises Behold I whilst I was even now praying saw the great wonders of God the Gate of Heaven was opened and the soule of some holy person was conducted by Angels into the glory of heavenly Mansions where it will for ever blessedly behold our Lord whilst we remain negligent in this darknes below Surely this was either a Holy Bishop or some other perfect Christian whom I saw with such resplendent brightnes and such Quires of Angels caried up to heaven These words of S. Cuthbert did not a little inflame the hearts of the other Shephards to praise God 3. The next day he was informed that S. Aidan Bishop of the Church of Lindesfarn a man of admirable piety dyed that very houre in which he had seen his soule mounting to heaven Whereupon he presently resigned up the sheep which he had fed to their owner and resolved without delay to goe to a Monastery 4. S. Cuthbert now meditating seriously on his entrance into a new and more stricks life the Divine Grace was present to him confirming his mind in that good purpose and moreover by manifest signs shewed that to those who seek the Kingdom of God and his righteousnes all things necessary for bodily subsistence shall be administred For on a certain day as he was iourneying alone about the third hower he turned aside into a certain village which he saw a good distance from him and entred into the house of a certain Matron being desirous to repose there awhile and to gett food not for himself but his horse The woman received him kindly and earnestly desired that she might make some thing ready for his refection But the devout young man refused telling her that he could not eat because it was a day of Fast. For it was indeed Friday on which most faithfull Christians out of reverence to our Lords Passion doe prolong their fasting till three of the clock after noon She notwithstanding being devoutly addicted to hospitality persisted in her desire and told him that all the rest of his iourney he would find neither village nor
in the same place where the Holy Virgin suffred Martyrdom a clear fountain broke forth which cured severall kinds of diseases Now her parents having heard of her death earnestly desired as some recompence for their losse to enioy the comfort of burying with them her heaules body Which being brought to them they enterreâ— it it a coffin of lead in the Church of Aylesbury where many Miracles were wrought by her intercession At length her Sacred Relicks â— a Divine Vision were translated thence back again to the Church of Chic which Maurice Bishop of London reposed in a precious coffer â— at whicâ— time the Bishop of Rochester then present was cured of a greivous infirmity 5. Her memory is celebrated in our Martyrologe on the seaventh of October where also is mention how the said holy Virgin Maâ—tyr took up her head after it was separated from her Body Which the Authour of her Life in Capgrave thus more expressly relates Assoon as her head was off the body presently rose up and taking up the head in the hands by the conduct of Angells walked firmly the straight way to the Church of the Apostles S. Peter and S. Paul about a quarter of a mile distant from the place of her suffring and when it was come there it knocked at the dore with the bloody hands as desiring it might be opened and theron left marks of blood Having done this it fell there down to the ground 6. The Sanctity of Ositha called by William of Malmsbury Osgitha has quite extinguished the name anciently belonging to the Village where she lived For thus writes Camden In the place where the River Coln enters into the Sea is seated the little Town called S. Osith's the ancient Name wherof was Chic which Name this Royal Virgin Ositha has abolished Who living there in great Sanctity and devotion was slain by Danish Pirats and therefore acknowledged by our Ancestors a Saint and Martyr XVI CHAP. 1. 2. King Kenewalch dying leaves the Kingdom to his wife Sexburga 3. S. Egelwin Brother to King Kenewalch 4 5. Sexburga retiring into a Monastery Escuin succeeds in the Kingdom with Kentuin Their liberality to the Monastery of Malmsbury as likewise of Leutherius Bishop 6. 7. Warr between Escuin and Wolfer King of the Mercians 8. The death of Wolfere 1. IN the year of Christ six hundred seaventy four hapned the death of Kenewalch King of the West-Saxons after a raign of thirty and one years Who leaving no issue behind him he bequeathed the administration of the Kingdom to his wise Sexburga saith 〈◊〉 liam of Malmsbury And adds withall That she wanted not spirit and courage to exercise so great a charge insomuch as she gathered new forces and kept the old in their duty She governed her Subiects with clemency and kept her enemies in awe with threats In a word she behaved her self in all things so worthily that no man could discerne any difference in her government from that it was in her husbandâ— time but only that she was a woman Notwithstanding her Rule was but short for before she had fully spent a year death-surprised her in the midst of her magnanimous designs 2. This Character given her by William of Malmsbury is more proper receiveable then that which Mathew of Westminster writes That the Nobility of that Kingdom disdaining to be subiect to a womans government expelled her out of the Province Other Historians say That out of a desire of entring into a more holy and strict life she voluntarily quitted the Royalty and for devotions sake entred into a Monastery But they doe wrongfully ascribe to her the founding of a Monastery in the Isle of Shepey where she is sayd to have taken the Habit of Religion and afterward to have succeded S. Edrifride in the Abbey of Ely For these things belong to another Sexburga daughter of Anna King of the East-angles of whom wee treated before 3. Though K Kenwalch had no sons yet he had a Brother eminent for Sanctity named Egelwin concerning whom William of Malmsbury thus writes The Monks of Adeling exalt to the skies the praises of their Patron S. Egelwin the effects of whose Sanctity they perceive by many benefits which they receive by his intercession The constaÌ„t fame is that he was Brother of K. Kenewalch that he was more illustrious for his Sanctity then emineÌ„cy of descent He was all his life afflicted with sicknes yet that hindred not at all his service and deâ—otion to God He ended his life most happily and after his death readily assisted the necessities of all that reclamed his help and intercession 4. After Sexburga's death saith S. Beda two Princes of that nation took on them the government and held it divided between them the space of about ten years These were Escuin and Kentwin both of them of the Royal family Kentwin was Brother Huntingdon says he was son to King Kenwalch and Escuin was descended in the fourth degree from Cerduic Some Writers affirm that they did not ioyntly raign But that Escuin first managed the government and after two years dying left it to Kentwin who raigned after him nine years 5. They were both of them Catholick devout Princes as appears by the magnificent Structure of the Monastery of Malmsbury built this year at their charges by the procurement of S. Aldelm who had now been nine years a Monk and four years Abbot of the same It was at first as hath beeÌ„ said poorly built by a certain Scott named Maydulf by profession a Monk and by erudition a Philosopher from whom the place took its name But till this time the revenues of it were so scant that the Monks had great difficulty to provide themselves necessary sustenance saith William a Monk of the same place But now that by the suggestion of S. Aldelm those two Princes endowd it with possessions and adornd it with buildings the affairs and reputation of that Monastery encreased wonderfully from all quarters Religious men flocked thither to S. Aldelm some of them desiring from him instructions in a devout Life others in the knowledge of learning 5. Moreover Leutherius Bishop of the West-Saxons contributed his care to the establishing of this Monastery as appears by a Charter of his extant in William of Malmsbury in which upon the Petition of the Abbot of this Diocese he grants the said place to the Monks there living to be entirely possessed by them Which argues that heretofore they enioyd it only by courtesy This Charter is dated the eighth day before the Calends of September in the year of our Lords Incarnation six hundred seaventy five at a place neer the River Bladon Where saith Camden in ancient times Dumwalio Malmutius King of the Brittains built a handsom town and called it Caer-Bladon which having been destroyed in the Saxon warrs they built out of the rubbish of it a Castle which in their
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
world that he had seen many things some extremely horrible and others wonderfully pleasant and ravishing which are concealed from the rest of mankind 5. Now the account which he gave of his Visions was on this manner A certain person brightly shining in his face and vestments conducted mee and wee walked together silent as it seemed to mee towards the place where the Sun rises in high Summer Thus walking together wee came to a place where there was on our left hand a valley of a vast depth and breadth and the length of it seemed infinite One side of this valley was terrible with its burning flames and the other no lesse intolerable for the bitternes of the cold blasts hayle and snow driving through it And both these places were full of mens soules which seemed to be â—orcibly tossed from one side to the other For those which were in the fire not being able to endure its scorching leaped into the horrible cold and not â—inding ease there they leaped back into the unquencheable flames Having observed an infinite number of deformed soules thus tormented with an interchangeable viâ—â—issitude of tortures without any respite of ease I began to think that this place surely was Hell of whose intolerable torments I had oft heard Preachers speak But my â—onductour who went before mee answered these my thoughts saying Doe not entertain such an imagination for this is not Hell as thou thinkest 6 But when he saw mee affrighted with so â—orrible a spectacle he conduâ—â—ed mee leasurely somewhat further where I saw all places round about mee become obscure and at length filled with utter darknes Into which when wee were entred the darknes was so thick that I could see nothing but the shape and vestment of my Conductour And as wee went on further in this shady darknes on a sudden there appeared before us frequent globes of hideous flames ascending out of a deep pitt and again falling down into it 7. When I was come thither presently my Guide vanished out of sight leaving mee done in the midst of this darknes and horrid spectacle But when the said globes of fire without any intermission mounted up and again fell down I perceived that they were full of human soules which like sparks of fire caried up by the smoke were sometimes cast upward and then drawn back by the vapours of fire Moreover an unexpressibly noysom stink belched out by those vapours filled all the dark spaces round about As I was thus standing still in a terrible fright being uncertain what to doe whither to goe and what would be the end of all this I heard behind my back a most horrible noyse as of persons wailing in unutterable misery and also at the same time I heard others loudly and scornfully laughing as the rude vulgar people are wont to doe when they insult over their captive enemies When this Noise came nearer to mee I perceived a troop of wicked Spirits haling into the midst of that darknes the soules of men which wofully cryed out whilst the others burst forth into laughters And among these soules I could distinctly see that one was shaved like an Ecclesiasticall person another was a lay-man and a third was a woman These unhappy soules thus haled along by those spitefully malicious Spirits at length were plunged into the midst of that burning pitt Into which after they were descended a good way I could no longer distinctly hear the wayling of men and laughing of Devills but only had in mine eares remaining a confused promiscuous sound 8. In the mean time certain obscure Spirits ascended out of that fire-vomiting pitt which approached mee on all sides and with flaming eyes and stinking fire issuing out of their mouths and nostrills vexed mee greivously Moreover with fierie pincers which they held in their hands they threatned to catch mee but for all that though they frighted mee they had not the boldnes to touch mee Being thus on all sides encompassed with darknes and enemies I turned mine eyes every way to see if there were any one to deliver mee At last there appeared by the way which I had passed some thing that shone like a stars which encreasing and approaching nearer and nearer assoon as it came to mee all those hatefull Spirits which had endeavoured with their fiery pincers to lay hold on mee were dispersed and fled 9. Now he whose coming drove away these Spirits was the same who at first had been my Conductour Who presently after turning his steps more southerly toward the East ledd mee out of that darknes into a clear and lightsome aire In which after we had walked awhile I saw before us a mighty wall of the length and height whereof every way I could see no end I began then to marwell to what purpose we should goe to that wall in which I could discover neither dore window nor any other passage But being come to it presently I know not by what means we found our selves on the top of it And there appeared to mee a most large pleasant feild so replenished with all sorts of odoriferous flowers that the sweet fragrancy of them immediatly took away all the former stench of the dark fiery furnace And so great was the light there on all sides that it far exceeded the brightnes of midday Moreover there were in that feild innumerable assemblies of men in pure white garments all reioycing and singing Now as he ledd mee among these happy Quires I began to think that this might be the Kingdom of Heaven which I had oft heard preached of But he again answered to any thought No this is not Heaven as thou supposest 10. And as wee passed on in our progresse I saw before mine eyes a far greater and more pleasant Light then wee had seen before and in that Light I heard a most sweet Melody of persons ioyfully singing and so wonderfull a fragrancy of a most sweet odour issued from thence that the former sweetnes which before seemed excessive to mee now I very meanly esteemed As likewise the former light compared with this appeared almost obscure Now when I was in a hopefull expectation that wee should enter into this Blessed place my Guide made a stopp and presently turning his steps he lead mee back again the way that wee had come 11. And when in our return wee were come to the ioyfull mansions of those inhabitants cloathed in white garments he said to mee Duest thou know what all these things are which thou hast seen I answered No. He replied That valley which thou sawest so terrible by the scorching flames and horrible frosts is the place in which those soules are to be tryed and afflicted which having delayed to confesse and amend their sins at the very point of death retire for safety to Repentance and so depart out of the body These because even in the last moment of their lives they confessed and were contrite for their sins they shall all at least
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
that extremity that he could not so much as ride on horseback but by his servaÌ„ts was caried in a hand-litter In this maÌ„ner he was brought to Meaux Meldum a Citty of France where four days and nights together he lay as one dead and a faint breathing scarce perceptible shewd only that he was yet alive Thus long continuing without meat or drink without speaking or hearing any thing spoken at last about day-break on the fifth day he awaked as from a deep sleep and sate up in his bed Then opening his eyes he saw about him his Brethren singing Psalms and weeping And sighing a little he demanded where Acca the Preist was Presently therefore he was called for and seeing the Holy Bishop pretty well recovered and able to speak he kneeled down and the other Brethren with him and gave thanks to God for so great a blessing 9. After this they sate down together and entred into discourse concerning the terrour of Divine iudgments which discourse having continued awhile the Holy Bishop commanded all the rest to leave the room except Acca to whom directing his countenance and speech he said A terrible Vision lately hapned to mee which I intend to discover to thee but which thou must conceale till I see how it shall please God to dispose of mee There stood before mee a certain person in a glorious shining vestment who said he was the Archangell Michael and that he was sent to recall mee from death For sayd he our Lord moved by the Prayers and tears of thy Brethren and Disciples and by the Intercession of his most Blessed Virgin Mother has given thee life Therefore I assure thee that thou shalt for the present recover of this sicknes but be prepared for four years hence I will visit thee Thou shalt arrive safe in thy native countrey and there receive the greatest part of thy possessions and conclude thy life in great tranquillity 10. The event shewed this Vision to have been no illusion for presently the Holy Bishop perfectly recovered his health to the great ioy of all who gave humble thanks to God for it And not long after renewing his iourney he came safe into Brittany But because he arrived not there till the year following wee will here interpose a Narration of the great chaÌ„ges hapning in this Island in the mean time which gave a new course to the Holy Bishops affaires XXIII CHAP. 1.2 Ethelred King of the Mercians becomes a Monk 3. He founds certain Monasteries 4. Coâ—nred succeeds in the Kingdom 5.6 Munificence of King Ina And of Bugga a Princesse to Glastonbury c. 1. SAint Wilfrid among other requests to Pope Iohn had desired him to write Letters in his favour to Ethelred King of the Mercians which he also did accordingly But in the Holy Bishops absence King Ethelred having been visited with the Grace and mercy of the Omnipotent was become a Monk saith Henry of Huntingdon And this change all our other ancient Historians attribute to his piety and contempt of worldly glory Whereas certain Modern Protestant Writers not traind up in the School of Gods Spirit doe without any ground from Antiquity affirm That King Ethelred being touched with remorse of his crimes and a terrour in conscience for having usurped the Kingdom was moved to build a Monastery and to enter himself into it after he had held the Kingdom full thirty years 2. As touching the place where this devout King undertook a Monasticall Profession S. Beda thus writes There is in the Province of Lindissi or Lincolnshire a Noble Monastery named Beardanam which was much affected and honoured by Offrida Queen of the Mercians as likewise by her husband Ethelred 3. The same King before he forsook the world had founded severall other Monasteries one whereof he bestowed upon Egwin afterward Bishop of Worcester of which himself makes mention thus Being in the prime of my age in the days of Ethelred King of the Mercians I made my humble request to him that he would vouchsafe to bestow on mee an ancient Monastery called Fledâ—nburch which he with great kindnesse granted mee It was seated in the Province of Worcester neer to the River Avon is at this day called Flatbury a place which saith Camden in the Primitive Church of the English was inhabited by Religious men The same Authour likewise ascribes to this King Ethelred the founding of the famous Monastery of Evesham concerning which wee shall treat more largely e're long 4. The Successour to King Ethelred in the Kingdom of the Mercians was Coënred or Kenrea son to his Brother Wulfere who diligently imitated all his vertues for as his Predecessour had done he passed his life in great sincerity of manners being eminent for his piety to God and justice in administring his Kingdom Thus writes Polydor Virgil and William of Malmsbury And as he lived so likewise ended he his life according to his example for he built many Monasteries and after a few years embraced also a Monasticall Life 5 Piety and munificence to Gods Church was the ordinary employment busines of the Kings of this age For Ina also King of the West-Saxons by the Counsell of S. Aldelm re-instated the ancient Monastery of Glastenbury in all possessions and priviledges which by reason of former troubles had been taken from it and settled the Monks in good order under the government of their Abbot Hemgesil And the said Abbot dying this year he gave to his Successaur Berwald severall Lordshâ—ps mentioned in his Grant preserved by the said Authour and the Tabernacles and other Vessells of gold and silver given by the said King to that Monastery are of a valew almost incredible Also at the same time Bugga the daughter of Kentwin formerly King of the West-Saxons seemed to contend with King Ina in adorning this famous Church and Monastery for as Alcuin in his Poâ—m recounts she built there a Chappell in which were twelve sumptuous Altars shining with gold and silver and consecrated to the twelve Apostles This she did for the refreshment of her Fathers soule who was there buried 6. The same King Ina moreover built a Church in Somersetshire at a Town anciently called Theorodunum and vulgarly Tiddington but afterwards for the abundance of springs named Welles To which he added a Colledge for Ecclesiasticall persons to live sequestred from the world in devotion The Church he dedicated to God the Apostle S. Andrew which shortly after saith Camden was by Princes and Noble men enriched with large revenews It grew in succeeding times into an Episcopall See and Athelm is by Bishop Godwin reckoned the first Bishop of Welles in the year of Grace nine hundred and five So that Polydor Virgil was mistaken in saying that King Ina erected it into a Bishoprick XXIV CHAP. 1. 2. c. Saint Wilfrid returns with the Popes Letters which are neglected by King Alfrid 8.9 who shortly after dyes 1. IN
Swibert should be sought out and humbly entreated to visit the said unhappy person 4. This being accordingly done Saint Swibert moved with great compassion and Charity went to the house attended by his Preists and other Disciples and being yet in the way thither the Devill presently caused the possessed person to fome and gnash his teeth and to cry out in a far more horrible manner then before at which all that were present were much greived and astonished But assoon as Saint Swibert approached the house the clamours ceased the Demoniack lay still in his bed as if he had been asleep 5. Assoon as the Holy Bishop saw him lying in this posture he commanded all us who attended him to betake our selves devoutly to our Prayers And he himself likewise with fervent zeale besought almighty God that he would vouchsafe to free the Demoniack from the Devills power to the end that his Holy Name might be glorified and those Infidels converted to the Faith Having thus prayed we all rose up and he signed the Demoniack with the sign of the Saving Crosse saying In the Name of our Lord Iesus Christ I command thee O unclean Spirit that thou depart from this Creature of God that he may acknowledge his true Creatour and Saviour Immediatly hereupon the Wicked Spirit departing with a noysom stink began to crye out aloud O thou servant of the Great God thou shalt not abide long in this Province for as thou hast driven mee from this my habitation so will make thee to be driven out of this countrey 6. As for Ethelhere who was thus freed from the Devills power he presently arose in the sight of all and casting himself at the Holy Bishops feet he begged pardon for the injuries he had done him and earnestly besought him that he might be baptized in the Name of Iesus Christ in whose Name he had been delivered In like manner many Pagans and two Idoll Preists there present cast themselves at S. Swiberts feet desiring to be instructed in the Mystery of the Christian Faith Whom the Saint raised up and taught them how the Eternall Wisedom descended from Heaven to Earth that by his Blessed Death and Blood shed on the Altar of the Crosse he might restore life to mankind dead in sins Thus he continued three whole weeks instructing and confirming them in the Faith and yet baptised only two and forty of them besides woemen and children or both sexes 7. Two years he spent among them constantly preaching the faith whereby he converted great numbers which with their own hands broke their Idols and built Churches in which the Holy Bishop constituted Preists and Deacons to assist him Many likewise having been informed of the Miracles done by him came to see and hear him of whom he converted and baptized not a few He gained the affection and veneration of all cheifly by the tendernes of his love which he shewd to the poor and afflicted whom he meekly visited in their necessities and infirmities and these not only Christians whom he confirmed in their Faith but Pagans also who by his charitable assistance were withdrawn from their Superstitions and Idolatry Notwithstanding how aâ—ter two years the Devill by Gods permission made good his threatning that he would shortly expell him out of that Province shall hereafter be declared III. CHAP. 1.2 c. The death of S. Adelbert and of S. â—erenfrid Apostolick Missioners in Germany 4.5 S Decumanus a Holy Hermite murdred A miracle after his death 1. TO this year is assigned in our Martyrologe the death of S. Adelbert who as hath been declared was one of the twelve English Apostolick Missionners into Germany Concerning whom in the Gallican Martyrologe on the five and twentieth of Iune we read this Testimony 2. At Egmond in Holland is the same day celebrated the Memory of S. Adelbert Confessour and Deacon Who being descended from the Royall stock of the Kings of the Deiri in Brittany for he was the Son of Edilbald son of S. Oswald King and Martyr and by S. Willebrord constituted Arch-deacon in the Provinces of the Batavi and Frisons did notably promote the Christian Faith For he was made choice of among the most excellent Disciples of that Holy Prelat and sent into the utmost confines of that Diocese to preach the word of life to that pagan people in Knemaria where he gathered a plentifull harvest to our Lord. And after he had confirmed his New plantation in the Faith he was called by Almighty God to receive his eternall reward After his death he received Divine Testimonies of his celestiall Happines For at Egmond where he was buried in his own Oratory he became illustrious by such Miracle â—as afforded great security and protection to the inhabitants and invited a wonderâ—full concourse of strangers to perform veneration to him and to begg his intercession 3. This same year likewise another associate in the same Mission S. Werenfrid a Preist received an eternall reward for his labours His memory is also celebrated in the same Martyrologe on the fourteenth of August with this Elogy At Elst in Gelderland is this day commemorated the Deposition of S. Werenfrid an illustrious fellow-worker with Divine Grace He was associated with S. Willebrord in the busines of Piety and heaped up the gain of many soules to our Lord. Thus loaden with such precious spoiles he was received into Glory His body reposes honourably in a Collegiat Church consecrated to his honour and name in the foresaid town seated on the Rhene between Nimegen and the Sand. He is by others said to have dyed at a Town called Westervert and afterwards to have been buried at Elst And that he sowed the precious seed of the Gospel at Medemblick Durâ—stad Elst and other towns in Batavian 4. The year following wee find commemorated in our Martyrologe the Martyrdom of S. Decumanus born of Noble parents in the South-Western parts of Wales who forsaking his countrey the more freely to give himself to Mortification and devotion passed the river Severn upon a hurdle of rodds and retired himself into a mountainous vast solitude covered with shrubbs briars where he spent his life in the repose of Contemplation till in the end he was slain by a murderer 5. The place so described by the Authour of his life in Capgrave is seated in the County of Somerset where a Castle in after times called Dorostorum now Dunstor was built by the family of the Mohuns To this Castle saith Camden are adiacent two Villages consecrated to two Saints The one is called Caranton from a Brittish Saint Carantac and the other Decombes from S. Decumanus who out of Southwales arrived here renouncing all wordly vanity and by a murderer was peirced through with a sword For which saith he he obtained in the esteem of the ignorant common people divine honour Thus writes this Authour skillfull indeed in places but ignorant in the Faith of his Ancestours who
a certain Prince of Mercia called Ethelbaldus by the good advice of S. Guthlac 11. In those days saith he that is in the year before the death of this Holy Hermit Prince Ethelbald great grandchild of Alwy the Brother of King Penda was banished out of the kingdom of the Mertians He was of an elegant stature strong of body and warlick of mind but which was to be bewayled he was high-minded and apt to any rash attempt against the King For which turbulent spirit of his as we may iustly imagine he was exposed to many dangers and for a long space debarred all medling with State-affaires And not only so but King Coelred did violently persecute him every where insomuch as being in great danger and wholly destitute of freinds and all means to resist he would oft come privatly to the man of God Saint Guthlac who was his Confessour to seek for spirituall counsell when all worldly assistance fayled him and to him he humbly made his complaints 12. The Holy man having heard him kindly and mildly comforted him and withall as one to whom future things were by divine revelation known he distinctly and particularly discovered to him what should succeed afterward promising him that he should be King of his Nation and subdue all his Enemies Yea moreover he bad him be confident that all these things should happen to him without any combat or effusion of blood only by Gods power and Providence over him 13. But to these comforting promises he added serious admonitions that he should fear our Lord God above all things and shew â—ll subwission and respect to his Holy Church That he should often deplore his former crimes and constantly make good his purpose of amendment For he told him that if he would be carefull to obey the Divne Law he might with confidence expect Gods help and favour By such exhortations and comforts the mind of the afflicted Prince was exceedingly refreshed insomuch as in the presence of his holy Father Saint Guthlac and others then standing by he expressly promised that assoon as God should sett him peaceably in the Throne of the Kingdom he would found a Monastery in the same place to the honour of God and memory of his sayd Father And this promise a short time after he effectually accomplished XXI CHAP. 1. 2. c. The death of Saint Guthlac and wonderfull occurrents Of his Sister Saint Pega 1. AFter a life spent with such austerity holines and devotion there must needs follow a death conformable to it which is thus related from the mouth of his companion and Disciple Berthelin 2. When the day of his departure approached he called to him his Disciple Berthelin to whom he sayd My son I am now going to reap the fruit of my Labours I desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ. And after other words to the same effect he enioynd him to goe and with great affection in his name salute his Sister Pega desiâ—ing her to take care of his buriall Withall he bid him tell her that therefore he had avoyded the seeing and conversing with her in this present life that they might for ever enioy each others company in the life to come 3. Then his sayd Disciple took the boldnes to say thus to him I adiure you Holy Father that you will not refuse to tell mee plainly what the matter was that every morning and evening since I dwelt with you I heard you speak to and sometimes seem to answer some body Who was that person with whom you conversed Your speeches I heard but could never understand with whom you spoke To this question the Holy-man answered My dear son My last hower is now at hand It is not therefore expedient for mee now to lye who all my life have abhord it Know therefore that from my first entrance into this wildernes every morning and evening I have enioyd the conversation and comfort of a heavenly Angell who by his celestiall consolations refreshed mee in all my labours and tentations He foretold to mee things future discovered such as were absent and acquainted mee with hidden Mysteries which it is not expedient nor lawfull for mee to make known But now My son be carefull to seal up in silence these things and presume not to discover them to any but my Sister Pega and the devout Anchoret Egbert 4. When he had sayd this such an odortferous fragrancy came from his mouth that it seemed as if one had strowed roses or pourd forth balsam in the place And from midnight till morning a Light of inestimable brightnes shone through the whole house And assoon as the Sun was risen he sayd to his Disciple Bertelin My Son now is the moment that I must goe to Christ Having said this with hands stretched forth toward heave he fell asleep in our Lord on the third day before the Ides of April And the same Brother saw as it were a tower of fire reaching from the earth to heaven the splendour of which was so wonderfull that in comparison the light of the Sun at midday was pale and obscure A while after Blessed Pega the holy Mans Sister coming into the Island found the whole house replenished with a sweet fragrancy infinitly exceeding all odours which either art or nature could produce Then having decently buried her Brother S. Guthlat in his Oratory she returned to her own dwelling 5. About a year after his death his sister and other Preists came to his Oratory with a resolution to bury his body more honourably and they found it entire without the least corruption as if he had been asleep The ioynts likewise of his arms and fingers were as easily flexible as if the humours and spirits were yet running through his veyns his sinews had lost nothing of their former vigour Moreover the garments in which his sacred body had been wrapped preserved stil their primitive freshnes and glasse With great ioy and exaltation therefore they again reposed the Sacred Body once more in a Tombe expressly made for it 6. Now Prince Ethelbald in his exile having heard of the death of the Holy man was overwhelmed with greif and coming to his sepulcher he cryed out with many tears O Father whither shall I a poor banished man goe to whom shall I have recourse Now indeed I perceive that I am a miserable exile Dear Father Guthlac doe not you forsake him who is abandond by all and exposed to all miseries and torments Having spoken many such words with extreme greif and bitter sighs towards midnight he saw the Oratory wonderfully enlightned with an inexpressible brightnes and the Holy man himself appeard to him with a celestiall splendour saying to him these words My dear Son our Lord has a regard to thee be comforted and assured that within two years all thy travells shall have an end and thou shalt recover thy throne with great glory Besides this the Holy man expressly discovered to him how many
distauce of about a mile and a half from the Church of Hagustald from which it is separated by the River Tine To which mansion there is adioyning a Church-yard consecrated to the honour of Saint Michael the Archangel Thither the Holy Bishop attended by a few of his Disciples was wont when opportunity was afforded to retire himself especially in Lent that he might without interruption attend to Prayer and Spirituall Reading On a certain time therefore in the beginning of Lent going thither he commanded that there should be conducted thither some poor begger who withall was afflicted with some extraordinary infirmity that he might there have a fitt object for his charity and Almes And the same course he usually held in his retirements 7. Now there was then in a village not far distant a certain youth not unknown to the Bishop who was altogether dumb and withall had his head wholly covered with a thick scurf which entirely hindred the grouth of haires except a few which like bristles stood in a thinn circle about the lower part of his head This young man was brought therefore to him and a small cottage was built for him to which the Holy Bishop dayly went with his Almes Now on the second Sunday of Lent he commanded this poor child to enter into his Cell and being there to putt forth his tongue which the holy man took hold of and made the sign of the Crosse upon it And having done this he bid him speak Pronounce said he to him gea gea that is yea yea This the child pronounced distinctly and presently after other words of more syllables and in conclusion whole Sentences So that before night by frequent practise in which he took great delight he was able to expresse his thoughts freely 8. This recovery of the poor dumb child did much reioyce the Holy Bishop who presently after commanded a surgeon to use his skill for curing the scurse of his head and in a short time by such care but principally by the prayers and benedictions of the good Prelat his head was perfectly healed and the child who formerly had been deformed and dumb became of a lovely chearfull countenance adorned with beautifully curled haire and ready in speech Being thus cured the Holy Bishop offred to entertain him in his family but he chose rather to return to his freinds 9. This Miracle was wrought in his first Diocese oâ— Hagustald Whereto we will add another performed in that of York related by the same devout Abbot Brithun to Saint Beda There was said he a certain village belonging to a Count named Puch distant about two miles from our Monastery of Deirirode or Beverley This Counts wife had for the space of forty dayes been greivously tormented with a sicknes so that for three weeks she could not be removed out of her chamber Now it hapned at the same time that the Man of God was desired by the said Count to dedicate a Church in the same place Which having done the Count earnestly requested him to dine with him But the Bishop refused saying He must needs return to his Monastery near adioyning The Count told him that if he would vouchsafe to honour his house with his presence he would give considerable Alms to the poore I likewise ioynd with him in the same request promising the like Charity to the poor upon condition he would dine in his house and give his benediction to it 10. With much adoe at last we obtained this favour from him and so went to dinner Now the Holy Bishop had by one of my Monks attending us sent to the Counts wife some part of the Holy water which he had consecrated and used among the Ceremonies of the Dedication commanding him to give her some part of it to drink and that with the rest she should wash that part where she felt the sharpest pain Which she having accordingly performed immediatly rose up perfectly sound and was not only freed from her pains but had her former strength entirely restored so that she imitating Saint Peters wives Mother in the Gospell came down and during the whole dinner presented drink to the Bishop and to all the rest of the company 11. The Centuriators of Magdeburg write with a very uncertain stile concerning this famous Bishop sometimes highly commending him and again as sharply censuring him He dyed say they with great constancy of an Evangelicall Spirit And again He was illustrious for his piety and miracles as Saint Beda relates But withall they adde Notwithstanding such great wonders he did not perform without Superstition For he did not relye alone upon his Prayers but moreover made use of holy water aquâ lustrals Vnhappy man they little understand the efficacy of the Prayers and benedictions of Gods Church by vertue of which for at least fifteen ages together the power of Devills has been so oft rendred of no force by the use of Holy Water and sign of the Crosse terrible to infernall Spirits and odious to such Ministers 12. I will onely adde what William of Malmsbury relates as a thing usually performed and generally acknowledged by the inhabitants of Beverley in testimony of the sanctity of their glorious Patron which is that the feircest Bulls being haled with many strong ropes by the force and sweat of severall lusty men assoon as they are brought into his â—hurch yarâ— immediatly loose all their fury and feircenes and become gentle as lambes so that they are there left to their freedom to sport themselves whereas before with their feet and horns they endangered all that came near them Moreover how by the intercession and patronage of this Holy Prelate above a hundred years after his death King Ethelstan obtained a signall victory against the Scotts shall be declared in its proper place His Memory is celebrated in our Martyrologe on the seaventh of May the day of his death and his Translation made in the year of Grace one thousand sixty three is solemnly commemorated on the twenty fifth of October To conclude his Feast always solemnly observed in the Province of York was by a Decree of a Synod assembled in the year fourteen hundred and sixteen ordained to be kept Holiday through all England upon occasion of a great Victory which then King Henry the fifth obtained in France the same day XI CHAP. 1.2 Of S Brithun Abbot 3. The Pilgrimage of S. Daniel Bishop of winchester to Rome 1. IN this Narration of the Gests of the holy Bishops S. Iohn of Beverley often mention was made of his Deacon S. Brithun or as in a Manuscript Copy of S. Beda he is called S. Berctun whose Name is commemorated among the Saints in our Martyrologe on the fifteenth of May. Now though our Ecclesiasticall Monuments doe not place his death till almost twenty years after that of S. Iohn Yet in consecrating his Memory to posterity in this our History it seemed expedient not to divide them 2.
Concerning him thus we read in the Authour of his Life in Capgrave The Venerable Confessour of Christ Saint Brithun drew his originall from the Nation of the English He was Deacon for many years to the Holy Bishop of York Saint Iohn of Beverley and for the sanctity â—f hâ—s life and laudable conversation he was in his affection preferred by him before others and constituted Abbot in the Monastery of Deirwode now called Beverley which the said Holy Bishop built from the foundations And to the same Monastery Saint Iohn in his old age refigning his Bishoprick retired by the counsell of the said holy Abbot where also he dyed after he had spent four years in an Angelicall purity of conversation After his translation to heavenly ioyes the Venerable Abbot imitating his good Master persevered to the end of his life in watchings fastrags prayers and other good works For he was a lover of vertues a persecutour of vice a despiser of this present world a Zealous aspirer to heavenly ioyes a faithfull guardian and instructour of the flock committed to him an unwearied practiser of jâ—stice and piety a munificent disperser of Almes and in a word one who with all diligence performed whatsoever he knew to be pleasing to God Thus constantly serving our Lord in all good works to his decrepiâ—e age he crownd a most holy life with a suitable death and having quiâ—ted this world on the Nones of May he received his reward in heaven His body was with great hâ—nour buried in his own Monastery Where in processe of time his sanctity becoming illustrious by many Miracles with consent of the Clergy and people it was taken up and his sacred Relicks placed near the Coffin of his beloved Master and Instructour the Holy Bishop Saint Iohn close to the Altar in his Church of Beverley 3. The same year is recorded the devout Pilgrimage of Daniel Bishop of Winchester to Rome who is supposed by â—ome to have subscribed to a Synod about this time assembled there in which a heavy Anathema is pronounced against al such as presume to associate to themselves in mariage any Virgins or other women consecrated to God or those whose matrimonial society men being promoted to such orders have according to the Churches Discipline been obliged to forsake XII CHAP. 1. A Rebellion of the South-Saxons repressed 2.3 c. Of Saint Pechelm Bishop of Casa Candida and of S. Wirâ— an Irish Bishop 6.7 c. Casa Candida was within the Saxon Dominions 1. THE year following great commotions were raised in the Southern parts of Brittany For the South-Saxons impatient of the yoak layd on them by the West-Saxons elected among them a Generall a young man of great courage called Ealdbrith under whose conduct they seised on a strong Castle newly built by King Inas in Somersetshire at the River Thone therefore called Thoneton and now Taunton At which time King Inas being by some design or perhaps by sicknes diverted his magnanimous Queen Edilburga with a choice army layd siege to the said Castle and in a short space took and destroyd it that it should no more be a seat of Rebellion But Ealdbrith by flight escaped into Surrey and from thence retired into Sussex where King Inas following him with a powerfull army and fighting with him dispersed all his forces and slew Ealdbrith so utterly extinguishing the rebellion 2. The same year a New Episcopall See was erected in the Province of the Picts or rather an ancient one being decayed was restored This was the Episcopall See called Candida Casa and a holy man called Pecthelm was consecrated Bishop of it For thus writes S. Beda concluding his History Pecthelm now sitts Bishop in that part of the Province which is called Candida Casa or White house the which Diocese was newly erected by reason of the multiplying of beleivers in those parts and the first Bishop was the said Pecthelm 3. Wee have in the eighth book of this History declared how in the year of Grace three hundred ninety four S. Siricius Pope consecrated S. Ninian first Bishop of the Southern Picts who established his Episcopal See at this place where he built a Church to the honour of S. Martin and with great industry converted a great part of the Nation But after the Saxons had subdued the Picts wee read of certain Bishops of the Picts as about forty years before this the devout Bishop Trumwin but it seems they had no determinate See at least not this of Wite-hern or Candida Casa which was at this time restored 4. As for this Pecthelm he was a man of great piety and learning and so illustrious that he was consulted in difficulties of great importance by Saint Boniface as appears by severall Epistles yet extant In his younger age he was educated in the kingdom of the West-Saxons where he was Disciple to the famous Saint Aldelm and made Deacon as William of Malmsbury testifies After that he went over into Germany where he associated himself to Saint Willebrord and was present at a Synod assembled by that Holy Apostolick Bishop at Vtrecht to which his name is found subscribed It was he who related to Saint Beda the sad Story of the impenitent Soldier and favourite of Coenred King of the Mercians formerly recounted in this History 5. By whom this holy man was consecrated Bishop not any of our Historians doe declare but in the Belgick Calendars published by Miraeus we read that he was ordained Bishop by the Pope as likewise the companion of his pilgrimage Saint Wâ—ro For there wee read this passage Saint Plechelm so he is there named born of Noble parents in the kingdom of the Northumbers from his youth excelled in humility and modesty and even in that tender age chastised his body by watchings and fastings attending assiduously to Prayer Being come to riper age he was diligent in the study of Holy Scriptures When he was promoted to the order of Preisthood he was liberall to the poor and adornâ—d with all vertues insomuch as that internall Light which he received from Gods holy Spirit shone forth gloriously in all his actions Not long after associating himself to Saint Wiro he accompanied him in a pilgrimage to the Monuments of the Blessed Apostles Saint Peter and Saint Paul at Rome There they with great devotion visited all holy places and by assiduous Mortifications and prayers offred themselves Holocausts of sweet savour to God These two holy men being observed by the Pope to be endued with divine wisedom and enflamed with Charity he consecrated them Bishops and enriching them with Sacred Relicks of Saints he dismissed them to their own countrey There Plechelm became Bishop in the Church called Candida Casa where with unwearied labour he extinguished all remainder of Idolatry 6. Here is a great controversy against the Saxon pretentions raised by the ancient Scotts or Irish and the Modern Scotts each of them challenging to their
pretentions are not all together unprobable 5. Saint Pectelm being dead to him succeeded Frithwald in the See of Candida Casa So that the Illustrious Cardinall Baronius is evidently mistaken in the sence of a passage in S Beda in which after mentioning the death of Heddi he immediatly addes these words To conclude Pecthelm who a long time was Deacon and a Monk with his Successour Aldelm was wont to relate c. From which Passage the learned Cardinall affirms that Pecthelm had for his Successour Aldelm whereas S. Beda's meaning was that Aldelm was Successour to Heddi and that Pecthelm was S. Aldelms Deacon and Monk which from severall Authours we have verified before 6. As touching the Companions of S. Pecthelm the uncertainty of their native countrey is as great Saint Wiro as hath been declared is likewise challenged by the Irish and one particular mentioned in his Life argues strongly for it where it is sayd That it was the custom in the Island where he was born that when any Bishop was elected he was sent to Rome to receive Ordination from the hands of the Pope and so to return and take possession of his See 7. Saint Wiro therefore being thus ordaind was with great ioy received by his flock to whom he diligently gave wholesom instructions both by preaching and example Yet a desire long fixed in his mind to live in a forrain countrey known only to God still remained Whereupon privatly escaping away with S. Pecthelm and S. Otger he passed over into France where as hath been sayd he was with all respect and favour received by Prince Pipin who held him particularly in such Veneration for his eminent Sanctity that he chose him for his Spirituall Father and Guide of his soule to whom he usually confessed his sins and this with so great humility that his custom was to approach to him with bare feet 8. How long he remaind wiâ—h 〈◊〉 is â—ncertain But certain it is that thirsting after Solitude he retired himself to the place called the Mount of S. Peter of Odilia near the Citty of Ruremond in the Diocese of Liege where both by his preaching Sanctity and Miracles he became illustrious And being full of years and Sanctity a feaver not violent freed him from the prison of his flesh and sent his Spirit to heaven His commemoration among the Saints is placed in our Martyrologe on the eighth of May. His Body was buried in the Chappell dedicated to our Blessed Lady near Ruremond but afterward at least a great part of it was translated to Maestrick where it is held in great veneration 9. It remains that wee speak breifly of S. Oâ—ger who is generally acknowledged to have been born in Brittany For Surius in his Life declares that Saint Pecthelm and S. Wiro in their iourney to Rome passing through Brittany by a speciall Providence of God S. Otger a Deacon adioynd himself to their company who out of a fervent desire of heavenly good things contemning all commoditie and pleasures on earth became an inseparable Companion to S. Wiro whom from Rome he followed to the said Mount of Saint Peter where leading a heavenly life upon earth and inflaming the soules of many with a Love of Spirituall and Celestiall good things he there happily ended his Life on the tenth of September on which day his memory is celebrated The Centuriators of Magdeburg confounding him with S. Aldebert doe mistake in affirming that he was son to the King of the Deiri or Yorkshire V. CHAP. 1.2 c. Egbert Archbishop of York restores the Primitive dignity to his See 5. He consecrates Suffâ—agan Bishops 1. THE same year as hath been sayd not only the See of Canterbury but that of York also received a New Pastour For Wilfrid the younger either dying or which seems more probable voluntarily reliquishing that See there was chosen in his place Egbert Brother to Eadbert or as some also call him Egbert who shortly after was King of the Northumbers 2. The Church of York since the death of the founder of it and first Arch-bishop Saint Paulinus to this time continued in much depression By whose fault this hapned it does not appear perhaps it was by means of the contentions long continuing among the Bishops or the multiplication of Bishopricks But now Egbert being a man of great parts and courage restores it to its primitive Dignity as William of Malmsbury thus declares Egbert saith he by his prudence and assisted with his Brothers power reduced that See to its first State For as it is manifest to any one who reads the Ancient Gests of the English Nation Saint Paulinus the first Prelat of that Church was by open violence and hostility driven out of it So that he was forced to retire himself to Rochester in Kent where he died Bishop of that See and there left the Archiepiscopall Pall which he had received from Pope Honorius As for his Successours in that great Church of York they contented themselves with the simple Title of Bishops not aspiring higher But Egbert a man of a more haughty disposition considering with himself that as it is a mark of â—ride for a man to seek honours undue so is it a mark of basenes to neglect such as are due thereupon by severall Appeals to the See Apostolick he at last recovered the Archiepiscopall Pall so raising that Church once more to a Metropolitan Dignity 3. Not any of our Historians doe impute this action of Egbert to a culpable ambition on the contrary his memory is much celebrated by them Harpsfeild sayes that he was a Prelat in many regards worthy of high commendation And William of Malmsbury gives him this Character That he was a Treasury of all liberall sciences And of this says he I can produce a witnes of unquestioned authority the learned Alcuin who in an Epistle to the Emperour Charles the Great thus writes Let mee be furnished with Books of more exquisite learning such as whilst I lived in mine own countrey of Brittany by the favour and industry of my worthy Master Egbert Arch-bishop of York I had the use of And if such be your Excellencies pleasure I will send thither some of my Disciples to coppy out there bring with them into France the choycest flowers in their Libraries Probably this Alcuin who after Saint Aldelm and Saint Beda was the most learned man of the English Nation had a principall regard in this passage cited out of him to that most Noble Library which Egbert furnished at York 4. But nothing gives a greater luster to him and more setts forth his learning and erudition then that Saint Boniface iudged him a person capable to resolve his difficulties There is among his Epistles one written after the death of Saint Beda to him in which he desires him to send him some of that Holy Doctours Treatises and withall asks his advice whether he might lawfully permitt a
holy King extended the bounds of his banishâ—ment further and visitted the shrines of the Holy Apostles beyond the Alpes and afterwards retired himself into other uninhabited places to the end he might more freely there attend to God At length after a long continued exile after many internall combats after frequent and painfull suffrings by hunger thirst and cold all his conflicts ended in the Province of Italy and Citty of Lucca there he received his rewards thence his soule was received into heaven and his Sacred members were placed near the Body of S. Frigidianus in a Church dedicated to his honour where his glorâ— shines abroad by many miracles His Festivity 〈◊〉 solemnized on the seaventh day before the Ides of February 3. The observations made by the illustrious Cardinall Baronius in his Annals this year upon this Inscription particularly to disprove the Title of King of the English attributed to S. Richard doe not seem to mee concluding For though it be true that his name is not found in the Catalogue of the Saxon or English Kings that is no sufficieÌ„t proof against him Since wee read very many examples or the like So in S. Beda mentioned is made of Edilward son of Oswald King of the Dierâ— likewise of Elbuin and of Osri King of the Wiccians And Cissa in his Charter in Harpsfeild calls himself King of the West-Saxons S. Boniface also mentions Sâ—gâ—â—ald King of the same Province and Ina a King called Balred Lastly in the Life of S. Botulph wee read of one Ethelmunâ— King of the South-Saxons yet not the name of any of these appear in the Catalogues oâ— the Kings of those severall Kingdoms And whereas he affirms that Philip of Eyslat a German is the first Authour who gives the Title of King to S. Richard it is a mistake For Wolfhard an Authour much more ancient who lived in the next Century to this and with great fidelity wrote the Life of Saint Walburga affords him the same Title and Stuartius in his Notes upon the same Life affirms that all Authours almost with one consent make him a King of England insomuch as none in his sound witts will deny it And indeed hereto agree the Roman Martyrologe Philip Bishop of Eystat Trithemius Molanus Yepes Gualter and very many others Yea Gretser in his observations on the Life of Saint Wilibald son to this Saint Richard prooves by many arguments the same as from common Tradition from ordinary Images of him from severall Missals Breviaries and Authours Notwithstanding that he did not actually at least not long enioy this Title and power may be granted Now the right which he had thereto may be shewed out of our Ancient Monuments 4. For wee have before declared how Lothere King of Kent succeeded to his Brother Egbert to the prejudice of his Brothers son Edric And after eleaven years raign being dispossessed and slain his son was also debarred the Succession never mounted the Throne Now this Prince Richard according to the opinion of some Writers and particularly of the learned Annalist R.F. Alford was that disinherited son of Lothere who content with the security and sweetnes of a private Life never sought nor desired soveraignty though iustly due to him 5. But more probable it is that this Richard was a King of the West-Saxons immediately after King Ina. For though Ethelard be the the onely King named his Successour Yet Saint Beda sayes expressely that King Ina left his Kingdom to severall young Princes among whoÌ„ this S. Richard probably was one This is confirmed by what we read in the life of this Prince that he recommended his children Winnebald and Willebald to S. Boniface because he was of his kingdom Now it is certain that S. Boniface was born at Kirton near Exceter in the Kingdom of the West-Saxons But Ethelard being a Prince of high spirits seems to have excluded the rest and S. Richard whose ambition lay another and better way was willing to employ his thoughts and endeavours in pursuing the hopes of an Eternall Kingdom to be obtained by peaceablenes and neglect of temporall Glory 6. And God was pleased to reward this his love with a far greater Blessing in giving him three children worthy of eternall memory S. Willibald S. Winibald and S. Walburga These three children in the year of Grace seaven hundred twenty five were sent by their Father to S. Boniface in Germany because he was born in his kingdom as the Authour of S Richards Life writes twenty years before the said S. Boniface was Arch-bishop of Mentz neither did their Father accompany them at that time as the Authour of the Inscription mistaking writes But severall years after followed them thither out of a desire to enioy their happy conversation and end his Life in the society of so many Saints Notwithstanding out of a Motive of Devotion very fashionable in that age he undertook a Pilgrimage in a mean habit to visit the Shrines of the Blessed Apostles at Rome After which in his return this year through Etruria or Tuscany God was pleased in the Citty of Lucca to putt an end to his iourney and restore to him with advantage a heavenly Crown And we are obliged to that Noble Citty for preserving his Memory in so Noble a Monument His name is both in the Roman and English Martyrologe recited among the Saints on the seaventh of February Where likewise he is stiled S. Richard King of the English because perhaps he had a right though never any possession of the Kingdom 7. The same year dyed the Holy Virgin Tecla Abbesse of the Monastery of Kirzengen at Ochnafort in Germany for so doe the Centuriators of Magdeburg stile the place And write concerning her and her holy companions in this manner This age or Century likewise had women famous for their learning some of which Boniface sent for out of England into Germany to preach the Gospell namely Chunitâ—ude Tecla Lioba Waldoburga Chunilda and Beragytha We doe indeed acknowledge that these Holy Virgins were sent for out of England into Germany but not to be Preachers It is no Catholick custom to make women overseers and disposers of Ecclesiasticall matters The end for which they were invited out of England was indeed to teach German Virgins the Instituts of a Religious Conversation As touching S. Tecla in particular she had her devout education in the Monastery of Winborn wherein she proffited so well that S. Boniface thought her fitt to teach others what she had so well learnt and to govern others having been so perfect in Obedience her self This Office after she had piously and diligently exercised fifteen years she was called to the embraces of her heavenly Bridegroom on the fifteenth day of October on which day she is commemorated among the Saints in the Roman Martyrologe 8. Our Martyrologe likewise mentions a certain English man a Bishop called German who went over Sea to preach
made in the Archives at Rome for the writing and Commission given by Pope Sergius to Saint Willebrord by which might appear the insufficiency of the pretentions of the Bishop of Colen 8. The Answer hereto from Rome is not now extant but by the proceedings of S. Boniface it appears that the cause went on his side For he administred the affairs of the See of Vtrecht without any dependency on the Bishop of Colen 9. Being ready to begin his iourney he sent for the Religious Virgin S. Lioba one of those which he had invited out of England to establish Regular Discipline in Germany and exhorted her earnestly not to desert this countrey in which she was a stranger nor to faint in a vigorous pursuit of her holy employment but to perfect the good work begun by her He told her that bodily weaknes and infirmities were not considerable neither was an age esteemed by us long to be regarded if compared with eternall Rewards which shall crown all our good endeavours Having said this he commended her earnestly to Bishop Lullus and the Seniour Monks of the said Monastery admonishing them to shew all care and respect to her Telling them with all that it was his resolution that after both their deaths her bones should be layd near to his in the same grave that they may expect the day of Resurrâ—ction together since they had served our Lord with the same desire and affection When he had said this he bestowd on her his Monasticall Cowle once more admonishing her not to forsake that Land of her pilgrimage Thus all things being prepared for his iourney he went into Friseland These things are extracted out of the Life of S. Lioba written by Rodolphus at the request of Rabanus Maurus XXIX CHAP. 1.2 c. The last Gests and Martyrdom of S. Boniface and his Companions 11.12 c His Body translated from Vtrecht to Mentz and thence to Fulda 15.16 That S Boniface was an Englishman not a Scott 1. WEE are now come to the last and best passage of this glorious Saints life which was his willing offring of it to our Lord as a Sacrifice of sweet smelling Savour The manner of it wee will here sett down as wee find it extracted out of the Gests of S. Boniface by the illustrious Cardinall Baronius 2. After the holy Bishop had sett all things in order in Germany he attended by such persons as he had made choice of entred the boat and descending by the Channel of the Râ—ene arrived safe into the region of the Frisons Where from place to place he preached the word of God with great fervour and carefully built Churches And so great successe did God give to his labours that within a short time he assisted by Saint Eoban converted and baptized many thousands of men and women Now the said Eoban he ordained Bishop of Vtrecht to the end that in his old age he might have one to ease him by sustaining a great part of his burden There were present likewise and assistants to him severall Preists and Deacons Among the Preists the principall were Wintruge Walter and Aâ—alher and among the Deacons Strichald Hamunt and Boso Moreover there were certain Monks also Waccar Gunderhar Williker and Adolf which attended him All these unanimously laboured with him in preaching the Gospell and with him also attained the crown of Martyrdom 3. Now all these after they had passed through severall parts of that countrey and were come to the River Bortna in the confines of East Friseland S. Boniface having none with him but his own companions commanded their Tents should be pitched because there he intended to expect the coming of those who after Baptism were to receive Confirmation For the day appointed thereto was at hand 4. But when it was come and the Sun was mounted to its height all those which were expected by him with the same tendernes of attention that children are expected by their fathers were become utterly unworthy to receive the Grace of Gods Holy Spirit which that day was to have been conferred on them by the Sacrament of Confirmation For of freinds they were turned into enemies and of Neophytes into Sergeants and Executioners They came running then with great rustling of armour to the Tents of these defenceles Saints Which when the Servants saw they betook themselves likewise to their weapons endeavouring to defend the holy men against the rage of that furious multitude 5. But Saint Boniface when he heard the noise of this tumult in the first place he had recourse to his Spirituall Sanctuary and fortresse for he took the Sacred Relicks which in all his iourneys he caried with him and then calling to him all his Ecclesiasticks he went with theÌ„ out of the Tent and restraind the servants who were ready to resist saying to them My children abstain from fighting dâ—e not combat with your adversaries but rather render them good for evill Now the long wishd for day is come in which wee are from this miserable world invited to eternall ioys Why would you then debarre your selves from so great a grace and happines On the contrary be courageously chearfull in our Lord and with thankfull minds receive the inestimable gifts of Divine Grace now offred to you Put your trust in our Lord and he will deliver us out of all danger With such speeches as these he with-held his servants from setting upon their enemies 6. Then addressing himself in a fatherly manner to the Ecclesiasticks of each degree My most dear Brethren said he if the memory of my former admonitions be not utterly defaced out of your minds shew now that you have not forgotteÌ„ them Call to mind those words of our Saviour Fear not those who kill the body but can not hurt the soule Fixe the anchor of your Hope in God onely who after this momentany life will give you an eternall Crown among his heavenly Saints Doe not I beseech you in this point of time loose the everlasting rewards of Victorious soules Be not therefore either corrupted with the flatteries of these Pagans or terrified with their threatnings but courageously and manfully suffer this present danger of death for his love who for us suffred infinitly more that you may for ever reioyce with him in heaven 7. The holy Bishop had scarce ended this exhortation when the furious multitude armed with swords and all kinds of weapons rushed upon them and with bloody hands in a barbarous manner murdred them all Having done this they hastily ran into their Tents and took with them all their Books and coffers in which were enclosed the Sacred Relicks thinking they should find in them great treasures of Gold and silver Thence with hast they went to their Boats loaden with all the provisions of meat and wine of which they dranke with great ioy After this they fell into debate about dividing the treasure which they vainly hoped they had found And when after long and