there to celebrate the Feast of Easter then at hand His first acquaintance and familiarity in that Province was with a certain man who having heard his Doctrin presently beleived and receiving the Sacrament of Baptism was chang'd into a new man With him S. Patrick lodged This man had a young child call'd Beonna who bâ—re a tender affection to S. Patrick so that he would oft play with him and embrace him sometimes kissing his foote which he would presse to his breast When the holy man retir'd to rest the child would weep and say he would not sleep unles he might lye with him Whereupon S. Patrick with a Propheticall eye perceiving the great Graces which the Divine bounty would conferr upon the Child vouchsaf'd to take him to his bed and gave him the name Benignus A while after when the Holy Bishop was ready to take his iourney the child with pittifull cryes begd that he would not forsake him saying that if he forsook him he would dye He was therfore forc'd to receive him into his waggon and withall prophecied that he should be his heyr and successour in the Bishoprick which accordingly came to passe 3. This was the first solemnity of Easter which the Holy Bishop celebrated in Ireland saith Probus And he celebrated it by imitating the Son of God who at his last supper with his Disciples consecrated his Body and Blood for the redemption of mankind 4. The day before this great Feast of our Lords Resurrection S. Patrick observing the Ecclesiasticall Rite still in use kindled the Holy Fire the flame whereof shone brightly about the place Now according to the custom of that countrey it was unlawfull for any one to light a fire before it was kindled in the Kings palace Hereupon the King whose name was Logorius perceiving the brightnes of the flame in great indignation threatned death to whosoever he was that had presumed to infringe that custom in his kingdom The Magicians who were present said to the King O King live for ever And know for a certain that this fire which against Law has been thus kindled unlesse it be presently extinguish'd will never cease to the worlds end Moreover it will obscure all the fires which according to our customs we kindle and the man who lighted it will be the destruction of thy Kingdom X. CHAP. 1.2 c. Of S. Winwaloc his Gests and death 6. c. Of his Deacon S. Ethbin â— WHilst S. Patrick laboured in the Gospell with so great successe Brittany was illustrated with the glory of another great Saint who notwithstanding by reason of the calamities afterward hapning was forc'd to leave his Native countrey and passe over into Armorica in Gaule This was S. Winwaloc the son of a certain Noble person call'd Fracan cousin german to a Brittish Prince nam'd Coton as wee read in the Gallican Martyrologe 2. Malbranc a French Antiquary affirms that his Mothers name was Alba and sirname Trimavis citing for his authority the ancient Manuscript Monuments of Monstrueil And the said Martyrologe gives this Character of him Winwaloc from his childhood was inflam'd with an earnest desire of celestial things to despise worldly allurements and live to God only Wherfore he earnestly begg'd of his parents that â—e might be commended to the care of a certain Religious man to be imbued by him in the knowledge of Holy Scripture and the documents of piety Having obtain'd his request he made wonderfull progres in Holines and vertue under his discipline insomuch that when he was but seaven years old he became an example of all piety and goodnes In processe of time having undertaken a Monasticall Profession Divine Graces shone more brightly in him being withall enrich'd with the Gift of Prophecy Many miracles almighty God wrought by him in performing which having a firm Faith he made use only of the Sign of the Crosse and oyle which had been bless'd Among which miracles the most stupendious was his raising a young man to life 3. At the same time saith Haraeus from Surius the most holy Prelat S. Patricks glory was famous in Gods Church who like a bright starr illustrated Ireland The report of whose admirable vertues kindled so great an affection to him in S. Winwaloc that he us'd all endeavours to goe to him and be subject to his direction in piety But whilst he busied his thoughts with this design S. Patrick in a vision presented himself to him with an Angelicall brightnes and having a golden Diadem on his head he thus spoke to him Behold I am the same Patrick whom thou so earnestly desirest to visit But to prevent so tedious a iourney by sea and land our Lord hath sent mee to thee to fullfill thy desire and that thou maist enjoy both my sight and conversation Besides this he foretold him that he should be a Guide and Directour of many in spirituall warfare for which end he gave him many wholesom instructions Exhorting him withall to desire from his Master some companions and that with them he should remove to another place Assoon as this Vision vanish'd S. Winwaloc went to the Cell in which the Father of the Monastery was attending to Divine Meditation and contemplation To whom assoon as he had declar'd his Vision he with a joyfull countenance said to him My son thou hast been honour'd with a Divine visitation and revelation And without delay as if he had receiv'd a precept from heaven he assign'd to him eleaven Disciples such as were most fervent in Gods service c. 4. The same Authour adds that with these companions he pass'd over into a certain Island where for the space of three years they lead an Heremiticall life But the place being both expos'd to violent tempests and also incommodious by reason of its barrennes S. Winwaloc humbly begg'd of God that he would direct them to a more convenient habitation Our Lord heard his servants prayers and shewd him a place further remov'd in the Sea But wanting a ship he renewd his Prayers to God and having done this he said to his Brethren Be courageous and firm in a strong Faith and as you see mee leade this Brother by the hand so doe every one of you take his next fellows hand and follow one another Then invoking the name of our Lord with his Pastorall Staff he strook the Sea upon which God renewd once more the ancient Miracle of the Red sea for it opened a passage for them so that taking one another by the hand and himself marching in the front they walk'd securely over the dry sands the waters on both sides standing like walls and as they went they sang to our Lord a Hymne of praise and joyfulnes 5. Concerning his austerities wee read thus in Capgrave From the twentieth year of his age to his death S. winwaloc was never seen to sitt in the Church He never exceeded moderation in any thing Never was he deiected with
Isle of Brittany and Province of the Northumbers saith he there lived a certain Saxon named Wilgis who together with his wife and whole family lived a religious life in Christ as afterward appeared by evident proofs For having relinquished a secular habit he made choice of a Monasticall course of life and not long after the fervour of aspiring to Spirituall Perfection encreasing in him he retired himself to a rigorous soliâ—tude in a certain Promontory encompassed partly by the Sea and partly by the River Humber There he served God a long time in a little Oratory dedicated to S. Andrew the Apostle mortifying himself with fastings prayers and watchings and moreover became notable by many miracles Whereupon great multitudes of people repaired to him whom he by many sweet admonitions out of Gods word exhorted and encouraged in the wayes of Piety Hereby he became highly esteemed by the King and Nobles who bestowed on him certain possessions adioyning to the said Promontory for building a Church wherein our Lord might perpetually be served There this devout Father assembled a small but well ordered Congregation of persons which consecrated themselves to God Of whom I my self though in merits and order the meanest have by legitimate succession received the government in the same Cell built by him Thus Writes Alcuin touching S. Willebrords Father Wilgis Adding withall how on the Anniversary of his Solemnity in S. Willebrords Monastery Wine fayling for celebrating Masse God was pleased to supply it by a miracle For the merit of his Sanctity he is placed in our Martyrologe on the last day of Ianuary 3 Thence he proceeds to treat of his Son S. Willebrord in these words As Blessed S. Iohn Baptist the Forerunner of our Lord being sanctified to God from his Mothers womb was as the Gospell teaches us born of Religious Parents and like the Morning-Star went before Christ the Sun of righteousnes being designd by Almighty God to procure blessings to many In like manner S. Willebrord who was also designed for the eternall good of many nations is known to have descended from devout and Religious Parents For we may piously beleive that the Venerable man Wilgis by Gods predestination undertook a Matrimoniall life for this end onely that from him might proceed a Son of so eminent Sanctity by whom many Nations might receive spirituall benefit 4. This seems to have been signified by a heavenly Vision appearing to his Mother in her sleep about midnight at which time it seemd to her that she saw as it were a New Moon in the heaveÌ„s which increased by little and little till it came to the full Whilst she was earnestly looking upon his Moon on a sudden it seemd with a swift course to fall into her mouth and from thence descending into her stomack all her inward parts glistered with a shining brightnes Whereupon she awakd in great fear and the next day recounted her dream to a certain Religious Preist Whose answer was this The Moon which you saw at first very small and afterward encreasing to a larger magnitude denotes the Son which you conceived this night who with the beams of heavenly Truth shall dissipate the darknes of errours and wheresoever he shall goe the splendour of Divine Light shall accompany him so that by the brightnes of his vertues he shall draw the eyes and admiration of all men to him Thus did the said Religious Preist interpret the Vision which interpretation was confirmed and verified by subsequent events 5. Now it came to passe that the sayd woman in due time brought forth a Son to whom at his Baptism she gave the name of Willebrord And not long after he was weaned his Father gave him to the Monks of Rippon to be instructed in learning and piety to the end his frail and tender age might be fortified by Religious disciplines in a place where he should see nothing uncomely and hear nothing but what was pious and holy Divine Grace gave a good successe to his Fathers pious intention insomuch as from his childhood he proffited wonderfully in learning prudence and vertue so that in that age he seemed a young Samuël being pleasing and acceptable both to God and men 6. In the said Monastery S. Willebrord continued till he had received Ecclesiasticall Tonsure after which he undertook a Monasticalâ— Profession among severall other devout young men to none of which he was inferiour in a chearfull Observance of Discipline Humility and sedulous study of learning but dayly proffited so much that in modesty discretion and gravity he much transcended his age being in understanding aged though in body tender and small 7. Thus encreasing in the knowledge of Sacred learning in sobriety and vertuous manners when he arrived at the twentieth year of his age he was inflamed with a fervent desire of a more strickt course of life and a love of visiting forrain places And because he had heard that in Ireland learning did much flourish he intended to goe thither being hereto principally moved by the fame spread abroad concerning the pious conversation of severall Holy men among whom the principall were the Blessed Father and B. Egbert called the Saint as likewise the Venerable Preist Wigbert both who for the love of a celestiall countrey had forsaken their houses and kinred and retired into Ireland where in solitude they enioyed the sweet fruits of heavenly contemplation naked and poor as to the world but plentifully enriched with Divine Grace 8. The Blessed young man Willebrord piously emulating the Sanctity of these two Holy men with the connivence and permission of his Abbot and Brethren took ship presently for Ireland where he adioynd himself to the society of the said holy men to the end that like a diligent Bee he might by their vicinity suck the mellifluous flowers of piety and build up in the Hive of his own breast the sweet Honey-combs of vertue There for the space of twelve years under the tuition of those two illustrious Masters of Piety learning he treasured up knowledge and vertue by which he might be enabled to become a Teacher of many Nations Now at the end of these twelve years that is in the year of Grace six hundred and ninety he together with his eleaven devout companions waâ— sent an Apostolicall Preacher of Christian Faith to the Germans as hath already been declared V. CHAP. i. 2 c. The Martyrdom of two Apostolicall Brethren called Ewald the Black and the white 1. WE will now recount the successe of the pious endeavours of these Apostolicall Missionners Their first arrivall was in Friseland at Vtrecht where they immediatly began to sow the precious seed of the Gospell Now among them as hath been said there were two Brethren called by the same name of Ewald who seeing the industry of their companions in the conversion of the â—risâ—â—s were desirous to employ the like charity among the Saxons which they happily performed for they confirmed
insupportable persecutions by Pagans it is permitted to fly 11. That Tribute might be exacted from the Slavi inhabiting in that countrey 12. That by his Messenger Lul he had sent him a Roll signifying where and how many Crosses are to be made in celebrating Masse 4. For as much as concerned the Priviledges to be given to his Archiepiscopall See of Mentz he in a distinct Letter declared in this Form By the Authority of the Blessed Apostle Saint Peter wee doe ordain that the foresaid Church of Mentz be for ever to thee and thy Successours erected and confirmed a Metropolitan Church having under it these Citties Tongres Colen Worms Spire and Troyes Trectis or Trecas as likewise all the Nations of Germany which by thy preaching thou shalt convert to the Light of the Gospel 5. Lastly whereas Saint Boniface had signified to the said Pope that he had built a Monastery dedicated to the honour of our Saviour in a forest of vast extent in which he had placed Monks who lived under the Rule of Saint Benedict in great austerity abstaining from flesh and wine who had no servants but contented themselves to live by their own labour in which Monastery he purposed with the Popes leave to retire himself some times to rest his old weary limbs and after death to be buried and consequently desired his Holines to patronize it and endue it with convenient Priviledges Hereto the Pope condescended subiecting the said Monastery immediatly to the See Apostolick forbidding any Bishop or others to exercise any authority in it or so much as say Masse unlesse invited by the Abbot and confirming for ever all lands of which it was possessed at that time or should accrue to it afterward 6. These were the last Letters which passed between Saint Boniface and Pope Zacharias for he presently after dying and Pope Steven the next year succeeding in his place who held that See onely three days after whom another Pope of the same Name and stiled Steven the third being consecrated Saint Boniface wrote an Epistle to him professing his Duty and obedience as he had done before for the space or thirty years to three Popes his Predecessours and in conclusion he asked his pardon for the delay of sending that Letter the cause whâ—reof was his necessary occupation in repairing Churches which to the number of thirty had been burnt by the malice and fury of Pagans XXV CHAP. 1.2 The Bodyes of Saint Kiliam Saint Colman and S. Totnan translated by Saint Boniface 3 4 c. Their Gests and Happy Martyrdom and wonderfull discovery of their Relicks 1. THE same year Saint Boniface with great devotion took up the Bodies of Saint Kilian formerly Bishop of Wirtzburg Saint Colman a Preist and Saint Totnan a Deacon all which had come out of their Native countrey Ireland to preach the Gospell in Germany where they were blessed with the Crown of Martyrdom Their Sacred Bodies I say Saint Boniface now took up to expose them to the veneration of devout Christians and afterward to bury them more honourably a happy presage of the honour himselâ— was shortly after to receive 2. Now though â—heir Gests doe not properly belong to our present History Yet so much interest this piety of Saint Boniface gives us in them that a breif account of their actions and Martyrdom will not be iudged altogether impertinent here which wee will collect from a very ancient Anonymous Authour in Surius 3. Saint Kilian saith he was born of a Noble Stock in Ireland and from his childhood was brought up in learning But shortly by Gods preventing Grace despising curious study and worldly enticements he retired himself into a Monastery where with great perfection he gave himself to Prayer and the observance of Regular Disciplin Such progresse he made hereby in all piety and vertue that he was esteemed worthy in due time to be promoted to the Degree of Preisthood and afterward to the Government of his Monastery 4. The same of his Sanctity being far spread and drawing very many to see and admire it the Holy man fearing the tentation of vainglory began to meditate how he might retire himself from the knowledge of freinds and withall the Spirit of Charity to the soules of others inflaming among so many others in this age his heart likewise he took with him certain companions and passing over into Brittany he from thence sailed into France and travelling through severall Regions he entred into Germany as far as Wirtzburg determining there to sow the precious seed of the Gospell Which that he might doe with better successe he went to Rome to demand from the See Apostolick in which at that time Conon sate â—ope a licence and power to preach to Pagans And having obtained this togeâ—her with Episcopall dignity he returned â—o the same place in Germany 5. At his going to Rome he had left Saint Gallas the famous Abbot in Germany and at his return he left Saint Columban in Italy so that there remained to attend him only Saint Coloman a Preist and Saint Toâ—an Deacon And being arrived at Wirtzburg 〈◊〉 found a new Duke there called Gozbert Now after he had spent some time in preaching the Gospell with great efficacy the said Duke sent for him to appear before him and demanded what New Doctrine that was which he taught To whom the Holy Bishop freely revealed the Summ of Christian Doctrin touching the Blessed Trinity the Incarnation of the Son of God other necessary Mysteries of our Religion At that time the Duke though convinced of the unconquerable truth of his Doctrin yet deferred the acknowledging of it But not long after seeing the Holy mans perseverance he came privatly to him to be more perfectly informed and forsaking the Idolatrous worship of Diana who had been held in great veneration by him he gave up his name to Christ and on the next solemnity of Easter was baptized Whose example was followed by great multituds of his Subiects in Franconia 6. Now the said Duke had formerly taken to wife a Lady named Geilana who had been maried to his Brother and remained still a Pagan The unlawfullnes of which mariage the Holy Bishop delayd to discover to the Duke fearing it might be a hindrance to his embracing the Faith But when he saw him well established therein he then told him sincerely that such a Mariaâ—e was forbidden by the Religion he professed The Duke at the hearing of this was much afflicted and astonished for he loved his wife with great passion Yet his answer was That he resolved not prefer the love of any creature before God But tâ—at at present preparing for an expedition against his enemies he could not suddenly effect a busines of so great importance but at his return he would perform his duty 7. But when these things came to the knowledge of the Duchesse Geilana her rage was horribly inflamed against the Men of God and she meditated continually how
among the stains and Errours of his writings they reckon these That he seems to maintain the libertie of mans will And that the law is possible for he sayes it is no impossible thing for men who have a good will to love God above themselves and their neighbours as themselves Yea moreover he denyes concupiscence to be sin Lastly in general they write that the doctrine of Iustification was delivered by the Doctours of this age too negligently and obscurely that is much otherwise than Luther delivered it 34. In the third Century they find yet more things to displease them The Doctours of this age say they for the greatest part admitt free will Thus Tertullian Origen Cyprian and Methodius Again the most sublime article of Iustification is for the most part obscured by Origen and Methodius And as for the doctrine touching Good works the Doctours of this age did yet more decline from the true Doctrine of Christ and his Apostles and Luther then those of the former For they invented and inculcated many voluntary observances Thus Tertullian doth immoderatly extoll chastity and continence Origen attributes to good workes that they are a preparation to salvation and consequently a cause And with the like errour was Cyprian misled who ascribes to good works that they are the Guardians of hope the stay of Faith and cause us to abide continually in Christ to live in God and to attain to heavenly promises and Rewards Then for Pennance the doctrine thereof hath been wonderfully depraved by the Writers of this age They impute remissions of sins to Contrition Cyprian expressely affirmes that sins are redeemed and washed away by penitentiall satisfaction Moreover the same Cyprian speakes dangerously not according to the Tradition of Christ and the Apostles concerning unction in Baptisme saying it is necessary that the person baptised should be annointed with Chrisme that thereby he may become the annointed of God and have the grace of Christ in him And concerning the Eucharist Cyprian does superstitiously faine that some vertue accrews thereto from the person administring it for he sayes the Eucharist sanctified on the altar And again The Priest doth execute the office of Christ and offers sacrifice to God the Father Which phrase of offring sacrifice is used also by Tertullian You may moreover say they observe in the writings of the Doctours of this age Origen and Cyprian not obscure signes of Invocation of Saints And lastly touching the Primacy of the Bishop of Rome Cyprian affirms expressely and without any foundation of holy scripture that the Roman Church ought to be acknowledged by all for the mother and root of the Catholick Church Likewise Origen sayes that Peter by vertue of Christs promise deserved to be made the foundation of the Church The foresaid Cyprian hath moreover on this subiect other dangerous opinions as where he tyes and limits the Pastorall office to ordinary succession And for bids inferiours to iudge Bishops and prelates of the Church 35. It is pitty to proceed any further in producing out of the following Centuries the sometimes sad but most often angry complaints acknowledgments made by these honest German Writers how generally their Patriark Luthers Doctrines have been preiudged and condemned by the fathers and Doctours of Gods Church and the Faith of the present Roman Church asserted The further they proceed in their collection a greater number of yet more Severe Iudges they discover till in short tyme they cannot find one to speake a good word for them And this like a conscionable Iury they attest In so much as one would be tempted almost to suspect that they had been secretly bribed by the Pope to publish their own condemnation 36. These things considered I cannot fore see any probabilitie of a Debate likely to ensue touching this Historie I mean for asmuch as concerns the doctrinall part of it nor any considerable arguments to proove against the result of it that the points of Catholick faith have not been taught through all the ages comprised within its limits And as for the ages following that is since the Conquest by the Normans it is out of all dispute that our forefathers have been Romans in a deeper degree perhaps then wee their children are now 37. But I must acknowledge I am not secure against quarrels for as much as concerns the Christian practises of pietie and vertue commended in the Saints whose Gests are heere related and the reason is because our modern sectaries have a quite different notion of vertue and pietie from that which Catholicks from the beginning to this age have entertained Therefore such Readers missing in this booke storyes of Exploits performed in old tymes such as they magnifie in their primitive red-lettred saints of their new fashioned Calendars and finding practises here exalted for vertues which with their good-will they would renounce in their Baptisme as works and pompes of Sathan I shall not want adversaries good store of all ages and sexes 38. For I confesse that among the hundreds of Saints commemorated in this book of whom not a few are acknowledged for Saints even by the Protestants and which is more for Workers of stupendious Miracles not one can be found of their new Mode Not one can be found magnified as Inventours of new Doctrines opposite to the Common faith of the Church Not one who to spread abroad such Doctrines armed subiects against their Princes demolished altars burnt Churches violated Holy Virgins or invaded the possessions of God Not one who thought his Christian libertie could iustifie sacrilegious lusts in breaking vowes of Chastity and soliciting others to doe the like Here we shall not read of somuch as one Good-wife of the citty or country not one chamber-maid Prentice or Groome disputing with Doctours and Bishops and confuting all the Fathers and Councils of Gods Church c. So that if for want of such qualifications as these all our antient Holy Bishops Martyrs Doctours and Virgins must be unsainted there remains for us no remedie but the old uncomfortable one Patience 39. Yet perhaps this defect or want of heroicall perfections will not so confidently at least in publick be obiected against our Worthies as the vertues for which we commend them A continuall macerating of the flesh with abstinences fastings Watchings Haire-cloathes lying on the cold hard ground and the like these austerities our moderne spiritualists will mock at as uselesse us voluntary self-afflictions concerning which they assure God wil say Who hath required these things at your hands And they will be yet more angry and doe hope that God will be so too against consecrating ones self to perpetuall Virginity or continence in Mariage against secluding ones selfe from all conversation with the world against almost all use of the tongue except speaking to God against an entire submission of the will to the Direction of another and specially against renouncing riches honours Pleasures c. 40. But such
was directed an Apostolick Teacher into Ireland where he wrought the like effect with greater fruit And by him S. Germanus and S. Lupus two holy and learned Bishops of Gaule were employ'd to cure Brittany of the pestilent infection of Pelagianism spread there by the impious diligence of Agricola in which execrable employment he was assisted by the oft times excommunicated Heretick Celestius prime Disciple of Pelagius if the testimony of one single modern Authour Claudius Menardus may be taken 3. Now the circumstances touching the execution of this three-fold Mission we intend consequently to declare And though the Ecclesiasticall affairs of Ireland be not comprehended directly within our present Design yet since the great Apostle of that Countrey as hath been shew'd was a Brittain both beginning and ending his dayes in Brittany it will either be no excursion or one very excusable if not commendable to insert here some of his principall Gests 4. He did not begin the execution of his Apostolicall Office till after the time that S. Germanus and Lupus came into Brittany to expugne the Pelagian Heresy For by them he was encouraged therto Till which time he convers'd here in Brittany by his holy example inviting his countrey-men to the imitation of his vertues and piety 5. The ancient Authour of his life extant in Capgrave relates many admirable deeds perform'd by him before he had addicted himself to the discipline and instruction of S. Germanus One of which we will recite in this place and probably hapning about this time by which will be discover'd how wonderfully he was call'd to the Apostleship of Ireland 6. On a certain day S. Patrick in his sleep saw a man coming to him as out of Ireland having many letters in his hand one of which he gave to the holy man who read it Now this was the beginning of the Letter This is the voyce of the Inhabitants of Ireland Assoon as he had read those words the same instaÌ„t he heard the voyces of a world of infants crying to him out of their Mothers wombs in many Provinces of Ireland and saying We beseech thee Holy Father to come and converse among us Having heard this S. Patrick immediatly felt great compunction in his heart and could read no more of the Letter And assoon as he awak'd he gave thanks to God for this heavenly Vision being assured that our Lord had call'd him to be an instrument of the salvation of those who had cryed unto him 7. Hereto Iocelinus another Writer of his life adds That S Patrick hereupon ask'd counsell of our Lord the Angell of the great councell touching this affaire and by the mean of the Angell Victor receiv'd this Divine Oracle That forsaking his parents and countrey he should passe over into Gaule there to be more perfectly instructed in the Doctrin of Christian Faith and Ecclesiasticall Discipline III. CHAP. 1.2.3 c. Of S. Palladius Apostle of the Scotts in Brittany 8.9 His Disciples Servanus and Tervanus 10. c. Of S. Palladius his death 1. OF the foresaid three Missions the first that was put in execution was that of S. Palladius into Brittany This S. Palladius was a Deacon of the Roman Church a man no doubt of great prudence learning and sanctity since he alone was made choice of though as yet in an inferiour Ecclesiasticall degree to free the whole Island of Brittany from Heresy and Infidelity Twice was he sent as Legat of Pope Celestinus into our countrey Concerning the first Legation thus writes Baronius In the four hundred twenty ninth year of our Lord saith he during the Consulship of Florentius and Dionysius Pope Celestin by a Legation of the Deacon Palladius deliver'd Brittany infected with the Pelagian Heresy 2. Being come into Brittany assoon as he had inform'd himself of the state of the Island how the Civiller part formerly under the Roman Iurisdiction was defiled by Heresy and the Northern Regions now possess'd by the Scotts wholly buried in the mists of Paganism He gave notice hereof to Pope Celestinus who recall'd him to Rome to advise with him about a remedy against both these mischeifs 3. Vpon serious consultation therfore it was thought fit to divide these two employments and to commit them to severall persons Hereupon in opposition to the â—elagian Heresy by which the Roman Island as S. Prosper calls it that is the Provinces heretofore subject to the Empire were miserably infected two Holy Bishops of Gaule S. Germanus and S. Lupus were directed into Brittany whose labours with the happy successe of them shall be presently declared Again out of an Apostolick solicitude to rescue the barbarous Northern Regions from Paganism the same Palladius after he was exalted to an Episcopall Degree was by Pope Celestinus as his Legat again sent to be the Apostle and converter of the Scottish Nation 4. This double Mission is thus recorded by S. Prosper a Holy and learned Father living at the same time Pope Celestinus saith he of venerable memory upon whom our Lord had confer'd many gifts of his Grace for the defence of the Catholick Church knowing that to the Pelagians already condemn'd no new examination was to be allow'd but only the remedy of Pennance commanded that Celestius who impudently demanded a new audience as if his Heresy had not been discuss'd should be excluded out of the confines of Italy For his resolution and judgment was that the Statuts of his Predecessours and former Synodall Decrees ought to be inviolably observed by himself and that he should not admit to a new retractation those doctrins which already had deserv'd and suffred condemnation 5. Neither did he extend a lesse zealous care towards Brittany which he likewise freed from the same contagious discease of Heresy for by his order and the labours of S. Germanus and S. Lupus he excluded from that secret retirement divided by the Ocean from the rest of the world certain Enemies of Divine Grace which had seised upon that Island which by producing the Arch-hereticks Pelagius and Celestius had given an originall to their Heresy Moreover the same Holy Pope ordain'd Palladius a Bishop to the Scottish Pagan Nation and by these means whilst he studiously endeavour'd to preserve the Roman Island Catholick he made the barbarous part of the Island Christian. 6. Now here the Ancient and Later Scotts that is the Irish and the people now only call'd Scotts doe earnestly contend which should appropriat to themselves S. Palladius for their Apostle with exclusion of the other But the controversy may be compounded by allowing each of them a share in him For no doubt his Legation extended to the Scottish Nation in generall both in Brittany and beyond the Sea And during the short time that he lived he attempted the conversion of Ireland but in vain So that he was effectually the Apostle only of the Brittish Scotts 7. Hereof we have a proof in the life
his parents recommended to S. Sampson of Menevia One speciall Miracle is recorded to have been wrought by him which was that by his prayers a fountain sprung forth in a dry soile very effectuall for curing severall diseases and specially the Scurvey Psora which therefore is vulgarly call'd the Disease of S. Mein This is related in the Gallican Martyrologe on the fifteenth of Iune He is suppos'd to have dyed in the year of Grace five hundred and ninety And he is commemorated likewise in our English Martyrologe on the same day by the name of S. Main 9. After that S. Sampson had spent some years in his Monastery of Dole the Bishop of that Citty dying he was elected in his place And having in his custody the Pall which he had worn formerly being Arch-bishop of Menevia the same he made use of in his Episcopall functions also at Dole From whence his Successours Bishops of Dole taking advantage assum'd likewise to themselvas the honour of wearing a Pall and consequently of challenging an Archiepiscopall Iurisdiction and an exemption from the power of their former Metropolitan the Archi-bishop of Tours This they continued many ages till the dayes of Pope Innocent the third notwithstanding many oppositions and protestations of the said Arch-bishops And all that time the See of Menevia or S. Davids though acknowledged the prime Church and Metropolis of Cambria yet abstain'd from the Pall. For which cause Pope Eugenius the third under our King Henry the first subjected it to the See of Canterbury in the year of our Lord eleaven hundred forty eight 10. Thirty three years S. Sampson with admirable sanctity administred that Bishoprick and in the year five hundred ninety nine receiv'd his eternall Reward His body by reason of the frequent incursions of the Danes and Normans was removed from Dole to Orleans Where it was receiv'd with such reverence that a Church was built on purpose to keep it which to this day is dedicated to his honour although destitute of that sacred pledge which among many other Bodies of Saints was impiously burnt by those professed Enemies of Sacred things the Huguenots in the last age who seised on that Citty Thus we read in the Gallican Martyrologe on the twenty eighth of Iuly Some part of his Relicks was with great veneration repos'd in the Abbey of Middleton in Dorsetshire which was built by King Ethelstan in expiation of being at least accessory to the murder of his brother Edwin in the year of Grace nine hundred thirty four 11 His Successour in the See of Dole was his kinsman and companion of his voyage S. Maglore concerning whom we shall treat in due place XXIX CHAP. 1.2 c. Of S. Malo or Mahutus 1. ANother Kinsman of S. Sampson call'd S. Maclovius or S. Malo otherwise S. Mahutus was famous at this time He during the tempest rais'd in Brittany by the treason of Mordred against his Vnckle King Arthur and the bloody war following left the kingdom and pass'd likewise into Lesser Brittany the common refuge of devout men in those times 2. He was born in Brittany His Fathers name was Went He is call'd Hano in the Gallican Martyrologe a Count and founder of the Citty by Historians call'd Guincensis His Mother was call'd Derwella or Darwalla and she being threescore years old was deliver'd of him on the Vigile of Easter in the valley of Llan-carvan in Glamorgan-shire 3. In the same place at that time lived a Holy man call'd S. Brendan Abbot of the Monastery of Llan-carvan by whom this Infant so wonderfully born was baptis'd and afterwards educated in all vertue and piety From his childhood he is reported to have shin'd gloriously by innumerable Miracles saith Harpsfeild which indeed accompanied him all his life-life-time many of which are recorded by Vincentius and S. Antoninus but resolutly declar'd to be impostures by the Centuriators of Magdeburg without any proof 4. Our learned Camden affirms that the constant Tradition was that he was afterward made Bishop of a Citty in the Province of the Iceni now Huntingdon shire call'd by Antoninus Durosipons because seated neer the River Ouse but afterward the name was changed into Gormonchester from Gormon or Guthrum the Dane to whom upon his becoming Christian King Aelfred gave those Provinces Notwithstanding it is rather probable that the said Tradition was grounded on some mistake 5. In succession of time upon occasion of the troubles afore said S. Malo or Mahutus went beyond sea into Lesser Brittany where he liv'd in great sanctity But when the fame thereof was spread abroad as we read in the Gallican Martyrologe he out of a contempt of his own glory retir'd himself privily into a certain bordring Island where in his Eremiticall manner of living he express'd an Angelicall purity But the brightnes of the divine splendour discovered this light which endeavour'd to conceale it self For when the Inhabitants of the neighbouring Island heard say that a certain stranger excelling in the gift of preaching and power of Divine Miracles did hide himself there from the conversation of men this they were told by some who had receiv'd help from him they in a common assembly came and drawing him by force out of his solitude chose him for their Pastour and inviting the neighbouring Bishops they placed him in the Pontificall chair of the Citty of Aleth and partly by entreaties partly by mere force they compell'd him to be their Bishop and Ecclesiasticall Governour 6. S. Machutus being thus exalted to this dignity shed forth abundantly the beames of that Divine Grace with which he was replenish'd illustrating mens soules with the true knowledge of God inflaming them with his Love and affording both admonitions and examples of all vertues to which likewise he added a great efficacy by wonderfull operations and miracles Insomuch as since the Apostles time wee read not of any one who wrought greater wonders in the name of Christ then he For with his word he calmed tempests three dead persons he restor'd to life to the blind he gave sight by the sprinckling of Holy Water he expell'd Devills and quenched the poyson of serpents 7. Neither was it in regard of Miracles onely that this Holy Bishop was like unto those Princes of our Faith but resembled them likewise in his patience which was oftimes put to the tryall For he was assaulted by certain impious persons and suffred many calamities for iustice and Religion insomuch as in the end he was violently thrust out of his Episcopall Throne and Diocese together with seaven other devout persons whom he had chosen for his especiall companions and who imitated him in purity of living yet this so heavy a Crosse he bore after our Lord with a courageous mind as the Apostles heretofore did 8. Attended with these holy men Saint Mahutus fled into Aquitain and in the Citty of Xaintes Santonum he was most kindly entertaind and fatherly assisted by Saint Leontius
one onely person among you shall in his Name give an assault he alone by Gods power shall putt them to flight Be courageous therfore Not a man of you shall fall in this combat 4. Assoon as he had spoken this which his army hearing beleiv'd as an assurance given them from God himself a few of his soldiers the same moment with wonderfull courage rush'd upon their Enemies not at all expecting them for the Holy mans words had utterly taken from their minds all apprehension of death And at the same time an Angel of God armd like a soldier and in the shape of a man of an incredibly high stature appeard in the Kings Camp His aspect was so terrible that the soldiers hearts utterly faild them and instead of resisting their enemies they rush'd one upon another in their hast to fly away and such a confusion there was of horses and charrets that for hast they killd one another Thus a handfull of men without the losse of any one defeated a great army taking many prisoners 5. This wonderfull victory being obtain'd they return'd to the Man of God who addressing his speech to a youth named Scandalan then attending on him with a propheticall voyce thus said to him My son this day will procure for mee a tedious pilgrimage in a strange countrey where I must live absent from my kinred and freinds many years But say nothing of what I tell thee till the event shew the truth of my words 6. After this S. Columba went to S. Finian a Bishop to receive condign Pennance from him because of so much blood shed in the foresaid war and with him there went an Angel of God who shone with wonderfull brightnes but was visible to none except the Holy man Finian calld also Find barr When therfore Saint Columba demanded Pennance of the Holy Bishop his answer was Thou must be obliged by thy preaching and example to bring as many soules to heaven as by occasion of this war have sunk into Hell After which sentence S. Columba with great ioy said Thou hast pronounced a iust and equall iudgment upon mee 7. But the Holy mans troubles did not end thus for by occasion of this war and bloodshed Saint Columba in a Synod of Bishops was censur'd to abstain from the Communion though many among them dissented from this sentence upon whiâ—h great contentions and disputes arose among the Clergy which occasiond Saint Columba his letter to Saint Gildas requesting him to endeavour the composing those differences XII CHAP. 1.2 c. S. Columba's coming into Brittany He fixes his habitation in the Isle called Hye 6.7 c. He Converts the Picts Monasteries built by him 9. c. His twelve companions One of them was Constantin late King of Brittany 11. c. His agreement with Saint Kentigern c. 14.15 His death and place of buriall 1. SAint Columba wearied with these Ecclesiasticall contentions resolved to quitt his Native countrey but not permitting himself to be a chuser of his place of Exile he consulted by a messenger the Holy man Brendan Abbot of Birre to whom God had given the Spirit of Counsel and Discretion Who after he had lifted up his eyes and heart to heaven commanded to digg under the feet of the Messenger where was found a stone on which was engraven only the letter I whereupon he bade the Messenger to tell his Master that he must goe to an Island called I or Hy where he should find employment for his zeale and be the cause of bringing many soules to heaven Thus writes Adamannus in his life quoted by B. Vsher. 2. But Hector Boëtius assigns another more probable reason of his going into that Countrey saying The fame of the great devotion and piety of Conal King of the Picts draw the Holy man Columba out of Ireland into Brittany attended with a multitude of his disciples where he became the Father and directour of many Monasteries 3. As for the Island called Hy it is erroneously written by Dempster Hydestinatus and from him by Baronius likewise The ground of which mistake was the wrong reading of this passage in S. Beda Monachus erat Episcopus Aidan uâ—pote de Insula quae vocatur Hy destinatus where the two last words which ought to be severed are by him read as conjoynd into one This Island was afterward called Iona falsly by some Exscribers of Adamannus written Iova 4. In the ordinary Copies of S. Beda in stead of S. Columba we find written S. Columbanus Whence many Writers being deceived doe confound this Saint with that S. Columbanus who founded the Monasteries of Luxueil Luxoviense in France and Gobio in Italy who was likewise an Irishman and a Father of many Monks Whereas they are indeed distinguished both by their names gests and ages wherein they lived As for the present S. Columba the Brittains usually called him S. Columkill for the great number of Monasteries or Cells of Monks which he built in Brittany 5. The Authour of his Life in Capgrave besides a large Character of his vertues piety austerities c. solemnly repeated allmost in all Modern Stories of Saints further relates how he was many years before prophecied of for saith he A certain Disciple of S. Patrick a Brittain named Maccaeus foretold of him saying In latter times shall be born one called Columba who shall illustrate the age wherein he shall live and his name shall be spread through all the Provinces of the Isles of the Ocean for he shal be acceptable to God and highly favoured by him He shall descend from Noble parents and in the forty fifth year of his age shall passe out of Ireland Scotiâ into Brittany where he will live a stranger and exiled person for Christ. 6. As touching his coming into Brittany and his Gests here we receive this account from S. Beda In the five hundred sixty fifth year of our Lords Incarnation when Iustinus the Successour of Iustinian governed the Roman Empire there came out of Ireland a certain Preist and Abbot in habit and profession a Monk called Columba with an intention to preach the Word of God to the Northern Picts who are separated from the Southern Regions by vast and horrible Mountains For as for the Picts dwelling on the South of those Mountains they had many years before renounced their Idolatry and embraced the Christian Faith as their Tradition is by the preaching of Nynias a most Reverend and holy Bishop born in Brittany who had been regularly instructed in the Mysteries of Divine Truth at Rome The Seat of whose Bishoprick dignified with a Church dedicated to S. Martin where the said holy Bishop with many other Saints doth rest is now in the possession of the Angli The said place pertaining to the Province of the Bernicians is ordinarily called Candida casa White House because he built there a Church of hewn stone a way of building not practised by the Brittains 7. Now
proceeded out of the same family S. Edilburga the naturall daughter of King Anna Saint Sedrido daughter to King Anna's wife Hereswida by another husband and Saint Eartongatha neice to them both being daughter to Earcombert King of Kent and his wife Saint Sexburga These three Holy Virgins though they dyed in severall years yet since Saint Beda ioyns them together we will here follow his example placing their Gests this year of Grace six hundred and sixty in which S. Sedrido according to our Martyrologe dyed 3. They all out of a desire of a more strict and perfect life went over into France by reason that as yet there were not in Brittany many Monasteries for Religious Virgins and there betook themselves to the Monastery of Saint Phara whom formerly Saint Columban had instructed in Piety and a love of Christian Perfection The relation which Saint Beda gives of them is as followeth 4. Eartongatha the daughter of King Earcombert and S. Sexburga was a Virgin of eminent vertues as became the offspring of such parents She spent her life in our Lords service in a Monastery of France built by the most illustrious Abbesse S. Phara in a place called Brige or Brye For at that time by reason there were not many Monasteries erected in Brittany it was the custome for many parents in this Island to send over their daughters into French Monasteries there to be instructed in piety and consecrated to our Lord especially in the Monasteries of Brige Cale or Chelles and Andilegum In the number of such noble Virgins so sent into France was Sedrido daughter of the wife of Anna King of the East-angles and likewise Edilburga a naturall daughter of the same King Both these Virgins for the merit of their vertues though strangers were constituted Abbesses of the Monastery of Brye now called Pharmonstier And hence may those Writers be corrected who place Saint Sedrido in the Monastery of Chelles which as yet was not built by the Holy Queen S. Bathildis 5. Therefore Andrew Saussay in his Martyrologe on the seaventh of December truly writes concerning Saint Phara and these Virgins after this manner The Father of Saint Phara being at last better advised built for her a Monastery in the forest of Brye in a place then called Eboriacum but afterwards it took the name of Pharmonstier from the said Holy Abbesse She being settled there by the odour of her Sanctity drew many other devout Virgins thither over whom she becoming a Mother excelled them more in Grace and vertue then in her preeminence and dignity And indeed so great was the some of her Sanctity that great numbers of Noble Virgins yea and Princesses out of all the Provinces of France yea Germany England and Ireland contended to be there received and to those being inflamed with Divine love she communicated her own vertues and Graces Among those devout Virgins the most renowned for Piety was Edilburga naturall daughter of Anna King of the East-angles who after the death of Saint Phara supplied her Office in the government of the Monastery and by the divine progresse of her life deserved to be inscribed in the number of Saints after her death Where succeeded her in the same Office her neece Saint Earthongatha daughter of Earcombert King of Kent a worthy branch and well beseeming so noble a Stock for she flourishing with eminent piety and vertue served our Lord there till her death in wonderfull purity both of body and Spirit 6. Our Martyrologe seems to make Saint Sedrido the immediate Abbesse of Pharmonstier after S Edilburga and after her S. Earthongatha is supposed to have succeeded though her name which is strange be there omitted And as touching S. Sedrido her commemoration in the French Martyrologe is on the tenth of Ianuary in these words On that day is celebrated the memory of S. Sethrida Virgin in the Monastery of S. Phara in the territory of Brye Who being an English Lady out of zâ—ale to Perfection came to the same Monastery where she professed a Religious state and having consummated the course of an Angelicall life upon earth departed to the heavenly society of Holy Virgins Her praises are written by venerable Beda 7. We must not here omitt what the same Saint Beda writes concerning S. Earthongata Many things are related very miraculous by the inhabitants of that territory concerning this Holy Virgin But we will onely mention breifly her death and the wonders succeeding it When the day approached in which she was to be called out of this world to eternall happines she went about the Monastery visiting the Celles of the Religious Virgins especially such as were more ancient and eminent for piety to whose prayers she humbly recommended her self not concealing from them that she was taught by revelation that her departure was at hand The manner of which revelation was sayd to be this She saw a great troop of men in white garments enter the Monastery and asking them what they sought for there their answer was That they were sent thither to receive and carry back with them a precious Medall of gold which came thither out of Kent Now on the same night toward the end whereof near break of day she passed from the darknes of this world to the heavenly Light many of the Monks whose lodgings were adioyning to the Monastery report that they heard distinctly a Melody of Angells singing and a noyse as it were of a great multitude entring the Monastery Whereupon going forth to see what the matter was they saw a wonderfull great Light from heaven in which that holy soule when delivered from the prison of her body was conducted to eternall ioyes They add many other wonders hapning the same night which we pursuing other matters leave to their relation 8. The Sacred body of the Virgin and Spouse of our Lord was buried in the Church of the Protomartyr S. Steven Three days after they having a mind to take up the Stone which covered her Sepulcher and raise it higher as they were busy about this a sweet odour of so wonderfull fragrancy evaporated from beneath that it seemd to the Religious men and Sisters there assisting as if a cellar full of precious bauâ—m was then opened Thus writes S. Beda touching S. Earthongata 9. And concerning S. Edilburga he addes Likewise S. Edilburga formerly mentioned the Aunt of S Earthongata by her Mother she likewise preserved the glory of perpetuall Virginity with great purity and perfection and of how eminent merits she was appeared yet more after her death In the time whilst she was Abbesse she began the building of a Church in the Monastery to the honour of all the Apostles where her desire was to be buried But death snatched her away before half the building was finished notwithstanding she was buried in the same place where she had desired After her death the Monks who had care of the Monastery employd their minds in other matters so
that the building was interrupted Insomuch as seaven years after they resolved by reason of the excessive charges to give over that structure and to translate the Body of the Abbesse into another Church already finished and dedicated Therefore opening the Sepulcher they found the Body of the Holy Virgin as free from all corruption as it had been during her life free from carnall affections Therefore the Religious Virgins having again washed and cloathed it with fresh vestments they translated it into the Church of S. Steven the Martyr The solemnity of her Deposition is there with great glory celebrated on the Nones of Iuly On which day likewise her name is recited among the Saints in our English Martyrologe VIII CHAP. 1.2 The Gests of S. Beuno and S. Elerius Brittish Saints and Masters to Saint Winefrida 4.3 c. The Gests of the glorious Martyr S. Winefrida 1. AT the same time Virginity and chastity triumphed likewise in the Brittish Church for excepting the difference about the celebration of Easter there was a perfect agreement in all points of Faith between the Brittains and Saxons The person whose Victorious Chastity illustrated this age was the glorious S. Winefride who willingly offred her self a Sacrifice to preserve her Virginity consecrated by vow to her Celestiall Bridegroom Which voluntary Oblation was so acceptable to Almighty God that he recompenced it with so stupendious a Miracle as neither the precedent nor following ages of the Church could afford one to equall it 2. This love and valew sett upon holy Virginity was instilld into her by her Spirituall Teachers two Brittish Saints Saint Beuno and Saint Elerius of both which the Memory is celebrated in our Martyrologe Of the former on the fourteenth of Ianuary where he is sayd to have been famous for Sanctity and Miracles and of the latter on the thirteenth of Iune and the year of both their deaths is assigned this six hundred and sixtieth in which also the Authour of Saint Winefrides life in Surius says that she flourished Now the Gests of these three Saints we will here deliver together from the credit of Robert Abbot of Shrewsbury who above five hundred years since wrote the life of Saint Winefride out of ancient Brittish Records which he begins thus 3. There was a certain holy man of great perfection who dwelt in the Western part of Brittany He was descended of Princely parents but despising his hereditary glory he fled away poore and became a Monk eminent in all vertues And having built severall Churches in many places in which he placed Monks for the service of God he was divinely admonished to seek out an habitation provided for him by God At last he came to the territory of a certain man of great power named Thewith or as some call him Trebwith to whom he said I beseech you to grant me out of your hereditary possessions a small portion which may serve partly for mine own use and partly for the service of God that I may there build a Church in which I may attend on Gods worship and dayly pray for your salvation The Noble man readily granted his request and withall committed to him his onely daughter named Wenefred to be instructed by him in piety Whensoever therefore the holy man taught the people preaching to them the doctrines of salvation he sett the said young maid at his feet admonishing her to attend diligently and affectuously to his admonitions By this means the Virgin through Gods Grace and mercy encreased every day in piety and spirituall Wisedom and entertained a purpose of renouncing mariage yet durst not make known to her parents such her resolution But coming to the man of God she freely declared her most secret thoughts to him telling him That the seed of the Divine Word which he had sowd had wrought such effect in her that she determind to renounce all the pleasures of the world and for the honour of God to preserve her Virginity entire and undefiled Now that I may perform this my purpose said she I must desire your intercession with my parents 4. The Holy man having heard the Virgins request promised her his utmost endeavour to obtain her parents consent And presently after having proposed the matter to them they with teares blessed God for their childs piety and willingly granted her desire From that time the devout maid assiduously sate at the Holy mans feet and with an ardent affection attended to the praises of her heavenly Spouse proceeding from his mouth She suffred no earthly cares to enter into her mind she frequently watched whole nights at her prayers in the Church She would oft importunely sollicite the Holy man to discourse to her of the life graces and perfections of her Lord which when he delivered the comfort and pleasure which she received from thence exceeded all worldly or sensuall concentment Thus though she was of tender years yet in vertues and piety she was very aged and as it were dead to all concupiscence 5. Now it hapned on a certain Sunday when her parents were gone to Church some necessary occasion detaind her at home At which time a certain young man named Caradoc the Son of Alan Prince of that countrey entred the house where he found the Virgin alone sitting near the fire She knowing the Prince hastily rose up and humbly desird to know his pleasure His answer was You are not ignorant who I am and how I abound in riches and honour all these riches and honours you shall partake if you will yeild to my will The modest Virgin perceiving his foule intent held down her dead and blushed extremely At first she seemd as if she was much troubled that he should find her unready and unadorned and she told him Sir you being a Prince there is no doubt but you are able to heap upon mee all worldly happines in abundance if I were your wife However be pleased to expect here awhile till my Fathers return in the mean time I have some busines in my chamber and will come back presently This she said to gain a little time for she saw the unhappy young man burning and almost enraged with lust With much adoe he permitted her to goe to her chamber having some hope that she would return assoon as she was dressed and adorned She therefore entred hastily her chamber and as hastily went out of the dore on the other side and with all her force ran toward the Church 6. Assoon as the young man perceived this he became all in a fury and drawing out his sword he ran swiftly after her soon owertaking her and with a stern look told her I have a long time loved thee and desired to enioy thee and darest thou scorn mee Be now assured that if thou refusest my embraces I will presently cutt of thy head She hearing and nothing affrighted with these threats answered him saying I am by Vow espoused to the heavenly King
Northumbers when this calm was disturbed with new â—torms S. Beda dispatches this Tragedy in a â—ew words saying After five years he was accused once more and by the said King Alfrid and very many Bishops expelled from his See not mentioning the heads of his accusation 2. But William of Malmsbury insinuats that the ground of their charge against him was the same with the former to witt that he had united the Iurisdiction and revenews of two Bishopricks which S. Theodore had formerly separated namely York and Hagulstad Adding that considering the vast exâ—ent of the Province it was fitt to erect a third at Rippon 3. The freindship saith he between King Alfrid and S. Wilfrid stood a good while unshaken till about five years after his return the poysonnous counsells harboured in the breasts of certain malignant persons at last broke forth By these mens suggestions King Alfrids mind being prevented withdrew some of the possessions belonging to the Monastery of Rippon having a design to constitute a new Bishoprick there For he alledged that these Decrees of the late Arch-bishop Theodore which he made not in the beginning or end of the Controversy but in the time intervening were 〈◊〉 continue in force 4. S. Wilfrid resenting this iniustice and violence left the Province of the Northumbers and retired to his freind Ethelred King of the Mercians with whom he continued a long time After whose departure King Alfrid restored the See of York to Bosa who formerly had the possession of it and Iohn sirnamed of Beverley he constituted Bishop of Hagulstad or Hexham who this same year at the request of the Abbot Ceolfrid promoted to the Order of Deacon S. Beda now entred into the twentieth year of his age 5. Before S. Wilfrid entred into the Kingdom of the Mercians Putta who ten years before had been ordained Bishop of Hereford dying there succeeded him in the same See Tirtellus this year according to the Calender published by Sir Henry Savill So that not any Church being vacant in that Kingdom S. Wilfrid lived a private retired life but in high esteem and favour with King Ethelred who had a great desire to fixe him in the government and Episcopall administration of some Province there 6. Which good design of his was effected the year following by the death of Sexulf Bishop of Lichfeild who in the year of Grace six hundred seaventy eight as hath been declared was constituted Bishop of that Diocese upon the deposition of Winfrid This Sexulf was a very holy man and highly honoured and beloved through his whole Province in so much as after his death he was numbred among the Saints 7. To him by Kings Ethelreds appointment succeeded S. Wilfrid Notwithstanding some Writers affirm that after the death of Sexulf his Diocese was divided into two Sees the one at Lichfeild and the other at Leicester and that S. Wilfrid was constituted Bishop of Leicester and that Headda Bishop of Winchester adioyned the other to his Diocese However these matters were ordered certain it is that S Wilfrid exercised the Office not only of a Bishop but a Metropolitan also ordaining Bishops there Thus this very year in the Diocese of Worcester Wicciorum Bosiâ— who twelve years before was there consecrated Bishop being now broken with age and labours at the request of King Ethelred S Wilfrid ordained Bishop there a man of eminent piety and worth named Ostfor 8. Concerning this Ostfor S. Beda gives this account Ostfor saith he after that in both the Monasteries of the Holy Abbesse Hilda he had employd his time diligently in the study of the Divine Scriptures at length aspiring to greater perfection he went into Kent to the Arch-bishop Theodore of blessed memory where having spent some time in sacred Lections he resolved to goe further as far as to Rome for in that age it was an argument of great vertue and piety to undertake that iourney In processe of time returning from thence into Brittany he diverted into the Province of the Wiccians or Worcestershire the Governour whereof was a person called Osriâ— There he remained a long time preaching the Word of God and in his conversation affording an example of all vertues and piety to those that saw or heard him At this time the Bishop of thaâ— Province named Boselus was so oppressed with infirmity of body that he could not himself discharge his Episcopall Office Therefore by the iudgment and consent of all the foresaid holy man Ostfor was elected Bishop in his place and by comman of King Edilred Wilfrid of happy memory whâ— then administred Episcopall iurisdiction amonâ— the Midland-English or Mercians ordained him Bishop because the Arch-bishop Theodore was then dead and not any as yet ordaind to succeed him XV. CHAP. 1. 2. c. Of King Ina's Lawes especially such as regard the Church 4 c. The Welsh whence so called c. 6 7 Preists whether then maried 8. The Saxons c. tender of shedding blood 1. THE same year Inas King of the West-Saxons being desirous to compose and settle his kingdom in good order by rooting out such ill customes as had crepp'd in among the people called an Assembly of his Bishops and Nobility at which great numbers of other inferiour Ecclesiasticall and Secular persons were present also and by common advice enacted those famous Lawes called King Ina's Lawes which continued in force many ages even till the coming and Conquest of the Normans and of which William of Malmsbury saith a mirrour of their purity remained to his time These were seaventy five in number and are extant in Sir Henry Spelmans collection of Councils to which the curious Reader may have recourse I will onely select a few of them such as regard Ecclesiasticall affaires and therefore are pertinent to this History 2. In the first place saith King Inas wee command that Gods Ministers be carefull to observe the Canonicall order of living And our Will is that these Lawes and Ordinances be observed by the people 2. Let each infant be baptized within thirty dayes after he is born If this be not done let the person in fault be fined in thirty shillings solidis But if it happen that the infant dye before he is baptized let the faulty persons forfeyt their whole estate 3. If a servant a slave shall doe any servile work on our Lords day by his Masters command let him be free and his Master fined in thirty shillings But if the servant without command of his Master doe any such work let him be whipped or redeem that penalty with money If a free man work on that day not commanded by his Master let him either be made a slave or pay sixty shillings And if a Preist offend in this kind let his penalty be doubled 4. Let the Firsts-fruits of seeds be payed on the solemnity of S. Martin And whosoever shall not then pay them Let him be fined in forty shillings and
our Lord appearing in a vision by night to him forbad him And moreover for a sign that our Lord himselfe had formerly dedicated the Church together with the Church-yard he with his finger bored through the Bishops hand which was next day seen by many persons so peirced Afterward the same Bishop by Divine Revelation and upon occasion of the encreasing number of Holy persons there added a Chappell to the East-side of this Church and consecrated it in honour of the Blessed Virgin the Altar of which he adorned with a Saphir of inestimable valew for a perpetuall Memory hereof And least the place or quantity of the former Church by such Additions should come to be forgotten this Pillar was erected in a line drawn by the two Eastern angles of the sayd Church southward which line divides the foresayd Chappell from it Now the Length of it from the sayd line toward the West was sixty feet the Breadth twenty six And the distance of the Center of the sayd Pillar from the middle point between the foresayd angles contained forty eight feet 3. This ancient Inscription carefully recorded by Sir Henry Spelman in his Collection of Councils is notwithstanding censured by him as a thing borrowd from fabulous Legends by which he condemn's his own superfluous curiosity to preserve it And wheras he endeavours by severall reasons to make good his Censure they being prudently examined will appeare insufficient 4. For first of all he doubts whether any Christian Churches at all were erected so early And indeed if by Churches he means such magnificent Structures as were made when the Christian Faith ceased to be persecuted it is certain there were formerly no such But that there were even at Rome it selfe places assign'd for the meeting of Christians to exercise the Duties and Rites of their Religion this is attested by all Ecclesiasticall Histories 5. Again he positively affirms that if there were any Churches yet that they were not encompassed with ground for buriall no mention occurring of any such before the time of S. Cuthbert and the Roman laws forbidding burial within Cities But the former allegation is a manifest mistake for long before S. Cuthberts dayes King Ethelbert our first Converted King and S. Augustin our first Apostle were buried in the Church of S. Peter and S. Paul And Constantin the first Christian Emperour was buried among the Relicks and and bones of the Apostles and Martyrs Hereupon S. Augustin and S. Maximus Taurinensis shew that it was usually the desire of ancient Christians to joyn their Sepulchers to those of Saints and Martyrs as expecting great security to their soules thereby And as for the old Roman Law forbidding buriall within Citties it was long before this antiquated And however Glastonbury in those days was far from being a Citty or even a Village it was rather a mere desart and solitude Therfore without any breach of the Roman Law our Lord might provide for S. Ioseph a place of buriall who had before lent him his own Sepulcher 6. But besid's this he excepts against the Rite of Consecrating Churches mention'd in this Inscription which he thinks to be of a far later date And no doubt many ceremonies and solemnities were by the Church added to that Rite in following Ages But that generally the houses in which Christians in the Primitive times met for the exercise of their Religion were by some Ceremonies dedicated to that use as by Erecting a Title fixing a Crosse c the most ancient Records of the Church doe testify 7. Lastly that which most displeases Sir Henry Spelman is the Dedication of this Church to the Honour of the Blessed Virgin a Devotion he thinks not in use till severall ages following Notwithstanding that even in this very age this was not the only Example of such a Veneration exhibited to the most Holy Virgin Mother of our Lord the ancient Churches of Spain will assure us which by a Tradition universally received among them attested in all their Liturgies severall of their Councils relate that there were even from the first entrance of Christianity into that Kingdom several Churches erected to her honour Among which the most famous is that Temple at Saragoça called del Pilar or of the Pillar celebrated above a thousand years since by S. Maximus Bishop of that Citty who composed severall Hymns to celebrate that most venerable house called Angelical because the Pillar on which her statue was fixed was brought thither by the ministery Angels 8. The foresayd Inscription therfore containing litle more then what hath been justifyed by Witnesses of great authority S. Patrick and S. David ought to enioy its title to our beleife the substance of it not having been questiond for above a thousand years but on the contrary admitted in Councills confirm'd by ancient Records and Charters esteem'd by the whole state of this Kingdom so authentick that to honour that most venerable Church and in gratitude to our common Patron the Founder of it possessions Gifts and ornaments of inestimable valew have in all Ages been offred IX CHAP. 1. King Marius succeed's Arviragus 2.3 c. In his time is the first mention of the Picts who they were and why so called 1. ABout ten years after S. Ioseph's entrance into Brittany King Arviragus dying his son Marius succeeded him in the Kingdom resembling his Father as in courage and other Princely vertues so likewise in his kindnes to these Holy strangers for he not only confirm'd Arviragus his liberality to them but moreover extended his own as we read in Capgrave 2. In this Kings time we first find any mention made of the Picts as if they were a Nation in the Northern parts of Brittany distinct from the Brittains Mathew a Monk of Westminster sirnamed Florilegus thus writes of them In the seaventy fifth yeare of Grace saith he Roderick King of the Picts coming out of Scythia landed in the Northern coast of Brittany and began to wast that Province But Marius King of the Brittains meeting him in warlike manner slew him And afterwards gave unto the conquered people which remain'd alive that part of Albany which is called Catenes a desart uninhabited countey 3. In like manner S. Beda thus relates the coming of the Picts into Brittany In the beginning says he this Island was inhabited only by the Brittains from whom it took its name And they enioying the possession of the greatest part of the Island beginning from the Southern parts it hapned that a certain Nation called Picts as the report is coming out of Scythia adventured to Sea in long boats not many in number and being toss'd by tempests beyond the coasts of Brittany came into Ireland entring into the Northern parts of it and finding in inhabited by a Nation call'd Scots desired of them permission to plant themselves there but were refused Now Ireland is of all Islands next to Brittany the
of our more Ancient Historians as Geffrey of Monmouth Hoveden c. doe mention it But what ever becoms of this Epistle certain it is that the story of King Lucius his conversion c. does not depend on it but is confirm'd by most Authentick Records and unquestion'd Tradition V. CHAP. 1.2 Fugatius and Damianus sent back with King Lucius his Messengers 3. Concerning Elvanus one of the Kings Messengers 1. THis Epistle if indeed genuine was brought back by the same Messengers whom King Lucius had sent to Rome Elvanus and Medwinus and together with them there came two other Holy Men commission'd by Pope Eleutherius not only to instruct and baptise the King and those who imitating the Kings good Example embraced the Christian Faith but also to order and establish all Ecclesiasticall affairs in the Kingdome The names of those two strangers were Fugatius and Damianus 2. The Employment about which these men were sent argues them to have been sufficiently qualified thereto And hence it is that our more Modern Historians both Catholicks and Protestants doe not doubt to stile them Prelats Antistites and Bishops For indeed without such a Character and Authority how could they erect Bishopricks consecrate Churches dispense Orders c 3. It is not likewise without probability what other Writers say concerning our Brittish Messenger Elvanus that he was consecrated a Bishop at Rome by Pope Eleutherius And whereas others contradict this upon a supposition that when he with his companion went to Rome they were only Cathecumens not baptis'd before that time the contrary seems to appear in that they were formerly Preachers of the Christian Faith both to King Lucius and others And besids their Education sufficiently shews their capacity For as a late Writer out of ancient Monuments asserts they were of the number of S. Ioseph of Arimathea's Disciples full of zeale to Gods glory according to knowledge bred up in a contemplative life of Prayer and Mortification at Glastonbury where according to the Testimony of Adam Domerham and Iohn a Monk Authours of the Antiquities of Glastonbury The twelve holy men companions of S. Ioseph and their Successors in the same number did for a long time lead an Eremiticall life there and converted great multituds of Pagans to the Faith of Christ. It is therfore very credible that so well a qualified person as Elvanus was as Tradition delivers consecrated a Bishop at Rome since no prejudice therby was done to the Apostolick Canons forbidding Neophyts to be assumed to so sublime a degree As for his Companion Medwinus the same Tradition informs us that being endued with eloquence and fluency of speech he was qualified there also with the Office of a Preacher and Doctour of the Christian Faith VI. CHAP. 1.2 King Lucius with his Queen c. baptised 3.4.5 c. Rites of ancient Baptism signing with the Crosse Vnction Benediction of the water Exorcismes c. 11.12.13 These come by Tradition confirm'd by S. Basile 14. The Centuriators blaspemies against them 1. FVgatius and Damianus being admitted to King Lucius his presence acquainted him with the great ioy caus'd at Rome by his happy conversion and how in complyance with his desire they were sent by the Holy Pope Eleutherius to administer the Rites of Christianity And hereupon both the King and his whole family with many others received Baptism according to the course and ceremony of the Roman Church Thus we read in the Ancient Roman Martyrologe Pope Eleutherius brought to the profession of Christian Faith many of the Roman Nobility And moreover sent into Brittany S. Fugatius and S. Damianus who baptis'd King Lucius together with his Wife and almost all his people 2. The Name of King Lucius his Queen baptised with him is lost but in ancient Records the memory of his Sister call'd Emerita is still preserv'd who for her Holines and constant suffring Martyrdom for Christ ha's worthily obtain'd a place among the Saints More shall be sayd of her hereafter 3. Now since all Ancient Histories agree that King Lucius was baptis'd solemny according to the Roman rite it will be expedient to declare the order and form therof as may be collected out of the Monuments and Writings of this Primitive age which was no doubt conformable to the Ordinances of the Apostles as S. Iustin Martyr S. Irenaeus and Tertullian living in these times doe confidently affirm against all Hereticks and innovatours challenging them all to shew wherin any of the Apostolick Churches and principally that of Rome have deserted the ancient Faith and Disciplin established by the Apostles 4. Now though to the essence and substance of the Sacrament of Baptis'm there be necessarily required no more besides the due Matter which is Water the due Form of Words to be pronounced and a right Intention of him who conferrs it Yet that besids these there were even in those Primitive times adioyned severall other Sacred and ceremonious rites very effectuall to apply and imprint the sence and vertue of that Sacrament in the minds of all those who received it is most evident from ancient Tradition and the Writings of those times Which additionary Ceremonies were commanded to be used in Solemne baptisms through the whole Church by S. Clement S. Hyginus S. Pius and other Primitive Popes by a prescription no doubt from the Apostles though probably not used every where with due reverence 5. But though those Ceremonies had not been expressly enioynd by the Apostles who can iustly deny but that the Church and her Governours concerning whom our Lord saith He that heareth or obeyeth you heareth me had sufficient authority to render the administration of the Sacraments more solemne and august by ordaining externall Rites in the celebration of them as long as they doe not command our beleif of the absolut necessity of them in themselves 6. Of the sayd Additionary Rites the principall are these 1. The arming of the person to be Baptised with the sign of the Crosse. 2. The annointing him on the head with holy Oyle 3. and likewise with Chrism 4. The solemn blessing of the Water design'd for Baptism 5. The using of Exorcisms and holy Prayers for the driving away the Enemy of mankind Of all these Ceremonies at this day banish'd from all Congregations but only the Roman and Greek Churches and in regard of the first and last the English Protestant Church there are evident proofs that they were in use at this time when our King Lucius was baptiz'd 7. First touching signing with the Crosse Tertullian is so expresse even by confession of Protestants and that not only in Baptism but a world of other occasions that it is to no purpose to quote him This was the Character which distinguishd true Beleivers in that age from Infidells And particularly with regard to King Lucius there is to this day extant an ancient Coyn stampd with the Image of this King his Name LVC. and the sign of
the Grace of the holy Ghost celebrated frequently Masses and Synods in vaults where the Bodies of holy Martyrs rested 7. After S. Mello's Baptism S. Stephanus ere long promoted him by all the severall Ecclesiasticall degrees to the sublime Order of a Bishop for S. Mello continually adhered to him Now by how stupendious a Miracle he was designed to be the Bishop of Rhotomagum or Roüen we find in his life collected out of ancient Ecclesiasticall Records in this manner 8 S. Stephanus together with S. Mello persever'd in Fastings and watching Now on a certain day whilst the Holy Bishop S. Stephanus was celebrating Masse both himselfe and S. Mello saw an Angell standing at the right side of the Altar Masse therfore being finish'd he gave to him a Pastorall Croster or staff which the Angell held in his hand saying Receive this staff with which thou shalt govern the inhabitants of the Citty of Roüsen in the Province of Neustria And though the labours of away and course of life hitherto unexperienced by thee may prove burdensom notwithstanding doe not feare to undertake it for our Lord Iesus Christ will protect thee under the shadow of his wings Thus having received a benediction from the holy Pope he betook himself to his iourney And when he was come to Altissiodorum or Auxerre in Gaule having in his hand the staff which he had received from the Angell he by his prayer restored to health a man who had his foot cut in two peices by an axe 9. The learned Molanus calls S. Mello the first Bishop of Roüen and seems to proove it by an Ancient Distick of that Church importing as much But a former more authentick Tradition describ'd out of the ancient Catalogue of Bishops of that Church by Democharus declares that S. Nicasius preceded S. Mello in that Bishoprick However saith Ordericus Vitalis The Ancient Pagan Superstition after the Martyrdom of S. Nicasius possess'd the said Citty filling it with innumerable pollutions of Idolatry till the time that S. Mello was Bishop there XV. CHAP. 1.2 c A prosecution of the Gests of S. Mello Bishop of Roüen 5. Dempster impudently challenges him to be a Scott 1. BEcause we would not interrupt this story of S. Mello it will be convenient here to prosecute his life and Gests unto his death which hapned almost two and twenty years after his Ordination Thus therfore the Gallican Martyrologe relates concerning him 2. S. Mello unwilling to delay the execution of the Mission impos'd on him by the Holy Ghost departed from Auxerre and went streight to Roüen Where courageously setting upon his divine employment he began to preach to the inhabitants the name of Christ with such efficacy of speech and power of miracles to which the admirable Sanctity of his life added a greater vertue that in short time he brought almost the whole Citty to the obedience of Faith This great change began especially when on a certain day the people were busy in attending to an abominable sacrifice offred to a certain false Deity of theirs For S. Mello coming there suddenly upon them and inflam'd with a heavenly zeale sharply reproved that frantick people for their blindnes which worship'd a senceles stock as if it were a God And presently calling on the Name of Christ and making the triumphant Sign of the Crosse he immediatly tumbled down the Idoll and with the word of his mouth alone in the sight of them all broke it into small peices-Hereupon the people being astonish'd with this sight willingly attended to his admonitions who taught them the knowledge of the true God and the hope of immortall life to be attaind by his pure Worship By this means a great multitude of the Cittizens became imbued with the Doctrines of our holy Faith and purified by the water of Sacred Baptisme And S. Mello in the same place from which he had expelled the Devill erected the first Trophey to our Lord building there a Church under the Title of the Supreme most Holy Trinity In which Church the people being assembled every Sunday were instructed more perfectly by him in the Worship of God there he offred the unbloody Sacrifice and communicated to his flock the means and helps by which they might attain salvation 3. Thus the flock of Christ encreasing plentifully every day certain Merchants of other countreys negotiating there became attentive and obedient to the Divine Word for whose commodity the Holy Bishop built another Church in an Island where they might more conveniently assemble themselves to which he gave the Title of S. Clement He added moreover a third Church to the end he might comply with the fervour of the multitudes flowing together to see the Wonders wrought by him This he consecrated to the veneration of the most holy Virgin the Mother of God and placed there a Colledge of Preists therby designing it for an Episcopall See 4. Having thus persisted the space of many years in the discharge of his Apostolicall Office and by the seed of the Divine Word having begotten many thousand soules to Christ this Blessed man a veteran Soldier in our Lords warfare at last in the year of Grace two hundred and eighty departed to his eternall rest there receiving from his heavenly Generall whom he had served with great courage perseverance and glory an inestimable Doâ—â—tive and reward He was buried in a vault in the suburbs over which afterward was erected a Church dedicated to S. Gervasius a glorious Monument worthy of him From whence notwithstanding afterward when the Danish armies raged in France his sacred Body was removed into parts more remote from the Sea and reverently layd at a Castle called Pontoise where to this day it reposes in a Church which from him takes its Title where the memory of so illustrious a Champion of Christ lives with great glory and splendour 5. This account gives the Gallican Martyrologe of our Blessed Brittish Saint Mello or Melanius Probus as Possevin calls him Whom yet in opposition to the universall consent of all Writers and Records agreeing that he was a Brittain Dempster most impudently in his Scottish Menology will needs call a Scott falsly affirming that Possevin acknowledges him for such Wheras to this time there is not mention in any ancient Writers of such a Nation as Scotts in this Island Or if there had been certain it is that their countrey never having been subdued by the Romans there was no Tribut sent from thence to Rome which yet we see was the occasion of S. Mello's first going thither But it is Dempsters constant practise ridiculously to adopt into a Scottish family all persons whatsoever which in these Primitive times are called Brittains If this were granted Ireland would have a better title to this Saint then Scotland for in this age that Island was the only countrey of the Nation called Scots which afterward transplanted themselves into the Northern parts of the Caledonian Brittains But
consecrated Bishop by S. Siricius Successour to Pope Damasus sent back into his own countrey to preach the Gospell to the Picts shall be shew'd in due place 8. There are not wanting besides our own some forraign Authours also who affirm that the famous Bishop Moyses the Apostle of the Saracens was born in Brittany by name Notgerus Bishop of Liege Henry Fitz-Simon a learned Irish Iesuit Certain it is that he was in a speciall manner commemorated his Festivall observ'd in the Brittish Martyrologe compos'd by S. Beda where we read these words In Brittany in the Citty Augusta London is on the seaventh of February celebrated the memory of S. Augulus Bishop and Martyr Likewise of the Venerable Bishop S. Moyses Who first of all leading a solitary life in the desart became famous for many miracles He was afterward by his illustrious merits vertues and glorious miracles made Bishop of the Saracens at the request of Mauvia their Queen He preserv'd the Communion of the Catholick Faith without blemish and after he had converted to the Faith of Christ the greatest part of that Nation he rested in peace A larger narration of his Gests may be read in Theodoret Socrates and Ruffinus which are omitted by reason of the uncertainty whether they pertain to our present History XIII CHAP. 1. Fraomarius a Tribune in Brittany 2. Gratianus succeeds Valentinian 1. VAlentinian the year before his death sent over into Brittany a certain German King of the Bucinonantes call'd Fraomarius to exercise the Office of Tribune over the Alemanni a powerfull sqadron of the Brittish army And the reason was because the little territory pagus of which he was King lying neer to Moguntiacum Mentz had been wasted and impoverish'd by occasion of his Predecessour Macrianuâ— his rebellion saith Marcellinus Where we may observe how in those times the Title of King was attributed to such as govern'd a very small Territory So that our Legendaries are not much to be blam'd when they so frequently bestow that Title on petty Princes 2. To Valentinian succeeded his Son Gratianus who nine years before had been named Augustus or Emperour by his Father And six dayes after his younger Brother Valentinian also was saluted Emperour by the Soldiers which election Gratianus meekly approv'd XIV CHAP. 1.2 c. S. Patrick in his childhood made a Captive His wonderfull piety c. 5. He is freed 1. THE Picts Scots and other Enemies of the Brittains though they had been repress'd by Theodosius the Emperour Valentinians Generall yet were not so enfeebled but that they made frequent incursionâ— into the Roman Provinces there And particularly in one of them they led captive with them the child of Calphurnius Socher call'd afterward Patrick in the sixteenth year of his age whom they sold to a Noble man in the Northern parts of Ireland call'd by Florilegus Nulcu by Capgrave Miluch or rather as Malmsburiensis reads the name Milchu who employ'd the holy youth in keeping his swine 2. Iocelinus the most exact writer of his life thus relates the matter Inasmuch saith he as according to Scripture gold is tryed in the furnace and a just man by tribulation S. Patrick that he might be better fitted to receive a crown of glory was first exercis'd with tentations For the illustrious child entring into his sixteenth year was snatch'd away captive by Pirats which wasted that countrey and was caried by theÌ„ into Ireland There he was sold a slave to a certain Pagan Prince called Milcho whose territory lay in the Northern parts And herein his condition was parallell to that of the Holy Patriark Ioseph who at the same age was sold into Egypt And as Ioseph after his humiliation was exalted to the Government of all Egypt so likewise did S. Patrick after his captivity obtain a spirituall principality over Ireland Again as Ioseph by his providence nourish'd the Egyptians with corn during a long famine so S. Patrick in processe of time fed the Irishmen ready to perish by their Idolatry with the saving nourishment of Christian Faith So that on both of them affliction was brought for the advancement of their soules in piety for affliction had the same effect on them that the flaile has on corn the furnace on Gold the file on iron the wine-presse on grapes and the Olive-presse on Olives Now Saint Patrick by the command of the foresaid Prince was deputed to the keeping his hoggs 3. Six whole years the devout youth spent in this slavery during which time what wonderfull miracles God wrought by him are at large recited by the same Authour as likewise by Capgrave Bishop â—sher c. to whom I refer the curious reader for as much as a particular account of all the Gests or Saints would swell enormously our present History And in selecting their principall actions it seems more proffitable to recount their vertues which may and ought to be imitated by all then their Miracles which exceed the power of nature and some times of beleif 4. S. Patricks employmens therefore withdrawing him from the conversation of men afforded him space enough to attend to God Insomuch as Iocelinus testifieth that a hundred times a day and as oft in the night he address'd his prayers to God And to Prayer he added Fasting for the mortification of his Sences So that with these two Wings he mounted to such perfection as he enjoy'd a frequent conversation with Angells And particularly in Capgrave we read how an Angel calleâ— Victor frequently visited him and said to him Thou doest very well to fast Ere long thoâ— shalt return to thy countrey Now the Reader needs not wonder at the unusuall Name of this Angel For as S. Gregory observes Angels are therfore design'd by particular names that they may signify their speciall vertues and operations Therfore S. Patrick who was to conquer first his own tribulations and afterward the power of the Devill in that Idolatrous Nation was properly visited by an Angel named Victor or Conquerour 5. The Piety devotion Fasting patience in labours other heavenly vertues of this holy young man at last moved the divine Goodnes miraculously to free him as he had the Israëlites out of his captivity For as Malmsburiensis relates after six years slavery S. Patrick by the admonition of an Angel found under a certain â—urf a Summe of Gold which he gave to his Lord and so was deliver'd from captivity and returned to his parents and countrey which he gloriously illustrated with the admirable sanctity of his life The prosecution of his Gests we remit to the following age XV. CHAP. 1 Valens the Emp. burnt 2 Theodosius made partner of the Empire 3 4. c. Maximus Governour of Brittany Caries all the forces out whence came the Destruction of the Island 10. Mistake of those who place the Martyrdom of S. Vrsula c. here 1. ABout this time the
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
quelled their fury Then he admonished his Collegue and encourag'd all the rest So with one breath and clamour prayers were powr'd forth to our Lord. Immediatly the Divine vertue shewd it self present the infernall Enemies were dissipated a calm tranquillity ensued the winds are turn'd and become favourable to their voyage the waves serviceably drive on the ship so that in a short time having dispatch'd a vast space they safely arriv'd in a quiet and secure haven 11. This Oyle made use of by S. Germanus was not that Sacramentall oyle consecrated for the spirituall comfort of the Sick but ordinary Oyle which we frequently read to have been used by holy men upon the like occasions and by their benediction of it to have produc'd the like effects in severall exigences Of the former fort of Sacramentall Oyle S. Iames in his Epistle speaks and of this latter S. Mark in the sixth Chapter of his Gospell saith Baronius Severall examples of the like may be read in Sozomen as where S. Anthony by annointing a lame man with oyle cur'd him and another holy Monk call'd Benjamin by the like means cured severall diseases And Ruffinus testifies that in his presence and sight severall miracles were after the same manner wrought by religious Hermits V. CHAP. 1.2 c. S. Germanus his Disputation against the Pelagians and Miracle 10. c. A victory over the Scotts by his Prayers 1. THese two Holy men saith the same Constantius being landed a great mulâ—itude from severall quarters meâ—t to receive them of whose coming they had been informed by the predictions of wicked Spirits which were sore affrighted thereat For these being by the power of Preists cast out of those whom they had possess'd did openly declare the furiousnes of the tempest and the dangers which themselves had oppos'd to their voyage and how by the command and sanctity of those holy men they had been vanquish'd Afterwards these venerable Bishops with their fame preaching and miracles fill'd the whole Island of Brittany the greatest of all others And being ouerpress'd with the multitudes of those who resorted to them they preached Gods word not only in Churches but in lanes and high wayes whereby Catholicks were confirmed in their faith and those who had been deprav'd were reduced to the Church They were receiv'd as if they had been indeed Apostles considering the authority which their holines gave them the eminency of their learning and the wonderfull miracles wrought by them Divine Truth therefore being declared by persons so qualified generally the whole Island submitted to their doctrin The authours of the contrary perverse persuasion lurked in dark holes being as the wicked Spirits also were vexed to see the people freed from their snares But at last after long study and meditation they presum'd to enter into dispute with these Apostolick men 2. The place made choice of as most proper for this disputation was not London as Hector Boethius imagins but Verolam then a famous Citty neer S. Albans where the Body of the glorious Martyr Saint Alban repos'd Now what pass'd in that solemne conflict is thus related by Constantius 3. The Pelagians came pompously attended by their flattering disciples in glittring and costly raiment and they rather chose to run the hazard of a conflict then by their silence to confesse they had an ill cause Infinite numbers of people were assembled there with their wives and children The disputants stood on each side very unlike in their condition For on one side was placed divine authority on the other human presumption Here was Orthodox Faith there perfidious Errour Here Christ was acknowledg'd the authour there Pelagius At the first entrance the Holy Bishops gave free scope of disputing to the Pelagians who vainly spent the time and tired the auditory with empty verball discourses But after them the Venerable Bishops poured forth the torrents of their eloquence accompanied with Evangelicall and Apostolicall thunder They mingled with their own discourses texts of divine Scripture and their assertions were attended with testimonies of Gods word Thus vanity was convinc'd and perfidiousnes confuted insomuch as the Pelagians by their inhability to reply confessing their own guilt the people standing by as iudges could scarce contain their hands frrom violence to them and with clamours acknowledged the Victory 4. Immediatly after this a certain person of authority being a Tribune of the army coming with his wife into the midst of the Assembly leading in his hand his young daughter about ten years old which was blind Her he presented to the â—oly Bishops desiring their help for her cure But they bid him first to offer her to the Adversaries Who being deterr'd by an ill conscience joyn'd their entreaties with her parents prayers to the Venerable Prelats Whereupon perceiving the expectation of the people and their adversaries conviction they address'd themselves to God by a short prayer And then S. Germanus full of the Holy Ghost invok'd the Blessed Trinity and taking from his neck a little boxe full of Holy Relicks in the sight of the whole multitude he applied it to the eyes of the young maid which immediatly loosing their former darknes were filld with a new light from heaven At this so apparent miracle the parents exult and the people tremble And after this day all mens minds were so clearly purged from their former impious heresy that with thirsting desires they receiv'd the doctrin of these Holy Bishops 5. The truth of this narration is acknowledg'd by severall Protestant Writers as Archbishop Parker S. Henry Spellman and others who highly exalt the learning Sanctity and Orthodox Faith of these two Apostolick Bishops but withall they purposely conceale the miracle and manner how it was performed fearing to commend that in S. Germanus which they resolve to reprehend in the Holy Monk S. Augustin calling his devotion to Gods Saints superstitions and his bringing into Brittany holy Relicks triviall fopperies affirming him to have been a Teacher rather of superstition then Faith But let us proceed in the Narration of Constantius 6. Perverse Heresy being thus repress'd saith he and the Authours of it confuted so that all mens minds were illustrated with the purity of Faith the holy Bishops repair'd to the Sepulcher of the glorious Martyr Saint Alban with an intention to give thanks to Almighty God by his intercession There S. German having with him Relicks of all the Apostles and diverse Martyrs after Prayer made he commanded the Sacred Sepulcher to be opened because he would there lay up these precious Gifts For he thought it convenient that the same Repository should contain the members of many Saints out of diverse regions whom Heaven had receiv'd and crownd for the equality of their merits Having then with great reverence depos'd joynd together so many Sacred Relicks he digg'd up from the place where the Blessed Martyr S. Alban had shed his blood a masse of dry earth which he
whole Nation 12. This wonderfull Victory is beleiv'd to have been obtain'd neer a town call'd Mold in Flintshire for there is a large feild which still retaines the name of S. Germanus being call'd in the Brittish language Maes-garmâ—n There also runs the River Alen in which probably the Picts and Saxons were many of them drown'd And besides this the place being situated neer the Sea lay fittly for the abord of the Enemies Navy and armies This Victory likewise seems to be celebrated by S. Gregory the Great who expounding those words of Iob Cardines quoque mariâ— operiet He covereth the bottom or roots of the Sea makes mention of Alleluiah sung by the Brittains and the great vertue thereby obtain'd over the Ocean and all their Enemies S. Beda indeed applies this passage to the times of S. Augustin and conversion of the Saxons Whereas that Book was written before Saint Augustins arrivall in Brittany and therefore more properly belongs to the present story 13. The great blessings confer'd by these Venerable Bishops on our Island were in some degree recompenc'd by the prosperous voyage which at their return they acknowledg'd from the intercession of the Tutelary Saint of Brittany the glorious Martyr S. Albanus For so writes the fore mentioned Authour Constantius saying Their own merits and the intercession of the Martyr S. Albanus obtain'd for them a calm voyage by Sea so that their prosperous ship rendred them safe to the desires of their freinds at home From whom they had been absent little more then the space of a year during which short time so many wonderfull things were wrought by them never to be forgotten nor without great veneration mention'd by us This was S. Germanus his first voyage into Brittany Within six years he will be obliged to return once more and make a longer aboad here VI. CHAP. 1.2 c. S. Patrick a Disciple of S. Germanus receives his Mission from P. Celestinus 7.8 His companions in his Mission 9.10 Irish Magicians give warning of his coming 11. c. Of the Staff of Iesus 1. DVring the time that S. Germanus remain'd in Brittany S. Patrick being then sixty eight years old inseparably adhered to him from him he learnt many instructions in Christian Doctrin Disciplin receiv'd many examples of vertue and piety for his imitation By him likewise he was encourag'd to undertake the Conversion of the Irish Nation but withall admonish'd to expect from the Apostolick see of Rome a commission and authority to execute that Apostolicall Office 2. For which purpose he accompanied S. Germanus into Gaule from whence the year following he went to Rome being desirous saith Iocelinus to have his actions and iourney into Ireland confirm'd by the authority of Pope Celestinus He had appointed by Saint Germanus for his companion to Rome to be a comfort in his travell and a witnes of his holy conversation a certain Preist named Sergecius a devout servant of our Lord. When he was arriv'd at Rome he committed himself to the Prebends of the Roman Church to be more perfectly instructed in their instituts 3. Afterwards he repair'd to the Holy Pope Celestinus and humbly casting himself at his feet earnestly besought him to employ his care for the conversion of the Pagan Irish Nation Which Petition of his being very acceptable to the Holy Pope he a while after sent for him and changing his name from Magonius to Patricius as prophecying that he should be a spirituall Father of many soules he promoted him to the Episcopall dignity and so directed him to his voyage into Ireland Thus writes Stanihurst in the Life of our Saint Other Authours affirm that he was ordain'd Bishop by S. Amator or by an Archbishop called Mathew But all generally agree that he receiv'd his Mission only from Pope Celestinus 4. And hereof S. Patrick himself is a most authentick witnes as may appear in an Epistle which he wrote of his Legation which begins thus In the name of our Lord Iesus Christ. I Patricius a poor humble servant of our Lord in the four hundred and thirtieth year of his Incarnation was sent Legat by the most holy Pope Celestinus into Ireland the inhabitants whereof by the Divine Grace I converted to the Faith of Christ c. 5. This Epistle is extant in Capgrave and also in the fifth Tome of the Great Bibliotheque of the Fathers Where is added this Observation of the learned Gerardus Vossius This Epistle of the Legation of S. Patricius we found some years since among the Manuscript Collections of Marianus Victorius of pious memory Bishop of Reate who receiv'd it transcrib'd faithfully out of a most ancient Copy of Glastenbury Abbey at the time when he attended Cardinal Poole sent by the Pope Legat into England So that the authority of it seems not fitt to be rejected The whole tenour of this Epistle has been already produc'd in the fifth Chapter of the second Book of this History upon occasion of treating concerning the first foundation of the Abbey of Glastenbury by S Ioseph of Arimathea and his disciples 6. In the same Epistle S. Patrick also testifies that together with the Episcopall Degree S. Celestinus bestowd on him twelve years of Indulgence His words are I found in Writings of a later date that S. Phaganus and Diruvianus obtain'd from the Holy Pope Eleutherius who sent them ten years of Indulgence And I brother Patricius received of Pope Celestin of happy memory twelve years Hence it is that Florilegus saith That S. Patrick took his iourney to Ireland enrich'd with spirituall treasures 7. He was accompanied in his Legation saith Iocelinus with twenty persons eminent for their wisedom and holy conversation Which were assigned to him for his assistance by Pope Celestinus In his iourney he diverted to S. Germanus his instructour from whose liberality he received chalices Preistly vestments and store of Books together with many other things proper for Ecclesiasticall Ministery 8. One of his principall companions was the same Sergetius or Segetius who by S. Germanus his order had attended him in his iourney to Rome being a pious and vertuous Preist There are mention'd in Ecclesiasticall monuments two whose names were Auxilius and Isserninus nam'd by some Servinus their names are found subscrib'd in a Synod assembled afterward by S. Patrick in Ireland Others there were of inferiour Ecclesiasticall Orders saith Bishop Vsher who under S. Patrick ministred to our Lord. 9 Warning of S. Patricks coming into Ireland was given severall years before by the Magicians and Pagan Prophets there as we read in his Life extant in Capgrave For they said A man will come hither with his wood whose Table shall be placed on the Eastern side of his house and some persons standing behind together with others from the Table will sing and the Congregation will answer them saying Amen When this man comes he
will destroy our Gods subvert our Temples destroy Princes which resist him and his Doctrin shall remain and prevaile here for ever 10. With such words as these saith Probus the Magicians incens'd both the Prince and all the people to hate the Blessed Bishop S. Patricius For two or three years they compos'd a certain Rhythme which according to the obscure idiome of their rude language imported thus much A head of art and skill with his crook-headed staff will come From that hower every house shall be bored through at the top He will chant an abomination from his Table at the fore part of the house and his whole family will answer So be it So be it This in our tongue and sence means thus much The Master of all wisedom will come with his sign of the Crosse by which the hearts of all men will feele compunction And from the Altar of the holy Mysteries he will convert soules unto Christ and all the Christian people will answer Amen When these things come to passe then our Pagan kingdom shall fall And all this was afterwards really fullfilld 11. Hereby appears that the peice of wood which those Magicians foretold should be brought by S. Patrick is interpreted by Probus to be a woodden Crosse Whereas others affirm that by it is signified a certain wonderfull Staff which S Patrick before his iourney receiv'd from a Holy Hermite and which was call'd The staff of Iesus The strange story how this Staff was first receiv'd and what wonders it afterwards wrought I wlil here sett down from Iocelinus the Authour of S. Patricks life yet without interposing my credit for the truth of it 12. S. Patrick saith he by Divine revelation pass'd over to a certain Solitary Hermit living in an Island of the Tyrrhen Sea whose name was Iustus which he made good by his actions being a man a a holy life great fame and much merit After devout salutations and good discourse the same man of God gave to S. Patrick a staff which he seriously affirmed had been bestow'd on him immediatly by the hand of our Lord Iesus himself who had appear'd to him 13. Now there were in the same Island at some distance other men also who liv'd solitary lives Of which some seem'd very fresh and youthfull and others were decrepit old men S. Patrick after some conversation with them was informed that those very old men were children to those who appeared so youthfull At which being astonish'd and enquiring the occasion of so great a miracle they thus aquainted him saying We from our childhood by Divine Grace have been much addicted to works of Mercy so that our dores were always open to all travellors which demanded meaâ— or lodging On a certain night it hapned that a stranger having a staff in his hand was entertain'd by us whom we used with all the courtesy we could On the morning after he gave us his benediction and said I am Iesus Christ My members you have hitherto oft ministred to and this night entertain'd mee in my own person After this he gave the staff which he had in his hand to a man of God our Father both spiritually and carnally commanding him to keep it till in succeeding times a certain stranger named Patrick should come to visit him and to him he should give it Having said this he presently ascended into heaven And from that day we have remain'd in the same state of Youthfull comelines and vigour to this hower Whereas our â—hildren who then were little infants are now as you see become decrepite old men 14. Now what fortune soever so stupendious a story may fin'd in the minds of the Readers certain it is that a staff beleiv'd to have belongd to S. Patrick and nam'd the staff of Iesus was for many ages in great veneration among the Irish. For thus S. Bernard in the life of S. Malachias an Irish Bishop written by him relates Nigellus saith he seing that he must be compell'd to fly took with him some precious ornaments of the See of Armagh namely a copy of the Holy Gospells which had formerly been S. Patricks and a staff cover'd with gold and adorn'd with precious stones which they call the staff of Iesus because as the report is our Lord himself held and form'd it with his own hands This was of high Esteem and veneration in that Nation and well known by the people whose reverence to it was so great that whosoever was seen to have it in his hands they foolishly shew'd the same respect and veneration to him as if he had been their Bishop And Giraldus Cambrensis in his Topography of Ireland writes also thus In the Vulgar opinion with this staff S. Patrick cast out of the Island all venemous beasts Of which staff the Originall is as uncertain as the vertue most certain VII CHAP. 1. When S. Patrick entred Ireland 2.3.4 His first Converts SAint Patrick seems to have entred into Ireland in the year four hundred thirty two as Bishop Vsher computes The inhabitants of the countrey saith Stanihurst having advice of his landing flock'd to him from all parts For though some among them attempted to drive the Holy Bishop from their coasts yet the greater part of the common people came joyfully to him as if he had been of their own Nation For in S. Patrick there were many qualities which invited them to expresse great good-will and familiarity towards him He was a comely personage very civill in conversation and though extremely grave yet without morosity Besides this he spoke the Irish language perfectly and from his youth had inform'd himselfe concerning their naturall dispositions by which means he became presently as one of them But God himself was the principall cause of conciliating their affections to him by whose speciall Grace in a short time great multitudes yeilded their assent and obedience to Christian doctrines preach'd by him S. Patrick therfore as became a good Shephear'd with great care watch'd over his new flock by dayly admonitions informing the new-converted Christians in all duties of Piety convincing the Errours of the Pagans and confounding the Magicians which oppos'd him 2. Especiall notice is taken in Ecclesiasticall Monuments of the conversion of one Irish man whose name was Dicon through whose land S. Patrick passing gaind him to our Lord after a wonderfull manner and from a wolf chang'd him into a Lamb. Of him Probus thus writes Dicon coming suddenly with weapons intended to kill S. Patrick and his companions But assoon as he saw the Holy Bishops face he felt compunction in his heart For our Lord immediatly turn'd his thoughts insomuch as he lead him meekly to his house Where the holy Bishop rested some time preaching to him the Faith of Christ So that this man first of all the Island beleived with all his family 3. Notwithstanding another ancient Authour cited by Bishop Vsher recites the conversion of one call'd
be blessed for ever 11. After this her soule being ready to depart out of her body she saw standing before her a troop of heavenly Angels ready ioyfully to receive her soule and to transport it without any fear or danger from her spirituall Enemies Which having told to those who stood by her blessed soule was freed from the prison of her body on the eighth day before the Ides of October In her dissolution her face smiled and was all of a rosy colour and so sweet a fragrancy proceeded from her Sacred Virgin-body that those who were present thought themselves in the ioy of Paradice S. Cadocus buried her in her own Oratory where for many years she had lead a most holy mortified life very acceptable to God XV. CHAP. 1.2 Of S. Almedha sister to S Keyna and strange things hapning on her solemnity 3. Of her Brother Saint Canoc and his wreath 4. Of Saint Clitanc King of Brecknock and Martyr 1. TO the Gests of this Holy Virgin Saint Kâ—yna we will here adjoyn what remains in ancient Monuments concerning her sister Saint Almedha 〈◊〉 her Brother Saint Canocus There are saith Giraldus Cambrensis dispersed through severall Provinces of Cambria many Churches illustrated by the names of the Children of Braganuâ— Of these there is one seated on the top of a certain hill in the region of Brecknock not far distant from the principall Castle of Aberhodni which is called the Church of Saint Almedha who reiecting the mariage of an Earthly Prince and espousing her self to the Eternall King consummated her life by a triumphant Martyrdom The day of her solemnity is every year celebrated in the same place the first of August Whereto great numbers of devout people from far distant parts use to assemble and by the merits of that Holy Virgin receive their desired health from divers infirmities 2. One especiall thing usually hapning on the solemnity of this Blessed Virgin seems to mee very remarkable For you may oftimes see there young men and maids sometimes in the Church sometimes in the Church-yard and sometimes whilst they are dancing in an even ground encompassing it to fall down on a sudden to the ground at first they lye quiet as if they were rapt in an Extasy but presently after they will leap up as if possess'd with a frenzy and both with their hands and feet before the people they will represent whatsoever servile works they unlawfully performed upon Feast-dayes of the Church One will walk as if he was holding the plow another as if he were driving the Oxen with a goad and both of them in the mean time singing some rude tune as if to ease their toyleâ— One will act the trade of a Shoomaker another of a tanner a third of one that were spinning Here you may see a mayd busily weaving and expressing all the postures usuall in that work After all which being brought with Offrings unto the Altar you would be astonish'd to see how suddenly they will return to their senses again Hereby through Gods mercy who rejoyces rather in the conversion then destruction of Sinners it is certain that very many have been corrected and induced to observe the Holy Feasts with great devotion 3. As touching their Brother Saint Canoc the fame of his Sanctity was most eminent among the Siluâ—es His name is consign'd in our English Martyrologe on the eleaventh oâ— February where likewise he is sayd to have flourish'd in all vertues about the year of Christ four hundred ninety two To him most probably is to be referd that which is reported of the Wreath Torques of S. Canauc for so he calls him Which the inhabitants of that countrey esteem to be a precious Relick and of wonderfull vertue insomuch as when any one is to give a testimony by Oath if that Wreath be placed in fight he dares not presume to commit periury 4. Our Martyrologe also among other Saints of this time commemorates the death and Martyrdom of a King of Brecknock in Southwales calld Clitanc or Clintanc on the nineteeth day of August in the year of Grace four hundred niâ—â—ty two Concerning whom we read in Capgrave that he was a Prince very observant of peace and iustice among his Subiects and that in the end he became a Martyr adorn'd with a celestiall crown for his vertues and merits and particularly his Chastity and purity from carnall delectations For he was murdred by treason of a certain impious wretch whose name is perished with him But to return to the publick affairs of these times between the Brittains and Saxons XVI CHAP. 1.2.3 The erection of the Kingdom of the South-Saxons 4. Of the Citty Anderida 5. Two Metropolitans constituted 1. IN the year of Grace four hundred ninety one is placed by our best Historians the beginning of the Kingdom of the South-Saxons which as it began on a sudden and more timely then the rest so was it likewise the first that fayled and the last which embraced the Christian Faith The manner how this New Kingdom was erected is thus described by Henry of Huntingdon 2. Then began saith he the Kingdom of Sussex which Ella a long time held and administred with great power He had received great recruits out of Germany so that being confident of his forces he in the third year after the death of Hengist the Roman Emperour Anastasius then raigning layd siege to the Strong Citty of Andredecester Whereupon the Brittains were gatherd together in infinite numbers to raise this siege and both day and night vexed the besiegers with ambushes and incursions But they nothing discouraged gave continuall assaults on the Citty and in every assault the Brittains sett on their backs showrâ—ng arrows and darts upon them So that they were forc'd to give over the assault and turn their forces against them But the Brittains being more nimble quickly ran into the woods and when the Saxons returnd to the walls they follow'd them at their bac'ks 3. By this means the Saxons were a long time extremely harass'd and great slaughters were made of them Till at last they were compell'd to divide their Army into two parts that whilst one was employed in expugning the Citty the other part might be in a readines to fight with the Brittons from without Than indeed the besieged being weakned with famine could no longer resist the Saxons by whom they were all consum'd with the sword so that not one escaped And moreover in revenge of the great losses sustain'd by the Saxons during this Siege they demolish'd the Citty utterly so that it was never built again Onely the marks of the place where a most Noble Citty had been seated might be seen by passengers 4. The Citty here called Andredecester was by the Romans call'd Anderida Guido Pancirolus discoursing on the Officers subordinate to the Count of the Saxon-shore in Brittany makes mention of a Provost of a company of soldiers call'd
called Acluid in which he lay sick Vpon King Arthurs approach saith Mathew of Westminster the Enemies retired to a place called Mureif whither he pursued them But they escaping by night fled to a Lake named Lumonoy Whereupon Arthur gathering many ships together encompassed the Island and in fifteen days brought them to such extreme famine that many thousands of them perish'd In which utmost danger the Bishops of that Regioâ— came bare-foot to the King with teares beseeching him to take pitty of that miserable people and to give them some small portion of that countrey to inhabit under the Yoake of perpetual servitude The King mollified with the teares of the Bishops both pardon'd his Enemies and granted their request 9. Here it is that some of our Brittish and Saxâ—n Writers ground the subjection of Scotland to the Crown of Brittany Particularly Walsingham relates how King Arthur having subdued Scotland placed over it as King a certain person named Angulsel who at a publick Feast in Caer-leon caried King Arthurs sword before him and did homage to him for his Kingdom And that successively all the Kings of Scotland were subject to the crown of Brittany But it seems very improbable that King Arthur at a time when his own countrey was peece-meale renting from him should be at leasure to conquer forrain Nations And however if the Scots were indeed now subdued certain it is that they shortly shook off that yoke XV. CHAP. 1.2.3 Of the Holy Bishop Nennion And of S. Finanus 1. WHereas in the last recited exploit of King Arthur it is sayd that certain Pictish or Scottish Bishops were suppliants to him in behalf of their distressed countreymen our inquiry must be what Bishops those probably were That the Province of the Picts where the Citty of Acluid was seated had many years since received the Christian Faith by the preaching of S. Ninianus hath been already demonstrated But who were his Successours till this time we can only find by conjecture In the Annals of Ireland there is mention of a certain Bishop call'd Nennion who is sayd to have flourished in Brittany about the year five hundred and twenty and to have had his seat in a place called the great Monastery This man probably was the Successour of S. Ninianus and this Great Monastery the same with Candida Casa where was the Monument of that Apostolick Bishop which by reason of frequent miracles wrought there invited great numbers of devout men to embrace a Coenobiticall Life as hath been shewd from Alcuinus Of this Bishop Nennion we read in the life of S. Finanus this passage That the said S. Finanus having in his childhood been instructed by S. Colman a Bishop was afterward recommended to â—he care of Nennion The words of Tinmouth extant in Capgrave are these Behold certain ships out of Brittany entred the said haven in Ireland in which ships was the Holy Bishop Nennion and severall others accompanying him These men being received with great ioy and honour Coelanus Abbot of Noendrum or as Iocelin writes of Edrum very diligently recommended young Finanus to the Venerable Bishop Thereupon Finanus presently after returned with him into his countrey and for severall years learned from him the Rules of a Monasticall life at his â—ee called the great Monastery Moreover with great proficiency he studied the Holy Scriptures and by invoking the name of Christ wrought many Miracles 2. Concerning the same Finanus it is further added Having been more then ordinarily instructed in Monastick institutions and holy Scripture by S. Nennion Finanus determined to take a journey to the See Apostolick to the end he might there supply whatsoever was defective in saving knowledge At Rome therefore he continued the space of seaven years dayly studying and advancing in Sacred science And after that he ascended to the degree of Preisthood 3. Thus much by the way concerning the holy Bishop Nennion who probably was one of those who interceded with King Arthur in behalfe of their countrey And it was about this time that S. Finanus lived under his Discipline For thus B. Vsher in his Chronologicall Index writes in the year five hundred and twenty Nennion Bishop of the See called The great Monastery flourish'd at this time in Brittany XVI CHAP. 1.2 Fables concerning King Arthur censured 1. IN the year of Grace five hundred twenty three King Arthur after the death of his wife Guenevera maried a Noble Lady called Guenhumara By occasion of which mariage his fame was spread through all countreyes This is thus declared by Florilegus In the forenamed year saith he King Arthur having reduced the Isle of Brittany to its former state maried a wife named Guenhumara descended from the Noble stock of the Romans She had been brought up in the Court of the Duke of Cornwal and in beauty excelled all the women of Brittany To this mariage he invited all Princes and Noble persons in the Regions adjacent and during the celebration of it such sports and such magnificence both in feasting and military exploits were shewn by him that Nations far removed did admire and emulate him By this means from some transmarine Kings he gained love and in others he imprinted a fear and terrour 2. Within little more then a year after this mariage he is sayd to have passed into Ireland and there to have taken Prisoners the King Gillamur and his Nobles and subdued the whole Island From thence to have sayled into Holland Gott-land and the Isles of Orkney all which Regions he brought under Tribute 3. Such Fables as these invented by idle and ignorant Bards and with addition published in a Latin stile by Geffrey of Monmouth have passed for true stories not only among the Brittains in succeeding times who might be pardond if in their poverty and miseries they recreated their minds with the imagined past glory of their Ancestours but they have imposed on forrain Writers and some of them otherwise not unlearned Hence it is that Malbranque a diligent French Antiquary has been induced to acknowledge that King Arthur after having forced Brittany from the Saxons subdued afterward that part of France which was inhabited by his own countreymen the Morini 4. Neither hath the Brittish Fables ended here They have sent King Arthur into Norway and his exploits there are thus recorded by Mathew of Westminster In the year of Grace five hundred thirty three King Arthur having a design to subdue all Europe passed with a Navy into Norway Where being arrived he found Sichelin King of that countrey dead who had bequeathed that Kingdom to Loth sisters son to King Arthur a Prince of great vertue and magnificence The sayd Loth had at that time a son called Walwan a youth twelve years old who was recommended to Pope Vigilius to be by him brought up from whom likewise he received the Order of Knight hood In the end King Arthur
and was signally approved by him in the Synod of Victory assembled by him ten years after his Consecration 7. Neither was his Pastoral solicitude confined to his own Province it extended it selfe abroad also and especially into Ireland From whâ—nce he was often visited and consulted with by devout men Hence Giraldus Cambrensis speaking of this age saith It was among the Irishmen in those days a frequeâ—t custom to goe in pilgrimage and their greatest devotion was to visit the monuments of the Apostles in Rome Among the rest one Barro an Abbot in the province of Cork went thither and in his return he pass'd by Menevia where he stayd till he could find the commodity of a ship and wind For such was the usuall practise of good devout Irishmen that either going or returning they would desire to enioy the conversation of the Holy Bishop David whose name like a precious fragrant Oyntment was spread all abroad 8. B. Vsher has publish'd a Catalogue of Irish Saints sorted into severall Orders according to the times wherin they liv'd The first Order was of such as liv'd either contemporaries to S. Patrick or presently after him The Second Order contain'd such Saints 〈…〉 about this age such as were S. Finaâ—â—â— caâ—â—â—d by the Irish Fin and by the Brittains Gain or Win. S. Brendan c. In which 〈◊〉 this observation is express'd The Saints of the Second Order received the Rite of 〈…〉 out of Brittany from holy men 〈◊〉 â—â—ere such as were S. David S. Gildas and S. Doc. 9. Moreover S. David sent over some of his Diâ—ciples into Ireland who grew famous there for their learning and sanctity Among which one oâ— the most illustrious as was Saint Aeâ—an concerning whom Giraldus thus wâ—ites S. Aâ—â—â—n call'd by the Irish S. Maidoc fâ—mous for his vertues and learning in Divine 〈◊〉 having received permission from his 〈◊〉 David and his Brethren with their benâ—â—◠〈◊〉 sayâ—d into Ireland Where after he had 〈…〉 fame by his piety and miracles at 〈◊〉 he built a Monastery near the Citty of 〈◊〉 where having collected a good number of 〈◊〉 Brethren he consecrated himself to the Service of God living according to the form and â—ule which he had received from his Pious Father S. David at Menevia Which Rule was the â—ame that was observed by the Monks in Aegypt as we read in the Antiquities of Glastonbury 10. This S. Aedan was afterward Bishop of Fernâ— and Metropolitain of Leinster whilst S. David was yet alive whom he used to consult in affairs of difficulty as we read in the Nameles Authour of the life of S. Lugid call'd also S. Moluca in these terms Saint Moedhog nam'd otherwise S Aedan the most Holy Bishop of Leinster would needs goe bâ—â—ond Sea into Brittany to his Master S. David Bishop there to demand of hâ—â— whom he would recommend for his Spirituall Father to heare his 〈◊〉 in Iâ—eland The life of this S. Aedan is 〈◊〉 in Capgrave where notwithstanding he is â—tiled only Abbot and not Bishop XX. CHAP. 1.2 c. Of S. Davids death and buriall The Time and Place and of his Successour 1. AFter many years spent by the Holy Bishop David at Menevia in the exercise of all Christian vertues it pleased almighty God in love to him and just anger to the ungratefull Brittains to translate this burning and shining Light from earth to heaven where it now shines most gloriously to all eternity 2. As touching the year of his death considering the great diversity in Historians about his age it must needs be involved in great uncertainty For Giraldus Cambrensis and Iohn of Tinmouth affirm S. David to have lived one hundred forty seaven years having been botâ— in the year of Grace four hundred sixty two and dying in the year six hundred and nine when S. Gregory the Great was Pope Pits likewise allows one hundred forty six years to his age and places his death in the year of Grace five hundred forty four By which account his birth would fall in the year of Christ three hundred ninety eight But both these assertions seem exorbitant the former placing his Death much too late and the latter his Birth as much too early 3. It is therefore more consonant to the order of Brittish affairs and story saith learned B. Vsher and better agrees with the Character of the time assign'd by Giraldus to affirm with Pits that he dyed in the year of Grace five hundred forty four and that at his death he was fourscore and two years old and no more For in that year the Calends of March fell on the third Feria as Giraldus says they did when he dyed 4. Let us now view what things are reported to have occurr'd before his death When the houre of his dissolution approached saith the Authour of his life in Capgrave the Angell of our Lord appear'd to him and said The day so much desir'd by thee is now at hand Prepare thy selfe for on the Calends of March our Lord Iesus Christ attended with a multitude of Angels will come to meet thee Whereupon he answerd O Lord dismisse now thy servant in peace The Brethren who assisted him having heard the sound of these words but not well understanding the sence fell prostrate to the ground in great feare Then the Holy Bishop cryed with a loud voyce Lord Iesus Christ receive my Spirit Whereupon when the Brethren made loud complaints he asswaged their sorrow with mild and comfortable words saying My Brethren be constant in your good Profession and beare unanimously to the end that yoke which you have undergone Observe and fulfâ—â— whatsoever things you have seen and heard from mee Aâ—d from that houre to the day of his death the week following he remained in the Church exhorting and encouraging them 5. When the houre of his departure was come our Lord Iâ—sus Christ vouch-safed his presence as he had promis'd by his Angel to the infinite consolation of our Holy Father Who at the sight of him exulted wholly in Spirit saying to him O my Lord Take mee after thee And with these words in our Lords company he gave up his Spirit to God on the Calends of March which being associated to a Troop of Angells with them mounted up to heaven in the year of his age one hundred forty seaven 6. The same Authour further adds That this Holy Bishops death by an Angel divulging it instantly was spread through all Brittany and Ireland Suitable whereto is this passage in the life of S. Kentigern Whilst the servant of God Kentigern one day continued his prayers with more then ordinary attention and devotion his face seemd as on fire the sight whereof fill'd the by standers with great amazement When Prayers were ended he began bitterly to lament And when his Disciples humbly ask'd him the reason of his sorrow he sate a while silent at last he said My dear children know for certain that
moreover ambition and revenge had such power over him that they invited him to commit crimes which hastned the ruine of his countrey Hence it is that Gildas calls him the Tyrant of Danmonia Tyrant by reason of his cruelty and Tyrant of one onely Province because severall others at the same time had invaded each one their severall Principalities and for the maintaining of their unjustly usurp'd power fill'd the whole nation with all manner of crimes and impiety 4. This gave occasion to the same Gildas to write and publi'sh a passionate Invective against the vices of the whole Brittish Nation which had universally deprav'd the inhabitants of all states and conditions excepting a few exceeding few who seing destruction unavoydably coming on the Nation sequestred themselves from publick affaires and in solitude deplor'd the sins of others and by great austerities and pennances procur'd indulgence to their own soules 5. In former times saith he our Kings publick Officers private persons Bishops and other Ecclesiasticks every one kept their order and perform'd the duties belonging to them But when they were dead Such as Ambrosius Vther-pendragon Arthur and likewise Dubricius David c. there succeeded a generation utterly ignorant of the former Vertues among whom all the rules of Truth and Iustice were so shaken and subverted that no foot-steps nor so much as the least monument of those vertues appeard in any of the foresaid orders and conditions c. 6. Constantin at his first ascending into his Throne bound himself by a solemn Oath to govern justly and to use his utmost endeavours to defend his subjects from injuries and oppressions and the common wealth from the violence of its enemies This appers because the year following we find him accused of perjury and violating his Faith given for his barbarous cruelty and sacrilegious profanation of Gods house 7. For two sons of Mordred saith Mathew of Westminster rose in arms against Constantin being desirous to revenge their Fathers death slain by King Arthur as hath been said These ioyning in a confederacy with the Saxons fought many battles with him But at last being compelled to flye Constantin pursued them and one he slew before the Altar of S. Amphibalus his Church in Winchester And the other who had hid himself in a certain Convent of Monks he condemned to a cruell death at London 8. For this Sacrilegious inhumanity Gildas in his too free stile calls Constantin the tyrannicall whelp of the Lyonnes of Danmonia an infringer of the dreadfull Sacrament of an Oath by which he bound himself before God and all his Saints to abstain from all injustice and treachery to his subjects notwithstanding which in the very bosoms both of their carnall Mother and the common Spiritual Mother the Church and nere unto the most Holy Altars he had torn the bowels of two Royal Youths though covered with the Vestment of a holy Abbot Sancti Abbatis amphibalo whilst they stretched forth their hands not armed with swords to resist but to implore help from God and his Altar notwithstanding all which he most barbarously shed their blood which with a purple dye stained the Seat of the Ecclesiasticall Sacrifice and the Sacred palls which covered it By which expression of Gildas it seems that these two children Sons of Mordred had not been guilty of raising war against Constantin but without any offence done by them had been murdred contrary to his â—ath 9. In consequence to which Invective the same Authour adioyns most pressing exhortations to Constantin that he would doe suitable pennance for these horrible crimes implore the Divine Mercy that if possible he might avoyd the dark inextricable torrents of eternall fires in which otherwise he must for ever be rolled and roasted 10. It is probable that this Zealous Writer who flourished at this time did personally use the like exhortations to him which he after recorded in his Book and that they wrought a good effect on him For though some of our Historians write that he was slain by Conan who succeeded in the Kingdom Yet Hector Boëtius relates how Constantin after a short raign having been deprived of his wife and children grew weary of his Kingdom and privily stealing from his freinds went into Ireland And that there for the love of Christ he laboured unknown like a poore servant in a Mill. But afterward by perswasion of a Monk to whom he had discovered his condition he was induced to shave his head and consecrate himself to a Religious life in a Monastery where he lived with such piety and devotion that he became a pattern of all vertues to the rest of the Monks That at last he was by the Prelat of that place sent in Mission to the Scotts to instruct that nation in the doctrin of Christ where he suffred Martyrdom by the hands of certain impious persons After some Ages he was venerated as a Saint and by the authority of succeeding Bishops Temples were dedicated to his honour which yet remain in that Nation 11. What is thus related by Boëtius receives a strong confirmation from the Authour of S. Davids life in Capgrave where we read That when the fame of S. Davids holines was spread abroad severall Princes forsaking their Kingdoms retired to his Monastery Likewise Constantin King of the Cornishmen which is the same Title with Rex Danmoniae in Gildas forsaking his Throne became a Monk there and after some time spent in the devout service of God he at last went into a far distant countrey where he built a Monastery II. CHAP. 1.2 c. S. Kentigern forced to flye into Wales where he founds a Monastery and Episcopall See Of Malgo a Prince who opposed him 1. BEfore we proceed to the Gests of Conan Successour to Constantin in the Kingdom of Brittany it will be requisite that we relate a great affliction and persecution which befell the famous and Holy Bishop Kentigern in the second year of the raign of the said Constantin His Birth Education consecration to the Bishoprick of Glasco with the defects attending it have been already declared 2. Now in pursuance of his succeding Gests Iohn of Tinmouth thus writes Certain Sons of Belial kinsmen to King Marke rose against the Saint conspiring his death Whereupon being admonished by Divine revelation he departed directing his journey to Menevia where the Holy Bishop David flourished with all vertues Near Caër-leon he converted many to the Faith and built a Church Being come to S. David he abode with him some time and received from the Prince of that Region Cathwallam a place commodious for a Monastery Which having erected at Egla Elwy he fixed there an Episcopall See Near that place there was a certain Noble man which often threatned and effectually endeavoured to expell him from thence whom God therefore smote with blindnes But upon the holy Bishops prayers his sight was restored for which he became
Christianity formerly profess'd by them but in his absence were returnd to their Idolatry and in imitation of their Saxon neighbours had admitted the worship also of their idols and false Gods 8. Whilst S. Kentigern liv'd among the Picts S. Columba calld by the English Columkill hearing at his Monastery in the Island of Hy the fame of this holy Bishop came with a great troop of his Disciples to visit him and was mett by him with a like multitude which they divided on both sides into three companies the first of young men the second such as were of perfect age and the third venerable old men all which in the way towards one another sung spirituall songs And when S. Columba came in sight of the Bishop turning himself to his Disciples he said I see a pillar of fire as it were a golden crown in the third quire descending upon the Bishop and casting a celestial splendour about him Then the two Holy men approaching to one another with great fervour of affection gave and receiv'd mutuall kisses and embraces 9. Hector Boetius seems to signify that Brid King of the Picts was present at this meeting And that afterward S. Columba going to a Monastery ioyning to the Castle of Caledonia built by Convallus there instructed in the Faith the Caledonians the Horesti and other neighbouring Nations Likewise that in the same place was afterward erected a Church dedicated to S. Columba and plentifully enrich'd by the following Kings of the Scotts Which Church being an Episcopall see was vulgarly calld Dunkeld But that Authour seems in this relation to mixe and confound the actions of two different Saints both calld Columba for certain it is that Columba who was first Bishop at Dunkeld flourish'd almost a hundred years after this time for to him Saint Cuthbert being then a child was recommended Which mistake is very pardonable because as B. Vsher observes there were in Ireland almost twenty severall men famous for vertue and piety all which had the same Name Columba IV. CHAP. 1.2 c. S. Kentigerns iourney to Rome And the Great Controversy concerning the Tria Capitula 1. IN the year of Grace five hundred ninety three S. Kentigern out of Brittany and a Bishop call Alban out of Ireland went to Rome to visit Pope Gregory the Great saith B. Vsher from ancient Records What speciall busines might move them to undertake that iourney besides their devotion to the Monuments of the Apostles there does not appear in our Historians Yet it may probably be guess'd at from a consideration of the state of the Church in those times 2. A great Controversy was then agitated the occasion wherof was this The famous Council of Chalcedon having condemn'd Eutyches and his doctrine which confounded the two natures in Christ was reiected by a faction of the Eutychians calld Acephali upon this pretence because it seemd to them to favour the contrary Heresy formerly condemn'd of the Nestorians who acknowledg'd not only two natures but two Persons in our Lord. The grounds on which the Acephali charged the Council of Chalcedon with this imputation was first because it seemd to approve an Epistle of Ibas Bishop of Edessa and also the Writings of Theodorus Bishop of Mopsuestia full of blasphemous passages savouring of Nestorianism and thirdly had received into Communion Theodoret Bishop of Cyrrhus who had written sharply against the twelve Capita of S. Cyrill Hereupon the Emperour Iustinian being desirous to represse the Acephali who had rais'd great commotions in Aegypt and the East by the advice of Theodorus Bishop of Cesaeréa in Cappadocia a secret favourer of the Acephali publish'd a large Edict calld Tria Capitulà in which he proscribed the sayd Ibas Theodorus and Theodoret procuring likewise a condemnation of them and their writings as Hereticall from the Bishops of the East Notwithstanding Menas Bishop of Constantinople in his subscription to the Emperours Decree added this condition If these things were approved by the Bishop of Rome 3. Iustinian therefore perceiving that without the sentence of the Pope his attempts would be ineffectual calld Vigilius then Bishop of Rome from the thence to Constantinople Who at his departure was seriously admonished by the Churches of Rome Africk Sardinia Greece and Illyricum that he should by no means consent to any novelty nor suffer any preiudice to be cast on the Council of Chalcedon In complyance with whom by Letters written in his iourney to Menas Patriark of Constantinople he freely reprehended their condemnation of the Three Bishops desiring Iustinian to recall his Decree And when he was come to Constantinople he suspended from his Communion the Bishops who had subscrib'd to the said condemnation for he iudged that not any of the Gests of the Generall Councill of Chalcedon ought to be retracted or calld into dispute 4. Notwithstanding five months afterward at the request of the Empresse Theodora he restor'd them to his Communion and moreover though he would not subscribe to the Emperours Decree yet by his consent the whole Cause was discuss'd in a Synod of seaventy Bishops at Constantinople and when the suffrages of the Bishops were brought to him he wrote a Decree which he sent to Menas in which he also expressly confirm'd the Tria Capitula 5. But this condescendence of Vigilius to avoyd a rent of the Eastern Churches was ill taken in the West insomuch as the Bishops of Africa Illyricum and Dalmatia withdrew themselves from his Communion and Facundus who defended their cause calld him a Prevaricator Whereupon Vigilius endeavoured to persuade the Emperour in the presence of Menas and the other Eastern Bishops that whatsoever had pass'd on either side should be rescinded and that a Synod should be assembled to which particularly the Affrican and Illyrian Bishops who had been scandalised should be calld But they being unwilling to obey Vigilius was dealt withall that in case the Western Bishops would not comply he ioyning with the Greeks should condemn the three Bishops Which he utterly refusing the Emperours Decree was notwithstanding publish'd And when Vigilius together with Dacius Bishop of Milan threatned the Grecian Bishops with Excommunication in case they consented to the Decree the Emperour was so incensed that Vigilius was forced to fly for refuge into S. Peters Church from which Sanctuary when the Emperours Officer endeavoured to draw him he was repelld by a tumult of the people But many iniuries being still offred to Vigilius he fled by night to Chalcedon into the Church of Saint Euphemia 6. This constancy of Pope Vigilius procur'd this effect that laying aside the Imperiall Edicts the discussion of the whole cause should be reserved to a Synod which the Pope desir'd to have celebrated in Italy But the Grecians refusing it was agreed that an equall number of Western Bishops should be summoned to Constantinople Which agreement notwithstanding the Emperour summond all the rest of the Thus a Councill of Eastern Bishops only
Offrings to the Church of Tours and of Saint Martins and some to the Church of Mans. This was the substance of her Will and a few months after spent with sicknes she departed this life by orders left in writing having given freedom to many of her servants At her death she was as I conjecture seaventy years old By the vertues devotion and charity of this good Queen we may collect that Aldiburga her daughter at least unquestionably her neer kinswoman brought the like into Brittany XXII CHAP. 1.2 c. The Saxon Heptarchy or Seaven Kingdoms of the Saxons in Brittany with their respective limits and Princes at this time when S. Augustin came to convert our Nation 1. THE next thing that occurrs in our Ecclesiasticall Records touching Brittany is the rising of the Sun of righteousnes upon it by the Light whereof the darknes of Idolatry and Pagan superstition was dispelled and a new seed of pious Princes zealous Bishops immaculate Virgins devout Monks and multitudes of all sorts far excelling in all Christian vertues and Graces the late Brittish inhabitants sprung up and flourished to the admiration of all other Christian Churches insomuch as that from this time Brittany began to deserve the Title afterwards annexed to it of being called The Isle of Saints 2. But before I relate how and by what degrees the foundations of so great a Happines were layd it will be expedient to give a generall prospect at one view of the present state of Brittany how the Provinces were divided into severall Saxon-Goverments and what Princes ruled in each 3. It is agreed generally among our Writers that the Day-star of Christianity at least bâ—gan to shine in Brittany in the year of Grace five hundred ninety six for then the Apostolick Messengers from Rome received their Mission from the most worthy Successour of Saint Peter S. Gregory the Great in the seaventh year of his Pontificate and begun their iourney towards our Island though they did not arrive here till the year following 4. Now at that time the Saxon Heptarchy was established in Brittany for all the Provinces of it excluding the Northern Kingdoms of the Scotts and Picts with the Western parts called Cambria or Wales possessed by the Brittains and likewise Cornwall not yet wholly subdued by the Saxons were entirely under the dominion of the Angli and Saxons and having been by degrees conquered by severall Princes and Captains out of Germany which were independent of one another each one challenged his conquest and governed the Provinces subdued by him as his own lawfull right possessions though some of them proving lesse powerfull and confind within narrower limits then others in a short time were forced to demand protection and consequently acknowledge some dependance on their more powerfull neighbours 5. The Kings so governing each his respective portion were in number Seaven Their Names and Provinces were as followeth in order according to the antiquity of each Kingdom 6. First Ethelbert was then in the thirty sixth year of his Raign over the Kingdom of Kent He was Son of Irmeric Son of Otha Son of Eska Son of Hengist who founded that Kingdom in the year of Grace four hundred fifty seaven His Kingdom containd the County of Kent as it is at this day bounded without any considerable difference 7. Next over the Southsaxons which Kingdom comprised Sussex and Surrey raignd Edilwalch the Son of Cissa the Son of Ella who established that Kingdom in the year four hundred ninety one Then was the seaventh year of Edilwalch's raign 8. Thirdly the Kingdom of the West-Saxons was now the fifth year possessed by Celrick Brothers Son to Ceaulin Son of Kenric Son of Cerdic founder of that Kingdom in the year of our Lord five hundred and nineteen Within whose Dominions were comprehended Hantshire Berkshire Wiltshire Somerset Dorsetshire Devonshire and part of Cornwal 9. Next over the East-Saxons Sebert then was in the first year of his Raign He was Son of Sledda Son of Erkenwin who in the year of Grace five hundred twenty seaven founded that Kingdom containing Essex Middlesex and so much of Hartfordshire as is under the Bishop of Londons Iurisdiction whose Diocese is adequate to this Kingdom 10. After this was the Kingdom of the Northumbers to which belonged whatsoever lyeth between Humber and Edenborough-Frith It was sometimes subdivided into two Kingdoms of Bernicia and Deira Bernicia contain'd Northumberland with the South of Scotland to Edenborough and Deira consisted of part of Lancashire with the entire counties of York Durham Westmorland and Cumberland The whole Kingdom at this time was governed by Ethelfrid in the fourth year of his Raign Who was Son of Edelric Son of Alla Son of Ida who founded that Kingdom in the year of our Lord five hundred forty seaven 11. After this was the Kingdom of the East-Angles containing Norfolk Suffolk Cambridgshire with the Isle of Ely and some part of Bedfordshire At that time Redwald had been four years King thereof who was Son of Titillus Son of Vffa esteem'd the first King and founder of it in the year of Grace five hundred seaventy five 12. The last though largest of the Saxon Heptarchy was the Kingdom of the Mercians so call'd because being seated in the middle of the Island it was the Marches or Limits on which the other Kingdoms did border It comprehended the whole Counties of Lincoln Northampton RutlaÌ„d Huntingdoâ— Buckingham Oxford Worcester Warwick Darby Nottingham Leicester Stafford Chester Glocester Part of Lancashire Herefordshire Shropshire and Bedfordshire At this time when S. Augustin the Monk was sent by Pope Gregory to the Conversion of the Saxons the King or at least Cheif Governour of Mercia was Wibba son of Crida who layd the foundations of it in the year of our Lord five hundred eighty five 13. These were the Kings raigning in Brittany when Almighty God from heaven visited it by sending Apostolicall men to teach the blind Inhabitants the wayes to glory and Happines And these were the limits of their respective kingdoms Which limits notwithstanding were in continuall motion varying according to the successe good or bad of the Princes invading as oft they did the bounds of their Neighbours And among these seaven Kings commonly one was most puissant overruling the rest who stiled himself King of the English Nation Which supereminence Ethelbert King of Kent at this time enjoyd to whom the Word of life was first offred and by him thankfully accepted as shall consequently be declared 14. Now since in the poursuit of our History we are to give an Account of occurrents relating to another new Government and Church in Brittany being little concerned hereafter in the affaires of the Brittains themselves We will therefore in the following Books denote the Succession of times not by the Brittish but Saxon Kings in whose raigns they shall happen respectively And though at this time in the Saxon Heptarchy the Kingdom of Kent was both the most powerfull
in his leggs that he was not able to walk or stand And fifteen years did he remain in this infirmity 6. By this Miracle the Sanctity of the Holy Bishop was approved whereupon his Sacred body was translated to the Monastery of Ramsey on the fourth of the Ides of Iune To whose honour the Abbot Ednothus built a Church in which he placed his Tomb after such a manner that half of it appeared within and half without the wall to the end that a fountain of water which flowed thence might be ready for the use of every one who came in devotion whether the Church was shutt or not Which Water by the merits of the Holy Bishop had the vertue to cure many diseases 7. One great Miracle wrought there shall not be omitted because the Relatour protests himself an eye-witnes of it I my self saw saith Malmsburiensis what I shall now relate A certain Monk languished a long time with a Dropsy His skin was strangely swelled and his breath so noysom that none could approach him and his drouth was so excessive that he thought he could drink whole barrells On a time by an admonition received in sleep he went to Saint Ivo's Monument where after he had taken onely three draughts of the water he cast up all the superfluous humours within him The swelling of his belly presently fell and his thighs lost their former withered leannes In a word he was restored to perfect health 8. As for the Abbot Ednothus though the infirmity and pain in his leggs continued till his death yet for a sign that his fault was pardoned Seaven days before he dyed the Holy Bishop Ivo appeared to him in great glory and said The time is now at hand when thou shalt perceive that the pains I have inflicted on thee will prove a remedy to procure thee eternall rest Prepare thy self therefore for seaven days hence I will come and deliver thee from the prison of thy body And it fell out accordingly X. CHAP. 1.2 c. The Gests of S. Paul de Leon. 1. THE same year likewise is mark'd with the happy death of S. Paul a kinsman of S. Sampson Bishop of Dâ—le Concerning whom we read in the Gallican Martyrologe publish'd by Andrew Saussay that he was one of the Companions of S. Sampson That his Fathers name was Perfius and that he was a Scholler to S. Iltutus both in wit and innocence excelling all his companions Being very young he was prevented with many Graces of Gods holy Spirit and thereupon fearing least he should be tempted with vain glory at the age of fifteen he retir'd into a desart where building for himself an Oratory and a Cell he lead there an Angelicall life Thus growing every day more rich in merits when he was arrived at mature age he was compelled to accept the dignity of Preistly Office which he adorned with the splendour of his Sanctity The fame whereof being spread abroad he was sent for by King Margus probably the same with Malgus or Maglocunus whom together with his people he more perfectly instructed in the Mysteries of Christian Faith to which they had lately been converted 2. After some time by the admonition of an Angel he retired into an Island on the Coast of Lesser Brittany called Ossa where he brought many Infidels to the heavenly Light of the Gospell Where likewise by divine vertue he slew a monstrous Dragon After which the Prince of that Region called Vintrurus or Withurus offred him a Bishoprick which he with a resolute humility refused Notwithstanding he was with a pious fraud circumvented by him For being sent upon certain pretended affairs to Childebert King of the Franks he caried with him private letters desiring the King to ratify his Election to the Bishoprick The King received him with great reverence but withall compelled him to accept the Bishoprick which he had refused to which he was Canonically ordained by three Bishops The See of his Bishoprick was by the Kings decree seeled at Leon to which he was wellcomed by all the people with wonderfull ioy And this sublime Office he administred with admirable sanctity and Pastorall prudence to his death His sacred body many years after was thence translated by his Successour Mabbo to the Monastery of Fleury by occasion of the incursions of the Normans where it was a long time held in great veneration 3. The Authour of his life in the Bibliotheque of Fleury relates how he quitted his Bishoprick three severall times but was forced to resume it upon the death of his Successours But at last when his strength was even quite spent he ordained one of his Brethren named Cetomerin Bishop in his place a certain Noble Prince called Induael being present who came thither to recommend himself to his prayers And this being performed he retired himself into an Island called Batha where he spent many years governing a great Congregation of Monks and at last happily concluded his life being more then a hundred years old His Church is from him to this day called Saint Paul de Leon. 4. We read in Capgrave how this S. Paul on a time visiting a sister of his who devoutly served God in a Cell seated near the Sea on the Brittish shore at her request he obtained of God by his prayers that the Sea should never swell beyond the bounds marked by her by placing a row of stones By which means the sea was restrained the space of a mile from his usuall course and continues so to this day XI CHAP. i. 2 c. S. Gregory sends new Missioners with Letters and presents to severall persons 1. THE Messengers sent by S. Augustin to Rome stayd there a full year which delay it seems was caused by the difficulty of finding a sufficient number of able lobourers to cultivate our Lords Vineyard in Brittany At length in the year of Grace six hundred and one Laurence and Peter return'd accompanied with twelve others to assist them in the founding of the Saxon Church in our Island the principal of whom were Mellitus Iustus Paulinus and Ruffintanus all of them Monks and Brethren of the same Institut with S. Augustin 2. These devout Missioners were as the former by S. Gregory recommended to Princes and Bishops residing in the Citties through which they were to passe or were not far distant from their way One Letter exemplified in severall Copies he directed to Serenus Bishop of Marseilles to Mennas Bishop of Tholouse to Lupus Bishop of Chaillon on the Saone to Agilius Bishop of Mets and to Simplicius Bishop of Paris all whom he entreated to assist these Religious Monks with their charity that they might not be hindred from a quick dispatoh of their iourney so beneficiall to the Church of Christ. 3. Another letter was written by Saint Gregory to Siagrius Bishop of Autun in which he highly extolls his kindnes exhibited lately to S. Augustin desiring the like
take a view of the effects which these Letters and admonitions produced in the persons to whom they were directed King Ethelbert and Saint Augustin King Ethelbert therefore casts down all Idols and commands the Temples accustomed to profane and impious Sacrifices to be changed into places of pure Worship and Piety And S. Augustin assisted by fresh labourers purges those profane Temples and instead of Idols erects the Sacred Crosse the Hieroglyphick of our Faith 2. More particularly King Ethelbert to whom S. Gregory had proposed Constantin for a pattern with a munificence like Constantins gave his Palace and whole Royal Citty of Canterbury to S. Augustin saith Camden and built for himself a Palace at Reculver Regulbium Which place Saith Parker was situated near the Sea Where likewise he founded a Monastery the last Abbot whereof was called Wenred Nothing now remains of this place by reason the Sea breaking in has cover'd it Onely the tops of towers other ruins of the Monastery are marks to Seamen that they may avoyd the dangerous flats there 3. Together with the Royal Citty King Ethelbert conferred likewise on S. Augustin and his Successours many Regall Priviledges Iura Regalia Among which one was a right of coyning Money with his own Stamp For to this effect Selden thus Writes The ancient Right of the Arch-bishops of Canterbury is signified by an Old Coyn one side whereof is signed with the name Plegmuud Arch-bishop and the other with the name of Eâ—cmund the Coyner The Prototype is preserved in the Treasure of the family of Cotton where I my self saw a peice of silver having imprinted on it the name image of Celnoth Arch-bishop And it seems the right of coyning money generally esteemed a Regal Priviledge did belong to the Arch-bishop as Lord of that Citty in those times 4. This Right remained to that See till the times of King Ethelstan about the year of Grace nine hundred twenty four who then abrogated it in the opinion of Selden publish'd a Law that not any coyn should passe but such as was stamped with the Kings Image Notwithstanding it was not quite abrogated for among the same Kings Laws this is one Let there be seaven Minters or Coyners at Canterbury Of which four shall belong to the King two to the Arch-bishop and one to the Abbot So that this prerogative remained many ages entire to the Arch-bishops though the measure and valew of the money coynd was restrain'd by King Athelstan who commanded the same coyn for price and quantity to have passage through his dominions and that none out of Citties should be permitted to stamp it Neither can it appear from any authentick Record but that this Priviledge continued till the time of the Norman Conquest 5. To the same See of Canterbury also by vertue of S. Gregories Rescript did belong an Vniversall Iurisdiction over the whole Island Forthough in a Synod shortly following the Brittish Bishops made their opposition and contradiction to this Priviledge for which reason S. Augustin forbore to presse it Yet the same was afterward admitted not only by all the Churches of the Saxons but of Brittany in the largest sence yea of the Brittanies in the plurall number Britanniarum comprehending in the language of ancient Authours Polybius hist. l. 3. and Ptolomy Georg. l. 2. both old Scotland which is Ireland and Albany which is Modern Scotland For on the See of Canterbury did both those Nations depend in Ecclesiasticall matters 6. Thus Queen Matildis call'd S. Anselm the Arch-bishop of the prime See and Primar of the Northern Islands call'd Orcades And before S. Anselms time the custom was for the Irish Bishops to receive Consecration from the Arch-bishops of Canterbury as evidently appears from S. Lanfrancs letter to Gothric King of Ireland extant in Baronius as likewise from the letter of Murchertac another Irish King and Dofnald a Bishop to S. Anselm Arch-bishop of Canterbury in which they request him to institute a Bishop at Waterfoxd by vertue of the power of Primacy over them which was invested in him and of the authority of Legat of the Apostolick See which he exercised This is testified by Eadmerus the Monk an eye-witnes of that transaction 7. Next as touching Scotland in the modern acception though anciently it was subject to the Arch-bishop of York by a Decree of Pope Eleutherius sent by Fugatius and Damianus Yet now S. Gregory derogated from that Decree and either having regard to S. Augustins sanctity or the eminent Empire of Ethelbert who was in some sort Monarch of the whole Island he publish'd a New Decree that all Churches of the Brittanies should be subject to the See of Canterbury And this is manifest in the Controversy between Alexander King of the Scotts and the foresaid Eadmer who at the request of that King was appointed Bishop of S. Andrews in Scotland by Radulphus Arch-bishop of Canterbury whom the King would have to receive Consecration from the Arch-bishop of York but he refused informing him that the authority of the See of Canterbury did of old extend over all Brittany and therefore that he would require Consecration from the said Arch-bishop But the King not being satisfied Eadmer chose rather to relinquish his new Bishoprick then prejudice the Prerogative of the Prime See of Brittany XV. CHAP. i. 2 The King of the Northumbers overcomes the King of the Scotts 1. THE year following which was the six hundred and third of our Lords Incarnation Ethelfrid King of the Northumbers overcame Edan King of the Scotts This Ethelfrid saith Beda was a most potent King and wonderfully thirsty after glory He had wasted the Brittains more then any of the Saxon Princes and had made many of their Provinces tributary Whereupon Edan King of the Scots inhabiting Brittany being mov'd by the great progresse of his Victories came against him with a mighty and well appointed army but was overcome and forced to fly back with few attendants For in a place called Degsasten or The Stone Degsa celebrated by that battell his whole army in a manner was destroyed Yet in the same combat Theobald Brother of Ethelfrid with that part of the army lead by him was slain And from that time till the dayes of S. Beda himself never durst any King of the Scotts enter Brittany against the English Nation 2. The said King Aidan as Fordon the Scottish Chronicler testifies after that discomfiture did so afflict himself with greif that two years after he dyed at Kentyre After whose death Kennet Ker son of Conal seysed on the Crown but within lesse then a years space dying Eugenius Buydwel Son of Aeidan succeeded in the Kingdom Which King Eugenius saith he infested the Regions of the Saxons and sometimes of the Picts with furious irruptions But in this clause he manifestly contradicts S. Beda forecited who likewise elsewhere expressly affirms That the Scotts inhabiting Brittany contented themselves with
stole or by fraud usurped any thing belonging to the Church to Bishops or other Ecclesiasticks of inferiour degrees For his desire was to give his protection especially to those whom he had so reverently received and whose Doctrine he had embraced 2. What those Decrees and Forms of Iudgments were may be seen in that celebrated Manuscript called the Text of Rochester which in the days of King Henry the first was composâ—d by Enulphus Bishop of that Citty under this Title These are the Decrees or Iudgements which King Ethelbert constituted in the life time of Saint Augustin Here I will sett down onely such Laws as regard the Church and which Saint Beda seems to mention The which have been brought by Sir H. Spelman into the first Tome of English Councils and expressed both in the Saxon and Latin tongues The sence of them here follows 3. Whosoever shall uniustly take away any thing belonging to God and the Church shall make satisfaction by a twelve-fold restitution If such things belong to a Bishop he shall restore eleaven fold If to a Preist nine fold If to a Deacon six fold If to an inferiour Clark three fold If the peace of the Church shall be violated by any one let satisfaction be made by paying double and the like for disturbing the peace of a Monk If when the King shall call an Assembly of his people and any iniury shall be offred them the Offender shall restore double and moreover pay to the King fifty shillings Solidos If when the King shall be entertained in any house any dammage shall be done there let it be recompenced double c. 4. Besides these saith the same Sir H. Spelman in his Annotations to these Decrees there follow many other Laws pertaining to honesty of life and correction of manners but these are all which regard the Church The precise time when these Decrees were published does not appear but as the Title declares they were made whilst Saint Augustin was alive and as the care of the Church manifests they were published after King Ethelberts conversion XXVI CHAP. i S. Augustin ordains S. Laurence his Successour 2.3 c. His Bull confirming the Monastery of Canterbury suspected 1. THERE is among our Historians great variety of iudgments touching the number of years spent by Saint Augustin in Brittany and in what year he dyed Those who place his death in the third year of this Century as Iohn Stow or in the fourth as Baronius endeavours to collect from Saint Beda doe too-much hasten his end For the Charters of King Ethelbert before mentioned declare that he was alive in the fifth year On the other side those prolong his life too-much who affirm that he dyed not till the year of Grace six hundred and fifteen as some Authours quoted by F. Reyner in his Apostolatus or thirteen as Sir Henry Savill in his Chronologicall Fasts or twelve as Malmsburiensis or eleaven as Polydor Virgil For Pope Boniface in his Letters dated six hundred and ten does suppose him dead Therefore in such variety of opinions Sigebert and Mathew of Westminster most probably place his death in the year of Grace six hundred and eight 2. A little before his death Saint Augustin consecrated Laurence a Bishop designing him his Successour in the Archiepiscopall See Which he did after the example of many former holy Bishops who upon their view of death approaching relinquishing the care of others attended devoutly to the contemplation of that one necessary thing This same passage is thus related by Saint Beda Laurence succeeded Saint Augustin having been ordained Bishop by him whilst he was yet alive out of an apprehension least after his death the State of the Church as yet tender being destitute of a Pastour though but foâ— a moment shâ—uld begin to falter And herein he followed the Example of the Prime Pastour of Gods Church namely Saint Peter Prince of the Apostles who having founded the Church of Christ at Rome is reported to have made Saint Clement his Coadjutour in preaching the Gospell and consecrated him his Successour 3. The last publick Act attributed to Saint Augustin was the Confirming by a Solemne Bull all the Rights and Priviledges of his Beloved Monastery of Saint Peter and Saint Paul exempting it from all Episcopall Iurisdiction from all tribute servitude c. Prohibiting all Bishops to say Masses exercise Ordinations or Consecrations c. as by their own authority or Iurisdiction in that place deputed for the Treasury of Saints and burying place of succeeding Arch-bishops and Princes And assigning the Election of Abbots to the free Suffrages of the Monks c. All which Priviledges he confirmed with a denunciation of eternall damnation to transgeessours of them by the authority of Saint Peter and his Vicar the Bishop of Rome Saint Gregory This Bull was published in the presence and with the approbation of King Ethelbert his Son Eadbald all the Nobility of the Kingdom his Successour Laurence Mellitus Bishop of London Iustus Bishop of Rochester and Peter the Abbot and Monks of the same Monastery 4 To which Bull there was appended a Seale of Lead Neither is it a wonder saith the Transcriber of the said Bull that Saint Augustin being a Roman an Apostle of the English Nation and a Legat of the Apostolick See indued with a plenary Authority to erect Bishopricks and consecrate Bishops all which were to be subject to him should have the power and right to make use of a leaden Seale Though for the space of five hundred years the like priviledge was not afterward granted to any of our Bishops 5. Notwithstanding Sir H. Spelman not unreasonably suspects this not to be a genuine Bull because the fabrick of the Seale expresses not so great antiquity and the Sculpture of it more elegant then suited with that age likewise the Image of our Saviour and the form of a Church engraved in it ressembles the exactnes almost of these later times Moreover the Letters of the Inscription are such as were used in far later ages about the raign of King Henry the second or Richard the first And lastly the Seal is appended to the Bull not after the Roman fashion with a Chord of Silk but with a Skrole of parchmin after the Norman custom To these we may add that by mentioning in the same Writing together both Laurence his Successour and Peter the Abbot who was drowned above a year before that designation of a Successour the order of times is manifestly crofounded and the authority of the Bull prejudiced 6. However that most of these Priviviledges were even from the beginning conferred on that Monastery yea by Saint Augustin himself in vertue of a delegated authority from the See Apostolick though the simplicity of that age did not need such Legall Instruments and formall clauses the constant Tradition of that age doth justify Which Priviledges in succeeding times were frequently ratified by following Popes
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
could not hinder the fury of Ebroinus was in common fame charged with the crime though according to the Gallican Martyrologe she was at this time retired into a Monastery 3. The said Martyrologe therefore will give us a true information of this Fact where on the twenty eighth of October in the commemoration of this Holy Bishop we find this passage Clodoveus being some years before dead and his Widow S. Bathildis retired into her Monastery at Cala Ebroin Maire of the Palace a most cruel man and extremely disaffected to Ecclesiasticall persons began to rage every where with sacrileges rapines and murders of innocent persons No wonder therefore if S. Ennemund Bishop sirnamed Dalfin incurred his hatred because out of an affection of piety and iustice he was earnest with the King to ease the people of their pressures Therefore after that the Brother of the Holy Bishop who was Prefect of Lyons had been slain at Orleans upon a false accusation as if he had an intention to rebell Ebroin presently after with the like violence persecuted S. Ennemund Who being informed that accusations were falsely charged on him before the King perceiving the machinations of his cruel adversary at first departed from Lyons But presently after taking courage and placing his whole trust in God he returned thither again where whilst he was diligent in his devotions and pious works he was seised upon by the Emissaries of Ebroin and to the generall extreme greif of the Citty caried away with shew that he was to be lead to the Kings presence but by the way near Chaillon in Burgundy he was murdred by night whilst he prayd God to pardon his enemies and so for a reward of his iustice charity and patience he received a never fading crown of Glory 4. This Narration doth evidently absolve the good Queen Bathildis Whose memory ought to be in a speciall manner precious to us since she descended from a Saxon family in Brittany which she left unwillingly For as the Authour of her life in Surius and Haraeus who lived in the same age recounts She was stolln out of Brittany by Pirats and by them sold to Erchinoald a famous Prince in France then Maire of the Kings palace In whose service she behaved herself so decently for she descended from Noble Saxon Ancestors that the said Erchinoald's Lady being dead he intended to have taken her to wife But the Holy Virgin withdrew her self from his sight till he had maried another This her Modesty made her so acceptable to King Clodovaeus the second of that name son of Dagobert that as we read in the Appendix to Gregory Bishop of Tours he made her though a stranger his Queen for her prudence and comlines and had by her three Sons Cloathair Childeric and Theodoric 5. After Clodovaeus his death she awhile governed the Kingdom with her children and then with great difficulty obtaind permission of the Nobility to retire her self into a Monastery built by her self in a place called Cala in the Territory of Paris over which she had placed Abbesse a Holy Virgin called Bertilia sent for by her out of the Monastery of Iâ—dro To this Monastery of Cala therefore she retired where she lived a great example of Piety and vertue Now at that time there being in Brittany few Monasteries of Religious Virgins saith Saint Beda many Noble men sent their daughters out of Brittany into France to be instructed there and espoused to their Heavenly Bridegroom especially in the Monasteries of Brige Cale now called Chelles and Andilege 6. She built likewise in the Territory of Amiens at a place called Corbey a Monastery for Religious Monks which she magnificently enriched with possessions and all things necessary for their subsistence Over which Monks she placed Abbot a venerable person called Theofred whom she had for that purpose desired to be sent out of the Monastery of Luxueil Luxovium Which Abbot was afterward a Bishop 7 Neither was her piety confined to France onely For she honourd with many precious Gifts the Churches of the Holy Apostles S. Peter and S. Paul at Rome out of the great love and devotion she had to them Likewise great liberality she extended to the poor and to persons professing a Reclused solitary life in the same Citty 8. Thus in all conditions both as a simple Virgin a Queen and a Religious Nunne she sparkled with all divine Graces Particularly during her Regency by her zeale the Simoniacal Heresy which then defiled the Church of God was quite driven out of the Kingdom And for a further proof of her innocency touching the death of S. Ennemund or Dalfin Bishop of Lyons there is mention in her life of another Bishop called Sigebrand who by the practise of Ebroin against her will without conviction or examination was slain coÌ„trary to Law and iustice 9. Her piety to Holy Bishops particularly to S. Eligius the famous Bishop of Noyon is celebrated by S. Audoâ—n Bishop of Rouen who lived at the same time and wrote his life For he relates with what affection and devotion this Holy Queen with her children and Nobles hastned to take care for his honourable enterment Her desire was it should be conveyed to her Monastery of Cala but by no force it could be removed Whereupon overcome with a violent greif she uncovered his face which she bedewed with showrs of tears At last turning her self to her Nobles she said We now see it is not his will that his body should be removed from his own Citty let us therefore permitt his own flock to enioy it Which words she had no sooner uttered but the Body and Coffin became easily moveable so that two persons alone were able without difficulty to carry it Thus having venerated the Sacred Body she retired weary and hungry for she had continued a Fast of three days with Prayers and tears thereby to know Gods will for disposing the Body 10. The same Holy Writer further declares the same Queens devotion to S. Eligius after his death and how in a vision by night he commanded a certain Courtier to reprove her for wearing iewells and costly apparrell during her Widdow-hood Which she did not out of Pride but because she thought it fitting to be done whilst she took care of administring the Kingdom during her sons minority This command thrice repeated not having been executed by the said Courtier he was pâ—nished with a violent feaver During which having been visited by the Queen he declared it to her and immediatly the feaver quitted him Whereupon the Queen layd aside her Iewells and Ornaments a great part of which she distributed to the Poor and with the richest of them she made a most beautifull sumptuous Crosse which she deposed at the head of S. Eligius or S. Eloy Which devotion of hers was imitated by the Nobles so zealously that in a short time his Church was enriched with incredible riches Offrings
Beda was in practise among the Eastern Ecclesiasticks though he does not describe the fashion of it But it seems to have consisted in a totall shaving or at least close polling of the whole head For he affirms that Saint Theodore Arch-bishop Elect of Canterbury who came out of Cilicia was obliged to expect four months till his hair was grown sufficiently to have a crown made round about his head after the Roman manner 6. The present Dispute therefore was whether S. Peters manner of Tonsure in use at Rome was to be onely received in Brittany This seems to appear from an Epistle of S. Aldelm by command of a Synod directed to a certain Brittish Prince called Geruntius in which he reprehends the Brittains for using a Tonsure different from the Roman The passage of the said Epistle pertinent to this purpose is this A rumour saith he is largely spread that there are certain Preists and Clergy-men in your Province who obstinatly reject the Tonsure of Saint Peter alledging for their only excuse that herein they imitate their Predecessours whom they with swelling language describe as persons wonderfully illustrated with Divine Grace 7. The care which the Popes of this age had that S. Peters Tonsure should be only received in Brittany is manifested by Pope Vitalian who would not suffer Theodorus Arch-bishop of Canterbury who had been shaved after the Eastern manner to come into Brittany till his hair was grown so as that he might be shorn after the Roman manner Thus writes S. Beda Theodorus saith he after he was ordaind Subdeacon expected four months till his hair was grown to a length sufficient to be cutt into a Crown For his Tonsure before was after the Eastern fashion attributed to S. Paul 8. But besides these there was a third manner of Tonsure by which onely a half crown was formed on the lower part of the head before from one ear to the other all the rest of the hair being left at full length And this fashion in these times came in use among the Irish Clergy This form the Irish Writers condemning it call Simon Magus his Crown which appellation they received from Rome Now how this practise came into Ireland we read in an ancient Book of Canons cited by B. Vsher. The Romans say that this Tonsure took its beginning from Simon Magus who shaved himself only from eare to eare thereby to expell the vertue of the Tonsure of Magicians by which onely the fore-part of the head was covered The Sermon likewise of S. Patrick testifies that the first Authour of this kind of Tonsure in Ireland was one who had been Swine-heard to Loiger the Son of Nele King of Ireland and from him the Irish have generally received this fashion 9. Against this manner of Tonsure the English Abbot Ceolfrid in S. Beda writes to Naitan King of the Picts In which letter he affirms the most excellent sort of Tonsure to be that of S. Peter in practise at Rome and the most detestable this of Simon Magus Adding for a proof of the excellency of S. Peters Crown these words We are shorn after that manner not only because S. Peter was so but because S. Peter thereby commemorated our Lords Passion and therefore we desiring and hoping to be saved by the same passion bear the sign of it as he did on the higher part of our body For as every Christian baptized being made so by the death of our Saviour is wont to bear the sign of the Holy Crosse on the fore head that by its defence we may be guarded from the incursions of Evill Spirits and also be admonished that we ought to crucify the flesh with its vices and lusts So likewise ought those Ecclesiasticks or Monks who more strictly oblige themselves to continence for our Lord to bear on their heads that form of a Crown which he in his Passion caried on his head and which was made of thorns that he might take away the sharp thorns of our Sins 10. Now whether the Picts and Scotts had received from the Irish the Tonsure ascribed to Simon Magus is not certain However it is manifest that this was a practise introduced in Ireland after S. Patricks time and contrary to his Institut For in a Synod celebrated there in his time we read this Canon Whatsoever Clergy-man from the Dore-keeper to the Preist shall be seen abroad without a Tunick or Cassick and not cover the nakednes of his belly or who shall not wear his hair thorn after the Roman manner And if his wife shall not wear a veyle when she walks abroad Let such be contemned by Seculars and separated from the Church 11. From the severall passages here alledged we may conclude that the Motive of the Dispute in this Synod or Assembly of Strenes-halch proceeded from a zeale in S. Wilfrid and other Ecclesiastical persons from Kent c. to reduce the Scotts and Picts to their first Principles and Rites which they received frō Rome which by negligence had been deprav'd which was a design very commendable since Vniformity even in small things once neglected draws after it divisions in greater Notwithstanding that they urged not this Vniformity in Tonsure as a matter in it self of any necessity the forementioned Abbot Ceolfrid declares in his Letter to Nattan where he says We doe freely professe that the Errour about Tonsure is not harmfull to those who have a pure Faith to God and Charity to their Neighbour Especially cinsidering that in the ancient Catholick Fathers we cannot reade that there have been any Controversies about the manner of Tonsure as there have been about differences in matters of Faith or Celebration of Easter 12. These were the Points debated in this Conference concerning the Canonicall time of celebrating the Paschal Solemnity and Ecclesiasticall Tonsure Other small differences likewise there were about External Rites but of so small consideration that our ancient Records have not vouchsafed to mention them And surely they were very small since the fashion of Tonsure deserved to be mentioned as a matter of Dispute And from hence we may undeniably conclude that the Scotts Picts and Brittains in all matters of Faith without exception agreed with the Saxon that is the Roman Church Those dissenters had through neglect or ignorance varied from the Vniversal Church in some outward Observances but in all Doctrines and publick Practises consequent to such Doctrines they still remaind unreproveable Otherwise no doubt they would at this time have been called to an account for their Errours 13. Now what successe this Conference or Synod produced as to the Scotts S. Beda thus breifly declares The debate being ended and the Assembly dissolved Agilbert returned home namely into France But Colman Bishop of Lindesfarn perceiving his Doctrin and Sect now exposed to contempt took a long with him those who had a mind to follow to witt all those that refused to admitt the Catholick Observance of Easter
Brittany and Ireland was so great that it almost layd wast both those Islands as Huntingdon testifies It began saith S. Beda in the Southern parts of Brittany which were even depopulated by it and from thence it proceeded to the Province of the Northumbers where it raged in all quarters and destroyd a wonderfull multitude 2. Now because he says it began in the Southern parts and also recounts severall illustrious persons taken away by it wee will follow its course in our Narration and beginning with Kent we there are told of the death both of the King and Arch-bishop The King was Ercombert a Prince so devout that neither the luxury of the Court nor solicitudes of the Kingdom could withdraw him from the service of God And hereby living secure under the Divine Protection and favour all things both at home and abroad succeeded prosperously to him and he lived in great tranquillity to a very old age Thus writes William of Malmsbury So that it may be a doubt whether it was of the pestilence or some other disease that he dyed But whether that or the Ecclipse was Gods Messenger to summon him we may piously beleive that he was called from an earthly to a heavenly Kingdom 3. The like we may affirm of the Holy Arch-bishop of Canterbury Deus-dedit who sate the sixth in that Chair and after nine years devoutly and zealously spent in administring that See received this year the reward of his labours and has deserved a place among the Saints in our Martyrologe on the last of Iune A worthy Character of his vertues is afforded us by the Authour of his life in Capgrave After his death the See was vacant for a considerable time for by reason of the raging pestilence care could not be taken to provide a Successour 4. From Kent we passe to the East-Saxons governed by two Kings Signer the Son of Sigebert sirnamed the Little and Sebb a Prince of great Sanctity and Son not of Edilred as Harpsfeild affirms but of that King Seward who shamefully betraid the Christian Faith and was slain by the King of the West-Saxons 5. In this Kingdom the pestilence was more violent and furious then any other And we may iudge that Gods design thereby was by kindling the furnace of this calamity to sever the gold from the drosse and to render the Piety of one of those Kings more illustrious by opposing it to the impiety of the other For King Sigher upon this Visitation fell back to his former Pagan Superstition hoping to obtain from his Idols a remedy against the infection whereas nothing but impurity could proceed from them whose infection was more mortall then that of the pestilence Which Apostacy of the King became an Example to his inconstant Subjects Yea saith Saint Beda his Nobles who loved onely this present life and had no care or perhaps beleived not a future began to restore the Idoll-temples formerly demolished and to adore their senceles Idolls as if by them they could be defended from the Mortality But the violence of the pestilence afterward more encreasing taught them that what they hoped would be a remedy more inflamed the disease 6. As for the other King Sebb his portion of the Kingdom was free from this Superstition and his Piety being more purified by Humility and Resignation to Gods Visitation became a pattern to all his Subjects For saith the same Authour he was a man very devout to God and fervently intent to Religious Acts frequent Prayer and pious exercises of Charity and Alms-giving In his own inclination he preferred a private Monasticall life before the riches and pompe of a Kingdom and if the obstinate refusall of his Wife to admitt a Separation had not hindred he would long before have forsaken his throne to retire into a Monastery Hence it was that many were of opinion that a man so qualified was fitter to be ordained a Bishop then a King Yet he shewd himself to be a very good King and his Kingly solicitude was not confin'd to his own portion but extended it self to the reducing to Christian Profession Sigher his companion in the Throne For which purpose he advised Wulfere King of the Mercians of the danger his Kingdom was faln into of ruine from an infection far more horrible then the Pestilence Whereupon Wulfere as became a good Christian Prince sent thither Iarumannus Bishop of the Mercians lately there succeeding to the Holy Bishop Trumhere by whose endeavours the Christian Faith was again restored among the backsliding East-Saxons 8. Concerning this venerable Bishop Iarumannus S. Beda thus writes He was a Religious good man very industrious and passing through all quarters he preached the Word of Life and by his labours reduced both King Sigher and his Subiects to the way of iustice which they had forsaken insomuch as relinquishing or demolishing their Idoll-temples and Altars they ioyfully confessed the Name of Christ formerly renounced by them and desired much rather to dye in him with a beleif of the Resurrection then to live in the filth of Infideity among their Idols Iarumannus having gloriously finished so good a work together with the Preists and Teachers atâ—ending him returned home with great ioy 9. The piety of King Sebb rested not here but out of a care to provide against the inconstancy of the East-Saoxns he treated once more with Wulfere King of the Mercians to send him a Bishop to govern and administer the See of London There was then residing among the Mercians Wini who had been Bishop at Winchester in the Kingdom of the West-Saxons but for some now unknown crime was driven from his See by K Kenewalch This man incited by an inordinate ambition and desire of Rule and wealth most shamefully with money obtained of King Wulfere to be recommended to the Bishoprick of London into which he entred in the year six hundred sixty sixe and is marked in our Annalls as the first Simoniacall Bishop in our Island Hence William of Malmsbury thus writes Wina having bought the Bishoprick of London quickly ended there the remainder of his days He became an ominous and fatall example to posterity so that it cannot easily be discerned to whom the greater sin and infamy is to be imputed to him who sold or who bought with money this Sacred Dignity 10. However certain it is that King Sebb was perfectly exempted from this stain His desire was to obtain and ioy to receive a Bishop Orthodoxe in the Faith As for his manners being a stranger to him he hoped well and undoubtedly was wholly un interessed in the infamous bargain which passed between wulfere and Wini. XXI CHAP. 1.2 The plague among the East-angles which destroyed many Religious Virgins in Cherâ—esey 1. IN the Eastern parts of Brittany li kewise the pestilence was very feirce The dismall effects wherof S. Beda particularly relates hapning in a Monastery of Religious Virgins For saith he Erconwald Son of
inviolate for many years 5. King Ethelred having thus repaired the breaches formerly made in his Kingdom expelled out of his Province Winfrid Bishop of Lichfeild and Successour to the Holy Bishop Ceadda for that he had favoured the party of King Egfrid The exiled Bishop therefore passing over the Sea was driven on the shore of France where he fell in to the hands of Theodoâ—ick King and Ebroin cheif Commander of the Franks to whom as hat been sayd a Message had been sent toâ—â— apprehend the Holy Bishop Wilfrid These therefore by a mistake of the name of Winfrid for Wilfrid slew the said Bishops attendants and suffred him after he had been pillaged of all things to goe his way So dearly did he pay for the affinity of his Name to Saint Wilfrid Thus writes William of Malmsbury In whose narration this difficulty appears that Theodorick King of the Franks is declared a persecutour of Saint Wilfrid who a little before is said to have entertaind him with all kindnes But the same excuse is here to be made for him which heretofore was made for Saint Bathildis Queen Regent of France to whom some Writers impute the murder of the Holy Bishop Dalphinus not that she was guilty of it but because it was done during her Regency by the cruelty of Ebroin who had the whole power of the kingdom in his hands IV. CHAP. 1.2 c. A wonderfull Miracle shewing the efficacy of the Holy Sacrifice of the Masse 1. IT would be a fault in this place to omitt a wonderfull accident which befell in the late bâ—ttell where the young Prince Elwin was slain by which Almighty God was pleased to declare the efficacy of his servants Prayers especially during the solemne Sacrifice of his Church The fact is upon good testimony related by S. Beda in the manner following 2. Among others saith he there was in the said battell one of the Princes soldiers named Imma slain at least in opinion This soldier all that day and the night following lay among the other dead bodies as if he had been slain but at last his Spirit returning he sate up and as well as he could bound up the wounds he had received Then resting himself awhile he raised himself on his feet and began to walk away with an intention to find out if possible some freinds who might take care of him As he was going away he was mett with and taken by some of the enemies the Mercians and brought to their Captain a principall Officer of King Ethelred who examined him what he was The poore man was a fraid to acknowledge himself a soldier therefore he answered that he was a poore country-man who had a wife and was come in this expedition with severall others of the like quality to bring provision to the Army Vpon this answer the Officer commanded that care should be taken of his wounds and when they began to be almost cured he made him every night to be putt in chains to prevent his running away 3. But no chains could hold him for after they were gone which had putt the chains upon him they presently fell off And the cause of this wonder was this He had a Brother named Tunna a Preist and Abbot of a Monastery in a certain town which at this day from his name is called Tunnacestir This Abbot having heard that his brother was slain in the late battell came himself to search for his body and having found another in all regards very like to his he caried it to his Monastery and there buried it honourably Moreover he took care that severall Masses should be said for the pardon of his sins and by vertue of those Masses it came so passe that no bands could hold him but they presently fell loose from him 4. In the mean time the Officer whose Prisoner he was began to ask him How it came to passe that he could not be bound Whether he had about him certain Charms which as some think have a power to untye all bands His answer was that he was utterly ignorant of such unlawfull arts But said he I have a Brother in mine own countrey and I am assured that he thinking I am slain says frequent Masses for mee so that if I were now in the other world I doubt not but my soule by his intercession and prayers would be absolved from all pains 5. After he had continued a good space a Prisoner to the said Officer those who guarded him observed by his countenance gesture and speeches that he was no countrey-peasant but a person of quality Thereupon the Officer calling him aside privatly enquired more diligently who he was withall promising him that if he would simply declare his condition he would not use him any thing the worse He then plainly manifested to him that he was a servant of the King of the Northumbers Whereupon the Officer replied I did assure my self by the manner of thy speech that thou wert not of a base condition And now thou deservest to dye in revenge of all my brethren and kinsmen who have been slain in the battell but because I will not break my promise I will not kill thee 6. Assoon therefore as he had recovered health and strength the Officer sold him to a certain man at London called Freson But neither could he be bound by his New Master for after try all of severall sorts of bands and chaines they became all unloosed When he therefore who had bought him perceived that he could not be restained by fetters he gave him permission to redeem himself if he could For commonly after nine of the clock in the morning the usuall time of Masses his bands were untyed Vpon this offer the Prisoner was suffred to depart having first given his promise by oath that he would either send the money agreed on for his ransome or return and yeild himself a prisoner again He went therefore from London into Kent to King Lothere Nephew to the famous Queen Ethelreda by her Sister who likewise had formerly been a servant to the sayd Queen and from him the Prisoner received the money appointed for his ransome which according to promise he sent to his Master 7. Being thus free after some time he returned to his Countrey and coming to his Brother the Abbott he related to him particularly all the accidents both good and bad which had befalln him and then perceived that his chains for the most part had been loosed precisely at the howers in which Masses had been celebrated for him and moreover that many other commodities and comforts had befalln him from heaven in his dangers by his Brothers prayers and the Oblation of the saving Sacrifice 8. Very many persons being informed from the foresaid person of these particulars have been much kindled in their Faith and devotion to pray give almes and Offer holy Sacrifices for the deliverance of their freinds who were departed this life For hereby they perceived that
perfection voluntarily surrendred the Church of Lindesfarn which he committed to the governance of Eadbert mentioned before upon occasion of the death of S. Cuthbert who was ordained Bishop of that Diocese At this time the English-Saxon Churches flourished wonderfully when the Princes and others following their example sought not their own interests but those of Iesus Christ. This wee shall shorty make good by relating the actions of severall of our Kings and Apostolicall men who filled France Germany and even Italy it self with the seeds of Gods Word and the fame of their Sanctity 3. The year following in which King Cedwalla dyed at Rome S. Aldelm who as hath been said was his companion in that iourney became a Petitioner to Pope Sergius and obtaind of him in the behalf of his Monastery of Malmsbury a Priviledge of exemption from Episcopall Iurisdiction and a power to the Monks of electing their own Abbot according to the Rule of S. Benedict Of this Priviledge saith William a Monk of the same Monastery the same S. Aldelm obtained a confirmation from Ina King of the West-Saxons and Ethelred of the Mercians 4. Among other Acts of S. Aldelm at Rome there is reckoned by a certain Authour of no great credit saith Baronius his freeing Pope Sorgius from a scandalous imputation and calumny imposed on him of being the Father of a bastard then incestuously born Which calumny S. Aldelm is said to have dissipated by commanding the infant then but nine dayes old expressely to acquitt the Pope of that crime This fable the Centuriatours of Magdeburg having mett with they according to their accustomd impudence doe thus pervert There was great familiarity between Aldelm and Pope Sergius to whom a Son having been born by adultery at Rome he had not the boldnes to declare the truth ingenuously What ever the truth was certain it is that these Writers have most disingenuously adulterated it XIII CHAP. 1.2 The death of Saint Theodore Archbishop of Canterbury His Disciples 3. The death of S. Eanfleda 4.5 Likewise of S. Hersewida 1. THE next year after the death of King Cedwalla at Rome that is the six hundred and ninetieth after our Lords Incarnation saith S. Beda Arch-bishop Theodore of blessed memory being an old man and full of dayes for he was then in the eighty eighth year of his age happily dyed That his life should be continued to this number of years he had been advertised by Revelation in a dream as he oft told his freinds He administred the See of Canterbury the space of two and twenty years and was buried in the Church of S. Peter where the Bodies of all the Arch-bishops were enterred Concerning him and all his Predecessours in that See likewise it it may be truly and properly said Their Bodies doe rest in peace and their names live from generation to generation For to summ up all in a word the English Churches received more spirituall advancement during his government then they had done in any age before 2. A great ornament to S. Theodore were his Disciples whom he left behind him for the perpetuating his name Among which the most eminent were those who are named by Bishop Parker in his Antiquities where speaking of S. Theodore he saith Besides his other vertues he was in great perfection learned and after his death he did as it were live in his Disciples which were many and illustrious Among which the more notable were these Saint Beda Iohn of Beverley Albin the Venerable Abbot of the Monastery of S. Augustin in Canterbury and Thobias Bishop of Rochester who was as skillfull and ready in the Latin and Greek as his own native language S. Beda ingenuously acknowledges that Albin assisted him much in the collecting his History and for the tongues makes him equall to Thobias Of all these Disciples of S. Theodore wee shall speak particularly hereafter 3. The same year dyed also S. Eanfleda the daughter of Edwin King of the Northumbers She was the first person baptized in that Province After her Fathers death she returned with her mother into Kent and in processe of time was married to Oswi King of the Northumbers who by her admonition built the Monastery of Gethlin now called Gilling not far from Richmond in expiation for the death of Oswin slain by Oswi After the death of her husband she retired into the Monastery of Streneshalch or Whitby in which her daughter S. Elfleda had spent many years in great devotion and after the death of S. Hilda was made Abbesse of it There S. Eanfleda received the Religious habit and veyle and submitted herself to the instructions and command of her own daughter She was buried in the Church of Saint Peter belonging to the said Monastery where formerly her husband King Oswi and afterward her daughter S. Elfleda were also enterred Her name is commemorated in our Martyrologe among the Saints on the fifth of December 4. To the same year is likewise assigned the happy death of S. Hereswida the daughter of Hereric Nephew to the glorious King S. Edwin She was married to Ethelhere King of the East-Angles to whom she bore three Sons all which were consequently Kings Aldulph Eflwold and Beorna After her husbands death she retired from Court and being desirous to passe to a more strict and private life she left her countrey and in the famous Monastery of Cala or Chelles in France she undertook the Profession of a Religious life So great was her devotion and piety that both in France and Brittany many were inflamed to imitate her example And among the rest her Sister S. Hilda had an intention to follow her into France but was perswaded not to deprive her own countrey the Kingdom of the Northumbers of the luster of her vertues In the mean time S. Hereswida having spent many years in the delicious exercises of Contemplation this year received the Crown so long expected by her 5. In the Gallican Martyrologe we read this testimony of her In the Monastery of Cale seated in the territory of Paris this day being the twentieth of September is celebrated the memory of S. Hereswida She being a Queen in England out of love to Christ forsook her Scepter and kingdom and betook her self to the said famous Monastery where after she had afforded admirable examples of Piety humility and Regular Observance professed by her she was consummated with a blessed end and obtained the reward of a heavenly crown Her glorious gests Saint Beda who was a great admirer of her hath celebrated with condigne praises XIV CHAP. 1.2.3 Saint Wilfrid again expelled his Diocese 4 5. c. He retires among the Mercians where he succeeds to Sexulf in administring the See of Leicester and ordains Bishops 7 8. Bosil Bishop of Worcester dying Ostfor succeeds 1 SAint Wilfrid had now five years enioyd with quietnes and with great piety administred his Province of the
with this Elogy In England the Commemoration of S. Eadbert Bishop of Lindesfarn eminent for his learning and piety 2. His Successour in the same See of Lindesfarn was Edfrid a man saith the same Bishop Godwin who from his childhood had been brought up in good letters and in that age was highly esteemed for his eminent learning This is that Edfrid at whose request S. Beda extolled the vertues and miracles of his Predecessour S. Cuthbert both in prose and verse as appears by his Epistle prefixed to his Book 3. About the same time dyed S. Adamannus the devout Abbot of Hy commemorated in our Martyrologe on the second of September To him is attributed the conversion oâ— most of the Irish and many Brittains to the true observation of the Solemnity of Easter according to the Catholick manner though he could not reduce the obstinate minds of his own Monks His zealous endeavours herein are thus expressed by S. Beda 4. At that time the greatest part of the Scotts in Ireland and not a few Brittains in Brittany by our Lords blessing conformed themselves to the right Ecclesiastical time of celebrating the Paschal Solemnity For Adamannus a Preist and Abbot over the Monks lived in the Isle of Hy having been sent in Embassage from his Nation to Alfrid King of the Northumbers and staying a good space of time in his Province carefully observed the Canonicall Rites of the English Church and moreover was seriously admonished by certain learned men that he with a few Monks hid in the utmost corner of the world should not presume to live in a practise directly contrary to the custom of the whole Church in the Paschall Observance and other Ecclesiasticall Decrees By which admonitions his judgment became quite changed insomuch as he willingly preferred the Observances which he had seen and heard in the Churches of the English before the customs of his own countrey For he was a good man and wise and moreover eminently skillfull in the Scriptures 5. When he was returned home he employd his utmost care to induce his Monks in Hy and all the rest depending on them to return into the path of Truth which he had lately found and with his whole heart approved But all his endeavours through their obstinacy proved vain Whereupon leaving them he sayled into Ireland where by preaching and modest exhortations he perswaded in a manner all the Monks who were not subiect to the Dominion of the Monastery of Hy to quitt their Errour and return to Catholick Vnity in observing the legitimat time of Easter which he taught them Thus having celebrated in Ireland one Canonicall Solemnity of Easter he returned to his Island And again earnestly preached the true Observance to his own Monks yet could by no means perswade them to conformity Now it hapned that before the years Circle was finished he was taken out of this world Divine ProvideÌ„ce so mercifully disposing that this Holy man who was an earnest lover of Vnity and Peace should be taken from hence to eternall Happines before the next â—asâ—hall time was come least he should be compelled to enter into a more sharp debate and discord with those who would not be perswaded to follow him in the way of Truth 6 The same year the Northumbers received a great defeat from the Picts for as Mathew of Westminster relates Brithric a Count of the Northumbers being desirous to avenge the death of his Master King Egfrid invaded in a hostile manner the land of the Picts but as his Lord before had done he likewise felt the curses of the Irish for he also was slain by the Pictish people Notwithstanding as shall be shewd ten years after this the Northumbers had a sufficient revenge upon them XVI CHAP. 1.2 c. The Picts reduced to the Catholick observance of Easter upon occasion of an Epistle written to their King Naitan by the Holy Abbot Ceolfrid 1. WHAT S. Adamannus could not effect among his Scottish obstinat Monks and Islanders of Hy to take away their Errouâ— about the Paschall Solemnity was the next year brought to passe among the Picts by their King Naitan exhorted thereto and instructed by the holy English-Saxon Abbot Ceolfrid The order and manner of this memorable change S. Beda thus describes 2. At that time saith he Naitan King of the Picts inhabiting the Northern coasts of Brittany by frequent meditation on Ecclesiasticall Writings became rectified in his iudgment and renounced the errour which formerly himself and his whole nation had embraced and persisted in reducinâ— all his Subiects to the Catholick observance of the solemnity of our Lords Resurrection Now to effeâ—â— this more easily and with greater authority bâ— sought for help and advice from the English Nation whose Religion he knew was instituted according to the pattern of the Holy Roman and Apostolick Church 3. He sent therefore Messengers to the Venerable man Ceolfrid Abbot of the Monastery of the Blessed Apostles S. Peter and S. Paul seated in a place called Girwum at the mouth of the River Wire and near the River Tine in the Government of which Monastery he succeeded the Holy Abbot S. Benedict Biscop And by those Messengers the said King Naitan requested him to send in Writing instructions to him by which he might be enabled more efficaciously to confute such as presumed to observe the Paschall Solemnity in an undue time He desired likewise to be informed of the true and â—anonicall manner of Ecclesiasticall Tonsure Moreover he entreated him to send him Masons and Architects to build a Church in his countrey of stone after the Roman manner promising that he would dedicate it to the honour of S. Peter Prince of the Apostles and likewise that both himself and all his subiects should in all things imitate the manners and Disciplin of the Holy Roman and Apostolick See as far as they who lived at so great a distance from thence and whose language was so different could be informed 4. The most Reverend Abbot Ceolfrid very willingly complying with desires and requests so full of Religion and Piety sent him such Architects as he demaÌ„ded and withall wrote an Epistle containing an exact information in all the points proposed to him by the King Which Epistle by reason of the prolixity of it it will not be expedient to transcribe the curious Reader may have recourse to Saint Beda's History for it who no doubt as may appear by the stile was either the inditer of it or at least had a great influence in the framing it For at this time he was a Monk living under the government of Ceolfrid and the â—ame of his learning was so far spread that the year next following Pope Sergius by letters to the said Abbot invited Saint Beda to Rome whither he had gone but that news of the said Popes death prevented his voyage 5. The sence of the said Epistle is summarily this In the first place as
esteem Saints Yet neither their Sanctity nor learning could secure their Lives from the present sanguinary Laws now in force 7. Some Writers affirm that S. Aldelm was a Scott but his name meerly Saxon does disprove them which signifies an ancient Helmet And generally our Historians acknowledge him to have been of the English-Saxon progeny Capgrave B. Godwin and others affirm that he was Brothers son to King Ina. Brian Twine says he was son to King Ina himself And William of Malmsbury that he was from â—is ancient Progenitours nearly allied in blood to King Ethelstan 8. There succeeded him in the Episcopall See of Shirborn a devout Preist named Forther who by the testâ—mony of Saint Beda his contemporaney is described to have been a man well versed in the study of Divine Scriptures Little more is extant concerning him in our Ecclesiasticall Monuments Onely Bishop Godwin relates of him that almost thirty years after this he attended a Queen of the West-Saxons in her pilgrimage to Rome 9. Probably this is the same person to whom Brithwald at this time Archbishop of Canterbury wrote an Epistle extant among those of Saint Boniface the Apostle of Germany with this Inscription To the most Reverend and most Holy our Fellow-Bishop Fortherey Berthwald a Servant of the Servants of our Lord sendeth health in our Lord. The Epistle it self because it gives some Light to the practise of that age wee will here adioyn as followeth 10. Since the request which in your presence I made to the Venerable Abbot Beorwald took no effect which was that he would sett at liberty a young captive mayd whose kinred dwell near to this Citty being importuned by them I thought fitt to direct once more these Letters to you by a Brother of the same mayd whose name is Eppa Hereby therefore I doe earnestly entreat you that you would by all means obtain from the foresaid Abbot that he would from this bearers hands accept three hundred shillings solidos for the ransome of the sayd young mayd and consign her into his hands to be brought hither to the end she may spend the rest of her age in ioyfull freedome among her freinds This affaire if you will bring to good effect you will not fayle to receive a good reward from God and many thanks from mee Besides this I conceive that our Brother Beorwald receiving this money will be no looser I ought to have made my first request that you would be mindfull of mee in your dayly Prayers Our Lord Iesus Christ preserve your Reverence in health many years 11. The slavery of this young mayd mentioned here denotes the ancient custome of the Saxons continued a long time after by the Normans of buying slaves and annexing them to certain Mannors or Lands which were therefore called Villains which without a ransome could not be restored to freedome 12. As for Beorwald mentioned in this Letter he was probably Abbot of Glastonbury who succeded Hemgisle in the year of Grace seaven hundred and five as the Antiquities of that Monastery declare And he it was who wrote the life of the Holy Bishop Egwin and not as some mistakingly affirm Brithwald Arch-bishop of Canterbury who sate above four and twenty years in that See before S. Egwin died IX CHAP. 1.2 c. The Martyrdom of S. Indractus an Irish Prince his murder miraculously discovered 1. ABout this time hapned the Martyrdom of a son of a certain Irish King who returning from a Pilgrimage to Rome by Brittany in his way from Glastonbury towards Ireland was together with seaven of his companions barbarously murdred by robbers His name was Indractus and his Memory is celebrated in our Martyrologe on the fifth of February 2. Concerning him thus writes the Authour of his life in Capgrave After that Saint Patrick had converted the Irish Nation to the Faith of Christ by many signs and wonders he passed over the Sea thence into Brittany and at Glastonbury he happily ended his days in a good old age For this cause many devout persons of Ireland have accustomed in devotion to visit the sayd Monastery Now there was in Ireland the son of a certain King his name was Indractus a young man well imbued with learning adorned with vertues and favoured both by God and man This young Prince aspiring only to heavenly ioyes for a more secure obtaining them resolved to despise yea to fly from all the snares of Princely palaces and delicacies Taking therefore with him nine companions together with his Sister named Dominica our Martyrologe calls her Drusa he in devotion undertook a pilgrimage to Rome Having therefore a prosperous passage by Sea he arrived at a Haven in Brittany named Tamerunt And there this devout assembly built an Oratory and spent a long space of time in the service of God and mortification At length leaving his Sister there he with his other Companions pursued their pilgrimage to Rome As for the frequent Miracles wrought by the Holy man in Brittany or in his iourney I omitt them the curious Reader may have recourse for them to the Authour who thus prosecutes his Story 3. Returning after some time from Rome into Brittany he had a resolution to goe to Glastonbury and there at the Monument of Saint Patrick to pour forth his Prayers to God Now at that time Inas King of the West-Saxons held his Court neer that place in a town called Pedret in the villages round about which many of his Servants and attendants were dispersed Among whom there was a certain son of iniquity named Hona This man curiously observing Indractus and his companions in their way from Glastonbury that their baggs and purses were well stuffed with money Whereupon the Minister of Satan with his complices following them overtook them at a Village named Shapwick and violently breaking into the house while they were sleeping there murdred them all Which having done they took their Sacred Bodies and cast them into a deep pitt to the end no man might find them 4. Now it fortuned that King Inas whose abode was near that place on a certain night being afflicted with great pain in his bowells to assâ—age the same went abroad into the open aire and looking towards heaven he saw a pillar as it were of fire issuing out of the place in which the sacred bodies were hidden the splendour of which was always in his eyes which way soever he turned them The same spectacle offred it self to him three nights consequently whereupon taking some of his Courtiers with him he went to the place and having found the bodies of the holy Martyrs he took care that they should be buried at Glastonbury with great honour The Body of S. Indractus was placed on the left side of the Altar opposite to the Monument of S. Patrick and his companions under the pavement round about As for the Murderers they having the impudence to be present at the buriall were visibly seysed
Wilfrid of happy memory and called Selsey Where the said servant of God after his banishment from York remained the space of five years and obtained of the King of the same Province a possession of eighty families in which he might receive and maintain his companions in banishment Now S. Wilfrid assoon as he had received that land he built upon it a Monastery in which he placed and instructed in Monasticall Disciplin many Monks especially such as had accompanied him in his banishment But when he was restored to his See of York first of all Cedwalla and afterward his Successour in the Kingdom of the West-Saxons In a invaded the said Province subdued and killed the Kings of it and annexed it to their own kingdom And hence it came to passe that all that time the South-Saxons had no peculiar Bishop of their own but were subiect as hath been said to the See of Winchester 3. As touching the forementioned Synod by the Decree whereof a New Bishoprick was erected in the Province of the South-Saxons Where it was assembled what Bishops sate in it or what other Decrees were made in it no mention is made in any of our Ecclesiasticall Writers Neither doth Sir H. Spelman take any notice of it Wee may therefore so interpret the foresaid Historian as likewise S. Beda who affirms also that the South-Saxons received a Bishop by vertue of the Decree of a Synod that this Decree has relation to the Synod of Hartford assembled thirty years before this time in the ninth Chapter of which was ordained That the number of Bishopricks should encrease proportionably to the multiplying of New Converts XIII CHAP. 1.2 c. The Gests of Saint Cungar a Hermite 1. TO this time we must refer what our Historians write concerning S. Cungar a holy Hermit who as the Authour of his Life testifies was Son to the Emperour of Constantinople whō when his Parents intended to engage in a Matrimonial state he despising worldly pomp and glory and aspiring to an eternall heavenly Crown withall purposing to preserve his Virginal Chastity inviolate stole privatly in a mean habit from the Imperiall Court without discovering his intentions to any Neither would the holy and humble young man settle his abode in any place near his parents for fear in case he should come to be discovered they might recall him home In this regard therefore as likewise by the encouragement of an Angel he passed the Sea into Italy from when he travelled over the Alpes into France and out of France sayled into Brittany For all his thoughts and endeavours were employd in finding out a seat proper for a solitary life In his iourneys therefore he diligently enquired after such a place 2. Saint Cungar at last being arrived in Brittany and still earnestly pursuing his good intention inspired by Almighty God directed his iourney towards a Province thereof named Somerset where by the admonition of an Angel he came to a place perfectly agreable to his mind a place compassed about with waters and reeds and which from his name was afterward called Cungresbury Concerning which place which to this day keeps its name thus writes Camden Vnder the hills of Mendipp towards the North says he is seated a small village called Congersbury so named from a terrain person of great sanctity called Congar who lived a Hermit there 3. S. Cungar much delighted with the pleasant situation of the place among Waters and woods sayd thus to himself This is the place I have so long sought after here shall be my abode here I will spend the rest of my life in serving the Blessed Trinity Thereupon he presently raised up a little habitation for himself and afterward measured out a Church yard Which having done he built there an Oratory to the honour of the most Holy and undivided Trinity In this place therefore this devout servant of God continued being cloathed with Sack-cloth and without any distraction leading a most innocent devout life in fasting prayer Early every morning he entred into the cold water where he remained for his mortification till he had thrice repeated the Pater noster This being done he came shivering with cold into his Oratory where he spent a great part of the day in devout prayers to God At three of the clock after noon he did eat a small portion of barley bread never using other sustenance nor this to satiety By this means his body became so very lean that all that beheld him iudged that he was sick of an age This Eremiticall life was most delicious to him who aspired to the imitation of the actions of Saint Paul the first Hermit and Saint Anthony 4. To this relation the same Authour annexes an account of severall Miracles wrought by this servant of God which I willingly omitt After which he proceeds thus Such miracles says he being published abroad Ina the magnificent King of the English liberally bestowd upon the venerable Hermit all the little territory lying about that village assuring him that the same place should be to him a secure and undisturbed refuge and that as long as himself raigned no soldiers or any other should hinder him from his devotions The same King after he had bestowd this land upon Saint Cungar abstained ever after from visiting him because he would not molest the holy man nor interrupt his prayers 5. Thus writes the sayd Authour to which he adds How Saint Cungar in the same place instituted twelve Canons who lived a Regular life and how afterward passing over the River Severn into Northwales he there erected another Oratory where he assembled a Congregation of Monks Lastly how he undertook a pilgrimage to Rome and from thence to Ierusalem where he dyed and his Sacred body was brought back to Congersbury But as touching the year or day of his death he affirms nothing XIV CHAP. 1.2 c. S. Swibert by reason of warrs leaves the Boructuarians 6.7 c. Prince Pipin gives him the Isle of verda where he builds a Monastery 1. BVT the glorious Exploits wrought in Germany by S. Swibert and our other Missioners from Brittany doe require our attention to them These we will relate in the words of an irrefragable witnes S. Marcellin cited by Baronius who was an eye-witnes and fellow worker in the Gospell with S. Swibert beginning with the occurtents hapning three years before this time which avoyding distraction wee thought fitt to ioyn together 2. Two years being passed saith Baronius since a dore had been opened to the Holy Apostle of the Boructuarians S. Swibert for preaching the Gospell to that Nation there fell out a bloody war between them and their neigbouring Saxons Which war was contrived and raised by the malice of the Devil as himself before had threatned to the Holy man The Narration of which matter is thus made by S. Marcellinus 3. Although the Devil be a lyar and the Father of
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
and Martin the fourth And Polydor Virgil an Italian acknowledges that he was sent into England to perform the Office of Collectour for the Pope 8. This liberality begun by our Saxon Kings was imitated by other Extern Princes in succeeding times Thus Pope Gregory the ninth of that Name in an Epistle to his Legats declares that in the Archives of S. Peter in three severall places it is fâ—und that Charles the Emperour collected yearly for the service of the Apostolick See twelve hundred pounds besides what every one offred in his particular devotion And in the year of Grace one thousand forty six by a Generall Assembly of the States of Poland under King Casimir a promise was made of a half penny yearly to be payed by every person in that kingdom to the Pope And in the year of our Lord one thousand seaventy six Demetrius Duke of Dalmatia Croatia in a Synod assembled at Salona obliged himself to pay to the See of Rome an annuall Tribute of two hundred peices of Gold called Byzantins The like Pensions we read to have been given by the Dukes of Brittany c. Thus much wee thought fitt to adde upon occasion of this charitable Liberality to the See of Rome begun by the devout Saxon King Ina. Wee will prosecute his iourney the year following XVIII CHAP. 1. Death of Tobias Bishop of Rochester 2 3 S. Boniface consults the Pope about severall Questions which are resolved by him 1. THE same year Tobias Bishop of Rochester dyed He was saith S. Beda Disciple of Theodore Arch-bishop of Canterbury of happy memory and of Adrian Abbot of S. Augustins Monastery And to a great perfection of learning both Ecclesiasticall and secular he added so accurate a skill in languages both Greek and Latin that they were as familiar to him as his Native countreys tongue He was buried in the Porch of S. Pauls which himself had built within the Church of S. Andrew to be a place for his sepulcher From this passage of S. Beda the great Cardinall Baronius inferrs that the English Nation received from the Roman Church not the Catholick Faith only but likewise all good literature To Tobias there succeeded in the See of Rochester Aldulfus who was the tenth Bishop of that Church 2. But the incessant labours of S. Boniface wil oft interrupt our Narration of the affaires of Brittany and require our attention to them This year as appears by an Epistle or Pope Gregory to him he sent his Preist Denuaâ— to the said Pope to onsult him about certain difficulties occurring in the discharge of his Apostolick Office As 1. within what degrees of propinquity Mariage may be permitted to which the Resolution was that the utmosâ— strictnes ought not to be exercised to such new converted Nation and therefore thaâ— beyond the fourth degree of affinity or consanguinity Mariage might be allowd Again 2. that in case a woman have an incurable infirmity before Mariage be accomplished it may be lawfull for the husband to marry another 3. That if a Preist be defamed by an accusation of the people and no certain Witnesses be produced against him the Preist by oath making God witnes of his innocence shall remain in his degree 4. That it is no fitt that more Chalices then one should be upon the Altar at celebration of Masse 5 That concerning eating meats consecrated to Idols it may be allowd after making the sign of the Crosse over them except in case oâ— scandal mentioned by S. Paul â—â— at one shoulâ— say This was offred to Idols 6. That childrenâ—o â—o either sex offred by their parents to God in their infancy to a Regular Discipline may not afterward in ripe age leave that state and contract matrimony 7. That persons baptized by adulterous and scandalous Preists ought not therefore to be rebaptized But in case there be a doubt whether infants have been baptized or not then according to the Tradition of the Holy Fathers they ought to be baptized 8 That the holy Sacrament of Christs body and blood ought not to be denyed to persons infected with Leprosy or other like contagious disease but they must not be admitted to eat and drink with others 9. That in case the Pestilence should rage in Monasteries oâ— Churches it would be a folly to flye since no man can scape Gods hands 10. That he ought sharply to reprove scandalous and licentious Bishops or Preists but was not obliged to refuse eating or conversing with them For this may be a mean to gain them 3. Some of these doubts also S. Boniface proposed to his learned freinds in Brittany and particularly to the holy Prelat Daniel Bishop of Winchester who returned him the like answers and comforted him being much afflicted with his perverse and obstinat German Clergy Both his Epistle and the Answer to it are still extant XIX CHAP. 1.2 c. King Ina at Rome builds the Schoole of the English â—hâ—re it was seated 6 7 He there takes a Monasticall Habit. his happy death 1. IN the year of Grace seaven hundred twenty seaven the devout King Ina finished his iourney to Rome At his leaving Brittany he resigned his kingdom to his kinsman called Ethelard a worthy Successour of so Noble a Prince And being thus discharged of so great a burden of secular solicitudes he performed his iourney more chearfully 2. Being arrived at Rome saith Mathew of Westminster he by the consent and will of Pope Gregory built in the Citty a certain house which he would have to be called The Schoole of the English To the said house the following Kings of this Nation the Princes Bishops Preists or any other Ecclesiasticks were to come to be instructed in the Catholick Faith and learning to prevent the teaching any perverse doctrine contrary to Catholick Vnity and when they were become well established in the Faith they returned home again 3. It seems that not only the Popes in these times but the Saxon Princes in Brittany thought more convenient that the youth of this Nation should be taught learning and vertue at Rome rather then publick Schooles should be erected at home And the reason is given by the same Authour saying From the time of S. Augustin our Apostle to this Publick Schooles and Professours of Teaching were by the Bishops of Rome straitly forbidden to the English by reason of the many Heresies which at the coming of the English into Brittany at which time the Pagans were mixed with the Christians did much corrupt the doctrines and Discipline of Christianity So that the Censure given by the Apostat Bale touching this Foundation does well become him who affirms That it was erected to the great mischeif of the English state 4. Besides this house the same King Inas built near to it a Church to the honour of the Blessed Virgin Mary in which the Divine Mysteries might be celebrated by and for such
remained a long time after their mariage without children Her Fathers name was Dimo her Mothers Ebba both of noble race and both of great piety At length God bestowed on them this daughter to whom they gave the name Truthgeba but her ordinary sirname was Lioba which in the Saxon tongue signifies Beloved Which sirname continuing made the other forgotten Assoon as she came to mature years her mother recommended her to the education of the foresaid Venerable Abbesse Tetta under whom she employed her self entirely in the studies of heavenly Disciplin She was diligent also in imitating what soever vertues and graces she observed in any of her Religious Sisters Hereby she attained to that Perfection that in succeeding time God was pleased to honour her with a celestiall Vision signifying to her under the semblance of a purple thread issuing out of her mouth in such abundance that she wound it into a large bottom as much as her hands could contain that the Doctrine of Divine Wisedom should by her be communicated to many soules abroad 6. At that time S. Boniface laboriously spread the Gospell among the people of Germany Who among other works of Spirituall industry had an intention to erect a Monastery of Religious Virgins in that Region And being desirous to constitute Superiour and Abbesse of it a Spirituall Mother of eminent piety he sent messengers with Letters to the foresaid Abbesse Tetta desiring amonâ— others that this Religious Virgin Lioba might be sent being one whose Sanctity and learning was in great esteem Her Spirituall Mother was very unwilling to have her depart from her Notwithstanding for accomplishing the foresaid Vision God enclined her mind to send her honourably to the Blessed Bishop He with great veneration received her and appointed her Abbesse of a Monastery in a place called Biscoffsheim where a considerable congregation of Religious Virgins was gathered together which by the example and instructions of so holy a Mistresse diligently gave themselves to the study of heavenly Disciplin in which by her assistance they so much proffited that scarce any other Monasteries of Virgins were founded which did not desire from this some of her disciples to be Mistresses of spirituall and Regular Disciplin 7. For indeed S. Lioba was a woman of admirable vertues eminent in prudence boundlesse in Charity and for her aspect of Angelicall beauty She allways had a chearfull smiling look yet never so as to break forth into unseemly laughter Never did any one hear proceed from her lips a word of reproachfull or bitter speech against any Though she was very kind and liberall in her allowance of meat and drink to others yet to her seâ—f she was extremely sparing insomuch as the little Cup which contained her measure of drink was by her Sisters commonly called the Small Cup of the Beloved for so the name of Lioba in the Saxon tongue signifies But withall it was wonderfull to observe the diligence which she always shewd in reading From her infancy she was perfectly instructed in the knowledge of Grammar and other Liberall Sciences And afterward she in a manner incessantly with great sharpnes studied and medicated on the Sacred Books of the Old and New Testament diligently committing to her memory the divine Precepts therin contained Moreover for a plenitude of perfect knowledge she added thereto the Sayings of the Holy Fathers the Decrees of Synods and the entire Ecclesiasticall Laws She was a mistresse to all and yet botâ— in heart she esteemed and in behaviour shewed her self as the meanest of all 8. It cannot be doubted but such a spectacle of all vertue and piety was most greivous to the Enemy of all good and that it horribly inflamed his envy and malice He used all his arts to corrupt the purity both of such a Mistresse and her Disciples And that noâ— succâ—eding he endeavoured to cast a staiâ— upon them in the worlds opinion For which purpose this Infernall Tempter incite a certain poor woman who had had a child by fornication to cast it into a river which passed through the said Monastery But this being discovered what does that chast Congregation doe They alâ— betook themselves to prayer unanimously and earnestly beseeching God to remove that infamy from them Every one of them lifting up their arms in manner of a Crosse stood unmoveable till they had recited the whole Psalter in order Thâ—â— they did when all the neigbouring people were gathered to see that horrible spectacle of the murdred infant And our mercifull God did not delay to discover and punish the injury and scandall done to his devout Hand-maids For presently after that wretched woman possessed by the Devill whose captive she had made her self ran among them and loudly calling the Holy Abbesse by name openly confessed the crime which she had committed At which the whole multitude astonished made great clamours and the Religious Virgins wept for ioy In a word the merit and Sanctity of the Holy Virgin Lioba was celebrated by all 9. In the mean time the Blessed man of God S. Boniface by a Martyrdom much desired by him putts an end to all his labours Notwithstanding the want of so worthy and Venerable a Master does not discourage this holy Virgin who continued unmoveable fixing her hope in the assistance of God alone 10. She was held in great reverence by all that knew her even Princes also Pipin King of France and especially his illustrious son Charles who often invited her to his Court and honoured her with many magnificent presents The Queen Hildegardis likewise respected her with a pure affection â—as earnest with her to make her aboad at her Court But she detested the tumult of a Palace as poyson Princes loved her Nobles honoured her Bishops with great ioy vencrated her yea moreover considering her prudence in counsell and perfect knowledge in Scriptures and Sacred learning they often consulted her about Divine Mysteries and Ecclesiasticall Instituts 11. But she employed her principall solicitude about matteâ—s belonging to her own charge which she had undertaken Therefore as became a spirituall Guide of soules she diligently visited the Monasteries under her care inciting her Religious Virgins to a holy emulation in aspiring to the glory of Perfection This was her continuall exercise and employment till being weakned with old age after she had putt into good Order all the Monasteries commended to her care by the advice of the Holy Arch-bishop Lullus Successour to Saint Boniface she retired her self to a Monastery called Schoversheim four miles distant from the Citty of Mentz southward Where she abode till her death with devout Virgins there serving our Lord spending nights and days in fasting and prayers 12. This Blessed Virgin dyed on the twenty eighth day of September and the Monks of Fulda receiving her Sacred Body caried it in solemn Procession at which many Noble persons attended to their own Monastery where according the order formerly given by the Holy Martyr S.
the same name Of which no lesse then six are recorded in our Ecclesiasticall Monuments The first was S. Eadburga of Winchester commemorated on the fifteenth of Iune The second S. Eadburga the Elder of Kent the Third S. Eadburga of Peterborough the Fourth S. Eadburga of Glocester the Fifth S. Eadburga of Aylsbury And this sixth Saint Eadburga sirnamed Buggan of whom we now treat There will follow still another Saint Eadburga the daughter of King Edward the elder 6. It is hard to discover who were her parents Probably this may be the Buggan who was daughter to Kentwin King of the West-Saxons and who is mentioned by Alâ—uin in his Poems as a great Benefactrice to the Abbey of Glastenbury where she built an Altar dedicated to the twelve Apostles The same likewise who sent to S Guthlac a Coffin of lead in which his body was deposed To her S. Boniface being then a Preist wrote concerning the strange Visions of one who had been dead and was restored to life among which Visions one was touching the damnation of King Coenred And another in which he requested her to send him the â—pistles of S. Peter in golden Letters Her Mother Eangitha who was Abbesse of a Monastery in Kent in a Letter written to the same S. Boniface in the year of Grace seaven hundred twenty five gave him an account of the great persecutions which her self and her daughter suffred as likewise the poverty of their condition having neither Father Brother Son nor uncle to support her And she not long after dying her daughter Saint Eadburga or Buggan was constituted Abbesse in her place Once with the permission of S. Boniface her Spirituall Father she undertook a pilgrimage of devotion to Rome where also she found him who from thence returned to Germany and she to her Monastery in Brittany 7. Most of these particulars we have in passing touched already and little more is to be found of her but her death which was like her life precious in the sight of our Lord. In her last sicknes she seems to have been assisted by the new consecrated Bishop Bregwin of whom the Holy Virgin earnestâ—y requested his prayers for her after her death and that he would recommend the same request to S. Lullus the successour of S Boniface in the Archrepiscopâ—ll See of Mentz which he faithfully performed as appears by an Epistle of his to the same Lullus to the conclusion of which this Postscript is added We doe now celebrate the day of the deposition of the Religious servant of Christ Buggan which is the sixth before the Calends of Ianuary Before she dyed she desired me with great earnestnes that I would transmitt this to your holines Therefore as she hoped and beleived I beseech you be carefull to perform in consideration withall that her Spirituall Father and Patron in Christ was the Holy Bishop Boniface In our Martyrologe she enioys a place among the Saints on the eighteenth of Iuly if this be the same S. Eadburga who gave the name to a Village called Eadburton near Ailesbury VII CHAP. 1.2 c. The Gests and happy death of S. Liebwin an English Apostolick Missioner in Germany 14. Gregory Arch-bishop of Vtrecht dying Alberic succeeds him 1. WE formerly declared how among the twelve Apostolick Preâ—sts which in the year of Christ six hundred and ninety by the exhortations of S. Egbert passed over into Germany one was called Liebwin Besides whom there was a second of the same Name who with the same design followed about the time of S. Boniface his Martyrdom who after a zealous discharge of his Apostolick Office dyed with great sanctity in the year of Grace seaven hundred and sixty Whose Life was anciently written by a Monk of the Monastery of Marchien Elnonensis at the request of Baldric Arch-bishop of Vtrecht and much commended by Peter Arch-deacon of Cambray From whom we will here adioyn an account of his Gests 2. He was born of English Parents in Brittany whose names are not recorded but their piety was shewed by his good education in learning and vertue He was in his younger years adopted into an Ecclesiasticall condition having received the Clericall Tonsure Afterward in due time he was exalted to Preist-hood to the end he might communicate to others such graces and gifts as God had bestowed on him And considering the greater necessity which other forrain Nations particularly Germany had of the fruits oâ— his knowledge and zeale then his own countrey and invited thereto by that which would deterre a lesse courageous servant of God which was danger he left his kinred and freinds and passed over to Vtrecht anciently called Wittenburg 5. The time of his arrivall there was presently after the Martyrdom of S. Boniface and there finding a Venerable man the third Bishop of that place named Gregory who had been newly ordained there having been a Preist and disciple of S. Boniface he declared to him the occasion and design of his iourney Whereupon the Holy Bishop much reioycing in our Lord to see the operation of his Grace encouraged him to be constant and giving him for a Companion the Venerable Disciple of S. Willebrord Marcellin he directed them to a place designed by Almighty God near the Râ—ver Isel in the confines between the Saxons and French 4. Being come thither he lodged some space of time with a certain Widdow called Abachilda and there with touch charity and confidence preached the Gospell to the neighbouring Pagans many of which he induced to forsake their Idolatry and embrace the Christian Faith By the assistance of these new Converts he built a little Oratory at a place called Wilpa on the Western bank of the River Isel And not long after the multitude of Beleivers encreasing he built another greater Oratory on the East side of the same River together with a convenient habitation adioyning There the Man of God with great devotion and chearfullnes celebrated Masses and mortifyed himself with assiduous watching and Fasting and withall entertained with much chearfullnes all that came to him feeding their soules with the Word of Grace by which means he wan the affection of persons of higher condition living near that place 5. But the Dewill enraged to see the number of his adorers diminished suggested and communicated to his servants devoted to him a great proportion of his envy and malignity who first complayning afterward conspired to destroy the Man of God and to burn the Sacred House which they called a Scene of Magicall Superstitions And this they effected for rushing on him in great multitudes they sett fire to his Oratory and house But God would not permitt them to execute their malice upon him but preserved him unhurt for the salvation of many 6 The Holy man was so far from being disheartned by this that he attempted an exploit far more Heroâ—call The Nation of the Saxons had no King or generall Supreme Governour but consisting of three
from Saint Lullus upon some affairs 9. In the Kingdom of the Mercians Sees now vacant were Lichfeild by the death of Hemel Lindissa by the death of Eadulf and Leicester by the death of Totta To the first was substituted Cuthfrid to the second Ceolulf and to the third Edbert But wheras Mathew of Westminster affirms that he cannot find the names of the Citties where the said Bishops sate It cannot be denyed but that anciently those Episcopall Sees were moveable yet in this age by the munificence of Kings they seem to have been fixed As that of Lichfeild where many Bishops had already successively remained Likewise the See of Leicester was established But as for Lindissa the See was ordinarily at Dorchester a Town saith William of Malmsbury in the Country of Oxford small and unfrequented But the Majesty of the Churches either of old or lately built was great In that See after Hedhead there sate Ethelwin Edgar Kinebert Alwi Ealdulf and Celnulf Yet true it is that these Bishops sometimes sate at Sidnacester a place the memory of which has faild X. CHAP. 1.2 The unhappy death of Ethelwald Mol King of the Northumbers 3.4 c. Also of Egbert Arch bishop of York at which Alcuin was present 10. A strange Charter of King Kenulf to the Church of Welles 11. Severall Episcopall Sees vacant and supplied 1. IN the year of Grace seaven hundred sixty five Ethelwald sirnamed Mul King of the Northumbers dyed after he had raigned six years though William of Malmsbury assigns to him eleaven years Hoveden relates certain terrible apparitions in the aire which hapned in the beginning of this year presaging the unhappy death of this King who on the twenty seaventh of October was slain by the treachery of Alred at a place called Wircanheate 2. The condition of these Kings in this age was very sad few of them dyed naturall deaths This Ethelwald gott the Kingdom by the murder of Osulf and by the like means lost it And the same fate will attend his successour Alred 3. The year following gave an end to the worthy actions of Egbert Arch-bishop of York after he had nobly administred that See the space of one and thirty years A person he was descended of Royall progeny and imbued with divine knowledge Of whose vertues and memorable actions we have treated already Our Historians doe vary in the account of the years in which he continued Bishop the ground of which uncertainty is because it does not appear whether the time be to be reckoned from the resignation or death of his Predecessour Wilfrid the younger 4. There was present and assistant at his death his famous Disciple Alcuin whom a little before he had made Deacon and who having hitherto all his life composed all his actions by his rule and order was desirous to receive his commands and instructions at his death also for the future disposing of his actions Thus wee read in the Life of the said Alcuin prefixed before his Works and taken out of an ancient Manuscript belonging to the Church of Rhemes whence we will here extract the following passage S. Albinus or Alcuinus proceeding from one vertue to another was consecrated Deacon on the day of the Purification of our Blessed Lady for before on the same Feast he had received the Clericall Tonsure And perceiving that his Blessed Father Egberts infirmity encreasing shewed that his death was at hand having hitherto done all things by his counsell he was earnest to enquire of him what his pleasure was he should doe and how he should dispose of him self after that death should separate them 6. Hereto the Holy Bishop returned this Answer suggested to him as the event showd by a supernaturall direction of God I would have you said he first goe to Rome and in your return to visit France For I know that there you will produce much good Our Lord shall be the Guide of your journey and will bring you back in safety Be diligent in impugning the late abominable Heresy which endeavours to assert that Christ is only an adoptive Son of God and be a constant defender of the Mystery of the Holy Trinity this Doctrine cease not clearly and solidely to preach After he had spoken thus he gave him his fatherly Benediction commending him to our Lords safe protection and presently after he with chearfullnes departed to our Lord on the sixth day before the Ides of November 7. He was buried in the Porch of the Church of York and near to him was also layd the Body of his Brother King Egbert or Eadbert who exchanged his Royall Purple for a poore Monasticall habit and dyed two years after him 8. The Arch-bishop left behind him severall Monuments of his learning to enrich the Noble Library which he made at York Among which are reckoned A Book of Penitentiall Canons likewise Collections out of the Canon Law of the Church and others mention'd by Sir H. Spelman To those we may add A Dialogue of Ecclesiasticall Institution lately printed with an Epistle of S. Beda to him and other Treatises by the care of Sir Iames Ware 9. His successour in the Archiepiscopall See of York was Aldebert otherwise called Coena To whom by this latter name remains an Epistle from Saint Lullus Bishop of Mentz with his Answer to it The subiect whereof is only the renewing of Ancient Freindship sending of presents and entreating of Prayers for dead freinds 10. There is extant a Charter of Kenulf King of the West-Saxons by which he this year gave to the Church of Wells and Colledge formerly built there by King Ina certain Lands there adiacent the bounds whereof he setts down These possessions he gave for the love of God for the expiation of his siâ—s and for sâ—me vexation to his enemies of the Cornish Nation These are the words of the Charter What he meant by this last Motive I leave to the Reader to iudge 11. This year dyed Frithebert Bishop of Hagustaldt whose Successour was Alâ—mund a Prelat of great piety and prudence And shortly after Cuthwin Bishop of Dumwhich dying his place was supplied by Aldbert Like as upon the death of Ethelfrid Bishop of Helmham there was substituted Lansert I know not by what fate these two Episcopall Sees of the East-Angles for the most part loose and get new Bishops at the same time at least so we are informed by the Ecclesiasticall Chronicles of that Church And the following year Edbrith who is reckoned the ninth among the London Bishops after he had governed that Church eight years dying left it vacant to his Successour Eadgar XI CHAP. 1. 2. c. The beginning of the Raign of the Charlemagne c 4 Of two learned English Virgins 1. THE year of Grace seaven hundred sixty nine is notable through the whole Church for the beginning of the Raign of that most famous King and afterward Emperour Charles
a sumptuous shrine for the honour of this glorious Martyr added also a most magnificent Monastery for obtaining of Priviledges for which by advice of the Bishops recourse was had to the Pope Concerning which Monastery Mathew of Westminster writes that as S. Alban was the Prime among the Brittish Martyrs and Saints so his Monastery excelled both in possessions and liberties all the other Monasteries of the Kingdom 5. To this day is preserved the Charter which King Offa made to this Monastery in which he mentions the foresaid miraculous discovery of the holy Martyrs body adding that since Honour given to God and pious devotion to his Saints is the stability of an earthly kingdom the prosperity of long life and will undoubtedly be rewarded with eternall happines therefore he gave such lands and possessions there named to the said Monastery freeing it likewise from all tributs and burdens Apponting withall over it as Abbot Willigoda a Preist to govern it according to the Rule of S. Benedict for ever Lastly requiring that dayly prayers should continually be offred there for the soules of himself and his freinds 6. At the same time the Abbot of Croyland called Patrick successour to the first Abbot thereof Kenulph seeing the devotion piety of King Offa to Gods Saints and his kind inclination to the Prayers of Religious men obtained froÌ„ him a Charter likewise by which he took into his Protection the said Monastery confirming all the possessions and Priviledges formerly given to the same freeing the Monks thereof from all secular burdens and impositions as he had newly done his brethren the Monks of S. Alban such is his expression VII CHAP. i. 2 c. The Gests and Martyrdom of S. Ethelbert King of the East-angles 1. COncerning this King Offa the Character given him by William of Malmsbury is very proper saying In one and the same man sometimes vices did palliate themselves with a shew of vertue and sometimes vertues did succeed vices that a man would be uncertain in what shape to represent such a changeable Proteus For the same year in which he shewd himself so pious toward the Holy Martyr S. Alban he shewd himself most impious in cruelly killing an innocent Prince and making him a Martyr 2. This Prince was Ethelbert the Son of Ethelred and Leofrana by whom he was carefully instituted in piety and all vertues He had now governed the Kingdom of the East-angles forty four years with such iustice and moderation that he was tenderly loved by all his subiects All which time he had never admitted any proposall of mariage but now yeilding to the importunity of his Mother and Nobles who earnestly desired to see a Successour he remitted to their iudgments to propose to him a fitt Consort 3. When they were therefore to consult about the person in the first place they generally turned their thoughts upon a Princesse among the South-Saxons whose name was Seledrida and her Fathers Egeon by whose death she was possessed of a very considerable Province besides other great riches Therefore they advised the King to make choice of her whose Treasures and territory would be a great strength and accession to his Kingdom But the King whose iudgment was directed by better Rules then humane policy and interests reiected the proposall because that Province which Egeon had left unto his daughter was procured by uniust and fraudulent means and therefore he could not expect a benediction from God upon the possession of it 4. Some few others therefore whose counsells were guided by Principles more sublime and not so worldly proposed to the King a daughter of the most potent King Offa whose name our Historians generally call Alfreda only by Ingulfus she is named Etheldrita a Virgin endowd withall Graces against whom no exception could be made Yea moreover such affinity contracted with her Father would be an absolute security to the Kingdom To this therefore King Ethelbert consented and thereupon Embassadours were dispatched to King Offa to demand of him this grace which he willingly granted so that conditions on both sides were readily agreed on 5. When the time appointed for the mariage drew near King Ethelbert thought fitt to goe to the Mercians thereby to shew more affection and respect in conducting his espoused Lady home But when he began his iourney there hapned to him many terrible prodigies portâ—nding a fatall successe Among which this was one When he mounted on horsback attended by a great multitude of his loving Subiects who earnestly prayed for his happines on a sudden besides a great earth-quake the Sun became wholly darkned insomuch as one could not discern another neither durst they remove by reason of the trembling of the earth All were astonished at this and falling prostrate on the ground earnestly besought God to avert his wrath from them But the King more devoutly then the rest humbly begged of God at least an internall Light by which he might discern whether that iourney and the occasion of it were acceptable to him and for the benefit of his own soule in token of which he besought him to cease the trembling of the earth no to restore the Suns Light Assoon as he had ended his Prayer all these prodigies immediatly ended Thereupon the King confidently prosecuted his iourney though his Mother terrified by such ominous signs earnestly endeavoured to disswade him 6. Assoon as he was entred into Mercia attended by a small guard God was pleased in a vision by night to signify to him his approaching death and the immense glory which should follow it For First it seemed to him that the roof of his Palace fell upon him and that his Mother seeing it let fall from her eyes teares of blood Afterward he saw a wonderfully great and most beautifull Tree which certain persons feircely endeavoured to hew down and out of the wounds made in it flowed a torrent of Blood eastward Then a pillar of Light from the South more bright then the Sun seemed to rise up and himself in the shape of a Bird having the extremities of his wings shining like gold had a great desire to embrace that glorious pillar so that mounting to the top of it he heard a most celestiall Harmony to which he with infinite pleasure attended till his sleep ending all vanished away 7. The next morning he recounted this Dream to his freinds at which their astonishment and fears were renewed with great encrease considering such fearfull signs as the falling down of a house his Mothers bloody teares a fair tree cutt down and blood issuing out of it Thereupon they attempted to perswade him to return and not to tempt God after so manifest a warning given him of danger But the King thinking it both dishonourable and unsafe to publish a suspicion of any treachery in so great a King as Offa and withall considering that though in his Vision there were many ominous signs yet the end seemed glorious and