Abridgment of the Book of Acts and Monuments by Timothy Bright, Volume 1 · Book 2
The reſt of this hiſtory concerneth chiefly the affaires of the Church of England and Scotland.
The reſt of this hiſtory concerneth chiefly England and Scotland. England receiued the Goſpel in Tyberius time.GIldas affirmeth, that Britain receiued the Goſpel in the time of Tiberius the Emperor, vnderunder whom Chriſt ſuffred, and that Ioſeph of Arimathea, after ye diſperſiō of the Iews, was ſent of Philip ye apoſtle out of France into Britain ann. 63. And here remained al his time, and laid the foundation of the Goſpel.Eaſter kept in England after the maner of ye Eaſt church. The Goſpel came into Enland from the Caſt and not from Rome. In the time of Bede almoſt a thouſand yeeres after Chriſt, as he teſtifieth, Eaſter was kept after the manner of the Eaſt Church, in the full moone, what day of the wéeke ſoeuer it fell, and not on the ſunday as we doe now, Wherby it may appeare that the preaching of the Goſpell came into this land from the Eaſt and not from Rome.
About the yéere 180. King Lucius, ſonne of Coilus, king of Britains, which now are called Engliſh men, hearing of the miracles done by Chriſtians in diuers places,K. Lucius the firſt Chriſtian K. of England, Fugatius and Damianus. at that time wrote to Eleutherius B. of Rome, to receiue of him the Chriſtian faith: who ſent him therevpon certain preachers, Fugatius, or by ſome Faganus, and Damianus, or Dimianus, which conuerted firſt the king and the people of Britain, and baptized them, and ſubuerted the temples, and monuments of idolatrie. And the 28, Flamines they turned to biſhops, and thrée Achflamines to thrée Archbiſhops, hauing their ſeates in thrée head cities, London, Yorke, and Glamorgantia, by Wales.
This king alſo ſent to him for the Romane lawes, to frame his people therafter: who anſwered, that the lawes of God was to be his direction for lawes, and not the Romanes, that might be reproued, the other being without exception,
Thus was the Chriſtian faith confirmed in this lande, by the meanes of Eleutherius, Eleutherius.and therein it continued two hundred and ſixtéene yeres, till the comming of the Pagane Saxons.
King Lucius raigned 77. yeres, and died without iſſue, the yere of our Lord, 201. the xiiij. yere after his baptiſme, (ſome ſay the iiij. and ſome the tenth,) and was buried at Gloceſter.
By reaſon that the king died without iſſue, the Lande was ſpoyled, and the Romanes inuaded, and became ſometimes maſters. When they raigned, Gentiliſme was aduaunced: and when the Britaines, the Goſpell. Albeit no perſecution touched the Britaines, that is read of,Almoſt all Chriſtianitie deſtroyed in England. before the laſt perſecution of Diocleſian and Maximinianus Herculeus. At which time, all Chriſtianitie was almoſt in ye whole land deſtroyed.
Now the Britanes being greatly diſtreſſed, and brought to miſerie, the Archbiſhop of London, called Gnetelinus, procured helpe out of leſſe Britanie, and brought ouer Conſtantinus the kings brother, by whoſe meanes, the ſtate of Religion, and Common-wealth was in ſome quiet, all the time of Conſtantine, and the Archbiſhop, till Vortiger cruellie cauſed his Prince to be ſlaine, and inuaded the Crown.Gnetelinus Archb. of London. And fearing the other two brethren of Conſtantine his Prince Aurelius, and Vter in litle Britaine he cauſed aide to be ſent for to the Saxons (being then Infidels) and married him ſelfe alſo with Rowen, an Infidel, the daughter of Hengiſt. Which Hengiſt depriued him and his people, and droue the Britaines out of their Countrey: after that the Saxons had ſlaine of their Nobles two hundred, thrée ſcore, and eleuen: ſome ſay foure hundred and thréeſcore,271. of the Nobilitie of England ſlaine by the Saxons. Which miſerie fell vponupon them, for couetouſnes, and oppreſſion in their Princes: wickednes in the Iudges: ſlouthfulnes of the Biſhops, in neglecting their dueties of preaching: and ryot and wantonnes of the people, as ſaith Gildas in his chronicle. This fell out in anno 469.
The Captaines of the Saxons were, Hengiſtus, and Horſus. Now, the firſt perſecution in this Lande began vnderunder Diocleſian, an, 210.
The firſt perſecution in England by Diocleſian. The ſecond by Gnauius and Melga.The ſecond was by the inuading of Gnauius, & Melga, whereof, the firſt was Captaine of the Hunnes: and the other of the Pictes. Which two Tyrants (after the ſlaughter of Vrſula, Vrſula,and 11000. noble Virgins11000. Virgins.) made their rode into Britaine. At what time, they made a miſerable murther of Chriſtians, ſpoyling and raſing Churches, without regarde either of women or children.
The third by Hengiſt, The third by Hengeſt.and the Saxons, who deſtroyed (like raging wolues) the ſilie ſhéepe: till Aurelius Ambroſius came,Aurelius Ambroſius reſtoreth the churches. and reſtored againe the Churches deſtroyed.
The fourth was by Gurmundus, Gurmundus,a pagā, king of the Affricans, who ioyning with the Saxons, wrought much miſchiefe againſt the Chriſtians. In ſo much, that Theonus B. of London, and Thaodiceus, of Yorke, with the reſt of the people, did pack away, ſome into Cornewall, ſome into the mountaines of Wales, an. 550. and remayned till the time of Ethelbert Ethelbert.king of Kent, an. 589. In whoſe reigne, ye faith was firſt receiued of the Engliſhmen,Goſpell receiued of the Engliſhmen. Auſten ſent into England by Gregory, B. of Rome. by meanes of Gregorie, biſhop of Rome, who in the yere 598. ſent Auſten into England, and with him about xl. Preachers, to inſtruct and conuert the people. The occaſion was offered by ſéeing certain children of the land to be ſold at Rome: where conſidering their beautie, he had compaſſion on them: & thereupon, when the Biſhorick of Rome fell vntounto him, next after Pelagius, he ſent Auſten, with the other Preachers. Who paſſing on their iourney, were greatly afraid, and diſcouraged, conſidering the barbarouſnes of the people. But being comforted by Gregorie, and perſwaded, they went on their iorney, and came to the Ile of Tenet,Ile of Tenet. on the Eaſtſide of Kent. Néere vntounto which lāding place was the Palace of the K. not farre from Sandwich, which the Inhabitants of the Ile thē called Richburgh: whereof ſome part of the ruinous walles is yet to ſée. The king that raigned at that time was Ethelbert the fifth king of that prouince, who at that time had married a Frenchwoman Chriſtened, whoſe name was Berda, Berda.whom hée had of that condition, that ſhée ſhould with her biſhop Lebardus Lebardus.inioy the faith. By meanes whereof he was the more flexible to embrace the preachyng of the faith of Chriſt.
Now the king hearing of Auſtines arriuall, within few dayes after, and hauing receaued meſſage from Auſtine, of the cauſe of his comming, commeth to the place where hée was, to ſpeake with him. To whom Auſtine preached the word of God. The king at the firſt was not perſwaded: yet for ſo much as he came for his benefit, he both miniſtred vntounto him neceſſaries, and gaue him libertie to preach, and conuert his people (which hée did in Canterbury where the king gaue him a manſion place) and baptized people on the Eaſtſide of the cittie in the old Church of Saint Martine, where the Quéene was woont to reſort, till time that the king himſelfe was conuerted to the faith, which he was at length by the godly conuerſation of Chriſtians, & myraclesGodly conuerſation, and miracles. that were wrought. He was conuerted an. 586. and the 36. yéere of his raigne: who beyng conuerted, the number grew innumerable, whom he ſpecially embraced,None compelled to beleeue. The Abbey of S. Peter and S. Paule in Canterbury. but compelled none. Then he gaue to Auſtin a place for his biſhops ſea at Chriſt church in Canterbury, and builded the Abbey of S. Peter and Paule in the Eaſtſide of the citie, where after Auſtin and all the kings of Kent were buried, and that place is now called S. Auſtin.
In this while Auſtin ſailed into Fraunce to the biſhop of Arelatenſis called Ethereus, by him to be conſecrated archbiſhop, by the commandement of Gregory, and ſo was. He ſent moreouer to Rome one of his company Laurentius, to ſhew Gregory how they had ſped, and alſo to be reſolued concerning nine or ten queſtions.
The firſt how the B. ſhould vſe himſelfe towards his clarke,Queſtions reſolued from Rome. and of oblations, what diuidens were to be made. For the firſt Gregory referreth him to the Epiſtle of Paule to Timothie: touching the ſecond he telleth him, the order of the church of Rome is to make foure parts:Biſhops liuings how to be beſtowed. the one for the B. hoſpitalitie in receauing commers in: the other to the Clergie: the third to the poore: the fourth to repairing of churches. And becauſe (he ſaith) Auſtine could not liue from his clarkes, he would hauehave in their ſocietie all common.
The ſecond, whether Clarkes that can not containe may marry, and then marrying, whether they are to returne to their ſecular eſtate againe or no?Clarkes may marrie. to whom hée anſwereth, they might marry and alſo obtaine their ſtipends.
The third, ſeing the faith is but one, how commeth it to paſſe,Diuerſe ceremonies. that the ceremonies and cuſtomes be ſo diuerſe, as one manner of Maſſe at Rome, and an other in France? To which he anſwered, that without reſpect of place he ſhould choſe out of many churches, the beſt orders.
The fourth, what puniſhment ſhould be laid on him that pilfereth out of the church? This he referreth to his diſcretiō, conſideration being had of the neceſſitie of the ſtealer, & the abilitie to make recompence, without any gaine.
Whether two brethren may marry two ſiſters, being far of from any part of kindred? To this he anſwereth affirmatiuely, to what degrée of kindred matrimony may extend: and whether it is lawfull to marry with the ſtepmother,Degrees for marriage. & her kinſfolkes. The anſwere he referreth to the law of God, and denieth the lawfulneſſe of ſuch marriages, or with the kinſfolke, but in the third degrée.
Whether ſuch as be coupled in ſuch vnlawfull mariage, ought to be ſeparated, and denied the Communion? to which he anſwereth: that ſuch as hauehave béene ſo maried in time of their ignorance, ſhould not therefore be ſeparated from the Communion, but admoniſhed to do ſo no more: and ſuch as profeſſe the faith, and ſo couple themſelues, he willeth they ſhould be denied the Lords body.
After what manner he ſhould deale with the Biſhops of France, and Britain? To theſe he anſwereth, that the Biſh. in Fraunce are not to ſubmit to him, but onelyonly his iuriſdiction ſhould extend ouer them of Britaine.
The ninth containeth diuers points: whether a woman with child ought to be baptized? & after ſhe hath had a childe, whether ſhe ought to enter the Churche, &c? To which all, Gregorie maketh anſwere with reſolution.
Nowe Gregory, after he had ſent theſe reſolutions, ſendeth mo coadiutors, and helpers, as Mellitus, Iuſtus, Paulinus, and Ruffianus, with bookes and ſuch other things, as he thought neceſſary for the Church. He ſendeth alſo to Auſten a Pall with letters,A Pall from Rome. containing an order betwéen ye two Metropolitane ſeates of London, and Yorke. Notwithſtā ding, he graunteth to Auſten during his life, to be the onelyonly chiefe Archbiſhop in all the lande, and after his time that to returne againe to London and Yorke. Hee ſendeth alſo another letter to Mellitus, willing him to let the Idolatrous temple ſtand, and alter the vſe. He admoniſheth Auſten alſo not to be puffed vp with pride, for his working of miracles. Moreouer, he wrote to king Ethelbert, willing him to continue conſtant, and ſendeth him preſents. Now Auſten of a monke, being made an Archbiſhop, after he had baptized a great part of Kent, made two Archbiſhops by the commandement of Gregorie,
Mellitus Mellitus,was ſpecially ſent to the Eaſt Saxons, in ye prouince of Eſſex, where afterward he was made B. of London vnderunder Sigebert K. of Eſſex: which Sigebert, together with his vncle Ethelbert, firſt built the Church of S. Paul in London, and appointed it to Mellitus for his Biſhops ſeat.
Auſten aſſociate with this Mellitus and Iuſtus, through ye helpe of Ethelbert, aſſembled the Doct. of Britain in a place, which taking the name of Auſten, is called Auſtens oake.Auſtens oake, In which aſſembly, he charged the Biſhops to preach with him to the Engliſh men, the word of God, & to baptiſe after ye maner of Rome,Brittains and Scots refuſe the Eaſter of Rome. & kéep Eaſter after the ſame maner, which the Britains & Scots refuſed to doe. Then he gathered another ſynode, to ye which came 7. biſh. of Britons, with the wiſeſt men of that famous abbey of Bangor:Abbey of Bangor. who firſt taking counſel of an holy wiſe mā, were aduiſed yt if he were humble, thē to agrée vntounto him,Auſtens pride offendeth the Britains. as ye ſeruant of God. The B. thus counſelled, entred into ye counſel, & Auſten after ye Romane manner kepeth his chaire of pride: wherat (after ſome heat of words) ye Brittains diſdaining, departed. To whō thē Auſten ſpake, and ſaid, that if they woulde not take peace with their brethren, they ſhould receiue warres of their enimie, &c.
1100. monks of Bangor ſlaine.Which not long after fell out according as he had ſaid, for Ethelfride being yet a pagane, ſlue 1100. monks of the Abbey of Bangor (which conſiſted of 2100. monkes that liued with the ſweat of their brows) that came to Cheſter, & praied and faſted thrée daies, for the good ſucceſſe of Brockmayl againſt the Saxons. Whereat Ethelfride being offēded, ſlue 1100, only 50. fled away. They came to their chiefe Gouernour, one named Dinoe. Dinoe.This Ethelfride was afterwarde ſlaine of the chriſtian king Edwin, (who ſuccéeded him) as he had ſlaine the Chriſtians before, which was 610.
Auſten, after that he had baptiſed a thouſand Chriſtians of Saxons, in one day, in the Weſt riuer, that is called Swold beſide Yorke: on Chriſtmas day, hee perceyuing his ende to drawe neere,Gregorie dieth ordained Laurentius Laurentius.to rule after him, the Archb. Sea of Canterbury. In the meane ſeaſon, about this time died Gregorie: of whom it is ſaid, yt of all the Biſh. that were afore him, he was ye baſeſt, & of al that came after him ye beſt. About which time, died alſo in Wales, Dauid, Archb. of Kaerleion, who then tranſlated the ſea frō thēce to Meuenia, & therfore is called Dauid of Wales. Not long after this, alſo died Auſten, Auſten dieth.after he had ſet 15. or 16. yéeres.
This Gregory denied any B. to be lawfully called vniuerſal biſh. declaring, that he that ſhold take that vponupon him, is ye forerunner of Antichriſt. For this matter hee had much adoo with the Emperour, and Patriarch of Conſtantinople, who was extolled by Mauricius to the Patriarchie of Alexandria, and would be called vniuerſallPatriarke of Alexandria would be vniuerſall. Patriarch,Strife about Primacy. requiring the Emperour that hée would obtaine Gregories conſent herein: but Gregory refuſed ſo to doo, wherevpon grewe greate troubles to Gregory, that purchaſed thereby the diſpleaſure of the Emperour.
This Gregory brought in the title among the Romaine biſhops, to be called Seruus ſeruorum Dei.The title, Seruus ſeruorum Dei. Sabinianus firſt vniuerſall Biſhop.
After Gregory ſuccéeded Sabinianus, a malitious detractor of Gregory and his workes. He continued ſcarſe two yéeres: after whome ſuccéeded Bonifacius the third, who raigned but one yere, yet did much hurt: he obtained of Phocas the wicked Emperour, that he and his ſuccceſſos,Phocas giueth firſt title of vniuerſal biſhop ſhould be called vniuerſal Biſhops, and head of the reſt. This Phocas, to obtaine the empire, killed his maiſter Mauritius, and his children: but he was rewarded thereafter. For, hauing his hands and féete cut of by Heraclius, that ſucceded him, he was caſt into the ſea.
King Ethelbert did many Chriſtian actes,Ethelb. dieth. and died when he had raigned 56. yéeres, ann. 616. whom ſtories ſay to be ſlaine in a fight betwéene him and Ethelfride the king of the North Saxons, who alſo after he had raigned foure and twentie yéeres, was ſlaine in the field of Edwin, that ſucded in Northumberland after him.
This Edwin the ſonne of Alba, was conuerted by Paulinus, and was the firſt chriſtian K. of Northumberland, although his wife were a Chriſtian woman, & K. Ethelbertes daughter. Who, although he was much laboured with by his wife, yet was he hard to be woon to the faith, till a certaine trouble fell vponupon him, which was the cauſe of his calling: for his death being conſpired by the K. of Weſtſaxons, Quincelinus, wt Kinegilſus his brother, he was woūded by one yt was ſuborned to kill him. About whitſontide after, the K. aſſēbled his hoſt, & entended to make war againſt them, & vowed to Chriſt if he would giuegive him victory that he would be chriſtened, and in token therof cauſed his daughter borne of Edelburgh, the ſame Eaſterday when he was wounded, named Eufled to be baptized, with twelue other of his familie, by Paulinus. So he obtained the victory, and yet with much adoo, forſooke his Mahometrie at the preaching of Paulinus, and denied to be chriſtened till a time after. This Edwin before he maried the daughter of Ethelbert fell into ſome diſpleaſure with him, and fled to Redwald king of the Eaſt Angles, which Redwald being corrupted intended to betray him, wherefore being penſiue and not hauing whether to fly, there appeared ſuddenly to him a ſtraunger, who ſaid vntounto him with other ſpéeches: wilt thou doe after his counſell that ſhall deliuer thée, and follow him if hee ſhewe thée a better way of life? to whom he promiſed faithfully ſo he would. Then he laying his hand vppon his head: when (ſaith hée) this token happeneth vntounto thée,A viſion. then remember this time of thy tribulation, and the promiſe which thou haſt made, and ſodainly he vaniſhed out of ſight. Now Paulinus ſéeing the king to hard to beléeue, praied for him, and God reuealed vntounto him the viſion aboue mentioned. Wherevppon Paulinus comming vntounto the king vponupon a time, and laying his hand vponupon the Kings head, aſked him if hee knew that token: the king hearing this, and remembring the token, was readie to fall downe at his féete. But Paulinus would not ſuffer that, and declared vntounto him, the victories he obtained by Chriſt, and put him in minde of his former promiſe.
Whereupon, the king (conferring with his Nobles) was by him baptized in Yorke, with many of his Subiects. In ſo much, that Coyſi, the chiefe of the Idolatrous prelates, with others of that kinde,Edwine baptized. deſtroyed the Idoles, with their Temples, which was at Godmunham, not farre from York. And this was the eleuenth yere of his Reigne.
This Edwine, after he had firſt brought in the Faith into the North partes, continued after his baptiſme, vi. yeres. At length he was ſlaine in battaile by Ced walla, king of the Britaines, and by wicked Penda, king of the Mercians, with his ſonne, and Offricus, in the field called Hatfield.
This Paulinus, was the firſt Archbiſhoppe of Yorke, and ordeyned by Iuſtus Archbiſhoppe of Canterburie. After whoſe deceaſe, he ordeyned Honorius Archbiſhop of Canterburie.
Paulinus, after the death of Edwin, fled from the vnmercifull Cedwalla, and the wicked, and Idolatrous Penda, (who had neither regarde of Sexe, nor age) by water, into Kent, with Edelberge the Quéene, and Eufled her daughter. Where he remayned Biſhop of Rocheſter, the ſpace of xix. yeres. And ſo the Church of Northumberland lacked a Biſhop the ſpace of xxx. yeres. Notwithſtanding, he left one Iames, a Deacon, in thoſe quarters,Paulinus, the firſt archbiſhop of York. who continued there preaching, til peace was recouered, and the Church brought againe to a ſtay. By the meanes of this Edwine, Erpwaldus king of the Eaſt-angles, ſonne to Redwaldus aboue mentined, was brought to the faith.
After Edwin and his ſonne, reigned Oſricus, and Eaufridus (the one in Deira) who were firſt chriſtened in Scotlād, but after they were kings, reuolted to Idolatrie, and in the yeres following, were ſlaine one after another, by Cedwalla, and wicked Penda. After whom ſuccéeded in Northumberland, the ſecond ſonne of Ethelfrede, named Oſwaldus, hauing rule ouer both the prouinces, as wel Deira, as Bernicia. He (by prayer made vntounto God) ouercame Cedwalla, or Cadwallo, the Britaine king, which ſent Penda with an armie againſt him, that was ouerthrowen, after hee had reigned ouer the Britaines 22. yeres, leauing after him a ſonne, wohm Gaufridus called Cadwalladius, Oſwald a notable king.the laſt K. of Britans. This Oſwald was very religiouſly diſpoſed, and ſent for a certain biſhop out of Scotland, named Aidanus, to preach to his people. And as he preached in Scottiſh, ſo ye K. did interprete it, hauing learned the Scottiſh tongue in his baniſhment there. By the meanes of Oſwald, Kinigilſus, K. of the Weſtſaxons, was conuerted to Chriſts faith, eſpecially through the godly labor of Berinus, who was ſent by P. Honorius, to preach in England, & then made Biſhop of Dorceſter.Kinigilſus conuerted. To whom Quincelinus, brother to the foreſaid Kinigilſus, (after he had receiued baptiſme of Berinus Bernius.) gaue to him the ſaid citie, therein to make his Sea: and gaue after to the B. of Wincheſter,The Sea of Wincheſter. 7. miles compaſſe of land, to buyld there the biſhops Sea, which was accompliſhed, & finiſhed by Kenwalcus his ſonne.
This Bernius was driuen by the weather to the Coaſt of the Weſt-ſaxons, where Kinigilſus, and his brother Quincelinus did raigne, and were baptized with their people. It ſo fell out, that Oſwaldus, King of Northumberlande, was there preſent: and ye ſame day married Kinigilſus his daughter, and was alſo Godfather to the king.
Oſwald (after he had raigned ix. yeres) was at the length ſlaine in the field, called Maxfield, by wicked Penda, king of Mercians. Which Penda likewiſe, was ouercome, & ſlaine by Oſwy, brother to Oſwald, the next king of Northumberland after Oſwald, not withſtanding hee had himſelfe as many people as Oſwy had.
Penda had iij. ſonnes, Wolferus, Weda, and Egfridus. The ſecond ſonne Weda, Oſwy had before time maried his daughter,Weda conuerted. by conſent of Penda his father. Who alſo by the helpe of Oſwy, was made king of Southmercia, and promiſed when he married his daughter, he would become a chriſtian: which thing he perfourmed after the death of Penda. And within thrée yeres following, by reaſon of his wife, he was ſlaine.Wolferus conuerted. After him, the kingdome fell to Wolferus, the other brother, who being wedded to Armenilda, daughter to Ercombert, K. of Kent, was afterward chriſtened: ſo that he is accounted the firſt chriſtian king of Mercia.
This Wolferus conquered Kenwalcus K. of Kent, and gat the Ile of Wight, which after he gaue to Sigbert king of the Eaſt-angels, vponupon condition he would be chriſtened,Sigbert baptized. And thus the Eaſt-angles which before had expulſed Mellitus their B, recouered againe the chriſtian faith vnderunder Sigbert their king, who was baptized by Finanus Finanus.the biſhop.
Now to Oſwy was ioyned Oſwinus his coſin, ouer the prouince of Deira, & there raigned with Oſwy ſeuen yéere, a Prince gentill, liberall, and deuout, but not long after Oſwy the king of Bernicia diſdaining at him, cauſed him traiterouſly to be ſlaine: and ſo Oſwy with his ſonne Egfride raigned in Northumberland alone.
In that time and alſo in the houſe of Oſwy and his ſonne Egfride, was Butolphus the abbot, who builded in the Eaſt part of Lincoln an abbey. Alſo Aidanus, Finianus, and Colmannus, with 3. ſcottiſh Biſhops of Northumberland, holy men, that held with the Brittains againſt the Romiſh order for kéeping of Eaſter. Moreouer, Cuthbertus, Iarmuannus, Cedda and Wilfridus liued at the ſame time.
About this time, or not much before, vnderunder the raigne of Oſwy and Oſwine, the queſtion of Eaſter,The queſtions of Eaſter. and hauing of other ceremonies, was debated in the Abbey called Sternehalt: Of which, Hilda Hilda.a deuout woman, was abbeſſe: to the which place came both the kings, the father and the ſonne, Biſhop Colman, with his Cleargy of Scotland, Aigelbert with Agathon, and Wilfride, Prieſtes. Iames, and Roman were on their ſides: Hilda the Abbeſſe, was on the Scottiſh part, with her companie. And the reuerend Biſhop, Cedda Cedda.was appointed Prolocutor for both partes in that parlemēt. Now, there was much debating of ye matter on both partes: one ſtanding to the cuſtome of Iohn the Euangeliſte, to be kept according to the Law: the other, the tradition of Peter and Paul, of Rome, with other reaſons. Wilfride, ſpake for Aigelbert, becauſe he could vtter his mind more plainlie in the Engliſh tongue. Now, when Wilfride had ſhewed, that Peter was the chiefe of the Apoſtles, and that the Lord had ſaid to him I will giuegive thée the keies of the kingdome of heauen &c. The King ſaid to Colman, is it true that the Lord ſpake theſe things to S. Peter? and Colman anſwered yea. Then ſaid the King can you declare any thing that the Lord ſaid to Columba? (who was a reuerend Father, whom Colman alledged to follow) Colman anſwered, No. Then quoth the King doo you both agrée on this matter? They both anſwered, yea. Then concluded the king: for aſmuch as S. Peter is dore kéeper of heauen, I will not gaineſay him, but in that I am able I will obey his order in eueryevery point, leaſt when I come to the gates of heauen, he ſhut them againſt me. VponUpon this ſimple and rude reaſon of the king,A rude reaſon of the king. the multitude conſented, and with them, Cedda was contented to giuegive ouer, onelyonly Colmannus the Scot, being then Archb of Yorke, departed into Scotland, carrying with him the bones of Aidanus.The bones of Aidanus.
After the deceaſe of Oſwin, Egfride his ſonne was king after him in Northumberland, fiftéene yéeres. By this Egfride, Cuthbert was promoted to the Biſhopricke of the yle of Farne, and Wilfride, which before had béene Archbiſhop of Yorke was diſplaced, through the meanes of Theodore, Archbiſhop of Canterbury and Cedda, poſſeſſed that Sea. Wilfride, when he was put out, went to Agathon Biſhop of Rome, and complained to him, and was well allowed in ſome things. But the king, and Theodorus, had there ſuch Proctors, and friendes, that he returned without ſpéeding of his cauſe. Wherefore hee returned vntounto the Southſaxons, and buylded an Abbey in Siliſey, and preached vntounto the Southſaxons xv. yeres.
The king of the Southſaxons was then Ethelwolde: to whom Wolferus, king of the Mercians, gaue the Ile of Wight,Southſex conuerted. vponupon condition, yt he ſhould be a Chriſtian. Wherefore, Wilfride being now licenced by Ethelwolde the king, preached vntounto his Nobles, and people of Southſex, and conuerted them to Chriſt.
In the time of whoſe baptizing the raine that lacked before, thrée yéeres, was giuen them plentifully, whereby their countrie was made fruitfull, and their famine ſtayed,Great famine. which was ſuch, that ye people (penured with famine) would go 40. togither and throw themſelues into the Sea. Moreouer the ſame Wilfride taught them firſt the art of fiſhing,The art of fiſhing taught. whereof they were ignorant before.
After Egfrid, who was ſlaine in the ſtraights of Scotland, ſuccéeded Alfride his brother, and baſtard ſonne to Oſwin, & raigned 18. or 19. yéeres in Northumberland.Wilfride reſtored. This Alfride reſtored againe the foreſaid Wilfride to the ſea of Yorke, whom his brother had before expelled, & put in Cedda. Not withſtanding the ſame king within 5. Wilfride expulſed againe.yéeres after expulſed Wilfride again, & ſo he went to Rome. But at lēgth by Oſwrick his ſucceſſor, he was reſtored againe; & Cedda was ordained by Theodorus archbiſhop of Cāterbury, who by the authority of ye Sinod holdē at Hatfield, did after deuide Mercia into fiue biſhoprikes, one to Cheſter, the 2. to Worceſter, the third to Lichfield, the fourth to Caderna in Lindſey, the fifth to Dorceſter, which was after tranſlated to Lincolne.
Néere vntounto this time in the yéere 666. began the deteſtable ſet of Mahomet, which wel agreeth with the number of the beaſt ſignified in the Apocalips χξς that is 666. Of him came the kingdome of Agarens, whom he after named Saracens, to whom he gaue ſundry lawes,Mahomet beginneth. patched of many ſectes and religions together. He taught them to pray euer to the South, & to kéepe the Friday as we doo the Sunday. He permitted thē to hauehave as many wiues as they were able to maintaine, & to hauehave as many concubines as they liſted: to abſtaine from the vſe of wine, except vponupon certaine ſolemne daies in ye yéere: to worſhip onelyonly one God omnipotent: ſaying that Moyſes, and the Prophetes were great men; but Chriſt was greater, and greateſt of all the Prophets, as being borne of the virgin Mary by the power of God without mans ſéede, and at laſt was taken vp into heauen; but was not ſlain,Turkes conquered the Saracenes. but another in his likenes, &c. At length this kingdome of the Saracens was conquered by the Turkes.
In this meane ſeaſon Theodorus Theodorus.was ſent from Italie into England by Vitellianus the Pope, to be Archbiſhop of Canterbury, and with him diuerſe other monkes of Italie, to ſet vp here in England Latine ſeruice,Latine ſeruice, and maſſe firſt brought into England. The archbiſhop plaieth Rex. Maſſes, Ceremonies, Letanies, wt ſuch other Romiſh ware: & being archbiſhop he began to play Rex, placing and diſplacing biſhops at his pleaſure: he thruſt out Cedda, & Wilfride archbiſhop of Yorke, pretending they were not lawfully cōſecrated. Wilfride went vp to Rome, but could hauehave no redreſſe.
An. 680.In the time of this Theodorus, & by the meanes of him a prouinciall Synod was holden at Thetford:A prouinciall Synode at Thetford. the principall points were theſe: 1. That Eaſter ſhould be vniformly kept on the full moone in the monethmonth of March. 2. That no B. ſhould intermeddle with the dioces of an other. 3. That monaſteries ſhould be exempt from the authoritie of Biſhops. 4. That monks ſhould not ſtray frō one monaſtery to an other without licence of his Abbot. 5. That no clergy man ſhould forſake his B. & be receiued in another place without letters commendatorie of his owne B. 6. That forren biſhops & clergy men ſhould be contented onelyonly with ſuch hoſpitalitie, as ſhould be offered thē, without any further intermedling wtout licence. 7. That prouinciall ſynodes ſhould be kept within the realme, at leaſt once a yéere. 8. That no B. ſhould prefer himſelfe before an other, but obſerue ye time & order of his conſecration. 9. That the number of biſhops ſhould be augmented as the people increaſed. 10. That no marriage ſhould be admitted but ſuch as was lawfull, and no man put away his wife,The ſixt generall councell at Conſtance. Marriage forbidden. The firſt Latin maſſe at Conſtantinople. but for fornication.
The next yéere following was the ſixt generall councell kept at Conſtance, where Theodore was alſo preſent vnderunder Pope Agathe: where marriage was permitted to the Gréeke Prieſtes, and forbidden to the Latine. In this councell the Latine maſſe was firſt openly ſaid by Iohn Portēſis the Popes Legate, before the patriarch, and princes of Conſtantinople, in the temple of S. Sopry,
After the deceaſe of Alfride, king of Northumberland, ſuccéeded his ſonne Oſcadus, & raigned 11. yéers, after whō raigned Kenredus, 2. yéeres, and next after him, Oſricus, 11. yéeres. In the time and raigne of theſe 4. king of Northumberland, king Iua raigned in Weſt ſaxe, who ſuccéeding Cadwallader, the laſt king of the Britains, begā his raign ann. 689. and raigned with great valiantnes ouer the Weſt Saxons, the terme of 37. yéeres. About ye 16. yere of the raign of this Iua, or Iue, Etheldred king of Mercia, after he had raigned there 30. yéeres, was made a monke, & after an abbot of Bardney. About the 18. yéere of the raigne of Iua, King Iua made a monke, and after an abbot.died the learned & worthy biſh. Aldelmus, Aldelmus.firſt abbot of Malmeſburie, afterward B of Schirburne. He was next vntounto Bede, in learning and vertue: he wrote diuers Epiſtles, and Poems. The ſea of Schirburn was afterward vnited to the ſea of Winton.
Moreouer, about the 25. yéere of Iua, died S. Iohn of Beuerley, then Biſhop of Yorke,Iohn of Beuerley. and was buried at the porche of the minſter of Beuerley,
In the time of this foreſaide Iua, The right obſeruing of Eaſter, now firſt receiued of Picts and Brittaines.beganne the right obſeruing of Eaſter day, to be kept of the Picts and Brittains: in the obſeruing of which day, thrée things are chiefly neceſſarie. 1. The full moone of the monethmonth of March. 2. The Dominicall letter. 3. The equinoctial daies. It tooke place, through ye buſie trauel of Theodorus, Cuthlacus, but namely of Egbert, whom they termed the holie monke, and of Colefride abbot of Serwin in Northumberland, who wrote to Narranus, or Naivnus, the king of the Pictes, about the ſame: who alſo wrote amōg other things, of ye ſhauē crownsShauen crownes. of prieſts, ſaying, it was as neceſſarie for their vowe, for reſtraint of their luſtes, as it is for anye Chriſtian man to bleſſe him againſt ſpirites, when they come vppon him. The letter is very ridiculous, notwithſtanding being read before king Naiton, he roſe from among his noble men, and gaue thanks to God for the aduiſe of ſhauing, knéeling on the ground,The K. thanketh God for the prieſts ſhauen crownes. and cauſed it to bee obſerued among his people, defacing the errors that had bin vſed the ſpace of 404. yéeres.
Now when king Iua had ruled the Weſt Saxōs 37. yéers, he was perſwaded by Ethelburga his wife, to go to Rome, & there to be made a mōk. Which hauing lōg time before perſuaded, & not preuailing, ſhe cauſed ye faire palace of the king, where they had bin the day before,The deuiſe of Ethelburga the Queene. to be filled full of dung, & hogges, & vile beaſts to be laid in the chiefe chambers, & in their own chamber, a ſow to be laid with her yong pigges, and bringing the king thither againe, within a while, therevpon declared vntounto him the vanity of this life, and perſwaded him to be a monke. Wherevpon, ſhortly after, he reſigned his kingdome to Ethelardus his nephewe, and in great deuotion went to Rome, after he had raigned ſeuen & thirty yeres: after whoſe departing, Ethelburga his wife went vntounto Barking,The Q becommeth an Abbeſſe. ſeuen miles from London, where, in the Nunry of Barking, before founded of Erkenwald, ſhe continued, & ended the reſt of her life, when ſhee had continued Abbas of the place a certaine time.
This Iua, was the firſt king that graunted a penny for eueryevery fire houſe through his dominion, to be paid vntounto the Court of Rome, which after was called Rome ſcotte, or Peter pence, and long after was paid in manie places of England.
Peter-pence.Iua was the firſt of Saxon kings, that ſet foorth lawes to his countrie, to the number of 80. and odde.
Next vntounto Oſoricus king of Northumberland, followed Celulfus, Celulfus a learned king. Diuers learned men flouriſh. Bedaes Anglorum hiſtoria.whō he had adopted brother to Kenred. This Celulfus, as hée was learned, ſo in his time diuers learned men flouriſhed in England: among whom was Beda, who vntounto the ſame king Celulfus, offered his hiſtorie, intituled, Anglorum hiſtoria, not onelyonly to be ratified, but alſo to bee amended by his learning and knowledge.
Beda Beda.was an Engliſhman, a Prieſt, and of the Monaſterie of Peter and Paul, at Wire, and was borne in the ſame Territorie. About the xix. yere of his age he was made a Deacon, and the xxx. a Prieſt. From which time, til the age of lix. he occupied himſelfe in wryting Treatiſes, and interpreting of Scriptures, which roſe to the number of xxxvij. Volumes, which he digeſted into xxviij. Bookes.
This Beda, for the ſame of his learning, was ſent for by Pope Sergius, who wrote vntounto Chelfride, the Abbot of Wire, to ſend him vntounto him. He liued in trauel of ſtudie till the age of lxij. yeres. At length (drawing to his ende) being ſick vij. wéekes together, beſides other occupyinges of his minde, and ſtudies, which he did not intermitte,Beda tranſlated the goſpel of Iohn into Engliſh. he tranſlated the Goſpel of Saint Iohn into Engliſh. So he died, (pronouncing very many comfortable wordes to thoſe that ſtoode round about him,) vponupon Aſcenſion day, in the ſame yere that Nothelinus was reſtored to the Archbiſhoprick of Canterburie.
This Celulfus, king of Northumberlande, before mentioned, after he had reigned viij. yeres, was made a Monke in the Abbey of Farne, otherwiſe called Lincolne, or holy Iland. Where, by his meanes, licence was geuen vntounto the monks of that houſe only to drink wine or ale, which before,The K. made a Monke. by ye inſtitution of Aidanus, before mētioned, drank nothing but milke, and water. After whom ſucceeded Egbert his coſin, brother to Egbert, the ſame time Biſhop of York, which brought againe thether, the Pall, that his Predeceſſors had forgone, ſince the time of Paulinus, who left that Sea, and fled to Rocheſter.
The ſaid Egbert alſo erected a noble Librarie in Yorke: whoſe example I would other Biſhops now would follow,A noble Librarie in Yorke by a Biſhop.