The History of the Church of Great Britain, Century 11
CENT. XI.
IN the beginning of this Century certain Danes fled into a Church at Oxford; hoping the Sanctity thereof (according to the devout Principles of that Age) would ſecure them. But by command from King Ethelred, they were all burned in the place, whoſe blood remained not long unrevenged. The Daniſh fury fell fierceſt on the City of Canterbury with fire and ſword, deſtroying eight thouſand people therein. Swanus the Dane tithed the Monks of S. Auguſtine's Abbey, killing nine by cruel torment, and keeping the tenth alive for ſlaves. They ſlew there of Religious men, to the number of nine hundred. And when they had kept the Biſhop Elphege in ſtrait priſon the ſpace of eight months (becauſe he would not agree to give them three thouſand pounds) after many villanies done unto him, at Greenwich they ſtoned him to death. Next year a nameleſs Biſhop of London was ſlain by them; and a great part of the City of London was waſted with fire. The Danes burnt Cambridge to aſhes, and haraſſed the Country round about.
King Ethelred ſent his Wife Emma, with his two Sons, Alfred and Edward, to Richard Duke of Normandy, which was Brother to the ſaid Emma, with whom alſo he ſent the Biſhop of London, whither alſo himſelf went, after he had ſpent a great part of the Winter in the Iſle of Wight, whither he was chaſed of the Danes. Swanus hearing that Egelred was departed out of the Land, impoſed great Exactions upon the people; and among other he required a great ſum of money of S. Edmond's Lands, which the people there claiming to be free of all King's tribute, denied to pay. Hereupon Swanus entred the Territory of St. Edmond, and waſted the Countrey, threatening to ſpoil the place of his burial. The men of the Countrey fell to faſting and prayer, and ſoon after Swanus died ſuddenly, crying and yelling among his Knights. In fear whereof Canutus, his Son and Succeſſor, ditched the Land of St. Edmond with a deep Ditch, and granted to the Inhabitants thereof great Immunities, quitting them from all Tribute, and after builded a Church over the place of his Sepulture, ordained there an Houſe of Monks, and endowed them with rich poſſeſſions. After that time, the Kings of England when they were crowned, ſent their Crowns for an offering to St. Edmond's Shrine, and redeemed them afterward with a condign price.
After the death of Egelred, great contention was in England for the Crown: ſome were for Edmond Ironſide the Son of Egelred, and ſome for Canutus. After many bloody Fights, both parties agree to try the quarrel betwixt them two only: in ſight of both Armies they make the Eſſay with Swords and ſharp ſtrokes: in the end upon the motion of Canutus they agree, and kiſs one another, to the joy of both Armies, and they covenant for parting the Land during their lives, and they lived as Brethren. Within a few years a Son of Edrik Duke of Mercia killed Edmond traiterouſly, and brought his two Sons unto Canutus, who ſent them to his Brother Swanus, King of Denmark, willing him to diſpatch them. But he abhorring ſuch a fact, ſent them to Solomon King of Hungary, who married Edwyn to his Daughter, and ſoon after died. Edward married Agatha the Daughter of the Emperour Henry the Third.
Swanus King of Denmark died; and that Land fell to Canutus, who anon after ſailed thither, and took the poſſeſſion, and returned into England, and married Emma, late Wife of Egelred, and by her had a Son called Hardiknout. He aſſembled a Parliament at Oxford, wherein was agreed, that Engliſh men and Danes ſhould hold the Laws made by King Edgar, as moſt juſt and reaſonable: He eſtabliſhed Laws Eccleſiaſtical, as well as Civil. Canutus went on pilgrimage to Rome, and there founded an Hoſpital for Engliſh Pilgrims: He ſhrined the body of Bernius, and gave great Lands to the Cathedral Church of Wincheſter: He builded St. Bennet's in Norfolk, which was before an Hermitage. Alſo St. Edmond's-bury, which King Athelſtane ordained before for a Colledge of Prieſts, he turned to an Abbey of Monks of Saint Bennet's Order.
Two of his Sons ſucceeded him, firſt his baſe Son, called, from his ſwiftneſs, Harold, Harefoot, a man of a cowardly diſpoſition. He reigned but four years, and the Kingdom fell to Hardiknout King of Denmark, his Brother, who when he had reigned two years, being drunk at Lambeth, ſuddenly was ſtricken dumb, and fell down to the ground, and within eight dayes after died without iſſue of his Body. Thus ended the Daniſh Kings: which Danes had vexed and waſted the Land two hundred fifty five years.
When England was freed from the Danes, they ſent into Normandy, inviting over Edward the Confeſſor, and brother to King Edmond He was crowned Anno 1045. In his time was the Law made which concerned the King's Oath at Coronation. Mathew Paris deſcribes the Manners of the Countrey at his coming thus, The Nobles were given to gluttony and leachery: they went not to Church in the morning, but only had a Prieſt, which made haſte with the Maſs and Mattens in their chambers, and they heard a little with their ears. The Clergy were ſo ignorant, that if any knew the Grammar, he was admired by them: moſt men ſpent nights and dayes in carouſing. In his dayes England injoyed Halcion dayes, free from Daniſh invaſions.
The Eccleſiaſtical Laws, made by this King in his reign, were.
I. That every Clerk and Scholar ſhould quietly enjoy their goods and poſſeſſions.
II. What ſolemn Festivals people may come and go of, without any Lawſuits to disturb them.
III. That in all Courts where the Biſhop's Proctor doth appear, his caſe is firſt to be heard and determined.
IV. That guilty folk flying to the Church ſhould there have protection, not to be reproved by any, but the Biſhop and his Miniſters.
V. That Tithes be paid to the Church of Sheep, Pigs, Bees, and the like.
VI. How the Ordal was to be ordered for the trial of guilty perſons by fire and water.
VII. That Peter-pence, or Rome-ſcot, be faithfully paid to the Pope.
This King is reported to have entailed (by Heaven's Conſort) an hereditary vertue on his Succeſſors the Kings of England (only with this condition, that they continue conſtant in Chriſtianity) to cure the King's Evil.
In this King's reign lived Marianus Scotus, that wrote much of the deeds of the Kings of England.
King Edward died childleſs. Harold the Son of Earl Godwin ſucceeded him. Indeed the undoubted right lay in Edgar Atheling, Son to Edward the Outlaw, Grandchild to Edmond Iron-ſide King of England. But he being young and tender, and of a ſoft temper, and Harold being rich and ſtrong in Knights, the Nobles choſe Harold to be their King. As ſoon as he was crowned, he eſtabliſhed many good Laws, eſpecially ſuch as were for the good of the Church, and for the puniſhment of evil-doers.
Harold was ſlain in a battel near Hastings in Suſſex, and William Duke of Normandy obtained the Crown of England by conqueſt: within a few years he made a great alteration in England: the moſt part of his Knights and Biſhops were Normans; and many Engliſh with Edgar fled into Scotland, where King Malcolm had married Edgar's Siſter Margaret. They incited Malcolm to invade England, and he entred into the North part. At laſt a peace was concluded, and a Mark-ſtone was ſet up in Stanmoor, as the mark of both Kingdoms, with the Pourtraict of both Kings on the ſides of the Stone.
Although then corruptions crept into the Church by degrees, and divine worſhip began then to be clogged with ſuperſtitious Ceremonies, yet that the Doctrine remained ſtill entire in moſt material points, will appear by an Induction of the dominative Controverſies, wherein we differ from the Church of Rome, as Fuller in his Church-Hiſtory of Britain hath obſerved.
I. Scripture generally read.
Bed. Eccl. hiſt, lib. 3. ca. 5.For ſuch as were with the holy Biſhop Aidan, either Clergy, or Laity, were tyed to exerciſe themſelves in reading the holy Word, and in ſinging of Pſalms.
II. The Original preferred.
Caradoc. in Chron. of Cambridge.For Ricemath a Britain, a right learned and godly Clerk, Son to Sulgen, Biſhop of St. David's, flouriſhing in this Age, made this Epigram on thoſe who tranſlated the Pſalter out of the Greek, ſo taking it at the ſecond hand, and not drawing it immediately from the firſt veſſel.
Ebreis nablam custodit litera ſignis,
Pro captu quam quiſque ſuo ſermone latino
Edidit, innumeros lingua variante libellos
Ebreumque jubar ſuffuſcat nube latina, &c.
This Harp the holy Hebrew Text doth tender,
Which, to their power, whil'ſt every one doth render
In Latine tongue with many variations,
He clouds the Hebrew rays with his tranſlation.
Thus liquors when twice ſhifted out, and pour'd
In a third veſſel, are both cool'd and ſowr'd.
But holy Jerome Truth to light doth bring,
Briefer and fuller fetcht from the Hebrew Spring.
III. No Prayers for the dead in the modern notion of Papiſts.
For though we find prayers for the dead, yet they were not in the nature of propitiation for their ſins, or to procure relaxation from their torments: but were only an honourable commemoration of their memories, and a Sacrifice of thankſgiving for their ſalvation.
IV. Purgatory then not perfected, though newly invented.
For although there are frequent Viſions and Revelations in this Age pretended, thereon to build Purgatory (which had no ground in Scripture) yet it ſtood not then as now it ſtands in the Romiſh belief.
V. Communion under both kinds.
For Bede relateth, that one Hildmer, an Officer of Egfride King of Northumberland, entreated our Cuthbert to ſend a Prieſt that might miniſter the Sacrament of the Lord's Body and Blood unto his Wife, that then lay a dying. And Cuthbert himſelf immediately before his own departure out of this life, received the communion of the Lord's Body and Blood. So that the Euchariſt was then adminiſtred entire, and not maimed as it is by the Papiſts at this day. And though the word Maſs was frequent in that Age, yet was it not known to be offered as a propitiatory Sacrifice for the quick and dead.
King William to teſtifie his thankfulneſs to God for his Victory, founded in that place Battel-Abbey, endowing it with Revenues, and large immunities: The Abbot whereof (being a Baron of Parliament) carried a pardon in his preſence, who caſually coming to the place of execution, had power to ſave any Malefactor. The Abby-Church was a place of ſafety for any Fellon or Murtherer. Here the Monks flouriſhed in all abundance till the dayes of Henry the Eighth.
Then Dooms-day Book was made, containing an exact ſurvay of the Houſes and Lands in the Kingdom, which took up ſome years before it was compleated.
King William called a Council of his Biſhops at Wincheſter, wherein he was perſonally preſent, with two Cardinals ſent from Rome. Here Stigand Archbiſhop of Canterbury was depoſed, and Lanfrank a Lombard ſubſtituted in his room.
Sir John Davys in his Iriſh report.A learned Lawyer hath obſerved, that the firſt encroachment of the Pope upon the Liberties of the Crown of England, was made in the time of King William the Conqueror. For the Conqueror came in with the Pope's Banner, and under it won the battel, which got him the Garland, and therefore the Pope preſumed he might boldly pluck ſome flowers from it, being partly gained by his countenance and bleſſing.
Although this politick Prince was complementally courteous to the See of Rome; yet 1. He retained the ancient cuſtom of the Saxon Kings, inveſting Biſhops and Abbots by delivering them a Ring and a Staff, whereby without more ado they were put into plenary poſſeſſion of the power and profit of their place. He ſaid, He would keep all Paſtoral Staves in his own hand.
2. Being demanded to do Fealty for his Crown of England unto Pope Gregory the Seventh, he wrote thus unto him, That he would not do Fealty unto the Pope, becauſe neither had he promiſed it, nor did he find his Predeceſſors had performed it.
3. This King would in no wiſe ſuffer any one in his Dominion to acknowledge the Biſhop of Rome for Apoſtolical without his command; or to receive the Pope's Letters, except firſt they had been ſhewed unto him. And although the Archbiſhop of Canterbury by his own Authority might congregate Councils, and ſit as Preſident therein: yet the King permitted him to appoint or prohibit nothing, but what was according to his own will, and what the King had ordained before.
4. The King ſuffered no Biſhop to excommunicate any of his Barons, or Officers, for Adultery, Inceſt, or any ſuch hainous crime, except by the King's command, firſt made acquainted with the ſame.
This King gave unto the Biſhops an entire Juriſdiction by themſelves to judge all cauſes relating to Religion, for before that time the Sheriff and Biſhop kept their Court together. He granted the Clergy throughout England Tithes of Calves, Colts, Lambs, Milk, Butter, Cheeſe, Woods, Meadows, Mills, &c.
Then Thomas a Norman was preferred to the Archbiſhoprick of York. Betwixt Lanfrank Archbiſhop of Canterbury, and this Thomas, there grew great contention for the Oath of Obedience, but in the end, Thomas ſubſcribed obedience to the other. Then it was decreed, that York for that time ſhould be ſubject to Canterbury in matters appertaining to the Church: ſo that whereſoever within England the Archbiſhop of Canterbury would hold his Council, the Biſhops of York ſhould reſort thither with their Biſhops, and be obedient to his Decrees Canonical.
Then were divers Biſhops Seats altered from Villages to great Cities; as of Sealſey to Chicheſter: out of Cornwall to Exeter: from Wells to Bath; from Shirburn to Salisbury; from Dorcheſter in Oxford-ſhire to Lincoln; from Lichfield to Cheſter; which Biſhoprick of Cheſter, Robert, then Biſhop, reduced from Cheſter to Coventry.
At this time ſeveral Liturgies were uſed in England, which cauſed confuſion, and much diſturbed mens devotions. A brawl happened betwixt the Engliſh Monks of Glaſtonbury, and Thurſtan their Norman Abbot, in their very Church, obtruding a Service upon them which they diſliked: eight Monks were wounded, and two ſlain near the ſteps of the high Altar. This ill accident occaſioned a ſettlement, and uniformity of Liturgy all over England: An uniformity of Liturgy all over England.for hereupon Oſmund Biſhop of Salisbury, deviſed that form of Service, which hereafter was obſerved in the whole Realm. Henceforward the moſt ignorant Pariſh-Prieſt in England underſtood the meaning of, Secundum uſum Sarum; that all Service muſt be ordered; According to the courſe and cuſtom of Salisbury Church.
King William brought many Jews into England (for before his reign I find none in this Land) from Roan in Normandy; and ſetled them in London, Norwich, Cambridge, Northampton.
In the dayes of Lanfrank, Waltelm Biſhop of Wincheſter, had placed about forty Canons inſtead of Monks; but it held not, for Lanfrank caſt out ſecular Prieſts, and ſubſtituted Monks in their rooms. He alſo conteſted with Odo Biſhop of Bayeux (though half-Brother to King William, and Earl of Kent) and in a legal Trial regained many Lordſhips, which Odo had unjuſtly invaded.
Although in this King's time there was almoſt no Engliſh-man that bare Office of honour or rule, yet he favoured the City of London, and granted them the firſt Charter that ever they had, written in the Saxon tongue, and ſealed with green Wax, expreſſed in eight or nine lines.
King William died in Normandy, and William Rufus, his ſecond Son,Anno 1088. was crowned King of England. He began very bountifully; to ſome Churches he gave ten Marks, to others ſix, to every Countrey-Village five ſhillings, beſides an hundred pounds to every County to be diſtributed among the poor. But afterward he proved very parcimonious, though no man more prodigal of never performed Promiſes.
This year died Lanfrank Archbiſhop of Canterbury, after whoſe death the King ſeized the profits of that See into his own hand, and kept the Church vacant for ſome years. He kept at the ſame time the Archbiſhoprick of Canterbury, the Biſhopricks of Wincheſter and Durham, and thirteen Abbies in his hand, and brought a maſs of Money into his Exchequer. All places which he parted with, was upon preſent payment. He quarrelled with Remigius Biſhop of Lincoln, about the founding of his Cathedral, and forced him to buy his peace. And without a ſum of Money paid to the King, John Biſhop of Wells could not remove his Seat to Bath.
King Rufus coming to Gloceſter, fell very ſick: hereupon he made Anſelm (the Abbot of Beck in Normandy) one of eminent learning, and ſtrictneſs of life, Archbiſhop of Canterbury. The King ſoon after ſent to him for a thouſand pounds, which Anſelm refuſed to pay.
Then Herbert, Biſhop of Thetford, removed his Epiſcopal Seat from Thetford to Norwich, where he firſt founded the Cathedral.Herbert Biſhop of Thetford founded the Cathedral at Norwich. Then died Wolſtan Biſhop of Worceſter, an Engliſh-man born, a mortified man.
Near this time began the holy War. Robert Duke of Normandy, to fit himſelf for that Voyage, ſold his Dukedome to King William Rufus for ten thouſand Marks. To pay this money King Rufus laid a grievous Tax over all the Realm, extorting it with ſuch ſeverity, that the Monks were fain to ſell the Church-plate, and very Chalices, for diſcharging thereof. And when the Clergy deſired to be eaſed of their burdens; I beſeech you (ſaid he) have ye not Coffins of gold and Silver for dead mens bones? intimating, that the ſame Treaſure might otherwiſe be better employed.
At this time there was contention at Rome between two Popes, Ʋrban and Clement the Third. Rufus took part with Clement; but Anſelm ſtuck to Ʋrban, and required of the King leave to fetch his Pall of Ʋrban. All the reſt of the Biſhops were againſt him. Mean-while the King had ſent two Meſſengers to the Pope for the Pall, who returned, and brought with them Gualter Biſhop of Alban, the Pope's Legate, with the Pall to be given to Anſelm. Which Legate ſo perſwaded the King, that Ʋrban was received Pope through the whole Land. But afterwards grew great diſpleaſure betwixt them, ſo that Anſelm went to appear to Rome, where he remained in exile; and the King ſeized all his Goods and Lands into his own Coffers. Ʋrban gave unto Anſelm the Archbiſhops Pall, thereby voiding the Inveſtiture which he received from King William, and obliging him there-after to depend on him: as alſo he did, whereat the King incenſed, interdicted to Anſelm his entry into England, confiſcated the Lands of the Archbiſhoprick, and declared, that his Biſhops held their Places and Eſtates merely from him, and were not ſubject unto the Pope for the ſame. To which all the Biſhops of England ſubſcribed: neither did any of them contradict it, but the onelyonly Biſhop of Rocheſter, as a Suffragan to the Archbiſhop of Canterbury.
By the intervention of Friends Anſelm made his peace: But being returned into England, he ſoon after began to diſſwade the Clergy from receiving Inveſtitures from the King; wherefore he was forced again to fly out of the Kingdom, and his eſtate was again ſeized upon and confiſcated, of which he had obteined reſtitution at his return.
King William the Conqueror had made the new-forreſt in Hant-ſhire, with a great devaſtation of Towns and Churches, the place (as Fuller ſaith) being turned into a Wilderneſs for Men, and a Paradiſe for Deer. King Ruffus hunting in this Forreſt, was here ſlain by the glancing of an arrow, ſhot by Sir Walter Tirrell, and was buried at Wincheſter. He gave to the Monks, called De Charitate, the great new Church of S. Saviours in Bermondſey, with the Manor thereof, as alſo of Charleton in Kent.
Henry Beaucleark his Brother, ſucceeded him in the throne, being one of the profoundeſt Scholars, and moſt politick Princes in his generation. To ingratiate himſelf to the Engliſh, he inſtantly and actually repealed the cruel Norman Lawes, the good and gentle Laws of King Edward the Confeſſor he reduced, with correction of them: Anſelm from exile was ſpeedily recalled, and to his Church, Lands, and Goods, was fully reſtored. The late King's extorting Publicanes (whereof Ranulph Flambard, Biſhop of Durham, the principal) were impriſoned, the Court-corruption reformed; Adultery (then grown common) ſeverely puniſhed.