The History of the Church of Great Britain, Century 10
CENT. X.
AT this time there was no Biſhop in all the Weſt parts of England: Pope Formoſus, being offended hereat, interdicted, King, and Kingdom. But Pleigmund Archbiſhop of Canterbury poſted to Rome, informing the Pope, that Edward (called the Elder, the Son of King Alfred) had, in a late ſummoned Synod, founded ſome new, and ſupplied all old vacant Biſhoprickes; and carying with him honorifica munera, the Pope turned his curſe into a bleſſing, and ratified their election.
The names of the ſeven Biſhops which Pleigmund conſecrated in one day, were, Fridſtan Biſhop of Wincheſter, Werſtan of Shireburn, Kenulph of Dorcheſter, Beornege of Selſey, Athelme of Wells, Eadulfe of Crediton in Devon, and Athelſtan in Cornwall of St. Petrocks: Theſe three laſt Weſtern Biſhops were in this Council newly erected.
A Synod was called at Intingford, where Edward the elder, and Guthurn King of the Danes, in that part of England, which formerly belonged to the Eaſt Angles, onelyonly confirmed the ſame Eccleſiaſtical conſtitutions which King Alured had made before.
King Edward remembring the Pious example of his Father Alfred in founding of Oxford, began to repair and reſtore the Univerſity of Cambridge; Joh. Roſſius in lib. de Regib.for the Danes, who kept the Kingdom of the Eaſt Angles for their home, had baniſhed all Learning from that place.
This King Edward the elder, expelled the Danes out of Eſſex, Mercia, and Northumberland. At that time the authority of inveſting Biſhops, and other Eccleſiaſtical Benefices, as alſo of preſcribing Lawes unto Church-men, as well as unto the Laity, was in the power of the King, not of the Pope: but the Pope would be medling in ſuch matters by way of Confirmation.
Athelſtan, his Son, ſucceeded King Edward, being much devoted to St. John of Beverley, on whoſe Church he beſtowed large priviledges. Many Councils were kept in this King's Reign at Exceſter, Feverſham, Thunderfield, and London: But one held at Greatlea is of greateſt account for the Lawes therein enacted; eſpecially that concerning the payment of Tithes, which is thus Written; I Athelſtan King, Spelman. in Concil. p. 405.by advice of Viſelm my Archbiſhop, and of other Biſhops, command all the Prelates of my Kingdom, in the name of our Lord, and of all the Saints, that firſt of all they, out of my own things, pay the Tithes unto God, as well of the living Beaſts, as of the Corn of the ground; and the Biſhops to do the like in their property, and the Presbyters. This I will, that Biſhops, and other Head-men declare the ſame unto ſuch as be under their ſubjection, &c. He ordained, that in every Burrough all meaſures and weights ſhould be confirmed by the Biſhop's advice and teſtimony. About that time Hoel King of Wales, made a Law, That no Church-man ſhould be a Judge in Civil affairs.
Now St. Dunſtan appeareth in Court, born at Glaſtonbury, of Noble Parentage, yea Kinſman remote to Athelſtane himſelf: His eminencies were Painting and Graving; an excellent Muſician, and an admirable worker in Braſs and Iron. After a while he is accuſed for a Magician, and baniſhed the Court. But after the Death of King Athelſtane, he was re-called to Court in the Reign of King Edmond, Athelſtan's brother, and flouriſhed for a time in great favour; but his old crime of being a Magician, and a wanton with Women, being laid to his charge, he is re-baniſhed the Court.
But King Edmond being ſlain by one Leoff a Thief, Edred his Brother ſucceeding to the Crown, Dunſtan is made the King's Treaſurer, Chancellor, Councellor, Confeſſor: Secular Prieſts were thruſt out of their Convents, and Monks ſubſtituted in their rooms.
But after Edred's death Dunſtan falls into diſgrace with King Edwin, his Succeſſor, and being expelled the Kingdom, flieth into Flanders. Mean-time all the Monks in England of Dunſtan's plantation, are rooted up, and Secular Prieſts ſet in their places.
Soon after many commotions happened in England, eſpecially in Mercia and Northumberland. King Edwin died in the flower of his age.
Edgar ſucceedeth him, and recalls Dunstan home,Fuller Church Hiſtory. who hath two Biſhopricks given him, Worceſter and London. King Edgar gave over his Soul, Body, and Eſtate, to be ordered by Dunſtan, and two more (then the Triumvirate who ruled England) viz. Ethelwald Biſhop of Wincheſter, and Oſwald afterward Biſhop of Worceſter. This Oſwald was the man, who procured, by the Kings Authority, the ejection of all ſecular Prieſts out of Worceſter: which Act was called Oſwald's Law. In that Age Dunſtan being made Archbiſhop of Canterbury, Antonin. hiſt. lit. 19. part. 3. ca. 3.Secular Prieſts were thrown out, and Monks every where fixed in their rooms. Many did diſpute, and preach againſt Dunſtan. And Alfred Prince of Mercia took part with the Prieſts.
Fuller makes mention of a fair and authentick guilded Manuſcript, wherein he ſtileth himſelf God's Vicar in England, for the ordering Eccleſiaſtical matters, a Title which at this day the Pope will hardly vouchſafe to any Chriſtian Princes.
Hoel-Dha then held a National Council, for all Wales, at Ty-quin, or the White Houſe. The Canons therein were wholly in favour of the Clergy; enacting this amongſt the reſt, That the preſence of a Prieſt and a Judge conſtitute a legal Court, as the two perſons only in the Quorum thereof. There were then ſeven Epiſcopal Seats in Wales. 1. S. Davids. 2. Iſmael. 3. Degenian. 4. Ʋſyl. 5. Teylaw. 6. Teuledauc. 7. Kenew.
King Edgar died peaceably, leaving his Crown to Edward his Son, whom (being under Age) he committed to the tuition of Dunſtan. In this King's reign three Councils were ſucceſſively called, to determine the difference between Monks and Secular Prieſts. The firſt was at Wincheſter, where the Prieſts being outed of their Convents, earneſtly preſſed for reſtitution. Polydor Virgil writes, that in the Synod it was concluded, that the Prieſts ſhould be reſtored. But a voice was immediately heard from the wall (as coming from a Crucifix behind Dunſtan) ſaying, They think amiſs that favour the Priests. That was received as a Divine Oracle, and the Prieſts were ſecluded from their Benefices and Monaſteries.
A ſecond Council was called at Kirtlington (now Catlage in Cambridge-ſhire) but to little effect. The ſame year a third Council was called at Caln in Wilt-ſhire, hither came Prieſts and Monks in great numbers. Beornelm, a Scottiſh Biſhop, defended the cauſe of the Prieſts with Scripture and Reaſon. But on a ſudden Dunſtan by his Art cauſed the Beams or Joiſts of the Room where they were aſſembled to break and fall:Catal. teſt. verit. many were wounded; moſt of the Secular Prieſts were ſlain, and buried under the ruines thereof: only Dunſtan was ſafe with his Chair that was fixed on a Pillar. So the controverſie was ended with deviliſh cruelty. It appears not what proviſion was made for theſe Prieſts when ejected.
King Edward went to Corff-Caſtle, where at that time his Mother-in-Law with her Son Egelred lay; and by her contrivance he was barbarouſly murthered as he was drinking on Horſe-back, and was buried at Wareham: and Ethelred, Edward's half-brother, ſucceeded him in the Throne.
Dunſtan died, and was buried on the South-ſide of the high Altar in the Church of Canterbury. After his death, the Monks were caſt out of the Convent of Canterbury, by reaſon of their miſdemeanours.
Siricius, the next Archbiſhop of Canterbury, endeavoured the re-expulſion of the Prieſts, which by Elfrick his Succeſſor was effected. By him a Sermon was appointed to be read publickly on Eaſter-day before the Communion. The ſame Author hath two other Treatiſes; one directed to Wolfsin Biſhop of Shirburn, and another to Wulfstan Biſhop of York, about the Sacrament.
Soon after, the Danes by a firm Ejection outed the Monks, before they were well warm in their Neſts: Their fury fell more on Convents than Caſtles. England for theſe laſt ſixty years had been freed from their cruelty, which now returned more dreadful than ever before. Theſe Danes were alſo advantaged by the unactiveneſs of King Ethelred, who with ten thouſand pounds purchaſed a preſent Peace with the Danes. The multitude of Monaſteries invited the Invaſion, and facilitated the Conqueſt of the Danes over England.
Holy Iſland was forſaken by the fearful Monks, affrighted with the approach of the Danes: and Alhunus, the Biſhop thereof, removed his Cathedral and Convent to Durham, an Inland place of more ſafety. The Danes having received and ſpent their Money, invaded England afreſh, according to all Wiſe mens expectation.