Historical Vindication Part 3, Treatise · Chapter 3 (1 of 5)

Historical Vindication Part 3 · Treatise · Chapter 3 (1 of 5)

p. 1Chapter 3. Section 4.

Comprehending a brief Collection of all the moſt obſervable Parliamentary Councils, Synods, Conventions, Publique Conteſts, Debates, Wars, Hiſtorical Proceedings, Paſſages, Records, relating to the fundamental Liberties, Franchiſes, Rights, Cuſtoms, and Government of the People under our Engliſh Saxon Kings, from the year of our Lord 600, till the death of King Edmund Ironſide, and reign of Cnute the Daniſh King, Anno Dom. 1017. with ſome brief Obſervations on and from the ſame.

IN the former Section I have preſented you with a general brief Account of our firſt Engliſh Saxon Chriſtian Kings limited Power and Prerogative, being obliged to govern their Engliſh-Saxon Subjects, not arbitrarily, but juſtly, according to their known Laws, and totally diſabled, to alter, repeal any old, or enact any new Laws; to impoſe any publique Taxes, Tallages, Imposts, Cuſtoms whatſoever, on their people, upon any real or pretended p. 2neceſſity; to make any War, Peace; or to alienate the Lands or ancient Revenues of their Crowns, to any pious, publique or private uſes whatſoever, without the common conſent of their Nobles and Wiſemen in general Parliamentary Councils; together with a Summary of the Laws of Ethelbert, the firſt Chriſtian Saxon King, wholly pretermitting the Names, Acts, Kingdoms, of our firſt Pagan Saxon Uſurpers, rather than lawfull Kings: who, though many and great in their generations, were very ſpeedily brought to nothing their **See Mat. Weſtminſt. An. 586, &c. Malmesbury, de Geſt. Regum Anglorum. l. 1. Hen. Huntindon Hiſt. lib. 2. Ethelwerdi Hiſt. lib. 1. 2. Fox Acts and Monum. Vol. 1. p. 148. Speeds Hiſt. of Great Britain, p. 209, &c.Kingdoms begun, erected by blood, conqueſt, and meer power of the Sword, ſtanding not long unſhaken by civil wars among themſelves, each King envying his equals greatneſs, and ſeeking to inlarge his own Dominions upon the next. In which Combuſtions few or none of them came to the Grave in due time, but were either ſlain in war, or treacherouſly murdered in Peace, or expelled their Realms by, or forced to reſign their Crowns to others, after all their former proſperous ſucceſſes and reigns wholly ſpent in Wars, Troubles, Seditions, Rebellions, Rapines, affording nothing worthy memory for their peoples good, the Kingdoms ſettlement, or imitation of Poſterity. Whence Henry Huntindon in the cloſe of the 2 Book of his Hiſtories, p. 320, hath this Obſervation concerning them, very ſeaſonable for our preſent times; Vide igitur Lector, & perpende, quanta Nomina quam cito ad nihilum devenerint; Attende quaeſo & ſtude, cum nihil hic duret, ut adquiras tibi regnum, & ſubſtantiamillam, quae non deficiet, Nomen illud & honorem qui non pertranſibit, monimentum illud & claritatem quae nullis ſaeculis veteraſcet. Hoc praemeditare, ſummae prudentiae eſt, acquirere ſummae caliditatis, adipiſci ſummae faelicitatis.

I ſhall now in this Section proceed in my intended Chonological Method, to their next ſucceeding Chriſtian Saxon Kings reigns in England, till the reign of King Cnute the Dane, Anno Domini, 1017.

p. 3It is recorded of Aethelbert aaCh…onic. Wil. Thorne: col. 1760, 1761 1762, 2123. Spelman Concil. p. 118. to 129. Chronicon Johan. Bromton, col. 733.the firſt Chriſtian An. Dom. 605Saxon King of Kent, that keeping the Feaſt of our Saviours Nativity at Canterbury, with his Queen, Eadbald his Son, Arch-Biſhop Auguſtine, and the Nobles of the Land; he there held a Parliamantary Council with them, on the 5. of January, in the year of our Lord 605. Which Thomas Sprot thus expreſſeth (in the Language of his age rather than of that) Convocato ibidem communi Concilio tam Cleri quam Populi, dic quinto Januarii, he did then and there, Propoſition 5. 6, 10.Omnium & ſingulorum approbatione, & conſenſu, as he relates; or cum conſenſu Venerabilis Archie …iſcopi Auguſtini Ac Principum meorum, & cum Aedbaldi filii mei, aliorumque Nobilium optimatum meorum Conſilio, as his Charters recite, give, grant and confirm to the Church of St. Peter and Paul in Canterbury for ever, ſundry Lands, pretious Utenſils, Privileges and Immunities by his Charters, made and ratified in this Council. In which (it is moſt probable) he likewiſe made thoſe Judicial Decrees and Laws, with the advice of his Wiſe men, for the benefit of his people in his own Country Saxon Language, Which our venerable bbEccleſiaſt. Hiſt. lib. 2. c. 5.Beda, ccDe Geſtis Reg. Angl. l. 1. c. 1.William of Malmesbury, ddHiſt. l. 3. p. 226.Huntindon, eeChron. col. 738.Bromton, and ffMr. Seldens Titles of Honour, part. 2. c. 5. p. 602.others mention only in the general, and Biſhop ggSpelman. Concil. p. 127.Enulph hath regiſtred to poſterity in his famous manuſcript, intituled Textus Roffenſis, of which I have given you ſome account before. Section 3. p. 50, 51, 52. on which you may reflect.

In the year of Chriſt 627 hhBeda Eccleſ. Hiſt. Gentis Anglorum l. 2. c. 12, 13, 14. See Mat. Weſtm. An. 626, 627. Malmesb. de geſt. reg. l. 1. c. 3. Hen. Huntindon, hiſt. l. 3. p. 327, 328. Chron. Johannis Bromton, col. 781, 782. Simeon Dunelmenſis Epiſt. de Archiepiſcopis Eborum, p. 77. Radulphus de Diceto, Abbreviationes Chron. col. 438. Gervaſius Acta Pontificum Cantuar. col. 1634. Godwin in the life of Paulinus, Polychronicon, Fahian, Grafton, Holinſhed, Speed, Fox in the life of Edwin. Seldens Titles of Honour, part. 2. c. 5. Sect. 6. p. 632.Paulinus perſwading Edwin King of Northumberland to become a Chriſtian, p. 4to avod eternal torments, and to be made a partaker of the Kongdom of Heaven; The King anſwered, That he was both willing, and ought to receive the faith which he taught, but he ought firſt to confer with his Friends, Princes, and Counſellors concerning it, that ſo, if they concurred in judgement with him, they might all be baptized together. Aſſembling therefore his Wiſemen, and adviſing with them, he demanded ſeverally of them all, What that Doctrine, which they never heard of till then, and that new worſhip of God which was preached by Paulinus, ſeemed to them? To whom Coyfi the chief of the Prieſts preſently anſwered: Do thou conſider, O King, what that Propoſition 5, 6.Religion is which is now preached to us; I profeſs unto thee, that which I have moſt certainly learned, that the Religion we have hitherto imbraced, hath no virtue at all in it; whereupon it remains, that if thoſe new things which are now preached unto us, ſhall appear to thee upon examination, to be better and ſtronger than our Religion, let us haſten to embrace them without any delay. To whoſe wiſe perſwaſions and words, Another of the Kings Nobles giving his Aſſent, ſpake ſomething concerning the brevity and incertainty of this life, and of their ignorance and incertainty of that life which is to come, concluding, That if this new Doctrine brought any thing to them more certain, than that they formerly imbraced, it ought to be deſervedly followed: The reſt of the Elders and Kings Counſellors proſecuting the like things, by Divine admoni…ion, Coyfi added; that he deſired to hear Paulinus preaching concerning God, more diligently than before; which when he had done, by the Kings command; he cryed out (having heard his preaching) I heretofore underſtood, that what we worſhipped was nothing, becauſe by how much the more diligently I ſought the truth in that worſhip, the leſs I found it. But now I openly profeſſe, that in this preaching, the truth ſhines forth, which is able to give unto us the gifts of eternal life, ſalvation, and happineſs; Whereupon, O King, I adviſe thee, that the Temples, p. 5and Altars we have conſecrated without any fruit or benefit, we ſhould now preſently execrate and burn. Upon this, without more debate, the King openly gave his aſſent to the preaching of Paulinus, & renouncing Idolatry, confeſſed that he did imbrace the faith of Christ. And when the King demanded of Coyfi his Prieſt, who ought firſt to prophane and deſtroy the Altars & Temples of the Idols, with the rails & and bounds wherewith they were incloſed? He anſwered, I, who have worſhipped them through fooliſhneſs. And preſently renouncing his Superſtition, he demanded Arms and an Horſe of the King, (**Fox Acts and Mon. Vol. 1. p. 156. which by their old Law Prieſts might no… uſe:) which being granted him, he mounted the Horſe, with a Sword and Lance in his Hand, and riding to the Idols thus armed (the people deeming him to be mad) prophaned the Temple, and commanded his Companions to deſtroy and burn it, with the Idols, and all the Hedges about it, which they did. Whereupon the King, with his Nobles, and very many of the people, embraced the Chriſtian Religion, and were baptized by Paulinus, in the Church of St. Peter at York; (which the King there ſpeedily commanded to be built of Wood, and afterwards enlarged) ordaining Paulinus Biſhop of that place, who converted, baptized him and his people; as Beda and others more largely record the Hiſtory. From which memorable preſident we may obſerve theſe particulars.

1. That the King himſelf could not then alter the eſtabliſhed Laws or received Religion of this Realm, though falfe; nor introduce new Laws, or ſet up the true Religion, without the concurrent Aſſent of his Nobles and Wiſemen in a general Parliamentary Council

2. That the Princes, Chief Prieſts, Nobles, an… Aeldermen of the Realm, were the Parliament Members in that Age.

3. That every one of them in theſe Councils had freedom of Vote and Debate; and gave their voices ſeverally, for the bringing in of Chriſtianity, and deſtruction of Idolatry.

p. 6iiDe Geſtis Regum Anglor. l. 3. c. 2. p. 18. See Fox Acts and Mon. vol. 1. p. 157.William of Malmesbury gives this Character of this Kings Government, after he became a Chriſtian, and of the viciſſitude of humane affairs, worthy our preſent obſervation, he being ſuddenly ſlain in battle, together with his Son, after all his former conqueſts and felicity.

Nullus tunc Praedo Publicus, nullus latro domeſticus, inſidiator conjugalis pudoris procul; Expilator alienae Haereditatis exul: Magnum id in ejus laudibus, Propoſition 4.& noſtra aetate ſplendidum. Itaque Imperii ſui, ad eos limites incrementa perducta ſunt, ut Juſtitia & Pax libentèr in mutuos amplexus concurrerent oſculorum, gratiam grata viciſſitudine libantes; & faeliciter tunc Anglorum Reſpublica procedere potuiſſet, niſi mors immatura, temporalis be atitudinis Noverca, turpi fortunae ludo, virum abſtuliſlet Patriae. Aetatis enim 48. Regni 17. Rebellantibus Regulis, quos ſub jugum miferat, Ceadwalla Britonum, & Penda Merciorum, cum Filio interemptus, miſerabile varietatis humanae fuit exemplum: nulli prudentiâ inferior, qui nè Chriſtianam fidem, niſi diligentiſſimè inſpectatâ ra…ione, voluit ſuſcipere, ſuſceptaeque nihil exiſtimare comparabile,

Anno 673 kkBeda Eccleſ. Hist. l. 4. c. 5. Mat. Weſtminſt. & Florentius Wigornienſis An. 673. Gervaſius Dorobernienſis. Actus Pontif. Cantuar. col. 1639. Matthew Parker Antiq. Eccleſ. Bxit. p. 15. Spelmani Concil. p. 152, 153. Fox Acts and Mon. vol. 1. p. 161.Theodor Archbiſhop of Canterbury, held a great Council at Hertford; preſentibus Epiſcopis Anno 673.Angliae, ac Regibus, & Magnatibus univerſis; the Biſhops of England, and Kings (to wit, King Lotharius and Eaſwine) and all the Nobles being preſent at it. In this Council, they made ten Canons or Laws, which they all ſubſcribed and ra…ified with their hands; the 7th. whereof was, That a Synod (or Parliamentary Aſſembly) ſhould be aſſembled twice, or (becauſe divers cauſes hindred) Placuit omnibus in commune, they all agreed in common, that in the Calends of Auguſt, in a place called Cloveſhoon, a Synod ſhould be congregated, at leaſt once every year. The reſt of them you may p. 7Propoſit. 5, 6.peruſe in the marginal Authors at leiſure, being meerly Eccleſiaſtical, and not ſo pertinent to my Diſcourſe.

llEvidentiae Eccleſiae Chriſti. Cantuar. col. 2207.Ceadwalla King of the Weſt-Saxons, In the year of our Lord 680. granted to Biſhop Wilfrid certain Anno 680.Lands, with their appurtenances, called Pagaliam; cum conſenſu & devotâ confirmatione omnium Optimatum meorum; with the conſent and devout confirmation of all his Nobles (aſſembled in a Parliamentary Council) the grant of his Crown Lands to him, being not Propoſ. 10.valid to bind his Succeſſours without his Nobles concurrent confirmation.

mmDe Geſtis regum Angl. l. 1. c. 2. p. 14. Mr. Seldens Hiſtory of Tithes, c. 10. ſect. 1. p. 269.William of Malmesbury writes of him; That though before his converſion unto Chriſtianity, he addicted himſelf to wars, and to plunder and ſpoil his neighbouring Kings; yet he conſcientiouſly dedicated the tenth of all his ſpoils to God. Inter haec arduum memoratu eſt, quantum etiam ante Baptiſmum inſervierit pietati, ut omnes manubias quas jure praedatorio, in ſuos uſus tranſcripſerat, Deo Decimaret. In quo, et ſi approbamus, affectum, improbamus exemplum; juxta illud; Qui offert ſacrificium de ſubſtantia Pauperis, quaſi qui immolat filium in conspectu patris.

If all the Plundering, warring Saints of this Age would imitate his example, in giving the Tenths of all their ſpoils and plunders to God & his Ministers, inſtead of ſpoiling them of their Tithes and antient Church-Revenues, men would deem them as good Saints as this plundering conquering Saxon King; of whom it is likewiſe ſtoried, that nnBeda Eccleſ. Hiſtoriae l. 4. c. 16. Camdens Britannia. p. 275. Thomas Stubs Actus Pontif. Eboracenſium col. 1691. & Malmesbury de Geſtis Pontificum Angliae. l. 3. in Wilfrido. Chron. Johan. Bromton, col. 742. 757. Spelman. Concil. p. 181. Speeds Hiſt. p. 227.before he turned Chriſtian, intending to invade the Iſle of Wight, and unite it to his Kingdom; he vowed to give the 4th. part of the Iland, and Prey, to Chriſt, if he ſhould vanquiſh it: Whereupon he conquering the Iſle, ſlew the Natives in it, being Pagans, with a Tragical ſlaughter; and in performance of his vow, p. 8gave to Biſhop Wilfrid and his Clerks (for their maintenance and encouragement) the poſſeſſion of 300 I- Hides of Land, being the fourth part thereof. When our new Conquerours ſhall be ſo bountifull in beſtowing the fourth (or but the tenth) part of all the pretended conquered Lands they have gotten on Chriſts Church and Miniſters, inſtead of invading and purchaſing the Churches antient Lands, Glebes, Tithes and Inheritance, they may demerit the Name and praiſe of Saints, as well as Ceadwalla; who, before he came to the Crown, as he was unjuſtly baniſhed from his Country, through the envy of others, only for his vertues and worthineſs, which firſt cauſed him to take up armes and invade the South-Saxons, two of whoſe Kings he ſlew ſucceſſively in the field, after which he twice invaded, and afflicted Kent with grievous wars (taking advantage of their civil diſcords) wherein he ſhed abundance of Chriſtian blood: So when he had reigned but two years ſpace, after all his victories, out of meer devotion, he voluntarily left his Crown, Kingdom, Conqueſts, and went in Pilgrimage to Rome (where he was baptized) to be wail and expiate the guilt of all his former wars, bloodſhed, plunders, rapines, perplexing his Conſcience, and there died.

The firſt Charter and grant I find extant of any Lands given to the Church, after thoſe of Ethelbert King of An. Dom. 616.Kent, forecited, is that of ooEvidentiae Eccleſiae Chriſti Cantuar. col. 2207. Propoſ. 1. 10.King Eadbaldus his Son and ſucceſſour, Anno Dom. 616, who being by Gods mercy, through the admonition of Archbiſhop Lawrence converted from the pravity of his life, for the Salvation of his ſoul, and hope of a future reward, gave to Chriſt-Church in Canterbury, and to the family ſerving God in that Church, his Lands called Edeſham, with the Fields, Woods, Paſtures, and all things thereunto of right appertaining, free from all ſecular ſervices, & Fiſcal tributes; except theſe three; Expedition, Building of Caſtle and Bridge.

p. 9The next in time, is the ppSee Chr… nica VVil. Thorne, & Evidentiae Eccleſiae Chriſti Cantuar. col. 2207. 2225. where all theſe Grants and Charters are recorded: & Monaſticon Anglicanum, publiſhed by Mr. Doddeſwel, &c. ſince this was penned.Grant of Lotharius An. 679.King of Kent, Anno 679. of certain Lands in the Iſle of Thannet, to the Monaſtery of Raculph, free from all ſecular ſervices, except theſe three, Expedition, Building of Bridge and Caſtle: To which I might annex theſe enſuing Grants and Charters, which I ſhall only name; The Grant of King Egfrid, and his Queen Etheldrida, of Hestodeſham to Biſhop Wilfrid, Anno 674.

The Charter and Grant of Ceadwalla aforeſaid, and Kendritha his wife (of 4 plough-Lands to Archbiſhop Theodor, and the Family of Chriſt-Church in Canterbury, free from all ſecular ſervices, but thoſe 3 forementioned) An. 687. of Withrid King of Kent, Anno. 694, of King Offa, An. 774. of King Edmund, An. 784. of King Kenewlfe, An. 791, 814, 815, 822. of King Wilof, An. 829. of King Athulfus, An. 832, 833, 834. of King Ethelſtan, An. 927, 940. of King Edred, An. 941, 948, 949. of King Egered, An. 979, 980. and of King Cnute, An. Dom. 1016. To pretermit others of this kind.

All which Grants being for the moſt part, only of their own private Lands gotten by Purchaſe, or Conqueſt, Propoſit 1. …0.not of the Lands, or Demeſnes of their Crowns, paſſed by their own Charters alone, without any confirmation or aſſent of their Nobles in a Parliamentary Council, not mentioned at all in them. But no grants of any Lands, Rents or Revenues of their Crowns, to pious or other uſes, were then either valid in Law, or obligatory to their ſucceſſors, without common conſent and ratifications of their Nobles in Parliamentary Councils, which for this reaſon is ſtill mentioned in all their Charters and donations of ſuch Lands and Rents to pious uſes. Neither could they exempt thoſe Lands from any of theſe three forenamed publick charges (for the common defence and benefit of their Realms) by their own royal Charters alone, unleſs ratified by the Nobles in their great Councils. Whereupon in all theſe forecited Charters, and other p. 10grants of Lands by particular perſons, ratified by theſe Kings, they exempted them only from all ſecular ſervices, exceptis Expeditione, Pontis & Arcis constructione, which they could not diſcharge them from, but by ſpecial Grants in General Parliamentary Aſſemblies, as ſubſequent Preſidents will more fully demonſtrate.

qqSimeon Dunelmenſis Hiſtoria Dunel. Eccleſiae, l. 4. col. 57, 58. Gervaſius Dorobernienſis, Actus Pontif. Cant. col. 1639. Florentius Wigorn. An. 684. p. 254. Godwins Catalogue of Biſhops in the life of Cutbert.Theodor Archbiſhop of Canterbury, Anno 685. Anno 685.held a Council at Twyford, in the preſence of Egfrid King or Northumberland, who going in perſon to St. Cutbert (when as he neither by Letters nor Meſſengers could be drawn out of his Iland Lindesfarne to the Synod) brought him to it much againſt his will: where; by the command of all the Synod, he was conſtrained to take upon him the Office of a Biſhop: Whereupon King Egfrid by the advice of Archbiſhop Theodor, Biſhop Trumwin, & totius Concilii, and of the whole Council, for the ſalvation of his and his ſucceſſors ſouls, by his Charter gave to St. Cutbert and all his ſucceſſors, the Village called Creic, and 3 mile in circuit round about it, together with the City called Lugabadia, and 15 miles circuit round about it, to have to him and his ſucceſſors, for the ſervice of God for ever, as freely and quietly as he Propoſit. 10.himſelf enjoyed them, and to diſpoſe thereof at his pleaſure; which Charter the Arch-Biſhop and Biſhops preſent in the Conncil, confirmed with their Subſcriptions. What other Councils and Synods were held under this Arch-Biſhop Theodor at Hartford, Cloveſho, **Ethelwerdus Hiſt. l. 2. c. 8. calls it Lethlege.Heathfield, (or Hatfeild) and what Canons were made in them, for the confirmation of the Christian faith, the 5 firſt General Councils, &c. you may read at leiſure in Gervaſius, Dorobernienſis, Matthew Parker, and Godwin in his life, where they are recorded; and in Matthew Weſtminſter, An. 880. Chronicon Johannis Bromton, Col. 741, 756, 799, 780. Radul. de Diceto Abbreviationes Chronic. Col. 441. Chronica Wil. Thorne, col. 1770, Henry Huntindon, Hiſtoriarum lib. 3. p. 335, Spelmanni Concilia, p. 11p. 152. Beda Eccleſiasticae Historiae, l. 4. c. 5, 17, 18. Mr. Fox Acts and Monuments vol. 1. p. 160, 161. To which I ſhall refer you.

About the year of Chriſt 692. rrChron. Iohannis Bromton col. 759. to 767. Lambardi Archaion. Spelmanni Concil. Tom. 1. p. 122. to 186. Mr. Seldens Titles of Ho- p. 632. Fox Acts and Monuments, vol. 1. p. 164.Ina King of the Anno 692.Weſt-Saxons, who ſucceeded Ceadwalla, by the exhortation and advice of Cenred his Father, Hedda and Erkenwald his Biſhops, and of all his Aldermen (or Senators) and of all the Elders and Wiſemen of his Realm, in a great Aſſembly of the Servants of God, for the ſalvation of his peoples ſouls, and the common conſervation of his Realm, Enacted ſundry Eccleſiaſtical and civil wholſom Laws, that by them juſt judgements might be founded and eſtabliſhed, throughout his Dominions, and that from thenceforth it might be lawfull for no Alderman, Senator, or other perſon living within his Realm, to aboliſh theſe his Laws; tending all to advance Piety, Juſtice, Propoſit. 1, 2, 4, 5.Peace, and preſerve his people from violence, rapine, oppreſſion, and all Puniſhments, Taxes, Fines, but ſuch only as were impoſed, aſcertained by his Laws and Parliamentary Councils, as you may read at large in the Laws themſelves, eſpecially Lex 2, 3, 4, 6, 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, 51, 73, 74.

In the year 694 ssVVilliam Thorne Evidentiae Eccleſiae Chriſti Cantuar. col. 2208. Spelm. Concil. p. 189. to 199.Withred King of Kent ſummoned Anno 694.Brithwald Archbiſhop of Canterbury, Toby Biſhop of Rochester, with the other Abbots, Abbeſſes, Priests, Deacone, Dukes and Earls to a great Council at Beccanceld (or Baccanceld, as others, write it:) where conſulting all together concerning the State of the Churches of God, within that Realm, how they might eſtabliſh and perpetuate to them to the end of the World, thoſe Lands and Revenues which their pious Kings and Anceſtors had granted Propoſit. 4, 6, 10.and appropriated to God and his Church, as their perpetual inheritance, without ſubſtraction or diminution, They thereupon enacted, decreed, and in the name of God Almighty commanded, that all their ſucceſſours, both Kings and Princes, with all other Laymen whatſoever, p. 12ſhould not invade the Rights, Lands or Dominions of the Churches, which they then confirmed; nor preſume to violate the Privileges granted to them, and ſpecially by king Withreds Charter, which they ratified in this Council with all their ſubſcriptions; wherein he and they exempted Churches from all ſecular ſervices and Tributes, but ſuch as they ſhould voluntarily and freely render without compulſion, which ſhould not be drawn into cuſtom to their prejudice; witneſſe this Clauſe of the Charter, and exemption then confirmed; & ab omni debito vel pulſatione Regalium Tributorum, niſi ſuâ ſpontaneâ voluntate, ex largitate beneficiorum quid facere velint; tamen hoc impoſterum non ſervetur, nec habeatur in malam conſuetudinem.

The ſame ttSpelm. Concil. p. 194.King Withred, in the Parliamentary Anno 697.Council of Berghamſteed, Anno 697. by the advice and common conſent of his Biſhops, and other Eccleſiaſtical Orders, cum viris quibuſdam militaribus; enacted ſundry Eccleſiaſtical and civil Laws, to be added to the former Propoſit. 5.Laws and cuſtoms of Kent: the firſt whereof is this, That the Church ſhall be free, and enjoy her Judgements, Rents, and Penſions.

And uuSpelm. Concil. p. 198. Evidentiae Eccleſ. Chriſti, Cant. col. 2208, 2209. Antiqu. Eccleſ. But. p. 34, 35.Anno Dom. 700. this king Withred, unâ cum Anno 700.conſenſu Principum meorum, together with the conſent of his Nobles and Biſhops (who ſubſcribed their names to his Charter) granted to the Churches of God in Kent. that they ſhould be perpetually freed ab omni exactione publica tributi, atque diſpendio vel laeſione; à praeſenti die & tempore, &c. From all publick exaltion of Tribute, and from all dammage and harm: rendring to him & his poſterity, ſuch honour and obedience as they had yeelded to the Kings his anteceſſors; under whom Juſtice and Liberty Propoſit. 1. 10.was kept towards them.Anno 678. to 706.

About the year of our Lord 678. xxVVill. Malmeſ. de Gest. Pontif. Angl. l. 3. p. 264. to 269. Chron. Ioh. Brompt. col. 791, 792, 793, 794. Sim. Dunelm. de Archiepiſ. Ebor. col. 78. Spelman. Concil. p. 200. to 206. Mat. Parker, Tho. Stubs, Godwin in the lives of Archbiſhop Theodor, VVilfrid, and Brithwald. Mat. VVeſtm. Anno 692, 711. Hiſt. Anglicanae Scriptores antiq. An. 1652, col. 78, 294, 295, 296, 440, 441, 1691, 1741. Fox Acts and Monunments, vol. 1. p. 160, 161,Wilfrid Archbiſhop p. 13Propoſ. 23 4, 5, 7,of York being in a Council unjuſtly deprived of his Biſhoprick by Theodor Archbiſhop of Canterbury, who envied the greatneſs of his Wealth, Power, and Dioceſs, which he would and did againſt Wilfrids will, in that Council divide into 2 more Biſhopricks, was after that time exiled the Realm, through the malice of Egfrid king of Nortbumberland, and Emburga his Queen, (whom he would have perſwaded to become a Nun, and deſert her Husband, as ſome Authors write, and others deny in his favour) without any juſt and lawfull cauſe; and after that about the year 692. being again deprived of his Biſhoprick and right by the Judgement and ſentence of another Council held under Aldrid king of Northumberland, and Bertuald Archbiſhop of Canterbury; he thereupon made two ſucceſſive appeals to Rome againſt their two unjust ſentences, as he conceived them: The firſt to Pope Agatho, and a Council of 150 Biſhops, held under him; who decreed, he ſhould be reſtored to his Biſhoprick and make ſuch Biſhops under him (by advice of a Council to be held by him) as he ſhould deem meet; with which decree againſt his firſt ſentence, he returning from Rome to king Egfrid, to whom he delivered it, ſealed with the Popes Seal; the king upon ſight and reading thereof, in the preſence of ſome of his Biſhops, tantùm à reverentiâ Romanae ſedis abfuit, was ſo far from obeying this Decree of the Roman See, that he ſpoiled Wilfrid of all his Goods and poſſeſsions, and committed him priſoner to a barbarous and cruel Governour; who thruſt him into a dark dungeon for many days; and after that committed him to another more cruel Gaoler than he, called Tumber, who endeavoured to put him into Fetters by the Kings command; which he could no ways faſten upon his Legs, but they preſently fell off again, through a Miracle. Whereupon wickedneſs giving place to Religion, he was looſed from his Bonds, detained in free cuſtody, and afterwards releaſed, but not reſtored. After which, about the year 693. he appealed again p. 14to Pope John, againſt the proceedings of the ſecond Council, which refuſed to re-admit him to his Archbiſhoprick, unleſs he would ſubmit to the decrees of Archbiſhop Theodore, and Brithwald his ſucceſſor; which he refuſed to do, unleſs they were ſuch as were conſonant to the decrees of the holy Canons, which he conceived theirs not to be, becauſe they would order him to condemn himſelf without any Crime objected to him. Upon which appeal, this Pope, with his Biſhops, pronounced Wilfrid, free from all Crime, and ordered him to return to his A…chbiſhoprick; writing Letters to Ethelred King of Mercians, and Alfrid King of Northumberland to reſtore him thereunto. Alfrid receiving the Popes Letters by Wilfrids Meſſengers, altogether refuſed to obey the Popes commands in this Caſe; ſaying, Quod eſſet contra rationem, homini jam bis Propoſit. 7.à toto Anglorum Concilio damnato, propter quaelibet Apoſtolica ſcripta communicare: That it was againſt reaſon, to communicate with a man already twice condemned by the whole Council of the Engliſh Nation for any writings of the Pope (ſo little were the Popes authoritie and decrees then regarded in England, contradicting the kings and Engliſh Councils proceedings) neither would he restore him all his life. After his death Edulfe uſurping the Crown by Tyranny, Wilfrid repaired to him to reſtore him to his Archbiſhoprick, upon this account of the Popes Letters; Whereupon he was ſo inraged with him for it, though formerly his great friend, that he preſently commanded him to depart the Realm forthwith, unleſs he would be spoiled of all his goods, and cast out of it with diſgrace. But this Uſuper being deprived both of his Realm, Crown, and Life, in little more than 3 Months ſpace, and Oſred ſon of king Alfrid, being reſtored to the Crown by the Nobles, as right heir thereunto; at laſt Wilfrid was re-inveſted in his Biſhoprick by the decree of a Council held under Anno 705.him in Northumberland, at a place called Nidden, An. 705. not ſo much in obedience to the Popes command, p. 15as king Alfrids, atteſted by Elfleda his Siſter, then Abbeſs of Streneſhaſh; witneſs theſe words of Berfride, Ego juſſionibus Papae obediendum cenſeo, praeſertim cum eorum robori, accedat Regis noſtri Juſsio & noſtrae neceſſitatis ſponſio, &c. Puer in Regem levatus, hoſtis abactus, Tyrannus extinctus; eſt igitur Regiae voluntatis ut Epiſcopus Wilfridus reveſtiatur. Upon which he was accordingly reſtored: whereupon all the Biſhops embraced him, and reconciled themſelves to him.

This Biſhop Wilfrid procured to the Church of Haguſtald, which he founded, and was Biſhop thereof, many privileges, and that for one miles circuit round about, none ſhould be arreſted going or coming, but Propoſit. 10.injoy inviolable peace. Quod inſtitutum authoritate & privilegiis Romanae ſedis Apoſtolicorum, & Archiepiſcoporum, & Epiſcoporum, & Regum & Principum tam Scotiae quam Angliae confirmatum eſt. Quod ſi aliquis yyDe Stat. & Epiſcopis Haguſtaldenſis Eccleſiae, l. x. c. 5. col. 292. An. 708, 709, 712.temerarius infringere audebit, & magnae pecuniae damno obnoxius erit, & perpetuo Anathematis gladio ab eccleſiâ ſeperabitur; as Richard Prior of Hagustald records.

Anno Domini 708 zzAntiqu. Eccleſiae Brit. p. 20. Balaeus ſcript. Brit. Centur. 1. c. 91, 94, 99. Centur. Magdeb. 8. c. 9. Spelm. Concil. p. 209. to 217.Egwin Biſhop of Worceſter, procured king Kenred and Offa by their Charters, to grant and confirm many Lands and Privileges to the Abbey of Eveſham; which Pope Conſtantine likewiſe ratified by his ſubſcription at Rome, as well as theſe kings, in the preſence of many Archbiſhops, Biſhops, Princes and Nobles of divers Provinces, who commended and approved their Charters and Liberality. In purſuance whereof, Pope Conſtantine writ a Letter to Brithwald Archbiſhop of Canterbury, to ſummon Concilium totius Angliae, a Council of all England, to wit, Propoſit. 5, 6, 10.of the Kings, Biſhops, Religious perſons of Holy Orders, Optimateſque Regni cum proceribus ſuis, with the Nobles and great men of the Realm; who being all aſſembled together in the name of the Lord; The Archbiſhop ſhould p. 16in their preſence, read the Charters of theſe Kings and the Popes confirmation of them, that they might be confirmed by the favour and aſſent of the Clergy and the people, and conſecrated with their Benediction. Whereupon king Kenred and Offa, after their return from Rome, aſſembled a General Council in a place called Alne, where both the Archbiſhops Brithwald and Wilfrid, with the reſt of the Biſhops, Nobles, and theſe two Kings were preſent: wherein, Donationes omnes confirmatae ſunt, all theſe their Donations and Charters were confirmed; and likewiſe in another Synod at London, An. 712. A moſt pregnant evidence, that theſe kings Charters and Donations, though ratified by the Pope himſelf, were not valid nor obligatory to their ſucceſſors or people, without their common conſent to, and confirmation of them in a general Parliamentary Council of the Prelates, Nobles, Clergy and Laity, even by the Popes and theſe kings own confeſſions and practice in that age.

In the year of our Lord 716. aaIngulph. Hiſt. p. 851, 852.Ethelbald king of Mercians, by his Charter gave to God, the bleſſed An. 716.Virgin, Saint Bartholomew & Kenulphus, the whole Iſle of Croyland, to build a Monaſtery; and confirmed it to them for ever, free from all Rent and ſecular ſervices; & inde Chartam ſuam in praeſentia Epiſcoporum, Propoſit. 10.Procerumque Regni ſui ſecuram ſtatuit; all his Biſhops and Nobles of his Realm aſſenting to, and ratifying this Charter of his, both with the ſubſcriptions of their names, and ſign of the Croſs, as well as the King; that ſo it might be firm and irrevocable, being his demeſne Lands, which Charter is at large recorded in the Hiſtory of Ingulphus.

About the year of Chriſt 720. bbLeges Ed. Confeſſoris c. 25. Spelmanni concil. p. 219. See Polychronicon, l. 5. c. 28. Mat. VVeſtminſt. An. 586.ſome (fabulouſly) An. 720.write, that king Ina took Guala daughter of Cadwallader, laſt king of the Britons to wife, with whom he received Wales and Cornwal, and the bleſſed Crown of p. 17Britain. Whereupon, all the Engliſh that then were, took them wives of the Britons race, and all the Britons took them wives of the illustrious blood of the Engliſh and Saxons, which was done, Per commune Concilium et aſſenſum omnium Epiſcoporum ac Principum, Procerum, Propoſit. 5, 6.Comitum, et omnium Sapientum, Seniorum, et populorum totius Regni, (a…embled together in a … Parliamentary Council) Et per praeceptum Regis Inae; whereby they became one Nation and Peopl…. Af…er which, they all called that, the Realm of England, which before was called, the Realm of Britain, and they all ever after stood together, united in one, for common profit of the Crown of the Realm, and with a unanimous conſent moſt fiercely fought againſt the Danes and Norwegians, and waged moſt cruel wars with them, for the preſervation of their Country, Lands and Liberties.

An. 705. King ccSpelman. Concil. p, 227, 228, 229. &c. Chron. Johan. Bromton. col. 758. & Monaſticon Angl.Ina by his Royal Charter, granted Anno 729.and confirmed many Lands to the Abbey of Glaſtonbury, endowing that Abbey and the Lands thereto belonging, with many large and great Privileges, exempting them from all Epiſcopal Juriſdiction, and from all regal exactions and ſervices, which are accuſtomed to be excepted and reſerved; to wit, from Expedition and building and repairing of Caſtles or Bridges; from which they ſhould inviolably remain free and exempted, and from all Propoſition 6, 10.the promulgations and perturbations of Arch-Biſhops and Biſhops: which privileges were formerly granted and confirmed by the ancient Charters of his Predeceſſors Kenewalcus, Kentwin, Ceadwalla and Baldred. This Charter of his was made and ratified by the conſent and ſubſcription, not only of king Ina himſelf; but alſo of Queen Edelburga, king Baldred Ad…lard, the Queens Brother, conſentientibus etiam omnibus Britanniae Regibus, Archiepiſcopis, Epiſcopis, Ducibus, atgue Abbatibus, all the Kings, Archbiſho…s, Biſhops, Dukes, and Abbots of Britain, conſenting likewiſe thereunto; many p. 18of which ſubſcribed their names unto it, being aſſembled in a Parliamentary Council for that end.

King ddMatthew Weſtminſt. An. 727. p. 765.Ina, In the year 727. travelling to Rome, An. 727.built there a ſchool, for the Engliſh to be inſtructed in the faith; granting towards the maintenance of the Engliſh Scholars there, a penny out of every houſe within his Realm, called Romeſcot, or Peterpence; to be paid towards Propoſit. 1, 5, 6.it every year. All which Things and Tax; That they might continue firm for perpetuity, Statutum eſt genera…l decreco, &c. were confirmed by a general decree of a Parliamentary Council of his Realm; then held for that purpoſe; of which eePart. 2. p. 71.before more largely.

In the year of our Lord 742. There was ffEvidentiae Eccleſ. Chriſti Cantu. col. 2209. Spelmanni Concil. p. 230, 231. Antiqu. Eccleſ. Brit. p. 21.a Great Parliamentary Council held at Cloveſho (or Clyffe) An. 742.where Ethelbald King of Mercia ſate Preſident, with Cuthbert Archbiſhop of Canterbury; the reſt of the Biſhops ſitting together with them, diligently examined things neceſſary concerning Religion, and ſtudiouſly ſearched out of the antient Creeds and inſtitutions of the holy Fathers, how things were ordered according to the rule of equity in the beginning of the Churches birth in England; whiles they were inquiring after theſe things, and the antient privileges of the Church, at laſt there came to their hands, the Liberty and Privileges which King Withred had granted to the Chu…ches in Kent: which being read Propoſit. 5. 10before all, by King Ethelbalds command; they were all very well pleaſed therewith, and ſaid unanimouſly, That there could not be found any ſo noble and ſo prudent a Decree as this, formerly made, touching Eccleſiaſtical Diſcipline; and therefore, Hoc ab omnibus firmari ſanxerunt, decreed that it ſhould be confirmed by them all. Whereupon King Ethelbald for the ſalvation of his ſoul and ſtability of his kingdom, confirmed and ſubſcribed with his own munificent hand, That the Liberty, Honour, Authority, and ſecurity of Chriſts Church in all things, ſhould be denied by no perſon, but that it ſhould be free from all ſecular ſervices, with all the lands pertaining thereunto, p. 19except Expedition and building of Bridge and Caſtle. And like as the ſaid King Withred himſelf ordained, thoſe privileges ſhould be obſerved by him and his, ſo he and this Council commanded, they ſhall continue irrefragably and immutably in all things. And if any of our Succeſſors, Kings, Biſhops, or Princes ſhall attempt to infringe this wholſom Decree, let him render an account to Almighty God in that terrible day; But if any Earl, Prieſts, Clerk, Deacon or Monk ſhall reſiſt this Decree, let him be deprived of his degree, and ſequeſtred from the participation of the body & blood of the Lord and alienated from the kingdom of God, unleſs he ſhall amend with due ſatisfaction, what he hath unjuſtly done, through the evil of Pride.

ggIngulph. Hiſtor. p. 853. Will. Malmsb. de geſt Reg. l. 1. c. 4. p. 29. Antiqu. Eccl. Bri. p. 22. Spel. Conc. p. 242. to 258. Mat. Weſtm. An. 748. Malmesb. de geſtis Pont. l. 1. in Cuth. p. 197.Anno 747. There was another Parliamentary An. 747.Council held at Cloveſho, or Clyffe, under king Ethelbald, where the king himſelf, with Cumbert, Archbiſhop of Canterbury, eleven other Biſhops, cum Principibus et Dutibus, with the Princes and Dukes, were preſent.

In this Council were ſome Eccleſiastical Laws and Canons made, the laſt whereof was, for Prayers to be publikely made for Kings and Princes inceſſantly; that the People might live a Godly and peaceable life under their pious protection. In this Council king Ethelbald renewed and enlarged his former Grant of Privileges to the Churches, recited at large in the Marginal Authors, the ſum whereof is this,Propoſit. 1, 5, 12.

Plerumque contingere ſolet, pro incertâ futurotum temporum viciſſitudine, ut ea quae prius multorum fidelium perſonarum teſtimonio conſilioque roborata fuiſſent, ut fraudulenter per contumaciam plurimorum & machinamentis ſimulationis, ſine ullâ conſideratione rationis, periculoſe diſſipata eſſent, niſi auctoritate Literarum, & teſtimonio Cyrographorum aeternae memoriae inſerta ſint. Quapropter Ego Ethelbaldus Rex Merciorum, pro amore caeleſtis patriae, hanc donation em me vivente concedo; Ut omnia p. 20Monasteria & Eccleſiae Regni mei, A publicis vectigalibus, & ab omnibus operibus, oneribuſque abſolvantur, niſi in inſtructionibus Arcium vel Pontium, quae nulli unquam poſſint laxari, (as Ingulph. renders it, or as other Copies; 'niſi ſola quae communiter fruenda ſint, omni que populo edicto Regis, facienda jubentur, id. est, inſtructionibus Pontium, vel neceſſariis defenſionibus Arcium contra …ostes, non ſunt renuenda…) Sed nec hoc praetermittendum est, cum neceſſarium conſtat Eccleſiis Dei. Praeterea habeant famuli Dei propriam Libertatem in proficuis Sylvarum, in fructu Agrorum, in captura piſcium; nec munuſcula praebeant Regi, vel Principibus, niſi voluntaria, ſed liberi Domino ſerviant, in contemplatione pacificâ, per totum regnum meum uſ que in aevum. Sed cunctas rribulationes quae nocere vel impedire poſſint in Domo Dei, omnibus Principibus ſub meâ poteſtate degentibus, demittere & auferre praecipio; Quatenus ſublimitas Regni mei proſperis ſucceſſibus polleat in terris, & meritorum manipuli multipliciter matureſcant in coelis. Qui vero haec benigna mentis intentione atque in-laeſâ cogitatione cuſtodierit, aeternâ claritate coronetur, ornetur, glorificetur; Si quis hoc, quod abſit, cujuſlibet perſonae tyrannica cupiditate inſtinctus, contrà hanc donationis chartulam ſaeculari potentiâ fretus venire nititur, ſit ſub Anathemate Judae Proditoris Domini noſtri Jeſu Chriſti. Ad confirmandum verò hoc noſtrae beneficentiae munus, Hi Teſtes adfuerunt, & Noſtri Magiſtrarus, Optimates, et Duces, fideliſsimique amici conceſſerunt et ſcripſerunt: Then follow the ſubſcriptions of the King, Biſhops and Nobles, with, Ego his statutis conſentiens ſubſcripſi, confirmandoque ſignum crucis aravi.

In this hhChron. W. Thorne, c. 3. ſect. 7. col. 1772.Council, amongſt other Synodal Decrees ſubſcribed by the Biſhops, It was decreed, That the Feaſts of St. Gregory the Pope, and St. Auguſtine the Engliſh Apoſtle, ſhould be perpetually obſerved with greateſt ſolemnity, King Ethelbald, with his Nobles, p. 21Propoſition 5,being there preſent, and approving it.

In the year of Grace 752. Cuthred king of the Weſt-Saxons Anno 752.being unable to endure the proud Exactions and inſolencies of king Ethelbald, for vindica…ion of his own and his peoples Liberty from his oppreſſions, raiſed an Army, and fought a bloody Battel with him at Beorford; where through Gods aſſiſtance (who giveth grace to the Humble, and reſiſteth the Proud) he routed him and his whole Army, and after, An. 755. ſlew him in a ſecond battel (he diſdaining to fly) by the Treachery of Bernred, his Captain, the chief Author of his death.

King iiMatthew Weſtm. p. 273. Chron. Johannis Bromton, col, 769, Huntindon. Hiſt. l. 4. p. 341. See Holinſhed, Speed, Grafton in their lives, VVil. Malmesbury de geſt. reg. l. 1. c. 4. p. 28.Cuthred deceaſing, Sigibert his kinſman who ſucceeded him, growing inſolent and proud by his Predeceſſors great ſucceſſes, became intollerable to his Subjects, Propoſit. 1, 2, 4.treating them very ill in every kind, Depraving or altering the Laws of his Anceſtors, for his own private Anno 756.Lucre, and exerciſing exactions and cruelties [k] Matthew Weſt minſt. An. 756. p. 274. Chron. Johan. Bromton, col. 770, 796. Wil. Malmesb. de Geſt. Reg. l. 1. c. 2. p. 15. Hen. Huntindon, Hiſt. l. 4. p. 341, 342, Florent. Wigorn. An. 755. p. 274. Polychron, l. 5. c. 25. Capgrave, Fahian Holinſhed, Speed, Graſton in his life, and the life of Kenulphus, Hoveden, Annal. pars prior. p. 408.upon his Subjects, ſetting aſide all Laws. Whereupon his faithfull Counſellor Earl Cumbra, ovingly admoniſhing him to govern his people more mildly and juſtly, that ſo he might become amiable to God and men; he was ſo incenſed with him, that he commanded him moſt wickedly to be ſtain, and became more cruel and Tyrannical to his people than before. The Peers and Commons hereupon ſeeing their Laws and Liberties thus violated, and their Eſtates and Lives every day in danger, being incenſed into fury, aſſembling themſelves together, did all unamimouſly riſe up in Arms againſt him and upon mature prudent deliberation, by the unanimous conſent of all, expelled him the Kingdom for his Tyranny and miſ-government. Upon which Sigebert flying into the woods for ſhelter, like a forlorn perſon, was there ſlain by Cumbra his Swine-herd, in revenge of his Maſters murder. Florentius Wigornienſis relates, that after his expulſion from the Realm by the Noble…, for the multitude of his unjuſt deeds; Kenulphus p. 22Propoſ. 1, 2, 4.allotted him the County of Hampſhire for his maintenance, until he ſlew Earl Cumbra (ſuch was the Charity and Humanity of thoſe times, even to an expelled, depoſed Tyrannical King, now quite out of date) with whom Ethelwerdus, Hiſt. l. 2. c. 17. and Polychronicon, l. 5. c. 24. accord. Some of our Hiſtorians (eſpecially Ethelwerdus and Wigornienſis) relate; that Kenulphus uſurped the Crown by meer force of Arms, firſt drawing the Nobles and People to riſe up againſt, and expell Sigebert for his exorbitant actions, and the multi…ude of his unjuſt deeds, and then uſurping the Throne, being not of the blood Royal (as Malmesbury relates) though of a Noble family: But they all llMalmesb. de Geſtis Reg. l. 1. c. 2. p. 16. Ethelwerdus Hiſt. l. 2. c. 17, 18. Hen. Huntindon, Hiſt. l. 4. p. 343. Mat. Weſtm. … …86. Sim. Dunelm. Hiſt. col. 110. Chron. Johan. Bromt. col. 770. Hoveden Annal. pars prior, p. 409, 410. Polychron. l. 5. c. 17. Fabian, Capgrave, Grafton, Holinſhed, and Speed in his life. Florentius Wigorn. p. 278. 279.unanimouſly record, that he came to a miſerable end upon this occaſion. When he had reigned 31 years with honour and good ſucceſs, being puffed up therewith, and fearing leſt Kineardus (Sigiberts Brother) who began to be potent, ſhould revenge his Brothers death upon him, and dispoſſeſs him or his poſterity of the Crown, he baniſhed and compelled him to depart his Kingdom. Who thereupon giving way to the time, voluntarily fled out of his Dominions. But ſoon after ſecretly drawing together (through private Conventicles) a band of deſperate men, he found an opportunity to fall upon Kenulphus, when he went with a few followers to viſit his Paramore at Merton, where he beſetting the Houſe round, ſlew the King, with all his followers. The fame of which Act coming to his Nobles and Souldiers not far from the place, They upon Exhortation of Eſric, the chiefeſt of them, not to let paſs the death of their Lord unrevenged, to their notorious and perpetual infamy, furiouſly encountred Keneardus and his Complices, and notwithſtanding all their fair promiſes of Mony, & preferments to them, and all intreaties, after a ſharp bloody incounter, put them all to the ſword, with the loſs of ſome of their own lives. Ecce quomodo Dei Iuſtitia, non ſolum futuro ſaeculo, verum etiam in iſto, Propoſition 2.digna meritis manifeſto judicio recompenſat, &c. Add p. 23Propoſit. 8.Henry Huntindon, Roger Hoveden, John Bromton, Malmeſbury, and others, as a Corollary to this Hiſtory of Sigibert; and Kenulphus. Which all Traitors, Tyrants and Uſurpers treading in their exorbitant footſteps, may do well adviſedly to conſider.

In the year of our Lord 758. mmMat. Weſt. An. 758. p. 274. VVil. Malmesb. de geſt. reg. l. 1. c. 4. p. 28. Sim. Dunelm. Hiſt. col. 105. chron. Jo. Bromt. col. 770, 776, Hen. Huntind. Hiſt. l. 4. p. 342, 346. Hovedon. Annal. pars 1. p. 408. Speeds Chron. p. 254, 368. See Polyc. Fabian, Graft. Holinſhed in his and Offa his life, VVigorn. An. 755, p. 274.The people of the An. 758.Realm of Mercia riſing up againſt their King Bernred, becauſe he governed them not by juſt Laws, but by Tyranny; aſſembled all together in one, as well Noble as Ignoble; and Offa being their Captain, they expelled him out of the Kingdom, and then, by the unanimous conſent of all, as well Clergy as people, they crowned Offa King. This Bernred, (as Malmesbury, Speed, and Simeon Dunelmenſis write) treacherouſly murthered King Ethelbald his Soveraign, whoſe General he was, and thereupon uſurping his Throne, and turning a Tyrant, (as moſt Uſurpers do) was in the very firſt year of his uſurped reign, expelled the Realm, and ſoon after ſlain by Offa; and ſo dignum finem inſidiarum tulit, being Author necis of his Sovereign, King Ethelbald, à ſuis tutoribus fraudulentèr interfectus, as our Hiſtorians obſerve. A good Memento for other Traitors and Uſurpers treading in his footſteps; Qui Regnum Tyrannus invaſit, & per modicum tempus in parvâ laeritiâ & jocunditate tenens, Regnum cum vitâ perdidit, as Wigornienſis writes of him.Prop. 1, 2, 4, 5.

The nnMat. Weſt. p. 278, 279, 290. VVil. Malmesb. de geſt. reg. l. 1. c. 4. p. 32. Spel. Concil. p. 315.Engliſh complaining to King Offa, in the year 775. of the great exactions in forein parts under An. 775.Charls the Emperour, they being then at variance, ſo as their trading and merchandize was every where prohibited in both their Realms, thereupon King Offa, by gifts ſent to the Emperour, obtained this Grant and Privilege from him for his Subjects. That all Pilgrims paſſing through his Dominions to Rome for piety and devotion ſake alone, ſhould have free and peaceable paſſage without any Propoſit. 1, 4.moleſtation or Tribute. That all Merchants and others in the company of Pilgrims paſſing only for gain, not devotion, p. 24ſhould pay only a certain eſtabliſhed Tribute in fitting places. That all Engliſh Merchants and Traders ſhould have lawfull protection, by his command, within his Realm, and if in any place they were vexed with unjuſt oppreſſion, that upon complaint to him or his Judges, they ſhould have full juſtice done unto them.

In the year 780. Aeth…red, or Adelred, king of Northumberland, was depoſed by his Subjects after he An. 780, 781had reigned 3 years, and quite driven out of his Realm [o] Mat. Weſt. p. 280. Hen. Huntind. Hiſt. l. 4. p. 346, 347. Malmesh. do geſt. reg. l. 1. c. 3. Hoved…n Annal. pars prior, p. 409. Polychr. l. 5. c. 17.by his Nobles; who the next year after aſſaulted and burnt a certain Conſull (or Earl) being their juſtice in his own houſe, plus aequo ſaevientem, for tyrannizing beyond the Bounds of Law and Right. I ſhall not inſiſt upon the manifold Inſurrections of theſe Northumberlanders againſt their kings, nor their diſloyal depoſitions, expulſions, Murders of moſt of them, upon pretended oppreſſions and Exorbitancies in Government, rather than …eal: nor on the ſtrange, general, bloody, Propoſ. 1, 2, 4.frequent depredations, wars, devaſtations, Plagues, Judgements, Invaſions by Danes, Normans, Scots, and others, inflicted juſtly on them for the ſame by Divine Juſtice, more than on all other parts of this Iland, ſince I have touched ſome of them ppPart. 2. p. 56 to 64.before, and ſhall glance at more of them hereafter; all which the ſtudious may read at leiſure, in Maslmesbury, Huntindon, Hoveden, Aethelwerdus, Matthew Weſtminſter, Bromton, Florentius Wigornienſis, Simeon Dunelmenſis, Radulphus de Diceto, Polychronicon, Holinſhed, Speed, and others: Only I ſhall give you the ſum of them about this age in the words of Simeon Dunelmenſis, and Richardus Hagulſtaldenſis qqIn Hiſtoria de exordio Chriſtianitatis & Religionis totius Northumbriae, & Richardus Haguſtaldenſis, de Stat. & Epiſcopis Haeguſtaldenſis, Eccleſiae, col. 300. See Antiqu. Eccleſiae Brit. p. 32, 33, 34. Sim. Dunelmenſis Hiſt. de Geſtis Regum Angliae, col. 199. Chron. Joh. Bromton, col. 966. Tho. Stubs Acta. Pontif. Eboracenſium, col. 1708. Hen. de Knyghton de Event. Angl. l. 2. c. 2. VVil. Malmesb. de Geſt. reg. l. 3. p. 103. Hen. Huntind. Hiſt. l. 7. p. 306, Rog. Hoveden, Annal. pars prior, p. 451.Crudelis exinde Barbarorum manus innumeris navibus in Angliam p. 25tranſvecta, omnia quaqua verſum depopulans, Northunhymbrorum autem provincias atrocius devaſtans, omnes Eccleſias, omnia Monaſteria ferro, & incendio delevit, adeo ut nullum pene Chriſtianitatis ſignum poſt ſe diſcedens reliquerit. Monachi qui loci reverentia confidentes remanſerunt de Eccleſiâ extracti, alii in mare ſub hoſtibus ſubmerſi, alii Captivi abducti, alii detruncati, alii aliis tormentis miſerabiliter affecti, omnes ſimul interiêrunt. Et indè proſiliens flammâ et ferro, in exterminium omnia duxit, &c. After which ſad ſucceſſive devaſtations for ſundry years by the Danes, they were ſo totally depopulated, and extirpated by Famine, Sword, and Pestilence by the Normans, An. 1069. that the whole Country was reduced into a deſolate Wilderneſs, without an inhabitant, and lay untilled for nine years ſpace; beſtiarum tantum & latronum latibula; being only Dens of Beaſts and Theeves. And how many times it hath been waſted, depopulated with fire and ſword ſince this, by the Scots, and what barbarous cruelties they have exerciſed therein, you may read in the Continuation of Simeon Dunelmenſis by the Prior of Haguſtald, col. 264. in Historia Ricardi Prioris Haguſtaldenſis de Geſtis Regis Stephani & bello Standardi, col. 315, 316. and other Chronicles ſince that time. The Lord in Mercy divert the like judgements from that Northern part, and the whole kingdom now, for the like tranſgreſſions of a later date.

In the year of Chriſt 787. (as moſt account) rrHen. Huntindon Hiſt. l. 4. p. 343. Matthew Weſtminſter An. 789. p. 281. Antiqu. Eccleſ. Brit. p. 26. Cent. … deburg. Cent. 8. c. 9. Hoveden Annal. pars prior, p. 410. Florentius VVigorn… ſis, An. 785. Spelmanni Concil. p. 292, to 395. Malmesbury de geſtis regum, … c. 4. & de geſtis Pontif. l. 1. p. 198, 199. Matthew Parker, and Godwin in … life of Jambert. Chronica VVil. Thorne, col. 1774. Gervaſius Dorobern. Actus P… tif. Cant. col. 1641. Radulphus de Diceto Abbrevi. Chron. col. 445. Polychron. … c. 17.Pope Anno 787.Adrian ſent Legates into England, to confirm the faith which Auguſtine had preached: who being honourably p. 26Propoſit. 5, 6.received both by the Kings, Clergy, and People: thereupon held a great Parliamentary Council at Calchut, Chalchuthe, or Cealtide (as Henry Huntindon ſtiles it.) In this Council Offa king of Mercians, and Kenulphus king of West-Saxons, with all their Eccleſiastical and ſecular Princes, Nobles, Elders, Biſhops, Abbots, were preſent; who all ſubſcribed and conſented to the Eccleſiaeſtical and Temporal Laws and Canons Propoſit. 5, 6.therein made and publiſhed, being 20 in Number; The principle whereof relating to my Theam, I have formerly recited. In this Parliamentary Council King Offa cauſed Egfrid his eldeſt ſon, to be ſolemnly crowned King, who from thenceforth reigned with him, And in it Jambertus (or Lambert) Archbiſhop of Canterbury, much againſt his will, reſigned part of his Arch-Biſhoprick to the Arch-biſhop of Litchfield, by the command and power of King Offa; who envying the power and Pride of the Archbiſhop of Canterb. deprived him in this Council (notwithſtanding all Jamberts appeals to Pope Adrian) of all Lands and Jurisdiction within his Realm of Mercia, erecting a new Arch-biſhoprick at Litchfield, to which he ſubjected all the Biſhops of Mercia, (being then ſix in number) ill by another Council they were reunited of Canterbuny, after the deceaſe of Offa.

ssHen Huntinaon, Hist. l. 4. p. 349. Hoveden Annalium, pars prior, p. 409. 410. Florentius VVigornienſis, Anno 781, 787, 788, 789. Spetman. Concil. p. 303, 304. Simeon Dunelm. Hiſt. 110. Mat VVeſtm. Anno 789, 791. Richardus Prior. Haguſtald. de Stat. & Epiſc. Haguſt. Eccl. l. 1. c. 17. col. 297.Sir 50:1About the year 788. (there being ſome difference Anno 788.amongſt Hiſtorians in the year) there was a great Council held at Ade, and after that ano…her Council kept at Wincenhale or Pincanhale in Northumberland, now called Finkely. Sir Henry Spelman conceives, that theſe Councils were principally ſummoned to prevent the incurſions of the D…nes, who in the year 787. came into Britain with 3 ſhips; to diſcover the Coaſts and prey upon it, ſlew King Bricticus his Provost, and after that many thouſand thouſands of the Engliſh at ſundry p. 27times. After this there was another Parliamentary Propoſit. 6, 9.Council or Synod held at Aclea, or Aclith,; at which time Duke Sigga by wicked Treaſon ſlew his Sovereign Alfwold, king of Northumberland, and was, not long afterwards, ſlain himſelf by the Danes, (who miſerably waſted and deſtroyed that rebellious kingdom of Northumberland with fire and ſword) as a condigu puniſhment for their treaſons, Rebellions and Regicides of their Kings.

ttMatihew VVeſt. p. 282. Mamesbury de geſt. reg. l. 1. c. 3. Huntind. Hiſt. l. 4. p. 343, 344. Hoveden Annal. pars prior, p. 410. Florent. VVigorn. An. 792. Ethelredi Hiſt. l. 3.Anno 792. there was a Council held at a place Anno 792.called Fincale, where the Archbiſhop with his Suffragan Biſhops, and many others were preſent: What the occaſion of it was, appears not: only our Hiſtorians relate, That Oſred king of Northumberland, was this year chaſed out of his Kingdom by his rebellious ſubjects, when he had reigned but one year, and Ethelred, ſon of Mollo ſubſtituted King in his place. Whereupon Oſred gathering forces together to expel Ethelred, which had expulſed him out of his Realm, was in his march into it again taken priſoner and ſlain by this Uſurper at Tymmouth. Upon occaſion of which Inſurrections and Wars, I conceive this Council was moſt probably ſummoned. Soon after this uſurping Regicide Ethelred, was ſlain himſelf, even by thoſe ſeditious Subjects who expelled and ſlew Oſred, to advance him to the Throne. The common fate of bloody Uſurpers, eſpecially Propoſit. 5, ….in this kingdom of Northumberland, as our Hiſtorians obſerve.

uuMatthew VVeſtm. An. 794. p. 287, 288, 289. Spel. Concil. p. 300. to 316. Chron. Ioh. Bromt. col. 754, to 757. Polychron. … l. 5. c. 17.King Offa, in the year 793. called a Provincial Anno 793.Parliamentary Council, where Archbiſhop Humbert, and his Suffragans, with all the Primates and Nobles were preſent; wherein he treated with them about founding the Monaſtery of St. Albane, the firſt Martyr, in the place where his Corps was found; endowing it with lands and Privileges. Placuit omnibus Regis propoſitum. Whereupon they concluded, the King ſhould go to Rome in perſon, and procure from the p. 28Propoſit. 5. 10.Pope the Canonization of St. Albane, and a Confirmation of Privileges to the Abbey he intended to build. He repairing to Rome accordingly, the Pope commending his Devotion, gave him his full aſ…ent, both to found a Monaſtery, and endow it with all ſuch Privileges as he deſired: enjoyning him, that returning to his Country, ex Conſilio Epiſcoporum, & Optimatum ſuorum, by advice of his Biſhops and Nobles, he ſhould confer Propoſit. 6, 10.to the Monaſtery of St. Albane, what Poſſeſsions or Privileges he would; which he ſhould grant or confirm to it by his ſpecial Charter firſt, and afterwards he would confirm his original with his Privilege and Bull. The king hereupon receiving the Popes Benediction, returned home, and held two great Councils for the ſetling of the Lands, Privileges and Liberties of St. Albanes: The one at Celcyth, where were preſent, 9 Kings, 15 Biſhops, and 20 Dukes (as John Stow relates in his Chronicle) who all ſubſcribed and ratified his Charter of Lands and Privileges granted to St. Albane. The other Council was held at Verolam, which Matthew Weſtminſter thus expreſſeth. Congregato apud Verolamium Epiſcoporum & Optimatum Concilio, unanimi omnium conſenſu & voluntate, beato, Albano Amplas contulit terras, & poſſeſſiones innumeras, Quas multiplici Libertatum privilegio inſignivit. Monachorum vero conventum ex Domibus bene Religioſis ad Tumbam Martyris congregavit, & Abbatem eis Nomine Willegodum praefecit, cui cum ipſo Monasterio, Jura Regalia conceſſit. This king then reigning over 20 Shires, at the ſame time (by the unanimous aſſent of the Biſhops and Nobles) (z) gave out of all thoſe Counties to the Engliſh (x) See Radol. de Diceto Abbrev. Chron. col. 446, & Spelm. Concil. p. 310. to 314.School at Rome, Peter-Pence, in Engliſh called Romescot. Yet he privileged the Church of St. Albane with ſo great Liberty, that this Church alone ſhould be quit of the Apoſtolical Custom and Tribute called Romeſcot, when as neither the King nor Archbiſhop, nor any Biſhop, Abbot, or Prior, or any other in the Realm was exempted p. 29Propoſit. 1. 6▪frow this payment. And likewiſe granted, that the Church of St. Albane ſhould faithfully collect the ſaid Romeſcot, from all the County of Hertford, wherein the ſaid Church is ſituated, and receive the money collected to that Churches own uſe. And that the Abbot thereof, or a Monk conſtituted his Archdeacon under him, ſhould exerciſe Epiſcopal Authority over all the Prieſts & Laymen within the poſſeſſions belonging to the Abbey, and that he ſhould make ſubjection to no Archbiſhop, Biſhop, or Legate, but only to the Pope himſelf. So as that Church hath omnia jura Regalia; and the Abbot thereof for the time being; Pontificalia ornamenta. And that by the great Charter of this king then made, with the unanimous conſent of all his Biſhops and Nobles in this great Council. What Lands he gave to the Monaſtery of St. Augustines and Chriſt-church in Canterbury, and the Archbiſhops there, you may read at large in the Chronicles of William Thorne, col. 1775. and Evidentiae Eccleſiae Chriſti Cantuarienſis, col. 2203, 2219.

yyMat. Weſt. Anno 797, p. 290, 291. Alcuini Epiſt. Osbert. Speeds Hiſtory p. 371. Chron. Iohan▪ Brom. col. 752, 754, 776.King Offa deceaſing An. 797. his Son Egfrid, ſo Anno 797.ſoon as he was ſettled in his Fathers kingdom, imitating the pious footſteps of his Father, devoutly conferred many Lands and poſſeſſions on the Church of St. Albanes, and confirmed them by his Charter and Privilege; with all thoſe other Lands, Privileges and Royal Liberties which his Father had conferred on the ſaid Church, to enjoy them in the freeſt manner. Et ejus Donatio, ut perpetuae firmitatis Robur obtineret, juxta morem Romanae Eccleſiae, omnium Epiſcoporum Comitum et Baronum totius imperii ſui (…ſſembled in a general Council of the Realm) Subſcriptionem, Propoſit. 10.& ſignum crucis appoſuit, Cauſing all his Blſhops, Earls, and Barons of his whole Realm to ſubſcribe and ratifie his Charter and Donation with the ſign of the Croſs, after the manner of the Roman Church, That it might be of perpetual force and validity. Moreover declining his Fathers covetouſneſs in all things, whatever he for p. 30the exaltation of his Kingdom, had diminiſhed out of the poſſeſſions of divers Monaſteries, he, out of a pious devotion, restored and confirmed with his Privilege (or Charter) to all who deſired it.

This pious King Egfrid, (as our Hiſtorians obſerve) and let others note it who gain their Kingdoms, Powers, Poſſeſſions by Bloodſhed and Treaſon (was taken away by ſudden death on the 141 day after his Fathers deceaſe (which gave great cauſe of grief to all the people of his Realm) not for his own ſins, which is not to be ſuppoſed; but becauſe his Father (pro Regni ſui confirmatione ſanguinem … …ffudit) for the confirmation of his Kingdom ſhed much blood. For ne zzSee Mat. VVeſtm, Malmesbury, Huntindon, Hoved. Radulph. Caſtrenſis, Ethelwerdus, VVigorn. Speed, Grafton, Holinſhed, Fab. in his life. Ch. 10. Brom. col. 750. 751, 752. Radulph. de Diceto Abbreviat. Chron. col. 445, 446. Polichron. col. l. 5. c. 16, 17.came to the Crown by the ſlaughter of King Bernred, forementioned; depoſed and ſlain by him for his uſurpation, Tyranny, and Miſ-government, then he invaded and ſlew with his own hand Alrick King of Kent, routed his forces, and reduced that kingdom under his own: After this, marching from South to North, even beyond Humber, he made Havock of all that ſtood in his way: Whence returning in Triumph, he ſet upon the Weſt-Saxons, and vanquiſhed them, forced their king Kenwolf to fly into Wales to the Britons for aid; then en…red into Wales, routed their King Marmodius, for breaking his Truce; made a great ſlaughter of the Britons & after ten years proſperous wars to conquer others, returned victoriouſly into his own territories. After his return thither, to compleat his bloody Tragedies, Ethelbert King of Eaſt-Angles coming upon ſolemn invitation to his Court in great ſtate, to marry his Daughter, was there treacherouſly murdered by his Wife Quendreda's ſolicitation and practice, with his privity and conſent, who cauſed a deep pit to be digged in his Bed chamber, under his Chair of State, or Bed, into which he falling was there treacherouſly murdered, and his head cut off by Gaymbertus, who preſented it all bloody to King Offa; who (to colour the buſineſs) ſeeming to be ſorrowfull p. 31for this murder, ſhut himſelf up in his Chamber, and there faſted 8 days ſpace, but then, ſending a great Army into the Kingdom of this murtherea Prince, ſeiſed on & united it to his own Empire. But Gods exemplary vengeance purſued this hainous bloody Treachery (notwithſtanding all his feigned magnified Saintſhip, and works of Charity and Piety) for, within one year after this bloody fact committed, both Queendreda, Offa, and their Son Egfrid (the only joy and pride of his Parents) all died, and his very kingdom it ſelf was tranſlated from the Mercians to the Weſt-Saxons, whom he had conquered and oppreſſed. O that all men of blood, and unjuſt invaders of others Crowns, Realms, Poſſeſſions by war, bloodſhed and Treachery, would ſeriouſly conſider this Preſident, with all others of this nature both at home and abroad, collected to their hands by Sir Walter Raughly, in his excellent Preface, before his famous Hiſtory of the World.An. 797.

About the year of Chriſt 797. aaBonif. Mogunt. Ep. 112. Mr. Seldens Titles of Honour, part 2. c. 5. p. 632.Cynwolfe (or Kenulph) King of West-Saxons held a Council, wherein he with his Biſhops, unacum caterva Satraparum, and likewiſe with a great company of his Nobles, there aſſembled, writ a Letter to Lullus Biſhop of Mentz touching ſome matters of Religion then in Debate.

In the bbTho. Stubs, Actus Pontiſ. Ebo. col. 1697. 1698. Simcon Dumelm. Hist. col. 114, 115. Rog. de Hoveden, Annal. pars prior. p. 406.year 798. (the third of King Kenulph his Propoſit. 5, 6. reign) there was a great Parliamentary Synod aſſemat Anno. 798. Pinchamhalch, wherein Eanbaldus, or Embaldus, Archbiſhop of Yorkſate Preſident, with very many wiſe and great Men; by whoſe Wiſdom and Juſtice the Kingdom of Northumberland was then much advanced and renowned: Who after they had debated many things concerning the benefit of holy Church, and profit of all the Provinces of the People of Northumberland; the obſervation of Eaſter, and of Divine and ſecular Laws, the increaſe of Gode ſervice, and the honours and neceſſities of the ſervants of God, rehearſed and ratified the faith of the 5 firſt General Councils, concerning the Trinity, in brief and pithy p. 32expreſſions, fit now to be revived in theſe times of Hereſie and Blaſphemy.

The ccEvidentiae Eccl. Chriſti Cantuar. col. 2211, 2212. Spelm. Concil. p. 317. Mat. VVeſt. Anno 798.ſame year, there was another Great Council held at Bacancold, wherein Kenulph King of Mercians ſate Preſident, Athelardus Archbiſhop of Canterbury, 17 other Biſhops, ſundry Abbots, Arch-deacons, and other fit perſons being there likewiſe preſent; Wherein, by the command of Pope Leo, it was decreed; That from thenceforth no Laymen ſhould exerciſe, Dominion over the Lords Inheritance and Churches; but that they ſhould be governed by Holy Canons, and the Rules of their firſt founders and poſſeſſors, under pain of Excommunication: and that Chriſt-church in Canterbury, ſhould be reſtored to its antient Propoſ. 5, 8, 9. 10.Metropolitan Juriſdiction. Which all the Prelates and Abbots confirmed with their Subſcriptions. And this year this King conſecrated the Church of Winchelcumbe, endowing it with great gifts and poſſeſſions, in a kind of Parliamentary Aſſembly of 13 Biſhops, and 10 Dukes, where he manumitted and ſet free at the high Altar, Edhert King of Kent, ſurnamed Pren, whom he had taken priſoner in Battel. Moreover Eanbaldus Archbiſhop of York, this year aſſembled a Synod at Fin…hale; moſt likely for the aſſiſtance of Eardulfus King of Northumberland againſt Duke Wadus, and other Conſpirators, who roſe up againſt him, whom he vanquiſhed and utterly routed, after a long and bloody battle at Bilingeho, where many were ſlain on both ſides; which Hiſtory Matthew Weſtminſter couples with this Synod, An. 798.

ddEvid. Eccleſ. Chriſti Cant. col. 2212.King Kenulph in the year 799. By the conſent of his Biſhops and Princes, at the requeſt of Athelardus An. 799.Archbiſhop of Canterbury, reſtored to Chriſt-Church in Canterbury, four parcels of Land which king Offa had formerly taken from it, and gave to his Servants, free from all ſecular ſervice and Regal Tribute: ratifying Propoſit. 4, 10.this reſtitution by his Charter, ſigned with the Croſs, that it might remain inviolable by their concurrent aſſent.

p. 33There was a Provincial Council held at Cloveſho (or An. 800.Clyffe) In the year of our Lord 800. by Kenulf king of eeSpelmanni Concil. p. 318, 319, 320. Evident. Eccl. Chriſti Cant. col. 2212, 2213 Gervaſius Dorobern. Actus Pontif. Cantu▪ col. 1642. and Godwin in the life of Atbelardus.Mercians, Athelwerdus Archbiſhop of Canterbury, and all the Biſhops, Dukes, Abbots, & cujuſcunque dignitatis viros, and men of all ſorts of aignity; where after ſome inquiry, how the Catholique Faith was kept, and Chriſtian Religion practiced amongſt them? The Lands which king Offa and king Kenulph had forcibly taken away from Chriſt-Church, with the Nunnery of Cotham, and the Hides of Land called Burnam, were Synodali Judicio, by the Judgement of the Council, reſtored to Chriſt-Church. Et omnium voce Decretum eſt, and, It was decreed by the voice of all the Council, upon ſight of the Books and Deeds there produced before them by the Archbiſhop, that it was juſt Cotham ſhould be reſtored to Chriſt-Church (being given to it by King Aethelbald, Propoſ. 4, 5, 6.by his Charter) of which it had, for a long time unjuſtly been ſpoiled, notwithſtanding the frequent complaints made by Archbiſhop Bregwin and Iambert in every of their Synods. In hoc Concilio annuente ipſo Rege, Athelardus recuper avit dignitates & poſſeſsiones quas Offa Rex Merciorum abſtuler at Iamberto: writes Gervaſius. After which the Archbiſhop in this Council made this Exchange with Cynedritha, then Abbeſs of Cotham; that ſhe and her ſucceſſors ſhould enjoy all the Lands, and Nunnery of Cotham, in lieu whereof ſhe ſhould give to him one hundred and ten Hydes of Land in Kent, lying in Fleot, Tenaham, and Creges, together with all the writings thereto belonging, which exchange was made before, confirmed and attested by this Noble Synod; that ſo no Controverſie might ariſe between them, their Heirs and Succeſſors, or King Offa's, in future times concerning the ſame, but that they might peaceably injoy them without interruption, for ever. And moreover the Archbiſhop gave unto Cynedrytha the Monaſtery called Pretanege, which king Egfrid gave to him & his heirs. Which proves the Great Counc…ls and Synods in that age to be p. 34Parliaments; and that they judicially reſtored Lands unjuſtly taken away by Kings, upon complaint, examination and due proof made thereof, as well as inquired of errors and abuſes in Religion,

In this Councill conceive i… was, that ffWill, Malmsbury de geſt. Reg. l, 1. c. 4. Spel. Conc. p. 320. to 324. Antiq. Eccleſ. Brit. p. 27, 28, 29, 30. Mat. Weſt. An. 797.Kenulph, with his Biſhops, Dukes, et omni ſub noſtra Ditione Dignatis gradu, compi…ed and ſent a Letter to Pope Leo the third; promiſing obedience to his commands; requeſting, that the ancient Canons might be obſerved, and the Juriſdiction and Power of the See of Canterbury (which King Oſta and Pope Adrian had diminiſhed and divided into two Provinces or Archbiſhopricks) might be reſtored and united again thereto, to avoid Sciſms: and craving the Popes anſwer to theſe their requeſts: which he returned in a ſpecial Letter to the King, reſtoring to Athelardus and his ſucceſſors the Biſhopricks ſubſtracted from his Province, with the Metropolitan Juriſdiction over them, as amply as before.

ggSpelman. council. p. 324, 325, 326. See Mat. Weſtm. An. 797, to 805.Hereupon, in the year 802. or thereabouts, there was another Parliamentary Council aſſembled at Cloveſho; An. 802.wherein the Archbiſhoprick of Litchfield was diſſolved, the See of Canterbury reſtored to its former plenary Metropolitical Juriſdiction (according to Pope Leo his Decree) By the advice and Decree of the whole Council: which commanded in the name of God; That no Kings, nor Biſhops, nor Princes, neque ullius Tyrannicae poteſtat Propoſit. 5, 6.is Homines, ſhould diminiſh the honour of the Metropolitical See, or preſume to divide it in any particle whatſoever, under pain of an Anathema Maranatha; which Decree the Archbiſhop, with 12 other Biſhops, ſubſcribed and ratified with the ſign of the Croſs (as they formerly did in the Council of Bechanceld, An. 798.) And in this Council divers controverſies concerning the Lands, Limits and Juriſdictions of other Biſhops & Bishopricks were likewiſe decided and ſetled; as you may therein read at large.

p. 35hhMatthew Weſt. An. 802, 854. Aſſerius Mene. de geſt. Alfredi Regis, Wil. Malmesb. de Geſtis Reg. l. 2. c. 2. p. 46. Florentius Wigorn. An. 855. Polychron. l. 5. c. 27. Speeds Hiſt. p. 230. Mr. Seldens Titles of Honour, part 1. c. 6. p. 166. Sim: Dunelm. Hiſt. de Geſt. Reg. Angl. col. 118. Fox Acts and Monuments, vol. 1. p. 170, 171.Eadburga Daughter to King Offa married Brithric Anno 802.King of the Weſt-Saxons: proud of her parentage and match, ſhe grew ſo ambitious, inſolent, and Tyrannical, that ſhe became odious, not only to all the Prelates, Nobles, and Courtiers, but to the people likewiſe. For being incited with malice and tyranny, ſhe uſually accuſed and execrated to the King all the Nobles of the Realm, Ordinaries, Biſhops, and Religious perſons, and ſo overcame him by her flatteries, that thoſe whom ſhe began to accuſe, aut vitâ aut Regno privaret, ſhe would either deprive of Life, or baniſh them the Realm; and if ſhe could not obtain this from the King againſt them, ſhe accustomed to deſtroy them privily with poiſon. At laſt, An. 802. She preparing poiſon, to deſtroy a rich and noble Favourite of the Kings, whom he extra ordinarily lov'd; ſo as ſhe could not baniſh or deſtroy him by her falſe accuſations; the King caſually drinking of the Poiſon (contrary to her intention) as well as his Favourite, they were both therewith ſuddenly poiſoned and deſtroyed. Wherewith this wicked woman being tetrified, fled with all her invaluable Treaſures beyond the Seas to Charles the Great: who for her Laſciviouſneſs, in making choice of his Son for her Husband before himſelf, (though much inamoured with her tranſcendent beauty) thruſt her into a Monaſtery, where ſoon after, ſhe abuſing her body Propoſit. 2, 4.by uncleaneſs, in lying with a lewd man, was expelled thence, forced to beg her bread, and ended her days in extreme miſery. A juſt judgement of God, both upon a Tyrannical Queen, and unrighteous King, ſeduced to baniſh and condemn his Nobles and Subjects unjuſtly by her ſolicitations. For this her moſt hainous crime the Weſt-Saxons ordained a Law, to the Grand prejudice of all their ſucceeding Queens: That none of them ſhould have either Title, Majesty, or place of Royalty or Queen: Non enim Weſt-Saxones Reginam, vel juxta Regem ſedere, vel Reginae appellatione inſigniri patiuntur, propter malitiram Eadburgae, quae virum p. 36ſuum Brithicum veneno perdidit, & juxta Regem ſedens, omnes Regni Nobiles accuſare ſolebat, & quos accuſare non potuit, potu eos venenifero necare conſuevit. Itaque pro Reginae maleficio omnes conjuraverunt, quod nunquam ſe regnare permitterent, qui in praedictis culpabilis inveniretur: as William of Malmesbury, Aſſerius Menevenſis, Matthew Weſtminſter, Florentius Wigornienſis, and others out of them relate,

iiSpelman. Concil. p. 327, 328, 329.There was a Parliamentary Synod, or Council, held at Celichith, in the year 816. at which, not only Anno 816Wulfred Archbiſhop of Canterbury, with all his Suffragan Biſhops, but likewiſe Kenulf king of Mercians, with his Princes, Dukes, and Nobles, and ſundry Abbots, Priests, Deacons, and other ſacred Orders were preſent, Propoſit. 4, 5, 6.wherein they enacted 11 Conſtitutions, the 6th. whereof was this in ſubſtance. That the Judgements and Decrees of Biſhops made in Synods ſhould not be infringed, but remain firm and irrefragable, being ratified with the ſign of the holy Croſs (by the Kings and Nobles Subſcriptions) unleſs perchance the King or Princes deemed the ſubſcriptions of their Anteceſſors of no force, and feared not to reform, or ceaſe from this error, which ſhall reſt and bring a Curſe on them and their heirs. The 7th. That no Biſhops, Abbots or Abbeſſes ſhall alienate or part with the Lands, writings and evidences of their Churches and Monaſteries, which they are intrusted to keep, niſi rationabilis cauſa popoſcit adjuvari, contra invaſionem famis, & Depraedationem Exercitus, & ad Libertatem obtinendam: which cauſes they reputed reaſonable.

In the year of our Lord 822. there was a Parliamentary Council aſſembled at Cloveſho, wherein Beornulph Anno 822.King of Mercians ſate Preſident, at which Wulfred Archbiſhop (k)Evident. Eccleſ. Chriſti Cant. col. 2213, 2214. Spelm. Concil. p. 332, 333, 334. Florentius Wigorn. Anno 822. p. 287. Ethelwerdi Hiſt. l. 9. c. 2.of Canterbury, with the reſt of the Biſhops, Abbots, omniumque dignitatum Optimatibus, Eccleſiaſticarum ſcilicet & ſaecularium perſonarum, were preſent, p. 37debating things both concerning the benefit and regulation of the Church, and defence and ſafety of the Realm (the proper ſubjects of our preſent Engliſh Parliaments) as theſe words import, Utilitatem & neceſſitatem Eccleſiarum, Monaſterialiſque vitae Regulam et obſervantiam, ſtabilitatem quoque Regni pertractanter. In this Parliamentary Council, the Proceedings in 3 precedent Councils, touching the Complaints Propoſit. 5, 6.of the Archbiſhops of Canterbury, of the Injuries done unto them, in taking away the Lands of the Church by their Kings and Officers, with the proceedings thereupon are at large recited, which I ſhall here tranſcribe, becauſe generally unknown to moſt, and beſt difcovering the proceedings of our antient Parliamentary Councils in Caſes of this nature; of any Council I have met with in that Age, and thoſe which next proceeded, or ſucceeded it.

All the ſaid perſons in the ſaid Council ſitting down quietly together, it was inquired by them; quomodo quis cum Justitia ſit tractatus, ſeu quis injustè ſit ſpoliatus? In what manner any one had been handled with juſtice? or if any one had been unjuſtly ſpoiled? Whereupon, amids other things there acted and ſpoken, it was ſhewed, That Archbiſhop Wulfred by the miſ-information, and enmity, and violence and avarice of king Kenulph, had ſuffered many injuries, and was moſt unjuſtly deprived of his juſt dominations, as well by thoſe things which were done unto him amongſt us here in England, as by thoſe things which were brought againſt him to the See Apoſtolick, by the procurement of the foreſaid King Kenulph: by which accuſations and diſcords, not only the fore-named Archbiſhop, but alſo the whole Engliſh Nation, for almost ſix years ſpace, was deprived of its primordial authority, and of the Miniſtry of ſacred Baptiſm. Above all theſe things, the ſaid king Kenulph at a certain time with his Council, coming to the City of London, appointed a day (with great indignation) p. 38wherein the Archbiſhop ſhould come unto Propoſit. 2; 4.him▪ whither when he came, the King commanded, that relinquiſhing all his goods, he ſhould speedily depart out of England, without hopes of returning any more, neither by the command of our Lord the Pope, neither by the intreaties of the Emperour, nor of any other perſon, unleſs he would conſent to his will, in demiſing to him a farm of 300 Hides of Land, called Leogeneſham, and moreover would give to the ſaid King one hundred and twenty pounds in money; This reconciliation the ſaid Wulfred refuſing, long contradicted; and when the friends of the man of God, and Nobles of the King, who loved him very much, perceived the rapacity and violence of the King, they importuned the Archbiſhop, that he would conſent to the Kings will, upon this condition; that the King ſhould relinquiſh the difference which he had raiſed between the Pope and Archbiſhop, by his Meſſengers, and ſhould reſtore to the ſaid Father all the power and dignity which belonged to the ſaid Primates See, according to the authority which his Predeceſſors moſt amply enjoyed in former time. But if the King could not do this, that he ſhould then reſtore the mony and Land, which he exacted of the Arohbiſhop to him again. Upon this condition therefore, the ſaid reverend Father gave his aſſent: But nothing of the aforeſaid condition was performed: For three whole years after the ſaid agreement, he remained deprived of the power which his predeceſſors and himſelf had before that difference over Suthmenſtre, as well in paſture, mony, veſtments, as obedience, which belonged to the Metrapolitical See.

But after the death of King Kenulf, when Beornulf reigned; the ſaid Archbiſhop Wulfred invited Abbeſs Kenedrytha, Heir and Daughter of King Kenulf, to the foreſaid Council; whither when ſhe came, the Archbiſhop complained in the audience of all the Council, of the injuries and troubles offered and done to him, and p. 39to Chriſts Church, by her Father; and required reparation from her, if it were Juſt: Then all the Council found it to be Iuſtice, et hoc unanimi conſenm Decrevit, and Decreed it by a unanimous conſent, Nota.That all thoſe things which her Father had taken away from the Archbiſhop, ſhe ought juſtly to reſtore unto him, and to give him ſo much again for reparation. And moreover ſhould restore all the uſe (or profit) the foreſaid Father had loſt in ſo long a ſpace: which ſhe humbly promiſed to do.

It ſeemed good therefore to king Beornulf, with his Wiſemen, for friendſhip ſake, moſt diligently to make a reconciliation and amends for the ſaid Lands, between the heirs of King Kenulf and thc Archbiſhop; and becauſe this pleaſed the king, and he humbly intreated it; out of Love and Friendſhip to the King the Archbiſhop conſented thereto; for the heirs of the ſaid king Kenulf often deſired to have the ſaid Father to be their Patron and interceſſor; And they intreated him with humble devotion, that for a full reconciliation, he would receive in four places one hundred Hides of Land; to wit Herges, and Herfording Land, Wamdelea, and Gedding. Then the Archbiſhop for the love of God, and the amiable friendſhip of Beornulf, conſenred to this accord, upon this condition; that the foreſaid Abbeſs ſhould deliver to the ſaid Archbiſhop, the foreſaid Lands of one hundred Hides, with the Books which the Engliſh …all Landbor, and with the ſame liberty which he had before, for a perpetual inheritnace: Whereupon king Beornulf, with the teſtimony of the whole Council, proclaimed it to be altogether free.

But this Agreement was not all this time ratified, becauſe after theſe things, the promiſe remained unfulfilled for 12 Moneths: for three Hides (or tenements) of the foreſaid Lands, were detained; and the Books of 47 tenements; to wit, the Book of Bockland, the Book of Wambelea, and alſo the Book p. 40of Herfocdingland, But in the year following ſhe the ſaid Ahbeſs deſired a Conference with the foreſaid Archbiſhop, who at that time was in the Country of the Wicii, at a place called Oſtaveſhlen, where he held a Council: where, when ſhe had found the man of God, ſhe confeſſed her folly in delaying her former agreement: upon which the Archbiſhop with great ſweetneſs ſhewed; that he was altogether free from the foreſaid agreement, and that of her part there were many things wanting which ſhe ought to have reſtored; but ſhe being brought before the Councill, greatly bluſhing; humbly promiſed, that ſhe would reſtore all thoſe things that were wanting, and with a willing mind reſtored to the Archbiſhop the Books of certain Lands, which before ſhe had not promiſed, with the Lands (adjudged to him, as Sir Henry Spelmans Margent ſupplies the defect) in the ſame Council. She likewiſe added thereto a farm of 4 tenements in Hevgam for his favour; likewiſe She gave to the Archbiſhop 30 Hide land (or tenements) in Cumbe; with a Book of the ſaid Lands, that a firm and ſtable friendſhip and accord might remain between all the heirs of King Kenul…f and the Archbiſhop. To all which things the Archbiſhop gave his conſent, upon this Condition, that the names of the aforeſaid Lands ſhould be raſed quite out of the Ancient Privileges which belong to Wincelcumbe, leſt in after times ſome controverſie ſhould be raiſed, De hoc quod Synodali authoritate decretum eſt, et ſigno crucis firmatum: concerning this which was ended by authority of the Council, and confirmed with the ſign of the Ctoſs▪ By this, and the precedent Councils of Cloveſho, it is apdarent; firſt, That the Injuſtice, Rapine, and oppreſſion of our Saxon Kings themſelves, was then examined and redreſſed in and by our Parliamentary Councils: 2ly. That Tittles to Lands, Juriſdictions, Privileges unjuſtly taken from the Church and other men, by our kings, or other great perſons and p. 41complaints touching the ſame, were uſually heard, determined and redreſſed in the great Parliamentary Councils of that Age, upon complaints made thereof, and that to and before the whole Council, not to any private Committees, not then in uſe. 3ly. That reſtitution, reparations and damages in ſuch Caſes, were uſually awarded in ſuch Parliamentary Councils, not only againſt the Kings & Parties that did the wrong, but likewiſe Nota.againſt their heirs; as here againſt Abbeſs Cenedritha, Daugher and heir to king Kenulph, After the deceaſe of her father the Tort Feaſor. 4ly. That the ſame cauſe and complaint was revived, continued, ended in ſucceeding, that reſted undecided, and unrecompenſed in former Councils. 5ly. That Agreements, Exchanges, and Judgements given upon Complaints in Parliamentary Councils, were concluſive and final to the Parties and their Heirs. 6ly. That Injuries done by the power of our Kings or great Men in one Parliamentary Council (as in dividing the Archbiſhoprick of Canterbury, &c.) were examined, & redreſſed by another ſubſequent Council. 7ly. That Parliamentary Councils in that Age, were very frequently held, at leaſt once or twice a year (if not interrupted by wars) and that uſually at Cloveſho, according to the llActus Pontif. Cantu. col. 1639. Spelm. Concil. p. 334.Decree of the Council of Heartford under Archbiſhop Theodor, That the Biſhops once a year ſhould aſſemble together in a Council at Cloveſho; as Gervaſius Dorobernienſis records; there being 4 Councils there, and elſewhere, held in King Beornulfs 4 years reign.

I find (m) another Council held at Cloveſho, in the year 824 the 3. of the Calends of November, under Beornulf Anno. 824. Spelm. Concil. p. 334, 335.King of Mercians and Wulfred Archbiſhop of Canterbury, where this King, which all his Biſhops and Abbots, and all the Princes, Nobles, and many moſt wiſe Propoſit. 5, 6.men we…e aſſembled together. Amongſt other buſineſſes debated therein, there was a ſute between Heabere Biſhop of Worceſter, and the Nuns of Berclea concerning the inheritance of Aethelfrick Son of Aethelmund, p. 42to wit the Monaſterie called Weſt-Burgh, the Lands whereof, with the Books, the Biſhop then had, as Aethelfrick had before commanded, that they ſhould be reſtored to the Church of Worcester. This Biſhop, with 50 Maſs Prieſts, and 160 other Prieſts, Deacons, Monks and Abbots (whoſe names are recorded in the Manuſcript) ſwore, that this Land and Monastery were impropriated to his poſſeſſion and Church; which Oath with all theſe fellow ſwearers, he was ordered to take at Weſtminſter, and did it accordingly, after 30 nights reſpire. Whereupon, It was ordained and decreed by the Archbiſhop, & all the Council conſenting with him; that the Biſhop ſhould enjoy the Monastery, Lands, and Books to him and his Church; and ſo that ſute was ended, and this Decree pronounced thereupon.

Quapropter, ſi quis hunc agrum ab illâ Eccleſiâ in Ceaſtre nititur evellere, contra Decreta ſanctorum Canonum ſciat ſe facere; quia ſancti Canones decernunt, Quicquid Sancta Synodus univerſalls cum Catholico Archiepiſcopo ſuo adjudicaverit, nullo modo fractum vel irritum eſſe faciendum. Haec autem geſta ſunt. Hi ſunt Teſtes & Confirmatores, hujus rei, quorum nomina hic infrà notantur, à die tertio Calend. Novembrium.

Ego Beornulf Rex Merciorum hanc chartulam Synodalis decreti ſigno ſanctae Chriſti Crucis confirmavi.

Then follows the Archbiſhops Subſcription and confirmation in like words; with the ſubſcriptions of ſundry Biſhops, Abbots, Dukes and Nobles, being 32 in number, all ratifying this Decree.

An. 833. nnIngulphi Hiſt. p. 855, 857. See Mat. Weſtm. Anno 833, 834, 835. Spelm. Concil. p. 337, 338, 339.Egbert, King of Weſt-Saxons, Athelwulfe his Son, Witlaſius king of Mercians, both the An. Dom. 833.Archbiſhops, Abbots, cum Proceribus majoribus totius Angliae, with the greateſt Nobles of all England, were all aſſembled together at London (in a National p. 43Parliamentary Council) pro conſilio capiendo contra Propoſit. 5, 9, 10.Danicos Piratas Littora Angliae aſsidne infeſtantes: to take Counſel what to do againſt the Daniſh Pirates, dayly infeſting the Sea-Coaſts of England.

In this Council the Charter of Witlaſius king of Mercians, to the Abbey of Croyland (where he was hid and ſecured from his enemies) was made and ratified; wherein he granted them many rich gifts of Plate, Gold, Silver, Land, and the Privilege of a Sanctuary, for all offenders flying to it for ſhelter; which grant could not be valid without a Parliamentary confirmation; for he being elected King, omnium conſenſu, after the ſlaughters of Bernulf and Ludican (two invading Tyrants cut off in a ſhort time; qui contra fas purpuram induerent, & regno vehementet oppreſſo, totam militiam ejus, quae quondam plurima extiterat, & victorioſiſſima, ſua imprudentia perdiderant, as Ingulphus writes) was enforced to hold his kingdom from Egbert king of Weſt-Sax…ns under a Tribute. And thereupon conferring divers Lands by his Charter to this Abbey for ever, to be held of him, his heirs and Succeſſors, Kings of Mercia, in perpetual and pure Frankalmoigne, quietae & ſolutae ab omnibus oneribus ſecularibus, exactionibus, & vectigalibus univerſis quocunque nomine cenſeantur. That his grant might be ſound and valid, he was neceſſitated to have it confirmed in this Parliamentary Council, by the conſent of King Egbert and his Son and of all the Biſhops, Abbots. et Proceribus Majoribus Angliae, and the greater Nobles of England there preſent; moſt of them ſubſcribing and ratifying this Charter with the ſign of the Croſs, and their names.

About the year of Grace 838. there was a Parliamentary Anno. 838.Council held at ooEvident. Eccl. Cbriſti Cantuar. col. 2217, 2218. Spelm. Concil. p. 340.Kingston, in which Egbert king of the West-Saxons, and his Son Aethelwulfe, Ceolnoth Archbiſhop of Canterbury, with the reſt of the Biſhops and Nobles of England were preſent. Amongſt many things there acted and ſpoken, Archbiſhop Ceolnoth ſhewed before p. 44the whole Council, That the foreſaid Kings Egbert and Aerhelwulfe had given to Christchurch, the Mannor called Malinges in Suſſex, free from all ſecular ſervice and Regal Tributes, excepting only theſe three, Expedition, building of Bridge and Caſtle: which foreſaid Propoſit. 5, 6, 10.Mannor and Lands King Baldred gave to Christchurch; Sed quia ille Rex cunctis Principibus non placuit, noluerunt donum ejus permanere ratum; But becauſe this King pleaſed not all his Nobles, they would not that this his gift ſhould continue firm: (To which Sir Henry Spelman adds this Marginal Note, Rex non potuit diſtrahere patrimonium Regni, ſine aſſenſu Procerum) Wherefore the foreſaid Kings (in this Parliamentary Council, with their Nobles aſſent) at the requeſt of the ſaid Archbiſhop, regranted and confirmed it to Chriſtchurch; with this Anathema annexed againſt the infringers of this grant, If any ſhall preſume to violate it, on the behalf of God, and of us Kings, Biſhops, Abbots, and all Chriſtians, let him be ſeparated from God, and let his portion be with the Devil and his Angols.