A catalogue of the bishops of England, since the first planting of Christian religion in this island together with a briefe history of their liues and memorable actions, so neere as can be gathered out of antiquity. By F.G. subdeane of Exceter.

1. Augustine.

IT is very certaine and witnessed by [ 596] many histories without exception, that our Island of Britayne receiued the faith of Christ euen in the first in∣fancie of the Church. Theodoret and Sophronius Patriarke of Jerusalem affirme that Saint Paul himselfe was héere, and preached the Gospell after his first imprisonment at Rome. Ni∣cephorus and some other report that Simon Zelotes came hither, and was the first messenger of the glad tidings of the Gospell to our nation. But it is deliuered by one consent that Saint Philip the Apostle of the Frenchmen vnderstanding how this Island (from whence first sprong the superstitious religion of the Druydes) was seperated from Fraunce by a small cut of a fewe houres saile; thought good to send ouer hi∣ther twelue preachers, the chiefe whereof was Ioseph of Ari∣mathia that buried the bodie of our Sauiour Christ. These men arriuing héere, the yéere of our Lord 63. did their best in∣deuour for the conuersion of our Britaines. It pleased not God they shoulde preuaile with the king, who in no wise would be woone from the superstition of the Druydes: But of the meaner sort of people many there were that hearkened vnto them: yea the king himselfe admiring their great mo∣destie, painfulnes and vertuous behauiour, was content to assigne them a place of habitation (where Glastonbury now standeth) which was at that time and long after an Island all compassed about with lakes and standing water. And another king gaue vnto euery of those twelue a hide of lande in the countrey néere adioyning, which are named to this day the twelue hides of Glastonbury. In this Island of Gla∣stonbury (then called Auallon) Ioseph and his fellowes found

meanes to build a church, which after they were dead stoode desolate, the whole Island being forsaken and remaining without any inhabitant many yéeres, euen vntill the time of king Lucius, which was about the yéere of Christ 180. It hapned then, a lawe héeretofore made by Claudius Caesar (as Suetonius reporteth in his life) was now generally put in execution, by the Romaines (who ruled all this end of the world) commanding that the superstitious religion of the Druydes should euery where be abolished.

The pulling vp of these wéedes gaue good occasion vnto the séede of the Gospell (sowed long before by the preachers afore mentioned) now to spring and bring foorth fruite; whereunto God gaue so good increase, as Lucius the king himselfe was content to put on the swéete yoke of our Saui∣our: which that it might be the better and the more fruitfully performed, he sent Eluan (a notable impe and disciple of that holy College at Auallon) and Medwyin a Dutch man (that were the instruments of his conuersion) vnto Eleutherius the bishop of Rome, requesting that he would send other preachers vnto his realme by whom he and his people might be further instructed in the way of truth. He satisfied his de∣maund and sent vnto him two notable men, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and Phaganus, by whose paines and industrie chiefly the whole realme was finally conuerted. They sought out the ancient church at Glastonbury, repaired the same, and dwelled there for the space of nine yéeres after. Now king Lucius being himselfe Baptised and many of his people, in all parts of his dominions, he caused the temples of his false gods to be dedi∣cate to the seruice of the true God, in the place of their priests he appointed preachers of the Gospel, and for their Flamines Bishops to the number of 28. Of these 28. thrée were Arch∣bishops; one at London whose prouince was the south part of England: Another at Caerlegion vpon Uske, his prouince was Wales: And a third at Yorke, vnto whose iurisdiction the Bishops of Scotland and North England were subiect. The Gospell hauing taken such déepe roote héere, flourished a while very prosperously: And albeit it were often lopped and pruned afterward, yea the very maine rootes mightily struc∣ken at by the violent indeuour of sundry tyrants that sought

vtterly to destroy and abolish the same out of this land: yet had it euer many constant and open professors that neuer suf∣fred the light thereof vtterly to be extinguished Amongst ma∣nie, the most terrible persecution that euer this church sustai∣ned was by the Saxons, who expelled not onely Christian religion, but the followers of the same into a corner of this Island. Howbeit, euen amongst these very barbarous Sax∣ons, there were diuers from time to time that professed Christ But our countrey being in a manner all growen ouer with Pagamsme (for there was no publike allowance of Christian religion any where but in Wales) it pleased God to giue this occasion of replanting the same héere againe. It chanced that blessed and holy father Saint Gregory one day to espie certaine beautifull children to be sold in the stréetes of Rome, and vnderstanding they were Pagans, asked of what countrey they were: It was answered they were An∣gles: well may they be so called quoth he, for they looke like Angels. Demaunding them of what prouince they were, it was said they were of Deira: God grant (saith he) they may be De ira dei eruti, deliuered from the wrath of God and made partaker of his mercies by Christ. Hée procéeded yet further, and asked how the king of that countrey was called: vnderstanding his name was Elle. Alleluia (quoth he) must néedes be sung in those parts in praise of almightie God. Not long after then, this good man being made Pope, hée tooke especiall care of sending preachers into this land for the con∣uersion of the same. Yet it is not to be denied, and it appée∣reth manifestly by the letters of Saint Gregory himselfe vn∣to the king and Quéene of France, that this care of his was much stirred vp by the forwardnes of some good Saxons, that complained vnto him of the negligence of the French priestes, who being so néere, would neuer take any course for the planting of Christianitie amongst them, and therefore praied him that he would send preachers thither. He did so, & made choice of one Augustine a monke of greater vertue then learning, vnto whom he appointed fortie other that shoulde accompanie and aide him in this holy worke. Being now well onward on their way, they enquired of the state of the countrey and manners of the people vnto whom they went,

and vnderstoode so much of their barbarous and fierce rude∣nes, as they in a manner all vtterly renounced procéeding any farther in the voyage, and as it were compelled Augu∣stine to poste backe to Rome, there to craue licence of re∣turne. Saint Gregorie much grieued with this 〈◊〉〈◊〉, writ his letters vnto them, wherein hé vsed many reasons to perswade them in any wise to goe forward; whereun∣to at last they yéelded. They arriued at the Iste of Thanet in Kent the yéere 596. nowe iust a thousand yéeres agoe. The king of that countrie (his name was Ethelbert) inter∣tained them with all curtesie, the rather (as it is to be sup∣posed) by the persuasion of his wife Berta that was a Chri∣stian. There was néere vnto the citie of Canterburie a church built of old by the Romaines and dedicated vnto S. Martin, in which the Quéene was woont to pray with Lethardus her Bishop. There these men were allowed to preach, pray, bap∣tise and vse all maner of exercise pertaining to Christian reli∣gion. The king himselfe all this while gaue them mainte∣nance, came often to heare them, and at last being throughly conuerted, tooke on him the badge of Christ by baptisme, all his people quickly following his example. He then also ap∣pointed vnto Augustine and his companions a house at Sta∣blegate, and allotted competent reuenues vnto the same. The matter being thus far forward, Augustine stept into France and caused himselfe there to be consecrated Archbishop of England by Etherius Archbishop of Arles. Presently vpon his returne thence, he sent two of his companie vnto Rome (Laurence and Peter) to aduertise the Pope of their good suc∣cesse. By them when they returned he sent Augustine a pall, bookes, church-ornaments and other necessaries. He sent also presently vnto the king, and writ diuers letters; some gratu∣latorie to the king, some vnto Augustine exhorting him to di∣ligence in his calling, and to take héede least the miracles which God wrought by him for the conuersion of this people should make him proud; and lastly, others vnto the Archbi∣shop of Arles to thanke him for his good aide and assistance yéelded to these men in this businesse. In the meane time Au∣gustine had obtained of the king another church in the midst of the citie, built likewise heretofore by the Romaines and

dedicated the same vnto our Sauiour Christ. Soone after, this good king gaue vnto him also his owne palace and chiefe seate of his kingdome, remoouing himselfe vnto Rheaculf, cal∣led by the Romaines Regulbium now 〈◊〉〈◊〉: And last∣ly he laid the foundation of a goodly monasterie which he de∣dicated to S. Peter and S. Paule, knowen afterwards by the name of S. Augustines. These things being thus ordered, he indeuoured to make a concord and agréement betwéene the Saxons and the Welchmen, who differed from the Romane church in two things, the manner of baptizing, and the time of the obseruation of Easter. Much paines he tooke to per∣suade them, yea wrought a myracle by healing a blinde man for confirmation of his doctrine, as you may read in Beda his Eccl. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. lib. 2. cap. 2. But they woulde by no meanes con∣sent to any such vnion, much lesse yéeld any kinde of subiecti∣on to that authoritie which he claimed to haue ouer all this Island. He gaue not ouer with one repulse, but when at the first he could not preuaile, he procured a second conference, at what time there met him seuen Britaine Bishops and a great number of monks, especially of that famous monaste∣rie of Bannachor a place not farre from Chester wherein there liued by the labour of their owne hands 2000. monks. These men before they came to the place of meeting appoin∣ted, thought good to aske the counsell of a certaine Anehorite whom they reputed for a very holie and deuout man, and to know of him whether he thought it best for them to yeeld to the directions of Saint Augustine. He aduised them, if hee were a man of God, to take the course he shewed, and to fol∣low the same And when they asked how they should discerne whether he were such a one or no, he pronounced this say∣ing of our Sauiour, Take my yoke vpon you and learne of me for I am meeke and humble of hart: If therefore this same Augustine be a méeke and humble minded man, it is a great presumption that he beareth the yoke of Christ, and offereth the same vnto you: But if he be stout and proud, he is not of God you may be bold. This therefore saith he is my aduire, haue a care that he and his companie be first in the place where you meete: If then you being the greater number he rise not to doe you reuerence, but despise you, despise you

also him and his counsell. Augustine therefore first entered the place with his banner and his crosse, with singing proces∣sion and great pompe; and when the Britayne Bishops came in, neuer rose or saluted them at all. This they taking verie ill, gainsaid him in euery thing, told him, that as his opinions were allowed by Gregory, so had theirs long since by E∣leutherius both Bishops of Rome, that they had an Arch∣bishop then commorant at Caerlegion, him they would obey and none other, especially such a one as he was, a man vnknowne, and a stranger not onely for his person and lan∣guage, but much more for his opinions and strange conceits. Augustine much displeased with this short answere, prayed them to yéeld vnto him but in thrée things, to minister Bap∣tisme and obserue Easter according to the Roman maner, to assist him in preaching Christ vnto the Saxons. But when they vtterly denied to ioyne with them in any sort, he de∣nounced against them the iudgements of God for this 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and assured them confidently (as saith Beda) of some great calamitie shortly to fall vpon their nation; that they which would not haue peace with their brethren, should haue warre with their enimies, and should finde death by their swords, vnto whom they refused to preach the way of life. It came to passe according to his prediction, that Edel∣fride king of Northumbers; a Pagan Saxon came against them shortly after with a huge armie, ouerthrew them in battaile, and slew (besides an infinite number of souldiers and men of armes) a great many monkes, to the number of 1200. that were gathered togither there to fight by praier: onely fiftie persons saued themselues by flight. Soone after this battaile (which some say Augustine liued not to sée) he died, hauing béene Archbishop 16. yéeres, to wit, May 25. (which day is dedicated to his memorie in our Kalender) the yéere 611. or (as some deliuer) ann. 605. He was a man of excéeding tall stature, well fauoured, and of a very 〈◊〉〈◊〉 countenance. His body at first was buried without doores néere the church of his monasterie, because the church was not yet finished; but afterwards was remooued into the north porch of the said church, in which place all the bodies of the Archbishops following were laid vntill Theodore, who

was first buried in the church because the porch was full. Up∣on the tombe of this our apostle was engrauen this epitaph, Hic requiescit Diuus Augustinus Dorobernensis Archiepisco∣pus, qui olim huc a Beato Gregorio Romanae vrbis Pontifice directus & a Deo operatione 〈◊〉〈◊〉 suffultus, & Ethel∣bertum Regem & gentem illius ab Idolorum cultu ad fidem Christi perdoxit. Héere resteth the body of S. Augustine the first Archbishop of Dorobernia, that was sent into this land by Saint Gregory Bishop of the citie of Rome, approoued of God by the working of miracles, and that brought Ethel∣bert the king and his people from the worshipping of idols vnto the faith of Christ.