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ONe Wigardus an Englishman, an ancient and lear∣ned [ 668] Priest was chosen to succéede Deus-dedit, and sent to Rome for consecration with letters commen∣datorie from Egbert king of Kent, and Oswy king of Nor∣thumberland, who also sent presents of great value vnto
Vitalianus that was then Pope. It chanced he came to Rome at a time when the plague was very hot there; and died of the same, as did also almost all his companie that came with him. The Pope vnderstanding the See had stood long void, and carefull to sée it furnished, made choice of one Adrian an Abbot of Italy, but borne in Afrike, a graue man and verie learned. He would not be perswaded to take so great a charge vpon him; but being importuned thereunto, he pro∣mised to finde out a man that should be of greater both lear∣ning and yéeres then himselfe, and in all other respects verie fit for the place. He was familiarly acquainted with one Theodore a Grecian, borne in Tharsus of Cilicia S. Paules countrey; a man well seene in all kinde of good learning & 66. yéeres of age. Vitalianus notwithstanding refused to allow of him, except the other would promise to go into England with him also. He was content, did so, and at his comming thither was made Abbot of S. Augustines. Theodore then was consecrate Archbishop, Aprill 1. 668. when the Sée had béene voide almost fower yéeres. In Maie following they set forward toward England. They had many lets by the way, and got not thither in a yéeres and a halfe. They brought with them great store of bookes both Gréeke and Latin, whereof some remaine yet to be seene at this day, as namely a Homer (so faire and exquisitely written, as no print in the world yet extant is thought to be comparable to it either for truth or beautie) and diuers other. Unto this man all the British Bishops and generally all Britaine yeelded obedi∣ence, and vnder him conformed themselues in all things vn∣to the rites and discipline of the church of Rome. He was a very stont and rigorous man, exercising the authoritie of his place so 〈◊〉〈◊〉, as many thinke it a great blot vnto him. How he tooke vpon him to place and displace 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Bishops at his pleasure, as Wilfride, Cedda and other, see in the beginning of Yorke. In his time were held two Synods, one at Hereford (the Canons whereof you may see in Beda lib. 4. cap. 5.) the other at Clyff beside Rochester, in which he procured all the Prelates there assembled to set downe their opinions touching the heresie of 〈◊〉〈◊〉, wherewith his countreymen the Grecians were much infected: They all
detested it, and gaue their approbation of those fiue famous generall Councels, of Nice, of Ephesus, of Chalcedon and the two first of Constantinople. Neuer before this time had England so happie daies, nor so many learned men as vnder him, and a little after. Amongst a great number of other, these were of his bréeding, Beda, Saint Iohn of Beuerley, Albinus, and Tobias Bishop of Rochester, all excellent and very famous men. He erected (as some say) a kind of schoole or Uniuersitie at Creeklade, or rather Greekeslade in Wilt∣shire, so called of the Grecians that taught and studied there. These men soone after remoouing thence, are supposed to haue laide the foundations of our Uniuersitie of Oxford. He left sundrie monuments of his learning in writing behind him, and appointed many Bishops in diuers parts of this land. Hauing continued Archbishop 22. yéeres he died September 19. ann 690. being 88. yéeres of age; vntill which time hée would often say he thought he should liue, for that in a dreme it was so signified vnto him many yéeres before. A litle before his death he sent for Wilfride Archbishop of Yorke, and Er∣kenwald Bishop of London, and confessing himselfe vnto them; acknowledged that he had doon Wilfride great wrong, insomuch as, there was no one thing that lay so hard vpon his conscience as that, and therefore with teares besought him to forgiue him and to pray for him. He was buried with∣in the church of Saint Augustines Abbey.