The succession of the bishops of England since the first planting of Christian religion in this island together with the historie of their liues and memorable actions faithfully gathered out of the monuments of antiquity. VVhereunto is prefixed a discourse concerning the first conuersion of our Britaine vnto Christian religion. By Francis Godwin now Bishop of Hereford.

3. Wilfridus.

THis Wilfrid was borne in the North Countrey of meane parentage.* 1.1 The time of his Childhood hee lost in his Fathers house, being vntaught vntill hee was fourteene yeares of age; at what time not sustaining the frowardnes of his stepmother, hee went abroad to seeke his fortune as they say. And first, he light vpon certaine Courtiers that had beene beholding vnto his Father for diuers curtesies. By them he was presented vnto the Quéene, as a child for wit and beau∣ty not vnfit to do her seruice; Shee by questioning sound the

inclination of the boye, that hee was desirous to become a Scholler. Therefore shee sent him to one Cedda, that of a Councellor and Chamberlaine to the King, had become a Monke at Lindisfarne, whether it might not bee the man be∣fore mentioned, I discerne not. By him he was diligently in∣structed, and being very sharpe-witted, profited wonderfully vnder him. At that time there was a great contention in the Church about the obseruation of Easter; whereof this youth being desirous to bee fully informed, determined to goe to Rome, and study there a while. By meanes of Eanfled the Q. aforesaid, and Ercombert K. of kent, he was furnished for this voyage & sent along with one or two other. In the way he fell acquainted with Wulsinus Archbishop of Lyons, who made very much of him, & stayed him with him a time, to the great increase of his knowledge. Continuing then no long time at Rome, in his returne homeward, hee was ordered by the Archbishop of Lyons aforesaid, who also adopted him to be his sonne. Hee meant not to haue returned into his owne Countrey, but that this Archbishop was taken from him be∣ing murthered by Brunechildus the Quéene that had cruelly slaine 9. other Bishops before. Presently vpon his returne home, king Egfrid gaue him a house and maintenance, and many noblemen admiring much his learning and eloquence, bestowed diuers things vpon him; at last with great applause & liking of al men, he was chosen Bishop, & sent into France, where he was consecrate by 12. other Bishops: for he refused to take consecration at the hands of the Scottish bishops, that were counted schismatiques in not agréeing with the church of Rome concerning the time and obseruation of Easter. Be∣yond the seas he stayed somwhat longer then hee néeded, be∣ing delighted with the company of many learned men of that country: and when he would haue returned, by tempest of weather he was driuen into farre countries, where he wan∣dred a long time. Coming home, and finding another man in his place, hee liued a while a priuate life. In which mean space he was often inuited by Wulfher king of Merce∣land vnto the Bishopricke of Lichfield. In the ende Cedda being remooued (as before is said) he setled himselfe at Yorke, and posted Cedda to Lichfield. Then, the first thing hee went

about was to finish his Cathedrall Church left vnperfect by Paulinus, and since his departure very much decaied (for the roofe was fallen, and the walles in many places ruinous) this his Church I say hee repaired, and finished, mending the walles, couering it with lead, glasing the windowes, and moreouer beautified the same with many goodly ornaments. He was so greatly beloued of al sorts of people for his gentle∣nes, affability & liberality, as many men liuing, but more at their death (especially Cleargy men) would put their goods & children into his hands; the one assuring themselues of a faith¦full keeper, the other of a discréete and conscionable dispender. Hereby it came to passe that in short time hee became excee∣ding rich, hauing many seruitors to attend vpon him, and great store of plate, and other houshould-••tuffe very sumptu∣ous. The report whereof comming to the eares of Theodore Archbishop of Canterbury: it put him in minde of the great∣nesse of that Dioces and the ability of the Country to main∣taine more Bishops. Wherefore hee went about to appoynt two or thrée other Bishops vnder him. Which when Wil∣fride obstinately refused, and the other ceased not to vrge very earnestly; he appealed vnto the Pope, and went vnto him in person. Some report (I thinke vntruly) that he went about to perswade the Quéene to forsake her husband, and betake her selfe to a monastery; and that the king being greatly dis∣pleased héerwith, first sought to diminish his authority by ma∣king more Bihops, and afterwards made diuers complaints vnto the Pope against him, séeking to haue him depriued. Whosoeuer caused it, certaine it is, that to the Pope he tra∣uelled. In passing of the Sea, hee was driuen by a contrary winde into Frizia, and staied there all winter preaching the Gospell (neuer heard of in that country before) vnto the king and people, whom before his departure hee conuerted vnto Christ. The Pope was then at the Councell of Constance; where, both by him and his Councell it was ordered, that the state of the Bishopricke of Yorke should not be altered with∣out Wilfrids owne consent. But Egfride the king so fauored Theodores deuise, as Wilfride at his returne perceiued wel, he must either yéeld vnto it or forsake the country Heerin me∣thinks he was to blame: Not induring to take a repulse in a

matter he had trauelled so much in; He rather chose to leaue Bishopricke, country and all, and to liue in pouerty and exile. He went into Sussex, and there indeuouring to conuert the people of that country vnto the faith of Christ, became their first Bishop, and laid the foundations of a Cathedrall church, the Sée being afterward remooued to Chicester. Sée more heereof in Chicester. After ten yéeres banishment, K. Ed∣frid dying, Alfrid that succéeded him sent for Wilfride and desired him to returne to this Sée of Yorke: which hee did. But after fiue yéeres, the king fell out with him, and forced him to Rome againe. There purging himselfe of all the accu∣sations laid against him by the king, he obtained the Popes letters in fauour of him; by meanes wherof, and intercession of many friends, with much ado, at last he was restored once more vnto his first charge; in which after this his last restitu∣tion, hee liued peaceably the space of fower yéeres, and died then, being seuenty sixe yéeres of age, October the twelfth the yéere 711. forty fiue yeeres after his first consecration. Hee was buried in the monastery of Rippon which himselfe built: The Church there being fallen downe for want of reparati∣on, Odo Archbishop of Cant. remooued his bones to Cant. about the yéere 940. Many other things are at large repor∣ted of him by Beda, lib. 5. cap. 20 Amongst the rest his Epi∣taph there set downe I thought good to insert.

Wilfridus hic magnus requiescit corpore praesul, Hanc domino qui aulam ductus pietatis amore Fecit, & eximio sacrauit nomine Petri, Curclaues coeli Christus dedit arbiter orbis, Atque auro ac ••••rio deuotus vestijt ostro. Quinetiam sublime crucis radiante metallo Hic posuit trophaeum, nec non quatuor auro Scribi Euangelij praecepit in ordine libros, Ac thecam •• rutilo his condignam condidit auro. Paschalis qui etiam solemnia tempora cursûs Catholici ad iustum correxit dogma Canonis. Quem statuere patres, dubioque errore remoto. Certa suae genti ostendit moderamina ritûs; Inque Iocis istis monachorum examina cr••bra

Colligit, ac monitis cauit quae regula patrum Sedulus instituit, multisque domique forisque, Iactatus nimium per tempora longa periclis, Quin decies ternos post quam egit episcopus annos, Transijt & gaudens caelestia regna petiuit, Dona Iesu, Grex vt pastoris calle sequatur.

Sée more of this Wilfride in Theodore of Canterbury.

Notes

• * 1.1

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