called Iohn Archicantor, that is, chiefe Chaunter, or singer, S. Peters Churche at Rome, and Abbot of
the Monasterie of S. Martin there. Benedicte an Abbot of Britaine, hauinge builded a Monasterie at
the mouthe of the Riuer Murus, (Bede so calleth it) sued to the Pope for confirmations, liberties,
fraunchisies, priuileges &c. as in suche case hath beene accustomed. Amonge other thinges, he ob∣teined
this cunninge Chaunter Iohn, to come with him into Britaine, to teache songe.
Bicause Bedes Ecclesiastical storie is not very common, I haue thought good, here to recite his owne
woordes, thus Engli••hed. This Abbot Benedicte tooke with him the foresaide Iohn, to bring him into
Britaine, that he should teache in his Monasterie the course of Seruice for the whole yeere, so as it
was doone at S. Peters in Rome. Iohn did as he had commaundement from the Pope, bothe in teachinge
the singinge men of the saide Monasterie, the order, and rite of singinge, and readinge with vtterance
of their voice, and also of writing and prickinge those thinges, that the compasse of the whole yeere
required in the celebration and keepinge of the holy daies. Which be kepte in the same Monasterie, til
this day, and be copied out of many rounde about on euery coaste. Neither did that Iohn teache the Bre∣thren
of that Monasterie onely, but also many other made al the meanes they coulde, to get him to other
places, where they might haue him to teache. This farre Bede. I trowe, no man wil thinke, that this
Romaine taught, and wrote the order and manner of singinge, and pronouncinge the Seruice of the
Churches of this lande, in the Englishe tongue. If it had beene deemed of the learned, and godly go∣uernours
of Christen people then, a necessary pointe to saluation, to haue had the Seruice in the English••
no man had beene so apte and fitte to haue translated it, as he, who in those daies had by special grace
of God, a singular gifte to make songes, and sonets in Englishe Meter, to serue religion, and deuotion.
His name was Cednom, of whome Bede writeth marueilouse thinges. Howe he made diuerse songes
conteininge mater of the holy Scripture, with suche exceedinge sweetenesse, and with suche a grace, as
many feelinge their hartes compuncte, and prickte, with hearinge and readinge of them, withdrewe
themselues from the loue of the worlde, and were enkendled with the desire of the heauenly life.
Many (saithe Bede) of the Englishe Nation, attempted after him to make religious, and godly Poetries:
but none coulde doo comparably to him. For he was not (saith he, alludinge to S. Paules woordes) taught
of men, neither by man, that Arte of makinge godly songes: but receiued from God that gifte freely.
And therefore he coulde make no wanton, triflinge, or vaine ditties, but onely suche as perteined to
godly Religion, and might seeme to proceede of a head guided by the holy Gost. Lib. 4. Cap. 24. This
diuine Poete Cednom, though he made many and sundrie holy workes, hauing their whole argumēt out
of holy Scripture, as Bede reporteth: yet neuer made he any peece of the Seruice to be vsed in the Church.
Thus the faith hath continued in this lande among•• the English people from the .14. yeere of the reigne
of Mauritius Themperour, almost these .1000. yeeres, and vntil the late King Edwardes time, the English
Seruice was neuer hearde of, at least way neuer in the Churche of Englande by publike authoritie re∣ceiued,
and vsed.