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ANCIENT FVNERALL MONV∣MENTS WITHIN THE Diocesse of Canterbury.
The Foundation of Christ-Church in Canterbury.
CHristian Religion (of which I haue spoken before) which presently after our blessed Sauiours passion, was both preached, and planted in this Island, by Ioseph of Arimathea, and his associates, and after that aduanced, and increased by Lucius King of the Britaines, and his famous Clerkes; being darkened, ouerclouded, and al∣most totally eclipsed, with the contagious smoke arising from such abhominable sacrifices as were offered here vnto strange Idols; was againe illumined, and recomforted with the glorious beames of reli∣gious light by Augustine the Monke, and his fellow-labourers in Christs vineyard. Which Augustine (sent hither from Rome by Gregory the great) when he had found such fauour in the sight of King Ethelbert, that he might freely preach the Gospell in this his countrey; hee chose for as∣semblie and prayer, an old Church in the East part of this Citie, which was a long time before builded by the Romanes, and hee made thereof (by li∣cence of the King) a Church, for himselfe and his successours, dedicating the same to the name of our blessed Sauiour Christ; whereof it was alwayes afterward called Christ-Church. And by the meanes of the said Pope Gre∣gory, hee translated the Metropolitan See from London (the Cathedrall Church being then at Saint Peters in Cornhill) to this his newly consecra∣ted Church here in Canterbury: whereof he was the first Archbishop. By these proceedings the prophesie of Merlin was fulfilled, which foretold that Christianity should faile, and then reuiue againe, when the See of Lon∣don did adorne Canterbury. Of which out of an old * 1.1 Manuscript these fol∣lowing Rimes.
Erchebysshop furste of alle Seynt Austyn was ther; But ye Erchcbysshops Se at London was er: Tho camme Merlynes word to sothe atten ende, Yat ye dignyte of London to Canterbery sholde wende. Anothur chyrche in Cantyrbery he lete rere, Yat is clupyd Christ Chyrche, and now the Se is there.
Since which time, this sacred structure, by the pious and exceeding charges of succeeding Archbishops (by the deuotion of those dayes made