XVIII. CHAP.* 1.1
1. Death of Tobias Bishop of Rochester.
2 3 S. Boniface consults the Pope about seve∣rall Questions: which are resolved by him
1. THE same year Tobias Bishop of Rochester dyed. He was,* 1.2 saith S. Beda, Disciple of Theo∣dore Arch-bishop of Canterbury of happy memory, and of Adrian Abbot of S. Augustins Monastery. And to a great perfection of learning both Ecclesia∣sticall and secular he added so accurate a skill in languages both Greek and Latin, that they were as familiar to him as his Native countreys tongue He was buried in the Porch of S. Pauls, which himself had built within the Church of S. An∣drew to be a place for his sepulcher. From this passage of S. Beda the great Cardinall Baronius inferrs,* 1.3 that the English Nation received from the Roman Church, not the Catholick Faith only, but likewise all good literature. To Tobias there succeeded in the See of Rochester Aldul∣fus, who was the tenth Bishop of that Church.
2. But the incessant labours of S. Boniface wil oft interrupt our Narration of the affaires of Brittany,* 1.4 and require our attention to them.
This year (as appears by an Epistle or Pope Gregory to him) he sent his Preist Denua•• to the said Pope to onsult him about certain difficulties occurring in the discharge of his Apostolick Office. As 1. within what degrees of propinquity Mariage may be permitted: to which the Resolution was, that the utmos•• strictnes ought not to be exercised to such new converted Nation, and therefore tha•• beyond the fourth degree of affinity or consan∣guinity Mariage might be allowd. Again 2. that in case a woman have an incurable in∣firmity (before Mariage be accomplished) it may be lawfull for the husband to marry another 3. That if a Preist be defamed by an accusation of the people, and no certain Wit∣nesses be produced against him, the Preist by oath making God witnes of his innocence shall remain in his degree 4. That it is no fitt that more Chalices then one should be upon the Altar at celebration of Masse 5 That concerning eating meats consecrated to Idols, it may be allowd after making the sign of the Crosse over them except in case o•• scandal mentioned by S. Paul, •••• at one shoul•• say, This was offred to Idols. 6. That children ••o either sex offred by their parents to God in their infancy to a Regular Discipline, may not afterward in ripe age leave that state and contract matrimony. 7. That persons bapti∣zed by adulterous and scandalous Preists ought not therefore to be rebaptized. But in case there be a doubt whether infants have been baptized or not, then according to the Tradition of the Holy Fathers, they ought