The church-history of Brittany from the beginning of Christianity to the Norman conquest under Roman governours, Brittish kings, the English-Saxon heptarchy, the English-Saxon (and Danish) monarchy ... : from all which is evidently demonstrated that the present Roman Catholick religion hath from the beginning, without interruption or change been professed in this our island, &c. / by R.F., S. Cressy of the Holy Order of S. Benedict.

* 1.1I. CHAPTER.

1.2. &c. The Gests of the Holy Abbot S. Ceolfrid: He resigns his Office and in travelling toward Rome, dyes at Lan¦gres in France.

1. THE year of Grace seaven hundred and seaventeen is illustrated by the deaths of two glorious English Saints, the great S Swibert Apostle of the Germans, and Saint Ceolfrid the worthy Successour of S. Benedict B••scop in the government of the Monasteries of Saint Peter and S. Paul at Wire∣mouth and Girwy in the Kingdom of the Northumbers.

2. Treating above of the occurrents of the year of our Lord six hundred eighty three, we then out of a History of Saint Beda lately published concerning the Abbots of those two Convents, related the memorable Gests and happy deaths of Easterwin, Sigfrid and S. Benedict Biscop, who had been Abbots of the same before this S. Ceolfrid, to whom S. Benedict at his death recommended the care of them both, and by whom Saint Beda himself received his education in learning and piety. Now therefore it will be requi∣site to pursue his Narration concerning this his devout, carefull Master and Benefactour: Which is as follows:

3. S. Ceolfrid (saith he) was a man in∣dustrious in all things,* 1.2 sharp of witt, dili∣gent in busines, ripe in iudgment and fer∣vent in his zeale for promoting Religion.

He as hath been already declared, by the assi∣stance of S. Benedict Biscop in the space of seaven years founded, perfected and go∣verned the Monastery of S. Paul the Apostle: and afterward became Abbot both of that and the other Monastery also of S Peter, which considering their mutuall charity and pro∣pinquity were to be esteemed as one Mona∣stery: In which Office he continued twenty eight years, carefully and pr••dently accom∣plishing the worthy design begun by his Predecessour S. Benedict. For he added seve∣rall new built Oratories, encreased the num∣ber of Sacred Vessels and Vestments for the Altars and Church and also much enlarged the Libraries of both the Monasteries, former∣ly well furnished by his Predecessour. Parti∣cularly he added three Pandects of a New

Translation,* 1.3 to a former one of an old, of which one he took with him in his last voyage to Rome, leaving the others to each Monastery one: he gave likewise a large Book of Cosmography of an admirable work, which S. Benedict had bought at Rome.

4. Moreover he purchased of the devout and learned King Aldfrid a peice of land of eight families near the River Fresca, for a possession to the Monastery of S. Paul: which land had been taxed by S. Benedict, but he dyed before he could accōplish the purchase. But afterward in the raign of King Osred, Saint Ceolfrid made an exchange of this land for other land of twenty families near a town called Sambu••e, (from which it tooke its name) because it lay nearer and more con∣veniently to the Monastery: for the effecting of which exchange he added a considerable Summ of money. And having done this, he sent certain Monks to Rome who obtained of Sergius Pope of happy memory a Priviledge for the security of the Monastery, as S. Bene∣dict before had received from Pope Agathon: and this latter likewise, as the former, was confirmed in a Synod by the subscription of the Magnificent King Aldfrid and the Bishops there present. In his time also a certain ser∣vant of Christ learned in Scriptures and se∣cular knowledge, called Witmer underta∣king a Monasticall Profession in the Monastery of S. Peter, which he afterwards governed, gave for a perpetuall possession to the same Monastery a peice of land of ten families, which had been given him by King Aldfrid.

5. But S. Ceolfrid after a long and exact practise of Regular Observance, instructions for which he had received partly from his Father Saint Benedict, and partly himself had collected from the ancient Fathers; after an incomparably skillful exercise of Prayer and Psalmody, never omitted by him; after a wonderfull fervour showed by him in cor∣recting the disobedient and irregular, as likewise an equall mildnes in comforting and strengthning the infirm; after a spa∣ringnes in eating and drinking not usuall in governours, as likewise a coursenes and vilenesse in cloathing, at last seeing himself full of dayes, and by reason thereof incapa∣ble of continuing the due Office of a Spiri∣tuall Superiour in teaching and giving good example to his Monks, having seriously and a long space meditated on these things at last it seemed to him most expedient to give order to his Monks that, according to the Priviledge given them, and according to the Rule of the Holy Abbot Saint Benedict, they should chuse to themselves an Abbot (as himself had been chosen young by his Pre∣decessour then going to visit the Sepulchers of the Apostles) that by this means himself night have the opportunity before his death to attend to his own soule in solitude and exemption from secular cares; and they under the conduct of a younger Abbot more perfectly observe the instituts of a Regular life.

6. Now having made this proposall, though all the Monks at first opposed them∣selves with sighs, tears and prostrations, yet at last he obtained his desire. And so earnest he was to begin his iourney, that the third day after he had discovered his purpose se∣cretly to his Brethren, he began it towards Rome. For he was afraid least he should be prevented by death before he could come thither, as in effect it fell out: and indeed he was desirous to avoyd the importunity of his freinds, men of quality in the world, who, he knew, would interpose delayes: and lastly he apprehended that some freinds would present him with gifts, which he should not be able to require on a sudden: For this had been always his custom, that whensoever any presents were made him, he would not fayle either presently, or in a competent time to return some thing as valuable.

7. On the day therefore before the Nones of Iune being thursday, Masse being solemnly sung very early in t••e Church of the most Blessed Virgin and S. Peter, at which all who were present communicated, he immediatly prepared himself fo•• his voyage. All the Monks therefore being assembled in the Church of S. Peter, he having incenced the Altar and made his Prayer before it stan∣ding upon the steps with the Censer in his hand, gave his benediction to them all whilst they were singing Litaries, which they interrupted with their sighs and tears: Then from thence they went into the Ora∣tory of the Holy Martyr S. Laurence, which is in the Dormitory, there giving them his last farewell, he admonished them all to pre∣serve mutuall Charity and peace, and not to omitt, on occasion, brotherly Correption, as the Gospell enioyns: after which he imparted to all who had any way offended him his pardon and love, desiring all to pray for him, and to pardon him if he had shewd too much severity in reprehending any.

8. This being done, they went to the Sea shoare, where once again kneeling, he recited a Prayer, and having given them all the kisse of peace, who wept all the while, he took ship with his attendants. The Dea∣cons of the Church likewise lighting their Tapers, and carying their golden Crosse, he passed over the River, adores the Crosse, mounts on horse-back and so departed, lea∣ving in his Monasteries allmost six hundred Religious Brethren.

9. When he was gone the Brethren went to the Church, where with weeping they commended themselves and all their affairs to our Lord. And awhile after having recited Tierce, they assembled againe, and consulted what was to be done, and resolved that by Prayer, Psalmody and fasting they should without delay demand a Superiour and Father

of God,* 1.4 and w••thall by sending some of their brethren they declare to the Religious Monks or Saint Paul what they had deter∣mined ••o do••, who willingly give their assent the••eto: So that ••ll became of one mind, all their hearts and tongues were lifted up to God.

10. At length on the third day after, being Whitsunday, they mett t••gether again, and to them came not a few of the elder Monks of Saint Paul. Then with an una∣nimous consent they elected for their Ab∣bot, Whetbert, w••o from his childhood had been brought up in the Monastery, and well instructed not only in Regular Obser∣vance, but in the skill of writing, singing, reading and teaching. He likewise in the dayes of Pope Sergius of happy memory had been at Rome, where continuing a good space he learnt, wrote and brought back with him whatsoever things he iudged ne∣cessary.

11. This man then being by the gene∣rall consent of the Monks of both the Mo∣nasteries chosen Abbot, took with him some of his Brethren, and with hast went to the Holy Abbot Ceolfrid who expected a wind proper for his voyage, and to him he si∣gnifyed the Election which the Monks had made, whose answer was, God be thanked: and presently confirmed the Election. Then he received of the new Abbot Letters com∣mendatory to Pope Gregory, in which with great tendernes they besought his Holines to extend all requisite Charity to their most beloved and most carefull Father, whose corporall presence though they were deprived of, yet they were assured that whether he were alive or dead, they should ever find him an intercessour with God and Patron to them.

12. Now when Abbot Whetbert was re∣turned home, Bishop Acca was desired to come to the Monastery, who with the ac∣customed form of Benediction confirmed the Abbot in his Office. And he among innumerable actions performed to the common aduantage of the Monastery, ad∣ded this which was very acceptable to all, that he took up the bones of Abbot Ea∣sterwin which had been buried in the porch entring into the Chur••h of Saint Peter, as likewise the bones of Abbot Sigfrid, who had formerly been his Master, which had been reposed without the Sa∣cristie, and putting them into one Coffin, yet so that there was a partition between them, they buried them within the Ora∣tory of the Blessed Father Saint Benedict. This solemnity was performed on the eleaventh day before the Calends of Sep∣tember, being the Anniversary day of Ab∣bot Sigfrid: on which very day also by a strange Providence of God the Venerable servant of Christ, Withmer, mentioned before, departed this world, and was buried in the same place with the sayd Abbots, the example of whose vertues he had carefully imitated.

13. But to return to the servant of God Ceolfrid: he pursuing his iourney towards the Monuments of the Apostles at Rome, before he could approach thither, he was seised on by a sicknes of which he dye•• For being come as far as Langres in France about nine of the clock before noon, at four in the after noon he departed to our Lord: and the day following was ho∣nourably buried in the Church of the three Twin-brethren and glorious Martyrs Speu∣sippus, Eleusippus, and Meleusippus, who as they were born at the same birth by one Mother, so they were regenerated together in the same faith of their Mother the Church, and on the same day together with their Grand-Mother Leonilla, they left to that place a worthy Memory of their Mar∣tyrdom.

14. At the buriall of the Holy Abbot Ceolfrid there was vehement weeping not only by those of the English Nation attending him in his iourney, who were no fewer then fourscore, but likewise the inhabitants of that Citty, who much bewayld the retarding and fayling of the desire of the Reverend Old man. Neither could any one without difficulty contain his teares seeing the dispersion of this good Abbots Disciples and followers, for some of them, notwithstanding the losse of their Father, continued their devout iourney to Rome: and others thought fitt rather to return home and give notice of his death: Lastly some there were who out of an unquencheable affection to their beloved Father would continue at his Tombe, amongst a people whose language they understood not at all.

15. He was when he dyed seaventy four years of age, he had been a Preist forty seaven, and had executed the Office of Abbot thirty five, (or rather three:) for from the time that Saint Benedict began to build his Monastery to the Honour of the Prince of the Apostles, he was his in∣separable companion, and assisted him not only in that labour, but also in the care of Monasticall Institution. In the pra∣ctise of which he was so sedulous, that notwithstanding any occasion of age, in∣firmity or iourney, from the day that he left his Monastery till his death, that is▪ from the day before the Ides of Iune to the sea∣venth before the Calends of October, which was one hundred and fourteen days▪ besides the Canonicall howers he recited the whole Psalter twice a day, and this when he was so sick that he could not tide on horse-back, but was forced to be caried in a Litter: every day, ex∣cept that on which he passed the Sea, and three days before his death he sung

Masse and offred the Saving Sacrifice to God.* 1.5

16, He dyed on the five and twentieth day of September, in the year after our Lords Incarnation seaven hundred and sixteen, upon a Friday after three of the clock in the after noon, in the feilds of the foresaid Citty of Langres, and was buried the day following in the Monastery of the three Twin-Martyrs about a mile distant from the Citty toward the south, there being present no small army, partly of English who attended him, as likewise inhabitants of the Monastery and Citty adioyning, all which with loud voyces sung Psalmes at his en∣terrment. Thus far writes S. Beda.

* 1.67. It seems his body did not remain at Langres: for in the Supplement of the Gal∣lican Martyrologe on the six and twentieth of November we read celebrated the Tran∣slution of Saint Ceolfrid an English Abbot, who at his return from his pilgrimage to Rome dyed at Langres in France, and was buried in the Church of the three twinn Martyrs. Afterward his countrey-men demanding his Sacred Body, which had been glorified by many Miracles, it was with great veneration caried back to his own Monastery. The day of his deposition is celebrated in our Martyrologe on the five and twentieth of September.* 1.7

Notes

• * 1.1

  I. CHAP.
• * 1.2

  Bed. Hist. Ab••••••m Wi••m & Gi••vvy.
• * 1.3

  A. D. 717
• * 1.4

  A. D. 719.
• * 1.5

  A. D. 717.
• * 1.6

  Suppl. Mar∣tyrolog. Gal. lic. 25. No∣vemb.
• * 1.7

  Martyrol. Angl 25. Sept.