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.

XIX. CHAP.* 1.1

1.2. &c. A third Synod at Clovesho in Kent for reforming abuses: and the De∣crees of it.

1. THE year of Grace seaven hundred forty seaven brought much good and spirituall proffit to the English-Saxon Chur∣ches in Brittany,* 1.2 by the happy reformation of Ecclesiasticall Disciplin made in a famous Synod a third time assembled at Clovesho by Cuthbert Arch-bishop of Canterbury. Which place seated in Kent, is at this time called Cliffe, by reason of a high mountain or cliffe (anciently named Clivas) and a sm••ll territory interiacent between the Rivers Thames and Medway called 〈◊〉〈◊〉 from which two names arose the word Clivetho, or Clovesho.

2. The cause of assembling this Synod was the miserable decay of piety, and Or∣der through the whole Kingdom, suggested to Arch-bishop Cu••hbert by Saint Boniface in an Epistle sent him five years before,

as hath been declared. For rectifyng which disorders the Arch-bishop seriously treated with Ethelbald King of the Mercians, to whom the Kings of Kent were subiect and tributary, desiring that himself would assist in Reformation of the Church by a Synod to which he would please to afford his own presence. This being obtained, the Synod was called, in which twelve Bishop were present, all of them contained within the Province of Canterbury, for of the other Province of York, not one appeard. And besides them, King Ethelbald with his Princes and Nobles was assistant.

3. The Acts and Decrees of this Synod have out of a very ancient Manuscript in Saxon letters,* 1.3 been faithfully extracted by Sir H Spel∣man. In the Preface where of is expressed the generall design and motive of the present Meeting to have been, that with good advice order might be taken for restoring Vnity in the Church, concord among one another and Reforma∣tion of the State of Religion. After which Cuth∣bert Arch-bishop of Canterbury presiding in it caused to be read two Writings of Pope Za∣charias translated into English in which were contained Prescriptions for reforming abuses, regarding persons of all degrees and condi∣tions, with terrible denunciations against the disobedient. The reading of which cau∣sed great thoughtfullnes in the minds of the Bishops, who began mutually to exhort one another by rectifying of their own lives to afford good example to the rest of the Clergy and Seculars of the kingdome: and that they should sett before their eyes the Homilies of the Holy Pope S. Gregory and Cano∣nicall Decrees of the Fathers, as a fitt Rule by which they might reform themselves.

4. Then followd severall speciall Canons, one and thirty in number, written in an ab∣struse stile, which argues the Antiquity of them. The Reader may at large peruse them in Sir H. Spelmans first volume of our ancient Saxons Councils: It will suffise in this place breifly to sett down the sence of each in or∣der, as followeth:

5. It was ordaind therefore. 1. That Bishops should be carefull to shew themselves by the sanctity of their lives good examples to others, and to exercise their Pastoral Offices according to the Canons of the Church. 2. That they should preserve the Vnity of Peace among one another. 3. That every year they should visit their Dioces. 4. That they should take care that Abbots and Abbesses govern their Monasteries Regularly. 5. That since at this time Monasteries by the avarice and Ty∣ranny of Great men were miserably oppressed and depraved, yet Bishops should at least take care that the poor Monks should not want the Ministery of a Preist, for the necessity of their soules. 6. That no Monks should be exalted to Preisthood till after due tryall of their vertue and capacity. 7. That Bishops take order that in Monasteries there should be Schooles for the trayning up the young Religious in the love of Sacred knowledge, to the end they might become afterwards prof∣fitable to the Church. 8. That Preists should always be mindfull of their Office and voca∣tion to attend to the Altar in celebrating Masses to Reading, Prayer, &c. 9. That they should be diligent in preaching and bapti∣zing according to the lawfull Rites of the Church. 10. That they should be studious to understand aright the Creed, Pater noster, and the Holy Mysterious words in the cele∣bration of Masse: and that they should inter∣pret them to the people, and explain them in the English tongue. 11. That they should all agree in the manner and order of baptizing, Teaching, &c. 12. That they should sing in the Church with modesty, and if they were unskillfull, they should content themselves with reading. 13. That they should celebrate the Office of the Church uniformly, and in like manner solemnize the Feasts of the Church 14. That our Lords day should be cele∣brated by all, and that the people should be obliged to repaire to Church, &c. 15. That seaven Canonicall Howers should be obser∣ved uniformly both in Churches and Monaste¦ries. 16 That Litanies and R••gations should be performed by all the people uniformly ac∣cording to the Rite of the Roman Church on the seaventeenth before the Calends of May, and three dayes before our Lords Ascension▪ with celebration of Masses and Fasting till three in the after noon, without admixing vanities playes, running of horses, feast, &c. 17 That the Feasts of S. Gregory Pope, and of S. Augustin sent by him the Apostle of the Kingdom should be solemnly celebrated 18 That the Times of Fasting in the fourth, sea venth and tenth month according to the Roman Rite be neglected by none: and that the people be admonished before those times come. 19. That Religious men and woe∣men observe their Regular Instituts modestly, and abstain from vanity in apparrell. 20. That Bishops take care that Monasteries, especially o•• women, be places of silence and devotion: and that the entrance into them of Poets▪ Mu∣sicians, vain ieasters, drinkers and feasters be utterly forbidden: since great scandalls and suspicion arise from such. 21. That all Eccle∣siasticks and Monks fly particularly the Sin of Drunkennes. 22. That such likewise live in a fitt preparation for the Holy Communion: and that when occasion is they confesse their sins &c. 12 That Lay persons also, young and old dispose themselves so as to be fitt to receive the same Holy Sacrament. 24. That Seculars be not admitted to Religious Profession, till after fitt examination and probation. 25. That after every Synod Bishops promulgate to their Clergy the Decrees there made. 26. That the people be exhorted to Almsgiving by which their sins may be redeemed: but withall that they be taught not so to trust in their Almes, as from thence to take a licence to sin. 27.

That in the Holy exercise of Psalmody,* 1.4 whether in the Latin or Saxon tongue, men be carefull to ioyn their hearts to their voyces: And that those who doe not understand the Office in Latin, should however be carefull to have their minds and affections fixed upon God and Spirituall things. 28. That Monasteries be not burdned with a greater multitude then they can maintain: That Superiours doe not over-presse their Religious with labour: and that both Men and women Religious abstain from secular vanity and fashions in appa∣rell. 9. That Monks and Nunns be not per∣mitted to inhabit among Seculars. 30. That since there is a suspicion entred into the minds of Kings and Princes, that Ecclesiasticks, Bishops and Preists doe not bear them inward affection, nor wish their pro••perity, but ra∣ther the contrary: The said Ecclesiasticks in this Synod doe prot••st that such suspicion is without ground; and i•• it were iust, they should be guilty o•• sins not only contrary to their sublime Profession, but even to the com∣mon Duty of Christians To sh••w therefore that they w••re free from a vice so detestable, it was ordained, T••at all Ecclesiasticks and Monks in every Canonicall Hower should inces∣santly implore the Divine ••lemency for the safe∣ty of their Kings, Dukes, Nobles and all Chri∣stian people, as ••ell as for themselves. 31. That ••••ey be all unanimons in Faith, Hope and Charity both to God and one another: and diligent in Pra••ing both for the Living and the Dead, celebrating often the Propitiatory Sacrifices for their repose &c.

6. To this effect were the Canons of this worthy Synod. After the conclusion where∣o•• Cuthbe••t the Arch-bishop of Canterbury sent a Copy of all the Acts and Decrees by his Deacon K••nebert to Saint Boniface: there∣by shewing him that he had not been un∣mindfull of his admonitions, nor of the Precepts of Pope Zacharias. And it is not to be doubted but now King Ethelbald renewd th••t respect to Gods Church, which he shewd so worthily in his younger years: a further proof whereof he gave two years after this, in restoring the Priviledges and immunities thereof, which had by himself and others been so much in∣fringed.

Notes

• * 1.1

  XIX. CH.
• * 1.2

  A. D. 747.
• * 1.3

  Spelm. tom. 1. de Concil.
• * 1.4

  A. D. 748.