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.

XXIV. CHAP.* 1.1

1.2. &c. Pope Zacharias resolves severall Doubts of S. Boniface, &c.

1. THE following year nothing occurrs to furnish our History either in the Ecclesiasticall or Civill state of Brittany,* 1.2 but only the death of two Bishops in the Kingdom of the M••rcians: of Witta Bishop of Lichfe••ld, to whom succeeded Hemel: And of Alwy Bishop of the Lindesfari, whose place was supplied by Aldulf.

2. But in Germany S. Boniface affords suffi∣cient matter.* 1.3

For he this year sent Lul or Lullo in a message to Pope Zacharias, to desire of him a resolution of certain difficulties oc∣curring in his Province: and also a confirma∣tion and Priviledges to his Archiepiscopall See of Mentz, and his new founded Monastery of Fulda.

3. As touching the Doubts proposed to the said Pope,* 1.4 the Resolution of them is found in his Answer: where he tells him. 1. That he could not condemn him for refusing to communicate with the French Bishops, who refused to keep the Promises made by them. 2. That Christians ought to abstain from ea∣ting the flesh of Choughs, Crows, Storks, and much more of wild horses. 3. That the Roman Rite was, upon Maundy Thursday after the ma∣king of Chrism, to cause three Lamps to be lighted, capacious enough to burn three days: & that upon Saturday the Vigil of Easter other Lamps to be lighted frō thence for the ceremony of blessing the Font. As for the ma∣king use of fires taken from burning glasses, they had no such Tradition at Rome. 4. Concer∣ning such as had the falling-sicknes, if it came from their birth, they were not to be ad∣mitted into the Church, for fear of infecting others: But the same rigour was not to be used to such as had it afterwards: those might be admitted to the Com∣munion, yet so as that they must come when all others had communicated.

5. That there was no prohibition for Reli∣gious Virgins to wash one anothers feet,* 1.5 as well as men. 6. That it is more congruous not to admitt to Preisthood any till they be of good years and such as have a good testi∣mony: and that the age prescribed by Canons is thirty years: Notwithstanding in case of want, and necessity, such may be taken as have passed five and twenty. 7. As touching the Question how long men are to stay from eating Lard after the beast is skilld, this was not found in Tradition: yet his counsell was not to eat of it till it had been dryed well in smoke and then boyld: Yet in case any desired to eat it unboyld, let him at least abstain till after Easter. 8. That concerning the revenews of the Church, he need to make no scruple to require a shilling of every house (solidum de casa) and that would suf∣fise. 9. That in case any had been received into the Clergy, who at their Ordination had conceald such Capitall sins as they had for∣merly been guilty of, and such sins came afterward to be discovered: such were to be deprived and condemned to Pennance. 10. That in insupportable persecutions by Pa∣gans, it is permitted to fly. 11. That Tribute might be exacted from the Slavi inhabiting in that countrey. 12. That by his Messenger Lul, he had sent him a Roll, signifying where, and how many Crosses are to be made in ce∣lebrating Masse.

* 1.64. For as much as concerned the Privi∣ledges to be given to his Archiepiscopall See of Mentz, he in a distinct Letter declared in this Form, By the Authority of the Blessed A∣postle Saint Peter wee doe ordain that the fore∣said Church of Mentz be for ever to thee and thy Successours erected and confirmed a Metro∣politan Church, having under it these Citties, Tongres, Colen, Worms, Spire and Troyes (Tre∣ctis, or Trecas,) as likewise all the Nations of Germany which by thy preaching thou shalt con∣vert to the Light of the Gospel.

* 1.75. Lastly whereas Saint Boniface had signi∣fied to the said Pope that he had built a Mo∣nastery dedicated to the honour of our Saviour, in a forest of vast extent, in which he had pla∣ced Monks who lived under the Rule of Saint Benedict in great austerity, abstaining from flesh and wine, who had no servants, but contented themselves to live by their own labour: in which Monastery he purposed with the Popes leave to retire himself some times to rest his old weary limbs, and after death to be buried: and con∣sequently desired his Holines to patronize it and endue it with convenient Priviledges: Hereto the Pope condescended, subiecting the said Monastery immediatly to the See A∣postolick, forbidding any Bishop or others to exercise any authority in it, or so much as say Masse, unlesse invited by the Abbot: and confirming for ever all lands of which it was possessed at that time, or should accrue to it afterward.

* 1.86. These were the last Letters which passed between Saint Boniface and Pope Zacharias, for he presently after dying, and Pope Steven the next year succeeding in his place: who held that See onely three days, after whom another Pope of the same Name, and stiled Steven the third,* 1.9 being consecrated, Saint Boniface wrote an Epistle to him professing his Duty and obedience▪ as he had done before for the space or thirty years to three Popes his Predecessours, and in conclusion he asked his pardon for the delay of sen∣ding that Letter, the cause wh••reof was his necessary occupation in repairing Chur∣ches, which to the number of thirty had been burnt by the malice and fury of Pagans.

Notes

• * 1.1

  XXIV. C.
• * 1.2

  A. D. 751.
• * 1.3

  Bonif. Ep 141.
• * 1.4

  Ap Bonif. Ep 14••.
• * 1.5

  A. D. 752.
• * 1.6

  Ap. Baron. hic.
• * 1.7

  Ap. S••r. l. 2. c. 1••.
• * 1.8

  A. D. 752.
• * 1.9

  Ap. Bonif. Ep. 19.