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. | Early English Books Online | University of Michigan Library Digital Collections

XXVIII. CHAP.* 1.1

1.2. &c. Saint Boniface preparing his iourney to the Frisons, become Apo∣states, resigns his Arch bishoprick of Mentz to S. Lullus, &c.

1. NOthing illustrated this present year so much as the last labours and bles∣sed Martyrdom of S. Boniface.* 1.2 Thirty years had he now spent in cultivating our Lords vineyard, employing all his strength and vi∣gour both of mind and body in so laborious a work. He had often petitioned the See Apostolick in vain to allow him in his old age to appoint a Successour in his See of Mentz, that he might enioy a quiet repose in his Monastery of Fulda. But of late hearing that the barbarous Nation of the Frisons had renounced the Christian Faith, which had been so diligently taught them by S. Willi∣brord and his Disciples, the zeale of Gods house did so burn in his heart, that instead of seeking repose, he resolved to renew his former labours, and to expose himself to the extremest dangers among those ingratefull Frisons, whilst he endeavoured to rebuild Gods Church there demolished.

2. But before he would execute this New purpose, he iudged necessary to provide for the Security and quietnes both of his Church of Mentz and Monastery of Fulda. For the former he wrote a Letter to Pope Steven si∣gnifying to him his intention of endeavou∣ring to replant the Faith among the Frisons: and least by his absence his Church of Mentz, should be deprived of a head and dire∣ctour, he begged his permission that he might resign it to his faithfull companion and assistant in his labours, Lul or Lullo, a man both for his learning, piety and pru∣dence most eminent among his Disciples.

3. It seems it was the Divine Will that this Apostolick Bishop should conclude his life in the laborious exercise of his Charge: For though his hitherto so oftē renewd requests for this favour would never be granted him, when the motive thereto was a quiet retire∣ment: Now assoon as he demanded it to the end he might more freely engage himself in new travells and dangers, the Pope easily granted his request. Whereupon he imme∣diatly consecrated Lul Arch-bishop of Mentz: whom also he enioyned to be dili¦gent and faithfull in preaching to the peo∣ple and doing all other Offices belonging to his charge of so many soules. He re∣quired him likewise to finish the building of the Church which he had begun at Fulda, and there to bury his body, wheresoever it

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was Gods will he should dye.* 1.3 Moreover to provide all things necessary for his iour∣ney, and particularly that in a chest of his Books he should enclose a Sheet to enwrapp his body after his death. For by many to∣kens he signified that his death was ap∣proaching: the apprehension whereof did not at all discourage him notwithstan∣ding from this his dangerous iourney.

* 1.44. Now this Lul, say the Centuriators of Magdeburg, was by nation an Englishman, of a Citty called Maldubia: brought up in learning and piety by the holy Abbot Eata, and had for his Sirname Irtel, as appears by an Epistle of Hereca to him. He was one of the twelve Monks which Egbert Arch-bishop of York sent into the countrey of the Frisons. From whence Saint Bo∣niface as soon as he was delegated into Germany called him: Who made no delay to attend him; He planted severall Churches in Hassia, Thu∣ringia and Erford: and instituted in Regular Discipline Monks in the Monastery of Fulda. Notwithstanding in this Narration there is a mistake: for Saint Lullo was not sent by Egbert. but called out of England with many other devout Preists by Saint Boni∣face in the year of Grace seaven hun∣dred twenty five as hath been decla∣red.

* 1.55. Now Saint Boniface having thus or∣dained Lullo by the consent of Pope Steven, as likewise of King Pipin and the Nobility of the countrey: he further wrote a Letter to a certain Preist called Fulrad who was Chaplain to King Pipin, and had great power with him. Him he earnestly desired to ob∣tain from the King his Protection of this his Son and now fellow-Bishop, as likewise of all the people committed to his charge, that after his death they might not by the rage of confining Pagans be dispersed and loose the Faith they had embraced.

* 1.66. In the next place for the security of his beloved Monastery of Fulda, he had re∣course to King Pipin for his protection of it: that the Secular power might be ioynd to the Ecclesiasticall which he had formerly obtain'd of the See Apostolick. And accordingly the devout King gave him a lage Charter, rati∣fying all the Immunities and Priviledges which the Pope had formerly granted to the said Monastery. A Copy of which Charter is still extant among the Epistles of Saint Boni∣face: In which likewise the said King confir∣med for ever the possession of all the lands with which his Brother Caroloman had en∣dowd it.

7. Such preparation being made, S. Boniface was ready with an undaunted courage inspi∣red by the Grace of Gods holy Spirit to begin his iourney, when one obstacle more presen∣ted it self,* 1.7 a removall whereof he was forced to begg of Pope Steven, in a Letter which is the last that ever he wrote. That Obstacle was, a pretention which the Bishop of Colen made to the Church of V••recht, the principall See of the Countrey of the Frisons, as be∣longing to his Province, and consequently that S. Boniface had no right to enter into it. In opposition hereto S. Boniface informed the Pope, that though indeed anciently King Dagobert had bestowd the Castle of Vtrecht with a Church there demolished on the Bi∣shoprick of Colen, yet it was with a condition annexed, that he should undertake the charge of preaching and converting the Na∣tion of the Frisons: which he had never done: but that people remained Pagan till the co∣ming of S. Willebrord and his companions, sent thither and ordained Bishop by his Pre∣decessour Pope Sergius, who built there an Epis∣copall Church consecrating it to the honour of our Saviour. And after his death Prince Caroloman had recommended the same See to himself, desiring him to take it into his care and constitute a Bishop therin, as he thought fitt. Therefore he concluded that the said See did of no right belong to the Bishop of Colen, but was immediatly subiect to the See Apostolick. In conclusion he besought the Pope that search might be made in the Archives at Rome for the writing and Commis∣sion given by Pope Sergius to Saint Wille∣brord, by which might appear the insuffi∣ciency of the pretentions of the Bishop of Colen.

8. The Answer hereto from Rome is not now extant: but by the proceedings of S. Boniface it appears that the cause went on his side: For he administred the affairs of the See of Vtrecht, without any dependency on the Bi∣shop of Colen.

9. Being ready to begin,* 1.8 his iourney, he sent for the Religious Virgin S. Lioba (one of those which he had invited out of England to esta∣blish Regular Discipline in Germany) and ex∣horted her earnestly not to desert this coun∣trey in which she was a stranger, nor to faint in a vigorous pursuit of her holy em∣ployment, but to perfect the good work be∣gun by her: He told her, that bodily weaknes and infirmities were not considerable, nei∣ther was an age, esteemed by us long, to be regarded if compared with eternall Rewards which shall crown all our good endeavours. Having said this, he commended her earn∣estly to Bishop Lullus and the Seniour Monks of the said Monastery, admonishing them to shew all care and respect to her: Telling them with all that it was his resolution that after both their deaths her bones should be layd near to his in the same grave, that they may expect the day of Resurr••ction together, since they had served our Lord with the same desire and affection. When he had said this, he be∣stowd on her his Monasticall Cowle; once more admonishing her not to forsake that Land of her pilgrimage. Thus all things being pre∣pared for his iourney, he went into Frise∣land. These things are extracted out of the Life of S. Lioba written by Rodolphus, at the request of Rabanus Maurus.