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.

III. CHAP.* 1.1

1.2.3. Ethelbald the Mercian King in∣vades his neighbours.

4.5 Tat••in Arch bishop of Canterbury dying: Nothelm succeeds. And Egbert succeeds in the See of York.

6 7 8. S. Boniface proposes a Scrupulous doubt to Nothelm, &c. The R••solution of it.

1. IN the year of Grace seaven hundred thirty four Ethelbald Ki••g of the Mer∣cians,* 1.2 who as hath been sayd, was wonder∣fully called by God to the Kingdom, became very powerfull, and not content with the li∣mits of his own kingdom▪ invaded the Pro∣vinces of his Neighbours.* 1.3 All the Regions from the South-Saxons as far as Humber Northward, though governed by petty Kings yet those Provin∣ces with their Kings were subject to his Domi∣nion, saith Florentius. Yet all these to a mind so vast as his were narrow bounds. There∣fore making an impression into the Western parts,* 1.4 he besieged the Castle of S••merton, and no assistance coming to the souldiers there inclosed, he brought it into his own power. By which means he became possessour of a great part of Somersetshire, which takes its name from that place.

2. And not content with this,* 1.5 he marched with his Army Northward, and force prevay∣ling over iustice, he in a hostile manner entred the Kingdome of the Northumbers: where finding none to resist him, he enriched himself and his army with spoyles, as much as he thought good, & then withdrew his forces homewards. Thus writes Huntingdon. The Abridger of S. Beda's History referrs this invasion to the year sea∣ven hundred and forty: but the generall consent of other Writers disproves him.

3. But this prosperity which Gods goodnes gave him, he abused, and plunged himself into many enormous crimes, as shall be shewed. Notwithstanding the Divine Grace did not utterly forsake him: For at last he re∣pented his ingratitude to God, amended his errours, and with a mixture of vertues and vices ended his life by the treason of his Subjects.

4. The same year,* 1.6 as Hoveden testifies, the Moon for the space of an hour early in the mor∣ning on the thirtieth day of Ianuary became of a deep blood-red colour: and from thence turned black, after which its naturall brightnes was re∣stored. This prodigy, it seems, in his opinion foreshewed the death of Tatwin Arch-bi∣shop of Canterbury: for he immediatly addes an account of his death thereto, hapning the twenty ninth of Iuly following, and in the fourth year after his Consecration. He was a man, saith S. Beda, highly eminent for his Reli∣gion and prudence. He succeeded Brithwald his equall in learning and piety, who was Successour to S. Theodore.

* 1.75. The year following gave to the two Principall Sees of Brittany, Canterbury and York,* 1.8 vacant by the death of their Pastours, two worthy persons to succeed in the exer∣cise of the Episcopall function, to Canterbury Nothelm, and to York, Egbert. As touching the former, Nothelm was born at London, in which Church he was Preist (not Bishop, as Parker mistakingly affirms.) Some thing hath already been spoken of him,* 1.9 when wee related how S. Beda made use of his industry and assistance in composing his History.

6. To this New Arch-bishop, Nothelm, pre∣sently after his consecration S. Boniface dire∣cted an Epistle, in which, after he had desired from him the same Christian affection & Vnion of minds, which heretofore he had with S. Brithwald his Predecessour, he proposed to him a difficulty and scrupule which had much and long tormented him, a resolution whereof he desired from him▪ as he did from diverse others, and particularly from Pe∣cthelm Bishop of Candida Casa, and also from an English Abbot called Duddo, who had for∣merly been S. Boniface his own Schollar, yet such was his humility, that he disdaind not to consult him. Now the Doubt or difficulty I will sett down in S. Boniface's own expres∣sion:

* 1.107. I desire, saith he, to hear your counsell tou∣ching a sin committed by mee through ignorance, in permitting mariage between two parties: the Case stood thus. A certain Man with my leave maried a woman a widdow to whose s••n he had formerly been God-father. This the Romans say is so unlawfull, that they ought to be divorced. Yea moreover they affirm that anciently under the Christian Emperours ••uch a crime was punished with death, or at least perpetuall banishment. Now I beseech you to inform mee whether you can find either in the Decrees of the Ancient Ca∣tholick Fathers or Holy Scriptures that this is so great a sin. For mine own part I can by no means comprehend how a carnall conjunction between persons in a Spirituall pr••pinquity should be a heynous sin, since in Sacred Baptism wee are all of us sons and daughters of Christ and his Church, and Brothers and S••sters to one another.

8. The Resolution of this Doubt wee can not find, since their Answers hereto are lost.

But Serrarius a learned Iesuit,* 1.11 who published Saint Boniface's Epistles with Annotations, after he had produced severall Decrees of Ancient Popes strictly forbidding such Mariages, shews the Answer to this Doubt to be now very easy: Adding withall, That if in S. Boni∣face's time the Ancient Ca••ins had been in the same number and order as now, he would never have doubted of the Question.

However his dili∣gence in seeking satisfaction is highly to be praised, and his humility of mind to be imitated, since he not only proposes his doubts to Bishops▪ but even his own Disciples, desiring to be taught by them now in his old age yea since he professes that he will not pertinaciously adhere to his own iudg∣ment, but obediently acquiesee in the Decrees of the Church and Holy Fathers. How far now are our modern Sectaries from such a disposition of mind! For Luther and Beza grounding themselves upon their private iudgment,* 1.12 and proudly con∣temning and opposing all Antiquity and authori∣ty, doe sett as nought all regard of Spirituall Al∣liance: Such difference there is between the Spirits of a modest humble Catholick, and an arrogant Heretick.

Notes

• * 1.1

  A. D. 734.

  III. CHA.
• * 1.2

  A D. 734.
• * 1.3

  Wigorn. A. D 731.
• * 1.4

  Westm. hic.
• * 1.5

  Huntingd. l. 4.
• * 1.6

  Hoved.
• * 1.7

  A. D. 735.
• * 1.8

  A. D. 735.
• * 1.9

  Antiq Brit. in Nothelme.
• * 1.10

  Bonif. Ep. 18.
• * 1.11

  Serrar in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Bonif. Ep. 11.
• * 1.12

  Luth in Capt. Bab B••z l. de Matrim.