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* 1.1VIII. CHAP.
1.2. Saint Boniface his iourney to Rome.
5.6. &c. He by Apostolick authority erects severall Bishopricks in Germany.
1. THE Gests of S. Boniface, which are the principall busines of the greatest part of this Age, almost yearly furnishing our History, doe call us into Germany, from thence to attend his iourney to Rome, which he again undertook in the year of Grace seaven hundred thirty eight:
The occusion of his iourney (as we read in the Authour of his Life, the account whereof is collected from that of his Disciple S. Willebald) was partly to visit Pope Gregory third of that Name,* 1.2 as likewise to commend himself to the Prayers of the Holy Apostles and other Saints reposing there: and also to obtain from the said Pope, as appears by his Letters, a resolution of certain difficulties touching the care of soules committed to his charge.
2. He went therefore to Rome attended by a great troop of French men, Bavarians and Brit∣taine: Where being arrived, he was kindly re∣ceived by the Pope. The people of Rome likewise had him in such veneration, that they flocked in great multitudes to his preaching, and endeavou∣red to detain him a long time among them. For of old it had been their custom when any man of note or sanctity came to Rome, they would with all civility, respect and kindnes entertain him. Thus they did in former ages with S. Athana∣sius, S. Epiphanius, S Hierom, S. Peter of Ale∣xandria and many others.
3, Now when S. Boniface was ready to depart, the Pope very liberally bestowed on him many gifts, and whatsoever Relicks of Saints he de∣sired. He sent likewise by him severall Let∣ters to the Bishops, Princes and Abbots of Germany, requiring their assistance to S. Bo∣niface in the great charge committed to him of converting soules, as likewise their pre∣sence to whatsoever Synods he should assem∣ble, and their Obedience to his orders and Decrees made according to the Rule prescri∣bed by the See Apostolick, which had autho∣rized him to his Apostolick Office, and con∣stituted him the supreme Prelat of Germany.
4. With these Letters S. Boniface departed from Rome, and came to Ticinum, or Pavia, where he abode some time with Luitprand King of the Lombards. Thence he proceeded towards Germany,* 1.3 and being arrived near the River Danubius, he made some stay there, expecting a Synod of Bishops which he by the Popes order had called. And from thence▪ he wrote Letters to certain speciall freinds Gop∣pin, Eoban, Tacwin and Wyx Religious Ab∣bots, as likewise to all their Monks, and seve∣rall Religious Virgins, in which he gave them a particular account of this his iourney, and the successe of it.
5. The year following being invited by Vtilo Duke of the Bavarians,* 1.4 he visited his countrey, staying there many dayes, and preaching the word of God, with great fruit. There he found many false Christians, who wasted the Churches, and seduced the people. Some of these falsely pretended themselves to be Bishops, and others usurped the Office of P••eists: Many likewise with fictions and pernicious lyes wrought great mischief among the ignorant. A further course of whose malice he found not any meanes more effectually to prevent, then by dividing the Province of Bavaria into four Dioceses: which with the consent of Duke Vtilo he per∣formed: the Government of which he com∣mitted to persons of eminent vertue, whom he ordained Bishops.
6. Of these the first was Iohn, whose Episcopall See was placed at Salisburg: The second was Erimbert, who governed the Church of Fri∣slingen: the third was Hunibald, who was con∣secrated Bishop of Ratisbon, the Metropolis of Bavaria. And Winilus, who before had been ordained Bishsp by the Pope of the whole countrey, had the Church of Patary assigned to him.
7. Having done this, he wrote to the Pope giving him an account of all things and desiring his confirmation and ratification for perpetuity: Therein imitating his Prede∣cessours: For so did Fugatius and Damianus, in the Brittish Church: so did S Patrick in Ireland; and so did S. Augustin among the English-Saxons demand from the See Aposto∣lick a confirmation of their Ordonnances.
8. We have still extant the Popes answer hereto,* 1.5 containing an approbation of what he had done: Likewise an iniunction to as••semble a Synod of all Germany, and in his place to preside over it.And because the necessi∣ties of those Churches would not allow him repose in any one place, he renewed his Apostolick Authority to erect Bishopricks wheresoever he should iudge expedient.