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.

* 1.1X. CHAP.

1.2. The (unhappy) death of Ethelwald Mol King of the Northumbers.

3.4. &c. Also of Egbert Arch bishop of York: at which Alcuin was present.

10. A strange Charter of King Kenulf to the Church of Welles.

11. Severall Episcopall Sees vacant: and supplied.

1. IN the year of Grace seaven hundred sixty five Ethelwald sirnamed Mul,* 1.2 King of the Northumbers dyed, after he had raigned six years: though William of Malms∣bury assigns to him eleaven years. Hoveden relates certain terrible apparitions in the aire which hapned in the beginning of this year, presaging the unhappy death of this King, who on the twenty seaventh of Octo∣ber was slain by the treachery of Alred at a place called Wircanheate.

2. The condition of these Kings in this age was very sad: few of them dyed naturall deaths: This Ethelwald gott the Kingdom by the murder of Osulf: and by the like means lost it: And the same fate will attend his successour Alred.

* 1.33. The year following gave an end to the worthy actions of Egbert Arch-bishop of York, after he had nobly administred that See the space of one and thirty years. A per∣son he was descended of Royall progeny and im∣bued with divine knowledge:* 1.4 Of whose ver∣tues and memorable actions we have trea∣ted already. Our Historians doe vary in the account of the years in which he continued Bishop: the ground of which uncertainty is because it does not appear whether the time be to be reckoned from the resigna∣tion or death of his Predecessour Wilfrid the younger.

4. There was present and assistant at his death his famous Disciple Alcuin, whom a little before he had made Deacon: and who having hitherto all his life composed all his actions by his rule and order, was desirous to receive his commands and instructions at his death also, for the future disposing of his actions. Thus wee read in the Life of the said Alcuin, prefixed before his Works, and taken out of an ancient Manuscript be∣longing to the Church of Rhemes: whence we will here extract the following passage:

S. Albinus (or Alcuinus) proceeding from one vertue to another,* 1.5 was consecrated Deacon on the day of the Purification of our Blessed Lady: for before on the same Feast he had re∣ceived the Clericall Tonsure. And perceiving that his Blessed Father Egberts infirmity encrea∣sing shewed that his death was at hand: having hitherto done all things by his counsell, he was earnest to enquire of him what his pleasure was he should doe, and how he should dispose of him self, after that death should separate them.

6. Hereto the Holy Bishop returned this An∣swer, suggested to him, as the event showd, by a supernaturall direction of God:

I would have you (said he) first goe to Rome, and in your return to visit France. For I know that there you will produce much good. Our Lord shall be the Guide of your journey, and will bring you back in safety. Be diligent in impugning the late abomi∣nable Heresy which endeavours to assert that Christ is only an adoptive Son of God: and be a constant defender of the Mystery of the Holy Tri∣nity: this Doctrine cease not clearly and solidely to preach.

After he had spoken thus, he gave him his fatherly Benediction, commending him to our Lords safe protection: and presently after he with chearfullnes departed to our Lord on the sixth day before the Ides of November.

7. He was buried in the Porch of the Church of York:* 1.6 and near to him was also layd the Body of his Brother King Egbert (or Eadbert) who exchanged his Royall Purple for a poore Monasticall habit, and dyed two years after him.

8. The Arch-bishop left behind him severall Monuments of his learning, to enrich the Noble Library which he made at York. Among which are reckoned A Book of Penitentiall Canons, likewise Collections out of the Canon Law of the Church, and others mention'd by Sir H. Spelman. To those we may add, A Dia∣logue of Ecclesiasticall Institution, lately printed with an Epistle of S. Beda to him: and other Treatises, by the care of Sir Iames Ware.

9. His successour in the Archiepiscopall See of York was Aldebert,* 1.7 otherwise called Coena: To whom, by this latter name, re∣mains an Epistle from Saint Lullus Bishop of Mentz, with his Answer to it. The subiect whereof is only the renewing of Ancient

Freindship, sending of presents and entrea∣ting of Prayers for dead freinds.* 1.8

* 1.910. There is extant a Charter of Kenulf King of the West-Saxons by which he this year gave to the Church of Wells and Colledge, formerly built there by King Ina, certain Lands there adiacent, the bounds whereof he setts down. These possessions he gave for the love of God, for the expiation of his si••s, and for s••me vexation to his enemies of the Cornish Nation. These are the words of the Charter. What he meant by this last Motive, I leave to the Reader to iudge.

* 1.1011. This year dyed Frithebert Bishop of Ha∣gustaldt: whose Successour was Al••mund: a Pre∣lat of great piety and prudence. And shortly after Cuthwin Bishop of Dumwhich dying, his place was supplied by Aldbert: Like as upon the death of Ethelfrid Bishop of Helmham, there was substituted Lansert. I know not by what fate these two Episcopall Sees of the East-Angles for the most part loose and get new Bishops at the same time: at least so we are in∣formed by the Ecclesiasticall Chronicles of that Church And the following year Edbrith,* 1.11 who is reckoned the ninth among the London Bi∣shops, after he had governed that Church eight years, dying, left it vacant to his Successour Eadgar.

Notes

• * 1.1

  X. CHAP.
• * 1.2

  A. D. 765.
• * 1.3

  A. D. 766.
• * 1.4

  Epit. Bed.
• * 1.5

  Vit. Alcuini.
• * 1.6

  Malmsb.
• * 1.7

  Ap. Bonif. Ep. 109. Ib. ep. 99.
• * 1.8

  A. D. 769.
• * 1.9

  Godvv. in episc. Bathe Wellens.
• * 1.10

  A. D. 767.
• * 1.11

  A. D. 768.