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.

XXIII CHAP.* 1.1

1.2. &c. The same Capitular received in a Synod of the Mercians.

3.4. &c Offa King of the Mercians to the preiudice of the See of Canterbury, raises Lichfeild to an▪ Archiepiscopall See.

6.7. King Offa makes his Son Egfrid King with him: Of his Queen Quen∣drida.

1. AFter this Synod in the Kingdom of the Northumber••,* 1.2 the Legat attended by the Kings Embassadours and certain Bishops, went back into the kingdome of the Mer∣cians. With them also went Malvin and Pit∣••e•• Lectours, who caried with them the De∣cree•• of this Synod. And being arrived there, they called another Synod at a place by our Historians called Cealchithe,* 1.3 Cealtide, Calthu∣the, and Calchuch. (Where this place is sea∣ted none of them determine. Probably wee may understand Chelsey, which, saith ••am∣den, in ancient Records is found written Chelchehith, which was o••t a fear of the Mer∣cian Kings.

2. In this Synod there were present King Offa and the Nobility of the countrey: Likewise lambert or Lambert Archbishop of Canterbury, with the other Bishops of that Province. There in the presence of the Councill the foresaid De∣crees were read with a loud distinc•• voyce, & moreover explaind both in Latin and English, that all might understand. Whereupon all who were present unanimously gave thanks to the Legats, promising their obedience to the Popes admonitions, and that they would faithfully observe the said Decrees. And con∣sequently both the King, Archbishop, Bishops A••bots and Nobles confirmed them by their Subscriptions.

3. Besides this,* 1.4 King Offa had a desire to pro¦mote one of the Episcopall Sees of his own kingdom to a Metropoliticall Dignity, partly out of a consideration of the cōmmodity re∣dounding therby to his own subiects: and partly out of displeasure conceived against the Archbishop of Canterbury, who being de∣sirous to preserve the ancient Priviledges of his own See, opposed earnestly this design of King Offa, producing the frequent Edicts, both old and new, of the See Apostolick in confir∣mation of the Supereminent Dignity of his Church. This resistance did so displease King Offa that he deprived him of all the lands seated in his kingdom which belonged to the See of Canterbury.

4 A certain Monk of S. Albans in a Wri∣ting published under the name of Mathew

Paris touching th•• Life of King Offa,* 1.5 affirms that the said Iambert Archbishop of Canter∣bury was accused before the King of conspi∣ring against him, and that by reason of the vicinity of his See to France, he had promi∣sed to Charles the Great that in case he would invade Brittany he would give him free en∣trance into his Archbishoprick, and all assi∣stance likewise.

5. This Controversy being earnestly pro∣secuted on both sides,* 1.6 at last the King sent wise Messengers to Rome, and partly by rea∣sons, partly by gifts so wrought in that Court that Pope Adrian condescended to his request, and exalted the Episcopall See of Lichfeild to an Archbishoprick, to which were subiect all the Bishops of the Mercian Kingdom, namely Denebert Bishop of Worce∣ster, Werenbert Bishop of Leicester, Edulf Bi∣shop of Sidnacester, Wolpheard Bishop of Hereford, as likewise the Bishops of the East-Angles, Alheard Bishop of Elmham, and Tidfrid Bishop of Dumwich. (Now the name of the Bishop of Lichfeild, who was made Archbishop was Adulf.) So that there remained to the Archbishop of Canterbury onely fower Bishops subiect, to wit, of Lon∣don, Winchester, Rochester and Selesey (or as others write, Shirborn.) From whence ap∣pears that though King Offa this year labou∣red to effect this design, yet it was not effe∣cted till some years after: because Aldulf was not at this time consecrated Bishop: the Bishop of that See now being Hygbert.

6. This same year King Offa thought fitt to assume his Son Egfrid to a participation of his kingly dignity, for which purpose he caused him to be solemnly crowned, pro∣bably whilst the Synod was sitting. This is insinuated in an Epistle of Alcuin to him, in which he stiles him King,* 1.7 and gives, him good instructions for the discharge of that high Office, though he say withall, that his admonitions were not necessary, since he might sufficiently at home learn authority from his Father, and piety from his Mo∣ther.

7. This Mother of Egfrid and wife of King Offa was called Quendrida, and as Mathew Paris affirms, was kinswoman to Charles the Great, and before she came into Brittany was named Drida. She was banished out of France for some unknown fault: and being arrived in Brittany so wrought upon the affections of King Offa, perhaps by a shew of Piety (for which Alcuin commends her) that he made her his Queen. But that her Piety was only in shew appeard by her im∣pious murdring of the most pious Prince Ke∣nelm: Of which hereafter.

Notes

• * 1.1

  XXIII. C.
• * 1.2

  Ib••d.
• * 1.3

  Florent. Westmonast. Hunting. Antiquit. Brit. Camd. in ••rinob. ••pelman. ib.
• * 1.4

  Malmsb. de R••g. l. 1. c. 4
• * 1.5

  De vit. Offic. 2. dif. 21.
• * 1.6

  Malmsb. ib.
• * 1.7

  Alcuin Ep. 48.