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.

* 1.1IV. CHAP.

1.3. &c. S. Birinus converts the West-Sa∣xons: His Miracles.

6.7. &c. K. Kinegils converted, and bap∣tised: Dorchester appointed the Epis∣copall See: And Canons under a Rule placed in it.

10 11 &c A great Controversy about S. Birinus his Relicks.

1. THE same year was happy likewise to the West-Saxons;* 1.2 which happines how it arrived, S. Beda thus declares: At the same time, saith he, the Nation of the West-Saxons, an∣ciently called Gevissae, in the raign of Kinegils, received the Christian Faith by the preaching of Birinus a Bishop, who with the advice of Pope Honorius, came into Brittany: having promised in the presence of the same Pope, that he would di∣sperse the seed of the Gospel in the inmost parts of Brittany, where never any Teacher had gone be∣fore. Vpon which promise, by command of the same Pope, he was consecrated Bishop by Asterius Bishop of Genua.* 1.3 His coming into Brittany to preach the Gospell to the West-Saxons hapned, (saith Ethelwerd) six years after the same King Kinegils his fight against Penda King of the Mer∣cians at Cirencester; which fight we recoun∣ted in the year of Grace six hundred twenty nine.

2. This Apostolick Mission of S. Birinus our Lord approved by a Divine Miracle. Which because it powerfully manifests the Faith preached by him to have been Orthodox, and ancient grave Authours have attested it, in∣somuch as even Iohn Fox after he had related it,* 1.4 addes, Of this there are so many Witnesses who constantly avow it, that it is to mee a great wonder, I will not doubt to give the Narra∣tion of it from Baronius, who cites for it William of Malmsbury, Huntingdom, Florentius, Mathew of Westminster, &c.

* 1.53. I have thought expedient, saith he, to de∣scribe here out of the Acts of S. Birinus a won∣derfull Miracle beseeming an Apostolick man, which is omitted by S. Beda. It was thus. The Holy man being arrived to the shore of the Brittish Sea, and ready to take ship celebrated the Divine Mysteries, offring to God the Sacrifice of the Sa∣ving Host, as a Viaticum for himself and follow∣ers. After which, the season being proper, he was hastily urged to enter the ship: and the wind ser∣ving thē they sayled speedily, when on the sudden Birinus called to mind that he had lost a thing infinitely precious to him, which by the urging hast of the Sea-men having his mind other ways busied, he had left behind him at land. For Pope Honorius had bestowed on him a Pall, or Corporal, upon which he consecrated the Body of our Lord, and afterward used to wrap in it a particle of the said Sacred Body, which he hung about his neck, and allways caried with him: but when he celebra∣ted Masse, he was wont to lay it by him upon the Altar. Armed therefore with Faith, he by Di∣vine inspiratiō went down frō the ship into the Sea and walkd securely upon it to the shore. Where fin∣ding what he had left behind, he took it and in like manner returned to the ship: Which he found standing still immoveable, whereas a little be∣fore he had left it sailing extreme swiftly. When he was entred into the ship, not one drop of water appeared on his cloathes: Which the Marriners seeing, kneeld before him and worshipped him as a God: and many of them by his preaching were con∣verted to the Faith of Christ.

4. This custom of carying with them the Consecrated Body of our Lord was practised from the beginning of the Church, many proofs whereof are in Tertullian, S. Cyprian, S. Ambrose writing of his Brother Satyrus, S. Basile,* 1.6 &c. Which pious custom. saith Baronius, as the fervour of Religion introduced, so Religion as holy hath in latter times forbidden it. Former∣ly a firm Faith incited to the doing that which Reverence afterward disswaded. In both cases Gods faithfull people deserve commendation: as we read both the confidence and the modesty of the Apostles praised in the Gospel, both when, they were sorrow∣full to want our Lords presence for a moment, and likewise when S. Peter desired his absence, saying, Lord, goe from mee for I am a sinfull man.

5. S. Birinus being thus arrived in Brittany, with an intention to visit the inmost rudest parts of the Island, according to his promise to Pope Honorius, he found at his landing so full a harvest, that, as William of Malmsbury says, he thought it a folly to goe any further, or to seek out sick men whom he should cure, when as in the place where he already was, there were not any sound. Thus it hapned to S. Birinus, as it had formerly to S. Augustin, who being sent to the Deiri in the North, stayd at the very en∣trance into the Island in the South. He has notwithstanding found a more favourable esteem among Protestant Writers then S. Au∣gustin did, thought both taught the same Doctrin: For B. Godwin calls him a man of great zeal and devotion:* 1.7 and Camden says he was illu∣strious for his Sanctity even to a miracle, &c.

6. At his first coming, S. Birinus addressed himself to King Kinegils: to whom he with a modest boldnes expounded the Summ of the Christian Faith, which he was come so far to preach for his salvation. The Doctrines of Christianity were not now become strange even among the Pagans

in Brittany: But withall it fell out very happily that at the same time the most ver∣tuous and Victorious King of the Northumbers Oswald (as S. Beda stiles him) was then pre∣sent at the West-Saxon Court, being come thi∣ther to demand King Kinegils his daughter for his wife. This pious King gave his royal testimony to the Truth of the Doctrine prea∣ched by S. Birinus, which was suitable to that received in the whole kingdom of the Nor∣thumbers: And this he did so effectually, that King Kinegils submitted his iudgment to the King and Bishop, desiring to be con∣ducted to the gate which opens into Heaven. Hereupon he was sufficiently catechised, and after that admitted to Baptism: in which by a pious commerce King Oswald became Spirituall Father to him whose daughter he presently after maried.

7. The King being thus converted, the whole Province generally followd his exam∣ple: for, according to S. Birinus his Acts, the people hastned in great troops to heare the H. Bishop preach,* 1.8 and with their hearts humbly embraced the Doctrine taught by him. And no wonder: for besides the sanctity and inno∣cence of the Preacher, God was present with him to confirm his Doctrin by Miracles. One particularly is recounted in the said Acts after this manner:* 1.9 There was in the Province a certain ancient Woman who a long time had been deprived both of her sight and hearing: To her it was suggested by revelation that she▪ should re∣pair to the Holy Bishop for her cure. She delayd not therefore, but took with her a Guide to conduct her. The Bishop therefore seing the womans piety, immediatly made the sign of the Crosse upon her eyes and ears, whereupon both her sight and hea∣ring were restored to her.

* 1.108. The Christian Faith being thus spread in that Kingdom, both the Kings, saith S. Beda, assigned to the Holy Bishop the Citty called Dorinca, to be his Episcopall See: Where severall Churches were erected and consecrated, and great multitudes gained to Christ: after which he went to our Lord. This Citty Dorinca is the same which is now called Dorchester, not the principal town of Dorsetshire, but another of that name sea∣ted near Oxford: Which at this time belon∣ged to the West-Saxons, but afterward passed to the Mercians.

9. This Holy Bishop not being by profes∣sion a Monk, instituted in his Church at Dor∣chester a Community of Canons,* 1.11 who lived in a kind of Regular Observance, and accor∣ding to S. Gregories directions, imitated the Institut of the Primitive Church during the A∣postles times, wherein not any of them esteemed that which he possessed to be his own, but they had all things common. In the said Church this Holy Bishop and seaven and twenty of his Suc∣cessours continued the space of four hundred fifty seaven years.

10. Fifteen years S. Birinus laboured with great fruit in cultivating this our Lords vine∣yard: and at last in the year of Grace six hun∣dred and fifty received his reward, on the third of December,* 1.12 on which day he is com∣memorated in our Martyrologe. He was buried, saith S. Beda, in the same Citty (o•• Dorchester:) and several years after his sacred Body was tran∣slated into the Citty of Winchester by Hedde Bi∣shop of the same Citty,* 1.13 and reposed in the Church of the Blessed Apostles S. Peter and S. Paul.

11. This passage of S. Beda was cause of many troubles in ages following, insomuch as the See Apostolick was oft appeald unto to decide the Controversy raised between the two Churches, which contended earnestly whether of them were possessours of his Re∣licks. The summ of which controversy though hapning in a far remote age, yet pertinent to the present subject, I will here deliver, that I may shew the esteem which the Monuments of our Holy Ancestours de∣serve at our hands.

12. S Birinus, as hath been said, instituted in his Church of Dorchester a Colledge of Ca∣nons Regulars,* 1.14 which lived in a Community under a certain Rule: Which Colledge in pro∣cesse of time was seised upon by other Ca∣nons, called Seculars, who dividing the reve∣news among themselves, each of them lived and enioyd separatly his portion. But in the Raign of King Steven, by the procurement of Alexander Bishop of the Diocese the Regulars were restored. These men bearing a great respect and devotion to thei•• Prime Patron, and Founder, whose Body they were perswa∣ded still remained among them, by Letters demanded leave of the Pope to place his Re∣licks more decently and to adorn his Monu∣ment. Hereupon the Pope (Hono••ius the third) wrote to Steven Langton then Arch-bishop of Canterbury and Cardinal to examine all things well, and accordingly proceed in satisfying the said Canons: The Arch-bishop committed the affair to the diligence and prudence of the Arch-Deacon.

13. Then broke out the pious contention between the Monks of Winchester and Canons of Dorchester. Those of Winchester placed the summ of their cause in the testimony of Saint Beda. But they of Dorchester produced severall witnesses, and among the rest a certain Ca∣non who deposed up on Oath that a former Canon called William in his hearing oft prote∣sted that by Vision in sleep a certain man ap∣pearing to him had commanded him to search such a sepulcher in the Church of Dor∣chester before the Altar of the Holy Crosse, and that there he should find the Body of S. Biri∣nus. Whereupon search having been made by the Abbots permission, and in his pre∣sence together with the Canons, they found a Bishops Body entire, with two stoles and other Episcopall ornaments, of a red colourd silk: together with a Crosse of metall upon his breast, and a Chalice a little below it.

14. Moreover in further confirmation they added proofs of severall miracles: as of a certain young man deaf and dumb cured

there: who affirm'd that he was commanded in a vision to repair to that. And being cured at the Sepulcher of S. Birinus, he spoke in the English tongue. Whereupon one of the Canons said in a ieasting manner, He who taught thee to speak was no Courtier, otherwise he would have taught thee a better language. And three days after he spoke perfectly both in French and English. Other Miracles also were alledged, as of a blind man receiving sight; a leper cleansed; and two dead per∣sons restored to life, &c.

15. As to the testimony alledged from S. Beda, the Abbot answerd, That Historians doe not relate all things from their own sight, but oft by hear-say: Therefore S. Beda might have been misinform'd: and for a proof that he was so, the Abbot acknow∣ledged that the Body of a certain Bishop cal∣led Bertinus, the tenth from S. Birinus, had been translated to Winchester: Which body had been buried in a corner of the Church near the dore: a place unfitt for the Prime Patron of the See. He added, that after the Invention of Saint Birinus his Body a certain Anchoret a holy man named Mathew, li∣ving at Haliwell near Oxford, heard a certain voyce saying to him, Birinus under the pave∣ment, Bertinus behind the dore. He conclu∣ded, that since many Miracles were wrought at Dorchester; and not any at Winchester, this was a certain proof that the Sacred Body had not been translated.

16. Notwithstanding all which allega∣tions, yet would not the Arch-deacon pre∣sume to pronounce sentence in favour of the Canons: but sent a particular relation of all the Acts to the Pope: Who in a Second Letter expressed so much deference to the single authority of S. Beda, that he would not determine the Controversy: but gave order for another Search to be made in the Church of Winchester, and an enquiry whe∣ther any like Miracles had been wrought there by the same Saints Intercession deman∣ded by devout persons, &c.

But what pro∣ceedings were further made in the matter, and whether the Controversy were decided, does not appear in any of our Authours. Probably permission was given to both Churches to shew honour to the Saint: since it was likely, and very ordinary in such Translations, to divide the Relicks.

Notes

• * 1.1

  IV. CHAP.
• * 1.2

  A. D. 635. Bed. l.
• * 1.3

  Ethelvverd. in Chron.
• * 1.4

  Fox Acts and Mon.
• * 1.5

  Baron. hîc.
• * 1.6

  Id. ibid.
• * 1.7

  Godvvin. in Catal. Camden in Dobu••.
• * 1.8

  〈…〉〈…〉 Brin.
• * 1.9

  Id.
• * 1.10

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 l. 3 c 7.
• * 1.11

  Ap. Bed. l. 1. c. 27.
• * 1.12

  Marty. Angl. 3. Decemb.
• * 1.13

  Bed. l. 3. c. 7.
• * 1.14

  Act▪ S Birini ap. Capgrav.