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.

XIII. CHAP.* 1.1

1.2. &c. The Province of the West-Saxons divided into two Dioceses, Dorchester and winchester: For which the Holy Bishop Agilbert retires into France.

1. IN the same year of our Lord six hun∣dred sixty and one,* 1.2 which was the eighteenth of the raign of Kenewalch King of the West-Saxons, the said King perfected the Structure of the Church of Winchester begun by his Father Kinegils, and not only ratified his Fathers donation thereto, but moreover added the Mannours of Dornton, Altesford and Wor∣dyam: thus writes B. Godwin.

2, And at the same time the Church of the West-Saxons by the industry of Agilbert Bishop of the same Province, was so migh∣tily encreased, that the King thought good to divide that Province into two Dioceses. One other Motive hereto the King had, because Agilbert being a stranger, could not, but very imperfectly speak the Saxon tongue.* 1.3 For saith Saint Beda: At last the King who understood no other but his Native language, being weary to heare the Bishops barbarous pronunciation of the Saxon tongue, or his expressing himself in French which the King understood not, brought into the Province another Bishop of his own tongue, named Wini, who was ordained in France. Thus he divi∣ded the Province into two Dioceses, and to Wini he gave for his Episcopall See the Citty Venta, called by the Saxons Wintancestir (or Winche∣ster.) Herewith the Holy Bishop Agilbert being greivously offended, because the King had done this without his advice, returned into France, where he received the Bishoprick of Paris, and died there an old man and full of dayes.

3. Andrew Saussay in his Martyrologe assigns another cause of Bishop Agilberts indignation and departure,* 1.4 for saith he, the King being corrupted with money, gave a portion of that Bishoprick to Wina. Which abo∣minable Simony Agilbert having an Excora∣tion, quitted his Episcopall Seat, and returned presently into his native countrey, retiring himself to Paris, as a secure harbour. But herein he much wrongs the memory of King Kenewalch, who is not taxed by any of our Historians for that Crime. Indeed it was justly imputed to Wina, who by such an exe∣crable negotiation purchased the Bishoprick, not of Winchester but of London:* 1.5 for so S. Beda testifies, saying, Not many years after the de∣parture of Agilbert out of Brittany, Wini was thrust out of his Bishoprick of Winchester by Kene∣walch, and retiring to the King of the Mer∣cians, named Wulfere, bought with money of

him the See of London, where he remained Bishop till his death.

4. As for the Holy Bishop Agilbert after his relinquishing of his See at Dorchester he did not presently goe into France, but as Huntingdon relates,* 1.6 he retired to Alfrid the son of Oswi King of the Northumbers, who was his freind: And three years after this we read that he was present at a Synod or so∣lemne Conference touching the Celebration of Easter, and the Preistly Tonsure, of which we shall treat shortly: where he declared him∣self for the Roman Observation against the Scotts.

Notes

• * 1.1

  XIII. CH.
• * 1.2

  A. D. 661. Godvvin in Winton. E∣pisc.
• * 1.3

  Bed.
• * 1.4

  Martyrolog. Gallican.
• * 1.5

  Bed.
• * 1.6

  Huntingd. l. 3.