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.

VIII. CAAP.* 1.1

1.2. The Death of S. Hilda: one of S. Wil∣frids adversaries.

3. The death of S. Ermenburga, Mother to S. Milburga, &c.

4. S. Erection of two New Bishopricks, at Worcester and Hereford: A succession of the Bishops in Hereford.

1. IT is an usefull admonition which Wil∣liam of Malmsbury affords us from this debate between S. Wilfrid and his adversa∣ries:* 1.2 For, says he, we may thence observe the mi∣serable condition in which human nature is in∣volved, when as those persons which by Antiqui∣ty are celebrated for eminent Saints, and were such indeed, as Theodore, Brithwald, Iohn, Bosa, as likewise the famous Abbesse Hilda should ioyn themselves with those impious persons, who with an irreconciliable hatred persecuted a Bishop of such eminent Sanctity as was S. Wilfrid.

2. As for the glorious Abbesse S. Hilda,* 1.3 of whom we have already treated, this same year of S. Wilfrids banishment she received the reward of so many heavenly works per∣formed by her on earth. And we can not doubt but that this fault of persecuting S. Wilfrid, proceeding from misinformation of others, and not premeditated malice in her own heart, was expiated by her former merits for thirty three years together, and a sharp sicknes which continued sixe years before her death, all which time she ceased not from praising God for her suffrings, and dayly instructing the innocent flock com∣mitted to her charge. What testimonies at

and after her death God was pleased to shew of her Sanctity, hath been already declared from S. Beda.

5. The same year likewise dyed S. Ermen∣burga Mother of the glorious Virgin S. Mil∣burga, S. Mildreda and S. Milgitha, as like∣wise of the Saint-like child Merefin. Concer∣ning whom Harpsfeild thus writes,* 1.4 Ermen∣burga though she had for her husband Mervald son of Penda King of the Mercians, who was yet alive, yet so inflamed a desire she had to a solita∣ry Religious life, that she never ceased her im∣portunity, till she had procured her husbands consent. Having thus obtained her wish, she re∣turned into Kent to her Brother Egbert, to whom she discovered her pious purpose, desiring his assistance for the execution of it. Whereupon he built for her at Estrey a town of Kent a Monastery consecrated to the young Princes Martyrs, Saint Ethelbert and S. Ethelbritht. There she passed the remainder of her life with seaventy other Virgins consecrated to God, in wonderfull Sancti∣ty. Her name is recited among the Saints in our Martyrologe on the nineteenth of No∣vember.* 1.5

4. At this time Saint Theodore encreased the Number of Bishopricks, erecting the Sees of Worcester and Hereford: Of the former he consecrated Boselus, and of the other Putta Bishop: concerning whom, as likewise his Successours for many years, little more being recorded but their Names: because we iudge it not expedient to make frequent breaches in this History only to insert Names, wee will here breifly give a Catalogue of those which sate at Hereford: for the Bishops of Worcester have left considerable monu∣ments of their Gests and vertues.

5. To Putta therefore Bishop of Hereford after he had administred that Province eleaven years, succeeded Tirtell: Whose Successour after twelve years was Torther: who con∣tinued in that Bishoprick fifteen years, and either deserting it voluntarily or by death, the next was Walstod in the year of Grace seaven hundred and eighteen: To whom after seaventeen years succeeded Cuthbert. Now concerning Walstod the only thing me∣morable in him was that he began the fa∣brick of a Crosse very costly and magnificent, but dyed before he could finish it, which care he left to his Successour, who engraved in it certain Latin verses importing the same, which are recorded by Bishop Godwin in his Catalogue of the Bishops of that Diocese: whereto I referr the curious Reader.

Notes

• * 1.1

  VIII. CH.
• * 1.2

  Malmsb. Sup.
• * 1.3

  Sup l. 16. c. 21.
• * 1.4

  Harpsf. saec. 7. c. 10.
• * 1.5

  Martyrolog. 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 15. Novemb.