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.

XII. CHAP.* 1.1

1. Ina King of the West-Saxons.

2.3. &c. Saint Aldelm at Rome obtains Priviledges for his Monastery of Malms∣bury. A fabulous report concerning Pope Sergius.

1. IN the year of Grace six hundred eighty eight began the raign of the glorious King Ina,* 1.2 King of the West-Saxons, as we have already declared when we treated of the cession of King Cedwalla after his conversion, who left his throne to undertake a pilgri∣mage to Rome, there to receive Baptism, where he happily dyed in his Baptismall in∣nocence.

2. The same year Saint Wilfrid, contenting himself with the Churches of York and Ha∣gulstad, which he administred with great perfection, voluntarily surrendred the Church of Lindesfarn, which he committed to the governance of Eadbert (mentioned before upon occasion of the death of S. Cuthbert) who was ordained Bishop of that Diocese. At this time the English-Saxon Churches flourished wonderfully, when the Princes and others following their example, sought not their own interests, but those of Iesus Christ. This wee shall shorty make good, by relating the actions of severall of our Kings and Apostolicall men, who filled France, Germany and even Italy it self with the seeds of Gods Word, and the fame of their Sanctity.

3. The year following in which King Ced∣walla dyed at Rome,* 1.3 S. Aldelm, who, as hath been said, was his companion in that iour∣ney, became a Petitioner to Pope Sergius, and obtaind of him in the behalf of his Mona∣stery of Malmsbury a Priviledge of exemp∣tion from Episcopall Iurisdiction, and a power to the Monks of electing their own Abbot, accor∣ding to the Rule of S. Benedict: Of this Priviledge,

saith William,* 1.4 a Monk of the same Monastery, the same S. Aldelm obtained a confirmation from Ina King of the West-Saxons,* 1.5 and Ethelred of the Mercians.

4. Among other Acts of S. Aldelm at Rome,* 1.6 there is reckoned by a certain Authour of no great credit, saith Baronius, his freeing Pope Sorgius from a scandalous imputation and calumny imposed on him of being the Father of a bastard then incestuously born. Which calumny S. Aldelm is said to have dissipated,* 1.7 by commanding the infant then but nine dayes old, expressely to acquitt the Pope of that crime. This fable the Centuria∣tours of Magdeburg having mett with, they according to their accustomd impudence doe thus pervert, There was great familiarity between Aldelm and Pope Sergius: to whom a Son having been born by adultery at Rome,* 1.8 he had not the boldnes to declare the truth ingenuously. What ever the truth was, certain it is that these Writers have most disingenuously ad∣ulterated it.

Notes

• * 1.1

  XII. CHA.
• * 1.2

  A. D. 688.
• * 1.3

  A. D. ••89.
• * 1.4

  A. D. 690.
• * 1.5

  Malmsbur. Hist. Novell. l. 2.
• * 1.6

  Baron. A. D. 689.
• * 1.7

  Vid. S••••. 25. Maij.
• * 1.8

  Centur. Mag∣deb. cent. 7. f. 5, 9.