* 1.1II. CHAP.
1.2. &c. The Names of the twelve Aposto∣lick Missioners. &c.
1. IT will not be curiosity, but duty to pro∣pagate to posterity the names of these twelve Apostolicall Missioners, as likewise to declare by what authority they willingly undertook the charge of preaching the Gospell to Pagans. A perfect information hereof we have received from one of that number, S. Marcellinus, who has committed to writing an account of their progresse, as likewise the particular Gests of S. Willebrord and Suibert who were most eminent among them
* 1.2[2. The illustrious Prelat S. Egbert; (saith he) thirsting after the salvation of all, and particularly of the Pagan Frisons and Saxons, in as much as the English were descended from them, & persevering in this charitable design, endeavoured to send to the discharge of that holy employment of converting soules certain holy and industrious persons, fitted thereto both in point of learning, courage and diligence. He selected there∣fore and assembled out of diverse Monasteries twelve Apostolicall men, firmly established in the Faith to preach Catholick Doctrine to the Germans.
3. Now the names of those zealous Mis∣sioners were these, Willebrord, Swibert, Acca, Wigbert, Willibald, Winnibald, Lebwin, two Bre∣thren called Ewald, Werenfrid, and my self the meanest of all called Marcellin, who am the Writer of this History as likewise of the Gests of S. Willebrord. All these forenamed were Preists: and to them was adioyned the holy Deacon Adelbert Son of the King of the Deirs (or Yorkshire,) who for the love of Christ quitted his Royall Patrimony, and refused not a voluntary banishment in the compa∣ny of the foresaid holy Preists, having been elected thereto by S. Egbert.
4. And because these Holy Doctours born in England were descended from Progenitours who were Frisons and Saxons, by that means they were enabled to preach the Gospell of Christ in the German tongue. Some of these were afterward crownd with Martyrdom, others persisted to their death in laborious preaching among Barbarous Nations, and some were substituted Bishops in Episcopall Sees when they were vacant.
5. When all necessaries therefore were pre∣pared, the foresaid Twelve Apostolicall Mis∣sioners, after they had taken leave of their freinds and kinred, and received the holy Prelats benediction, took ship, and by Gods blessing having a prosperous wind they made a quick voyage and landed safely at Wiltemberg or Vtrect (Traiectum) in the year six hundred and ninety after our Lords Incar∣nation▪ which was the third year of the Ponti∣ficat of Pope Sergius, Iustinian then being Em∣perour, and the most glorious King Alfrid then raigning over the Northumbers, a Prince zealously affectionat in observing the Laws of Holy Church.]
5. Cornelius Kempius in his Treatise concer∣ning the Writers of Friseland affirms that those Twelve Apostles were elected out of the whole En∣glish-Saxon Nation,* 1.3 being the most eminent for learning and piety that could be found But most of them, were furnished out of the Kingdom of the Northumbers, which certainly was the Native soyle of S. Egbert, as likewise of Saint Willebrord, S. Swibert and S. Adelbert.