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.

XX. CHAP.* 1.1

i.2. &c. The Birth education and Gests of S. Guthlac: Of his Disciple Bertelins in∣tention to murder him. Of Ethelbald a banished Mercian Prince comforted by him, &c.

BVT in Brittany a far more comforta∣ble and happy death befell a Hermit of admirable Sanctity, named S. Guthlac, who, as in this life he enioyd a familiar conversa∣tion with Angels, so in the next he was made their companion in blessednes for ever. His Gesis we have thought fitt to re∣mitt till this time when he dyed, because having lived a solitary life, they were scarce at all involved with the common occurrents of the Church in his time The story of his life may require from us a more then ordinary attention & credit, because written by Felix a devout ••reist of the same age, and dictated to him by Bertelin a Monk of Croyland his companion in Solitude. The Authour dedi∣cated his Writing to Elwold King of the East-Angles, which is a sufficient warrant to rectify the Chronology of some of our Histo¦rians, who place the death of this Elwold in the year of Grace six hundred and ninety. By the generall account S. Guthlac lived forty seaven years, and being twenty four years old he undertook a soldiers Profession, in which he lived eight years, and fifteen years after in the Solitude of Croyland: so that his Birth must fall in the year of Grace six hun∣dred sixty seaven. The wonderfull circum∣stances of which is thus recorded by the foresaid Authour Felix:

[2. In the dayes of Ethelred King of the Mercians,* 1.2 saith he, a certain Noble person of Royall offspring, named Penwald, had by his wife Tecta the holy servant of God Guthlac. At the hower of his birth his future Sanctity was miraculously designed: For from heaven there appeard the hand as it were of a man, of a red colour and a splendour inexpres∣sible, which marked the outward dore of the house with the Sign of the Crosse: thereby happily prefiguring, that the infant then ready to be born should constantly cary in his body the Crosse of Christ. A great multi∣tude of neighbours there present being astonished with the strangenes of this Mira∣cle, concluded that some great unknown Mystery was represented by it: when pre∣sently one of the Midwives issuing forth, p••b∣lished the birth of the infant. When he was baptized, he had the name Guthlac given him, which in the Saxon language signifies, A good gift: And indeed he was given to his parents by God, to the end he might coura∣geously

fight against their oppressours, both carnall and spirituall, and victoriously triumph over them He was of a counte∣nance chearfull and mild, so that he be∣came gratefull and beloved by all.

3. When he had attained to the four and twentieth year of his age, seeing the Ene∣mies of his countrey grow strong, he began to aspire to military honours, and raising soldiers he feircely invaded them, broke into their Citties, subverted their Castells and by many warlick exploits gaind to himself immortall fame. Yet even in the midst of his fury he shewd mercy to his enemies, and restored a third part of all the spoiles gotten by him.

4. But at last calling to mind the sad and ••earfull deaths of many Princes from whom he had descended; and considering how all secular pomp is but a smoke suddenly passing away; that life is short, death ter∣rible, a dreadfull Iudge, and the pains to be suffred for sins incomprehensible & endles: Therefore calling his soldiers together, he told them, That having hitherto fought for vanities, he would spend the remainder of his life in our Lords warfare: That they should chuse themselves a Captain, but for his part he would follow the Crosse of his Captain, Christ. And when by no perswasions he could be drawn from this resolution, quitting his arms, he went to Rependon (or rather, Rippon) where there was a famous Monaste••y, in which receiving the Clericall Tensure, he submitted himself to a strict Monasticall Discipline, wholly abstai∣ning from any drink which could inebriate. He was very diligent in learning the Psalms and Church Hymnes, and in the space of two years he with great facility advanced him∣self in the knowledge of Srcred Scriptures. He had a pleasing aspect, was humble in his ge∣sture and gate, religiously shewing great fear of in God his actions, firm in Faith, patient in hope, profuse in Charity, kind and mild to all, provident in counsell, and circum∣spect in his words.

5. Having spent two years in a Coenobiticall conversation, he aspired to greater austeri∣ties in a solitary. Anachoreticall life. Now there is in Brittany a vast fenny countrey which beginning from the River Gron••e ex∣tends itself Northward along the Sea coast for a very great space, and it is variously divi∣ded by fe••ns, woods, and serpentine rivers. Thither did he repair, having fi••st obtained leave of his Religious Brethren: and was told by the inhabitants of the place that the I••le was named C••oyland: where severall persons having had a desire to dwell, were forced to fly away by terrible apparitions of Devills. This report not discouraging him, he passed over into it in a fishers boat, on the Feast day of S. Bantholmew the Apostle: in whose inter∣cession having a speciall confidence, he re∣solved to make his abode there in that place of horrour and vast solitude, having with him only two young men which had fol∣lowed him.

6. Whereupon he built himself a small cottages his cloathing was only raw skins of beasts, and his nourishment barley-bread with muddey water, and this never till Sun∣••ett, and with great parsimony. The Enemy of mankind therefore envying the Humi∣lity of this Man of God, did suggest to his mind so vehement a tentation, that he had falln into the pitt of despaire, had not our Lord mercifully regarded him by the inter∣cession of the Blessed Apostle S. Bartholmew. For when he being in great disturbance of mind was upon the point to desert his De∣sart, S. Bartholmew visibly appearing to him, encouraged him to cōstancy, by discovering that such Tentations were permitted by our Lord for the tryall of his Faith, and to the end that distrusting himself he might place all his confidence in God, who would never forsake him. After such like exhortations, the Apostle vanished out of his sight, and from that hower the Devill never had the boldnes to tempt him with the spirit of De∣spair.

7. Consequently the devout Authour re∣counts severall other particular Tentations, horrible apparitions of Devills in severall shapes; sometimes perswading him to im∣moderate and indiscreet fasting, thereby to destroy his health: sometimes insulting upon him, whipping, binding and carrying him through those fenng places, &c. all which he despised, and triumphed over.

8. Now, as hath been sayd, there were at∣tending him two youn•• men, the name o•• one of them was Bertelin: he had received the Clericall Tonsure, and served our Lord in Spiritual Exercises under the direction of the Holy man. Now the Wicked Spirit perceiving that he could not by any tentation subvert the Saint, raised in the heart of this young man so violent a passion against him, that he took a firm resolution to murder his Master and Teacher, that he being dispatched out of the way, his house and furniture in it might descend as by right upon him. But the pious servant of our Lord by revelation of the Holy Ghost was acquainted with all these malicious designs of Bertelin therefore on a certain day calling him to him, he plainly and distinctly told him all his thoughts, when, and where, and in what manner and with what intention he had designed his murder. The young man per∣ceiving that he was deprehended, with great remorse cast himself at his feet, begged and easily obtaind pardon. And from that hower he shewed all fidelity to him, and continued with him to his death: after which he had the honour to assist at his bu∣riall This is the same Bertelin who dictated all these particulars to Felix the Writer of his Life.

9. Hereto the Authour addes severall mi∣••aculous

signs wrought upon severall occa∣sions by the man of God: which the Reader at leasure may have recourse to. Moreover he relates how he was visited by a certain Bi∣shop named Hedda; who, being a witnesse of his piety testified by his discerning the thoughts of a Preist, called Wilfrid (who at∣tended the Bishop and promised to explore whether he was not an Hypocrite, such as he had seen many in Scotland, who pretending a solitary life, gave themselves to idlenes and excesse) Hereupon the Bishop forced the Holy man against his will to receive the degree and honour of Preist-hood.

10. One particular more we will add, breifly mentioned by the foresaid Authour of his life, but more fully related by Ingulfus Abbot of Croyland; who writes the History of his Abbey, beginning it with this story of the Conversion of a certain Prince of Mercia called Ethelbaldus by the good advice of S. Guthlac.

11. In those days (saith he, that is, in the year before the death of this Holy Hermit) Prince Ethelbald great grandchild of Alwy the Brother of King Penda was banished out of the kingdom of the Mertians. He was of an elegant stature, strong of body and war∣lick of mind, but (which was to be beway∣led) he was high-minded, and apt to any rash attempt against the King. For which turbu∣lent spirit of his (as we may iustly imagine) he was exposed to many dangers, and for a long space debarred all medling with State-affaires. And not only so, but King Coelred did violently persecute him every where, inso∣much as being in great danger, and wholly destitute of freinds and all means to resist, he would oft come privatly to the man of God Saint Guthlac, who was his Confessour to seek for spirituall counsell, when all world∣ly assistance fayled him: and to him he hum∣bly made his complaints.

12. The Holy man having heard him, kind∣ly and mildly comforted him: and withall, as one to whom future things were by divine revelation known, he distinctly and parti∣cularly discovered to him what should suc∣ceed afterward, promising him that he should be King of his Nation, and subdue all his Enemies. Yea moreover he bad him be confident that all these things should hap∣pen to him without any combat or effusion of blood, only by Gods power and Providence over him.

13. But to these comforting promises he added serious admonitions, that he should fear our Lord God above all things, and shew ••ll subwission and respect to his Holy Church: That he should often deplore his former crimes, and constantly make good his pur∣pose of amendment: For he told him that if he would be carefull to obey the Divne Law he might with confidence expect Gods help and favour. By such exhortations and com∣forts the mind of the afflicted Prince was exceedingly refreshed, insomuch as in the presence of his holy Father Saint Guthlac, and others then standing by, he expressly promi∣sed, that assoon as God should sett him pea∣ceably in the Throne of the Kingdom, he would found a Monastery in the same place, to the honour of God and memory of his sayd Father: And this promise a short time after he effectually accomplished.]

Notes

• * 1.1

  XX. CHA.
• * 1.2

  In vit. Saint Guthlac•• ••p. ••uv. 11. Aps.