The English historical library, or, A short view and character of most of the writers now extant, either in print or manuscript which may be serviceable to the undertakers of a general history of this kingdom / by William Nicholson ...

CHAP. II. (Book 2)

Historians of the English Church, from the coming in of Augu∣stine the Monk, to the Con∣quest. (Book 2)

THE Conversion of our Saxon Ancestors happen'd at a time when Learning run very low, and when a general Credulity and want of Thought gave opportunity to the Monks of coining their Legendary Fa∣bles, and obtruding them upon the World for true and unquestionable Hi∣story: So that the main part of the Ecclesiastical Story (if we may so call it) of those Ages is to be had amongst the Lives of our English Saints, which are much of a piece with those of the British already mention'd. The Ac∣count thata 1.1 Augustine gave to Pope Gregory, of the Success of his Apostle∣ship in Kent, is hardly extant: But we have the Queries he put to that

Holy Father, with the Pope's Answers, ina 1.2 Bede; from whom several of our later Historians have transcrib'd them. Both the Questions and An∣swers are plain enough, and of no great moment; yet I think Bale's Cen∣sure a little too severe, when he affirms that they are Omnis Evangelii at{que} Legis Eruditionis vacuae, immo ineptissimae.

In truth Venerable Bede* 1.3 is the only Person of those Times, that deserves the Name of an Ecclesiastical Histo∣rian; there having not been many of his Cotemporaries furnish'd with either Learning or Judgment sufficient for such an Undertaking. The Account whichb 1.4 himself gives of his own Life, is, That he was born within the Territories (〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, says the Saxon Paraphrase) of the Monastery of St. Peter and St. Paul at Weremouth and Jarrow; where he was afterwards Educated: That he was, when Seven Years old, committed to the care of Abbot Benedict: That he was ordain'd Deacon (at Nineteen) and Priest (at Thirty) by St. John of Beverly: That from thenceforth he continued still in

the same Monastery to the 59th Year of his Age. Here he imploy'd him∣self in writing Commentaries on the Scriptures, and distinct Treatises upon almost every part of Learning; most of which are still extant. What we are (at present) concern'd in is his Ecclesi∣astical History of this Island, in Five Books, which have had manya 1.5 Im∣pressions in Latin; the Language wherein he penn'd them. It's plain he had seen and perused several Chro∣nicles of the English Kings, before his own Time: witness that Expression b 1.6 Vnde cunctis placuit Regum tempora computantibus, &c. But he first at∣tempted an Account of their Church-Affairs; and kept Correspondence in the other Kingdoms of the Heptarchy, the better to enable him to give a true State of Christianity throughout the whole Nation. He treats indeed most largely of the Conversion of Northum∣berland, and the progress of Religion in that Kingdom: but always inter∣mixes what other Relations he could borrow from Books, or learn from such living Testimonies as he believed

to be credible. Some have censur'd his History, as composed with too great partiality; favouring, on all Oc∣casions, the Saxons; and depressing the Britains. Such a Charge is not whol∣ly groundless. He must be pardon'd for stuffing it, here and there, with thumping Miracles; the natural pro∣duct of the Zeal and Ignorance of his Age: Especially, since so little Truth was to be had of the Saints of those Days, that there was a sort of Neces∣sity of filling up Books of this kind with such pleasant Legends as the Chat of the Country, or a good Invention would afford a Man. It's worth our observation that none of the Writers of his own Life have mention'd one single Miracle wrought by him; be∣cause, they had enough of Truth to relate: Not but that we may boldly reckon him (as a Foreign Minister is said once to have done) a much better Saint than many of those Thaumaturgi that we read of in his History. There was a Paraphrase very early made of it in the English Saxon Tongue, which has been printeda 1.7 together with the

Original Latin Text: But whether 'twas done by the famous King Alfred, or some other Hand, we are not very certain. Mr. Wheloc dares not be posi∣tive; yet thinks it verya 1.8 probable, that it was the Work of that Great Monarch, to whom (in his Title-page) he has confidently ascrib'd it. Sir John Spelmanb 1.9 proves him the Au∣thor, from a Distich in the Front of that very Manuscript, out of which Mr. Wheloc afterwards publish'd it; which runs thus,

Historicus quondam fecit me Baeda Latinum, Aelfred Rex Saxo transtulit ille prius.

Indeed, he is commonly so reputed; and particularly byc 1.10 one, who (of all Men now living) is the best able to give a Character of the Performance, which the Reader will be pleased to have in his own Words. Nil Regiis versionibus perfectius dici possit. Bone Deus! Quam in illis Nativus, facilis & simplex Sermo! Praecipue in Ecclesiasticae

Historae Bedae Paraphrasi; cujus Augu∣stissimum Auctorem, sive dictionis in ea puritatem, sive perspecuitatem▪ Styli, sive hypotyposin illam miram, qua res omnes quasi ob oculos legentis ponit; spectes, Caesari in dicendo aequalem censebis. The Publisher of this Noble Monument has beautified his Edition with some learn'd Annotations of his own; where∣in he takes frequent occasion to shew in what Points of Doctrin our Saxon Ancestors differ'd from the present Members of the Roman Church, and agreed with those of the Reform'd. If we live to see this Paraphrase re∣printed (and, why should we despair?) it will have considerable Enlargements from the excellent Notes of Fr. Junius, a 1.11 who has carry'd his Animadversi∣ons and Illustrations through the whole Work: and some advantage may be given it from a Manuscript Copy in b 1.12 Corpus Christi College in Oxford, which Mr. Wheloc never saw. The History it self was translated into Eng∣lish byc 1.13 Tho. Stapleton, a Doctor of Divinity in the University of Lovain:

But (as on other Occasions he has shewn himself too partially inclined to serve the Interests of his own Church, so) we have herea 1.14 sometimes just Cause to complain that he does not deal fairly, and honestly with us. Rich. Lavingham (Prior of the Carme∣lite Monastery at Bristol, and a mighty Writer in Divinity, about the latter end of the Fourteenth Century) isb 1.15 reported to have epitomiz'd Bede's Hi∣story; beginning his Work with Bri∣tannia cui quondam Albion, &c. There's such an Abstract added in Wheloc's Edition, with a continuation to the Year, 766. which perhaps may be the same: For, tho' it does not begin with these words, Bede himself begins with such as are very like them; and to confound two Writers, if they ap∣pear under the same Cover, is no great Transgression in my Author. There's another anonymous Continuer of this History, who descends below the Con∣quest; and whose Book (now in MS. in the publick Library at Oxford) is

quoted by some of our most Learn'd a 1.16 Writers.

All that look'd like Truth in Bede's Collections, and was purely Ecclesi∣astical, was remitted into the First Vo∣lume of Sir Henry Spelman'sb 1.17 Coun∣cils: to which were added such other genuine Remains of the Saxon Church, as that Industrious and truly Religious Knight could any where meet with. This good Work was undertaken at the Entreaty of AB. Abbot, and his Successor Laud; and mightily en∣courag'd by Bishop Andrews, who had Thoughts of engaging in it himself. Many of the Notes are owing to AB. Vsher; who seems to have furnish'd the Author with more than were pub∣lished. He is mightily perplex'd in some of them, when he comes to recon∣cile the Times of the Kings and Bi∣shops mentioned together in the Laws; and the Difficulties increase upon him, by his adhereing too stiffly to Bishop Goodwin's and Sir H. Savil's Authority. Had he had the compleat Saxon Chro∣nicle (especially, with the Advantages of such accurate Indices as are now

publish'd with it) these Mists would have vanish'd more readily; and he would have had much fewer Achro∣nisms to disturb him. He confesses, he often follows blind Guides; and is therefore apprehensive of the danger he's in of leading his Reader into the same Ditch with himself. Some Laws, he acknowledges, were omitted (he knows not well by what Misfortune) which were even in his own Possession; and others were communicated by his Friends (chiefly, the Learn'd Primate of Armagh) when 'twas too late to in∣sert them in their proper places. His Translations are mostly Lambard's, which we have already observed to be uncorrect. Where those fail'd him, he made use of W. L'Isle, and (some∣times) his Son Sir John Spelman; who seems to have understood our ancient Language better than his Father. He had also great Assistances from Mr. Stephens, a Person eminently skill'd in our English Antiquities; and who, for his good Services in the Edition of this very Book, isa 1.18 said to have had a Prebend of Lincoln, procured for him

by AB. Laud. There are several Mi∣stakes in the very Titles of his Chap∣ters. I shall only instance in Two: 1.a 1.19 Aedgari Regis Anglorum Charta ae Oswaldes-Law, hoc est, de ejiciendis Clericis Vxoratis & introducendis Mo∣nachis. 'Tis known St. Oswald was Canoniz'd for his inveterate Hatred of secular and marry'd Clergy; and for that he help'd to enact severe Laws against them. But none of these were ever call'd by the Name of Oswald's Law; which signifies no more than a certain Hundred of that Name in the Country of Worcester, whereof we have this account in an old Register of that Church:b 1.20 Idem Rex [Aedgarus] fecit de tribus Centuriatibus, sc. Wel∣verdes-Law & Wiburneto (qui erant Episcopi) & de Chutberes-Lawe (qui erat Prioris & Conventus) unum Centu∣riatum, i. e. Hundredum: Dedit{que} Beato Oswaldo & ejus successoribus eandem per omnia libertatem in eodem Hundredo per∣petuo possidendam, quam ipse Rex habuit in suis Hundredis. Et vocatur Oswal∣deslaw. So that here's a very unfortu∣nate Mistake; and of the same Nature

with that we have already observed of Denelage, &c. in the first part. I wonder we never had any mention of the Laws of the Picts, as well as those of the Danes. since we read ofa 1.21 Pithland-Law in Hector-Boethius, of the like signification with the former. 2. The proof that a Learn'd Person b 1.22 alledges for Amesbury being in the Primitive Ages of English Writers call'd Vrbs Ambrosii, is not conclusive: For the Title, there referr'd to, is mani∣festly Sir Henry's own; his Author mentioning only Ambresbyrig, which may admit of another signification than Vrbs Ambrosii. It may be as well, and 'twas as anciently, translated, Mons Ambrii. We wait impatiently for a New Edition of these Councils: And the worthy Undertaker (if God please to bless him and us with the continu∣ance of his Health) will amply an∣swer our Expectations. He will be able (out of Junius's Collections; a Manuscript in the Hands of Mr. Jones of Sunningwel, &c.) to make large Additions; and to insert them, appo∣sitely translated, in their proper places.

He'll finish the Pains which Mr. Som∣ner long since tooka 1.23 to collate all the Saxon Pieces (already printed) with the Original MSS. and to correct the Translation. He'll give us neces∣sary Prefaces to the whole, subjoin a convenient Glossary; and (in a word) do all that's requisite to the rendring of such a Work as compleat as we can wish it.

When this is done,* 1.24 we shall have no occasion to search any further for the History of our English-Saxon Church: unless the Lives of the Saints of those Times (which are very numerous) will afford us some little Supplies, together with what the Reader will find consi∣der'd in other Chapters. I pretend not to any certain Account of the Vitae variorum Sanctorum, written byb 1.25 Egwine Bishop of Worcester, and Foun∣der of the Abby of Evesham; those of Osbert Clarentius (Prior of Westminster, A. D. 1136.) are said to be in the Li∣brary of Bennet College; and Henry of Huntingdon's, in that of the Jesuits at Antwerp. There are two Books of these Lives, in the Saxon Language,

in Sir John Cotton's Library: whereof the one was written by Aelfric, and the other by an Anonymous Author. I know not but they may be the same with two small Treatises, amongst Junius's Saxon Transcripts, de Sanctis in Anglia sepultis. His Menologium also (which is a Kalender of those an∣cient Saints, and was transcrib'd by him out of two old Copies in the Cotto∣nian and Bennet Libraries) is a Piece which he thought highly valuable; and which he sometimes refers to un∣der the Titles of Martyrologium, and Fasti Anglo-Saxonici. Some of their Lives are describ'd at large in the Old Homilies; tho' the main of all those Stories comes usually out of Bede's Shop. This is observable in the Homilies on St. Edmund and St. Cuthbert in Bodley's Library; on St. Cuthbert, St. Aethel∣drytha, St. Bennet junior, and St. Os∣wald, in the publick Library at Cam∣brige; on St. Ceadda amongst Mr. Ju∣nius's Manuscripts; and on St. Cuth∣bert, St. Swithin and St. Ethelgetha, in that of Bennet College. Other general Historians of this kind (besides John of Tynmouth and Capgrave, already men∣tion'd) we have not many. John Wil∣son's

Martyrology is not much to be heeded, since an unquestionablea 1.26 Judge of these Matters has thought fit to bestow the Epithet of Nugivendu∣lus upon its Author. And I know not what greater regard can be had to (Tho. Fuller'sb 1.27 great Friend) Father Je∣rome Porter, and his Flowers of the Saints. Particular Lives may be rank'd in the following Order.

St. Aldhelm's* 1.28 is most copiously writ∣ten by W. of Malmesbury; whose Fifth Book of the English Bishops, is (almost) intirely upon this Subject. It has been lately publish'd both by Dr. Gale and Mr. Wharton; whereof the former is c 1.29 said to have imploy'd a careless Amanuensis, and the other confesses he transcribed a very faulty Copy. Be that Matter as 'twill, betwixt the two we may hope for an intire Book: whereas Fatherd 1.30 Mabillon gave us only an imperfect Abstract. Of what Authority this Writer is to be reckon'd, we have already been acquainted. 'Tis in this Treatise chiefly, that this Credit

flags, and that he falls below himself. Pervenisset ad summam Laudem (says a 1.31 Dr. Gale) si carbasa sua non imples∣set Poetico farore; si veritatem Historia Fabulis officiosis non contaminasset; si de splendore & dulcedine Aldelmi minus pro∣lixe judicasset. We are not sure the like was done for this renown'd Pre∣late by Egwine, Daniel (his Cotempo∣rary Bishop of Winchester) and Alfred Abbot of Malmesbury; tho' Pitsb 1.32 affirms it: Nor can we tell what's be∣come of those that were written by Of∣mund of Salisbury, or Eadmerus, which c 1.33 Mabillon vouches for, with the same assurance.

St. Augustine's isd 1.34 reported to have been treated on by Venerable Bede,* 1.35 in a very large Volume, the Ma∣nuscript Copy whereof is said to be in Walter Cope's Library. Bedee 1.36 him∣self says he corrected a false Translation of the Life of St. Anastasius; which I am apt to think is the Ground-work of this Story. There's hardly so good an one forf 1.37 Nothelmus's three Treatises

of his Life, Miracles and Translation; which were undertaken at the joint In∣stances of Bede and Alcuinus. 'Tis enough that we have a bigger and a less. History of him (as well as two other like Treatises on his Miracles) written by Gotseline, sometime Monk of Canterbury; the former whereof is publish'd bya 1.38 Mabillon, and the lat∣ter byb 1.39 Mr. Wharton.

St. Cedda's* 1.40 was either penn'd by Danielc 1.41 Bishop of the West-Saxons; or (which is the same thing to Bale and Pits) some Particulars of it were, by that Prelate, communicated to Bede; who took care to transmit them into his Ecclesiastical History.

St. Cuthbert's* 1.42 has been treated on at large by a great many Hands. 'Twas first engaged in by Venerable Bede him∣self in a particulard 1.43 Tract; where∣in he has omitted no Miracle, that could well be swallow'd, even by the greedy Faith of his own Age. He wrote it first in Heroic Verse; and af∣terwards in Prose. It is alsoe 1.44 said

to have been compiled by Laurence Monk and Precentor of Durham; as it certainly was by Reginald,a 1.45 another Monk of that Church. AB. Vsherb 1.46 quotes a Manuscript Life of this Saint collected out of the Irish Histories; and there's another in English Meeter, an∣swerable to the foremention'd Latin Poetry, in the Right Honourable the Earl of Carlisle's Library at Naworth. Many more are inc 1.47 other Libraries. But that which I would especially re∣commend to my Reader, for his Diver∣sion and a pleasant Entertainment, is the printedd 1.48 Legend of St. Cuth∣bert, with the Antiquities of the Church of Durham; which was pub∣lish'd by B. R. a Gentleman of the old e 1.49 Lord Fairfax's Retinue, but writ∣ten by one Robert Hegge, sometime Fellow of Corpus Christi College in Oxford. The latter part of the Title might have been spar'd, since there's not much in it that will any way il∣lustrate the Antiquities of that Church: But the Saint's own History is prettily

composed, in a good orderly Method and handsome Stile; intermix'd with great variety of Learning and witty Reflections. The Publisher did not do his Author Justice: For, besides the concealing his Name, hea 1.50 omitted a great many considerable Passages, all his Quotations, and a Learn'd Preface. All these Defects have been lately sup∣ply'd (from the Author's own Manu∣script) by Mr. Tanner; who has also added some curious Notes and Obser∣vations of his own. This Piece he has had, for some time, ready for the Press: and (methinks) the Members of that great Cathedral, which owes so much to the Memory of this Saint, should encourage and countenance his Pains.

St. Dunstan's* 1.51 Wonders were as fa∣mous in the West, as St. Cuthbert's in the North; and have been as duly re∣corded. This was first done by Brid∣ferth, Monk of Ramsey; who was his Cotemporary, and whose Treatise is publish'd in theb 1.52 Antwerp Collection. This was afterwards epitomiz'd and

beautified with a set of new Miracles, bya 1.53 Adalard, at the Command of St. Elphegus, to whom 'tis dedicated. This is also publish'd, with the former. Out of these two, and some other Helps, Osbern (a very Learn'd Monk, and Precentor of Canterbury, about the Year 1074.) compos'd a couple of ele∣gant Treatises; in one of which he gives us the Life, and in the other the Posthumous Miracles, of St. Dunstan. The former of these was publish'd by b 1.54 Mr. Wharton; and both of them by Monsieurc 1.55 Mabillon.

St. Edmund,* 1.56 King of the East-Angles has been celebrated in Saxon by Abbot d 1.57 Aelfric; and in old English, by Iohne 1.58 Lydgate, Monk of Bury. Both Bale and Pits tell us a formal Story of one Burchardus, a Dorsetshire Hermit, whose Company was much affected by Fremund Son of King Offa; whose Life (after he was Martyr'd by the Danes) he took the Pains to write: andf 1.59 Bale pretends to have seen it. This very Life is quoted by

Johna 1.60 Stow; who says 'tis the Life of St. Edmund, and that Burchard was Secretary to King Offa. 'Twas also written byb 1.61 Will. Monk of Croy∣land; and more fully penn'd (at the Request of King Aethelred and St. Dun∣stan) by the famous Abbo Flori••censis, about the Year of our Lord 985. And, soon after the Conquest, another Book (of his Miracles) was composed by Arch-deacon Herman. The two last are bound up inc 1.62 one Volume; with several other Pieces, relating to the Monasteries of St. Edmundsbary and Ely.

St. Elphegas.* 1.63 (AB. of Canterbury, who was also murder'd by the Danes) is in∣debted to the above-mention'd Osbern; whose two Books, on his Passion and Translation, are stilld 1.64 extant.

St. Ethelbert was slain by King Offa,* 1.65 A. D. 793. and had afterwards the Honour of being reputed a Martyr. To him the Old Church of Hereford was dedicated; and therefore Gyraldus Cambrensis (who was sometime Canon

there) took the pains to write hisa 1.66 Life, among many others that his teeming Pen has given us.

St. Ethelreda (commonly call'd* 1.67 St. Audry) was the famous Virgin Queen to Egbert King of Northumberland; and first Founder of a Religious House at Ely. Upon this latter score, she has her Life largely treated on byb 1.68 Thomas, a Monk of that City; part whereof has only been publish'd by c 1.69 Mabillon, to whom we are like∣wise indebted ford 1.70 Wulstan's Life of Saint Ethelwold.

St. George.* 1.71 Though neither Tin∣mouth nor Capgrave mention him a∣mongst our English Saints, yet we meet with him in both our old Saxon Legendaries. I cannot promise the Reader, that he'll have any great stock of English History in his Life: But 'tis written at large bye 1.72 Dr. Heylin; who design'd to have oblig'd (for ever) our Knights of the Garter, by such a signal Service to the Me∣mory of the great Guardian Saint and

Protectour of their Order. Out of this Elaborate Book have been stoln a 1.73 two shorter Accounts of his Life; which bear the same Title, and are sometimes sold amongst Romances and Ballads.

St. Guthlac,* 1.74 the Tutelar Saint of Croyland, had his Austerities early dis∣cribed by Faelix a Monk of that Place, about the Year 730. who has the Ho∣nour to be quoted by our Learnedb 1.75 Camden, as a Poet fortunate enough in his descriptions, tho' Bale is pleased to give this harsh Character of him,c 1.76 Fictis Narratiunculis, immo manifestissi∣mis mendaciis, Historiam, Monachico more implevit. The like was done (in Latine Heroics) by Will.d 1.77 Ramsey, who dy'd Abbot of that Monastery, A. D. 1180. of whome 1.78 Leland (who was a good Judge of Poetry) gives this Account, that he was, Poeta tam barbaro Saeculo clarus. We are told of a third, by Aelfric, in the Cot∣tonian

a 1.79 Library; which I guess to be that Saxon Translation of Felix's Book which is mentioned by Arch∣bishop b 1.80 Vsher. We are further as∣sured byc 1.81 Mr. Pits, that both In∣gulfus and M. Paris wrote of the Life and Miracles of St. Guthlac: but I dare hardly rely upon his single Au∣thority.

St. Frideswide's exemplary Chastity is recommended to Posterity by Phi∣lip,* 1.82 d 1.83 sometimes Prior of her Mona∣stery in Oxford: whereof there's a fair MS. Copy in the Library of Je∣sus College in that University.

St. John of Beverley's* 1.84 History was first written (at the request of Aldred Arch-bishop of York) bye 1.85 Folcard, a Benedictine Monk, about the Year 1066. which was enlarg'd by Will. f 1.86 Asketel (or Chettel, Clark of Be∣verley) A. D. 1320. Another draught was taken of him byg 1.87 Alfred, Canon and Treasurer of that Church,

in the beginning of the twelfth Cen∣tury: and a Third (or Fourth) by ana 1.88 Anonymous Writer about 1373.

St. Marcellinus would have been ut∣terly forgotten by our English Hi∣storians,* 1.89 had not Pits met with him in his Travels beyond Seas; and learned (from his ownb 1.90 printed Works) that he was a Domini∣can Monk of York, and one of the twelve Apostles sent by Abbot Egbert (A. D. 690.) to convert the Pagan Germans. The Particulars of their Mission, with their Entertainment in Westphalia, Frisland, &c. we have from his own Pen.

St. Neot's Life,* 1.91 written by Will▪ Ramsey, is in the Library at Magdalene College in Oxford. 'Tis in Verse: but of soc 1.92 low a strain, that the Au∣thor seems to have failed here of that Spirit which Leland observ'd in his Guthlac. The Matter is likewise as fulsome as the composure is flat; so that 'tis not probable we shall ever see it out of Manuscript. I suppose

this is the same which is quoted bya 1.93 Leland, and some of our later Writers.

St. Oswald,* 1.94 Arch-bishop of York, me∣rited highly of the Regular Clergy; and therefore 'tis no wonder that a Ma∣nuscript Copy of his Life was to be had in (almost) every Monastery of the Kingdom. That whereof Eadmerus was the Author (which seems to have been collected with good Judgment, out of some others that had been writ∣ten before him) is latelyb 1.95 published; as is also another written by anc 1.96 Anonymous Monk of Ramsey. A Third, more Voluminous than either of these, was compos'd by another Nameless Monk of Ramsey; which is now a∣mongst the many more valuable Ma∣nuscripts ind 1.97 Sir Jo. Cotton's Libra∣ry. There also (as Ie 1.98 guess) the Rea∣der may meet with his Saxon Legend, by Abbot Aelfric: But where he'll find either of those that were penn'd byf 1.99 Folcard, org 1.100 Senatus Bravonius, I can∣not inform him.

St. Swithun's miracles were recorded by Lamfrid or Lantfred,* 1.101 a Benedictine Monk of Winchester, about the Year 980. Of whose Book we are told there was a Manuscript Copy in the Lord a 1.102 Lumley's Library, and we are sure there now is one inb 1.103 Sir Jo. Cotten's. This treats only of the great things he did after his Death: but 'tis probable there was a former part of the Discourse (which seems also to have beenc 1.104 translated into the old English-Saxon Tongue) that took the Story higher. The like, says Pits,d 1.105 was penn'd by Wolstan, the same famous Monk of Winchester, who (about the Year 1000) did as much for St. Ethelwald: but I can hear of this piece no where else.

St. Wilfrid's* 1.106 uneasie Life and Suffer∣ings were first regester'd by Eddius or Heddius, a noted Monk of Canterbury; whence he was brought, by Wilfrid himself, to instruct his Quire-men of the Kingdom of Northumberland in the Art of Singing. Out of this (which is lately publish'd bye 1.107 Dr. Gale) there was a second Account taken in Latin

Rhime by Fridegod,a 1.108 another Monk of the same Church, who was put up∣on the Employment by Odo, Arch∣bishop of Canterbury. The Arch-bishop himself wrote a Preface to the Book, which was omitted by Mabillon, but is since published byb 1.109 another; and, for this Mr. Pitsc 1.110 makes him a di∣stinct Writer of St. Wilfrid's Life. A Third was written in Prose byd 1.111 Ead∣merus; and a fourth bye 1.112 Petrus Blesensis, dedicated to Jeofrey A. B. of York. So that this Petrus Blesensis and Mr. Pit's Petrusf 1.113 Ripponensis (tho' he makes them two several Authors) are the same Person. There is now in my Possession a Latin Manuscript Life of this Saint; which perhaps may be the same with the last mention'd. It is certainly dif∣ferent from the three first; and seems not to have Length enough for that tedious Discourse on this Subject, which is said to have been written by one

a 1.114 Stephen a Priest; and Epitomiz'd by William of Malmesbury. It begins, An∣•••• igitur ab Incar natione Verbi Dei Sex∣cei••••esimo tricesimo quarto; and ends with St. Wilfrid's Epitaph, in twenty Hexameters.

St. Wulstan (as two of his immediate Predecessors)* 1.115 held the Arch-bishoprick of York, together with the Bishoprick of Worcester; and was Sainted for the same Reasons as St. Oswald. There's a double Account of his Life already publish'd; a short one byb 1.116 Hemming, a Monk of Worcester, and another (more at large) by the famousc 1.117 Will. of Malmesbury▪ But what's become of those byd 1.118 Bravonius and M. Paris, we know not.

These are they that make the most considerable Figure in the Saxon Calen∣dar, and whose Lives, being most amply treated on, will afford some Pas∣sages that may be of use to our English Historian. Nor are the little inferior Saints of those times to be wholly des∣pised by him. He'll meet with abun∣dance of such in the several Voluminous

Collections to which we sometimes referr him: And I dare promise that, in most of 'em he shall fre∣quently discover some hidden Trea∣sure, even in the midst of the most drossy Miracles.

Notes

• a 1.1

  Bale, Fol. m. 35.
• a 1.2

  Eccles. Hist. lib. 1. cap. 27.
• * 1.3

  Bede.
• b 1.4

  Ad fin. lib. 5. Hist. Eccles. pag. (See Edit. Wheloc.) 492.
• a 1.5

  8vo. Antverp. 1550. Heidelb. 1587. Colon. 1601. &c.
• b 1.6

  Lib. 3. cap. 1.
• a 1.7

  Fol. Cantabr. 1644.
• a 1.8

  In Praefat. ad Lect.
• b 1.9

  Aelfredi mag. vit. p. 166.
• c 1.10

  G. Hickes, in Praefat. ad Gram. Anglo-Sax. p. 12.
• a 1.11

  Inter Cond. MSS. Junianos, Oxon.
• b 1.12

  Vid. Not. in Aelf••. m. vit. p. 166.
• c 1.13

  8v••. Antverp. 1565.
• a 1.14

  Vid. Edit. Wheloc. p. 29. & 115.
• b 1.15

  J. Pits, p. 534.
• a 1.16

  Guil. Somner, Antiq. Cantuar. p. 157. Hist. Oxon. lib. 1. p. 49.
• b 1.17

  Fol. Lond. 1639.
• a 1.18

  Hist & Antiq. Oxon. lib. 2. p. 223. Vide etiam ipsius H. Spelm. praefat. ad Lect.
• a 1.19

  Pag. 432. & 434.
• b 1.20

  Regist. MS. Coenob. Wigorn. in Monast. Angl. Tom 1. p. 120.
• a 1.21

  Vid. Vsserii Antiq. p. 350.
• b 1.22

  W. Kennet, paroch. Antiq. p. 24.
• a 1.23

  Inter MSS. Somner. in Bibl. Cantuar.
• * 1.24

  Saints.
• b 1.25

  Pits, pag. 121, 205, 212.
• a 1.26

  Vsher, Antiq. Eccles. p. 109.
• b 1.27

  Hist, Ec∣cles. lib. 1. p. 40. lib. 2 p. 91. &c.
• * 1.28

  S. Ald∣helm.
• c 1.29

  Vid. Epist. Ded. ad Angl. sacr. vol. 2. & Praefat. ad Lect. p. 1, 2.
• d 1.30

  Act. Bened. Sae••. 4. par. 1. p. 726.
• a 1.31

  Praefat. at Hist. ••v. p. 11.
• b 1.32

  Pag. 121, 144, 180.
• c 1.33

  Praefat. ad Act. Bened, Saec. iv.
• d 1.34

  J. Pits, p. 136.
• * 1.35

  S. Augu∣stine.
• e 1.36

  Hist. Eccles. Edit. Wheloc. pag. 494.
• f 1.37

  Pits, p. 141.
• a 1.38

  Act. Bened. Saec. 1. p. 499.
• b 1.39

  Angl. Sac. vol. 2. p. 56.
• * 1.40

  S. Cedda.
• c 1.41

  Pits, p. 141.
• * 1.42

  S. Cuth∣bert.
• d 1.43

  Inter opera ejus.
• e 1.44

  J. Pits, p. 122.
• a 1.45

  Bibl. Cott. Claudius, D 4.
• b 1.46

  Antiq. Ec∣cles. p. 489. e Bibl. Cott. Otho D. 14.
• c 1.47

  Ibid. Nero, A 2. Vitellius, E. 1.
• d 1.48

  8vo. Lond. 1663.
• e 1.49

  Ath. Oxon. vol. 1. p. 455.
• a 1.50

  Vid. D. Tho. Marshal. praefat. ad observat. in Evang. Anglo-Sax. p. 492.
• * 1.51

  S. Dun∣stan.
• b 1.52

  Maii. Tom. 4. p. 344.
• a 1.53

  Bibl. Cott. Nero, c. 7. Vide & E. 8. It. Cleo, patra, B. 13.
• b 1.54

  Angl. Sacr. vol. 2. p. 88.
• c 1.55

  Act. Bened. Saec. v. p. 654.
• * 1.56

  S. Ed∣mund.
• d 1.57

  Bibl. Cott. Julius, E. 7.
• e 1.58

  MS. in Bibl. Hon. D. Com. Carl••ol.
• f 1.59

  Fol. m. 63.
• a 1.60

  Survey of L••nd. p. 28.
• b 1.61

  Bibl. Cott. Vitelli••s, D. 14.
• c 1.62

  Ibid. Tibe••ius, B. 2.
• * 1.63

  S. Elphe∣gus.
• d 1.64

  Angl. Sacr. vol. 2. p. 122. 143. Bibl. Cott. Nero, C. 7. Otho, A. 12. Vitel. B. 17.
• * 1.65

  S. Ethel∣bert.
• a 1.66

  Ibid. Vitellius, E. 7.
• * 1.67

  S. Ethel∣reda.
• b 1.68

  Ibid. Domitianus, A. 15.
• c 1.69

  Act. Bened. Saec. i••. p. 739. Vid. etiam Bedae Hist. Eccles. Edit. Wheloc. p. 312. 313.
• d 1.70

  Saec. v. p. 608.
• * 1.71

  S. George.
• e 1.72

  4to Lond. 1631. 1633.
• a 1.73

  4to Lond. 1661. & 8vo. Ibid. 1664.
• * 1.74

  S. Guth∣lac.
• b 1.75

  Rem. p. m. 319. MS. in charact. vet. Saxon. in Bibl. Ben. & Cot. Nero, E. 1.
• c 1.76

  Fol. m. 50. a Vid. Pet. Blesens. in contin. Histor. Ingul••.
• d 1.77

  Bibl. Cott. Otho, D. 14.
• e 1.78

  Comment. in C••g. Cant. voce Grantae.
• a 1.79

  G Hickes, Catal. Libb. Septen. p. 175
• b 1.80

  Antiq. Eccles. p. 33. Bibl. Cott. Vespas. D. 21.
• c 1.81

  P. 193. 339. Vid. Bibl. Cott. Nero, c. 7.
• * 1.82

  S. Frides∣wide.
• d 1.83

  Hist. & Antiq. Oxon. lib. 1. p. 12. & 55.
• * 1.84

  S. John of Bever∣ley.
• e 1.85

  Pits, p. 188. Bibl. Cott. Otho, c. 16. Faustin••, B. 4.
• f 1.86

  Pits, p. 411.
• g 1.87

  Id. p 204.
• a 1.88

  Hist. & Ant. Oxon. lib. 1. p 11. & Monast. Angl. Tom. 1. p. 169.
• * 1.89

  S. Mar∣cellinus.
• b 1.90

  Coln. 1508.
• * 1.91

  S. Neot.
• c 1.92

  Vi••. Not. in Aelfred. M. vit. p. 103.
• a 1.93

  Hist. et Antiq. Oxon. lib. 1. cap. 13.
• * 1.94

  S. Os∣wald.
• b 1.95

  Angl. Sac. vol. 2. p. 191.
• c 1.96

  Apud Joh. Mabillon, Act. Be∣ned p. 735.
• d 1.97

  Nero, E. 1.
• e 1.98

  Vid. Praefat. ad Angl. Sac. vol. 2. p. 14.
• f 1.99

  Ord. Vital. Hist. Eccles. lib. 2. ad an. 1108.
• g 1.100

  J. Pits, p. 237.
• * 1.101

  S. Swi∣thun.
• a 1.102

  J. Pits, p. 178.
• b 1.103

  Nero, E. 1. vide et Gal••••, A. 13.
• c 1.104

  Prae••at. ad Angl. Sacr. vol. 1. p. 29. 30.
• d 1.105

  pag. 181.
• * 1.106

  S. Wil∣frid.
• e 1.107

  Inter 15 Scriptt. p. 40.
• a 1.108

  Edit. a Job. Mabillon, Act. Bened. Saec. V. p. 283. e Bibl. Cott. Claudius, A. 1.
• b 1.109

  Angl. Sac. vol. 2. p. 50.
• c 1.110

  pag. 174.
• d 1.111

  Apud J. Mabillon Act. Be∣ned. Saec. III. par. 1. p. 196. et. Bibl. cott. Caligula, A. 8.
• e 1.112

  Vid. Monast. Angl. Tom. 1. p. 172.
• f 1.113

  J. Pits, p. 257.
• a 1.114

  Id. p. 911.
• * 1.115

  S. Wul∣stan.
• b 1.116

  Angl. Sacr. vol. 1. p. 541.
• c 1.117

  Ibid. vol. 2. p. 241.
• d 1.118

  J. Pits, p. 237. et 339.