Actes and monuments of matters most speciall and memorable, happenyng in the Church. [vol. 1] with an vniuersall history of the same, wherein is set forth at large the whole race and course of the Church, from the primitiue age to these latter tymes of ours, with the bloudy times, horrible troubles, and great persecutions agaynst the true martyrs of Christ, sought and wrought as well by heathen emperours, as nowe lately practised by Romish prelates, especially in this realme of England and Scotland. Newly reuised and recognised, partly also augmented, and now the fourth time agayne published and recommended to the studious reader, by the author (through the helpe of Christ our Lord) Iohn Foxe, which desireth thee good reader to helpe him with thy prayer.

The conclusion of the story precedent, concer∣ning the seuen kingdoms of the Saxon kings aboue mentioned.

¶And thus hast thou (gentle Reader) concerning the vij. kingdoms of these Saxons, ruling altogether in En∣gland, the course and order of their doings briefly descri∣bed and discoursed vnto thee, in such order, as the matter beyng so intricate, in such confusion & diuersitie of things incident together, would permit: followyng especially in this story hitherto, the line of the Northumberland kings as the other stories most folow the line of Westsaxō kings. The which seuen kingdoms of these sayd Saxones, after they had vntruely expulsed and chased out the Britaines from their land, like as they neuer were in quietnes amōg themselues, raigning thus together till the tyme of this Egbert: so also after the raigne of Egbert, the whole realme beyng reduced into one regimēt, no lesse were they impug¦ned & afflicted by the Danes continually frō tyme to time, till the last conquest of William the Normand Thus it ple∣seth (God euer) lightly to reuenge with bloud,* 1.1 bloudy vi∣olence, and the vniust dealings of men, with iust and lyke retribution. But of this let the christian Reader consider, as Gods grace shall worke in him. In the meane tyme we, as much as in vs did lye, satisfiyng the part of an Hi∣storician, haue thus hetherto set forth and declared concer∣ning these vij. foresayd kingdoms: first the names and li∣neall descent of the kings seuerally by themselues, as by the table precedent may appeare, then what were the do∣ings and actes of the same. How first being Pagans, they were conuerted to the christian faith: what things in their time happened in the church, how many of them, of kings were made monkes: how deuout they were then to holy church and to the churchmen, and especially to the church of Rome. But the churchmen then were much otherwyse in lyfe, then afterward they declared themselues to bee. Through which deuotion of the said kings, first came in, the Peterpence or Romeschots in this Realme, as by Iue first in his dominion, then by Offa in his Lordship, & af∣terward by Adelwulph brought in and ratified through the whole Realme: where also is to be noted, that by the fore∣sayd Kings and Queenes of the sayd Saxons, the most part of the greatest Abbais & Nunneries in this realme, were first begun and builded, as partly the names of some

here follow to be seene.

* 1.2First the Church or Minster of S. Paule in London, was founded by Ethelbert king of Kent, and Sigebert kyng of Essex, about the yeare of our Lord. 604.

* 1.3The first crosse and aulter within this realm was first set vp in the North partes in Heuenfield, vpon the occa∣sion of Oswald king of Northumberland, fighting against Cadwalla, where he in the same place set vp the signe of the crosse, kneelyng and praying there for victory, Polychron. lib 5. cap. 12. An. 635.

The Church of Winchester was first begon and foun∣ded by Kingilsus king of Mercians,* 1.4 hauing 9. myles about it: after finished by his sonne Kewalcus, where Wyne, of en∣glishmen was first bishop, An. 636. Guliel. Malmesb. Lib. De gestis pont. Ang.

* 1.5The Church of Lincolne first founded by Paulinus Bi∣shop, An. 629.

The Church of Westminster began first by a certayne Citizen of London,* 1.6 through the instigatiō of Ethelbert king of Kent, which before was an Ile of thornes, Bed. An. 614.

* 1.7The common schooles first erected at Cambridge by Si∣gebert king of Eastangles, An. 636.

The Abbey of Knouisburgh builded by Furceus the Hermite, An. 637.

The monasterie of Malmesbery by one Meldulfus a Scot, about the yeare of our Lord, 640. Afterward inlarged by Agilbert bishop of Winchester.

The Monasterie in Glocester, first builded by Ofricus King of Mercia,* 1.8 as Cestrensis sayth. But as William Mal∣mesb. writeth, by Vlferus, and Etheldred brethren to Kinebur∣ga Abbesse of the same house, An 679.

* 1.9The monastery of Mailrose by the floud of Twide by Aidanus a Scottish bishop.

The Nunnery of Heorenton by Heui, who was the first Nunne in Northumberland,* 1.10 Bede, Lib. 4. cap. 1.

* 1.11The Monastery of Hetesey by Oswy Kyng of Nor∣thumberlād, who also with his daughter Elfred, gaue pos∣sessions for twelue monasteries in the partes of Northū∣berland, An. 656.

* 1.12The monasterie of S. Martine in Douer, builded by Whitred king of Kent.

The Abbey of Lestingey by Ceadda (whom we call S. Cedd) through the graunt of Oswald, sonne to S. Oswald, King of Northum. An. 651.* 1.13

The Monastery of Whitby called otherwise Stren∣halt by Hilda daughter to the nephew of Edwyne Kyng of Northumberland, An▪ 657.

Item an other monastery called Hacanos, not far from the same place builded by the sayd Hilda the same yeare.

The Abbey of Abbington builded by Cissa Kyng of Southsex, An. 666.

Item an Abbey in the East side of Lyncolne, called Io∣anno, by S. Botulph. Polychro. Lib. 5. cap. 16. An. 654.

The monastery in Ely founded by Etheldred or Edel∣drida daughter of Anna king of Eastangles, and the wyfe of Elfrid king of Northumb. An. 674.

The Monastery of Chertsey in Southrey, founded by Erkenwald bishop of London, an. 674. thrown down by the Danes, after reedified by king Edgar.

Item the Nunnery of Berking edified by the sayd Er∣kenwaldus bishop of London about the same tyme.* 1.14

* 1.15The Abbey of Peterborough called otherwise Mode∣hamstede founded by King Ethelwald King of the Merci∣ans, An. 675.

* 1.16Bardney Abbey by Etheldredus King of the Merciās, An. 700.

* 1.17Glastonbury by Iua king of the Westsaxons, and after repayred and enriched by King Edgar, an. 701.

* 1.18Ramesey in the tyme of king Edgar by one Ailwinus a noble mā, an. 973. King Edgar builded in his tyme 40. mo∣nasteries, who raigned, an. 901.

* 1.19The Nunnery of Winburne builded by Cuthburga si∣ster to Ingilsus, king Iua his brother, an. 717.

* 1.20The Monastery of Sealesey by the Ile of Wight, by Wilfridus bishop of Yorke, an. 678.

* 1.21The Monastery of Wincombe by Kenulphus Kyng of the Mercians, an. 737.

* 1.22S. Albanes builded by Offa, King of the Mercians. Anno. 755.

* 1.23The Abbey of Eusham by Egwinus Byshop. An. 691.

* 1.24Ripon in the North by Wilfridus Bishop. An. 709.

* 1.25The Abbey of Echelinghey, by king Aluredus, an. 891.

* 1.26The Nunnery of Shaftesbury by the same Aluredus, the same yeare.

Thus ye see what monasteries in what tyme began to be founded by the Saxons kings, newly conuerted to the Christian fayth, within the space of 200. yeares: who, as they semed then to haue a certain zeale & deuotion to god∣ward, according to the leading & teaching that then was: so it semeth againe to me, two things to be wished in these foresayd kings.* 1.27 First, that they which began to erect these monasteries and celles of Monkes and Nunnes, to lyue soly and singlely by themselues out of the holy state of ma∣trimony: had forseene what daunger & what absurd enor∣mities might and also did thereof ensue, both publikely to the Church of Christ, & priuately to their own soules. Se∣condly, that vnto this their zeale & deuotion had bene ioy∣ned like knowledge & doctrine in Christes gospell, especi∣ally in the article of our free iustification by the faith of Ie∣su Christ.* 1.28 Because of the lacke wherof, as wel the builders & founders therof, as they that were professed in the same, seeme both to haue run the wrong way, & to haue bene de∣ceiued. For albeit in them there was a deuotion & zeale of mynd, that thought well in this their doyng, which I wil not here reprehend: yet the end and cause of their deedes & buildings cannot be excused, beyng contrary to the rule of Christes Gospel, for so much as they did these things see∣king thereby merites with God, and for remedy of theyr soules, and remission of their sinnes, as may appeare testi∣fied in their owne recordes, wherof one here I thought to set forth for probation of the same. Read this Charte (if it please thee gentle Reader) of king Ethelbald his donation, & charter giuen to churches and religious persons, which Ethelbald was the builder (as is sayd) of Peterborough, the wordes of his record and instrument be those.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Vniust dea∣linges of men iustly rewarded.
• * 1.2

  Paules Church.
• * 1.3

  The first aultar and crosse set vp in England.
• * 1.4

  The church of Winche∣ster.
• * 1.5

  The church of Lincolne.
• * 1.6

  The church of West∣minster.
• * 1.7

  The scholes at Cam∣bridge. Abbey of Knouis∣burgh. Malmesb.
• * 1.8

  Abbey of Glocester.
• * 1.9

  Mailrose.
• * 1.10

  Heorenton.
• * 1.11

  Hetesey.
• * 1.12

  The mona∣stery of S. Martin at Douer. Lestingey.
• * 1.13

  Whitbie. This Hilda was first con∣uerted to the fayth by Pau∣linus a godly and learned woman, out of her Mona∣stery came fiue Byshops Do∣sa, Eatha, O••••∣ford, Ioannes, Wilfride. Hacanos. Abington. Ioanno at Lincolne. Ely Abbey. Chertsey.
• * 1.14

  Berkyng.
• * 1.15

  Peterbo∣rough.
• * 1.16

  Bardney.
• * 1.17

  Glastonbe∣ry.
• * 1.18

  Camesey.
• * 1.19

  Winburne.
• * 1.20

  Sealesey.
• * 1.21

  Wincombe.
• * 1.22

  S. Albones.
• * 1.23

  Eusham.
• * 1.24

  Ripon.
• * 1.25

  Echelin∣ghey.
• * 1.26

  S. Shaftes∣bury.
• * 1.27

  Two thinges to be wished in them, that first builded Mon∣kishe Monaste∣ries.
• * 1.28

  The article of free iustification not knowne.