Thus farre we haue waded in the forme and maner of conuerting the
English nation to christianitie, by the labours of Augustine and his
coadiutors: now therefore (that we may orderlie procéed) it remaineth
that we say somewhat of the acts and déeds of the said Augustine; of
whom we read, that after he was established archbishop, and had his
[Sidenote: _Beda_.]
sée appointed him at Canturburie, he restored another church in
that citie which had béene erected there in times past by certeine of
the Romans that were christians, and did dedicate the same now to
the honour of Christ our Sauiour. He also began the foundation of a
monasterie without that citie, standing toward the east, in the which
by his exhortation, king Ethelbert built a church euen from the
ground, which was dedicated vnto the holie apostles Peter and Paule,
in the which the bodie of the said Augustine was buried, and likewise
the bodies of all the archbishops of Canturburie and kings of Kent
[Sidenote: One Peter was the first Abbat.]
a long time after. This abbie was called saint Austins after his
name, one Peter being the first abbat thereof. The church there was
not consecrated by Augustine, but by his successor Laurence, after he
was dead.
Moreouer, king Ethelbert at the motion of Augustine built a church in
the citie of London (which he latelie had conquered) and dedicated it
vnto saint Paule; but whether he builded or restored this church of
saint Paule it may be doubted, for there be diuers opinions of the
building thereof. Some haue written that it was first builded by king
[Sidenote: _Ran. Higd._]
Lud (as before is mentioned.) Other againe write, that it was
builded afterward by Sigebert king of the Eastsaxons. Also king
Ethelbert builded the church of saint Andrews in Rochester. It is
likewise remembred by writers, that the same king Ethelbert procured a
[Sidenote: _Beda_.]
citizen of London to build a church to S. Peter without the citie
of London toward the west, in a place then called Thorney, that is to
say, the Ile of thorns, and now called Westminster: though others
[Sidenote: _Ran. Higd._ Westminster church builded.]
haue written that it was built by Lucias king of Britaine, or rather
by Sibert king of the Eastsaxons. This church was either newlie built,
or greatlie inlarged by king Edward surnamed the Confessor, and after
that, the third Henrie king of England did make there a beautifull
monasterie, and verie richlie indowed the same with great possessions
and sumptuous iewels. The place was ouergrowne with vnderwoods, as
thornes and brambles, before that the church was begun to be builded
there in this king Ethelberts daies. ¶ Thus the faith of Christ being
once begun to be receiued of the English men, tooke woonderfull
increase within a short time.
[Sidenote: _Ran. Cest._ _Beda_. _Sigebertus_. _ann.19 Mauricij
imperatoris_. A synod. Ausines oke. _Galfrid. lib.8. cap.4_.]
In the meane season by the helpe of king Ethelbert, Augustine caused
a councell to be called at a place in the confines of the Westsaxons,
which place long after was called Austines oke, where he procured the
bishops or doctors of the prouinces of the Britains to come before him.
Among the Britains or the Welshmen, christianitie as yet remained in
force, which from the apostles time had neuer failed in that nation.
When Augustine came into this land, he found in their prouinces seuen
bishops sées, and an archbishops sée, wherein sat verie godlie & right
religious prelats, and manie abbats, in the which the Lords flocke kept
their right order: but because they differed in obseruing the feast of
[Sidenote: _Beda lib.2. ca.2._]
Easter, and other rites from the vse of the Romane church, Augustine
thought it necessarie to mooue them to agrée with him in vnitie of the
same, but after long disputation and reasoning of those matters, they
could not be induced to giue their assent in that behalfe. Augustine to
prooue his opinion good, wrought a miracle in restoring sight to one of
the Saxon nation that was blind.
The Britains that were present, mooued with this miracle, confessed
that it was the right waie of iustice and righteousnesse which
Augustine taught; but yet they said that they might not forsake their
ancient customs without consent and licence of their nation. Wherevpon
[Sidenote: Another synod.]
they required another synod to be holden, whereat a greater number
of them might be present. This being granted, there came (as it is
reported) seuen bishops of the Britains, and a great number of
[Sidenote: The monasterie of Bangor. Abbat Dionoth.]
learned men, speciallie of the famous monasterie of Bangor, whereof
in those daies one Dionoth was abbat, who as they went towards that
councell, came first to a certeine wise man, which liued amongst them
an heremits life, and asked his aduise, whether they ought to forsake
their traditions at the preaching of Augustine or not: who made this
answer; "If he be the man of God, follow him." Then said they; "How
[Sidenote: The answer of a godlie man touching Austine the
Englishmens apostle.]
shall we prooue whether he be so or not?" Then said he: "The Lord
saith, Take vp my yoke and learne of me, for I am méeke & humble in
hart: if Augustine be humble and meeke in hart, it is to be beléeued
that he also beareth the yoke of Christ, and offereth it to you to
beare; but if he be not méeke but proud, it is certeine that he is
not of GOD, nor his woord to be regarded." "And how shall we sée and
perceiue that (said they?)" "Find meanes (said he) that he maie first
come to the place of the synod with those of his side, and if he arise
to receiue you at your comming, then know that he is the seruant of
God, and obey him; but if he despise you, and arise not towards you,
whereas you be more in number, let him be despised of you."
They did as he commanded, and it chanced, that when they came, they
found Augustine sitting in his chaire: whome when they beheld,
straightwaies they conceiued indignation, and noting him of pride,
laboured to reprooue all his saiengs. He told them that they vsed
[Sidenote: Thrée things required by Augustine of the Britains
to be observed.]
manie things contrarie to the custom of the vniuersall church,
and yet if in thrée things they would obeie him, that is to say,
in kéeping the feast of Easter in due time, in ministring baptisme
according to the custome of the Romane church, & in preaching to the
Englishmen the woord of life with him & his fellowes, then would he be
contented to suffer all other things patientlie which they did, though
the same were contrarie to the maners and customs of the Romane
iurisdiction. But they flatlie denied to doo anie of those things,
and gaue a plaine answer that they would not receiue him for their
archbishop: for laieng their heads togither, thus they thought, If he
refuse now to arise vnto vs, how much the more will he contemne vs
if we should become subiect to him? Vnto whom (as it is said)
[Sidenote: Augustine threatneth.]
Augustine in threatening wise told them afore hand, that if they would
not receiue peace with their brethren, they should receiue warre of
the enimies; & if they would not preach to the Englishmen the waie of
life, they should suffer punishment by death at the hands of them:
which thing in deed after came to passe, as in place conuenient
[Sidenote: 604. Bishops ordeined at London and Rochester.]
shall be expressed. After this in the yéere of our Lord 604, the
archbishop Augustine ordeined two bishops, that is to say, Melitus at
London, that he might preach the woord of God to the Eastsaxons, which
were diuided from them of Kent by the riuer of Thames, and Iustus in
the citie of Rochester within the limits of Kent.
[Sidenote: SABERT.]
At that time Sabert reigned ouer the Eastsaxons, but he was
subiect vnto Ethelbert king of Kent, whose nephue he was also by his
sister Ricula that was married vnto king Sledda that succéeded after
Erchenwine the first king of the Eastsaxons, and begat on hir this
Sabert that receiued the faith. After that Augustine had ordeined
Melitus to be bishop of London, as before is said, king Ethelbert
builded (as some write) the church of saint Paule within the same
citie, where the same Melitus and his successors might keepe their
sée. And also for the like purpose he builded the church of saint
Andrew the apostle at Rochester, that Iustus and his successors might
haue their sée in that place, according to Augustines institution:
he bestowed great gifts vpon both those churches, endowing them with
lands and possessions verie bountifullie, to the vse of them that
should be attendant in the same with the bishops.
[Sidenote: _Ran. Cestren._]
Finallie, Augustine after he had gouerned as archbishop the church
of Canturburie by the space of 12 yéeres currant, departed this life
the fiue and twentieth of Maie, and was buried first without the citie
néere to the church of the apostles Peter and Paule (whereof mention
is made before) bicause the same church as yet was not finished nor
dedicated; but after it was dedicated, his bodie was brought into the
church, and reuerentlie buried in the north Ile there. He ordeined in
his life time Laarence to be his successor in the sée of Canturburie,
of whome ye shall heare hereafter. ¶ Thus haue ye heard in what maner
the Englishmen were first brought from the worshipping of false gods,
and baptised in the name of the liuing God by the foresaid Augustine
(as we find in Beda and other writers.) Now we will returne to other
dooings chancing in the meane time amongst the people of this Ile.
* * * * *
_Ceowlfe or Ceoloulph gouerneth the Westsaxons, Ceorlus king of
Mercia, Edelfride king of the Northumbers, and Edan king of the Scots
ioine in battell, Edan is discomfited, Edelfride subdueth the citizens
of Chester, the deuout moonks of Bangor praie for safetie from the
swoord of the enimie, twelue hundred of them are slaine, Edelfride
entreth the citie of Chester, the Britains assembling their power
vnder three capteins incounter with Edelfride, slaie manie of his
souldiers, and put him to flight, warres betweene Edelfride and
Redwald king of the Eastangles about Edwine the sonne of king Elle,
Edelfride is slaine, Ceowlfe king of the Westsaxons dieth._