1583 Edition | Book 2 | Page 139 
Close(d. 616?) [ODNB]
King of Kent. Baptised by Augustine; compiled written law code.
Æthelberht subdued the other Saxon kings, except for the king of Northumbria. 1570, p. 149; 1576, p. 111; 1583, p. 110.
Æthelberht married his wife Bertha on condition, imposed by her parents, that she be allowed to practice her Christian faith. 1570, p. 156; 1576, p. 117; 1583, p. 116.
Augustine met King Æthelbert of Kent and was given permission to live and preach in his kingdom. He and the other missionaries were given a house in Canterbury. The king was converted and built a church and an abbey for Augustine in Canterbury. 1570, 156; 1576, p. 117;1583, p. 116.
Pope Gregory sent a letter to Æthelberht. 1570, 159; 1576, p. 119;1583, p. 118.
Æthelberht was overlord of all the Saxon kings south of the Humber. 1570, p. 161; 1576, p. 121; 1583, p. 120.
Æthelberht, with Sæberht of the East Saxons, built the church of St Paul's in London. They translated the archbishop's see to Canterbury. Æthelberht built other churches in Rochester and Westminster. 1570, pp. 149, 161, 177; 1576, pp. 111, 121, 134; 1583, pp. 110, 120, 133.
He is mentioned in 1563, p. 16.
CloseGiven by Bede as the bishop of Arles. In fact, Æthereus was the bishop of Lyons (586 - 602). Augustine was most likely to have been consecrated by Syagrius, bishop of Autun (c. 560x67 - 600) [Gams; ODNB sub Augustine]
Foxe names him following Bede. 1570, p. 156; 1576, p. 117; 1583, p. 116.
Close(c. 565 - in or before 601) [ODNB]
Daughter of the Merovingian king Charibert; consort of Æthelberht I of Kent; queen in Kent
Æthelberht married his wife Bertha on condition, imposed by her parents, that she be allowed to practice her Christian faith. 1570, p. 156; 1576, p. 117; 1583, p. 116.
She was a Christian, Æthelberht a pagan, at their marriage. She received a letter from Gregory I urging her to convert her husband.
Through Augustine of Canterbury, with the aid of Bertha, Æthelberht was converted. 1570, p. 154; 1576, p. 115; 1583, p. 114.
Close(d. 619) [ODNB]
One of the Roman monks accompanying Augustine on his mission to the English; archbishop of Canterbury (604x610 - 619)
Laurence was sent by Augustine to Rome to report on the progress of the mission and to deliver a set of questions for Pope Gregory. 1570, p. 156; 1576, p. 117; 1583, p. 116.
He was named by Augustine as his successor at Canterbury. 1570, p. 160; 1576, p. 120; 1583, p. 118.
CloseBishop sent by Frankish king Charibert with his daughter Bertha when she married Æthelberht of Kent [ODNB sub Bertha]
Æthelberht married his wife Bertha on condition, imposed by her parents, that she and her priest Liudhard be allowed to practice their Christian faith. 1570, p. 156; 1576, p. 117; 1583, p. 116.
Close(d. 602) [W. Baum www.roman-emperors.org]
Cappadocian general; Eastern Roman emperor (582 - 602); he and his five sons were executed
Pope Gregory I was subject to him. 1570, p. 7; 1576, p. 6; 1583; p. 6.
Maurice granted John IV Nesteutes, patriarch of Constantinople, the title of 'universal patriarch'. 1570, p. 16; 1576, p. 13; 1583, p. 13.
He and his sons were killed by his successor, Phocas. 1570, p. 161; 1576, p. 121; 1583, p. 120.
Close(d. 610) [Catholic Encyclopedia]
Monk; abbot of Lérins; bishop of Arles (c. 588 - 610)
Pope Gregory I sent a letter to Virgilius, asking him to extend his help to Augustine and the other missionaries on their journey. 1570, p. 155; 1576, p. 116; 1583, p. 115.
CloseAn ancient city and county of itself, having separate jurisdiction. Locally in the hundred of Bridge and Petham, lathe of St. Augustine, eastern division of the county of Kent. 26 miles south-east by east from Rochester. The city comprises the parishes of All Saints, St. Alphege, St. Andrew, St. George, The Holy Cross, St. Margaret, St. Martin, St. Mary Bredman, St. Mary Bredin, St. Mary Magdalene, St. Mary Northgate, St. Mildred, St. Peter and St. Paul, all in the Diocese of Canterbury, and with the exception of St. Alphege and St. Martin within the Archdeaconry of Canterbury. The living of All Saints is a rectory with St. Mary in the Castle and St. Mildred attached; St. Alphege is a rectory exempt, united with the vicarage of St. Mary Northgate; St. Andrew is a rectory with St. Mary Bredman annexed; St. George is a rectory with St. Mary Magdalene annexed; St. Martin's is a rectory exempt with St. Paul's annexed; St. Peter's is a rectory with Holy Cross annexed; St. Mary Bredin is a vicarage; and St. Margaret's is a donative in the patronage of the Archdeacon
[Back to Top]English information from Samuel Lewis, A Topographical Dictionary of England (S. Lewis & Co: London, 1831)
Scottish information from Samuel Lewis, A Topographical Dictionary of Scotland (S. Lewis & Co: London, 1846)
Welsh information taken from Samuel Lewis, A Topographical Dictionary of Wales(Lewis & Co: London, 1840)
The reason for the use of these works of reference is that they present the jurisdictional and ecclesiastical position as it was before the major Victorian changes. The descriptions therefore approximate to those applying in the sixteenth century, after the major changes of 1535-42. Except for the physical locations, which have not changed, the reader should not therefore take these references as being accurate in the twenty-first century.
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CloseA Cinque Port, borough and market town having separate jurisdiction, locally in the hundred ofEastry, lathe of St Augustine, county of Kent. 39 miles east from Maidstone. The town comprise the parishes of St Clement, St Mary the Virgin and St Peter the Apostle, all in the Archdeaconry and diocese of Canterbury. The living of St Clement is a vicarage; the living of St Mary is a discharged vicarage; and the living of St Peter is a discharged rectory.
[Back to Top]English information from Samuel Lewis, A Topographical Dictionary of England (S. Lewis & Co: London, 1831)
Welsh information taken from Samuel Lewis, A Topographical Dictionary of Wales(Lewis & Co: London, 1840)
The reason for the use of these works of reference is that they present the jurisdictional and ecclesiastical position as it was before the major Victorian changes. The descriptions therefore approximate to those applying in the sixteenth century, after the major changes of 1535-42. Except for the physical locations, which have not changed, the reader should not therefore take these references as being accurate in the twenty-first century.
[Back to Top]of August, in the raigne of our soueraigne Lord Mauritius most vertuous Emperour, the. xiiij. of his Empire.
MarginaliaAusten and hys company commeth to England.Thus they emboldened & comforted through the good wordes of Gregory, sped foorth their iourney till they came at length to the Ile of Thenet: lying vpon the East side of Kent. Neare to the which landing place, was then the Manory or palace of the king, not farre from Sandwiche (Eastward from Caunterbury) which the inhabitauntes of the Isle, then called Richbourgh: whereof some part of the ruinous walles is yet to be sene. The king then raigning in Kent, was Ethelbert,MarginaliaEthelbert King of Kent. as aboue appeareth, the fifte King of that prouince: who at that time had Maried to wyfe a French woman beyng Chrystened, named Berda:MarginaliaWhat goodnes commeth, to haue a good and godly wife. whom he had receiued of her parents vpon this conditiō, that he shoulde permitte her with her Bishop committed vnto her, called Lebardus, to enioye the freedome of her fayth and Religion: by the meanes whereof he was more flexible, and sooner induced to embrace the preachyng and doctrine of Christ. Thus Austen beyng arryued sent foorth certayne messengers and interpreters to the Kyng, sygnifying that such a one was come from Rome, brynging with hym glad tydinges to him and all his people, of lyfe and saluation eternally to reygne in heauen, with the onely true and lyuing God, for euer: if he would so willingly harken to the same, as he was gladly come to preache and teach it vnto him.
[Back to Top]The King, who had heard of this Religion before by meanes of his wife, within a few daies after commeth to the place where Austen was to speake with him: but that shoulde be without the house, after the maner of his lawe. Austen against his cōming, as stories affirme, erected vp a banner of the crucifixe (such was then the grosenes of that tyme) and preached to him the word of God. The Kyng aunswering againe saith in effect as followeth:MarginaliaThe kinges answere to Austen. the words be very faire that you preach and promise. Neuerthelesse, because it is to me vncoth and new, I can not soone starte away from my country law wherwith I haue bene so lōg inured and assent to you.MarginaliaThe king staieth vpon olde custome. Albeit yet notwithstanding for þt ye are come, as ye saye, so farre for my sake: ye shall not be molested by me, but shall be rightwell intreated, hauing al thinges to you ministred necessarye for your supportatiō. Besydes this, neither doe we debarre you, but to haue fre leaue to preach to our people and subiects to conuert, whō ye may to the faith of your Religion.
[Back to Top]When they had receaued this comfort of the king, they went with procession to the Citie of Dorobernia, or Caunterbury, singyng Alleluya with the Letanie, which then by Gregory, had beene vsed at Rome in the time of the great plague reigning thē at Rome, mentioned in the old histories. The wordes of the Letany were these:MarginaliaThe Letany of Austen. Deprecamur te Domine in omni misericordia tua, vt auferatur furor tuus & ira tua a ciuitate ista, & de domo sancta tua: quoniam peccauimus. Alleluya. That is. We beseech thee O Lorde in all thy mercyes, that thy fury and anger maye cease from this Citie, & from thy holy house for we haue sinned. Alleluya. Thus they entryng in the Citie of Dorobernia, the head Citie of all that dominion at that time, where the king had gyuen them a mansion for there abode: there they contynued preaching and baptising such as they had conuerted in the east side of the Citty in the old church of S. Martine (where the Queene was woont to resorte) vnto the time that the kyng was conuerted himselfe to Christ. At length when the king had wel cōsidered the honest conuersation of their life, and moued with the myracles wrought through gods hand by thē,MarginaliaMiracles wrought by God for the conuersion of the land. he heard them more gladly, and lastly by their wholsome exhortations, and example of godly life he was by them conuerted and christened in the yeare aboue specified. 586. and the 36. yeare of his reigne. After the King was thus conuerted, innumerable other daily came in, & were adioyned to the Church of Christ: whom the King did specially embrace but cōpelled none: for so he had learned that the faith and seruice of Christ ought to be voluntary, and not coacted. Then he gaue to Austen a place for hys Byshops sea at Christes Church in Dorobernia,MarginaliaAusten made Archbishop. & builded the Abbey of Saint Peter and Paule, in the East side of the sayde Citie, where after Austen, and all the Kinges of Kent were buried, and that place is now called S. Austen.
[Back to Top]In this while Austen sailed into Fraunce to the Byshop Arelatensis, called Ethereus: by him to bee consecrated Archbishop, by the commaundement of Gregory, & so was. Also the said Austen sent to Rome, Laurentius one of his cōpany, to declare to Gregory how they had sped, and what they had done in Englande: sending with all to haue the counsaile and aduise of Gregory, concerning ix. or x. questions, whereof some are partly touched before.
[Back to Top]The tenour of his qnestions or interrogations, wyth the aunsweres of Gregory to the same: here follow in English briefly translated.
MarginaliaEx decretis Bregorij primi. li. concil. tom 2. 1. Interrogation.MY first question (reuerende father) is concerning Byshops, how they ought to behaue themselues towarde their clerks Or of such oblations as the faithfull offer vpon the altar: what portions or diuidentes ought to be made thereof.
MarginaliaThe aunswere.How a Bishop ought to behaue himselfe in the Congregation, the holy scripture testifieth which I doubt not but you know right well, especiallye in the Epistles of S Paule to Timothie: wherein he laboureth to informe the sayd Timothe, how to behaue his conuersation in þe house of the Lord. The maner is of the sea Apostolike, to warne and charge all such as be ordeined Bishops, of all their stipend or that which is giuen, to make foure pertitiōs. One to the Bishop for hospitalitie, and receauing commers in. An other to the Clergy, The third to the pore. The fourth to the repairing of Churches.MarginaliaDistribution of Churche goodes. But because your brotherhode instructed with rules of Monasticall discipline, canot liue separated from your clerkes about you, therfore in the English Church (which nowe through the prouidence of God is brought to the faith of Christ) you muste obserue this instituion, concerning your conuersation, which was in the first Fathers in the begynning of the prymitiue Church, among whom there was not one which counted any thing to be his owne proper, of als that he did possesse: but all was common among them.
[Back to Top]Marginalia2. Interrogation.I desire to know and to be instructed, whether Clerkes that cannot containe, may marry. And if they do mary whether then they ought to returne to the secular state againe or no?
MarginaliaThe aunswere. The glose vppon the 12. q. 1. Parag. Si. qui, sayth that this nowe holdeth not, and alledgeth the extran. De cler. comming ca. Ioh. & c. Whereby note how the Popes decrees be repugnaunt to themselues. Luke. 11.If there be any Clerkes out of holy orders, which can not conteine, let them haue their wiues, and take their stipends or wages without. For we read it so written of the foresayd fathers, that they deuided to euery person, according as their worke was. Therfore as concerning the stipend of such, it must be prouided and thought vpon. And they must be also holden vnder Ecclesiasticall discipline, to liue a godly cōuersation: to employ themselues in singing Psalmes, & to refraine their tongue, hart and body (by the grace of God) from all things vnseemely, and vnlawfull. As for the vulgar and common sort, which lyue after the common condition of men: to describe what partitions to make, what hospitalitie to keepe, or what works of mercy to exhibite to such, I haue nothing to saye but to giue (as our maister teacheth) in all our deedes of mercy, of that which aboundeth. Of that (saith he) whiche aboundeth or is ouerplus, gyue almes, and beholde all thinges bee cleane vnto you.
[Back to Top]Marginalia3. Interrog.Seing there is but one faith, how happeneth it then, the ceremonies and customes of Churches to bee so diuers. As in the Church of Rome there is one custome, and maner of Masse: and the French Church hath an other?
MarginaliaThe aunswere.The custome of the Church of Rome, what it is you know: wherin ye remēber that you haue bene brought vp frō your youth: but rather it pleaseth me better, that whether it be in the church of Rome, or in any Frēch Church: where ye finde any thing that seemeth better to the seruice and pleasing of God: that ye chuse the same: and so inferre & bring into the English Church (which is yet new in the faith) the best & pickedst thinges chosen out of many Churches: for things are not to be beloued for þe place sake, but the place is to be beloued for the things that be good:MarginaliaNote a worthy saying of Gregory. wherfore such thinges as be good, godly, and religious: those chose out of all Churches, and induce to your people, that they may take roote in the mindes of Englishmen.
[Back to Top]Marginalia4. Interrogation.I praye you what punishment iudge you for him, that shall steale or pylfer any thing out of the Church.
MarginaliaThe aunswere.This your brotherhood may soone discerne, by the person of a theefe, how it ought to be corrected. For some there be which hauing sufficient to liue vpon yet doe steale. Other there be which steale of meere necessity. Wherfore considering the qualitye & difference of the crime, necessarye it
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