1583 Edition | Book 2 | Page 142 
Close(d. c. 616) [ODNB]
King of Bernicia (592 - 604); king of Northumbria (604 - 616)
Son of Æthelric
Æthelfrith attacked the Britons at Chester. Brochfael, consul of Chester, gathered his forces, supported by the monks of Bangor, to meet the attack. Brochfael and fifty others managed to escape; the rest were killed. 1570, p. 160; 1576, p. 120; 1583, p. 119.
Æthelfrith killed the monks of Bangor who had come to pray for the success of the Britons. 1570, p. 150; 1576, pp. 111-12; 1583, pp. 110-11.
Æthelfrith persecuted the young Eadwine, who fled to Rædwald of the East Angles. Rædwald, through fear of Æthelfrith and bribery, intended to betray Eadwine. His mind was changed by his wife, and he met Æthelfrith in battle, where Æthelfrith was killed. 1570, p. 161; 1576, p. 121; 1583, p. 120.
Æthelfrith was killed in battle by his successor, Eadwine. 1570, pp. 160, 161; 1576, pp. 120, 121; 1583, pp. 119, 120.
CloseConsul of Chester; appointed to protect the monks of Bangor against the Saxons early C7. May have been a kinsman of the king, Selyf ap Cynan ap Brochfael [ODNB sub Brochfael Ysgithrog]
Brochfael gathered his forces, supported by the monks of Bangor, to meet an attack by Æthelfrith of Northumbria. Brochfael and fifty others managed to escape; the rest were killed. 1570, p. 160; 1576, p. 120; 1583, p. 119.
Close(d. 589/601) [ODNB]
Founder of St David's; patron saint of Wales
David died at around the same time as did Pope Gregory I. 1570, p. 160; 1576, p. 120; 1583, p. 118.
Close(c. 586 - 633) [ODNB]
Son of Aella, king of Deira; prince of Deira
King of Northumbria (616 - 33); converted to Christianity; killed in battle against Penda of Mercia and Cadwallon
Eadwine, when he was young, was persecuted by Æthelfrith, king of Northumbria, and fled to Rædwald of the East Angles. Rædwald, through fear of Æthelfrith and bribery, intended to betray Eadwine. His mind was changed by his wife, and he met Æthelfrith in battle, where Æthelfrith was killed. Eadwine then was made king. 1570, pp. 160-61; 1576, pp. 120-21; 1583, pp. 119-20.
[Back to Top]Æthelfrith was killed in battle by his successor, Eadwine. 1570, p. 160; 1576, p. 120; 1583, p. 119.
Cynegils and Cwichelm of the West Saxons plotted the assassination of Eadwine of Northumbria, but the attempt failed. His servant was killed instead; Eadwine was seriously wounded. He promised to convert to Christianity if he was victorious over the West Saxons. In token of this, he had his daughter, born on the day he was wounded, baptised by Paulinus. Eadwine then attacked the West Saxons and defeated them. 1570, p. 162; 1576, p. 122; 1583, p. 120.
[Back to Top]In spite of his promise, Eadwine was reluctant to convert. 1563, p. 18; 1570, p. 162; 1576, p. 122; 1583, p. 121.
Eadwine was converted and baptised by Paulinus, bishop of London, at York. 1563, p. 18; 1570, pp. 150, 162; 1576, pp. 112, 122; 1583, pp. 111, 120.
Through the efforts of Eadwine, King Earpwald of the East Angles adopted Christianity fully. 1563, p. 18; 1570, pp. 151, 163; 1576, pp. 113, 122; 1583, pp. 112, 121.
Eadwine was killed in battle by Cadwallon and Penda. 1570, p. 162; 1576, p. 122; 1583, p. 121.
Close(d. 1154/5) [ODNB]
Historian; bishop of St Asaph (1151 - 54/5); wrote History of the Kings of Britain
He is mentioned by Foxe: 1570, pp. 146, 160, 161; 1576, pp. 108, 120, 121; 1583, pp. 107, 119, 120.
Close(d. 620) in Cyprus [Gams]
Patriarch of Alexandria (610 - 620)
John was merciful and generous to the poor and needy. He personally offered advice and mediation to all who asked. 1570, pp. 160-61; 1576, pp. 120-21; 1583, pp. 119-20.
Close(d. 1364) [ODNB]
Benedictine monk; chronicler. Wrote a history of world, the Polychronicon
Foxe mentions him as a source: 1570, p. 160; 1576, p. 120; 1583, p. 119.
Close(d. 1513) [ODNB]
Chronicler; freeman in Drapers' Company 1476-7; auditor of the city of London's accounts 1486-7
Sheriff (1493); master of the Drapers' Company (1495 - 56, 1501 - 02); alderman (1494 - 1503); wrote Newe Cronycles
He is mentioned by Foxe: 1570, pp. 146, 149, 160, 169, 1304; 1576, pp. 108, 111, 120, 128, 1116; 1583, pp. 107, 110, 118, 126, 1141.
CloseCounty Down, Northern Ireland
OS grid ref: J 512 803
OR Bangor on Dee (Bangor-is-y-Coed), Wrexham, Wales
OS grid ref: SJ 395 455
Close[Glamorgantia, videlicet, in Vrbe legionum; Kayrleion]
near Newport, Wales
OS grid ref: ST 335 905
CloseA city and county of itself, locally in the hundred of Broxton in the County Palatine of Chester, of which it is the capital. 17 miles south from Liverpool. The city comprises the parishes of St Bridget, St John Baptist, Little St John, St Martin, St Peter, St Michael and St Olave; all in the Archdeaconry and Diocese of Chester, of which it is the seat.
[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.
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Close[Meneuia]
Pembrokeshire, Wales
OS grid ref: SM 755 255
Cathedral city
CloseA city and county of itself, having exclusive jurisdiction; locally in the East Riding of the county of York, of which it is the capital. 198 miles north-north-west from London. The city is the seat of the Archbishop, and comprised originally 33 parishes, reduced by amalgamation to 22; of which 33, 17 were discharged rectories, 10 discharged vicarages, and 6 perpetual curacies; all within the diocese of York.
[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]he charged the sayd Byshops, þt they should preach wt him þe word of God to the Englishmen, & also that they should among themselues reforme certayne rytes and vsages in their church, specially for keping of their Eastertyde: baptising after the maner of Rome, and such other lyke.MarginaliaThe Brittaynes and Scottes vsed not the rites of Rome. To these the Scotes and Brytons woulde not agree refusing to leaue the custome, which they so long time had contynued, wythout the assent of them all which vsed the same. Here the stories both of Bede, Cestrensis in Polychron. Huntyngtonensis, Iornalensis, Fabianus and other moe, write of a certaine miracle wrought vpon a blinde Englishe man: whom when the Britons could not helpe, Austen kneeling downe and praying, restored the blynde man to sight before them all: for a confirmation (as these authours saye) of hys opinion in keeping of Easter. But concerning the credite of this miracle, that I leaue, to the authours of whom I had it. Then Austen gathered an other Synode, to the which came seauen Byshops of Brytons, with the wisest men of that famous Abby of Bangor.MarginaliaAbbey of Bangor. Ex libro Iornalensi. Fabiano & alijs. But first they tooke counsell of a certayne wyse and holye man amongest them, what to doe: and whether they shoulde be obedient to Austen or not. And he saide: if he be the seruaunt of god agree vnto him. But howe shall wee knowe that, sayde they? To whom he aunswered againe: If he be meeke and humble of hart, by that know that he is the seruant of god. To this they said againe: & how shal we know him to bee hūble & meeke of hart? By this quoth he, seing you are þe greater number, if he at your comming into your Synode rise vp, & courteously receaue you, perceaue him to bee an humble and a meke man. But if he shall contemne and despise you (being as ye are) the greater part, despise you him agayne. Thus the Brytaine Byshops entring into the Counsell, Austen after the Romishe maner keeping hys chaire would not remoue. Whereat they being not a little offended, after some heate of words, in disdain & great displeasure departed thence. To whō then Austen spake: and said, that if they would not take peace with their brethren, they should receaue war with their enimies: And if they disdained to preach with them the way of life to the English nation, they should suffer by their handes the reuenge of deth. Which not lōg after so came to passe by the meanes of Ethelfride king of Northumberlande:MarginaliaEthelfride king of Northumberand. who being yet a Pagan, and stirred with a fierce fury against the Britanes came with a great army against the city of Chester: where Brocmayl the Consull of that Citie,MarginaliaBrockmayl Consul of Chester. a fryend and helper of the Britaines side, was readye with his force to receaue him. There was at the same time at Bangor in wales an exceding great Monastery,MarginaliaThe monastery of Bangor. Galfridus Monumetensis. Polychron. Lib. 5. cap. 10. Liber bibliothecæ Iornalensis. Gu Malmesberiensis. lib. 1. de. Reg. Fabian part. 5. cap. 109. 120. A pittifull slaughter of vnarmed Monkes of Bangor. wherin was such a number of Monkes, as Galfridus with other authors doe testifie that if the whole company were deuided into seuen parts in euery of the seuen parts were conteined not so few as 300. Mōkes: which al did liue with the sweat of their browes, and labor of their owne hands, hauing one for their ruler named Dinoe. Out of this Monastery came the Monks to Chester to pray for the good succes of Brocmayl, fighting for them against the Saxons. Thre daies they cōtinued in fasting and praier. When Ethelfride the foresaide king, seing them so intent to their praiers: demaunded the cause of their comming thether in such a cōpany. When he perceaued it was to pray for their Consull, then (saith he) although they beare no weapon, yet they fight against vs, & with their praiers & preachings they persecute vs. Whervpon after that Brocmayl, being ouercome did flee awaye, the king commaunded his men to turne their wepons against the sely vnarmed Monkes: of whome he slewe the same time, or rather Martired. 1100. onely fiftie persons of that number did flee and escape awaye with Brocmayl: the rest were all slaine. The authors that write of this lamentable murder, declare & saye howe the forespeaking of Austen, was here verefied vpon the Britanes: which because they would not ioine peace with their frends, he said should be destroied of their enimis. Of both these parties, the reader may iudge what he pleaseth: I can not see but both together were to be blamed.MarginaliaWhether Austen or the Britaynes in this case were more to blame. And as I cannot but accuse the one, so I cannot defend the other. First Austen in this matter can in no wise be excused, who being a monke before, & therfore a scholer & professor of humilitie: shewed so litle humilitie in this assembly, to seuen Byshops & an Archbishop, cōming at his cōmaundement to the Councell, that he thought scorne once to stirre at their comming in. Much lesse would his Pharisaicall solemnity haue girded himselfe, & washed his brethrens feete, after their trauaile, as Christ our great maister did to his Disciples: seyng his Lordship was so hie, or rather so heauy, or rather so proude, that coulde not finde in his hart to giue them a little moouing of his body to declare a brotherly & humble hart. Againe the Britaynes were much, or more to blame,who so much neglected their spirituall duety, in reuenging their temporal iniury: that they denyed to ioyne vnto their helping labour, to turne the Idolatrous Saxons to the way of lyfe and saluatiō. In which respect all priuate cases ought to geue place, and to be forgotten. For the whiche cause, although lamentable to vs, yet no great meruaile in them, if the stroke of gods punishment did light upon thē: according to the wordes of Austen, as is before declared. But especially the cruell king, in this fact, was most of all to blame, so furiously to flee vpon them, which had neither weapō to resist him, nor yet any will to harme him. And so likewise the same or like, happened to himselfe afterward. For so was he also slayne in the field by Christian Edwine, who succeeded him:as he had slayne the Christians before, whiche was about the yeare of our Lord. 610. But to returne to Austen agayne, who by report of authors was departed before this cruelty was done: after he had baptised and christened x. thousand Saxons or Angles in the West riuer, that is called Swale, beside Yorke on a Christēmasse day: perceauing hys end to draw neare, he ordayned a successor named Laurentius to rule after him the Archbishops sea of Dorobernia.MarginaliaLaurentius Archbish. after Austen. Where note by the way Christian Reader, that wheras Austen baptised then in riuers: it followeth, there was then no vse of fontes.MarginaliaBaptising in riuers, not in fontes. Baptising among the old Romaines was not vsed with so many ceremonyes as since. Agayne, if it be true that Fabian sayth, he baptised x. thousād in one day: the rite thē of Baptising at Rome was not so ceremoniall, neither had so manye trinkets at that tyme, as it hath had since, or els it could not be, that he coulde baptise so many in one daye.
[Back to Top]In the meane season, about this time departed Gregory Byshop of Rome: of whom it is sayd, that of the number of al the first Bishops before him in the primitiue time, he was the basest: of all them that came after him, hee was the best. About whiche tyme also dyed in Wales, Dauid Archbishop first of Kayrleion, who then translated the sea from thence to Meneuia, and therefore is called Dauid of Wales.MarginaliaAnno. 604. S Dauid in Wales, otherwise called Dewy. Not long after this also, deceased the foresayd Austen in England after he had set there xv. or xvi. yeares: by the which count we may note it, not to be true that Henry Huntington and other doe witnesse, that Austen was dead before that battaile of Ethelfride agaynst the Mōkes of Bāgor.MarginaliaComputation of tyme examined. For if it be true that Polycronicon testifieth of this murder, to be done about the yeare of our Lorde. 609. and the comming of Austen first into the Realme, to be an. 596. then Austen enduring xvi. yeares could not be dead at thys battell. Moreouer Galfridus Monumetensis declareth,MarginaliaGalfridus Monumetensis. concerning the same battell, that Ethelbert the king of Kent, beyng (as is sayd) conuerted by Austen to Christes fayth: after he saw the Britaynes to disdayne and deny their subiection vnto Austen, neyther would assist him wt preaching to the English nation: therefore stirred vp he the foresayd Ethelfride to warre agaynst the Brittaynes. But that seemeth rather suspicious then true, that he being a Christen king, eyther could so much preuayle with a Pagan Idolater, or els would attempt so farre to commit such a cruell deede. But of vncertayne things I haue nothing certainly to say, lesse to iudge.
[Back to Top]About this present tyme aboue prefixed, which is 610.MarginaliaAnno. 610. I read in the story of Ranulphus Cestrensis, the writer of Polychronicon, of Iohn the Patriarche of Alexandria who for his rare example of hospitality and bountifulnes to the poore: I thought no lesse worthy to haue place amongest good men, then I see the same now to be followed of few.MarginaliaPoly. lib. 5. cap. 10. A story of Iohn Patriarch of Alexandria. This Iohn (beyng before belike a hard and sparing man) as he was at hys prayer vpon a tyme (it is sayd) there appeared to him a comely virgine hauing on her head a garland of Oliue leaues: which named her selfe mercy, saying to him and promising that if he would take her to wife, he should prosper well. This, whether it were true or not, or els inuented for a moralitie, I would wish this florishing damsell so to be maryed to moe then this Iohn, that shee should not liue so long a virgine now as she doth, because no man will marry her.MarginaliaMercy may liue a mayden, for no man will marry her. But to returne to his Patriarch, who after that day (as the story recordeth: was so merciful and so beneficiall, especially to the poore and needy, that he counted them as hys maysters, and himself as a seruaunt and steward vnto them.MarginaliaThis Iohn was so bountifull in geuing that he assayd to striue in a maner with the Lord, whether the Lorde should geue more or he should distribute more of that whiche was geuen. This Patriarch was wont commonly twise a weeke to sit at hys doore all the day long, to take vp matters, and to set vnitie, where was any variaunce: One day it happened, as he was sitting all the day before hys gate, and saw no man come, lamented that all that day hee had done no good: To whome his Deacon standing by, aunswered agayne, that hee had more cause to reioyse, seeing he had brought the Cittie in that order and in such peace, that there needed no reconcilement amongest them. An other time as the sayd Iohn the Patriarche was at the Seruice and reading the Gospell
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