1583 Edition | Book 2 | Page 147 
Close(d. c. 685) [ODNB sub kings of the South Saxons]
King of the South Saxons
First of the South Saxons to become Christian; killed during the incursion of Cædwalla
Wulfhere gave the Isle of Wight to Æthelwealh, king of the South Saxons, on condition he accept Christianity. He was baptised by Birinus, bishop of Dorchester. Wulfhere was his godfather and Aethelwealh married his daughter. 1570, p. 166; 1576, p. 125; 1583, p. 124.
Close(d. 681) [Kelly]
b. Sicily; monk; pope (678 - 81)
Re-opened amicable relations with Constantinople; upheld the appeal of Wilfred, bishop of York, against the deposition by Theodore, archbishop of Canterbury.
Wilfrid went to Rome to Pope Agatho to complain about having been deprived of the bishopric of York by the archbishop of Canterbury, Theodore of Tarsus. But the friends at Rome of the archbishop and of King Ecgfrith of Northumbria ensured that Wilfrid was unsuccessful. 1570, p. 166; 1576, p. 125; 1583, p. 124.
[Back to Top]Agatho applied to the emperor at Constantinople and his caesars to have his election approved before being consecrated. 1563, p. 620; 1570, p. 1209; 1576, p. 1035; 1583, p. 1062.
Agatho presided over the sixth Council of Constantinople. 1570, p. 167; 1576, p. 126; 1583, p. 125.
Close(d. 704/5) [ODNB]
King of Northumbria (685 - 704/5)
Illegitimate son of Oswiu; half-brother of Ecgfrith; teacher and scholar in Ireland
Aldfrith recovered much that had been lost by his predecessors. 1570, p. 150; 1576, p. 112; 1583, p. 111.
He restored Wilfrid to the bishopric of York, but after about five years removed him again. 1570, p. 166; 1576, p. 125; 1583, p. 124.
Close(d. 672?) [ODNB]
Brother of Cedd; disciple of Áedán of Lindisfarne; abbot of Lastingham 664
Consecrated bishop of Northumbria/York by the simoniacal bishop of Winchester, Wine; resigned
Bishop of Mercia and Lindsey 669
Theodore, archbishop of Canterbury, replaced Wilfrid as bishop of York with Ceadda. This was supported by King Ecgfrith of Northumbria. 1570, p. 166; 1576, p. 125; 1583, p. 124.
When Wilfrid was restored to the bishopric of York by King Osred I, Ceadda was consecrated bishop of Mercia by Theodore, archbishop of Canterbury. 1570, p. 166; 1576, p. 125; 1583, p. 124.
Close(c. 635 - 687) [ODNB]
Monk of Melrose 651, prior 664; prior of Lindisfarne; became a hermit
Bishop of Lindisfarne (685 - 87)
Cuthbert was promoted to the bishopric of Lindisfarne by King Ecgfrith. 1570, p. 166; 1576, p. 125; 1583, p. 124.
Close(645/6 - 685) [ODNB]
Elder son of Oswiu
King of Northumbria (670 - 85); conflict with Wilfred, bishop of York; struggled against Mercia and the Picts; killed in battle against the Picts
Ecgfrith, when he came to the throne, promoted Cuthbert to the bishopric of Lindisfarne. He supported the replacement of Wilfred as bishop of York with Ceadda. 1570, p. 150; 1576, p. 112; 1583, p. 111.
Ecgfrith's wife Etheldreda refused sexual relations, lived abstemiously and obtained his permission to become a nun. 1570, p. 150; 1576, p. 112; 1583, p. 111.
Close(696x8 - 716) [ODNB]
Son of Aldfrith; adopted by Wilfrid
King of Northumbria (c. 705 - 16)
Osred began his reign when he was about eight years old and reigned for ten years. 1570, p. 150; 1576, p. 112; 1583, p. 111.
Osred restored Wilfrid to the bishopric of York. 1570, p. 166; 1576, p. 125; 1583, p. 124.
Close(602 - 690) [ODNB]
b. Tarsus; archbishop of Canterbury (668 - 90)
Studied at Constantinople; arrived in England in 669; reformed the English church; established a school at Canterbury
Theodore was sent by Pope Vitalian to be archbishop of Canterbury. He introduced the Latin service and Roman ritual. He ordained three bishops on his own authority. 1570, pp. 166, 167; 1576, pp. 125, 126; 1583, pp. 124, 125.
Theodore replaced Wilfrid as bishop of York with Ceadda. He was supported in this by King Ecgfrith of Northumbria. 1570, p. 166; 1576, p. 125; 1583, p. 124.
Theodore called a synod at Thetford, which resulted in decrees on clerical discipline. 1570, p. 167; 1576, p. 126; 1583, p. 125.
He attended the sixth Council of Constantinople, presided over by Pope Agatho. 1570, p. 167; 1576, p. 126; 1583, p. 125.
When Wilfrid was restored to the bishopric of York by King Osred I, Ceadda was consecrated bishop of Mercia by Theodore. 1570, p. 166; 1576, p. 125; 1583, p. 124.
Theodore divided Mercia into five bishoprics. 1570, p. 166; 1576, p. 125; 1583, p. 124.
Theodore of Tarsus was one of the sources used by William the Conqueror to compile a book of canons and ordinances to govern the clergy. 1570, p. 1302; 1576, p. 1114; 1583, p. 1139.
Close(d. 672) [Kelly]
Pope (657 - 72)
Vitalian applied to the emperor to have his election approved before being consecrated. 1570, p. 1209; 1576, p. 1035; 1583, p. 1062.
Vitalian sent Theodore of Tarsus to be archbishop of Canterbury. 1570, p. 167; 1576, p. 125; 1583, p. 124.
Close(c. 1090 - in or after 1142) [ODNB]
Historian, man of letters and Benedictine monk; reformer of monastic life and learning
William of Malmesbury praised the learning of Aldhelm, abbot of Malmesbury and bishop of Sherborne, placing him second only to Bede in his time. He also attributed many miracles to Aldhelm. 1570, p. 168; 1576, p. 126; 1583, p. 125.
He is mentioned by Foxe: 1570, pp. 148, 169, 176, 1301; 1576, pp. 110, 128, 133, 1113; 1583, pp. 132, 1138.
Close(d. 675) [ODNB]
Son of King Penda
King of the Mercians (658 - 75)
East Saxon rulers were subject to him; extended control over territories formerly ruled by Kent and the West Saxons
Foxe mistakenly says that the sister nuns Mildrith and Mildburg were his daughters. 1570, p. 150; 1576, p. 112; 1583, p. 111.
After the death of his brother Peada, Wulfhere came to the Northumbrian throne. Soon after he married Eormenhild, the daughter of Eorcenberht, King of Kent, he converted to Christianity. 1570, p. 164; 1576, p. 123; 1583, p. 122.
Wulfhere defeated Cenwalh, king of the West Saxons, and obtained the Isle of Wight, which he gave to Sigeberht of the East Angles on condition he accept Christianity. [Wulfhere gave the Isle of Wight to Æthelwealh, king of the South Saxons, his godson, whom he had persuaded to accept Christianity - ODNB sub Wulfhere; Foxe: 1570, p. 166; 1576, p. 125; 1583, p. 124] 1570, p. 164; 1576, p. 123; 1583, p. 122.
[Back to Top]Foxe says that Wulfhere persuaded Sigebehrt of the East Angles to accept Christianity. Sigebehrt of the East Angles had converted while in exile in France and had entered a monastery before Wulfhere came to the throne [ODNB sub Sigebehrt]. The king who was baptised by Finán was Sigebehrt Sanctus of the East Saxons, and he was persuaded by Oswiu, king of Northumbria [ODNB sub Kings of the East Angles; ODNB sub Finán; Foxe, 1570, p. 151; 1576, p. 113; 1583, p. 112.] 1570, p. 164; 1576, p. 123; 1583, p. 122.
[Back to Top]When King Sigehere of the East Saxons reverted to paganism, he was made to return to Christianity by his overlord, King Wulfhere. 1570, p. 150; 1576, p. 112; 1583, p. 111.
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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CloseOS grid ref: SY 685 905
County town of Dorset
CloseHertfordshire
OS grid ref: TL 225 075
CloseA city and county of itself, but locally in the county of Stafford. 16.5 miles south-east by east from Stafford. Lichfield, jointly with Coventry, is an episcopal see. The city comprises the parish of St. Mary, part of which is in the southern division of the hundred of Pirehill; St. Chad, part of which is in the northern division of the hundred of Offlow; and St. Michael, divided between the northern and southern divisions of the same hundred. The cathedral close is extra-parochial. St. Mary is a discharged vicarage; St. Chad and St. Michael are perpetual curacies; all in the peculiar jurisdiction of the Dean and Chapter of Lichfield
[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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CloseWest Sussex
OS grid ref: SZ 855 935
CloseLindsey, Lincolnshire
Location unknown: possibly Stow or Lincoln
CloseA city and county of itself, having exclusive jurisdiction, locally in the county of Worcester, of which it is the capital. Seat of the Bishopric of Worcester. 111 miles north west by west from London. The City comprises the parishes of St Alban, All Saints, St Andrew, St Clement, St Helen, St Martin, St Nicholas, St Peter and St Swithin. All in the Archdeaconry and diocese of Worcester. St Alban is a discharged rectory in the patronage of the Bishop; All Saints is a discharged rectory in the patronage of the Crown; St Andrew is a discharged vicarage in the patronage of the Dean and Chapter; St Clement is a discharged rectory in the same patronage; St Helen is a discharged rectory in the patronage of the Bishop; St Nicholas is a discharged rectory in the patronage of the Bishop; St Martin is a rectory in the patronage of the Dean and Chapter; St Peter is a vicarage in the same patronage; and St Swithin is a discharged rectory in the same patronage.
[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]common order obserued in the vniuersal church of Christ. And moreouer the saide Anatholius doth so count the xiiij. day in the obseruation of Easter, as he confesseth the same to be the xv day at night, after the maner of the Egiptiās. and likewise noteth the xx. day to be in the feast of Easter, the xxi. in the euening: the which distinctiō that you know not, by this may appeare, for that you keepe the Easter on the xiij. daye before the ful Moone. Or otherwise I can aunswere you touching your father Columba, and his successors, whose order you say you follow, moued therto by their miracles on this wise: that the Lorde will aunswere to many that shall say in the day of iudgement, that in his name they haue prophesied & cast out deuils, & haue done many miracles. &c. that he neuer knew thē. MarginaliaThe aucthoritie of men is not to be sticked vnto, for their doyng of myracles. But God forbid that I should say so of your fathers, bicause it is much beter to beleue wel of those we know not, then ill. Wherevpō I deny not, but they were the seruaunts of God and holy men, the which loued the Lord of a good intēt, though of a rude simplicitie. MarginaliaThe example of them that follow not, for lack of teaching excuseth not them which being taught will not follow. And I thinke that the order whiche they vsed in þe Easter, did not much hurt them, so long as they had none amongst them that could shew thē the right obseruation of the same, for them to follow. For I thinke if the truth had beene declared vnto them, they woulde as well haue receiued it in this mater as they did in others. But you and your felowes if you refuse the order of the apostolicall sea, or rather of the vniuersal Church, which is confirmed by the holy scripture, without al doubt you doe sinne: and though your forefathers were holy mē, 241 MarginaliaYea sir, Suffragia ecclesiæ non numeranda sunt sed ponderanda. Aug. what is their fewnes being but a corner of an Ilelād, to be preferred before the vniuersall Churche of Christ dyspersed throughout the whole world? And if Columba your father (& ours also being of Christ) were mighty in miracles, is he therefore to bee preferred before þe Prince of the holy Apostles? to whom the Lord said, thou art Peter, and vpon this rocke will I builde my Church, and the gates of hell shal not preuayle against it, & I will giue thee the keyes of the Kingdome of heauen?
[Back to Top]Wilfride hauing thus ended his argument, the kyng said to Colman: Is it true that the Lord spake these things to S. Peter? And Colman aunswered yea. Then sayde the King: MarginaliaThe king concludeth. Can you declare any thing that the Lorde gaue to Colum. Colman aunswered no. Then quoth the king doe both of you agree and consent in this matter, without any controuersie, and that these wordes were principally spoken to Peter, and that the Lord gaue him the keyes of the kingdome of heauen? And they both aunswered yea. Then concluded the king on this wise: for asmuch as S. Peter, is the doore keper of heauen. I will not gainesay him: but in that I am able, I will obeye his orders in euery point least when I come to the gates of heauen, he shut them against me.
[Back to Top]Vpon this simple & rude reason the king, the multitude eftsoones consented: and with them also Cedda was contented to giue ouer. MarginaliaMobile mutatur semper cum principe vulgus. Onely Colmanus the Scot, beyng thē Archbishop of Yorke, in displeasure left the Realme, & departed into Scotlande, carying with him the bones of Aidanus, Bed. Lib. 3. cap. 25. And thus much concerning this matter of Easter.
[Back to Top]MarginaliaEgfride or Edfride of Northumberland. After the decease of Oswy, Egfride his sonne was King after him in Northumberland xv. yeares. By this Egfride Cutbert was promoted to the Bishopricke of the Ile of Farne. And Wilfride which before had bene Archbishop of Yorke, was displaced through the meanes of Theodore Archbishop of Canterbury: MarginaliaMalmesber. Huntingt. Fab cap. 135. Wilfride Archbishop of Yorke. and Cedda possessed that sea, Wilfride when he was put out, went to Rome & complained of him to Agathon the Bishop, and was well allowed in some things. But the king and Theodorus had there such Proctors and frindes, that hee returned without speeding of hys cause. Wherfore he returned into the Southsaxons and builded an Abbey in Silesey, and preached vnto the Southsaxons xv. yeares. The king of the Southsarons at that time, Ethelwold, to whom he declared a little before, that Wolferus king of the Mercians, gaue the Ile of wight vpon condition, that he would be Christened, and so was baptised by Berinus: the sayd Wolfer being his Godfather and sonne in law, both in on day. MarginaliaSouthsaxons conuerted to Christen fayth. Wherfore Wolferus now being licensed by Ethelwod the king, preached vnto his nobles & people of Southsexe, and conuerted thē to Christ. In þe time of whose baptising the raine which before they lacked three yeares together, was giuen them plentifully: whereby their great famine slaked, and the countrey was made frutefull, which before was dried vp with barēnes: In so much that as in some storyes is said, MarginaliaH. Huntingt. Lib. 3. the people penured with famine, would go. xl. together, vpon the rockes by the sea side, and taking handes together would throw themselues downe to the sea. Moreouer, where they lacked before the arte of fishing, the foresaide Wilfride taughtthem how with nets to fish,
[Back to Top]MarginaliaThe Ile of Wyght last conuerted to Christ. And thus by processe haue we discoursed from tyme to tyme how and by what meanes the Idolatrous people were induced to the true fayth of Christ: of whome these Southsaxons with the Ile of wight was the last.MarginaliaAlfride Kyng of Northumb. After Egfride who was slaine in the strayghtes of Scotland, next succeeded Alfride his brother, and bastarde sonne to Oswy, & raigned xviij. or xix. yeres in Northumberland. This Alfride restored againe the foresaid Wilfride to the sea of Yorke, MarginaliaWilfride restored agayne to the sea of Yorke. whom his brother had before expelled, & put in Cedda. Notwithstanding, the same king within v. yeares after, expulsed the saide Wilfride againe and so went he to Rome. But at length by Osrike his successour was placed againe, the Archbishop of Yorke: and Cedda was ordayned by Theodorus Byshop of Mercia. The which prouince of Mercia, þe said Theodorus Archbishop of Canterbury by the authoritie of the Synode holdē at Hatfield, did after diuide into fiue bishoprickes: MarginaliaMercia deuided into v. byshoprickes. that is, one to Chester, the second to worceter, the third to Lichfield, þe fourth to Cederna, in Lindesey, the fift to Dorchester, which was after translated to Lincolne.
[Back to Top]MarginaliaThe wicked sect of Mahumet. Apoc. 13. An. 666. Neare about this time, in the yeare of our Lord, 666. þe detestable sect of Mahumet, begā to take strēgth & place: Although Polychronicon differing a little in yeares, accoūteth the beginning of this sect somwhat before: but þe most diligent searchers of thē which write nowe, refer it to this yeare, which wel agreeth with the number of þe beast, signed in the Apocalips. χξσ, That is. 666. Of this Mahumet came the kingdome of Agarenes (whome hee after named Saracenes) to whom he gaue sondry lawes, patched of many sectes & religions togither, he taught thē to pray euer to the South: And as we keepe the Sonday, so they keepe the friday, which they call the day of Venus. He permitted them to haue as many wiues as they were able to maintaine: to haue as many concubines as they list: to abstaine from vse of wyne, except vppon certaine solemne daies in the yeres: to haue & worship onely one God omnipotent: saying that Moses & the Prophetes were great men, but Christ was greater, and greatest of all the Prophets, as being borne of the virgine Marye by the power of God, without mans seede: and at last was taken vp to heauen, but was not slaine: but an other in his likenes for him, with many other wicked blasphemies in his law cōtained. MarginaliaEx Polycron. Ex Giraldo Cambrensi. Ex Stephano Cantuariensi. At length this kingdome of þe Saracenes beganne to be conquered of the Turkes, & in processe of time wholy subdued to them.
[Back to Top]But now to returne again to the time of our English Saxons. In this meane season Theodorus was sent from Italy into England by Vitellianus the Pope, to bee Archbyshop of Caunterbury, & with him diuers other monks of Italy, to set vp here in Englād Latine seruice, Masses, ceremonies, letanies, with such other Romishe ware, &c. This Theodorus being made Archbishop and Metropolitane of Canterbury MarginaliaTheodorus Archbish. of Cant. began to play the rex, placing & dysplacing the byshops at his pleasure. As for Cedda & Wilfride Archbishops of Yorke he thrust them both out, vnder the pretence, that they were not lawfully consecrated, notwithstanding they were sufficientlye authorised by theyr kinges, and were placed against their willes. Wherfore Wilfride as is before touched went vp to Rome, but could haue no redres of his cause: yet to shew what modesty this Wilfride vsed against his enimie, being so violently molested as he was, because the wordes of his complainte are expressed in W. Malmesbery, I thought here to expresse the same both for the commendation of the partie, and also for the good example of other, in case any such be, whome good examples will mooue to well doing. This Wilfride therefore hauing such iuiury and violence offered vnto him by the handes of Theodore: although he had iust cause to doe his vttermost, yet in prosecuting his complaint, how hee tempered himselfe: what wordes of modestie he vsed, rather to defende his innocencie, then to impugne his aduersary, by this his suggestion offered vp to the byshop of Rome, may appeare: whose words in effect were these: Quid autem acciderit, vt Theodorus sanctiss. Archiepiscopus (me superstite in sede) quam, licet indignus dispensabam: absque consensu cuiuslibet Episcopi ex sua autoritate (mea humilitate non acquiescente) ordinauit tres Episcopos: omittere magis quam vrgere, pro eiusdem viri reuerentia, cōdecet. Quem quidē, pro eo quod ab hac Apostolicæ sedis summitate directus est, accusare non audeo, &c. MarginaliaGu. Malmesberiensis. lib. 1. de gestis pontifi. Anglorum. In English. Howe it chaunceth that Theodorus, the most holy & reuerend Archbishop (my selfe being aliue in the sea, which I though vnworthy did rule and dispose) hath of his own authority, without the cōsent of any bishop (neither hauing my simple voice agreeing to the same) ordained iij. Bishops: I had rather passe ouer in silence, then to stir any farther therin, because of the reue-
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