,48 According to the Anglo-Saxon Chro- nicle, Henry of
Huntingdon
calls it Certices- ford.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v8
"°Thisdocumentbearsthenameofthree II2 See*'TheHistoryofChristianityfrom
imperator, patri in regnum successit. "
Paganism
460
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 31.
112
to see such restitution carried into effect without chicanery and without delay. This toleration was all sufficient to ensure the triumph of Christianity, and the
gradual decline of paganism.
No sooner had the Church been secured in its religious liberties, than
internal commotions began to excite controversies on many subjects of dogma. The Gnostic and the Manichean sects, although professing to be
disciples of Christianity, yet maintained their own separate constitutions, priesthood and ceremonial. Donatus, a Numidian bishop, raised dissensions in the Church of Africa. Meanwhile, irreconcilable differences had occurred between Licinius, who favoured Paganism in the East, and Constantine, whose laws and practice were so favourable to the Christians. Open war was at length proclaimed between them. After the battle of Hadrianople, a. d. 323, and the naval victory of Crispus, the death of Licinius followed, thus reuniting the whole Roman world under the sceptre of Constantine. About
lx 11 this time, also, the errors of Arius, 3 who denied the Divinity of Christ, *
had spread largely throughout the Christian world, 115 and especially they had infected churches in the northern countries of Europe, and had reached even
116
to those of the islands.
A heresy which disturbed even more the orthodoxy of Britain was that
of 11 ? an dialectician and scholar. He was also Pelagius, accomplished
sustained by Celestius, a Scot, and by a disciple named Agricola. The
Roman Pontiff, or the bishops of Gaul—perhaps both—commissioned St.
Germanus of 118 and St. of to over into Britain, Auxerre, Lupus"? Troyes, pass
a. d. 429, and to support there by their zeal and learning the interests of
Catholicity. A Synod was convened at Verulam, when the supporters of the Church and of Pelagianism assembled, and where a public discussion
took place. The result was a triumphant victory for the orthodox prelates ;
while the people, applauding their eloquence and arguments, zealously resolved to receive their teaching and to observe their direction. 120 Another remark-
able Synod had been convened at Brevi, a. d. 519, in Cardiganshire, Wales, 121
where St. David appeared, and refuted the heresy of Pelagius, before a
vast multitude of chieftains and 122 The prelates, clergy, kings, people.
Gallic missionaries returned to their dioceses after that successful mission ;
but, no sooner had they departed, than the exploded opinions were preached with renewed activity. In consequence of this, the Bishop of Auxerre was obliged to return and to resume his functions, with St. Severus,123 bishop of Treves,in446. Theirlabourswerethencrownedwithcompletesuccess.
the Birth of Christ to the Abolition of
Paganism in the Roman Empire," by Dean Henry Hart Milman, U. D. , vol. ii. , book iii. , chap, i. , p. 291.
1. 3 This heresiarch was born about the
year 280, at Alexandria, and he died A. D.
336.
1. 4 The Council of Nice, assembled June
19th. A. D. 325, at which 318 bishops were present, with a great number of priests, deacons and acolytes. There was con- demned the heresy of Arius.
"s See Tillemont's " Memoirs pour servir a l'Histoire Ecclesiastique," tome vi.
1,4 Such is the statement of Venerable
Bede, and it may probably be inferred, that he meant the British islands. See u Historia
"7 He was born in Britain, about A. D. 330, and as a monk had spent several years
n Rome,
"8 His feast occurs on the 31st of July. "9 On the 7th and 29th ofJuly his festival
is celebrated.
,2° See Matthoei "Chronica Parisiensis,
«• See Le Comte de Montalembert," Les Ecclesiastica Gentis Anglorum," lib. i. , cap. Moines d'Occident," tome iii. , liv. x. ,
viii. , pp. 54, 55. chap, i. , p. 18.
Majora," vol. i. , pp. 185, 186. Edition of Henry Richards Luard, M. A.
m His feast occurs on the 1st of March,
"2 See the Third Volume of this work, March 1st, Art. i. Life of St. David, Arch- bishop of Menevia, and Chief Patron of Wales, chap. v.
"3 His feast occurs on the 15th of October.
August 31. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS, 461
However, Pelagianism received its final stroke in the Synod held in 519. 124 Its errors then began to disappear, and soon they were completely eradicated from Britain. I2s
The Saxon invasion of Britain dates from a much earlier period than
I2
took place after the middle of the fifth century, 9 and are usually referred to
that time, when Marcian^ and Valentinian had succeeded to the Roman
has been 126 In the third generally supposed.
I27 the Saxons
its coasts,128 and it is even probable, that about such period, they began to form settlements in the Island. However, their more formidable descents
in vain
incursions of the Picts and Scots, who ravaged and plundered their country ;
then the Saxon sea-rovers, Hengist and Horsa, were invited by Wyrtgeorn
or Vortigern, king of the Britons, to support him against the invaders. Those
chiefs landed on the shore, at a place called Ypwines fleet, in three long
T2
ships or chiules. 3 However, the Saxons proved treacherous to him, after a
lapse of six years, and became ambitious to secure themselves in a state of independence. ^ Atfirstsuccessful,theBritonsatlength,underAmbrosius Aurelian,assembledtoopposethem. Intheyear455,abattlewasfought
Empire. Having
appealed
aid,
against Wyrtgeorn, at a place called ^Egelsthrep, now Aylesford. There 1
Horsa was slain, and the Saxons were defeated. **
Afterwards, Hengist
succeeded to the command, with JEsc, his son. The following year, both
fought against the Britons, at a place called Crecganford, now Crayford ;
and there four thousand men were slain. Then, the Britons forsook Kent, and fled to London in great terror. Over that province, the Saxons after- wards established complete dominion. In the year 466, another signal victory was obtained over the Welsh, by Hengist and his son ^Esc, near Wippedes fleets There twelve British aldormen or chiefs were slain ; while one of their Saxon thanes, named Wipped, was killed. Again, in 473, they fought another battle against the Welsh, and took countless booty ; while the conquered host, as we are told, fled from the Angles as from fire. 1 * 6
This series of successes was soon known to the adventurous Saxons, and
125 See Matthsei Parisiensis, "Chronica
Majora," vol. i. , p. 189. Edition of Henry Richards Luard, M. A.
126 See John Mitchell Kemble, "The Sax-
ons in England," vol. i. , book i. , pp. I to 34.
127 Ptolemy, the Geographer, even speaks of them in the second century.
Mordred are mythical persons, whose very existence may be questioned, and whose adventures must be cl—assed with those of HerculesandRomulus. " Macaulay's"His- tory of England," vol. i. , chap, i. , p. 6.
I3° He immediately succeeded Theodosius
the Younger, who died July 28th, A. n. 450.
128 to Flavius According
a
I31 In the of the twenty-third
Eutropius, Latin historian, who flourished about a. d.
reign
"
360. See Breviarium Historise Romanae,"
lib. ix. , cap. 13.
123 The first British writer who has
furnished an account of the Saxon invasion
is Gildas, who flourished about one hundred
Theodosius the Younger, a. d. 446.
years after it, yet he does not enter upon able Bede. Seeifo'd, cap. xv. , pp. 70, 71.
details in his History. Next to him comes
I33 The genealogy of Hengist and Horsa
is set forth in the " Historia " of Anglicana
Bartholomew de Cotton, Monk of Norwich, edited by Henry Richards Luard, M. A. ,
Venerable Bede, who relates a few only
par- ticularsof the invasion; but thiswriterhas fur- nished the basis for all subsequent accounts. However, the popular story of the conflicts between the Britoas and Saxons is chiefly
lib. ii. , pp. I, 2.
I34 See Henry of Huntingdon,
<4
Historian
derived from Geoffry of Monmouth, who Anglorum,"editedbyThomasArnold,M. A. ,
was born in 1 152, and whose history is little belterthanaromance. Toosweepingand pyrrhonic, however, is the statement of an
lib. ii. , sect. 2, 3, pp. 39 to 41. I3SSupposedtobeEbbsfleet.
I35 See the "Anglo-Saxon Chronicle," edited by Benjamin Thorpe, vol. ii. , pp. 11 to 13.
" Horsa,^Vortigern and Rowena, Arthur and
eminent modern historian :
Hengist and
century,
ravaged
to the Romans for
1*1 to the repel
of See the letter to yEtius, in his third consulate, in
"
Venerable Bede's
Gentis Anglorum," lib. i. , cap. xiii. , pp. 66, 67.
I32 This event is placed at A. D. by Vener-
Historia Ecclesiastiea
462 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 31.
encouraged other adventurers to seek the country of the Britons. In the year
477, M\\z, with his three sons, Cymen, Wlencing, and Cissa, having three
1
ships, landed at a place named Cymenesora. *? There many Britons were
x
slain, and some sought refuge in the wood called Andredesleige. 3* In 485,
vElle fought against the Welsh, near the bank of Markredes burne. In
488, 2Esc succeeded to the Kentish throne, and for twenty-four years he
was king over that people. In 490, ^Elle and Cissa besieged Andredes-
x
ceaster, 39 and slaughtered all the Britons found in it. However, about this
time, the latter had an accomplished leader, named Ambrosius Aurelian, who obtained a signal victory over the Saxons at Bannesdown, near Bath, where
they lost a great many men. 1* In 495, two aldormen, Cerdic and Cynric,
his son, with five ships, landed at a place called Cerdices ora, or Charford.
On that same day, they fought against the Welsh,1*1 who had collected to
oppose them. From Cerdic the kings of the West Saxons afterwards
derived their descent. 1*3 In 501, a chief named Port, with his two sons in
two ships, came to Britain, and landed at Portsmouth. There likewise a
British noble was slain, and the Britons were routed after a severe engage-
1
ment. *^ In 508, Cerdic and Cynric were opposed by a British king, named
1
Natanleod. ** He, with five thousand men, perished in that battle. 145 After-
wards the land was called Natanlea, from him, and it extended to Cerdices ford or Charford. In 514, the West Saxons came to Britain in three ships, and landed at Cerdices ford. Stuf and 1 * 6 the Britons
and put them to flight. However, under the leadership of the renowned
King Arthur, in 516, the Britons obtained a great victory over their enemies
T
at Badon. 47 In 519, Cerdic and Cynric assumed to reign over the West
Saxons, and that same year they fought against the Britons at Cerdic's ford.
Afterwards, their dynasty was established among the West Saxons. In 527,
Cerdic and Cynric fought against the Britons at a place called Cerdices
18
leag. * Many were slain on both sides. Several adventurers came over
from
that same and East and Mercia. 1* In
Germany
T s° Cerdic and
year
occupied Anglia
534, Cerdic,
Majora," vol. i. , pp. 230, 231.
146 Matthew of Paris states, that they were
nephews of Cardie.
147 This " Bellum Badonis," is placed at
that date in the "Annates Cambrise," edited by Rev. John Williams ab Ithel, M. A. , p. 4.
,48 According to the Anglo-Saxon Chro- nicle, Henry of Huntingdon calls it Certices- ford.
I4' See Henry of Huntingdon, "Historiue Anglorum," lib. ii. , sect. 17, p. 48.
1S°
According
Chronicle. •$• Called Withgaresberi by Matthew of
,<a
Cynric Wihtgarasburh,
137 Supposed to be Shoreham.
138 See Henry of Huntingdon, " Historiae
Anglorum,'' lib. ii. , sect. 8, p. 44.
139 This city or fort was on the edge of the
great forest Anderida, which overspread a large portion of Hampshire and Sussex. By William Camden it has been- placed at
took
of the Island of and slew Wight,
53o,
many
the West Saxons, after a reign of eighteen years died, and Cynric, his son, succeeded. x5a He reigned for twenty-seven winters. They gave all the Island of Wight to their two nephews, Stuf and Wihtgar. In 537 followed
men at
possession
151 or Carisbrook. In
first of king
Newenden, in the marshy grounds of Kent, "
See Britannia," vol. i. , p. 258.
140 Gildas tells us, this battle was fought
the year in which he was horn, and forty-
four before he wrote his years
to the Chro- Anglo-Saxon
141
history.
According to the Anglo-Saxon nicle.
See Matthoei Parisiensis, "Chronica Paris, who places this event at A. D. 528.
Majora," vol. i. , p. 226.
143 See Henry of Huntingdon, " Historian
Anglorum," lib. ii. , sect. 12, p. 46.
144 According to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle.
"
I52 See Henry of Huntingdon's Historic
Anglorum," lib. ii. , sect. 20, p. 50.
,53 Thus noted in "Annales Cambria? ," " Gueith Camlann in quo Arthur et Medraut corruere. " EditionofRev. JohnWilliams
« See Matthoei Parisiensis, " Chronica ab Ithel, M. A. , p. 4.
Wihtgar fought against
August 31. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 463
thedeathoftheheroicKingArthuratGueithCamlann. ^ In544,Wihtgar
x died, and he was buried at Wihtgarasburh, or Carisbrook. 54
When the object of the Saxons was found to be the conquest and settle- ment of the whole Island by their hordes, the aboriginal inhabitants bravely resisted their inroads for a time; but, this only inflamed the barbarous
there pagan rites and worship everywhere prevailed.
Towards the close of the fifth century, while the former Prefect or
1 *8 was an humble monk in one of the monas- teries he had founded in that city, he chanced to pass through the public slave-market, where some beautiful slaves were exposed for sale. Struck
with their appearance, and enquiring ab—out the country to which they be-
of the invaders,1^ who neither their lives nor habitations, spared
ferocity
while the remains of Roman grandeur and art, with their towns, villages and churches, were committed to the flames. 'S6 The survivors of such outrages were gradually forced to the western mountains, and to places the least accessible, where the worship of the true God and the refinements of society were partially preserved, under difficulties of a serious character. ^ The more fertile parts of the Island were possessed by the dominant race, and
Governor of Rome,
Gregory,
XS9 Compassionating their forlorn condition, corporally and spiritually, he ex-
longed, he was told they were Angles another term for the Saxons.
claimed " They would not be Angles but Angels had they been Chris-
:
tians " l6° Impressed with the fulfilment of a resolution he had formed,
!
Gregory repaired to the reigning Pontiff, and expressed his desire to leave the monastery in which he lived, and to proceed on a mission, in order to spread the Gospel among the Saxons. The Pontiff's permission was reluc- tantly given. However, when the report of his preparations went abroad, Gregory's virtues and his previous office had made him so popular in Rome, that the inhabitants remonstrated against his departure from among them.
His subsequent elevation to the papal throne, however, obliged him to find others, who would carry out the mission he had desired to conduct in
person.
With a view of preparing them for the sacred ministry, Gregory gave an
extraordinary commission to the Presbyter Candidus to purchase a sufficient number of Saxon slaves under the age of eighteen, and to have them sent to Rome with sure guides, so that they might be educated at his own expense and under his own supervision. He desired to employ them in due course for the conversion of their own countrymen, whose language was so familiar tothem. However,theirprogresswasratherslow,andthePopedesiredto
154 See the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle," Popular. Encyclopaedia, or Conversations edited by Benjamin Thorpe, vol. ii. , pp. 13 Lexicon," vol. iii. , p. 559.
to
15.
155 See Rev. Dr. Lingard's "Antiquities
IS:J Venerable Bede declares, that the anecdote which he thus relates was handed down to him in the traditions of his ancestors,
of the Anglo-Saxon Church," chap, i. , p. 20.
I56According to the Statement of Gildas in namely, the Saxons.
" Historia l6° He then followed that Britonum," p. 85. up
157 See Rev. Dean Henry Hart Milman's "History of Latin Christianity," vol. ii. , book iv. , chap, iii. , p. 227.
enquiry by asking the name of the province from which
they had been brought. When told they were of the Deiri, he replied : "Truly they are Be iri, withdrawn from wrath and called to the mercy of Christ. " He then desired to know the name of their king, and he was told JEWa. Then cried he, alluding to the
the of God the praise
"
J 58 He was son of Gordian, deriving his
descent from a noble and religious Roman
family. He was born at Rome about 544,
and, having received an education suitable
to his rank, he became a member of the
Senate, and he filled other employments in
the State. By the Emperor Justin II. he
was appointed Prefect of Rome. See "The lib. ii. , chap, ii. , pp. 168 to 171.
name "
: Hallelujah !
Creator must be sung in those parts. " See
Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Anglorum,"
464 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 31,
hastentheworkofSaxonconversion. He,atlast,calledhismonkstogether,
andexplainedhisviewstothem. Heexcitedtheircourageandtheirhopesfor
thesuccessofthatmissionheproposed. Animatedbytheaddressofthe
Sovereign Pontiff, missionaries were soon selected, and Augustine161 was
appointed as their superior. Having set out on their journey, and reached
the neighbourhood of Lerins, the monks felt misgivings, and were dis-
couraged, because they knew not the language nor the customs of the Saxons,
whose cruelty to the British Christians had been so great. Whereupon, they
sent back Augustine to urge upon the Pope the difficulties and danger of the
enterprise. However, the Pontiff was inflexible in his resolution, as he had
recommended to the king and queen of the Franks, as also to the Archbishop
of Aries, that patronage and aid should be given to those missionaries. 162
He exhorted, and even commanded them to l63 He conjured proceed.
solicited the favour and protection of the Gallic princes and prelates, and
besought the clergy in Gaul to depute some of their body to be associates
and interpreters. Thus directed, in the year 597, they sailed for England, and, to the number of about forty, arrived safely on the Isle of Thanet. l64
It so happened, that Augustine and his companions were in the Kingdom of Kent, then under the rule of Ethelbert,16* who had been married to
Bertha, daughter of Charibert, King of Paris, and a most zealous and pious
Christian. 166 Her attendant prelate, Luidhard of Senlis, was a man of upright
and saintly character, who had even made an impression on the mind of the
16
King. ? In consequence, the rites of the Church were tolerated and
practised in the metropolis of Canterbury, where they resided. These and other circumstances had awakened respect for Christianity among the Kentish people, and they had even addressed the prelates of the Franks to send them religious instructors. But such a favourable opening for missionary work had been neglected ; and now, Augustine was afforded the opportunity of sending a messenger to the King, with information that he and his com- panions had been sent thither, to announce the truths of the Gospel and of eternal life to the sovereign and his subjects.
Ethelbert consented to grant an interview, and, with great solemnity,
and his
Augustine companions
went in 168 to a religious procession,
place
He listened in the
He was moved to such an extent that, although unable as yet to pronounce himself a convert to Christianity, he expressed satisfaction for that charity which prompted the missionaries to leave their own country, in order to promote,astheythought,thewelfareofhimselfandofhispeople. Heeven promised to afford them protection, so long as they chose to remain in his
open
Afterwards he became first bishop of Canterbury, and he is venerated as a saint. 1 1 i~. feast occurs on the 26th of May. A
"" very interesting Life of St. Augustine
has been written by Canon Oakley in the
air l69 to a discourse of
appointed.
161
Augustine.
about 600 families. See ibid. , cap. xxv. , pp. 100, 10 1.
,6s See Rev. Dr. Lingard's "Antiquities of the Anglo-Saxon Church," chap, i. , pp. 22, 23.
,66 See St. of "Historia Gregory Tours,
Francorum," liv. iv. , cap. 26.
,67 See Le Comte de Montalembert, '"Les
Moines d'Occident," tome hi. , liv. xii. , chap, i. , p. 363.
»°s See Venerable Bede's " Historia
Ecclesiastica Gentis Anglorum," lib. i. ,
cap. xxv. , pp. 100 to 103.
series known as " Lives of the
English
Eccle-
Saints," and published in 1844.
,6a "
See Rev. Jeremy Collier's
siastical History of Great Britain," vol. i. ,
book cent,
ii. , vi. , pp. 150, 151.
163 The letter which he wrote on this occasion, dated July 28th, is to be seen in the work of Venerable Bedc, " Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis
,69 to an ancient Saxon According
xxiii. , pp. 96, 97.
164
Anglorum,"
lib.
i. , cap.
super- stition, Ethelbert feared lest magic arts could be practised on him by the mission-
It lay on the east coast of Kent, and contained, according to Venerable Bede,
arics, were they to come into a house.
August 31. ] LIVES Of THE IRISH SAINTS. 465
dominions. 1 ? The Britons had built a church in honour of St. Martin, but it was in ruins, when Queen Bertha had obtained permission from her husband to have it restored, so that it might serve for the ministrations of Bishop Luidhard. Her influence was sufficient to have it transferred to Augustine and his company, who were warmly welcomed by her to proceed in the good work they had so auspiciously commenced. Soon were the strangers in a position to introduce the public worship and ceremonies of the Church with imposing solemnity, and to preach the Christian religion to curious and interested crowds of Saxons. Insensibly their prejudices began to wear away, and the priests of Woden began to lament the solitude of their altars. For some time, Ethelbert hesitated before he renounced the worship of idols ; but, in fine, when he had carefully weighed the evangelical doctrines enforced by the missionaries, with reasons for accepting them, as also the sublime morality they preached, and manifested in their own mode of living, the king publicly professed himself a Christian. So powerful was his example, that ten thousand Saxons soon followed their prince to the waters of Baptism.
Instructed and directed by Pope St. Gregory I. , surnamed " the Great," the missionaries announced that the conversion of the people was to be the result of conviction and free choice on their part, and not that of force or
compulsion. Norwasthereanecessitytoexerciseanymagisterialauthority to recommend the teaching of Augustine and his clerics ; for within a com-
paratively brief period the idolatrous priests and their rites were brought
into disrepute. Their temples were deserted, and in many places converted
into Christian churches. As the victims that bled on the pagan altars had
furnished the chief materials for Saxon feasting, on the occasion of their
heathenish rites and festivals, and as the praises of their warriors were
mingled with hymns chaunted in honour of the god who was worshipped ;
the Sovereign Pontiff had wisely recommended, that wholly to derogate
from certain national observances might prove to be injudicious, and as
some of these might be combined with religious institutes, accordingly, on
the festivals of the Christian martyrs, it was permitted to have tents erected
in the vicinity of the churches, where entertainments and amusements of a
festive character could still be carried out, but with sobriety and
11 moderation. ?
Soon after the conversion of Kent followed that of the neighbouring
and dependent Kingdom of Essex, then ruled by Saberct. 1? 2 In 604, the
Abbot Mellitus was invited to settle in his metropolis. However, the death
of Saberct soon followed, and this proved most injurious to the conversion
of his 1 ^ In his people.
three sons addicted to the of their worship
stead,
ancestors were in power. They were contemners of the Christian religion
and rites. With
Justus,
x ? 4
Mellitus 1 ? 5
had been
recently However,
invested with the
1? 6
the Holy Sacrifice in his church, the three sons of Saberct entered during the
170 See Rev. Jeremy Collier's " Ecclesi- tical History of Britain," vol. i. , book ii.
imperator, patri in regnum successit. "
Paganism
460
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 31.
112
to see such restitution carried into effect without chicanery and without delay. This toleration was all sufficient to ensure the triumph of Christianity, and the
gradual decline of paganism.
No sooner had the Church been secured in its religious liberties, than
internal commotions began to excite controversies on many subjects of dogma. The Gnostic and the Manichean sects, although professing to be
disciples of Christianity, yet maintained their own separate constitutions, priesthood and ceremonial. Donatus, a Numidian bishop, raised dissensions in the Church of Africa. Meanwhile, irreconcilable differences had occurred between Licinius, who favoured Paganism in the East, and Constantine, whose laws and practice were so favourable to the Christians. Open war was at length proclaimed between them. After the battle of Hadrianople, a. d. 323, and the naval victory of Crispus, the death of Licinius followed, thus reuniting the whole Roman world under the sceptre of Constantine. About
lx 11 this time, also, the errors of Arius, 3 who denied the Divinity of Christ, *
had spread largely throughout the Christian world, 115 and especially they had infected churches in the northern countries of Europe, and had reached even
116
to those of the islands.
A heresy which disturbed even more the orthodoxy of Britain was that
of 11 ? an dialectician and scholar. He was also Pelagius, accomplished
sustained by Celestius, a Scot, and by a disciple named Agricola. The
Roman Pontiff, or the bishops of Gaul—perhaps both—commissioned St.
Germanus of 118 and St. of to over into Britain, Auxerre, Lupus"? Troyes, pass
a. d. 429, and to support there by their zeal and learning the interests of
Catholicity. A Synod was convened at Verulam, when the supporters of the Church and of Pelagianism assembled, and where a public discussion
took place. The result was a triumphant victory for the orthodox prelates ;
while the people, applauding their eloquence and arguments, zealously resolved to receive their teaching and to observe their direction. 120 Another remark-
able Synod had been convened at Brevi, a. d. 519, in Cardiganshire, Wales, 121
where St. David appeared, and refuted the heresy of Pelagius, before a
vast multitude of chieftains and 122 The prelates, clergy, kings, people.
Gallic missionaries returned to their dioceses after that successful mission ;
but, no sooner had they departed, than the exploded opinions were preached with renewed activity. In consequence of this, the Bishop of Auxerre was obliged to return and to resume his functions, with St. Severus,123 bishop of Treves,in446. Theirlabourswerethencrownedwithcompletesuccess.
the Birth of Christ to the Abolition of
Paganism in the Roman Empire," by Dean Henry Hart Milman, U. D. , vol. ii. , book iii. , chap, i. , p. 291.
1. 3 This heresiarch was born about the
year 280, at Alexandria, and he died A. D.
336.
1. 4 The Council of Nice, assembled June
19th. A. D. 325, at which 318 bishops were present, with a great number of priests, deacons and acolytes. There was con- demned the heresy of Arius.
"s See Tillemont's " Memoirs pour servir a l'Histoire Ecclesiastique," tome vi.
1,4 Such is the statement of Venerable
Bede, and it may probably be inferred, that he meant the British islands. See u Historia
"7 He was born in Britain, about A. D. 330, and as a monk had spent several years
n Rome,
"8 His feast occurs on the 31st of July. "9 On the 7th and 29th ofJuly his festival
is celebrated.
,2° See Matthoei "Chronica Parisiensis,
«• See Le Comte de Montalembert," Les Ecclesiastica Gentis Anglorum," lib. i. , cap. Moines d'Occident," tome iii. , liv. x. ,
viii. , pp. 54, 55. chap, i. , p. 18.
Majora," vol. i. , pp. 185, 186. Edition of Henry Richards Luard, M. A.
m His feast occurs on the 1st of March,
"2 See the Third Volume of this work, March 1st, Art. i. Life of St. David, Arch- bishop of Menevia, and Chief Patron of Wales, chap. v.
"3 His feast occurs on the 15th of October.
August 31. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS, 461
However, Pelagianism received its final stroke in the Synod held in 519. 124 Its errors then began to disappear, and soon they were completely eradicated from Britain. I2s
The Saxon invasion of Britain dates from a much earlier period than
I2
took place after the middle of the fifth century, 9 and are usually referred to
that time, when Marcian^ and Valentinian had succeeded to the Roman
has been 126 In the third generally supposed.
I27 the Saxons
its coasts,128 and it is even probable, that about such period, they began to form settlements in the Island. However, their more formidable descents
in vain
incursions of the Picts and Scots, who ravaged and plundered their country ;
then the Saxon sea-rovers, Hengist and Horsa, were invited by Wyrtgeorn
or Vortigern, king of the Britons, to support him against the invaders. Those
chiefs landed on the shore, at a place called Ypwines fleet, in three long
T2
ships or chiules. 3 However, the Saxons proved treacherous to him, after a
lapse of six years, and became ambitious to secure themselves in a state of independence. ^ Atfirstsuccessful,theBritonsatlength,underAmbrosius Aurelian,assembledtoopposethem. Intheyear455,abattlewasfought
Empire. Having
appealed
aid,
against Wyrtgeorn, at a place called ^Egelsthrep, now Aylesford. There 1
Horsa was slain, and the Saxons were defeated. **
Afterwards, Hengist
succeeded to the command, with JEsc, his son. The following year, both
fought against the Britons, at a place called Crecganford, now Crayford ;
and there four thousand men were slain. Then, the Britons forsook Kent, and fled to London in great terror. Over that province, the Saxons after- wards established complete dominion. In the year 466, another signal victory was obtained over the Welsh, by Hengist and his son ^Esc, near Wippedes fleets There twelve British aldormen or chiefs were slain ; while one of their Saxon thanes, named Wipped, was killed. Again, in 473, they fought another battle against the Welsh, and took countless booty ; while the conquered host, as we are told, fled from the Angles as from fire. 1 * 6
This series of successes was soon known to the adventurous Saxons, and
125 See Matthsei Parisiensis, "Chronica
Majora," vol. i. , p. 189. Edition of Henry Richards Luard, M. A.
126 See John Mitchell Kemble, "The Sax-
ons in England," vol. i. , book i. , pp. I to 34.
127 Ptolemy, the Geographer, even speaks of them in the second century.
Mordred are mythical persons, whose very existence may be questioned, and whose adventures must be cl—assed with those of HerculesandRomulus. " Macaulay's"His- tory of England," vol. i. , chap, i. , p. 6.
I3° He immediately succeeded Theodosius
the Younger, who died July 28th, A. n. 450.
128 to Flavius According
a
I31 In the of the twenty-third
Eutropius, Latin historian, who flourished about a. d.
reign
"
360. See Breviarium Historise Romanae,"
lib. ix. , cap. 13.
123 The first British writer who has
furnished an account of the Saxon invasion
is Gildas, who flourished about one hundred
Theodosius the Younger, a. d. 446.
years after it, yet he does not enter upon able Bede. Seeifo'd, cap. xv. , pp. 70, 71.
details in his History. Next to him comes
I33 The genealogy of Hengist and Horsa
is set forth in the " Historia " of Anglicana
Bartholomew de Cotton, Monk of Norwich, edited by Henry Richards Luard, M. A. ,
Venerable Bede, who relates a few only
par- ticularsof the invasion; but thiswriterhas fur- nished the basis for all subsequent accounts. However, the popular story of the conflicts between the Britoas and Saxons is chiefly
lib. ii. , pp. I, 2.
I34 See Henry of Huntingdon,
<4
Historian
derived from Geoffry of Monmouth, who Anglorum,"editedbyThomasArnold,M. A. ,
was born in 1 152, and whose history is little belterthanaromance. Toosweepingand pyrrhonic, however, is the statement of an
lib. ii. , sect. 2, 3, pp. 39 to 41. I3SSupposedtobeEbbsfleet.
I35 See the "Anglo-Saxon Chronicle," edited by Benjamin Thorpe, vol. ii. , pp. 11 to 13.
" Horsa,^Vortigern and Rowena, Arthur and
eminent modern historian :
Hengist and
century,
ravaged
to the Romans for
1*1 to the repel
of See the letter to yEtius, in his third consulate, in
"
Venerable Bede's
Gentis Anglorum," lib. i. , cap. xiii. , pp. 66, 67.
I32 This event is placed at A. D. by Vener-
Historia Ecclesiastiea
462 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 31.
encouraged other adventurers to seek the country of the Britons. In the year
477, M\\z, with his three sons, Cymen, Wlencing, and Cissa, having three
1
ships, landed at a place named Cymenesora. *? There many Britons were
x
slain, and some sought refuge in the wood called Andredesleige. 3* In 485,
vElle fought against the Welsh, near the bank of Markredes burne. In
488, 2Esc succeeded to the Kentish throne, and for twenty-four years he
was king over that people. In 490, ^Elle and Cissa besieged Andredes-
x
ceaster, 39 and slaughtered all the Britons found in it. However, about this
time, the latter had an accomplished leader, named Ambrosius Aurelian, who obtained a signal victory over the Saxons at Bannesdown, near Bath, where
they lost a great many men. 1* In 495, two aldormen, Cerdic and Cynric,
his son, with five ships, landed at a place called Cerdices ora, or Charford.
On that same day, they fought against the Welsh,1*1 who had collected to
oppose them. From Cerdic the kings of the West Saxons afterwards
derived their descent. 1*3 In 501, a chief named Port, with his two sons in
two ships, came to Britain, and landed at Portsmouth. There likewise a
British noble was slain, and the Britons were routed after a severe engage-
1
ment. *^ In 508, Cerdic and Cynric were opposed by a British king, named
1
Natanleod. ** He, with five thousand men, perished in that battle. 145 After-
wards the land was called Natanlea, from him, and it extended to Cerdices ford or Charford. In 514, the West Saxons came to Britain in three ships, and landed at Cerdices ford. Stuf and 1 * 6 the Britons
and put them to flight. However, under the leadership of the renowned
King Arthur, in 516, the Britons obtained a great victory over their enemies
T
at Badon. 47 In 519, Cerdic and Cynric assumed to reign over the West
Saxons, and that same year they fought against the Britons at Cerdic's ford.
Afterwards, their dynasty was established among the West Saxons. In 527,
Cerdic and Cynric fought against the Britons at a place called Cerdices
18
leag. * Many were slain on both sides. Several adventurers came over
from
that same and East and Mercia. 1* In
Germany
T s° Cerdic and
year
occupied Anglia
534, Cerdic,
Majora," vol. i. , pp. 230, 231.
146 Matthew of Paris states, that they were
nephews of Cardie.
147 This " Bellum Badonis," is placed at
that date in the "Annates Cambrise," edited by Rev. John Williams ab Ithel, M. A. , p. 4.
,48 According to the Anglo-Saxon Chro- nicle, Henry of Huntingdon calls it Certices- ford.
I4' See Henry of Huntingdon, "Historiue Anglorum," lib. ii. , sect. 17, p. 48.
1S°
According
Chronicle. •$• Called Withgaresberi by Matthew of
,<a
Cynric Wihtgarasburh,
137 Supposed to be Shoreham.
138 See Henry of Huntingdon, " Historiae
Anglorum,'' lib. ii. , sect. 8, p. 44.
139 This city or fort was on the edge of the
great forest Anderida, which overspread a large portion of Hampshire and Sussex. By William Camden it has been- placed at
took
of the Island of and slew Wight,
53o,
many
the West Saxons, after a reign of eighteen years died, and Cynric, his son, succeeded. x5a He reigned for twenty-seven winters. They gave all the Island of Wight to their two nephews, Stuf and Wihtgar. In 537 followed
men at
possession
151 or Carisbrook. In
first of king
Newenden, in the marshy grounds of Kent, "
See Britannia," vol. i. , p. 258.
140 Gildas tells us, this battle was fought
the year in which he was horn, and forty-
four before he wrote his years
to the Chro- Anglo-Saxon
141
history.
According to the Anglo-Saxon nicle.
See Matthoei Parisiensis, "Chronica Paris, who places this event at A. D. 528.
Majora," vol. i. , p. 226.
143 See Henry of Huntingdon, " Historian
Anglorum," lib. ii. , sect. 12, p. 46.
144 According to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle.
"
I52 See Henry of Huntingdon's Historic
Anglorum," lib. ii. , sect. 20, p. 50.
,53 Thus noted in "Annales Cambria? ," " Gueith Camlann in quo Arthur et Medraut corruere. " EditionofRev. JohnWilliams
« See Matthoei Parisiensis, " Chronica ab Ithel, M. A. , p. 4.
Wihtgar fought against
August 31. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 463
thedeathoftheheroicKingArthuratGueithCamlann. ^ In544,Wihtgar
x died, and he was buried at Wihtgarasburh, or Carisbrook. 54
When the object of the Saxons was found to be the conquest and settle- ment of the whole Island by their hordes, the aboriginal inhabitants bravely resisted their inroads for a time; but, this only inflamed the barbarous
there pagan rites and worship everywhere prevailed.
Towards the close of the fifth century, while the former Prefect or
1 *8 was an humble monk in one of the monas- teries he had founded in that city, he chanced to pass through the public slave-market, where some beautiful slaves were exposed for sale. Struck
with their appearance, and enquiring ab—out the country to which they be-
of the invaders,1^ who neither their lives nor habitations, spared
ferocity
while the remains of Roman grandeur and art, with their towns, villages and churches, were committed to the flames. 'S6 The survivors of such outrages were gradually forced to the western mountains, and to places the least accessible, where the worship of the true God and the refinements of society were partially preserved, under difficulties of a serious character. ^ The more fertile parts of the Island were possessed by the dominant race, and
Governor of Rome,
Gregory,
XS9 Compassionating their forlorn condition, corporally and spiritually, he ex-
longed, he was told they were Angles another term for the Saxons.
claimed " They would not be Angles but Angels had they been Chris-
:
tians " l6° Impressed with the fulfilment of a resolution he had formed,
!
Gregory repaired to the reigning Pontiff, and expressed his desire to leave the monastery in which he lived, and to proceed on a mission, in order to spread the Gospel among the Saxons. The Pontiff's permission was reluc- tantly given. However, when the report of his preparations went abroad, Gregory's virtues and his previous office had made him so popular in Rome, that the inhabitants remonstrated against his departure from among them.
His subsequent elevation to the papal throne, however, obliged him to find others, who would carry out the mission he had desired to conduct in
person.
With a view of preparing them for the sacred ministry, Gregory gave an
extraordinary commission to the Presbyter Candidus to purchase a sufficient number of Saxon slaves under the age of eighteen, and to have them sent to Rome with sure guides, so that they might be educated at his own expense and under his own supervision. He desired to employ them in due course for the conversion of their own countrymen, whose language was so familiar tothem. However,theirprogresswasratherslow,andthePopedesiredto
154 See the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle," Popular. Encyclopaedia, or Conversations edited by Benjamin Thorpe, vol. ii. , pp. 13 Lexicon," vol. iii. , p. 559.
to
15.
155 See Rev. Dr. Lingard's "Antiquities
IS:J Venerable Bede declares, that the anecdote which he thus relates was handed down to him in the traditions of his ancestors,
of the Anglo-Saxon Church," chap, i. , p. 20.
I56According to the Statement of Gildas in namely, the Saxons.
" Historia l6° He then followed that Britonum," p. 85. up
157 See Rev. Dean Henry Hart Milman's "History of Latin Christianity," vol. ii. , book iv. , chap, iii. , p. 227.
enquiry by asking the name of the province from which
they had been brought. When told they were of the Deiri, he replied : "Truly they are Be iri, withdrawn from wrath and called to the mercy of Christ. " He then desired to know the name of their king, and he was told JEWa. Then cried he, alluding to the
the of God the praise
"
J 58 He was son of Gordian, deriving his
descent from a noble and religious Roman
family. He was born at Rome about 544,
and, having received an education suitable
to his rank, he became a member of the
Senate, and he filled other employments in
the State. By the Emperor Justin II. he
was appointed Prefect of Rome. See "The lib. ii. , chap, ii. , pp. 168 to 171.
name "
: Hallelujah !
Creator must be sung in those parts. " See
Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Anglorum,"
464 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [August 31,
hastentheworkofSaxonconversion. He,atlast,calledhismonkstogether,
andexplainedhisviewstothem. Heexcitedtheircourageandtheirhopesfor
thesuccessofthatmissionheproposed. Animatedbytheaddressofthe
Sovereign Pontiff, missionaries were soon selected, and Augustine161 was
appointed as their superior. Having set out on their journey, and reached
the neighbourhood of Lerins, the monks felt misgivings, and were dis-
couraged, because they knew not the language nor the customs of the Saxons,
whose cruelty to the British Christians had been so great. Whereupon, they
sent back Augustine to urge upon the Pope the difficulties and danger of the
enterprise. However, the Pontiff was inflexible in his resolution, as he had
recommended to the king and queen of the Franks, as also to the Archbishop
of Aries, that patronage and aid should be given to those missionaries. 162
He exhorted, and even commanded them to l63 He conjured proceed.
solicited the favour and protection of the Gallic princes and prelates, and
besought the clergy in Gaul to depute some of their body to be associates
and interpreters. Thus directed, in the year 597, they sailed for England, and, to the number of about forty, arrived safely on the Isle of Thanet. l64
It so happened, that Augustine and his companions were in the Kingdom of Kent, then under the rule of Ethelbert,16* who had been married to
Bertha, daughter of Charibert, King of Paris, and a most zealous and pious
Christian. 166 Her attendant prelate, Luidhard of Senlis, was a man of upright
and saintly character, who had even made an impression on the mind of the
16
King. ? In consequence, the rites of the Church were tolerated and
practised in the metropolis of Canterbury, where they resided. These and other circumstances had awakened respect for Christianity among the Kentish people, and they had even addressed the prelates of the Franks to send them religious instructors. But such a favourable opening for missionary work had been neglected ; and now, Augustine was afforded the opportunity of sending a messenger to the King, with information that he and his com- panions had been sent thither, to announce the truths of the Gospel and of eternal life to the sovereign and his subjects.
Ethelbert consented to grant an interview, and, with great solemnity,
and his
Augustine companions
went in 168 to a religious procession,
place
He listened in the
He was moved to such an extent that, although unable as yet to pronounce himself a convert to Christianity, he expressed satisfaction for that charity which prompted the missionaries to leave their own country, in order to promote,astheythought,thewelfareofhimselfandofhispeople. Heeven promised to afford them protection, so long as they chose to remain in his
open
Afterwards he became first bishop of Canterbury, and he is venerated as a saint. 1 1 i~. feast occurs on the 26th of May. A
"" very interesting Life of St. Augustine
has been written by Canon Oakley in the
air l69 to a discourse of
appointed.
161
Augustine.
about 600 families. See ibid. , cap. xxv. , pp. 100, 10 1.
,6s See Rev. Dr. Lingard's "Antiquities of the Anglo-Saxon Church," chap, i. , pp. 22, 23.
,66 See St. of "Historia Gregory Tours,
Francorum," liv. iv. , cap. 26.
,67 See Le Comte de Montalembert, '"Les
Moines d'Occident," tome hi. , liv. xii. , chap, i. , p. 363.
»°s See Venerable Bede's " Historia
Ecclesiastica Gentis Anglorum," lib. i. ,
cap. xxv. , pp. 100 to 103.
series known as " Lives of the
English
Eccle-
Saints," and published in 1844.
,6a "
See Rev. Jeremy Collier's
siastical History of Great Britain," vol. i. ,
book cent,
ii. , vi. , pp. 150, 151.
163 The letter which he wrote on this occasion, dated July 28th, is to be seen in the work of Venerable Bedc, " Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis
,69 to an ancient Saxon According
xxiii. , pp. 96, 97.
164
Anglorum,"
lib.
i. , cap.
super- stition, Ethelbert feared lest magic arts could be practised on him by the mission-
It lay on the east coast of Kent, and contained, according to Venerable Bede,
arics, were they to come into a house.
August 31. ] LIVES Of THE IRISH SAINTS. 465
dominions. 1 ? The Britons had built a church in honour of St. Martin, but it was in ruins, when Queen Bertha had obtained permission from her husband to have it restored, so that it might serve for the ministrations of Bishop Luidhard. Her influence was sufficient to have it transferred to Augustine and his company, who were warmly welcomed by her to proceed in the good work they had so auspiciously commenced. Soon were the strangers in a position to introduce the public worship and ceremonies of the Church with imposing solemnity, and to preach the Christian religion to curious and interested crowds of Saxons. Insensibly their prejudices began to wear away, and the priests of Woden began to lament the solitude of their altars. For some time, Ethelbert hesitated before he renounced the worship of idols ; but, in fine, when he had carefully weighed the evangelical doctrines enforced by the missionaries, with reasons for accepting them, as also the sublime morality they preached, and manifested in their own mode of living, the king publicly professed himself a Christian. So powerful was his example, that ten thousand Saxons soon followed their prince to the waters of Baptism.
Instructed and directed by Pope St. Gregory I. , surnamed " the Great," the missionaries announced that the conversion of the people was to be the result of conviction and free choice on their part, and not that of force or
compulsion. Norwasthereanecessitytoexerciseanymagisterialauthority to recommend the teaching of Augustine and his clerics ; for within a com-
paratively brief period the idolatrous priests and their rites were brought
into disrepute. Their temples were deserted, and in many places converted
into Christian churches. As the victims that bled on the pagan altars had
furnished the chief materials for Saxon feasting, on the occasion of their
heathenish rites and festivals, and as the praises of their warriors were
mingled with hymns chaunted in honour of the god who was worshipped ;
the Sovereign Pontiff had wisely recommended, that wholly to derogate
from certain national observances might prove to be injudicious, and as
some of these might be combined with religious institutes, accordingly, on
the festivals of the Christian martyrs, it was permitted to have tents erected
in the vicinity of the churches, where entertainments and amusements of a
festive character could still be carried out, but with sobriety and
11 moderation. ?
Soon after the conversion of Kent followed that of the neighbouring
and dependent Kingdom of Essex, then ruled by Saberct. 1? 2 In 604, the
Abbot Mellitus was invited to settle in his metropolis. However, the death
of Saberct soon followed, and this proved most injurious to the conversion
of his 1 ^ In his people.
three sons addicted to the of their worship
stead,
ancestors were in power. They were contemners of the Christian religion
and rites. With
Justus,
x ? 4
Mellitus 1 ? 5
had been
recently However,
invested with the
1? 6
the Holy Sacrifice in his church, the three sons of Saberct entered during the
170 See Rev. Jeremy Collier's " Ecclesi- tical History of Britain," vol. i. , book ii.
