Death the Bishoprick of that Province was. divided into two Dioceses. One of them was given to Daniel, which he governs to this Day; the other to Aldhelm, wherein he most worthily presided four Years; both of them being well instructed as weil in Ecclesiastical Affairs, as in the Knowledge of the Scripture. Aldhelm when he was only a Prieft and Abbat of the Monastery, call'd Malmesbury, by Order of a Synod, writ a notable Book in his Nation, against the Error of the Britons, in not celebrating Eafter at the proper Time, or doing feveral other Things not confonant to the Purity and the Peace of the Church; and by the reading of this Book he reduc'd many of them who were fubject to the West-Saxons to the Catholick Celebration of our Lord's RefurreEtion. He likewife writ a notable Book of Virginity, the which, he in Imitation of Sedulius compos'd double, that is, in Hexameter Verse and Profe. He writ some other Books, as being a Man most learned in all Refpects; for he had a clean Style, and was, as I have faid, wonderful for Ecclesiastical and Liberal Erudition. He dying, Forthere was made Bishop in his stead, and is living at this Time, being likewise a Man very learned in Holy Writ. Whilst they were Bishops it was decreed in a Synod, that the Province of the SouthSaxons, which till then belong'd to the Diocese of the City of Winchester, where Daniel then prefided, should also have an Epifcopal See, and a Bishop of its own. Eadberht at that Time Abbat of the Monastery, Bishop Wilfrid, of blesled Memory, call'd Selfey, was confecrated their first Bishop. He dying Eolla fuccocded in the Bishoprick. He He also dying some Years fince, that Bishoprick has been discontinu'd till this Day. CHAP. XX. How Coinred, King of the Mercians, and Offa, of the Eaft-Saxons, ended their Days at Rome in the Habit of the Monks; and of the Life or Death of Bishop Wilfrid. I : N the fourth Year of the Reign of Ofred, Coinred who had for fome Time most nobly govern'd the Kingdom of the Mercians, much more nobly quitted the Throne of his Kingdom; for he went to Rome, and being there shorn, when Constantin was Pope, and made a Monk at the Relicks of the Apostles, he continu'd to his last Hour in Prayers, Fasting and Almsdeeds. He was succeeded in the Throne by Cealred, the Son of Ethelred, who had been King before Coinred. With him went the Son of Sigher, King of the East-Saxons, abovemention'd, whose Name was Offa, a Youth most lovely for his Age and Beauty, and most earnestly wish'd for by all his Nation for their King. He being led by the like Devotion, quitted his Wife, Lands, Kindred and Country for CHRIST, and for the Gospel, that he might receive an hundred Fold in this Life, and in the World to come Life everlasting. He also, when they came to the Holy Places of Rome, Rome, being shorn, and spending his Life in the Habit of a Monk, attain'd the long wish'd for Sight of the Blessed Apostles in Heaven. The same Year that they departed Britain, the renowned Prelate Wilfrid, dy'd in the Province that is call'd Inundalum, after he had been Bishop forty five Years. His Body being laid in a Coffin, was carry'd to his Monastery, call'd Inrhypum, and there bury'd in the Church of the Blesled Apostle, Peter, with the Honour due to so great a Prelate. Of whose Life, we will turn back, and mention some Particulars. Being a Boy of a good Disposition, and behaving himself worthily at that Age, he carry'd himself so modestly and discreetly in all respects, that he was worthily belov'd, respected and embrac'd by his Elders as one of themselves. At fourteen Years of Age he preferr'd the Monastical before the Secular Life; which when he had fignify'd to his Father, for his Mother was dead, he readily consented to his Heavenly Defires, and advis'd him to persist in his Holy Resolution. Accordingly he came to the Ifle of Lindisfarn, and there giving himself up to the Service of the Monks, he took care diligently to learn and to perform those things that belong'd to Monastical Purity and Piety; and being of a sharp Wit, he in a very fhort Time learnt the Pfalms and fome Books, before he was shorn, but very remarkable for the greater Virtues of Humility and Obedience; for which he was deservedly belov'd and respected by his Equals and Elders. Having ferv'd God some Years in that Monaftery, and being a clear fighted Youth, he obsery'd that the Way to Virtue taught by the Scots was not per perfect, and refolv'd to go to Rome, to fee what Ecclefiaftical or Monaftical Rites were in use there. Having acquainted the Brethren therewith, they commended his Design, and advis'd him to put it into Execution. He repairing to Queen Eanfled, as being known to her, and having been put into that Monastery by her Advice and Afsistance, acquainted her that he was defirous to visit the Churches of the Apostles. She being pleas'd with the Youth's Resolution, fent him into Kent to King Earconbert, who was her Unkle's Son, requesting that he would fend him to Rome in honourable manner. At that Time Honorius, one of the Disciples of the Holy Pope Gregory, and one fublimely instructed in Ecclefiaftical Institutes, was Archbishop there. Whilft he made fome stay there, and as a Youth of a sprightly Spirit, diligently applying himself to learn those Things he undertook; another Youth, call'd Bifcop, and by another Name, Benedict, of the English Nobility, abovemention'd, arriv'd there, being likewise desirous to go to Rome. The King gave him Wilfrid to him for a Companion, with Orders to conduct him to Rome. When they came to Lyons, Wilfrid was detain'd there by Dalfin, the Bishop of that City; but Benedict hasted on to Rome. That Prelate was delighted with the Youth's prudent Difcourse, the Gracefulness of his beautiful Afpect, the Alacrity of his Behaviour, and the Sedatenefs aud Weight of his Thoughts; for which Reason, he plentifully supply'd him and his Companions with all Neceffaries, as long as they staid with him; and farther offer'd, if he would, to commit to him the Government of a confidcrable fiderable Part of France, to give him a Maiden Daughter of his own Brother to Wife, and to receive him as his adopted Son. He returning Thanks for the Favour, he was pleas'd to show him, that was a Stranger, answer'd, That he had refolu'd upon another Course of Life, and for that Reason had left his Country, and Set out for Rome. Hereupon the Bishop sent him to Rome, furnishing him with a Guide, and Plenty of all Things requisite for his Journey, earnestly requesting that he would come that Way, when he return'd into his own Country. Wilfrid arriving at Rome, and conftantly applying himself to Prayer, and the Study of Ecclesiastical Affairs, as he had before propos'd to himself, he gain'd the Friendship of the most Holy and Learned Boniface, the Archdeacon, who was alfo Counsellor to the Apoftolical Pope; by whose Instruction he regularly learnt the four Books of Gospels, the true Calculation of Easter, and many other 'Things appertaining to Ecclefiaftical Discipline, which he could not attain in his own Country. When he had spent some Months there in successful Studies, he return'd into France to Dalphin; and having staid with him three Years, was shorn by him, and so much belov'd that he had Thoughts of making him his Heir; but this was prevented by the Bishop's untimely Death, and Wilfrid referv'd to be Bishop of his own, that is, the English Nation. For Queen Balthild fent Soldiers with Orders to put the Bishop to Death; whom Wilfrid, his Clerk attended to the Place where he was to be beheaded, being very defirous, tho' he oppos'd it, to die with him; but the Executioners under |