V. Of the death of the kings Oswy and Eghert, and of
the synod held at the place Herutford, in which Archbishop
Theodore presided. [670-673 A.D.]
CHAP. IV.
How Bishop Colman, having left Britain, built two monasteries in the country of
the Scots; the one for the Scots, the other for the English whom he had taken
along with him. [667 A.D.]
IN the meantime, Colman, the Scottish bishop, departing from Britain,took along
with him all the Scots whom he had gathered about him in the isle of Lindisfame,
and also about thirty of the English nation, for both these companies had been
trained in duties of the monastic life; and leaving some brothers in his church,
he went first to the isle of Hii,whence he had been sent to preach the Word of
God to the English nation. Afterwards he retired to a small island, which is to
the west of Ireland, and at some distance from it, called in the language of the
Scots, Inisboufinde, the Island of the White Heifer. Arriving there, he built a
monastery, and placed in it the monks he had brought of both nations. But they
could not agree among themselves, by reason that the Scots, in the summer
season, when the harvest was to be brought in, leaving the monastery, wandered
about through places known to them; but returned again the next winter, and
desired to use in common what the English had provided. Colman sought to put an
end to this dissension, and travelling about far and near, he found a place in
the island of Ireland fitted to be the site of a monastery, which, in the
language of the Scots, is called Mageo? He bought a small part of it of the
chief to whom it belonged, to build his monastery thereon; upon condition, that
the monks dwelling there should pray to the Lord for him who let them have the
place. Then at once building a monastery, with the assistance of the chief and
all the neighbouring people, he placed the English there, leaving the Scots in
the aforesaid island. This monastery is to this day occupied by English
inhabitants; being the same that, grown from a small beginning to be very large,
is commonly called Muigeo; and as all have long since been brought to adopt
better customs, it contains a notable society of monks, who are gathered there
from the province of the English, and live by the labour of their own hands,
after the example of the venerable fathers, under a rule and a canonical abbot,
in much continence and singleness of life.
CHAP. V.
Of the death of the kings Oswy and Eghert, and of the synod held at the place
Herutford, in which Archbishop Theodore presided. [670-673 A.D.]
IN the year of our Lord 670, being the second year after Theodore arrived in
England, Oswy, king of the Northumbrians, fell sick, and died, in the
fifty-eighth year of his age.He at that time bore so great affection to the
Roman Apostolic usages, that he had designed, if he recovered from his sickness,
to go to Rome, and there to end his days at the holy places, having asked Bishop
Wilfrid, with a promise of no small gift of money, to conduct him on his
journey. He died on the 15th of February, leaving his son Egfrid his successor
in the kingdom. In the third year of his reign, Theodore assembled a council of
bishops, along with many other teachers of the church, who loved and were
acquainted with the canonical statutes of the fathers. When they were met
together, he began, in the spirit which became a bishop, to enjoin the
observance of such things as were in accordance with the unity and the peace of
the Church. The purport of the proceedings of this synod is as follows:--
"In the name of our Lord God and Saviour Jesus Christ, Who reigns for ever and
governs His Church, it was thought meet that we should assemble, according to
the custom prescribed in the venerable canons, to treat about the necessary
affairs of the Church. We met on the 24th day of September, the first
indiction,at the place which is called Herutford: I, Theodore, albeit unworthy,
appointed by the Apostolic see bishop of the church of Canterbury; our fellow
priest and brother, the most reverend Bisi, bishop of the East Angles; and with
us also our brother and fellow priest, Wilfrid, bishop of the nation of the
Northumbrians, represented by his proxies. There were present also our brothers
and fellow priests, Putta, bishop of the Kentish castle, called Rochester;
Leutherius, bishop of the West Saxons, and Wynfrid, bishop of the province of
the Mercians. When we were all met together, and had sat down in order, I said,
'I beseech you, most dear brothers, for the fear and love of our Redeemer, that
we may all treat in common on behalf of our faith; to the end that whatsoever
has been decreed and defined by holy and approved fathers, may be inviolably
observed by all of us.' This and much more I spoke tending to charity and the
preservation of the unity of the Church; and when I had ended my preface, I
asked every one of them in order, whether they consented to observe the things
that had been of old canonically decreed by the fathers? To which all our fellow
priests answered, 'Most assuredly we are all resolved to observe willingly and
heartily whatsoever is laid down in the canons of the holy fathers.' Then
forthwith I produced the said book of canons,and in the presence of them all
showed ten articles in the same, which I had marked in several places, because I
knew them to be of the most importance to us, and entreated that these might be
most particularly received by them all.
"Article I. That we all in common keep the holy day of Easter on the Sunday
after the fourteenth moon of the first month.
"II. That no bishop intrude into the diocese of another, but be satisfied with
the government of the people committed to him.
"III. That it shall not be lawful for any bishop to disturb in any matter
monasteries dedicated to God, nor to take away forcibly any part of their
property.
"IV. That the monks themselves do not move from one place to another, that is,
from monastery to monastery, unless with the consent of their own abbot; but
that they continue in the obedience which they promised at the time of their
conversion.
"V. That no clerk, forsaking his own bishop, shall wander about, or be anywhere
received without commendatory letters from his diocesan. But if he shall be once
received, and will not return when summoned, both the receiver, and he that is
received shall be under excommunication.
"VI. That bishops and clergy, when travelling, shall be content with the
hospitality that is afforded them; and that it be not lawful for any one of them
to exercise any priestly function without leave of the bishop in whose diocese
he is known to be.
"VII. That a synod be assembled twice a year; but on account of divers
hindrances, it was approved by all, that we should meet once a year, on the 1st
of August, at the place called Clofeshoch.
"VIII. That no bishop, through ambition, shall set himself above another; but
that they shall all observe the time and order of their consecration.
"IX. The ninth Article was discussed in common, to the effect that more bishops
should be made, as the number of the faithful increased; but this matter for the
present was passed over.
"X. Of marriages; that nothing be allowed but lawful wedlock; that none commit
incest; no man leave his own wife, except it be, as the holy Gospel teaches, for
fornication. And if any man shall put away his own wife, lawfully joined to him
in matrimony, that he take no other, if he wishes to be a true Christian, but
continue as he is, or else be reconciled to his own wife.
"These articles being thus discussed and defined in common, to the end, that for
the future, no stumbling-block of contention might arise from any one of us, or
that things be falsely set forth, it was thought fit that every one of us
should, by the subscription of his own hand, confirm all the particulars so
defined. Which judgement, as defined by us, I dictated to be written by Titillus
our notary. Given in the month and indiction aforesaid. Whosoever, therefore,
shall attempt in anyway to oppose or infringe this decision, confirmed by our
consent, and by the subscription of our hands, according to the decree of the
canons, must know, that he is excluded from all sacerdotal functions, and from
our fellowship. May the Grace of God keep us in safety, living in the unity of
His Holy Church."
This synod was held in the year of our Lord 673. In which year Egbert, king of
Kent, died in the month of July; his brother Hlothere succeeded him on the
throne, which he held eleven years and seven months. Bisi, the bishop of the
East Angles, who is said to have been in the aforesaid synod, a man of great
saintliness and piety, was successor to Boniface, before spoken of; for when
Boniface died, after having been bishop seventeen years, he was ordained by
Theodore and made bishop in his place. Whilst he was still alive, but hindered
by grievous infirmity from administering his episcopal functions, two bishops,
Aecci and Badwin, were elected and consecrated in his place; from which time to
the present, that province has had two bishops.
