Chronicles 1 (of 6): The Historie of England 5 (of 8) eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 223 pages of information about Chronicles 1 (of 6).

Chronicles 1 (of 6): The Historie of England 5 (of 8) eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 223 pages of information about Chronicles 1 (of 6).

Moreouer, king Ethelbert at the motion of Augustine built a church in the citie of London (which he latelie had conquered) and dedicated it vnto saint Paule; but whether he builded or restored this church of saint Paule it may be doubted, for there be diuers opinions of the building thereof.  Some haue written that it was first builded by king [Sidenote:  Ran.  Higd.] Lud (as before is mentioned.) Other againe write, that it was builded afterward by Sigebert king of the Eastsaxons.  Also king Ethelbert builded the church of saint Andrews in Rochester.  It is likewise remembred by writers, that the same king Ethelbert procured a [Sidenote:  Beda.] citizen of London to build a church to S. Peter without the citie of London toward the west, in a place then called Thorney, that is to say, the Ile of thorns, and now called Westminster:  though others [Sidenote:  Ran.  Higd. Westminster church builded.] haue written that it was built by Lucias king of Britaine, or rather by Sibert king of the Eastsaxons.  This church was either newlie built, or greatlie inlarged by king Edward surnamed the Confessor, and after that, the third Henrie king of England did make there a beautifull monasterie, and verie richlie indowed the same with great possessions and sumptuous iewels.  The place was ouergrowne with vnderwoods, as thornes and brambles, before that the church was begun to be builded there in this king Ethelberts daies. ¶ Thus the faith of Christ being once begun to be receiued of the English men, tooke woonderfull increase within a short time.

[Sidenote:  Ran.  Cest. Beda. Sigebertus. ann.19 Mauricij imperatoris.  A synod.  Ausines oke. Galfrid. lib.8. cap.4.] In the meane season by the helpe of king Ethelbert, Augustine caused a councell to be called at a place in the confines of the Westsaxons, which place long after was called Austines oke, where he procured the bishops or doctors of the prouinces of the Britains to come before him.  Among the Britains or the Welshmen, christianitie as yet remained in force, which from the apostles time had neuer failed in that nation.  When Augustine came into this land, he found in their prouinces seuen bishops sees, and an archbishops see, wherein sat verie godlie & right religious prelats, and manie abbats, in the which the Lords flocke kept their right order:  but because they differed in obseruing the feast of [Sidenote:  Beda lib.2. ca.2.] Easter, and other rites from the vse of the Romane church, Augustine thought it necessarie to mooue them to agree with him in vnitie of the same, but after long disputation and reasoning of those matters, they could not be induced to giue their assent in that behalfe.  Augustine to prooue his opinion good, wrought a miracle in restoring sight to one of the Saxon nation that was blind.

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Chronicles 1 (of 6): The Historie of England 5 (of 8) from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.