[QUESTIONABLE AND SPURIOUS DOCUMENTS.]

transcribendum, Angemundum presbyterum ordinavi. De his ergo omnibus, quæ hic scripta sunt, si quis aliquid inde minuere præsumserit, sciat se æquissimo Judici Deo, et beatis Apostolis Petro et Paulo, rationem esse redditurum. Confirmata est hæc donatio præsentibus testibus; reverentissimo patre Augustino Dorovernensis Ecclesiæ Archiepiscopo primo, Mellito quoque et Iusto Londoniæ et Rofensis ecclesiæ præsulibus, et religioso famulo Christi Laurencio presbytero, Eadbaldo filio meo, Hamigisilo duce, Angemundo referendario, Hocca et Graphione comitibus, Tangisilo et Pinca et Geddi et Aldhuno regis optimatibus aliisque plurimis diversarum dignitatum personis. Actum sane quadragesimo quinto anno regni nostri sub die V. idus Januarii. [Elmham, MS. Aul. Trin. Cant., printed in K. C. D. IV.*; S. I. 120; W. App. IV. 728; Elmham, pp. 114-116.]

V. Bulla Plumbea of S. AUGUSTIN.

AUGUSTINUS Episcopus, Doroberniæ sedis famulus, quem superna inspirante clementia beatissimus Papa Gregorius Anglicæ genti Deo acquirendæ legatarium misit ac ministrum, omnibus successoribus suis Episcopis, cunctisque Angliæ Regibus cum suis posteris atque omnibus Dei fidelibus, et in fide et gratia pacem et salutem. Patet omnibus quod Deo amabilis Rex Æthilberhtus, primus Anglorum Regum Christi regno sacratus, nostra instantia, et sua prodiga benevolentia, inter cæteras ecclesias quas fecit et Episcopia, monasterium extra metropolim suam Doroberniam in honorem principum Apostolorum Petri et Pauli regaliter condidit, et regalibus opibus, amplisque possessionibus ditavit, dilatavit, magnificavit, perpetuaque libertate, et omni jure regio, cum omnibus rebus et judiciis intus et foris illi pertinentibus munivit, suoque regio privilegio, et superni judicii imprecatione, atque apostolica sancti Papæ Gregorii interminatione excommunicatoria, contra omnem injuriam confirmavit.

Ego quoque, ejusdem libertatis adjutor et patrocinator, omnes successores meos Archiepiscopos, omnesque ecclesiasticas vel sæculares potestates, per Dominum Jesum Christum, et Apostolorum Ejus reverentiam obtestor, atque apostolica patris nostri Papæ Gregorii interminatione interdico, ne quisquam unquam ullam potestatem, aut dominatum, aut imperium in hoc Dominicum vel Apostolicum monasterium, vel terras vel ecclesias ad illud pertinentes, usurpare præsumat; nec ulla prorsus subjugationis aut servitutis, aut tributi conditione, vel in magno vel in minimo, Dei ministros inquietet aut opprimat.

[QUESTIONABLE AND SPURIOUS DOCUMENTS.]

Abbatem a suis fratribus electum in eodem monasterio non ad suum famulatum sed ad Dominicum ministerium ordinet, nec sibi hunc obaudire, sed Deo suadeat. Nec vero sibi subjectum, sed fratrem, sed consortem, sed collegam et comministrum in opus Dominicum, eum reputet. Non ibi missas, quasi ad suæ ditionis altare, nec ordinationes vel benedictiones usurpative, sine abbatis vel fratrum petitione exerceat. Nullum sibi jus consuetudinarium vel in vilissima re exigat, quatenus pacis concordia unum sint in Domino utrinque. Nec quisquam, quod absit, dominandi dissidio in judicium incidat diaboli, qui superbiæ tyrannide corruit de cælo. Reges gentium, inquit Dominus, dominantur eorum, vos autem non sic. Cumque ab alienis, non a filiis accipiantur tributa, sic ipse Dominus concludit, Ergo liberi sunt filii. Qua ergo irreverentia patres ecclesiarum in filios regni Dei sibi vendicant dominationem, maxime autem in hanc ecclesiam sanctorum thesaurariam, in cujus materno utero tot Pontificum Doroberniæ, Regum ac Principum corpora speramus alma reponenda sepulturæ requie, ex auctoritate scilicet apostolica, et hinc ad æternam gloriam resuscitanda. Tales supremi Judicis amicos si quis offendere non metuens, hujus privilegii statuta violaverit, vel violatorem imitando vim suam tenuerit, sciat se apostolico beati Petri gladio per suum vicarium Gregorium puniendum, nisi emendaverit.

Hæc ergo omnia, uti hic sunt scripta, apostolica ipsius institutoris nostri Gregorii comprobatione et auctoritate servanda sancimus, suoque ore confirmamus, præsente glorioso Rege Ethilberhto cum filio suo Ædbaldo et collaudante cum ipso et omnibus optimatibus regiis, atque ultro volentibus reverentissimis fratribus nostris, a sancta Romana Ecclesia huc mecum vel ad me in Evangelium Domini destinatis: scilicet Laurentio, quem nobis Deo favente successorem constituimus, et Mellito Lundoniæ Episcopo, et Justo Rofensi Episcopo, et Petro venerabili ejusdem monasterii principum Apostolorum abbate primo, cum cæteris in Domino adjutoribus meis, obnixe postulantibus, simulque in eos qui hæc fideliter servaverint benedictionem, aut in impoenitentes, quod nolumus, transgressores damnationem, exercentibus. [Elmham, MS. Aul. Trin. Cant., printed in K. C. D. V.*; S. I. 121; W. App. IV. 729; Elmham, p. 119; Mon. Angl. I. 127.]

VI. Charter of ETHELBERT to Mellitus, and to the Monastery of S. Paul's, London.

In Christi nomine! ETHELBERTUS Rex, Deo inspirante, pro

[QUESTIONABLE AND SPURIOUS DOCUMENTS.]

animæ suæ remedio, dedit Episcopo Mellito terram quæ appellatur Tillingeham ad monasterii sui solatium, scilicet monasterium Sancti Pauli Apostoli doctoris gentium. Et ego Rex Æthelbertus ita firmiter concedo tibi Præsuli Mellito potestatem ejus habendi et possidendi ut inperpetuum in monasterii utilitate permaneat. Si quis vero contradicere temptaverit hanc donationem, anathema et excommunicatus sit ab omni societate Christiana usque ad satisfactionem. Qua de re ego Episcopus Mellitus una cum Rege Æthelberto Hunfredum Episcopum subscribere rogavi.

Signum manus Hunfridi Episcopi . Signum manus Letharii Episcopi. Signum manus Abbanæ. Signum manus Æthelwaldi . Signum manus Æswinæ, et aliorum multorum. [Reg. D. et C. S. Pauli, printed in K. C. D. DCCCCLXXXII.*; S. I. 130; W. App. IV. 735-]

1. The list of gifts sent to the English Church by Gregory, by the hands of Mellitus, A.D. 601 (Smith ad Bed. App. num. VII.), is now printed in Elmham (pp. 96–102), and is too late in date to be of any authority.

According to Bede (I. 29), "Per eos, generaliter universa, quæ ad cultum erant ac ministerium ecclesiæ necessaria, vasa videlicet sacra, et vestimenta altarium, ornamenta quoque ecclesiarum, et sacerdotalia vel clericalia indumenta, sanctorum etiam Apostolorum ac martyrum reliquias, necnon et codices plurimos."

2. The same account applies also to the history of the foundation of S. Augustin's at Canterbury, and other extracts printed from MS. by Spelman (I. 112 sq., 116 sq.) and Wilkins (App. IV. 724 sq.), all now printed in Elmham, pp. 77 sq., 84 sq.; and too late in date to claim a place here.

a Johnson's surprize that Gregory did not also send Bishops, when sending missionaries is certainly well founded. It may perhaps be accounted for by supposing him to have still hoped for a union between Augustin and the British Bishops; but even this does not wholly meet the case.

The codices described by Elmham (ed. Hardwick, pp. 96-98) as preserved until his own time, were "Biblia Gregoriana," in two volumes; "Psalterium Augustini;" "Textus Evangeliorum," called also "Textus Sanctæ Mildredæ;" another Psalter, and another "Tex

tus;" two Passionaries, and an Expositio
super Epistolas et Evangelia a Dominica III.
post octavas Paschæ, usque ad Dominicam
IVtam post octavas Pentecostes."
Hæc sunt
primitiæ librorum totius Ecclesiæ Anglicana."
Some of the MSS. so described, whether or
not the original presents of S. Gregory, are
probably still in existence; one of the copies
of the Gospels in the Bodleian, another in the
library of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge.
See Hardwick's Elmbam, pp. xxvi. and xxvii.,
and Bosworth's Preface to the Anglo-Saxon
Gospels, p. xi.

[ACTS OF LAURENTIUS.]

II. LAURENTIUS, A.D. 604-619.

[A.D. 604 x 610. Fails to reconcile the British and Scoto-Irish Churches.

A.D. 617 x 618. Temporary overthrow of the Mission and relapse of the East Saxons
into Paganism.

A.D. 619, Feb. 2. Laurentius dies, and is buried in the porch of S. Peter's (S. Augustin's),
Canterbury (B. II. 3. 7). No pall mentioned.]

A.D. 604 x 610.-Unsuccessful Attempt at Union with Irish and
British Churches a.

1. Letter of Laurentius, Mellitus, and Justus to the Scottish
(Irish) Bishops. [Fragment.]

Urges compli

customs of the Roman Church,

Easter.

BÆD. II. 4.—Dominis carissimis fratribus Episcopis vel ance with the abbatibus per universam Scottiam, LAURENTIUS, MELLITUS, ET JUSTUS EPISCOPI, SERVI SERVORUM DEI. Dum nos sedes especially about apostolica, more suo sicut in universo orbe terrarum, in his occiduis partibus ad prædicandum gentibus paganis dirigeret, atque in hanc insulam, quæ Brittania nuncupatur, contigit introisse antequam cognosceremus: credentes quod juxta morem universalis Ecclesiæ ingrederentur, in magna reverentia sanctitatis tam Brittones quam Scottos venerati sumus; sed cognoscentes Brittones, Scottos meliores putavimus. Scottos vero per Daganum Episcopum in hanc, quam superius memoravimus, insulam, et Columbanum abbatem in Galliis venientem, nihil discrepare a Brittonibus in eorum conversatione didicimus. Nam Daganus Episcopus ad nos veniens, non solum cibum nobiscum, sed nec in eodem hospitio quo vescebamur, sumere voluit b. *** [M. H. B. 153; S. I. 128; W. IV. App. 734.]

2. Letter of Laurentius to British Bishops. [The letter itself not preserved.] BÆD. II. 4.—" Misit idem Laurentius cum coepiscopis Similar to the preceding. suis etiam Brittonum sacerdotibus litteras suo gradui condignas, quibus eos in unitate catholica confirmare satagit. Sed quantum hæc agendo profecerit, adhuc præsentia tempora declarant "." [M. H. B. 153; S. I. 129; W. IV. App. 734-]

a Tradition represents Laurentius as cultivating peace with the British and their kin

dred Churches. Goscelinus in his Vita Laurentii (v. Ussher, Epistt. Hib. Syll. in Ep. VII.)

[MISSION OF MELLITUS TO ROME.]

asserts him to have converted an Irish Archbishop named Terenan, attracted to England by his fame, to the Roman Easter. Ware identifies Terenan with Mac Laisre, Bishop of Armagh (Irish Bishops in loco).

That he was the Archbishop of Canterbury who consecrated Oudoceus of Llandaff is a purely modern conjecture founded upon a Welsh fiction of the 12th century, made from a perfectly different point of view. And it is simply impossible, after the result of the conferences at Augustin's Oak, that any such consecration by any Archbishop of Canterbury could have taken place. See vol. I. pp. 160, 209. And if by any one, the date would indicate Augustin, which is still more out of the question.

b The remainder of the letter is lost, but in

it, according to Bede, II. 4, "Ubi Scottorum in præfata ipsorum patria, quomodo et Brittonum in ipsa Brittania, vitam ac professionem minus ecclesiasticam in multis esse cognovit (Laurentius), maxime quod Pascha solemnitatem non suo tempore celebrarent, sed ut supra docuimus, a decima quarta luna usque ad vicesimam Dominicæ resurrectionis diem observandum esse putarent; scripsit cum coepiscopis suis exhortatoriam ad eos epistolam, obsecrans eos, et contestans unitatem pacis et catholicæ observationis, cum ea quæ toto orbe diffusa est Ecclesia Christi tenere."

In A.D. 731 all the Scottish and Pictish and probably the Cornish Churches had yielded; but the Welsh still retained their own Easter. See vol. I. pp. 202, 203, 674.

A.D. 610. Mission of Mellitus to Rome, where he is accidentally present at a Council Feb. 27, and whence he returns with Letters and the Decrees of the Council.

BÆD. II. 4.-His temporibus venit Mellitus, Lundoniæ Episcopus, Romam de necessariis Ecclesiæ Anglorum cum apostolico Papa Bonifacio tractaturus. Et cum idem Papa reverentissimus cogeret synodum Episcoporum Italiæ, de vita monachorum et quiete ordinaturus, et ipse Mellitus inter eos adsedit anno octavo imperii Focatis principis, indictione decima tertia, tertia die kalendarum Martiarum: ut quæque erant regulariter decreta, sua quoque auctoritate subscribens confirmaret, ac Brittaniam, rediens, secum Anglorum Ecclesiis mandanda atque servanda deferret, una cum epistolis quas idem pontifex Deo dilecto Archiepiscopo Laurentio, et clero universo, similiter et Ædilbercto Regi atque genti Anglorum, direxit. Hic est Bonifacius, quartus a beato Gregorio Romanæ urbis Episcopo. [M. H. B. 153; S. I. 129; W. IV. App. 734.]

Documents alleged to have been brought to England by Mellitus.

1. A.D. 610, Feb. 27. Decree of the Roman Council under Boniface IV.

[Spurious.]

Quomodo liceat monachis cum sacerdotali officio ubiubi ministrare. Monks may be priests.

Sunt nonnulli fulti nullo dogmate, audacissime quidem zelo magis amaritudinis quam dilectione inflammati, asserentes monachos, quia mundo mortui sunt et Deo vivunt sacer