Note 914 — Chapter IX · THE CLERGY AND MONKS.

For example, of the Scotch missionaries about the year 635, Beda reports as follows: “Exin coepere plures per dies de Scottorum regione venire Brittaniam, atque illis Anglorum provinciis quibus regnavit rex Osuuald, magna devotione verbum fidei praedicare, et credentibus gratiam baptismi, quicumque sacerdotali erant gradu praediti, ministrare. Construebantur ergo aecclesiae per loca, confluebant ad audiendum verbum populi gaudentes, donabantur munere regis possessiones, et territoria ad instituenda monasteria.” Hist. Eccl. iii. 3. Again in Essex, between 650 and 660: “Qui, [i. e. Ced] accepto gradu episcopatus, rediit ad provinciam, et maiori auctoritate caeptum opus explens, fecit per loca aecclesias, presbyteros et diaconos ordinavit, qui se in verbo fidei et ministerio baptizandi adiuvarent, maxime in civitate quae lingua Saxonum Ythancaestir appellatur; sed et in illa quae Tilaburh cognominatur; quorum prior locus est in ripa Pentae amnis, secundus in ripa Tamensis; in quibus collecto examine famulorum Christi, disciplinam vitae regularis, in quantum rudes adhuc capere poterant, custodire docuit.” Hist. Eccl. iii. 22. About 690, Beda says of Cúðberht, “Plures per regiones illas aecclesias, sed et monasteria nonnulla construxit.” H. E. iv. 28. And it is difficult to understand the passage about to be cited of anything but heathen temples in the marks, which the zeal of the bishop of Mercia, Gearoman, converted into Christian churches, that is separate parish-churches. A pestilence raged in Essex: one of its kings, Sigheri, apostatized together with all his part of the people, “and set about restoring their deserted temples, and adoring images.” To correct this error, Wulfheri of Mercia, the superior king, sent his bishop Gearoman: “qui multa agens solertia ... longe lateque omnia pervagatus, et populum et regem praefatum ad viam iustitiae reduxit: adeo ut relictis, sive destructis fanis arisque quas fecerant, aperirent aecclesias, ac nomen Christi, cui contradixerant, confiteri gauderent, magis cum fide resurrectionis in illo mori, quam in perfidiae sordibus inter idola vivere cupientes.” Hist. Eccl. iii. 30. This was in 665.