APPENDIX B
(Page [91])
We have the report which the legates George and Theophylact sent to Pope Hadrian on their mission. No reference is made in it to the matter of the Archbishopric of Lichfield. Iaenbricht is still the sole southern archbishop, and Higbert of Lichfield is only bishop.
Ep. 10. A.D. 786.
“Your holy prayers favouring us, we set sail with joyous countenance obeying your commands. But the tempter hindered us with a contrary wind. He who stills the waves hearkened unto your deprecatory entreaty, calmed the blue strait, led us across to a safe haven, and brought us to the shore of the English unharmed, but afflicted with many dangers.
“We were received first by Iaenberht, Archbishop of the holy church of Dorovernia,[292] whose other name is Cantia, where the holy Augustine rests in the body; dwelling there we gave him the necessary information.
“Going on thence, we arrived at the dwelling of Offa, King of the Mercians. With great joy, for reverence of the blessed Peter and honour of your apostolate, he received both us and the messages sent from the highest see. Then Offa the King of the Mercians, and Cynewulf the King of the West Saxons, came together in a council to which we delivered your holy writings; and they forthwith promised that they would correct the vices named.[293] Then, after counsel held with the said kings, pontiffs, and elders of the land, considering that that corner of the world stretches far and wide, we gave permission to Theophylact, the venerable bishop, to go to the King of the Mercians[294] and the parts of Britain.
“I for my part, taking with me the companion whom your most excellent King Karl sent with us out of reverence to your apostolate, Wighod, abbat and presbyter, went on to the country of the Northanymbrians, to Aelfuald the King, and the Archbishop of the holy church of the city of York, Eanbald. The King was living far off in the north, and the said Archbishop sent his messengers to the King, who at once with all joy fixed a day for a council,[295] to which the chief men of the district came, ecclesiastical and secular. It was related in our hearing that other vices,[296] and by no means the least, needed correction. For, as you know, from the time of the holy pontiff Augustine no Roman priest[297] [or bishop] has been sent there except ourselves. We wrote a Capitular of the several matters, and brought them to their hearing, discussing each in order. They, with all humility of subjection and with clear will, honoured both your admonition and our insignificance, and pledged themselves to obey in all things. Then we handed to them your letters to be read, charging them to keep the sacred decrees in themselves and in those dependent on them.
“These are the chapters which we delivered to them to be kept.[298]
“1. Of keeping the faith of the Nicene Council.
“2. Of Baptism, the Creed, the Lord’s Prayer.
“3. Of two Councils to be held every year.
“4. Of the service and vesture of Canons and Monks.
“5. Of the elections of Abbats and Abbesses.
“6. Of ordaining Priests and Deacons.
“7. Of the Canonical Hours.
“8. Of the rights of churches granted by the See of Rome.
“9. That ecclesiastics do not take food secretly.
“10. That priests do not perform sacred rites with bare legs[299]; of the offerings of the faithful; that chalice and paten for sacrificing to God be not made from ox-horn, because they are bloody; that bishops in their councils judge not secular matters.
“11. Let kings and princes study justice, obey bishops, venerate the church, employ prudent counsellors.
“12. That in the ordination of kings no one permit the assent of evil men to prevail; kings must be lawfully elected by the priesthood and the elders of the people, and be not born of adultery or incest; let honour be paid by all to kings; let no one be a detractor of a king; let no one dare to conspire for the death of a king, because he is the anointed of the Lord; if any one have part in such wickedness, if he be a bishop or of priestly order let him be thrust out from it, and every one who has assented to such sacrilege shall perish in the eternal fetters of anathema. For by examples among yourselves it has frequently been proved that those who have been the cause of the death of sovereigns have soon lost their life, being outside the protection of divine and human law.
“13. That powerful and rich men decree just judgements.
“14. Of the forbidding of fraud, violence, rapine; that unjust tribute be not imposed on churches; of keeping peace.
“15. Unlawful and incestuous unions are forbidden to all, alike with the handmaids of God and other illicit persons and with those in affinity and kindred and with other men’s wives.
“16. Lawful heirship is by decree refused to the children of harlots.
“17. Of tithes to be given; of usury to be forbidden; of just measures and equal weights to be established.
“18. Of vows to be fulfilled.
“19. We have added that each faithful Christian must take example from Catholic men; and if anything has remained of the rites of pagans it must be plucked out, contemned, cast away.
“For God made man fair in form and appearance; but the pagans with diabolical instinct have inflicted most horrible scars,[300] as Prudentius says:
He tainted the innocent ground[301] with sordid spots,
for he evidently does injury to God, who fouls and defiles His creature. Without doubt a man would receive a rich reward who underwent for God this injury of staining. But to one who does it from gentile superstition it profiteth nothing, as circumcision to the Jews without belief of heart.
“Further, you wear your clothes after the manner of the gentiles whom by God’s help your fathers drove out of the land by arms. It is a wonderful and astonishing thing that you imitate the fashion of those whose life you always hate.
“You have the evil habit of maiming your horses: you slit their nostrils, you fasten their ears together and make them deaf, you cut off their tails; and though you could have them entirely unblemished, you will not have that, but make them odious to every one.
“We have heard also that when you go to law with one another you cast lots after the fashion of the gentiles. This is counted as completely sacrilegious in these days.
“Further, many of you eat horses, which no Christian in eastern lands does. This you must give up. Strive earnestly that all your things be done decently and in order.
“20. Of sins to be confessed and penance to be done.
“These decrees, most blessed Pope Hadrian, we propounded in a public council in presence of King Aelfuuald, Archbishop Eanbald, and all the bishops and abbats of that region, also of the ealdormen, dukes, and people of the land. And they, as we said above, with all devotion of mind vowed that they would in all things keep them according to the utmost of their power, the divine clemency aiding them. And they confirmed them in our hand (in your stead) with the sign of the holy cross. And afterwards they wrote on the paper of this page with careful pen, affixing the mark of the holy cross.
“I Aelfuualdus king of the Transhumbrane race, consenting, have subscribed with the sign of the holy cross.
“I Dilberch[302] prelate[303] of the church of Hexham joyfully have subscribed with the sign of the holy cross.
“I Eanbald by the grace of God archbishop of the holy church of York have subscribed to the pious and catholic force of this document with the sign of the holy cross.
“I Hyguuald bishop of the church of Lindisfarne obediently have subscribed with the sign of the holy cross.
“I Aedilberch bishop of Whithern[304] suppliant have subscribed with the sign of the holy cross.
“I Aldulf bishop of the church of Mayo[305] have subscribed with devoted will.
“I Aetheluuin[306] bishop have subscribed by delegates.
“I Sigha the patrician with placid mind have subscribed with the sign of the holy cross.[307]
“To these most salutary admonitions we too, presbyters and deacons of churches and abbats of monasteries, judges, chief men, and nobles, unanimously consent and have subscribed.
“I duke Alrich have subscribed with the sign of the holy cross.
“I duke Siguulf have subscribed with the sign of the holy cross.
“I abbat Aldberich[308] have subscribed with the sign of the holy cross.
“I abbat Erhart have subscribed with the sign of the holy cross.
“All this having been accomplished, and the benediction pronounced, we set out again, taking with us illustrious representatives of the king and the archbishop, the readers Maluin[309] to wit and Pyttel. We travelled together, and they brought the above decrees to a council of the Mercians, at which the glorious King Offa was present, with the senators of the kingdom, the Archbishop Iaenbercht[2] of the holy Dorovernian Church, and the other bishops of those parts. In presence of the council the several chapters were read out in a clear voice, and lucidly expounded both in Latin and in Teuton so that all could understand. Then all with one voice and with eager mind, grateful for the admonitions of your apostolate, promised, that they would according to their ability with most ready will keep in all respects these statutes, the divine favour supporting them. Moreover, as at the northern council, the king and his chief men, the archbishop and his colleagues, confirmed them in our hand (in the stead of your lordship) with the sign of the holy cross, and again ratified this present document with the sacred sign.
“I Ieanbrecht[310], archbishop of the holy church of Dorovernum, suppliant have subscribed with the sign of the holy cross.
“I Offa king of the Mercians, consenting to these statutes, with ready will have subscribed with the sign of the holy cross.
“I Hugibrecht[311] bishop of the church of Lichtenfelse have subscribed with the sign of the holy cross.
“I Ceoluulf bishop of the Lindisfaras[312] have subscribed.
“I Unuuona bishop of the Legorenses[313] have subscribed.
“I Alchard[314] bishop have subscribed.
“I Eadberht[315] bishop have subscribed.
“I Chumbrech[316] bishop have subscribed.
“I Harchel[317] bishop have subscribed.
“I Acine[318] bishop have subscribed.
“I Tora[319] bishop have subscribed.
“I Uuaremund[320] bishop have subscribed.
“I Adalmund[321] bishop have subscribed.
“I Adored[322] bishop have subscribed.
“Edrabord abbat. Alemund abbat. Boduuin abbat. Uttel abbat.
“I duke Brorda have subscribed with the sign of the holy cross.
“I duke Eadbald have subscribed.
“I duke Bercoald have subscribed.
“I count Othbald have subscribed.”