By the contents hereof may well be understand (as where he saith, pro amore caelestis patriae, pro remedio animae, pro liberation animae, & absolution delictorum, &c) how great the ignorance and blindness of these men was: who lacking no zeal, only lacked knowledge to rule it withal: seeking their salvation not by Christ only, but by their own deservings and meritorious deeds. Which I recite not here to any infamy or reprehension of them, but rather to put us in mind and memory, how much we at this present are bound to God, for the true sincerity of his truth: hidden so long before to our foreauncetors, and opened now to us by the good will of our God, in his son Christ Jesus. This only lamenting by the way, to see them to have such works, and to lack our faith: and us to have the right faith, and to lack their works. And this blind ignorance of that age, thus above prenoted, was the cause not only why these kings builded so many Monasteries upon zealous superstition, but also why so many of them, forsaking their orderly vocation of Princely regiment, gave themselves over to Monastical profession, or rather wilful superstition. Concerning the names and number of which kings that were professed Monks, is sufficiently in the story before declared:1 the names of whom we showed to be seven or eight, within the space of these two hundred years. Such was then the superstitious devotion of kings & Princes in that age: and no less also to be noted in Queens and kings daughters, with other noble women, of the same age and time. The names of whom, it were to long here to recite. As Hilda daughter to the nephew of Edwin king of Northumberland. Abbess of the house of Ely. Erchengoda with her sister Ermenilda daughters of Ercombertus king of Kent:2 which Erchengoda was professed in Saint Briget's order in France. Item Edelberga wife and Queen to King Edwin of Northumberland, and daughter of king Anna, which was also in ⟨p. 134⟩the same house of S. Brigit made a Nun. Item, Etheldreda whom we term S. Eldride, wife to king Ekfride of Northumberland, who being married to two husbands, could not be obtained to give her consent to either of them during the space of 12. years, but would needs live a Virgin, and was professed Nun at Helings.3 Werburga was the daughter of Ulferus king of Mercians, & made Nun at Ely.4
By the contentes hereof may well be vnderstand (as where he sayth, pro amore caelestis patriae, pro remedio animae, pro liberatione animae, & absolutione delictorum, &c) how great the ignoraunce and blindenesse of these men was: who lacking no zeale, onely lacked knowledge to rule it withall: seeking their saluation not by Christ onely, but by their owne deseruings and meritorious deedes. Which I recite not here to any infamy or reprehensiō of them, but rather to put vs in minde and memory, how much we at this present are bound to God, for the true sincerity of his truth: hidden so long before to our foreauncetors, and opened now to vs by the good will of our God, in his sonne Christ Iesu. This onely lamēting by the way, to see them to haue such works, and to lacke our fayth: and vs to haue the right fayth, and to lacke their workes. And this blinde ignoraūce of that age, thus aboue prenoted, was the cause not onely why these kinges builded so many Monasteries vpon zealous superstition, but also why so many of them, forsaking their orderly vocation of Princely regiment, gaue themselues ouer to Monasticall profession, or rather wilfull superstition. Concerning the names and number of which kings that were professed Monkes, is sufficiently in the storye before declared:1 the names of whome wee shewed to be seuen or eight, within the space of these two hundreth yeres. Such was then the superstitious deuotiō of kings & Princes in that age: and no lesse also to bee noted in Queenes and kings daughters, with other noble women, of the same age and time. The names of whom, it were to long here to recite. As Hilda daughter to the nephew of Edwine king of Northumberland. Abbesse of the house of Ely. Erchengoda with her sister Ermenilda daughters of Ercombertus king of Kent:2 whiche Erchengoda was professed in Saint Brigets order in Fraunce. Item Edelberga wyfe and Queene to Kyng Edwyne of Northumberland, and daughter of kyng Anna, which was also in ⟨p. 134⟩the same house of S. Brigit made a Nunne. Item, Etheldreda whō we terme S. Eldride, wife to king Ekfride of Northumberland, who beyng maried to two husbands, could not be obtained to geue her consent to either of them during the space of 12. yeares, but would needes liue a Uirgin, and was professed Nunne at Helings.3 Werburga was the daughter of Vlferus king of Mercians, & made Nunne at Ely.4
- 1A brief Catalogue of Queens and Kings daughters, which leaving their estate were made Nuns. Hilda.A b•iefe Cataloge of Queenes and Kinges daughters, which leauing their estate were made Nunnes. Hilda.
- 2Erchengod• Ermenilda. •delberga. Etheldreda.
- 3Werburga.
- 4Kynreda. Kineswida. Sexburga. Elfrida. Mildreda. Milburga. Milguida.
