ORIGIN AND EARLY HISTORY OF CANTERBURY.

7

been designated appear a sufficient indication. It was known to the Britons by the appellation of Caer-ceint, or "the City of Kent," and the word Durovernum or Dorobernia, by which the Romans distinguished it, is evidently derived from the British name Durwhern. The advantages offered by a pleasant valley abounding with springs, and watered by a river which brauched into various streams and thus formed several islands, at the same time enriching the soil, were not likely to be long overlooked. We have therefore reason to believe that the "city of the Kentishmen" was of some importance at a very early period. Numerous discoveries and vestigia, both civil and military, conclusively prove its occupation as a Roman station3. The Saxons, in the idiom of their own language, denominated the city, Cantwara-byrig and Cantwara-wic, a name of the same signification with that by which it was known to the Britons. When the Roman Durovernum became disused, the Saxon word was latinized into Cantuaria; and, in the improvement of the English language, became finally settled into Canterbury. During the Anglo-Saxon domination in Britain this city was the capital of the Kentish kingdom*. It is represented as " a famous city," ""the metropolis of Kent;" and before the end

2

Nennius, who wrote in the ninth century, calls it by the above name; and Mark the Anchorite, who lived in the tenth century, places Cair-ceint in his list of the principal cities of Britain. Gunn's "Historia Brittonum," p. 46. In the Itinerary of Antoninus it is called Durovernum. There is some difference among antiquaries in their etymological solutions of this word, but all are agreed in deriving it from the British language. Camden, in his “Britannia,” Gough's ed. i. 215, derives it from Durwhern, which is said to signify "a rapid stream" or "river." Leland, from Dur-avona, "the river water." Lambard, from Dur-ar-guerne, "the water near the fen or marsh;" and Pennant, from Dwr-aber, “the mouth of the water." A charter granted by Kenulph, King of Mercia, in 810, says of Canterbury, "In civitate famosa, quæ antiquo vocabulo Dorovernia dicitur." Carta antiqua, ap. Somners' Antiquities of Canterbury," p. 1. Battely's ed. 1703.

3 The remains of the Roman roads, leading from this city to Portus Rutipensis, Portus Dubris, and Portus Lemanis are still perceptible in many places. Numerous coins, various vessels, and pieces of pottery have been dug up here; fragments of buildings, arches, altars, and tesselated pavements have been also discovered, and numerous Roman bricks have been found incorporated in the city walls. See Beauties of England and Wales, viii. 753.

"Caput Imperii."-Florilegus ad an. 596. "Metropolim Angliæ Cantuariam."-Henry of Huntingdon, lib. vi. sub. an. 1011. Cantiopolis."-Richard of Cirencester. See Madox's

Firma Burgi, p. 2.

of the sixth century it was encompassed with a wall, and the monastery of St. Augustine was erected, "sub orientali muro civitatis"."

Having given an account of the introduction and establishment of Christianity in Britain in the "History, &c. of Winchester Cathedral," and detailed many facts relating to its progress and influence in the north of Britain in my " History and Antiquities of York Cathedral," it will be unnecessary to repeat in this place what has been detailed in those works. In the former volume will be found an inquiry into the identity and probable history of King Lucius, who is said to have been the first person to found a church at Canterbury, and to embrace and practise the Christian doctrines. The accounts left us concerning him are so obscured by fable and intermixed with legend that little credence can be attached to the allegations of those writers who ascribe to him the erection or foundation of several churches and archbishopricks.

Whoever was the actual founder of the first church in Canterbury, or the first person who taught the principles of Christianity in that place, it will be as impossible to determine as it will be useless to inquire. It is sufficiently attested by the writings of Bede and other authorities, that two churches were built here by those Romans who had been converted to a belief in the Saviour of the World". These structures were standing at the time of Augustine's mission into Britain, which took place in the year 596.

Previous to his arrival there was a congregation settled in Canterbury, under the care of Luidhard, chaplain to Bertha, Queen of Kent". It is not therefore to Augustine that the entire honour of converting the 5 Somner's "Antiquities of Canterbury," ut sup. 4.

Bede's "Ecclesiastical History," translation, 1723, 8vo. lib. i. c. 25. In c. 26 he says, "Whilst as yet the Romans inhabited Britain." Stephen Birchington de vit. S". Augustini, ap. "Anglia Sacra," vol. i. p. 1. Thos. Rudborne, Hist. Wint. ibid. 251.

7 This princess was daughter of Cherebert, King of France. On her marriage with Ethelbert she stipulated for the free exercise of her religion, and brought over with her the above bishop and several other ecclesiastics, who performed their devotions in one of the Roman churches. These proceedings tended much to abate the prejudices existing against Christianity, and were favourable harbingers to Augustine and his associates. Bede's Eccles. Hist. 1. i. c. 25, ut sup. Henry's History of Great Britain, vol. iii. 190. ed. 1800.

66

INTRODUCTION OF CHRISTIANITY.

9

inhabitants of Britain can be awarded, notwithstanding the august title of Apostle" which was bestowed on him by the infatuated monkish writers of old.

The story of Augustine's mission which Somner designates as "trite and vulgar," and "needs no repetition," is however too intimately connected with the history of this see to be passed over without some notice. St. Gregory, who was then pope, prompted by his zeal for the propagation of Christianity, and compassionating the state of the Anglo-Saxons, who were without the pale of the Gospel dispensation, resolved to attempt their conversion, and for this purpose sent Augustine, with forty other monks, into Britain. These landed in the Isle of Thanet, and a messenger having informed King Ethelbert of their arrival and object, that prince received them favourably, and assigned to them a residence in Canterbury, "the metropolis of all his dominions." He is described to have given up his palace for their use, and bestowed on them one of the two churches abovementioned. Ethelbert was soon converted to the new faith, and subsequently manifested his piety and zeal by extending the privileges of the monks, and securing to them their possessions in perpetuity by a charter. The Pope addressed an epistle to him, and accompanied it with presents. When the pall was transmitted to Augustine, he was directed to ordain twelve bishops in his own province, and to send one to York. At the same time the church at Canterbury was made metropolitan, and Pope Gregory decreed it to be paramount to all others in the kingdom; "for where the Christian faith was first received, there also should be a primacy of dignity"."

Boniface the Fifth, in a communication to Justus, the fifth in succession from Augustine, writes, "We will and command you, that the metropolical

8 Somner's "Antiquities of Canterbury," ed. 1703. 82. Steph. Birch. and Tho. Rudborne, ut sup. They had liberty "freely to preach, and build, or repair churches in all places." Bede's Eccles. Hist. ut sup. 1. 1. c. 26.

9 Battely ap. Somner, ut sup. 37 & 82. To the Roman pontiff much more praise is due than to his missionaries; for he evinced a comprehensive, liberal, and truly Christian mind, as may be inferred from his instructions to Augustine, and judicious answers to the questions of that punctilious and uncharitable monk.

B

see of all Britain be ever hereafter in the city of Canterbury: and we make a perpetual and unchangeable decree, that all provinces of this kingdom of England be for ever subject to the metropolical church of that place 10."

The king, with the authority of the court of Rome, enjoined the clergy to continue in their monastic mode of life; hence this establishment became what was called a " cathedral monastery," where the bishop was nominally and de jure, abbot; but the duties attached to the office were performed by a subordinate person presiding more immediately over the monks, who were cathedral canons. Previous to the time of Archbishop Wilfrid, however, a period of more than two hundred years, the archbishop appears to have lived in common with his monks, and personally superintended the affairs of the community. This monastery was governed by the rules of St. Benedict, and was the first settlement of that order in Britain. Augustine's progress and success in the work of conversion was rapid and astonishing"; for it is related that the Saxons became as anxious to embrace the new religion, as they had formerly been to persecute its professors. The instructions given by the Pope to Augustine contain some curious facts relating to the existing and previous state of religion in Britain: "The temples of the idols (says his holiness) ought not to be destroyed, but the idols within them to be destroyed; let holy water be made and sprinkled in the said temples, let altars be erected, and relicks placed." He proceeds to urge the necessity of converting those edifices from the "worship of devils" to that of the true God.

The see, founded under circumstances so propitious, rapidly acquired possessions, and as its wealth increased, its influence became extended. The veneration inspired by an institution so august and imposing was enhanced by the preaching, sanctity, and benevolence of its members. Numerous grants and donations of lands, manors, and churches, afford a convincing proof of the zeal and enthusiasm which the doctrines and precepts

"He is described to have baptised no fewer than ten thousand persons in one day! Gervas, col. 1632, ap. Henry's "History of Britain," ut sup. 192.

ST. LAWRENCE AND KING EADBALD.

11

of Christ had inspired. The registers of Christ Church exhibit upwards of fifty donations made within two hundred years after the time of St. Augustine 12

12

On the death of Ethelbert, and at the succession of Eadbald, his pagan son, Christianity, which had been established with much trouble but with apparent stability, was threatened with total ruin 13. The three sons of Sebert, King of the East Saxons, who were pagans, and the King of Kent who had apostatised, became the avowed enemies of the Christians; and infidelity gained strength from their influence.

The Bishops of London and Rochester, who had been appointed by Augustine, abandoned their charge and left the country; and Lawrence, the successor of Augustine, was prepared to follow their example; but a real or pretended miracle opportunely occurred to prevent his design.

The story is thus related:-The night before his departure, having slept in the church, St. Peter," the most blessed prince of the apostles," appeared, and after upbraiding him for his intention of deserting his flock, and forgetting the sufferings of the apostles, terminated his harangue by inflicting a severe castigation on the prelate. Next morning Lawrence went to King Eadbald, and exposing his lacerated shoulders, told his majesty in what extraordinary manner the stripes had been inflicted. The king gave full credence to the relation, returned to the faith he had deserted, and afforded that protection to religion so necessary to its prosperity.

This happy change in the affairs of the church induced Mellitus, Bishop of London, to return; but not being able to regain possession of the see which he had left, he repaired to Canterbury, at the invitation of Eadbald, where he became successor to Lawrence. The most memorable act of Mellitus was the subduing a fire, which threatened the destruction of the church, by the efficacy of his prayers! Honorius, the fifth archbishop, divided his diocess into various bishoprics, and is said by Godwin to have been the first to subdivide the province into parishes; but the latter

12 Somner, ut sup. ap. 36. Battely, ib. 5.

13 Ibid. 65. Hasted's "History of the City of Canterbury," &c. fol. 1799. p. 285,

14 Godwin's "Catalogue of the Bishop's of England," 1615, p. 50.