CHAPTER XXXVIII. OF THE BISHOPRICK
The Eastangles were first converted to the Christian faith by Felix, a Burgundian, whom King Sigebert brought with him from France, and encouraged to preach the Gospel to his subjects; which had good success, for he brought the whole province (according to the signification of his own name ) to the knowledge of true and eternal happiness, upon which account he was made the first Bishop of his own converts, and placed his see at Dunwich, then a most populous, but now almost a desert place; so great was the service, and so much good did he by his life and doctrine, that he was canonized the first saint of these parts, by the name of St. Felix, Bishop and Confessor; Capgrave, in his Life, tells us, that he was a man every way learned, and what he daily taught, he carefully practised by his holy conversation, and charitable good works; he was consecrated by Honorius Archbishop of Canterbury, and having governed his see seventeen years, died the 8th of March, (on which day his festival is celebrated,) in the year 647, and was buried at Dunwich in a church of his own foundation; but after a time, his bones were taken up and conveyed to Soham in Cambridgeshire, and solemnly incoffined in the chancel of the church there, (which he likewise built,) for fear the Danes should get them from Dunwich, which was near the sea; here they rested till King Canute's time, and then were taken up by Etheric, a monk of Ramsey, where, by Ethelstan, then abbot of that monastery, they were solemnly enshrined; of whom Hardyng in his Cronicle in mecre, cap. 91, hath this, It Dunmok than was Felix furst Byshop, Of Estangle, and taught the Chrysten fayth, that is full hye in Bevan I hope.
He was succeded by,
2. THOMAS, his deacon, who was born in the Fens near Ely, being trained up in the Christian doctrine, under Paulinus Archbishop of York, and served in the church as one of his deacons, till the death of King Edwin; but then Paulinus being driven thence, Thomas came to the Eastangles to Felix, and there served him in the same office to his death; having sat five years, he died in 653.
3. BONIFACE was successour to Thomas; he is called by some Bersigel, by Bede, Berchtgist, by Florence of Worcester, Bertgil, by the Monk of Rochester, Beortitgil, and by Godwin, Bregil; he was born in Kent, was a priest of the church of Canterbury, was consecrated by Deus-dedit, Archbishop there, sat Bishop 17 years, and died in 669; in which year,
4. BISUS was consecrated by Theodore Archbishop of Canterbury. He is called Bosa, by some writers; about 673, growing very old and sickly, he divided his diocese into two, as Bede says, one he continued at Dunwich, and the other he placed at North-Elmham in Norfolk, whose jurisdiction extended over that county, as the other did ever Suffolk.
Bishops of Dunwich
With Their Several Names As Mentioned In History.
1. Etta, Acca, Ecci, Heta, consecrated in 673.
2. Astwolph, Easculph. Astulf, Esculf, and Æscwulf.
3. Eadferth, Eadfred, Ealdbercht, Edred, and Heardelf, by which name he signed at the synod of Clovesho, A. 747.
4. Cuthwin or Guthwine.
5. Alberth, Albert, or Albrith.
6. Eglaf, Algar, Elgar, or Ecglaf.
7. Heardred, Hardred, Eudred, Erdred; Godwin says, he may be the same that is called Hardulf in 747.
8. Alsin, Aelphun, Allum, Halim, and Alfin.
9. Tidferth, Cedferth, Tedfrid, Titefert. Titfrid, Hidferth, Widfrith, Bishop in 787; and was alive and Bishop in 816.
10. Weremund, Wermund, Warmund; he died in 870.
11. Wibred, Wyred, and Wildred, who, according to Wharton in his Anglia-Sacra, vol. i. fo. 404, at the death of St. Humbert, was Bishop of both sees, which he united and fixed at Elmham. Godwin, p. 480, says, that by reason of the Danish incursions, both sees were void near 100 years, but Wharton, with much more reason, observes that as it is certain that Humbert and Weremund died about 870, and that Wildred succeeded them; if he lived to be old, there is no occasion to suppose any such vacancy, for we meet with Bishops at Elmham agreeable to the time a man may be supposed to have lived, including the time that Theodred might have been Bishop before 945.
Bishops of North-Elmham
WITH THEIR SEVERAL NAMES AS MENTIONED IN HISTORY.
1. Bedwinus, Baldwinus, Beadwine, Eadwine, consecrated in 673, and in 675 he and Acca veiled St. Osith. He died in 679, being a man of great virtue and learning, for though his works are lost, Pitts, p. 826, says, he wrote several treatises, and by solid arguments confirmed many in the Christian faith.
2. Northbert, Northhert, and Rothbert.