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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 24 July 2012
Saint Peter's church in the East, Oxõn, was founded by Saint Grymbald a Monk, about 814 years since, viz. Anno Christi DCCCLXXXVI. according to the most credible account we can find recorded in the annals of our English nation. This Saint Grymbald was a person of a sharp wit and immense knowledge, and therefore was by King Alfred (deservedly surnamed the Great, on a double respect, both for his noble atchievments in martial affairs, and his assiduous promotion of learning) elected one of the first professors of divinity in this most flourishing university of Oxon.
page 151 note [b] This account I find in an antient author, namely Asserius Menevensis, in vita et gestis Regis Aluredi, edit. Francofurti, 1602, vel 1603. Which Asserius was very learned (Vit. S. Grimbaldi MS. per Anon. Script. out of which I have seen some Collections in the Ist Vol. of the Collectanea of the most celebrated Antiquary, Joh. Leland. Vid. item Guliel. Malmsburiensem, de gestis Pontificum, lib. ii. pag. 247. edit. inter Scriptores Anglicanos, Franc. 1601. et ejusd. Malmsburiensis Tract. de gestis Regum Anglorum, inter eosd. Scriptores, lib. ii. pag. 44. Joh. Balaeum, de Scriptoribus Majoris Brit. in. vita Asserii, et multos alios) and for that reason was called out of Wales by King Alfred (so himself tells us in the before specified life of Alfred) and very much beloved by him; insomuch that he was pleased more especially to receive instruction from him (Alfred himself attests this in the preface to his translation of Gregory's Pastoral, printed in Saxop, Latin, and old English, at the end of Asser's life of Alfred) and at length made him bishop of Shireburne,) Malmsburiensis de gestis Pontificum loco citato) and praelector of grammar and rhetoric at Oxford (Ant. à Wood in Hist. et Antiq. Universitatis Oxon. lib. ii. pag. 31.); but, because this account does not agree very well with what is related of Asserius, the bishop of Shireburne, namely, that he died Anno 883 (so Malmsbury himself faith in loco citato) therefore I think, that this work is to be attributed to Asserius the Archbishop of Saint David's, and uncle to Asserius the bishop of Shireburne, for he died Anno 906. (vide Hist. et Antiq. Universitatis Oxon. loco citato) or Anno 909 (vide annotationes ad Alfredi vitam à Dom. Johan. Spelmano H. fil. primum Anglice conscript. dein Latine redditam, et Oxon. impress. Anno 1678, lib. iii. pag. 145.) and consequently must write this life. Now it being plain, that Asserius the Archbishop was the author hereof, the Cantabrigians, who were too much concerned that their aunt Oxon should pretend to a greater Antiquity than their own mother, have endeavoured to prove this passage spurious, and particularly Sir John Spelman, in the 3d Book of his abovementioned life of Alfred. For they tell us, that, it appears not in the edition of Archbishop Parker, in Saxon letters, Lond. 1574, nor in the MS. copy made use of by the said archbishop, and consequently, that Mr. Camden must have used deceit; for he was the Curator of the Francofurt editions, Especially since the Archbishop professeth that, he neither added nor detracted anything from the copy which he used; “Indicio erunt ipsa prima exemplaria, quae “idcirco Cantabrigiae, in bibliotheca collegii Corporis Christi, ad sempiternum “hujus rei testimonium extare voluimus. Ubi, si quis cum, codicibus MSS. impressos “comparare voluerit, enimvero nihil nos detraxisse, aut addidisse inveniet, “sed summam ubique fidem et religionem praestitisse,” are the very words of the Archbishop in his preface to his edition: And from them may be perceived the great error of Sir John Spelman, who, in the 3d book of his life of Alfred, faith, that the copy from which Archbishop Parker printed Asser, is in the Cottonian Library. But truly, that the Copy which Mr. Cambden, followed, was the best, himself faith in his Brit, (in Dobunis, p. 268. Lond. 1607.) and that he used no underhand-dealing herein; Mr. Brian Twyne, an Antiquary, nowithstanding, rather cynical than facetious, morose than pleasant, clownish than courteous, close than communicative, yet a true lover of his mother the University, and an to all those who falsify the works of authors, I say, he, in his Apologia, Antiquitatis Acad. Oxon, lib. ii. § 80, 81. proves this to be the most authentic copy, being written in the time of Richard II; and faith further, that he saw Archbishop Parker's copy, which was very much defaced with his own hand, especially in that place, where this very passage relating to Oxon was inserted. However Mr. Twyne, being not thoroughly satisfied, Feb. 18, An. 1622, took a journey to London, on purpose to discourse with Mr. Camden concerning this matter; who after some other particulars affirmed, that he had dealt very faithfully in his edition of Asserius; and that the MS. was, at the time of the impression, in the custody of Sir Hen. Savile of Banke, near Halifax, in Yorkshire, That the truth might receive the greater light, Mr. Twyne wrote down all the particulars passed between Mr. Camden and him, and took an oath, specified at the bottom of the writing, that he had related every thing according to what Mr. Camden told him. The transcript whereof is now to be seen amongst the rare MSS. in the Ashmolean Museum of that industrious Antiquary, Mr. Ant. à Wood. And further, that Mr. Camden, who is called by foreigners (Vide Lexicon Hofmanni) the English Strabo, was one who deserves no suspicion of being deceitful in any respect, will appear to his greatest enemies that shall be pleased to consult a letter of his, written when he was very sick to Archbishop Usher, and printed amongst other letters between the Archbishop and others, London, 1686, p. 65, where, amongst other things, he solemnly faith, that his life had been such among men, that he was neither ashamed to live, nor afraid to die, &c. And, that we may not think that this relation depends upon the testimony only of one single author, Mr. Camden (in Brit. loco affignato) attests, that words of the same effect were in the Annals of Winchester, which he saw in MS. And Mr. Twyne (Apol. ubi supra) that the same appear in several MSS. which he had perused, fome whereof he mentions, to whom such as desire more full satisfaction may be pleased to have recourse. So that, from what hath been delivered, it is very evident that this passage, in this life of Asser, is genuine; and that consequently Saint Peter's Church was built by St. Grymbald, whatsoever Sir Joh. Spelman hath been pleased to say to the contrary; for his arguments at best are but negative; and whether such, in a matter of so great moment, be conclusive, must be left to the judgements of such as are skilled in matters relating to antiquity. For my part, I should, had not Mr. Gamden in such express words asserted this particular to Mr. Twyne, be convinced of the certainty hereos, by the vault which is at this day to be seen in Saint Peter's Church, wherein Saint Grymbald designed to have his body interred after his decease.
page 153 note [b] Annales Winton. MS. Ranulph. Cestrenfis in Fragmento quodam Polychron. MS. inter Cod. Digb. num. 218, fol. 106, &c. Asserius Menevens. in Vit. Alfred. edit. Franc. p. 16. In the beforesaid life of Grymbald, it is said thus of him—“Cujus maturitas, morum dignitas, eloquentiae et doctrinae sublimitas, mire “omnium permulcebat aspectus et animos,” &c. Chron. Joh. Bromton, Abbatis Jornalensis, five potius Jorvalensis (prout Seldenus eruditiffimusreique Antiquariae callentiffimus innuit in praefatione ad Decem Scriptores Anglic. à Rogero Twysdeno Mil. edit. Lond. 1652, p. 30. à Jervallo nempe Monasterio in agro, qui vulgo nuncupatur Richmondshire) inter eosdem Scriptores Anglicanos, p. 814. Sim. Dunelmens. ibid.
page 154 note [c] He was Divinity Lecturer immediately after Saint Neot, who was first professor of that faculty. Vide Hist. et Antiq. Univers. Oxon. lib. ii. p. 30.
page 154 note [d] Asser. Menevens. Joh. Bromton, ibid. He died the third year of Edward the Elder. Chron. Joh. Bromton, p. 832.
page 154 note [e] Malmsb. de Gestis Regum Ang. libb. ii. p. 44.
page 154 note [f] Ibid.