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THE next
year after the death of the aforesaid father, which was the fifth year of King
0sred, the most reverend father, Abbot Hadrian, fellow labourer in the Word of
God with Bishop Theodore of blessed memory, died, and was buried in the church
of the Blessed Mother of God, in his own monastery, this being the forty-first
year after he was sent by Pope Vitalian with Theodore, and the thirty-ninth
after his arrival in England. Among other proofs of his learning, as well as
Theodore’s, there is this testimony, that Albinus, his disciple, who succeeded
him in the government of his monastery, was so well instructed in literary
studies, that he had no small knowledge of the Greek tongue, and knew the Latin
as well as the English, which was his native language.
Acca, his
priest, succeeded Wilfrid in the bishopric of the church of Hagustald, being
likewise a man of zeal and great in noble works in the sight of God and man. He
enriched the structure of his church, which is dedicated in honour of the
blessed Apostle Andrew with manifold adornments and marvellous workmanship. For
he gave all diligence, as he does to this day, to procure relics of the blessed
Apostles and martyrs of Christ from all parts, and to raise altars in their
honour in separate side-chapels built for the purpose within the walls of the
same church. Besides which, he industriously gathered the histories of their
martyrdom, together with other ecclesiastical writings, and erected there a
large and noble library. He likewise carefully provided holy vessels, lamps,
and other such things as appertain to the adorning of the house of God. He in
like manner invited to him a notable singer called Maban, who had been taught
to sing by the successors of the disciples of the blessed Pope Gregory in Kent,
to instruct himself and his clergy, and kept him twelve years, to the end that
he might teach such Church music as they did not know, and by his teaching
restore to its former state that which was corrupted either by long use, or
through neglect. For Bishop Acca himself was a most skilful singer, as well as
most learned in Holy Writ, sound in the confession of the catholic faith, and
well versed in the rules of ecclesiastical custom; nor does he cease to walk
after this manner, till he receive the rewards of his pious devotion. For he
was brought up from boyhood and instructed among the clergy of the most holy
and beloved of God, Bosa, bishop of York. Afterwards, coming to Bishop Wilfrid
in the hope of a better plan of life, he spent the rest of his days in
attendance on him till that bishop’s death, and going with him to Rome, learned
there many profitable things concerning the ordinances of the Holy Church,
which he could not have learned in his own country.
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