A HISTORY OF HERTFORDSHIRE 



churches, probably in the nature of oratories or chapels dependent upon the 

 larger monasteries, for ministering the rites of religion.*' There was again a 

 relapse into heathenism by some of the East Saxons, probably in the western 

 parts, including Hertfordshire, which were removed from the influence of 

 Cedd's ministration, when the plague swept over the land between 664 and 

 666. Those who relapsed, however, were brought back to Christianity 

 very shortly afterwards by Bishop Jaruman of Lichfield." 



The see of the bishops of the East Saxons was not restored to London 

 till 666,** when Wine is said to have bought the bishopric from Wulfhere, 

 King of Mercia, then overlord of the East Saxon kingdom. It is to Wine's 

 successor Earconwald, consecrated in 675, that the reorganization of the East 

 Saxon diocese is due. The church of St. Paul became the centre of eccle- 

 siastical activity on the western side of the diocese, and it was from it that 

 the parts of the diocese in the county of Hertford were served. 



Theodore, who was consecrated Archbishop of Canterbury in 668, 

 attempted to improve the organization of the Church, and for this purpose 

 introduced the meeting of canonical synods. The first of these was held 

 at ' Heorutford ' or ' Herutford,' on 24 September 673.*° It treated of 

 the date of Easter, the distinction of bishoprics, the exemption of monasteries 

 from episcopal jurisdiction, the duties of monks, clergy and bishops when 

 away from their own districts, the holding of synods, the precedence of bishops, 

 the increase of dioceses and marriage and divorce. The place of this synod 

 has usually been identified with Hertford in Hertfordshire, but Hertford 

 does not undoubtedly appear in history for some 240 years later under 

 circumstances which may suggest its foundation at that date.*' The council 

 was held before Theodore Archbishop of Canterbury and Bisi Bishop of the 

 East Angles, with whom also were Wilfrid Bishop of the Northumbrians (by 

 proxy), Putta Bishop of Rochester, Leutherius Bishop of the West Saxons, 

 and Wynfrid Bishop of the Mercians, each one sitting according to his 

 order. Theodore as metropolitan would naturally preside, but Bisi, who is 

 mentioned with Theodore and separate from the other bishops, is taken out 

 of his order of precedence ** of consecration. The inference is that the 

 council was held in Bisi's East Anglian diocese of Dunwich, when he would 

 naturally take precedence after the archbishop.*' Wine Bishop of London, 

 in whose diocese Hertford in Hertfordshire probably lay, was not present 

 at the council. 



The next important council in England was in 680 and dealt with the 

 orthodoxy of the English Church. It was held under the presidency of 

 Archbishop Theodore at ' Haethfeld,' which has usually been identified with 

 Hatfield in Hertfordshire. In a decree, however, said to have been issued at 

 the same time dividing the country into the two provinces of Canterbury and 

 York, which formed a part of the arrangement with Wilfrid as to the sub- 



*^ Bede, Hist. Eccl. bk. iii, cap. 22. *• Ibid. cap. 30. " Ibid. cap. 7. 



" Haddan and Stubbs, op. cit. iii, 118. " y.C.H. Herts, iii, 492. 



^Wilfrid, and possibly Putta, were of earlier consecration. The order of consecration was the order 

 determined at this council. 



*^ See V.C.H. Herts, loc. cit. Miss A. Raven suggests that possibly the identification of ' Heorutford ' 

 may be Hartford near the Ouse, about 2 miles from Huntingdon and Ermine Street, which was apparently 

 at the time of the council in the diocese of Dunwich (Geoff. Hill, The English Dioceses, 63). In 1086 it 

 was ancient demesne of the Crown, and a place of importance at which there were two churches and a 

 priest (Dom. Bk.). 



