The sources of English monastic life in the rule of Saint Benedict, and those who have embraced the rule: family tree. Etching by W. Hollar, 1655.

Standing in the centre at the base of the tree are Saint Gregory, Saint Augustine of Canterbury, and Saint Benedict: Saint Gregory, as Pope Gregory I, sent Saint Augustine to England, where monasteries were founded according to the rule of Saint Benedict. At the left and right extremities stand Saint Dunstan and Saint Cuthbert: Saint Dunstan, as abbot of Glastonbury Abbey, established the rule of Saint Benedict in England's most revered monastery there, and Saint Cuthbert, as bishop of Lindisfarne, probably introduced to Lindisfarne rules based on the rule of Saint Benedict

On the first (lowest) branch of the tree are the apostles who founded the thirty original Christian provinces (B), the twelve spiritual orders, i.e. the monastic orders under the rule of Saint Benedict (C), the militant orders established in Portugal, Spain, Italy etc. (D), and princes, dukes etc. who forsook their earthly assets to support the rule of Saint Benedict (I). On the second branch upwards, are bishops and archbishops, all wearing mitres (F), Benedictine abbbots, doctors, and prolific authors (E), the children of kings and emperors (K), and empresses and queens (N). On the third branch upwards are Popes (H), cardinals (G), kings (L) and emperors (M). On the fourth and highest branch are male and female saints (O)

"…anno dominicae Incarnationis quingentesimo circiter quinto, ab adventu Anglorum in Britanniam centesimo quadragesimo septimo, missus est in Angliam Augustinus monachus cum multis aliis a sanctissimo Papa Gregorio, praedicare fidem Domini genti Anglorum. … Deinde in Archiepiscopum consecratus Metropolitanam sedem apud Cantuariani statuit, & monachos, secundum beati Benedicti regulam viventes, eo aggregavit. … Hinc in diversis locis ordinantur sedes episcopales, construuntur monasteria secundum beati patris Benedicti regulam Deo militancia, ita ut postea in gente Anglorum nulli reperiantur monachi quin fuerunt beati Benedicti regulam professi. Unde iis temporibus in monasterio Glastoniensi coepit primo eadem regula excerceri, quod prius fuerat more coenobiorum Aegypti." --Dugdale op. cit., 1661-1682, vol. 1, p. 12

[London] : [publisher not identified]

1 print : etching ; image 30.5 x 18.3 cm

S. Dunstanus; S. Gregorius; S. Benedictus; S. Augustinus; S. Cuthbertus; asculta o fili verba magistri. A. Gloriosissimus confessor D<omi>ni Benedictus. ... W. Hollar fecit. Bears number, lower right: 1 Two banderolles display biblical quotations: on the left, "Statuit eos sacerdotes magnos, et beatificavit illos in gloria. Eccl: 45.", and on the right, "Potens in terra erit semen eorum, generatio rectorum benedicetur: Psal. 3." The lettering has "Psal. 3", but the verse quoted is from Psalm 111

Wellcome Collection 29751i