Paulinus 1 ordered that a cawing crow be shot to make a theological point.
Primary Source Info
Date from Source
On a certain Sunday.
Persons associated with this Event:
Agent:
Paulinus 1
(Bishop of York, 625-633; bishop of Rochester, 633-644) : Paulinus 1 instructed a youth of his (Anonymous 164) to shoot down the crow with an arrow, to keep the arrow until the catechumens (Anonymi 499) had been instructed and then to bring it into the hall. Pau
(Other):
Edwin 2
(King of the Northumbrians, 616-633) : Edwin 2 was going to church to receive instruction with a company of people.
(Other):
Anonymi 499
(Crowd who accompanied Edwin 2) : A crowd who were still pagan and not bound by legitimate marriages (Anonymi 499) accompanied Edwin 2. They heard a crow cawing and believed that it indicated that the message of the church was false a
Participant:
Anonymous 164
(Youth who shot down a crow) : A boy (Anonymous 164) was instructed by Paulinus 1 to shoot down the crow with an arrow and bring it into the hall when Paulinus 1 had finished catechizing the catechumens (Anonymi 501).
Recipient:
Anonymi 501
(Catechumens) : They (Anonymi 501) were instructed in a hall by Paulinus 1, who used the death of the crow as a moral example.