thither that he might attend on God without interruption into which place he gather'd to him about the number of 180. Disciples It is reported That the place being too strait for so many the Blessed man having recourse to God in whose Power and Goodness he plac'd his confidence when the Sea at low ebb had left the shoar for a great space with a Rod which he had in his Hands made impressions in several places of the Sands and commanded the waters in the Name of Christ not to pass those bounds upon which the Sea was observ'd to restrain its own violence and swelling insomuch as to this day it hath never presum'd to pass those prescrib'd limits Thus the Holy man is said to bid adieu to all his Friends to the Vanities of this World and to all obstacles to Perfection Mortifying all his Sensual Desires and yet not contented resolv'd to leave his Native Country and accompanied with his Brethren landed in a Province of Belgick Gaul inhabited by a People call'd the Morini to whom he Preach'd the Christian Faith instructing many in the Perfection of a Holy Life About those parts there then liv'd a Prince call'd Mevorus at or near a place call'd at this day Cormon This Prince profess'd Christianity and having notice of the arrival of St. Gudwall within his Consines kindly receiv'd him Mevorus and his Wife were much stricken in years and had no Children St. Gudwall in a Dream appear'd to the Matron and promis'd her she should have a Son which should be call'd Simeon Mevorus being inform'd by his Wife of this her Dream promis'd that this Son when born with all his Hereditary Possessions should be assign'd to the Church and Monastery which this Holy Bishop and Hermite with the Treasure of Mevorus was then building probably near Ipre where a Village call'd Ghelwelt seems to afford some Marks of St. Gudwall's Name The Son thus Promis'd soon after was born and call'd Simeon brought up in Learning by St. Gudwall made a Monk and his Possessions confer'd on the Monastery It is said this Holy Bishop after all his Labours rested in our Lord about the year of Christ 403. It is written that before his death an Angel of our Lord appear'd to him with a Pleasant Countenance saying O worthy Soldier of God may the joy of our Lord always encrease in thee and his Peace continually remain with thee be prepar'd for e're long God will call thee out of this World and thou shalt meet thy Heavenly King with a Palm of Victory This Coelestial Messenger stay'd a good space filling his Soul with Spiritual Sweetness known only to God. After this another Angel appear'd to him and said I am Michael the Arch-Angel sent to thee from our Lord to acquaint thee That the hour of thy departure is at hand for after ten days thou shalt joyfully issue out of thy fleshly Prison and escape out of the Dungeon of this World and with unspeakable gladness thou shalt meet thy Heavenly King into whose presence we will bear thee he will receive thee with Glory and enroll thee among the Courtiers and Citizens of his Kingdom Some say the Mother and Sisters of this Holy man were present and assisting at his Death invited thither by the Fame of his Miracles and after his departure carried his Body back with them into Brittain But when the Pagan Saxons demolish'd Christian Sepulchres here it was transported again into Flanders The place of his Burial here is said to be the Isle of Plet or Plecit where it remain'd many years Illustrious by many Miracles until it was transported to the place aforesaid where not being entertain'd with due Honour it was by a Noble Marquess nam'd Arnulphus after by Gods appointment remov'd to the Monastery of â—landinium in Gaunt together with the precious Relicks of the famous Confessor Bertulphus when Clotharius reign'd in France his Body is yet carried in Procession yearly and each Procession renown'd by Miracles In the year of our Lord 342. great Commotions arose in Gaul by the coming in of the Franks which were soon suppress'd but Britain following the motions of Gaul and being in disorder Constans was enforc'd to pass over thither in the Winter Season and by his unlook'd for presence there soon frighted the Rebellious Islanders into Obedience Four years after this an unhappy Schism was like to break forth between the Eastern and Western Churches for the Eastern Bishops of the Faction of Eusebius Bishop of Nicomedia chief Pillar of the Arrians had condemn'd St. Athanasius in two Synods at Tyre and Antioch On the contrary Julius Bishop of Rome in a Synod of Italian Bishops receiv'd him into his Communion notwithstanding the intercession of the Orientals who sent their Decree of Condemnation to Rome To prevent this Schism Constans being Orthodox sollicited his Brother Constantius to joyn with him in caling a General Councel thereby to preserve entirely the Heritage of their Fathers Piety by which he had subdu'd many barbarous Nations destroy'd Tyrants and establish'd the Empire Hereupon a Synod was Assembled at Sardica in Illyrium to which came out of the Western Empire about 300. Bishops and out of the East 76. only Some of the Western Bishops came out of Britain Restitutus Bishop of London was certainly one who before at the Councel of Nice consented to the Faith of the Consubstantiality of the Son of God. It will not be therefore impertinent to say something of this great Councel that the Conformity of the British Churches in those days to the Faith and Discipline of the Catholick Church may the better appear This Synod first establish'd the Faith of the Nicene Councel next declar'd the Innocence of Athanasius and other Orthodox Bishops persecuted by the Arrian Faction and the Condemnation of their Adversaries and other Eastern Bishops who deserted the Synod and made a Schismatical Assembly at Philopolis and in it publish'd contradictory Decrees This Synod as to matters of Discipline Decreed this especially That Appeals be made in Case of Contention to St. Peter 's Chair ultimately to be determin'd by the Pope or such as he should appoint in that behalf Now it is certain that the Donatists not long after in Envy to the See of Rome endeavour'd to suppress the Acts of this famous Synod as much as they could as St. Augustine testifies The Decrees of this Synod were after confirm'd by the Councel in Trullo Another Decree was made To restrain the Appeals of Deacons sent by their Bishops to the Emperour's Court appointing them to present their Petitions to the Bishop of the Roman Church to be by him examin'd whether just or not This Synod being dissolv'd the Emperour Constans us'd his utmost diligence and Authority for the Execution of these Decrees his chiefest care was about the Restitution of St. Athanasius whose return the Factious Bishops of the East oppos'd Constans wrote to his Brother for his Restitution mingling Threats if he were not comply'd with
fury of a whole Legion of Devils envying their design for the Salvation of Souls is said to have assail'd them dangers appear on every side Storms are rais'd Darkness covers the Heavens and that Darkness becomes more terrible by the fearful swelling of the Sea and rage of the Air no longer are the Sails able to sustain the fury of the Winds nor the Boat able to resist the Mountains of Waters dashing against it so that the Ship was carried forward rather by their Prayers than the skill or force of the Mariners The prime Pilot St. Germanus was then securely compos'd in sleep and the Ship ready to sink so that St. Lupus and the Company were fain to awake the Old man who was only able to withstand the fury of the enrag'd Elements He not at all astonish'd at the danger Addresses his Prayers to our Lord and his Threats to the unruly Ocean To the raging storm he opposes the cause of Religion which invited them to that Voyage and presently with a little quantity of Oyl which he Blessed in the Name of the Holy Trinity and then sprinkled upon the Waves he overcame their fury His Collegue he admonish'd the rest he encourag'd so that with one breath and clamour Prayers were pour'd forth to our Lord and immediately the Divine Virtue shew'd it self present the Infernal Enemies were dissipated a calm tranquillity ensu'd the Windes and Waves became serviceable to the Voyage and all things concurr'd to their safe Arrival in a quiet and secure Haven Several examples of the like effects wrought by common Oyl Blessed in this manner may be found in several Authors These two Holy men being Landed great multitudes from several quarters met to receive them having as is said been inform'd of their coming by the Predictions of Wicked Spirits who were afrighted thereat and declar'd openly their tampering by Tempests and otherwise to hinder the Passage of these Holy Men and that by their Power and Sanctity they had at last been vanquish'd and disappointed These Venerable Bishops soon fill'd the whole Island with their Fame Preaching and Miracles they were so over-press'd with multitudes resorting to them that they Preach'd Gods Word not only in Churches but in Lanes and High-ways whereby Catholicks were confirm'd in the Faith and those who had been deprav'd reduc'd to the Church The Authority of their Holyness the Eminence of their Learning the wonder of their Miracles gave them the esteem and Honour of Apostles and reduc'd the whole Island to the acknowledgement of their Doctrine The promoters of the contrary perswasion crept into dark Holes vex'd as the wicked Spirits were to see the People freed from their Snares Yet at last after long study and meditation they presum'd to enter into a Dispute with these Apostolick men The Pelagians are said to come Pompously attended by their flattering Disciples and rather chose to run the hazard of a conflict than by their Silence confess they had an ill Cause Infinite numbers were assembled with their Wives and Children to hear this Dispute The Disputants stood on each side of much different condition on the one side was placed Divine Authority on the other Humane presumption here Orthodox Faith there Perfidious Errour here Christ was Author there Pelagius The Holy Bishops gave free scope of disputing to the Pelagians who vainly spent the time and tyr'd the Auditory with empty Verbal Discourses But after them the Venerable Bishops poured forth the torrent of their Eloquence accompanied with Evangelical thunder with their own Discourses Texts of Divine Scripture the word of God giving witness to their Assertions And thus vanity became convinc'd and Perfidiousness confuted so as the Hereticks by their inability to reply acknowledg'd their guilt and the People standing by as Judges could scarce contain their Hands from violence towards them and with Clamours resounded the Victory Immediately a Tribune of the Army with his Wife leading in their hands their young Daughter about ten years Old being Blind came into the midst of the Assembly and presented their blind Child to the Bishops desiring their help for her Cure They had formerly offer'd her in vain to the adverse Party who likewise stricken with a guilty Conscience joyn with the Parents in their entreaties to the Holy Prelates in behalf of the Child They perceiving the expectation of the People and the Conviction of their Adversaries address themselves to God by short Prayer Then St. Germanus full of the Holy Ghost invok'd the Blessed Trinity and taking from his Neck a little Box full of Holy Relicks in the sight of the whole Multitude he apply'd it to the Eyes of the young Maid which immediately loosing their former Darkness were fill'd with a new Light from Heaven At this so apparent Miracle the Parents rejoyce and the People tremble After this day all mens minds were so clearly purg'd from this impious Heresie that with thirsting desire they receiv'd the Doctrine of these Holy Bishops Perverse Heresie thus repell'd and the Authors of it confuted the Holy Bishops repair'd to the Sepulchre of St. Albanus intending to give Thanks to God by his intercession and having with them Relicks of all the Apostles and divers Martyrs after Prayer made commanded the Sepulchre to be open'd and there with great Reverence laid up those precious Gifts thinking it convenient that the same Repository should contain the Members of many Saints out of divers Regions whom Heaven had receiv'd and Crown'd for the equality of their Merits St. German then caus'd to be dig'd up from the place where the Blessed Martyr St. Alban had shed his Blood a Masse of dry'd Earth which he intended to take with him in which were then extant Marks of the Martyrs death and the Paleness of his Persecutors These things being thus perform'd an innumerable multitude is said to be that day Converted to our Lord The little Box of Sacred Relicks it is reported after St. Germans death came to the Hands of the Empress Galla Placidia as Heir only of his Benediction The malicious Enemy of mankind busie to entrap the Holy Bishop St. German in some mischief found out the means by a casual Fall to put his Foot out of Joynt Now while by reason of this Infirmity he was constrain'd to abide in a certain Lodging a Fire happen'd to break out in some Houses not far from it which being cover'd with Thatch were quickly devour'd and the Fire driven forward by Wind soon approach'd to his Lodging whereupon a great concourse of People came to the Venerable Bishop in a great fright intending to take him in their Arms and carry him out of danger but he reprehended them and refus'd to remove having a firm Faith that no evil should happen to him The multitude then despairing of his Safety endeavour to stop the Progress of the flames Howbeit Almighty God to exalt his own Power and his Servants Faith so order'd that whatever the People endeavour'd to preserve was consum'd only
which God Graciously call'd him out of this Mortal Life So as being perfect in Grace and Piety and mature in Age he Happily mounted to Heaven his Body was buried in the Church Dedicated to St. Martin built by himself from the Foundation The Centuriatours add this to his Story That he was a Venedocian Teacher of Christian Verities of a desert more than ordinary To his Old Age he largely communicated the Talent wherewith God had entrusted him among the Britains Scots and Southern Picts He was a man Assiduous in Reading the Holy Scripture Merciful to Orphans Widdows and the Poor Illustrious in Miracles and Sanctity By his Pious Industry the Nation of the Picts first of all relinquishing their Idolatry embrac'd the true Faith of Christ He was the first Bishop of Candida Casa and dy'd among the Picts in the Province of Galloway I may further observe that he was very Devout in giving Respect and Veneration to Gods Saints in whose Honour he built Churches and in particular to the Honour of S. Martin who dy'd about 30 years before him The example of St. Ninian was imitated by the British Church near the same Age for when St. Augustine the Monk came into Britain to Convert the Saxons He found saith St. Bede in the City of Canterbury a Church Dedicated to the Honour of St. Martin which had been built in the times of the Romans St. Ninian before he dy'd divided the Provinces of the Picts into Parishes he Ordain'd Priests there and Consecrated Bishops by the Authority of the Roman Bishop from whom he receiv'd his Mission He being famous for Miracles it may not be amiss to reckon up one In the Region of the Picts there was a Prince named Tudwal a man of a proud and high Spirit he contemning the Admonitions of this man of God and derogating from his Doctrine and Life resisted him openly Being one day more then ordinarily troublesome and rude God the supreme Judge would not any longer suffer the injuries offer'd to his Holy Servant to pass unreveng'd but struck this proud man with an intollerable pain in his Head by the violence whereof those lofty Eyes of his became utterly Blind so that he who had before impugn'd the Light of Divine Truth deservedly lost this Worlds Light. But upon better consideration he sent a Message to the Holy Bishop humbly beseeching him in imitation of our Lords Benignity to return to him good for evil and love for hatred The Venerable Bishop hereupon first sharply reprov'd the Prince and then touching him imprinted on his Eyes the Sign of the Cross when immediately his pains ceas'd and his Blindness was dissipated Afterwards this Prince highly Honour'd the Holy Bishop and readily granted whatsoever he ask'd of him Our Country-man Alcuinus in an Epistle not Printed but now extant in Bishop Vshers Antiquities Testifies the great Fame which this Holy Bishop had for Sanctity and Miracles This Epistle is directed to the Religious Priest then living at Candida Casa While Alcuinus liv'd this following Miracle happ'ned to a Devout Priest Celebrating Mass at this Saints Monument nam'd Plegils he frequently Solemniz'd Mass at the Body of St. Ninian and living a Holy and Virtuous Life began frequently to beseech our Lord That he would please to shew visibly to him the Nature and Verity of the Body and Blood of Christ in the most Blessed Sacrament This Prayer he made not for want of Faith in the Truth of the Mystery but out of an Affection of Devotion and Piety For the Author saith That to his great Consolation our Lord appear'd to him in the Sacrament in the form of a young Child Three years after the death of St. Ninianus St. Germanus was once more invited into Britain to perfect the good Work which he had formerly began in rooting out of the Pelagian Heresie there spreading it self again the Relation whereof we must borrow from the Learn'd Priest Constantius a Writer of those times and of most perfect Integrity and Sincerity By a Message from Britain address'd to St. German he was advertis'd that that Pestilent Heresie began to enlarge it self there and intreated him once more to come over and maintain the Cause of Divine Grace The Holy Bishop readily comply'd with this Petition being delighted to spend his strength in the Service of Christ There was joyn'd to him for his Companion Severus Bishop of Triers a person of Consummate Sanctity In the mean time three Infernal Spirits flying through the whole Island foretold the return of St. Germanus being forc'd so to do against their Will Insomuch as one Elaphius a Principal person of the Country without any other notice hast'ned to meet the Holy Bishops His Son went with him upon whom from the flower of his Youth a lamentable Infirmity had seiz'd for all his Members were wither'd and the Hamm of his Leg was so drawn together that by reason of the dryness of his Thigh he could not set his Foot upon the ground Elaphius was attended by almost the whole Province As soon as they were met together an Episcopal Benediction was conferr'd on the People and the Words of Truth Preach'd to them St. Germanus perceiv'd that the generality of the People persever'd constant in the Doctrine which he left among them and that the fault lay upon a few buisie persons who were presently condemn'd As for Elaphius he humbly kneeling kiss'd the Bishops Hands presenting to him his Lame Son so miserable a Spectacle that he mov'd compassion in all especially in the Holy Bishops mind St. German therefore presently commanded the young man to sit down then handled his contracted Ham and with his right Hand stroak'd all the infirm Members immediately perfect Health and Strength attended that wholesome Touch the wither'd Members recover'd their natural Moisture and his Sinews their Office and Agility Thus in the sight of all the young man was restor'd to his Father as if he had been new made the People are astonish'd at this Miracle and the Catholick Faith is perfectly confirm'd in their minds The Holy Bishop spent his time in Preaching up and down and the Hearers were every where Converted or Confirm'd So that by a Universal Consent the Authors of the Perverse Doctrine were brought before the Holy Bishops and then banish'd out of the Island and the Orthodox Faith remain'd uncorrupted and all things being thus well compos'd the Holy Bishops return'd with a Prosperous Voyage Howbeit during his stay here St. German is recorded to have call'd a Synod and taking notice that many Churches wanted Pastors by which means the People became wavering in their Faith by common advice he selected Learn'd and Pious men whom he ordain'd Bishops and placed in several Churches In particular over all the Britains toward the Southern parts he promoted the Blessed man Dubricius an Eminent Doctor to be Arch-bishop who was made choice of by King Mouricus and the whole Diocess They constituted his Arch-Episcopal See at Landaff with the
seems to have been Ordain'd Bishop by St. Patrick and to have fix'd his seat in a small Island which according to St. Bede is scituated at some distance from the Western Coasts of Ireland and is call'd the Isle of Whitecalfe where St. Coleman afterwards built a Monastery and is promiscuously Inhabited by English and Scots St. Dererca had many other Sons famous for their Sanctity but we shall now take notice only of two more Illustrious then the rest the first Sechnallus in Latin Secundinus who wrote the Alphabetical Hymn in Praise of St. Patrick The others name was Auxilius who was by St. Patrick ordain'd Bishop of Leimster Laginensium and after many Miracles wrought by him ended his Holy Life in Cealusalli his own City seated in the Plaines of Leimster In the year of Grace 519. a British Synod was assembled upon this occasion The detestable Heresie of the Pelagians extinguish'd by St. Germanus and St. Lupus began to Spring again to the hazard of the Catholick Faith. The Bishops and Abbots of Cambria met in Cardiganshire divers Noble-men and other Lay-persons were present out of the whole Country many Sermons and Exhortations were made in the publick Audience to confute the said Heresie Howbeit the People were generally so infected therewith that no reasons or perswasions could prevail with them to return into the Path of Right Faith At length therefore Paulin a Bishop with whom St. David in his youth had been Educated earnestly perswaded the Fathers to send for St. David in the Name of the Synod who was lately Consecrated Bishop by the Patriarch and was a Discreet and Eloquent man to afford his assistance to Gods Church now in great danger but could not prevail with him to forsake his Contemplations until at last two Holy men Daniel and Dubritius by their Authority brought him with them to the Synod And then all the Fathers there Assembled enjoyn'd St. David to Preach He commanded a Child which had lately been restor'd to Life by him to spread a Napkin under his feet and standing upon it he began to expound the Gospel and the Law to the Auditory All the while he continued his Oration a Snow-white Dove descending from Heaven sate upon his Shoulders and the Earth on which he stood rais'd it self under him 'till it became a Hill from whence his Voice like a Trumpet was clearly heard and understood by all both far and near On the top of which Hill a Church was afterwards built which remains to this day When the Sermon was finish'd so Powerfully did Divine Grace Cooperate that the Heresie soon vanish'd and was extinguish'd And the Holy Bishop St. David by the general Election and Acclamation both of Clergy and People was exalted to be the Arch-bishop of all Cambria By the Confusions of those times the Decrees of this and other Synods are unhappily lost by which we might have been inform'd of the State of the then British Church yet something of it may be collected out of the Author of St. David's Life who tells us That Heresie being thus expell'd all the Churches of Britain receiv'd their Order and Rule from the Authority of the Roman Church By which we may see the mistake of some Modern Writers who will needs affirm that the British Church before the Conversion of the Saxons in their Faith and Discipline were squar'd after the Model of the Eastern Church This Synod Spelman calls Panbritanicum and soon after it Monasteries were built in several places and this Holy Bishop St. David became the chief Protector of them and withall a Preacher of such esteem that all men receiv'd a Rule and Form of Holy living from him This expedient the Holy Spirit suggested to the Antient Fathers namely the Building of Monasteries thereby to promote and fortifie the Catholick Faith for out of them still proceeded some to instruct Believers in Faith and Holiness of Life But another Spirit suggested Dioclesian the Infidel Saxons and some Zealots of late days to destroy Monasteries as a sure means to destroy Faith and Holiness also It may not here be unprofitable to describe the form of a Monastick Life instituted by St. David who having built a Monastery near Menevia in a place call'd Rosma or the Rosey Valley gave this strict Rule of Monastical Profession That every Monk should labour daily with his Hands for the common good of the Monastery For Idleness corrupts the Thoughts and Minds of men The Monks there were not to take Gifts or Possessions from unjust persons and detested Riches they had no care to ease their Labours by use of Oxen or Cattle for every one to himself and his Brethren was instead of Riches and Oxen. They never convers'd together by talking but when necessity requir'd but each one perform'd the labour enjoyn'd him joyning thereto Prayer or Holy Meditations on Divine things And having finish'd their Country work they return'd to the Monastery where they spent the remainder of the day till Even in Reading or Writing At Even upon the sounding of a Bell they all left their work and repair'd to Church where they remain'd 'till the Stars appear'd and then went all together to their Refection eating sparingly and not to satiety their Food was Bread with Roots or Herbs season'd with Salt and they quench'd their Thirst mith a mixture of Water and Milk Supper being ended they continued three hours in Watching Prayers and Genu-flexions As long as they were in the Church it was not permitted to any to Slumber Sneeze or Spit After this they went to their Rest and at Cock-crowing they rose and continu'd at Prayers 'till day appear'd All their inward temptations and thoughts they discover'd to their Superior and from him they demanded permission in all things even when they were urg'd to the necessities of Nature Their Cloathing was of the Skins of Beasts Whosoever desir'd to joyn himself in their Holy Conversation he was oblig'd to remain 10 days at the door of the Monastery as a Reprobate unworthy to be admitted into their Society and there be expos'd to Opprobious scorns But if all that time he Patiently suffer'd all Mortifications he was receiv'd by the Religious Senior who had care of the Gate whom he serv'd and by whom he was instructed in which condition he remain'd a long time exercis'd in painful Labours and grievous Mortifications and so at last was admitted to the Fellowship of the Brethren Cambden makes mention of this Synod saying Llandevibrevi or the Church of St. David near the River Brevi was built in memory of St. David Bishop of Menevia in the place where He during the sitting of a full Synod confuted and repress'd the Pelagian Heresie reviving in Britain by the Holy Scriptures and Miracles For as the Fame is the Earth on which he Preach'd swell'd up under his feet till it became a Hill. This Synod it seems was celebrated not in House or Town but in the open Fields as afterwards St. Augustine the
Monk held a Councel in a place from thence call'd Augustine's Oak and as Antiently Theophilus Assembled a Synod in the Cause of Athanasius in a place call'd Ad Quercum at the Oak Now whereas in this Synod were Assembled many great Saints and Holy Bishops the Lights of the British Churches as St. Dubritius St. Daniel St. David St. Telian and St. Paulin of whom some mention hath been made already it will not be amiss here to subjoyn a summary of their respective Gests least if they should be set down particularly there would be such intermixture as might perhaps confound the Readers memory especially considering the wonderful length of time which most of them liv'd Concerning St. Daniel enough hath been said We shall here begin with St. Dubritius who was born in the Province of the Demetae or West-wales Sir-nam'd he was Guainius from the River Guain near which he was born his Fathers Name is not mention'd but his Mother was call'd Euedyla a Woman of wonderful Virtue and Piety during his Childhood he was committed to the care of Teachers to be instructed in Learning suitable to that Age In his riper years he made such Progress in Science that very many not only among the Ignorant but the more skilful also repair'd to him for Instructions Amongst which were St. Thelian St Sampson St. Aidan and others He made choice of a place near the River Vaga proper to receive the great number of Scholars which came to him and there directed their Studies In the same place having built a Church by the direction of an Angel he there taught the People and by imposing his Hands Cur'd frequently the Sick of divers Infirmities so that they which came to him Feeble and full of Anguish return'd Joyful and in Perfect Health He was taken from his Imployment of Teaching by St. German in his second Voyage to Britain and with the consent of King Mauricus and all the Clergy Consecrated Bishop of Llandaff as hath been said in the year of Grace 436. by which account since he out-liv'd the said Synod of Brevi it is plain the length of his Life was wonderful for at that time he had been a Bishop more then 80 years In the year 492. Aurelius Ambrosius coming to the Mountains of Ambri near to Caer Carec now Salisbury where the British Princes Trayterously Murder'd by Hengist lay appointed Pastors to two Metropolitan Churches granting York to the Illustrious St. Sampson and Caerleon to Dubritius the latter vacant by the Death of Threminius Geoffry of Monmouth adds That he was Primate of Britain and Legate of the Apostolick See Which Dignity it seems was annexed to that Church by St. German from the Authority which in his Mission hither he receiv'd from Rome In the year 516 He Solemnly Crown'd King Arthur after which being very Aged as hath been said he relinquish'd his See and retir'd into the Isle of Berdsey to prepare for his Death from which repose notwithstanding his Zeal to the Catholick Faith drew him to the Synod of Brevy St. David being his Successor as aforesaid Three years after full of Sanctity and Age he gave up his Soul into the Hands of his Creatour in the said Isle of Berdsey where among a multitude of Saints he chose his place of Burial and there his Sacred Body repos'd until the year of Grace 1120. at which time it was translated from thence with great Honour by Vrbanus Bishop of Landaff and bury'd in the Cathedral Church on the North-side of the Altar of our Blessed Lady At which time the whole Country of Glamorgan was afflicted with a great Drougth no Rain having there fallen for many Weeks but when these Holy Relicks were translated great store of Rain sell to the comfort of the Inhabitants One of the most Illustrious Disciples of St. Dubritius was St. Thelian descended of a Noble British Family what-ever the Centuriatours of Magdeburg have malignantly wrote of him From his Infancy he was addicted to Devotion Prayer and contempt of Secular Pleasures and being come to his riper Age he was for his Wisdom and Piety Sir-nam'd Helias because with his Doctrine he Enlightn'd the Hearts of the Faithful as the Sun doth the World. He was instructed in the Holy Scriptures by St. Dubritius 'till he was enabled to clear the most difficult places therein Then having heard the fame of a certain wise man call'd Paulinus he went to him to confer with him of the most abstruse Misteries of Gods Word by this means he contracted Friendship with St. David a man of great Perfection in Sanctity insomuch as their Hearts were so firmly knit together by Charity and the Grace of Gods Holy Spirit that in all things they had but one Will When St. Dubritius was translated from Landaff to the Metropolitan Church of Caerleon St. Thalian succeeded him in Landaff wherein he sate many years For it is said he dy'd not until the coming of St. Augustine into Britain by whom his Successor St. Oudoceus was Consecrated When a certain Infection call'd the Yellow Plague infested Britain raging against Men and Beasts by Divine Admonition he departed into a far Country accompany'd with many Disciples where he abode 'till by the same Authority he was re-call'd Neither did he cease day or night by daily Prayer and Fasting to Pacifie Gods Wrath and then gathering together all his Devout Companions return'd and all his Life after exercis'd Supreme Jurisdiction over all the Churches in the Western Britain He dy'd at last being replenish'd with all Virtues in a good Old Age. Many Miracles are recorded to be done by him both before and after his Death One of them only which Bishop Godwin thought not fit to pass over is this After he was dead the Inhabitants of three several places contended earnestly which of them should enjoy his Body Those of Penualum where his Ancestors had been Buried those of Lantelio vaur where he dy'd and those of Landaff among whom he had been Bishop When therefore no agreement could be made amongst them there appear'd presently three Bodies so like to one another that three Eggs resemble not more perfectly Whereupon each of those People took one of them and so ended the Controversy But by frequent Miracles at his Tomb in Landaff it appear'd that the Inhabitants thereof possess'd the true Body Now whereas mention is made of Paulinus said to be Instructer to Thelian and who sent for St. David to the Synod of Brevi His true Name seems to be Paulens of whom we find it thus written That St. David as soon as he was promoted to Priesthood went to Paulens a Disciple of St. German and that in a certain Island he led a Holy Life acceptable to God and that St. David liv'd with him many years and follow'd his Instructions Paulens at last by extream pains in his Eyes lost the use of them Whereupon calling his Disciples together he desir'd that one after another they would look upon
numbers of Devout men to embrace a Caenobitical Life Of this Bishop Nennion we read in the Life of St. Finanus That he having been in his Childhood instructed by St. Coleman was afterward recommended to the care of Nennion when he came into Ireland and return'd with Nennion into Scotland and there Learn'd of him the Rules of a Monastical Life at his See call'd the great Monastery Finanus there also studied the Holy Scriptures and by invoking the Name of Christ is said to have wrought many Miracles And having been thus instructed by Nennion he took a Journey to the See Apostolick there to supply his defects in saving knowledge seven years he continu'd at Rome daily advancing in Sacred Science and then ascended to the degree of Priesthood This Nennion in probability was one of those who interceded with King Arthur and about the same time that St. Finanus liv'd under his Discipline I shall pass by the Death of Guenevera King Arthur's Wife and his second Marriage with great Solemnities at the sametime with the Prodigious Victories ascrib'd to him by some of our Writers in Forreign parts and proceed to other transactions more probable occurring in his time In the year 527. two new Kingdoms were Erected in Britain without any disturbance from King Arthur in the Eastern Provinces of Norfolk Suffolk and Cambridgeshire the Kingdom of the East-Angles was Establish'd and in Midlesex and Essex the Kingdom of the East-Saxons Which of these Kingdoms were first Erected is uncertain but both without doubt much about the same time The first King of the East-Saxons is believ'd to be Erkenwin the Son of Offa and the Kingdom of the East-Angles is thought to begin under Vffa from whom the succeeding Kings were Antiently call'd Vffings The year following the Isle of Wight by the Britains call'd Guith which signifies a divorce or renting asunder and by the Saxons Witland was Conquer'd by King Cerdic and given to his Nephews Stuffa and Whitgar But while Cerdic busied himself about the Invasion of the Isle of Wight St. David Bishop of Menevia Assembled a Provincial Synod call'd the Synod of Victory wherein all the Clergy of Wales or Cambria met together and confirm'd the former Decrees of the Synod of Brevy and added new ones for the Churches benefit from which two Synods all the Churches of Cambria receiv'd their Ecclesiastical Orders which also were confirm'd by the Authority of the Roman Church These Decrees were committed to Writing with his own hand and reserv'd in his own Church the Copies thereof being communicated to other Churches in that Province all which with many other Treasures of that Noble Library furnish'd by him have been lost partly by Age and Negligence but principally by the Incursions of Pirats who from the Isles of Orkney every Summer us'd to waste the Sea-Coasts of Cambria This loss indeed is to be deplor'd since by those Records we might have perfectly understood the state of the British Churches However we are assur'd that those Churches were regulated according to the Roman and practic'd the same both in Doctrine and Discipline and consequently that St. Augustine sent after to Convert the Saxons brought no Novelties with him since St. Gregory who sent him was exalted to St. Peter's Chair not above 60 years after this Synod It is written in the Life of St. Kined That when St. David had publish'd his Edicts for assembling this Vniversal Councel of Cambria he humbly invited St. Kined to it who excus'd his not coming in regard that for his sins he was become distorted and crooked in his Body and was besides unable to undertake such a Journey Whereupon it is said that St. Kined by the Prayers of St. David was restor'd to Heath and straightness and by his own Prayers reduc'd again to his Infirmity and Crookedness Whether this were so or no certain it is that this St. Kined fill'd Britain with the fame of his Sanctity He liv'd a Solitary Anachoretical Life in the Province now call'd Glamorganshire probably in the same place where yet remains a Chappel call'd St. Keneth's Chappel left as a Monument of his Sanctity as Cambden witnesses The Celebrating this Synod is the last publick Action we find recorded of St. David He would not accept of Metropolitical Jurisdiction but upon condition that he might transfer the See from Caerleon to Menevia a place of Remoteness and Solitude and in the Neighbourhood of many Saints and Religious Persons in the Islands and Territory adjoyning and therefore most acceptable to him Which Translation was approv'd by King Arthur and the Synod not then dissolv'd This Menevia is seated in the Province of the Dimetae now Pembrokeshire adjoyning to the most remote Province of Britain where the Soyl is Stony and Barren neither Cloathed with Wood nor interlac'd with Rivers nor adorn'd with Meadows but expos'd to the Sun and Windes yet with this Penury the Antient Saints and Bishops were best contented accounting the remoteness from Worldly Tumults and noise to recompense sufficiently all such Incommodities This Menevia or as the Britains call'd it Menew was in memory of this Holy Bishop nam'd by the Converted Saxons David Minster and by the Britains Twy Davy that is David's House and at this day St. Davids The Bishop whereof was for many Ages the Metropolitan of Cambria but at length became subject to Canterbury Notwithstanding the Inhabitants of Wales since the Norman Conquest commenc'd a Suit against the Arch-bishop of Canterbury for their former Right and Independance but the Cause was judg'd against them The Pastoral care and Zeal of St. David in maintaining the Catholick Faith against Heresies especially against Pelagianism and Ecclesiastical Discipline against Vices and Disorders was signally approv'd and manifested in the Synod of Victory Assembled by him ten years after his Consecration Neither was this his Pastoral care confin'd to his own Province but extended it self abroad also even to Ireland from whence he was often visited and consulted by Devout men In those days it was a frequent custom amongst the Irish-men to go in Pilgrimage and their Devotion was to visit the Monuments of the Apostles in Rome Amongst the rest one Barro an Abbot in the Province of Cork went thither and in his return pass'd by Menevia where he staid for the accommodation of a Ship and Wind. And indeed it was the practice of Devout Irish-men either in their going or returning to seek the Conversation of the Holy Bishop David whose Name like a precious fragrant Oyntment was spread all abroad It appears by Bishop Vsher's Catalogue that Irish Saints were to be sorted into several Orders according to the times wherein they liv'd The first Order Was of such as liv'd either Contemporaries with St. Patrick or presently after him The second Order Contain'd such Saints as liv'd about this Age such as were St. Finanus call'd by the Irish Fin and by the Britains Gain or Win St. Brendon c. It is said the Saints of
Writings of Theodoret against St. Cyril since St. Cyril himself and the Councel of Chalcedon had requir'd no other satisfaction from him but only to pronounce Anathema against Nestorius which he did And as for the Epistle of Ibas no discussion should be made of it after the Council of Chalcedon This Constitutum the Emperor contrary to his Promise reserv'd to himself but withall acquainted the Synod with Vigilius his mind concerning the Tria Capitula which he had often-times both by words and writing express'd the Synod proceeded to a condemnation of them complaining withal That the Pope would not afford his presence to them After this definition of the Bishops in the Council the Pope being in extream Anguish because he saw how the Western Bishops would be offended and that the Scandal would be the greater because the Emperor had not sent his Constitutum to the Council utterly refus'd his Consent or Approbation of their Definition for which refusal he was by the Emperour sent into Banishment with other Bishops His Banishment continu'd not long for six months after the Synods Definition Vigilius sent a Decretal Epistle to Entychius Successor to Menas in which he condemn'd the Tria Capitula and profess'd Communion with all those who embracing the four Councils of the Church had condemn'd the same meaning thereby the last Council which he would not Name This Decree of Vigilius was by the Graecians referr'd among the Acts of the Council by virtue whereof it became a Lawful Oecumenical Council This end being given to this unnecessary Controversy all the Western Churches excepting only the Bishops of Istria Venice and Liguria consented to it But these Churches being under the Dominion of the Longobardi broke into an open Schism which continu'd till the time of St. Gregory the Great Besides them we find no other Church unsatisfy'd except Ireland only To the Bishop whereof St. Gregory a year before St. Kentigern's Journey to Rome wrote an Epistle in Answer to one of theirs who had charg'd the Roman See with injuring the Councel of Chalcedon by condemning the Tria Capitula But St. Gregory inform'd them That this Controversy did not at all touch the Faith of the Church but the Persons only of two or three Bishops That the Authority of the Council of Chalcedon was entire both with those who oppugned and those who defended the Tria Capitula and therefore none could have just cause to make a rent in the Church upon so trifling a quarrel This answer of the Pope's seems to give satisfaction to the Irish for several Epistles afterwards past from him to them as unanimous Brethren instructing them touching the Rites in Baptism and whether it were to be administred to those who return'd from the Nestorian Heresie c. This Controversy was hotly agitated when St. Kentigern went to Rome and perhaps it might be a considerable motive of his Journey especially in regard an Irish Bishop call'd Albanus went thither at the same time And although the British Churches are no where taxed for partaking with those who were divided from the Roman See yet it might well become the Zeal of so Holy a Bishop as St. Kentigern to inform himself truly of the state of such a Controversy as hath been therefore the more at large set down The man of God St. Kentigern after his return from Rome being worn away with Age for he was 85 years old had his Nerves so dissolv'd that he was forc'd to sustain his Jaws by tying a linnen Ribbon about his Head which came under his Chin that with the less trouble he might pronounce his Words This dissolution of his Nerves was promis'd him a little before his Death to the end that since his whole Life had been a continual Martyrdom by the good pleasure of our Lord his Death might be milder and easier then that of other men ordinarily At length calling together his Disciples he earnestly exhorted them To continue their observance of the Duties of their Holy Religion their mutual Charity Peace Hospitality their diligence in Reading and Prayer He bequeath'd to them earnest and efficacious Precepts firmly to obey the Decrees of the Holy Fathers and constitutions of the Holy Roman Church After which exhortation he departed to our Lord. The Fame of his Sanctity soon after his Death was every where spread by a World of Miracles as many Authors relate Constantine before-mention'd being dead or remov'd Aurelius Conanus his Nephew a Young man of extraordinary worth and well deserving the Crown as some report succeeded him His only fault was that he was given to Civil Contentions He cast into Prison his Uncle to whom the Crown of Right belong'd and Murder'd two of his Sons who stood in his way to the Kingdom which Ambition and Cruelty perhaps occasion'd some of our Historians to charge him with the Murder of Constantine his Predecessor Gildas also accuses him of many horrid Crimes for which he denounces to him a short reign and endless miseries Matthew of Westminster allows him 30 years rule but true Chronology not above four in the third whereof while the British Provinces consum'd themselves in Civil Contentions a new and Powerful Kingdom of the Saxons was establish'd in the Northern parts call'd the Kingdom of Northumbers in this manner Hengist in the beginning of his reign in Kent sent his Brother Otha into those Northern parts with his Son Ebusa men of great Courage Experience and Nobility as deriving their Descent from Woden who had three Sons Weldege Withlege and Beldege from the Eldest descended the Kings of Kent from the Second the Kings of the Mercians and from the Third the Kings of the West-Saxons and Northumbers whose first King Ida reckon'd himself the Tenth from Woden Now Otha and Ebussa the first Saxons which brought an Army into those Northern parts fought many Battles with the Inhabitants and having Conquer'd those which resisted them took the rest into their Protection notwithstanding they and their Successors for many years contented themselves with the Titles of Governours or Dukes acknowledging a Submission unto and Dependance upon the Kings of Kent but in the 99th year after their first arrival they assum'd the Title and Dignity of Kings the first of which was call'd Ida others affirm that the Region of Northumbers was divided into two parts That which was more Northern extending it self from the Bay of Edinburgh to the Picts Wall inhabited by the Bernicians the other reaching from the Picts Wall to the River Humber was held by the Deiri so that the whole Kingdom of the Northumbers Antiently contain'd the Provinces of the Picts Laudon Northumberland Cumberland Westmorland Durham York and Lancaster This may appear by the Lives of several Saints said to have liv'd in the Kingdom of the Northumbrians This Division is said to have been made by Ida who leaving his Son to govern the Deiri fix'd his own habitation among the Bernicians Aurelius Conanus dying in the fourth year of his
reign Vortipor Prince of the Dimetae succeeded him By Gildas he is Styl'd A Tyrant who in his Old Age ascended the Throne by Civil Discords being a wicked Son of a good Prince defil'd by many Parricides and Adulteries who thinking to rid himself of his Lawful Wife wallow'd in Lust with her Impudent Daughter and thereupon he exhorts him by a timely Repentance to avert Gods Judgements His reign likewise lasting only four years his Throne was Invaded by Malgo Conanus or Maglocunus a Prince no less Vicious than his Predecessor for he is said to have Murder'd his Uncle Prince of Venedocia call'd Catwallain with the greatest part of his Nobility This is the same Maglocunus who afforded to St. Kentigern a place for a Church and Monastery and after being tormented with a remorse for his Parricides he relinquish'd the World and retir'd into a Monastery where he undertook a Monastical Profession But the Sparks of Ambition thus cover'd broke forth again into a flame so that quitting his Solitude he return'd to all his former Crimes and became an Insular Dragon depressing other Tyrants and by strengthning himself with their Power became the greatest Tyrant In the second year of his reign a great Battle was Fought between the Britains and Kenric King of the West-Saxons near Sorbiodunum or Salisbury in which Combat after much Blood-shed the Britains were at last forc'd to fly Four years after the Britains Thirsting to avenge themselves of this Defeat gather'd together all their best Forces against whom Cenric with his Son Ceaulin March'd The Armies met in the Province of the Dobuni or Oxfordshire at Banbury The Britains divided their Armies into nine Bodies three of which they placed in the Front three in the midst and three in the Reer The Saxons though inferior in numbers yet exceeded them in Stature and Length and Fought all in one Body The Combat was Bloody continuing till night doubtful it was which had the better After which many Battles past between them wherein for the most part the Victory fell to the West-Saxons while the Britains and Saxons contended in the West the Picts beyond the Frith of Edinburgh made Bridius their King who was Nephew to Loth their former King. In the ninth year of Bridius St. Columba came out of Ireland into Britain being the year of Grace 565. The year following dy'd the Tyrant Maglocunus after whom Careticus took upon him to sustain the State of Britain every day more and more falling to ruine but with ill success for besides that God had fix'd a Period to that State this Prince prov'd no better than his Predecessors but like them stain'd with all Vices Gildas seems to give a shameful Character to several Princes by his manner of writing most of them seem to have reign'd in several Provinces at the same time For besides this Bridius he directs the point of his sharp Style against one nam'd Lunegasla by interpretation the Yellow Lyon whom he accuses of all sorts of Crimes Impiety against God and Savage Cruelty to his Subjects repudiating his Lawful Wife and violating his Sister who after Widdowhood had vow'd Chastity to God and by many injuries afflicting Holy men and Priests who ceas'd not to offer up their Sighs and Prayers for him Gildas therefore exhorts him To change his Life that he might reap the benefit of their Prayers who had Power to bind in Heaven what they had bound in this World and to loose such as were Penitent Now by the Impieties of these Princes the Reader may observe the Justice of Gods severity against so wicked a Nation from which he took the Spiritual Kingdom of Christ and bestow'd it upon a People which brought forth better fruits Yet out of this Dung-hill of Vices some Pearls were to be gather'd for here we find the Wise Gildas commending a perpetual vow of Chastity made not only by Virgins but by Widdows also the infringing of which Vow he bitterly inveighs against and acknowledgeth in Gods Priests a Power of retaining and absolving Sinners not by way of Declaration only but of Authority and Jurisdiction also In the year 559. dy'd Ida King of the Northumbrians to whom succeeded his Son Alla whose Empire extended both over the Deiri and Bernicians yet were there in some of those Provinces British Princes who call'd themselves Kings though in Dependance on him Such as Morken King of the Cumbrians which Dependant Princes had upon Treaty a promissive Authority in their peculiar Provinces This Age affords an example of the Zeal and Authority of a Holy Bishop exercis'd Synodically and of a Princes Devout submission to this Authority The Bishops name was St. Oudoceus Son of Anaumeda Sister of St. Thelian and Budit a Prince of Little Britain This Saint Oudoceus from his Infancy was addicted to Piety assiduous in Fasting Watching and Prayer for an everlasting reward In Devotion he Visited the Monuments of St. Peter at Rome and at his return he went to the place of St. David and from thence he diverted to the Church of St. Thelian taking with him certain Relicks which during his Pilgrimages he had obtain'd Afterward he succeeded St. Thelian in the Bishoprick of Landaff imitating him in his Doctrine Virtue and Miracles As for the Prince submitting to the Authority of this Holy man his Name was Mouric Son of Theodoric Prince of Glamorganshire who being weary of Worldly Vanities undertook a Monastical Profession and served Almighty God in Solitude having transferr'd his Principality on his Son Mouric into which he was no sooner enter'd but the Saxons broke into his Country and began to waste it Whereupon the Inhabitants repair'd to their former Prince Theoderic whom they even compell'd to quit his Desart and to be their General in the War He full of Divine Courage encounter'd the Infidel Enemies whom he put to flight at Tintern near the River Vaga But having receiv'd a Mortal Wound in the Combat he return'd homeward and gave Charge to his Son Mouric That in what place soever he should end his Life he should there build a Church to God and a Sepulchre for himself And so not having pass'd five Miles at a place where Vaga and Severn met he gave up his Spirit There did his Son Mouric Erect a Church wherein he laid his Fathers Body whom Posterity Venerated as a Saint calling the place from his Name Merther Tendric at this day more contractedly Merthern In the same place is seated saith Bishop Godwin the House and Possessions of the Bishop of Landaff Adding That Mouric first of his own accord gave to that Church a Farm call'd Mochros lying on the Banks of the River Vaga together with the Porthasseg and the Church of Gurvid And after for the expiation of a Murder committed by him on a person call'd Cynetu contrary to a League by Oath contracted between them he added other Possessions He had two Sons Arthruis and Frior and by Arthruis a Grand-child call'd Morcant This is
was this Melchiades who ordain'd that of the Oblations offer'd by the People in the Church the Bishop or Priest should Consecrate Loaves of Bread cut into small parcels and kept in a pure Vessel that after the Solemnity of Mass such as had not Communicated should partake of them on all Sundays and Feasts These Morsels of Bread thus Bless'd were called Eulogia and intended to be Symbols of unity in Faith and Charity and were made of common Bread. This year whilst Constantine fought prosperously against the Germans a certain King of the Gevissi in the Western part of Britain call'd Octavius made an Insurrection against the Pro-Consul whom Constantine had intrusted with the Government of the Country against whom the Emperour sent his Uncle Traer who landing about Portsmouth soon took it Octavius having notice thereof comes against Traer with strong Forces and put him to flight but in a second Battle in Westmorland Octavius is totally vanquish'd and put to flight into Albania to King Humbert for Succour The alteration of Government in Britain might well occasion this Rebellion of Octavius in regard the Britains were now govern'd by a Vicar of the Prefect of Gaul where Constantine made his usual abode and was disquieted more by the Faction of Schismaticks than any other Commotions so as Constantine was enforc'd to procure a General Assembly or Synod at Arles for composing the Sedition rais'd by the Donatists to which Synod the British Bishops were call'd and the proceedings thereof are as follows Although Persecution was somewhat abated yet the Enemies of Christians to give them still disturbance endeavour'd to divide them into Factions The first publick Infamous Scene of which scandal was Carthage in Africk the occasion this Caecilianus Arch-Deacon of the place had reprehended Lucilla a Spanish woman living in that City for that before receiving the Holy Sacrament she had with Veneration kiss'd the Head of a certain person esteem'd by her a Martyr but not acknowledg'd for such by the Bishop The Woman being Wealthy and Powerful studied revenge against Caecilianus who was newly chosen Bishop and requir'd restitution of certain Vessels of Silver and Gold belonging to the Church which in the late Persecution had by his Predecessor been recommended to the Fidelity of some Elders of that City They to avoid restoring of these Vessels joyn'd themselves to the Faction of Botrus and Celesius who had ambitiously sought after the said Bishoprick but were rejected This repulse incited them to question the Election of Caecilianus Lucilla betook her self to this Faction who withdrew themselves from the Communion of their Bishop and by means whereof a most horrible Schism was rais'd in Africk the slame whereof could not be extinguish'd in many Ages These Factious persons invited to Carthage several African Bishops who were convicted to be Traditors such as for fear of Persecution had deliver'd up to Heathen Magistrates the Books and Vessels belonging to the Church of which Bishops the principal was Secundus Primate of Numidia they were in all 17. and kept their Assemblies at Carthage separate from Caecilianus and presum'd Sacrilegiously to ordain another Bishop of Carthage one Majorinus who had been Lectorer formerly to Caecilianus and was now a Domestick of Lucilla These Bishops though they were themselves manifest Traditors yet question'd the Ordination of Caecilianus because he receiv'd it from Felix and others whom they falsly accus'd of their own Crime They further wrongfully charge Caecilianus with denying necessary Provision to several Martyrs in Prison Notwithstanding all which Calumnies he was acknowledg'd Lawful Bishop by the Bishop of Rome and all other Catholick Bishops Now though this Schism was chiefly forg'd by Botrus and Celesius with the said Elders and Lucilla and increas'd by Secundus and other Traditor Bishops yet it took its Name from Donatus who succeeded Majorinus in the Schism and not from that Donatus who being Bishop of Casae nigrae by the instigation of Lucilla withdrew himself from the Communion of Caecilianus and was condemn'd by Pope Melchiades This unhappy Schism gain'd such strength in a short space that in three years joyning themselves unto other Traditor Bishops and drawing into their Communion most of the Numidians they assembled a Councel of no fewer than 270. Bishops who continu'd together 75 days and repeating their former Constitutions made a Decree in favour of the Traditors When Constantine had overcome Maxentius the Donatists obtain'd Letters from Anulinus Governour of Africk to write Letters to the Emperour in Gaul full of Calumnious Accusation against Caecilianus and some of these Schismatical Bishops made a Voyage to the Emperour whom they requested to appoint some Judges of their Cause He gave them this Answer with indignation You require a Secular Judgement from me who my self expect the Judgement of Christ Yet at last with extream importunity they wrested from him for their Judges Materinus Bishop of Colonia Aggrippina Rhetitius Bishop of Austim and Marius Bishop of Arles Howbeit soon after considering the Authority of the Roman Bishop he commanded both Parties to attend the said Judges at Rome that the difference might be debated and concluded before Melchiades to whom the Emperour wrote to the end that the Contestants might receive their Judgement from Him and the other Judges As you know saith he the Holy Law of God requires a Synod Therefore being Assembled at Rome the result of it was that Donatus Bishop of Casaenigrae was condemned and Caecilianus acquitted From this Judgement they impudently appeal'd to the Emperour who cryed out O the rabid impudence of these mens fury they have presum'd to interpose an Appeal as the custom is among Heathens in Secular Causes Yet after all this the Donatists were so shameless as to boast that Constantine had given Judgement for them and to deprave the Judgement of Pope Melchiades they traduce him for a Traditor Still they continue their Tumults in Africa and principally direct their malice against Felix who ordain'd Caecilianus and whom they accus'd of being a Traditor Constantine left the determination of this difference to Aelianus Pro-Consul of Africa who detecting many Lyes and Frauds of the Donatists legally pronounc'd the Innocence of Felix Yet once more they Appeal'd to the Emperour to whose Court many of their Bishops repair'd complaining that many of their most weighty Allegations had not been taken into consideration by Aelianus Whereupon as St. Augustine saith not daring to become a Judge of a Judgement given by the Bishop of Rome he refer'd the matter to a Synod of all the Western Bishops appointed to meet at the City of Arles whose Charges were defray'd by the Emperour's order In this Councel 200. Bishops met who in the first place re-examin'd the Cause of Felix and declar'd him guiltless of the Crime of Traditor And this Cause being determin'd they thought fit to frame several Canons touching Ecclesiastical Discipline to be observ'd throughout the whole Church First they Ordain'd That the Feast of Easter
invented by Fausta maliciously because the young man would not yield to her Lust she was by Constantine's order stifled in a Hot Bath After which Crimes and Calamities as appears by the second General Councel of Nice Almighty God struck Constantine with a Leprosie anxious to find a remedy the Soothsayers told him The only way to be restor'd was by a Bath of Infants Blood This detestable Medicine being abhorr'd by Constantine God was pleas'd to instruct him by a Vision of St. Peter and St. Paul in his sleep That it would be a certain remedy for him to receive Baptism at the hands of the Pope Which he did accordingly with great Solemnity In the place where he was Baptiz'd he Erected a Magnificent Chappel wherein was a Font of Porphyrie cover'd with Silver and over it hung a Phiale of Pure Gold wherein yearly 200 l. of Balsom was Burn'd on the brink of the Font was plac'd a Lamb of pure Gold weighing 30 l. and pouring forth water into the Font At the right side of the Lamb stood the Statue of our Saviour all of pure Silver weighing 170 l. On the left side was plac'd St. John Baptist holding a Scroul whereon was written Behold the Lamb of God Behold him who takes away the sins of the World c. The Emperour according to the Churches custom being for seven days cloath'd in White Consecrated each of the said days with some Signal act of Piety On the first day he publish'd a Law That Christ is the true Lord who cleans'd him from his Leprosie and whom he commanded to be Ador'd through the whole Empire On the second day he Decreed Severe Punishments on those who by Word or Deed should Dishonour him On the third day he Decreed Like Penalties against those who should Persecute or Molest any Christians On the fourth day He confer'd on the Roman Churches Imperial Priviledges On the fifth day He granted Immunities to all other Churches On the sixth and seventh he added many other Gists to Ecclesiastical Persons And the day after he appear'd in publick perfectly cleans'd from his Sins and Leprosie and coming to the Confession of St. Peter He took his Diadem from his Head and putting off his Impertal Robes with a Spade open'd the Earth for a Foundation of a new Church and in Honour of the 12 Apostles carry'd on his Shoulders 12 Baskets of Earth and with great joy receiving the Bishop into his Chariot he return'd to his Palace After all this he extended his Munificence to Gods Church all the Empire over and sent Letters to the Eastern Bishops encouraging them to Build Churches supplying them out of his publick Treasure which Churches he caus'd to be Consecrated to the Honour of the Apostles and Martyrs whose solemn Feasts he commanded to be observ'd even by the Pagans with Honour and Veneration And as for the Christians they repair'd thither with great Zeal and as Supplicants there demanded the intercession of those Martyrs a practice then us'd not only by the meaner sort but by persons of the highest rank also As St. Chrysostom witnesses He who wears the Imperial Robe saith he comes hither he embraces the Sepulchers of the Martyrs and laying aside all haughtiness and pride stands before them in the Posture of a Supplicant beseeching them to intercede on his behalf This so publick and zealous Profession of a new Religion render'd Constantine displeasing to some of the Senate who could not with Patience endure the decay of their Antient Superstition For this cause he grew weary of Rome and made a Progress into the Eastern Provinces where he establish'd a new seat of the Empire at Bizantium after from his Name call'd Constantinople and this he did the rather to compose the Tumults rais'd by the Blasphemous Heresie of Arius who deny'd the Divinity of the Son of God affirming That time was when he was not though he was first of all Creatures In which Heresie not a few Bishops joyn'd with him to the great disturbance and scandal of the Christian Church Alexander Bishop of Alexandria first admonish'd then Excommunicated Arius Constantine by Exhortations and Letters treated with both of them for the composing of their differences but finding no means available caus'd a Councel of the whole Church to be assembled at Nicaea in Bythinia consisting of 318 Bishops who desided the Controversy from Scripture and Tradition determining That the Son was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Consubstantial with the Father It is observable with what Meekness Charity and Respectfulness the Pious Emperour behav'd himself towards the Bishops how he refus'd to judge of their Recriminations how he fortify'd the Determinations of the Synod by his Authority commanding submission thereunto and how he banish'd the Arch-Heretick Arius In this Councel was further Order made For the universal Observation of Easter upon the first Sunday following the 14th day of the first Moon after the Vernal Equinox for the better finding out of which it was recommended to the care of the Patriarch of Alexandria every year to give notice to the Bishop of Rome upon what day Easter was to be observ'd and this was to be communicated unto all remoter Churches and during Mass on the Epiphany a Deacon with a loud voice declar'd the following Easter whereby Lent and all other moveable Feasts were regulated And accordingly the British Churches also were guided until recourse from Rome was interrupted by Domestick Broils and the invasion of the Saxons and when by such interruption the Britains varied from the Western Churches they kept not Easter as the quarto decimani precisely upon the 14th day of the Moon after the Jewish mode But if that 14th day hapen'd upon a Sunday they did not defer the Observation until the Sunday following as other Catholick Christian Churches us'd to do Soon after this Councel of Nice Helena the Mother of Constantine being near 80. years old had the Courage to undertake a Pilgrimage to Jerusalem to visit the Holy places sanctify'd by our Lords Actions and Sufferings and to Adore his Footsteps to which tedious Journey she is said to be incited by Divine Admonition The Sepulchre of our Lord she most ardently desir'd to see which the flagitious Impiety of the Pagans had endeavour'd to hide from the World so that it cost incredible Labour to remove that vast heap of Earth wherewith it had been cover'd on the top whereof a Temple to Venus was Erected But the place being cleans'd Constantine caus'd a most Magnificent Temple to be Erected upon it Besides which his Mother began the building of two other Sumptuous Churches one at Bethlehem where our Lord was born another on Mount Olivet where he ascended into Heaven both which after her Death were finish'd by her Son. In the Mount was yet extant the Impression of our Lords Feet which this Devout Empress Honour'd with due Veneration The Prophet Zacharias long before Prophesied saying And in that day his feet shall stand upon the Mount Olivet
restore many to Health The better to attend his Divine love he avoided the sight of men confining himself to a little Cell or Oratory over against the Church of Caion where in a little Orchard cultivated by himself he had planted a few Lawrel Trees which now are so increas'd that the Boughs of them being drawn together Arch-wise do afford a very pleasing shade under those Lawrels his custom was to sit Reading or Writing After his Death among the said Trees there was one which through Age was quite Wither'd He who had the care of these Trees digg'd up the root of the dry Tree and of the Body of it hew'd out a Bench upon which he us'd to sit After he had made such use of this seat above two years thought of remorse came into his Heart I believe saith the Holy Bishop by Divine Inspiration which forc'd the man to say Alas Sinner that I am why do I for my Convenience make use of a seat fram'd of the Tree which so Holy a Priest Planted with his own Hand Whereupon he presently digs a hole and puts the seat into it having cut off the Feet which supported it and then cover'd it with Earth The very next Spring this dry Bench sprouted forth into Green Branches and prosper'd so well that at this day there are proceeded from it several young Trees of great heighth and which every year by our Lords Blessing sprout forth more and more About this time dy'd St. Morchus or St. Mocchaeus a British Priest In the beginning of the Saxon Troubles he forsook his Country and pass'd over to Lugh or Louth in Ireland a pleasant place St. Patrick had formerly had a resolution to build a Church there but was commanded by an Angel to consign that place to this Morchus shortly to come thither and end his days there in great Sanctity as he did accordingly He was often times visited by St. Patrick whose Disciple he became and took the care of 12 Leapers recommended to him by St. Patrick He Prophesied of the Holy man Columba and was after Consecrated Bishop of Louth by St. Patrick As for the relation of his living 300 years as a punishment inflicted on him by St. Patrick it is justly rejected so also of his succeeding St. Patrick in the See of Armagh for good Records put it out of doubt that St. Benignus was by him design'd for that succession In the year 539. St. Kentigern being no more then 25 years of Age was Consecrated Bishop of Glascow As for his wonderful Birth it hath already been related and how his Mother was preserv'd by Servanus He so much prosited under the instruction of Servanus that he became his dearly beloved Disciple afterwards he went to Glasco where he liv'd alone in great Abstinence until the King and Clergy of the Region now call'd Gallway with other Christians there which were but few chose him for their Pastor and Bishop notwithstanding the utmost resistance he could make They sent for one single Bishop out of Ireland whom they caus'd to Consecrate St. Kentigern after the then usual custom among the Britains and Scots for at that time a practice had got footing to use no other Ceremony in the Consecration of a Bishop but only the infusion of Sacred Chrism on their Heads with Invocation of the Holy Spirit Benediction and Imposition of Hands For these Islanders remov'd as it were out of the World by the continual Invasion of Pagans were become ignorant in the Ecclesiastical Canons For which cause the Law of the Church condescended to them and admitted an excuse in this regard so as Ecclesiastical Censure did not touch them notwithstanding as is hereafter mention'd St. Kentigern made ample satisfaction for this defect His Diocess extended it self according to the limits of the Kingdom of Cumbria from the famous Wall formerly built to secure the Britains reaching from Sea to Sea as far as the River Ford or Scotish-Sea The defects in this Consecration were First His Age for at a Councel held then not long before a Decree was made That no Metropolitan should presume to Ordain any one Bishop before he arriv'd to 30 years the Age of a perfect man least he should through Youth incurr some Errour Secondly The first Nicene Councel order'd That if any one were made a Bishop without the Judgement and Consent of the Metropolitan he was forbidden to exercise his Episcopal Function And in this Ordination of St. Kentigern there was no consent of the Metropolitan nor so much as concurrence of any Neighbouring Bishop Thirdly The first Canon of the Apostles confirm'd by many Councels enjoyns That every Bishop should be Ordain'd by at least two or three Bishops Whereas St. Kentigern was Consecrated by one single Bishop who was a Stranger of a Forreign Nation Fourthly In the Consecration of Bishops the Antient Fathers for the Dignity of that Degree ordain'd many Rites to be observ'd beside such as belong to the Essence of that Sacrament As Anointing the Head with Chrism with Invocation of the Holy Spirit Signing the Person with the Sign of the Cross Impositionof Hands Together with several other Rites adjoyned for the Adorning the House of God the defect whereof did not vitiate the Sacrament but the Person only Now in all these Points some Defects there were in the Ordination of St. Kentigern which when he afterwards call'd to mind caus'd great unquietness and remorse in him a Custom introduc'd among Britains to ordain thus imperfectly crept in since the Disturbances made by the Saxons so as the Ecclesiastical Canons were either forgotten or render'd unpracticable for that there were no Metropolitans or at such distance that they could not be had most places wanting not only Bishops but Inhabitants and it is probable in the present case the very Chrisme was furnish'd out of Ireland It therefore is manifest that these Disorders were excuseable because unavoidable But in Peaceable times the practice was otherwise and the Canons were duly observ'd and the British Faith unblemish'd And by this we may see that the Britains in their Ordinations before St. Gregory's time conform'd themselves to the Roman Church and not to the Eastern as some would collect for in truth no Eastern Church can be found which neglected any of these Ceremonies However to be sure the Britains in their Discipline establish'd by Councels demanded a Confirmation from the See Apostolick And this appears by the Demeanor of St. Kentigern himself for being after afflicted in mind for those Defects in his Ordination he sought not Council from any Metropolitan but from the Supreme Bishop in Rome to whom the custody of Ecclesiastical Canons was committed and who had Authority to enjoyn the observation of them and punish and regulate the neglect Therefore St. Kentigern as we find recorded went several times to Rome where he candidly laid open his Life his Election Consecration and all the circumstances of it to St. Gregory the special Apostle of the
that Prince Mouric and this the Crime against which Bishop Oudoceus exercis'd his Spiritual Authority as appears by the Acts of a Synod of Landaff lately rescu'd from Darkness and Worms by our diligent Antiquary Sir Henry Spelman where is declar'd by that Synod assembled by St. Oudoceus third Bishop of Landaff That in the year of Grace 560. Mouric King of Glamorgan for his Perfidious Murdering of Cynetu was Excommunicated King Mauric and Cynetu met together at Landaff and in the presence of St. Oudoceus Swore before the Relicks of Saints there before them that they would observe a firm Peace between them some space after this Solemn Oath King Mauric by Treachery slew Cynetu Whereupon Bishop Oudoceus call'd together all Ecclesiasticks from the mouth of Taratyrenguy to Tivy together with three Abbots Cousen Abbot of the Valley of Garben Cargen Abbot of Ildute and Sulgen Abbot of Docquini and in a full Synod did Excommunicate King Mouric for the Murder by him committed and for Perjury in transgressing the Covenant made in his presence and on the Altar of St. Peter the Apostle and of St. Dubritius and St. Thelian moreover inclining the Crosses toward the ground he interdicted the Countries of Mauric and so dismiss'd the King The Christian Communion also Curs'd the King with his Progeny the whole Synod confirming it saying Let his days be few his Children Orphans and his Wife a Widdow The King remaining with his whole Region the space of two years and more thus Excommunicated After being sensible of the Perdition of his own Soul and the damnation of his whole Kingdom he could no longer sustain so dreadful an Excommunication but humbly beg'd Pardon at Landaff of Bishop Oudoceus who therefore in the presence of three Abbots impos'd on him the yoak of Pennance proportionable to the quality and hainousness of his Crimes the King all the while humbly inclining his Head and shedding Tears abundantly His Pennance was to satisfie God By Fasting Prayers and Alms King Mauric undertook the yoak of Pennance and for the Redemption of his own Soul and the Soul of Cynetu he gave to the Church of Landaff and the Bishops thereof four Villages with their entire liberty free from all service forever with Common through his Country for the Inhabitants of those Villages in all Fields Woods Pastures and Waters These four Villages contain 24 Modii of Land The first is call'd Kirgracnauc the second Nantavo the third a Village beyond Kadava where Cynetu was slain the fourth a Village beyond Nadava call'd Gudberdh This was the form of the first Synod of Landaff out of which we may collect much of the Religion and Discipline of that Age The same Bishop Oudoceus for very like causes Assembled two Synods more extant in Sir Henry Spelman the occasions whereof and proceedings wherein here briefly follow King Morcant and his Vncle Frioc in the presence of St. Oudoceus and the three fore-nam'd Abbots at the Poduim or Church of St. Ildutus took their Oaths at the Holy Altar on which were placed the Relicks of Saints That they would observe Peace and Amity together without any guile adding That if either of them should Kill or commit Treachery against the other he should not redeem his Crime by Money or Lands but should be oblig'd to quit his Kingdom and spend his whole Life in Forreign Pilgrimages A good while after which Covenant made Morcant by the instigation of the Devil slew his Vncle but soon after came to the Holy Bishop Oudoceus and humbly crav'd Pardon for his Homicide and Perjury The Bishop thereupon Assembled a Synod at the Monastery of the Vale of Carban to which came all the Clergy and King Morcant also with the principal persons of Glamorganshire The Synod unwilling to be depriv'd of their Natural Lord gave judgement that the King should redeem his Pilgrimage with Alms Prayers and Fasting which Pennance the King laying his Hands on the four Gospels and Relicks of Saints undertook to perform promising withall that ever after he would in all things mercifully execute Justice The Pennance finish'd and the King restor'd to Christian Communion he presently proclaim'd the Churches of Catoc Ildut and Docunni free from all Regal Service Thus was the second Synod The third was Assembled many years after upon this occasion A certain British Prince nam'd Guidnerth in a Contention for the Principality slew his Brother Mercheen for which he was Excommunicated by St. Oudoceus in a full Synod in testimony of which Excommunication the Crosses were taken down and the Cimbals were turn'd thus he remain'd excluded from Christian Communion for the space of three years at the end of which demanding Pardon he was sent into the lesser Britain to St. Sampson Arch-Bishop of Dole from him to receive judgement and suitable Pennance This was done partly because of the great Amity between these Bishops but chiefly because the same Language being spoken in both Countries he would the more freely discover his fault and require Indulgence for the same This Voyage was undertaken by Guidnerth who having obtain'd Absolution he return'd with Letters Seal'd by St. Sampson before the year was ended but because he had not according to his Injunction remain'd a whole year in Exile the Bishop would not take off his Excommunication presently after St. Oudoceus dy'd to whom Berthguin succeeded in the Bishoprick of Landaff To him King Morcant and Guidnerth made an carnest request to take off the said Excommunication and to raise again from the Earth the Crosses and Cimbals with the Holy Relicks Whereupon after a promise made by Guidnerth to make satisfaction for his Crime by Fasting Prayers and Alms he was at last with great Devotion and many Tears shed Absolv'd by the Bishop After which Guidnerth to testifie his Gratitude gave to the Church of Landaff these Lands Lanu Catigual and Tye with all the Woods and Sea-coasts c. Bishop Godwin affirms this third Synod to be Celebrated by another Bishop of Landaff and that Guidnerth the Fratricide gave Lancadwallader now call'd Bishton or Bishopston to the Church of Landaff Which Mannor he saith is the only Mannor that is left to that See. The Author of the Life of St. Oudoceus relates That he quitted his Pastoral Cure and built a Monastery near the River Weye and there Assembling a great multitude of Brethren spent the remainder of his Life which lasted many years in wonderful Abstinence and Sanctity So as it may seem this third Synod was not held in his days We often have had occasion to draw Testimonies from our famous Historian Gildas Sir-named Badonicus and Sapiens call'd also the Younger Gildas to distinguish him from Gildas Albanius before-mention'd Now because we are come beyond the times of those Princes who have been painted out by him in their foul colours it will be necessary to say what may be found of this our Younger Gildas By his own Testimony he was born in the same year when the great Battle was
Authority Now the said Island is usually govern'd by an Abbot who is a Priest to whose Jurisdiction the whole Province and even Bishops themselves by a custom no where else practic'd ought to be subject according to the example of their first Teacher S Columba who was only a Priest and Monk and no Bishop Of whose Life and Sayings many strange things are extant compil'd by his Disciples but what manner of man soever he was sure we are he left Successors famous for their great Continency Divine Love and Regular Institution The Companions to St. Columba are said to be twelve who came with him into Albion eminently indu'd with the Doctrine of Christ and adorn'd with great Sanctity their Names were Bathemius and Cominus afterwards Superiours over Monasteries and no mean Ornaments of the Christian Church among the Scots Also Cibthacus and Ethernau Nephews to St. Columba and Priests Moreover Domitius Rutius and Fethuo men Illustrious for their Descent but more for their Piety Lastly Scandalaus Eglodeus Totaueus Moteser and Gallan These men after Travell'd through the Region of the Scots and Pict and by their labour in Teaching Disputing and Writing imbu'd both those Nations with virtuous Manners and true Religion The Scotish Writers add one Companion more to St. Columba namely St. Constantine formerly King of the Britains who repenting his Crimes sharply reprov'd by Gildas became a Monk and went with St. Columba into Scotland where he Preach'd the Faith to the Scots and Picts He built a Monastery in Govane near the River Cluid which he govern'd as Abbot He is said to have Converted to the Faith the whole Province of Kentire where he likewise dy'd a Martyr and was buried in his Monastery in Govan The King who bestow'd the Isle of Hy upon St. Columba and by the eminence of his Piety drew him thither is said to be St. Comgal or Conval King of Dalrieda At the same time not far from St. Columba liv'd St. Kentigern lately return'd to his Bishoprick of Glasco to whom no doubt St. Columba was an Officious assistant in his Apostolick Office. Of the Solemn meeting of these two Saints with their Disciples we have already spoken That there was a perfect agreement between these two Saints and their Disciples is no doubt and between them and St. Augustine also except in one Rite or Ceremony about the time of keeping Easter Upon which inconsiderable difference some would infer that the British Churches received their Faith from the Eastern Churches and not from Rome St. Columba having spent more then 30 years in this Place and Service he impatiently beg'd of God to end his Pilgrimage after his Prayer ended he saw in a Vision certain Angels approaching to him to conduct his Soul to Heaven which sight was so joyful to him that his Disciples took notice of it But this sight was soon turn'd into sorrow for the Angels told him That upon the Prayers of the Pictish Churches God had added four years more to his Life At last in the year of Grace 597. the same year St. Angustine came into Britain this Holy man dy'd and his Holy body was buried in the Monastery of Hy from whence it was after translated or a great part of it into Ireland and repos'd in the Church of Dun-Patrick by an Inscription on his Monument it is signified That in that one Tomb three Saints St. Patrick St. Bridget and St. Columba did repose Hitherto the Saxon Princes had imploy'd their Forces to the destruction of the Britains but now finding little resistance from them turn'd their Arms against one another For three years after the coming of St. Columba into Britain Ceaulin and Cutha mov'd a Civil war against Ethelbert which Ethelbert the rather enter'd into because the Power of Ceaulin so much increas'd that he took upon him the Title of Monarch Hereupon Ethelbert a Valiant Young Prince mindful of the Glory of his Ancestors who had always enjoy'd a Preheminence above other Princes resolv'd to keep it And raising an Army march'd with it into the Province of the Regni or Surry where passing unwarily over a little River call'd Wandalis he was rudely repuls'd by Ceaulin but endeavouring again to march forward the Armies met at a Village call'd Wibbandun now Wimbledon where he was with a great slaughter of his men compell'd to fly back into Kent having lost his two chief Captains Oslaf and Kneban Where this Battle was fought still remains as a Monument of it a Rampire rais'd in a round form as encompassing a Camp call'd Knebensbury Ethelbert after his loss sought to strengthen himself by a Friendship and Confederacy with the Neighbouring Powerful Kingdom of the Franks to make which Confederacy more lasting he desir'd to confirm it by Marriage which he effected This Kingdom heretofore was call'd Gaul but afterwards the Franks a German Nation under their King Pharamond invading it and possessing the greatest part of it chang'd the Name from Gaul to France The Successors of Pharamond for several Generations were Pagans till by St. Remigius Bishop of Rhemes in the year of Grace 499. King Clodoveus was Converted to the Christian Faith and with him the greatest part of his Kingdom which Faith ever after continu'd and encreas'd there This Kingdom of the Franks was at that time govern'd by four Kings Sons of Clotharius a Daughter of one of which Kings Elthelbert Married nam'd Berta Gregory calls her Aldiberga to whom he attributes the Conversion of the the Saxons Her Parents not without some difficulty deliver'd their Christian Daughter to the Bed of a Pagan but had an engagement from Ethelbert to allow Her and her Family an entire freedom in Religion and so the Marriage was concluded The Lady was accompanied into Britain by a Prudent and Devout Bishop call'd Lethardus who is Styl'd The Percursor to St. Augustine and one who open'd the door to Christianity here There were then in Doroberni or Canterbury several Churches which had been built by Christians many Ages before in the times of the Romans and were not utterly demolish'd by the Saxons amongst which the Queen made choice of that which had been Dedicated to the Honour of St. Martin and stood Eastward of the City The Author of Life of this Bishop Lethardus tells us what Devotions this Queen perform'd in this Church viz. That she and her Family frequented the Sacraments of Masses and Prayers in the Celebrating whereof the Blessed Bishop Lethardus was President or chief Priest The saying or singing of Masses were the Solemn Devotion of the Church in those times as appears by the Councels of Orleans and Tours Celebrated in these very times insomuch as St. Columba by Revelation knowing the death of St. Brendan in Ireland Celebrated a Solemn Mass for his Soul. In the year of Grace 571. Cuthulf the Brother of King Ceaulin fought with the Britains at Bedanford now Bedford and having obtain'd the Victory he took from them four Royal Cities Linganburgh a