who call'd himself Ioseph of Arimathea and sayd that he was clos'd up there by the Iews because he had buried Christ and that till that time he had been nourished with heavenly food 8. But common reason will shew how little force such a particular ungrounded story ought to have against the Tradition of a whole Nation Therefore the English Oratours in opposition hereto gave full assurance that in our most Ancient Books and Archives especially in the Records of the most famous Abbey of Glastonbury it is expressly declared that Ioseph with his companions being persecuted either by Herod or the Roman President were brought into this Island where he preached the things which he had seen and heard of Christ and by his preaching converted many who being converted bestowed on him a world of rich gifts all which he left to the Church erected by him in the honour of Christ. The which Church built by S. Ioseph was afterward transfer'd into a Religious Monastery and Abbatiall dignity and by that famous Monastery the praises of our Lord have been continued to that present day 9. Thus publickly and with so great Authority was this Tradition concerning S. Ioseph's preaching and converting the Brittains confirm'd in severall Generall Councils And more particularly as touching the Ancient Records testifying the Truth of this story we find them with great advantage mention'd in an illustrious Charter extant to this day which was given by our King Henry the second at westminster to the Abbay of Glastonbury In which Charter the sayd King signifying his intention to rebuild that Monastery not long before consum'd by fire And to renew all the Priviledges confer'd on it by his Predecessours King william the first and second and his Grandfather King Henry the first as likewise by more Ancient Kings S. Edgar the Father of S. Edward King Edmond and his Father Edward and his Grandfather King Alfred King Bringwalth Hentwyn Baldred Ina the famous King Arthur Candred and many other Christian Kings yea moreover by Kenewalla in former times a Pagan King of Brittany For this purpose he affirms that he caused a diligent inquisition to be made of the sayd Priviledges and Charters which were presented and read in his presence all which he confirmed and rene'wd to the same Church anciently call'd by some the Mother of Saints and by others the Tomb of Saints because it had been built by the very immediat Disciples of our Lord and in the beginning dedicated by our Lord himselfe as Venerable Antiquity doth testify This testimony is given by King Henry the Second in his sayd Charter All which considered to deny so great a blessing conferd on our Nation as the arrivall here of S. Ioseph can only be an act of passion and unexcusable partiality II. CHAP. 1.2.3 The time and occasion of S. Iosephs coming into Brittany not cleared by ancient Writers 4.5.6 Bishop Godwins mistake wrongfully grounded on Freculphus 7. The Holy Graal an old senceles Legend 1. HAd it not been for that visible lasting Monument of Glastonbury perhaps posterity had never been acquainted with the name of so illustrious a Patron of our Nation as S. Ioseph since no Books of that Age if any were written are now extant and the wonderfull changes in the very constitution of this Island by a succession of severall new Nations would problably extinguish all ancient Traditions 2. These things considered it will be difficult to give any rationall or satisfactory Account of the precise time and occasion of S. Iosephs arrivall in Brittany and much lesse of the particular Acts of himselfe and his companions during the space of so many years as interven'd between their first coming and deaths 3. Those Modern Writers which have most studiously searchd into Antiquity and with greatest candour and sincerity reiected severall fabulous inventions of some of our Authours who wrote not many Ages since doe agree that S. Ioseph first entred Brittany in the raign of Nero when Suctonius Paulinus was Pretâ—r here at which time great opportunity was afforded for such a Voyage by reason of severall Troops and companies of soldiers sent out of Gaule to re-inforce the Roman Army as likewise the coming hither of Nero's freed servant and favourite Policletus with a great retinue c. 4. But what particular occasion or Motive might induce S. Ioseph to undertake such a journey and employment is altogether uncertain Our late Protestant Historians to exclude any relation dependence or obligation that our Countrey might have to S. Peter are willing it should be beleiv'd that he was commissiond from S. Philip the Apostle then preaching in Gaule To this effect Doctour Godwin late Bishop of Hereford writes thus Freculphus Lexoviensis saith he gives the reason why S. Ioseph pass'd ouer into Brittany For when S. Philip the Apostle or as others rather thinke the Evangelist for the Acts of these two are much confounded and mingled in history preach'd the Gospell in Gaule he had much conâ—estat on with the Druids the cheif Doctours of whose superstition lived in Brittany Therfore being inform'd that our Island was by a very narrow sea divided from the continent of Gaule he thought it very expedient to send hither twelve Preachers the Cheif and President of which was S. Ioseph who in the sixty third yeare of Christ began their employment of converting the Brittains Thus writes the Bishop pretending Freculphus for his warrant 5. Wher as Freculphus treating of S. Philip neither mentions S. Ioseph nor the Druid's nor Brittany all that he writes being onely this S. Philip preach'd Christ to the Gaules and moreover brought to the light of knowledge and secure Haven of Faith certain barbarous Nations neighbouring to darknes and ioynd to them by the swelling Ocean Afterwards in Hierapolis a Citty of Phrygia he suffred death by crucifying and stoning This passage Freculpus extraited out of Isidor and consequently it is to be interpreted according to Isidors mind who by the Gaules or Galatae understood that Nation then inhabiting Asia not Europe and by the barbarous Nations neighbouring to Northern darknes the Scythians divided from the Galatians by the Euxin Sea Besides according to the coÌ„sent of Antiquity S. Philips Martyrdom hapned many years before the time mention'd by the Bishop 6. Let the Apostles name therfore who sent S. Ioseph and his companions into Brittany remain in obscurity to Protestants though the forecited Text of S. Innocent first Pope of that name expressly affims that none converted any of these Western and Northern Nations but only S. Peter or his Successours or such as were delegated by them His coming cannot be questiond nor that he came with the authority of a Spirituall Pastour and Apostolick Preacher 7. As for his six hundred companions which a senceles Legend upon the authority of a more senceles old Book call'd the Holy Graal says came along with him some men and some women as lâ—kewise the arrivall of a certain Prince
the Cross therby shewing him then to have been a Christian as Bishop Vsher acknowledges The Medall remains still reserv'd in that Treasure of Antiquities the Library of Sir Iohn Cotton 8. Next concerning the ceremony of holy Vnction of the person baptis'd Tertullian gives an expresse Testimony in his Book coÌ„cerning Baptism where he also shews it to have been an ancient Tradition Saying Being baptis'd and come out of the Water we are annointed with consecrated Vnction in imitation of the ancient Disciplin of the Iews according to which men were annointed with oyle out of a horâ— in order to be therby consecrated Preists By this Ceremony therfore was shewd that all Christians are by baptism made in a sort Kings and Preists that is in a speciall manner consecrated to the service of God as S. Iohn saith 9. Thirdly touching the Benediction of the Water deputed for Baptism the Lutheran Centuriators of Magdeburg doe relate how S. Pius the first Pope of that name did consecrate a Baptisterium or Font in the Bathâ— of Nâ—vaâ—us and S. Timothy mention'd before 10. Lastly for as much as concerns Exorcisms or appointed forms of Prayer effectuall to expell the Devill not only Baptism before the receiving of which all the children of men are detain'd under his power and from which they are freed by this Sacrament onely but also on other occasions when by Gods most wise and most holy permission sinners yea and sometimes even holy men are given up to be afflicted and possess'd by him Of such Formâ— of Exorcisms we have a world of witnesses in Antiquity as besides Tertullian in S. Cyprian Optatus the fourth Council of Carthage can 7. c. 11. These Rites were practisd with much reverence in the Primitive Church neither was it any preiudice or hindrance to the said practise that they were not commanded in Scripture being commended by the same authority of Tradition that Scripture was Hence S. Basile who liu'd in the second age after this most copiously and elegantly discourses touching these Rites of Baptism against the Heretiks of his time true patterns of their Modern successours who would reiect all things not expresly contain'd in Scripture One passage of his pertinent to the present purpose wee will here transcribe 12. Among the Doctrins saith he which are taught in the Church some we have delivered in Writing and again some others wee have received in a Mystery that is secretly derived unto us by Tradition from the Apostles And both these have an equall force and vertue to produce Piety in our minds Neither doth any one that has any small experience in Ecclesiasticall Laws contradict these Traditions For if wee shall once presume to reiect the Customs of the Church not delivered in Scripture as if they were matters of small concernment we shall on the same ground though unawares condemn likewise those things which are written in the Gospell and esteemd necessary to our salvation Or rather we shall endanger to make the whole Doctrin of Faith passe for a meer Name and shew as if it had no Truth and reality in it 13. Among those things which come to us by Tradition without expresse Scripture wee will in the first place take notice of a practise most commonly known to all and that is the signing with the Crosse those who have professed to place their hope in our Lord. Now which of the Apostles hath taught this in writing Again what passage in Scripture instructs us in our Prayers to turn our selves toward the East Likewise as touching the words and Form of Invocation or consecration when we shew the Bread of the Eucharist and Chalice of benediction to the people which of the Saints hath left them to us in Writing For wee doe not content our selves with the words rehearsed by the Apostle oâ— in the Gospell but besides them we at that time pronounce many others both before and after consecration which without scripture we have received by Tradition and which we esteem of great moment for consummation of that Mistery Moreover we consecrate the Water of Baptism as also the holy Oyle of Vnction yea and the person himselfe who receives Baptism Now from what Writings doe we all this Is it not only from a secret and Tacite Tradition Again severall other Rites practisd in Baptism as the Renunciation of Satan and his Angells from what Scripture doe Wee derive them Doe not wee observe all these things by instruction silently communicated to us by our Forefathers on purpose that idle and curious persons should not know them And this way of delivering such Mysterious things was with great wisedome ordained by our Predecessours who knew very well that by such silence and reservednes there was maintain'd in the people's minds a reverence and Veneration of these Sacred Mysteries Besides all this since those who are not yet initiated by Baptism into the Profession of Christianity are forbidden the sight of these Mysteries what could be more unfitting then that such things should be publishd in writing 14. This Testimony of S. Basile touching the Mysterious Rites of Baptism not invented in his Age but derived from ancient Tradition being so expresse instead of submission of judgment to so venerable an Authority the Lutheran Centuriators of Magdeburg vomit forth their blasphemies against the then certanliy immaculate Spouse of Christ for thus they write If all these things touching the benediction of the Water and use of Oyle and Chrism in Baptism c. be true say they what can be more certain then that in those times the Mystery of iniquity did work in the Roman Church polluting the simple Form of Baptism They might haue as well added in the Greek in the African in the Asiatick Churches for in all these the same Rites were used VII CHAP. 1.2 Fugatius and Damianus destroy Idolatry Erect Bishopricks c. 3. How this is to be understood 4.5 In place of Arch-flamens and Flamens are appointed Arch-Bishops and Bishops 6. Among the Dâ—uids there was a subordination 1. AFter the administration of Baptism to the King those holy Men Fugatius and Damianus together with Elvanus and Medwinus wholly employ'd themselves in Preaching the Gospell of Christ through all the Provinces of the Kingdom in disputing against the Superstition of the Druids and demonstrating the vanity of their Idols and the abominablenes of their horrible Sacrifices And being attended with the Kings authority and zeale they broke in peices those Idols and easily perswaded the Brittains to renounce their ancient Superstitions So that in a short space the Christian Faith and Worship of the only true God came generally to be had in honour and admiration 2. Hereto Mathew of Westminster adds that those blessed Teachers having defaced Idolatry in a manner through all Brittany they dedicated to the honour of one God and his Saints those Temples which had been founded to the worship of many false Gods filling them with
Miracle 1. A Second Witnes of the Sanctity of this Mother-Church of Christianity built by S. Ioseph at Glastonbury in honour of our Blessed Lady as likewise of the wonderfull Priviledge confer'd on it by our Lord himselfe who was pleased personally to consecrate it is the Illustrious Bishop of Menevia S. David the extirpatour of Pelagianism in Brittany His testimony is extant in the Antiquities of Glastonbury collected by William of Malmsbury in these words 2. Saint David with seaven other Bishops of whom he was Primate came to Glastonbury invited thereto by the Sanctity of the place place and had a resolution solemnly to consecrate an ancient Church there erected to the honour of the Blessed Virgin-Mother of our Lord. Having therefore provided all things requisite for the performance of that sacred Ceremony on the night immediatly preceding the intended Dedication he as nature required yeilded to sleep in which our Lord Iesus appeard to him and mildly demanded of him the cause of his coming thither This without delay S. David declar'd unto him But our Lord presently turn'd him from his resolution of dedicating the Church saying to him That must not be done And taking the Bishops hand he told him that many years since he himselfe had dedicated it to the honour of his Mother therfore that holy Ceremony ought not to be profan'd by any mans repeating it And having sayd this with his finger he peirced through the Bishops hand Telling him that this should be a sign that that ought not to be again renew'd which himselfe had formerly anticipated And withall he promis'd him that the next day when in reciting the Canon of the Masse he was to pronounce those Words Per ipsum cum ipso in ipsum By him and with him and to him be all honour and glory to thee O God the Father in the Vnity of the Holy Ghost he should have restord the integrity and soundnes of his hand The terrour of this Vision quickly drove sleep from the Bishops eyes whereupon with great earnestnes he examined whether that were indeed reall which our Lord seem'd to have done to him And having found it so he wondred at it and expected what would be the issue The next day all that were present with admiration saw and touched the prodigâ—ous wound Hereupon all the Preparation for a â—onsecration came to nothing and the miracle divinely wrought being made known publickly to all the Hearers encreas'd the admiration And in conclusion when Masse was celebrated the Bishops hand was restord to its former soundnes 3. This miracle is not forgotten nor contemn'd even by some Protestant Writers though in repeating it they willingly omit the name of Masse which having banish'd from their own Churches they are loath it should appeare of so great Antiquity and which is more considerable dignified by our Lords mentioning it and working a wonderfull miracle during the celebration of it VII CHAP. 1.2 A third witnes is our H. Apostle S. Augustin the Monk The fashion and homelines of that Church 1. A Third Witnes of equall authority though later date is S. Augustin the Apostle of our Nation who in an Epistle to S. Gregory the Great mentions the summe of what hath been hitherto related as a Tradition receiv'd in those days A part of this Epistle is recited by three Protestant Bishops as a firm argument of the Primitive antiquity of Christian Religion in our Island The words of S. Augustin are these In the confines of western Brittany there is a Royall Island by an ancient Name called Glascon It is largely extended being encompassed with waters abounding with fish and rivers in many places standing in pooles commodious for many uses of human life and which is most considerable it hath been dedicated to the exercises of Sacred Duties For there the first Professours of Christian Religion found as the report is a Church not built by the skill of men but prepared by God anâ— fitted for human salvation The which Church was afterward by many miracles and many mysterious operations demonstrated to have been consecrated by our Lord the Creatour of the world to his own glory and the honour of his most Blessed Mother the Virgin Mary To this Church was afterwards added an Oratory built of stone which was dedicated to Christ and his holy Apostle S. Peter 2. And hereto agrees that which we read in the life of S. Ioseph The foresaid Saints conversing together in that Solitude after a little time were admonish'd in a Vision by the holy Archangel Gabriel to build unto the honour of the holy Mother of God and perpetuall Virgin Mary a Church in a place shewd from heaven to them Whereupon they in obedience to those Divine admonitions finish'd the building of a Chappell the walls wherof on all sides were made of rods warled or interwoven This was done in the one and thirtieth yeare after the Passion of our Lord and in the fifteenth after the Assumption of the glorious Virgin Mary Here we may see saith D. Fuller the simplicity of Primitive Devotion and the native fashion of Brittish buildings in that age and some hundred years after For we find that Hoel Dha King of Wales An. D. 940. made himself a Palace of Hurdleworke call'd Tyguyn or the White house because to advance it above other houses the rods wherof it was made were unbark'd having the rind strip'd off Which was then counted gay and glorious This homely building however suiting with the simplicity of the builders soules did deserve and was indeed preferd in the veneration of all succeeding times before the magnificent structures of squared stones and marble adorn'd and enrich'd with gold and precious stones which in following ages by the Devotion though perhaps mix'd with some vanity of lesse perfect Christians were splendidly erected VIII CHAP. 1.2 A fourth Testimony of ehe Building a Church at Glastonbury by S. Ioseph from an Ancient Inscription at Glastonbury here produced 3.4 c. Sir Henry Spelmans Exceptions against that Inscription answer'd 1. THe last Testimony justifying most of the particulars before mentioned touching this Primitive Church built by S. Ioseph of Arimathea is taken from a very ancient Inscription cut in brasse and heretofore fastned to a Pillar in Glastonbury Church Which Inscription Bishop Godwin therfore rehearses that he may demonstrate that S. Ioseph indeed came into Brittany and after him Sir Henry Spelman caused it to be entirely transcrib'd and put into his Collection of our Brittish and English Councills The tenour of it is as followeth 2. In the one and thirtieth year after the Passion of our Lord twelve Holy men among whom Ioseph of Arimathea was Cheif came to this place and here built the first Church of this Kingdom Which Christ in the honour of his Mother himselfe dedicated together with a place for their buriall as S. David Bishop of Menevia testified who having an intention to consecrate it
and putt him in fetters with the rest Martinus in his own defence sett upon Paul with his sword and wounded him yet with so remisse a blow that the wound did not prove mortall whereupon he turn'd his sword upon his own breast and thus dyed this most just and mercifull Pretor for endavouring to divert the calamities of a multitude of miserable innocent persons VI. CHAP. 1.2.3.4 Councill of Ariminum Wherin were Brittish Bishops poor but generous 5 6 c. The Councill at first constant and Orthodox 10. It is tyrannised over 1. THE year of our Lord three hundred fifty nine was blackned with a publick scandall the greatest that ever exposed the Church both to danger and infamy and that was the great Councill of Ariminum assembled by the authority of the Arian Emperour Constantius with design to abolish the Faith of the Consubstantiality of the Son of God Concerning which Councill Sulpitius Severus gives this relation 2. Constantius saith he commanded a Councill to be assembled at Ariminum a Citty of Italy and withall layd this injunction on the Prefect Taurus that when the Bishops were mett together he should not permitt them to depart till they had all consented in one Faith promising him the Consulship if he effected this Sending therfore his Officers through Illyricum Italy Africk Spain and the Gaules under which was comprehended Brittany as being governed by the same Prefect they summoned and drew together out of the Western Empire to Ariminum more then four hundred Bishops 3. To all these the Emperour commanded that allowance for provisions and lodging should be given But that seem'd an unseemly thing to our Bishops of Aquitain Gaule and Brittany and therfore refusing the publick allowance they chose rather to maintain themselves at their own costs Onely three Bishops which came out of Brittany being destitute of subsistence from their own Sees were content to make use of the Emperours liberality for they refused the contribution which the rest of the Bishops offred to them esteeming it more becoming their dignity and Sanctity to be a charge to the publick Treasure then to particular persons 4. This passage saith the Authour I my self heard related by our Bishop Gavidius and he told it by way of reprehension and diminution of them But I am quite of another opinion and esteem those British Bishops to deserve great commendation first for that they had devested themselves of all propriety and next that they chose rather to be obliged to the Emperours Exchequour then their Brethren for their maintenance In both which regards they left an example worthy to be praised and imitated 5. When the Bishops were assembled the Emperours letters were in the first place publickly read by which he took on him to prescribe Laws unto the Synod what they should doe and what they should forbeare For saith Saint Hilary he severely enjoyn'd them to determin nothing which might touch the Eastern Bishops but only themselves And in case they should transgresse this his order he declared a Nullility in their proceedings He commanded them withall that having finished their Decrees they should send them to Court by ten Bishops châ—sen by common consent In the Inscription of which Letter it is observable that he writes himself by the Name of Constantin not Constantius 6. But notwithstanding these threats the Holy Bishops courageously performed their Duty For as the same Holy Father relates they confirmed the Nicene Creed forbidding any addition or diminution thereof Protesting that they would never depart from the Faith which they had received from God the Father by the Prophets and our Lord Iesus Christ which the Holy Spirit taught in the Gospells and writings of the Apostles according as was delivered by Tradition of the Fathers succeeding the Apostles to the times wherin the Controversy was debated at Nicea against a Heresy which then arose To this Definition all the Catholick â—ishops in the Synod unanimously agreed 7. In which Definition it is observable that though it was grounded on the Holy Scriptures yet those Scriptures are interpreted by the successive Tradition of the Church Whereas on the contrary the faction of a few Arian Bishops separatedly framed a Decree which according to the almost vniform practise of Hereticks was pretended to agree with the simple words of Scripture interpreted by themselves For thus writes Saint Athanasius In a Creed made by them they professed the Son of God to be like to the Father who begott him whose generation according to the Scriptures no man knows but the Father only As for the word Substance it being simply sett down by the Fathers not understood by the people and occasioning great scandall in a much as it is not expressly contained in Scriptures they decreed that it should be quit abolished and that for the future no mention should be made of the Substance of God because the Holy Scriptures have never mention'd the Substance of the Father and the Son But we say that the Son is in all things like to the Father as the Holy Scriptures doe say and teach 8. The same Father adds that when these Arian Bishops of which Valens and Vrsacius were cheif saw that they could not impose upon the Western Bishops they then said We came to this Meeting not because we stand in need of a Faith For we have a faith sound and orthodox but that we might confound those who contradict the Truth and would introduce Novelties into the Church And thereupon they seperated themselves from the rest of the Council which with unanimous suffrages pronounced Valens Vrsacius Germinius Auxentius Caius and Demophilus to be Hereticks and excluded from the Communion of the Church 9. Which done the Council by a common Letter informed the Emperour of all these things In which Letter there is this memorable passage that whereas the Arian Bishops to induce the Catholicks to comply with them used this argument That Vnity and peace would be restored to the Church in case they would relinquish that one word Substance the Catholick Bishops there wrote It is not as Vrsacius and Valens affirm that peace will â—ollow by the Subversion of things which are just and true For how can those men behave themselves peaceably who quite take away peace On the contrary more contentions and disturbances will spring up both in other Citties and particularly at Rome And in conclusion they begg'd leave of the Emperour that the Council might be dissolved considering the poverty age and infirmity of many of the Bishops in it 10. Constantius perceiving how unsuccess'full his Design was of introducing his Arian Misbeleif into the Western Churches broke forth into open tyranny some of the Catholick Bishops he caused to be shut up in prison others he afflicted with famin and all manner of opprobrious usage not suffring any to depart till he had compell'd them to subscribe to a Form of Belief wherin though nothing Hereticall was
mett on the fourth day before the Nones of May at which Vigilius refused to be present not esteeming it Canonicall by reason of the absence of the Western Bishops who were most interessed in the affaire 7. However after twenty dayes respite obtain'd Vigilius sent a Writing to the Emperour which he calld a Constitutum wherin he at large gave his iudgment of â—he Tria Capitula telling him that as touching the blasphemies of Theodorus he did abhorre them but in imitation of the Council of Ephesus wold spare his name Again that it would be superfluous to cast any infamy on the Writings of Theodoret against S. Cyrill since S. Cyrill himselfe and the Councill of Chalcedon had requir'd no other satisfaction from him but only to pronounce Anathema against Nestorius which he did And as touching the Epistle of Ibas no discussion should be made of it after the Council of Chalcedon 8. This Constitutum the Emperour contrary to his promise reserv'd to himself but withall acquainting the Synod with Vigilius his mind touching the Tria Capitula which he had oftimes both by words and writing express'd the Synod proceeded to a condemnation of them withall complaining that the Pope would not afford his presence among them 9. After this Definition of the Bishops in the Council the Pope being in extreme anguish because he saw how the Western Bishops would be offended and that this scandal would be the greater by reason that the Emperour had not sent his Constitutum to the Council utterly refus'd his consent and approbation of their Definition For which refusall he was by the Emperour sent into banishment with seuerall other Bishops 10. His banishment did not continue long for six months after the Synods Definition Vigilius sent a Decretal Epistle to Eutychius the Successour of 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 hereby the last Council which he would not name This Decree of Vigilius was by the Grecians referd among the Acts of the Council by vertue wherof it became acknowleged a lawfull Oecumenicall Council 11. 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 continued till the time of S. Gregory the Great And besides them we doe not find any other Churches unsatisfied excepting Ireland only to the Bishops whereof S. Gregory in the year before S. Kentigerns iourney to Rome wrote an Epistle in answer to one of theirs which had charged the Roman See for injuring the Council of Chalcedon by condemning the Tria Capitula But S. Gregory informed them that this Controversy did not at all touch the Faith of the Church but only the persons of two or three Bishops That the authority of the Council of Chalcedon was entire both with those who oppugn'd 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 Which answer of the Holy Pope it seems gave satisfaction to the Irish Bishops for we read following Epistles from him to them as to unanimous Brethren instructing them touching Rites in Baptism and whether it was to be administred to such as return'd from the Nestorian Heresy c. 12. The state of this Controversy hath been thus largely sett down because at this very time it was hottly agitated when S. Kentigern went to Rome and probably was a principall motive of his journey Which is the more likely because an Irish Bishop called Albanus went thither at the same time likewise And though the Brittish Churches are no where mention'd as partaking with those who were divided from the Roman See yet it might well become the zeale of so holy a Bishop as S. Kentigern to inform himself truly of the state of the present controversy that so he might prevent a future breach V. CHAP. 1. S. Kentigerns death 2. The manner of it 3 His preparation thereto 4. Of his Miracles 1. SAint Kentigern eight years after this his voyage to Rome by a mature and happy death rested from his labours to witt in the year of our Lord six hundred and one being then fourscore and five years old according to the true computation of Bishop Vsher though others mislead by Capgrave add a hundred years more to his age 2. The manner of his death is thus related by Iohn of Tinmouth The man of God Saint Kentigern being worn away with age had his nerves so dissolved that he was forced to sustain his iawes by tying a linnen ruban about his head which came under his Chin to the end he might be enabled with lesse difficulty to pronounce his words This dissolution of his sinews may be ascrib'd to a promise a little before his death made him by an Angell Who told him Since thy whole life in this world has been a continuall Martyrdom it hath pleas'd our Lord to grant thee a milder and easier end of thy life then other men ordinarily find 3. And as touching his preparation to his death it thus follows in the same Authour At length calling together his Disciples he earnestly exhorted them to a continuance in observing the duties of their holy Religion to mutuall charity peace hospitality and diligence in reading and Prayer Moreover he gave and 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 given he departed to our Lord on the Ides of Ianuary in the sixtieth year after he was first consecrated Bishop 4. After his death the same of his Sanctity was every where spread by a world of miracles the particulars may be read in Capgrave to whom the Reader is refer'd Concerning him thus writes Iohannes Major S. Kentigern was contemporary and a singular freind of S. Columba He was illustrious for many miracles and his body reposes at Glasgu to whose honour a Church was erected in that Citty second to none in Scotland for costly ornaments and rich endowments of Canonries His Memory is celebrated in our English Martyrologe on the thirteenth of Ianuary VI. CHAP. 1.2 c. The Kingdom of the Northumbers erected 7. K. Conan dyes and Vortiper succeeds 8. After whom Malgo Conan raigns 9.10 Battells between the Brittains and Saxons 1. COnstantin the kinsman and Successour of King Arthur being dead or removed Aurelius Conanus his Nephew a young man of extraordinary worth and well deserving the Crown saith Westmonasteriensis succeeded him his only fault was that he was a lover of Civill contentions He cast into prison his Vncle to whom the Crown in right belonged and murdred two of his Sons who stood in his way to the kingdom
will adventure to declare from an Ancient Writer Ealred Abbot of Rievall But because such things seem dreams to Protestants for mine own iustification or at least excuse I conceive fit to premise That the Tradition of this wonder has been confirmd moreover by Sulcard in his Chronicle of Westminster by William of Malmsbury in his second Book of English Bishops by Richard of Cicester in his Annals Yea moreover by other Witnesses of higher rank and authority Saint Edward the Confessour in his Charter given to that Church nine days before his death in the year of Grace one thousand sixty six and before him by King Edgar repairer of the same Church in his Charter dated in the year nine hundred sixty nine and lastly by Pope Nicholas the second in his Rescript to King Edward 7. The Narration of the foresaid Abbot Ealred in his life of S. Edward touching this Miracle is as followeth In the time when King Ethelred by the Preaching of Saint Augustin embraced the Faith of Christ his Nephew Sibert who governed the East-Angles rather East-Saxons by the same Holy Bishops Ministery also received the same Faith This Prince built one Church within the walls of London the principall Citty of the Kingdom where he honourably placed Mellâ—tus Bishop of the same Citty Without the walls likewise toward the West he founded a famous Monastery to the honour of S. Peter and endowd it with many possessions Now on the night before the day design'd for the dedication of this Church the Blessed Apostle S. Peter appearing to a certain Fisherman in the habit of a stranger on the other side of the River of Thames which flows beside this Monastery demanded to be wafted over which was done Being gone out of the boat he entred into the Church in the sight of the Fisherman And presently a heavenly light shone so clear that it turnd the night into day There was with the Apostle a multitude of heavenly Cittizens coming out and going into the Church a divine melody sounded and an odour of unexpressible fragrancy was shed abroad Assoon as all things pertaining to the Dedication of the Church were perform'd the glorious Fisher of men returnd to the pooâ— Fisherman who was so affrighted with his Divine splendour that he almost lost his senses But Saint Peter kindly comforting him brought him to himself Thus both of them entring into the Boat Saint Peter asked him if he had any provision Who answerd that partly being stupified with seeing so great a light and partly detaind by his return he had taken nothing being withall assured of a good reward from him Hereto the Apostle replied Let down thy Netts The Fisherman obeyd and immediatly the Nett was filld with a multitude of fishes They were all of the same kind except one Salmon Esocium of a wonderfull largenes Having then drawn them to shore Saint Peter sayd Cary from mee this gâ—eat Fish to Mellitus the Bishop and all the rest take for thy hire and moreover be assured that both thou all thy life time and thy children after thee for many years shall be plentifully furnish'd with these kinds of fishes Onely be carefull you fish not on our Lords days I who speak now with thee am Peter and I my self have dedicated this Church built to my fellow-cittizens and to my honour so preventing by mine own authority the Episcopall Benediction Acquaint the Bishop therfore with the things which thou hast seen and heard and the signs yet marked on the walls will confirm thy speeches Let him therefore surcease from his design of consecrating the Church and only supply what I have omitted the celebration of the Mystery of our Lords Body and Blood and the instruction of the people Let him likewise give notice to all that I my self will oftimes visit this place and be present at the prayers of the faithfull and I will open the gates of heaven to all who live soberly iustly and piously in this world As soon as he had sayd this he presently vanish'd from his sight 8. The next morning as the Bishop Mellitus was going in procession to the Church with an intention to dedicate it the Fisher-man mett him with the Fish and related to him whatsoever Saint Peter had enioynd him At which the Bishop was astonish'd and having unlock'd the Church-dores he saw the pavement mark'd with Letters and inscriptions both in Greek and Latin and the wall annointed in twelve severall places with holy Oyle He saw likewise the remainders of twelve torches sticking to as many Crosses and the Church every where yet moyst with aspersions All which being observ'd by the Bishop and people present they rendred praises and thanks to Almighty God 9. A further testimony and proof to this Miracle is afforded by the whole progeny of that Fisherman For his children according to the command receiv'd from their Father brought the tythes of all their gains by fishing and offred them to Saint Peter and the Preists attending Divine service in his Church But one among them having presum'd to defraud the Church of this Oblation presently was deprived of the wonted benefit of his trade till having confess'd his fault and restord what he had reserv'd he promis'd amendment for the future Thus wrote Ealred above five hundred years since The summ wherof was delivered some what before him by William of Malmsbury who adds this particular That the Fisherman who was very simple and as yet not a Christian described to the Bishop very exactly the shape and line aments of Saint Peter well known to the Bishop by his Picture publickly extant at Rome which long before this S. Silvester shewd to the Emperour Constantin 10. The beleif of this miraculous Story was the cause that this Church was wonderfully enrich'd by following Princes as King Offa and Kenulph mentiond in the fore nam'd Charter of King Edgar And for the same reason it was chosen anciently for the place of the inauguration of our Kings And a proof full of evidence demonstrating the Truth here related was S. Mellitus his forbearing to repeat the Ceremonies of the Dedication which by certain signs he perceived to have been performed before And moreover because going awhile after to Rome he related these particulars to a Synod there assembled and demanded their advice whether any more was to be done to the Consecration of the same Church These particulars being related by our Authours of the prime Classe it argues a great contempt of the authority of our Ancestors in Protestants who without any proof from Antiquity will confidently proscribe such Traditions as dreams and fables XXI CHAP. i. 2 c. The Church of S. Paul in London built and endowed 1. THE same year in the same Citty of London and by the piety of the same King Sebert another Noble Church was erected in the midst of the Citty to the honour of the other Prince of the Apostles Saint Paul Yet some Writers
out in those times that in the Kings Court Easter was twice observed the same year For whilst the King solemnised the Feast of our Lords Resurrection having ended his Fast at the same time the Queen with her attendants persisting still in their Fast celebrated Palm Sunday 7. This dissonance in the Observation of Easter was patiently tolerated by all whilst Bishop Aâ—dan lived because it was well known that though those who sent him would not permitt him to celebrate the Feast of Easter otherwise then they were accustomed yet he was zealous to perform all Christian duties of Faith Piety and Charity according to the custom practised by all Gods Saints And therefore he was deservedly beloved by all even those who differently celebrated Easter and not only by such as were of mean condition but by Bishops themselves though following the Roman observance as Honorius Arch-bishop of Canterbury and Felix Bishop of the East Angles had a venerable esteem of him 8. But when his Successour Finanus was dead and Colman in the year of Grace six hundred sixty one was sent by the Scotts to succeed him in the Bishoprick of Lindesfarn the Controversy about the Observance of Easter as also other points of Ecclesiasticall Discipline began to be agitated with greater heat insomuch as some did not without reason fear considering the pretended importance of the Question least an errour in it might preiudice their salvation and that though they calld themselves Christians they had or might run in vain 9. This Controversy was so publickly agitated by the Ecclesiasticks that it came to the knowledge of King Oswi and his Son Alcfrid both which interessed themselves in it King Oswi having been taught and baptised by the Scotts and perfectly understanding their language beleived the Truth to lye on their side But Alcfrid whose Teacher in matters of Religion Saint Wilfrid a most learned man was followd his iudgment who had made a voyage to Rome on purpose to learn true Ecclesiasticall doctrine and had spent much time in France with the Holy Bishop of Lyons Dalphinus from whom also he had received the Crown of Ecclesiasticall Tonsure These things considered King Alcfrid had reason to beleive that the teaching of S. Wilfrid deserved to be preferred before Scottish Traditions And for the esteem he had of his piety and learning he had bestowd on him a Monastery of forty families in a place called Inrhipun or Rippon which before had been in the possession of the Scotts but because they chose rather to quitt the place then change their countreys custom the King conferred it on him who both for his leâ—rning and piety well deserved it XVII CHAP. i. 2 c. A Synod or Solemne Conference touching the Paschal Solemnity between S. Wilfrid and Colman a Scottish Bishop 1. AFter this Narration S. Beda continues to relate how for the setling of peace in mens minds who were much divided it was necessary to assemble a Synod for so he calls it though indeed it was more properly a solemne Conference saith Baronius in asmuch as all the Bishops of that Province were not convoked to it but only such as then hapned to be present debated the matter before the King 2. As touching the time when this Assembly was convoked S. Beda setts it down precisely saying This Question was agitated in the year of our Lords Incarnation six hundred sixty four which was the two and twentieth of the Raign of King Oswi and the thirtieth from the time that the Scotts administred the Bishoprick of Lindesfarn in a Province of the English For Aidan held that Bishoprick seventeen years Finâ—n ten and Colman was now in his third year 3. The same Authour likewise elsewhere relates the names of the persons who were present in the said Assembly About the same time saith he Agilbert Bishop of the West Saxons a freind of King Alcfrid and of Abbot Wilfrid was come into the Province of the Northumbers and stayd some time with them Moreover upon the entreaty of King Alcfrid he ordained Wilfrid a Preist in the foresaid Monastery He had likewise attending on him a Preist named Agathon When therefore the Question about Easter the Ecclesiasticall Tâ—nsure and other Rites was moved it was orderd that a Synod should be assembled in the Monastery called Strenes-halch or Beacons-bay whereof Hilda a devout woman was Abbesse and that there the controversy should be determined 4. Both the Kings Oswi the Father and Alcfrid his son came thither and these Bishops Colman with his Clarks from Scotland and Agilbert with the Preists Agathon and Wilfrid with whom also ioyned Iacob and Romanus As for Hilda the Abbesse with her dependants and the Venerable Bishop Ceadda who as we have formerly declared was ordained by the Scotts they declared for the Scottish opinion This last Bishop was a most vigilant Interpreter for both parties 5. When all these were mett King Oswi first of all by way of Preface advising them that since they all professed to serve the same God and to expect the same heavenly kingdom they therefore ought all to hold the same Rule of living and uniformly celebrate the Divine Sacraments And for this reason the principall Enquiry ought to be Which side held the truer Tradition for that certainly was to be followd by all Having said this be in the first place commended his own Bishop Colman to declare What Rite that was which he in practise followd and whence he took its Originall 6. Hereto Colman thus answered The manner of celebrating the Paschal Solemnity which I in practise conform to I received from my Superiours who sent mee hither and ordained mee Bishop And it is the same which all our Ancestours men known to have been beloved and highly favoured by God have always practised This Rite let every one take heed how they contemn or reprove for it is the very same which as we read in Ecclesiasticall Story the Blessed Evangelist S. Iohn as likewise all the Churches governed by him have from the beginning celebrated 7. After that Bishop Colman had spoken these and other words to the same effect the King next commanded Bishop Agilbert to declare publickly likewise the manner of his Observance whence it sprung and upon what authority be conform'd thereto Agilbert answer'd I beseech your Maiesty that in my stead my Disciple Wilfrid the Preist may speak for wee are both of the same iudgment and agree with the rest here sitting who follow the generall Ecclesiasticall Tradition Besides he can much better and more perspicuously declare our sense in the English tongue then I can by an Interpreter 8. Wilfrid therefore the King so commanding thus began The manner of celebrating Easter practised by us we our selves saw generally practis'd at Rome where the Blessed Apostles Peter and Paul lived taught suffred and were buried The very same observance we saw in the rest of Italy and in France likewise through both which countreys we travell'd partly
but thy Primitive and youth-full face Read with delight and ioy this breathing Story Sets out to life thy death-surviving Glory But if thy curious glance must prye too far Beyond these leaves what now thy features are Blame not his Penn who not t' endanger Truth Shadows thine Age and onely paints thy Youth Nor will wee blame thy blush nor yet thy Teare If thou wilt needs thy time with this compare So blush'd so wept the Worlds great Empresse when In lively Mirrour of her Livie's penn Her faded honour she with sigh's recalls And mourns her buried Vertues funeralls When she her Curij her Fabrâ—cij mourns Bathing her Regulus her Decij Vrnes Those Heathen-Saints whom had our ages seen Had Catholick as well as Roman been How she disdaind herself though she could now Her Great Augustus boast as well as Thou Yet was 't ' expiring Fame so seem alive Though onely in effigie some Reprive Whose very sight Idea's might create For proud Posterity to imitate And thou in this Serener Glasse maist see If still thy looks dare own themselves and Thee Be thine own Iudge And who can better know Then thine own self if Thou bee'st Thou or no No bitter Satyres here no nettling Witt No Passion strutting in Zeale's Counterfeit No crooked Mood no Crosse-dilemma here Deny not but thy self the cause is cleare Eares are slow Iudges much by Rumour dull'd By tickling flattery too as often Gull'd What Plea then this can surer Proof dispence When thine own Eyes bring their own evidence In no false dresse disguis'd see hete thy face No patch'd Reform here foyles thy Native Grace Here view thy Pietie's forgotten look So lively drawn in this reviving Books Thy Vnity by Sects and Schismes rear Restor'd in this Eâ—ernall Monument Thy ruin'd Sepulchers and buried Shrines Repaird and rais'd in these Immortall lines Thy banished Saints recall'd by Saint like men Thy Bede restor'd in CRESSIES life and Penn. Ed. Thymelby Pr. S. Gaugerici Cameraci THE PREFACE TO THE READER 1. IT will no doubt be expedient with the Christian Readers leave to entertaine him a while in the porch and Entrance of this history there to informe him touching certain general matters relating to it the knowledge of which will not be unusefull to him and those are principally three 1. the Motive inducing the Authour to compose it 2. the disposition and order observed in it 3. the most considerable Wriitters from whom materialls have beene furnished for the fabrick of it As touching the Motive to the end it may appeare not irrationall I must give this account of my selfe to my Readers 2. I have not been able of late to prevent or expell a deepe ressentment of greife mixed with some indignation to see the cause of God and his Church too ordinarily defended and in a manner alwaies opposed with so much vnbeseeming passion and violence so as that oft times on the one side the merit of defending truth is lost by extreme preiudice don to Christian Charity and humility and on the other side the guilt of opposing truth is heightned by proceedings full of fury and revenge in the enemyes of it 3. A sad consideration hereof has produced in my mind a great aversenesse from Controversies For though I am not much suspicious of my selfe but that through the assistance of Divine grace I may hope to mannage a dispute how weakily soever yet without an arrogant incivility or mingling therein contemptuous reflexions on the adversaries persons yet perceiving that even candour modestie though excesse in proceeding from the penn of a Catholick disputant like oile increases the flame of a Sectaries passion there sore a compassionate solicitude in behalfe of our Adversaries themselves least by my occasion they should be plunged yet more deeply and inreparably in the hatred of Divine Truth and Christian peace has induced one almost to a resolution as far as I may dispose of my selfe not to continue much lesse to renew Debates and controversies except it shall appeare with sufficient evidence to me that God shall require it of mee 4. Indeed it was to me at first an astonishment to see how the violence of our Anti-catholick Writers in England has been increased against those who have assisted them and their calmnesse eqaully encreased towards those who had not long since almost and they know intend still to destroy their Church and Monarchy with it But this astonishment quickly ceased asson as I perceived that for the most part the new Defenders of the Church of England against Rome were arrant Sectaries some of them notoriously stigmatized and who not long before had been the loudest Trompets of war against the same Church such are the Champions who of late have intruded themselves into this Controversie knowing how much thereby they can ingratiate themselves with the people whom they have made thirsty after blood and likewise how in mannaging of it they can covertly pursue their old desing the English Church her selfe For this purpose they speake favourably of the tender consciences of their own seditious partie and treacherously commend the Church of England by telling the people how unlike it is to the Roman Church which challenges a supreme obliging authority whereas according to them the English Bishops have no Iurisdiction at all no not even my Lord of Canterbury himselfe but every ones private reason and conscience exempted from all humane authority is to be his onely Guide Thus they defend the Church of England by making it no Church at all 5. Vpon the sight of this I again wondred that so manifest so traiterous a prevarication should be connived at by the heads and Governours of the English-Protestant Church But this wonder did not long continue after I had upon reflexion considered that from the very beginning of the breach of England from Rome the Bishops themselves have beene the vnderminers of their own Church For there have never wanted in that number at least three or four who in Episcopacy loved onely the mannors and revenues being otherwise in their Iudgments and affections poisoned and embittered with the very Gall of Calvinism Now ordinary experience has shewed that among more than twenty moderate Protestants if there be found three or four genuine Calvinists they doe infallibly make the maior part by the advantage of their furious zeale restlesse activity and interest in popular favour 6. These masked Prelats then are they whose Faith consists in disbeleiving the Doctrines of the Catholick Church and their charity in hating and persecuting the Professours of such Doctrines Whence it comes to passe that the seditious preaching party conforming themselves to this unbeleiving beleife and uncharitable charity have right enough to their affections and favour so that out of a liking to their vnchristian zeale against Catholick vnity they easily pardon and excuse in them the like zeale against both Episcopacy and Monarky it self These are they who having first asserted the furious doctrines of Calvin touching
absolute Reprobation predestination to sin impossibility of loosing grace c. as opposed to the Roman faith have thereby given the Presbyterians advantage to brand all moderate Protestants with the unpardonnable crime of Popery These are who though they will not or dare not themselves undervalue the Challenge made by the Church of England of a legitimate succession of Ordinations yet have rendred such succession uselesse to them and indeed ridiculous by giving the right hands of fellowship to Calvinisticall Congregations abroad In which those who call themselves Ministers of Gods word and dispensers of his Sacraments have no more right to such titles than their wives or daughters have Lastly these Prelats have been the persons who not onely favouring but by their own writings promoting the Fanatick position That the Pope is Antichrist have hereby put a sword into the hands of Presbyterian Gladiators by which they can cutt mangle destroy every way whom soever they please as easily as they think they can Catholicks themselves Bishops they can destroy with it as being proud Prelats who by their own confession have received their character and Iurisdiction from Anti-christ And kings they can with a safe conscience destroy in case they will not deliver up unto them Anti-christian Bishops Anti-christian Litanies sober prayers or Ceremonies yea and Anti-christian Lord-ships or mannners too Indeed so advantageous has this Engin of Popish Anti-christianisme been to every Sect which would destroy another that we have seen even the Presbyterians themselves wounded almost to death with it by the Independents Anabaptists c. who confidently charged their Classes and Synods with Anti-christian tyranny 7. Ecclesiasticall matters being reduced to these termes in England can any one esteeme it a wonder if malicious and unquiet Sectaries being shadowed under such Rochets are so securely busy both to encrease their esteeme and credit amonst the ignorant multitudes by their zeale against Popery and withall at the same time closely pursue their old designs upon Church livings and for that end make use of such credit to pluck down that Church which now they would seeme to support Whilst they snarle and grin against Catholicks they bite and hope shortly to devoure Prelatical Protestants and whatsoever Power shal maintain them 8. Such being the present state of Controversie-writings To what purpose should any Catholick interesse himselfe in confuting bookes in which if there be any thing material it is the undermining of that Church which in the frontis-peice is pretended to be asserted for generally it is agreed on by the late Authours that the English Church has no authoritie to oblige any one in conscience to beleive doctrines proposed by her From whence followes necessarily that no man can be obliged to be a member of it and therefore that she can not iustly excommunicate or otherwise punish any one for not yeilding obedience to her or for deserting her and choosing another communion And yet lesse are we concerned in what is written by them directly against us and the faith which we professe since not a word of sober reasoning can be found but what the last age had heard a hundred times obiected and refuted If there may be any thing new it is a Texture of new invented calumnies phrases of foule language And what a folly and pitty likewise is it by contesting to open yet wider such noysom Flood-Gates 9. Yet notwithstanding all this the Cause of Gods Church must not be deserted Therefore far be it from mee in so miserable a distraction of Iudgments and affections to entertain any resolution of surceasing endeavours to promote Catholick vnity and Peace And our Lord be blessed it seemes to mee that this desireable and never more than at this time seasonable duty may be performed without any quarrelling controversie at all And one healthfull meane for this purpose I have here made use of which is a sincere simple relation uncontested by any of the state of our Brittishs Churches since from the Primitive times both as to the Doctrines of faith received by them and externall practises in use among them For I suppose that any sober and rational Christian will not unwillingly grant That that Church which in these times shall appear most conformable to those Primitive Apostolical doctrines and practises ought unquestionably to be esteemed most safe and Orthodoxe Now for a Triall of this there will be no use of sylloziging or disputing The simplest Readers eyes will resolve him that those very points of faith and discipline for which the Roman Catholick Church is so cruelly assaulted on all sides by Sectaries are the very same which Apostolick Doctours at first taught our forefathers and which by their Successours have been so carefully transmitted to us that during the space of more than a thousand yeares comprehended in this History not any congregation at all nor any persons except a few dispersed known Hereticks did ever appear to contradict what we still beleive and practise nor did ever teach any of those opinions which now constitute any of our later English Sects 10. Now this way and Method of arguing implicitely without disputing seems to me of force inexpugnable as being not obnoxious to the peevish Cavils of quarrelsom spirits and efficacious to extort the assent of such as are truly desirous to find the truth For though among all our Sectaries as antiently among professed Hereticks the pretence of each one be to admitt no other Rule of faith but onely his own sence of Scripture the chime whereof seems to every one of them to accord to the tune framed by himselfe though each of them has a tune utterly discordant from all the rest Yet surely that man must renounce his reason forgett his Creed yea he must covertly blaspheme Christ himselfe who shall continue to impute most horrible superstitions and Idolatries to the Catholick Church after that he shal have discovered plainly that she teaches the very same Doctrines and Observances which were at first delivered by Apostolick Preachers For since there never was anciently any other Church in Brittany and the like may be said of other Countries but that which taught the same doctrines such blasphemers of Gods Church must consequently affirm That so many Holy Apostolical Doctours have taught so many glorious Martyrs have shed their blood and so many Blessed Saints have wrought most stupendious Miracles for confirming most damnable superstitions and Idolatries 11. Now what other consequence can flow from hence but this most execrable yet by them unavoydable one that Iesus Christ was not the true Messias for how can they esteeme him the Messias who it seems failed in the principal End for which the Messias was sent which was by shedding his blood to redeem and by the effusion of his spirit to sanctifie a Church and such an one as is prophetically described to be a spiritual kingdom which should never be destroyed a Church in which God would place Pastours till
as followeth He became a Christian in Brittany converted by some unknown Primitive Beleiver Before his Conversion his name was Suetonius being born of noble parents Out of Brittany he under took a voyage to Rome moved therto by other devout Christians to be instructed more perfectly in the holy Faith by the Blessed Apostle S. Peter by whom being baptised as a testimony of his present happines and hopes of a future accomplishment of it he was called Beatus After he was sufficiently instructed he was esteemed worthy to be employed in the Apostolicall office of instructing others In his return toward his Countrey passing through Helvetia now called Suizzerland he neglected not to disperse the good seed with which he had been furnish'd at Rome and perceiving that very many in that Countrey chearfully embraced the true Faith he rested there pursuing his journey no further Thus he became the Apostle of the Helvetians illustrious for his Piety holines and miracles In his declining age having distributed all his substance to the poore he retir'd himselfe to the exercises of a contemplative life chusing for his habitation nere a village called Vrbigenum Vnderseven a Grotte in a Mountain out of which with the sign of the Crosse he expelled a dangerous and cruel serpent It is not certain in what place he dyed S. Bede makes only this mention of him At Rome is the commemoration of S. Beatus a Confessour on the ninth of May. But the Roman Martyrologe thus In the Town Vindecinum or Vendosme is celebrated the deposition of S. Beatus a Confessour But the Ecclesiasticall Writers of Germany the Annals of the Helvetians and Monuments of the Church of Constantia doe unanimously agree that he dyed in his solitude neer Vnderseven in Helvetia in the hundred and tenth yeare of our Lord when the Emperour Traian raigned VI. CHAP. 1. Testimonies of S. Peters preaching in Brittany 2. Proved by the Catalâ—gue of the Provinces of the severall Apostles 3. And by the testimony of Pope Innocentius the first 4. S. Paul sayd to have preached in Brittany 5.6.7 Simon Zelotes reported by Nicephorus to have preached in Brittaâ—ny but disproved by C. Baronius 8.9 The time of S. Peters coming in to this Island uncertain as likewise his Gests 1. IT was no doubt a great mercy which God extended to this our Island that he was pleased so early to enlighten it with his Divine Truth and moreover to transforme its barbarous inhabitants into Apostles and Messengers of salvation to other Countreys also But a far greater blessing yet did God bestow on it by directing hither his Apostle him who was the Prime of the whole order S. Peter himselfe whose accesse to this Island is attested by Ancient Monuments and by Writers who had no interest at all to induce them to partiality Those who formerly had preached the Gospell here were persons though of great holines and zeale yet such as for want of an Apostolicall Episcopall Character could onely preach unto baptise those with whom they conversed But wheresoever any of the Apostles themselves came or persons sufficiently qualified by them they provided for posterity also The former could only beget children but the other could beget both children and Fathers establishing in the places where they preached a constant order and Government which might last to the worlds end 2. When the Apostles before their separation divided by lott among themselves the severall Regions of the world the West became the portion of Saint Peter as Eusebius quoted by Metaphrastes testifies saying S. Peter spent twelve yeares in the East and twenty he pass'd at Rome in Brittany and other citties in the West Which passage though it be not extant in any Books of Eusebius now remaining this does not prejudice the validity of this authority since as S. Hierom writes in his Catalogue Eusebius publish'd an infinite number of volumes and among others an Vniversall History together with an Epitome of it severall Books likewise of Martyrs and other works Of which a great number are by the iniury of time perished And in some of those we may ought reasonably to judge that those words were found rather then to imagin that such a Writer as Simeon would voluntarily feign such things from his own brain since he had no interest in the glory of Brittany and besids was one who for his Sanctity is venerated in the Greek Church 3. The same Authour out of ancient Monuments adds furcher S. Peter says he out of the East came to Rome from whence he went to Millan and Photice which are Citties in the continent In which places having constituted Bishops and Preists he pass'd into Brittany In which Island having made a long abode and converted to the Faith of Christ severall Nations of unknown names he had a Vision of Angells which sayd to him Peter the time of thy dissolution is at hand and it is necessary that thow goe to Rome where thou must suffer the death of the Crosse and so receive the reward of righteousnes Having received this Revelation he glorified God giving thanks for the same and continuing certain dayes among the Brittains during which he enlightned many more with the word of Grace having constituted Churches and ordained Bishops Preists and Deacons in the twelfth yeare of the Emperour Nero he return'd to Rome To this revelation made to him in Brittany the Apostle has regard in his second Epistle saying I know that shortly I must put off my Tabernacle even as our Lord Iesus Christ hath shew'd me 4. Hereto wee may adde an important testimony of S. Innocent the first Pope of that name who writing to Decentius Bishop of Eugubium hath this passage Who can be ignorant or not observe that that which hath been delivered to the Roman Church by Peter Prince of the Apostles and is there observed to this day ought to be obediently kept by all and that nothing ought to be introduced or super-added by any which doth not come from the same authority or seems to be practised in imitation of any other Especially since it is manifest that through all Italy Gaules Spain Africk and Sicily as likewise the interiacent Islands none ever instituted any Churches but only such as the Venerable Apostle S. Peter or his Successours did ordain Preists and Bishops If any would contradict this let them produce Records testifying that any other of the Apostles can be found or heard to have taught in those Provinces Therfore if no such Records can be produced they must be obliged to submitt to the observation of that which the Roman Church teaches and practises from which without doubt they received their Originall This they must doe least while they affect strange observances they may seem to divide from the Head of Ecclesiasticall Institutions 5. This positive Assertion of so ancient learned and Holy a Pope to witt that none of the Apostles besids
Divine Faith to submitt therto So unhappily prevalent is worldly Power and Riches against the Spirit of Christianity which teaches Humility and a contempt of such transitory vanities 2. The King not content only to giue permission to these Apostolick Preachers to convert and save his subjects was pleas'd moreover to extend his liberality to them so far as to afford them a place of retreat commodious for their quiet and holy Devotions and sufficient for their sustenance that so without distraction and sollicitude they might attend to the worship of the true God and the instruction of all those that were willing to seek it Yet we cannot without injury to the zeale and charity of these our Primitive Fathers imagin that they were willing to spare their labour and travells to make Christ known to many which enquired not after him No doubt they behav'd themselves as all other holy Missioners did in those dayes through all places 〈…〉 to fly from the wrath to come and made use of that Retreat allowd them by 〈◊〉 King only as a place of repose after they had been spent with toyling in Gods harvest in which place being separated from worldly conversation they might purify themselves before their deaths that so they might be admitted into Gods presence to receive the Crown of all their labours 3. The Seat assignd by King Arviragus to S. Ioseph and his Companions was an Island rude and uncultivated call'd by the Britons for the colour of it Iniswytrin that is the glassy Island compass'd by the River Bry and situated in Somersetshire In succeeding time being cleard from bryars draynd and cultiuated it was by the inhabitants nam'd Avallonia for the plenty of apples and other fruit growing there But in after ages when the Saxons had possess'd themselves of those parts they resum'd the former Title and call'd it in their own language Glaston or Glascon whence the famous Monastery of Glastonbury begun after a homely fashion by S. Ioseph but in future times with a prodigious magnificence enlarged tooke its name 4. In the same place there was by King Arviragus and his Son Marius allotted a certain proportion of ground for the nourishment of these twelve strangers containing according to their ancient measure twelve Hydes of Land Now this term Hyde is by our Writers sometime call'd a Manse Mansa Manentium sometime a Family by others it is call'd a Plough containing as much as one Plough and Oxen could cultivate in one yeare or as could nourish a small Family And within this proportion seems to have been contained a certain fenny but rich peice of ground which the Saxons afterwards call'd Godney that is Gods Island as being the first portion of ground which in the Christian Church was consecrated to Gods service V. CHAP. 1. S. Ioseph at Glastonbury build's a Church 2.3.4 c. This confirm'd by ancient Testimonies as an Epistle of S. Patrick here produced 11.12 Observations from that Epistle 13 14. An Objection answerd 1. THe first thing that our New blessed Inhabitants did in their new Habitation was to build and consecrate to the worship of the only true God a Temple or Church in which so great was the fervour and piety of our Primitive Christians that is was deservedly call'd the Mother of Saints 2. This Church erected by S. Ioseph moved thereto by Divine Revelation as our Ancient Records testify was also dedicated to the honour of the most blessed Virgin Mary and moreover was immediatly consecrated by our Lord himselfe Of these things the Testimonies are so ancient and of such authority that severall Protestant Writers refuse not their assent to them We will here produce the attestation of Authours and Monuments which cannot reasonably be excepted against 3. The first is of S. Patrick the so illustrious Apostle of Ireland He after many years Labours spent in his Apostolicall Office there thirsting after a quiet retired life of Contemplation in the year four hundred thirty nine returning into his native Countrey Brittany made choice of Glastonbury a then famous schoole of Sanctity for his abode where he spent his last thirty years in Prayers Fasting Watching and all other Penitentiall austerities Now having by Tradition been inform'd that in that place many Primitive Saints had been enterr'd desirous to find out and honour their Relicks he caused the ground to be broken in severall places and thought fit to give an account to posterity of what he found there This he did in Writing preserv'd hitherto with great care and approv'd not only by ancient and modern Catholick Authours but by learned Protestants also The tenour of it is as followeth 4. In the name of our Lord Iesus Christ. I Patrick the poor humble servant of God in the four hundred twenty fifth yeare of the Incarnation of our Lord being sent by the most holy Pope Celestin into Ireland by the assistance of divine Grace I converted the Irish people to the way of Truth And having establish'd them in the Catholick Faith I at last am return'd into Brittany where as I beleive by a speciall conduct of God who is the life and the way I arrived at the Island Ynswitrin Where I found a holy ancient place chosen and sanctified by God to the honour of the immaculate Virgin Mary the Mother of God There also I met with certain Brethren of holy Conversation instructed in the rudiments of Catholick Faith who were the Successors of the Disciples of the holy Saints Phaganus and Diruvianus whose names considering the merits of their lives I assuredly beleive are written in heaven And because the Iust shall be had in perpetuall memory out of the tender affection which I bore to the sayd Brethren I resolved to commemorate their Names in this my Writing the which are Brumban Hiregaan Bremwal Wentreth Bantomeweny Adelwolred Loyot Wellias Breden Swelwes Hinloërnus and another calld Hin These being born of Noble parentage and desirous to adorn their Nobility with works of Christian Faith made choice of an Eremiticall life And because I found them of humble and quiet spirits I chose rather to live with them as an abiect in the worlds esteem then to dwell in Courts of Princes Moreover being all of us of one heart and one soule we thought it best for us to live eat and drink in Community and to sleep in the same habitation and thus though much against my will they would needs make me their Superiour who was not worthy to untye the latchets of their shooes 5. Whilst we thus lead a Monasticall life together according to the Rules of Ancient approved Fathers the foresayd Brethren shewd me certain Writings of S. Phaganus and Diruvianus wherin was declared that twelve Disciples of the Holy Apostles Philip and Iacob built the sayd ancient Church to the honour of the foresayd Blessed Virgin by the appointment of the blessed Archangel Gabriel And moreover that our Lord himselfe from heaven dedicated the sayd Church to the honour
kinred 12. By which expression the Historian seems in the opinion of Baronius to have principally pointed at this famous Conversion of Brittany For having with all diligence searched into Ecclesiasticall monuments he professes he could could not find out any to whom that passage in Eusebius could be applied except our Brittish King Lucius whose name is commemorated in the ancient Martyrologes usually read in Churches Neither is it any wonder that Eusebius should either be ignorant or silent concerning the particular affairs of Brittany concerning which as may be shewd by many Examples he treats very negligently But enough hath been sayd touching the motives probably inducing King Lucius at this time publickly to embrace the Christian Faith We will consequently declare the manner and order of the said Kings conversion accompanied with that not only of his family but generally his whole Kingdom III. CHAP. 1. A History of the Conversion of Brittany anciently written by Elvanus Avallonius lost 2. The Relation of Bale and the Magdeburgenses concerning it 3.4.5 c. King Lucius being unsatisfied in his old Religion demands instruction of Pope Eleutherius And why he has recourse to him 1. IF the Ancient History of Elvanus call'd Avallonius that is of Glastonbury mention'd by Radulphus Niger in his Chronicle and â—ale who is sayd to have lived in these very times of Antoninus the Philosopher Commodus his son and Pope Eleutherius and to have written a Book of the Original of the Brittish Church if this History I say were still extant we might with more assurance proceed in the relation of the particulars touching this most happy conversion of our Countrey Wheras now we must content our selves with gleaning out of lesse ancient Writers such parcell's as they will afford us to make up the following Narration Notwithstanding since we cannot charge them with delivering to posterity their own inventions we ought to receive their scattred Records as the Relicks of ancient Tradition extracted out of Primitive Histories now swallowd in the gulfe of time 2. Now in our Narration that we may approve our sincerity we will not neglect the iudgment and testimonies of such Modern Writers as have searched into Antiquity though otherwise averse from Catholick Religion Among which thus writs Bale King Lucius says he was it seems scandalis'd at the meannesse and Poverty of Christ as the Iews formerly were For though Christian Religion had for the space of more then a hundred years been propagated through Brittany yet it seem'd to him deprived of its due splendour because it had hitherto been administred by simple poore and contemptible persons and however it wanted the Emperiall Authority of Rome to support it Therfore as soon as he was informed by Trebellius and Pertinax the Emperours Lievtenants that upon the ceasing of persecution severall illustrious Romans had embraced it he then began to entertain a more worthy conceit of it And to the same effect write the Centuriators of Magdeburg though with some mistake as hath been observed 3. This stone of offence to wit Poverty and want of worldly splendour and advantages being thus removed King Lucius now seriously comparing the Christian Faith with what he had been taught by his Druids the simplicity and sanctity of the one with the unclean and inhuman Superstitions of the other but especially considering the inestimable Promises of eternall Glory and Happines not only proposed but by evident demonstrations establish'd in the Gospell to which his own Preists never pretended any claim at all No wonder if he grew unsatisfied and weary of his former Errours and willing to admit a further illustration of those verities with a few beams wherof he had formerly been enlightned 4. Now it seems there not being then in Brittany or not known to the King any Ecclesiasticall persons of authority sufficient to establish a new Church though there wanted not such as had skill enough to perswade satisfy him in the Truth of Christian Religion the principall of which were the foremention'd Elvanus of Avallonia and Medwinus of the Province inhabited by the Belgae Hence it came to passe that King Lucius no doubt by the advice of these holy persons was oblig'd to seek for a more perfect instruction and to implore a greater authority for setling the common affairs of Christianity from abroad 5. For which purpose though in the neighbouring Kingdom of Gaule there were at that time living and famous many holy Bishops eminent for Piety and learning the most illustrious among which was S. Irenaeus Bishop of Lyons and shortly after a most glorious Martyr Yet to none of these had King Lucius recourse either for counsell or assistance But ordring his Messengers to passe through that Nation he directed them beyond it to Rome the fountain of all Ecclesiasticall Iurisdiction and to S. Eleutherius a worthy Successor of S. Peter in the Apostolick Chair 6. Indeed if he had at that time consulted S. Irenaeus he would have told him what himselfe had taught the world in his Book against Heresies That to this Roman Church by reason of its more powerfull principality it is necessary that every other Church should have recourse that is all faithfull Christians wheresoever dispers'd Because in that Church the Tradition derived from the Apostles was safely conserv'd Tertullian likewise an Eminent Preist then alive would have given him the same advice Whosoever thou art saith he that would'st better employ thy curiosity in the busines of thy salvation take a view of the principall Churches founded by the Apostles c. If Italy be nearest thee thou maist repaire to Rome from whence our authority in Africk is likewise derived A Church it is happy in its constitution to which the cheif Apostles together with their blood shed forth the whole doctrine of Christianity Lastly the security of making that Church the Rule both of doctrin and disciplin would have been excellently declared by the foresaid glorious Saint Irenaeus saying By making known the Faith of that cheifest most ancient and through all the world most renouned Church of Rome founded and constituted by the most glorious Apostles S. Peter and S. Paul and by an uninterrupted succession of Bishops derived to our times we confound all those who any way either by an unlawfull self-love vain-glory blindnes or or perversenes of opinion doe make separated congregationâ— professing other Doctrines And in consequence the same holy Father adioyns a Catalogue of the Names of all the Bishops of Rome from S. Peters dayes the twelfth and last wherof living in his time was this S. Eleutherius to whom King Lucius address'd himselfe for a more perfect information in Christian verities and to obtain Ordinances and lawes necessary for the constitution of a well ordred Church in his Kingdome IV. CHAP. 1.2 Bishop Vshers iudgment of King Lucius his Message to the Pope 3. Instructions given by the King to Messengers 4.5 Pope
of our more Ancient Historians as Geffrey of Monmouth Hoveden c. doe mention it But what ever becoms of this Epistle certain it is that the story of King Lucius his conversion c. does not depend on it but is confirm'd by most Authentick Records and unquestion'd Tradition V. CHAP. 1.2 Fugatius and Damianus sent back with King Lucius his Messengers 3. Concerning Elvanus one of the Kings Messengers 1. THis Epistle if indeed genuine was brought back by the same Messengers whom King Lucius had sent to Rome Elvanus and Medwinus and together with them there came two other Holy Men commission'd by Pope Eleutherius not only to instruct and baptise the King and those who imitating the Kings good Example embraced the Christian Faith but also to order and establish all Ecclesiasticall affairs in the Kingdome The names of those two strangers were Fugatius and Damianus 2. The Employment about which these men were sent argues them to have been sufficiently qualified thereto And hence it is that our more Modern Historians both Catholicks and Protestants doe not doubt to stile them Prelats Antistites and Bishops For indeed without such a Character and Authority how could they erect Bishopricks consecrate Churches dispense Orders c 3. It is not likewise without probability what other Writers say concerning our Brittish Messenger Elvanus that he was consecrated a Bishop at Rome by Pope Eleutherius And whereas others contradict this upon a supposition that when he with his companion went to Rome they were only Cathecumens not baptis'd before that time the contrary seems to appear in that they were formerly Preachers of the Christian Faith both to King Lucius and others And besids their Education sufficiently shews their capacity For as a late Writer out of ancient Monuments asserts they were of the number of S. Ioseph of Arimathea's Disciples full of zeale to Gods glory according to knowledge bred up in a contemplative life of Prayer and Mortification at Glastonbury where according to the Testimony of Adam Domerham and Iohn a Monk Authours of the Antiquities of Glastonbury The twelve holy men companions of S. Ioseph and their Successors in the same number did for a long time lead an Eremiticall life there and converted great multituds of Pagans to the Faith of Christ. It is therfore very credible that so well a qualified person as Elvanus was as Tradition delivers consecrated a Bishop at Rome since no prejudice therby was done to the Apostolick Canons forbidding Neophyts to be assumed to so sublime a degree As for his Companion Medwinus the same Tradition informs us that being endued with eloquence and fluency of speech he was qualified there also with the Office of a Preacher and Doctour of the Christian Faith VI. CHAP. 1.2 King Lucius with his Queen c. baptised 3.4.5 c. Rites of ancient Baptism signing with the Crosse Vnction Benediction of the water Exorcismes c. 11.12.13 These come by Tradition confirm'd by S. Basile 14. The Centuriators blaspemies against them 1. FVgatius and Damianus being admitted to King Lucius his presence acquainted him with the great ioy caus'd at Rome by his happy conversion and how in complyance with his desire they were sent by the Holy Pope Eleutherius to administer the Rites of Christianity And hereupon both the King and his whole family with many others received Baptism according to the course and ceremony of the Roman Church Thus we read in the Ancient Roman Martyrologe Pope Eleutherius brought to the profession of Christian Faith many of the Roman Nobility And moreover sent into Brittany S. Fugatius and S. Damianus who baptis'd King Lucius together with his Wife and almost all his people 2. The Name of King Lucius his Queen baptised with him is lost but in ancient Records the memory of his Sister call'd Emerita is still preserv'd who for her Holines and constant suffring Martyrdom for Christ ha's worthily obtain'd a place among the Saints More shall be sayd of her hereafter 3. Now since all Ancient Histories agree that King Lucius was baptis'd solemny according to the Roman rite it will be expedient to declare the order and form therof as may be collected out of the Monuments and Writings of this Primitive age which was no doubt conformable to the Ordinances of the Apostles as S. Iustin Martyr S. Irenaeus and Tertullian living in these times doe confidently affirm against all Hereticks and innovatours challenging them all to shew wherin any of the Apostolick Churches and principally that of Rome have deserted the ancient Faith and Disciplin established by the Apostles 4. Now though to the essence and substance of the Sacrament of Baptis'm there be necessarily required no more besides the due Matter which is Water the due Form of Words to be pronounced and a right Intention of him who conferrs it Yet that besids these there were even in those Primitive times adioyned severall other Sacred and ceremonious rites very effectuall to apply and imprint the sence and vertue of that Sacrament in the minds of all those who received it is most evident from ancient Tradition and the Writings of those times Which additionary Ceremonies were commanded to be used in Solemne baptisms through the whole Church by S. Clement S. Hyginus S. Pius and other Primitive Popes by a prescription no doubt from the Apostles though probably not used every where with due reverence 5. But though those Ceremonies had not been expressly enioynd by the Apostles who can iustly deny but that the Church and her Governours concerning whom our Lord saith He that heareth or obeyeth you heareth me had sufficient authority to render the administration of the Sacraments more solemne and august by ordaining externall Rites in the celebration of them as long as they doe not command our beleif of the absolut necessity of them in themselves 6. Of the sayd Additionary Rites the principall are these 1. The arming of the person to be Baptised with the sign of the Crosse. 2. The annointing him on the head with holy Oyle 3. and likewise with Chrism 4. The solemn blessing of the Water design'd for Baptism 5. The using of Exorcisms and holy Prayers for the driving away the Enemy of mankind Of all these Ceremonies at this day banish'd from all Congregations but only the Roman and Greek Churches and in regard of the first and last the English Protestant Church there are evident proofs that they were in use at this time when our King Lucius was baptiz'd 7. First touching signing with the Crosse Tertullian is so expresse even by confession of Protestants and that not only in Baptism but a world of other occasions that it is to no purpose to quote him This was the Character which distinguishd true Beleivers in that age from Infidells And particularly with regard to King Lucius there is to this day extant an ancient Coyn stampd with the Image of this King his Name LVC. and the sign of
VII Caâ—r Custeint This Citty was formerly called Seiont near Caernarvont being the same which Antoninus calls Seguntium But it chang'd its name into Caïr Custeinâ— because Constantius the Father of Constantin was buried there Whose body saith Mathew of Westminster was found at Caernarvon near Snowdon in the time of King Edward the first after the Conquest and by his command honourably buried in the Church VIII Caïr Caratauc or Caïr Caradoc in the borders of Shropshire between the Rivers Temdus and Colunus Where King Caractacus rais'd against the Roman Generall Ostorius a great Rampire but was there defeated by him There a Citty being afterwards rais'd was from his Name called Caïr Caradoc So that Geffrey of Monmouth and Huntingdon are much mistaken who interpret this Citty to be Salisbury IX Caïr Grant or Granteceaster or Grantbridge now Cambridge taking its name from the River Grant or Gront X. Cair Maunguid or Manchguid suppos'd to be the same Which by Antoninus is called Mancunium or Manchester in Lancashire others conceive it to be Manduessedum or Manchester in Warwickshire XI Caïr Lundein by others Caïr Lud now London XII Caïr Guorthigirn a Citty situated in Radnorshire and called from King Vortigern who conceild himself there being afraid of punishment for his horrible crimes but was found out by Divine Iustice and by Lightning burnt together with his Citty What the prime name of this Citty was in King Lucius his dayes does not appeare XIII Caïr Ceint or Kent now called Canterbury formerly Dorobernia XIV Caïr Guiragon or Guorangon that is Wigornia The Welsh call it Caër Wrangon the English Worcester Antoninus calls it Branonium and Ptolomy Branogenium XV. Caïr Perâ—s otherwise Portcester from the commodiousnes of the Haven It is now called Portsmouth XVI Caïr Daun named by Antoninus Danus now Doncaster in Yorkshire XVII Caïr-Legioâ— taking its name from the the twentieth Legion by Iulius Agricola's appointment quartering there It is at this day called Chester or Westchester XVIII Caïr Guricon or Guoricon or as Cambden writes it Caïr Guaruinc now warwick so called because it was a Garrison of the Romans which in the Brittish Language is called Guarth XIX Caïr Segeint or the Citty of the Segontiaci which were the people who first surrendred themselves to Caesar It is now called Silcester in Hampshire XX. Caïr Leon or Vsk so call'd because the second Brittish Legion brought over by Vespasian was quartered here It was seated in Monmouthshire but is now quite demolished XXI Caïr Guent called by the Romans Venta Belgarum to distinguish it from severall other places called Ventae being in the Province of the Belgae a people which came out of lower Germany and seated themselves in Hampshire it is now called Winchester XXII Caïr Brito a Citty placed between the Rivers Avon and Fome it is now called Bristol XXIII Caïr Lerion by the Saxons afterward called Legecestria now Leicester XXIV Caïr Draiton the situation whereof is now uncertain there being many places of that name Bishop Vsher thinks it is the same now call'd Dragton in Shropshire XXV Caïr Pentavelcoit seated on the River Ivel in Somershire now called Ivelcester or Ilchester The same learned Bishop writes it Caïr Pensavelcoit supposing it to be Pentsey in Sussex where William the Conquerour first landed XXVI Caïr Vrvac called by Antoninus Vriconium and by the Saxons Wrekenceaster at this day Wroxcester in Shropshire XXVII Caïr Calemion or as Mr. Cambden reads it Caïr Calion which he thinks to be Camelet in Somersetshire where remains the footsteps of an ancient Roman Camp and where many Roman Coyns are frequently found XXVIII Caïr Luitcoit or rather Lindcoit by Antoninus and Ptolomy call'd Lindum by the Saxons Lindecollinum at this day Lincoln 5. These are the twenty eight Citties of Brittany all which cannot yet be asserted to have been extant at least under those names in the dayes of King Lucius since among them there are severall which took their Title from persons living in after-ages as Caïr Vortigern Caïr Casteint c. And Caïr Draiton seems to have been a Saxon building 6. Henry of Huntington in the account of them varies somewhat from this and in the place of some of these omitted by him substitutes others as Caïr Glou that is Glocester Caïr Cei or Chichester Caïr Ceri that is Cirencester Caïr Dorm call'd by Antoninus Durobrivae at this day Dornford in Huntingdonshire Caïr Dauri or Caïr Dorin now Dorcester And Caïr Merdin still remaining with the same name from whence a Province in Wales takes its title These are the Cittie 's design'd to be the Residences of Arch-bishops and Bishops when the number of Pastors should be so encreased as to supply them 7. Now whereas here is mention'd the Title of Arch-bishops we are to take notice that that Title was not in use as yet in the Church in the dayes of King Luciâ—s but yet the same latitude of Ecclesiasticall Iurisdiction was from the beginning under the name of Metropolitan Bishops For the Policy of the Church being squared according to the Civill as the Governours of Citties which were Metropoles exercised an Authority over other Citties also depending on them so did the Bishops likewise of those Citties over the whole Provinces IX CHAP. 1.2.3 Of Saint Theanus first Bishop of London 4.5 Elvanus his Successour 1. HOw many of those twenty eight Citties were in those dayes supplied with Bishops is uncertain Besides Elvanus consecrated Bishop at Rome our Ecclesiasticall Records mention only one Brittish Bishop more called Theanus the first Metropolitan Bishop of London where our devout King Lucius built a Church consecrated to S. Peter and seated in the place called Cornhill 2. The truth of this is testified by an ancient Table belonging to the same Church wherein was this Inscription In the year of our Lord one hundred seaventy nine Lucius the first Christian King of this Land founded the first Church at London namely the Church of Saint Peter in Cornhill He established likewise there an Archiepiscopall See and the prime Church of the Kingdom and so it continued for the space of four hundred years till the coming of S. Augustin the Apostle of England c. Thus the Inscription 3. But Iocelinus a Monk of Furnes testifying this holy Prelat Theanus to have been the first Archbishop of this new erected See of London makes him to be the Founder of this Church for thus he writes Thean or Theanus is sayd in the time of King Lucius to have built the Church of S. Peter on Cornhill in London being assisted therein by Ciranus the Kings Cheif Cupp-bearer 4. After Theanus his decease the time of whose government in that See is uncertain there succeeded him therein S. Elvanus who generally is acknowledged the second Metroâ—politan of London But whether in those times there was in Brittany any Iurisdiction properly Metropoliticall which must presuppose an erection of severall subordinate Dioceses cannot by any of our
ancient Ecclesiasticall Monuments be asserted Vpon which grounds Malmsburiensis saith There is no certainty in what place was seated the Archiepiscopall Iurisdiction in the time of the Brittains before the entry of the Saxons X. CHAP. 1.2 S. Fugatius and Damianus return to Rome to obtain a Confirmation of their Acts. 3.4 Recourse to the See Apostolick ancient 5 6. At their return they bring a blessed Crown and a Letter to King Lucius 7. The extent of King Lucius his Dominions 8. Of Archflamens and Flamens 1. AFter three years succesfull labours in this new Vineyard of our Lord these two Holy Apostolick Preachers Fugatius and Damâ—anus returned to Rome to give an account to S. Eleutherius of the affairs of Brittany This is testified by our ancient Historians Geffrey of Monmouth Roger Wendover the compiler of the History of Rochester as likewise a Brittish ancient Poet taking the name of Gildas and quoted by Bishop Vsher. 2. But most expresly by Matthew of Westminster whose words are these In the year of Grace one hundred eighty six the Blessed Prelats Fugatius and Damianus returned to Rome and obtained from the holy Pope Eleutherius a Confirmation of all they had done in Brittany And having perform'd this the foresayd Doctours came back into Brittany accompanied with many others By whose inctructions the Nation of the Brittains being confirm'd in tho Faith of Christ became illustrious The names and Acts of these men are found in the Book which our Historian Gildas wrote of the Victory of Aurelius Ambrosius 3. That it was the practise of Christian Churches especially in the West upon severall occasions to have recourse to the Chair of S. Peter many examples occurre in the Ecclesiasticall History and this even from the beginning of Christianity We mention'd formerly a Message sent from the Christians of Brittany by S. Beatus to Rome for a more perfect instruction in the Christian Faith And about this time of King Lucius the Church of Lyons in France sent S. Irenaeus to this Holy Pope Eleutherius for resolving certain Questions about Ecclesiasticall affairs saith S. Ierome 4. This they did partly to shew their dependance and subordination to the supreme Tribunal of the Church as likewise for the preservation of Vnity of which the Chair of S. Peter was always acknowledged the Center But the present Church of Brittany having been constituted a Church by the zeale and authority of this blessed Pope Eleutherius there was a greater necessity and obligation of recourse to him for the confirmation of those Ordinances which had been made by his Delegats 5. Among other memorable passages touching the Answer sent by Pope Eleutherius to this Message of King Lucius this is one That Fugatius and Damianus presented the King from him with a Crown blessed by him This is asserted by a late learned Protestant Lawyer William Lambard who professes that in his search among the Ancient Lawes of England for many ages hid in darknes he produced this adding withall that besides a Crown bless'd by this Holy Pope he likewise ordain'd the limits of the Brittish Kingdom and withall prescrib'd the Duty and Right of a Christian King saying thus A King being the Minister and Delegat of the Supreme King is appointed by God for this end that he might govern this earthly Kingdom and people of our Lord and above all that he should venerate and govern his Church defending it from all who would injure it that he should root out of it and utterly destroy all evill doers 6. Roger Hoveden four hundred years before M. Lambard transcribing the same passage out of the Ancient Laws of King Edward onely differs from him in this That where mention is made of a Kings Office toward the Church he leaves out the word Regat 7. As touching the limits of King Lucius his Kingdom which this Authour saith was prescribed by Pope Eleutherius whether from thence it came that all the Northern Provinces of the Island afterwards called Scotland governed by a King of their own Nation were subiect to the Ecclesiasticall iurisdiction of the Metropolitan Church of York cannot now be determin'd Polydor Virgil out of ancient Scottish Records affirms that this subjection was a principio from the very beginning of Christianity and that the Bishop of Glasco was to receive his consecration from the Arch-Bishop of York More Maiorum by an immemoriall custom of their Ancestors But of this hereafter 8. One passage more relating to this Answer of Pope Eleutherius is recorded by Martinus Polonus who writes thus The foresaid Holy men Fugatius and Damianus by an Apostolicall Mandat of the Pope ordained that Bishops should be placed in those Citties where formerly there were Flamens and Arch-bishops where Arch-flamens Wherby he signifies that the Pope confirmed the Ordonances formerly made by these his Legats XI CHAP. 1. Severall Churches built by King Lucius 2.3 As Westminster deputed for the buriall of Princes 4. A second at York then the Cheif Citty 5. A third at CaeÌ„r-leon in Wales 6.7 It is question'd whether that was a Metropolitan See 8. A Church built at Dover 9. An Episcopall See said to be erected at Kungresbury in Somersetshire buâ— that is doubtfull 1. IT hath already been declared that King Lucius presently after his Baptism or Theanus consecrated first Bishop of London built a Cathedrall Church to the honour of S. Peter on Cornhill in London Now after the return of Fugatius and Damianus there were severall other Churches erected The names of many of which are still extant upon ancient Records 2. The first of these was the Church of Westminster concerning the first foundation wherof Sulcardus a Monk wrote a Book which he dedicated to Vitalis constituted Abbot there by King William the Conquerour From whence some have collected that in the same place had been formerly erected an Idol-temple consecrated to Apollo which by an Earthquake in the raign of Antoninus Pius was cast to the ground 3. Another Authour called Iohn Fleet who wrote in the year of our Lord one thousand four hundred forty three adds in consequence to Sulcardus out of an Ancient Chronicle written in the Saxon tongue that this place was from the days of King Lucius destin'd for the burying place of our Kings as wee see to this day His words quoted by Bishop Vsher are these From the Primitive age of Christian Faith among the Brittains that is from the days of Lucius their King who in the year of Grace one hundred eighty four is sayd to have received the Divine Law of Christ and together with it the Baptism of holy Regeneration this place of Westminster was founded and consecrated to the honour of God and specially deputed for the buriall of Kings and a Treasury or Repository of their Royall Ornaments To the same effect writes Radolphus Nigerâ— affirming that it was built in the last year of Marcus Aurelius Antoninus
Danes or Saxons they were all swallow'd up at once in a common destruction Thus the Prophecy of our blessed King Edward the Confessour was fulfilled who in a Charter by him bestow'd on the Monastery of Westminster concludes it with this clause Haec Charta in sua libertate permanebit quam diu Christiani nominis timor amor in hac nostra gente perseveraverit that is This our Charter shall remain in its full force and liberty as long as the fear or love of the very name of Christianity shall continue in this our Nation XIV CHAP. 1.2 c. Seminaries and Schooles of Learning instituted by King Lucius the principall of which was Bangor both a Schoole and Monastery 5. Of the pretention of Cambridge hereto 1. OVR devout King Lucius being also wise in his devotion was not content with a wonderfull bounty to build and endow Churches and Monasteries in which Almighty God might be zealously worship'd the people plentifully instructed in Christian saving Verities but moreover extending his providence to posterity he provided Seminaries of Learning and Piety for the institution and education of those who were afterwards to succeed in the Office of administring Divine Mysteries and teaching the people 2. Among these the most famous was the Monastery and Schoole of Bangor in Northwales in which as S. Beda saith at the coming of S. Augustin into England there were more then two thousand Monks Concerning which our Countreyman Bale thus writes Bangor was first a Colledge of Christian Philosophers which having as such continued from the time of King Lucius for about the space of three hundred and fifty years Congellus changed it into a Convent of Monks under the Title of the Order Apostolick and having been the Prefect of the said Colledge became the first Abbot of the New Monastery there in the year of Christ five hundred and thirty 3. That Bangor was in King Lucius his time design'd for a place of literature may be proved by other ancient Records But whereas this Authour says that Congellus changed it into a Monastery is certainly a mistake wherein Iohn Pits follows him The ground of which mistake is the confounding of this Monastery of Bangor in Wales with another of the like name in Vlster a Province of Ireland in which lived this Congellus or as the Irish Writers call him Comgallus and from which issued the famous Bishop S. Malachias whose life is elegantly written by Saint Bernard who there likewise mentions this Comgallus Now true it is that about the year five hundred and thirty the said Irish Monastery of Benchor became an Episcopall See into which one called Daniel was first consecrated which seem'd to be a second ground of Bales mistake touching the change made in our Brittish Bangor 4. Most probable it is therefore that our Bangor was in King Lucius his time and afterward both a Monastery and School of Learning and that as anciently the Druids were according to Pliny great lovers of literature flourishing in all kinds of knowledge so likewise the Christian solitary Religious men who succeeded them spent some part of their time in learning and charitably teaching others So that to them especially may be attributed the propagation of the Christian Faith in Brittany which as the Protestant Authour of our Brittish Antiquities says being preached here in the first times of the Apostles was not only firmly retain'd but became in every age more encreased and dilated He might as well have added That as the true Faith was principally conserved by Monasteries so with the decay and ruine of Monasteries our holy Faith likewise was extinguished 5. Our famous Vniversity of Cambridge therefore will not take it ill if an alumnus of her Sister suspend his assent to her pretention of being founded an Vniversity by King Lucius And as for the Charter of our famous Brittish King Arthur in which there is a Grant of Exemption from Taxes and other civill burdens to the end that the Doctours and Schollers there might peaceably and without distraction apply themselves to their Studies as the glorious King of Brittany Lucius decreed who embraced the Christian Faith by the preaching of the Doctours of Cambridge This Charter is obnoxious to so many exceptions that without injustice it may be attributed to the Authour of the other Heroicall Gests of the same King Arthur XV. CHAP. 1.2 Silence of Historians touching the Gests of King Lucius during his last ten years 3.4.5 German Records affirm King Lucius to have been the Apostle of Bavaria Rhetium c. 6.7 Three persons call'd by the same name of Lucius 8.9 Of a supposed son of Constantius call'd Lucius or Lucion which is manifestly disproved 10.11 It was only our King Lucius who converted severall Regions in Germany 1. HAving collected a Narration of the glorious Actions of our illustrious King Lucius as they lye scattred in severall Authours and Monuments for the space of seaven years after his Conversion that is to the year of Grace one hundred and ninety coincident with the ninth year of the raign of the Emperour Commodus though our Records of good credit doe testify that he prolonged his life ten years further yet there is no mention at all in them of any of his actions either publick or private and excepting one Authour Geffrey of Monmouth not any of them declare where he was buried And as for the sayd Geffrey who tells us that he ended his life at Glocester and was honourably buried in the Church of the prime See his pen does so abundantly flow in matters that regard the glory of his Nation as in the Acts of King Arthur c. that his Authority in domesticall affairs is of no great moment 2. This silence therefore of our own Writers may be an argument inducing us to attend to the Testimonies of forraigners who will acquaint us with the succeeding actions of King Lucius not inferiour yea far more glorious then any hitherto related though perform'd by him not in the quality of a King but a private person employing himselfe in communicating to other Nations those celestiall blessings which himself and by his assistance his own people formerly enjoyed Now what such forraign Authours testify concerning him will no doubt seem at least incredible if not ridiculous to those worldly minds which setting too great a value on the present temporall vanity of human glory and wealth judge of Primitive Christians whether Princes or private persons by the dispositions of after Ages and because in these times wherein sensuality avarice and a contempt of spirituall things doe raign no such examples can be found they therefore conclude all relations in ancient Monuments touching Princes who have prefer'd the poverty of Christ and the gaining of soules to him before temporall abundance and the satisfaction of nature to have been the fabulous inventions of men 3. Notwithstanding mens incredulity shall not deterre me from
that she was a person of no good fame and that from a Pagan she became a Iew c. But all these fictions we shall in due place disprove and demonstrate that she was from her infancy a perfectly vertuous Christian bred up in that Religion by her Father who was a Christian too that she was maried to Constantius at his first coming into Brittany whom though perhaps she did not perswade to be a Christian yet she induced him to be a favourer of them c. But of these things hereafter XIII CHAP. 1. A persecution rais'd against the Church by the Emperour Decius 2. Libellatici who 3. The Novatian Heresy and occasion of it 1. DEcius after the death of the two Philips extended his rage to the Religion profess'd by them and as S. Gregory Nyssen saith thinking with his cruelty to resist the divine omnipotence by repressing the preaching of Gods word sent his Edicts to the Presidents of Provinces threatning them with terrible punishments unlesse they heaped all manner of disgraces injuries and torments upon all those who adored the Name of Christ. By which terrours threatned by the Emperour and executed by inferiour Magistrats those who were firm in the Faith approved themselves to be pure wheat of Gods floore such were S. Fabianus Bishop of Rome S. Alexander Bishop of Hierusalem and S. Babylas of Antioch which made a glorious Confession of Christ before many Witnesses and sealed it with their blood 2. But on the other side the same Tempest scattered the chaffe out of Gods barn for then began the name of the Libellatici in the Church A title given to those tepide worldly-minded Christians which by money redeem'd themselves from the obligation to be assistant at the Pagan Sacrifices and privatly obtain'd from the Roman Magistrats Libells or Testimonies in writing falsely declaring that they had sacrifised Which Hypocrisy was severely condemn'd by all Christian Churches but principally that of Rome where S. Cornelius succeeded S. Fabianus and of Carthage in which the glorious Martyr S. Cyprian sate For no better title did these Saints afford such dissembling Christians then that of Lapsi or Apostats 3. Whilst S. Cornelius possess'd S. Peters chaire there arose in Gods Church a great scandall which was the Novatian Heresy For Novatus having for his turbulency been driven out of Africk came to Rome where finding Novatianus swelling with envy and rage at the Election of S. Cornelius he easily drew him to be a favourer of his Schism and Heresy by which he excluded from all hope of pardon and reconciliation those which were called Libellatici or which had been guilty of any great crime although they had submitted themselves to due Pennance This Novatus is by our Gildas call'd a black â—wine who trodd under foot our Lords pearle and cast violent hands on the Church more worthy to be consumed by the fearfull flames of hell then to be made a Sacrifice on Gods altar And concerning his followers thus writes Saint Augustin Let us take heed of hearkning to those who deny that the Church of God has authority to forgive all sins whatsoever Those wretches whilst they will not understand how in S. Peter God has established a Rock and will not beleive that the Keyes of the kingdome of heaven have been given to the Church they let the same keyes fall out of their own hands These are they which boast themselves to be Cathari more pure then the Apostles doctrine requires c. XIV CHAP. 1. Decius betrayd by Gallus and slain He succeding is slain by his solders together with his Son Volusianus and the Empire comes to Valerianus and Gallienus 2. Of S. Stephanus Pope who baptises many 3.4 c. Among others S. Mello a Brittish Saint 1. THE Persecution rais'd by Decius though extremely violent was yet short for himself having raign'd little more then two years he was by the treachery of Trebonianus Gallus deserted in a battell fought against the Scythians where he lost his life being swallowed in a fenn In whose place the same Gallus together with his Son Volusianus succeeded by whose cruelty S. Lucius who follow'd S. Cornelius in the Roman See was crown'd with Martyrdom Immediatly after which they themselves were slain by their soldiers who cast the Imperiall Purple on Aemilianus which having worn but one months space he also was killd by them and Valerianus formerly chosen by another Army succeeded in the Empire who assum'd as his Collegue therin his son Gallienus 2. In the beginning of whose raign Stephanus the Successour of S. Lucius in the Apostolick See instructed baptis'd and ordain'd among others a glorious ornament of our Brittish Nation S. Mello otherwhere call'd S. Mallo S. Melanius and S. Meloninus sending him to govern the Church of Roüen in France This Mello being yet a Pagan was sent out of Brittany to Rome to pay the Tribut to the Emperour Valerian where according to the custome he with his companions was lead to the Temple of Mars to sacrifice 4. But presently after by divine Providence being admitted to the acquaintance of the Holy Pope Stephanus he became one among his hearers whilst he expounded to a few Christians the doctrines of the Gospell of Christ and being very attentive to his words he beleived and at his own earnest request received Baptism 5. In the ancient Acts of this holy Bishop S. Stephanus approved by Baronius to be Authentick we read of great numbers baptised by him to gether with the order and Form of the administration of that Mystery when Nemesius and his daughter together with many other Gentiles were baptised by him among whom probably this our S. Mello might have been one The words of the Acts are as followeth 6. S. Stephanus gave order that Nemesius should be conducted to the Church or Title of S. Pastor Where after he had catechiz'd him and his daughter according to the Christian custom and appointed a Fast to be observed till the evening when even was come he blessed the Font in the same Title and causing Nemesius to descend into the water he sayd I baptize thee in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost Which having done turning himselfe to the daughter of Nemesius he sayd Doest thou beleive in God the Father Almighty She answered I beleive He added And doest thou beleive in Iesus Christ our Lord She answered I beleive Doest thou beleive the Remission of all sins I beleive Doest thou beleive the Resurrection of the Flesh She answered I beleive c. Then began many others to cast themselves at S. Stephanus his feet with tears beseeching him to baptise them So that in that day he baptised of both sexes to the number of sixty two And after this many other Gentiles of good rank in the world came to S. Stephanus desiring to be baptized by him Moreover tâ—is blessed Bishop being replenish'd With
them used all manner of despight to them and endeavoured either to hide or consume them with fire and cast the ashes before the wind 2. Thus in the Acts of S. Sebastian who suffred the same or next year to S. Albanus we read That they tooke the Body of Sebastian by night and cast it into a common sink saying Least perhaps the Christians make him their Martyr And again three years after we find in the Authentick Acts of S. Tharacus this passage The President sayd to him Doe not think thou shalt be dispatch'd at once I will make an end of thee by peece meale and the remainders of they carkeise shall be devoured by beasts Tharacus answered him what thou hast a mind to doe doe quickly doe not delay mee by promises The President said Thou thinkest villain that after thy death silly women shall have thy body and embalme it with unguents and spices c. And afterward The President said Doest thou not think that I will thus destroy thee and thy relicks least foolish women should enwrapp it in clean linnen and honour it with unguents and odours And concerning the Martyr Andronicus The President said Consume him to ashes and disperse them before the wind least some of his impious Consorts or foolish woemen should gather up any of them and preserve them as if they were some precious holy thing 3. Now how acceptable to God this devout reverence of Christians to the Relicks of Martyrs was was often declared by the miraculous ways which God shewed in discovering the said holy Relicks when they were either conceal'd or their members mix'd and confounded with those of impious malefactours putt to death with them Thus we read in the said Acts of S. Tharacus S. Andronicus and another Christian martyr'd with them how when some devout Christians adventured to search them out by night three bright torches like starrs appeard over their bodies and afterward went before them conducting them to the other side of the Mountain where they secretly buried them 4. This practise was so generall among the Primitive Christians that the Manicheans only were observed to be contemners of it as if there were in it some Idolatrous Superstition But their folly and profanenesse is excellently confuted by S. Augustin who distinguishes the Veneration due to Saints and their holy Relicks which he calls Dulian from the Supreme degree of adoration due only to God which he terms Latrian 5. Now that such reverence was express'd to the Body of S. Alban is not to be doubted Which that it may appeare a passage in our ancient Brittish Historian Gildas will sufficiently confirm it Who after he had treated of the Martyrdome of this Holy Martyr as we declared before consequently shews the great change in Brittany nine years after this tempest rais'd by Diocletian His words are as followeth 6. The space of two lustres that is ten years after the foresaid storm being not entirely fullfilld when the violence of those bloody Edicts against Christians abated all the devout Soldiers of Christ with ioyfull eyes beheld and received the lightsomnesse and temper following so tedious a winters night Then they began to restore Churches formerly demolishd they founded new sacred Temples consecrated to the honour of Holy Martyrs these they erect accomplish and adorn celebrating publick Festivities and Sacrifices with pure hearts and mouthes as manifest signs and tropheys after their victory 7. This happy change hapned when the Tyrants Carausius and Allectus were vanquished and expell'd by Constantius who in the year of Grace two hundred ninety two being created Caesar received the government and administration of Brittany By which calculation of Gildas evidently appears that S. Albanus suffred Martyrdom in the beginning of Diocletians raign nine years before Constantius the second time governed Brittany 8 Likewise by this Testimony of Gildas is reproved the assertion of Protestant writers who attribute to S. Gregory the Great the bringing into Brittany the custome of dedicating Churches to the honour of Martyrs in the time of the Saxons Wheras besides this authority of Gildas the said assertion is manifestly confuted by the story of S. Germanus of Auxerre and S. Lupus of Troyes French Bishops who came into Brittany before the entrance of the Saxons to root out thence the Pelagian Heresy For thus we read in the Galliean Martyrologe The Memory of S. Albanus shined gloriously in Brittany to whose honour a famous Church was erected in the place whereby shedding his blood he had triumphed The which Church was by S. Germanus visited with great devotion to the end he might there pay his thanks to God for his victory against the Pelagian Hereticks There opening the holy Martyrs Sepulcher to honour him he repos'd in it severall Relicks of Apostles and Martyrs which he had brought out of France And because he would not depart thence without the protection of the Holy Martyr from the place where the Martyrs blood had been shed he took a lump of earth which at his return he caried to his own See And from this action of S. Germanus the Veneration of S. Albanus the Brittain was spread through allmost all the Churches of France being consign'd in all the Ecclesiastical Tables of most Episcopall Churches there particularly of Bourges Sens Orleans Austun S. Malo Constantia c. The same story concerning S. Germanus is related likewise by S. Beda 9. Hence may be argued the mistake in the supplement to the French Martyrologe where it is sayd that Otho the second Emperour of that name translated to Colen the Body of S. Albanus which S. Germanus had brought out of Brittany into France For certain is is that not his body but only a portion of earth dyed with the Holy Martyrs blood was transferd by Saint Germanus as S. Beda expressly affirms and as the following Annalls of Brittany confirm where we read how Off a King of the Mercians translated the sacred Body and built over his Monument a most magnificent Church 10. It is here to be observed that S. Albanus is venerated at Ments in Germany under the name of S. Albinus The occasion wherof was this Theophania wife to the Emperour Otho the second having obtained at Rome a portion of the Relicks of S. Albanus caried them with her into Germany intending to place them at Colen in the Monastery of S. Pantaleon In her way she passed through Mentz in which Citty was celebrated with great devotion the Memory of another S. Albanus a Martyr also Hereupon Wiltegecus Bishop of Mentz deeply apprehending least the Memory of our Brittish Albanus should obscure the glory of their Speciall Patron Albanus by reason of agreement in name together with the Imperiall Authority which probably would promote his veneration made it his most humble and earnest suit unto the Empresse that our Brittish Saint should afterward in those countreys be call'd Albinus for distinctions sake which humble request by the
most illustrious are S. Aaron and S. Iulius who in this persecution of Diocletian and Maximianus consummated a most glorious Martyrdom there 3. Concerning whom our Countrey-man Balâ— though as became an Apostat a bitter Enemy of the Roman-Catholick Church writes thus Iulius and Aaron Noble Cittizens of the famous Citty of Caer-Leon for so Isca of the Silures is called from two Legions garrisond there and Disciples in Christ of the holy Martyr Amphibalus were most illustrious ornaments of piety to our Countrey of Brittany These two addicted themselves with much diligence to the study of learning not only in their own countrey but also undertook a Voyage into forraign Nations for the attaining skill in good arts for history informs us that they studied at Rome especially and therfore celebrates them much for their Learning 4. Iohn Fox likewise commends these two holy men but mistakes when he calls them Cittizens of Verolam whom Gildas and S. Beda positively affirm to have been inhabitants of Caer-Leon The words of S. Beda are these At the same time during the persecution of Diocletian Aaron and Iulius Cittizens of Caer-Leon together with very many others in diverse places of both sexes suffred Martyrdom Who after the suffering of severall tortures had their members torn asunder by unheard of cruelty and at last consummating a glorious Martyrdom they sent up their soules to the ioys of the heavenly Citty The same expression is used concerning them in the Roman Martyrologe on the first of Iuly when the Martyrdom of Aaron and Iulius is commemorated And both the said Martyrologe and S. Beda have borrowed the phrase describing the manner of their death from our most ancient Historian Gildas 5. And the deuout Brittains of those times after the same manner honourd the Memory of these two Holy Martyrs as they had done that of S. Albanus and S. Amphibalus by erecting Altars and Churches to their honour Thus Giraldus Cambrensis in his Itinerary of Wales treating of the famous Citty of Caër-Leon writeth Here lye the bodies of two Noble Christians and next to S. Albanus and S. Amphibalus the most illustrious Protomartyrs of Brittany who were here crowned with Martyrdom I mean Iulius and Aaron each of which had a famous Church erected to his honour in this Citty For there were in ancient times in the said Citty three magnificent Churches One of the Martyr S Iulius adornd with a Quire and Convent of Religious Virgins A second dedicated to the honour of his Companion S. Aaron and graced with a Noble Quire of Canons The third was the Metropolitan Church of all Cambria This last Church was afterward translated by the holy Bishop S. David to Menevia the authority of Dubritius Legat of the Bishop of Rome concurring thereto 6. It is observable that all these Churches were built by Brittains long before the Saxons entred into this Island So that there is no need of expecting S Gregory the Great or S. Augustin the Monk to him who would find arguments to proove the Antiquity of the Roman Faith touching the Veneration of Saints in Brittany 7. Besids these wee find celebrated in ancient Martyrologes the memory of two Noble Brittish Christians the Disciples of S. Amphibalus who were crownd with Martyadom in the same persecution of Diocletian their names are Stephanus and Socrates Mention is made of them likewise by S. Beda Vsuardus Ado and others whereto also severall ancient Manuscripts doe accord We find no particular Gests of theirs only in the English Martyrologe it is said that in the Province of the Silures Churches were built to their honour Now whether this Stephanus was Bishop of London it is a doubt A Bishop of that name is sayd to have governed that See in this age though Authours place him somewhat later To this time likewise is referd the murdring of all the Monks in the Monastery of Winchester built by King Lucius Of which wee shall speak in the next year but one 8. Whilst the Romans thus raged in Brittany very many Christians not having the courage to keep their ranks expose themselves to their Enemies Violence yet resolving not to betray their Faith withdrew themselves from the fury of men least by the immanity of torments they should be compell'd to renounce it Thus Gildas writes of the remainder of Christians in those dayes Those persecuted Christians saith he which were left hid themselves in woods defarts and caves of rocks expecting from God the iust Iudge of all when he would please to execute his iudgments on their persecutours and restore safety and liberty to their own soules 9. This Christian prudence and caution of theirs was suitable to the advice given the year before by the holy Pope and Maâ—tyr Caius at Rome when the persecution first began For he in an Assembly of beleivers meeting together on that occasion thus spoke to them Our Lord Iesus Christ who perfectly foresees and knows the frailty of mankind hath ordained two ranks and degrees of Beleivers namely Confession and Martyrdom to the end that those who have not strength or courage enough to sustain the weight of Martyrdom may at least hold fast the Grace of Confession Let such yeild up the glory of Martyrdom to the valiant soldiers of Christ which are resolved to coÌ„bat for him and take a sollicitous care of their own soules Let them therfore who are so disposed depart out of this feild of battell whither they please together with our dear children Chromatia and Tiburtius and for the rest who are more courageously resolved let them remain still here in the Citty with mee 10. This flight of Christians in Brittany suitable to the Roman practise gave occasion to Persecutours to extend their rage upon Churches and Monasteries all which by this tempest were so uterly destroyd that as Gildas saith in severall Provinces of this Island there remained no marks at all of Christian Religion This desolation continued about seaven years till the happy return of Constantius as soon as he was created Caesar by whose clemency the Christian Faith and worship again flourishd in Brittany and this much sooner then in any other parts of the Roman Empire Which mercy of God seems to have been extended in a speciall manner toward the Brittains because as S. Beda saith they only preserv'd among them their primitive Faith received in the dayes of King Lucius entire and inviolate till the Raign of Diocletian XX. CHAP. 1.2.3 Carausius the Admirall of the Emperours Navy his rapines and rebellion he takes possession of Brittany 4.5 Maximianus his preparations against him without effect 6. The Tyrant left in quiet possession of Brittany subdues the Caledonian Brittains A monument of his Victory 1. THIS Tyranny of the Roman Emperours against Christian Religion God was pleased to revenge by permitting another Tyrant to raise himself against them in Brittany This was Carausius who saith Victor drew his Originall from
One William Basing likewise is sayd to have built a Church consecrated to S. Helena at London XVII CHAP. 1.2 Constantins zeale against Paganism and Heresy 3. c. He is seduced by his Sister to favour Arius c. but repents 5.6 He adorns his New Citty Constantinople 7.8 Miracles by the Holy Crosse. 9. Other acts of Constantins piety 1. AFter S. Helena's death Constantin returned into the East where he express'd his zeale against Pagan Idolatry For Eunapius a Pagan writer complains Through the whole world the most celebrated Temples were overthrown by Constantin He made severe Lawes against Heathenish Sacrifices mention'd in Theodosius his Code 2. Neither was he wanting to establish the Churches Peace and Vnity by publishing rigorous Edicts against Hereticks Novatians Valentinians Marcionists Paulians Montanists c. forbidding all Assemblies among them both publick and private and withall exhorting them to return to the Communion of the Catholick Church that so they might be rendred partakers of its Sanctity and so attain to Truth Thus writes Eusebius adding that hereupon many of them did acknowledge their errours and at last joyn'd themselfves to the Churches Communion 3. Notwithstanding being seduced by the Craft of Eusebius Bishop of Nicomedia the Pillar of the Arian faction he began a persecution against S. Athanasius then Bishop of Alexandria This Eusebius had cunningly insinuated himself into the affections of Constantiae the Emperours Sister by whom at her death he was recommended to Constantin in whose mind a scruple likewise was injected by certain speeches of hers threatning a severe punishment to him after death for his severity against so many innocents so she called the Arians Wherupon he commanded that Arius himself should return and be received at Alexandria For which purpose he wrote threatning letters to S. Athanasius that he should be deposed in case he refused him Notwithstanding being inform'd by Athanasius that Arius did not repent of his Heresy but was still a profess'd Enemy of the Councill of Nicaea Constātin desisted from urging his reception 4. Afterward the Meletians accused Saint Athanasius of many crimes but Constantin upon examination finding his innocence quickly absolved and dimiss'd him Yea moreover the pious Emperour turn'd his anger against him who was the cheif Architect of all machinations against S. Athanasius to witt Eusebius Bishop of Nicomedia as appears by his letters written to the people of that Citty and recited by Theodoret in which he complains how himself had been deluded by his forgeries and lyes And on that occasion he proceeds to pronounce Sentence against the whole faction of the Arians banishing Eusebius and severall other Bishops from their Sees 5. But the year following by occasion of the inauguration of his New Citty Constantinople among other Examples of his Clemency he restored them Nicephorus writes that the Citty was consecrated to our Lord and his immaculate Mother with offring the unbloody Sacrifice and prayers Adding that Constantins Statue was erected in a publick place upon a pillar of Porphyry having in his right hand a golden Apple on which was placed the Holy Crosse with this Inscription To thee O Christ our God I commend this Citty 6. Eusebius describing the Magnificence of Constantin in adorning this Citty with many Churches consecrated to the Holy Martyrs saith The Emperour intending to illustrate after an extraordinary manner the Citty called by his own name adorn'd it with many magnificent Churches partly in the Suburbs and partly in the Citty it self by which he both celebrated the Memories of the Holy Martyrs and consecrated the Citty it self to the God of Martyrs The principall of those Martyrs are recorded to have been S. Mocius S. Agathonicus S. Mennas and S. Acacius 7. Sozomen likewise an eye witnes especially celebrats a Church built in a place formerly dedicated to Vesta which was afterward named Michaelium from an apparition of that Holy Archangell In which many Miracles had been wrought by vertue of the Holy Crosse there erected of which vertue the Authour acknowledges that himself had been partaker Among which one speciall Miracle must not be omitted which he relates after this manner 8. I have been informed saith he that a Soldier of the Emperours Guards called Probianus being afflicted with greivous torments in his feet not only received ease in that place but was also honoured with a wonderfull divine vision For he having been formerly a Pagan and converted to Christianity though he were satisfied of the truth of all other instituts of our Religion yet he would never be perswaded that the Holy Crosse could be the cause of mankinds salvation Being thus affected there was offred to him a Divine Vision which set before his eyes the Image of the Crosse which usually was sett on the Altar of that Church and the same Vision declared to him manifestly that whatsoever thngs had been performed either by Angells or Holy men for the publick or privat proffit of men since the time that Christ was crucified were not rightly performed but by the vertue of the saving Crosse. 9. Besides these sacred Ornaments Constantin added much wealth to endow the holy Churches built by him He likewise caused a world of Copies of the Holy Scriptures to be curiously written in parchments richly adorned which he dispersed through severall Churches in the Citty He gave likewise great priviledges to Physicions Grammarians and Professours of other Arts by which means learning much flourish'd there In a word he endeavour'd to make it equall in all respects to Old Rome placing there a Senat with the same honours and authority into which many Christians were elected as Baronius declareth XVIII CHAP. 1.2 S. Athanasius persecuted by Arians 3.4.5 He is banish'd into the west for his safety 6.7 Arius conven'd before Constantin 8.9 c. His fearfull death 10. Pope Iulius 1. BVT the restlesse malice of the Arians against S. Athanasius the principall defender of the Faith declared by the Nicene Councill urged them to invent and forge new accusations against him of breaking a Chalice of murdering a man and using enchantments with his dead hand of committing adultery by violence c. With these crimes they charged him before the Emperour importuning him that he might be condemned and deposed 2. Hereupon a Synod of Bishops being assembled at Tyre Athanasius his cause was there examined and though in all particulars his innocence was evidently declared ye◠he was condemned by them Which manifest injustice astonish'd Constantin as appears by a Letter of his recorded by Saint Athanasius in his Apology 3. Notwithstanding these impious Bishps after they had consecrated at Ierusalem a magnificent Church built by Constantin repairing to Constantinople there renew'd their accusations and probably by the favour of the Emperours Son Constantius infected with their Heresy did so beseige Constantins eares that S. Athanasius could scarce gett accesse to prove his
quelled their fury Then he admonished his Collegue and encourag'd all the rest So with one breath and clamour prayers were powr'd forth to our Lord. Immediatly the Divine vertue shewd it self present the infernall Enemies were dissipated a calm tranquillity ensued the winds are turn'd and become favourable to their voyage the waves serviceably drive on the ship so that in a short time having dispatch'd a vast space they safely arriv'd in a quiet and secure haven 11. This Oyle made use of by S. Germanus was not that Sacramentall oyle consecrated for the spirituall comfort of the Sick but ordinary Oyle which we frequently read to have been used by holy men upon the like occasions and by their benediction of it to have produc'd the like effects in severall exigences Of the former fort of Sacramentall Oyle S. Iames in his Epistle speaks and of this latter S. Mark in the sixth Chapter of his Gospell saith Baronius Severall examples of the like may be read in Sozomen as where S. Anthony by annointing a lame man with oyle cur'd him and another holy Monk call'd Benjamin by the like means cured severall diseases And Ruffinus testifies that in his presence and sight severall miracles were after the same manner wrought by religious Hermits V. CHAP. 1.2 c. S. Germanus his Disputation against the Pelagians and Miracle 10. c. A victory over the Scotts by his Prayers 1. THese two Holy men saith the same Constantius being landed a great mulâ—itude from severall quarters meâ—t to receive them of whose coming they had been informed by the predictions of wicked Spirits which were sore affrighted thereat For these being by the power of Preists cast out of those whom they had possess'd did openly declare the furiousnes of the tempest and the dangers which themselves had oppos'd to their voyage and how by the command and sanctity of those holy men they had been vanquish'd Afterwards these venerable Bishops with their fame preaching and miracles fill'd the whole Island of Brittany the greatest of all others And being ouerpress'd with the multitudes of those who resorted to them they preached Gods word not only in Churches but in lanes and high wayes whereby Catholicks were confirmed in their faith and those who had been deprav'd were reduced to the Church They were receiv'd as if they had been indeed Apostles considering the authority which their holines gave them the eminency of their learning and the wonderfull miracles wrought by them Divine Truth therefore being declared by persons so qualified generally the whole Island submitted to their doctrin The authours of the contrary perverse persuasion lurked in dark holes being as the wicked Spirits also were vexed to see the people freed from their snares But at last after long study and meditation they presum'd to enter into dispute with these Apostolick men 2. The place made choice of as most proper for this disputation was not London as Hector Boethius imagins but Verolam then a famous Citty neer S. Albans where the Body of the glorious Martyr Saint Alban repos'd Now what pass'd in that solemne conflict is thus related by Constantius 3. The Pelagians came pompously attended by their flattering disciples in glittring and costly raiment and they rather chose to run the hazard of a conflict then by their silence to confesse they had an ill cause Infinite numbers of people were assembled there with their wives and children The disputants stood on each side very unlike in their condition For on one side was placed divine authority on the other human presumption Here was Orthodox Faith there perfidious Errour Here Christ was acknowledg'd the authour there Pelagius At the first entrance the Holy Bishops gave free scope of disputing to the Pelagians who vainly spent the time and tired the auditory with empty verball discourses But after them the Venerable Bishops poured forth the torrents of their eloquence accompanied with Evangelicall and Apostolicall thunder They mingled with their own discourses texts of divine Scripture and their assertions were attended with testimonies of Gods word Thus vanity was convinc'd and perfidiousnes confuted insomuch as the Pelagians by their inhability to reply confessing their own guilt the people standing by as iudges could scarce contain their hands frrom violence to them and with clamours acknowledged the Victory 4. Immediatly after this a certain person of authority being a Tribune of the army coming with his wife into the midst of the Assembly leading in his hand his young daughter about ten years old which was blind Her he presented to the â—oly Bishops desiring their help for her cure But they bid him first to offer her to the Adversaries Who being deterr'd by an ill conscience joyn'd their entreaties with her parents prayers to the Venerable Prelats Whereupon perceiving the expectation of the people and their adversaries conviction they address'd themselves to God by a short prayer And then S. Germanus full of the Holy Ghost invok'd the Blessed Trinity and taking from his neck a little boxe full of Holy Relicks in the sight of the whole multitude he applied it to the eyes of the young maid which immediatly loosing their former darknes were filld with a new light from heaven At this so apparent miracle the parents exult and the people tremble And after this day all mens minds were so clearly purged from their former impious heresy that with thirsting desires they receiv'd the doctrin of these Holy Bishops 5. The truth of this narration is acknowledg'd by severall Protestant Writers as Archbishop Parker S. Henry Spellman and others who highly exalt the learning Sanctity and Orthodox Faith of these two Apostolick Bishops but withall they purposely conceale the miracle and manner how it was performed fearing to commend that in S. Germanus which they resolve to reprehend in the Holy Monk S. Augustin calling his devotion to Gods Saints superstitions and his bringing into Brittany holy Relicks triviall fopperies affirming him to have been a Teacher rather of superstition then Faith But let us proceed in the Narration of Constantius 6. Perverse Heresy being thus repress'd saith he and the Authours of it confuted so that all mens minds were illustrated with the purity of Faith the holy Bishops repair'd to the Sepulcher of the glorious Martyr Saint Alban with an intention to give thanks to Almighty God by his intercession There S. German having with him Relicks of all the Apostles and diverse Martyrs after Prayer made he commanded the Sacred Sepulcher to be opened because he would there lay up these precious Gifts For he thought it convenient that the same Repository should contain the members of many Saints out of diverse regions whom Heaven had receiv'd and crownd for the equality of their merits Having then with great reverence depos'd joynd together so many Sacred Relicks he digg'd up from the place where the Blessed Martyr S. Alban had shed his blood a masse of dry earth which he
casa 3. Here the Reader may observe that this Bishop was by the confession of these Lutheran Protestants famous for his Sanctity and miracles and withall one who dayly studied the Holy Scriptures Yet he was very devout in giving respect and Veneration to Gods Saints to whose honour he likewise built Churches S. Martin dyed not above thirty years before S. Ninianus ended his life and yet we find a Church built by S. Ninianus and dedicated to S. Martin Yet the same Protestants make sharp invectives against the Roman Church for imitating these Saints magnified by themselves 4. The Example of S. Ninianus was imitated by the Brittish Church neer the same age for when S. Augustin the Monk came into Brittany to convert the Saxons he found saith S. Beda in the Citty of Canterbury a Church dedicated to the honour of S. Martin which had been anciently built in the times when the Romans inhabited this Island 5. S. Ninianus before he dyed divided the Provinces of the Picts into Parishes he ordained Preists there and consecrated Bishops This he did by the authority of the Roman Bishop from whom as hath been related he received his Mâ—ssion 6. As touching the Miracles which God wrought by his servant S. Ninianus although my intention be to be spating in relating such things yet since the foremention'd Lutheran Writers acknowledge this Saint to have been famous for them it may be expedient in this place to record one as followeth 7. In the Region of the Picts saith the Authour of S. Ninianus life there was a certain Prince named Tudwal a proud high-spirited man who contemning the admonitions of this man of God and derogating from his doctrin and life resisted him openly On a certain day having been more then ordinarily troublesome and rude to him God the Supreme heavenly Iudge would not suffer any longer the iniuries offred to his holy Servant to passe unrevenged but strook this proud man with an intolerable pain in his head by the violence of which those lofty eyes of his became utterly blind So that he which had before impugn'd the Light of Divine Truth deservedly lost the light of this world But upon beâ—ter consideration he sent a message to the holy Bishop humbly beseeching him in imitation of our Lords benignity to return to him good for ill 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 Crosse when immediatly his pains ceased his blindnes was dissipated and afterward the Prince highly honoured the Holy Bishop and readily granted whatsoever he ask'd of him 8. As touching the place of his Buriall and Episcopall See call'd Candida casa and by the Saxons Wit-hern Malmsburiensis thus writes of it Candida casa is the name of a place in the confines of England and Scotland where is the sepulcher of the Blessed Confessour Ninias by nation a Brittain who there first preached the Gospel of Christ. That name was given to the place by occasion of a Church which the holy Bishop there built of hew'n stone which to the rude Brittains seemd a wonder This Holy man Ninias is celebrated by Antiquity for his many miracles 9. There is extant in Bishop Vshers Brittish Antiquities an Epistle of our Learned Countreyman Alcuinus not printed among his works wherin he testifies the great fame of the Sanctity and Miracles of this Blessed Bishop It is directed to the Religious Preists then living at Candida Casa And Paschasius Radbertus recounst a Miracle in the same age wherin Alcuinus who attended on the Emperour Charles the Great liv'd which miracle hapned to a devout Preist celebrating Masse at the Saints monument There was a certain Religious Preist saith he nam'd Plegils who frequently solemnis'd Masse at the Body of S. Ninias Bishop and Confessour Who living a vertuous and holy 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 from want of Faith in the truth of the Mystery but meerly out of an affection of devotion and piety Consequently the Authour declares how to his great consolation our Lord appeard to him in the Sacrament in the form of a young child XII CHAP. 1.2 c. S. Germanus his second coming into Brittany 6.7.8 He Ordains Bishops here Of Landaff 10.11 He instituts the Vniversity of Oxford 1. THree years after the death of S. Ninianus S. Germanus Bishop of Auxerre was once more invited into Brittany to perfect the good work which he had formerly begun in rooting out the Pelagian Heresy there spreading it self again The relation we must borrow from the same Authour the learned Preist Constantius to whom Baronius gives this Character that he was a Writer of those times of most perfect integrity and sincerity in all things 2. In the mean time says he a Message from Brittany comes declaring that the perversity of the Pelagian Heresy by the impious diligence of a few Authours began to enlarge it self there Hereupon once more the prayers of all are again address'd to S. Germanus that he would maintain the cause of Divine Grace which by his diligence formerly prevayl'd The Holy Bishop made no delay to comply with their petition for his delight was to labour and even spend his strength in the service of Christ. The Devills envy began now to languish as the Holy mans vertues encreas'd neither durst he so much as tempt him whom by experience he knew to be a freind of God 3. There was adjoyn'd to him for his companion Severus Bishop of Triers a person of consummate Sanctity who had long preach'd the word of God to the Nations of Germania Prima In his way he pass'd by Paris where he is received with great joy and acclamations of the people as the presence of so eminent a Saint well deserved 4. In the mean time infernall Spirits flying through the whole Island foretold the return of Saint Germanus being forc'd to doe so against their wills Insomuch as that one nam'd Elaphius a principall person of the countrey without any notice given of the Holy Bishops journey came in hast to meet them He brought with him his Son upon whom from the flower of his youth a lamentable infirmity had seis'd For all his members were withred and the hamm of his leggs so drawn together that by reason of the drynes of his thigh he could not sett his foot to ground Elaphius was attended by almost the whole province which assembled together though no advice had been given them of the Holy Bishops coming By whom assoon as they mett together an Episcopall Benediction was confer'd on the people and the words of Truth preach'd to them S. Germanus perceives that the generality of the people persever'd constant in the doctrin which he had left
out of her hiding place and last of them all receiv'd the crown of Martyrdom 11. Such a Sacrifice as this had never before nor hath been since offred to Almighty God by his Church We read of a S. Agnes a S. Catherine a S. Lucia and a few other miraculous Examples of courage and chastity in tender Virgins but they were single persons neither is it unusuall with God to shew the power of his Grace in some particular favourits of his to exalt the Faith and confound Vnbeleivers There have likewise been recorded illustrious Examples of multitudes of men which have freely without resistance suffred Martyrdom as the Thebaean Legion c. But such courage in men especially soldiers who dayly look death in the face is not to be esteemed very extraordinary Whereas here we find a far more numerous Army consisting of young timerous tender Virgins to whom ordinarily the sight of an Enemies look is insupportable offring themselves freely to innumerable swords Among them all not one single soule is found which yeilds to their flatteries or fury and but one which delays her suffring the space onely of a single night after which she as it were animated with the united Spirits of all her Companions next day solicites the united fury of innumerable Enemies against her self alone and gloriously triumphing over the rage of men and Hell too is ioyfully receiv'd among her blessed CoÌ„panions XXIII CHAP. 1 2.3 c. The Names of these Holy Virgins Their Sacred Relicks dispersed all the world over Names of Churches where they are Venerated 1. THE fame of this Tragedy in which was display'd the extremity of savage cruelty in men and miraculous courage in Virgins was no sooner spread abroad in the world but that all countreys and Churches became suitours to be enrich'd with a portion of their sacred Relicks which have been spread through Germany Gaule Italy Brittany yea Asia Africk and of late India it self So exactly was fullfill'd the Canticle of S. Vrsula and her Associats mention'd by Gildas Thou O God hast given us as sheep to be devoured and hast disperst us among the Nations 2. Not above ten years after this glorious Martyrdom that is about the year of Grace four hundred sixty three saith Hermannus Fleien one of the Canons of Colen Solinus nam'd by others Aquilinus Arch-Bishop of that Citty as we find in our ancient Records out of reverence to the Memory of these holy Virgins enclosed with walls the sacred place of their Martyrdom in which was erected a Church consecrated to their cheif Captain S. Vrsula which remains to this day by the accesse of which place the Citty of Colen was so much enlarg'd He also took out of the ground as carefully as he could their sacred bones which he reverently again buried in chests hewn out of stone 3. Neither did Brittany long delay to testify her veneration to these her blessed countrey-women A witnes whereof is a well known Town call'd Maidenhead For thus writes Camden The Thames saith he winds back to a little town formerly call'd Southlington but afterward Maidenhead from the Superstitious reverence there given to the head of I know not what holy Virgin one of the eleaven thousand Brittish Martyrs which under the conduct of S. Vrsula returning from Rome into their countrey were martyrd by Attila call'd the Scourge of God near Colen in Germany Thus he censures the piety of a world of devout Emperours Kings Princes Bishops and Doctours of Gods Church in all ages 4. A volume might be written if we should â—eap up all testimonies which a world of Churches have given of their veneration to these Holy Martyrs Therefore we will only here sett down a Catalogue of such of their Names as have escaped oblivion And thereto adjoyn the Churches where many of them are venerated in regard their Holy Relicks repose there 5. S. Vrsula for orders sake divided that innocent Army into certain Squadrons First then she gave a generall authority over all under her to these Virgins S. Cordula S. Eleutheria S. Florentia and S. Pinnosa Next she assign'd the care inspection of a thousand to each of these following S. Benedicta S. Benigna S. Carpophora S. Celindes S. Clementia S. Columba S. Lata S. Lucia S. Odilia S. Sapientia and S. Sybylla After which these particular Virgins names are recorded Saint Agnes S. Antonina S. Areaphila S. Babcaria S. Baldina S. Candida S. Caraduméa S. Christina S. Columbina S. Corona S Cunera Saint Deodata S. Flora S. Florina S. Florentina S. Grata S. Honorata S. Honoria S. Hostia S. Languida S. Margarita S. Margaria S. Oliva S. Panpheta S. Panefrides S. Pavia S. Paulina S. Pharanina S. Pisona S. Sambaria S. Sancta S. Semibaria S. Terentia S. Valeria 6. The Body of S. Vrsula her self is still preserv'd at Colen but her Head was translated to Paris where the illustrious Colledge of Sorbon acknowledges her their Patronesse At S. Denys in France there is a commemoration of Panefredis Secunda Semibaria Florina and Valeria companions of S. Vrsula whose relicks repose there At Huy in Germany is celebrated the Translation of S. Odilia famous for frequent miâ—acles In Flanders the Monastery of Marcian possesses some part of the Body of S. Cordula The Monastery of Good Hope belonging to the Premonstratenses enjoy the Relicks of S. Terentia S. Marguarita S. Baldina S. Samburia and S. Margaria translated thither when Reinaldus was Arch-Bishop of Colen The Monastery of S. Martin in Tornâ—y glories in the Bodies of S. Honorata Florina and some part of the Relicks of S. Vrsula The Monastery of S. Amand in Pabula preserves the Bodies of three of these Virgins whose names are unknown At Andain in Arduenna repose the Bodies of S. Grata S. Hostia and S. Areaphila A Hospital in Tornay possesses S. Languida At Arras the Bodyes of S. Beata and S. Sancta are said to repose in the Cathedrall Church Four of these Holy Virgins are celebrated at the Monastery of S. Bertin in S. Aumar At the Church of S. Salvius the Relicks of S. Pavia and S. Caradumea are venerated The Norbertins at Vicoine possesse the Bodies of S. Corona S. Pharanina S. Babcaria S. Margarita another S. Margarita S. Benedicta S. Cordula S. Sambaria S. Deodata S. Panpheta and S. Christina The Canons of Tungres venerate the Heads of S. Pinnosa and S. Oliva The Nunnes of Mays venerate the Relicks of S. Paulina S. Florentina and eight other Holy Virgins companions of S. Vrsula In the town of Rhenen in the Diocese of Vtrecht is celebrated the memory of S. Cunera which holy Virgin in our Martyrologe is said to have been withdrawn from the slaughter by a certain noble Matron in whose house she was awhile conceal'd but being discover'd had her neck broken But the Belgick Writers say that she in compassion was by a certain Noble man privately taken from the rest and conveyed to his house Where his
calld Genorium 7. But the three Provinces with which Vortigern redeem'd his life are thus better sett down by Mamlsburiensis Of old time saith he the Eastern and Southern Saxons and the Eastern Angli were subjects to the King of Kent For those Provinces Hengist who first raign'd in Kent obtain'd of Vortigern King of the Brittains not by open warr but treachery These Provinces contain Essex Sussex Surrey Norfolk and Suffâ—lk inhabited by the people which in the Romans time were calld Trinobantes Regni and Iceni VIII CHAP. 1.2 c. The Birth of the glorious Saint David His Child-hood c Prophecies of his Sanctity by S. Patrick and Gildas Badonicus 1. THE same year in which Brittany was thus dismembred God recompenced that losse to the Brittish Church by the Birth of Saint David afterward Bishop of Menevia one of the greatest lights that ever that Church enjoyed both in regard of the Sanctity of his life the vigour of his authority and zeale in repressing Heresy and exalting Ecclesiasticall Discipline 2. His nativity was attended and prevented by severall wonders denoting the eminency of his future Sanctity For Saint Patrick a little before his going into Ireland being in the Province of the Dimetae or North-West wales in a valley calld Rosina meditating on his Mission thither had a revelation by an Angell that after thirty yers a child should be born in that countrey which should give a great luster thereto To which Prophecy regard was had in this Collect of the ancient Church of Sarum repeated anniversarily on S. Davids Feast O God who by an Angell didst foretell the Nativity of thy Blessed Confessour Saint David thirty years before he was born Grant unto us wee beseech thee that celebrating his Memory we may by his intercession attain to ioyes everlasting 3. The manner of his Birth is thus consequently related by the Authour of his Life in Capgrave Thirty years being finish'd after the foresaid prediction saith he the King of the region call'd Ceretica travelling to Demetia mett by the way a Religious Virgin nam'd Nonnita of great beauty which he lusting after by violence deflour'd her Hereby she conceiv'd a Son and neither before nor after ever had knowledge of any man but persevering in chastity both of mind and body and sustaining her self only with bread and water from the time of her Conception she lead a most holy life The King who was father to S. David is by our ancient Writers call'd Xanthus and his Mother Nonnita is by some named Melaria 4. The eminent sanctity of this holy Child the fruit of his holy Mothers fasting chastity and prayer was by a new divine Oracle a little before his birth foretold For when Gildas Albanius was from the pulpit teaching a great congregation on a sudden he became dumb and unable to speak But afterward broke forth into these words related by Caradoc of Lancarvan A holy woman call'd Nonnita now present in this Church is great with Child and shall shortly be brought in bed of a Son full replenish'd with Grace It was with regard to him that I was hindred from speaking by a divine Power restraining my tongue This child shall be of so eminent sanctity that name in these our parts shall be comparable to him I will surrender this Region to him who will from his infancy by degrees encrease in Sanctity and Grace An Angell Gods messager hath reveald this to mee 5. He was baptis'd saith Pits from Giraldus Cambrensis by Relveus Bishop of Menevia in a place calld â—ortcleis Which Bishop by Divine Providence arriv'd there the same hower And during his childhood he was educated in a place calld the Old Bush by the Cambrians Henmenen and by the Latins Menevia He grew every day more replenish'd with Grace and being of a perspicacious witt he made progresse in the study of learning far beyond all other children of his age This is that S. David afterwards the most Holy Bishop of Menevia calld from him S. Davids for his learning Sanctity and miracles so celebrated in all future ages by the Brittish Churches His admirable Gests shall in their due place be declared hereafter 6. But wheras in this forecited passage out of Giraldus Cambrensis he is sayd to have been baptised by an Irish Bishop calld Relveus Bishop of Menevia it is certain there is an errour in the Copy For S. David himself was the first Bishop of Menevia to which place he translated the Bishoprick of Caërleon Therfore instead of Relveus Menevensium Episcopus it is not to be doubted but the Authour wrote Albeus Mumonensium Episcopus and this is that S. Albeus Bishop of Munster or Cassel in Ireland of whose Gests wee treated in the foregoing Book of this History concerning whom we related from Bishop Vsher that he went to Rome and there was instructed in the knowledge of Holy Scriptures by S. Hilary the famous Bishop of Poictiers 7. As touching Gildas Albanius mentioned in this Chapter who in a Sermon foretold the Sanctity of S. David a little before his birth and who was a holy person distinct from the well known Historian Gildas sirnamed Badonicus who liv'd likewise in this same age though younger then the other Of both these we shall hereafter treat in their due Season IX CHAP. 1.2 Vortigern fortifies himself in Wales 3.4 c. Aur. Ambrosius sent for to be Generall 7. His terrible battell against Hengist 1. WHilst Vortigern lurk'd ingloriouslly among the steep innaccessible Mountains of the countrey now calld Cambria and Walliae busy in building a Castle for his greater security the middle Provinces of Brittany being left without any Defender were expos'd to the fury of the Saxons 2. The Castle built by Vortigern was call'd Genorium and afterward Caer-Guortigern It is plac'd saith Camden in a Vast solitude fearfull for the horrour of mountains and narrow turnings of the passages to it To that place Vortigern the plague of his countrey withdrew himself to seek a refuge for his own person And there saith Richard White he spent his time in consulting Sooth-sayers and especially the Magician Merlin 3. Hereupon the Brittains being deserted by their King were compell'd to seek one abroad And therefore saith Mathew of Westminster they directed messengers into lesser Britanny beyond sea to Aurelius Ambrosius and his Brother Vter-pendragon who for feare of Vortigern were retir'd thither beseeching them with all speed to quitt that countrey and repair into their own to the end that expelling both the Saxons and their hated King Vortigern they might receive the crown of Brittany They therefore being now of ripe age prosecuted their journey attended with ships and armed soldiers 4. Concerning this Ambrosius sometimes call'd Aurelius sometimes Aurelianus and his extraction Gildaâ— and from him S. Beda speak breifly and in generall terms that he was a modest prince and who alone of the Roman race had remained alive
is commemorated the day preceding Some doubt may be made whether this were the same Paternus who subscribed the Synod of Paris assembled in the year of Grace five hundred fifty nine X. CHAP. 1. c. Of S. Darerca Sister to S. Patrick And her children S. Rioch S. Menni S. Sechnal and S. Auxilius 1. THE Irish Historians refer to the year of Grace five hundred and eighteen the death of S. Darerca sister of S. Patrick and born likewise in Brittany from whence she repaired to her Brother in Ireland She was by another name calld Monynni and erroneously confounded by some Writers with S. Moduenna a Holy Virgin of whom hereafter 2. S. Darerca was a maried woman and by two husbands enrich'd the Church with a numerous and holy off spring By her husband named Conis she is sayd to have brought forth three children Mel Rioch and Menni all which accompanied S. Patrick in his journeys and preaching and in severall places were exalted to the Episcopall function 3. Concerning S. Rioch we read in Iocelin that he was by Nation a Brittain near kinsman to the Holy Bishop S. Patrick that he was a Deacon when he attended S. Patrick into Ireland and that in beauty and comeâ—ines of body he excell'd all others of that Nation But the beauty of his soule was much more valuable He seems to have been ordain'd Bishop by S. Patrick and to have fixed his Seat in a small Island which according to S Beda's description is situated at some good distance from the Western coasts of Ireland and in the Scottish that is Irish tongue is called Inis-bounide or The Isle of the White Calfe In this Island S Colman in succeeding times bâ—ilt a Monastery inhabited in common both by English and Scotts and vainly sought for in modern Scotland by Dempster 4. In the Ecclesiasticall Annals of Ireland many things are related touching other Sons of S. Darerca famous for their Sanctity But in this place we will only take notice of two more illustrious then the rest The former is vulgarly called Sechnallus in Latin Secundinus And he it was who wrote the Alphabeticall Hymn in praise of S. Patrick The others name was Auxilius who was by S. Patrick ordained Bishop of the Province of Leinster Laginensium and who as we read in the Tripartite Work quoted by B Vsher after many miracles wrought by him ended his holy life in his own Citty call'd Cealusalli seated in the plains of Leinster XI CHAP. 1.2 c. A Welsh Synod to which S. David is brought who preaches 5 c. S Davids Monasteries his Monasticall Instituts 1. IN the year of Grace five hundred and nineteen there was assembled a Brittish Synod the occasion and order whereof is thus describ'd by Giraldus Cambrensis in the life of Saint David The detestable Heresy of the â—elagians which by S. Germanus Bishop of Auxerre and Saint Lupus Bishop of Troyes had been extinguish'd now again being revived to the ruine of the Catholick Faith gave occasion of collecting a generall Synod of all Cambria An Assembly therefore being gathered at Brevy in the Province of Cardigan in Ceretica Regione of Bishops Abbots and other Religious men of severall Orders at which were present likewise diverse Noble men and other Lay-persons out of the whole countrey many Exhortations and Sermons were made by severall persons in the pullick audience to conâ—ute the 〈◊〉 Heresy But the people were so deeply and mâ—â—iâ—ably poysond generally there with that no reasons or perswasions could reduce them to the right path of Catholick Faith At length therefore Paulin a Bishop with whom S. David had in his youth studied the literall Sciences earnestly perswaded the Fathers there present that some persons should be sent in the name of the Synod to the said â—aint David lately consecrated Bishop by the Patrâ—ark a 〈◊〉 discreet and eloquent man to desire him to afford his presence and assistance to Gods Church now in danger to be corrupted by Heresy Hereupon Messengers were sent accordingly once and again but could not perswade him to come For the Holy man was so 〈◊〉 taken up with Contemplation that he could not attend to externall or secular matters unles some very â—â—gent necessity compell'd him At last therefore there were sent to him two Holy men of greatest authority to wit Daniel and Dubricius 2. By the entreaties or command of these two Holy Bishops S. David was at last brought to the Synod And what follow'd is thus related by Capgrave When all the Fathers assembled enjoyned S. David to preach he commanded a child which attended him and had lately been restor'd to life by him â—â—â—spread a Napkin under his feet And standing upon it he began to expound the Gospell and the Law to the Auditory All the while that his oration continued a snow-white Dove descending from heaven sate upon his shoulders and moreover the earth on which he stood rais'd it selfe under him till it became a hill from whence his voyce like a trumpet was clearly â—eard and understood by all both near and farr off On the top of which 〈◊〉 a Church was afterward built which remains to this day 3. Now what effect his Sermon accompanied with these Miracles had is thus declared by the foremention'd Giraldus Cambiensis When the Sermon was finish'd so poweâ—full was the Divine Grace cooperating that â—he said Heresy presently vanish'd and was extinguish'd And the Holy Bishop David by the generall Eleâ—ction and acclamation both of the Clergy and people was exalted to be the Arch-bishop of all Cambria 4. It is much to be lamented that by reason of the mâ—series and confusions of those times the Decrees of that and other Synods are lost for by them we might have been more perfectly informed of the then State of the Church in Brittany By reason of which defect the summe of what may be jâ—dg'd of that age is contain'd in these generall words of the Authour of S. Davids life in Capgrave Heresy being thus expell'd all the Churches of Brittany receiv'd their order and Râ—â—e from the authority of the Roman Church Whence appears how great the Errour of some late Protestant Writers is who will needs affirm that the Brittish Churches before the Conversion of the Saxons in their Faith and Discipline were framed according to the Model of the Eastern Church 5 Moreover to secure and establish the wholesom Roman Order settled by this Synod which Spelman calls Pan-britannicam the foresayd Authour addes immediately Then were Monasteries built in severall places and the Holy Bishop David became the cheif Protectour and Preacher from whom all men receiv'd a rule and form of holy living This expedient the Holy Spirit suggested to the ancient Fathers wherby to fortify and promote the Catholick Faith once establish'd namely to build Monasteries out of which did proceed Lights to instruct beleivers in Faith and Holines of Life And consequently
fourscore years 6. Afterward in the year four hundred ninety two saith Florilegus King Aurelius Ambrosius coming to the mountain of Ambri neer to Caer-carec now call'd Salisbury where the Brittish Princes treacherously murdred by Hengist lay he there appointed Pastours over two Metropolitan Churches granting York to S. Sampson an illustrious person and Caër-leon to Dubricius Which last See was now become vacant by the death of Threminius Geffrey of Monmouth adds That he was Primat of Brittany and Legat of the Apostolick See which dignity it seems was annexed to that Church by S. Germanus by vertue of the authority in his Mission hither received from Rome 7. In the year five hundred and sixteen he solemnly crowned King Arthur After which being very aged he is sayd to have relinquish'd his See and retir'd into the Isle of Enhly or Berdesy there to attend to his Devotions and more perfectly to prepare himself for death From which quiet repose and solitude notwithstanding his zeale to the Catholick Faith drew him to the Synod of Brevy there to defend it against the renewd Heresy of the Pelagians In which Synod he obtained that S. David should be placed governour of the Church which a little before he had relinquish'd 8. At last three years after full of sanctity and age he gave up his soule into the hands of his Creatour in the foresaid Isle of Berdsey where among a great multitude oâ— Saints he chose his place of buriall And there his Sacred Body reposed till the year oâ— Grace one thousand one hundred and twenty at which time it was translated from thence on the Nones of May and on the fourth before the Calends of Iune by Vrbanus Bishop of Landaff with great honour buried in the Cathedrall Church on the Northside of the Altar of our Blessed Lady saith B Godwin At which time saith the Authour of his life in Capgrave the whole countrey of Glamorgan was afflicted with a great drouth for for many weeks before no rain had falln there But at the time when these Sacred Relicks were transported great store of rain fell to the comfort of the inhabitants XIII CHAP. 1.2 c. Of S. Theliau his Gests 6. c. Of S. Pauleus 1. ONE of the most illustrious Disciples of S. Dubricius was S. Theliau call'd by the Centuriators of Magdeburg Thelesinus Helius against whom they in like manner vomit their poyson saying that he was Anglicus Vaâ—es ex genere Baraorum an English Soothsayer of the stock of the Bards Wheras he neither was an English man nor Bard but descended from a Noble Brittish family as the Authour of his Life declares Adding further that from his infancy he was addicted to Devotion Prayer and contempt of secular pleasures And being come to a riper age he was for his piety and Wisedom by wise men Sirnamed Helios because with his doctrine he enlightned the hearts of the faithfull as the Sun doth the world He was instructed in holy scriptures by S. Dubricius till he was enabled to clear the most difficult places therein Then having heard the fame of a certain wise man called Paulinus he went to him to confer with him of the most abstruse Mysteries of Gods Word There he contracted freindship with S. David a man of great Perfection in sanctity insomuch as their hearts were so firmly knitt together by charity and the Grace of Gods holy Spirit that in all things they had but one Will. 2. When S. Dubricius was translated from the See of Landaff to the Metropolitan Church of Caër-leon S. Theliau succeeded him in that of Landaff in which he sate very many years and if the authority of the English Martyrologe â—ayle not he dyed not till the coming of S. Augustin the Monk into Brittany by whom his successour S. Oudoceus was consecrated 3 When a certain plague call'd the Yellow plague infested Brittany raging both against men and beasts by a divine admonition he departed into a far remote countrey accompanied with manâ— Disciples where he abode till by the same authority he was recalled Neither did he cease by dayly prayers and fasting to pacify Gods wrath At 〈◊〉 gathering together all his devout companions he returned and all his life after exercised suâ—â—eme jurisdiction over all the Churches of Western Brittany At last S. Theliau being replenish'd with all vertues dyed in a good old age on the fifth day before the Iâ—es of February Thus write the Authour of his life Therefore it is difficult to find out the grounds upon which in ouâ— Martyrologe he is commemorated on the twenty sixth of November by the Title of a Martyr murdred by a certain Brittain named Gueddant since all our â—râ—teâ—s Pits Harpsfeild Capgrave B. Godwin andâ— Vsher make no mention that he dyed a violent death 4. Many Miracles are recorded as done by him both before and after his death which I wiâ—â—ingly omiâ—t Onely one which B. Godwin thought good not to passe over in siâ—ence shâ—ll be nâ—re related and the rather becauâ—e as he says there is mention of it in the Prayer inserted in the Liturgy of his Feast whiâ—h was this After he was dead the inhabitants of three severall places contended earnestly which of them should enjoy his Body those of Peâ—nalum where his Ancestours had been buried those of Lantelio-vaur where he dyed and those of Landaff among whom he had been Bishop When therefore no agreement could be made amongst them there appeared presently three Bodies so like to one another that three eggâ— could not more perfectly resemble So each of thâ—se people took one of them and by that means the controversy ended Thus writes that Authour and in conclusion for his own Church of Landaff he addes That by frequent miracles at his Tomb it appear'd that the inhabitants of Landaff possess'd the true Body 5. Now whereas both in the life of S. Thâ—liau there is mention of Paulinus said to be iâ— Instruâ—â—â—â—r and likewise in the Acts theâ—â—nod â—â—nod of Brevy Paulinus was the man by whose exhortation Messengers were depâ—rted by the Synod to call thither S. David it any deserve our inquiry who this Paulinus was who was a Bishop before S. David consideâ—ing that in the Catalogue of our Bâ—shops none is found of that name before the â—ime of the Holy Monk S. Augustin Most probable therefore it is that this is the same which in the life of S. David is said to have been a Disciple of Saint Germanus Bishop of Auxerre and is sometimes sayd to have been S. Davids Teacher and elsewhere to have studied together with him and whose true name seems to have been Paulens 6. Concerning this Paulens we find this passage related by the Authour of S. Davids life in Capgrave S. David assoon as he was promoted to Preisthood went to Paulens a Disciple of S. Germanus who in a certain Island lead a holy life acceptable to God With him S. David lived many years and
David 3.4 Of S Kined 5. S. David forbidden to consecrate again the Church of Glastonbury 1. WHilst Cerdic was busy about the invasion of the Isle of Wight that vigilant Pastour of soules Saint David Bishop of Menevia assembled a Provinciall Synod call'd the Synod of Victory In which saith Giraldus Cambrensis the Clergy of all Cambria or Wales mett together and confirmed the Decrees of the former Synod at Brevy whereto they added new ones for the Churches benefit From these two Synods all the Churches of Cambria received their rules and Ecclesiasticall orders which also were confirmed by the authority of the Roman Church The Decrees of them both which the Holy Prelat David had first publish'd by speech he committed also to writing with his own hand and left them to be reserved in his own Church and Copies of them to be communicated to other Churches in that Province All which together with many other Treasures of that Noble Library furniâ—â—'d by him have been lost partly by age or negligence and principally by the incursionâ— of Pirats which almost every Sommer from the Isles of Orkney in long boats were accustomed to wast the Sea coasts of Cambria 2. The losse of this treasure deserves indeed to be deplored since thereby we might have been perfectly informed of the whole state of the Brittish Churches However we are from this ancient Historian assured that those Churches were regulated according to the Roman So that by examining the Doctrin and Disciplin of the Roman Church in that age we may be assured that the Brittish Churches beleived and practised the same And consequently that S. Augustin sent afterward to convert the Saxons brought no Novelties hither with him as some Modern Protestants doe accuse him since S. Gregory who sent him was exalted to S. Peters chair not above threescore years after this Synod 3. We read in the life of S. Kined in Capgrave that when S. David had publish'd his Edicts for the assembling this universall Synod of Cambria he took care humbly to invite thereto S. Kined But his answer was That for his sins being become distorted and crooked in his body he was unfitt for any society and much more to be adioyned to the company of such holy men Besides that he had not naturall strength sufficient to enable him to undertake such a iourney After his the same Authour relates a double Miracle how S. Kined having been restored to health and streightnes by the Prayers of Saint David by his own prayers was reduced again to his former infirmity crookednes 4. But I take no pleasure in exscribing the multitude of Miracles with which the following Writers of the middle age have rather obscured then illustrated the lives of Saints It shall suffise therefore in this place to declare that this S. Kined in the time of S. David fill'd Brittany with the same of his Sanctity He lived a solitary Anachoreticall life in the Province now called Glamorganshire probably in the same place where yet remains a Chappell called S. Keneth his Chappell left as a monument of his Sanctity Camden in his description of that Region writeth thus Western Gower is almost an Island by reason that the Sea encompasses it every where except in one narrow space in which it is ioynd to land It deâ—erves to be mentioned in story not so much for the towns in it as the fruits and the memory of a famous canonised Saint called S. Kined who there lead a solitary devout life 5. After the dissolution of the foresaid Synod S. David accompanied with severall other Bishops took a journey to the Monastery of Glastonbury with an intention to repaire the ruines of it again to consecrate it But how he was deterred from such a design by our Lord appearing to him in sleep forbidding him by a second Dedication to profane the Sacred Ceremony which himself had many years before performed in testimony whereof he with his finger peirced a hole in the Bishops hand which remaind open to the view of all men till the end of the next days Masse All this hath already been largely related in the beginning of this History at the year of Grace sixty four where was treated of the first foundation of that famous and most ancient Monastery of Glastonbury to which place I refer the Reader XIX CHAP. 1.2 c. S. David translates the Metropolitan See to Menevia 7 He exercises his Pastorall Office in Ireland 8 9.10 Of Irish Saints Particularly of S. Aedan 1. THE celebrating of this Synod is the last publick action which we find recorded of S. David Therefore we will here adioyn what remains of his Gests till his death which followd fifteen years after in the year of Grace five hundred forty four 2. Concerning his Birth and the Prophecies foregoing it as likewise his Education how in the year five hundred and nineteen in the Synod of Brevy he was elected and consecrated Bishop succeeding Saint Dubricius Arch-bishop of Caër-leon and Metropolitan of Cambria which See S. Dubricius three years before had relinquished retiring himself into solitude All this hath been already declared 3. Notwithstanding his Consecration he would not accept of a Metropoliticall Iurisdiction but upon this condition that he might transferre the See from Caâ—r-leon to Menevia a place for the remotenes solitude and neighbourhood of many Saints and Religious persons in the Islands and territory adioyning most acceptable to him Which Translation was approved both by King Arthur and the Synod then not dissolved 4. This Menevia is seated in the Province of the Dimetae now Penbrok-shire adioyning to the most remote Promontory of Brittany called by Ptolomy the Promontory of the Octopitae where saith Giraldus the soyle is stony and barren neither cloathed with wood nor interlaced with rivers nor adorned with meadows but exposed to the Sun and winds Yet with this penury the ancient Saints and Bishops were best contented accounting the remotenes from worldly tumults and noyse to recompence sufficiently all such incommodities 5. This Merevia or as the Brittains then called it Menew was in memory of this holy Bishop named by the converted Saxons David-Minster and by the Brittains Tuy-Dewy that is Davâ—ds house and at this day S. 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 Conquest of Brittany by the Normans entred into a 〈◊〉 of Law against the Arch-bishop of Canâ—terbury challenging their former right and priviledge of independance but the cause was iudged against them How the Archiepiscopall Pall by occasion of a Plague was caried over Sea into Little Britâ—any and left in the Church of Dole shal be shewd hereafter 6. The Pastorall care and zeale of S David in maintaining the Catholick Faith against Heresyes particularly Pelagianism and Ecclesiasticall Discipline against vices and disorders is celebrated by all our Writers
them to mind caused great unquietnes and remorse in him But whereas the foresaid Authour says That by a custom introduced among the Brittains this Sacrament of Ordination of Bishops was practis'd thus imperfectly it appears that such a deficiency was crept in among them and this only since the Saxons entring caused so great disturbances in the Island that the Ecclesiasticall Canons were either forgotten or if remembred could hardly be practised Either there were no Metropolitans or they were so far distant that in those dangerous times no accesse could be had to them Most places wanted Bishops and even inhabitants so that it was a wonder that even the Holy Chrism could be supplied which no doubt was furnish'd out of Ireland 7. Hence it is manifest that these disorders and neglect of Ecclesiasticall Canons were an Errour veniall because unavoydable that in former peaceable times the practise was otherwise and the Canons were duly observed So that the purity of the Brittains Faith was hereby nothing prejudiced Therefore some Protestant Controvertists doe unreasonably collect from hence that the Brittains before S. Gregories time did not in their Ordinations conform themselves to the Roman Church but received their Rites from I know not which Eastern Churches Whereas no Eastern Churches can be found which neglected any of these Ceremonies and as for the Roman it is evident by what hath been formerly declared that the Brittains in their Discipline establish'd by Councils demanded a confirmation from the Sea Apostolick 8. But a more Authentick proof of the respect and dependance which the Brittish Churches had of the Roman cannot be imagin'd then the behaviour of S. Kentigern himself For being afterwards afflicted in mind for the foresaid defects in his Ordination he did not seek for Counsel or remedy from any Metropolitains in Brittany Ireland or France but only from Rome and the Supreme Bishop thereof to whom the Custody of Ecclesiasticall Canons was by the Church committed and who had authority to enjoyn the observation of them to punish the transgression and to supply or dispence with the defects either by negligence or necessity occurring in the execution of them 9. This is expressly declar'd by the foresaid Iohn of Tinmouth in his prosecution of the Life of S. Kentigern where he tells us That the Man of God went seaven severall times to Rome where he simply and particularly layd open his whole life his Election Consecration and all the accidents which had befallâ— him to S. Gregory the speciall Apostle of the English Vpon which the Holy Pope perceiving that he was a sincere man of God and full of the Grace of Gods holy Spirit confirm'd his Consecration knowing that it came from God Moreover at his often and earnest request yet with great unwillingnes he condescended to supply those small defects which were wanting in his Consecration and having done this he dismissed him to the work of the Ministery which was enjoyn'd him by the Holy Ghost 10. Hence appears that in the Ordination of S. Kentigern nothing was omitted that was of any necessity since it was only upon his importunity and for satisfaction of his Scrupulosity that S. Gregory supplied the omissions of certain Rites required by the Canons The greatest fault that the Holy Bishop could impute to himself was his being consecrated by one onely Irish Bishop against the Expresse Canon of a General Council But considering the unquietnes and danger of the times and the want of Bishops though there was a transgression of the words of the Canon yet there was none of the mind of it which certainly does not oblige to impossibilites And this was the resolution of the sence of it which the same S. Gregory gave to S. Augustin answering the like difficulty in these words In the Church of the Angli wherein at present thou art the onely Bishop thou canst not ordain any other Bishop but thy self alone without the concurrence of other Bishops XXIV CHAP. 1.2 S. Kentigern Vertues 1. HOW S. Kentigern behav'd himself in discharge of his Episcopall Office is thus further declar'd by the same Authour After his Consecration during the whole course of his life his custom was to eat only every third day and sometims fourth and his food was bread Milk cheese and butter For he alway abstain'd from flesh and wine or any other drink which could distemper Next his skin he wore a very rough hayr-cloath and over that a garment made of goat-shins together with a close Cowle and his uppermost clathing was a white Albe He always wore a Stole and caried a Pastorall staffe or Crosier not sphericall nor gilded and sett with precious stones but of simple wood bowing back at the toop and in his hand he ever held a book Thus he was always in a readines to exercise his function whensoever necessity or reason requir'd He lay in a stone-chest made hollow like a Biere under his head lay a stone and under his body were cast cinders and a Cilice of hayr in which posture he with some unwillingnes admitted a short sleep after which he would plunge himself in cold water and so recite the whole Psalter This customary practise neither snow nor rain did interrupt nor any thing but sicknes or journeying and then he would redeem a discontinuation of these austerities with some spirituall exercise Thus does that Authour describe S. Kentigerns private life by many other arguments showing him to be a man absolutely perfect in all vertues 2. Consequently he relates other actions of his in order to the discharge of his Episcopall Office saying He fix'd his Episcopal See in the Citty of Glasco where likewise he ordain'd a great Congregation of Religious men who liv'd according to the form of the Primitive Church in community of all things The Infidels in his Diocese he converted to the Faith Apostats and Hereticks he by his sound doctrin recall'd to the bâ—som of our Holy Mother the Church He every where threw down Idols and Images of Devils and built some Churches He distinguish'd Parishes by their certain bounds He was always travelling to gain soules to God never riding on hors-back but in imitation of the Apostles always going a foot And because he would not eat his bread in idlenes his custom was to labour with his hands in agriculture His other Gests we shall relate here after XXV CHAP. 1.2 c. Mordred King Arthurs Nephew rebelles He is pursued by King Arthur and both slain 7.8 King Arthur dyed and was buried at Glastonbury 9. His appearing again long expected by the Welsh 10 11. c. His Monument discovered in after ages 1. ABout this time it was that our famous King Arthur found at last repose in his grave which he could never enjoy during life The manner how he was brought to his end is thus related by our Historians 2. In an expedition which upon some unknown occasion he made abroad he left the
THE year following Brittany afforded a memorable example of the instability of worldly greatnes and power in the person of the hitherto prosperous King of the West-Saxons Ceaulin who after all his conquests was at last overcome in fight and expell'd his kingdom and life also Which is in this manner related by Malmsburiensis Ceaulin saith he in his last days was banish'd from his kingdom exhibiting to his Enemies a miserable spectacle of himself For such was the generall hatred born to him both by the Brittains and Saxons that they all unanimously conspir'd to destroy him Armies therefore being gathred on both sides a battle was fought at Wodensdike in the one and thirtieth year of his raign where his forces were utterly defeated after which he was compell'd to forsake his kingdom and a little after he dyed 2. The place where this battle was fought is in Wiltshire where a great fosse divides the Province in the middle saith Camden from East to West call'd by the inhabitants Wansdike and fabulously reported to have been made by the Devil upon a Wednesday for it takes its name from Woden or Mercury the Saxon Idol which gave the appellation to Wednesday The cause of the raising of that rampire seems to have been for a separation of the Kingdoms of the Mercians and West-Saxons And neer thereto is seated a Village call'd Wodensbury where Ceaulin fighting against the Brittains and Saxons was utterly broken 3. After the death of Ceaulin his Brothers son Cealric possess'd the Kingdom of the West-Saxons but being much inferiour in courage to his Predecessour he did not inherit that extent of power which Ceaulin had exercised over the other Saxon Princes Which opportunity was not omitted by Ethelbert King of Kent next in power to Ceaulin who without much hazard obtained that preeminence By which meanes a freer way was opened to communicate Christian Truthes to severall Provinces of the Kingdom after they had been once entertained by Ethelbert which hapned little above three years after the death of Ceaulin XX. CHAP. i. 2 c. The Irish Churches reduced from Schism by S. Gregory 1. SAint Gregory in the third year after he was Pope by his authority and wisedom restored the Churches of Ireland to Catholick Vnity from which they had been separated upon occasion of the quarrell about the Tria Capitula of which we treated before His Epistle to them concerning that subject is extant which that it had its full effect to their satisfaction may be proved by many arguments For presently after this time there is mention of severall of their Bishops and devout persons which undertook Pilgrimages to Rome to visit the Holy places and to expresse their duty to the supreme Bishop 2. Moreover another Epistle of the same Holy Pope is extant also in answer to certain doubts and questions which they had proposed to him touching the Rites and manner of Baptism what Form of Profession was to be administred to such as returned to the Church from the Nestorian Heresy c. But since those matters doe not concern the Ecclesiasticall affaires of Brittany the Reader if he be inquisitive may inform himself concerning S. Gregories resolutions in those cases from S. Gregory himselfe in his Works every where to be mett with 3. Onely we shall in this place observe that the Churches of Brittany were at this time free from any stain of Schism or Errours in Doctrines Yea probable it is that by them the Churches of Ireland were denounced to the See Apostolick as culpable It was about the year five hundred sixty six saith Baronius that they engaged themselves in the said Schism and now after twenty six years through Gods goodnes and by the endeavours of his servant S. Gregory they were restored XXI CHAP. 1.2 c. The death of severall Saxon Princes 4.5 The Death of the devout Queen Ingoberga Mother to Queen Bertha 1. IN the year of Grace five hundred ninety three Edelric King of the Northumbers dyed and his Son Ethelfrid succeeded him sirnamed the Cruel concerning whom Malmsburiensis gives this Character Thus being possessed of his Kingdom he began first vigorously to defend his own dominions then unjustly to invade the bounds of others and every where to seek occasions of exalting his glory Many combats were undertaken by him providently and executed gallantly for neither was he restraind by slouth when war was necessary neither in the exercising it did his courage impell him to temerity 2. About the same time Titillus King of the Eastangles being dead his Son Redwald possessed his throne who by some Writers is accounted the first founder of that Kingdom By the perswasion of the Holy King and Martyr S. Edwyn he was induced to give his name to Christ in Baptism But these and many other things concerning him which fill the Saxon Annalls hapned severall years after this time and shall in their due place be declared 3. This year was fruitfull in the deaths of our Saxon Princes for Crida King or Duke of the Mercians now likewise ended his life to whom succeeded his Son Wibba or Wippa not memorable in story for any thing so much as leaving behind him his illustrious children Penda Kenwalch and Sexburga of whom hereafter 4. About the year five hundred ninety four the pious and vertuous Queen Ingoberga received the reward of her patience by a holy and happy death She had been the wife of Charibert one of the Kings of the Franks and after she had born him a daughter was unworthily repudiated by him to make way for a Concubine called Meroflenda Her memory challenges a place in our History in as much as most probably she was Mother to Bertha or Aldiberga the Christian Lady above twenty years since maried to Ethelbert King of Kent whose piety and endeavours had a great influence in disposing her Husbands mind to embrace the Christian Faith very shortly to be proposed to him by S. Augustin the Monk 5. As touching the said Queen Ingoberga we receive a character of her vertues and an account of her happy death from a worthy French Bishop an eyewitnes of both to wit Gregory Bishop of Tours whose relation is as followeth In the fourteenth year of King Childebert Ingoberga Widow of Charibert departed this life A Lady she was of great sincerity and devotion diligent in watching prayers and Alms-giving She I suppose by direction of the Divine Providence sent messengers to mee desiring my counsel and assistance about her Last Will and disposing of matters which she intended for the good and remedy of her soule For which purpose she requested my personall presence that after advice between us her intentions might be committed to writing I could not refuse to come to her and at my entrance I mett with a Religious man who received mee courteously and presently called for a Notary Then we advised together after which she bequeathed some legacies and
thy fury from this Citty and this thy Holy house Alleluia Thus the Holy Crosse once more took possession of the place from which it had been banished and thus the oraculous speech pronounced by S. Gregory began to be accomplished that Alleluia should be sung in that Pagan countrey 11. Let us now observe how these Holy Missioners employed their time Of this the same S. Beda will inform us That assoon as they were entred into the Mansion which the King had given them they began to imitate the Apostolick life of the Primitive Church by attending to assiduous prayers watching and fasting by preaching the word of life to all they could by despising all worldly things as if they belonged not to them by receiving from their Disciples only such things as were meerly necessary for their subsistence by practising themselves according to the preceps which they taught others and lastly by having minds prepar'd to suffer any adversities even death it self for that Truth which they preached Insomuch as not a few beholding the simplicity of their innocent lives and admiring the sweetnes of their celestiall doctrine beleived and were baptis'd 12. The same Authour further declares that the Church of S. Martin deputed for the Queens devotions as hath been said was the first publick place where they met together sung prayd celebrated Masses preach'd and baptis'd till after the Kings conversion they received a great liberty to preach and build Churches every where 13. Here we may see what manner of entring these our Apostles had among us and how they turn'd our Ancestours from Idols to serve the living and true God Neither was their Gospell in speech only but in power and in the Holy Ghost and a plenitude of his Gifts and miracles as shall be shewd The Preachers are Monks they are sent by the authority of the Bishop of Rome they carry the banner of the Holy Crosse and the Image of our Saviour before them they celebrate Masses they work miracles For all which they are honour'd their memory is precious through all Gods Church almost a thousand years together But now one Apostat Monk can perswade a great part of Christians that it was not Christ which these men preach'd One Calvinisticall Bishop dares call these men Apostles to the English not of the Christian Faith or Word of God but of Roman ceremonies and Rites who taught them to become not Christians but Romanists and Papists To such blasphemous accusations as these no answer ought to be given Quia meliùs eas committo fidelium gemitibus quà m sermonibus meis V. CHAP. 1.2 Many Converted 3.4 S. Augustin goes to Arles to be ordained Bishop and why 1. BY the life and preaching of these Holy men no small number of Converts were gathered to the Church which were baptis'd on the day of Pentecost in the forementioned Church of S. Martin But shortly after far greater multitudes follow'd their Example Whether King Ethelbert was one of those then baptis'd does not expressly appear in any of our ancient Records 2. That which S. Beda relates touching him in particular is thus express'd Among others King Ethelbert was much delighted with the purity of these Saints lives and with the comfortable sweetnes of their promises the truth and certainty whereof they confirmed with many evident miracles So that in the end he also beleived and was baptised After which very many others dayly began to flock together that they might heare the word of God by which they were perswaded to relinquish their Gentile Superstitions and to unite themselves to the holy Church of Christ. Which the King perceiving he much congratulated their Faith and Conversion and embraced them with more ardent Charity as being fellow cittizens with him of the Kingdom of Heaven but yet he compelled none to the profession of Christianity For he had learnt from the Teachers and Authours of his salvation that the service of Christ must be voluntary and not by compulsion 3 Saint Augustin seeing a Harvest so plentifull and ripe according to the instructions formerly given him by Saint Gregory went back into France there to be ordained Bishop because besides the power of administring Baptisme the other Sacrament of Confirmation was requisite by which these tender plants might be strengthned in the Faith Which Sacrament could not be administred but by the hand and power of a Bishop This is testified by the same Saint Beda saying In the mean while the man of God Augustin went to Arles in France where by the Arch-bishop of that Citty Etherius or rather Virgilius he was Consecrated Arch-bishop of the Nation of the Angli according as he had received commands from Saint Gregory This was performed the sixteenth day before the Calends of December saith Sir H. Spelman 4. It may be demanded why Saint Augustin should receive his Episcopal consecration from the Bishop of Arles the furthest distant from him in France and not rather from the Prelat of Lyons or some other nearer to Brittany The reason hereof doubtles was because such a Prerogative belonged to the Church of Arles which Saint Gregory who was most observant of Ecclesiasticall rights would by no means infringe This prerogative that See challenged and enjoyed because that was the first Church in those parts which had received a Bishop S. Trophimus ordained by the Apostle S. Peter himself as appears by an Epistle of the Bishops of that Province to S. Leo in which they iustify their rights and priviledges of Ordination against the pretentions of their neighbour Church of Vienna 5. It was a great prejudice to the New Saxon Church that the year before S. Augustins coming into Brittany the Holy Bishop Saint Asaph Successour to S. Kentigern in the Bishoprick of Elwy in wales should dye as likewise S. Columba the same year that Saint Augustin arrived For doubtles the authority and piety of two such eminent Saints would have prevented the contestations petulancy of the Brittish Bishop which followed VI. CHAP. 1.2 c. Saint Augustin consecrates an Idol-Temple near Canterbury into a Church dedicated to S. Pancraece 6. A prodigy caused by the Devill there against S. Augustin 7.8 He builds a Church and Monastery to Saint Peter and Saint Paul near the Citty 9. And another in the Citty to our Saviour 10. He places a Suffragan Bishop in the Church of S. Martin 1. SAint Augustin having been consecrated by Virgilius Arch-bishop of Arles returned into Brittany in the year of Grace five hundred ninety eight where he was received by King Ethelbert with greater reverence then before who assigned to him an Episcopal See in the same Citty which he afterward enriched with great possessions as S. Beda testifies 2. This New Episcopall Church was not that of S. Martin where the Queen was formerly wont to pray But it was a Temple anciently frequented by the King whilst he was a Pagan and was situated in the
shewed to the New Saxon-Converts by permitting mariage in the third and fourth degrees gave occasion of murmuring and complaining to other Churches particularly those of Sicily Whereupon Felix Bishop of Messana wrote to S. Gregory desiring to be satisfied upon what grounds he dealt so favourably with the Saxons whereas both custom and the Decrees of ancient Popes the resolutions of Ancient Fathers in the great Councill of Nicéa and other Synods forbad Mariage to the seaventh degree This satisfaction he demanded not by way of accusing or calumniating S. Gregory as some Protestant Writers have done but proposing reverently his and his Fellow-Bishops difficulties and desirous to be taught by him who saith he we know does undergoe the care of the Vniversall Church and specially of Bishops who in regard of Contemplation are called the Eyes of Gods Church as the Prelats of the Holy See first the Apostles and afterward their Successours always have done 13. Hereto S. Gregory answered That by the indulgence granted to the Saxons he had no intention to innovate or establish a generall Law but only for a time to qualify the rigour of it least that Nation as yet imperfect and incapable of solid food should relinquish the Christian Profession which they had lately undertaken But as for all other Churches his intention was that the former Laws forbidding Mariage between kinred to the Seaventh generation should remain unalterable This says he which we write in answer to thee and the other Bishops in Sicily who is thou sayst have by thee consulted us we command to be observed generally by all Christians And this Decree renewed by S. Gregory the Catholick Church observed diligently till Pope Innocent the third in the Council of Lateran upon just and necessary causes contracted this amplitude of Degrees to the fourth as is now observed But quitting this diversion let us return to the rest of the Questions proposed by S. Augustin to S. Gregory 14. The eighth Question was Whether in case Bishops by reason of their great distance from one another could not meet together a Bishop might not be ordaind by him in their absence Hereto Saint Gregories Answer was That in the English Church where himself was then the onely Bishop Ordinations must needs be celebrated by him alone unlesse some Bishops out of France would vouchsafe to come But for the future Saint Gregory enjoyned Saint Augustin to ordain Bishops at a reasonable distance that the Canons of the Apostles and Councils might be duly observed which in all Ordinations doe require the presence of at least three Bishops By which resolution it seems S. Gregory was informed of the perversenes of the Brittish Bishops who were unwilling to afford any assistance in the establishing of Saxon Churches 15. His ninth Question was How he was to treat with the French and Brittish Bishops Whereto Saint Gregory answers that he gave him no authority to iudge the Bishops of France whose Metropolitan the Arch-bishop of Arles onely was in token whereof he had from precedent Popes received the Pall. In case therefore that he should goe into France he might assist the said Arch-bishop in reforming the Clergy or if he were negligent he might in cite him thereto but not assume any iurisdiction over any Bishop there But as for the Brittish Bishops saith S. Gregory we committ them all to thy Fraternity to teach the ignorant by perswasion to strengthen the infirm and by authority to correct the perverse If the Pall which is the sign of Metropoliticall Iurisdiction had remained among the Brittish Bishops as it did at Arles in France S. Gregory doubtlesse would as well have pronounced them free from S. Aug. Iurisdiction There were besides these nine two Questions more with their Answers which for their length and the Readers ease I omitt the curious may read them in Saint Gregory S. Beda or Sir H. Spelman c. 16. To these Questions we find in the late Edition of Paris adjoyned in the last place a Request That S. Gregory would please to send him of the Relicks of S. Sixtus Martyr The Motive of which request it seems was because he had been informed that somewhere in Kent a Body of a pretended Martyr of that name had been held in veneration This Petition S. Gregory granted but withall enjoyned him to repose the true Relicks of S. Sixtus which he sent him in some place apart And in case no Miracles appeared to have been wrought at the Body of the pretended Martyr nor any sufficient Tradition concerning the Story of his passion he required him to damme up the place where it lay and forbid the people to venerate an uncertain Relick 17. Another Epistle S. Augustin likewise received from S. Gregory at the same time in which he signifies to him that he had sent him a Pall the use whereof he allows him only during the solemn celebratiō of Masse and with this condition that he ordain twelve Suffragan Bishops in convenient places which were to be subject to his Iurisdiction He tells him withall that the Bishop of the Citty of London should ever after be consecrated by a Synod of that Province and receive the Pall of honour from the Apostolick See He advised him likewise to send a Bishop to York and in case that Citty and Province should be converted his will was that twelve Bishops likewise should be there ordained over whom the Bishop of York was to be Metropolitan to whom likewise he promised to send a Pall. And as for the two Provinces of London York neither of the Arch-Bishops should have iurisdiction over the other and that they should take place according to their Antiquity of Ordination Only S. Augustin as long as he lived should have authority to exercise Iurisdiction through both the Provinces and over all the Brittish Bishops likewise 18 Here it is worth our observation that in all this Epistle the See of Canterbury is not named as an Archiepiscopall See Whereas that of London is expressly decreed to be one And yet if we consult all our Ecclesiacall Histories after these times we shall not find that ever the Bishop of London enjoyed that Priviledge and authority but was always subject to the Arch-bishop of Canterbury notwithstanding that during the ages before whilst the Brittish Churches flourished London as the Prime Citty of the Island had been the Seat of the Prime Arch-bishop 19. We must therefore conclude that the orders prescribed in this Letter never took effect but that upon a following request from Saint Augustin the Metropoliticall authority was transferred from London to Canterbury The Motives of which request probably were because though London was the most Noble Citty for merchandise of the whole Island yet then Canterbury was the Royal Citty and place of residence of Ethelbert the Christian King and withall the most potent Now that this Translation was actually made by S. Gregory we read testified by the Letters
Bishop of Caer-leon is sayd to have the principall care of the Welsh Provinces Since by all Histories it is evident that very many years before this the Metropoliticall Iurisdiction had been transferd from that Church to Menevia And moreover neither at the time when this Synod was held nor many years before was there any Bishop at all at Caer-leon 5. But all these discourses either about the Popes or Saint Augustins authority over the Brittains pretended to have pass'd in this Synod are meer fictions invented first by Bale an Apostat and the Centuriatours without any warrant from our Ancient Histories It is true Saint Gregory had invested Saint Augustin with such authority over the Brittains but that he wisely dissembled it at this meeting and onely required a conformity from the Brittish Bishops in the celebration of Easter and administration of Baptism with a request that they would ioyn with him in spreading the Gospell is manifest from Saint Beda from whom alone we can securely be informed of the passages of this present Synod And whose Narration shall here entirely be sett down 6. Augustin saith he began with a brotherly admonition to perswade them to entertain Catholick peace and Vnity with him and for our Lords honour to undertake the common labour of preaching the Gospell to the Pagans He told them likewise that they did not observe the day of EasterÌ„ in its due time but reckoned the Sunday from the fourteenth day of the Moon to the one and twentieth Which Computation is containd in a Circle of eighty four years And many other things beside they did contrary to the Vnity of the Church This was the Substance of Saint Augustins discourse to the Brittains in the first Session of this Synod Here is not a word of the Primacy of the Roman See or the submission of Brittany to it and much lesse to him But what effect these Christian exhortations had on the minds of the Brittains the same holy Writer thus further declares 7. When the Brittains saith he after a long disputation would not be moved to give their assent neither by the exhortations nor increpations of Augustin and his companions but would needs preferre their own Traditions before the consent of all Christian Churches in the world The Holy Father Augustin brought the tedious and laborious Dispute to this conclusion saying Let us beseech our Lord who makes brethren of one mind in the house of his Father that he would vouchsafe by celestiall â—igns to make known unto us which of these Traditions is to be followd and which is the right path leading to his Kingdom Let some sick person be here produced among us and he by whose Prayers he shall be cured Let that mans faith and practise be beleived acceptable to God and to be â—ollowd by men 8. This proposition being at last with much adoe and great unwillingnes accepted by the adverse party a certain English man who was blind was brought before them and was first offred to the Brittish Bishops but by their endeavours and ministery found no cure or help At length Augustin compelled hereto by iust necessity kneeld down and address'd his Prayer to God the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ that he would vouchsafe to restore sight to that blind man and by a corporall illumination of one to kindle the Light of spirituall Grace in the hearts of many beleivers Having said this immediatly the blind man received sight and Augustin was proclam'd by all a true Preacher of celestiall Light Then at last the Brittains confess'd that they now perceived that the way of iustice â—â—ught by Augustin was the true way but without the consent of their countreymen they could not renounâ—e their ancient customes Therfore they requested that a second Synod might be assembled at which greater numbers might meet 9. This is the simple and true Narration of the Gests of this first Session the summ of which is likewise deliverd by Henry of Huntington And here we see the way taught by Saint Augustin confirm'd by a divine Miracle and consequently whatsoever the Brittains taught in contradiction to that way reprov'd from heaven So that it is against God himself that they fight who calumniate the faith deliver'd to the Saxons by him Be it granted therefore to our Protestant Writers that in this Synod Saint Augustin requir'd obedience to the Roman See from the Brittains and to himself sent from thence they must then be compelld to ioyn with the Brittains in acknowledging that the way of iustice taught by him was the true way 10. The principall if not as Huntington implies the only point about which such earnest contestations pass'd in this Synod was the celebration of Easter or the Paschall solemnity This Feast as observed by the Iews was to be celebrated exactly on the fourteenth day of the first Moon after the Vernal Equinox on what day of the week soever it fell and it was instituted in memory of the deliverance of the Iews by means of sprinkling the blood of the Paschall lamb on the posts of their dores in the night wherein the first born of every family among the Egyptians was slain by an Angell Now that Sacrifice of the Paschal Lamb only typifying the offring of Christ our true Pasch the Christian Church from the Apostles times in memory of Christs deliverance from death after he had offred himself instituted this Christian Pasch almost at the same time with the Iewes But to distinguish it from the shadow of a Iewish observation they ordain'd that it should be solemnised only on a Sunday yet not that on which the fourteenth day of the Moon fell but the Sunday following and therefore counted always from the fifteenth day to the two and twentieth excluding the the day of the Iewish Pasch. 11. The Errour therefore of the Brittains consisted not as generally Protestant Writers conceive in conforming to the Asiatick manner of the Quarto-decimani who kept their Easter always the same day with the Iewes whether it were Sunday or not But they made their computation from the fourteenth of the Moon to the one and twentieth as Saint Beda properly expresses their errour by which means it came to passe that if the fourteenth of the Moon proved to be a Sunday the Iews and Brittains once in seaven years would observe their Paschall Solemnity together which was contrary to the universall practise of the Church and utterly forbidden by the first Generall Councill of Nicéa This difference is observed by Bishop Vsher alone of all Protestants who therefore never charges the Brittains with the Asiatick Errour XIX CHAP. 1. 2. The Second Session of the Synod 3.4 c. The Brittish Bishops consult an Anchoret His answer and the Successe 6. What S. Augustin required of them Not subjection 7.8 The Brittains erroneous about Baptism and how 9. Saint Augustins Prophecy against them 1. SVCH having been the Successe of the first Session of this Synod
S. Oudoceus either were not present at the Synod of Worcester or did not ioyn in the faction rais'd by younger passionat spirits who frequently in such meetings by tumults and clamours over-power the counsells of such as are more wise and vertuous XXIII CHAP. 1.2 c. Two Charters of King Ethelbert to the Monastery of S. Peter and S. Paul in Canterbury 1. IN the year of our Lords Incarnation six hundred and five King Ethelbert who had express'd such munificence in the founding and endowing the Churches of S. Paul in London and S. Andrew at Rochester shewd more zeale in adorning and amplifying the Church and Monastery by him first erected in his own Royall Citty of Canterbury on which he bestowd many donations and noble Priviledges And moreover to secure all these from the Sacrilegious invasions of his Successours or any other he confirmd them with a Charter ratifyed both with Regall and Ecclesiasticall authority The Copy wherof we will here sett down with the more confidence because the following Monarks of our Nation beleiv'd and acknowledged it for the true Authentick Act of this King For the two Norman Edwards the first and Second in their Letters from the first word in them calld Inspeximus have not only mentiond this Donation but express'd likewise the Tenour of it 2. This Charter of Donation is recorded by William Thorn in his History of the foundation of the Church and Monastery of Canterbury from whence we will here exscribe that which pertains to this matter Viz. In the year of our Lords Incarnation six hundred and five King Ethelbert confirmd in the Catholick Faith together with his Queen Bertha and their Son Eadbald as likewise the most Reverend Prelat Augustin and other Nobles of the land celebrated the Solemnity of our Lords Nativity at Canterbury Where convoking a publick assembly as well of the Clergy as people on the fifth day before the Ides of Ianuary with the approbation of all and every one of them he by the Blessed Bishop S. Augustin himself surrendred and delivered to God and the Monks there perpetually serving our Lord the said Monastery on which he conferrd a liberty from all burdens for ever moreover enriching it with many possessions and other magnificent Gifts In the same Monastery likewise he placed a Congregation of Monks over whom he constituted Abbot a Monk named Peter And that these things may more manifestly appear to the Readers I thought expedient to adioyn hereto the Tenour of the Charter of King Ethelbert and Saint Augustin as followeth 3. In the Name of our Lord Iesus Christ. Every man who lives according to Gods Law and hopes to be rewarded by him ought chearfully and from his heart to promote pious prayers and Devotions to him it being certain that he shall so much more easily obtain the effect of his own prayers to God as he more willingly bestows any thing on God Wherefore I Ethelbert King of Kent with the consent of the Venerable Archbishop Augustin and my Nobles doe give and grant for the honour of Saint Peter a certain portion of land belonging to mee which lyes on the East of the Citty of Canterbury to the end that both the place where the Monastery is built and the fore said land remain in the power and possession of the Abbot who shall be there ordained Therefore I adiure and command in the name of our Lord and Omnipotent God who is the just Iudge of all that the foresaid land be for ever confirmed by this Donation here subscribed so that it may not be lawfull either for mee or any of my Successours Kings and Princes or any other Dignities or orders Ecclesiasticall or Civil to defraud or diminish any thing of it But if any one shall attempt to prejudice or make voyd any thing of this our Donation Let him for the present be separated from the Communion of the Body and Blood of Christ and in the Day of Iudgement for a iust reward of his Malice and iniustice let him be severed from the Fellowship of Gods Saints The said land is encompassed with these limits On the East with the Church of S Martin on the South with the way of Burghate On the West and North with Druting-street Acted in the Citty of Canterbury Dorobernia in the six hundred and fifth year after our Lords Incarnation and the eighth Indiction In the End there is added the sign of the Crosse omitted by Sir H. Spelman in this manner †I Ethelbert King of Kent being in sound mind and with deliberate Counsell have confirmed this with the Sign of the Crosse made with mine own hand I Augustin by the Grace of God Archbishop in testimony of my consent have willingly subscribed Edbald Hamegisilus Augemundus Referendery Hocca Tangil Pinca Geddy 4. This was the first Charter granted by King Ethelbert to which he added a Second The Tenour whereof likewise shall for the Antiquity of it be sett down with a desire of the Readers pardon who shall very seldom be interrupted or detained by such Forms for I will content my self with delivering the substance of them when occasion is to mention them This Second Charter is by Sir H. Spelman inscribed A Donation of the land of Langeport the Form whereof followeth 5. In the name of our Lord Iesus Christ. Be it known to all both present and to come that I Ethelbert by the Grace of God King of the English Nation having from an Idolater been made a Christian by Augustin my Father in the Gospel have given to God by the same Prelat a certain portion of land belonging to mee lying under the Eastern wall of the Citty of Canterbury namely about the place where by my said Instructour in Christ I built a Monastery to the honour of the Princes of the Apostles Peter and Paul Which Monastery with the said land and all other things pertaining thereto I have endowed with free liberties So that it may not be lawfull for mee or any of my Successours or any other Power Ecclesiasticall or Secular to usurp any thing of it but that it remain in the free power and possession of the Abbot If any one therefore shall attempt to diminish or make voyd any thing of this our Donation Let him by the Authority of God and Blessed Pope Gregory as likewise our Apostle Augustin and our own imprecation be separated from all Communion of Holy Church and in the Day of Iudgement from all Society of Gods Elect. The sayd land is on all sides encompassed with these bounds On the East with the Church of Saint Martin and likewise with Siblendoune Al. be si Wendowne And so to the North be Wikengesmarke Likewise at the East by Kingesmarke Also at the North and East by Kingesmarke So on the West to Rideschape And so to the North to Drutingstreete This was done in the Citty of Canterbury in the six hundred and fifth year from the Incarnation of Christ and
stole or by fraud usurped any thing belonging to the Church to Bishops or other Ecclesiasticks of inferiour degrees For his desire was to give his protection especially to those whom he had so reverently received and whose Doctrine he had embraced 2. What those Decrees and Forms of Iudgments were may be seen in that celebrated Manuscript called the Text of Rochester which in the days of King Henry the first was composâ—d by Enulphus Bishop of that Citty under this Title These are the Decrees or Iudgements which King Ethelbert constituted in the life time of Saint Augustin Here I will sett down onely such Laws as regard the Church and which Saint Beda seems to mention The which have been brought by Sir H. Spelman into the first Tome of English Councils and expressed both in the Saxon and Latin tongues The sence of them here follows 3. Whosoever shall uniustly take away any thing belonging to God and the Church shall make satisfaction by a twelve-fold restitution If such things belong to a Bishop he shall restore eleaven fold If to a Preist nine fold If to a Deacon six fold If to an inferiour Clark three fold If the peace of the Church shall be violated by any one let satisfaction be made by paying double and the like for disturbing the peace of a Monk If when the King shall call an Assembly of his people and any iniury shall be offred them the Offender shall restore double and moreover pay to the King fifty shillings Solidos If when the King shall be entertained in any house any dammage shall be done there let it be recompenced double c. 4. Besides these saith the same Sir H. Spelman in his Annotations to these Decrees there follow many other Laws pertaining to honesty of life and correction of manners but these are all which regard the Church The precise time when these Decrees were published does not appear but as the Title declares they were made whilst Saint Augustin was alive and as the care of the Church manifests they were published after King Ethelberts conversion XXVI CHAP. i S. Augustin ordains S. Laurence his Successour 2.3 c. His Bull confirming the Monastery of Canterbury suspected 1. THERE is among our Historians great variety of iudgments touching the number of years spent by Saint Augustin in Brittany and in what year he dyed Those who place his death in the third year of this Century as Iohn Stow or in the fourth as Baronius endeavours to collect from Saint Beda doe too-much hasten his end For the Charters of King Ethelbert before mentioned declare that he was alive in the fifth year On the other side those prolong his life too-much who affirm that he dyed not till the year of Grace six hundred and fifteen as some Authours quoted by F. Reyner in his Apostolatus or thirteen as Sir Henry Savill in his Chronologicall Fasts or twelve as Malmsburiensis or eleaven as Polydor Virgil For Pope Boniface in his Letters dated six hundred and ten does suppose him dead Therefore in such variety of opinions Sigebert and Mathew of Westminster most probably place his death in the year of Grace six hundred and eight 2. A little before his death Saint Augustin consecrated Laurence a Bishop designing him his Successour in the Archiepiscopall See Which he did after the example of many former holy Bishops who upon their view of death approaching relinquishing the care of others attended devoutly to the contemplation of that one necessary thing This same passage is thus related by Saint Beda Laurence succeeded Saint Augustin having been ordained Bishop by him whilst he was yet alive out of an apprehension least after his death the State of the Church as yet tender being destitute of a Pastour though but foâ— a moment shâ—uld begin to falter And herein he followed the Example of the Prime Pastour of Gods Church namely Saint Peter Prince of the Apostles who having founded the Church of Christ at Rome is reported to have made Saint Clement his Coadjutour in preaching the Gospell and consecrated him his Successour 3. The last publick Act attributed to Saint Augustin was the Confirming by a Solemne Bull all the Rights and Priviledges of his Beloved Monastery of Saint Peter and Saint Paul exempting it from all Episcopall Iurisdiction from all tribute servitude c. Prohibiting all Bishops to say Masses exercise Ordinations or Consecrations c. as by their own authority or Iurisdiction in that place deputed for the Treasury of Saints and burying place of succeeding Arch-bishops and Princes And assigning the Election of Abbots to the free Suffrages of the Monks c. All which Priviledges he confirmed with a denunciation of eternall damnation to transgeessours of them by the authority of Saint Peter and his Vicar the Bishop of Rome Saint Gregory This Bull was published in the presence and with the approbation of King Ethelbert his Son Eadbald all the Nobility of the Kingdom his Successour Laurence Mellitus Bishop of London Iustus Bishop of Rochester and Peter the Abbot and Monks of the same Monastery 4 To which Bull there was appended a Seale of Lead Neither is it a wonder saith the Transcriber of the said Bull that Saint Augustin being a Roman an Apostle of the English Nation and a Legat of the Apostolick See indued with a plenary Authority to erect Bishopricks and consecrate Bishops all which were to be subject to him should have the power and right to make use of a leaden Seale Though for the space of five hundred years the like priviledge was not afterward granted to any of our Bishops 5. Notwithstanding Sir H. Spelman not unreasonably suspects this not to be a genuine Bull because the fabrick of the Seale expresses not so great antiquity and the Sculpture of it more elegant then suited with that age likewise the Image of our Saviour and the form of a Church engraved in it ressembles the exactnes almost of these later times Moreover the Letters of the Inscription are such as were used in far later ages about the raign of King Henry the second or Richard the first And lastly the Seal is appended to the Bull not after the Roman fashion with a Chord of Silk but with a Skrole of parchmin after the Norman custom To these we may add that by mentioning in the same Writing together both Laurence his Successour and Peter the Abbot who was drowned above a year before that designation of a Successour the order of times is manifestly crofounded and the authority of the Bull prejudiced 6. However that most of these Priviviledges were even from the beginning conferred on that Monastery yea by Saint Augustin himself in vertue of a delegated authority from the See Apostolick though the simplicity of that age did not need such Legall Instruments and formall clauses the constant Tradition of that age doth justify Which Priviledges in succeeding times were frequently ratified by following Popes
into a formed Schism as Baronius suspects and others who make mention of an Interdict imposed by S. Gregory on the publick Schooles in Brittany of which no ground can be found in our ancient Writers But why this Letter should be written to the Brittish Preists and not their Bishops it does not appear 7. The same Saint Beda discoursing of the pious industry of our Holy Bishop in promoting Vnity thus concludes How much good he wrought by these his endeavours and labours the present times declare By which expression he implies that the ceasing of those Controversies which in S. Beda's time were quite silenced was much to be imputed to the care and industry of S. Laurence For we shall see him shortly not contenting himself with writing letters but undertaking a voyage into Ireland c. to promote Ecclesiasticall Vnity and that with good successe II. CHAP. i. 2 c. S. Mellitus his iourney to Rome touching Monks that they might have a power of Elections And to know whether they might be employed in Pastorall Functions c. 1. THere is extant in Sir Henry Spelman the Copy of a third Charter of King Ethelbert by which he gave to the Monastery of S. Peter and S. Paul a village named Sturigaâ— otherwise Cistelet together with many other precious Gifts all which he offred for the redemption of his soule and out of hope of eternall retribution Adding that in the same Church he provided a place of buriall for himself and Successours hoping that he should be loosed from the chains of his sins and conducted into the gate of eternall happines by the Prince of the Apostles to whom our Lord delivered the Keyes of heaven giving him the power of binding and loosing c. Which Charter is dated the year six hundred and ten which was the fiftieth year of the same Kings raign 2. At the same time saith S. Beda Mellitus Bishop of London went to Rome there to treat with Pope Boniface about affairs nearly concerning the English Church Being arrived the Pope assembled a Synod of the Bishops of Italy with an intention to make ordinances concerning the life and secure quietnes of Monks In which Synod Mellitus sate among the Italian Bishops and by his authority subscribed and confirmed the Decrees regularly ordained which at his return into Brittany he caried with him that they might be observed there The same Pope likewise wrote Epistles to the Holy Arch-bishop Laurence and to the Clergy as also to King Ethelbert and the English Nation This Synod was celebrated in the eighth year of the Empire of Phâ—cas and the thirteenth Indiction 3. In this Narration we find insinuated the principall Motive of Mellitus his iourney to Rome which was to provide for the life and quiet of Monks Which will more manifestly appear by Pope Bonifacius his Letters to the King and Arch-bishop but especially by a Decree of the said Pope 4. There were two speciall Points concerning Monasticall Institution the clearing of which did much concern the present State of the English Church the first was a care to make them immortall by a succession by permitting the present Monks to chuse and assume into the same Profession such among the Brittains as they found well disposed thereto This permission and power King Ethelbert by Mellitus desired to be confirmed by the Pope which he easily obtained as appears by Bonifacius his answer extant in a Letter of Pope Alexander many ages after written to S. Lanfranc Arch-bishop of Canterbury in which we read this passage extracted out of it That which thou O glorious Son hast desired of the Apostolick See by our Fellow-bishop Mellitus we willingly grant and by our Apostolick authority decree namely that your Royal benignity may appoint an habitation of Monks living regularly and that the present Monks who were the Preachers of Salvation to you may associate to themselves a congregation of Monks and adorn them with holy Instituts in the Monastery which your Holy Doctour Augustin the Disciple of Gregory of Blessed Memory did consecrate in the Citty of Canterbury to the Name of our Holy Saviour in which at present our beloved Brother Laurence is Prelat This our present Decree if any of your Successours Kings or Bishops c. shall attempt to make voyd let him be subject to Anathema c. This part of Pope Bonifacius his Letter is recited out of Pope Alexanders by Eadmer the Monk and the entire Letter is extant in the Annals of Peterborough 5. The other Point seems to have been touching the employing of Monks in the Office of preaching administring Sacraments and other Pastorall Dutyes which some thought improper for Monks who are obliged to Solitude But this Controversy had been before decided by S. Gregory in his employing onely Monks in the English Mission and was confirmed by Pope Boniface the fourth in a Solemne Decree by which he declares from the Examples of S Martin S. Gregory and the late S. Augustin that the power of binding and loosing may worthily be administred by Monks Neither saith he did S. Benedict the glorious Institutour of Monkes in his Rule forbid this but only commanded them to abstain from secular affairs Which last Clause strongly proves against Baronius that S. Augustin Saint Laurence S. Mellitus S. Iustus and the rest yea S. Gregory also were Disciples of S. Benedict and subject to his Rule The Summe of this Decree is referr'd into the Canon Law by Gratian Cap. Sunt nonnulli 16. q. 1. And other authorities added froÌ„ whence he concludes thus By all these authorities it is clearly demonstrated that Monks may lawfully give Pennance baptise and administer other Preistly Offices 6. If the Acts of this Roman Synod had not been lost we should no doubt have read their judgment touching the Consecration of the Church of Westminster performed as hath been declared by S. Peter himself But the result of it appears by what William of Malmsbury writes It is believed saith he that the Mystery of its Consecration was never repeated which was shewd to have been perfected by so many Candles lighted in the Church Crosses made Holy Water sprinckled and marks of Sacred Oyle in the due places Human diligence therefore gave place to an Office divinely administred prophetically declaring how illustrious that Church and Monastery would prove in which the Apostle himself exercised the Pontificall Office III. CHAP. 1. Of Saint Golven a Bishop in Lesser Brittany 2. Of S. Baldred or S. Balter 3. S. Mellitus his return from Rome 4 Ceolulf King of the West-Saxons dying Kinegils succeeds 1. THE same year dyed S. Golvin Bishop of Leon in Lesser Brittany who in our Martyrologe is sayd to have been an Englishman But whether thereby be meant a Brittain I cannot define In the Gallican Martyrologe his Commemoration is thus expressed On the first of Iuly at Leon in Armorica under the Arch-bishoprick of Tours is celebrated the Memory of
against the Brittains at Beandune Bindon in Dorsetshire But at the first onsett the Brittains affrighted with their large swords and long bucklers were quickly putt to flight without any considerable losse on the Saxons side who upon a survay found the bodies of two thousand and six hundred Brittains slaine These large swords called by Huntingdon Secures and by Witechind large knives were in the Saxon tongue called Saxa from whence that Nation is sayd to have received its name 2. The year following according to Walsinghams account dyed the vertuous and devout Sebert King of the Trinobantes or East-Saxons and with great and general mourning was buried in the Church of Westminster built by himself which in succeeding times was magnificently enlarged and adorned and made the common Sepulcher of our Kings 3. How acceptable to God was the Sanctity and merits of this good King appeared by a lasting Miracle For in the days of King Edward the first of the Norman Race the Monks of Westmâ—nster having a resolution to translate his Body from the Old Church to the New assoon as with great devotion they had opened his Sepulcher they found his right hand to the middle of his arm entire in flesh skin nayles and bones compacted This was seaven hundred years after he had been there buried Thus writeth Walsingham In his place succeeded his three sons Sered Seward and Sigebert ioynd equally in the Government but much degenerating from their fathers piety VI. CHAP. 1.2 c. The death of King Ethelbert and of the Holy Bishop Lethard 4.5 The Sanctity of King Ethelbert acknowledged 6. 7. His Children 1. PResently after if it was indeed after dyed also Ethelbert glorious in piety and merits the first Protectour of the rising Christian Church of the Saxons His death befell in the fifty sixth year of his raign and the one and twentieth after he had embraced the Christian Faith He was the third King of the English Nation whose Empire extended over all the Provinces Southward from the River Humber saith S. Beda adding that he was the first of those who went to heaven By which clause is implyed that he dyed before King Sebert However certain it is that a very small space of time intervend between both their deaths He was buried in the porch of Saint Martin within the Church of the blessed Apostles Peter and Paul where likewise the Body of his devout Queen Bertha or Aldiberga was layd And his memory is consecrated both in ours and the Roman Martyrologe on the sixth of the Calends of March. 2. King Ethelbert had also another blessed companion in the place of his Sepulture to wit S. Lethard the Holy B. of Senliâ— who came with Queen Aldiberga out of France into Brittany Concerning whom William of Malmsbury thus writes An ancient Authour called Gosselin celebrates the miracles of Saint Lethard who accompanied Queen Bertha into this Island particularly his readines to afford rain in times of drouth when his intercession is demanded a pleasant example whereof was shewd about the same Writers time For there having been a terrible fiery drouth about the height of Sommer the Sacred Body of the Saint was solemnly carried in Procession with Litanies But no rain succeeding thereupon the Cantor at his return with the Body with some indignation addressed his speech to the Holy Bishop saying Doest thou not see how great the tribulation of the whole countrey is by reason of this drouth and yet thou art negligent in succouring us These words of a seeming reproof were no sooner uttred but presently there fell such abundance of rain that the most greedy desires were satisfied 3. The vertues of King Ethelbert are comprised by the Authour of his Life in these words This blessed King though his power extended as far as Humber yet in his conversation he shewd himself as perfectly one of Christ beggars as if he had possessed nothing It was a blessed sight to see this glorious King humbly serving the poore to see him who terrified Kings to stand in fear of Gods Preists and to shew an humble respect to the meanest Ministers of the Church How brightly he shone in repressing vice exalting vertue fulfilling the Divine precepts and in all works of piety is so much more clearly to be read in Gods heavenly Book as human Writers have been negligent in expressing c. Antiquity and the favourable authority of former Saints is an irreproachable Witnes of his Sanctity since from the beginning his Solemnity has been celebrated by Gods Saints 4. Among which Saints devoted to this Holy Kings memory S. Dunstan was one who in a certain night watching in devotion at the sepulchers of this King of S. Augustin and other Holy Bishops his Successours heard on a sudden voyces of certain persons singing this Antiphone of the Ecclesiasticall Office Gaudent in coelis animae Sanctorum qui c. The soules of thâ—se Saints who have followed our Lords steps doe now reioyce in heaven c. Whereat being astonish'd he approach'd to the dore and looking through the clefts for it was lock'd he saw the whole Oratory shining with a wonderfull light and a quire of persons in white robes melodiously and ioyfully singing that Antiphone Such honour is due to holy Kings and Prelats c. This we read related by Osbern an ancient Compiler of the Life of Saint Dunstan In which Narration though Saint Ethelbert be not named yet without question he reposing there was principally intended 5. In proof of his acknowledged sanctity c. there were in S. Augustins Church set up dayly five cierges continually burning to wit before the Tomb of S. Augustin of S. Mâ—â—red of S. Adrian Abbot before the great Altar before the Monument of King Ethelbert and of S. Lethard Bishop and a sixth in the Grott before the Image of the Blessed Virgin Mary where S. Dunstan was honourd with many visions of her as the Authour of S. Augustins liâ—e testifies And Polydor Virgil affirms that even to his days the Sacred body of King Ethelbert was illustrious by many Miracles 6. He left behind only two children by his Queen Adilburga Eadbald to whom he resign'd the Title of King after he had earnestly admonish'd him to be carefull in preserving and promoting the Christian Faith which admonition how he complyed with shall be shewd hereafter And Edelburga who was afterward married to Edwin King of the Northumbers and of whose Conversion she was a principall instrument To these two a third is added by Camden Speed and other Modern Writers namely the Holy Virgin Edburga who among Saxon Virgins was the first which undertook the Profession of a devout Nunne This holy Virgin saith the Authour of her life after she had received Sacred Baptisme gave praises to God day and night fervently begging of him the grace to be esteem'd worthy to enioy the spirituall rewards of her onely Bride-groom Iesus
BOOK OF THE CHVRCH-HISTORY OF BRITTANY I. CHAPTER 1.2 c. Osric and Eanfrid succeed King Edwin Their Apostacy from Christianity 6. Oswald succeeds his Brother Eanfrid 7.8 Letters of Pope Honorius 1. RETVRNING to the Kingdom of the Northumbers we shal see nothing but spectacles of misery a Nation desolated a Church torn in peices and nothing but horrour and confusion Yet in a short time all these tempests will be asswaged and so great a peace and order will return both to the Kingdom and Church by another pious King that even the losse of King Edwin will be fully recompenced But first let us view the present calamities thus sett down by S. Beda 2. After that King Edwin was slain in battell saith he Osric the Son of his Vncle Elfric who by the preaching of S. Paulinus had been imbued with the Sacraments of our Faiâ—h took upon him the Kingdom of the Deiri As for the Kingdom of the Bernicians for anciently the Nation of the Northumbers was divided into these two Provinces that was possessed by Eanfrid the Son of Edilfrid born in the same Province Now we have already declared that during the whole course of King Edwins raign the Sons of his Predecessour Edilfrid attended by great numbers of the Nobility retired themselves among the Scots and Picts where they lived in banishment And they were instructed in Christian Religion professed by the Scots and purified by the Grace of Baptisme 3. Assoon therefore as their Enemy King Edwin was dead they were permitted to return into their countrey and there the elder of them Osric became King of the Province of the Deiri and the Second Eanfrid of the Bernicians But both of them were no sooner invested with the marks of a temporall Kingdom but they renounced the Sacraments and badges of the Heavenly kingdom with which they had been initiated and to their eternall ruine polluted themselves with the filth of their former Idolatry 4. But divine iudgment quickly overtook them both for they were slain in a short time by the impious hand of Cedwalla King of the Brittains whom Almighty God made the instrument of his iust severity For the elder of them Osric having rashly besieged the said King in a certain town the summer following the King made an unexpected furious sally and in a moment destroyd both him and his whole army After which Cedwalla possessed the whole kingdom of the Northumbers not as a victorious King but a furious Tyrant for he tore it in peices with the tragicall slaughters committed by him At length after about a year was passed the other Prince Eanfrid accompanied only with twelve soldiers unadvisedly coming to him to demand conditions of peace was in like manner slain by him 5. This was an unhappy year and the memory of it remains still in execration with all good men as well for the Apostacy of these two Saxon Kings who had abjured the Sacraments of their Faith as for the barbarous Tyranny of the Brittish King And therefore by a generall consent in the computation of the times and succession of our Kings the memory of these two perfidious Princes was abolished and this year assigned to the raign of the pious King Oswald who succeeded them 6. This Oswald brother to Eanfrid was the son of Ethelfrid and Nephew to the Holy King Edwin by his sister Acca so that his Title to the Kingdom of the Northumbers was sufficiently valid He after his Fathers death retired also among the Scots where understanding the vanity of Idols he embraced the Christian Faith Seaventeen years he continued in banishment But now hearing the desolation of his countrey the ruine of Christianity and death of his Brother armed with zeal and charity he took the courage though attended with very unconsiderable forces to hasten to the rescew of his kingdom and the Church of God in it almost become in visible With what successe this attempt was undertrken S. Beda will inform us the year following 7. It seems by the Letter of Pope Honorius to Honorius Arch-bishop of Canterbury dated this year and recorded only by William of Malmsbury that the miseries of the Northumbrian Church and Kingdom were come to his knowledge for therin he comforts and encourages the same Arch-bishop not to faint in the midst of so many and greivous calamities but to fix his trust in the promises of God to his Church and those who sustain the care of it In the same letter he likewise confirms the authority and Primacy of the Church of Canterbury over all the Churches of Brittany c. This Epistle found in the Archives of Canterbury was by S. Lanfranc directed afterwards to Pope Alexander the Second as a proof of the ancient Priviledges of his See 8. There is another Letter of the same Pope produced by Caius the Defender of the Antiquity of Cambridge in which the said Pope exempts that Vniversity from the Iurisdiction of all Arch-bishops Bishops Arch-Deacons c. and their Visitations or Censures giving the sole authority over Students to the Chancellour and Rectors of the same with power to excommunicate c. In the granting of which Priviledges he professes to follow the examples of his Predecessours Pope Eleutherius Fabian Simplicius Felix and Bonifacius But what grounds there are to suspect fraud in the compiling this Grant may be read in Brian Twyne the Advocat for Oxford and since him in the learned Bishop Vsher to whom I refer the Reader II. CHAP. 1.2 c. King Oswalds miraculous Victory over the Brittains 5.6 c. The Crosse Venerated by all Christians This approved by Miracles 1. IN the year six hundred thirty five Oswald King of the Northumbers fighting against the Tyrants happily triumphed And because our gravest Authours S. Beda William of Malmsbury and others affirm that encountring them Faith was his strongest armour we will endeavour more diligently and largely to recount the order and manner of the Combat by which he restored the Crown to himself security and Faith to his Subjects and the Churches to God 2. S. Beda's summary Narration of it is this Assoon as Ceadwalla had slain the two Kings Osrich and Eanfrid Oswald attended with an army weak for their numbers but fortified with Divine Faith came upon him and in the combat that execrable King of the Brittains was slain together with his immense army which he thought no power could resist This combat hapned in a place in Northumberland called in the English tongue Devils-burn or the Devils-brook It is at this day saith Camden called Dilston but in ancient Records Divelston the Seat and Mansion of the Noble family of Ratcliff Yet Bâ—omton calls the place Denysbourn or River of Denys and adds that from this combat it took the appellation of Slaughter of the Ceâ—wallians 3. Oswald preparing himself for the fight coÌ„sidered no doubt by Gods inspiration that victory was not to be expected
it is onely thirteen days old 15. And as touching your Father Columba and his Successours whose Rule you say you follow and whose Sanctity has been asserted by many Miracles I might answer That in the last day many will say to Christ that in his name they have prophecied cast out Devills and wrought many Miracles to whom he will say That he never knew them But far be it from mee to apply this to your Fathers since it is more iust that I should beleive good then evill of persons unknown to mee Therefore I will not deny but that they were devout servants of our Lord and favoured by him since with a pious intention though rusticall Simplicity they served him And my iudgment is that such an erroneous Observance of Easter did not much preiudice or endanger them because not any one had shewd them Rules of a more perfect Institut Wheras no doubt if any Catholick skilfull in calculation had rightly informed them they would as well have followd his instructions as they did obey these Precepts of God which they had learnt Wheras if thou and thy Companions henceforth contemne to obey the Decrees of the See Apostolick yea of the Vniversall Church which are moreover confirmed by Holy Scriptures without all doubt you will sin greivously For though your Fathers were Saints are they so few in number living in the corner of a remote Island to be preferred before the Vniversal Church spread over the whole world And if your Columba yea ours also if he were Christs was a Saint powerfull in Miracles shall his authority outweigh that of the Apostle to whom our Lord said Thou art Peter and upon this Rock I will build my Church and the gates of Hell shall not prevayl against it And to thee I will give the keyes of the Kingdom of Heaven 16. Wilfrid having thus finished his discourse the King addressing his speech to Bishop Colman said Tell mee Were these words in very deed spoken by our Lord to S. Peter Who answered They were indeed spoken to him The King replied Can you produce any proof of so great power given to your Columba He answered No Sir The King added Doe both sides then among you agree that these words were spoken principally to S. Peter and that the keyes of Heavens gates were given him by our Lord They answered We both acknowledge this Thereupon the King concluded saying And I also assure you I have no intention to contradict the Porter of heaven but according to my knowledge and power I will obey his Ordinances in all things for feare when I come to heaven gates and he who keeps the keyes be displeased with mee there be none to open them and let mee in When the King had said thus all that were present both accessours and bystanders applauded his speech and relinquishing their former imperfect instituts speedily embraced those which appeared to be better 17. Thus ended this Synod ot Conference What effect it produced among the Scotts shall be shewed when we have concluded the Narration of another Controversy at the same time agitated touching the manner and fashion of the Ecclesiasticall Tonsure XVIII CHAP. 1.2 c. A Controversy in the same Synod touching Ecclesiasticall Tonsure Three severall manners of Tonsure 12. Agreement between the Saxons and Scotts c. in all Points of Doctrine 13. Obstinacy of the Scotts 1. THAT at this meeting there was a dispute touching Ecclesiastical Tonsure S. Beda expresly testifies But does not explain the point wherein the difficulty lay Yet this is certain that there was not any one in that Assembly which either derided or neglected the said Tonsure as Protestants now doe 2. The primitive antiquity of this Tonsure by which Ecclesiasticall persons for a sign of distinction frō the Layty by cutting off some part of the hair on the top of their heads formed it into the fashion of a Diadem or Crown is referred by S. Isidor to the Apostles and said to be an imitation of the Nazarites for thus he writes If I be not deceived the practise of the Ecclesiastical Tonsure was derived from the Nazarites Who first nourishing their hair and suffring it to grow long undertook by vow a laborious Exercise of Continence abstinence and other austerities which having performed they shaved their heads and by Gods command cast their hayr into the fire of the Sacrifice signifying thereby that they consecrated the perfection of their Devotion to our Lord. The practise according to this example was introduced by the Apostles importing that Ecclesiastical persons devoted to the service of God are consecrated to him as the Nazarites were which they testified by cutting off the hayr so professing that they devested themselves of the old man and his acts 3. The Controversy therefore was about the manner and fashion of the Tonsure of which there were severall kinds the Principall whereof are said to have taken their Originall from Saint Peter or Saint Paul The manner of Saint Peters was to shave the top of the head leaving below toward the forehead and ears a Circle or Diademe representing the Crown of thorns which our Lord bore Thus write Amalarius and Alcuinus who addes that this Saint Peter ordaind to the end that Clergy-men might be distinguished from secular not only in their cloathing but form of wearing their hayr And Steven the Preist called also Eddius writes of Saint Wilfrid that he willingly received from Saint Dalfinus Arch-bishop of Lyons the form of S. Peters Tonsure resembling the Crown of thorns encompassing our Lords head 4. This is the form of Tonsure at this day in use among the Disciples of S. Benedict and S. Francis as likewise some other Religious Orders and no doubt was anciently received by all Ecclesiasticall persons and which by the Greeks is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 But in following times as Bellarmin observes Ecclesiasticall persons among the Secular Clergy changed this Tonsure instead of the said Diademe about the lower part of the head shaving only the top or crown of the head in form of a Circle the which Circle at this day is enlarged according to the degrees of their Orders By which change the ordinance made by the fourth Council of Toledo is manifestly transgressed Let all Ecclesiasticall persons and Lectours as likewise Deacons and Preists shave the whole upper part of their head and leave below only the crown of a Circle Not as in the parts of France the Lectours are observed to doe who weare long hair as lay-men doe and onely shave a small Circle on the top of their heads For such a fashion is observed in Spain only by Hereticks Wherefore it is necessary for the taking away scandall from the Church that this mark of shame be abolished and that there be one onely fashion of Tonsure as is practised generally in all Spain 5. The Second manner of Tonsure is supposed to have descended from Saint Paul and saith S.
particularly in their zeale and devotion to the Sacrament of Confirmation of which the Brittains also were very desirous as hath been declared I will here set down in the words of the same Authour with whom likewise Mathew of Westminster agrees in the relation 6. When the Bishop entred into a village called Tidâ—afrey or according to Mathew of Westminster Tundanfre there mett him a great multitude of Women offring their children to be confirmed by him Amongst them one woman mingled her self craâ—tiâ—y carrying in her armes her dead child pretending that he should be catechised but inwardly perswaded that by the Bishops Sanctity he should be restored to life The holy Bishop therefore uncovering the chids face to the end he might perform the due Rites found that he was dead Then the woman perceiving that her fraud did not succeed betook her self to prayers earnestly beseeching him for God and his holy Mothers sake if he had any Faith or pitty to restore life to her child Saying this she cast her self at his feet and would not be removed thus offring an importunate violence toward him All this while the Bishop continued doubtfull whether he should seem rash in attempting the Miracle or reject the tears and prayers of the disconsolate woman But a charitable pitty at last gott the Victory therefore after he had with a low voyce repeated certain devout passages out of the Psalms he layd his right hand on the dead body whereupon immediatly the soule was restored for by gasping moving his eye-lids and stirring his whole body he gave proof that he was alive The mother for ioy began to cry out but was restraind by the Bishop The child was called Eâ—hâ—lwald who was afterward a Monk at Rippon remaining there a Monument of the Bishops Sanctity 7. The same Authour further relates another Miracle wrought by the same Bishop upon a Monk who falling from the topp of the Church whilst it was building at the costs of the same King Egbert broke all his bones and tore a sunder almost all his members and was restored to health by the prayers of the Holy Bishop and his Convent 8. It was in the year following that King Egfrid at last gave way to the importunate prayers of his Virgin Wife Saint Ediltrudis to retire into a Monastery at Coldingham under the government of S. Ebba Aunt to King Egfrid and Sister to S. Oswald and Oswi Kings of the Northumbers as before hath been declared at large XIV CHAP. 1. Lothere succeedes his Brother Egbert in the Kingdom of Kent 2. 3 c. A Nationall Synod assembled by Arch-bishop Theodore at Hertford The Acts of the sayd Synod 1. IN the year of our Lords Incarnation six hundred seaventy three saith S. Beda Egbert King of Kent dyed in the ninth year of his raign and though he left behind him two sons Edric and Wigtred yet whether it was by Egberts example who succeeded his Brother to the prejudice of his Nephews or that the infancy of these two young Princes made them esteemd uncapable of governing he was succeeded by his Brother Lothere who raigned eleaven years and seaven monthes and then was deprived both of his Kingdom and life by his Nephew Edric 2. In the same year Theodore Arch-bishop of Canterbury having a pious intention to compose and introduce an uniformity in Faith and Discipline among all the Saxon Churches of Brittany convoked a Synod of the Bishops of both Provinces Such an Vniversal authority in this Island had been either conferred or confirmed to him by Pope Vitalian at the first entrance of the said Arch-bishop into Brittany as appears by his letters dated to him in the year of Grace six hundred sixty nine which Letters are recorded by William of Malmsbury and in them we read this passage It hath seemd good to us to exhort thee and at this present to commend to thy wisedom and piety all the Churches situated in the Isle of Brittany Whatsoever Priviledges and Ordinances therefore have been established and ratified by our Predecessour Saint Gregory to Augustin his Legate Sincello or allowed by the Sacred use of the Archiepiscopall Pall we grant unto thee for ever c. 3. By vertue of this authority therefore was this Synod assembled by the Arch bishop Theodore The place where it was celebrated is by the same S. Beda stiled Herudford mistakingly interpreted by B. Parker and B. Godwin to be Hereford in the Province of the Silures and by others to have been Thetford among the Iceni Camden therefore in his Description of the Cattieuchlani rightly names the place of this Synod Hertford the true name whereof is Herudford and it signifies the Red sord 4. We will here from S. Beda sett down a Copy of the Acts of this Synod compiled by the said Arch-bishop himself according to this tenour In the Name of our Lord God and Saviour Iesus-Christ the same Iesus Christ raigning for ever and governing his Church It was by us iudged fitt that wee should meet together according to the manner prescribed by the Venerable Canons and treat touching matters necessary for the Church Wee assembled therefore together on the four and twentieth day of September on the first Indiction in a place called Herudford The persons meeting were these I Theodore appointed though unworthy by the See Apostolick Bishop of the Church of Canterbury and my fellow Bishop and most Reverend Brother Bisi Bishop of the East-Angles Likewise our Brother and fellow Bishop Wilfrid Bishop of the Nation of the Northumbers was by his Delegates assistent to us There were personally present also our Brethren and fellow Bishops Putta Bishop of the Castle of the Cantuarians called Rochester Leutherius Bishop of the West-Saxons and Winfrid Bishop of the Province of the Mercians Harpsfeild adds that besides these Bishops there was present at this Synod Egfrid King of the Northumbers 5. When we were all mett together and every one had taken his seat according to his order I thus spoke to them I beseech you my beloved Brethren by the fear and love of our Redeemer that 〈◊〉 may all unanimously advise and determine sincerely to keep and observe all the Decrees and definitions touching our Holy Faith which have been made by the Holy and Orthodoxe Fathers These and severall other speeches regarding the conservation of Charity and Vnity of the Church I prosecuted to them and having concluded I asked them one by one in order Whether they did consent that those things which had been Canonically decreed by the Fathers should be inviolably observed Hereto all our Fellow-bishops answered saying It pleases us all very well that whatsoever has been defind by the Canons of the Holy Fathers should be chearfully and willingly observed by us all Hereupon I presently produced to them the same Book of Canons in which I had especially noted in severall places ten Chapters which I read unto them because I conceived them very necessary
this time given to the Monks of Glastonbury of electing their own Abbott argues that in former ages the constituting of Abbots belonged not to the Monks but to the Bishop or the Prince from whose power and Iurisdiction the Monks could not exempt themselves without their free devesting themselves of it which we see here done by King Kentwin and Bishop Hedda concerning whom we shall speak more hereafter 7. As for King Kentuin the Memory of his Munificence to the Monastery of Glastonbury was there gratefully conserved for this Elogy we read of him in the great Table of that Monastery In the same place reposes the body of King Câ—â—twin under a stone-Pyramid in the Church-yard of the Monks He was the first of the English Kings which granted to the Isle of Glastonbury an Exemption from all Regal Service as the Brittish Kings before him had of old time confirmed 8. To this time is referred the erecting or rather restoring of the prime Church in the Isle of Ely which was first consecrated to the honour of S. Peter Prince of the Apostles but afterward entitled to S. Ediltrudis or Ethelreda Concerning which Church we read this testimony of B. Godwin Ethelbert saith he King of Kent by the advice of S. Augustin had seaventy years before this time built a Church in that place to witt in the year of our Lords Incarnation six hundred and seaven Which Church through neglect for want of reparation falling to ruine was rebuilt in a more magnificent manner in the year six hundred seaventy seaven by S. Ediltrudis This she did by the counsel of Wilfrid Arch-bishop of York but her Brother Aldulfus or Alnufus King of the East-Angles furnished the Charges of the work This Aldulfus was the Successour of Edilwald in that Kingdom and if according to Speed he was the Son of Ethelherd Brother of Anna he was not Brother but cousin german to S. Ediltrudis XXII CHAP. 1.2 c. Kent miserably wasted Putta Bishop of Rochester quitts his See in whose place Quichelm succeeds 1. AT this time there was a great desolation in the Churches and kingdom of Kent wherby the labours of Saint Theodore were much encreased Which desolation was caused by a furious invasion of that kingdom the year before by Edilred King of the Mercians What the provocation or motive of this warr was is not mentioned by ancient Writers but the effects of it were terrible 2. S. Beda thus breifly describes it In the year of our Lords Incarnation six hundred seaventy six Edilred King of the Mercians brought a furious army into Kent and layd the whole countrey wast yea without all regard of Piety or the fear of God profaned and demolished also Churches and Monasteries Particularly the Gâ—tty Rhofi or Rochester was utterly consumed in â—hat common calamity Of that Citty Putta was â—heâ— Bishop though absent at the time of its destruction Lothair was now King of Kent who fearing the violence and courage of Edâ—red saith Huntingdon made no resistance at all but auoyded his fight So that Edilred passed freely through the whole Province destroyed the Citty of Rochester and carted back with him innumerable Spoyles 3. As for Putta Bishop of Rochester being a man that loved quietnes and solitude he according to Saint Beda's relation seing his Church utterly spoyled and wasted retired to Sexulphus Bishop of the Mercians from whom having received the possession of a Church and a small peice of ground adioyning he there ended his life in peace He did not at all employ his solicitude about the restoring of his Bishoprick being one whose industry was little exercised in worldly affaires Therefore he contented himself in serving God after a poor manner in the foresaid Church and some times when he was entreated he would goe to other places for the instruction of Ecclesiasticall persons in the Roman manner of singing the Church service 4. The See of Rochester being thus deprived of a Pastour the Arch-bishop Theodore in the place of Putta consecrated Quithelm Bishop of that Citty and when he also shortly after quitted his Bishoprick by reason of its extreme poverty the said Arch-bishop substituted in his room another Bishop called Gebmund XXIII CHAP. 1.2 The death of Vina the Simoniacall Bishop of London 3 4. c. S. Erconwald succeeds in that See 1 DVring this confusion in Kent the Kingdom of the adioyning East-Saxons enioyd a profound peace under the government of Sebb and Sigher two pious Kings Particularly King Sebb employed all his care in advancing Piety among his Subjects in promoting the affaires of the Church and in encouraging devout persons to renounce thâ— world and consecrate themselves to God in a Monasticall Profession To which state of life himself also earnestly aspired being desirous to abandon his Regall authority and to change his purple for a poor Religious Habit but was hindred by the obstinacy of his Queen who refused to consent to a separation and to imitate her husbands piety and without her complyance the Ecclesiasticall Canon rendred him incapable of executing his pious design Many years he spent in perswading her to her own and his happines and at lost by devout importunity expugned her resistance as shall shortly be shewed 2. In the mean time a great part of his solicitude was employed in settling a worthy Prelut in London the Metropolis of his Kingdom We have declared before how Wina the Sacrilegious Bishop of the West-Saxons having for his crimes been expelled out of that Province with a summ of money Simoniacally procured from Vulfere King of the Mercians to be violently introduced into that See in the year of Grace six hundred sixty six which he for the space of nine years unworthily administred After whose death King Sebb expressed a zealous care to repair the prejudice and harm done to that Province by so impious a Prelat For which purpose he earnestly sought out a Successour as eminent for piety and integrity as the other was for his crimes 3. At that time there lived not any one in that Kingdom in so high esteem of all men for vertue and Religion as Erconwald He was as hath been declared the Son of Anna King of the East-angles not of Offa as Capgrave and from him Harpsfeild mistakes and from his tender years conceived a distast and contempt of secular designs and pleasures Insomuch as he relinquished his Native Province and retired among the East-Saxons where he employed his plentifull patrimony in works of piety We have already declared how he founded two Monasteries in that Kingdom one for himself at Chertsey in Surrey near the River Thames and another for his Sister Edilburga in Essex in a village called Barking 4 This in all regards so eminent an Abbot Erconwald was made choice of by King Sebbe to administer the vacant See of London to which he was consecrated by Saint Theodore Arch-bishop of Canterbury according to this relation of Saint Beda
that saving Oblation was of wonderfull vertue for the redemption both of soule and body This relation I my self received from severall persons who had heard it from the man himself to whom these things befell And therefore I thought it expedient having been clearly convinced of the truth of it to insert it as undoubtedly certain in this my History Thus writes S. Beda After this disgression wee will return to Saint Wilfrid at Rome IV. CHAP. i. 2 c. Saint Wilfrids cause heard and determined in a Roman Synod to his advantage 1. WEE have already declared how Saint Wilfrid arriving at Rome found Pope Agathon in great solicitude concerning the faith of all Churches upon occasion of the Heresy of the Monothelites much spread in the East For which purpose among other Provinces he sent likewise into Brittany where he commanded a Synod to be assembled to the end he might explore whether the Faith of the Saxon Church there were sound and uniform with other Catholick Churches or in any point corrupted 2. The person sent by him for this purpose saith S. Beda was a Venerable Preist called Iohn Arch-Cantor of the Church of S. Peter and Abbot of the Monastery of S. Martin who this year arrived in Brittany being conducted by the most Reverend Abbot Biscop by sirname Benedict His busines was to invite the Arch-bisho Theodore to come himself or at least to depute another in his name to the Rome Synod to be assembled for repressing the foresaid Hiresy This appears by the said Popes Letters written the next year to the Emperours of Constantinople Heraclius and Tiberius in which this passage is extant Our hope was saith he to have ioynd to this our Assembly our Fellow-bishop Theodore a learned Philosopher and Arch-bishop of the great island of Brittany together with other Bishops abiding in those parts and for that reason we hitherto deferred this Council Which expression as it argues a wonderfull merit and esteem in which this holy Arch-bishop was held in that age so it disproves manifestly the assertion of Sir H. Spelman who thence collects that S. Theodore was called to the Council held at Constantinople whereas it is evident that it was the Roman Synod assembled the year following to which he was invited 3. In the mean time S. Wilfrid being arrived at Rome saith William of Malmsbury he found the whole Citty in a solicitous expectation of him For his coming was prevented by a Messenger sent from S Theodore Arch-bishop of Canterbury whose name was Kenewald a Monk of a modest and Religious comportment who brought with him in Writing severall Articles of accusation against S. Wilfrid conceived in very rude and bitter expressions S Hilda the famous Abbesse likewise sent Messengers on purpose to aggravate the charge against him This seemd a matter of so great consequence to the holy Pope Agathon that for determining it he presently assembled a Council of fifty Bishops and Abbots in the Great Church of our Saviour which had its sirname from the founder of it the Emperour Constantin Before this Council was S. Wilfrid summond accused defended and in the end absolved The whole proceeding of this Council in the cause of this holy Bishop which was the only busines debated in it cannot be better related then we find in thâ— authentick Copy of it preserved by William of Malmsbury and also extant in a Manuscript produced by Sir H. Spelman among his Councils of Brittany The Form whereof is as followeth 4. In the Name of our Lord and Saviour Iesus Chr. In the twelfth year of the raign of our most pious and glorious Emperour Constantin the elder and his Brethren our new made Emperours Heraclius and Tiberius in the seaventh Indiction in the month of October Agathon the most blessed Pope of the Catholick Church presiding the most holy Gospels being sett before in the Church of Saviour named from Constantin and together sitting with him these holy and learned Bishops as Assessours in the present cause Crescens Bishop of Vinon Phoberius Andreas of Ostia Iuvenal of Albano 5. Agathon the most Holy and Blessed Bishop of the Catholick Church and Apostolick Citty said thus to the Bishops sitting with him I doe not beleive that your Holy Fraternities are ignorant of the cause moving mee to call you to this Assembly For my desire is that your Reverences would ioyn with mee in hearing and treating of a Debate lately risen in the Church of the Brittish Isle where through Gods Grace the multitude of true Beleivers is encreased A relation of which Controversy hath been brought to us as well by information of persons thence arrived here as by Writings 6. Then Andrew the most Keverend Bishop of Ostia and Iohn of Porto said The ordering of all Churches dependeth on the authority of your Apostolick Sanctity who sustain the place of the Blessed Apostle S. Peter But moreover we by your command have read unto our fellow-Bishops sitting here with us the severall Writings which Messengers directed hither from Brittany presented to your Holines as well those which certain Messengers a good while since brought from the most Reverend Arch-bishop there together with the informations of others against a certain Bishop who as they say is privily slipped away as also those which were presented by the Devout Bishop Wilfrid Bishop of the Holy Church of York who having been cast out of his See by the forenamed Holy Arch-bishop is come hither In all which Writings though many questions be inserted yet we doe not find that by any Ecclesiasticall Canons he ha's been convicted of any crimes and consequently he was not canonically and legally eâ—ected Neither doe his accusers here present charge him wiâ—h any naughty acts meriting a degradation On the contrary it appears to us that notwithstanding his uniust suffrings he hath born himself modestly abstaining from all seditious contentions All that he hath done is that being driven out of his See the said venerable Bishop Wilfrid made known his cause to his fellow-bishps and it come for iustice to this See Apostolick 7. Agathon the most holy and blessed Bishop of the Catholick Church and of the Apostolick Citty of Rome said to his Brethren sitting with him Let Wilfrid the Venerable Bishop â—f the Holy Church of York who I am informed attends at the dores of our Secretary be here admitted and bring with him the Petition which he is sayd to have compiled The holy Bishop Wilfrid being entred into the Venerable Secretary said I beseech your Holines be pleased to command that my Petition may be openly read The most holy Bishop Agathon said Let the Petition of Venerable Wilfrid be received and publickly read And Iohn the Notaery received and read it to the holy and Apostolick Council in tenour following 8. I Wilfrid an humble and unworthy Bishop have at last by Gods assistance brought my steps to this supreme residence of Apostolick dignity as to a strong tower of safety from
him into prison intending the day following to putt him secretly to death for being under the dominion of the French who were Christians they durst not kill him openly 4. As for Werenfrid and my self Marcellin we followed him to the prison weeping Which the Holy Preist Swibert observing with a chearfull countenance he comforted us and exhorted us to stand constantly for the Faith of Christ and not to fear death for his cause 5. Now the following night towards morning as Saint Swibert was praying and we weepâ—ing an Angell of our Lord appeard to him in the prison with great splendour and said to him Servant of the true God fear not for our Lord is with thee Having said this in the presence of the Keepers who stood amazed he sett him at liberty commanding him to preach Christ constantly every where to the Pagans After this the Angell ascended to heaven and the Holy man came and kneeling down devoutly related to us what had hapned whereupon we with great fervour gave thanks to God for this Angelicall Visitation and consolation 6. The Pagans and specially the Idoll-Preists the next day hearing that he had been thus delivered began to perceive the impotency of their Idols and extolled the power of Christ. As for the Holy man he with great courage preached the Gospell to them to their great astonishment and converted many of them to Christ and no man had the boldnes to lay hands on him 7. Assoon as he had performed his Ministery there he returned with us to Vtrecht where he declared to our Brethren all things which had hapned to him at Duerstat at the hearing whereof they wept for ioy and unanimously blessed God for his goodnes After which he departed into severall villages and towns in Friseland Holland and Teisterband publickly and constantly preaching the Gospell oâ— Christ to all and though thereby he suffred in many places great persecutions from the Pagans which he endured with patience and ioy yet being always sustained by Divine assistance he brought great multitudes to the knowledge and obedience of Christ. 8. Toward the end of the same year being attended by Werenfrid and my selfe he went into the Eastern coast of the Principality of Holland where there was a town a mile distant from Vtrecht toward the South called Haganstein At which time there hapned a famous solemnity of the Pagans whereto were assembled great multituds of them to perform detestable sacrifices incense and Rites to their false Gods The Holy man then went boldly into the midst among them crying aloud O yee men if you have any reason left in you draw near and hearken to mee I am a Messenger sent to you from the most high God c. And with a long Oration recorded by Marcellinus an car-wittnes he declared to them the Truth of Christs Doctrine and vanity of their Idoll-worship Moreover his preaching was confirmed by a following miracle for he restored sight to a man well known to them all whose name was Giselbert and who had been born blind After which succeeded a notable conversion of many Pagans of the blind mans acquaintance who were witnesses of the Miracle 9 Now the Brethren seing so manifest an assistance of God thought fitt to chuse amongst them all two persons to be ordained Bishopâ— to witt Swibert and Willebrord The former they sent into England to S. Wilfrid Bishop of the Mercians by whom he was consecrated Bishop this same year As for Saint Willebrord he was sent to Rome where he was by Pope Sergius ordained Arch-bishop of Vtrecht and the whole Province of Friseland as shall be declared What speciall Diocese was allotted to Saint Swibert does not appear yet in a particular manner he is named the Apostle of Teisterband Westphalia and the Boructuarians as the companion of his labours Marcellin hath informed us And the reason why he was directed into Brittany to Saint Wilfrid for his ordination and not to the Arch-bishop Brithwald seems to be because as hath been declared a Legatin Power had been conferred by the Pope on the Arch-bishop of the Northumberâ— which Power was not taken from him by his unjust exile Or else because these Holy Missioners being come out of that Kingdom acknowledged a particular relation to and dependance on S. Wilfrid IX CHAP. 1.2 The Gests of Saint Swibert being a Bishop 3.4 c. His miraculous raising to Life a person who had been drowned and the Successe of that Miracle 1. IN the year of Grace six hundred ninety six S. Willebrord was consecrated Arch-bishop of Vtrecht hy Pope Sergius but returned not to his Province and companions till the year following In the mean time Saint Swibert having dispatched a shorter voyage into Brittany came back this year and gloririously biâ—â—â—â—arged â—arged his Episcopall function God assisting his labours with the Gift of most stupendious Miracles faithfully related by the companion of his Travells S. Marcellinus as followeth 2. The most holy Prelat Swibert having been exalted to the Pontificall Dignity and consecrated by S. Wilfrid after he had saluted his kindred freinds he together with his attendants and companions returned to the Work of the Gospell and arrived at Wiltenburg or Vtrecht some what more then a year before S. Willebrord was come back from Rome He was received by the Brethren and New Converts with great honour and ioy He adorned his Episcopall Degree with all the vertues becoming it living afterward in yet greater perfection of Humility Meeknes Simplicity and piety The Work of preaching the Gospell he constantly fullfilld travelling through the Villages and towns not on horseback but as the Apostles were wont to doe on foot Thus he passed through all the quarters of Friseland Holland and especially the County of Teisterband converting great multitudes to the Faith of Christ and diligently extirpating Idolatry Thus by his assiduous preaching and exhortations he reduced in a manner the whole County of Teisterband to the beleif of the Gospell and there in many places he built new Churches and elsewhere consecrated Idoll-Temples to Christian Churches Thus in Zanduic near Tâ—el a Church was erected to the honour of the Holy Martyr S. Vincent another in Arkel to the honour of the Blessed Virgin Mary Mother of God and a third in Hornaer to the honour of S. Denys Areopagite with many others 3. Now how in the Dedication of one of those Churches he raised to life a young man who had been drownd is at large described by the same devout and most faithfull Writer whose relation though diffused will very well deserve a place in this our History 4. The Divine Providence did so order saith he that whilst on the eighth day before the Calends of October this same year Saint Swibert was dedicating a Church in Malsen a Village seated neer the River Lighen in the Country of Teisterband a certain young man named Splinter of Adingyn Son of a person cheif in authority at Duerstat being out
far other usage then he expected For at first they sett upon him with reproachfull speeches and false accusations and when they had wearied him with those at last they proposed to him this Question Whether he would obey the Decrees of the late Arch-bishop Theodore He perceiving their malignity defeated their design with a subtile answer saying That he would willingly obey all such Definitions of Theodore as were agreable to the Holy Canons Having answerd thus he in a long discourse confidently and truly inveighed against them for that they who for the space of two and twenty years had despised the precepts of three Popes Agathon Benedict and Sergius did now make choice of such Decrees of the Arch-bishop Theodore as had been made in a time of trouble and dissension and when he had said this he was silent 4. When the King had heard S. Wilfrid thus iustifying the equity of his cause he was not able to endure it longer but broke forth into a speech misbecoming his Maiesty insomuch as he said to the Arch-bishop If such be your Will most Reverend Father I will oppresse him by violence But the Bishops there present would not consent to such iniustice Yea even his enemies did not approve that a Bishop of so high esteem and renown and one who out of a confidence in their iustice was come to the Synod should suffer a manifest oppression Besides though they could have been content that he should have been obliged to quitt his Bishoprick yet they would not suffer the Authority of the Apostolick See to be directly violated by the King 5. Hereupon saith the same Authour the Bishops thought fitt to proceed another way Therefore they began to sett upon him with perswasions that since for his cause such frequent dissensions had hapned in Gods Church he would willingly and of his own accord give up his Bishoprick and possessions and confirm such a renunciation by Writing They added that this would highly recommended his fame and be a great accumulation to his glory if he would rather chuse to end his days in peace as a privat man then for a Bishoprick to move storms of sedition either by himself or others in his behalf 6. The Holy Bishop easily perceived how their design was to entangle him and therefore answered them That nothing could be more dishonourable and infamous then that a man should condemne himself with his own tongue He then putt them in mind That he was the first man who having cast out the Scotts had taught the Churches of the Northumbers the true Canonicall way of observing Easter That he had brought among them the Ecclesiasticall Song by way of Antiphons That he had commanded the Rule of the most Holy Patriaâ—â— S. Benedict to be observed by all the Monks of that Province and for all these merits and benefitts his only reward must be that he an old man and a Bishop of seaventy years of age should be compelled to condemne himself by his own Writing But he would have them know he would never be induced to do that which would bring to himself shame to those who were under him a calamity and to all dammage Therefore he once more appeald to the See Apostolick to which he challenged any of his accusers to repair 7. When S. Wilfrid had thus appealed the Synod was presently dissolved for the matter being referred to the Supreme Tribunall of the Church the Bishops could make no decrees about it Neither would King Alfrid any longer interpose his Regall and Civill authority in a cause depending between Ecclesiasticall persons Every one therefore went to his own place And Saint Wilfrid returned to the Mercians to prepare for his voyage once more in his old age to Rome XXI CHAP. i. 2. c. The death of S. Benedict Biscop and summâ—â— of his Gests 1. ONE whole year was passed before S. Wilfrid arrived at Rome at least before he debated his cause with his adversaries sent thither by Arch-bishop Brithwald In which year S. Benedict Biscop Abbot and founder of two famous Monasteries of Wiremouth and Girwy dedicated to the honour of the two Cheif Apostles S. Peter and S. Paul dyed Whole Gests have been already from S. Beda related containing his wonderfull zeale for the regulating Monasticall Disciplin according to the Institut of our Holy Patriark S. Benedict his frequent and unwearied travells to Rome for procuring Books Vestments Sacred Pictures and other Ornaments of his Monasteries his prudence in uniting and governing the said Monasteries and in chusing other Superiours to assist him being present and to govern in his absence with all other vertues becoming one who professed Perfection and through his whole life made good that Profession 2. Neither ought it to be accounted among the least benefits conferred by him upon his Order that he obtained from the Apostolick See a Breif of Priviledges by which saith Saint Beda the liberty of the said Monasteries and Religious men living there was secured from all incursions and invasions of externs their Temporall possessions defended and all disturbance of peace prevented 3. In consideration of these great obligations received from him the Congregation of English Benedictins lately restored or rather continued by the See Apostolick in their ancient Liberties and Rights have deservedly intitled him their Patron and particularly inasmuch as he so strictly united the two forementiond Monasteries that they not only professed the substance of the same Benedictin Rule but all the same circumstantiall observances giving thereby such a form of Vnion as was imitated through all other Provinces in Europe to the notable advancement of Piety and Vniformity in their holy Disciplin 4. It is wonderfull to consider how great and universall a benefitt accrewed to all the Churches of Brittany by the zeale of this Holy Abbot for as long as those Regular Observances instituted or renewed by him continued Heresy could haue no accesse into our Island But those being dissolved this our land formerly watred with showers of Divine Grace from heaven and made a Paradice of God as Barâ—nius observes was presently turned in falsuginem into a brackish salt barrennesse by the malice of its inhabitants 5. Not our English Martyrologe only but the Roman also celebrates his Memory on the day before the Ides of Ianuary as an alumnus of that Church where he first embraced a Monasticall Profession and had his former name of Biscop changed into Benedict XXII CHAP. 1.2 c. S. Wilfrids cause again iudged at Rome to his advantage 8. c. His miraculous recovery from a sicknes in France 1. SAint Wilfrid arriving at Rome the year following expected awhile his accusers who being also come they preseÌ„ted their state of the present Controversy in Epistles sent by Arch-bishop Brithwald other Bishops of Brittany to Pope Iohn and S. Wilfrid declared his cause in a Petition or Memoriall which he humbly offred to the same Pope
Egwin Bishop of that Diocese to take into their care and protection the said Monastery and in case any Tyrants or oppressours should invade the rights or possessions of it to smite them with the rodd of Excommunication 10. S. Egwin being returned with these Charters and Letters the Arch-bishop accordingly assembled a Synod at a place named Aln-cester so called by reason of its situation on the banks of the River Alne it being a place commodious for the present purpose by reason of its vicinity to Evesham from which it was distant about seaven miles it was also a remarkable place because there was a Palace of the Kings of the Mercians And it is observed in the Life of Saint Egwin that this was the place where he ordinarily preached and exhorted the people 11. The onely busines in this Synod of Alne was the reading and confirming the â—ayd Charters and Priviledges Which being â—one the said Arch-bishop sent Saint Wilfrid Arch-bishop of York who was there present â—o Evesham to consecrate the place VII CHAP. 1.2 c. The death of S. Wilfrid with his preparation thereto 8.9 c. S. Acca succeeds him in the See of Hagulstad 1. THIS was the last publick action that we read performed by S. Wilfrid For now were finished the four years according to a promise of the Holy Archangel S. Michael added to his life after his great sicknes in France The which sicknes returning presently after this Synod he prepared himself for his last hower The manner of which preparation is thus described by William of Malmsbury 2. S. Wilfrid saith he having for the space of four years enioyd an undisturbed tranquillity according to the promise of the Archangel Michael was again assaulted with the same infirmity which formerly had seised on him at Meaux Meldis in France and now it was so violent that it suddenly deprived him both of his senses and speech Whereupon his Disciples who assisted him made their prayers unto God that he might at least recover his speech to the end he might dispose his affairs then not well settled After which Prayer his speech was immediatly restored to him and a few days after he recovered likewise so much strength that he was enabled to visit all the Monasteries and other places depending on him Thus being by his frequent sicknesses admonished that death approached he took care to accomplish those good designs in the administration of which he formerly had not been sufficiently diligent 3. He ordained Abbots and Superiours over all his Monasteries and as touching his Treasures he divided them into four parts Of which one portion and that was the greatest he bequeathed to the Roman Church by whose authority he had been exempted from all injuries and restored to his honours And this part he intended himself to present notwithstanding his great age if he had not been prevented by death A second part he gave to the poor A third he delegated to the Superiours of his Monasteries to the end that therby they might be enabled to purchase the freindship and favour of Great men consequently secure themselves from the violence of their adversaries The fourth part he bestowed on those who had been his attendants and companions in his travells and who as yet had not received possessions for their Sustenance 4. Having performed these things he took leave of his Disciples at Rippon whom he especially loved and in other parts of the Northumbers and took a iourney to a conference with Ceolred King of the Mercians to which he was invited namely to the forementioned Synod and consecration of the Monastery of Evesham And being there he provided carefully for the security peace of his Monasteries in that Region which through the indulgence of Princes he had founded in great number 5. After he had made a progresse through them all and procured great advantages to them in which care he spent a year and a half immediatly after he was by a renewing of his infirmity again admonished of his approaching death This hapned to him when he was in the Isle Inundule or as Saint Beda calls it the Province of Vndule a region in Northamptonshire at this day called Oundale corruply saith Camden for Avondale or the Vale of Avon Perceiving then that his last hower was come he made a short exhortation to his Disciples and children for his weaknes would not permit him to speak much and having bestowed on them his Benediction he for ought appeard without any pain at all finished his life whilst the Monks there present reciting the Psalier were come to those words of the Psalm Send forth thy Spirit and they shall be created c. He dyed on the fourth day before the Ides of October saith S. Beda and in the seaventy sixth year of his age having been Bishop the space of forty six years 6. He was a man who for iustice sake had been exposed to many dangers and who in the places to which he was banished did not spend the time unproffitably but was very diligent in erecting Monasteries and founding Bishopricks He was naturally qualified so as easily to ingratiate himself with Stranger Princes in whose countreys he lived an exile and on the other side by reason of his inflexible love to iustice he was exposed to the hatred of his Naturall Princes No man ever lest so many Monasteries behind him which he distributed to many Successours From the Monastery of Oundalo where he dyed and over which he had appointed a certain Abbott called Cudbald his Body was caried to Rippon where it was buried with great honour These wonders attended his death 7. In the hour of his expiration there was heard a sweet melody of birds and clapping of their wings as if they were flying up to heaven but not one bird could be seen And the same thing hapning severall times during the solemne Procession when his body was transported certain devout and prudent persons then present interpreted it to be an assembly of Angells which according as had been promised him were come to conduct his soule to heaven For as hath been already declared out of Saint Beda the Archangell Michael appearing to him in France said to him these words I doe assure thee that for the present thou shalt recover from this sicknes But be prepared for after four years I will visit thee again His Body was buried in the Church of the Blessed Apostle Saint Peter in Inrhypum Rippon neer the Altar toward the south and on his Tomb was inscribed an Epitaph recorded by the same Saint Beda and importing how he had founded the same Church and richly adorned it how he had erected there a rich Crosse of silver how he had left there the four Gospells written in Letters of gold enclosed likewise in a golden case How he had â—educed his countrey to the Catholick observation of Easter How he had founded great numbers of Monasteries instructing them in the ancient Rules of
the Holy Fathers And lastly how during the space of forty five years in which he exercised the Episcopall charge he having been exposed to many dangers both at home and abroad at last attained to his eternall happy rest in our Lord. His Memory is celebrated among the Saints by the Church on the twelfth of October the day on which he dyed How his Sacred Relicks were translated from Rippon to Canterbury two hundred and thirty years after his death we shall in due place declare 8. His Successour in the See of Hagulstad or Hexham saith Saint Beda was Acca formerly one of his Preists a man of admirable magnificence for having founded a Church to the honour of Saint Andrew the Apostle he richly adorned it and having gathered many Relicks of the Apostles and Martyrs he raised therein severall Altars in which he placed the said Relicks Moreover he built in the same a most Noble Library furnished with a vast number of volumes He provided also for his Church all manner of holy vessels Lamps and other ornaments And for a more solemne performance of the Divine Office he sent for out of Kent a famous Cantour named Maban who had learnt Ecclesiasticall modulation of the Successours of Saint Gregory there Him he detained the space of twelve years to instruct his Monks both in such Song as they either had never learnt or by disuse had forgotten 9. The devout Bishop Acca also himself was very skilfull in Church-song and moreover learned in Holy Scriptures untainted in his Confession of the Catholick Faith and perfectly versed in Ecclesiasticall Discipline For from his infancy he had been brought up among the Clergy of the Holy Bishop Bosa Bishop of York And afterward aspiring to Religious Perfection he adioynd himself to Saint Wilfrid in whose attendance he continued to his death Whith him also he went to Rome where he learnt many things pertaining to Ecclesiasticall institution which he could not have learnt at home 10. Wee find in Saint Beda that Saint Acca before his exaltation to the Episcopall degree had been an Abbot for under that title there is an Epistle directed to him declaring how by his instinct and order Saint Beda had written his Treatise called Hexameron touching the Creation of the world And how after he was made Bishop he wrote oftimes to the same Saint Beda and exhorted him to write his Commentaries on Saint Luke c. shall be declared hereafter VIII CHAP. 1.2 c. Death of S. Aldelm Bishop of Shirborn 5.6 c. Elogies given to him even by Protestants 8.9 c. Forther succeeds him To whom an Epistle from Arch-bishop Brithwald 1 THE same year in which Saint Wilfrid dyed our Island lost another Star likewise of the first magnitude the Holy and most learned Bishop Saint Aldelm Bishop of Shirborn concerning whom frequent mention hath been already made 2. As touching his death thus writes the Auâ—hour of his life in Capgrave S. Aldelm in a good old age full of vertues and Sanctity departed to our Lord on the eighth day before the Calends of Iune in the seaven hundred and ninth year after our Lords Incarnation and the fifth year after he had been promoted to the Episcopall charge and the thirty fourth after his being instituted Abbot He was buried in his Monastery of Meldun or Malmsbury with great honour 3. His death was by divine revelation foreknown to Saint Egwin who in a certain Treatise thus writes Two years after the foundation of the Monastery of Evesham the Holy Bishop Aldelm departed to our Lord whith being made known to mee by revelation I called together she Religious Brethren to whom I declared the decease of that Venerable Father and presently after with great speed I took my iourney to the place where his Sacred Body reposed above fifty miles distant from his Monastery of Malmsbury Whither I conducted the same and there buried it very honourably Moreover I gave command that in every place in which the said Body dayly rested during the Procession there should be erected Sacred Crosses All which Crosses doe remain to this day neither hath any one of them felt any injury by time One of the said Crosses is yet to be seen in the Cloister of that Monastery 4. Two hundred and forty years after his death to witt in the year of Grace nine hundred forty nine saith the foresaid Authour his Sacred Body was taken up out of his Tomb and placed with great honour in a Shrine His Memory is yeaâ—ly celebrated by the Church on the Anniversary day of his death which was the twenty fifth of May. 5. This glorious Bishop is never mentioned by any of our ancient Historians without high praises Yea even our late Protestant Writers are very large in his commendations Bale though ordinarily rude and uncivill towards Catholicks yet of S. Aldelm he testifies that he was so diligently studious in all learning Divine and Humane that he far exceeded all the Ecclesiasticall Writers of his time And that both in verse and prose he was wonderfully learned both for Latin and Greek for his witt sharp and for his stile elegant He happily departed to our Lord in the year of his Incarnation seaven hundred and nine Camden likewise thus writes of him He is truly worthy that his Memory should for ever flourish not only in regard of his Sanctity but learning also He was the first of the English Nation who wrote in the purity of the Latin tongue and the first who taught the English to compose both verse and prose as well in the Greek as Latin stile This Aldelm after he was dead was reclamed by the Great King Athelstan as his Tutelar Saint The like Elogies doe Bishop Godwin D. Iames and the Centuriators of Magdeburg make of him 6. Yet after all this there is scarce one Point in which they condemne the Roman Church as an Errour iustifying their Separation from it but was held by him And particularly touching the Supreme Vniversall authority of the Pope in the heretofore mentioned Epistle of his to Gerontius King of Cornwall he in the name of the whole English Synod writes That S. Peter merited by a happy and peculiar Priviledge to receive from our Lord the Monarchicall Power of loosing sins both in heaven and Earth Moreover That the foundation of the Church and bullwark of Faith was placed principally on Christ consequently on Peâ—eâ— c. And that Christ who is Truth it self did thus establish on Peter the Priviledge over the Church Thou art Peter and on this Rock I will build my Church Yea Flacius Illyricus writes that S. Aldelm maintained That the Confession of the true Faith wholesome Doctrine and a life otherwise unreprocheable would nothing proffit him who lived in separation from the Vnity of the Catholick Roman Church This is the Faith taught then in the English Church and the Teachers of this Faith the Protestants now
without delay denounce them to his Holines But if it should happen which God forbid that I should hereafter attempt or any way doe any thing contrary to the tenon of this my Vow may I in the last dreadfull Iudgment incurr the Sentence and punishment of Ananias and Saphira who presumed to deale unfaithfully with you in disposing their goods This form of Oath also I Boniface humble Bishop have written with mine own hand and having layd it upon the most sacred Body of S. Peter I have in the presence of God who is my judge taken this my oath accordingly which I doe promise to keep 6. After this the Pope studiously assisted and respected him in all things for he gave him a Book containing all Ecclesiasticall Decrees which had been Synodically made by his Predecessours enioyning him that both his Clergy and people should be ordered according to the said Instituts He likewise by a Priviledge in Writing promised and confirmed to him and all that depended on him the favour and Protection of the See Apostolick 7. To conclude at his departure he gave him severall Letters to the illustrious Duke Charles Mair of the French Kings palace to all Bishops Preists Nobles c. requiring their assistance and defence of the said holy man in the execution of his Apostolick Office among the Nations feared on the Eastern parts of the Rhene With these he adioynd a Letter also to the Clergy and people peculiarly subject to this Holy Bishop requiring them to shew all reverence and obedience to him acquainting them withall that among other Iniunctions given him he had commanded him not to presume to make any unlawfull Ordinations not to permitt any one who had two wives or one which had not been a Virgin no illiterate man or deformed and vitiated in any of his members none which had been in publick Pennance or obnoxious to Iustice to be promoted to Holy Orders That he should not receive to the same Orders any Aegyptians or Africans because many such were Manicheans and often rebaptized That he should be carefull not to diminish but rather encrease the revenews or ornaments of his Churches And that the Rents and Oblations should be divided into four portions of which one he should reserve to himself a second should be distributed to the Clergy proportionably to their Offices a third to the poor and strangers and a fourth to be reserved for maintaining the fabricks of Churches Of all which he was to give an account in the Iudgment of God That Ordinations of Preists and Deacons should be celebrated onely in the Fasts of the fourth and tenth Monthes at the beginning of Lent and on the Vespers of Saturday after Whitsontide Lastly that except in danger of death the Sacrament of Baptism should not be conferred but only on the Solemnities of Easter and Pentecost 8 To these Letters were added others full of pious exhortations and Catechisticall Instructions to the people of the Province of the Thuringians and also the Alt Saxons both Idolaters and new converted Christians And lastly whereas among the Thuringians there were some courageous persons who in defence of their Faith had suffred greivous persecutions from the Pagans he addressed a particular letter to them by name to these Noble persons Altolph Godolas Wilary Gunthar Albold c. in which he highly exalted their constancy giving humble thanks to God for the same and encouraging them to persevere in their constancy to have recourse to the See Apostolick in any of their necessities and to be obedient to their new consecrated Bishop XIV CHAP. 1.2 c. S Boniface returning into Germany constantly exercises his Apostolick Office He destroye Idolatry c. 4. He excommunicates Hereticks and licentious Christians 5. He is encouraged by S. Michaël to whom he builds a Church 6.7 8. He by Letters beggs the Prayers of severall Devout persons 1. SAint Boniface encouraged and secured by the authority of so many recommendations began his iourney towards Germany the beginning of the year following and being come to the Noble Prince Charles sirnamed Martel he presented to him the Holy Popes Letters and recommending himself to his protection with his consent he proceeded in his iourney to the Region of the Catti now called Hassians to whom he had already begun to preach the Gospell and to secure him both there and in the way thither the Prince gave him likewise Letters of safe-guard directed to all Bishops Dukes Counts c. signifying to them that it was his will that the Apostolick Father and Bishop Boniface the bearer of those should without any molestation or iniury goe or remain in the said countreys as being one whom he had received into his favour and Protection which he calls Mundiburde 2. When he was come into the Province of the Catti he found there very many who had cast off the Profession of Christianity Some Sacrifised to trees and fountâ—ins at least privatly some followed sooth saying and cousening divinations and many were addicted to abominable Sacrifices so that a very small number remained constant in the way of Truth which they had been taught 3. By the advice of these the Holy Bishop with their assiâ—tance attempted to cutt down a certain Tree of a prodigious vastnes which grew in a place called Geâ—smer and had been for many ages called the Tree of Iupiter Whereupon a great multitude of Pagans ran thither with an intention to kill him as an Ennemy of their Gods But at the same instant the Tree though not at all deep cutt as if it had been agitated by a Divine force was torn into four peices This when those Pagans saw they gave glory to God and embraced the Faith 4. Neither did he find greater opposition from Pagans then from Hereticks and licentious Christians For going from that Province to the Thurigians he found there a great decay of the Catholick Faith occasioned by the death of some of their Princes which had been converted The principall Authours of severall Heresies among them had been these infamous persons Dorthuvia Berther Eanbert and Humed Others there were horribly defiled with scandalous lusts and adulteries All which after sharp reprehensions he cutt off from the Churches Communion by Excommunication 5. In the mean time the famâ— of his Preaching being spread great accessions were made to the number of Beleiveâ—s Many Churches were erected and Monasteries built Among which one of the most Notable was founded at Ordorf to the honour of the Blessed Archangel Saint Michael who had appeared with great glory to the Holy Bishop on a certain night sleeping in his Tent near the River Oraham where he had been employed in preaching and baptizing and with many comfortable words encouraged him to be constant in that holy employment The morning following he celebrated Masse in the same place after which he commanded that dinner should be prepared But being told that there was no meat Is it so answered he How many
of the Customes and likewise the Church belonging to the Castle there which S. Amand Bishop of Maestrick had built These gifts he bestowd for buying incense and Lights and that the Preists serving in the said Church might pray for Gods mercy and pardon of the Sins of the Donours as appears in the Charter of the said Princes recorded by the same Authour Moreover in a Second Charter the same Prince and his wife signify that they had also given to the Church of S. Peter and S. Paul built likewise by Saint Amand of which Church S. Willebrord had the oversight the entire village of Preprusdare seated on the River Nutta and half the rents and proffits of another village called Winlindechim Thus writes Miraeus out of an ancient Manuscript belonging to the Abbey of Epternac where also the same S. Willebrâ—rd dyed as shall be shewd in its due place And he thus concludes That Evangelicall Plantation which S. Amandus and S. Eligius began among the inhabitants of Antwerp was perfected by S. Willebrord XVI CHAP. 1.2 c The Piety of King Ina His devout iourney to Rome 1. THE year of Grace seaven hundred twenty six was much illustrated by the piety and devotion of the glorious King of the West-Saxons Ina who after a raign of thirty eight years having munificently extended his liberality to the See of Rome then at last in his old age undertook a tedious iourney thither leaving his Kingdom to younger and stronger shoulders and resolving to spend the remainder of his life in devotion meditation of celestiall things near the monuments of the glorious Apostles S. Peter and S. Paul A practise of devotion in these dayes very frequent with all sorts Noble and ignoble men and women also as S. Beda testifies 2. Before he putt this in execution he the year before had beyond all his Predecessours richly endowed the ancient venerable Monastery of Glastonbury where from the foundation he erected a New Church consecrated to our Saviour and the Honour of S. Peter and S. Paul Princes of the Apostles and withall conferred on the said Monastery which he stiles the prime fountain and Originall of all Religion in Brittany very many large possessions and Manors confirming withall whatsoeves had been formerly given by Kings his Predecessours or any others a particular account whereof he setts down in his Charter Moreover he granted to the same Monastery very great Priviledges and exemptions from the Bishops authority permitting the Monks to receive in the said Monastery or in any Chappell 's annexed to it the Ecclesiasticall Sacraments froÌ„ whatsoever Bishop they should think fit so he were such an one as was conformable to the Church in the Paschall celebration 3. A Coppy of which Royal Charter is extant in Sir H. Spelman extracted out of the ancient Archives of that Monastery Where it is further written that the foresaid King Ina after the sealing of this Charter by himself with the consent and attestation of his Queen Edilburga of King Buldâ—ed of Adelard the Queens Brother of Beorthwald Arch-bishop of Canterbury c. directed Letters to Pope Gregory signed with his Royall Seale in which was enclosed the same Charter exemplified together with a Cup of gold and other royall presents beseeching him that he would receive the Church of Canterbury with all its appartenances and priviledges into the protection of the See Apostolick and confirm them for ever by his authority The same year likewise the said King took a iourney personally to Rome and sent back to Glastonbury this Priviledge confirmed by the Apostolick signet 4. This devout iourney of King Ina to Rome was suggested to him principally by his vertuous and pious Queen Ethelburga The innocent subtilty by which she at last effected it is related by William of Malmsbury to this effect King Ina saith he had to wife Ethelburga a Lady of Royall blood and a Royall mind likewise She frequently instilld into the cares of her husband motives to induce him to bid farwell at least in his last age to all wordly vanities Such good suggestions he would seem to approve but the execution of them he delayd from day to day At last she attempted to overcome him by subtilty in the manner following 5. On a certain time being in their Countrey-palace where a Royall court was kept with extreme magnificence assoon as they were gone from thence the Keeper of the house by the Queens private order defiled all the rooms of the palace with rubbish and the dung of cattell yea in the bed where the King and Queen had lyen he putt a sow with her young piggs In the mean time when the Court had proceeded little more then a mile in their return the Queen entreated and importuned the King to goe back to the same palace as if it imported almost her life The King with no great difficulty was perswaded but when he found his Palace which he had elâ—t but even then magnificeÌ„tly adorned now become so ugly and nasty he wonderd at it and turning his eyes to the Quern seemed to ask her the reason of this change She taking advantage of this occasion with a smiling look said to him so where are now the rustling tumults and noises Where are the magnificent purple Tapistries Where are the many vessels of gold and silver where the luxurious banquets for which sea and land was searched Are not all these vanished away like smoke and wind But woe to those who fixe their minds on such vanities which like a swift torrent make hast to loose themselves in the abysse for they likewise sholl be snatched away with them The more powerfull wee are the more powerfull will our torments be unlesse wee provide in time for our eternall state To this purpose she spoke and with such efficacy she by this emblem drew her husbands mind to perform what for many years together she could not obtain by her perswasions For after many victories and rich spoyles gained from his enemies and many noble exploâ—â—s performed in the world he at last aspiring to the supreme perfection of piety undertook a pilgrimage to Rome 6. As touching his pious Queen Edilburga how she disposed of her self entring into a Monastery of which she became Abbesse and dyed in great Sanctity wee shall treat in due season and place XVII CHAP. 1.2 King Ina first conferrs on the See Apostolick the Pension called Romescot or Peter pence 3. 4. c The same is continued by succeeding Princes even of the Norman Race and the like by forrain Kings c. 1. KING Ina being not only resolved but in a readinesse to begin his Pilgrimage towards Rome determind to leave some lasting monument of his Piety and affection to the See Apostolick His Predecessour Cedwalla had voluntarily quitted the throne and with great devotion changed his Purple into a poor Monasticall habit there near the Monuments of the Apostles King Ina not content to
did not enter into that See till the year of Grace seaven hundred thirty five And indeed that seems to have been one of the last things he ever wrote for in it he complains of his age and sicknes Neither would it have been very seemly for a simple Monk to write instructions of that Nature to an eminent Father of the Church but that the advantage authority of age might iustify it 17. Many Books he has written of great curiosity and subtilty but his cheif delight was to meditate and interpret Holy Scriptures which he did with so unwearied a diligence that he allowed no time oâ— leasure for the Devill or the flesh to tempt him And particularly concerning his Expositions of Scripture he says That if they brought no other proffit to the Readers at least they were beneficiall to himself in this that whilst he employed his whole studies on them he avoyded all vain thoughts of wordly things 18. A principall encourager and inciter of him to proceed in such expositions was the Reverend and Holy Bishop Acca the successour of S. Wilfrid in the Episcopall See of â—â—gustald as William of Malmsbury testifies There is still extant a Letter of Acca to him in which he exhorts him to explain the Gospell of S. Luke with a iust Commentary after he had finished that upon the Acts of the Apostles Many others had desired the same thing from him but he deferred or rather excused the labour partly for the difficulty and likewise because S. Ambrose had left a sufficient explanation of the Gospell But these reasons not satisfying the Holy Bishop Acca who told him that the commentary of S. Ambrose it self needed an Interpretation Hereupon S. Beda delayd no longer but in an Answer testifyed his Obedience Which Letter also he prefixed to the same Commentary 19. Such his Expositions of Holy Scriptures were even in his own age of so reverend esteem that by an Ordonnance of an English Synod they were received into the Ecclesiasticall Office and at this day by the consent of the Vniversall Church many Lessons on severall occasions are publickly read in the Church-Service out of his Homilies 20. It is not unexpedient to treat so particularly concerning S. Beda's study meditation and explanation of Holy Scripture to stop the mouths of Modern Sectaries who vainly impute the pretended Errours and Superstitions of Catholicks to their ignorance in Scripture Whereas we see a holy mortified disinteressed person who spent his whole life in prayer and Meditation on Scripture and yet confidently taught those Doctrins and Practises which such men will needs call Superstitions Errours 21. I will conclude this Discourse of this Holy Doctours Life with those words which he is sayd a little before his death to have spoken to his Disciples If by my labours and study I have in any measure proffited you or the Church of God render mee I beseech you this requitall to be mindfull of mee after my death there where Christ our Lord is every day both the Preist and Sacrifice of Propitiation XXV CHAP. 1.2 c. The order and circumstances of the happy Death of S. Beda 1. AS touching S. Beda's happy departure out of this Life to God there is still exitant an Epistle written by one of his Disciples whose name I suppose was Cuthbert afterwards Abbot of his Monastery It is written with great sincerity neither is it obnoxious â—o any suspicion of being supposititious We find it annexed to the end of his Works and well deserves a place in this History The person to whom it was directed is not known and the Writers name onely guessed at But the tenour of it is as follows 2. The small Gift you were pleased to send mee I gratefully received and your devout Letter I read with much consolation especially finding in it that your Community does carefully celebrate Masses and Prayers for our Beloved Master and Father in God Beda Therefore being moved rather by my affection to him then any opinion of mine own ability I will most willingly acquaint you in a short discourse with the order and circumstances of his happy departure out of this world since I perceive that you desire and have requested to be informed of it 3. His last sicknes began about a forthnight before Easter and continued till the Feast of our Lords Ascention The thing which most troubled him in it was shortnes of breath other pain he had little or none During all which time he ceased not day and night to give thanks to God All this hindred him not to continue his Lessons to his Disciples at the Ordinary howers and except that short time all the rest of the day he spent in singing of Psalms with great chearfullnes of mind The whole night likewise except when sleep which was very short interrupted him he spent in Prayer and giving of thanks to God I sincerely professe I never saw nor heard of any man who so incessantly employed his time in praising God A most blessed man certainly he was He would sometimes repeat also that sencence of S. Paul It is a fearfull thing to fall into the hands of God and other like passages of Holy Scripture to admonish us by meditating on our last hour to awake from spirituall sleep and negligence Again at other times he would sing certain Antiphones for both our and his own consolation Particularly in repeating one which begins thus O King of glory Lord of all power when he came to those words Leave us not orphans he broke forth into excessive weeping But he would again resume it and such was his employment all the day As for us his Disciples who attended him we could not abstain from weeping Some times wee would read and presently burst forth into tears and sometimes we would read and weep together 4. In such an exercise mixt with greif and ioy we passed the dayes of Lent till the aforesaid Feast And he would oftimes reioyce and give God thanks for his sicknes frequently saying God corrects every child whom he receives sometimes also he would repeat that speech of S. Ambrose I have not so lived among you as that I need to be ashamed neither doe I fear to dye because I have a mercifull Lord. 5. In those dayes moreover besides our dayly Lessons he accomplished two Works which deserves to be remembred for the strangenes the one was the Translation of S. Iohns Gospell into the English tongue for the Churches proffit till he came to those words in the sixth Chapter but What are these five loaves and two fishes among so many The other was a Collection of memorable passages out of S. Isidores works 6 But when the Tewsday before our Lords Ascension was come his sicknes became much more violent and breathing more difficult and besides that a swelling began to arise in his feet Yet all that day he taught and dictated to us very chearfully and he would now and then say
his solemnity we many conclude that both these were added by S. Beda's Disciples after his death 8. Not long after S. Boniface visited the confining Regions of Bavaria the Prince whereof was called Hugbert To whom the Holy Bishop with great zeale preached the Faith of Christ. There likewise with much fervour and authority he condemned and cast out of the Church a certain pestilent Heretick called Ermewolf What his Heresy was it does not appear probably it died with the Authour II. CHAP. 1.2 The Primacy of the Sea of Canterbury again established by the Pope 3.4 Bishops conâ—ecrated by Arch-bishop Tatwin after he had received the Archiepiscopall Pall. 5.6 Sedition among the Northumbers c. 1. WE read in B. Parkers Brittish Antiquities that in the year of Grace seaven hundred thirty two being the second after the consecration of Tatwin Arch-bishop of Canterbury a controversy arose between that See and the See of York about Primacy Vpon which occasion Tatwin went to Rome where he obtained the Pall from Pope Gregory and likewise a confirmation of his Primacy After which he made great hast to return into Brittany 2. There is indeed extant in William of Malmsbury an Epistle of Pope Gregory addressed to all the English Bishops in which he exhorts them to Vnity and constancy in Faith and Charity and withall signifies that he had given the Archiepiscopall Pall with the venerable use of the Dalmatick to Tatwin Successour to S. Augustin in his chair of Canterbury and that after a diligent search in the Sacred Archives for the Priviledges and rights of Iurisdiction belonging to that See from the time of the said S. Augustin he had confirmed the same commanding all the Churches of Brittany with their respective Bishops to yeild due obedience to all the Canonicall precepts of the said Tatwin whom he appointed Primat and withall conferred on him authority in his stead to visit all Churches in that Region Moreover that the Church of Canterbury being the first offspring of Christianity and Mother of all other Churches there he took it into his speciall protection threatning severely to vindicate all contempts and disobediences to it on any person whatsoever 3. To this effect did Pope Gregory write but without any mention or reflection on the See of York or any competition of any other in the Primacy Besides this the present Bishop of York Wilfrid second of that name was a man of great modesty and aversion from contention Whereas indeed his Successour of a Princely family and high Spirits did not long after not only restore his See oâ— York to the Archiepiscopall dignity which at first S. Paulinus the Apostle of that Province enioyd but challenged an equality with the Arch-bishop of Canterbury as shall be declared And this perhaps gave occasion of mistake and a confusion of times to B. Parker and likewise B. Godwin 4. Arch-bishop Tatwin having thus received the Pall and being returned into Brittany the year following consecrated two Bishops For Kinebert Bishop of the Lindesfari or Lincoln being dead he substituted in his place Alwâ— whom wee find present in a Synod assembled fourteen years after this Likewise the Episcopall See of the South-Saxons by the death of Eolla being vacant he consecrated for his Successour Sigga or Sigfrid 5. The same year there were great tumults in the Kingdom of the Northumbers by a faction the Head whereof is now unknown But so violent was the Sedition that both King Ceolulf and the Holy Bishop Acca were forced to submitt to the impetuousnes of it King Ceolulf was made prisoner and Shaved as a Monk Notwithstanding presently after in consideration of his integrity vertue and prudence he was restored to his Throne 6 But as for the Holy Bishop Acca the persecution against him continued longer For during the space of three years he remaind banished from his See Yea saith William of Malmsbury it is uncertain whether ever he returned to it or no. However that after his death he was with great honour buried there and became famous to posterity by his frequent Miracles shall be shewed hereafter III. CHAP. 1.2.3 Ethelbald the Mercian King invades his neighbours 4.5 Tatâ—in Arch bishop of Canterbury dying Nothelm succeeds And Egbert succeeds in the See of York 6 7 8. S. Boniface proposes a Scrupulous doubt to Nothelm c. The Râ—solution of it 1. IN the year of Grace seaven hundred thirty four Ethelbald Kiâ—g of the Mercians who as hath been sayd was wonderfully called by God to the Kingdom became very powerfull and not content with the limits of his own kingdom invaded the Provinces of his Neighbours All the Regions from the South-Saxons as far as Humber Northward though governed by petty Kings yet those Provinces with their Kings were subject to his Dominion saith Florentius Yet all these to a mind so vast as his were narrow bounds Therefore making an impression into the Western parts he besieged the Castle of Sâ—merton and no assistance coming to the souldiers there inclosed he brought it into his own power By which means he became possessour of a great part of Somersetshire which takes its name from that place 2. And not content with this he marched with his Army Northward and force prevayling over iustice he in a hostile manner entred the Kingdome of the Northumbers where finding none to resist him he enriched himself and his army with spoyles as much as he thought good then withdrew his forces homewards Thus writes Huntingdon The Abridger of S. Beda's History referrs this invasion to the year seaven hundred and forty but the generall consent of other Writers disproves him 3. But this prosperity which Gods goodnes gave him he abused and plunged himself into many enormous crimes as shall be shewed Notwithstanding the Divine Grace did not utterly forsake him For at last he repented his ingratitude to God amended his errours and with a mixture of vertues and vices ended his life by the treason of his Subjects 4. The same year as Hoveden testifies the Moon for the space of an hour early in the morning on the thirtieth day of Ianuary became of a deep blood-red colour and from thence turned black after which its naturall brightnes was restored This prodigy it seems in his opinion foreshewed the death of Tatwin Arch-bishop of Canterbury for he immediatly addes an account of his death thereto hapning the twenty ninth of Iuly following and in the fourth year after his Consecration He was a man saith S. Beda highly eminent for his Religion and prudence He succeeded Brithwald his equall in learning and piety who was Successour to S. Theodore 5. The year following gave to the two Principall Sees of Brittany Canterbury and York vacant by the death of their Pastours two worthy persons to succeed in the exercise of the Episcopall function to Canterbury Nothelm and to York Egbert As touching the former Nothelm was born
at London in which Church he was Preist not Bishop as Parker mistakingly affirms Some thing hath already been spoken of him when wee related how S. Beda made use of his industry and assistance in composing his History 6. To this New Arch-bishop Nothelm presently after his consecration S. Boniface directed an Epistle in which after he had desired from him the same Christian affection Vnion of minds which heretofore he had with S. Brithwald his Predecessour he proposed to him a difficulty and scrupule which had much and long tormented him a resolution whereof he desired from him as he did from diverse others and particularly from Pecthelm Bishop of Candida Casa and also from an English Abbot called Duddo who had formerly been S. Boniface his own Schollar yet such was his humility that he disdaind not to consult him Now the Doubt or difficulty I will sett down in S. Boniface's own expression 7. I desire saith he to hear your counsell touching a sin committed by mee through ignorance in permitting mariage between two parties the Case stood thus A certain Man with my leave maried a woman a widdow to whose sâ—n he had formerly been God-father This the Romans say is so unlawfull that they ought to be divorced Yea moreover they affirm that anciently under the Christian Emperours â—uch a crime was punished with death or at least perpetuall banishment Now I beseech you to inform mee whether you can find either in the Decrees of the Ancient Catholick Fathers or Holy Scriptures that this is so great a sin For mine own part I can by no means comprehend how a carnall conjunction between persons in a Spirituall prâ—pinquity should be a heynous sin since in Sacred Baptism wee are all of us sons and daughters of Christ and his Church and Brothers and Sâ—sters to one another 8. The Resolution of this Doubt wee can not find since their Answers hereto are lost But Serrarius a learned Iesuit who published Saint Boniface's Epistles with Annotations after he had produced severall Decrees of Ancient Popes strictly forbidding such Mariages shews the Answer to this Doubt to be now very easy Adding withall That if in S. Boniface's time the Ancient Caâ—ins had been in the same number and order as now he would never have doubted of the Question However his diligence in seeking satisfaction is highly to be praised and his humility of mind to be imitated since he not only proposes his doubts to Bishops but even his own Disciples desiring to be taught by them now in his old age yea since he professes that he will not pertinaciously adhere to his own iudgment but obediently acquiesee in the Decrees of the Church and Holy Fathers How far now are our modern Sectaries from such a disposition of mind For Luther and Beza grounding themselves upon their private iudgment and proudly contemning and opposing all Antiquity and authority doe sett as nought all regard of Spirituall Alliance Such difference there is between the Spirits of a modest humble Catholick and an arrogant Heretick IV. CHAP. 1.2 c The Gests of S. Pecthelm 6.7.8 Of S. Wiro 9. And of S. Otger 1. AS touching S. Pecthelm Bishop of Candida Casa to whom S. Boniface directed one of his Epistles demanding his iudgment touching the forementiond doubt it is not easy to determin in what place that Epistle might find him Wee signified his Ordination to that See in the year seaven hundred twenty three and S. Beda in the eighth year after concluding his History affirms that he continued at that time Bishop there Yet the Writers of the Gallican and Belgick Antiquities consonantly aâ—â—â—rm that he left Britâ—tany and after the example of S. Boniface propagated the Christian Faith in those Countreys Of which there is an absolute silence among our English Historians Let us therefore enquire concerning his Gests of forrain Authours 2. In the Gallican Martyrologe upon the fifteenth day of Iuly wee read thus In the Mount of S. Peter otherwise called the Monastery of S. Odila neer Ruremâ—nd in Belgium â—s that day celebrated the deposition of S. Pecthelm Bishop of Candida Casa in Scotland that 〈◊〉 now for anciently it was within the Doâ—â—nioâ— of the English-Saxons and Confessour who being inflamed with a zeale to root out Heathenish Superstition to that time springing â—p in some parts of Belgium undertook a voyage into those countreys in the company of S. Wiro Bâ—â—hop and S. Otger a Deacon Where he was kindly entertaind by King Pipin and encouraged â—o so pious a work He brought very many to the Light of Evangelicall Truth and cast down severall profane Temples of fâ—lse Gods building many Churches to the honouâ— of the only true God The like testimony wee find in Miraeus his Belgick Calendar 5 Now the death of this Holy Bishop our Historian Florentius referrs to this present year Concerning which the sayd Martyrologe thus treats In the same Monastery S Pecthelm full of dayes and merits peaceably dyed And many Divine Miracles shining at his Sepulcher declared him a glorified Saint in heaven Whereupon veneration and honour due to Saints was attributed to him and his Holy Companions For â—heir Sacred Relicks were taken up and reposed under the Altar of the Cathedrall Church of Ruâ—emond and moreover an annuall Feast and Office celebrated in their honour not only through that whole Diocese but also at Oldensale in the Bishoprick of Daventer where his Head is preserved and with great veneration of the people honoured Hereunto Miraeus adds That this anâ—ient Inscription is found upon their Shrines Parts of the Relicks of S. Wiro S. Pecthelm and Saint Otger In the year of Grace one thousand five hundred seaventy one in which the rebellious Gueuses or Calvinists having overthrown the Table of the Altar but leaving the base untouched they were by a singular Providence of God defended from the fury of those Hereticks and twenty three years after when the same Altar was repaired they were there found and afterward honourably taken up as wee read in the Office of the Church of Ruremond 4 In this Narration there occurr difficulties of some weight For whereas it is sayd that Saint Pecthelm was kindly received by King Papin it will not be easy to determin among three Princes in this age all of the same name which was he who received our Saints Whether the first Pipin son to the elder Carloman or his Grandchild by his daughter Begga or the last who was Son to Charles Martel and was the only Pipin who was King But he not beginning his raign till the year seaven hundred fifty two he could not be King at S. Pecthelm's arrivall in France Therefore most probable it is that he was at this time only a young Duke but is stiled King because he became so afterward Notwithstanding after all this the Irish Historians confidently apply all this Story to their Pecthelm Bishop of Tuam and indeed their
certain Preist besides whom there was none other to administer Baptism and celebrate Masse in a large territory inhabited by Christians indeed yet such as were tainted with errours considering that the said Preist who long agoe had falln into the sin of fornication afterward not only was absolved after Pennance but also restored to his degree and Office contrary to the expresse Canons of the Church Now the Question is Whether it be better or at least a lesse ill that such a Preist should perform the Office of the Altar contrary to the Canons or in case he be deprived a multitude of Infants should dye without Baptism and the rest of the people without Sacraments since that people can not be furnished with another more chast Preist Which is indeed no Question at all 5. Egbert having obtaind his Archiepiscopall Pall this same year supplied two Episcopall Sees which were vacant For to Plecthelm Bishop of Candida Casa he substituted Fridwald And the Holy Bishop Acca having been unjustly expelled his Church of Hagustald and there being no probability of his restitution least our Lords flock should remain longer without a Pastour he consecrated thereto Fridbere Who notwithstanding in our Ecclesiasticall Monuments is not esteemed Bishop till the death of Acca which followed five years after VI. CHAP. 1.2 c. A Summe of the Gests of S. Willebrord and his death 6.7 c. Severall Bishops consecrated by Nothelm Arch-bishop of Canterbury 9. Queen Frithogitha's pilgrimage to Rome 1. THE year following the most famous Apostle of the Frisons the erectour and first Arch-bishop of Vtrecht Saint Willebrord received the eternall reward of all his labours Wee have often mentioned him before and will here only add a breif Summ of his Life and Gests out of the Gallican Martyrologe 2. On the seaventh of November at Epternac in the Territory of Triers is celebrated the Commemoration of Saint Willebrord Bishop and Confessour Apostle of the Frisons He was by Nation an English-Saxon and being endowed with many Divine Graces he with nine Companions were by Saint Egbert directed into Lower Germany From Brittany therefore he passed over into Friseland and began the Apprentissage of his Apostolick Office at Vtrecht but was desired by Pipin to goe further into the countrey of the Frisons At the Castle of Vtrecht near an Ancient ruind Church of Saint Thomas he built an Oratory to the honour of the Holy Crosse. Pope Sergius being before admonished by an Angelicall vision solemnly ordained him Arch-bishop in the Church of Saint Peter at the request of Duke Pipin and withall strengthning him with Apostolick authority to preach and dilate the Gospell to the end he might with a more prosperous omen undertake that labour he gave him the Sirname of Clement to whom after the two Princes of the Apostles the Care of Religion in its infancy was committed 3. From Rome he returned into Friseland and at Vtrecht upon Rhene placed his Episcopall See building there a Church which he consecrated to Saint Martin He baptized with the Water of regeneration Pipin the Son of Charles Martel He spread the Gospell largely in Friseland baptizing Catechumens confirming Neophytes celebrating holy Orders and almost in every village building Churches over which he constituted Pastours 4. Whilst he was busily employed in these sacred works there came to him Saint Boniface who in processe of time became his Successour in his Bishoprick and Apostleship of the Frisons Who staying with him about two years assisted him with courage and diligence in procuring the salvation of many At last after many labours incommodities and travells undertaken by him for many years in planting the Church and saving of soules he rendred his holy and happy Spirit to his Creatour at Epternac after he had for the space of forty years with a piety and vertue truly Apostolick governed the Church founded by himself 5. His Sacred Body was buried in a Monastery of that Town which formerly he had erected where it did â—hine with so many illustrious Miracles that both the Monastery and Church were afterwards called by his Name Concerning his Successours Eoban Boniface and Gregory we shall treat in due place His Life was written both in verse and Prose by his Countrey man Saint Alcuin an eloquent Witnesse of his Sanctity 6. The same year Nothelm Arch-bishop of Canterbury having received his Archiepiscopall Pall from Rome consecrated severall Bishops For the See of Hereford being vacant by the death of Walstâ—d he substituted in his place Cuthbert Who four years after succeeded Nothelm himself being translated to the See of Canterbury But before that he finished a very costly Crosse begun by his Predecessour and moreover built a sumptuous Tomb in which he placed the Bodies of the three preceding Bishops Tirtil Torthere and Walstâ—d to which he adioyned three more a certain Nobleman called Milfrid with his Lady called Quenburga and Osrith the Son of Oselin as appears by the verses inscribed on it recorded by B. Godwin in his Catalogue of the Bishops of Hereford 7. The Church of the East-Angles likewise being deprived of her two Pastours Eadbert Bishop of Dumwich and Hadulac Bishop of Helmham The said Arch-bishop gave for successour to the former Cuthwin called by Hoveden Heordwald and to the other Ethelfrid Concerning whom nothing remains to posterity but their names 8. The next year Alduin Bishop of Lichfeild dying two Bishops were consecrated in his place Witta in Lichfeild and Totta or Torthelm in Leycester In this Citty of Leycester which saith William of Malmsbury is very ancient and situated in the midland countrey of England called Legecestria from the River Leger passing by it Saint Wilfrid as hath been declared after his expulsion out of the Kingdom of the Northumbers made his abode and exercised Iurisdiction there After whose departure the Kingdom of the Mercians had but one Bishop till this year in which for the Vastnes of the Province two Bishops were ordained And Leycester continued an Episcopall See till the time of King Edgar when Leovâ—n Bishop of the Lindesfari or Lincoln united Leycester to his See 9. Moreover in the place of Forthere Bishop of Shirburn Herwald was consecrated The cause whereof was not the death of Farther but as Florentius testifies because be attending Frithogitha Queen of the West-Saxons undertook a Pilgrimage to Rome And it was not fitt that the Church should want a Pastour This is the same Frithogitha Wife to King Ethelard who eight years before this was so munificent a Benefactrice to the Monastery of Canterbury And now the flame of Divine Charity encreasing in her soule she abandoned all her splendid possessions and gave her self entirely to God And in those days at wee read in Mathew of Westminster many Kings and Bishops Noble men and â—gnoble Clergy-men and Secular yea women also did the like VII CHAP. 1.2 c Ceolulf King of the Northumbers becomes a Monk His Muneficence to the Church
all civility respect and kindnes entertain him Thus they did in former ages with S. Athanasius S. Epiphanius S Hierom S. Peter of Alexandria and many others 3 Now when S. Boniface was ready to depart the Pope very liberally bestowed on him many gifts and whatsoever Relicks of Saints he desired He sent likewise by him severall Letters to the Bishops Princes and Abbots of Germany requiring their assistance to S. Boniface in the great charge committed to him of converting soules as likewise their presence to whatsoever Synods he should assemble and their Obedience to his orders and Decrees made according to the Rule prescribed by the See Apostolick which had authorized him to his Apostolick Office and constituted him the supreme Prelat of Germany 4. With these Letters S. Boniface departed from Rome and came to Ticinum or Pavia where he abode some time with Luitprand King of the Lombards Thence he proceeded towards Germany and being arrived near the River Danubius he made some stay there expecting a Synod of Bishops which he by the Popes order had called And from thence he wrote Letters to certain speciall freinds Goppin Eoban Tacwin and Wyx Religious Abbots as likewise to all their Monks and severall Religious Virgins in which he gave them a particular account of this his iourney and the successe of it 5. The year following being invited by Vtilo Duke of the Bavarians he visited his countrey staying there many dayes and preaching the word of God with great fruit There he found many false Christians who wasted the Churches and seduced the people Some of these falsely pretended themselves to be Bishops and others usurped the Office of Pâ—eists Many likewise with fictions and pernicious lyes wrought great mischief among the ignorant A further course of whose malice he found not any meanes more effectually to prevent then by dividing the Province of Bavaria into four Dioceses which with the consent of Duke Vtilo he performed the Government of which he committed to persons of eminent vertue whom he ordained Bishops 6. Of these the first was Iohn whose Episcopall See was placed at Salisburg The second was Erimbert who governed the Church of Frislingen the third was Hunibald who was consecrated Bishop of Ratisbon the Metropolis of Bavaria And Winilus who before had been ordained Bishsp by the Pope of the whole countrey had the Church of Patary assigned to him 7. Having done this he wrote to the Pope giving him an account of all things and desiring his confirmation and ratification for perpetuity Therein imitating his Predecessours For so did Fugatius and Damianus in the Brittish Church so did S Patrick in Ireland and so did S. Augustin among the English-Saxons demand from the See Apostolick a confirmation of their Ordonnances 8. We have still extant the Popes answer hereto containing an approbation of what he had done Likewise an iniunction to asâ—semble a Synod of all Germany and in his place to preside over it And because the necessities of those Churches would not allow him repose in any one place he renewed his Apostolick Authority to erect Bishopricks wheresoever he should iudge expedient IX CHAP. 1. Cuthred succeeds King Ethelard in the Kingdom of the West-Saxons 2. Nothelm Arch-bishop of Canterbury dying Cuthbert succeeds 3.4 The Death of the Holy Bishop Saint Acca 5 6. c. The Martyrdom of Saint Iuthwara a Brittish Virgin of her Sister S Sidwella 10.11 c. The Gests of the Holy Virgin S. Fridâ—svida 17.18 Death of S Ethelburga Abbesse formerly Queen of the West-Saxons 19 The Death of Saint Arnulf a Hermite 1. IN the year of our Lords Incarnation seaven hundred and forty Cuthred began his raign over the West-Saxons whose Predecessour Ethelard by some called his Brother by others his kinsman dyed the year before This King saith Huntingdon was much afflicted by the proud King of the Mercians Ethelbald who sometimes made open war against him and sometimes raised sedition in his countrey In all which Fortune shewed her self very various between them sometimes the one and some times the other gaining advantage And now and then being weary they would make peace which seldom lasted any considerable time the one or the other presently renewing the warr 2. The same year there was exalted to the Archiepiscopall See of Canterbury being vacant by the death of Nothelm Cuthbert who four years before had been consecrated Bishop of Hereford He was descended from an illustrious Saxon family and as Nobly he administred his Office He was no sooner established in his Seat but Aldulf Bishop of Rochester dying he consecrated his Successour in that See a Preist called Dun. 3. At this time the Holy Bishop Acca formerly a great freind to S. Beda and encouâ—ager in his studies and Writing ended his â—ite of whom mention hath been severall times made before A breif relation of his Gests we will here adioyn from Miraeus who recites his name among the Saints on the last day of November though in our Martyrologe his commemoration be on the nineteenth of February Concerning him Miraeus thus writes Acca a Bishop is named the third among the Apostolick Preists which under the conâ—uct of S. Willebrord departed out of England and arrived at Vtrecht in the year of our Lord six hundred and ninety to procure the consecrat on of S. Swibert he was there detained and not long after ordained Bishop of Hagustald not Lindesfarn as Miraeus mistaking writes 4. How Saint-like his life was Almighty God shewd by many miracles after his death as Hoveden testifies saying The same year Acca Bishop of Venerable memory was received into the happy region of the living after he had administred the Church of Hagustald twenty four years His body was buried with great honour in the Eastern part of that Church And above three hundred years after his death by occasion of a Revelation made to a certain Preâ—st his Sacred Relicks were translated and putt into a shrine Where to this day he is held in great veneration And for a demonstration of his Sanctity his â—hasuble Albe and Maniple which had been buried with his Sacred Body to this day doe not only preserve their colour but primitive firmnes likewise 5. In our Martyrologe on the three and twentieth of December this year is commemorated the Martyrdom of a devout Brittish Virgin called Iuthwara The Circumstances of her death and Martyrdom and a breif abridgment of her life we find in Capgrave The Holy Virgin S. Iuthwara saith the Authour there was born of Noble parents and from her childhood being prevented by a plentifull Grace of Gods holy Spiriâ— she was diligent to serve our Lord in all good works She living in her Fathers house after the death of her Mother with all innocence became amiable to all and made a progresse in vertues as she did in years Whensoever any Pilgrims came to her Fathers house as frequently they did she with great
this 〈◊〉 gave to the people the parings of his nayles and the hayr which fell from his head bidding tâ—em tâ— mingle those with the Relicks of S. Peter Yea hâ—â— presumption came to that point that whâ—â— any came and prostrated themselves at hâ—â— feet desirous to confesse their sins hâ— would tell â—hem I know all your sins already your very thoughts are not hid from mee therefore there is no need to confesse theâ— Goe home in peace have no doubt at all but your sins are pardond These and many other like marks of Pride and Hippocrisy did Adelbert shew in his habit gate gesture and behaviour 8. As for the other Heretick called Clement his Heresies did more openly destroy the common Faith of the Church He rejected all the Sacred Canons all the Writings of the Holy Fathers and all authority of Councills He would maintain that he might lawfully be a Catholick Bishop though he had two children born in adultery Yea he introduced Iudaism affirming that a Christian might without sin if he pleased mary his own Brothers Widow Moreover in opposition to the constans Doctrine of the Fathers he taught that Christ the son of God when he descended into Hell delivered out of that Infernall prison all without exception beleivers and infidells And many Heresies more he published touching Divine Predestination contrary to Catholick Faith 9. These things being made known to the Synod at Rome The Fathers unanimously deprived Adelbert of his Sacerdotall function condemning him to Pennance and in case he should afterward seduce any they pronounced Anathema against him and all that should adhere to him or his doctrines In like manner they deposed Clement and actually excommunicated him and whosoever should consent to his sacrilegious Opinions 10. Our late Zealous Reformers of Scotland may here discover with gratulation their prime Patriark who desirous to be an Apostle of a New pureâ—-Religion made the foundation of it to be a contempt of the Doctrines of Ancient Fathers and Sacred Canons of the Church And in the like unhappy attempt he will shoâ—tly be imitated by another Preist of the same Nation called Sampson who in despight of Sacred Tradition and the Vniversall practise of the Church denyed the necessity of Baptism asserting that by the simple Imposition of hands by a Bishop without Baptism one might be made a good Catholick Christian. 11. An account of all these Proceedings Pope Zacharias gave S. Boniface in a Letter requiring him to publish through Germany France the condemnation of these Hereticks He signifyed moreover that he confirmed all things which had passed in the Synod of Mentz ratifying the erection of that See to a Metropolitan dignity though he knew that many Schismaticall Preists in France did earnestly oppose themselves against it And whereas a request had been made to him from France that the Citty formerly called Agrippina but then Colonia might be erected to be a Metropolitan Church he signified his â—ssent but so that it should be subordinate to hâ—s See of Mentz He also intimated to him that in case a certain Seducer named Geoleob who formerly had usurped the name authority of a Bishop should present himself to him at Rome without his approbation he would treat him as he deserved And he enioynd likewise S. Boniface not to admitt any Bishops or Metropolitans confirmed by him at Rome except they brought Commendatory Letters from him XVII CHAP. 1.2 c. A Letter of Saint Boniface and the Synod of English Bishops at Mentz to the Mercian King Ethelbald reproving him for his incestuous lusts and Sacriledge 7. c. Another Letter of the same to Egbert Arch-bishop of York 1. NEither did S. Boniface's Christian Charity and Pastorall solicitude confine it self to Germany alone But he thought it his duty to give his best assistance to his Native countrey Brittany almost over-whelmd with a Sea of vices There King Ethelbald the most potent among the English-Saxon Princes had in a high manner offended God in a sacrilegious invasion of the rights and revenews of Churches within his Dominions of Mercia in offring violence to the chastity of Religious Virgins consecrated to God and many other crimes and there was a iust fear least such enormities in a King should become exemplary to his subjects and draw many to imitate them Therefore S. Boniface and his companions in this Synod of Mentz who were all Bishops of English race thought expedient to admonish the sayd King Ethelbald of his Duty as a Christian Prince by a Letter directed to him in the name of â—he whole Synod Which was likewise done by them 2. This Letter is still extant In which with a modest yet vigorous stile becoming an Apostolick Spirit they signifyed to hâ—m that publick fame having informed them that he had all his life abstaind from Mariage which if he had done out of the Love and fear of God and for chastities sake they should have much reioyced in it But they were told that he refused to take a lawfull wife and polluted himself in adulteries and unlawfull lusts not abstaining even from devout Virgins the Spouses of our Lord a sin so horrible that it is by God esteemed equall to Heathenish Idolatry Yea the ancient Pagan Saxons did so abhorr adultery that if any woman though unmaried were found guilty of it they would coÌ„pell her with her own hands to hang her self after her death they would consume body with fire and hang him who had corrupted her over her smoking ashes Or else they would cause a multitude of women to drive her out of their town with whips cutting all her garment away to her wast and lancing her body with knives and thus she would be entertaind by the women of the next village who would use the like rigour towards her till they dispatched her of her Life Now if Heathens have such a zeale for Matrimoniall Chastâ—ty how iealous will our Lord be of his Spouses contracted to him by Vow and how infinitly more heavy will the punishment be which he will inflict on their Sacrilegious corrupters 3. They adiured him moreover to consider that Gods fury will more feircely be inflamed against Kings who are guilty of unlawfull lusts because probably their subjects will imitate them by which means the whole Nation like Sodom will become polluted and thereby leave a posterity effeminated by lusts despised both by God and men and regardles even of their Faith An example whereof might be seen in the Nations in Spain Province and Burgundy which giving themselves to filthy luxury were forsaken by God who justly suffred the Saracens to come upon them and overcome them so that now they have lost all knowledge of God and their Holy Faith 4. Hereto they added another great Crime which publick fame made him guilty of which was breaking the Priviledges of Churches and Monasteries and invading their revenews â—n which abominable sin he was followed by his Nobles who sett
forsake your tender flock least when you are gone the wolves seise upon it The Blessed man answered him My son doe not you desire to detain mee from the sight of my Saviour These my sheep he gave mee and to him I commend them of whose goodnes the whole earth is full Thus piously affected and always intent upon God was this Blessed servant of his to the hower of his death which befell on the sixth day before the Ides of November To his funeralls all the people on all sides made hast and with hymnes and praises to God caried the Sacred Body of their most dear Father and Teacher to the Church of Bremen which himself had built and dedicated to the Apostle Saint Peter He sate in the same See onely two years three months and twenty six dayes having been a laborious Preacher since the death of S. Boniface the space of thirty five years V. CHAP. 1.2 c. A falsely supposed Book against Images said to be sent from Charles the Great to King Offa Alcuin's iudgment touching Images 7.8 c. It was upon misinformation that the Councill of Francfort censured the Eastern Church in that Point 1. THE year of Grace seaven hundred ninety two is much celebrated by modern Protestant Writers because as they suppose it affords them a great advantage to question yea condemne the Roman-Catholick Faith touching Images and the Veneration due to them Sir Henry Spelman thus breifly gives an account of the busines That year saith he Charles the Great King of the French sent into Brittany to Offa King of the Mercians a Book of the second Councill of Nicéa in which a Decree is made that Images are to be adored But the English reiect this 2. To iustify this Device he first produces a Letter pretended to be written by King Charles to Offa thereto annexing a passage out of the Authour by whom the said Letter is recorded to witt the Compiler of the Life of this King Offa the second lately published under the Name of Mathew Paris As touching the Letter there is nothing in it relating to the Controversy about Images But thereto the said Authour adioyns That among others marks of extraordinary freindship between the two Kings Charles who as he was the most powerfull so also the most meck and kind of the Eastern Kings sent to Offa the greatest and most pious of the Western Kings certain Epistles and together with them Synodall Statutes as it were certain rudiments of Catholick Faith for informing the minds of the English Prelats whom he beleived to be rude unlearned and irregular These things he sent to King Offa for perpetuating the freindship begun happily between them And this present Offa received with ioy as a blessing sent him from heaven 3. This foundation being thus layd though as yet not a word touching Images be found yet Sir Henry Spelman to prove that at this time the English-Saxons as to the Point of Images were Protestants that is Iconomachi will needs collect from hence that the Synodall Statuts here mentioned as sent to inform the unlearned disorderly Prelats in Brittany was the same Book of which Hoveden thus writes The same year Charles King of the French sent a Synodall Book into Brittany which had been directed to him from Constantinople In which Book alas were found many things disagreeing yea directly contrary to true Faith and principally one Point confirmed by the unanimous consent of almost all the Eastern Doctours and not so few as three hundred Bishops That Images ought to be adored which is an assertion which the Church of God doeth altogether abominate And against this Point Albin or Alcuin wrote an Epistle admirably established upon the Divine authority of Scriptures which together with the forementioned Book he himself caried to the King of the French in the name of our Bishops and Princes 4. Harpsfeild taking Notice of the like passages as he iudges frudulently interposed in the writings of some of our ancient Authours esteems the whole Narration to be a foolish unsavoury fable not worth the trouble of confuting And indeed Sir H. Spelman himself after he had produced these things foreseeing that it would be a difficult taxe to iustify these allegations is content to represse himself and onely in geâ—nerall to affirm that hitherto he could find no ground to iudge that as yet the English Church had admitted the adoration of Images Thus writes he and yet in the same Book he before had with great earnestnes endeavoured to iustify a pretended Synod of London assembled almost fourscore years before this time in which a Decree is made by the English-Saxon Clergy and Nobility for admitting the adoration that is veneration of Images as we have already shewed 5. And as touching the pretended Epistle in confutation of the said Doctrine written by Alcuin and by him caried into France besides that it neither appears in the volume or his Epistles published by himself nor in any other Authour Let the indifferent Reader iudge how unsavoury a fable the imputing of this to Alcuin is when he shall read what Alcuin himself writes concerning this Point 6. In his Book of Divine Offices treating of the Ceremonies appointed by the Church to be observed on Good Friday he writes thus Towards evening in all Churches of Preists Bishops and Monasteries a Crosse is prepared before the Altar which is sustained on both sides by two Acolytes and a cushion layd before it Then comes the Bishop alone and having adored the Crosse kisses it The same also is done by the Preists Deacons and other Clarks and lastly by the people The Bishop sitts in his Seat whilest all salute the Crosse. The two first Preists having saluted the Crrsse enter into the Sacristie c. Moreover the same Alcuin not content with this further teaches why and how this Ceremony is to be performed When we adore the Crosse saith he let our whole body lye prostrate on the ground and with our mind let us look upon him whom we adore as hanging on the same Crosse and we adore the vertue it self which it received from the son of God In body we are prostrated before the Crosse in mind before our Lord. We venerate the Crosse by which we are redeemed and we pray to him who redeemed us Yea further for exploring Alcuins mind touching this matter these following words of his are remarkeable Those who cannot have any part of the very wood of our Lords Crosse doe without any prejudice to Faith adore that Crosse or Image of it which they have Such a Protestant Iconoclast was Alcuin thus does he confute by the Divine authority of Scripture the veneration of Images asserted by the Council of Nicéa 7. Notwithstanding what ever becomes of this Story touching King Charles his Synâ—â—dall Book sent into Brittany which is no other but his Capitulare containing a great number of Ecclesiasticall Ordonnances or of Alcuins
before this reduced the Monks of Hy in Scotland to conform themselves to the Catholick observation of the Paschall Soâ—lemnity 6. This Blessed Saint whom S. Beda calls a Venerable and not without honour to be named servant of Christ and Preist Egbert being ninety years old departed this world to a heavenly kingdom And for a proof that this his zeale whereby he united that Schismaticall Church to the Vniversall Church was acceptable to God the same Authour observes that as he had much laboured in establishing the true celebration of Faster he received his eternall recompence on the same Feast For thus he writes 7. The man of God Egbert remained thirteen years in the said Island of Hy which he by a new extraordinary illustration of Divine Grace of Ecclesiasticall Communion and peace had consecrated to our Lord. In the year therefore of our Lords Incarnation seaven hundred twenty nine in which the Paschall Solemnity was celebrated on the eighth day before the Calends of May when he had solemnly celebrated Masse in memory of our Lords Resurrection the very same day he himself likewise departed to our Lord and having begun the ioy of so great a Festivity with his Brethren on earth whom he had converted to the Grace of Ecclesiasticall Vnity he finished it with our Lord and his Apostles together with all the glorified Saints in heaven or rather he still celebrates it to all eternity Indeed the Divine dispensation was wonderfull that not only this Venerable man should passe to our Lord on this Feast of Easter but in such a day on which it had never before been celebrated in that place His Religious Brethren therefore reioyced for the certainly true Catholick knowledge of the Paschall time which they had learnt of him and they reioyced in the assured protection of their holy Father by whom they were taught and corrected And he himself likewise congratulates that he was continued alive in the flesh till he might enioy the happines to see his Brethren and Disciples admitt and together with him celebrate Easter on that day which in former times they had always avoyded Thus the most reverend Father being assured of their correction reioyced to see the day of our Lord he sâ— it and was glad He dyed therefore thus happily and both in the Roman and other Martyrologes his name is anniversarily recited among the Saints on the four and twentieth day of Aprill 8. To conclude the same year King Osric having raigned eleaven years over the Northumbers and appointed for his heyr in the kingdom Ceoluâ—f Brother to King Kenred dyed or as Ethelwerd writes was slain He was in nothing happy so much as leaving behind him so worthy a Successour for Ceolulf both for piety and learning was comparable with the best Princes and after he had happily governed his kingdom many years voluntarily quitted it to aspire to an immortall Crown 9. Concerning the beginning of his Raign William of Malmsbury writes in this manner Ceolulf saith he the eighth King from Ida ascended the trembling throne of the Northumbers this year A man he was of ability sufficient for any employment and besides that endued with learning in great perfection which with assiduous study and a sharp witt he attained to S. Beda will be my surety for this for presently after this in a time when Brittany most abounded with learned men he made choice of this Prince to whom he dedicated his History of English affaires as being a person who by his authority could add strength to whatsoever was well written therein and by his knowledge and skill could correct if any thing was written amisse Concerning him more shall be said hereafter XXI CHAP. 1.2 Death of the Venerable Abbot Cymbert 3.4 Death of Saint Brithwald Arch-bishop of Canterbury to whom succeeds Tatwin 1. IN the year of our Lords Incarnation seaven hundred and thirty according to our English Martyrologe dyed the holy Abbot Cymbert stiled there Bishop and Confessour and supposed by some to have had his See in the Isle of Wight But none of our Ancient Monuments doe signify that that Island was ever made the Seat of a Bishop for generally it hath been assigned to the See of Winchester neither is the name of Cymbert recorded among Bishops except only by Saint Beda who thereby understands the same person who by other Writers is called Kinebert and was Bishop of the Mercians and had his Seat at Lindesfare now called Lincoln Which Kinebert is at this time alive as S. Beda testifies in the conclusion of his History which ends the year following 2. This therefore may seem to have been the ground of the mistake of those who compiled our Martyrologe The Cymbert therefore commemorated there as dying this year is the same Holy Abbot of Redford in Hampshire who as hath been declared obtaind permission to instruct in the Christian Faith and baptize two young Princes Brethren oâ— Arwald King of the Isle of Wight before they were to be putt to death by the command of King Cedwalla who had subdued the said Island The Memory of this holy Abbot is celebrated among the Saints on the one and twentieth of February 3. The same year also dyed Saint Brithwald Arch-bishop of Canterbury successour to Saint Theodore after he had administred that See the space of almost thirty eight years saith Huntingdon Wee have before declared how he being Nephew to Ethelred King of the Mercians was the first of the Saxon race who was Abbot of Glastonbury which dignity in love to solitude he relinquished and retireâ— himself to a secret place called Reculver From whence he was even by force drawn to sitt in the Archiepiscopall See of Canterbury which he adorned with many actions of Pastorall zeale and piety assembling Synods and regulating disorders in severall Provinces of this Island And at last full of years and merits was this year translated to heaven He is commemorated in our Martyrologe on the ninth of Ianuary 4. In his place the year following was elected and consecrated Arch-bishop the Venerable Abbot Tatwin saith S. Beda a Preist and Abbot of a Monastery called Bruidun or Brenton He was consecrated in the Citty of Canterbury by the Venerable Bishops Daniel of Winchester Inguald of London Aldwin of Lichfeild and Aldwof of Rochester on the tenth of Iune in the year of our Lords Incarnation seaven hundred thirty one He was a man illustrious for his piety and prudence and eminently learned in Sacred Scriptures Of him more hereafter XXII CHAP. 1.2 c. The State of Brittany at this time in which Saint Beda ended his History 1. SINCE it was in this year of Grace seaven hundred thirty one that Saint Beda concluded his History and as some Authours affirm his Life also wee will here as he has done give a breif prospect in generall of the state of Brittany at this time as well touching the Church as State In the next
place to manifest the sincere veracity of so learned and pious an Authour wee will from his penn declare upon how well grounded an authority he built the whole frame of his History as likewise what diligent search he made for true information in all things as well such as hapned in former ages as during his own age in the other regions and kingdoms of Brittany and forrain countreyes And lastly wee will conclude with a particular Narration of Saint Beda's own life and happy death 2. As touching the first thus he writes At this present time to witt in the year of Grace seaven hundred thirty one the Bishops governing the severall Episcopall Sees of Brittany are these following The Province of Kent is administred by Tatwine Arch-bishop oâ— Canterbury and Aldulf Bishop of Rochester That of the East-Saxons by Inguald Bishop of London The East Angles by Eadbert or Aldbert Bishop of Dumwich and Hadulac Bishop of Helmham The Province of the West-Saxons by Daniel Bishop of Winchester and Forthere Bishop of Shirborn In the kingdom of the Mercians Alduin is Bishop of Lichfeild Walstod Bishop of Hereford and the region beyond the Severn Wilfrid Bishop of Worcester and Cymbert or Kinebert Bishop of the Lindisfari or Lincoln as for the Isle of Wight it was annexed to the See of Winchester The Province of the South-Saxons of late has been vacant and therefore has recourse to the Bishop of the West-Saxons that is Winchester for such necessities as require Episcopall Ministery And all these together with other Southern Provinces though governed immediatly by particular Kings yet both they and their Kings also from the South Sea as far as the Humber Northwards are subject to Edilbald King of the Mercians Lastly the large Province of the Northumbers of which Ceolulf is now King is administred by four Bishops the Church of York by Wilfrid the younger that of Lindeâ—â—arn by Edilwald Hagustald or Hexham by Acca and Candida Casa or Witehern by Pectheâ—m This last Episcopall See has been lately erected by reason that the number of Christians there has been greatly multiplied and Pecthelm was consecrated the first Bishop thereof Thus are the severall Episcopall Churches of Brittany administred 3. As touching the severall Nations inhabiting it that of the Picts is ioynd in league with the English and to their great ioy with the Vniversall Church in the Orthodox Faith Communion and peace The Scotts inhabiting the Northern parts of Brittany are quiet and make no attempts or fraudulent designs against the English The Brittains although for the most part out of a Nationall hatred they have an iâ—â—econcileable aversion from the English and likewise doe erroneously and impiously oppose the Catholick Church in the Paschall Observance yet in neither of these regards can they attain their purpose and prevaile both divine and human power resisting their designs For though a great part of that Nation be independent on any other yet in some places they are subject to the Empire of the English And again the times at present being peaceable very many of them in the Northern parts called Cumbers both Nobles and of inferiour condition doe more frequently receive the Monasticall Tonsure in English Monasteries and consecrate their children to the same Profession then exercise themselves in arms and warlike exploits And what good issue may come from hence the succeeding age will see 4. Such at present is the state of all Brittany in this year which is the two hundred eighty fifth since the coming of the English into this Island and the seaven hundred and one and thirtieth after our Lords Incarnation I will conclude with this prayer That the earth may all ways reioyce in the kingdom of our God and many Islands with ioy confesse to the memory of his Holines the constancy of Brittany in his Faith Thus does S. Beda conclude his History XXIII CHAP. i 2. c. The names and qualities of such persons from whom S. Beda received information in his History 1. IN the next place for a proof of his veracity in his History wee will produce his Epistle to the illustrious and learned King Ceolulf then raigning over the Northumbers to whom S. Beda presented the same desiring not so much his protection as iudgment and censure of it In which Epistle to the end he might approve his care and diligence to inform himself in the truth he produces the names and characters of the principall persons from whom he received information and assistance persons of such abilities piety and esteem that no man can reasonably suspect in them either want of knowledge or of sincerity Thus therefore he writes 2. The principall Authour and assistant in this work saith he was Albinus the most reverend Abbot of Canterbury a man of eminent learning in all kinds of litterature having been educated therein by those two most venerable and learned men Theodore Arch-bishop of the said Church of happy memory and Hadrian Abbot This worthy Abbot Albinus was pleased to communicate to mee partly in writing and partly by the Religious Preist of the Church of London Nothelm whom he sent to acquaint mee with all particular occurrents worthy memory which had after diligent enquiry come to his knowledge either in the Province of Kent or adiacent Regions concerning the Gests of the Disciples of the Blessed Pope S. Gregory or whatsoever he could find in ancient Record or receive from the Tradition of Ancestours The said Nothelm likewise afterward going to Rome by permission of Pope Gregory searching the Archives of that Church found and copied out certain Letters both of the said Pope and some of his Predecessours touching the affaires of Brittany which at his return by the advice of the most Reverend Abbot Albin he brought to mee to be inserted in this History 3. In the which those things which are related from the beginning thereof to the times in which the English Nation receiued the Christian Faith wee collected principally out of such Writings as we could here and there meet with Then from that time to the present age all the Gests performed in the Province of Kent by the Disciples of S. Gregory and their Successours and under what Kings they were performed all these came to my knowledge by the industry of the foresaid Abbot Albin and the relation of Nothelm sent by him The same persons likewise informed mee in severall things touching the Conversion of the West and East-Saxons the East-Angles and Northumbers by the preaching of what Bishops and in the raign of what Kings those Provinces received the Christian Faith In a word it was principally by the advice and perswasion of the same Albinus that I had the courage to sett upon this work 4. Besides these the most Reverend Bishop of the West Saxons Daniel who is yet alive gave mee an account in writing of many things regarding the Ecclesiasticall History of that Province and that of the South-Saxons confining