to us Be diligent in learning for I know not how long I may last nor whether my Creatour will very shortly take mee from you Such speeches made us beleive that he foresaw when he should dye The night following he passed without any sleep at all and spent it wholly in praying and praysing God The morning following very early he bid us to be very attentive and diligent to make an end of writing the Lesson we had begun So that we continued in receiving his Dictats till nine of the clock After which hower we went in solemâ—e Procession with Relicks of the Saints as the Office of that day required One of us his Disciples in the mean time stayd with him and told him saying There remains still one Chapter of the Treatise which you did dictate to us But I fear it will be too great trouble for you to speak No said he Take your pen presently and Write and he did accordingly 7. About three of the Clock after noon he called mee to him and said I have in a little boxe some precious things there is Pepper incense and Oraria which some interpret Handkercheifs others Stoles and some likewise Chaplets for numbring of Prayers which say they therefore from him took the name of Beades Run presently and fetch them and desire the Preists of our Monastery to come hither that I may distribute among them some such small Gifs as God bestowd on mee This I performed with much trembling And when the Preists were come he earnestly requested every one of them not to faile to pray and say Masses diligently for him Which they also heartily promised him But they burst out into bitter weeping when he told them he beleived they should never see his face again in this world But again it was a ioy to them when he said It is now time if such be the pleasure of God my Creatour that I should be delivered out of this flesh and goe to him who when I was not framd mee of nothing I have lived a long time and my mercifull Iudge has well ordered my life The time of my freedom is at hand for my soule desires to see Christ my King in his glory In such like speeches to our great comfort and edification he spent ioyfully that which was his last day till even 8. The foresaid young Disciple of his whose name was Wilberck sayd once again to him Dear Master There remains yet one sentence unwritten But he answerd Well well all is finished Thou hast said right Come and turn my head for I much desire to sitt and look to my Oratoâ—y and pray to my heavenly Father Thus being layd upon a hayr-cloath spread on the floor as he was singing these words Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost c. he happily breathed forth his soule And we may assuredly beleive that considering his laborious constancy in praising God his soule was by Angells caried to eternall ioyes 9. Now all which heard his speeches and were witnesses of the manner of the death of this our good Father Beda doe professe that they never saw any one end his life with so great tranquillity of mind and devotion For as you have heard as long as his soule continued in his body he never ceased to praise God and with arms stretchd forth to give thanks to him Now you must know that besides what I have written there remain many other particulars which for want of skill in expressing I am forced to omitt Yet I have a purpose through Gods help to relate more amply severall other things which I saw and heard from him This account did this Disciple give of his holy Masters death After which as we read in the Authour of his Life in Capgrave there followd in the room where he dyed a sweet fragrancy so wonderfully odoriferous that all the persons present thought themselves in Paradise for no Perfumes or precious balsam came near the sweetnes of it 10. And hereto William of Malmsbury adds which was omitted by the said Disciple That the whole congregation of the Monks being assembled he received Extreme-Vnction and communicated the Body of our Lord for his Viaticum to strengthen him in his last combat against his spirituall enemies and moreover that having kissed them every one he earnestly desired to be remembred in their Prayers c. 11. He dyed on the seaventh day before the Calends of Iune which was the twenty sixth of May But because that day was also the Feast of our great Apostle S. Augustin therefore the Church thought fitt to commemorate S. Beda the day following and so we find both in the Roman and English Martyrologes He was buried in his own Monastery in which from his infancy he had lived about threescore years But the fame of his Sanctity afterward encreasing his Bones together with the Sacred Body of Saint Cuthbert Bishop of Lindesfarn were translated to Durham and there reposed together 12. Assoon as his Death was known abroad severall Letters came from forrain countreys to desire some of his Treatises and Books Two Epistles there are still extant from S. Boniface and from S. Lullus Successour to him and to S. Willebrord to the same purpose And particularly S. Lullus writing to Cuthbert who had been his Disciple three and forty years and was afterward Abbot of the same Monastery tells him that he had sent a Vesture all of silk to enwrap the Relicks of his beloved Master To which the Answers of the same Cuthbert also are still extant 13. I doe not know by what warrant from Ancient Monuments the devout Writer by some stiled the Chancellour of the Blessed Virgin B. Alanus de Rupe affirms that Saint Beda was the first who began in England the Exercise of particular Devotions and reciting of Chaplets to the honour of that glorious Queen of Virgins for so weer find the Oraria distributed by S. Beda to his Brethren interpreted And that from Brittany such Devotion was propagated into France and other forrain countreys 14. I will conclude this Narration with the large Testimonies given to S. Beda's learning and Piety even by Enemies to that Religion which he taught Thus then writes Camden of him Beda among all our Writers is a lover of Truth And again Our Beda the singular glory of England for his piety and erudition gott the Title Venerabilis He gave up himself as he testifies to the Meditation of Holy Scriptures and wrote a very great number of Volumes in an age turmoyld with huge waves of barbarism Thus likewise Whitaker Beda did excell in many vertues and singular learning To the same purpose Foxe Beda was a man worthy of eternall memory the whole Western Church of that age gave him the palm and preeminence for learning and understanding of Scripture Very many more like testimonies may be added but I will content my self with that of the carnall Apostat Bale
give his iudgment on the matter made a most holy and religious Decree For he commanded that the Episcopall house should be given to those to whom the Christians of Italy and Bishops of the Citty of Rome should by their letters assign it And thus at last Paulus to his great shame and infamy was by the authority of the Secular supreme Power entirely expelled from his Church THE SIXTH BOOK OF THE CHVRCH-HISTORY OF BRITTANY I. CHAP. 1.2 Constantius his first Expedition into Brittany 3. He was then only a Roman Senatour 4. He is received peaceably by the Brittains 5.6 c. He associates himself with Coëlus a Brittish Prince and marries his daughter Helena 1. THERE are mention'd in Story two Voyages of Constantius Chlorus into Brittany The first was now in the year of Grace two hundred seaventy four and the fourth of Aurelianus his raign presently after Tetricus had submitted to him in Spain The other was almost twenty years after when Carausius in Brittany took on him the Title of Emperour against whom he was sent Now for want of distinguishing these two Voyages great confusion has been brought into the History of Constantius and his Son Constantin by Grecian Writers as shall hereafter appear 2. Concerning this first Expedition Baronius in a discourse proving his son Constantin to have been born in Brittany thus writes This hapned in the time of the Emperour Aurelianus by whom Constantius illisstrious for the fresh memory of the Emperour Claudius to whom he was allyed was sent with an Army into Brittany to the end he might contain that Nation frequently accustomed to tumults in their duty and fidelity to the Emperour 3. Suitably hereto we read in the life of S. Helena That the Romans taking into consideration the dammage they had receiv'd by the losse of the Kingdom of Brittany which always adhered to the interests of such Tyrants in Gaule as had usurped the Title of Emperours such were Posihumius Tetricus c sent thither the Senatour Constantius with authority who had lately subdued Spain unto them a man wise courageous and beyond any other zealous to enlarge the Majesty of the Empire Constantius therfore at his first arrivall into Brittany was not Emperour nor so much as Caesar that is deputed to succeed in the Empire but simply a Patritian and Senatour This not being observ'd by certain Authours has occasion'd great obscurity in history and given advantage to some Greekish Writers to entitle other Provinces to the Birth of Constantin 4. Constantius being arriv'd in Brittany was beyond expectation with all quietnes and submission receiv'd as the Emperours Lieutenant both by the Brittains and Romans That which may be supposed to have been the principall cause of such compliance in the Brittains was the Religion profess'd by them which taught them as to yeild Faith and worship to Christ so also their duty and obedience to Caesar that is to Aurelianus universally acknowledged the only lawfull Emperour The Romans likewise in Brittany being but few and withall having among them no Generall Officer For Tetricus whom they formerly obeyd had newly deposed himselfe they had but small encouragement to resist a Generall so famous as Constantius guarded by an Army lately victorious 5. To such a quiet reception of him the many vertuous qualities of Constantius no doubt much contributed The which we find celebrated by Eumenius a Rhetorician of these times in a Panegyricall oration pronounced to his son Constantin By considering the passages wherof we may be better directed to a view of the state of these times then by almost any succeeding Historians The clause therin referring to our present subiect is this What shall I speak sayes he concerning your Fathers recovery of Brittany The sea was so calme when he passd it as if being astonish'd at the burden it caried it had lost all its motions And when he aborded the Island victory did rather expect him there then accompany him thither What shall I say of his clemency and mercy by which he forbore to insult over those whom he had conquered What of his iustice by which he restored all dammages to those which had been pillaged What of his Providence by which having strengthned him self with associations he so behaved himself in the exercise of his iurisdiction that those who had formerly been treated as slaves were made happy by a liberty restored to them and those who had been guilty of crimes were by forbearing of punishment moved to repentance 6. Now wheras the Oratour here mentions associations made by Constantius with the Brittains it is most probable that he reflected on the freindship and affinity contracted by him wich such Princes as were then of power in the Island among which the most eminent was Coellus Prince of the Trinobantes and Iceni of whom we spoke before To him therfore did he in a particular manner apply himselfe and not only induced him to submit to Aurelianus and renew his former tribute but moreover to make the league more inviolable and to endear the minds and affections of the Brittains to himself he demanded affinity of that Prince and espoused his only daughter S. Helena then a Virgin All this is confirmed by an ancient Poet whose verses the learned Bishop Vsher cites from Ioannes de Garlandia 7. The same likewise is recorded in the life of S. Helena extant in Cap-grave to this effect Moreover Coël King of the Brittans and Father of Helena assoon as he was informed of Constantius his arrivall fearing to make war with a person so famous for many noble victories he directed Embassadours to him to demand peace and to promise subiection upon those terms that he should still enioy the possession of his Principality paying the accustomed tribut To these conditions Constantius agreed and having demanded hostages confirmed a peace With him Not long after a greivous sicknes seised on Coël of which in a short time he dyed After whose death Constantius having maried the beautifull Princesse Helena took possession of his Principality 8. To this effect doe our ancient Records relate Constantius his first expedition into Brittany and the consequences of it And hereto doe subscribe the most learned Historians of the Western Church in opposition to the fables grounded on manifest mistakes which some Writers of the Greek Church have publish'd which shall shortly be examined and refuted II. CHAP. 1.2 The Birth of Constantin in Brittany 3.4 5. A Controuersy about the place of his birth 1. THE year after the happy mariage between Constantius then only a Roman Senatour and Helena in Brittany was born Constantin afterward worthily sirnamed the Great not only for his Victories over severall Tyrants and reducing the Roman Empire to a peaceable and flourishing state but principally for destroying the Empire of Sathan and advancing the Kingdom af God over Idolatry and all kinds of impious superstitions At this time there sate in the Chair of
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
Eleutherius his Answer 6. Other particulars of the said Answer 1. COncerning the message sent by King Lucius to Pope Eleutherius thus writes Bishop Vsher I doe not find among our more ancient Writers what was the principall Motive inducing King Lucius to procure and send for from Rome Doctours and Teachers of the Christian Faith Onely in a Book belonging to the Monastery of Abingdon I read That the sayd King having heard the fame of the Sanctity of Preachers at that time living in that Citty sent his Messengers with publick Letters in great expedition most devoutly and earnestly beseeching the Venerable Pope Eleutherius that by his order and will he might be made a Christian. Now no man can be ignorant of the strict alliance and frequent commerce which in those times interven'd between the Brittains living within the Province subject to the Romans and that Imperiall Citty So that here there is no necessity that we should recurr to the Primacy of the Roman Bishop 2. Notwithstanding although this last clause was added on purpose to make the readers beleive that this Kingdom had no dependance at all on Rome in Ecclesiasticall affaires contrary to the foremention'd assertion of Pope Innocent the First and the Traditionary practise of so many ages we see the testimonies of S. Irenaeus and Tertullian doe evince the contrary which likewise is more evidently demonstrated in the pursuit of this History 3. Now as touching the particular Instruction given by King Lucius to his Messengers the Protestant Authour of the Brittish Antiquities thus declares King Lucius saith he resolued to be inaugurated and solemnly initiated in the Christian Faith by Eleutherius the then Roman Bishop For which purpose be dispatched with Letters and commands unto him two illustrious and eloquent men Elvanus of Glastonbury or Auallonia and Medwinus of the Province of the Belgae By whom he requested the Roman Bishop that he would please to direct his Messengers and Legats with order to baptise him being already imbued with Christian Doctrine He moreover desired that they might bring with them the Roman Laws according to which he might order and establish both the Ecclesiasticall and Civill state in his Kingdom But the pious Bishop Eleutherius being much more zealous to propagate the Divine doctrin then to illustrate his own fame signified to him his inexpressibile ioy for gaining of so great a King to the obedience of Christ but for the civill ordering of his Kingdome that his interessing himselfe therin was to no purpose Those Lawes were not necessary for the constitution of a Christian Commonwealth and that in them many things were establish'd which ought not to be observed by thâ—se who professe the Christian Faith c. 4. S. Beda having mention'd these requests of King Lucius to Pope Eleutherius add's presently that he obtained the effect of his pious Petition that is for as much as concern'd his further instruction and initiation in Christian Religion c. This will appear by the Answer said to be sent by the said Pope in Writing to this day preserved by our Historian Mathew of Westminster the Tenour wherof is as follweth 5. Your request to us is that we would transmit to you a Copy of the Roman and Imperiall Laws which it seems you desire to make use of in your kingdom of Brittany But you must be informed that the Roman Lawes and such as are enacted by the Emperour are not of such obligation but they may any time be rejected which the Law of God in no case must be Now by the Divine mercy you have of late submitted your selfe in your Kingdom of Brittany to the Law and Faith of Christ so that you have already with you both the Old and New Testament Out of them therfore by Gods inspiration and with the common counsell of your Kingdom collect and frame a Law and by it through the Divine assistance govern your Kingdom of Brittany You are Gods Deputy in your Kingdom according as the Kingly Prophet says the Earth is our Lords and the fullnes of it the round world and all that dwell in it And again the same Kingly Prophet saith Thou hast loved righteousnes and hated inquity therfore thy God hath annointed thee with the oyle of gladnes above thy fellows And again O God giue thy iudgment to the King and thy iustice c. He saith Thy judgment not the judgment and justice of Caesar. For the Christian Nations and people of your kingdom who live under your peaceable protection are the children of God under his care who according to the Gospell protects them as a Hen gathering her chickens under her wings c. The Nations therfore of your Kingdom of Brittany are your people which being hitherto divided you ought to gather into one unanimous congregation to the obedience of the Faith and Law of Christ constituting of them one Church which you must cherish maintain protect and govern that so you may raign with Christ for ever whose Deputy you are in the foresaid Kingdom 6. Thus far doth the said Historian relate the tenour of this Epistle adding withall by way of Preface that this was the entire form of it Notwithstanding some Modern Writers further adioyn therto these following passages Woe to the Kingdom whose King is a child and whose Princes eat early in the morning A King is here call'd a child not for his want of growth and age but for his folly injustice and madnes since according to the Kingly Prophet Bloody and deceitfull men shall not live out half their dayes c. Now by eating in the morning we are to understand gluttony and Luxury for by Luxury come all perverse and filthy things according to King Salomons speech Into a malevolent soule wisedom will not enter nordwell in a body subject to sin A King has his title from governing not having a Kingdom You will be a King as long as you rule well which if you cease to doe the name of a King will remain in you no longer but you will leave to be a King which God forbid Almighty God give you his grace so to govern your kingdome of Brittany that you may for ever raign with him whose Deputy you are in the foresaid Kingdom This Epistle saith Cambden was dated in the yeare when L. Aurelius Commodus a second time and Vespronius were Consuls agreeing with the one hundred eighty third year of our Lord. 7. I was unwilling to forbear transcribing this Epistle though I cannot but acknowledge that the reasons proving it suppositious seem to mee very concluding as containing words tasting of the Norman Latin and English Lawe besids there are in it alledged Texts of Scripture according to S. Hieroms Translation who liv'd two hundred years after Eleutherius Again Eleutherius speaks to King Lucius in the plurall Number according to a modern stile not then in use when he says Vos estis Vicarius Dei And lastly not any
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
assemblies of lawfull Pastours Adding withall That they constituted in diverse Citties of the Kingdome twenty eight Bishops which were in subjection to three Arch-Bishops and Metropolitan Sees The Prime See was London to which Loegria and Cornwall was subject to wit all the Provinces on the South of Severn and Wales The second was Yorck to which was submitted Deira and Albania divided from Loegria by the River Humber The Third was the Citty of Legions which had Dominion over Cambria or Wales separated from Loegria by the River Severn This Citty was anciently seated on the River Osca in Glamorganshire as the old walls and buildings there doe shew 3. Thus that Historian herein following a more ancient Writer Geffrey of Monmouth with whom accord severall others mention'd by Bishop Vsher. And though he as likewise Bishop Godwin call this a vain invention and Dream as truly they may justly if by that passage of our Historian were to be understood that immediatly upon the first Conversion of the Brittains so many Bishops and Arch-Bishops were established in the Kingdom Notwithstanding we may reasonably interpret the meaning to be That in ordring the Ecclesiasticall Policy of the New Christian Church they according to the pattern given not only by the Roman but all Eastern Churches design'd a distinction of Dioceses and Provinces according to the number and splendour of the respective Citties So that there being then in Brittany twenty eight Citties as S. Bede says compass'd with walls and fortified with Towres and Gates they ordain'd that in future times when the number of Pastours was multiplied each Citty and Territory belonging to it should be governed by a particular Bishop Wheras in the beginning those who were consecrated Bishops did not confine themselves to one place but according to occasions and emergent necessities transfer'd their solicituds and exercise of their Pastorall duties from one Citty and Province to another till in future times the Harvest encreasing and labourers proportionably multiplying every Bishop and Pastour in his Iuridiction was limited to his peculiar flock with a prohibition to exceed his limits 4. This sence of the forecited Historians seems to be given by the Authour of the ancient Book belonging to the Monastery of Abingdon quoted by Bishop Vsher where we read this passage The Venerable man Pope Eleutherius sent to the illustrious King Lucius his Messengers Faganus and Divianus religious persons and sufficiently instructed in the Christian Faith These holy men did with great devotion baptize both the King himselfe and his people who unanimously embraced the Christian Faith and withall destroyed Idols and built Churches to the worship of God In a word these two men in all things seeking the glory of God and the propagation of Christian Religion decreed that there should be appointed in all places particular Ministers of the Omnipotent God and that in those Cities where formerly resided Arch-flamens according to the Superstition of the Pagans in their place should be establish'd Arch-Bishops and likewise to the ordinary simple Flamens should succeed Bishops Now at that time there were in the three most famous places to wit London York and the Citty of Legions ordained three Arch-Prelats that is Arch-flamens of the Pagan Superstition 5. This distinction and subordination of Arch-flamens and Flamens though we doe not find mention'd by Roman Writers to have been setled among the Idolatrous Brittish Preists under those Titles Yet that the Druids had an Order and Degree among them and that there was one Principall person who enioyd a Domination over their whole Body Caesar an eye-witnes of their customs doth acquaint us From whence necessarily follows that since one single person could not alone have an inspection over so many subjects so widely dispersed it necessarily follows that he must have subordinate Ministers to govern in severall places and to give him an account of the state of their affairs And indeed without such a subordination it was impossible they should subsist in one Body insomuch as these blind Heathens have shew'd greater effects of reason and naturall prudence in composing their Congregation then our Modern Sects withall their pretended light of Scriptures have done 6. These Druid-Preists have the Title of Arch-flamens and Flamens given them not by themselves but by our Historians writing of them in imitation of the Romans among whom those Titles were in use so call'd from the Flamen or flame-colourd Hat wherewith their heads were always coverd These Flamines among the Romans were of severall orders according to the Deities whom they served as Iupiter Mars c. And each order had a distinct Cheif and all these cheifs were subject to the Pontifex Maximus a Title assum'd by the Emperours themselves VIII CHAP. 1.2 c. Of twenty eight Cities anciently in Brittany The names of them out of ancient Authours 7. In what sence Arch-Bishops are saâ—d to have been in those times 1 NOw wheras mention has been made of twenty eight Citties in Brittany suitably to what our ancient Gildas has written that this Island was strengthned with twice ten and twice four Citties it will not be a vain Curiosity to enquire what those Citties were which were design'd for the Sees of so many Bishops 2. To give a full satisfaction to such an enquiry will be no easy matter considering so great and frequent Vicissitudes of inhabitants tongues governments and warrs which since these times have succeded in this our Countrey from all which must needs follow great confusion of names and destruction of places 3. Our Ancient Historians have scattringly mention'd severall of them and particularly Nennius a Monk of Bangor and the Arch-deacon of Huntingdon have made a collection of them But the most exact Catalogue of them is afforded us by the late learned Bishop Vsher described out of two very ancient Manuscripts extant in Sir Iohn Cottons Library which he sayth he coÌ„par'd with nine Written Copies more in which the old Brittish names were seâ— down together with an interpretation of them as followeth 4. These are the Names of all Citties in Brittany in number twenty eight I. Caïr Guintguic which perhaps is Norwich call'd by the Brittains Cair Guntins Or rather it is Winwick in Lancashire The old Glossary of Nennius interprets it Winchester II. Caâ—r Mincip or Municip erroneously written in Henry of Huntingdon Mercipit This is Verolam a Town neer S. Albans which as we read in Tacitus was anciently a Free-town enioying the Priviledge of the Citty of Rome III. Caïr Liqualid or Legevit or Lualid This is Luguballia call'd by Huntingdon Caïr Leil now Carlile IV. Caïr Meguaid or Meigâ—od at this day Meivod in the Province of Montgomery It was anciently call'd by Ptolomy and Antoninus Mediolanum V. Caïr Colun or Colon which Geffrey of Monmouth and Huntingdon call Colchester situated on the River Coln and it is in Antoninus his Itinerary call'd Colonia VI. Caïr Ebranc by others Caïr branc it is York
by Tradition was the last who sate in the Chair of Kungresbury transfer'd that See which had continued six hundred years or more at Kungresbury to a Town then call'd Tethescine but now Welles which was given by King Ina who also consented to the Translation The said Daniel was the last of the Brittains who sate in that Bishoprick 10. This Story at least for as much as concerns the antiquity of the Episcopall See of Kungresbury seems to want a solide foundation For that Town took its name about the year of our Lord seaven hundred and eleaven from a holy man called Cungar a son of a Constantinopolitan Prince who coming into Brittany and desirous to live a retired life was kindly received by King Ina who bestow'd on him that portion of Land call'd afterward by his name and withall built for him a Mansion and Oratory there As for the Church of Wells it was then built by King Ina and endow'd with Lands by Kenulphus the Successour of King Ina in the year seaven hundred and sixty six But saith Bishop Godwin it was then not a Cathedrall but Collegiat or Monasticall Church and was erected into an Episcopall See in the year nine hundred and five in which the first Bishop was Adelmus XII CHAP. 1.2 King Lucius richly endows Churches with possessions 3.4 Priviledge of Sanctuary long continued in Brittany 1. KIng Lucius as he was very zealous and munificent in building Churches to the Glory of God he was no lesse in liberall endowments and Priviledges bestow'd on them To this purpose Matthew of Westminster call'd Florilegus writes thus In the year of Grace one hundred eighty seaven Lucius the glorious King of the Brittains having seen the true Worship of God largely spread in his Kingdom liberally bestow'd possessions and territories on Churches and Ecclesiasticall persons and also firmly established them with Charters and immunities Such liberties he gave to Churches and their Precincts that if any Malefactour made his refuge to them he became safe from all injuries of any man whosoever Thus living happily in the love of God and his Neighbour he governed his Kingdom in great peace A Modern Historian Richard White adds That this King having destroyed all the Idols and worship of false Gods transfer'd all their possessions on Christian Churches which he further enrich'd with more Lands and greater immunities as knowing very well that greater honour is due â—o the houses of the true God 2. We may from hence in some degree compute this King Munificence to Gods Church for since he judged that the Worship of the true God ought to be more splendid and sumptuous then that of their profane Idols had been by searching into ancient Monuments we shall find that the former Brittish Idolatry had been very costly and consequently the true worship much more To this purpose Geffrey of Monmouth and after him Ponticus Virunnius thus writes At London the Pagan Flamens sacrificed yearly forty thousand cowes a hundred thousand sheep and fowle of all kinds so many as could scarce be numbred And besides all these they offred thirty thousand savage cattle stags and other beasts bred in the woods 3. As for the Priviledge of Sanctuary granted by King Lucius to Churches he seems therein to have been a pattern to the Emperour-Constantin and other Christian Princes in future Ages who by their Laws gave unto the Church the like prerogative Hence the Fathers of the Councill of Orleans above eleaven hundred years since made this Canon to renew the use of former Canons and Lawes Concerning Manslayers adulterers and theeves who shall seek refuge in a Church we now ordain that that shall be observed which the Ecclesiasticall Canons have decreed and the Roman Law appointed to wit that it shall not be lawfull for any man by force to draw them from the Courts of Churches or houses of Bishops 4. This respect and reverence which King Lucius shew'd to the Church and Church-men was for many ages continued in Brittany more then in any Christian Nation besides These Priviledges of Sanctuaries were extended not only to Churches and Church-yards but much further according to limits and bounds determined by Bishops Insomuch saith Giraldus Cambrensis that by the indemnity of such immunity far exceeding the indulgence allow'd by the Canons of the Church which grant security only to the body and members of offenders many were induced to commit great outrages and from such places of Refuge did greivously molest both their Countrey and even their Princes themselves Whence appears with what religion the Ordinances of King Lucius were received and practised by posterity XIII CHAP. 1.2 c. A famous Church and Monastery erected by King Lucius at Winchester with Possessions and Priviledges which continued till the raign of Diocletiaâ— 6.7 Of what Institute the Monkâ— in those days were 9. Severall decays and restitutions of that Monastery 1. THE Piety of King Lucius in the sixth year after his conversion did more gloriously shew it selfe in the foundation and plentifull endowment of a Church and Monastery at Winchester then call'd Ventae Belgarum Which Church saith Bishop Godwin was consecrated by Fugatius and Damianus on the twenty ninth of October in the year one hundred eighty nine 2. Moratius a very ancient Authour quoted by Thomas Radburn Harpsfeâ—ld Bishop Vsher c. gives us a perfect description of this Church and Monastery And first as touching the dimensions and bounds of it he writes thus as he is quoted by Thomas Radburn Bishop of S. Davids The measure of the Church founded by King Lucius according to Moratius in his first Book and second Chapter was in length two hundred and nine paces in breadth fourscore paces and in heighth ninety two paces From one corner crosse the Church to the opposite corner were one hundred and thirty paces The situation of the Monastery on the East side of the Church towards the Temple of Concord was one hundred paces in length and in breadth towards the New Temple of Apollo â—orty On the Northpart it was one hundred and sixty paces in length and ninety eight in breadth On the West side of the Church there were in length one hundred and ninety in breadth one hundred On the south coast there were in length four hundred and fifty paces and in breadth five hundred and eighty On this side was seated the Episcopall Palace as likewise the habitation of the Monks 3. In the next place the same Authour Moratius describes the large possessions wherewith this Church and Monastery were endowed by King Lucius saying The limits of their possessions were extended twelve miles round about the Citty of Winchester reaching so far on every side In which space there were on each quarter seated eight wealthy Villages Now if one Church possessed so large 2 Territory we may collect how richly all the Churches of Brittany were endowed even in those Primitive times 4. The forementiond Thomas
year of his raign sent him a Successour Clodius Albinus upon whom likewise he confer'd the Title of Caesar. Whose abode in Brittany was but short for presently after Iunius Severus was sent Generall thither and Commodus us'd all his endeavours to kill Albinus But dying shortly after Pertinax who succeeded him sent back once more Albinus into Brittany THE FIFTH BOOK OF THE CHVRCH-HISTORY OF BRITTANY I. CHAP. 1. The Conversion of Brittany celebrated by Origen 2. The Picts and Caledonian Brittains follow their Example 3. Their King Donaldus c. brought to the Faith by Fulgenius a Brittain 4.5 c. Dempsters fabulous narration 1. THE Conversion of Brittany was so famous in the Church of God that Origen who flourished in Egypt not long after these times in his commentary on Ezechiel thus celebrates it When did the Countrey of Brittany before the coming of Christ consent in the Worship of the only true God But now the whole Earth doth with ioy glorify our Lord for the Churches there erected in the utmost bounds of the world so that in all its limits it doth aspire to celestiall happines And in another place The power of the Divine Grace of our Lord and Saviour is present likewise both to those Nations in Brittany which are divided from our world and likewise those in Mauritania yea with all People under the Sun which have beleived in his name 2. And as the fame therof was largely spread among Churches far remote from Brittany so the Example also had a happy influence on the neighbouring Nations For in the Northern regions of Brittany divided from the civilis'd part by the Emperour Hadrians wall and which always liv'd in hostility with the Romans the Faith of Christ within two years after the death oâ— King Lucius was not only preach'd but effectually subdued the minds both of the Princes and generally of their subjects which gave occasion to Tertullian who liv'd in these times to say that those Provinces of Brittains to which the Roman Armies could not gain accesse were yet conquered by our Saviour submitting themselves to his Faith 3 Concerning this Conversion thus writes Hector Boethius The like mind did Christ our Lord the Prince and Authour of peace give to King Donaldus insomuch as rejecting the worship of Devills he addicted himselfe to solide Piety For when Severus was Emperour of the Romans the sayd King obtained of Pope Victor the fifteenth after S. Peter to whom he sent his Embassadours that severall men illustrious for learning and Religion should be sent into Scotland to baptise himselfe together with his wife and children who profess'd the name of Christ. The Scottish Nobility following their Kings example renounced their former impiety and embracing the Religion of Christ were likewise purified by Baptism The year wherin the Scots by the mercy of Almighty God were call'd and receiv'd the light of true Piety was the two hundred and third after the incarnation of our Lord. To same purpose write Duraeus Gordonus and generally all the Scottish Authours 4. As touching the manner of this Conversion Dempster citing an Ancient Scottish Historian Fordonus saith That is was effected by Paschasius a Sicilian sent into Scotland by Pope Victor who instructed the Nation in the rudiments of Christianity And the same saith he he proves out of an ancient Book of the Church of Lismore which is the most ancient among the Scottish Records The same Authour adds that never any people was with lesse trouble converted to Christ for so great a concourse there was unto those Holy Teachers that there were not Preists enow to baptise them Moreover the sayd Fordonus delivers that this Paschasius leaving behind him his Companions to instruct that rude people more diligently in the Mysteries of Christianity return'd back to Rome to give thanks to that most holy Pope in King Donaldus his name for so singular a blessing confer'd on his Nation But before he arriv'd there Victor was departed this life whose Successour was Zephirinus Whence it manifestly appears â—hat Scotland was converted to the Faith in the last year of Pope Victor Notwithstanding in the Scottish Menology publish'd by the same Dempster this Paschasius is sayd not to have been sent into Scotland by Pope Victor but to have been Donaldus his Messenger to the Pope as Elvanus and Medwinus were sent by King Lucius to Pope Eleutherius for there it is thus written At Dorn in Southerland on the twelfth of December is celebrated the memory of Paschasius who was sent a Messenger to the Holy Pope Victor by King Donald and obtain'd of him Christian Teachers to instruct the Nation 5. This is the account given by Dempster as he pretends out of Fordonus But so little to the satisfaction of the learned Bishop Vsher that he professes In those Copies of Iohn Fordon which I have perused not any of these things related by Dempster are extant so that I begin to suspect the truth of them aswell as of the rest which he quotes out of a namelesse Book of Lismore and I know not what other Manuscripts 6. The person to whom Dempster ascrib's the glory of having first inclin'd the mind of King Donaldus to embrace Christianity was one called Fulgentius or Fulgenius whom he will have to be the Authour of a Book entitled of the Faith of Christ which Book says he if it were now extant Scotland would be furnish'd with a Monument to declare the Antiquity and fervour of its Primitive Faith wherin it would yeild the preeminence to few Kingdoms in Europe and would be superiour to many This Fulgentius saith he was sirnamed the Bold and in the raign of Septimius Seâ—erus dyed at York in England He it was whose faithfull assistance King Donaldus made use of being the first King who stamp'd his Coyn in brasse gold and silver with the sign of the Crosse. II. CHAP. 1.2.3 Confutation of Dempster 4. Who Fulgenius was 5. A Message sent by King Donaldus to Pope Victor 6. More concerning Fulgenius 1. THIS relation made by Dempster though for the substance of it it be agreable to ancient Records yet to embellish it he employs so much of his own inveÌ„tion moved therto by a partiall affection to his own countrey that to a Reader not altogether ignorant he rather disgraces the whole story and renders Truth it selfe suspected then gains beleif to his own impudent additions 2. And first wheras he makes Donaldus to be a King of the Scotts and Fulgentius to be of the same Nation he cannot alledge for this the least ground in any ancient Authours who wrote of these times The Name of Scots was not yet heard of any where much lesse in Brittany The Roman Historians acknowledge no other inhabitants in this Island but only Brittains That is the Common name though in the severall Provinces they be distinguished by severall Titles And particularly touching those Northern Brittains by Hadrians
fled to Fincomark King of Scotland who refused to yeild him up at the request of Traërnus on the contrary in his quarrell he rais'd an army fought and vanquish'd Traërnus in the Province of Westmerland which say they since Carausius his times belonged to Scotland All which story seems an invention on purpose to illustrate the name of Scotland and its pretended Kings of which no mention as yet can be found in any approved Authours 7. At this time Constantin made his abode in Gaule afterward called France where he was much distracted and disquietted and more by the factions of Schismaticks among Christians then any commotions of confining barbarous Nations Vpon which occasion he was compell'd to command a Generall Assembly or Synod of the Western Empire to meet at Arles for composing the seditions rais'd by the Donatists To which Synod since the Brittish Bishops were by name call'd it is requisite we should make some stay to declare the proceedings of it IX CHAP. 1.2 c. Schism of the Donatists and its occasion 3. c The Donatists after severall condemnations still appeale 1. THE Enemy of Truth and Peace having lost the advantage of opposing Christian Religion by the violence and rage of his instruments the Heathen persecuting Emperours did not for all that cease from his malice which was heightned by Envy against it but rather executed another way with more successe by suggesting matter of seditions and divisions among Christians themselves The first publick infamous Scene of which scandalls was Carthage in Africk And the occasion was this 2. Caecilianus Archdeacon to Mensurius Bishop of Carthage had reprehended a Spanish woman call'd Lucilla then living in that Citty because before receiving the holy Sacrament she had with veneration kiss'd the head of a certain person esteem'd by her a Martyr yet not acknowledged for such by the Bishop Lucilla being a woman of great power and wealth upon this reprehension conceived an implacable rage and fury against Cacilianus earnestly expecting all occasions of revenge 3. This was afforded her not long after in the year of Christ three hundred and six when upon the death of Mensurius Caecilianus was chosen Bishop of that Citty For he requiring a restitution of certain vessells of silver and gold belonging to his Church which in the late time of persecution had by his Predecessour been recommended to the fidelity of certain Elders of that Citty they to avoy'â— the necessity of restoring them ioyn'd themselves to the faction of Botrus and Celesius who had ambitiously sought after the same Bishoprick and were rejected the resentment of which repulse incited them to question the Election of Caecilianus Lucilla earnestly ioynd herself to this faction of unjust discontented persons who publickly withdrew themselves from the Communion of their Bishop by which means there was rais'd in Africk a most horrible and irreconcileable Schism the flame wherof could not for many ages be extinguish'd 4. These factious persons to strengthen their party invited to Carthage a number of African Bishops who formerly in a publick Councill at Cirtha had been convicted Traditores that is such as for feare of persecution had deliver'd up to Heathen Magistrats the Holy Vessels and Books belonging to the Church among whom the principall was Secundus Bishop of Tâ—gisis and Primat of Numidia These Bishops seaventeen in number kept their Assemblies at Carthage separated from Caecilianus in opposition to whom they presumed sacrilegiously to ordain another counterfeit Bishop of Carthage calld Maiorinus one who had been Lector to Caecilianus when he was Archdeacon and was now a Domestick of Lucilla 5. Moreover to iustify their Schism these Bishops who were most manifest Traditors themselves alledged that Caecilianus his Ordination was illegall because he had received imposition of hands from Felix Bishop of Aptungis and others whom they falsly accused of their own crime They likewise wrongfully charged Caecilianus that he had forbidden necessary provision to be administred to certain Martyrs in prison during the last persecution All which calumnies they by letters spread through the whole countrey of Africa Caecilianus in the mean time being acknowledged lawfull Bishop by Marcellus Bishop of Rome and all other Bishops through the Catholick Church before whom he confidently offred himselfe to a legall tryall This relation is given by S. Optatus and Saint Augustin 6. Now though this Schism was cheifly forged by Botrus and Celesius together with the foremention'd Elders and Lucilla and encreased by Secundus and other Traditors Bishops yet it first took its name Title from Donatus Bishop of a place call'd Casae nigrae or Black Cottages in Numidia who first at the instigation of Lucilla withdrew himself from the communion of Caecilianus whilst he was Deacon But the Donatists being ashamed to take their appellation from one who had been condemn'd by Pope Melchiades chose rather to call themselves Donatists from another Donatus who succeeded Majorinus in the Schism and whom they esteem'd a person of great eminence both for learning and Sanctity 7. This unhappy Schism received such strength in a short space that within three years ioyning themselves with Traditors Bishops and drawing into their sacrilegious Communion all the Numidians they assembled a Councill of no fewer then two hundred and seaventy Bishops which continuing together seaventy five dayes and repeating all their former Constitutions made a Decree that all those who were guilty of the horrible crime of Tradition if they refused to be rebaptised should notwithstanding be admitted into Communion as if they were innocent 8. When Constantin had overcome Maxentius the Donatists obtain'd of Anulinus Governour of Africk to send his letters full of calumnious accusations against Caecilianus unto the Emperour who was then in Gaule and some of the same Schismaticall Bishops made a voyage to him earnestly requesting him to appoint Iudges of their cause The Emperour himself saith Optatus with great indignation answered theÌ„ You require a secular iudgment from mee who my self expect the iudgment of Christ. Yet with extreme importunity they at last wrested from him for their Iudges Maternus Bishop of Colonia Agrippina Rheticius Bishop of Austun Marius of Arles 9. But presently after this Constantin conâ—idering of what weight and necessity the authority of the Roman Bishop was in such a cause he commanded the Donatists Bishops together with Caecilianus and as many other of his Communion to attend these three Iudges at Rome to debate and conclude the cause before the holy Pope Melchiades in a Roman Synod To whom likewise the pious Emperour wrote a letter in which he tells the Pope that he thought fitt to send these contending Bishops before him to the end they might receive iudgment from him and the other Iudges as you know saith he the most holy law of God requires 10. A Synod therfore being assembled at Rome the result therof after a diligent examination of the parties and witnesses was a
condemnation of Donatus Bishop of Casaenigrae by the Sentence of all the Iudges for by his own Confession he had rebaptised some who ioynd in Communion with him and impos'd his hands on Bishops who in persecution had renounced the Faith On the other side Caecilianus was pronounced innocent because the witnesses brought to accuse him protested that they could say no crime at all to his charge 11. But notwithstanding this Iudgment the Donatists without any consideration of justice or truth most impudently appeald from these Iudges to the Emperour himself who upon the first hearing mention of such an Appeale cryed out O the rabide impudence of these mens fury They have presumed to interpose an Appeale as the custom is among Heathens in secular causes Yet after all this the Donatists were so shameles as to boast that Constantin had adjuged the cause to Donatus and condemn'd Caecilianus And moreover to extenuate the iudgmeÌ„t of Pope Melchiades against them they endeavour'd to defame his memory by imputing to him that he had been a Traditor 12. The Donatists still continuing their tumults in Africa and directing their malice principally against Felix Bishop of Aptungis the Ordainer of Caecilianus whom they accused to have been a Traditor Constantin gave commission to Aelianus Proconsul of Africa to determin that cause who in the examination detecting many lyes and frauds of the Donatists pronounced in a legall manner the innocence of Felix But once more they appealed from his iudgment to the Emperour to whose Court likewise many of their Bishops repaired protesting that many of their allegations of greatest weight had not been taken into coÌ„sideration in the former iudgments Whereupon Constantin not daring as S. Augustin saith to become a Iudge of the iudgment given by Bishops at Rome refer'd the matter to a Synod of all the Western Bishops appointed to meet in the Citty of Arles because his abode was then in Gaule And for that purpose he directed his letters to the Metropolitans to send their Bishops and to the Proconsull of Africa Ablavius and other Magistrats to defray the charges of such Bishops of both parties as took their iourneys to the Councill Examples of which letters are still extant in Eusebius c. X. CHAP. 1.2 Councill of Arles condemns the Donatists 3 4.5 Severall Canons there of 6. The names of Brittish Bishops in it 1. IN the Councill of Arles there metâ— above two hundred Bishops from all parts of the Western Provinces as far as Brittany who in the first place examining again the cause of Felix Bishop of Aptungis the Ordainer of Caecilianus declared him innocent of the crime of Tradition impos'd on him by the Donatists so confirming the iudgment formerly given in Africa 2. This cause being concluded it seem'd good to the Fathers to frame certain Canons touching Ecclesiasticall Discipline to be uniformly observed through the whole Church And first they ordained that the solemn Feast of Easter should be celebrated the same day through all Churches This they did in opposition to the Quartadecimani who observed it according to the Iewish custom on the fourteenth day of the first Moon in March which practise began now more and more to prevayl in the East To this Canon the Brittish Bishops in this Councill subscribed so that the controversy afterward arising about its observation in Brittany was not whether the Eastern practise should be kept here but only whether in case the fourteenth day of the first Moon should fall on a Sunday Easter should then be observed or no The Scottish Prelats affirming and the others denying 3. Another Canon of this Councill which is the thirteenth deserves our particular consideration in which it is ordain'd that all those should be removed from the Order of the Clergy who in time of persecution had delivered up to Pagans the holy Scriptures or Vasa Dominica our Lords Vessells which Vessells that they were deputed for the Christian Sacrifice appears in the twentieth Canon which commands that a place to offer Sacrifice should be afforded to a stranger Bishop Restitutus therfore our then Brittish Bishop subscribing to this Councill did offer Sacrifice and could not be denyed that priviledge in a strange countrey which now would be refused him in his own with death if he perform'd it 4. Some Protestants doe much boast of a pretended Canon in this Councill prescribing that if Deacons at their Ordination shall protest their resolution to marry it might be lawfull for them to doe so and yet remain in the Ministery But Sir Henry Spelman ingenuously observes that in ancient Copies he could not find this Canon among the rest And however if such a Priviledge had then been allowed to Deacons since Preists are not mention'd it argues that they were forbidden mariage 5. At the conclusion of the Synod Marinus Bishop of Arles in the name of the whole Assembly wrote a letter yet extant to Pope Silvester wherto he annexed a Copy of the Canons ordain'd there desiring that by his care and diligence the said Decrees should be observed in all Churches Here wee find likewise among the rest our Brittish Bishop Restitutus professing the Vnity of our Holy Mother the Catholik Church with the most Religion Pope Silvester whom with due reverence they all salute They iudge likewise all those who reiect Tradition to be persons of an unbrideled mind burdensom and perniciâ—us to our Christian Law Lastly they professe their acknowledgment that the Apostles S. Peter and S. Paul nâ—t only sate Bishops at Rome but likewise doe without intermission still glorify God by their blood shed there Such Professions as these made by our Primitive Brittish Bishops doe much vary from the modern stile Let the Readers conscience iudge to whether party it is most safe to adioyn himselfe 6. It is observed by persons learned in Ecclesiasticall Antiquities that through the negligence or mistake of Transcribers the Names of the Bishops present and subscribing to this Council are wrongfully transfer'd to the End of the Second Synod assembled some years after at the same Citty of Arles Among whom those Bishops which came from Brittany and for whose sake it was our obligation to insist on this Synod were according to the most corrected Copies these which follow and according to this Order The first among the Brittish Subscribers was Eborius Bishop of the Citty of York in the Province of Brittany The Second was Restitutus Bishop of the Citty of London in the same Province Concerning whom the Protestant Centurists of Magdeburg give this testimony that he was a man considering the age wherin he liv'd many wayes learned and most modest in his conversation who among other things wrote one Book to his own Countreymen touching this Council of Arles and severall Epistles to Hilary Bishop of Poiâ—tiers He was famous in the year of Grace three hundred and fifty The third Brittish Bishop was Adelfius stiled Bishop of the Citty call'd The Colony of the
the end the Councill may again be renewed if you please let us honour the memory of S. Peter the Apostle that those who have examined the cause may write to Iulius Bishop of Rome and if his sentence be that judgment ought to be renew'd let it be renew'd and let him appoint Iudges But if he shall approve the cause to be such as that those things which have been acted in it shall not be again reiterated what he decrees herin shall be confirmed if such be all your pleasures The Synod answered This pleases us 7. In pursuance of which there was added this following Canon Gaudentius Bishop said If you please let this be added to this Decree which thou hast pronounced full of Sanctity That when any Bishop shall be deposed by the judgment of neighbouring Bishops and shall publickly declare that his intention is to plead his cause in the Citty of Rome after such an Appeale of a Bishop who seems to be deposed let not another Bishop be ordain'd in his chaire till his cause be determin'd in the judgment of the Bishop of Rome 8. Moreover to provide against tedious delays of causes and incommodities of transporting witnesses to Rome with excessive charges c. the Holy Synod thought fit to adjoyn another Decree in this form Osius Bishop said It is the pleasure of the Synod that if a Bishop be accused and that the Bishops of that Region assembled together shall give judgment against him and depose him from his Degree in case he who is depos'd shall appeale and have recourse to the Bishop of the Roman Church with a desire to be heard before him if the said Roman Bishop shall think it just to have the examination of the cause renew'd let him be pleased to write to those Bishops which are in a neighbour and confining Province signifying that they should diligently examin the matter and determin the cause according to truth and justice But if the Bishop who desires his cause may again be heard shall by Petition move the Roman Bishop to send from his own presence è latere suo a Preist to heare and iudge the cause it shall be in the power and liberty of the Roman Bishop to doe as he pleases and thinks most convenient And if he shall resolve to send persons having his authority from whom they are sent to be present in judgment with other Bishops this shall be left to his own pleasure But if he think sufficient that the Bishops of the said Provinces put an end to the controversy let him doe what in his most wise counsell he shall judge most expedient 9. Thus was the matter of Appeales or Revisions regulated in this holy Synod at which were present no fewer then thirty African Bishops named by S. Athanasius in his Apology So that it may seem wonderfull how the same cause of Appeales could afterward in the next age be question'd by their successours But the true ground hereof was that the Donatists had by their subtilty and malicious diligence abolished all the Copies and true Acts of the Councill of Sardica through Africk in the place of them substituting the Acts of the Anti-Synod celebrated by a few Eastern Bishop at Philippopolis under the title of the Synod of Sardica And their motive was because in the Epistle of that false Council the Arian Bishops made mention of Donatus the Donatist Bishop of Carthage This appears by comparing severall testimonies of S. Augustin as where in a certain Epistle he sayes Fortunius the Donatist shew'd mee a certain Book out of which he pretended to demonstrate that the Councill of Sardica had written to the Bishops of Africa of the Communion of Donatus And â— little afterward he saith Then having taken the Book and considering the Decrees of the said Councill I found that S. Athanasius and other Catholick Bishops yea and Iulius Bishop of Rome no lesse Catholick then they had been condemned by that Councill of Sardica hereby I was assured that it was a Councill of Arians 10. These Decrees touching the Supereminent authority of the Bishop of Rome though they were not presently received in the East by reason of the discession of the Eastern Arian Bishops yet afterwards in the Councill of ConstaÌ„tinople in Trullo call'd Quino-Sextum they were expressly admitted And no shew of doubt can be made but that the Brittish Bishops caried back with them these Decrees into Brittany by which their subordination to the Roman See was evidently declared 11. A fâ—urth Canon was likewise there established to restrain the frequent repair of Deacons sent by their Bishops to the Emperours Court ad Comitatum in the regulating whereof a particular honour was attributed to the Bishop of Rome for thus runs the Canon If any such come to Rome as hath been said Let them present their Petitions to our most holy Brother and fellow-bishop of the Roman Church that he may first examine whether they be honest and just and consequently afford his diligence and care that they may be caried to Court All the Bishops said that this pleased them well and that the counsell was honest Then Alypius Bishop sayd If such men undertake the incommodities of a long voyage for the causes of pupills widdows and such as are unjustly oppressed they will have just reason to doe so But now they repair thither to make Requests for things which without casting an odious envy on us and which deserve reprehension can not be granted therfore there is no reason that such should be permitted to goe to the Court. 12. The Synod being dissolved the Emperour Constans employ'd his utmost diligence and authority in the execution of its Decrees And wheras the cheifest difficulty was concerning the restitution of S. Athanasius to his See for the Eastern factious Bishops who had made a discession from the Councill had used means to obstruct his return Hereupon Constans wrote to his Brother for his restitution adding withall by way of menacing that if he should refuse to effect it he must know for certain that himself would come thither and in despight of him restore the Banish'd Bishops to their Sees Thus writes Socrates out of the Emperours letter 13. Now what effect this intercession of the Emperour Constans had the same Historian thus continues to relate Assoon as the Eastern Emperour understood these things he conceiv'd in his mind no small greif Whereupon assembling many Eastern Bishops he declared to them how difficult a choice was offred to him and ask'd their counsell what he should doe Their answer was That it was much better to allow Athanasius the administration of his Church then to hazzard a Civill warr Hence it came to passe that the Emperour constrained by mere necessity sent for Athanasius to come to him 14. The year following therefore Athanasius return'd into the East being recommended to the Emperour by letters written in his behalf by Pope Iulius He was
free from sinn but that they may by Adoption be admitted into the Kingdom of God And though they were not baptised yet they should enioy an eternall and happy life though excluded from the Kingdom of God 4. These Heresies began to appear in publick about the year four hundred and four or five and being taken notice of by Pope Innocentius Pelagius compos'd a Letter of Purgation which was presented to his successour Pope Zozimus After which he went into Palestina not daring to come to Rome to clear himself And his Doctrines being reprov'd by S. Hierom in the East and by S. Augustin in the West Pelagius appeald to the iudgment of a lawfull Synod which was assembled at Diospolis or Lydda in Palestina and his accusors Heros and Lazarus two Bishops from Gaule by reason of the sicknes of one by the way not being able to appear in the Synod Pelagius gave such captious answers to the interrogations propos'd to him by the Bishops present that he escaped a censure and was acknowledg'd an Orthodox Catholick 5. About the same time his prime Disciple Caeletius was condemned for his Heresies in a Synod at Carthage from which he appeald to the Roman See yet not daring to pursue his Appeale he fled into Asia and there by fraud obtained the degree of a Preist After which another Synod of Numidia at Milevis again condemned the same Errours A Copie of both which condemnations being sent to Pope Innocentius he approv'd them and excommunicated both Pelagius and Celestius yet with a condition that upon their revocation of their Errours they should be restor'd to Catholick Communion 6. Their Heresies notwithstanding spreading abroad the African Bishops of both Councils deputed S. Augustin by common consent to confute them And with what diligence and efficacy he perform'd this charge his glorious labours doe to this day admirably testify 7. S. Innocentius being dead his Successour Zosimus received an Appeale from the iudgment given by another Councill of Carthage against Celestius who came to Rome and presenting to the Pope a Discourse touching his Doctrine which he profess'd to submitt to the See Apostolick pretending likewise to subscribe to the Letters written by Pope Innocentius to the two African Councils in which his Heresy by which he denied Originall sin was principally condemn'd Hereupon Pope Zosimus favourably interpreted his Libell or Discourse and delayd his absolution only two months till he could receive an answer from the Africain Bishops 8. Pelagius likewise using the same arts endeavoured to surprise Pope Innocentius by a Book of his Doctrin written with such ambiguity of words that his Hereticall senses could not be discovered but by readers of a more then ordinarily sharp sight and iudgment This Book was likewise presented to Pope Zosimus To which was added a Symbol of his Faith directed to the Pope and composed so artificially that it hath been printed as a Sermon of S. Augustins the one hundred ninety first in number by changing the beginning and end of it instead of Beatissime Pater saying Dilectissimi Fratres At the arrivall of which Treatises at Rome there was great ioy as if the Hereticks had been converted Of which Pope Zosimus informing the African Bishops they again assembled at Carthage and carefully pondering these things they wrote back to Pope Zosimus signifying to him that it was not sufficient that Celestius should in grosse subscribe to Pope Innocentius his letters but that he should also anathematize expressly the words impiously sett down in his own Libell They likewise detected the fraud by which Pelagius in his Libell had vayled his hereticall sense 9. Hereupon Celestius being urged by Pope Zosimus to pronounce anathema against the Doctrins objected to him by Paulinus a Deacon and which himself had manifestly inserted in his own Book privately withdrew himself from his tryall thereby shewing that his submission to be corrected by the See Apostolick was false and hypocriticall At the same time severall Writings of Pelagius likewise were discovered in which his Heresies manifestly appeared 10. Pope Zosimus therefore without any further delay imitating his Predecessour Innocentius saith S Augustin did a second time with the like authority condemne their Doctrins and excommunicate their persons Which Sentence of Condemnation was solemnly first of all in a Synod pronounced by Sixtus a Roman Preist afterwards Pope whom the Pelagians had esteem'd but injustly a principall Patron of their Heresy Which Heresy having been proscrib'd by so many Synods and more then once by the Roman See the Emperour Honorius also published an Imperiall Sanction by which he not only banish'd Celestius and Pelagius out of Rome but ordained that whosoever should teach the same Doctrins being thereof convicted in iudgment by whomsoever should have the same punishment of Exile inflicted on them Which Decree he commanded to be published through the whole Empire These were the Acts of many years which to avoyd interruptions are summ'd up together 11. Notwithstanding all this care of all Sorts of Magistrats both Ecclesiasticall and Temporall to extirpate this execrable Heresy out of the world yet by reason it directly favourd the corruption of Nature human Pride and sensuality it continued in most countreys and particularly in Brittany it made so generall a progresse that the neighbouring Churches of Gaule thought necessary to send into this Island two of their most eminent Bishops and this two severall times to represse it Which how they gloriously performed shall shorly be shew'd in due place 12. At the same time as Pelagius infected Brittany so did another infamous Heretick infect Gaule likewise That was Vigilantius concerning whom S. Hierome thus writes Gaule alone was a countrey that produced no monsters of Heresies in former times But on a sudden there arose one Vigilantius who may more justly be called Dormitantius who being full of an unclean Spirit entred combat against the Spirit of Christ and denyed that the Sepulchers of Martyrs ought to be venerated condemning likewise the devout Vigils celebrated before the Festivalls of Gods Saints Which Errours of his are detested by the whole Catholick world He also imitating Iovinian at feasts declamed against Fasting prefer'd riches before voluntary proverty and Mariage before Virginity XXV CHAP. 1.2.3 After Marcus and Gratianus Constantin is proclamed Emperour in Brittany 4.5 c. Geffrey Monmouths fable of him disproved 7. c. Constantins successes in Gaule c. 11. Gerontius rebells against him and is slain 12. c. Constantin overcome by Constantius and slain And Rome is sack'd by the Vandals 1. IN the year of Grace four hundred and sixe Gaule was overrun by the Vandals Sueves and Alans Which opportunity being observ'd by the Picts and Scots they likewise breaking out of their limits wasted the confining Provinces of Brittany The Governour of the Island at that time was Marcus whom on a sudden the Army saluted by the Title of Emperour imagining that under the conduct of so
of S. Patrick written by the ancient Authour Probus Palladius saith he being ordain'd Bishop by Pope Celestinus was directed to the conversion of this Northern Island of Ireland But Almighty God did not give Successe to his preaching Neither can any man receive any thing on earth unles it be given him from heaven For the savage and brutish inhabitants of this countrey would by no means receive his doctrin Therfore he would not spend much time in a land not his own but returned to him that sent him And having pass'd the sea he arriv'd at the confines of the Picts where he remain'd till his death 8. Moreover that the principall care of S. Palladius was exercis'd toward the Brittish Scotts appears in this that his two Disciples Servanus and Tervanus are reckon'd among the learned Teachers of Brittany Of which the former was sent to instruct the inhabitants of the Orcades and the other to the Picts Concerning Servanus the Centuriators of Magdeburg write in this manner When Palladius was sent into Scotland Servanus adjoyn'd himself to him and together with him promoted the Gospell and propagated the Doctrin of it He was afterward sent by the same Palladius after experience had of his learning and Sanctity to be an Apostle of the Isles of Orkney and to teach the inhabitants there true Religious Christian worship This he perform'd with great diligence and zeale and thereby obtain'd the Title of the First Apostle of those Islands Dempster indeed a Scottish Writer attributâ— that Title to another call'd Serfus who sayes he preach'd there before S. Servanus and was Bishop of those Isles chosen from among the Culdees or Colidei But most probable it is that Serâ—us and Servanus were one and the same person 9. And touching Tervanus likewise the other Disciple of S. Palladius another Scottish Historiographer thus writes Palladius having promoted Servanus to the degree of Bishop sent him to the Orcades to imbue that rude and barbarous Nation with the Faith of Christ. He likewise created Tervanus Arch-Bishop of the Picts In which places these two holy men perform'd the Office of their Mission so diligently by advancing piety and religion among them as likewise by rooting out the poyson of the Pelagian heresy out of the minds of many that the one worthily deserv'd to be call'd the Apostle of the Orcades and the other of the Picts The foremention'd Centuriators adde That Tervanus was sent to the Picts to water our Lords vineyard planted among them by S. Ninianus So that he seems to have been Ninianus his Successour And indeed this agrees exactly to the account formerly given touching the Gests and death of S. Ninianus Bishop of Wite-hern or Candida casa for in the year following this that Blessed Saint dyed 10. Little more is found recorded in ancient Ecclesiasticall Monuments touching the Gests of S. Palladius And no wonder his life not continuing much more then a year after he was made Bishop as S. Beda declares who saith that he dyed in the eighth year of the younger Theodosius Which eighth year is to be reckoned from the death of his Vncle the Emperour Honorius and not of his Father Arcadius For at that time Theodosius was but eight years old and under the tuition of Isdegerdes King of Persia. This if Cardinall Baronius had considered he would not have thought fit to correct S. Beda's Chronology 11. Certain modern Writers by mistake conceiving this Palladius to have been an Asiatick doe impute to him the implanting of the Eastern rites in the celebration of Easter among the Brittains And Trithemius likewise erroneously confounds him with Palladius familiar freind of Iohn of Ierusalem who was Bishop of Helenopolis infected with the Errours of Origen and a great defender of Pelagius Whereas this Palladius was a Roman Deacon who in the time of Pope Zosimus wrote the life of S. Iohn Chrysostom and was a zealous opposer of Pelagius and Celestius against whom he composed a Book His memory is celebrated in our English Martyrologe on the twenty seaventh of Ianuary IV. CHAP. 1.2 c. The Mission oâ— S. Germanus and S. Lupus into Brittany 4. c. Gests of S. Germanus before his Mission 8. c. And of S. Lupus 10. c. Their voyage into Brittany and Miracles 1. PResently after Saint Palladius his first voyage into Brittany upon his information sent to Pope Celestinus were deputed the two holy Bishops S. Germanus and S. Lupus to defend the Catholick Faith against the Enemies of Grace who had perverted many in this Island The occasion of whose journey hither is thus described by S. Beda The Brittains saith he being neither willing to receive the perverse Doctrins of those who blasphem'd the Grace of Christ nor also being able by disputes to refute their subtilties who endeavoured to introduce that impious perswasion agreed at last upon a discreet and happy advice which was to demand assistance in this spirituall warr from the Gallican Bishops Whereupon a Great Synod was assembled not in Brittany as Camden and Spelman suppose but in Gaule as appears by the relation of Constantius the Ancient Authour of S. Germanus his life In which Synod a serious consultation was had who should be sent thither to defend the Catholick Faith And at last by a generall and unanimous consent S. Germanus Bishop of Auxeâ—re Altisiodorensis and S. Lupus Bishop of Troyes Tricassinae civitatis were made choice of to goe into Brittany to confirm the Faith of Celestiall Grace 2. Now though in this Narration of S. Beda no mention be made of Pope Celestins interposing in the busines yet S. Prosper in the passage cited in the foregoing Chapter shews that the whole busines was managed by his orders and more expressly in his Chronicon he saith Pope Celestin sent Germanus Bishop of Auxerre in his place and with his authority Vice suâ to drive the Pelagian Hereticks out of Brittany and to establish the inhabitants of that Island in the Catholick Faith 3. Before we attend these two Holy Bishops in their journey to Brittany the relation and obligations we have to them require a particular information concerning their persons qualities former education Besides this we shall be able to judge of the Religion and state of the Brittish Churches in those times by observing their actions and behaviour who are now become the Teachers and Reformers of our Countrey So that any indifferent Reader will be able to perceive whether that Religion which S. Augustin the Monk taught the Saxons about a hundred and seaventy years after was changed from that which these holy Bishops profess'd as some Modern Protestants pretend it was 4. First then touching S. Germanus he was born at Auxerre in Gaule descended from illustrious parents From his infancy he was brought up in literature wherin by reason of his naturall capacity he so advanced himself that he became a great ornament to his countrey
among them and that the fault adhered to a few busy persons which are diligently sought out and without delay condemned 5. As for Elaphius he humbly kneeling kiss'd the Bishops hands presenting to him his lame Son whose sad condition and necessity were sufficiently recommended to the Bishops charity by his youth and debility without his fathers request So miserable a spectacle mov'd compassion in all but especially in the holy Bishops mind which compassion they interpreted to be a sign of Gods clemency to cure him Presently therefore Saint Germanus compell'd the young man to sitt down and then handled his hamm that was contracted and with his right hand strok'd over all the members weakned with that infirmity Immediatly perfect health and strength attended that wholesom touch the withred members recovered their naturall iuice and humidity and the sinews their office and agility to move them Thus in the sight of all the young man was restored to his father as if he had been new made All the people are astonish'd at this miracle by which means the Catholick Faith is perfectly confirm'd in their minds The rest of the time was spent in preaching up and down which wanted not efficacy to convert and reform the hearers So that by an universall consent the Authours of the perverse Doctrine are brought before the Holy Bishops and then banish'd out of the Island This holy work was with such solidity perform'd then that to this day the Orthodox Faith remains in those places unstaind Thus all things being well compos'd the Blessed Bishops return'd with a voyage as prosperous as they came This is the summary narration of Constantius touching S. Germanus his second journey into Brittany Which Constantius liv'd about forty years after Saint Germanus his death and dedicated his Book to Patiens Bishop of Lyons 6. Notwithstanding our Ecclesiasticall Monuments record many more particular benefits which our Countrey receiv'd from the Holy Bishop Germanus during his abode this second time in Brittany which seems to have continued severall years though how many does not appeare by any Chronologists therefore we must be excus'd if we cannot assign the particular actions of this Saint to their determinate times 7. By many deeds of the holy Bishop here it may be concluded that he came with Commission from the See Apostolick Pope Sixtus then sitting in the Chair of S. Peter For Saint Germanus seeing many Churches deprived of Pastours by which means the people became wavering in their Faith call'd a Synod which was an act of Iurisdiction committed to him and by common advice selected learned and pious men whom he ordained Bishops placing them in severall Churches 8. Thus we read in the History of the Church of Landaff How after the foresaid Bishops had rooted out the Pelagian Heresy they consecrated Bishops in severall quarters of the land And over all the Brittains toward che right hand side that is the Southern parts of Brittany they promoted the Blessed man Dubricius to be Arch-Bishop who was an eminent Doctour and was chosen both by the King Mouricus and whole Diocese At Landaff they constituted an Archiepiscopall See with the said Kings consent where a Church was built and dedicated to the honour of the Prime Apostle Saint Peter These are the borders of it c. Now whereas Landaff is here call'd an Archiepiscopall See it is an Errour either of the Authour or Transcriber True it is that when that See was afterward transplanted to Caër-leon an Archiepiscopall See was established there 9. As touching the Holy Bishop Dubricius we shall treat more of him separatly after an account given of S. Germanus his actions And whereas it is said that by the consent of King Mouricus an Episcopall See was erected at Landaff notice is to be taken that this Mouricus was Son to Theodoric Prince of Glamorganshire Morganniae who as Bishop Godwin relates resign'd his Principality and embraced a Monasticall or Eremiticall life But afterward when the Saxons invaded the Island he was drawn out of his Cell to be leader of an Army and courageously rushing among the enemies receiv'd a mortall wound for which merit he was enroll'd in the number of Martyrs 10. S. Germanus his next care after ordaining Bishops was to visit the Schooles the sources of Learning For these two are the Pillars to sustain and perpetuate Faith Brian Twyne the Advocat of the Vniversity of Oxford affirms positively that Saint Germanus studied in that Vniversity But generally all Authours ancient and Modern agree that he establish'd good order there yea and probably to encourage both Teachers and Disciples himself for some time taught among them and gathered many Auditours Among whom one of the principall which we find in Records was S. Iltutus or Elcutus of whom here after as likewise of another whose memory is celebrated in Lesser Brittany nam'd S. Briocus 11 Concerning S. Germanus his establishing the Vniversity of Oxfor'd we have an illustrious testimony of our learned countrey-man Asserius who liv'd above eight hundred years since For treating of the Controversy between the Students of Oxford and Grimbaldus whom King Alfred had called out of France to govern that Vniversity he introduces the Students thus pleading for themselves in opposing the change that Grimbaldus would make in their Instituts They the Schollars likewise saith he proved by unquestionable testimonies of ancient Annals that the Orders and Instituts of that place had been establish'd by pious and learned men as Gildas Melkin Nemri Kentigern and others who all grew old in their studies there and administred all things happily in peace and concord They shewd moreover that Saint Germanus came to Oxford and abode there half a year approving wonderfully their said Orders and Instituts This was when he travell'd through Brittany preaching against the Heresies of the Pelagians This Testimony is of great force in case that passage be not an Addition of a later hand to Asserus as is much to be suspected XIII CHAP. 1.2 c S. Germanus his Faith was Roman the same with that of Saint Augustin the Monk This testified by Protestants 6.7 Churches built to his honour by the ancient Brittains 1. AFter how long abode in Brittany S. Germanus returned home is uncertain But the infinite obligations our Nation has to him are unquestionable Among which the greatest of all is his establishing the Catholick Faith here so firmly that it continued inviolate many ages Insomuch as even Protestant Writers attribute to him the Title of Apostle of Brittany 2. It will therefore be expedient that we conclude the Narration of his Gests with declaring what Doctrines in Religion S. Germanus himself profess'd for the same we may be sure he left behind him in Brittany This Enquiry seems necessary because it will give light for a resolution whether in the following age Saint Augustin the Monk sent by Saint Gregory the Great to convert the Saxons taught them a new Religion full of
Superstitions and quite changed from that which Saint Germanus profess'd as Protestants affirm who therefore magnify Saint Germanus for the purity of his Faith and as much derogate from S. Augustin 3. Touching therefore Saint Germanus his Religion particularly in the Points now most controverted and wherein Saint Augustin is charged to have been faulty we cannot more certainly nor more ingenuously determine it then by seeking information from a person of eminent learning in Antiquity a Protestant or however without question no Roman Catholick to witt M. Selden Who in a Treatise by him call'd Analecta Anglo-Britannica has inserted one Chapter exactly pertinent to our present purpose The Title of which Chapter is Touching the practises of Ecclesiasticall Discipline wherewith Germanus and Lâ—pus Bishops imbued the Brittains Which Enquiry he consequently satisfies in the following Chapter in the manner following 4. Germanus Bishop of Auxerre and Lupus Bishop of Troyes in Gaule came into Brittany to restore Christian Religion deprav'd by the Heresy of Pelagius and Errours of Pagans Their doctrines and documents taught by them as the fame is which also Giraldus Cambrensis testifies to have continued to his dayes were as followeth 1. Of every loaf of Bread set before them one corner they gave to the poore 3. They sate three together at dinner in memory of the Blessed Trinity 4. If any one mett in the way a Religious Monk or Clergy-man or any one in a Religious habit he would presently lay aside his weapons and with a low inclination of his head demand his Benediction 5. Generally all the people doe earnestly demand Episcopall Confirmation and Inunction with Holy Chrism by which the Holy Ghost is conferr'd 6. They some times bestow the Tithe of all their Substance cattle and Sheep namely either when they marry or undertake some long Pilgrimage or by the Churches Order submitt to some extraordinary Pennance for their sins This they call the great Tithe and two parts of it they bestow on the Church where they received Baptisme the third they give to the Bishop of the Diocese 7. Beyond all other externall labours of Mortification they are most devoted to Pilgrimages undertaken to Rome to visit the Monuments of the Apostles 8 Beyond any other Nation they expresse a devout reverence to Churches and Church-men likewise to Relicks of Saints to portable Bells Sacred Books and the Holy Crosse. And this devotion hath been rewarded with greater peace they any other Churches enjoyd 9. For entire security is observed in regard of Beasts feeding not only in Church yards but much beyond them through all bounds inclosed with ditches which Bishops design for observation of peace and indemnity And greater Churches to which antiquity always afforded greater reverence have power to grant and enjoyn the observation of such peace and security for cattle whilst at morn they goe and at Even return from their pastures This peace and security is observ'd so inviolably that if any one should incurr the mortall indignation of his Prince and afterward seeke refuge in a Church he may enjoy the fruit of this Peace both for his person and goods And indeed from such large immunities far beyond the ancient Canons which in such cases allow safety only to a mans life and body occasion of great abuses have been taken for by reason of such impunity many doe audaciously practise hostility and from such plâ—ces of Reâ—uge doe horribly infest the whole countrey about and even the Prince himself 5. There is scarce any one of these Christian practises but was taught by S. Augustin also and yet Protestant Writers condemne S Augustin for them and absolve S. Germanus yea magnify him and glory in an opinion that they are conformable to his Doctrin and Discipline They allow to Saint Germanus the glorious Title of Apostle of the Brittains who taught them no new Doctrins of Christianity but only confirmed them in what they had beleived before And the same Title they with contempt refuse to S. Augustin who withdrew the barbarous Pagan Saxons from their Idolatry and Infidelity and instilled first into their minds the true knowledge and worship of God Faith in the Redeemer of the world and Veneration to the Holy Crosse the Sign of our Redemtion Such partiality the Spirit of Schism does naturally produce 6. Our Ancestours in testimony of their gratitude to the Veneraâ—le Bishop S. Germanus and the high esteem of his Sanctity approved by many Miracles not long after his death built Chappell 's and Churches to his honour Particularly concerning one of these Camden thus writes In Cornwall neer the River Liver there is a village named from Saint German to which during the Danish tumults the Episcopall see of that Province was transferr'd out of feare it being a place more remote and secure There a Church had been erected and consecrated to the honour of S. Germanus Bishop of Auxerre who extirpated the Pelagian Heresy that began to rise anew among the Brittains In Yorkshire likewise a famous Monastery was consecrated to him as the same Authour thus testifies The River Ouse does water Selby a town well peopled there King William the First founded a Church in memory of S. Germanus who happily wounded to death the many-headed Hydra of Pelagianism which was oft quelld and oft revived again The Abbot of this Monastery and of S. Marâ—es at York were the only two Northern Abbots which had Seats in Parliament 7. Among the Silures in Northwales the Memory of S. Germanus is much celebrated for from him a part of Radnorshire is called Guarthenion For as our ancient Historian Nennius relates Vortimer the Son of Vortigern in satisfaction for injuries done by his Father to Saint Germanus dedicated that part of the countrey to him where he had been wrongd In memory of which it took the name of Guartheny which in the Brittish language signifies a calumny justly retorted Besides these many other Monuments testifying the like veneration to the same Apostolick Bishop might be produced but these are sufficient And this last Example proves this Devotion of the Brittains to him to have begun presently after his death XIII CHAP. 1.2 c. Vortigern chosen King of all Brittany His Character c. 1. HItherto since the time that the Romans had relinquish'd all care and protection of Brittany the severall Provinces of the Island had been governed by petty Princes independent on one another But in the year four hundred thirty and eight by reason of the frequent inroads of their cruell Enemies the Picts and Scotts by a common agreement of the severall Provinces a Generall Captain of the whole Nation was chosen after the example of their Ancestors in the days of Iulius Cesar and the Kingdom established in his line 2. Which choice unhappily fell on Vortigern a man born for the destruction of his countrey for he it is that by his slouthfull vices first weakned it and afterward calling in to
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
read this passage Vther-Pendragon the Brother of Ambrosius dying by poyson in the tenth year after the coming of Cerdic the West-Saxon his Son Arthur a youth of fifteen years began to rule over the Brittains His Mothers name was Igerna and he was born in a Castle of Cornwall call'd Tintagel In which Narration we find no aspersion cast on his Birth Though it be not very credibile which follows in the same Antiquities that by his Mother he was descended from a Nephew of Saint Ioseph of Arimathea call'd Heâ—anis And whereas he is savd to be no more then fifteen years of age when his Father dyed that suits not with what was before related from Malmsburiensis That Ambrosius repress'd the insolence of the Saxons by the courageous exploits of Warlick Prince Arthur So that he could be no lesse then twenty years old at the year of Grace four hundred ninety three By which account since generally our Writers assign twenty six years to his Raign and agree that he dyed in the year five hundred forty two his death will happen when he was seaventy years old II. CHAP. 1.2.3 Prince Arthur fights against the Picts and kills Huel 1. ARthur was not present in the Army when his Father Vther was slain For at the same time he had employment enough to oppose the irruptions of the Picts in the Northern parts of Brittany And for this reason probably it is that in the Annals of the Saxons there is no mention of him the design of which Annals being to relate the encounters between them and the Brittains and their own almost uninterrupted conquests they neglected the affaires intervening betwen the Brittains and Picts 2. Now at that time liv'd a King of the Picts by some writers call'd Navuâ— by others Can happy in a fruitfull offspring for he had four and twenty children Of which the Eldest was call'd Howel or Huel a Prince of invincible courage who would by no means acknowledge any subjection to Brittany into which faction he drew all the rest of his Brethren excepting only S. Gildas sirnam'd Albanius who was one of them and bore a particular affection to Prince Arthur 3. The sayd Huel being of a restles spirit made frequent inroads into Brittany as we read in the life of S. Gildas written by Caradoc a considerable Brittish Historian And so cruelly did he wast the Countrey that the Brittish King sent Prince Arthur with a numerous Army who began a most furious war against the bold young man And after many defeats given him he never left pursuing him till at last compelling him to fight in a certain Island call'd Mynau he slew him III. CHAP. 1.2 c. Of S. Gildas Albanius and his Gests 7.6 Melvas a Brittish Prince steales away K. Arthurs wife 1. HAving upon occasion of King Arthurs war against the Picts made mention of S. Gildas Albanius it will be seasonable in this place to relate breifly his Gests as we find them sprinckled in severall ancient Monuments We have already signified that he is to be distinguish'd from another of that name call'd Gildas Sapiens and Gildas Historicus who was younger then he though contemporary to him of whom we shall treat hereafter Yet their agreement in the same name and in severall good qualities hath been the cause that in some Writers they are confounded together and the titles of Sapiens and Historicus have been attributed also to this elder Saint Gildas who likewise by the testimony of Pits did write the life and Gests of S. German and S. Lupus and also a History of the Brittish Kings and other Treatises besides which are now lost 2. This Elder S. Gildas as we read in his life conserved by Capgrave was the Son of Can King of Albania In his childhood being of an excellent disposition he was carefully instructed in litterature wherein he proffited wonderfully Afterward he was sent into Gaule that there having greater advantages for encreasing in knowledge he might attain to higher perfection There he aboad seaven years after which he returned into Brittany furnish'd not only with â—earning but abundance of Books also a â—â—re treasure in his rude countrey And the report of his eminent learning being spread abroad many flock'd to him from all quarters to be instructed by him 3. But he was more diligent to enrich himself with vertue and piety then knowledge So that none could be found in all those regions comparable to him in assiduous prayers mortifications fasting and wearing sack-cloath He wholly abstaind from flesh contenting himself with barley bread and herbes with which he mix'd ashes to abate the pleasure which his tast might take in his food and his drink was pure water from the fountain He would ordinarily at midnight plunge himself in the river for mortification and spend the rest of the night in Prayer By these austerities he became so lean that he look'd as if he had been in a feaver Whatsoever was bestowed on him by rich men he presently distributed to the poore 4. Being thus qualified his Charity drew him out of his own countrey into Ireland where the Gospel of Christ was not so well settled There he spent many years in instructing that Nation But being informed that in the more Northern parts of his own countrey Gentilism was generally profess'd and those few Christians which lived there were poyson'd with many Heresies he return'd thither And being throughly furnish'd with the Spirituall Armour of God he demonstrated to the Pagans that the supposed Deities worship'd by them were nothing but the inventions of impious men and to the Hereticks that what they beleived was contrary to Divine Truth revealed to Gods Church By these means he brought the Pagans to destroy their Idols and prophane Temples to receive Baptism and erect Churches to the Honour of the true God and the Hereticks he reduced into the bosom of the Catholick Church Now to make his preaching more effectuall our Lord gave him a plentifull Grace to heale the sick to give light to the blind to cure the deaf to cleanse the leaprous and such as were possess'd by the Devill and to make the lame to walk c. Thus by his preaching confirmed with frequent miracles the true Faith was spread through all those Provinces to the unexpressible ioy of S. Gildas who ceased not to give thanks to our Lord for his infinite mercies to those poor people 5. The Authour of his life in Capgrave relates how after this he travelled to Rome But such a iourney not suiting with his old age it is more probable that it was undertaken in his younger years when he lived in Gaule Others write more reasonably that after this employment he was invited by the Holy Abbot Saint Cadocus to take care and preside over the Studies of many young Schollars in the Academy of Lancar-van where he continued only one year leaving there saith Bishop Vsher a Book of the four
of Pope Boniface the fifth to Iustus Arch-bishop of Canterbury writing thus I perceive by your Letters that our Predecessour of Blessed memory Gregory appointed to Augustin and his Successours for the future the Metropolitan and primitive See in the Citty of Canterbury where the Head of the whole Nation since the times of Paganism resideth 20. The same is confirmed by the universall practise of all succeeding times Whereby it is evident that the entire exercise of Ecclesiasticall authority in ordring changing and translating of Bishopricks and Arch-bishopricks was by all our Ancestours acknowledged to belong to the See Apostolick Yea B. Parker a Successour of S. Augustin in the See of Canterbury as to the Rents belonging to it and his kind of iurisdiction also though an Apostat from his Faith challenges this Iurisdiction upon no other grounds but because Saint Augustin received it from Saint Gregory to the prejudice of London and yet both he and his Successours in contradiction to their own claim and practise will deny that Saint Gregory or his Successours enjoyd any lawfull Iurisdiction over Brittany 11. With these letters and by the same Messengers saith S. Beda the zealous and charitable Pope Saint Gregory sent likewise all manner of things necessary for the solemn worship of God and ministery of the Church He furnished them with Sacred Vessels cloathes for Altars Ornaments for Churches Vestments proper for Bishops Preists and other Ecclesiasticks Relicks of the Holy Apostles and Martyrs and likewise very many Books And for this his liberality he is by Calvinists branded with the note of Superstition But it is no wonder that such men would despoyle Gods Church of all splendour and ornaments who have despoyld Faith it self of all good works XIII CHAP. 1.2 c. S. Gregories New Orders touching demolishing Pagan Temples and Rites 5. A Priviledge to the Monastery of Glastonbury 1. WHen S. Gregory had dispatched away these Messengers new cares began to disquiet his mind In his Letter to King Ethelbert he had advised him to demolish the Temples dedicated to Idols that no marks of former Superstition might remain But upon after-thoughts he considered that those Temples being purified might be usefull for the worship of the true God Therefore apprehending the Kings zeale and hasty obedience he hastned away other Letters which saith S. Beda deserve to be recorded as a Monument of his affection and continuall solicitudes for the good of our Nation They were directed to Mellitus Abbot in the tenour following 2. After the departure of thee and thy company we were in great suspension of mind not having heard any tidings of the prosperousnes of your iourney When therefore it shall please God to bring you safe to our most reverend Brother ◠Augustin acquaint him how having diligently considered the affaires of England I have now iudged best that the Temples consecrated to Idols in that Nation should not be demolished but only the Idols themselves Let therefore Holy Water be made and sprinkled through the said Temples and then Altars may be built and Sacred Relicks be placed in them which being done they will be usefull for the service of God And besides the Saxons having cleansed their hearts from Errour by the knowledg and worship of the true God will more willingly and familiarly resort to the accustomed places which they see standing 3. And whereas they were wont to kill many Oxen in their Sacrifices to Devills they may be perswaded to make this change in that solemnity that on the anniversary day of the Dedication of their Churches or Feasts of such Martyrs whose Relicks they have they may raise Tents or Boothes about the said Churches and celebrate the solemnity with merry feasting At which time they must not immolate their beasts to the Devill as formerly but kill them for meat to be eaten to the praise of God the giver of them By this means whilst we permitt them a continuance of their former externall jollities their minds will more easily be brought to entertaine spirituall joys For it will be impossible at once to withdraw such rude untractable minds from all their former customs they will not be brought to perfection by sudden leaps but leasurely by steps and degrees Thus did our Lord indeed make himself known to the people of Israel in Egypt But withall permitting them to continue their custom of Sacrifices he taught them to offer them to his Honour which before they did to Devills Thus their hearts being wholly changed they relinquished some thing and retaind likewise some thing of their former practise So that though the beasts were the same which they were wont to offer yet since they offred them now to God and not to Idols the Sacrifices were not the same These things I desire thee to tell our fore named Brother that he may consider being there present how best to be have himself 4. The discreet Reader may here observe how just a Title this Holy Pope S. Gregory had to the Name of Apostle of the English Nation since amidst the distractions and tumults of businesses which necessarily attēded the care of all Christian Churches yet in one year he could write so many letters give so many admonitions conferr so many Indults and Graces and all this with so much affection zeale labour and solicitude that he may seem to have had no other thing in his thoughts but how to adorn this New English Church and make her fitt to become a beloved Spouse of our Saviour 5. To this year likewise belongs what we read in William of Malmsbury out of the Antiquities of Glastonbury touching a Royall Priviledge then granted to that Monastery In the year of our Lords Incarnation six hundred and one that is five years after the coming of S. Augustin the King of Domnonia granted the land called Ineswitrin to the ancient Church situated there the land containing five families quinque cassata This he did at the Petition of Worgrez Abbot of the same place The Grant was subscribed by Manvorn Bishop and the said Abbot Worgrez Now the Name of the King saith the Authour does not appear being worn out of the Writing by age But that he was a Brittain can not be doubted since he calls the place Ineswitrin for that is the Brittish name We may likewise consider of how great Antiquity the said Church was which is there and then called an ancient Church The Abbots of the same Church were doubtles Brittains too as appears by their barbarous Names Ladaemmid and Bregorer The times when they succeeded one another are unknown But their Names and Dignities are to be plainly seen in a Picture on one side of the Altar in the Great Church XIV CHAP. 1.2 c. K. Ethelberts Munificence to the Church 4.5 Priviledge of Coyning given to S. Augustin and his Successours 9 c. The Arch-bishop of Canterburie's Iurisdiction over all Brittany Ireland c. 1. WE will now
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-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
At that time saith he to witt in the year of our Lords Incarnation six hundred seaventy five Sebbe and Sighere Kings of the East-Saxons constituted Earconwald Bishop in the Citty of Londen whose life and conversation both whilst he was Bishop and before is reported to have been full of Sanctity as the Miracles to this day wrought by his intercession doe demonstrate For the horse litter in which during his sicknes he was wont to be caried and which is preserved by his Disciples does still continue to cure many persons afflicted with feavers and other infirmities Neither doth it work this effect only upon such as are placed under it or leane against it but likewise chipps sliced from it and caried to the sick doe restore them to health 5. We will adioyn hereto the testimony even of B. Godwin likewise Erconwald saith he a man eminent for learning and Sanctity bestowed his whole Patrimony in erecting and endowing Monasteries One he founded for himself at Chertsey and another for Religious Virgins at Barking over which he appointed his Sister Edilburga Abbesse He employed wast summs of money in the structure of the Church dedicated to S. Paul the revenews whereof he much encreased and obtained from the Princes of that age great Priviledges thereto He addsi That his Body was layd in a Coffin of great price and buried in the East part of S. Pauls Church above the high Altar where it continued till about fourscore years agoe at which time it disappeared Concerning this Holy Bishop occasion will offer it self to say more hereafter THE EIGHTEENTH BOOK OF THE CHVRCH-HISTORY OF BRITTANY I. CHAPTER 1.2 c. A debate between Saint Wilfrid and Saint Theodore raised by the covetous Queen of the Northumbers Saint Wilfrids Appeal and banishment 1. IN the year of Grace six hundred seaventy eight Pope Donus dying Pope Agathon succeeded him in the Chair Apostolick whom we shall have occasion frequently to mention by reason of a great controversy this year begun in Brittany between the two Supreme Prelats of this Island S. Wilfrid Arch-bishop of York and S. Theodore of Canterbury which lasted many years sometimes composed by the said Popes authority and again breaking forth to the great disturbance of the peace of our Saxon Churches though it pleased the Divine goodnes by occasion thereof to enlarge his Church by the happy câ—nversion of severall Nations both within and out of Brittany 2. A breif account of this dissention foresignified by a prodigious Comet appearing the same year it thus recorded by S. Beda In the year of our Lords Incarnation six hundred seaventy eight saith he which was the eighth year of the raign of Egfrid King of the Northumbers there appeared in the month of August a Comet or blazing star which for three months together arose every morning representing a great pillar of wonderfull light The same year a dissention arising between the said King Egfrid and the most Reverend Prelat Wilfrid the Holy Arch-bishop was driven from his See and in his place were substituted two Bishops to govern the Nation of the Northumbers to witt Bosa who administred the Episcopall Office in the more Southern parts of the Deiri or Yorkshire c. and Eata in the Nation of the Bernicians or Northumberland c. The former had his Episcopall See at York the other in the Church of Hagulstad Hexham or Lindesfarn Both of them were taken out of a Convent of Monks and thence promoted to the Episcopall degree And together with these a third person named Eadhed was ordained Bishop over the Province of the Lindesfars or Lincolnshire which a short time before King Egfrid having defeated Wulfere King of the Mercians had gott the possession of This Eadhed was the first peculiar Bishop of the said Province the prime Seat of his Bishoprick was Sidnacester a place whose memory is now worn out by age Yet some esteem it to be the same that is now called Gainsborow or at least situated near it from whence in after times the See was translated to Dorchester and last of all to Lincoln where it still remains 5. Thus writes S. Beda of S. Wilfrids expulsion and of a new distinction and institution of Episcopall Sees Saint Ceadda before he was translated to Lichfeild had been the only Prelat of the whole Kingdom of the Northumbers governing both the Churches of York and Lindesfarn He by the sentence of Arch-bishop Theodore surrendred that whole Province to Saint Wilfrid Now Saint Wifrid by the displeasure and Violence of King Egfrid being expelled in his place Bosa administers the See of York and Eata that of the Province of the Bernicians who is reckoned the fifth Bishop of Lindesfarn and first of Hagulstad 4. The Institution of these New Bishopricks was ordered in vertue of the ninth Canon of the fore-mentioned Synod of Hertford assembled by Arch-bishop Theodore five years before this where it was ordained that the number of Christians encreasing Bishopricks likewise should be multiplied From hence issued the first spark of dissension this year between the two Holy Arch-bishops S. Wilfrid and S. Theodore which afteward was raised to a great flame The progresse of which dissension we will consequently relate from William of Malmsbury which indeed took its first originall from the Court of King Egfrid and the malicious envy of his new Queen Ermenburga For it has been fatall to the Brittish Saxon and Norman Churches of this Island that generally disorders and Schisms have been begun by woemen 5. As long as the glorious Virgin Saint Ediltrudis enioyd the Title of Queen and Consort to King Egfrid all things succeeded happily to the Kingdom and Church of the Northumbers and Saint Wilfrid by the great esteem and reverence which his piety and zeale had obtained was well enabled to promote the affairs of the Church But assoon as the said Holy Virgin by Saint Wilfrids assistance had gained her husbands consent to exchange a temporal for a celestiall mariage and to retire into a Religious Solitude enriched with poverty and a want of all sensuall contentments there more freely to enioy the Spirituall embracements of her heavenly Bridegroom King Egbert received into her place a Second Consort Ermenburga a Lady of a disposition much different from the former and particularly tainted with the vices usually enough attending that Sex Covetousnes and Envy 6. By the piety of the former King Oswi and severall of the Nobility so wonderfull an accession of possessions and riches had been made to the tender growing Churches of the Northumbers under the care of Saint Wilfrid that the Sacred Vessels pertaining to Gods Altars were many of them of pure gold and not any of a lower mettall then Silver and the Vestments and other ornaments of a suitable magnificeÌ„ce This splendour dazeled the eyes of the New Queen who with a malignant aspect began to look upon the Holy Arch-bishop by whose zeale such riches had been
Arch-bishoprick for I doe not know any one of the English Nation so capable of it considering the eminence of your learning and skill in the Ecclesiasticall Lawes of Rome As for my self I will by Gods grace for the future be very diligent to wipe out all old offences by my care to perform all good offices and among the rest I will endeavour by my intercession and all the authority I have to reconcile to you all the Princes who have hitherto been your persecutours 3. Saint Wilfrid answered the Arch-bishop with all meeknes as became so holy a person but to accept of the Arch-bishoprick without the order and decree of a Nationall Councill he would by no means consent Saint Theodore notwithstanding used his utmost endeavours to obtain his complyance in this point but in vain Therefore he sent Messengers with letters to Alfrid King of the Northumbers who succeeded Egfrid and to his Sister Elfleda Abbesse of Streneshalch earnestly requiring them to lay aside all displeasure and without delay to receive into their affection and favour the Holy Bishop These Letters are not now extant but others which he wrote to the same effect to Ethelred King of the Marâ—cians have been preserved by William of Malmsbury in this forme 4. Your admirable Sanctity My beloved son may hereby take notice that a perfect reconciliation is made between my self and the Venerable Bishop Wilfrid Therefore I doe admonish you and in the Love of Christ require that yâ—u woulâ— still continue as you have hitherto done your protection of him who these many years has beeâ— despoyled of his revenews and forced to live among Pagans in the Conversion of whom he has seâ—ved our Lord with great effect Therefore I Theodore humble Bishop doe now in my decrepite age make this request unto you desiring the same which the Apostles authority recommends touching a Holy Bishop who has so long a time possessed his soule in patience and in imitation of Christ our Head with all humility and meeknes expects an end of so many injuries done him Moreover if I have found favour in your eyes let mee enioy the comfort of seeing your face most desirable to mee and let not a iourney for that purpose seem burdensome to you that my soule may blesse you before I dye Beloved Son perform the requesâ— I have made you in behalf of the said holy Bishop and be assured that if you obey your Father who am shortly to depart out of this world you will reap great proffit to your soule by it Farewell 5 S. Wilfrid armed with these Letters and reâ—recommendations took his iourney to the Kingdom of the Northumbers and beforâ— he entred it he received a kind invitation â—rom King Alâ—frid who at his coming with the consent of a Synod assembled restored to him all the revenews of which he had been deprived The Church of Lindesfarn was now vacant by the voluntary cession and ensuing death of Saint Cuthbert And as for Bosa Bishop of York and Iohn lately ordained Bishop of Hagulstad or Hexham they shewed a greater inclination to preserve peace and declare their obedience to the ordinance of the Pope then to retain their dignities or revenewes To this effect the foresaid Authour thus writes When Saint Wilfrid came with the Arch-bishops Letters to the forementioned Kings he was entertained with very kind speeches and all expressions of favour And particularly King Alfrid who had familiarly known him before of his own accord invited him to come to him And being arrived he first of all restored to him the Monastery of Hengsteldeim and afterward by decree of a Synod the Bishoprick of York together with the Monastery of Rippon We will now leave him in quiet possession of his Bishoprick which lasted the space of five years after which shall be related fresh troubles and persecutions renewed against him XI CHAP. 1. The Martyrdom of Saint Lewina a Virgin 2.3 Her Relicks removed into Flanders and venerated there 1. TO this year of Grace six hundred eighty seaven is assigned in our ancient Records the death and Martyrdom of a certain Brittish Virgin called Lewina whose memory is celebrated in our Martyrologe on the two twentieth day of Iuly and she is said to have been slain in this our Island by a certain Saxon out of his hatred to the Christian Faith She suffred in the Province of the South-Saxons whom S. Wilfrid had lately converted to the Faith And she was buried in Sussex at a place called Seaford not far from the Town of Lewes which probably took its name from this Virgin 2. When the Danes in after ages cruelly vexed this Island and with a furious zeale imitated since by Calvinistes raged against the Monuments of Saints the Holy Virgins Body was taken up and translated beyond Sea where it was reposed at a place called Berga or Monts in Brabant or rather Flanders where now is seated the Town of S. Winoc Thus writes Miraeus in his Belgick Calender on the two and twentieth of Iuly Then is celebrated the memory of Levinna or Lewina an English Virgin whe flourished under Eubert or rather Egbert the Father of Alfrid King of the English Nation and suffred Martyrdom in the time of Theodore the seaventh Arch-bishop of Canterbury Her Sacred Body was taken out of her Monument by Edelin a Bishop and translated at last to Bergs of S. Winâ—c together with the Relicks of S. Oswald King and Martyr and of S. Itiâ—berga or Idalberga a Virgin Concerning the Miracles of Saint Lewina there is extant a Book written by Drogo Bishop of the Morini or Teroüâ—â—ne 3 Consonantly hereto wee read in the Gallican Martyrologe on the fifth of August At Bergs in the Province of the Morini is then celebrated the Memory of the reception of Saint Lewina Virgin and Martyr whose most Sacred Body was by Balger a Monk of Bergs brought to his Monastery from the Monastery of S. Andrew at Zevored or Seaford a Sea port in England The said Sacred Body being caried through severall villages and Towns in Flanders before it came to Bergs became illustrious by many Miracles affording comfort and health to any one who implored her intercession as Drogo Bishop of the Morini manifestly declares in his Book of the said holy Virgin and Martyrâ— Miracles XII CHAP. 1. Ina King of the West-Saxons 2.3 c. Saint Aldelm at Rome obtains Priviledges for his Monastery of Malmsbury A fabulous report concerning Pope Sergius 1. IN the year of Grace six hundred eighty eight began the raign of the glorious King Ina King of the West-Saxons as we have already declared when we treated of the cession of King Cedwalla after his conversion who left his throne to undertake a pilgrimage to Rome there to receive Baptism where he happily dyed in his Baptismall innocence 2. The same year Saint Wilfrid contenting himself with the Churches of York and Hagulstad which he administred with great
moreover pay the said First-fruits twelve-fold 5 If any one guilty of a Capitall Offence shall flye to the Church Let him enioy his life and make compensation according to iustice and Law And if any one who has committed a fault punishable onely with stripes and shall implore the priviledge and favour of the Church let those stripes be remitted 3. Then after severall Ordinances touching Civill matters follows the eleaventh Law If any one shall buy one of his own countrey servant or free or guilty of any crime and shall send him away to be sold beyond sea let his penalty be the full price of such a person and moreover let him make full satisfaction both to God and his Master That this was the ancient custom among the Saxons to sell their children hath been formerly declared in the relation how S. Gregory having seen in the Roman market-place certain children brought to sale out of the Province of the Northumbers was by that spectacle moved to procure the conversion of our countrey The twelfth Law is If any one shall bring a false testimony or pledge before a Bishop let his penalty be one hundred and twenty shillings soâ—lidos 4 We will hereto add the two and twentieth Law though not regarding the Church because therin is the first mention that can any where be found of the Welsh Walli Let a Wallus or stranger who payes an annuall taxe be rated at one hundred and twenty shillings and his Son at one hundred From whence we may observe that the German-Saxons among us called the Brittains Walli or Welchmen a Name which they never gave to themselves and the utmost Western Province Cornwall not from a certain Qveen called Wallia nor as descended from the Gaules but because they were strangers and spoke a language not understood by them for such the Germans call Wealsh and hence it is that the lower Germans called their neighbours towards France Wallons as Camden has learnedly observed 5. There remain onely three Laws which regard Bishops and the Font of Baptism One is the forty sixth Law in which by the piety and sence of that age a King and a Bishop are in a sort esteemed equall Let one hundred and twenty shillings be the penalty of one breaking peace in a town of the King or Bishop and fourscore shillings in the town of a Senatour who is called in the Saxon tongue Ealdorman and Eorle c. Another Law is this Let every one pay the first fruits of his Seeds out of that house in which he abode at the Solemnity of our Lords Nativity 6. The last being the seaventy fifth in order is this If any one shall kill the God-father or God-son of any one let him pay to the kinred of the person slain as much as is due to a Lord for compensation of the slaughter of his servant And let this payment be encreased or diminished according to the rate of the slain persons estimation in like manner as the payment to a Lord for his servant slain is to be rated But if the person slain was the Kings God-son let satisfaction be made to him according to that made to the kinred of the slain But if such a mans life was taken away by one of his kinred let some abatement be made of the money to be payed to the God-Father accordingly as it uses to be done when money is to be payed to the Lord for the slaughter of his servant And if he who is slain be the Son of a Bishop let the amercement be diminished by the halfe 7. As touching this last clause Sir Henry Spelman well observes That whereas some Writers would thence contend that Bishops in this age were married because here is mention made of a Bishops Son they are mistaken For this is not to be understood of the Naturall or coniugall Son of a Bishop but of his spirituall Son for whom he was undertaker at the Sacred font This is manifest from the Rubrick of this Law which is inscribed Of the slaughter of a God-father or God-son or to use the ancient Terms Of him that shall kill Patrinum or filiolum of any one For in old time a God-father or undertaker for one in Baptisme was called Patrinus and a God-son filiolus as now in France Parrain and Filieul 8. In generall from these Laws of King Inas wee may observe That among the Saxons man slaughter was never punished with death but onely with a fine of money nor any other crime except Robbery and that committed not by a single person but by at least seaven in a troop So tender they were of blood Wheras in later times the life of a man is become of so low an estimation that the losse of it is made the satisfaction for a trifle as the private pilfering of any thing beyond the valew of a shilling And the like tendernes of mens lives wee may observe in the Lawes of all the Northern Nations of old as the Visigoths Vandals Lombards c. XVI CHAP. 1.2 c. S. Aldelm appointed to write to the Brittish King of Cornwall to invite his Bishops to Catholick Vnity 4. His Book of Virginity written to certain devout Virgins 1. AS touching the foresaid Assembly in which these Laws were enacted whether it may properly be called a Synod is doubtfull But since in the Title of these Laws the only persons as Authours of the same named are King Inas himself by the perswasion and appointment of his Father Kenred and Hedda and Erkenwald his Bishops together with his Aldermen it is not probable that this was that Synod concerning which S. Beda writes thus Aldelm being only a Preist and Abbot by command of a Synod of his Nation wrote an excellent Book against the errours of the Brittains because they celebrated Easter not in its due Season and did many things contrary to Ecclesiasticall chastity and peace So the printed Copies read wheras in ancient Manuscripts we read Ecclesiasticall Charity and peace and concerning which Synod S. Aldelm himself thus writes When I was lately in a Synod of Bishops assembled out of all Brittany almost an innumerable company of Gods Preists mett there c. 2. However certain it is that such a Nationall Synod of the English-Saxons was convoked and held about this time in which after wholesome Constitutions made for the regulating and composing their own Churches the charity of those Bishops extended it self to their uncharitable neighbours the Brittains especially such as inhabited in Cornwall under the government of their King then called Geruntius who was Tributary to Inas King of the West-Saxons Which Brittains hitherto retained their old aversion and hatred of the Saxons and perhaps for that reason were obstinate in persisting in their old Errours particularly about Ecclesiasticall Tonsure and which was most considerable an undue celebration of Easter insomuch as this their perversenes rendred them Schismaticks from the Catholick Church To restore
Concerning him thus we read in the Authour of his Life in Capgrave The Venerable Confessour of Christ Saint Brithun drew his originall from the Nation of the English He was Deacon for many years to the Holy Bishop of York Saint Iohn of Beverley and for the sanctity â—f hâ—s life and laudable conversation he was in his affection preferred by him before others and constituted Abbot in the Monastery of Deirwode now called Beverley which the said Holy Bishop built from the foundations And to the same Monastery Saint Iohn in his old age refigning his Bishoprick retired by the counsell of the said holy Abbot where also he dyed after he had spent four years in an Angelicall purity of conversation After his translation to heavenly ioyes the Venerable Abbot imitating his good Master persevered to the end of his life in watchings fastrags prayers and other good works For he was a lover of vertues a persecutour of vice a despiser of this present world a Zealous aspirer to heavenly ioyes a faithfull guardian and instructour of the flock committed to him an unwearied practiser of jâ—stice and piety a munificent disperser of Almes and in a word one who with all diligence performed whatsoever he knew to be pleasing to God Thus constantly serving our Lord in all good works to his decrepiâ—e age he crownd a most holy life with a suitable death and having quiâ—ted this world on the Nones of May he received his reward in heaven His body was with great hâ—nour buried in his own Monastery Where in processe of time his sanctity becoming illustrious by many Miracles with consent of the Clergy and people it was taken up and his sacred Relicks placed near the Coffin of his beloved Master and Instructour the Holy Bishop Saint Iohn close to the Altar in his Church of Beverley 3. The same year is recorded the devout Pilgrimage of Daniel Bishop of Winchester to Rome who is supposed by â—ome to have subscribed to a Synod about this time assembled there in which a heavy Anathema is pronounced against al such as presume to associate to themselves in mariage any Virgins or other women consecrated to God or those whose matrimonial society men being promoted to such orders have according to the Churches Discipline been obliged to forsake XII CHAP. 1. A Rebellion of the South-Saxons repressed 2.3 c. Of Saint Pechelm Bishop of Casa Candida and of S. Wirâ— an Irish Bishop 6.7 c. Casa Candida was within the Saxon Dominions 1. THE year following great commotions were raised in the Southern parts of Brittany For the South-Saxons impatient of the yoak layd on them by the West-Saxons elected among them a Generall a young man of great courage called Ealdbrith under whose conduct they seised on a strong Castle newly built by King Inas in Somersetshire at the River Thone therefore called Thoneton and now Taunton At which time King Inas being by some design or perhaps by sicknes diverted his magnanimous Queen Edilburga with a choice army layd siege to the said Castle and in a short space took and destroyd it that it should no more be a seat of Rebellion But Ealdbrith by flight escaped into Surrey and from thence retired into Sussex where King Inas following him with a powerfull army and fighting with him dispersed all his forces and slew Ealdbrith so utterly extinguishing the rebellion 2. The same year a New Episcopall See was erected in the Province of the Picts or rather an ancient one being decayed was restored This was the Episcopall See called Candida Casa and a holy man called Pecthelm was consecrated Bishop of it For thus writes S. Beda concluding his History Pecthelm now sitts Bishop in that part of the Province which is called Candida Casa or White house the which Diocese was newly erected by reason of the multiplying of beleivers in those parts and the first Bishop was the said Pecthelm 3. Wee have in the eighth book of this History declared how in the year of Grace three hundred ninety four S. Siricius Pope consecrated S. Ninian first Bishop of the Southern Picts who established his Episcopal See at this place where he built a Church to the honour of S. Martin and with great industry converted a great part of the Nation But after the Saxons had subdued the Picts wee read of certain Bishops of the Picts as about forty years before this the devout Bishop Trumwin but it seems they had no determinate See at least not this of Wite-hern or Candida Casa which was at this time restored 4. As for this Pecthelm he was a man of great piety and learning and so illustrious that he was consulted in difficulties of great importance by Saint Boniface as appears by severall Epistles yet extant In his younger age he was educated in the kingdom of the West-Saxons where he was Disciple to the famous Saint Aldelm and made Deacon as William of Malmsbury testifies After that he went over into Germany where he associated himself to Saint Willebrord and was present at a Synod assembled by that Holy Apostolick Bishop at Vtrecht to which his name is found subscribed It was he who related to Saint Beda the sad Story of the impenitent Soldier and favourite of Coenred King of the Mercians formerly recounted in this History 5. By whom this holy man was consecrated Bishop not any of our Historians doe declare but in the Belgick Calendars published by Miraeus we read that he was ordained Bishop by the Pope as likewise the companion of his pilgrimage Saint Wâ—ro For there wee read this passage Saint Plechelm so he is there named born of Noble parents in the kingdom of the Northumbers from his youth excelled in humility and modesty and even in that tender age chastised his body by watchings and fastings attending assiduously to Prayer Being come to riper age he was diligent in the study of Holy Scriptures When he was promoted to the order of Preisthood he was liberall to the poor and adornâ—d with all vertues insomuch as that internall Light which he received from Gods holy Spirit shone forth gloriously in all his actions Not long after associating himself to Saint Wiro he accompanied him in a pilgrimage to the Monuments of the Blessed Apostles Saint Peter and Saint Paul at Rome There they with great devotion visited all holy places and by assiduous Mortifications and prayers offred themselves Holocausts of sweet savour to God These two holy men being observed by the Pope to be endued with divine wisedom and enflamed with Charity he consecrated them Bishops and enriching them with Sacred Relicks of Saints he dismissed them to their own countrey There Plechelm became Bishop in the Church called Candida Casa where with unwearied labour he extinguished all remainder of Idolatry 6. Here is a great controversy against the Saxon pretentions raised by the ancient Scotts or Irish and the Modern Scotts each of them challenging to their
to it together with the Isle of Wight Again how by the ministery of the Holy Preists Ceddand Ceadda the Province of the Mercians came to embrace the Faith of Christ before unknown to them and that of the East-Saxons to recover that Faith which once received was afterward reiected by them And likewise how those two Holy Fathers spent their lives in all Sanctity and how happily they dyed all these things wee learnt from the Religious Brethren of the Monastery of Lestingen built by them Moreover in the Province of the East-Angles the Ecclesiasticall Gests wee understood partly by writings and Tradition of their Ancestours and partly by the relation of the most Reverend Abbot Esius 5. But as touching the Province of Lindissi or Lincoln how the Faith of Christ 〈◊〉 spread there together with the Succession of Bishops we were informed in some part by Letters of the most Revered Bishop Cymbert or Kinebert or by discoursing with severall men of good credit To conclude the occurrents hapning in the Kingdom of the Northumbers and severall regions of it these I came to the knowledge of by the constant report not of a few but of allmost innumerable Witnesses who might well know or remember them besides many things to which I my self can give testimony Among which those things which I have written concerning our most holy Father and Bishop Saint Cuthbert either in this History or in a particular Book of his Gests those I received and transcribed out of certain writings compiled by the Religious Monks of the Church of Lindesfarn the sincerity of which I had no reason to suspect and to those I added with great care many other things which I my self learnt from the most sure attestation of severall faithfull and sincere persons 6. To conclude I humbly entreat the Reader that in case he find in those my Writings any particular passage swerving from Truth he would not impute that to mee as my fault since my only care has been simply and sincerely to commit by writing to posterity for their instruction such things as either from vulgar fame or writings of former ages I have collected Now it is against the generall Law of History that the Writer should be answerable for the mistakes of other men Thus much touching the Truth and sincerity of S. Beda's History XXIV CHAP. 1.2 c. The birth life and Gests of the Venerable Doctour of the Church S. Beda 1. WE will in the last place adde a Narration of the Life and blessed Death of this great Ornament of his age and glory of our Island S. Beda a man so admirably eminent in all kinds of learning so excellent a Poet an Oratour an Historian an Astronomer an Ariâ—hmetician a Chronographer a Cosmographer a Philosopher and a Divine that it was a common saying among the learned of his age That a man born in the utmost corner of the earth had dazeled the whole world with the luster of his Witt and learning And such use he made of all these great Talents in his life that according to his own testimony between the observances of Regular Disciplin and dayly singing the Divine Office in the Church he always found a great sweetnes in learning or teaching or writing some thing For which in his life time he was first by Pope Sergius and for that reason perhaps generally by all stiled Venerable and in that regard that Title since his death has by the whole Church been in a sort appropriated to him For though in all Histories and Martyrologes his Sanctity is celebrated yet he is seldom found written or named Saint but Venerable Beda so that perhaps I may incurr the censure of some Readers for not observing the same in this present History 2. How long he lived cannot certainly be determined Some as hath been said assign his death to this year in which he concluded his History But this is sufficiently disproved in that Saint Boniface fourteen years afther this writing to Egbert Arch-bishop of York and desiring some Books of Venerable Beda to be sent to him speaks of him as then newly dead for he entitles him a man as he had heard who of late had been much enriched with divine Grace and spirituall knowledge and shined gloriously in that Province c. And the like passage we find in an Epistle of the same Holy Bishop to Cuthbert Abbot and Disciple of S. Beda 3. Again others prolong his age beyond the year of Grace seaven hundred seaventy six grounding their opinion on an Epistle written as by him that year to a Preist called Withreda Vpon which account he should many years over-live Saint Boniface contrary to what was even now produced Moreover severall of our ancient Historians place his death four years after this But neither will S. Bonifaces expression well suit with that position 4. In this uncertainty without interposing mine own iudgment it seemd most expedient since we can no longer make use of the testimony and light of this so holy and faithfull an Historian to adioyn his own story to that which he wrote of his countrey especially considering that wee find no Gests of his hereafter inter-woven with the generall Ecclesiasticall affairs so that without any preiudice to order wee may treat of his end in this place conveniently enough 5. He was born in the year of Grace six hundred seaventy one as evidently appears in that himself affirms that he was this year in which he concluded his History fifty nine years old The place of his Birth was a little village not far from Durham called Girwy now Iarrow where the River Tine is ready to fall into the Sea A village then of no consideration though since ennobled not only by his birth but by its neighbourhood to the famous Monastery of Saint Peter founded by S. Benedict Biscop three years after S. Beda was born and it self being the Seat of another Monastery about eight years after built by the same Holy Abbot and dedicated to S. Paul 6. Who or of what condition his parents were hath not been recorded but in a poor village then so obscure we may expect to find inhabitants as obscure What ever condition they were of he was in his infancy deprived of them both and left to the care of his kinred who probably for want of subsistence recommended him being but seaven years old to the care and discipline of the foresaid S. Benedict by which means he in his tender years was imbibed in the rudiments of a Monasticall Life according to the Rule of the Great Patriark of Monasticall Instition S. BENEDICT which Rule as hath been declared was not long before this time introduced into the Province of the Northumbers by the famous Bishops S. Wilfrid 7. In this Monastery of S. Peter seated at Wiremouth S. Beda under so carefull and pious a Master spent his time in all innocence and devotion till he came to an age capable of Professing that Disciplin under
which he had been bred and then he was committed to the care and government of the Holy Abbot Ceolfrid in the new-built Monastery of Saint Paul at Girwy or Iarrow the place of his birth from whom he received the Monasticall Habit. 8. What speciall Masters he found there of ability sufficient to train him up in learning and to bring him to that prodigious perfection therein as that he became the wonder of all Christendom it does not appear There were indeed then in the kingdom oâ— Kent two eminent Masters in all kinds of Literature S. Theodore Arch-bishop and S. Adrian Abbot of Canterbury But it is without any ground from History that some Modern Writers have sent him thither to Schoole Neither is there any necessity to frame such an imagination For S. Beda himself describing the plenty and richnes of the Library which with immense costs Saint Benedict Bishop provided for his Monastery wee ought not to doubt but that he furnished Masters likewise to make those Books usefull to the Religious Disciples living there Neither indeed was there probably any great necessity of eminent Masters to a Schollar of so vast a capacity as Saint Beda It was sufficient for him to be taught the rudiments of our learning for after that his own naturall quicknes of witt and solidity of iudgment would not faile to make a speedy progresse especially since he enioyd the advantage of so famous a Library of the richnes whereof himself alone was a Proof more then sufficient since it appears by such a world of volumes written by him he wanted not instructions in all manner of Litterature and in all learned languages 9. It is a sufficient sign that he was very early much advanced in learning and in esteem likewise for piety that when he was entring into his twentieth year he was at the request of his Abbot S. Ceolfrid promoted to the Order of Deacon by the famous Bishop S. Iohn of Beverley then newly possessed of the See of Hagustald who by some Writers is affirmed also to have been an Instructour of S. Beda in learning and specially in the study of Holy Scriptures 10. Assoon as he was thirty years old he was by command of the same Abbot advanced to the degree of Preist-hood For in these days that was the age which rendred persons capable of that sublime Order in which the Church proposed to her self our Blessed Saviour for an Example who about those years began the Ministery of his Propheticall Office as the Gospell teaches us Though in succeeding times the same Church for reasons no doubt weighty has diminished six years of that measure 11. At this time S. Beda's fame for learning was so spread even among forrain Nations that Pope Sergius by Letters written to the Holy Abbot Ceolfrid called S. Beda to Rome to be his assistant in Ecclesiasticall affaires dispatches as Saint Ierom had been anciently to Pope Damasus The Epistle of the same Pope saith Baronius is extant to Ceolfrid in Brittany Abbot of that Monastery in which Saint Beda had been educated and was grown into a perfect man illustrious for his Sanctity and learning Whereupon the same Pope commanded he should be sent to him The tenour of the Epistle is this 12. What words are sufficient to exalt the unexpressible clemency and Providence of our God towards us so as that we may render him worthy praises for his immense benefits bestowed on us whom out of darknes and the shadow of death he hath called and brought to the light of his knowledge Ad a little after he proceeds thus Know that we have with a chearfull mind received the present and grace of Benediction which thy Religious devotion has sent us by the bearer of these And wee doe most willingly comply with those requests which so opportunely and with such a religious solicitude thou hast made unto us Wee doe likewise exhort thy Piety as becomes one who has a true zeale for the advancement of the Holy Church that since there have been of late raised here certain difficulties about Ecclesiasticall causes of great weight the examination and clearing whereof cannot be long delayd thou wouldst not fayle to afford thy devout obedience to our request and without delay to send hither to the shrines of my Lords and thy favourable Patrons and Protectours S. Peter and S. Paul Princes of the Apostles the Religious servant of God Beda a Venerable Preist of thy Monastery that he may here appear in our presence And doe not doubt but as soon as the said causes shall through Gods assistance be solemnly determined he being assisted with thy prayers shall shortly return to thee in safety I doe the more confidently desire this from thee because I doe not doubt but whatsoever he shall contribute to the generall good of the Church will be proffitable to thee and to all committed to thy charge 13. Some Writers are of opinion that S. Beda accordingly undertook this iourney But that is not very probable since Pope Sergius dyed toward the end of this very year in which S. Beda was made Preist and in these Letters he is named Venerable Preist so that there could not intervene space enough for so long a voyage Besides this if he himself had been at Rome he had stood in no need of Nothelm's searching into the Archives of that See for furnishing thence fitt materialls for his History since he himself might more conveniently have done it 14. There doe not occurre in our Ecclesiasticall Writers many more particular matters touching his life Neither indeed can it be expected For what can be said of a solitary Religious man and a student but that he passed his dayes and nights in Prayer to God in Sacred learning and Writing and in Teaching others And thus much he delivers of himselfe in a Postscript to his Ecclesiasticall History So many volumes written by him doe testify almost an impossibility that he should have mispent any hower of his life especially considering how considerable a part of it the dayly attendance to Psalmody in the Church and other Regular observances in the Monastery would require 15. He had saith Trithemius many eminent men his Disciples whom by his example and most fervent exhortations he did incite to a love of Holy Scriptures so that his endeavour was to render them illustrious not so much by studies as religion and sanctity Out of all Brittany men flowed to him desirous to advance themselves in sacred knowledge and piety under his Direction 16. He adioynd to his History a Catalogue of his Works containing about seaventy severall Books Of which some have miscaried Some also were afterward published as having been written after he had made the said Catalogue which as himself testifies was this year when he was fifty nine years old For there is an excellent Epistle of Spirituall advice which he sent to Egbert Bishop of York instructing him in Pastorall Duties Now Egbert
thereto But the peircing eyes of a Lover discovered her flight pursued her thither Which she perceiving by secret pathes through our Lords guidance she escaped to Oxford whither she arrived very late in the dark night But thither also did lust and rage conduct the furious Lover who early in the morning entred the Town Then the Holy Virgin whose strength was wholly spent utterly despaired of all succour from Creatures and therefore having recourse to Gods omnipotence only she with rears begged of him a defence to her self and punishment to the Ravisher This she did at the instant when the Young Prince whose Name was Alard or Algar was entring the gate of the Town attended by many servants She had no sooner sent up his Prayer to heaven but by a Divine hand the lustfull young man was struck with blindnes Which visible iudgment opened the eyes of his mind and made him clearly perceive how hatefull to God his obstinate attempt was Whereupon by Messengers directed to the Virginâ—e â—e condemned his own foâ—ly and with great submission begged pardon promising an eternall banishment of all such desires out of his mind This his repentance procured compassion â—rom the Holy Virgin by whose â—enewd Prayers his blindnes was as quickly cured as â—t had been inflicted This Miracle recorded by all our Historians was so notable to all and so unquestioned for many Aâ—es that as William of Malmsbury observes the Princes of this Island had a scrupulous fear to enter into that gate of the Citty which Algar found so fatall to himself 14 In thankfullnes to God for this deliverance the pious Virgin erected another Monastery where assembling other chast companions of the same Institut and devotion she â—pent the remainder of her life in purity and divine Contemplation And after her death her immaculate Body reposing there became the principall Ornament of the Citty For though long before this in the time of the Brittains Oxford had been a Seat of the Muses yet wee doe not find that the English Saxons as yet had restored it to that dignity 15. Hence it is that Camden a diligent surveyer of ancient Monuments thus writes Our Ancestours the Brittains with great prudence consecrated this Citty of Oxford to the Muses which from Greklade they translated hither as to a more happy and fruitfull Seminary But the following ages under the Saxons being much employed in destroying of Citties this place was not exempted from the common lott So that for a long time it was celebrated for nothing but the Relicks of S. Frideswâ—de who was numbred among the Saints because a certain Prince called Algar violently attempting her chastity after she had by solemn vowes consecrated it to God was miraculously struck with blindnes 16 The Memory of her Sanctity is celebrated in our Martyroloâ—e on the niâ—eteenth of October And as for her Monastery a first inhabited by Religious Virgins it was in after times possessed by Seculars Canons from them it came to Regulars as shall be shewd in due time 17. This year aâ—so dyed S. Ethelburga formerly Queen of the West-Saxons who had so zealously and prudently incited her Husband King Ina to relinquish the perishing glory and pleasures of this world that he might without interruption attend only to eternal and Spirituall happines After his departure to Rome she retired her self into that famous Monastery of Barking where she professed a Religious life and after some time was elected Abbesse in which Office having with great Sanctity spent severall years she happily dyed and is numbred in our Martyrologe among the Saints on the ninth of Iuly William of Malmsbury writing of her and King Ina her husband says that they were both united in mutuall charity during their Lives and after their deaths both dignified by God with Divine Miracles 18. This is a different S. Ethelburga from her who was first Abbesse of the same Monastery of â—arking who was daughter of Anna King of the East Saxons and Sister to Saint Erâ—oâ— Wald Bishop of London She had for her Successour in the Office of Abbâ—sse 〈◊〉 S. Hildelitha to whom S. Aldelm dedicated his Book of Virginity And after her the third Abbesse of the same Monastery was this Saint Ethelburga Queen of the West-Saxons Insomuch as that Monastery well deserved 〈◊〉 Title given it by one of our Historians who stiles it a well known Sacred Repository of many Saints 19. Wee will conclude the occurrents of this year with breifly recording the Memory of a certain devout Hermite called S. Aâ—nuâ—f who as a Memoriall of his Sanctity has 〈◊〉 his name to a Town in Huntingdonshire whâ—â—e he piously lived and happily dyed â—is called Arnulfsbury or more contractedly Eynsbâ—ry near a place dedicated to S. Neoâ— There this devout Hermite having served God many years with great fidelity and fervour after he had filled the whole Province with the odour of his vertues this same year blessedly dyed as wee read in our Martyrologe where his Name is recorded among the Saints oâ— the two and twentieth of August X. CHAP. 1. 2. c. The Letters of Pope Zachrias to S. Boniface with severall Ordonnances 1 IN the year of Grace seaâ—en hundred forty one Pope Gregory third of that name dyed to whom succeeded Pope Zachrias Which being come to the knowlâ—dge of S. Boniface in Germany he presently wrote an Epistle to him by one oâ— his Preistâ— called Denechard to testify his obedience give him an account of his proceed in S. AmoÌ„g which he inform'd him that he had newly erecteâ— three Bishopricks in Germany The Episcopall Seat oâ— one was a Town called Wirtzburg of another Buriburg and of the third Erfsfurt or as some write Eychstedt so called from the abundance of Oakes growing near These Episcopall Sees he desires may be confirmed and established by the Pope And severall other Points he added in which he humbly desired the said Popes Order and resolution As will appear by the Answer returned to him the following year 2. Another Letter likewise he sent by the same Preist to a certain Prefect whose Territory lay in his way to Rome desiring him that he would grant the same security and afford the same assistance to this his Messenger that he had formerly done to others The said Prefects name is Regibert 3. As touching the three Episcopall Sees by him newly erected he does not name the Bishops ordaind in them But by the Subscriptions to a Synod the next year wee may collect that they were those three Preists which in the year of our Lord seaven hundred twenty five he had called to his assistance out of Brittany namely Burchard Witta and Willebald Burchard was consecrated by him Bishop of Wirtzburg Herbipolis Witta who likewise from Whitenes for so the German name signifies is by some named Albuinus had his See at Buriburg an ancient Town near Fritzlare or Paderborn And Willebald who came out of
to destroy them in her husbands absence and so as that it might not come to the notice of any Presently therefore by the Devills suggestion she found two fitt Ministers of her cruelty who for a certain reward promised to satisfy her At this time it hapned on a certain night that Saint Kilian being not perfectly awaked fâ—om sleep there appeard to him a certain man in glorious apparell who said Freind Kilian arise thy labours are almost at an end there remains onely one conflict more and then thou thalt come home to mee with victory Having said this he presently vanished out of his sight And the Holy Bishop arising called to him his two companions knowing this to have been a divine Visitation and said to them My Brethren Now let us watch for our Lord is at hand to knock at our dore Let us take heed he find us not unprepared At midnight therefore as they were devoutly busy in prayer the two bloody executiones entred the room Whom assoon as the Holy Bishop saw he said to them Freinds Wherefore come you hither Doe you execute what you are commanded and we will finish our course Assoon as this was said they were all three murdred and buried in the same place likewise into the same grave were cast their Books and Vestments that no sign of their death might appear but it should be thought that they were travelled to some other place The abominable Duchesse likewise made a Stable be built over the place where the Sacred Bodies had been buried to prevent any sign of what had been done 8. Shortly after the Duke returning went to the house where he had left the Holy men and not finding them he enquired diligently whither they were gone the Dutches told him that they being at liberty without any restraint were gone whither they thought good With this answer the Duke was satisfied and enquired no further But not long after one of the Murderers was suddenly possessed by the Devill and cryed out with a loud voyce O Kilian thou pursuest mee terribly I am consumed with fire I see over my head a sword dropping with thy blood Thus roaring out and tearing his own flesh with his teeth he from a temporall torment was carried to torments everlasting The other likewise becoming raging-mad cast himself on his own sword and so in despair dyed At last the execrable Duchesse seeing these things was seised on and terribly tormented by Devills and with all her power cryed out I am iustly tormented for it was I who sent Murderers to destroy the Holy men O Kilian thou pursuest mee terribly O Koloman thou burnst mee O Totnan thou addest fewell to the fire Thus raging and blaspheming she was so horribly vexed that the force of many men could scarce hold her and in the end after intolerable torments she went to the place of endlesse inconceivable torments 9. After these things were past the generall report is that the Duke Gozbert was murdred by his own servants and his Son deprived of the Dukedom yea and all his kinred and freinds so persecuted by the inhabitants of the countrey that they were scarce permitted to live in it But the cause of all these disorders is not known whether it was for their constancy in the true Faith or some other Motive 10. The Martyrdom of these holy Saints hapned in the year of Grace six hundred eighty nine three years after they returned from Rome And their name is celebrated among Gods Saints on the eighth of Iuly Their Bodies were discovered to a certain man called Atalongus by his young schollars who by a Divine impulse cryed out that three Holy men were buried in such a place For which Atalongus reprehending them was strook with blindnes and miraculously recovered his sight when the â—acred Bodies were taken up From his relation Saint Boniface was informed of these things who therefore caused them to be honourably removed to another place And in respect to them procured the Town of Wirtzburg to be erected into an Episcopall See XXVI CHAP. 1.2 Cuthred the West Saxon King frees himself from subjection to the Mercian 6. Prince Caroloman becomes a Monk and his Brother Pipin crowned King of France in the room of Childeric who is deposed 1. AT this time began the decadence of the Mercian Kingdom and the advancement of that of the West-Saxons Before this year the Mercian was both in largenes of dominion riches and power incomparably surmounting any other in Brittany insomuch as except the Northumbers all the other States even that of the West-Saxons were tributary to him But God whose Providence had ordained that the whole English-Saxon Nation in Brittany should be reduced into one Monarchy under the West-Saxon race inspired courage into Cuthred King of the West-Saxons and a resolution by arms to â—ree hiâ—â—elf from dependance on the Mercian Crown Whereupon having composed all matters at home and received into Grace the valiant Captain Edilhun he assembled all the forces of his Kingdom against Ethelbald who mett him with an equall Army at a place called Beorsord probably the same which his now called Bursord in Shropshire where the preference between them was determined Henry of Huntingdom beyond any other of our Historians relates most exactly the circumstances of this war in this manner 2. Cuthred King of the West-Saxons in the thirteenth year of his raign not being able longer to support the imperious exactions and insolencies of the Mercian King Ethelbald raised an Army and boldly mett him in the feild at Beorford chusing much rather to expose himself to death then to suffer his liberty to be any longer restrained He brought with him the valiant Captain Edilhun whom he had lately received into grace on whose courage and prudence he did so much rely that he the more confidently undertook this warr On the other side Ethelbald who stiled himself King of Kings came into the feild attended wâ—â—h a potent army composed besides his own Mercians of Kentish-men East-Saxons and East-Angles 3. Both these armies being ranged in Order and marching directly towards one another when they were almost ready to meet the Courageous Edilhum who went in the front of the West-Saxons carying the Kings Ensign which was a golden Dragon struck the Enemies Standard bearer through the body upon which the West-Saxons gave a great showt and received great encouragement Then the Armies mett and the battell began with incredible fury and a thundring noise of clashing of arms resounding of strokes and crying out of wounded men trampied under feet Each part fought the more eagerly because they were assured that the Victory would for ever make either the Mercians or West-Saxons Masters of the other One might see there two Armies which a little before had dazeled the sight with the shining of their Armour and which looked like two forestâ— by reason of innumerable spears erected presently after all defild and obscured with dust and blood
made in the Archives at Rome for the writing and Commission given by Pope Sergius to Saint Willebrord by which might appear the insufficiency of the pretentions of the Bishop of Colen 8. The Answer hereto from Rome is not now extant but by the proceedings of S. Boniface it appears that the cause went on his side For he administred the affairs of the See of Vtrecht without any dependency on the Bishop of Colen 9. Being ready to begin his iourney he sent for the Religious Virgin S. Lioba one of those which he had invited out of England to establish Regular Discipline in Germany and exhorted her earnestly not to desert this countrey in which she was a stranger nor to faint in a vigorous pursuit of her holy employment but to perfect the good work begun by her He told her that bodily weaknes and infirmities were not considerable neither was an age esteemed by us long to be regarded if compared with eternall Rewards which shall crown all our good endeavours Having said this he commended her earnestly to Bishop Lullus and the Seniour Monks of the said Monastery admonishing them to shew all care and respect to her Telling them with all that it was his resolution that after both their deaths her bones should be layd near to his in the same grave that they may expect the day of Resurrâ—ction together since they had served our Lord with the same desire and affection When he had said this he bestowd on her his Monasticall Cowle once more admonishing her not to forsake that Land of her pilgrimage Thus all things being prepared for his iourney he went into Friseland These things are extracted out of the Life of S. Lioba written by Rodolphus at the request of Rabanus Maurus XXIX CHAP. 1.2 c. The last Gests and Martyrdom of S. Boniface and his Companions 11.12 c His Body translated from Vtrecht to Mentz and thence to Fulda 15.16 That S Boniface was an Englishman not a Scott 1. WEE are now come to the last and best passage of this glorious Saints life which was his willing offring of it to our Lord as a Sacrifice of sweet smelling Savour The manner of it wee will here sett down as wee find it extracted out of the Gests of S. Boniface by the illustrious Cardinall Baronius 2. After the holy Bishop had sett all things in order in Germany he attended by such persons as he had made choice of entred the boat and descending by the Channel of the Râ—ene arrived safe into the region of the Frisons Where from place to place he preached the word of God with great fervour and carefully built Churches And so great successe did God give to his labours that within a short time he assisted by Saint Eoban converted and baptized many thousands of men and women Now the said Eoban he ordained Bishop of Vtrecht to the end that in his old age he might have one to ease him by sustaining a great part of his burden There were present likewise and assistants to him severall Preists and Deacons Among the Preists the principall were Wintruge Walter and Aâ—alher and among the Deacons Strichald Hamunt and Boso Moreover there were certain Monks also Waccar Gunderhar Williker and Adolf which attended him All these unanimously laboured with him in preaching the Gospell and with him also attained the crown of Martyrdom 3. Now all these after they had passed through severall parts of that countrey and were come to the River Bortna in the confines of East Friseland S. Boniface having none with him but his own companions commanded their Tents should be pitched because there he intended to expect the coming of those who after Baptism were to receive Confirmation For the day appointed thereto was at hand 4. But when it was come and the Sun was mounted to its height all those which were expected by him with the same tendernes of attention that children are expected by their fathers were become utterly unworthy to receive the Grace of Gods Holy Spirit which that day was to have been conferred on them by the Sacrament of Confirmation For of freinds they were turned into enemies and of Neophytes into Sergeants and Executioners They came running then with great rustling of armour to the Tents of these defenceles Saints Which when the Servants saw they betook themselves likewise to their weapons endeavouring to defend the holy men against the rage of that furious multitude 5. But Saint Boniface when he heard the noise of this tumult in the first place he had recourse to his Spirituall Sanctuary and fortresse for he took the Sacred Relicks which in all his iourneys he caried with him and then calling to him all his Ecclesiasticks he went with theÌ„ out of the Tent and restraind the servants who were ready to resist saying to them My children abstain from fighting dâ—e not combat with your adversaries but rather render them good for evill Now the long wishd for day is come in which wee are from this miserable world invited to eternall ioys Why would you then debarre your selves from so great a grace and happines On the contrary be courageously chearfull in our Lord and with thankfull minds receive the inestimable gifts of Divine Grace now offred to you Put your trust in our Lord and he will deliver us out of all danger With such speeches as these he with-held his servants from setting upon their enemies 6. Then addressing himself in a fatherly manner to the Ecclesiasticks of each degree My most dear Brethren said he if the memory of my former admonitions be not utterly defaced out of your minds shew now that you have not forgotteÌ„ them Call to mind those words of our Saviour Fear not those who kill the body but can not hurt the soule Fixe the anchor of your Hope in God onely who after this momentany life will give you an eternall Crown among his heavenly Saints Doe not I beseech you in this point of time loose the everlasting rewards of Victorious soules Be not therefore either corrupted with the flatteries of these Pagans or terrified with their threatnings but courageously and manfully suffer this present danger of death for his love who for us suffred infinitly more that you may for ever reioyce with him in heaven 7. The holy Bishop had scarce ended this exhortation when the furious multitude armed with swords and all kinds of weapons rushed upon them and with bloody hands in a barbarous manner murdred them all Having done this they hastily ran into their Tents and took with them all their Books and coffers in which were enclosed the Sacred Relicks thinking they should find in them great treasures of Gold and silver Thence with hast they went to their Boats loaden with all the provisions of meat and wine of which they dranke with great ioy After this they fell into debate about dividing the treasure which they vainly hoped they had found And when after long and
earnest disputes they could not come to an agreement on a sudden a furious quarrell arose among them which became so inflamed that with the same madnes and with the same arms with which they had slain the Holy Martyrs who came among them only to save their soules they now destroyed one another 8. This slaughter being at an end those which remained alive moved with the same hope of treasure ran to the coffers which when they had broken up instead of gold and silver they found nothiâ—g but books and other papers of Spirituall Doctrine This fayling oâ— their expectation did so enrage them that they threw away the Books in the feild and among the fenns and other incommodious places Yet notwithstanding through a marveylous Providence of God and for a Proof of the sanctity of his servants the same Books and papers a long time after were found entire and undefaced and so caried to the Churches where they remain to this day 9. Among the rest there was found one Book of the Gospells which the Holy Bishop for his comfort always caried with him This Book though it was cutt quite through with a sword as may still be seen yet with such cutting not one letter of it was abolished which truly was a wonderfull Miracle It is reported that S. Boniface when the murdrer was ready to strike him with his sword held up that Book to defend his â—ead as nature suâ—gests in such a danger by which means it came to be cutt thorough The Murderers being thus frustrated of â—heir hopes went sorrowfull to their homâ—s 10. But when the Nâ—ighbouring Christians heard of the Martyrdom of these holy men they with armed forces entred the countrey of those barbarous Murderers who preparing themselves for defence were so oppressed with the guilt of their crime that they could nothing resist but fled away and were slain by the Christians so suffring a double destruction of their bodies in this world and their soules in Hell 11. Not long after the Ecclesiasticks of Vtrecht came and took the Sacred Body of S. Boniface which they caried back and honourably buried in their Church This being known to S. Lullo Arch-bishop of Mentz he called together a great number of his Clergy and of secular men of a higher condition and declared to them the death of S. Boniface and how his Body was enterred at Vtrecht contrary to the expresse order which he had given He desired them all therefore to ioyn with hâ—m in executing the holy Bishops last will Hereupon they all went to Vtrecht and having receivâ—d the Sacred Body they â—rought it back with great pomp and solemne Processions to Mentz from whence to the great greif vexation of Saint Lullo it was conveyed to Fulda where with great honour and veneration it was reposed Thus writes Cardinall Baronius from the Authour of Saint Boniface his life taken out of Saint Willebalds Narration Where likewise is a declaration of many wonderfull Miracles wrought there by his Intercession Which the devout Reader at leasure may peruse He with his Companions suffred this year on the Nones of Iune thirty six years after he had received the Charge and Apostolicall Office of preaching to the Pagans 12. Concerning the place where these holy Martyrs suffred Miraeus calls it Ostracha in the Eastern Friseland And as for the Number of them a different account is given by severall Authours He who prosecuted the Epitome of Saint Beda's History reckons fifty three Huâ—baldus fifty two Râ—xfrid Bishop of Virecht fifty one and the Gallican Martyrologe onely two and twenty but perhaps there wee are to understand that only so many Names of them have been recorded by ancient Writers 13. The foresaid Authour of S. Bonifaces his liâ—e among these Martâ—rs names only two Bishops S. Boniface himself and S. Eoban but in the Gallican Martyrologe it is expressly sayd that S. Adelbar was also a Bishop probably ordained after they parted from Mentz For thus wee find his commemoration In Pâ—â—seland on the twentieth of April is celebrated the Translation of S. Adelbar Bishop of Erford and Martyr who was consecrated Bishop by S. Boniface and together with him crownd with an illustrious Martyrdom on the fifth of Iune His Body saith Miraeus in a manner entire is at this day with great veneration kept as Erford in the Cellegiat Church of CanoÌ„s dedicated to the most Blessed Virgin where they celebrate anniversarily his Memory on the twelfth day before the Calends of May. 14. Though the Body of S. Boniface was for the greatest part of it entombed at Fulda yet that some considerable Relicks of it were deposed at Bruges in Flanders is testified by the Gallican Martyrologe on the thirteenth of March in these wards At Bruges the deposition of S. Boniface Bishop and Martyr a man truly Apostolicall whose glorious Trophee together with that of S Eoban Bishop and other twenty two servants of God is yearly colebrated by the Catholick Church on the Nones of Iune being the day in which they finished their happy conflict 15. Now whereas some Writers will make it a doubt whether S. Boniface was of the English-Saxon blood to iustify which they endeavour to make a collection of some to themselves seemingly probable proofs that he was a Scott The contrary is expressly declared by S. Boniface himself in his Epistle written in his own of name seaven other Bishops in a Synod at Mentz to Heresfrid a Preist and Chapleyn to King Ethelbald where he says that they were all of the English Nation so that they also who affirm that Abel a Bishop one of the same Synod was a Scott are manifestly mistaken In anoter Epistle likewise of Saint Boniface to Pope Zachary we read this passage In the Church wherein I was born and had my education that is in Transmarin Saxony so England was anciently call'd for distinction from the other Saxony in the continent a Synod at London was assembled by S. Augustin Arch-bishop by S. Laurence S. Iustus and S. Mellibus Bishops Disciples of S. Gregory in which c. Yea he writes plainly that he was Vernaculus Gentis Anglorum a Native of the English Nation and that the Saxons were wont to tell him We are of one and the same blood 16. These Testimonies sure are more then sufficient to disprove the impudence of Dempster the Scottish Historian who affirms that in a Book a little before published by him he had by nine most firm arguments demonstrated out of Marianus and twenty other Authours that Saint Boniface was no Englishman but a Scott Whereas the same Marianus in expresse words writes that he was Natione Anglus by Nation an Englishman And Simson a Scottish Protestant Historian shews far greater sincerity then Dempster who says Boniface was born in England not far from Exceter at a town anciently called Cridiadunum now Kirten THE FOVR AND TWENTIETH BOOK OF THE CHVRCH-HISTORY OF BRITTANY
from Saint Lullus upon some affairs 9. In the Kingdom of the Mercians Sees now vacant were Lichfeild by the death of Hemel Lindissa by the death of Eadulf and Leicester by the death of Totta To the first was substituted Cuthfrid to the second Ceolulf and to the third Edbert But wheras Mathew of Westminster affirms that he cannot find the names of the Citties where the said Bishops sate It cannot be denyed but that anciently those Episcopall Sees were moveable yet in this age by the munificence of Kings they seem to have been fixed As that of Lichfeild where many Bishops had already successively remained Likewise the See of Leicester was established But as for Lindissa the See was ordinarily at Dorchester a Town saith William of Malmsbury in the Country of Oxford small and unfrequented But the Majesty of the Churches either of old or lately built was great In that See after Hedhead there sate Ethelwin Edgar Kinebert Alwi Ealdulf and Celnulf Yet true it is that these Bishops sometimes sate at Sidnacester a place the memory of which has faild X. CHAP. 1.2 The unhappy death of Ethelwald Mol King of the Northumbers 3.4 c. Also of Egbert Arch bishop of York at which Alcuin was present 10. A strange Charter of King Kenulf to the Church of Welles 11. Severall Episcopall Sees vacant and supplied 1. IN the year of Grace seaven hundred sixty five Ethelwald sirnamed Mul King of the Northumbers dyed after he had raigned six years though William of Malmsbury assigns to him eleaven years Hoveden relates certain terrible apparitions in the aire which hapned in the beginning of this year presaging the unhappy death of this King who on the twenty seaventh of October was slain by the treachery of Alred at a place called Wircanheate 2. The condition of these Kings in this age was very sad few of them dyed naturall deaths This Ethelwald gott the Kingdom by the murder of Osulf and by the like means lost it And the same fate will attend his successour Alred 3. The year following gave an end to the worthy actions of Egbert Arch-bishop of York after he had nobly administred that See the space of one and thirty years A person he was descended of Royall progeny and imbued with divine knowledge Of whose vertues and memorable actions we have treated already Our Historians doe vary in the account of the years in which he continued Bishop the ground of which uncertainty is because it does not appear whether the time be to be reckoned from the resignation or death of his Predecessour Wilfrid the younger 4. There was present and assistant at his death his famous Disciple Alcuin whom a little before he had made Deacon and who having hitherto all his life composed all his actions by his rule and order was desirous to receive his commands and instructions at his death also for the future disposing of his actions Thus wee read in the Life of the said Alcuin prefixed before his Works and taken out of an ancient Manuscript belonging to the Church of Rhemes whence we will here extract the following passage S. Albinus or Alcuinus proceeding from one vertue to another was consecrated Deacon on the day of the Purification of our Blessed Lady for before on the same Feast he had received the Clericall Tonsure And perceiving that his Blessed Father Egberts infirmity encreasing shewed that his death was at hand having hitherto done all things by his counsell he was earnest to enquire of him what his pleasure was he should doe and how he should dispose of him self after that death should separate them 6. Hereto the Holy Bishop returned this Answer suggested to him as the event showd by a supernaturall direction of God I would have you said he first goe to Rome and in your return to visit France For I know that there you will produce much good Our Lord shall be the Guide of your journey and will bring you back in safety Be diligent in impugning the late abominable Heresy which endeavours to assert that Christ is only an adoptive Son of God and be a constant defender of the Mystery of the Holy Trinity this Doctrine cease not clearly and solidely to preach After he had spoken thus he gave him his fatherly Benediction commending him to our Lords safe protection and presently after he with chearfullnes departed to our Lord on the sixth day before the Ides of November 7. He was buried in the Porch of the Church of York and near to him was also layd the Body of his Brother King Egbert or Eadbert who exchanged his Royall Purple for a poore Monasticall habit and dyed two years after him 8. The Arch-bishop left behind him severall Monuments of his learning to enrich the Noble Library which he made at York Among which are reckoned A Book of Penitentiall Canons likewise Collections out of the Canon Law of the Church and others mention'd by Sir H. Spelman To those we may add A Dialogue of Ecclesiasticall Institution lately printed with an Epistle of S. Beda to him and other Treatises by the care of Sir Iames Ware 9. His successour in the Archiepiscopall See of York was Aldebert otherwise called Coena To whom by this latter name remains an Epistle from Saint Lullus Bishop of Mentz with his Answer to it The subiect whereof is only the renewing of Ancient Freindship sending of presents and entreating of Prayers for dead freinds 10. There is extant a Charter of Kenulf King of the West-Saxons by which he this year gave to the Church of Wells and Colledge formerly built there by King Ina certain Lands there adiacent the bounds whereof he setts down These possessions he gave for the love of God for the expiation of his siâ—s and for sâ—me vexation to his enemies of the Cornish Nation These are the words of the Charter What he meant by this last Motive I leave to the Reader to iudge 11. This year dyed Frithebert Bishop of Hagustaldt whose Successour was Alâ—mund a Prelat of great piety and prudence And shortly after Cuthwin Bishop of Dumwhich dying his place was supplied by Aldbert Like as upon the death of Ethelfrid Bishop of Helmham there was substituted Lansert I know not by what fate these two Episcopall Sees of the East-Angles for the most part loose and get new Bishops at the same time at least so we are informed by the Ecclesiasticall Chronicles of that Church And the following year Edbrith who is reckoned the ninth among the London Bishops after he had governed that Church eight years dying left it vacant to his Successour Eadgar XI CHAP. 1. 2. c. The beginning of the Raign of the Charlemagne c 4 Of two learned English Virgins 1. THE year of Grace seaven hundred sixty nine is notable through the whole Church for the beginning of the Raign of that most famous King and afterward Emperour Charles
with a violence not beseeming his Profession Notwithstanding the Holy Martyrs bowell he placed in a Church at Mentz where they are held in great veneration 4. Moreover in a further expression of his love and regard to his blessed Masters memory he exhorted S. Willebald his Nephew to write the Holy Martyrs Life to the end that posterity might know honour and imitate the heavenly vertues which shone so brightly in him 5. Severall Monasteries he founded as that of Heresfeild in Hassia not far from Mentz which he endowd with ample revenews adorned it with many Relicks translating likewise thither from Fritzlar the Body of S. Wigbert for which a magnificent shrine was made by the contribution of King Charles the Great Another Monastery likewise he erected at a place called Bleidenstat about two miles from Mentz Which afterward by his Successour Bertold was changed into a Colledge of Canons Thither also he translated the Relicks of S. Ferruth from Kassel In a word his whole life was employed in nothing but the advancement of piety and vertue either in converting Pagans from Idolatry to the Christian Faith or in promoting devout Christians in the wayes of Perfection 6. When his last sicknes seised on him he sent for the Holy companion of his Apostolick Office S. Witta who had been consecrated by S. Boniface Bishop of Birburg and after that Town was destroyd was made Successour of S. Wigbert in the Monastery of Fritzlar Him being come he desired to say Masse after which he intended to direct him to his Monastery of Heresfeild The good Bishop after he had with great devotion prepared himself for celebrating that most dreadfull Sacrifice not then perceiving in himself any bodily infirmity at all went to the Holy Altar where he had no sooner performed that Divine Liturgy and communicated but immediatly he expired His Body Saint Lullo presently caused to be caried into a boat conveying it himself to Heresfeld where he buried it with great honour This Holy Bishop is by some German Writers called Albuinus according to the Saxon signification of his name Witta or White 7 Presently after S. Lullo himself followd him partaking together the eternall rewards of his labours on the sixteenth day of October His Body was there likewise in the same Monastery buried with all religious piety and solemnity And about threescore years after being taken up it was found with as fresh a colour as due proportion and softnes of all the members yea and covered with vestments as free from any decay as if it had been then newly buried 8. The said Monastery of Heresfeld having been ruined by the rebellious Lutherans it is not known whither that Sacred body was removed But his Head was caried to the Monastery of S. Godard the Abbot whereof Herman in the year of Christ sixteen hundred and three gave it to the Iesuits of Mentz to be placed there in their Colledge 9. Many Miracles are recorded as performed by him both in his life and after his death I will only mention one Is the year of Grace eight hundred forty seaven when his Body was taken up as the Monks there were removing a huge Stone which lay over it it fell from their hands upon the foot of one of their Brethren so crushing and breaking it that it quite lost the shape of a foot Whereupon the Religious Monks being much contristated had recourse to God in Prayer begging likewise the Saints intercession And the night immediatly following it was so perfectly restored that the said Brother assisted at the next Mattins not retaining any mark of the least bruise at all 10. A little before his death he by the appointment of Pope Adrian ordained S. Willehade Bishop of Bremen Which Citty was then newly erected into an Episcopall See by the same Pope and richly endowed by the munificence of Charles the Great Whose Charter describing the limits of the Territory whereof and likewise of the lands conferred on it is extant in Baronius As touching S Willehade the first Bishop thereof we shall deliver his Gests in the occurrents of the year of Christ seaven hundred ninety one in which he dyed THE FIVE AND TWENTIETH BOOK OF THE CHVRCH-HISTORY OF BRITTANY I. CHAPTER 1. 2. c. Alfwold the pious King of the Northumbers murdred to whom Osred succeeds and presently after Ethelred 7.8 Ethelred Bishop of Hagulstad the magnificence of that Church 1. NOTWITHSTANDING all the care which the Legats of Pope Adrian in the late Synod with the unanimous consent of the Bishops and Nobles had taken for the preventing seditions and rebellions in the Kingdom of the Northumbers yet such an unquiet tumultuous Spirit had taken so fixed a possession of the minds of that people that scarce any King could be permitted to sit upon that throne but by the murder of his Predecessour and the uniust usurper by his own destruction made way for his Successour Which restlesse turbulent disposition since it could not be cured by the Laws and authority of Gods Church God took the revenge into his own hands and sent the terrible Nation of the Danes first to lay wast that kingdom and afterwards to be a most tearfull scourge to the whole Island 2. In the year of Grace seaven hundred eighty nine Alfwolâ— the good pious King of the Northumbers after that he had with the great ioy of vertuous men governed that kingdom the space of eleaven years was by a tempestuous sedition of wicked men deprived of it and his life also The Head of the faction against him was Sâ—gga a Noble man of that Kingdom who gathering a troop of desperatly wicked men murdred this most innocent King in a place called Silcester near the Picts wall This was an ancient Station of the Romans where the Asturian Wing quartered to oppose the irruptions of the barbarous Picts and Caledonians and it was then called Cilurnam but is now much more celebrated for the death of this pious King In the place where he was slain a heavenly light was frequently seen saith Huntingdon 3. His Body was caried to the Cathedrall Church of Hagustald where it was with great honours and devotion buried which Church had been built to Gods honour and the memory of his Saints Saint Cuthbert and S. Oswald King and Martyr Of how great merit this innocent King was with God the miracles performed at his Tombe and elswere doe declare abundantly 4. Moreover the Divine iustice gave a yet greater testimony of his Sanctity by the terrible revenge with which God expiated this execrable murther which though committed by a few was punished with a common calamity For not only Sigga who defiled his hands with his blood the same year out of despair became his own executioner and murderer But likewise dire Prodigies terrified the whole Nation Horrible thunders and fiery dragons in the aire foretold a most greivous famine shortly ensuing and an unexpressible slaughter of men Thus
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
Books of Scripture Adding that the distance between Brittany and Tours in France where Alcuin lived was in no comparison so great as between Betthleem and Rome More particularly they humbly requested of him an Explication of the Gospell of Saint Iohn the Mysteries of which they earnestly desired to understand And though they had already the Treatises of S. Augustin upon that Gospell they were too difficult to be understood by them 3. This request of theirs he charitably condescended to as appeares by a prolixe Epistle of his placed before his Explication of S. Iohns Gospell directed to them In which he informs them in the time and occasion of S Iohns writing his Gospell for the confutation of Marcion Cherinthus Ebion and other Hereticks who denyed the Divinity of our Saviour He further observes for their instruction the difference in the stile between S. Iohn and the other three Evangelists For they are most copious in relating the externall actions and speeches of our Saviour which serve to direct Christian manners in this life Whereas S. Iohn is very breif in relating the facts of our Lord and cheifly insists on such speeches of his as regard the Vnity of the Trinity the felicity of eternall Life and such Mysteries as are more proper for a Contemplative Life He addes that in explaining this Gospell he durst not rely on his own iudgment but followed therein the Expositions of Catholick Doctours S. Ambrose Saint Augustin Saint Gregory Saint Beda and others out of whom with an humble heart and profound submission he had gathered variety of flowâ—rs and like a good Physicion out of many ingredients had composed a spirituall Medecine which might be healthfull to their soules 4. There is extant moreover another shorter Epistle upon the same subject prefixed before the sixth Book of his Annotations on that Gospell importing that he had sent them for their present use and devotion during the time of Lent certain Extraits out of his explications on that Gospell proper for their present use by meditating whereon they might be disposed with more spirituall ioy to celebrate the ensuing Paschal Solemnity 5. This Latter Epistle is inscribed to his Sister in Christ Gisla and his devout daughter Columba And whereas therein he acquaints them that he directed to them the whole exposition of the said Gospell thereby it is evident that the same person was intended by the two names of Rictrudis and Columba Both these Holy Virgins are commemorated among the Saints in our Martyrologe on the ninth of Aprill XIV CHAP. 1. 2. c. Alcuin sent for by Charles the Great into France 4.5 c. He disputes with convinces and converts Felix a Spanish Bishop an Arch-heretick who denyed the Divinity of our Saviour c. 1. CHarles King of France was deservedly stiled Great both for his victories in war and his zeale to advance Learning and Catholick Truth He not only willingly and liberally entertained all learned men who addressed themselves to him but invited them with great rewards to accept his bounty On a certain time saith Bromton two Scottish that is Irish Monks learned both in secular and Sacred knowledge came out of Ireland with certain Brittish Merchants into France These havâ—ng no wares to sell were wont to cry aloud among the people who came to the faire If any one be desirous of wisedom let him come to us for we have it to sell. This they did severall times Insomuch as many thought them out of their witts But the report of this coming to the King he sent for them and demanded whether they had wisedom to sell Their answer was Yes Sir we have it and in the name of God are ready to impart it to those who shall desire it He again asked them what they demanded in recompence They replyed We demand three things Commodious places to teach Schollars of towardly disposition and such necessary nourishment and cloathes as humane life requires Hereat the King was much ieyed and retaind them both with him Afterward when he went to war he left one of them named Clement at Paris in a convenient lodging and commended to his care certain Noble children with order that he should be furnished with all commodities The other he took with him into Italy and bestowed on him the Monastery of Saint Augustin at Pavia to the end he might there teach all that would apply themselves to him 2. But there was none so highly esteemed by him as our famous Alcuin whom about this time he earnestly invited into France upon two speciall Motives The former is thus expressed by Quercetan in his Preface to Alcuins Works The most glorious King Charles says he who by experience was acquainted with the learning and Wisedome of Alcuin both in France when he was sent thither to make a league of peace between the King of the Northumbers and King Charles as likewise at Pavia whilst he abode there He therefore in an honourable manner called him out of the remote parts of Brittany to assist his affectionat desire to promote the studies of true Wisedome and restore to light the Liberall Sciences which at that time were in a manner extinguished in France And the same is testified by Alcuin himself in an Epistle which he wrote to the same King Charles 2. But the other more important Motive of Alcuins coming into France was the same which his Master Egbert lately Arch-bishop of York had prophetically told him a little before his death That he should goe into France where he should produce much fruit beneficiall to Gods Church by opposing a new pestilent Heresy endeavouring to maintain that Christ was only the adoptive son of God 3. This Prediction was fullfilld when King Charles called Alcuin out of Brittany For then Elipandus Bishop of Toledo and Felix Bishop of Vrgel Vrgelitanus endeavoured to poyson the Church with their blasphemies iniurious to the Divinity of our Saviour This Alcuin testifies himself in a Book written against the former of these two Arch-hereticks I never entertained a servant to minister to mee saith he but I much rather affectionatly desire to doe service to all the servants of Christ And for this purpose by Divine ordination as I beleive I came out of Brittany to the most illustrious King of this Nation Charles For that it was Gods will I should doe so was foretold mee by a most holy man in my countrey who was endued with the Spirit of Prophecy Yea the same my most Venerable Master enioynd mee by his last command that wheresoever I heard of the rising of any new Sects contrary to Apostolick Doctrines I should addict my self entirely to the defence of the Catholick Faith 4. Presently after he was come into France the first thing he did was to write an Epistle to Felix exhorting him to return to the Vnity of the Church In answer whereto Felix returned not a Letter but large Book in which
saith Alcuin I found greater blasphemies then in any of his former Writings for he affirmed plainly That Christ Iesus was not the true son of God nor true God but titular 5. To combat this Heresy Alcuin desired of the King that others might be adioynd to him And accordingly upon the first sounding of the trumpett to battell there appeard severall Champions of the Orthodox Faith among whom the principall were Paulinus Patriark of Aquileia Ethereus a Bishop of Osma in Spain Vxâ—mensis and a certain Abbot called Beatus Paulinus the most learned of these wrote three Books to confute this Felician Heresy which he presented to King Charles humbly desiring they might be sent and delivered into the hands of the most reverend man most skilfull in divine knowledge Albin or Alcuin which was accordingly done And Alcuin writing back to Paulinus highly commended both the sweetnes and elegancy of his stile and vigour of his reasoning encouraging him withall to be constant in defence of Gods house 6. But none fought more prosperously in Gods cause then Alcuin himself For he utterly strangled the Felician Heresy in the beginning and converted the Arch-heretick himself to the Catholick Faith This is not taken notice of by any of our Historians as having passed in a forrain countrey But Quercetan from Felix his own Confession relates How the said Heretick being presented before King Charles at Aquisgran by Laidrad Archbishop of Lyons obtained leave to sett down in writing the Sentences of former Saints to prove that Christ was only an adoptive Son of God to be presented to such Bishops and Abbots as the King should cause to be assembled Which was accordingly granted him And in answer to those Alcuin produced many Sentences of Holy Fathers S. Cyrill S. Gregory S. Leo and other Authours formerly unknown to Felix and to these was added the authority of a late Synod at Rome which condemned not by violence but strength of reason the errours contained in Felix his Reply to Alcuins Epistle So great an authority of truth and so unanimous a consent of the Church did so convince the iudgment of Felix that as he writes in his own Confession I professed in the presence of many Bishops and Monks that I did heartily repent of my former errour and that I would from thenceforth never beleive nor teach the adoption of the flesh in the son of God Or that he had only the name and title of God given him in his Humanity But according to the Doctrine of the Holy Fathers That the same our Lord Iesus Christ was the proper and true son of God in his two Natures That he was the only begotten son of the Father without preiudice to the respective Propriety of each Nature 7. This Conversion of Felix did so enrage his former companion Elipandus that he wrote a Book against Alcuin in a most bitter furious stile calling him a Filthy rotten false Prophet a son of Hell a New Arius an Arch-heretick foule pitchy Albinus and moreover he charged Alcuinus that by torments he had made Felix a Martyr so forcing him to renounce his former Opinions To whom Alcuin thus answer Neither did I nor Ruffinus make Felix a Martyr But through Gods mercy I made Felix formerly a partner in your errour to become a good Catholick I persecuted indeed not his person but that impious Doubt of him who tempting our Lord said If thou beest the son of God command that these stones be made bread 8. After this Victory Alcuin returned to his Monastery at Tours For as a Monk of Sangall testifies King Charles gave to Alcuin the Abbey of Saint Martin near Tours to the end that when he was absent abroad with his Army he might rest there and instruct such as should repair to him And such plentifull fruits did his teaching produce that the modern French-men may deserve to be compared with the ancient Romans or Athenians Thus as Almighty God in the beginning of this age sent out of our Island seated in the extremities of the world such Apostolick men as Saint Swibert Saint Boniface c. to settle the Christian Faith in Germany So he thought good at the end of it to send the learned Alcuin to restore the same Orthodoxe Faith in France and Spain But of Saint Alcuin for so hereafter he deserves to be called more shall be said in this and the following Book We must now attend to the affaires of Brittany XV. CHAP. 1.2 Kenulf King of the Mercians 3.4 c. He solicites and obtains from Pope Leo a restitution of the Primacy of the See of Canterbury c. 1. EGFRID the son of Offa King of the Mercians after a short raign of scarce five entire months dying he named for Successour Kenulf having regard rather to his vertues and merits then title or proximity of blood Yet he was descended from a Brother of King Penda called Chenalch father to Kentwin who begot Cuthbert the Father of this Kenulf 2. The excellency of this Prince is well described by William of Malmsbury who affords him this Character Kenulf was a magnanimous person whose vertues over-went his fame He never did any thing that envy could carpe At home he was Religious in war Victorious He was a Prince whose praises will never be silenced as long as there lives in England a person ingenuous and sincere He is to be exalted for the sublimity of his State and Humility of his mind Which vertue did then shine most bright when he restored the iniured dignity of the Archiepiscopall See of Canterbury For this good King did little valew the worldly haughtines of his own Province when it could not be established without transgressing the ancient Ordonnance of Ecclesiasticall Canons 3. In this first year of his raign therefore Athelard Arch bishop of Canterbury encouraged by the iustice and piety of this King represented to him the iniurious oppression which by King Offa had been brought upon the Prime See of Brittany desiring him that the order instituted by Holy Progenitours might not be depraved by the ambition of particular persons In which request Embald Arch-bishop of York likewise ioynd Whereupon the King being satisfied in the iustice of his demand to the end the matter might be more maturely pondred commanded a Synod to be assembled at Cloveshâ— or Cliff where by the votes of the Bishops and Nobility Messengers with Letters were sent to Rome to Pope Leo desiring him to employ his spirituall authority also to rectify the disorders introduced lately into the Churches of Brittany 4. But this Embassage had not the good successe expected and the fault seems to have been in the Messenger which was an Abbot called Wada who as we read in a second Letter to the same Pope from the same King Bishops and Nobles behaved himself in thate Legation slouthfully negligently and imprudently Perhaps it might be by the suggestions of the Archbishop of Lichfeild who