many prayers entreated him to stay some time with him and as he had signified in his Message restore order to the Church in that Region because in a manner all the inhabitants had lost the Catholick Faith S. Gildas accordingly travelling through all the Provinces of Ireland restored Churches instructed the Clergy in the true Faith and worship of the holy Trinity cured those who had been poysond with Heresy and expelled all Teachers of Errour So that by his Zeale and diligence Truth began again to flourish in the countrey 10. After this the Holy man built many Monasteries in that Island and instructed the children of many of the Nobility in learning and piety And to win the greater number to the service of God he himself became a Monk and brought to the same Profession very many as well of the Nobility as meaner persons and orphans He compassionatly freed likewise from the tyrannicall slavery of Infidels many poore Christians c. 11. Thus this holy man became as it were a second Apostle to Ireland repairing the ruines of that Faith which Saint Patrick first preached among them Now whereas Adamannus says that the Epistle first sent him out of Ireland was brought by Faithfull men If we enquire who these Faithfull men were it will appear very probable that among them the Holy Abbot Komgall was one for the Writer of his life sayes that at this time namely in the seaventh year after the foundation of the Monastery of Beancher which saith B. Vsher was built in the year of Grace five hundred fifty five that holy man sayld into Brittany out of a desire to visit some holy men and to remain there some time where he built a Monastery in a certain village called Heth. 12. How long S. Gildas abode in Ireland is not manifest though for so great a work as he performed there a short time would not suffise But it is without question that he returned into Brittany where he also dyed in a good old age For thus writes Pits of him At last Gildas the glorious Confessour of Christ being ninety years old ended his life in great holines in the Monastery of Banchor where he was buried the fourth day before the Calends of February in the year of Grace five hundred eighty three when Maglocunus sustaind the Brittish Empire falling to ruine And on the same day is celebrated in our Martyrologe the memory also of the other Saint Gildas Albanius Now whereas it is said that Maglocunus was then King of Brittany that may possibly be true for the succession of the Brittish Princes during these tumultuous times for want of Writers is very uncertain 13. If we consider the great age in which he dyed that may reasonably be applied to him which B. Vsher would rather referr to the former S. Gildas namely that S. Brendan the Son of Finloga in the year of our Lord five hundred sixty two came into Brittany to visit the holy old man Gildas dwelling there who was famous for his great wisedom which passage is extracted out of an uncertain Authour of his Life For at that time Gildas was more then threescore and ten years old XI CHAP. 1. The Raign of King Ethelbert 2.3 c. Of S. Columba His Contention with King Dermitius whence followd a Civill Warr in which the King is miraculously overthrown 6. S. Columba pennanced by S. Finian a Bishop 7. And excommunicated by a Synod of Bishops 1. IN the year of Grace five hundred sixty one Irmeric King of Kent after he had raignd thirty years dyed leaving behind him a Son and a Daughter His Son and Successours name was Ethelbert his daughters Ricula This is that happy and famous Ethelbert who according to his Name was the glory and splendour of his Nation who had the first prerogative of receiving and propagating the Christian Faith among the Saxons Some disposition thereto was begun in his Fathers time who by Hector Boëtius his testimony who calls him Iurminric permitted in his Kingdom at least a privat exercise of Christian Religion But before it will be openly professed there by his Son thirty years of his raign must be spent as shall be shewd hereafter During which time many changes hapned to his state for he was frequently exercis'd in war wherein toward the beginning he sustained great losses which afterward he repair'd by many victories with which he much enlarged the limits of his dominions 2. In the third year of his raign the famous S. Columba by occasion of Civil wars and the iniurious dealing of the Bishops in Ireland was compell'd to quitt that Island and come into Brittany Thus does Adelmannus who wrote the life of that Saint relate the particulars Two years after the Civil war at Culedre bene when Dermitius son of Kerbail was Monark of Ireland and all businesses were determin'd before the Kings Tribunal it happned so that S. Columba was obliged to appear before him to challenge a certain free man who had been made a captive And when the cause being pleaded before the King an uniust sentence had been pronounced by him the Man of God rose up with great indignation and before all there pâ—esent said thus O uniust King Know that from this moment thou shalt never see my face within thy dominions till God the Iust Iudge shall have diminish'd thy Kingdom for thy iniustice For as thou hast despis'd mee here before thy Nobles by a Wrongfull iudgment so shall the Eternall God despise thee before thine enemies in the day of war Having said thus he presently took horse smiting him with his whip so as that great store of blood issued from him This being observ'd by the Kings Counsellors present they wondred at it and humbly entreated the King to comply with the Holy mans request for fear God should dissipate his Kingdom according to his threatning 3. But the King filld with fury would not understand that he might doe right but moreoveâ— swore that he would toke revenge on all the kinred of S. Columba and make them all slaves And according to this Oath he gathred a mighty army of three and twenty thousand horse foot and charrets and with it march'd to the confines of that countrey with a resolution utterly to extirpate the inhabitants When therefore the people of Conal heard of the Kings coming they likewise were assembled to the number of three thousand desirous to fight manfully in defence of their countrey being in so great danger and placing all their hope in God alone S. Columba rose very early and being full of Gods Spirit he encouraged them and with a loud voyce which sounded terribly through the whole army he said to them Fear nothing God himself shall fight for you as he did with Moyses against the Egyptians at the Red sea Not any of you shall suffer the least harm for our Lords wrath is inflam'd against this proud Kings army so that if but
wee may iudge what Spirit it was that suggested to Diocletian to the Infidel Saxons and of late to Luther and Calvin the destroying of Monasteries as an assured means to destroy true Faith also 6. It will not be unproffitable to describe on this occasion the form of a Monastick life instituted by S. David as we find in the foresayd Authour S. David saith he having built a Monastery neer Menevia in a place call the Rosey-valley Vallis Rosina gave this strict rule of Monasticall Profession viz. That every Monk should labour dayly with his hands for the common good of the Monastery according to the Apostles saying He that doth not labour let him not eat For those who spend their time in idlenes debase their minds which become unâ—table and bring forth impure thoughts which restlesly disquiet them The Monks there refus'd all gifts or possessions offred by uniust men they detested riches they had no care to ease their labours by the use of oxen or other Cattell for every one was instead of riches and oxen to himâ—eâ—f and his brethren They never converâ—'d together by talkinâ— but when necessity required but each one perform'd the labour enioyn'd him â—oyning thereto prayer or Holy Meditations on Divine things And having finish'd their countrey-work they return'd to the Monastery where they spent the remainder of the day till even in reading or Writing At even upon the sounding of a bell they all leave their work and immediatly repair to the Church where they remain till the Starrs appear and goe all together to their Resection eating sparingly and not to satiety For any excesse in eating though it be only of bread generates Luxury Their foâ—d is bread together with roots or hearbs seasond with salt and their thirst they quenched with a mixture of water and milk Supper being ended they continued about three howers in watching prayers and genu-flexions As long as they were in the Church it was not permitted to any either to slumber or sneeze or cast forth spittle After this they went to rest and at cock-crowing they rose and continued at Prayers till day appeard All their inward tentations and thoughts they discovered to their Superiour and from him they demanded permission in all things even when they were urged to the necessities of Nature Their cloathing was of skins of beasts Whosoever was desirous to adioyn himself to their holy conversation he was obliged to remain ten days at the dore of the Monastery as a reprobate unworthy to be admitted to their society and there he was expos'd to rude and opprobrious scorns But if all that time he patiently suffred all mortifications he was received by the Religious Seniour who had care of the gate whom he served and was by him instructed In which condition he remaind a long time exercised in painfull labours and greivous mortifications and at last was admitted to the fellowship of the Brethren 7. Our learned Camden makes mention of the foresaid Synod the place where it was celebrated and the miracle wrought in it saying Lan-Devi Brevi that is the Church of S David neer the River Brevi was built to the memory of S. David Bishop of Menevia in the place where he during the sitting of a full Synod confuted and repress'd the Pelagian Heresy reviving in Brittany by the Holy scriptures and Miracles likewise for as the fame is the earth on which he preached swelld up under his feet till it became a hill And from hence it appears that this Synod was celebrated not in any house or town but in the open feilds as after ward S. Augustin the Monk held a Councill in a place from thence call'd S. Augustins Oake And anciently Theophilus assembled a Synod in the cause of S. Anathasius which for the like reason was call'd Ad quereum At the Oake XII CHAP. 1.2 c. Of S. Dubricius his Gests WHeras in this Synod there were present many great Saints and Holy Bishops the Lights of the Brittish Churches as S. Dubricius S. Daniel S. David S. Teliaâ— S Paulin and others Of most of whom some mention hath been already made and some of their actions related It will be seasonable and expedient to adioyn in this place and occasion a summary of their respective Gests For if they should be sett down particularly and severally in the times when they hapned they would be found so scattered and intermix'd that the Readers memory would therby be too much confounded especially considering the wonderfull length of time that most of them lived 2. Concerning S. Daniel we have already treated sufficiently Wee will therfore here begin with S. Dubricius Of whom the Centuriators of Magdeburg afford us this malicious Character Dubricius Gainius of Vaga so call'd from his Native soyle was the son perhaps of a Monke by Euedila a Noble young maid He became very famous among the English But the folly of these Historians is too apparent for Luther had not yet by writing and his example taught Monks to get children on young woemen 3. More credit ought therefore to be given to our ancient Authours who generally agree that S. Dubricius was a Brittain taking his originall in the Province of the Demetae or West-wales and was sirnamed Guaïnius from the River Guain neer which he was born The name of his Father is not mention'd by our Writers but his Mother was call'd Euedyla a woman of wonderfull vertue and piety Thus much is testified by Pits Bale David Powel and the Authour of his life in Capgrave from the ancient Brittish Monuments 4. During his child hood he was committed to the care of Teachers to be instructed in learning suitable to that age and coming to a more ripe age he made such progresse in science that very many not only among the ignorant but more skilfull also repaired to him to receive instructions Among which was S. Theliau S. Sampson S. Aidan and many others He made choice of a place in his own Countrey neer the River Vaga proper to receive the great Number of Schollars which came to him and there for severall years he directed their studies In the same place having built a Church by command of an Angel he there taught the people and by imposing his hands cured frequently the sick of divers infirmities so that those who came to him feeble and full of anguish returned ioyfull and in perfect health 5. The year of his birth is not declared by any But he was taken from his employment of Teaching by S. Germanus Bishop of Auxerre in his second voyage to Brittany and with the consent of King Mauricus and all the Clergy consecrated Bishop of Landaff as hath been said in the year of Grace four hundred thirty six By which account since he out lived the time of the foresaid Synod of Brevy it is manifest that the length of his life was wonderfull for at that time he had continued a Bishop more then
that saving Oblation was of wonderfull vertue for the redemption both of soule and body This relation I my self received from severall persons who had heard it from the man himself to whom these things befell And therefore I thought it expedient having been clearly convinced of the truth of it to insert it as undoubtedly certain in this my History Thus writes S. Beda After this disgression wee will return to Saint Wilfrid at Rome IV. CHAP. i. 2 c. Saint Wilfrids cause heard and determined in a Roman Synod to his advantage 1. WEE have already declared how Saint Wilfrid arriving at Rome found Pope Agathon in great solicitude concerning the faith of all Churches upon occasion of the Heresy of the Monothelites much spread in the East For which purpose among other Provinces he sent likewise into Brittany where he commanded a Synod to be assembled to the end he might explore whether the Faith of the Saxon Church there were sound and uniform with other Catholick Churches or in any point corrupted 2. The person sent by him for this purpose saith S. Beda was a Venerable Preist called Iohn Arch-Cantor of the Church of S. Peter and Abbot of the Monastery of S. Martin who this year arrived in Brittany being conducted by the most Reverend Abbot Biscop by sirname Benedict His busines was to invite the Arch-bisho Theodore to come himself or at least to depute another in his name to the Rome Synod to be assembled for repressing the foresaid Hiresy This appears by the said Popes Letters written the next year to the Emperours of Constantinople Heraclius and Tiberius in which this passage is extant Our hope was saith he to have ioynd to this our Assembly our Fellow-bishop Theodore a learned Philosopher and Arch-bishop of the great island of Brittany together with other Bishops abiding in those parts and for that reason we hitherto deferred this Council Which expression as it argues a wonderfull merit and esteem in which this holy Arch-bishop was held in that age so it disproves manifestly the assertion of Sir H. Spelman who thence collects that S. Theodore was called to the Council held at Constantinople whereas it is evident that it was the Roman Synod assembled the year following to which he was invited 3. In the mean time S. Wilfrid being arrived at Rome saith William of Malmsbury he found the whole Citty in a solicitous expectation of him For his coming was prevented by a Messenger sent from S Theodore Arch-bishop of Canterbury whose name was Kenewald a Monk of a modest and Religious comportment who brought with him in Writing severall Articles of accusation against S. Wilfrid conceived in very rude and bitter expressions S Hilda the famous Abbesse likewise sent Messengers on purpose to aggravate the charge against him This seemd a matter of so great consequence to the holy Pope Agathon that for determining it he presently assembled a Council of fifty Bishops and Abbots in the Great Church of our Saviour which had its sirname from the founder of it the Emperour Constantin Before this Council was S. Wilfrid summond accused defended and in the end absolved The whole proceeding of this Council in the cause of this holy Bishop which was the only busines debated in it cannot be better related then we find in thâ— authentick Copy of it preserved by William of Malmsbury and also extant in a Manuscript produced by Sir H. Spelman among his Councils of Brittany The Form whereof is as followeth 4. In the Name of our Lord and Saviour Iesus Chr. In the twelfth year of the raign of our most pious and glorious Emperour Constantin the elder and his Brethren our new made Emperours Heraclius and Tiberius in the seaventh Indiction in the month of October Agathon the most blessed Pope of the Catholick Church presiding the most holy Gospels being sett before in the Church of Saviour named from Constantin and together sitting with him these holy and learned Bishops as Assessours in the present cause Crescens Bishop of Vinon Phoberius Andreas of Ostia Iuvenal of Albano 5. Agathon the most Holy and Blessed Bishop of the Catholick Church and Apostolick Citty said thus to the Bishops sitting with him I doe not beleive that your Holy Fraternities are ignorant of the cause moving mee to call you to this Assembly For my desire is that your Reverences would ioyn with mee in hearing and treating of a Debate lately risen in the Church of the Brittish Isle where through Gods Grace the multitude of true Beleivers is encreased A relation of which Controversy hath been brought to us as well by information of persons thence arrived here as by Writings 6. Then Andrew the most Keverend Bishop of Ostia and Iohn of Porto said The ordering of all Churches dependeth on the authority of your Apostolick Sanctity who sustain the place of the Blessed Apostle S. Peter But moreover we by your command have read unto our fellow-Bishops sitting here with us the severall Writings which Messengers directed hither from Brittany presented to your Holines as well those which certain Messengers a good while since brought from the most Reverend Arch-bishop there together with the informations of others against a certain Bishop who as they say is privily slipped away as also those which were presented by the Devout Bishop Wilfrid Bishop of the Holy Church of York who having been cast out of his See by the forenamed Holy Arch-bishop is come hither In all which Writings though many questions be inserted yet we doe not find that by any Ecclesiasticall Canons he ha's been convicted of any crimes and consequently he was not canonically and legally eâ—ected Neither doe his accusers here present charge him wiâ—h any naughty acts meriting a degradation On the contrary it appears to us that notwithstanding his uniust suffrings he hath born himself modestly abstaining from all seditious contentions All that he hath done is that being driven out of his See the said venerable Bishop Wilfrid made known his cause to his fellow-bishps and it come for iustice to this See Apostolick 7. Agathon the most holy and blessed Bishop of the Catholick Church and of the Apostolick Citty of Rome said to his Brethren sitting with him Let Wilfrid the Venerable Bishop â—f the Holy Church of York who I am informed attends at the dores of our Secretary be here admitted and bring with him the Petition which he is sayd to have compiled The holy Bishop Wilfrid being entred into the Venerable Secretary said I beseech your Holines be pleased to command that my Petition may be openly read The most holy Bishop Agathon said Let the Petition of Venerable Wilfrid be received and publickly read And Iohn the Notaery received and read it to the holy and Apostolick Council in tenour following 8. I Wilfrid an humble and unworthy Bishop have at last by Gods assistance brought my steps to this supreme residence of Apostolick dignity as to a strong tower of safety from
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
but thy Primitive and youth-full face Read with delight and ioy this breathing Story Sets out to life thy death-surviving Glory But if thy curious glance must prye too far Beyond these leaves what now thy features are Blame not his Penn who not t' endanger Truth Shadows thine Age and onely paints thy Youth Nor will wee blame thy blush nor yet thy Teare If thou wilt needs thy time with this compare So blush'd so wept the Worlds great Empresse when In lively Mirrour of her Livie's penn Her faded honour she with sigh's recalls And mourns her buried Vertues funeralls When she her Curij her Fabrâ—cij mourns Bathing her Regulus her Decij Vrnes Those Heathen-Saints whom had our ages seen Had Catholick as well as Roman been How she disdaind herself though she could now Her Great Augustus boast as well as Thou Yet was 't ' expiring Fame so seem alive Though onely in effigie some Reprive Whose very sight Idea's might create For proud Posterity to imitate And thou in this Serener Glasse maist see If still thy looks dare own themselves and Thee Be thine own Iudge And who can better know Then thine own self if Thou bee'st Thou or no No bitter Satyres here no nettling Witt No Passion strutting in Zeale's Counterfeit No crooked Mood no Crosse-dilemma here Deny not but thy self the cause is cleare Eares are slow Iudges much by Rumour dull'd By tickling flattery too as often Gull'd What Plea then this can surer Proof dispence When thine own Eyes bring their own evidence In no false dresse disguis'd see hete thy face No patch'd Reform here foyles thy Native Grace Here view thy Pietie's forgotten look So lively drawn in this reviving Books Thy Vnity by Sects and Schismes rear Restor'd in this Eâ—ernall Monument Thy ruin'd Sepulchers and buried Shrines Repaird and rais'd in these Immortall lines Thy banished Saints recall'd by Saint like men Thy Bede restor'd in CRESSIES life and Penn. Ed. Thymelby Pr. S. Gaugerici Cameraci THE PREFACE TO THE READER 1. IT will no doubt be expedient with the Christian Readers leave to entertaine him a while in the porch and Entrance of this history there to informe him touching certain general matters relating to it the knowledge of which will not be unusefull to him and those are principally three 1. the Motive inducing the Authour to compose it 2. the disposition and order observed in it 3. the most considerable Wriitters from whom materialls have beene furnished for the fabrick of it As touching the Motive to the end it may appeare not irrationall I must give this account of my selfe to my Readers 2. I have not been able of late to prevent or expell a deepe ressentment of greife mixed with some indignation to see the cause of God and his Church too ordinarily defended and in a manner alwaies opposed with so much vnbeseeming passion and violence so as that oft times on the one side the merit of defending truth is lost by extreme preiudice don to Christian Charity and humility and on the other side the guilt of opposing truth is heightned by proceedings full of fury and revenge in the enemyes of it 3. A sad consideration hereof has produced in my mind a great aversenesse from Controversies For though I am not much suspicious of my selfe but that through the assistance of Divine grace I may hope to mannage a dispute how weakily soever yet without an arrogant incivility or mingling therein contemptuous reflexions on the adversaries persons yet perceiving that even candour modestie though excesse in proceeding from the penn of a Catholick disputant like oile increases the flame of a Sectaries passion there sore a compassionate solicitude in behalfe of our Adversaries themselves least by my occasion they should be plunged yet more deeply and inreparably in the hatred of Divine Truth and Christian peace has induced one almost to a resolution as far as I may dispose of my selfe not to continue much lesse to renew Debates and controversies except it shall appeare with sufficient evidence to me that God shall require it of mee 4. Indeed it was to me at first an astonishment to see how the violence of our Anti-catholick Writers in England has been increased against those who have assisted them and their calmnesse eqaully encreased towards those who had not long since almost and they know intend still to destroy their Church and Monarchy with it But this astonishment quickly ceased asson as I perceived that for the most part the new Defenders of the Church of England against Rome were arrant Sectaries some of them notoriously stigmatized and who not long before had been the loudest Trompets of war against the same Church such are the Champions who of late have intruded themselves into this Controversie knowing how much thereby they can ingratiate themselves with the people whom they have made thirsty after blood and likewise how in mannaging of it they can covertly pursue their old desing the English Church her selfe For this purpose they speake favourably of the tender consciences of their own seditious partie and treacherously commend the Church of England by telling the people how unlike it is to the Roman Church which challenges a supreme obliging authority whereas according to them the English Bishops have no Iurisdiction at all no not even my Lord of Canterbury himselfe but every ones private reason and conscience exempted from all humane authority is to be his onely Guide Thus they defend the Church of England by making it no Church at all 5. Vpon the sight of this I again wondred that so manifest so traiterous a prevarication should be connived at by the heads and Governours of the English-Protestant Church But this wonder did not long continue after I had upon reflexion considered that from the very beginning of the breach of England from Rome the Bishops themselves have beene the vnderminers of their own Church For there have never wanted in that number at least three or four who in Episcopacy loved onely the mannors and revenues being otherwise in their Iudgments and affections poisoned and embittered with the very Gall of Calvinism Now ordinary experience has shewed that among more than twenty moderate Protestants if there be found three or four genuine Calvinists they doe infallibly make the maior part by the advantage of their furious zeale restlesse activity and interest in popular favour 6. These masked Prelats then are they whose Faith consists in disbeleiving the Doctrines of the Catholick Church and their charity in hating and persecuting the Professours of such Doctrines Whence it comes to passe that the seditious preaching party conforming themselves to this unbeleiving beleife and uncharitable charity have right enough to their affections and favour so that out of a liking to their vnchristian zeale against Catholick vnity they easily pardon and excuse in them the like zeale against both Episcopacy and Monarky it self These are they who having first asserted the furious doctrines of Calvin touching
Miracle 1. A Second Witnes of the Sanctity of this Mother-Church of Christianity built by S. Ioseph at Glastonbury in honour of our Blessed Lady as likewise of the wonderfull Priviledge confer'd on it by our Lord himselfe who was pleased personally to consecrate it is the Illustrious Bishop of Menevia S. David the extirpatour of Pelagianism in Brittany His testimony is extant in the Antiquities of Glastonbury collected by William of Malmsbury in these words 2. Saint David with seaven other Bishops of whom he was Primate came to Glastonbury invited thereto by the Sanctity of the place place and had a resolution solemnly to consecrate an ancient Church there erected to the honour of the Blessed Virgin-Mother of our Lord. Having therefore provided all things requisite for the performance of that sacred Ceremony on the night immediatly preceding the intended Dedication he as nature required yeilded to sleep in which our Lord Iesus appeard to him and mildly demanded of him the cause of his coming thither This without delay S. David declar'd unto him But our Lord presently turn'd him from his resolution of dedicating the Church saying to him That must not be done And taking the Bishops hand he told him that many years since he himselfe had dedicated it to the honour of his Mother therfore that holy Ceremony ought not to be profan'd by any mans repeating it And having sayd this with his finger he peirced through the Bishops hand Telling him that this should be a sign that that ought not to be again renew'd which himselfe had formerly anticipated And withall he promis'd him that the next day when in reciting the Canon of the Masse he was to pronounce those Words Per ipsum cum ipso in ipsum By him and with him and to him be all honour and glory to thee O God the Father in the Vnity of the Holy Ghost he should have restord the integrity and soundnes of his hand The terrour of this Vision quickly drove sleep from the Bishops eyes whereupon with great earnestnes he examined whether that were indeed reall which our Lord seem'd to have done to him And having found it so he wondred at it and expected what would be the issue The next day all that were present with admiration saw and touched the prodigâ—ous wound Hereupon all the Preparation for a â—onsecration came to nothing and the miracle divinely wrought being made known publickly to all the Hearers encreas'd the admiration And in conclusion when Masse was celebrated the Bishops hand was restord to its former soundnes 3. This miracle is not forgotten nor contemn'd even by some Protestant Writers though in repeating it they willingly omit the name of Masse which having banish'd from their own Churches they are loath it should appeare of so great Antiquity and which is more considerable dignified by our Lords mentioning it and working a wonderfull miracle during the celebration of it VII CHAP. 1.2 A third witnes is our H. Apostle S. Augustin the Monk The fashion and homelines of that Church 1. A Third Witnes of equall authority though later date is S. Augustin the Apostle of our Nation who in an Epistle to S. Gregory the Great mentions the summe of what hath been hitherto related as a Tradition receiv'd in those days A part of this Epistle is recited by three Protestant Bishops as a firm argument of the Primitive antiquity of Christian Religion in our Island The words of S. Augustin are these In the confines of western Brittany there is a Royall Island by an ancient Name called Glascon It is largely extended being encompassed with waters abounding with fish and rivers in many places standing in pooles commodious for many uses of human life and which is most considerable it hath been dedicated to the exercises of Sacred Duties For there the first Professours of Christian Religion found as the report is a Church not built by the skill of men but prepared by God anâ— fitted for human salvation The which Church was afterward by many miracles and many mysterious operations demonstrated to have been consecrated by our Lord the Creatour of the world to his own glory and the honour of his most Blessed Mother the Virgin Mary To this Church was afterwards added an Oratory built of stone which was dedicated to Christ and his holy Apostle S. Peter 2. And hereto agrees that which we read in the life of S. Ioseph The foresaid Saints conversing together in that Solitude after a little time were admonish'd in a Vision by the holy Archangel Gabriel to build unto the honour of the holy Mother of God and perpetuall Virgin Mary a Church in a place shewd from heaven to them Whereupon they in obedience to those Divine admonitions finish'd the building of a Chappell the walls wherof on all sides were made of rods warled or interwoven This was done in the one and thirtieth yeare after the Passion of our Lord and in the fifteenth after the Assumption of the glorious Virgin Mary Here we may see saith D. Fuller the simplicity of Primitive Devotion and the native fashion of Brittish buildings in that age and some hundred years after For we find that Hoel Dha King of Wales An. D. 940. made himself a Palace of Hurdleworke call'd Tyguyn or the White house because to advance it above other houses the rods wherof it was made were unbark'd having the rind strip'd off Which was then counted gay and glorious This homely building however suiting with the simplicity of the builders soules did deserve and was indeed preferd in the veneration of all succeeding times before the magnificent structures of squared stones and marble adorn'd and enrich'd with gold and precious stones which in following ages by the Devotion though perhaps mix'd with some vanity of lesse perfect Christians were splendidly erected VIII CHAP. 1.2 A fourth Testimony of ehe Building a Church at Glastonbury by S. Ioseph from an Ancient Inscription at Glastonbury here produced 3.4 c. Sir Henry Spelmans Exceptions against that Inscription answer'd 1. THe last Testimony justifying most of the particulars before mentioned touching this Primitive Church built by S. Ioseph of Arimathea is taken from a very ancient Inscription cut in brasse and heretofore fastned to a Pillar in Glastonbury Church Which Inscription Bishop Godwin therfore rehearses that he may demonstrate that S. Ioseph indeed came into Brittany and after him Sir Henry Spelman caused it to be entirely transcrib'd and put into his Collection of our Brittish and English Councills The tenour of it is as followeth 2. In the one and thirtieth year after the Passion of our Lord twelve Holy men among whom Ioseph of Arimathea was Cheif came to this place and here built the first Church of this Kingdom Which Christ in the honour of his Mother himselfe dedicated together with a place for their buriall as S. David Bishop of Menevia testified who having an intention to consecrate it
containing the Province of Kent the third Flavia which is the middle part of Brittany which after the entrance of the Saxons was called Mercia The fourth Maximia containing Yorkshire and the last Valentia under which were comprehended all the Northern Provinces beyond the Brigantes 2. But certain it is that these Titles were not assign'd nor this Division made till severall ages afterward under the raign of the Emperours Valentinian and Valens As for the present age of Traian Brittany was then divided only into two Provinces call'd the First and the Second or as Ptolomy names them the Greater and the lesse and Dio the Vpper and Lower Brittany The former of these contain'd the Southern parts as far as the River Thamisis first possess'd by the Romans and the other the Western Provinces of Cornwall Wales c. V. CHAP. 1. Tumults in Brittany neglected by Trajan 2 3. Of King Coellus raigning there his Character 4. The Emperour Hadrian quiets Brittany as his Coyns testify 5. This he did not in person but by his Officers 1. TOward the latter end of Traians raign among other Nations which rebelled against the Roman Empire Brittany is reckoned for one by Spartianus But the Emperour finding a greater necessity to turn his arms against the Africans and Sarmatians neglected the Brittains 2. Now what particular Provinces in Brittany those were which at this time attempted to shake off the Roman Yoke it does not appeare Coellus was yet alive who is by our Historiographers call'd King of the Brittains not as if he were the only King in the Island but because he was the most considerable in power and wealth to whom the rest yeilded both honour and some kind of subjection as in Caesars time we read the severall Brittish Princes then raigning in their respective Dominions did to Cassibelin and afterward in the Saxon Heptarchy he that was called Rex Anglorum King of the English had a supereminence over the rest 3. Now as touching King Coellus he is described by our Histories to be a Prince of so benign and peaceable a nature and withall so affectionat to the Romans having had his breeding at Rome it selfe where as Polidor Virgil says he spent his younger years in the disciplin of war and civill literature and during his raign he shewd all respectfull submission to the Majesty of that Imperiall Citty restraining his Subjects from all designs and attempts against it So that it cannot be conceived that he ioyned in the said Rebellion 4. Now though Traian by greater concernments was hindred from reducing the tumultuous Brittains to obedience yet his Successour Adrian in the beginning of his raign neglected them not For there are yet extant ancient Coyns made by a Decree of the Roman Senat wherin is imprinted the Brittish Army with the figures of three Roman soldiers on one side and on the other the Emperour Adrians face denoting likewise his third Consulship which fell in the first year of his raign Such Coyns were framed and dispersed among the Soldiours as a gratuity to conciliate their affections to the Emperour And the figures of the three soldiers imported the three Legions then guarding this Island the Titles of which were the Second call'd Augusta the fourteenth called Victrix and the Twentieth Legion call'd also Victrix and Britannica 5. Notwithstanding these Coyns are no proof either of the Emperours coming then into Brittany or of any battell or Victory gained then upon the Brittains being only a ceremony of Adrians assumption to the Empire partly to oblige the Roman soldiers to him and likewise to admonish the Brittains that the New Emperour was mindfull of their disorders which if they continued he would as he effectually did three years after come himselfe to chastise them VI. CHAP. 1. Iulius Severus Governour of Brittany 2. The Emperour Hadrians progresse through the Empire 3.4 A wall made by him in Brittany to exclude the Caledonian Brittains 5. Hadrian returns out of Brittany 1. IVlius Severus was the Pretor who at this time administred the Province and governed the Roman Army in Brittany who for ought appears in story stood only upon his defence and made no expedition against the rebellious Brittains in the Northern parts of the Island as appears by the following exploits of the Emperour Hadrian By which it is manifest that King Coellus whose Dominions lay southward had no ingagement in those commotions 2. In the third year of his raign the Emperour began a progresse through all the Regions of the Empire to compose seditions to rectify disorders and restore discipline through all his armies He began with Germany and from thence took a view of France and the year following pass'd over into Brittany A generall view of whose actions in these Countreys is afforded us by Dio. 3. We will here only mention one memorable exploit in Brittany which was the separating of the peaceable subjects of the Roman Empire from the rest who refused to submit to its yoke Now whereas Iulius Agricola had formerly driven the ruder Brittains into the Northern parts of Scotland and had built forts in the narrow Isthmus between Edinborough frith and that of Dunbritton to hinder them from making inroads into the Provinces subject to the Romans it seems the Brittains had broke through that enclosure and subdued much of the Countrey beyond it 4. Hereupon Hadrian not esteeming it worth his care or endangering his Army to repell them within their former bounds contented himself to raise a wall or rampire more Southern then the former which he continued the space of fourscore miles between Solway frith on the West and Tinmouth on the East side of the Isle Which wall made of Turfs and strengthned with Timber was afterward repaired by the Emperour Severus and again changed into a stone wall by Theodâ—sius Father of the famous Emperour of that name This was in succeeding times call'd the The Picts Wall by reason that those Northern Brittains beyond it became as a distinct Nation taking their name from their continuing the old barbarous custome of painting themselves which the civill inhabitants had relinquished 5. Hadrian the year following was call'd out of Brittany to compose a sedition rais'd at Alexandria in Egypt Therefore he pass'd back into Gaule and from thence into Spain where he wintred Out of Spain the next year he sayld into Egypt where having quieted the Countrey he returned to Rome VII CHAP. 1.2 Persecution rais'd by Hadrian against Christians and the occasion of it 3. He profanes the holy places at Ierusalem 4. They remain desolate till S. Helena's time 5. Modern Sectaries imitate the rage of Heathens against the Crosse of Christ. 1. THis laborious circuit made by the Emperour though it was very beneficiall to the Regions through which he pass'd that is almost the whole Empire yet it was the cause of great suffrings to the Christians every where but especially in Palestina where
they were most numerous that Countrey being the source of our Religion and also by reason of the Devotion which all of them bore to those holy places consecrated by the actions and suffrings of our Saviour to celebrate the memory of which there was continually a confluence of Beleivers from all the quarters of the world 2. This moved envy in the minds of the Iews and Gentiles likewise upon whose complaints the Emperour not only renew'd the persecution of them begun by his Predecessour but as Sulpitius Severus affirms imagining that he could destroy Christian Religion it selfe by iniurious defacing the place where it began he erected in the most sacred place of our our Lords Passion the Idols of Devils And because Christians were generally esteemed an off-spring of Iews be ordained a Cohâ—rt of souldiers to keep contâ—nuall watch to forbid all Iews an accesse into Ierusalem 3. S. Paulinus more particularly says that on Mount Calvary where our Lord suffred Hadrian placed the Idol of Iupiter S. Hierom adds that on the Rock where the Crosse had been placed he erected a marble-statue consecrated to Venus and profaned Bethleem the place of our Saviours Birth with the Temple of Adonis This he did as conceiving that the Root as it were and foundation of the Church would be destroyed if Idols were worshipped in those places in which Christ was born that he might suffer and suffred that he might rise again and râ—se that he might raign being iudged by men that he might be Iudge of mankind 4. In this desolation did those Holy places lye till Helena the Mother of the Emperour Constantin out of a pious affection to Christian Religion thought it worth her pains and industry to search out the Venerable Crosse. But neither that nor the divine Sepulcher of our Lord were easily to be found For the ancient Gentiles persecutors of the Church labouring with their utmost endeavours to oppresse and destroy Christâ—an Religion then newly strung forth overwhelm'd that place by heaping on it a great bank of earth And moreâ—ver encompassing the whole place both of the Sepulcher whence Christ rose Mount Calvary where he was crucified with a great wall in all sides â—â—hy afterwards profaned it by ornaments of their own heathenish fashion For first they paved it with stones and then raised up a Temple of Venus and in conclusion placed in it the Idol of that impure Goddesse This they did to the end that if any would adore Christ in that place they might seem to worship Venus and consequently to processe of time the true cause 〈◊〉 mâ—n had that place in Veneration would be utterly forgotten 5. We see here who they were to whom the Ensigns of our Lords Passion his Crosse and Sepulcher as likewise the place of his Nativity were venerable to wit the ancient Primitive Christians our Brittish Saint Helena c. and to whom they were odious to envious Iewes and persecuting Heathens And yet the abolishing of those sacred Monuments the scornfull reproaches and blasphemies cast on the Crosse of our Lord are of late made the proofs of Primitive Reformation The Crosse saith Lactantius was frequently to wicked Princes a principall Motive of persecuting Christians And the reason is given by S. Athanasius because by the preaching of the ignominy of the Crosse Idolatry was confounded and the golden Temple of the Heathens fell to the ground VIII CHAP. 1. Persecution against Christians mitigated why 2.3 c. Severall rebellions of Iewes and their destruction 1. THis persecution rais'd by Hadrian was shortly after mitigated upon occasion of a suggestion made to him by Grâ—vianus Prâ—câ—nsul of Asia that it was against all law and equity that persons in all other respects innocent should only for the name and and Title of a Sect be exposed to the fury of impious multitudes And moreover there wanted not among the Christians themselves persons of eminence and learning who employ'd their pens to write Apologies in justification of the piety and innocence of the Christian Profession such were Quadratus a Disciple of the Apostles and Aristides Bishop of Athens By such means the eyes of many were opened and men began to consider Christianity not by the erroneous judgments and rumours of the Vulgar or the malicious suggestions of Iewes but by the sober account given of it by prudent men and the untainted lives and constant deaths of the Professours of it These things moved many to approve and embrace it and the Emperour Hadrian himselfe to publish an Edict prohibiting the punishment of any for their Beleife if otherwise they were free from crimes 2. What effect this mitigation of the persecution probably wrought in Brittany we shall presently shew But first we will observe Gods just severity against the most inveterate hatred of the Iewes always active and restlesse to incite and inflame persecutions against innocent Christians 3. The Iews had rais'd a rebellion in the beginning of Hadrians raign and with much adoe were at last subdued insomuch as they were forbidden to enter into or so much as from a far to look upon their Citty Ierusalem The name of which was by the Emperour likewise changed into Aelia Capitolina and in it a Temple was built to Iupiter Yea moreover the Iews were by a Law forbidden to practise circumcision thereby to distinguish themselves from others 4. Vpon these provocations a second Rebellion far more violent and largely spread then the former was raised by them by which saith Dio the whole world was shaken and disordered To oppose them after that the Emperours first Generall Tinius Rufus had been unsuccesfull Iulius Severus was commanded out of Brittany which he had governed severall years and in his place was sent Lâ—ciniâ—s Priscus favoured by the Emperour for service formerly done against the Iewes in their first sedition Concerning whom nothing remains of any exploits done by him for all his employment was to guard the Wall or Rampire lately raised to restrain the inroads of the rude Northern Brittains Only there is still extant an ancient Inscription signifying this his promotion and the cause of it which Monument was raised by one of his Officers Q Cassius Domitius Palumbus 5. As for the particulars touching the prosecution of the Iewish war the savage cruelties exercised by them and the great hazards sustained by the Romans which yet ended in almost an utter extirpation of the Iewish Nation these things not pertaining to our present design are to be enquired into among the Histories of that Age. We will now return to the Ecclesiasticall affairs of Brittany hapning in this time which though of small moment are not therefore to be omitted IX CHAP. 1.2 The death of the Brittish King Coellus to whom succeeds his Son Lucius a child The reason of his name 3. A message sent from the Brittains to Pope Evaristus 4. An answer given by his Successour Pope Alexander 5. Many Baptis'd in Brittany
at Granta or Cambridge 1. TOward the beginning of the Emperour Hadrian's raign dyed the Brittish King Coellus Leaving for his successour his Son Lucius a child then of ten years old who imitating the acts of his Father possess'd the affections of his subiects being esteem'd as a second Coellus The reverence and love which his Father bore to the Romans seems to have been the cause that he gave him a Roman name which being derived from Lux Light hence the Brittains called him Lever Maur or a great Brightnes by reason of the ioy he brought to his Father being born to him in his old age in the thirty seaventh yeare of his raign as likewise to the whole Kingdome which esteemd it a great happines to enjoy a successour to their most beloved King 2. But Divine Providence seems to have had another design in the appointment of this Kings name intending it for an Omen of that heavenly Light which in this Princes time and by his procurement was communicated to the whole Kingdom But this most signall blessing arrived not suddenly Though King Lucius imitating his Fathers benignity express'd much kindnes to the Christians yet he quitted not the superstition of his Forefathers till after many Vocations sent him from God and many invitations and preparations which by Divine Providence occurring in his time disposed him by little and little to submit his neck to the easy and most happy Yoke of Christ. What those preparations were we shall set down in their due place 3. Our Brittish Historians Gildas and Nennius mention a message sent to the Brittains by Pope Evaristus in the latter end of Traians raign exhorting them to the embracing of Christian Faith An occasion and advantage for such a message may seem to have been taken from Traians mitigating the persecution formerly rais'd by him against the Christians for which purpose he sent his Edicts into all Provinces No wonder therfore if that Holy Bishop layd hold of this opportunity to recommend that Religion whose innocence was approved by its greatest persecuters 4. Yea moreover Albertus Krantzius a late German Writer from what Monuments it does not appeare affirms that King Lucius obtained from Pope Alexander the successour of Evaristus that the Christian Faith should be preached in this Isle Which if it be true we may reasonably impute the occasion of it to the Emperour Hadrians Edict published for the ceasing of persecutions against the Christians Now that this Holy Bishop did readily comply with so desirable a request and consequently send Apostolicall men to propagate the sacred Verities of our Christian Faith some Writers doe hence collect because about these times our Ecclesiasticall Annalls doe take notice of the coming of S. Timotheus and S. Marcellus with others into Brittany concerning whom we shall treat shortly 5. Moreover in the most ancient Monuments of Burton Abbey we find that in the yeare of our Lord a hundred forty and one there were baptised in Granta afterward call'd Cambridge nine Doctours and schollars Now whether this so memorable publicka Ceremony was performed by any of the Preachers sent by Pope Alexander is not mention'd in these Monuments However this is confidently aveâ—â—ed by Gildas That the Christian Faith did from the beginning entirely remain in Brittany till Diocletians persecution Which saying of Gildas as Bishop Vsher well observes was seasonably recorded by him least any one should thinke that before the conversion of King Lucius Christian Religion brought into Brittany by the Apostles and their Disciples had been utterly extinguished X. CHAP. 1. Antoninus Pius succeeds to Hadrian in the Empire who sent Lollius Vrbicus to represse the rebellious Caledonians in Brittany 2.3 The Brigantes in Brittany rebell and are pacified For which the Emperour is stiled Britannicus 1. TO the Emperour Hadrian succeeded Antoninus Pius adopted by him In the beginning of whose raign the Northern rude Brittains took the boldnes to break through the wall rais'd by Hadrian for their restraint and after a hostile manner made in roads into the Roman Provinces For the repressing of whom Lollius Vrbicus was by the New â—mperour sent into Brittany to govern the Roman Army who easily quietted those commotions and moreover drove back the Brittains within their former bounds at Edinborough where he rais'd a new Wall in the same narrow space between the Eastern and Western seas where formerly Iulius Agricola had for the same purpose built severall forts at convenient distances From which wall the Emperour Antoninus in his Itinerary reckons the utmost limits of the Empire 2. A few years after the Brigantes in Yorkshire upon what provocations it is uncertain began â—umults and both by Sea and land invaded the Ordovices in Northwales a Roman Province Which injury the others likewise repayd in the like manner Hereupon Lollius Vrbicus the Roman Pretor least this flame of dissention should spread further timely put both his army and Navy in readines Himselfe lead his Army by land and Seius Saturninus commanded at Sea Thus in a short time all differences were composed and the Brigantes who first began the sedition received condign punishment 3. Though these two Tumults in Brittany are by the Writers of those times only sleightly and summarily described yet it seems they were full of danger and hazard to the Romans otherwise the Emperour Antoninus by whose directions and authority the war was managed would not have assumed the Title of Britannicus as a conquerour of Brittany which Title notwithstanding we find ascrib'd to him XI CHAP. 1. Succession of Popes Pope Pius establishes the observation of Easter to whom the Brittains conform 2 3 4. Of S. Marcellus a Brittain Bishop of Tiers and the first Brittich Martyr he suffred out of Brittany 1. IN the nineteenth year of the Emperour Antoninus being the one hundred fifty eighth yeare of our Lord Pope Pius the first of that name succeeded Higinus the Successour of Pope Alexander He was the first who by a Decree establish'd the observation of Easter or the Feast of our Lord's Resurrection on a Sunday in opposition to the Iudaizing Christians in the East who pretending a Tradition from S. Iohn the Evangelist kepd it precisely on the fourteenth day of the first Moon in March This we mention here because some Modern Protestants pretending that our ancient Brittish Christians conform'd themselves to the Eastern not Roman custome doe therfore infer that this Island received the Christian Faith not from Rome but the East Which controversy shall be examined in due place 2. Our Ancient Ecclesiasticall Monuments make mention about this time of S. Marcellus a Brittain born and a zealous Apostâ—licall Preacher of the Faith in Brittany Concerning whom our English Martyrologe testifies that he gathered into a flock the remainders of those who had been converted by S. Ioseph of Arimathea and his companions confirming them in the same Faith 3. This S. Marcellus was
other things and places is by the great antiquity conceal'd from posterity Some Writers imagine that it was called Sodorensis because it was by Amphibalus dedicated to our Saviour called in Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Soter 3. This Narration for as much as concerns Amphibalus if this be the Brittish Martyr Amphibalus seems to be of doubtfull credit since he could scarce be so timely a Bishop For almost fifty years must yet passe before we introduce him ascending the Episcopall throne offring himselfe a Champion and Sacrifice for the Christian Faith IX CHAP. 1. The Sixth Persecution rais'd by the Emperour Maximinus Martyrdom of Pope Pontianus 2. Of Cyriacus a Brittain falsly suppos'd to be the Successour of Pope Pontianus 3.4.5 The Martyrdom of S. Vrsula and the eleaven thousand Virgins falsly refer'd to this age Fictions concerning them 1. AT this time S. Pontianus Bishop of Rome governed the Church of God whose Predecessour was S. Vrban who succeeded S. Calistus Now the Tyrant Maximinus raising the sixth Persecution sharpned it especially against Bishops and Teachers of the Christian Flock By his command therfore S. Pontianus who by the Emperour Alexander had been banish'd into Sardinia was crown'd with Martyrdom being beaten to death with clubbs To him succeeded S. Anterus by NatioÌ„ a Grecian who the year following was likewise put to death by the same Tyrant 2. Hence it appears that those Writers are manifestly disprooved who after S. Pontianus place in the Chair of S. Peter a person unknown to Antiquity called Cyriacus The Patrons of this Errour are the Authour of the â—asciculus temporum Bergomensis Nauclerus c. Hereto some Modern Writers add that Cyriacus was by birth a Brittain and appointed by S. Pontianus going into banishment his Vicar at Rome to exercise there in his absence the Papall offices for which cause he was by some called Pope 3. A yet greater Errour is that by which certain Authours refer the Martyrdom of S. Vrsula and many thousand Virgins her companions to these times Concerning whose particular Gests things are reported beyond all bounds of probability or even possibility Hermanus Crombachius who has written a book of the Martyrdom of those Virgins pretends that S. Vrsula was the daughter of a certain Prince in Ireland a Christian called Dionethus or Dionothus and that all her companions came out of the same Countrey These holy Virgins saith he the Emperour Maximinus beseeging and winning by assault Colonia most barbarously murdred Wheras it is most certain both by Tradition and all ancient Monuments that before S. Patricks time the first Apostle of Ireland there was in that Island no Prince that was Christian and much lesse could it afford eleaven thousand Christian Virgins Which by what miracle they should in those times be brought to Colen no man can rationally imagin 4. A yet more absurd fancy is entertain'd by some others concerning these Virgins who affirm that they in devotion undertook a pilgrimage to Rome accompanied by severall Princes and in their retinue the foremention'd Cyriacus and returning by Colen were there martyred Indeed a proper time is found by these Writers for a Pilgrimage to be perform'd by such an Army of Virgins c. when the persecuting Tyrant Maximinus so cruelly raged against Christians Notwithstanding besid's pretended Revelations there is produced an eye-witnes of all this a certain companion of S. Vrsula call'd Vetena who it seems escaped the slaughter that she might acquaint posterity with the story of her Fellows The tale reported by her is as followeth When we were at Rome there were at that time two wicked Princes whose names were Maximinus and Africanus Yet Maximinus though then Consul with Africanus never was at Rome who seeing our great multituds and how many Romans associated themselves to us conceived great indignation against us fearing least by our means Christian Religion might encrease and gather strength Hereupon having by â—heir Spyes learnt out what way we intended to â—ourney they sent with great hast messengers to a certain kinsman of theirs called Iulius who was Prince of the Nation of the Hunns exhorting him to bring forth his Army to persecute and destroy us Who readily complying with their desire rush'd violently upon us when we were at Colen and there shed our blood 5. Such dreams as these the inventions of vain and idle witts which gain no beleif to themselves and disgrace Truth reported by others deserve not to be confuted but with indignation to be rejected and conteâ—â—'d And as for the true Story of S. Vrsula's Martyrdom with her companions we shall herafter in due time and place about the middle of the fifth Century give a sober and rationall account of it shewing that she was indeed the daughter of one Dionothus a petty Christian Prince not in Ireland but Cornwall and that those holy Virgins being destin'd for spouses to great multituds of Brittains not long before placed in Gallia Armorica from them named lesser Brittany they were on the Sea surpris'd by a Navy of Hunns and by them led captives up the Rhine to Câ—len where they received a glorious Martyrdom X. CHAP. 1. Maximinus the Emperour slain by his Army His Successours 2. Of Pope Fabianus and his pretended Bull to confirm the Priviledges of Cambridge 3. Peace of Gods Church and many Churches built 4. An Ancient Monument touching the Emperour Gordianus and his Wife 1. MAximinus having raign'd not full four years was slain by his own soldiers at Aquileia to whom succeeded Maximus and Balbinus chosen by the Roman Senat to oppose Maximinus who after a few months were likewise slain by the Soldiers and in their place they advanced to the Empire Gordianus the grandchild of a former Gordianus who in a sedition against Maximinus had been proclamed Emperour in Africk and approved by the Senat and people of Rome but presently after was deprived both of his Empire and life 2. During the Raign of Maximinus as likewise of the Younger Gordianus the Holy Pope Fabianus sate in the Chair of S. Peter being the Successour of Pontianus There is produced by Caius the Advocat of the Vniversity of Cambridge a Bull of Pope Honorius dated the six hundred twenty fourth year of our Lord in which this Pope Fabianus is sayd to have approv'd and confirm'd the sayd Vniversity In case the said Bull be authentick it shall not here be inquired what Proofs those who obtain'd it from Pope Honorius could alledge for their pretending to such a Confirmation by S. Fabianus This is however certain that this Holy Pope was not only watchfull over the affairs of the whole Church but a favourer of learning and learned men To him did the famous Origen give account in an Epistle of the orthodoxe soundnes of his doctrin as Eusebius testifies 3. At this time the Christian Church enioyed great tranquillity saith Baronius Of which occasion many Bishops making good use not
only propagated the Faith but likewise illustrated it by building many Churches This is affirm'd by S. Gregory Nyssen who says that in those days many Churches and Altars were erected every where And particularly the holy Pope Fabianus commanded Churches to be built over the vaults where the bodies of the holy Martyrs had been buried which Churches were much frequented by the devotion of Christians No wonder then if in Brittany as yet free from all persecution there be so many testimonies of Churches Altars and Sacrifices Neither can it be doubted but that among others Obinus Bishop of London as likewise Conanus his next Successour about these times were carefull to imitate the zeale of other Bishops 4. We will not here omitt the taking notice of a Monument or Inscription found among the Brigantes being a Votive Table For the safety of M. Antonius Gordianus the Son of Publius the invincible Emperour and of Sabina Furia Tranquilla his Wife and their whole sacred Family Which Table was erected by the Emperours Wing of horse for their courage call'd Gordia the Prefect wherof was Aemilius Crispinus a Gentleman of Rome born at Tuidrus or Thisdrus in the Province of Africa under the command of Nonnius Philippus the Emperours Lieutenant Propretor of Brittany Atticus and Pratextatus being Consuls 5. In which Table we learn two particulars no where else to be found The first is That Nonnius Philippus was at this time Governour of Brittany And the other That the Daughter of Misitheus whom the Emperour married was called Sabinâ— Furia Tranquilla though Paulus Diaconus calls her Tranquillina XI CHAP. 1. The Emperour Gordianus slain by Philippus who succeeded 2.3 The Emperour Philippus and his Son become Christians The occasion of their Conversion 4. After seaven years raign they are slain by their soldiers and Decius succeeded in the Empire 1. IN the sixth year of his raign was the Emperour Gordianus slain by the treason of M. Iulius Philippus who succeeded him and within a few years gave a proof how instable Kingdoms are which are unlawfully purchased for by the like though lesse uniust treason he was depriv'd both of his Empire and life by his own Guards Yet thiâ— advantage did Philip enioy above any of his Predecessors that Almighty God gave him the Grace to wash away his sins by Baptisme and Pennance 2. The occasion of whose conversion to Christianity is thus declared in the Acts of S. Pontius the Martyr Pontius a person advanced to a high dignity was known and a particular freind of the two Philips the Father and the son who were Emperours Now in the year one thousand after the foundation of Rome they sayd to Pontius Let us goe and begg the favour of the Gods which have brought us to this thousandth year of the Roman City But Pontius used many excuses to avoyd this however they in a freeidly manner endeavoured to compell him to the Sacrifice Whereupon he conceiving this to be a good opportunity given him by God to advance his truth sayd to them O most pious Emperours since it is the only true God which has bestowed on you the Supreme dominion over men why doe you not rather adore Him by whom such power and majesty has been conser'd on you The Emperour Philip answered him For that cause it is that I desire to sacrifice to the great God Iupiter But Pontius smiling Be not deceiv'd O Emperour said he It is that Omnipotent God whose throne is in heaven who created all things by his Word and by his Spirit gave life to them which made you Emperour In a word by these and other like speeches and perswasions the Emperours received the Faith of Christ and were baptis'd by the holy Pope Fabianus 3. The two Emperour being thus perswaded of the Truth of Christianity gave a worthy example of Christian modesty and humility when they came to be baptis'd as Eusebius relates it The report is saith he that Philip who was then converted to the Christian Faith on the last Vigils before Easter coming to the Church with a desire to be partaker of the Prayer together with the Congregation was not permitted by the Bishop then presiding over the Church to enter till he had confess'd his sins and placed himselfe among those who were yet unabsolved and therefore were separated from the rest in a rank appointed for Penitents For the Bishop told him plainly that considering the many crimes publickly known to have been committed by him he could not upon any other condition receive him into the Church Whereupon the Emperour with a willing and chearfull mind submitted himselfe to the Bishops injunction thereby declaring an ingenuous modesty together with a Religious and pious affection proceeding from a reverent fear of God 4. These two Emperours raigned full seaven years and at the end were slain by their own soldiers The time and manner of their death is signified by an ancient Inscription and Monument at Verona where the Elder Philip was kill'd The Words of the Inscription are these In the two hundred fifty and third year of Christ the Emperour Philip the Elder was slain at Verona and the Younger at Rome by their own Guards incited thereto by Decius who succeeded in the Empire XII CHAP. 1. The birth of Helena Mother of Constantin 2.3 A Controversy about the Place of her birth c. 1. THE Raign of the two Philips is rendred to us more illustrious by the Mother of Constantin the Great She was the daughter of a Brittish Prince called Coëllus or Coelus who exercised a Dominion among the Trinobantes the Regni and the Iceni that is Essex Middlesex Surrey Sussex Norfolk c. For though after the death of King Lucius not any Brittain was allow'd the name of King yet certain it is there were severall Princes of the Brittish blood which under an inferiour Title exercised a kingly Iurisdiction in their respective Provinces 2. There is a controversy among Writers in which of these Provinces S. Helena was born The more common opinion is that it was among the Trinobantes in Essex and particularly in Colchester which saith M. Camden was in those days the prime Citty of that Province as a world of ancient Coyns there dayly digg'd up doe testify And that she was indeed born there the same Authour prooves by an argument of some weight for says he The inhabitants of Colchester doe confidently affirm that Flavia Iulia Helena the Mother of Constantin the Great and daughter of King Coâ—llus was born in their Citty And therefore in memory of the Holy Crosse found by her they bear for their Arms in a Scutcheon a knotty Crosse placed between four Crowns 3. Notwithstanding severall Historians of the Greek Church doe challenge S. Helena to themselves affirming that she was born in Bithynia in a town rais'd by her son Constantin to the dignity of a Citty and from her called Helenopolis Moreover
assistance of the Nobility about her and her Counsell he at last obtained Thus Hermannus Cromback relates the matter out of an ancient Manuscript belonging to the Monastery of S. Pantaleon in Colen who adds that this Translation befell in the year of Grace nine hundred eighty four 11. To conclude this subject and to demonstrate with what devotion our whole nation hath always celebrated the memory of this our first Brittish Martyr shall be here annex'd out of Thomas Walsingham a breif narration how the Controversy was ended betwen the two Monasteries of S. Alban and Ely both which earnestly and confidently pretended that S. Albanus his body repos'd among them 12. For King Edward the second celebrating Easter in the Monastery of Ely employed his authority to procure that the Tomb in which the Monks affirm'd that the Body of S. Albanus lay among them should be opened Which at last though with great reluctance of the Monks being perform'd there was nothing at all found in it but only a course hairy garment in the upper part whereof was seen sprinckled in severall places thick congeald blood as fresh as if it had been shed a few dayes before which garment was without all question the Caracalla which S. Albanus received from his Master Saint Amphibalus and wherin he suffred Martyrdom And by this discovery the Monks of S. Alban to their great ioy gained their cause 13. Neither let any one wonder that the same Veneration should be pay'd to a Martyrs Vestment sprinkled with his blood which would be given to his whole body for by many miracles God hath testified that this is acceptable to him A more authentick witnes hereof cannot be required then the Holy and learned Father S. Gregory Nazianzen whose words are these A little portion of dust a particle of bones a little haire part of the Vestment or the marks of the blood of a Martyr sprinckled ought to have as much veneration as the whole body Nay I have known where onely the name of a Martyr attributed to a place has produced the same vertue that the Martyrs whole body would have done O wonderfull the memory alone of Martyrs is sufficient in my opinion to conferr health XVI CHAP. 1.2 c. The ancient Acts of S. Amphibalus 3. Great multituds present at the death of S. Albanus converted 4.5 S. Amphibalus venerates the Crosse. 6.7.8 A thousand Brittish Christians martyrd in the presence of S. Amphibalus 9. The place of their Martyrdome Lichfeild 1. THE first that follow'd S. Albanus by the way of Martyrdom to heaven was his Master Amphibalus who first shewd him the way thither Concerning whoÌ„ thus wee read in his Life extant likewise in Capgrave but written by a lesse ancient Authour as appears by the context of it for he mentions some Provinces by names which were not given them till some ages after these times as wallia Wales c. 2. When S. Amphibalus had by his preaching and exhortation through the operation of the Holy Ghost converted the glorious Martyr S. Albanus to the Fatih his Venerable Disciple earnestly perswaded him to depart that Citty of Verolam and withall gave him his own Soldiers garment richly woven with gold that so he might travell more safely from his enemies To whose request Amphibalus condescending began his flight early in the morning directing his iourney northward with an intention to preach the word of God to the Gentiles in Wales 3. After whose departure followd the Martyrdom of S. Albanus and when the multitudes which accompanied him to his death saw the pillar of light which from his tombe rais'd it self up to heaven and the Angells descending and asscending with praises to God all the night they were amazed at that unusuall ligâ—t which they ascribed to the miraculous power of God Whereupon one of theÌ„ seeing the rest astonishd thus spake to them It is manifest that it is Christ the Son of God who hath wrought these wonderfull things The Gods which we have hitherto worshipped are rather Monsters then Deities having no power nor Divinity in them so that we have spent our dayes in their worship without any proffit at all See how the nights darknes gives way to celestiall splendours See how the heavenly Cittizens come and goe celebrating the Sanctity of Albanus Let us therfore forsake our former Errours and be converted from lyes to truth from infidelity to Faith Let us goe and enquire out the man of God who as you know converted by his preaching Albanus to the Faith This man having with these and other like speeches exhorted the rest they all with one accord presently profess'd a detestation of their former Heathenish Errours and exalted the Faith of Christ. 4. Thus with great hast they directed their iouney into wales where the servant of God Amphibalus was suppos'd to remain To whom when they were come they found him preaching the word of life to the people of that Region and told him the cause of their coming withall presenting to him the Crosse which himself had before bestow'd on his Disciple Albanus and which was sprinckall over with fresh blood thereby exhibiting manifesâ—â—igns of the Blessed mans Martyrdom 5. As touching this Crosse thus Mathew of westminster writes The Crosse says he which the holy Martyr Albanus was wont almost continually to carry in his hands at his death being sprinckled with his blessed blood fell upon the grasse which a certain Christian privily took up and conceal'd it from the Pagans 6. The same Authour pursuing this Story adds That S. Amphibalus having heard and seen these things gave thanks to Almighty God and made a Sermon of Christian Religion to these his new Auditours who were in number about a thousand To whose doctrin they all immediatly profess'd their consent and beleif and therupon chearfully received from his sacred hands the Seale of Faith which is in Christ to witt his holy Baptism 7. In the mean time the conversion and departure of such great multitudes caused great trouble among the Pagan Cittizens of Verolam wherupon the Ministers of the persecution rais'd against Christians there resolved to pursue with all cruelty the holy man Amphibalus who had been the cause of so great a change and in order thereto they with armed forces march'd the same way which their companions had taken intending to find out this publick and profess'd Enemy of their Superstition In conclusion they easily found him who sought not to escape from them and they found him employed in his usuall office of preaching the word of God to his new Converts 8. Then according to the relation of the Acts of this holy Martyr rushing with violence upon him O seducing wretch said they how darest thou with thy fallacious inventions deceive this simple people and teach them to trample under â—â—â—t the Imperiall Lawes and contemne our Gods They said no more but mad with rage presently without any distinction
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
which the younger Constantin gave of his zeale to the Orthodox Faith was his restoring S. Athanasius to his See of Alexandria after his two years and four months banishment during which time he abode at Triers in Germany where he was entertain'd with all honour liberality by Constantin This restitution of S. Athanasius was perform'd in coÌ„sequence to the last Will of his Father the late Emperour Constantin as appears by his Sons letter to the Church of Alexandria recited by S. Athanasius in his second Apology Wherin he further writes that it was not out of disaffection but rather a tendernes of S. Athanasius his safety that Constantin sent him into the West to his son that so he might elude the treacherous malice of his Enemies the Arian Bishops who left no means unattempted to destroy him 5. It does not appear that this younger Constantin ever came into Brittany which he governed by a Deputy himself making his residence in Gaule But in the fourth year of his raign he passed over into Italy with what design it is uncertain whether out of ambition to invade the portion of his Brother Constans or for some other intention However he was there traiterously slain at Aquileia by his Brothers soldiers and as Zosimus sayes by his order By his death the whole Western Empire became the Dominion of Constans Who placed in Brittany as his Lievâ—tenant Vetranio one who a few years after usurped the Title of Emperour II. CHAP. 1 2.3 Of S. Gudwal His Gests 4 The place where he lived 5.6 c. Of Mevorus a Prince and his Son S. Simeon 1. ABout this time in Brittany there flourished a famous holy Bishop call'd S. Gudwal commemorated by severall Martyrologes and Ecclesiasticall Writers the summe of whose Gests is as followeth 2. He was born in Brittany of Noble parents and assoon as his age rendred him capable he was made Deacon and afterwards a Preist At which time he largely communicated to others those treasures of spirituall Wisdom which he had been gathering from his youth Insomuch as by his instructions many were so enlightned that they were enabled to inflame others with divine Love After this beeing exalted to the Supreme degree of Episcopacy he so much the more dilated the odour of his holy conversation Gods Spirit declaring in him the operations of divine Grace to the great ioy of all both Clergy and people He received by Succession from his Parents a very ample patrimony but despising worldly riches and having lost the tast of fading pleasures he freely gave all his possessions to the Church 3. Moreover seing that his Pastorall Office obliged him to worldly cares and solicitudes he used his utmost diligence to disburden and unchain himselfe from it Therfore recommending his Church to a worthy Successour he retired himself into a certain Monastery in his own Diocese where he led a perfect Monasticall or rather Angelicall life Now this Monastery was placed neer the Sea in a bay wherof the holy man observing a certain vast rock or Promontory shooting forth he retir'd himself thither to the end he might without interruption attend to God only in which place he gathered to him the number of one hundred and eighty disciples But the place being too strait for so great a multitude the blessed man having recourse to God alone in whose Power and goodnes he placed his only confidence when the Sea at low Ebbe had left dry a great space of the shore he with a râ—d which he carried in his hands made impressions in severall places of the Sand and commanded the waves in the Name of Christ that they should not passe those bounds At which command pronounced by the holy man one might observe the Sea naturally raging to restrain its violence and swelling and effectually to this very day it never presum'd to transgresse the limits prescrib'd unto it Thus this holy man bid adieu to the world to to all his freinds in it all things which it could deprive him of to all which vanities he was crucified perfectly hating his own soule and sensuall desires And yet contented not himself with this but continually meditated how to aspire to more sublime perfection In order wherto having communicated his resolution to his Disciples he determined utterly to quitt his native countrey and to passe over into forrain parts For which purpose having provided seaven ships he accompanied with his Brethren entred into them and began his voyage and with a prosperous gale this little army of Saints took land in a strange countrey 4. Now though in the ancient Monuments relating his life and Gests the land where he aborded be not named notwithstanding there being mention made in them of a certain Prince called Mevorus who enioy'd possessions in that place anciently belonging to his Ancestors Which Mevorus professing Christianity and for that cause receiving great vexations from the inhabitants who were Infidels he transfer'd his dwelling to a place call'd Corminia and at this day Cormon neer a town in Gaule called Monstrueil we may upon the authority of Malbranc a learned French Antiquary conclude that S. Gudwal took land in the Province of Belgick Gaule inhabited by a People called Morini among whom he preach'd the Christian Faith and instructed many in the perfection of a more holy life For thus we read in the ancient narration of his life 5. Mevorus as soon as he had notice that the Holy Father S. Gudwal was entred into his confines gave great thanks to God for it and out of his Treasury richly endowed a Church which this famous Bishop devout Hermit and worthy Superiour of Monks founded in a strange countrey where he gave illustrious examples of all Christian vertues to the present age and left a fragrant odour of his fame to posterity 6. But before the said Church and Monastery were perfectly endowed we find a relation of a wonderfull fact of S. Gudwal For Mevorus together with his wife being much stricken in years had no children at all When behold about midnight S. Gudwal appeared in a dream to the Matron promising her that she should have a Son which himself as another parent to him in regard of education would call by the name of Simeon And Mevorus being inform'd of this made a promise that the said son who was to be born should both in his own person and with all his hereditary possessions be transcrib'd to the Monastery The event succeeded answerably to all their desires for a son is born to Mevorus he is called Simeon brought up in learning and made a Monk And then it was that the Princes possessions were confered on the Monastery It is very probable that this Monastery was seated in a confining part of Flanders neer Ipre where his memory to this day is with great devotion celebrated and where a village called Ghelwelt seems to afford marks of S. Gudwal's name 7. How long the Holy man liv'd
a Coppy of the Processe 6. Now the Emperour Theodosius solicited by Valentiniam whose Sister Galla he had maried came with an Army into the West To which warr he prepared himself by earnest prayer and fasting And having understood saith S. Augustin that in the Desart of Egypt there was a certain Monk a great servant of God who had the Spirit of prophecy Theodosius sent to him and receiv'd a most certain message of Victory 7. Thus arm'd he readily and quickly obtain'd a Victory against Maximus who only wanted a good cause After the discomfiture of his Army Maximus being taken prisoner was brought before Theodosius who was inclin'd to take pitty of him At which his soldiers conceiving great indignation remov'd him from his presence and kill'd him Our Historian Gildas mentions both his death and the place of it saying At Aquileia a Citty of Italy that abominable head was cutt off Which had almost cast out of the throne the most illustrious heads of the world And thus was the blood of the innocent Emperour Gratian expiated After his death followd likewise that of his Son Victor who saith Zosimus had been made Caesar or rather Emperour as Paulus Diaconus and some ancient coynes declare XVIII CHAP. 1.2 c. The Relicks of S. Gervasius c. miraculously discover'd to S. Ambrose The miracles wrought by them The Veneration of them attested 1. IT will not be amisse though it pertain not to our History of Brittany yet because it will afford us a prospect of the iudgment and practise of the ancient Church to declare the almost visible assistance which Almighty God afforded to his servant S. Ambrose at the time when the Arian Empresse Iustina used her son Valentinians power to persecute him For then it was to use the words of S. Augustin directed to God in a prayer that by a vision thou O God didst discover to thy Bishop Ambrose the place wherin the Bodies of thy Martyrs Protasius and Gervasius reposed which thou for so many years hadst preserved incorrupt in thy secret treasure from whence thy intention was to bring them forth for the restraining the rage of a woman yet no ordinary woman being an Empresse For when being discovered and digg'd up they were translated with due honour to the Ambrosian Church not only those who were vexed with unclean Spirits the same Devills confessing were healed but a certain Cittizen of Milan who had been blind many years well known in the town when he had enquir'd and was inform'd of the occasion of so great a noyse and assembly of the people he leap'd up and desir'd one present to guide him to the said Church Whither being come he obtain'd leave with his hand kercheif to touch the Coffin of those Martyrs whose death was pretious in thy sight Which having done and applying it to his eyes they were immediatly opened so that he saw clearly The fame hereof presently was spread abroad and praises given to thee with great fervour insomuch as the mind of thy Enemy the Empresse Iustina though it was not heald of her Spirituall blindnes yet it was repress'd from the fury of persecuting the Holy Bishop 2. The same holy Father repeats the substance of the same narration in severall other places in one wherof he professes himself to have been an eye-witnes of these Miracles saying my self was a witnes of the great glory of these Martyrs for being then at Milan I had certain knowledge of the miracles wrought c. This hapned two years before S. Augustin having been converted and baptis'd by S. Ambrose return'd from thence towards his own countrey Africk and by the way at Ostia lost his Blessed Mother Monica concerning whom in his Confessions he thus Writes When the day of her dissolution was at hand she did not busy her thoughts about a Sumptuous buriall c. but made this her only request that a commemoration of her should be made at thy Altar at which every day she had not failed to attend and from whence she knew that holy Sacrifice and Victime was dispensed by which the Handwriting which was contrary to uâ— was blotted out by which our Enemy the Devill was triumphed over c. 3. So authentick a Testimony of the Veneration of the Relicks of holy Martyrs performed by the ancient Church of God approv'd by unquestion'd divine Miracles as likewise of Prayers for the Dead at the most holy Sacrifice needs not be further confirm'd Therefore we will omitt the transcribing a large Narration of the foresaid Miracles compos'd by S. Ambrose himself and sent in an Epistle to his devout sister wherin he repeats the miracle of the blind man restor'd to sight and how very many had been dispossess'd of Devills and by only touching with their hands the Vestment of the Saints many others were healed of diverse infirmities How many hand kercheifs saith he were cast how many garments sent to be layd on the most holy Relicks to the end that by touching of them they might receive a medicinall vertue 4. There were notwithstanding in those times some who denyed that those were bodies of Martyrs that they could torment the Devill or free any one possess'd by him But these saith S. Ambrose were the blasphemies of Arian Hereticks refuted by the confessions of the Devills themselves who with loud clamours acknowledg'd their torments and the great benefitts proceeding from the Martyrs intercession were publickly testified by the blind and other sick people cured of their infirmities The blind mans name was Severus by trade a butcher well known to all the Citty who was forc'd to give over his profession assoon as that incommodity of blindnes befell him This man saies he calls for witnesses of the miracle all his former customers by whom he had been maintain'd in his trade He is desirous those should now testify the recovery of his sight who formerly had seen that he was blind XIX CHAP. 1. Valentinian the second Emperour 2.3 c. The Heresy of Iovinian against Virginity c. Condemn'd by Pope Siricius and the H. Fathers 1. AFter Maximus his death Theodosius left Valentinian Emperour of the West adding to his Government Gaule Brittany and Spain possess'd by the Tyrant But before he was entrusted with this great charge the pious Emperour Theodosius instructed him in the Orthodox Faith earnestly exhorting him to persevere in it These Instructions wanted not a good effect the rather because his Mother Iustina the great Patronesse of Artanism was lately dead 2. The year following broke forth a Heresy which in our last age taught Luther to renounce his Monasticall Profession to allow scope to his carnall appetites and to draw out of her Cloyster a Consecrated Nunne to his incestuous embraces The Authour of it was Iovinianus formerly a Monk but weary of his vowd austerities who this year was publickly declared a Heretick by Pope Siricius Whereupon most of
will destroy our Gods subvert our Temples destroy Princes which resist him and his Doctrin shall remain and prevaile here for ever 10. With such words as these saith Probus the Magicians incens'd both the Prince and all the people to hate the Blessed Bishop S. Patricius For two or three years they compos'd a certain Rhythme which according to the obscure idiome of their rude language imported thus much A head of art and skill with his crook-headed staff will come From that hower every house shall be bored through at the top He will chant an abomination from his Table at the fore part of the house and his whole family will answer So be it So be it This in our tongue and sence means thus much The Master of all wisedom will come with his sign of the Crosse by which the hearts of all men will feele compunction And from the Altar of the holy Mysteries he will convert soules unto Christ and all the Christian people will answer Amen When these things come to passe then our Pagan kingdom shall fall And all this was afterwards really fullfilld 11. Hereby appears that the peice of wood which those Magicians foretold should be brought by S. Patrick is interpreted by Probus to be a woodden Crosse Whereas others affirm that by it is signified a certain wonderfull Staff which S Patrick before his iourney receiv'd from a Holy Hermite and which was call'd The staff of Iesus The strange story how this Staff was first receiv'd and what wonders it afterwards wrought I wlil here sett down from Iocelinus the Authour of S. Patricks life yet without interposing my credit for the truth of it 12. S. Patrick saith he by Divine revelation pass'd over to a certain Solitary Hermit living in an Island of the Tyrrhen Sea whose name was Iustus which he made good by his actions being a man a a holy life great fame and much merit After devout salutations and good discourse the same man of God gave to S. Patrick a staff which he seriously affirmed had been bestow'd on him immediatly by the hand of our Lord Iesus himself who had appear'd to him 13. Now there were in the same Island at some distance other men also who liv'd solitary lives Of which some seem'd very fresh and youthfull and others were decrepit old men S. Patrick after some conversation with them was informed that those very old men were children to those who appeared so youthfull At which being astonish'd and enquiring the occasion of so great a miracle they thus aquainted him saying We from our childhood by Divine Grace have been much addicted to works of Mercy so that our dores were always open to all travellors which demanded meaâ— or lodging On a certain night it hapned that a stranger having a staff in his hand was entertain'd by us whom we used with all the courtesy we could On the morning after he gave us his benediction and said I am Iesus Christ My members you have hitherto oft ministred to and this night entertain'd mee in my own person After this he gave the staff which he had in his hand to a man of God our Father both spiritually and carnally commanding him to keep it till in succeeding times a certain stranger named Patrick should come to visit him and to him he should give it Having said this he presently ascended into heaven And from that day we have remain'd in the same state of Youthfull comelines and vigour to this hower Whereas our â—hildren who then were little infants are now as you see become decrepite old men 14. Now what fortune soever so stupendious a story may fin'd in the minds of the Readers certain it is that a staff beleiv'd to have belongd to S. Patrick and nam'd the staff of Iesus was for many ages in great veneration among the Irish. For thus S. Bernard in the life of S. Malachias an Irish Bishop written by him relates Nigellus saith he seing that he must be compell'd to fly took with him some precious ornaments of the See of Armagh namely a copy of the Holy Gospells which had formerly been S. Patricks and a staff cover'd with gold and adorn'd with precious stones which they call the staff of Iesus because as the report is our Lord himself held and form'd it with his own hands This was of high Esteem and veneration in that Nation and well known by the people whose reverence to it was so great that whosoever was seen to have it in his hands they foolishly shew'd the same respect and veneration to him as if he had been their Bishop And Giraldus Cambrensis in his Topography of Ireland writes also thus In the Vulgar opinion with this staff S. Patrick cast out of the Island all venemous beasts Of which staff the Originall is as uncertain as the vertue most certain VII CHAP. 1. When S. Patrick entred Ireland 2.3.4 His first Converts SAint Patrick seems to have entred into Ireland in the year four hundred thirty two as Bishop Vsher computes The inhabitants of the countrey saith Stanihurst having advice of his landing flock'd to him from all parts For though some among them attempted to drive the Holy Bishop from their coasts yet the greater part of the common people came joyfully to him as if he had been of their own Nation For in S. Patrick there were many qualities which invited them to expresse great good-will and familiarity towards him He was a comely personage very civill in conversation and though extremely grave yet without morosity Besides this he spoke the Irish language perfectly and from his youth had inform'd himselfe concerning their naturall dispositions by which means he became presently as one of them But God himself was the principall cause of conciliating their affections to him by whose speciall Grace in a short time great multitudes yeilded their assent and obedience to Christian doctrines preach'd by him S. Patrick therfore as became a good Shephear'd with great care watch'd over his new flock by dayly admonitions informing the new-converted Christians in all duties of Piety convincing the Errours of the Pagans and confounding the Magicians which oppos'd him 2. Especiall notice is taken in Ecclesiasticall Monuments of the conversion of one Irish man whose name was Dicon through whose land S. Patrick passing gaind him to our Lord after a wonderfull manner and from a wolf chang'd him into a Lamb. Of him Probus thus writes Dicon coming suddenly with weapons intended to kill S. Patrick and his companions But assoon as he saw the Holy Bishops face he felt compunction in his heart For our Lord immediatly turn'd his thoughts insomuch as he lead him meekly to his house Where the holy Bishop rested some time preaching to him the Faith of Christ So that this man first of all the Island beleived with all his family 3. Notwithstanding another ancient Authour cited by Bishop Vsher recites the conversion of one call'd
Evangelists transcrib'd by himself 6. Saint Gildas having ended the year of his President-ship when his Schollars also retired from their studies withdrew himselâ— into a certain Island as the Holy Abbot Cadocus likewise did into another the Islands names were Ronech and Echni Whilst Saint Gildas there attended to Prayer and Mortification certain Pirats from the Isles of Orkney rob'd him of his Vtensiles and caried captive away those which attended him For which cause in great affliction he pass'd over to Glastonbury 7. At this time Melvas a Brittish Prince raigned in the Province of Somerset in Aestiva regione called by the Brittains Glad-arhaf This Melvas had stolln away Guinivera wife to King Arthur concealing her in the Isle of Glastonbury esteemed most secure both for the fenny situation and Religion also of the place Hereupon King Arthur assembled a mighty army out of Cornwal and Devonshire Dibuenum and encompass'd the Island The two Kings being ready to a battell the Abbot of Glastonbury attended by S. Gildas and all the Clergy came between the two Armies and by perswasions induced Melvas to restore Queen Guinevera to her husband Which being performed peace ensued and both the Kings bestowed great immunities and possessions on the Monastery 8. After this Saint Gildas with the Abbots permission retired again to an Eremitical solitude on the bank of the River Axus neer Glastonbury where he built a Church consecrating it to the Blessed Trinity and there spent his time in Prayer Fasting and other austerities Whose Sanctity was so exemplar that many came from the farthest parts of Brittany to visit him and take Spirituall counsel from him 9. Two years being thus devoutly employed he fell into a sicknes saith Iohn of Tinmouth and knowing that his death approached he called to him the Abbot of Glastonbury and requesied of him that his body might be buried in the Church of his Monastery To which the Abbot readily condescended So the Holy man dying on the fourth day before the Calends of February many saw an Angelicall splendour about his Sacred Body which yeilded a most pleasant odour And after a solemne recommendation of his soule with many teares of the Religious his Sacred body was caried with great honour to the Church and there buried in the midst of the pavement of the ancient Church in the year of Grace five hundred and twelve 10. What is here related agrees to the Ancient Monuments also of Glastonbury where he is stiled Historicus neque insulsus neque infacetus for the causes before declared And most of these particulars of his life are confirm'd by a large Character given of him in the Gallican Martyrologe Where is declar'd that being during his childhood sent into France he was recommended to the instructions of S. Iltutus a Disciple of S. German of Paris or rather of Auxerre And again that his voyage into Ireland was to root out many heresies sprung up among the late converted Christians and to reform many vices and unlawfull customs Also that the Heresy oppos'd by him in the most Northern parts of Brittany was that of Pelagianism especially But whereas it is there added that in his old age he went over into Lesser Brittany and dyed there in the territory of Ruy and was honourably buried in the Church of Vannes this contradicts generally our Brittish Authours Most probable it is that when the Saxons infested our Western Provinces his Sacred Relicks were translated into Lesser Brittany and repos'd in the Gâ—eat Church of the Citty of Vannes where he is to this day venerated as Patron of that Citty 11. There seems to be an Errour in our English Martyrologe which on the same day with that of the Gallican commemorats S. Gildas Confessour and Abbot of Bangor in North-wales whose Character exactly agrees with the same here describ'd and therefore probably by mistake is confounded with this S. Gildas Albanius But whereas that pretended Gildas Abbot of Bangor is said to have dyed in the year of our Lord five-hundred eighty and one which is likewise affirm'd of the younger Gildas the Historian sirnamed Badonicus this argues a second errour and confusion The like whereof is found in the Authour of S. Gildas his life late publish'd out of ancient Manuscripts belonging to the Monastery of Fleury in France by Ioannes à Bosco 12. To conclude out of the same ancient Manuscripts we may collect the precise Territory in which S. Gildas Albanius was born For as they are quoted by Bishop Vsher we there read this passage Blessed S. Gildas was born in the most fruitfull Region call'd Arecluta His Father was named Caun a most Noble and Catholick person From his very childhood he desired with the whole affection of his mind to follow Christ. Now this Region Arecluta being a part of Brittany took its name from a certain River named Clut by which the greatest part of it is watered By which description it appears that the Region dignified with the birth of S. Gildas is the same which is call'd Argyle Argathelia and that the River Clut is that which anciently was called Glotta and Cluida which Northward was the bound of the Brittish Provinces under the Roman Iurisdiction beyond which lived the Caledonians c. IV. CHAP. 1. New supplies of Saxons their Victory over the Brittains 2.3 Ella King of the South-Saxons dying his Son Cissa Succeeds the founder of Chichester c. 1. IN the sixth year after the battell wherin Nazaleod or Vther was slain saith Henry of Huntingdon new supplies out of Germany came to the Saxons in Brittany for Stuff and Whitgar Nephews of Cerdic with three ships landed at Certic-shore And very early in the morning the Brittains ranged their armies in very good order against them The Sun then arising cast its beames upon their armour and reflecting thence partly from the mountains and partly from below in the valleys strook a great terrour into the Saxons But when they came to fight the Brittains were quickly put to flight be cause God despis'd them By this victory the Saxons gained a great extent of land and Cerdic became terrible to them insomuch as he marched whithersoever he pleased without controule 2. The year following Ella King of the South-Saxons dying his Son Cissa succeeded Ella whilst he lived though his territories were narrow yet was for his courage esteemed the most potent of all the Saxon Princes insomuch as according to Huntingdon he held in his power all the rights of the Angli and their Princes Nobles and Military officers had a dependance on him But this lasted no long time for it was shortly after transfer'd on Cerdic the West-Saxon whose Kingdom though not yet begun yet the foundations of it were layd by his last Victory 3. Cissa the Son of Ella being of a milder spirit contented himself with enjoying his own little Kingdom without extending his power abroad He employ'd his time in exercises of peace
one onely person among you shall in his Name give an assault he alone by Gods power shall putt them to flight Be courageous therfore Not a man of you shall fall in this combat 4. Assoon as he had spoken this which his army hearing beleiv'd as an assurance given them from God himself a few of his soldiers the same moment with wonderfull courage rush'd upon their Enemies not at all expecting them for the Holy mans words had utterly taken from their minds all apprehension of death And at the same time an Angel of God armd like a soldier and in the shape of a man of an incredibly high stature appeard in the Kings Camp His aspect was so terrible that the soldiers hearts utterly faild them and instead of resisting their enemies they rush'd one upon another in their hast to fly away and such a confusion there was of horses and charrets that for hast they killd one another Thus a handfull of men without the losse of any one defeated a great army taking many prisoners 5. This wonderfull victory being obtain'd they return'd to the Man of God who addressing his speech to a youth named Scandalan then attending on him with a propheticall voyce thus said to him My son this day will procure for mee a tedious pilgrimage in a strange countrey where I must live absent from my kinred and freinds many years But say nothing of what I tell thee till the event shew the truth of my words 6. After this S. Columba went to S. Finian a Bishop to receive condign Pennance from him because of so much blood shed in the foresaid war and with him there went an Angel of God who shone with wonderfull brightnes but was visible to none except the Holy man Finian calld also Find barr When therfore Saint Columba demanded Pennance of the Holy Bishop his answer was Thou must be obliged by thy preaching and example to bring as many soules to heaven as by occasion of this war have sunk into Hell After which sentence S. Columba with great ioy said Thou hast pronounced a iust and equall iudgment upon mee 7. But the Holy mans troubles did not end thus for by occasion of this war and bloodshed Saint Columba in a Synod of Bishops was censur'd to abstain from the Communion though many among them dissented from this sentence upon whiâ—h great contentions and disputes arose among the Clergy which occasiond Saint Columba his letter to Saint Gildas requesting him to endeavour the composing those differences XII CHAP. 1.2 c. S. Columba's coming into Brittany He fixes his habitation in the Isle called Hye 6.7 c. He Converts the Picts Monasteries built by him 9. c. His twelve companions One of them was Constantin late King of Brittany 11. c. His agreement with Saint Kentigern c. 14.15 His death and place of buriall 1. SAint Columba wearied with these Ecclesiasticall contentions resolved to quitt his Native countrey but not permitting himself to be a chuser of his place of Exile he consulted by a messenger the Holy man Brendan Abbot of Birre to whom God had given the Spirit of Counsel and Discretion Who after he had lifted up his eyes and heart to heaven commanded to digg under the feet of the Messenger where was found a stone on which was engraven only the letter I whereupon he bade the Messenger to tell his Master that he must goe to an Island called I or Hy where he should find employment for his zeale and be the cause of bringing many soules to heaven Thus writes Adamannus in his life quoted by B. Vsher. 2. But Hector Boëtius assigns another more probable reason of his going into that Countrey saying The fame of the great devotion and piety of Conal King of the Picts draw the Holy man Columba out of Ireland into Brittany attended with a multitude of his disciples where he became the Father and directour of many Monasteries 3. As for the Island called Hy it is erroneously written by Dempster Hydestinatus and from him by Baronius likewise The ground of which mistake was the wrong reading of this passage in S. Beda Monachus erat Episcopus Aidan uâ—pote de Insula quae vocatur Hy destinatus where the two last words which ought to be severed are by him read as conjoynd into one This Island was afterward called Iona falsly by some Exscribers of Adamannus written Iova 4. In the ordinary Copies of S. Beda in stead of S. Columba we find written S. Columbanus Whence many Writers being deceived doe confound this Saint with that S. Columbanus who founded the Monasteries of Luxueil Luxoviense in France and Gobio in Italy who was likewise an Irishman and a Father of many Monks Whereas they are indeed distinguished both by their names gests and ages wherein they lived As for the present S. Columba the Brittains usually called him S. Columkill for the great number of Monasteries or Cells of Monks which he built in Brittany 5. The Authour of his Life in Capgrave besides a large Character of his vertues piety austerities c. solemnly repeated allmost in all Modern Stories of Saints further relates how he was many years before prophecied of for saith he A certain Disciple of S. Patrick a Brittain named Maccaeus foretold of him saying In latter times shall be born one called Columba who shall illustrate the age wherein he shall live and his name shall be spread through all the Provinces of the Isles of the Ocean for he shal be acceptable to God and highly favoured by him He shall descend from Noble parents and in the forty fifth year of his age shall passe out of Ireland Scotiâ into Brittany where he will live a stranger and exiled person for Christ. 6. As touching his coming into Brittany and his Gests here we receive this account from S. Beda In the five hundred sixty fifth year of our Lords Incarnation when Iustinus the Successour of Iustinian governed the Roman Empire there came out of Ireland a certain Preist and Abbot in habit and profession a Monk called Columba with an intention to preach the Word of God to the Northern Picts who are separated from the Southern Regions by vast and horrible Mountains For as for the Picts dwelling on the South of those Mountains they had many years before renounced their Idolatry and embraced the Christian Faith as their Tradition is by the preaching of Nynias a most Reverend and holy Bishop born in Brittany who had been regularly instructed in the Mysteries of Divine Truth at Rome The Seat of whose Bishoprick dignified with a Church dedicated to S. Martin where the said holy Bishop with many other Saints doth rest is now in the possession of the Angli The said place pertaining to the Province of the Bernicians is ordinarily called Candida casa White House because he built there a Church of hewn stone a way of building not practised by the Brittains 7. Now
presume to cast upon him 10. The Holy Abbot S. Augustin thus encouraged by S. Gregory and moreover fortified by such earnest recommendations returned to his companions at Aix Whose coming instilled a new Spirit and courage into them they no longer apprehend the tediousnes of the way the incommodities by land tempests by sea or dangers at their iourneys end But cheerfully goe on and happily end their long voyage though not the same year in which they left Rome IX CHAP. 1.2.3 S. Augustin c. arrive in England in the Isle of Thanet 4.5 c. Their Message to K. Ethelbert His kind Answer and coming to them Their Conversation 8.9.10 The Kings kindnes to them ii i2 c. The manner of their life 1. AFter much labour willingly undertaken for Christ S. Augustin and his companions which with the French Interpreters amounted to about the number of forty with Gods blessing took land in Brittany in the year of Grace five hundred ninety seaven 2. The place where they landed was the same where formerly the Saxons had aborded to wit the Isle of Thanet which is thus described by S. Beda On the Eastern coast of Kent is seated an Island called Tanetos no very small one containing according to the English estimation six hundred families or Manses or Hydes of land each Hyde consisting of about one hundred acres Which Island is divided from the continent by the River Vantsum above a quarter of a mile broad and which is fordable onely in two places Here the servant of God Augustin with his companions almost forty persons first landed 3. Some Authours have more particularly markd the place where they first descended from their ship for thus writes F. Clement Reyner from Sprott and Spiney S. Augustin with his company took land in the Isle of Thanet in a place called Ratesbourg Where the Holy Father quitting his ship sett his feet on a certain stone which as if it had been clay received the impression of his feet For which reason the same stone was kept and layd up in a Chappel founded to his memory This Ratesburg I suppose signifies the shore of Rutupia called by the Saxons Reptacester and Ruptimouth now Richborow seated over against the Island 4. Assoon as they were come to Land Saint Augustin directed messengers to King Ethelbert to acquaint him that himself and companions were come a long iourney from as far as Rome to preach to him and his subjects the true God in whom if he would beleive he should not faile to attain eternall felicity We may reasonably beleive that Ethelbert after so many years conversation with his pious Christian Queen Aldiberga was not utterly ignorant of the Substance of Christian Religion Therefore he did not reject this Offer nor command the new arrived Strangers to be driven from his Coast but courteously required them to stay some time in the place where they landed till he could find leasure to heare and answer their Message In the mean time he gave orders that all things necessary should be provided for their entertainment 5. Not long after the King with great humanity went himself into the Isle of Thanet to visit his New Guests come out of another world There placing himself on a Seat in the open aire he commanded they should be called before him but first admonishing them that the Religion of his countrey from an ancient Prophecy forbad him to converse with such as they under any roof The true reason was because he was taught that within-dores he was more obnoxious to fascination or witchcraft 6. The manner how S. Augustin and his company first addressed themselves to the King is thus described by S. Beda They came saith he endued with vertue and power from God not as the Idolatrous Brittish Preists trusting in Diabolical incantations For instead of an Ensign some of them caried a Silver Crosse with the Image of our Saviour painted on a table and in the way Sung Litanies and prayed earnestly to our Lord for the eternal Salvation of themselves and those for whom and to whom they were come Yet this devout behaviour is by some factious Sectaries called a Superstitious Procession full of Roman vain Ceremonies 7. Being thus arrived in the Kings presence S. Augustin after mutuall Salutations and respects informed him more fully in the Motives of his iourney by whom and for what end he was sent He shewd him the vanity and perniciousnes of that Religion wherein he had been bred that Idolatry was the invention of Devills to destroy soules That to free the world from such ignorance and misery God had sent his only Son to preach the only saving Truth and to preserve the soules of those who beleived in him from the Devills malice and eternall damnation For which end he willingly suffred himself to be nayld on the Crosse to dye an ignominious and tormenting death that so he might be a Sacrifice to propitiate Gods wrath for the Sins of the world This heavenly Truth he and his companions were come to declare to that Nation c. 8. After that S. Augustin had to this effect made known the occasion and causes of his voyage King Ethelbert who had been very attentive to his speeches remaind some space in great thoughtfulnes of mind Comparing the Religion now proposed to him with his former Superstition he could not but acknowledge the advantage which Truthâ—nd â—nd Holines caries from Vanity and impurity But on the other side it seemd to him to be an unbeseeming thing for a prudent man and a Prince suddainly to give a publick testimony of inconstancy and rashnes in deserting the Rites of his Ancestours and Religion of his Countrey At last therefore conceiving that it became his dignity not to give a suddain resolution in a matter of so great importance his answer was That he took kindly their charity to him and his people neither did he mislike the proposalls they made him but for a better satisfaction to him self and others he would take convenient time to deliberate 9. After this he invited them to his principall Citty of Canterbury Dorobernia where he designed a commodious dwelling for them withall commanding provisions to be made and supplied to these New-come strangers that nothing might be wanting to them But the greatest grace conferred on them was a free permission to preach Christian Doctrine in the same Citty not forbidding any of his subjects to hearken to their Sermons and becom Converts 10. Such humanity in a Pagan King filled S. Augustin and his Associats with great comfort and hope that God would give a large benediction to their iourney Thereupon they thankfully accepted the Kings offer of repairing to the Citty whither they went in the same order as they first came to the King and at their entrance into the Citty and Mansion designd for them saith Beda with consonant voyces they sung this Litany We beseech thee O Lord in mercy turn away
shewed to the New Saxon-Converts by permitting mariage in the third and fourth degrees gave occasion of murmuring and complaining to other Churches particularly those of Sicily Whereupon Felix Bishop of Messana wrote to S. Gregory desiring to be satisfied upon what grounds he dealt so favourably with the Saxons whereas both custom and the Decrees of ancient Popes the resolutions of Ancient Fathers in the great Councill of Nicéa and other Synods forbad Mariage to the seaventh degree This satisfaction he demanded not by way of accusing or calumniating S. Gregory as some Protestant Writers have done but proposing reverently his and his Fellow-Bishops difficulties and desirous to be taught by him who saith he we know does undergoe the care of the Vniversall Church and specially of Bishops who in regard of Contemplation are called the Eyes of Gods Church as the Prelats of the Holy See first the Apostles and afterward their Successours always have done 13. Hereto S. Gregory answered That by the indulgence granted to the Saxons he had no intention to innovate or establish a generall Law but only for a time to qualify the rigour of it least that Nation as yet imperfect and incapable of solid food should relinquish the Christian Profession which they had lately undertaken But as for all other Churches his intention was that the former Laws forbidding Mariage between kinred to the Seaventh generation should remain unalterable This says he which we write in answer to thee and the other Bishops in Sicily who is thou sayst have by thee consulted us we command to be observed generally by all Christians And this Decree renewed by S. Gregory the Catholick Church observed diligently till Pope Innocent the third in the Council of Lateran upon just and necessary causes contracted this amplitude of Degrees to the fourth as is now observed But quitting this diversion let us return to the rest of the Questions proposed by S. Augustin to S. Gregory 14. The eighth Question was Whether in case Bishops by reason of their great distance from one another could not meet together a Bishop might not be ordaind by him in their absence Hereto Saint Gregories Answer was That in the English Church where himself was then the onely Bishop Ordinations must needs be celebrated by him alone unlesse some Bishops out of France would vouchsafe to come But for the future Saint Gregory enjoyned Saint Augustin to ordain Bishops at a reasonable distance that the Canons of the Apostles and Councils might be duly observed which in all Ordinations doe require the presence of at least three Bishops By which resolution it seems S. Gregory was informed of the perversenes of the Brittish Bishops who were unwilling to afford any assistance in the establishing of Saxon Churches 15. His ninth Question was How he was to treat with the French and Brittish Bishops Whereto Saint Gregory answers that he gave him no authority to iudge the Bishops of France whose Metropolitan the Arch-bishop of Arles onely was in token whereof he had from precedent Popes received the Pall. In case therefore that he should goe into France he might assist the said Arch-bishop in reforming the Clergy or if he were negligent he might in cite him thereto but not assume any iurisdiction over any Bishop there But as for the Brittish Bishops saith S. Gregory we committ them all to thy Fraternity to teach the ignorant by perswasion to strengthen the infirm and by authority to correct the perverse If the Pall which is the sign of Metropoliticall Iurisdiction had remained among the Brittish Bishops as it did at Arles in France S. Gregory doubtlesse would as well have pronounced them free from S. Aug. Iurisdiction There were besides these nine two Questions more with their Answers which for their length and the Readers ease I omitt the curious may read them in Saint Gregory S. Beda or Sir H. Spelman c. 16. To these Questions we find in the late Edition of Paris adjoyned in the last place a Request That S. Gregory would please to send him of the Relicks of S. Sixtus Martyr The Motive of which request it seems was because he had been informed that somewhere in Kent a Body of a pretended Martyr of that name had been held in veneration This Petition S. Gregory granted but withall enjoyned him to repose the true Relicks of S. Sixtus which he sent him in some place apart And in case no Miracles appeared to have been wrought at the Body of the pretended Martyr nor any sufficient Tradition concerning the Story of his passion he required him to damme up the place where it lay and forbid the people to venerate an uncertain Relick 17. Another Epistle S. Augustin likewise received from S. Gregory at the same time in which he signifies to him that he had sent him a Pall the use whereof he allows him only during the solemn celebratiō of Masse and with this condition that he ordain twelve Suffragan Bishops in convenient places which were to be subject to his Iurisdiction He tells him withall that the Bishop of the Citty of London should ever after be consecrated by a Synod of that Province and receive the Pall of honour from the Apostolick See He advised him likewise to send a Bishop to York and in case that Citty and Province should be converted his will was that twelve Bishops likewise should be there ordained over whom the Bishop of York was to be Metropolitan to whom likewise he promised to send a Pall. And as for the two Provinces of London York neither of the Arch-Bishops should have iurisdiction over the other and that they should take place according to their Antiquity of Ordination Only S. Augustin as long as he lived should have authority to exercise Iurisdiction through both the Provinces and over all the Brittish Bishops likewise 18 Here it is worth our observation that in all this Epistle the See of Canterbury is not named as an Archiepiscopall See Whereas that of London is expressly decreed to be one And yet if we consult all our Ecclesiacall Histories after these times we shall not find that ever the Bishop of London enjoyed that Priviledge and authority but was always subject to the Arch-bishop of Canterbury notwithstanding that during the ages before whilst the Brittish Churches flourished London as the Prime Citty of the Island had been the Seat of the Prime Arch-bishop 19. We must therefore conclude that the orders prescribed in this Letter never took effect but that upon a following request from Saint Augustin the Metropoliticall authority was transferred from London to Canterbury The Motives of which request probably were because though London was the most Noble Citty for merchandise of the whole Island yet then Canterbury was the Royal Citty and place of residence of Ethelbert the Christian King and withall the most potent Now that this Translation was actually made by S. Gregory we read testified by the Letters
to submitt to the sweet yoak of Christ. And her husband complying with her desires assisted her in extirpating Idolatrous Superstitions and filling the kingdom with Churches and Preists Whence appears that King Wulfer himself was also a Christian. 3. In the beginning of his raign Trumher who as hath been declared was constituted Abbot in the Monastery of Gethlingum or Gilling founded in the place where the Holy King Oswin was slain was made Bishop of the Mercians after that Celiach the Successour of Diuma a Scot had relinquished his Bishoprick and was returned into his countrey This Trumher was by Nation an Englishman and kinsman or King Oswin but he had his education and instruction among the Scotts There is no more recorded of him but only that by him Edilwalch Prince of the South-Saxons was baptised as shall be declared IV. CHAP. 1.2.3 c. S. Ethelreda maried to Tombert remains a Virgin 8 9 c. She a second time maried to Egfrid Prince of the Northumbers preserves her Virginity 15.16 c. She flyes from thence and is miraculously preserved from her husband King Egfrid 20. c. She builds a Monastery of Virgins and another of Monks at Ely 1. IN the following year Egfrid the Son of King Oswi took to wife Etheldrith or Ediltrudis a daughter of Anna King of the Eastangles The Sanctity of this Lady twice a Widow and always a Virgin is highly and worthily celebrated by all our Historians and therefore her Memory must not be slightly passed over in this Story 2. She was born in the Province of the Iceni or Suffolk at a town called Ixning which saith Camden though now an obscure Village was anciently famous for the birth of Etheldreda daughter of King Anna a king wonderfully blessed by God in a Saintly offspring Some Writers affirm this Holy Virgin to have been the eldest of his daughters But S. Beda expressly testifies that S. Sexburga was elder then she 3. Polydor commends her for her beauty a quality very useles to vertue which notwithstanding may worthily enter among her praises because the purity of her mind triumphed over all the snares and machines which her beauty suggested against her In her infancy she dedicated her self to chastity wherein the suitable piety of her Sisters did confirm her and during that tender age free from tentations though her affection to purity encreased yet her constancy was not exposed to any tryall till the year of Grace six hundred fifty one when being mariageable her parents provided a husband for her The Holy Virgin who had fixed all her affections on Christ alone though her desire was to confine her self in a Cloyster yet durst not renounce her obedience to her parents 4 The Husband designed for her was Tombert Prince of the Girvians a people inhabiting the fenny Islands in Cambridgshire whose countrey we read thus described by an ancient Writer named Felix cited by Camden There is a fenny marsh of an exceeding large extent which beginning from the banks of the River Gronta reaches northwardly to the Sea In some places there grow nothing but sedges elsewhere there are springs from whence issue black Waters which cause foggy vapours and among these there are severall Islands with uneven winding bancks which are pleasantly coverd with woods Hunâ—tingdon calls thâ—s Region a most delicious and fruitfull countrey waterd with many pleaâ—sant rivers painted with severall lakes great and small and flourishing with many groves and Islands The whole Territory from the principall Islands name is called the Isle of Ely which is therefore here more accuratly described because it was by Prince Tombert assigned to Saint Ediltrudis or Etheldreda vulgarly called Saint Audrey for a ioynture and thence became our Lords Patrimony 5. To this Prince therefore S. Ediltrudis was given in mariage which was a state of life greivous to her who had entertained a far more Sublime affection Yet some hope remained that though she could not incline her parents mâ—nds to dispence with her mariage she might perhaps obtain of her husband a permission to preserve the integrity of her body Therefore all her innocent arts she made of use to engage her husband affections to the end he might be induâ—ced to approve her design She spar'd no prayers nor praises of Virginall purity Neither did her endeavours want effect For admiring her Angelicall chastity he gave her a hope of complyance with her desires But not long after reason being overcome with the violence of corrupt nature he yeilded to his own desires and required of her that right which the Laws of Mariage allowd him and which he would not defer till the night following 6. In this extremity God alone was her refuge To him therefore she had recourse by her most devout prayers beseeching him that if her Vows were acceptable to him he would send the Angel of her Virginity to guard her and suggest to her mind such thoughts and to her tongue such words as might find a gratefull admittance into the heart of her Prince 7. Presently after this Tombert entred into her chamber with a resolution to extort her consent to his impatient desires But God prevented him for he found the Holy Virgin encompassed with a wonderfull light and celestiall flame which dazeled his eyes and consuming the fire of lust boyling in his bosom changed his mind not only to admiration but love of Chastity insomuch that now perceiving that our Lord challeÌ„ged her for his own Spouse he not only relinquished his clame to her but professed himself a companion with her in the same vow of consecrating himself to God Thus they lived together the space of seaven or eight years in perfect concord during all which time Saint Etheldreda being secure of her husbands fidelity and constancy in his promise employd her self wholly in the delicious exercises of Prayer and devotion 8. But Almighty God who had given to the Holy Virgin a most constant mind prepared new combats and new triumphs for her For her Husband Prince Tombert dying whereas this Virgin-Widow esteemed herself out of danger of being exposed to any more tryalls as being now in her own disposall yet a new tempest drove her out of the haven to Sea again For Egfrid the Son of Oswi and Heyr of the Northumbrian kingdom invited by the fame of her sanctity and perfections demanded her in mariage Her parents together with the Nobles of the Eastangles esteeming this mariage extremely beneficiall to that Province which languished under the government of her Brother Ethelwald pressed her therefore most earnestly to accept of it and at last conquered her resistance So that once more for the common good she was compelled to submitt her self to a new servitude For Almighty God intended in her to shew to the world an admirable example of constancy and Chastity 9. This year therefore she was conducted to the Kingdom of the Northumbrians In which iourney saith S. Beda she
we declared to have been of English parentage and kinsman of Oswin King of the Northumbers that he had his education from the Scotts was a Monk and afterward Abbot of the Monastery of Gethlin and last of all consecrated Bishop of the Mercians 5 But a greater difficulty remains How King Wulfere should deserve the Elogy here given him of piety and zeale for the propagation of the Orthodox Faith beyond the limits of his own Kingdom Yea besides this in other Authours we find him employd in building of Monasteries and Churches And William of Malmsbury gives him this generall Character that at his first Assumption to the throne to the end he might not deceive the expectation of his Subiects he spared no diligence study or labour to shew himself a good Prince who sought the proffit and felicity of his Kingdom Moreover that by his favour and countenance he earnesty advanced the Christian Faith then even gasping for life as being but a little before newly brought in by his Brother Whereas severall other Authours particularly such as have written our Saints lives paint him forth for a most horrible persecutour insomuch as seaven years after this Conversion of the South-Saxons by his incitation he is sayd to have putt to death his two sons Vlfald and Ruffin because by the preaching of S. Ceadda then Bishop of Lichfeild they embraced the Christian Faith 6. How can those things consist together Perhaps some will imagine that the praises given this King proceeded from flattery in the first Authours by whom those which followed were seduced Yet we shall find that those very Historians who so much celebrate his praises have not conceald his vices Thus the last mentioned Authour after the passage even now cited thus tempers the commendations given him Notwithstanding in these and whatsoever other vertues were in him were corrupted and depressed by the infamous crime of Simony of which he was the first King of England that was guilty selling for money the Sacred Bishoprick of London to a certain ambitious man called Wina He moreover adioyns the Off-spring of King Wulfere Kinred and Wereburga without any mention of the two Martyrs Vlfald and Ruffin So that in this Kings Story there is an obscure Mist which we may conceive to proceed from our Ancient Writers of Saints Lives who having a Story for the substance of it true to relate deliver it undigestedly without any choice of names times and other circumstances In order therefore to the clearing of this obscurity we will first breifly sett down the Summ of the Story of those two Martyrs and consequently endeavour to correct the circumstantiall faults of the relatours 7. Vlfald and Ruffin were Brethren sons of Wulfere King of the Mercians and Hermenilda who was daughter of Earcombert King of Kent and his wife S. Sexburga Wulfere their Father was an Infidell But Herminilda a devout Christian Lady of great Sanctity She during the tender age of these her children was diligent to imbue their minds with Christian Principles of piety and when they were come to riper â—ears she sought out a Master for them but with great secrecy least her Husband who was horribly averse from Christianity should know it She had recourse therefore to Ceadda Bishop of Lichfeild who instructed them more perfectly and regenerated them to Christ by the Water of Baptism These young Princes oft went forth â—pon pretence of hunting and either by their Mothers perswasion or their own inclination took that opportunity to Visit the Holy Bishop But being at last deprehended by their Father he agitated with the furies of his false Gods would compell them to renounce their Religion which they constantly refusing to doe he caused them both to be slain in the Sacred place of Prayer Their Holy Mother having understood the cruell death and Martyrdom of her children was desirous to give them an honourable buriall for which purpose she according to the Roman custom gathered a mighty heap of Stones for their Monument The place of their Sepulcher by its name still testifies the same for it is to this day called Stone a place which upon this occasion is grown to a populous Town Now when the death of these Holy Martyrs Vlfald and Ruffin was made known to the people and the cause likewise for which they dyed they began to be held in great honour and a Church with a Monastery was built consecrated to S. Vlfald yet so as that his Brother also became partaker of his honour By this means the place came to be frequented Neither was their Father King Wulfere more slow then others in honouring them For the guilt of the parricide committed by him wounding his conscience he in an humble manner went to Saint Ceadda and with great greif acknowledging his crime embraced the Christian Faith and with the Sacred Waters of Baptism expiated all his offences 8. This account doe our ancient Records give of the Martyrdom of these two Princes the substance whereof cannot reasonably be questioned considering the lasting monument yet remaining and that their names are extant among the Saints in our Martyrologe on the four and twenâ—tieth of Iuly But that they should have been instructed by S. Ceadda then Bishop of Lichfeild and slain in the year of Grace six hundred sixty eight by their Father then a Pagan this contradicts all our most authentick Histories in which long before that time King Wulfere is celebrated for his Faith and Piety Therefore it will be necessary to affirm that they were instructed by some Bishop of the Mercians before their Father began his raign during the time that their cruell Grand Father Penda lived who earnestly laboured to extinguish the Christian name and effectually caused the death of many Christian Kings 9. Therefore the Narration given by Camden deserves our acceptation who more distinctly and simply recounts the story in this manner To Peada King of the Mercians succeeded his Brother Wolfer who having been most averse from Christian Religion with barbarous inhumanity slew his Sons Wolfald and Ruffin because they had given up their names to Christ. But a few years after himself also embraced the Christian Faith and to the end he might by some pious work expiate that his impiety he finished a Monastery begun by his Brother XV. CHAP. 1.2 c. Of S. Winoc 1. SOme refer to this year the retiring of S. Winoc into the Monastery of Saint Bertin Thus writes Iperius in his Chronicle About the year of Grace six hundred sixty one S. Winoc Son of Iudicael King of the Brittains and brother of S. Iudocus of whom we have alreaâ—dy treated despising the world became a Monk in the Monastery of Sithiu under Saint Bertin together with his three brethren Kadanoc Ingenoc and Modoc S. Bertin then was Abbot over one hundred and fifty Monks among whom Saint Winoc shone like the Morning Starr 2. Marcellinus in his life of S. Suibert affirms that S
and the Tonsure of the Crown for of this also no small debate was made And went back into Scotland with a purpose to treat there with his Countrey-men whether for the future he should conform to the Catholick Rites or no. But not long after he returned to his See and forsaking the Scottish custome submitted to the Catholick way of celebrating Easter XIX CHAP. 1.2 c. B. Colman goes into Ireland Where he builds a Monastery for Saxon-English Monks 5.6 c. His death and Elogy Monks then in great veneration 1. COlman Bishop of Lindesfarn though he returned presently out of Scotland well reformed from his former Errours yet his abode at his See was very short For saith Saint Beda he relinquished Brittany upon what Motive is not expressed and took with him all the Scotts which he had assembled in the Isle of Lindesfarn And besides them there went with him thirty of the English Nation who had likewise been imbued in Monasticall Exercises by him 2. Thus having left a few Religious Brethren in his Church he went first to the Island His or Iona from whence he had formerly been sent to preach the Gospell to the English Nation After that he retired from thence into a little Island West-ward from Ireland which in the Scottish language is called Inhys-bovinde or The Isle of the White Calf There he built a Monastery in which he placed the Scottish and English Monks which had attended him from Lindesfarn But shorly after a disagreement hapned between them upon this occasion The Scotts in Summer time when fruits were to be gathered were wont to leave the Monastery and to wander up and down in the countrey where they had much acquaintance But the Winter following they would return and expect their part in the Provisions gathered by the English which they thought unreasonable to allow them 3. To remedy this dissension therefore Colman after much travell up and down at length found another place in Ireland commodious for building a Monastery called in the Scottish or Irish tongue Magiâ— or Maiyo There he bought of a certain Count to whom the possession belonged a part of it to found his Monastery adding withall this Condition That the Monks in their dayly Devotions should be obliged to pray for the said Counts prosperity Having therefore with the assistance of the Count and Neighbours adioyning built a Monastery he placed the English Monks there having left the Scotts in the foresaid Island Which Monastery is to this day possessed by English Monks and from a slender beginning enlarged very much being vulgarly called Intugeo Here resides a famous Congregation of Religious Monks gathered out of England who are much reformed in their Institut and following the Example of their Venerable Fathers doe live under a Canonicall Rule and Abbot by the labour of their hands with great continence and simplicity 4. When Colman left Lindesfarn saith the same Authour he took with him part of the bones of his Predecessour the most Reverend Bishop Aidan and part he left in the Church which he had governed commanding they should be buried in the Secretary or Chancell of the same Church Whereby it is plain that certain Protestant Writers doe unjustly impute the introducing of these practises of Veneration of the Relicks of Saints to Roman Missioners after the departure of these ancient Preachers from Scotland These Relicks Bishop Colman reposed in his Monastery of Bovinde in which Island S. Rioch Nephew of S. Patrick by his Sister Darerca had long before fixed an Episcopall See 5. In that Island the same Venerable Bishop Colman ended his dayes in the year of Grace six hundred seaventy five as the Annals of Vlster doe testify Though our Martyrologe signifies that he went into Austria and there preaching â—he Gospell of Christ was slain by Infidels about the year of our Lord seaven hundred and five 6. To honour the Memory of this worthy Bishop we will here adioyn the Character given of him by Saint Beda together with that of the Religious Monks of that age How great the parsimony and continence of the Venerable Bishop Colman was the very place which he governed will declare For when they were departed excepting the Church only scarce any other buildings were found that is no more then were absolutly necessary for Civil conversation They had no money at all for they contented themselves with a few cattell For indeed there was no need neither of money nor buildings for the reception of great men which oft repaired to that Monastery for they never came upon any other busines but only to pray or hear the Word of God preached The King himself upon occasion would some times come attended only by five or six servants and as soon as he had ended his Prayers in the Church he would depart Or if sometimes they took any refection there they would desire no more then the dayly simple Provisions of the Monks 7. For the Teachers of that age employd all their solicitude in serving God not the world all their care was to garnish their soules not their bellies And for this cause the Habit of Religion was in those dayes held in great veneration insomuch as whithersoever any Ecclesiasticall or Religious person went he would be ioyfully entertained by every one as a faithfull servant of God And whensoever such an one was meâ—t in a iourney the people would approach to him and bowing down their heads would desire him to sign them with the Crosse or give them his benediction And they were very attentive to their good admonitions and exhortations Vpon Sundays likewise and Feasts the people with great fervour would repair to Churches or Monasteries not for refreshing their bodies but hearing Gods Word And if any Preist occasionally came into a village all the Inhabitanes would gather together and desire him to communicate to them the Word of life For indeed Preists and Clergy-men in those dayes had no other busines to call them out of their Solitude into towns or Villages but only to preach baptise visit the sick or to doe some other spirituall good to soules They were then so perfectly free from the infection of covetousnes that without some violence and constraint they would not so much as accept of lands and possessions from men for building Monasteries And this devout conversation of Clergy-men and Monks continued a good while after this in the Churches of the Northumbers XX. CHAP. 1.2 c. A great plague Death of King Earcombert and of the Arch-bishop Deus-dedit 4.5 c. Apostacy of one King of the East-Saxons and piety of the other 8. Of the Holy Bishop Iarumannus 9 10. wini the first Simoniacall Bishop in England 1. THE same year in the Month of May there was a great Eclipse of the Sun and a mortality or plague followed it so raging as no memory had been of the like saith Mathew of Westminster The destruction caused by it in
from S. Beda 5. The same year likewise dyed S. Ermenburga Mother of the glorious Virgin S. Milburga S. Mildreda and S. Milgitha as likewise of the Saint-like child Merefin Concerning whom Harpsfeild thus writes Ermenburga though she had for her husband Mervald son of Penda King of the Mercians who was yet alive yet so inflamed a desire she had to a solitary Religious life that she never ceased her importunity till she had procured her husbands consent Having thus obtained her wish she returned into Kent to her Brother Egbert to whom she discovered her pious purpose desiring his assistance for the execution of it Whereupon he built for her at Estrey a town of Kent a Monastery consecrated to the young Princes Martyrs Saint Ethelbert and S. Ethelbritht There she passed the remainder of her life with seaventy other Virgins consecrated to God in wonderfull Sanctity Her name is recited among the Saints in our Martyrologe on the nineteenth of November 4. At this time Saint Theodore encreased the Number of Bishopricks erecting the Sees of Worcester and Hereford Of the former he consecrated Boselus and of the other Putta Bishop concerning whom as likewise his Successours for many years little more being recorded but their Names because we iudge it not expedient to make frequent breaches in this History only to insert Names wee will here breifly give a Catalogue of those which sate at Hereford for the Bishops of Worcester have left considerable monuments of their Gests and vertues 5. To Putta therefore Bishop of Hereford after he had administred that Province eleaven years succeeded Tirtell Whose Successour after twelve years was Torther who continued in that Bishoprick fifteen years and either deserting it voluntarily or by death the next was Walstod in the year of Grace seaven hundred and eighteen To whom after seaventeen years succeeded Cuthbert Now concerning Walstod the only thing memorable in him was that he began the fabrick of a Crosse very costly and magnificent but dyed before he could finish it which care he left to his Successour who engraved in it certain Latin verses importing the same which are recorded by Bishop Godwin in his Catalogue of the Bishops of that Diocese whereto I referr the curious Reader IX CHAP. 1.2 c. S. Wilfrid is forced to leave the West Saxons And converts the South-Saxons 8. He teaches the people a remedy against the famine 9. He erects an Episcopall See and Monastery at Shepey 11. Of Eappa the Abbot there 1. SAint Wilfrid being thus banished his Native soyl saith William of Malmsbury took his iourney towards the Kingdom of the West-Saxons where he was kindly entertaind by a certain Noble man called Berethwald But within a few dayes he was forced to quiâ—t that Refuge For Ethelred King of the Mercians whose subiect that Noble man was being likewise his Brothers Son with threatning commanded him that he should not retain the Bishop so much as one day longer This was done in compliance with Egfrid King of the Northumbers whose Sister Osdritha to comfort them for the losse of their Brother Elwin was given in mariage to the said King Ethelred by whom a peace was concluded between the New husband and Brother S. Wilfrid therefore during this short abode with Berethwald having built there a small Monastery was forced to leave the Monks and to fly for refuge to the Pagan South-Saxons since he could find no security among Christians 2. The King of these South-Saxons was named Edilwalch who having been informed of the causes of this holy Bishops banishment â—ith great readines and affection offred him his assistance resolutly and firmly engaging himself that no entreaties of his enemies should induce him to betray him nor any offers of money to expell him the countrey S. Wilfrid therefore being thus confident of his protection began to preach the Christian Faith first to the King and Queen and afterward to the inhabitants of that Province Neither were his perswasions unsuccessfull for in a very short time the King was baptized by him by whose example almost all his subiects were animated to embrace the Christian Faith Thus writes William of Malmsbury 3 But as touching the baptizing of King Edilwalch we have already related from S. Beda that he was baptized twenty years before this by the perswasion of Wolfere late King of the Mercians although indeed very few of his Subiects could then be induced to imitate him who yet now by the preaching of S. Wilfrid were perswaded to cast off their Pagan Idolatry The manner of this Conversion is thus declared by S. Beda 4. The Holy Bishop Wilfrid saith he having been driven from his See by Egfrid King of the Northumbers was forced to wander through many Provinces he went to Rome and after returned into Brittany And although by reason of â—he hostile enmity of the said King he could not be admitted to his Diocese yet none could hinder him from his Ministery of preaching the Faith For having been forced for refuge to turn aside into the Province of the South-Saxons lying between the Kingdoms of Kent and the West-Saxons and containing land for about seaven thousand families which Province at that time was wholly addicted to heathenish Superstitions he preached there the Christian Faith and having converted many he administred to them the Sacrament of Baptism 5. As for the King of that Nation Edilwalch he had some years before been baptized in the presence and by the suggestion of Wolfhere King of the Mercians by whom at his coming out of the Font he was received as his Son and in sign of such adoption he bestowed on him two Provinces to wit the Isle of Wight and the little Province of the Meanvari 6. But the whole Province of the South-Saxons remained ignorant of God and his holy Faith Now there was there a certain Scotâ—ish Monk his Name was Dicul who had built a very small Monastery in a place called Bosanham compassed with the Sea and woods where lived five or six Monks who served our Lord living in an humble and poore manner But not any of the inhabitants of that countrey gave any ear to their preaching and much lesse emulated their profession 7. But when the Holy Bishop Wilfrid preached the Gospell among them he not only delivered them from eternall damnation but likewise from a present temporall calamity ready to destroy them For the space of three years before his coming into that Province no rain at all had falln by means of which a most greivous famine â—ame among the people destroying great numbers of them For the report is that many times forty or fifty men together half consumed with hunger would goe to some precipice hanging over the Sea and holding their hands together cast themselves down into the water or upon the â—ocks But on the very day in which that Nation received Baptism there sell a seasonable and plentifull rain by which the earth flourished again
him into prison intending the day following to putt him secretly to death for being under the dominion of the French who were Christians they durst not kill him openly 4. As for Werenfrid and my self Marcellin we followed him to the prison weeping Which the Holy Preist Swibert observing with a chearfull countenance he comforted us and exhorted us to stand constantly for the Faith of Christ and not to fear death for his cause 5. Now the following night towards morning as Saint Swibert was praying and we weepâ—ing an Angell of our Lord appeard to him in the prison with great splendour and said to him Servant of the true God fear not for our Lord is with thee Having said this in the presence of the Keepers who stood amazed he sett him at liberty commanding him to preach Christ constantly every where to the Pagans After this the Angell ascended to heaven and the Holy man came and kneeling down devoutly related to us what had hapned whereupon we with great fervour gave thanks to God for this Angelicall Visitation and consolation 6. The Pagans and specially the Idoll-Preists the next day hearing that he had been thus delivered began to perceive the impotency of their Idols and extolled the power of Christ. As for the Holy man he with great courage preached the Gospell to them to their great astonishment and converted many of them to Christ and no man had the boldnes to lay hands on him 7. Assoon as he had performed his Ministery there he returned with us to Vtrecht where he declared to our Brethren all things which had hapned to him at Duerstat at the hearing whereof they wept for ioy and unanimously blessed God for his goodnes After which he departed into severall villages and towns in Friseland Holland and Teisterband publickly and constantly preaching the Gospell oâ— Christ to all and though thereby he suffred in many places great persecutions from the Pagans which he endured with patience and ioy yet being always sustained by Divine assistance he brought great multitudes to the knowledge and obedience of Christ. 8. Toward the end of the same year being attended by Werenfrid and my selfe he went into the Eastern coast of the Principality of Holland where there was a town a mile distant from Vtrecht toward the South called Haganstein At which time there hapned a famous solemnity of the Pagans whereto were assembled great multituds of them to perform detestable sacrifices incense and Rites to their false Gods The Holy man then went boldly into the midst among them crying aloud O yee men if you have any reason left in you draw near and hearken to mee I am a Messenger sent to you from the most high God c. And with a long Oration recorded by Marcellinus an car-wittnes he declared to them the Truth of Christs Doctrine and vanity of their Idoll-worship Moreover his preaching was confirmed by a following miracle for he restored sight to a man well known to them all whose name was Giselbert and who had been born blind After which succeeded a notable conversion of many Pagans of the blind mans acquaintance who were witnesses of the Miracle 9 Now the Brethren seing so manifest an assistance of God thought fitt to chuse amongst them all two persons to be ordained Bishopâ— to witt Swibert and Willebrord The former they sent into England to S. Wilfrid Bishop of the Mercians by whom he was consecrated Bishop this same year As for Saint Willebrord he was sent to Rome where he was by Pope Sergius ordained Arch-bishop of Vtrecht and the whole Province of Friseland as shall be declared What speciall Diocese was allotted to Saint Swibert does not appear yet in a particular manner he is named the Apostle of Teisterband Westphalia and the Boructuarians as the companion of his labours Marcellin hath informed us And the reason why he was directed into Brittany to Saint Wilfrid for his ordination and not to the Arch-bishop Brithwald seems to be because as hath been declared a Legatin Power had been conferred by the Pope on the Arch-bishop of the Northumberâ— which Power was not taken from him by his unjust exile Or else because these Holy Missioners being come out of that Kingdom acknowledged a particular relation to and dependance on S. Wilfrid IX CHAP. 1.2 The Gests of Saint Swibert being a Bishop 3.4 c. His miraculous raising to Life a person who had been drowned and the Successe of that Miracle 1. IN the year of Grace six hundred ninety six S. Willebrord was consecrated Arch-bishop of Vtrecht hy Pope Sergius but returned not to his Province and companions till the year following In the mean time Saint Swibert having dispatched a shorter voyage into Brittany came back this year and gloririously biâ—â—â—â—arged â—arged his Episcopall function God assisting his labours with the Gift of most stupendious Miracles faithfully related by the companion of his Travells S. Marcellinus as followeth 2. The most holy Prelat Swibert having been exalted to the Pontificall Dignity and consecrated by S. Wilfrid after he had saluted his kindred freinds he together with his attendants and companions returned to the Work of the Gospell and arrived at Wiltenburg or Vtrecht some what more then a year before S. Willebrord was come back from Rome He was received by the Brethren and New Converts with great honour and ioy He adorned his Episcopall Degree with all the vertues becoming it living afterward in yet greater perfection of Humility Meeknes Simplicity and piety The Work of preaching the Gospell he constantly fullfilld travelling through the Villages and towns not on horseback but as the Apostles were wont to doe on foot Thus he passed through all the quarters of Friseland Holland and especially the County of Teisterband converting great multitudes to the Faith of Christ and diligently extirpating Idolatry Thus by his assiduous preaching and exhortations he reduced in a manner the whole County of Teisterband to the beleif of the Gospell and there in many places he built new Churches and elsewhere consecrated Idoll-Temples to Christian Churches Thus in Zanduic near Tâ—el a Church was erected to the honour of the Holy Martyr S. Vincent another in Arkel to the honour of the Blessed Virgin Mary Mother of God and a third in Hornaer to the honour of S. Denys Areopagite with many others 3. Now how in the Dedication of one of those Churches he raised to life a young man who had been drownd is at large described by the same devout and most faithfull Writer whose relation though diffused will very well deserve a place in this our History 4. The Divine Providence did so order saith he that whilst on the eighth day before the Calends of October this same year Saint Swibert was dedicating a Church in Malsen a Village seated neer the River Lighen in the Country of Teisterband a certain young man named Splinter of Adingyn Son of a person cheif in authority at Duerstat being out
far other usage then he expected For at first they sett upon him with reproachfull speeches and false accusations and when they had wearied him with those at last they proposed to him this Question Whether he would obey the Decrees of the late Arch-bishop Theodore He perceiving their malignity defeated their design with a subtile answer saying That he would willingly obey all such Definitions of Theodore as were agreable to the Holy Canons Having answerd thus he in a long discourse confidently and truly inveighed against them for that they who for the space of two and twenty years had despised the precepts of three Popes Agathon Benedict and Sergius did now make choice of such Decrees of the Arch-bishop Theodore as had been made in a time of trouble and dissension and when he had said this he was silent 4. When the King had heard S. Wilfrid thus iustifying the equity of his cause he was not able to endure it longer but broke forth into a speech misbecoming his Maiesty insomuch as he said to the Arch-bishop If such be your Will most Reverend Father I will oppresse him by violence But the Bishops there present would not consent to such iniustice Yea even his enemies did not approve that a Bishop of so high esteem and renown and one who out of a confidence in their iustice was come to the Synod should suffer a manifest oppression Besides though they could have been content that he should have been obliged to quitt his Bishoprick yet they would not suffer the Authority of the Apostolick See to be directly violated by the King 5. Hereupon saith the same Authour the Bishops thought fitt to proceed another way Therefore they began to sett upon him with perswasions that since for his cause such frequent dissensions had hapned in Gods Church he would willingly and of his own accord give up his Bishoprick and possessions and confirm such a renunciation by Writing They added that this would highly recommended his fame and be a great accumulation to his glory if he would rather chuse to end his days in peace as a privat man then for a Bishoprick to move storms of sedition either by himself or others in his behalf 6. The Holy Bishop easily perceived how their design was to entangle him and therefore answered them That nothing could be more dishonourable and infamous then that a man should condemne himself with his own tongue He then putt them in mind That he was the first man who having cast out the Scotts had taught the Churches of the Northumbers the true Canonicall way of observing Easter That he had brought among them the Ecclesiasticall Song by way of Antiphons That he had commanded the Rule of the most Holy Patriaâ—â— S. Benedict to be observed by all the Monks of that Province and for all these merits and benefitts his only reward must be that he an old man and a Bishop of seaventy years of age should be compelled to condemne himself by his own Writing But he would have them know he would never be induced to do that which would bring to himself shame to those who were under him a calamity and to all dammage Therefore he once more appeald to the See Apostolick to which he challenged any of his accusers to repair 7. When S. Wilfrid had thus appealed the Synod was presently dissolved for the matter being referred to the Supreme Tribunall of the Church the Bishops could make no decrees about it Neither would King Alfrid any longer interpose his Regall and Civill authority in a cause depending between Ecclesiasticall persons Every one therefore went to his own place And Saint Wilfrid returned to the Mercians to prepare for his voyage once more in his old age to Rome XXI CHAP. i. 2. c. The death of S. Benedict Biscop and summâ—â— of his Gests 1. ONE whole year was passed before S. Wilfrid arrived at Rome at least before he debated his cause with his adversaries sent thither by Arch-bishop Brithwald In which year S. Benedict Biscop Abbot and founder of two famous Monasteries of Wiremouth and Girwy dedicated to the honour of the two Cheif Apostles S. Peter and S. Paul dyed Whole Gests have been already from S. Beda related containing his wonderfull zeale for the regulating Monasticall Disciplin according to the Institut of our Holy Patriark S. Benedict his frequent and unwearied travells to Rome for procuring Books Vestments Sacred Pictures and other Ornaments of his Monasteries his prudence in uniting and governing the said Monasteries and in chusing other Superiours to assist him being present and to govern in his absence with all other vertues becoming one who professed Perfection and through his whole life made good that Profession 2. Neither ought it to be accounted among the least benefits conferred by him upon his Order that he obtained from the Apostolick See a Breif of Priviledges by which saith Saint Beda the liberty of the said Monasteries and Religious men living there was secured from all incursions and invasions of externs their Temporall possessions defended and all disturbance of peace prevented 3. In consideration of these great obligations received from him the Congregation of English Benedictins lately restored or rather continued by the See Apostolick in their ancient Liberties and Rights have deservedly intitled him their Patron and particularly inasmuch as he so strictly united the two forementiond Monasteries that they not only professed the substance of the same Benedictin Rule but all the same circumstantiall observances giving thereby such a form of Vnion as was imitated through all other Provinces in Europe to the notable advancement of Piety and Vniformity in their holy Disciplin 4. It is wonderfull to consider how great and universall a benefitt accrewed to all the Churches of Brittany by the zeale of this Holy Abbot for as long as those Regular Observances instituted or renewed by him continued Heresy could haue no accesse into our Island But those being dissolved this our land formerly watred with showers of Divine Grace from heaven and made a Paradice of God as Barâ—nius observes was presently turned in falsuginem into a brackish salt barrennesse by the malice of its inhabitants 5. Not our English Martyrologe only but the Roman also celebrates his Memory on the day before the Ides of Ianuary as an alumnus of that Church where he first embraced a Monasticall Profession and had his former name of Biscop changed into Benedict XXII CHAP. 1.2 c. S. Wilfrids cause again iudged at Rome to his advantage 8. c. His miraculous recovery from a sicknes in France 1. SAint Wilfrid arriving at Rome the year following expected awhile his accusers who being also come they preseÌ„ted their state of the present Controversy in Epistles sent by Arch-bishop Brithwald other Bishops of Brittany to Pope Iohn and S. Wilfrid declared his cause in a Petition or Memoriall which he humbly offred to the same Pope
the year of Grace seaven hundred and five Saint Wilfrid arrived in Brittany bringing with him Letters and Messengers likewise from the Pope to the two Kings Ethelred and Alfrid giving them account of what had lately passed at Rome in debating the Controversy What the successe was William of Malmsbury thus relates 2. Saint Wilfrid says he presently after his return presented the Letters from the See Apostolick to Ethelred late King of the Mercians now a Monk Which he received in an humble posture kneeling And having read them he with little difficulty obtained from Kenred Son of Wulfere whom he had made his Successour in the Kingdom an order that they should be obeyd For Kenred was a Prince replenished with the fear of God a good proof whereof he gave to the world by a voluntary renouncing his Kingly authority four years after and embracing a Monasticall Profession In like manner Brithwald Arch-bishop of Canterbury shewed himself as earnest to enter into brotherly concord with Saint Wilfrid Some say he was affrighted thereto by the Popes Messengers who denounced to him his condemnation from the See Apostolick altough S. Wilfrid interposing hindred the pronouncing Sentence 3. Only Alfrith King of the Northumhers still persisted in his obstinacy and resistance For when Messengers directed from Saint Wilfrid came to him at first he gave them a mild answer But afterward being as is beleived depraved by the suggestions of certain malignant persons about him favoured by him much to his dishonour when the Messengers again presented themselves to him on the day appointed he sent them away with sad hearts by pronouncing this his determinate Sentence That for the persons of the Messengers for the gravity of their lives and veneâ—ablenes for their age he honoured them as parents But as touching the subject of their message he utterly refused complyance with it since it was against all reason that upon any Letters perhaps surreptitiously obtained from the See Apostolick a man who had been twice condemned by a Nationall Synod of the English should be restored to his dignity and Communion 4. Having made frequent mention of these Letters of Poope Iohn inasmuch as they afford great light to Saint Wilfrids cause wee will bere sett down the tenour of them from William of Malmsbury by whom they are recorded They are inscribed To the most eminent Lords Ethelred King of the Mercians and Alfrid King of the Deiri and Bernicians 5. Wee doe much reioyce heâ—â—ing the report of the encrease of your Religious devotion through Gods Grace cooperating and seeing the fervour of your Faith which God illuminating your minds yee at first received by the preaching of the Prince of Apostle and doe still constantly retain And I would to God that this our ioy might be enlarged by the good behaviour of many among you But the incurable dissension of some Spirits there does much disquiet our minds Which dissension wee are obliged to censure and correct least instead of being observers we be found transgressours of Apostolick Precepts 6. For it is now a good while since that Bishop Wilfrid in the time of Pope Agathon of Blessed Memory appealed in a certain cause of his to this See His accusers also sent from Theodore Arch-bishop of Canterbury and from Hilda an Abbesse of Religious memory came hither Whereupon Bishops from severall places were assembled in this Citty who examined the matter diligently and canonically and after Examination pronounced Sentence Which Sentence the Popes his Successours and my Predecessours have confirmed And the Arch-bishop Theodore never contradicted the said Sentence nor sent afterward any more accusations against him Moreover now of late more accusations having been sent against the same Wilfrid wee took order that they should be examined in a Synod of Reverend Bishops together with his respective Answers and defence which Examination continued many dayes together both from Epistles ancient and modern touching that cause and verball allegations made by such persons as were present So that all hath been done in the cause that can be performed in the absence of the principall accusers who in case they approve not the Sentence here given must repaire in presence hither 7 Wherefore wee doe hereby admonish our Brother Arch-bishop Brithwald that together with Wilfrid he convoke a Synod commanding Bosa and Iohn to repair to the same There let him hear and consider what the parties can say and what proofs can be made on either side Which being done if he can determine the cause he will doe a thing very acceptable to us But in case he cannot let him then admonish both parties to have recourse in person hither where the cause hitherto depending may be finally decided by a greater Councill And let those who shall neglect to come hither know that they shall be ipso facto suspended and neither here nor there esteemed legall Bishops As for your Royall Highnes be pleased to afford your assistance that the Orders which with Christs help wee have herein given may come to effect And whosoever of what condition soever shall presumptuously contemne our authority he shall not remain without Gods punishment nor escape without his harm and danger from the spirituall bonds in which he is tyed 8. This was the tenour of the Popes Letters which were contemned by King Alfrid alone who notwithstanding presently after found that the denunciation of Divine iudgment in the end of them was not in vain For he lived but a little while after as the same Authour relates saying Assoon as the Messengers were departed he was assaulted by a very sharp disease which shortly brought him to his end But then the bitternes of his torments awaked reason which had slumbred a long time in the Kings mind and according to the Prophets saying Vexation gave him understanding For perceiving that this punishment had deservedly come upon him for his disobedience he promised to make a reparation of his fault to Wilfrid if he could be brought to his presence before his death And the same he continued to promise as long as he had use of his tongue withall adiuring his Successour to perform the same in case himself could not doe it Thus he repented too late his contempt of the Letters sent from the See Apostoâ—ick the comminations of which he could not avoyd 9 Thus dyed this worthy King Alfrid who for the space of nineteen years had governed his Kingdom in great iustice and peace and against whom wee read not any accusation or charge of any other crime but this his pertinacious persecution of this Holy Bishop Whosoever he was that inserted him in our Martyrologe on the twelfth of March by the Title of a Monk in the Monastery of Mailros was surely mistaken since neither S. Beda who lived at the same time near the place nor any of our Ancient Historians mention any such thing And Florilegus expressly says that he dyed at Driffeld seated on the River Hull in Yorkshire which
the sight of God and that his glory is wonderfull in heaven since he has made him so resplendent by miracles on earth For after his death he ceases not to cure the sick c Thus Writes the Holy Apostolick Preist Saint Marcellin adding moreover a Narration of severall stupendious Miracles of which himself was an eye witnes and which the devout Reader may find in his Life for I am unwilling to swell this History with such like Relationâ— III. CHAP. 1.2 c. The Monastery of Theokesbury founded 7. The death of Saint Egwin Bishop of Worcester 1. TO the same year is by our Historians assigned the foundation of the Monastery of Tewksbury though in the Chronicles of that Monastery the Erection thereof is sayd to have been made two years sooner And there we find this account of it 2. In the raigns of the illustrious Kings of the Mercians Ethelred Kenred and Ethelbald there lived two Dukes in great estimation Oddo and Doddo men of high descent much regarded for their vertues but which most crowns their memory persons who with sincere devotion loved almighty God and sought his honour Which they made good by their charitable actions for they and their Progenitours magnificently built and endowed many Monasteries These foresaid Dukes about the year of Grace seaven hundred and fifteen gave order for the building a Monastery in their own Territory near the Severn seaven miles distant from Claudiocester or Glocester at place called Theokusbury from a certain Hermit named Theocus who anciently had lived there 3. This Monastery they built to the honour of God and the glorious Virgin Mary and conferred upon it a Village called Stanwey with all its dependances and some few possessions besides for the sustenâ—ation of Monks not many in number for at first there were but four or five which under the Obedience of a Priour served God according to the Rule of our Holy Father S. Benedict 4. Now after that these two Dukes were for their devout actions translated to heavenly ioyes as we firmly beleive their Bodies were buried in the Church of Persora Parshur in which Duke Doddo had taken the Habit of a Monk and which they had enriched with ample possessions 5. These foresaid Dukes had a certain Brother named Almaric whose body was buried at Derhurst in a little Chappell over against the Gate of the Priory there which Chappell had formerly been a Royall place There to this day is shewd his Sepulcher where in the wall over the dore is this Inscription This Royall Hall did Duke Doddo cause to be consecrated into a Church to the honour of the Blessed Virgin Mary for love which he bore to his Brother Almaric 6. Thus we read in the said Chronicle Where consequently is related how by reason of the great troubles and warrs hapning both in Mercia and other parts of the Kingdom till it was reduced to a Monarchy under King Althelslan the said Monastery was often spoyled and twice burnt But afterward reedified and annexed to the Abbey of Cranborn and in conclusion for the commodious and pleasant situation of the place it was it self erected into an Abbey and the Monastery of Cranborn depressed into a Priory and made subject to it The great Patron and enlarger of it was Robert the Son of Hamon in the beginning of the Norman times as William of Malmsbury testifies Who by mistake affirms that the Name of Theocksbury did seem to destine it to a Religious use being so called as if the Title were Theotocosbury or the Court of the Mother of God But Camden according to the forementioned Chronicle more genuinely derives the name from Theocus a devout Hermit formerly living there 7. To this year is assigned the death of Egwin Bishop of Worcester after he had administred that See the space of twenty four years To whom succeeded Wilfrid who governed the same seaven and twenty years Scarce any thing concerning either of them besides their names is recorded IV. CHAP. 1.2 Kenred King of the Northumbers dying Osric succeeds 3. The Piety of Ethelbald the Mercian King 1. THE year following Kenred King of the Northumbers after two years possession of the Throne to which he mounted by Treason and murder of Osred his Kinsman and predecessour dyed and in his place succeeded Osric his associate in the same crime 2. Concerning these Kings William of Malmsbury thus writes Kenred who raigned only two years and after him Osric eleaven have left this one mark upon their memories that shedding the blood of their Master how well soever deserving such an unhappy end they defiled the aire with their shamefull deaths Yet Osric before he came to that Crown seemd to have had more sence of piety for it is said that he built about the year seaven hundred a Monastery for Religious Virgins at Glocester 3. But in the Kingdom of the Mercians King Ethelbald saith Ingulphus having perfected his Monastery of Croyland employd his mind to promote Holy Church through his whole Kingdom granting immunities and Priviledges to other Monasteries also of Religious men and woemen For which purpose in the third year of his raign he pubâ—ished a generall Statut to that effect recorded there by the same Authour V. CHAP. i. 2 The Birth and first radiments of Saint Boniface Apostle of the Germans 1. THE great losse which the New-planted Churches of Germany sustained by the death of their glorious Apostle S. Swibert was quickly repaired with advantage For in the year seaven hundred and nineteen God provided for themâ— New Pastour no lesse diligent and powerfull both in word and deed and who after incredible pains and dangers with infinite fruit thence proceeding crownd all his labours with Martyrdom This was S. Winfrid which name was afterward changed into Boniface who the sayd year having received a Benediction and authority from Pope Gregory the Second of that name chearfully began his Apostolick Office in that countrey His Gests have been written by severall writers and particularly by S. Willebald a Bishop his Disciple with great care and sincerity likewise more largely by a certain Preist call'd Othlo and besides those a great Volume still extant of S. Boniface his Epistles will furnish us with sufficient materialls for this History many years consequently Here therefore we will begin a Narration hitherto deferred of his Birth and education till this great charge was imposed on him and consequently proceed in recounting his glorious actions and labours referring them to the severall times in which they were performed 2. He was born in the year of Grace six hundred and seaventy of an English Saxon family as appears evidently from his own Epistles The place illustrated by his Birth was Creden now called Kirton in Devonshire the names of his parents are not recorded He was by them with great care educated and even in his infancy he was so earnestly studious to enrich his mind with spirituall knowledge
chearfullnes of devotion and humility attended and ministâ—ed to them She had a Brother called Bana and three devout Sisters S. Eadwara Saint Wilgitha and Sidwella all which imitated her piety and vertue 6. Not long after S. Iuthwara's Mother was dead her Father took a second Wife a woman for her extraction Noble enough but of a most malicious disposition for her soule by the Devills instinct was full of the gall of bitternes especially against this devout Virgin for the destruction of whom she employd continually the thoughts of her poysonnous heart in contriving snares and mischeivous treachery And for the executing thereof she intended to make Bana a robustious man but fitt for any villany her instrument 7. It was the Holy Virgin 's constant practise in all Vigils of Saints to be present at Divine Service and to spend whole nights in Prayer But thither she never went alone but in the company of other Virgins She was likewise very assiduous in Watching and Fasting and other Mortifications subduing carnall desires With these austerities and greif for her Fathers death she became extremely feeble and pale This occasion by the Devills suggestion her malicious Mother in Law took to execute her rancour against her For which purpose dissembling her bloody intent under a shew of Motherly affection and care she began to speak kindly to her and solicitously to enquire the causes of her palenesse S. Iuthwara suspecting no ill imputed it to the losse of her dear Father the greif for which had caused great pain in her breast The Malicious woman having heard this spoke comfortably to her and promised her to find out some remedy And presently after she brought her two small peices of Fresh cheese still dropping with whey which she bad her to lay upon each breast before she went to Church assuring her that this would take away all her pain The simple Virgin suspecting no harm did accordingly Then the cruell stepdame went to the Virgins Brother Bana and told him that his Sister was with child and for a proof thereof advised him to open her breasts and taking away the linnen cloath which covers them he should see them all were with milk dropping from them The young man foolishly beleiving her meets his Sister as she was coming out of Church and before all the people asked her Who had gott her with child The poor Virgin astonished at such a Question protested she was not with child Whereupon he presently opened her breasts and finding the linnen all moyst in a rage he drew out his sword and cutt off her head 8. Immediatly after this the Holy Virgin with her own hands took up the head and to the astonishment of all caried it back steadily into the Church And moreover for a further proof of the Holy Virgins Sanctity Almighty God caused a fountain to burst forth out of the place where the head fell and over the fountain as miraculously a Tree began to grow 9. Thus writes the Authour of her Life adding many other Miracles as testimonies of her Sanctity The memory of this Holy Virgin as likewise of her Sister Sidwella is much renowned in some Western parts of England and certain Chappell 's have been erected to their Honour in Devonshire Our Martyrologe stiles them Brittish Virgins adding that the Martyrdom of S. Iuthwara hapned in some part of South-wales Which is very probable because none of our Ancient Historians treating of Saxon affaires have mentioned any of these Sisters 10. Wee will adioyn to her another admirable Virgin who was without all question of English blood and whose glorious Memory is celebrated both at home and abroad Now though her actions and death can not by any certain signs be consigned to determinate years yet since our Writers generally agree that they belonged to the times of the Raign of Cuthred King of the West-Saxons our Martyrologe likewise declares that she flourished about this year seaven hundred forty it seems expedient here to assemble such particulâ—r passages touching her life and death as are found dispersed in our severall Authours William of Malmsbury Mathew Paris and Capgrave 11. The Holy Virgin concerning whom wee are now to treat is the famous S. Fridesâ—ida the ornament and Patronesse of the most illustrious Citty and Vniversity of Oxford Her Fathers name was Didan a person of Noble quality and her Mothers Safrida Both which for their happines in the birth and pious education of such a daughter have deserved to be kept in the memory of posterity Almighty God was pleased even from her infancy to shew that he chose her for his own so great a sence of piety he inspired into her soule in her most tender years For saith the Authour of her life even then she had an aversion from all delicacies in so much as she usually lay upon the hard pavement and not this rest would she afford her self till she could no longer resist sleep so that a great part of the night she spent in prayer upon her knees or prostrate on the ground Her ordinary dyet was barley-bread with a few hearbes and roots and her drink only water Hence it was that her Parents perceiving that all her thoughts were directed to God freely gave her leave to consecrate her self entirely to him in a Religious Profession And by her example twelve other Virgins of Noble families forsook the world to attend only upon our Lord. 12. By the Munificence therefore of the King she built a Monastery into which entring with her companions she passed the greatest part of her time in Prayer and Fasting And this particular task of Devotion she imposed on her self to recite a certain number of Prayers to God upon her knees a hundred times each day and as many in the night 13. But what soule can perfectly aspire to goodnes without incurring the envy of him who is unchangeably evill And when his envy is once raised all his pernicious subtilties will be employed to destroy or diminish at least the good which he envyes Saint Frideswida enclosed in a Monastery may seem secure from all attempts prejudiciall to her purity Yet even there the Devill found a way to endanger her Before she had consecrated herself to God there was a certain Prince deeply wounded by her beauty not knowing that he was prevented by another celestiall Rivall He used all the Arts and flatteries of a Lover to win the devour Virgins affections But in vain Her spirituall espousalls made his hoped-for Mariage impossible and the desire of it Sacrilegious But what will not carnall Love inflamed with rage attempt Since flatteries could not prevayle when she lived free in the world he will not fear to use force now she is confined to her Enclosure This when the Holy Virgin saw she concluded there could not be any other security for her but in flight Hereupon she privately stole alone out of the Monastery and endeavoured to secure her self in a wood neighbouring
the year of Grace seaven hundred and seaventeen and dyed in the year seaven hundred forty three XIV CHAP. 1.2 S Boniface falsely calumniated to Duke Pipin 3.4 c. His Letter to the Pope and Ansâ—er 6. Aâ—stedius his malicious mistake 1. IN the mean time Saint Boniface his patience is exercised for his good for he found adversaryes not only in the Court of Duke Pipin a proper seat for envy and malignity but at home also among his companions in the work of the Gospell As for the former sort he easily made voyd all their designs against him with a Letter written to the Duke and his domesticall accusers he overcame by his meeknes 2. Who these were what they layd to his charge we find in a Letter written to him by the Pope the tenour whereof is this Virgilius and Sidonius Religious men living in the Province of the Bavarians have lately visitted us with their Letters in which they have intimated that your Revered Fraternity enioynd them to rebaptize certain Christians At the reading of this we were much troubled and should extremely wonder if it should be true Among other examples they produced this of a certain Preist in the same Province who being ignorant of the Latin tongue he pronounced it wrong in baptizing saying Baptizo â—e in nomine Patria Filia Spiritua Sancta And for this it iâ— sayd your Reverend Fraternity thought fit that Baptisme should be reiterated But holy Brother if he who baptizes introduces no errour oâ— heresy but through ignorance only failes in pronunciation we can by no means allow that sucâ— Baptism should be repeated For as your Holy Fraâ—ternity well knows who soever is baptized even by Hereticks in the name of the Father of the son and of the Holy Ghost must by no means be rebaptized but only be purified by imposition of hands If the matter therefore stand as hatâ— been related to us Holy Brother abstain hereafter from such iniunctions and be carefull to observe what the Holy Fathers teach 3. Vpon the receit of this Letter S. Boniface presently without reply acquiesced Anâ— the same year dispatched to Rome his Preist Eoban with Letters to the Pope in which hâ— suggested many things very necessary for the Churches of France contained in twenty seaven heads of great advantage to Ecclesiasticall Discâ—pline 4. Hereto Pope Zacharias immediatly answerd adioyning to every one of the said Points his own iudgment Withall he inâ—formed him that the most excellent Prince Pâ—pin had sent likewise to him a Religious Preist named Audobaâ— with other Points of the like nature concernâ—ng the Rights of Bishops Preists c. also touching unlawfull Mariages inquiring what was to be observed therein according the Rites of the Church the Dâ—ctrine of Holy Fathers and Canons of Councils And many other things he had proposed relating to the good of soules To all which likewise he had returned an Answer Consequently he enioyned S Boniface to assemble a Synod and therein to discover to the Bishops his said Determinatiâ—ns 5. He gave him moreover order that the forementioned contumacious and Sacrilegious Hereticks Aldebert Godelâ—ace and Clement should be made to appear before the said Synod that their cause might again be accurately examined And in case they were found wholly to swerve from the way oâ— Truth and iustice and being convinced would not retract their errours and amend their faults that then the Princes assistance being desired they should be proceeded against with all severity according to the Canons of the Church But if they should persist in Pride and protest that they were innocent then his will was that they should be sent to Rome and with them two or three Preists approved for their piety and prudence to be their accusers and there the cause should be with all care examined by the See Apostolick and judgment given on them according to their merits 6. Before we declare how S. Boniface observed what was enioynd him by the Pope in calling a Councill and therein convincing again the said Hereticks and doing other matters for the Churches good all which was done the year following it will be expedient in the mean time to admonish the Reader of a mistake made by Alstedius a Calvinisticall Chronologist who affirms that this year a Synod was assembled in Brittany against the Sodomiticall impurity of the English Clergy Whereas no Synod was called there this year and in that which was assembled two years after though many disorders are censured in it yet this is not named among them XV. CHAP. 1.2 A third Synod assembled by S. Boniface at Mâ—nts 3 4 c In which Geâ—vilio Bishop of Mentz is deposed â—oâ— Homicide c. 6 S Boniâ—ace Aâ—ch bishop of Mentz and Primat of Germany 1. IN the year of Grace seaven hundred â—orty five S Boniface according to the admonition given him by Pope Zacharias and the command of Duke Caroloman assembled his third Councill at Mentz in Germany at which were present according to the account given by himself to Herefrâ—d an English Prelat eight Bishops all of the English Nation But of them those only Names remain which Miraeus hath recorded saying At the Synod of Ments convoked by S. Boniface were present Abel Burchard Willebald Werbet and Wera perhaps Wetta or Wittan 2. The Decrees of this Synod touching Ecclesiasticall Disciplin containd in the forementioned thirty seaven Heads sent by Saint Boniface to Pope Zacharias and by him with some correctiâ—ns approved are not now extant But other affairs of great coÌ„sequence agitated and determined are mentioned in the Life of S. Boniface in Surius Where we read that in the said Synod not only many Ecclesiasticks infected with Heresy were excommunicated but severall Bishops also infamous for horrible crimes were depofed The prime Authours of all Errours in Germany were the two Arch-hereticks Aldebert and Clement Whose cause was remitted to Rome and there with all circumspection iudged as shall be largely declared 3. Of Bishops sayd to be deposed in this Synod the name and speciall demerit of one only is now recorded and that was Gervilio Bishop of Menâ—z where the Councill was held The cause of his Deposition according to the said Authour was this At that time the Thuringians implored the â—ssiâ—â—ance of â—aroloman against the Saxons which wasted their countrey He presently sent an Army and with it Gerold Bishop of Mentz who was Father of Gervilio Gerold in the combat among many others was slain And his son who at that time was a Lay man attending at Court to asswage his greif for his Fathers death was taken into the Clergy and made Bishop of Mentz in his Fathers place 4 Not long after Caroloman gathered another Army which himself lead into Germany and took Gervilio with him Whilst this Army lay encamped on both the sides of the River Visurgis Weser Gervilio commanded his servant to goe privatly into the enemies
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
place to succeed nothing but tumults rage and treasons His young son Osulf to whom he had surrendred the kingdom in the space of one year saith Hoveden held it and lost it For on the ninth day before the Calends of August the year after his Father had instituted him in it he was impiously slain by his own family His tender age and innocence rendring him obnoxious and exposed to treachery His Successour was his Vncle Edilwald sirnamed Mul or Mollo mentioned before who is sayd to have contributed to his Nephews murder And though he was a man of great courage and prudence yet he found there could be no security in power obtaind by crimes for not long after he likewise came to a tragicall end 2. But among the Mercians a far more prosperous fate attended the new King Offa who had driven the Tyrant Beorâ—red out of the kingdom and was by the unanimous consent of the people placed in his Throne which he held the space of thirty nine years His Royall descent is thus described by Huntingdon The most Noble Prince Offa saith he was the son of Wingferd the son of Eanulf the son of Osmod the son of Epus the son of Wippa the son of Creada the son of Kinewal the son of Knibba the son of Icel the son of Eomer the son of Agelthen the son of Offa the son of Weremond the son of Withald the son of Woden Mathew of Westminster stops not here in his Genealogy but goes on till he brings him up to Adam 3. As for Mathew a Monk of Saint Albans his fictions either contrived or beleived by him wee will neglect who out of a partiall affection to Offa the founder of his Monastery recounts how he being the only son of his Father was born blind and dumb for which cause he was at first called Pinered But afterward God miraculously restored his sight and gave liberty to his tongue moreover bestowing on him a beautifull wife happy children and great triumphs over his enemies In acknowledgment for which blessings he founded the said Monastery 4. As soon as King Offa was crownd and established in his Throne saith Mathew Paris peace and prosperity flourishd again among the Mercians the people were eased of their former pressures the Regal Blood was restored Laws for publick tranquillity were enacted and the Nobles formerly banished out of the Kingdom by Beornred were recalled 5. We shall have occasion very frequently to treat of the actions of this Noble King Therefore at present we will only adioyn the Character in generall given to him by William of Malmsbury King Offa saith he the great grand child of Penda was a man of mighty courage and magnanimity who resolutely undertook whatsoever design he once conceived in his mind and he raigned the space of nine and thirty years When I revolve in my mind his Gests in which there was great variety I am in great doubt whether I should recken him among the Good or evill Kings such an interchangeable vicissitude there was of vertues and vices in him who like another Proteus was always changing his form and features VI. CHAP. 1.2.3 Cuthred Arch-bishop of Canterbury dying gave order that his body should be buried in the Archiepiscopall Church to the prejudice of Saint Augustins Monastery 4. Bregwin succeeds him 5.6 S. Eadburga Abbesse Six Saints of the same name 1. THE same year Cuthred Arch-bishop of Canterbury after he had administred that See seaventeen years dyed When he was ready to dye saith William of Malmsbury he commanded his servants to bury him privatly in his Archiepiscopall Church which was built within the walls of the Citty And because the Monks of S. Augustin whose Monastery was seated without the said Citty by an Ancient custom which they were stubboraly constant to observe did challenge as their vndoubted right that the Bodies of the Arch-bishops should be buried in their Church in so much as they would probably endeavour even by violence to take away with them his Body after he was dead therfore he enioynd his family as soon as he was dead to abstain from any noise in bewayling his death both in the Citty and Palace so that no notice of his death being given abroad there might be no concourse of people and by that means they might without disturbance bury him in the Archiepiscopall Church and not apprehend any danger that the Monks would take him out of the ground when they should perceive how they had been overreached by cunning 2. But B. Godwin relates that the Tradition was that the Body of Arch-bishop Cuthbert was not buried in the Archiepiscopall Church it self called Christ-Church but in another lesser Church seated near it and dedicated to S. Iohn which he had built on purpose for baptizing infants and which both himself and his successours vsed in their life time for a Consistory and for a place of buriall after they were dead Moreover that this Church in after ages having been consumed by fire together with the Cathedrall Church was never after rebuilt 3. The motive inducing the Arch-bishop to make this change was in the iudgment of Sir Henry Spelman a kind of indignation that his Cathedrall Church should be deprived of the honour of being a sepulcher of eminent persons and particularly of Arch-bishops who had performed all Episcopall duties in it Therefore in as much as till that time there had no buriall places been permitted within Citties he had recourse to the Pope for a dispensation from that obligation and to the King for a change of the place of buriall both for Arch-bishops and Kings Notwithstanding if the foregoing relation be true what need was there of that subtilty to circumvent the Augustinian Monks who doubtlesse would not have had the boldnes to contradict the Orders both of the Pope and King 4. The year following there was substituted to Cuthbert in the Archiepiscopall See Bregwin who was consecrated on the Feast of S. Michael the Archangel This Bregwin according as we read in the Antiquities of Brittany was born in old Saxony of noble parents After he had passed his childhood he betook himself to the study of sacred learning to which he had so great an affection that for advantaging himself in his studies he passed over into Brittany quite forsaking his native soile After some abode in Brittany he was for his modesty and vertue so much in generall esteem and favour that he had the priviledge of naturalization And he made so great progresse in sacred knowledge that he alone was esteemed worthy to be the successour to Cuthbert in the Archbishoprick After which he did so excell in all good works that not any in his time approached within many degrees to him 5. At that time the Holy Virgin and Abbesse Eadburga sirnamed Buggan also dyed It is no wonder there should be some confusion in Writers touching her and other Saints of
into the Church where having received the Body of our Lord he gave up his spirit to him looking towards the Altar His Memory is celebrated on the twenty fifth of August 5. As touching his Successour Albericus he was by birth an Englishman and is named in the Gallican Martyrologe with this elogy On the one and twentieth of August is celebrated at Vtrecht the deposiâ—ion of S Albertâ— Biâ—hop of the same Citty anâ— Confessour He was born in Brittany in the Diocese of York from whence he came into Germany to preach the Gospell and for his excellent endoâ—ments in piety and eminent learning he was made Canon of the Church of Vtrecht Afterward when S. Gregory through weaknes and old age was disabled to administer the same See S. Alberic was appointed a diâ—â—enser of the whole Diocese to govern both the Clergy and people and S. Gregory himself by inspiration of the Holy Ghost foretold that he should â—ucceeâ—â—im in the Bishoprick Therefore after the Holy Bishop was freed from the chains of his flesh S. Aâ—â—eric was according to the desires of all exalted to his Epiâ—â—copall throne After which not contentinâ— himself with the solicitudes of his particular Diocese and Province he extended his care to the adiacent regions and sent S. Ludger who was afterward Bishop of Munster into the countrey of the Frisons there to spread the Gospell aâ—d root out Idolatrous superstitions At lâ—nâ—th after he had governed the Church of Vtrecht many years with admirable Sanctity this blessed servant of God who was wholly celestiall forsook the earth to which his heart never had been fixed and departed to his heavenly countrey He was honourablâ— buâ—ied near to his holy Predecessour accompany 〈◊〉 him 〈◊〉 in his Tomb and reward whom he has always fâ—llowed in order and merit XX. CHAP. 1.2 Succession of Bishops in England 3.4 c. The unhappy death of Kenulphus King of the West Saxons 6. Brithric succeeds him 7. Of Rictritha a Holy Queen and Abbesse 1. AT the same time in Brittany the Episcopall See of London being vacant by the voluntary resignation of Kenwalch as it is sayd it was supplied by Eanbald or Eadberch And after the death of Edbert Bishop of Leicester Vnwona was ordaind in his place 2. The year next following the two Bishops of the East-Angles dye again together and to Eadred Bishop of Dumwich succeeded Alphun to Hunfert Bishop of Helmham Bibba And within two years both these agree to dye together and to leave their Sees to new Bishops 3. This was the last year of the Raign of Kenulf King of the West-Saxons a Prince who had given many examples of vertue and piety but yet ended his life unhappily The length of his raign and circumstances of his death are thus declared by William of Malmsbury Kenulf says he was a Prince illustrious both for his vertues and warlick exploits In one only battell which in the four and twentieth year of his raign he fought against Offa King of the Mercians he was overcome And after that he was afflicted with many calamities and in conclusion came to a dishonourable and unhappy end For after he had governed the kingdom of the West-Saxons the space of one and thirty years neither cowardly nor immodestly at last whether it was out of a proud confidence that none durst resist him or out of a provident care of the security of his Successour he commanded Kineard the Brother of the Tyrant Sigebert whom he saw to encrease dayly in power and wealth to depart his kingdom Kineard iudging it best to yeild to the tempest went away with a shew of willingnes But presently after by private meetings and unsinuations he assembled a body of men given to all manner of villany with which he watched an opportunity against the King And having been informed that he was for his recreation and lustfull pleasure retired with a small retinue into a certain countrey dwelling he came suddenly upon him with some light armed soldiers and encompassed the house where the King was securely attending to his unlawfull luxury Who perceiving the danger he was in advised with his servants what he should doe At first he barricadoed the dores hoping either by fair speches to winn or by threatnings to terrify the soldiers without But finding neither way to succeed in a furious rage he suddenly leaps forth upon Kineard and wanted very little of killing him But being compassed by the multitude and thinking it inglorious to fly after he had well avenged himself by the death of many of the Traytours he was slain And those few servants with attended him scorning to yeild and earnest to avenge their Lord were killd likewise 4. Presently the fame of so execrable a Tragedy was spread abroad and came to the knowledge of certain Noble men not far distant with the Kings Guards Among whom Osric who was most eminent both for age and prudence encouraged the rest not to suffer the death of their Prince to passe unrevenged to their perpetuall infamy Whereupon they all drew their swords and rushed upon the trayterous murderers Kineard at first endeavoured to iustify his cause to promise great matters and to challenge kinred But when all this proffited nothing then he inflam'd the minds of his companions and fellow soldiers to resist boldly A good while the combat was doubtfull one side fighting for their lives and the other for glory At last victory having a good space hovered uncertainly turned her self to the iuster cause So that wretched Traytour after a courageous but vain resistance left his life having enioyed the successe of his treachery a very short time The Kings body was caried to Winchester where it was buried in a Monastery in those times very magnificent but in this age almost desolate 5. Other Historians mention the name of the village where King Kenulf was thus unfortunatly slain Thus Florentius writes It hapned saith he that Kenulf at that time went to a certain village which in the English tongue is called Meretum for a certain wanton womans sake c. This village is in the Province of Surrey and is now called Merton of old saith Camden famous for the fatall end of the West-Saxons 6. There remaind in that Kingdom two Princes of the Royall family which might pretend to the succession Brithric and Egbert Brithric was preferred perhaps for his mild and modest disposition For he was a man more studious of peace then war he was skilfull in reconciling freinds when dissenting forraign Princes he civilly courted and was indulgent to his own servants yet so as not to prejudice the vigour of his government 7. As for Egbert he was to attend sixteen years before the scepter would fall to his lott Which having once gott he managed it gloriously for he it was who dissolved all the petty governments and reduced the whole kingdome into a Monarchy as it has ever since continued and moreover obliged all
Bishops take great care that Canons live Canonically and Religious men and women regularly as well in their dyet as Cloathing that so a distinction be made between Canons Monks and Seculars in their habits Wherin the two former were to conform themselves to the grave fashions observed in the Eastern parts avoyding light-colourd and costly rayment 5. That when any Abbot or Abbesse dyes care be had with the counsell of the Bishop that fitt Superiours be chosen in their places out of their respective Convents or in case none be found there they should be taken out of others 6. That none be ordained Preists or Deacons but such as are of approved lives and can perform their Charges and that they persevere in the Titles to which they are consecrated 3. The .7 was that all Publick Churches at Howers Canonicall with reverence observe their Course or Ecclesiasticall Office 8. That all ancient Priviledges conferred by the Apostolick See on any Churches and Monasteries in Brittany be preserved inviolate and in case any preiudice has been done to them by wicked men that such iniury be taken away 9. That Ecclesiasticall persons eat their meat in common that it may be observed whether they doe fast and abstain according to their obligation and therefore that none except he be sick presume to eat in Secret because such is the prachise of Hypocrites and Saracens 10. That Preists at the Altar for decencies sake under their Sacerdotall Vestments weare other clothing as it was commanded in the Old Law Also that Oblations should be bread not Crusts And that no Câ—alices be made of Horn. Likewise that Bishops meddle not in Secular Iudicatures 11. Kings and Princes were admonished to doe iustice and to hearken to the admonitions of Bishops who also are commanded confidently without fear or flattery to tell them their duty 12. That in the election of Kings regard be had to such as are not born of adultery or incest and that the Electours should be not the common people but the Nobles and Bishops And Kings being once constituted that none should resist or detract then much lesse conspire against their lives under pain of an eternall Anathema 4. The 13. was That Great men and iudges should iudge causes iustly without acception of persons 14. That no uniust Tributâ— should be imposed on the Church not any greater then were according to the custom of pious Emperours and Kings or as the Roman Law appâ—ints And that such Princeâ— should especially abstain from this violence as doe communicate with the Roman Church 15. That all Mariages incestuous with near kinred or consecrated Virgins be utterly forbiden 16. That bastards or children of Religious persons shall not be admitted to inherit 17. That Tithes be duly payed without fraud that God may blesse them For it often happens that he who pays not tithes is reduced to tithes Vsury is utterly prohibited And iust equall weights measures ordained 18. That all vowes made either in prosperity or adversity be performed 19. That all superstitious rites and relicks of Paganism be rooted out And particularly that men abstain from dying and colouring their bodies or painting figures on them as the Heathenâ—â—h Brittains of old did Likewise that none should cutt off their horses eares slitt their nostrills curtall their tales or eat their flesh for all these are according to the practises of Pagans 20. All are admonished to Pennance and to bring forth â—ruits beseeming Pennace Not approaching to the Holy Eucharist but according to the iudgment of the Preist after Satisfaction imposed according to the measure of their faults And that if any one departed this woâ—ld without Confession and Pennance none should pray for him 5. In these Decrees there are some passages which require our consideration For whereas in the fourth Canon Bishops are required to take care that Monks in their cloathing conform themselves to the grave fashion of those in the Eastern parts Some may peâ—haps from hence inferre that the Legaâ— by the Orientalls intended the Grecians and consequently that Monachism came to us from the Eastern Church and perhaps Religion also It is not to be doubted but that by that phrase he meant the Orders of Religion observed in Kent the most Eastern Province of the Kingdom and the most civilized part of the Island Which is confirmed by the like expression in the nineteenth Canon where he forbids the eating of horse-flesh a custome not practised in the Eastern parts For surely he hid no need to have recourse to Greece or the Eastern Church for decrying that barbarous custom 6. Again whereas in the sayd ninetenth Canon he enveighs against painting their Bodies it seems that ancient rude fashion of the Old Brittains and Picts was not altogether disused Yet not so as if the Northumbers practised it as in old times over their whole naked bodies but only on some parts which were discovered as the face armes or thighs which savoured of some relicke of Gentilisme 7. Lastly whereas in the Seaventh Canon mention is made of the Ecclesiaâ—ticall Course oâ— Office we are to observe that though some Churches had their peculiar Office for Divine Service Yet that in Brittany and principally among the Northumbers they conâ—ormâ—d themselves to the Roman praâ—tise introduced by S. Benedict Biscop as S. Beda declares 8. These Decrees were by the Legat proposed in Councill and withall devotion â—ubmitted to both by the Bishops Abbots and all the Nobleâ—â— And thereupon confirmd by the Legat in the Popes name with making the sign of the Crosse and in like manner signed by the Bishops and Nobles there present As touching the Subscriptions there are found severall names both of Bishops and Episcopall Sees which are no where else to be found and therfore the false Writing of them is to be imputed to the unskillfullnes of Trâ—nscribers XXIII CHAP. 1.2 c. The same Capitular received in a Synod of the Mercians 3.4 c Offa King of the Mercians to the preiudice of the See of Canterbury raises Lichfeild to an Archiepiscopall See 6.7 King Offa makes his Son Egfrid King with him Of his Queen Quendrida 1. AFter this Synod in the Kingdom of the Northumberâ— the Legat attended by the Kings Embassadours and certain Bishops went back into the kingdome of the Mercians With them also went Malvin and Pitâ—eâ— Lectours who caried with them the Decreeâ— of this Synod And being arrived there they called another Synod at a place by our Historians called Cealchithe Cealtide Calthuthe and Calchuch Where this place is seated none of them determine Probably wee may understand Chelsey which saith â—amden in ancient Records is found written Chelchehith which was oâ—t a fear of the Mercian Kings 2. In this Synod there were present King Offa and the Nobility of the countrey Likewise lambert or Lambert Archbishop of Canterbury with the other Bishops of that Province There in the presence of the Councill the foresaid Decrees were read